Jun 29, 2026 Board Meeting

[Call to Order: Board President]

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EVENING. AT THIS TIME, I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE MUTE YOUR DEVICE TO AVOID INTERRUPTIONS UNTIL CALLED UPON. I CALL TO ORDER THIS BOARD. BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY ON JUNE 29TH, 2026 AT 6:07 P.M. THIS BUSINESS MEETING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN A HYBRID FASHION. MISS ROLLO, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU. MRS. PERRY IS ABSENT THIS EVENING. MISS NAKATA'S HERE. DOCTOR MUELLER PRESENT. MR. MCVICAR HERE. MRS. MILLER, PRESENT. MRS. HAHN, PRESENT. MISS BRUCE HERE. MRS. ALVAREZ. MRS. ALVAREZ, PRESENT. THANK YOU. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL HERE. PRESIDENT PAGE HERE. INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. MACK PRESENT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. THE FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, PRESIDENT PAGE WILL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR MACK WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON THE APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBER TO DO SO. WHEN A ROLL CALL IS TAKEN FOR A MOTION, I ASK THAT YOU PLEASE REPLY WITH A YES OR A NO. BOARD MEMBERS, YOU HAVE THE AGENDA BEFORE YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA? I MOVE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES. YES YES. YES. ANY OPPOSED? THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED. THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD,

[A. Special Recognition]

THAT LEVEL OF DEDICATION IS EXCEPTIONAL AND SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE, WHETHER SERVING ON THIS BOARD OR LEADING AT THE COUNTY AND STATE LEVELS THROUGH STUDENT GOVERNMENT OR REPRESENTING YOUNG PEOPLE IN PUBLIC POLICY DISCUSSIONS, TREY HAS CONSISTENTLY EXEMPLIFIED WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SERVANT LEADER.

HIS ABILITY TO THOUGHTFULLY ENGAGE COMPLEX ISSUES, BUILD CONSENSUS, AND ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS HAS MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR BOARD AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. YOUR INSIGHT, YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND STEADY LEADERSHIP HAVE ENRICHED OUR DISCUSSIONS AND STRENGTHENED OUR DECISION MAKING. YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ONE AT THIS TABLE. YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. WHILE WE ARE SAD TO SEE YOUR TERM COMING TO AN END, WE ARE INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE DEDICATED TO US AND YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. ON BEHALF OF THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PEERS, AND YOUR DEDICATION TO MAKING CPS A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL STUDENTS.

WE ARE PROUD OF ALL THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED. WE HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO DO GREAT THINGS IN THE YEARS AHEAD. YOUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WATCHING THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY MAKE ON OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STATE AND BEYOND.

THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES ON YOUR NEXT CHAPTER. THANK YOU.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IT IS MY

[00:05:07]

AND WHEREAS, THROUGH HIS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT, HE PROVIDED AND FACILITATED AN EXEMPLARY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. AND WHEREAS, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMENDS MR. MCVICKER FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY QUALITY OF HIS WORK AND APPLAUDS HIS WILLINGNESS TO SHARE HIS TIME AND ENERGY ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND WHEREAS THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS WHICH MR. MCVICKER MADE AS THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE RECOGNIZED AND GREATLY VALUED. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY EXPRESSES ITS GENUINE APPRECIATION TO MR. JAMES MCVICKER, THE THIRD FOR THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE HE PROVIDED AS THE 2025 THROUGH 2026 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. HARFORD COUNTY EXTENDS ITS SINCERE WISHES FOR HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. AND WE ALSO HAVE MR. MR. MCVICKER TREY, I HOPE THAT YOU GOT A GOOD TASTE OF PUBLIC SERVICE SERVING ON THE BOARD. THE PAY IS TERRIBLE. SO I HOPE THAT YOU GOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE HERE, AND I HOPE IT WON'T BE YOUR LAST. SO ON BEHALF OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE BOB CASSILLY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS CERTIFICATE RECOGNIZING YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU. WE'LL TAKE A FEW PICTURES.

AND WE'LL GET OUT OF YOUR WAY.

I KNOW. YEAH, TALL ENOUGH TO HIDE US BACK HERE.

[Public Comment]

THANK YOU. OKAY, SO AS WE BEGIN PUBLIC COMMENT, WE HAVE 40 SPEAKERS THIS EVENING. I'VE ALLOTTED AN HOUR, WHICH GIVES US ABOUT 90S PER SPEAKER, I WILL TELL YOU, AND HOPEFULLY THIS BRINGS SOME OF EASE TO YOUR MINDS. IS THAT REMOVING HARFORD GLENN, REMOVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MUSIC AND REMOVING MAGNET TRANSPORTATION IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED THIS YEAR IN OUR BUDGET CUTS. SO I KNOW A LOT OF YOU. THEY'RE STILL DIFFICULT DECISIONS BEFORE US. BUT I WILL SAY, IF YOU WANT TO GET UP AND SPEAK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, YOU'RE MORE

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ADDITIONALLY, ANY LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOR THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS THREATENING IS NOT PERMITTED OR APPROPRIATE. IF A DISRUPTION DOES OCCUR, A REMINDER WILL BE GIVEN SO THAT THE MEETING CAN CONTINUE WITHOUT INTERRUPTION. IF THE BEHAVIOR CONTINUES, ASSISTANCE FROM SECURITY MAY BE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE MEETING. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEETING, WE ASK THAT ALL ATTENDEES EXIT THE BOARD MEETING ROOM IMMEDIATELY AND IN AN ORDERLY MANNER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND YOUR ROLE IN HELPING US MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NOW BEGIN OUR FIRST SPEAKER. SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH COLLEEN MICHAEL, JAMES QUINN, AND RENEE ALLEN. I JUST FINISHED MY SIX YEAR TEACHING. AND FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE DECISION TO. ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS YEAR. SO I GUESS I'LL JUST SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY POSITION, WHAT I HAVE PREPARED. MANY COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE DAY TO DAY AFFAIRS OF ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TEACHERS, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT WE ARE VITAL TO THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE. I SERVE 130 THREE FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AT EMERTON, WHO MAKE UP ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF ALL OUR FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS. I TEACH 930 MINUTE SMALL GROUP INSTRUMENT LESSONS DAILY, WITH A FOCUS ON RUDIMENTARY TECHNIQUE AND MUSIC LITERACY. THESE SMALL GROUPS ARE ORGANIZED BY INSTRUMENT TYPE AND RANGE FROM GROUPS OF 1 TO 16 STUDENTS. THIS HIGHLY SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE IS A CRITICAL STEPPING STONE FOR HARFORD COUNTY MUSICIANS TO PERFORM AT THEIR CURRENT LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT, AND TO MATCH WHAT IS EXPECTED OF EVERY COUNTY WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. I'LL JUST FINISH BY SAYING THAT WE DO SO MUCH MORE THAN TEACH MUSIC LESSONS. WE SUPPORT CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WE GIVE THE UNIQUE JOY AND CHALLENGE OF LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT TO OUR STUDENTS. WE GIVE THEM THE INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE OF BEING PART OF AN ORCHESTRA OR BAND, AND THESE EXPERIENCES ARE NOT EXTRA. THEY ARE ACADEMIC. THEY ARE CRITICAL. THANK YOU. I HAVE TO ASK YOU. I'M SO SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO ASK YOU NOT TO CLAP.

THE WORST PART OF THIS JOB. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JAMES QUINN. TREY, CONGRATULATIONS. I COACHED HIM IN ALL STAR GAMES YEARS AGO WITH HIS DAD. IT WAS ALWAYS A BLAST. I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARTFORD SWIM LEAGUE. I RUN THE LARGEST SUMMER SWIM TEAM IN THE COUNTY AND PROBABLY THE STATE WITH FOUNTAIN GREEN. I SIT ON THE FOUNTAIN GREEN SWIM BOARD. I'VE BEEN COACHING AT THE Y FOR TEN YEARS AS A AS A SWIM COACH, AND I ALSO HAPPEN TO ALSO RUN A LAW FIRM HERE IN TOWN THAT JUST IS ON THE SIDE. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THE IDEA OF CUTTING SWIMMING IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM. IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I AM BUMMED OUT. I ONLY GET ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF HERE. IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR YOU ALL BECAUSE I AM A LAWYER. SO THE REALITY HERE IS THIS THE BUDGET NUMBERS YOU ALL HAVE ARE INCORRECT. YOU'RE LUMPING 300 000 PLUS DOLLARS INTO THE OPERATION OF A POOL SYSTEM. THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT THAT MONEY HAS GOT TO BE FOR EITHER INSTRUCTIONAL OR SOMETHING ELSE, BECAUSE WE OPERATE FOR SIX MONTHS, A HEATED POOL THAT IS TWICE AS BIG AS PROBABLY TWO OF THE POOLS YOU HAVE COMBINED. AND THAT POOL DEALS WITH EVAPORATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE ALL SUMMER LONG, AND IT DOESN'T COME CLOSE TO A THIRD OF WHAT YOU ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT. THE COST OF RUNNING A POOL VERSUS BEING ABLE TO HAVE KIDS, GETTING A LIFE SKILL, THE KIDS WHO DON'T DROWN IN POOLS. I THINK WE ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY. I SPEAK FOR 1500 1500

[00:15:04]

OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE EMMA NAPOLI, VERONICA KOZLOWSKI, AND AVERY LINEHAN. HI, MY NAME IS EMMA KONOPACKI. I JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL FOR ITS NATURAL RESOURCES MAGNET PROGRAM, AND THROUGH HARFORD GLEN, I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY SENIOR YEAR CAPSTONE PROJECT. HARFORD GLEN IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE WHERE FIFTH GRADERS GO TO SPEND THE NIGHT. IT DEVELOPS THEM INTO PEOPLE, DEVELOPS THEIR CURIOSITY, AND IT FORMS THEM INTO GENUINE PEOPLE THAT THEY GROW INTO. FOR MANY CHILDREN, IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME TRULY EXPLORING A FOREST, CATCHING A STREAM CREATURE, OR REALIZING THAT NATURE IS SOMETHING WORTH PROTECTING FOR ME. HARFORD GLEN DIDN'T STOP AFTER FIFTH GRADE. IT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY WHERE I WORKED ALONGSIDE ALONGSIDE EXPERIENCED BIRD BANDERS AND ANALYZE OVER 40 YEARS OF DATA. HARFORD GLEN IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN, AND BECAUSE IT SEPARATES THE DEVELOPING HARTFORD, HARFORD COUNTY AND BEL AIR AREA INTO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN ESCAPE TO. AND IT BUILDS PEOPLE INTO FUTURE SCIENTISTS, TEACHERS, CONSERVATIONISTS AND INFORMED CITIZENS. I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HEAR THAT HARFORD GLEN IS NOT BEING CUT IN THE FUTURE BUDGET CUTS, BECAUSE IT HAS SHAPED ME INTO THE PERSON I ASPIRE TO BECOME IN THE FUTURE, AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS VERONICA AND I JUST FINISHED FIFTH GRADE. BESIDES BEING A FUN AND TRULY AWESOME EXPERIENCE, KIDS NEED HARFORD GLEN BECAUSE IT TEACHES US RESPONSIBILITY, INDEPENDENCE AND WE LEARN HOW TO BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS. BECAUSE BEFORE HARFORD GLEN, I THINK THAT I WAS NOT AS INDEPENDENT OR AS RESPONSIBLE AS I AM NOW AFTER HER. FOR AFTER HARFORD GLEN. NOW I AM ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WHAT I. WHAT I DO, AND IF IT HAS A NEGATIVE OR A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN YOU ARE AT HARFORD GLEN WITHOUT YOUR PARENTS FOR THREE DAYS YOU LEARN SOME MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE. IT IS SO FUN TO BE IN THE BUNK ROOMS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AT NIGHT. THAT IS PROBABLY WHAT MOST KIDS ARE MOST EXCITED FOR WHEN THEY GO TO HARFORD GLEN. I ALSO TRY TO INFORM MY FAMILY ABOUT HOW WE CAN DO BETTER AFTER OUR MEALS, INSTEAD OF THROWING AWAY LEFTOVER FOOD THAT IS ON OUR PLATES, WE COULD TRY TO COMPOST IT. IF BREAD, FRUIT OR VEGETABLES GO BAD, WE CAN GIVE THEM TO THE ANIMALS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THESE ARE JUST A FEW IMPACTS THAT HARFORD GLEN HAS ON KIDS. MY SISTER IS CURRENTLY GOING INTO FOURTH GRADE AND WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GO TO HARFORD GLEN, SO PLEASE KEEP IT IN OUR SCIENCE UNITS.

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HOWEVER, THEIR PAY OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS IN PURCHASING POWER HAS DECREASED BY 8%, WHILE ADMINISTRATOR PAY HAS EXPLODED. THE ONES GETTING THE JOB DONE, JOB DONE, ARE NEGLECTED AND ABUSED, WHILE MANAGEMENT IS LIVING IT UP AND DOING NOTHING TO HELP WITH THE CORE MISSION. THANK YOU. HELLO. HELLO. HELLO, I'M AMELIA MORRIS AND I THINK HARFORD GLEN SHOULD NOT BE CUT FROM FIFTH GRADE FIELD TRIPS BECAUSE IT CREATES A FUN AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO GOT TO SPEND THREE DAYS AT HARFORD GLENN, THAT MEANS SOMETHING.

EVERYBODY HAD FUN. AND I MEAN EVERYBODY THE TEACHERS, THE COUNSELORS AND THE STUDENTS.

ALSO, STUDIES SHOW THAT BEING IN NATURE CAN HELP BOOST TEST SCORES, CONCENTRATION, ENTHUSIASM, AND MENTAL HEALTH. COMPARED TO INDOOR CLASSES, BEING AT HARFORD GLEN HELPED PEOPLE WHO DON'T REALLY GET SEEN SHINE STUDENTS GOT TO DO LESSONS LIKE STREAM DOCTORS AND GROW MICROGREENS. AT HARTFORD GLEN. WE EACH GOT TO TAKE AWAY OUR OWN LESSON. I LEARNED THAT I LEARNED TO BE A STEWARD, AND THAT NATURE CAN BRING OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE. HARFORD GLEN TEACHES US ABOUT STUFF LIKE ABOUT STUFF ABOUT NATURE, LIKE BIRD BANDING AND IDENTIFYING BIRD CALLS. ALSO, HARFORD GLEN TEACHES US TO BE GOOD PEOPLE TO EVERYONE, EVEN IF WE DON'T KNOW THEM THAT WELL. IN SUMMARY, HARFORD GLEN WAS A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HI EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS BRANDON STEINMETZ. WE SPOKE LAST WEEK AS WELL. AND MR. MCVICKER, CONGRATULATIONS. PURDUE'S GETTING A GREAT YOUNG PERSON, AND I DO THIS FOR A

[00:25:03]

THEY PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER, AND THEY SHOWCASE THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR SCHOOLS. AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST CONTINUE PROTECTING NOT ONLY THE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES, BUT THE PEOPLE AND RESOURCES THAT ALLOW THOSE MAGNET PROGRAMS TO THRIVE. THANK YOU.

HELLO, MY NAME IS PATRICK ARMETTA. I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT HARFORD GLEN, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY YOU MADE A DECISION TO KEEP IT. MULTIPLE REASONS. I HAVE THREE KIDS, TWO OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY ATTENDED HARFORD GLEN. ONE OF THEM. LIKE MOST, I WOULDN'T SAY MOST, BUT A GOOD PORTION OF THE KIDS NOWADAYS SUFFER FROM ANXIETY AND IT WAS CRIPPLING.

IT ACTUALLY SHUT HER WHOLE WORLD DOWN. SHE WAS NOT OPERATIONAL IN ANY CAPACITY FROM GETTING UP, GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL TO GOING TO SCHOOL. ZERO CAPACITY. SHE WAS ACTUALLY THE FIRST SESSION IN HER SCHOOL TO GO TO HARFORD GLEN THAT YEAR, AND WHEN SHE DID, WE FINALLY CONVINCED HER TO GO. AND WHEN SHE DID, SHE HAD A BLAST. SO MUCH SO THAT WHEN I PICKED HER UP AT THE BUS AT THE SCHOOL HYSTERICALLY CRYING, SHE WANTED TO GO BACK. SO I THINK WE ALL CAN SAY NATURE HEALS THESE DEVICES, ALL THIS ELECTRONICS, THEY DON'T HAVE THAT AT HARFORD GLEN. IT IS STRAIGHT WOODS. THEY MESS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT. NATURE HEALS. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT. GREAT DECISION TODAY. THANK YOU. IRIS BAUER. I WILL MOVE ON. IS DAVID BAUER HERE? THEY LEFT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE WILL PROCEED WITH PIERCE ROBERTS, MARY BETH COCHRAN AND MELANIE KANE. IS THERE A PIERCE ROBERTS? OKAY. MARY BETH COCHRAN, THANK YOU.

[00:30:02]

THE MAGNET PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED SO THAT STUDENTS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTY, ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, ALL SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS COME TOGETHER TO COLLABORATE, TO CRITICALLY THINK, TO SOLVE REAL WORLD PROBLEMS, BRINGING WITH THEM THEIR DIVERSE LIFE EXPERIENCES. IT IS A UNIQUE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NOT MATCHED BY ANY OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAM. RELIABLE AND SAFE TRANSPORTATION IS CRITICAL TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM. DATA SUGGESTS THAT WHEN TRANSPORTATION IS DENIED, ENROLLMENT FAVORS FAMILIES WITH FINANCIAL MEANS OR FORTUNAT LOGISTICS. AS A RESULT, THE MAKEUP OF THE MAGNET STUDENT POPULATION IS NOT AS IT WAS INTENDED, AND THIS CAN IMPAIR THE LEARNING AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES. THE IMPACT OF STUDENTS ENCOUNTERING THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF THEIR MAGNET PEERS IS CRITICAL. COUNTY PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION IS THE EQUALIZER, IT IS THE. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS AND GOALS OF THE MAGNET PROGRAM. IF JUST ONE STUDENT WHO IS ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED AND MOTIVATED TO PURSUE SUCH A CURRICULUM BUT CANNOT APPLY BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, THEN THE MAGNET PROGRAM LOSES, THE STUDENT LOSES, AND OUR COMMUNITY LOSES. SO I THANK YOU FOR. WE HAVE MELANIE KANE, DENNIS KIRKWOOD. AND CAMDEN AUSTIN, MEGAN MCBEE. HI, MY NAME IS MELANIE KANE. I'VE BEEN TEACHING AT HARTFORD. HARTFORD GLEN FOR 12 YEARS. THIS IS MY 25TH YEAR OF TEACHING FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I JUST WANT TO COME UP AND SAY THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR PROGRAM. THAT DOESN'T JUST TEACH FIFTH GRADERS, BUT TEACHES ANYWHERE FROM PRE-K TO 12. AND I'LL JUST READ YOU THE LAST THING I WROTE FOR MY TALK, BECAUSE IT'S WAY MORE THAN A MINUTE AND A HALF. BUT THANK YOU BECAUSE WHEN YOU FUND HARFORD GLEN, YOU'RE NOT JUST SUPPORTING A FIELD TRIP. YOU'RE INVESTING IN STUDENTS WHO LEAVE WITH CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND RESILIENCE, AND THAT WILL SERVE THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT IN MAKING YOUR DECISION. MY NAME IS DOCTOR DENNIS KIRKWOOD, AND I'M RETIRED FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AFTER 30 PLUS YEARS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION. AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, I WAS THE FIRST TEACHER IN CHARGE AT HARFORD GLEN, AND MY FINAL TEN YEARS AS SUPERVISOR OF SCIENCE.

I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MY FORMER COLLEAGUE, DOCTOR MAC, ON YOUR NEW PROMOTION, AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. PLEASE GIVE MY REGARDS TO KILO. I HOPE HE'S ENJOYING RETIREMENT. WE ARE A SCIENCE ORIENTED COMMUNITY, THANKS IN LARGE PART TO ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, ONE OF THE NATION'S LEADING SCIENCE RESEARCH FACILITIES. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY DURING MY LATER CAREER OF RECRUITING, INTERVIEWING AND HIRING SCIENCE TEACHERS TO STAFF OUR CLASSROOMS AND PROGRAMS. WHENEVER POSSIBLE. I WOULD CONDUCT THE INTERVIEWS AT HARFORD GLEN. I WAS ABLE TO SELL OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BY POINTING OUT THAT NO OTHER COUNTY IN OUR REGION HAS THREE FULLY FUNCTIONING AND STAFF. PLANETARIA, A 350 ACRE ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER WITH A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR FIFTH GRADERS, AND A DAY TRIP COMPONENT FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS. AND IN MY LAST YEARS, THREE GIFTED STEM MAGNET PROGRAMS FOR TALENTED AND FOCUSED STUDENTS. NEEDLESS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT WAS AN EASY SELL, AND BY THE TIME OF MY RETIREMENT, I HAD HIRED MORE THAN 70% OF THE SCIENCE STAFF.

THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT EXTRACURRICULAR. THEY'RE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS. MICHAEL GRIFFIN, FORMER NASA ADMINISTRATOR AND GRADUATE OF ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL. AND WITH THAT, SIR, IF YOU COULD PLEASE BRING YOUR COMMENTS TO A CLOSE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RECOGNIZE INHERENT VALUE IN MAINTAINING PROGRAMS AS EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS CAMDEN MCBEE AND THIS IS MY BROTHER, AUSTIN. AUSTIN IS GOING INTO FOURTH GRADE AT RED PUMP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHERE I JUST GRADUATED. MY CLASSMATES AND I STARTED KINDERGARTEN IN 2020. OUR EARLIEST ELEMENTARY YEARS WERE SPENT BEHIND SCREENS AND MASKS. HARFORD GLEN IS MY BEST MEMORY OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THERE IS

[00:35:05]

THANKS FOR KEEPING HARFORD GLEN. TERRY. MORRISON. HI, MY NAME IS KATERI MORRISON AND I THINK IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A MUSIC STAND RIGHT HERE AS OUR PODIUM. I AM THE BAND AND ORCHESTRA TEACHER AT HOMESTEAD WAKEFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. I HAVE THE LARGEST ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENTAL INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY. LAST YEAR I HAD 243 STUDENTS. AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR. YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR DECISION, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DO WANT TO JUST HAVE TWO QUICK POINTS. ONE, A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL SHOW YOU THE BRAIN RESEARCH THAT GOES ALONG WITH PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT, SPECIFICALLY MUSIC IN GENERAL, LIGHTS UP MORE AREAS OF THE BRAIN THAN ANY OTHER SUBJECT. AND IN PARTICULAR, PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT LIGHTS UP EVEN MORE. IT IS LITERALLY SHAPING THE WAY THAT CHILDREN'S FORM FORMS THEIR BRAINS. SO AGAIN, GOOGLE WILL TELL YOU THE ANSWERS TO SOME OF THOSE STATISTICS.

SECONDLY, MY FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB IS THAT I GET TO WORK WITH ALL LEARNERS THEY TALK A LOT ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN AP CLASSES, DUAL ENROLLMENT, VALEDICTORIAN, ALL THE HIGH ACHIEVERS, WHICH BRAVO TO THEM. THAT'S WONDERFUL. MOST OF THEM ARE INVOLVED IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE STUDENTS THAT ARE SPECIAL NEEDS IEPS 504 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AS MISS MILLER BROUGHT UP LAST WEEK.

AND THOSE STUDENTS ARE ALSO. THEY BENEFIT FROM ALL THE THE THINGS THAT PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT HAS TO OFFER. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE MARCHING BANDS AT THIS WEEKEND'S 4TH OF JULY PARADES. TAKE CARE. I DON'T ENVY ANY OF YOU THE HERCULEAN TASK OF DECIDING WHAT SHOULD BE CUT. ALL THE PROGRAMS SHOULD STAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, BUDGETS ARE BUDGETS. I ACTUALLY WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE MAGNET SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, BUT SINCE YOU'VE DECIDED ON THAT, I AM THE PROUD PARENT OF FOUR IB GRADUATES WHO ALL WERE AWARDED FULL TUITION AND OR FULL RIDE SCHOLARSHIPS, WHICH I ATTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO THE IB PROGRAM. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY $26 MILLION IS WHAT THE LAST CLASS GOT. THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO CHANGE TACKS HERE TO THE POOL. SO THE POOLS WERE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK A WHILE AGO. HERE'S WHAT I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU GUYS.

THE POOLS ARE A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. LOW INCOME KIDS DROWN AT A RATE OF 3 TO 5 TIMES THEIR NON LOW INCOME COMPATRIOTS. IN HARFORD COUNTY. WE DEFY THOSE NATIONWIDE STATISTICS BECAUSE WE TEACH OUR LOW INCOME KIDS HOW TO SWIM IN THOSE POOLS. AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE POOLS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT 70% OF OUR KIDS FOR THOSE POOLS ARE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH. IF YOU CLOSE THOSE POOLS, THOSE KIDS WILL DIE. YOU ARE LOOKING AT ACTUALLY KIDS DYING FROM THIS BUDGET CUT AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DO IN THIS COUNTY RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE TEACH OUR LOW INCOME KIDS TO SWIM. WE. WOULD REALLY LIKE YOU TO BE CONSIDERED. I HAVE SAID ALL OF YOU IN ALL OF THIS. THANK YOU FOR BEING THOSE. THANK YOU. AND THIS BUDGET. NEXT WE HAVE CRYSTAL RUFENACHT, JESSICA RILEY HAMMOND, AND JAMES HANSEL. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL AND I'M A

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I'VE BEEN OUT DOOR KNOCKING A LOT, ATTENDING A LOT OF MEETINGS. I'VE TALKED TO PARENTS, I'VE TALKED TO TEACHERS, I'VE TALKED TO PRINCIPALS. AS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE SCHOOL SETTING WITH SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS, I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT AND DIFFICULT THE JOB CAN BE. IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF TO BE HIT, BITTEN, SPIT ON AND HAVE TO ASSIST STUDENTS WITH DAILY HYGIENE NEEDS. IF WE PAID PARAEDUCATORS MORE, WE WOULD VERY LIKELY SAVE MONEY ON THE STUDENTS THAT ULTIMATELY ARE SENT TO NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF THAT LAST. I FEEL LIKE EDUCATION AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS AND TEACHERS ARE UNDER ATTACK, SOMETHING I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND. PLEASE GET. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I'M JAMES HANSON. I TEACH SIXTH GRADE EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE AT SOUTHAMPTON MIDDLE, AND I AM VERY RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT HARFORD GLENN IS STAYING. IT'S ACTUALLY WHERE I DECIDED I WANTED TO BE A SCIENCE EDUCATOR.

I DIDN'T GET TO GO AS A STUDENT, BUT I GOT TO VOLUNTEER AS A COUNSELOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. AND AFTER JUST ONE AMAZING DAY OF EXPLORATORY SCIENCE AND HANDS ON LEARNING, I DECIDED THIS IS JUST THIS IS WHAT I GOT TO DO. WHEN MY MOM CAME TO PICK ME UP THAT FIRST DAY AND SHE SAID, HEY, HOW WAS YOUR DAY? I SAID, I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. AND SO IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO HEAR THAT MORE KIDS ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER WHAT THEIR PURPOSE IN LIFE IS. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE STEVE BAILEY, SUSAN HOPKINS, AND PAULA CAREY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVE BAILEY. I'M THE TREASURER FOR THE HARFORD GLENN FOUNDATION. WHILE THERE'S NO EASY DECISIONS, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE HARFORD GLENN. FOR NOW, IN THE LAST 46 YEARS, WE STRIVE TO HELP HARFORD GLENN BE THE JEWEL OF THE SCIENCE PROGRAM. KEEP THE SHOES DIRTY AND THE KIDS OUTSIDE. WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO SUPPORT THIS AMAZING PROGRAM AND SUPPORT YOU GUYS FOR YEARS TO COME. SHORT AND SWEET. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALL RIGHT. HI, MY NAME IS SUSAN HOPKINS. I'M A

[00:45:16]

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE DIETZ, AND I AM AN EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL HERE AT CENTRAL OFFICE. YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER ME FROM SPEAKING LAST WEEK.

TONIGHT, I STAND BEFORE YOU AGAIN BECAUSE THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU IS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE. WHAT BEGAN AS A PAINFUL BUDGET REDUCTION HAS NOW GROWN INTO DEEPER CUTS THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT EMPLOYEE WAGES, STAFFING AND STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS NOT SIMPLY JUST BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS. THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT WILL BE FELT EVERY DAY IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR OFFICES, OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE BOARD HAS BEEN PLACED IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION BECAUSE OF THE CHRONIC UNDERFUNDING. BUT WHILE BUDGETS CAN BE BALANCED ON PAPER, THE HUMAN COST CANNOT. WHEN POSITIONS ARE ELIMINATED, WORK DOES NOT DISAPPEAR. IT FALLS ON THE EDUCATORS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WHO REMAIN. AT THE SAME TIME, REDUCTIONS CAUSE OUR REDUCTIONS TO STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS, SWIMMING AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT FOSTER BELONGING, ENGAGEMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH WILL HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES.

THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT EXTRAS. THEY KEEP OUR STUDENTS CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOLS. THEY BUILD CONFIDENCE, CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS, LOWER CRIME RATES. I COULD GO ON. OUR STUDENTS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE BETTER THAN SIMPLY SURVIVING ANOTHER BUDGET CYCLE. THEY DESERVE A FUTURE WHERE HARFORD COUNTY. I ASK YOU TO ADVOCATE. GOOD

[00:50:03]

CUT BUREAUCRATIC SPENDING AND LOOK FOR AREAS WHERE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS CAN BE REDUCED. WE DO PAY MANY OF OUR CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES MUCH TOO MUCH COMPARED TO OUR HARD WORKING AND ESSENTIAL TEACHERS. MANY IN CENTRAL OFFICE HAVE NO CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING, AND THESE POSITIONS SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. TEACHERS, ESPECIALLY SPECIAL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, SHOULD BE THE ONES MAKING MORE MONEY, NOT CENTRAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES. WE NEED TO STOP CUTTING ESSENTIALS SUCH AS TEACHERS, MUSIC PROGRAMS, HARFORD GLEN INSTEAD OF KEEPING NON-ESSENTIALS. IN ADDITION, WE NEED TO BE MORE IN LINE WITH THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. THE AVERAGE SALARY FOR A MARYLAND SUPERINTENDENT IS 182599. IN 2023, BOLTON WAS PAID OVER 329,000, ACCORDING TO PAYROLL, EVEN IF THAT AMOUNT WAS CUT BY A FULL 100,000, THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD HAVE A SALARY OF 229000, STILL MUCH ABOVE THE STATE AVERAGE. I PRAY THAT GOD OPENS YOUR HEART TO THE TRUTH, TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND JUST, AND THAT HE BLESSES AND GUIDE YOU IN ALL YOUR DECISION MAKING. NEXT, WE HAVE JUDY STYLES, KATE CAMPBELL, AND JACKIE JOHNSON. SARAH. OKAY. I AM JUDY STYLES, AND I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR DECISION TO FINANCE HARFORD GLEN. IT IS SAID A CHILDREN SHALL LEAD THEM.

