[A. Student Presentation: Harford Academic Challenge 2025 - 2026, Mr. Benjamin White, AP Biology Teacher/Academic Team Coach, Fallston High School]

EVENING, WE HAVE THE HALFORD ACADEMIC CHALLENGE 20 FOR 2025 2026, AS WE'LL HAVE MISS MARYBETH STAPLETON, MANAGER OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, WHO WILL INTRODUCE MR. BENJAMIN WHITE FOR HIS HALFORD ACADEMIC CHALLENGE PRESENTATION. AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY UP, LILIANA, IF YOU MISS. NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND WE'LL BEGIN YOUR PRESENTATION. ABSOLUTELY. TONIGHT'S STUDENT GROUP IS REALLY ONE NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC CHALLENGE IS A COUNTY WIDE PROGRAM THAT BRINGS TOGETHER ACADEMIC TEAMS FROM EACH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TO COMPETE FOR THE ULTIMATE KNOWLEDGE SHOWDOWN.

THANKS TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH HARTFORD TV, THIS PROGRAM IS TELEVISED AND POSTED TO YOUTUBE ONCE A MONTH. THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC CHALLENGE IS ENTERING ITS SECOND YEAR, BUT IT'S NOT A NEW CONCEPT FOR HTTPS. HTTPS IS ACADEMIC TEAMS HAS BEEN AROUND FOR DECADES, COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER AT THE ANNUAL COUNTY TOURNAMENT AND ON THE OLD IT'S ACADEMIC SHOW, WHICH AIRED ON WJZ. WHEN THE TV SHOW WENT OFF THE AIR, MR. BEN WHITE PICKED UP THE PIECES AND CREATED THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC CHALLENGE. AS WE SEE IT TODAY. I WAS ON THE HARTFORD ON THE FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL ACADEMIC TEAM FOR FOUR YEARS, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST CLUBS I JOINED. I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. WHITE FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I WILL PASS IT OVER TO YOU GUYS. GREAT.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. PRESIDENT PAIGE, VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL, DOCTOR MACK AND BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS MARY BETH STAPLETON, MANAGER OF FAMILY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MR. BENJAMIN WHITE, OUR BIOLOGY AND AP BIOLOGY TEACHER AT FALLSTON HIGH SCHOOL AND ALSO A PROUD COACH OF THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC TEAM. AND WE ARE HERE WITH OUR VALUED PARTNER, MISS KELLY JARRAR, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HARTFORD TV. SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO MR. WHITE TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW ABOUT THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC TEAM. HI, GUYS. WHEN COVID BLEW EVERYTHING UP, THE IT'S ACADEMIC SHOW, WHICH HAD BEEN GOING FOR 38 YEARS OR SO, FOLDED UP SHOP, IT WAS NOTHING. AND ALL OF THE IN-PERSON TOURNAMENTS THAT WE WERE GOING TO ALSO STOPPED. AND EVEN WHEN THE SCHOOLS OPENED UP AGAIN, NOTHING HAPPENED. SO I WAS AFRAID THIS WAS THAT THE THAT THE ACADEMIC TEAM WAS GOING TO ESSENTIALLY DISAPPEAR, YOU KNOW, OFF INTO THE ETHER. AND SO I GOT SOME OF THE OTHER COACHES TOGETHER AND WE DECIDED TO DO SOME, SOME IMPROMPTU MEETS LATER ON IN THE IN THE THING THERE, IT HAS THE HARTFORD ACADEMIC LEAGUE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT. WE PARTNERED WITH THE SPEECH AND DEBATE TEAMS AND STARTED JUST MEETING AND HOSTING LITTLE TOURNAMENTS, USING OLD QUESTIONS AND STUFF THAT THE KIDS HADN'T SEEN AT THE AT THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WE HAD ALL EIGHT TEAMS SHOW UP, AND I'VE BEEN BUGGING KELLY AND HARTFORD TV FOR MANY YEARS TO TELEVISE THE PLAYOFFS, AND MOSTLY THAT WORKED. WE DIDN'T GET IT ON THE YEAR OF THE COVID SHOWED UP, AND A COUPLE OF OTHER TIMES THE CAMERAMAN COULDN'T BE THERE OR SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT ABOUT WHAT, 12 OUT OF 15 TIMES? I

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THINK, YOU KNOW, YEARS WE HAD THOSE PLAYOFFS GET GET TELEVISED OVER THE SUMMER REPEATEDLY. AND THAT'S WHERE THIS GREW OUT OF KELLY CAME TO ME AND SAID, LISTEN, WHY DON'T WE TALK ABOUT DOING A SHOW? AND I SAID, YOU KNOW. AND SHE SAID, WHAT, WHAT FORMAT WOULD YOU LIKE? AND I, I'M NOT THAT CREATIVE. AND, AND ITS ACADEMIC FORMAT WAS ALREADY SOMETHING THAT I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH. I SAID, WELL, LET'S JUST WE'LL DO THAT. AND SO THAT'S WHAT I STARTED TO DO. AND, AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE ARE I HAVE VERY SIMPLE SLIDES. THIS IS OUR FIRST, THE FIRST EVER EPISODE BETWEEN C MOULTON AND FALLSTON AND I, I CALLED BOB JAMES FROM C MOULTON AND HE SAID, SURE, I'LL BE THERE, BECAUSE WE HAD NO PRECEDENT AS WHAT WE WERE DOING HERE. AND WE SORT OF MADE IT UP ON THE, ON THE FLY. THE SECOND EPISODE WAS BETWEEN BEL AIR AND HAVRE DE GRACE, AND THEN THE THIRD EPISODE WAS ABERDEEN AND NORTH HARFORD.

