Apr 20, 2026 Board Meeting

[Call to Order: Board President]

[00:00:12]

WORK SESSION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON APRIL 20TH, 2026 AT 6:03 P.M.

THIS WORK SESSION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, IF YOU WILL TAKE A ROLL CALL. MRS. PERRY. I BELIEVE SHE WILL JOIN US VIRTUALLY. I WILL SKIP MISS ORCHITIS HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT. MR. MCVICKER HERE. MRS. HAHN, PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE. MRS. ALVAREZ, PRESENT. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL HERE. PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. MAC, PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THANK YOU, MR. SILVA. YOU'LL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE OF 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. SO GOOD EVENING. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE'RE DOING THINGS IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OF A FORMAT TONIGHT. IT'S NICE TO HAVE A WORKING

[A. 2025 North Harford Envirothon Team "Nonpoint Ninjas" Presentation "Pollution Busters", Mr. Howard Eakes, Assistant Supervisor of Science, Ms. Laura O'Leary, Science Teacher at North Harford High School and Envirothon Coach, Envirothon Team Students: Auna Walker, Bailey Carvale-Cochran, Emma Konopacki, Nina Field, Lucas Gerhing, and Max Diegel, North Harford High School]

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I'M ANNA, YOUR COMMUNITY COORDINATOR. I'M BAILEY, YOUR TECHNICAL TALKER. I'M LUKE, THE NON POINT NINJAS POINT PROFESSIONAL. I'M NINA, THE RURAL REFORMER. AND I'M EMMA, THE URBAN UNIFIER. THE 16,000 ACRE WATERSHED ENCOMPASSES A UNIQUE PART OF HARFORD COUNTY, PRIMARILY FOREST, BUT CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY URBAN AREAS CONTAINED IN THE COUNTY'S DEVELOPMENT ENVELOPE, INCLUDING ABOUT HALF OF GRAYSON, ABERDEEN. NEARLY 16,000 INHABITANTS ENJOY A VARIETY OF RESOURCES. THE COUNTY MAINTAINS MULTIPLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NUMEROUS PARKS. SIGNIFICANT PRIVATE PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS INCLUDE TWO GOLF COURSES AND RIPKEN STADIUM. STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MANAGES ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, PARTIALLY INCLUDED IN THE WATERSHED. HISTORICALLY, THE OAKINGTON PENINSULA IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE. IT CONTAINS INDIGENOUS ARTIFACTS AND PRE-REVOLUTION FARMS AND IS CONNECTED TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. ECOLOGICALLY, THE WATERSHED SUPPORTS A WIDE DIVERSITY OF FLORA AND FAUNA, WATERWAYS THAT ONCE HELD CRITICALLY ENDANGERED MARYLAND DARTERS FLOW INTO WETLANDS THAT PROVIDE STOPS FOR MIGRATING WATERFOWL AND SHELTER. RARE PLANTS. MULTIPLE STATE BIG TREES SHADE THE WATERSHED. WITH THESE IMPORTANT CHARACTERISTICS IN MIND, WE WILL BEGIN OUR PLAN WITH THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WATERSHED. THE SMALLEST LAND AREA. AGRICULTURE IS A SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION SOURCE BELIEVED TO CAUSE OVER HALF OF NUTRIENT POLLUTION. AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION SOURCES INCLUDE SEDIMENTS FROM SOIL EROSION, NUTRIENTS FROM FERTILIZERS AND LIVESTOCK WASTE, CHEMICALS AND METALS FROM PESTICIDES AND POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS FROM FARM VEHICLE EMISSIONS. URBAN POLLUTION ACCOUNTS FOR SLIGHTLY LESS AND IS MADE UP OF NUTRIENTS FROM SEWAGE, PET WASTE AND WASTE DISPOSAL AND CHEMICALS, AND PAHS FROM VEHICLE LEAKS AND EMISSIONS.

FORESTS CONTRIBUTE ONLY A SMALL AMOUNT OF POLLUTION, MOSTLY SEDIMENTS AND SOME NUTRIENTS, USUALLY AS A RESULT OF DISTURBANCES. EMMA AND NINA ARE DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THE WATERSHED'S CURRENT MOST UTILIZED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, OR BMPS. HERE. HERE ARE THREE OF THE MOST COMMON URBAN BMPS USED IN THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED, STARTING WITH BIOSWALES, WHICH ARE LINEAR VEGETATED CHANNELS THAT DIRECT WATER ACROSS SLOPED LANDSCAPES, CATCHING SEDIMENT AND REMOVING NUTRIENTS. THESE ARE CURRENTLY IMPLEMENTED IN APG'S INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLAN. FOLLOWING THIS, BIORETENTION PONDS ARE SHALLOW VEGETATED DEPRESSIONS USED TO CAPTURE AND SLOW WATER DOWN, CATCHING SEDIMENT AND REMOVING NUTRIENTS. THE LAST URBAN BMP IS STREET SWEEPING, WHICH REDUCES SEDIMENT LOADS BY 70%, AS WELL AS HEAVY, HEAVY METALS AND NUTRIENTS BY 10 TO 20%. HERE ARE THREE OF THE MOST COMMON RURAL BMPS CURRENTLY BEING UTILIZED IN THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED. CROP ROTATION IS WHEN FARMERS SEASONALLY CHANGE WHAT CROPS HAVE BEEN GROWN ON THE SAME PLOT OF LAND TO HELP FOSTER HEALTHY SOIL AND OPTIMIZE NUTRIENTS. STREAM RESTORATION THE ACT OF BRINGING STREAMS BACK FROM THE GRAVE HELPS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND PREVENT SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENTS BEING ERODED. DOWNSTREAM COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT LIKE THE ABERDEEN EARTH DAY FESTIVAL, HELP ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS. WHO DID I SCARE YOU? WELL, THE THREATS TO THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED ARE EVEN SCARIER. HERE'S EMMA TO EXPLORE THOSE.

ACCORDING TO THE WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED IS OFFICIALLY LISTED AS AN IMPAIRED WATERWAY AFFLICTED BY BOTH SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT POLLUTION. SEDIMENT AND NUTRIENT LOADS ARE DEGRADING OUR WATERWAYS, LEADING TO EUTROPHICATION IN THE BAY. WE'RE LOSING OUR LOCAL AQUATIC AND TERRESTRIAL WILDLIFE FROM EXPANDED INFRASTRUCTURE, AND IT'S RUNOFF. AT THE SAME TIME, OUR FORESTS ARE LOSING STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY AND OVERALL HEALTH. WE SHOULD NO LONGER MANAGE OUR STORMWATER, OUR STORMWATER WITH BAND AID BMPS. THIS IS THE REALITY. WE MUST AND WILL TO ADDRESS SWAN CREEK TO RECOVER. BUT DON'T EVEN FRET. THE NON-POINT NINJAS HAVE SELECTED KEY SOLUTIONS TO BE IMPLEMENTED. FIRST, ANNA WILL INTRODUCE OUR PARANORMAL PLAN. AM I HOLDING THIS TOO? OKAY. WE PLAN TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES TO SWAN CREEK ON ALL LEVELS. IN ORDER TO CATEGORIZE THESE INNOVATIONS, WE HAVE CREATED A THREE TIER PARANORMAL PLAN WHICH INCLUDES BLUE FOR CITIZENS, GREEN FOR POLICY AND RED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE. PLEASE DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE FOLLOWING SLIDES, WHICH WILL BE POSSESSED BY THE CORRESPONDING TIER COLOR. THANKS, ANNA. NOW HERE'S NINA WITH SOME SPOOKTACULAR BMPS IN THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED, AGRICULTURE CONTRIBUTES TO ABOUT 54% OF THE EXCESS NUTRIENTS HAUNTING THE WATERSHED. OUR PLAN WILL INCLUDE AGROFORESTRY, WHICH IS THE INTEGRATION OF TREES AND SHRUBS INTO FARMING SYSTEMS FOR ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT. WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THREE SYSTEMS OF AGROFORESTRY, SILVOPASTURE, CROPPING AND NATIVE FOREST PRODUCTS. SILVOPASTURE INCLUDES LIVESTOCK BEING INTEGRATED UNDER TREES. IDEAL SPECIES LIKE BLACK LOCUST AND POPLAR TREES GROW QUICKLY TO PROVIDE SHADE, CONTROL, EROSION AND SEQUESTER CARBON. THIS HELPS ANIMALS BY REDUCING

[00:10:01]

ONE IS EDUCATING FARMERS TO MANAGE PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS TO REDUCE PHOSPHATES AND ANIMAL WASTE THROUGH PHASED FEEDING, PHOSPHATE CAN BE REDUCED TO 30 TO 35%. ANOTHER METHOD TO BE EMPLOYED EMPLOYED IS TIMING FERTILIZATION FOR PLANT GROWTH. OUR TEAM WILL PROVIDE EDUCATION OUTREACH FOR THE FARMERS FOR THE BEST TIMES TO APPLY FERTILIZATION. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN APPLIED PROPERLY, NITROGEN IS GREATLY REDUCED WHEN APPLIED TO CORN FROM HIP HIGH TO TASSELING HEIGHT. OUR FINAL NOVEL BMP, OUR BIOREACTORS BIOREACTORS ARE INFILTRATION TRENCHES FILLED WITH ORGANIC MATTER. BACTERIAL COMMUNITIES INSIDE OF THESE BREAK DOWN THE RUNOFF NITRATE INTO HARMLESS NITROGEN GAS. THE VEGETATION ON TOP ALSO HELPS PROVIDE HABITAT FOR LOCAL WILDLIFE. WOW, NINA, THOSE BMPS ARE COOL. BUT DON'T GET SPOOKED BY THE PRICE TAG.

HERE'S BAILEY WITH THE ECONOMICS. OUR PLAN HAS MANY INNOVATIVE IDEAS, AND YOU MAY BE WONDERING HOW OUR POLLUTION PREVENTIONS WILL BE FUNDED. BUT DON'T YOU WORRY, WE HAVE RESEARCH, PRACTICAL AND COST EFFECTIVE TOOLS THAT HELP FARMERS, COMMUNITIES AND WATERWAYS. AT THE SAME TIME, THESE NOVEL METHODS OF REDUCING POLLUTION CAN BE INCLUDED INTO SWINE CREEK WATERSHEDS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UNDER THE. WHICH IS MANDATED UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT. SECTION 33D TO REDUCE TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOADS OF SEDIMENT NITRATE AND PHOSPHATE. HERE'S A LIST OF GRANTS AND INCENTIVES WE HAVE FOUND. IT'S NOT A GHASTLY COST, AS THESE AGRICULTURAL BMPS REMAIN BOTH REASONABLE AND ACCESSIBLE. COSTS CAN BE ALLEVIATED THROUGH THE EQIP. THE MAX, AND THE BRF. EDUCATING FARMERS IS CHEAP BECAUSE THEY ARE SMART BUNCH. THESE AGRICULTURAL BMPS PROFIT BY REDUCING. BY REMOVING AN AVERAGE 40% NITRATE AND SEQUESTERING ALMOST TWO TONS OF CARBON EACH YEAR, ALL BEING IMPLEMENTED WOULD FOLLOW. WOULD YEAH WOULD FOLLOW THE IMPORTANT REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO AGRICULTURAL BMPS, SUCH AS THE MARYLAND'S NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND THE CLEAN WATER ACT, SECTION 404 AND 33D. RIGHT NOW OUR COASTS ARE IN TROUBLE, BUT EMMA HAS A PLAN. THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHED HAS APPROXIMATELY 14KM OF SHORELINE. A LIVING SHORELINE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.

