Jul 21, 2025 Board Meeting

[00:00:10]

I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT. EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICES. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARTFORD COUNTY ON JULY 21ST, 2025 AT 6 P.M. THIS BOARD MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? MRS. ALVAREZ? PRESENT, MISS BRUCE. HERE. MR. KORN. HERE. MR. MCVICKER. HERE. DOCTOR MILLER.

PRESENT. MISS PAIGE HERE. MISS PERRY HERE. MR. SEWELL HERE. VICE PRESIDENT HAHN, PRESENT.

PRESIDENT BOYNTON HERE. AND DOCTOR DAVIS. ALL RIGHT. PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MISS ROLLO. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. AND WE WILL FIRST. GO HERE. OKAY? JUST DEAL WITH TECHNOLOGY PROBLEM. OKAY. OVER HERE. FIRST. SO. YES. YES. IT MUST BE CHANGED BEFORE SIGNING UP. AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE. TO SAY

[Election of President for the Board of Education of Harford County]

OKAY. DO YOU ACCEPT? I ACCEPT, THANK YOU. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENCY? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. THE FLOOR IS CLOSED. ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE DO THE VOTE? THANK YOU, DOCTOR DAVIS. WELCOME THIS EVENING, EVERYONE. BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS AND FOR YOUR SECOND. I'M HONORED TO CONSIDER ANOTHER TERM AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT. I SEE MY SERVICE HERE AS TWO ROLES. FIRST, AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF HARFORD COUNTY, THOSE WHO ENTRUSTED ME TO BRING MY VALUES, MY EXPERIENCE AND MY JUDGMENT TO THIS SEAT. ONE OF TEN I TAKE THIS RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. I VOTE MY CONSCIENCE. AND WHEN ITEMS AND ISSUES ARE DIFFICULT, AS THEY OFTEN ARE, INCLUDING TONIGHT. I COME BACK TO ONE QUESTION WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS? SECOND, AS PRESIDING OFFICER, THE ROLE THAT'S UNDER CONSIDERATION AT THE MOMENT. TO ME, THIS MEANS HELPING THE BOARD WORK TO BE AT ITS BEST, STAYING FOCUSED, LEADING WITH RESPECT AND BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR ADMINISTRATION, OUR EDUCATORS, OUR FAMILY AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY. THIS BOARD BRINGS TOGETHER A WIDE RANGE OF VIEWS, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. EVERY MEMBER ON THIS DAIS HAS EARNED THEIR SEAT HERE AND REPRESENTS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE WORKED HARD TO TREAT EACH OF YOU WITH RESPECT. TO LISTEN CLOSELY AND TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, AND THAT'S OKAY AS WELL, BUT WHEN WE FOCUS ON THE WORK, WE COMMIT TO COLLABORATION AND WE MOVE FORWARD. AND WE HAVE EVEN THROUGH DISAGREEMENTS, WE'VE MADE PROGRESS. I'VE LED WITH CONSISTENCY, FAIRNESS AND A STEADY HAND, ESPECIALLY WHEN

[00:05:01]

[Election of Vice-President for the Board of Education of Harford County]

I WILL SECOND THE NOMINATION. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. MISS HAHN, DO YOU ACCEPT? YES. THANK YOU.

OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO. WELL, ARE THE OTHER. I'M SORRY. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR? CAROL. BRUCE, I NOMINATE LAUREN PAGE. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. OKAY. DO YOU ACCEPT? DOCTOR DAVIS, I'M NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS ROUND. OKAY. MISS PAGE HAS SAID THAT SHE'S NOT GOING TO ACCEPT THIS ROUND. AND SO WE JUST HAVE ONE NOMINATION RIGHT NOW. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS BEFORE WE DO THE VOTE? JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND THE TIME THAT I HAVE SERVED AS THE VICE PRESIDENT. I'VE ALWAYS DONE MY BEST TO VOTE MY CONSCIENCE. REPRESENT THE STUDENTS AND STAFF THE BEST THAT I CAN, AND I'VE ALWAYS DONE THE RIGHT THING IN, IN MY OPINION. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BECAUSE THERE'S ONE NOMINATION. WE WILL DO THE VOTE. YAY OR NAY, MISS ROLLO. MISS ALVAREZ. YAY! MISS BRUCE. NO, MR. CORN. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. NO. MR. MCVICKER. NO, MISS PERRY. NO. MR. SEWELL. NO! MISS PAIGE. YES. MISS. HAHN? YES, DOCTOR. POINTON. YES. WE'RE AT AN IMPASSE. FIVE. FIVE. OKAY.

FIVE. FIVE. WE NEED SIX IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO MOVE FORWARD, AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO REOPEN THE FLOOR AGAIN. I'D LIKE TO REOPEN THE NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENCY OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR HARFORD COUNTY. DO I HAVE A NOMINATION? I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE LAUREN PAGE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS ON THE FLOOR? OKAY. DO YOU ACCEPT, MISS PAGE? I WILL ACCEPT. I'M HONORED TO ACCEPT THE NOMINATION. I'LL START BY EXPRESSING MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO MELISSA FOR HER RELENTLESS DEDICATION TO OUR TEACHERS, OUR STUDENTS, AND TO THE MISSION OF THIS BOARD. YOUR TIRELESS WORK HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE, AND WE'RE ALL BETTER FOR IT. AS VICE PRESIDENT, MY GOAL WOULD BE TO LEAD WITH CLARITY, FAIRNESS, AND PURPOSE. MY ROLE WOULD BE TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, HELP GUIDE OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTION AS SERVE AS A STEADY VOICE FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND COOPERATION. I WILL DO MY BEST TO LISTEN CAREFULLY, SPEAK HONESTLY, ACT DECISIVELY WITH THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS ALWAYS AT THE CENTER. I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. I'M READY TO SERVE A TRANSPARENCY, A SPIRIT OF SERVICE, AND A GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL WHO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS.

ALL RIGHT, MISS ROLLO, WOULD YOU DO THE VOTE SINCE WE ALL HAVE ONE? IT'S YAY OR NAY. MRS. ALVAREZ? YES, MISS. BRUCE. YES, MR. CORN. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES. MR. MCVICKER. YES, MRS. PERRY? YES, MR. SEWELL? YES, MISS. PAIGE? YES. MRS. HAHN? YES, DOCTOR. POINTON. YES. THIS

[Meeting Break]

[00:10:06]

[Opening - Newly Elected President]

MR. MCVICKER HERE. MISS PERRY HERE, MR. SEWELL HERE. MISS PAGE HERE. I'M SORRY, VICE PRESIDENT PAGE. MISS HAHN, PRESENT. DOCTOR. PRESIDENT CLINTON HERE. THANK YOU, MISS VICE PRESIDENT, PLEASE READ THE STATEMENTS. PROCESS. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, THE BOARD PRESIDENT WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR DAVIS WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR NO. OKAY, ALSO, WE'RE SHARING A SCRIPT. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SECOND SCRIPT FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT. OKAY, BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? CAROL.

