[Call to Order: Board President]
[00:00:04]
YOU ARE MUTED. CAN YOU PLEASE UNMUTE? OKAY I SEE HER ONLINE SO I WILL MARK HER PRESENT.
MISS NAKAI HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT. MR. MCVICKER HERE.
MR. KORN, I BELIEVE MR. KORN IS ABSENT THIS EVENING.
MRS. HAHN. I BELIEVE MRS. HAHN IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. MISS BRUCE HERE.
MRS. ALVAREZ. PRESENT. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL HERE.
PRESIDENT PAIGE HERE. ACTING SUPERINTENDENT MACK PRESENT.
THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU. EVERYONE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL RIGHT. SO 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.
BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAMES 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 THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR A NO.
THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? MRS DIANE I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.
CAROL. BRUCE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. WE WILL NOW CALL ON WHO'S OUR DJ TO READ THE MEETING'S RULES OF ORDER. SCARE ME. 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.
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.
COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE BOARD, AND IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ADDRESS OR IDENTIFY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BY NAME, IN THE CONTEXT OF A BOARD BUSINESS MEETING. THE PUBLIC INCLUDES SCHOOL STAFF OTHER THAN THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ADDITIONALLY, DISPARAGING COMMENTS, PERSONAL ATTACKS, AND INFLAMMATORY REMARKS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS PERSONNEL, ANY PERSON OR GROUP ARE NOT PERMITTED. WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING A RESPECTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG IN OUR MEETINGS.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER CONCERNS OR NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. SHOULD AN ATTENDEE ENGAGE IN ONE OF THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIORS, THUS DETRACTING FROM THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING, THE ATTENDEE WILL RECEIVE A WARNING TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE THE PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR.
ONCE THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED, ALL ATTENDEES SHOULD EXIT THE BOARD MEETING ROOM.
[Public Comment]
TONIGHT. VIRTUAL SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS.IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE BOARD SECRETARY.
SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT.
WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR 3 OR 5 MINUTE MARK, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE.
WE WILL START WITH VIRTUAL SPEAKERS TONIGHT, SO I WILL CALL ON MISS GILLIAN, LATER, MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS, TO BEGIN VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PAGE.
AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO ONE WAITING IN THE VIRTUAL LOBBY.
OKAY. WE WILL START WITH IN-PERSON REGISTERED SPEAKERS.
PRESIDENT PAGE THIS EVENING WE HAVE EIGHT IN-PERSON SPEAKERS.
WE WILL START WITH NICOLE SHELFORD, DAVID BAUER, AND WILLIAM MARTINO.
[00:05:01]
I'M SORRY. WILLIAM MARTINO WAS SCHEDULED FOR VIRTUAL, SO WE HAVE CHRISTEL RUFENACHT.IS THERE NICOLE SHELFORD? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTEL RUFENACHT.
GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER. I WAS LOOKING AT THE NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THIS EVENING, AND I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT IT PREEMPTIVELY CUTS POSITIONS. IN TONIGHT'S BUDGET PRESENTATION ON LINE SIX, IT LISTS NINE OVERSTEPS.
THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS FROM THE JANUARY 12TH MEETING IS THAT THESE ARE TEACHING POSITIONS THAT WERE FUNDED BY FEDERAL TITLE ONE FUNDS WHICH WAS CUT VERY LATE IN THE LOCAL BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR.
THE ADMINISTRATION CHOSE TO KEEP THE POSITIONS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AS OVER STAFF POSITIONS.
SO IF YOU CUT THAT ITEM, YOU'RE CUTTING CURRENT TEACHING POSITIONS.
WAS THAT YOUR INTENT? THE NEXT LINE, WHICH YOU ARE ALSO PROPOSING TO CUT IS FOR A COORDINATOR OF CAREER TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION AND MAGNETS AT THE JANUARY 12TH MEETING.
THE ADMINISTRATION SAID, QUOTE, WE SEE IT AS A CRITICAL POSITION, END QUOTE.
IT IS ALSO A CURRENT POSITION THAT WAS FUNDED BY A FEDERAL GRANT.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW THE DECISION. I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS AROUND THIS DECISION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE IF THE ADMINISTRATION FOUND A DIFFERENT THING COVERED BY TITLE FOUR FUNDING TO CUT, OR IF THEY'RE JUST PUSHING THESE DUTIES ONTO ONE OR MORE OTHER PEOPLE.
I REALLY HOPE YOU AREN'T CUTTING THIS POSITION, BECAUSE THE FUNDING WAS SLATED TO TRANSITION FROM THE RESTRICTED BUDGET TO THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT TALKS YOU ALL HAVE HAD WITH THE COUNTY COUNTY COUNCIL, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THE FUNDING OVERALL.
I HOPE THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR CUTTING CURRENT POSITIONS ARE BECAUSE OF TALKS WITH THEM.
AND IF YOU MUST CUT POSITIONS, PLEASE CUT THEM LOUDLY.
SAY CLEARLY AND OFTEN THAT YOU ARE CUTTING POSITIONS BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FUNDING.
TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL CUTS. TALK ABOUT THE STATE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE DRIVING INCREASES.
TALK ABOUT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION'S CAMPAIGN OF MISINFORMATION AGAINST YOU.
YOU WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. THIS IS PART OF BEING TRANSPARENT.
PUSHING BACK ON THE MISINFORMATION, SPREADING THE STORIES FROM YOUR TEACHERS AND STAFF ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF THE CUTS ON THEM AND ON THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU ALL.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL AND I'M AN EDUCATOR.
I'M DISAPPOINTED TO SEE MR. AND MRS. HUNTER NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
MY COMMENTS DO DIRECTLY RELATE TO THEM. I STILL PLAN ON PROVIDING THEM TONIGHT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD WITH HOW PUBLIC? SOME OF THEIR EFFORTS HAVE BEEN. SO I JUST HOPE YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME.
MANY OF YOU HERE ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
I WANT TO I CAME TONIGHT TO SPEAK TO THE EFFORTS OF MR. CORN AND MRS. HAHN TO PRESENT HER LEADERSHIP, INCLUDING MISS DEBORAH JUDD AND HER TEAM, AS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND THE BUDGET AND TO MAKE A DECISION ON THE BUDGET.
WE SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE FUNDING WE ARE REQUESTING.
I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR KIDS DESERVE TO BE THE DRIVING FACTOR.
I'M ASKING YOU SET ASIDE POLITICS. MY LIFE WILL NOT CHANGE A LOT BASED ON THE VOTE TONIGHT.
I'M A NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A SALARY.
I GET TO PICK PRETTY MUCH WHERE I WORK. MISS JUDDS WORLD DOESN'T CHANGE A LOT EITHER.
[00:10:03]
GPS IS FILLED WITH EDUCATORS AND STAFF WHO HAVE CHOICES, AND OUR CHOICE IS TO BE HERE.I ASK YOU TO REVISIT EACH LINE ITEM WITH PROPOSED CHANGES AND CONSIDER THE CHILD THAT'S IMPACTED.
HAVE THE INTEGRITY TO SAY NO TO THE POLITICS AND YES TO CHILDREN.
THANK YOU. DAVID CHARLES HICKS AND CHRISTINA LANAKILA.
DR.. DAVID SABLAN. CHARLES HICKS.
MY NAME IS CHUCK HICKS, AND I'M. I'VE LIVED 70 OF MY 93 YEARS IN HARFORD COUNTY, AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SEVERAL GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE ENROLLED IN THE SYSTEM. I'M ALSO A RETIRED DEACON IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND HAVE THE CHURCH'S CONCERN FOR WHATEVER AFFECTS THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND I TRUST THAT MOST OF YOU HERE, HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU HERE, SHARE THAT CONCERN.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST EVENING, YOU MAY HAVE PERKED UP WITH HIS CONCERN WITH THE NATION'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEIR RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY PROGRAMS. MY EARS PERKED UP BECAUSE CLEARLY HE WAS INCLUDING THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE ONE THAT YOU, THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF ED, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THOUGH HE DIDN'T MENTION YOU BY NAME. THROUGHOUT HIS ADDRESS, THE PRESIDENT USED PERSONAL INTEREST STORIES TO HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT HE WANTS THE CONGRESS TO ADDRESS.
ONE OF THOSE STORIES INVOLVED A NOW 18 YEAR OLD GIRL IN THE VIRGINIA SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO, AT 14, WAS SOCIALLY TRANSITIONED TO A BOY BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITHOUT HER PARENTS KNOWLEDGE.
IN A CONFUSED STATE, THE GIRL RAN AWAY FROM HOME.
THIS YOUNGSTER WOUND UP IN A MALE BOY'S HOME WHERE SHE SUFFERED TERRIBLY.
FINALLY, SHE RETURNED HOME, WHERE SHE HAS GROWN.
WE MUST BAN IT, HE SAID. AND WE MUST BAN IT IMMEDIATELY.
AND THAT WORD IS FROM THE MAJOR PAYMASTER OF THE NATION'S SCHOOL SYSTEMS. WE MUST BAN IT, AND WE MUST BAN SUCH BEHAVIOR IMMEDIATELY.
I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THAT THOUGHT AS YOU CONSIDER WHAT THE FEDERAL PAYMASTER IS SAYING.
A WORD TO THE WISE IS SUFFICIENT.
YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. PSALM 106.
BLESSED ARE THEY WHO OBSERVE JUSTICE, WHO DO RIGHTEOUSNESS AT ALL TIMES.
YET HE SAVED THEM FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. THEN THEY BELIEVED HIS WORDS.
THEY SANG HIS PRAISE. BUT THEY SOON FORGOT HIS WORKS.
THEY SERVED THEIR IDOLS. THEY SACRIFICED THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS TO THE DEMONS.
WE NEED TO GO TO OUR GOD AND FOLLOW HIS WILL.
THE CURRICULUM WE NOW HAVE IN PLACE IS VERY HARMFUL TO OUR CHILDREN, AND WE ARE CAUSING THIS HARM.
WE NEED TO REMOVE ALL GENDER IDEOLOGY TEACHINGS FROM THE CURRICULUM.
THESE ARE NOT ONLY LIES BUT A BELIEF SYSTEM. JUST AS RELIGION IS A BELIEF SYSTEM.
YOU DO NOT ALLOW CHRISTIANS TO TEACH THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM.
YOU SHOULD NOT BE TEACHING YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM.
TELLING THESE VULNERABLE CHILDREN THAT THEY CAN CHANGE GENDER, WHICH IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE, SOCIALLY TRANSITIONING THEM AND LEADING THEM TO BELIEVE THAT HORMONE THERAPY AND MUTILATING SURGERIES ARE THE ANSWERS TO THEIR CONFUSIONS HAS ALREADY CAUSED MANY TO FIND OUT IF THEY FOLLOW THROUGH AND THEN CHANGE THEIR MINDS, THEY CANNOT REVERSE THE PROCEDURES AND THEY ARE NOW FOREVER UNHEALTHY AND INFERTILE.
[00:15:03]
BUT I WOULDN'T EQUATE THAT WITH HAVING TO LEARN TO READ AND WRITE IN ENGLISH, OUR PRIMARY LANGUAGE, AFTER HAVING BEEN GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.STUDENTS SHOULD NOT EVEN BE ALLOWED TO GRADUATE WITHOUT THOSE BASIC SKILLS.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, YOU AS THE BOARD ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPOINTING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
IF YOU TRUST THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND MANY EXCELLENT CANDIDATES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FROM WHICH TO CHOOSE. THE PROCESS SHOULD BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT, SHOULD INVOLVE COMMUNITY INPUT, AND SHOULD HIGHLIGHT ACADEMIC SUCCESSES BORN OF OUR OWN HARFORD COUNTY. THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS AND GUIDE YOU ALL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE OFTEN FOLLOWED BY CINDY POPPER.
