[Board Open Session]
          [00:00:03]
          GOOD EVENING. I CALL TO ORDER THIS OPEN SESSION ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2024 AT THIS TIME I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MEET YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS TO CALL UPON MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE ROLL CALL. MS ALVAREZ. SORRY I'M PRESIDENT. I WAS. I COULDN'T GET OFF MUTE. SORRY I'M DRIVING. OK, THANK YOU. MISS BRUCE. I DON'T SEE. MISS BRUCE IS ABSENT THIS EVENING, MISS COKER ROS. DR MILLER. MISS PERRY. HERE. MS SARVA. MISS SARVA IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. MR SEWELL. HERE. MISS STRAUSS. VICE PRESIDENT HAHN. PRESENT. PRESIDENT CLINTON. 
          SUPERINTENDENT BOLTON. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. THE BOARD IS NOW IN OPEN SESSION. THE PURPOSE OF THIS OPEN SESSION IS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ACTION REGARDING A POTENTIAL CLOSED SESSION BEFORE THE BOARD CONSIDERS THIS ACTION IT NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PERMIT PUBLIC COMMENT. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO WAIVE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ITS ENTIRELY ENTIRETY IN LIGHT OF THE LIMITED NATURE OF THIS OPEN SESSION. HAVE A MOTION IN THE SECOND, PLEASE. THIS IS TERROR. I MOVE TO LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS LAURA AND I SECOND THE MOTION O. 
          SORRY THANK YOU. WE HAVE A SECOND AND A THIRD ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES, YES. 
          IN HERE ARE OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES POTENTIAL CLOSED SESSION IS 
          [Board Closed Session]
BEFORE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE BASIS FOR THE CLOSED SESSION IS TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE APPOINTMENT RECOMMENDATION OF A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE AND TO DISCUSS ANY POTENTIAL PARAMETERS , IF ANY OF NEGOTIATING WITH BARGAINING UNITS AND DISCUSSIONS RELATED THERE TO PURSUANT TO SECTION 3-305 B 19 OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL PROVISION, ARTICLES OF THE MARYLAND CODE THAT CHARITABLE ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO IN THE SECOND TO CLOSE THE SESSION. MRS TERRY I MOTION TO CLOSE THE SESSION. THEY ARE LIKE THAT I COULD SORRY. GO AHEAD AND SECONDS. THIS IS MELISSA AND I MOVED TO SECOND. I MEAN, I MOVED THE SECOND MOTION. THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. YEAH, YES, THERE ARE ANY OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. 
          [Call to Order]
GOOD EVENING. AT THIS TIME. I ASK EVERYONE TO PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 12TH 2024 AT 6:01 P.M. THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLO, PLEASE TAKE ROLL CALL. MS ALVAREZ PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE. MISS COKER HERE. DR MULLER. HERE. MISS PERRY, YOU MSO HERE. MR SEWARD, YOU MISS STRAUSS, YOU VICE PRESIDENT HAHN. HERE. PRESIDENT POINT HERE. SUPERINTENDENT WILSON. 
          HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. PLEASE READ, UH, THIS EVENING'S RULES OF ORDER. GOOD EVENING. I'M DJ RAVAGE REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. IN KEEPING WITH THE BUSINESS PURPOSES OF THE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE UPDATED PRACTICES THAT WILL BE ENFORCED THIS EVENING AND FOR ALL FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. DURING THE BUSINESS MEETING, ALL ATTENDEES ARE REMINDED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER. 
          GRANDSTANDING WHICH INCLUDES APPLAUSE, AUDIBLE COMMENTARY. EXCESSIVE GESTURES, STANDING OVATIONS AND SIMILAR DISTRACTING BEHAVIORS IS NOT PERMITTED. LIKEWISE THREATENING WORDS, GESTURES OR BEHAVIORS ARE NOT PERMITTED. SHOWED AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITIVE BEHAVIORS, THUS DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING. THE ATTENDEE WILL RECEIVE A WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE PROHIBITIVE BEHAVIOR. IF THE ATTENDEE DOES NOT CEASE THE PROHIBITIVE BEHAVIOR, THE ATTENDEE WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE BUSINESS MEETING BY SECURITY. WE ASK THAT ALL MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE REFRAIN FROM APPROACHING THE DAY AS FOR ANY REASON DURING THE BOARD MEETING WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT. 
          HAH IS JOINING US REMOTELY THIS EVENING, SO I'LL PLEASE ASK OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, UH, TO READ THE PROCESS IN THE STATEMENT, UH, FOR THIS EVENING, THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MEET THEIR DEVICES INTO CALLED UPON BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. 
          FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, DOCTOR PONTON WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND 
          [00:05:02]
QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING, DOCTOR BOLSON WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE, WITH REPLY WITH A YES OR A NO. THANK YOU. 
          BOARD MEMBERS. YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU PLEASE NOTE ON THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA THAT ITEM SEVEN HAS BEEN REMOVED AND WILL BE POSTPONED TO NEXT MEETING. OR MEMBERS. DO I HAVE A MOTION? IN THE SECOND TO ADOPT THE CONSENT TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. 
          YES, YES. YES. OH, SORRY. I'M SORRY. MR PRESIDENT THERE THE MOTION? YEAH I WAS WONDERING WHY EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING AT ME. YEAH. I JUST ASSUMED THERE WAS A MOTION. OK? JUST LIKE THAT. 
          THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. PLEASE SAY NO. Z. THANK YOU. THESE LEADERS IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG. I CAN. FOR SAYING ONE NATION. AND GIRL. MHM. OK 
          [A. Student Performance In Honor of Black History Month]
WE'RE GONNA START THIS EVENING WITH A STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. 
          LIKE TO ASK DR BALSON TO INTRODUCE THE STUDENT WITH US THIS EVENING, MISS CHARLESTON. 
          ALL RIGHT. SO WE HAVE WITH US EVENING CAN, AND SHE IS AN EIGHTH GRADE STUDENT AT HARVARD GRACE MIDDLE SCHOOL. UH, MISS BRUCE AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR HER PERFORM. UH, AT THE LANGSTON HUGHES YOUTH ORATORICAL CONTEST. UH, A LITTLE OVER A WEEK AGO. AND SHE WAS FANTASTIC, BUT WE'LL WE'LL LEAVE THAT FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE. UH, SHE WAS THE WINNER IN THE IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE CATEGORY DID A FANTASTIC JOB. SO UH, CAN I, IF YOU WANNA GRAB THE MIC AND COME ON UP AND THEN YOU CAN START WHEN YOU'RE READY. AS I LIVE. I LEARN. I LEARNED THAT I'M DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS AROUND ME. I LEARNED THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M QUIET, PEOPLE WILL STARING ANTICIPATE WHEN I'LL BLOW UP. ANGRY BLACK WOMAN IS THE STEREOTYPE I'VE LEARNED. 
          ALWAYS 100 AND 10 IN THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT, ALWAYS RAMBUNCTIOUS, ALWAYS DOING TOO MUCH. I'M NOT LIKE THAT, THOUGH, RIGHT? I WILL LEARN NOT TO BE AND SO I DID. I LEARNED TO BE QUIET. I LEARNED TO BE TIMID. YOU WILL NEVER CATCH ME RAISE MY VOICE OR START AN ARGUMENT IN PUBLIC BECAUSE I AM NOT THAT KIND OF BLACK GIRL. DOES THAT MEAN I'M DIFFERENT? I KNOW A LOT ABOUT STEREOTYPES, AND I DON'T FIT IN WITH ANY OF THEM. I'M NOTHING OF WHAT SOCIETY THINKS OF BLACK PEOPLE OR CARIBBEAN PEOPLE OR WOMEN, ESPECIALLY NOT BLACK WOMEN. I'M NOT LOUD. I DO NOT EXERT ENERGY. 
          I AM NOT VULGAR. BUT WHAT IF I WANTED TO BE LOUD? WHAT IF I WANTED TO EXERT ALL MY ENERGY VS VGAR AS I SEE FIT? WHAT IF I'M ANGRY AND I AM I AM ANGRY. I AM ANGRY THAT I'M A BLACK WOMAN AND THIS SOCIETY, A SOCIETY THAT PUTS US DEAD LAST. I'M ANGRY THAT AS A CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT, I AM SUBJECT TO ALL THE STEREOTYPES PUT ON TO THEM. I AM NOT A THIEF NOR A THUG. SO WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT WAY? AS I LIVE. I LEARNED THAT NO ONE WILL TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY. I'M A BLACK WOMAN, SO I'VE LEARNED TO BE PAINFULLY AWARE. WHEN IT COMES TO MY PERSONAL ISSUES. I WILL NEVER NOT BE SEEN AS CRAZY. MENTAL HEALTH IS SUCH A HUSH TOPIC IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY. 
          YOU WOULD THINK THAT AFTER ALL WE'VE BEEN THROUGH, WE'D BE A LITTLE MORE ACCEPTING TO THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT AND STRUGGLING . INSTEAD WE LOOK ON THE LIKE THEY'RE DEFECTIVE, CRAZY SOMETHING TO GOSSIP ABOUT AND HUSHED WHISPERS AND WE GLANCES. I LEARNED NOT TO TALK ABOUT IT. 
          WHEN I HAVE MENTIONED STARTED TO SPIRAL, I NOTICED THAT THE VOICES AROUND ME WERE GETTING QUIETER IN THE STAIRS ARE BECOMING SKITTISH. I LEARN THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE. 
          IF YOU ARE DEEMED CRAZY, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE. AS I LIVE. I LEARNED THAT I'M NOT PRETTY. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW THE WORLD DOESN'T LIKE MY SKIN OR MY HAIR, MY LIPS OR MY NOSE. I LOOK AT WHAT OTHERS LIKE ME DO TO FIGHT THESE STANDARDS. I LEARNED THAT MANY STAY COMPLACENT. MANY SIMPLY ABIDE BY THE RULES SET BY SOCIETY. THEY APPLY CREAMS THAT ACT LIKE SHARKS, RIPPING APART THE PREY AND MELANIN UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT. THEY SIT THROUGH HOURS OF TREATMENTS LIKE IRONS TO A SHEET, THEY PRESS OUT . NO KINK NOR COIL IS SPARED IN 
          [00:10:05]
THE TRANSFORMATION. NO DEEP BRONZE OR MIDNIGHT SKIN WILL EVER COMPARE TO A SANDY BEACH PINK PEACH BEAUTY OF THE WORLD'S EYE. AND I AM NO PEACH. I WASN'T GRACED WITH SKIN BLANKETED IN SNOW. MY BLOOD DISPLAYS A DEEP TYPE COILS AND CARAMELIZED PIGMENTS. I LEARNED I SHOULDN'T BE PROUD OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'VE LEARNED AS I'VE LIVED AND I'VE LIVED BASED OFF OF WHAT I'VE LEARNED. THERE'S NO POINT OF LEARNING IF YOU DO NOT APPLY IT. I LEARNED ABOUT LOVE, AND I APPLIED IT NOW I LOVE FREELY. I LOVE YOU AND I LOVE ME. I LOVE FROM THE TINIEST COIL ON THE HEAD TO THE UNIQUE GROVES OF THE FEET. I LEARNED ABOUT MY VOICE AND I APPLIED IT. YES. NOW YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOTHING. UH, ADVOCATE VALLEY LOW IN MY OWN HIGH I'LL SPEAK UP FOR MYSELF FROM THE LATE NIGHT TO THE EARLY MORNING. I LEARNED ABOUT BEAUTY AND I APPLIED IT. I APPRECIATE THE STRONG NOSE, BIG LIPS OR SHARP EYES AND HIGH CHEEKS BESTOWED UPON ME FROM THE MOTHERS BEFORE. I LOOK AT MYSELF AND I SEE THE ANCESTOR. HOW CAN I NOT BE PROUD OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT? NO, I CAN'T CLAIM THAT I'VE SEEN ALL THERE IS TO SEE AND LIVE ALL THE YEARS THAT A HUMAN CAN LIVE. I BE A FOOL TO CLAIM ALL OF THAT. I'D BE A DREAMER TO SAY I WON'T STOP UNTIL I CAN CLAIM BOTH. BUT BLACK EAST ANONYMOUS WITH GLORY BLACK AS KING BEYONCE 2019. 
          THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING JOB. UM WE'RE GONNA TRANSITION OVER TO PUBLIC. UH, 
          [Board Member Comments]
SORRY. UM A BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS FIRST, AND WE WILL START WITH MS ALVAREZ. THANK YOU . GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AND HELPING PUBLIC, UM, TO FORM PUBLIC EDUCATION. UM I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY WHO TOOK THE TIME TO EMAIL THE BOARD CONCERNING THE BUDGET AND POLICIES. UM THAT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, THERE WERE A LOT OF EMAILS. UM I TRIED TO RESPOND TO SOME OF THEM, BUT I HONESTLY I KIND OF GAVE UP, SO I'M JUST GONNA, UM, PROVIDE MY COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT, UM, CONCERNING THE BUDGET COMMENTS, UM BOARD DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS. TO ENSURE THAT OUR BUDGET LINES WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND IS SUSTAINABLE. LAST YEAR, THE SCHOOL WAS REQUIRED TO PULL FROM FUND BALANCE TO COVER EXPENSES. THE BUDGET BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT. WILL PROBABLY RESULT ALSO IN THAT SAME SITUATION, AND THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. BUDGET BUDGETING. HAS BEEN COMPLICATED IN MARYLAND BY THE BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS. MANY OF WHICH THAT ARE UNFUNDED. UM, GIVEN THIS THESE SITUATIONS, I WANT TO GO ON RECORD THAT I BELIEVE THAT 2026 BUDGET SHOULD BE A ZERO BASED BUDGET. THIS PROCESS WOULD RE BASELINE, OUR FINANCIAL, UM, NEEDS AND ALIGN FUTURE SPENDING ON MEETING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS. WHILE THIS BUDGETING PROCESS IS MORE WORK AND MAY HELP SURFACE AREAS THAT CAN HELP ACHIEVE OUR GOAL OF BALANCING THE BUDGET. I BELIEVE WE ALL WANT OUR SCHOOLS TO BE FULLY FUNDED. BUT THE REALITY IS WE HAVE LIMITED RESOURCES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE. FOR COMMENTING ON THE POLICIES, THE TWO POLICIES THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. I THINK THESE COMMENTS HAVE ALLOWED OUR POLICY WRITERS TO MAKE SOME UPDATES THAT BETTER ALIGN WITH YOUR CONCERNS. FINALLY I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT I WENT TO A CONFERENCE IN DC, UH, SEVERAL WEEKS AGO. UM, WHERE SEVERAL MEMBERS THROUGHOUT MARYLAND MET WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING THAT HAS FALLEN SHORT TO FUND THINGS LIKE ID, A LAW TO SUPPORT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. AND TO PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. AT THE CONFERENCE. THERE WERE ALSO MANY PRESENTATIONS FROM EXPERTS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ADDRESSED ISSUES IN PUBLIC EDUCATION TODAY. ONE WAS AN AUTHOR WHO WROTE A BOOK ON VISUAL THINKING, WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. UM WHO, UM WAS. DEED WHEN SHE WAS 
          [00:15:05]
IN SCHOOL, BUT HAS GONE ON TO EARN HER PHD AND BECOME A VERY, UM, WELL RECOGNIZED EXPERT. UM. 
          AND THERE WAS ALSO A FEW OTHER EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS. ONE WAS ON ASSESSING YOUR THINKING, UM, AND IT PROVIDED A SCALE CALLED THE DIGNITY INDEX, UM, TO LEARN WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK AN ADDICT FINE MANNER OR IN A CONTEMPTUOUS MANNER. AND UM, THERE IS A PLEDGE THAT YOU CAN GO ONLINE AND SIGN AS I DID, UM AT DIGNITY, INDEX.US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. UM BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR EVERYONE. ON JANUARY THE 26TH AND 27TH I DID ATTEND THE NATIONAL BOARD SCHOOL BOARD EQUITY CONFERENCE IN DC. THE CONFERENCE ATTENDEES WERE FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND OVER 400 ATTENDEES. IT DISPLAYED AN EMPHASIZED THE NECESSITY FOR US TO LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL ASPECT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. ON THE 31ST. I ATTENDED THE AND I HOPE I GET THESE ACRONYMS CORRECT. CC, A MEETING OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND IT WAS REALLY ENLIGHTENING FOR THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS AND PARENTS TO COME ON AND ASK QUESTIONS IN REFERENCE TO SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND I ENCOURAGE THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS OR NEIGHBORS TO LOOK ON THE WEBSITE AND PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AN IEP FOR YOUR STUDENTS. YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW THE PROCESS. ON THE 31ST. I ATTENDED THE, UM. 
          CELEBRATION FOR LANGSTON HUGHES ORATORICAL CONTEST. THIS IS THE SEVENTH YEAR THAT THEY HAVE GRAVES COLORED SCHOOL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER PUTS THIS CONTEST ON AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT IN ADDITION TO THE YOUNG LADY YOU HEARD HAVE THE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL UM, ONE, THE SENIOR THE HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST. A STUDENT FROM AVERY GRACE HIGH SCHOOL, SO DIANE, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD. UM. THANKS AND HUGHES WAS A POET. AND HE OFTEN VISITED THE COLORED SCHOOL BECAUSE HE AND THE PRINCIPAL WERE ROOMMATES AT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY. SO I'M HOPING THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS GET A CHANCE TO DO THE TOUR AND VISIT THE SCHOOL. ON FEBRUARY, THE FIFTH I ATTENDED ALONG WITH FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, UM, THE MAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN ANNAPOLIS. AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. WE WERE INVITED TO BE INTRODUCED AT THE SESSION BY OUR REPRESENTATIVE. MS MCCOMAS. 
          AND THEN NAMES RIGHT? UM FEBRUARY THE SIXTH, I ATTENDED THE HARFORD COUNTY HISTORICAL BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM. THE MARILYN LYNCHING PROJECTS MEMORIAL PROJECT. THE PRESIDENT, MR SCHULTZ GAVE AN UPDATE ON LYNCHING IN MARYLAND COUNTIES. I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO CHECK WITH THE MALE HISTORIC SOCIETY. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, UM, AND THE INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT THEY'RE LOOKING TO PUT UP SOME PLAQUE, SOME PLAQUES IN TERMS OF LYNCHING IN HARTFORD COUNTY. AS MY CO BOARD MEMBER SAYS WE RECEIVED ALL YOUR EMAILS IN REFERENCE TO THE BOARD BUDGET. 
          AND I ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL DO MY LEVEL BEST AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. I FEEL THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD MANAGE THE BUDGET. WE WILL OVERSEE BUT WE'RE OUT. OUR WHOLE THING IS GOVERNANCE. AND I THINK THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DO HIS JOB AS WELL AS THE STAFF. I KNOW WE WERE ALL INVITED TO I GO TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. I DID NOT ATTEND BECAUSE I FELT THAT OUR PRESIDENT, MR PONTON WOULD DO THE JOB FOR US. AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER OUR NEEDS WERE, HE WOULD MAKE THEM CLEAR. IN CLOSING, I WOULD URGE THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE TIME TO PLAN MEETING MEANINGFUL TRAINING FOR THE BOARD. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR PRIORITIES AND GOALS THAT FOCUS ON HOW WE ENSURE STUDENTS SUCCESS AND LEAVE THE MANAGEMENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF. LAST YEAR, TERRY AND I WORKED ON AN UPDATE FOR THE BOARD HANDBOOK. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. WE ARE DIVIDED IN SO MANY WAYS, AND THIS IS NOT BENEFITING THE GOALS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. FEBRUARY THE 29TH TRAINEE IS BEING HELD BY MAY ENTITLED EFFECTIVE POLICY MAKING AND BOOSTING YOUR IMPACT THROUGH MORE EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK. WE NEED THIS. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE 55 TEACHERS WHO 
          [00:20:07]
HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS COKER. A LOT. THAT WAS A LOT. NO NO, THAT'S OK. THAT'S OK. UM WELCOME. UM, TO EVERYONE HERE IN THOSE LISTENING IN KAYA, THAT WAS A FANTASTIC JOB. YOU ARE SO POISED AND BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. UM WE WENT ON A GRAT TOUR LAST WEEK. SO THANKS TO THE GREAT FOLKS AT FOOD AND NUTRITION FACILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION. KRISTEN SUENA, PATTY JO BEARD, KATHY BENDIS AND THEIR FOLKS WERE TRULY IMPRESSIVE. UH, THE MOST COOL THING ABOUT IT IS THEY PUT THE SPOTLIGHT NOT ON THEMSELVES AT ALL, BUT ON THEIR PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING THEY DO SO IT IT WAS AN AMAZING, UH, TRIP TO BE ABLE TO GO SEE ALL THAT. THANKS TO PAMELA, OUR BUS DRIVER, CHICK FIL A FOR THE SPONSORSHIP AND TO THE, UM HCPS. STEPHANIE WALL AND LINDSAY BILLARD FOR SETTING THIS UP, SO WELL, IT WAS AWESOME. SO NOW TO THE BIGGEST THING ON OUR PLATE RIGHT NOW, THE BUDGET UM, YOU KNOW, DIANE TALKED ABOUT OUR ROLE IN OVERSIGHT, AND I AGREE WITH THAT. IT'S A PRIMARY AND STATUTORY ROLE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS MERRIAM WEBSTER WOULD PUT IT TO WATCH OVER AND DIRECT IN ORDER TO ENSURE SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE. IT'S ULTIMATELY CHALLENGING. UH, WE ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF FOR A REASON. UM WE EACH REVIEW ALL THE INFORMATION AND CAST A VOTE ON THE MAJORITY VOTE CONSTITUTES A BOARD DECISION. ALL THIS IS DONE AT THE MEETINGS HERE, OUR OPEN MEETINGS. BUT THE WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING, WE REVIEW THE AGENDA PRESENTATIONS AND CAN ASK QUESTIONS, AND THIS IS SO WE CAN GET ALL THE INFORMATION IN ADVANCE THAT WE NEED AND THIS IS VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE NEW PERSPECTIVES AND IDEAS. IN THIS WAY WE ARE STRENGTHENING. THE EFFORTS AND CREDIBILITY OF THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE, AS WELL AS THE AS THOSE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND OF HCPS IN ITS ENTIRETY. SO THE BLUEPRINTS REQUIREMENTS IMPACTS ON OUR BUDGETS WERE PRESENTED AS A PREVIOUS MEETING, AND TONIGHT WE WILL VOTE ON A BUDGET GOING FORWARD TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO START TO FRAME INITIAL TOP LINE TO THE BUDGET, THEN THEIR FIRST FUR FURTHER DETAILS AND DISCUSSIONS THAT OCCUR BETWEEN MARCH AND JUNE, WHEN THE BUDGET HAS TO BE FINAL. SO IT, UM DIANE SAID MANY FOLKS HAVE EMAILED US BASED ON A FORM LETTER THAT WAS PUSHED OUT BY H CE. A SINCE LAST THURSDAY. EVEN DURING THE SUPER BOWL, THE EMAILS WERE STILL COMING IN. ASKING THAT WE ADVOCATE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET, SO I'M RESPONDING HERE. UM IN ORDER TO SUPPORT ANY BUDGET, IT MUST BE REALISTIC AND SUPPORT THE PRIORITIES TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. AND, IF POSSIBLE TO REDUCE TEACHER BURDEN, BUT CERTAINLY TO AT LEAST MAINTAIN CLASS SIZES. REQUESTING FURTHER OPTIONS OR INFORMATION ON THE BUDGET DOES NOT MEAN NOT TRUSTING THE STAFF AND THEIR EXPERTISE. PROVIDING INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVES AND QUESTIONS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A LACK OF TRUST NOR A LACK OF SUPPORT. WE BEST SERVE OUR STUDENTS THROUGH DUE DILIGENCE, NOT PASSIVE TRUST. I DO, THOUGH, RECOGNIZE HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO HAVE SUCH AMAZINGLY CAPABLE FOLKS AND EVERYBODY I KNOW DOES A GREAT JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THAT. UH, THE FORM LETTER CHARACTERIZES THE BUDGET AS BARE BONES. I DON'T THINK WE REALLY KNOW THAT YET. ALL WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS A HIGH LEVEL VIEW. WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT MAKING ASSUMPTIONS WHEN WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE WHOLE PICTURE. 
          WE'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT EDUCATORS BEING STRESSED BY HUGE WORKLOADS LARGELY STEMMING FROM EXCESS CLASS SIZES AND PAPERWORK. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING. SO FAR. THAT REALLY ADDRESSES THAT I HOPE IN THE FUTURE, THERE ARE MANY AREAS THAT COULD BE REVIEWED FOR THEIR DEGREE OF IMPACT ON OUR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND ON TEACHER BURDEN. HAVE WE LOOKED AT HOW EACH SPECIAL PROGRAM IS PROVIDING VALUE IN THOSE TERMS. HAVE WE LOOKED AT DISCONTINUING EFFORT WHEN WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DISCERN ITS EFFECTIVENESS. FOR BLUEPRINT INITIATIVES. THERE ARE CHOICES THAT PROBABLY THAT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN MADE DIFFERENTLY TO BALANCE OUT HOW MUCH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD PAY FOR. YOU'VE GOT COMMUNITY HEALTH VERSUS WHAT THIS SCHOOL IS BEING PAID FOR. YOU'VE GOT PRE K, WHICH HISTORICALLY, FAMILIES HAVE SHOULDERED THE BURDEN FOR DAYCARE AND PRE K FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT. PERHAPS THERE'S VARIOUS LEVELS AND LIMITED NUMBERS THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT AND NOT A FULL A DEGREE. WE OFFER A P COURSES, WHICH IS GREAT. HOWEVER HISTORICALLY, FAMILIES HAVE PAID FOR THE A P EXAM ITSELF, SO THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIONS THAT COULD BE LOOKED AT. HAVE. WE LOOKED AT DECREASING THE SCOPE OF SOME OF THESE OPTIONS SO THAT FUNDS COULD BE ALLOCATED TO MORE HIGHLY PRIORITIZED, IMPROVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL READING, READING AND MATH. I DON'T KNOW THAT THE BUDGET IS BARE BONES, NOR THAT THE BREAKOUT WILL BE ALIGNED WITH THESE PRIORITIES. 
          AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW. WE'RE HOPING TO GET THERE. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME PERCEPTION THAT SOMEONE IS SLASHING THE BUDGET. THE BOARD DOES NOT GENERATE THE BUDGET. AND DID NOT PROVIDE AN ALTERNATE BUDGET. WE ASKED THE STAFF TO PROPOSE EFFICIENCIES IN AREAS THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT CLASS SIZE OR CLASSROOM FACING POSITIONS. WE ASKED FOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF OUR AUDIT COMMITTEE TO BE FULFILLED, NOTING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, 
          [00:25:04]
INCLUDING TO BREAK OUT THE BUDGET BY BLUEPRINT MANDATES IN RELATION TO STRATEGIC GOALS. IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO KNOW THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH PROGRAM IN ORDER TO EVALUATE ITS COST EFFECTIVENESS. WHEN WE GET TO THE FINAL BUDGET. IT WASN'T POSSIBLE TO GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE REQUESTED IMMEDIATELY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE SO THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED. THE EMAIL FORM LETTER EQUATES NOT SUPPORTING THE BUDGET WITH NOT SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS. THIS IS A FALLACY. HOWEVER I DO AGREE THAT PARTS OF THE BUDGET I KNOW THROUGH DISCUSSIONS DO SUPPORT EDUCATORS . PART OF THE INFORMATION WE REQUESTED WAS TO COST OUT ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO REDUCE SOME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASS SIZES AND TO INCREASE SALARIES OF FAIR EDUCATORS. WHEN WE QUESTION THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WE ARE TAKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IMPROVEMENTS FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR EDUCATORS. SO THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WARRANTED SOME QUESTIONS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. UM I WON'T GET INTO THOSE NOW. SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT THE TYPE OF SPENDING GROWTH WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS PROBABLY NOT SUSTAINABLE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT DIANE WAS GETTING TO WITH THE ZERO BASED BUDGET NEXT YEAR. 
          I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE SOME OF THE RECENT GROWTH THAT WAS REQUIRED BY BLUEPRINT MANDATES. UH, MANY OF WHICH WOULD MAY BE GREAT. BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EVALUATE THEIR COST EFFECTIVENESS AT THIS POINT, EITHER. SO A LOT OF HARD WORK REMAINS TO GET TO A FINAL BUDGET. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT TODAY IS A START. TO DECIDE WHETHER WE HAVE A REALISTIC AND SOUND BUDGET TO SET FORWARD OR POSSIBLY WHETHER MORE WORK IS NEEDED. IN ANY CASE, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF DETAILED INFORMATION TO BE AVAILABLE IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS TO VERIFY THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING CLASS SIZES AND NOT IMPACTING EDUCATORS AND TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. AND IF POSSIBLE, REDUCE TEACHER BURDEN AND EVENTUALLY GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN REDUCE CLASS SIZES. 
          THAT SAID, WE ASK PARENTS TO FOCUS THEIR STUDENTS PUT FORTH FULL EFFORTS IN SCHOOL AND TO APPRECIATE WHAT THEIR EDUCATORS ARE DOING FOR THEM. OUR EDUCATORS ARE IMMENSELY VALUABLE AND THERES DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT AND SUPPORT WE CAN GIVE. THANK YOU. NOW THAT WAS A LOT. 
          YOU GUYS TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER TONIGHT. MUELLER SO THAT'S ALWAYS THE PART ABOUT BEING FOURTH BECAUSE SOME OF THE STUFF I WANTED TO SAY, HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID BUT UM, I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE AT THE END DOWN THERE. I JUST CAN'T SUCH A NIGHT WE WILL HAVE A VOTE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET AND DISCUSSIONS ON TWO POLICIES, CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN THE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES. BOTH OF THESE POLICIES HAVE SOME ISSUES, AND WE'LL NEED FURTHER DISCUSSION AND COMMENTS FROM EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS BEFORE THEY'RE READY TO BE VOTED ON. I HOPE WE'LL HAVE A PRODUCTIVE DIALOGUE ON THESE TOPICS. I WANT TO GO ON RECORD. 
          FOR THE MEETING AND SAYING THAT I FULLY SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET AS IT IS PRESENTED. ASKING FOR CUTS PRIOR TO THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD IS GUARANTEEING THAT WE WILL NOT GET THE FUNDS NEEDED TO OPERATE THE SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTY. I HOPE THAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'LL NEVER GET WHAT YOU DON'T ASK FOR. SO ASKING THAT THE BUDGET BE CUT AT THIS POINT IS ONLY AN ACTIVITY TO GAIN POLITICAL FAVOR AND IS NOT WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES OF HARTFORD COUNTY. I DO WANNA MENTION THAT SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, I DID ATTEND THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION, AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION FEBRUARY 5TH BECAUSE WE DID HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION IN ANNAPOLIS, WHERE FOUR OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD DID GO TO MEET WITH THE LEGISLATORS, UM FROM AROUND THE STATE AND DELEGATE SUSAN MCCOMAS DID SIT DOWN AND NOT ONLY DISCUSS THINGS WITH US FOR QUITE A WHILE, UM BUT SHE ALSO DID ASK US TO COME OVER TO THE, UH, SESSION AND THEN INTRODUCE THE BOARD MEMBERS. UM. I GOT, UM I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW TO BE A JUDGE AT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS HELD AT HARTFORD GLEN FOR TEAMS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY. UM THAT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY. I JUST I LOVE WATCHING THE STUDENTS PRESENT. YOU KNOW. LAST YEAR, THE TEAM THAT WENT FORWARD FROM HARTFORD COUNTY 1/10 IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A TEAM THAT DOES THAT AGAIN. I DID ALSO ATTEND THE GRATA TOUR. UM IT'S ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE WHAT ALL THE EMPLOYEES HERE AT, UM HCPS DO AND THE OTHER THING. THE LAST THING I WANNA MENTION IS THE CALENDAR. IT WAS BROUGHT UP A WHILE AGO THAT THE CALENDAR AT LEAST IN THE FORM THAT WAS PRESENTED AND VOTED ON. HE HAS SOME REAL ISSUES WITH IT. AND YET NOBODY HAS BROUGHT IT FORWARD ON THE AGENDA FOR IT TO BE FIXED. THE DIVISION OF THE QUARTERS IS VERY UNEQUAL. AS WAS POINTED OUT TO US. THE FINAL QUARTER OF THE SNOW DAYS ARE USED WOULD BE 55 DAYS LONG. EACH QUARTER SHOULD BE 45 DAYS, RIGHT 180 DAYS I CAN DO THE MATH 90 45 45 45, SO I REALLY HOPE THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE 
          [00:30:09]
THAT, UM OUR BOARD WILL CONSIDER PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA SO THAT WE CAN VOTE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PERRY. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN. YOUR FAIR. BRING YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS HERE AND THE REST OF OUR EDUCATORS. I'M ON THE CORRECT CONGRATULATE THE 55 NOMINEES FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND THANK THE TEACHERS FOR DISTRICT A, WHICH I REPRESENT, WHICH IS EDGEWOOD. DROP THE TOWN A PART OF DROP IT. CHRISTINE M HOPKINS, SHE'S FIRST GRADE TEACHER IN DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. 
