[Budget Public Input Session on February 19, 2026.]
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ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON.
I CALL TO ORDER THIS BUDGET PUBLIC INPUT SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 19TH, 2026 AT 6:03 P.M. THIS PUBLIC INPUT SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. HARRY. HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT.
MR. MCVICAR HERE, MR. HORN PRESENT. MR. PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE, MR. SABRA. YVONNE, YOU'RE UNMUTED ON MY DEVICE. MRS. ALVAREZ. PRESENT. THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT. HERE.
PRESENT PAGE HERE. ACTING SUPERINTENDENT BECK, PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL.
THANK YOU. LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. 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. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE TONIGHT.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND ALL SPEAKERS THAT TONIGHT'S PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE FOR INPUT AND FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED FY 2027 BUDGET. COMMENTS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON OTHER TOPICS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH THIS EXPECTATION. I WILL NOW CALL ON MISS DEBORAH JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES, FOR HER PRESENTATION. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH MR. CLARK, OUR DIRECTOR OF BUDGET. WE'RE JUST GOING TO BRIEFLY GO OVER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND TURN IT OVER TO PUBLIC COMMENT. AS A REMINDER, OUR BUDGET AT HC EMAIL ADDRESS IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK AND SO FORTH AS WELL.
THANK YOU. YEAH. IS THAT ME OR IS THAT YOU? GOOD. ALL RIGHT. MUST BE. ALL RIGHT. AS A REMINDER, OUR BOARD PRIORITIES ARE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SAFETY AND INCREASING COMMUNITY AND PARENTAL TRUST THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND TRANSPARENCY. THE REVENUE SUMMARY THAT WE HAVE SHOWS OUR DIFFERENT SOURCES OF REVENUE LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, OTHER REVENUE, WHICH IS MISCELLANEOUS INCOME AND THEN ANY USE OF FUND BALANCE. SO FOR FY 27, WE HAD ESTIMATED $11 MILLION FOR REVENUE FROM THE STATE. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A REDUCTION OF USE OF FUND BALANCE OF $12,500,000. TAKING THAT TO ZERO. AGAIN, THE BOARD CAN DECIDE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE LATER, RESULTING IN A $53.9 MILLION REQUEST FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR A TOTAL REQUEST OF 7.8% IN OUR BUDGET. I'LL BRIEFLY GO THROUGH THESE DETAILS. THE FIRST AND THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE INCREASE IS $28.3 MILLION, WHICH IS OUR ESTIMATED WAGE PACKAGE BASED OFF OF BOARD PARAMETERS THAT WERE SET EARLIER IN THE YEAR. IN CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT. WE HAVE SEVERAL ITEMS HERE. THE FIRST, THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT TO OPERATING THAT IS A REQUIRED ADDITION TO THE BUDGET. WE IN THE CURRENT YEAR WE HAD PRE-K EXPANSION, AND PART OF THAT REQUIREMENT IS THAT IT TRANSFERS TO THE OPERATING BUDGET IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THE OTHER FTE ADJUSTMENTS ON HERE, PARAEDUCATORS AND PRE-K TO SECOND GRADE TEACHERS, THAT IS, FOR THE EARLIER GRADES THAT THOSE ARE NEW POSITIONS. THE MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS ARE NEW POSITIONS. THE NINE TITLE ONE OVER STAFFS. THOSE WERE POSITIONS THAT WE ABSORBED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET IN THE CURRENT YEAR. BECAUSE TITLE ONE
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FUNDING WAS CUT SO LATE LAST YEAR. SO WE'RE REQUESTING TO BRING THOSE OVER BECAUSE WE DO NEED THOSE STAFF OR ABSORBING A COORDINATOR OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION AS WELL, BECAUSE THE TITLE FOUR GRANT IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO FUND THAT. THEN WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS THAT ARE REALLY PLACEHOLDERS AND ESTIMATES FOR NEEDS. WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE AN EXISTING TEXTBOOK BUDGET, AND WE NEED THAT OBVIOUSLY AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO WE HAVE THAT THERE.MOST OF OUR TEXTBOOK NEEDS GOING FORWARD WILL BE CONSUMABLES. THAT'S THE WAY THAT THEY'RE BEING DELIVERED. AND OBVIOUSLY AS CONSUMABLES WE HAVE TO REPLACE THEM EACH YEAR.
