[Call to Order: Board President]
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SHE'S LOGGED ON SOME OF HER PRESENT. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL, PRESIDENT PAGE HERE.
SUPERINTENDENT MACK. THAT'S IT. THIS COMPLETES THE ROLL CALL. YES. FOLLOWING PROCESS WILL BE USED THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL MUTE THEIR DEVICE UNTIL CALLED UPON.
BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE HOLD ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF EACH PRESENTATION.
FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION, PRESIDENT REFERRED FOR COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD RESTATE THEIR NAME BEFORE SPEAKING. DOCTOR MACK WILL RESPOND TO QUESTIONS OR CALL ON APPROPRIATE STAFF MEMBERS TO DO SO. 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. SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.
YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? THIS MOTION PASSES THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. ALL RIGHT, MISTER JEREMY GREEN, IF YOU
[Public Comment]
WILL PLAY THE RULES OF ORDER VIDEO FOR US, SIR. GOOD EVENING. I'M DJ RAVITCH FROM THE OFFICE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY WITH HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND FOR YOUR INTEREST IN TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION, BUSINESS MEETING AND WORK SESSION TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE MEETING REMAINS FOCUSED, RESPECTFUL AND PRODUCTIVE, I WOULD LIKE TO BRIEFLY REVIEW THE EXPECTATIONS THAT GUIDE OUR TIME TOGETHER THIS EVENING AND TO FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. WE ASK THAT ALL ATTENDEES CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A RESPECTFUL AND CONSIDERATE MANNER TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESS PURPOSE OF THE MEETING. BEHAVIORS SUCH AS APPLAUSE, AUDIBLE COMMENTARY, EXCESSIVE GESTURES, STANDING OVATIONS OR OTHER ACTIONS THAT MAY DISRUPT THE PROCEEDINGS ARE DISCOURAGED. ADDITIONALLY, ANY LANGUAGE OR BEHAVIOR THAT COULD BE PERCEIVED AS THREATENING IS NOT 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 BOARDROOM IMMEDIATELY AND IN AN ORDERLY MANNER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND YOUR ROLE IN HELPING US MAINTAIN A RESPECTABLE ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. OKAY. IN-PERSON SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND THREE MINUTES FIVE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS. SORRY, SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT. WHEN SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR TIME LIMIT, THEIR TIME WILL EXPIRE. MISS ROLLO, IF YOU WILL BEGIN OUR REGISTERED IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS. YES. THIS EVENING WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS. WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. GARY JOHNSON. MR. JOHNSON, PLEASE STATE THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP AND YOU WILL RECEIVE FIVE MINUTES. GOOD EVENING. I SPEAK THIS EVENING FOR MOMS FOR LIBERTY, HARFORD COUNTY BRANCH. I RISE TO SPEAK TO A LIE. THE LIE IS THAT THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE IS A LAW, AND THAT THIS LAW MAKES IT UNLAWFUL FOR OUR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE ANY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS DURING SCHOOL HOURS. THIS LIE HAS BEEN USED TO BLOCK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUPPLEMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM THROUGH LIFE WISE ACADEMY HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. IN DOING SO, HE HAS ACTUALLY BREAKING THE LAW. IN 1801, THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT ESTABLISHED A CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH AS THEIR OFFICIAL CHURCH. THIS DECISION CONCERNED THE DANBURY BAPTISTS, AS THEY STILL REMEMBERED HOW AMERICAN BAPTIST HAD BEEN ABUSED BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND UNDER KING GEORGE THE THIRD, AS. AND SO THEY WROTE TO THEIR PRESIDENT, THOMAS JEFFERSON, TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS. JEFFERSON'S RESPONSE READ THUSLY I CONTEMPLATE WITH SOLEMN REVERENCE THAT ACT OF THE WHOLE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT THEIR LEGISLATURE SHOULD MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AN ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION, OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF, THUS BUILDING A WALL OF SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE. THE STATE THAT JEFFERSON WAS REFERRING TO WAS NOT THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT, BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT WAS WHAT HE MEANT BY REFERRING TO THAT ACT OF THE WHOLE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HE WAS REMINDING THEM THAT THEIR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD NO RIGHT NOR THE POWER TO INTERFERE WITH THE CHURCH AND[00:05:01]
WITH ITS TEACHINGS. OURS WAS A NATION THAT HAD BEEN BORN OUT OF THE GREAT AWAKENING. PRIOR TO THAT, THE COLONIES HAD BEEN DIVIDED. WHAT FINALLY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER WAS THE BIBLE, AS IT HAD BEEN PREACHED TO THEM BY MINISTERS SUCH AS GEORGE WHITFIELD AND THOSE WHOM KING GEORGE HAD REFERRED TO AS THE BLACK ROBE REGIMENT. THOSE PATRIOTS PREACHED THAT LIBERTY WAS NOT THE GIFT OF GOVERNMENT, BUT OF GOD. OUR FREEDOM OF RELIGION WAS LEGALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1791 BY THE PASSAGE OF OUR FIRST AMENDMENT. ONE KEY AREA OF DEBATE UNDER ITS ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE WAS OVER GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. IN THIS AREA, SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN DIVIDED, HAVE BEEN DIVIDED BETWEEN TWO OPPOSING INTERPRETATIONS. ONE SET ARGUES THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE NEUTRAL BETWEEN RELIGIOUS AND NON-RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE EDUCATION OR OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES. THE OTHER SET ARGUES THAT NO TAXPAYER FUNDS SHOULD BE GIVEN TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. IF THOSE FUNDS MIGHT BE USED TO COMMUNICATE RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE. THE SUPREME COURT ITSELF HAS MOVED BETWEEN THESE TWO POSITIONS OVER TIME. IN HOLY TRINITY CHURCH VERSUS THE UNITED STATES. IN 1892, THE HIGH COURT USED THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY FROM ITS DISCOVERY BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS TO OUR FOUNDING AS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND BEYOND THAT, QUOTING FROM VARIOUS STATE CONSTITUTIONS AND LEGAL OPINIONS TO ESTABLISH THAT WE ARE A CHRISTIAN PEOPLE AND THAT OUR GOVERNMENT HAS NO POWER TO INTRUDE ON RELIGION, EITHER OUR BELIEFS OR HOW WE TEACH THEM TO OUR CHILDREN. BUT LATER, MORE LIBERAL JUSTICES SHIFTED TO A SECOND OPINION, CLAIMING THAT OURS WAS A SECULAR NATION AND THAT THE CHURCH WAS NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN EITHER OUR GOVERNMENT OR OUR SCHOOLS. SUCH THINKING LED TO THE REMOVAL OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND PRAYER FROM OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS FROM THE PUBLIC SQUARE. THESE JUSTICES USED JEFFERSON'S SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE TO SUPPORT THESE REMOVALS, BELIEVING THAT THIS WAS JEFFERSON'S INTENT IS AN ABSURD CONCLUSION. THIS WAS THE SAME JEFFERSON WHO WROTE THE VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN 1777. IT STATED THAT GOVERNMENT CAN REGULATE OVERT ACTS AGAINST PEACE AND GOOD ORDER, BUT THAT IT LACKS ALL POWER TO INTRUDE INTO THE FIELD OF OPINION. WHAT JEFFERSON AND OTHERS REFERRED TO AS ONE'S FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE. JEFFERSON CONSIDERED FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. VIRGINIA STATUTE LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE FIRST AMENDMENT'S PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY, AND BOTH THE STATUTE AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT SQUARE. WITH JEFFERSON'S RESPONSE TO THE DANBURY BAPTISTS. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE THOUGHTS JEFFERSON EXPRESSED IN HIS LETTER DO NOT SUPERSEDE THE CONSTITUTION. IT CONTAINS NO SUCH PHRASE, AND NEITHER DO ANY LAWS PASSED UNDER ITS AUTHORITY. THIS SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE LIE HAS BEEN USED TO DENY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, IN 1952, THE SUPREME COURT RULED IN ZORACH V CLAUSON THAT STUDENTS MAY BE RELEASED FROM SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS. FOR SUCH EDUCATION, THE ONLY REQUIREMENT WAS THAT THIS HAD TO BE DONE OFF SCHOOL PROPERTY, BE PRIVATELY FUNDED AND BE VOLUNTARY WITH PARENTAL PERMISSION. PARENTS WHO GIVE SUCH PERMISSION WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO LEARN OF GOD AND OF THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY THAT HE HAS GIVEN US. OUR SCHOOLS ARE ILL EQUIPPED AND SEEN TO BE UNWILLING TO DO THIS. LIKEWISE, ACADEMY IS BOTH READY AND WILLING. THIS BOARD HAS NO RIGHT TO STAND IN ITS WAY. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID BAUER, FOLLOWED BY JACKIE JOHNSON AND MELISSA FRESCURA SANTIAGO. GOOD EVENING, I'M DAVID BAUER. MY COMMENT THIS EVENING IS A BIT DIFFICULT, SO PLEASE BEAR WITH ME. PERFORMING ENHANCING DRUGS WORK. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A PERSON USES ANABOLIC STEROIDS CORRECTLY, THEY'LL GENERALLY GET A LOT STRONGER. WE DON'T BAN THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK. WE BAN THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS.SIMILAR STORY FOR STIMULANTS. ENTROPY RELIEF THE US SETS A LEGAL QUOTA FOR SETS A QUOTA FOR LEGAL FENTANYL IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS TO BILLIONS OF DOSES A YEAR. BUT AN ESTIMATED 300,000 AMERICANS HAVE DIED FROM FENTANYL OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. SIDE EFFECTS MAY INCLUDE DEATH. THERE IS A NEW PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG OF CONCERN, AND IT'S ALREADY INVADING OUR SCHOOLS. IT'S CALLED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A DRUG. BUT THE METAPHOR OF A DRUG IS A GREAT WAY TO VIEW IT. USING AI HAS
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POWERFUL EFFECTS ON WHAT HUMANS CAN DO, BUT WITH SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS. MANY INDUSTRIES ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT THE D, THE D SKILLING PROBLEM, PROFESSIONAL WORKERS LOSING THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS BECAUSE THEY'RE RELYING ON AI TO DO THOSE TASKS. WHEN TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED, PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR SKILL TO AI USE. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF RISK TO CHILDREN WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING NEW THINGS AND PRACTICING THEM FOR LONG TERM RETENTION? BACK IN DECEMBER, I COMPARED PUTTING AI IN THE CLASSROOMS TO PUTTING A SIX FOOT TALL BANDSAW IN EVERY CLASSROOM. POWERFUL BUT DANGEROUS. I SAID. I DON'T THINK CALCULATORS HAVE EVER TAUGHT A CHILD INTO COMMITTING MURDER OR SUICIDE. THERE'S A WHOLE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE TITLED DEATHS LINKED TO CHATBOTS. THE AI VISION SAYS THAT AI, QUOTE, ENHANCES CRITICAL THINKING, DEEPENS INQUIRY AND FOSTERS CREATIVITY, END QUOTE. I STRONGLY DISAGREE. AI CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL FOR GETTING THINGS DONE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE STUDENTS DO ACTIVITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING THEM DONE. THE PURPOSE IS LEARNING.PRACTICING FOR LONG TERM RETENTION. THE LIMITED EVIDENCE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW SAYS THAT USING AI HAMPERS LEARNING. PLEASE REVISE YOUR HIV, YOUR AI VISION. THANK YOU ALL. AFTER READING THE AMENDED SCHOOL CALENDAR POLICY, MANY QUESTIONS CAME ABOUT WHAT DID. WHY DOES IT NEED TO BE AMENDED? SEEMS IT'S BEEN WORKING WELL SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN 2002.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE AND GOAL OF DIRECTING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DEVELOP A CALENDAR AND REMOVING THAT RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE BOARD? THE SUPERINTENDENT ALREADY HAS A FULL PLATE OVERSEEING THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS OF CPS. THE AMENDED POLICY ALSO EXCLUDES THE PROCESS OF APPOINTING A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER A RECOMMENDED CALENDAR AND MAKE ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS. IN ADDITION, THE AMENDED POLICY DECREASES THE COMMUNITY INPUT TIME FROM 60 TO 30 DAYS PRIOR TO A DECISION BY THE BOARD. WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION, DO YOU REALLY READ THE EMAILS FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND DO YOU CONSIDER AND RESPECT THE COMMUNITY INPUT? THIS AMENDED POLICY GIVES THE APPEARANCE THAT YOU ARE GRADUALLY TURNING THE SCHOOL CALENDAR TO DECISION OVER TO THE SUPERINTENDENT, ONE PERSON, AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATING INPUT FROM THE BOE MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY. WHO DOES THIS BENEFIT THE STUDENTS OR THE TEACHERS UNION? IF THIS POLICY GETS CHANGED AS AMENDED, THEN WHICH POLICY IS NEXT? SLOWLY, THE BOARD OF ED MEMBERS WHO THE COMMUNITY ELECTED WILL HAVE LESS SAY OVER ANY POLICY AND MORE RESPONSIBILITIES REMOVED. I ASKED THE SITTING BOARD MEMBERS AND THOSE RUNNING IN THIS ELECTION, IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN YOUR DISTRICT? ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE TRUTH IN AMERICAN EDUCATION DATED JULY 5TH, 2026, IT STATES THE SCHOOL BOARD IS A GOVERNING BODY ELECTED BY THE COMMUNITY TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE PARENTS, THE TAXPAYERS AND THE STUDENTS, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT IS HIRED BY THE BOARD OF ED. THE SCHOOL BOARD PROVIDES OVERSIGHT, SETS THE VISION, AND HOLDS THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR MEETING THE DISTRICT GOALS. THE SUPERINTENDENT IS THE CEO WHO IS HIRED AND FIRED BY THE BOARD. ON ANOTHER NOTE, THE FORMER BOARD OF ED PRESIDENT DOCTOR POINTON PROMISED THAT CURSIVE WRITING WOULD BE RETURNING TO THE CURRICULUM. WILL THIS START IN THE 2627 SCHOOL YEAR? MISS PAGE, YOU WERE SELECTED TO PICK UP THE TORCH AND YOU NOW HOLD THE OFFICE HC BOARD OF ED. PRESIDENT, ARE YOU FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THIS GOAL? AND IN WHICH LEVEL WILL THIS BEGIN? IF THIS IS NOT GOING TO COME TO FRUITION, CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO US WHY NOT? PRESIDENT PAGE, OUR FOURTH SPEAKER IS ACTUALLY MISS CHRISTINA. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. MATTHEW 1030 233. EVERYONE WHO ACKNOWLEDGES ME BEFORE OTHERS, I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY HEAVENLY FATHER. BUT WHOEVER DENIES ME BEFORE OTHERS, I WILL DENY BEFORE MY HEAVENLY FATHER. GALATIANS 4:16 A.M. I THEREFORE