BRUCE. SO MOVED. AND I SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. 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. THANK YOU. YOU PLEASE READ THIS EVENING'S RULES OF ORDER. GOOD EVENING. I'M MATT BATZEL, REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. AND KEEPING WITH THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THE MEETING, I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME 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 INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF OTHER THAN THE SUPERINTENDENT. ADDITIONALLY, DISPARAGING 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 QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SHOULD AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DISTRACTING 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 THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR, THE ATTENDEE WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE BUSINESS MEETING BY SECURITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL ATTENDANCE AND

[A. Public Comments]

AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE THERE IS AN IMPORTANT CLOSED SESSION THAT THE BOARD AND THE STAFF MUST REMAIN FOR, WHICH WILL LAST AT LEAST 90 MINUTES OR SO THIS EVENING, STARTING AT AT

[00:15:04]

AFTER DEVELOPING A PROCEDURE THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MARYLAND STATE FREEDOM TO READ ACT, YOU CHOSE TO IGNORE IT AND VIOLATE IT, PUTTING US IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF THE STATE. WHICH IS PARTICULARLY GALLING, IS THAT MANY OF YOU CAME HERE IN A PARENTAL RIGHTS PLATFORM, AND YET YOU COULD NOT WAIT TO VIOLATE THOSE RIGHTS WHEN THE SYSTEM ALREADY ALLOWS FOR A PARENT TO NOTIFY THE SCHOOL THAT THEIR CHILD IS NOT ALLOWED TO READ THAT BOOK, THAT IS A

[00:20:03]

I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF RT AND SEVERAL ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO STATE OUR COLLECTIVE OPPOSITION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S UNPRECEDENTED, UNPRECEDENTED AND UNLAWFUL BANNING OF MIKE KIRITO'S GRAPHIC NOVEL, FLAMER. SINCE MY TIME IS BEING CUT SHORT, I WANT TO MAKE ONE POINT BECAUSE APPARENTLY THE PEOPLE THAT MADE THE DECISIONS ULTIMATELY OVERRIDING THE MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND WERE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN VIOLATION AND WENT AHEAD AND TOOK ADDITIONAL STEPS. MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THAT THE MOST EXPLICIT DESCRIPTION OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN THAT BOOK WAS A SIMPLE KISS ON THE CHEEK, FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER THAT WAS MISUNDERSTOOD AND CLARIFIED IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT IS SEEMS TO BE IF PEOPLE READ THE BOOK. THEY SHOULD NOT BE. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. MATTHEW 1230 JESUS SAID, HE WHO IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME, AND HE WHO DOES NOT GATHER WITH ME SCATTERS. I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR VOTE TO REMOVE FLAMER FROM THE LIBRARIES. THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR THE VOTE AND TO PRESENT POINTING FOR YOUR EXPLICIT EXPLANATION OF THE PROCEDURE AND THE DECISION MADE. I ESPECIALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT THE BOOK IS IN CLEAR VIOLATION OF HC SELECTION PROCEDURE, WHICH, QUOTE, PROHIBITS MATERIALS WITH OBSCENE LANGUAGE, SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT, OR DEPICTIONS OF ILLEGAL OR VIOLENT ACTS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE AGE GROUP SERVED. YOUR REASONING SUGGESTS THAT MANY MORE BOOKS MUST BE AGGRESSIVELY PURGED FROM OUR LIBRARIES. FLAMER WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE ONLY BOOK THAT WAS NOT AGE APPROPRIATE, AND NOT THE ONLY BOOK THAT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE RATED R AS A MEETING MOVIE. YOUR GOAL FOR SAYS PROVIDE SAFE, SECURE, AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. THE CHILDREN DESERVE TO KEEP THEIR INNOCENCE AND RECEIVE AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION, AND WE ARE COUNTING ON OUR BOARD TO GIVE THAT TO THEM. MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE YOU ALL IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. WELCOME TO THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS. TONIGHT, THE MATERIAL IN SOME OF THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES ARE ADULT THEMED AND ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR OUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY UNDER 17, WITH ALL OF THE WHOLESOME BOOKS AVAILABLE. WHY IS IT THAT WE CHOOSE BOOKS THAT ARE EXTREMELY FILTHY AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR KIDS? CHOOSE ONES THAT WILL ENHANCE EDUCATION AND NOT DIMINISH IT? WHY DO WE WANT MATERIAL THAT ENDORSES FOUL LANGUAGE AND SEXUALITY? EPHESIANS TELLS US, QUOTE, NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DARKNESS, BUT TO EXPOSE IT. SO I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO REMOVE FILTHY MATERIAL, REPLACE IT WITH WHOLESOME MATERIAL, ENHANCE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND STOP DESTROYING IT. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE IRIS BAUER, FOLLOWED BY DAVID BAUER AND KURT DOAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS IRIS BARRON. I'M GOING TO COMMENT ON THE RECENT ACTIONS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION IN BANNING FLAMER. LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR. I DETEST BOOK BANNING IS A WAY TO UNDERREPRESENT MINORITIES AND TRAMPLE THE RICH AND VIBRANT DIVERSITY IN OUR WORLD. IT IS A WAY TO SPREAD MISINFORMATION THROUGH CAREFUL SELECTION OF THE KNOWLEDGE AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, OFTEN CHILDREN, AFFECTING THEIR WORLDVIEWS. OUR HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BANNED FLAMER DIRECTLY AGAINST THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION, BASED ON A FEW OF THE BOARD MEMBERS PERSONAL OPINIONS. DID ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY BOTHER READING THE BOOK THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO CREATE YOUR OWN IMPRESSIONS, INSTEAD OF RELYING ON THE OPINION OF A PARENT WHO HADN'T READ IT? WHO IS SAYING A FOX NEWS ARTICLE, A BIASED SOURCE, AND THE ARTICLE GIVES THE IMPRESSION OF AN ARTICLE WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO EITHER HADN'T ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK OR HAD SIMPLY READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS BANNED, AND EXPLAINED THAT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SAY MUCH ABOUT FLAMER, AND MANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS ARE MADE ARE INACCURATE. IT ACCURATELY PORTRAYED. WHAT? GOOD EVENING, I'M DAVID BAUER. WELCOME TO THE TWO NEW BOARD

[00:25:02]

