[A. Presentation of Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Year Ending June 30, 2025, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, Ms. Amanda Henck, Director of Finance, and Mr. William Early, CPA, Principal with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) ]

HAVE ONE ITEM BEFORE PUBLIC AND BOARD MEMBER COMMENT ITEM. A PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2025. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MISS DEBORAH JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES. AND IF YOU COULD, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOUR GUESTS. SURE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. WITH ME THIS EVENING, I HAVE MR. BILL EARLEY, PRINCIPAL WITH CLA, AND AMANDA HENKE, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE. WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT. AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2025. WE DID PRESENT TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND AS REQUIRED, MR. EARLEY IS HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU TO DEBORAH AND HER AND AMANDA AND THEIR TEAM. QUITE THE UNDERTAKING THIS YEAR, WITH A NEW SYSTEM GOING IN PLACE, AS WELL AS SOME RETIREMENTS AND CHANGES THAT I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF HAVE OCCURRED IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITH JUST RETIREMENTS. SO CONGRATS TO THEM. WE WERE A LITTLE AFTER THE REQUIRED MSD DEADLINE OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, BUT THEY WORKED DILIGENTLY TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT THAT FAR AFTERWARDS AND HAD NO IMPACT ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. SO I'LL GO THROUGH A HIGHLIGHT OF OUR AUDIT, AND THEN AFTERWARDS I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANY MEMBERS MAY HAVE. I'LL GO THROUGH THE SCOPE AND A PROCESS, OUR OPINIONS, SOME HIGHLIGHTS WHERE WE ARE IN FINALIZATION OF SOME OF THE REPORTS, AND THEN AGAIN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. THIS IS PRESENTED TO YOU ALL AS GOVERNANCE. YOU ARE OVERSEEING THE AUDIT. AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE DO REPORT ON THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THEY PREPARE THE ACTUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE ONLY ISSUE THE OPINION, WHICH IS THREE PAGES IN THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. WE ALSO DO ISSUE AN INTERNAL CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT LETTER, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT REQUIRE GOVERNANCE COMMUNICATION LETTER TO YOU ALL AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND THEN WE ALSO WILL BE ISSUING A REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE OF THE FEDERAL AWARDS, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT.

THAT'S IN PROCESS. WE DO USE A RISK BASED APPROACH. SO WE'RE NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE ALSO OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITS, INTERNAL AUDITS, ETC. WE DO A RISK BASED APPROACH. WE DO INTERNAL CONTROL TESTING. WE DO LOOK AT THE IT CONTROLS AS WELL AS REVENUE RECOGNITION.

AND SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES ARE SOME OF THE AREAS WE FOCUS ON AS WE GO THROUGH OUR AUDIT. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECEIVED A UNMODIFIED OPINION ONCE AGAIN

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ON THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENT. IT IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN GIVE AS AUDITORS ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THE FEDERAL AWARD AUDIT, THE WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT ON THAT IS DUE TO MSD, TYPICALLY BY DECEMBER 31ST OF EVERY YEAR.

HOWEVER, I WILL SAY THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN WHAT'S CALLED THE OMB. OMB COMPLIANCE SUPPLEMENT ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL OMB. THE DRAFT WAS ISSUED THIS SUMMER, HOWEVER, IT WAS NEVER FINALIZED. AND THEN, AS YOU ARE WELL AWARE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN AND THEN JUST THEM REOPENING. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DATE OF WHEN THAT FEDERAL COMPLIANCE FINAL SUPPLEMENT MAY COME OUT. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH NOT ONLY HARTFORD, BUT SOME OF THE OTHER BOARDS OF EDUCATION. WE AUDIT TO ASK MSD BECAUSE UNDER LAW, UNDER ART IS DUE 1231 TO SAY WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ISSUE TO MEET THAT DEADLINE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE FINAL REPORTS. AND THE AICPA, WHICH IS THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, SAID TO AUDIT FIRMS, YOU ARE NOT TO ISSUE THE REPORTS UNTIL THAT FINAL OMB CIRCULAR IS RELEASED. SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM TO SAY, HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE AN EXTENSION? IT'S NOT DUE BY FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS UNTIL 331. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT MSD WILL JUST EXTEND THE 331 AND ALLOW US TO COMPLETE THAT FEDERAL AUDIT AND FILE ON TIME. AND OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENT HAS THE AUDIT RESULTS WE DID HAVE. WHAT A MATERIAL WEAKNESS, WHICH I'LL GO INTO DETAILS. THERE HASN'T BEEN ONE IN SEVERAL YEARS. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY I WANT TO BE CLEAR, IT WAS A PAPER ENTRY FINANCIAL STATEMENT REPORTING ENTRY ONLY. AND IT WAS NOTED DURING THE SYSTEM CONVERSION THAT WE NOTICED. I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT. THE FEDERAL AWARD AGAIN, I MENTIONED THAT THAT IS IN PROCESS. SOME OTHER MANAGEMENT LETTER COMMENTS. WE DID HAVE SOME VARIOUS ORAL COMMENTS REGARDING IT, GENERAL AND APPLICATION CONTROLS. AGAIN, FOR SECURITY PURPOSES, WE DON'T GO INTO DETAILS ON THOSE, BUT WE DID MEET WITH IT. WE HAD OUR IT TEAM COMMUNICATE WITH THE IT TEAM OR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

KIND OF JUST MAKE SOME BEST PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS. NO MAJOR CONCERNS WERE NOTED THERE.

WE DID HAVE A PAST ADJUSTMENT FOR SOME ENTRIES DUE TO THE TIMING OF WHEN THOSE REVENUE EXPENDITURES COME IN. AS YOU'RE AWARE, IT'S A TIGHT TURNAROUND AT YEAR END. SO AS THEY'RE PREPARING TO FINISH, ASSESSMENTS OF AN INVOICE IS HELD UP SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM WAITING FOR SOMEBODY TO REVIEW, IT MAY NOT GET THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN TIME TO ACCRUE IT FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. IF IT'S MATERIAL, IT HAS TO BE ACCRUED. IF IT'S NOT MATERIAL, WE CAN PASS ON IT, WHICH IS KNOWN AS A PASS ADJUSTING JOURNAL ENTRY. SO WE DID HAVE ONE OF THOSE THIS YEAR. I'LL GO THROUGH MY REQUIRED COMMUNICATION AGAIN REAL QUICK.

I MENTIONED ATTAIN REASONABLE, NOT ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE ABOUT WHETHER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS. WE ASSESSED THE ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES USED BY MANAGEMENT. THERE WAS NEW ONES PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT. WE EVALUATE THE OVERALL FINANCIAL STATEMENT PRESENTATION. WE ISSUED OUR UNMODIFIED OPINION AS I MENTIONED. AND THEN YOU SEE UNDER SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, WE DID HAVE TWO WHAT'S KNOWN AS GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD, WHICH ISSUED THE FINANCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. SO THOSE WERE GATSBY 101 AND 102 WERE ADOPTED DURING THE YEAR. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE IN A MINUTE. SIGNIFICANT ESTIMATES WE LOOKED AT MAINLY WERE RELATED TO THE OPEB LIABILITIES AND RELATED AMOUNTS.

WE TESTED THOSE TO THE ACTUARIAL CALCULATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT THE AMOUNTS REPORTING, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AGREED. WE DID HAVE A CORRECTED MISSTATEMENT, WHICH WAS THE CORRECTION OF THE ERROR FOR PRIOR YEAR DEPRECIATION. SO WHAT THAT WAS AND THAT'S WHERE WE NOTED THE INTERNAL CONTROL IS THERE WERE SOME ASSETS IN THE PRIOR YEAR THAT WHEN THEY WERE WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH AND COMPARING THEM TO WHAT CAME OUT OF THE NEW SYSTEM, THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY DEPRECIATED IN THE OLD SYSTEM. THAT ONLY AFFECTS YOUR ENTITY WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, WHICH FOR YOU ALL, YOU DO NOT USE THEM ESSENTIALLY FOR ANY PURPOSE EXCEPT FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING. LITERALLY, YOU MANAGE ON A BUDGETARY BASIS. IT HAS. IT'S NOT A CASH ENTRY. IT'S NO CASH RELATED TO IT. IT'S LITERALLY IF YOU HAVE AN ASSET AND YOU BUY THAT ASSET, AND LET'S SAY THE BUILDING COSTS 30 MILLION AND YOU DEPRECIATE OVER 30 YEARS, $1 MILLION A YEAR. AFTER TEN YEARS, IT SHOULD HAVE ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION OF 10 MILLION. AND THESE WERE NOT BEING DEPRECIATED. SO AN ENTRY WAS BOOKED TO CATCH THOSE UP.

SO AGAIN IT'S LITERALLY A PAPER JOURNAL ENTRY FOR REPORTING PURPOSES. I MENTIONED THAT WE HAD TWO PAST ADJUSTMENTS THERE FOR INVOICES THAT WERE NOT ACCRUED. THAT WAS DUE TO TIMING.

AND SAME THING WITH THE REVENUE THAT WAS RECORDED AS AN INTERNAL GRANT. THAT SHOULD HAVE JUST BEEN RECORDED AS FUND BALANCE THAT WAS LEFT OVER, SO NOT REPORTED AS REVENUE. SO THAT WAS AGAIN NOT MATERIAL. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO MAKE THAT ADJUSTMENT. WE HAD NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT. MANAGEMENT WAS VERY COOPERATIVE AND PROFESSIONAL AS THEY ALWAYS ARE. DURING THE PROCESS WE DID THEY DID NOT CONSULT WITH ANY OTHER ACCOUNTANTS TO SEEK A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN WHAT WE OFFERED, AND THERE WAS NO MAJOR ISSUES PRIOR TO US BEING SELECTED AS THE AUDITOR. WE UNDER CONTRACT THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS. AS I MENTIONED, WE DID HAVE TWO NEW GATSBYS THIS YEAR. ONE WAS FOR COMPENSATED ABSENCES. THIS DID NOT HAVE A MATERIAL IMPACT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND THEN WE HAD 102, WHICH WAS CERTAIN RISK DISCLOSURES THAT WAS ALSO PUT IN PLACE THIS YEAR. MAINLY THEY WERE REQUIRED ADJUSTMENTS

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FOR HOW THE LIABILITY FOR COMPENSATED ABSENCES CALCULATED, COMPENSATED ABSENCES IS YOUR SICK AND VACATION ACCRUALS. YOU WERE ALREADY DOING PRETTY MUCH WHAT THE GASB SAID. THERE WAS JUST SOME MINOR TWEAKING TO HOW SOME OF THOSE CALCULATIONS ARE DONE UNDER THE NEW REQUIREMENTS, AND 102, THERE WAS NO TRIGGERING EVENTS THAT YOU HAD THAT WOULD REQUIRE DISCLOSURES IN YOUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. FOR THOSE, WE WILL HAVE ONE NEXT YEAR THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT. THAT'S GASB 103. SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH AMANDA AND HER TEAM TO GO THROUGH AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY DURING THE YEAR. WE DO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS PERIODICALLY AS PART OF OUR AUDIT PROCESS, AS WE CONTINUALLY GO THROUGH THE ANNUAL AUDIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE VERY END TO GO THROUGH THOSE.

SO AS AMANDA WORKS THROUGH THAT, WE'LL HAVE AND HAS QUESTIONS. WE'LL BE KIND OF WORKING WITH THAT TEAM TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IMPLEMENTED PROPERLY. THERE'S ALSO ONE CLASSIFICATION OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS. PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT AS 103 MAY, AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE FOR YOU, KIND OF JUST TELLING YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT CLA, WE'RE HAPPY TO ONCE AGAIN SERVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THIS YEAR AS THE AUDITORS AND LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE SERVING AS THE AUDITORS OVER THE NEXT COMING YEARS. SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OPEN IT UP TO BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. LIVELY GROUP THIS EVENING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[Public Comment ]

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO THEN MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS. WELCOME. THIS EVENING IF WE COULD PLEASE READ THIS EVENING'S RULES OF ORDER.

GOOD EVENING. I'M MATT BETZEL, 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'D 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 DISTRACTION. 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 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 PARTICIPATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IN PERSON, SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE. SO WE HAVE A LOT AT 60 MINUTES TO PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING. WE HAVE NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS STILL, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT. NO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE REGISTERED, WE'LL DO. IF YOU COULD SET THE CLOCK TO TWO MINUTES AND 30S FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FOUR MINUTES FOR GROUPS, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. WE WILL START WITH WILLIAM MARTINO, FOLLOWED BY MARCELLA THOMPSON AND NEIL THOMPSON. GOOD EVENING. IT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT CHILDREN DEVELOP ALL ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS BEFORE USING SHORTCUT PROCESSES SUCH AS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO DEVELOP READING, MATH AND OTHER TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC SKILLS. I WAS CURIOUS TO FIND OUT IF AI WOULD WRITE AN ARGUMENT AGAINST ITSELF. THIS IS WHAT IT SAID.

QUOTE WHILE AI TECHNOLOGIES ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY INCREASINGLY ACCESSIBLE, THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING, PERSONAL EFFORT, AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH THAT

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COME FROM ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH COURSE MATERIAL READING CLOSELY WRESTLED WITH COMPLEX IDEAS, FORMULATING ORIGINAL ARGUMENTS, AND LEARNING THROUGH ONE'S OWN MISTAKES ARE ESSENTIAL PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. THESE EXPERIENCES BUILD NOT ONLY KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO DISCIPLINE, CURIOSITY, AND CONFIDENCE, QUALITIES THAT AUTOMATED SYSTEMS CANNOT CULTIVATE ON A STUDENT'S BEHALF. END QUOTE. THAT'S NOT TOO BAD. SEE, EVEN AI AI AGREES WE SHOULDN'T USE AI TO DEVELOP LEARNING SKILLS IN YOUNG STUDENTS. PROGRESS COMES FROM LEARNING THROUGH ERRORS AND DISCOMFORT REQUIRED TO GET THE RIGHT ANSWER. THIS EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE WILL BURN IN THE STUDENTS MEMORY BANKS AND COULD LAST A LIFETIME.

ANSWERS THAT COME EASILY AND QUICKLY ARE FORGOTTEN AND NON LASTING. JUST LIKE THE EXPRESSION EASY COME, EASY GO ACHIEVEMENT FROM OLD SCHOOL, HARD WORK IS ALWAYS PRODUCES THE BEST SATISFACTION. BACK WHEN I WAS AN ENGINEERING COLLEGE IN THE 80S, WE WERE FORCED TO TAKE A NUMBER OF ELECTIVES TO SHAPE US INTO WELL-ROUNDED STUDENTS. I GOT STUCK HAVING TO TAKE WORLD LITERATURE. I READ DANTE'S DIVINE COMEDY AND COULD APPRECIATE THE CLASSIC LITERATURE. THEN ONE DAY, I WALKED INTO A BOOKSTORE AND DISCOVERED THE AI OF THE 1980S. CLIFF NOTES. THEN FUTURE ASSIGNMENTS SUCH AS DON QUIXOTE, DOCTOR FAUSTUS AND THE ODYSSEY. I, CLIFF NOTED MY WAY TO A B-MINUS. I DENIED MYSELF THE RICH SUBSTANCE OF THE MATERIAL, AND TODAY I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THOSE BOOKS ARE ABOUT.