HELLO, MY NAME IS ALPHONSE GARCIA. THIS IS ON STUDENT ENGAGEMENT ON JULY 24TH, 1899 AT THE NEWSBOYS RALLY AT IRVING HALL. UNION LEADER KID BLINK ONCE SAID, FRIENDS, FELLOW WORKERS, THIS IS A TIME THAT TRIES THE HEARTS OF MEN.
THIS IS THE TIME THAT WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER LIKE GLUE.
WE KNOW WHAT WE WANT AND WE'LL GET IT EVEN IF WE'RE BLIND.
LEWIS WAS DESCRIBED AS A POOR, SCRUFFY IMMIGRANT BOY WITH RED HAIR AND AN EYE PATCH.
AS WORKERS, THESE CHILDREN LED A UNION FOR WORKPLACE REPRESENTATION.
KID BLINK LED THEIR UNION, AND IN THE FACE OF EXPLOITATION FOLLOWING THE END OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, THIS UNION STOOD FIRM AND FOUGHT FOR NOT ONLY THEMSELVES, BUT THE WORKING KIDS ALL ACROSS NEW YORK CITY.
THEY STAGED MULTIPLE STRIKES LEADING INTO THAT YEAR, GARNERING TREMENDOUS PUBLIC SUPPORT DESPITE CRACKDOWNS FROM NEWSPAPER TYCOONS, AND DEMANDED COMPENSATION. THEY HAVE THE CIRCULATION OF THE EVENING WORLD AND EVENING JOURNAL.
THESE KIDS BROUGHT GIANTS DOWN TO THEIR KNEES WHEN THEY WERE UNHEARD.
VULNERABLE AS THEY MAY SEEM, THESE KIDS WERE UNSHAKABLE IN THEIR UNITY.
THEY WERE TOLD THEY WERE ASSETS, SIMPLY A TOOL FOR THE POWERFUL TO EXPLOIT FOR PROFIT.
BUT THESE CHILDREN HELD REAL POWER IN SHAPING THEIR LIVES AND THE FUTURES OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES, ONLY BECAUSE THEY HAD THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AND TAKE IT.
THEY STOOD FIRM IN THE FACE OF NEGLECT, PROVIDED FOR EACH OTHER, AND FOUGHT FOR ONE ANOTHER.
BECAUSE THE POWERS THAT CLAIM TO NEVER CONSIDER THEIR PRESENT PERSONHOOD CHILDREN OF THE FUTURE.
BUT WE'RE HERE NOW, AND WE'RE SCARED. WE CAN'T RELIABLY EXPECT SECURITY AT OUR SCHOOLS FROM BOTH THE DOMESTIC TERROR THREAT THAT IS IMMIGRATIONS AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND BROADER GUN VIOLENCE FOR YEARS.
ADDITIONALLY, SCHOOLS ARE UNDERSTAFFED, OVERCROWDED AND UNDERFUNDED.
AND BROADLY, OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEM INADEQUATE AND UNABLE TO RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS AND TO EXTEND RESOURCES AND RESTRUCTURE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENT EMPOWERMENT. RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON RATHER THAN THAT, THEY FOCUS ON POLICING, STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND BUDGETING EFFICIENCIES.
WE NEED TO BUILD ON STUDENTS EXISTING CAPABILITIES AND FOSTER LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING IN A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, BUT RATHER, WE'RE MOLDED AND RANKED ACCORDING TO ADHERENCE TO THAT MOLD IN AN INCREASINGLY DESTABILIZED WORLD.
AND JUST AS THE MOMENT CALLS UPON US TO DO, WE WILL ORGANIZE AND WE WILL UNIONIZE.
AND NEGLECT OF STUDENT PERSPECTIVES. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
FOR THREE MINUTES IS UP. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. TONIGHT EACH OF YOU WILL MAKE A CHOICE. YOU WILL CHOOSE TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET OR NOT.
YOU WILL CHOOSE WHAT IS RIGHT, APPROPRIATE AND NEEDED FOR OUR SCHOOLS, OR YOU WILL CONTINUE TO LET THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF CPS FLOUNDER IN UNMET NEEDS. YOU WILL CHOOSE TO DO WHAT IS NEEDED, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE TO PUT THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ON THE BACK BURNER.
YOU WILL CHOOSE TO ACCEPT THE OPINIONS OF EDUCATION EXPERTS, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO A SMALL, UNINFORMED, LOUD GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS REQUIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.
[00:20:02]
YOU WILL CHOOSE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS REQUIRED TO KEEP OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AFLOAT, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO THE NAYSAYERS, INCLUDING OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHO THINK WE ARE ASKING TOO MUCH.YOU WILL CHOOSE TO SHOW THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF CPS THAT YOU HEAR US.
YOU ARE LISTENING AND YOU SEE WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE PARTIZAN POLITICS AND SHOW OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF YOU BELIEVE THEY AREN'T WORTH IT. YOU WILL CHOOSE WITH YOUR HEAD AND HEART IN MIND, OR YOU WILL CHOOSE WITH A BALLOT AND A VOTE IN MIND.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU WILL CHOOSE WISELY AND SOME OF YOU WILL CHOOSE POORLY.
TO THOSE OF YOU THAT CHOOSE WISELY, THANK YOU.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR EFFORTS. TO THOSE OF YOU THAT WILL CHOOSE POORLY.
WE ARE WATCHING. WE ARE LISTENING AND WE WILL REMEMBER.
AFTER YOUR CHOICE TONIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE.
WILL YOU STAND UP AND BE COUNTED WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BUDGET YOU APPROVE? AGAIN, SOME OF YOU WILL CHOOSE WISELY AND SOME OF YOU WILL CHOOSE POORLY.
WE WILL BE WATCHING, LISTENING AND REMEMBERING.
I WILL ADMIT THEM AT THIS TIME. GOOD EVENING.
YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND THE GROUP YOU ARE REPRESENTING. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN FIVE MINUTES. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.
WELL, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU. PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME AND YOUR GROUP, AND YOU MAY BEGIN. WILLIAM MARTINO, MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY.
GOOD EVENING. AMERICAN HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT PROSPERITY FROM OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
SADLY, AMERICA HAS SQUANDERED AND MISMANAGED THESE BLESSINGS.
FOR THE PAST CENTURY, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ALL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE RESOURCES PROVIDED TO THEM BY THE TAXPAYERS. A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE BIBLE ADDRESSES THE STEWARDSHIP THAT GOD HAS BESTOWED ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
THIS CAN BE EXPANDED TO THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
REQUESTING OVER 15% MORE FUNDS WITH LESS STUDENTS IS POOR HANDLING OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
ALL THE WHILE PRODUCING POOR RESULTS. THE MATH PROFICIENCIES OF HIGH SCHOOLERS IS DISMAL.
THIS BOARD MUST OVERSEE THESE RESOURCES AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM.
YOU CAN'T BE RECKLESS WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S HARD LABOR.
THE CORE MISSION IS TO TEACH YOUNG MINDS TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS.
THE RESOURCES NEED TO GO FOR THAT. WE NEED TEACHERS, PARAEDUCATORS AND TEXTBOOKS.
SO MANY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE THAT DOESN'T SUPPORT THE CORE MISSION NEED TO GUT THOSE DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS THE TALENT PATHWAYS DIVISION, AND GET THOSE EMPLOYEES IN THE CLASSROOMS. STAY FOCUSED ON THE MAIN THING. I FIND IT CURIOUS THAT THE TEACHERS UNIONS GO AFTER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO PONY UP ALMOST ALL OF THE INCREASED. WHY AREN'T THEY GOING AFTER THE LEFT WING GOVERNOR MORE? THE STATE TAKES 4% OF OUR WAGE INCOME FOR THE COUNTY, AND THE COUNTY TAKES THREE.
PLUS, THE STATE ALONE TAKES 6% OF MOST THINGS THAT WE PURCHASE.
THIS FEELS MORE LIKE A POLITICAL MOVE TO ARM TWIST THE REPUBLICAN COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN AN ELECTION YEAR AND LET THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR COMPLETELY OFF THE HOOK. THIS IS THE POLITICAL THEATER AT THE EXPENSE OF THE COUNTY RESIDENTS.
BLUEPRINT IS NOT COMING FROM THE COUNTY, SO GET THE MONEY FROM GOVERNOR MOORE.
HAVE THE UNIONS START PICKETING THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IMMEDIATELY.
[00:25:01]
20 YEARS AGO THAN IT IS TODAY. WITH GREATER TECHNOLOGY AT OUR FINGERTIPS, BUDGET DETAILS SHOULD BE AN EASY THING TO ACCOMPLISH.HOWEVER, AS MANY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD HAVE REPEATEDLY POINTED OUT, THE BUDGET LACKS DETAILS.
IS THIS BY DESIGN? DID THE BOLTON REGIME INTENTIONALLY HIDE THE MONEY AND WHERE IT IS GOING? WELL, HE IS GONE NOW, SO LET'S BEGIN TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE HE CAUSED AND BEGIN A MORE TRANSPARENT AND BE MORE TRANSPARENT WITH BUDGETARY BUDGETARY ISSUES.
IF THE BOARD IS NOT SURE WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING, THEN DON'T APPROVE THE BUDGET.
NO MORE OF THIS PASSING SO WE KNOW WHAT IS IN IT.
GARBAGE. DON'T TRUST THE EXPERTS. THE EXPERTS PERSONALLY GAIN IN THE SYSTEM, SO DON'T TRUST THEM.
HE NEEDS TO RETURN TO THE DAYS WHEN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOCUSED ON TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS.
THANK YOU. AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
GREAT. THANK YOU. SO NOW WE WILL START WITH BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS.
[Board Member Comments]
AND MISS ALVAREZ, I'LL START WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THAT SURPRISE.SO TONIGHT'S AN IMPORTANT NIGHT, RIGHT? WE'RE VOTING ON THE BUDGET.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS THAT THE THAT THE BOARD HAS EVERY YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, WE HEAR A LOT OF COMMENTS LIKE, WE NEED MORE AND MORE MONEY.
AND WE, WE GET BRIEFINGS ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE, THE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
RECENTLY WE WERE BRIEFED ON THE CURRICULUM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING NEXT YEAR.
AND IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT THAT COST THE COST FOR THAT CURRICULUM WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LESS THAN WHAT WE PAID IN PREVIOUS YEARS. SO WE HEAR THESE THINGS. YET WHEN THE BUDGET COMES OUT, ALL WE SEE ARE THESE INCREASES AND WE SEE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT ARE BEING PUSHED ON US FROM THE THE STATE.
AND WE NEVER REALLY GET TO SEE THE BENEFIT OF THE REDUCTIONS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF HAS NEGOTIATED WITH, YOU KNOW, VENDORS AND STUFF TO GET SOME OF OUR COSTS DOWN.
WE NEVER SEE THEM REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET. AND, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING TO, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET OFFICE, THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY OPEN TO MEETING WITH US AND PROVIDING US INFORMATION.
BUT THE YOU KNOW, I'M AN ENGINEER AND I LOOK AT THINGS FROM A SYSTEM ENGINEERING APPROACH.
THE THE BUDGET IS DONE VERY DIFFERENTLY. THERE'S CODING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THE STATE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY THAT THEY HAVE TO FULFILL.
THINGS SEEM VERY SPLINTERED. THERE'S NOT A STREAMLINING OF YOU KNOW, DETERMINING WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR AND LOOKING AT THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT OUR, OUR DEMANDS ARE. AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, HAVING WITH APPROVING A BUDGET WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO ENSURE WE'RE BEING GOOD FIDUCIARIES WITH THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
SO I'M, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT GOING FORWARD WITH A BUDGET THAT DOESN'T LOOK AT THAT HISTORY AND DOESN'T REFLECT SOME OF THE THINGS AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE GET THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DECREASES.