MY NAME IS KURT. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY PRIDE. FOR MANY LGBTQIA+ STUDENTS, FLAMER IS A LIFELINE, SHOWING THAT THEY'RE NOT ALONE IN THEIR STRUGGLES WITH IDENTITY, BULLYING, AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE. THIS VALIDATION IS CRITICAL FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AND SENSE OF BELONGING. LAST WEEK, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DEFUNDED THE LGBTQIA+ SUICIDE HOTLINE OPTION, REMOVING A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR VULNERABLE TEENS ALREADY AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK FOR SUICIDE. FLAMER DIRECTLY ADDRESSES THEMES OF SUICIDAL IDEATION, BULLYING, AND FINDING HOPE. MORE THAN A STORY, FLAMER IS A TOOL FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION AT A TIME WHEN NATIONAL RESOURCES ARE BEING CLAWED AWAY. THIS BOARD YOU ALL SHOULD BE EXPLORING WAYS TO BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE KIDS NOT TAKING IT AWAY. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO KEEP THIS BOOK ON THE SHELVES FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T. IF PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR KIDS TO READ THIS BOOK, THERE'S AN ESTABLISHED PROCESS AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T AN ATTEMPT TO PROTECT STUDENTS. IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO STOMP ON THE STUDENTS. NEXT WE HAVE MEGAN FITZGERALD, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER KLEIN AND JAMES RAMSEY. GOOD EVENING. SIMPLY STATED, IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES. OKAY. BANNING THIS BOOK. I KEEP COMING BACK TO PLAYING OUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN IF A CHILD READS THIS BOOK? AND THEN I PLAY OUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO FOR, YOU KNOW, BEST FRIENDS OF MINE WHO ALMOST KILLED THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY WERE MEMBERS OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND DID NOT HAVE SUPPORT FROM THEIR FAMILY TO BE TO FULLY BE THEMSELVES. AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SEEK SOLACE IN FINDING LITERATURE THAT REFLECTED WHO THEY WERE AND HELPED THEM FEEL WHOLE. SO WHAT KIND OF BLOOD DO YOU WANT TO HAVE ON YOUR HANDS? REVERSE YOUR DECISION.

MY NAME IS JENNIFER KLEIN. I'M ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL'S LIBRARIAN AND AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF HARFORD COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL LIBRARIANS, WHICH IS THE GROUP I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TONIGHT. DESPITE THE OUTLANDISH RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC COMMENTS, CASL REPRESENTS LIBRARIANS AND MEDIA TECHNICIANS WHO, AS I SHARED AT THE MARCH BOARD MEETING, ARE EXCEPTIONALLY EDUCATED AND DEDICATED TO DEVELOPING EXCELLENT COLLECTIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS. THESE EDUCATORS HAVE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED THE BOARD'S CLOSED DOOR DECISION TO BAN THE FIRST BOOK IN A CPS HISTORY. THE NEXT PART OF MY SPEECH IS TO OUTLINE SOME FACTS, BECAUSE THIS DECISION WAS NOT MADE TRANSPARENTLY. TO SUM IT UP, THE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARIAN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITY MET AND RIGOROUSLY REVIEWED THE BOOK, FOUND IT ACCEPTABLE. THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE, CONSISTING ALL OF HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WERE TRAINED BY OUR OWN COUNSEL AND FOUND A BOOK ACCEPTABLE. KIM, YOU GUYS, WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE IF YOU READ IT. YOU FOUND IT UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR YOU TO RESCIND THIS DECISION. HELLO, I'M JAMES RAMSEY. I RECENTLY GOT A PEEK AT THE REASONING FOR THE BOARD BANNING THE GRAPHIC NOVEL FLAMER FROM OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES, AND I FOUND ONE OF THE BITS SUSPICIOUS CLAIM THAT IT IS DEMEANING OBSERVATIONS OF FEMALES. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK, THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE

[00:30:04]

I'M BEGINNING MY 12TH YEAR IN LIBRARY SERVICES AS A MEDIA TECH. THE DIALOG GOES OUT THAT WE ARE HOUSING SALACIOUS, HORRIBLY RAUNCHY, DIRTY BOOKS FOR KIDS. WE'RE NOT IN NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. OUR LIBRARY STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE TOP GENRE CHECKED OUT IS MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE BEHIND MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE BECOMES SCIENCE FICTION AND DYSTOPIA. BEHIND THAT IS ROMANCE. BEHIND THAT IS REALISTIC FICTION. SO THE COMMUNITY THAT SAYS THAT WE ARE FORCING BOOKS WITH HORRIBLE CONTENT AND BAD LANGUAGE, IT'S

[00:35:01]

PLEASE REINSTATE FLAMER, I READ IT, IT WAS A GREAT BOOK. I CRIED AT THE END. THANK YOU. ON JUNE 27TH, THE US SUPREME COURT CAME TO A DECISION THAT APPLIES TO ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IN THE CASE OF MAHMOOD VERSUS TAYLOR, THE COURT RULED THAT CHILDREN BELONG TO THE PARENTS, NOT TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SPECIFICALLY, IT STATED THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS SUCH AS HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS WHEN THEY EXPOSE THEIR CHILDREN TO LGBTQ BOOKS TOUTING ALTERNATIVE SEXUAL LIFESTYLES WITHOUT THE PARENTS CONSENT. THE COURT SAID THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BURDENS THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISE OF PARENTS WHEN IT REQUIRES THEM TO SUBMIT THE CHILDREN TO INSTRUCTION THAT POSES A VERY REAL THREAT OF UNDERMINING THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES THAT PARENTS WISH TO INSTILL. THE JOB OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS WHAT THEY NEED TO KNOW TO BE LITERATE, NOT TO TRAIN UP RADICALS TO PROTEST AND FIND THEIR VOICE. THE STUDENTS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO STAY FOCUSED, PAY ATTENTION, OBEY THE RULES SO THEY CAN LEARN TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE, LAW ABIDING CITIZENS CAPABLE OF MAKING WELL INFORMED LIFE DECISIONS. HI, MY NAME IS HELEN MANN. I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO LEARN THAT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS CHOSEN TO BAN A BOOK THAT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE AGREED UPON VETTING PROCESS. I DID READ THIS BOOK. IT WAS CALLED FLAMER AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A POIGNANT AND HOPEFUL BOOK. I FOUND NOTHING INDECENT ABOUT IT. IT'S ABOUT. IT'S ABOUT.

