Jan 12, 2026 Board Meeting

[Call to Order: Board President]

[00:00:11]

PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON JANUARY 12TH, 2026 AT 6:04 P.M. THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL, MRS. PERRY. HERE, MR. SEWELL. HERE, DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT. MR. MCVICAR PRESENT. MR. KORN. PRESENT. MRS. HAHN. PRESENT. MISS BRUCE. MISS BRUCE, I'M ON THE MARKER. ABSENT BECAUSE I DON'T SEE HER ONLINE. MRS. ALVAREZ. YES, YVONNE. MISS BRUCE, THANK YOU. OKAY. MRS. ALVAREZ, PRESENT. THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT PAGE HERE, DOCTOR DIANE MACH PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. 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 WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE 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 A NO. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU DO HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THAT. WE DISCUSSED AND WE MOVED PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE END. THE POINT OF THAT IS WE HAVE A LIGHT AGENDA, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE OR A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE WHO WANT TO SPEAK, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO CONSTRAIN US. SO I WANTED TO GIVE THE PUBLIC THE TIME, THE THREE MINUTES AND THE FIVE MINUTES AS USUAL. AND SO THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THIS MEETING, THAT WE MOVED IT TO THE END. AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT. THE OTHER THING I MIGHT ASK ON THE AGENDA IS JUST THE MEETING BREAK. IF WE GET THROUGH THE CALENDAR, I THINK THE MEETING BREAK PLACE MAKES SENSE RIGHT BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT. SO I MIGHT ASK THAT WE, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE AT FROM A MEETING BREAK. OTHER THAN THAT, 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 WAIT ON A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. WRITE THE AGENDA PASSES. AND NOW I'LL ASK MR. MCVICKER TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. WE'RE GOING TO START THIS MEETING WITH BOARD COMMENTS. MISS PERRY, I'LL

[Board Member Comments]

[00:05:02]

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I'LL PASS IT. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR OPINION. I AM GOING TO REFRAIN FROM COMMENTING ON ANY OF THE SITUATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO. ONCE EVERYTHING IS CONCLUDED, I WILL THEN MAKE A STATEMENT. AT THAT POINT, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AGAIN AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. YES, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE. I HAVE A MOTION. REQUIRES ME TO BE UP AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING AND HAVING SOME SERIOUS TESTS. BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I HEAR I'VE HEARD COMMENTS AND I HEAR COMMENTS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY SAY I RESERVE MY RIGHT TO ANY DECISION UNTIL ALL OF THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE COMPLETED. I DO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PAMELA SMITH. SHE IS ONE OF HPC'S EMPLOYEES WHO WORKS WITH THE HOMELESS, AND SHE HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE EXECUTIVE.

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO HER AND THANK HER FOR ALL HER SERVICES IN AN AREA THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF HUMILITY AND AND SINCERITY.

SO THANK YOU, PAMELA. ALSO, THE COMMUNITY OF GRACE IS HAVING A MOVIE AT THE THEATER. IT'S IN REFERENCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND IT IS FREE. IT'S ON JANUARY THE 21ST AT 6:00 TO 8:00. AND I WOULD THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS OR KNOW SOMEONE MAY ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE FELLOWSHIP UNITARIAN UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF HARFORD COUNTY IS HAVING A PROGRAM ON THE HOLIDAY. THE 19TH. THE ROLE OF THE US POSTAL SERVICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU. IT'S GOING TO BE HELD AT THE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP CHURCH, 2515 CHURCHVILLE ROAD, CHURCHVILLE, MARYLAND, FROM 11 TO 1:00. YOU CAN YOU CAN ALSO JOIN IN ON ON ZOOM. I WANT TO SAY THAT MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY RIGHT NOW. I PRAY FOR DOCTOR MAC AS SHE ASSUMES THE ROLE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD ALL GIVE HER OUR SUPPORT BOARD MEMBERS TO GIVE HER OUR SUPPORT IN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE AND MANEUVER THROUGH THESE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. MISS ALVAREZ. YES, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. I CAN'T SEE ALL OF THE FACES IN THE ROOM, BUT I MY ABSENCE IS TRULY NOT AN INDICATION OF MY CONCERN THAT OUR THAT WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST WEEKS HAS IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY GREATLY. AND MY CONCERNS ARE NOT. MY ABSENCE IS NOT AN INDICATOR OF NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I'M EQUALLY PLEASED WITH THE

[00:10:03]

WELCOME EVERYONE. I CAME I VOLUNTEERED TO PARTICIPATE ON THIS BOARD THIS PAST SUMMER, AND I HAD SOME DISCREET AND COGNIZABLE GOALS THAT I WANTED TO ACHIEVE. I VOICED AND ARTICULATED THOSE GOALS TO DOCTOR. BOLSON IS NOW ON LEAVE. THOSE WERE NOT MET. THOSE WERE NOT MY GOALS WERE NOT MET. THEY WEREN'T THEY WEREN'T GIVEN THE TIME THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. SOME OF YOU ARE GOING TO EXPECT CERTAIN CERTAIN VOTES HERE IN THE OPEN SESSION. I CAN TELL YOU THAT YOU MAY BE DISAPPOINTED BY NOT SEEING WHAT YOU MIGHT BE EXPECTING, BUT WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION PRIOR TO THIS AND WITHOUT DISCLOSING WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT CLOSED SESSION, SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT EVERYTHING WILL HAPPEN IN ITS DUE COURSE. WE NEED TO REALIGN THE SCHOOL TO FOCUS ON EXACTLY WHAT DIANE SAID, WHICH IS THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WE ARE. WE ARE WOEFULLY BEHIND IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. WE HAVE A 51% 52% FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE IN EIGHTH GRADE IN THE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE A BUDGET OF 800, CLOSE TO $800 MILLION. THROWING MORE MONEY AT SOMETHING DOESN'T SOLVE PROBLEMS. PEOPLE SOLVE PROBLEMS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. AND IT'S A STEP BY STEP PROCESS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. SO HAVE FAITH IT WILL HAPPEN AND IT WILL HAPPEN IN DUE COURSE. THANKS FOR COMING. SO GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD REGARDING OUR SUPERINTENDENT. WE ARE APPROACHING THIS WITH FOCUS, SERIOUSNESS AND A DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. THERE ARE CURRENTLY TWO INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY. WHEN THOSE PROCESSES ARE COMPLETE, THE RESULTS WILL BE SHARED APPROPRIATELY AND TRANSPARENTLY.

PUBLIC EDUCATION RESTS ON A FOUNDATION OF TRUST. TRUST BETWEEN FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS, BETWEEN TEACHERS AND LEADERSHIP, AND BETWEEN THIS BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE. WHEN THAT TRUST IS SHAKEN, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND WITH INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY AND

[00:15:04]

[A. Decision on Proposed 2026-2027 Harford County Public Schools Calendar, Ms. Jillian Lader, Manager of Communications and Dr. Dyann Mack, Deputy Superintendent for Academics • 2026-2027 HCPS Calendar Survey Analysis Report • 2026-2027 HCPS School Year Calendar Presentation ]

[00:20:05]

AND WITH OUR EXTERNAL RESPONSES PD AND EARLY DISMISSAL TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF A BUMP. BUT STILL, THOSE START AND END DATE PREFERENCES. SO PER THE COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVED DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, WE DID ADJUST THE COLOR CODING EARLY ON. WE HAD TWO COLORS FOR TEACHER PLANNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE WENT BACK TO ONE THAT SEEMED LIKE A PLEA FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO ADJUSTED THOSE PD DAYS TO ALIGN WITH THE QUARTER ENDS AND SPREAD THEM OUT MORE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. ADDITIONAL EARLY DISMISSALS WERE ADDED PER THAT, PER THE COMMENTS RECEIVED AND MOVED SOME OF THE MOVED THE ELEMENTARY PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES IN ORDER TO CREATE A LONGER BLOCK OF INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. THE SPRING BREAK DATE WAS MOVED SLIGHTLY AND THEN THE ADJUSTED START DATE TO MONDAY, AUGUST 24TH, WHICH WOULD GIVE US AN END DATE OF JUNE 4TH. NOW THAT'S BASED ON THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE'S FEEDBACK. SO THAT CALENDAR LOOKS LIKE THIS. THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON AUGUST 24TH, LAST DAY ON AUGUST, OR I'M SORRY, JUNE 4TH. WITH THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, YOU WOULD BE GETTING OUT ON JUNE 9TH. NOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT START DATE, SO THERE WAS ALSO AN OPTION DRAFTED TO START ON AUGUST 31ST. NOW I'M GOING TO MOVE QUICKLY THROUGH THIS CALENDAR BECAUSE WE NOTICED FEBRUARY 24TH, WE PUT AN EARLY DISMISSAL DAY ON A WEDNESDAY, AND THAT REALLY ISN'T HELPFUL TO THE SCHOOLS. SO WE DRAFTED IT IS THE SAME EXACT CALENDAR.