AND THEN THE BUDGET JUST INCREASES. THANK YOU, MR. BRUCE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN IN REGARDS TO THE BUDGET.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO AT LEAST ATTEND ONE SESSION OF THIS TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT TRAINING IS ABOUT, AND REALIZE THAT IT IS A PART OF THE STATE REQUIREMENT THAT WE DO THIS.
ON SATURDAY THE 21ST, I ATTENDED THE BLACK HISTORY EVENT AT THE HAVERTY GRACE LIBRARY.
THE MEN OF THE IOTA NU CHAPTER OF OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY HELD ITS 16TH BOOK DEDICATION PROGRAM.
COPIES OF THESE BOOKS ARE DONATED. COUNTY AND CECIL LIBRARY SYSTEM.
THE 2026 WAS DESECRATION, HAZING, PLEDGING AND INTAKE.
THE AUTHOR WAS RASHID ALI CROMWELL. HE WAS A GRADUATE OF HAVERTY GRACE HIGH SCHOOL AND IS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY WITH A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE CONSULTING FOR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS AT OVER 300 COLLEGES UNIVERSITIES IN 45 STATES.
[00:30:07]
ON THE IMPACT OF HAZING, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE STAFF TO UTILIZE SOME OF THESE RESOURCES IN REGARDS TO HAZING, BECAUSE IT BEGINS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WITH SPORTS, AND THIS IS A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE.MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN SUED.
THEY'VE BEEN LOSS OF LIFE BECAUSE OF HAZING AND INTAKE TO FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES.
SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE STAFF TO UTILIZE THIS RESOURCE.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT DURING THE BUDGET OPEN SESSION, MANY PEOPLE EXPRESSED THANK YOU TO DOCTOR MUELLER FOR ATTENDING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET SESSION.
I REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY AND IT'S NEVER BEEN HELD THERE.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE INDIVIDUALS TO LOOK AT THE BILLBOARDS SIGNS WEBSITE FOR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES GET SALARIES BEGINNING SALARIES THAT ARE LESS THAN WHAT THE TEACHERS GET, LESS THAN THE $60,000 THE TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO GET.
THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY GETS THESE BEGINNING SALARIES.
TO ME, THAT SAYS IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO LOCK PEOPLE UP THAN IT IS TO EDUCATE OUR STUDENTS.
SO I ENCOURAGE OUR BOARD MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, TO SPEAK OUT IN TERMS OF AND LET THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE VALUABLE ASSETS IN THE FUTURE, AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM, AS WELL AS LOCKING UP PEOPLE.
SO I HAVE ATTENDED THE COUNTY COUNCIL'S MEETING WHEN THEY'RE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, AND I ENCOURAGE FAMILY MEMBERS, STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS TO ATTEND ALSO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MR. MCVICKER. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANTED TO START MY COMMENT BY THANKING ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT CAME OUT TONIGHT TO SPEAK WITH US AT THE STUDENT LISTENING SESSION HOSTED RIGHT BEFORE THIS MEETING IN THE BOARDROOM. SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING. AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR SHARING YOUR CONCERNS. WITH US.
NEXT, I HAVE VISITED 34 SCHOOLS SO FAR ON MY JOURNEY AROUND THE COUNTY.
THESE VISITS CONTINUE TO REMIND ME HOW INCREDIBLE OF A PLACE CPS IS.
AND WE JUST HAD GREAT TEAMS AGAIN FROM HARFORD COUNTY IN THE PAST.
WE'VE WON WHAT, ANYWHERE FROM FIRST TO THIRD IN THE NATIONAL IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.
SO I THINK YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING ABOUT THAT AGAIN BECAUSE THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
SO I'M GOING TO SET THAT ASIDE FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE I HAD FORGOTTEN TO MENTION THAT.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT. THE BUDGET. YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WARNED ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE IF WE GO TOO HIGH ON WHAT WE ASK, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WON'T FUND IT. BUT HE'LL ALSO CUT IT BACK MORE, KIND OF IN RETALIATION FOR US ASKING TOO MUCH.
SO NOT SURPRISING THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY.
OUR TEACHERS, THEY ALL WANT INCREASES IN PAY LIKE WE ALL DID.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO BE A TEACHER, AND IT'S NOT A PARTICULARLY EASY JOB, AS I THINK MANY PEOPLE WOULD AGREE WITH ME, ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN EVEN THE LOWER GRADES. YOU CAN'T REALLY DISCIPLINE THE KIDS BELOW SECOND GRADE.
[00:35:07]
SO I THINK YOU NEED TO KIND OF LOOK AT THE SITUATION AS FAR AS WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE.OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS HAVE NOT BEEN GETTING A LIVING WAGE AT ALL.
THAT BEING SAID, I HAD SOMEBODY LAST TIME COME DURING OUR BUDGET INPUT SESSION SAY THAT WE DON'T NEED ALL THIS EXTRA MONEY FOR EVERYTHING. AND THAT MONEY DOES NOT EQUATE TO THE STUDENTS DOING BETTER.
BUT YET THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN SMALLER CLASS SIZES DO LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR THE STUDENTS, AND WHEN WE HAVE TO CUT STAFF CONTINUALLY TO MAKE UP FOR BUDGET SHORTFALLS.
THEN WE'RE MAKING OUR CLASS SIZES INCREASINGLY LARGER.
I'VE HEARD OF SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES BEING UP TO 40 STUDENTS IN A CLASS.
THAT'S A LOT. THAT'S A LOT FOR ANY TEACHER TO HANDLE.
IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY STUDENTS, AS I THINK MOST TEACHERS WOULD AGREE.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU'RE TALKING IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSES, IF YOU HAVE 28 KIDS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TEACH HOW TO LEARN, TO READ, HOW TO MAKE THEIR SOUNDS, HOW TO PRONOUNCE WORDS IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.
SO TO SAY THAT MONEY DOES NOT EQUATE TO BETTER OUTCOMES IS A LIE.
IT MIGHT NOT BE, OH, I PUT THIS MUCH MONEY INTO IT SO MY STUDENTS GET THIS MUCH BETTER.
BUT IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT ALSO MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON THE CONDITION OF THEIR BUILDINGS.
YOU KNOW, STUDENTS DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A DILAPIDATED BUILDING TO LEARN FROM.
THEY WANT TO HAVE A PLACE AT LEAST AS NICE AS THEIR HOME.
AND I THINK THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A PLACE THAT'S NICER THAN THEIR HOME.
TO GO. TO LEARN TO SCHOOL IS SOMETHING THEY SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO.
THEY SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A TEACHER THERE THAT CARES ABOUT THEM, THAT LOVES THEM, THAT'S NURTURING THEM. AND THEY SHOULD HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES THEM FEEL WELCOME WHEN THEY GET THERE.
SO ALL THESE THINGS HAVE TO DO WITH MONEY. AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ADDING A COUPLE DOLLARS HERE AND TAKING AWAY A COUPLE OF DOLLARS THERE, THE BIG PICTURE IS WE NEED TO HAVE THE PROPER FUNDING TO RUN THE SCHOOLS.
AND YOU CAN'T SAY THAT MONEY DOESN'T MATTER. THANK YOU, MR. ORCHITIS. LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED HARFORD COUNTY NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS.
AS SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE A LITTLE SLICE OF HOME AT WORK.
I WILL RESERVE MY COMMENTS FOR THE BUDGET. UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
I THINK THERE'LL BE MUCH TO DISCUSS THEN. I WAS ALSO HERE FOR THE STUDENT LISTENING SESSION.
I THANK THE STUDENTS THAT WERE HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATED HEARING YOUR INPUT. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE STAFF, THE ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL LEADERS AND PARENTS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME. WEEK THREE OF THE JOB.
BUT MY INBOX CONTINUES TO BE OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TALK.
LASTLY, I AM PRAYING FOR CLEAR SUNNY SKIES FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THE SNOW. SO WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK TO THE PRESIDENT.
AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PARENTS WHEN WE HAVE THESE IN THE FUTURE THAT THEY ENCOURAGE THEIR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE AND HELP TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, THAT TYPE OF THING TO GET THEM HERE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS HERE, THE STUDENT, THE STUDENT VOICE AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE AND THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE GO BETTER IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND THEN I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR WORKING SO HARD TO FIND SOME WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE OUR BUDGET. ASK TO THE COUNTY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING A BUDGET TONIGHT THAT REFLECTS WHAT WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH TO KEEP THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, AFLOAT AND NOT REGRESS YOU KNOW, INTO NEXT YEAR.
THIS PROCESS ISN'T QUICK OR SIMPLE. IT IS REQUIRED THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, AND DEEP COMMITMENT TO BOTH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND STUDENT SUCCESS.
OUR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE TEAMS HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS REVIEWING DATA, EXAMINING PRIORITIES, ALIGNING RESOURCES WITH OUR STRATEGIC GOALS THAT DILIGENT MATTERS AND IT DESERVES RECOGNITION.
[00:40:05]
SO THANK YOU. BALANCING THE NEEDS OF OUR SYSTEM WITH PRUDENT USE OF TAX DOLLARS IS NEVER EASY.WE ARE ENTRUSTED WITH PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THAT RESPONSIBILITY REQUIRES CAREFUL STEWARDSHIP.
THOSE TWO OBLIGATIONS MUST COEXIST. EVERY LINE ITEM REFLECTS A DELICATE DANCE BETWEEN ADVOCATING FOR WHAT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF TRULY NEED, WHILE ENSURING WE ARE SPENDING WISELY AND SUSTAINABLY.
EFFICIENCY DOES NOT MEAN CUTTING FOR THE SAKE OF CUTTING.
THIS BUDGET PROCESS ALSO REQUIRES LEADERSHIP, THE KIND THAT REQUIRES MAKING HARD DECISIONS.
LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT AVOIDING DIFFICULT CHOICES, IT'S ABOUT FACING THEM WITH TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY, AND A LONG TERM PERSPECTIVE. IT MEANS PRIORITIZING WHAT MATTERS MOST, EVEN WHEN THOSE CHOICES ARE CHALLENGING.
I BELIEVE THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT WILL BE PROPOSED TONIGHT REALLY REPRESENTS A THOUGHTFUL AND RESPONSIBLE PATH FORWARD, ONE THAT SEEKS TO MEET TODAY'S NEED WHILE PROTECTING THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF OUR DISTRICT FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THAT DOCTOR MACK, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
[A. Dr. Dyann Mack, Acting Superintendent's Report]
THANK YOU. OVER THE PAST WEEKS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MEANINGFUL TIME WITH STUDENTS THROUGH FOCUS GROUPS AT JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL.MY SUPERINTENDENT, STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND VISITING CLASSROOMS. I THOUGHT THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD WAS BEING IN A KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM.
UNTIL MY RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH HIGH SCHOOLERS, THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMATIVE.
WHEN I SAY WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, THE STUDENTS ARE ALL THE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE THAT WE NEED.
THEY TALKED ABOUT ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS. WHEN I ASKED THE STUDENTS WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO KNOW AS THEIR SUPERINTENDENT, THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL AND CANDID. THEY WANT SCHOOL TO BE MORE FUN AND MORE ENGAGING.
THEY WANT MORE STRUCTURED TIME TO CATCH UP ON ASSIGNMENTS.
THEY WANT GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO ADVOCATE FOR PLACEMENT IN MORE RIGOROUS COURSES.
THEY WANT MORE HANDS ON LEARNING EXPERIENCES.
THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPACTFUL AND REINFORCE AN ASPECT OF MY LEADERSHIP THAT IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, FOCUS ON OUR STUDENTS. THEIR VOICES WILL BE INCLUDED IN MY WORK.
THE WORK OF MY TEAM AND COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO CELEBRATE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS TONIGHT.
FIRST OF ALL, TO THOSE WHO ARE HERE AND THOSE WHO CAME TO OUR LISTENING SESSION TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU FOR STAYING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR HEART.