RIGHT. WE INVITED SOME OTHER TEAMS. NOT EVERYBODY COULD BE THERE. THEN WE STARTED GOING AROUND AGAIN. HARFORD TECH AND PATTERSON MILL, BEL AIR AND FALLSTON WITH EPISODE FIVE AND EPISODE SIX. I THINK THERE'S A CLIP ON THIS THAT SHOWS THE KIDS TALKING ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHY THEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WHAT THEY DO. I'M NOT SURE IF I MADE IT. OH YEAH, THERE IT IS.

HERE. OH, CRUD. HOW DO I MAKE IT WORK? RIGHT. 100 AND SEE MILTON. RIGHT WITH 80. ALL RIGHT. LET'S MEET OUR TEAM MEMBERS RIGHT NOW. AND LET'S START OFF THAT'S JAMIE COSTELLO FROM W MA FOR ANYBODY WHO REMEMBERS YOURSELF, ELLIOT. SURE. I AM A SENIOR AT C MILTON.

RIGHT. I'M PART OF THE BEST BUDDIES PROGRAM AT MY HIGH SCHOOL. AND I'M GOING TO NYU IN THE FALL. NYU IN THE FALL. YOU KNOW WHERE NYU IS? I DO IT HAPPENS TO BE IN NEW YORK CITY.

IT'LL BE YOU'LL BE GETTING THAT ADRENALINE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. CONGRATULATIONS. YOU'RE SMART. ALL RIGHT, NOLAN, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF. I'M A JUNIOR AT C MOUNTAIN, RIGHT? HIGH SCHOOL. I'M IN MOCK TRIAL AND BAND. I'M ALSO AN NHS. HAVE YOU EVER LOST A TRIAL? ONE? ACTUALLY, WE LOST ALL OF THEM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH. WE GOT DISQUALIFIED. WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT, WE'LL TRY IT AGAIN. LISTEN. HEY, YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT. YOU'LL BE ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT. OLIVIA, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR LIFE. HI. I'M A SENIOR AT SINGLETON. RIGHT? I'M A DRUM MAJOR FOR MARCHING BAND. DO A COUPLE OF THINGS AROUND SCHOOL, SCHOOL, NEWSPAPER, ALL THAT JAZZ. AND IN THE FALL, I'M GOING TO BE ATTENDING DICKINSON COLLEGE. I ASKED YOU EARLIER, YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME A LAWYER, RIGHT? THAT IS THE PLAN. WHAT KIND OF LAW DO YOU WANT TO PRACTICE IN? ARE YOU GOING TO QUESTION MY MORALS WITH THIS ONE? I WANT TO GET CORPORATE, BARRY. ALL RIGHT. UNDER THE TABLE ON THAT ONE. YOU BETTER NOT LOSE THAT TRIAL WHEN SHE'S IN FRONT OF YOU. OKAY? OH, WE'LL BE PRACTICING TOGETHER. OH, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRACTICING TOGETHER. ALL RIGHT. WELL, HE'LL BE A WINNER. ALL RIGHT. CONGRATULATIONS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S MEET HAVERTY GRACE. GO AHEAD. SETH, I'M A SENIOR AT HAVRE DE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL. I'M AN NHS THE ACADEMIC TEAM FOR THREE YEARS. AND I DO SPRING TRACK EVERY YEAR. I'M ALSO IN THERE. IT'S A COMPUTER MAGNET PROGRAM, AND I'M PLANNING ON ATTENDING BYU IN THE FALL FOR COMPUTER ENGINEERING. OH YOU'RE SMART. THAT'S GREAT. YOU'LL HAVE A JOB FOR LIFE IN COMPUTERS. THAT IS OUTSTANDING. ALL RIGHT. FIONA. HI. I'M A SENIOR AT HAVRE DE GRACE. I AM IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS. I PLAY BASSOON, AND I'M PLANNING ON GOING TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR CYBER SECURITY. CYBER SECURITY? OH THAT'S GREAT. YOU TWO WILL HAVE A JOB FOR LIFE. VERY NICE. FIONA. ALL RIGHT, LET'S SAY HELLO TO MEGAN. MEGAN. HELLO.

I'M MEGAN GAMEL. I AM FROM HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND. I'M IN 12TH GRADE. I'LL BE ATTENDING FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE FALL, BUT I'LL BE SPENDING A YEAR ABROAD.

I AM NATIONALLY RANKED IN DIRT BIKE RACING AND THE PRESIDENT OF MY NHS FOR OUR SCHOOL. I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD A DIRT BIKE RACER IN HERE. IS THAT A CLUB? WHAT IS THAT? IS THAT A HABIT? GRACE? I KNOW THEY GOT A DIRT TRACK OUT BACK. THAT'S GREAT. OH THAT'S WILD.

HOW FAR OFF THE GROUND DO YOU GO? OH, NO. NO, IT'S FLAT TRACK. FLAT TRACK. VERY FAST IN A CIRCLE. I WEAR A HELMET. YES, ABSOLUTELY. ALL SAFETY. YOU'RE GOING TO BE A SEMINOLE. YES.

FLORIDA STATE. VERY NICE. I'M SORRY. WHAT WERE YOU WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO STUDY DOWN THERE? I'M GOING TO STUDY BIOLOGY, BUT I WANT TO BE A PEDIATRICIAN. OH THAT'S GREAT. GOOD. YOU GOT IT ALL. DIRT BIKE. OH, MAN. IT'S GREAT. WELL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU. WE GOT THE SECOND HALF TO GO.