IMPLEMENTED AS THE FINAL DEFENSE FROM THE HAUNTING OF NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION CONSTRUCTED FROM PLANTS, SAND, AND ROCKS, IT PREVENTS THE. IT. IT PROTECTS THE COASTLINE FROM EROSION, SEDIMENTATION, AND. IT PURIFIES WATER. THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT DEFENSE AGAINST OUR RISING CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WOULD FOLLOW THE LIVING SHORELINE PROTECTION PLAN. THERE'S SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL LURKING IN THESE BMP COSTS. LIVING SHORELINE, STABILIZED COASTS AND HABITAT COSTS AROUND $300 PER LINEAR FOOT. THIS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD. GRANTS PROVIDE 0% INTEREST IN FINANCING UP TO $150,000. THESE SHORELINES HAVE A SIX BENEFIT TO COST RATIO, MEANING AS EVERY $1 GOES INTO THE PROGRAM, $6 WILL BE SAVED.

WE WON'T GHOST OUR COMMUNITY. HERE'S ANA WITH COMMUNITY OUTREACH. THE SUMMERTIME GREAT GREEN FESTIVAL WILL BE A NEW ADDITION MODELED AFTER ABERDEEN'S EARTH DAY FESTIVAL, FOCUSING ON HOW INDIVIDUALS CAN PARTICIPATE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL. THIS INCLUDES WORKSHOPS THAT PROMOTE ECO FRIENDLY GARDENING HABITS SUCH AS WATER BARREL WORKSHOPS, BIRDHOUSE BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE GARDENING STATIONS. IT WILL INCORPORATE SPONSORED EVENTS FROM COMPANIES SUCH AS LOWE'S TO OCCURRENCE ATTENDANCE OF ALL AGES. OUR HOPE IS BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC AND BY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO THESE FUN AND CRAFTY AT HOME SOLUTIONS. WATER SHED RESIDENTS WILL LEARN TO BECOME STEWARDS FOR THEIR OWN BACKYARD ENVIRONMENTS. BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY SUPERNATURAL COMMUNITY EVENT THE POINT NINJAS HAVE PLANNED. THE SAVE SPLASH WILL BE A LOCALIZED PLANTING PARTY FOR THE REGION ADJACENT TO OUR NEW LIVING SHORELINE, FOCUSED ON PROPAGATING VARIETIES OF AQUATIC VEGETATION THAT CAN TOLERATE THE HIGH NUTRIENT AND SEDIMENT ISSUES. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AT ABERDEEN'S EARTH DAY FESTIVAL PROMOTING GREEN IN THE COMMUNITY LIKE BAY SCAPES, WHICH ARE ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED AT PGS VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN, REQUIRING LESS MOWING, LESS FERTILIZER AND LESS PESTICIDES, AND INSTEAD PROVIDING A DIVERSE HABITAT AND PROTECTING WATER QUALITY.

THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY WE'LL CREATE UNITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. EMMA IS DIGGING UP BMPS FOR POPULATION CENTERS. HERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT URBAN BMPS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE BEST INCORPORATED INTO YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD TO ADDRESS THE SOURCE RATHER THAN THE SYMPTOMS. PERMEABLE PAVEMENTS WOULD DECREASE THE AMOUNT OF WATER RUNNING OFF HOT ROADS AND FLOODING DRAINAGE WAYS. A CHEAPER OPTION WOULD BE ADDING COOL ROOFS AND PAVEMENTS. THIS WOULD INCORPORATE LIGHTER COLORED ROADWAYS AND ROOFTOPS, WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE EXTENT

[00:15:01]

ALL BMPS IMPLEMENTED WOULD FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS THAT APPLY TO URBAN BMPS, SUCH AS THE CRITICAL AREA ACT AND THE MARYLAND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2007, ACROSS WORKING LANES AND COMMUNITIES. THESE PRACTICES PAY FOR THEMSELVES IN PRODUCTIVITY, RESILIENCE AND WATER QUALITY. GRANTS AND INCENTIVES SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE UPFRONT COSTS, WHILE BENEFITS FROM COVERED STORAGE NUTRIENT CUTS BUILD YEAR AFTER YEAR. WITH THESE SOLUTIONS IN MIND, WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH AN IMPACT ANALYSIS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK ANALYSIS. EMMA IS BACK TO LIFT OUR SPIRITS WITH THE UPDATED ECOSYSTEM STATUS REPORT. THE NON-POINT NINJA'S POLLUTION BUSTERS PLAN WILL BENEFIT THE SWAN CREEK WATERSHEDS ACROSS THE BOARD, SOIL HEALTH WAS STRENGTHENED FROM REDUCED EROSION AND COMPACTION. AQUATIC COMMUNITIES WILL BENEFIT FROM COOLER TEMPERATURES, HIGHER DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS AND REDUCED SEDIMENTATION. WILDLIFE HABITATS WILL EXPAND AND IMPROVE AS GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE INCREASES. VEGETATION COVER FORESTED AREAS WILL BECOME MORE RESILIENT, SUPPORT FOR GREATER SPECIES DIVERSITY AND OFFERING BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST FLOODING. WE BELIEVE OUR PLAN FOCUSES ON THE SOURCES OF STORMWATER POLLUTION RATHER THAN THE SYMPTOMS. OUR PLAN ALSO ENSURES A RESILIENT FUTURE A PROJECTED SEVEN INCHES OF SEA LEVEL RISE AND A ONE DEGREE IN AVERAGE DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE. BUT HARFORD COUNTY AT MEDIUM HIGH COASTAL AND HIGH DROUGHT AND FLOOD RISKS, ACCORDING TO THE STATE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. BUT FEAR NOT, OUR STRATEGIES ALSO HELP MITIGATE FUTURE ISSUES. LIVING SHORELINES AND STREAM RESTORATIONS REDUCE EROSION AND COMBAT FLOODING, WHILE COOL PAVEMENT REDUCES RUNOFF TEMPERATURES, RAIN BARRELS AND NATIVE PLANTS REDUCE OUTDOOR WATER USE. THE NON-POINT NINJAS ARE DEDICATED TO CREATING A SOLUTION FOR WATERSHEDS, CURRENT AND FUTURE WATER ISSUES THAT REFLECT ITS UNIQUE CULTURE, HISTORY, AND ECOLOGY. WHEN THERE'S POLLUTION IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ARE YOU GOING TO CALL POLLUTION BUSTERS? ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THE FIFTH TOPIC PRESENTATION PART IS THAT THEY LEARN ABOUT THIS IDEA OF NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTION. BY COMING UP WITH THIS PLAN, YOU CAN SEE HOW MUCH THEY GOT OUT OF, YOU KNOW, THE THE TOPIC AREA AND THEY'RE GIVEN A LOCAL PROBLEM. SO SWAN HARBOR OR SWAN CREEK WATERSHED WAS THE AREA THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON. AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THE ENVIROTHON COMMITTEE, THEY KIND OF COME UP WITH A PLAN IF.

WELL, I SHOULD SAY WHEN MR. X IS IS I, I CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE I'M AFRAID I WILL JINX THEM.

BUT IF THEY WIN STATES, THEN THEY'LL GO ON TO MISSISSIPPI AND IT WILL BE REVOLVED AROUND A MISSISSIPPI PLAN. AND THEY GET A WHOLE NEW 200 MORE PAGES TO LEARN ABOUT MISSISSIPPI, WHICH IS CRAZY. YEAH. SO THAT'S COOL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE HERE, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU LISTENING TO THEM. HONORS ALL OURS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU.

[00:20:02]

SORRY. IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TOO. YEAH, BOTH OF THOSE. I KNOW THERE ARE TWO DATES STUCK IN MY HEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU. WE WILL. THANK YOU. YES. OH, YEAH. DON'T WORRY. OKAY, I. OH, IS THAT OUR CLASSROOM? NO, NO, I BROUGHT AN EXTRA JUST IN CASE, BUT. YEAH.

[B. Presentation from Joppatowne High School JROTC, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Ronald C. Lenker, U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class (Retired) Joel Santana, Cadet Allyson Gardner, and Cadet Connor Klass]

NOT ONLY IS IT KNOWING HOW TO ACT IN THE ADULT WORLD, IN THE REAL WORLD, BUT ALSO KNOWING HOW TO FUNCTION IN THE REAL WORLD. A GREAT WAY. THAT THAT'S HELPED ME IS MY ABILITY TO DO THINGS LIKE SPEAK PUBLICLY, TALK IN THESE KINDS OF GROUPS, AND FUNCTION WHILE DOING IT.