I TOOK NOTES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING THEM WITH OUR TEAM.
LAST WEEK, I JOINED EMERSON ELEMENTARY FOR THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION.
I SPENT TIME AT OUR LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM.
I'M TELLING YOU, IF YOU EVER NEED A PICK ME UP, VOLUNTEER IN AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SPEND TIME WITH OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, THEIR SMILES AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM WILL ALWAYS BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY.
17 OF OUR ASPIRING TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A COMPETITIVE INTERNSHIP AND TRAINING PROGRAM.
THROUGH THIS OPPORTUNITY, THEY WILL GAIN PAID CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE ALONGSIDE OUR MENTOR TEACHERS AS THEY TAKE MEANINGFUL STEPS TO BECOME EDUCATORS THEMSELVES. THE WILLIAMS JAMES SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM IS PREPARING FOR A MAY TOURNAMENT FOCUSING ON EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE TOPICS INCLUDING THE SOLAR SYSTEM, METEOROLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND ROCKS AND MINERALS.
GOOD LUCK JAGUARS. SEVERAL STUDENTS IN JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL SPENT TIME WORKING IN THEIR SCHOOL'S HEALTH OCCUPATIONAL PROGRAM AND RECENTLY COMPLETED MEDICAL ASSESSMENTS, AND HAVE QUALIFIED TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
[00:45:06]
CONGRATULATIONS, MARINERS! AND IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, STUDENTS IN THIRD GRADE AT YOUTH BENEFIT SPENT TIME EXPLORING THE LIVES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF INFLUENTIAL BLACK AMERICANS. EACH STUDENT SELECTED A NOTABLE FIGURE TO RESEARCH DISCOVERING WHY THAT PERSON'S CONTRIBUTIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR HISTORY AND OUR WORLD TODAY. SOME OF THE REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY RESEARCHED INCLUDED URSULA BURNS, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN CEO OF A FORTUNE 500 COMPANY, GLADYS MAE WEST, WHOSE WORK CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A GPS SYSTEM.AND MADAM C.J. WALKER, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN MILLIONAIRE.
SINCE THESE STUDENTS SHARED WITH ME THAT THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR EDUCATORS AND THE STAFF ARE HAVING A CRITICAL IMPACT ON THEM, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE OUR EDUCATORS.
THOSE PARTICIPANTS ARE JUSTIN HEDRICK, DANIELLE BEDSOLE, AND DOCTOR RICHARD MCCARTHY.
THEIR COMMITMENT TO THEIR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH REFLECTS THE CULTURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING IN CPS, AND ONE OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATORS KEEPS MAKING US PROUD.
I WANT TO PERSONALLY CELEBRATE ERICA RICHARDSON FROM JOPPATOWNE HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE IS OUR 2024 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, AND SHE WAS RECENTLY HONORED AS MARYLAND'S RECIPIENT OF THE 2026 NEA FOUNDATION TRAVELERS AWARD FOR TEACHING AND EXCELLENCE. SHE WAS RECOGNIZED ALONGSIDE 47 OTHER OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AS I PREPARED FOR TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING.
THINKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGING BUDGET DECISIONS AHEAD OF THIS BOARD, ABOUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE AS A COUNTY AND WHERE WE WANT TO GO, I WAS STRUCK WITH AN IMPORTANT BENCHMARK FOR US ALL.
WHEN STUDENTS FEEL HEARD, SUPPORTED AND CHALLENGED, AND WHEN EDUCATORS FEEL EMPOWERED TO LEAD WITH INTEGRITY AND PASSION IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR CLASSROOMS TRANSFORM LIVES. THIS IS OUR PURPOSE.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND WHY ALL OF US ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR OPINIONS AND OUR EXPERIENCES, AND OUR DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THE FUTURE OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IF WE CAN ALL REMEMBER THAT, WE WILL DO GREAT THINGS TOGETHER.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[B. Decision of Dyann R. Mack, Ed., D., for Interim Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, Ms. Lauren Paige, Board President]
BOARD YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, ITEM B, WHICH IS THE DECISION OF DIANE R MAC FOR INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.SO IN JANUARY, DOCTOR MAC WAS MADE THE ACTING SUPERINTENDENT, AND THAT IS A SHORT TERM, IMMEDIATE FILLER TO ENSURE LEGAL CONTINUITY DURING A SUDDEN VACANCY. BUT TONIGHT WE'RE HERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MAKE DOCTOR MAC THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING WILLING TO STEP INTO THIS POSITION.
SO WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY GRANTED TO THE BOARD UNDER THE EDUCATION ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND FOR 204 AND FOR 205. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS APPOINT DOCTOR DIANE MACH TO SERVE AS THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. THIS APPOINTMENT SHALL BE EFFECTIVE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2026, AND SHALL CONTINUE THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2026, SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE MARYLAND LAW.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. MOTION PASSES.
CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ON TO THE BUDGET. DECISION ON THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY
[C. Decision on Superintendent's Proposed FY2027 Budget, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services and Mr. Eric Clark, Director of Budget]
27 BUDGET. MISS DEBORAH JUDD, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES.AND MR. ERIC CLARKE, DIRECTOR OF BUDGET, FOR THEIR PRESENTATION.
SO BEFORE. THANK YOU EVERYONE. AND I AM EXCITED TO LEAD IN THIS ROLE.
THE PERSPECTIVES THAT I'VE HEARD FROM STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ATTENDED OUR OUR LISTENING SESSION TONIGHT, ALONG WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR BUDGET BOARD AND LISTENING SESSION,
[00:50:01]
ARE WITH ME THIS EVENING AND REMAIN THE CENTRAL IN OUR DECISION MAKING.I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET HAPPENING IN COMMUNITY FORUMS, ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AROUND KITCHEN TABLES ACROSS HARFORD COUNTY.
THAT ENGAGEMENT REFLECTS A COMMUNITY THAT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS.
AT THE SAME TIME, MEANINGFUL PROBLEM SOLVING HAPPENS THROUGH DIRECT DIALOG.
THE BUDGET IS QUITE COMPLEX, AND OUR STAFF IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, PROVIDE CLARITY, AND TO HEAR FEEDBACK. ULTIMATELY, SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUBSTANTIVE COLLABORATION AND CONVERSATION. IF THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE HAVE STRUCTURED OUR BUDGET IN THE PAST OR IN THIS CYCLE, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
REGARDING THE NARRATIVE ABOUT LINE BY LINE BUDGETS, OUR CURRENT PROCESS PUBLISHES A FULL LINE BY LINE NARRATIVE EACH AUGUST DURING THE BUDGET CYCLE. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET REFLECTS AMENDMENTS OF THAT ADOPTED BUDGET AND ONCE APPROVED, A REVISED DOCUMENT IS AGAIN PUBLISHED. THE CURRENT LINE BY LINE BUDGET IS ONLINE AT CORPSE.ORG, ALONG WITH THE PAST FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET. OUR APPROACH CAN BE REVISITED, HOWEVER MEANINGFUL PROCESS AND CHANGES REQUIRE TIME AND THOUGHTFUL PLANNING.
WHILE MUCH OF THE BUDGET WAS ALREADY IN DEVELOPMENT PRIOR TO MY TRANSITION INTO THIS ROLE, I HAVE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH BOARD BOARD MEMBERS TO IDENTIFY THOUGHTFUL ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND THE STUDENT IMPACT, THE BOARD HAS BEEN INVITED TO MEET WITH MY TEAM AS IT RELATES TO ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE, AND TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MEANINGFUL AND PRODUCTIVE, LEADING TO ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL BE REFLECTED THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE'S TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT TOWARDS THIS PROCESS OVER THE LAST MONTH.
ULTIMATELY, WE SHARE THE SAME GOAL TO HAVE A SEAMLESS, TRANSPARENT BUDGET PROCESS THAT ENCOURAGES OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE, WHICH RESULTS IN A BUDGET THAT WILL SERVE OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN WE FOCUS ON SHARED SOLUTIONS, COLLABORATIONS AND STUDENTS, WE WILL ALWAYS MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS HOW WE BUILD A SYSTEM THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN TRUST AND OUR STUDENTS CAN THRIVE IN.
AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DOLLAR AND EVERY DISCUSSION IS A CHILD COUNTING ON US TO GET IT RIGHT.
MISS JUDD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET RATHER QUICKLY. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME FOR QUESTIONS AFTERWARDS.
IF PRESIDENT PAGE. SORRY, THE TIME OF THE DAY.
OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THE ORDER OF ANYTHING, JUST LET US KNOW AND WE CAN BACKTRACK.
THESE MAY NOT BE THE FINAL PROPOSED CHANGES, IF ANYTHING DIFFERS FROM THIS.
SO WE WILL PRESENT THE FINAL. IF I CAN PAUSE PAUSE YOU HERE.
YES. BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO START OFF.
AND WE CAN START WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF INCREASE OF STATE FUNDING.
SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT NEWS HERE. AND AS DOCTOR MACK ALLUDED TO SHE AND MISS JUDD AND THE STAFF AND WADE AND I WERE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AS WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET AND WHERE COULD WE MAKE SOME THOUGHTFUL ADJUSTMENTS.
[00:55:05]
AND WE'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE TO SEE WHERE EVERYONE FALLS.BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT CHART. JUST TO START OUT.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE WERE AT THE PROPOSED CHANGE AND WHERE WE ENDED UP THE PROPOSED CHANGE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A MOTION TO USE FUND BALANCE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST TO PAUSE HERE IF ANYONE HAS QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS. I GUESS MY ONLY MY ONLY QUESTION ON THIS IS IS WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE RUN OUT OF FUND BALANCE? BECAUSE IT'S RUNNING OUT QUICKLY. I WISH I HAD THE ANSWER TO THAT.
I HOPE WE DON'T GET TO THAT POINT. IT IS A CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY USING IT.
WE ARE NOT BUILDING IT AS WE HAD BEEN IN PAST YEARS.
WITH THE THAT THAT WAS AS OF DECEMBER 31ST. THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE WELL, IT DOES INCLUDE A PROJECTION FOR THE SNOW REMOVAL COSTS FOR THE LAST STORM, BUT FOR THE ONE THIS WEEK. AND IF WE HAVE ANY OTHERS, DESPITE WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS THAT WILL MAKE IT WORSE.
SO I DO HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT CONTINUING TO USE FUND BALANCE FOR RECURRING COSTS, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN MANY MEETINGS OVER MANY YEARS. THANK YOU.
EVERYONE'S GOOD THERE. AND THEN SO YOU'LL SEE THE AMENDMENTS THERE IN THE PROPOSED CHANGES.
SO THE FIRST MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THE NUMBER LINE ITEM FOR BE REDUCED COMPLETELY? DO I HAVE A SECOND? SO CAN WE TALK ABOUT IT FIRST OR SECOND? I THOUGHT THE SECOND. AND THEN WE DISCUSS SECOND.
SO DEBATE CAN BE HAD. THANK YOU. DID WE JUST DECIDE WE DON'T NEED 20 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS FOR PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE? HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS? AS OUR ENROLLMENT EXPECTED TO DROP THAT MUCH? I THINK OUR FOCUS WAS THE WORD ADDITIONAL, AND THAT WE WANT TO DO OUR BEST TO KEEP THE TEACHERS WE HAVE.
AND SO IF WE HAVE TO LOOK, IT'S ON NOT ADDING BUT PRESERVING PRESERVING WHAT WE HAVE.
WHAT ARE WHAT SIZE ARE OUR LARGEST KINDERGARTEN AND PRE-K CLASSES NOW? SO WE DID A PRELIMINARY ROLL OF ELEMENTARY CLASSES AND KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT IS STILL LOW.
OKAY. IT'S IT'S NOT INCREASING AS OF THIS TIME.