READY? ALL RIGHT. HAVE A GREAT LEADS. 100. SEE MILTON. RIGHT. 80. AND NOW THAT'S THE END.

YEAH THAT'S THE END OF THE CLIP. YOU CAN SEE WHY I DO THIS. MOST OF THESE KIDS ARE SMARTER THAN I AM. I JUST GET TO HANG OUT WITH THEM. I MEAN, WE HAVE IN MY SCHOOL, I HAVE PRACTICE EVERY WEEK FOR AN HOUR AND I GET TO THROW OUT QUESTIONS AND THESE GUYS GET TO BUZZ IN. I, I BRIBED THEM TO COME WITH A LITTLE BUCKET OF THE CHOCOLATE MINIS BECAUSE TEENAGERS, LIKE

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DOGS ARE LARGELY FOOD DRIVEN. AND SO THEY WILL SHOW UP FOR THAT. BUT WE HAVE A GREAT TIME.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE KIDS TO REALLY SHINE IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN ANY OTHER FORMAT. YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GRADUATE, YOU SEE THE VALEDICTORIAN. YAY! THAT'S GOOD FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS. AND EVERYBODY FORGET THESE GUYS GET TO YOU GET TO SHINE. THEY GET TO REALLY SHOW UP AND SHOW OFF IN A WAY THAT THAT THEY WOULDN'T IN OTHER WAYS. I REMEMBER THE KID FROM RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE. HE'S, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE AWKWARD. AND HE HAS, YOU KNOW, AND, BUT HE AND HE'S IN ALL THESE THINGS THAT DON'T GET A LOT OF PRESS. BUT BOY, HE REALLY GOT THE SHINE ON THIS. HE GOT THE SMILE. HE GOT THE ANSWER QUESTIONS. AND THAT'S WHY I DO THIS. OKAY. AND I AM SO GRATEFUL TO KELLY TO, TO PUT THIS TOGETHER. I DON'T HAVE THE WHEREWITHAL TO PRODUCE THIS STUFF. AND HARTFORD TV HAS BEEN ALLOWING US THEY'VE BEEN BROADCASTING THIS. THAT IS MY BACKUP BUZZER SYSTEM AND THE SCOREBOARD I USE FOR THE FOR THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT. BUT THOSE ARE ALL PAID FOR IN THE PAST. SO THIS COSTS NOTHING FOR ANY OF US, JUST THE PART WHERE THE KIDS GET OVER THERE AND DO THIS. AND, AND I LOVE DOING THIS. OKAY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT ELSE YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. ANYTHING. THAT WAS GREAT.

THANK YOU. I THINK THE BOARD SHOULD SPLIT UP INTO TWO TEAMS AND DO OUR OWN ACADEMIC CHALLENGE. I CAN BE BACK WITH THE BUZZER IN AN HOUR. NO PROBLEM. I'LL EVEN BRING QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF? THAT WAS JUST A COUPLE OF OTHER EPISODES. AND THERE'S OUR HOST THERE. AND THEN THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT WAS, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THESE KIDS ARE DOING. THE COUNTY TOURNAMENT QUESTIONS ARE A LOT TOUGHER BECAUSE WE THROW REAL FASTBALLS AT THESE GUYS ON THE TV SHOW. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE SOFT BALLING IT, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, STUFF THAT NOBODY ON THAT PEOPLE AT HOME COULD IDENTIFY WITH. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PICTURES AND IT'S IN THE FORMAT OF THE OLD IT'S ACADEMIC SHOW WHERE THERE'S PICTURES AND THEN THERE'S A LIKE A POLYGON THAT THEY HAVE TO FIGURE THE AREA ABOUT. BUT IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, HYPERBOLIC TOPOLOGY, IT'S NORMAL GEOMETRY THAT NORMAL PEOPLE CAN DO, YOU KNOW, BUT AT THIS ONE, THESE GUYS BLOW THE DOORS OFF OF HERE. AND HAVRE DE GRACE ACED THIS LAST YEAR. BOY, THOSE GUYS ARE SMART. I'M TELLING YOU, LIKE I SAID, THESE GUYS ARE WAY SMARTER THAN I AM. I'M JUST START THE THE THE RACE THREE QUARTERS AROUND THE TRACK. SO YOU KNOW, WHAT THE HECK? SO THAT'S WHAT THE SEMIFINAL WAS. AND, AND ON THIS, ON THAT, ON THAT TOURNAMENT, THAT THAT THING THERE GOES BACK 40 YEARS. IT'S LIKE THE STANLEY CUP. WE HAD THE BASE BUILT SO WE COULD HAVE ALL THE TEAMS ON THERE, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY GETS ONE OF THESE EVERY YEAR, A LITTLE COMMEMORATIVE PEN TO, TO COMMEMORATE THEIR PARTICIPATION, EVEN IF THEY DON'T GET TO BE IN THE PLAYOFFS OR GET TO BE ON TV. SO EVERY MEMBER GETS THE, OH, I'M SORRY, I WORE MY PIN HERE. THIS IF YOU PARTICIPATE ON THE TV SHOW, YOU GET THIS. SO I WORE THIS IN HONOR OF THAT. THAT WAS HER IDEA. SO DO WE HAVE A SCHEDULE FOR THIS YEAR FOR HARTFORD TV WHEN WE DO? YEAH, I CAN SHARE THAT. AND I HAVE ALL THE LINKS ON A, ON A WORD DOCUMENT. I COULD EMAIL YOU GUYS AND YOU GUYS CAN PUT IT UP SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THE PAST ONES. YEAH. WOULD THAT BE GOOD? YES. YEAH. THIS IS MY, THIS LAST WAS MY FIRST YEAR.

