Feb 09, 2026 Board Meeting

[*A portion of this meeting is without audio*]

[Call to Order: Board Acting President]

[00:00:18]

MCVICKER HERE. MR. KORN. I BELIEVE MR. KORN IS ABSENT. MRS. HAHN PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE. MRS. ALVAREZ PRESENT. MISS NAKATA'S HERE. ACTING PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME, WE WILL GO FORWARD WITH THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. THE FLOOR IS NOW OPEN FOR THE NOMINATION FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE HERTFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? I NOMINATE LAUREN PAGE FOR PRESIDENT. THANK YOU. IS THERE A SECOND? I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT MOTION. THANK YOU.

WADE AND I ACCEPT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? SO IF NOTHING'S HEARD, WE WILL MOVE TO A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE CALL MADAM CHAIR. YES.

SEEING THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS, I MOVE THAT WE UNANIMOUSLY APPOINT LAUREN PAGE.

THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES. YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. THANK YOU. THAT MOTION PASSES. WE WILL. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE VICE PRESIDENT. I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY. I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE WADE SEWELL FOR THE OFFICE OF VICE PRESIDENT I SECOND. ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? WADE, DO YOU ACCEPT THIS NOMINATION? I DO ACCEPT IT. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW MOVE FORWARD AND I WILL DO THE SAME THING THAT MISS BRUCE JUST DID FROM A. WE WILL VOTE ON IT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF WADE SEWELL AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.

MISS RALEIGH, WILL YOU PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL? VOTE. MISS PERRY. YES, MR. SEWELL? YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES, MR. MCVICAR? YES. MRS. HAHN? NO. MISS. BRUCE. YES. MISS. ALVAREZ? NO. MISS ARCHITIS. NO. A PRESIDENT PAGE. YES. THIS MOTION PASSES SIX THREE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT DONE, WE WILL NOW MOVE. THE BOARD BUSINESS MEETING. SO GOOD EVENING. AT THIS TIME, I ASK EVERYONE, PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTION UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026 AT 6:03 P.M. THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS BARLOW, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. MISS PERRY, PRESENT. MR. SEWELL HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER. PRESENT. MR. MCVICAR HERE, MR. COHEN, MR. COHEN IS ABSENT.

MISS HAHN, PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE, MISS ALVAREZ, PRESENT. MISS NAKAI HERE. PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. 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, THE PRESIDENT, WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS.

BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR MACK 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 YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR A 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. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. AND NOW, IF YOU'LL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

[00:05:07]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE WILL HAVE OUR SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE TO READ THE RULES OF ORDER FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. IN KEEPING WITH THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF 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 THAT 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 SOCIAL CORRECTION, SCHOOL STAFF OTHER THAN THE SUPERINTENDENT.

ADDITIONALLY, DISPARAGING COMMENTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND INFLAMMATORY REMARKS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS PERSONNEL. ANY PERSON OR GROUP ARE NOT PERMITTED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG IN OUR MEETINGS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER CONCERNS OR NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SHOULD AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING, THE ATTENDEE WILL RECEIVE A WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR. IF THE ATTENDEE DOES NOT CEASE THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR, THE ATTENDEE WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING BY SECURITY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR RESPECTFUL ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO A

[Public Comment]

[00:10:01]

WILLIAM MARTINO, MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY CHAPTER. CONGRATULATIONS TO DIANE MACK AND LILLIAN AND ORCHITIS TO YOUR NEW LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE TELLS US, QUOTE, TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED. END QUOTE. AND THE BOOK OF JAMES, ADDRESSING EDUCATORS AND AUTHORITY POSITIONS, SAYS, QUOTE, WE WHO TEACH WILL BE JUDGED MORE STRICTLY. END QUOTE. THIS CAN BE AN EXCITING TIME FOR BOTH OF YOU, BUT ALSO TAXING AND EXHAUSTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HEAR FROM DIFFICULT PEOPLE LIKE ME. THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOURNEY TO EMBARK ON, SO I PRAY THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU BIBLICAL WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO BE A BLESSING TO ALL CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY. OKAY, THE HONEYMOON IS NOW OVER AND I NEED TO AIR OUT A LIST OF GRIEVANCES. MISS MAC, IN THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL BOARD SESSION, YOU MADE SOME COMMENTS THAT I WOULD LIKE SOME MORE CLARITY ON.

YOU SAID, QUOTE, YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

END QUOTE. I DIDN'T HEAR PARENTS MENTIONED PARENTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN THE EDUCATIONAL RECIPE, AND THEY WERE NOT CITED AT ALL. THAT'S A REAL CONCERN. YOUR PREDECESSOR WOULD ALWAYS USE THE PHRASE STUDENT CENTERED APPROACH TO EDUCATION. WELL, THAT SOUNDS NICE. IT SHOULD BE THE APPARENT CENTERED APPROACH. PARENTS GENERALLY KNOW WHAT IS BETTER FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION THAN THE STUDENTS DO. THEN YOU MENTIONED THE FOLLOWING QUOTE. WE NEED TO SILENCE THE NOISE. WE NEED TO MAKE THE NOISE STOP. IT SERVES AS A DISTRACTION TO OUR WORK. END QUOTE. THE NOISE YOU ARE REFERRING TO SEEMS AMBIGUOUS. I HOPE YOU DIDN'T MEAN SILENCING THE PUBLIC'S OPPOSITION TO LEADERSHIP DECISIONS. YOU MUST ALWAYS RESPECT THE FIRST AMENDMENT. YOU ALSO COMMENTED THAT THE TOP PRIORITY IS EDUCATION AND SAFETY. I REALLY LIKE THAT. I HOPE YOUR DEFINITION OF EDUCATION IS PROFICIENCY IN TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS AND NOT THE INDOCTRINATION TO A SPECIFIC IDEOLOGY. THE EASTERN GAZETTE STATES. QUOTE, SCHOOLS EXIST TO EDUCATE CITIZENS, NOT MANUFACTURE ACTIVISTS. END QUOTE. TODAY, ANTI LAW DEMONSTRATIONS BY STUDENTS ARE ONE SUCH EXAMPLE. I ALSO CHEERED WHEN YOU SPOKE ABOUT HOMEGROWN INITIATIVES. I HAVE A QUESTION WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HOMEGROWN PROCESSES DIRECTLY CONFLICT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND? MANDATES IF BLUEPRINT AND OTHER STATE EDICTS DESTROY HOMEGROWN INITIATIVE, THEN WHO WINS? DO WE STAY FIRM ON WHAT IS GOOD FOR HARFORD COUNTY CITIZENS OR SIMPLY BOW TO THE STATE? I GUESS WE SHALL SEE. THEN THERE WAS THE BUDGET. HC IS REQUESTING A WHOPPING 15.5% INCREASE IN FUNDING. THAT IS WAY OVER THE TOP. THE COUNTY'S ENTIRE REVENUE INCREASE WAS JUST A LITTLE OVER 4%. THAT'S 400% MORE THAN THE COUNTY'S GROWTH. IF THE RATE WERE TO CONTINUE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD SOON TAKE OVER THE ENTIRE BUDGET. THERE ARE 50,000 MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN HARFORD COUNTY TODAY THAN THERE WERE TWO DECADES AGO. THAT'S A LOT MORE CITIZENS PAYING TAXES. HOWEVER, TWO DECADES AGO, HC HAD 40,000 STUDENTS IN THE GOVERNMENT RUN SCHOOLS AND TODAY THERE IS 38,000 STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE NEARLY 50,000 MORE TAXPAYERS FUNDING, 2000 LESS STUDENTS. AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH. THE SCHOOLS WANT MASSIVE INCREASES