HOWEVER, I CAN STILL RECALL THE DIVINE COMEDY BECAUSE I PUT THE EFFORT IN TO READ ALL OF IT.

I'VE COME TO REALIZE THAT GETTING THE RIGHT ANSWERS IS NOT THE POINT. IT IS GOING THROUGH THE LEARNING. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M TRACY THOMPSON AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT EDUCATION. THAT'S WHY I KEEP SHOWING UP. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE HERE IN THIS ROOM AND PEOPLE ALL AROUND THE COUNTY.

THEY'VE BEEN LETTING YOU KNOW, MAYBE MORE THAN YOU WISH, HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT SOME THINGS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. AND ONE OF THEM, OF COURSE, IS THE BOOK REMOVAL. THE COMMUNITY OF TEACHERS, PARENTS, LIBRARIANS AND STUDENTS ON THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE. THEY TOLD YOU HOW THEY FEEL TO THE STATE BOARD WEIGHED IN BECAUSE THREE APPEALS WERE FILED WITH THEM. AND THOSE APPEALS WERE FROM THIS COMMUNITY. SO YOU TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY STANDARDS.

WE ARE YOUR COMMUNITY. WE CARE DEEPLY. THE STATE DIDN'T JUMP IN JUST BECAUSE THEY DECIDED TO.

THEY WERE ASKED TO STEP IN AND HELP US BECAUSE WE DON'T BELIEVE IN WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

AND WE HAVE A NEW LAW, THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT. NOW, WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE ACCEPTING THEIR DECISION HAS BECOME A PROBLEM. FIRST, IT WAS THE DECISION OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE. BUT EVEN BEFORE THAT, THERE WAS THE DECISION OF OUR CPS LIBRARIANS, AND ALL OF THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWED. SO WE'RE NOT ACCEPTING THAT DECISION, AND IT'S GOING TO COST ALL OF US. TAKING THIS TO CIRCUIT COURT TAKES MONEY FROM OUR SCHOOLS. IF IT COMES FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED THAT STILL TAXPAYER MONEY. AND IF, AS MR. COHEN SUGGESTED IN A STATEMENT IN THE EASTERN GAZETTE, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION WANTS TO HELP FUND THIS FIGHT. AND I'M WONDERING, IS THAT LEGAL? IS IT ETHICAL TO HAVE A NATIONAL POLITICAL GROUP STEP IN ON A LOCAL ISSUE? AND THAT GOES WAY BEYOND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE STATE BEING INVOLVED. THIS IS WAY BEYOND THE STATE. SO IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING. WE CAN BE QUITE SURE THAT IT WILL BE MONEY WASTED. AS OUR OWN BOE ATTORNEY SAID AT THE SPECIAL MEETING, THERE'S A LESS THAN 20% CHANCE OF WINNING. I JUST HATE TO SEE US GO THROUGH THAT. THIS IS SUCH A GOOD DISTRICT. WE HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER AND I BELIEVE IN THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS NEIL THOMPSON AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY STANDARDS. THERE ARE PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BOOK BAN ISSUE. MATTER OF FACT, WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE SPECIAL VIRTUAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 13TH. SO OUR VOICES WERE NOT HEARD. BUT WE DID SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENT. SO I WOULD ASK THE BOARD IF THEY PLAN TO

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RELEASE A TALLY OF THOSE COMMENTS. WE HAVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY, AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THOSE WHO ATTEND OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AND THAT'S OKAY. WE ALL MANAGED TO STAND OUTSIDE TONIGHT AND SHIVER TOGETHER WAITING TO GET IN. THAT WAS ALRIGHT. WE CAN HAVE A DIVERSE COMMUNITY AND STILL BE FUNCTIONAL AND WORKING. MEMBERS OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE AND WRITERS OF THE APPEALS TO THE STATE BOARD, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THOSE WHO SUPPORTED THE REMOVAL OF FLAMER ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. DOES ONLY ONE SIDE COUNT? WE DON'T THINK SO. WE THINK BOTH SIDES COUNT. AND HOW DO YOU RESOLVE THESE DIFFERING OPINIONS? WELL, YOU ALREADY HAVE A SOLUTION. IF THERE'S A BOOK YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO READ, YOU CONTACT THE SCHOOL AND ASK THAT THE BOOK BE WITHHELD FROM YOUR CHILD. WE DO HAVE THAT SYSTEM IN PLACE, BUT THE PARENTS IN CHARGE LET ALL HAVE RIGHTS AND FREEDOM. DON'T DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY BY TELLING PARENTS WHAT TO THINK FROM ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NEXT WE HAVE ERIC THOMPSON, SAMUEL BATTERS, AND DAVID BAUER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ERIC THOMPSON.

AT THE LAST BUSINESS MEETING, DOCTOR POINTON, YOU SPOKE ABOUT HOW SOCIAL MEDIA OFTEN MANUFACTURES OUTRAGE AND FURTHERS DIVISIONS BETWEEN US. MISS HAAN, I WAS IMPRESSED BY WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY ABOUT MAKING SURE ALL STUDENTS FEEL SAFE WHEN YOU WERE ADDRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT LOCKER ROOMS AND CHANGING FOR GYM CLASS. I THINK IT'S CLEAR THAT AS A SOCIETY AND AS A COUNTY RIGHT HERE, WE SOMETIMES STRUGGLE TO HEAR EACH OTHER. WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ALL ONE COMMUNITY. WE STOP LISTENING AND WE REACT WITH FEAR AND ANGER. AS YOU EXAMINE YOUR POLICIES ON CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS, ISSUES AROUND GENDER IDENTITY, DRESS CODE, CURRICULUM, AND LIBRARY MATERIALS, I URGE YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. IF THIS DISTRICT DECIDES THAT CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS CAN'T BE TALKED ABOUT IN CLASSROOMS, CAN'T BE READ ABOUT IN OUR LIBRARIES, THEN YOU'RE PLAYING RIGHT INTO THOSE VOICES ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WANT TO DIVIDE US AND SPREAD HATE. IF STUDENTS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN, TO LISTEN AND TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, DIFFERENT IDEAS, WHERE WILL THEY LEARN THAT ON FACEBOOK OR X? HOW WILL THEY KNOW HOW TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE INFLUENCERS WHO ARE SPREADING LIES AND SELLING OUTRAGE? PLEASE STOP BANNING BOOKS. STOP SILENCING VOICES. IT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT ONLY SOME PEOPLE ARE WELCOME HERE. IT GIVES HATE AND FEAR MORE DARKNESS TO GROW IN.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SAMUEL BATTERS. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF HARTFORD COUNTY. I AM A MEMBER OF THE LGBT COMMUNITY, AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM HERE, BANNING THIS BOOK IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO DO. MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WENT IN THAT BOOK I EXPERIENCED IN SCHOOL, I EXPERIENCED THE BULLYING, THE HATE, THE DEPRESSION, THE SUICIDE ATTEMPTS. WE SHOULDN'T BE BANNING A BOOK JUST BECAUSE IT'S TELLING AN EXPERIENCE OF WHAT THAT AUTHOR WENT THROUGH. AND IF ANYBODY HAD ACTUALLY READ THE BOOK, IT EXPLAINS THAT.

BUT HERE WE ARE FIGHTING OVER A SENTENCE OF AN EXPERIENCE, AND I CAN TELL YOU 100%, EVERYTHING THAT I WENT THROUGH IN SCHOOL IS IN THAT BOOK. SO WHY ARE WE TAKING THAT BOOK AWAY FROM THOSE STUDENTS WHO DO EXPERIENCE THAT, WHEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD TURN TO AND HELP THEM GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE THE NARRATIVE THAT EVERYBODY IS, OH, THIS IS WRONG AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH. WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THAT. WE SHOULD BE MAKING THESE STUDENTS AWARE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN TURN TO. BUT FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, ALL I SEE IS THIS, OH, WE SHOULDN'T BE. THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. AND ALL THIS AND THAT. IT IS HAPPENING.

IT DOES HAPPEN IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO PLEASE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING, DO THE RIGHT THING.

THIS BOOK BELONGS. AND GAY KIDS IN SCHOOL, THEY NEED STUFF LIKE THIS TO HELP THEM. AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I GOT TO SAY. BUT THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER. AT LAST THURSDAY'S SPECIAL MEETING, MR. CORBYN SAID, QUOTE, HALF THE KIDS IN EIGHTH GRADE CAN'T READ.

OKAY. SO THEY'RE LOOKING AT PICTURES, END QUOTE. THAT IS CATEGORICALLY FALSE. AND IT IS

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VERY DISTURBING THAT HE WOULD EVEN THINK THAT THE 53% HE CITES IS NOT BASIC LITERACY. IT IS EIGHTH GRADE STANDARDS. GO READ THEM. IT HAS THINGS LIKE QUOTE FORM AND USE VERBS IN THE INDICATIVE, IMPERATIVE, INTERROGATIVE, CONDITIONAL AND SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD. END QUOTE.

THE TRUTH, WHICH IS SHOWN IN ONE OF THE REPORTS THAT I REFERENCED IN MY LAST PUBLIC COMMENT, IS THAT ABOUT 60% OF OUR EIGHTH GRADERS SCORED AT SEVENTH GRADE READING OR HIGHER ON THE I-READY ASSESSMENT, MORE THAN 90% SCORED AT FOURTH GRADE OR HIGHER. WELL, THAT'S DEFINITELY NOT WHERE WE WANT THEM TO BE. THAT IS WELL ABOVE QUOTE A PICTURE BOOK, END QUOTE.

ALSO AT THAT SPECIAL MEETING, VICE PRESIDENT PAIGE SAID, QUOTE, WHEN THE STATE BOARD OVERRIDES A LOCAL DECISION, IT SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT, END QUOTE, ON SOCIAL MEDIA. MISS HAN SAID, QUOTE, EXACTLY WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A LOCAL BOARD? IF THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD CAN OVERTURN A DECISION SUCH AS THIS END QUOTE. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE STATE BOARD'S AUTHORITY, THEN LEAVE. SERIOUSLY, JUST RESIGN AND LEAVE THE ROOM TO DO THE JOB OF A BOARD MEMBER, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY. YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLES OF OTHERS THAT YOUR LITTLE BUBBLE OF RESPONSIBILITY TOUCHES. THE APPOINTED MEMBERS WERE NOMINATED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND CONFIRMED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT THEY CAN'T REMOVE YOU. THE STATE BOARD CAN. THE ELECTED MEMBERS WERE SELECTED BY THE VOTERS, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL OPTION. THE VOTERS CAN'T REMOVE YOU MID-TERM. THE STATE BOARD CAN UNDERSTAND THEIR AUTHORITY COMPARED TO YOURS. YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT BEFORE YOU APPLIED FOR THIS POSITION. THANK YOU ALL. NEXT WE HAVE ANNE HARTIG, JAMES RAMSEY, AND ELLEN BASKIN. HELLO. MY NAME IS ANNE HARTIG. THANK YOU FOR BEING TRANSPARENT IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND OPEN TO PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF ED APPEAL THAT IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TAXPAYERS MONEY. DOCTOR POINT AND MISS PAGE NOTED THE SPECIAL MEETING WAS CALLED TO VOTE ON APPEALING THE STATE BOARD'S DECISION REGARDING FLAMUR IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND CLARIFIED THE POINT IN QUESTION IS WHETHER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED. MISS ALVAREZ, YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THOSE FACTS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE STATE, WHICH SEEMS LIKE A GOOD REASON TO REQUEST RECONSIDERATION. DOCTOR MUELLER, MR. SEWELL AND MR. VICKERS, THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING VERY IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THIS PROCESS, THE STRAIN ON THE COMMUNITY, THE REPUTATION OF THIS VERY BOARD AND THE USE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY BEING USED FOR A QUESTIONABLY SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. MR. KORN, YOU SHARED AT LENGTH THAT YOU DO NOT LIKE THE BOOK'S CONTENT OR WANT YOUR CHILD TO READ THE BOOK. CLEARLY, OTHER PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHAT TO READ. HOW DO YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT CONTENT ADD TO THE PROCEDURAL QUESTION AT HAND? I AGREE WITH YOU. IT IS THE BOARD'S JOB TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY AND BALANCE THE INTERESTS OF TAXPAYERS, STUDENTS, AND EXPENDITURES. HOW ARE YOU OBTAINING THIS INFORMATION FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED STAKEHOLDERS IN ORDER TO VOICE AN INFORMED POSITION ON PROCEDURE? MISS PAGE, YOU REITERATED THAT THE VOTE WAS ABOUT PROCEDURE, WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAS NOW BEEN REVISED, BUT I HAVEN'T READ IT.

YOU AND MISS HAHN WERE ADAMANT THAT THE STATE BOARD SHOULD NOT TELL LOCAL BOARDS WHAT TO DO, THAT THEY OVERSTEP THEIR AUTHORITY, AND THAT THE STATE IS SETTING A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT. DOES THIS MEAN THAT YOUR DECISION IS TO APPEAL FOR THE APPEAL IS MORE ABOUT GOVERNANCE, NOT PROCEDURE? PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR POSITION, HOW YOU KNOW WHAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS ABOUT BOTH. WHAT PRECEDENT IS THIS BOARD SETTING FOR FUTURE DECISIONS? WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO IGNORE OR REFUTE THE DECISIONS OF EDUCATION EXPERTS AND GOVERNING BODIES IN FAVOR OF YOUR OWN, AT THE EXPENSE OF STUDENTS ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND TAXPAYERS POCKETBOOKS. MISS HAHN, YOU ALSO REPORTED EARLY ON THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD PAY FOR LEGAL EXPENSES.

