[Call to Order: Board President]
          [00:00:10]
          ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. AT THIS TIME, I. PLEASE ASK THAT EVERYONE MUTE YOUR DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON TO AVOID INTERRUPTION. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD OF BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON NOVEMBER FOURTH, 2024 AT 6 P.M. THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. MISS ALVAREZ. PRESENT. MISS BRUCE. HERE. MISS COKER. HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER. HERE. MISS KEY. HERE. MRS. PERRY. MISS PERRY IS ABSENT THIS EVENING, MR. SEWELL. HERE. MISS STRAUSS. 
          HERE. VICE PRESIDENT HAHN. PRESENT. PRESIDENT. BOYNTON. HERE. SUPERINTENDENT. WILSON. 
          HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE LOST ANOTHER STUDENT HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. ONE OF OUR STUDENTS, JAYDEN ALEXANDER WINCHESTER, PASSED AWAY THIS WEEKEND. THIS AFFECTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IT PARTICULARLY HAS AN IMPACT ON ONE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS. MISS STRAUSS, WHO KNEW THE STUDENT AND KNEW THE FAMILY. SO I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO HER BRIEFLY FOR SOME COMMENTS. 
          IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. SO WE ARE DEVASTATED OVER THE PASSING OF HAVRE DE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT JAYDEN WINCHESTER. THE IMPACT OF THIS SENSELESS TRAGEDY REACHES FAR AND WIDE. THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS IMPLEMENTED A PLAN FOR RESPONDING TO THIS TRAGIC EVENT, AND WILL BE FOCUSED ON HELPING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES RETURN TO LEARNING AND EVERYDAY NEED SUPPORT. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE REMEMBER JADEN. 
          THANK YOU, MR. HOUSE. MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, PLEASE READ THIS EVENING'S STATEMENT AND PROCESS. 
          FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, DOCTOR BOYNTON WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR BALSAM WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN 
          [Adoption of Agenda]
FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR A NO. THANK YOU BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU. CAN I PLEASE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? CAROL. BRUCE. SO MOVED. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND? THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY YES. YES. 
          YES. THERE ARE ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE AND JOIN IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, ONE BRIEF CHANGE FROM OUR NORMAL PROCESS 
          [A. Presentation of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2024, Ms. Deborah Judd,  Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Mr. Jay Staab, Director of Finance, and Mr. Bill Early, CPA, Principal at  CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) ]
THIS EVENING. WE DO HAVE ONE ITEM THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE WAY QUICKLY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE ITEM A BEFORE WE GET TO PUBLIC COMMENT, WHICH WILL BE BRIEF PRESENTATION ON COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING IN JUNE, JUNE 30TH, 2024. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS TABLED FROM LAST LAST BOARD MEETING. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MISS DEBORAH JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES. WELCOME, ALONG WITH MR. JAY STAAB, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, AND MR. BILL EARLEY, PRINCIPAL AT CLIFTONLARSONALLEN. WELCOME, ALL OF YOU. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. YES. SO MR. EARLEY IS HERE TO SHARE REQUIRED PRESENTATIONS, 
          [00:05:01]
REPRESENTATIONS WITH THE THIS IS HIS LAST BOARD MEETING WITH HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HE'S BEEN HERE ALMOST 30 YEARS, SO HE'S BEEN AT THESE FAR? MORE THAN I HAVE. BUT HE HE LEAVES A LEGACY BEHIND. SO OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS IN GREAT HANDS, HAS BEEN IN GREAT HANDS WITH HIM AND HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB TRYING TO TRANSITION ALL OF THAT OVER A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE TO GET OUT OF ONE PERSON'S HEAD IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. SO WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. EARLEY. DO YOU WANT TO DRIVE OR DO YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE? OH, YOU CAN YOU CAN DRIVE. SO THANK YOU, DEBORAH. SO YES, I AM HERE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT. AND AGAIN, WE AS THE AUDITORS WERE THE EXTERNAL AUDIT FIRM CLIFTONLARSONALLEN CLA. THE RESPONSIBILITY ARE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT. SO I DO ALSO WANT TO ECHO DENVER'S COMMENTS IN SAYING IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE WORKING WITH JAY FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. IT IS A STRENUOUS PROCESS. IT'S ALSO, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW SYSTE. SO IT WAS QUITE AN UNDERTAKING THIS YEAR. WITH THAT SAID, ONCE AGAIN, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WERE ISSUED BY SEPTEMBER 30TH TO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED BY KUMAR. AND THE SINGLE AUDIT IS IN PROCESS AND WILL BE ISSUED BY DECEMBER 31ST TO MSD AS WELL. WITH THAT SAID, I'LL GO THROUGH THE AUDIT SCOPE AND PROCESS THE OPINIONS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY I'M DOING. THE ACTOR IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT, SO ANY FINANCIAL QUESTIONS? I CAN CERTAINLY ANSWER FROM THE AUDIT PERSPECTIVE, BUT THE DETAILED NUMBERS, I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE BOARD MEETINGS WITH DEBORAH PERIODICALLY. SO WE WON'T REALLY SPEND MUCH TIME ON THOSE. AND THEN WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH SOME INDUSTRY INSIGHTS AS WE GO THROUGH. AGAIN, OUR AUDIT PROCESS IS A LITTLE. WE DO ISSUE THE REPORT ON INTERNAL A WHOLE. WE THEN ISSUE OUR REQUIRED GOVERNANCE LETTERS, WHICH I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY VERBALLY GO THROUGH WITH YOU TODAY AS WELL. AND THEN OUR REPORT ON THE MAJOR PROGRAMS OF THE FEDERAL AWARDS, WHICH IS IN PROCESS. WE DO YOU, AS A RISK BASED APPROACH, WHICH MEANS WE DON'T LOOK AT EVERY TRANSACTION. 
          WE DON'T LOOK AT EVERY DOLLAR, AND WE USE MATERIALITY CALCULATIONS. WE LOOK AT THE HIGH RISK AREAS. WE DO SIGNIFICANT TESTING OF INTERNAL CONTROLS. WE LOOK AT THE REVENUE RECOGNITION PROCESS AND THEN ANY SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES THAT ARE PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS RECEIVED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE WE CAN GIVE ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FEDERAL. AS I MENTIONED, THE FEDERAL AWARDS AUDIT IS IN PROCESS. I'M ALSO HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE NO SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES AND NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES TO REPORT. 
          AS PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT THIS YEAR. AND AGAIN, I WOULD REPORT ON THE FEDERAL AUDIT THAT WILL GO THROUGH. BUT AS OF NOW, WE HAVE NO CONCERNS. THERE WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE AUDIT. THESE AGAIN, THIS ISN'T ANYTHING THAT'S WRONG. IT'S JUST AS AUDITORS OF SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND AND MANY MORE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE DO SEE BEST PRACTICES. SO I JUST HIGHLIGHTED THEM HERE. THE KIND OF FORMALIZING SOME LEASE POLICIES. AND THEN THERE WAS A CHANGE. WE FOUND AS PART OF TESTING OF THE ORACLE SYSTEM THAT WAS MADE, THAT CHANGE WAS ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND THEN SOME VARIOUS IT BEST PRACTICES THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE IT, OUR IT AUDIT TEAM, WITH THE INTERNAL IT TEAM. AS FAR AS THE REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS, WE HAVE PERFORMED THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS GENERALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS. AS I MENTIONED, THAT'S OBTAINED A REASONABLE, NOT ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE ABOUT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE RESULTS OF ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES. WE LOOK AT THE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND ESTIMATES USED BY MANAGEMENT, COMPARES TO THE INDUSTRY'S BEST PRACTICES, INDUSTRY NORMS TO DETERMINE IF THEY'RE IN LINE WITH THOSE. AND THEN WE EVALUATE THE OVERALL FINANCIAL REVIEW. TYPICALLY WE HAVE SEVERAL IF NOT PAGES OF COMMENTS THAT WE GIVE BACK TO THE CLIENTS TO REVIEW. THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN THIS CASE. TYPICALLY WHEN WE REVIEW, WE MAY HAVE 1 OR 2 ITEMS THAT OF SUGGESTIONS THAT WE MAK, BUT EVEN IF THEY DID NOT MAKE THOSE, THEY WE WOULD BE OKAY SIGNING OFF ON THE OPINION. SO IT IS A GREAT JOB. THAT'S DONE BY MANAGEMENT ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS EACH AND EVERY YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE THE OUR AUDITORS OPINION IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. IT'S THE THREE PAGES WITH OUR LETTERHEAD. IT IS UNMODIFIED OPINION AND THEN THE BOARD'S SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ARE IN THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. IN NOTE ONE OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE ESTIMATED LIVES THAT WE OR SIGNIFICANT JUDGMENTS AND ESTIMATES WE DID LOOK AT WERE THE USEFUL LIVES OF CAPITAL ASSETS AND THEN THE PENSION AND OPEB LONG TERM LIABILITIES. THOSE ARE BASED ON ACTUARIAL CALCULATIONS AND OR THE STATE PLAN THAT WE LOOKED AT. SO WE HAD NO ISSUES WITH THOSE AS WE WAS VERY COOPERATIVE DURING THE 
          [00:10:10]
AUDIT PROCESS. WE HAVE SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS DURING THE YEAR TO GO THROUGH ANY QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, ANY TRANSACTION MIGHT BE ABNORMAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE FINISHED SUBMITS. 
          THEY REPORT TO US VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS, AND THERE WERE NO MAJOR ISSUES THAT WERE DISCUSSED WITH MANAGEMENT PRIOR TO US AS BEING SELECTED AS THE AUDITOR, AS WE ARE UNDER A CURRENT CONTRACT. THIS YEAR, WE DID HAVE SOME AUDIT CHANGES, NO ACCOUNTING CHANGES, BUT SOME AUDIT CHANGES THAT REQUIRED US TO DIG A LITTLE FURTHER IN THE IT SYSTEMS AND LOOK AT ESTIMATES IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SO REALLY NO REAL CHANGES FOR OUR AUDIT PROCESS OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE FUTURE. IT WON'T BE GAO'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR FUTURE CHANGES WHICH WILL BE THE GASB 101, WHICH IS ONE. THAT'S IF YOU GO FORWARD TWO SLIDES THERE. DEBORAH. IT'S THE NEXT ONE. IT'S THE COMPENSATED ABSENCES. CHANGES WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN THE FUTURE. SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT HOW THEY'RE CALCULATED ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS THAT ARE BEING ISSUED. AND THEN SOME OTHER ONES THAT ARE IN PLAY, BUT THEY WON'T REALLY IMPACT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. EXCEPT FOR 103, WHICH IS VERY FAR DOWN THE ROAD. HOWEVER, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT WILL AFFECT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'LL BE WORKING THROUGH. AS WE GO FORWARD. AND JAY, YOU'LL BE LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE TO IMPLEMENT ANOTHER ONE. SO YOU'LL BE GOOD THERE. WITH THAT SAID, THE OTHER SLIDES ARE JUST ESSENTIALLY SOME INSIGHTS AND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT CLA IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING WHO YOUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS ARE. BUT I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO GET ON WITH YOUR NORMAL AGENDA. 
          GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS. ANYTHING ON ONLINE QUESTIONS. OH, SORRY, MR. SEWELL. YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU, MR. JUDD. MR. STAUB, THE WHOLE TEAM, WHOLE BUDGET AND FINANCE TEAM. YOU GUYS DO SUCH AN OUTSTANDING JOB FOR CPS. AND IT'S SHOWN, YOU KNOW, YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THESE AUDITS. SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT SO THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THAT, PARTICULARLY WITH THE EXTREMELY HEAVY LIFT THAT YOU HAVE IMPLEMENTING THE NEW DATABASE SYSTEM. SO JUST THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING CAREER AS WELL. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. SO IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, THANK YOU 
          [Public Comments ]
SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. 
          IF WE COULD PLEASE READ 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 PURPOSE 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. THE RULES OF ORDER REQUIRE COMMENTERS TO REFRAIN FROM IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND DO NOT SIT ON THE BOARD. COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS OR IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY NAME. IN THE CONTEXT OF A BOARD BUSINESS MEETING, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS AND INFLAMMATORY REMARKS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS PERSONNEL. ANY PERSON OR GROUP ARE NOT PERMITTED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG IN OUR MEETINGS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER CONCERNS OR NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SHOULD AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING, THE ATTENDEE WILL RECEIVE A WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR. IF THE ATTENDEE DOES NOT CEASE TO PROHIBIT A BEHAVIOR, THE ATTENDEE WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE BUSINESS MEETING BY SECURITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION, AND LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. BARLOW, HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE THIS EVENING? IN PERSON 22 REGISTERED, 22. IN PERSON. WE HAVE 20 IN PERSON. 20. OKAY, THANKS. SO WE DO HAVE A 
          [00:15:01]
RELATIVELY LIGHT AGENDA TONIGHT, WHICH MEANS WE'RE NOT SO. BUT WHEN YOU CALL SOMEONE, IF YOU COULD ALSO CALL THE NEXT PERSON TO PREPARE THEM, PUT THEM ON DECK. SO WE'LL BEGIN. SO THIS EVENING WE WILL BEGIN WITH DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY REVEREND HOFMEISTER, AND THEN WILLIAM MARTINO. GOOD EVENING, I'M DAVID BAUER. MY TOPIC FOR THIS EVENING IS INVESTING. WE PUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES INTO K-12 EDUCATION, MUCH MORE THAN JUST MONEY. WE PUT A HUGE AMOUNT OF OUR TIME INTO IT. TEACHERS AND STAFF, CERTAINLY, BUT ALSO PARENTS AND MOST OF OUR ALL OUR KIDS TIME. WHY? BECAUSE WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE DETERMINED THAT INVESTMENT TO BE WORTHWHILE AT THE THE LEVEL. WE INVEST TONS OF RESOURCES INTO EDUCATION, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE AMOUNT IS OPTIMAL OR EVEN ADEQUATE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PREPARING THE ENTIRE NEXT GENERATION OF OUR CIVILIZATION. IT TAKES A LOT. MARYLAND HAS TWICE HAD MAJOR STUDIES OF THE RESOURCES WE ARE PUTTING INTO EDUCATION, AND BOTH STUDIES SAID THAT THE STATE SHOULD CONSIDERABLY INCREASE EDUCATION SPENDING BECAUSE WHILE THE COSTS ARE HIGH, THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT MAKES IT THE RIGHT DECISION. PLEASE REQUEST OUR COUNTY LEADERSHIP INVEST MORE FUNDING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOU ALL ALSO MAKE INVESTMENT DECISIONS. OBVIOUSLY THROUGH OFFICIAL DECISIONS SUCH AS THE BUDGET. BUT BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND IN PUBLIC MEETINGS. AT THE LAST MEETING, THERE WAS CRITICISM OF THE MOVE TO VACATE THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT. IN PARTICULAR, IT WAS SAID, QUOTE, WE'VE WASTED PROBABLY HALF AN HOUR ON THIS. 
          END QUOTE. LET'S BE CLEAR. THAT WAS AN INVESTMENT OF TIME, NOT A WASTE. THERE ARE VERY GOOD REASONS TO REMOVE MISS HAHN FROM THE BOARD OFFICER POSITION. TIME SPENT ON THAT IS WELL SPENT. 
          THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO ADD THAT TO THE AGENDA. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE EFFORT HAS STALLED. THAT'S OKAY. INVESTMENTS DON'T ALWAYS GO RIGHT. STOCKS CAN GO DOWN, PROJECTS AND WHOLE COMPANIES FAIL ALL THE TIME. AND THAT IS FOR THINGS WITH THE BEST OF EXPAND ON THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES AND FLAG POLICIES WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BAD HAD THEY ACTUALLY SUCCEEDED. AND YET THOSE DIDN'T REQUIRE A VOTE TO GET ON TO THE AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL. FOR DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, TOLERANCE AND EQUALITY. FOR THREE YEARS I HAVE HEARD THESE WORDS THROWN LIKE DAGGERS IN THIS CHAMBER, USED AS WEAPONS AND LEVERAGE FROM ALL POSITIONS AND VIEWS. NOW HAS COME A MOMENT WHERE THESE VERY WORD WEAPONS HAVE BROUGHT A DIRECT CHALLENGE TO THE INTEGRITY OF THIS ESTEEMED BOARD. A BOARD MEMBER HER VERY POSITION IN WHICH THIS VERY BOARD VOTED HER INTO CHALLENGED BECAUSE SHE BRINGS INDIVIDUAL INSIGHT, SOMETHING THAT THE STUDENTS OF THIS COUNTY ARE BEING TOLD TO CELEBRATE AND ENCOURAGE. BUT HERE IT IS, BEING CASTRATED BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FIT THE POPULAR NARRATIV. 
          THIS BOARD MEMBER WAS ELECTED BY HER CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE SHE HELD TO HER VALUES AND PRINCIPLES. TO REMOVE HER IN ANY ASPECT OF POSITION IS AN INSULT TO THE VERY CITIZENS WHO PUT HER, AND SEVERAL OTHERS ON THIS BOARD. I ASK YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE PRECEDENT THAT WOULD BE SET IF YOU WERE TO TAKE SUCH ACTION. IT WOULD CREATE A CULTURE WHERE DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS WOULD ALWAYS RESULT IN CONFLICT. IT'S TIME TO PUT THE TAR AND FEATHERS AWAY AND 
          [00:20:01]
PUT AWAY THE INFIGHTING WITHIN THIS CHAMBER. IT'S TIME TO STOP BENDING TO WHAT IS POPULAR AND ENTIRE STUDENT BODY. SOMETIMES NOT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT OR PERSON CAN BE INCLUDED IN EVERY ASPECT OF A PROGRAM OR A PARTICULAR PROGRAM AT ALL. NOT EVERY POLICY WILL BE POPULAR. I MISSED OUT ON MY DIPLOMA FROM THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF A POLICY THAT EXCLUDED ME, AND WAS INFLEXIBLE TO CHANGE. THAT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME. WAS IT RIGHT? NO. BUT THE LAW HAD NOT CHANGED TO MAKE IT RIGHT AT THE TIME. GLOBALLY STATED. YOU CANNOT DEMAND ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENCES IN VIEWPOINT AND IN THE SAME BREATH CONDEMN SOMEONE ELSE FOR THEIR DIFFERENCES. THIS IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE AS A BOARD AND AS A COMMUNITY. LEAVE MELISSA ALONE AND LET HER HAVE HER VOICE. THANK YOU GOOD EVENING. THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS DARED TO RAISE MANY LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF HKFS. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED, THIS WAS THE JOB OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. SO FOR DOING HER JOB, THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT C WANTS TO REMOVE HER. THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO INTIMIDATE BOARD MEMBERS WHO DON'T FALL IN LINE WITH THE TEACHERS UNION. INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE TRUE CONCERNS THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT HAS BROUGHT FORWARD, SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE CHOSEN TO DISCREDIT MISS HON. THIS HAS BECOME A COMMON THEME IN OUR NATION THESE DAYS, WHEN POLL WORKERS AND ELECTION JUDGES REPORT IRREGULARITIES, THEY ARE CALLED DENIERS AND CANCELED WHEN WHISTLEBLOWERS REPORT LEGITIMATE FRAUD IN NOW WE SEE IT HAPPENING HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. 
          STAY COURAGEOUS, MISS HAHN, AND KEEP DOING YOUR JOB. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE WATCHDOG FOR THE PARENTS AND HOLD THE POWERFUL SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE. CAROL MUELLER WILL NEVER HOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE. SHE HAS BEEN ON THIS BOARD FOR MANY YEARS AND NEVER NOT ONCE, VOTED AGAINST THE KING'S ORDERS. THIS IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION SERVES THE PARENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY. IT SHOULDN'T BE CONTROVERSIAL TO ASK WHY CERTAIN VULNERABILITIES EXIST IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT SHOULDN'T BE SHAMEFUL TO DEMAND ANSWERS FROM THOSE WHO OVERSEE EDUCATION AND YET, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW REASONABLE OR FACTUAL THE QUESTIONS ARE. IT IS UNFORGIVABLE OFFENSE TO EVEN DEATH, AND THE APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO RALLY BEHIND THE VICE PRESIDENT AND SUPPORT HER RIGHT TO BRING UP THE FAILURES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. CLEARLY, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION. 
          DON'T WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THE QUORUM. INSTEAD, PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. THE GOAL SHOULD FOCUS ON IMPROVING ACADEMICS. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE AMBER MILNES, FOLLOWED BY STELLA PETERS AND THOMAS PENNINGTON REPRESENTING THE GROUP. SO WE HAVE AMBER MILNES, FOLLOWED BY STELLA PETERS AND THOMAS PIDDINGTON REPRESENTING THE GROUP. GOOD EVENING. I AM AMBER MILNES, TEACHER AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND ING FEELING OF ANXIETY AND DREAD. AFTER LISTENING TO THE LAST BOARD MEETING AND THE AFTERMATH ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO SAY THAT IT'S ENOUGH. IT IS TIME TO GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. DOCTOR POYNTON, ENOUGH WITH ALL THE TALK AND ALLOWING THESE MEETINGS TO RESEMBLE THE CIRCUS. YOU, AS PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD NEED TO LEAD WITH ACTIONS. THE TIME IS NOW TO DIG DEEP AND TAKE CONTROL OF THE ANTICS AND DISTRACTIONS THAT DETER FROM THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOARD. LEADING BY EXAMPLE, NOT BY ALLOWING NAME CALLING AND HYPOCRISY TO REIGN. WE HAVE A BUDGET EMERGENCY ON THE HORIZON, AND WE NEED A UNITED BOARD FOCUSED ONLY ON HONORING THE 
          [00:25:01]
MISSION AND VISION OF HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ADVOCATING AS ONE FOR THE FUNDING WE NEED TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. SAFETY AND SECURITY WILL BE A BIGGER CHALLENGE IF WE ARE FORCED TO CUT OUR HUMAN CAPITAL. CLASS SIZES WILL BALLOON TO UNSAFE LEVELS. I MYSELF IN MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT, HAVE TAUGHT A CLASS OF 48 8TH GRADERS. 48. IF WE CONTINUE TO CUT HUMAN CAPITAL, THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE. AND DO YOU THINK THAT'S REALLY GONNA HELP WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT? SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS LIKE MY KID WHO DESERVE A CHANCE IN GENERAL EDUCATION, WE'LL DROWN IN CLASSES THAT BIG. THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH PULLOUTS IN THE WORLD. FOR HER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. ON SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU SAY IT IS TIME TO FOCUS ON ACADEMICS, THE BUDGET, SAFETY AND SECURITY. IT'S TIME YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS. VISIT SCHOOLS. TALK TO STAFF. TALK TO STUDENTS, ALL OF THEM. THE TIME IS NOW TO WALK THE WALK. ALL OF OUR STUDENTS DESERVE A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION. AND NOTHING LESS. AND IT STARTS WITH YOU. GOOD EVENING. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND YES, OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION ALSO NEEDS GOD. IF OUR CHILDREN HAD GOT BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS, WE WOULD NOT BE FACING THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE TODAY. OUR CHILDREN ARE STRUGGLING WITH ACADEMICS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND LIFE ITSELF. 