[00:15:03]

HIS LACK OF MORAL CHARACTER WAS THERE FOR ALL TO SEE LONG BEFORE HE WENT TO NEW ORLEANS.

AND YET HE ALMOST GOT AWAY WITH IT, BECAUSE THERE WERE THOSE ON THE BOARD WHO GAVE HIM COVER.

TO SOME DEGREE. YOU WHO WERE SERVING ON THE BOARD TWO YEARS AGO WERE AS GUILTY AS HE. EVEN IF YOU WERE NOT AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT IN THE DEBAUCHERY THAT HE ENJOYED, YOU STILL STOOD IN THE WAY OF BRINGING HIS CONDUCT TO LIGHT. I RECALL THAT FOLLOWING THE NEW ORLEANS CONFERENCE, AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO REMOVE MR. BOLTON FROM HIS POSITION. SO I EXCLUDE THOSE MEMBERS WHO TRIED TO DO SO BUT FAILED. I AM AWARE THAT YOU ARE OUTNUMBERED ON THIS BOARD. IN GENERAL, THE MAJORITY OF THIS BOARD HAS NEVER BEEN INTERESTED IN THE PROPER EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN. THE STUDENTS ARE SIMPLY PAWNS THAT ARE BEING USED IN THE FULFILLMENT OF PERVERSE POLITICAL IDEALS, SUCH AS DI WHITE PRIVILEGE AND THE INCULCATION IN THE MINDS OF STUDENTS, THAT OF STUDENTS OF COLOR, THAT THEY ARE VICTIMS OF WHITE SUPREMACY. THOSE TEACHERS WHO ARE PREFERRED BY THE TEACHERS UNION ARE NOT SKILLED EDUCATORS. THEY ARE SKILLED INDOCTRINATORS, SKILLED MANIPULATORS, AND SKILLED AGITATORS. THEY ARE NOT BRINGING FORTH THE NEXT GENERATION OF VIRTUOUS AND INTELLIGENT YOUNG ADULTS WHO CAN THINK AND REASON. THEY ARE INSTEAD CREATING AN ARMY OF PROTESTERS WHO DEMAND A VOICE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS. THAT VOICE HAS NOT BEEN LIMITED TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. NO, THESE RADICALS HAVE ALSO BEEN SEEN ON THE STREETS OF HARFORD COUNTY, RAISING NOT ONLY THEIR VOICES BUT ALSO THEIR MIDDLE FINGERS AT PASSERS BY. THEY WERE FREE TO DO SO THIS PAST FRIDAY

[00:20:05]

CONGRATULATIONS, LAWRENCE STRAUSS. I'M COUNTY COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT. TONY JAN GIORDANO I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A HARFORD COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIAL, A TAXPAYER, A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS, OUR STUDENTS AND THE TRUST, THE PUBLIC PLACES AND THOSE WHO LEAD THEM. LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC EDUCATION CARRIES A HIGHER STANDARD. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS NOT ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ACADEMICS AND OPERATION, BUT SERVES AS A TONE SETTER FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM, FROM THE CENTRAL OFFICE TO EVERY CLASSROOM IN HARFORD COUNTY. EVERY DAY, OUR TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THEY'RE HELD TO A HIGH PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL STANDARDS. THEY'RE ASKED TO MODEL JUDGMENT, RESPONSIBILITY, CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THEY DO THIS UNDER CONSTANT PUBLIC SCRUTINY, OFTEN WHILE MAINTAINING CHALLENGING CLASSROOMS, PARENT EXPECTATIONS, AND INCREASING DEMANDS. IF WE EXPECT THAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM OUR TEACHERS, THEN A HIGHER STANDARD MUST ALSO APPLY TO THE LEADERSHIP ABOVE THEM. IF WE EXPECT THAT LEVEL TEACHERS DESERVE LEADERSHIP THEY CAN LOOK UP TO. THEY DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT REFLECTS THE SAME EXPECTATIONS PLACED ON THEM. THEY DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT REINFORCES, NOT UNDERMINES, THE CULTURE OF PROFESSIONALISM, TRUST, AND INTEGRITY THEY WORK HARD TO MAINTAIN EVERY DAY. THE MORAL CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT EXISTS TO PROTECT THE STANDARD.

IT EXISTS TO PROTECT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE CONFIDENCE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE WITHIN, AS WELL AS THE FAMILIES WE ALL SERVE. TONIGHT'S DECISION IS NOT ABOUT PERSONALITIES. IT'S NOT ABOUT POLITICS. IT'S ABOUT MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS OUR TEACHERS, OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS, PUBLIC TRUST MATTERS. STAFF CONFIDENCE MATTERS. ORGANIZATIONAL STABILITY MATTERS. WHEN LEADERSHIP CREDIBILITY IS CALLED INTO QUESTION, IT AFFECTS MORALE. IT AFFECTS CULTURE, AND IT AFFECTS THE ABILITY OF TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO DO THEIR JOBS EFFECTIVELY. IF THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT THE STANDARDS OUTLINED IN THE CONTRACT MORAL CLAUSE HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED, THAN IT HAS BOTH THE AUTHORITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.