          SAMANTHA AND SIMMONS, FIFTH GRADE TEACHER OF EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. AND J PAPI MUSIC TEACHER, EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. JANINE MAKOWSKI ART TEACHER, EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          GT KING, TEACHER SPECIALIST IN READING JOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ERICA D RICHARDSON SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, JAFFA TOWN HIGH SCHOOL. TAYLOR K PETERS, FIFTH GRADE TEACHER, MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. GUO TO SOMOS. PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER, MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHANNON E THOMAS FIRST GRADE TEACHER, OLD COAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. GLORY OF PERU. PRE K RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I CELEBRATE THEM ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS AVRO. EVENING, EVERYONE, UM. 
          HOW TO KEEP THIS BRIEF BECAUSE BY SOME MIRACLE, I'M HOPING WE'LL ALL BE HOME BY NINE. BUT I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT. UM BUT ON FEBRUARY 6TH I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND MY FIRST GRAD TOUR AND WE WERE ABLE TO VISIT THREE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, FOOD AND NUTRITION FACILITIES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT. AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE ESPECIALLY AS A STUDENT, YOU DON'T REALLY THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND PEOPLE THAT ARE BEHIND GETTING THAT TRAY OF FOOD TO YOU EVERY DAY OR YOU KNOW THOSE RESPONSIBLE OF RUINING YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS OF A SNOW DAY, BUT YOU KNOW IT WAS IT REALLY PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORK AND TIME IT TAKES BEHIND OUR EVERYDAY OPERATIONS. SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO ATTEND. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PLANS THEM AND THOSE WORKERS WHO WERE VERY WELCOMING. AND ACTUALLY, EARLIER TODAY, I GOT TO VISIT SWAN CREEK SCHOOL. AN TOOK A TOUR OF THE SCHOOL AND, UM IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I LOVED IT. UH I KNOW THEY DID A PRESENTATION FOR THE BOARD BACK IN DECEMBER, BUT ACTUALLY SEEING THE STUDENTS IN A HYBRID AND IN PERSON FORMAT IT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. SO YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO THE PRINCIPAL AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS FOR VITAMIN AND BEING WELCOMING. UM AND LASTLY, THIS WEDNESDAY, THE 14TH. H GRASS OR HARFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS IS HAVING OUR THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AT PATTERSON MILL HIGH SCHOOL, SO THIS WILL BE PRETTY EXCITING BECAUSE WE WILL BE OPENING UP OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. UM I KNOW THAT'S REALLY SAD FOR ALL OF YOU TO HEAR, BUT I CAN'T BE ON THE BOARD FOREVER. UM BUT BUT WE WILL BE OPENING UP FOR ANY JUNIORS WHO ARE INTERESTED, SO I DEFINITELY LOOK OUT FOR IT. UM IF YOU DON'T GET AN EMAIL AS A JUNIOR HEARING ABOUT IT, THEN REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNSELORS REACH OUT TO YOUR PRINCIPALS, UM, REACH OUT TO SHE ADVISOR STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION OF OUR ADVISORS, AND THEY WILL, UM SEND YOU THE APPLICATION, BUT UH, AT THIS MEETING. I'M WE'RE INVITING. UH, THREE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MS VIRES, MR SOUL, AND I BELIEVE MISS HAN TO PARTICIPATE IN A BOARD MEMBER PANEL. Q AND A FOR THE STUDENTS. UM, THIS IS SIMILAR TO THAT LISTENING SESSION THAT WE HAD, BUT YOU KNOW, NOW IT'LL BE AN AUDIENCE OF 200 PLUS STUDENTS, AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE BOARD. SO I'M PRETTY EXCITED FOR THAT. AND YEAH, THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, MR SEWELL. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. SO MANY GREAT THINGS ARE GOING ON AROUND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW, UH, ACTUALLY MIGHT BE MORE THAN A FEW. UH, FIRST I WANT TO CONGRATULATE NORTH BEND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR WINNING THE MOST RECENT FAMILY FRIENDLY SCHOOL AWARD THAT WAS OUTSTANDING. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS, BUS DRIVERS AND BUS DRIVER ATTENDANTS WHO HAVE BEEN OR OR BEING NOMINATED FOR THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR BUS, DRIVER OF THE YEAR AND BUS ATTENDANT OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU TO, UH TO YOU, UH, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO EVERY DAY, UH, TO INSPIRE THOSE AROUND YOU SO THAT THEY CAN BE THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BE. I WANT TO THANK DELEGATE SUSAN MCCOMAS FOR INVITING ME AND THREE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS TO JOIN IN THE OPENING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. UH, LAST WEEK. UH, I APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATORS WHO ARE WORKING TO MOVE THIS STATE FORWARD. THE HARPER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE OF FINE ARTS RECENTLY HOSTED THE HONOR ORCHESTRA SERIES THAT HAVE THE GRACE MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL. THE PERFORMANCE WAS OUTSTANDING. IF YOU EVER HAVE A CHANCE. TO ATTEND A PERFORMANCE OF THIS CALIBER. HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO. BOTH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS PERFORMED EXQUISITELY. THE ONE PIECE THAT EVERYONE WOULD HAVE RECOGNIZED WAS THE THEME FROM ET. UH, MAYBE THE YOUNG FOLKS IN THE ROOM MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT, UH I CERTAINLY DID, 
          [00:35:05]
AND THE MUSIC FILLED THE AUDITORIUM COMPLETELY. IT WAS JUST LIKE LISTENING TO THE BALTIMORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. UM I WANNA THANK MRS ELIZABETH OR MISS ELIZABETH REINHARDT FOR CONDUCTING THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA AND DOCTOR HAYDEN, UH, DENISHA FOR CONDUCTING THE HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA. THANKS TO JEFFREY WINFIELD, SUPERVISOR OF FINE ARTS AND EVERYONE THAT HAVE PLAYED A PART IN THESE STUDENTS LIVES THAT THEY'VE BEEN ELEVATED TO THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF MUSIC ACHIEVEMENT. I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE EVERY STUDENT MUSICIAN IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO HONE THEIR OWN SKILLS. I ATTENDED THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING AND THE CONVERSATION BOILED DOWN TO BUSINESSES NEED HIGHLY QUALIFIED MOTIVATED EMPLOYEES TO FILL THE EVER EXPANDING INTERNSHIP AND FULL TIME POSITIONS IN VACANCIES IN THIS COUNTY. VACANCIES HOLD BACK ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO HIRE EMPLOYEES THAT CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING BUSINESSES CANNOT EXPAND. THEY CAN'T SERVICE THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS, LET ALONE REACH INTO NEW MARKETS. FROM THIS CONVERSATION, IT IS CLEAR THAT BUSINESSES AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WANT TO SEE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND THE TUNE CENTER THRIVE SO THE BUSINESSES CAN ALSO THRIVE IN THE COUNTY. COURSE I WANNA GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO OUR, UH, OUR TEAM THAT'S WORKING TO BRING SO MANY INTERNSHIPS. UH, TO OUR APPRENTICESHIPS, I SHOULD SAY TO OUR, UH, SCHOOL SYSTEM. UH WE'RE THEY ARE REALLY KNOCKING OUT OF THE PARK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS NOW, BUT WE'RE WELL OVER 100. SO IT'S AMAZING. I WAS VERY HONORED TO JOIN JACOB BENNETT. UH, TEACHER FOR US AND COUNTY COUNCILMAN, UH, IN HIS CLASSROOM FOR A COUPLE HOURS LAST WEEK TO OBSERVE HIS CLASS AND HOW HE TEACHES MANY OF YOU KNOW, JACOB. HE'S AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATOR, TRULY AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST IN HARVARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMMAND HE HAD OF THE CLASSROOM AND THE LEVEL AT WHICH HIS KINDERGARTNERS ARE PERFORMING. I THOUGHT I WAS IN A FIRST OR SECOND GRADE CLASSROOM. UH THEY JUST THEY, THEY THEY READ AND THEY WROTE SO WELL. SO. I TRULY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE JACOB. UH AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT HE CHOSE TO TEACH WITH US. I HAD THE HONOR OF BEING A JUDGE FOR THE HARVARD COUNTY EN MARATHON FIFTH TOPIC ORAL PRESENTATION OF HARVARD GLEN WITH DOCTOR MUELLER THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, WITH THREE OTHER HIGHLY QUALIFIED, UH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TEAMS FROM EIGHT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS PRESENTED ON HOW HARTFORD COUNTY CAN LEVERAGE RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES TO SAVE MONEY. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CALIBER AND THOROUGHNESS OF THE RESEARCH AND SOLUTIONS THAT WERE PRESENTED. THERE ARE LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES AND LOW HANGING FRUIT RIGHT HERE IN HARPER COUNTY TO IMPROVE OUR FINANCIAL BOTTOM LINE AS A COUNTY WHILE ENSURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE. 
          I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE HARTFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS REFERRED AS CRASS FOR SHORT, UH, TO HELP THEM FIND FUNDING TO PLUG THE BUDGET HOLE THAT THEY HAVE THIS YEAR AND A POSITION THEN FOR SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM FUNDING THAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR ACTIVITIES. SO AS UH, M BE HAD MENTIONED, UH, THAT IS THE ORGANIZATION THAT IS MADE UP OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY OF ROUGHLY 200. THEY WILL ELECT THE NEXT STUDENT MEMBER. UM SO WE THINK THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED A SPONSOR FOR THIS YEAR'S IMMEDIATE NEEDS, AND WE LOOK WE ARE LOOKING FOR A LARGER SPONSOR FOR NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND EDUCATORS TO JOIN THEIR LOCAL PT, A AND FOR THE PRINCIPLES AND SCHOOLS WHERE PTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH FINDING BOARD MEMBERS, OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE SPACE TO GROW. PTAS TO PROVIDE MANY RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS TO YOUR SCHOOLS. THEY HELP CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE EDUCATORS. THEY CAN DO SO MUCH FOR COMMUNITIES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO EMBRACE THEM. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE TOMORROW NIGHT. AC PS CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IS HOSTING FAMILY NIGHT AT PATTERSON MILL, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, FROM 6 TO 8 P.M. FOR GRADES FOUR THROUGH SEVEN TO EXPLORE ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HCPS HAS TO OFFER AS STUDENTS MOVE THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. I WANT TO THANK THE THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE REACHED OUT DIRECTLY TO ME ADVOCATING FOR ME TO FULLY SUPPORT. OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET. AS PRESENTED. I DO. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET IS FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, RESPONSIBLE AND SUPPORTS THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE INTO OUR COMMUNITIES NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR ENGAGEMENT AND ADVOCACY. WE KNOW WHAT'S AT STAKE. HARFORD COUNTY. IS IN THE TOP THIRD. OF WEALTHIEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. MARYLAND IS THE WEALTHIEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE USA IS THE WEALTHIEST NATION IN THE WORLD. LET THAT SINK IN. THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DESERVE TO HAVE A VERY WELL FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES IN TRANSLATES INTO 
          [00:40:02]
STRONG CAREERS TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. AND VERY IMPORTANTLY, THE HIGHLY EDUCATED TECHNOLOGICAL NEEDS OF OUR LARGEST EMPLOYER AVENUE PROVING GROUND. PROVIDING HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO FILL THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ROLES AT A PG. IS OUR PATRIOTIC DUTY. FULLY FUNDING SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR SEAN BOLTON'S PROPOSED BUDGET SHOWS A TRUE COMMITMENT. TO INVESTING IN OUR COUNTY NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. FUNDING. THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET GROWS THE ECONOMY OF OUR COUNTY IMMEDIATELY AND SETS US UP FOR LONG TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR A HIGHLY VALUED AND SOUGHT AFTER WORKFORCE THAT ALLOWS OUR LOCAL ECONOMY TO GROW WITH THE HIGHEST PAYING JOBS. WHERE DO THE DOLLARS GO WHEN THEY FLOW THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM? FIVE OUT OF EVERY $6. GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS OF OUR EMPLOYEES. FIVE OUT OF EVERY $6 GOES TO THE FAMILIES OF EVERYONE SUPPORTING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE LIVE RIGHT HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. SO FIVE OUT OF EVERY $6 FLOWS DIRECTLY INTO LOCAL ECONOMY HERE IN HARPER COUNTY. AND THEIR SURROUNDING REGION. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SUPPORTS MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES AND VENDORS AS WELL. AND THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO CALL HCPS THEIR EMPLOYER. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY. FULLY FUNDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS BUDGET. IS FULLY FUNDING. THE LOCAL ECONOMY. I WAS ELECTED BY MY CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I GO ALL IN AND I DON'T DO ANYTHING HALFWAY. MANY WHO VOTED FOR ME KNOW ME DIRECTLY. THEY KNOW ME FOR MY INVOLVEMENT IN MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT I SUPPORTED IN MY LOCAL COMMUNITY AND STILL DO. THEY EXPECT ME TO GROW THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THEY EXPECT ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE HIGHEST QUALITY SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE AND TO DO THAT. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET MUST BE FULLY FUNDED. 
          AGAIN I APPRECIATE THE THOUSANDS OF HARVARD COUNTIANS THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR A FULLY FUNDED SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET. I HOPE THAT WE CAN MEET THE EXPECTATIONS THAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE FOR US. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS STRAUSS. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT . I WANNA START OFF BY SAYING CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING SPORTS TEAMS. HOWARD A GRACE CHEERLEADING WON THE SINGLE A REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AS DID BEL AIR CHEERLEADING, WHICH WON THE AAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. BOSTON GIRLS SWIM. HARFORD TECH BOYS, THE HARTFORD TECH SWIM TEAM AS A WHOLE TOOK HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE. HARFORD TECH INDOOR TRACK WON THE SINGLE A REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THEN WE HAD MULTIPLE STUDENTS ACROSS SEVERAL SCHOOLS PLACE IN THE INDOOR TRACK REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SO WELL DONE TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW UPCOMING EVENTS. PLEASE NOTE THAT KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE. 1 MARCH AND PRE K REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN THROUGH MAY. HTPS IS HOSTING A MILITARY INFORMATION SESSION AT C. MILTON WRIGHT, UM, ON 15TH FEBRUARY FROM 6 TO 8. ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMY. NAVY AIR FORCE MARINES AIR NATIONAL GUARD MARYLAND NATIONAL GUARD I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING SERVING THEIR COUNTRY IN THIS GREAT WAY TO ATTEND. THE LIBRARY MATERIAL PLANNING GROUP CONTINUES TO MEET ONCE A MONTH. I'M ENCOURAGED BY OUR PROGRESS AND BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO SUBMITTING A DRAFT PROCEDURE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE INPUT. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT WE HAVE A VOTE ON THE BUDGET COMING UP TONIGHT. I WANTED TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHTS ON HOW I VIEW MY ROLE. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPROVING THE PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. WE ARE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENT SUCCESS ALSO ALIGNS WITH TAXPAYER PRIORITIES. THE DEFINITION OF THIS ALIGNMENT COMES IN THE FORM OF THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET. A CRITICAL PART OF SEEING OUR ESTABLISHED GOALS COMES TO FRUITION AND SETTING THE STRATEGIC BUDGET. OUR PURPOSE IS TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ADVOCATE FOR THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE. WE HAVE TO WORK TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN WHAT TAXPAYERS WANT FOR THEIR SCHOOLS AND WHAT STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE. THIS PURPOSE REQUIRES BALANCE. WE HAVE TO EXERCISE PRUDENT CONTROL OF FINANCES AND REFRAIN FROM ACQUIESCING TO OUTSIDE PRESSURE ON ALL SIDES. WE ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS STRUGGLE. COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE WRESTLING WITH THE PRESSURES OF INFLATION, BLUEPRINT MANDATES AND THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDS. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO AGREE TO SPEND MORE THAN WE TAKE IN WELL, I BELIEVE THAT COVID GRANT FUNDING WAS REALLY PUT TO GOOD USE. THOSE FUNDS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERPRETED AS ONE TIME MONEY. 
          [00:45:04]
IT'S UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THE TAXPAYER TO PICK UP 100% OF WHERE THOSE GRANTS ARE LEAVING OFF. AND NOW WE'RE PUT IN THIS POSITION TO MAKE DELIBERATE, PROACTIVE CHOICES. WE HAVE TO GO INTO IT EYES WIDE OPEN AND UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFERENT OPTIONS WILL PLAY OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEEDIEST STUDENTS. AS A BOARD. WE ARE DEALING WITH A PARENTS, TWO MOST TREASURED ASSETS, THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR TAX DOLLARS. TONIGHT IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE BUDGET PROCESS . THERE'S A LOT OF CONVERSATION LEFT TO HAVE, AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THE CONTINUED BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, ENSURING THAT THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS REMAIN THE FOCUS. THANK YOU, MS HAN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY ABSENCE. UNFORTUNATELY I'M UNABLE TO BE IN PERSON, BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURNING NEXT MEETING. UM BE SURE TO ATTEND THE NEXT LISTENING SESSION TOMORROW EVENING AT NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL FROM 530 TO 730. I'D LIKE TO ALSO CONGRATULATE ALL THE TEACHERS WHO HAVE NO WHO ARE NOMINATED FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY, UM I AGREE GOING LAST KIND OF STICKS BECAUSE EVERYBODY ALREADY SUMS UP AND THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF SUMMING EVERYTHING UP THAT I WANNA SAY TOO. SO UM, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE MANY COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED TO SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT. BUDGET I ABSOLUTELY 100% AGREE THAT WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM NEED EVERY CENT THAT WE CAN GET TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS, STAFF AND TEACHERS. OUR FOCUS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND GETTING OUR STUDENTS ON GRADE LEVEL PROFICIENCY AND EXCELLING IN READING, MATH, SCIENCE AND HISTORY. UM WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS MAKE THEIR MAKE SURE THAT THEIR JOBS ARE A LITTLE LESS STRESSFUL BY PROVIDING THEM THE SUPPORTS AND THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED AND BY LOWERING CLASS SIZES, NOT INCREASING THEM. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. I'VE HEARD MANY CONCERNS ABOUT THE WAY THAT THINGS ARE DONE. HOW OVERWORKED AND UNDERPAID THAT OUR STAFF ARE . UM I HEAR YOU AND I'M LISTENING, AND THAT'S WHY I'M WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THOSE THINGS. UM I WOULD NOT BE DOING MY JOB IF I RUBBER STAMPED THE THINGS BROUGHT BEFORE ME. MY JOB IS TO QUESTION AND VERIFY ALL THE INFORMATION BROUGHT BEFORE ME FOR A VOTE TO ENSURE THAT I THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS WHAT OUR TEACHERS NEED AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO SUCCEED AND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE WE ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS RESPONSIBLY. UM, I ALSO WANTED TO ADDRESS DOCTOR MUELLER'S CONCERNS. UM I DID ASK FOR THE 2024 2025 CALENDAR TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA FOR, UM, NEXT MEETING AS WE NEED TO CORRECT THE ERRORS AND DIFFERENCES ON AT ON THE PRESENTED AND VOTED ON VERSION. 
          I DID ASK FOR IT TO BE ADDED TO THIS EVENING'S, BUT, UM, THEY, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS THEY WERE SAYING THAT IT WAS ALREADY PACKED AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING, AND IT WOULD BE ON THE NEXT MEETING'S AGENDA, SO I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THAT IN THE FUTURE. UM SO THANK YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU GUYS SOON. THANK YOU. SO MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD. UM OTHER THAN, UH, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET LATER, SO I'LL RESERVE MY COMMENTS FOR THAT SECTION ON THE AGENDA, AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME GOOD NEWS THAT KIDS ARE WATCHING. UH STUDENTS ARE WATCHING. WE HAVE A 
          [Public Comments]
TWO HOUR DELAY TOMORROW, SO WE'LL PUT SOME GOOD NEWS IN THERE. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A PACKED AGENDA AS WELL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE HAVE 21 REGISTERED IN PERSON AND ONE REGISTERED VIRTUAL IN PERSON. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES. TO SPEAK IN FIVE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS. IF YOU'RE REPRESENTING A GROUP SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND MAY BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT. WHEN THE SPEAKER HAS REACHED THEIR THREE OR FIVE MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. MS ROLLO, PLEASE BEGIN IN PERSON REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER. THIS UM, EVENING IS M DANIEL BETZEL. REPRESENTING A GROUP PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING BOARD PRESIDENT, DOCTOR PONTON, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR BOLSON. I'M DANIELLE BETZEL. AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF KPA. CATS IS THE BARGAINING UNIT THAT REPRESENTS ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL AND SUPERVISORY PROFESSIONALS FOR HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS ASSOCIATION CONSISTS OF SUPERVISORS NURSES, COORDINATORS , SOFTWARE DEVELOPERS, SPECIALIST PLANT CHIEFS, PROGRAMMERS AND MORE. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO EXPRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EVERY POSITION IN HCPS. THE CATS B UNIT IS MADE UP OF SUPPORT STAFF. OUR JOBS ARE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. MOST RECENTLY, A COMMENT WAS POSTED BY A BOARD MEMBER THAT STATED THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO ONGOING DISCUSSIONS, CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS AND COMING UP WITH OTHER SOLUTIONS TO KEEP THE FOCUS OF HCPS ON EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN AND MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT CLASS SIZES. KEEPING OUR CURRENT TEACHERS ALONG WITH SUPPORTING OTHER IMPORTANT INITI. WELL NEWS FLASH. THAT'S WHAT THE, UH, ORIGINAL BUDGET 
          [00:50:03]
DID. YOU CANNOT CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OTHER IMPORTANT INITIATIVES WITH LESS SUPPORT STAFF. CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME BELIEVE, AS WELL AS THE MOMS AGAINST EDUCATION, WE DO NOT HAVE INFLATED CENTRAL AND INFLATED CENTRAL OFFICE. WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE DOING THEIR JOBS, ALONG WITH THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITY OF PREVIOUSLY CUT POSITIONS. CATS FOR EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS WORK AN AVERAGE OF 10 TO 12 HOURS A DAY AND OFTEN EVEN MORE THAN THAT, AS WELL AS ON WEEKENDS AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE OK WITH CUTTING STAFF WHO, BY THE WAY, ARE ALSO PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS IS SO UNSETTLING SOME OF YOU SIT THERE AND YOU SAY THAT YOU SUPPORT EACH CPS STUDENTS AND STAFF, BUT YOU DON'T IF YOU WANTED TO DO WHAT WAS BEST. YOU WOULD SUPPORT THE BUDGET AND ADVOCATE WITH US AND NOT AGAINST US. AND FOR THE MEMBERS WHO DO SUPPORT THE BUDGET STUDENTS AND STAFF. WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR ADVOCACY MORE THAN YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE OUR OUR STAFF FEEL SUPPORTED AND NOT TARGETED. SO THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSIE COSGROVE. IN MY PAPER SITUATED HERE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOSIE COSGROVE AND I'M, A PEER EDUCATOR IN THE STRIVE PROGRAM AT WILLIAM S, JAMES ELEMENTARY. 
          EDUCATOR. YES, I SAID EDUCATOR. I TEACH MY STUDENTS LANGUAGE, SOCIAL AND BEHAVIO ACADEMICS. THE STRIVE PROGRAM IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOCUSES ON OFFERING HIGHLY SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION TO OUR YOUNGEST CHILDREN, STUDENTS THROUGH OUR 21 YEAR OLD ADULTS. 
          ITS FOCUS IS TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT COGNITIVE COMMUNICATION AND BEHAVIOR CHALLENGES. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES HAS INCREASED OVER THE PAST DECADE. THIS MAY INCLUDE SPEECH, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR FINE MOTOR SKILLS, PHYSICAL THERAPY TO TEACH SAFETY IN SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, ADAPTIVE PE ACADEMIC SERVICES AND READING , WRITING OR MATH OR PROGRAM LIKE STRIVE IN WHICH THERE ARE MULTIPLE AREAS OF NEED THAT REQUIRE A CHILD TO BE INSTRUCTED ON A SMALLER TEACHER STUDENT RATIO IN ORDER TO MEET THAT NEED. I ST STUDENTS JOIN THEIR PEERS DAILY IN AREAS SUCH AS MUSIC, PE MEDIA, ART AND LUNCH. SOME STUDENTS JOIN THEIR PEERS IN READING, WRITING AND MATH AS WELL. EACH STUDENT'S PROGRAM IS TAILORED TO MEET THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. DURING THESE TIMES OF INCLUSION, THESE STUDENTS MAY BE QUIET AS A CHURCH MOUSE SCRIPTING AND REPEATING PHRASES ALOUD OVER AND OVER, SHOUTING, RUNNING AROUND THE ROOM OR OUT OF THE ROOM BECOME AGGRESSIVE TO STAB OR STUDENTS OR SELF ABUSE THEM TO THEMSELVES. OR THEY COULD BE QUIET AS A CHURCH MOUSE. ADULT SUPPORT IS ALWAYS NEEDED FOR BOTH ACADEMIC AND SAFETY PURPOSES. JUST AS THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND PARENTS TRUST ME TO TEACH MY STUDENTS I TRUST SUPER AND TONE OF FOLSON, UH, EXPERIENCE AS A FORMER EDUCATOR AND AS OUR CURRENT SUPERINTENDENT, TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          THIS INCLUDES, AMONG MANY THINGS , THE EXPANSION OF THE STRI AND CS P PROGRAMS. MANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE LISTENED TO THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL AT THE ENGAGE FOR EDUCATION, TOWN HALL MEETINGS. YOU HEARD OUR CONCERNS THAT SOME OF YOU MAY BE SITTING THERE UP THERE, OUR PONDS FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THIS IS YOUR TIME TO PROVE YOUR ALLEGIANCE TO THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF BY TRUSTING THE VOICE OF THE EDUCATORS AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. SUPPORT THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT, BOLSON. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS J EDWARDS. REPRESENTING THE GROUP. PLEASE STATE THEM THAT YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. UH, GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND DOCTOR BOLSON. UH, MY NAME IS J. EDWARDS AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE HARVARD COUNTY SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION. UH, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR. OUR ASSOCIATION IS COMPRISED OF SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTORS THAT PROVIDE ALL OF THE GENERAL EDUCATION BUS SERVICE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. UH, I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SPEAK, UH, IN SUPPORT OF DOCTOR BOLTON'S BUDGET FOR THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. I HAVE BEEN A BUS CONTRACTOR IN HARTFORD COUNTY FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS. MANY OF OUR OTHER CONTRACTORS ARE GENERATIONAL OWNERS AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR DECADES. MOST OF US HAVE VERY, VERY DEEP ROOTS HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. WE ALL FIRMLY INVESTED IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE OF THE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. PEOPLE MOVE TO HARTFORD COUNTY SPECIFICALLY FOR ITS EXCELLENT SCHOOLS. THERE ARE MANY MOVING PARTS INVOLVED IN MAKING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM A SUCCESSFUL ONE. TRANSPORTATION IS A PART IN WHICH WE PLAY A MAJOR ROLE. WE EMPLOY OVER 400 SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THIS COUNTY. WE AS WELL AS OUR DRIVERS TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN 
          [00:55:01]
PROVIDING SAFE SUPERIOR SERVICE EVERY DAY TO ALMOST 40,000 STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY. THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN OUR COUNTY IS VERY COMPLEX. ONE. WITH MANY MOVING PARTS THAT ENSURE EVERY CHILD GETS A SAFE RIDE, TOO, AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY. OUR DRIVES ARE OFTEN TIMES THE FIRST AND LAST INDIVIDUAL. THESE STUDENTS INTERACT WITH AND IT IS OUR HOPE THAT EACH ONE OF THESE INTERACTIONS IS ALWAYS A POSITIVE ONE. I WOULD BE WILLING TO PUT THE QUALITY OF SERVICE WE PROVIDE UP AGAINST OTHER ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN THE STATE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN ORDER TO CONTINUE TO EXCEL IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TRULY HAS A STUDENT'S BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS, ADEQUATE FUNDING IS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. WE FEEL THAT THE BUDGET HAS BEEN PRESENTED DOES A GREAT JOB OF TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS NECESSARY TO GROW A STRONG SCHOOL SYSTEM? EVERYONE IS WELL AWARE THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TAKES INDIC IS PARAMOUNT IN TODAY'S ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT. OUR ASSOCIATION. FEELS THAT THE BUDGET PRESENTED TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM A TOP TIER PROGRAM. IN CLOSING. WE HAVE BUILT A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THIS COUNTY. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE PRESENTED BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY PINHO. HI GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TRACY PINCHO, AND I AM A NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED SCHOOL LIBRARIAN AT PATTERSON MILL, AND I'M ALSO A NOMINEE FOR THE MARYLAND SCHOOL LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR. SO I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU. BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD MAKE A HOLIDAY OUT OF THE DAY AFTER THE SUPER BOWL. I ENCOUNTERED SOME SLEEPY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TODAY. HOWEVER I'M UP HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. NOT THE SUPER BOWL OR MY OPINION ON PROPOSED NATIONAL HOLIDAYS. SINCE FOOTBALL IS STILL ON MY MIND, WE CAN USE THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS TO HELP IN OUR ANALOGY. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE CHIEFS ARE GOOD AT WHAT THEY DO. THEY HIRE EXPERT COACHES AND ANALYSTS ENTERING THEIR PLAYERS. ENTER TAYLOR SWIFT. UNDOUBTEDLY SHE IS GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES, TOO. HOWEVER I'M SURE YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT IT WOULD BE CRAZY TO HAVE TAYLOR SWIFT. COME TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND TAKE OVER AS COACH FOR THE CHIEFS. WHY BECAUSE SHE ISN'T THE EXPERT AT FOOTBALL. SHE IS THE EXPERT AT SINGING. THE SAME LOGIC APPLIES TO US HERE IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HCPS IS GOOD AT WHAT WE DO. WE HAVE EDUCATED, CARING PROFESSIONALS WORKING HARD DAY AFTER DAY TO MEET OUR MISSION TO INSPIRE, PREPARE AND HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE. WE HAVE EXPERT LEADERS, MANY WITH DOCTORAL DEGREES. AND WE EVEN HAVE THE MARYLAND STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR AT OUR HOME. WE ARE LIKE THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS. ENTER TAYLOR SWIFT. IN THIS CASE, YOU. SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT ALL OF YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT YOU EACH INDIVIDUALLY DO. HOWEVER. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE SAME EDUCATION TRAINING YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE ON THE FIELD IN THE DAY TO DAY PLAYS AND TACKLES THAT WE LIVE FOR 7.5 HOURS A DAY OR LONGER EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS IS OUR LIFE. THIS IS NOT A GAME. STOP TRYING TO BE A TAYLOR SWIFT ATTEMPTING TO COACH THE CHIEFS. TRUST YOUR PLAYERS AND YOUR COACHES. WE ARE THE ONES WHO KNOW WHAT WE NEED BEST IN ORDER TO WIN DAY AFTER DAY. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK MISS BRUCE, DOCTOR MULLER AND MR SOUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS TODAY. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRYSTAL RUFFINO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RINAT AND I'M A GRADUATE OF HCPS, UH, CURRENT EDUCATOR. AND LIFELONG RESIDENT OF A OF HARVARD COUNTY. UM I WANTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT TO ASK THAT YOU PASS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET, UM AS IS WHICH REPRESENTS THE COLLECTIVE RECOMMENDATION OF EDUCATORS AND THOSE IN CENTRAL OFFICE 
          [01:00:04]
DEDICATED TO PUTTING TOGETHER A BUDGET REQUEST REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR NEEDS. THIS TEAM IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED TO EVALUATE OUR NEEDS AND TO PREPARE THE BUDGET. IT HAS BEEN SHARED THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD PLAN TO PUT FORTH YOUR OWN BUDGET. UM A BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN FORMED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH INTENT TO PLEASE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. I ASK THAT YOU COMPARE YOUR EXPERIENCE, UM, WITH THE YOUR EXPERIENCE FORMING EDUCATIONAL BUDGETS, UM, TO THE COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE OF OUR HTPS STAFF. WHAT WOULD THESE PROFESSIONALS SAY ABOUT YOU ABOUT YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH THEM AS YOU WERE ASKING QUESTIONS OF THEM? UM WOULD THEY SAY THAT YOU LISTENED TO LEARN THAT YOU ASK QUESTIONS? UM THAT THERE WERE SOLUTIONS FOCUSED CONVERSATIONS TO BRIDGE DIFFERENCES. UM BY BRINGING FORTH A DIFFERENT BUDGET OR A BUDGET WITH MAJOR CHANGES AND CUTS, YOU'RE GONNA CIRCUMVENT WELL ESTABLISHED PROCESSES, ENSURING FIDELITY AND CRITICAL ASPECTS OF THIS WORK. AND IT'S UM IT'S REALLY AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE. THAT YOU SAY YOU VALUE YOU HAVE HEARD FROM HUNDREDS OF EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ASK THAT YOU PASS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET COMPARED TO FAR FEWER WHO ALIGN WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, EVEN AT HIS OWN INPUT SESSION. YOU'VE BEEN OFFERED SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE OFFICIALLY AND UNOFFICIALLY BY MANY EDUCATORS. EVERYONE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TEAM ARE AWARE OF WHAT TAKE TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR AND WHAT THE ACCOUNTING EXECUTIVE HAS SAID REGARDING THIS BUDGET CYCLE. THIS BUDGET IS BASED ON OUR NEEDS, NOT THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE. VOTING FOR THIS BUDGET KEEPS US AFLOAT AND IT WILL LIKELY STILL KEEP US LAST IN MARYLAND, ACROSS VARIOUS MEASURE MEASURES, INCLUDING PER PEOPLE FUNDING. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE SAID ABOUT YOU THAT YOU LISTENED OR THAT YOU IGNORED THAT YOU WORK WITH THE HTPS TEAM OR A GATED HOURS OF ANALYSIS AND WORK. THAT YOU WERE LOYAL TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OR TO THE STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. OF HCPS. THE WAY THAT YOU VOTE TONIGHT MIGHT NOT IMPACT YOU PERSONALLY VERY MUCH, BUT IT WILL IMPACT ME MY STUDENTS, THEIR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS EVERY DAY. IT WILL IMPACT EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT I DO. I'M ASKING YOU TO DO HARD THINGS. UM BECAUSE WE'RE ALL DOING HARD THINGS RIGHT NOW IN THIS PROFESSION. HAVE COURAGE, HONOR EDUCATORS AND VOTE YES. ON DOCTOR BOLTON'S BUDGET. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CINDY PAUPER. GOOD EVENING. THERE'S A REASON THAT BOARD OF ED ELECTIONS ARE NONPARTISAN. 