HOW CAN YOU BE SURE THAT MOST TAXPAYERS PAYERS WANT TO SEE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES SPEND THEIR MONEY WITH SUCH LOW CHANCES OF FAVORABLE RETURNS TO YOU ALL? TELL ME, IS THE APPEAL ABOUT PROCEDURE, MISHAPS, OR MORE ABOUT EXERTING POWER AND RESTRICTING RESTRICTING IDEOLOGY? THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M JAMES RAMSEY. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS DECIDED TO SPEND

[00:30:11]

TIME, MONEY AND EVEN ITS OWN REPUTATION TO APPEAL THE STATE OF MARYLAND'S REINSTATEMENT OF THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, FLAMER AND SCHOOL LIBRARIES. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. DOCTOR POINT, ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED IN A LISTENING SESSION THAT THE PROCESS THE BOARD HAD USED TO BAN FLAMER LOOKED, AS HE HIMSELF PUT IT, SHADY. IT CERTAINLY APPEARED THAT THE BOARD HAD ATTEMPTED TO AVOID PUBLIC SCRUTINY AT THAT PROCESS, AND IT'S. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE STATE HAS FOUND FAULT IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL. IT DOESN'T HELP THAT THE REASONING BEHIND THE BAN LOOKS SHAKY, OFTEN DESCRIBING THE CONTENTS OF FLAMER IN A MISLEADING FASHION AND EVEN LIKENING THAT REASONING TO THE MPAA DECIDING MOVING RATINGS IS THAT THE MPAA'S OWN PROCESS DIDN'T HAVE PLENTY OF ISSUES. ALL IN ALL, THE BOARD'S OWN PROCESS WAS ILL CONSIDERED AND SHODDY. AND YOU WANT TO DEFEND THIS TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND? HONESTLY, I SUSPECT THE REASON SOME BOARD MEMBERS STATEMENTS ABOUT FLAMER LOOK REASONABLE IS THAT THOSE STATEMENTS ARE COVER FOR THOSE PARTICULAR MEMBERS REAL REASONS FOR THE BAN, NAMELY, IT OFFENDS THE FAR RIGHT BELIEFS THAT THEY WOULD LABEL AS CHRISTIAN SINCE THEY'RE PUBLIC OFFICIALS OF A SECULAR GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATION. THEY CAN'T SAY THAT PUBLICLY. I SUGGEST THAT THE PARTICULAR BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUCH BELIEFS GO WORK SOMEPLACE THAT BETTER ACCOMMODATES THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO SURREPTITIOUSLY FORCE THEM ON THOSE WHO DON'T SHARE THEM. THANK YOU. HI, I'M ELLEN BESKIN. I WAS VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD REVERSED THE BAN ON THE BOOK. BAN ON THE BOOK FLAMER.

APPARENTLY THE BOARD, THEY DIDN'T AGREE WITH WHAT OUR BOARD HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BOOK AND BANNING IT FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. I AM DISAPPOINTED, BUT NOT SURPRISED, THAT THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD HAS DECIDED TO APPEAL THE STATE BOARD'S DECISION. THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD DOES NOT HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY. FLAMER IS A BOOK THAT DEALS WITH TOLERANCE AND TEENAGE STRUGGLES, AND CAN PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A CONVERSATION IN MANY HOMES. IT ALSO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A TEENAGER THAT READS THIS BOOK, OR A BOOK LIKE IT. LETTING THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THEIR STRUGGLES. WE ALL KNOW THAT HARFORD COUNTY HAS HAD BUDGET ISSUES IN THE PAST. I FEEL THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE APPEAL, MAYBE YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT STAFFING, CLASS SIZING SIZES, KEEPING SPECIAL PROGRAMS, RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS. I FEEL THIS PARTICULAR BOARD HAS A POLITICAL AGENDA AND NOT THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE LUCY BUXTON, CHARLENE HOBBS, AND ARAVINDA PALLOMARI. GOOD EVENING. I'M LUCY BUXTON, AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO COMMENT ON THE BOARD'S DECISION TO APPEAL THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S DIRECTIVE TO REINSTATE THE BOOK FLAMER IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES. THIS APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT WILL COST THE TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY. ACCORDING TO YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I SIMPLY CAN'T COME UP WITH A GOOD REASON FOR THE BOARD TO PURSUE THIS APPEAL. THE INTENT SEEMS PRIMARILY TO ASSERT THIS LOCAL BOARD'S INDEPENDENCE OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CATER TO A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, THOSE OPPOSED TO FLAMERS INCLUSION IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES HAVE BENEFITED FROM A MULTI-LAYERED APPEAL PROCESS. THEY HAVE BEEN SEEN AND HEARD.

CONTINUING TO BEAT THIS DEAD HORSE SEEMS PURELY POLITICAL AND PERFORMATIVE. NO CHILD WILL BE FORCED TO READ FLAMER, BUT EVERY CHILD WILL HAVE ACCESS TO ITS POSITIVE MESSAGES. PLEASE RECONSIDER YOUR APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT AND FOCUS ON PERFECTING YOUR BOOK REVIEW PROCEDURES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE INCLUSIVE, TRANSPARENT, AND BENEFICIAL TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS.

AND I'D LIKE TO END BY THANKING THOSE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT DID NOT SUPPORT THE APPEAL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING. I'M CHARLENE HAUPT, A RETIRED TEACHER OF HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS. FOR 18 YEARS I TAUGHT LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE. THE TWO TWO POINTS OF CONCERN THE MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD TO OVERRIDE OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD ON NOVEMBER 4TH, IF A MINORITY OF OUR BOARD HADN'T ENABLED THIS FIASCO TO OCCUR IN THE

[00:35:03]

FIRST PLACE. IF THE BOARD OF ED HAD FOLLOWED THEIR OWN GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES, THIS WOULD NOT EVEN HAVE BEGUN. THEY WERE COWED BY A MINORITY OF MEMBERS INTO VOTING AGAINST THIS BOOK BECAUSE OF PRESSURE FROM THREE, PERHAPS REALLY ONLY ONE GROUP THAT WANTED TO GAIN POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY AND A POWER GRAB. SO THEY CAVED TO THAT MINORITY. RATHER THAN GET INTO POSSIBLE LITIGATION AND COMMUNITY INFIGHTING. MY HOPE IS THE BOARD WILL DROP THEIR APPEAL AND HONOR THEIR DECISION. LISTENING TO NAYSAYERS WHO WILL STILL ATTEMPT TO SOW CHAOS AND INCENDIARY UNTRUTHS FOR THEIR OWN GAIN DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ADVANTAGEOUS NOR BENEFICIAL TO OUR BOARD OR US AND OUR POCKETBOOKS. POINT NUMBER TWO, UP UNTIL NOVEMBER 2ND, I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY MAIL CONCERNING OPEN ENROLLMENT OF OUR HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR TEACHERS AND RETIREES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. OTHER COUNTIES ALREADY HAD IT FIGURED OUT IN OCTOBER. IT WAS THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF BLOWBACK CONCERNING UNITED HEALTH CARE AND THEIR DISINGENUOUS ATTEMPTS TO DENY US CARE. I WAS TOLD THE CONSORTIUM DIDN'T EVEN ALLOW FOR A CONTRACT TO A DIFFERENT HEALTH CARE CONTRACT TO BE CONSIDERED WHERE WE COULD GET THE CARE WE DESERVE WITH THE SAME CARE. AFTER YEARS WHICH HERETOFORE WAS HONORED AND NOW ENTIRELY WITHOUT NOTICE, IS BEING DENIED AT EVERY TURN WITH MORE MONEY TO THIS FOR PROFIT HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. IT'S LIKE THEY CAN CROSS US OFF THE LIST OF WHO NEEDS CARE AND WHO CAN DO WITHOUT IT, SINCE WE'RE ON OUR WAY OUT. PERSONALLY, IT'S INSULTING AND I DO NOT RESPECT THE CONSORTIUM'S DECISION TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ALL OF US.

WITH NOT ONE SECOND OF COMMUNICATION TO US WHO READ IT AND NEED IT. SHAME ON THOSE WHO SEE US AS REPLACEABLE AND THEREFORE LEFT IN THE DARK. I THINK IT'S TIME FOR OUR VOICES TO BE HEARD. AS FAR AS OUR OWN HEALTH IS CONCERNED. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY EVERYBODY HAD TO STEP OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE LAURETTE BERTUCCI, DAVE FABI, AND RITA SHAMAN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LAURETTE PHETASY, AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD HAS DECIDED TO APPEAL THE STATE BOARD'S DECISION TO LIFT THE BAN ON FLAMER. I BELIEVE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE RESPECTED AND COMPLIED WITH THE DECISION THAT WAS RENDERED BY THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS CREATED EXACTLY FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE MEMBERS OF THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE ARE THE IMPARTIAL EXPERTS ON THIS SUBJECT, AND I THEREFORE BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE HAD THE FINAL SAY. I ALSO VOICED STRONG OPPOSITION TO BOOK BANNING AND CENSORSHIP IN GENERAL, AS IT VIOLATES OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND IS ALSO IN VIOLATION OF MARYLAND'S FREEDOM TO READ ACT. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THE PARENTS OF HC STUDENTS HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE OPTION OF PREVENTING THEIR CHILDREN FROM HAVING ACCESS TO ANY BOOKS THAT THEY FEEL ARE INAPPROPRIATE. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I FEEL THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD'S LEGAL APPEAL WILL BE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT DIRECTLY AND POSITIVELY BENEFIT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. THANK YOU. HELLO. WITH REGARD TO LAST WEEK'S BOARD MEETING TO APPEAL THE STATE OF MARYLAND'SRU EVER RECEIVE THOSE ACTIONS IN OPINIONS AND BRIEFS TO DETERMINE THE ACCURACY OF THE DATA? MR. MUELLER, YOUR COMMENTS REGARDING THE COST IN RELATION TO TEACHER SALARIES. WE ALL LEARNED ABOUT THE MARIGOLD PROGRAM THAT RECOGNIZES ALL STUDENT FACING EMPLOYEES. WHY DID YOU NOT INCLUDE CUSTODIANS, SPECIAL ED TEACHERS, OR BUS DRIVERS? IF YOU'RE TRULY CONCERNED WITH THE COST OF THE APPEAL? I WOULD SUGGEST YOU MEASURE IN TERMS OF SUPERINTENDENT SALARIES, SINCE BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION WHO CREATED THE PROCEDURE AND THE BOARD WHO CREATED THE POLICY ARE INVOLVED. MR. VICKERS, YOUR COMMENTS. THERE'S NO FIXING THE LANGUAGE, HURTING THE HALLWAYS OF SCHOOLS. IF YOU TALK TO THE PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS, THEY'LL EXPLAIN. WHEN THEY WENT TO SCHOOL, THE HALLWAYS WEREN'T FILLED WITH THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE, OR THE LIBRARIES FILLED WITH THESE KIND OF BOOKS THAT INCLUDE PORNOGRAPHY AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY. PRESIDENT BOYDEN, YOU ARE CORRECT IN REGARDING THE AGE APPROPRIATE, APPROPRIATE CONTENT IN THE BOOK FLAMER AND MR. KORN WAS CORRECT IN REGARDING THE BOOK, FLAMER IS A HOW TO PICTURE BOOK ON BULLYING AND SUICIDE. AND AGAIN, SINCE WE'RE SPEAKING OF BULLYING AND SUICIDE, IF CHARLIE KIRK WAS ONLY CALLED A JERK OR AN IDIOT VERSUS A NAZI OR A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY, HE MAY STILL BE ALIVE TODAY. NOW, THE BOARD SHOULD STAND TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER AND THE PARENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY, IN DEFENSE

[00:40:04]

OF THE BOOK REVIEW PROCEDURE, POLICY VERSUS THE STATE MANDATE. THE GOAL IS A SAFE STUDENT ENVIRONMENT AND IN THIS MATTER, STOP THE NORMALIZING BULLYING AND TRANS AND SUICIDE. LET'S NOT FORGET KAYLA HAMILTON AND HOW THE STATE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES DID NOT PROTECT HER AND THE STUDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY BY ALLOWING AN ILLEGAL MIGRANT, A GANG MEMBER, A MURDER SUSPECT, AND TO EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT BOLTON. AFTER THE FAILURES OF THE STATE EMPLOYEES AT DHS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS RITA SHARMAN AND I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT A BOARD MEMBER. I THINK IT WAS MR. KORN SEEKING, MENTIONING, SEEKING FUNDING FROM THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO COVER THE LEGAL FEES FOR THE APPEAL ON FLAMER. THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS AN OVERTLY PARTIZAN ORGANIZATION, HEAVILY INVOLVED IN NATIONAL POLITICS, ALLOWING THEM TO GET INVOLVED IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD WOULD UNDERMINE THE NONPARTIZAN WAY OUR BOARD IS SUPPOSED TO FUNCTION, OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING FUNDING IS BEING MENTIONED, THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT RESOURCES ARE LIMITED AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND THIS LEGAL ACTION. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE BOARD TO WORK TOGETHER, COME TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS OF THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. I HAVE LISTENED TO BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSING AND MAKING VERY POLITICALLY CHARGED STATEMENTS THAT DO NOT BELONG ON A NONPARTIZAN BOARD. PLEASE COLLABORATE AND ADDRESS THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEEDS AND KEEP PARTIZAN ISSUES OUT OF IT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT POLITICS, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMMUNITY NOT WANTING FLAMER IN THE SCHOOLS. I WAS AT BREAKFAST WITH MY SISTER WHO WOULD AGREE WITH YOU. SHE TOOK THE BOOK FLAMER, WHICH I HAD BROUGHT WITH ME AND ASKED A GROUP OF WOMEN WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL. THERE WERE SIX. IT WAS AT. PAIRINGS AND SHE SAID, DO YOU OBJECT TO THIS BOOK BEING IN SCHOOL? AND ALL SIX OF THEM SAID, NO, ALL SIX. I WAS AT THE PLAY AT BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL, SO I WAS ASKING PEOPLE THERE, DO YOU OBJECT TO FLAMER BEING IN THE SCHOOL? THEY ALL SAID, NO. EVERY PERSON I TALKED TO. SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GETTING COMMUNITY INFORMATION FROM, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE SUSIE SCOTT, FOLLOWED BY RONNIE DAVIS AND CINDY POPPER. MISS SCOTT, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FOUR MINUTES. HI, I'M SUSIE SCOTT. I'M THE CHAIR OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY OF HARFORD COUNTY. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED AI POLICY BEING PRESENTED TONIGHT. DOCTOR POINTON, WHILE SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD, YOU ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY HOLDING SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE INTERESTS IN THE AI SECTOR THAT CREATE AN APPARENT CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHAT WE KNOW OF YOUR RESUME IS THAT YOU ARE THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF OMNIPOINT SOLUTIONS, A TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING FIRM SPECIALIZING IN FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, OR FOUR IR STRATEGIES, INCLUDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS AND DEFENSE, NATIONAL SECURITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY. YOU HAVE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT YOU SERVE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, A PRIVATE AI ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. WHAT YOU FAILED TO DISCLOSE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT NONETHELESS IT HAS RECENTLY COME TO LIGHT, IS THAT YOU SERVE AS DIRECTOR AT LARGE OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA. THIS ORGANIZATION IS PUSHING AND PROMOTING THE UN AGENDA, SPECIFICALLY THEIR 17 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT GOALS. THIS AGENDA IS AT ODDS WITH AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY, AND HARFORD COUNTY IS NOW AWARE OF YOUR GLOBAL LEANINGS. THESE ROLES POSITION DOCTOR BOYNTON TO PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY BENEFIT FROM POLICIES THAT PROMOTE EXPANSIVE AI ADOPTION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION,

[00:45:03]