SO THAT ITEM NEEDS TO BE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. AND THE OTHER ITEMS ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AS NEEDS FOR FY 27 AS WELL. IN THE BACK OF THE BUDGET ONLINE, THERE IS A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THESE ITEMS, SO ANYONE CAN GO ON AND LOOK AT THOSE AND REFRESH THEIR MEMORIES. WE HAVE A SMALL INCREASE FOR GRADUATION FACILITY RENTAL, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE GRADUATION AT HCC IN OUR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS. THOSE ARE INCREASED EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE NOT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ABSORB. WE EXPECT TO BE OVER BUDGET IN THIS AREA FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. AS IT IS, WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN COST FOR PRE-EMPLOYMENT PHYSICALS, AND WE'RE SHOWING THAT REQUEST THERE AS WELL. INSURANCE AND OTHER FIXED CHARGES. AGAIN, THESE ARE ITEMS THAT SPECIFICALLY PERTAIN TO THE SYSTEM OVERALL WITH LIABILITY INSURANCE AS WELL AS EMPLOYEE INSURANCES AND OUR RETIREE INSURANCE. SO THOSE ARE INCREASES THAT ARE ESTIMATES. AGAIN WE WILL ADJUST THESE AS WE GET MORE FINAL NUMBERS. IF THEY ADJUST IN THE SPRING TIME. SO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU IN JUNE FOR APPROVAL OF A FINAL BUDGET, YOU MAY SEE DIFFERENT NUMBERS HERE. OUR ATHLETIC TRAINER CONTRACT IS INCREASING, SO THIS IS A PLACEHOLDER FOR THAT INCREASE.
AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL BE ENOUGH. WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS ON THAT CONTRACT. SO YOU COULD SEE AN ADJUSTMENT TO THIS NUMBER AS WELL. IN THE SPRING. SAFETY AND SECURITY. WE'VE INCREASED OUR CAMERAS AND WE NEED TO INCREASE THE BUDGET TO HANDLE THAT ADDITIONAL SECURITY AND OUR NONPUBLIC PLACEMENT, TUITION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. THIS REFLECTS AN INCREASE IN NEED FOR THAT, AS WELL AS A SHIFT FROM THE STATE IN SHARE OF THIS EXPENDITURE. SWAN CREEK SCHOOL WE HAVE SIX POSITIONS FOR AN EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM AND IN TRANSPORTATION, BECAUSE OF OUR INCREASE FOR NONPUBLIC NEEDS, WE NEED THREE MORE BUSSES, WHICH WOULD BE THREE DRIVERS AND THREE ATTENDANTS FOR EACH OF THOSE. AND THEN OUR CONTRACTED BUS INCREASE FOR OUR GENERAL EDUCATION, WE'RE ESTIMATING A $2 MILLION INCREASE. SO THAT TOTAL WITH ALL OF THE POSITIONS NOTED IS 91 POSITIONS AND $52.4 MILLION.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY, AGAIN SHOWING THE 7.8% AND THE TOTAL BUDGET REQUEST, INCREASING THE 52.4 TO 72.720 $4.9 MILLION. AND THAT'S THE SUMMARY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL NOW HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'LL READ THE RULES. VIRTUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED BY THE PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST IN PERSON. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND FIVE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS. SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT.
WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR 3 OR 5 MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. WE ARE GOING TO START WITH VIRTUAL COMMENTS TONIGHT, SO I CALL ON MR. KYLE ANDERSON, PUBLIC INFORMATION SPECIALIST, TO BEGIN OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. PRESIDENT PAIGE. I'M GOING TO ADMIT THE FIRST CALLER NOW. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN 5195. YOU MAY BEGIN. IF YOU ARE SPEAKING. YOU ARE CURRENTLY MUTED. NOW THERE YOU ARE. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT DOCTOR MAC AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS MIKE SANTONI AND I AM A RESIDENT OF BEL AIR.
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AS A NURSE CASE MANAGER, I'VE SEEN THE DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS OF OUR COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS EVERY DAY, WHICH IS WHY I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FULL FUNDING REQUEST. I KNOW THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASES SIGNIFICANT, AND AS TAXPAYERS, WE MUST ENSURE EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND IS MANAGED RESPONSIBLY. BUT WE SHOULDN'T VIEW THIS BUDGET DEFENSIVELY OR AS A BURDEN. THIS FUNDING IS A MEANS TO A VITAL END, BETTER KIDS, BETTER OUTCOMES AND LOWER CRIME, INCREASED COUNTY WEALTH AND EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR HARFORD COUNTY FAMILIES. BECAUSE OUR SCHOOLS IS OUR GREATEST ECONOMIC ENGINE, I AM DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE 91 NEW POSITIONS PROPOSED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET. LAST YEAR, OUR DISTRICT SUFFERED A DEVASTATING LOSS OF OVER 140 POSITIONS THAT WE CANNOT AFFORD A RELAPSE OF THESE KINDS OF CUTS WILL ALSO LEAD 91 NEW EARLY INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT ROLES ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR. THESE ARE NOT MERELY LINE ITEMS ON A SPREADSHEET. THESE ARE EDUCATORS WHO DIRECTLY IMPACT ON THOSE VULNERABLE CHILDREN, PROVIDING THE FOUNDATIONAL SUPPORT THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND THRIVE. THAT'S THE MOST TALKED ABOUT TALENT RETENTION.WE SPENT YEARS IN SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATORS IN THE STATE. HOWEVER, IF WE DO NOT PROVIDE COMPETITIVE WAGES, INCLUDING THE BLUEPRINT MANDATES, WE ARE ESSENTIALLY RUNNING A TAXPAYER FUNDED TRAINING CAMP FOR OTHER COUNTIES. WE HIRE THEM, TRAIN THEM, AND THEN WE LOSE THEM TO BETTER PAY ELSEWHERE AND TO KEEP OUR HOMEGROWN TALENT IS SIMPLY GOOD BUSINESS. FINALLY, WE NEED TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE LONG TERM ROI OF THIS BUDGET. EVERY DOLLAR WE INVEST IN HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND STUDENT SUPPORT SAVES US EXPONENTIALLY MORE IN THE LONG RUN. PROPER EDUCATION IS THE MOST EFFICIENT FORM OF CRIME PREVENTION WE HAVE. LEAVING CHILDREN UNDERSERVED DOESN'T SAVE US MONEY, IT MERELY SHIFTS THE FINANCIAL BURDEN TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO THE COURTS, AND TO HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE SYSTEMS DOWN THE ROAD.