BASED ON THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THE AUTHOR AS A YOUNG MAN, AND I'M REALLY GLAD I GOT TO READ IT. EVEN MORE CONCERNING IS THAT THE BOOK WAS REJECTED WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE AGREED UPON PROCEDURE FOR ACQUIRING BOOKS IN HARFORD COUNTY. TO ME, THIS IS A VIOLATION OF TRUST THAT SAYS AGREEMENTS MEAN NOTHING AND BACKDOOR MANEUVERS ARE REWARDED. IT ALSO SHOWS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THOSE CITIZENS OF PROFESSIONALS WHO ACTED IN GOOD FAITH TO REVIEW THE BOOKS. IF WE ARE TO BUILD A RESPECTFUL AND PRODUCTIVE COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO AGREE UPON THE RULES AND FOLLOW THEM. NEXT, WE HAVE LISA NICKERSON, FOLLOWED BY JUDY RAMSEY AND KATIE YORK. HI. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TIME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. MY SON GRADUATED FROM HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. HE WENT TO PROSPECT MILL, HE WENT TO SOUTHAMPTON. HE WENT TO SEE MILTON WRIGHT. HE WENT ON TO FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE AND THEN WENT TO NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY AND GOT A MASTER'S DEGREE IN APPLIED PHYSICS. HE'S NOW A BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER. CONGRATULATIONS. HE GOT A GREAT EDUCATION HERE AND I WAS PROUD TO HAVE HIM GO TO SCHOOL HERE. I SUPPORTED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I SUPPORTED THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. I HAVE LOST TRUST IN YOU ALL. I AM HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I DON'T ATTEND THESE MEETINGS. TYPICALLY, I LET YOU DO YOUR JOBS. I AM DISAPPOINTED, I AM EMBARRASSED HAVING FLAMER TAKEN AWAY FROM THE LIBRARY IS LIKE TAKING CATCHER IN THE RYE AWAY. LIKE TAKING THE GRAPES OF WRATH AWAY. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO FACE IN REAL LIFE ARE DIFFICULT. THEY NEED TO LEARN ABOUT THAT WHEN THEY'RE IN A PROTECTED ENVIRONMENT, SO THAT THEY CAN BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS. I AM NOT READY TO HAVE KIDS LIVES ON MY HANDS. PLEASE REINSTATE THE BOOK. JUDY RAMSEY. KATIE YORK. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATIE YORK, AND WELCOME TO THE MEMBERS I HAVE NOT GOTTEN A CHANCE TO MEET. CONGRATULATIONS. I HAD PLANNED TO COME AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BECAUSE AS OF JULY 1ST, I AM THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE. JULY IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH. THIS YEAR MARKS THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE LANDMARK BILL, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, OR ADA, THAT WAS SIGNED ON JULY 26TH, 1990. DISABILITY PRIDE HONORS THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE US. IT ALSO CELEBRATES OUR HISTORY AND PUSHES BACK ON ABLEISM AND CONCEPT OF DISABILITY AS SHAMEFUL OR BAD. DISABLED AND DISABILITY ARE NOT BAD WORDS.

THE AAC NATIONAL COUNCIL OF SELF-ADVOCATES CHOSE THE THEME OF WE BELONG HERE AND WE'RE HERE TO STAY. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALSO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION TO REMOVE FLAMER FROM THE LIBRARY.

[00:40:05]

AND THOSE KIDS ARE HERE. AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY NOT BE COMFORTABLE WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE KIDS WHO WOULD NEED FLAMER, BUT I'M GLAD WE HAVE THEM. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BOOK.

IT'S VERY TOUCHING. PLEASE RECONSIDER. THANK YOU. IS THERE AN ELLEN? I'M NOT SURE HOW TO SAY THE LAST NAME. OKAY. THANK YOU. HI. ELLEN BISCAN, FORMER EDUCATOR HERE. AND I WAS VERY UPSET TO LEARN THAT HARFORD COUNTY HAD BANNED A BOOK. I THINK THAT THE DECISION SHOULD BE UP TO THE PARENTS, AND THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN GRANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, I DON'T WANT MY CHILD TO READ THIS BOOK. THAT SHOULD BE FINE FOR THE PARENTS OR THE GUARDIANS. AND I THINK THAT THE PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE TRUSTED THAT ARE IN YOUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THE MARYLAND CURRICULUM GUIDE. THAT SHOULD BE WHAT YOU GO BY. AND I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR OPPOSITION TO THIS BOOK. THANK YOU. HI, I'M THERESA FRALEY, I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AND I JUST WANT TO READ TO YOU WHAT THE NATIONAL SAYS. IN 2024, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, UNITED STATES ACTIVELY OPPOSED THE RISING TREND OF BOOK BANS ACROSS VARIOUS STATES, CITING CONCERNS OVER INFRINGEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES. THE LEAGUE STRESSED THAT RESTRICTING ACCESS TO BOOKS, PARTICULARLY THOSE REPRESENTED MARGINALIZED VOICES AND CRITICAL VIEWPOINTS, POSED A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. WHILE STATE LEAGUES ADDRESSED THESE ISSUES LOCALLY, THE NATIONAL OFFERED GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES TO AID IN THEIR ADVOCACY, ENSURING THAT SUCH EFFORTS ALIGN WITH THE LEAGUE'S POSITION IN INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND THE CIVIL CITIZEN'S RIGHT TO KNOW. I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING US GO INTO THE SCHOOLS. WE REGISTERED OVER 140 STUDENTS THIS YEAR. IS THERE A JESSICA YURKIEWICZ HERE? OKAY. I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU WERE VIRTUAL. OKAY. THAT'S OKAY. HI, I'M JESSICA, I'M A PARENT TO A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOLER THIS YEAR, SIXTH GRADE, AND I GREW UP READING AND RICE AND AGATHA CHRISTIE. IF YOU KNOW THEM, THAT'S NOT REALLY HIGH SCHOOL. MIDDLE SCHOOL FAIR. AND I EXPECTED MY DAUGHTER TO BE ON THE SAME LEVEL. UNFORTUNATELY, WE STRUGGLED WITH READING UNTIL FOURTH GRADE WHEN ALL THE KIDS GOT INTO THE SERIES THANKS TO SCHOOL LIBRARIES. WE LOVE OUR COUNTY LIBRARY, BUT STARTED AT THE SCHOOL LIBRARY AND I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR ALL THE MATERIALS. DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE AVAILABLE TO HAVE. SHE IS NOT YET GAY, NOR IS SHE MALE, NOR IS SHE BLACK. BUT I WANT HER TO READ ABOUT ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO MEET ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HER LIFETIME. I WANT HER TO HEAR ABOUT THE BECOMING, BECAUSE ONE DAY SHE WILL ALSO BECOME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT WE HAVE JESSICA FENDRICK, FOLLOWED BY LESLIE THOMPSON AND ERICA BERTOLLI. I KNOW. I HADN'T STARTED TALKING YET. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE NAACP OF HARFORD COUNTY. WE DID POST THIS STATEMENT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, SO I DON'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO HAVE TIME TO SAY IT ALL. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO GO AND READ IT THERE ON JUNE 26TH. OH, ONE MORE THING. I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD FOR STRENGTHENING THE INFORMATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TALK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED AND DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SO JUST THANK YOU G OL DO MY BEST. ON JUNE 26TH, THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION OVERRODE THE WILL OF THE. I'M NOT GOING TO GET IT ALL OUT. I'M JUST GOING TO GO TO THE LAST PART. THE NAACP BELIEVES THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS, PLUS INDIVIDUALS, DESERVE TO SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED IN BOOKS.