WHETHER THROUGH FUTURE CONSULTING OPPORTUNITIES, ENHANCED INDUSTRY INFLUENCE, OR ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR PUBLICLY STATED VIEWS FAVORING MINIMAL REGULATION AND MAXIMUM INNOVATION IN AI. AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD DRAFTING POLICY THAT COULD DIRECT MILLIONS IN TAXPAYER FUNDED AI CONTRACTS, TOOLS OR PARTNERSHIPS. DOCTOR BOYNTON'S DUAL ROLES RAISE RAISE SERIOUS ETHICAL QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPARTIALITY, TRANSPARENCY AND WHETHER CPS POLICY IS BEING SHAPED TO SERVE THE BROADER AI INDUSTRY RATHER THAN SOLELY THE BEST INTERESTS OF STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES. AND SO I RESPECTFULLY CALL ON THIS BOARD TO FIRST FULLY DISCLOSE DOCTOR BOYNTON'S ROLE IN AUTHORING OR INFLUENCING THIS POLICY. SECOND, REQUIRE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS REVIEW OF ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND THIRD TABLE THE POLICY UNTIL IT IS REWRITTEN BY NEUTRAL OR NEUTRAL PARTIES WITH NO FINANCIAL OR PROFESSIONAL STAKE IN AI PROMOTION. HARFORD COUNTY FAMILIES DESERVE POLICIES CRAFTED WITHOUT THE APPEARANCE OR REALITY OF SELF-INTEREST. THANK YOU. MR. THANKS. GOOD EVENING. I'M RODNEY DAVIS. I'M HERE AGAIN TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF READING. AND THAT BOOK BANNING IS NOT THE ANSWER. LET ME START OFF BY SAYING WE'RE WASTING PRECIOUS TAX DOLLARS, FIGHTING AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. BUT BEYOND THE DOLLARS, I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING DEEPER. WHY? SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS BOOK FLAMER SHOULDN'T BE SHARED WITH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. AFTER LISTENING TO LAST WEEK'S BOARD MEETING, I THOUGHT WHAT IN THEIR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES MADE THEM READ THE TEXT AND THINK IT'S WRONG AND ASSUME EVERYONE ELSE FEELS THE SAME WAY. AS A FORMER TEACHER AND AS AN AVID READER, I'VE BEEN I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW DIFFERENTLY TWO PEOPLE CAN INTERPRET THE SAME TEXT. I REMEMBER SITTING WITH A PROFESSOR IN COLLEGE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD FAILED A WRITTEN PAPER. THE BOOK WAS A BOOK. IT WAS WRITTEN ON A BOOK, AND THE BOOK WAS FILLED IN MY PROFESSOR'S EYES WITH A LOT OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLISM, AND I DID NOT EXPLAIN IT. YOU SEE, I'M JEWISH. I DIDN'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE. SO I GOT AN E AFTER TALKING TO HER FOR QUITE A WHILE, SHE DETERMINED THAT I LOOKED AT THE BOOK DIFFERENTLY AND SHE LOOKED AT IT DIFFERENTLY. I DID GET MY A. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. PEOPLE LOOK AT A BOOK AND BRING THEIR OWN BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE TO THE STORIES, AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFERENT FOR EVERYBODY.

SOME CLAIM THAT THE PARTICULAR BOOK, FLAMER, PROMOTES SUICIDE. AS SOMEONE WHO HONESTLY, WHEN I WAS MUCH YOUNGER, ONCE STRUGGLED WITH THAT DARK THOUGHT. I READ THIS BOOK VERY DIFFERENTLY. THE MESSAGE I SAW WAS UNMISTAKABLE. SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER. AND LET'S NOT IGNORE THE REALITY. TEEN SUICIDE IS ON THE RISE. THAT MEANS OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NEED MORE GUIDANCE, MORE CONVERSATION, AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE THEMSELVES IN STORIES THAT REMIND THEM THAT THERE IS HOPE, NOT FEWER. I'VE ALSO HEARD FEARS THAT A BOOK MIGHT INFLUENCE A STUDENT'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION. YET WORKING WITH TEACHERS AND AND AS A TEACHER AND A CAREER COACH, THAT'S NOT TRUE. MOST YOUNG PEOPLE DO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT THEY GIVES THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEED AND ALSO THE EMPATHY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. BOOK BANNING AND THOSE THAT BAN BOOKS ARE NOT THE HEROES. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT THAT PROMOTE THAT. WITHOUT EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, OUR SCHOOL CANNOT FUNCTION.

THAT IS THE TRUTH. AND WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT, THIS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, IS EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DAY, OBSERVED ANNUALLY DURING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK SINCE 1987. THIS DAY RECOGNIZES THE ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS TO THE SUCCESS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. ESPS INCLUDE CLERICAL STAFF. CLASSROOM AIDES.

FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. CUSTODIANS, BUS DRIVERS, TECHNICIANS, AND ALL THE OTHERS WHO KEEP SCHOOLS OPERATING SMOOTHLY. THEIR WORK ENSURES THAT STUDENTS HAVE SAFE, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THEY CAN LEARN AND GROW AS ONE ESP SHARED. WE ARE THE FIRST TO

[00:50:01]

GREET STUDENTS IN THE MORNING AND THE LAST TO SEE THEM AT NIGHT. WE KEEP THEM SAFE, FED AND SUPPORTED ACROSS THE NATION. ESP SALARIES HAVE INCREASED BY 19% SINCE 20 1419. HOWEVER, WHEN IN JUST ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, THEY HAVE ACTUALLY DECLINED BY 10%. IN HARFORD COUNTY. IT'S WORSE. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, ESP SALARIES HAVE INCREASED BY LESS THAN 1%.

LIVING WAGE DATA SHOWS THAT A SINGLE ADULT IN HARFORD COUNTY NEEDS APPROXIMATELY $51,000 PER YEAR, OR $25 AN HOUR, TO MAINTAIN A BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING. OUR ESPS EARN FAR LESS, SOME STARTING AS LOW AS $17 AN HOUR. TO TRULY HONOR THESE PROFESSIONALS, WE MUST ADDRESS THIS DISPARITY. THAT MEANS ALLOCATING DEDICATED FUNDS TO RAISE ESP SALARY SCALES NOT JUST PERCENTAGE INCREASE, BUT MEANINGFUL ADJUSTMENTS. SO HERE'S YOUR CALL TO ACTION.

STOP ACCEPTING INADEQUATE BUDGETS. STOP THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S THREATS AND POSTURING FROM PREVENTING YOU FROM DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND NECESSARY. ADVOCATE FOR THE RESOURCES OUR SCHOOLS TRULY NEED. DEMAND A SPECIFIC ALLOCATION FOR ESP SALARY SCALE INCREASES ON TOP OF ANY NEGOTIATED COLA AND STEPS. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE IT AND SO DO WE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. OH, AND ONE FINAL NOTE PLEASE REMEMBER WE ARE EDUCATORS AS WELL. THIS IS ARAVINDA PALLOMARI. HERE YOU CAN COME UP. GOOD EVENING. I'VE BEEN WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC MOST OF THE SUMMER AND FALL. AND ALTHOUGH EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T BEEN AT ALL OF THE MEETINGS, I THINK AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING I HAVE ATTENDED, THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST ONE PERSON WHO HAS COME AND COURAGEOUSLY SHARED THAT THEY HAVE LIVED THE ISSUES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, FAVORITE BOOK OF THE MONTH AND THE WHOLE SEASON CLUB.

HERE, FLAMER IS WRITING ABOUT THIS NOT INCLUDES NOT ONLY DEALING WITH BULLYING AND ISOLATION DUE TO, YOU KNOW, GENDER, SEXUALITY, ETHNICITY, BODY IMAGE, A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES. SO ANY NUMBER OF, OF THOSE ISSUES MIGHT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MIGHT BE RELATING THAT THEY ALSO WENT THROUGH THOSE EXPERIENCES AND UP TO AND INCLUDING THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE.

IT IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TO COME AND STATE PUBLICLY THAT ONE HAS DEALT WITH THAT KIND OF AN ISSUE. AND WE ARE SEEING, I MEAN, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE COME AND SHARE THOSE DARKEST MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES? FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES SHARE THEIR GUARANTEED MANY MORE, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THOSE SITUATIONS IN THEIR LIFE MAY BE STILL HEALING FROM THEM.

BY READING A BOOK LIKE THIS, MAYBE STILL REMEMBERING THEIR LIFE IN HIGH SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HOW THEY DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES, BUT NOT NECESSARILY READY TO COME BEFORE YOU AND AND RECITE ALL OF THAT, ASK ME HOW I KNOW. AND SO WHEN SOMEBODY ACTUALLY WRITES A BOOK, CONVERTS THEIR PAIN INTO AN ART AND SHARES THAT AND RISKS THE SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT AND RIDICULE, BUT ALSO OPENS UP TO AFFIRMATION, VALIDATION AND SUPPORT AND HOPE THAT THERE IS A BETTER WAY THAN THAT. YOU KNOW, EVEN EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT THAT REWARD IS OUT THERE, IT'S STILL SO HARD TO DO IT. AND YET SOMEBODY DOES IT. YET THIS AUTHOR WHO SAYS SOME OF THIS WAS PARTLY INSPIRED BY HIS OWN LIFE, YOU KNOW, HAS DONE IT. I ATTENDED YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, AND THEY SAID, WE NEED TO LEARN TO SAY THE WORDS, ARE YOU HAVE YOU BEEN THINKING ABOUT TAKING YOUR LIFE? THAT WAS SO HARD FOR ME TO SAY THAT SENTENCE OUT LOUD. WE MAY NOT KNOW WHO NEEDS TO HEAR THAT QUESTION. THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM. AND SO HAVING SUCH A BOOK IN THE LIBRARY IS IS THEREFORE INFINITELY IMPORTANT TO FILL THAT GAP. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JANINE CANEDO. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT BECAUSE I OPPOSE TECHNOLOGY. I RELY ON IT HEAVILY FOR MANY THINGS, BUT BECAUSE DECADES OF DEVELOPMENTAL AND BRAIN RESEARCH TELLS US THAT AI USE DURING CHILDHOOD CAN UNDERMINE ESSENTIAL COGNITIVE AND SOCIAL GROWTH. CHILDREN DEVELOP CORE

[00:55:08]

THINKING SKILLS LIKE ATTENTION, PROBLEM, PROBLEM SOLVING, WORKING MEMORY AT AN EARLY AGE.

AI TOOLS CAN SHORTCUT THAT PROCESS BY PROVIDING INSTANT ANSWERS AND AUTOMATED SUPPORT.

WHAT'S THE POINT OF REMEMBERING SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED IF AI IS GOING TO REMEMBER IT FOR YOU? WHILE THIS LOOKS EFFICIENT, IT BYPASSES THE MENTAL STRUGGLE THAT STRENGTHENS NEURAL PATHWAYS. IF CHILDREN LEARN TO RELY ON AI TO THINK FOR THEM, THEIR OWN COGNITIVE SYSTEMS DON'T DEVELOP. INTRODUCING AI DURING A TIME OF INTENSE BRAIN BRAIN PLASTICITY, RISK CREATING DEPENDENCY. NEUROSCIENCE SHOWS THAT WHEN THE BRAIN REPEATEDLY, REPEATEDLY OFFLOADS TASKS TO A DEVICE, THE CIRCUITS FOR THOSE TASKS WEAKEN. CASE IN POINT HOW MANY OF US CAN RECITE THE PHONE NUMBERS OF THOSE CLOSEST TO US? I CAN'T. MOST CAN'T. IN FACT, I RELY ON MY PHONE TO BE ABLE TO SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS TO PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN FOR DECADES. WHICH IS WHY PANIC ENSUES WHEN WE LOSE OUR PHONES. AND STATEMENTS SUCH AS MY LIFE WAS ON THAT PHONE, OUR SCREAM FROM THE PROVERBIAL ROOFTOPS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DANGER ON TECHNOLOGY IS THE USE OF MAPS. WOULD ANY OF OUR CHILDREN BE ABLE TO FIND THEIR WAY OUT OF A PAPER BAG WITHOUT THEIR PHONES? AND JUST IN CASE ANYONE IS CONFUSED, THAT IS SARCASTIC HUMOR WITH THE USE OF METAPHORS, INTRODUCING AI AT THIS EARLY STAGE IS A VERY SLIPPERY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SLOPE.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT BOYNTON. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS WE HAVE THIS EVENING. OKAY. THANK YOU

[Board Member Comments ]

FOR YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. AND WE'LL START WITH MISS PERRY. WELCOME. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANY COMMENTS FOR HIM. NOTHING.

OKAY, MR. SOUL OKAY. WELL I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT AND SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS WITH THE BOARD. AND I WANT TO SEND A HUGE SHOUT OUT TO HALLS CROSSROADS FOR BEING ONLY ONE OF TWO SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND THAT WAS RECOGNIZED THIS YEAR AS THE NATIONAL ESEA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL. THAT IS A PHENOMENAL ACHIEVEMENT THAT WAS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH THE VERY INTENTIONAL AND DILIGENT EFFORTS OF THE EDUCATORS, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION IN THE SCHOOL. OUR SUPPORT AND EXECUTIVE STAFF THAT EXTENDS PAST THE SCHOOL'S WALLS AND INTO THIS VERY BUILDING HERE, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE HARD WORK OF THE STUDENTS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE CAREGIVERS, PARENTS, GUARDIANS OF THE HALLS CROSSROADS COMMUNITY. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS HAPPENING AROUND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. BEYOND THE HALLS CROSSROADS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE EVERY STUDENT, PARENT, GUARDIAN, AND CAREGIVER THAT ARE DEDICATED TO WORKING HARD AND SHOWING UP EVERY DAY.