BEFORE JOINING THE PROGRAM, FRESHMAN ORIENTATION DAY STARTED IN SANTANA CAN ATTEST TO THIS. I WAS THE KID WHO WAS TOO SCARED TO GO SAY HI TO THE NEW TEACHERS AND ACTUALLY MEET THESE PEOPLE. BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I HAD TROUBLE TALKING IN FRONT OF LARGE CROWDS. I HAD TROUBLE ONE ON ONE CONVERSATIONS, TALKING TO PEOPLE. BUT EVEN AFTER JUST ONE

[00:25:02]

I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU GIVE OUR PROGRAM AND BEING ABLE TO HELP MORE STUDENTS AND TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND CHANGE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROUD MOMENTS FOR ME. WE WE GROWN QUITE A BIT IN THE PROGRAM. I APPRECIATE ALL THE SUPPORT WE'VE RECEIVED BECAUSE WE HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT AND IT TRULY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WHEN WE HAD THE WELCOMING WITH THE COMMANDING GENERAL FROM FROM 20TH TO THE END OF THE YEAR, WHEN WE HAVE AWARD NIGHT, THIS YEAR WILL BE AN AWARD BANQUET. WE RECEIVED A LOT OF SUPPORT AND, AND IT'S, IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL. AND I WANT, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOMETHING ADDITIONAL TO, TO PRO THAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER PROGRAMS. AND IT'S THAT THE MAGNET PROGRAMS, ALTHOUGH I LOVE THEM, I WISH I GREW UP AROUND THIS STUFF IN PUERTO RICO. WE DIDN'T HAVE NONE OF THIS, BUT THE PROGRAMS, THEY TEND TO BE VERY TRACK FOCUSED, RIGHT? YOU HAVE PATHWAY TO TECHNOLOGY, YOU HAVE TEACHERS ACADEMY, YOU HAVE AGRICULTURE, YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS IN JUNIOR ROTC. THE KIDS DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND THEY'RE PUSHED TO EXPLORE THEIR OPTIONS. THEY'RE PUSHED TO EXPLORE WHAT THEY CAN DO, WHAT THEY ENJOY DOING, WHAT THEY DISLIKE DOING, WHAT THEIR LIFESTYLE, WHAT LIFESTYLE THEY WANT TO LIVE. AND WITH EACH YEAR, WE DIG DEEPER. WITH YEAR ONE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DREAM BOARDS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. YEAR TWO, WE'RE LOOKING AT CAREERS, HOW MUCH THEY GET PAID, HOW MUCH THE EDUCATION COSTS, YEAR THREE, THEY'RE BUILDING RESUMES. AND WHILE WHILE SOME STUDENTS ARE FOCUSED ON A SPECIFIC TRACK, THESE KIDS DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO YET, AND MANY TEENAGERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. OR ONE YEAR THEY WANT TO DO ONE THING, THE NEXT YEAR THEY WANT TO DO ANOTHER THING, AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT HERE. THEY GET TO EXPLORE. AND THE THINGS THAT THEY LEARN HERE WITH, WITH US IS THOSE SKILLS THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE WHEREVER THEY GO. BECAUSE WHEREVER THEY GO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUBLIC SPEAK AT SOME POINT. WHEREVER YOU GO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT IN FRONT OF A PANEL OF PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO FIND THAT JOB. AND FOR SOMEONE THAT'S 15 YEARS OLD,

[00:30:04]

SO IT DOES GIVE HIM A HEADS UP AND IT ALSO IS IN IN. IT ALSO HELPS THEM BE MORE COMPETITIVE TO BE ABLE TO GET ACCEPTED TO THE MILITARY ACADEMIES OR COLLEGE ROTC, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HOPEFULLY WHEN, WHEN GARNER GETS THROUGH TO HER COLLEGE, SHE'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY AND DO IT. BUT RIGHT NOW, SHE'S TOO YOUNG TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY COMPETE. THANK YOU.

I HAVE A MY ONE OF MY SON'S BEST FRIENDS WENT TO CHESAPEAKE HIGH SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND HE'S ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO GRADUATE FROM UNIVERSITY OF NORTH GEORGIA ON MAY 12TH WITH HIS MILITARY RANK. SO HE WENT THROUGH THIS VERY SAME PROGRAM AT CHESAPEAKE HIGH SCHOOL. AND I WATCHED HIM CHANGE FROM THIS DISORGANIZED, ALL OVER THE PLACE KID, TO THIS AMAZING, SUPER FOCUSED, LIKE WONDERFUL INDIVIDUAL. SO I KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT THIS PROGRAM DOES. AND I THINK IT'S AMAZING. IT'S CONSISTENT STRUCTURE DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY HELPS THE CLASSROOM.

AND ANYTIME, IF ANYBODY DECIDES TO VISIT THE CLASSROOM, YOU SEE, THEY KNOW NO HOODIES, THEY KNOW NO CURSING, THEY KNOW THEY PULL OUT THE CELL PHONE. THEY, THEY GOING TO HAVE TO TURN IT IN.

THEY IT. AND THAT CONSISTENCY CAN BE TIRING SOMETIMES, BUT IT, IT TRULY PAYS OFF. YES. THANK YOU. SO FIRST, THANK YOU BOTH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TO YOU LOVE THE CONFIDENCE OUT OF BOTH OF YOU. IT'S REALLY AMAZING. SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, IN EIGHTH GRADE, WHAT WAS YOUR MOTIVATION FOR THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW NECESSARILY WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO? FOR ME PERSONALLY, IT WAS JUST SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT. AND TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THAT AND FIGURE IT OUT AND DO SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING WAS WHAT REALLY MOTIVATED ME TO JOIN THE PROGRAM. FOR ME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I WAS LOOKING TOWARDS POTENTIALLY GOING MILITARY ROOTS, SO SEEING THIS OPEN UP WAS AN AMAZING THING FOR ME AT THE TIME. BUT ALSO SINCE IT THAT WE ARE THE FIRST CLASS DOING IT AND GOING IN, IT HAD NO FOUNDATION WHATSOEVER. I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER, WHETHER IT WAS JUST THE FACT THAT WE'D BE BUILDING IT FROM SCRATCH AS OUR TWO CLASSES AT THE TIME, FRESHMAN YEAR. BUT ALSO I UNDERSTOOD A LITTLE BIT OF HOW THE FORMAT OF JROTC WORKED, KNOWING THAT THERE WAS CHANCES TO LEAD AND GUIDE OTHER PEOPLE. SO NOT ONLY BEING SOMETHING BIGGER AS BUILDING THE PROGRAM, BUT ALSO HELPING THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN ME OR LOWER LEVELS TO KIND OF HELP THEM DO WHAT SERGEANT SANTANA AND NOW COLONEL LINKER HAVE HELPED DO

[00:35:02]

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANKS.

[C. Calendar/Virtual Instruction for Inclement Weather, Ms. Katie Ridgway, Chief of Staff]

SO MY GOAL HERE IS TO END THIS SESSION BY 830. SO THAT GIVES US TWO HOURS. IN ORDER TO DO THAT, I WANTED TO LAY DOWN SOME SORT OF FORMAT. AND IF WE NEED TO HOLD ANOTHER WORK SESSION AFTER THIS, WE WILL. BUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL OF OUR VOICES ARE HEARD. I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO SORT OF A ROUND ROBIN TYPE OF FORMAT. AND WE HAVE THREE TOPICS. SO WE'LL WE'LL START WITH THAT TOPIC. I'LL GO AROUND WITH KIND OF AN INITIAL QUESTION AFTER THE STAT IS PRESENTED, AND GIVE EACH BOARD MEMBER TWO MINUTES TO KIND OF GIVE YOUR THOUGHTS OR WHERE YOU THINK WE SHOULD HEAD, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES PER TOPIC JUST IN A ROUND ROBIN DISCUSSION. I DO ASK THAT YOU EITHER LET ME GO AROUND KIND OF METHODICALLY AND CALL YOU, CALL ON YOU, OR RAISE YOUR HAND JUST TO KEEP FROM PEOPLE JUMPING IN AND GIVING EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE. SO THE THREE TOPICS WE HAVE TONIGHT ARE THE VIRTUAL LEARNING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, FY 27, BUDGET PRIORITIES AND APPROACH, AND THEN THE FUTURE BUDGET PROCESS AND IMPROVEMENTS. SO WE'LL START WITH NUMBER ONE ON THE VIRTUAL LEARNING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. AND I BELIEVE MISS RIDGEWAY, YOU ARE ON DECK. ON DECK. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. AND I DO HAVE TEAM MEMBERS HERE WHO WILL PARTICIPATE AS NEEDED, BUT I WILL HELP GUIDE US IN THIS CONVERSATION. SO WE THERE ARE THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT WE REALLY NEED SOME BOARD FEEDBACK ON, BUT THEY'RE VERY MUCH TIED TOGETHER. ONE IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO PURSUE VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER. AND THEN TWO IS THE SCHOOL CALENDAR. THEY ARE TIED TOGETHER BECAUSE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION JUST RELEASED A RESOLUTION THAT SET FORTH SOME EXPECTATIONS WITH REGARD TO VIRTUAL LEARNING AND OUR CALENDARS, THAT IT IS A RESOLUTION. IT'S NOT NECESSARILY YET SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY FROM THE LAW STANDPOINT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WILL USE TO CONSIDER ON WHETHER OR NOT WE GET WAIVERS FOR OUR WEATHER DAYS, IF WE EVER IF WE HAVE EXTRA WEATHER DAYS THAN ANTICIPATED, OR IF THERE'S A BLIZZARD OR IF WE HAVE A HURRICANE OR WHATEVER IT IS THAT TAKES US BEYOND. AND THE STATE BOARD HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT IF WE'RE NOT FOLLOWING SOME VERY CERTAIN THINGS, THAT THEY WILL NOT GRANT US WAIVERS, WHICH MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL YEAR BEYOND OUR CALENDAR. AND SO WE HAVE A COUPLE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED, AND WE REALLY NEED FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD ABOUT

[00:40:02]

SOME OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WE HAVE FOR THE CALENDAR, SUCH AS ELECTION DAYS. AND THEN IT ADDS THAT STATE RESOLUTION REQUIREMENTS THAT I SPOKE OF, AND THIS IS REALLY WHAT'S NEW AND DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'VE ALL HEARD THIS. THE OTHER THINGS BEFORE THAT FOR US TO RECEIVE A WAIVER FROM THE STATE, THEY WANT OUR SCHOOL CALENDARS TO END BEFORE JUNETEENTH. THEY WANT US TO HAVE EITHER THREE DESIGNATED INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, PLUS A VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PLAN, OR SIX DESIGNATED INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS. AND THEY SAY THAT MAKEUP DAYS CANNOT BE SCHEDULED AFTER THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. NOW, JUST FOR QUICK REFERENCE, OUR CURRENT CALENDAR WOULD NOT MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DISCUSS. RIGHT NOW, OUR CURRENT CALENDAR HAS THREE DAYS. WE HAVE NOT DETERMINED THE INCLEMENT WEATHER ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE DOING VIRTUAL, BUT ALL OF OUR THREE DAYS ARE AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR, WHICH THE EXPECTATION FROM THE STATE BOARD IS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE AT THE END OF THE CALENDAR. YOU ALSO HAVE THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION. IN CASE YOU WANTED TO SEE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE FOR THOSE REQUIREMENTS. AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE A MEMO FROM THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT VIRTUAL LEARNING. AND THE MAIN POINTS ON THAT ARE IF YOU DO ENGAGE IN VIRTUAL LEARNING, THE BOARD WILL HAVE TO APPROVE A PLAN. DISTRICTS HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR HOURS SYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION PROVIDED TO TO ENACT VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION. AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO TAKE ATTENDANCE, ETC. THOSE ARE THE MAIN POINTS. THERE'S OTHER DETAILS, BUT THOSE ARE THE BIGGER THINGS. I'VE ALSO PROVIDED A REMINDER ABOUT THE VIRTUAL AND INSTRUCTION PLAN THAT WE PRESENTED LAST YEAR. THIS IS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE SOME KEY POINTS OF WHERE WE WE LOOKED AT HOW WE GOT FEEDBACK, WHO ALL WAS INVOLVED IN THE DRAFTING OF OUR PLAN, THE CONSIDERATIONS, THE CONSIDERATIONS SECTION IS KIND OF WHERE THIS STALLED IN THE PAST. AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE DISCUSSED A LOT ABOUT RELIABLE HOME INTERNET ACCESS. AND WE CAN DISCUSS THAT THIS EVENING AS WELL AS THE STEPS ABOUT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN WITH ALL OF YOU. AND THEN THE DILEMMA. SO THE CHALLENGES OF INTERNET ACCESS INSTRUCTION FOR ALL SPECIAL ED, ETC. VERSUS THE BENEFITS ONLY HAVING THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS, THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND THE END DATE OF SCHOOL. SO I'VE INCLUDED ALL OF THAT. JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE FOR OUR CONVERSATION. BUT WHAT, WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR KIND OF IMPACTS WHERE WE GO NEXT. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, DOES THE BOARD WANT TO PURSUE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS? IF SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE? WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ON THE PLAN THAT WE BRING BEFORE YOU TO VOTE ON? AND THEN ALSO, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CALENDAR CHANGES? SO THERE'S THREE QUESTIONS, BUT IT ALL KIND OF HINGES FIRST ON WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO HAVING THE ADMINISTRATION CREATE A REVISED INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT HERE TO VOTE.