WE CERTAINLY NEED TO CONSIDER. SO DOING THAT PRELIMINARY ROLE, IT SHOWED THAT WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30 TEACHERS THAT WE WOULD HAVE FOR ELEMENTARY TO DISPERSE AS NEEDED THROUGH EITHER A GROWING KINDERGARTEN CLASS OR OTHER AREAS THAT ARE OF NEED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN THE PAST, DOCTOR MACK HAS HAD ACCESS TO THOSE TEACHERS THAT WE HOLD BACK BASED ON THAT ROLE.
THAT WOULD NOT INCREASE THE CLASS SIZES THAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
CERTAINLY DOESN'T DECREASE THEM UNLESS ENROLLMENT FALLS MORE, WHICH WE ARE NOT HOPING FOR EITHER.
I KNOW KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT IS ALWAYS A TRICKY THING, BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T ENROLL THEIR KIDS UNTIL RIGHT BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS, SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT. THANK YOU. AND THE 20 TEACHERS ORIGINALLY WE WANTED TO HAVE THE 20 TEACHERS THERE FOR SOME INNOVATIVE IDEAS. WE'VE HAD A COUPLE OF WORK GROUPS WORKING ON PRE-K TO TWO SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AND SO IF WE REMOVE THE 20 TEACHERS, WE DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO IMPACT THE CLASS SIZE.
IT WILL JUST MAKE US THINK ABOUT THOSE INNOVATIVE MATTERS THAT WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO PUT INTO PLACE TO, TO SUPPORT OUR PRE-K TO TWO STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
GIVE US A SECOND. WE LOST. WE LOST OUR PROJECTION.
IT'S ON THE LAPTOP. MADAM PRESIDENT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL MOTION TO REMOVE ITEMS TWO THROUGH 11. SO IF YOU'LL WAIT, WE'RE GOING TO.
IF YOU LET US WALK THROUGH THIS AND GET THROUGH WHAT THE PRESENTATION IS, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ADDITIONAL, IF YOU DON'T MIND. YOU DON'T WANT TO HANDLE EACH.
[01:00:07]
OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU MADE ONE. I DID. I'M WAITING FOR THE SCREEN TO COME BACK UP.I WAS JUST THINKING. I KNOW WE ALREADY HAVE ONE.
I WAS ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION.
I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION LINE BY LINE WHEN WE'RE DONE.
I'LL CIRCLE BACK AROUND TO. OKAY. THANK YOU.
WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON LINE FOUR? WHAT IS WHAT IS OUR CURRENT CLASS SIZE LOOK LIKE ON AVERAGE FOR THOSE FOR THAT. PRE-K TO SECOND GRADE RIGHT NOW IS RIGHT AROUND 24 WITH MOST BEING WHAT IS THE STATE AVERAGE.
DO YOU KNOW? CAN YOU I WOULD BE LOOKING AT AROUND 20 WOULDN'T WE.
I THINK I'VE HEARD THE MOST COMPLAINTS ABOUT CLASS SIZE FOR THE YOUNGER GRADES.
I'VE BEEN IN SO MANY BUILDINGS AND IT'S THAT'S THE THE I HEAR THE SAME THING EVERY SINGLE TIME IS IT'S LIKE IT'S INSANE IN THE CLASSROOMS. AND. SORRY, I THINK YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE AVERAGE KINDERGARTEN CLASS SIZE WAS 1919.
FOR MARYLAND OR FOR US. MR. HENDRICK, WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE CAP FOR KINDERGARTEN, FIRST GRADE AND SECOND GRADE? AM I PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT? SO WE HAVE A TIERED BY FARMS RATES, BUT DEPENDING ON THE, THE BUCKET THE SCHOOLS FALL INTO.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT SCHOOLS HAVING CAKE. SUGGESTED CLASS SIZES OF EITHER 25, 22 OR 20 FIRST GRADE IS 28, 24, 22 AND SECOND GRADE IS 28, 26, OR 24. MANY TIMES.
THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. MISS, IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE.
PRESIDENT PAGE. CAN YOU REPEAT THE MOTION? I'M SORRY I HAD TO STEP AWAY.
SO THE MOTION IS THE AMENDMENT TO REMOVE LINE FOUR FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST.
OKAY. CAN I COME BACK TO HER? YES. MISS NAKATA.
YES, DOCTOR MUELLER. NO. MR. MCVICKER. NO.
YES. MR. SEWELL. NO. PRESIDENT. PAGE. YES.
THEN I DON'T KNOW IF DENISE DROPPED OFF, MISS MRS. PERRY. WE'RE CURRENTLY THREE. THREE. SO THIS MOTION FAILS. THE STUDENT MEMBERS PREFERENTIAL ONLY.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REMOVED TEN TEACHERS SO WE WOULD BE RETAINING TEN.
SO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE. AND TO LINE FOUR THAT WE MAKE IT TEN TEACHERS INSTEAD OF 20.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, DOCTOR MUELLER.
MRS. PERRY. MISS NAKAI. YES. DOCTOR. MUELLER.
YES. MR. MCVICKER. YES. MISS BRUCE. YES.
MRS. ALVAREZ. YES. MR.. SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT PAGE.
[01:05:06]
I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO IF SOMEONE WILL CONFIRM ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.CORRECT. SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION AT THIS TIME TO REMOVE LINE FIVE EIGHT.
MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS. I'LL SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SURE. WE JUST DON'T NEED THEM NOW. I MEAN, IS THIS I MEAN, I KNOW, I KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO QUITE A FEW OF THE TEACHERS, THE MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS, AND THEY FEEL LIKE TOTALLY STRESSED, LIKE THEY ARE OVERLOADED AND JUMPING BETWEEN SCHOOLS.
AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE DON'T NEED THEM.
SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND MY INTENT. NONE OF MY. OKAY.
NONE OF MY CUTS ARE THINGS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOESN'T NEED.
IT GOES BACK TO TO WHAT I SAID IN MY COMMENTS ABOUT OUR DELEGATE DANCE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
NO. IT'S OKAY. AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHY I'M MAKING THESE MOTIONS.
SO IF DOCTOR MACK OR IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK TO IT.
BUT I'M IN NO CERTAIN WAY SAYING WE DON'T NEED IT.
SO, MADAM PRESIDENT, MY MY CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT.
SO IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T NEED THE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS WE HAVE.
YOU KNOW, WE WE NEED TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN A LOT OF CASES, ESPECIALLY LIKE IN THE CURRICULUM AREA THERE'S BEEN SAVINGS.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE, A NEW LINE ITEMS THAT ARE SHOWING UP SHOULD BE ASSUMED BY THE EXISTING BUDGETS THAT ALREADY EXIST. SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE, YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS AND THEN REDUCE OTHER AREAS AND, AND AND AND COST BALANCE.
WHAT SAVINGS SPECIFICALLY ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WELL, WE HAD A SMALL GROUP MEETING AND THEY SAID THE CURRICULUM WAS WAS LESS THAN WE'VE SPENT IN THE PAST. SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN, YOU KNOW WE'VE NEGOTIATED SAVINGS IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WHEN WE COME TO THE BUDGET, WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, TACKING ON NEW ITEMS, BUT WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT AREAS THAT MAYBE HAVE GONE, YOU KNOW, HAVE REDUCED IN COST.
WE ABSOLUTELY DO THAT. EVERY BUDGET CYCLE. WE LOOK WHERE COSTS HAVE DECREASED.
WHAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ON THE CURRICULUM SIDE IS WE HAVE NO TEXTBOOK BUDGET.
ALL. SO IT WAS DECIDED AT THAT TIME THAT THEY DID NOT WANT IT TO BE PART OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
SO IT WENT INTO CAPITAL. SO WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPERATING BUDGET FOR TEXTBOOKS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE OVERALL CURRICULUM BUDGET.
THERE'S CERTAINLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE CURRICULUM BUDGET.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. SO THAT IS NOT IT WAS MOVED TO CAPITAL.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME FUNDING FOR CAPITAL. DEB.
YES. SORRY TO INTERRUPT, BUT SO WE WERE IN A MEETING TOGETHER.
AND SO THERE WE ARE LOOKING AT SOME SOME CURRICULUMS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE SPECIFICALLY THAT THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE, RIGHT, THAT ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. BUT I THINK TO TO YOUR POINT, EXCELLENT POINT.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT OUR BUDGET IS THAT THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OUR BUDGET FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS HAD TO ABSORB YOU KNOW, INFLATION ACROSS THE BOARD LIKE WE'VE ALL SEEN, YOU KNOW, IN OUR OWN HOUSEHOLDS.
AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN FUNDED REALLY FROM EITHER FROM, FROM ANY OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAVE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON CURRICULUM THAT IS EASILY ABSORBED INTO ALL OF THE OTHER LINE ITEMS WHICH ARE INCLUDING, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, REALLY SEEING THAT, LIKE, PASSED OVER, LIKE IMMEDIATELY. AM I CORRECT IN THAT HALFWAY CORRECT 20%.
SO WE HAVE ALL OF OUR COSTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS.
WE HAD THE RESTRICTED MONEY WE HAD AND THEN WE'VE HAD YEAR END SAVINGS WHERE YOU HAVE A SURPLUS WHERE WE HAVEN'T SPENT 99.9% OF OUR BUDGET AND WE HAVE PURCHASED CURRICULUM MATERIALS OUT OF THAT. SO YES, WE ARE SEEING THAT CURRICULUM IS COSTING LESS.
[01:10:02]
THE CONSUMABLES. SO WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE COST FOR PRINTING, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN WHAT IT WOULD COST OTHERWISE.BUT IF THESE IF WE WERE HAVING TO PAY FOR THE MATERIALS THAT WE'VE HAD TO PAY FOR BEFORE, I THINK THE LAST ONE THAT STICKS IN MY MIND THAT WE PAID WAS LIKE $6 MILLION OVER 4 OR 5 YEARS. IF WE HAD TO DO THAT AGAIN, WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT MONEY.
SO YOU CAN SEE ON LINE EIGHT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR AN INCREASE IN TEXTBOOK CONSUMABLES, BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THAT BACK IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
SO EACH SCHOOL GETS A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT PER PUPIL.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT ON TEXTBOOKS. SOME OF THEM DID IN THE PAST.
IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE YEAR END TRANSFERS, WE'VE MOVED MONEY FROM AN AREA THAT WAS A SAVINGS INTO MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION, AND THAT'S HOW WE'VE PURCHASED IT. SO TO MISS ALVAREZ'S POINT, IF WE HAD A $10 MILLION CURRICULUM BUDGET AND WE WERE GOING TO SAVE 5 MILLION, WE COULD USE THAT 5 MILLION SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE PROBLEM IS WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SMALL, I WOULD SAY, UNDER $50,000 BUDGET SYSTEM WIDE MINUS THE SCHOOLS ALLOCATION FOR CURRICULUM.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENT ON THE MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS SPECIFICALLY? SO THIS IS FOR ME. THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL THINGS BECAUSE I KNOW SINCE MY TERM HERE ON THE BOARD, THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE WE REALLY HURT AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S IT'S A VERY PAINFUL THING TO CUT FOR ME.
I WISH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE COULD ADD JUST A COUPLE.
BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND PLACES WHERE WE HAVE TO REDUCE.
WE HAVE TO GET DOWN TO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GET TO A CERTAIN LEVEL YOU KNOW SO JUST WANT TO SAY I RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A VERY PAINFUL THING FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO TO NOT ADD THESE THESE TEACHERS ARE THAT MISS, IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE, THE MOTION IS TO REDUCE LINE ITEM FIVE.
MRS. PERRY, I BELIEVE SHE MAY HAVE DROPPED OFF MR..
YES. DOCTOR MUELLER. NO. MR. MCVICKER. NO.
MISS BRUCE. NO. I'M SORRY. I DIDN'T HEAR YOU, MISS BRUCE.