          AND WITHOUT A MORAL FOUNDATION, THEY'RE LEFT TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF A WORLD THAT OFTEN FEELS CHAOTIC, OVERWHELMING, AND DISCONNECTED. EVERY ACTION WE TAKE, NO MATTER HOW BIG OR HOW SMALL CONTRIBUTES TO A GREATER STORY. ONE WOVEN FROM OUR SHARED HOPES, CHALLENGES AND ASPIRATIONS. IN A WORLD THAT CAN SOMETIMES FEEL OVERWHELMING. IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT WE EACH HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES. WE CAN DO THIS BY INSPIRING EACH OTHER. ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE OR SIMPLY LISTENING TO EACH OTHER WITH EMPATHY AND COMPASSION. WE NEED LEADERS WITH INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER. PEOPLE WHO INSPIRE US TO DO BETTER, BE BETTER, AND HELP GUIDE OUR CHILDREN ON THE RIGHT PATH. FAITH AND A MORAL COMPASS CREATES AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED, SAFE, AND VALUED. IT IS THROUGH THESE VALUES THAT WE CAN CULTIVATE BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER COMMUNITIES, AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALL. MELISSA HAN EMBODIES THESE PRINCIPLES. SHE IS A PERSON OF CHARACTER. 
          INTEGRITY AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ALL OF OUR CHILDREN. ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE HER AS VICE PRESIDENT WAS WRONG. DOING IT IN HER ABSENCE IS JUST DEVIOUS AND EVIL. MELISSA HAHN WAS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERS OF HER COMMUNITY. SHE BEAT HER OPPONENT BY 69.9% OF THE VOTE. 
          THAT'S CALLED A LANDSLIDE. AND EVEN TODAY, SHE IS STILL LOVED AND RESPECTED. AND ESTEEMED BY HER CONSTITUENTS. AND THOSE THAT KNOW HER AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE 986 SIGNATURES OBTAINED IN A RECENT PETITION IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK. EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE. HAS RIPPLE EFFECT. TODAY LET'S CHOOSE COURAGE OVER CONFLICT. EMPATHY OVER INDIFFERENCE. AN ACTION OVER APATHY. IF WE COMMIT TO DO THIS. IMAGINE THE KIND OF WORLD WE WILL LEAVE OUR CHILDREN. I STAND WITH MELISSA HANN BECAUSE WE NEED HER KIND OF LEADERSHIP. HER EXAMPLE, AND HER COMMITMENT TO BRING FAITH-BASED VALUES BACK INTO OUR SCHOOLS. WE OWE IT TO OUR CHILDREN AND WE OWE IT TO THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU. MR. PITTINGTON, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU'LL RECEIVE 5 MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. I'M WITH THE BLACK ROBE REGIMENT AND UH FIRST I, I WANNA SAY I'M, I'M SORRY FOR THE PAIN THAT YOU FELT WITH UH WHAT YOU WERE GOING THROUGH. I DON'T KNOW MUCH, MANY OF THE DETAILS, BUT I KNOW YOU WERE GOING THROUGH SOME FAMILY LOSS, AND I'M SORRY FOR THAT. U, I'M SORRY, I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT WHILE YOU WERE GOING THROUGH THIS, MRS. UH UM THAT SOMEBODY 
          [00:30:03]
ACTUALLY MADE A MOTION TO, TO REMOVE YOU. UH, WHERE, WHERE I COME FROM, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOMEBODY, YOU GO FACE TO FACE WITH THEM, AND IN THE END YOU MAY END UP HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE RESPECT FOR BOTH OF TH, UH, EACH OTHER, BUT, UH, THIS IN, IN MY MIND WAS JUST COWARDLY. UH, YOU DON'T DO THAT. BUT WITH THAT SAID, UH, UH, A COUPLE OF YOUR COMPATRIOTS, UH, UH, BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSED SOME CONCERN OVER THE DIVIDED BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE DIVISION WITHIN THIS ROOM HERE AND, AND THAT'S TRUE AND I BREAK THE CONCERN DOWN IN TWO CATEGORIES, NORMALCY AND INSANITY. UH I'LL, I'LL START BY TALKING ABOUT INSANITY MORE THAN NORMALCY, UH, UH, AND I'LL START BY MY FAVORITE OF, OF, UH, POLICY GUIDANCE THAT YOU ALL HAVE PUT OUT, UH, CALLED PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING YOUTH GUIDELINES FOR GENDER NON-DISCRIMINATION. YOU CAN'T SAY THAT TITLE WITHOUT ADDING INSANITY SOMEWHERE IN THAT. SO WHAT IS UH WHAT HAS COME FROM THIS POLICY? WELL, WE'VE GOT BOYS WITH PENISES AND GIRLS' LOCKER ROOMS. I HAVE TO ADD BOYS WITH PENISES BECAUSE IT APPEARS DUE TO INSANITY, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT A BOY IS. UH, AND SOME PEOPLE THAT DON'T QUITE KNOW WHAT A WOMAN IS. UH, WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM PARENTS, STRAIGHT OUT OF THE POLICY, WITHHOLDING INFORMATION FROM PARENTS ABOUT. CHILDREN STRAIGHT OUT OF THE POLICY. UH, ENDORSING AND POSSIBLY BEING COMPLICIT IN CHILD MUTILATION SURGERY. WE DON'T KNOW HOW FAR THAT GOES, BUT WE KNOW THAT SOME INDOCTRINATORS HAVE, HAVE ACTUALLY GIVEN SOME GUIDANCE IN THAT DIRECTION TOWARDS CHILDREN THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MIXED UP EXPOSURE, OUR CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO THINGS, LET'S JUST SAY THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE EXPOSED TO. DURING THIS TIME OF INSANITY THOUGH, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON, WE'VE HAD TRAGEDIES TAKE PLACE, THINGS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, AND I'M NOT HERE TO, TO, TO DO A WAR DANCE ON THIS, BUT WE, WE HAD A CHILD MURDERED IN SCHOOL. WE'VE HAD. CHILDREN MURDERERS AND RAPISTS. SITTING IN SCHOOL RIGHT BESIDE OUR CHILDREN. WE HAD RAPES THAT WERE COVERED UP BY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND I KNOW THAT THAT THAT THAT WAS DEALT WITH, BUT I HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION IS, WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT ABERDEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOLLOWING POLICY OR DID THEY JUST GO ROGUE? BECAUSE AS YOU READ THE INSANE POLICY PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR TRANSGENDERS, WHICH ELEVATES TRANSGENDERS ABOVE EVERYBODY ELSE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, IT DOESN'T. I JUST HAVE TO ASK THAT QUESTION. DOCTOR POYNTON, AT ONE POINT LAST MONTH, YOU SAID THAT IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO RAISE A CHILD. IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT, THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THAT A BIG PART, A CORNERSTONE OF THAT COMMUNITY IS THE CHURCH, AND THAT HAS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS WELL. YOU ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT, YOU'VE HIRED AN EXPERT LAW LAW FIRM TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH AND UNBIASED INVESTIGATION ON INDEPENDENT EXPERT WITH INDEPENDENT EXPERTS, AND THAT'S FINE, THAT'S GOOD. BUT YOU'RE HIRING IT TO PROTECT, TO PROVIDE PROTECTION, AND I'M INTERESTED, WE'RE INTERESTED IN, IN MORE DETAILS AND, AND WHAT THAT LAW FIRM FIRM IS FOR. IS IT TO MITIGATE POTENTIAL LAWSUITS THAT MIGHT BE COMING BECAUSE OF HARM THAT'S BEEN DONE TO CHILDREN WHILE INSIDE HCPS SCHOOLS. WE DON'T KNOW THIS, AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE JUST HAD ONE SPEAKER COME UP AND SAY THAT WE NEED AN INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING. WELL, THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO GOOD FOR SCHOOL FUNDING IF WE NOW HAVE TO PLAN TO PAY OUT. PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO SUE THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF WHAT HCPS PUT THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH. I COULD GO ON A LOT FURTHER. BUT INSTEAD, I'M JUST GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IN PRAYER. LORD, I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL PRAYER FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. I KNOW THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WILL HEAR THIS PRAYER AND NOT UNDERSTAND IT, AND THEY WILL BE CONFUSED. BUT LORD, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR PERFECT MERCY TO TOUCH THE HEARTS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ALL IN THIS ROOM TO TURN THE CONFUSION SO MANY ARE BURDENED WITH INTO TRUTH, KNOWLEDGE, AND WISDOM. LORD, I ALSO PRAY YOU LIFT THE HEARTS AND PROTECT THE PURITY OF OUR CHILDREN. WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED AND OTHERWISE EXPOSED TO THE PERVERSE EVIL HCPS IS PROMOTING. IT IS IN YOUR MIGHTY NAME, LORD, THAT I ASK YOUR PERFECT GRACE TO TOUCH ALL IN ATTENDANCE HERE TONIGHT. 
          AMEN. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RICK CHECK. UM, REPRESENTING THE GROUP, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP, AND YOU'LL RECEIVE 5 MINUTES, FOLLOWED BY TERESA FREA. ALSO REPRESENTING THE GROUP? AND THEN, UH, LAURA WADE. GOOD EVENING, FOLKS. FIRST OF ALL, MY NAME IS RICK CHECK, AND I'M A RETIRED. UH HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER. AND UH I GOT INVOLVED UPON HEARING ABOUT SOME 
          [00:35:09]
DISTURBING INFORMATION SEVERAL YEARS AGO ABOUT SOME PARENTS REPORTING WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS. SINCE I'M A RETIRED TEACHER, I KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT ENVIRONMENT. SO I STARTED THE SCHOOL REFORM NOW. UH, WHICH IS KNOWN AS SRMPAC.ORG. I WAS ADVISED BY MARYLAND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO BECOME A PAC. OR SUPER PAC. I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THAT ANYBODY COULD. GO THROUGH AND HAND OUT SOME CARDS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE SUPPORT THIS AND THAT. BUT EVIDENTLY THE STATE OF MARYLAND WANTED TO KEEP A TAB ON ME, SO A TAB THEY HAVE. THE WHAT THE TOPIC I CHOSE I WROTE DOWN WHICH I WANNA STAY TRUE TO IS SUPPORTING ELECTED BOARD OFFICIALS, AND I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING THAT. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAYING YOU SUPPORT VERSUS APPROVING. I SUPPORT BOARD OFFICIALS, BUT I MAY NOT APPROVE OF ALL THE BOARD OFFICIALS, AS I'M SURE SOME OF YOU DON'T APPROVE OF SOME OF YOUR OWN COLLEAGUES WHO SIT BESIDE YOU. CONSIDERING THE NATURE OF MELISSA AND DIANE'S ELECTION. I WAS VERY MUCH PART OF THAT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY CAME UP WITH TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WENT AND CAMPAIGNED, ALL THE FOOTBALL FIELDS AND SOCCER FIELDS FOR UM AROUND THE 40 CORRIDOR AND THEN ALSO IN THE NORTHERN PART OF HARTFORD COUNTY WHICH INCLUDED DIANE ALVAREZ'S AND MELISSA HANS REGION. WHERE THEY GOT ELECTED AS WE WENT THROUGH WITH TEAMS OF PEOPLE WE WERE HANDING OUT CARDS. WE WERE NOT. UM, WE WERE NONPARTISAN AND WE WERE ALSO UM NON-DENOMINATIONAL. SO I WOULDN'T COME AROUND AND I WASN'T UM I WASN'T BEING SOME KIND OF A JESUS FREAK AMONG EVERYBODY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S PROBABLY IN REALITY WHAT I AM, BUT I KEPT THAT TO MYSELF. AS I, AS WE PASS THIS ON TO DIFFERENT PARENTS AND SAID ON THIS CARD SAVE OUR SCHOOLS TRANSGENDERISM NO CRITICAL RACE THEORY, NO PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGERY FROM BOOKS, NO, AND IT HAD A QR QR CO CODE AND THEY COULD GO ON THERE, THEY COULD FIND OUT HOW ANYBODY WHO WAS RUNNING FOR A POSITION. IN THAT AREA, HOW THEY WOULD ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, OK? SO THAT PROCESS, I REALIZE THAT. MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WHAT WE REALIZED IN THE ELECTION PROCESS, PROBABLY ABOUT 80% OF THOSE PARENTS DID NOT KNOW ANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, SO HOW WOULD THEY VOTE? WELL, THEY WOULD VOTE MAYBE JUST. FLIP A NAME. THE NAME SOUNDS GOOD, WE FLIP IT. BUT I THOUGHT HOW MIRACULOUS THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARED AND THEY ACTUALLY WENT ON THE WEBSITE AND SEE WHO VOTED FOR WHAT. AND I WANNA SAY THAT BECAUSE THESE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND I THOUGHT HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY SUGGEST THAT WE WANT TO ELIMINATE THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T AGREE WITH US. THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S INSANE, YOU KNOW. EACH DISTRICT. IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT AND THEREFORE REPRESENTED WITH MEMBERS OF VASTLY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS. 
          THAT IS THE ELECTORATE. PROCESS AND WHEN YOU WANT TO GET UP AND YOU WANT US TO REMOVE SOMEBODY FROM THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY. BLOCKING THAT PROCESS. BUT I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS. THEY WERE. ELECTED BY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN THOSE STANDARDS. WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT MS. ALVAREZ, I MUST IN A MINUTE. DOWN THE 40 CORRIDOR I WANT TO SAY THAT AT LEAST 70% OF THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND SOCCER TEAMS WERE AFRICAN AMERICAN. AT LEAST 70%. 
          AND YET SOMEHOW MR. ALVAREZ GOT VOTED IN BECAUSE WHY OBVIOUSLY THESE PEOPLE APPROVED OF IT, SO IT'S NOT A RACE ISSUE, FOLKS. IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT HAD TO DO WITH PARTICULARLY UH POINTS THAT WERE HELD CLOSE TO THE HEART OF ALL THE MOMS AND ALL THE DADS. SO I AM ASKING YOU FOLKS TO CONSIDER THAT. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE NON-SECTARIAN. I DO GET IT. BUT I WANT TO WARN US. AND WARN YOU IT'S DANGEROUS GROUND IF YOU'RE MORE THAN NON-SECTARIAN AND YOU BECOME ANTI-SECTARIAN. SO LET'S, LET'S DO THAT RIGHT BECAUSE YOU WE ONLY HAVE ONE TIME TO DO IT, RIGHT? SO, THANK YOU. HELLO, MY 
          [00:40:02]
NAME IS TERESA FRALEY. I'M WITH THE AAUW, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN. 
          AND LOCALLY THE AUW HAS TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF RECOGNIZING STEM GIRLS OF DISTINCTION IN HARTFORD COUNTY THROUGH THE RESNICK AWARD. THIS EVENT BEGAN IN 1986 TO HONOR DOCTOR JUDITH RESNICK, AN AAUW FROM MARYLAND, A MEMBER AND A SCIENTIST WHO LOST HER LIFE IN THE CHALLENGER SHUTTLE EXPLOSION. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE HIGH SCHOOLS IN HARTFORD COUNTY AND PARTICULARLY DOCTOR BOLSON FOR HELPING US HONOR THESE GREAT STUDENTS. EACH SCHOOL NOMINATES ONE GIRL WHO'S OUTSTANDING IN THE FIELD OF SCIENCE AND MATH. THEY, ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS AND SOME TEACHERS ARE HONORED AT A LUNCHEON ON THE CAMPUS OF HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE EVERY APRIL. SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THESE STUDENTS INCLUDE CONDUCTING RESEARCH USING CRISPR TECHNOLOGY TO EDIT THE LAC Z GENE OF AN E. COLI PLASMID AT HCC. WORKING AT THE PROTOTYPE INTEGRATION FACILITY WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY. COMPLETING REAL WORLD INTERNSHIP IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING AT APG. WITHOUT THE COOPERATION OF HCPS TEACHERS AND SUPERINTENDENT, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. AUW BELIEVES IN EDUCATION AND ESPECIALLY AN ENCOURAGING YOUNG WOMEN TO PURSUE CAREERS IN STEM, AND WE ARE PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH HCPS. DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TOMORROW IF YOU HAVEN'T VOTED ALREADY. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO BEGIN BY ADDRESSING VICE PRESIDENT HAHN DIRECTLY. FIRST, PLEASE ACCEPT MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES ON THE LOSS OF YOUR AUNT. AND THIS EVENING AS YOU ENDURE YET ANOTHER PUBLIC STRUGGLE SESSION, I OFFER YOU ENCOURAGEMENT FROM EPHESIANS 6:13. THEREFORE, PUT ALL PUT ON THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT WHEN THE DAY OF EVIL COMES YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND YOUR GROUND. AND AFTER YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING TO STAND. TO THE ENTIRE BOARD I HAVE ONE MESSAGE I IMPLORE ALL OF YOU GET BACK TO WORK. GET BACK TO WORK. THE ORCHESTRATED ATTEMPT TO REMOVE MISS HAN FROM HER POSITION HAS LEFT A DARK STAIN ON THIS BOARDROOM. MEANWHILE, MURDERERS, RAPISTS, CHILD SEX OFFENDERS AND PEDOPHILES WALK OUR HALLS ALONGSIDE OUR INNOCENT CHILDREN AND 2 MORE STUDENT DEATHS. HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE HCPS STUDENT DEATH REPORT TRACKER. SINCE THE START OF SCHOOL. THE BACK TO BACK TRAUMA RESPONSE DUE TO THESE MURDERS HAS REACHED LEVELS NEVER BEFORE SEEN IN NEARLY 20 YEARS OF DATA RESEARCHED AND COMPILED ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT DURING MY TENURE AT HCPS. FOR PERSPECTIVE FROM 1999 TO 2021, APPROXIMATELY 8 HCPS STUDENTS WERE MURDERED OFF CAMPUS BY FIREARMS AND KNIFE. THE TREND HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. I HAVE ONE ASKED TONIGHT. THIS BOARD MUST COMMIT TO PUTTING THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN OVER POLITICAL THEATER MEANT TO SILENCE A SITTING BOARD MEMBER. ALL VOICES MATTER EVEN DISSENTING VOICES. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KEITH DEVEAU. FOLLOWED BY BRENDA PEDRICK. AND JUDY RAMSEY. HIGH SCHOOL BOARD. MY NAME'S KEITH DE BELL, MARINE, UH, RETIRED BALTIMORE CITY DETECTIVE OF 21 YEARS. AND I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE UH A SON WHO WENT THROUGH HARTFORD COUNTY HIS ENTIRE, UH, LIFE GRADUATED FROM NORTH HARTFORD. AND I NEVER APPEARED HERE BEFORE NOW BECAUSE UP UNTIL THAT TIME, ALL THE THINGS THAT MY SON WENT THROUGH IN SCHOOL. HE REQUESTED THAT WE NOT ADDRESS BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID OF BEING RETALIATED AGAINST. THE BEAUTY THAT HAPPENED. WITH THE HORRIFIC COVID EPIDEMIC WAS THAT PARENTS HAD THE, THE BLINDFOLD RIPPED OFF THEIR FACE WHEN THEY GOT TO SEE. WHAT WAS BEING TAUGHT TO THEIR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. AND THEN WE ALSO REALIZED THAT AS PARENTS, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME POWER. WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'RE POWERLESS, OUR VOTES DON'T MATTER, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, OUR VOTES DO MATTER. SO MELISSA HAN, WHO PROVIDED MY SON WHO LOST HIS ENTIRE JUNIOR YEAR. WITH A PROM BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE WAS WILLING TO DO IT. SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON, STEPPED UP AND GOT ELECTED 69.9, WHICH MEANS THE MAJORITY OF HER DISTRICT. BELIEVES WHAT SHE 
          [00:45:05]
BELIEVES AND WANTS HER HERE. THAT BEING SAID, YOU DON'T GET TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HER. YOU HEAR BUZZWORDS ALL THE TIME IN OUR SOCIETY, LIKE WHITE SUPREMACY AND DIVISIVENESS AND ALL THIS, IT'S GARBAGE. IT'S GARBAGE. IT'S JUST BUZZWORDS TO THROW AT SOMEONE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEIR REPUTATION. THE KEY FOR ME IS AS A DETECTIVE AND AS A FATHER OF TWO CHILDREN AND AN UNCLE OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN WHO WILL BE COMING UP IN THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. SAFETY SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE THING. THE WOKE CRAP MEANS NOTHING TO ME. IT SHOULD BE SAFETY. SHOULD BE THE SAFETY OF THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN. AND IF THERE IS A UM, DEFICIT DEFICIT IN THAT. AND SOMEONE HURTS SOMEONE'S FEELING BY BRINGING THAT UP. OH WELL, IT'S OUR CHILDREN'S LIVES AT STAKE. SO PUT YOUR FEELINGS AWAY. DO YOUR JOBS. WHETHER YOU LIKE EACH OTHER OR NOT, I DON'T CARE. I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE I WORK WITH. THEY DIDN'T LIKE ME, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT, WE HAD EACH OTHER'S LIVES. WHETHER I LIKED YOU OR YOU LIKED ME WHEN, WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO IT. I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE FOR THAT PERSON, JUST LIKE I WOULD HAVE GIVEN MY LIFE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENTED. SO, GROW UP. DO YOUR JOB. START WITH THE IMMATURE STUFF. AND GET BACK TO WORK. THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME. THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THIS WOMAN. THEY WANT HER HERE. YOU'RE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. SO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU MAY NOT BE SITTING IN THAT SEAT, JUST SAYING, GOD BLESS ALL YOU GUYS. 
          THANK YOU. UH, SORRY. NO WE'RE TRYING TO STAY NEUTRAL HERE SO NO CLAPPING, NO GRANDSTANDING, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BRENDA P HEDRICK, PARENT OF AN HCBS STUDENT, UM, AND ALSO A PROUD FRIEND OF MELISSA HANN. UM, I MET MISS HAN. POST-COVID, SAME THING THAT WE JUST HEARD THAT OPENED MY EYES TO A LOT OF THINGS. I MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING HERE. 