NO MATTER WHAT, WE WILL HAVE TO CHANGE THE CALENDAR IF WE WANT TO BE CONSIDERED FOR WAIVERS, BECAUSE OUR CURRENT CALENDAR DOESN'T COMPLY. BUT WE CAN DISCUSS THAT IMPLICATION DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT WE DO VIRTUAL, BECAUSE IF WE DO VIRTUAL, WE ONLY NEED THREE DAYS. AND IF WE DON'T DO VIRTUAL, WE NEED SIX DAYS. SO LET'S START WITH THAT. AND SO I'M LOOKING AT YOU. SO IF YOU WANT TO, I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM BOARD MEMBERS ON THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION. ARE YOU ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THAT? DO YOU WANT MY QUESTIONS OR JUST YES OR NO ON THIS? JUST YES OR NO? DID I MESS IT UP? NOT GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE? NO.

YES. AS LONG AS WE CAN PROVIDE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS TO HAVE COVERAGE OR AN ACCOMMODATION, IF THEY DON'T HAVE COVERAGE. OH, SORRY, I WAS LOOKING WHICH WAS THE NEXT BOARD MEMBER. SO I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY CHALLENGING, CHALLENGING TO, YOU KNOW, MEET ALL OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS. BUT, YOU KNOW, SETTING THAT ASIDE, I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION. I THINK THAT'S WHAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS. YOU KNOW, I, I AM IN FAVOR OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION OR TO PROVIDE PACKAGES OR SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE HOME

[00:45:07]

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH, I JUST I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AT A HOME WHERE THE CHILDREN WERE SUPPOSEDLY INVOLVED WITH THE VIRTUAL LEARNING AND, AND THE LITTLE GIRL WAS JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND THEN SHE'D COME BACK TO HER MOM AND HER MOTHER SAYING, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THIS, THIS, THIS. AND IT WAS LIKE, AND SHE HAD TWO CHILDREN THERE AND SHE WAS TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE WHILE THE TWO CHILDREN, BECAUSE SHE HAD THAT SCHEDULE. AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS FOR PARENTS WHO HAVE TO WORK. WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE THERE. AND, AND WHEREAS IF THERE WAS A PACKAGE AND THE PARENTS CAME HOME AND THEY COULD DO THAT, THEN THAT MIGHT BENEFIT. BUT IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE A VIRTUAL COMPONENT, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY THERE ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS, I'M NOT SURE THAT'S GOING TO. AND EVERY COUNTY HAS CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS FOR WHATEVER REASON. SO THERE'S NO NO ONE'S BEING PUNISHED IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO GET ON, UNABLE TO GET IT DONE. THE OTHER, THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE FULL AWARENESS. WE'RE GOING TO BE OFF TOMORROW, AND SOMETIMES WE FIND OUT AND PEOPLE DIDN'T BRING THEIR COMPUTERS HOME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW THIS WEATHER EVENT WAS COMING. IT COULD BE A WIND EVENT, IT COULD BE WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. SO WE WILL WE WILL DEFINITELY BRING FORTH A PLAN THAT HAS THOSE CONTINGENCIES FOR IF A STUDENT CAN'T ATTEND TO CLASS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE WORKUP WHEN WE COME BACK. SO THIS IS A GREAT DISCUSSION, BUT DOES EVERYONE HAVE TO CHANGE THE. OKAY, I THINK WE'RE. WE REALLY HAVE TO DECIDE IF WE'RE GOING TO YES OR NO. YES. I AM IN FAVOR. I SPENT ALMOST A YEAR DOING PERMANENT VIRTUAL LEARNING. SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING. IT SUCKED, BUT ON A MORE TEMPORARY SCALE OF, YOU KNOW, A DAY OR TWO, OR EVEN IF IT TURNS OUT TO BE A WEEK, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU KNOW, WHAT CATASTROPHIC EVENT HAPPENS, I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT EATING AWAY AT SUMMER. I AM NOT IN FAVOR OF IT. JUST GIVEN THE CURRENT INFORMATION THAT I HAVE, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE DOING IT A YES OR NO. I JUST, I, I WAS IN VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR A YEAR. WHENEVER WE, WHENEVER WE DID IT FOR COVID AND IT NO OFFENSE TO ANY OF MY TEACHERS OR ANYTHING, BUT IT JUST, IT REALLY WASN'T EFFECTIVE. I, I COULDN'T LEARN THAT WAY. I DON'T, IT MIGHT JUST BE ME, BUT THEN I ALSO LOOK AT THE EQUITY STANDPOINT OF, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T RELIABLY, THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO RELIABLY PROVIDE INTERNET TO

[00:50:02]

AND THEN THEY'RE UPSET BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG OR YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE, I JUST, I CAN'T, I CAN'T FAITHFULLY SAY THAT I SUPPORT THAT. SO, SO I GUESS MY, MY QUESTION COMES WITH, YES, I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF IT. BUT IF WE DID SPEND MONEY ON HOTSPOTS, WOULD THOSE CHILDREN THEN HAVE INTERNET ACCESS FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR? OR WOULD IT ONLY BE DURING THE TIME OF THE VIRTUAL LEARNING? I THINK WE HAVE KIND OF DETERMINED FROM ALL OF THE WORK WE'VE DONE. AND THE REASON WHY IT DIDN'T PASS LAST YEAR, THAT THE COST OF THE HOTSPOTS IS NOT THE DIRECTION THAT WE WILL WE WOULD GO. AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW CATHY HAS SOME IDEAS AND WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT IDEAS ON, BUT SO THAT PARTICULAR PIECE IS SOMETHING THAT IF WE BRING A PLAN BACK, IT WILL NOT INCLUDE HOTSPOTS. IT WILL INCLUDE ALTERNATIVES TO THAT. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES YOU'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT? SORRY, I DIDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY GIVE ALTERNATIVES, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY WAY FOR US TO ENSURE THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT WOULD PLAY INTO THAT, THAT ARE NOT WITHIN OUR CONTROL. SO EVEN WITH THE HOTSPOTS, THEY DO NEED TO HAVE A RELIABLE CELL PHONE DATA COVERAGE AREA, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE CASE DEPENDING UPON WHAT TYPE OF WEATHER EVENT WE HAVE. SO THERE ARE SOME OTHER CHALLENGES, BUT WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT WHAT SOME OF OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES ARE DOING.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER LOOKING AT BRINGING FORWARD IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE'D INCLUDE AS A RECOMMENDATION.

I'M IN FAVOR. HERE'S THE WAY I LOOK AT IT. IF WE DON'T DO IT, WE'RE REQUESTING A LABOR AND STUDENTS ARE LOSING LEARNING ANYWAY, RIGHT? SO IT'S JUST THREE DAYS THAT ARE NOT IN SCHOOL. WE REQUESTED 3 TO 4 DAYS I THINK THIS YEAR, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO BUILD IN SIX DAYS RIGHT INTO THE CALENDAR. AND THEN YOU WOULD ONLY GET A WAIVER ON THE SEVENTH DAY. SO WE WOULD HAVE TO BUILD IN SIX INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS. AND THEN IF WE ACTUALLY CLOSE DOWN SEVEN DAYS, IT'S THE SEVENTH DAY THAT WOULD BE WAIVED. AND YOU GET THE THREE DAYS, THE FOURTH DAY WHERE ASYNCHRONOUS. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. RIGHT. SO I JUST THINK IN SOME CASES, YOU WOULDN'T BE GETTING INTO A CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT VERSUS NOT OFFERING ANYTHING.

RIGHT. AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, BUT IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING TO PREVENT THAT. IF WE DO A FOUR DAY DAYCARE OR SCHOOL, WE HAVE THREE DAYS. WE HAVE SOME SORT OF LEARNING, RIGHT? AND THEN TURNING BACK TO THE FULL DAYS, IT JUST HELPS US IN THAT WAY.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE US BRING FORTH A VIRTUAL PLAN.

AND SO IF YOU COULD GIVE US I'VE HEARD I'VE ALREADY WRITTEN DOWN SOME THINGS, ALTERNATIVE ACCESS, LIKE PHONES, MAKING SURE THERE'S ALTERNATIVE WORK, LIKE A PACKET REDUCE COST. SO SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T COST A LOT. WHAT ARE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU BELIEVE WILL BE CRITICAL TO OUR VIRTUAL LEARNING PLAN? I MEAN, IS THERE. OKAY. YEAH. I MEAN, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I SAID NO WAS BECAUSE BASICALLY 20 AND, AND TREY, YOU KNOW, CONFIRMED LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THERE'S JUST NOT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE, THE. THE KNOW HOW. AND SO I THINK TRAINING IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT. THE SURVEY SAID 24% OF THE TEACHERS DON'T ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO DO THIS, DO NOT HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IT. SO I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF A PLAN COMES FORWARD, IT NEEDS TO HAVE THE TEACHERS WITH SOME SKILL SET AND A WAY TO CONFIRM THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACTUALLY GRASPED THE MATERIAL AND ARE NOT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WITH THAT, THAT ELEMENT OF WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO LEARN. I THINK YOU'RE WEIGHING THE BALANCE BETWEEN THEN TAKING AWAY A DAY FROM SPRING BREAK. IF WE DON'T BUILD THAT DAY AND RIGHT, IT'S THE PROFITS, THE TRADE OFF FOR, OKAY, IF WE'RE NOT DOING IT, THEN YOU'RE, YOU'RE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SCHOOL FINISHED BY 18TH JUNE, THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT TAKING AWAY DAYS THAT ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR THE SOONER. BUT IF WE WOULD BE FACTORING THAT INTO THE CALENDAR UPFRONT FOR SIX DAYS. SO IF YOU GO WITH VIRTUAL, JUST THREE, THREE, I'M SORRY IF WE DID IT. WE DIDN'T, IT WOULD BE SIX. AND WHAT WE TYPICALLY FOUND ON THOSE DAYS IS HAVING

[00:55:01]

[01:00:07]

THERE'S AN EXPECTATION FOR CAMERAS TO BE ON EXPECTATION FOR PARTICIPATION. SO I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COST TO TRAIN THE TEACHERS AND TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE'RE CLEARLY ALREADY LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BUDGET SHORTFALLS. WHAT DOES THE COST LOOK LIKE TO DO THE TRAINING AND TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH IT? THE TRAINING SHOULD HAVE A COST BECAUSE WE'RE USING OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, OUR STAFF, TO DO THE TRAINING. AND I WAS ACTUALLY JUST THINKING, A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM COVID IS STUDENTS AND THE TEACHER COULD GO THROUGH A MOCK LESSON IN CLASS AND TEACH THE CHILDREN HOW TO GET ON THE LINK, AND WHERE WE COULDN'T DO THAT. WE COULDN'T GO INTO PEOPLE'S HOMES DURING COVID. SO BUT THE TRAINING WOULD HAPPEN ON OUR TIME WITH OUR PEOPLE THAT THE TRAINING PIECE I SAID WOULD BE FREE BECAUSE IT'S OUR FOLKS. BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER COSTS.

