[Budget Public Input Session on February 5, 2025]
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THANK YOU FOR COMING AT THIS TIME. I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BUDGET INPUT SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 5TH, 2025 AT 6 P.M. THIS PUBLIC INPUT SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. MISS ALVAREZ. AND THAT I'LL SEE YOU ONLINE. SHE'S NOT ONLINE. THERE SHE IS. THERE SHE IS. SAY HERE. MISS. MISS ALVAREZ. THANK YOU. MISS BRUCE. HERE. MRS. COKER. HERE. DOCTOR MILLER HERE. MISS PAZUKI HERE.
MRS. PERRY. HERE. MR. SEWELL. HERE. MISS STRAUSS. HERE. VICE PRESIDENT. HAHN. PRESENT.
PRESIDENT. BOYNTON. HERE. SUPERINTENDENT. OLSON. HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL.
THANK YOU, MISS HAHN. PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. BEFORE WE BEGIN, I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT ALL OF THIS EVENING'S COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE PROPOSED FY 2026 BUDGET. COMMENTS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER TOPICS WON'T BE PERMITTED TONIGHT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE. I'D LIKE TO START BY CALLING UP MISS DEBORAH JUDD FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. SHE IS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POINTON, VICE PRESIDENT HAHN, BOARD MEMBERS, AND DOCTOR OLSON. WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING, MYSELF AND MR. CLARK, TO REVIEW A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE FY 26 SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. SO THIS IS AVAILABLE ON ATTACHED TO THE AGENDA SO ANYONE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS IN MORE DETAIL. I AM GOING TO GO THROUGH IT RATHER QUICKLY. SO WE HAVE THE TIME FOR COMMENTS. SO THIS IS A SUMMARY OF ALL OF OUR BUDGETS THAT WE WILL BE. WE ARE PROPOSING FOR FY 26. SO YOU CAN SEE THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE TALK ABOUT THE MOST.
OUR OPERATING BUDGET SHOWING AN INCREASE OF $16.7 MILLION FOR FY 26. THE RESTRICTED FOOD SERVICE, DEBT SERVICE AND PENSION FUNDS I WON'T OVERVIEW THOSE TONIGHT. WE WILL BRIEFLY GO THROUGH CAPITAL AND THAT IS A REQUEST OF $86.7 MILLION IN TOTAL FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET. WE ARE SHOWING THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT $26.2 MILLION, WHICH IS AN 8.2% INCREASE FROM FY 25. THE STATE PROPOSAL IS $10.7 MILLION, A 3.6%. I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE AGAIN THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE STATE REVENUE. WE ARE USING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET HERE. IT DOES NOT REFLECT THOSE POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS. SO IF ANY OF THOSE ITEMS PASS IN THIS SESSION, THAT $10.7 MILLION WILL GO DOWN. SO BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE ESTIMATES AT THIS TIME. AND WE'RE LOOKING ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO $10 MILLION IN POTENTIAL REDUCTIONS FROM THE STATE. AND THEN OUR FUND BALANCE, WE'RE PROPOSING A REDUCTION OF USE OF FUND BALANCE OF $20.2 MILLION. SO THE TOTAL CHANGE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET WOULD BE THE 16.7. SO THESE ARE THE LINE ITEM INCREASES AND DECREASES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS PROPOSING FOR FY 26. THE FIRST ONE IS OUR WAGE PACKAGE OF ABOUT $13 MILLION. WE ARE PROPOSING A REDUCTION IN SYSTEM WIDE STAFFING, APPROXIMATELY 167 POSITIONS FOR $15.4 MILLION. WE HAVE SOME INCREASED AP COST FOR THE AP TESTS, $477,000, AND THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANTS THAT ARE IN PLACE THIS YEAR. THOSE STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO GO TO OPERATING BASED ON THE STATE NINE POSITION, 613,000 ELECTRICITY. AGAIN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS. THE PROPOSED RATES ARE SIGNIFICANT FOR NEXT YEAR. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT A $3 MILLION INCREASE FOR ELECTRICITY. THEN
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THE NEXT SECTION IS OUR INSURANCE AND FIXED CHARGES. THIS IS BASICALLY OUR PENSION SYSTEM. HEALTH CARE BENEFITS, LIABILITY INSURANCE OPEB FUNDING, WHICH WE REMOVED LAST YEAR. WE ARE PROPOSING TO PUT $1 MILLION BACK IN THERE FOR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. THAT'S AS A RESULT OF OUR ACTUARIAL VALUATION. AND WITHOUT HAVING ANY DEFINED CONTRIBUTION TO THAT, OUR LIABILITY INCREASES SUBSTANTIALLY. SO THE TOTAL OF THAT IS $13.1 MILLION. WE HAVE THE ESTIMATE OF RECURRING COSTS RELATED TO THE DETECTION SYSTEMS THAT WE'VE PURCHASED OF ALMOST 400,000. THE BOARD AUTHORIZED US TO HIRE AN ADDITIONAL TEN CELLS FOR FY 25. WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THOSE IN THE BUDGET, SO WE NEED TO ADD THAT IN FOR ALMOST 700,000. AND OUR CONTRACTED BUS INCREASE, THAT'S A NORMAL INCREASE THAT WE HAVE EACH YEAR. AS THOSE PAY RATES ARE TIED TO OUR SALARY SCHEDULES. SO THE TOTAL OF ALL OF THOSE INCREASES AGAIN IS THE 16.7 MILLION. THAT'S HOW WE COME TO THAT NUMBER. AND A TOTAL OR NET REDUCTION OF 148 POSITIONS. THIS IS A SUMMARY AGAIN JUST BY AREA TYPE OF INCREASES. THE CAPITAL IS REALLY DIVIDED INTO TWO AREAS STATE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND LOCAL ONLY PROJECTS. SO THIS FIRST SCREEN SHOWS YOU THE STATE REQUEST OF 21.8 MILLION AND THE LOCAL REQUEST OF 61.7 MILLION. THEN THE LOCAL ONLY PROJECTS ARE LISTED HERE. AGAIN, THE DETAIL IS