WHAT YOU DO IS A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY, AND THAT'S THE TRUE FUNDAMENTAL MISSION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE CAPACITY AND CAPABILITY OF OUR EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I WILL BE ADVOCATING TO MAINTAIN OUR STAFFING LEVELS DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LOSE THE MOMENTUM THAT WE'VE BUILT IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR MUELLER. THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT IS THAT WE HAD THE EVERYDAY HEROES DINNER RECENTLY FOR THE FOUNDATION, WHERE WE HONORED 52 STUDENT TEACHERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTY, AND FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE AT THEIR SCHOOL, THEY WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR PRINCIPALS. AND IT WAS A VERY LOVELY EVENING. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCVICKER. EVERYBODY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY COMMENT BY REITERATING WHAT I SAID DURING THE LAST BOARD SPECIAL SESSION VERY QUICKLY. THE BOOK FLAMER IS NOT PORNOGRAPHY AND DOES NOT PROMOTE SELF-HARM FOR HIGH SCHOOLS. IT BELONGS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. PARENTS CAN BLOCK ACCESS TO THIS BOOK IF THEY CHOOSE TO DO SO. AS WE CONTINUE THIS FIGHT THROUGH AN APPEAL, WE ARE WASTING TIME, MONEY AND FOCUS RESOURCES THAT CAN GO INTO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON. THE STATE WAS CORRECT, OUR PROCESS WAS FOLLOWED AND PERSONAL DISLIKE SHOULD NOT DRIVE DECISIONS ON THIS BOARD. ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, I HAVE VISITED 11 SCHOOLS SO FAR ACROSS OUR COUNTY. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TAKING THESE TOURS AND VALUE THE ADMINISTRATOR'S THOUGHTS, BUT ALSO MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS OPINIONS. I STILL PLAN ON VISITING ALL 54 BUILDINGS IN OUR COUNTY, AND I'M SLOWLY

[01:00:01]

CHIPPING AWAY AT THAT ABOUT 2 TO 3 A WEEK. SO. AND LASTLY, I'M SO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT APPLICATIONS FOR MY STUDENT MEMBER ADVISORY COUNCIL ARE NOW OPEN. THEY CAN BE FOUND BOTH ON MY INSTAGRAM AND SOON ON HHPZ.ORG. THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL IS AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE INPUT ON BOARD MATTERS AND ASSIST WITH STUDENT ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES, INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, LEGISLATION, POLICY RESEARCH AND OUTREACH. THIS IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOUR PEERS, ELEVATE STUDENT VOICE, AND MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON EDUCATION IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. CORN. MR. YES. HI. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. WE MIGHT NOT AGREE ON EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AND WE HEAR FROM YOU IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS. MISS HAHN, I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. YOU JOINED? YES, I'M STILL HERE. OKAY. I WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES WE CAN. OKAY. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING IN ATTENDANCE AT THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY THE SPECIAL MEETING. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH A VERY BAD CASE OF VERTIGO AND UNABLE TO DRIVE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAYBE THIS WEEKEND GETTING A HANDS UP THAT I CAN GO BACK TO DRIVING. I DO WANT TO SAY THAT AT THE MAY CONFERENCE, I ATTENDED THE BOOK BANNING SESSION THAT WAS PUT ON BY CARROLL COUNTY. I THINK IT WAS THAT HAD SO MANY INSTANCES OF BANNING BOOKS. I FORWARDED THAT INFORMATION TO THE BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE I WAS THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER THAT ATTENDED THE SESSION I DID HAVE. WE DID HAVE ONE OF THE LEGAL STAFF MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE SESSION ALSO, AND I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND WORKING WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE THE PROCEDURE THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY HARFORD COUNTY WAS VERY GOOD. WE WE DID WHAT THEY DID, WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. THE PROCEDURE THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY THE BOARD, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT BECAUSE WE SHOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE PROFESSIONALS TO DO THE WORK AND SUPPORT THEM. SO I STAND WITH MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BOOK, AND I STAND WITH THEM WHO VOTED AGAINST HAVING THIS APPEAL GO TO THE CIRCUIT COURTS. I AGREE, I HAD SENT A MESSAGE TO THE PRESIDENT THAT I DID NOT AGREE WITH THE WASTING OF MONEY AND RESOURCES THAT WE COULD USE FOR OTHER THINGS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SO I, I WANTED MY THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY TO KNOW WHERE I STOOD ON THIS ISSUE, EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT, WAS NOT ABLE TO IN PERSON OR TO SEND IT OUT TO YOU. I ALSO WANT TO READ SOMETHING THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY, ONE OF OUR CHURCHES COMMUNITIES, AND IT WAS A CARD SENT TO ME AND THEY SAID, GRATITUDE IS ESSENTIAL. AND IT SAID, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOUR DONATION IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. WE WERE ABLE TO PURCHASE 20 WINTER COATS FOR CHILDREN AT HALLS CROSSROADS SCHOOL. THANKS AGAIN. THIS WAS FROM THE WOMEN'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY AT SAINT JAMES CHURCH ON GREEN STREET IN GREECE. I JUST WANT TO ENCOURAGE MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS TO REACH OUT TO THEIR COMMUNITIES, TO THE SCHOOLS. I HAVE PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOLS IN VARIOUS WAYS, INDIVIDUALLY, THOSE IN MY COMMUNITY. AND I WOULD SAY THAT ANY ORGANIZATION THAT YOU BELONG TO HELP THEM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE SCHOOLS BECAUSE ANY LITTLE THING IS APPRECIATED. AS THEY SAY, GRATITUDE IS ESSENTIAL. THANK YOU. AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU HAVE A VERY THANKFUL THANKSGIVING, AND TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE LESS DESERVING AND REACH OUT WHEREVER YOU CAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS ALVAREZ. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. FIRST, I WANT TO START OFF WITH THANKING H H CPS FOR THE OVERWHELMING SYMPATHY THAT WAS EXPRESSED TO MY FAMILY AS WE GRIEVE THE LOSS OF A GREAT LEADER IN OUR FAMILY. IT REALLY MEANT A GREAT DEAL, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'M GLAD TO BE JOINING YOU HERE TONIGHT. I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING THE LAST TWO MEETINGS.

I WANT TO OPEN MY COMMENTS WITH THE ON A POSITIVE NOTE. SO I DO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I KNOW A LOT OF THE CITIZENS HAVE SAID SPEND MORE TIMES IN THE TIME IN THE SCHOOL. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO GET INTO THE SCHOOLS AND WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GO INTO ONE OF THE

[01:05:08]

SCHOOLS AND AND THE HAVRE DE GRACE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. AND PRINCIPAL SPENCE OPENED HIS ARMS AND MADE ME FEEL VERY WELCOMED. SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO KIND OF GET INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND SEE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN ACTION. SO HE'S TRULY A STAR IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY REALLY SPEAKS HIGHLY OF HIM. OUR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE OUR WARTS. WE DO GET SOME COMPLAINTS. BUT OVERALL, I THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB. NOW I, YOU KNOW, WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE COMMENTS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TODAY AND THE PENDING APPEAL OF THE BOARD AT THE STATE BOARD. SO WE DID GET THE OPINION BACK ON FROM THE STATE BOARD ON THE DECISION. I FELT LIKE THE OPINION WAS FULL OF INACCURACIES. I DID NOT SEE THE EXHIBITS THAT WERE USED TO FORM THAT OPINION. I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED SOMETHING IN MY ABSENCE DEALING WITH MY FAMILY SITUATION. SO WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK INTO SEE WHAT WAS USED TO FORM THAT OPINION. I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY, AND PERHAPS WE COULD GET A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT ACTUALLY, WHAT DO THE PARENTS GET? HOW DO THEY GET TO PREVENT THEIR STUDENTS FROM HAVING ACCESS TO OBJECTIONABLE MATERIALS? I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE THE BOOKS ARE KEPT BEHIND THE DESK.

THERE MAY BE A LETTER THAT'S SENT IN THAT SAYS, DON'T LET MY CHILD SIGN THIS BOOK OUT. BUT WHEN THE STUDENTS GO INTO THE LIBRARY, THE BOOKS ARE ALL THERE. THERE. THERE ISN'T A SYSTEM WHERE THE BOOKS ARE KEPT BEHIND THE COUNTER. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT. THAT IS A SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE. AND PERHAPS I KNOW TONIGHT MARTHA BARWICK WILL BE HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF SHE CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT, BUT I DON'T I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S A SYSTEM WHERE THE BOOKS ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, NOT AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS TO PULL IT OFF THE SHELF AND READ IT.

SO I ALSO WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WHILE I WAS AWAY, I WAS REALLY DISTURBED BY THE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT TOOK PLACE. AND I WON'T GET INTO ALL OF THEM. BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE NEED A SUPERMAJORITY TO MAKE ANY POLICY CHANGES. I THINK SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE ONE ISSUE WITH WITH THE T SHIRTS, I THINK SOME OF THE POLICIES THAT WE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THAT WHOLE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. YOU KNOW, IF THE IF THE ONE POLICY ON THE ON DRESS CODE WAS, WAS, YOU KNOW, APPROVED OR THE POLICY ON CONTROVERSIAL POLICY WAS APPROVED, BUT WE HAVE A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME ON OUR BOARD GETTING ANY POLICY CHANGES MADE BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY. SO I WANT THE PUBLIC TO BE AWARE OF THAT. MOST OTHER MARYLAND BOARDS DON'T HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT, SO WE'RE KIND OF UNIQUE, AND IT DOES MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT AND A LITTLE FRUSTRATING AT TIMES TO PUT IN PLACE WHAT WE THINK WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS PAGE. GOOD EVENING. SO I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL DAY OF READING FOR THE CARSON SCHOLARS FUND AT ROY WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THE BEN CARSON READING PROJECT DRAWS INSPIRATION FOR DOCTOR BEN CARSON'S CHILDHOOD STRUGGLES WITH ACADEMICS. AND AS A YOUNG STUDENT DOCTOR, CARSON AND HIS BROTHER WERE REQUIRED BY THEIR MOTHER TO READ TWO BOOKS PER WEEK FROM THE DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY AND SUBMIT WRITTEN REPORTS. AND SO THIS EXPERIENCE OPENED DOCTOR CARSON'S EYES TO THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF BOOKS, AND PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE LATER IN HIS SUCCESS.

DRIVEN BY THIS PERSONAL JOURNEY, DOCTOR CARSON AND HIS WIFE, CANDY HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO CREATING LITERACY ENRICHED ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH THE BEN CARSON READING PROJECT. THE BEN CARSON READING PROJECT HAS CREATED OVER 300 PLUS READING ROOMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE SEVERAL READING ROOMS IN OUR COUNTY. SO DURING THIS EVENT, I WAS ABLE TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE EXCITEMENT IN OUR STUDENTS FACES AS THEY LISTENED, ASKED QUESTIONS, AND CONNECTED WITH STORIES. MOMENTS LIKE THESE REMIND US THAT LITERACY IS MORE THAN A SKILL.

IT'S A FOUNDATION FOR CONFIDENCE, CURIOSITY, AND LONG TERM ACADEMIC SUCCESS. I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE LITERARY SPECIALIST MISS MORRIS FOR HER CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO

[01:10:04]

ENCOURAGING LITERACY, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FOR BEING A GREAT HOST. THANK YOU FOR ENSURING EVERY CHILD FEELS SUPPORTED, CAPABLE AND INSPIRED TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL. WE MUST CONTINUE TO EMBRACE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE NATIONAL DAY OF READING. THEY STRENGTHEN SCHOOL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND HELP CREATE A CULTURE WHERE READING IS CELEBRATED, VALUED AND SHARED. SO THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE AND FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT ENRICH OUR STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES. I'M PROUD OF THE WORK WE'RE DOING, AND GRATEFUL EVENTS LIKE THIS THAT REMIND US WHY LITERACY AND STUDENT ENCOURAGEMENT MATTERS SO DEEPLY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. BEFORE I GIVE MY REMARKS, I WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT WE ACTUALLY MISSED ONE REGISTERED SPEAKER. SO WE HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL PUBLIC MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. YES, MISS CHRISTINA. LANOKA. YES. OUR APOLOGIES. YES, WE DO NEED THAT IN OUR SCHOOLS. JOHN 14 SIX JESUS SAID, I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME. GALATIANS 4:16 A.M. I THEREFORE YOUR ENEMY? BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I AGAIN CALL UPON ALL PARENTS TO REMOVE THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE SCHOOLS.

THE EVILS INTO WHICH YOUR CHILDREN ARE IMMERSED ARE SO MANY AND SO VERY SLOWLY BEING REDUCED, THAT IT WILL BE MANY YEARS BEFORE YOUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE. YOUR CHILDREN ARE BEING EXPOSED TO PORNOGRAPHIC DRAWINGS. THEY'RE BEING EXPOSED TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS.

THEY ARE EVEN IN HEALTH CLASS, BEING TAUGHT THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SEX THEY CAN ENGAGE IN.

ALSO, YOUR CHILDREN ARE FORCED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIVES OF GENDER IDEOLOGY. BOYS ARE STILL ALLOWED IN GIRLS BATHROOMS AND VICE VERSA. YOUR CHILDREN ARE EVEN EXPOSED TO A BOOK CALLED FLAMER, IN WHICH WAS A DRAWING SHOWING CHILDREN HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY COMMIT SUICIDE. WE WANT TO LET THEM SUCCEED AT THIS. THAT'S HORRIFYING. THIS ONE BOOK WAS REMOVED BY OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, BUT THAT WISE DECISION WAS OVERTURNED BY THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MANY WORST BOOKS REMAIN ON THE SHELVES OF MANY. SOME SAY THAT PARENTS CAN JUST TELL THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO READ CERTAIN BOOKS THAT ARE AGE INAPPROPRIATE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE. FIRSTLY, THE CHILDREN HAVE FREE READING TIME DURING WHICH THEY CAN CHOOSE ANY BOOK OFF THE LIBRARY SHELF. PARENTS ARE NOT THERE TO MONITOR AND IN ADDITION, HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING ALL THE BOOKS THAT ARE ON THE SHELVES. BOOKS ARE BEING SELECTED BY LIBRARIANS FOR THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES WHILE NOT MEETING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BOOK SELECTION STANDARDS. WHERE IS THE OVERSIGHT FOR THAT? INAPPROPRIATE BOOKS CONTINUE TO BE PURCHASED. BOOKS THAT WOULD BE RATED R IF MADE INTO A MOVIE.

THE PARENTS, IN AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ED, ARE BARRED FROM ACCESSING THE CURRICULUM, THE LESSON PLANS, AND ALL THAT IS PLANNED FOR OUR CHILDREN. AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S AS COOL AS WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIDDEN, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE FULL TRANSPARENCY. AGAIN, I URGE PARENTS TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER HOW THEY CAN WITHDRAW THEIR CHILDREN FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GRANDPARENTS, PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ASSIST. WE HAVE ALLOWED OUR DAUGHTER TO MOVE INTO OUR HOUSE SO THAT SHE COULD BE A FULL TIME MOM, SO THAT SHE CAN PROTECT AND HOMESCHOOL HER CHILDREN. IN THE MEANTIME, WE CONTINUE TO COME HERE AND FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAPPED IN THIS SYSTEM. WE APPRECIATE AND APPLAUD ALL THOSE WHO ARE ASSISTING IN THESE EFFORTS, AND MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE OUR PARENTS, OUR TEACHERS, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. AND BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS AS WELL. I JUST HAVE THREE QUICK POINTS HERE.

FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MR. SEWELL HAD MENTIONED, WHICH IS THE AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY AT HALL'S CROSSROAD TO BECOME ONE OF THE DISTINGUISHED SCHOOLS. I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY AND ONLY 100 WERE SELECTED, TWO OF THEM IN THE ENTIRE STATE. AND ONE OF THEM WAS RIGHT HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. SO I WANT TO THANK THE PRINCIPAL, THE STAFF AND ALL THE EDUCATORS AT THAT SCHOOL FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN IN THAT AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT.