BUT THAT FEBRUARY EARLY DISMISSAL IS MOVED TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH, WHICH WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR OUR SCHOOLS. SO YOU'LL SEE THE START DATE OF AUGUST 31ST, AND THEN WITH THAT START DATE, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL IS JUNE 10TH. WITH THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, YOU WOULD BE OUT JUNE 15TH. THAT DOES REFLECT ALL OF THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT HOLIDAYS. IT REFLECTS THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS. I CAN GO INTO THOSE IN MORE DEPTH IF YOU WOULD LIKE, OR IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT AS WELL, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE ALL BEEN LOOKING AT THIS CALENDAR AND WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAND IT BACK TO YOU. I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THIS LAST PROPOSED CALENDAR YEAR. WITH THE 831 START, I PROPOSE THAT WE TAKE SOME ELEMENTS FROM THE 824 START CALENDAR. THAT WAS THE CHOICE OF THE COMMITTEE AND INCORPORATE THEM INTO THE 831 CALENDAR. SPECIFICALLY THE. THE.

THE 824 CALENDAR HAD DECEMBER 23RD AS A FULL DAY OFF FOR STUDENTS. I PROPOSE THAT WE AMEND THIS VERSION OF THIS CALENDAR TO HAVE 1223 AS A FULL DAY OFF FOR STUDENTS AND A HALF DAY PD DAY FOR TEACHERS, YOU KNOW, EDUCATORS. AND BY TAKING BY NOT EXTENDING THIS THE SCHOOL YEAR ANY BY TAKING THE HALF DAY ON JANUARY 27TH, SORRY, JANUARY 28TH AND TURNING THAT INTO A FULL SCHOOL DAY AND MAKING THE PD DAY ON THE 29TH, WE'RE SIMPLY JUST MOVING THAT PD DAY TO 1223. SO THAT. 1229 I'M SORRY, JANUARY 29TH WOULD BE A HALF DAY FOR FOR STUDENTS OR STUDENTS. YES, YES, STUDENTS. SO SO THAT DOESN'T EXTEND THE SCHOOL YEAR. IT GETS US THE 23RD OFF FOR STUDENTS AND IT ALLOWS FOR PD FOR EDUCATORS, WHICH THE FEEDBACK WAS THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS NECESSARY. AND ALSO PREFERRED OVER THE PD DAY ON JANUARY 29TH. THEN ALSO ADDING TWO DAYS TO SPRING BREAK. SO ADDING THE 22ND AND 23RD AS DAYS OFF BY THEN EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM THE LAST DAY FROM JUNE 10TH TO JUNE 14TH, WITH A POTENTIAL LAST DAY OF JUNE 17TH WITH ALL INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS UTILIZED. SO I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY I LIKE THAT

[00:25:01]

I MEAN, THE WORDS USED ARE LABOR DAY, BUT LABOR DAY, AS POINTED OUT, THIS YEAR IS ON ON SEPTEMBER 7TH. SEPTEMBER 7TH IS JUST TO TO WAY TOO LATE. SO THE CLOSER WE CAN GET TO A SEPTEMBER 1ST START DATE IS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE VOTING FOR. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I HAVE NO OTHER COMMENT. I JUST WANTED TO REITERATE. POINT OF ORDER PLEASE DO WE NEED A MOTION TO AMEND THE CALENDAR? YES, WE. WHEN WE GO TO VOTE, MISS ALVAREZ, I'M GIVING EVERYONE AN OPTION TO SPEAK. AND THEN WHEN WE GO TO VOTE, IF WADE WOULD MAKE HIS MOTION, WHAT WAS WADE WADE'S PUT IN A FORM OF A MOTION. HE HASN'T PUT IT IN A MOTION YET. THAT IS GOING TO BE SOME MOTION. YEAH. I THINK MY ENTIRE COMMENT IS A MOTION PREVIOUSLY. DO WE WANT TO DO THAT NOW? I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK YOU TO CLARIFY ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE YOU WERE KIND OF YEAH, GOING BACK AND FORTH WHAT WE WERE MOVING JANUARY, WE WERE DEALING WITH THE 28TH AND 29TH OF JANUARY VERSUS THE 23RD OF DECEMBER. WE'RE THEN MAKING THE 23RD OF DECEMBER, HALF A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS AND A HALF DAY FOR STUDENTS. ALL ALL, ALL ALL FOR STUDENTS. OKAY, OKAY. SO THAT WOULD BE A FULL DAY. ALL FOR STUDENTS AND A HALF A DAY FOR TEACHERS. YES. FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. YES. AND THEN THE 28TH OF JANUARY WOULD BE WHAT, JUST A FULL DAY ALL DAY. AND THE 29TH OF JANUARY WOULD BE HALF DAY STUDENTS, JUST LIKE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS OR NO. OKAY. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE THAT WE MOVE TO VOTE AND TO CLOSE THE DATE. SO WELL, DOESN'T CAROL BRUCE GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK? I DID THAT, I'M FINE, THANK YOU. ONLY ON THURSDAYS. ALL RIGHT, MR. SEWELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR MOTION, I WILL, I WILL. CAN WE GO BACK SO I CAN SEE IT? SORRY. YEAH. OKAY. SO I MAKE THE MOTION. I MOVE, I MOVE. YES. I ALWAYS GET THIS BACKWARDS DOING THIS FOR THREE YEARS AND I GET THIS BACKWARDS. I MOVE THAT WE AMEND THE PROPOSED CALENDAR VERSION TO A FOR DECEMBER 23RD, 2026 TO BECOME A FULL DAY OFF FOR STUDENTS AND A HALF DAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR EDUCATORS. ALSO, JANUARY 28TH, 2027 BECOMING A FULL DAY FOR STUDENTS, FOR EVERYONE AND AMENDING JANUARY 29TH, 2027 TO A HALF DAY FOR STUDENTS. ALSO,

[00:30:03]

I SECOND. OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES YES YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO.

NO. HEARING NONE. NO. THAT. YVONNE. YES, I GOT IT. THIS MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, THANK

[B. Presentation of Superintendent's Proposed FY2027 Budget, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services and Mr. Eric Clark, Director of Budget ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I AM GOING TO BE THE OPENING ACT FOR OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR. AND SO IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FIRST SLIDE, WE KNOW THAT THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE THE TOOL THAT IS GOING TO REFLECT OUR VALUES. AND SO WE HAVE SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME MAKING SURE THAT THE ITEMS THAT WE PUT INTO THIS BUDGET REALLY DEFINE OUR PRIORITIES AND REALLY ARE ANCHORED INTO THE THINGS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE GOING TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT SINCE THE TRANSITION INTO THIS ROLE, DID A LOT OF REFLECTING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT ARE MY CORE VALUES, AND THREE WORDS REALLY COME TO MIND. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT FAMILY, AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT INTEGRITY. AND SO THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY IS FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT OUR FAMILIES. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES ALSO INCLUDE OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS BUDGET, WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEPT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES IN THE FOREFRONT OF THIS WORK. AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PIECES THAT ARE STATE MANDATES AND THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF US AND THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO REQUIRE OUR PARENT SUPPORT. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHY WE INCLUDED THOSE THINGS IN OUR BUDGETS AND OUR BUDGET, AND WE CAN GET YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT. I AM COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE FOR OUR STUDENTS EVERY DAY IS FILTERED THROUGH INTEGRITY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS LINKED AND FILTERED THROUGH OUR STUDENTS, AND WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR SYSTEM, OUR BOARD PRIORITIES, STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT A FOCUS ON MATH, READING AND LANGUAGE. IMPROVING OUR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, ATTENDANCE AND SAFETY, AND INCREASING COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL GUARDIAN TRUST THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND TRANSPARENCY. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT GUIDED US AS WE WENT THROUGH JUST THIS, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. WE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENT POPULATION HAS CHANGED OVER TIME, AND SO WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THOSE CHANGES. WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT, ALTHOUGH OUR ENROLLMENT HAS DECREASED OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVED ARE HAVE INCREASED. AND SO WE NEED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO AND BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE TO BE ATTUNED TO THE FACT THAT OUR SPECIAL ED POPULATION HAS INCREASED. WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL THAT OUR STUDENTS THAT RECEIVE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THEN WE HAVE TO BE ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SUPPORTS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO SUPPORT THEM PROACTIVELY. OUR COMMITMENTS. AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT ONE OF THE PIECES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF IS WE DO NEED PEOPLE IN ORDER TO SOLVE SOME OF OUR PROBLEMS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PAYING AND EMPLOYING AND SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND THINGS AND OUR OPERATIONS FOLKS. AND SO THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE GOING TOWARDS OUR PEOPLE AND MAINLY OUR STUDENT FACING TEACHERS AND OUR SUPPORT STAFF. AND SO THE WAGE PACKAGE HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET. AND THE PARAMETERS FOR NEGOTIATION WERE PROVIDED BY OUR BOARD TO OUR CHIEF NEGOTIATOR. AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IN OUR BUDGET, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE IDENTIFIED THIS YEAR EARLY ON IS A COMMITMENT TO OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVERAL WORK GROUPS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE PRE-K THROUGH AGE EIGHT, AND WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SEVERAL COMMITTEES THAT ARE