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BECOME YOUR ENEMY BECAUSE I TELL YOU THE TRUTH. GALATIANS SIX SEVEN DO NOT BE DECEIVED.GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED. ACCORDING TO OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND THE US CONSTITUTION. WE HAVE FREEDOM OF RELIGION, NOT FREEDOM FROM RELIGION. REMEMBER THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HATE OR FEAR SOMEONE JUST BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH THEIR LIFESTYLE. REMEMBER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING SOMEONE SAYS OR DOES IN ORDER TO LOVE THAT PERSON. WE MUST BE COMPASSIONATE BUT MUST NOT COMPROMISE OUR CONVICTIONS. JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED NOT FOR BEING UNLOVING, BUT FOR TELLING THE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO HEAR. WE NEED TO STOP THE DELIBERATE INDOCTRINATION OF OUR CHILDREN WITH RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY THAT DIRECTLY CONTRADICTS THE VALUES THAT SHOULD BE SHAPING OUR CHILDREN'S GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WE NEED TO STOP LYING TO OUR CHILDREN, AND WE NEED TO CEASE THE COERCION OF BOTH CHILDREN AND STAFF TO COOPERATE WITH THESE LIES. SPECIFICALLY, IN FORCING THE USE OF PRONOUNS, WE NEED TO DISCONTINUE THE GROOMING AND SEXUALIZATION OF OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE SO-CALLED SEX EDUCATION, WHICH DOES NOT STOP AT TEACHING BIOLOGY, BUT ACTUALLY COACHES THE CHILDREN ON THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SEX THEY CAN ENGAGE IN. ALSO, IF YOU HAVE TO HIDE CURRICULUM FROM THE PARENTS OF YOUR STUDENTS, YOU DON'T BELONG IN CHARGE OF ANYONE'S KIDS. ACCORDING TO THEODORE DALRYMPLE, ENGLISH PSYCHIATRIST, QUOTE, POLITICAL CORRECTNESS IS COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA WRIT SMALL. IN MY STUDY OF COMMUNIST SOCIETIES, I CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PURPOSE OF COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA WAS NOT TO PERSUADE OR CONVINCE, NOT TO INFORM, BUT TO HUMILIATE, HUMILIATE, AND THEREFORE, THE LESS IT CORRESPONDED TO REALITY, THE BETTER. WHEN PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO REMAIN SILENT, WHEN THEY ARE BEING TOLD THE MOST OBVIOUS LIES, OR EVEN WORSE, WHEN THEY ARE FORCED TO REPEAT THESE LIES THEMSELVES, THEY LOSE ONCE AND FOR ALL THEIR SENSE OF PROBITY, INTEGRITY AND HONESTY. TO ASSENT TO OBVIOUS LIES IS IN SOME SMALL WAY TO BECOME EVIL ITSELF. ONE STANDING TO RESIST ANYTHING IS THUS ERODED AND EVEN DESTROYED. A SOCIETY OF EMASCULATED LIARS IS EASY TO CONTROL. I THINK IF YOU EXAMINE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS, IT HAS THE SAME EFFECT AND IS THAT IT IS INTENDED TO UNQUOTE CONDENSE MESSAGE FROM A GOD FEARING PARENTAL ADVOCATE. AT CPAC. WE WILL NOT SACRIFICE OUR CHILDREN TO YOUR FALSE GODS OF SEXUAL GROOMING AND PERVERSION. WE WILL NOT CO-PARENT WITH YOU. WE WILL NOT MUTILATE OR STERILIZE OUR CHILDREN. WE WILL NOT SELL OUR SOULS OR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN TO YOU. WE WILL OWN OUR CARS, OUR HOMES, OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, OUR GRANDCHILDREN, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN AND WE WILL DIE HAPPY REGARDLESS OF IF THE REST OF OUR LIVES ARE SPENT THWARTING YOUR EVIL PLANS. WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF A LOVING AND POWERFUL FATHER, AND WE ARE WILLING TO MEET HIM BEFORE EVER CAVING TO YOUR EVIL AGENDA. MAY GOD GRANT YOU WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN ALL YOUR DECISION MAKING. PRESIDENT PAIGE, WE DO HAVE ONE VIRTUAL SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING. YOU ARE NOW IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE STATE YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME. YOUR TIME WILL CONCLUDE IN THREE MINUTES.
YOU WILL HEAR A BELL RING WHEN YOU HAVE 30S REMAINING. PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NOW. PHONE NUMBER ENDING IN. SORRY. GO AHEAD. SORRY. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT. MY NAME IS MELISSA SANTIAGO AND I'M A HARFORD COUNTY RESIDENT. THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M HERE TO ASK CPS TO CREATE A CLEAR IMMIGRATION RESOURCE PAGE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, AND TO MAKE SURE STAFF ARE TRAINED ON HOW TO HANDLE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT REQUESTS AT OUR SCHOOL. EVERY CHILD IN MARYLAND HAS THE RIGHT TO A FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION, NO MATTER THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS OR THEIR PARENTS STATUS. THAT RIGHT COMES FROM THE SUPREME COURT'S 1982 RULING IN PLYLER VERSUS DOE. MANY FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL FEEL UNSURE AND AFRAID RIGHT NOW, AND THAT INCLUDES MILITARY FAMILIES. A SIMPLE, WELCOMING RESOURCE PAGE CAN HELP THEM FEEL SAFE AND INFORMED. BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALREADY HAS A PAGE LIKE THIS. I'M ASKING YOU TO CREATE SOMETHING SIMILAR WITH A CLEAR STATEMENT OF RESOURCES KNOW YOUR RIGHTS INFORMATION. A PUBLIC EXPLANATION OF HOW HTTPS HANDLES LAW ENFORCEMENT ENFORCEMENT REQUESTS TO ENTER A BUILDING, AND TRANSLATIONS INTO THE LANGUAGES OUR FAMILIES SPEAK, NOT JUST ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THIS SHOULD LIFT ON ONE EASY TO FIND PAGE NOT BURIED IN A POLICY ARCHIVE. SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON STANDBY GUARDIANSHIPS, WHICH MSD HAS AVAILABLE ON THEIR WEBSITE. THIS ALLOWS A PARENT TO NAME A TEMPORARY CAREGIVER FOR THEIR CHILD IF THEY'RE DETAINED OR UNABLE TO CARE FOR THEM. ALONGSIDE THE WEBSITE, I'M ASKING THAT CPS TRAINED STAFF ON WHAT LOCAL PROTOCOLS SHOULD INCLUDE WHEN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT REQUESTS ACCESS TO A BUILDING, WHO IS AUTHORIZED TO SPEAK WITH THE OFFICERS, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JUDICIAL WARRANT AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE REQUEST. HOW TO PROTECT STUDENTS RECORDS UNDER THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT, AND HOW TO CALMLY
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SUPPORT STUDENTS IF ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY HAPPENS NEARBY. FINALLY, AS HE BEGINS PLANNING PROMPTS FOR THE 2026 2027 SCHOOL YEAR, I'D ASK TO RECONSIDER USING APD AS A VENUE BECAUSE BECAUSE OF THE MILITARY INSTALLATION, SOME STUDENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS MAY NOT FEEL SAFE ENTERING THE BASE, WHICH COULD LEAVE STUDENTS OUT OF ONE OF THE MOST MEMORABLE NIGHTS OF HIGH SCHOOL. THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, I'D ASK THAT APS CHOOSE A VENUE EVERY STUDENT CAN ACCESS. FAMILIES ACROSS HARFORD COUNTY DESERVE THE SAME CLARITY AND SUPPORT THAT NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS ALREADY PROVIDE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IS IT JUST THAT ONE?[Board Member Comments]
CORRECT? YES, JUST THAT ONE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR COMMENTS, AND I'LL START WITH YOU. WELL HELLO, EVERYONE.THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS CRAZY HOW FAST SUMMER HAS FLOWN BY. I HOPE EVERYONE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO RELAX, HAVE FUN AND PREPARE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT IS JUST RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. I LOOK FORWARD TO ATTENDING THE BACK TO SCHOOL BASH AND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES. I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE COLLABORATED ON THE HANDBOOK AMENDMENTS. I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIVELY DISCUSSION SOON. THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THAT, BUT THE DOCUMENT IS HAS BEEN IN NEED OF REVIEW FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AGAIN AS WE CLOSE OUT ANOTHER SUMMER. I JUST WANT TO SEND MY BEST WISHES TO OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, AND TO THE STUDENTS ATTENDING A NEW BUILDING AT THE END OF THE MONTH. I KNOW IT CAN BE SCARY, AND I'VE GIVEN THE SAME ADVICE TO MY SISTER WHO'S ENTERING NINTH GRADE THIS YEAR. YOU'LL MAKE YOUR MARK WHEREVER YOU GO.
I WILL SUPPORT YOU THROUGH ALL YOUR WORRIES, CONCERNS AND FEARS. AND YOU WILL NOT JUST ADJUST IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT, BUT YOU WILL THRIVE. GOOD LUCK AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR. WELL, AGAIN, MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR STARTING. ALSO, I HAVE BEEN IN THE BUILDINGS AND I HAVE SEEN WHAT'S GOING ON AND I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT OUR CUSTODIANS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OVERLOAD, TRYING TO HELP GET EVERYTHING READY FOR THE NEW YEAR. I MEAN, THEY DON'T JUST DO THE THINGS THAT YOU THINK ABOUT, LIKE CLEANING OVER THE SUMMER AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY GO IN THE CLASSROOMS, HELP TEACHERS MOVE FURNITURE, HELP THEM CLEAN THINGS UP AS THEY NEED A CARPET VACUUMED AS THEY MOVE STUFF AROUND. I JUST, THEY'RE KIND OF THE UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I WANTED TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT AND ALSO TO WELCOME ALL THE NEW FAMILIES TO THE DISTRICT. AND AGAIN, TO JUST WISH THE BEST FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS VIVA, AND AT OUR LAST MEETING, I WAS SWORN IN AS THE NEW STUDENT MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M SO EXCITED TO HEAD BACK INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AT THE LOVELY BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL ON AUGUST 31ST. AS A SENIOR. OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I'VE BEEN WORKING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AHEAD AND TO BECOME THE BEST SMOB THAT I CAN BE. RECENTLY, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET OUR STATE'S MOB AT THE MARYLAND STUDENT COUNCIL SUMMER CONFERENCE CALLED ADVANCED, AND THERE I ALSO MET SNOBS FROM AROUND THE STATE, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING STUDENTS ACROSS OUR STATE. AND I'M ALSO EXCITED BECAUSE HEADING BACK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, I WANT TO WORK WITH STUDENTS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH OUR STAFF AT CENTRAL OFFICE TO FILM OUR AUGUST BACK TO SCHOOL SMOB MONTHLY MINUTE, WHICH IS TOMORROW, AND OUR STUDENT MEMBER ADVISORY COUNCIL VIDEO. SO I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THOSE VIDEOS WITH EVERYONE AND TO KEEP STUDENTS INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A REALLY GOOD UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. I KNOW I'M DOING THE MOST TO PREPARE RIGHT NOW FOR MY SENIOR YEAR, SO I JUST WANT TO WISH THE BEST FOR EVERYONE HEADING BACK INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANKS. THANK YOU BRUCE. WELCOME, EVERYONE. AND I'M I'M HOPING THAT YOU HAD A SAFE SUMMER AND LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL. AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO ATTEND THE BASH AT RIPKEN STADIUM FOR THE WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, AND WE'LL MEET THE STAFF AND SOME OF THE. THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO HAVE NOT MET THE SUPERINTENDENT. SO WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR COMING. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THE HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, THE STUFF A BUS IS ACTUALLY GOING ON FROM JULY 21ST THROUGH SEPTEMBER 12TH. YOU CAN GO ON TO THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION. IT'S HARFORD EDUCATION.ORG AND FIND OUT THE LOCATIONS TO DROP OFF SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SO MAKE SURE YOU DONATE IF YOU CAN. AND ALSO, I JUST WANTED TO TELL EVERYONE, I
[00:25:01]
HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL REST OF THE SUMMER, ENJOY WHAT'S LEFT AND HAVE A GREAT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WHEN YOU GET BACK. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU TO ALL FOR ATTENDING IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY TONIGHT. AND WITH THE REMAINING TWO WEEKS, I HOPE THAT STAFF AND FAMILIES ARE ENJOYING THE REMAINING FEW DAYS OF SUMMER AND THAT IT CONTINUES TO BE A SAFE ONE FOR YOU. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE, IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THAT SCHOOL DRIVE, SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY EVENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT IF FAMILIES FEELING THE CRUNCH OF THE BUDGET, PLEASE ATTEND ONE OF THOSE EVENTS. THEY'RE. THEY'RE ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. AND SO THAT COULD HELP OUT WITH FULFILLING SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT'S NEEDED. OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANTED TO SHARE WAS THAT RECENTLY, MRS. BRUSH AND I ATTENDED THE FREEDOM FEDERAL GOLDEN APPLE CEREMONY, WHERE EIGHT OF THE TEN TEACHER RECIPIENTS WERE FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEY RECEIVED GRANTS FOR SOME OF THE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE STUDENT LEARNING PROJECTS THAT THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTING THIS FALL. AND THAT SAYS IT'S A TESTAMENT TO OUR STAFF FOR THE CREATIVITY AND THE EFFORTS THEY PUT IN TO, YOU KNOW, SUBMISSION OF THE GRANT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, BEING SELECTED. AND IT WAS A WIDE FIELD OF ENTRIES AND SO MANY GREAT ONES THAT THAT WAS FEATURED. SO EIGHT OF THE TEN WERE FROM HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO KUDOS. SO I FIRST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DOCTOR RIDGEWAY FOR EARNING HER DOCTORATE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION STAFF. AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO WISH EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS, STAFF, FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATION THAT YOU'VE FIRST OF ALL, HAD A FANTASTIC SUMMER SO FAR. WE SQUEEZE IN A FEW MORE WEEKS BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY HAVE A NICE, SAFE AND STRONG START TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WELL GOOD EVENING. THANK[Dr. Dyann Mack, Superintendent's Report]
YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. I HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING THEIR LAST FEW WEEKS OF SUMMER.WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. I DO HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS THAT I WANT TO START THAT I KIND OF DEVELOPED AS I WAS LISTENING TO PUBLIC COMMENT. AS WE START THIS NEW SCHOOL YEAR, I'M ASKING THAT THE COMMUNITY SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND. SO OUR LEADERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY INTENTIONAL ON LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS THAT COME FORWARD THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT AND OTHER VEHICLES. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON JUST SOME DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THAT WERE BROUGHT UP TONIGHT. HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH LIFEWISE, THE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIR. AND WHILE I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT COMMUNICATION, THERE HAVE BEEN PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS AND THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OUR NEXT STEPS. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS THAT ARE CONCERNED TO REACH DIRECTLY OUT TO LIFEWISE TO GET AN ACCURATE UPDATE OF THEIR STATUS. AND THEN AS FOR CURSIVE, CURSIVE WILL OCCUR IN GRADES TWO AND THREE THIS SCHOOL YEAR. WHILE PUBLIC COMMENT IS A VEHICLE TO EXPRESS PUBLIC CONCERN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY RECEIVE THEIR GREATEST UNDERSTANDING WHEN THEY REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE TO DISCUSS CONCERNS. IT IS MY HOPE THAT IN TIME, OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY WILL SEE THE OUR EFFORTS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CONCERNS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORTH. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL IS GOING TO START IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND THERE'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY GOING ACROSS CPS, AND I'M SUPER PROUD OF THE WORK THAT ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS HAVE ENGAGED IN. WHILE OUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE SUMMER, THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN PLACE TO PREPARE FOR THEIR RETURN. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT IS OCCURRING THROUGH OUR HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND OUR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP. THIS YEAR, THEY USE TABLETOP DISCUSSIONS TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, AND THIS WAS COORDINATED BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR ADMINISTRATION. AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT CREATES A BUILD, A SHARED UNDERSTANDING OF DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, AND BUILDS UP THAT COMMUNICATION THAT OCCURS BETWEEN AGENCIES AND WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND REALLY GETS US READY AS WE FOCUS ON SAFETY AND SECURITY. SO I WANT TO THANK HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND THOSE MUNICIPALITIES FOR THEIR SUPPORT. OUR ED SERVICES TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING SIDE BY SIDE
[00:30:03]
WITH OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AND DIGGING INTO THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE DATA, AND REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES LIE AND WHERE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES LIE FOR DEVELOPING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS IN OUR AT OUR ELEMENTARY LEVEL, OUR LEADERS ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON A WIND BLOCK AND WHEN MEANS WHAT I NEED. AND SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A BLOCK THAT IS GOING TO BE SCHEDULED INTO THE SCHOOL DAY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. AND IT CREATES INTENTIONAL TIME FOR OUR TEACHERS TO WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS TO WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS ON VERY TARGETED SKILLS AND SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT SYSTEMIC CHANGE THAT IS OCCURRING IN THE OFFICE OF ED SERVICES AND IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE WELCOMING BACK OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. THEY BEGAN TRYOUTS AND PRACTICES LAST WEDNESDAY, I BELIEVE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR OUR FALL SPORTS. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO STAY ENGAGED AND TO GET READY FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE. THE BUDGET CYCLE IS A YEAR ROUND PROCESS.WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN DISCUSSIONS, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT ARE AHEAD OF US. NEW THIS YEAR, HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS INVITED OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO COME OVER TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUILDING WITH HIS TEAM TO BEGIN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. THE FIRST CONVERSATION WILL FOCUS ON WHAT WE ALL VALUE FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HIS TEAM WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY VALUE AND WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR THE YOUNGEST CITIZENS OF HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
YES, THEIR STUDENTS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO CITIZENS. AND SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. THE FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER WITH OUR BOARD OF ED WILL BE A WORK SESSION, AND THE BUDGET WILL BE ON THE AGENDA, AND THAT WILL GIVE OUR BOARD OF ED MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO SHARE THEIR VALUES AND THEIR PRIORITIES. ADDITIONALLY, WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL STAKEHOLDER STAKEHOLDER FOCUS GROUPS THAT WILL BE IN PLACE SO THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET INPUT FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND THEN WE'LL ALSO HAVE PUBLIC LISTENING SESSIONS.
AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THESE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR, IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CALIBRATE OUR EXPECTATIONS AND CALIBRATE THE THINGS THAT WE VALUE ABOUT HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE A BUDGET THAT WILL SUPPORT TEACHING AND LEARNING. YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THAT WHAT HAPPENS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING HAPPENS IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS BUDGET IS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING. TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A PROPOSAL ABOUT CHANGING THE SCHOOL CALENDAR, AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SHARE THAT THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT, NO MATTER WHAT CHANGES MAY OCCUR IN THE PROCESS. I LOOK FORWARD TO OPEN DIALOG, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CALENDAR. ON SEPTEMBER THE 8TH AT 6:00, I'M GOING TO HOST A CALENDAR LISTENING SESSION. THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. AND SO I INVITE FAMILIES, I INVITE EMPLOYEES, I INVITE STUDENTS, I INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR THE CALENDAR. THAT IS GOING TO BE EVERYONE'S OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH OUR TEAM, WITH OUR BOARD, WHAT YOU VALUE ABOUT THE CALENDAR AND WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE TAKE PLACE.
ADDITIONALLY, IN SEPTEMBER, THERE IS GOING TO BE A WORK SESSION, AND AGAIN, THE CALENDAR WILL BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THAT PARTICULAR WORK SESSION. AND THAT WILL BE ANOTHER TIME THAT THE BOARD OF ED WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR PRIORITIES. AND AGAIN, THERE WILL BE OTHER STAKEHOLDER GROUPS INVOLVED IN ORDER TO GET A FINAL CALENDAR IN PLACE. AS WE THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOL BUSSES THAT ARE ABOUT TO PULL UP TO OUR SCHOOLS, I WANT TO REMIND OUR FAMILIES TO PLEASE CHECK HTTPS ORG, CHECK OUT OUR BACK TO SCHOOL CHECKLIST. YOU WILL SEE EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD IS READY FOR SCHOOL AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THAT PROCESS. TO OUR EMPLOYEES, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR OUR STUDENTS TO COME BACK IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. TO OUR FAMILIES, THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR INPUT. WE ARE LISTENING AND TO OUR STUDENTS, WE'RE READY FOR YOU. LET'S GO. HAVE A GREAT YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT,
[A. Consent Agenda]
OLD BUSINESS. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OLD BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS EVENING. SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM A. AND MR. SEWELL, IF YOU WILL READ OUR 14 CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR JULY.INCLUDE MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE SERVICES INSPECTIONS, CONTRACT AWARD, ROAD WATER AND SEWER
[00:35:02]
CONNECTION. CONTRACT AWARDS. READING AND MATH. LICENSE RENEWALS. NUMBER FIVE IS CONTRACT AWARD. INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS. NUMBER SIX IS CONTRACT AWARD USAGE FOR VIRTUAL HOSTING ENVIRONMENT FOR SECURITY SERVERS. NUMBER SEVEN IS CONTRACT AWARD TRADES LABOR AND MATERIALS. NUMBER EIGHT IS CONTRACT AWARD. PRIVATE DUTY NURSE NUMBER NINE IS CONTRACT AWARD. SUNFLOWER SEEDS AND BREAD PRODUCTS. NUMBER TEN IS CONTRACT USE PROCUREMENT CARD P CARD SERVICES. EXTENSION NUMBER 11 IS CONTRACT AWARD. TRAVEL FOR FESTIVALS OF MUSIC TO MUSIC IN THE PARKS. IS THAT RIGHT? NO, NO I'M SORRY. NUMBER 11 CONTRACT AWARD. TRAVEL FOR FESTIVALS OF MUSIC. MUSIC IN THE PARKS. NUMBER 12 IS SCHOOL ORGANIZATION SPONSORED PROJECT. DUBLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, HARFORD COUNTY DPW FOREST PLANTING. NUMBER 13 IS TRANSFERS BETWEEN STATE CATEGORIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET. AND NUMBER 14 IS MINUTES OF PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS JUNE 22ND, JUNE 29TH AND JULY 20TH, 2026. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES, YES, YES[B. Decision on Administrative and Supervisory Appointment, Mr. Ben Richardson, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources]
AND AGENDA PASSES. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM B DECISION ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY APPOINTMENT. MR. BEN RICHARDSON, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. WELCOME FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. WE PRESENT AGE BY PRESENT SCHOOLS AND I AND FOR HUMAN RESOURCES. I BRING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ONE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY POSITION FOR YOUR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. THIS POSITION PROVIDES LEADERSHIP IN THE PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION AND EVALUATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION.TITLE ONE, TITLE NINE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, STUDENT DISCIPLINE SUPPORT, PUPIL PERSONNEL, SCHOOL COUNSELING, SCHOOL HEALTH, SOCIAL WORK AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY. THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES WILL ALSO ASSIST PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOL STAFF IN SEEKING APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND WILL COLLABORATE WITH DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, PRINCIPALS AND STUDENT SERVICES STAFF TO SUPPORT PRINCIPALS AND OTHER SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE PERSONAL, MEDICAL AND OR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ISSUES THAT PREVENT THE ATTAINMENT OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM SETTING. BOARD THE CANDIDATE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BOARD FOR APPOINTMENT INTO THIS ROLE THIS EVENING IS TAMMY L BOSLEY. MISS BOSLEY BRINGS 30 YEARS OF SCHOOL SYSTEM EXPERIENCE TO INCLUDE CLASSROOM TEACHER, MENTOR, TEACHER, INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITATOR, ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL AND HAS SERVED THE PAST FIVE YEARS AS THE SUPERVISOR OF TITLE ONE BOARD. THE SUPERINTENDENT RESPECTFULLY, RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. AT THIS TIME, MUCH BOARD. I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT TAMMY BOSLEY TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR. FOR SUPER ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES. SECOND, I SECOND, IF YOU'LL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE. MR. KITE. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES, MISS. YES. MRS. MILLER. NO.
MRS. HAHN. NO. MISS. BRUCE. YES. MISS. ALVAREZ. NO, SHE'S STILL ON. MRS. ALVAREZ, ARE YOU STILL ON? OKAY. VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT PAGE. YES? THIS MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS,
[C. Decision on Proposed Updates to the Board Handbook, Ms. Lauren Paige, Board President]
MISS BOSLEY. THANK YOU. BOARD. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM C, WHICH IS DECISION ON PROPOSED UPDATES TO THE BOARD HANDBOOK. I DO HAVE A MOTION BOARD, JUST DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT TOOK US SOME TIME TO GET THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND WANT TO USE THIS TIME FOR DISCUSSION. SO MY MOTION IS AS FOLLOWS. I MOVE THAT CONSIDERATION AND ACTION ON THE HANDBOOK ITEMS BE POSTPONED UNTIL OUR NEXT REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING, AND THAT THE BOARD CONTINUE TONIGHT JUST IN DISCUSSION AND DELIBERATION ON THE HANDBOOK ITEMS WITHOUT TAKING A FINAL VOTE. AND WE'LL HAVE A FINAL VOTE AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. THAT'S THE SECOND ONE IN SEPTEMBER. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES.[00:40:04]
YES, YES. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. SO WITH THAT. MR. I'LL LET YOU KIND OF WALK THROUGH. OKAY.PERFECT. WHERE WE'RE AT. SO I'LL FIRST START OFF THIS DOCUMENT. THE LAST TIME IT WAS UPDATED. DO THE MATH. I WAS 13 YEARS OLD, SO IT WAS LONG OVERDUE FOR A TIME TO AMEND AND REALLY BRING OUR HANDBOOK BACK TO 2026. THERE ARE SEVERAL SECTIONS IN WHICH THERE ARE GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, SOME OF WHICH JUST THE LAW NO LONGER NO LONGER APPLIES. THERE HAS BEEN A NEW LAW, AND THEN JUST SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK COULD REALLY HELP US. PERFECT.