[00:45:01]

I'M NOT CERTAIN WHERE ANYBODY IS ALLOWED TO TELL ME WHERE TO PARENT. I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS NOT SATISFACTORY FOR ANY PARENT TO OPT THEIR CHILD OUT. WHY YOU NEED TO OPT MY CHILD OUT IS A PROBLEM. RECONSIDER THE BAN. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE NEIL THOMPSON, FOLLOWED BY CARMELA, 50, AND MAGGIE CONNOLLY AND DONNA CONNOLLY. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NEIL THOMPSON AND I'M AT THIS MEETING TO STATE MY OPPOSITION TO BANNING THE BOOK FLAMER. AND I'M ALSO HERE WITH THE CHALLENGE FOR EACH BOARD MEMBER WHO VOTED ON THE JUNE 26TH HEARING ABOUT THIS BOOK. I CHALLENGE YOU TONIGHT DURING BOARD COMMENTS TO TELL US HOW AND WHY YOU VOTED THE WAY YOU DID. PLEASE ACCEPT THAT CHALLENGE. THANK YOU. I BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I BELIEVE IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT. I BELIEVE IN THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS TO PULL PEOPLE OUT, PULL KIDS OUT FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. THE PARENTS CAN DO THAT AT HOME. THEY CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO CLASSES ON SATURDAYS IN THE EVENINGS, LIKE MOST OF US DID. I DON'T BELIEVE IN BANNING BOOKS THAT HAVE WON ALL THOSE AWARDS AND IS SO IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS NOWADAYS.

I LOOK TO I DIDN'T READ THE WHOLE THING, BUT I GLANCED THROUGH IT AND READ PASSAGES ABOUT EVERY 20 PAGES. AND KIDS HAVE HEARD DIRTY WORDS BY THAT TIME IN THEIR LIVES, AND THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO A LOT. BUT THE BOOK IS A REALLY A GOOD BOOK, AND I DON'T KNOW IF EVERY PERSON ON THE BOARD HAS READ IT, BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD. THANK YOU AND SORRY.

MAGGIE AND I GO TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I DO NOT THINK IT IS RIGHT TO BAN BOOKS BECAUSE SOME

[00:50:03]

THAT'S OUR JOB. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE JAN HIRSCHFELD, FOLLOWED BY LUCY BUXTON AND FRED DURST.

HI. THANK YOU FOR HEARING US OUT. I WANT TO ASK THE BOARD TO RECONSIDER YOUR YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS BOOK. I'VE READ THE BOOK, AND I, THE STATE OF MARYLAND, HAS SAID THAT WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ. AND OUR BOARD AND HARFORD COUNTY IS CONTRADICTING THAT. I WANT YOU TO PLEASE CONSIDER. AND YOU'VE HEARD YOU HAVE HEARD MANY OPINIONS ABOUT THIS. PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT THIS ATTITUDE CAN DO TO OUR CHILDREN. IT CAN BE LETTING AN IDEOLOGY. SWAY. YOUR OPINION CAN ACTUALLY HARM OUR CHILDREN. PLEASE THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN. I'M LUCY BUXTON, I'M A FORMER TEACHER IN HARFORD COUNTY AND ALSO IN HOWARD COUNTY. I'M HERE TO OPPOSE THE BANNING OF FLAMER AND OF ANY BOOK. IN FACT, I THINK THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE BOARD TO RESPECT AND LISTEN TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONALS THAT EXAMINE THIS BOOK AND MADE THE DECISION THAT IT WAS A BOOK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. LET ME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO. IT'S A SACRIFICE, AND YOU'RE DOING IT FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD. I WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING YOU. I'M A PROUD PRODUCT OF HARFORD COUNTY. DOCTOR ROBERTI WAS A FRIEND OF MINE. WENT TO SCHOOL WITH HIS KIDS. MY SON WENT TO SCHOOL UNDER DOCTOR ROBERTI AND HE WOULD SAY, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHY ARE YOU BEARING THIS BOOK? IS THIS IMPORTANT? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS EASY TO FIX. PUT THE BOOK BACK. PLEASE. NEXT WE HAVE BARRY KLEIN, FOLLOWED BY PAM DEMMER AND TRACY PAPINCHAK. GOOD EVENING. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WONDERFUL STATEMENTS. SO JUST IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I JUST WANT TO GO ON THE RECORD FOR SAYING THAT I'M IN OPPOSITION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BANNING A BOOK THAT SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS APPROVED BY THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE APPROVED. GOOD EVENING. IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I OPPOSE YOUR BANNING OF THIS BOOK. FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT HAVE BEEN STATED BEFORE ME. JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. PLEASE FIX THIS. TRACY PAPINCHAK I'M A SCHOOL LIBRARIAN. I AM AGAINST THE DECISION TO BAN BAN FLAMER. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE PRECEDENTS YOU SET OF IGNORING PROFESSIONALS. YOU SHOW YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THE PROFESSIONALISM OF LIBRARIANS, AND YOU INVALIDATED THE HARD WORK OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I AM A LIBRARIAN THAT SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE THAT CREATED THE POLICY, AND THE WHOLE TIME WE TOOK CARE AT EVERY LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOOK WAS READ IN ITS ENTIRETY. IN ORDER FOR AN INFORMED DISCUSSION, FREE FROM POLITICAL IMPARTIALITY. YOU DID NOT DO THAT. NOT TO MENTION YOU DIDN'T CONSULT THE VERY PROFESSIONALS WE LIBRARIANS ON THIS MATTER. IF YOU HAD, YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT WE ALREADY CONDUCTED A PROFESSIONAL BOOK

[00:55:04]

IF THERE'S A LAW, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW IT. AND I'M VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO RECONSIDER BANNING THIS BOOK. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE REBECCA ROMMELMANN, BARBARA PENCIL AND BETH. THIS IS THE LAST PLACE I'D LIKE TO BE. BUT BEING A READING TEACHER AT NORTH HARFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL, I FELT I HAD TO BE HERE.

BANNING BOOKS IS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. BOOKS SHOULD BE OUR SAFE PLACE. BOOKS SHOULD BE WHERE WE CAN SAFELY EXPLORE SITUATIONS, FEELINGS, RELATIONSHIPS, WARS, HARDSHIPS, FINANCIAL RUIN. FILL IN THE BLANK. ALL OF THE COMFORT OF OUR ALL, FROM THE COMFORT OF OUR LIVING ROOMS. BOOKS ALLOW US TO SEE OURSELVES IN A BOOK THAT IS SELF AWARENESS. BOOKS ALLOW US TO SEE WHAT SOMEONE ACROSS THE CAFETERIA MIGHT BE. EXPERIENCE. THAT'S EMPATHY. BOOKS ALLOW US TO EXPLORE WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN OR WHAT MIGHT BE. IF I TRULY THOUGHT THAT READING BOOKS COULD INDOCTRINATE CHILDREN, I WOULD BE GRABBING EVERY COPY OF EVERY BOOK THAT SHOWED CHARACTERS BRINGING A PENCIL TO CLASS. PLEASE REVERSE YOUR DECISION AND PLEASE DO BETTER. I'M VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO THIS BAN. I THINK THAT OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER. I WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO RECONSIDER. GOOD EVENING, I'M BETH. I HAVE FOUR GRADUATES, GRADUATES OF CPS, GRANDKIDS NOW IN THE SYSTEM. I JUST IMPLORE YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERN FOR EVERY CHILD IN THE SYSTEM, EVEN THOSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, PLEASE RECONSIDER BANNING THE BOOK. I HAVE. DILKA SCHROCK,

[01:00:01]

BOOKS DETAIL DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND THAT PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE FACE OR RELATE TO OR CAN RELATE TO.