I URGE THIS BOARD TO STAND CONFIDENTLY BEHIND THE FULL REQUEST AND NOT TO REDUCE IT TO APPEASE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, FULFILLING OUR LOCAL SHARE OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE ISN'T JUST ABOUT COMPLYING WITH THE LAW, IT'S ABOUT SECURING THE RESOURCES OUR COUNTY DESERVES AND MAINTAINING OUR COMPETITIVE EDGE. NATIONALLY, WE ARE SEEING A TROUBLING TREND WHERE WE ARE FALLING SHORT ON OUR FUNDAMENTAL PROMISE TO LEAVE THE NEXT GENERATION BETTER OFF. WE HAVE THE POWER TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THIS TREND RIGHT HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. LET'S REJECT THE NARRATIVE OF DECLINE AND SHOW OUR KIDS THAT THEIR FUTURES ARE THE ONE ASSET WE WILL NEVER STOP INVESTING IN AND FIGHTING FOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR SERVICE, AND YOUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES. YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN. YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATIE YORK. I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE ASK FOR WHAT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACTUALLY NEEDS, NOT FOR WHAT YOU THINK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MIGHT DECIDE TO FUND. HE HAS SHOWN REPEATEDLY THAT HE DOES NOT SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION. WE NEED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN CLASSES BUT ALSO BE PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPPORT. STUDENTS NEED SPECIALIZED SERVICES THOSE LIKE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THOSE WITH DISABILITIES THAT HAVE I, 504 AND IEPS. THE INCREASE OF OUT-OF-DISTRICT PLACEMENT MEANS WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE STUDENTS WITH IEPS. WE ALSO NEED TO BE PLANNING FOR OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOW WE WILL REPLACE AND REPAIR. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EMPLOYEES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO THEIR JOB EFFECTIVELY, AND PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL STUDENTS. I AM ASKING YOU AS THE BOARD, TO WORK TOGETHER. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE FRIENDS, BUT YOU ALL SHOULD BE WORKING TOWARDS THE COMMON GOAL OF WHAT IS BEST FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. PLEASE STOP WASTING TIME IN MEETINGS CLAIMING YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR YOU. YOU ARE TRULY NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET. AFTER ASKING AND SCHEDULING, SPEND TIME WITH THE STAFF TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. YOU NEED TO PURSUE THAT THROUGH OFFICIAL CHANNELS. INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. PLEASE STOP SPENDING TIME AND MONEY ON THINGS LIKE APPEALING STATE DECISIONS ABOUT LIBRARY BOOKS. FOCUS ON WHAT WE TRULY NEED, ADVOCATE FOR ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.
PRESIDENT PAGE. THAT IS ALL FOR THE VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR IN-PERSON REGISTER, PUBLIC SPEAKERS ASK SECURITY TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC.