[00:35:04]

AND SO YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE REQUESTS IN THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEET ALL OF THE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED, EITHER IN FEDERAL LAW OR IN OTHER MANDATES FROM MSDE. AND THEN FINALLY, JUST LIKE OUR HOME BUDGETS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE OF OPERATIONAL COSTS, THOSE COSTS ALSO COME UPON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO YOU'LL BE ABLE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THE SHIFTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN THE BUDGET TO ADDRESS THOSE RISING COSTS, OUR BUDGET, THE WAY WE'VE PRESENTED IT TODAY IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY FOCUSED. IT'S VERY INTENTIONAL.

IT HITS THE PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MRS. JUDD AND MR. CLARKE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MACK. SO WE WILL PRESENT THE FY 27 BUDGET THIS EVENING. WE SHARED THIS WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BEFORE THE BREAK. THE NUMBERS HAVE NOT

[00:40:05]

WE ARE SHOWING NOT USING FUND BALANCE IN THE BUDGET BECAUSE, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, RECURRING EXPENSES NEED TO BE FUNDED BY REVENUES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US. THAT MAKES OUR REQUEST TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF $53.9 MILLION, WHICH IS A 15.5% INCREASE. THESE ARE THE LINE BY LINE REQUESTS TO INCREASE AND WITHIN THE BUDGET AGENDA ONLINE. THERE BEHIND THIS, THERE ARE EXPLANATIONS TO EACH OF THESE LINE ITEMS. SO IT GIVES YOU FURTHER EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH THAT. BUT FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO REFERENCE WHAT THE PURPOSE OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS ARE, THOSE ARE LISTED IN THAT PRESENTATION. SO OUR WAGE PACKAGE BASED ON BOARD PARAMETERS IS $28.3 MILLION. IN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL SECTION WE HAVE ITEMS TWO THROUGH 11. WE DO HAVE SOME THINGS HIGHLIGHTED HERE. AND THE FIRST ONE, ALL OF THEM SHOW THE CHANGE FROM ONE FUNDING SOURCE TO ANOTHER. THE FIRST ONE IS HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW. THAT IS REALLY A REQUIREMENT IS IT IS A SHIFT FROM RESTRICTED TO OPERATING. WE HAD THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT IN THE CURRENT YEAR, AND PART OF THEIR GRANT REQUIRES THAT WE MOVE ALL OF THAT FUNDING OVER TO THE OPERATING BUDGET IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR. SO WE'VE SEEN THAT IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUDGETS, IT'S NOT NEW, BUT THAT IS WHAT THAT PARTICULAR ITEM IS. THE OTHER TWO ITEMS WILL EXPLAIN AS WE GET INTO DETAIL WHAT THOSE ARE, BUT THOSE ARE ACTUALLY REQUESTS TO MOVE FROM ONE FUNDING SOURCE TO THE OPERATING BUDGET. LINE THREE IS OUR PRE-K PARAEDUCATORS. THAT WOULD BE ADDING TO PER PRE-K CLASSROOM. WE HAVE 20 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS FOR PRE-K TO SECOND. AS DOCTOR MACK DESCRIBED, WE ARE FOCUSING ON OUR EARLY LEARNERS, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE EARLY GRADES HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. WE'RE REQUESTING EIGHT MULTILINGUAL LEARNER TEACHERS, NINE TITLE ONE OVER STAFFS FROM FY 26. SO TITLE ONE DOES NOT COME OUT. THOSE ARE FEDERAL FUNDS. THOSE DO NOT GET FINALIZED UNTIL THE VERY END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUNE LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE WERE LOSING FUNDING. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS VERY LATE AND WE OPTED TO RETAIN THE NINE TEACHERS AND PAY THEM OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO WE BELIEVE THEY'RE NEEDED, AND WE ARE REQUESTING THAT WE INCLUDE THOSE IN THIS BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. IN ADDITION, THERE'S A COORDINATOR POSITION FOR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION THAT TITLE FOUR IS FUNDING. WE ARE REQUESTING THAT BE MOVED. WE SEE IT AS A CRITICAL POSITION. SO WE ARE REQUESTING THAT THAT THAT BE MOVED TO THE OPERATING BUDGET AS WELL. OUR TEXTBOOK AND CONSUMABLE LINE IS AN ESTIMATE OF NEED. SO WE HAVE WE'VE TALKED BEFORE. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET FOR TEXTBOOKS. WE RUN A SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH NO BUDGET, BASICALLY FOR TEXTBOOKS. MANY YEARS AGO, THE COUNTY MOVED OUR TEXTBOOK REQUEST TO CAPITAL, AND WE DID RECEIVE FUNDING IN CAPITAL. WE HAVE USED THAT OVER

[00:45:04]

THE ATHLETIC TRAINERS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET ARE. PROVIDER HAS NOTIFIED US THAT, YOU KNOW, THEIR COSTS ARE INCREASING AND THEY'RE ASKING US FOR A PRICE INCREASE AS WELL.

SAFETY AND SECURITY. WE HAVE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE THAT WE NEED TO INCORPORATE INTO THE BUDGET FOR THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY THAT WE HAVE. AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION, OUR NONPUBLIC PLACEMENT COSTS HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. FOR LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. WE ACTUALLY CAME BEFORE YOU AND ASKED TO APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE IN ORDER TO FUND THOSE COSTS. SO WE ARE ASKING TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT LINE ITEM TO PLACE OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AS NECESSARY. OUR EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM IS WE'RE REQUESTING SIX POSITIONS, $1.2 MILLION AND THEN TRANSPORTATION. BASED ON OUR INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL SIX POSITIONS, THREE DRIVERS AND THREE ATTENDANTS TO SUPPORT OUR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN NEW BUSSES. AND THEN OUR CONTRACTED BUS INCREASE THAT GOES UP EVERY YEAR BASED ON OUR CONTRACTS. AND THAT $2 MILLION IS AN ESTIMATE FOR NEXT YEAR. SO THE TOTAL OF THAT INCREASE IS $52.4 MILLION AND 91 POSITIONS. THIS IS SIMPLY A SUMMARY OF WHAT I'VE JUST GONE THROUGH. BASED BY EACH AREA. YOU SEE THE 91 POSITIONS AND THE $52.4 MILLION OR 7.8% INCREASE. AGAIN, OUR RESTRICTED NUMBERS. YOU SEE THE FY 26 AND THE FY 27 NUMBERS AND THE PROPOSED CHANGE THERE. AGAIN, WE WILL UPDATE THOSE TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR. AND CERTAINLY IF ANYTHING DRASTIC OCCURS, WE WILL BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. SINCE THE STATE AND LOCAL, RIGHT. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL, YES. AND THEN OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION BUDGET AGAIN, THESE ARE ESTIMATES AS WE SEE WHERE PRICE INCREASES ARE AT THE END OF THE YEAR. THAT WILL DETERMINE THE OVERALL BUDGET AS WELL AS THE FINAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES. SO WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANY SORT OF VOTE TONIGHT. THIS IS SIMPLY A DISCUSSION.

THE PROCESS WOULD BE THAT I BELIEVE THE BOARD WILL SET A PUBLIC INPUT SESSION FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND THEN IDEALLY THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, WE WOULD ASK FOR A VOTE AT THAT TIME FOR THE BUDGET, AND WE WOULD PREPARE THAT AND FORWARD IT OVER TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AT THAT TIME. AS A REMINDER, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS BUDGET WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED, SO THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL TAKE A VOTE ON IN FEBRUARY. SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ADDRESS. ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.