          UH, AND IT'S NOT INCLUDED. AND I'M HERE ON HER BEHALF BECAUSE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE SAID SHE WAS VOTED IN BY A PHENOMENAL. PERCENTAGE ALMOST 70%. THAT SAYS A LOT. THESE PEOPLE SITTING HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE REPRESENTING HER. THEY WANT HER HERE. THE SIGNATURES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE PETITION. IN JUST OVER A WEEK'S TIME, ALMOST 1000 SIGNATURES. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEI DIVERSITY, MISS MILAHAN HAS A PLACE ON THIS BOARD. SHE DESERVES TO HAVE A VOICE ON THIS BOARD BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? SHE SPEAKS FOR ME. I'M A PARENT THAT EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT HER DISTRICT SHE REPRESENTS MY VIEWS, MY VALUES. IF WE FILL THIS BOARD. WITH NOTHING BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE, OK, LET'S TALK ABOUT THERE'S FAR LEFT, THERE'S FAR RIGHT. WE USE THOSE TERMS ALL THE TIME. IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF EVERYBODY WHO'S SO CALLED FAR RIGHT AND YOU IT WITH FAR LEFT WHERE'S THE DIVERSITY THERE? BY HAVING MULTIPLE VOICES, YOU HAVE REPRESENTATION OF THE STUDENTS OF THE PARENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE REPRESENTS AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT THE THINGS HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT HER. OUR SLANDEROUS AND THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE TRUE MELISSA HAHN AND WHO SHE IS. SO I'M SPEAKING AS A CONSTITUENT, A PARENT, HARTFORD COUNTY MEMBER. AND SOMEBODY WHO WANTS HER ON THIS BOARD, I WANT HER VOICE. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS JUDY RAMSEY. I. TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY FOR MELISSA, MELISSA HAHN, WHO DWELLS IN THE SHELTER OF THE MOST HIGH WILL ABIDE IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, MELISSA HANN WILL SAY TO THE LORD, HER REFUGE AND HER FORTRESS, HER GOD IN WHOM SHE TRUSTS, FOR HE WILL DELIVER MELISSA FROM THE SNARE OF FOWLER AND FROM THE DEADLY PESTILENCE, HE WILL COVER MELISSA WITH HIS PINS AND UNDER HIS WINGS SHE WILL FIND REFUGE. HER FAITHFULNESS IS A SHIELD AND A BUCKLER. MELISSA WILL NOT FEAR THE TERROR OF NIGHT, NOR THE HOUR THAT FLIES BY DAY NOR THE PESTILENCE THAT STALKS IN THE DARKNESS, NOR THE DESTRUCTION THAT WASTES AT THE NOONDAY. 1000 MAY FALL AT MELISSA'S SIDE, 10,000 AT MELISSA'S RIGHT HAND, BUT IT WILL NOT COME NEAR YOU. 
          MELISSA WILL ONLY LOOK WITH HER EYES AND SEE THE RECOMPENSE OF THE WICKED BECAUSE MELISSA HAS MADE THE LORD HER DWELLING PLAC, THE MOST HIGH, WHO WAS HER REFUGE. NO EVIL SHALL BE ALLOWED TO BEFALL HER. NO PLAGUE COME NEAR HER TENT. FOR HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING MELISSA. TO GUARD HER IN ALL OF YOUR WAYS AND ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR MELISSA UP LEST 
          [00:50:07]
SHE STRIKES HER FOOT AGAINST A STONE. MELISSA WILL TREAD ON THE LION AND THE ADDER. THE YOUNG LION AND SERPENT, SHE WILL TRAMPLE UNDERFOOT. BECAUSE MELISSA HOLDS FAST TO THE LORD AND LOVE, AND I WILL DELIVER MELISSA. I WILL PROTECT HER BECAUSE SHE KNOWS MY NAME. WHEN SHE CALLS TO ME, I WILL ANSWER HER. I WILL BE WITH HER IN TROUBLE. I WILL RESCUE AND HONOR HER WITH A LONG LIFE. I WILL SHOW HER MY SALVATION. I DECREE AND DECLARE IN JESUS' NAME THAT THE HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD WILL TAKE NO PART OF IN ANY UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT INSTEAD EXPOSE THEM FOR IT IS SHAMEFUL TO EVEN SPEAK OF THE THINGS THEY DO IN SECRET, BUT WHEN ANYTHING IS EXPOSED BY THE LIGHT, IT BECOMES VISIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT BECOMES VISIBLE IS LIGHT. THEREFORE, IT SAYS A WAKE OF SLEEPER ARISE FROM THE DEAD. AND CHRIST WILL BE SHOWN ON ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MM OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARGIE GALLAGHER, FOLLOWED BY SHIRLENE HOPS AND DELL SELLERS. I ASKED THAT IF SOMEONE APPROACHES THE PODIUM AND THEY'RE A GROUP, IF YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW SO THEY CAN SET THE TIMER FOR 5 MINUTES. OK. GOOD EVENING. NONI CHAKA ASKED ME TO READ HER SPEECH FOR HER AS SHE IS UNABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING. AS A RETIRED READING SPECIALIST, TITLE I DIRECTOR AND FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I WANT TO SAY THAT I WAS APPALLED AT THE BOARD MEETING ON OCTOBER 21, 2024. NUMBER ONE, THE AUDACITY OF MISS MUELLER TO ATTACK BOARD VICE PRESIDENT MS. HAN WHILE SHE WAS AT THE BEDSIDE OF A FAMILY MEMBER IN A GRAVE SITUATION IS HEARTLESS AND DISGUSTING. NUMBER 2, MISS MUELLER'S EXPLANATION OF HER ACTION IS BEYOND THE PALE. SINCE WHEN IS A BOARD MEMBER OR ANY OTHER AMERICAN NOT FREE TO VOICE HER OPINION. I BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE FIRST AMENDMENT, WHICH MS. MUELLER NEEDS TO ACQUAINT HERSELF WITH. AS A FORMER BOARD MEMBER, I FIND NOTHING IN THE POLICIES ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, ETC. THAT STATES ANY RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT A BOARD MEMBER MAY SAY AT A MEETING. 
          IT'S TIME FOR MISS MUELLER TO ADDRESS THE DEFICIENCIES OUR COUNTY HAS HAD IN MATH AND READING. SCORES AND NOT ATTACK BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS WHO DISAGREE WITH HER FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION. SO I, MARGIE GALLAGHER, WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY COMMENT AS WELL. ON THE OCTOBER 21ST BOARD MEETING, MS. MUELLER MOTIONED TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE THE REMOVAL OF VICE PRESIDENT MELISSA HAN. HER REASON FOR REMOVING MISS HAN WAS BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT MISS HANN WAS NOT PROPERLY LEADING THE BOARD. WAS THIS MISS MUELLER BECAUSE YOU FEEL YOU CAN DO IT BETTER. IS THIS BECAUSE YOU RESENT THE FACT THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THIS POSITION AND THAT SHE DID. IS THIS BECAUSE YOU THINK YOUR OPINION MATTERS MORE THAN HERS. YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS. YOU'RE JEALOUS ATTEMPT TO REMOVE MISS HAN, SO YOU CAN STEP INTO HER POSITION IS SHAMEFUL AND REPULSIVE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE BOARD SEES THROUGH MS. MUELLER'S DISHONORABLE AND HATEFUL MOTIVE FOR MISS HAN'S REMOVAL AS VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHARLENE HALTON AND I'M A FORMER TEACHER OF HARTFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. 
          TOMORROW'S A BIG DEAL. FIRST FOR A FAIR AND FREE ELECTION OF OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE END OF THE DIVISIVENESS PERPETUATED FOR OVER 9 YEARS AND GETTING WORSE BY THE MINUTE. THERE IS DIVISION RIGHT WITHIN THIS ROOM, A GROUP WHO ESPOUSES PARENT CONTROL OVER CURRICULUM, EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, CENSORSHIP OF OTHERS' CHILDREN READING MATERIALS BUT NOT THEIR CHILDREN USING THEIR VERY STRIDENT VOICES FOR AN ASSAULT ON BOOKS, ESPECIALLY SCHOOL LIBRARIES ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY AND COUNTIES. THEY WANT TO FIRE ALL WHO OPPOSE THEIR AIMS AND THEIR TACTICS, EVEN THE SUPERINTENDENT OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE WILL NOT BE COWED. WE WANT NEW PEOPLE ON OUR SCHOOL BOARD, FAIR, OPEN-MINDED PERSONS WHO WORK WITH OUR CHILDREN WHO LEARN FROM BOOKS. WHO ARE BEING USED AS FOILS TO MAKE CENSORSHIP, A DEFINING GOAL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND IN OUR OWN COUNTY SHAME ON THEM. THE SENSOR'S AIM IS TO BRING ALL THOSE BIBLES BACK THAT SOME CONSISTENTLY BRING HERE TO OUR BOARD'S OPEN FORUMS. TOMORROW MAY VERY WELL BE A BELLWETHER, BOTH FOR THOSE WHO RAIL AGAINST OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR RIGHTS AND EVEN OUR VERY CONSTITUTION. OUR VOTES HERE 
          [00:55:01]
SHOULD BE FOR THOSE WHO SEE THE NEED TO REINFORCE OUR UNITED GOALS AND OUR FAIRNESS IN GIVING EVERY SINGLE CHILD AN EQUAL CHANCE, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE LGBTQ. THESE UNENLIGHTENED CENSORS CAN'T ESCAPE IT. THEY MAY FIGHT IT TOOTH AND NAIL, BUT THE CONSTITUTION IS STILL OURS FOR NOW AND THEY WILL NOT WIN. I URGE ALL TO VOTE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET DONE SO. VOTE FOR THAT FAIRNESS THEY DECRY. VOTE FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE LAWS THAT HAVE BEEN A BEDROCK OF OUR COUNTRY FOR CENTURIES. VOTE FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS, NOT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOMS WHO THINK THEY KNOW THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING AS LONG AS IT'S THEIR ANSWER. VOTE FOR THE SUCCESS OF EVERY CHILD IN OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT THE HATE AND MISCHIEF, THOSE OPPOSED TO EQUALITY CANNOT SEE OR ACCEPT. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BOLSTER THE TRUTH, DEFEND OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HARFORD COUNTY. WE WILL KEEP ON BY ELECTING MORE THOUGHTFUL AND EXPERIENCED PERSONS. THESE SENSORS OF EVERY SCHOOL FOUGHT FOUGHT SO VERY HARD TO GET WHERE THEY ARE AND TRY TO CONTROL WHATEVER THEY HAVE AS A GOAL, NOT ON OUR WATCH. WE WILL NOT GO BACKWARDS. 
          IT'S OUR TURN TO FIGHT THESE RIDICULOUS ANTIQUATED AND ARCHAIC CALLS FOR CENSORSHIP. 
          ONE PERSON COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE THINGS THEY ACCUSE HIM OF IN OPEN KNEADING. THESE INCENDIARY ATTACKS ARE RECORDED, PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS AND SEEN BY THOSE WHO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS. WE WILL BE HERE TOO, AND WE WILL NOT GO BACKWARDS. THANK YOU. 
          GOOD EVENING, BOY. UH, MY NAME IS DEL SELLERS. I'M AN EMPLOYEE AT HCPS BUT I'M HERE AS A REGULAR CITIZEN. AND THIS IS A HOT MESS. I, I, I, I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO PUT IT. WE LOOK TO YOU GUYS FOR POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND RULES. AND YOU GUYS CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT THE RULES TO REMOVE SOMEBODY. SO WHETHER SHE SHOULD GO OR NOT, THAT'S NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE. I HAVE NO BEEF WITH MISS HAN. I DON'T KNOW HER PERSONALLY. I DON'T KNOW ANY OF YOU GUYS PERSONALLY, BUT WE LOOK TO YOU. FOR THE GUIDANCE ON HOW THE SCHOOL SHOULD RUN ON HOW DOCTOR BOLSON SHOULD ADMINISTER THE DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL. BUT YOU CAN'T EVEN FIGURE OUT THE PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE TO DO IT. THAT'S A HOT MESS, PEOPL. SO THAT WEAKENS THE CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARD. WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY, MY, MY, MY PLATOON SERGEANT TOLD ME, LOOK, IF YOU'RE A LEADER, YOU'RE GOING TO STAND ON YOUR DECISION, YOU'RE GONNA KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AND YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE AND I DID NOT HEAR CONFIDENCE AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING. WE HAD TWO LAWYERS WHO ARE NOT PARLIAMENTARIANS TRY TO DECIDE. 
          WHAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO? AND WE HAD YOU GUYS TRYING TO SAY, NO, THIS ISN'T HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO, AND THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC, THAT IS. JUST CHAOS. IF YOU GUYS ELECTED DOCTOR POYNTON AND MISS HAN TO THOSE POS POSITIONS. THEN THERE SHOULD BE A PROCEDURE TO REMOVE THEM FROM THOSE POSITIONS. THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE GOING ABOUT IT IS WRONG. THE WAY YOU GUYS ARE GOING ABOUT IT IS JUST SCREAMS. A BUNCH OF PETTY LABELLS, IN MY WORDS. IF THERE'S OFFICIAL RULES ON HOW TO DO SOMETHING, THEN BAM, DO IT THAT WAY. IF THERE AREN'T MAKE THEM. THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK TO YOU GUYS FOR, TO MAKE THE RULES. YOU CAN'T JUST GO ON A WHIM AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THAT WEAKENS YOUR AUTHORITY, THAT WEAKENS, THAT PRESENTS QUESTIONS IN YOUR LEADERSHIP. SO, THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO ASK IS THE WHOLE BOARD. GET YOUR OWN HOUSE IN ORDER. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BIBLE. I'M AN ATHEIST. I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TRANSGENDER. 
          THAT'S NOT MY FIGHT. MY FIGHT IS POLICY, PROCEDURE, AND PROTOCOL. GET IT RIGHT, FOLKS. BECAUSE WE LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS UH SUSIE SCOTT, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU'LL RECEIVE 5 MINUTES AND SHE IS FOLLOWED BY CRYSTAL RINNA AND JANINE CANITO. UH, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SUSIE SCOTT. I'M THE CHAIR OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY HARTFORD COUNTY. TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO BEGIN WITH A PRAYER. LORD GOD, YOU ARE THE CREATOR OF US ALL. TONIGHT I PRAY THAT WE WOULD TURN OUR HEARTS TOWARD YOU. I ENTRUST ALL HERE TO YOUR 
          [01:00:02]
LOVING CARE AND MERCY AND LIFT UP ESPECIALLY THE SOUL OF JADEN WINCHESTER. SURROUND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WITH COMFORT AND LOVE. I PRAY FOR A RETURN OF CIVILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SAFETY IN OUR HOMES AND SCHOOLS AND THROUGHOUT OUR LAND. UNITE US IN OUR LOVE FOR YOU AND FOR OUR FELLOW MAN. HELP US TO RISE TO THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US WITH COURAGE, COMMITMENT, AND INTEGRITY. AS WE STAND ON THE BRINK OF A NATIONAL ELECTION, I PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM AND FAVOR UPON THOSE WHO WILL BE ELECTED. FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THE OVAL OFFICE. HELP THEM TO DESIRE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE OVER WINNING AT ANY COST. TO PUT PRINCIPLE OVER PARTY. AND TO EXEMPLIFY HONOR AND RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ALL THEIR WORDS AND ACTIONS. YOUR WORD TELLS US. IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS. THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND I WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND. HUMBLE US, HEAR US, FORGIVE US AND HEAL US, ALMIGHTY AND EVER LIVING GOD. AMEN. 
          TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET. STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH THE BUDGET. IT'S WELL PAST TIME THAT THE BOARD FACE THE BUDGET REALITY. MONEY ISN'T GOING TO MIRACULOUSLY MATERIALIZE AND RAISING TAXES TO MEET THE REQUESTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT REASONABLE OR REALISTIC IN THIS ECONOMIC CLIMATE. WHERE IS THIS EXTRA $60 MILLION REQUEST GOING TO COME FROM? BORED. ARE YOU PREPARED TO MAKE CUTS? ARE YOU PREPARED TO REALLOCATE FUNDS. UH, YOU'LL HAVE, UH, YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. THE BALL'S IN YOUR COURT, THE FISCAL FACTS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU. AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU ACT RESPONSIBLY AND LOOK FOR EFFICIENCIES AND CUTS THAT CAN BE MADE. PLEASE DON'T FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PREVIOUS BOARDS AND PLAY POLITICS. THE COUNTY'S LOOKING AT SINGLE DIGIT GROWTH OF REVENUE. SO HOW CAN YOU EXPECT DOUBLE DIGIT OR TRIPLE DIGIT GROWTH TO YOUR BUDGET. LOW REVENUE GROWTH MEANS MINIMAL INCREASES TO YOUR BUDGET. SINCE 2014, THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED ON AVERAGE A 3.25% INCREASE TO THE HCPS BUDGET. THOSE ARE THE FACTS. STOP MAKING OUTLANDISH REQUESTS AND THEN DEMONIZING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHEN HE TELLS YOU YOUR BUDGET IS UNREASONABLE. I READ A QUOTE IN THE BALTIMORE SUN FROM DOCTOR BOLSON REGARDING THE BUDGET. I KIND OF SHOOK MY HEAD, SO. DOCTOR BOLTON, IF YOU WERE MISQUOTED. APOLOGIZE, BUT THIS IS WHAT THE BALTIMORE SUN SAID YOU SAID. QUOTE MR. CASSELLY HAS THREATENED HARTFORD COUNTY CITIZENS THAT AN INCREASE IN TAXES IS NECESSARY TO FULLY FUND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. UNQUOTE. WHAT? THE ONLY WAY THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE IS IF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TURNS THE ENTIRE TREASURY OVER TO YOU. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? SERIOUSLY, WHO'S THREATENING WHO? OSCAR WILDE IS QUOTED AS SAYING THE BUREAUCRACY IS EXPANDING. TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE EXPANDING BUREAUCRACY. THAT REALLY SUMS IT UP. QUIT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND ACT NOW TO RESTORE FISCAL REALITY TO THE BUDGET. 
          AND FINALLY, FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE VOTING. IN THE ELECTION TOMORROW. I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE VOTE NO ON BALLOT QUESTION ONE. PROTECT KIDS, PROTECT PARENTS' RIGHTS, VOTE NO ON BALLOT QUESTION ONE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. IN A LETTER WRITTEN TO BOARD MEMBERS AND SHARED VIA FACEBOOK, UM, DOCTOR POYNTON, YOU HAVE COMMITTED TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE. AND ADDRESS THE ISSUES LEADING TO THE MOTION UM TO REMOVE MRS. HAN AS VICE PRESIDENT. AS SOMEBODY WHO CARES DEEPLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND AS A THIRD GENERATION HDPS EMPLOYEE, I AM HERE TO COMMUNICATE HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT YOU KEEP THIS PROMISE. DOCTOR MUELLER, UM, WHO BROUGHT THE MOTION IS NOT ONLY A CURRENT BOARD MEMBER. SHE'S A FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT. OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE VOICED CONCERNS REGARDING MISS HAN'S CONDUCT. OUR COMMUNITY HAS SEEN THESE CONCERNS PLAY OUT IN VARIOUS WAYS, INCLUDING ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DURING BOARD MEETINGS. I HOPE THAT PART OF THE REASON YOU ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS IS OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO BROUGHT OR SUPPORTED THE MOTION, UM, 3 MINUTES THAT I HAVE TONIGHT IS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TIME. TO SPEAK TO THE DEDICATION, UM, OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WHO WERE EITHER BROUGHT THE MOTION OR SUPPORTED THE MOTION. UM, MORE IMPORTANTLY, UM, IT WILL BE 
          [01:05:05]
CRITICAL IN MOVING FORWARD, UM, THAT THIS IS ADDRESSED. THE DISTRICT FACES MANY CHALLENGES, INCLUDING A DIFFICULT BUDGET SEASON AND WE NEED A BOARD THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER. IF THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THE ISSUES THAT WERE RELATED TO THE MOTION, THEY WILL CONTINUE. OUR EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INCREDIBLE. THERE ARE ALREADY 100, 100S OF HOURS ALONE JUST INVESTED, UM, BEGINNING TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET. EVEN JUST THE APPEARANCE AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES IN QUESTION, UM, TAKING PLACE CAN NEGATE. THESE, UM, INCREDIBLE EFFORTS, UM, AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU ARE THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IN CLOSING, UM, DOCTOR POYNTON, I ASKED THAT YOU FOLLOW THROUGH, UM, ON YOUR COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS, UM, IN THAT LETTER. UM, I HOPE YOU FOLLOW THROUGH IN A WAY THAT INSPIRES THE BEHAVIOR CHANGE RELATED TO THE ISSUES THAT LED TO THE MOTION, UM, AND ALSO IN A WAY THAT DEMONSTRATES, UM, EACH MEMBER OF THIS BOARD IS RESPECTED. THANK YOU. 
          UH OH. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, UM. WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE, WE USED TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, WORD OF THE DAY GAME WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO READ, UM. I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS ON THE WAY OVER AND THE WORD OF THE DAY, PERHAPS THE YEAR, IS GAS LIGHTING. WE GET IT NATIONALLY, WE GET IT STATE-WISE, WE GET IT LOCALLY AND WE GET IT HERE IN THIS ROOM AND IT COMES FROM ALL KINDS OF PLACES SUCH AS DISTORTED DATA THAT IS PRESENTED HERE, FOR EXAMPLE, GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF KIDS. NO. DATA DOESN'T LIE, BUT IT CERTAINLY CAN BE MANIPULATED. 
          IF ONE SUBTRACTS 18 TO 20 YEAR OLDS INVOLVED IN GANG-RELATED SHOOTINGS, YOU'D REACH A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION. YET ORGANIZATIONS ARE FORMED AROUND LIES. I, I FIND IT MIND BLOWING. 
          UM, AND SHAME OF. SHAME ON THOSE OF YOU BOTH SITTING IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME WHO TRY TO FEED US SUCH LIES AND GARBAGE. AS FOR MELISSA HAHN, I'VE HEARD SHE IS POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS AGENDA, YADA YADA YADA. PLEASE, WHAT CANDIDATE RUNS UNBIASED IN ANY WAY. WE'RE HUMAN. WHAT IF OUR FOREFATHERS REMAINED UNBIASED ABOUT TYRANNY. MISS MULLER SEEKS POWER AND KUDOS. SHE'S DUPLICITOUS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THIS, KARA, BUT WE MET FOR LUNCH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND YOU READILY THROUGH DOCTOR BOLSON UNDER THE BUS. THAT'S A FACT. UM THROUGH DOCTOR POYNTON UNDER THE BUS A COUPLE OF MEETINGS AGO, AND OF COURSE, MELISSA HAN, YOUR ANGER IS. 