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GOOD EVENING. I'M MIKE STEVENS, REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR THE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY.THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. IN KEEPING WITH THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THE MEETING, I 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. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS OR IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY NAME. IN THE CONTEXT OF A BOARD BUSINESS MEETING, THE PUBLIC INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF OTHER THAN THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. ADDITIONALLY, DISPARAGING COMMENTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND INFLAMMATORY REMARKS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS PERSONNEL. ANY PERSON OR GROUP ARE NOT PERMITTED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG IN OUR MEETINGS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER CONCERNS OR NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SHOULD AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DISTRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF 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, MR. STEVENS. MISS ROLOFF, YOU'LL BEGIN THE IN PERSON REGISTERED PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
THIS EVENING. WE HAVE TEN IN-PERSON SPEAKERS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH DAVID BOWERS, FOLLOWED BY GENE AND CRYSTAL. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BOWER TO BEGIN. THANK YOU ALL FOR MOVING THIS SESSION. SO IT DIDN'T CONFLICT WITH THE COUNTY'S VERSION, ALTHOUGH I WONDER IF CONFLICT WAS DONE BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ON PURPOSE. SINCE THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS SESSION IS TO GET BUDGET PRIORITIES, HERE ARE A FEW. NUMBER ONE LIVABLE SALARIES FOR THE LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INFLATION AND THE HIGH COST OF LIVING AROUND HERE. TWO SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS TO INCLUDE THINGS LIKE PROPERLY FUNDED IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION OPTIONS, SUFFICIENT PAY AND RECRUITMENT OF SUBSTITUTES, AND ADEQUATE SUPPLY BUDGETS. I STILL HEAR ABOUT TEACHERS SPENDING THEIR OWN MONEY ON SUPPLIES, EVEN AFTER HELP FROM PARENTS, PTA AND THE HARFORD EDUCATION FOUNDATION. NUMBER THREE GIFTED EDUCATION AND MAGNET PROGRAMS. WITH ALL THE FOCUS ON GETTING STUDENTS TO THAT ARBITRARY PROFICIENCY LINE, PLEASE DON'T FORGET ABOUT THOSE STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE REACHED THAT LINE YEARS AGO AND NEED INSTRUCTION THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR LEVEL. ALL OF THESE THINGS TAKE MONEY, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MAY HAVE A SHORTAGE OF. SO RIGHT NOW, MY REAL HIGHEST PRIORITY FOR THE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS FOR ALL OF YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT AND THEN TO GO OUT AND DEFEND IT TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, TO THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION. UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHAT IT REALLY TAKES TO RUN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UNDERSTAND THAT BOARD MEMBERS LAST YEAR RAN A MAJOR EFFORT TO FIND COST TO CUT, AND THEY FAILED. UNDERSTAND HOW THE BLUEPRINT AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES ARE DRIVING COST INCREASES WELL ABOVE INFLATION. UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SCHOOLS PRODUCE SOME AMAZINGLY GOOD RESULTS AND THAT IS AT RISK. ADEQUATE FUNDING IS NECESSARY, BUT NOT SUFFICIENT BY ITSELF FOR SUCCESS. UNDERSTAND ALSO THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR
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BUDGET BEING FULLY FUNDED. IN THE TWO MOST RECENT YEARS, WHERE THE PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET DID NOT FULLY FUND YOUR REQUEST, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE INCREASED FUNDING IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IN COUNTY COUNCIL. I'M WILLING TO HELP. EMAIL ME WITH QUESTIONS. THANK YOU ALL. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. IT HAS BEEN 60 YEARS SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT, 1965. THE GOAL WAS TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC SCORES VIA INCREASED FUNDING BY THE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. FEDERAL SPENDING INCREASED BY 780%, STATE 2 TO 300%, AND LOCAL 150 TO 200%. REGARDLESS OF THAT MASSIVE FEDERAL PERCENTAGE, LOCAL TAXPAYERS FUND THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF K THROUGH 12 VIA TAXES. DESPITE ALL THIS SPENDING, LONG TERM ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DATA FROM THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION SHOWS THAT READING PROFICIENCY IN 17 YEAR OLDS HAS REMAINED ESSENTIALLY FLAT FOR 60 YEARS. MATH SLIGHTLY IMPROVED. THE LOCKDOWNS KIND OF TOOK US BACK A BIT. THE DATA IS VERY CLEAR IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT IT. HIGHER BUDGETS HAVE NEVER, EVER CORRELATED WITH BETTER OUTCOMES ACROSS THE BOARD. SO TO CAVALIERLY DEFEND INCREASED SPENDING WITH THE STATEMENT OF OUR GRADUATION RATES ARE UP IS EITHER LAZY OR INTENTIONALLY DISINGENUOUS. PARENTS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS HAVE BEEN TOLD AND CONVINCED FOR 50 PLUS YEARS THAT MORE SPENDING IS BETTER ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. ANYONE WHO REFUTES THIS IS DEEMED TO NOT CARE ABOUT EDUCATION AND VILIFIED. THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER EDUCATION DESERVES TO BE FUNDED. OF COURSE IT DOES. BUT WHERE IS THE TAXPAYER'S RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND YOU BOARD MEMBERS? IT IS YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE FUNDING GOES TO WHERE IT IS MOST NEEDED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS. BY THE WAY, THAT ONE OF THOSE COLORFUL PIE CHARTS, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINE PRINT, THE THE PART THAT GOES TO INSTRUCTION ALSO INCLUDES INCLUDES MIDDLE MANAGEMENT SALARIES. SO READ THE FINE PRINT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MASSIVE PARADIGM SHIFT TO CORRECT THE COURSE THAT WE'RE ON, AND IT IS YOUR JOB TO DO SO, TO DO THE SAME THING WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR 60 YEARS IS PATENTLY RIDICULOUS. AND I WILL SAY, ANY OF YOU WHO ADVOCATE FOR DOING THE SAME THING ARE ALSO PATENTLY RIDICULOUS AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL RUFFIN AND I'M A VOCAL MUSIC TEACHER AT HALLS CROSSROADS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I ASK THAT YOU PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS IN THIS BUDGET. I'M ON A BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT'S COMPRISED OF EDUCATORS AND STAFF AT VARIOUS LEVELS, AND WHO HOLD A WIDE VARIETY OF ROLES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. EXECUTIVE CASILLI CLAIMS HE STRUCK A DEAL WITH DOCTOR BOLSON. THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE WOULD NOT MAKE SENSE IF THIS IS TRUE. DOCTOR POINTON AND NOW PRESIDENT PAIGE HAVE STATED THAT ALIGNING WITH COUNTY REVENUE GROWTH IS THE PATH THEY WANT TO PURSUE. AS A CITIZEN OF HARFORD, I DO WANT MY TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT WISELY, BUT THE REQUEST DOCTOR MACK HAS PRESENTED IS NOT UNREASONABLE. IT KEEPS US WHERE WE ARE WITHOUT CUTS, AND IT INCREASES A FEW LINE ITEMS TARGETED AT OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES. THERE ARE CRITICAL NEEDS THAT CURRENTLY ARE UNMET IN HC, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GO UNMET. IF THIS BUDGET IS FULLY FUNDED, YOU HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE STUDENTS AND THE EDUCATORS OF HC TO ACT IN THE VERY BEST INTEREST OF HC. AT A MINIMUM, THIS MEANS ASKING FOR WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS. I MENTIONED IN MY COMMENTS AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET HEARING, THERE ARE PRIORITIES FOR WHICH HE HAS NO PROBLEM INCREASING AT A RATE WELL ABOVE THE COUNTY'S GROWTH. EMS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE. MANY CITIZENS IN HARFORD AGREE WITH THIS[00:25:05]
DECISION. THE BUDGET GROUP THAT I SERVE ON HAS SPENT HOURS LOOKING THROUGH PAST BUDGETS BETWEEN FUNDS THAT ARE MOVED BETWEEN CATEGORIES, FUNDS THAT ARE UNSPENT YEAR TO YEAR, POSITIONS THAT CONTINUE TO BE BUDGETED FOR AND GO UNFILLED, VARIANCES, AND HOW PLANNED AND SPENT EXPENDITURES ARE REPORTED BETWEEN VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND AUDITS. THERE IS MONEY. IT COMES DOWN TO PRIORITY. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE DEEMED IT WAS A PRIORITY TO SPEND ADDITIONAL FUNDS SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE THE COUNTY'S GROWTH RATE FOR EMS. HE'S ALSO PAID OFF DEBT QUIETLY, AT A HIGHER RATE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS. ANOTHER VALUE MANY CITIZENS OF HARFORD SHARE.BUT HE'S MAKING THESE DECISIONS WITHOUT OFFERING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY INPUT.
THANK YOU TO DOCTOR MUELLER FOR ATTENDING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S INPUT SESSION. IT WAS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MYSELF AND OTHER EDUCATORS WHO WERE PRESENT. I'M DISAPPOINTED NOT TO HAVE SEEN OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THERE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS SESSION WAS INITIALLY SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY. I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO ATTEND. IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REARRANGE OTHER COMMITMENTS TO ATTEND AND TO SPEAK TUESDAY NIGHT, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT AGAIN TONIGHT, BUT IT WAS A PRIORITY WORKING TOWARD. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK TOWARDS AN APPROVE A BUDGET REQUEST THAT REPRESENTS THE BEST INTEREST OF HC, BECAUSE IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AND IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER ARE NEIL THOMPSON. THOMPSON AND KAREN JENKO. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PAIGE, DOCTOR MAC AND BOARD MEMBERS, I'M NEIL THOMPSON. I'M WITH. TOGETHER WE WILL. AND I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME TREMENDOUS PROGRESS AND GROWTH WITH THE DISTRICT IS MADE IN ACADEMICS.
GRADUATION RATES MATTER AND HIGH HAS HAS ACHIEVED ITS HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE SINCE 2011. OUR POST-SECONDARY WRITING THIS IS RATED VERY HIGHLY. HC SHOWED CONTINUOUS GROWTH OVER THREE YEARS, WITH THE LARGEST ACADEMIC GROWTH OCCURRING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AND THE DISTRICT HAS WORKED TO LOWER CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. THESE ARE ALL GOOD SIGNS FOR THE DISTRICT AND FOR HARFORD COUNTY, SO I URGE THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THESE MATTERS.