I'M JUST NOT. BUT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A GREAT CONSIDERATION, WHICH TIES INTO THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS THE HOME INTERNET ACCESS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT. AND YOU KNOW, MY COMMENT THERE IS, IS THIS A SCHOOL SYSTEM RESPONSIBILITY? LIKE ARE WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM EXPECTED TO PROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS? INTERNET IS A UTILITY. NOW THAT IS A COUNTY PROBLEM.

THAT IS NOT A SCHOOL SYSTEM PROBLEM. I PUT THAT FULLY REST THAT FULLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE COUNTY FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO INTERNET TO EVERYONE, AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT, RIGHT? THERE'S THE RURAL INTERNET, I FORGET THE ACRONYM, BUT THERE'S, THERE'S A NAME FOR THE PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TO CLOSE THAT GAP OF LACK OF INTERNET ACCESS. BUT MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE EXPECTED AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THAT? ARE WE REQUIRED? I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE HUNG UP FROM, WE'VE WE'VE GRAPPLED WITH ON THAT IS THAT WE FEEL RESPONSIBLE IN CREATING A PLAN THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO AND WE DO THAT ON A DAILY BASIS BY SENDING BUSSES TO PEOPLE'S HOMES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET A RIDE TO SCHOOL, OR WHY WE PROVIDE THE LAPTOPS AND NOT LET PEOPLE AND NOT HAVE PEOPLE BUY THEM. THAT TYPE OF THING IS JUST PART OF THE OUR DESIRES TO PROVIDE THAT. NOW, WE DO KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE OTHER DISTRICTS WHO HAVE THESE PLANS ARE NOT PROVIDING HOTSPOTS. THEY ARE NOT TAKING THAT LEVEL TO THAT THAT RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH IS WHERE WE'VE KIND OF COME TO THE CONCLUSION AND THE UNDERSTANDING THAT ANY PLAN WE PUT FORWARD, WE WILL WANT TO TRY TO REACH AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE ACCESS POINTS WHERE WE CAN, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO KIND OF ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONSIDER OR ADDRESS WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU WITH A VIRTUAL PLAN FOR APPROVAL? WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS WHO DON'T HAVE INTERNET ACCESS WHERE THEY LIVE? I KNOW IT'S A LOT LESS NOW THAN IT WAS EVEN FIVE YEARS AGO. I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THERE MIGHT STILL BE TEACHERS THAT LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AVAILABLE. WELL, THAT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE'VE JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSEDLY PROVIDING? WELL, FOR THE TEACHERS, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN FOR THE STUDENTS. WELL, RIGHT. WELL, I THINK IF WE IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING IN IT, SUCH AS TEACHERS NEED TO HAVE A PLAN AHEAD OF TIME ON HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ACCESS INTERNET TO PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTION IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THEIR HOME. I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE AGAIN, THERE'S THERE'S TIME AHEAD OF TIME. I DON'T KNOW. IT'S NOT JUST IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT IN THEIR HOME AREA, IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE IN THEIR AREA, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENCES, THERE MIGHT BE SOME WEATHER EVENTS. THERE ARE SCENARIOS WHERE WE COULD HAVE OUR THREE DAYS AND NOT CALL A VIRTUAL ON OUR NEXT INCLEMENT WEATHER EVENT, BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN EVENT WHERE WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES, YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TEN FEET OF SNOW, YOU CAN'T GET OUT OR HURRICANE. SO THE CALLING OF THE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION DAY WOULD ALSO INCLUDE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES, HAVE POWER AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BECAUSE IN THE EXTREME

[01:05:05]

AND SO I THINK JUST AS IN EVERYTHING, IF WE, IF WE CREATED A PLAN THAT TRIED TO GET AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE, HAD CONTINGENCIES, HAD THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK IT WOULD SATISFY THAT IF WE HAD A PLAN THAT WAS DIDN'T TRY AND WAS JUST PACKETS, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD SATISFY. SORRY. I LIKE THAT POINT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST HAVING MORE TIME TO GET THE WORK DONE, ESPECIALLY FOR, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO CAN ACCESS IT, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET IT DONE, BUT AT LEAST THOSE WHO, WHO CANNOT WOULD HAVE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THAT. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WELL, AND I THINK SOMETHING TO CONSIDER IS IN ANY GIVEN SCHOOL DAY, WE HAVE ABOUT 4000 STUDENTS. SO ON A TYPICAL DAY. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE 4000 STUDENTS NOT ACCESSING THEIR EDUCATION FOR WHATEVER REASON. DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE? I'M SORRY, WERE YOU STILL DO YOU HAVE A NUMBER ON LIKE AND I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF NICHE, BUT LIKE IF WE WERE TO CUT INTO SPRING BREAK, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HOW MANY WOULD BE ABSENT? SO WHENEVER WE HAVE DAYS THAT ARE HALF DAYS BEFORE A BREAK, THE DAY BEFORE A HOLIDAY, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN OUR ATTENDANCE ON THOSE DAYS. SO IF WE WERE TO PUT SOMETHING INTO SPRING BREAK AND THEN TAKE IT AND PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY PLANNED THINGS, WE FOUND, YOU KNOW, YOU ALMOST CAN DOUBLE THE ATTENDANCE OR THE ABSENTEEISM ON THOSE DAYS DISTRICT WIDE, NOT IN EVERY BUILDING. AND WE ALSO DO THE SAME AT THE VERY END OF THE YEAR. IF IF YOU'RE EXTENDING BEYOND INTO THE MONDAY OR TUESDAY, THE NEXT WEEK, YOU ALSO HAVE THOSE SAME ATTENDANCE ISSUES. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT THE ATTENDANCE WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THERE'S A SNOW DAY AND KIDS ARE JUST LIKE, WELL, JUST KNOW THAT I'M NOT HOPPING ON VIRTUAL OR THE PARENTS ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW THIS, YOU KNOW THAT, THAT JUST JUST GO OUTSIDE, JUST GO HAVE FUN. IT'S A SNOW DAY. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I'M JUST CURIOUS. I'M CURIOUS HOW THAT WOULD COMPARE THAT NUMBER BECAUSE EVERY, EVERY DAY, 4000 KIDS ARE GETTING THE MAKEUP WORK FROM THE DAY BEFORE THAT THEY MISSED ON, YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY. CAN YOU SAY ONE THING ABOUT JUST

[01:10:02]

[01:15:04]

WE'LL DISCUSS THAT AS AN IDEA. ARE THERE ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT BEFORE WE COME BACK WITH A PROPOSAL? SO I HAVE A QUESTION. SINCE THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT WAS ADOPTED MARCH THE 24TH, AFTER OUR CALENDAR WAS ALREADY APPROVED, AND A RESOLUTION ISN'T NECESSARILY STATE LAW. IF WE DECIDE NOT TO CHANGE OUR CALENDAR THIS YEAR AND WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, SINCE THIS WAS DONE AFTER OUR CALENDAR, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT. THAT'S ABSOLUTELY AN OPTION. THE THE RISK THAT WE DON'T KNOW WOULD BE IF WE DO REQUIRE A WAIVER FROM THE STATE AND IF THEY'D BE WILLING TO GIVE IT TO US BECAUSE WE DIDN'T MAKE OUR ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE RESOLUTION. SO BUT WE ARE NOT COMPELLED TO DO THAT. IT'S. ARE WE SETTING OURSELVES UP SO THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER BAD WEATHER YEAR, THAT WE COULD GET THOSE WAIVERS? IF. I DO THINK THAT WHEN WE WENT, WE HAPPENED TO BE AT THE BOARD THE DAY THAT THEY DID THE RESOLUTION, THEY WERE PRETTY CLEAR THAT OF WHAT THEY WANT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO. AND I THINK WE DO RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS LATE, BUT I THINK WE GOT WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THEY APPROVED US. THEY WERE VERY GENEROUS. SOME SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THEY DID NOT APPROVE. AND I, I THINK MY TAKEAWAY WAS WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION. AND HE THE DIRECTION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN IT, OR ELSE WE WOULD BE PUTTING OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULDN'T BE APPROVED FOR, FOR WAIVERS BECAUSE WE WATCHED THAT OCCUR. AND THERE WERE SOME I MEAN, I THINK PEOPLE DID THE BEST THEY COULD WITH THIS TYPE OF SITUATION, BUT THERE WERE JUST THERE WERE PIECES THAT THE STATE BOARD JUST WASN'T WILLING TO, TO MAKE APPROVALS ON. AND I THINK OF PARTICULAR NOTE, JUST THE START TIMES. AND SO I THINK THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE STRONG OPINIONS ABOUT START TIMES. SO THEY'RE GOING TO DESIGNATE THE END TIME. AND THEN IT'S JUST OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW HOW WE WORK IT OUT. AND SO I WILL SAY THAT WE DID GET A LOT OF FEEDBACK.