AND I WAS INSPIRED BY ALL THE KIDS THAT SPOKE FROM OVER THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM. HOW MOVING IS THAT? AND IT REALLY SHOWS THE VALUE OF WHAT THIS PROGRAM IS TODAY. WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT CHILDREN SPENDING THEIR TIMES INDOORS ON SCREENS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

THIS DECISION TO CONTINUE TO FUND HARFORD GLEN IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THESE KIDS GET OUTSIDE, THEY GET WET, THEY GET DIRTY, THEY CATCH CRAYFISH, AS WE'VE LEARNED, AND THEY NEVER FORGET IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINANCING HARFORD GLEN. HI, I'M KATE CAMPBELL AND I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR HARFORD GLEN. I ATTENDED AS A FIFTH GRADER FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT THEN I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING AS A COUNSELOR FOR TWO YEARS. AND THIS EXPERIENCE HELPED ME GET INTO A VERY COMPETITIVE COLLEGE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT SENT MY RESUME APART BECAUSE NOT VERY MANY KIDS HAD DONE THAT, ESPECIALLY AT MY AGE. WHICH GAVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE EXPERIENCE TO START MY OWN SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND NOW I'M ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. I EMPLOY A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING AREAS OR

[00:55:03]

AND I ALSO SUPPORT MULTIPLE FLOWER FARMS. SO I'M SUPPORTING UP TO, I'D SAY LIKE FIVE SMALL FARMS A WEEK WITH MY BUSINESS. HARVARD GLEN GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EARLY, EARLY LEADERSHIP. AND I HOPE THAT MY CHILDREN, WHEN THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND. AT THE JUNE 1ST BOE MEETING, THE FORMER ACCOUNTABILITY SUPERVISOR EXPOSED WHAT MANY OF US HAVE HAVE SUSPECTED FOR YEARS. THERE IS DECEIT, LYING AND COVER UP GOING ON WITH THE CPS BUDGET. LEARNING THAT THE CENTRAL OFFICE SALARIES INCREASED ANYWHERE FROM 30 TO 116% OVER SEVEN YEARS IS APPALLING. THE PARAEDUCATORS ARE WORKING AND EARNING A MERE $14 AN HOUR. THAT IS NOT ONLY DISGRACEFUL TO YOU. BOARD MEMBERS ENTRUSTED TO DISPERSE THE FUNDS WHERE NEEDED AND EXPECTED, BUT IT'S HUMILIATING TO THOSE PARAEDUCATORS. THEIR HEARTS MUST REALLY BE IN WORKING WITH THESE STUDENTS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO MAKE LESS THAN A STARBUCKS EMPLOYEE. THIS EXPOSURE OF THE CPS BUDGET HAS INTENSIFIED THE NEED TO PUT FORWARD A LINED, DETAILED BUDGET FOR ALL TO SEE. HTTPS IS NOT A PRIVATELY OWNED BUSINESS. IT IS A TAXPAYER FUNDED PUBLIC SERVICE DEPARTMENT OWING TRUTHFUL EXPLANATIONS TO THE TAXPAYERS FUNDING IT. PLAYING SPORTS IS A WAY OF LEARNING, TEAMWORK, COMMITMENT AND LOYALTY. FOR SOME STUDENTS, PLAYING SPORTS IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF CONNECTION WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AND THEIR HOMES. FORCING THIS BURDEN ONTO THE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE LOWER INCOME FAMILIES, WILL MORE THAN LIKELY RESULT IN THEIR DROPPING OUT OF THE SPORTS. DO NOT FORCE THE STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO PAY TO PLAY. NEXT WE HAVE GARY JOHNSON, ARIANNA HERNANDEZ, EMILY HUNTS, ADELITA. THE TEACHERS UNION ALWAYS DEMANDS MORE, AND THEY TYPICALLY GET MORE. THEY INSIST THAT WE FULLY FUND THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS OR ELSE WE'RE GOING TO LOSE TEACHERS. WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE TEACHERS. WE JUST QUESTION WHETHER WE'RE GETTING OUR MONEY'S WORTH. WE EXPECT THAT INCREASED FUNDING WILL BE DIRECTED TO TEACHER SALARIES. WE ALSO EXPECT AN INCREASED FUNDING WILL IMPROVE ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. SADLY, THE TEACHERS NEVER SEEM TO BE SATISFIED AND THE OUTCOMES NEVER SEEM TO IMPROVE. OUR KIDS MAY BE GRADUATING, BUT THEY ARE DOING SO WITH ONLY EIGHTH GRADE READING AND MATH SKILLS. IF THE MONEY IS NOT GOING TO ADDRESS THESE TWO GOALS, THEN WHERE IS IT GOING? IT'S BEING SPENT ON A BLOATED CENTRAL OFFICE BUREAUCRACY. THIS FOLLOWS A TREND THROUGHOUT MARYLAND, WHERE OVERPAID EDUCATION BUREAUCRATS OFTEN GET MORE THAN COUNTY EXECUTIVES, OR EVEN THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND. YET TEACHERS STILL LEAVE, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE STILL FAILS TO IMPROVE THE. THE BUREAUCRACY CREATED THIS BUDGET MESS. NOW IT WANTS TO SOLVE IT BY FORCING STUDENTS TO PAY FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTICIPATING IN SPORTS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. IT IS NOT THE STUDENT'S FAULT THAT EDUCATION FUNDS HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ALLOCATED. SO PLEASE DO YOUR DUTY. BRING THIS BUREAUCRACY TO HEEL. NOW THEY WORK FOR US. THEY WORK FOR YOU. DO NOT VOTE FOR PAY TO PLAY. HELLO, I'M ARIANNA HERNANDEZ. I WENT TO RED PUMP FALLSTON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, AND NOW I'M A JUNIOR AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY. MY SISTER AND I BOTH PLAYED CLARINET ALL THROUGHOUT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE BOTH HAD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL BAND. WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE A FEW YEARS CAN MAKE TO A SCHOOL. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLASSES AND OPPORTUNITIES. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING A LIKE SOLID EDUCATION AND HOW THE HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE SLOWLY LOSING WHAT WE HELD SPECIAL. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FACT FROM THE CANADIAN NETWORK FOR ARTS AND LEARNING ABOUT SCHOOL MUSIC PARTICIPATION AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. A STUDY OF MORE THAN 100,000 STUDENTS FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC SCORED SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER IN MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH, WITH MOST ENGAGED MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORMING ONE ACADEMIC YEAR AHEAD OF THEIR PEERS. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT STUDENTS WHO BEGIN LEARNING MUSIC IN LIKE A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AT AN EARLY AGE MAY DEVELOP STRONGER MEMORY, ATTENTION, AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS, WHICH CAN SUPPORT LEARNING IN SCHOOL. THE CONTINUATION OF BUDGET CUTS ARE SLOWLY TAKING AWAY ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF OF WHAT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE. I

[01:00:02]

THANK YOU. HI, I'M MARA AND I MOVED TO AMERICA IN DECEMBER OF 2023. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHEN I STARTED HIGH SCHOOL, I ENTERED THE IB PROGRAM AT EDGEWOOD. DESPITE MY LIVING IN HAVRE DE GRACE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MAGNET PROGRAM BUSSES, AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY WILL BE FUNDED THIS YEAR. BUT WHAT ABOUT NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT? THERE NEEDS TO BE A MORE PERMANENT GUARANTEE BECAUSE STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE MORE TOLERANCE, AND THEY NEED TO HAVE MORE SCHOLASTIC OPPORTUNITIES. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE GIVEN WHEN YOU ARE ENTERED INTO A PROGRAM, LIKE MINDED PEERS WHO ARE CURIOUS AND WHO ARE AMBITIOUS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN IF YOU WERE TO STAY AT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL. THESE SCHOOLS ALSO NEED TO BE IMPROVED, AND THE BUDGET THAT IS GOING TO SUPERINTENDENTS AND TO THE BOARD. THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT ON THE STUDENTS. THAT IS WHAT THIS BOARD IS ABOUT. THAT IS WHAT WE WE ARE ALL HERE FOR.

I WILL BE ATTENDING SIR JOHN'S COLLEGE IN THE FALL. I'M 16 YEARS OLD. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE IB PROGRAM. I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE IB PROGRAM IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE BUSSES. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE BARRICADED FROM HAVING THE LIFE THEY WANT TO LIVE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY NEED TO OBTAIN SIMPLY BECAUSE OF WHERE THEY LIVE. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. THAT'S NOT JUST THEIR PARENTS WILL BE BUSY. THEY WILL BE BUSY. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A LIFE AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN. NEXT WE HAVE BETH HUDSON. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF. MY NAME IS IN WRITING. AS A FORMER ORCHESTRA MEMBER AND A STUDENT OF WILLIAM S JAMES, INSTRUMENTAL DIRECTOR, MRS. KERRY, FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES INSTRUMENT PROGRAM IS WAS ON THE EDGE OF BEING CUT. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DISADVANTAGE TO YOUNGER STUDENTS WHO LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THIS PROGRAM AND CONNECTING WITH MRS. KERRY. SHE IS A MENTOR OF MINE AND HAS TAUGHT ME SO MUCH THROUGH THIS MUSIC PROGRAM. THE MUSIC PROGRAM IS SO ENJOYABLE BECAUSE OF HER. THANK YOU FOR NOT CUTTING IT. PRESIDENT PAGE. OUR LAST SPEAKER IS A VIRTUAL SPEAKER. AND I WILL ADMIT THEM INTO THE MEETING 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. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN 90S. SO INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW.

OKAY. SARAH AND MILES. ROBERT. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS SARAH ROBERT.

I AM A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT AND MOM OF TWO. I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT APPEAR ON A BALANCED SPREADSHEET, BUT HAS A LIFELONG IMPACT. ELEMENTARY BEING AN ORCHESTRA FOR MANY STUDENTS, ELEMENTARY BAND ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS ARE STUDENTS FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER A PASSION, TALENT, OR SENSE OF BELONGING. WHEN A STUDENT PICKS UP A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY AREN'T JUST LEARNING NOTES, THEY ARE DISCOVERING THEIR OWN POTENTIAL. MUSIC EDUCATION AT AN EARLY AGE HAS PROVEN TO SUPPORT BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. STUDENTS IN MUSIC PROGRAMS CONSISTENTLY SHOW STRONGER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, BUT BEYOND ACADEMICS, THEY LEARN SOMETHING JUST AS CRITICAL. PERSEVERANCE.

LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT IS FAR FROM EASY. BAND AND ORCHESTRA ALSO TEACH SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY VALUABLE. COLLABORATION MUSIC TEACHES STUDENTS TO LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER, WORK TOGETHER, AND CONTRIBUTE TO SOMETHING GREATER THAN THEMSELVES. IN ORCHESTRA, EVERY CHILD MATTERS, EVERY PART COUNTS. THESE PROGRAMS ALSO CREATE FAIR OPPORTUNITY. FOR MANY STUDENTS, SCHOOL IS THE ONLY PLACE THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER NOT JUST WHAT WE SAVE BY CUTTING THESE PROGRAMS, WHAT WE LOSE, AND WHAT OUR STUDENTS LOSE WITH THEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. HELLO, MY NAME IS MAX WEBER. I AM SEVEN YEARS OLD. I HAVE NOT HAD A. THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT'S

[Board Member Comments]

[01:05:01]

SO THIS IS MY LAST BOARD MEETING IN THIS SEAT. AND I WANT TO USE MY TIME TONIGHT TO REFLECT AND SAY THANK YOU TO A FEW PEOPLE. SO FIRST TO VIVA, VIVA NANDURI. SHE'S OUR NEW STUDENT MEMBER ON THE BOARD. ELECT, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AGAIN AND BEST OF LUCK. THIS ROLE WILL CHALLENGE YOU IN WAYS YOU DON'T EXPECT, AND I KNOW YOU'LL REPRESENT STUDENTS WELL.

THIS EXPERIENCE HAS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGED WHO I AM FOR THE BETTER. NOT MANY PEOPLE GET TO SIT ON A BOARD MAKING REAL DECISIONS ABOUT REAL POLICY AT THIS AGE, AND I DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY. IT WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERY SECOND OF IT, EVEN THE HARD ONES. I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO THANK TONIGHT. SO TO THE STUDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME WITH YOUR VOICE.

THAT TRUST IS THE ENTIRE REASON THIS SEAT MEANS ANYTHING TO MY PARENTS AND FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME TALK ABOUT BOARD POLITICS, DECISIONS, POLICIES THAT ARE UP FOR VOTE MORE THAN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO LISTEN TO AND FOR NEVER COMPLAINING. WHEN I WALKED THROUGH THE DOOR AT EIGHT, NINE, TEN, SOMETIMES 11:00 AT NIGHT.

YOU NEVER ONCE MADE ME FEEL LIKE IT WASN'T WORTH IT. TO MY FRIENDS, THANK YOU FOR WORKING AROUND A SCHEDULE THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. I WROTE HALF THE TIME, BUT PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME. TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH ME AND SUPPORTING ME ON THIS JOURNEY. AND TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR GUIDING ME THROUGH THIS AND PUTTING UP WITH WHAT HAD TO BE AN ENDLESS STREAM OF QUESTIONS. FOR ME, STUDENT VOICE MATTERS. IT'S NOT A COURTESY SEAT AT THIS TABLE. IT'S IT'S A PERSPECTIVE THIS BOARD NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. AND I HOPE THE BOARD CONTINUES TO TREAT IT THAT WAY LONG AFTER I'M GONE. I'M PROUD TO END MY TERM KNOWING I'M CAPPING IT OFF, HOPEFULLY WITH A FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION RESOLUTION THAT I BELIEVE WILL HAVE A REAL, LASTING IMPACT ON STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTY. I'LL SPEAK MORE ON THAT LATER. THIS ROLE BROUGHT BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS, AND MORE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS THAN I CAN COUNT. AND IF YOU ASK ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME, I'LL TELL YOU THE SAME THING EVERY TIME. IT WAS ALL WORTH IT. SO THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING. I ALWAYS KNEW THAT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS ARE EXCITING, AND I CAN TELL BY THE NUMBER OF OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT PARTICIPATED SINCE I JOINED THIS BOARD IN MID MAY. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE WORK OF THE SCHOOL BOARD. I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT I TOO ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND THE AMERICA 250 CELEBRATIONS, ESPECIALLY THIS SATURDAY. THIS PAST WEEKEND I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AN EVENT AT A LOCAL CHURCH WHERE I GOT TO SEE A FEW FORMER COLLEAGUES AND FORMER STUDENTS PERFORM IN THE CHURCH ORCHESTRA BAND, AND THEY DID A FABULOUS PRESENTATION TO CELEBRATE OUR COUNTRY. AND SO I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE THAT I ATTENDED AN ABERDEEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON WHERE TWO OF OUR FINEST STUDENTS AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WE HEARD FROM THEIR NEW PRINCIPAL, PRINCIPAL ERICA HARRIS, TALK ABOUT ESTABLISHING LINCHPIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY COULD CONTINUE TO HAVE THESE OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CAN PROVIDE DURING THEIR SCHOOL TIME. SO THAT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING. AND THEN THE LAST PIECE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS TO THANK EVERYONE FROM STAKEHOLDERS TO STAFF, TO MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT AND THE SERIOUSNESS THAT WE DELIBERATED, THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT APPEARED

[01:10:02]

IT TAKES A LOT TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, MR. MCVICKER, AND BEST WISHES ON YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU. WELCOME TO OUR NEW STUDENT MEMBER. LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T THINK SHE'S HERE. IT SEEMS THAT EVERY YEAR THAT THE BUDGET IS IN A CRISIS, EVERY YEAR A LIST IS CIRCULATED TO THE PUBLIC SOMEHOW. AND THAT LIST CONSISTS OF PROGRAMS THAT HURT THE STUDENTS THE MOST AND GET PARENTS AND STUDENTS UPSET AND FRUSTRATED. I DO NOT KNOW WHO DEVELOPS THE LIST, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DETERMINED, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FORMULATING THAT LIST, NOR DO I SUPPORT MOST ITEMS ON THAT LIST. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE LIST, OR THAT IT WAS BEING CIRCULATED UNTIL I HEARD CHATTER ONLINE AND STARTED RECEIVING EMAILS FROM CONCERNED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS ARE TO THOSE STUDENTS IN SPORTS, AND HOW FOR SOME, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS THOSE KIDS IN SCHOOL. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IS AND BAND ARE TO THOSE STUDENTS, HOW IMPORTANT SWIMMING IS TO THOSE STUDENTS. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT HARPER GLEN IS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE TO OUR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS ON THEM.

I KNOW EACH OF THE ITEMS LISTED AS A HUGE IMPACT ON EACH STUDENT AND STAFF MEMBER, AND THE THREAT TO THOSE ITEM BEING ITEMS BEING CUT CAUSES DISTRESS. I KNOW EACH YEAR IT SEEMS THAT THESE THINGS ARE THREATENED TO CUT BECAUSE OF FUNDING. IN AN IDEAL WORLD, WE WOULD HAVE UNLIMITED FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND PROGRAMS. WE, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, MUST LIVE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE ARE ALLOTTED. THAT BEING SAID, I DO NOT SUPPORT CUTTING STUDENT FACING POSITIONS, CUTTING EDUCATORS, OR INCREASING CLASS SIZES. I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES AND THE FUNDING THAT WE DO RECEIVE TOWARDS THE MOST IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS, SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS AND CLASSROOMS, AND FOCUSING ON PROVIDING A TOP NOTCH EDUCATION TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR STUDENTS. WHILE NONE OF US WANT TO MAKE ANY CUTS, I BELIEVE THE ONES BEFORE US THIS EVENING ARE IN THE BEST CASE SCENARIO WHEN FACING SUCH A BUDGET SHORTFALL.

I'M ALSO HOPEFUL THAT THROUGH CONTINUED CONVERSATIONS WITH DOCTOR MACK AND HER ADMINISTRATION, THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO PUT FORTH A SUSTAINABLE BUDGET NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT GOT US TO THIS POINT. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED. I WAS PARTICULARLY TOUCHED BY THE EMPHASIS ON THE MUSIC PROGRAM. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY IT. MY HUSBAND WAS A IN THE US ARMY AND HE WAS A MUSICIAN, AND WE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD. I'LL SAY THE WORLD, BECAUSE WE WENT TO GERMANY AND SEVERAL PLACES WITH HIM IN THE BAND. HE ALSO SERVED IN VIETNAM AS A BANDSMAN. AND WHEN I MET HIM, HE TOLD ME. HE SAID, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND LOVE IT SO MUCH AND REALLY GET PAID FOR IT. THAT WAS HIS WAY OF SAYING IT. SO I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT MUSIC IS IN A PERSON'S LIFE. WE HAVE 52 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND I ENJOYED ALL OF IT. AND BEING WITH HIM AS HE PLAYED HIS SAXOPHONE. SO I ENCOURAGE THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THE MUSIC PROGRAM TO CONTINUE. AND I ALSO WILL SAY THAT ANY MUSIC TEACHER THAT WANTS TO INVITE ME, I WILL BE HAPPY TO COME AND SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF. SO THANK YOU. MISS ALVAREZ. I JUST THOUGHT THAT. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU, MISS ALVAREZ. YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I THINK WE GOT YOU. CAN YOU START OVER? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. YES, YES. WE. MISS ALVAREZ, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. WE COULD HEAR YOU, BUT NOW WE CAN'T. ALL RIGHT, MISS ALVAREZ, I'M GOING TO GIVE MY COMMENTS AND THEN I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

HOW DOES THAT SOUND? THAT SOUNDS GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MR. SEWELL, AND THEN WE'LL TRY YOU AGAIN, MISS ALVAREZ. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO, TREY, FIRST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOU INITIALLY RUNNING FOR THE POSITION AND OF COURSE, BEING ELECTED, YOU KNOW, AND YOU HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS BOARD. I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS

[01:15:06]