OH I'M SORRY. I HAVE A QUESTION. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A LINE ITEM BUDGET THIS YEAR? LIKE A LIKE A LINE ITEM. YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A LINE ITEM BUDGET. WELL, WHEN THE FINAL BUDGET THAT'S APPROVED YOU WILL HAVE THIS BUDGET IS NOT A LINE ITEM BUDGET BECAUSE IT'S NOT LOADED INTO OUR SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ORACLE NOW SPENT A FORTUNE ON IT. BUT A THE PROPOSED BUDGET LINE ITEM. YOU'RE SAYING I CAN'T SEE THE LINE ITEM BUDGET

[00:50:05]

SO WHEN I OFFERED FOR EVERYBODY TO COME IN, I SAID, WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND GO THROUGH THAT, BUT THE CURRENT BUDGET AND SHOW YOU WHERE ALL OF THESE INCREASES WOULD FALL INTO THAT BUDGET. RIGHT. AND MY QUESTION IS, CAN WE DO THAT ON A LINE ITEM BASIS? WE CAN SHOW YOU THAT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO PRINT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN APPROVED.

RIGHT. BUT IT'S BEEN PROPOSED. CORRECT. RIGHT. SO I'M SAYING WITHIN EXCEL. SO RIGHT. EXCEL SO PROPOSAL. SO SO I CAN LOOK AT THE EXCEL ON THE BASIS OF WHAT EACH ITEM IS BEING PROPOSED. THE INCREASE. THERE IS NO LINE ITEM BUDGET CURRENTLY FOR THE PROPOSAL. WE CAN SHOW YOU. AND FROM THE REQUEST THAT WE HAVE AND WORK WALK YOU THROUGH THAT THROUGH THE BOOK TO WHERE IT WOULD BE IN THE BUDGET. SO IS THERE A REASON WHY WE CAN'T? SO YOU HAVE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET? I MEAN, THE NUMBERS CAME FROM SOMEWHERE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN EXCEL. WE DON'T HAVE A SPREADSHEET. I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S YOU'RE TALKING I MEAN, WE'RE AT 750 AND $800 MILLION BEFORE, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT $1 BILLION. WE HAVE 35, 40, 34, 35,000 KIDS. AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE THAT WE HAVE THAT MANY KIDS BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS HAVE REALLY COME OUT. WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE. I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST A LOT OF KIDS TO HOME SCHOOLING AND OTHER DISTRICTS.

STUDENTS MIGHT NOT BE RIGHT. YOU LOOK PUZZLED. I'M SORRY. NO, WE ALWAYS HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER OF ENROLLMENT. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, WE'VE. OKAY, SO SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THESE NUMBERS CAME FROM SOMEWHERE, RIGHT. SO I MEAN THERE'S A PROPOSAL. THERE'S A YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A NEED FOR THIS PARTICULAR INCREASE OF TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. SO WHEN I, WHEN I, I MEAN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT I'M JUST I'M YOU LOOK, I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE YOU, GIVE YOU A HARD QUESTION. IT'S JUST A LOT OF MONEY AND I'M TRYING. AND SO IF I COME IN AND SPEND THE TIME AND TAKE TIME OUT OF MY DAY, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS OF HARFORD COUNTY HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THE FOR THE DIFFERENCE. RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 40 MILLION BUCKS. THAT'S NOT A CHANGE. SO MY QUESTION IS, AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT I CAN'T SEE A LINE ITEM UNTIL AFTER I SAY YES, AND THEN I CAN SEE A LINE ITEM. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY? BECAUSE I, I'M GOING TO SAY YOU HAVEN'T APPROVED FY 26 BUDGET, WHICH IS CURRENT YEAR, WHICH IS LINE ITEM, AND IT'S PRINTED. IT'S AVAILABLE ON THE HTTPS WEBSITE. WHAT WE PRESENTED TONIGHT ARE ADDITIONS TO THAT BUDGET. SO YOU CAN THINK OF THE FY 26 BUDGET AS THE BASE BUDGET. THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED. THAT'S BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN JUNE OF 2025. THESE ARE THE ONLY ADDITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TO THAT BUDGET TO THE FY 26 BUDGET. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP, WE APPROVED SIX OR YOU APPROVED $672,512,163 LAST YEAR. WE'RE ASKING FOR AN INCREASE OF $52,381, 574 FOR THAT TOTAL, 70 OR 7 24.9 MILLION. SO THE LINE ITEM BUDGET IS PRINTED. WE CAN GIVE YOU A COPY. I HAVE A COPY, I CAN PROVIDE YOU A PRINTED COPY. AND IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. OKAY. SO SO SO IF I WANT TO GO THROUGH, LET'S SAY EACH EVERY ITEM WITHIN HUMAN RESOURCES OR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS, IF I COME AND SIT WITH YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO SHOW ME THAT I CAN I CAN SHOW YOU WHERE EVERY ONE OF THOSE GOES EXCEPT FOR THE EMPLOYEE SALARY AND WAGE PACKAGE, BECAUSE THAT'S SPREAD OUT AMONGST THOUSANDS OF LINES. AND WE HAVE TO SHOW THAT AS A BULK FIGURE, BECAUSE OUR NEGOTIATIONS AREN'T FIGURED, AREN'T FINISHED YET. YES, I'M AWARE OF IT. SO A VERY SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR THE NON PUBLIC PLACEMENTS. WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR THAT LINE ITEM. IF THIS IS APPROVED NEXT YEAR, THAT LINE ITEM WILL BE $5 MILLION MORE. BECAUSE WE'RE REQUESTING $5 MILLION. SO AS ERIC SAID WE CAN WALK YOU THROUGH THE CURRENT BUDGET AND THESE ADDITIONS TO SHOW YOU WHERE THEY WOULD GO. AND I KNOW I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. RIGHT.

I MEAN, SO, YOU KNOW, AS OPPOSED TO 4 OR 6 MILLION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF I WHEN I COME IN TO SIT WITH YOU, WE'RE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. YEAH. OKAY. VERY GOOD. I LOOK FORWARD TO IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, I THIS IS DIANE. I DO HAVE SOME COMMENTS CONCERNING THE SWAN CREEK PROGRAM. ON DECEMBER 1ST OF

[00:55:08]

AND AT THAT MEETING, IT WAS STATED THAT THE COST FOR THAT PROGRAM. I BELIEVE MELISSA ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT FUNDING FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND DOCTOR BALSAM RESPONDED THAT THE COST FOR THAT PROGRAM WOULD ALREADY BE INCLUDED IN THE EXISTING BUDGET, AND THAT THERE WOULD BE. HE INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ADDITIONAL COST NECESSARY BECAUSE EACH STUDENT IS FUNDED PROGRAM BY PROGRAM. SO THIS WOULD JUST BE THAT THEIR MONEY WOULD GO TO THIS AND IT WOULD BE NO IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS THAT? OKAY, I'LL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MISS ALVAREZ. SO THIS AGAIN, THIS BUDGET IS A PROPOSAL. IF WE HAVE. TEN STUDENTS SIGN UP FOR EARLY COLLEGE, WE MAY NOT NEED ANY OF THESE POSITIONS. WE DON'T KNOW. BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAD IN THE BUDGET POSITIONS, THAT WOULD SUPPORT THAT PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR. SO I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT WHAT THE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE IN FRONT OF US IS CLOSE TO $2 MILLION, AND WE HAVEN'T APPROVED THE PROGRAM, AND WE'RE ALREADY GOING FORWARD WITH APPLICATIONS. AND THAT'S VERY CONCERNING TO ME. MRS. ALVAREZ, WHEN YOU SAY YOU HAVEN'T APPROVED THE PROGRAM, CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT, PLEASE? THERE WAS NEVER A VOTE FOR US TO INCORPORATE THIS PROGRAM AT THE SWINE CREEK SCHOOL. AND I YOU KNOW, I LISTENED TO THE PARENT CONNECT VIDEO TODAY. I'M NOT I'M NOT DISCOUNTING THE BENEFIT OF THIS PROGRAM. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE GOING FORWARD WITH A PROGRAM THAT HAS NOT RECEIVED PROPER AUTHORIZATION FROM THIS BOARD. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WOULD BE AN OPERATIONAL DECISION, AND WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE A BOARD VOTE TO ADD A PROGRAM TO SWAN CREEK. CAN I GET A READING ON THAT FROM COUNCIL? BECAUSE I BELIEVE ANYTHING OVER 100 K WOULD REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL. WHEN WE THESE THIS IS SALARIES.

WE WOULDN'T WE WOULDN'T BE ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT FOR THIS. SO THERE IS NO CONTRACT TO BRING BEFORE THE BOARD. THIS WOULD BE FOR THE STAFFING TO ENSURE THAT THE STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN DUAL ENROLLMENT WITH HCC, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR PARTNERS.

WE HAVE SEVERAL EARLY COLLEGE MODELS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND THIS WOULD FOLLOW SUIT. SO TO UNDERSTAND AND LIKE I SAID, I WOULD LIKE TO GET A READ FROM THE LEGAL COUNSEL ON ON THIS.