HAVEN'T HAD THE CLICKER YET. THIS IS A NEW A NEW ONE FOR ME, BUT JUST A FEW OTHER CHANGES THAT I'M, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN REACH CONSENSUS ON TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE AS A BOARD AND BE MORE PRESENT AS A BOARD. I ALSO DO APOLOGIZE. I CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET RID OF THE PAGE BREAKS WITHOUT GETTING RID OF ALL OF THE EDITS, BUT WE WILL FIGURE THAT OUT BEFORE WE DO A FINAL VOTE. SO JUST BEAR WITH ME. SOME OF THE SOME OF THE SPACING WILL BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT HERE. I SUPPOSED TO POINT IN A SPECIFIC SPOT. OKAY, OKAY. WOULD IT BE EASIER IF I WENT DOWN THERE? OKAY. WOW, THIS IS GOING DOWN THERE. I WANT TO. PUT SOMETHING IN. FOR THE RECORD, WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO THIS BOARD FOUR YEARS AGO AND I. WE MET, I MET WITH ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS DURING OUR MAY CONFERENCE. THAT'S A MALE ASSOCIATED BOARD OF EDUCATION CONFERENCE. AND WE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE HANDBOOK. AND IT WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE BOARD MEMBERS. AND I THINK WE HAD 3 OR 4 ITERATIONS OF THE HANDBOOK. AND IT IT IT PAINS ME TO KNOW THAT THIS BODY IS NOT ABLE TO COME TOGETHER ON A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. WHEN MISS NARCOTICS CAME IN, SHE SAID SHE WOULD TAKE OVER THE TASK OF GOING THROUGH WHAT MYSELF, MISS ALVAREZ, MISSUS, AND ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER HAD GONE THROUGH. SO. I WOULD HAVE HOPE BEFORE MY TERM IS UP THAT WE ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT SAYS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING, AND I THANK MISS NARCOTICS FOR THIS, BECAUSE WHEN SHE SAW ME THIS EVENING, SHE SAID, I SEE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH. SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH, THANK YOU, MISS BRUCE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A LIST COMPILED OF SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS OF BOARD MEMBERS, ONES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY IN THE ROUND THAT MISS BRUCE IS SPEAKING TO, OF AN ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE DOCUMENT. AND SOME OF THEM ARE NEW. I'M WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT. YVONNE, DO YOU HAVE THE LIST OF THE CHANGES? OKAY, SO YVONNE HAS A LIST I COMPILED OF ALL OF THE CHANGES. THERE'S ALSO YOU'LL FIND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOCUMENT THE CHANGES SPECIFIED AS WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING THAT IS TECHNICAL, SOMETHING THAT'S CONSIDERED SORT OF CONSOLIDATION OR CLARIFICATION, SOMETHING THAT'S A LAW CHANGE, OR THE TWO BIGGER ITEMS, WHICH I WILL GET TO WHEN WE REACH THOSE PAGES OF THE DOCUMENT AND WHEN IT GOES OUT FOR A VOTE, WE'LL ATTACH THIS AS AN EXHIBIT SO THE PUBLIC CAN CLEARLY SEE WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON. SO A LOT OF THESE CHANGES LISTED HERE ARE JUST SIMPLY LIKE GRAMMATICAL. YES. AND WE WILL WE WILL GO THROUGH THEM RIGHT NOW IF EVERYONE'S, I DON'T KNOW, OKAY. THERE WAS NO CHANGE TO THE TABLE OF TABLE OF CONTENTS. THANK YOU. SO FIRSTLY, THIS IS JUST AN AMENDMENT SAYING TO SPECIFY THAT IT IS OUR MEMBER HANDBOOK. I HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A SUGGESTION TO MAKE THIS BOARD MEMBER HANDBOOK. I'M FINE WITH WHATEVER WE HAVE CONSENSUS FOR, BUT WE DO AS A SYSTEM HAVE MULTIPLE HANDBOOKS. SO THIS IS JUST SIMPLE SPECIFICATION. WHEN
[00:45:01]
IT IS MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, OUR HANDBOOK FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. SAME THING FLOWS THE SECOND PAGE. YOU'LL SEE THEN THE NEXT. THE NEXT AMENDMENT IS TO STRIKE RECOGNIZED FOR RECOGNIZE RECOGNIZES. SO BRINGING IT TO THE PRESENT TENSE. LATER IN SECTION A, YOU'LL SEE THE SPECIFIES APPENDIX A IN THE BACK OF THE DOCUMENT. THERE ARE A LOT OF APPENDIX. WE. WE. WE HAVE A VERY LARGE APPENDIX, AND THESE ARE DOCUMENTS THAT WE HAVE NOT FULLY GONE THROUGH YET, BUT THAT IS A SORT OF A NEXT, NEXT STEP. BUT WE HAVE, LIKE I SAID, SEVERAL, SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXHIBITS THAT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SPECIFYING THROUGHOUT THE DOCUMENT. THIS IS ANOTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENT, REMOVING THE IS IT REMOVING OR ADDING THE DASH? IT IS ADDING THE DASH IN IN DEPTH. YEAH. THE NEXT PAGE IS ONE OF THOSE SORT OF CLARIFICATION AMENDMENTS.INSTEAD OF HAVING IT BE THE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SYSTEM SPECIFYING THAT WE ARE HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THEN YOU'LL SEE WE STRIKE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF AND REPLACE IT WITH MOST OF. AND ALSO SPECIFY THAT THAT MOST OF OUR FUNDING COMES FROM NOT JUST HARFORD COUNTY GOVERNMENT, BUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND. AND IT'S HARD TO SEE FROM HERE, BUT I DON'T. OKAY. YES, THAT IS ONE THING. WHOEVER WHOEVER DRAFTED THIS DOCUMENT THERE, THERE'S NOT A SINGLE OXFORD COMMA. SO THERE IS YOU'LL SEE A COMMA ADDED BETWEEN MSD AND. AND IN THAT MIDDLE LARGE PARAGRAPH THERE. I'LL STOP YOU RIGHT THERE IN THAT GROUP BOARD. ANY COMMENTS ON THOSE FIRST SIX ITEMS? THE ONLY COMMENT I HAVE IS I REALLY DO THINK IT SHOULD BE BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBER HANDBOOK INSTEAD OF JUST MEMBER HANDBOOK. I AGREE, I AGREE CONSENSUS ALREADY I LOVE IT. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE. HALFWAY THERE. WE'RE ON PAGE THREE. YEAH. THIS IS SPECIFYING. SO IN IN THE APPENDIX OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS IS APPENDIX C. THIS IS JUST CONSOLIDATING THAT A LITTLE BIT. THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT PER OUR HANDBOOK, WE SHOULD BE REVIEWING EVERY THREE YEARS. THE SUGGESTED AMENDMENT WAS TO STRIKE THE THREE YEAR PERIOD, BUT STILL FOCUS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REVIEWING THE THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS OFTEN AS WE CAN, ENSURING THAT IT DOES ALIGN WITH THE BOARD, THE THE BOARD AND THE. THE SYSTEM'S CURRENT GOALS. I DO APOLOGIZE TO OUR AUDIENCE. THIS IS PROBABLY REALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE, BUT THIS DOCUMENT IS ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA, SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT FROM YOUR PHONE IF THAT IS EASIER FOR YOU GUYS. IN SECTION, AGENDA WEBSITE, THE WEBSITE, THE AGENDA ON THE WEBSITE FOR TONIGHT. IN SECTION B UNDER BOARD POLICY. THIS IS STRIKING. TO ESTABLISH THEE AND JUST HAVE IT BE FOR. SO THE BOARD OF THE BOARD IS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL POLICIES OF THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THEN WE ADDED ALSO IN SECTION B, AFTER THE BOARD MUST WAIT 30 DAYS, SPECIFY.
THAT IS TO ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT WITHIN THAT 30 DAY PERIOD. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE OXFORD COMMAS THAT WE NEED ON THIS PAGE. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS VERY, VERY SMALL TO SEE FROM THERE. BUT ALL GOOD. THIS ONE, THE ONLY MAJOR AMENDMENT HERE IS TO TO SPECIFY WHAT THE IAC IS. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS MENTIONED AGAIN IN THE DOCUMENT. BUT JUST AGAIN, MAKING THAT CLARIFICATION. AND THEN THIS IS WHERE THAT PAGE BREAK GETS A LITTLE A LITTLE DIFFICULT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. BUT THIS IS CHANGING FOR OUR BUDGET SEASON. INSTEAD OF WORK SESSIONS. IT'S JUST SPECIFYING A WORK SESSION. YEAH. THIS WAS A THIS WAS A SUGGESTION FROM ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER. THIS WILL STILL BE MY FIRST FULL BUDGET BUDGET SESSION. SO AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS JUST SPECIFYING THAT WE AT THE MINIMUM HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE. YEAH. OKAY.
[00:50:04]
CONTINUING WITH WITH SECTION B JUST AGAIN SPECIFYING THAT IT'S REQUIREMENT OF ONE WORK SESSION RATHER THAN LEAVING IT OPEN ENDED. THEN DUE TO IN PART JUST THE THE PROCESS WITH THE COUNTY AND HOW LONG IT HAS TAKEN FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO GET BACK TO US. WE JUST WANTED TO SPECIFY THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE BUDGET SUBMITTED FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY, WE HAVE JUST IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, WHICH REFLECTS WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR. IT WAS THE FINAL OUR FINAL MEETING IN FEBRUARY. AND THEN UNDER PERSONNEL. THIS JUST STRIKES TEACHERS AND MOST ADMINISTRATORS AND MOST. WHEN WE DO THE APPOINTMENT PROCESS AS WE JUST DID, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH JUST VOTING ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY ROLES. SO THAT WAS THE THE PURPOSE FOR THAT SUGGESTION. OKAY. THE NEXT SECTION, THIS IS JUST CONSOLIDATING A LITTLE BIT WITH THE SENTENCE SO THAT IT WOULD READ IN THE MIDDLE THERE. THE BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALL MATTERS DISCUSSED DURING CLOSED SESSION. SO THAT ONE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE GRAMMATICAL STILL MAINTAINING THE SAME PURPOSE OF OF THE SENTENCE. PRESIDENT PAGE, DO YOU WANT ME TO STOP THERE AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY COMMENTS MORE IN THAT SECTION? I DON'T SEE ANY MORE READ. OH, YOU ON THE NEXT PAGE. OKAY. THIS IS ANOTHER SPECIFICATION OF MEMBER HANDBOOK, WHICH WE CAN WE CAN UPDATE TO BOARD MEMBER HANDBOOK. AND THEN ANOTHER GRAMMATICAL SUGGESTION IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH TO STRIKE THE WORD ACTUALLY. AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE SPECIFY IT ADDS AN S ON SCHOOLS. DOES IT ADD OR REMOVE? I CAN'T TELL IF THERE'S A LINE THROUGH THERE OR NOT. OKAY. REMOVES THE S FROM PUBLIC FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO WE'LL STOP THERE. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU SEVEN THROUGH 19 SO KINDLY WALKED US THROUGH ANY CONCERNS. ABOUT. NOTHING HEARD. WE'LL MOVE ON TO GOVERNANCE.OKAY. SO THE FIRST ONE HERE IS AGAIN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GRAMMATICAL BUT CONSOLIDATED SORT OF CONSOLIDATION AMENDMENTS. SO BECAUSE WE'RE THE ONLY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY, THIS JUST SPECIFIES PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THEN INSTEAD OF THE BOARD COMMITTEES SYSTEM OR INSTEAD OF THE BOARD COMMITTEE SYSTEM, IT JUST STRIKES IT TO BE OUR COMMITTEES. AND THEN GOING ON TO BOARD MEETINGS. THIS WAS A SUGGESTION BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR OPEN SESSIONS THAT ARE ATTACHED TO CLOSED SESSIONS. TO STRIKE IS TO BE MAY BE PERMITTED, AND I'M GOING TO CALL ON OUR LEGAL COUNSEL BEHIND ME. IS THERE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORD IS AND MAY BE IN THE SENTENCE WHEN WE ARE PERMITTING PUBLIC COMMENT? NOT TECHNICALLY IS IS MORE MANDATORY, MAYBE IS PERMISSIVE. SO I THINK, AS AMENDED, IT'S READING THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS PERMITTED, BUT WE DON'T ALWAYS REQUIRE IT, WHICH I THINK IS MAYBE NOT ACCURATE, BUT I'LL I WILL LOOK AT THAT BEFORE WE VOTE TO CONFIRM THAT IT'S IN LINE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT. OKAY, I WILL STOP RIGHT THERE. I DO NOT SUPPORT CHANGING IT FROM IS TO MAYBE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT IS OUR JOB AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION. IF PEOPLE COME TO THE BOARD WITH CONCERNS, IT'S OUR JOB TO LISTEN TO THOSE CONCERNS. I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE OPTIONAL. THIS IS MRS. MILLER FOR THE I GUESS ONLINE FOLKS. I AM DRAWING ON MY TIME IN COMPLIANCE AS THAT SPECIALIST AND THAT WORDS MATTER. SO THE NUANCE MIGHT BE, IS AND MAY BE.
IT'S THE SAME AS SHALL AND MAY. AND SO I TOO BELIEVE THAT THE WORD IS SHOULD REMAIN BECAUSE PUBLIC COMMENT. WE'RE HERE TO TO LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC AND THEIR INPUT. SO I WOULD NOT, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT THE MAYBE PERMITTED. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT SECTION BEFORE I. I DO
[00:55:01]
THINK AND I'LL BE INTERESTED, MISS DRIVER IN HERE THAT WE HAVE HAD MEETINGS BEFORE FOR JUST SPECIAL THINGS, NOT A NORMAL OPEN, BUT MAYBE WE HAVE A BUDGET OR WHERE WE HAVEN'T DONE PUBLIC COMMENT WOULD BE MY ONLY. SO MAYBE THERE'S A WAY TO CLARIFY THAT. BUT THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE REALLY SHORT MEETINGS OR SOMETHING WHERE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO DO LIKE A CLARIFICATION OR THE BUDGET, RIGHT? WE HAD TO REVOTE ON SOMETHING THAT WAS LIKE A 32ND VOTE AND WE DIDN'T DO PUBLIC COMMENT. SO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT DOES NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC COMMENT, EVER, FOR A BODY OF THIS TYPE. IF WE ARE POSTING THE NOTICE OF THE MEETING AND ALLOWING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THAT NOTICE, THEN WE CAN'T THEN TAKE AWAY THE OPTION.MAYBE THAT'S CLARIFICATION. SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PERMISSIVE AND MANDATORY. I THINK IT MAY BE PERMITTED IN SOME INSTANCES. WE MAY WANT TO ADD A CLAUSE TO THE SENTENCE THAT IT MAY BE PERMITTED. IF THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED, THAT PUBLIC COMMENT WILL BE ALLOWED AT A CERTAIN MEETING. BUT YOU'RE CORRECT, WE DON'T. WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT FOR EVERY OPEN MEETING. IN EVERY INSTANCE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES, VERY FEW, THAT WE HAVEN'T, OR JUST CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE. PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I'LL JUST ASK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A PEN DOWN HERE WITH ME. MR. SEWELL, COULD YOU JUST CIRCLE NUMBER 21 SO THAT WE CAN REVISIT THAT AMENDMENT? MAYBE SOMEONE HAS TO GIVE MR. SEWELL A PEN. GOT IT.