WE NEED YOUR ADVOCACY. THIS BOARD NEEDS TO KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU. AND THAT WAS LOUD AND CLEAR TONIGHT. SO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME TONIGHT. YOU KNOW, I KNOW EVERYONE'S BUSY SUMMER, BUT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT YOU SHOW UP. SO THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE BUDGET OFFICE. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, THE NEGOTIATION TEAM, HR FOR WORKING SO HARD TO GET US TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE ON A BUDGET. I'M SO PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE BY THIS ADMINISTRATION, AND I'M ALSO PROUD OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR WORKING HARD AND PUTTING IN THE EXTRA TIME TO FIGURE THIS OUT. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MISS ALVAREZ. I'LL TRY YOU AGAIN. OKAY, GREAT. HOW'S THAT SOUND? GOOD. DON'T MOVE. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE EDUCATORS WHO LIVE TO WITNESS THAT SPARK, THAT OF OF OBSERVED WHEN THEIR STUDENTS LEARN AND, AND WITNESS THAT THAT LEARNING IS FUN FOR MANY STUDENTS. AND I SUSPECT THAT THE HARFORD GLEN TEACHERS SEE THAT SPARK OFTEN. I'D LIKE TO ALSO TURN TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS CONCERNING OUR. SALARIES WITHIN THE. THE STAFFING AND SUGGEST THAT THE PUBLIC READ THE CONTRACTS THAT ARE ON THE WEBSITE, THE CPS WEBSITE UNDER THE BOE TAB, AND YOU'LL FIND THAT A LOT OF OUR CONTRACTS ARE CONNECTED. IT CREATES A RIPPLE EFFECT IN OUR BUDGET. WHEN THE CONTRACT WAS UP FOR RENEWAL, WE STAYED STATUS QUO. AND I HOPE THAT THE NEW LEADERSHIP WILL CREATE THE POSSIBILITY TO NEGOTIATE FOR EACH GROUP. WHEN THEY DO COME UP FOR RENEWAL AND ELIMINATE THIS SECOND ORDER EFFECT, THAT MAY BE CREATING SOME BUDGET RIPPLE EFFECTS AND GIVE US MORE FLEXIBILITY. FLEXIBILITY TO NEGOTIATE WHERE WE NEED. AND FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO TURN TO WHY I AM NOT THERE. I'M NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT BECAUSE I AM IN NEW YORK. I CAME UP HERE FOR THE OPENING OF THE CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTE YESTERDAY. IT'S AN ORGANIZATION THAT VALUES THE PRODUCTIVE DIALOG FROM ALL PERSPECTIVES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE OPENING PRAYER OFFERED BY VINITA WRIGHT, AN AUTHOR AND EDITOR. SO IF YOU'LL JUST BEAR WITH ME IN THE PRAYER THAT WAS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE, GOD OF ALL TIME, HELP US ENTER THIS NEW CHAUTAUQUA SEASON. QUIETLY THOUGHTFUL OF WHO WE ARE TO OURSELVES AND TO OTHERS, MINDFUL THAT OUR STEPS MAKE AN IMPACT AND OUR WORDS CARRY POWER. MAY WE WALK GENTLY. MAY WE SPEAK ONLY AFTER WE HAVE LISTENED WELL. CREATOR OF ALL LIFE, HELP US ENTER THIS SUMMER SEASON REVERENTLY AWARE THAT YOU HAVE ENDOWED EVERY CREATURE AND PLANET, EVERY PERSON AND HABITAT, WITH BEAUTY AND PURPOSE. MAY WE REGARD THE WORLD WITH TENDERNESS. MAY WE HONOR RATHER THAN DESTROY. LOVER OF ALL SOULS, HELP US ENTER THIS SEASON. JOYFULLY WILLING TO LAUGH AND DANCE AND DREAM. REMEMBERING OUR MANY GIFTS WITH THANKS AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BLESSINGS YET TO COME. MAY WE WELCOME YOUR LAVISH LOVE, AND MAY YOU GRACE US WITH YOUR PEACE. IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO LET MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES THAT WOULD BE SITTING NEXT TO ME, MISS CAROL BRUCE. I WAS

[01:20:08]

BUT WHILE THE PUBLIC HAD THE MICROPHONE HERE TONIGHT, SOMETHING REALLY DAWNED ON ME.

YOU KNOW, THIS BOARD, THE HARFORD COUNTY COUNCIL HAS CONSISTENTLY OPENED THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OPERATES VERY DIFFERENTLY. THE BRANCH OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT WITH THE GREATEST CONTROL OVER APPROPRIATIONS, THE BRANCH HOLDING ALMOST A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION IN RESERVE, OFFERS THE PUBLIC VERY LIMITED OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT ENGAGEMENT. THERE IS NO COMPARABLE OPEN FORUM. THERE IS NO STANDING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WHERE RESIDENTS CAN ADDRESS THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

THIS DISCREPANCY SHOULD CONCERN EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. THE BODY WITH THE MOST POWER TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO THE MOST INSULATED FROM PUBLIC PRESSURE TO DO SO. BUT I'M NOT HERE TO BE POLITICAL. I'M HERE TO BE HONEST. AND THE HONEST TRUTH IS THAT HARFORD COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A SCARCITY PROBLEM. IT HAS A PRIORITY PROBLEM. THE RESOURCES EXIST. I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THAT THE COUNTY IS CURRENTLY SITTING ON A FUND BALANCE OF APPROXIMATELY A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION. PUBLIC MONEY, YOUR MONEY THAT HAS BEEN ACCUMULATED ABOUT THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN FORCED TO STRETCH EVERY DOLLAR WAY, EVERY PROGRAM. AND NOW TONIGHT, WE ARE CONTEMPLATING CHARGING CHILDREN FOR THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL SPORTS.

THIS BOARD IS A LEGAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO PASS A BALANCED BUDGET. WE CANNOT CONJURE FUNDING THAT THE COUNTY REFUSES TO PROVIDE, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, IS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHY WE'RE IN THIS POSITION. BUT NOW I WANT TO TURN TO SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME GENUINE HOPE. AND EVEN ON A DIFFICULT NIGHT LIKE THIS, IS THIS ROOM. LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, PARENTS, COACHES AND STUDENTS WHO CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK. ON TOP OF THIS ATTENDANCE, WE'VE GOTTEN OVER 100 EMAILS OF THIS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THIS COMMUNITY IS PAYING ATTENTION. THIS COMMUNITY CARES. AND WE'RE LISTENING AND THIS BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO LISTEN, AS WE ALWAYS DO. AND AS I CLOSE, I

[Superintendent's Report]

KEEP USING YOUR VOICE. YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD. AND IF YOU'RE GOING INTO THE SIXTH GRADE, OR IF YOU'RE ALREADY IN MIDDLE OR HIGH, CONSIDER BEING A PART OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL. LOOK FOR THAT APPLICATION. APPLY AND CONTINUE TO USE YOUR VOICE. THANK YOU

[01:25:03]

I HAVE ASKED FOR THE TIME AND THE SPACE TO REVIEW THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THAT WORK HAS ALREADY BEGUN. THIS BUDGET SEASON HAS BEEN LIKE NONE OTHER. THERE HAS BEEN BOARD COLLABORATION LIKE NONE OTHER WE'VE EVER SEEN. WE'VE HAD EACH AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER, EACH AND EVERY BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATE IN SMALL GROUP SESSIONS WHERE THEY PROPOSED CUTS, PROPOSED SUGGESTIONS, AND RECEIVED UPDATES TO THE CUTS THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE. WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH OUR UNIONS, WE'VE COLLABORATED WITH OUR EDUCATORS. WE'VE HAD PUBLIC WORK SESSIONS WITH OUR BOARD OF ED MEMBERS. WE'VE HAD INVOLVEMENT FROM OUR COUNTY COUNCIL. WE HAVE SET THE BAR FOR FUTURE WORK. WE WILL CONTINUE CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE BOARD OF ED BUDGET TEAM. WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR OUR UNIONS AS EARLY AS JULY 13TH. WE HAVE BEGUN TO REDESIGN HOW WE APPROACH THE BUDGET PROCESS. RATHER THAN RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND INACCURATE INFORMATION, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TALK TO YOUR BOARD OF ED MEMBER. THOSE THAT ARE ON THIS DAIS ARE THE PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU'VE ELECTED OR HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO SUPPORT THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO RELY ON CURRENT CPS EMPLOYEES TO INFORM YOU WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION AS WE MOVE FORWARD. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT. AGAIN, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK, BUT WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AT LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AS WE BEGIN WORK SHORTLY AFTER JULY 1ST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC

[B. Decision on Proposed Resolution: Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement, Mr. James McVicker III, Student Member of the Board]

MARYLAND RECOGNIZES THIS AND REQUIRES FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION UNDER COMAR. BUT THE REGULATION LEAVES THE AMOUNT AND THE METHOD ENTIRELY TO EACH DISTRICT, WHICH MEANS RIGHT NOW WE HAVE NO DEFINED MINIMUM AND NO WAY TO VERIFY THAT EVERY GRADUATE RECEIVED IT.

I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT HOW THIS RESOLUTION TOOK ITS CURRENT SHAPE. I READ ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS. SUBMITTED ON THIS ISSUE, AND AFTER REVIEWING THEM, I DECIDED NOT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A FULL HALF CREDIT FINANCIAL LITERACY REQUIREMENT. IT IS CLEAR FROM THE FEEDBACK THAT THE COMMUNITY VALUES THE HALF CREDIT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND I HEARD THAT. SO I MOVED TO A RESOLUTION BUILT AROUND 15 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION INSTEAD.

THIS APPROACH MEETS THE BOARD'S PRIORITY OF SUBSTANTIVE FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION WHILE PRESERVING PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND THE STAFF POSITIONS TIED TO IT. THE RESOLUTION DIRECTS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DEVELOP A PLAN, ENSURING EVERY GRADUATE RECEIVES AT LEAST 15 HOURS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION TIED TO THE SIX CONTENT STANDARDS ALREADY OUTLINED IN COMAR AND TRACKED THROUGH SYSTEMS COUNSELORS ALREADY USE.

IT DOES THIS WITHOUT CREATING A NEW GRADUATION REQUIREMENT CREDIT WITHOUT CUTTING ANY EXISTING COURSE OR SELECTIVE, AND WITHOUT ADDING ANY STAFFING COSTS. WE SET THE FLOOR. THE ADMINISTRATION KEEPS FULL DISCRETION OVER HOW TO MEET IT. BEFORE I WALK THROUGH THE

[01:30:01]

[01:35:02]

[C. Decision on Board of Education's Proposed FY2027 Budget, Ms. Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services and Mr. Eric Clark, Director of Budget]

AND BEFORE YOU BEFORE YOU START YOUR PRESENTATION, I JUST HAVE A COMMENT AND I'VE SHARED PREVIOUSLY THAT I AM A RECENT APPOINTEE TO THE BOARD. AND SO HEARING THE EXCHANGE ABOUT HOW THAT STAKEHOLDER LIST WAS DEVELOPED, I MEAN, I WAS NOT PART OF THAT EARLY ON. SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO COMPRISED THAT THAT LIST OF PROGRAMS OR ITEMS TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE. SO THE STAKEHOLDER SHOULD HAVE SAID BOARD OF EDUCATION. SO I MET WITH EACH ONE OF YOU AND WE WENT THROUGH THE LIST. IF THE ITEM WAS ON THERE, I PUT IT ON THERE, MR. SEWELL PUT ON THERE. I MEAN, IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK, I ASK FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS. NO ITEM GOT ON THAT LIST UNLESS THE BOARD OF ED MEMBER SAID I'D LIKE IT ON THIS LIST. OKAY. THANK YOU, BECAUSE I, I MEAN, A FEW OF THOSE ITEMS CREATED A LOT OF STRESS FOR OUR FAMILIES, OUR STAFF, AND OUR STUDENTS. AND SO I KNOW PERSONALLY, A GOOD NUMBER OF THOSE ITEMS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST. SO I THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.