SECOND, MISS ALVAREZ DISCUSSED OPT OUT. AND AS YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A BIG DISCUSSION EVER SINCE THE RECENT MAHMUD SUPREME COURT CASE. THE BOOK ISSUE HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY, A NUMBER OF OTHER PERIPHERAL ISSUES. WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IT. WE'VE MADE A NUMBER OF ENHANCEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS ON OPTING OUT. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ULTIMATELY, THE PARENTS HAVE THE ULTIMATE DISCRETION IN, SAY, ON THEIR CHILD AND DIRECTION OF THEIR CHILD'S EDUCATION. AND WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT. SO WE'VE MADE A NUMBER OF ENHANCEMENTS, A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS. YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. IN FACT, LAST MONTH THIS WAS THE TOPIC OF MY MY PARENT CONNECTION'S NEWS NEWSLETTER. AND WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO FIND

[01:15:01]

NAVIGATING. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER. IN FACT, MAYBE LET'S JUST PUT THAT ON THE CPS WEB PAGE JUST TO HAVE IT OUT THERE. SO IT'S EASY TO FIND, BUT IT IS INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW YOU CAN OPT OUT OF ANYTHING. IT'S ON THERE. IT'S ALREADY ON THERE. THE OPT OUT. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. SO IF YOU SEARCH OPT OUT THE WHOLE PAGE IS THE FIRST THING YOU GET. THE SECOND ONE IS THE FORM. OKAY. AT LEAST THAT WAS TONIGHT'S SEARCH WHEN I SEARCHED OPT OUT. THE THIRD THING IS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TECHNOLOGY TONIGHT. AND I WANT TO SAY TWO THINGS. FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT BRINGING AI TO HARFORD COUNTY. AI IS ALREADY HERE WITH YOU, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT. I MEAN, THE POINT OF TONIGHT'S POLICY, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT IN A LITTLE BIT, IS REALLY TO PUT GUARDRAILS AROUND IT AND TO PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE AROUND IT, NOT JUST FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT FOR OUR EDUCATORS AS WELL. AND IN FACT, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD NOT OVER HAVE AN OVERRELIANCE ON AI. THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I'VE LOBBIED TO BRING BACK SOME OF THE FUNDAMENTALS BACK INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, LIKE LIKE CURSIVE WRITING, FOR EXAMPLE. IN FACT, I WROTE AN ARTICLE WHICH I WILL PUBLISH ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN AN EDUCATION JOURNAL. THAT WAS A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR NOT BEING TOO RELIANT ON AI. SO, YOU KNOW, THE ACCUSATION THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I COME FROM A TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND AND I DO WORK IN AI, THAT I AM SOMEHOW, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO STUFF AI DOWN THE THROATS OF HARFORD COUNTY STUDENTS IS JUST QUITE RIDICULOUS, TO BE HONEST. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO WE WILL MOVE ON THEN TO THE

[B. Consent Agenda ]

CONSENT AGENDA. AND MADAM VICE PRESIDENT, IF YOU COULD READ THE SEVEN ITEMS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING, NUMBER ONE, MONTHLY PERSONNEL REPORT, OCTOBER 2022 CONTRACT AWARD, NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL COMPREHENSIVE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONTRACT AWARD.

ATHLETIC, PHYSICAL EDUCATION SUPPLIES AND TEAM UNIFORMS. CONTRACT AWARD ON CALL.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REMOVAL AND SERVICES CONTRACT AWARD. OPEN END WATER AND SEWER CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD. MOVING SERVICES. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS. AUGUST 18TH, 2025, SEPTEMBER 8TH AND SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2025. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA, PLEASE? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

LAUREN, I SECOND OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES, YES. ANY OBJECTIONS? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES. IT'S 728. LET'S WE'RE GOING TON

[C. Presentation on Quarterly Financial Report for the Period Ending September 30, 2025, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services]

TO ITEM C, PRESENTATION OF QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK MISS DEBORAH JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE THIS EVENING FOR A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH. WE DO NOT DO PROJECTIONS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. IT'S TOO EARLY IN THE YEAR. OUR TEACHERS HAVEN'T STARTED TO GET PAID UNTIL SEPTEMBER. SO THEY'RE A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET. SO THERE'S BEEN VERY LITTLE THAT'S ACTUALLY BEEN RECORDED. SO REALLY I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS REASONABLE AT THIS POINT. WE'RE A QUARTER IN REVENUES, EXPENDITURES. YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE ABOUT 25%. THAT DOES VARY BY LINE ITEM. SO AGAIN FOR REVENUE WE'RE SLIGHTLY OVER THAT. BUT AGAIN, NOTHING TO NOTHING ALARMING AT THIS POINT. AND SAME THING WITH EXPENDITURES. WE'RE ABOUT 20%. AGAIN, THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT SALARIES ARE VERY LOW FOR OUR TEACHERS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BEEN PAID IN JULY OR AUGUST, SO THAT BRINGS THAT PERCENTAGE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. SO AGAIN, THERE'S NOTHING HERE AT THIS POINT AS WE GET INTO A DECEMBER PROJECTION, WE WILL PROJECT WHERE WE ARE WITH ANY SORT OF SURPLUS OR DEFICIT AND DO A PROJECTION OF FUND BALANCE AT THAT TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, WITH WINTER STARTING, YOU KNOW, IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY, REALLY, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE SOME PRESSURE FROM MANY SNOW DAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS THAT WE MAY HAVE THAT WE WON'T KNOW ABOUT AT THE END OF DECEMBER. SO, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYONE HAS ANY AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS. I GUESS I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO, AND EVERYTHING IS ALWAYS SO CLEAR,

[01:20:01]

AND YOU'RE ALWAYS SO WILLING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I'M CERTAINLY.

[D. Presentation of Proposed New Board Policy: Use of Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, Dr. Martha Barwick, Supervisor of Innovation in Learning and Mr. Andrew Renzulli, Director for Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment e Al Policy PRC Draft ]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM D PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED NEW BOARD POLICY, USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DOCTOR MARTHA BARWICK, SUPERVISOR OF INNOVATION AND LEARNING, AND ANDREW RENZULLI, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT. WELCOME, BOTH OF YOU. TO JUMP IN FOR JUST A SECOND BEFORE THEY START. SO IT WAS ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. I FIRST BECAME AN ADMINISTRATOR, AND THAT WAS AT A TIME WHEN CELL PHONES WERE BECOMING PREVALENT.

AND I REMEMBER HOW HARD WE TRIED TO KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. IT WAS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. DID A GREAT JOB. YEAH, BECAUSE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IS AT THE TIME, IF YOU WERE CAUGHT WITH A CELL PHONE IN A CARRY OVER FROM THE OLD DAYS OF PAGERS, YOU WERE SUSPENDED FOR TEN DAYS. AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES I GAVE OUT SUSPENSIONS FOR TEN DAYS FOR KIDS WHO WERE FOUND WITH A PHONE THAT THEIR PARENTS HAD GIVEN THEM, AND ALL THIS STUFF, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE WERE RESISTING TECHNOLOGY. AND, YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE 25 YEARS LATER, AND WE'RE FAR MORE EFFECTIVE AT REMOVING CELL PHONES FROM SCHOOL. BUT THIS WAS A LONG LEARNING CURVE. AND, YOU KNOW, THE THINKING THEN WAS IF WE COULD JUST IGNORE THEM AND NOT HAVE THEM AROUND, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE, RIGHT? BUT WE'VE SEEN WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH CELL PHONES. WE'VE SEEN HOW THEY'VE CHANGED OUR OUR CHILDREN, OUR LIVES, EVERYBODY. AND HOW TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE WITH TECHNOLOGY. IT COMES AT US AND WE'RE IN A POSITION WHERE WE NEED TO RESPOND. AND I CAN'T ATTEND A WEBINAR, A MEETING, ANY TYPE OF PROFESSIONAL GATHERING. THERE IS NOWHERE I CAN GO RIGHT NOW WHERE THEY'RE NOT EITHER WARNING US ABOUT AI OR CELEBRATING WHAT'S COMING WITH AI, OR TALKING ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO CHANGE OUR LIVES AND THAT OF OUR STUDENTS. AND SO, AS DOCTOR BOYNTON SAID EARLIER, YOU KNOW, IT'S HERE. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. AND SO I DO THINK IT'S ESSENTIAL TO THE BEST DEGREE WE CAN. THIS IS A FIRST STEP, RIGHT, TO HELP US HAVE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. BUT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE COMING. SO BY THE TIME YOU GUYS FINISH SPEAKING, THERE'LL BE NEW INNOVATIONS IN AI, I'M SURE.

AND SO DOCTOR POINT AND I DO APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, THE WORK YOU DO AS A MEMBER, UNPAID MEMBER OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS AI BECAUSE WE NEED TO STAY IN THE KNOW ON THIS, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT EVERY ONE OF US IN PARTICULARLY ALL OUR STUDENTS. SO WITH THAT SAID, I TEE IT UP TO TWO PEOPLE WHO'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THIS AREA, WORKED VERY HARD TO EDUCATE OUR SYSTEM EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS AS WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND HELPED US FIND A HIS COMMON SENSE AND APPROACH TO MANAGING THIS AS POSSIBLE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU NOW.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR WILSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LEAD IN AND THE CONTEXT. THERE. WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING, OBVIOUSLY, TO SPEAK TO YOU REGARDING OUR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND RELATED EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES POLICY PROPOSAL. AS EVERYBODY IS AWARE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS ADVANCING AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE AND IS RESHAPING NEARLY EVERY SECTOR OF OUR SOCIETY, FROM HEALTHCARE TO BUSINESS TO COMMUNICATION AND OF COURSE, EDUCATION. AS THESE TECHNOLOGIES BECOME INCREASINGLY EMBEDDED IN DAILY LIFE, WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND THOUGHTFULLY AND PROACTIVELY IN ORDER TO GUIDE BOTH INNOVATION AND CAUTION. AS SUCH, THIS PROPOSED POLICY, WHICH HAS BEEN BEFORE THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL GUIDE THE ETHICAL AND PURPOSEFUL USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND RELATED EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

IT PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO HELP ENSURE THAT AI TOOLS ENHANCE AND DEEPEN LEARNING, NOT REPLACE IT, AND IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY WHERE APPROPRIATE, ALL WHILE SAFEGUARDING STUDENT AND STAFF PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, ACADEMIC INTEGRITY. KEY TO ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS LED TO THIS POLICY HAS BEEN A PERSISTENT FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT THERE IS A HUMAN BEING BEHIND THE WORK AND ONE THAT REMAINS CONNECTED AND IN THE LOOP. WHEN AR AI RESOURCES ARE USED, DOCTOR BERWICK WILL NOW SHARE SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUNDOLICY. THIS POLICY, WHICH APPLIES TO ALL CPS STUDENTS, STAFF, EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS, IS BUILT UPON SIX FOUNDATIONAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES DEVELOPED BY AN AI WORKGROUP THAT ENCOMPASSED OPERATIONAL AND INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, WORKING ALONGSIDE OF A NATIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT THROUGHOUT THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR. THESE PRINCIPLES INCLUDE ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE USE, WHICH PRIORITIZES HUMAN

[01:25:05]

EDUCATORS MAKING RESPONSIBLE EDUCATIONAL DECISIONS, ACCESS, ACCESSIBILITY AND FAIRNESS.

ENSURING AI TECHNOLOGIES ARE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WHILE VETTING TOOLS FOR ALGORITHMIC BIAS.

USER USER PRIVACY AND DATA SECURITY. SAFEGUARDING PERSONAL AND EDUCATIONAL DATA THROUGH STRINGENT STANDARDS AND COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS, PEDAGOGICAL AND INNOVATION.

LEVERAGING AI AS CATALYST FOR CREATIVITY WHILE MAINTAINING THE HUMAN IN THE LOOP MODEL WHERE TECHNOLOGY AUGMENTS BUT NEVER REPLACES HUMAN INSTRUCTION, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND AI LITERACY. PROVIDING ONGOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR EDUCATORS AND OUR OPERATIONAL LEADERS THAT ENABLES AI LITERACY TO BE EMBEDDED WITHIN INSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONAL PRACTICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. FOSTERING OPEN COMMUNICATION ABOUT AI POLICIES AND PRACTICES. THE POLICY ESTABLISHES CLEAR USER RESPONSIBILITIES CENTERED ON THE KEY AREAS OF COMPLIANCE AND DATA PROTECTION. THE POLICY PROHIBITS THE INPUT OF PERSONAL OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION INTO AI SYSTEMS, PROHIBITS THE CREATION OF MEDIA THAT COULD IMPERSONATE OR DECEIVE, AND REQUIRES PROPER AUTHORIZATION, CITATION, AND HUMAN OVERSIGHT FOR ALL. AI USE. AI INTEGRATION FOR STUDENT USE IS ALWAYS TEACHER DIRECTED AND SUPPORTS AI LITERACY IN DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE WAYS. THROUGH THE USE OF AI USAGE. SCALES. THE SCALES PROVIDE DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEVELS FOR EACH GRADE RANGE. K TO FOUR STUDENTS ENGAGE AT LEVELS SUCH AS NO AI USE, AND YOU'LL FIND THAT LEVEL ON EACH OF OUR USAGE SCALES.

WATCHING OUR TEACHER USE AI OR CREATING WITH OUR TEACHER GRADES 5 TO 7 BUILD ON THESE FOUNDATIONS AND GRADE 8 TO 12 STUDENTS WORK AT LEVELS INCLUDING AI FOR IDEA GENERATION, REFINEMENT OR CO-CREATION. ALL AI USE REQUIRES PROPER CITATION.

THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS POLICY, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION TO GATHER FEEDBACK AND INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP, HCPS, BUILDING LEADERS AND SUPERVISORS, TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS FROM EACH SCHOOL, ENSURING THAT THIS POLICY REFLECTS THE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES OF OUR ENTIRE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY. AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS POLICY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND OUR APPROACH MUST REMAIN ADAPTABLE AND RESPONSIVE.

THIS POLICY PROVIDES THE FOUNDATION WE NEED TO HARNESS THE BENEFITS OF AI AND THOSE EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE AT THIS MOMENT, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE FOUNDATIONS FOR ETHICAL USE. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THROUGH CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES, HC WILL BE WELL POSITIONED TO LEAD IN THE RESPONSIBLE INTEGRATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES. WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL JUST. REMIND THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT THIS IS A POLICY, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN ACCOMPANYING PROCEDURE THAT WAS WRITTEN AS WELL THAT GOES INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DEPTH. BENEFIT OF THAT IS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES VERY FAST, AND THE PROCEDURE WILL ALLOW SORT OF MORE RAPID UPDATES TO THAT. BUT THE OVERARCHING POLICY SORT OF GIVES THE GENERAL GUIDANCE, WHICH IS WHAT THE BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON. SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. YEAH. HAVE YOU HEARD MISS ALVAREZ WAS FIRST AND THEN MR. CORN, I SENT SOME COMMENTS TO RESPOND TO, AND I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THESE COMMENTS AND CONCERNS.

AND I ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL THAT I CAN'T HEAR NOW. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AI. LITERACY. AND IT TALKS ABOUT A FRAMEWORK OF ONGOING LEARNING. AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT. MY QUESTION WAS BASICALLY TO THE STAFF AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS WE CAN'T HEAR, DIANE, IS YOUR MIC. MAYBE YOUR MIC IS OFF. YEAH. SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY.