          THERE'S A REASON THAT MANY OF US FOUGHT AGAINST HAVING BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THE REASON IS SIMPLE. THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL HOT POTATO. POLITICAL AND PARTISAN VIEWS SHOULD NOT DICTATE WHAT HCPS NEEDS TO FUND A GROWING FUNCTIONAL TOP NOTCH EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR OUR CHILDREN. YES, EDUCATION IS POLITICAL BY DEFINITION. ALMOST EVERYTHING ABOUT EDUCATION IS DICTATED BY POLITICS AND POLITICIANS. YOU ARE NOT POLITICIANS, NOR SHOULD YOU BE FUNCTIONING AS POLITICIANS. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NONPARTISAN ADVOCATES FOR THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. LET ME REPEAT THAT NONPARTISAN ADVOCATES. NON PARTISAN IS A LACK OF AFFILIATION WITH AND A LACK OF BIAS TOWARDS A POLITICAL PARTY SET OF POLITICAL BELIEFS AND OR ANY POLITICAL GROUP OR ORGANIZATION. YOU ARE CHARGED WITH APPROVING A BUDGET THAT ACCURATE ACCURATELY REFLECTS WHAT THIS DISTRICT NEEDS NOT WHAT COUNTY POLITICS OR YOUR PERSONAL POLI POLITICAL BELIEFS DICTATE. AGAIN, NONPARTISAN. 
          YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF THIS DISTRICT IS TO ACCURATELY DETERMINE WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO FUNCTION AND STILL REMAIN TRUE TO ITS MISSION AND VISION. LAST YEAR, THIS DISTRICT SUFFERED A MAJOR SETBACK IN FUNDING. THAT UNDERFUNDING HAS RESULTED IN A COMPOUNDING OF FINANCIAL FACTORS FOR THIS YEAR. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET, MAINTAINS WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND ONLY ADDS TO A FEW KEY AREAS THAT ARE SORELY IN NEED. IT STILL HAS SHORTFALLS. IN ADDRESSING AREAS LIKE SUPPORT STAFF SALARIES, ADDING ADDITIONAL EL STAFF COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. ALL THINGS YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS HAVE REPEATEDLY STATED OUR PRIORITIES. I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STEP UP TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU ARE CHARGED WITH. BE NONPARTISAN ADVOCATES AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S 
          [01:05:01]
BUDGET. I ALSO FIND IT RATHER AMUSING THAT SOMEONE OR A GROUP OF SOMEONE'S FOUND IT NECESSARY TO FRAUDULENTLY USE MY EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND EMAILS TO ALL OF YOU ESPOUSING AN OPINION ABOUT THE BUDGET THAT IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE OF MY VIEWS TO ACT AT THAT LEVEL IS JUST ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION OF THE SILLINESS THAT SOME WILL EMPLOY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND ATTEMPT TO GIVE CREDENCE TO THEIR OVERLY PARTISAN AND ILL INFORMED VIEWS OF WHAT HCPS NEEDS. PLEASE BE OUR ADVOCATES AND NOT OUR OPPONENTS SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KELLY FONER. HI I'VE, UM COME TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND WE NEED TO I ACCEPT THE, UM, BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN, UM, DEVELOPED BY PROFESSIONALS AND, UM, SHOWS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUDGET AND COMMENTS LIKE THAT. WE CAN, UM TAKE CARE OF OUR BUDGET SHORTFALLS. UM AND KEEP ALL TEACHERS EMPLOYED IS NOT, UM, DOABLE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF POSITIONS THAT WE WOULD, UM GAIN FROM ELIMINATING ALL OF OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT WON'T EVEN UM ADDRESS THE SHORTFALLS. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACKIE JOHNSON. 
          FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MEETINGS. WE'VE BEEN HEARING MANY PEOPLE NOT REQUEST, BUT DEMAND THAT MORE MONEY BE GIVEN TO MAINTAIN A FAILING SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT WAS EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPERTY TAX CREDIT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS BE REMOVED. ACCORDING TO THE STATE LAW, THE PROPERTY MUST BE YOUR PRIMARY RESIDENCE. YOU MUST BE 65 AND HAVE OWNED YOUR OWN HOME FOR 35 YEARS. HERE'S A REAL LIFE SITUATION OF AN ELDERLY COUPLE IN THEIR EIGHTIES. THE WIFE HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY WITH AMBULATION AND IS THE ONLY CAREGIVER OF HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS AN END STAGE PARKINSON'S. 
          BECAUSE OF THIS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO LEAVE THEIR PROPERTY. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THEY WOULD LEAVE THEIR HOME. BUT THE EXPERTS MUCH LIKE YOURSELVES BROUGHT THAT TO A STOP WITH THEIR REACTION TO THE COVID PANDEMIC. SINCE COVID. THESE PEOPLE HAVE LIVED AS PRISONERS IN THEIR OWN HOME. ALL GROCERIES AND OTHER NECESSITIES ARE ROUTINELY ORDERED AND DELIVERED. ALL DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS ARE VIRTUAL AND ANY MEDICATIONS ORDERED ARE DELIVERED BY THE PHARMACY OR PICKED UP BY A NEIGHBOR. NEIGHBORS HELP THEM BY MAINTAINING A PLOWED DRIVEWAY, BRINGING UP THEIR MAIL AND TRASH CANS, REMOVING ANY DEBRIS LEFT BY STORMS AND HIGH WINDS. SADLY THEY HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR ONLY CHILD AND SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS . THE NEAREST RELATIVE LIVES 15 MILES AWAY. I KNOW THESE THINGS TO BE TRUE, BECAUSE I AM THAT RELATIVE THIS ISOLATION THAT EXPERTS FORCED ON THEM HAS SO WEAKENED THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM THAT THEY STILL FEAR GOING OUT OR ALLOWING OTHERS TO COME IN, OR EVEN EVEN THOUGH THE PANDEMIC HAS ENDED. DUE TO THE INCREASE IN FUEL COSTS, THEY HAVE TURNED THEIR THERMOSTAT DOWN SEVERAL DEGREES. SHUT DOORS TO UNUSED ROOMS, ALONG WITH HEAT VENTS AND RARE, HEAVIER CLOTHING. THEIR HOUSE NEEDS REPAIR, AND THEY LIVE MONTH TO MONTH ON A FIXED INCOME. AS SUCH, THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP, NOT ANOTHER BURDEN OF TAXES. THEY HAVE LIVED IN THEIR HOME FOR 45 YEARS AND MORE THAN QUALIFIED FOR THE MUCH DESERVED TAX CREDIT. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF HOW ELDERLY HARTFORD COUNTY CITIZENS ARE BEING IMPACTED BY WHAT YOU DO. THEY HAVE PAID THEIR DUES AND DESERVE BETTER. MY COUSIN'S CHILD WAS HOME SCHOOLED, AND HE GRADUATED TOWSON UNIVERSITY AT AGE 14 WITH HONORS, THEN WENT ON TO WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY PERFORMED AT SUCH A LEVEL THAT HOPKINS SOUGHT HIM OUT. CAN THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BOASTS OF SUCH AN EXAMPLE? MY COUSIN AND HER HUSBAND WERE NOT EXPERTS. 
          THEY WERE NOT EVEN TRAINED AS TEACHERS. THEY SIMPLY LOVE THEIR SON AND WANTED HIM TO HAVE A QUALITY LIFE. IT SEEMS TO BE THE THOUGHT IN THIS ROOM THAT A TAX CREDIT FOR PEOPLE LIKE MY COUSIN SHOULD BE ELIMINATED SO THAT WE CAN PAY THE INCREASED COST THAT YOU NOW DEMAND TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. YOU SAY IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. LET'S SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING WITH THAT, ACCORDING TO HIS SUN PAPERS PUBLISHED REPORT IN 2023 90% OF HARTFORD COUNTY SENIORS GRADUATE THAT MIGHT BE GOOD, EXCEPT FOR TWO THINGS ONLY. 39% WERE PROFICIENT IN READING, AND ONLY 22% WERE PROFICIENT IN MATH. THAT MAKES OUR FUTURE LOOK BLEAK . YOU SAY THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THIS IS BY SPENDING MORE MONEY. HARTFORD COUNTY STUDENTS SHOULD BE LUCKY THEY GET ACCEPTED IN A TOWSON AND EVEN THEN NEED TUTORING. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHY KOWALSKI. 
          [01:10:04]
EVENING. I AM IN YEAR 30 AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST. I'M TIRED. MY FELLOW SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE TIRED. WE HAVE THREE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST VACANCIES THIS YEAR AND A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE OUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW EMS DE CERTIFIED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST CAN SUBSTITUTE FOR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST. AS A RESULT, WE HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO COVERAGE TEAMS TO COVER ALL THE NEEDS IN THOSE BUILDINGS WHO CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE AN ASSIGNED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST. EDGEWOOD MIDDLE ABERDEEN, MIDDLE AND FOUNTAIN GREEN AS WELL AS THOSE SCHOOLS WHERE THERE ARE TEMPORARY VACANCIES DUE TO ILLNESSES. NO ONE IS HAPPY ABOUT THE SITUATION , BUT EVERYONE'S DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO MEET ALL THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS IN THE BUILDINGS AND WE ARE LIKELY FALLING SHORT. IN THE END. IT IS THE STUDENTS WHO SUFFER. WE MAY WELL END UP IN A SIMILAR SITUATION NEXT YEAR AS WELL. SO WHY DO WE HAVE THREE VACANCIES? YOU MAY ASK. THE ANSWER IS FAIRLY SIMPLE. THERE'S A NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, AND THAT SHORTAGE EXTENDS TO MARYLAND. WHEN OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE OFFERING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS MORE IN STARTING PAY, AND THOSE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF SCHOOL ARE MOSTLY YOUNG AND JUST STARTING OUT. THEY'RE GOING TO GO WHERE THE MONEY IS. CAN YOU BLAME HIM? A $13,000 A YEAR MORE DIFFERENCE OVER THE COURSE OF A 30 YEAR. CAREER ENDS UP TO BE OVER $390,000. THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. THAT'S WHERE YOU COME IN AS A BOARD. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE BUSY RALLYING THE PUBLIC WHETHER YOU WERE APPOINTED OR ELECTED TO ALERT OUR TO URGE OUR COUNTY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ASK IS FULLY FUNDED. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ALREADY SHOWN US WHERE HE STANDS THROUGH BOTH HIS ACTIONS LAST YEAR, HIS PROPOSED ACTIONS THIS YEAR AND HIS REFUSAL TO EVEN LOOK AT ANY OF THE SPEAKERS AT HIS TOWN HALL , WHO DID NOT SUPPORT HIS MEASLY 5% INCREASE, WHICH WAS THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF US IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE BOARD SITS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE TABLE ON MANY ISSUES, BUT FIGHTING FOR FULLY FUNDING THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ASK SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO BLEED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS EVERY YEAR, RESULTING IN VACANCIES AND CONSTANTLY BEING IN A STATE OF CRISIS AS A STAFF. TRYING TO MEET ALL THE FEDERAL TIMELINES REQUIRED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, TRYING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET IS VERY CONSERVATIVE AND THOSE OF YOU TRYING TO MICROMANAGE EVERY PENNY OF IT WITHOUT THE NECESSARY TRAINING AND BACKGROUND TO DO SO NEED TO SHIFT YOUR FOCUS AND ENERGY TOWARDS GETTING THE BUDGET FUNDED. RIGHT NOW. THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE THE CALENDAR SCENARIO ALL OVER AGAIN, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW THAT'S TURNING OUT. SHOW US THROUGH YOUR ACTION THAT YOU ARE FIGHTING FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU NEED. AS DOCTOR MULLER INDICATED YOU'LL NEVER GET WHAT YOU DON'T ASK FOR. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RENE DIBIASE. I AM RENEE DIBIASI. I HAVE FOUR KIDS IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE FOUR. I HAVE A SENIOR AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR, SO IT'S VERY EXCITING TIME. UM I SUPPORT THE BUDGET. I'LL JUST PUT THAT OUT THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT MY COMMENTS ARE ABOUT. UM THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS ACROSS HARFORD COUNTY WHO VOLUNTEER COUNTLESS HOURS AND MONEY, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. TODAY. I WISH TO THANK ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. THROUGH THEIR QUIET ACTIONS OF SELFLESSNESS. ALL CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT. IN INDEPENDENT SECTOR.ORG VALUES OF VOLUNTEERS. TIME AT $31.80 AN HOUR. $34.12 IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AS OF 2022. IF SOMETHING GREAT IS HAPPENING IN A SCHOOL, I HAVE COME TO LEARN. THAT THERE IS USUALLY A VOLUNTEER BEHIND IT. WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT THEM? WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT ANY, ANYBODY WHO'S COME UP HERE? I DON'T KNOW. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WHITNEY SABINE. GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU. ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO, UM, SUPPORT DOCTOR BOSONS POCHET BECAUSE I'M HERE TO ASK THE OTHER ONES TO FOLLOW SUIT AND, UH, SUPPORT DOCTOR BOSONS BUDGET. THE BUDGET IS CONSERVATIVE AND ADDRESSES WHAT 
          [01:15:02]
IS ESSENTIAL TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS APPRECIATE THAT. MISS HAN PUBLISHED A LETTER STATING TO NO TEACHING POSITIONS WILL BE CUT, NOT CUT PROGRAMS AND KEEP CURRENT CLASS. YET THERE ARE ISSUES WITH US. THERE'S DECLARATIONS. FIRST TEACHERS HAVE A TRUST THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SEVERAL TIMES AS MENTIONED CLASS SIZES UP TO 39 STUDENTS IN SEVERAL CLASSES AND CONTENT AREAS. OTHER TEACHERS HAVE MENTIONED PAST SIZES UP TO 45 STUDENTS. SUCH CLASS SIZES ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT CONCLUSIVE TO LEARNING. THE STATEMENT THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DEDICATED TO KEEPING CLEARANCES. GUYS CLASS SIZES. IS THERE MORE THAN CON, UH, CONTENT. IT BECOMES EVIDENT THAT YOUR TURNING A BLIND EYE TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEARNING CONDITION. SECONDLY DOCTOR PAULSON'S BUDGET INCLUDES FUNDING NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN POSITIONS THAT ARE CURRENTLY PAID FOR BY FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. THESE POSITIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING LAWS. PASSING AN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET MEANS THAT EITHER TEACHING POSITIONS WILL BE CUT OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS WILL BE LOST. I COMES TO THE TREND OF GPS STUDENTS AND CONTRADICTS THE ASSERTIONS IN THE BOARD LETTER. WHY NOT FULLY FUNDING THE BUDGET? YOU ARE DOING AN INJUSTICE TO THE STUDENTS. YOU ARE NOT MEETING YOUR APPLICATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS AND YOUR UNDERMINING YOUR OWN STATEMENT REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY SOME CONSTITUENTS ARE DETERMINED TO TURN IT INTO ALL HEREFORD COUNTY CITIZENS SHOULD BE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING OUR STUDENTS WITH AN APPROPRIATE EDUCATION. FACT IS THESE STUDENTS ARE OUR FUTURE. WON'T SURE THAT OUR COUNTY AND NATION REMAINS PROSPEROUS. UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE TWO RESPONSIBILITY ENSURE THAT THEY CAN OBTAIN AN EDUCATION, ALLOWING THEM TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF AN INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET. YOU DO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF IT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACCEPTED A ROLE, WHICH OBLIGATES YOU TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS THE CASE. IT IS ALSO YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO IMPLEMENT THE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE ELICITED AND RECEIVED. DO NOT SIMPLY CHECK A BOX BY HOSTING LISTENING SESSIONS AND CONDUCTING SURVEYS ONLY TO IGNORE THE FEEDBACK AND MAKE ARBITRARY DECISIONS, BUT RATHER BY IMPLEMENTING WHAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION. YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROJECT AND EFFECT ON THE STUDENTS. I CALL YOU TO MEET YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES THAT YOU PRECISION IS DEMAND YOUR APPLICATION TO PUT THE BEST INTERESTS OF YOUR STUDENTS ABOVE YOUR OWN. I CALL ON YOU TO FULLY FUND DOCTOR POSTINGS PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE MAN THAT MR KILL CASTLE TOO, SO AS WELL SO OUR STUDENTS CAN SUCCEED. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS WILLIAM MARTINO. GOOD EVENING. WE RECENTLY CELEBRATED THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR WITH THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY NEW YEAR'S DAY, WHICH REPRESENTS NEW BEGINNINGS. AND NOW WE TRADITION TRANSITION TO THE WORST, SCARIEST AND MOST ANXIOUS TIME OF THE CALENDAR YEAR. NO MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS IN SESSION. FAMOUS NEWSPAPER EDITOR GIDEON TALKER ONCE SAID, NO MAN'S LIFE, LIBERTY OR PROPERTY OR SAFE WHILE THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION. TODAY THE STATEMENT HAS NEVER BEEN TRUER. THE POLITICIANS IN ANNAPOLIS WILL BE WREAKING HAVOC ON OUR LIBERTIES AND OUR WALLETS. I REQUEST THAT THIS BOARD ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATION THAT SUPPORTS PARENTAL RIGHTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, SUCH AS HOUSE BILL 553 AND OPPOSED BILLS THAT LIMIT PARENTAL AUTHORITY. PLEASE ADVOCATE FOR LEGISLATION THAT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIES PARENTS OF MEDICAL ISSUES WITH THEIR CHILDREN, SUCH AS HOUSE BILL 65. BY THE WAY, THE PREVIOUS BOARD DID NOT SUPPORT NOTIFYING PARENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING WITH THE WELLNESS PROGRAM. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. SUPPORT SCHOOL SAFETY BILLS LIKE HOUSE BILL 472. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND MAXIMIZE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. THIS IS THE BEST PATH TO SUCCESS FOR THE STUDENTS. WE DEMAND THAT AGE APPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, MOST ESPECIALLY LIBRARIES. PLEASE SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 25. WE NEED TO RESTORE DIGNITY TO THE YOUNG LADIES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BY KEEPING BIOLOGICAL MALES OUT OF THEIR SPORTS BATHROOMS, LOCKER ROOMS 
          [01:20:01]
AND SHOWERS. PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 47 IS A GOOD START. ALL LEGISLATION THAT RESTORES POWER TO THE COUNTY. EDUCATION AND KEEPS DECISIONS LOCALLY WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 82 IS ONE SUCH EXAMPLE. OTHER LEGISLATION. DIMENSION IS HOUSE BILL 167 THAT INVADES THE MOUSE OF OUR STUDENTS. AND PUSHES MANDATE ON DENTAL HEALTH. THE PARENTS SHOULD ADDRESS THIS, NOT THE STATE. OPPOSED HOUSE BILL 200 PUSHES FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. WE NEED ACADEMIC SCHOOLS, NOT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY. WHAT TO SAY ABOUT HOUSE BILL 560, WHICH REMOVES THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF HARFORD COUNTY, ONLY THIS IS A DIRECT ATTACK ON THIS BOARD. WE OPPOSE THIS. WHY IS ANDRE JOHNSON ATTACKING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION? WE NEED TO DEFEAT TYRANNICAL BILLS THAT DESTROYED PARENTAL RIGHTS. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY AND STILL STEAL WOMEN'S DIGNITY. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SMITH. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. I'M CHRISTIE CRAWFORD SMITH 23 CAREER 23 YEAR CAREER IN TECHNOLOGY EDUCATOR PROBABLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. WE REPRESENT 75% OF HCPS EMPLOYEES. 
          HAVE A LOT TO SAY TONIGHT, BUT I THINK I'M GONNA FOCUS ON THE BUDGET. AS I'VE STATED BEFORE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST IS CONSERVATIVE. THIS BUDGET BARELY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE OF WHAT WE TRULY NEED, BUT BECAUSE OF THE UNPRECEDENTED FINANCIAL CRISIS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CREATED LAST YEAR DR PAULSON HAS CHOSEN TO FOCUS ON TOP TO YOUR NEEDS. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE ANYTHING THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THIS BUDGET. HAD SOME OF YOU DONE YOUR JOBS LAST YEAR AND ADVOCATED FOR THE BUDGET. THE CURRENT SITUATION MAY NOT BE AS DIRE REMEMBER, EDUCATORS ARE ALSO TAXPAYERS. IT'S NOT JUST TAXPAYERS WHO WANT TO REDUCE THE BUDGET. ACTUALLY, IT'S NOT TAXPAYERS. IT'S ALL AT ALL. IT'S JUST BOB CASSILLY. EARLIER TODAY, MR CASTELLI RELEASED ANOTHER VIDEO ABOUT THE COUNTY BUDGET, AND I SUSPECT THAT THIS BOARD WILL TAKE IT UNINFORMED AND UNEDUCATED STAB AT REDUCING REDUCING THE ASK WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS? THE ANSWER IS YOU'RE NOT YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE AS A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR. MOST OF YOU DO NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE AS AN EDUCATOR. YOU FAILED TO UNDERSTAND HOW SCHOOLS OPERATE ON A BASIC LEVEL. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOMEONE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO USE THE ARTWORK TONIGHT. YOU CLEARLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BUDGET WORKS BECAUSE YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE TO MAKE CUTS WITHOUT IMPACTING INSTRUCTION. TEACHERS AND OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF FOR THE LION'S SHARE OF THE BUDGET. MANY OTHER POSITIONS YOU THINK ARE OPTIONAL SUPPORT. THEY SUPPORT THE WORK CLASSROOM TEACHERS, SO CUTTING INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES, SPECIALIST STUDENT SERVICES AND OTHER CURRICULAR SUPPORT WILL IMPACT INSTRUCTION. IT TAKES AWAY RESOURCES FROM OUR TEACHERS. PEOPLE WHO YOU CLAIM TO SUPPORT THE MOST TALKED ABOUT ADDRESSING WHAT TEACHERS NEED. BUT HAVE YOU ACTUALLY ASKED US TAKE A LOOK AT THE NUMEROUS PROPOSALS THAT REPRESENTED DURING CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS THAT REDUCE THE BURDEN ON CLASSROOM TEACHERS? YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FAR IF YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHY DON'T YOU ACTUALLY TRY TO TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS TRUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS DISTRICT NEEDS THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE SKILL SET TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS SOME OF YOU DO AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO VALUE THE PROFESSIONALISM AND COMMITMENT OF HCPS EMPLOYEES. WE ALL REMEMBER THE DISASTROUS CALENDAR MEETING IN DECEMBER, YOU CREATED A CALENDAR CAREER RIDDLED WITH ERRORS THAT YOU HAVE YET TO FIX. I CANNOT IMAGINE THE TRAIN WRECK THAT WILL UNFOLD TONIGHT WHEN SOME OF YOU TRY TO GET YOUR CLAWS INTO THAT BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT EDUCATORS ARE WATCHING AND LISTENING VERY CAREFULLY. WE ARE LISTENING TO WHAT YOU SAY FROM THE DIET AND IN THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE CAREFULLY READING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND WHEN NECESSARY, WILL SUBMIT AN NPR REQUEST TO READ YOUR EMAIL EXCHANGES. WE ARE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO YOUR ACTIONS AND YOUR VOTING RECORD. YOU CLAIM TO SUPPORT EDUCATORS, BUT YOUR ACTIONS TELL US OTHERWISE. YOU'RE EXPOSING WHO YOU REALLY ARE A LITTLE BY LITTLE EACH WEEK. AND WHEN PEOPLE TELL US WHO THEY ARE, IT'S OUR JOB TO BELIEVE THEM. ALL THIS MATTERS BECAUSE EDUCATORS VOTE AND WE USE OUR COLLECTIVE POWER TO DECIDE ELECTIONS YOUR WORDS AND YOUR ACTIONS ARE BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BECAUSE DURING THE 2026 ELECTION SEASON, EDUCATORS WILL TAKE OUT THE TRASH. WE WILL REPLACE YOU WITH PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY VALUE AND RESPECT PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT UNTIL THEN, EDUCATORS WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST YOUR NARROW MINDED AGENDA. WE WILL SHOW UP TO ENSURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD BECAUSE OUR PROFESSION AND OUR STUDENTS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR AND WHEN WE FIGHT WE WIN. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA WILLIAMS. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD 
          [01:25:05]
EVENING BOARD PRESIDENT POYNTON OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT WILSON. MY NAME IS MELISSA WILLIAMS. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS OF HARFORD COUNTY, ALSO A PRINCIPAL, CURRENTLY LEARNING AND GROWING WITH THE COMMUNITY OF JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL. OPRAH WINFREY SAID. YOU GET IN LIFE WHAT YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR. I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS SEEMED RESIGNED TO CREATING A BUDGET THAT FITS WITHIN UNREASONABLE CONSTRAINTS. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CASSILLY SO PREMATURELY ANNOUNCED. IN FACT, IT SEEMS THAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE THE ONE ROUTE THAT ENSURES THAT THE BUDGET PROPOSED WILL NOT BE FUNDED, AND THAT'S NOT ASKING FOR IT. SO INSTEAD TONIGHT I URGE YOU TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR A BUDGET. 
          THAT JUST BEGINS TO ADDRESS THE HISTORY OF UNDERFUNDING OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          IT'S UNDENIABLE THAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING POTENTIAL WITHIN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATION IN ITS TRUEST FORM REQUIRES MORE THAN SIMPLY THE PRESENCE OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS. IT DEMANDS AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS RICH IN RESOURCES AND ECOSYSTEM THAT NURTURES AND SUPPORTS GROWTH. TALENTED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THERE APPEARS RECEIVED IN OTHER SYSTEMS. HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR THIS. THEY DESERVE ACCESS TO A P AND DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES THAT ARE NOT PREDICATED ON WHETHER OR NOT THEIR FAMILY CAN TAKE ON THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN. HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR THIS. TEACHERS ARE THE BEDROCK OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, GUIDING AND ENLIGHTENING MINDS SHAPING OUR FUTURE DEBT GENERATION. TEACHERS TO NEED RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THEY NEED TOOLS, MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT THAT ENABLE THEM TO CREATE ENGAGING IN DYNAMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR THEIR STUDENTS. HAVE THE COURAGE TO ASK FOR THIS. 
          STUDENTS NEED A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND TODAY'S EVERY EVOLVING WORLD. THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO EDUCATION IS NOT AND HAS REALLY NEVER BEEN SUFFICIENT. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT EACH STUDENT IS UNIQUE WITH DIFFERENT INTERESTS, TALENTS AND ASPIRATIONS. WE MUST HAVE A WIDE ARRAY OF PROGRAMS THAT CATER TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OR SPECIAL EDUCATION NUMBERS HAVE INCREASED AND THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS ARE BECOMING MORE COMPLEX. THIS IS NOT A TIME TO CONSIDER SCALING BACK ON PROGRAMS THAT WE NEED TO ACTUALLY EXPAND IN ORDER TO MEET OUR STUDENTS NEEDS EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY BUT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP WITHOUT TALENTED TEACHERS. THESE PROGRAMS BECOME MERE CONCEPTS WITH NO SUBSTANCE. IF THEY CAN CONTINUE TO EXIST AT ALL. HAVE THE COURAGE TO DEMAND WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. SUPERINTENDENT WILSON HAS PUT FORTH A BUDGET THAT WILL AFFORD OUR TALENTED STUDENTS, THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE. 
          THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK. ABOUT THIS BUDGET NOT BEING SUSTAINABLE. OR REALISTIC OR EVEN THAT IT'S EXTRAVAGANT. NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT. WHAT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 11 OR MORE YEARS. TRYING TO FUNCTION ON LESS AND LESS MONEY. 
          HAVE THE COURAGE TO SUPPORT A BUDGET. THAT ASKS FOR WHAT WE NEED. I THANK YOU. THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ALREADY DOING THIS. AND I ASK THAT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FOLLOW ALONG. 
          THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SUSIE SCOTT. PLEASE STATE THEN THEY KNOW YOUR GROUP AND YOU'LL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. I'M SUSIE SCOTT CHAPTER CHAIR OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY. IN 1954 , DR MARTIN LUTHER KING GAVE A SERMON ENTITLED TRANSFORMED NONCONFORMIST URGE EACH OF YOU TO LOOK THIS SERMON UP BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE HE ISSUED 70 YEARS AGO IS EVEN MORE RELEVANT TO AMERICANS TODAY. WHAT DR KING PREACHED TO HIS CONGREGATION WAS THIS HOUR IN HISTORY NEEDS A DEDICATED CIRCLE OF TRANSFORMED NONCONFORMISTS. HE WENT ON TO SAY WE ARE PRODUCING A GENERATION OF THE MASS MIND. WE HAVE MOVED FROM THE EXTREME OF 
          [01:30:01]
RUGGED INDIVIDUALISM TO THE EVEN GREATER EXTREME OF RUGGED COLLECTIVISM. I WONDER WHAT DR KING WOULD SAY ABOUT OUR CURRENT SITUATION. OUR BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THE TRANSFORMATIVE NONCONFORMIST. THIS BOONDOGGLE WANTS TO TURN OUT NOTHING BUT CONFORMITY TO THE IDEALS OF THE U. N SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BY BUILDING ON THE FRAMEWORK OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM'S PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL OF STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM. CURRENTLY WE ARE WATCHING OUR GOVERNOR AND M. STE AGGRESSIVELY ADVANCE A COMMUNITY SCHOOL MODEL THAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A COLLECTIVIST EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN FROM PRESCHOOL TO THEIR DESIGNATED CAREER PATHWAY IN THE GLOBAL NEW WORLD ORDER, AND YOU'RE ENABLING THIS FUNDAMENTAL TRANSFORMATION TO OCCUR EVERY TIME YOU COMMIT YOURSELF TO IMPLEMENTING THIS UNINSPIRED BLUEPRINT. LET'S JUST TRY TO PAWN ME OFF AS A CONSPIRACY THEORIST. I POINT TO ACTUAL DOCUMENTS, FRAMEWORKS AND AGREEMENTS. PLEASE LOOK FOR YOURSELF. IN 2019, THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL AND KLAUS SCHWAB'S WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO PARTNER TO ACCELERATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR FRAMEWORK. THEY IDENTIFIED SIX AREAS OF FOCUS OR AS YOU TERM THEM PILLARS. LET ME QUOTE FROM THEIR EDUCATION AND SKILLS OBJECTIVE. QUOTE PROMOTE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL RE, SKILLING AND LIFELONG LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK. AND EMPOWER YOUTH WITH. COMPETENCIES FOR LIFE AND FOR DECENT WORK. I WISH I HAD TIME TO UNPACK THAT I DON'T BUT THERE'S CCR PILLAR OF THE BLUEPRINT LINES UP PERFECTLY WITH THIS AGREEMENT. IS IT MERELY A COINCIDENCE THAT COINCIDENCE THAT SO MUCH OF THE TERMINOLOGY IS THE SAME, AND THAT THE BLUEPRINT THE BLUEPRINTS, FIRST WAVE OF IMPLEMENTATION RUNS THROUGH 2030. I'M LOOKING AT THE U. N AND WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM WITH WEBSITES YOU WILL SEE SO MUCH TERMINOLOGY THAT IS REGURGITATED AT THESE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. 
          THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD THE TERM STAKEHOLDER EMANATING FROM THIS DIOCESE? OVER THE PAST 100 YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ATTEMPTS TO BUILD A SOCIALIST SOCIETY. IT'S BEEN TRIED IN THE SOVIET UNION. YUGOSLAVIA ALBANIA, POLAND, VIETNAM, BULGARIA, ROMANIA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, NORTH KOREA, HUNGARY, CHINA, EAST GERMANY, CUBA. TANZANIA ALLOWS SOUTH YEMEN, SOMALIA, THE CONGO, ETHIOPIA, CAMBODIA, MOZAMBIQUE, ANGOLA, NICARAGUA AND VENEZUELA, AMONG OTHERS, NOT COUNTING THE VERY SHORT LIVED ONES. ALL OF THESE ATTEMPTS HAVE ENDED IN VARYING DEGREES OF FAILURE EACH TIME SO SOCIALISM FAILS, EXCUSES ARE MADE EVERY MEGALOMANIAC THAT COMES AFTER THINGS. IF ONLY THEY HAD THE REINS OF POWER. THINGS WOULD BE DIFFERENT. THE IDEAS ARE REBRANDED RENAMED AND WE GET STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM, WHICH IS THE FUSION OF SOCIALISM AND FASCISM. IN HIS BOOK, THE STATE STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM. WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM FOUNDER CLASH SCHWAB PROMOTES THIS CONCEPT AS A SOLUTION TO THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS. THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM STATES. THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IS THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR PUBLIC PRIVATE COOPERATION. THIS IS FASCISM. IN ESSENCE, SCHWAB BELIEVES THAT THE CORPORATE SECTOR SHOULD BE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN BOTH THE GOVERNANCE OF PEOPLE AND NATIONS AND ALSO HOLD CONTROL. OVER THE USE AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES THROUGH FUNDING AND INVESTMENTS. DR MARTIN LUTHER KING PREDICTED THIS IN HIS SERMON WHEN HE SAID, QUOTE IF WE CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THIS DANGEROUS PATH OF THOUGHT CONTROL, BUSINESS CONTROL AND FREEDOM CONTROL, WE WILL INEVITABLY LAND IN A DARK ABYSS OF FASCISM. AMERICA IS A CROSSROADS, AND PEOPLE ARE WAKING UP TO THE DIABOLICAL PLANS IN STORE FOR US. ARE WE GOING TO BE NUDGED INTO A GLOBAL COLLECTIVE NEO MARXIST NIGHTMARE ? DID YOU AGREE TO OWN NOTHING? AND WILL THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN? IN THESE DAYS OF WORLDWIDE CONFUSION. THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL COURAGEOUSLY BATTLE FOR TRUTH. YOU NEED TO BE THOSE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TOM PITTING TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING BOARD. I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE RABBIT TRAIL HERE AND PAY MY RESPECTS TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ONE OF HARFORD COUNTY'S BEST. AND A LITTLE KNOWN HOMETOWN HEROES. SERGEANT ALFRED HILTON. UH FOURTH REGIMENT. 
          UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS OF HE WAS SERVED DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CIVIL WAR. HE WAS BORN IN A LITTLE FARM AND HAVE ANY GRACE OFF OF GRAVEL HILL ROAD. TO PARENTS, WHO WERE ONCE ENSLAVED IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND THEY GOT THEIR FREEDOM. I COULDN'T FIND ANY INFORMATION ON HOW THEY GOT THEIR FREEDOM, BUT THEY WERE ENSLAVED AND GOT THEIR 
          [01:35:03]
FREEDOM. NOT JOINED THE UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS IN 1863, AND HE JOINED THE FOURTH REGIMENT. AND THIS WAS A SEASONED GROUP OF SOLDIERS IN WHAT THEY DID. AND HE EARNED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR. DURING THIS TIME HERE NOW THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR THOSE OF YOU DON'T KNOW IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT CAN BE GIVEN TO OUR MILITARY FOR VALOR AND SACRIFICE, AND IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO EARN THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO GET AWARDED IT GET AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY BECAUSE YOU GET KILLED DOING IT, AS IN SERGEANT HILTON'S CASE. NOW. IN HEREFORD IN HARFORD COUNTY ALONE THERE WERE OVER. OR ABOUT 10,000. FREED AND ENSLAVED. AFRICANS WHO HAD VOLUNTEERED TO FIGHT FOR THIS NATION, AND IT REALLY MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT THEY SAW IN THIS NATION. THAT SO MANY OF US DON'T SEE TODAY. IN FACT, I THINK IT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL DISCUSSION POINT THAT TO ASK YOUR CLASS FOR TEACHERS TO ASK THE CLASS. JUST WHAT DO THEY THINK? WHY WOULD SOMEBODY OF THAT TIME PERIOD OF TRUE OPPRESSION AND TRUE PREJUDICE CHOOSE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE NATION? BUT AT ANY RATE, UH, LIKE I SAID THEY HAD BEEN A NUMEROUS ENGAGEMENT AND BUT THE ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS NEW MARKET HEIGHTS ON SEPTEMBER 29TH, 1863 AND NEW MARKET HEIGHTS WAS NOT TOO FAR OUTSIDE OF RICHMOND, WHICH WAS THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL AT THE TIME, AND THEY HAD A VERY DIFFICULT MISSION. THEY'RE MOVING ACROSS OPEN GROUND IN LINE TOWARDS DUGGAN, CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS. WHO WERE SITTING THERE , JUST READY TO HIT THEM, AND THEY HIT HIM. HARD OF SERGEANT HILTON WAS WOUNDED SEVERAL TIMES . HE WAS THE COLOR BARRIER BARRIER, WHICH MEANT HE CARRIED THE UNITED STATES FLAG. HE WAS WOUNDED SEVERAL TIMES. BUT WHERE HE EARNED HIS MEDAL WAS WHEN HE CAME ACROSS THE REGIMENTAL FLAG THAT HAD FALLEN AND HE PICKED UP THE REGIMENTAL FLAGS AND CARRIED THAT, ALONG WITH THE UNITED STATES FLAG. WHAT'S THE REGIMENTAL FLAG? BAD AS THE FLAG IDENTIFY THAT THE UNIT WOULD LOOK TOO, SO THEY KNEW WHERE TO RALLY IF I FLAG GOES DOWN, THE UNITS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO RALLY. THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO ORGANIZE. 
          SO IN ESSENCE, THE PERSON CARRYING THAT FLAG AND A HIGH VALUE TARGET, BUT AT ANY RATE HE PICKED UP THEIR FLAG CARRIED THE REGIMENTAL FLAG AND THE UNITED STATES FLAG, TAKING SEVERAL MORE WOUNDS. BROKE THROUGH THE CONFEDERATE LINES AND THEN HE WAS KILLED AT THAT POINT, AND I COULD GO ON A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, BUT I JUST WANTED TO PAY HONOR TO HIM, AND, UH THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID FABI. GOOD EVENING. I'M A RESIDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY FOR 35 YEARS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. TWO BOYS, ONE GIRL GOING THROUGH SCHOOL SYSTEMS HERE. AND, UM AS I TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTY AND INTERACT WITH THE STUDENTS OF TODAY AND YOUNG EMPLOYEES AT CERTAIN COMPANIES AROUND TOWN. MY CONCERN IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE BEING TAUGHT. SOME FORM OF RACISM OR TO BE A VICTIM. ALSO THAT THE GIRLS ARE BEING. AFFECTED BY BOYS BEING IN GIRLS' SPORTS. AN ISSUE. AND, UM. GIRLS PRIVACY AND THEIR OWN IN THEIR OWN BATHROOM, SO MY CONCERNS ALSO IS THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A VALUABLE EDUCATION THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PURSUE HAPPINESS LIKE ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE ALSO THE PARENTS' ABILITY TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN WITH THEIR HOMEWORK. SOME OF THESE YOURSELF. EDUCATION SYSTEMS ARE CHANGING THEIR PROGRAMS FROM SIMPLE MATH TO COMMON CORE. THAT KIND OF ELIMINATES THE PARENT FROM BEING ABLE TO HELP THE STUDENT. EVERYTHING'S CHANGED, AND I FEAR THAT THAT MAY HAPPEN WITH THE SCIENCE OF EDUCATION. WHEN IT COMES TO READING BY PHONICS IN FAVOR OF SOMETHING ELSE THAT THEY CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN HELP THEIR STUDENTS WITH JUST CAUSE THIS CONFUSION. SO. ALSO WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET TONIGHT. REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION STATED THAT A PROGRAM UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT FONDLED $7 BILLION INTO THE NATION'S WORST PERFORMING SCHOOLS. THAT LITTLE TO NO EFFECT ON THE ACADEMIC RESULTS. AS A PARENT GRANDPARENT. I REJECT THE IDEA THAT THE ANSWER TO IMPROVING EDUCATION IS SIMPLY PUMPING MORE MONEY. INTO THE SAME SYSTEM YEAR IF THE YEAR WITHOUT MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. TWO RESULTS. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO THE BASICS READING. SKILLS EMPHASIS ON PHONICS, MASS SKILLS . REAL AMERICAN HISTORY FROM OUR FOUNDING TO THE PRESENT DAY AND 
          [01:40:07]
NOT TO GET RID OF ANY PART OF IT. AS THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE. WE NEED TO GET RID OF CRT. 
          S E L D I OR ANY FORM OF IT. YOU NEED TO TAKE A HARD SPECIFIC LOOK AT REALLY, REALLY WORKS. 
          DESPITE ADDITIONAL FUNDING. EDUCATION RESULTS ARE NO BETTER. THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS SHOW THAT SCORES FOR READING AND MATH HAVE PLUMMETED. HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY COUNTY. WE FIND THE SAME OKAY? RUNNING OUT OF TIME. THANKS FOR THE TIME WE'VE ALLOWED ME TO. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DOUG. GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. WE HAVE ENTERED SILLY SEASON. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THE THINGS THAT WE HEAR ABOUT IN THESE MEETINGS AND DECISIONS THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE TO MAKE, UH WHAT THEY DO TO OUR YOUNG YOUNG STUDENTS WHO ARE MAKING CHOICES SO SILLY SEASON FOR ME AS AN EIGHTH GRADE SCHOOL COUNSELOR IS THE TIME BETWEEN WHEN MAGNET EMAILS GO OUT. AND TELL STUDENTS YOU GOT OFFERED A SPOT. WHO DIDN'T GET OFF ON THE SPOT. AND THE TRAIN WRECK THAT TAKES PLACE AS THE STUDENTS THAT HAVE APPLIED TO THREE PROGRAMS SAY I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS SPOT AND KIDS WAIT AND PINS AND NEEDLES FOR HOW THEY'RE GOING TO GET INTO THE PROGRAM THAT THEY WANTED TO GET INTO. IT TAKES WEEKS TO SORT THIS OUT. 
          THEREFORE, THE SILLY SEASON WELL, THIS IS GOING ON. WE HAVE REGISTRATION FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOL. I WORKED AT BELL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE FEED BELLA HIGH SCHOOL. THEY COME OVER AND THEY PRESENT ALL THE COURSES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR FRESHMEN. AND IT'S GREAT BECAUSE THEY THEN GET TO COMPARE. THIS IS WHAT I MIGHT TAKE AS 1/9 GRADER OF BEL AIR. THIS IS WHAT I MIGHT TAKE IT HARD PROTECT THAT THE SCIENCE AND MATH ACADEMY FOR WHERE MIGHT IT BE? SO THEY'RE COMPARING THEY'RE SHOPPING. WHAT SCHOOL IS GOING TO PROVIDE THE BEST OPPORTUNITY FOR ME? THE PROBLEM IS, AS I MENTIONED THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO YOU FOLKS. ABOUT 1/10 OF EVERY STUDENT THAT APPLIES TO A MAGNET PROGRAM GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A SEAT IN ONE OF THOSE PLACES WE NEED TO DO BETTER. THE SECOND PART OF SILLY SEASON. COMES FROM THE IDEA THAT. WE DID OUR REGION. 
          REGISTRATION FOR BELLA HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAME OVER. THEY DID A GREAT JOB PRESENTING DIRECTLY TO OUR STUDENTS. THEY HANDED ME A SHEET AND SAID, HEY, HERE'S A REFERENCE SHEET FOR YOU. IF PEOPLE ASK QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD HELP YOU FIGURE IT OUT, SO I WENT BACK. BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR 30 YEARS. AND I PULLED OUT SOMETHING FROM THE WAY BACK TIME MACHINE. BILL OR HIGH SCHOOL USED TO HAVE 18. CAREER COMPLETED PROGRAMS. THEY NOW HAVE 12. I'M ONLY GOING TO SPEAK INTELLIGENTLY ABOUT WHAT I KNOW HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT I SUSPECT THAT EVERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE THAT WE REPRESENT COULD SAY THE SAME THING THAT ONLY HAPPENS BECAUSE OF CONTINUOUS UNDERFUNDING OF A BUDGET. YOU GUYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN FIXING THAT. PUTTING PROGRAMS BACK INTO PLACE THAT HAVE BEEN BEEN TAKEN AWAY. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE NEED EVERY PROGRAM THAT WAS AVAILABLE IN 1986 TODAY BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS CHANGED. BUT IF YOU TAKE SIX PATHWAYS AWAY FROM EVERY HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF EDUCATION THAT'S MISSED. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINA LYNN OSHA. 
          YES WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS NOT MANDATED GOD, BUT ALSO NOT THE PROHIBITION OF ANY TRACE OF HIM IN OUR SCHOOLS. NOT ONLY TURNING OUR BACKS ON OUR CREATOR GOD, BUT WE ARE PROMOTING THE EVILS OF EXPOSING OUR CHILDREN TO, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIALS AND GENDER IDEOLOGY LIES. DIETRICH BONHOEFFER SAID SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS ITSELF EVIL. GOD WILL NOT HOLD US. GUILTLESS NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT UNQUOTE. HAS BEEN OFTEN REPORTED AS QUESTIONNAIRES GOING OUT TO OUR STUDENTS. THESE QUESTIONNAIRES ARE VERY PERSONAL QUESTIONS. VERY INAPPROPRIATE SUBJECT MATTERS. THESE SURVEYS WERE GIVEN WITHOUT PARENTAL 
          [01:45:04]
PERMISSIONS AND PARENTS WERE NOT EVEN SHOWING THE SURVEYS AFTER THE FACT. WHAT IF WE SENT OUT A SURVEY TO PARENTS ASKING THE FOLLOWING WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE SHOWN PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY? WHERE YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO READ BOOKS WITH SEXUALLY EXPLICIT SUBJECT MATTER. WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE REFERRED TO BY THE OPPOSITE OR ANY OTHER GENDER PRONOUN? ASIDE FROM THE ONE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH? WE ALLOW A SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR THERAPIST TO TREAT YOUR CHILD WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE WHERE YOU ALLOW THAT COUNSELOR OR THERAPIST TO GUIDE YOUR CHILD TOWARD DECISIONS REGARDING ABORTION, GENDER TRANSITION OR OTHER IRREVERSIBLE ACTS. WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO BE REFERRED TO AS OPPRESSIVE OR OPPRESSED BASED ON THEIR SKIN COLOR? DO YOU THINK THAT THE ANSWER FROM MOST PARENTS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL BE IN THE AFFIRMATIVE OR NOT? IF NOT, WHY ARE THESE THINGS CONTINUING TO BE ALLOWED? ARE THESE NOT THE CHILDREN OF THE PARENTS, NOT THE SCHOOLS, PARENTS ARE THE EXPERTS ON THEIR CHILDREN. PARENTS HAVE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING OF THEIR CHILDREN. UNLESS PARENTS ARE PROVEN UNFIT. THAT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE. PARENTS IN THAT ROLE DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING EXPOSED TO DURING THEIR LONG DAYS AT SCHOOL, EVERY ASPECT OF THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING FROM THE BASIC CURRICULUM AND EVERY LESSON PLAN TO THE BOOKS BEING USED TO ALL THE BOOKS THAT THE CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. SHOULD BE MADE EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO PARENTS. WHERE IS THE TRANSPARENCY THAT WE WERE PROMISED? WHY CAN WE STILL NOT ACCESS ALL THIS INFORMATION? EVEN AFTER MANY YEARS OF ASKING THE SCHOOLS ARE CONSISTENTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEGRADATION OF MORAL VALUES. THEY'RE ATTACKING THE FAMILY UNIT BY KEEPING SECRETS FROM THE PARENTS . THEY'VE ATTACKED TRUTH WITH THE GENDER IDEOLOGIES AND THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY. THEY HAVE ATTACKED FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY COERCING TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE LIES. 
          ALL OF THE ABOVE IS EXTREMELY HARMFUL TO OUR CHILDREN, PSYCHOLOGICALLY SPIRITUALLY, MORALLY AND POSSIBLY EVEN PHYSICALLY. ACTS 529. WE ARE TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN. 
          JEREMIAH 55. GOD SAID. IF YOU CAN FIND THAT ONE PERSON WHO DEALS HONESTLY AND SEEKS THE TRUTH, I WILL FORGIVE THIS CITY, BUT WELL, WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THE END? THE GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD, YOU AND ALL YOUR DECISIONS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GARY JOHNSON. 
          HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AND THE TAXPAYER. I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. PROVERBS 22 READS, TRAIN UP A CHILD ON THE WAY HE SHOULD GO. EVEN WHEN HE IS OLD, HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT. I WAS RAISED IN HARFORD COUNTY, AND I WAS EDUCATED IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. I WAS NO SCHOLAR OF THAT. I CAN ASSURE YOU HOWEVER, I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASICS I COULD READ. I COULD WRITE INTELLIGENTLY. I COULD DO MATHEMATICS COMPETENTLY. THE MULTIPLICATION TABLES AND DIVISION TABLES STILL COME IN HANDY TO ME TODAY. I CAN CALCULATE THE TAX ON THE PURCHASE THAT I WILL BE MAKING OR WHAT THE TIP SHOULD BE ON THE DINNER THAT I HAVE EATEN. I CAN DO THIS IN MY HEAD WITHOUT THE AID OF A CALCULATOR. I STILL READ A LOT. AND WHAT I OBSERVE IS THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROOF READING DONE THESE DAYS. I CAN REMEMBER WHEN SPILLING WHEN SPELLING BECAME OF LESSER IMPORTANCE. I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1966. WHEN I WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE, THE EXPERTS SAID THAT IT WAS OF NO LONGER ANY NECESSARY NECESSITY FOR MY PROFESSORS TO CHECK FOR SPELLING ERRORS. AFTER ALL, I HAD BEEN TAUGHT THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TRUE. BACK THEN. 
          BUT THERE IS AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT IT IS NOT SO TODAY. THE EVIDENCE IS EVERYWHERE THAT TODAY'S STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL OR CONSTRUCT A COHERENT SENTENCE OR DO MATHEMATICS. I SPOKE WITH THE TEACHER RECENTLY. SHE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH RELIANCE ON TEST SCORES. WELL. HOW ELSE IS WANT TO KNOW THE CAPABILITIES OF OUR STUDENTS? PERHAPS WE SHOULD JUST RELY ON THE EXPERTS TO TELL US I HAVE NEVER MADE THE HONOR ROLL IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I LEARNED ENOUGH SO THAT I COULD MAKE THE DEAN'S LIST TWICE WHILE IN COLLEGE. BUT I DIDN'T FULLY GRASP IN THE 12TH GRADE. I WAS ABLE TO GO BACK AND APPLY IN COLLEGE WHEN ITS IMPORTANCE BECAME MORE EVIDENT TO ME. IN HIGH SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL. I DIDN'T DO WELL IN ALGEBRA TWO THEY DIDN'T JUST PASS ME ALONG TO THE NEXT GRADE OR GRADUATE ME . THEY MAY BE GOOD TO SUMMER SCHOOL SO THAT I COULD LEARN WHAT I HAD MISSED BEFORE. THEY WERE MORE CONCERNED WITH MY EDUCATION THAN THEY WERE WITH MY FEELINGS OR MY EGO. THEY KNEW THAT LIFE WOULD DEMAND THAT I BE EDUCATED OR IF NOT, THEY KNEW I WOULD END UP ON WELFARE. UNLIKE YOU, THEY KNEW THAT MY FUTURE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY FEELINGS. TODAY'S STUDENTS CAN'T RECLAIM SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE NEVER PROPERLY TALK. REGARDING THE BUDGET. MANY OF THE TEACHERS AND PROGRAMS THAT YOU INSIST 
          [01:50:02]
MUST BE FULLY FUNDED OR THE PRODUCT OF FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS. AND NOW THAT THEY'RE HERE, YOU INSIST THEY MUST BE FULLY FUNDED OR ELSE OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION IS AT RISK. 
          YOU FOLKS ARE LIKE DRUG ADDICTS, THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND THE FEDS OR YOUR PUSHERS. YOU GET ADDICTED WITH THEIR GRANTS. AND THEN ONCE YOU'RE HOOKED THEY WITHHOLD THE FUNDING. THEN YOU TURN TO A LIFE OF CRIME AND STEAL THAT MONEY FROM THE HARTFORD COUNTY TAXPAYERS. ALL FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE LARGELY PROVEN FRUITLESS, ELIMINATE THE PEOPLE AND THE PROGRAMS THAT EVIDENTLY ARE NOT WORKING. AND YOU WILL HAVE THE FUNDING YOU NEED. SHOW US THAT YOU ARE WORTH INVESTIGATING. ALRIGHT. WE DON'T ALLOW CLAPPING OR GRANDSTANDING. SORRY TO TAKE THE FUN OUT OF IT. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LINDA SAID COVID. HELLO I'M LINDA'S VITKA BITS. I HAVE WORKED AT ALL THREE LEVELS IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OVER THE YEARS. I'M CURRENTLY IN MY NINTH YEAR WORKING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. SO I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW STUDENTS CELLPHONE USE HAS GRADUALLY BECOME THE HUGE PROGRAM PROBLEM THAT IT IS TODAY. GETTING IN THE WAY OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT EVERY DAY. I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR ALL OF YOU QUESTION THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT LETTING MIDDLE SCHOOLER START TO CARRY CELL PHONES, AND I WAS ALSO HAPPY TO HEAR ONE OF YOU QUESTION. SO WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES IF STUDENTS DON'T FOLLOW THE POLICY? I'D LIKE TO SHARE A COUPLE OF STORIES AND HOPES THAT IT HELPS YOU STAND UP TO PARENTS WHO SAY THAT MIDDLE SCHOOLERS NEED THEIR CELL PHONE WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I'VE JUST STARTING TO TEACH ASKED TO USE THE BATHROOM. WHEN HE WAS SIMPLY TOLD NOT RIGHT NOW, HE DECIDED TO TEXT HIS MOTHER, WHO IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE SCHOOL COMPLAINING THAT HER SON WASN'T ALLOWED TO USE THE BATHROOM. I MENTIONED IT TO A SCIENCE TEACHER, AND HE SAID, OH, I JUST HAPPENED TO ME LAST WEEK. I ASKED A GIRL JUST GET A LITTLE BIT OF WORK DONE, AND I'LL LET YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM. JUST DRAW THIS DIAGRAM, WHICH IS BASICALLY TWO SQUARES AND A COUPLE OF ARROWS, AND I'LL LET YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM. INSTEAD OF DRAWING THE SQUARES IN A COUPLE OF HOURS, SHE TEXTED HER MOTHER, WHO CALLED THE SCHOOL COMPLAINING THAT WE WERE NOT LETTING HER CHILD USE. THE BATHROOM. IN ENGLISH TEACHER TOLD ME A WORSE STORY WHEN SHE TOLD A STUDENT YOU KNOW THE RULES. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE CLASS THE 1ST 10 MINUTES OF CLASS. YOU MAY USE THE BATHROOM IN 10 MINUTES. SHE CALLED HER MOTHER ON HER FACE TIME, WHICH IS VIDEO CHATTING AND HELD UP THE PHONE SO THAT HER MOTHER COULD SAY THE TEACHERS SEE THE CLASS AND YELL AT EVERYBODY YELL AT THE TEACHER CASTLE, THE TEACHER LOUDLY ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE CLASS. TO HEAR. ANOTHER ENGLISH TEACHER TOLD ME JUST ABOUT A WEEK AGO OR TWO WEEKS AGO, SHE WAS HANDING OUT A MAJOR TEST AT THE END OF THE MARKING PERIOD. AND SHE TOLD A GIRL, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T HANDLE THIS TEST UNTIL YOU PUT YOUR CELL PHONE DOWN. THE GIRL SAID. THEY DON'T HAND ME THE TEST AND SHE SAT AND WATCHED VIDEOS AND TOOK A ZERO ON THE TEST. ASK ANY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND THEY WILL HAVE PLENTY OF STORIES JUST LIKE THESE. UM IT'S NOT ONLY THAT THE VIDEO VIDEOS IN THE GAMES AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA THAT ARE SO ADDICTING ARE DISRUPTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THEY'RE ALSO CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE VERY GOOD AT TEXTING EACH OTHER. AND SAYING, LET'S MEET UP IN THE BATHROOM. LET'S MEET UP IN THE HALLWAYS. LET'S MEET UP IN THE STAIRWELLS WHERE THERE ARE NO CAMERAS. AH! THEN THERE'S THE VIDEOTAPING OF EACH OTHER AND OF TEACHERS AND CYBERBULLYING, AND THE LAST THING WE SHOULD DO. JUST TO MAKE THIS EASIER. FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DO AS WELL. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO PLEASE STAY FIRM IN OUR CELL PHONE POLICIES. PLEASE LOOK FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS AS WE TRY TO ENFORCE THE CELL PHONE POLICY. AND FINALLY, MAYBE CONSIDER ADDING A REPORT CARD COMMENT THAT WE COULD USE IT SAYS SOMETHING LIKE REPEATED INAPPROPRIATE CELL PHONE USERS PREVENTING LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT SO WE CAN GIVE MORE ACCURATE. DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S MAKING STUDENTS FAIL. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT POINT THAT'S ALL THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. DO WE STILL HAVE ONE IN THE WAITING ROOM? VIRTUAL CORRECT. EVENING, DR QUENTIN? YES, WE DO HAVE ONE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING. 
          THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER. THIS EVENING. I HOPE THAT YOU ALL WILL PASS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET WITHOUT A NEW CUTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE BEEN HAVING WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTY COUNCIL ABOUT FUNDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. I HOPE YOUR DISCUSSIONS HAVE INCLUDED THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE COUNTY BUDGET. LET'S GO THROUGH A BRIEF HISTORY HERE. DURING HIS TIME AS COUNTY EXECUTIVE, VERY CLASSMAN BUILT UP SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. TAKE A $3 FOR THE COUNTY. THEN 
          [01:55:08]
IN APRIL OF 2022 AS PART OF HIS FINAL BUDGET, PROPOSED QUOTE, THE LARGEST PROPERTY TAX CUT IN COUNTY HISTORY INCLUDE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, HE ANNOUNCED THAT TAX CUT AND USED THE COUNTY IST FUND BALANCE. TO MAKE IT SEEM AFFORDABLE. THEN THE NEW COUNTY EXECUTIVE, BOB CASSILLY, CAME INTO OFFICE. SAYING THE COUNTY CAN'T AFFORD THINGS, HE SAYS THE COUNTY KIDS AFFORD THE PROPERLY FUND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. HE SAID. QUOTE. WE'RE STRUGGLES STRUGGLING WITH KERWIN INCLUDE AS REMINDER HE CUT FUNDING LAST YEAR ISN'T ACTUALLY OCCUR WITH ISSUE. AND TO BE CLEAR, MR KATHLEEN KNEW LAST YEAR WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. IN TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET WITH THE CURRENT COUNCIL IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR. HE SAID CLEARLY THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HAS REDUCED REVENUES BY $20 MILLION A YEAR AGO FORWARD, HE TOLD THE COUNTY COUNCIL THAT THEY WOULD FACE 100 AND $60 MILLION AND REDUCED REVENUE OVER EIGHT YEARS IF THEY KEPT THE TAX CUTS. AND MR CASTLE CHOOSE TO KEEP THE TAX CUT. THIS IS ABOUT HISTORY. HOW HAVE YOUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS GOING? THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFERED TO END MR GLASSES, TAX CUTS. HAVE THEY AT LEAST ASKED, BUT LEAST OFFERED TO REDUCE THE TAX CUT. THEY OFFERED THAT MR CASTLE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COUNTY HAVING A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. HUGE OR HIS ADMINISTRATION PROVIDED YOU WITH THEIR PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THAT. RIGHT NOW UNDER STATE LAW SCHOOL DISTRICT NEEDS TO INCREASE THE STARTING TEACHER SALARY IS $60,000 AND ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO. I SAID. I EXPECT OTHER COSTS INCREASES WILL COME AS WELL. SO IF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH OR ARE THEY JUST SETTING YOU UP FOR CUTS THIS YEAR AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT BUDGET PROBLEMS NEXT YEAR? THANK YOU ALL. THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING, 
          [1. Decision on Previously Tabled: Minutes of Previous Board Meetings November 20, 2023, December 4, 2023, and December 18, 2023]
DOCTOR POYNTON. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS. WE HAVE ONE ITEM OF OLD BUSINESS DECISION ON PREVIOUSLY TABLED BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 20TH 22,023 DECEMBER 4TH 2023 AND DECEMBER 18TH OF 2023, SINCE THERE WERE SOME SPECIFIC INACCURACIES ON THOSE RECORDS WILL OPEN IT UP FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR DISCUSSION TO SEE IF THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED BEFORE ASKING FOR A MOTION. I THINK THAT WAS MY COMMENT, AND THAT ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. OKAY, ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. 
          THANK YOU. MAY I PLEASE HAVE EMOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE THE OLD BUSINESS? THIS IS TERRY ON MOVE TO APPROVE THE ODD BUSINESS. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? THIS DIANA SECOND. THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES . YES, YES, YES. YOU'RE OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE 
          [B. Recognition - Resolution for Service on the Ethics Panel of the Harford County Board of Education]
MOTION PASSES. MOVING ON TO ITEM B. WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITION THIS EVENING. LIKE TO READ A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FRANCIS A. K A. FRANK PETE KING, ESQUIRE. RESOLUTION READS. WHEREAS THERE IS AS PROVIDED BY LAW BOARD ETHICS PANEL WHICH IMPLEMENT THE BOARD ETHICS POLICY. WHEREAS BOARD ETHICS PANEL MEMBERS DO NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES. WHEREAS FRANK PEKING ESQUIRE VOLUNTEERED HIS TIME AND SERVICE AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD ETHICS PANEL. WHEREAS FRANK P. ESQUIRE KING ESQUIRE WAS ESSENTIAL TO THE PROPER AND EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF THE BOARD ETHICS PANEL. NOW, WHEREFORE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY EXTENDS ITS SINCEREST GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO FRANCIS FRANK PEKING, ESQUIRE FOR THE SERVICES HE RENDERED AS A MEMBER OF. THE BOARD ETHICS PANEL. IS HE HERE THIS EVENING? BY THE WAY. OKAY? UM WE'RE GONNA ASK, WILL SOLICIT THE BOARD, PLEASE FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. MOVED TO IMPROVE THE RESOLUTION. UM THANK YOU. IS 
          [02:00:03]
THERE A 2ND 2ND? THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. YES YOU'RE OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. 
          THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CONGRATULATIONS. GOING TO MOVE 
          [C. Consent Agenda]
ON TO ITEM C CONSENT AGENDA. MR. BRAVO CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS MINUS NUMBER SEVEN, PLEASE. CONTRACT AWARD PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT ASSESSMENTS AND INSPECTIONS, CONTRACT AWARD. EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CONTRACT AWARD BENEFITS, ENROLLMENT SERVICES CONTRACT AWARD CARE. SOLIS INCORPORATED CONTRACT AWARD FOR TRANSIT VEHICLES AND BRONCO WERE TRADING AND CONTRACT AWARD MODULAR CLASSROOMS FOR VARIOUS ISSUES LOCATIONS. THANK YOU. THE BOARD HAS HAD TIME TO REVIEW THESE AND DISCUSS THEM IN SMALL GROUP SESSIONS. MAY I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE. THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. THANK YOU, MR. SO WAS THERE A 2ND 2ND? THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES, YES. THERE ARE ANY OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. 
          OKAY WE WILL HAVE A BRIEF YEAH.. WELCOME BACK. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS ITEM. D 
          [D. Presentation on Middle School Innovation, Mr. Mike O'Brien, Executive Director of Middle & High School Performance and Ms. Natalie Holloway, Director of Middle School Innovation]
PRESENTATION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION LIKE TO WELCOME MR MIKE O'BRIEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, AND MISS NATALIE HOLLOWAY, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL. INNOVATION FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WELCOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PONTON, UH VICE PRESIDENT HAHN, SUPERINTENDENT PAULSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MIKE O'BRIEN. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE WITH ME TODAY. NATALIE HOLLOWAY, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION. ANDREW RENZULLI, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT, AND DOCTOR, HELEN MILLER, PRINCIPAL OF SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS EVENING. WE BRING AN INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON THE OUTSTANDING WORK TOWARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION. I'M ALSO CLICKING. BEFORE WE SHOW OUR NEWEST WORK. WE WANTED TO TAKE A BRIEF LOOK BACK AT PRIOR WORK TOWARDS MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPORT. MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM BEGAN BACK IN 2002 ON THE HEELS OF HIGH SCHOOL REFORM WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL REFORM PROGRAM, COMMONLY KNOWN AS CS, SRP. HIGH SCHOOL REFORM WAS GUIDED BY THE WORK OF THE BREAKING RANKS ONE AND TWO PUBLICATIONS BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. THAT'S THE RED BOOK UP ON THE SLIDE. AFTER HIGH SCHOOL REFORM BEGAN TO TAKE SHAPE. THE FOCUS SHIFTED TO MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM WITH BREAKING RANKS IN THE MIDDLE. THIS PUBLICATION WAS USED AS A REFERENCE TO GUIDE THE NATIONAL CHANGE. THAT'S THE PUBLICATION ON THE BOTTOM. MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM CONTINUED AS A FOCUS IN 2008 WITH THE FORMATION OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS BEGAN TO LOOK DIFFERENT WITH SOME OF THE KEY CORNERSTONE STRATEGIES BEING IMPLEMENTED. 