OH, OKAY. PERFECT. THANK YOU. JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE DO AGREE ON AND WHAT WE WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO REVISIT. COULD I ADD THAT WE HAVE A MECHANISM IN PLACE TO VOTE, TO WAIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS WHEN WHEN APPROPRIATE. SO I AGAIN, I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO SAYING THAT I BELIEVE THE WORD IS SHOULD REMAIN. GOT IT. AND BEFORE YOU GO, SORRY TOO FAR.
THIS ONE DOESN'T HAVE A AMENDMENT OR LIKE A STRIKETHROUGH OR ANYTHING, BUT I BELIEVE FOR NUMBER THREE, FOR THE MAJORITY VOTING REQUIREMENTS, WE DISCUSS MSB REGULATIONS SET FORTH AS CRITERIA, WHICH IS A STATE LAW. BUT THEN, YEAH, I'M ON PAGE TEN.
THREE B OH, HAVE WE GOTTEN THAT FOR YOU? THAT'S FOR SURE. THERE'S NO THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THERE'S NO THERE'S THERE'S NO AMENDMENT. SO SHE WOULDN'T TOUCH ON THAT. BUT I BELIEVE IF WE'RE EDITING OUR HANDBOOK THAT WE NEED TO REMOVE FOR POLICY DECISIONS, THE CONCURRENCE OF A SUPERMAJORITY OF THE BOARD IS REQUIRED BECAUSE THAT IS A POLICY THAT THE COUNTY HAS. AND IF THE POLICY CHANGES, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND AMEND OUR HANDBOOK TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES. NO, I DON'T AGREE. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. IT'S A POLICY. IT'S NOT A STATE RULE. WE'RE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT REQUIRES A SUPERMAJORITY. WE DO REQUIRE A SUPERMAJORITY, AND THE POLICY CHANGES. WE CAN COME BACK AND CHANGE THE MANUAL. WE CAN'T EVEN PASS THE MANUAL UNDER REGULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S IT'S A POLICY.
IT'S NOT IT'S NOT A HANDBOOK REQUIREMENT. IT IS A POLICY THAT THE COUNTY HAS ADOPTED.
AND THAT'S ALL IT'S STAYING. IT'S JUST SAYING FOR POLICY DECISIONS, THE CONCURRENCE OF A SUPERMAJORITY OF THE ENTIRE BOARD IS REQUIRED. AND THAT'S TRUE. YES, BUT IT'S DICTATED BY POLICY. AND THAT POLICY COULD CHANGE. AND THEN WE COME BACK AND CHANGE THE HANDBOOK. I DON'T AGREE. OKAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER AMENDMENTS ON PAGE TEN. WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT? I MEAN, ARE WE CIRCLING THAT? I MADE A NOTE OF IT. WE CAN. THANK YOU. WE CAN VISIT. I DON'T SEE ANY AMENDMENTS HERE. OKAY. ON PAGE 12, THE ONLY AMENDMENT THAT WAS SUGGESTED HERE, ACTUALLY TWO OF THEM, ONE ADDING THE OXFORD COMMA BETWEEN STATE AND AND UNDER THE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A SUGGESTION TO STRIKE ALL FROM THE SENTENCE OF PRESIDING AT BOARD MEETINGS. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR HYBRID FORMAT, WE DID HAVE A MEETING IN WHICH THE BOARD PRESIDENT WAS VIRTUAL, BUT SHE DELEGATED THE TASK OF PRESIDING TO THE VICE PRESIDENT. SO THAT WAS A AGAIN, A SUGGESTION, BUT THAT OTHERWISE WENT AVAILABLE.
THE PRESIDENT WILL BE PRESIDING AT BOARD MEETINGS. MOVING ON TO OUR COMMITTEE STRUCTURE, ONE AMENDMENT TO START IS JUST SPECIFYING THAT A TECHNICAL AMENDMENT THAT OUR COMMITTEES
[01:00:05]
INCLUDE PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS ADDING THE OXFORD COMMA IN AND OTHER CITIZENS.NOW TO ADDRESS WHAT LOOKS AS THOUGH WE ARE REMOVING A COMMITTEE IN THE APPENDIX. IN THE APPENDIX SECTION, WE HAVE A A CHARTER FOR THE BUDGET COMMITTEE THAT THAT CHARTER SPECIFIES IS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE STANDING BUDGET COMMITTEE. WE DON'T HAVE CHARTERS FOR THE THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEES. THE THOUGHT WAS THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THE STANDING BOARD COMMITTEE IS THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN USED. SO TO CREATE CONTINUITY, WE MAINTAIN ONE COMMITTEE. AND IF THERE IS A THOUGHT TO INCLUDE THE PUBLIC CITIZEN SORT OF CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITHIN THAT, THAT STANDING BOARD COMMITTEE, WE CAN AMEND THE CHARTER TO DO THAT. THERE WAS THEN, IN ADDITION, WE'VE BEEN OPERATING WITH A SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, SO ADDING IT INTO THE HANDBOOK THAT THAT IS THAT IS A COMMITTEE THAT THAT WE ARE USING. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANY ANY COMMENTS TO TO THOSE AMENDMENTS? PERFECT. AND THEN UNDER PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WE ARE AGAIN, ADDING A LOT OF COMMAS BACK IN WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.
MOVING ON UNDER KEY WORK OF SCHOOL BOARDS. THIS IS JUST, AGAIN, A LITTLE BIT MORE TECHNICAL, BRINGING US INTO. CURRENT DAY, SPECIFYING THAT THAT WE HAVE SYSTEMS DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION. THEY COULD BE ONES THAT ARE DEVELOPED IN 2000.
THEY COULD BE DEVELOPED LAST YEAR OR, OR EARLIER THAN THAT, AND THEN ADD THE FOLLOWING AFTER ENCOMPASSES. ANOTHER PAGE BREAK THAT WE WILL FIX. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AMENDMENTS THAT I HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT IS, AGAIN, BRINGING US UP CURRENT TO WHAT THE LAW SAYS. I WAS NOT APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE LAW CHANGED IN 2022 THAT THE COUNTY, THE HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE IS WHO APPOINTS THE. THE THREE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE A SUGGESTION NOW LOOKING REREADING THIS, THAT WE JUST TOTALLY STRIKE THE DATE AND SPECIFY THAT THE SIX OF THE CITIZEN BOARD MEMBERS ARE ELECTED AND THAT THE THREE ARE APPOINTED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE. BUT THAT WILL COME IN IN THE NEXT THE NEXT ROUND.
BUT AGAIN, JUST BRINGING IT UP TO WHAT THE LAW SAYS, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN WE CAN AGREE ON THAT INTERPRETATION. OKAY, SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIG ONE HERE. I'M I'M SURE AS AS WE'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR, THERE HAS BEEN MORE USE OF OUR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE OPTION. I'D SAY AS BOARD MEMBERS, WE EXPECT AND AS, AS HTTPS, WE EXPECT OUR OUR TEACHERS TO SHOW UP. WE EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO SHOW UP EVERY DAY. AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A MECHANISM TO, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ALSO SHOWING UP AS AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. SO WHEN WHEN READ THIS, THIS AMENDMENT BASICALLY REQUIRES THAT YOU ATTEND AT LEAST 75% OF ALL BOARD BUSINESS MEETINGS IN PERSON. THERE WAS A THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT BECAUSE THIS HANDBOOK DOES SPECIFY THAT OUR BOARD BUSINESS MEETINGS ARE HELD ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH THAT. BUT THAT IN JULY AND AUGUST WE DO NOT ALWAYS MEET ON THAT SECOND AND FOURTH. THAT WE EXCLUDE JULY AND AUGUST FROM THAT 75% THRESHOLD. AND THIS IS, AGAIN, BASICALLY JUST BRINGING US BRINGING US TO WHAT WAS A CHANGE THROUGH COVID AND NAVIGATING HOW WE SORT OF GET OUT OF THAT WORLD. BUT UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF WHAT WE DID THROUGH COVID DO MAKE OUR LIVES A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO ENGAGE. BUT AGAIN, WE STILL NEED TO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SHOWING UP. SO THAT IS, THAT WAS THE THOUGHT OF, OF THIS AMENDMENT. I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE NO VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE, BUT I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE IN DIFFERENT,
[01:05:03]
DIFFERENT POSITIONS, DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, JOBS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I THINK THAT THIS IS TRULY THE MOST COMPROMISE THAT THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH WHERE WE'RE STILL ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT ALSO STILL ALLOWING THE OPTION WHEN NEEDED. SO WITH THAT, I WILL GIVE AND OH, I DID ALSO WANT TO SPECIFY THAT THAT 75% IS IF YOU HAVE THAT, IF YOU MISS WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE. SO I'M GOING TO BE MORBID REAL QUICK, BUT IF, IF YOU, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR WAY HERE, GET INTO A FIERY CAR WRECK AND WE DON'T HEAR FROM YOU, WE CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT, THAT YOU YOU HAD A GOOD EXCUSE THAT YOU COULDN'T PHYSICALLY BE HERE. SO THAT WOULD NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE 75%. BUT THAT AGAIN, WE JUST NEED WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. IF IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE MISSING BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD SHOULD KNOW GOING INTO THE MEETING WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN THIS UP TO DISCUSSION BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS SORT OF A MAJOR CHANGE, BUT BUT ONE THAT I THINK IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. I ACTUALLY THINK 75% IS KIND OF LOW, BUT THAT'S OKAY. I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE IT MORE LIKE AN 80 OR 90%. I DO HAVE OCCASIONS WHEN I'M NOT HERE. IF SOMEBODY I MEAN, I KNOW WE'VE HAD BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE VERY ILL AND I'M GLAD THEY STAYED HOME. I DIDN'T NEED TO CATCH THAT, BUT THEY COULD STILL PARTICIPATE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE EXCEPTION FOR JULY AND AUGUST, I REALLY DON'T. THERE'S ONLY ONE MEETING EACH OF THOSE MONTHS. AND YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU WERE VIRTUAL ON IT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BRING YOU ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE 75%. SO I DON'T REALLY SEE A REASON FOR THAT. BUT I'M OKAY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. I JUST DON'T WANT THE EXCEPTION IN JULY AND AUGUST. I SEE NO REASON FOR IT. ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I AGREE WITH THAT. AND I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE I GUESS THE GOOD CAUSE. SO IS THERE A A PROCEDURE THAT THE PERSON EMAILS SOMEONE OR NOTIFY SOMEONE, AND THEN IS THERE AN APPROVAL BODY TO SAY YES? AND THEN ARE WE TRACKING THAT? SO THAT THAT IS A GOOD. I APPRECIATE THAT I WOULD SUPPORT ADDING A SECTION TO SAY THAT NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD SECRETARY JUST FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES. THE BOARD SECRETARY CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG. YOU'RE IN CONTROL OF ATTENDANCE, KEEPING TRACK OF WHO WOULD MEET THAT 75%. YES. SO THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION, IS JUST TO LET THE BOARD SECRETARY KNOW. BUT I'M HAPPY TO ADD THAT CHANGE IN IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO WOULD LIKE TO SEE. I HAVE A LIKE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE THREE HOUR NOTICE ONLY BECAUSE SOMETIMES EMERGENCIES DON'T. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SITUATION, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY, HEY, I'M NOT GOING TO BE HERE ONLY BECAUSE IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING THAT'S URGENT, IF IT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I MEAN, MOST OF US SHOW UP EVERY TIME. IF THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON, OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING'S HAPPENING THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP. AND I DO THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME KIND OF STIPULATION. YOU KNOW, LIKE WITH APPROVAL TO HAVE VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE, LIKE IF SOMEONE IS SICK, IF SOMEONE HAS AN EXTENDED ILLNESS, IF SOMEONE HAS, AND THAT SHOULDN'T COUNT TOWARDS THE 75%, IF THERE'S AN EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE, IT'S 75% IS A PRETTY LOW THRESHOLD. IT'S ABOUT IT WOULD BE LIKE BEING VIRTUAL OR MISSING THREE MONTHS WORTH OF, OF MEETINGS. YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A PRETTY LOW THRESHOLD. YEAH. BUT ACTUALLY, I THINK IT, IT'S, IT'S THE WAY THIS IS WORDED SAYS FAILURE TO ATTEND IN PERSON, AT LEAST 75% OF MEETINGS WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE. SO.YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE GOOD CAUSE, THAT DOESN'T COUNT TOWARDS THE 75%. SO THAT'S REALLY A LOW BAR. THAT'S, THAT'S A PRETTY LOW BAR, RIGHT? I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING THE SAME THING WHEN YOU SAID, I THINK IT SHOULD BE 80 OR 90. I WAS THINKING, I WAS THINKING 80.