HARFORD COUNTY FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT REFLECTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM, JUDGMENT AND INTEGRITY. I URGE YOU TO MAKE YOUR DECISION TONIGHT BASED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE LONG TERM CREDIBILITY, STABILITY AND LEADERSHIP OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TERMINATE HIS CONTRACT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. CONGRATULATIONS, LILLIANA. YOU'LL BE PROFESSIONAL AND SHINING ASSET TO THE BOARD OF ED AND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL. REGARDING THE WALKOUT ON FRIDAY, THE TEACHERS UNION PUT OUT A POST WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE 4TH, LISTING DO'S AND DON'TS WHEN SCHEDULING WALKOUTS. THE THIRD BULLET POINT UNDER DOS STATES THIS IS NOT THE FIRST STUDENT ORGANIZED PROTEST AND IT WON'T BE THE LAST. SO WHAT IS THE ADMINISTRATION GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS THREAT? WILL YOU CONTINUE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS EARLY TO ALLOW FOR THE PROTEST? HOW WILL THE ADMINISTRATION HANDLE THE SITUATION OF STUDENTS WHO OUTNUMBER TEACHERS, STAFF AND SROS WHEN THEY WALK OUT FOR ANY REASON? PROTESTING ICE IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. THE STUDENTS ARE BEING PROGRAMED TO BE ACTIVISTS, AND THE NEXT TIME, THE REASON

[00:25:05]

GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. CONGRATULATIONS, LILIANA AND LAUREN. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I AM AGHAST THAT SCHOOLS SUPPORTED AND CREATED AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH STUDENTS COULD STAGE A PROTEST AGAINST A FEDERALLY AUTHORIZED GROUP TO DO THEIR JOB. I'M NOT SURE MY KIDS ARE IN COLLEGE, THANK GOD. I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT OR PROMOTE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR TO BE TEACHING MY KIDS. THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. AND YES, YOU CAN CALL IT SOCIAL ACTIVISM, BUT CANCELING SCHOOL IN ORDER TO ENABLE SUCH AN ACTIVITY, ANYONE WHO SUPPORTED HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES AND YOU SHOULD NO LONGER HAVE A JOB IN MY OPINION. SCHOOLS ARE PLACES FOR INSTRUCTION AND LEARNING, NOT TEACHING SOCIAL ACTIVISM. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. THE PLEASE DON'T EVEN CONCOCT THIS INTO SOME FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE. THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE FOR KIDS TO WEIGH IN ON ISSUES AND CANCELING SCHOOL A COUPLE OF HOURS EARLY. OOPS. CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME? OH YEAH. IS IS NOT THE WAY TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO DO THAT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER WAYS FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF POINTS IN TERMS OF THAT. SCHOOLS HAVE A DUTY TO PROVIDE A SAFE, ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS. ALLOWING SUCH THINGS TO TAKE PLACE DISRUPTS LEARNING FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE AND THOSE WHO DON'T. IT ESSENTIALLY PUTS SCHOOLS IN THE POSITION OF DECIDING WHICH ISSUES WEREN'T DISCUSSED, DISRUPTION AND WHICH DO NOT, DO NOT, WHICH IS INVITING INCONSISTENCY. AND I WOULD TASK THIS BOARD, NEW AND OLD MEMBERS, FUTURE MEMBERS, AND TELL YOU THAT IT IS YOUR DUTY TO NOT ACCEPT SUCH HYPOCRISY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DAVE FABI,

[00:30:16]

RESTORING TITLE NINE PROTECTION FOR GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN BY REAFFIRMING THAT THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, MALE AND FEMALE. NO SUCH THING AS TRANS. ALSO, IN JUNE OF 2025, THE SUPREME COURT DECISION USA VERSUS UPHOLD A BAN ON GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS.

RECENTLY, A NEW YORK JURY AWARDED $2 MILLION TO FOX VARIAN, WHO AT 16 YEARS OLD, HAD A DOUBLE MASTECTOMY, THEN AT AGE 18, SUED HER PSYCHOLOGIST AND PLASTIC SURGEON, CLAIMING THEY PRESSURED HER INTO SURGERY AND DIDN'T ADHERE TO PROPER MEDICAL STANDARDS OR CARE. NOW, AT 22 YEARS OLD, SHE'S DISFIGURED FOR LIFE. THE ASSOCIATION OF PLASTIC SURGEONS POSITION IS TO STOP ALL BREAST AUGMENTATION FOR GIRLS UNDER 18 YEARS OLD.

SINCE INTERVENTIONS ARE IRREVERSIBLE, EXPECTED BENEFITS ARE UNCERTAIN AND POTENTIAL HARM MAY BE LIFE LONG. THE AMA ISSUED A CLARIFICATION STATEMENT BASED ON AVAILABLE EVIDENCE THAT SURGICAL INTERVENTIONS IN MINORS OR MINORS SHOULD BE GENERALLY DEFERRED UNTIL ADULTHOOD. THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS NOW SAYS THAT THE DECISION SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE DOCTOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, NOT THE POLITICIANS OR TEACHERS UNIONS, WHO ARE KNOWN TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO KEEP SECRETS FROM PARENTS. LAST OCTOBER, STUDENTS FROM SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPLAINED BY ADDRESSING THIS BOARD AS TO THE EFFECT OF TRANS IN HIS LOCKER ROOM. WAS ANYONE LISTENING FOR ALL THE PARENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY? IF YOU'RE MADE AWARE OF THIS OR SEE THIS WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR SCHOOL OR SPORTS FIELDS, PLEASE REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL AND TO THE WEBSITE AND DI ED.GOV VERY SIMPLE ONE PAGE FORM TO COMPLETE. THE TIME IS NOW FOR HC AND ACTING SUPER DOCTOR MAC TO REVISIT THE CURRENT POSITION AND POLICY AND NOT PUT AT RISK THE LOSS OF FEDERAL FUNDING BY STOPPING ALL GENDER IDEOLOGY COUNSELING, SECRETS FROM PARENTS, SCL, DII SOCIAL TEACHINGS SUCH AS CAPTURING KIDS HEARTS, THE WHOLE CHILD EDUCATION, AND ON AND ON. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, MELISSA HAHN FROM DISTRICT D ASKED THE BOARD TO REMOVE THE FOLLOWING BOOKS IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT HER STUDENTS IN HER DISTRICT AND ALL OF HER HC GENDERQUEER.