          UNDER THE CREATION OF DYNAMIC TEACHER TEAMS WITH COMMON PLANNING TIME. A LION CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN. AN ADDITIONAL EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN U, A UNFORTUNATELY, STAFF CUTS OVER THE YEARS HAVE RESULTED IN INCONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CS SRP. NOT ALWAYS OCCURRING. OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM EFFORTS. IN THE FALL OF 2021, THOUGH THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFERED THE LEADS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EFFORTS UNDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT. UNDER THE REIMAGINING. USE OF TIME HIGH LEVERAGE STRATEGY, HCPS WAS AWARDED MONEY TO FOCUS ON IMPROVEMENT OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE ARE SO PLEASED TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT. THE INITIAL WORK THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETED THAT NO ONE NOT ONLY ALIGNS WITH PREVIOUS EFFORTS BUT WILL COMPLETELY TRANSFORM THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN EACH OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE FUTURE. I'M SO PLEASED WITH THIS WORK. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE AUDIENCE. ALSO SOME OF OUR PRINCIPLES AND CENTRAL WE FRIENDS. I WOULD LIKE AT THIS TIME TO HAND IT OVER TO OUR SUPERSTAR NATALIE HOLLOWAY. 
          UM, WHO HAS SPEARHEADED THIS WORK, NATALIE. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. UM I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK YOU, UH, FOR BEING PRESENT TONIGHT. I HOPE THIS EVENING IS GOING TO BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR EVENING. UM IN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THIS, UH WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS. I WANT TO START OFF. UH, THIS LAST 18 MONTHS WE'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MANY DEPARTMENTS AND BUSINESS STAKEHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS INVOLVED IN THIS WORK AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION. I WANT TO SHARE AN OVERVIEW VERY BRIEFLY OF KIND OF WE ALWAYS START OFF IN ASKING THE WHY. WHY IS IT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT 
          [02:05:04]
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
          11 PARTICULAR MIDDLE SCHOOL MAY OFFER 45 MINUTES TO COVER THE READING AND WRITING AT ONE POINT , AND THEN SOME MIDDLE SCHOOLS HAD MORE TIME WITH THOSE COMPONENTS. ANOTHER CONSIDERING FACTOR IS THE ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR THIS SPECIFIC WRITING CURRICULUM, WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR NORTH STAR LEARNING ATTRIBUTES AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THAT A LITTLE MORE EXTENSIVELY. UM, UH, LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. ARE UNIFIED ARTS WILL, WHICH I'LL ALSO BE SPEAKING ABOUT. UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY, IS OUR 10 WEEK PROGRAMS THAT STUDENTS RECEIVE, UH FOR QUARTERS, AND THEY IN THE PAST HAVE VARIED FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL. AN EXAMPLE UH, WOULD BE, UH, ONE PARTICULAR SCHOOL, UM, OFFERING DRAMA OR OR ANOTHER SCHOOL OFFERING ART, ETCETERA, SO WE REALLY WANTED TO SEE WHAT SCHOOLS WERE OFFERING. SO WE COULD REALLY NARROW THAT FOCUS. 
          AND SO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS AT EVERY MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE UNIFIED ARTS ROTATION. AS MR O'BRIEN ALLUDED TO IN HIS OPENING, UH, STAFF CUTS HAVE BEEN A HUGE COMPONENT. UM THE, UH, I PUT MY PRINCIPAL HAT ON, UM, AT BELLA MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR NINE YEARS. UM WE DID HAVE SOME AUTONOMY AND WHAT THOSE CUTS LOOK LIKE, UM, WE WOULD COME TO THE TABLE AND HAVE YOU KNOW WE NEED THIS MANY CUTS AND WE WOULD TRY TO LOOK AT PROGRAMS WE WOULD TRY TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE RETIRING. SO WE DIDN'T LOSE FOLKS, UM, TRYING TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS, AND SO THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE BARRIER FOR US. INCONSISTENCIES ACROSS SOME OF THE OFFERINGS THAT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WORLD LANGUAGE IS ALSO AN AREA THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED, UM TO, UH, MONITOR AND WATCH ACROSS ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS . UP UNTIL THIS YEAR, WE ONLY HAD TWO MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT OFFERED WORLD LANGUAGE FOR CREDIT AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESSED THAT, UH AS WELL. 
          THE ORIGINAL INTERVENTION ENRICHMENT PERIOD. UM, LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT IN EACH SCHOOL. 
          UM, IN THE PAST, IT WAS A ROUGHLY A 25 MINUTE BLOCK OF TIME. OFTENTIMES IT WAS THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, UM, MIDDLE SCHOOLS WOULD ADDRESS OPPORTUNITIES TO PULL KIDS IF THEY NEEDED INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY NEEDED SOME ENRICHMENT. UM, OPPORTUNITIES OR THEY NEEDED TO INTER, UH, INTERVENTION, SO WE REALLY WANTED TO LOOK AT HOW WE COULD STREAMLINE THAT AND PROVIDE BOTH INTERVENTIONS AND ENRICHMENT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. AND FINALLY, UM, IN THIS SLIDE. 
          I WANNA REALLY STRESS THIS THIS PIECE. UM SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE WORK AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE 10 TO 13 IT. IT IS A NOT THAT K TO 12 IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT SPECIFICALLY, THE 10 TO 13 YEAR OLDS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN NOT ONLY THE ACADEMIC PIECE, BUT IN STRUGGLING THE ADOLESCENCE COMPONENT TO THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SO WE FEEL LIKE ALL OF THE ALL OF THE FOLKS HAVE COME TOGETHER THAT CONNECTEDNESS THAT FEELING OF SENSE OF BELONGING AND REALLY IMPROVING EXPOSURES AND EXPERIENCES, UH, FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AT ALL 10 MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WANT TO TAKE JUST A BRIEF MOMENT AND DISCUSSING THE ALIGNMENT TO, UH, OUR BLUEPRINT. UM, FOR OUR STUDENTS FUTURE, UH, WE DO ALIGN WITH THE NORTH STAR COMPONENT THAT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. UM AND WE'VE BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, UM, IN BACKWARD MAPPING BACKWARD MAPPING WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN MIDDLE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN OFFERING WHAT WE CAN BRING STUDENTS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AS AN AWARENESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BE EXPOSED TO THINGS SO AS THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S A PROGRAM WHETHER THEY WANT TO STAY AT THEIR COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE AFFORDING THE OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN DOORS FOR STUDENTS BEFORE THEY GET INTO HIGH SCHOOL. UH, IT AT THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, UH, WANTED TO MAKE A POINT AND I EVEN HAVE SOME TEACHERS THAT ARE 
          [02:10:04]
ON MY GROUP IN THE CROWD TONIGHT. UM THESE ARE ALL OF THE , UH, COLLABORATORS AND THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE WORKED IN MAKING SURE THAT, UM EVERYBODY'S , UH, THAT WE HAVE MANY, UM FOLKS INVOLVED IN THIS WORK AT THE TOP IS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN INTEGRAL PARTS. UM, IN THAT WORK. UM MY TEACHER COMMITTEE. UM I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU VERY IMPORTANT PIECE. I THINK THAT, UM THE NOT ONLY ARE ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS REPRESENTED ON MY TEACHER COMMITTEE GROUP. BUT EVERY SINGLE CONTENT IS ALSO, UM, A PART OF THAT GROUP. PHYSICAL EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION. UH, UNIFIED ARTS PE. UM, THEY'VE BEEN INTEGRAL MY PARENT GROUP I ACTUALLY MET WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH UNDER MARY BETH STAPLETON. UM UH, DIVISION AND OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND FAMILY PARTNERSHIP. HAVE A WONDERFUL, DIVERSE POPULATION OF , UH, PARENTS, UM, HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE NEEDS ESPECIALLY THE TRANSITION FOR A PARENT OF A FIRST TIME MIDDLE SCHOOLER, SO THEY HAD A LOT A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS AND OFFERINGS AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WORK. FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. AS WELL. OUR CCR, UM BLUEPRINT BLUEPRINT COMMITTEE THAT COMPRISES OF MULTITUDE OF FOLKS. SPECIAL EDUCATION, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS. UM UH, CIA FOLKS CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION ASSESSMENT OFFICE AND ALSO, UM, SPECIALIST THAT HAVE SERVED ON THAT COMMITTEE AND THEN FINALLY, THE FOUR POINT EDUCATION PARTNER IS OUR, UM, OUR PARTNERSHIP. UM AND OUR CONSULTANT WHO HAS ALSO DONE AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE WORK ON PROVIDED A VERY COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. WHICH WE CAN. WE CAN MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL TO REVIEW THAT, UM, HAS TAKEN THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAS, UM, HELPED KIND OF DEFINE EXACTLY WHAT HARTFORD COUNTY LOOKS LIKE. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, TO HELP GUIDE US, UM, IN THE WORK. ONE OF SEVERAL KEY INITIATIVES ASSOCIATED WITH MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION HAS BEEN AN ACCELERATION OF OUR FOCUS ON GROWING OUR WRITERS. THIS WORK BEGAN IN 2019, AND DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT INTERRUPTIONS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, MUCH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN A MEANINGFUL WRITING PROGRAM. THE EXPANSION OF THE WRITING CURRICULUM WAS APPROVED BY THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION IN APRIL, 2023. AND THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STANDARDS ALIGNED COMPREHENSIVE WRITING PROGRAM FOR ALL STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN GRADE SIX AND SEVEN. IN ADDITION TO RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE WRITING PROGRAM, WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE AMOUNT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME DEDICATED TO IT, WHICH MRS HOLLOWAY WILL NOW ADDRESS. THANK YOU, ANDY. WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A FULL PERSPECTIVE. UM, AS STUDENTS ENTER, UM AS YOUNG SIXTH GRADERS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, CURRENTLY IN 4TH AND 5TH GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVE ANYWHERE FROM 100 AND 50 TO 100 AND 60 MINUTES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. PRIOR TO THIS YEAR. THAT WAS QUITE A SHIFT IN IN WHAT WE WERE AFFORDED, UM, AS FAR AS MINUTES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN STUDENTS WOULD COME INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL MOST OF THE TIME, THE MINUTES UM, DEDICATED TO THAT IL A OFFERING WAS ONLY 50 MINUTES. WE REALLY FOUND THE NEED COLLECTIVELY THAT WE NEEDED TO SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME ON THE READING AND WRITING PIECES. 
          UM AND HENCE WHY YOU APPROVE THE READING AND WRITING BLOCK NEXT TO, UH, THIS PAST YEAR FOR 6TH AND 7TH GRADE. THREE THINGS STAND OUT THAT I REALLY WANTED TO RESONATE WITH EACH OF YOU ALL. NOT ONLY HAS THE HAVE THEY SEEN A HUGE GAINS IN THE STAMINA OF OUR STUDENTS WRITING OPPORTUNITIES BUT ALSO TIME FOR STUDENTS TO PRACTICE THE APPLICATION TIME FOR THAT SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION AND EVEN INDIVIDUAL, UM, HEALTH FOR STUDENTS WHO REALLY, UM, HAVE DEFICITS IN THAT WRITING COMPONENT, AND I'D LIKE DOCTOR MILLER IS GOING TO KIND OF SHARE HER PERSPECTIVE AS PRINCIPAL AT UM SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WHAT SHE HAS SEEN. I LOVE OUR WRITING CLASS I LOVE GOING IN AND SEEING THE STUDENTS THERE. BUT WHAT I LOVE EVEN MORE IS HEARING FROM OUR NON WRITING TEACHERS. HOW MUCH WRITING THAT THE STUDENTS ARE DOING AND HOW MUCH THEY CAN PROVE THROUGH EVIDENCE OF THE WRITING, AND THEY CAN HAVE THAT DEEPER UNDERSTANDING. IT'S BEEN TRULY EXCITING. THANK YOU. UM UP ON THE SCREEN. I WOULD, UH, WOULD LIKE TO JUST TAKE A JUST A MINUTE TO, UM REALLY, UM, SEPARATE EACH OF THE DATA SLIDES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF YOU THIS EVENING, UM, ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. UH, IT IT IT DISCUSSES, UM, EXACTLY THE ENROLLMENT THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR WORLD LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN HARTFORD COUNTY. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE INFORMATION 2002 AND 2003 I MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION, THERE WERE ONLY A FEW MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT OFFERED WORLD LANGUAGE FOR CREDIT. THIS YEAR. ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS ARE OFFERING WORLD LANGUAGE FOR CREDIT. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, UM, FROM THE INFORMATION UP ON THE SCREEN THAT APPROXIMATELY 55% OF OUR OF OUR STUDENTS, CURRENTLY IN EIGHTH GRADE ARE IN SOME FORM OF WORLD LANGUAGE FOR CREDIT. SPECIFICALLY UM THE, UH, THE 
          [02:15:07]
WORK THAT I'M DOING WITH THE OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, UM, SPECIFICALLY WITH MRS KRANTZ ON THE SPECI, UH, SPECIFIC HIGH SCHOOL SEAL OF BI LITERACY FOR STUDENTS. UM CURRENTLY, UM, WHAT STUDENTS WILL BE TAKING IS THE ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE TOWARDS PROFICIENCY IN LANGUAGE. LAST YEAR, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 130 STU 36 STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL. 
          TAKE THAT ASSESSMENT WITH 51% OF THEM, UM, PASS THE EXCUSE ME 51 STUDENTS. 38% OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, EARNED THE SEAL OF BI LITERACY AND I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING, YOU KNOW, NATALIE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? EARNING THAT STAB BY LITERACY IS BEING PROFICIENT IN A DUAL LANGUAGE. UM, UH, MY FUTURE GOAL WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE TO REALLY LOOK AT EXPLORING DISTANT LEARNING LABS AND FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE LANGUAGE. THEIR CHOICE. WE HAVE? YES WE HAVE ABOUT 71% OF OUR EIGHTH GRADERS ARE EITHER IN FRENCH OR SPANISH, BUT WAS REALLY EXCITING IS AS THE YEAR STARTED, MORE STUDENTS STARTED TO TALK ABOUT THE LANGUAGES THAT THEY WERE IN IN MORE STUDENTS WANTED TO BE PART OF IT, SO WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AND HAVE EVEN MORE STUDENTS PART OF IT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EARNING THAT HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT, WHICH IS SO ESSENTIAL. CURRENTLY UH THE 50% GOAL IS REFLECTIVE ON, UH, STUDENTS ARE IN, UH, REGISTERING TO TAKE THE ASSESSMENT THIS YEAR , AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE 50% OF OUR STUDENTS BE CERTIFIED IN THAT DUAL LANGUAGE. UM AND THEN, AS THE WORK PROGRESSES IN EIGHTH GRADE, AND EVEN MORE AND MORE FROM THERE I JUST ADD FROM A HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE, YOU CAN GET TO A P WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL WITHOUT DOUBLING UP. UM, IF YOU DO THAT LEVEL ONE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, A P IS LEVEL FIVE, SO TO GET TO LEVEL FIVE BY THEIR SENIOR YEAR, IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER FOR STUDENTS TO MATRICULATE ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE A P. OTHERWISE, THEY HAVE TO DOUBLE UP WITH TWO YEARS OF LANGUAGE IN ONE YEAR, SO IT'S A REAL ADVANTAGE FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL. LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, OUR FOCUS IN THE CAREER AND COLLEGE AWARENESS SPECIFICALLY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. UM, I JUST WANT TO KIND OF TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO DEFINE WHAT A UNIFIED ARTS CLASS LOOKS LIKE FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. UM AS MENTIONED, UH, EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION. THIS IS A 10 WEEK COURSE. UM, OFFERED EVERY QUARTER FOR STUDENTS, SO THEY'VE GOT FOUR QUARTERS AND THEY'RE EACH 10 WEEKS. UM SOME OF THE COURSES THAT WE OFFER DURING THAT UNIFIED ARTS BLOCK INCLUDE, UM ART. UM AND WE'RE VERY PROUD UNDER, UH, MR CONNOLLY'S, UH, DIRECTION. WE HAVE TWO PATHWAYS NOW FOR CTE COURSES. WE NOW HAVE A COMPUTER SCIENCE PATHWAY, AND WE HAVE AN ENGINEERING PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM. WE ALSO ARE OFFERING DRAMA GENERAL MUSIC AND FLEX WHICH, UM, IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THE FLEX IS ALSO THE WORLD LANGUAGE, BUT IT'S MORE A DISCOVERY. IT'S ALL THREE LANGUAGES JUST KIND OF A AND, UM, AND EXPOSURE TO THREE LANGUAGES WITHIN ONE QUARTER THAT WE OFFER WHAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IN THIS PIECE IS, UM STUDENTS ARE HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO RANK A FAVORITE COURSE. SO WHAT PRINCIPLES ARE OFFERING AS THEY WE ARE GIVING THEM A FORMS DOCUMENT, WHICH GIVES THEM THE ACTUAL, UH, SPECIFIC TITLE OF WHAT ART? WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE COVERING IN ART AS 1/6 GRADER? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE COVERING ART AS 1/7 GRADER, AND THEN STUDENTS ACTUALLY GET TO RANK THEIR CHOICE. UM WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO ENSURE THAT THEY AT LEAST RECEIVE THEIR FIRST CHOICE. UM, IF THEY THEY WANT TO BE AN ARTIST, AND THEY WANT TO PURSUE IT IN HIGH SCHOOL. THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THEIR UNIFIED ARTS ROTATION THAT THEY HAVE AN ART OFFERING UM, WE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE MOVING THIS DOWN TO FIFTH GRADE. FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS COMING INTO SIXTH GRADE WILL ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT. SO YOU WERE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE AMAZING WORK THAT'S TAKING PLACE WITHIN OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION OFFICE AND MR SEWELL THE SHOUT OUT THAT YOU GAVE TO THE CT OFFICE EARLIER RELATED TO APPRENTICESHIPS WERE UP TO 120. AS OF TODAY, AND THAT'S OFTEN APPROXIMATELY 40 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, THANKS TO THE WORK OF CTE OFFICE IN THE VERY HARD WORKING TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS. STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL AS EVERYBODY IS FAMILIAR, HAVE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO PERSONALIZE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER IN WAYS THAT MANY OF US HERE NEVER HAD. AND TO HELP OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT LIES BEFORE THEM . WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL CAREERS IN AREAS SUCH AS ARTS AND MEDIA. BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CONSTRUCTION. AGRICULTURE HOSPITALITY AND TECHNOLOGY JUST TO NAME A FEW. 
          AND THE GOAL HERE IS TO SPARK AN EARLY INTEREST IN AWARENESS SO THAT WHEN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARRIVE TO HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE BETTER PREPARED TO ACCEPT AND ACHIEVE IN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE THEM IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. AND IF I COULD JUST BACKWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT THAT THAT SECOND PIECE UM THAT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS INDICATOR. UM 
          [02:20:03]
OUR GOAL FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IS TO LEAVE MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH, UH, A CREDIT IN ALGEBRA ONE AND ACCREDITED AND WORLD LANGUAGE. IF POSSIBLE. WE ALL KNOW THAT, UM WE HAVE 20 STUDENTS MUST EARN 26 CREDITS TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. THIS DOES GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITY. UM LATER IN THEIR JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IN CELEBRATING THE APPRENTICESHIPS. WORKFORCE AND OR DUAL ENROLLMENT. HAMPTON WE WERE ABLE TO ADD TWO SCRATCH COURSES, ONE IN SIXTH GRADE 1/7 GRADE AT CREATOR IN EIGHTH GRADE. WE BROUGHT BACK OUR GENERAL MUSIC CLASS, AND WE ADD A DRAMA, WHICH SOME STUDENTS WERE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GONNA BE ACTING. AND NOW I HAVE STUDENTS SAYING IS THERE A DRAMA TOO? UH, CAN I TAKE IT AGAIN? SO THAT'S BEEN REALLY GREAT TO SEE. LIKE TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS A LITTLE BIT, UM, IN THE WORK OF THE STUDENT SERVICES OFFICE AND SPECIFICALLY THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL COUNSELING AS YOU CAN SEE THAT TRUE COLLABORATION BETWEEN MULTIPLE OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE GIVING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT I HOPE COMES ACROSS THIS EVENING AS EVIDENT. NAVI SPECIFICALLY IS OUR COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE CAREER AND LIFE READINESS SOLUTION FOR 6 TO 12TH GRADE. IT REALLY FOCUSES AND HELPS STUDENTS ALIGN WITH THEIR INTEREST, AND SPECIFICALLY, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO SECONDARY GOALS. IT HELPS IMPROVING STUDENT OUTCOMES AND CONNECTIONS TO LEARN TO LEARNING TO LIFE. WHAT IS, UH, ONE OF THE P THE PIECES THAT WERE REALLY WORKING ON? UM DOING BETTER? UM HIS PARENTS HAVE ACCESS PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO NAVIENT. UM EACH OF THE SCHOOLS PROVIDE, UH, THAT PARENT CONNECTED PIECE WHERE THEY CAN GO IN, AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE LESSONS THAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE DOING. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S 1/6 GRADE STUDENT THEY CAN SEE. OH WE DID GOAL SETTING AS AS OUR FIRST LESSON, THEN WE'RE DOING PERSONALITY ASSESSMENTS AND THAT BUILDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL ALL THE WAY. THE POINT WHERE STUDENTS CAN PUT IN THEIR, UH, COLLEGE CHOICES. IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO COLLEGE, AND THEY HAVE A CAREER PATHWAY. ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS PUT INTO THE SYSTEM. THEY WORK WITH THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, BOTH AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE PARENTS HAVING ACCESS AND DOING BETTER WITH THAT. YOU ASK A QUESTION? SURE WHAT DOES THE PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT IS THAT LIKE LOOKING AT WHAT CAREERS THEY MIGHT BE SUITED FOR? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? AND SO, UM, DOCTOR MUELLER THINGS LIKE AND I'LL KIND OF GO IN IF I CAN GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE OF THE HOLLINS CODE, SO THINGS LIKE INTEREST TYPES LIKE IF YOU'RE ARTISTIC, OR YOU'RE REALISTIC OR YOUR KIND OF, UH, YOUR SOCIAL, THEN IT IT ALIGNS WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES THAT KIND OF FIT THAT DOES THAT HELP ANSWER TO MAKE SURE ABSOLUTELY. REALLY EXCITED. I KNOW WE'RE PROBABLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE CAREER COACHES COMING INTO OUR BUILDING QUITE A BIT. AND SO, UH, THAT'S PROBABLY IS NOT NEW INFORMATION, BUT I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE PARTNERING WITH SHIN, UM AND HIRING OUR CAREER COACHES, UM TO BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, NOT ONLY TO THE ALIGNMENT WITH OUR NAVI LESSONS, BUT THEN THEY'RE GONNA BUILD OFF AN AVIANCE LESSONS AND BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE CAREER CONTINUUM THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US. UM LIKE HAVING GUEST SPEAKERS, UM, BEING ABLE TO DO WEB CRUST ACTIVITIES, CAREER FAIRS. UM CURRENTLY WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY SEVEN COACHES HIRED. WE ARE STILL WORKING ON FIVE ADDITIONAL COACHES. THEY WILL BE FOCUSED, UM AT EACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL, THEY WILL SHARE THEM. THEIR FOCUS IS 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADE AND THEN THE TRANSITION BETWEEN EIGHTH GRADE TO NINTH GRADE IN THE WORK. SO I KNOW YOU WANT TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR CAREER COACH, SO SOUTHAMPTON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO HAVE THE CAREER COACH AND WE HAVE ROBERT HENDERSON, AND HE IS SUPER EXCITED. HE'S ALREADY BEEN MEETING WITH STUDENTS. HE'S GOT GREAT IDEAS. HE'S BEEN MEETING WITH TEACHERS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO ALIGN HIS, UM, PHILOSOPHIES OF CAREER EDUCATION TO WHAT WE WANNA DO HERE. ONE THING THAT HE'S THINKING ABOUT DOING WHICH I THINK IS A GREAT THING IS WE DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LUNCHTIME, SO HE'S GOING TO SET UP BOOTHS AND HE'S GONNA SET UP EQUIPMENT TO DEMONSTRATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAREERS SO THAT THE STUDENTS CAN COME OVER AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT IT, SO IT'LL BE DIFFERENT FOCUSES EVERY WEEK. SO I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT . I WANNA KIND OF I WANTED TO PUT THIS SLIDE TOGETHER SO EVERYONE COULD SEE THE OVERARCHING SPECIFIC POINT TO THIS WORK. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. 
          I'VE TALKED ABOUT NA VANCE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAREER COACHES . WE ARE ALSO, UM, TALKING ABOUT OUR COLLEGE VISITS. SO WE ARE PARTNERED WITH HARVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WE ARE GONNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS VISIT THE COLLEGE. NOT ONLY WILL THEY BE SEEING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DO WHAT DUAL ENROLLMENT LOOKS LIKE, 
          [02:25:01]
BUT THAT IS NOT EVERYTHING. THEY'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT TRADES. THEY'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT H VA PROGRAM THEY'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT IF THEY WANT TO BE A SWIM INSTRUCTOR. LIKE ALL OF THE PIECES THAT HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS TO OFFER. STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE EXPOSED TO THAT, AND INFORMATION WILL ALSO BE COMING HOME TO PARENTS AS WELL. AND FINALLY IN THE IN THE FUTURE ARE OUR HOPE IS TO HAVE A VERY, VERY, UM, FORMAL CAREER FAIR, UM, TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF OUR MAGNET PROGRAMS AND THE REASON WE'RE COMING BACK TO A LARGER VENUE FOR THE CAREER FAIR IS, UM, UNDER MR CONLEY'S DIRECTION. UM HE DOES AN AMAZING JOB WITH THE MAGNET PROGRAM EVENINGS BY REGION IN THE FALL FOR EIGHTH GRADE. BUT GIVING THEM ENOUGH INFORMATION AHEAD OF TIME AND BEING ABLE TO EXPOSE THEM TO THEY CAN. UH, IT'S A ONE STOP SHOP, THEY CAN SEE ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE INVITED. SO THEY HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT STUDENTS CAN CAN, UH UH, BE ABLE TO BE A PART OF AND WE REALLY WANT TO CAPTURE THAT. SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THAT'S GONNA COME TO FRUITION IN THE NEAR FUTURE. OK AND SO NOW WE'RE GONNA AND WE'RE GO. WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR CLOSE TO THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. AND WE WANNA, UH, END THIS EVENING WITH KIND OF TALKING ABOUT OUR, UH, FOCUS AND COLLABORATION WITH CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENTS. UM, WE HAVE HAVE PROVIDED, UM, SOME FORMAL DEFINITIONS OF PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CROSS CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS. PART OF THE WORK AS DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION. OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH, UH, CONTENT SUPERVISORS, TEACHERS, TEACHER SPECIALISTS, UM, PRINCIPALS, ETCETERA. SCHOOL BASED FOLKS. UM THAT, UH, REALLY FOCUS ON, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE MADE HUGE GAINS ACADEMICALLY, SO I WANT TO BE VERY PURPOSEFUL AND THAT AND IN THAT NOTE, UM THE COMMON FACTOR IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WE HAVE VISITED ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN SOME FORM OF PROJECT BASED LEARNING. AND SO PART OF THAT WORK IN STUDENTS, UM, BEING MOTIVATED AND PARTICIPATING ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE SEVEN MIDDLE SCHOOLS WE HAVE VISITED WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT. AND I DEFINE IT AS THAT DEEP DIVE INTO A QUESTION. UM KIDS GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY. UM WE REALLY THINK THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD BENEFIT AND MOTIVATE, UM THEIR INTEREST TO LEARN. SO AS A FORMER SCIENCE TEACHER PROJECT BASED LEARNING IS SOMETHING THAT DEEPLY RESONATES WITH ME. AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT, UH, WE HAVE THIS COLLABORATION WITH ED SERVICES TO MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR EVEN MORE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. BUT TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR VISION. OUR VISION IS TO ENGAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND AUTHENTIC REAL WORLD PROJECTS. HELP THEM SEE HOW THE CONTENT THEY'RE LEARNING CAN BE APPLIED IN REAL LIFE. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A STUDENT SCHOOL DAY AND HOW THEY MOVE FROM ONE PERIOD TO ANOTHER TO ANOTHER TO ANOTHER. TO AN ADOLESCENT LEARNING CAN SOMETIMES FEEL DISJOINTED AND DISCONNECTED. SO PART OF OUR VISION IS TO INTENTIONALLY DEVELOP INTERDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS. THAT BLUR THE LINES BETWEEN SUBJECTS AND HELP STUDENTS SEE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING THROUGHOUT THEIR DAY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NEW CONTENT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO UNCOVERING CONTENT. SPECIFICALLY STUDENTS LEARNING THROUGH A PROJECT. LEARNING THROUGH A REAL WORLD PROBLEM OR DRIVING QUESTION. ONE WHICH DOESN'T HAVE AN EASILY GOOGLEABLE ANSWER IF YOU WILL. OUR CONTENT OFFICES IN THE DIVISION OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THAT SERVICES ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO DEVELOP PLANS FOR IDENTIFYING NATURAL ENTRY POINTS INTO OUR CURRICULUM. OR INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS EXIST. WE ARE ALL VERY EXCITED TO TAKE SOME VERY IMPORTANT NEXT STEPS TO MAKE THIS COMPONENT OF MIDDLE SCHOOL INNOVATION REALITY. AND I'LL JUST, UH UM, FINALLY SAY THAT THE COLLABORATION AND THE CONNECTION THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES YOU KNOW, STUDENTS HAVE VOICE UM, THEY HAVE CHOICE. 
          IN THIS PROCESS. I TRULY BUILDS THE CAPACITY FOR THAT READING, WRITING, LISTENING AND SPEAKING ACROSS ALL CONTENTS, WHICH WE'RE LOOKING FOR CONSISTENTLY. WE ARE GOING TO BE OFFERING AN ADVISORY BLOCK OF TIME. ONE DAY A WEEK NEXT YEAR. UM THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE , UH UH, INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE MANY THAT ARE THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT. UM BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK, BUT WE ALSO HAD TO REMEMBER THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND SOME TIME DURING THE DAY THAT DID NOT IMPACT INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES DURING CONTENT TIME. UM PRIOR TO COMING UP WITH A WITH A SET OF MINUTES WE WOULD TAKE AND I'M GONNA GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF AN AMBIANCE LESSON WE WOULD TRY TO, UM, GO INTO SOCIAL SCIENCE CLASSES AND DO NAVI LESSONS DURING SOCIAL SCIENCE CONTENT TIME. WE ARE TAKING IT TO, UH, IEL A CLASSES AND EMBEDDING IT THERE. WE ARE 
          [02:30:03]
FINDING AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THE NAVI LESSONS. THE CAREER COACHES WILL BE COMING IN AND DOING LESSONS WITH THE STUDENTS. UM AND THIS TIME WOULD BE DEDICATED, NOT TAKING AWAY. 
          FROM INSTRUCTIONAL MINUTES FOR ALL OF OUR CONTENTS. AND I'D LIKE TO END. UM, ON A MOST POSITIVE NOTE. UM MR O'BRIEN AND MR CARR HAVE REALLY SPEARHEADED THIS ALONG WITH MISS BASIL'S WORK. UM THE OUTPOURING OF POSITIVITY IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERSCHOLASTIC SPORTS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. IN OUR DAY VISITS THAT WE VISIT REGULARLY WITH OUR WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, WELL, SPECIFICALLY MIDDLE SCHOOL, BUT HIGH SCHOOL TALKS ABOUT IT AS WELL. WE ARE SEEING CHANGES IN STUDENTS AND NOT JUST THE STUDENTS ON THE COURT, NOT JUST STUDENTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY PLAYING THE SPORTS, OR WE HAVE STUDENTS WANTING TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF CHORUS. AT THESE GAMES. THEY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONCESSION STANDS. THEY WANT TO COME WITH THEIR FRIENDS, SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE DATA, THE NUMBER OF TURNOUTS FOR HOW MANY STUDENTS TRIED OUT ARE ROSTERS. OUR BASKETBALL SEASON JUST ENDED . UM HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL AND GETTING BACK TO THAT SENSE OF BELONGING AND A PART OF SOMETHING. THIS HAS BEEN DEFINITELY, UM, AN AREA THAT WE'D LIKE TO CELEBRATE. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRE FORMAL PRESENTATION FOR THE EVENING AND WE'RE CERTAINLY OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. THANK YOU. AMAZING WORK. WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. UM, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM AND I'LL TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM THE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTIONS BECAUSE I COULD GET INTO A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS. UM BUT JUST SOME VERY EXPLICIT. I'LL TRY TO STICK TO THAT. UM THERE. I I'M A NUMBERS PERSON, SO I SAW A LITTLE BIT IN THE TIME THAT WE ALLOCATE TO IL A, UM I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON MATH, YOU KNOW, UM, IT THAT WAS LIKE SO IS DO. WHY WOULD IS THAT WAS THAT INTENTIONAL THAT THAT WAS NOT IN THERE LIKE SO, I. I THINK I CAN. I CAN HELP WITH THAT. ORIGINALLY WE, UM FOR MANY YEARS WE COMBINED THE READING GOALS AND WE EMBEDDED WRITING WITHIN THAT 50 MINUTE BLOCK. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A DEDICATED 50 MINUTES WRITING BLOCK LIKE WE DO FOR MATH LIKE WE DO FOR SOCIAL SCIENCES, WE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS EMBEDDED IN THE READING STANDARDS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS WRITING. SO THE BLOCK OF READING IS IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THE BLOCK OF WRITING. IT IS 2 50 MINUTE CLASSES. SOME OF THEM ARE INTEGRATED AND SOME SOME SCHOOLS. SOME TEACH READING . SOME TEACH WRITING, BUT IT IS ACTUALLY CONSISTENT MINUTES FOR ALL FIVE SUBJECTS IN 6TH AND 7TH GRADE. I GUESS MY QUESTION REALLY WAS, IT SEEMED THAT'S LIKE WE. WE DIDN'T FOCUS ON OTHER SUBJECTS. AND I GUESS IT AND I CAN GET OFFLINE AND TALK ABOUT THIS. UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MUCH TIME WE SPEND ON EACH SUBJECT. UM YOU KNOW, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE EXPANDING ILA. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT WAS PROBABLY MUCH NEEDED LIKE YOU MENTIONED. UM BUT YOU KNOW, ARE THE OTHER. HOW ARE THE OTHER SUBJECTS ALSO BEING ADDRESSED? APPROPRIATELY UM, AND THEN THE NEXT QUESTION YOU MENTIONED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S DONE PERIODICALLY, OR WAS THAT LIKE, ONCE AND DONE SO IT WAS IT. THIS WAS ONE. THIS WAS DONE ONE TIME SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WORK, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD BE HAPPY. 