I NOTICED ON YOUR PRESENTATION TONIGHT THAT ACADEMICS ARE A PRIORITY, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT. SO I ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO GET THE MONEY TO CONTINUE THIS ACADEMIC GROWTH. PLEASE PULL TOGETHER TO DO THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PAIGE. DOCTOR MACK, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M THERESA THOMPSON. I LIVE IN BEL AIR. I'M A GRANDMA TO TWO HC STUDENTS, RETIRED TEACHER AND A MEMBER OF. TOGETHER WE WILL ADVOCACY GROUP. AFTER ATTENDING TUESDAY'S BUDGET TOWN HALL WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND THEN READING THE NEWS ARTICLE THAT WAS WRITTEN RIGHT AFTERWARD. I DON'T ENVY YOUR TASK OF SEEKING THE FUNDING NEEDED FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ADVOCATING FOR WHAT IS NEEDED IN OUR COUNTY IS CHALLENGING, AND I SUPPORT YOU WHO WORK TOGETHER TO FIND THE BEST PATH FORWARD. I URGE YOU TO BE BOLD FOR OUR COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, EVERYONE HERE, YOU AND EVERYONE SEATED IN THE CHAIRS BEHIND ME ARE INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR SUCCESS. OR WE WOULDN'T ALL BE HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE HERE. AND THANK YOU, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORTS. GOOD EVENING. I'M KAREN YANKOVICH AND I'M THE PROUD PRINCIPAL OF HALLS CROSS ELEMENTARY. AND I'M ALSO A PROUD CITIZEN OF HARFORD COUNTY, HARFORD COUNTY. AS AN EDUCATOR FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS, I HAVE FIRSTHAND SEEN HOW THE CHANGES IN SOCIETY HAVE DEEPLY IMPACTED STUDENT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT. TODAY, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE MORE FAMILIAR WITH OPERATING TECHNOLOGY DEVICES THAN WITH LEARNING HOW TO READ FLUENTLY OR COMPLETE. FOUNDATIONAL MATH OPERATIONS.
INCREASINGLY, WE ARE ALSO SEEING STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE TO SELF-REGULATE. STUDENTS WHO MAY STRIKE, BITE, KICK, OR SPIT AS THEY TRY TO COMMUNICATE THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT YET HAVE THE SKILLS OR SUPPORT TO DO SO IN A SAFER, MORE APPROPRIATE WAYS. PUBLIC
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EDUCATION IS DESIGNED TO SERVE EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF READINESS. HOWEVER, IDENTIFYING STUDENTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IS NOT THE RIGHT OR SUFFICIENT ANSWER FOR MANY OF THESE CHALLENGES. WHAT STUDENTS TRULY NEED ARE SMALLER CLASS SIZES, MORE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION, AND THE TIME AND SUPPORT REQUIRED TO BUILD STRONG ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL FOUNDATIONS. 30 TO 40 YEARS AGO, THE BIGGEST WORRIES FOR MOST CHILDREN WERE THINGS LIKE FINISHING HOMEWORK, MAKING THE TEAM OR BEING HOME BEFORE THE STREETLIGHTS CAME ON. TODAY, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS CARRY FAR HEAVIER BURDENS. ACADEMIC GAPS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL STRUGGLES, CONSTANT DIGITAL STIMULATION AND CHALLENGES THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO MANAGE ALONE. IF WE WANT DIFFERENT OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY, WE MUST PROVIDE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS FOR LEARNING FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS SO WE CAN REDUCE CLASS SIZES, SUPPORT STUDENT BEHAVIOR, AND STRENGTHEN EARLY LITERACY. AND MATH IS NOT OPTIONAL. IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY. SMALL CLASS SIZES ARE ESPECIALLY CRITICAL AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, WHERE THE FOUNDATION FOR ALL FUTURE LEARNING IS BUILT. THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS APPROVED A READING POLICY THAT WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT STUDENT OUTCOMES. CHILDREN CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN NOW AND KINDERGARTEN MAY FACE RETENTION IN THIRD GRADE IF THEY'RE NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL. THIS MAKES EARLY INTERVENTION NOT JUST IMPORTANT, BUT URGENT. WE MUST HAVE THE RESOURCES TO INTERVENE EARLY AND PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION FOR STRUGGLING READERS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR, ANY STUDENTS NOT READING ON GRADE LEVEL WILL RECEIVE A READING IMPROVEMENT PLAN. A TEACHER WILL DESIGN A READING IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH A PARENT. THEY MUST MEET MONTHLY. MONTHLY. THESE EXPECTATIONS ARE MEANINGFUL, BUT WITHOUT ADEQUATE STAFFING, INTERVENTION, SUPPORT, AND MANAGEABLE CLASS SIZES, THEY WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVELY. PLEASE FUND OUR SCHOOLS. I WELCOME ANY OF YOU TO COME TO MY SCHOOL AT HALLS CROSSROADS. I AM THE ONLY NATIONAL DISTINGUISHED STATE SCHOOL IN HARFORD COUNTY AND ONE OF TWO IN MARYLAND, ONE OF TWO IN MARYLAND. AND MANY OF YOU DIDN'T CONGRATULATE. I HAVE THE THIRD HIGHEST RANK IN THE STATE, MA'AM. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE KATHY KOWALEWSKI, CINDY COBURN, AND NOAH HUTTON. GOOD EVENING. AS A 32 YEAR EMPLOYEE OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE BUDGET STRUGGLES THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GOES THROUGH ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND I ALSO DO NOT ENVY THE JOB YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW. THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY ROUGH, AND SOME OF THE BUDGET DEMANDS HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THERE ARE BLUEPRINT MANDATES THAT MUST BE MET, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THE BLUEPRINT OR NOT. WE ALSO HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN GENERAL. AND I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I AM IN A POSITION WHERE I TEST THOSE STUDENTS AND DETERMINE IF THEY HAVE DISABILITIES, AS WELL AS IN THE NUMBER OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE PLACEMENTS OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE CAN PROVIDE WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS. ON JULY 1ST, 2022, A STATE LAW TOOK EFFECT WHICH BANNED THE USE OF SECLUSION IN PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT RESULTED IN ANY STUDENT IN HCPCS THAT REQUIRED SECLUSION AS PART OF THEIR IEP, NEEDING A NONPUBLIC PLACEMENT THAT IMPACTED ROUGHLY 15 STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY AT THAT TIME, TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1.5 MILLION. OUR REGIONAL PROGRAMS WITHIN HC, DESIGNED TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR NEEDIEST STUDENTS, SUCH AS OUR STRIVE PROGRAM AND OUR CLASSROOM SUPPORT PROGRAM, ARE MAXED OUT, RESULTING IN EVEN MORE STUDENTS NEEDING TO GO TO THOSE NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS. AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, THOSE NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS COST APPROXIMATELY $100,000 A YEAR PER STUDENT. NOW, WHILE HC DOES NOT PAY THAT ENTIRE TAB, THE PERCENTAGE THAT HC WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY WILL INCREASE NEXT YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, OPERATING COSTS IN GENERAL HAVE RISEN AND THE INCREASE IN SCHOOL FUNDING HAS NOT KEPT UP.AS A RESULT, WE SAW THE ELIMINATION OF STUDENT FACING POSITIONS AND THE INCREASE IN CLASS SIZES. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE DECREASE STUDENT SAFETY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WHILE INCREASING TEACHER STRESS AND WORKLOADS, THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE MAKEUP OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION HAS BEEN CHANGING OVER THE YEARS, AND OUR STUDENTS REQUIRE MORE SUPPORT NOW THAN EVER. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY HAVE LOWER TEST SCORES
[00:35:03]
ON STANDARDIZED TESTS, POOR GRADES IN SCHOOL, AND LOWER EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, THEREFORE REQUIRING MORE SUPPORT. OUR PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL AND RECEIVING FREE AND REDUCED MEALS HAS RISEN BY ALMOST 15% OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, TO 44% OF OUR TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION. MY ASK OF THIS BOARD IS TO ASK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE NEED TO HELP SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS, AND NOT JUST WHAT YOU THINK WE MAY GET. LET BOB CASSILLY SHOW HOW MUCH HE DOES OR DOES NOT VALUE THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING BOARD. MY NAME IS CINDY POPER.I'M AN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION TECH AT BEL AIR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A PROUD SP. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD. I KNOW SHOCK FOR THEIR RECOGNITION OF ESPS. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS YOU'VE MADE IN ACKNOWLEDGING ESPS NECESSITY IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO ADJUST OUR COMPENSATION THIS YEAR. WE THANK YOU. NOW, ON TO THE BUDGET. REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE LAND WITH THE BUDGET, THE MOST IMPORTANT EFFORT WILL BE THE ADVOCACY BY YOU, THE BOARD, WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL. EDUCATORS ACROSS THE COUNTY HAVE ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BUT WE NEED YOU.
SADLY, ONLY ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD WAS AT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET INPUT HEARING THE OTHER NIGHT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR MUELLER. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE. AND SOME OF YOU SHOULD HAVE SPOKEN OF THE NECESSITY OF FULLY FUNDING THE BUDGET. ASK THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT HC NEEDS TO SURVIVE. THAT'S SURVIVE, NOT THRIVE. PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO ENGAGE YOU IN BACKROOM DEALS OR PROMISES THAT WOULD REDUCE THE ASK THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. STAY STRONG IN YOUR COMMITMENT TO HC AND CONTINUE TO ASK FOR WHAT WE REALLY NEED. ADVOCACY AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FUNDING THAT WE NEED. DO NOT GIVE IN. STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, NOT WHAT IS. EASY. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS NOAH HUTTON. I AM AN EDUCATOR AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN I ALSO GRADUATED FROM NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL. SO I'VE BEEN IN HARFORD COUNTY FOR A PRETTY LONG TIME. I STRONGLY URGE THE BOARD TO FULLY FUND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING CYCLE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR WHAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. CLASS SIZES ARE GROWING, DEPARTMENT BUDGETS ARE DECREASING. MORE STAFF IS NEEDED TO MANAGE INCREASED FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF BEHAVIORS AND LEGAL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH SUCH THINGS AS 504 PLANS, IEPS, AND THEN ALSO ELL STUDENTS. ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. REDUCE WORKLOAD IS NEEDED TO ADDRESS STAFF SHORTAGES, AS WELL AS ONE REASON WHY VACANCIES IS BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS ON THOSE POSITIONS. STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTY FROM SP TO CERTIFICATED TO ADMINISTRATION, SEE MORE AND MORE STRESSED AND STRETCHED AND STRESSED. EVERY DAY, MORE AND MORE EDUCATORS CONFIDE IN ME THAT THEY ARE APPLYING FOR OTHER JOBS, CONSIDERING GOING ON FMLA DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH REASONS. AND LOST MY PLACE. SORRY AND ARE UNSURE IF THEY ARE GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT THROUGH THE YEAR. WHEN I FIRST STARTED ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN 1 OR 2 PEOPLE IN MY BUILDING TOTAL. I'M GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S 3 TO 5 PEOPLE ON A MONTHLY BASIS, TALKING TO ME ABOUT THEIR CONCERNS, MAKING IT THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE MORE RESOURCES THAT CAN BE PUT INTO ADDRESSING STAFF CONCERNS, HELP WITH RETENTION AND ALLOW EDUCATORS TO FOCUS ON INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WILL HELP COMBAT THESE ISSUES. WE NEED TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, AND WE NEED TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND GROW AS A COUNTY EACH YEAR. WE CAN'T BE RESPONSIVE TO WHAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAYS THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE. WE NEED THE RESOURCES, TIME AND AUTONOMY TO BE PROACTIVE PROFESSIONALS TO PREVENT EMERGENCIES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE TO BE AMBITIOUS, TRANSPARENT AND CLEARLY COMMUNICATE WHAT WE NEED AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HOLD POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY DON'T MEET THESE NEEDS. THANK YOU. WE DID HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL SPEAKER FOR A TOTAL OF 11 SPEAKERS. SO NEXT WE HAVE LUCY BUXTON AND COLLEEN BIANCO. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS LUCY BUXTON.
