[Call to Order: Board President] [00:00:14] MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. MRS. PERRY. MRS. PERRY. THANK YOU, MR. SEWELL. YES. HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER, PRESENT. MR. MCVICAR HERE. MR. KORN. MR. KORN. MRS. HAHN, PRESENT. MISS BRUCE. MRS. ALVAREZ PRESENT. NO. VICE PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. PRESIDENT. BOYNTON. I SEE A FEW PEOPLE VIRTUALLY. IF YOU WANT TO UNMUTE, I'LL START AGAIN WITH MRS. PERRY. I DON'T KNOW. MR. I'M HERE. ARE YOU HERE? THANK YOU. OKAY. MORE KORN IS HERE. PRESENT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MISS BRUCE. OKAY, MISS BRUCE, ABSENT FROM. BEFORE YOU AND PRESIDENT BOYNTON. I BELIEVE MR. BOYNTON IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. SUPERINTENDENT POLSON HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, I WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR BALSAM WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR NO. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU DO. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. THIS IS MELISSA AND I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. THIS IS LAUREN. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. NO, NO. MISS RILEY, WILL YOU TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE, PLEASE. YES. MRS. PERRY? MISS PERRY, YOU'RE MUTED. CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? WE ARE VOTING ON THE AGENDA. MRS. PERRY, CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? OKAY, THAT WAS GOOD FOR. FOR NOW, MR. SEWELL. YES. DOCTOR. MUELLER. NO. MR. MCVICKER. NO. MR. CORN. OH, ANYONE HAS AN ISSUE. MISS HAHN. YES, MISS. BRUCE. WHAT'S THAT I'M SAYING? MISS ALVAREZ. YES. VICE PRESIDENT PAIGE. YES. MISS. PERRY? OKAY, I HAVE 4 TO 2. THE MOTION PASSES, I BELIEVE. SO. DON'T YOU NEED SIX FOR TO PASS? I THINK YOU NEED SIX. YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. WE HAVE. SOMEBODY HAS AN ISSUE. I'M SORRY IF SOMEBODY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE AGENDA. I MEAN, I'M THAT'S WHY I ABSTAINED. I, I'M VERY MUCH OPEN TO HEARING WHY. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CALENDAR BE ADDED BACK IN ON THE AGENDA. PRETTY EASY. ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION THAT THE [00:05:11] CALENDAR BE ADDED BACK TO THE. IS IT APPROPRIATE TO MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW? I THINK SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ADD THE CALENDAR VOTE ON TO THE AGENDA. IS JILLIAN HERE? EXCUSE ME. CAN WE OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION? YEAH. WELL, USUALLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SECOND TO OPEN IT FOR DISCUSSION, BUT I'LL SECOND IT. THANK YOU. IS JUST I GUESS BEING DISCUSSION. IS JILLIAN HERE TONIGHT? YEAH. SHE SHE'S AVAILABLE ON VIRTUALLY. THAT'S FINE. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS JILLIAN. LATER. I CAN BE THERE IF THE AGENDA IS AMENDED. OKAY. WELL, OKAY, SINCE WE'RE OPENING IT. SO THE MOTION PASSED FOR FOR OPENING UP FOR DISCUSSION. ARE WE DISCUSSING THIS? I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THE CALENDAR. MRS. PAGE, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE HAVEN'T VOTED AGENDA TO THE AGENDA. SO. SO RIGHT NOW THE MOTION IS OPEN TO ADD IT BACK TO THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION NOW IS ARE WE ADDING THE CALENDAR BACK TO THE AGENDA? OKAY. YES. WE HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I MEAN, WE WEREN'T NOTIFIED THAT IT WAS BEING TAKEN OFF THE AGENDA AND IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN DISAPPEARED. I UNDERSTAND THAT I DON'T I DON'T I DON'T HAVE I DON'T HAVE THAT I'M SORRY. I DON'T HAVE THAT ON, ON THE AGENDA AT ALL. I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT MAY BE TAKEN OFF, BUT I DON'T HAVE I CAN'T I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN MAKE AN INFORMED VOTE IF IT'S I MEAN, I DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA. SO IT WAS ON THE AGENDA UP UNTIL ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW, 4:00 TODAY, 430, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND THEN IT WAS REMOVED WITH NO WARNING, NO DISCUSSION, NO ANYTHING. IT WAS JUST TAKEN OFF THE AGENDA. SO I'D LIKE TO SEE IT ADDED BACK ON. I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO WHY, EXCEPT THAT PERHAPS ALL BOARD MEMBERS WEREN'T HERE AND WE STILL HAD SOME TIME, AND SO WE WOULD PUT IT BACK ON THE AGENDA IN JANUARY, BUT I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO TAKE. WELL, I THINK THE ONLY BOARD MEMBER THAT'S NOT HERE, EITHER VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON IS AARON. IS THAT NOT CORRECT? OKAY. MAKE A MOTION THAT WE TAKE THIS TO A VOTE ALREADY. HE'S ALREADY MADE THE MOTION. SHE'S CALLING THE QUESTION. YES, THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT. YOU WANT TO CALL THE QUESTION? DO YOU WANT TO VOTE ON IT? CALL FOR QUESTION EITHER WAY, BECAUSE MY MOTION WAS GOING TO BE TO DELAY IT. SO MISS, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON ADDING THE THE ON ADDING THE AGENDA. SORRY. THE CALENDAR TO THE AGENDA TONIGHT. YES. MRS. PERRY. YES. MR. SEWELL? YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES. MR. MCVICAR. YES. MR. CORN. NO. MRS. HAHN. NO. MISS BRUCE. YES, MISS. ALVAREZ? I'LL. NOW. MISS PAGE. NO. SO WE HAVE FIVE. FOUR. I BELIEVE THIS MOTION FAILS. SO I'LL GO BACK TO. THAT. THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU DO. I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY YES. NO. NO. CAROL. BRUCE, FOR THE RECORD, MISS DENISE. NO. I THINK DO I NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE? DID YOU VOTE? YES, I VOTED YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO I HAVE ENOUGH TO TO PROCEED. WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? YES. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. REPUBLIC WHICH IT STANDS? ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, IF YOU [Public Comment] WILL. NOW COME AND READ THE RULES OF ORDER. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. IN KEEPING WITH THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF [00:10:02] THE MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE UPDATED PRACTICES THAT WILL BE ENFORCED THIS EVENING AND FOR ALL FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. DURING THE BUSINESS MEETING, ALL ATTENDEES ARE REMINDED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER. GRANDSTANDING WHICH INCLUDES APPLAUSE, AUDIBLE COMMENTARY, EXCESSIVE GESTURES, STANDING OVATIONS, AND SIMILAR DISTRACTING BEHAVIORS IS NOT PERMITTED. LIKEWISE, THREATENING WORDS, GESTURES, OR BEHAVIORS ARE NOT PERMITTED. THE RULES OF ORDER REQUIRE COMMENTERS TO REFRAIN FROM IDENTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND DO NOT SIT ON THE BOARD. COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD, AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS OR IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY NAME. IN THE CONTEXT OF A BOARD BUSINESS MEETING, THE PUBLIC INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF OTHER THAN THE SUPERINTENDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE 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 DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING, THE ATTENDEE WILL RECEIVE A WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE TO PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR. IF THE ATTENDEE DOES NOT CEASE THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR, THE ATTENDEE WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING BY SECURITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU! THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED UPON BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND FIVE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS. SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT. WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR 3 MINUTE OR 5 MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE BEGIN THE IN PERSON REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. WE WILL START WITH DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY WILLIAM MARTINO AND GABRIEL MOORE BROOKS. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER. IF ANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW, I WORK IN THE AREA OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. I WORK WITH BOTH ITS USE AND ITS DEEP INTERNALS. I WOULD ACTUALLY BE HAPPY TO EXPLAIN TO ANY OF YOU HOW THESE AI ALGORITHMS REALLY WORK, WHETHER IMAGE RECOGNITION, IMAGE GENERATION, OR LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS, THESE ARE POWERFUL TOOLS LIKE THOSE THAT COME WITH WARNING LABELS SAYING KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD TREAT THEM. WHEN I STARTED WORKING ON THIS COMMENT, I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO CALCULATORS AS THE ANALOGY. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, WE HAD VERY, VERY LITTLE DIRECTED USE OF CALCULATORS UNTIL ALGEBRA ONE, AND IT MADE MY DISTRICT VERY SUCCESSFUL AT MATH. BUT I DON'T THINK CALCULATORS HAVE EVER TALKED A CHILD INTO COMMITTING MURDER OR SUICIDE. ACCORDING TO LAWSUITS, LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS HAVE THE ANALOGY TO CALCULATORS ONLY ADDRESSES THE LEARNING LOSS FROM STUDENTS LETTING MACHINES DO THE THINKING FOR THEM. IT DOESN'T ADDRESS THE DANGERS, INCLUDING TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH, THAT CURRENT AI PRESENT. I THINK POWER TOOLS ARE A BETTER ANALOGY. POWER TOOLS SUCH AS DRILLS, SOULS, SANDERS AND MANY OTHERS ARE VERY USEFUL, BUT THEY ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR NUMEROUS INJURIES AND EVEN DEATHS EVERY YEAR. THAT'S HOW YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT CURRENT GENERATION AI. I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T SHOW STUDENTS HOW TO USE AI AT ALL. WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE HAD OLD FASHIONED SHOP CLASS AND WE WERE TAUGHT TO USE A VARIETY OF DANGEROUS POWER TOOLS. BUT THAT WAS ONE CLASS THAT HAD A HOST OF SPECIAL RULES AND CLOSE SUPERVISION. WOULD YOU FEEL SAFE PUTTING A SIX FOOT TALL INDUSTRIAL BAND SOUL IN EVERY CLASSROOM? IF NOT, THEN DON'T PUT STUDENT FACING AI THERE. STEPPING BACK TO A BROADER VIEW, THE PROPOSED AI POLICY IS FUNDAMENTALLY FLAWED BECAUSE IT CRAMS TOGETHER USE BY STUDENTS AND USE BY SCHOOL SYSTEM PERSONNEL. THEY ARE DIFFERENT. HOW HE USES AI FOR AUTOMATIC WEAPONS DETECTION, AND HOW A STUDENT USES AI TO WRITE AN ESSAY ARE VERY DIFFERENT TOPICS. THEY SHOULD BE SEPARATED INTO AT LEAST TWO DIFFERENT POLICIES. THANK YOU ALL. MR. MARTINO. PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. OH, MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY. I WAS [00:15:06] STRUGGLING ON A TOPIC TO ADDRESS IN MY PUBLIC COMMENT THIS WEEK, BUT THANKS TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF CPS LEADERSHIP AND THE CENTRAL OFFICE, ONE DROPS RIGHT IN MY LAP. IT HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE NEWS, ESPECIALLY FOX 45 WITH PROJECT BALTIMORE OF THE DISTURBING PATTERN OF HIRING AND EMPLOYEE BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS IN HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE RECENT PROBLEMS HAVE BECOME SO NOTICEABLE THAT LOCAL POLITICIANS ARE TAKING NOTICE. MARYLAND HOUSE DELEGATE LAUREN ARIKAN RELEASED A STATEMENT WITH THE FOLLOWING ISSUES A MUSIC TEACHER ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. AN MS. 13 GANG MEMBER ENROLLING IN TWO SCHOOLS. A FORMER A FORMER DEPUTY INDICTED ON 15 FELONY COUNTS, WAS HIRED TO TEACH EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH AND AN ELEMENTARY TEACHING AIDE CHARGED WITH MANY GUN CRIMES. IN ADDITION, CPS HAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR WHO POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SUPPORTING MORE ASSASSINATIONS OF CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCERS LIKE CHARLIE KIRK. THE LAST TWO WERE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CARING FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WHO ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. THE PROBLEM STARTS AT THE TOP WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT. FROM DAY ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENTS FOCUS HAS BEEN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, NOT IMPROVING ACADEMIC STANDARDS FOR THE STUDENTS. THE PRIORITY OF HIRING EMPLOYEES IS MORE ABOUT CHECKING DYE BOXES INSTEAD OF TIME. TRADITIONAL METHOD OF MERIT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THIS HAS LED TO THE RECENT PROBLEMS WITHIN CPS, AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE IF WE DON'T FIND NEW LEADERSHIP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE SCHOOL BOARD NEEDS TO GET OFF A SINKING SHIP AND FIND A NEW CAPTAIN. THE SUPERINTENDENTS RESPONSE TO THE MEDIA WAS, QUOTE, WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT. PROCESSES MAY NEED STRENGTHENING AND SOME REPORTING WAS INACCURATE, END QUOTE. ABSOLUTELY NO SPECIFICS WHATSOEVER. THIS BUREAUCRATIC DOUBLESPEAK IS TO COVER UP THE BAD POLICIES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE TEACHERS UNION HAVE INSTITUTED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HERE IS A SUGGESTION TO STRENGTHEN THE POLICY. DON'T HIRE CRIMINALS AND PUT THEM IN THE CLASSROOMS WITH ELEMENTARY KIDS. TO QUOTE THOMAS OHLENDORF, ONCE A SUIT, QUOTE, ONCE A SUPERINTENDENT LOSES HIS CONFIDENCE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE PUBLIC, IT BECOMES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER. END QUOTE. PLEASE BEGIN THE PROCESS OF FINDING NEW LEADERSHIP AND DO NOT RENEW THE CONTRACT IN 2026. DURING THE LAST SESSION, WE HEARD ABOUT THE RIDICULOUS REQUEST BY THE SMOB TO HAVE MORE VOTING RIGHTS. THE SMOB SHOULDN'T HAVE ANY VOTING RIGHTS AT ALL, JUST A SYMBOLIC VOTE TO LEARN ABOUT THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. THE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW A 17 YEAR OLD TO VOTE FOR A REPRESENTATIVE. HOW CAN HE BE THE REPRESENTATIVE? THE REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD HAVE A FULL RANGE OF LIFE EXPERIENCES, SUCH AS STRUGGLING TO RAISE CHILDREN AND TAKE CARE OF A FAMILY, RUNNING A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET AND MAKING THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ON WHICH BILLS GET PAID AND HAVING A JOB. RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE REPUBLIC TO THE PUBLIC. HOW MANY CHILDREN HAS THE SMOB RAISED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T? NONE. HOW MANY HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS HAS THE SMOB MANAGED? ABSOLUTELY NONE. NO LIFE EXPERIENCES. LET'S FACE IT, THIS IS A PUPPET POSITION FOR THE TEACHERS UNIONS. THIS POSITION WAS NOT ELECTED BY LEGALLY AGE VOTING CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY OR APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL. REDUCE THE SMALL VOTING RIGHTS. CERTAINLY DON'T INCREASE THEM. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. SO I'M HERE TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE CALENDAR. SO I WANT TO START OFF BY SAYING THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT STARTING THE SCHOOL YEAR BEFORE LABOR DAY. FIRSTLY, BECAUSE STARTING BEFORE LABOR DAY WOULD DIRECTLY IMPROVE AP AND MCAT SCORES. AP EXAMS TAKE PLACE IN EARLY MAY, REGARDLESS OF OF WHEN OUR SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS. SO WHEN WE START AFTER LABOR DAY, TEACHERS ARE FORCED TO RUSH THROUGH MATERIALS. BUT STARTING EARLIER GIVES STUDENTS MORE INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS BEFORE [00:20:06] HIGH STAKES EXAMS, WHICH CAN IMPROVE AP SCORES AND THEIR OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE CONTENT. AND THEN SECOND THE COUNT. BY STARTING BEFORE LABOR DAY, THE CALENDAR WILL BETTER ALIGN WITH HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE. MANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TAKE DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES OR TRANSITION DIRECTLY TO HCC AFTER GRADUATION, BEING ON A SIMILAR ACADEMIC SCHEDULE EASES THE TRANSITION AND STRENGTHENS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE INSTITUTIONS. THERE ARE REAL ISSUES OF INEFFICIENCIES AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR, THERE WAS A WEEK WHERE NEARLY WHEN NEARLY ALL MY CLASSES WERE EITHER PLAYED POKER BOARD GAMES OR WATCH MOVIES BECAUSE CONTENT HAD ALREADY WRAPPED UP. THIS IS NOT A CRITICISM OF MY TEACHERS EITHER. IT WAS. IT'S A RESULT OF A CALENDAR THAT LEAVES INSTRUCTIONAL TIME UNUSED AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, PASSING THE CALENDAR THAT STARTS BEFORE LABOR DAY WILL OPTIMIZE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, IMPROVE ACADEMIC PREPAREDNESS, AND IMPROVE OVERALL STUDENT SUCCESS. IT ALLOWS BETTER PACING, STRONGER AP AND TEST STATE TESTING OUTCOMES, AND A MORE PURPOSEFUL USE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM START TO FINISH. I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO APPROVE A CALENDAR THAT INCLUDES A START TIME BEFORE LABOR DAY, ENSURING THAT OUR SCHEDULE TRULY SUPPORTS STUDENT LEARNING AND LONG TERM SUCCESS. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE LISA BROWN, BOB BROWN, AND MATTHEW BROWN. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LISA BROWN. I'M THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AT EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND A 12 YEAR VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE SCHOOL CALENDAR TO REFLECT SCHOOL CLOSING ON OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 19,000 VETERANS WHO LIVE IN HARFORD COUNTY, MANY OF THEM FAMILY MEMBERS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF, AND OTHERS WHO ARE FORMER STUDENTS OR CURRENT STAFF MEMBERS. BEYOND THEIR COMMITMENT AND SELFLESS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY, ACTIVE DUTY AND VETERANS SERVE OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES AS VOLUNTEERS, MENTORS, AND PRESENTERS AT CURRICULUM CONNECTED ACTIVITIES. CONSTITUTION DAY IN THE PATRIOT PROGRAM WERE ESTABLISHED FOR OUR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS OF AMERICANS, THOSE THAT WERE FOUGHT FOR, DEFENDED, AND ARE PROTECTED BY OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS. VETERANS DAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THOSE MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND APPLY OUR LEARNING TO SERVICE. AND YET, VIRTUALLY EVERY YEAR, IT IS NOT INCLUDED AS A HOLIDAY IN THE INITIAL PROPOSED CALENDAR. IN FACT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE HOLIDAY IN OCTOBER, VETERANS DAY IS THE ONLY FEDERAL HOLIDAY THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CALENDAR AND THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT IN A COUNTY AND STATE WHERE A MILITARY PRESENCE PROVIDES JOBS, AID TO SCHOOLS, INTERNSHIPS FOR STUDENTS, STEM PROGRAMS IN CLASSROOMS, AND SO MUCH MORE. WHAT IS HC COMMITMENT IN THIS PARTNERSHIP? ARE WE ONLY RECIPIENTS AND NEVER THE GIVERS? IT SEEMS THE VERY LEAST WE CAN DO IS HONOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR COUNTRY AND GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR FELLOW VETERANS ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THIS DISCUSSION SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT WHAT IS CONVENIENT AND COINCIDES WITH SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY CALENDAR DATES. IT IS ABOUT DOING WHAT IS RIGHT BY OUR VETERANS, OUR ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT IS LEARNING ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PATRIOT, AND PUTTING THAT LEARNING INTO ACTION WITH SERVICE CONNECTED PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD, I REQUEST THAT THE BOARD OF ED AND THE VARIOUS EMPLOYEE UNIONS ADD VETERANS DAY TO THE MANDATED HOLIDAYS. IN THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS, HUNDREDS OF STAFF MEMBERS ARE VETERANS AND OR MILITARY CONNECTED FAMILIES. THE UNION SHOULD REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS. VETERANS HAVE ALREADY FOUGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM AND DEFENDED OUR RIGHTS. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO BE REMEMBERED AND HONORED. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND SUPERINTENDENT OLSON. MY NAME IS BOB BROWN, AND I'M NOT REPRESENTING ANY GOVERNMENT OR NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION TONIGHT. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE THE CALENDAR THAT DESIGNATES NOVEMBER 11TH, 2026, VETERANS DAY AS A FULL DAY HOLIDAY WITH SCHOOLS CLOSED. [00:25:06] THE DATE AND THE TIME ARE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT. THE ARMISTICE ENDING WORLD WAR ONE TOOK EFFECT ON THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH, WHICH THEN BECAME VETERAN'S DAY. THE FULL DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL ALLOWS THE ENTIRE VETERAN COMMUNITY, INCLUDING SCHOOL KIDS AND VETERAN TEACHERS, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MORNING AND ALL DAY EVENTS. MANY OF YOU ATTENDED THE RACE ACROSS AMERICA CEREMONIES THIS PAST SATURDAY. YOU MAY REMEMBER THE PLEDGE THAT WAS RECITED TO REMEMBER THE FALLEN AND THE SACRIFICE OF MANY TO HONOR THOSE WHO SERVE AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH SUPPORT, AND TO TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION THE VALUE OF FREEDOM AND INSPIRING THEM A COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE IT. HARFORD COUNTY HAS APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILITARY VETERANS. YOU'VE HEARD THAT PROBABLY SEVERAL TIMES. VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES ARE A WAY TO REMEMBER THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND ADD AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY TO WHAT MAY BE REPRESENTED IN THE CLASSROOMS. THE MORNING VETERANS DAY PARADES, CEREMONIES, BREAKFASTS, CLEANINGS OF GRAVE MARKERS AT CEMETERIES AND OTHER EVENTS ARE OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, NOT JUST PART OF OUR HARFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY. VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES ARE A WAY FOR FAMILIES TO SPARK THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE COST OF FREEDOM AND SACRIFICE. WE NOW ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATIONS AND EVENTS. HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS WERE AT THE FOREFRONT LINES DURING THE BIRTH OF THIS NATION. PARTICIPATION IN VETERANS DAY EVENTS IS A WAY TO REMEMBER AND HONOR ALL VETERANS PAST, PRESENT AND TEACH THE NEXT GENERATION. IN CONCLUSION, RONALD REAGAN FAMOUSLY SAID, FREEDOM IS NEVER MORE THAN ONE GENERATION AWAY FROM EXTINCTION. WE DIDN'T PASS IT TO OUR CHILDREN IN THE BLOODSTREAM. THAT MUST BE FOUGHT FOR, PROTECTED AND HANDED FOR THEM TO DO THE SAME. OR ONE DAY WE WILL SPEND OUR SUNSET YEARS TELLING OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN WHAT IT WAS ONCE LIKE IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE WE WERE ONCE FREE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND PLEASE APPROVE THE PROPOSED CALENDAR WITH VETERANS DAY 2026, NOVEMBER 11TH AS A FULL SCHOOL HOLIDAY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS MATTHEW BROWN. I HAVE SOMEONE WHO SERVES HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS AS BOTH A LONG TERM SUB AND SR SUB AND OCCLUSION HELPER. AND I'VE COME TO SPEAK TODAY ON THE STATE OF HVS AS IT IS IN OUR KIND OF PERCEPTION. WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN TO THE QUALITY OF LEADERSHIP, THE QUALITY OF THE CLASSROOMS, AND THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHERS, AND THAT SPEAKS FROM THE IDEA OF A KIND OF A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE OUR BEST INTENTIONS AS FAR AS HELPING THE KIDS IN THIS COUNTY, IN INCREASING THEIR KNOWLEDGE IN THE WORLD AND PREPARING THEM FOR THE WORLD, BUT WE OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL TO HAVE A SENSE OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THOSE WHO SAY, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO RAISE THEIR KIDS, AND THAT IS MAYBE TRUE. WE ARE NOT THEIR PARENTS, BUT WE ARE THEIR EDUCATORS, AND THE JOB WE CARRY IS A HARD JOB. IT'S A JOB THAT NOT MANY WOULD SIGN UP TO DO WILLINGLY. I STARTED TO DO THIS MYSELF FOUR YEARS AGO, BECAUSE I FELT I COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE FUTURE GENERATION AND IMPART THE KNOWLEDGE, EVEN FOR SOMEONE AS YOUNG AS MYSELF, BECAUSE I TOOK THE TIME TO LEARN THAT KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE TEACHERS IN THIS COUNTY INFUSE ME WITH DESIRE TO LEARN. TEACHERS WORKING TO THIS DAY STILL, LIKE MISS ACKERMAN OF MILTON WRIGHT, MR. JAMES MILTON, RIGHT, MR. BLACKBURN USED TO WORK AT BUTLER HIGH SCHOOL. THERE'S MANY TEACHERS THAT ARE ALL IMPACT OUR LIVES AS A RESULT OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO OUR KIDS. AND WE AS A COUNTY ALSO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS. IF WE MAKE A MISTAKE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN OVERSIGHT THAT'S TOTALLY PLAUSIBLE, FOR WE ARE HUMAN. MAYBE WE HAVE SOMEONE GO THROUGH THE CRACKS THAT HAPPENS IN ALL SYSTEMS, FOR NO SYSTEM IS PERFECT, AND WE OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO BE WILLING TO SAY, HEY, WE MIGHT HAVE MADE THAT MISTAKE, BUT WE WILL CORRECT IT. THEY PUT THE TRUST OF US TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN EVERY DAY FOR 180 DAYS. WE SEE THEIR CHILDREN MORE, MORE THAN THEY DO IN ANY GIVEN YEAR. FOR FOUR YEARS, MAYBE UP TO 17 YEARS. AND I SPEAK TODAY AND SAY THAT I TRUST THE SYSTEM, EVEN FROM THE OUTSIDE GOING IN AND NOW WORKING IN FOUR YEARS LATER, AND I BELIEVE IT'S OUR DUTY THAT IF PEOPLE BELIEVE THE SYSTEM IS FAILING, FALLING APART, OR JUST NO LONGER GOOD FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, THEN IT'S UP TO US TO RE-INSTILL THAT TRUST. AND I PRETEND TO DO THAT FROM WORKING WITHIN AND MAKING SURE EVERY DAY THAT I GO TO WORK, I IMPROVE THE LIVES AND QUALITIES OF ALL STUDENTS AND [00:30:01] STAFF. AND I SAY TODAY THAT THERE IS TRUST STILL WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THE BOARD. THERE IS STILL TRUST FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT TO INSTILL THAT TRUST AND GROW IT, NURTURE IT, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE BICKERING WARS OF PETTINESS, OF LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, LACK OF UNDERSTANDING AND HONESTY. WORRY FOR THEIR KIDS BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THEY HAVE IS THEIR KIDS. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, AND I HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT. NOT ONLY HIS CAPACITY AS A SUBSTITUTE, BUT YOUR FUTURE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JACKIE JOHNSON, CHRISTINA LEONARD AND VIRAJ SINGH. HARFORD COUNTY HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY. FIRST, MANY DAMAGING SITUATIONS HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR SCHOOLS, ALL UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DOCTOR BOLSIN, THE MOST RECENT BEING THE FELLOW HIRED AS A TEACHER'S AIDE WHO WAS IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THE WEEK AND SERVING TIME IN PRISON ON THE WEEKENDS FOR FELONY CHARGES. WHEN QUESTIONED BY CHRIS PABST ON WBFF FOX 45, DOCTOR BOLSIN LOOKED LIKE A DEER CAUGHT IN THE HEADLIGHTS. PRESIDENT BOYNTON MADE IT WORSE BY JUMPING IN AND TRYING TO COVER FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. IN RESPONSE TO THE INTERVIEW, THE SUPERINTENDENT PUT OUT A VIDEO THAT APPEARED TO BE THROWING HIS ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE BUS. DO YOU, THE BOARD OF ED MEMBERS, WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE UNDER THIS TYPE OF LEADER AND EVENTUALLY BE TOSSED ASIDE WHEN THE HEAT IS TURNED UP FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THE STUDENTS? I URGE EACH OF YOU TO NOT RENEW DOCTOR BOLTON'S CONTRACT. SECOND, ACCORDING TO A GROUP OF 61 MULTIPLE CREDENTIALED DOCTORS, BIOTECHNOLOGIST AND NEUROSCIENTIST WITH THE NIH AND THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE, THEY TERMED ADOLESCENTS TO BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 10 TO 24. THEY USED THE TERM PLASTICITY AS SIGNIFICANT NEURONAL CHANGES IN THE BRAIN DURING ADOLESCENCE, LEADING THEM TO LEARN AND ADAPT. HOWEVER, THEY NOTED, IT ALSO INCREASES VULNERABILITY TOWARD MAKING IMPROPER DECISIONS BECAUSE THE BRAIN'S REGION SPECIFIC NEURO CIRCUITRY REMAINS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THUS MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO THINK CRITICALLY AND RATIONALLY BEFORE MAKING COMPLEX DECISIONS WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF THESE 61 EXPERTS, IT IS EVIDENT THAT STUDENTS ARE INCAPABLE OF MAKING LIFE ALTERING AND IRREVERSIBLE DECISIONS SUCH AS GENDER TRANSITIONING, THAT IS APPARENTLY BEING ENCOURAGED AND ENDORSED UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DOCTOR BOATSWAIN'S HIRING PRACTICES. ANOTHER REASON TO NOT RENEW HIS CONTRACT. AND A REMINDER, 2026 IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR EVERY BOARD OF ED DISTRICT. EACH CANDIDATE IS BOLD AND UNAFRAID TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE EVILS AND CORRUPTION IN OUR SCHOOLS AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. THEY ARE EDUCATED, WELL-SPOKEN, AND DEVOTED TO MAKE HC GREAT AGAIN. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK 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 HIGH 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, TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS. THEY'RE 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. YOU REALLY WANT THEM TO SUCCEED. THIS IS HORRIFYING AND I STILL CAN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND ANYONE WANTING THIS IN A VULNERABLE CHILD'S HANDS. IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE EVILS, OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT EVEN GETTING THEIR BASIC EDUCATION. MATH AND READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS ARE STILL AT BASEMENT LEVELS AND FAR FROM ACCEPTABLE. FOR THESE AND MANY OTHER REASONS, I CALL UPON THE BOARD NOT TO RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. DOCTOR OLSON HAS HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO GET OUR STUDENTS BACK ON TRACK, YET THE STUDENTS ARE NOT NOW NOT ONLY CONTINUE TO PERFORM POORLY ACADEMICALLY, BUT ARE BEING EXPOSED TO, TO SAY THE LEAST, AGE INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS AND CURRICULUM, AND AT WORST ARE BEING SEXUALLY GROOMED. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, 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 IS NOT POSSIBLE. FIRSTLY, THE CHILDREN HAVE FREE READING TIME DURING WHICH THEY CAN CHOOSE ANY BOOK OFF THE LIBRARY SHELF, AND PARENTS ARE NOT THERE AND THEY HAVE NO WAY OF [00:35:03] KNOWING WHAT THE BOOKS ARE. REGARDING TRANSPARENCY, PARENTS, AND AT LEAST SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE BARRED FROM ACCESSING THE CURRICULUM, THE LESSON PLANS, AND ALL THAT IS PLANNED FOR THE CHILDREN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THE SCHOOLS WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIDDEN, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD BE FULL TRANSPARENCY. FOR THE ABOVE REASONS, I CALL AGAIN FOR THE BOARD NOT TO RENEW DOCTOR OLSON'S CONTRACT. WE NEED FRESH BLOOD, PREFERABLY A LOCAL RESIDENT WITH DEEP TIES TO THIS COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM ANOTHER COUNTY TO GET HERE. REGARDING INCREASING SMALL BOARD OF ED VOTING RIGHTS AS REASONS THAT STUDENTS CANNOT VOTE. CAN I GET A TATTOO? CANNOT DRIVE A RENTAL? GO IN JURY DUTY, SIGN A LEGAL CONTRACT, ETC. THE FRONTAL LOBE IS NOT FULLY FORMED UNTIL 25 TO 30 YEARS OF AGE. WE WOULD LIKE FULL OF ADULTS OF AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD TO BE VOTING ON ANYTHING ON THIS BOARD. OUR CHILDREN'S WELFARE DEPENDS ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS IDEA. OUR HOMESCHOOLED GRANDCHILDREN ARE PROTECTED, BUT WE CONTINUE TO COME HERE AND FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO ARE TRAPPED IN THIS SYSTEM. WE APPRECIATE AND APPLAUD THOSE WHO ARE ASSISTING. MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE OUR PARENTS, OUR TEACHERS, AND ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. GOOD EVENING. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE BOARD AGAIN, AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M SPEAKING FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT WHO'S CURRENTLY TAKING BOTH IB AND AP COURSES, AND I SEE EVERY DAY HOW THE SCHOOL CALENDAR AFFECTS THE WAY THESE CLASSES ARE TAUGHT AND HOW STUDENTS EXPERIENCE THEM ACROSS THE COUNTY. IT'S CLEAR THAT MORE STUDENTS ARE CHOOSING RIGOROUS ACADEMIC PATHS AS ENROLLMENT IN AP, IB, AND DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW. I'M A PART OF THAT GROUP, AND THESE COURSES REQUIRE CAREFUL PACING AND LONG TERM PLANNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO AS MY OR EXCUSE ME. SO FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT IN THESE CLASSES, A STUDENT START DATE DEFINITELY MAKES A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE. IB COURSES INVOLVE INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS AND MAJOR PROJECTS THAT STRETCH ACROSS MAJOR MONTHS, WITH OTHER EXAMS THAT HAVE FIXED DATES AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY. AP COURSES BUILD TOWARDS EXAMS WITH FIXED SPRING DATES STARTING EARLIER. GIVES TIME TO TEACHERS TO COVER MORE CONTENT AT AN APPROPRIATE PACE, AND GIVES STUDENTS MORE TIME TO OBSERVE MATERIAL INSTEAD OF FEELING RUSHED LATER IN THE YEAR. AN EARLIER START DATE ALSO HELPS STUDENTS MANAGE WORKLOAD MORE EFFECTIVELY AS BALANCING IB EXAMS, DEADLINES, AP EXAM PREPARATION AND IN SOME CASES, DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES ALIGN WITH THE HCC CALENDAR CAN BE CHALLENGING. HAVING MORE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME EARLY IN THE YEAR REDUCES PRESSURE AS DEADLINES APPROACH AND HELPS KEEP HELPS KEEP EXPECTATIONS MANAGEABLE FOR BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. IT ALSO PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY WHEN DISRUPTIONS HAPPEN, AS WEATHER CLOSURES, TESTING SCHEDULES, AND OTHER INTERRUPTIONS ARE OBVIOUSLY A PART OF ANY SCHOOL YEAR. WHEN THE CALENDAR STARTS EARLIER, THERE IS MORE ROOM TO ADJUST WITHOUT CUTTING INTO INSTRUCTION OR COMPRESSING ALREADY DEMANDING COURSEWORK. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR CONTINUING TO OFFER THESE AP IB DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES, AS THESE PROGRAMS CERTAINLY CHALLENGE STUDENTS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO COLLEGE LEVEL THINKING AND HELP US PREPARE FOR WHAT COMES AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AS A STUDENT DIRECTLY BENEFITING FROM THESE PROGRAMS, I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT BEHIND THEM. AS THIS POPULATION OF STUDENTS CONTINUES TO GROW, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE SCHOOL CALENDAR SUPPORTS THE STRUCTURE AND DEMANDS OF THESE COURSES. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS BOTH AN IB AND AP STUDENT, AN EARLIER START DATE WOULD BE BETTER TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND PREPARATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERING STUDENT PERSPECTIVES AND DECISION. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE NEIL THOMPSON, KAREEM WALLACE, AND TEHREEM ZAHID. GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS AND DOCTOR POLSON. MY NAME IS NEIL THOMPSON AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY VALUES. BOARD MEMBER MARK CORN AND COMMENTS PUBLISHED IN THE NOVEMBER 16TH ISSUE OF THE BALTIMORE SUN STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY VALUES. HE IS QUOTED AS SAYING, THE JOB OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TO REFLECT THE VALUES OF THE COMMUNITY. SO LET'S LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN THE BOARD SENT OUT ITS NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL NOVEMBER 13TH MEETING HELD TO DISCUSS AND VOTE ON HOW TO RESPOND TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S DECISION TO REVERSE THE BOARD'S BANNING OF THE BOOK. FLAMER PUBLIC INPUT WAS INVITED BY FILING A FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION LEARNED THAT 200 COMMUNITY MEMBERS SENT IN WRITTEN COMMENTS OF THAT NUMBER, 17 SUPPORTED HAVING THE BOARD TAKE ACTION TO OPPOSE THE STATE DECISION. 177 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ASKED THE BOARD TO ACCEPT THE STATE'S DECISION. SIX RESPONSES WERE INCOMPLETE. THE REASONS GIVEN BY THE 177 RESPONDENTS INCLUDED AVOIDING THE EXPENSE [00:40:06] OF LAWYERS AND LITIGATION IN THE CASE, WHICH YOUR OWN BOARD ATTORNEY SAID HAD LESS THAN A 20% CHANCE OF WINNING OPPOSING BOOK BANS. IN GENERAL, SUPPORTING THE PROFESSIONALS IN OUR DISTRICT AND FOLLOWING MARYLAND LAW, THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT OVER FOUR MEETINGS THIS FALL WERE MUCH OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT CENTERED AROUND THE BOOK BAN. ISSUE 33 PEOPLE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF REMOVING FLAVOR, 120 SPOKE IN FAVOR OF KEEPING IT. I AM ALSO PRESENTED A PETITION TONIGHT SIGNED BY 216 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WHICH STATES, I AM A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT. I OPPOSE THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION'S BAN ON THE AWARD WINNING BOOK FLAMER FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT LIBRARIES. ALSO, A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS DID NOT SUPPORT REMOVING THE BOOK OR OPPOSING THE STATE BOARD'S DECISION. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR OPPOSITION TO BOOK BANNING. TO THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BOOK BANNING, I ASK YOU LISTEN TO YOUR OWN COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. MY NAME IS KAREEM WALLACE AND I'M A SENIOR WITHIN EDGEWOOD'S IB PROGRAM. EVEN THOUGH THE PROPOSED POLICIES WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT ME, AS THIS IS MY LAST YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON HOW THE SCHOOL CALENDAR AFFECTS RIGOROUS COURSES SUCH AS IB THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT AND FUND THE IB PROGRAM. THE COURSES WITHIN THE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE AND CHALLENGING STUDENTS LIKE MYSELF NOT ONLY TO THINK CRITICALLY, BUT ALSO TO MANAGE AND DISTRIBUTE THEIR TIME RESPONSIBLY, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLIER START TIMES. IB CLASSES IN THEIR NATURE ARE TAUGHT DELIBERATIVELY. MUCH OF THE WORK IS CUMULATIVE, ALONG WITH IMPORTANT COMPONENTS SUCH AS OUR EXTENDED ESSAYS BEING CUMULATIVE AS WELL. FURTHERMORE, NECESSARY EXAMS FOR OUR DIPLOMA, SUCH AS OUR EXTERNAL EXAMS, HAVE SET DATES WHICH AN EARLIER START TIME COULD AID IN THE PROCESS OF STUDYING AND PREPARING FOR THESE EXAMS. STARTING EARLY CAN ALSO HELP WITH THE HEAVY WORKLOAD OF THE PROGRAM. IN IB, DEADLINES TEND TO CLUSTER IN THE WINTER AND SPRING TIME, AND WHEN THE YEAR BEGINS LATER, THAT PRESSURE INCREASES AND PUSHES MULTIPLE ASSIGNMENTS INTO A SHORTER WINDOW. AN EARLIER START AND EARLIER START HELPS SPREAD OUT THE WORKLOAD, WHICH AIDS IN MAKING SUCH A RIGOROUS PROGRAM ACHIEVABLE FOR STUDENTS. AS MORE STUDENTS FILTER THROUGH DIFFICULT PROGRAMS IN OUR COUNTY, IT IS VITAL THAT THE CALENDAR SUPPORTS AND CONSIDERS HOW THESE COURSES ARE MEANT TO BE TAUGHT AND RECEIVED. AND OBVIOUSLY, ASIDE FROM THE BROADER PROFESSIONAL REASONS AS TO WHY AN EARLIER START DATE WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL WHEN TAKING SNOW DATES AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS INTO ACCOUNT. WHO WANTS TO START THEIR SUMMER IN THE LATER END OF JUNE? THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. COMMITTEE MEMBERS, I HOPE YOU ALL ARE DOING WELL. MY NAME IS ZAHID AND I'M A PROUD JUNIOR MUSLIM AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL. SOME QUICK FUN FACTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OUT OF THE MANY ABOUT MYSELF IS THAT I'M A MEMBER OF MANY ORGANIZATIONS AT MY SCHOOL. I STARTED AND CREATED MY OWN WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION, AND I'M ALSO JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANTED TO RAISE MY CONCERNS REGARDING THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. I BELIEVE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHOULD PRIORITIZE THE RECOGNITION OF EAGLE FEATHER ON THE CALENDAR. AS AN OFFICIAL SCHOOL HOLIDAY IN HARFORD COUNTY, EAGLE FEATHER IS ONE OF TWO IMPORTANT HOLIDAY CELEBRATED BY MUSLIMS. IT MARKS THE END OF RAMADAN, A MONTH OF GIVING, PRAYER AND REFLECTION. IT'S THE DAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL YEAR. THE SAME EXCITEMENT MANY STUDENTS FEEL WAKING UP ON THEIR HOLIDAY. THE ANTICIPATION, THE EXCITEMENT, THE HAPPINESS. THAT IS HOW IT FEELS TO US. FOR ME, THIS IS BOTH A PERSONAL AND A BROAD COMMUNITY CONCERN. FOR YEARS NOW, I HAVE WOKEN UP ON THE DAY OF EID, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DAYS OF MY FAITH, AND FELT DEEP EMOTIONS OF JOY AND HAPPINESS. JOY BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL DAYS OF MY FAITH AND HEAVINESS. BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS, I'M STRESSED ABOUT MISSING ASSIGNMENTS, TESTS, AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF BEING ABSENT AS EACH AS EACH DAY WENT BY IN THE REPETITIVE CYCLE OF HOPE AND DISAPPOINTMENT, I MADE A PROMISE TO MYSELF THAT ONE DAY I WOULD SPEAK UP AND WORK TO CHANGE THAT. AS I GREW OLDER, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT I AM NOT ALONE ANYMORE. OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN HARFORD COUNTY HAS GROWN AND IS GROWING RAPIDLY. WE ARE STUDENTS, ATHLETES, TEACHERS, CLUB OFFICERS, DOCTORS, LEADERS, AND EVEN CLASS PRESIDENTS. WE CONTRIBUTE TO HTTPS IMMENSELY AND ARE [00:45:05] PROUD OF WHO WE ARE. PRIORITIZING THE RECOGNITION OF EID WOULD SHOW THAT HTTPS IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING AND TREATING STUDENTS WITH RESPECT. THIS STEP WOULD NOT ONLY SUPPORT MUSLIMS TODAY, BUT WOULD SET A LASTING EXAMPLE OF EQUITY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. RECOGNIZING EDE WOULD NOT JUST BE A POLICY CHANGE, IT WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL STEP TOWARDS SHOWING THAT HE CARES ABOUT ALL OF ITS STUDENTS, NOT JUST IN WORDS, BUT IN ACTIONS. AND I REQUEST YOU TO TAKE US INTO CONSIDERATION AND CREATE A CALENDAR THAT SUPPORTS AND REFLECTS ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT PAGE. THAT'S ALL THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE VIRTUAL SPEAKERS. AT THIS TIME. WE WILL ADMIT PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 366, SIX. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALREADY IN THE LOBBY. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT AND STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES, AND YOU'LL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. SO PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 366, SIX. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. GARY JOHNSON, SUPERINTENDENT BOSTON HAS FACED SCRUTINY LATELY REGARDING ISSUES OF SCHOOL SAFETY. THESE INCLUDE ACTS OF STUDENT VIOLENCE, THE FAILURE OF STAFF TO REPORT SUCH ACTS, THE FAILURE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE, AND THEIR FAILURE TO ENSURE OUR STUDENT SAFETY. KAYLA HAMILTON WAS MURDERED IN JULY OF 2022 BY WALTER MARTINEZ, A 19 YEAR OLD ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND MS. 13 MEMBER FROM EL SALVADOR. HE BOUND HER, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER AND STRANGLED HER. DESPITE THIS, MARTINEZ WAS ALLOWED TO ENROLL AS A HARFORD COUNTY STUDENT EVEN AFTER HE HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH THE CRIME. HE SAID, WELL, IT'S NOT OUR FAULT. HE WAS OKAYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE SERVICES. THUS, THE FIRST OF MANY BUCKS GETS PASSED IN APRIL OF 2023. AN ABERDEEN PRINCIPAL AND PARAEDUCATOR WERE CHARGED WITH FAILURE TO REPORT A STUDENT RAPE. THE FACTS ARE WITHOUT DISPUTE, BUT THE CHARGES HAD TO BE DROPPED DUE TO A LOOPHOLE IN STATE LAW. AN ARBITRATOR SAID THAT THE PRINCIPAL SHOULD LOSE HER JOB, BUT A JUDGE OVERRULED THAT THIS DESPICABLE PRINCIPAL WANTS HER JOB BACK, AND SHE WILL PROBABLY GET IT IN SEPTEMBER 2024, A TRAGIC SHOOTING OCCURRED AT JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL. A 16 YEAR OLD STUDENT SHOT AND KILLED A 15 YEAR OLD IN A SCHOOL BATHROOM. IT HAD BEEN SAID THAT STUDENTS ROAMED FREELY IN THE HALLWAYS OF JOPPATOWNE. ONE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SECURITY ISSUES WERE FREQUENTLY BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FRONT OFFICE, BUT THAT SELDOM WAS ANYTHING DONE TO ADDRESS THEM. A LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER WAS HIRED BY CPS IN DECEMBER OF 2024. THIS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT HE WAS AWAITING TRIAL AT THAT TIME ON CHARGES OF TAX EVASION AND OVERTIME THEFT WHILE WORKING FOR BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS. THIS INDIVIDUAL PLED GUILTY TO THE CHARGES, BUT HE WASN'T FIRED. INSTEAD, HE WAS ALLOWED TO RESIGN AND THAT ONLY AFTER A LARGE PUBLIC OUTCRY. AS IF THIS WEREN'T ENOUGH, A SCHOOL AIDE WAS HIRED TO WORK AT EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DESPITE HAVING BEEN PREVIOUSLY CHARGED BY THE FBI WITH 19 COUNTS OF THEFT AND A GUN CONVICTION, HE WAS SERVING TIME IN JAIL ON THE WEEKENDS, YET WAS STILL ALLOWED TO KEEP HIS JOB AT EDGEWOOD. SEAN OLSON HAS ADDRESSED SUCH SCANDALS,DGIN HIS PART. INSTEAD, HE TOOK SHELTER BEHIND THE PROCESS AND THEN THREW HIS STAFF UNDER THE BUS. HE ARRIVED IN HARFORD COUNTY, PUSHING A DESTRUCTIVE DEI POLICY. IF DEI MEANT DON'T EXCUSE INCOMPETENCE, THEN I'D BE ALL FOR IT. DO NOT EXTEND HIS CONTRACT ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON ANY ISSUE REGARDING THE SPENDING OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. THEY ARE NOT YET OF AGE TO VOTE AND THEY HAVE NEVER PAY PROPERTY TAXES. AS STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES, THEY SHOULD QUIETLY OBSERVE AND LEARN HOW THE SCHOOL BOARD WORKS. LEARNING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING A VOICE AT THE SCHOOL BOARD. SCHOOL BOARD. STOP CODDLING THESE CHILDREN. PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 8705. YOU ARE NOW BEING ADMITTED INTO THE BOARD MEETING. PLEASE BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU'LL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. SO AGAIN, PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 8705. YOU WILL HAVE TO UNMUTE YOUR PHONE AND PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 8705. YOU MAY HAVE TO DIAL STAR SIX TO UNMUTE YOURSELF. PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 8705. I BELIEVE WE CAN HEAR YOU NOW, SO PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR TIME WILL BEGIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR HELP. THIS IS CHRISTINE BOWERS. I AM EXPERIENCING SOME CONFUSION. I [00:50:06] HEAR THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO TRUST THE EXPERTS, AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT I SHOULD TRUST THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD WITH FULL VOTING RIGHTS. THESE SEEM AT ODDS TO ME. LET'S SEE. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT A STUDENT HASN'T REACHED THE LEGAL VOTING AGE OF 18 BEFORE BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. CALL ME CRAZY, BUT SHOULDN'T OBTAINING A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BE A PREREQUISITE FOR MAKING DECISIONS ON TOPICS SUCH AS THE BUDGET THAT CAN AFFECT THAT DO AFFECT EVERY SINGLE HOUSEHOLD IN THE COUNTY? AND YES, I DO REALIZE THAT A STUDENT MEMBER IS ELECTED TO THAT POSITION BY THEIR PEERS, THE MAJORITY OF WHOM ARE ALSO UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND NONE OF WHICH HAVE EARNED A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. I HAVE WITNESSED SOME STUDENT MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN ARTICULATE, INTELLIGENT, CHARISMATIC, BUT EXPERTS IN AREAS CONCERNING CURRICULUM BUDGET. THAT'S FAR FETCHED. I CAN APPRECIATE THE STUDENT MEMBER OFFERING A VOICE FOR THE STUDENT BODY TO THE BOARD. HOWEVER, THE STUDENT MEMBER SHOULD VALUE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THEIR MENTORS AND TO TAKE THIS EXPERIENCE TO THEIR CAREER PATH. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE A ROLE IN CASTING VOTES ON IMPORTANT MATTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. MISS PAIGE. [Board Member Comments] THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS. I'M GOING TO START WITH THOSE THAT ARE VIRTUAL, AND I'LL START WITH MR. SEWELL. THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAFF THAT HELPED PREPARE OUR SCHOOLS FOR THE SCHOOL DAY TODAY BY CLEARING SIDEWALKS AND PARKING LOTS. THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF AREA THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED, SALTED AND MADE SAFE FOR EVERYONE TO WALK AND DRIVE. AND I KNOW THAT OUR STAFF FROM MANY DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS PITCHED IN AND WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU TO THE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STAFF WHO HELP WITH THIS EFFORT. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STUDENTS WHO SPOKE TO US TONIGHT ABOUT THE CALENDAR. I AM HUMBLED BY YOUR DEDICATION TO ENSURING THE STUDENT VOICE IS HEARD. I SUPPORT THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED CALENDAR, AS IT WILL ENSURE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND TAKE STRAIN OFF OF BOTH STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO MUST GET THROUGH VERY CHALLENGING HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMICS. ADDITIONALLY, IT ALLOWS FOR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE WHEN TAKING STANDARDIZED STATE TESTING. THEIR RESULTS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS, BUT A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I ALSO SUPPORT A FULL WEEK OFF FOR SPRING BREAK AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN JUNE. I HOPE OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT KEEP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM RUNNING LIKE A VERY WELL OILED MACHINE EVERY DAY, HAVE A WONDERFUL, RESTFUL, REJUVENATING HOLIDAY BREAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. KORN. DO YOU STILL ONLINE? I CAN'T SEE HIM. HOLD ON. YES. NO, I DON'T SEE HIM. I DON'T SEE HIM. LAUREN. HE'S. I SEE HIM ONLINE. HE'S HE'S ONLINE. ARE YOU THERE? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL COME BACK TO HIM, MISS BRUCE. YES. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. PLEASE EXCUSE MY PHYSICAL ABSENCE. I'M STILL EXPERIENCING SOME HEALTH CHALLENGES, BUT HOPEFULLY BY THE FIRST OF THE YEAR SHOULD BE THROUGH THE WORST OF IT. I DO WANT TO EXTEND. HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND PEACE TO ALL FOR THE COMING YEAR. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. MILTON EAGLE, WHO IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MAB AND WILL BE LEAVING THAT POSITION. I FOUND HIM TO BE VERY SUPPORTIVE FOR ME AND MANY OF THE MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE AT THE BOARD, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WILL. THEY WILL FIND SOMEONE TO CONTINUE IN HIS STEAD AND AND TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT THAT MAB HAS PROVIDED TO ALL OF US. AND THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING, MISS PERRY. THANK YOU. AND I REALLY I'M HAVING A LITTLE ISSUE BECAUSE I JUST LOST MY SISTER, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE STAFF AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. AND I'M STILL, I GUESS, GRIEVING, BUT I THANK [00:55:06] YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT I'VE RECEIVED. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MUELLER. HI. WELL, I HEARD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS TONIGHT AND I JUST WANT TO MENTION THEM. THERE WERE TWO THINGS MENTIONED. ONE IS THAT THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER DOESN'T HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE. BUT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TALK TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO BE SERVING ON THE BOARD. SO I THINK IF THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, YOU SHOULD GO TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS PUT INTO THE LAW AS A QUALIFICATION FOR BOARD MEMBER. THE OTHER ONE IS THAT THEY HAVE TO BE PAYING PROPERTY TAXES AGAIN. I MEAN, EVERYBODY WHO IS WHO HAS A HOME IS PAYING IT, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH TAXES. BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT TREY IS PAYING THEM INDIRECTLY BECAUSE PARENTS ARE PAYING THEM FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN A HOUSE IN THIS COUNTY DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HOME IN ORDER TO RUN FOR OFFICE. CAN A HOMELESS PERSON RUN FOR OFFICE IF THEY'RE NOT PAYING PROPERTY TAXES? DOES THAT AUTOMATICALLY REMOVE THEM FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO RUN FOR AN OFFICE? SO I THINK YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE BEFORE YOU START MAKING BLANKET STATEMENTS LIKE THAT ABOUT OUR STUDENTS. I DO THINK AND I THINK AS AS WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION GO FURTHER, TREY HAD ORIGINALLY SAID THAT IN ORDER TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET, THAT THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH A BUDGET COURSE. THEY DON'T REQUIRE ANYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD TO GO THROUGH A BUDGET COURSE. AND I WOULD ALSO ARGUE THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE ON THE BOARD THAT PROBABLY HAVE NEVER HANDLED A VERY BIG BUDGET. EVEN YOUR HOME BUDGET ISN'T ANYTHING COMPARED TO THE BUDGET OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO MAYBE EVERYBODY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE SOME KIND OF A BUDGET COURSE. BUT HE'S ALREADY BACKED OFF OF THAT. REALLY, THE ONLY VOTING RIGHTS HE'S ASKING FOR AT THIS POINT IS VOTING RIGHTS ON THE CALENDAR. AND YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THAT THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER IS QUITE AFFECTED BY THE BY THE CALENDAR. I DO FIND IT INTERESTING THAT WE ARE NOT TAKING A VOTE ON THE CALENDAR TONIGHT. I THINK IT'S BECAUSE ONE MEMBER COULD NOT BE HERE, BE INVOLVED WITH THE MEETING AND IS WORRIED ABOUT THAT. WHAT THEY WANT WON'T PASS IF THEY'RE NOT HERE TO VOTE ON IT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I AGREE WITH THAT AS BEING WHETHER OR NOT SOMETHING IS ON THE AGENDA. I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THIS PAST WEEK TO VISIT HERTFORD TECH AND TO SEE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S BEEN GOING ON THERE, AND TO LISTEN TO THE STUDENTS AS TO HOW MUCH IT HAS AFFECTED THEM. NOT THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF CONSTRUCTION, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN, BUT THE NEW PAINT, THE NEW CLASSROOMS, THE NEW LIGHTING AND HOW MUCH THAT'S CHANGED THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF THE SCHOOL AND HOW MUCH BETTER THEY FEEL ABOUT BEING THERE AND ABOUT WORKING THERE. I MEAN, WHEN YOU'RE IN A DARK, DINGY ENVIRONMENT, IT CAN AFFECT THE WAY YOU VIEW YOUR EDUCATION. AND SO I DID WANT TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW FROM THE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH THE BUILDING PROJECT THERE, HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE. SO. AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. EVERYBODY. FIRST I JUST WANT TO START OFF BY THANKING MISS MUELLER, DOCTOR MUELLER FOR HER KIND WORDS TONIGHT. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO START OFF WITH BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MY UPCOMING STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MONTHLY MINUTE. THIS IS A SERIES THAT I IS BEING POSTED ON THE HTTPS YOUTUBE EVERY MONTH, AND IS A BRIEF LITTLE MINUTE VIDEO OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE BOARD FROM THE STUDENT'S PERSPECTIVE. SO THAT'S ON YOUTUBE. I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I HAVE VISITED ALMOST 20 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR SO FAR, AND IF YOU WANT TO KEEP UP WITH MY JOURNEY, YOU CAN VISIT OR KEEP UP WITH MY JOURNEY ON VISITING. ALL 55 SCHOOLS IN THE BUILDING ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. FOLLOW ME ON MY INSTAGRAM WHICH IS HTTPS UNDERSCORE SMOB. THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING IS KIND OF POSTED THAT RELATES TO THIS POSITION. NEXT, I WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE CALENDAR I WAS HOPING TO TO. EVEN THOUGH MY VOTE WOULDN'T COUNT ON THE CALENDAR TONIGHT, I WAS HOPING TO CAST A PREFERENTIAL VOTE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN JANUARY, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR STARTING EARLIER IN AUGUST. STATISTICS SHOW THAT THE EARLIER IN AUGUST SCHOOLS START THE BETTER STUDENTS PERFORM ON AP AND IB TESTS. THESE TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED ON THE SAME DAY EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS NEAR THE MIDDLE OF MAY. WELL, AP TESTS ARE ADMINISTERED NEAR THE MIDDLE OF MAY. IF WE START IN SEPTEMBER, STUDENTS ARE LOSING WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION AND IN TURN PERFORMING WORSE ON THESE TESTS. FURTHER, BEGINNING EARLIER IN AUGUST WOULD ALLOW OUR SCHEDULE TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE SCHEDULE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WHICH ALLOWS DUAL ENROLLED STUDENTS TO RECEIVE THEIR LAPTOPS, MATERIALS AND BE IN SCHOOL WHEN THEIR CLASSES START AT THE COLLEGE NEXT. I DIDN'T ORIGINALLY PLAN ON ADDRESSING THIS, BUT I WILL NOW. IN TERMS OF MY VOTING RIGHTS, I AM SEEKING A CHANGE IN THE LAW IN [01:00:03] ORDER TO INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON CALENDAR FOR THE NEXT STUDENT MEMBERS THAT COME AFTER ME. ORIGINALLY MY MY REQUEST HAD BEEN FOR BUDGET, CALENDAR AND CURRICULUM, BUT AFTER SOME FEEDBACK FROM BOTH MY MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, SOME STATE DELEGATES AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY, I'VE DECIDED TO JUST FOCUS MY EFFORTS ON CALENDAR. MY PEERS AND I ARE FORCED TO LIVE WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE BY THIS BOARD, AND THAT WHICH IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER MEMBER THAT SITS WITH ME TODAY. I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS AFFECTED PRETTY MUCH BY THE DECISIONS MADE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND IS A NO BRAINER TO ALLOW THE STUDENT TO VOTE ON THESE CERTAIN TOPICS. AND I WILL END THIS SECTION OF MY COMMENT WITH THE QUESTION WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT STUDENT MEMBER VOTING RIGHTS, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU STEPPED FOOT IN AN HC BUILDING? BECAUSE I DO IT EVERY DAY. OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I'M GOING TO BE EXPLORING INTRODUCING A POLICY THAT WILL REQUIRE A PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE AS A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR COMMUNITY INPUT ON THIS. IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M EXPLORING. NOTHING KIND OF SET IN STONE YET, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT I'M LOOKING INTO AND I THINK IT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY. AND LASTLY, I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT, ESPECIALLY THE STUDENTS. YOUR GUYS'S VOICES ARE HEARD, AND WE TAKE EVERY COMMENT THAT YOU MAKE INTO ACCOUNT. AND WE WE REALLY VALUE YOU GUYS COMING OUT AND SPEAKING. SO THANK YOU ALL AND HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING. I'M GOING TO KEEP MY COMMENTS TO A MINIMUM. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE, AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A REJUVENATING AND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY AND NEW YEAR. SO THANK YOU. HI. THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE STUDENTS THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS TREY SAID, YOUR INSIGHTS ARE ARE MUCH NEEDED, ESPECIALLY FOR A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN A FEW GENERATIONS REMOVED FROM SECONDARY EDUCATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE GETTING THE INSIGHTS THAT YOU BRING, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP SHOWING UP. SO MY EFFORTS ON THE BOARD AND MY VOTE AND MY POSITION HAVE ALL COME FROM YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY AS MY ROLE AS A MENTOR, WHERE I MENTORED INDIVIDUALS COMING IN FROM COLLEGE THAT BROUGHT NEW INSIGHTS INTO OUR WORK COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE IT, THEIR INPUT AND WORKING WITH THEM TO LEARN FROM THEM. SO, YOU KNOW, THE GENERATIONAL TRANSFERENCE OF INFORMATION AND SUPPORT OF ONE ANOTHER IS IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT ONE OF MY MENTEES ACTUALLY HAS HER PHD, AND I'M THE MOTHER OF TWO ADULT CHILDREN, SO I KNOW THE SUCCESSES AND THE FAILURES THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THEIR EDUCATION AND MY OWN EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THAT HAS CONTINUED TO THIS DAY, BECAUSE I AM, I BELIEVE, IN LIFELONG EDUCATION, AND THAT NOW I WANT TO TURN MY COMMENTS TO ANOTHER EMBARRASSMENT THAT WE HAVE SUFFERED RECENTLY. YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD HAS ESTABLISHED A CLEAR PRIORITY THAT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS AMONG OUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES. AND LAST MEETING, WE VOTED THAT WE WOULD WORK WITH STATE OFFICIALS AND COUNTY OFFICIALS TO OBTAIN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE NEED FOR OUR PERIMETER SECURITY AND KEEP TO KEEP IT UP TO DATE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT HAVE PROVIDED SOME SUGGESTIONS. AND I'VE BEEN ASSURED BY OUR LEADERSHIP THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE LATEST ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN SURFACED, BUT I HAVE NOT BEEN PROVIDED ANY INFORMATION ON THE RESOLUTION TO THIS MATTER. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS CONTAINED IN A PUBLIC STATEMENT. THE STATEMENT AS AS I HEARD IT STATES THAT WE HAVE PROTECTION SYSTEMS ALREADY IN PLACE. SO WHAT HAPPENED? YOU KNOW, IT'S EASY TO POINT THE FINGERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OLD SAYING GOES, POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW. SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BE MORE THAN WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE SYSTEMS. AND IT WAS OUT OF OUR CONTROL. WE NEED MORE INFORMATION. SO HOPEFULLY SOME MORE INFORMATION WILL BE COMING FORWARD. BUT I WANT TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT I THAT WAS IN MY PLATFORM. I AM AN ELECTED BOARD MEMBER ON THE BOARD. I DID WIN WIN THIS POSITION BY THE VOTE OF THE PUBLIC. AND ONE OF MY PILLARS THAT I RAN ON WAS [01:05:01] SAFETY. AND I STILL HOLD THAT AS ONE OF MY HIGHEST PRIORITIES. AND THEN I DID WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE FLAMER BOOK. I I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS STATISTICS CAME FROM. THAT CAME FROM THE PUBLIC COMMENT. I RAN THE STATISTICS. I'M AN ENGINEER AND I DID DATA SCIENCE FOR A CAREER, AND I DIDN'T LOOK AT EVERY ITERATION OF EVERY ARGUMENT BY THE PUBLIC. BUT I LOOKED AT THE INITIAL NUMBERS AND BASICALLY IT WAS A TIE WITH A FEW PEOPLE SAYING, AND I HAVE THE NUMBERS, I CAN SHARE THEM WITH YOU, WITH A FEW PEOPLE ACTUALLY SUPPORTING MORE, A FEW MORE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE REMOVAL OF FLAMER, AND I HAVE MY SPREADSHEET. I WOULD BE GLAD TO SHOW IT TO YOU IF YOU WOULD SHOW ME YOURS. AND THEN LASTLY, I KNOW THE SCHOOL CALENDAR WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE OF OF THE COMMENTS, BUT I DID WANT TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BROUGHT UP IN IN PUBLIC COMMENT PRIMARILY. SO LET ME JUST EXTRACT, SEE IF I CAN PUT THIS DOWN TO KIND OF CLOSE MY COMMENTS OUT. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY. YOU KNOW, AI WAS BROUGHT UP AS WELL. I DON'T KNOW WHY WE CAN'T. WE TALKED ABOUT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, WHY WE CAN'T COME UP WITH AN ALGORITHM ALGORITHM THAT CREATES SOME CRITERIA THAT MEETS THE STATE MANDATES, AS WELL AS PRIORITIZES ACADEMICS AND CREATES A CALENDAR FOR US. WHY WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF OF TRYING TO APPROVE A CALENDAR, WHICH SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT GENERATED FROM SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS, THAT YOU KNOW IT. THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORT PUT INTO PUTTING THE CALENDAR TOGETHER. BUT REALLY, DO WE NEED ALL OF THAT EFFORT? WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON THE THINGS THAT MATTER, THE THINGS THAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES. LIKE ACADEMICS, WE COULD EASILY DEVELOP AN ALGORITHM. AND I CHALLENGE YOU YOUNG CHILDREN IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, COMPUTER SCIENTISTS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, IN HAVRE DE GRACE COME UP WITH AN ALGORITHM SO THAT WE CAN GET A CALENDAR THAT'S NOT BASED ON SOME SPECIAL INTEREST AGENDA. AND I WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE WITH WISHING EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, A GREAT SEASON OF JOY. AND I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND WITH THEIR WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO DENISE BECAUSE I'M I HAVE ALSO SUFFERED GREAT LOSSES THIS YEAR IN IN THE LOSS OF MEMBERS. AND THIS TIME OF YEAR IS IS A TIME WHERE ESPECIALLY SOME MAYBE OLDER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUFFERED LOSSES COULD USE A HUG. SO MAKE SURE YOU CALL YOUR GRANDMOTHER. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, I WANT TO START OFF MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING BY RECOGNIZING THE MARIGOLD MOSAICS FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. THE NOVEMBER MARIGOLDS ARE ALL FROM FACILITIES, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO JAMIE SENSE, DAVE O'NEILL, AND STEVE BARLOW. THE DECEMBER MARIGOLDS ARE UNDER THE CATEGORY OF ESP AND SUBSTITUTE, SO SHERRI DOWELL PARAEDUCATOR AT NORTH HARFORD. MIDDLE NOEL, FIRST SECRETARY AT DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY. MARK COMPTON, SUBSTITUTE AT EDGEWOOD MIDDLE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR BEING THE MARIGOLDS SELECTIONS. SO AS WE APPROACH THIS HOLIDAY AND CHRISTMAS SEASON, I WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR DEDICATION, CARE, AND HARD WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, AND I HOPE THAT YOU ARE TRULY ABLE TO ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED TIME OF REST AND REFLECTION. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR FAMILIES, STUDENTS, CAREGIVERS, CAREGIVERS. YOUR PARTNERSHIP, TRUST, AND ADVOCACY ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND WE VALUE YOUR VOICES. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO ACCOUNTABILITY AND OPENNESS. WHEN CONCERNS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD, THEY DESERVE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, REVIEWED THOUGHTFULLY, AND ADDRESSED THROUGH A CLEAR AND RESPECTFUL PROCESS. WORKING TOWARDS SOLUTIONS THAT KEEP STUDENTS BEST INTERESTS AT THE CENTER. THANK YOU TO OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT, AND I WISH EVERYONE A SAFE, RESTFUL, AND JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. I'M SORRY. YES, OKAY, SORRY, THIS IS MORE QUICK. I JUST I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY AND APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE IN PERSON, BUT THIS LATE START TODAY. I DO WANT TO BRING A COUPLE OF THINGS TO THE TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION. I'M A [01:10:01] LITTLE BIT FRUSTRATED AS AS AS THE PUBLIC KNOWS, I'VE STOOD FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF TRANSPARENCY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS COME TO PASS IS THE ENGAGEMENT OF RT ONE OR RTI INTERNATIONAL FOR THE USE OF AI IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND IT. I BELIEVE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CONTRACT JUST WENT UNDER THE AMOUNT NECESSARY FOR BOARD APPROVAL. I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT RT ONE INTERNATIONAL WAS DEEMED TO BE GROUND ZERO BY DOGE AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AS GROUND ZERO FOR FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE WE'VE PARTNERED WITH TO IMPLEMENT AI IN THE SCHOOLS. IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD VOTED ON. IT'S BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF. THEY CAN DO THEIR OWN RESEARCH. THEY CAN LOOK AT THE NEWS AND OBSERVER. IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S A SECRET WITH RESPECT IN THE IN THE PUBLIC EYE OR WITHIN THE MEDIA. BUT THAT'S THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OUGHT TO BE RUN. WE NEED TO BE RUNNING A SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE THERE IS TRANSPARENCY. I ALSO JUST WANT TO SPEAK TO WHAT HAPPENED AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS A LAST MINUTE ADDITION FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING WITH RESPECT TO SECURITY IN THE SCHOOL. AND I DON'T THINK ANY REASONABLE PERSON OR ANY REASONABLE BOARD MEMBER WOULD, YOU KNOW, DECLINE THE, YOU KNOW, FUNDS FOR QUOTE UNQUOTE, ADDITIONAL SECURITY FOR, FOR THE STUDENTS BECAUSE WE ALL CARE ABOUT THE STUDENTS, OTHERWISE WE WOULDN'T BE ON THE BOARD. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THIS PREDATED MY APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. THE SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE FOR RECOGNIZING THE CAMERA SYSTEM, THAT'S RECOGNIZING THE POTENTIAL FOR FOR WEAPONS OR CERTAIN TYPES OF BEHAVIOR IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, TO ME, IS ANOTHER IS ANOTHER WASTEFUL SPENDING BOONDOGGLE. AND THE REASON AND THE YOU KNOW, I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD BECAUSE IT WAS A LAST MINUTE ADDITION TO THE TO THE TO THE AGENDA LAST SESSION WAS SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE IF I HAD A CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING A, AN ARMED PAYING THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO'S OFF DUTY OR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HAVE, LET'S SAY, AN OFFICER, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IN THE MORNING OR IN THE EVENING OR IN THE AFTERNOON IS WHEN THE STUDENTS COME INTO THE SCHOOL OR LEAVE THE SCHOOL, NOT ONLY FOR, FOR. SECURITY PURPOSES. I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING LIKE A POLICE OFFICER THAT CAN DISCOURAGE A POTENTIAL THREAT AND ALSO CREATE A GOOD, GOOD, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH I THINK IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY, ANY SOCIETY AND ESPECIALLY IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO I, YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT RT ONE INTERNATIONAL AS OPPOSED TO THE USE OF THEM IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT'S IT'S BEYOND MY VOTE. IT'S BEYOND ALL OF OUR VOTE, BECAUSE IT WAS JUST UNDER THE AMOUNT REQUISITE FOR FOR A VOTE. THOSE TWO THINGS SAID. AND MY OPINION WITH RESPECT TO THE WASTEFUL SPENDING, AND I WOULD MUCH RATHER SEE THAT MONEY GO TO TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, I'D RATHER SEE TEACHERS GET MORE MONEY THAN THAN SPENDING IT ON SOME ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY THE SOURCE OF, OF I MEAN, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE'S, I MEAN, GROUND ZERO FOR WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. IT DOESN'T GET MORE, YOU KNOW, THE STATEMENT LIKE THAT DOESN'T GET MORE, DOESN'T GET STRONGER. BUT THAT SAID, AND THOSE TWO ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN KIND OF PLAGUING MY MIND OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I DO WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A MERRY CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO, TO TO THOSE WHO CELEBRATE OTHER HOLIDAYS AND AND A SAFE AND HAPPY BREAK. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON. FOR OLD [A. Consent Agenda] BUSINESS. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OLD BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS EVENING. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. SO, MR. RYVICKER, IF YOU WILL READ THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU. NUMBER ONE, MONTHLY PERSONNEL REPORT, NOVEMBER 2025. NUMBER TWO, CONTRACT AWARD, SUPPLEMENTAL CUSTODIAL SERVICES. NUMBER THREE CONTRACT AWARD. MODULAR CLASSROOM BUILDINGS FOR VARIOUS CPS LOCATIONS. NUMBER FOUR FY 2027 LOCAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CIP PRIORITIES NUMBER FIVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS OCTOBER 6TH, OCTOBER 27TH, NOVEMBER 13TH AND NOVEMBER 17TH, 2025. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE [01:15:06] THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE NUMBER TWO, PLEASE, FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION. SO REMOVING NUMBER TWO. MAY I HAVE A MOTION? OKAY. THANK YOU. MARK, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ONE, THREE, FOUR AND FIVE. THIS IS MR. MCVICAR I MOTION. THIS IS MELISSA AND I SECOND. OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY YES. YES YES YES. THOSE OPPOSED. YES. THOSE OPPOSED. PLEASE SAY NO. NO NO'S. HEARD SO 1345 PASS. AND MELISSA I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR [A.2. Contract Award: Supplemental Custodial Services] YOUR QUESTIONS ON NUMBER TWO. SO I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY NOW GIVEN LIGHT TO SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH OUR WITH SOME STAFF MEMBERS. I WANT TO ENSURE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. SORRY. WHEN WE ARE CONTRACTING SOMEONE TO DO THIS JOB, HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THEY'VE HAD A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK? HOW ARE WE ENSURING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'RE PASSING A PHYSICAL AND DRUG TEST, AND WE'RE REQUIRING THEM THE HIGHEST STANDARDS THAT HTTPS ALSO SHOULD BE ABIDING BY AS WELL? SURE. I DON'T I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S ON. HI. KATHY BENDIS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONS. SO WE DO REQUIRE ANY CONTRACTED SERVICE PROVIDER TO MEET OUR SAME STANDARDS FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS. THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE SAME REASONABLE SUSPICION IF THERE WAS ANY CONCERN REGARDING THE DRUG TESTING PIECE AND THE SAME PHYSICALS THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO THAT. THAT GOES FOR ANYONE WHO'S PROVIDING SERVICE TO US THROUGH CONTRACTED SERVICES, JUST LIKE THE BUS CONTRACTORS. SIMILAR SITUATION THAT THEY DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR SAME FINGERPRINTING PROCESS IN THE BACKGROUND CHECK IS HTTPS ACTUALLY DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND THE DRUG TESTS INTERNALLY. SO DRUG TESTING, IF IT WAS REASONABLE SUSPICION, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD TAKE CARE OF. YES. AND THEN SAME THING FOR FINGERPRINTING AND BACKGROUND CHECKS. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO GO ONLINE, DO THE APPOINTMENT JUST LIKE ANYBODY ELSE WOULD IN THE SYSTEM. OKAY. AND THAT APPLIES TO EVERYONE THAT'S COMING INTO OUR BUILDINGS. CORRECT OKAY. I THINK THAT WAS THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAD. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT. WHAT ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ON NUMBER TWO. ALL RIGHT. SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE NUMBER TWO CONTRACT AWARD SUPPLEMENTAL CUSTODIAL SERVICES. THIS IS MELISSA AND I MOVED TO APPROVE NUMBER TWO. SECOND THIS IS DIANE. I'LL SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY YES YES YES YES YES YES. ANY OPPOSED? [B. Decision on Proposed New Board Policy: Administration of Stock Bronchodilators in School, Mr. Joseph Harbert, Director of Health and Wellness] PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. NUMBER TWO PASSES SINCE WE ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. IF EVERYONE'S OKAY I'M JUST GOING TO PUSH THROUGH SINCE WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM AND GO AHEAD AND CALL UP. MR. JOSEPH HERBERT, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS, FOR THE PRESENTATION ON THE NEW BOARD. POLICY, ADMINISTRATION OF STOCK, BRONCHODILATORS IN SCHOOL, BRONCHODILATORS IN SCHOOL. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. I HAVE WITH ME MISS MARIANNA, OUR SUPERVISOR OF HEALTH SERVICES. SHE SHE'LL ADDRESS A COUPLE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP OUT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT PAGE, DOCTOR BOLSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JOE HERBERT. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS. WE COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE INFORMATIONAL REPORT DECISION ON THE PROPOSED BOARD POLICY OF ADMINISTRATION OF STOCK BRONCHODILATORS IN SCHOOL. DURING THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED HOUSE BILL 86 PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS BRONCHODILATOR USE, AVAILABILITY, TRAINING AND POLICIES. THE BILL REQUIRES THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN CONSULTATION WITH COUNTY BOARDS, TO ESTABLISH POLICY AUTHORIZING THE SCHOOL NURSE AND DESIGNATED SCHOOL PERSONNEL WHO HAVE UNDERGONE SPECIFIC TRAINING TO ADMINISTER A BRONCHODILATOR TO A STUDENT WHO IS DETERMINED TO BE OR PERCEIVED TO BE EXPERIENCING ASTHMA RELATED SYMPTOMS, OR IS PERCEIVED TO BE IN RESPIRATORY RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. EXCEPT FOR PREKINDERGARTEN PRE-KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS. THE PROPOSED NEW POLICY WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON OCTOBER 27TH. DURING THE BUSINESS MEETING. THE POLICY WAS POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR 30 DAYS. WE RECEIVED ONE PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS MASUDA [01:20:06] RESPONDED, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT? CERTAINLY. THERE WAS JUST A COMMENT THAT ASKED US TO ELABORATE ON OUR TRAINING. THE TRAINING WAS PROVIDED FOR US BY THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND WE FOLLOWED THAT TRAINING, AND I WAS ABLE TO SEND THE RESPONDER A COPY OF THE TRAINING ITSELF. THE OTHER QUESTION THAT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THAT SAME EMAIL WAS RELATED TO THE ACTUAL POLICY. THE ACTUAL PROCEDURE FOR THIS POLICY, WHICH IS A PART OF OUR NURSE PRACTICE GUIDELINES, IT IS REQUIRING US TO HAVE AN ORDER FROM A PHYSICIAN. WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE MEDICAL DEPUTY OFFICE HEALTH OFFICER FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. GENERALLY, WE DON'T PUBLISH COPIES OF ORDERS FROM PHYSICIANS BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. BUT IN THIS CASE, IT HAPPENS THAT THE ORDER WAS MIMICKING ACTUALLY MIRRORING THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT FOR US. SO WE DID SEND THE STATE ALGORITHM, WHICH ALLOWS NURSES TO GIVE BRONCHODILATORS WHEN THERE ARE EITHER MILD TO MODERATE OR SEVERE SYMPTOMS. SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TO THE PERSON WHO MADE THE REQUEST. ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS. COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. SO NOW I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR THE POLICY TO BE VOTED ON. HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE NEW BOARD POLICY. ADMINISTRATION OF BRONCHODILATORS IN SCHOOLS. THIS IS DIANE. I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE POLICY. THIS IS MELISSA AND I SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES [C. Superintendent's Report] YES YES. OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM C. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOT MUCH TO INCLUDE TODAY. LAST WEEK I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES CONFERENCE, THEIR FALL CONFERENCE. AND WHAT'S PARTICULARLY BENEFICIAL ABOUT ATTENDING THAT IS THAT'S THAT'S REALLY THE LEAD UP TO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING INTO PLACE. AND I THINK A LOT OF CONVERSATION THIS YEAR WAS REALLY AROUND THE FINANCES OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND A LOT OF CONCERNS. I THINK THERE WAS GENERAL AGREEMENT AROUND THAT IN THE ROOM. BUT THAT BEING SAID, IT WAS A IT WAS A GREAT GROUP. A LOT OF HARFORD COUNTY WAS REPRESENTED AS WELL AS MUCH OF THE LEGISLATURE, NOT A TON OF DISCUSSION ABOUT EDUCATION, BUT WE DID HAVE ONE OUTSTANDING PANEL. MISS RIDGEWAY, ALONG WITH THREE OTHER COLLEAGUES, ACTUALLY ONE SUPERINTENDENT AND TWO FOLKS FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT FROM FREDERICK AND CARROLL COUNTIES PRESENTED ON THE BLUEPRINT AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED THERE. AND I THINK THE THE PRESENTATION DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ECHOING THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN SAYING HERE, WHICH ARE THERE ARE MANY SUCCESSES TO BE RECOGNIZED, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE REALLY SIGNIFICANT WORK DONE TO MAKE IT MORE SUSTAINABLE, MAKE IT SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN CONTINUE THE SUCCESSES AND NOT HAVE IT STALL DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING, WHICH. SO WE NEEDED KIND OF A REALISTIC LOOK AT THAT. SO A CONTINUED CALL FOR FOR LEADERSHIP AROUND THAT. BUT MISS RIDGEWAY DID A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING US ON THAT FRONT. SO WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE, PARTICULARLY TO ECHO THE COMMENTS, THOSE WHO HELP PREPARE FOR SNOW DAY OPENINGS OR POST SNOWSTORM OPENINGS. IT IS A GREAT DEAL OF WORK AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IT WAS REALLY COLD OUT THERE AND I WOULD NOT HAVE WANTED TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME OUT THERE AS THEY HAVE TO. BUT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THEM FOR THAT TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS ARE READY TO GO WHEN IT'S TIME TO OPEN. AND AND AS MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID, I HOPE THAT WE HAVE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND HAVE A NICE OPPORTUNITY GOING INTO THE HOLIDAYS TO SEE FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND CATCH THE BREATH ON [Future Meetings Review] THE WORK. WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY BUSY LATELY. SO WITH THAT, I WILL SEE YOU AT OUR NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS ON * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.