THANK YOU, MISS ALVAREZ. I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN.
VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT PAGE. YES.
THIS MOTION PASSES. THREE. TWO. TWO. WAIT WAIT WAIT.
HOW CAN THREE PEOPLE PASS A MOTION? DOESN'T. NO, WE NEED FIVE.
WE NEED FIVE. WE NEED FIVE. FIVE FOR A MOTION TO PASS.
OKAY, THIS MOTION FAILS. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
WE REDUCE LINE 5 TO 3 POSITIONS. TWO, THREE. NO SECONDS. LOOKING FOR A SECOND? I WILL SECOND THAT.
THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. MOTION.
DID YOU FAVOR? I'M GOING TO LOOK TO YOU FOR A THUMBS UP WHEN YOU'RE READY FOR US TO MOVE ON.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND. CAN CAN I MAKE ONE STATEMENT ON THAT ONE.
SO THOSE POSITIONS ARE CURRENT STAFF HOWEVER, WE ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THROUGH RETIREMENTS AND SO FORTH THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DEBRA. ANY OTHER ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, MISS ROLLO, IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE. MR..
TITUS. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES, MR. MCVICAR.
[01:15:04]
YES, MISS. BRUCE. YES. MRS. ALVAREZ. YES. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT. PAIGE. YES. THIS MOTION PASSES.THANK YOU. I'LL ADDRESS THIS ONE IF YOU WANT.
LATER. OKAY, GOOD. MOVING ON TO NUMBER SEVEN.
THE COORDINATOR OF CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND MAGNETS, CURRENTLY FUNDED BY TITLE.
OR AS ONE FTE. I MOVE THAT WE REMOVE LINE. ITEM SEVEN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THAT TO ME A LITTLE BETTER? I CAN I JUMP IN REAL QUICK? SO WE ARE REMOVING THE REQUEST TO MOVE THIS FROM THE FEDERAL TITLE FOUR GRANT TO OPERATING.
HOWEVER, THIS WAS AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE STAFF ON THAT BECAUSE WE ESPECIALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN WE WERE DEVELOPING THIS, WE THOUGHT TITLE FOUR MIGHT GO AWAY COMPLETELY.
WE FEEL RELATIVELY TO VERY CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL RECEIVE THE SAME FUNDING RECEIVED IN CURRENT YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION. THAT POSITION IS STAYING GOOD.
ASSUMING WHAT IS THE CURRENT, CTE AND MAGNET'S OFFICE LOOK LIKE.
SO THE COORDINATOR POSITION WOULD BE LIKE A REGIONAL.
IT WOULD BE A WHAT WOULD THAT WHERE WOULD THAT FALL. SO I BELIEVE THEY CURRENTLY HAVE THREE THREE POSITIONS IN THAT OFFICE RUN BY JOE CONNELLY. SO THEY THEY ALL WORK CENTRALLY. SO THERE'S NO NO FOLKS IN CENTRAL OFFICE THAT ARE IN SPECIFIC SCHOOLS, BUT THERE ARE SCHOOL SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT ARE RUNNING PROGRAMS WITHIN THOSE BUILDINGS.
SO THERE'S THREE I GUESS YOU SAID THERE'S THREE COORDINATORS UNDERNEATH OF JOE CONNELLY.
NO. SO I BELIEVE THERE'S THREE PEOPLE IN THE OFFICE TOTAL, TWO UNDER INCLUDING JOE.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MISS ROLLO, IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE MR. ORCHITIS. YES, DOCTOR. MILLER. YES, MR. MCVICAR? YES, MISS. BRUCE. YES, MRS. ALVAREZ. YES. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL PRESIDENT PAGE. YES. THIS MOTION PASSES. MISS PERRY, I'M SORRY.
I'M SITTING IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I'M OUT IN THE HALLWAY WITH MY MOM.
SO I'M TRYING TO PARTICIPATE. I MAY HAVE SPOTTY SERVICE, BUT I'M TRYING.
WHAT'S. MELISSA. MELISSA. OKAY. THANK YOU. MELISSA.
THESE ARE CHANGES. AND I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO IT THAT YOU FOUND IN IN LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, I THINK 31 WAS EVEN ADDED. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK TO THOSE BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION.
SO WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT OUR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS TO BOTH OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND ALSO WE HAD ORIGINALLY PUT A TWO POINT ALMOST $2 MILLION INCREASE AND THROUGH SOME REEVALUATION, WE THINK WE CAN LOWER THAT TO ABOUT 1.7 MILLION, WHICH WOULD BE A SAVINGS OF 406.
SEVEN. 54. AGAIN, WE'LL LOOK AT THAT IN THE SPRING WHEN YOU GO FOR THE FINAL.
THE REDUCTION IN WORKERS COMPENSATION. WE BELONG THROUGH MAY TO A WORKER'S COMPENSATION POOL.
WE POOL OUR MONEY WITH, I THINK, 15 DIFFERENT LEAS.
SO WE WANT TO REFLECT THAT. NOW, NORMALLY WE WOULD WAIT UNTIL THE SPRING FOR THAT.
WHEN WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET IN JANUARY, WE INDICATED THAT ALL OF THESE WERE REALLY ESTIMATES.
SO WE AS THE YEAR MOVES ON AND THOSE ESTIMATES FINALIZE, WE WILL BRING THAT COST DOWN.
BUT IN THIS CASE, IT LOOKS LIKE THESE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE WE WHERE WE WILL BE ABLE TO REDUCE.
[01:20:01]
SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET LINES LINE BY LINE AND IDENTIFYING WHERE THERE MAY BE SAVINGS AND RECOGNIZING THAT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR BUDGET.YOU COULD PROBABLY DO 21 AND 31 TOGETHER IF YOU WANTED.
BUT WE'RE THINKING. ALL RIGHT. SO I MOVE THAT WE REDUCE BOTH LINE 21 AND 31 BY THE SUGGESTED AMOUNTS. SECOND, SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. BOARD, IF YOU WILL MOVE ON TO SLIDE SEVEN.
IN OUR MEETING, IT WAS JUST SPOKEN ABOUT FROM AN INTEREST PERSPECTIVE.
SO I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE REDUCE LINE 35 AND LINE 36.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? MELISSA AND I SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? 37 AS WELL. LINE 30. OH, SORRY. 37 AS WELL. YES.
SO THE MOTION WILL INCLUDE 37 AS WELL. SORRY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THAT ONE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. ALL RIGHT. SO I WILL PAUSE THERE AND SEE HOW QUICK YOU CAN DO MATH.
OR DO YOU WANT TO? I WOULD PREFER TO WAIT FOR THE FUND BALANCE UNTIL THE END.
SO LET'S DO THE STATE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THAT IS AN INCREASE.
AND THEN WE'LL FINALIZE THE LOCAL AND THE FUND BALANCE.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH ANYTHING ELSE THAT ANYONE MAY WANT TO PROPOSE.
SO IS MY STATE MOTION JUST FOR THE TOTAL 12.9, JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE INCREASE OF THE 1,914,801.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? INCREASE FUNDING. PLEASE SAY NO.
CAN TAKE A BREAK IF YOU NEED TO. YEAH, WE PROBABLY SHOULD TAKE A BREAK.
IT WON'T TAKE LONG TO DO THESE PARTICULAR ONES, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS, THAT WE DO IT RIGHT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOU LATER. WE WILL TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK. WE WILL BE BACK AT 830, 330 FROM THERE. SO IF YOU WILL LET US KNOW, I THINK ORIENT US IF WE GO LOOK AT SLIDE NINE.
I GUESS FROM, FROM WHAT WE THE AMENDMENTS, WHAT WOULD OUR TOTAL REDUCTION BE? JUST. LET ME SWITCH SCREENS.
AGAIN. NOT PUTTING ANY CHANGES TO FUND BALANCE AT THIS TIME WOULD BE 37,332,734.
SO AN ADDITIONAL 1.3 MILLION FROM AND DOES THAT.
THAT INCLUDES THE STATE PROPOSED CHANGE. NO, THAT IS JUST THE LOCAL.
SO THE STATE IS STILL THE 12 914 801 BECAUSE THAT'S 37.
37.3 RIGHT NOW. THAT WOULD BE WITH FUND BALANCE, THOUGH, RIGHT? IF WE WERE AT 36. YES, YES, THAT'S INCLUDING THE 10 MILLION.
WE HAVE NOT ADJUSTED THAT NUMBER. DO YOU WANT TO WAIT FOR MR. CLARKE BEFORE ANY OTHER? YEAH. HE'S ON. I CAN I CAN TELL HE WAS PRINTING IT, SO HE'S ON HIS WAY BACK DOWN.
BUT I FIGURED WE COULD START THERE.
SO THE PROPOSED CHANGES WERE ALMOST $6 MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT SLIDE EIGHT AND NOW THEY ARE 4.6 MILLION.
SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT I JUST QUOTED YOU FOR THE LOCAL ASK GOING UP THE 1.3.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I THINK SO. ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS.
[01:25:06]
THAT'S SEVEN ON HERE. ARE YOU READY FOR US TO MOVE ON? I'M SORRY. ARE WE WAITING FOR. OKAY, SO BOARD MEMBER, THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT WE HAD WORKED TOGETHER.AND I WILL NOW OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS.
WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE FUND BALANCE. I WOULD DO THAT AT THE END.
MADAM PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION.
OBVIOUSLY WE WE HAVE A HUGE NUMBER STILL IN FRONT OF US, WITH 37 MILLION BEING SENT TO THE COUNTY.
AS A TAXPAYER, IT'S NOT ONE THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE SENDING TO THE COUNTY.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT. THE BOARD AMENDS ITS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FROM 25 MILLION OR PROPOSAL TO 25 MILLION, BY PROPORTIONATELY REDUCING ALL NON-SALARY SPENDING ON A PRO RATA BASIS EFFECTIVELY CUT THE.
SORRY. THIS WOULD EFFECTIVELY CUT ITEMS THAT ARE NOT OUTLINED AS INCREASES IN THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF US ACROSS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES IS OPERATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT WITHOUT TOUCHING TEACHER OR FACULTY PAY TO ACHIEVE A $25 MILLION REQUEST, MEANING REDUCTIONS OF ROUGHLY $12.3 MILLION. IF THERE'S ANY, I'LL SECOND.
IF THERE'S ANY CLARIFICATION, I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
YEAH. AND SLOWER. YES. SO SO I MOVE THAT THE BOARD AMENDS ITS REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO $25 MILLION BY PROPORTIONATELY REDUCING ALL NON-SALARY SPENDING ON A PRO RATA BASIS, MEANING THAT ALL ITEMS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY OUTLINED AS ADDITIONS TO FY 27 WILL BE PROPORTIONATELY REDUCED ACROSS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, OPERATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT WITHOUT TOUCHING TEACHER OR FACULTY PAY TO ACHIEVE THAT $20 MILLION, MEANING REDUCTIONS OF ROUGHLY $12.3 MILLION. AND TO CLARIFY, THIS IS PAGE FIVE OF THE FY 26 APPROVED BUDGET, WHERE IT SHOWS 78.4% OF OUR SPENDING GOING TO INSTRUCTION AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT, 8% TO TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE 11%, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AT 12 OR 2.7%.
I'LL SECOND THE MOTION. ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T KNOW MY PROCESS IN THIS PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION.
WE CAN MAKE ANY CUT THAT WE WANT TO MAKE, BUT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF IT.
SO I HEAR THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BUT I WANT TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROCESS IT, TO UNDERSTAND IF I TOOK A BUDGET IN TRANSPORTATION AND CUT IT BY A CERTAIN PERCENT, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT PERCENT IS.
SO WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT PERCENT IS DEFINED. $12.3 MILLION.
IF WE WERE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO CUT PROPORTIONATELY OUR TRANSPORTATION BUDGET BY A CERTAIN PERCENT, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE? DON'T ANSWER THAT YET.