AVAILABLE IN THE AGENDA LINK ON THE WEBSITE. I'M NOT GOING THROUGH ALL OF THESE. THEY ARE PRIORITIZED AND THE TOTAL AGAIN FOR THE STATE IS 21.8 MILLION AND THE TOTAL LOCAL REQUEST, INCLUDING THE STATE FUNDED ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, IS $123 MILLION. SO FOR A TOTAL CAPITAL INCREASE OF 144.8 MILLION. SO THAT IS OUR BRIEF OVERVIEW. AND UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, WE CAN TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT. NO WE DON'T. THANK YOU. THAT WAS MEANT TO BE THE CLIFFSNOTES VERSION, OBVIOUSLY. AND THERE'S NO BOARD QUESTIONS ON THIS THIS EVENING.SO WE'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO TONIGHT'S PURPOSE, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. IN PERSON, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK IF THEY'RE AN INDIVIDUAL OR FIVE MINUTES IF THEY'RE REPRESENTING A GROUP. SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND MAY BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED EITHER THEIR THREE OR THEIR FIVE MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. THIS HAS VIRTUAL SPEAKERS FIRST. IS THAT RIGHT? CORRECT. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE. WE HAVE ONE REGISTERED AND OFF. MISS SLATER SEES THEM ON THE LINE OR NOT. AT THIS POINT, WE DO NOT HAVE A VIRTUAL SPEAKER WAITING IN THE LOBBY. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. WE CAN COME BACK AT THE END. AND LET'S START WITH IN PERSON SPEAKERS, PLEASE. OKAY. THIS EVENING WE WILL START WITH DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY RON EATON. I'M DAVID BAUER ON THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW. I THINK YOUR HIGHEST PRIORITY SHOULD BE GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND AND SPEAK AT TOMORROW EVENING'S COUNTY BUDGET INPUT SESSION. SERIOUSLY, DO YOU WANT TO STRESS OUT TEACHERS THROUGH INSUFFICIENT PAY OR THROUGH INSUFFICIENT SUPPORT? DO YOU WANT TO STRESS OUT YOUR PRINCIPALS THROUGH MISSING TEACHERS OR MISSING OTHER VITAL STAFF? HOW ABOUT ALL OF THE ABOVE? THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THAT IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND YOURSELVES IN JUNE. YOU NEED TO TRY TO PREVENT THAT, AND YOU NEED TO WARN THE WHOLE COUNTY ABOUT THE RISKS OF DISASTROUS CUTS AND FEES. I REALLY FEEL SORRY FOR YOU ALL IN THIS POSITION. I AM AWARE THAT I WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE TO MAKE THESE DIFFICULT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS DURING MY TIME ON THE BOARD. I KNOW ALSO THAT MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING ARE SOMEWHAT REPETITIOUS OF MY COMMENTS AT THE LAST TWO BOARD MEETINGS, BUT I HAVE BEEN DISTURBED BY SOME COMMENTS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT. THERE IS STILL TIME TO INFLUENCE OUR FUNDING AT BOTH THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS, AND YOU PROBABLY SHOULD BE LOBBYING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TOO. GIVEN RUMORS ABOUT THE NEW OCCUPANTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. NOW,
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ONCE YOU ARE PAST THAT, ONCE YOU SEE WHETHER THIS NEW BUDGET IS GOING TO BE BAD FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM OR DISASTROUS, THEN I HOPE THAT YOUR THREE YEAR PLAN WILL INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASES FOR THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES. PLEASE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT COMPRESSING THE WHOLE BUDGET SCALE UPWARD. THE CPS WEBSITE SHOWS A LOT OF VACANCIES FOR INCLUSION. HELPER PARAEDUCATOR POSITIONS, BUS DRIVERS AND BUS ATTENDANTS. SO PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A SPECIAL ITEM IN YOUR LONG TERM PLANNING. THANK YOU ALL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. I'M HARD OF HEARING, SO HOLD ON. I HAVEN'T STARTED YET. GOOD EVENING, MR. PRESIDENT.SUPERINTENDENT, BOARD MEMBERS, THOSE OF YOU WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY IN UNIFORM OR AS A SERVICE MEMBER. SPOUSE. THANK YOU. AFTER 38 YEARS, I KNOW THE SERVICE MEMBERS WRAP THEMSELVES IN THE AMERICAN FLAG EVERY DAY. THEY ARE TRUE PATRIOTS. AS AN 11 YEAR BOARD MEMBER BETWEEN 85 AND 96, I WAS HONORED TO SERVE WITH GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO BELIEVED IN THE VALUE OF EDUCATION AND THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTILLING AN APPETITE FOR LIFE LIFELONG LEARNING. WE SUPPORTED EDUCATION, EXCUSE ME, EDUCATION IN EVERY REGARD, AND FACED CHALLENGES NOT UNLIKE THOSE YOU FACE TODAY. WE AGGRESSIVELY CHAMPIONED THE CAUSE OF FUNDING IN THE COMMUNITY AND AMONG ELECTED OFFICIALS. I APPRECIATE THE APPREHENSION YOU FACE. I'M HERE TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAL ASSET PROVIDED BY MOTHER NATURE, NAMELY HARFORD GLEN. IF YOU HAVE NOT VISITED THE GLEN, YOU WILL FIND TWO VIDEOS ON THE WEBSITE THAT DEMONSTRATE HOW STUDENTS VIEW IT. WHEN THE ARMY TRANSFERRED TO THE PROPERTY IN 1948, THE BOARD ACCEPTED A CONDITION THAT HARFORD GLEN BE USED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. HENCE IT IS NOT AND IT IS NOT A PARK OR RECREATIONAL AREA. EARLY ON, DAY TRIP PROGRAMS WERE CONDUCTED FROM 1953 TO 79. BETWEEN 1957 AND 65, A LIMITED NUMBER OF OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCES WERE PROVIDED AT THE FRESH AIR CAMP.
OVERNIGHT ACTIVITY BEGAN IN EARNEST AT HARFORD GLEN IN 1980, BUT WAS CONSTRAINED BY CAPACITY.