FLAMER. LAWN BOY, ALL BOYS IN BLUE A IS FOR ACTIVIST AND LET'S TALK ABOUT IT. PLEASE CONSIDER ALLOWING BOARD MEMBERS TO REPRESENT PARENTS TO ELIMINATE UNFORESEEN. MR. PITTINGTON, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. BOARD. MY NAME IS TOM PITTINGTON AND I'M WITH THE BLACK ROBE REGIMENT. FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING EVERYBODY SAID ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM RIGHT HERE. I'LL JUST STAND WITH THAT. BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ANGLE. MR. MCVICAR, I WANT TO TALK DIRECTLY TO YOU TONIGHT. WHY? WELL, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON THAN YOU ARE TONIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO LEARN, YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF EXPERIENCES. THE REST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, NOT SO MUCH. SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF PIECES OF UNSOLICITED ADVICE TO START OFF WITH. DOCTOR BOLSON I DON'T KNOW HOW HOW, HOW WELL YOU KNEW HIM OR NOT, BUT HIS IS A TRAGIC EXAMPLE OF JUST BAD DECISIONS, BAD CIRCUMSTANCES, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT HIM FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT LEARNING EXAMPLE FOR YOU PROFESSIONALLY AS YOU'RE MOVING UP. BECAUSE I PROMISE YOU, AS YOU MOVE UP PROFESSIONALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO ENCOUNTER OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAKE REALLY BAD DECISIONS ALONG THE WAY.

THERE'S A THE MEASURE OF A OF A LEADER. AND EVEN AS A MAN IS NOT HOW HE DEALS WITH SUCCESS, IT'S HOW HE DEALS WITH FAILURE, HOW HE LEARNS FROM IT, AND HOW HE HANDLES THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT. AND THAT IS THAT IS THE MEASURE RIGHT THERE. AND THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, IS BE CAREFUL ABOUT PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON JOB TITLES AND EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS. HC PUTS A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON THAT, AND I RESPECT THAT. BUT YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT. REMEMBER, IT'S PHDS THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A WOMAN IS. WE EVEN HAVE A SUPREME COURT MEMBER WHO

[00:35:03]

LAST YEAR, I TALKED ABOUT ALFRED HILTON, THE HARFORD COUNTY HERO WHO EARNED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR DURING THE CIVIL WAR. TONIGHT, I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT AMERICA'S ROLE IN AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY ON THAT. AND ALSO AS IT WOULD PERTAIN TO THE PATRIOT PROGRAM, WHICH I HAPPEN TO FULLY SUPPORT. MY CONCERN IS TEACHERS THAT MIGHT BE CHOSEN TO TEACH THE PATRIOT PROGRAM AREN'T FULLY BOUGHT IN TO THE TO HOW WONDERFUL THIS NATION ACTUALLY IS. SO IF YOU IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THE NATION IS GREAT, HOW CAN YOU TEACH THE PATRIOT PROGRAM? BUT THERE'S A THERE'S A GREAT COMPARISON TO BE MADE BETWEEN THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION HAPPENED JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. BOTH OF BOTH OF THEM. THEY FOUGHT FOR INDEPENDENCE AND LIBERTY. ONE, THE FRENCH SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE US OUR INDEPENDENCE AND OUR LIBERTY. AND WHAT THEY GOT WAS NAPOLEON, A MAN WHO WOULD REINSTATE SLAVERY AFTER IT HAD BEEN LARGELY ABOLISHED AND MOVED FROM THERE. THE AMERICANS GAVE IT TO GOD. THE AMERICANS SAID, IT IS GOD THAT GIVES US OUR, OUR OUR FREEDOM AND OUR LIBERTY.

AND WE ALL KNOW THE THE PREAMBLE ON THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. THAT RIGHT THERE WAS THE STATEMENT THAT STARTED THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY, THAT WE ARE ENDOWED BY OUR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, THAT AMONG THEM ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. JUST TO GIVE YOU A CONTEXT, THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE CIVIL WAR, WHEN AMERICA WAS HAD TO WASH THE SIN OF SLAVERY DURING THE CIVIL WAR, THE TIME PERIOD, THERE WAS ACTUALLY FEWER YEARS THAN THE TIME PERIOD BETWEEN WORLD WAR TWO AND TODAY. SO IT WAS ONLY A FEW GENERATIONS THAT WENT BY. AND THEN WE WENT THROUGH THIS. WE DID THINGS IN THIS NATION THAT NOBODY ELSE IN THE WORLD HAD EVER DONE. FRANCE GOT NAPOLEON, WE GOT GEORGE WASHINGTON. AND WHAT DID GEORGE WASHINGTON DO? WHEN HE WAS DONE WITH HIS TERM? HE WALKED AWAY.

HE WENT BACK TO HIS PLANTATION. IT WAS THE FIRST REAL EXAMPLE OF A TURNOVER OF POWER IN A NATION THAT WAS DONE PEACEFULLY. AND THESE ARE THESE ARE THINGS THAT NOBODY TALKS ABOUT. AND MORE THAN LIKELY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT I I'D BE HAPPY IF YOU DID, BUT MORE THAN LIKELY YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THEIR ASPECTS OF HOW UNIQUE THIS NATION IS AND HOW OTHER NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, MANY EUROPEAN NATIONS, HAVE COPIED OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT. THEY DON'T DO IT AS WELL AS WE DO, BUT THEY DO IT LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND HOW THEY HAVE COME ABOUT. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY COULD DENY THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE DONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL IN THIS COUNTRY. YES, BAD THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE TO THEM. BAD THINGS HAVE HAPPENED TO THEM. THERE ARE STILL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING TO THEM. BUT IF YOU WERE IF I WERE TO ASK YOU RIGHT NOW TO SIT DOWN AND WRITE A LIST OF BLACKS THAT HAD IMPACT IN THE WORLD, YOU'D BE HARD TO FIND ANYBODY ELSE THAT WASN'T AMERICAN THAT HAD IMPACT ON THIS WORLD. I COULD GO ON FOR THE NEXT HOUR. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. YOU HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

PRESIDENT PAGE. THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL OKAY. THANK YOU.