I'M A RETIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER THAT LIVES HERE IN BEL AIR. AND I'M HERE TONIGHT TO URGE YOU TO ASK THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO FULLY FUND THE SUPERINTENDENTS EDUCATION BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THIS REQUEST IS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND
[00:40:02]
I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO HAVE YOUR FULL SUPPORT. PUBLIC EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONS OF OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC AND FUNDING SHOULD REFLECT THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR MAC AND BOARD OF ED. I AM COLLEEN BIANCO. I BELIEVE THE LOW ATTENDANCE TONIGHT IS NOT DUE TO LACK OF INTEREST, BUT RATHER THE SHORT ONE WEEK NOTICE. I DO APPRECIATE YOU MOVING IT FROM TUESDAY TO THURSDAY, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE AT TWO PLACES AT ONCE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU, DOCTOR MUELLER, FOR COMING TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET TOWN HALL ON TUESDAY. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS SITTING IN THE LIGHT VERSUS HIM SITTING IN THE DARK. LITERALLY. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO REQUEST IN YOUR BUDGET WHAT WE NEED. WE CANNOT PLAY THE GAME WHERE WE ASK FOR WHAT WE THINK BOB WILL FUND. WE PLAYED THAT GAME LAST YEAR AND IT CONTINUES TO BITE US IN THE BEHIND. WE ASKED FOR LESS THAN WHAT WE NEEDED AND THE CUT IN POSITIONS CREATED A DISASTER WITH STAFF. AND BOB GETS TO CLAIM THAT HE FULLY FUNDED US. NO, HE DID NOT. HE HAS BEEN UNDERFUNDED BY $235 MILLION FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. IMAGINE WHAT WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD HAVE DONE IF WE GOT WHAT WE ACTUALLY ASKED FOR. I'M SO TIRED OF CERTAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS SADLY SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T BE FUNDED BASED ON TEST SCORES AND OTHER EXCUSES.WHAT DO THEY THINK HAPPENS WHEN A SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CONSISTENTLY UNDERFUNDED? EDUCATORS ARE BUSTING THEIR BACKS DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO KEEP THE BOAT FLOATING AND SAILING. DESPITE THE CONSTANT DISRESPECT AND THE NONSTOP PILE OF EXPECTATIONS DUMPED ON US AS AN ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR. NOTHING, I REPEAT, NOTHING HAS COME OFF MY TEACHING PLATE. IT IS INSULTING AND INFURIATING TO HEAR ABOUT HOW WE AS EDUCATORS NEVER DO ENOUGH. EVEN THOUGH I AM GIVING MY ALL EVERY MINUTE, EVERY DAY, EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 24 YEARS HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T TAUGHT IN A CLASSROOM SINCE COVID OR NEVER, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH. DOCTOR MACK, PLEASE REQUEST A BUDGET THAT TRULY REFLECTS OUR NEEDS AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM. ASK FOR WHAT WE NEED SO WE CAN HAVE THE HIGH QUALITY PEOPLE. AS MENTIONED EARLIER IN THE ONLINE COMMENT AND THE RESOURCES TO NOT JUST SURVIVE BY THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH, BUT POTENTIALLY THRIVE. I NEED THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ALSO TO SUPPORT HER. ASK. THANK YOU FROM A VERY TIRED TEACHER. AND ALL THE REGISTERED SPEAKERS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION THIS EVENING. WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTRIBUTION AND INPUT THROUGH THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, THE BOARD ANTICIPATES MAKING A FINAL DECISION ABOUT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AT THE BOARD BUSINESS MEETING SCHEDULED FOR
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.