THE SLOW TO ENGAGE THE GLEN EVOLVED INTO A HIGH VALUE, MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CLASSROOM. YOU MAY WONDER HOW THAT HAPPENED. IN THE 80S, THE BOARD TOOK POSSESSION OF THE PROGRAM OWNERSHIP, IF YOU WILL, AND TURNED IT INTO A TRADITIONAL HOOPS. I JUMP THE PAGE HERE. I'M SORRY. BUILDING HARFORD GLEN FUTURE AS A CURRICULUM BASED ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSROOM. THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MANY PERSONNEL AND THE STAFF ENGAGED THE PROGRAM AT THE DIRECTION OF THE BOARD. WITH A HOUSING CAPACITY OF 120, IN 1997 COMPLETED, IT NOW SERVES NEARLY 3000 STUDENTS, FIFTH GRADERS, AND ANNUALLY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT COUNTY EXECUTIVES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED CAPITAL FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT THE GLEN CAN PROVIDE FIFTH GRADE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM TO ALL FIFTH GRADERS. IT IS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT ALSO PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSROOM VENUE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, HIGH SCHOOL ZOOLOGY CLASSES, AND SO FORTH. THE GLEN HOSTS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. LET ME LET ME JUST CLOSE HERE.
CAN YOU JUST TURN THE TIMER OFF? THE POSITIVE AND SYNERGISTIC EFFECT FOR STUDENTS SOCIAL INTERACTION AND EDUCATION IS MANIFOLD AND CANNOT BE OVERSTATED, AND THAT A BROAD BASE OF PARENTS BELIEVE IN AND SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. I ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THE BOARD BOARD'S OWNERSHIP BY SUSTAINING RESOURCES. IN CLOSING, I OFFER A PERSPECTIVE THAT MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBER IN THE LATE THE LATE DOCTOR PERCY WILLIAMS, STATED, THIS IS A WONDERFUL IDEA. MOTHER NATURE IS A NON-JUDGMENTAL, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EDUCATOR. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. IF YOU DIDN'T GET ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS THROUGH, I KNOW YOU STARTED A LITTLE BIT LATE. IF YOU DIDN'T GET ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS THROUGH, YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL US YOUR FULL COMMENTS AT. I'M SEEING FOR ANYONE THAT DOESN'T GET THROUGH THEIR FULL 3 OR 5 MINUTES THIS EVENING, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TANISHA GANNON, FOLLOWED BY TINA GRAF.
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GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS TANISHA GANNON, HARTFORD COUNTY SCHOOL EMPLOYEE AND PRESIDENT OF ACM LOCAL 2471. WE'RE MAKING THESE CUTS. PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S FUTURE. THINK ABOUT THE HARDSHIP THIS MAY CAUSE ON THE EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY. THEIR ABILITY TO COME TO A CLEAN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, INTERACTING WITH EMPLOYEES THAT MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE. WHAT I'VE LEARNED FROM WORKING FOR HARFORD COUNTY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS IS THAT CHILDREN WANT TO BE LOVED, FEEL HEALTHY AND SAFE, THINK ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES WHO ENTER THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY, WHO HAVE A COMMON GOAL TO SEE THE STUDENTS SUCCEED TO A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TINA GRAF, AND I'M THE PROUD SCHOOL SAFETY LIAISON AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE TAKING THIS POSITION, I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WSLS DID BEFORE THE MURDER OF JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL. I BELIEVE MANY ON THIS BOARD HAD NO IDEA EITHER. LAST YEAR, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WAS PUBLICLY QUESTIONING INCREASED LINE ITEMS FOR MY DEPARTMENT. AT THE SAME TIME, HE WAS CLAIMING SCHOOL SAFETY WAS A TOP PRIORITY. THIS YEAR, HE MIRACULOUSLY FOUND $1.1 MILLION TO ENHANCE SECURITY IN SCHOOLS.OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS FINALLY MADE SCHOOL SAFETY A PRIORITY, BUT IT TOOK THE DEATH OF A STUDENT TO GARNER HIS ATTENTION. THE PERCEPTION IS THAT SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE AT A GREATER RISK THAN OTHERS. THE REALITY IS THAT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE EQUALLY AT RISK, OR RELY HEAVILY ON ALL OF OUR STAFF, AS I CANNOT DO MY JOB ALONE. A REDUCTION IN STAFF DOES NOT JUST AFFECT STUDENT PERFORMANCE. IT ALSO MEANS AN INCREASE IN THE POTENTIAL OF DISCIPLINE AND DISRUPTION. REDUCING STAFF IS NOT MAKING PRIORITY, NOT MAKING SAFETY A PRIORITY. THE PERCEPTION IS THAT OUR SROS ARE KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE AND BY BEING ARMED, THEY ARE. THE REALITY IS THE SCHOOLS ARE THE ONES WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE ARE THE FRONT LINE, AND WE'VE NOW BEEN TASKED WITH USING METAL DETECTORS TO SEARCH FOR WEAPONS. I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR MY DEPARTMENT AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR SROS. OUR DUTIES ARE NOT THE SAME. WE ARE PARTNERS WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT. IN THE FALL, I HAD A DAD ASKED ME IF I WAS CARRYING. I STOOD THERE DUMBFOUNDED, THINKING HE WAS TALKING ABOUT MY WEIGHT. CARRYING A WEAPON IS AS FOREIGN TO ME AS AN SRO USING E-SCHOOL. I'M NOT AN SRO YET. WE ARE REQUIRED TO DO THE SAME MANDATORY STATE TRAINING TO DO OUR JOBS. SO WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE ADDITIONAL 1.1 MILLION IN FUNDING, IT WAS DECIDED TO USE IT FOR METAL DETECTORS AND HIRING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL SAFETY LIAISONS. BUT YOU NEGLECTED TO REMEMBER US WHEN YOU ALLOCATED THAT MONEY, FORGETTING IT WAS YOUR CELLS THAT WOULD BE HIT THE HARDEST. WE ARE NOW INCURRING ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH FALL OUTSIDE THE REALM OF OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED. I DID NOT SIGN UP TO BE A TSA AGENT, NOR BE THE FIRST IN LINE TO SEARCH BAGS FOR WEAPONS. THANK GOD WE HAVE OUR HEROES TO PROTECT US, BUT IT IS YOUR CELLS THAT ARE DOING THE SEARCHES. AND WHILE I APPRECIATE THE EXTRA $19 IN MY LAST PAYCHECK, IT'S ABSURD TO THINK MY TEAM DOES NOT WARRANT ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR WHAT WE ARE NOW DOING AND THE RISKS THAT WE ARE INCURRING. TO THAT END, I ASKED WHY WE WERE EVEN, WHY WE WERE PLACED IN ACM. ALTHOUGH TUNISIA HAS BEEN A HUGE ADVOCATE, CELLS ARE JUST AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN OUR NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT AS MOST EVERYTHING REFERENCES CUSTODIANS AND TRANSPORTATION. THERE IS ONE PAGE WITH OUR SALARY, AND OUR JOB TITLE HAS SIMPLY BEEN INSERTED TO EXISTING TEXT. OUR DUTY DAY LUNCH BREAKS AND HOW WE ACCRUE TIME ARE ALIGNED WITH CUSTODIANS. YET OUR DUTIES ARE NOT REMOTELY SIMILAR. I'VE PERSONALLY INVITED EACH ONE OF YOU TO SPEND TIME WITH ME. OTHER THAN WADE, NOT ONE OF YOU HAS ENTERTAINED MY NUMEROUS REQUESTS. I KNOW YOU WILL BE AT MY SCHOOL THIS MONTH, BUT DOG AND PONY SHOW WILL NOT GIVE YOU THE SLIGHTEST INKLING OF WHAT WE DO. I KNOW MOST OF THIS BOARD APPRECIATE US. WE KNOW THAT.