[Board Member Comment]

[00:40:01]

CONGRATULATIONS LAUREN AND LILIANA. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. THANK YOU.

ORCHITIS. WELL, I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF BECAUSE I AM ON DAY NUMBER SIX OF THE JOB. BUT THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED ME TO TO BE HERE. IT IS AN HONOR TO SIT ON THIS SIDE OF THE DAIS. AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, IN HONOR THAT I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY AS I NAVIGATE THIS RESPONSIBILITY, MY EMAIL IS ALWAYS OPEN, SO PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT WITH QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I KNOW THAT TOGETHER IS HOW WE WILL FORGE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE CHILDREN OF HARFORD COUNTY. SO THANK YOU AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE REST OF THE BOARD. GOOD EVENING. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, MISS NIKITAS. WELCOME. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH YOU FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS. REGARDING MY OUTREACH EFFORTS, I HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY VISITED 26 OF OUR 53 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

REACHING THE HALFWAY MARK HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, AND WHILE I MAY SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, I CANNOT OVERSTATE HOW THESE VISITS HIGHLIGHT THE INNOVATION AND POSITIVITY THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS EVERY DAY. ON THE COMMUNICATIONS FRONT, THE FEBRUARY EDITION OF THE SMALL MONTHLY MINUTE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND WE FILMED THE MARCH EDITION EARLIER TODAY. THESE UPDATES ARE A GREAT WAY TO STAY INFORMED, AND YOU CAN VIEW THEM ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL. REGARDING LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY, TODAY I SUBMITTED A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO THE HARFORD COUNTY DELEGATION OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THIS LETTER ADVOCATES FOR EXPANDING THE VOTING RIGHTS TO INCLUDE THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR.

I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SIGNED BY SIX OF MY FELLOW BOARD COLLEAGUES, DEMONSTRATING STRONG SUPPORT FOR INCREASING STUDENT REPRESENTATION. NEXT, I AM CURRENTLY EXPLORING A POLICY INITIATIVE TO MAKE PERSONAL FINANCIAL LITERACY A GRADUATION REQUIREMENT. I BELIEVE THAT THESE REAL WORLD SKILLS SUCH AS BUDGETING, UNDERSTANDING, CREDIT AND TAXES ARE VITAL ARE VITAL FOR OUR STUDENTS POST-GRADUATION SUCCESS. BEFORE FORMALLY INTRODUCING THIS, I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME WITH YOUR THOUGHTS OR FEEDBACK ON THIS POTENTIAL REQUIREMENT. LIKE MISS NAKATA SAID, MY EMAIL IS ALWAYS OPEN. JAMES MCVICAR AT ORG SO PLEASE REACH OUT. I ALSO WANT TO ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF STUDENT EXPRESSION. CPS POLICY STATES THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINIONS AND I FULLY SUPPORT THAT RIGHT. HOWEVER, I MUST ASK THAT YOU DO NOT DISRUPT DISRUPT INSTRUCTION AND THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE SCHOOL PROPERTY. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE YOU LEAVE PROPERTY PROPERTY, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOUR SAFETY AND THAT IS OUR JOB AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TO GUARANTEE STUDENT SAFETY. FINALLY, BEFORE I CLOSE, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD PRESIDENT LAUREN PAGE AND BOARD VICE PRESIDENT WADE SEWELL. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU BOTH IN YOUR NEW LEADERSHIP ROLES TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. THANK YOU GUYS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, LILIANA. SO EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU. THIS EVENING WE WILL BE DISCUSSING DOCTOR BOLTON'S CONTRACT. WE ARE VERY LIMITED IN WHAT WE CAN SAY OR DISCUSS. SINCE IT IS CONSIDERED A PERSONNEL MATTER. WE HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE EMAILS IN REFERENCE TO THIS TOPIC. I HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE ONE. I HEAR YOU AND I SHARE MANY OF THOSE SAME CONCERNS.

WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION'S NEW ORLEANS

[00:45:01]