          WE DO HAVE THAT AND WE CAN, UH, UPLOAD THAT TO THE SITE SO YOU CAN VIEW ALL OF THAT. IT IS AN EXCELLENT THE THIRD, BUT THERE IS NO INTENTION TO DO THAT, LIKE EVERY THREE YEARS OR YOU KNOW, ON SOME KIND OF PERIODIC BASIS, OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING? YOU JUST DID THIS ONE TIME OR IS ARE OUR OUTSIDE PARTNER? UM THE CONSULTING GROUP. AS SOON AS THEY CAME ON, THEY WANTED TO GET TO KNOW US, SO THEY DID AN IN DEPTH. UM LOOK INTO KIND OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND IT WAS PRETTY ENLIGHTENING. IT WAS A LOT OF WHAT WE KNEW, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY INTO IT. UM SO YOU KNOW, IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO COME BACK AND CONTINUE TO RE EVALUATE. UM, WORK. YEAH. SO WHEN THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE DONE, UM IS THERE A PLAN THAT COULD BE PROVIDED SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT? UM WHAT WE EXPECT TO GET FROM THE ASSESSMENTS. DO THEY WRITE A PLAN AND SUBMIT IT FOR APPROVAL? WHEN YOU SAY ASSESSMENT, WHICH WHICH THIS WAS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, SO I WOULD SUSPECT THEY WOULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT SOME CRITERIA. UM SOME DATA THAT THEY WERE PLANNING ON COLLECTING AND WRITE SOME KIND OF STRUCTURED PLAN SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, UM DO THEIR ASSESSMENT. SO IS THERE A PLAN TYPICALLY PROVIDED FOR THESE ASSESSMENTS? NO THE NEEDS 
          [02:35:02]
ASSESSMENT. PRETTY MUCH SHOWED US, UM STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN THE DOOR. AND THEN WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WAS WORKED ALONGSIDE US TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN. AND SO I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME REALLY COMING BEFORE THE BOARD EVEN THOUGH SOME OF SOME OF YOU ARE UNLIKE OUR BLUEPRINT, GROUPS AND STUFF, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK A NUMBER OF TIMES TO REALLY SHOW WE'RE REALLY ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE WORK AND WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE WORK BECAUSE IT WAS WORK THAT WE STARTED 23 YEARS AGO AND SOME OF THE SAME CORNERSTONE WORK. UM FOR THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN IS THE SAME THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW, BUT EVEN BETTER, AND, UM , WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE WORK. UM THAT WE CAN'T WAIT TO BRING BACK THE NEXT THE NEXT PART OF IT TO YOU GUYS AND HAVE YOU ASK QUESTIONS AND TEAR IT APART AND SAY, YOU KNOW, OK AND YEAH, MY BACKGROUND'S TNE SO UM, BUT SO THE NEXT QUESTION IS BASICALLY ON AN ASSESSMENT THING AGAIN. UM SO AND DOCTOR MUELLER, UM, ASKED ABOUT THE PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT. SO DO YOU USE A STANDARD ASSESSMENT? OR IS THIS SOME HOMEGROWN ASSESSMENT THAT YOU USE LIKE MYERS BREAKS FOR PERSONALITY? OR LIKE IS THERE A STANDARD ASSESSMENT THAT YOU'RE USING, OR SOMETHING ELSE. I KNOW . UH, OUR SUPERVISOR OF COUNSELING IS BEHIND US. WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU THAT, UM, BECAUSE IT'S ON NOW THE KIDS DO LITERALLY USE IT FROM FROM 6 TO 12 ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH, UM LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FROM COLLEGE. IT REALLY CONNECTS TO THEIR ENTIRE PORTFOLIO OF 6 TO 12 SO I COULD SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF PERSONALITY TEST OUT THERE IN THE MARKETPLACE. SO I, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WHICH ONE ARE WE USING? IT'S ONE ELEMENT. REALLY COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM. 
          I'M SO I MEAN, WE COULD LOOK AT THAT. BUT WE ALSO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE PULLING FROM A LOT OF PLACES BECAUSE BEING ABLE TO DELIVER IT THROUGH THE PLATFORM, AND EVERYTHING IS A BIG PART OF IT. BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY GET EDUCATED ON AMBIANCE AND EVERYTHING THAT IT OFFERS. 
          THERE'S A LOT THERE TO SEE. UM, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD. UM. I WAS, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT BLURRING THE LINES AND EN DISCIPLINARY. THAT'S INTERESTING . I'VE LOVE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. YEAH 11. QUICK QUESTION. GOOD PRESENTATION. WELL ORGANIZED, OBVIOUSLY, UM, A COUPLE OF JUST, YOU KNOW. NON TECHNICAL THINGS. 
          YOU MENTIONED SEVEN CAREER COACHES PARTNERING WITH SHWIN. SO WE HAVE CONTRACTOR SUPPORT TO DO THIS. IS THAT WHAT I HEARD CORRECTLY AND YOU WANT TO HIRE FIVE MORE? NO IT'S PART OF OUR BLUEPRINT. MONEY UM, THAT WAS ALREADY ALLOCATED TO SHUAN. THEY ARE THE, UM, GROUP ACTUALLY HIRING THE CAREER COACHES ARE HIRED COMPLETELY FOR I KNOW. I WAS JUST THINKING BICYCLES, I. I HEARD SWIM. THEY HAD SEVEN IN PLACE. SORRY. IT'S NINE O'CLOCK. THEY'RE HIRING ON THEIR LAST FIVE. OK SW OK, SORRY ABOUT THAT . OK SO AND THIS IS ALL BLUEPRINT. GRANT MONEY IS THAT THE ONE THAT'S EXPIRING THIS YEAR OR YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS WAS PASSED. SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IN THE BLUEPRINT. IT WASN'T SOMETHING WE HAD A CHOICE IN. IT WAS MONEY THAT WAS SENT TO US AS A PASS THROUGH. SO IT WAS $2.6 MILLION THAT WAS PUT IN OUR BUDGET AND THEN HAD TO GO DIRECTLY TO THEM. SO THIS IS PART OF SO PART OF WHAT THEY'RE USING THAT MONEY FOR IS TO HIRE THESE CAREER COACHES AND I THOUGHT THOSE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT THEY GO TO NO. UM THE HIGH SCHOOL FOLKS ARE WITH THE, UM THE APPRENTICESHIP GRANT. AND SO THOSE SO THE PEOPLE IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE BLUEPRINT MONEY WAS SPECIFICALLY WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE USED TO RUN THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM. DON'T ASK ME WHY? BECAUSE IT MAKES NO SENSE BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES ALIGN. UM SO WE GOT THE APPRENTICESHIP GRANT TO DRIVE THE RECRUITMENT FOR THE APPRENTICESHIPS. SEPARATE AND THEN THE SUBSEQUENT WORKFORCE NETWORK FUNDS, WHICH THAT WAS PART OF THE STATEWIDE THING WHERE MONEY PASSED THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS DIRECTLY TO THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION BOARDS AND THEN WE HAD TO COME UP WITH A PLAN, ALONG WITH THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION BOARD TO, UM, ESSENTIALLY DO CAREER. I THINK THEY USE CAREER COUNSELING IN THE LAW WAS THE WORD. I MEAN, WE CALLED THEM CAREER COACHES. UM, BUT THAT'S THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANDATES OF BLUEPRINT. IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY HAD A LOT OF CHOICE ON, BUT I THINK I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE WE SEE A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN IT. MISS COOPER, THE ALSO THE CAREER COACH WILL BE THAT WILL BE WORKING WITH NINTH GRADE TRANSITIONING AND WILL WORK WITH THE APPRENTICE FOLKS AS WELL IN THAT COLLABORATION. SO THAT'LL BE THAT'LL BE A PLUS TOO. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RESEARCH ON THE ADOLESCENT BRAIN EVERYTHING, IS THERE. ANYTHING IN THERE, YOU KNOW? ARE WE PUTTING A LOT ON KIDS SO EARLY? THAT THAT'S JUST KIND OF ONE THING THAT THAT IS BEEN A CONCERN. IT'S LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN SIXTH GRADE, SO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE YET, YOU KNOW, LIKE, HOW DO THEY LIKE CHOICE AND EXPLORATION? THAT'S EVERYTHING 
          [02:40:01]
WE'RE TRYING TO DO. YOU KNOW OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS NEVER REALLY HAD A CHOICE IN ANY PART OF THEIR SCHEDULE, AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT NOW THEY DO, UM, EVEN TO THE POINT BY EIGHTH GRADE, THEY CAN EARN THREE HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS. UM, IF THEY WANT TO UM, WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED FOR THE WORK. UM BECAUSE THE EXPLORATION AND OPPORTUNITY CONNECTS KIDS. TO SCHOOL AND WHEN THEY'RE CONNECTED, AND YOU KNOW, ATHLETICS CONNECTS KIDS TO SCHOOL, TOO. WHEN WE WERE AT EDGEWOOD, MIDDLE FOR THEIR LAST BASKETBALL GAME. THE STEP TEAM WAS THERE, TOO. AND YOU KNOW WE'VE SEEN CHEERLEADERS AND SO THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT'S GROWN OUT OF IT AGAIN WITH JUST THAT CONNECTING, CONNECTING TO SCHOOL FEELING SMART, FEELING CONNECTED. UM, HAVING GOOD SELF ESTEEM. KIND OF GO TOGETHER. ABSOLUTELY I WAS AT YOUR SCHOOL THE FIRST DAY THAT DID SOCCER LAST FALL. NOT LAST YEAR, BUT THE YEAR BEFORE THAT, AND IT WAS AMAZING. THE GROUND WAS COVERED WITH STUDENTS. IT WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, DENSE, MISS COKER, IF I COULD SHARE TO JUST IN MY CAREER , I MEAN, MY 29TH YEAR AND 28 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE OF MY PASSION FOR THE FOR THE AGE GROUP. THE EXPLORATION IS, MR O'BRIEN EXPLAINED. WE DEFINITELY DON'T EVER DON'T WANNA APPROACH IT, AND WE DON'T APPROACH IT AS FORCING KIDS THAT AS AS AS FORCED OPPORTUNITIES JUST THAT EXPLORATION AND EVEN GOING LIKE FOR SOME STUDENTS, THEY'VE NEVER GONE STEPPED FOOT ON A HARVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, EVER SO JUST EVEN PLANTING SEEDS . THERE'S NOTHING YOU KNOW WE'RE NOT FORCING AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THAT THE WORLD LANGUAGE CREDITS. 
          IF THERE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PARENTS THAT HAVE VOICED, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T I DON'T WANT MY CHILD. AND WORLD LANGUAGE AND HIGH OR IN EIGHTH GRADE, BECAUSE , UH, THEY NEED MORE HELP IN IN LANGUAGE ARTS, SO WE'RE ADJUSTING THOSE AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE PARENT CONVERSATIONS, TOO, WITH THE PRINCIPAL. SO I JUST WANNA ADD THAT AS WELL. OK, THANK YOU. THIS IS THE TIME THAT THE FOR YOU TO START. IN THE ELEMENTARY YEARS. YOU'VE GOT THE GENERAL THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT STUDENTS GATHERING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AND STARTING IN THE PREADOLESCENT, THEY START PRUNING AND BECOMING SPECIALIZED , SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WAS GOING TO BENEFIT THEM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOME SPECIALIZATIONS, AND NOW WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR INTEREST. OK, THANK YOU. I WANT TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR PRESENTATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT AS WE MOVE CAREER EXPLORATION, YOUNGER AND YOUNGER AND YOUNGER IS THAT WE ARE FORCING KIDS INTO A MOLD. 
          YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU'RE GONNA BE A TRADE PERSON. YOU'RE GONNA GO TO COLLEGE AND SO FORTH, SO I LIKE THE APPROACH YOU'RE TAKING. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU SHARING THAT WITH US. UM I STARTED OUT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WELL, ACTUALLY STARTED OUT IN ELEMENTARY BUT IN TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL IS WHERE I STARTED OUT TEACHING AND I ENJOY THE WAY THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE, UM A LOT OF INTEREST IN A LOT OF THINGS IN A LOT OF EXPLORING AS YOU WERE SAYING BEFORE, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. YES. SO I JUST AGAIN WANNA ECHO DR MILLER'S COMMENTS? UM REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING. CHANGE IS HARD, RIGHT? UM WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS. SIGNIFICANT IT'S YOU KNOW, YOU'RE YOU'RE REWRITING MIDDLE SCHOOL HERE, SO UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THAT ON. AND I KNOW THAT, UH REALLY, THAT EXTENDS OUT THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL, YOU KNOW, VICE PRINCIPALS. UH, THE TEACHERS WHO ARE DOING THIS. UH, I KNOW YOU ARE FLYING THE PLANE AND WE ARE CHANGING IT. MID AIR. 
          UM SO JUST VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE ENTIRE TEAM. WORKING HARD TO GET THIS DONE FOR I I'M VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING. MISS HAN. JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. UM VERY INFORMATIVE. AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING INTO IT. THANK YOU. UH, SUPERINTENDENT WANTED TO SAY A FEW QUICK WORDS, BUT BEFORE I PASS IT OVER TO HIM, I LOVE WHAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING. IT'S AMAZING. I LOVE UM STARTING LANGUAGES EARLY. I THINK IF WE COULD DO IT EVEN BEFORE EIGHTH GRADE, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. I LOVE THE CROSS CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS, AND I THINK BRINGING SPORTS TO MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS AWESOME. THERE'S SO MANY KIDS THAT GO TO SCHOOL TO PLAY SPORTS AND KEEP THEIR GRADES UP TO PLAY SPORTS, SO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. SO I JUST WANTED TO CLOSE WITH A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS ON THIS, UM SO YOU'VE HEARD THE STORY. IT'S BEEN A LONG STORY SINCE THE EARLY TWO THOUSANDS ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM. UM NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, HARFORD OVER THAT TIME EVOLVED DIDN'T REALLY REFORM AND WHAT WHEN? WHEN MISS HOLLOWAY TOOK OVER, UH, THIS PROJECT WE HAD MANY DIFFERENT. TYPES OF SCHOOLS. THEY ALL HAD DIFFERENT PLANS, AND YOU COULD GO BACK TO SOME REFORM EFFORT THAT HAPPENED IN ONE YEAR THAT GOT ONE SCHOOL AND ANOTHER REFORM EFFORT TO HAVE ANOTHER YEAR. THEY GOT ANOTHER SCHOOL, WHICH MEANT THEY WERE ALL 
          [02:45:01]
DIFFERENT. WE WEREN'T OFFERING THE FOREIGN LANGUAGES. WE WEREN'T OFFERING A CONSISTENT PROGRAM THAT LIKE BENEFITED ALL CHI CHILDREN AND GAVE SIMILAR OPPORTUNITIES. I VIEW THE WORK SHE'S DOING IN TWO PARTS, AND WE ARE KIND OF AT THE END OF PART ONE UM, WHICH IS REALLY IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE CLEAN UP. IT'S GETTING THINGS BACK ON THE SAME PAGE IT IT'S A SORT OF IDENTIFYING VALUES. UM IT'S INTRODUCING THIS WORK OF INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK OF REALLY ALLOWING MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO REFORM AND WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THE CHALLENGE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S WHEN WE LOSE THEIR ATTENTION. UM BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE BIG QUESTION WHICH WE'VE HEARD 1000 TIMES YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU KNOW? WHY DO I HAVE TO KNOW THIS? AND WE'RE WE'RE IN AN AGE NOW WHERE OUR STUDENTS. MORE AND MORE NEED TO BE ENTERTAINED. AND OUR JOB ISN'T TO ENTERTAIN US TO EDUCATE . BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE WE'RE DEALING WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF, UM AND KEEPING THEM ENGAGED. UH, IS A BIG PART OF IT, BUT ALSO SHOWING THEM THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS THEY COULD BE INVOLVED IN. BECAUSE IN EIGHTH GRADE, WE ASKED THEM TO PICK A MAGNET PROGRAM. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHEN THE APPLICATIONS GO OUT, BUT THEY HAVE VERY, VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES DIFFERENT PROGRAMS MIGHT LEAD TO. SO JUST BY APPLYING FOR THE PROGRAM. THEY'RE PICKING A COURSE BUT REALLY, WITHOUT A LOT OF INFORMATION, SO THE GOAL HERE WAS TO BACK THIS UP TO CREATE MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE TO ENSURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE DOING DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL IS BOTH. ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS BUT ALSO INTELLECTUALLY ENGAGING. AND BY DOING THAT, I THINK WE PUT THEM ON A BETTER FOOTING TO BE, UM MORE PREPARED TO CHOOSE A PATH AT SOME POINT DURING HIGH SCHOOL, OR AT LEAST KIND OF HAVE SOME IDEAS ABOUT WHERE THEY WANNA GO. AND AS WE OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WE FEEL WE NEED TO EQUIP THEM FOR THAT. BUT LIKE I SAID, PART TWO OF THIS WORK REALLY STARTS ROLLING OUT NEXT YEAR INTO THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR WHERE WE CAN START DIGGING INTO THE PROJECT BASED LEARNING, WHICH I THINK IS THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY WHERE STUDENTS ARE EXPLORING SOMETHING AT GREAT DEPTH ACROSS THE CURRICULUM, UM AND AGAIN APPLYING THESE DIFFERENT SKILLS, SO A LOT MORE WORK TO DO IN THIS AREA, UM, HAVING SOMEONE FOCUSED. ON THIS WORK IN PARTICULAR IS ESSENTIAL. 
          THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS. IT EVOLVED NOT TRANSFORMED, AND I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSFORMATION. UM SO WE NEED TO STAY ON THIS COURSE A BIT LONGER, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND, UM I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU, BOY. OK, MOVING ON TO ITEM. E DECISION ON SUPERINTENDENT IS 
          [E. Decision on Superintendent's Proposed FY2025 Budget, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Mr. Eric Clark, Director of Budget, and Ms. Mary Edmunds, Budget Analyst]
PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET, PLEASE WELCOME MISS DE JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES, MR. ERIC CLARK, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET AND MISS MARY EMMONS. UM, BUDGET ANALYSIS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT HAH BOARD MEMBERS AND DR BOLSON. WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO BRIEFLY REVIEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL ON THIS EVENING. UM I WILL GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED EXCEPT FOR TWO ITEMS WHICH WE WILL SHARE IT HAS TO DO WITH, UM, CHANGES IN STATE REVENUE, AND THEN WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU AND ASK FOR YOUR, UM CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET. SO THE REVENUE UM, FOR ALL FUNDS IS LISTED HERE. WE DO HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE RESTRICTED FUND, WHICH INDICATES, UM A DOLLAR CHANGE WILL GO THROUGH THE DETAIL OF THAT. THE UNRESTRICTED FUND IS NOT HIGHLIGHTED. HOWEVER THERE IS A CHANGE, AND IT'S A FLIP BETWEEN THE LOCAL AND STATE FUNDING. SO THE STATE UM PRELIMINARY NUMBERS CAME OUT AND WE HAD $1.6 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM THE STATE. SO WE'VE REFLECTED THAT REVENUE IN THE MARYLAND STATE LINE, AND WE'VE REDUCED THE LOCAL ASK BY THE 1.6 MILLION. DOLLARS. THIS IS THE SAME SUMMARY THAT WE'VE PRESENTED BEFORE, UM BY THE, UM, LARGER CATEGORIES, AND THEN THESE ARE ALL OF THE DETAILS. WE'RE HAPPY TO GO BACK AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO ANY OF THESE PARTICULAR LINE ITEMS. NO CHANGES AT THIS TIME. 
          OUR POSITION SUMMARY AGAIN. NO CHANGES. SO OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET FEDERAL GRANTS THERE WAS NO CHANGE. STATE GRANTS. EACH OF THOSE LINE ITEMS RESULTED IN AN INCREASE IN STATE RESTRICTED REVENUE. TOTAL OF $623,000. SO WE'VE ADDED A CHART HERE. THAT IS JUST THAT PORTION OF THOSE STATE GRANTS WITH THE REVENUE JUST SO YOU CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER. NO CHANGES IN FOOD 
          [02:50:02]
AND NUTRITION. AND AGAIN THE CAPITAL BUDGET WAS APPROVED PREVIOUSLY. SO WE ARE ASKING THIS EVENING FOR THE, UM APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND RESTRICTED FUND WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE DISCUSSED, UM, AND APPROVAL OF THE FOOD AND NUTRITION FUND AS WELL. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO PRESENT? NOT UNLESS YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. YEAH, WE'LL OPEN IT. UM FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU. UM I DIDN'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS EARLIER , BUT I'LL MAKE SOME SOME COMMENTS RIGHT NOW, IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS, WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS FROM OTHER BOARD MEMBERS. FOLLOWING THIS, I'LL BE SEEKING A MOTION IN A SECOND TO ADOPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET, INCORPORATING SOME NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. BEFORE WE PROCEED WITH THESE STEPS. LET ME PLEASE SHARE SOME COMMENTARY ON OUR BUDGET AND OUR CURRENT STANDING IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. FIRST I WISH TO EXTEND MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THE ENTIRE BOARD. ARE DEDICATED STAFF. AND MEMBERS OF BOTH THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE. THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS THAT WE'VE ENGAGED IN OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL. 
          TOGETHER WE'VE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND OUR CURRENT FISCAL STANCE AND ALIGN TOWARDS A SOLUTION. FOR RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TO APPROVE AN ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET. THIS TASK INVOLVES CRAFTING A BUDGET THAT NOT ONLY REFLECTS OUR EDUCATIONAL GOALS BUT ALSO ACTIVELY ENGAGES OUR PRIMARY FUNDING PARTNERS WHO ARE THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 
          WE EMBARK ON A MISSION TO EDUCATE, ENGAGE AND PROMOTE OUR BUDGET. WITH THE AIM OF SECURING THE NECESSARY RESOURCES. IN RECENT WEEKS, WE'VE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF EMAILS, MANY FROM TEACHERS. URGING THIS BOARD TO FULLY FUND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. THIS BOARD IS NOT THE FUNDING AUTHORITY, NOR DO WE POSSESS THE ABILITY TO RAISE REVENUES. OUR CAPACITY TO SECURE THE NEEDED RESOURCES STEMS DIRECTLY. FROM OUR ABILITY TO COLLABORATE EFFECTIVELY. WITH OUR FUNDING PARTNERS. AND TO IDENTIFY THE MOST OPTIMAL SOLUTIONS. CONSIDERING ALL LIKELY SCENARIOS. THE UPCOMING PROPOSED BUDGET MODIFICATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO YIELD THE BEST OUTCOME FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THIS YEAR. WE HAVE ADOPTED A NEW APPROACH TO OUR BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES AND A NEW APPROACH TO OUR PROCESS. WE HAVE ENGAGED EARLY AND OFTEN WITH THEIR FUNDING PARTNERS AIM TO DEVELOP A BUDGET THAT WE BELIEVE COULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED BY THEM. IN THESE DISCUSSIONS. IT REVEALED A SIGNIFICANT GAP BETWEEN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. AND THE AVAILABLE AND THE AVAILABLE FUNDING. LEADING US TO THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT I WILL BE PROPOSING TONIGHT. THESE ADJUSTMENTS WILL STILL ENSURE THAT OUR BUDGET REMAINS ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS AND VISIONS SET FORTH BY THE BOARD. AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS ORIGINAL BUDGET REQUEST. AS PRESENTED EARLIER AND LAST MONTH, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT SEEKS TO INCREASE APPROXIMATELY $40 MILLION ACROSS FOUR KEY AREAS. ONE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS TO RECOGNIZE OUR DEDICATED STAFF AND EDUCATORS. 
          TO TRANSITIONING FEDERALLY GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS. TO LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOLLOWING A ONE TIME COVID RELIEF GRANTS. THREE ADDRESSING MANDATORY INCREASES IN PENSION AND HEALTH CARE COSTS. FOR ENHANCING OUR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION. THE FORTHCOMING PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS WILL REMAIN COMMITTED TO THESE FOUR PRIORITY AREAS. THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS WILL FOCUS ON FOLLOWING KEY AREAS. ONE REDUCING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REQUEST BY $1.6 MILLION, AS DISCUSSED. DUE TO AN INCREASE IN STATE CONTRIBUTION. TO IDENTIFYING $5 MILLION IN SAVINGS THROUGH OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES WHILE ENSURING A NEGLIGIBLE IMPACT ON STUDENT FACING POSITIONS. THREE ALLOCATING AN ADDITIONAL $11.5 MILLION FROM OUR FUND BALANCE TO THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET. IT'S ESSENTIAL TO CLARIFY THAT THE TERM CUTS HAVE BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S INITIAL PROPOSAL. THE $5 MILLION IS NOT A REDUCTION IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET. IN FACT, UNDER THIS SCENARIO, OUR OPERATING BUDGET WILL INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE YEAR PRIOR. INCLUDING AN ADDITIONAL $24 MILLION FROM THE COUNTY'S PORTION ALONE. IF FULLY FUNDED. THIS INCREASE 
          [02:55:02]
DEMONSTRATES OUR COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. ADDITIONALLY BY TAPPING FURTHER INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE SCHOOL'S STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. YET WE MAY CHOOSE TO INVEST THESE FUNDS DIRECTLY INTO THE CLASSROOM. BELIEVING THAT THIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF RESOURCES AT THIS TIME. WE'RE COMMITTED TO OVERCOMING THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN THE COMING BUDGET CYCLES THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INNOVATION. FOR NOW , THIS APPROACH BALANCES OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS WITH OUR LONG TERM FINANCIAL STABILITY. THE DECISION WE MAKE, INCLUDING TONIGHT'S BUDGET BUDGET MODIFICATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO OPTIMIZE OUR RESOURCES AND ACHIEVE THE BEST OUTCOME POSSIBLE. OUR GOAL IS TO SEEK THE BEST FISCAL SOLUTION ACROSS A RANGE OF VIABLE OPTIONS. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO OUR SHARED MISSION. I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR COLLABORATION IN THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THAT THE SITE TONIGHT'S DECISION WILL HAVE. I NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR COMMENTS. 
          I THE FIRST I. I JUST WANNA THANK YOU AND GOING THROUGH THOSE SLIDES SO QUICKLY WAS GREAT BECAUSE I SO COMMENTS OVER HERE. THAT SAID, OH, MY GOSH. SO THANK YOU FOR, UM, GETTING THROUGH THEM, AND I KNOW WE'VE ALL HAD A LOT OF OP OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THEM AND TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS. AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UM, RESPONDING TO OUR QUESTIONS. I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION THAT, UM ONE SLIDE. UM. 28 AND JUST A GENERAL COMMENT AND IN GENERAL ABOUT, UM, AN AREA THAT IT'S EXPANDED NEED SLIDES. I'VE ONLY GOT 2122 IN LINE. 2815 MIGHT BE LINE 28 SLIDE. EIGHT SLIDE EIGHT BLIND 28 UM, AND BASICALLY, IT'S A GENERAL QUESTION ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF PSYCHOLOGISTS, UM, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED SUPPORT FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR STUDENTS. UM BUT THERE'S BEEN A AN EXPANSION IN THAT AREA. AND. AND I MY QUESTION IS HAVE WE RECEIVED REVENUE TO SUPPORT THAT EXPANSION? YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LINE 28 THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RECLASSIFICATION. YES YEAH, IT'S A $4 MILLION LINE ITEM. SO AS WE DISCUSSED WHEN WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET, THIS IS REALLY JUST AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE. WE IT USED TO BE IN THE RESTRICTED BUDGET AND REMOVING IT, AND THE REVENUE IS FOLLOWING THAT SO INCLUDED IN THE STATE REVENUE. IT DIRECTLY OFFSETS THAT $4 MILLION, SO THERE IS NO IMPACT TO THE OPERATING BUDGET. BUT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE IT HERE BECAUSE WE'LL BE RECORDING WITHIN THE BUDGET. YEAH, I JUST NOT. WE'RE EXPANDING SOMETHING. I JUST THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT YOU KNOW IF IT'S IF THERE'S BEING A REQUEST FROM THE STATE, YOU KNOW , THEY SHOULD BE FUNDING. SOME OF THAT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S ANYWAY, SO THAT THAT WAS MY QUESTION. AND IF WE, YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S OK. NO EXCITE. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS. I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF AND DIDN'T OFFER ME A VISUAL OR ANYTHING TO GO ALONG WITH IT, CAN YOU REPEAT THAT. YEAH, UM. THE KEY AREA. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT JUST THE KEY AREAS, RIGHT? SO RECOGNITION OF APPROXIMATELY $1.6 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL STATE CONTRIBUTION. TRANSFER OF AN ADDITIONAL 11.5 MILLION FROM THE FUND BALANCE OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND REDUCTION OF THE BUDGET REQUEST BY $5 MILLION THROUGH OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? I READ THE FULL DRAFTED MOTION WITH A PRIORITY OF ENSURING MINIMAL IMPACT ON EDUCATOR POSITIONS AND NO INCREASE IN AVERAGE CLASSROOM SIZES. ACKNOWLEDGING. THAT THE DEFINITIVE DEFINITIVE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES REMAIN CONTINGENT UPON THE BOARD'S FINAL APPROVAL VOTE. 
          WHICH WILL HAPPEN IN JUNE. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. WE'RE ASKING THE ADMINISTRATION TO IDENTIFY $5 MILLION WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY. THAT'S THE CASE. THERE WILL BE THIS IS A BUDGET PROPOSAL TONIGHT. IT WON'T BE FINALIZED UNTIL THANK YOU. WHICH WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD AGAIN. UH, YEAH. DONE THIS ONCE OR TWICE. UM, MR PRESIDENT. UM, THE FUND BALANCE. MR. JUDD, WHAT IS YOUR. I MEAN, HOW DO YOU WILL THIS REALLY IMPACT OPERATIONS TO BE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE? IT. 
          [03:00:10]
IT WOULD REDUCE THE FUND BALANCE BY AN ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION. SO AGAIN AS DOCTOR, PONTON POINTED OUT. YOU KNOW, USING FUND BALANCE CERTAINLY INCREASE THE USE OF FUND BALANCE CLEARLY INDICATES A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT IN THE BUDGET, WHICH WE WOULD NEED TO RECONCILE. UM. FUND BALANCE IS INTENDED FOR ONE USE. PURPOSES AND THIS IS FOR RECURRING EXPENSES, SO THERE'S RECURRING EXPENSES IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY ON BALANCE. SO WHAT WOULD THE AMOUNT BE LEFT IN FUND BALANCE? I'M WORKING ON THOSE PROJECTIONS . NOW I'LL BE BACK, UM, IN FEBRUARY, BUT RIGHT NOW. IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE SURPLUS FROM THIS YEAR WILL BE CLOSE TO WHAT IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SO WE HAD 30. AT THE END OF FY 24. SO I'M EXPECTING RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY BETWEEN 3035 TOTAL SO INCREASING THIS. WE WOULD TAKE US DOWN TO 2025. SO AND I JUST WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW. REPEAT WHAT I SAID IN MY OPENING COMMENTS, UM USING FUND BALANCES IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH, AND THAT'S WHY I WOULD I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A ZERO BASED BUDGET, UM, APPROACH BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGES IN OUR EDUCATION. WE YOU KNOW IF THE BLUEPRINT AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS. UM, PUT ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND YOU KNOW THIS WAY WE COULD BASELINE THINGS AND BECAUSE YOU KNOW, NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA BE WITHOUT FUND BALANCE TO RELY ON SO UM THAT'S. I THINK WE'LL STILL HAVE A FUN BALANCE. THE EXACT AMOUNT IS TO BE DETERMINED WE CAN. WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO USE FUND BALANCE. WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO WEAN OUR WAY. WEAN OURSELVES OFF OF THE FUND BALANCE FOR SURE. I THINK I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I THINK THAT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DECIDE AS A BOARD AND WE NEED TO SAY, YOU KNOW, TO THE STAFF AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THIS IS HOW WE WANT TO BUILD, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO DO THAT. I MEAN, WHAT WE'VE DONE. WE'VE BEEN OPERATING FROM MY EXPERIENCE. 
          THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DONE BEFORE AND SO OBVIOUSLY, MAVE HAS PROVIDED US WITH THE OPTIONS OF TWO THINGS. FUND BALANCE A YEAR. I MEAN, UM, YOU KNOW, ZERO BASED OR WE'RE GONNA GO WITH WHAT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, SO WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION EARLY ON. YEAH, I. I DO AGREE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE TOWARDS EXERCISE TO LOOK AT, UM, THE ZERO BASE BUDGETING. AND AS I UNDERSTAND, I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE BUDGET ZERO BASED. YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT PORTIONS OF IT. UM AND I, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS A JUST DISCUSSION FOR MAYBE, UM, BEYOND THE BOARDROOM, BUT, UM YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THE AREAS WHERE BLUEPRINT IS AFFECTING, UM, THE EDUCATION SYSTEM BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE REPLACING SOME THINGS THAT WERE IN PLACE PRIOR TO BLUEPRINT SO THERE MAY BE SOME DUPLICATION. UM, THAT COULD BE REBASED LINED. UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW THAT WE CAN USE THOSE. UM, FUNDS AND THE AREAS MOST. SUPPORTIVE OF THE STUDENTS. LET ME PUT PUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MANY OTHER COUNTIES. YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE LOSING, YOU KNOW, HONESTLY, THE $10 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS. I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG BRICK WALL. AS I SAID LAST TIME IN MANY COUNTIES ARE RUNNING INTO THAT. 
          WE ARE SEEING DRACONIAN CUTS HAPPENING IN MANY COUNTIES. THERE'S ONLY A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN SOLVE THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. YOU CAN INCREASE REVENUES, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO. MARYLAND IS ONLY ONE OF. I THINK EIGHT STATES WHERE THERE'S SCHOOL BOARDS DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO RAISE REVENUES. WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING PARTNERS. YOU CAN INCREASE EFFICIENCIES. YOU CAN DECREASE COSTS. AND YOU CAN USE THE FUND BALANCE. TO WORK ON THAT OVER A FEW BUDGET CYCLES. YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE NO LONGER HAVE A STRUCTURAL DEFICIT. FUND BALANCE WON'T LAST FOREVER. WE NEED TO RIGHT THE SHIP USING THESE LEVERS OVER TIME. BUT THIS APPROACH TONIGHT. I THINK ENSURES THAT WE HAVE A SOFT LANDING TO GET THERE RATHER THAN A HARD LANDING. YES, SIR. UM THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK HERE, UM. FIRST OFF. I JUST WANT TO CORRECT WELL. PUT MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT. I THINK OUR SHIP IS 
          [03:05:07]
RIGHT. OUR SHIP. IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE RIGHT. IT'S ALREADY RIGHT. UM. TALKING ABOUT FUND BALANCE. 
          UH WE CURRENTLY HAVE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN WE'RE PROJECTING 30 TO 35 MILLION. IS THAT RIGHT? I'M SORRY. SO WE'RE CURRENTLY LIKE A TOTAL FUND BALANCE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 30 35 MILLION AFTER THIS YEAR. CLOSES OK, ALL RIGHT, AND WE WERE ALREADY PROPOSING. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET ALREADY PROPOSES. USE FIVE OF THAT CORRECT, SO THAT'S INCLUDED IT THAT'S INCLUDED IN THAT 30 TO 35 OK. ALL RIGHT. SO WE'RE LOOKING TO, UM TO USE 11.5. SO WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA BE DOWN AROUND 20. OK SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE NUMBERS TONIGHT AFTER THEY WERE ADJUSTED FOR THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE COMING FROM THE STATE, WE NEED ROUGHLY $355 MILLION FROM LOCAL SO IF WE ARE TO UH, TAKE OFF. FIVE. JUST TAKE FIVE OFF THE TOP SAY WE HAVE TO FIND COST SAVINGS SOMEWHERE. WE'RE DOWN TO 350. AND THEN WE'RE GONNA PUT IN 11.5 OF FUND BALANCE. THAT GIVES US DOWN TO 339 FIVE. UH, LOCAL ASK UM. ROUGHLY. DO YOU RECOMMEND US USING A FUND BALANCE WITH OUR FUND BALANCE BEING AT THIS LEVEL? FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. YOU'RE ASKING A FINANCE PERSON ABOUT USING SAVINGS FOR RECURRING EXPENSES, SO NO, MY ANSWER IS NEVER TO USE FUNDING FOR RECURRING EXPENSES. UM WE HAVE IT TO USE. HOWEVER WE SHOULD REPLACE IT. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT IT'S YOU MET TOO MUCH FUND BALANCE, BUT IT ABSOLUTELY IS NOT. UM IT STILL FALLS BELOW ANY GUIDANCE THAT YOU LOOK AT FOR WHAT FUND BALANCE SHOULD BE AT OUR LEVEL OF A BUDGET, SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO ON A REGULAR BASIS TO USE FUND BALANCE. UM IT WILL GO AWAY IF WE DON'T AGAIN THIS YEAR IS EXTREMELY TIGHT WITH THE SURPLUS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GENERATING AND WE'RE GETTING MORE SNOW TOMORROW, SO MY PROJECTIONS ARE ONLY THROUGH DECEMBER. SO WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER THREE MONTHS. ANOTHER FOUR QUARTER OF POTENTIALLY BAD WEATHER THAT COULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THAT PROPOSED SURPLUS. AT THIS POINT YOU MENTIONED SNOW SNOW IS EXPENSIVE FOR US. IT IS. SO WHAT IS A SNOW EVENT COST US. DO WE HAVE IT? I DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL NUMBER FOR THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I YEAH, WE HAVE TO CHECK WITH CORNELL'S GROUP TO SEE IF THEY HAVE AN AVERAGE. I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON THE IT DEFINITELY DEPENDS. YES OK, LENGTH SO WITH WITH THE SIZE OF OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET ROUGHLY RIGHT HERE, WE'RE PROPOSING 660. $1 MILLION. HOW MUCH FUN BALANCE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE. LIKE HOW, LIKE RUNNING THIS OPERATION? WHAT? WHAT DO YOU FEEL WOULD BE, UH AND ACCEPTABLE FUND BALANCE TO CARRY A YEAR. ON A YEARLY BASIS. WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT GOVERNMENTAL RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY'LL SAY 10. WHICH I CAN'T IMAGINE US EVER GETTING TO 10% BECAUSE WE SPEND 98 99% OF OUR BUDGET EVERY YEAR. SO UM, I WOULD IMAGINE IF, IF HAVING 5% IS COMFORTABLE, THIS IS THE MOST COMFORTABLE WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT KNOWING. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T RECEIVE THE CAPITAL FUNDING. WE REQUEST SO THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE TO BUY ONE TIME WE HAVE OFTEN HAD TO DIP INTO OUR FUND BALANCE FOR AND OR OUR YEAR END. SURPLUS WHICH WOULD HAVE ROLLED THE FUND BALANCE, BUT WE END UP HAVING TO USE IT TO BUY THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT FUNDED FOR IN THE UM, CAPITAL BUDGET. OK, SO OUR CURRENT OUR CURRENT FUND BALANCE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WEANING IT DOWN OVER A FEW YEARS NOW. WHERE? WHERE DO THE BULK OF THAT COME FROM? A FEEL FOR THAT. 
          THE SAVINGS DURING THE CLOSURE. WE CERTAINLY HAD, UM, SAVINGS BECAUSE OF THAT, AND THEN ALSO OUR, UM, HEALTH CARE COSTS DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE CLAIMS PAID IN BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT GOING TO THE DOCTORS, SO WE WERE ABLE TO WITHDRAW FUNDS FROM OUR RATE STABILIZATION ACCOUNT. TO BRING THEM INTO THE FUND BALANCE, SO THOSE ARE NOT RECURRING. SAVINGS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE BE ABLE TO TAP INTO TO. REPEAT THAT. DID DID ANY OF THAT FUND BALANCE COME FROM, SAY, ADDITIONAL STATE OR FEDERAL MONEY THAT WAS GIVEN DURING THE IN THE COVID YEARS. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THAT LIKE WE GOT? WE GOT ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM FROM THAT NOT FROM FEDERAL MONEY. FEDERAL MONEY DOESN'T CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUNDING THERE HAD TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC THINGS AND SPENT, BUT SURELY IF WE SPENT 94 OR 95% OF OUR BUDGET 
          [03:10:08]
DURING THOSE, YOU KNOW, COVID YEARS THAT GENERATED MORE SURPLUS, SO THE LOCAL AND THE STATE FUNDING THAT CAME, YOU KNOW, WAS MORE THAN WHAT WE SPENT DURING DURING THE YEAR. 
          ALL RIGHT. I THINK IT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE AT THE. A FEW COMMENTS. DID YOU WANNA GO NEXT CAR? I OK? UM YOU KNOW, WE DID A STATUS QUO BUDGET THIS YEAR. WE TOOK THE ONE FROM LAST YEAR AND WE SAID OK, LET'S CONTINUE THAT. I JUST THINK IT'S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE IN ANY BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TO FIND EFFICIENCIES . AND SO I LIKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE WILLING TO DO THAT $5 MILLION OUT OF A 650 PLUS MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET IS NOT THAT MUCH EFFICIENCIES THERE SHOULD BE EASY TO FIND, UM NOW YOU DID SAY SOMETHING ABOUT WITH MINIMAL IMPACT ON TEACHERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NO IMPACT. BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY IMPACT THERE ? MINERAL IMPACT IF I CAN JUST RESPOND. SO UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST OF ALL THE 5 MILLION INEFFICIENCIES YOU'RE DESCRIBING ARE NOT FROM THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET THEY ARE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS NOT A CUT. IT IS A REDUCTION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S ASK. THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. UM IN SECOND IS, YOU KNOW I HAD ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT THAT. BUT I THINK THAT IT'S TOO EARLY TO COMMIT TO SPECIFIC LANGUAGE LIKE THAT, GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE BUDGET IS STILL CHANGING AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE AND EVOLVE, AND THAT IS A DECISION. I THINK THAT THE BOARD CAN MAKE IN A SUBSEQUENT APPROVAL OF THE BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS JUST ONE STEP OF ABOUT 16 STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS EXACTLY 16 STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO I'M NOT SURE IF SUPERINTENDENT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ANY COMMENTS ON THAT. BUT THAT'S WHY THAT LANGUAGE ENDED UP BEING PROPOSED THE WAY IT IS. THINK I'D ECHO WHAT DR PONTON SAID. THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE. UM AND WE WILL KEEP LOOKING. I MEAN, NO SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO CUT STUDENT FACING, BUT THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO CUT ANY POSITIONS THAT SUPPORT TEACHERS. UM OR SHOULD I SAY SUPPORT STUDENTS? AND SO YOU KNOW, WE. 
          WHATEVER WE'RE BUILDING A BUDGET . WE COME AT IT WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT'S GOING TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. AND BEGINNING. GREAT CONFIDENCE. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. WE'VE PROPOSED AND YOU KNOW THAT'S THE LENS WE USE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, IF YOU KNOW WHEN WE LEARN WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UH, IS GOING TO FUND US AT WHAT LEVEL HE'S GOING TO FUND AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY WHAT LEVEL COUNCIL FUNDS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO RECONCILE THE SPECIFIC ABOUT THOSE CUTS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. I MEAN, SO THIS ISN'T SORT OF NEWS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I'VE SHARED ANOTHER SETTINGS THAT YOU KNOW, IN THE LAST MONTH WE'VE SEEN YOU KNOW BILLS COMING DUE FOR THINGS LIKE ALGEBRA TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER OTHER CURRICULAR THINGS WHERE THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP DRAMATICALLY. AND SO WE HAVE TO. 
          AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE TRYING TO FIND EFFICIENCIES. WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO COVER COST INCREASES JUST ABOUT EVERY TYPE OF THING THAT WE SPEND MONEY ON. UM AND SO ALL OF THAT'S GOING TO KEEP MOVING FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND THEN SO WHEN WE COME BACK, AND WE KNOW WHAT FUNDING LEVEL WE HAVE FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHEN WE FINALLY RECONCILE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE STATE FUNDS, BECAUSE AGAIN WE'RE STILL WE STILL JUST GET PROJECTIONS. THEY GET INCREASINGLY BETTER OVER TIME. UM BUT THAT WON'T BE FINALIZED UNTIL WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET EITHER. AND SO AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO IMPACT. UM. STUDENT FACING POSITIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME UH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING THEM. WE ALSO GET A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT THOSE. I KNOW WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING. UM I. I THINK THIS DOES GIVE US THE BEST CHANCE TO GET THE MOST FUNDING. FOR OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MILLER. SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. IF WE PUT FORTH A BUDGET THAT'S LESS THAN WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSAL IS IN THE COUNTY COUNCIL WANTS TO INCREASE. WHAT, UM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS OFFERING US THEY CANNOT INCREASE IT PAST. WHAT WE ASK FOR IS THAT CORRECT? MY UNDERSTANDING. SO IF WE DON'T ASK FOR IT, WE CAN'T GET IT. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. THAT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, TOO. AND THAT'S GONNA STAY TRUE THROUGH JUNE. THIS WHOLE PROCESS. CAN'T DO IT MORE THAN WE ASK FOR. WE MADE THAT I DIDN'T SAYING. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND YOU ASK FOR 
          [03:15:08]
LESS. YOU'RE GUARANTEED TO GET LESS. SO, DOCTOR DOCTOR. IT IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM WE'VE BEEN GIVEN A DIRECTIVE. SO TO SPEAK, TO REDUCE OUR ASK. TO THIS LEVEL, BECAUSE I GUESS CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN HAD THAT HAS PROVIDED CERTAIN CERTAIN NUMBERS. UM. MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD WE REDUCE THE ASK WHEN AT THIS POINT, WE'RE ALREADY OPERATING AT A 5. UM FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS HALF OF WHAT WOULD BE BEST PRACTICE. WHY? WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HANDICAP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
          KNOWING THAT EVERYTHING IS COSTING MORE. THAT WERE CONTINUALLY ASKED TO DO MORE. 
          ACROSS THE BOARD. WHY? WHY WOULD ANYONE THINK THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY OPERATE THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM AT THE LEVEL WE ARE TODAY. WITHOUT ASKING. OR THE 354,000,913 FROM GOVERNMENT. SO IN THE MEETINGS. WE'VE HAD LOTS OF MEETINGS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, INCLUDING WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND SOME OF WHICH THE BOARD MEMBERS MET, ALSO IN SMALL GROUPS. AND WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS THOROUGHLY AND, UM WE BELIEVE OUR OUR SENSES COMING OUT OF THOSE MEETINGS. TO PROPOSE A BUDGET THAT COULD REALISTICALLY BE FUNDED. IS OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY. RESOURCES WE NEED. TO ACHIEVE OUR. OBJECTIVES THAT ARE SET FORTH BOTH BY THE BOARD. AND THE ORIGINAL INTENT IN THE SUPERINTENDENTS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. THAT'S INTERESTING. 
          HOW YOU SAY IF YOU DON'T MIND IF YOU DON'T MIND NOW. AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. MOVE THINGS AROUND. SURE, BUT DO YOU WANNA TAKE THAT BACK? THEY'VE NEVER DONE IT IN THE PAST. IN MY SENSE WAS THERE WAS NO POLITICAL WILL TO DO IT THIS TIME. BECAUSE IT WOULD REQUIRE TAXES TO BE RAISED. SO UM, REGARDING THE FUND BALANCE. UH, WE DO HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE. ONE OF THE LARGEST FUND BALANCES THAT WE'VE HAD IN QUITE SOME TIME. UM. MY POSITION THAT WE USE THE FUND BALANCE TO GET US THROUGH. THE NEXT FEW BUDGET CYCLES. TO WHERE WE CAN ENGAGE IN A STRATEGIC PROCESS, INCLUDING MAYBE ZERO BASED BUDGETING. TO ALIGN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S GROWTH. WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE WE WILL BE FUNDED. FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHICH GENERALLY HAS TO BE ALIGNED WITH REVENUE GROWTH. THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT IT'S MY OPINION. THESE ADDITIONAL $11.5 MILLION. ARE BETTER USED TODAY TO SUPPORT TEACHERS AND TO SUPPORT CLASSROOMS. RATHER THAN SITTING IDLE IN A BANK ACCOUNT SOMEWHERE. SO YOU SAID SOMETHING INTERESTING. AND SO DID MISS COKER. UM, THAT BY REDUCING OUR BUDGET NOW WE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF GETTING OUR BUDGET FUNDED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE SEND FORTH A BUDGET. WITH THIS REQUEST. AND SOME MODERATION ON THE ASK. THAT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD LIKELY BE FUNDED. BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. BASED ON OUR DISCUSSIONS. 
          SO BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID. I THINK WHAT WHAT IS BEING SAID IS WE'RE NOT REALLY REDUCING THE ASK. WE'RE JUST MAKING I PROMISE TO LOOK AT EFFICIENCIES. SO THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT STEP THAT WE WILL. BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ANY EFFICIENCIES, SO IT'S REALLY KIND OF A PROMISE OF LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES. AND LOOKING WHERE WE CAN REDUCE $5 MILLION OFF OF THE PRESENT AS NOT NECESSARILY WE WOULD BE COMMITTED TO IT NOW, BUT THE DETAILS OF HOW YOU WOULD GET THERE WOULD BE WORKED OUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO LOOK DOCTOR BOLSON MENTIONED, UM THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS COULD CHANGE BETWEEN NOW. FEBRUARY. IN JUNE. FOR US. YOU KNOW? A LOT OF THINGS HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE. SO YOU 
          [03:20:05]
KNOW, ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF THINGS, UH, FOR THEM, OR ALSO ON THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THINGS. IT COULD BE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MORE FUNDING FOR US, UH, BETWEEN IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, THIRD OF THE YEAR. THIRD OF A FISCAL YEAR. UM. I. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD POSSIBLY REDUCE OUR OUR ASK. AT THIS POINT. SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEGOTIATIONS RIGHT NOW, TOO. SO TO REDUCE YOUR RISK NOW. GUARANTEES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO OFFER LESS. SO IF I MAY, UH, I, I MOVE THAT WE SORRY. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. UM. WHILE I DON'T NECESSARILY AGREE WITH SOME OF THE ALLOCATIONS. I DO AGREE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS DESERVE A QUALITY WORKPLACE AND EDUCATION. UM WITH THAT BEING SAID, I MOVE THAT WE VOTE TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET AS IT IS. I SECOND. OK, PLEASE COMMENCE A ROLL CALL VOTE. MS ALVAREZ. YES. MISS BRUCE? YES. MISS COKER. NO. DR MILLER. YES. MISS PERRY. SABO'S PREFERENTIAL VOTE. MR SEWELL? YES. MS STRAUSS NO. VICE PRESIDENT HAHN. YES. PRESIDENT CLINTON. 63. 63. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. CAN I PLEASE CONFIRM THAT IT IS WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE SUGGESTED IN THE. PRESENTATION SO THIS IS AS PRESENTED WITH YOUR WITH YOUR MODIFICATIONS. YEAH, OK, RECOGNIZE THE ADDITIONAL STATE. YEAH. THANK YOU. YES, WE ACTUALLY NEED A VOTE ON EACH OF THE BUDGETS. SO RESTRICTED. ALL RIGHT, OK. OK I MOVE THAT WE, UM APPROVED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSAL ON THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. YET AT THE AMOUNT SHOWING 45,079,390 I SAID UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED. RESTRICTED IS WHAT WE NEED JUST YOU JUST DID. OH, OK. GOT YOU. PRIME MINISTER. 
          THANK YOU. RESTRICTED. SO YOU NEED ME TO SAY THE AMOUNT OR IS THAT OK? JUST WE'VE SAID THE AMOUNT SO WE'RE VOTING ON THE RESTRICTED BUDGET RIGHT NOW. THAT'S PRESENTED GROCE SECOND MOTION. THANK YOU. ROLL CALL. VOTE, PLEASE. YES, THIS ONE. MISS BRUCE? YES. MISS COKER. YOU SAID NO. ON THIS. OK, ALL RIGHT, YES. DR MILLER. YES. MISS PERRY. M SARVA? YES. MR SEWELL. MISS STRAUSS. VICE PRESIDENT HAHN. YES. PRESIDENT CLINTON. THIS MOTION PASSES. OK NOW I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSAL ON THE FOOD AND NUTRITION FUND OF 21,972,005 I SECOND THAT. MS ALVARO YES. MB YES. MISS COKER? YES. DOCTOR MUELLER? YES. MISS PERRY. THE SEROVA. YES. MR SEWELL. MISS STRAUSS. VICE PRESIDENT H. YES. PRESIDENT. 
          YES. THIS MOTION PASSES IN THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IS ALREADY APPROVED, SO WE DON'T NEED TO TRY IT. YES, AWESOME. THANK THANK YOU. OK, NEXT. WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEMS F. MG STARTING 
          [F. Discussion on Proposed Changes to Board Policy 04-0020-000, Controversial Issues, Dr. Aaron Poynton, Board President]
WITH F PROPOSE CHANGES TO BOARD POLICY 04-0020 CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES. THIS WAS A POLICY THAT WAS IS AN EXISTING POLICY THAT WAS PRESENTED LAST MONTH. WITH SOME CHANGES. IT WENT OUT FOR 30 DAYS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IT CAME BACK WITH SOME CHANGES THAT WERE PROPOSED BY BOARD MEMBERS. 
          SO WE HAVE, UH, BOTH THE ORIGINAL AND THE ONE WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES POSTED ONLINE. 
          [03:25:07]
THE ONE THING THAT I DID NOTICE IS IT'S DIFFICULT BETWEEN THE TWO TO TELL WHAT THE CHANGES ARE. IS IT POSSIBLE TO POST THE RED LINE VERSION? OK SO WE CAN PRO PRO, UM POST A RED LINE VERSION SO SINCE THE CHANGES THAT WERE PROPOSED, WERE DEEMED TO BE SUBSTANTIVE, IT'S REQUIRED TO GO OUT FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH MEANS PROVIDED THERE WERE NO MORE CHANGES OR THERE WERE MINOR CHANGES. IT WOULD BE VOTED ON IN A SUBSEQUENT BOARD MEETING AT LEAST 30 DAYS FROM NOW, SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS AGAIN. WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT. SO, UM, I DO HAVE UM, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE WORD FACTUAL THAT'S USED IN, UM PARAGRAPH C. UM, TO TEACH FACTUAL INFORMATION. AND CONCEPTS. UM. AND TO RESPECT FOR FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE. UM I'D LIKE TO USE A DIFFERENT WORD BECAUSE, UM, CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES ARE TYPICALLY. A LOT OF THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM ARE THE THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHICAL AND. UM SO TO USE THE WORD FACTUAL AND DOCUMENT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE CONTROVERSIAL, I THINK IS. NOT THE PROPER WORD. UM. I WOULD I WOULD ASK IF THAT CHANGE WOULD BE SUBSTANTIVE OR NOT, BUT I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH RIGHT. I THINK I DID SEND IN SOME COMMENTS OR I THOUGHT I DID. I THINK I MAYBE YVONNE THINKS I DIDN'T HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON. WHICH IS POSSIBLE DOCTOR POINT FOR SURE THAT YOU'RE SO ARE YOU SUGGESTING A RED LINE SHOWING CHANGES FROM THE ORIGINAL THE CURRENT POLICY TO WHATEVER THIS NEWEST VERSION IS OR THE LAST? YEAH, FROM THE LAST ONE. SOMEONE WILL JUST NEED TO PROVIDE ME WITH A COPY OF THE WORK. THE CURRENT WORD VERSION SO WE CAN. 
          IT'S JUST DIFFICULT TO TELL WHAT THE CHANGES WERE WITHOUT SAYING A RED LINE, SO, UM, IF WE DO HAVE THAT GOOD. WHAT? UPLOAD IT ONLINE. I HAVE A QUESTION. BECAUSE I'M REALLY, REALLY CONFUSED. UM YOU KNOW WHEN WE STARTED A YEAR AGO. AS THIS POLICY COMMITTEE AND IT'S A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND EMILY HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB BECAUSE WHAT THE STAFF WOULD DO WOULD BREAK DOWN THE POLICIES AND LOOKED AT HOW MANY WERE OUTDATED. AND WE SET A GOAL TO DO THOSE CHANGES AT THAT TIME. THERE WERE YOU KNOW, THERE'S 100 AND 48 PILE EXISTING POLICIES. 
          AND WE'VE BEEN. I MEAN, IT'S TO THE POINT THAT I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHICH ONES WE'RE WORKING ON THAT IN ANY KIND OF PRIORITY ORDER ORDER. AND I THINK IT'S KIND OF UNFAIR FOR THE COMMITTEE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS BECAUSE THE BOARD IS NOW REQUESTED THREE ADDITIONAL POLICIES AND NO ONE HAS REALLY LOOKED AT THE POLICIES THAT WE HAVE. AND GIVEN DIRECTION TO THE STAFF AND DEDUCTIBLE AND HOW TO TACKLE THESE BECAUSE WE HAD 148 POLICIES, AND SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T BEEN REVIEWED OR LOOKED AT. WE NEED A PLAN. WE DEFINITELY NEED A PLAN BECAUSE WE'VE WE'VE WASTED A LOT OF TIME ON THE NEW POLICIES AND THE OLD POLICIES ARE THERE I WE DID POLICIES THAT IMPACTED LEGAL REQUIREMENTS LACTATION AND, UM, SEVERAL MORE. UH BUT NOW IT'S ALL COMING IN FROM EVERY AREA AND WE DON'T HAVE A PLAN. UM, AND THAT'S NOT FAIR TO THE STAFF TO BE WORKING OFF OF ALL THESE DIFFERENT POLICIES IN GIVING. WE NEED TO GIVE DIRECTION AND WE NEED TO HAVE A GOAL AND WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW MANY POLICIES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN WE WILL KNOW WHETHER WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. BUT IF WE CONTINUE THIS WAY, WE'RE NEVER GONNA GET TO THE POINT OF LOOKING AT ALL THE POLICIES THAT MAY POSSIBLY OUTDATED AND DO HAVE LEGAL IMPACT. YEAH, THEY ARE DEFINITELY A LOT OF POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED. SO WE'VE BEEN TACKLING THESE IN SORT OF DISORDER OF PRIORITY OF IMPORTANCE BASED ON YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBERS INITIATIVES, SO IF THEY'RE OR THOSE THAT ARE, JUST LIKE NEED LEGAL CHANGES OR ARE JUST REALLY OUT OF DATE. UM BUT, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. THERE ARE A LOT OF POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE 
          [03:30:03]
CHANGED SO WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT AS A BOARD. AND WHEN YOU SAY THAT THE POLICIES THAT BOARD PRIORITIES I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER VOTED ON BOARD MEMBERS BOARD, BUT BUT BOARD MEMBERS SUPERSEDE WHAT THE BOARD IF WE'RE GONNA GIVE THE POLICY COMMITTEE GUIDANCE, IT SHOULD BE AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD, NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS. I COULD COME UP WITH THE POLICY ON WHAT KIND OF SHOES YOU WEAR OR HOW YOU KNOW LONG YOUR DRESS SHOULD BE AND GIVE IT TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE THAT THAT'S NOT FAIR. I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT DRESS CODE. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC POLICY. OK? UH, MISS HAN ANYTHING? OK SO I THINK I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. UM, I THINK WE PUT IT BACK OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS POINT. UM WITH SOME CHANGES BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC WHEN WE MADE THE CHANGES TO, UM, THIS POLICY. OK, 
          [G. Discussion on Proposed Revisions to Board Policy Portable Communication Devices, Dr. Aaron Poynton, Board President]
THANK YOU. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM G PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICES AGAIN. THIS IS AN EXISTING POLICY THAT HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED IN A WHILE. 
          UH, IT CAME BEFORE THE BOARD OVER A MONTH AGO, IT WAS OPEN FOR 30 DAYS OF PUBLIC COMMENT. 
          WE DID RECEIVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS AND SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE REVISION, WHICH IS POSTED TO THE BOARD'S WEBSITE. UM I CAN SUMMARIZE THESE. I THINK PRETTY SUCCINCTLY, WHICH IS CHANGE ON MIDDLE SCHOOL. FROM ALLOWING CELL PHONES. WELL, LET LET ME LET ME BACK UP. UM THERE ARE TWO DEFINITIONS THAT WERE ADDED ONE WAS TO DEFINE THE TERM DEACTIVATED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT DEACTIVATED MEANT WHICH MEANT WHICH IN FOR PURPOSES OF THIS POLICY WOULD MEAN IF APPROVED, EITHER IN THE OFF POSITION OR THE DO NOT DISTURB MODE. THE SECOND WAS TO DEFINE ANOTHER TERM THAT WAS USED, WHICH WAS EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, WHICH EXPANDED BEYOND THE CLASSROOMS TO INCLUDE LIBRARIES, LABORATORIES, ASSEMBLY HALLS, ONLINE PLATFORMS OR ANY OTHER PLACES THAT LEARNING WAS HAPPENING, UH, UNDER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECTION, SOME OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES BACK OUT FOR PUBLIC AND INCLUDE REVERTING THAT PIECE BACK TO THE OLD POLICY. THE EXISTING POLICY, WHICH IS CELL PHONES IN LOCKERS AND DEACTIVATE IT, UH AND FOR HIGH SCHOOL, THE SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE WAS FROM ALLOWING PHONES ON PERSON TO ALLOWING PHONES ON PERSON BUT DEACTIVATED. SO I THINK THAT SUMMARIZES IT. YES, SIR. OK SO, UM, I SOLICIT A LOT OF FEEDBACK. TRY TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS MAKING SURE THAT WE WE'RE GETTING PERSPECTIVES OF THE EDUCATORS. UM. YOU KNOW THEY'RE IN THE CLASSROOM. ADMINISTRATORS UM AND SOME SOME COMMENTS BACK THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO. I THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS FIRST OFF, UH, WATCHES. UH, THE SMART WATCHES. UM YOU KNOW, UH THEY. THEY'RE BECOMING A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN A PROBLEM. THEY THEY, THEY THEY'RE BASICALLY JUST TO ANOTHER CELL PHONE, RIGHT? UM STUDENTS CAN ACCEPT CALLS, UM, YOU KNOW WITH THEM. UM, SO THE QUESTION IS DO SHOULD THEY ALSO BE STORED? AND LIKE FOR ELEMENTARY OR MIDDLE DEPENDING ON WHERE WE GO WITH MIDDLE SHOULD THEY ALSO BE STORED OFF OF THE PERSON? STUDENT DURING THE DAY. IT'S KIND OF AN OPEN ENDED QUESTION. UM YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A TOUGH ONE TO POLICE. UM YOU KNOW, BECAUSE, UH, IT MAY BE A SMART WATCH THAT HAS CONNECTIVITY. BUT THE STUDENTS USING IT AS A WATCH. UM AND, OF COURSE, THE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES AND AGAIN THAT'S THE LITTLE DOWN THE LIST IS PARENTS. PARENTS DEMANDING THEIR CHILD HAVE ACCESS TO THEM AT ANY MOMENT THROUGH EITHER SMART, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER SMART DEVICE IT IS. SO THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS OUR EDUCATORS ARE FACING. YOU KNOW IS PARENTS DEMANDING THE PHONE, THE PHONE OR UH OR OR WATCH BE ON THE CHILD SO THEY CAN HAVE INSTANT ACCESS TO THEM. 
          AND OF COURSE, OUR YOU MAY. OUR SCHOOLS ARE JUST EXTREMELY STRETCHED WITH ADMINISTRATORS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY THEY'RE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH ON THE PLATE. UM AND TEACHERS, RIGHT? THEY THEY DON'T HAVE BANDWIDTH FOR THIS. THIS IS THEY DON'T WANNA WRITE A 100 OR 200 REFERRALS A 
          [03:35:01]
DAY IN A SCHOOL TO TRY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, POLICE. THESE DEVICES SO. SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF A REALLY AN OPEN ENDED DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE, I THINK ON THE WATCHES, UM BUT, UH, WE ALSO NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT DISCIPLINARY ACTION IS GONNA TAKE PLACE, AND I'M NOT. I'M NOT IF A PHONE IS MISUSED AND I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD SPELL IT OUT IN THIS POLICY, BUT I'VE RECEIVED CLEAR FEEDBACK FROM FOLKS THAT THEY NEED TO FEEL SUPPORT. UH, ALL THE WAY UP TO US, YOU KNOW OF HOW HOW WE'RE GONNA IF WE ONCE WE BUILD THIS POLICY THAT EVERYBODY'S BEHIND IT AND THERE WILL BE. YOU KNOW IF IT'S VIOLATED THERE THE DISCIPLINARY, YOU KNOW, AT THEIR DISCRETION AT THE ADMINISTRATORS DISCRETION. UM. UH YOU KNOW, AND JUST JUST THE SUPPORT AND THAT REALLY GOES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ANYTHING WE DO IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. OF COURSE, UM I LOVE THAT REPORT. CARD COMMENT, UH, FROM THE ONE UM THE ONE SPEAKER EARLIER. DOCTOR BOLSON AL. HOW HARD IS THAT TO IMPLEMENT? DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S A GOOD OPERATIONAL THING? I KNOW IT'S KIND OF I DON'T WANT TO REACH INTO OPERATIONAL STUFF. I'M JUST CURIOUS. REMIND ME TO COMMENT. 