THEY DO HAVE VALUE. DO NOT SHOUT DIVERSE VOICES. AND BY BANNING BOOKS SO THAT. GOOD EVENING, I'M SERENA SCHROCK. SHE'S MY MOTHER. I WAS A I'M A GRADUATE OF THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I'M AN AVID READER. I OPPOSE BANNING BOOKS, ANY BOOK IN GENERAL. WE DESERVE TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO BE ABLE TO READ WHATEVER WE WANT, YOU KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EXPERIENCES OF OTHERS. BECAUSE EXPERIENCES ARE IMPORTANT. IT GIVES YOU EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER PEOPLE. AND WE DESERVE TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OTHER PEOPLE. I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE THE BANNING OF THIS BOOK AND I HOPE YOU RECONSIDER. HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M A RETIRED ENGLISH TEACHER, HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER FOR 40 YEARS, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REVERSE YOUR DECISION AND TRUST THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THOSE WHO CHOSE THE BOOK. STUDENTS NEED TO BE CHALLENGED TO THINK CRITICALLY BY THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATORS. THE BANNING OF THIS ONE BOOK CAN LEAD TO THE BANNING OF OTHER BOOKS. IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE LEADING TO IGNORANCE.

STUDENTS NEED TO BE CHALLENGED. PLEASE RECONSIDER. NEXT WE HAVE JULIE BENNEBEK DRIBBEN, FOLLOWED BY JENNIFER RAULSTON AND REVEREND STEVEN HOFFMEISTER. HELLO. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW I DISAGREE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S DECISION TO REMOVE THIS BOOK, FLAMER, FROM THE COLLECTION, AND I WOULD LIKE YOU TO REINSTATE IT. SARAH JENNIFER RAULSTON OKAY. NO.

YOU'RE FINE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO MANY OF THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY PRECEDED ME ARE THINGS I WOULD HAVE SAID, BUT I WANT TO COMMENT ON THE PROCESS. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TO RECONSIDER FLAMER. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE COMMITTEE WAS CONVENED. AND I WANT TO COMMEND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE THOROUGH TRAINING THEY GAVE US. WE TALKED LEGAL ISSUES. WE HAD ALL KINDS OF SLIDE PRESENTATIONS OF OTHER COURT CASES. WE REALLY, REALLY HAD A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE WERE DEALING WITH. AND THE COMMITTEE WORKED SO HARD, AND WE WERE SO PROUD TO TAKE ON THIS WORK ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. AND OUR SUPPORT OF THE BOOK WAS UNANIMOUS. AND THEN TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN, IT'S VERY DISILLUSIONING. IT'S DISILLUSIONING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE AND WORK TOGETHER TO HELP THE SCHOOLS AND PLEASE REVERSE THE DECISION TO, TO BAN THE BOOK. GOOD EVENING. BOARD, WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS. PASTOR STEVE HOFMEISTER AND I AM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE LIFEWISE ACADEMY STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HARFORD COUNTY. I JUST WANTED TO SAY WELCOME INTRODUCE MYSELF COMMENT THAT THE LIFEWISE ACADEMY PROGRAM IS A PARENTAL OPTION PROGRAM. YOU DON'T WANT YOUR KID TO PARTICIPATE. IF HARFORD COUNTY ACKNOWLEDGES IT, DON'T SIGN THE PERMISSION SLIP. ALSO OPEN TO ANYBODY. BE PUBLIC. OR THIS BOARD WHO WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE PROS, CONS, AND MERITS OF THIS PROGRAM. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. NEXT I HAVE JEAN SALVATORE, AMANDA LAZO, AND JENNIFER FORSYTH. GOOD EVENING. I HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK FLAMER,

[01:05:01]

THIS IS A VERY BAD DECISION. I AM URGING THE BOARD OF ED TO NOT BAN ANY MORE BOOKS AND TO REINSTATE THIS ONE. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE GIVING YOU THEIR BEST OPINION. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION. YOU HAD A PROCESS. THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED. YOU HAD THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE EXPERTS. YOU FAILED TO FOLLOW THAT. THE HISTORY SAYS BANNING BOOKS. YOU'RE NEVER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY WHEN YOU'RE BANNING BOOKS. SO YOU NEED TO REVERSE THIS DECISION. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M A PARENT AND I'M A VERY STRONG BELIEVER IN TEACHERS. NO ONE HERE HAS YET SAID HOW STRONG OF A BELIEVER IN TEACHERS. I BELIEVE IN TEACHERS. I AM A VERY STRONG BELIEVER IN LIBRARIANS. LIBRARIANS ARE AMAZING. ALL RIGHT. I TRUST OUR PROFESSIONALS. ALL RIGHT. THEY HAVE WORKED HARD TO EARN THEIR CREDENTIALS TO EARN A MASTER'S DEGREE. THESE PROFESSORS ARE HIGHLY IN TUNE WITH EDUCATIONAL POLICY, AND THEY'VE RESPECTED THE PROCESS. THEY'VE DONE WHAT WE'VE ALL, AS A COLLECTIVE SOCIETY ASKED THEM TO DO. WHAT HISTORICAL EXAMPLE FOR BOOK BANNING TURNS OUT? WELL, NONE.