I'M STILL MAKING THIS UP AS I GO ALONG. I'M TRYING TO I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT OKAY. WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU SO YOU LET US KNOW. THANK YOU. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO HEAR ANYTHING. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SURE. THANK YOU, MR. WHITE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME TO JOIN US ON ANY SHOWS, SO PLEASE COME VISIT US. I DID, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN THE STUDIO. SHE'S IN CHARGE OF THAT. SO YEAH, IF YOU GUYS WANT TO COME, LET'S WE'LL PUT YOU ON AS A GUEST HOST OR WHATEVER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I WILL ASK MR. JEREMY

[Public Comment]

GREEN IF HE WILL PLAY OUR RULES OF ORDER. GOOD EVENING. I'M DJ RAVAGE 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 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

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MAINTAIN A RESPECTFUL ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE MEETING. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE IN PERSON. SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED ON BY THE BOARD SECRETARY. ALL SPEAKERS WILL RECEIVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK, THREE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND THREE MINUTES FOR INDIVIDUALS REPRESENTING GROUPS.

SPEAKERS MAY BE INTERRUPTED AND MAY BE GIVEN NOTICE WHEN THEY HAVE 30S LEFT. SPEAKERS HAVE REACHED THEIR TIME LIMIT. YOUR TIME WILL EXPIRE. MR. ROLLO. IF YOU WILL BEGIN CALLING ON OUR IN-PERSON PUBLIC SPEAKERS. PRESIDENT PAIGE, THIS EVENING, WE HAVE NINE SPEAKERS BEGINNING WITH JULIA FULLER, FOLLOWED BY MATTHEW MARTIN AND JEREMY MARTIN. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS JULIA FULLER AND I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE WRIGHT ATHLETIC BOOSTERS PROGRAM AT SEYMOUR WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL. I WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE AND SINCERELY THANK HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ITS CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. SO OFTEN PEOPLE STAND BEFORE A GROUP LIKE THIS TO VOICE COMPLAINT OR BRING ATTENTION TO SOMETHING THAT ISN'T WORKING. TONIGHT, I WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE OPPOSITE AND SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU. I TRULY APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH CPS AND ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES EACH DAY TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS. I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO THANK CATHY, MISS CATHY BENDIS AND MR. PAUL KLEIN, AS WELL AS MR. BRIAN PALICKI, PRINCIPAL OF MILTON WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL, MR. JOHN SIMPSON, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, AND CATHERINE CAITLIN LARAMORE, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE OFFICE OF OPERATIONS STAFF. I AM INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR HELP, FLEXIBILITY, AND SUPPORT YOU GAVE TO US BACK IN AUGUST TO GET THE STADIUM PROJECTS COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE BLAKE ELLIOTT CLASSIC. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT STRONG PARTNERSHIPS ARE KEY TO CREATING MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT LIKE MANY ORGANIZATIONS, HC IS WORKING WITH LIMITED FUNDING AND HAS HAD A DIFFICULT ADJUSTMENTS AND READJUSTMENTS TO ITS BUDGET. I RECOGNIZE THAT THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT ALWAYS EASY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE WORKING TOWARD THE SAME GOAL, PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE AND OPPORTUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. I AM GRATEFUL FOR IT TO HAVE THE PARTNERSHIPS WHO SHARE THAT GOAL, AND WHO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A TRUE PARTNER TO CMO AND WRIGHT HIGH SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS. THANK YOU. MATTHEW MARTIN. HI. MY NAME IS MATTHEW MARTIN AND I'M AN EIGHTH GRADER AT NORTH HARFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I'VE BEEN IN I WAS AN ATHLETE ON THE NORTH HARTFORD ON THE SPORTS FOR LIFE TEAM AT NORTH HARTFORD MIDDLE SCHOOL. SINCE I WAS IN SIXTH GRADE, I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOWLING TEAM, THE BOCCE TEAM AND THE HANDBALL TEAM. I DON'T LIKE THAT IT'S CANCELED BECAUSE IT MAKES KIDS FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG IN SOMETHING. IT HAS STOPPED THE KIDS WHO ARE IN SIXTH GRADE OR NEW TO THE SCHOOL, HAVING A CHANCE TO BE IN A. IN THIS SPORT, THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS WHO CAN'T PLAY IN OTHER. IN ANY OTHER SPORTS PROGRAMS, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BOWLING. BECAUSE YOU WORK AS A TEAM, YOU MAKE FRIENDS AND YOU MEET NEW. AND YOU MEET NEW PEOPLE. ONE OF MY FAVORITE MEMORIES WAS MAKING FRIENDS AND MEETING NEW TEACHERS AND HAVING SOMETHING TO DO AFTER SCHOOL.