THANK YOU. MR. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH THE CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH. EXCUSE ME, I IT'S BEEN COLD IN HERE AND I THINK I'M GETTING MY HEAD'S GETTING STUFFY. WITH THE MANY AREAS IN THE COUNTRY LOSING LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN MARYLAND TO STILL HAVE ACCESS TO A PUBLICATION THAT WAS. THAT CHRONICLES BLACK LIFE AND CULTURE SINCE 1892. THAT'S LIKE 134 YEARS AGO. COPIES OF THAT PUBLICATION, THE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER, CAN BE OBTAINED WITH A SUBSCRIPTION ONLINE OR THROUGH THE MAIL. I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY IN MARYLAND, THAT YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THAT PUBLICATION, I WANT TO THANK JESSICA. AND EXCUSE ME, JESSICA, YOU'RE PRONOUNCING YOUR LAST NAME FOR HER EMAIL ON THE APPEAL THAT WAS DISMISSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IT LEAVES IN PLACE A FEDERAL JUDGE'S AUGUST DECISION, FINDING THAT ANTI GI EFFORTS VIOLATED THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FEDERAL AND FEDERAL PROCEDURES. COPIES OF THE EMAIL WAS SENT TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND I KNOW THAT THE REASON THAT I AM MENTIONING THIS IS BECAUSE WE DID HEAR FROM THE DAIS ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER AGAINST DEI, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS ON TEACHING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. I WANT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO MR. DAVID BAUER FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. HE DID NOT LET HIS DECISION TO LEAVE THE BOARD AFFECT HIS CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE SYSTEM. HE HAS PROVIDED EXCELLENT ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT THAT DATA, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE HIS INPUT AND HOPE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BOARD CONTINUES TO UTILIZE IT. I THINK THAT HE DOES AN EXCELLENT ANALYSIS THAT I KNOW I APPRECIATE. SO, DOCTOR, MR. BAUER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU TO TREY AND THE LEADERSHIP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE STUDENTS HELD A Q AND A AT THE END OF THE MEETING, AND IT WAS VERY INSIGHTFUL AS SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAD IN REGARDS TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD FUNCTIONS. FINALLY, I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE MANY COMMENTS RECEIVED REGARDING THE ACTIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND EMAILS RECEIVED. I DID NOT ATTEND THE CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS, BUT I HAVE ATTENDED TWO OTHER CONFERENCES AND THE MAY CONFERENCE. I FEEL THAT THE BOARD LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS AND BEHAVIOR. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATION, NOTHING UNCOVERED ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE CONTRACT. MUCH OF THE REMARKS RELATED TO BEHAVIOR, THE INDIVIDUALS PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, TOOK NO ACTION ON THEIR RETURN, AND THE PRESIDENT IS RESIGNED WITHOUT COMMENTS. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT WE SAY. THANK YOU, ALVAREZ. YEAH, I WANT TO THANK I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO BE HERE TONIGHT IN PERSON. I'D LIKE TO TAKE ASK EVERYBODY TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO SUPPORT THE HEALING OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE TRAGEDY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TODAY. AND I WANT TO I WANT TO WELCOME OUR NEW MEMBER TO THE BOARD, LILIANA, WELCOME TO THE DAIS. I TRUST THAT YOU WILL MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE LAUREN AND WADE ON THEIR SELECTION AS BOARD LEADER LEADERS. I TRUST THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE THE CONTINUITY OF THE BOARD PRIORITIES, WHICH WE'VE ESTABLISHED AS FOCUS ON ACADEMICS, SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND TRANSPARENCY AND CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNITY. A LOT HAS

[00:50:07]

YOU KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US. SO WE WANT TO KEEP THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. SO TONIGHT OUR FOCUS IS ON MOVING FORWARD. THIS BOARD HAS BEEN FACED WITH IMPORTANT DECISIONS REGARDING HOW TO MOVE FORWARD, EACH REQUIRING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES, PRIORITIES AND LONG TERM GOALS. THROUGH THOUGHTFUL DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION, THE BOARD HAS WORKED TO BALANCE DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES WHILE FOCUSING ON ACTIONS THAT SUPPORT PROGRESS, STABILITY AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE WE SERVE. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CAREFUL REVIEW, MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY. WE TOOK THE TIME NECESSARY TO ASK DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, CONSIDER LONG TERM IMPACTS, AND ENSURE THAT THE CHOICES WE MADE ARE SOLID, RESPONSIBLE, AND ALIGNED WITH OUR VALUES. AT THE CENTER OF EVERY CONVERSATIONS ARE OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR STAFF. THEY MUST ALWAYS BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR DECISIONS. EDUCATION DEPENDS ON STABILITY, TRUST, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO LEARNING AND GROWTH. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THEIR SUCCESS, AND OUR FAMILIES DESERVE LEADERSHIP THAT IS TRANSPARENT, SUPPORTIVE, AND ACCOUNTABLE. MOVING FORWARD, WE RECOGNIZE THAT BEAUTY COMES WITH NEW BEGINNINGS. NEWNESS BRINGS FRESH PERSPECTIVE, RENEWED ENERGY AND OPPORTUNITY. WITH NEWNESS COMES GROWTH AND WITH GROWTH. POSSIBILITY. THIS MOMENT ALLOWS US TO NOT ONLY TO MOVE AHEAD, BUT TO BUILD SOMETHING STRONGER TOGETHER.

IT'S A CHANCE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH CLARITY, PURPOSE, AND RENEWED FOCUS. AND IN THAT SPIRIT, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBER, LILIANA ORCHITIS. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE FOR THIS PERSPECTIVE YOU BRING, AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AS WE MOVE INTO THIS NEXT CHAPTER. I WANT TO SINCERELY THANK OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY FOR THEIR PATIENCE AS THIS BOARD TOOK THE TIME NEEDED TO MAKE STRONG AND INFORMED DECISIONS. THAT PATIENT DID NOT, PATIENTS DID NOT GO UNNOTICED AND IT MATTERED. TONIGHT IS ABOUT PROGRESS. IT'S ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH COMMITMENT, CONFIDENCE AND CARE. ALWAYS KEEPING OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR STAFF AND THE FUTURE OF OUR SCHOOLS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, OLD BUSINESS. WE HAVE NO OLD

[A. Consent Agenda]

ITEM TWO. CONTRACT AWARD, FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT. ITEM THREE CONTRACT AWARD.

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY SERVICE. ITEM FOUR CONTRACT AWARD. COMMODITY PROCESSING OF USDA FOODS. ITEM FIVE CONTRACT AWARD. KITCHEN AND SERVICE LINE EQUIPMENT SMALL WHERE PARTS AND DESIGN AND OR INSTALLATION. ITEM SIX CONTRACT AWARD. OFF THE FLEET. OFF THE LOT. FLEET PURCHASES AND ITEM SEVEN MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS DECEMBER 15TH, 2025 AND JANUARY 12TH, 2026. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT PAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ITEM TO BE MOVED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA. OKAY. WITH THAT SAID, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND APPROVE A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX AND SEVEN. I MOVED TO APPROVE THE REMAINING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I SECOND OKAY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR,

[A.2. Contract Award: Furniture and Equipment]

[00:55:11]

DOCTOR MACK, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO CAN SPEAK TO THIS? MISS JUDD, WOULD YOU OR SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT? YES. GOOD EVENING. I CAN SPEAK TO IT. THIS IS DEBORAH JUDD. THE CONTRACT IS FOR OUR FURNITURE NEEDS. IF WE WERE TO SPEND OVER $100,000, WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR FURNITURE. AND YES, THERE IS DAMAGE FURNITURE. WE ALSO HAVE FURNITURE THAT'S 40 AND 50 YEARS OLD THAT SIMPLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO IT IS PRIORITIZED THROUGH THE YEAR AS TO WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT INFORMATION YOU WERE PROVIDED, MISS ALVAREZ, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. SO I HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.