ALTHOUGH LIVING IS SCARY WHEN WE CONTINUE TO SUFFER, I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. TO BE ABLE TO WRITE THIS BOOK FOR YOU. TO HOPE, TO DREAM, TO WANT LOVE. THESE ARE DANGEROUS ACTS. FEAR AND HOPE ARE BOUND UP TOGETHER INSIDE OF US, ALONGSIDE OUR FLAWS AND OUR DIVINITY. IN THIS DARKNESS WE CAN FIND AN INNER LIGHT TO GUIDE US. AND THERE IS LIGHT IN YOU. EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE IT. THAT'S A LIGHT THROUGH YOUR AUTHOR. PRESIDENT. BOYNTON. THAT IS ALL THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. OKAY, MISS SLATER, ARE THERE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS? IT'S ACTUALLY MR. KYLE ANDERSON. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR BOYNTON. WE DO HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS SPEAKING VIRTUALLY THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FIRST AND LAST. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE. IN ONE MINUTE. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 15 SECONDS REMAINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER PROVIDENCE. I'M SPEAKING IN OPPOSITION TO THE BOARD'S DECISION TO BAN THE BOOK FLAMER. ACCORDING TO ONE SOURCE, 40% OF LGBTQ YOUTH SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE IN THE LAST YEAR. 12% OF THEM ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN THE LAST YEAR. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT STUDENTS AND LGBTQ AFFIRMING SCHOOLS REPORT LOWER RATES OF BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS. I'VE READ FLAMER TWICE. IT'S MOVING, POWERFUL, REALISTIC, AND RELATABLE. IF THIS BOOK MIGHT INSPIRE JUST ONE YOUNG PERSON NOT TO KILL THEMSELVES, THAT SHOULD BE REASON ALONE, NOT TO BAN IT. RESPECT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT. RESCIND THE BAN ON FLAMER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. AND THAT IS

[B. Board Member Comments]

SO I'D LIKE TO START WITH TREY MCVICAR. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BOYNTON. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. SUPERINTENDENT PAULSON, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE NOT HERE, STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS JAMES MCVICAR, BUT MANY CALL ME TREY, AND I'M HONORED TO SERVE AS THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD THIS YEAR FOR HTTPS OR FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M A PROUD STUDENT AT HARVARD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE I STUDY THE CYBERSECURITY PROGRAM AND HAVE SPENT THE PAST FEW YEARS DEEPLY ENGAGED IN STUDENT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE HARFORD COUNTY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECENTLY SERVING AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND THEN AS PRESIDENT OF. DURING MY TIME, I HELPED REBUILD THE ORGANIZATION FROM THE GROUND UP, RESTRUCTURING OUR LEADERSHIP, RE-ENERGIZING OUR STUDENT VOICE, AND ENSURING THAT EACH CRAFT BETTER REFLECTED AND REPRESENTED THE DIVERSE VOICES OF STUDENTS AROUND OUR COUNTY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SERVED TWO TERMS AS THE TECHNICAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR FOR THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS, AND AM NOW THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS NOW, AS SMOB, I'M EXCITED TO TAKE THAT SAME ENERGY AND VISION TO MY NEW ROLE. MY

[01:10:04]

[01:15:07]

THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE LIMITED THE AGE TO BEING A HIGH SCHOOL AGE BOOK. SO IT WOULD BE REMOVED FROM MIDDLE SCHOOLS, BUT THEY WEREN'T REMOVING IT FROM THE SYSTEM. THAT PARENT WHO FIRST CHALLENGED THE BOOK BROUGHT IT UP ON APPEAL, AND THE APPEAL WENT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. THE SUPERINTENDENT UPHELD THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE. NOW, THIS COMMITTEE, IF ANY OF YOU REMEMBER, WAS A LONG, DRAWN OUT PROCESS TO GET THIS PROCEDURE AND THEN A LONG PROCESS TO CHOOSE THE PEOPLE TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE AND FOR THEM TO BE TRAINED. SO THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LIGHTLY OR QUICKLY. THEN WHEN THE SUPERINTENDENT UPHELD THE DECISION OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE, IT WAS APPEALED TO THE BOARD OF ED. AND AT THE BOARD OF ED APPEAL. A LOT OF PEOPLE ADMITTED THEY HADN'T READ THE BOOK. I HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK, BUT I DID NOT VOTE TO BAN IT. FIRST OFF, I JUST INTRINSICALLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN BANNING BOOKS, SO I'LL START THERE. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE DID VOTE TO BAN A BOOK THAT THEY DIDN'T READ WHEN EVERYBODY WHO DID READ IT, AND THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE AND THE PROFESSIONALS WANTED TO KEEP IT. SO I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT BECAUSE THIS WAS AN APPEAL HEARING. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU REDO IT, HOW YOU RECONSIDER IT, HOW YOU I MEAN, UNLESS THAT PARENT APPEALED IT AGAIN TO HAVE THE DECISION CHANGED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD EVEN DO WITH THAT. SO I WILL LOOK AT MR. POINTON WHO OBVIOUSLY, OR DOCTOR POINTON. EXCUSE ME. I WASN'T TRYING TO SAY THAT WRONG, THAT HE MUST KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY SUPPORT ANY CHANGES BEING MADE IN THIS DIRECTION. THANK YOU, MISS PERRY. HELLO EVERYONE. GLAD TO BE HERE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A PROCESS IN EFFECT, THERE'S A COMMITTEE AND THEY MADE A DECISION. SO NOW IT APPEARS THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT DECISION ANYMORE. SO WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE LIKE, I'LL, I'LL SAY IT GAY OR EVEN ONES THAT ARE STRAIGHT, IT'S STILL DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO I WOULD I WOULD SAY TO FOR THIS PARTICULAR BOOK, THE FLAMER. BUT TO ME THAT SHOULD BE A, THAT SHOULD BE A SITUATION THAT HAS THE PARENT INVOLVED AND EVERYONE AND THEIR SURROUNDING FAMILY AND LET THEM DETERMINE WHAT THEY WANT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAHN. I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM THIS EVENING. BUT I DID VOTE TO REMOVE THE BOOK AND I STAND BY THAT DECISION. SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. SEWELL. HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FIRST, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YOU KNOW, TAKING AWAY PIECE OF YOUR EVENING THIS WEEK TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US. IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. I WANTED TO WELCOME THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MR. MR. KORN AND MR. MCVICKER AND ALSO RECOGNIZE OUR.

PRESIDENT FOR BEING REELECTED. AND, MISS PAIGE, FOR YOUR YOUR ELECTION TO VICE PRESIDENT. SO

[01:20:03]