IN CONCLUSION, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT SPORTS FOR LIFE HAS BEEN CANCELED. I HOPE THAT THERE IS A WAY WE COULD MAKE THERE BE MORE SEASONS AGAIN. JEREMY MARTIN. HI, MY NAME IS JEREMY MARTIN. I AM THE PARENT OF TWO CPS STUDENTS. I'M HERE PRIMARILY TO SUPPORT MY SON AND SOMETHING THAT HE CARES ABOUT THAT HE WANTS TO GET INVOLVED IN. AND HE, AS HE MENTIONED, HE PARTICIPATED IN IN BOWLING AND BOCCE AND HANDBALL IN SIXTH GRADE AND IN SEVENTH GRADE. AND HE WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT THE SPORTS FOR LIFE PROGRAM WAS, WAS CANCELED IN, IN, IN THIS SCHOOL YEAR. SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE CAN ALL IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, REALLY SPORTS OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BELONG, TO LEARN SKILLS LIKE TEAMWORK AND DISCIPLINE. IT HELPS THEM TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND, YOU KNOW, LEARN HOW TO

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COMPETE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IS REALLY A CRITICAL TIME FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO FEEL INCLUDED AND SUCCESSFUL. AND SO, YOU KNOW, STUDENTS LIKE, LIKE MY SON, THEY'RE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN, IN LOTS OF PROGRAMS. HARFORD COUNTY HAS GREAT RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS. AND SO, SO MY SON'S ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT, AND HE DOES IT THROUGH FOREST HILL RECREATION FOR BASEBALL. BUT REALLY SPORTS FOR LIFE REALLY KIND OF BRINGS STUDENTS LIKE MY SON TOGETHER WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. AND IT REALLY CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE PEERS TO FEEL INCLUDED AND, YOU KNOW, VALUED AMONGST ONE ANOTHER. AND SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT AND CERTAINLY IMPORTANT AT THIS AGE. AND THERE'S REALLY NOT THAT MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I REALIZE THAT YOU GUYS ARE FACED WITH DIFFICULT FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, I REALLY APPLAUD YOUR ABILITY TO KIND OF KEEP PROGRAMS LIKE ELEMENTARY BAND AND ORCHESTRA, THE HARFORD GLEN PROGRAM, PLANETARIUMS HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS, THERE IS A SPORTS FOR LIFE PROGRAM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL THAT WAS THAT WAS KEPT. SO I APPLAUD THAT YOU GUYS ARE, YOU KNOW, REALLY MAKING SOME TOUGH DECISIONS AND HARD CUTS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'D ASK THAT YOU GUYS TAKE A LOOK AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM. I KNOW THAT YOU YOU HAD TO CUT OUT ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, OR AT LEAST THAT WAS THE DECISION. MAYBE LOOK AT THE SPORTS FOR LIFE COMPONENT OF THAT. IT CAN'T BE THAT EXPENSIVE. AND SO MAYBE, MAYBE EVEN PARENTS OR FAMILIES COULD SHARE IN THAT SHARE IN THAT COST. AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NAVIGATING THESE FINANCIAL WATERS IS TOUGH, BUT REALLY THIS IS IMPORTANT TO THESE KIDS.

SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE DAVID BAUER, WILLIAM MARTINO, AND COURTNEY COLTER. GOOD EVENING. I'M DAVID BAUER. CONCERNING MCAT TEST RESULTS.

HE IS DOING FINE RELATIVE TO THE TIMES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE DETAILS GET COMPLEX.

FOR EXAMPLE, ON SLIDE FOUR OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, THERE'S A BIG TABLE OF MATH RESULTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THE PROFICIENCY PERCENTAGE MONOTONICALLY DECREASES AS YOU GO UP IN GRADE MATH THREE THROUGH EIGHT. THAT'S TRUE STATEWIDE. THAT'S NOT AN HC PROBLEM. THAT'S AN END CAP PROBLEM. THE EXPECTATIONS AND CUT LINES ARE RIDICULOUS. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ALL READ THE DETAILED REPORT LINKED FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA. THERE'S SOME SERIOUS, SERIOUS NUANCE THERE THAT THE PRESENTATION SLIDES DO NOT HAVE. FOR EXAMPLE, PAGE 21 HAS A CHART THAT SHOWS THE ALGEBRA ONE PROFICIENCY RATE BY GRADE, ALONG WITH THE TABLE OF THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TESTED IN EACH GRADE, AND BOTH OF THEM GO BACK FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THAT INFORMATION PROVIDES IMPORTANT CONTEXT. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I NOTE THAT THE TOP TWO CPS SCHOOLS BY ALGEBRA ONE PROFICIENCY PERCENTAGE BEAT EVERY SINGLE NON-MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN THE STATE. AMAZING. WE MUST BE DOING THINGS RIGHT WITH ALGEBRA. SO WHAT'S THE CATCH? GO READ THE REPORT OR MY AUGUST 9TH EMAIL WHICH TALKED ABOUT IT. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE NEED FOR NUANCE AND CONTEXT. SLIDE EIGHT OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION SHOWS CPS IS DOING MUCH WORSE THAN THE STATE ON THE GEOMETRY EXAM. HOWEVER, IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, YOU'LL SEE THAT LESS THAN 13,000 STUDENTS STATEWIDE TOOK THE GEOMETRY MCAT LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE FROM THE MORE THAN 21,000 THAT TOOK IT THE YEAR BEFORE. SO THAT 44.5% PASS RATE IS A HUGE JUMP FROM ONLY 27.5% THE YEAR BEFORE THE POPULATION CHANGED.

STATEWIDE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING THE ALGEBRA TWO EXAM ALSO WENT DOWN IN ITS SCORES WENT UP. ON THE FLIP SIDE, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING THE ALGEBRA ONE EXAM STATEWIDE JUMPED BY MORE THAN 10,000. AND WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT, IT'S AVERAGE DROPPED A BIT STATEWIDE. SO WHEN PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LOW MATH SCORES FOR MATH SEVEN AND

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EVERYTHING ABOVE THAT, IGNORE THEM, THE REAL STORY IS A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED. THANK YOU ALL. OH, HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY TO CPS. LATER THIS EVENING, THE OFFICE OF ACCOUNTABILITY WILL PRESENT THE LATEST MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PERFORMANCE. HC WILL INEVITABLY PAT THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR A 1 OR 2 PER POINT PERCENT INCREASE IN READING AND MATH PROFICIENCIES. HOWEVER, CPS STUDENTS ARE SEVERELY UNDERPERFORMING IN MATHEMATICS.