EVERYONE LOVED OUR SPRING BREAK. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD THE WEEKEND A DAY IN THE PAST, BUT I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST THINK ABOUT THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PIECE THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT, AND TRY TO FIND A BALANCE OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TIME THAT WE MIGHT ASK TO TAKE AWAY, BUT THEN ALSO LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE OTHER TIMES IN THE CALENDARS, BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS DON'T GET MUCH TIME WITH THEIR SUPERVISORS AND WITH THEIR PRINCIPALS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WE DO WANT THAT TO JUST FOR THERE TO BE A BALANCE, WHATEVER DECISION THAT WE DO MAKE, I AGREE WITH YOU. REASONABLE TO MAKE A SPRING BREAK DAY, A MAKE UP DAY FOR WEATHER. I MEAN, YOU AS A FAMILY CAN MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION ON IF YOU'RE GOING ON A TRIP OR COMING TO SCHOOL. I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO DESIGNATE THAT AS A MAKE UP DAY FOR WHETHER 1 OR 2, MAYBE THAT MONDAY AND FRIDAY. SO I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT YOU CAN HAVE LOW ATTENDANCE. YEAH. BUT I MEAN, IT'S MONDAY SHOULD BE A HOLIDAY. THAT'S A STATE REQUIRED HOLIDAY, ISN'T IT? BECAUSE IT'S THE DAY AFTER THE 22ND. THAT'S NOT. YEAH. BUT I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THAT I AGREE WITH YOU, DOCTOR MACK THAT YOU KNOW WE REALLY NEED TO PLAY NICE. I THINK WITH WITH THE STATE THEY WERE VERY GENEROUS WITH US THIS YEAR. AND I ACTUALLY THINK EVERYTHING THAT THEY'VE PROVIDED IN THE RESOLUTION IS COMPLETELY REASONABLE. SO I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK WE CAN I THINK BASED ON THIS CONVERSATION, WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE CONVERSATIONS AND SHARE A COUPLE IDEAS BACK AND COME BACK FOR A VOTE ON A CHANGE IN THE CALENDAR. UNLESS IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT US TO HEAR BEFORE WE COME BACK WITH WITH THE RECOMMENDATION? AND THEN SO THE IDEA IS AS SOON AS WE'RE READY, WE'LL COME BACK WITH THE CALENDAR AND THEN WE'LL DO THE VIRTUAL LEARNING PLAN AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE OR AT THE END OF MAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT, TWO

[D. Budget Planning Current and Future Discussion, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services]

AND SURROUND THE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT PRIORITIES YOU WANT TO SEE PROTECTED, AND THEN WHAT APPROACH DO YOU SUGGEST AS WE LOOK TO MEET THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET?

[01:20:05]

WE'RE THOSE ARE ON THE TABLE. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO WE'RE THINKING ABOUT ANYTHING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE NEGOTIATIONS PACKAGE, WHICH WOULD BE ANY WAGE INCREASES, ANY COLAS AND ANY STEPS AND ALL OF THAT. SO WE REALLY DO NOT WE CANNOT ENGAGE IN THAT CONVERSATION TODAY, BUT WE CAN EXPLORE THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT US TO EXPLORE, AND THEN ALSO IDENTIFY ANY OF THOSE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU REALLY WOULD WANT US TO PROTECT.

DOCTOR MUELLER, DON'T WE START OH, SHE CALLED ON YOU. THAT'S WHY I CALLED ON YOU. I DON'T WANT TO START. SHE PASSES. THANK YOU. TREY. I LOST YOU. HE PASSES. LILIANA. I'M PASSING.

ALL GOOD. SO I THINK GOING FORWARD WITH THE NUMBER THAT HAS PRESENTED, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENSURE THAT WE ARE PRIORITIZING RESOURCES FOR THE CURRENT STUDENTS OF OF HTTPS. WE, OF COURSE, HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF, YOU KNOW, BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS, REQUIREMENTS FROM THE STATE THAT WE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW. AND JUST SORT OF, I GUESS MAYBE THAT'S AN ANALYSIS, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BUDGET TEAM IS SEEING WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TOUCH? WHAT IS IT THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, FIND REDUCTIONS OR FIND MORE CREATIVE WAYS TO STILL HAVE THE SAME BENEFIT THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS. BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT LESS MONEY. I THINK FOR NOW, THAT'S SORT OF MY MY COMMENTS ON IT, BUT I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE, YOU KNOW, BE ENGAGED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO SEE WHAT IT IS THAT WE, WE ARE ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO REDUCE AND WHAT, WHAT WE ARE. WELL, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH DAVID BAUER'S INFORMATION. AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME THINGS IN HERE ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL VERSUS OTHER SALARIES THAT THAT REALLY ARE NOT TRUE AS FAR AS WHAT THE BUDGET IS THAT WE RECEIVED. SO I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE WHEN YOU GO WHEN THEY HAVE A CONVERSATION AGAIN WITH THE COUNTY EXEC, WOULD THESE THINGS BE CLARIFIED? I'M SORRY. JUST A REMINDER, I THINK THE PUBLIC CAN'T HEAR US. SO JUST MAKE SURE WE JUST REALLY LEAN INTO THE MICROPHONES. SO, MISS BRUCE, I'M SORRY. SAY THAT LAST PART AGAIN IN THE MICROPHONE. CLEARLY, I SAID, GIVEN THE THINGS THAT HE HAS POINTED OUT VERSUS INSTRUCTIONAL AND NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES. WHO IS GOING TO BE MEETING OR IS THERE A MEETING WITH GOING BACK TO THE COUNTY EXEC FOR ANY REBUTTAL IN REGARDS TO WHAT HE'S PROVIDED TO US? THAT MAY NEED TO BE REVIEWED OR AT LEAST TWEAKED? SO THE NEXT STAGE IS THAT IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL. SO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS GIVEN US WHAT HE'S GOING TO GIVE US. OUR STANCE IS THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES TAKEN CARE OF AND SOME OF THEM NOT. WE'RE ALL EDUCATORS. AND SO THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS. SO IT WILL GO TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THAT'S WHERE THERE IS AN

[01:25:03]

SO WE WILL GO MEET WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND BE ABLE TO SHARE OUR BUDGET AND IDENTIFY ANY OF THOSE PIECES, YOU KNOW, THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE. AND SO THAT'S THE NEXT DISCUSSION. NEXT MONDAY, NEXT MONDAY THAT WILL TAKE PLACE. SO WILL YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS? YES. I MEAN, YES, WE'RE AWARE OF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR BUDGET AS IT WAS. YES. THAT'S MY YES, MY POSITION. THANK YOU.

SO I THINK THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON TO PROTECT, NUMBER ONE, I BELIEVE WE NEED TO PROTECT THE THE SALARY PACKAGE TO THAT EVERY EMPLOYEE SHOULD GET A STEP THAT WE SHOULD GET TO THE MINIMUM WAGE, THAT THE BLUEPRINT REQUIRES. AND THEN BEYOND THAT, WE NEED TO TRY TO FOCUS ON NOT LOSING AS MANY POSITIONS AS POSSIBLE WITH THE BUDGET LIKE THIS. I'M SORRY. WHAT? NONE. I WOULD I WOULD LIKE NONE. WELL, BUT WITH THE BUDGET THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS PROVIDED BY. YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THAT WAGE PACKAGE, THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE POSITIONS CURRENTLY, I'M SURE. SO THOSE ARE THOSE WOULD BE MY TWO PRIORITIES. THANK YOU. SO SINCE OUR BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED AT CPS LEVEL, WE DIDN'T GET WE DIDN'T HAVE A LINE BY LINE PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THE COST CENTER DETAILED REPORT FOR THE BUDGET NOW FOR 20 YEAR 27? SO THAT'S THIS. WE SENT AN EMAIL OUT THAT IT WAS AVAILABLE, AND YOU COULD LET YVONNE KNOW IF YOU WANTED A COPY. AND IT'S ALSO ONLINE. THE WHAT, WHAT YOU SENT IN AN EMAIL FORM WITH ALL THE DETAILED INFORMATION, THE BUDGET, WHAT WE SPENT, THE PERCENTAGE, EVERYTHING. THAT'S WHAT'S IN THIS BOOK. OKAY. I DIDN'T I DON'T RECALL SEEING THAT. SO YES, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE IF YOU GUYS HAVE THEM. OKAY. YOU CAN HAVE MINE. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU. ALSO. THANK YOU.

LET'S SEE. I TOOK NOTES. I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SPENDING WHAT WE HAVE EFFICIENTLY AND MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS SUSTAINABLE GROWTH WISE IN THE COUNTY. I ALSO WANT TO LIKE I ASKED QUESTIONS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO ON ORACLE AND LAWSON, BASED ON SOME CONCERNS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM. PEOPLE AND LIKE, WHAT DOES. IS THE SYSTEM DOING EVERYTHING THAT LIKE ORACLE? IS IT DOING EVERYTHING THAT IT WAS PROMISED TO DO AS A WHOLE? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE WITH OUR BUDGET? ARE WE OVER OR ARE WE UNDER? AND LIKE, THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE SURROUNDING MANY THINGS IN THE BUDGET, NOT JUST ORACLE. ARE WE USING THAT MONEY EFFICIENTLY? AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REEVALUATE? LIKE, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WHAT I'M ASKING FOR DOES OKAY, DOES. ARE THERE EXTRA EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE? WHAT ARE WE SPENDING EACH MONTH ON UNANTICIPATED EXPENSES? LIKE ALSO FOR LIKE LAWSON, DO WE HAVE A SUBSCRIPTION THAT WE PAY FOR EVERY MONTH FOR LAWSON? I KNOW THAT WE'RE NO LONGER USING LAWSON, BUT ARE WE USING ARE WE STILL PAYING FOR THE SUBSCRIPTION TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, BACK ACCESS TO, SAY, FIVE YEARS AGO? OR IS THAT ALL? DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WITHOUT PAYING THAT A MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION TO THAT? I'M JUST ASKING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, A POINT LIKE, ARE WE SPENDING THE MONEY EFFICIENTLY THAT WE HAVE? I KNOW THERE'S MANY OTHER CONCERNS. I'D LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BOOK AND THEN FORMULATE OTHER QUESTIONS BASED ON THAT TOO. HONESTLY. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO, YOU KNOW, I SENT IN SENT IN MY COMMENTS BASED ON WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY. SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH AND KIND OF PICK OUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I ALREADY SENT TO YOU. JUST SO THAT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS KNOW, KIND OF LIKE WHERE MY HEAD IS AT. SO ON THE FIRST ONE

[01:30:08]

BUDGETS ISN'T ONE. I'M JUST USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. THERE ARE NECESSARY AND NICE TO HAVES.