SORRY. I DON'T WANT TO CUT ANYBODY OFF. IF WE'RE GOOD. OKAY. WHEN I VISITED FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, MOST ALL OF THE FURNITURE HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED FROM SINCE IT WAS BUILT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE PRINCIPAL MENTIONED TO ME IS THAT HE WISHES THAT WE HAD BUDGET FOR, FOR THIS, FOR HIS SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SOME, SOME THEY WANTED TO REPLACE QUITE A BIT OF THE FURNITURE.

SO I JUST DID THE CALCULATION. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 54 SCHOOLS. ONE SCHOOL USED ROUGHLY HALF OF THAT $2.6 MILLION YOU MENTIONED, I BELIEVE. SO IF YOU TAKE 1.3 AND DIVIDE IT BY 53, THAT'S $25,000 PER SCHOOL. IT'S A PRETTY SMALL AMOUNT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF FURNITURE WE HAVE. YOU KNOW, IN EACH SCHOOL. I'D LIKE TO ADD TO MR. SEWELL'S COMMENT, MIND YOU, THAT THE AVERAGE SITE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY JUST A VERY BLANKET STATEMENT, BUT THE AVERAGE SIZE OF A SCHOOL IS LIKE 100,000FT■!. AND IF YOU TAKE THAT 23,000 FIGURE THAT YOU PROVIDED AND YOU DIVIDE THAT BY 35,000, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY, ACTUALLY, THAT'S LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OF STORAGE IN THIS COUNTY, BUT IT COMES OUT TO LIKE $0.65 A STUDENT. SO YOU'RE FURNISHING 54 BUILDINGS AT ABOUT 100,000FT■!S. AND YOU'RE SPENDING $0.64 PER STUDENT, I THINK, I MEAN, WE GET OVER $10,000 PER STUDENT. SO I THINK $0.65 IS ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SITTING ON OR USING THE PROPER FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT. WELL, THIS IS HAS BEEN A COMMENT THAT I'VE MADE TONIGHT. I'VE MADE IT BEFORE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE IT. IF WE HAVE FURNITURE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WE CAN FORECAST THAT, WHY ARE WE APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR OVER $100,000? WHY ARE WE NOT APPROVING THE AMOUNT IN WHICH WE EXPECT TO SPEND? WHY CANNOT, WHY CANNOT, WE CANNOT FORECAST WHAT OUR FINANCIAL NEEDS ARE. SO THIS THIS CONTRACT IS FOR WHO'S GOING TO GIVE LIKE SUPPLY US THE FURNITURE. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE NOT APPROVING. WE'RE NOT APPROVING FUNDS. THE FUNDS HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED IN THE BUDGET. WE'RE APPROVING A CONTRACT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO SPEND WHATEVER THEY NEED TO SPEND THROUGH THESE CONTRACT PATHWAYS OVER AND ABOVE $100,000. WHAT THEY SPENT LAST YEAR ON THE SAME APPROVAL WAS $2.5 MILLION IN A YEAR IN WHICH

[01:00:01]

AND WE PRIORITIZE AND ALLOCATE THE FUNDS THAT WE DO HAVE FOR THE NEEDS. WE HAVE. PEOPLE'S CHAIRS BREAK. YOU KNOW, THE FURNITURE IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. I HAD NO IDEA UNTIL, YOU KNOW, I GOT INVOLVED IN ORDERING IT. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO REPLACE A CHAIR CAN BE SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. SO WHEN YOU HAVE DESKS, YOU HAVE. CAFETERIA TABLES. SO WE DO PRIORITIZE THAT. AND MR. O'BRIEN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SPEAK TO ANY OF THE SPECIFICS WITH THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU WORK WITH THEM AND ADVOCATE FOR WHEN SCHOOLS NEED SPECIFIC FURNITURE, BUT IT'S THE BUDGET IS APPROVED SEPARATELY, AND WE MANAGE THAT BUDGET. THERE MAY BE A YEAR WHERE WE SPEND LESS THAN $100,000, BUT IN ORDER TO DO A CAPITAL PROJECT, WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE CONTRACTS IN PLACE TO PURCHASE THE FURNITURE, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS GOING TO BE WELL ABOVE $100,000. AND THEN, MRS. JUDD, THERE IS A FURNITURE LINE IN OUR BUDGET THAT OUTLINES HOW MUCH MONEY WE DO ANTICIPATE ON SPENDING ON FURNITURE, CORRECT? EACH COST CENTER, FOR THE MOST PART, WOULD HAVE A FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT LINE. YES. THANK YOU. MAY I ASK WHAT THAT AMOUNT WAS LAST YEAR? I DON'T HAVE THAT AT MY FINGERTIPS. WE CAN, BUT I CAN GET YOU. I MEAN, IT'S LIKE COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES.

WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR BASED ON HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD, BASED ON MANY THINGS MAY NOT HAPPEN THIS YEAR. I KNOW I MET WITH TEACHERS WHEN I WAS AT THE EVENT, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN ONE SCHOOL AND ANOTHER SCHOOL, AND THEY SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED BALLSTON COMING FROM BALLSTON AND GOING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, THAT THE CLASSROOMS DIDN'T HAVE CABINETS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I THINK WE REALLY IF IF AS A BOARD, WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE AGE OF THE SCHOOLS AND TO LOOK AT HOW THINGS ARE CHANGING AND, AND WE CAN'T THIS SAYS, YOU KNOW, MOST PURCHASES WILL BE FUNDED BY THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THEN THEY HAVE APPROPRIATE GRANTS. SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WRITE A GRANT, YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE FUNDS, BUT WE MAY STILL HAVE THE NEED. SO I THINK WE ARE MICROMANAGING WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS DOING FROM A LEVEL THAT, BASED ON LAST YEAR'S INFORMATION. SO THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM TWO. I MOVE THAT YOU TAKE A ROLL CALL. VOTE PLEASE. YES. SO THE MOTION IS TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT AWARD FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT. WHO? SECOND THAT I DIDN'T HEAR. I'M SORRY. WE BOTH MOVED, SO. YEAH. DO YOU WANT TO.