          I, UH SO, UH, WHEN REPORT CARDS ARE, UH WHEN A TEACHER IS, UH, COMPLETE A REPORT CARD FOR A STUDENT AND A QUARTER THERE'S UH, THE BOTTOM, UM OR OR FOR EACH CLASS. THEY CAN LEAVE A NUMBER. OH, OK. YEAH, YEAH, I REMEMBER NOW. YEAH. REFERS TO THAT COMMENT. WELL. I FEEL THAT PARTICULAR SPEAKER SHARED SOME VERY REAL INSIGHTS AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON. UM. THINK IS APPROPRIATE THERE. WE WERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TELLING OUR EDUCATORS YOU DON'T HAVE TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE STUDENT MISUSES THEIR CELL PHONE. THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND TIME FOR THAT? YEAH. UM, IT IS AS MUCH I MEAN. SPIRIT OF WHAT SHE SAID MADE SENSE BECAUSE THAT IS THIS IS A GREAT FRUSTRATION AND SOME PEOPLE WILL CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON IT A GREAT DEAL. UM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HOW THAT WOULD PROBABLY SHAKE OUT IN THE CLASSROOM IS OK NOW. THIS IS A NEW MANDATE FOR TEACHERS TO TRACK SOMETHING ELSE. UM, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH IT, WHICH UM YOU KNOW, CONSISTENCY IS WHAT MAKES THESE THINGS WORK. BUT WHEN IT'S WHEN THAT CONSISTENCY IS A BURDEN THAT'S INTERFERING WITH ACTUAL INSTRUCTION. UH, SO. FLIP IT INSTEAD OF IT BEING, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT'S NEGATIVE. MAKE IT A POSITIVE LIKE YOUR STUDENT REALLY DIDN'T DISTURB THE CLASS THIS, UH, THIS QUARTER. I KNOW I HAVE SEEN, UH, TEACHERS AT MY HAVE HAD TO PUT IT IN THEIR SYLLABUS RIGHT AND THAT IT AFFECTS PARTICIPATION GRADE. UM IF YOU A RE MISUSING YOUR DEVICE, AND MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS THE IS THE QUOTE UNQUOTE DISCIPLINARY AFFECTING YOUR GRADE. YOU'RE NOT JUST NOT PAYING ATTENTION, OR MM. ONE MORE COMMENT. UM AND YOU KIND YOU KIND OF ADDRESSED IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT, UM, THERE WE HAVE USED DIFFERENT LANGUAGE IN THE POLICY FROM DO NOT DISTURB OR SILENCE IN SOME PLACE WHERE YOU'RE SAYING SILENCE. SOME SAY SOMEPLACE WE'RE SAYING DO NOT DISTURB WE HAVE DEACTIVATE. WE ALMOST NEED A DEFINITION LIKE IS WHEN WE SAY ONE THING. IT MEA THIS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE DEACTIVATE TO ME IS OFF. SO THAT THAT THAT THAT DEFINITELY BOTH OF THESE DEFINITIONS WERE ACTUALLY, UM MY IDEAS, RIGHT? AND SO THERE IT WAS REFERRED TO DIFFERENTLY AT DIFFERENT PARTS. YOU KNOW, WE SOME PEOPLE SAY SILENCE, SOME SAY, DO NOT DISTURB SOME SAY OFF. UM, SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME POLICIES THAT AIRPLANE MODE, BUT ALL OF THOSE ARE ACTUALLY VERY DIFFERENT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF MY, UM, PHONE IS ON AIRPLANE MODE, AND I HAVE AN ALARM SET, IT'S STILL GONNA GO OFF RIGHT, SO THE TWO THAT WERE SEEMED TO BE LEAST DISRUPTS DISRUPTIVE WORD OFF AND DO NOT DISTURB BECAUSE ON DO NOT DISTURB IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO MAKE ANY SOUNDS AT ALL. UM. I WILL SAY THAT PHONES THAT WATCHES ARE GONNA BE. WE HAVE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE THE WATCHES WOULD FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION OF THE, UM, PORTABLE COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND SO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE WERE SAYING WE WOULD BE SAYING THAT SMART WATCHES WOULD NEED TO BE IN THE LOCKERS AS WELL, THE WAY THAT IT'S CURRENTLY WRITTEN. THAT'S KIND OF PRETTY UNREALISTIC. REALLY YEAH. SO SO II, I WOULD BE OPEN TO HAVING THE BOARD LOOK AT LANGUAGE THAT SAID, MADE AN EXCEPTION FOR PHONES AS LONG AS THEY WERE IN A DO NOT DISTURB. 
          MEAN MEAN WATCHES. WATCH SORRY, AS LONG AS THEY WERE IN A DO NOT DISTURB MODE, OR I THINK IT WOULD BE LESS DISRUPTIVE BECAUSE ALSO WATCHES HAVE LESS FUNCTIONALITY THAN PHONES. SO THINGS LIKE TAKING PICTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO SO. I WOULD BE 
          [03:40:03]
WILLING TO SEE HOW THE BOARD FEELS ABOUT THAT. SO. CLASSROOM TEACHER. THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD. NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, UM, WE HAD A POLICY AT ONE SCHOOL WHERE I TAUGHT THAT THE HAD TO BE IN THE LOCKERS. SO SOMEBODY'S PURSE RINGS. OK HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND GOING? THIS PURSE IS RINGING. YOU NEED TO SHUT THAT, YOU KNOW IT BECOMES THIS WHOLE PROBLEMATIC THING. AND THEN, OF COURSE WHAT I GET. 50% OF THE TIME. MAYBE MORE THAN THAT. WELL MY MOTHER, SHE GETS LONELY, SO SHE LIKES TO CALL ME. I MEAN, IT'S THE PARENTS, IN MANY CASES ARE AS MUCH OF THE PROBLEM AS THE STUDENTS ARE. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER FOR THIS. I WISH I DID AT THE COLLEGE. I ALWAYS TRIED TO USE THEIR PHONES FOR GOOD. I MAKE THEM USE THEIR PHONES FOR SOMETHING IN CLASS, SO AT LEAST IT WAS BEING USED FOR THE RIGHT USAGE INSTEAD OF THE WRONG USAGE. I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, BUT I DON'T KNOW JUST THIS. YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR PHONE AND THEN HOW MUCH TIME ARE THE TEACHERS? THE PRINCIPALS GOING TO SPEND ENFORCING THIS AND IF THEY'RE NOT ENFORCING IT? IT'S JUST WORDS ON A PIECE OF PAPER. IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING AND I'M JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, AND I BET YOU ANYBODY OUT THERE. 
          THAT'S A TEACHER IS GONNA AGREE WITH ME. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT PIECE OF IT BECAUSE THAT IS ACTUALLY OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE POLICY, WHICH I BELIEVE SHOULD BE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF MOST POLICIES. UM BUT WHAT WE'VE HEARD AND WHAT I'VE HEARD SPECIFICALLY IS THAT THERE'S A LACK OF SORT OF CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL THE SCHOOLS AND A LACK OF ENFORCEMENT, GENERALLY WITH THE EXISTING POLICY, WHICH IS WHAT, WHY WE TOOK A LOOK AT REFRESHING THIS POLICY. UM AND SO. DON'T KNOW IF YOU, UH, SUPERINTENDENT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS SORT OF HOW YOU LOOK AT THESE POLICIES AND HOW YOU WOULD ENFORCE A POLICY LIKE THIS IF IT WAS IMPLEMENTED. I THINK, UM. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK AS WELL. BUT I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE DATA THAT'S COME IN. I HEARD THE PRESENTATION FROM OUR STAFF. UM THIS IS GONNA SOUND A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS ISN'T A POSITION I. I WAS IN EVEN A FEW MONTHS AGO. BUT. THE POLICY DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOREVER. I MEAN, IT REALLY FEELS LIKE WE NEED A CORRECTION RIGHT NOW. AND WE NEED A TEAM THAT'S GONNA COME TOGETHER. AND. SORT OF FOCUS ON THE CONSISTENCY. AND IF YOU HAVE THAT COMMITMENT AND IT WILL WORK FAR BETTER. AND SO YOU KNOW THE RECOMMENDATION. WHAT I HEARD, UM PARTICULARLY FROM MR O'BRIEN. IN HIS PRESENTATION. COUPLE MEETINGS BACK. YOU KNOW, FROM THE FEEDBACK WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GROUPS. THAT IT WOULD. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE. KIND OF A DISTRICT WIDE SORT OF TEAM ORIENTED PUSH. AND THAT WILL MEAN. YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, LIKE DOCTOR MUELLER, WHO MEAN THERE ARE MANY GOOD WAYS TO USE PHONES FOR PRODUCTIVE WAYS IN THE CLASSROOM. WE HAVE TO SACRIFICE THAT. AT LEAST FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME TO GET A TEAM. NOT ALL ROLLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND I AND I, YOU KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT RIGHT NOW. I THINK THIS IS A CHANGE OF DIRECTION THAT WE NEED. TO ENGAGE HIM, AND SO IT WOULD I THINK THIS ISN'T. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE PROBABLY IN A PLACE WHERE THEY'RE LIKE I SAID, JUST GIVE US AS AS WADE SAID, JUST GIVE US SUPPORT FROM THE TOP. AND, UH AND WE'LL DO THAT. AND SO I GOING TO DO THIS? WE SHOULD MAKE IT. VERY CLEAR. UM. AND WE WILL HAVE THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THERE THERE WILL BE PARENTS WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND. AND OUR AND OUR FRUSTRATED WITH THIS DECISION, AND WE AS A GROUP. WE IF WE SUPPORT THIS WE NEED TO SUPPORT NOT JUST FROM THE ADMINISTRATION BUT ALSO FROM THE BOARD BECAUSE THERE WILL BE APPEALS. UM THERE'S A LOT OF LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH IT. AND IF I HAD TO DESCRIBE WHERE I STOOD ON THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT WAS BECAUSE OF THOSE I'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS. IT'S HARD. UM YOU CONFISCATE A PHONE? THEN IT GOES MISSING. WHO PAYS UM YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME SHOULD A TEACHER SPEND? YOU KNOW IT. INTERRUPTING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME TO FOCUS ON UH, ENFORCEMENT. I THINK THAT TIME GOES DOWN. THE MORE SUPPORT THEY HAVE FROM THEIR TEAM, THE BETTER THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS. AND SO LIKE I SAID, I 
          [03:45:02]
THINK RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR A CORRECTION. WHEN YOU TRY TO EXPERIENCE SCHOOL WITH FEWER DISRUPTIONS. UM, AND STUDENTS WITH A LITTLE MORE FOCUS. AND SO, I. I MEAN, I'M ON BOARD WITH TAKING STRONGER STANCE ON THIS THAN I MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN CONSIDERING SOME OF THE HISTORICAL STUFF SO IT'S ABOUT THE COMMITMENT AND THE TEAMWORK. SO IF YOU GUYS FIND THE RIGHT LANGUAGE WE'LL FIND THE RIGHT ENFORCEMENT AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE, AND IT MAY BE THREE YEARS, FIVE YEARS. I'M NOT SURE WHEN IT'S GONNA HIT WE MAY HAVE TO REVISIT THIS AND UNDO THIS, BUT THAT'S OK. BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I THINK WE NEED UM WE NEED TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE DISRUPTIONS. WE CAN GET BACK TO MORE OF THE WORD. THANK YOU. YES. I I'M LOOKING AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND. USES OF THEIR PHONES ON BUSES. AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH STUDENTS WITH BONDS AND THE BUS DRIVERS AND THEY HAVE THEM ON AND COULD BE LOUD MUSIC AND I, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING FROM AN EXPERIENCE WITH MY GREAT GRANDSON. WHO REALLY, UH, WAS BULLIED AND EVERYTHING ON THE BUS. BECAUSE THE KIDS WERE PICKING AT HIM AND THEY HAD THESE PHONES AND ALL OF THESE THINGS AND HE WANTED TO JUST TAKE HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED OF IT. SO I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU SHOULDN'T BE USING THEM ON. IF THERE'S NO SCHOOL PROPERTY SHOULDN'T HAVE IT ON THE BUS, EITHER. I COULD GET TEXT MESSAGES ON SILENCE, BUT NOT GLARING ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TAKING PICTURES, SO THE WAY IT CURRENTLY READS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS STUDENTS MAY USE IT ON A BUS. BEFORE AFTER REGULAR SCHOOL DAYS, PROVIDED ONE THE STUDENT MAY NOT USE IT FOR CONVERSATIONS, CALLS PHOTOGRAPHING OR VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING OR TWO. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUDIO COMPONENT UNLESS THE STUDENT USES SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS IN THE CURRENT POLICY. BUT THEN THAT GOES BACK TO THE ENFORCEMENT NOW. SO LIKE ARE YOU GONNA PUT THAT ON THE BUS DRIVER WHO'S TRYING TO SAFELY DRIVE THE STUDENTS AROUND RIGHT? AND SO, UM. YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T DEAL WITH THAT WITH THE STUDENTS IN THE BACK OF THE BUS AND WHOSE PHONE, IS IT? SO YOU WOULD SUGGEST, UM STRENGTHENING THAT LANGUAGE TO MAYBE SAY SOMETHING LIKE MUST BE MAINTAINED IN A BACKPACK. YEAH. 
          WELL AT HOME. WELL, UH, YOU KNOW, TO GET A BACKPACK WITH WITH I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, II. I THINK THIS POLICY IS WRITTEN. CURRENTLY THE LANGUAGE STRIKES A COMPROMISE. I THINK BETWEEN ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS THAT LARGELY HAD DIFFERENT OPINIONS THAT WERE HOMOGENEOUS. RIGHT SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE FEEDBACK THAT CAME FROM THE EDUCATORS I DON'T KNOW OF ANY THAT WERE IN SUPPORT OF MORE CELL PHONES. IF YOU LOOKED AT THE STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS, THEY WERE RIGHT. UM SO THIS STRIKES A GOOD COMPROMISE, BUT MY SENSE IS THAT FOR THE BEST THING FOR THE STUDENTS. IN EDUCATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LEVELS. DID ONE THING I DON'T SEE IN HERE, IT SAYS IF A CHILD HAS A 504, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY LIKE LET'S SAY, UH CHILD HAS TYPE ONE DIABETES, THEY WOULD NOT NECESSARILY HAVE A 504. WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO USE THEIR PHONE? LIKE IF THEY HAVE A DEXA? COM OR WHATEVER. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A DRESS SOMEWHERE, BUT MAYBE IT WAS AN OLDER VERSION. I DIDN'T SEE IT. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I DIDN'T MISS IT. I JUST DON'T SEE IT. I HAD A GREAT COMMENT BACK FROM ADMINISTRATOR THAT SAID THAT WE SHOULD AMEND THAT LANGUAGE, UH FROM FIVE OR FOUR AND IEP TO ALSO INCLUDE NURSING PLAN. UH, WHICH WOULD COVER UH, ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL NECESSITY FOR HAVING THE PHONE FOR ANY TYPE OF MEDICAL CONDITION. UM WE DEPRIVE FROM NURSING TO JUST MAYBE MEDICAL CONDITION? SORT OF GENERALLY, UM, HOW WOULD YOU. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYONE HAS. YEAH, I SAY THAT THERE IS A SPECIFIC PLAN WRITTEN AT THE SCHOOL PARTICIPATES IN WRITING A PLAN BECAUSE HE HAD THE SECOND I MEAN, WHAT I MEAN THE SAME. I MEAN, THERE. THERE'S A THERE'S A HAVES AND HAVE NOTS APPROACH HERE. PEOPLE CAN PHONE TO PLAY THE GAME. YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN AFFORD THE DOCTOR TO WRITE THAT SCRIPT FOR YOU, UM SO BUT WAS NURSING PLAN THEN THE CORRECT LANGUAGE FOR THAT, OR NO, I THINK THAT WOULD BE. I THINK THAT I KEEPING IT FORMALIZED IEPS 504 NURSING. I MEAN, THOSE ARE FORMALIZED PLANS. THE SCHOOL ENGAGES IN WRITING AND IT'S A IT'S A DISCUSSION. IT'S NOT ONE SIDED WHERE SOMEONE WRITES A NOTE AND YOU HAVEN'T UM SO THAT. YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT 
          [03:50:06]
? I'D ENCOURAGE IT TO BE SOMETHING FORMALIZED. OK, SO WE CAN ADD NURSING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIFICS THAT THE BOARD WOULD WANT INCLUDED IN THERE? YES. UM THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE . UH, WHEN WE SAID THAT A MIDDLE SCHOOL THE, UM NEEDS TO BE CONCEALED. THAT THAT TERM. UM I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT MIDDLE SCHOOL. I THINK IT WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL. 
          SO MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD BE LOCKER. SO THAT'S WHAT THE CURRENT POLICY SAYS. SO THAT'S NOT A CHANGE, RIGHT? THAT WAS RIGHT. RIGHT SO THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD BE FROM CONCEALED TO LOCKER MIDDLE SCHOOL. OH, II, I GET IT. YEAH, OK, SO FOR HIGH SCHOOL, THEN NOW SO FOR HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE ON YOUR PERSON BUT DEACTIVATED. OK, SO CONCEALED IS GONE. I BELIEVE SO DOESN'T SAY IT. YEAH I THINK IT IT'S BEEN REMOVED. MAYBE THAT WAS IN THE OLD VERSION. YOU'RE SAYING I WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY READ IT. THIS IS WHERE THE RED LINE WOULD BE GOOD. SO OH, OK, SO WE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ADDING THAT CHANGE AND THEN, UM I MEAN, BACK BACK TO THE BUSES. UM I MEAN, DOES ANYONE. WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT WHERE'S THE BOARD? SIT ON THE USE ON THE BUSES. I MEAN, DOES THAT NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED? I THINK. WELL THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE BUSES. UM, I'M SORRY. IT'S HARD TO IT'S HARD TO TIME IN WINTER BIKES TALKING I. I FEEL LIKE I'M CUTTING PEOPLE OFF SO I THINK THAT INITIALLY IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THE POLICY. 
          BUT I FEEL LIKE WITH CONSISTENCY AND THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION THAT I FEEL IT WOULD GET EASIER AS TIME GOES ON, AND ACTUALLY, I'VE READ A LOT OF STUDIES THAT SAY WHEN THE CELL PHONES EVER MOVED FROM THEIR HANDS THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IN SCHOOLS IMPROVES. THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG STUDENTS IMPROVE AND THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG, UM EDUCATORS AND LIKE STUDENTS IMPROVES, SO I REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S WORTH THE INVESTMENT. IT'S WORTH THE TIME AND THAT WE NEED TO, UM, REALLY, REALLY FOCUS ON IT. AND I LIKE LAUREN'S IDEA, LIKE MY SON, UM, ONE OF MY HE HIS HIS CLASS THEY HAVE. IT'S CALLED FIVE PS AND YOU GET POINTS FOR THOSE YOU COME TO SCHOOL. YOU COME TO CLASS YOU'RE PREPARED, AND I MEAN, I DON'T REMEMBER. ALL THE P STAND FOR, BUT, UM, I FEEL LIKE GIVING LIKE BONUS POINTS FOR NOT HAVING YOUR CELL PHONE OR FOR, YOU KNOW, CONSISTENTLY SHOWING. UM YOU'RE PREPARED FOR A CLASS JUST PERK SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN I. I ALSO FEEL LIKE UM, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WHEN YOU SEND HOME ALL OF THESE PAPERS AND ASK FOR PARENTS TO FILL OUT THE, UM, PERMISSION SLIPS, UH, NOT PERMISSION SLIPS, THE, UM ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO FILL OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR FOR THE EMERGENCY CONTACTS AND ALL OF THAT STUFF IF YOU SEND IN ONE OF THE LIKE THE CELL PHONE POLICY ACKNOWLEDGING, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE EXPECTING YOUR CHILD TO BE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING THEM TO DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO ENFORCE THIS, UM AND IF YOU YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A PROBLEM, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THESE TO BE AT SCHOOL PERIOD. SO I. I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT'S DOABLE AND I THINK THAT IT'S WORTH THE TIME AND THE INVESTMENT IN IT, UM FOR THE BUS. UM I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE. MAYBE WE THROW THAT BACK OUT THERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND KIND OF GET EVERYBODY'S INPUT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THIS HUGE. 
          YEAH II. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE. KATHY BENDIS HAS HER HAND RAISED, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE CAN SEE IT, BUT I'M FINISHED. SO GO AHEAD, CATHY. GOOD EVENING. UM K VAN IS DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. UM I DO JUST WANNA PROVIDE SOME INPUT REGARDING CELL PHONE USE. UM, BECAUSE THAT POINT ME, UM, EARLIER. I THINK IT WOULD BE UNMANAGEABLE FOR THE DRIVERS TO POLICE THAT AND WE DO ALREADY HAVE RULES IN PLACE AND IF THERE IS A CONCERN WITH STUDENT BEHAVIOR, UM, ANYTHING ALONG THE LINES, UM, THAT WAS DISCUSSED EARLIER ABOUT BULLYING OR STUDENT INTERACTIONS THAT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE THAT WOULD BE HANDLED. UM, VIA A REFERRAL. UM, AND WE ACTUALLY NOW BECAUSE OF THE NEW CAMERAS WE HAVE ON THE BUS ARE ABLE TO SEE AND IDENTIFY STUDENTS, UM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO ADDRESS THOSE TYPES OF CONCERNS. 
          SO UM, I THINK WE'RE ON THE BUS PIECE. UM HANDLING IT. UM WELL, CURRENTLY WE DON'T HAVE THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY DO HAVE, UM , OBVIOUSLY IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THAT, UM, PARTICULAR CLASS. I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SO IT'S LIKE STRENGTHENING THE BUS PORTION OF IT IS NOT GOING TO BE PRACTICAL ON IMPLEMENTATION. 
          THERE ARE CAMERAS ON ALL OF THE BUSES. SO IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WHERE SOMEONE REPORTED THIS 
          [03:55:02]
VIOLATION, AND IT LED TO SOMETHING SERIOUS, WE COULD REVIEW IT AND IT WOULD THEY WOULD BE. WE COULD REVIEW THE CAMERAS AND IT WOULD BE IN VIOLATION OF THE POLICY AND APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN REGARDING WHAT MELISSA SAID. I WOULD FULLY SUPPORT THAT. I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THAT THERE IS A POLICY IN PLACE HAS BEEN, UM BUT NOT THE POLICY NOT BEING FULLY ENFORCED AND NOT BEING CONSISTENT. BUT IF THE BOARD DOES CHOOSE TO ADOPT THIS POLICY, I WOULD ASK FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO AT LEAST PUT OUT INITIALLY, YOU KNOW, SET THE TONE THE RIGHT WAY WITH THE STUDENTS WITH A WITH A ZERO TOLERANCE OF ENFORCEMENT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW AND LET THE WORD SPREAD THAT THE NEW POLICY IS OUT THERE. SO WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE ARE TWO CHANGES. ONE IS TO, UM UH, PULL WATCHES OUT. AS SORT OF A SEPARATE CATEGORY AND ALLOW THAT TO BE ON STUDENTS IN A DEACTIVATION MODE EITHER OFF DURING A CLASSROOM SETTING OR DO NOT DISTURB AND ADD NURSING PLAN TO IEP IN SECTION 504. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES THAT WERE DISCUSSED THAT ARE BEING CAPTURED? THERE'S NOT THAT WE DISCUSSED, BUT THERE'S SOME TYPOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED UP. YEAH, SO IF YOU SEND THOSE OVER THOSE WILL BE NON SUBSTANTIVE. WE CAN GET THOSE CHANGED. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MEDINA MEDINA HAS HAS A STUDENT GOVERNMENT. LOOKED AT THIS POLICY OR SEEN THIS POLICY. OF COURSE, THAT THEY PROVIDED INPUT. YEAH I MEAN, YOU YOU'RE ASKING IF THE STUDENTS HAVE PROVIDED INPUT. I MEAN FROM OUR LISTENING SESSIONS, THE BIGGEST THING THE BIGGEST FRUSTRATION THAT SOON SHARED WAS JUST CONSISTENCY WITH, UH UM, DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OF, YOU KNOW, INAPPROPRIATE VALUE, WHETHER IT WAS LIKE RECORDING OTHER STUDENTS AND USING THAT FOR CYBERBULLYING OR JUST DISRUPTING CLASS TIME. A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE JUST, YOU KNOW, FRUSTRATED ON YOU KNOW WHAT THOSE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS WERE AND IF THOSE WERE STAYING CONSISTENT WITH THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE LIKE CONSISTENTLY PROVIDING THEM DISTRACTION, SO YOU KNOW, I HOPE THIS WILL SOLVE THAT. AND TO THAT POINT, YOU KNOW THIS IS MORE THAN ABOUT CELL PHONES. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER SECONDARY PROBLEMS THAT STEM FROM THIS. WHICH I THINK WE CAN RESOLVE. DEFINITELY MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING. I'LL START FROM ALL STEM FROM INAPPROPRIATE CELL PHONE USE. SEVERAL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE ENFORCEMENT, THOUGH, AND THAT'S KIND OF COVERED AT THE END TALKING ABOUT WELL IF THERE'S ANY VIOLATIONS, IT'LL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION, WHICH IS COVERED UNDER OTHER POLICIES. BUT IT DOES SAY CELL PHONE PRIVILEGE COULD BE REVOKED. I THOUGHT WE AT ONE TIME HAD A SENTENCE THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE TEACHERS HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO USE. YOU KNOW, UH. CELL PHONE DISRUPTION WHEN THEY'RE CONSIDERING GRADING OR THEY'RE CONSIDERING SOMETHING DID WE EVER HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH THE TEACHERS CAN DO. UM, II, I GENERALLY WE TRY TO KEEP DISCIPLINE RELATED THINGS OUT OF GRADES. UM I MEAN, GRADES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT STUDENTS KNOW AND ARE ABLE TO DO. AND SO WHEN YOU START MIXING IN, UM YOU KNOW, NON. I MEAN, I KNOW IT. IT'S LIKE ANYTHING. ATTENDANCE IMPACTS, GRADES, BEHAVIOR IMPACTS, GRADES ALL THESE THINGS , BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE A DOUBLE WHAMMY WHEN YOU PUT IT, SO WE LIKE THE GRADES TO BE MORE ABOUT THE ACADEMICS. UM, AND SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THAT GOT PULLED OUT. UM AND I BELIEVE THE STATE BOARD HAS INDICATED THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON STANDARDIZING GRADING PRACTICES ACROSS THE STATE, WHICH I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT. THAT IS A REALLY DIFFICULT CHALLENGE, BUT I SUSPECT IF THERE IS A FOCUS ON THAT ANYTHING INCLUDED IN OUR GRADES. THAT'S SEPARATE FROM ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT PROBABLY WILL GET ADDRESSED THROUGH THAT, SO I'M GUESSING THEY TAKE THAT OUT. IF WE TRIED TO PUT IT IN, IT'S IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE GRADE. IT COULD BE. A NOTE ON THE REPORT CARD. SOME, YOU KNOW DO THE TEACHERS NEED TO KNOW. WHAT? WHAT THEY SHOULD DO OR WHAT THEY COULD DO. THAT YEAH. UM. YEAH, COMMUNICATION LIKE THAT. I MEAN, THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD EXPLORE THERE. UM I JUST I YEAH, AS LONG AS WE KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL GRADES IS WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST. IN THIS POLICY DOES GET ENACTED. BECAUSE, UM AND WE COULD DO KIND OF LIKE A MEDIA CAMPAIGN. YOU KNOW, TO BLAST OUT TO ALL THE PARENTS, RIGHT? DO SOME WHAT'S THAT? HE'S ALREADY OUT THERE WAS IN THE PAPER ABOUT THE HARP AND LOOKING AT CELL PHONE POLICY. IS A NEWSPAPER. IT WAS IN THE SUN. OH, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR STUDENTS READ THE SONG. NO. 
          WE GOTTA PUT IT ON TIKTOK. YEAH. THEN EVERYONE WILL SEE IT. ON THEIR CELL PHONE, ALL RIGHT ANY 
          [04:00:01]
ANY MORE BEFORE WE CLOSE THIS TOPIC OUT, SO WE'LL MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND POST THE RED LINES AND THEN THIS WOULD LOOKING AT THE TIMING HERE. WHEN THIS GOES OUT IN 30 DAYS, THIS WILL BE BACK BEFORE THE BOARD ON THE 18TH OF MARCH FOR A VOTE. OK SO LAST BUT NOT LEAST. ITEM EIGHT 
          [H. Superintendent's Report]
SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. ALL RIGHT. SO I DID THAT. DISAPPOINTED NOT DISAPPOINTED. 
          TRACY LEFT AND SHE WAS THE ONE WHO KIND OF LED US TO THE WHOLE, UH, SUPER BOWL STORY. I'VE ACTUALLY STOPPED ATTENDING SUPER BOWL PARTIES BECAUSE INEVITABLY, A SUPERINTENDENT. I WAS ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING SUPER BOWL PARTIES. IF WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A DELAY OR A CLOSURE THE NEXT DAY, IT FELT LIKE IT WAS HARD TO ENJOY THE GAME WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THAT KIND OF PRESSURE. UM BUT HERE WE ARE DOING A DELAY TOMORROW. SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? UH, IN I WAS ALSO GONNA, UH MENTION TRACY FOR BEING NOMINATED AS UH, HARFORD COUNTY'S UH, NOMINEE FOR MARYLAND LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER FOR THAT. UH, I HAD THE CHANCE BACK ON FEBRUARY 1ST TO SPEAK AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, UH, ON A PANEL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF TEACHER EDUCATION. AND IT WAS IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. WE ACTUALLY HEARD LATER IN THE DAY FROM A PANEL REPRESENTING THE ACCOUNTABILITY IMPLEMENTATION BOARD THE BLUEPRINT, PEOPLE AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE WITH THE BLUEPRINT AND IT REALLY HAS TO DO WITH. YOU KNOW HOW WE COLLABORATE WITH UNIVERSITIES IN ENSURING A GOOD. THE FEEDER PATTERN OF HIGH QUALITY, YOU KNOW, WELL PREPARED EDUCATORS COMING INTO OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO IT WAS. IT WAS A GREAT CONVERSATION. UH, WE HAVE SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT AROUND THAT, BUT I THINK JUST RECOGNIZING THAT AGAIN, LIKE MANY THINGS, THAT'S THAT'S PART OF A WORLD THAT'S CHANGING AND EVOLVING. UM EVEN MORE EXCITING. TODAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND WHERE THEY WERE SWEARING AT THAT THIS, UH, SITCOM COMMAND WAS SWEARING IN THEIR FIRST P TECH INTERNS. SO THEY TOOK, UM THEY ACTUALLY WERE SWORN IN. THEY'RE GOING TO BECOME EMPLOYEES AS INTERNS. AND I BELIEVE WE HAD EIGHT STUDENTS HERE AT VEGAS. WE HAVE 10 WHO WILL BE BE WORKING THERE AS INTERNS, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE UM, SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCESS. ONLY EIGHT OF THEM HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH THAT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A RIGOROUS PROCESS. BUT THERE'S STILL TWO MORE COMING. UM THESE ARE THE FIRST STUDENTS TO DO THAT. UH, THIS IS THE CULMINATION. THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM AND I CAN TELL YOU WE HAD A CHANCE PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY TO SIT WITH, UM MAJOR GENERAL EDMONSON WHO, UH, WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW EXCITING IT IS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW. HOW MUCH THEY NEED IN TERMS OF SORT OF FUTURE WORKFORCE AND WHAT THEY FOCUS ON FOR FUTURE WORKFORCE AND TO SEE THAT WE HAVE STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WALKING IN THERE AND BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE CULMINATION OF THEIR WORK OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, UM, EARNING THEIR ASSOCIATES DEGREES AND THEIR, UM DIPLOMAS AND NOW BRINGING WITH THAT A SECURITY CLEARANCE. AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR JOBS AFTER THE PROVEN GROUND, WHICH IS JUST A FANTASTIC, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO MANY PARTNERSHIPS. THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS KIND OF THE THIRD LEG OF THAT STOOL FOR US WITH WITH THE PROVEN GROUND, AND SO THAT WAS FUN TO SEE TO GET TO THAT PLACE. UM, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEADERSHIP AT CHOWN HIGH SCHOOL. WHO'S MADE THAT HAPPEN? UM AND THAT THE ENTIRE P TECH TEAM SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'VE DONE ENOUGH TALKING TONIGHT. I KNOW. I HAVE. UM, WE'LL SEE YOU ALL SOON. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT. THANK YOU. THE NEXT BOARD 
          [Future Meetings Review]
MEETING WILL BE
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.