I'M LIKE, WOW, BECAUSE 75, I MEAN, BUT LIKE STATE LAW, RIGHT? IS THAT SO? YES, THE 75% IS, I DO BELIEVE COMPLYING WITH STATE LAW. SO JUST AGAIN, FOR THE BOARD'S AWARENESS, THE PROCESS FOR REMOVING A BOARD MEMBER, WHICH IS, IS LATER IN THE DOCUMENT, WOULD BASICALLY BE THAT THE THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THE REMOVAL. IT WOULD THEN GO TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD THEN RULE. HISTORICALLY, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES NOT REMOVE MEMBERS BECAUSE THEY. WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF MYSELF, MISS MILLER AND MISS PAGE WERE ELECTED TO THE. TO THE ROLE, AND EVEN THEN I DON'T IMAGINE THAT THEY WOULD REMOVE APPOINTED MEMBERS EITHER BECAUSE OF THE. THE NATURE OF THE APPOINTMENT, WHICH IS IN. IN STATUTE BY LAW. AGAIN, THIS IS A REALLY LOW THRESHOLD THAT
[01:10:06]
I DON'T REALLY EXPECT PEOPLE TO GET TO, BUT IT'S A LOW THRESHOLD THAT IN THE IN THE VERY RARE INSTANCE WHERE WE NEED SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE TO IT, THAT YOU KNOW, THAT YOU NEED TO BE TO BE IN PERSON TO DO THE JOB THAT WE WERE, THAT WE WERE ELECTED AND APPOINTED TO DO. SO IF WE ALL AGREE THAT THAT 75% IS A LOW THRESHOLD, THEN WE SHOULD PROBABLY MOVE THAT EXCEPT IN JULY AND AUGUST. AND BECAUSE THAT KIND OF BASICALLY IMPROVES OUR THRESHOLD. AND I DO KNOW THAT MAY THE BOARD OF ED RESULTS HAVE BEEN POSTED IN REGARDS TO BOARD MEMBERS BEING REMOVED FOR FAILURE TO ATTEND A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MEETINGS. I READ THAT IN THE PAST AND SOME OF THE REVIEWS. SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE SPECIFIC IN WHAT WE'RE SAYING SO THAT IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHAT PROMPTED THIS, THIS ACTION AND WHAT IS GOOD. CAUSE THAT'S, THAT'S MY SO IF YOU'RE ON VACATION IN JULY AND YOU MISS THAT MEETING, IS THAT CONSIDERED GOOD CAUSE OR IS THAT NOT GOOD? CAUSE I WOULD WHO DETERMINES THAT? YEAH. SO WE THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN TO AND HOW IT WAS SAID WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE THERE REALLY IS NO, NO BASIS THAT I COULD FIND. AND MAYBE, MAYBE MISS DRIVER HAS A DOCUMENT THAT WOULD GIVE US A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. BUT OTHERWISE, IF YOU GO ON VACATION, YOU THAT WOULD JUST BE IN YOUR 25% FOR BEING ABSENT OR, YOU KNOW, WHETHER YOU ARE ATTENDING IN PERSON FOR IT. COULD WE SPECIFY TO BE DETERMINED SOLELY BY. THE SMALL GOVERNMENT IN ME SAYS THAT'S A LOT OF POWER TO WIELD TO ONE PERSON ON THE BOARD. BUT. IT COULD IT COULD BE A DISCUSSION, SPECIFIED ILLNESSES, FAMILY EMERGENCIES. AND THEN WE COULD SAY AND AND OR OTHER TO BE TERMINATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR HOW WE WOULD DECIDE IT. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. OR WE JUST SPECIFY INSTANCES. ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT MELISSA? I DON'T AGREE THAT THE BOARD PRESIDENTS WOULD BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR. NO. WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHAT DO YOU THINK GOOD CAUSE IS IF IT'S NOT EMERGENCIES, FAMILY EMERGENCIES AND ILLNESSES. NO, I'M SAYING IF, LIKE I SAID, IF VACATIONS, IF PEOPLE ARE ON VACATIONS IN JULY OR AUGUST AND IT HAPPENS TO BE THE SAME, WELL, IF THERE'S I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S 25%. I MEAN, IF YOU MISS BECAUSE OF VACATION AND YOU YOU COME ON TO IT VIRTUALLY THAT SO WHAT, THREE MONTHS? YOU CAN MISS THREE MONTHS OF MEETINGS. I MEAN, YOU'RE YOU'RE GOING TO MISS THREE MONTHS OF MEETINGS FOR VACATION MEETINGS AT ALL, UNLESS THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY OR I WAS SICK. THOSE ARE THE ONLY THINGS THAT I. BUT I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T. THIS SEEMS TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING. I'M NOT SURE. I MEAN, YOU CAN ATTEND VIRTUALLY IF YOU'RE ON VACATION, BUT THREE MONTHS OF VACATION. SO YOU HAVE YOU HAVE ENOUGH ABSENCES, RIGHT? IT'S OKAY TO MISS ONE. IT DOESN'T IMPACT. AND YOU HAVE A CALENDAR A YEAR IN ADVANCE, HOPEFULLY. RIGHT.SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT YOU'RE HOW TO PLAN VACATION. I, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD ITEM TO PUT. WE HAVE A WORK SESSION. SO JUST PRESENCE OF TIME TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT TO THINK ABOUT.
AND IN THAT WORK SESSION, LET'S WORK TO SOME RESOLUTION ON WHAT WE CAN AGREE TO. AND THEN WHAT MAYBE WE'D LIKE TO ADD. I JUST THINK DEFINING WITHOUT GOOD. CAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ONE PERSON SHOULD MAKE THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHAT GOOD CAUSE IS. I THINK THAT WE SHOULD COME TO A CONSENSUS AS TO WHAT THAT IS. WELL, IN WORKING WITH CONTRACTS, I THINK THE MORE YOU PUT IN THERE, THEN IF IT'S NOT IN THERE, THEN IT BECOMES EXCLUSION, RIGHT? SO IF WE DIDN'T SPELL OUT WHAT GOOD CAUSE. RIGHT. SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT KIND OF OPEN TO THE BODY TO INTERPRET. AND I TO AGREE IT SHOULD BE NOT LEFT TO ONE PERSON, BUT I WANTED TO ANSWER DOCTOR MUELLER'S QUESTION ABOUT AN EXAMPLE. AND I GUESS JUST SITTING ON THIS DAIS, IN THE SHORT TIME WE DID HAVE A BOARD MEMBER THAT WAS DETAINED FROM ANOTHER MEETING THAT CAUSED HER TO BE LATE ARRIVING HERE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS STILL COMING OR COULDN'T COME AND THEN ENDED UP PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY. SO WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED A CAUSE, A GOOD CAUSE TO, TO MISS A MEETING OR HAVE TO GO VIRTUAL? SO I'M JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE, AS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MANY OF US, INCLUDING ME, I SERVE ON SEVERAL WORK GROUPS IN COMMITTEES. AND SO I SERVE ON A LOT. BUT RIGHT, RIGHT. IT'S AT THAT POINT THAT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT IT WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD. I MEAN, MAYBE NOT A LOT HAVE IT TO ONE PERSON, BUT MAYBE BY VOTE OF THE BOARD IF THEY DON'T THINK IT WAS GOOD
[01:15:05]
CAUSE. RIGHT. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. SO THAT MIGHT BE AN INSTANCE THAT WE AS A BODY SAY THAT THAT I CAN I CAN SEE THAT I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT JULY AND AUGUST TO GO ON VACATION. I MEAN, THAT'S OF COURSE I'M RETIRED. SO I GO ON VACATION WHEN I WANT TO GO ON VACATION. I DON'T JUST DO IT IN JULY AND AUGUST. DOES THAT MEAN THAT I'M GOING TO MISS MORE THAN 25% OF THE MEETINGS? NO I'M NOT. I AGREE WITH THAT. BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE, JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL YEAR, YOU KNOW, HAVING BEEN AT THAT LEVEL, IF A TEACHER CHOOSES TO PUT IN AN ABSENCE, A VACATION DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, THAT'S THAT COUNTS AGAINST THEM BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO BE THERE FOR THAT 190 DAYS, RIGHT? OR 100 EVEN FOR US, OUR JOB IS YEAR ROUND. OUR JOB IS NOT JUST DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE DOCTOR MACK, IF SHE WANTS TO TAKE A VACATION IN JULY OR AUGUST, IT STILL COUNTS AS VACATION TIME.THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT BECAUSE SCHOOL'S NOT IN SESSION, THAT DOESN'T COUNT AS VACATION, RIGHT? I'M JUST SAYING JULY AND AUGUST JUST SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO ME, RIGHT? I AGREE, WE CAN PUT REMOVE THAT EXCEPTION. I DID ALSO WANT TO THROW OUT A SUGGESTION FROM A BOARD MEMBER WAS. AGAIN, THIS DOCUMENT DOES SPECIFY THAT OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING SHOULD BE ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY OF THE MONTH. THERE WAS A SUGGESTION TO HAVE THE JULY AND AUGUST MEETING SET.
THERE WAS THEN ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE THE CONTRACTS OR THE DOCUMENTS READY YET. SORT OF THAT SECOND OR FOURTH MONDAY OF JULY OR THEN THAT FOURTH MONDAY COULD INTERFERE WITH THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. IF WE WERE TO DO THAT FOR AUGUST. BUT I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE THAT THAT WAS A SUGGESTION. SO IN JUNE, WE HAD ALL KINDS OF MEETINGS FOR THE BUDGET. THOSE WEREN'T LIMITED TO THE SECOND AND FOURTH, AND MOST OF US MANAGED TO BE HERE FOR EVERYTHING. YEAH. AND ALSO I, I WILL SAY AS THIS IS WRITTEN, THIS DOES SPECIFY ALL OPEN BOARD BUSINESS MEETINGS. SO WHEN WE WERE, WHEN WE DID THE SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH PROCESS, WE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS IN WHICH WE HAD AN OPEN MEETING THAT WAS THEN ATTACHED TO A CLOSED SESSION. IF YOU MISS THOSE MEETINGS OR VIRTUAL ON THOSE, THAT WOULD NOT COUNT TOWARDS THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A BOARD BUSINESS MEETING ATTACHED TO THE CLOSED SESSION. SO I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT MAKE THAT CLEAR. AND AGAIN, WE HOPEFULLY ARE NOT GOING TO BE SEARCHING FOR ANOTHER SUPERINTENDENT, SO WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. BUT THAT DOES GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF LENIENCY THERE.
IF THERE IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE, JUST BECAUSE THE NATURE OF OR THE VOLUME OF MEETINGS THAT WE HAD IN THAT TIME. OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? ARE WE MOVING THAT TO THE WORK SESSION? NO, I'D LIKE TO MOVE IT TO THE WORK SESSION. OKAY.
I'VE GOT IT CIRCLED. OKAY. THE NEXT THE NEXT AMENDMENTS ARE DEFINITELY CLERICAL IN NATURE.
THIS ONE UNDER THE MAYBE MAYBE CONFERENCE, JUST SPECIFY IT GIVES LESS SPECIFICATION ON WHEN THE CONFERENCE TYPICALLY OCCURS. SO FOR THIS YEAR IT IS NOT IN SEPTEMBER NOR IT ISN'T, NOR IS IT IN OCEAN CITY. SO THIS IS JUST SHARING THAT THE THE CONFERENCE IS IN THE FALL, BUT THAT IT IS NOT ALWAYS AT THAT TIME OR THAT LOCATION. AND THEN FOR THE NSBA, IT IS JUST AGAIN SPECIFYING THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL CONFERENCE, BUT ELIMINATING THAT THAT TIME, BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY UP TO US WHEN THE TIME IS, IT'S UP TO THEM. WE ARE AGAIN ADDING A COMMA IN AFTER LODGING IN THE PARAGRAPH BELOW WHERE WE STRIKE THE SECTION ABOUT EARLY APRIL.
AND THEN FOR THE THE EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT SECTION. THIS IS BRINGING US A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT FARTHER INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, BECAUSE FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, WE DO NOT RECEIVE A PHYSICAL CHECK. IT IS DIRECT DEPOSIT. SO SPECIFYING THAT WE HAVE PAYMENT OF $300.
THERE WAS THEN A SUGGESTION TO STRIKE THE 3600 FIGURE AND JUST SAY THAT WE RECEIVED THE YEARLY PAYMENT. FOR MYSELF, MISS MILLER, WE. WE WILL NOT RECEIVE $3,600 THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ON THE BOARD FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. AND THE. THE OUTGOING MEMBERS WILL ALSO NOT RECEIVE $3,600, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT SERVE THE ENTIRETY OF OF THIS YEAR. SO
[01:20:03]
AGAIN, JUST JUST CLARIFYING WHERE POSSIBLE. BUT YEAH, ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PAGE. OKAY.WE ARE ALMOST THERE. ACTUALLY, I GOT A QUESTION HERE. OKAY. MIGHT BE LEGAL, BUT THE. SAYS IF A BOARD MEMBER INCURS EXPENSES WHICH EXCEED THE $300 MONTHLY AMOUNT, THE BOARD MEMBER MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR SUCH EXPENSES. I, I SUGGEST THAT WE JUST REMOVE THAT LIKE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW, I THINK BOARD MEMBERS NEED TO STAY WITHIN THAT BUDGET AND NOT, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S LAW. I JUST THINK THAT'S JUST TOO MUCH ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR US TO. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE REALLY GO ABOVE THAT EVER. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A LEGAL THING OR, OR WHAT OTHER FOLKS THINK, BUT I WOULD I WOULD SUGGEST JUST REMOVING THAT PIECE. MY ONLY COMMENT ON THAT, AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US HAVE EVER ASKED FOR MORE THAN 300. BUT AS GAS PRICES CONTINUE TO GO UP AND PEOPLE ARE REQUIRED TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTY GOING DIFFERENT PLACES, WE MAY AT SOME POINT HAVE A BOARD MEMBER WHERE THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THEM. ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THINK OF SOMEBODY WHO LIVES OUT BY NORTHVILLE AND STUFF COMING DOWN. IT'S NOT THAT YOU CAN JUST PUT IN FOR THAT REIMBURSEMENT. IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BEFORE YOU CAN GET REIMBURSED FOR IT. SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU JUST SUBMIT AND GET PAID. IT HAS TO BE APPROVED.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO THINK THAT BECAUSE SOMEBODY LIVES FAR AWAY AND THEY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, THAT THAT WOULD BE A REASON WHY THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD, I AGREE. THE VALUE OF THE REIMBURSEMENT IS CODIFIED IN COMAR. I DON'T HAVE MY FINGERS ON IT RIGHT NOW, BUT EACH COUNTY DISCUSSION, YEAH, WE CAN THINK ABOUT A DOLLAR VALUE THAT WE CANNOT EXCEED BY LAW. SO. MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT IN THE PAST THEY HAVE HAD BOARD MEMBERS. AND I, I MEAN, PRIOR TO THE TIME I WAS ON THE BOARD THAT THEY HAVE HAD BOARD MEMBERS THAT KEPT TRACK OF EXPENSES AND DID EXCEED THE 300. I THINK THE WAY THAT THE LAW IS WRITTEN IS IT IS THE 3600 TOTAL WHICH WE HAVE TAKEN THE THE INITIATIVE TO BREAK THAT INTO EQUAL INSTALLMENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK THE 300 PER MONTH IS WHAT IS IN THE LAW. IT'S JUST THE TOTAL. SO TECHNICALLY YOU COULD BE REIMBURSED FRONT LOADED IF YOU WENT SOMEWHERE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR, YOU COULD GET $1,000 REIMBURSED. THAT'S A GOOD POINT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT BECAUSE YOU HAVE WE HAVE BROKEN IT TO BE 300 PER MONTH BECAUSE THOSE ARE EQUAL INSTALLMENTS. BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE LAW SAYS. A QUESTION DOES THAT INCLUDE TRAVEL FOR CONFERENCES AND CONFERENCE? I DON'T BELIEVE SO. I THINK IT'S IT'S JUST THAT THERE'S JUST A BLANKET STATEMENT THAT BOARD MEMBERS SHALL BE REIMBURSED. THE TOTAL, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 3600 STILL. AND WE HAVE HISTORICALLY BROKEN THAT UP INTO EQUAL INSTALLMENTS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SPECIFIES WHAT FOR OR REQUIRES THE EQUAL MONTHLY PAYOUTS. THANK YOU.
THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MADE CLEAR BEFORE. WELCOME. I CAN CONFIRM THAT BEFORE THE WORK SESSION AS WELL. OKAY, WE'RE ALMOST THERE. THIS IS MAYBE. MAYBE WE ARE AGAIN CONTINUING WITH THE CLARIFICATION OF THE THE SECTION ON OUR PAYMENTS. AND THEN UNDER E, THIS IS JUST CAPITALIZING PRESIDENT. SO I HAD CONFERRED WITH JILLIAN LATER ABOUT THE COMMUNICATIONS AND WAS NOT. WE HAVE NOT TALKED SINCE I HAD DONE THAT. BUT SHE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WE HAVE A SECTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I HAVE SOME CLARIFICATIONS ON THIS SECTION. I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS MORE. I DON'T WANT TO JUST TRY TO DO THAT TONIGHT.
OKAY. DID YOU GET THAT IN TIME FOR THE WORK SESSION? OH OF COURSE, OF COURSE. JUST MAKING NOTES. IN SECTION F, THIS IS JUST IF IF WE DO PASS THE VIRTUAL ATTENDANCE AMENDMENT, THIS IS JUST SPECIFYING THAT YOUR FAILURE OR TO TO BE REMOVED, YOU WOULD HAVE TO FAIL TO ATTEND IN PERSON WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE OF AT LEAST 75% OF THE SCHEDULED MEETINGS. THIS IS AGAIN SPECIFYING THAT WE ARE NO LONGER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, BUT WE ARE APPOINTED BY THE HARFORD COUNTY EXECUTIVE. AND IT ALSO BREAKS UP THE SECTIONS AND GIVES THEM
[01:25:03]
SUBSECTIONS. AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE ADDING A COMMA UNDER THE MPIA SECTION. WE ARE ADDING A COMMA IN SUBSECTION B AT THE TOP AFTER EMAIL AND BETWEEN EMAIL AND SHOULD. INSTEAD OF.INSTEAD OF ESTABLISHING IN THE HANDBOOK THE TITLE OF OUR NEWSLETTER. THIS IS JUST CLARIFYING TO SAY THAT COMMUNICATIONS ARE ISSUED BY THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS VIA EMAIL NEWSLETTERS SO THAT IF YOU KNOW THAT WEEK BETWEEN CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT INFORMATION FOR US TO SHARE. SO JUST GIVING THEM A LENIENCY TO NOT SEND A REPORT AT THAT TIME. MOVING ON ON OUR BOARD STAFF COMMUNICATION IN SECTION D, THIS INSTEAD OF REQUIRING A QUARTERLY QUARTERLY REPORTS, JUST SPECIFIES REPORTS FROM THE GENERAL COUNCIL. SOMETIMES THERE ARE THERE'S NOTHING TO SHARE. OTHER TIMES WE NEED MULTIPLE REPORTS. SO THIS JUST GIVES THE LENIENCY OF REPORTS AS NEEDED. I DON'T SEE ANY COMMENT CHANGES ON HERE. OKAY. AND FINALLY WE FOR THIS DOCUMENT DO NOT ACTUALLY CURRENTLY HAVE ANY MECHANISM FOR AMENDING IT. SO ANY AMENDMENTS THAT ARE DONE PRIOR TO PASSING AN AMENDMENT TO AN AMENDMENT PROCESS WOULD SIMPLY BE A DECISION OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY. THERE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTIONS FROM THE BOARD TO MAKE THIS A SUPERMAJORITY TO EDIT THIS DOCUMENT. SINCE OUR HANDBOOK OPERATES SORT OF AS OUR BYLAWS, ROBERT'S RULES HAS A HIGHER THRESHOLD FOR THAT. AND THEN UNDER THE SPECIFICATION, UNDER THIS PROCESS, THE BOARD PRESIDENT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUBMIT THE SUBMIT EVERYTHING TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE TO THE INTENDED MEETING IN WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THE IN WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS THAT GIVES THE BOARD PRESIDENT THEN TIME TO RUN IT PAST LEGAL. OTHER DEPARTMENTS, ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE. JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IT COMPLIES WITH THE LAW. AND THEN THOSE AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS AT LEAST 14 DAYS PRIOR TO THAT MEETING, SO THAT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO READ THROUGH THE AMENDMENTS AND DELIBERATE AND DISCUSS WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD, UP TO THE BOARD FOR DISCUSSION. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WALKING US THROUGH ALL OF THAT. SO I THOUGHT A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT I BROUGHT UP ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXCEEDING EXPENSES AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT DRIVER BROUGHT UP REGARDING THE FACT THAT IT'S REALLY SPECIFIED AS $3,600 A YEAR, NOT ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE COULD SPECIFY OVERAGES, ANNUAL BASIS. IF, IF THE BOARD MEMBER DOCUMENTS EXPENSES ABOVE $3,600 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THEN THAT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, APPROVED ONCE A YEAR. YOU KNOW, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE ONE MONTH WHERE YOU HAVE $500 EXPENSES, THE NEXT MONTH, IT'S 100. THAT'S AVERAGE. SO THAT'S AVERAGE OF 300. SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP OUT THAT SITUATION, I THINK THAT THAT. I'M GOOD. LIKE I SAID, NONE OF US HAVE EVER THAT I'M AWARE OF HAS EVER ASKED FOR ANYTHING EXTRA. YEAH. IF IT'S IN IF IT'S IN THE REGS IS THAT CAP OF $3,600. NOW, COULD THERE BE A MECHANISM WHERE IF YOU'RE LIVING IN NORTHVILLE AND YOU'VE DOCUMENTED THAT YOU HAVE ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, THE TRAVEL EXPENSE TO GO FROM HERE TO THERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE MONTH OF MAY WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT EVENTS, THEN MAYBE THE ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE MADE THAT THEY CAN REQUEST THAT OVERAGE AT THAT TIME, BUT IT WOULD BE. AND RIGHT. BUT IT WOULD BE BALANCED OUT. SO I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS, JUST LIKE ANY SCHOOL BUDGET, IF I OVERSPEND ONE MONTH, BUT AT THE END, THE SHORTFALL IS GOING TO BE IN THAT LAST MONTH BECAUSE I ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TO TO USE. AND THAT WAY WE'RE NOT SKIRTING THE THE LAW ON HOW MUCH. THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. TALKING ABOUT LIKE THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE COULD TIE IT TO
[01:30:04]
THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE COULD SAY WHAT THE PERIOD JULY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TRAVEL AND A LOT OF INMATE OR CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATIONS, THAT TYPE OF THING, THAT PERSON, LET'S SAY THEY ARE INCOME LIMITED, THAT REIMBURSEMENT WILL COME QUICKLY AT THAT TIME, BUT NOT TO EXCEED THAT. SO THE STATUTE, SINCE YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF GAS, YOU KNOW, AT A TIME WHEN MY QUESTION IS, DOES ANYONE ACTUALLY KEEP TRACK OF WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING IN GAS GOING BACK AND FORTH TO ANY OF THESE PLACES? I'VE NEVER DONE IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I GO OVER, IF I DON'T, BECAUSE I DON'T PAY ATTENTION. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SINGLE CENT THAT I'M SPENDING. AND IF YOU WANT QUALITY PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND TO RUN FOR THESE POSITIONS, I DON'T THINK $300. I MEAN, WE'VE LOOKED AT BEFORE, AND NOT THAT I'M ACCEPTING OR PROMOTING IT OR ANYTHING. WE'VE LOOKED BEFORE AT OTHER COUNTIES AND THEY'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, WAY MORE THAN $300. THIS IS PENNIES COMPARED TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT. SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE MOST OFTEN COMPARED TO IS GET 17000 A YEAR. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. SO I'M SAYING $300 A MONTH FOR EXPENSES THAT WE'RE INCURRING IS NOT MUCH. SO I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE TIME TO ACCOUNT FOR EVERY SINGLE CENT THAT I'M SPENDING. TRACK YOUR MILEAGE. NO, I DON'T, SO I MEAN, I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I'M I, I GO WHERE I GOT TO GO AND I DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'RE PAID. I'LL REMIND EVERYONE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETS START. I'M NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. I'M JUST SAYING I DON'T HAVE I CAN'T I YOU KNOW, I DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT I'M SPENDING ON GAS. I GO LOTS OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE'S NO I'M A MILE AWAY. SO, SO THIS, THIS BOARD, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO SAY FOR TAX PURPOSES, YEAH, YOU DO ATTRACT FOR TAX PURPOSES. I DO HAVE THE MEETINGS THAT I COME FROM ABERDEEN. HOW MANY TIMES I GO I USE MY COMPUTER. I MEAN I USE MY ELECTRICITY AS AN OFFICE AND COPY MACHINE AND WHATEVER I DO.SO YOU DO TRACK IT. I JUST DON'T SUBMIT IT BECAUSE WE ONLY GET THE 300. SO YOU LIVE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE. BUT IF I IF I AVERAGED IT OUT, YES, IT WOULD BE MORE. BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I DON'T IN TERMS OF REIMBURSING FOR TRAVEL. I MEAN, IF OUR ASSIGNMENT IS TYPICALLY IT'S FROM YOUR HOME TO YOUR WORK LOCATION, WHICH WOULD BE HERE. AND THEN FOR ADDITIONAL TRAVEL, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO BE NET WHATEVER YOU TYPICALLY WOULD TRAVEL TO THIS PLACE. SO THEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING FROM AFTER THIS MEETING, WE HAVE TO HOLD A GROUP THING IN ABERDEEN. THEN THE MILEAGE FROM HERE TO ABERDEEN WOULD WOULD. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY KEEPS TRACK OF IT. RIGHT. BUT I'M JUST SAYING NOT MAYBE NOT ON THIS THIS THIS SEATED BOARD, BUT THAT AS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST, THERE HAVE BEEN BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE TRACKED IT, HAVE EXCEEDED HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED IN THE PAST. THIS WOULD JUST SIMPLY TIGHTEN THAT UP, THAT THAT THAT GIVES SOME ALLOWANCE FOR, YOU KNOW, A BOARD MEMBER, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALREADY IN THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, INCURRING A ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR WHATEVER REASON TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT OR I GUESS THE BOARD. CAN I JUST ASK A POINT OF CLARIFICATION? CAN A BOARD MEMBER BE REIMBURSED OVER $3,600 A YEAR? YES. SO HARFORD COUNTY, IN THE EDUCATION ARTICLE, OUR LEGAL REQUIREMENT IS 3600 ANNUALLY. SO I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE CALENDAR YEAR, NOT SCHOOL CALENDAR YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT DEFINED. THE 3600 ANNUALLY DOES COVER TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES, SO LONG AS THOSE EXPENSES ARE RELATED TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD, THE STUDENT MEMBER SPECIFICALLY DOES GET 12 EQUAL INSTALLMENTS, SO OTHER THAN HER, THE REST OF YOU GET 36,000 OR 3600 A YEAR.
THERE IS A CAVEAT THAT, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE BOARD, A NON-STUDENT MEMBER MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES. SO LET'S BACK UP JUST A SECOND, SAID THE STUDENT MEMBER IS REIMBURSED PAYMENTS TO A NON-STUDENT MEMBER. SORRY. I'M SORRY. BEFORE THAT, THOUGH, YOU'RE CORRECT. THAT WAS A MISSTATEMENT. SO NON-STUDENT MEMBERS 3600 ANNUALLY FOR TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES. PAYMENTS TO A NON-STUDENT MEMBER. AGAIN, ALL OF YOU. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY SHALL BE PAID IN 12 EQUAL INSTALLMENTS, SOMETHING THAT WAS CODIFIED IN 2023. SO IT IS EQUAL INSTALLMENTS NOW, HOWEVER, AND I BELIEVE WE PAY THEM AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH AUTOMATICALLY. THE 300 I KNOW IT'S THE FIRST PAY. YOU ARE ENTITLED TO ADDITIONAL TRAVEL AND OTHER EXPENSES SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF THE ENTIRE BOARD. SO GOING BACK TO YOU MENTIONED STUDENT MEMBER, THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT DOCTOR POINTON AND I WERE LOOKING AT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD REQUIRE LEGISLATION OR WHAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE STUDENT MEMBER INCURS EXPENSES JUST
[01:35:06]
LIKE THE REST OF US TRAVELING, GOING TO DIFFERENT EVENTS, WHATNOT. AND I MEAN, I WOULD ARGUE THAT OUR PREVIOUS STUDENT MEMBER INCURRED MORE EXPENSES THAN, THAN OTHER BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE HE TRAVELED A LOT, A LOT OF SCHOOLS. THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING AT. YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY UNFAIR THAT THE STUDENT MEMBER DOESN'T RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE TERM RECEIVES A $1,000 FELLOWSHIP SCHOLARSHIP. I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD KIND OF CORRECT HERE IF WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CORRECT HERE. NO. SO THAT WOULD BE A THAT WOULD BE A BILL STARTING IN THE COUNTY DELEGATION. THE COUNTY DELEGATION WOULD PASS THE BILL.THEN IT WOULD GO TO THE FULL THE FULL LEGISLATURE, WHICH AGAIN, GENERAL ASSEMBLY NEXT SESSION STARTS IN JANUARY. SO IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THERE IS TIME TO, TO FIGURE OUT AND AND FILE. BUT I DO WANT TO BRING US BACK TO ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO AMEND THIS HANDBOOK. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I DO ALSO WANT TO SPECIFY THAT PER PER STATE LAW, THE STUDENT MEMBER IS ALLOWED TO VOTE ON THE HANDBOOK CHANGES.