PLEASE SHOW US BY ADVOCATING TO INCREASE THE SSL SALARY TO REFLECT OUR NEW RESPONSIBILITIES. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELIZABETH MASON, FOLLOWED BY JAMES MCVICAR. ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. I HAVE RECENTLY WAS GRANTED THE HONOR OF WORKING WITHIN THE OFFICE AT CHURCH CREEK ELEMENTARY, A SCHOOL THAT HOLDS THE CARE OF 749 SOULS. IN MY SHORT TIME THERE, I HAVE MOVED COUNTLESS CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND GUARDIANS THAT HAVE DEEPLY MOVED ME, GIVING A FAR GREATER PERSPECTIVE INTO THE CRUCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS MAINTAIN. I'VE WITNESSED OUR COUNSELORS EFFORTS, WITH THE
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CHILD'S GUARDIAN RECOVERING FROM MAJOR SURGERY TO HELP COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STUDENT TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. OUR LEAD SECRETARY COMFORTING A YOUNGER STUDENT, SADDENED BY A PARENTAL DISPUTE THAT GAVE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. ONE EDUCATOR STAYED FOR HOURS AFTER THE SCHOOL DAY FOR MEETINGS TO RESOLVE ATTENDANCE. ISSUES WITH PARENTS ARE SEVERAL CUSTODIANS ARE. I'M SO SORRY, HAVE TO CLEAN UP BIOHAZARDS, BUT DO IT WITH A SMILE TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. ADMINISTRATORS THAT TAKE THE TIME, THAT LISTEN TO A STUDENT THAT FELT BULLIED IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT. I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER VOCATION THAT CREATES INDIVIDUALS WHO GIVE MANY HOURS OUTSIDE OF THEIR DAILY JOB TO GIVE EMPATHY TO NOT ONLY STUDENTS, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES THAT STAND BEHIND THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT SUPPORT ISN'T THERE TO GIVE EVEN MORE OF THEMSELVES OUT OF COMPASSION OR LOVE OF THAT INDIVIDUAL. THE SUPERINTENDENT IN FRONT OF ME BEING A SUPERIOR ILLUSTRATION OF THE FEAR FOR OUR COUNTRY'S EDUCATIONAL STABILITY, I'VE BEEN WRESTLING WITH WHAT TO SAY WITHIN THIS LIMITED TIME DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF TONIGHT'S TOPIC. WATCHING DOCTOR OLSON'S PRESENTATION LAST WEEK DETAILING EVERY OPTION AVAILABLE FOR DEALING WITH THIS 60 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL MADE THIS PATH EVEN TOUGHER. ONE OPTION HE PROPOSED WAS REMOVING 150 CRUCIAL POSITIONS WITHIN CPS, ALONG WITH THE AWFUL IDEA OF SHUTTING DOWN OUR OWN DARLINGTON ELEMENTARY. THE WELL THOUGHT OUT PROPOSITIONS FROM CAROL MUELLER IN DISTRICT C, INCLUDING HARFORD GLEN REMOVING OVERNIGHT STAYS BANNED, BEING CUT FROM FOURTH GRADE AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS LOSING THEIR FOREIGN LANGUAGE ONLY ADDRESS SMALL PERCENTAGES OF REDUCTIONS. ULTIMATELY, NO GROUP OF OPTIONS DEEMED UNNECESSARY TO A STUDENT'S EDUCATION CAN ADDRESS THE 1500 DEFICIT THEY EACH FACE, LEAVING OUR COLLISION WITH THE NEGATIVE PATH THAT WILL DAMAGE OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURES, AS SPOKEN BY DOCTOR OLSON.UNEQUIVOCALLY, YES, THIS WILL IMPACT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WE DON'T HAVE ANY GOOD OPTIONS, SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL MAKE THE LEAST HARMFUL DECISIONS POSSIBLE. SADLY, WE FACE SAFETY AS A LARGER THREAT THAN EVER TO OUR STUDENTS. JUST MONTHS AGO, HARFORD COUNTY FACED ITS OWN TRAGEDY DUE TO GUN VIOLENCE. A 50 YEAR OLD LOSING HIS LIFE WITHIN HIS OWN SCHOOL. PUBLIC SUGGESTIONS ARE OVERWHELMING, BUT THE COST OF SECURITY OPTIONS CAUSED THE SCHOOL BUDGET TO EXPONENTIALLY MULTIPLY. METAL DETECTOR COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANT, ALONG WITH REQUIRING NEW STAFF TO OVERSEE THE SCHOOLS THAT GET THEM. THE SMALL AMOUNT OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE BEING SPLIT AMONG MULTIPLE SCHOOLS, AS IT IS. IN A 2024 STATEMENT, CASTLE SAID, PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY TOP PRIORITY. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE SAFE IN SCHOOL. LAST YEAR, I PROVIDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL SROS WITH 55 SCHOOLS AND 38,063 STUDENTS. IN OUR COUNT, IS THAT SUFFICIENT TO COVER FOR OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY? ADDING THE INTEGRAL NEEDS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SAFETY, STAFF WAGES, STRIVE NEEDS, BUILDING CONDITIONS. THEREFORE, MY DESPERATE PLEA GOES TO ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO HOLDS THE POWER TO SAVE THIS FUTURE OF THIS COUNTY. ROBERT CASSILLY BOB HAS BEEN THE HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE SINCE DECEMBER 22ND, AND HE WAS ONLY ELECTED TO THIS POSITION AFTER USING PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ORDER TO SERVE THE PEOPLE. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN SUBMIT THAT NOW. THAT'S OKAY. YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF US IN WRITING, IF YOU LIKE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ACTUALLY, COULD I GET FIVE MINUTES, PLEASE? I'M REPRESENTING EACH CLASS. IS THAT POSSIBLE? WE RESTART THE CLOCK AT FIVE MINUTES. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THERE YOU GO. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS TREY MCVICKER, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE HARFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL UNIFIED PLATFORM FOR STUDENT VOICES IN HARFORD COUNTY, REPRESENTING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS FROM ALL HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY. WE ARE THE ONLY STUDENT LED ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER PERSPECTIVES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY, ENSURING THAT EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF SCHOOL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE, HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE BUT CRITICAL TO AMPLIFY STUDENT VOICES, ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL CHANGE, AND DEVELOP OUR NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS. THROUGH OUR MEETINGS, EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES, WE PROVIDE A DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND DECISION MAKERS, ENSURING OUR POLICIES ARE SHAPED NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS, BUT WITH STUDENTS. ONE OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITIES IS CONDUCTING THE ELECTION OF THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THIS POSITION IS MORE THAN JUST A TITLE. IT IS THE MOST DIRECT WAY FOR STUDENTS TO BE REPRESENTED IN COUNTYWIDE DECISIONS EVERY YEAR. EVERY YEAR WE ENSURE A FAIR, TRANSPARENT ELECTION PROCESS THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO CHOOSE THE PEER WHO WILL ADVOCATE FOR THEIR INTERESTS AT THIS VERY TABLE. WITHOUT CHRIST LEADERSHIP IN THIS PROCESS, STUDENTS WOULD LOSE A VITAL LINK BETWEEN THEIR NEEDS AND THE POLICIES THAT AFFECT THEIR EDUCATION. AS PRESIDENT, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF LEADING AN INCREDIBLE TEAM OF STUDENT LEADERS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO IMPROVING SCHOOLS, WHETHER THROUGH POLICY, ADVOCATE, ADVOCACY, STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, OR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. EACH PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN SHAPING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE IN HARFORD COUNTY. WE KNOW THAT MAY NOT BE THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE OF THE NIGHT, BUT OUR WORK IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING THAT STUDENT VOICES REMAIN A CENTRAL PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. NO OTHER ORGANIZATION PROVIDES THIS LEVEL OF DIRECT STUDENT REPRESENTATION AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS THE COUNTY. THIS IS NOT JUST AN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY, IS AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVES. YOUR INITIATIVES, WHETHER FOCUSED ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OR SCHOOL SAFETY, ARE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE EXPERIENCES OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE REPRESENT. OUR COLLABORATION
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ENSURES THAT POLICY DECISIONS ALIGN WITH THE REAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY.WITHOUT A CREST, THERE WOULD BE A CRITICAL GAP IN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE LEADERS SHAPING THEIR EDUCATION. OF COURSE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT AND FUNDING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. YOUR INVESTMENT IN CHRIST ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE OUR WORK, ENSURING THAT STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ENGAGE IN CIVIC ADVOCACY, AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN SHAPING THEIR EDUCATION. FUNDING IS ESSENTIAL IN ENSURING THAT ALL STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY. AS PART OF THIS, FUNDING GOES TOWARDS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS TO ATTENDING OUR MEETINGS, ALLOWING REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY PART OF THE COUNTY, NOT JUST THOSE WHO CAN FIND THEIR OWN WAY THERE. ADDITIONALLY, IT HELPS REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BURDENS ON STUDENTS ATTENDING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCES, MAKING THESE INVALUABLE EXPERIENCES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE. BY CONTINUING TO FUND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS ENSURING THAT STUDENT LEADERSHIP REMAINS EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE, GIVING EVERY STUDENT THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP THEIR VOICE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. WITHOUT THIS FUNDING, STUDENTS WOULD LOSE A CRUCIAL PLATFORM TO EXPRESS CONCERNS ON KEY ISSUES LIKE ECONOMIC POLICIES, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. IT WOULD SEND A MESSAGE THAT THE STUDENT VOICE IS NOT A PRIORITY. BEYOND ADVOCACY IS ALSO WORKED TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THIS YEAR THROUGH EVENTS LIKE OUR BINGO NIGHT AND FIVE K RUN. THESE EVENTS FOSTER A SCHOOL SPIRIT, BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND REINFORCE THE IDEA THAT STUDENT LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT GOVERNANCE. IT'S ABOUT COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND ENGAGEMENT. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SINCERELY THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ITS CONTINUED PARTICIPATION, SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS. YOUR DEDICATION TO UPLIFTING STUDENT LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OUR SUCCESS, FROM ATTENDING OUR EVENTS TO PROVIDING FUNDING TO OUR INITIATIVES, YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT YOU VALUE STUDENT VOICES, AND WE DEEPLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO KEEPING THEM AT THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR DECISION MAKING. NOW MORE THAN EVER, INVESTING IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP IS INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY. WHEN STUDENTS ARE EMPOWERED TO LEAD, THEY DON'T JUST IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS, THEY GAIN THE CONFIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE TO BECOME THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. AND WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND FOR EVERY STUDENT AND FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO DESERVES TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD. THANK YOU ALL. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA ROMANO, FOLLOWED BY VIRAJ SINGH. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF HARTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TONIGHT. MY NAME IS MELISSA ROMANO, AND I AM THE COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR BIRTH TO FIVE. I AM REPRESENTING 6151 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, BIRTH TO 21 AND 1205 PRE PRE-KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN. AS YOU MAY KNOW, 90% OF A CHILD'S BRAIN DEVELOPS WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE. THIS IS A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO OVERLOOK. EARLY INTERVENTION IN THESE FORMATIVE YEARS IS KEY TO ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, WHETHER ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL. HOWEVER, FOR EARLY INTERVENTION TO TRULY BE EFFECTIVE, WE NEED NOT ONLY THE RIGHT PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES, BUT ALSO SUFFICIENT WELL TRAINED STAFF WHO CAN IMPLEMENT THEM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY. IN OUR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS, EVERY MINUTE IS DEVOTED TO LEARNING. EVERY MINUTE ONE CHILD MIGHT BE LEARNING TO TOY TRAIN WITH THE SUPPORT OF AN ADULT, WHILE ANOTHER IS LEARNING TO USE A FUNCTIONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE TO COMMUNICATE. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL ARE FACILITATING SMALL GROUP LESSONS, GUIDING CHILDREN THROUGH ACTIVITIES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING PLAY. EVERY MOMENT COUNTS. BUT TO MAKE THIS KIND OF INDIVIDUALIZED, HANDS ON LEARNING POSSIBLE, WE MUST HAVE THE STAFFING IN PLACE TO MEET EACH CHILD'S NEEDS. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES AMONG CHILDREN, BOTH WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES, PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, ELOPING, AND OTHER BEHAVIORS CREATE CHALLENGES NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS INVOLVED, BUT FOR THE ENTIRE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THESE BEHAVIORS, IF LEFT UNADDRESSED, CAN JUST DISRUPT LEARNING AND COMPROMISE SAFETY FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND STAFF. WITHOUT SUFFICIENT TRAINED STAFF, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES EFFECTIVELY, WHICH COMPROMISES THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AND SAFETY IN OUR CLASSROOMS. IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE THE NECESSARY STAFF TO SUPPORT THESE COMPLEX NEEDS, WE RISK CREATING ENVIRONMENTS WHERE LEARNING IS NO LONGER THE FOCUS AND WHERE THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE COMPROMISED. EDUCATORS WILL TO FACE OVERWHELMING WORKLOADS, AND ULTIMATELY, WE RISK LOSING THEM TO BURNOUT OR FRUSTRATION. WITHOUT PROPER STAFFING, WE CANNOT ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD RECEIVES THE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION THEY DESERVE. AND WITHOUT THIS, WE FAIL. NOT JUST OUR CHILDREN, BUT OUR COMMUNITY. HTTPS HAS WORKED
[00:30:04]
COLLABORATIVELY AND THOUGHTFULLY TO PRESENT A PROPOSED BUDGET WHILE FACING TREMENDOUS BUDGET DEFICITS. PLEASE CONSIDER THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL WITH COMPLEX NEEDS, AND WE MUST HAVE THE STAFFING AND SUPPORT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS TO ENSURE A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CHILDREN. I URGE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO APPROVE THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, AS WELL AS ADVOCATE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO SUPPORT. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RAJ SINGH AND I'M HERE TONIGHT AS THE TREASURER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS, THE OFFICIAL STUDENT VOICE FOR THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS HARFORD COUNTY. HER TASK IS MORE THAN JUST A LEADERSHIP ORGANIZATION. IT'S A PLATFORM WHERE STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, SCHOOL OR EXPERIENCE, CAN COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. WE ELECT THE STUDENT MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HOST FORUMS TO DISCUSS ISSUES THAT IMPACT US, AND WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENT LEADERS TO CREATE REAL CHANGE. BUT NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT SUPPORT, WITHOUT FUNDING, OUR ABILITY TO ENGAGE STUDENTS, TRAIN FUTURE LEADERS, AND ADVOCATE FOR MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS IS AT RISK. AND THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT US. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENT VOICE REPRESENTS. WHEN STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN DECISIONS THAT SHAPE THEIR EDUCATION, THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING, THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR FUTURES.THEY LEARN THAT THEIR PERSPECTIVES MATTER, THAT THEY AREN'T JUST SITTING IN CLASSROOMS. RATHER, THEY'RE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN SHAPING THEM. TWO YEARS FROM NOW, I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE. I DON'T EVEN HAVE YOUNGER STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT THIS WORK ISN'T ABOUT ME. IT'S ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO COME AFTER ME. THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, ADVOCATES AND CHANGE MAKERS. AND IF WE WANT THEM TO BE ENGAGED TO BELIEVE THAT THEIR VOICES MATTER, WE NEED TO SHOW THEM THAT THEY DO. NOW, HE HAS BEEN FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE BOARD SUPPORT IN THE PAST, AND WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. AND WE REALLY ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP, NOT JUST FOR US TODAY, BUT FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WILL CARRY THIS WORK FORWARD INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN DAVIS, FOLLOWED BY CINDY PEPPER. HELLO. MY NAME IS JUSTIN DAVIS, A SENIOR AT BEL AIR HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO BRING UP TODAY IS ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON WHY THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR ALLOCATED FUNDS. NOW, I KNOW ALL OF YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT WE DO, BUT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT MUCH ABOUT WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE INVOLVED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO HELP SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS, I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT IT'S DONE FOR ME. IN FACT, LAST YEAR WAS MY FIRST YEAR AS PART OF STUDENT STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND MY FIRST YEAR ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD. BUT TO GIVE YOU EVEN MORE BACKGROUND, I'VE DEVOTED SEEMINGLY ALL OF MY TIME IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL TO TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY MADE AVAILABLE TO ME. I'VE GOTTEN MY EAGLE SCOUT, I'M THE CAPTAIN OF MY SCHOOL'S DRUMLINE. I'M A MEMBER OF FIVE OF THE HONOR SOCIETIES AT MY SCHOOL. I HELP LEAD THE FCA AT MY SCHOOL. I'M A NATIONALLY COMPETITIVE CYCLIST.