I'LL BE A SECOND. OH, OKAY. OKAY. MRS. PERRY? YES? DOCTOR? MUELLER. YES, MR. MCVICKER? YES, MR. CORN, I'M SORRY. MR. CORN'S ABSENT. MRS. HAHN, I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN. MISS BRUCE. YES. MRS. ALVAREZ? NO. MR. CURTIS. YES, VICE PRESIDENT. SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT. PAGE. YES. THIS

[01:05:03]

[B. Decision of Sean W. Bulson, Ed. D., Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, Contract Renewal]

[C. Decision of Sean W. Bulson, Ed. D., Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, Current Contract]

ANYONE ELSE? I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT WHILE I WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING, ACCORDING TO MY RESTRICTIONS, I COULD NOT VOTE ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I ABSTAINED FROM THE MATTER AND I WILL STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT I VOTED NO. SO I WILL MAKE THIS STATEMENT AS THE PRESIDENT. I WAS A YES FOR THIS MOTION. AND SO HERE'S WHY. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN GROUNDS TO CONSIDER TERMINATION UNDER THE MORALITY CLAUSE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT HAS FINAL AUTHORITY ON THE TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. IF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT WERE TO DETERMINE THAT SUFFICIENT GROUNDS DID NOT EXIST, DOCTOR BOLSON WOULD BE FAIRLY FULLY RESTATED TO HIS POSITION. IN MY VIEW, THIS APPROACH WOULD HAVE BEEN COSTLY, HIGHLY DISTRACTED, AND WOULD HAVE PROLONGED DISRUPTION THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AFTER CAREFULLY WEIGHING THESE REALITIES, I SUPPORTED AND VOTED TO END DOCTOR OLSON'S CONTRACT UNDER THE UNILATERAL TERMINATION CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT. THIS COURSE OF ACTION MINIMIZES UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, ALLOWS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER. I BELIEVE THIS DECISION WAS MADE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. I NOW LOOK AHEAD TO TO SEARCH FOR OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT, AND IN THE INTERIM, WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH ACTING SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR DIANE

[D. Dr. Dyann Mack, Acting Superintendent's Report]

[01:10:06]

ISN'T THAT HEARTWARMING? STUDENTS WORKING ALONGSIDE THEIR TEACHERS AND VETERINARIANS CARED FOR THESE NEWBORNS. WHAT AN AMAZING TEACHING AND LEARNING MOMENT.

THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS ON A DAILY BASIS. I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, MISS ORCHITIS. WE SHARE A SPECIAL CONNECTION AS WE ARE FELLOW FELLOW BELLAIRE BULLDOGS. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS HER PRINCIPAL AT BELLAIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT THERE. MISS NARCOTIZE HAS STEPPED UP TO BE A LEADER, AND SHE IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF OUR WHY. SHE IS NOW CHOSEN TO GIVE BACK TO THIS COMMUNITY DURING THIS CHALLENGING AND IN THIS MEANINGFUL ROLE. LEARNING AND SERVICE HAPPENS IN OUR SCHOOLS EVERY DAY AND IT IS HAPPENING IN THIS ROOM. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO SERVE CPS. LILLIANA, MISS PAIGE, MR. SOUL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PRESIDENCY AND VICE PRESIDENCY. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK WITH YOU ALL. I MUST GIVE A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR FACILITIES AND CUSTODIAL TEAMS, OUR FACILITY, OUR FACILITIES STAFF AND OUR CUSTODIAL TEAMS WORKED 36 CONSECUTIVE HOURS CLEARING SNOW TO PREPARE OUR SCHOOLS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. OUR CUSTODIAL TEAMS CONFRONTED EXTREME COLD TO ENSURE THAT OUR ENTRANCES AND OUR WALKWAYS WERE SAFE. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CUSTODIAL STAFF AT PATTERSON MILL MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL FOR PROVIDING 24 OVER SEVEN COVERAGE TO SUPPORT THE EMERGENCY SHELTER DURING OUR STORM. I'M EQUALLY GRATEFUL TO THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM AND THEIR MANY PARTNERS.

MORE THAN 500 BUSSES WERE CLEARED AND PREPARED FOR SERVICE AFTER THE STORM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR FOCUS AND YOUR CONTINUED EFFORTS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR OUR STUDENTS. I'D LIKE TO SHINE A LIGHT ON OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. THE CLASS OF 2025. WE'VE HEARD THIS TONIGHT, BUT IT IS WORTH MENTIONING AGAIN. THEY INCREASED THE GRADUATION RATE TO 91.95%, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATE THAT WE'VE HAD UNDER THE MARYLAND COHORT MODEL. HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS 5.5 POINTS ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE. ADDITIONALLY, 71% OF OUR 2025 GRADUATES MET AT LEAST ONE OF OUR NORTH STAR GRADUATION OUTCOMES. THAT MEANS THEY COMPLETED ADVANCED ADVANCED COURSEWORK. THEY WERE DULY ENROLLED, OR THEY EARNED A CAREER CREDENTIAL. THIS IS A SEVEN POINT INCREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS GRADUATING CLASS. THIS IS HUGE GAINS DUE TO OUR WORK THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CREDENTIALS. ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THIS WEEK IS THE KICKOFF OF OUR SPORTS FOR LIFE. OUR SPORTS FOR LIFE. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BEGAN THEIR ANNUAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT AT FOREST HILL LANES, WITH AN ADDITIONAL COMPETITION THAT WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY THE 11TH. MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES WILL COMPETE ON FEBRUARY THE 25TH. WE THANK FOREST HILL LANES AND THE MANY VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THIS EVENT POSSIBLE. FINALLY, JUST AS OUR TEACHERS USE FLASHLIGHTS TO SPARK LEARNING AND THE LOVE OF READING AND OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS STEP FORWARD TO SERVE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE FOCUSED ON TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND OUR TEACHERS ARE FOCUSED ON TEACHING AND LEARNING, AND THAT REMAINS A HIGH PRIORITY EVERY DAY. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE 54 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR NOMINEE NOMINEES THAT WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY, WHO PROUDLY REPRESENT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. CONGRATULATIONS TO A WELL DESERVING NOMINEES. AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANT US ALL TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN TOGETHER KEEP

[Future Meetings Review]

AND THE NEXT BOARD BUSINESS MEETING IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT 6

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.