NEXT TIME. IT'S THE BOARD MEMBER'S NAME, BUT BESIDE IT IS THAT WILL HELP. THIS IS AN EVER EVOLVING PROCESS THAT ISN'T EASY. AND SO AS WE GO INTO THIS NEXT YEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO MEET IN SMALL GROUPS, WE'VE SET UP A COMMITTEE THAT MR. ORCHITIS AND DOCTOR MUELLER ARE ON, THAT WE FIND A WAY TO DO THIS BETTER. SO I WELCOME YOUR YOUR INPUT ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT QUESTION. AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO COMMENT THAT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LIST THAT WE FORMULATED. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LIST THAT WAS INITIALLY OUT TO THE CITIZENS OF IN THE COMMUNITY BEFORE WE FORMULATED A LIST. SO THERE WAS ALREADY COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THAT WE WERE HEARING BEFORE WE EVEN PUT THIS LIST OUT. I DIDN'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IS THIS A LIST THAT ALLEGEDLY CAME FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LIST PUT OUT BY OUR ADMINISTRATION AT ALL. SO AGAIN, I GO BACK TO, IF WE'RE READING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE'RE GETTING IT FROM PEOPLE TALKING THAT ARE NOT CURRENT EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE AREAS THAT ARE EDUCATED ON WHAT'S GOING ON, OR A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD THAT'S WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR TEAM, THEN WE CAN'T SPEND TIME GOING OFF OF WHAT'S ON SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE IT JUST MAY NOT BE ACCURATE. SO AND I WILL SAY THIS TO ANYONE, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, ASK US AND WE WILL GET THE INFORMATION TO YOU.

BUT I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT A LIST THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. IT DID NOT COME FROM US. SO IF YOU CAN PRODUCE IT, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT. I HAVE MY HAND RAISED, IF I MAY. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, PRESIDENT PAGE, COULD WE GO MEMBER BY MEMBER AND HAVE THEM IDENTIFY THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE WE'RE NOT HERE TO DO THAT TONIGHT. NO, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET PRESENTATION AS IS. I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT MANY OF THE THINGS THAT OUR STAKEHOLDER ALSO COME FROM THE PUBLIC. WE JUST RECEIVED AN EMAIL TODAY THAT I FORWARDED ALONG TO THE BOARD THROUGH YVONNE THAT MENTIONED MANY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED THERE. SO IT IS NOT SIMPLY THE BOARD. IT IS TRULY OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR STAFF. IT'S FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE THE STAKEHOLDERS LIST, IF I MAY. I A MUCH OF WHAT WAS ON THE STAKEHOLDERS LIST DID APPEAR TO BE ITEMS THAT WERE DISCUSSED BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. AND NOT THE PRESENT SUPERINTENDENT. I DID HAVE A MEETING WITH THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR. AND OUR PRESIDENT, AND THOSE ITEMS WERE NOT FROM THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION OR THE SUPERINTENDENT, AT LEAST AS IS MY UNDERSTANDING, BUT WERE

[01:40:03]

THERE IS NO LOCAL FUNDING IN THIS FUND. IT COMES FROM STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUE. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THAT. IT'S BALANCED BASED ON EXPECTED REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WITHIN THAT FUND. SO WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE FY 27 FOOD AND NUTRITION FUND, AND THE AMOUNT OF $23,655,000 TOTAL OF 263.5 FTE. AND. SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSAL.

SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? PASSES? THANK YOU. ON TO THE CAPITAL FUND. THERE WAS SOME CHANGE TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN MARCH. SO AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, I KNOW THE PRINT IS VERY SMALL.

THE LOCAL REQUEST WAS $115,849,000. OF THAT. HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVED $71,090,000. I THINK THAT'S RIGHT. YES, YES. SO THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WERE FUNDED FROM THIS TOTAL. SO THE NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND IS $90,287,040. AND WE ARE ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR THAT TONIGHT. SO MOVED. CAROL BRUCE. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? NOTHING HEARD. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY YES. YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. OKAY.

THAT WENT AWFULLY QUICKLY. SO THE OPERATING BUDGET, THIS IS WHERE WE TYPICALLY HAVE MOST OF OUR CONVERSATION. SO THIS IS A REVENUE SUMMARY OF OUR FUNDING STREAMS FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET. WE HAVE LOCAL REVENUE MARYLAND REVENUE. BOTH OF THOSE CHANGE ITEMS ARE THE FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM EACH. THE FEDERAL REVENUE IS A VERY SMALL DOLLAR THAT WE GET TYPICALLY EACH YEAR, NO CHANGE EXPECTED. OTHER REVENUE IS REALLY OUR MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE. WE ARE INCREASING THAT BY OR PROPOSING TO INCREASE THAT BY $600,000. WE'LL EXPLAIN THAT AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BUDGET AND FUND BALANCE. WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROPOSE THE USE OF $10 MILLION. SO THAT REPRESENTS A 5.3% INCREASE OVER FY 26. SO THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE WHAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED IN MARCH. AND ON THESE SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE THE PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE, THE ESTIMATED WAGE PACKAGE. THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS TO, BUT WE'LL PRESENT THAT ON A LATER SLIDE. SO I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH EACH OF THOSE LINES.

I'LL GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THEM. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE BY SLIDE.

[01:45:03]

33, WE DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDING LOCAL FUNDING FOR OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION BUSSES. SO WE STILL HAVE TO TRANSPORT THOSE STUDENTS. AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO TRANSPORT. BUT WE DO BELIEVE WE CAN REMOVE TWO OF THE FTE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY REQUESTED. ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE. OKAY. THESE REDUCTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND SHARED AT THE JUNE 22ND MEETING LAST WEEK. SO ALL OF THOSE, I BELIEVE ARE THE SAME. YOU'LL SEE WITH THE LIGHT STARTING ON LINE 37 WITH THE FTE, YOU'LL SEE SALARY AND FC, WHICH IS FIXED CHARGES. IT'S WHAT WE CONSIDER FOR OUR BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY CHARGES AND OTHER EMPLOYER PAID BENEFITS THAT WE HAVE FOR EACH POSITION. SO THE TOTAL THAT WE ARE REDUCING IS A FULL COST OF SALARY AND BENEFITS. FOR CLARIFICATION ON DUAL ENROLLMENT, THAT'S FROM OFFERING FIVE CLASSES TO FOUR. IT'S ACTUALLY FOR NON CCR.

REQUIRED COURSES. SO CURRENTLY WE'VE BEEN PAYING FOR COURSES. IF STUDENTS ARE NOT CCR. AGAIN IT'S A VERY SMALL DOLLAR AMOUNT. SO THIS IS REDUCING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO HAVE A DUAL ENROLLMENT EXPERIENCE. THE NEXT SLIDE IS PROPOSED INCREASES. AGAIN THIS IS PART OF OUR NORMAL RECONCILIATION. AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WE'VE REVIEWED REVIEWED THESE AS WELL. A TOTAL OF THREE POSITIONS AT $3.4 MILLION. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE LAST WEEK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT ON LINE 46, WHERE WE HAVE MORE FIRM PRICING ON THE ADDITIONAL DEVICE LEASE FOR 2 TO 8. AND THERE WAS SOME RECONCILING DOLLARS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PUT IN FOR THE BUYOUT OF DEVICES. AND RIGHT NOW IT'S FOR K ONE FOR THIS YEAR. BUT WE HAVE LEASES EXPIRING EACH YEAR. SO WE WILL HAVE A FUNDING STREAM FOR THAT BUYOUT AT THE END OF EACH EACH YEAR. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO BUY BACK DEVICES THAT AREN'T RETURNED TO US. SO IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC MAINTAINS CONTROL OVER THE DEVICES THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE ASSIGNED AND RETURN THOSE BECAUSE IT DOES COST THE SYSTEM, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T RETURN THEM ON THE LEASE, WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THOSE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN THESE ARE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT

[01:50:07]

AND THAT IS BEING OFFSET MAINLY BY TWO STUDENT SERVICES, CLERICAL POSITIONS THAT WE HAD A RETIREMENT AND A PERSON TOOK ANOTHER POSITION. AND WE ARE REMOVING THOSE PROPOSING TO REMOVE THOSE POSITIONS FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO THAT LEAVES US WITH A TOTAL OF 28.5 POSITIONS, $35.8 MILLION. THIS IS A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THOSE CHANGES. THE LAST THREE SLIDES ARE REFLECTED AT THE BOTTOM. WE DID NOT BREAK THAT OUT, SO IT WAS CLEAR WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM. AND AGAIN WITH THE SUGGESTED INCREASES, THE MAIN PART OF THAT IS $2 MILLION RELATED TO NON PUBLIC EDUCATION INCREASES. IF YOU DON'T MIND, WOULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR THE SPORTS PARTICIPATION FEE SINCE IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST? SO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $600,000. AND AGAIN IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS. SO DEPENDING ON WHO PARTICIPATES AND HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS WE HAVE, WE WOULD BE CHARGING $175 FOR THE YEAR, NOT PER SPORT. AND OUR FREE AND REDUCED STUDENTS WOULD THAT FEE WOULD BE WAIVED FOR THEM. THAT IS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST UNDER THIS PROGRAM, AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING FOR THE DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN THAT WE OFFER. SO IT AGAIN, $175. I THINK THE LAST FEE WE HAD WAS $100 FOR THE FIRST TWO SPORTS. AND THEN THE THIRD SPORT. IF SOMEONE PLAYED THREE SPORTS, IT WAS WAIVED. MISS JUDD AND DOCTOR MACK, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC JUST QUICKLY ON MY QUESTION, THAT I ASKED DURING THE CLOSE, DURING THE SMALL GROUP THE OTHER DAY, ON STUDENTS NOT BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS BECAUSE OF THE COST AND WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN A STUDENT CAN'T AFFORD THE COST. WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY AND HOW STUDENTS ARE AFFORDED TO STILL PLAY SPORTS.