I WAS ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR TWO YEARS. I SPENT FIVE YEARS IN THE US NAVAL SEA CADET CORPS, AND I'M AND I'VE BEEN A CLASS COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. WHILE THE LIST GOES ON, I MENTION ALL OF THESE THINGS BECAUSE OF THE VALUE H CROSS HAS AND HOW IT DOESN'T EVEN COMPARE TO YOUR AVERAGE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY. I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH THE INFLUENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES THEY'VE PROVIDED FOR ME, AND THE TYPES OF PEOPLE I'VE BEEN SURROUNDED BY IN THIS ORGANIZATION. IT'S GENUINELY SOMETHING YOU WON'T FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. THE ENTIRE EXECUTIVE BOARD STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE ALL LIKELY SOME OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT AND DEDICATED PEOPLE I'LL MEET IN MY ENTIRE SCHOOL CAREER. THIS BEGS THE QUESTION WHY DON'T WHY DON'T WE PRESENT THIS KIND OF OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN MORE HC STUDENTS? WITH THE INCREASINGLY SCARCE AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES THIS COUNTY HAS, IT SHOULD BE KNOWN THAT HE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INSPIRE STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY TO GET MORE INVOLVED AND SEE THE POTENTIAL THEY TRULY HAVE. IF WE'RE PROVIDED THE MONEY WE NEED TO SURVIVE. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR CURRENT MEMBERS, WE ARE EAGER TO EXPOSE MORE PEOPLE TO WHAT ARE LEGITIMATE STUDENT RUN PROGRAM ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE, AND WE'RE EAGER TO GROW. FINALLY, WHAT I'M MAINLY HOPING ALL OF YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET ABOUT WHAT GRACE HAS DONE FOR ME, EVEN AFTER MY FINAL YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, THE THINGS HE WAS ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PAST YEAR ARE THINGS THAT WILL STICK WITH ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. THIS SORT OF EXPERIENCE CAN'T BE REPLICATED, TRULY APPRECIATES ALL THE
[00:35:04]
SUPPORT THAT WE CAN GET. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, LIKE ME, UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES AND FRUSTRATIONS THAT SURROUND WHERE WE ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET. THE HARSH REALITY IS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT BUSINESS AS USUAL. I APPRECIATE AND WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE FACT THAT YOU ARE NOT ANTICIPATING MAKING ANY CRAZY EXPERIMENTS WITH SCHOOL BASED ADMINISTRATION THIS GO AROUND, AND THAT YOU ARE NOT, AT THIS POINT MAKING MAJOR CUTS TO ESPS. HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP SOME OF THE THINGS THAT OUR KIDS WILL NEED MOVING FORWARD AS OUR CLASS SIZES INCREASE AND MANY OF OUR OTHER RESOURCES DECREASE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TOOLS THAT WE USE TO BRIDGE THE GAPS THAT UNDERFUNDING IS CREATING. IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN ACHIEVEMENT SCORES BY USING PROGRAMS LIKE DREAMBOX AND IREADY. THESE RESOURCES FOCUS ON THE AREAS THAT OUR KIDS NEED EXTRA HELP WITH. WITHOUT DIRECT INSTRUCTION FROM CLASSROOM TEACHERS OR STAFF, THESE PROGRAMS CAN ASSIST THE STUDENTS BY ADDRESSING DEFICITS THAT CANNOT BE ADDRESSED DURING NORMAL CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND INSTRUCTION. THEY WILL, WE HOPE, PROVE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS BY INCREASING OUR STUDENTS ACHIEVEMENT ON MCAT AND OTHER STANDARDIZED TESTS. CPS STAFF HAVE BECOME EXPERTS AT DOING MORE WITH LESS. AT THIS POINT, WE EXCEL AT IT AS IT HAS BEEN A NECESSITY FOR YEARS. HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT MIRACLE WORKERS AND WE'RE NOT MAGICIANS. WE NEED TO RETAIN SOME OF THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR KIDS. IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, PLEASE TRY TO RETAIN THOSE THINGS THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO OUR STUDENTS WITHOUT ADDING ADDITIONAL BURDENS TO OUR STAFF.FINALLY, I HOPE NO. I EXPECT I WILL SEE EACH OF YOU TOMORROW NIGHT PUBLICLY ADVOCATING FOR WHAT CPS NEEDS FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE. YOUR ADVOCACY IN THIS FORUM IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JACOB BENNETT. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. HELLO, JACOB BENNETT AND I DON'T NEED A GROUP. I'LL JUST SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES. SO THAT CAN BE WHEN IT GOES TO TWO MINUTES. BUT I JUST WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M GOING TO SPEAK THROUGH THE LENS OF INSTRUCTION AND ACHIEVEMENT. BUT AS FRED ROGERS WOULD SAY, EVERYTHING GROWS TOGETHER. SO I PROMISE IT ALL DOES CONNECT BACK TO THE BUDGET. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR, YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN I WAS SPEAKING BEFORE YOU, ALL, I SAID HTTPS IS A BEAUTIFUL CEILING. BUT WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THE CONDITION OF THE FLOOR. IT'S JUST KIND OF PUT A PIN ON THAT POINT. OUR HIGHEST PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LANGUAGE ARTS LAST YEAR HAD A 76.9% PROFICIENCY RATE, WHICH IS GREAT. OUR LOWEST PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAD A 24.5% PROFICIENCY RATE. THAT'S AN OVER 50 POINT GAP BETWEEN OUR HIGHEST AND LOWEST PERFORMING SCHOOLS, WHICH IS JUST TWO VERY DIFFERENT REALITIES LIVED AMONGST THOSE CHILDREN AND FAMILY AND STAFF.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TOP 20 PERFORMING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON MCAT, ONLY TWO OF THEM FEED INTO A ROUTE 40 SECONDARY SCHOOL. AGAIN, THAT CREATES TWO DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT REALITIES FOR THOSE FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO SUPPORT THOSE SCHOOLS AND CREATE CONDITIONS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO STAFF CERTAIN SCHOOLS AT A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL TO SUPPORT ALL THE AUXILIARY NEEDS THAT COME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO READ OR DO MATH ON GRADE LEVEL. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS YOU PREPARE A BUDGET, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT FIXES THAT GAP LONG TERM. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S RELIGION IS PERSONAL TO THEM, BUT I WILL SHARE THAT WHAT'S IMPRINTED ON MY HEART IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE LEAST OF THESE YOU'VE DONE FOR ME. AND I SIT AT NIGHT AND WONDER, WHAT ARE WE DOING TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US? WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE THAT THOSE OF GREATEST NEED GET GREATEST GAIN? YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WHATEVER CUTS COME OUR WAY DO NOT IMPACT THOSE FOUNDATIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL PIECES OF BIRTH THROUGH THIRD GRADE, THAT WE MAKE THAT A PROTECTED STATE, BECAUSE WE KNOW IF WE IMPACT THOSE STUDENTS NEGATIVELY, WE'LL BE PAYING FOR IT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS TILL THEY GRADUATE. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHO FINISH THIRD GRADE ON GRADE LEVEL, NOT NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THAT. I ALSO THINK IN LOOKING AT NATIONAL DATA, AND I EMAILED DOCTOR OLSON TO SHARE ABOUT THIS, THE TOP FOUR PERFORMING STATES FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY ARE LOUISIANA, FLORIDA, MISSISSIPPI AND MASSACHUSETTS. AND MASSACHUSETTS