SO IF ANY OF OUR PARTNERS EXPENSES, YOU KNOW, LIKE THEY CAN JUST SPEND ANYTHING THAT THEY WANT AND IT JUST GOES UNDER THE UPPER AND AS LONG AS WE APPROVE IT IN THE BUDGET LIKE THAT, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GET APPROVAL. MISS ALVAREZ, I THINK YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. AND MAYBE MY RECOMMENDATION IS, IS THAT WE TABLE IT. WE COME BACK WITH A PRESENTATION SO THE BOARD CAN FEEL MORE INFORMED. AND DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE LOOK AT IS THIS CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE IMPROVING. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT'S JUST ALLOWING STUDENTS MORE STUDENTS TO ACCESS HCC, AS WE'RE DOING THROUGHOUT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

WHAT WILL COME DOWN TO IS AFFORDABILITY. AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. AND SO MAYBE WE LOOK AT JUST PUTTING SOMETHING PRETTY QUICK ON THE AGENDA AT OUR NEXT MEETING, JUST TO QUICKLY DISCUSS AND THINK ABOUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO SUPPORT.

AND ONE OF THE PIECES THAT, WOULD YOU BE OKAY, I GUESS. LAUREN, WHAT I, WHAT I REQUESTED WAS A POINT OF ORDER ON THE THE. WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO GO FORWARD WITH PROGRAMS WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL FOR EXPENDITURES OF THIS MAGNITUDE. AND I'M LOOKING FOR LEGAL, A LEGAL POINT OF ORDER ON THIS. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ANSWER TONIGHT OR IF IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO. SO I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, BUT JUST IN GENERAL. AND I DO HAVE A COPY OF THE BOARD HANDBOOK WITH ME. AND I HAVE A COPY OF THE RELEVANT SECTION OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE WITH ME. BUT JUST GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF

[01:00:04]

YEAH I WAS TRYING OH. SORRY OKAY. YEAH. SO I JUST DID THE MATH ON THIS. THE YOU'RE PROPOSING THAT THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM BE $1.156 MILLION. AND WE RECEIVED A LITTLE OVER $8,000 PER STUDENT FROM THE STATE LAST YEAR. SO WHEN YOU DIVIDE THE 1.156 DIVIDED BY 8000, THAT IS 145 STUDENTS. SO IF WE'RE ABLE TO BRING IN 145 STUDENTS INTO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE MONEY THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE WOULD COMPLETELY OFFSET THIS BUDGET LINE ITEM.

THANK YOU. MADAM PRESIDENT. I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, THAT MAY HAVE I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU'VE HEARD, BUT THE GOVERNOR CAME OVER TV TODAY. THE GOVERNOR'S ALLOTTING US ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR EDUCATION. HAS ANY. HAVE ANYONE HEARD THIS IN IN HTTPS. I HAVEN'T NO, WE USUALLY GET THE STATE ALLOCATION. IT'S USUALLY JANUARY 20TH OR 21ST. SO THE THE GOVERNOR FROM WHAT I HEARD TODAY CAME OUT WITH HIS PROPOSED BUDGET. STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL DO THE COMPUTATIONS. AND WE'LL GET A SPREADSHEET THAT SHOWS US WHAT OUR ALLOCATION WILL BE VIA THE DIFFERENT FUNDING METHODS. AND WE WOULD ADJUST THAT STATE NUMBER BASED ON THAT. SO BEFORE YOU VOTE OKAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. SO I'LL JUST CLOSE THIS BY SAYING THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING YOUR OFFICE OPEN FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO COME SIT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBERS OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GREAT TEAM HERE, AND TO SIT AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED. I THINK THAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED THAT IT IS A PROPOSAL, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT THIS COUNTY CAN AFFORD. I KNOW THAT WE LAID OUT DOCTOR MCCANN IS SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO TO THE COUNTY PRIOR, A THREE YEAR PLAN, AND I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO TO TO WORK WITHIN WHAT WE TOLD THE COUNTY. BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BEFORE WE COME TO A VOTE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. AND WITH THAT, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK. WE WILL COME BACK AT ALLE GOING TO GET STARTED. YEAH. GO. WHERE WE ARE. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE

[D. Superintendent's Report ]

[01:05:05]

WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU. I WILL SAY IT AGAIN. WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU. WE ONLY EXIST BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE, AND YOU NEED SOMETHING FROM US TO GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING. AND I AM COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AND WORKING WITH OUR BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET EXACTLY WHERE YOU WANT TO BE. IT IS MY HOPE THAT EVERY DAY YOU FEEL THE IMPACT OF AN EDUCATOR, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU IMPACT US EVERY DAY AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO YOU AND WE ARE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS CHALLENGING TIME FOR YOU. TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. WE NEED YOU. WE SEE YOU, WE HEAR YOU, AND WE NEED TO DO THIS TOGETHER. WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL AT BELLAIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THERE WOULD BE REALLY HARD DAYS, AND THERE WOULD BE TIMES THAT MY STAFF WOULD BE A BIT FRAZZLED. AND I WOULD SAY TO THEM, STANDING THERE ON THE INTERCOM LIKE THIS, THE SKY IS NOT FALLING. THAT'S FROM CHICKEN LITTLE. I'M HOLDING IT UP. WE'RE GOOD. THE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN TOUGH. THE SKY IS NOT FALLING. THERE MAY BE PIECES THAT ARE FALLING, BUT I AM HOLDING IT UP. BUT I NEED HELP. I NEED HELP FROM EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM. EVERY PARENT IN OUR COMMUNITY, EVERY STUDENT THAT IS ABLE TO GET ON ONE ACCORD TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT IS THE IMPORTANT WORK, AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND WE HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON THE NUMBER ONE THING, THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND THE ONLY WORK, AND THAT IS OUR STUDENTS. WHEN WE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND WE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS, AND WE FOCUS ON SUPPORTING OUR ADMINISTRATORS, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO. AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO STABILIZING THE SHIP. THERE ARE THINGS THAT MUST BE TRUE WHEN WE WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE MUST BE FOCUSED ON TEACHING AND LEARNING EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE MUST BE SHOWING UP FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE MUST BE PRIORITIZING INSTRUCTIONAL PRIORITIES AS WELL AS SAFETY. WE MUST FIND A WAY TO CELEBRATE THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS, BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING. WHAT I NEED FROM YOU IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK MENTALITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO SABOTAGE AND STOP OUR WORK. WE NEED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE TO FIND SOLUTIONS AND I AM COMMITTED TO THAT. I NEED ALL OF OUR DECISIONS, OUR CONVERSATIONS, OUR WORK TO BE FOCUSED ON US BEING SUCCESSFUL. WE NEED TO SILENCE THE NOISE. WE NEED TO SILENCE THE NOISE.

WE NEED TO MAKE THE NOISE STOP. IT SERVES AS A DISTRACTION TO OUR WORK. IT IS UP TO US TO LIFT UP OUR EDUCATORS AND TO HELP THEM TO FEEL SAFE AT WORK, TO FEEL SUPPORTED AT WORK SO THAT THEY CAN DO THE WORK. THIS MOMENT WILL NOT DEFINE US. IT IS JUST A MOMENT, BUT IT IS HOW WE LEAD THROUGH THIS MOMENT THAT WILL BE OUR STORY. AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN REBUILD THE TRUST OF OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME IS INTEGRITY, OPENNESS, HONESTY AND COLLABORATION. I WILL SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND I WILL LISTEN, AND MY DECISIONS WILL BE FOCUSED THROUGH WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED. MY NAME IS ON HTTPS AND I TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY. I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I

[01:10:05]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER THING. I DO HAVE ONE. I DO HAVE TWO UPDATES. I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY I MESSED UP MY FLOW RIGHT THERE. I'M SORRY. I DO WANT TO FOCUS ON TWO CELEBRATIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE A PART OF AN ED RISING COMPETITION, AND THE STUDENTS AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL AND EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, TECHNICAL, HARFORD TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL, AND HEAVY DEGREES WON OR PLACED IN RECENT COMPETITIONS RELATED TO OUR TEACHING PROFESSIONS. SO REMEMBER WHEN I SAID GROW YOUR OWN? THESE ARE THE THESE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT WE'RE HOPING ARE GOING TO GO TO THESE COMPETITIONS, GO WIN PRIZES AND THEN COME BACK AND SAY THEY WANT TO TEACH AT THESE COMPETITIONS, REQUIRE STUDENTS TO PRESENT CERTAIN EDUCATION CONNECTED AREAS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO CONNECT TO NETWORK WITH OTHERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAD MULTIPLE STUDENTS THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTY BE RECOGNIZED FOR A SCHOLARSHIP THAT WILL PROVIDE THEM A STIPEND FOR THE INTERNSHIPS THAT ARE THAT THEY ARE DOING THROUGH CPS. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE STUDENTS AND BEST WISHES TO THEM AS THEY WORK TOWARDS A CAREER IN TEACHING. AND THEN I'VE MENTIONED COMMUNITY PARTNERS A COUPLE OF TIMES TONIGHT. OARSMAN TOYOTA AND EDGEWOOD DONATED $15,000 TO PAY OFF THE LUNCH BALANCES IN SIX OF OUR SCHOOLS BAKERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DEERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL, EDGEWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, AND HARVARD GRACE HIGH SCHOOL. THIS SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A COMMUNITY PARTNER WILLING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP OUR STUDENTS. AND TO YOU I SAY THANK YOU AND THAT IS IT. THANK