          PALPABLE. AND UGLY. INCLUDING YOUR SCORNFUL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS WHILE OTHERS ARE SPEAKING. DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE WE DON'T NOTICE THAT. SINCE BEING ABRUPTLY CEDED BY DOCTOR POYNTON AT THE VERY FIRST MEETING WITH NEW. BOARD MEMBERS, HOW EMBARRASSING, BUT YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR BIG GIRL PANTS ON AND SHOW SOME HUMILITY, AND I'LL CLOSE WITH A QUOTE FROM ONE OF THE MOST ESTEEMED SCHOLARS OF OUR TIME. GOOD LUCK MAKING SENSE OF IT. IT IS TIME FOR US TO DO WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING, AND THAT TIME IS EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY IT IS TIME FOR US TO AGREE THAT THERE ARE THINGS AND TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US TO SLOW THIS THING DOWN. I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT. WORD SALAD. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEREK NOYES FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINA LANOSIA. 
          AND RONNIE DAVIS. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS, AND YES, JESUS IS LORD. 
          REGARDING REMOVING MELISSA'S MELISSA'S OFFICER POSITION. MELISSA IS DOING HER JOB IN ADVOCATING FOR OUR CHILDREN BASED ON THEIR PROFICIENCY SCORES HDPS IS NOT EDUCATING THEM AND BASED ON THE CHAOS AND VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS, HCPS IS NOT KEEPING THEM SAFE NOR 
          [01:10:04]
DISCIPLINING THEM. IS THAT NOT THE CORE OF YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN. WE DO NEED TO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT RESIGN SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE CAN TRY TO FIX WHAT IS SO BROKEN IN THIS COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. HAVING MISS HAHN VOTED OUT AS VICE PRESIDENT IS NOT. APPROPRIATE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE ONLY OFFENSE WAS TO SPEAK HER MIND REGARDING THE WELFARE OF OUR STUDENTS, AS IS HER JOB. SHE WAS VOTED IN AS BOARD MEMBER BY THE CITIZENS AND THEN VOTED IN BY THE BOARD ITSELF TO BECOME THE VICE CHAIR FOR A SPECIFIED TERM. THE NEXT ELECTION IS WHEN IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE ANOTHER VOTE. I PERSONALLY WOULD ADVOCATE FOR THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS LOCAL AND INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, NOT SOMEONE WHO HAS TO COMMUTE FROM ANOTHER COUNTY TO GET HERE. I ALSO THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD HAVE INPUT ON THE CANDIDATES SELECTED AS WELL AS THAT THE PROCESS ITSELF SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT. ON ANOTHER TOPIC, I HAD NO ILL WILL TOWARD THE STUDENT MEMBER SASHA. I'M GLAD SHE'S HERE AND GETTING THIS EXPERIENCE, AND SHE SHOULD CONTINUE GETTING THE EXPERIENCE IN THIS ROLE, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE THAT A STUDENT SHOULD HAVE A VOTE THAT COUNTS AND THAT AFFECTS EVERY PARENT AND STUDENT IN OUR COUNTY. ONE SHOULD BE 21 OR AT LEAST OF VOTING AGE TO BE PARTICIPATING IN THESE VOTES WHICH OFTEN HAS SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENTIAL AND LONG LASTING EFFECTS. I'M ALSO CALLING FOR A VOTE TO HAVE THE STUDENT VOTES RECORDED. BUT NOT OFFICIALLY AFFECTING THE VOTE AT HAND. EPHESIANS 6:10-20. BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DRAW YOUR STRENGTH FROM THE LORD AND FROM HIS MIGHTY POWER PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST THE TACTICS OF THE DEVIL FOR OUR STRUGGLE IS NOT WITH FLESH AND BLOOD BUT WITH THE PRINCIPALITIES, WITH THE POWERS, WITH THE WORLD RULERS OF THIS PRESENT DARKNESS WITH THE EVIL SPIRITS IN THE HEAVENS, THEREFORE PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST ON THE EVIL DAY AND HAVING DONE EVERYTHING TO HOLD YOUR GROUND, SO STAND FAST WITH YOUR LOINS GUARDED IN TRUTH, CLOTHED. WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS AS A BREASTPLATE AND YOUR FEET SHOD IN READINESS FOR THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES HOLD FAITH AS A SHIELD TO QUENCH ALL THE FLAMING ARROWS OF THE EVIL ONE AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION PRAY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN THE SPIRIT. TO THAT END, THE WORD WATCHFUL WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE HOLY ONES AND ALSO FOR ME THAT SPEECH MAY BE GIVEN TO ME TO OPEN MY MOUTH TO MAKE KNOWN WITH BOLDNESS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS SO THAT I MAY HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK AS I MUST. MAY THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, BLESS AND GUIDE YOU ALL IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. THANK YOU. OK GOOD TO BE WITH YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. IN THE MIDST OF OUR DIVISIVE BOARD MEETINGS, ANOTHER TRAGEDY STRUCK OUR COMMUNITY. 
          ANOTHER 114 YEAR OLD CHILD. DIE DUE TO SENSELESS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR FROM A FELLOW YOUTH, A 16 YEAR OLD OF ALL PEOPLE. THE ABERDEEN POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CONFIRMED THAT THEY ATTENDED THE SAME SCHOOL IN HARTFORD COUNTY. WHERE'S THE UNITY BEHIND THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION TO TACKLE THESE CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOW RESTING UPON OUR DOORSTEPS. THE DIVISION THAT WAS PUSHED DURING THE LAST MEETING. IT WAS DISGUSTING, INAPPROPRIATE, AND IRRELEVANT TO THE MAIN ISSUES THAT PLAGUE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SINCE I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM WHO ISN'T BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY THE TEACHERS UNION, I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THIS. UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WOULD RATHER SPEND PRECIOUS TIME SATISFYING THEIR DONORS IN THE TEACHERS UNION INSTEAD OF MAKING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND THE PARENTS. MELISSA HAHN WAS ELECTED BY 69.9% OF THE VOTES. LIKE IT OR NOT, SHE'S AN INFLUENTIAL CHARACTER ON THIS BOARD. WE'RE SKATING ON THIN IC, AND WE CANNOT SET A PRECEDENT WHERE WE INDICT AND DEMOTE OUR BOARD COLLEAGUES OVER PETTY DISAGREEMENTS ABOUT WHERE WE SHOULD CALL FOR THE RESIGNATION. 
          OF EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE BOARD, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. DOCTOR MAHER, YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF THIS DIVISION YOU HAVE CONTRIBUTED ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION. YOU WERE IN FAVOR OF THE MASS MANDATES AND VOTED TO MAINTAIN THE COVID PROTOCOLS, DESPITE THE EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, THAT MASKS WERE NOT EFFECTIVE IN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. 
          YOU'VE ADVOCATED FOR RESTRICTING FREE SPEECH BY WHINING ABOUT GROUPS GETTING 5 MINUTES SPEAKING TIME. SO MUCH FOR TONIGHT. YOUR ENTIRE CHARADE TO DEMOTE MELISSA HANN WOULD BE A LOT MORE CREDIBLE IF YOUR MOTION WASN'T MOTIVATED BY VENGEANCE AND GRIEVANCE AGAINST ONE PERSON. FRIENDLY REMINDER, PROFESSOR, THIS ISN'T HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. WHERE YOU HAVE PREROGATIVE OVER YOUR OWN CLASSROOM AND CAN DEMOTE OR SILENCE ANYONE AT ANY TIME. YOU ONLY CARE ABOUT POWER AND NOT TRUTH. YOUR TENOR HAS DEMONSTRATED TWO THINGS. NUMBER 
          [01:15:02]
1, EXPERIENCE IS NOT THE SAME AS WISDOM. YOU MAY HAVE A PHD, BUT YOU HAVE NO. LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES, WHICH MEANS YOU AREN'T WISE BY ANY MEANS. AND NUMBER 2, EDUCATION IS NOT THE SAME AS INTELLIGENCE. BUT THEN AGAIN, IF I WOKE UP EVERY MOMENT, DISAPPOINTED AND MISERABLE, I WOULD RESIGN FROM THIS BOARD, DO US ALL A FAVOR, WALK YOURSELF OFF THE DAIS, ENJOY A NICE MEAL AND GET THE HELL OUT OF THIS COUNTY. IF THERE'S UH LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE NEED TO STICK TO THE RULES OF ORDER, PLEASE. IF THERE IS ONE MORE OUTBURST, I WILL END PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS RONNIE DAVIS. TONIGHT I WANT TO ADDRESS A CONCERN THAT MANY OF US HERE SHARE THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION AND WHETHER OUR LEADERS ARE TRULY SERVING THIS PURPOSE. AS A FORMER TEACHER, A TAXPAYER, AND A PARENT WHOSE CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I KNOW THE TRUE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION. TO NURTURE CURIOUS MINDS. TO EQUIP OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS TO THINK CRITICALLY. TO PREPARE THEM TO BE ENGAGED, COMPASSIONATE CITIZENS AND TO EMPOWER EACH CHILD TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. BUT LATELY, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT SOME MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY NOT BE HERE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR STUDENTS OR COMMUNITY. INSTEAD, IT SEEMS THEY MAY BE MOTIVATED BY PERSONAL AGENDAS RATHER THAN UPHOLDING THEIR DUTY TO SERVE EVERY CHILD AND SUPPORT A FAIR AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION. IN REFLECTING ON THIS, I'M REMINDED OF THE ROTARY FOUR-WAY TEST WHICH GUIDES US TO ASK, IS IT THE TRUTH? IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED? WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS, AND WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED. WHEN I CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS, I WONDER IF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD ARE ACTING WITH THE SAME SPIRIT. ARE THEY MAKING TRUTHFUL, FAIR DECISIONS THAT FOSTER GOODWILL. AND SERVE EVERY STUDENT OR ARE THEY LETTING PERSONAL INTERESTS, INCLUDING THEIR OWN BELIEFS OR AGENDAS COME BEFORE THE NEEDS OF OUR CHILDREN. LET US ALSO REMEMBER WHY PUBLIC EDUCATION EXISTS, THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS FUNDAMENTAL. ALLOWING SCHOOLS TO BE PLACES WHERE ALL STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR BELIEFS CAN COME TOGETHER TO LEARN AND GROW. WHEN SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS ROOTED IN PERSONAL IDEOLOGY OR EXCLUDE CERTAIN VOICES, THEY UNDERMINE THIS FOUNDATION AND THREATEN THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM. AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE THE RIGHT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE OUR BOARD MEMBERS UPHOLD THE FOUR-WAY TEST IN THEIR WORK TO ACT TRUTHFULLY, FAIRLY AND WITH THE INTERESTS OF ALL STUDENTS IN MIND. WE NEED TO DEMAND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE NEED TO REMIND THEM WHY THEY WERE ELECTED TO PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR EVERY CHILD. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXA SCIUTTO. I WANT TO THANK DOCTOR. MUELLER FOR ACKNOWLEDGING AND ACTING ON THE INTERESTS OF HARTFORD COUNTY CONSTITUENTS, AND BY THE WAY, IT'S NOT ABOUT SIMPLE DISAGREEMENTS, IT'S. ABOUT ACTIONS THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, CANCELING AN AP CLASS THAT A BUNCH OF KIDS WERE GONNA GET COLLEGE CREDIT FOR. TO NAME ONE. IT'S REGRETTABLE THAT A POLICY ADAPTED WITH SUCH CONVENIENT TIMING STANDS IN THE WAY OF HUNDREDS OF VOICES BEING HEARD. 
          FOR THOSE THAT MAKE A ROUTINE OF STANDING UP FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. UNDERSTAND THIS IS A VICTORY BECAUSE IT SETS A PRECEDENT. EVEN IF HAN IS NOT REMOVED AS HUNDREDS HAVE DEMANDED AND TAXPAYERS ARE MADE TO KEEP PUTTING 2 MORE YEARS OF HER CHICK FIL A BILLS. IT IS NOW KNOWN THAT YOU ARE REPLACEABLE. THE PEOPLE OF HARTFORD COUNTY DON'T WANT TO WASTE TIME BANNING FLAGS AND BLACK HISTORY, WHEN THAT COULD BE SPENT. INCREASING LEVELS OF LITERACY. WHAT'S IRONIC, MISS HAN, IS THAT IN YOUR ATTEMPTS TO OUST DOCTOR BOLSON, YOU GOT WAY CLOSER TO A PINK SLIP THAN HE DID. THAT SENDS A MESSAGE. THIS AGENDA IS NOT WANTED. LET THIS BE A WARNING TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KEEP THEIR SEAT, OR MAYBE GET ELECTED INTO A NEW ONE. AND BY THE WAY, MISS ALVAREZ, IT WAS LOVELY SEEING YOU AT THE PARENTAL POWER SUMMIT, WHERE SPEAKERS ADVOCATED FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN TO LOSE ACCESS TO THEIR HEALTHCARE. BY THE WAY, VOTE YES ON QUESTION ONE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CHILDREN. THAT'S A CONSPIRACY THEORY. OH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE AN OUTBURST TO ME. I DON'T KNOW. UH, WHAT'S NOT RESOLVED IN THIS ROOM WILL BE IN 2026. IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN, BUT I SUPPOSE AS THE WOMAN OF THE HOUR, NOTORIOUSLY LIP SYNCED, EMOTIONAL MATURITY FOR DUMMIES. PRESIDENT POINT AND THAT'S ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY VIRTUAL SPEAKERS? WE DO. GOOD EVENING. I WILL BEGIN ADMITTING AT THIS TIME. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW 
          [01:20:03]
ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN 3 MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS REMAINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. HI, I AM MICHELLE CHRISTMAN. HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT AARON POYNTON AND A MOTION LAST WEEK THAT ULTIMATELY WAS A SLEIGHT OF HAND TO PUSH FOR THE REMOVAL OF VICE PRESIDENT MELISSA HUNT FROM HER LEADERSHIP POSITION. MR. POYNTON STATED THAT THE MOTION WAS IMPROPERLY DECLARED AS PASSED AND THAT THE VOTE WOULD BE REMOVED FROM FUTURE MEETING AGENDAS, AN APOLOGY IS OWED TO VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, MELISSA HAN. MELISSA HAHN IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. MELISSA HANS STANDS FOR A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHAT OCCURRED DURING THE LAST MEETING IS A DANGEROUS SLIPPERY SLOPE WRAPPED UP IN A POTENTIAL LEGAL NIGHTMARE. THE DAY HAS COME THAT IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE IN POWER AND DO NOT LIKE WITH THE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS SAID, THINKS, AND STANDS FOR WHO VOICES THE THOUGHTS, OPINIONS AND CONCERNS OF HER CONSTITUENTS. ARE PROTECTED FIRST AMENDMENT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. MELISSA HAN ALWAYS STANDS UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT ACADEMICALLY FOR YOUR SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS. WITH THE INSIDIOUS WAVE OF YOUR MAGICAL WAND, A CALL OF EMOTION, SECRETS PROTECTED IN THE BACKGROUND, WRAPPED UP IN A THIN VEIL OF SECRECY, HOPING THEY NEVER SEE THE DAY OF LIGHT. YOUR SEAT AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION IS GONE, JUST LIKE THAT. OPENING UP PANDORA'S BOX THAT EVENING WHEN A DISGRUNTLED POTENTIALLY UNSTABLE BOARD MEMBER UNLEASHING HER VENDETTA IN A VERY CONNIVING CONTRIVED, VINDICTIVE, AND DESPERATELY MANIPULATIVE MANNER IN A 5 TO 4 VOTE, THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTED TO ADD VOTING ON A MOTION TO REMOVE MELISSA HAN FROM HER POSITION AS VICE PRESIDENT AT THAT MEETING WITHOUT HER KNOWLEDGE IN ANY WA, SHAPE, OR FORM, WHILE VICE PRESIDENT MELISSA HAHN OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS SITTING IN A HOSPITAL BED. SIDE WITH HER FAMILY AND HER BELOVED AUNT WHO ULTIMATELY DIED. BLINDSIDED IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT BY A POWER HUNGRY COERCIVE OLIGARCHY RELYING ON PUBLIC OBEDIENCE AND OPPRESSION TO EXIST. MELISSA HAN IS ONE OF THE ONLY BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAS HAD THE COURAGE, FORTITUDE, AND IRONCLAD STRONG FOUNDATION TO FIGHT OFF THE CANCER LIKE SUBCULTURE THAT HAS BEEN INSIDIOUSLY DESTROYING YOUR CHILDREN'S STOLE ACADEMIC FOUNDATION. WHEN WILL THE HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ACTUALLY DO THE RIGHT THING AND BUILD A SCHOOL THAT HOUSES A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION. IT'S A VERY SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU KNOW YOUR CHILDREN AND TEACHERS ARE PROTECTED WHEN THEY GO TO SCHOOL. IF YOU CARE AT ALL ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN'S PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION. YOU MUST VOICE YOUR OPINIONS AND GET INVOLVED. THE LAST TIME I LOOKED, THE HARTFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S PROFICIENCY RATE FOR THEIR STUDENTS ARE AT AN ESTIMATED 30% IN CONNECTION TO READING, WRITING, AND MATH. YET AN ESTIMATED 90% GRADUATION RATE REACHED THE 3 MINUTE MARK. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN 3 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. MY NAME IS KATHY KOVALESKI. AT THE LAST MEETING OF MOTION WAS MADE TO TAKE A VOTE TO REMOVE MISS HAN FROM HER ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT, NOT FROM THE BOARD ENTIRELY AS SOME SEEM TO BE SPEAKING ABOUT TONIGHT. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT VOTE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKEN. I DO WANT TO EXPRESS SOME THOUGHTS AMONG THE MANY QUALITIES OF A GOOD LEADER, ONE SHOULD DEMONSTRATE AN OPENNESS TO NEW IDEAS, BE ABLE TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES OBJECTIVELY, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AMONG ALL BOARD MEMBERS. AND TREAT OTHERS THE WAY THEY WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. LEADERS ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OBTAIN ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT TOPICS ON WHICH THEY WISH TO SPEAK EITHER TO A FOREIGN POLICY OR TO INFLUENCE PUBLIC OPINION. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHERE MS. HAN HAS SHARED INCORRECT INFORMATION IN PUBLIC FORUMS, INCLUDING AN ENGAGED TO EDUCATE MEETING WHERE SHE INCORRECTLY SPOKE ABOUT THE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS PROGRAMS IN OUR SCHOOLS, STATING THAT THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES. OR DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOLS THAT HAVE PBIS. 
          INTERESTINGLY, THE INCORRECT INFORMATION SHE SHARES IS GENERALLY IN A WAY THAT DISPARAGES WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS. THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR IS IRRESPONSIBLE. NO ONE IS DENYING THAT WE HAVE MANY CHALLENGES TO DEAL WITH, INCLUDING SCHOOL SAFETY, 
          [01:25:04]
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, A LOOMING BUDGET CRISIS AND STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. INSTEAD OF KEEPING THE FOCUS ON WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED, MS. HAN, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, HAS ATTEMPTED TO DERAIL THE ABILITY OF THE SPORTS TO FOCUS ON THESE CRITICAL ISSUES BY TRYING TO SHIFT THE FOCUS ONTO UNNECESSARY AND PERSONAL AGENDAS SUCH AS FLAG POLICIES, BOOK BANS, AND CALLING FOR THE RESIGNATION OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT IN A PUBLIC FORU. THAT DOES NOT SHOW A RESPECT FOR DIFFERING IDEAS AND THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES OBJECTIVELY. NISSAN HAS POSTED COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA CALLING CERTAIN CHILDREN ABNORMAL AND SCREWED UP IN THEIR HEADS AS WELL AS OTHER INAPPROPRIATE POSTS. IS THIS THE WAY THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED? SHE HAS ALSO BULLIED AND BERATED EDUCATORS WHO DON'T AGREE WITH HER FROM THE DAIS. 
          THERE ARE OTHER EXAMPLES THAT TIME DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO INTO, BUT IN SHORT, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT MS. HAN DEMONSTRATES THE QUALITIES NEEDED TO BE IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS BOARD AND APPRECIATE THE CONCERNS THAT WERE EXPRESSED BY DR. MULLER AND OTHERS ON THIS ISSUE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHAT WILL BE DONE TO ADDRESS THESE ONGOING CONCERNS AND WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. THANK YOU. DOCTOR POYNTO, THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THANK YOU TO THE WOMAN WHO WAS CUT OFF, YOU CAN SUBMIT THE 
          [Board Member Comments ]
REMAINDER OF YOUR COMMENTS IN WRITING TO THE BOARD. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. WE'LL TRANSITION OVER TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND WE WILL START DOWN HERE WITH MS. STRAUSS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANTED TO TALK BRIEFLY ON SAFETY AND SECURITY AND THAT IT REMAINS A TOP PRIORITY. LAST WEEK, WE HOSTED, UH, OUR FIRST COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING WHERE THE DIALOGUE FOCUSED ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE AND WHAT RESOURCES MIGHT BE NEEDED. WE ALSO INVITE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY FEEDBACK SURVEY. YOUR INSIGHTS ARE ESSENTIAL IN HELPING US EVALUATE CURRENT SAFETY PRACTICES AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO COMMEND THE H CLASS STUDENTS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK THAT WENT INTO PUTTING TOGETHER THEIR FIRST 5K. IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, AND I BELIEVE THEY RAISED CLOSE TO $1000. LASTLY, AS I REFLECT ON LAST WEEK'S BOARD MEETING, I'M CALLING ON EACH AND EVERY MEMBER TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE FAR MORE UNITED IN OUR SIMILARITIES THEN WE ARE DIVIDED IN OUR DIFFERENCES. IF WE TEACH OUR STUDENTS NOTHING ELSE. LET US TEACH THEM THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. SOUL. THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING LAST WEEK AND PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THAT FORUM. 