IF WE WERE GOING TO CUT OUR STUDENT SERVICES, WHICH TALKS ABOUT THE SUPPORTS THAT WE GIVE, MAYBE TO MENTAL HEALTH, PERHAPS TO SUPPLIES FOR IN TERMS OF RESOURCES IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT MIGHT BE GOING TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS THAT MIGHT GO TOWARDS SOME PROGRAMING DESIGNED TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH.
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SERVICES I WANT US TO REALLY THINK ABOUT FOR OUR OPERATIONAL STAFF THAT ARE EITHER HERE IN PERSON AND THAT ARE VIRTUAL ACROSS THOSE AREAS. HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT WHAT WE DO FOR OUR STUDENTS EACH AND EVERY DAY? WE ALSO WOULD HAVE TO IDENTIFY TONIGHT WHICH LINE ITEM SPECIFICALLY WE WERE REDUCING TO COME UP WITH THAT $12 MILLION BECAUSE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN WE DID A BOARD RETREAT, WHEN WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE NON-SALARIED LINE ITEMS, I THINK WE HAD ABOUT $6 MILLION IN DISCRETIONARY, ALTHOUGH IT REALLY WASN'T DISCRETIONARY FUNDING.
A LOT OF THAT IS CONTRACTS. SMALLER CONTRACTS, BANK FEES, OUR AUDIT FEES.
SO IT WOULD BE MAYBE OUR OPERATING COSTS. BG.
BG AND OUR WATER BILLS ASKING FOR INCREASES FOR THOSE IN THIS BUDGET.
[01:30:04]
AND DID YOU HAVE WERE YOU ABLE TO WORK OUT WHAT THE PERCENTAGE WAS OR WOULD WE NEED TO FIGURE THAT? SO AND I DID NOT WORK OUT WITH THAT WHAT THE SPECIFIC NUMBER WOULD BE FROM THAT 12.3 IN THESE PERCENTAGES.AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, ABOUT 400 MILLION OF THAT IS WAGES.
SO I MY PROPOSAL WOULD EVERYTHING ELSE WE YOU KNOW, JUST 78% OF THAT YOU KNOW 12.3 WE FIND CUTS IN THAT AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND SAME YOU KNOW TRANSPORTATION IT SAYS 8%.
SO 8% OF 12.3. WE JUST FIND THOSE CUTS ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT IT'S NOT IMPACTING IT'S NOT CUTTING A, YOU KNOW, A WHOLE PROGRAM OR CUTTING TEACHERS THAT IT'S SOMETHING ACROSS THE BOARD THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NUMBER THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO GET ANYWAY. SO YOU DO REALIZE THAT THE WAGE PACKAGE ALONE IS 28 MILLION? YES. AND THAT'S AND YOU WANT TO CUT OUR ASK TO 25.
THAT'S LEFT ALONE IN MY PROPOSAL THOUGH IN THE MOTION THAT I MADE.
SO AS I AS I UNDERSTAND THE MOTION, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, THE IT IS TO TO CUT OUR EXISTING EXPENSES THAT WE'VE, WE'VE HAD YEAR AFTER YEAR TO REDUCE THEM.
I MEAN, CARROLL COUNTY GOT INTO A SITUATION I THINK IT WAS CARROLL COUNTY.
THEY GOT INTO A SITUATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY NEEDED TO CUT THEIR BUDGET, AND THEY JUST BASICALLY WENT BACK TO EACH SCHOOL AND THEY SAID, CUT 20% OF YOUR COST IN DIFFERENT AREAS. AND SO IT WAS IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL THEY HAD TO GO BACK IN AND LOOK AT THE AREAS THAT THEY COULD REDUCE. SO SO DOES THIS INCLUDE LIKE POWER COSTS? I ALSO HAVE ELECTRICITY. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. SO YOU'RE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING REAL QUICK REAL QUICK, REALLY QUICK. I KNOW THERE WAS A QUESTION ON THE SO I WELL WE CAN'T CUT WE CAN'T JUST CUT POWER I MEAN AND THAT WAS MY POINT.
SO YOUR YOUR QUESTION YOUR CHERRY PICKING A SPECIFIC ITEM.
EXCUSE ME I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MY COMMENT. SORRY.
HOW DO WE WE CAN'T JUST CUT LIKE SOMETHING HAS TO WE HAVE TO LOSE SOMETHING IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE ONE JOB AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THAT IS TO TALK ABOUT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
AND THEN WE COME HERE TODAY AND I'M SORRY, I REALLY I REALLY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR YOU.
AND WE HAVE SPENT THE LAST MONTH SITTING UP HERE ARGUING ABOUT RANDOM LIKE I MEAN, NOT RANDOM, BUT OFF TOPIC THINGS THAT LIKE WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND WE'RE AND YOU'RE TRYING TO CUT MONEY OUT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT.
THAT'S JUST I JUST I NEED TO JUST I NEED EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE NEED TO BE MOVING FORWARD IN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CUTTING MONEY OUT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY WHENEVER WE HAVE CLASS SIZES IN THE 30S OR THE 40S AND ARE LIKE, AND WE'RE WE'RE BATTLING READING SCORES AND MATH SCORES.
I REALLY, ESPECIALLY AT THIS POINT, I REALLY DO NOT THINK THAT'S WHERE WE NEED PRESIDENT DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WE'RE IN DISCUSSION. WE ARE IN DISCUSSION. I SECOND THE MOTION.
OKAY. YEAH, THERE WAS A SECOND. IT GOT SO CONFUSING.
MADAM PRESIDENT, DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM STAFF OR DO YOU WANT TO DO YOUR VOTE? I'LL ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS. IS ANY BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENT ON THE MOTION? THAT'S ON THE TABLE? LOOK, I LOOK, I CAN JUST SAY LOOK AT THIS POINT. YES, I JUST GOT HERE.
BUT AS A TAXPAYER, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO AGAIN, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE WE SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD. AND THAT'S IT'S A REAL CONVERSATION, BUT IT'S A CONVERSATION I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.
AND IT'S ONE THAT I AGAIN, WANTED TO BRING UP TONIGHT.
MY ATTEMPT HERE WAS TO TRY TO MAKE A CUT, WHICH WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE ANYWAY.
[01:35:01]
BE ACROSS THE BOARD SO THAT WE'RE NOT IMPACTING ONE GROUP AT LARGE.JUST TO PUT IN A LITTLE BIT OF PERSPECTIVE. THE TOWN OF BEL AIR IS OPERATING.
BUDGET IS $20 MILLION. HAVE THE GREATEST BUDGET IS 23 MILLION.
WE AT THIS POINT, WITH THIS BUDGET REQUEST OF 30.
37 MILLION COULD FUND ALMOST TWO WHOLE MUNICIPALITIES.
SO THIS WAS JUST MY, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AN ATTEMPT TO START THINKING ABOUT THAT AND GET AHEAD OF IT.
THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. SO YOU RAN THE NUMBERS.
10.7%. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TOTAL 10.7 WITH THE ADDITIONAL 1.3.
YES. ALL RIGHT OKAY. SO WHAT'S INTERESTING IS, YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY I SAW A PRESS RELEASE FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE THAT YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST THREE BUDGET CYCLES THAT HE, YOU KNOW, THAT HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WE'VE RECEIVED AN INCREASE OF 8.2%, TOTAL, 8.2%.
WHEREAS, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND MANY, YOU KNOW, OTHERS WOULD SAY THAT THE TOTAL REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THIS COUNTY INCREASES ROUGHLY 5% PER YEAR.
SO THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ALREADY AT A DEFICIT OF 6.8%.
LIKE WE'RE GOING INTO THIS BUDGET CYCLE AT A DEFICIT OF 6.8%.
SO WHEN YOU ADD THAT 6.8% PLUS THE DIFFERENCE TO TO GET TO 10.7, WHICH IS, WOW, DO THE MATH FOR ME.
WHAT WHAT DID I SAY? WE'RE AT A DEFICIT OF 6.8.
GO TO 10.7. SO WE NEED WHAT, 3.9? SO WE'RE ACTUALLY ASKING FOR LESS THAN THE REVENUE INCREASE THAT THIS COUNTY HAS SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S TENURE.
SO WE ARE ACTUALLY BECOMING WE ARE SPENDING LESS MONEY THAN, THAN THE OTHER ENTITIES. WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE THE LARGEST ONE.
AND THESE NUMBERS LOOK BIG AND SCARY, BUT THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE COMPLETELY MANAGEABLE AND COMPLETELY ABSORBABLE BY THIS COUNTY. IN FACT, WE SHOULD REALLY NOT BE NOT BE REDUCING ANY OF THIS.
WE'RE JUST DOING IT. TO PLAY NICER WITH OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHO HAS ALREADY INDICATED THAT HE HE DOESN'T WANT TO TO FUND WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO DO. SO WHERE WE'VE ARRIVED AT, I THINK IS IS BETTER THAN HALFWAY TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR INITIAL ASK, WHICH WAS, WHAT, 53? WHEN YOU GO FROM 53 DOWN TO 37? AND I BELIEVE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS SAID HE WILL FUND WHAT WAS LIKE 23 OR 24.
SO WE'RE ACTUALLY MEETING HIM MORE THAN HALFWAY TO WHERE HE WAS WITH THIS BUDGET.
THANK NOTHING FURTHER, MISS ROLLA. IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE.
MR. CURTIS. YES. DOCTOR MUELLER. NO. MR. MCVICAR.
NO. MRS. HAHN. HELLO? YES, MRS. HAHN. CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES. YES.
CAN YOU HEAR US? AND I, I SAID HELLO LIKE 15 TIMES AND NOBODY ANSWERED ME.
AND I FEEL BAD FOR ME. I'M SORRY. MELISSA, WE'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME HEARING YOU.
I'M JUST STANDING HERE. YEAH. DID YOU HEAR? DID YOU HEAR LILIANA'S MOTION? I DID I COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO SAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE HALLWAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME BETTER? I THINK SO, YEAH. DON'T MOVE. OKAY. SO MY MY THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET.
[01:40:04]
WE'RE OUT OF MELISSA. WE'RE OUT OF VOTE. MELISSA. MELISSA.MELISSA, WE ARE OUT OF VOTE ON THIS MOTION, BUT I WE ARE AT THE VOTE.
WE'RE PAST THE POINT OF DISCUSSION. I DIDN'T GET TO PARTICIPATE. ARE YOU A YES OR A NO ON THIS MOTION? YES. OKAY. I'M A YES. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE.
NO. MRS. ALVAREZ. YES. VICE PRESIDENT. SEWELL.
NO. PRESIDENT. PAIGE. NO. THIS MOTION FAILS. WE HAVE THREE.
FOUR. THANK YOU. IS IS THERE ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO BE MADE THIS EVENING? MISS HAHN, IF YOU CAN STILL HEAR US. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING UP? I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT TOWN PATHWAYS. I KNOW THAT OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, THERE'S BEEN MONEY THAT'S BEEN SET ASIDE IN TO THAT PROGRAM. AND I KNOW I THINK IT'S PROBABLY 7 OR $8 MILLION.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT'S FOR. I ASKED EARLIER WHAT KIND OF THAT WAS FOR, AND I, I KNOW WE HAVE GONE ABOUT IT COMING LATE, BUT I'M KIND OF AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT.
HERE'S MY PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS.
I AGREE WITH TREY THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS. BUT I ALSO. BOARDROOM WHEN WE CUT. THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR ME.
WE SHOULD BE PAINTING ANYTHING IF WE'RE CUTTING TEACHERS FROM OUR BUDGET.
I KIND OF AGREE WITH LILIANA, BECAUSE IF IF. THE.
MELISSA, I'M SO SORRY, BUT WE CAN'T. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. SO IF YOU GET TO SHARE A MOTION.