THIS GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO START ALL OVER AGAIN. SO LIKE DOCTOR BOYNTON SAID, PRESIDENT POINT SAID AI IS HERE AND AI IS ALREADY IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND SO IT'S USED IN THE COMMUNITY. AND

[01:30:04]

IT IS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE SEEN AS A TOOL RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT REPLACES EDUCATION. AND I THINK MOST OF US AGREE WITH THAT. IN IN THE ROOM I USE AI. I'M GOING TO SCHOOL ACTUALLY TO GET A DEGREE IN IN AI. AND BECAUSE I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KEEP UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. SO I USE AI, I'M ALLOWED TO USE AI IN MY CLASS, BUT I WRITE EVERYTHING FIRST, AND THEN I USE AI TO KIND OF CHECK IT, YOU KNOW, AND IMPROVE WHAT I'VE WRITTEN. SO THAT'S THE WAY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT INCORPORATED IN OUR CLASSROOMS, IS THAT THE STUDENTS ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, KNOW HOW TO DO IT WITH PAPER AND PENCIL FIRST AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND THEN THEY CAN USE THE AI AS A TOOL TO AUGMENT WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING. SO THE FIRST, FIRST COMMENT I HAD WAS ON PARAGRAPH E, WHICH MAKES IT KIND OF SOUND LIKE IT'S A SEPARATE THING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I WAS THE RESPONSE BACK WAS THAT IT'S NOT. SO I, YOU KNOW, DON'T THINK WE NEED TO HAVE LIKE A SEPARATE CLASS ON AI. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE COULD BE AT SOME POINT A TRACK WHERE THERE'S A CERTIFICATION ON AI, BUT THAT'S LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, VIEW. AND THEN SO THAT WAS THE PARAGRAPH E ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND AI LITERACY. AND SO I THINK THE WAY THAT IT'S WRITTEN ALMOST MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THERE IS THIS FRAMEWORK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SEPARATE CLASS.

AND SO I'M GOING TO STOP ON THAT. I THINK WE SHOULD REWORD THAT PARAGRAPH SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND HOW AI IS BEING USED AND WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY LITERACY FRAMEWORK, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR IN THE IN THE POLICY. I HAVEN'T SEEN THE PROCEDURES. MAYBE IF I HAD THE PROCEDURES IT WOULD BE MORE CLEAR. THE SECOND COMMENT I HAD WAS ON PARAGRAPH A, THE COMPLIANCE AND DATA PROTECTION SECTION, WHICH BASICALLY LEAVES OUT TWO VERY IMPORTANT LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDER. ONE IS THE PRA AND CIPA. THEY WERE NOT LISTED IN THE PARAGRAPH, AND THEY ARE VERY MUCH RELATED TO TECHNOLOGY AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR STUDENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IN TECHNOLOGY. SO PRA IS THE PARENT PROTECTION RIGHTS ACT, AND CIPA IS IT IS. I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT STANDS FOR, BUT IT'S BASICALLY INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT FOR ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET. AND THEN THE THE COMMENT THAT I ALSO HAD THAT WENT ALONG WITH THAT WAS. WE NEED TRANSPARENCY IN OUR SCHOOLS. EVERY THE COMMUNITY SHOULD KNOW WHAT AI PRODUCTS WE ARE USING. SO AND I DO BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, AI IS NOT STATIC. WE ALL KNOW THAT. IT'S A IT'S A IT'S KIND OF A LIVING THING, A LIVING AGENT.

AND IT, YOU KNOW, IT IT CHANGES. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROCEDURE TALKS ABOUT THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF AI, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING IN THE POLICY THAT REQUIRED A ONGOING REVIEW OF THE AI POSTURE OF IN THE SCHOOL AND VETTING OF THE AI PRODUCTS THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED BY VENDORS TO ENSURE THAT THEY COMPLY WITH WITH THE PROTECTIONS THAT WE NEED, THE PRIVACY PROTECTIONS. ONE OF THE THINGS I LEARNED IN MY CLASSES IS THAT YOU GET THE THE I CALL IT THE CHAINING EFFECT, WHERE YOU HAVE ONE VENDOR WHO IS PROVIDING THE PRODUCT, AND THEN THE THIRD PARTY DOESN'T COMPLY. AND SO THEN YOU HAVE NONCOMPLIANCE DOWN THE LINE. AND LIKE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. SO, YOU KNOW, GIVING RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TO THE INDIVIDUAL IS IS NOT EASY IN THE AI WORLD. SO I, I REALLY DON'T THINK WE SHOULD APPROVE A POLICY THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN ONGOING REVIEW PROCESS. AND THEN THE OTHER COMMENT THAT

[01:35:01]

I HAD WAS PARAGRAPH C, IT'S JUST IT'S A I THINK IT SHOULD BE WRITTEN AND THAT SAYS AI USE IS NOT AUTHORIZED UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. THE FIRST COURSE OF ACTION IN IN THE EDUCATIONAL CLASSROOM SHOULD BE TO NOT USE AI, AND ONLY IF IT'S EXPLICITLY ALLOWED BY THE TEACHER. THE WAY THAT THE PARAGRAPHS WRITTEN IT MAKES IT. USER MUST NOT USE TECHNOLOGY TO COMPLETE A SUBSTANTIAL ASSIGNMENT, SO IT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND USE AI AS LONG AS THEY DON'T USE IT TOO MUCH. AND I THINK THAT THE FIRST THAT THE THAT THAT THEY SHOULD USE WHATEVER THE TEACHER TELLS THEM TO USE AND NOT USE AI AS A AS A GO TO. ANYWAY, I THINK THAT THAT WAS THE THERE WAS ONE MORE COMMENT THAT I DIDN'T SEND TO YOU, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF EXPLAINABILITY, WHICH IS A BIG AREA OF ETHICAL AI, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE PARENTS COME IN THAT WANT EXPLANATION ON, YOU KNOW, WHY MY CHILD GOT THIS GRADE OR WHY, YOU KNOW, WE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VENDORS THAT ARE SUPPLYING THE, THE AI AGENTS HAVE THE MEANS TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EXPLAINABILITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MRS. ALVAREZ, FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND SUGGESTIONS. WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE ALL OF THAT INTO ACCOUNT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THERE IS SOME OVERLAP IN TERMS OF WHAT IS CAPTURED IN THE POLICY AND WHAT'S CAPTURED IN THE PROCEDURE. SO SPECIFICALLY, WHEN A STUDENT WOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE AI IS CAPTURED IN THE PROCEDURE, AS WELL AS DETAILS IN REGARD TO THE APPROVAL AND VETTING PROCESS. SO THERE'S THAT COMPANION GUIDE, SO TO SPEAK, THAT BACKS UP SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU'VE OFFERED. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION ALL OF THOSE SUGGESTIONS OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YEAH I THINK I WOULD ASK TO BE HEARD.

YEP. WE CAN HEAR YOU. OKAY. THE I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRA. I MEAN PRA IS IT REQUIRES COMPLIANCE. IT'S NOT REALLY A SUGGESTION. WE HAVE TO COMPLY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDS. YOU KNOW, THE I UNDERSTAND THAT AND PARENTS YOU KNOW, PARENTS HAVE YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE. THEY HAVE TO GIVE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OR A CLEAR OPT OUT OPTION. AND, YOU KNOW, THE PROBLEM IS, EVEN IF YOU YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY THEY CAN'T PUT ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION INTO, LET'S SAY, A CHATBOT OR OTHER AI TOOL, I MEAN, YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO THERE'S NO MEANINGFUL COMPLIANCE WITH THE OTHER FEDERAL STATUTES FOR KIDS UNDER 13. YOU KNOW, THE COPPA, COPPA, THE OTHER FEDERAL STATUTES FOR, FOR FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13. I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE ASKING KIDS TO PUT INFORMATION OR RIGHT INTO A CHATBOT, I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES, A LOT OF THE TIME IT IS SPECIFICALLY THE CREATIVE WRITING ENDEAVORS THAT WHERE KIDS ARE GOING TO PUT IN INFORMATION THAT ARE PRECISELY THE TYPE OF DATA THAT COPPA AND THE PRA ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT. SO I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY THAT INCORPORATES COMPLIANCE WITH THOSE STATUTES, YOU KNOW, AND NOT JUST AS SOME SORT OF PROCEDURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO. I MEAN, I MEAN, I CAN'T SEE MYSELF VOTING FOR ANYTHING WITHOUT COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW. IT'S JUST THERE'S TOO MANY LIABILITIES.

THERE'S TOO MANY RIGHTS THAT ARE INFRINGED UPON BOTH OF THE PARENTS AND, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO RISK FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE OF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT VIOLATING FEDERAL LAW. WE TOOK AN OATH TO UPHOLD IT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. I MEAN, SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU JUST TO MAYBE GO BACK AND REVIEW SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND INCORPORATE COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE DATA INPUTTED AND THAT PARENTS HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED AND OR AT LEAST GIVEN AN OPT OUT POLICY. THANK YOU, MR. KHAN. WE ALREADY HAVE ON OUR TO DO LIST TO FOLLOW UP WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE LOCAL STATUTES THAT WOULD CERTAINLY DIRECTLY ALIGN WITH THIS WORK. COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS MENTIONED THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THE PROCEDURE. I ONLY ATTENDED ONE OF THE SMALL GROUPS, AND IN THAT SMALL GROUP WE REVIEWED

[01:40:02]

THE PROCEDURE. WAS IT REVIEWED IN ALL SMALL GROUPS? IT WAS OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE TO THIS IS CAROL BRUCE, I HAVE A QUESTION BECAUSE I DO SEE IN IN ROMAN NUMERAL FOR THE COMPLIANCE AND DATA WITH COPPA AND ALL OF THE ONES THAT WERE REFERENCED, I GUESS THERE IS. I DON'T KNOW IF. MR. COHEN, IF YOU COULD ELABORATE, BUT THERE ARE SOME LISTED HERE. I'M SORRY. NUMBER FOUR, YOU'RE ASKING WHAT'S LISTED FOR A COMPLIANCE AND DATA PROTECTION, RIGHT. BUT I MEAN, BUT BUT THE PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO OPT OUT. CHILDREN. YOU THE PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO OPT OUT IF THEY WANT. IF THEY IF THEY WANT. AND THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL LAW IS NO. I MEAN, I MEAN, IT'S NOT EVEN CITED. I MEAN, I THINK DIANE MENTIONED IT AND SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. THE PRA AND.

BUT. THE PRA COPPA THE. YOU KNOW, FOR THERE'S NO THERE'S NO MEANINGFUL COMPLIANCE MECHANISM FOR STUDENTS UNDER 13. YOU KNOW WITHOUT THERE'S THERE'S NO CONSENT. YOU NEED TO HAVE VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY CHILD UNDER 13. YOU KNOW. SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT I THINK I MEAN, I THINK YOU NEED TO GO BACK TO, TO COUNCIL OTHER THAN MYSELF.

AND, AND BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE MYSELF VOTING FOR A POLICY THAT DOESN'T COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW AND GIVE PARENTS THOSE RIGHTS, I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT. AND THIS COULD JUST BE, YOU KNOW, MY LACK OF UNDERSTANDING. BUT DOES THE LINE ALL USERS OF AI AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN CPS MUST COMPLY WITH CURRENT AND FUTURE PRIVACY LAWS AND DATA SECURITY STANDARDS? DOES DOES THAT NOT COVER EVERYTHING ALREADY? IS THERE? IS THERE A REQUIREMENT TO LIST EVERY SINGLE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY TO, OR DOES THAT ONE LINE KIND OF SAY IT? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IN GENERAL, KIND OF WE'RE GOING TO COMPLY TO EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO COMPLY FOR, TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN OUR BEING LEGAL. SO THERE ARE THERE ARE SOME INCLUDED THERE FIRST. AND COPPA IS LISTED. BUT WHY NOT THE PRA.

YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE THAT WOULD BE THE REQUEST TO ASK THEM TO PUT THAT IN. YEAH. AND I THINK WHAT ABOUT THE TO GO TO COUNCIL ON THAT. THAT'S FINE. I WAS JUST IT WAS JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION. YEAH. AND I, I WROTE A PAPER WHICH I PROVIDED THAT I WENT THROUGH ALL OF THIS TO COME UP WITH THE GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK. THAT WAS A REQUIREMENT IN MY CLASS. AND SO THERE THERE ARE THOSE AS WELL AS THERE'S SOME OTHER ONES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT FUZZY THAT COME FROM NIST FOR BIAS, BUT THEY'RE MORE FOR DEVELOPERS. BUT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, PRA WOULD DEFINITELY BE UP THERE AS WELL AS CIPA, WHICH IS THE INTERNET PROTECTION, I WOULD SAY MY OTHER, MY OTHER MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE WHAT IS THE MECHANISM FOR FOR SENDING OUT PARENTAL CONSENT? I MEAN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, KIDS UNDER 13, I MEAN, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT. AND, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER PARENTS WITH RESPECT TO OTHER ISSUES WHERE THEY GET A FORM AND, AND IT SAYS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T RETURN THIS FORM, WE'RE JUST GOING TO, YOU KNOW, USE THE DEFAULT. I MEAN, WHEN A PARENT ASKS ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S THE DEFAULT? I'M LIKE, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE DEFAULT IS. THE DEFAULT IS WHAT? YES. I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE VERIFIABLE. I MEAN, THE LAW SAYS VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT FOR KIDS UNDER 13. I JUST THINK THAT YOU NEED TO IT'S JUST YOU NEED TO FLESH IT OUT A LITTLE BIT. AND AS IS, IS IT'S JUST INCOMPLETE. AND IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED ON. I THINK I THINK WE'VE YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT PUTIN HAS BROUGHT UP AND WE'RE WORKING MORE TOWARDS TRANSPARENCY. AND I DON'T THINK THAT THIS POLICY CREATES ANY TRANSPARENCY, WHICH IS GREATLY NEEDED, ESPECIALLY IN AI. CAN I ASK WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THIS POLICY DOESN'T HAVE TRANSPARENCY? WELL, I THINK THAT THE PARENT SHOULD KNOW WHAT TOOLS, WHAT AI AGENTS ARE BEING USED IN THE IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, DATA IS GOING TO BE COLLECTED DURING THE CLASS, YOU KNOW, IREADY HAS AI IN IT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, SO I THINK THAT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE USING SHOULD BE OUT THERE SO THAT PARENTS KNOW, YOU KNOW, AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG WITH, YOU KNOW, USING AI IN THE CLASSROOM, KIND OF A PROPONENT FOR IT, BUT IT NEEDS

[01:45:06]

TO BE USED IN A WAY THAT PROTECTS OUR CHILDREN AND THAT PROTECTS THEIR EDUCATION. ON HHPZ.ORG UNDER THE TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES, WE HAVE A TRUST AND RESOURCES APPROVAL LIST THAT ALL FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS ALIKE, CAN ACCESS TO SEE THE CURRENT TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN VETTED AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT VERY RIGOROUS REVIEW PROCESS, AND ANY TOOL THAT WE WOULD APPROVE RELATED TO AI WOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED ON THAT LIST. OKAY, I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. OUR PARENT PERMISSION FORM THAT IS DISTRIBUTED IN THE BEGINNING OF EVERY YEAR POINT PARENTS TO THAT LIST AND THE RESOURCES ARE DIVIDED INTO ESSENTIAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL TOOLS. AND SO WE ASK PARENTS TO OPT IN OR OUT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL LIST ON THROUGH THAT PARENT PERMISSION FORM SO WE CAN LOOK TO STRENGTHEN THAT. ACTUALLY, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE ALREADY DOING SOME OF WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS LISTED AND THAT THEY'RE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT WHAT TOOLS ARE BEING USED BY THE SCHOOL. SO THAT'S GREAT. IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THAT. YEAH. I HAVE A QUESTION IN REFERENCE TO THAT REAL QUICK BEFORE WE MOVE ON, CAN THEY OPT OUT OF INDIVIDUAL THINGS OR IS IT AS A WHOLE IT IS AS A WHOLE. BUT WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO REACH OUT AND KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS OPEN AROUND THOSE TOOLS.