ROUGHLY ONE OUT OF FOUR STUDENTS ARE MEETING MATH PROFICIENCIES IN THIS COUNTY.

HC CLAIMS THAT 92% OF STUDENTS RECEIVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE. WHY ARE 92% OF THE STUDENT BODY BEING HANDED A DIPLOMA WHEN ONLY 28% CAN PASS THEIR MATH EXAMS? THE MATH ISN'T MATH AND CPS, A RURAL AGRICULTURAL COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND, HAS THEIR PUPILS AT 48% PROFICIENT IN MATH, NEARLY DOUBLE THIS COUNTY. HARFORD COUNTY IS ONE OF THE LARGEST TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYERS IN THE STATE. ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND. AND YET WE HAVE POOR MATH SCORES. WHERE IS APG GOING TO RECRUIT FUTURE ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS? I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO IMPORT THEM FROM OTHER STATES LIKE WE DO OUR ELECTRICITY. MAYBE ANOTHER STATE CAN BUILD US A NEW FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE WHILE THEY'RE AT IT WITH POOR MATH SCORES, IT IS TIME FOR CPS TO REFOCUS ON CORE ACADEMICS AND REMOVE ALL NON-ESSENTIAL TEACHINGS. RETURN TO THE DAYS WHEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOCUSED ON CLASS TIME AND ASSIGNMENTS TO TEACH TRADITIONAL ACADEMICS READING, MATH, SCIENCE, CIVICS AND HISTORY. THE ACADEMICS HAVE BEEN WATERED DOWN TO MAKE ROOM FOR ACTIVIST MATERIAL THAT ADDS NOTHING TO ACADEMICS. EVERY TIME THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ADDS ADDITIONAL MATERIAL, SOMETHING IS SQUEEZED OUT OF THE SYLLABUS. CPS HAS REPLACED HARD CORE MEMORIZATION WITH SCREENS THAT GIVE THE KIDS KIDS THE ANSWER. WE NEED TO RETURN TO TRADITIONAL WAYS AND TEACH CPS TO NEEDS TO ASSIST TEACHERS WITH UNRULY STUDENTS AND HAVE THEIR BACK REMOVE KIDS WHO ARE PREVENTING OTHERS TO LEARN. SO MANY SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE ADOPTED POLICIES THAT ONLY ADDRESS KIDS WHO PHYSICALLY ASSAULT OTHER KIDS OR ADULTS. STUDENTS WHO ARE DISRUPTIVE, DISRESPECTFUL, AND DISOBEDIENT TO THE EDUCATORS ARE JUST RETURNED TO THE CLASSROOMS WITH NO CONSEQUENCES. CHILDREN CANNOT LEARN IN THAT ENVIRONMENT. TEACHERS ARE WAY MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION BECAUSE OF POOR TREATMENT FROM STUDENTS AND PARENTS THAN BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL COMPENSATION. REMOVE TROUBLESOME STUDENTS. REMOVE THIS MATERIAL BAKED IN ACADEMICS, AND REMOVE SCREENS FROM THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND IT WILL FLOURISH ONCE AGAIN.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS COURTNEY COLTER AND I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE HARFORD COUNTY ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INCORPORATED. TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING SOLELY IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND A LITERACY ADVOCATE. I'VE SUPPORTED EFFORTS THAT INVEST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP LOCAL STUDENTS PURSUE A COLLEGE EDUCATION. I SUPPORT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS IN HARFORD AND CECIL COUNTIES THAT PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, ACCESS TO BOOKS THROUGH LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES, EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FOR YOUNG WOMEN, AND FOOD SECURITY.

I BELIEVE EDUCATIONAL JUSTICE IS ESSENTIAL TO BUILDING STRONG, INFORMED AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES. THIS PAST OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH OCTOBER 10TH MARKED BANNED BOOKS WEEK. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS LET BOOKS BE. PROTECT THE FREEDOM TO READ. THIS OBSERVANCE REINFORCES THE COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS TO ACCURATE HISTORY, DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND LITERATURE THAT REFLECTS THE EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITIES AND OTHER HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS. AS A PARENT AND A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I BELIEVE CHILDREN DESERVE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEMSELVES IN THE BOOKS THEY READ AND TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS. REMOVING VOICES LIMITS STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO THINK CRITICALLY, ENGAGE THOUGHTFULLY, AND DEVELOP INTO INFORMED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. I ASK THAT HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROTECT STUDENTS FREEDOM TO READ, MAINTAIN TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIBLE PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING CHALLENGE MATERIALS, AND RESPECT THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE OF EDUCATORS AND LIBRARIANS. I ALSO ASK THAT STUDENTS CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS THAT HONESTLY REFLECT THE HISTORY, CULTURES, AND LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THE

[00:30:05]

DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THIS COUNTY, THIS BEAUTIFUL COUNTY, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL NATION. I REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING STUDENTS, WORKING WITH SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES, AND ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH EVERY CHILD HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND GROW AND SUCCEED. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKERS ARE JODY TROYER, FOLLOWED BY JACKIE JOHNSON AND CHRISTINA LANOKA. HELLO, MY NAME IS JODY TROYER. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF HARFORD COUNTY AND BOTH GRADUATES OF NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE PARENTS OF TWO NATURAL RESOURCES STUDENTS. ONE IS IN THE LARGE ANIMAL STRAND AND ONE IS IN THE PLANT STRAND. THEY ARE BOTH THIRD GENERATION MEMBERS OF THE NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL FFA. MY HUSBAND AND HIS FATHER WERE BOTH FFA ALUMNI. I'M HERE TODAY TO DISCUSS THE BOARD'S RECENT. WITH THE BOARD. THE RECENT DECISION TO CANCEL THE STUDENTS TRIP TO THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION IN INDIANAPOLIS. FIRST, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT FFA AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS. FFA IS A CLUB HOUSED AT NORTH HARFORD BECAUSE OF ITS WONDERFUL AGRICULTURE PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM WAS WELL ESTABLISHED LONG BEFORE THE NRA'S MAGNET PROGRAM BEGAN AT NORTH HARFORD. FFA IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S COMPARABLE TO FOUR-H, BOY SCOUTS AND OTHER LEADERSHIP CLUBS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. IT'S ROOTED IN AGRICULTURE AND HAS THE ABILITY TO BUILD LEADERS THROUGH PUBLIC SPEAKING, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND HARD WORK. THESE QUALITIES ARE DEMONSTRATED FOR THE STUDENTS IN TWO CONTESTS SPRING JUDGING IN MARCH AND THE STATE FFA CONVENTION IN JUNE. WHEN OUR TEAMS PLACED FIRST OR SECOND, THEY EARN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THESE CONTESTS. ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, MY DAUGHTER AND I PARTICIPATED IN A ZOOM CALL WITH FFA ADVISORS AND FELLOW PARENTS AND MEMBERS, AND DURING THAT CALL, WE WERE INFORMED OF THE CANCELLATION OF THE TRIP. THE ADVISOR ADVISORS INFORMED US THAT THE TRIP HAD BEEN APPROVED AND WAS SCHEDULED TO MOVE FORWARD UNTIL THE PREVIOUS WEEK, WHEN THEY WERE NOTIFIED THAT THE TRIP WOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. WE WERE INFORMED THAT FUNDS FOR THIS TRIP WOULD BE BETTER SUITED HELPING ALL NRAS MAGNET STUDENTS, AND ALSO DUE TO THE CONFERENCE FEES IN HARFORD COUNTY, THE TEACHERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND.

THE ADVISOR STATED THEY HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH SUPERVISORS TRYING TO REINSTATE THE TRIP, BUT BEFORE REALIZING THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO INFORM THE STUDENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THEY COULD ARRANGE ALTERNATE PLANS. THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM NINE STUDENTS AND ONE INDIVIDUAL, LEAVING THEM APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS TO COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN TO GET TO INDIANAPOLIS. AS OF NOW, LUCKILY, PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO TAKE THESE TWO TEAMS AND THE ONE INDIVIDUAL TO CONVENTION. THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH THE HELP OF MANY WILLING PARENTS, CHAPERONS AND DONATIONS FROM AGRICULTURE GROUPS WITHIN THE COUNTY. AT THE END OF THE MEETING, THE ADVISORS INFORMED US THAT WE.

IF WE HAD QUESTIONS, WE WERE TO CONTACT JOE CONNOLLY, THE SUPERVISOR OF THE MAGNET PROGRAMS. I EMAILED JOE THE NEXT DAY WITH MY CONCERNS. HOW DID A TRIP GET APPROVED WITH ALL BUDGET AND RISK MANAGEMENT LEVELS, BUT ONLY TO BE UNAPPROVED LATER? MR. CONNOLLY LED ME TO BELIEVE THE TRIP WAS NEVER FULLY APPROVED, BUT OTHER INFORMATION I HAVE RECEIVED SUGGESTS THE OTHER. THAT IS UNTRUE. I AM UNDER THE IMPRESSION THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED MANY MONTHS BEFORE THE TRIP IS SCHEDULED. SO WHERE? SO WHY WERE THE STUDENTS TOLD THEY COULD NOT ATTEND THE TRIP WITH ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT? MR. CONNOLLY ALSO MENTIONED THE CONFERENCE FREEZE IN HARFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, PREVENTING TEACHERS FROM ATTENDING DUE TO THIS FREEZE. YET I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY ARE ATTENDING CONFERENCES IN THE NEAR FUTURE. SO MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE WE NOT FOCUSING ON WHAT BEST BENEFITS THE STUDENTS, AND WHERE ARE THE BUDGET FUNDS THAT WERE APPROVED FOR THIS TRIP? WHY? IF A BUDGET SUPERVISOR CAN APPROVE THESE ITEMS WHERE THEY SEE FIT, HOW CAN WE PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IN AGRICULTURE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. IT WAS VERY UPLIFTING TO HEAR THE COACHES AND STUDENTS FROM FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES SPEAK. AT THE LAST BOARD OF ED MEETING. I'VE HEARD FROM OTHERS WHAT A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION IT IS. BUT TO ACTUALLY HEAR THE COACHES THEMSELVES SPEAK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE HELPING STUDENTS THROUGH TIMES OF TRIALS AND TROUBLES WAS ENCOURAGING. AND LISTENING TO THE STUDENTS GIVE THEIR OWN TESTIMONY OF HOW THEIR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHANGED THEIR LIVES WAS INSPIRING. THE BIBLE AND PRAYER WERE REMOVED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE 1960S, AND SOCIETY HAS DECLINED TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY. HARMFUL USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, LACK OF DISCIPLINE, NO RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY, BULLYING AND A DISREGARD FOR LIFE. GOD GAVE US A FREE WILL TO MAKE CHOICES AND INTELLECT, TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO OBEY. WE ALL FALL SHORT AND DON'T OBEY THEM. AND THAT IS CALLED SIN, A THREE LETTER WORD THAT IS RARELY SPOKEN BECAUSE IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE. IT'S OUR GUILT. BUT GOD LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON TO DIE FOR US, TAKING AWAY OUR SIN AND GUILT. WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR THE SOULS OF OUR YOUTH. FCA HAS MENTORS WHO ARE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS WITH GODLY BIBLICAL VALUES. THEY LISTEN, THEY UNDERSTAND, THEY LEAD, AND THEY GUIDE THE YOUTH IN THE WAY THEY SHOULD GO. THESE STUDENTS ARE