SO OUR STUDENTS TYPICALLY WORK WITH THE COACHES, THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE SCHOOL AND IDENTIFY THAT THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE. AND WE HAVE NOT, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, TURNED A STUDENT AWAY WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. THE FREE REDUCED APPLICATION IS REQUIRED IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR THAT. BUT WE DO ENTERTAIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. PERFECT. THANK YOU. AND THEN YOU, I BELIEVE YOU DID A CALCULATION TO DETERMINE BASICALLY WHAT THE AVERAGE COST PER PARTICIPANT IS IN, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS. WHAT WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? SO, MR. SEWELL, WE REALLY TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS. IF WE TAKE THE PAYING STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE 3417 ROUGHLY ATHLETES THAT COULD BE AT ONE ATHLETE PARTICIPATING IN THREE DIFFERENT SPORTS WOULD COUNT AS THREE OF THOSE, ROUGHLY $3,800,000. IT'S ABOUT $1,118 PER STUDENT PER SPORT THAT THE SYSTEM IS COVERING RIGHT NOW. IF WE TOOK ALL STUDENTS, THAT WOULD BE OUR FARM STUDENTS WHO DON'T PAY, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE THEY WOULD BE WAIVED. WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ABOUT $845 PER STUDENT. THERE'S ROUGHLY 4522 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS IF YOU INCLUDE THE FARMS AND THE PAYING STUDENTS. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT EITHER 1118 OR $845 COST PER STUDENT PER SPORT. SO IT COST US MORE THAN $800 ON

[01:55:08]

AND THOSE THOSE ARE ESTIMATES. SO WE HAVE TO SEE WHICH STUDENTS SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE, ACTUALLY PARTICIPATE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE WILL ESTIMATE THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THE YEAR TO DETERMINE IF THAT IS A SUITABLE NUMBER TO BE CHARGING. AND THEN WHAT WAS THE COST PER STUDENT FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ON AVERAGE? IF WE LOOK AT THAT? IT WAS ONLY 600. I THINK IT WAS ONLY $600 PER. IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE PAYING STUDENTS, 1642 IF YOU LOOK AT ALL STUDENTS. 510 SO THERE WAS A LARGER PORTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS RECEIVING A WAIVER. SO BETWEEN $1510 AND $1600, AGAIN ON AVERAGE. IF I MAY. MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THIS THROUGH OUR SMALL GROUPS. I'M NOT A FAN OF OF THE SPORTS PARTICIPATION FEES. AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP TOO RICH TO BE ON FARMS, BUT NOT RICH ENOUGH TO AFFORD PAY TO PLAY, IF THAT BARRIER WAS IN PLACE, I WOULDN'T HAVE PLAYED. I THINK THERE'S FAMILIES THAT WE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT, THOSE WHO AREN'T GOING TO ASK FOR HELP. I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE GIVING FAMILIES ENOUGH TIME TO PREPARE FOR SPORTS PARTICIPATION FEES, SO I'D LIKE TO OFFER AN AMENDMENT. I MOVE THAT WE STRIKE LINE 58 TO REINSTATE SPORT PARTICIPATION FEES BY REDUCING THE FUND BALANCE BY THE $600,000 ESTIMATE, TO MAKE UP THE REST OF THAT REVENUE. YOU MEAN INCREASING THE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE? YES. OKAY. AND IF I CAN JUST SAY I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT. LET'S WAIT FOR DISCUSSION. THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? THIS IS MELISSA AND I SECOND FOR DISCUSSION. NONE OF THESE ARE WHAT WE WANT TO DO. SO AGAIN, FUND BALANCE. YOU ALL HAVE HEARD MY RESPONSE TO THAT. THE 10 MILLION THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED RIGHT NOW IS ONE TIME MONEY BEING USED FOR RECURRING EXPENSES. WE ARE STARTING OFF NEXT YEAR, $10 MILLION IN THE HOLE, HAVING TO COVER RECURRING COSTS. WHEN WE ADD TO THAT, THAT MAKES THE CHALLENGE EVEN GREATER FOR NEXT YEAR. SO IF IT'S NOT A SPORTS PARTICIPATION FEE, IF WE DO NOT RECONCILE THAT OTHERWISE WITH ADDITIONAL CUTS, WE WILL HAVE A LARGER TASK NEXT YEAR TO SOLVE THIS BUDGET CHALLENGE. AND CAN YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT OUR CURRENT FUND BALANCE POSITION, LIKE RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE STAND BEFORE WE PULL THE 10 MILLION? I DON'T HAVE A CURRENT TODAY, BUT AS OF THE THIRD QUARTER, WE WERE LOOKING AT ABOUT $16 MILLION ADJUSTED FOR SOME OF THE ESTIMATES THAT WE HAD FOR APRIL AND MAY. SO WE'RE YOU'RE SAYING 16 BEFORE THE TEN IS PULLED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, AFTER THE TEN AFTER THE TEN, WE WILL HAVE 16 MILLION LEFT. YES. IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION AND WHAT IS GENERALLY A STANDARD, I KNOW WE ASKED THIS ALL THE TIME CAROL'S QUESTION, OH, AM I AM I ALLOWED TO ASK YOU AT THIS TIME? OKAY, WHERE SHOULD WE BE WITH THE FUND BALANCE? GREAT QUESTION.

PERCENTAGE THAT WE HAVE IS EXTREMELY LOW, AND YOU CAN READ ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ON WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT ISN'T GOOD. ASSUMING THAT THE BOARD APPROVES ANOTHER $10 MILLION NEXT YEAR, TO BE AT $6 MILLION IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE. TO BE AT 16 IS UNCOMFORTABLE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE HAD JUST 6 OR 7 YEARS AGO. WE HAD SEVEN SCHOOLS CLOSED EARLY BECAUSE OF HVAC ISSUES THAT IS NOT FUNDED RIGHT NOW. TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WE ARE TAKING OUT ALMOST HALF $1 MILLION FOR JUST INFLATIONARY COSTS. HVAC SYSTEMS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. I'M SURE MISS MENDEZ COULD GIVE US AN ESTIMATE OF ONE OF THOSE. WE COULD. COULD COULD YOU, MISS MENDEZ, PLEASE? SORRY, I DON'T MEAN TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. I JUST WANT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE. DEPENDING UPON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU WILL NOTICE THE EDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT, WHICH IS A FULL SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, IS 7.5

[02:00:05]

SO I GET THAT. AND WE HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE. SO I KNOW THAT THE DECISION THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO USE FUND BALANCE IS BECAUSE OF THIS LATE HOUR AND GIVES PARENTS TIME TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE. IF THIS IS A POSSIBILITY AND THAT THAT'S JUST WHAT I WANTED TO IF I COULD JUST ADD ONE COMMENT, THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON THAT

[02:05:03]

IT'S STAFF. IT'S THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE. AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE RESPECTING EVERYONE'S EFFORTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING THERE'S ONE SINGLE REASON BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONE, IT'S NOT ONE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.

MISS ROLO, IF YOU WILL, PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL. VOTE MR. CURTIS. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER, MR. MCVICKER. NO. MISS. MILLER. YES. MRS. HAHN. YES, MISS. BRUCE. THIS IS TO USE FUND BALANCE, CORRECT? NO. MRS. ALVAREZ. I'D LIKE YOU TO COME BACK TO ME. BUT WHAT WAS DOCTOR MUELLER'S VOTE? I DIDN'T HEAR HER VOTE. SHE SAID NO. OKAY. THANK YOU. COULD YOU COME BACK TO ME, VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL VOTED NO. DIANE ALVAREZ. YOU'RE THE LAST ONE, DIANE. YES.

PRESIDENT PAGE. YES, THIS MOTION PASSES FIVE THREE, THREE. THAT'S RIGHT. SO WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO, I GUESS, TO SLIDE 25. PRESIDENT PAGE. I HAD ONE QUESTION OR CLARIFICATION ON THE 600,000 FOR THE BUYBACK. WHEN I WAS IN SMALL GROUP I. OR MY UNDERSTANDING OF THAT AMOUNT WAS THAT WAS TO ACTUALLY BUY OUT THE CONTRACT SO THAT WE OWNED THE DEVICES. I THINK TONIGHT WHAT I HEARD, UNLESS I MISHEARD, WOULD DEBORAH JUDD HAD PRESENTED WAS THAT THESE ARE. THIS IS ALSO TO COVER DEVICES THAT ARE NOT TURNED BACK IN. AND I WOULD LIKE SOME CLARIFICATION ON HOW MUCH OF THIS IS TO COVER DEVICES THAT ARE NOT TURNED BACK IN BY OUR STUDENTS. SO TO CLARIFY, THE $600,000 WAS THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT PER YEAR FOR THE NEW DEVICE LEASE FOR DEVICES IN GRADES 2 TO 8. THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU SEE, THE 224 000 APPROXIMATELY CAN BE USED FOR THE BUYOUT OF K ONE DEVICES THAT COULD BE USED FOR FUTURE BUYOUTS OF OTHER DEVICES. IF WE DECIDE WE NEED TO KEEP SOMETHING FROM THAT, AND ALSO THE RETURN OF DEVICES OR THE PAYMENT OF DEVICES THAT ARE NOT RETURNED, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS UNLESS UNTIL WE TAKE THE COUNT OF WHAT THOSE ARE. AND THAT'S WHAT OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT WILL BE WORKING ON THIS SUMMER. SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE FUNDS IN THERE, I BELIEVE. THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, IT WAS CLOSE TO 100 ZERO ZERO $0. I, I BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW, MISS BENDIS, IF YOU KNOW THAT AMOUNT THAT IS CLOSE TO WHERE WE WERE LAST. YES. IT'S ALSO DEVICES THAT A STUDENT TURNS IN. IT IS NOT DELL WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE IT'S IN SUCH BAD CONDITION. SO THEY WILL BE GOING THROUGH ALL OF THE DEVICES THIS SUMMER. THEY WILL BE INSPECTING THEM. THEY WILL BE WORKING WITH DELL TO CORRECT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE REPAIRED SO THAT THEY CAN BE RETURNED. BUT THERE ARE GOING TO BE DEVICES THAT THEY SIMPLY WILL NOT ACCEPT BACK DEPENDING UPON THE CONDITION. SO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT AMOUNT IN THE BUDGET. IF WE DON'T NEED IT, THEN IT WON'T BE USED AND IT WILL BE USED TO OFFSET OTHER AREAS OF THE BUDGET THAT MOST LIKELY WILL BE OVER, SPECIFICALLY IN FACILITIES, I IMAGINE, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGETS AS NECESSARY.

OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE WAS ALSO INCLUDING ISSUES THAT WE'RE HAVING WITH STUDENTS NOT TURNING THEIR DEVICES BACK IN OR TURNING THEM INTO IN, IN A CONDITION THAT WAS NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH OUR CONTRACT.

THANK YOU. SO WITH NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AS WE MOVE TO SLIDE 25, DO YOU NEED ME TO CHANGE

[02:10:06]

WE WOULD INCREASE THE USE OF FUND BALANCE AND REMOVE THAT SOURCE OF REVENUE. WHAT? I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE FY 27 UNRESTRICTED FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF 782 67177. I SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES, YES, YES, YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? THIS MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. BOARD, THAT

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.