SO THAT'S SUPERMAJORITY THRESHOLD WOULD BE SEVEN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I THINK IT'S GREAT. OKAY. WELL THANK YOU BOARD. THANK YOU AND SOME GOOD ITEMS. WE'LL KEEP MOVING FORWARD FOR OUR WORK SESSION ON WHAT WE WANT, THE ITEMS WHERE WE HAVE GOOD DISCUSSION TO SEE
[D. Presentation on Proposed Revisions to Board Policy: 20-0002-000 School Calendar, Ms. Lauren Paige, Board President]
IF WE CAN GET THROUGH. THANK YOU SO MUCH, LILIANA. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO OUR LAST ITEM PRESENTATION ON PROPOSED REVISIONS TO BOARD POLICY 20-0002000 SCHOOL CALENDAR. SO BOARD, I WILL INTRODUCE THIS TOPIC AND THEN OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION. I DO HAVE A GRAPHIC JUST TO SHOW TO KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH. THOUGHTS ON THESE CHANGES. SO WE'LL START WITH THAT. AND THEN WE CAN GO BACK TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES. MISS ROLLO, IF YOU'RE PRESENTING THE GRAPHIC. WAS IT THE PRESENTATION SLIDE? YES. OKAY. I'LL ASK JEREMY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? CAN YOU SHOW THAT GRAPHIC, PLEASE? THANK YOU. OKAY, SO PUT THIS TOGETHER JUST TO WALK THROUGH SORT OF THE INTENT OF THE CHANGE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY STAYS WITH THE BOARD FOR THIS PROCESS. AND THE GOAL HERE IN THIS CHANGE IS FOR MORE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT AND MORE TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC.SO, SO CURRENTLY, AS OUR POLICY READS PREVIOUS MEETINGS, CURRENT RIGHT, THE SUPERINTENDENT SUBMITS A CALENDAR COMMITTEE THAT COMES TO THIS BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
THEN WE HAVE THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE MEETINGS. AND IT WAS INTERESTING IN OUR HANDBOOK, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE A CALENDAR COMMITTEE IN THERE. SO I DON'T I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK WHEN IT GOT ADDED. BUT THOSE CALENDAR MEETINGS ARE CLOSED. SO IT'S JUST A VERY PARTICULAR GROUP. THOSE CALENDARS THEN COME TO THE BOARD. WE HAVE A 60 DAY COMMENT PERIOD AND THEN WE DECIDE. SO I SEE IT AS KIND OF A CLOSED PROCESS. IT'S A LONGER TIMELINE. THE CHANGES IN THE INTENT HERE AND CERTAINLY OPEN TO TO HOW, YOU KNOW, WORDING THAT MAKES THIS CLEARER IS THE SUPERINTENDENT STAFF HOST AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT CALENDAR PUBLIC LISTENING SESSION. AND WE ALREADY YOU'VE HIT ON THAT EARLIER. WANT TO SCHEDULE IT FOR DO YOU REMEMBER THE DATE OR SEPTEMBER 8TH? SEPTEMBER 8TH. SO OPEN TO EVERYONE. THE SUPERINTENDENT, ALONG WITH STAFF, WHOMEVER THE SUPERINTENDENT DESIGNATE, DRAFTS THAT CALENDAR BASED ON THE BOARD'S GOALS, INPUT, AND THAT LISTENING SESSION, THEY THEN MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD, JUST LIKE THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE WOULD HAVE DONE. AND THE THE BOARD THEN WILL HAVE GOOD DISCUSSION. WE'LL DO AS WE ALWAYS DO, VOTE ON ANY CHANGES AND SELECT THE CALENDAR FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT PUBLIC COMMENT GOES OUT FOR 30 DAYS, AND THEN IT COMES BACK TO US FOR OUR DECISION. AND WE WILL MAJORITY VOTE, MAKE ANY DECISIONS. SO THAT'S THE INTENT. IT'S ALSO STREAMLINED THIS PROCESS WITH HOW THE BUDGET WORKS, RIGHT? SO THE BUDGET COMES BEFORE US FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE MAKE VOTES AS A BOARD ON HOW WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD. SO I'M ALSO LOOKING AT IT TO STREAMLINE HOW WE DO THE BUDGET. AND I BELIEVE
[01:40:05]
IN ENGAGES OUR COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THIS. THIS CLOSED CALENDAR COMMITTEE.SO THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS. IF YOU WANT TO PULL THE POLICY BACK UP AND I'LL JUST KIND OF OPEN IT UP FOR BOARD COMMENTS. ONE SUGGESTION I DID HAVE IS THAT WE DO PUT IN THERE THAT AN OPEN FORUM MUST BE HAD, RIGHT? IT'S THE WHY WE'LL DO THAT. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD TO ADD.
THAT WE HAVE A CALENDAR LISTENING SESSION AT THE VERY BEGINNING, I THINK WOULD BE GOOD IN THE POLICY SO THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE. THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE IS INVOLVED. WITH THE LISTENING SESSION. ISN'T IT LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT CAN ATTEND STILL? NO. I THINK LIKE WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST FOR BUDGET, WE THE ENTIRE BOARD CAN BE IN ATTENDANCE. WE'RE JUST NOT RIGHT. SO THE ENTIRE BOARD CAN ATTEND. I THINK BEFORE WE'VE JUST SAT IN THE AUDIENCE, WE CAN SIT UP HERE JUST LIKE WE'VE DONE FOR BUDGET. WE JUST DON'T WE'RE NOT ENGAGING. RIGHT. BUT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY ATTENDING. OKAY. YVONNE, OR I'M NOT SURE WHO HAD THE IF YOU COULD PULL THE POLICY CHANGES BACK UP.
WE COULD MAYBE PUT IN AN OPENED IF YOU SEE A BETTER PLACE FOR IT.
BUT IN ITEM A THAT THE THE PUBLIC SESSION, YOU KNOW, IS IS HELD, WE CAN PUT A TIME FRAME OR FOR THE PUBLIC AND THAT THE ENTIRE BOARD WILL ATTEND, I THINK IS A GOOD ADD OPEN TO OTHER THOUGHTS. I, I AGREE ALL ABOUT THE OPEN, TRANSPARENT, YOU KNOW, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND EVERYTHING AND THE FEEDBACK, BUT I DO NOT AGREE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT SHOULD SHOULD DEVELOP THE CALENDAR RECOMMENDATIONS. IT'S DICTATED THAT IT IS THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT. AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IN DELEGATING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. YOU KNOW, I DON'T I DON'T I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH DELEGATING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. I HEAR THAT POINT. I DON'T SEE US AS DELEGATING OUR RESPONSIBILITIES RIGHT NOW. IT'S A COMMITTEE, RIGHT. AND ONLY FOUR MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE. SO THIS IS OPENING IT UP TO WAY MORE PARTICIPATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY THAN A CLOSED COMMITTEE THAT COMES BEFORE. I AGREE WITH THAT. I'M NOT SAYING THAT I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT. I'M SAYING THAT IF IF THE BOARD SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND DEVELOP THE CALENDAR. BECAUSE I. I DON'T AGREE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD DEVELOP THE CALENDAR WHEN IT'S DICTATED THAT THE BOARD DOES THAT. WE'RE STILL VOTING ON IT THOUGH. I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S PART OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD. IN THE PAST, IT'S BEEN BASICALLY JILLIAN. AND THEN WE HASH OUT CHANGES. SO YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT WE'D HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE THING BY COMMITTEE? I THINK THAT'LL GO SMOOTH. I MEAN, IT NEVER GOES SMOOTH, NO MATTER HOW IT'S FORMULATED. I'M JUST SAYING. I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ON THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST THREE, YOU KNOW, FOUR YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR SEVEN. SO YEAH. SO IT NEVER GOES SMOOTH. THERE'S ALWAYS DISAGREEMENTS. SO I FEEL LIKE I THINK THE, THE IDEA OF HAVING THE SUPERINTENDENT DO THAT WAS JUST A FRAMEWORK TO WORK FROM. IT WAS JUST GIVING US. I MEAN, JILLIAN HAS ALWAYS DONE IT IN THE PAST. SHE'S GIVEN US THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE WORKED OFF OF.
AND I THOUGHT WHILE IT SAYS THE SUPERINTENDENT, I THINK THAT'S INDICATIVE THAT THIS IS THE STAFF, THE STAFF WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF IS NOT ONE PERSON. IT'S ALSO VERY CAREFUL IN RECOMMENDATIONS. RIGHT. IT'S CALENDAR RECOMMENDATIONS. YES. FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, JUST LIKE THE BUDGET, ITS BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME BEFORE THIS BOARD WITH THE GOAL OF OF MORE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AND AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT I SEE IT AS AN EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT IN THAT THE SUPERINTENDENTS TEAM THAT SHE WOULD PUT TOGETHER TO RECOMMEND THE CALENDAR WOULD ALREADY BE APPRIZED OF THE TESTING CALENDAR OF THEIR NEGOTIATED STAFF DEVELOPMENT DAYS FOR THEIR IN PLANNING TIMES FOR THEIR STAFF AND THEIR THE CALENDAR OF THE 45 DAYS FOR THE MARKING PERIOD. THEY HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION. AND SO WE COULD SET PARAMETERS OF, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE THINGS ARE ADHERED TO IN THAT CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO AND ADHERING TO JUST THE FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIRED HOLIDAYS THAT'S IN COMBER. AND THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION
[01:45:04]
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, OTHER SUGGESTIONS. AND AGAIN, IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY THE BOARD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE FINAL APPROVAL, BUT I SEE IT AS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT BECAUSE IF WE'RE ASKED TO DO THAT SAME WORK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SIT DOWN AND SAY, OKAY, WE NEED YOUR ASSESSMENT OFFICE TO TELL US HOW THEY'RE SCHEDULING THIS, AND THEN WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PD OFFICE. SO TO ME, THAT'S JUST MORE DELAYS. AND I THINK UNLESS DOCTOR MACK THINKS WE'RE PUTTING MORE WORK ON HER, I THINK IT WOULD INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF APPROVING A CALENDAR. NO I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK THAT THE KEY PIECE IS EFFICIENCY. AND THEN I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE HAD SOME SNAFUS WITH THE CALENDAR. AND I THINK THAT THERE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE MORE PEOPLE THAN EVER. I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER BEEN A PART OF A SUPERINTENDENT THAT HAS HOSTED A CALENDAR NIGHT. AND SO AS WE'RE LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO ENHANCE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT, I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, AND I ALSO THINK THAT IT PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST HAVE THE PROFESSIONALS AT THE TABLE AND ELEVATE THE TEACHING PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE AWARE OF, AS MISS MILLER TALKED ABOUT, THE CALENDAR NEEDS, THE NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS IN TERMS OF THE QUARTER. THOSE THINGS CAN DEFINITELY OCCUR AS THEY HAVE BEEN, BUT THAT WASN'T EFFICIENT. THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SLIDE. THEY WERE CLOSED. THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY BY OPENING UP AND HAVING MORE OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ABOUT THE BUDGET. I JUST THINK IT GIVES INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TRANSPARENCY EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT, AND I'M OPEN FOR THAT. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THE TRANSPARENCY PART AND THE DISCUSSION. I JUST HAVE A ISSUE WITH IT SAYING THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DEVELOP CALENDAR RECOMMENDATIONS JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, AS A AS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE BOARD, I FEEL LIKE I'M DELEGATING MY RESPONSIBILITIES AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M WILLING TO DO. SO I THINK THE THE KEY HERE IS THAT IT'S THE FIRST STEP. SO IT'S TRULY JUST A SUGGESTION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT WITH WHAT WHAT COMPLIES WITH STATE HOLIDAYS, WHAT COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL HOLIDAYS AND WHAT WOULD ACTUALLY WORK FOR OUR SYSTEM, WHAT INCLUDES PREVIOUS, YOU KNOW, DAYS OFF, PREVIOUS HALF DAYS OFF, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE MOSTLY A NEW BOARD COMING IN SOON. THAT CONTINUITY I THINK IS, IS GOOD FOR THE SYSTEM. HAVING THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT DAYS WE HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD.I MEAN, I REMEMBER WHEN SPRING BREAK WAS JUST THE FRIDAY AND MONDAY AFTER, WHERE, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE STUDENTS THE ENTIRE WEEK OFF FOR SPRING BREAK, I MEAN, THAT IS JUST SUCH AN IMPROVEMENT FROM WHERE WE WERE. AND I KNOW THAT TOOK A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT. AND I, I DO HOPE THAT WITH THIS MODEL, IT DOES LIVE UP TO ITS STANDARD.
AND WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THE PROCESS, SHARING. I DID JUST HAVE ONE SORT OF CLARIFYING QUESTION ON WHAT THE INTENT WAS FOR MOVING THE, THE 60 DAY REQUIREMENT DOWN TO 30. I THINK IT'S THE THE TIMELINE TO GET A CALENDAR TO THE PUBLIC SOONER. I THINK IT'S, HEY, WHEN IS SPRING BREAK? I WANT TO MAKE PLANS. AND WE HOPE THAT THE. AND WHEN WE PUT IN THE LANGUAGE FOR THE LISTENING SESSION FIRST, YOU'RE ALSO BUILDING IN. IT WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC SOONER THAN BY THE TIME IT GETS TO US. AND THEY HAVE 30 DAYS. SO YOU STILL HAVE 60 DAYS. IT'S JUST MORE ON THE FRONT SIDE AND THEN THE BACK. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YEAH. NO, IT'S ALIGNING WITH POLICY. AND THERE'S ANOTHER. YEP. JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION.
NO GOOD QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. IF NOTHING FURTHER BOARD I WILL I DO WANT TO MAKE THAT ONE AMENDMENT TO HOLDING THE LISTENING SESSION. WORK ON THAT TOMORROW. AND THEN IT WILL GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC FOR 30 DAYS. AND WE WILL VOTE ON THIS AT THE SECOND MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. SO
[Future Meetings Review]
IN CLOSING, OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS A WORK SESSION. IT* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.