IT'S A NICE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, FRESH PAINT ON THE WALLS, BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ARE WE ABLE TO TRANSFER CAPITAL INTO OPERATIONS. I'M JUST USING THAT AS AN EXAMPLE. I'M NOT SAYING GOOD EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IS IT AN EXAMPLE OF A NICE TO HAVE VERSUS A NECESSITY. THAT'S THAT'S AN EXAMPLE. THE, THE MONEY FOR RENOVATIONS IN, IN THIS YOU'RE NOT GETTING THE POINT. I'M JUST SAYING WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR SPENDING ON THINGS THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY VERSUS THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE. THAT'S ALL. SO, SO I THINK IT TAKES US BACK TO KIND OF LILIANA'S POINT ON, ON WHAT IS OUR TRADE SPACE, RIGHT? THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO MEET FROM REGULATION LAW. LIKE THIS IS X, HERE IS OUR TRADE SPACE. AND IF YOU NEED TO SAVE MONEY, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK, I THINK IS SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. THE AMOUNT THAT THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS THROWING OUT THERE DOES NOT EVEN MEET OUR WAGE PACKAGE. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, WE CAN'T REALLY SPEAK TO IT, BUT I KNOW, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, YEAH, IT'S NOT. SO IT'S NOT EVEN THAT IF WE CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THE. SO AGAIN, WE'D HAVE TO CUT TEACHERS, CUT POSITIONS AND WE CAN'T LOOK AT PROVIDING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING AND THAT, THAT WE NEED TO HAVE. AND THAT IS A NEED TO HAVE THOSE ARE REQUIRED BY LAW THAT WE OFFER THE SPECIAL EDUCATION. SO I THINK THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE BEING OFFERED DOES NOT EVEN GIVE US THE OPTION TO GO FORWARD. I MEAN IT. HOLD ON, I

[01:35:06]

NO, NO, NO, BECAUSE IT'S ALL THAT'S ALL WRAPPED INTO. YEAH. AND THAT WAS EXACTLY MY, THAT WAS EXACTLY MY POINT THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO BREAK IT OUT BY. CAN YOU CAN YOU CAN EMAIL MISS JUDD AND SHE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU AND PROBABLY LESS THAN 20 MINUTES IF SHE'S NOT DOING ANYTHING. I MEAN, THOSE STUDENTS, YOU'RE ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING. BUT WHETHER THEY'RE IN THAT JROTC CLASS OR IF THEY'RE IN A DIFFERENT CLASS, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE IN A CLASS. SO YOU CAN'T SAY THAT WHOLE COST OF JROTC IS AN UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE. I'M JUST SAYING, IF YOU ARE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS BECAUSE THOSE STUDENTS WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE IN ANOTHER CLASS, THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE A TEACHER, THEY WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE BEING TAUGHT. SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT LIKE THAT, YOU'RE NOT REALLY LOOKING AT IT FROM A CLEAR. I GUESS WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS THAT SOME CLASSES COST DIFFERENT AMOUNTS THAN OTHER CLASSES. I MEAN, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, A CLASS THAT REQUIRES, YOU KNOW, VERY EXPENSIVE SOFTWARE IS GOING TO COST MAYBE MORE THAN SOMETHING ELSE THAT JUST REQUIRES A TEACHER AND NO ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. THEN WHAT MAKES YOU ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM THE FACT OF LIKE, YEAH, WE'RE OUR JOB IS TO OBVIOUSLY EDUCATE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE, BUT ALSO WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE, THE, THE REASON WE'RE PROVIDING THESE STUDENTS TO ACTUALLY WANT TO COME TO SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO, WHO THEY LIKE, THEY COME TO SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, I'M GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND I'M GOING TO DO WELL BECAUSE I WANT TO PLAY SPORTS OR I'M GOING TO COME TO SCHOOL AND I'M GOING TO DO WELL BECAUSE I'M IN JROTC OR I'M GOING TO COME TO SCHOOL AND I'M GOING TO DO WELL BECAUSE I GET TO PARTICIPATE IN. THAT WAS EXACTLY MY POINT. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE DATA THAT THAT DETERMINES THAT THAT THREAD THAT PULLS THAT THREAD. I AM YOUR DATA. I'M IN, I'M IN THE BUILDINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND I NEED TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER. LET'S TALK, SHARE THAT WITH ME. AND NEXT STEPS ON HOW WE LOOK AT THIS BUDGET. SO I THINK STEP ONE IS, IS PUTTING THAT ANALYSIS TOGETHER OF THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO MEET BY REQUIREMENTS. STEP TWO WAS WHATEVER DISCRETIONARY BOARD HERE IS YOUR DISCRETIONARY SPACE. I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO START IN MAKING IN MAKING THIS DECISIONS. AND IF AND DO WE GO FROM HERE RECOMMENDATION INTO A SMALL GROUP TYPE. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION? IS IT THROUGH EMAIL THAT I'D LIKE THAT RECOMMENDATION IF, IF A BOARD MEMBER HAS A QUESTION, WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM COST? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND GET AN ANSWER TO THE WHOLE BOARD IS INFORMED BEFORE MISS JUDD PROVIDES A RESPONSE. ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I WOULD 100% SUGGEST THAT YOU DO. I THINK LILIANA'S DONE IT, AND I KNOW THAT TREY HAS DONE IT IS SCHEDULE TIME WITH WITH THE TEAM, BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT BUDGET BOOK. THAT BUDGET BOOK WAS MADE AVAILABLE. MY EMAIL, IT CAME THROUGH LIKE MARCH THE 13TH. AND SO IT IS NOW APRIL THE 20TH. AND SO THAT BUDGET BOOK REALLY DOES OUTLINE EVERYTHING. AND WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE FALL HEARING FROM PEOPLE ABOUT THE LINE BY LINE. AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE DETAIL, WE NEED TO HAVE THE DETAIL AND IT WAS MADE AVAILABLE. AND THEN PEOPLE HAVEN'T SEEN IT OR THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT. AND SO I REALLY WE WERE IN A CLOSED SESSION. I ASKED FOR A COMMITMENT. SO HERE'S MY NEXT COMMITMENT. HOW CAN WE GET MORE EDUCATED ABOUT THE BUDGET PROCESS? BECAUSE I THINK THE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY GOOD, BUT I DO THINK THE ANSWERS ARE IN THE BUDGET BOOK. THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE NEXT PART A LITTLE TOUGHER, BECAUSE THE NEXT THING IS, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM US AS IT RELATES TO WHEN WE START THIS PROCESS NEXT YEAR? AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE GOING TO PROPOSE WAS, DO YOU WANT THIS BUDGET BOOK AS IT STANDS A LITTLE EARLIER, SO

[01:40:06]

THERE'S SOME THAT'S NOT. SO YOU YOU'D HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND DO THAT. SO YOU SAID, WHAT'S THE TOTAL? I GAVE IT TO YOU. I MEAN, IT TOOK WHAT, MAYBE TEN MINUTES TO GET YOU THAT BECAUSE I SAW THE EMAIL AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. SO THERE ARE A TON OF WAYS WE CAN SLICE AND DICE THE INFORMATION. SOME, SOME OF IT IS GOING TO BE MINUTIA THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU MAKE EDUCATED DECISIONS ON WHAT'S HERE, BUT HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH US ABOUT WHAT'S HERE, WHAT IT MEANS, HOW YOU LOOK AT IT. WE CAN HELP GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS. SO I THINK HAVING SMALL GROUPS TO DO THAT ONE ON ONE TO DO THAT IS FINE. AS FAR AS GETTING QUESTIONS TO US, LET US THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE TEAM BECAUSE THE PINGING OF EMAILS, WE WE CAN LOSE THEM. SO WE HAVE THE BUDGETED HTTPS FOR EMAIL ADDRESS. THAT MAY BE A BETTER WAY TO GET IT AND HAVE ALL OF THEM THERE. AND THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE. SO LET ME TALK TO THEM AND SEE EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT IT TO COME THROUGH, YOU KNOW, ONE PERSON TO COME TO US, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S WEEKLY OR, YOU KNOW, WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE SOMETIMES THEY'RE SIMILAR. THERE'S SOME OTHER ISSUES. WE'VE HAD SPREADSHEETS, LIKE A SHARED DOCUMENT AND SHARED IT THAT WAY. SO THAT WAY YOU WOULDN'T, YOU'D GET IT LIKE, YEAH, SO THERE, IT'S STILL OUT THERE. I BELIEVE THE SPREADSHEET WHERE QUESTIONS COULD BE PLACED. AND THEN WE PROVIDED THE RESPONSES TO THAT. SO THAT'S CERTAINLY FINE IF WE WANTED TO REVISIT THAT AND JUST GOTTEN THESE BOOKS EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD. YEAH. I MEAN, WE GET THEM RIGHT AND IT'S ONLINE. IT'S AFTER WE APPROVE. EXCUSE ME? IT'S AFTER WE APPROVE THE BUDGET. NO, NO, WE'VE GOT I CAN GET YOU THE PROPOSED BUDGET JUST LIKE THAT ONE. RIGHT AFTER WE VOTE AS A BOARD. THEN WE GET THESE. WE DON'T GET THESE BEFORE. SO WE WE HAVE PROVIDED THOSE IN THE PAST. THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN UP AGAINST THE WALL AT THE VERY END OF THE BUDGET CYCLE TO PRODUCE A BUDGET AND BE ABLE TO GET IT PRINTED. THIS TAKES TIME, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TO RECONCILE IT WITHIN ORACLE AND MAKE SURE NOW WE'RE GETTING A LOT QUICKER AT DOING THAT. BUT DOCTOR MACK AND I HAVE TALKED IF WE CAN HAVE A BUDGET FINALIZED FOR HER PROPOSED BUDGET BY THE 1ST OF DECEMBER, YOU CAN HAVE THIS BOOK BEFORE THE BREAK. SO I. IT IS NOT THAT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU SEE WHAT WE PROVIDE IN AUGUST, BECAUSE THE ACTUALS ARE GOING TO BE NO DIFFERENT. WE CAN'T PROVIDE YOU CURRENT YEAR ACTUALS IN DECEMBER. IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME BOOK, MOST LIKELY, UNLESS YOU KNOW WITH ANY CHANGES THAT WE'VE HAD. BUT YOU KNOW, WE CAN SHOW YOU IN HERE EXACTLY THE LINE THAT SHOWS $5 MILLION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. SO WHICH WE'RE SHOWING YOU IN THE INCREASES TO THE BUDGET, WE COULD HAVE GONE TO THROUGH THE BOOK WITH YOU AND SHOWED YOU, OKAY, THIS IS THE LINE AND THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE. AND YOU CAN SEE IN HERE, I COULD PROBABLY FIND THE PAGE, THE $5 MILLION CHANGE. SO IT'S, IT'S ALL IN HERE. THE ONLY THING THAT WOULDN'T BE IN HERE IS THE WAGE PACKAGE. AND ANY BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS BROKEN DOWN. WE CAN'T DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS AT THAT TIME. SO THAT WOULD REALLY PROBABLY BE A LUMP NUMBER SOMEPLACE BECAUSE WE WE CAN'T SHARE THAT IN DECEMBER. I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT THE BLUEPRINT DICTATES LIKE THE NUMBER OF CENTRAL OFFICE POSITIONS. IS THAT ACCURATE? AND THEN HOW WOULD THAT LOOK? KATIE, THAT'S

[01:45:04]

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR.