[Public Comment]

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 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 THE ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THE 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. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE IG REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE. THE FULL REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE. I KNOW THAT MISS SLATER WILL ALSO BE RELEASING IT TONIGHT JUST THROUGH HTTPS OR AT THE BY NOON TOMORROW. SO JUST LET YOU LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT NOW OR VERY SHORTLY. IN 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 GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT. WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR THREE MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. MISS ROLLER, PLEASE BEGIN CALLING ON REGISTERED AND PUBLIC SPEAKERS.

PUBLIC SPEAKERS. FOLLOWED BY POWER AND. GOOD EVENING BOARD. I SPOKE HERE ONE TIME AND I SAID, YOU GUYS REALLY NEED TO GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER. AND I MEANT THAT THEN. AND I MEAN IT NOW. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS YOUR EMPLOYEE. YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RULES, THE REGULATIONS, AND THE POLICIES

[01:15:05]

THAT IS TAXPAYER MONEY. YOU GUYS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. YOU GUYS ARE THE WATCHDOGS OF THE DOLLAR. AS WE MOVE FORWARD. HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE, BUT I HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE COUNTY FOR FOUR YEARS AND IT'S JUST BEEN A HOT MESS ALL FOUR YEARS, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE GETTING BETTER. AND THAT'S SAD BECAUSE WHEN I GRADUATED FROM FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL PROUD TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE, I WAS PROUD. I WAS PROUD TO BE AT HC STUDENT. I WAS PROUD TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, GO ON INTO THE ARMY AND LEAVE A LITTLE, LIVE A GOOD LIFE. BUT I COME BACK AND IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE IT'S THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT I KNEW BACK THEN. OF COURSE I WAS A KID, BUT WHO KNOWS. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANT YOU GUYS TO THINK ABOUT THAT. THINK ABOUT THE DOLLAR, WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING. THINK ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND DOCTOR MACK, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, BUT THAT'S YOUR EMPLOYEE.

IT'S A LITTLE LATE NOW TO BE MICROMANAGING, BUT THAT'S HOW WE DON'T END UP ON FOX 45. DO YOUR JOBS, PEOPLE. I KNOW IT'S A VOLUNTARY POSITION, BUT PLEASE DO YOUR JOBS. I'M TIRED OF SEEING US ON THE NEWS, I REALLY AM, THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER, THE JANUARY 7TH EMAIL THE HC SENT OUT ON BEHALF OF THE FORMER BOARD PRESIDENT, INCLUDED THE STATEMENT THAT THE BOARD WOULD, QUOTE, CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST, END QUOTE IN THAT THEME. MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING ARE ABOUT THE BUDGET WITH ONE LITTLE TANGENT FIRST.

EARLIER, MR. CURRAN SAID, QUOTE, WE ARE WOEFULLY BEHIND ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, END QUOTE, WHICH HE THEN CONNECTED TO THE $800 MILLION OR SO BEING SPENT. I WOULD CHALLENGE YOU, MR. KLEIN, TO PROVIDE ME WITH A METRIC AND A NUMBER THAT YOU THINK WE NEED TO HIT FOR THAT METRIC, SUCH THAT WE ARE NO LONGER BEHIND. YOU HAVE MY EMAIL, SEND IT TO ME, AND I CAN SEND YOU BACK. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND MEET THAT METRIC? ASSUMING IT'S MCAT BASED. AND I CAN TELL YOU IT'S GOING TO BE SMALL BECAUSE HC PERFORMS MUCH BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE MARYLAND SCHOOL ACROSS THE MAJORITY OF METRICS. THE PROPOSED FUNDING REQUEST TO THE COUNTY FROM THE BUDGET FOLKS IS SOMEWHAT LARGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE CAPITAL REQUEST WAS ALSO SOMEWHAT LARGE. SO I HOPE THAT YOU ALL ARE PREPARING NOW TO LOBBY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO FULLY FUND YOUR BUDGET REQUEST WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS COUNTY AND SADLY, THE STATE HAVE BEEN UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION FOR A LONG TIME. THE KIRWAN COMMISSION SPECIFICALLY SAID, HERE'S OUR NUMBERS AS TO HOW MUCH THE STATE AND COUNTIES ARE UNDERFUNDING EDUCATION. AND THEY ALSO HAD A RECOMMENDATION

[01:20:02]

GOOD EVENING BOARD. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MACK, FOR MAINTAINING MORAL INTEGRITY AND BEING AVAILABLE AND WILLING TO STEP UP WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE CALL TO SERVE THE PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND STUDENTS OF HC AT A HIGHER LEVEL. I WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PRIORITIES IN UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND OR INCOMPLETE BUSINESS THAT I FEEL I NEED TO MAKE A MENTION ABOUT. NUMBER ONE BEING THE CURRICULUM AND TRANSPARENCY. I'VE HEARD IT SHOT AROUND THE BOARD MANY TIMES. IT'S JUST NOT GETTING TO THE BOARD OR TO THE PARENTS. AND YOU'RE ASKING THE BOARD MEMBERS TO VOTE ON CURRICULUM BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT IT FOR MORE THAN A DAY. ALSO, WITH REGARD TO SCHOOL AND STUDENT SAFETY AND THE AI RELATED TOOLS WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM, I UNDERSTAND JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL HAS A SYSTEM, AND I SEE THIS BUILDING AS A SYSTEM, BUT NO CLASSROOMS. SO MY QUESTION IS HOW MANY OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE THE AI WEAPON SYSTEM AND OR MIDDLE SCHOOLS? AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEM, WHEN WILL THEY? WITH REGARD TO AI POLICY AND PROCEDURE THAT WAS KICKED AROUND FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, HOW WERE YOU ADDRESSED CYBER BULLIES AND OR SEXUAL IMAGES THAT ARE NOT AGE APPROPRIATE? WHO WILL POLICE THE ALGORITHMS THAT WE ALL KNOW FROM SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS THAT DAMAGE CHILDREN UNDER THE GUISE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THAT RESULT IN IRREVERSIBLE HARM AND EVEN DEATH? WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE TIDE POD, TIDE POD, AND THE HANGMAN'S CHALLENGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WILL IT BE ROLLED OUT IN A CONTROLLED MEANING PHASED IN APPROACH? FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE POOREST PERFORMING SCHOOLS OR THE CLASSROOMS THAT HAVE THE. LOW PERFORMING PROFICIENCY IN MATH AND READING? THAT'S MY QUESTION AS FAR AS THAT. WILL THERE BE MORE ACCURATE VETTING OF NEW TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AND INCOMING STUDENTS, MEANING COMPLETE COMMUNICATION WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES TO KEEP MS. 13 AND GANG AFFILIATED ILLEGAL ALIEN SCHOOL AGE PEOPLE FROM ATTENDING HARVARD HC. NEVER FORGET KAYLA HAMILTON OR RACHEL MORAN. AND WILL YOU MAKE AN EFFORT TO RESTORE ALL TITLE NINE PROTECTION FOR WOMEN ATHLETICS? STOP GIRLS AND BOYS LOCKER ROOMS, SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BOYS AND GIRLS SPORTS INCLUDING CHEER AND SOCCER. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE WILLIAM MARTINO, CRYSTAL RUFENACHT AND KAREEM SAEED. GOOD EVENING, BILL MARTINO, MOMS FOR LIBERTY. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HEARD RUMORS OF THE EVENTS IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT WE LACKED THE HARD EVIDENCE. NOW THE HARD EVIDENCE HAS COME TO LIGHT AND IT'S WAY WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT. THE SUPERINTENDENT ON GOVERNMENT FUNDS MADE POOR DECISIONS, RECKLESS ACTIONS TOWARD GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, IMMORAL BEHAVIOR, NEGLIGENT HANDLING OF PROPRIETARY INFORMATION, AND THEN TRIED TO COVER IT ALL UP. THESE ARE NOT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEADER WE NEED IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE NEED A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. NOW. HE HAS BECOME THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE ENTIRE STATE. BALTIMORE, NEW STATIONS AND NEW NEWSPAPER OUTLETS ARE CONSTANTLY RUNNING STORIES ABOUT PERVERTED BOOKS IN OUR LIBRARIES. TEACHER WHO ARE HIRED WITH FELONIES ON