          UH, THANK YOU TO THOSE THAT HAVE SUBMITTED FEEDBACK TO THE SAFETY AND SECURITY FEEDBACK SURVEY, AND THANK YOU TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE'RE WORKING QUICKLY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED SO FAR. UH, THIS SURVEY IS OPEN UNTIL NOVEMBER 17TH. HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR WINNING THE FAMILY FRIENDLY SCHOOL AWARD FOR THE FIRST QUARTER. I HOPE THE ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY REFLECTS ON THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND YOUR POSITIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. I WANT TO CELEBRATE THE EFFORT. OF THE HARFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS IN THEIR 5K FUNDRAISER, UH, THAT THEY RECENTLY HELD. THANK YOU TO ALL THAT SUPPORTED OUR STUDENT GOVERNMENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTE, UH, THE VOLUNTEERS WHO FACILITATE FACILITATED THE EVENT AND THE PARTICIPANTS WHO MADE IT A SUCCESS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS EVENT BEING BIGGER AND BETTER NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO THE BUDGET SURVEY. ALL INDICATIONS AT THIS POINT ARE THAT THIS BOARD AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NEED TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. PEZZOKI. GOOD EVENING. I FIRST WANTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, ECHO THE HA 5K. THAT IS OUR REGIONAL STUDENT GOVERNMENT, AND I ALSO WANTED TO NOTE THAT WE HAD 120 PEOPLE RUN, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE AT FIRST WE WERE A LITTLE ANXIOUS ABOUT SELLING TICKETS AND THAT WE DID HAVE BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT, TEACHERS, TRACK COACHES, STUDENTS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS ALL ATTEND. SO IT TRULY WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AND I FEEL THAT IT DID ALL BRING US CLOSER. ADDITIONALLY, I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AS THE STATE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD ELECTIONS ARE COMING UP. I'M WORKING WITH DIFFERENT DIFFERENT STUDENT MEMBERS AROUND THE STATE IN ORDER TO CREATE INFORMATIONAL VIDEO, HOPEFULLY TO ENCOURAGE OTHER STUDENTS TO APPLY AND ALSO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THAT POSITION ENTAILS. AND LASTLY, FOR MY PERSONAL REPORT THAT I'VE BEEN AT THE LAST MEETING I DID CLAIM TO UM THAT I HOPE TO REACH OUT TO ALL SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT TEAMS TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE AND I JUST WANT TO UPDATE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE RECEIVED THEIR CONTACTS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON. NOW, THE OTHER HALF OF MY BOARD COMMENT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A ROOM FULL OF ADULTS AND I AM STILL A 
          [01:30:01]
STUDENT, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME, AND I WANNA PREFACE THIS BY SAYING I DEEPLY RESPECT ALL BOARD MEMBERS AND AS INDIVIDUALS, AND I HOPE THAT YOU DO AS WELL. SO WHEN I SPEAK, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NO MEANS ADDRESSING THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE DECISIONS MADE ON THE DIET. PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING TAKING PLACE ON OCTOBER 24TH, BOARD MEMBER LAWRENCE STRAUSS MADE A COMMENT ADDRESSING THE STUDENT STUDENT VOICE, CLAIMING IT AS WEAPONIZED. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS LIKE A SMALL COMMENT, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RIPPLE INTO A BIGGER CONFLICT. IT IS A KNOWN FACT THAT THE STUDENT LACKS RESPECT ON THE BOARD. NOT NECESSARILY IMPOSED FROM ITS CONSTITUENTS, BUT FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES AT PLAY. I HAVE FOUGHT THE UNDERLYING LACK OF RESPECT AND QUESTIONING OF MY ROLE ON THE BOARD DUE TO MY AGE AND LACK OF VOTING RIGHTS. SO I FIND IT EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL FOR MRS. STRAUSS TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING MY POSITION ON A VOTE. I ALREADY HAVE LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS. SO FOR IT TO BE UNDERMINED IS TRULY UPSETTING. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I'VE SAT ON THIS BOARD LONG ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE BOARD DYNAMICS AND FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL. I'VE MADE USE OF MY BORED COMMENTS EACH MEETING, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO SET A NEW PRECEDENT FOR THE UPCOMING SMO. AND KEEP IN MIND I'M DOING SO IN ORDER FOR THE BOARD TO HAVE MORE TRUST IN THEIR STUDENT MEMBER. ADDITIONALLY, I HOPE YOU REALIZE THAT THIS DOES HAVE A BIGGER INFLUENCE ON THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUPPORT YOU. NOW FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED, PLEASE ALLOW ME TO EDUCATE YOU ON MY VOTE. I VOTED YES TO PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA. NOT TO REMOVE PRESIDENT MELISSA HAN. THIS IS A DISAGREEMENT ON THE BOARD AND A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE AND IN THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY, I HOPE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC. INSTEAD, THE BOARD, INSTEAD THE PUBLIC HAD TO WITNESS WHAT SEEMED AS A HEATED ARGUMENT INSTEAD OF A CIVIL EXCHANGE. FURTHERMORE, IF IT TRULY INTERESTS YOU, I HAD NO MEANS IN VOTING TO REMOVE THE BOARD PRESIDENT UNTIL I HAD SOLID AND SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE. SO CLOSING OF THAT STATEMENT, I WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE AN APOLOGY. ALSO, TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH ME BECAUSE THERE ARE SELECT FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKING, WHO HAVE BEEN WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH ME AND HAVE THESE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS AND TRULY TREAT ME AS THAT FELLOW BOARD MEMBER. AND TO THOSE I GRACIOUSLY THANK YOU. TO CLOSE I WANT TO REINFORCE THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT MEMBER. IF IT WASN'T CLEARLY REPRESENTED THROUGH THE TITLE. I'M HERE TO REPRESENT ALL STUDENTS OF HCPS, A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT IS THE MAJORITY OF THOSE IMPACTED BY THE DECISIONS ON THE BOARD. I ASK YOU, LOOK AROUND THE ROOM. DO YOU SEE A SINGLE STUDENT. IF YOU ARE CORRECT, YOU COUNTED 0. 
          WHY I POINT THIS OUT IS TO SHOW THAT NOT EVERY STUDENT HAS THE COURAGE TO STEP IN FRONT OF THE BOARD TO VOICE THEIR OPINION, AND THAT IS MY DUTY TO REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM. ALSO, I WOULD APPRECIATE FOR YOU TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS TO WHY I'M INELIGIBLE TO VOTE. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN EDUCATE EACH OTHER RATHER THAN COMMUNICATE THROUGH A ONE-SIDED COMMENT. I'M HERE TO WORK WITH ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, BUT I WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY DIMINISHMENT OF THE STUDENT MEMBER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MUELLER. THANK YOU FOR THOSE COMMENTS, SASHA. UM, I ALSO WAS AT THE FAMILY FRIENDLY SCHOOL AWARD AT DEERFIELD AND AT THE COMMUNITY SAFETY MEETING, UH, I WANT YOU TO REALIZE AS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET, UM. DOCTOR POYNTON HAD TALKED TO CHERRY COKER AND MYSELF AND WE ARE GOING TO BE CO-CHAIRING A BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE WE'VE ALREADY SET SOME GOALS FOR OUR COMMITTEE AND WE'VE ALREADY SCHEDULED THE FIRST MEETING FOR IT. WE ARE HAVING MEMBERS FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE HERE TO COME AND MEET WITH US AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT AREAS WHERE WE CAN CUT FUNDING. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A GOOD WORKING GROUP AND THAT WE HAVE FAIR REPRESENTATION FROM EVERYBODY, ALL THE DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS. WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED WITH AND THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE HERE ALSO ON THE PROCEDURE WORKING GROUP FOR CURRICULUM ACCESS AND SO WE'RE LOOKING A LOT AT WHAT ACCESS EVERYBODY HAS TO THE CURRICULUM SO THAT THEY CAN VOTE ON IT, UM, RESPONSIBLY AND BE AWARE OF EVERYTHING THAT'S INVOLVED WITH IT. WE ALSO, UM, I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL OF US HAVE MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY DELEGATION TO DISCUSS UM LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I KNOW SOMEBODY TONIGHT AND I, I APOLOGIZE OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. I DON'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS, SAID THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO VOTE. WELL, WE'RE ADVOCATING THE EXACT OPPOSITE. WE DO BELIEVE THAT THE STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE A 
          [01:35:05]
VOTE AS SASHA MENTIONED SHE IS THE STUDENTS ARE THE MOST INVESTED IN WHAT HAPPENED. HERE AND SO I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE VOTING RIGHTS, UM, MANY OTHER COUNTIES DO, IN FACT, THERE'S A COUNTY THAT HAS 2 BOARD, 2 STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS WITH FULL VOTING RIGHTS, SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD DEFINITELY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND CONSIDER HER CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS BOARD AND WHAT SHE CAN DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. COKER. WELCOME EVERYONE HERE AND THANKS AS WELL TO THOSE LISTENING IN, UM, AT OUR LAST MEETING WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION ON THE STATUTES LIMITING OUR DISCIPLINE MEASURES IN OUR SCHOOLS AND ONE ON SAFETY MEASURES SUCH AS CONTROLLING EXTERNAL VISITOR ENTRIES, MEETINGS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CONSIDERING WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM, ALL THINGS COMING UP, AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEETING ON OCTOBER 29TH. I ALSO ATTENDED WITH OTHERS COMING UP WHICH YOU WILL SEE ANNOUNCED SOON. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT THE MEETING ON OCTOBER 29TH, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT PARTICIPATION THERE. THE INPUT PROVIDED FROM THIS MEETING AND FUTURE ONES WILL BE COMPILED AND REPORTED, BUT TWO THINGS THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME ARE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING STAFF IN SCHOOLS AND KNOWING THE PHYSICAL LAYOUTS OF EACH BUILDING. AND ALSO CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWING EXISTING POLICIES. THOSE WERE THEMES THAT WERE UM REITERATED IN THE GROUPS AS WE WALKED AROUND AND HEARD VARIOUS INPUTS. 
          SOME MORE ON THOSE TO FOLLOW. UM, AT PREVIOUS RETREATS AT THE BOARD HAS HAD AND CONFERENCES, IT WAS EMPHASIZED THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AS A BOARD, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE THAT WE'RE SO DIVIDED AND IT SEEMS THE MORE WE'RE DIVIDED, THE MORE DIVISION WE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE'VE HEARD IT HERE TONIGHT, SO WE HEAR YOU, UH, AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER AS A BOARD. UM, EVERYONE CAN REPRESENT THEIR OWN OPINIONS, WHICH WE DO. BUT ACTIONS AND POSITIONS GOING FORWARD ONLY AS A BOARD AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE BASIC RESPECT AND CIVILITY. TO KEEP UNDERMINING OTHER BOARD MEMBERS' WORKS COMPLETELY AGAINST THAT TO KEEP WORKING IN A PARTISAN FASHION DIVIDED WORKS AGAINST THAT. WE NEED NOT TO FOCUS ON OUR DISAGREEMENTS INSTEAD OF THE MUCH MORE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO PROTECT AND EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN. I ASK ALL BOARD MEMBERS TO VIEW ALL WE DO THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE LENS. AND COMMIT AS I HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO PARTNER IN EFFECT, UM, WITH AND NOT EXCLUDE MEMBERS WITH DIFFERENT OPINIONS FROM YOUR COMMUNICATIONS AND YOUR INITIATIVES. UM, YOU KNOW, CAROL AND I WORKED ON THE HANDBOOK UM THE OTHER CAROL AND I, THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED THOSE EFFORTS. SORRY, IT'S OK. OK, UM, THAT THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO, TO GET DONE HERE AND, AND SASHA WILL CERTAINLY WILL INCLUDE YOU IN ALL THAT BECAUSE I REALLY RESPECT YOUR OPINION AND, AND YOUR ROLE HERE. WE HAVE TO KEEP THE BIG PICTURE, THE MAIN THING IN MIND ARE CHILDREN AND FIND WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCE. 
          SOMEONE SAID, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EVERYBODY YOU WORK WITH, ETC. THAT'S IRRELEVANT HOW YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS ARE REALLY. WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. MANY BOARDS HAVE OPEN WORK SESSIONS, WHICH ALLOWS MORE TIME TO DISCUSS ALL OUR INPUTS, WORK THROUGH THE DIVERSE OPINIONS AND WORK THROUGH THEM CONSTRUCTIVELY AND OPENLY, AND I HOPE DR. POINT WILL, YOU WILL CONSIDER SCHEDULING THESE. WE, WE NEED, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. UM UH, SO ENOUGH ON THAT RIGHT NOW, UM. AS ALWAYS I WANT TO NOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENTS IN ENCOURAGING THEIR KIDS TO WORK HARD IN SCHOOL AND BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE. THANK YOU, MS. BRUCE. YES, UM, THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT. IN A PREVIOUS MEETING, I ENCOURAGED UM PARENTS AND PERSONS TO GET INVOLVED AT EDUCATION. AND FOCUS ON THE LAWS. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS HAVE FOCUSED ON EQUITY. AND I RECOMMEND THAT THOSE WHO FEAR TO LOOK UP HOUSE BILL 1386. THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO. AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS A POLICY IT'S THE LAW. AND IT, IT'S A WIDE BREATH. IT'S NOT JUST RACIAL, IT'S ALL KINDS OF. THINGS LANGUAGE BARRIERS, DISPARITIES, UM, AND THIS HAD DISABILITIES, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT THAT HOUSE BILL BECAUSE IT, IT'S PASSED AND IT'S MANDATORY THAT WE AS HCPS DO TRAINING. AND SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT AND MEETING THE, THE LETTER OF THAT LAW. WHEN WE HAD OUR MARYLAND. ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS MEETING. IT WAS WORKSHOP ON EQUITY. AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S HERE. NOT GONNA GO AWAY, WE JUST HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT AND BE ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENCES. BUT WE CAN 
          [01:40:06]
WORK TOGETHER, AS THE GENTLEMAN SAID, WE DON'T HAVE TO LIKE EVERYBODY, EACH OTHER, BUT WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS. WITH THAT IN MIND, THE UM SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS GONNA HAVE THEIR MEETING ON NOVEMBER 14TH. IT'S A VIRTUAL MEETING YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE. AND YOU CAN REGISTER TO, TO UH BE A PART OF THE MEETING. IT'S THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING AND THE TOPIC IS GONNA BE THE ART OF ADVOCACY, A PARENT'S GUIDE IN A COLLABORATIVE IEP PROCESS. SO THIS IS WHERE THE PARENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET INVOLVED AND TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. I ALSO ATTENDED THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON OCTOBER 24TH, UM, DOCTOR BOLSON AND UM POINT WE'LL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT UM SENATOR RILEY. AND UM CONGRESSMAN GRIFFIN AND REPRESENTATIVES ANDRE JOHNSON AND STEVE JOHNSON HAD TO SAY. THEY TOLD THE CHEF, UH, UH, REPRESENTATIVE GRIFFIN IS GOING TO BE SPONSORING A BILL FOR SROS AT ALL SCHOOLS. WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO HAVE SROS THAT ARE SHARING SCHOOLS, SO THE, THAT'S GONNA COME FROM THE STATE. UM AND THEY'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE REPORTABLE INCIDENTS. AND THE, AND THE METAL DETECTORS. AND SO, UM, THEY ARE, WE ARE WORKING ON THOSE THINGS THAT MANY OF YOU MAY NOT SEE, BUT IT IS HAPPENING. UM I WANTED TO SPEAK ON WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. UH, HAVING SERVED ON MANY BOARDS. 
          I'LL SAY MANY BOARDS BECAUSE MY HAIR IS GRAY AND I. KNOW THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW. I'VE BEEN THERE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DOCTOR POYNTON IN REGARDS TO LEADERSHIP. LEADERSHIP FOR THE BOARD. AND WE MET WITH HIM, NOT IT WAS NOT IN A QUORUM, WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT ONLY 3 OF US COULD MEET WITH HIM AND WE DISCUSSED THAT. AND WE DISCUSSED THE ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENCY. AND HIS GUIDANCE TO US WAS, HE AGREED. SO THE ACTIONS THAT WERE TAKEN LAST WEEK WERE NOT AIMED AT ANY WASN'T MALICIOUS. AND HAD BEEN TALKED ABOUT. WE DID NOT KNOW THAT MISS HAN WAS AT THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS NOT, IF YOU LOOK, GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RECORDING, I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE PRESIDENT TO START THE MEETING WITH THE PRAYER FOR MS. HA. AND I THINK THAT I DON'T, I KNOW THAT MS. MUELLER WOULD NOT HAVE CALLED FOR THAT MOTION. SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT WE'RE LED TO DO. AND I AM ASKIN, DOCTOR POYNTON AND MISS HAN TO STEP UP AND BE LEADERS. THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE NEED. AND NOT THE INDIVIDUAL. ATTACKS THAT WE HAVE. I WAS VERY CONCERNED WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT WEAPONIZING THE STUDENT MEMBER, SHE IS IN A FRAGILE POSITION. AND, AND NO ONE TALKED TO HER ABOUT ANYTHING, SO WE WEREN'T WEAPONIZING HER. AND I AGREE THAT I HOPE MISS STRAUSS YOU WILL AT SOME POINT APOLOGIZE TO HER FOR THAT BECAUSE SHE SUFFERED GREATLY. GOING BACK TO SCHOOL MEMBERS ASKING HER WAS SHE OK? AND WHAT WAS GOING ON. SO WE ALL HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK. AT THE LAST MEETING. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO LOOK AT US AS NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL BUT A BODY OF PEOPLE. AND WE CAN PUT MOTIONS ON THE TABLE, ON THE FLOOR. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR. VOTED UP OR DOWN, AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE POSITION WE TAKE. BUT WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND NOT ANY INDIVIDUAL. IDEAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. ALVAREZ. HI, UM, I'M SORRY THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO BE THERE IN PERSON TO JOIN YOU. UM, I JUST HAVE A FEW COMMENTS, UM, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMITTEES WITHIN THE UM SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT WE'RE ALSO INVOLVED WITH AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO SELECT THE COMMITTEES THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN. I REQUESTED TO BE ON BOTH THE BLUEPRINT STUDENT SUPPORTS AS WELL AS THE SUPERINTENDENT TASK FORCE ON EQUITY. I SELECTED THESE COMMITTEES BECAUSE THESE ARE TWO AREAS THAT HAVE A GREAT DESIRE TO SEE SUCCEED. UM, THAT SAID, THESE ARE TWO AREAS THAT I FIND GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS USUALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN THESE PRO SOLVE THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS 
          [01:45:05]
AROUND UM THAT SEE THIS AREA WITH MORE PEOPLE AND MORE MONEY WITHOUT DEFINING WHAT IS DESIRED OR WHAT IS NEEDED. LAST YEAR, I SELECTED A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT IN THE EQUITY TEST. UM, FORCE. UM, TO BE ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. I SUGGESTED THAT WE FIRST DEFINE WHAT ACADEMIC SUCCESS IS AND ESTABLISH A BASELINE AND A PLAN ON HOW TO DETERMINE IF WE SUCCEEDED. THE TEAM CHOSE TO IGNORE MY INPUT AND LEAVE ME OFF THE SUBCOMMITTEE OUT BRIEF. AND I HAVE SINCE BEEN REMOVED FROM THAT TASK FORCE. THE FAILURE TO RESPECT ALL BOARD MEMBERS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. AND I WANT TO END WITH A PRAYER. I PRAY THAT WE WILL UNITE IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. GROUNDED IN TRUTH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT FOR JADEN WINCHESTER. THANK YOU, MS. STRAUSS, FOR ALREADY DOING SO. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, TEAMMATES, FELLOW STUDENTS, AND TEACHERS. FIRST, LET ME SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TONIGHT TO SUPPORT ME, EVERYONE WHO REACHED OUT CALLED, MESSAGED ME, PRAYED FOR MY FAMILY AND I, AND SIGNED THE PETITION TO SUPPORT ME. I AM SO HUMBLED AND HONESTLY SO MOVED BY YOUR SUPPORT. IN ANY ORGANIZATION, RESPECT IS ESSENTIAL. DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS AND DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES CAN MAKE AN ORGANIZATION STRONGER OR IT CAN DIVIDE IT. INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING CONCERNS WITH ME DIRECTLY, A MOTION WAS MADE TO REMOVE ME FROM MY ELECTED POSITION AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD, A MOTION THAT I MIGHT ADD WAS AGAINST MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULATIONS HAS CLEARLY STATED IN OUR HANDBOOK ON PAGE 9. SINCE I WAS NOT PRESENT, THE ENTIRE BOARD DID NOT VOTE ON THE MOTION. THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT A VALID MOTION AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN DECLARED AS SUCH AT THAT TIME. UPON RECEIVING INFORMATION AS TO WHAT WAS TRANSPIRING IN MY ABSENCE AT THE BOARD, I BEGAN RESEARCHING MYSELF THE LAWS, ROBERT'S RULES AND POLICIES THAT ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AT HAND. I WAS PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION TO REFUTE WHAT OUR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES WERE PROVIDING, AND INSTEAD OF TAKING THE NECESSARY TIME TO CONFIRM WHAT I WAS SAYING WAS CORRECT. AS OUTSIDE LEGAL GUIDANCE CONFIRMED, I WAS TOLD CONTINUALLY THAT I WAS INCORRECT AND THAT THE MOTION AND VOTE WOULD BE ALLOWED. I WAS SHOWN ZERO RESPECT FROM THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD THAT MADE THE MOTION AND FAVOR AND VOTED FOR THE MOTION. I WOULD NEVER TREAT ANYONE WITH A LEVEL OF DISRESPECT THAT I WAS SHOWN, EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT AGREE WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD OFTE. 
          I'VE NEVER ONCE BEEN DISRESPECTFUL TO ANYONE ON THIS BOARD, ANY MEMBER OF CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF OR HTPS STAFF. I'M A CHRISTIAN AND I STAND FIRM IN MY VALUES. I DO NOT LIE, AND I ALWAYS TREAT OTHERS THE WAY THAT I WOULD WANT SOMEONE TO BE, TO TREAT ME. EVEN WHEN THE SAME IS NOT AFFORDED TO ME. I WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT I AM NOT PERFECT. I AM VERY PASSIONATE, STRONGLY OPINIONATE, AND I WILL ALWAYS STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, EVEN IF THAT MEANS THAT I STAND ALONE, BUT OBVIOUSLY BY THE TURNOUT IN THIS ROOM, THAT IS NOT THE CASE. WE DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE. IN FACT, IT CAN BE A GREAT THING TO NOT AGREE, BECAUSE THEN IT GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DIALOGUE AND UNDERSTAND WHERE OTHERS ARE COMING FROM AND DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES, BUT RESPECT IS ESSENTIAL IN EVERY INSTANCE. THIS BOARD, MUCH LIKE THE SOCIETY TODAY, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THIS ROOM AND THOSE IN ATTENDANCE IS DIVIDED. 