OH, YEAH. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE, MELISSA? IF NOTHING HEARD, IF YOU GET TO A BETTER SIGNAL AND WANT TO CHIME IN, JUST LET US KNOW.
SO HEARING NO OTHER AMENDMENTS. WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE FUND BALANCE DISCUSSION.
WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU WAS USING 10 MILLION OF OUR FUND BALANCE WHICH IS ROUGHLY 25 MILLION CURRENTLY PROJECTED, 23 PROJECTED. YES. I ALL THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING THROUGH MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, SO I DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIALS WITH ME. BUT YEAH, THE PROJECTION AS OF JUNE 30TH THIS YEAR WOULD BE AROUND 23 MILLION.
23 OKAY. SO WE'RE USING 1040 SOME PERCENT OF THAT, 45% OF THAT QUITE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION. AND WE WOULD GET DOWN TO KIND OF A BARE BARE BONES FUND BALANCE FOR TAKING CARE OF THINGS, LIKE ANY ADDITIONAL CAPITAL NEEDS THAT WE MAY HAVE, LIKE JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER WE HAD A STORM THAT TREES FELL ON RED PUMP ELEMENTARY AND WE HAD TO YOU KNOW, DO ROOF REPAIRS.
COSTLY ROOF REPAIRS AND ROOF ROOFS CAN BE A MILLION PLUS DOLLARS.
AND WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM ACROSS THE FINISH LINE SO WE CAN REPLACE THEM.
SO REALLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING DOWN TO 13 MILLION IS IS TIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ASKED US TO DO.
YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR IS TO USE OUR FUND BALANCE TO HELP, YOU KNOW, BRIDGE THE GAP.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ALLOCATE $10 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE TO THIS UPCOMING BUDGET.
THANK YOU. I WILL SECOND. NO. CLARIFY FOR ME.
YOU'RE TALKING 10 MILLION MORE. NO, JUST 10 MILLION TOTAL.
YEAH. SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE UNCLEAR HERE, BUT NO, I SAW THAT YOU HAD 10 MILLION.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MORE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE.
MY GUESS IS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WOULD BE HAPPY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUND BALANCE.
BUT MAYBE TAKE IT DOWN FURTHER. TAKE IT DOWN FURTHER.
WHAT IF WE WERE TO. SO CURRENTLY IN OUR FUND BALANCE WE HAVE HOW MUCH? 2323 23 MILLION. SO THEN WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH 13 OF THAT.
[01:45:02]
OKAY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE'S RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED FUND BALANCE.CORRECT. THAT'S OUR ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. CORRECT.
AGAIN, THE PROJECTED FUND BALANCE AT JUNE 30TH IS SIMPLY THAT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT USING FUND BALANCE THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'LL HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 30TH.
WE WILL DO A PROJECTION AS OF THE END OF MARCH, WHEN HOPEFULLY THE SNOW IS DONE.
AND I DON'T KNOW THEY'RE RUNNING TONIGHT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WILL BE IN THE MORNING.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING. ELEVATORS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.
SO THAT COULD TAKE THAT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IF WE HAD TO REPLACE ANY ELEVATOR IN THE SYSTEM.
SO. WHEN WE KNOW WHAT THAT PROJECTION LOOKS LIKE BETTER, THERE IS TIME IN JUNE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THAT. BASED ON YOU MAY DECIDE, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN'T DO TEN WE NEED TO DO LESS.
YOU MAY SAY, OKAY, WE CAN GO UP TO 12. THAT'S FOR ME.
THAT'S A MORE COMFORTABLE TIME FRAME TO BE MAKING THOSE TYPES OF ADJUSTMENTS.
THE BOARD CERTAINLY HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT NOW AND MAKE FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS LATER.
BUT IF WE STOPPED AT TEN NOW AND THEN REEVALUATED EVERYTHING AS WE GET OUR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE, WE COULD MAKE FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS AT THAT TIME.
THIS IS NO GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT.
AND REGARDING THE FUND BALANCE, YOU KNOW, AND NOT NECESSARILY KNOWING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FALL IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KEEP INTO PERSPECTIVE THAT YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGETS ARE RUNNING EXTREMELY TIGHT THIS YEAR MUCH TIGHTER THAN WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EACH YEAR, WE'VE BEEN TIGHTENING EVERYTHING UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, JUST TO SQUEEZE AS MUCH AS WE CAN OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH THE DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID EARLIER THAT WE'RE AT 99.9% SPEND OR PROJECTING 90, 99.9% SPEND.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF SOME THINGS GO OVER, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EAT INTO FUND BALANCE.
SO I GUESS REALLY WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT ALLOCATING 10 MILLION IS IS AN EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE THING.
YOU KNOW, SAFETY, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR PRIORITIES.
WHAT SHOULD THE FUND BALANCE BE AT? IDEALLY, I'M JUST CURIOUS.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN 10%, WHICH IS I WOULD LOVE 10% AS A FINANCE PERSON.
AGAIN, I THINK OF MY OWN PERSONAL BUDGET. 10% IS STILL NOT GOING TO COVER A REALLY BAD YEAR.
YOU KNOW, IF IN A HOME 10% OF A $700 MILLION, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, YOU KNOW, $70 MILLION.
YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. BUT IF YOU HAD A BAD YEAR WITH CAPITAL ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WE DID NOT HAVE THAT FUNDING, WE WOULD HAVE TO DIP INTO THAT.
AND THAT COULD BE EATEN AWAY VERY QUICKLY. OTHER GUIDANCE IS THREE MONTHS WORTH OF EXPENDITURES.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE BEEN DOWN TO $1.5 MILLION, WHICH WAS TERRIFYING. WE'VE HAD 10 MILLION. YOU KNOW, WE ARE PARING DOWN IN THE 20.
SO THAT ALLOWED US TO BUILD OUR FUND BALANCE.
BUT WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE RELYING SOLELY ON ANY SURPLUS IN THE CURRENT YEAR TO BUILD THAT FUND BALANCE UP, WHICH IS GOING AWAY. AND DOCTOR MUELLER ASKED A QUESTION EARLIER, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE FUND BALANCE LEFT? THIS IS THIS IS A REALLY RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU IS WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE 12.5.
WE HAVE TO ASK ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE FOR IT, WHICH WE DID.
WE ASKED THE COUNTY FOR IT AND THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED.
AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO ASKING TO ALLOCATE 10 MILLION.
[01:50:01]
IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT 10 MILLION NEXT YEAR, THAT'S EITHER THE COUNTY COMES IN AND GIVES US 10 MILLION TO MAINTAIN OPERATIONS, OR WE CUT $10 MILLION WORTH OF EXPENDITURES. YOU CANNOT IN THIS BUDGET AS TIGHT AS IT IS WITH THE DAY TO DAY OPERATING EXPENSES, THAT WE HAVE CUT FIVE, SIX, $7 MILLION, 10 MILLION WITHOUT AFFECTING STAFF.THERE'S JUST NO WAY THE THE PERCENTAGES MR. ORCHITIS THAT YOU QUOTED EARLIER.
THAT IS SALARIES PLUS BENEFITS. SO THAT 78 POINT SOMETHING 587 MILLION A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, 400 MILLION IN SALARIES AND BENEFITS. SO THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SAVINGS ACCOUNT, YOU EITHER GO MAKE MORE MONEY OR YOU CUT BACK EXPENSES.
SO THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE WITH THE SECOND TO USE $10 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE? MISS, IF YOU'LL PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. VOTE.
MISS. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES, MR.. VICAR. STEEN.
MISS. BRUCE. YES, MRS. ALVAREZ. YES. VICE PRESIDENT.
SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT. PAIGE. YES. THIS MOTION PASSES.
PRESIDENT PAIGE, COULD I REVIEW THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE FOR LOCAL, STATE, ALL OF OUR SOURCES.
I CAN'T SHARE IT AT THIS POINT. ON THE SCREEN.
SO THE LOCAL ASK IS THE PROPOSED CHANGE INSTEAD OF THE 17.9 MILLION IS 16 MILLION.
548 840. WHICH ONE MORE TIME? 16 548 840. THAT'S THE REDUCTION TO THE.
SO THAT WOULD BRING THE PROPOSED ASK TO THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW OF $37,332,734.
THEN THE STATE INCREASE IS $914,801, WHICH BRINGS THE PROPOSAL TO 12,000,914 801. THERE'S NO PROPOSED CHANGE TO FEDERAL OR OUR OTHER REVENUE AND FUND BALANCE.
WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE BY $10 MILLION.
THERE WE HAD A MOTION FOR THE CHANGE IN STATE.
WE HAD A MOTION FOR THE FUND BALANCE. SO WE WOULD NEED A MOTION FOR THE LOCAL TO BE CHANGED FROM AN INCREASE OF 36 MILLION TO 37, 332,734, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF THE CHANGES THAT YOU MADE.
I SO MOVE SECOND. ROLL CALL. VOTE. MR. CIRCUITOUS.
NO, DOCTOR MUELLER. YES. MR. MACVICAR? YES. MRS. HAHN. MISS BRUCE. YES. MRS.. ALVAREZ? NO.
VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL. YES. TOTAL EXPENSES AND REVENUES.
PRESIDENT PAGE. YES. I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ENOUGH VOTES.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE TO PASS MAJORITY OF WHO'S HERE.
RIGHT? RIGHT. WHO'S PRESENT? SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS WE WERE.
VOTING ON A TOTAL WHICH HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED THAT MOTION IN ORDER TO PASS THE BUDGET, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. IS THERE A LEGAL ON THE PHONE? BUT ISN'T IT JUST A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, NOT NINE? I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT. WE VOTED TO MAKE THE AMENDMENTS WE'RE AT WHERE WE'RE AT. CORRECT.
AND THE TOTAL IS THE RESULT OF THOSE AMENDMENTS.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IF THERE'S NO LEGAL ON THE PHONE, WE WILL MOVE ON FOR PURPOSES OF TONIGHT. IF THE LEGAL HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION, WE WILL COME BACK AND WE WILL. OKAY. WE WILL WORK THROUGH THIS AGAIN.
[01:55:01]
THAT SOUNDS GREAT. OKAY. SO MOVING ON NOW WE WILL GO TO THE VOTE ON RESTRICTED BUDGET AND WE WILL GO ON TO VOTE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION.PROPOSED RESTRICTION STARTS ON SLIDE 11. GO BACK ONE SLIDE.
SO WE DID NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED TO THE RESTRICTED.
AT THIS POINT, WE MAKE PROJECTIONS FOR WHAT WE'LL RECEIVE IN THE DIFFERENT FEDERAL AND STATE GRANTS.
WE WILL SHORE THESE UP IN THE SPRING. GENERALLY, THEY'RE NOT BIG ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET AS GOOD OF FEDERAL ESTIMATES AS WE CAN.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET THE STATE WE HAVE A PRELIMINARY STATE NOW, BUT ONCE WE GET THAT FINAL, THEY CALL IT THE FINAL DRAFT, WHICH REALLY ISN'T A FINAL.
SO WE'RE REALLY NOT ASKING FOR A CHANGE IN THE RESTRICTED.
SO WE WOULD ASK FOR JUST A VOTE TO APPROVE THE RESTRICTED FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF 48,855,598.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED RESTRICTED BUDGET OF 48.
855 598 PLEASE SAY YES. YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? PASSES AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO FOOD. AND VERY SIMILAR WITH FOOD AND NUTRITION.
WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS. NOW WE WILL MONITOR THEIR BUDGET.
WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK WITH AN INCREASE IF WE SEE THAT AGAIN AS WE GET INTO THE SPRING.
SO WE WOULD THEN ASK FOR A MOTION AND A VOTE ON THE FOOD AND NUTRITION BUDGET OF 23,655,000.
CAROL. BRUCE. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO. PASSES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU EVERYONE.
[Future Meetings Review]
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.