[01:25:05]

ON ANOTHER NOTE, THE FUTURE BUDGET WAS DISCUSSED TONIGHT. ONE WAY TO CUT EXPENSES IS TO TERMINATE TROUBLESOME EMPLOYEES. YOU HAVE AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT ADVOCATED FOR KILLING OF CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCERS MAKING 200,000 A YEAR, AND A TEACHER SLASH COUNCILMAN WHO INAPPROPRIATELY TOUCHED A STUDENT SITTING HOME COLLECTING FULL SALARY. REMOVE THESE BAD EMPLOYEES AND HIRE GOOD EMPLOYEES, PREFERABLY ONES THAT ARE NOT CRIMINALS. THE CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY ARE PAYING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR EMPLOYEES TO DO NOTHING. FIX THAT NOW. REMOVE THEM FROM THE PAYROLLS. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM WITH HIRING STAFF IN HC IS DUE TO DIE. HIRE FUTURE EMPLOYEES BASED ON MERIT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, NOT CHECKING THE RIGHT DIE BOX. CHECKING THE BOX HAS FORCED ACP TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PAST LEGAL PROBLEMS. GO BACK TO THE TIME TRADITIONAL METHOD OF THE BEST CANDIDATE. REGARDLESS OF WHAT BOX THEY CHECK. THE ACP SHIP IS WAY OFF COURSE. I HOPE AND PRAY THE NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT AND NEW BOARD MEMBER CAN HELP RIGHT THE SHIP AND GET US BACK ON COURSE TO TEACHING ACADEMICS. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RUFENACHT AND I'M A TEACHER AT HALLS CROSSROADS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN A DIFFICULT WEEK FOR MYSELF AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES. IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE WORK, AND IT'S DISHEARTENING KNOWING ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS TAKING PLACE THAT AREN'T THE FOCUS. I WANT TO THANK VICE PRESIDENT PAGE, DOCTOR MUELLER, MISTER SOUL, MISS BRUCE AND MISS PERRY FOR YOUR ROLE IN DETERMINING CONDITIONS FOR THE INVESTIGATIONS. IT'S LIKELY THERE WILL BE A FAIR, THOROUGH AND WHAT WHATEVER THE OUTCOME, MY HOPE IS THAT YOU WILL HELP US TO NAVIGATE THE DISTRICT THROUGH THIS IN A RESPECTFUL AND SENSITIVE MANNER. THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR CHOICE IN DOCTOR MACK SERVING AS OUR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. DOCTOR MACK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DURING THIS TIME. I WANTED TO SPEAK TONIGHT TO SHARE JUST SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT STAFF NEED WITH CONCERNS TO THE UPCOMING BUDGET CYCLE. ADEQUATE FUNDING IS CRITICAL IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS. MY ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU IS TO LISTEN, TO ASK MANY QUESTIONS OF EVERYONE WHO WILL BRING YOU FEEDBACK AND PROPOSALS. CONSIDER YOUR STRATEGIC GOALS.

OUR COUNTY STRATEGIC GOALS ENSURE THAT FUNDING WILL SUPPORT ACHIEVING THESE GOALS.

DON'T RULE ANYTHING OUT AT THIS STAGE. EVEN IF YOU FEEL YOU SHOULDN'T BE ASKING FOR MORE THAN WHAT YOU THINK, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WILL FUND, THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE GREATLY IMPACT OUR CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO SERVE THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO US. MR. TARIN SAID. I'M OKAY. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT, MISS CHRISTINA, FOLLOWED BY STACY CARROLL AND JANINE CANEDO. GOOD. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. FIRST JOHN 217 THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY AND ALSO ITS LUSTS, BUT THE ONE WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD CONTINUES TO LIVE FOREVER. I CALL ON THIS BOARD NOT TO RENEW DOCTOR WATSON'S CONTRACT. OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT EVEN GETTING THEIR BASIC EDUCATION. MATH AND READING PROFICIENCY LEVELS ARE STILL AT LEVELS FAR FROM ACCEPTABLE. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD BE TO SET HIGH EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, TO MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE A QUALITY EDUCATION.

THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS TO HIRE ITS SUPERINTENDENT, AFTER HAVING SEEN THE RESULTS OF THE CURRENT SUPERINTENDENTS REIGN. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS WAS A GOOD PICK. I CALL UPON THE BOARD NOT TO RENEW THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT.

[01:30:02]

REGARDING INCREASING THE SMALL BOARD OF ED VOTING RIGHTS, THERE ARE REASONS THAT STUDENTS UNDER 18 CANNOT VOTE, CANNOT GET A TATTOO, CANNOT SIGN A LEGAL CONTRACT, CANNOT GO ON JURY DUTY, CANNOT SIGN A LEGAL CONTRACT, CANNOT EVEN GET A JOB WORKING A MEAT SLICER IN A DELI.

THOSE STUDENTS CANNOT BUY ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES, NOR CAN THEY RENT OR DRIVE A RENTAL UNTIL THEY'RE 21, ACCORDING TO WEBMD, THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS NOT FULLY FORMED UNTIL 25 TO 30 YEARS OF AGE. FOR FEMALES, THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX TENDS TO FINISH DEVELOPING IN THE LATE TEENS AND EARLY 20S. FOR MALES, IT TENDS TO HAPPEN IN THE MID TO LATE 20S OR EARLY 30S. THE AVERAGE AGE, THOUGH, IS AROUND 25. THE CORTEX. THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS A PART OF THE FRONTAL LOBE THAT CONTROLS DECISION MAKING, REASONING, PROBLEM SOLVING, AND SOME ASPECTS OF YOUR PERSONALITY. WE WOULD LIKE FULL ADULTS OF AT LEAST 18 YEARS TO BE VOTING ON ANYTHING ON THIS BOARD. OUR CHILDREN'S WELFARE DEPENDS ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY THE BOARD MEMBERS. PLEASE VOTE TO END THE SMALL VOTING PRIVILEGES AND BRING THAT POSITION BACK TO BEING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW, AND TO POSSIBLY LOOK FORWARD TO RUNNING FOR A POSITION ON THE BOARD SOMEDAY. HE OR SHE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE A LEG UP ON ANY OTHER NEWBIES ON THE BOARD FOR SURE. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS AND GUIDE YOU ALL. SARAH.

STACY. CAROL. OKAY. HI, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME COMING TO ONE OF THESE MEETINGS, AND I'M JUST A MOM THAT DECIDED I FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME TO STEP UP. I HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, ONE THAT GRADUATED LAST YEAR, AND IT'S CONCERNING TO ME, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT I FEEL LIKE THE KIDS ARE WALKING INTO EVERY DAY. YOU KNOW, I'M THE THE LEADERSHIP AND EVERYTHING THAT'S GONE DOWN, YOU KNOW, HAS JUST BEEN SO UNFORTUNATE. AND IT IT'S IT ALMOST MAKES MORE SENSE NOW WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT THE KIDS ARE WALKING INTO WITH, THERE'S NO AUTHORITY. I THINK THE KIDS JUST RUN THE SHOW. IT'S DANGEROUS. I'VE HEARD SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT DON'T EVEN WANT TO EAT BREAKFAST, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM DURING THE DAY. THERE'S JUST A LOT OF. JUST A LOT OF REALLY UNFORTUNATE THINGS THAT ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM OUR KIDS EDUCATION. AND I THINK LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO CHANGE. IT TOOK A LOT TO COME OUT HERE TO DO THIS, BUT I JUST FELT LIKE IT WAS TIME. SO I'M JUST PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS MOVING FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CHILDREN, BECAUSE IT'S IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A GOOD SITUATION ANYMORE. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS JANINE CANEDO. IT'S TOUGH TO FOLLOW SUCH A NICE PERSON, BUT I WILL SAY TO DOCTOR MACK YOUR SPEECH WAS LOVELY AND UPLIFTING, BUT BASED ON WHAT I'VE SEEN HERE, IT WAS WROUGHT WITH DISINGENUOUSNESS AND FLUFF. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN TO HELL AND BACK, AND IT IS TIME FOR A LEADERSHIP CHANGE. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ON THE BOARD TO SPEAK UP AND SUPPORT THAT LEADERSHIP CHANGE, I KNOW THERE'S A DIVIDE. CLEARLY, I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT SOME OF YOU VOTE AS IF YOU SHARE A BRAIN. I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENS, BUT THAT'S THE TRUTH. THERE'S BEEN A LACKLUSTER RESPONSE TO THINGS SUCH AS VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOL, WHETHER IT BE STUDENT ON TEACHER OR STUDENT ON STUDENT.