THEIR VOICE, THEIR VALUES, THEIR CHOICES MATTER DEEPLY IN SHAPING HOW WE EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE RESPECTED AS PROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORTED WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED. TEACHERS ARE THE HEART OF THE CLASSROOM AND SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO INSPIRE, CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. WE MUST ENSURE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES, RESPECT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY NEED TO THRIVE AND FEEL TRULY VALUED. THEIR WELL-BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEN WE INVEST IN THEM, WE INVEST IN BETTER OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS. I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A STRONG VOICE FOR POLICIES THAT UPLIFT AND PROTECT THOSE THAT SERVE IN OUR SCHOOLS. LASTLY, I WANT TO ADDRESS WHAT MOST OF YOU CAME HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT. AND THAT'S THIS RECONSIDERATION PROCESS AND THE REMOVAL OF THE BOOK FLAMER. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WHEN I FIRST JOINED THE BOARD, DOCTOR BOLSIN REQUESTED THAT A WORKGROUP BE PUT TOGETHER TO START MAPPING OUT A SPECIFIC PROCESS FOR BOOKS TO BE REVIEWED. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A PROCEDURE, NOT A POLICY. THIS BOARD DID NOT VOTE ON THIS PROCESS. THIS IS STRICTLY AN OPERATIONS SIDE OF THE HOUSE. BOOK REVIEW CONSIDERATION APPEALING THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE TO THE BOE AS PART OF THE PROCESS. SO THE PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONCERNS THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ABOUT THE VOTE NOT BEING OPEN, AND THIS WAS OUR FIRST TIME APPEALS ARE CLOSED, MEETINGS, PERHAPS FOR FUTURE BOOK APPEALS. WE LOOK TO MAKE IT OPEN. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THAT WE CAN WORK ON. PLEASE KNOW THAT I TAKE THE DECISION TO REMOVE A BOOK VERY SERIOUSLY. I READ EVERY SENTENCE OF THIS BOOK. I APPROACHED IT WITH AN OPEN MIND. I'M DISCOURAGED TO HEAR THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD DID NOT READ THIS BOOK BEFORE COMING TO A VOTE. MY VOTE TO REMOVE THE BOOK IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THE AUTHOR, THE SUBJECT, THE LITERARY MERIT OF THE BOOK. IT'S CENTERED AROUND THE REPEATED USE OF THE F WORD, EXCESSIVE VULGAR LANGUAGE, DISRESPECTFUL COMMENTS ABOUT PRIESTS, AND I WILL CONSIDER DEROGATORY COMMENTS ABOUT WOMEN, THE OVERWHELMING AND OFFENSIVE AND CRUDE LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC SEXUAL NATURE IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR STUDENTS. WE DON'T GIVE STUDENTS IN OUR SCHOOLS UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO RATED R MOVIES. IF THIS BOOK WAS A MOVIE, IT WOULD BE RATED R. WHEN SCHOOLS PROVIDE BOOKS. SO REPEAT REPEATED PROFANITY, SEXUAL REFERENCES, AND HARMFUL SLURS, WE SEND MIXED MESSAGES TO OUR STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT'S ACCEPTABLE IN REAL LIFE, ENSURING AGE APPROPRIATE CONTENT IN SCHOOLS ISN'T ABOUT CENSORSHIP. IT'S ABOUT SAFEGUARDING INNOCENCE WHILE PRESERVING THE RIGHT CONTEXT FOR LEARNING. IT'S NOT ABOUT SILENCING VOICES, BUT IT'S HONORING OUR ROLE AS STEWARDS OF A SAFE AND RESPECTFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. AND MR. SO I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK THAT THERE'S WORK THAT THIS BOARD CAN DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US COLLECTIVELY COME TOGETHER WITH A POLICY ON WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN

[01:25:04]

[C. Consent Agenda]

CONTRACT AWARD. ANNUAL MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR WIRELESS COMPONENTS. CONTRACT AWARD.

OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL. CONTRACT AWARD. STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS OF JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS JUNE 16TH, 2025 AND JUNE 23RD, 2025. OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND, PLEASE, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? DIANE. SO MOVED THERE A SECOND. CAROL BRUCE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION AND A SECOND TO WAIVE THE TEN MINUTE BREAK. MRS. LAWRENCE. SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? THIS IS DIANA. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES. I'M SORRY. DO YOU NEED THE BREAK? FIVE MINUTES? YES. OKAY.

[D. Presentation of Proposed Revisions to Board Policy 20-0002-000 School Calendar, Ms. Katie Ridgway, Chief of Staff]

WELCOME. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. AS DOCTOR JUST SAID, MY NAME IS KATIE RIDGEWAY. I'M THE CHIEF OF STAFF FOR CPS. AND TONIGHT I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE SCHOOL CALENDAR POLICY. IT IS A THERE'S A COUPLE SIMPLE CHANGES THAT WOULD REQUIRE TO GO OUT FOR 30 DAYS. PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THERE'S NO VOTE THIS EVENING. THIS IS TO GET EVERYTHING STARTED. THE MAIN CHANGES OF THE POLICY ARE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS FROM 6 TO 3. IN THE CURRENT BOARD POLICY, IT REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE SIX INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS EMBEDDED IN OUR CALENDAR. AND THAT IS NOT A TYPICAL PRACTICE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. AND THIS IS GOING TO PUT IT DOWN TO THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS AS EMBEDDED INTO THE CALENDAR. AS SUCH, IT HAS A COUPLE OTHER PROVISIONS THAT IF THERE ARE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, THE BOARD WITH A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE COULD CHANGE A CALENDAR THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY THE BOARD. RIGHT NOW, THE LANGUAGE OF THAT DOESN'T USE THE WORDS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. AND DOCTOR POINTON AND I DISCUSSED JUST PRIOR TO THIS MEETING THAT FOR THE POLICY THAT GOES OUT FOR THE 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT, IT WILL SAY EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT DOES REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE. THAT IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT THERE IS NO PERCEPTION THAT THIS IS FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE A UNILATERAL DECISION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SPECIFIC NEED THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH COULD BE A CHANGE IN STATE POLICY OR IN ELECTION SCHEDULE CHANGE OR SOMETHING TO THAT

[01:30:01]

[Closed Session]

[Future Meetings Review]

[01:35:14]

MISS RALLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. MRS. ALVAREZ, PRESENT MISS BRUCE HERE. MRS. HAHN.

PRESIDENT, I MEAN PRESIDENT. SORRY, I'M READING MR. KORN. PRESENT. WHAT IS IT CALLED? MR. MR. MCVICKER. MR. MCVICKER IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT. MRS. PERRY HERE. MR. SEWELL I'M ALSO PRESENT. VICE PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. PRESIDENT BOYNTON HERE.

THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. THE BOARD IS NOW AN OPEN SESSION. THE PURPOSE OF THE OPEN SESSION IS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ACTION REGARDING A POTENTIAL CLOSED SESSION. BEFORE THE BOARD CONSIDERS THIS ACTION, IT NEEDS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO PERMIT PUBLIC COMMENT. THE CHAIR WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO WAIVE PUBLIC COMMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY. IN LIGHT OF THE LIMITED NATURE OF THE OPEN SESSION. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, PLEASE? CAROL. BRUCE. SO MOVED. SECOND.

THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ARE THERE ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THIS ACTUALLY IN A SECOND. YEAH THAT IS CORRECT. POTENTIAL CLOSED SESSION IS BEFORE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER. THE BASIS FOR THE CLOSED SESSION IS TO PRESERVE THE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PERFORMANCE, AND TO OBTAIN A LEGAL UPDATE ON SENSITIVE PERSONNEL MATTERS AND TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY OF POTENTIAL PARAMETERS, IF ANY, OF NEGOTIATION WITH BARGAINING UNITS AND DISCUSSIONS RELATED THERETO. PURSUANT TO SECTION THREE 305 B129 OF THE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE OF THE MARYLAND CODE, THE CHAIR WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO CLOSE THE SESSION. THIS. DIANE, I MOVE TO CLOSE THE SESSION. I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES.

THERE ARE ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SA

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.