IT IS OPTING OUT OF SUPPLEMENTAL TOOLS, NOT THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS. SO THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS ARE THE ONES THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, CANVAS SAVIS CRITICAL TOOLS TO OUR CURRICULUM THAT WE PURCHASE AND AND THAT OUR, OUR ALL OF OUR TOOLS ARE VETTED EXTENSIVELY.

BUT THOSE GO THROUGH THAT LEGAL PROCESS OF AROUND OUR TERMS OF USE AND OUR DATA PRIVACY AGREEMENTS. AND SO THE OPT OUT IS SPECIFIC TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL TOOL. SO THE ONES THAT AREN'T CRITICALLY TIED TO THE CURRICULUM. SO AND IS THERE, LIKE YOU SAID, MENTIONED CANVAS.

AND I KIND OF LIKE CANVAS IS LIKE EVERYTHING. SO IS THERE AN X SOMEBODY TO EXPLAIN HOW AI IS BEING USED IN THESE DIFFERENT PLATFORMS? IS THAT INFORMATION AVAILABLE, AND HOW WOULD A PARENT OR COMMUNITY MEMBER GO ABOUT GETTING THAT KIND OF DETAILS? WE ARE WORKING WITH EACH OF OUR VENDORS TO GATHER THAT INFORMATION, NOTING THE RESOURCES THAT DO USE AI AND ASKING THEM SOME VERY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DATA, AND THAT THE CAPABILITIES THAT THE AI PROVIDES IN THAT PLATFORM. AND WE WE CAN REVISIT OUR OUR LIST ON CPS AND, AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE THAT MORE APPARENT. PRESIDENT BOYNTON, I THINK YOU HAD MENTIONED ALSO THAT AI TOOLS ARE BEING USED CURRENTLY, WHICH WHICH AI TOOL SPECIFICALLY ARE IN THE SCHOOLS NOW? I MEAN, AI IS EVERYWHERE. AUTOCOMPLETE IN MICROSOFT WORD IS A FORM OF AI, SO IT'S KIND OF A HARD QUESTION TO ANSWER. BUT I MEAN, I THINK MY COMMENT WAS MORE ABOUT JUST AI BEING UBIQUITOUS NOW IN GENERAL, RATHER THAN SPECIFICALLY TO THE SCHOOLS. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE ASKING, YOU KNOW, WHICH PLATFORMS HTTPS IS USING THAT'S USING SOME ELEMENT OF AI, I'D PROBABLY GUESS AND SAY AT LEAST ON THE BACK END, ALL OF THEM. SO I DON'T I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ANSWER THAT ANY OTHER WAY. THAT IS A CHALLENGE. I'M JUST I'M JUST I'M JUST I'M JUST I'M JUST CONCERNED. I'M JUST CONCERNED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE COMPLIANT WITH ALL OF THESE STATUTES. SO, I MEAN, I THINK COUNCIL AND AND THOSE PEOPLE MAKING THE PRESENTATION, I MEAN, WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. EACH ONE OF OUR DIGITAL RESOURCES DOES GO THROUGH THAT VETTING PROCESS. AND SO THE THE RESOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE, A CANVAS THAT MAY BE INTEGRATING SOME SOME RESOURCES, SOME AI RESOURCES IN AT THIS MOMENT, THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO TEACHER USE. WE DO HAVE DATA PRIVACY AGREEMENTS AND TERMS OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE WITH THOSE VENDORS. YEAH. SO SO SO SO WHY IS CANVAS ONLY LIMITED TO TEACHER USE AND NOT THE BOARD? THEY ARE BEING VERY INTENTIONAL IN THEIR IN THEIR ROLLOUT SO THAT THEY HAVE THEIR INITIAL ROLLOUT HAS JUST OCCURRED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND HAS FOCUSED ON TEACHER USE AS A BEGINNING AS A BEGINNING POINT.

OKAY, SO, SO, SO WITH RESPECT TO YOUNGER, YOUNGER CHILDREN UNDER 13, AND THEY'RE USING AI TOOLS IN CANVAS TO CHECK THEIR GRADES OR WHATEVER THAT IS. DO YOU HAVE PARENTAL CONSENT FROM

[01:50:02]

FROM EACH ONE OF THE PARENTS OF THOSE STUDENTS? MAYBE I NEED SOME CLARIFICATION. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN GRADES WERE POSTED IN CANVAS THAT THOSE WERE AI RELATED. THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I WAS JUST TOLD. SO THAT'S WHY THAT WAS MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION, BECAUSE I THINK YOU HAD ANSWERED THAT QUESTION. YOU SAID THAT THERE IS A FORM THAT GOES HOME WITH THE STUDENTS, THAT THERE IS A TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENT OF SOME SORT AND THE PARENT PERMISSION FORM THAT EACH PARENT IS ASKED TO COMPLETE. ONE OF THE ITEMS REFERENCES ARE LIST OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES THAT INCLUDES BOTH ESSENTIAL RESOURCES AND SUPPLEMENTAL, AND THE PARENTS ARE ASKED TO OPT IN OR OUT OF OUR SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES. AND THAT GOES OUT TO FAMILIES AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH ACADEMIC YEAR. YEAH, BECAUSE WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PROTECTED AS A BOARD THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ISN'T ANY VIOLATIONS AND SOUNDS LIKE THAT MAY COVER IT. AND MAYBE WHEN YOU TAKE THIS BACK TO COUNCIL, YOU COULD LIKE, SEE IF THAT FORM NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED OR MODIFIED. DEFINITELY. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A REVIEW OF THE VETTING PROCESS THAT IS THAT TAKES PLACE FOR THE DATA THAT THERE ARE ARE. VENDORS, YOU KNOW, HAVE ACCESS TO. YOU NEED A PERSONAL OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES FOR NAVIGATING THAT. YEAH. IF I COULD DO THAT. YEAH.

YEAH, DEFINITELY. CIRCLING BACK TO A COMMENT FROM MR. MCVICKER THAT LED TO THIS CONVERSATION, THAT FIRST SENTENCE IN THAT PARAGRAPH, LETTER A COMPLIANCE AND DATA PROTECTION WAS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY SEE WHY CALLING CERTAIN ONES OUT AND LEAVING OTHERS OUT MIGHT RAISE THESE QUESTIONS. SO THAT WOULD BE CERTAINLY AN AREA WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND REFINE. PERFECT. THANK YOU. YEAH. MY QUESTION WASN'T TO SPARK ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST BETTER UNDERSTANDING. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS. SO THIS WILL GO OUT FOR 30 DAYS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. RIGHT. WHICH MEANS IT'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF THE BOARD PROBABLY THE END OF DECEMBER I THINK AT THE CHECK THE TIMING OR EARLY JANUARY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE

[E. Presentation of FY 2027 Local CIP Priorities, Ms. Cathy Bendis, Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Mr. Chris Morton, Supervisor of Planning and Construction, and Ms. Missy Valentino, Facilities Planner FY 2027 Local CIP Priorities BOE Decision Matrix FY2027 Preliminary Local CIP Budget Sheets Priority Score Method ]

GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR FINAL PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. ITEM E PRESENTATION ON FISCAL YEAR 27. LOCAL CIP PRIORITIES. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MISS KATHY BENDIS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS. MR. CHRIS MORTON, SUPERVISOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION. AND MISS MISSY VALENTINO, FACILITIES PLANNER. WELCOME FOR YOUR PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANKS FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY. THIS EVENING. WE ARE BRINGING TO YOU THE FY 27 LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS EVENING IS THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FORWARDING, HOPEFULLY OVER TO THE COUNTY FOR FUNDING. SO THIS IS OUR FUNDING REQUEST FOR OUR LOCAL ONLY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. I DO WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF OUR WORK GROUP. SO WE DID THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR. WE HAD A LARGER WORK GROUP. THEY SPENT MANY HOURS GOING THROUGH THE LIST OF THE MANY, MANY ITEMS. AND WE BELIEVE WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS EVENING HAS THINGS IN THE BEST PRIORITY ORDER. WE HAVE MANY NEEDS, AS WE ALWAYS DO, AND WE REALLY WANT TO TRY TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE NEEDS. AND MISS VALENTINO'S GOING TO GO THROUGH THE SCORING MATRIX WITH YOU THIS EVENING. THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR FIRST LOOK. THERE'S NO VOTE REQUIRED THIS EVENING. WE WILL BE COMING BACK WITH THIS AT THE DECEMBER 15TH MEETING. THIS WILL BE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. AND WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS THIS EVENING. AND OBVIOUSLY OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT COME UP. AND WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS VALENTINO. GOOD EVENING. I ALWAYS START WITH A BRIEF I'M SORRY. MY VOICE IS A LITTLE SCRATCHY. SO YOU'LL FORGIVE ME.

CAN YOU GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC? ALWAYS START WITH JUST A LOOK BACK. WE'VE ALREADY MADE OUR STATE SUBMISSION IN OCTOBER. WE CAME TO THE BOARD FOR THAT APPROVAL, AND THAT'S CURRENTLY IN THE STATE'S HANDS. AND THEY'RE REVIEWING THAT. AND HOPEFULLY IN DECEMBER WE'LL GET AN IDEA OF WHERE WE STAND WITH THAT RIGHT NOW. TONIGHT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THOSE LOCAL ONLY PRIORITIES. THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED TONIGHT. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR LOCAL FUNDING SOURCES, WE HAVE OF COURSE, OUR BONDS, WHICH IS BASICALLY BORROWING. THIS IS TYPICALLY FOR ITEMS WITH A 15 YEAR LIFE SPAN. IT'S USUALLY FOR THE LARGER PROJECTS, REPLACEMENT RENOVATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN YOU HAVE PAY AS YOU GO OR PAYGO, AND THAT'S KIND OF USING THEIR OWN CASH OR THEIR OWN REVENUES TO

[01:55:02]

PAY FOR EXPENSES. USUALLY THIS IS THINGS WITH A SHORTER LIFE. WHEN WE PURCHASE BUSSES FOR OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, SOME OF OUR TECHNOLOGY ITEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT ALL FALL UNDER THAT TYPE OF FUNDING SOURCE. WE DO PRIORITIZE OUR SCORES. WE HAVE A LARGE LIST, A GROWING LIST OF NEEDS IN IN THE ORGANIZATION. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE TRY TO PRIORITIZE THEM IN A WAY TO CAPTURE ALL OF OUR NEEDS. REALLY, WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT TYPE OF CATEGORY IT'S IN. IS IT A FACILITY RELATED ITEM? IS IT AN EDUCATIONAL NEED? DOES IT QUALIFY FOR STATE FUNDING? DO WE NEED A LOCAL MATCH FOR SOME TYPE OF STATE FUNDING? SOMETIMES WE HAVE GRANTS AND THINGS THAT REQUIRE LOCAL MATCH FOR THAT. WE WOULD PUT THAT IN THERE AND THAT WOULD GET A SCORE ACCORDINGLY. OTHER PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS AND USUALLY THAT'S BASED ON THE TIMELINE. IS THIS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT US IN 1 TO 2 YEARS, 2 TO 3, 3 TO 4 YEARS, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES THERE GET A SCORE FOR THAT AND THEN LEVEL OF NEED, WHICH I LIKE TO CONSIDER THE HIGHEST VALUE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS GROUPED BY THAT LEVEL OF NEED. AND THAT'S IF YOU CONSIDER IT CURRENTLY URGENT OR IF IT'S A RECOMMENDATION OR JUST A REGULAR REPLACEMENT ITEM. SO REALLY, WHEN WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE NEEDS, WE GROUP THEM FIRST BY THEIR LEVEL OF NEED.

AND THAT'S WHY I SAY THAT HAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY. A LOT OF THESE THINGS MIGHT NOT QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THE SCORING AREAS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT'S A CRITICAL NEED THAT'S STILL BROUGHT UP. SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GROUPED BY THAT LEVEL OF NEED. IT CAN BE BROUGHT UP AND ORDERED ACCORDING TO THEIR TOTAL SCORE HIGHEST TO LOWEST. SO THEN THE WORK GROUP MEETS THE FIRST THING. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE HAVE MANY TIES IN THAT. YOU MIGHT HAVE THREE, 4 OR 5 ITEMS THAT HAVE THE SAME TIED SCORE. AND YOU HAVE TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM THINGS TO DETERMINE WHICH IS HIGHER THAN THE OTHER, AND WORK THROUGH EACH ONE OF THOSE. AND THEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OUTLIERS. ANY SCORING SYSTEM WE PUT TOGETHER, THERE MAY BE A NEED THAT JUST DOES NOT FIT INTO THOSE CRITERIA, AND WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT DIFFERENTLY. SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE WORK GROUP DOES. IT BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND DISCUSS ANYTHING. AND THEN JUST REALLY IF EVERYONE'S IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT FINAL ORDER. YES, THIS IS WHAT WE CONSIDER OUR PRIORITIES AND OUR NEEDS GOING FORWARD. WITH THAT, I AM NOT GOING TO READ EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE SLIDES TO YOU, BUT THESE ARE OUR NEEDS THAT BIRKIN OUT AND PUT IN ORDER HERE. I INCLUDED THAT LEVEL OF NEED SCORE AND THEN ALSO THE TOTAL SCORE. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT AS WELL. AND THEN THE REQUEST AMOUNT. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANY OF THESE NEEDS WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER IT. BUT IF WE CANNOT ANSWER IT TODAY WE WILL DEFINITELY GET WITH ANY OF OUR BUDGET MANAGERS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THOSE ANSWERS TO YOU. BUT I DID BREAK IT DOWN KIND OF AT THE END. THE CURRENT CRITICAL NEEDS, THAT CATEGORY CONTINUES TO GROW.