YOU HAVE THERE'S A COUPLE VERY SPECIFIC POSITIONS THAT DICTATES. BUT IT DOES NOT DICTATE POSITIONS IN GENERAL. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO IF WE THINK ABOUT LOOKING AT SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES, OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONE ON ONE, SO YOU CAN MEET WITH THE BUDGET OFFICE, AND THEN WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BEST SYSTEM IS TO COLLECT QUESTIONS. THOSE WILL BE THREE LAYERS THAT THE BOARD CAN USE. WHAT WE'RE DOING PROBABLY WEEKLY, IF NOT DAILY, IS LOOKING AT KIND OF THOSE PIECES THAT WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED? WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE? SO WE'RE KIND OF IDENTIFYING SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES AS WELL. WE KNOW THAT IF WE HAVE $15 MILLION THAT WE'RE SHORT, THERE'S GOING TO BE CUTS. AND SO WE'RE HAVING THIS MOMENT WHERE WE'RE VERY HIGH IN THE SKY AND VERY PHILOSOPHICAL. BUT AT SOME WE'RE GOING TO REALLY NEED TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE SPECIFIC CUTS ARE. AND WE WANTED TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION SO THAT WHEN WE COME BACK AFTER THE COUNTY COUNCIL, IF WE STILL NEED TO MAKE CUTS, WE CAN GET A FINAL BUDGET PASSED. SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THE FAIR RADICAL TO GET DOWN TO THINGS THAT ARE REALLY TANGIBLE. AND WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT WE'RE WILLING TO LET GO OF, AND WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY WE HOLD NEAR AND DEAR BECAUSE THEY ARE TRULY A PART OF WHO WE ARE AS HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. LILIANA. YEAH. SO BECAUSE WE WERE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, ALSO TALKING ABOUT HOW WE SORT OF MOVE FORWARD WITH A BUDGET PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE MOVING FORWARD. I THINK STARTING EARLIER IS A GREAT WAY TO JUST SO THAT WE FEEL SO STRESSED AT THE END, AND WE DO HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF TIME POSSIBLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE, TO HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND I DO JUST WANT TO SORT OF REMIND EVERYONE THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER NEXT AFTER, YOU KNOW, THIS SESSION, THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN ANNAPOLIS, THERE'S REALLY NO GUARANTEE THAT THERE IS FUNDING FOR BLUEPRINT. IT'S IT'S REALLY GOING TO COME DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, RAISING TAXES OR MAKING, MAKING ADJUSTMENTS. THAT IS, AGAIN, WHERE I THINK TALKING ABOUT THIS SOONER, FIGURING OUT WHAT WHAT OUR BUDGET PROCESS LOOKS LIKE, KNOWING THAT WE COULD AGAIN, FACE SOME PRETTY, PRETTY ROUGH, ROUGH YEARS AHEAD OF US JUST BECAUSE THAT FUNDING IS NOT IT'S NOT REALLY A CERTAINTY. AND SO AGAIN, I THINK STARTING THE CONVERSATIONS EARLIER, FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT WE NEED AND WHAT WE HAVE TO SPEND, AND OF COURSE, THOSE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO SPEND BECAUSE IT'S A BENEFIT FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND THEN OF COURSE, THOSE THINGS WHERE THEY'RE NICE TO HAVES. I THINK HAVING HAVING EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW, TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN IN SOME OF THOSE CATEGORIES IS GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WHERE AGAIN, THERE'S REALLY NO GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL HAVE THE AMOUNT OF SPEND OR THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE FROM BLUEPRINT. CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS, ARE YOU ALSO LOOKING TO SEE WHAT IS NOT REQUIRED IN THE BLUEPRINT AND COST THAT OUT? SO SAFETY AND SECURITY, NONE OF THOSE SAFETY AND SECURITY COSTS ARE PART OF THE BLUEPRINT THAT SHOULD BE TOTALLY LOCALLY FUNDED. IF WE VALUE IT AS, YOU KNOW, LOCAL COMMUNITY, OUR CLASS SIZES, THAT IS NOT IN THE BLUEPRINT ANYWHERE THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY LOCALLY FUNDED. SO, YOU KNOW, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THE SAME THING. SO WE DO YOU WANT US TO COST THOSE THINGS OUT AS WELL, BECAUSE THOSE ARE NOT PART OF ANY FUNDING FORMULA SPECIFICALLY. I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE COSTED OUT AND TO WHERE I THINK SORT OF OUR NEXT STEPS. AND WE DID IT A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR, BUT I REALLY THINK THIS BOARD SHOULD COMMIT TO A BUDGET COMMITTEE, RIGHT? SO TWO, THREE DEDICATED BOARD MEMBERS WHO BECOME THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN THIS AND OUR RIGHT SEAT LEFT SEAT WITH YOU AND CAN ENGAGE THE BOARD AND INFORM THEM WILL HELP THIS PROCESS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE I'D LIKE US TO CONSIDER AND TALK ABOUT IS, IS WE DID THAT LAST YEAR.

YEAH. THAT WAS TERI KOCHER AND I. YEAH. AND WE MET WITH EVERYBODY. WE MET WITH EVERYBODY. THE FEEDBACK ON THAT, I MEAN, WORTHWHILE IN HAVING IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OF. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT. I MEAN, IT'S, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING THAT. AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME DOING THAT. EVERYONE I KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FRIENDS.

YES. I MEAN, WE WORK TOGETHER ON THAT. AND AND TERI WAS QUITE INVOLVED WITH IT. AND I THINK

[01:50:07]

WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE. AND WHEN WE KNOW WHAT IT IS, AND IF YOU SAY IT'S THIS BUDGET BOOK, BUT I WANT IT IN DECEMBER, GREAT. WE BELIEVE WE CAN CREATE THAT.

IF IT'S NOT THIS BUDGET BOOK, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY SPECIFIC SO THAT WE CAN TAILOR IT AND SEE WHAT WE'RE ABLE TO PRODUCE AND WHAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PRODUCE. BUT I THINK IF YOU WALK AWAY WITH ANYTHING, WE HEAR YOU, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AS USER FRIENDLY AS POSSIBLE. IT JUST WASN'T SOMETHING THAT LILIANA AND I COULD DO IN JANUARY WHEN WE ARRIVED IN OUR SEATS. BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY OPEN TO THE CONVERSATION AND WANT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO THAT IS NEW AND DIFFERENT. IN AUGUST. I WILL SAY ALSO THAT OUR BUDGET IS PROBABLY NOT USER FRIENDLY TO MOST PEOPLE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF HOW COMPLEX IT IS. BUT WITH SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, WE CAN GET YOU INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED. SO AND THAT'S THE BEST THING THAT I CAN OFFER AT THIS POINT. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WHEN CAROL AND YEAH, WE LOST HER, THE OTHER BOARD MEMBER MET AND WAS DOING THE BUDGET. I MEAN, WE AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD DIDN'T TURN AROUND AND WANTED SOMETHING ELSE. SO, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD NEEDS TO GET ITS ACT TOGETHER AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON IT. AND, AND NOT TO CONTINUOUSLY ASK FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM THE STAFF. I MEAN, IF WE'RE GOING TO TASK A BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE, THEN WE HAVE WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION TO THE BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE ON WHAT WE WANT. AND THEY BECOME THE LIAISON. AND THEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY DIFFERENT BOARD MEMBER BECAUSE THAT'S UNFAIR, BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING DIFFERENT THINGS. IF BOARD MEMBERS WANT A SPECIFIC THING, THEY NEED TO GIVE THAT TO THE BOARD MEMBER. AND HAVING BEEN ON THE THE HANDBOOK COMMITTEE AND HAVING KNOWING THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT DOCUMENT, WHICH IS OUR DOCUMENT, IT DIDN'T BELONG TO THE STAFF. IT BELONGS TO US.

AND I'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY, MANY HOURS WITH THAT, THAT THAT PROJECT. AND IT'S RIGHT HERE AGAIN, GOT REVISED AGAIN. AND WE HAVE IT APPROVED. SO WE CAN'T BLAME THE STAFF FOR NOT GETTING WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE CAN'T GET EACH OTHER WHAT WE NEED, WE CAN'T COME TO A CONSENSUS ON WHAT WE WANT. SO I HAVE A REQUEST. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET THE INFORMATION IN LIKE AN EXCEL SPREADSHEET OR SPREADSHEET RATHER THAN A PDF FORMAT, AND THE ACCOUNTING? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD JUST SAY ONE THING WITH ORACLE IS YOU ASKED TO COST THINGS OUT, AND I'M JUST GOING TO THROW OUT AN EXAMPLE. LET'S SAY WE WANTED TO CUT MATHEMATICS. IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE SORRY, HEATHER, WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 110 AND 111, WE CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT WE BUDGET FOR MATHEMATICS ACROSS THE BOARD. NOW THAT'S THE BENEFIT OF COST CENTER. BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BOOK AND YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT. WE CAN SAVE $23,420,845 BY CUTTING MATHEMATICS COMPLETELY. BUT YOU SAY, BUT YOU CAN FIND THOSE DIFFERENT COST CENTERS. THERE'S INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS, THERE'S EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THEY'RE ALL BROKEN OUT NOW BY COST CENTER. AND THAT'S THE VALUE OF THE COST CENTER IS WE KNOW FIXED CHARGES ARE INCLUDED IN THAT EVERYTHING. SO IF YOU LAST YEAR WE WERE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE CUTTING THE FIRST YEAR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE COST DOWN, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF COST IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE BUDGETS LIKE THIS, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT. WE'RE GOING TO

[01:55:05]

HOW VALUABLE IS THAT? BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STRIP IT ALL RIGHT BACK. SO THOSE ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE BECAUSE NONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS ARE FUNDED AT A LEVEL THAT MEETS ANY SORT OF RATIO THAT THE STATE SUGGESTS, OR THAT OTHER COUNTIES ARE ABLE TO DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR AREA THAT YOU WANTED TO LOOK AT, WE COULD POTENTIALLY PILOT SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT TO DO A WHOLE BUDGET, WE WOULD WE WOULD NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A BUDGET COMMITTEE? I WOULD THAT'S A GOOD IDEA. THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. I THINK CAROL'S ALREADY DONE IT. SO YOU KNOW IT'S NOT LIKE I'M NOT DUMB EXPERIENCED AT THIS. BUT I'D LOVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO STAY ON LIKE MAYBE LILIANA, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE HERE. AGAIN, I WAS GOING TO SAY, ISN'T IT LATE IN THE GAME TO KIND OF START WITH THE BUDGET COMMITTEE? NOW I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, NEXT YEAR. RIGHT. OKAY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT FOR NEXT YEAR. THE RECORD. I AM IN SUPPORT OF IT IF I GET THROWN ON IT. SO WE'RE ALL GOOD IF I'M VOLUNTOLD. AND THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY FINAL QUESTIONS FROM ANYBODY? NO. ALL RIGHT. SO WITH THAT, WE WILL CONCLUDE THIS MEETING. OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS NEXT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.