I TREAT A LOT OF STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF

[01:35:05]

THANK YOU. MY NAME IS SUSIE SCOTT AND I AM HERE TONIGHT FOR THE LAST TIME AS THE CHAIR OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY. ON FRIDAY, I'M CLOSING ON A HOUSE IN PENNSYLVANIA. I HAVE COME TO REALIZE WHAT A HOT MESS THIS COUNTY IS. AND I HAVE TWO GRANDCHILDREN IN MY CUSTODY.

NOW THAT I HAVE TO PUT THROUGH SCHOOL, AND I WILL NEVER SEND THEM TO HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THIS, WHAT YOU CALL LEADERSHIP. SO I'VE MOVED TO PENNSYLVANIA, AND I FOUND A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL THAT I CAN SEND THEM TO. NOW, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS FROM TONIGHT. FIRST OF ALL, MY CONDOLENCES TO YOU, MISS PERRY. I'M VERY SORRY FOR THE LOSS OF YOUR SISTER. THAT'S VERY DIFFICULT. THROUGH ALL OF THIS, A POEM BY SIR WALTER SCOTT KEEPS RINGING THROUGH MY EARS. OH, WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE WHEN WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE.

AND I MEAN, THAT PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE APRIL 6TH OF 2024. LIE UPON LIE, COVER UP UPON COVER UP. SO NOW WE HAVE ONE INVESTIGATION CLOSED, AND NOW WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT WE'RE WAITING FOR. BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE HAVE A LEADER, A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, THAT HAS BROKEN TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED FOR FOR CAUSE WE SHOULDN'T BE GIVING HIM A PAID TIME OFF AND A GOLDEN PARACHUTE. SO WE HAVE THE CONCEPT OF TRUST WAS BROUGHT UP TONIGHT, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN JUST WORDS FROM YOU TO REBUILD TRUST. REBUILDING TRUST STARTS WITH TAKING ACCOUNTABILITY AND FIRING DOCTOR OLSON AND REPLACING HIM WITH SOMEBODY WHO WILL ACTUALLY DO WHAT THE BOARD HAS ASKED THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO TO CARRY OUT YOUR GOALS, STARTING WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH IS WOEFULLY LACKING HERE. YOU KNOW. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MR. CURRIN, FOR POINTING OUT THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DECLINING ENROLLMENT HERE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE NEED MORE AND MORE MONEY, AND MONEY IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE KNOW THAT. BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THIS PART OF THE YEAR WHERE IT'S THE BUDGET DANCE AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO COME UP AND SAY HOW WE NEED MORE MONEY, FULLY FUNDING, YOU KNOW, AND AND I LISTEN TO THE COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE BOARD BUDGET AND HOW THEY WANT US TO FEEL SORRY FOR THEM BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE JUST GOING THROUGH THE ROOF. AND NOW THEY HAVE TO WELL, YOU KNOW,

[01:40:05]

BUT I HAVE TO ASK, DID THEY ATTEND AND GRADUATE FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OR DID THEY GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND GRADUATE FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL? I MEAN, THAT SAYS A LOT. OKAY, BECAUSE IF YOU CAN'T SEND YOUR KIDS TO HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, WHY ARE YOU EXPECTING US TO DO THE SAME? I'M MOVING SO I CAN SEND MY GRANDCHILDREN TO A SCHOOL THAT ACTUALLY TAKES ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SERIOUSLY. THERE'S IT'S A BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL, AND I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTIGATION AND. I KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. SO WHEN I GO TO THIS SUPERINTENDENT OR THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS NEW SCHOOL WHERE I'M GOING TO BE SENDING MY KIDS, I'LL, I'LL DEMAND ANSWERS. AND THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HARFORD COUNTY DESERVE. THEY DESERVE ANSWERS. THEY DESERVE REAL TRANSPARENCY AND REAL ACCOUNTABILITY. AND SO WITH THIS YEAR, I THINK MAYBE WE'RE GOING TO GET IT FOR A CHANGE, BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND EVERY ELECTED MEMBER ON THIS BOARD IS UP FOR ELECTION. AND SO I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HARFORD COUNTY WILL TAKE THE VOTING FOR THEIR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS SERIOUSLY, AND WE WILL GET A NEW BOARD IN 2027. SO GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. MR. LAWRENCE DIGGS. NO. OKAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE GARY JOHNSON AND GREG JOHNSON.

IT'S BEEN A LOT HAPPENING. BUT ON AUGUST, ON APRIL 6TH, 2024, WHILE IN NEW ORLEANS, SEAN BOLSON LED A BLACK WOMAN IN A GREEN DRESS WHOSE NAME HE DID NOT KNOW INTO HIS HOTEL ROOM.

IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING. HE FELT SO COMFORTABLE WITH HER PRESENCE THERE THAT HE SAYS HE FELL ASLEEP, AND WHEN HE AWOKE, HE WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE WOMAN WITH NO NAME WAS NO LONGER THERE, AND THAT ALL OF HIS POSSESSIONS, OR SHOULD I SAY HC DEVICES, WERE MISSING. HE CALLED THE POLICE TO REPORT A THEFT. WELL, THAT WAS THEN. NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT HC COMPUTERS WEREN'T STOLEN AT ALL. HOTEL STAFF FOUND THEM IN BOSTON'S SAFE. WHY THEN, DID HE REPORT A THEFT? WAS HE INEBRIATED OR OTHERWISE IMPAIRED? OR WAS HE CONCERNED THAT PEOPLE WOULD FIND OUT ABOUT HIS EARLY MORNING GUEST, AND SO CONCERNED THAT HE HAD NOT YET BOTHERED TO CHECK THE SAFE? PANIC? DOES THAT. WHEN A PERSON FEARS EXPOSURE. OH, WHAT A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE. WE HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT FOLSOM WASN'T THE ONLY HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TO ATTEND THAT CONFERENCE. ERIC DAVIS AND CAROL MULLER WERE THERE AS WELL.

WE KNOW THAT ERIC DAVIS'S PHONE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS USED TO MAKE THE CALL TO THE POLICE, SO IT APPEARS THAT THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS INCIDENT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. WHY DID THEY NOT SHARE IT WITH ALL OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IN A TIMELY MANNER? WE DO KNOW THAT AARON POINTON BECAME AWARE OF THIS SHORTLY AFTER THE SUPPOSED THEFT OCCURRED, AND THAT HE REPORTED IT TO THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR EDUCATION.

POINTON HAS NOW ASSURED US THAT 2020 MONTHS LATER, THAT THE OIG SAYS THAT NO STUDENT DATA WAS COMPROMISED. HOW CAN HE KNOW THAT FOR SURE? AND WHY WASN'T THIS MADE KNOWN 20 MONTHS AGO? NOW, POINTON HAS RESIGNED HIS POSITION EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. HOW CONVENIENT FOR HIM. RECENT REPORTS SAY THAT DIANNE MACK HAS BEEN GIVEN THIS NEW JOB. NO OFFENSE, MISS MACK. I DON'T KNOW YOU, BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHY ERIC DAVIS, THE WHO I THOUGHT WAS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, WASN'T GIVEN THAT POSITION, WAS HE? HAS HE BEEN ACCUSED OF SOME MALFEASANCE THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF THE TRANSPARENCY THAT THIS SCHOOL BOARD SPEAKS OF SO FREQUENTLY SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE LESS CLEAR TO ME. AND NOW THE BOARD HAS FAILED TO PASS A MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF THE SCHOOL BOARD IS CARRIED OUT.

THAT MEASURE FAILED BY ONLY ONE VOTE. THERE WERE TWO NO VOTES AND TWO ABSTENTIONS. THE YOUNG MAN WANTED TO VOTE, BUT HE DIDN'T CAST IT. WHY ABSTAIN? DON'T YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH? I. I TELL YOU, THIS BOARD DOESN'T NEED A RETREAT, MISS MULLER. THIS BOARD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VICE PRESIDENT PAGE, THAT'S ALL THE. I'M SORRY, GREG JOHNSON. OKAY. THANK YOU.

[01:45:10]

HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO CONTINUE TO RECEIVE POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. HE DESERVES TO BE FIRED. THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S THE END OF THE IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE ONE VIRTUAL SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS JILLIAN, LATER MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS. AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT SEE ANYONE WAITING IN THE LOBBY FOR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THEN THAT WOULD BE THE END. WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS THIS EVENING. THE

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