[00:40:06]
PROBABLY ISN'T A BIG SURPRISE, BUT THOSE OTHER 3RD MAY BE, AND A COMMON THREAD THAT TIES THOSE STATES TOGETHER IS USING FREE TO USE, PUBLICLY CREATED CURRICULUMS INSTEAD OF PAYING BIG BOX COMPANIES. YOU KNOW, MASSACHUSETTS HAS APPLE SEEDS, MISSISSIPPI OR LOUISIANA HAS THEIR READING PROGRAM THAT THEY DEVELOPED. FLORIDA HAS UFLI FOUNDATIONS. AND I THINK MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO EXPLORE INSTEAD OF PAYING THESE COMPANIES MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WHY DON'T WE USE THE FREE TO USE PUBLICLY CREATED CURRICULUMS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE IN SUPPORTING OUR CHILDREN IN POVERTY? THANK YOU. PRESIDENT BOYNTON. THAT'S ALL THE REGISTERED SPEAKERS I HAVE. THANK YOU. DID ANYONE NOT REGISTER WHO WANTS TO SPEAK? DO WE HAVE A CAN YOU COME TO THE MIC AND STATE YOUR NAME? ARE YOU AN INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP INDIVIDUAL. MY NAME IS MATTHEW BROWN, CURRENTLY AN I TEACH AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'VE TALKED TO ACTUALLY ONE OF YOU GUYS ON THE BOARD AND REACHED OUT FOR. I'VE BEEN GOING OVER THIS BUDGET FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS SINCE IT WAS ANNOUNCED THE WEEKEND, BECAUSE I WAS COMBING THROUGH IT TO HELP THROUGH THE NUMBERS, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HEAVY IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN. FOR I AM A POLITICAL SCIENTIST IN MY HEART, AND I PLAN TO BE IN YOUR SEATS EVENTUALLY. MAYBE NEXT MOST VOTES TO SEAT HIMSELF FROM MY OWN NUMBERS AND FROM MY CALL.REVIEWING THE BUDGET. WHAT I'VE NOTICED THE MOST ABOUT THIS IS HOW IS IT THAT WE SEEM TO NOT BE BEING ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM THE BUDGET SIDE AS FAR AS THE COUNTY, COMPARED TO OUR ORGANIZATION? WE COULD TRIM SOME NUMBERS FROM OUR SIDE AND HAVE TO WAIT FOR WHAT CASH REALLY CAN DO, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE'RE BEHEST OF WHAT HE WILL DECIDE TO DO. BUT WHAT WE CAN DO CAN SHAVE SOME NUMBERS TO HELP EASE THE BURDEN. AS YOU GUYS PUT OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET PLANS, ORIGINALLY WHEN IT WAS 60 MILLION, NOW 26 MILLION, AS FAR AS DECREASING CLASS SIZES, THAT COULD SAVE 27 MILLION AS FAR AS CUTTING DOWN ON STAFF, WHICH IS A POTENTIAL MORE MONEY. WHAT I SAW FROM DOING THE NUMBERS IS THAT WE COULD ALSO SHAVE SOME OF THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP AS FAR AS THE PERCENTAGE ACROSS THE BOARD, BOTH ORGANIZATIONALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY. NOT HUGE GAPS, BECAUSE AS TALKING TO SOMEBODY, THERE'S COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WHEN IT COMES TO THE WAGES. BUT I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY OUR JOB IS TO BE EDUCATORS IS TO HELP ENSURE THE BEST CAPABILITIES FOR THE STUDENTS. WE DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOVE TO HELP THESE STUDENTS, NOT NECESSARILY FOR THE GAINS. AND I UNDERSTAND FOR SOMEONE HAS TOLD ME LIFESTYLES HAVE BEEN MADE FROM HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS, BUT I THINK THE SMALL CUTS I'M TALKING ABOUT, WHICH IS LIKE A 10% CUT AT A SMALL STUFF, IS LIKE HALF A MILLION, MAYBE 2 OR 3 MILLION.
AND IN RELATION TO THE CLASS SIZES BEING $27 MILLION ADDED UP, THAT'S $30 MILLION RIGHT THERE. THAT COVERS THE GAP. AND NO TELLING WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GET TO DO IN RELATION TO THAT, BECAUSE LOOKING AT HIS OWN NUMBERS, HE PLANS $770 MILLION DOLLARS GOING TO THIS BUDGET, 314 GOING TO THE SCHOOLS, ANOTHER 142 TO ROADS, REPAIRING EQUIPMENT FOR THE POLICE, NEW BUILDINGS RENOVATION. THERE'S STILL $314 MILLION THAT'S LEFT UNACCOUNTED FOR. WHERE IS THAT GOING? AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION FROM ANYONE WITHIN THE COUNTY. BUT I CAN SAY FOR WEST, WE CAN ADVOCATE FOR, WE ADVOCATE FOR, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO ASK FOR A BIT MORE BECAUSE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THE HEART OF OUR COUNTY IS THE KIDS AND PROVIDING A BETTER FUTURE. WHY NOT ASK FOR MORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS CLEARLY ROOM? WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF OUR JOBS AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL, AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST BE COMPENSATED WELL FOR IT, BUT BE GIVEN THE BEST POSSIBLE TOOLS TO DO IT.
THE BLUEPRINT MANDATE PASSED DOWN BY MR. MOORE, THE GOVERNOR, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO APPLY TO ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY. WE HAVE TO DO OUR PART AS WELL IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS, WHO ULTIMATELY HAVE THE BIGGEST SAY IN HOW WE MANAGE OUR BUDGET, ARE ACTUALLY GIVING US THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED. YOU GUYS HAVE THE FRONT END OF IT AND HAVE TO WEAR THAT BURDEN, BUT WE ALSO CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WE ARE A UNITED FRONT, REGARDLESS OF OUR STATUS WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SLATER. IS THERE ANYONE VIRTUAL THAT JOINED US? NOPE. PROPERLY SO. NOPE. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS EVENING. WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THIS. THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE BOARD ANTICIPATES MAKING ITS DECISION ON THE PROPOSED SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET AT THE NEXT BOARD BOARD BUSINESS MEETING, WHICH WILL BE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH, 2025.
THANK YOU. AND THIS
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.