          THE DIVISION IN THIS BOARD DOES NOT REST ON MY SHOULDERS, NOR ON ANY ONE MEMBER OF THIS BOARD SHOULDERS. EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINIONS AND PERSPECTIVES, BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OK TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OR RUDE. WE ARE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN, HOW WE BEHAVE AND DEAL WITH THE CONFLICT AND HOW WE RESOLVE IT. OUR FOCUS SHOULD ALWAYS BE WHAT IS BEST FOR THE STUDENTS IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THEIR SAFETY AND PROVIDING THEM WITH THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO STOP LISTENING TO THE DIVISIVE RHETORIC AND HATE COMING FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES AND REMAIN FOCUSED ON OUR GOALS AS A BOARD. DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. BOARDS OF EDUCATION ALL OVER THE COUNTRY FIRE THEIR SUPERINTENDENTS OR CALL FOR THEIR RESIGNATION AT MEETINGS IN A PUBLIC FORUM. IT IS WITHIN OUR RIGHTS AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO DO SO. I DO NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. I DID NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD WHEN I ASKED DOCTOR BOLSON TO RESIGN, UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY SAY THAT I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD. I'M SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THIS BOARD. AND I STILL STAND WITH MY REQUEST FOR DOCTOR BOLSON TO RESIGN. I HAVE NEVER ONCE CALLED FOR HIM TO RESIGN WHILE BEING A SITTING MEMBER OF THIS BOARD UNTIL I FELT IT NECESSARY TO DO SO. WE, AS A BOARD NEED TO PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE, FOCUS ON OUR GOALS AND WORK TOGETHER TO STOP THIS DIVISIVE RHETORIC AND PUT OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS FIRST 
          [01:50:04]
AND FOREMOST ABOVE ALL ELSE. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EACH OF YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS FOR EVERY HCPS STUDENT. WE NEED TO HAVE OPEN DISCUSSIONS DURING WORK SESSIONS WHERE WE ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND TO BE HEARD. MOVING ALL BE E ANOTHER AND EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENCES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MELISSA. JUST A COUPLE, UH, FINAL POINTS FOR ME THIS EVENING. SO FIRST OF ALL, I ALWAYS START WITH A NOTE OF GRATITUDE. UM, THIS EVENING, I LIKE TO UH GIVE A NOTE OF GRATITUDE TO DEBORAH JUDD AND THE ENTIRE BUSINESS SERVICES TEAM. I NOTICED THAT SHE GOT OUT OF HERE RIGHT AFTER HER PRESENTATION, SO HOPEFULLY SHE'S LISTENING IN, UM, TWO THINGS THAT ARE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL. FIRST, WE HANDED HER TEAM THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, LIKE LITERALLY 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR STARTED AND THEY HAD TO IMPLEMENT THAT VERY QUICKLY. THEN THEY RIGHT INTO THE BUDGET SEASON FOR THIS YEAR, ALL WHILE IMPLEMENTING THE ORACLE ERP SYSTEM, AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING YOU DON'T KNOW. IT'S A BIG NIGHTMARE AND A HEADACHE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF WORK FOR THE TEAM. THEY'VE GOT VERY FEW, IF ANY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO DO THAT. SO THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING THEIR BUTTS OFF AND IT HAS NOT GONE UNNOTICED, SO THANK YOU. U, SECOND, UH, TO ADDRESS THE, UM, THE MOTION THAT WAS MADE LAST WEEK, YOU KNOW, WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS UM ON THE FLY. 
          THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN, UH, AND THERE WERE SOME CORRECTIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. SO THIS EVENING ON THE AGENDA, THERE WILL BE A POINT OF ORDER, UM, THAT WILL BASICALLY DECLARE THE MOTION AS UM UH AS AS INVALID. BUT THERE WERE TWO OTHER UM FOLLOW-UP POINTS ON THAT, THAT, THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED AT THE TIME. AND THE GENTLEMAN IN THE LOCH RAVEN SHIRT THERE, YOU, YOU KIND OF BROUGHT THIS UP EARLIER, THANK YOU. SO, I'LL ADDRESS THAT NOW AND I'LL POST THAT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. BUT THE TWO OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE BROUGHT UP WHICH UH AFTER THE BOARD MEETING, WE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH AND WE, UH, WE FIGURED IT OUT. UM, BUT ONE IS THAT A BOARD UH CANNOT REMOVE AN OFFICER FOR A FIXED POSITION WITHOUT FOLLOWING THE STATUTORY REMOVAL PROCESS PRESCRIBED IN MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE, EDUCATION ARTICLE 3-6 ALPHA-02, WHICH IS BASICALLY UH VERY PRESCRIBED AND VERY LIMITED. UH, SO IN OTHER WORDS, A BOARD JUST CANNOT DO IT FOR ANY REASON LIKE THEY DON'T LIKE THE MEMBER OR THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT A MEMBER THINKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THAT ACTUALLY GIVES SOME STAYING POWER. BECAUSE IF ANY LEADERSHIP UH MEMBER COULD BE VOTED OUT ANYTIME THERE WAS SOMETHING CONTROVERSIAL, SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD DIDN'T AGREE WITH, THEN WE'D BE PLAYIN, YOU KNOW, MUSICAL CHAIRS UP HERE WITH OUR LEADERSHIP. AND THEN THE SECOND IS THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OVER WHETHER OR NOT UM THE VICE PRESIDENT IN WITH THAT MOTION COULD VOTE ON HERSELF OR WHETHER IT WAS A UM PERSONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND THE RESEARCH AND THE LAW ON THAT SHOWED THAT BOARD MEMBERS RETAINED THEIR VOTING RIGHTS IN SITUATIONS WHERE PERSONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS NOT DIRECTLY DEMONSTRATED WITH NO COMPULSION UNDER ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER TO ABSTAIN IN THE ABSENCE OF A DISTINCT PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL INTEREST. SO THOSE HAVE BEEN CLARIFIED WITH THE BOARD. I'LL PUSH THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. UM, SO WITH ALL OF THAT, I'M HOPING AFTER THIS POINT OF ORDER THIS EVENING THAT THE BOARD CAN GET BACK TO WORK TO DO THE SERIOUS WORK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO, TO, TO FOCUS ON BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO FOCUS ON IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS. UH, JUST TO REITERATE, THE BOARD'S TOP THREE PRIORITIES, WHICH I WANT THE BOARD TO BE LASER FOCUSED ON OUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SAFETY AND SECURITY AND PARTNERSHIPS AND TRANSPARENCY WITH FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITIES AND SOMEONE SAID IT HERE EARLIER, BUT KEEPING UH STUDENTS FIRST. UM, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL BE HAVING A BOARD RETREAT HERE SHORTLY. WE HAVE OUR FIRST, UH, BOARD MEETING TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET ON TENTATIVELY ON UH NOVEMBER 12TH, AND THAT'S THE NEXT BIG THING THAT WE HAVE TO TACKLE. UM. AND DESPITE THE DIFFERENCES THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOME OF, A LOT OF US ACTUALLY LIKE EACH OTHER. WE ACTUALLY GET ALONG. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE IN COMMON, AND AS ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS SAID, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON AND NOT OUR DIFFERENCES. IT'S NOTEWORTHY THAT LAST YEAR, DESPITE THE BUDGET ISSUES THAT WE HAD, THIS BOARD UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THAT THAT BUDGET THIS YEAR IT'S GONNA BE A LOT MORE CHALLENGING, UH, AS MENTIONED, I'VE APPOINTED DOCTOR MUELLER AND TERRY COKER TO LEAD THE. BOARD'S BUDGET COMMITTEE. I HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN WHAT THEY'VE STARTED, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE ENTIRE BOARD BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGING YEAR THIS YEAR. UH, WITH THAT IN MIND, UH, THE SURVEY DID GO OUT. I, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME FOLKS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS PROVOCATIVE OR INFLAMMATORY, I WILL SAY THAT THESE ARE THE HARD QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL HAVE TO ANSWER, OK? WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO VIEW THINGS IN TERMS OF TRADE-OFFS. AND THIS 
          [01:55:03]
IS WHAT THE SURVEY DID, SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD SURVEY, BUT I WILL SAY THAT IT'S REALLY GONNA MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND WHERE WE NEED TO PUT OUR MONEY AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A SCHOOL SYSTE. ALSO, I WILL SAY THAT THIS IS ONLY ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING TO GATHER FEEDBACK. THERE WILL BE OTHER SURVEYS GOING OUT. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE WILL HAVE INPUT SESSIONS ON THE BUDGET AND THE BOARD WILL HAVE INPUT SESSIONS ON THE BUDGET AS WELL. AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET MORE OF YOUR INPUT. FROM TEACHERS, EDUCATORS, STAFF, PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, STUDENTS ABOUT WHERE TO PUT OUR MONEY AND WHERE WE INVEST, AND WHERE WE MAY NEED TO CUT. UM, AND WITH THAT IN MIND, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SUPERINTENDENT HAS GOT TO WORK WITH HIS TEAM PUTTING TOGETHER THE BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT COME IN SOMEWHERE AT, AT 60 MILLION, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC, UH, AND I, AND WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT AT WHAT POINT ARE THE DIFFERENT TRADE-OFFS. SO I'M ASKING FOR A BUDGET TO BE PUT TOGETHER AT A $60 MILLION REQUEST OF $40 MILLION REQUEST, AND A $20 MILLION REQUEST AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH ONE OF THOSE POINTS, WHAT YOU GIVE UP OR WHAT YOU HAVE TO TRADE OFF, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE THOSE DECISIONS TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A BOARD. UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UH, SAFETY AND SECURITY, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE BOARD. IT IS NOW AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS LONG AS I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD AND THIS BOARD IS IN PLACE BECAUSE WE ALL AGREE ON THAT. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, UM, THE BOARD AND THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE REALLY DONE A LOT OF WORK, UH, TO LOOK AT WAYS TO IMPROVE SAFETY AND SECURITY, EVERYTHING FROM LOOKING AT DISCIPLINE TO LOOKING AT PROCEDURES, POLICIES, PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC SECURITY SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE NOW FINALIZED THAT LIST AFTER LOOKING AT MANY VENDORS AND TALKING TO MANY EXPERTS TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WANT TO PUT OUR MONEY AND WE'VE HAD THIS LIST WAS UH RECENTLY JUST PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING AS WELL. IT'S GOING TO BE SHARED WITH THE BOARD AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK UH FROM THE COMMUNITY BEYOND THE, THE ONE THAT WE DID LAST WEEK, THE FIRST COMMUNITY SESSION ON SAFETY AND SECURITY, SO THERE'S A BIG IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE COMING IN SAFETY AND SECURITY. SO JUST, JUST HANG TIGHT. UM, WE ARE ON IT AND WE'LL BE MAKING SOME BIG IMPROVEMENTS. UH, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS, COULD YOU UM, GIVE THE PUBLIC UH INFORMATION ON WHAT YOU PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATORS IN IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET PROCES, ABSOLUTELY. SO, UM, WAS IT LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO? UH, LAST WEEK, UM, DOCTOR BOLSON AND I WENT IN FRONT OF UM OUR STATE DELEGATION, WHICH ARE UM THE HARTFORD COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES THAT REPRESENT US IN ANNAPOLIS FOR UH, STATE LEVEL LAWS AND ISSUES, UH, WE PRESENTED, UH, DOCTOR BOLSON AND I BOTH PRESENTED, WE, WE PRESENTED REALLY ON 3 DIFFERENT THINGS, I BELIEVE I'M GOING OFF A MEMORY HERE. UM, ONE OF THEM WAS ON BLUEPRINT IN SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IN BLUEPRINT, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE WITH HARTFORD COUNTY, BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN THE STATE, UM, PRIMARILY THERE'S A, UM, A FISCAL ISSUE WITH BLUEPRINT THAT UH MANY OF THESE UH UH, UH, REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE BEING PUT ON US ARE UNFUNDED MANDATES. SO WE'VE PASSED OUR RECOMMENDATIONS OFF TO THE STATE LEGISLATORS. THE SECOND WAS, UM, THE SECOND ONE WAS DISCUSSING REPORTING ISSUES AROUND UM STUDENTS UH WHO ARE EITHER ARRESTED OR SUSPECTED OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO IMPROVE. BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE SCHOOLS AND ALSO UM BETWEEN SCHOOLS WHEN STUDENTS TRANSFER FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER, AND THEY ARE A KNOWN CRIMINAL. AND I FORGET THE 3RD 1. DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE WHAT IT IS? I WAS OH SPECIAL EDUCATION YEAH BLUEPRINT. THOSE ARE THE FOUR AND SAFETY, THOSE WERE THE 5 TOPICS WE HAD. YEAH. SO, AND WE'LL WE'LL WE'LL PUSH OUT A MORE DETAILED VERSION OF THAT 
          [Old Business ]
SOON. WE JUST HAVEN'T GOT TO IT YET, BUT. THANK YOU. OK, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON, UH, THIS EVENING, NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS OLD BUSINESS AND THIS IS THE PRESIDENT'S POINT OF ORDER ON THE MOTION TO ADD TO THE AGENDA THE REMOVAL OF THE OFFICER POSITION FOR MELISSA HAN, BOARD VICE PRESIDENT. SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD'S MOST RECENTLY ADOPTED HANDBOOK AND POLICY ON RULES OF ORDER FOR MEETINGS, A VALID MOTION REQUIRES THE MAJORITY OF THE CONCURRENCE OF THE ENTIRE BOARD OR WHAT'S CALLED THE WHOLE BOARD, WHICH IS GENERALLY DEFINED AS THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD IRRESPECTIVE OF ATTENDANCE OR VACANCIES, AND THERE WAS A VACANCY, UH, LAST BOARD MEETING, THE MOTION ONLY HAD 5 AFFIRMATIVE VOTES AND WAS 
          [02:00:01]
DECLARED AS PASSED BUT NEEDED 6 AFFIRMATIVE VOTES. THEREFORE, I'M DECLARING THAT THE MOTION WAS IMPROPERLY DECLARED AND CLARIFYING THAT THE MOTION DID NOT IN FACT ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED MAJORITY VOTES TO PASS. I ASKED THE SECRETARY TO ISSUE A CORRECTION TO THE MINUTES AND AMEND THE OFFICIAL RECORD TO INDICATE THAT THE MOTION DID NOT PASS, THEREBY ENSURING THE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE RECORD FOR THE PROCEEDINGS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM B, THE CONSENT AGENDA. WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING, WHICH PUTS PUTS US RIGHT INTO BREAK. SO IT IS PRETTY GOOD. IT 
          [C. Decision on Administrative and Supervisory Appointments, Mr. Ben Richardson, Assistant Superintendent for Human  Resources ]
MOVE ON TO ITEM C. DECISION ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY APPOINTMENTS. WELCOME MR. BEN RICHARDSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, PRESIDENT POYNTON, VICE PRESIDENT HAHN, SUPERINTENDENT BOLSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM BEN RICHARDSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. I BRING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ONE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY POSITION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL. THE POSITION I WISH TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING FOR APPROVAL IS THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION POSITION. THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THIS POSITION IS TO LEAD ADMINISTER AND DEVELOP A STUDENT TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT COMPLIES WITH ALL FEDERAL, STAT, AND LOCAL LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS, POLICIES, AND MEETS ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DAILY INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM AND CO-CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THIS POSITION ADMINISTERS AND SUPERVISES ALL ACTIVITIES OF THE HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT. THE CANDIDATE BEING BROUGHT TO YOU UH TO THE BOARD FOR APPOINTMENT INTO THE ROLE IS DANIELLE M. BETZEL. MISS BETZEL BRINGS OVER 20 YEARS OF SCHOOL SYSTEM EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL NEEDS TRANSPORTATION, AND MISS BETZEL HAS SPENT THE PAST 17 YEARS AS A SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION. BOARD THE SUPERINTENDENT RESPECTFULLY REQUESTS YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. RICHARDSON. THE BOARD HAS BEEN BRIEFED IN CLOSED SESSION. UM, SO IF UNLESS THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. OPEN IT UP FOR THE BOARD. OH, OK. OTHERWISE, UH, THE BOARD'S BEEN SUFFICIENTLY BRIEF, SO I'LL UH SEEK A MOTION IN A SECOND. THIS IS TERRY. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE APPOINTEE. THIS IS CAROL. I 2. THANK YOU ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD 
          [D. Presentation of Harford County Public Schools Academic Performance Data: National Assessments and College and  Career Readiness, Ms. Heather Kutcher, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Mr. Phillip  Snyder, Supervisor of Accountability, Ms. Becky Pensero, Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction and Career  Programs, Ms. Lawanda Brown, Supervisor of School Counseling, and Mr. Mike O'Brien, Executive Director of Middle &  High School Performance ]
EVENING. ALL RIGHT, UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM D, PRESENTATION OF HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DATA, NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MISS HEATHER KUTCHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM OF UH INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT AND PLEASE UH INTRODUCE YOUR TEAM AS WELL. MR. PRESIDENT, POINT OF WATER, COULD WE MAKE THE RECORD REFLECT THAT IT WAS CAROL MUELLER, WHO WAS SECOND IN MOTION AND NOT CAROL BRUCE. UH, YES. SHE SAID CAROL, DID YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE. OK, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, BOARD, UM, SUPERINTENDENT BOLSON, UM, MY NAME IS HEATHER KUTCHER AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT. AND BEFORE I PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, WE'LL GO DOWN AND INTRODUCE, UM, EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS TEAM. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR BOLSON AND BOARD MEMBERS. I'M LAWANDA BROWN, SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELING. GOOD EVENING, I'M BECKY PENARO, COORDINATOR OF SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION AND CAREER PROGRAMS. GOOD EVENING, MIKE O'BRIEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS. AND PHIL SNYDER, SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTABILITY. SO THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE REGULARLY PRESENTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DATA TO THE BOARD TO REPORT ON OUR PROGRESS AROUND GOAL ONE. OUR PRESENTATION SCHEDULE ALIGNS WITH KEY DATA RELEASES, SO YOU'LL SEE UPDATES THAT COINCIDE WITH TESTING, GRADING, AND ENROLLMENT PERIODS. THE NEXT SLIDE WILL LOOK FAMILIAR. AS IT COMES FROM OUR HCPS ADVANCING THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO GOLD ONE PREPARING EVERY STUDENT FOR POST-SECONDARY AND CAREER SUCCESS MEANS ALIGNING ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE STUDENTS ARE READY FOR A CAREER, WHETHER THAT CAREER BEGINS DURING HIGH SCHOOL AFTER EARNING A CREDENTIAL, FOLLOWING A 2 OR 4 YEAR COLLEGE DEGREE OR AFTER EARNING A DEGREE FROM A SELECTIVE COLLEGE, MEANING A COLLEGE WITH AN EXTREMELY 
          [02:05:02]
COMPETITIVE ACCEPTANCE RATE OF 3 TO 6%. MM THE FIRST ARROW REPRESENTS SOME OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL INITIATIVES THAT SUPPORT STUDENTS IN ACCESSING THE VARIOUS CAREER AND COLLEGE PREPARATION PROGRAMS AND HCPS SHOWN IN THAT SECOND ARROW. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF ALL OF THESE IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR WHICHEVER POSTSECONDARY PATHWAY TO CAREER THEY CHOOSE. AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WE SHARED MARILYN COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM OR MCAP DATA, WHICH IS ONE PIECE OF STUDENT INFORMATION THAT INFORMS DECISIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR WORK. 
          TONIGHT WE FOCUS ON OTHER HIGH SCHOOL MEASURES, INCLUDING NATIONAL INDICATORS LIKE THE SA, ADVANCED PLACEMENT, INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, AND SUCCESS IN DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES WHICH DEMONSTRATE READINESS FOR OR SUCCESS IN COLLEGE LEVEL WORK. THESE ARE ADDITIONAL STUDENT DATA POINTS THAT INFORM THE INSTRUCTIONAL WORK BOTH AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL AND THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT LEVEL. ESSENTIALLY THIS EVENING WE'LL FOCUS ON DATA RELATED TO THE LAST AREAS NOTED, THE LAST TWO AREAS RATHER NOTED IN THAT DARK BLUE AREA. AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 18TH, WE WILL BRING TO YOU DATA RELATED TO THE 1ST 3 AREAS IN THAT DARK BLUE ARROW. THIS EVENING WE WILL ALSO SHARE THE DATA FROM OUR 2024 SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT SHOWS THE IMPACT THAT OPPORTUNITY HAD ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO OPEN THE DOOR TO THEIR CHOSEN POST-SECONDARY PATH. AND AS ALWAYS, WE WILL HIGHLIGHT HOW SPA TEAMS WITH THE COLLABORATION OF CENTRAL OFFICES REVIEW THEIR SCHOOL DATA TO DRILL INTO THE SPECIFIC STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS. MRS. PENSERRO WILL KICK US OFF WITH A DIVE INTO SUMMER SCHOOL. THANK YOU, HEATHER. SO THE HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOVER CREDITS AS THEY. THAT THEY OTHERWISE DID NOT EARN DURING THE REGULAR SCHOOL YEAR, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS IN SOME CASES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO EARN ORIGINAL CREDIT. THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WAS HELD AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL AND BELLA HIGH SCHOOL FROM JULY 2ND THROUGH THE 26TH WITH REGISTRATION OPEN TO ALL OF OUR 11 HIGH SCHOOLS. STUDENTS ATTENDED DAILY FROM 7:30 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY. THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER 4 ENGLISH COURSES. 3 MATH COURSES WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE LITTLE ASTERISK NEXT TO GEOMETRY BECAUSE THAT WAS UM OFFERED FOR BOTH ORIGINAL AND CREDIT RECOVERY. WE OFFERED 3 PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES WHERE 2 OF THEM WERE OFFERED FOR ORIGINAL CREDIT AND CREDIT RECOVERY. THREE SCIENCE COURSES AND THEN 3 SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES. WE HAD A TOTAL OF 556 PARTICIPANTS IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH 97% OF THE STUDENTS EARNING AT LEAST ONE CREDIT. WITH A TOTAL OF 541 CREDITS EARNED ACROSS ALL STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED. WE ALSO HAD 20 STUDENTS COMPLETE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL, SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM THIS YEAR. WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2 STUDENTS. WHO FINISHED THE REQUIREMENTS AFTER THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS IN MAY AND ONE STUDENT WHO WAS RECEIVING HOME AND HOSPITAL INSTRUCTION THAT WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE WITH US DURING THE SUMMER. THIS FINAL SLIDE HERE OUTLINES THE SUMMER PROGRAM ENROLLMENT BY SUBGROUPS WITH OUR LARGEST POPULATION OF 216 STUDENTS BEING WHITE, OUR NEXT LARGEST GROUP OF 206 STUDENTS BEING AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND OUR THIRD LARGEST BEING HISPANIC AT 56 STUDENTS. THIS YEAR, MORE THAN 50% OF OUR STUDENTS IN SUMMER SCHOOL WERE MALE AT 58%. AND FINALLY, THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS. TO THE RIGHT BROKEN DOWN, UM, BY GRADE LEVEL SHOWS THAT OUR LARGEST POPULATION OF STUDENTS WERE IN THE 9TH GRADE. THIS TIME I'M GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO MIKE. OK. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. I'M GOING TO START WITH COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. UM, I, NO, I'M CLICKING. THERE WE GO. UM, ON THE LEFT, UM, WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS THE INTERIM CCR STANDARD, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH PRIOR TO THE NEW STANDARD, WHICH WAS ADOPTED, UM, JANUARY 23, 2024. THE INTERIM STANDARD REQUIRES A STUDENT TO MEET THE 750 OR HIGHER CUT SCORE IN EITHER ALGEBRA 1, GEOMETRY, OR ALGEBRA 2. OR A 5:20 ON THE MASS SECTION OF THE SAT. AS WELL AS A SCORE OF A 750 ON THE LA, THE ELA MAP EXAM FOR A STUDENT TO BE CONSIDERED COLLEGE AND CAREER READY. ON THE RIGHT, YOU WILL SEE THE NEW CCR STANDARD. FOR THIS STANDARD, STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE AN UNWEIGHTED GRADE POINT AVERAGE OF 3.0 OR BETTER AT THE END OF 9TH, 10TH, OR 11TH GRADE AND EITHER A C OR BETTER AT ALGEBRA 1 OR A CUT SCORE OF 75TH YEAR OR HIGHER ON THE ALGEBRA 1 MCAP EXAM. STUDENTS COULD ALSO EARN CCR STATUS BY ACHIEVING A 750 CUT SCORE OR HIGHER ON THE 
          [02:10:06]
ALGEBRA 1 MAP EXAM AND THE ENGLISH 10 MCAP EXAM. STUDENTS CAN QUALIFY FOR CCR EITHER USING THE INTERIM OR THE NEW STANDARD UNTIL JULY 1 OF 2025. AFTER JULY 1, 2025, STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO USE THE NEW STANDARD TO BE CCR. IN 2022, WE HAD A 10 POINT, WE HAD 10.8% OF STUDENTS IN 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADE MEET THE STANDARD OF COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS. AGAIN, USING ONLY THE INTERIM STANDARD MEASURING CCR. IN 2023, AGAIN, USING THE SAME INTERIM STANDARD, WE INCREASE TO 23.6% OF STUDENTS WHO FINISHED THE YEAR MEETING THE CCR STANDARD. LAST YEAR IN 2024, WE USE BOTH THE INTERIM AND THE NEW APPROVED STANDARD FROM THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND HAD 54.1% OF STUDENTS FINISHED 10TH, 11TH, AND 12TH GRADE AS COLLEGE AND CAREER READY. AGAIN, WE WILL USE BOTH THE INTERIM AND THE NEW STANDARD FOR MEETING AND MEASURING CCR THIS YEAR. BUT AFTER JULY 1, ONLY THE NEW STANDARD. WHILE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IS NOT A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT MEASURE FOR STUDENTS TO PROVIDE ACCESS AND BENEFITS MOVING FORWARD. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO OUR NORTH STAR GRADUATE OUTCOMES. IT IS OUR GOAL TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS NOT ONLY EARN THE CCR STANDARD, BUT ALSO GRADUATE FROM HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACCOMPLISHING ONE OR MORE OF THESE OUTCOMES. I'LL PROVIDE SOME DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH OF THE THREE. ON THE LEFT UNDER OUTCOME ONE IS EARNED POTENTIAL COLLEGE CREDIT VIA APIB OR CTE. THIS INCLUDES STUDENT PERFORMANCE OF A 3 OR HIGHER ON AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAM. A SCORE OF 4 OR HIGHER ON AN IB EXAM OR AN A, B, OR C ON AN EXTENDED ESSAY OR THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE ALSO THROUGH IB. WHILE WE OFFER MANY AP COURSES AT EACH ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, IB IS ONLY OFFERED AT THE MAGNET PROGRAM AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO INCLUDED IN OUTCOME ONE IS THE POTENTIAL COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH CTE. FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ON A 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE OR BETTER IN AN APPROVED CTE PROGRAM OF STUDY, THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF EARNING COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH AN ARTICULATED AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023 OUT OF 2,467 GRADUATES, 518 STUDENTS EARNED A 3 YEAR BETTER IN AP. 40 STUDENTS EARNED A 4 PLUS IN ID AND 692 STUDENTS EARN COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH CTE. I'LL COME TO REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL VIA DUAL ENROLLMENT. WITH A D OR HIGHER IN AT LEAST ONE COURSE THROUGH HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. FOR THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023 OUT OF 2,467 STUDENTS, 708 EARN COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT, AND YOU'LL LATER SEE THAT THAT NUMBER HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TOO. I'LL COME 3 ON THE RIGHT REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO ARE IN AN INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL, BE LICENSURE. A TECHNICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT AND OR APPRENTICESHIP. THIS INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN OUR MARYLAND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, EARN A STATE-APPROVED INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL, EARN A CUT SCORE ON OUR ASVAB, WHICH IS OUR ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY. EARNED THE SEAL OF BILITERACY. WHICH IS AN AWARD THAT RECOGNIZED STUDENTS HIGH LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY AND LISTENING, SPEAKING, WRITING, AND READING IN A WORLD LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH. OR PASS A TECHNICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT IN A CTE PROGRAM. FOR THE CLASS OF 2023 OUT OF 2,467 GRADUATES, 655 STUDENTS MET THIS OUTCOME. IN TOTAL, IN THE CLASS OF 2023 OUT OF 20 2,467 GRADUATES, 1,416 STUDENTS MET AT LEAST ONE OF THE 3 GRADUATE OUTCOMES, WHICH IS 57%. I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, MS. BROWN, TO DISCUSS DUAL ENROLLMENT. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE DUAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION. DUAL ENROLLMENT IS ONE OF THE NORTH STAR GRADUATE OUTCOMES, OFFERING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE THEIR READINESS. FOR COLLEGE LEVEL COURSEWORK WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY, DUAL ENROLLMENT IS DEFINED AS A 
          [02:15:06]
PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO BE SIMULTANEOUSLY ENROLLED IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A COURSE OR PROGRAM AT THEIR INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. MOST HCPS STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM ARE ENROLLED AT HARTFORD COUNTY AT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE. ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, THE DATA REFLECTS THE HISTORICAL TRENDS IN DUAL ENROLLMENT FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FROM 2022 TO 2024. SHOWING GROWTH IN BOTH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS COMPLETING COURSES AND THE NUMBER OF COURSES COMPLETED. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS COMPLETING COURSES NEARLY DOUBLED FROM 4 646 IN 2022 TO 1,354 IN 2024. SIMILARL, THE NUMBER OF COURSES COMPLETED INCREASED SHARPLY FROM 1491 AND 2022 TO 3451 IN 2024 REPRESENTING MORE THAN A 2-FOLD INCREASE. STUDENTS REALLY ENJOY DUAL ENROLLMENT. OUR NEXT SLIDE FOCUSES ON STUDENT GROUPS. HERE WE FIND AN OVERVIEW OF THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PARTICIPATION BY VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS. AS WE CONSIDER, UM, OUR GENDER REPRESENTATION, OUR FEMALE STUDENTS ARE PARTICIPATING AT SLIGHTLY A HIGHER RATE THAN OUR MALE THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. MANY OF OUR STUDENT GROUPS ARE LISTED THERE. EVEN ALSO OUR FARM STUDENTS, WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT MODALITIES THAT THE COURSES ARE OFFERED. THEY ARE OFFERED IN PERSON AND THEY'RE ALSO OFFERED ONLINE. OUR FINAL SLIDE FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, THIS DATA SHOWCASES THE TOP 5 MOST ENROLLED COURSES IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM. 
          HIGH ENROLLMENT IN ENGLISH 101 UNDERSCORES THE COURSE'S SIGNIFICANCE FOR COLLEGE READINESS, DEGREE COMPLETION AND TRANSFERABLE ACADEMIC CREDIT. ENGLISH 10 1 DEFINITELY IS OUR TOP COURSE. UM, WE HAD MANY STUDENTS WHO DESIRE THE COURSE AND HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC UM HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE CANNOT FIND INSTRUCTORS FOR AS MANY STUDENTS WHO DESIRE IT. SO ENGLISH 101 IS OUR TOP COURSE. AND NOW I WILL PASS THIS TO. MR. SNYDER THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BROWN. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. UH, WE'RE GONNA END WITH, UH, A LOOK AT ASSESSMENT DATA FROM THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, UM, THAT WAS JUST RELEASED LATER IN THE SUMMER, EARLY FALL. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR AP OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS. AND HERE WE HAVE A 3-YEAR TREND FROM 2022 TO 2024. UM, THE FIRST GROUP OF BARS YOU'RE GONNA SEE IS ENROLLMENT IN THE COURSES. 
          THAT'S NOT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, THAT'S THE NUMBER OF SEAT COUNTS. UM, SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE OFTEN STUDENTS WILL TAKE 23, SOMETIMES EVEN A FULL LOAD OF AP COURSES, UM, SO THEY CAN LOAD UP THEIR SCHEDULE ACCORDINGLY. UM, SO WE'D HAVE AN INCREASE FROM OVER 2023 THAT'S 6,715 SEATS UH ENROLLED IN OUR AP COURSES. NOW ALL OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED. 
          NECESSARILY DO NOT TAKE THE EXA. UM, THEY'RE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE EXAM, BUT OF COURSE, THERE IS A COST TO THAT, OR THERE WAS LAST YEAR. UM, SO CURRENTLY, WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE TO ABOUT 4,064 EXAMS TAKEN IN 2024 AND OUT OF THE 4,064, THE PASSING SCORE AS MR. O'BRIEN SHARED EARLIER, IS A 3 OR HIGHER, AND THERE WERE 2,505 EXAMS THAT WERE PASSED WITH THE 3 OR HIGHER. AND WE WILL BREAK THAT DOWN INTO PERCENTAGES HERE VERY SOON. AND LOOKING AT OUR ENROLLMENT BY STUDENT UM DATA. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALWAYS WANT TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE, DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION IN THESE COURSES, UM, THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR POPULATION AND SO YOU CAN SEE PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE RACE AND ETHNICITY WAS REPRESENTED AS WELL AS STUDENTS IN POVERTY IN OUR MULTILINGUAL LANGUAGE AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. UM, VERY SIMILAR TO AP ENROLLMENT, UH, WITH THE ENROLLMENT, UM, THE PERCENTAGES ARE VERY ALIGNED THAT IT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER FOR FEMALES. TO ENROLL IN COURSES VERSUS THEIR MALES AND THE LAST GRAPH YOU'RE GONNA SEE THERE IS THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS, 35% OF THEM ARE IN THE 11TH GRADE. UM, MOST OF THE COURSES ARE ALIGNED TO 11TH OR 12TH GRADE COURSES. AND HERE IS OUR TREND LOOKING AT OUR EXAM PASS RATES. SO WHERE WE WERE TWO YEARS AGO IN 2022, WE'RE AT 55%. WE HAD A LITTLE SLIGHT INCREASE 
          [02:20:06]
IN 2023. UM, BUT A MUCH HIGHER INCREASE IN 2024 TO ABOUT 62%. AND, UH, AND LOOKING AT HISTORICAL DATA IN UH AS LONG AS I'VE BEEN IN THE OFFICE. I THINK OUR HIGHEST WAS ABOUT 63% EVER, SO WE ARE REALLY UM HAD A GREAT YEAR LAST YEAR WITH OUR SUCCESSFUL PASS RATE AT ABOUT 62%. AND THOSE COURSES ARE OFFERED, UM, NOT EVERY SINGLE COURSE IS OFFERED AT EVERY SINGLE HIGH SCHOOL, UM, BUT WE HAVE COURSES OFFERED AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL. WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM, UM, WHICH IS OFFERED AS A MAGNET TO EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM THERE. UH, IT IS VERY RIGOROUS, AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL DATA HERE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. UM, SO YOU CAN SEE IN 2022 WE HAD A 96% PASS RATE OF EXAMS THAT NUMBER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BAR IS THE NUMBER OF EXAMS. THAT WERE TAKEN UM, KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS NOT A HUGE COHORT OF STUDENTS, UM, IN 2024, THERE WERE ACTUALLY ONLY 25 SENIORS WHO UM GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM. UM, THE PERCENT RATE IS ABOUT 84% PASSED LAST YEAR, UH, AND TALKING TO THE COORDINATOR THERE WHO IS LAURA CHILDS, AND I THINK SHE'S ALSO JOINED US VIRTUALLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER. UM, WE DID HAVE A ROUGH SPELL AT THE SENIORS LAST YEAR. THEY DID GO THROUGH COVID THERE EARLY IN THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR. AND SO THAT DID UM HAPPEN TO DO SOME OF THE PAST RATE EXAMS, UM, BUT THEY ARE VERY MUCH UM GOING TO GET THAT. I CAN NOW GONNA GET THOSE PASS RATES BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY. UM, IF BELIEVE TO COMPARE THEM TO THE STATE, THE STATE AVERAGE WAS ABOUT SOMEWHERE IN THE MID 60%, UM, FOR THE PASS RATE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMS. THEY ARE RIGOROUS EXAMS, UM. AND OUR STUDENTS THERE TO HAVE AN 85% PASS RATE FOR THOSE SENIORS AND JUNIORS WHO TOOK THOSE EXAMS IS TREMENDOUS WORK. AGAIN, LOOKING AT THE DATA BROKEN DOWN BY STUDENT GROUPS. 
          UM, DO WE HAVE REPRESENTATION HERE YOU CAN SEE, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MALES REPRESENTED. WE HAVE ABOUT 19%. SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING, ENCOURAGING OUR OUR YOUNG MEN TO APPLY TO THIS MAGNET. UH, IN THEIR 9TH GRADE YEAR. ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES IB AND WE'RE GONNA END WITH THE SAT ASSESSMENT. AS THOSE SCORES CAME OUT, UM, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU'RE GONNA SEE OUR SCORES COMPARED TO MARYLAND. SO IN 2024, UM, WE ARE SHOWING, THIS IS FOR READING AND FOR WRITING. WE ARE SHOWING AN INCREASE FROM 542 TO 556. HOWEVER, THE STATE IS DECLINING. 
          SO DESPITE THE STATE'S DECLINE IN THE UH SCORE, THE MEAN SCORE, WE ARE INCREASING IN THE COUNTY FOR READING AND WRITING FOR THE SAT. IF WE TAKE THE MATH PORTION OF THE ASSESSMENT, YOU COULD ALSO SEE THAT UH. YELLOW ORANGE BAR. THE STATE IS ALSO DECLINING TO 487, AND WE HAD A MEAN SCORE OF 541. SO, UM, WE DROPPED IN 2023, BUT WE BROUGHT THAT BACK UP TO 541, SO WE HAD. GREAT LITTLE IMPROVEMENT THERE. AND IF WE JUST COMBINE THE READING, WRITING AND THE MASS BOARD TO GET THE COMPOSITE TOTAL. UM, AGAIN, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE COMPOSITE TOTAL HERE, WE'RE AT 1097 COMPARED TO THE STATE. AND 998. I DID WANT TO UM SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE COMPARED TO THE NATION. UM, SO THERE'S MARYLAND AND THERE'S THE NATION FOR 2024 DATA FOR THE COMPOSITE SAT SCORE. ALL RIGHT, AND THAT CONCLUDES THAT ASSESSMENT. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. BRIAN TO CLOSE US OUT. SO AS YOU HEARD IN OUR FIRST DATA PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR, THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT PROCESS SPA IS THE VEHICLE FOR WHICH SCHOOLS WORK TOWARDS CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND THAT'S TRULY WHAT WE'RE AFTER. SPA TEAMS AT ALL LEVELS ANALYZE DATA, SET TARGETS FOR IMPROVEMENT. CREATE ACTION PLAN, MONITOR PROGRESS AND OPTIMIZE CHANGE ON AN ONGOING CYCLE. THE SPA PROCESS IN HIGH SCHOOL IS TARGETED IN HELPING STUDENTS MEET THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS. AND HELP ALL STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, EARNING ONE OR MORE OF THE GRADUATE OUTCOMES. THE SPA PROCESS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TARGET ACHIEVEMENT GOALS USING THE LEARNER ATTRIBUTES OF WRITER, READER, PROBLEM SOLVER, EMPLOYABLE AND HEALTHY FOR STUDENTS TO MEET ON GRADE LEVEL OUTCOMES TO PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO MEET THOSE LATER COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS. THIS PROCESS IS ALIGNED PRE-K TO 12 AND SUPPORTED BY EVERY OFFICE, EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. AND THANK YOU AND WE CAN TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR BOARD MEMBERS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. SO FOR AP TESTING, UM, WANT TO CLARIFY, UH, WE PAY FOR AP TESTING FOR 11TH AND 12TH 
          [02:25:11]
GRADERS. IS THAT TRUE? SO BEGINNING THIS YEAR, YES. UM, LAST YEAR, WE PAID FOR, WE HAVE, WE PAID A SUBSIDIZED AMOUNT FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE IN POVERTY, BUT FOR THIS YEAR, WE WOULD BE PAYING FOR 11TH AND 12TH GRADE. SO WE'RE BASICALLY WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF EXPANDING. UH, MY QUESTION IS, WHY, WHY DID WE CHOOSE JUST 11TH AND 12TH GRADE. WHY DON'T WE PAY FOR 9TH AND 10TH TOO. THAT IS, LET'S GO BACK TO THE PERCENTAGE HERE IT IS. 38% OF OUR STUDENTS. THE TAKE AP EXAMS ARE EITHER 9TH OR 10TH. WELL. I CAN START ON THAT ONE, SO. THE BLUEPRINT CALLS FOR US TO PAY FOR AP TESTS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CCR AND WE DO PAY FOR MORE, UM, CURRENTLY, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT IT 100% RIGHT, BUT WE'RE MORE RIGHT. THAN WE WERE LAST YEAR, SO I THINK IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING TO REALLY TALK ABOUT, UM, DUAL ENROLLMENT TOO. UM, WE PAID FOR MORE THAN JUST CCR STUDENTS THIS YEAR AND SO. YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBERS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IT'S MORE ACCESS. IT'S MORE MORE COURSES, MORE KIDS, UM, BUT WE DO PAY FOR MORE THAN WE HAVE TO. THAT MAKES SENSE. SO, SO IF I MAY, THAT MEANS BASICALLY AT SOME POINT, PROBABLY IN OUR 11TH GRADE YEAR, THOSE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE CCR AND MAYBE 9TH AND 10TH, WE'RE REALLY NOT THERE YET, SO TECHNICALLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT. WE WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE END OF 10, OR REALLY THE BEGINNING OF 11 THAT A STUDENT IS CCR UM. MOST LIKELY. WONDER HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST US JUST TO PAY FOR ALL THE TESTS. 
          UM WE HAVE THAT INFORMATION. I WOULD SAY EASILY $600,000. UM, IT'S A ROUGH ESTIMATE. WE ARE JUST AS, AS A SIDE NOTE, WE ARE PAYING FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 AND 10 WHO ARE RECEIVING FREE AND REDUCED MEALS, SO WE WILL PAY THEIR COST. THANK YOU. SURE. IS THE DATA PRESENTED PROPORTIONAL TO THE STUDENT POPULATION, OR IS IT THAT THE DATA IS INCREASING BECAUSE THE STUDENT POPULATION AT THE SCHOOL IS INCREASING. WHICH SLIDE ARE YOU REFERENCING? EXACTLY. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE. THE HCPS DUAL ENROLLMENT SLIDE, UH, CAN BE AN EXAMPLE. OK. 13, I THINK SLIDE 13, WHERE IT'S COMPARING TWO YEARS AND JUST TO RESTATE THE QUESTION WITH WITH ANY OF THEM ENROLLMENT ISN'T GROWING, SO WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS. ON SLIDE 22. YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE SLIDES DON'T SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENT GROUPS. WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COURSE. CAN YOU SAY WHAT, WHAT THE WHAT IS CAUSING THAT? TO BE SO MUCH HIGHER FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IS THE LOCATION? I'M SORRY, YOUR QUESTION WAS THE IB PROGRAM. AND PARTICIPATION BY AFRICAN AMERICANS. YEAH. SO IN THE PROGRAM, 35% OF THE STUDENTS ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND YOUR QUESTION IS, THAT'S THE ONLY SLIDE WHERE THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT, I MEAN, IT'S ALMOST THE SAME AS WHITE POPULATION. I GOT YOU. SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT'S CAUSING THAT TO BE SUCH A SIGNIFICANT, YOU KNOW, NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT PROGRAM. WHAT, WHAT, WHAT'S THE ATTRACTION? UH, MS. BROWN, WHO WAS A FORMER COUNSELOR AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION. I WAS A FORMER IB UM COUNSELOR, UM. I CAN SAY THE PROGRAM ITSELF LENDS TO UM BEING VERY INVITING TO STUDENTS, UM, THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES LITERALLY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO ACTUALLY TELL THEIR FRIENDS AND TELL OTHERS UNDERGRADS TO JOIN IB, UM. IT'S A REALLY A UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL PROGRAM. UH, THEY, I WORKED PROBABLY HARDER WITH THAT PARTICULAR GROUP THAN ANY OTHER GROUP I EVER DID BECAUSE THEY, THEY ACHIEVE AND DESIRE SO MUCH AND THEY ARE, THEY LITERALLY GO AND MARKET THEIR PROGRAM. LIKE NO OTHER. AND SO YOU HAVE STUDENTS THAT WILL ENGAGE AND 
          [02:30:01]
ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IB. I'VE HAD THAT CONSTANTLY. SO IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. I, I CAN JUST TELL YOU IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM. I ATTENDED THE GRADUATION CEREMONIES AND I CAN SEE THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE SIGNIFICANT AND I GUESS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT THEY ARE MARKETING THEMSELVES, BUT WE CAN'T GET THAT KIND OF INITIATIVE IN THE IN THE OTHER AREAS. I MEAN, THEY REALLY DO AND JUST THEY'RE SO COMMUNITY DRIVEN AS WELL SO THE STUDENTS SEE THEM OUTSIDE OF THAT OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, SO. THEY THEY DO IT, THEY REALLY DO IT. 
          GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE DO MOST OF THE STUDENTS LIVE IN THE COUNTY. I DON'T MOST OF THE MAGNET SCHOOLS DISPROPORTIONATELY PULL FROM THE HOME SCHOOL. NO, OR IS THAT ONLY CERTAIN ONES? I KNOW WE HAVE SOME THAT LIKE UH JRTC AND JOA LIKE. MOST STUDENTS, IS IT THE SAME FOR ALL SCHOOLS OR NO BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY DIDN'T PULL FROM THE HOME SCHOOL AS MUCH. I MEAN, MOST OF THEM. YOU KNOW, WOULD GET ON THE BUS AT THE DEPOT AT DIFFERENT DEPOTS. SO, UM, I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM IT NOW FOR, SINCE 22, BUT. UM YOU KNOW, THEY CAME FROM ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT. GOOD STUDENTS, LOVELY STUDENTS. AND DRIVEN, I MEAN REALLY DRIVEN. WONDERFUL. I GUESS THE SAME THING COULD BE SAID ABOUT THE MALE-FEMALE RATI, UNDERSTANDING THAT TOO. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT, THAT, THAT PULL, I GUESS, TO THE, TO THE FEMALES JUST DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RECRUITING AS WELL ON THE MOUNTAIN IN THE MENU TO CATCH UP IF, IF ONE, IF ONE SIBLING HAS BEEN A PART OF IB. IT IS VERY COMMON TO HAVE ANOTHER SIBLING THAT WILL THEN DECIDE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND THEY, THEY JUST DO REALLY WELL. THEY DO SO WELL. GEOGRAPHICALLY, WHERE DO THEY MOSTLY COME FROM IN THE DISTRICT. I'M NOT SURE IF MISS CHILD, MISS CHILDS, ARE YOU ON THE LINE? HI, GOOD EVENING. 
          THIS IS OUR CHILD'S COORDINATOR OF THE IB PROGRAM. I AM ONLINE. UM, YES, SO I HAVE ALL OF THE DATA THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO SEND TO ANYONE. UM, I'VE BEEN COORDINATING THIS PROGRAM SINCE 2016, UM, AND I WILL SAY IN THE EARLIER YEARS, UM, WE DID HAVE A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS COMING FROM UM WHETHER EDGEWOOD OR ROUTE 40 LOCAL SCHOOLS, UM, BUT AT, AT SINCE PRETTY MUCH 2016 AND ON, WE DO. NOT HAVE UM A SIGNIFICANT HIGHER PROPORTION COMING FROM ROUTE 40. IT'S A REALLY EXCELLENT BALANCE. I WILL SAY PROBABLY UM LIKE NORTH HARTFORD BECAUSE OF THE DISTANC, THE 40 MINUTE DISTANCE IS PROBABLY ONE OF OUR UM LOWER POPULATION OF STUDENTS THAT COME FROM THOSE UH FEEDER SCHOOLS, U, BUT WE ARE, WE, WE, WE'RE LOOKING AT AROUND 36% OF STUDENTS THAT COME FROM EITHER LIKE MAGNOLIA OR EDGEWOOD MIDDL, AND THEN THE REST ARE PRETTY WELL PROPORTIONATELY SPREAD OUT THROUGH ALL OF HARTFORD COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, GOOD PRESENTATION. A COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, UM, WHAT'S THE MAX NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT YOU CAN ENROLL IN THE IB IN EACH YEAR. UM, SO, GREAT QUESTION. WHEN I FIRST TOOK OVER, IT WAS 50 STUDENTS BECAUSE, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE IB PROGRAM, NOT ONLY IN ASSESSMENT FEES BUT IN UM MAINTAINING ACCREDITATION STATUS EVERY YEAR, UM, BUT BECAUSE OUR RESULTS ARE REALLY EXCELLENT, U, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER ADDITIONAL SEATS BECAUSE WE SEE THE GROWTH IN NOT ONLY THE NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS WE GET EACH YEAR, BUT IN STUDENTS THAT UM ACHIEVE UM DIPLOMA PASS RATE AS I THINK MR. SCHNEIDER MENTIONED, UM, MARYLAND HAS HAD A 60%, 59%, 58% PASS RATE OVER THE PAST 2022 TO 2024, AND WE HOVER BETWEEN 85 TO 90% IN THOSE SAME YEARS. SO OUR DATA IS SO GOOD THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ADD ON SEATS, UM, SO THIS CURRENT YEAR WE ARE OFFERING 60 SEATS. OK, THANK YOU. WHAT'S THE ACCEPTANCE RATE WHEN STUDENTS APPLY? ROUGHLY, LIKE HOW MANY APPLICATIONS YOU'RE GETTING THAT YOU HAVE TO REJECT. YEAH, NO, ABSOLUTELY, GREAT QUESTION. SO, UM, WE VARY EACH YEAR. I THINK THE LOWEST YEAR I'VE HAD SINCE 2016 OF APPLICATIONS WAS LIKE RIGHT AROUND THAT 90 TO 100 APPLICATIONS AND THE HIGHEST WE'VE EVER HAD WAS LIKE 260 TO 70, AND SO THAT CAN GIVE YOU THAT KIND OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE WE CAN ONLY ACCEPT 60 SEATS, SO IT JUST DEPENDS HOW MANY APPLICATIONS WE GET PER YEAR. OK, THANK YOU. AND DO DO STUDENTS HAVE TO BE IN A GRADE 9 THROUGH 12 LIKE YOU APPLY OUT OF 
          [02:35:05]
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN YOU'RE IN IT FOR THE 4 HIGH SCHOOL GRADES. ABSOLUTELY, THEY DO, UM, BUT IF WE DO NOT HAVE OUR FULL C COUNT, WHICH WE'VE ALWAYS, WE ALWAYS HAVE OUR FULL SEED COUNT EVERY YEAR. WE WILL ALWAYS FILL IT. WE HAVE A TON OF APPLICATIONS, BUT IF LET'S SAY A STUDENT MOVES OUT OF DISTRICT AND IT GOES TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL IN THEIR 9TH OR 10TH GRADE YEAR, AND THEN WE HAVE AN OPEN SPOT AVAILABLE. WE DO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER SEATS IN-HOUSE TO STUDENTS THAT ARE AT EDGEWOOD TO UM PROVIDE ME THE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO A 9TH GRADER WHO PERHAPS DID NOT APPLY OR MAYBE THEY ENTERED THE DISCLYDE. OK, THANKS. ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE ENGLISH 101 BEING THE TOP COURSE. WHAT'S THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THAT COURSE AS FAR AS TO UNIVERSITIES. IT TRANSFERS VERY WELL, UM, BEING THAT IT'S BEING TAKEN UM THROUGH HCC IF A STUDENT ATTENDS A MARYLAND UNIT, A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY, IT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERS BUT IT ALSO TRANSFERS VERY WELL OUT OF STATE, UM, WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY ISSUES WITH STUDENTS, UM, NOT RECEIVING CREDIT FOR ENGLISH 101. THAT IS TAKEN THROUGH THE DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? DOCTOR. UM GUYS VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. ALL RIGHT, UH, MOVING ON, LAST 
          [E. Superintendent's Report ]
ITEM FOR THIS EVENING IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. I GOT A COUPLE SO. ALRIGHT, GOOD GOOD EVENING, UM, I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS EVENING, SO I'D ASK YOU TO BEAR WITH ME. UM, SO FIRST I THINK THE MEDIA THIS MORNING. I, I FEEL LIKE THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEGUN ENGAGING IN A BACK AND FORTH AND. YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF ENGAGING IN POLITICS. WELL CALL POLITICS OR CALLED ADVOCACY. UM TRYING TO TELL THE STORY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. AND I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF NARRATIVES THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE CONSTANTLY CONFRONTING. SO LET'S START WITH THE NARRATIVE ABOUT FAILING SCHOOLS. SO YOU JUST SAW ADVANCED PLACEMENT. I CAN'T RELATE HOW UNUSUAL IT IS TO SEE BOTH PARTICIPATION. AND AVERAGE PASS RATES GO UP AT THE SAME TIME WITH ADVANCED PLACEMENT. IT'S A VERY NORMAL THING. WHEN YOU'RE GROWING AND YOU'RE ADDING MORE ACCESS TO HIGHLY RIGOROUS COURSES, A VERY NORMAL THING TO SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS PASS AND GO DOWN. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING. YOU'VE ALSO SEEN THE SAME THING IN DUAL ENROLLMENT. DRAMATICALLY INCREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING THESE COURSES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, FAILURE RATES HAVE DROPPED, WITHDRAWALS HAVE DROPPED, CREDIT ATTAINMENT HAS GONE UP OVERALL STUDENT SUCCESS AND DUAL ENROLLMENT HAS GONE UP A HIGHER PROPORTION OF OUR STUDENTS DOING THAT. IN THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE GROWTH WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN. UM CURRENT TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION. AND HOW WE'RE SEEING MORE STUDENTS BEING SUCCESSFUL THERE. YOU'VE HEARD THE STORIES OF OUR APPRENTICESHIPS. OUR GRADUATES. 
          ARE CONTINUING TO OUTPERFORM THE CLASS BEFORE THEM, THEY'VE DONE THAT EVERY YEAR. SATS, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN DROPPING AROUND THE COUNTRY IS, YOU KNOW, IS. UH, COLLEGES WENT THROUGH A PHASE OF, OF DROPPING THE SAT. NOW THEY'RE BEGINNING TO ADD IT BACK. BECAUSE THEY'RE FINDING THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY DO RELY ON THAT AS A MEASURE, SO SOME ARE ADDING IT BACK. AND AGAIN, OUR SAT SCORES. ARE GOING UP IN ALL AREAS, AS WELL AS OUTPERFORMING THE STATE, WHICH IS GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION. LANGUAGE ARTS I SHARED. RECENT MEETING HARFORD COUNTY WAS FIRST IN THE STATE IN GROWTH IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 8. ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, 4TH IN THE STATE AND GROWTH. AND GRADES 3 THROUGH 8 MATHEMATICS. ARE THE SCORES WHERE WE WANT THEM? NO, BUT AGAIN, TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO THAT? AND FRANKLY PARTICULARLY WITH THE 
          [02:40:02]
STATE TESTS. UH, WE SAW AN ALL TIME LOW IN OUR SCORES AND STATE TESTS IN 2017 BECAUSE UM NOT JUST THE PERFORMANCE OF PEOPLE HERE, BUT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE YEAR WE WERE FORCED BY THE STATE. TO MOVE FROM TAKING THOSE ASSESSMENTS ON PAPER, PENCIL TO DOING IT ON COMPUTER. AND SO IN ADDITION TO WORKING OUT. HOW TO IMPROVE STUDENTS. CONTENT KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY IN THOSE AREAS, WE ALSO HAD TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THOSE ASSESSMENTS ON IT. DEVICE BECAUSE AND THAT'S HAPPENED WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF ADDING THE DEVICES, SOMETHING THAT IT ALLOWED FOR US AND KNOWING THAT THESE ASSESSMENTS ARE ALL HAPPENING ON DEVICES AGAIN, ALL OF THAT IS MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION. NEARLY EVERY ACADEMIC MEASURE. WHEN I CAME TO HARTFORD COUNTY, I WAS ASKED TO FOCUS ON. CAREER PREPARATION. UH, THAT HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT E. AND THE FACT THAT I THINK OUR APPRENTICESHIPS. AGAIN, THE HIGHEST RUNNER ACTUALLY WE WERE 2ND IN ROUND NUMBER TO AN ARUNDEL COUNTY LAST YEAR OF THE APPRENTICESHIPS. BUT ANNA ARUNDEL HAS MORE THAN TWICE AS MANY STUDENTS AS WE DO TO DRAW AND THEY ONLY BEAT US BY A HANDFUL OF APPRENTICES. THE FACT THAT WE'RE OFFERING, WE'RE THE ONLY, I BELIEVE ACTUALLY NOW CECIL COUNTY HAS JOINED US BECAUSE UM THEY WORK WITH THE SAME GROUP WE DO AND THEY FOLLOWED OUR LEAD. WE'RE WORKING ON THE NON-CREDIT COURSES WITH OUR FANTASTIC PARTNERS AT HARTFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND SO WE'RE FINDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, UM, WHO MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN TAKING CREDIT BEARING COURSES AT THE COLLEGE. WHERE WORKING WITH THOSE STUDENTS TO GET UH, PREPARATION, LICENSURE CREDENTIALS SO THAT UM THEY'RE PREPARED FOR A CAREER WHEN THEY LEAVE US. NEARLY EVERY ACADEMIC MEASURE WE TRACK. IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. WE WERE RECOGNIZED IN THE STATE FOR WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO DECREASE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. WE WERE THE ONLY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH ALL OF HIS TEACHING VACANCIES FILLED. SUCCESS IS COMING. FROM EVERY DIRECTION, PARTICULARLY ACADEMICALLY. YES, WE'RE CONFRONTING. INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES. AND STUDENT BEHAVIOR. MOST NOTABLY, IN THE EARLIEST GRADES. 45 AND 6 YEAR OLD STUDENTS, 3 YEAR OLD STUDENTS IN SOME CASES. AND THAT'S A PHENOMENON THAT. UM, AGAIN, MY COLLEAGUES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE EXPERIENCING AND EVERYONE'S TRYING TO SORT THAT OUT. BUT YET, DESPITE THAT, ALL OF THESE DATA POINTS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SO, YES, THE CHALLENGES ARE INCREASING. 
          BUT THE PERFORMANCE IS ALL GOING UP. NOW WITH THAT SAID, THAT'S ONE NARRATIVE, FAILING SCHOOLS. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU HAVE EVERY DAY TO GO EVERY DAY TO POINT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. 
          CONSISTENTLY AND SUGGEST FAILURE. THE NEXT THING IS ABOUT THE BUDGET. SO THE INITIAL STATEMENT. SO WE WERE, WE, IT WAS SHARED WITH US THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT WE SHOULD EXPECT FLAT FUNDING THIS YEAR. AND THE QUOTE'S BEEN MADE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT TIMES, SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABLE TO FUNCTION ON WHAT THEY GOT LAST YEAR. ANYBODY WHO'S EVER HAD TO PRODUCE A BUDGET YEAR OVER YEAR, PARTICULARLY A BUDGET OF THIS SIZE. IF YOU'RE FLAT FUNDED, YOU HAVE TO CUT SERVICES. BECAUSE COSTS GO UP. AND THEY'RE GOING UP IN EVERY AREA. THE $60 MILLION AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DOESN'T ADD ANY POSITIONS. ALL IT DOES IS COVER THE COSTS OF WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW. AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW AS I'VE SHARED. IS PRODUCING RESULTS AND WITH MORE RESOURCES WE COULD PRODUCE THOSE RESULTS AT A FASTER RATE. BUT WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES COMING. THE IDEA THAT THIS ASK IS UNREASONABLE. I MADE A VERY DELIBERATE POINT AT THE END OF LAST YEAR AND THE END OF THE YEAR BEFORE. BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE PUSHED INTO A POSITION. AND IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE BUDGETS IN THIS COUNTY. EVERY ENTITY THE LIBRARY COLLEGE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, EVERY ENTITY. THAT HAS ANY TYPE OF FUND BALANCE. HAS BEEN FLAT FRONTED AND SQUEEZED. 
          IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THOSE ENTITIES MORE RELIANT ON THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. AND IT'S A 
          [02:45:07]
DELIBERATE PUSH. TO HAVE A SPIN DOWN OR FUND BALANCE. WHICH HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE. BECAUSE OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE SPENT MORE FUND BALANCE THAN THIS COUNTY SPENT PROBABLY IN THE PREVIOUS DECADE. DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT BECAUSE IT'S UH IT'S CLOSE, BUT I'M SURE THAT'S NOT ACCURATE. 
          BUT WE SPENT A LOT MORE. UM. MR. HUBBARD FROM THE AEGIS DID, QUOTE ME CORRECTLY. THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THE SOLUTION HERE IS INCREASED TAXES. OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SAYING THAT. AS HE WOULD THE OTHER ENTITIES. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE IN HARTFORD COUNTY. AND YOU LOOK AT IT OVER TIME. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING ON THINGS OTHER THAN SCHOOLS CONTINUES TO GROW. AND I'LL SHARE THAT, THAT WILL, THAT WILL BE PROMINENT AND WHAT WE RELEASE RELATED TO THE BUDGET, YOU'VE SEEN SLIDES SHOWING THIS IN THE PAST. YOU KNOW, WE SAID OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORCED INTO A POSITION OF RELYING ON FUND BALANCE. BECAUSE WE CUT EVERYTHING WE COULD LAST YEAR. 
          PRIOR UP TO CUTTING TEACHERS AND WE STOPPED. WE DON'T NEED TO CUT TEACHING POSITIONS LAST YEAR. WE USED THE FUNDAL TO AVOID THOSE CUTS. UM AS WE GO THROUGH THE INFORMATION I SHARED IN THE BUDGET, THERE'LL BE A VIDEO COMING OUT SOON. UM, AS WELL AS AN INVITATION TO COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS, UM. WE HAVE COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 14TH AND NOVEMBER 20TH, I BELIEVE THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THAT'S GOING OUT TOMORROW, ASKING PEOPLE TO REGISTER. AND I KNOW THAT. UM BUDGET SURVEY HAS RAISED OR SHOULD I SAY, HAS CREATED A LOT OF ATTENTION. AND SO I DO WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO TALK ABOUT THAT, UH, DOCTOR POYNTON MENTIONED IT EARLY ON. UM IT HAS SOME VERY HARD QUESTIONS IN IT AND A LOT, WE GOT A LOT OF VERY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOTTEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT. OF REALLY USEFUL INFORMATION. BECAUSE WE HAVE VERY HARD DECISIONS TO MAKE. AND. WITH MANY OF THE QUESTIONS WE OFFERED, WE GENERALLY DIDN'T KNOW. HOW SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WOULD COME OUT. 
          SO WE'RE GETTING A GOOD SENSE. WE'VE HAD, UH, JUST SHY OF 3400 RESPONSES, WHICH IS UH, MORE THAN TWICE THE NUMBER WE HAD IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SURVEY, SO WE KNOW. PEOPLE ARE AT LEAST ATTENDING TO THIS, I WOULD SAY CONCERNED, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM YET. I'M HOPING THEY'RE CONCERNED, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MORE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION. WE HAVE VERY CHALLENGING TRADE-OFFS. THINK ABOUT? AND IF, IF UM, PEOPLE DO COME TO ATTEND THE BUDGET SESSIONS OR UH IF THEY DON'T ACTUALLY ATTEND THE BUDGET SESSION, I WOULD AT LEAST ENCOURAGE THEM TO VIEW. THE VIDEO OR PARTS OF IT JUST TO GET A SENSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE CONFRONTING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. IT'S UM IT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE AND. IF, UH IF WE DON'T RECEIVE MORE THAN FLAT FUNDING FROM THIS COUNTY. THEN IT WILL BE VERY SIGNIFICANT CUTS AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, THE CUTS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER. IT WILL BE HARD TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRESS WE'RE SEEING. AND, AND THAT IS CONCERNING ALSO BECAUSE I THINK ONE OF THE GREATER SOURCES OF THE PROGRESS WE'VE BEEN SEEING IS THE FACT THAT IN ADDITION TO SPENDING THE LAST FEW YEARS IMPROVING CLASS SIZES. 
          AND WE'RE STILL NOWHERE NEAR WHERE WE NEED TO BE IN CLASS SIZE. UM THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, WE DID RECOVER FROM THE CUTS WE MADE TO CLASS SIZES, BUT WELL, THE, THE GROWTH TO CLASS SIZES THAT OCCURRED IN THE FY20 BUDGET, WHICH IS THE LAST TIME WE EXPERIENCED TEACHER CUTS. WE HAVE COME BACK AND EXCEEDED WHERE WE WERE AT THAT TIME. UM BUT THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET CYCLE IF WE DO HAVE TO FIND $60 MILLION WILL TAKE US BELOW WHERE WE WERE IN 2020. WHICH IS VERY CONCERNING. SO, I WOULD VERY MUCH ENCOURAGE PEOPLE. WHO HAVEN'T YET COMPLETE THE SURVEY. 
          AND THERE'S ROOM IN THERE FOR ANECDOTAL COMMENTS. WE DO LIMIT THE UH THE NUMBER OF CHARACTERS, UM. AS OF EARLY LAST WEEK, WE HAD, WE'VE HAD VERY FEW NEW ONES IN THE LAST WEEK, SO I'VE READ EVERY SINGLE COMMENT, AND THERE ARE SOME REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL PATTERNS IN THERE. AND SO, UM, I 
          [02:50:07]
THINK THERE'S A LOT WE CAN DO, NOT JUST TO THINK ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT ALSO TO HELP INFORM, UM. DECISIONS WE MAKE FOR FUTURE BUDGETS BECAUSE UH THE WHOLE WE NEEDING TO DIG OURSELVES OUT OF IS GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN A YEAR. AND SO WITH THAT SAID, I'M GONNA SWITCH OVER TO SLIGHTLY MORE TRADITIONAL. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT AND JUST TOUCH ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. UM, THIS IS NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY WEEK. SO, UM, NOVEMBER 11TH, SORRY, NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 11TH THROUGH 15TH THIS YEAR'S THEME IS SPARK DISCOVERY, IS MEANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE PROFOUND IMPACT THAT POSITIVE SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIPS HAVE IN FOSTERING GROWTH AND TRANSFORMING, UH. HOW WE KINDLE STUDENTS' CURIOSITY AND SPARKING STUDENTS' DISCOVERY OF CONNECTIONS THAT WILL HELP THEM THRIVE. UM, OTHERS HAVE SAID THEY INTENDED THE SAFETY MEETING, AND I THANK PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THAT AGAIN, THE FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO CAME WAS WAS TREMENDOUS. UH, WE WERE ABLE TO GATHER, COMPILE, SUMMARIZE A LITTLE HELP FROM AI. 
          WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY SHARED A SUMMARY OF THE FEEDBACK WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND UM I KNOW THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AROUND SAFETY AND SECURITY RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED, THANK YOU. UH, WE STILL HAVE A SURVEY OUT THERE, SO IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE MEETING, WE ARE WORKING ANOTHER ONE, BUT YOU ALSO CAN SHARE YOUR UM THOUGHTS VIA THE SURVEY, AGAIN, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE ENGAGEMENTS WE ARE LEARNING SOMETHING NEW. OUR CTE APPLICATIONS OUR MAGNET APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THROUGH DECEMBER. IF YOUR STUDENT'S CONSIDERING A MAGNET PROGRAM, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HIT THAT DEADLINE. AP EXAM REGISTRATION WINDOW CLOSES NOVEMBER 7TH, SO WE NEED TO BE SURE WE GET THOSE IN. THAT'S, UH, THIS WEEK, SO LET'S FOCUS ON THAT. WE'D LIKE TO SEE UM THE PARTICIPATION AND PERFORMANCE CONTINUED GROWING THERE ALSO. AND THE LAST NOTE HERE, THERE ARE 4 MORE UM FAFSA OR THE FINANCIAL AID NIGHTS, UH, INFORMATION NIGHTS, THE FULL LIST IS STILL POSTED ON THE GREEN NEWS ALERT ON HCPS.ORG. UM, THESE STATES WERE ALSO EMAILED DIRECTLY TO OUR COMMUNITY, SO DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO RSVP AND ATTEND THAT. SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, BOARD, 
          [Future Meetings Review ]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS EVENING AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN 2 WEEKS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.