[00:35:03]

LEARNING WHO GOD IS, HOW VALUABLE THEY ARE TO HIM, AND WHAT HIS PLANS ARE FOR EACH OF THEM. THE EMPTINESS IN THEIR LIVES IS BEING FILLED WITH THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD, TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE. THERE IS NO MY TRUTH OR YOUR TRUTH. THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUTH, AND THAT'S GOD'S TRUTH. MAYBE THE FCA PRESENTATION WILL BRING ABOUT AN INFLUX OF STUDENTS WITH A GROWING DESIRE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN REMOVED IN THE 1960S, BUT TODAY IT'S MAKING A STRONG COMEBACK. ACCORDING TO PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, IN 2019, 9.7 MILLION BIBLES WERE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES 2023 14.2 MILLION 2024 13.7 MILLION. AND IN 2025, 19 MILLION BIBLES WERE SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES, AN ALL TIME HIGH.

SO I SAY THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR MACK, AND THANK YOU TO THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WHO AGREED TO INVITE THE FCA TO GIVE THEIR PRESENTATION. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. AND MAY HE BRING ABOUT A GREAT AWAKENING IN HC. YES, WE DO NEED GOD BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS. PSALM 83. TURN US AGAIN TO YOURSELF, O GOD. MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE DOWN UPON US. ONLY THEN WILL WE BE SAVED. I KNOW I SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, I GET LOTS OF ROLLING EYES. BUT I WILL NOT CEASE MY PROTEST UNTIL OUR CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED. THEY ARE WORTH MORE THAN ANY DERISION OR INSULT.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY THAT THIS BOARD USES ITS AUTHORITY TO PROTECT THEM AT THE VERY LEAST, AND EDUCATE THEM PROPERLY, AS IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE MAIN GOAL. WE'RE LITERALLY PUTTING OUR CHILDREN AT RISK WHEN WE TELL THEM THE LIES OF GENDER IDEOLOGY. WHEN WE TELL THEM THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR GENDER, THEN THEY CAN LEAD TO PRONOUN CHANGES AND THEN POSSIBLY TO WRONG GENDER HORMONE REPLACEMENTS AND OR SELF-MUTILATION THROUGH GENDER SURGERIES. BOTH HORMONE REPLACEMENTS AND GENDER SURGERIES PRODUCE RESULTS WHICH ARE IRREVERSIBLE. THEY LEAD TO CHILDREN BEING INFERTILE TO BEGIN WITH, AND IN ADDITION, HAVING MANY LIFETIME HEALTH ISSUES THAT CANNOT BE RESOLVED. THE PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF THESE MEDICAL APPLICATIONS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHTMARE THAT THESE CHILDREN WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIMES. PSYCHOLOGICALLY, THESE CHILDREN WILL BE SCARRED FOR LIFE. THEY'LL LEARN THAT THE PEOPLE THEY LOOK THEY LOOKED UP TO IN THEIR CHILDHOOD, LIED TO THEM, AND LED THEM DOWN THE WRONG PATH. THEY'LL LEARN THAT IF THEY WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN, THAT'S NOT A CHOICE THAT THEY CAN MAKE. THEY WILL LEARN THAT CHOICES THAT THEY, AS CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO MAKE WERE ENCOURAGED BY THOSE TRUSTED ADULTS. THOSE ADULTS SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT CHILDREN'S PREFRONTAL FRONTAL CORTEX IS NOT FULLY FORMED UNTIL AROUND AGE 25, OR EVEN UP TO THE AGE OF EARLY 30S. IF A MALE. THIS IS THE REASON INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL NOT RENT TO UNDER 25 YEAR OLD DRIVERS. THE REASON WE DON'T ALLOW THOSE UNDER 21 TO DRINK. THE REASON WHY VOTING IS NOT ALLOWED UNTIL 18. ACCORDING TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC, THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX HELPS MANAGE THINKING, EMOTIONS AND BEHAVIOR BY USING EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS LIKE PLANNING, MAKING DECISIONS, SOLVING PROBLEMS, STAYING FOCUSED, AND ADJUSTING TO NEW SITUATIONS. IT ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND HELPS SWITCH BETWEEN TASKS, UNQUOTE. BECAUSE THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX IS NOT FULLY FORMED, CHILDREN CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLY GIVEN MAJOR LIFE ALTERING DECISIONS TO MAKE. WE SHOULD GIVE OUR CHILDREN OUR TIME, OUR LOVE, AND OUR GUIDANCE, TELLING THEM THAT WE SUPPORT THEM AS THEY GO THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME IN THEIR LIFE. WE SHOULD BE TELLING THEM THAT WE LOVE THEM JUST AS THEY ARE SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GUIDE YOU IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. PRESIDENT PAIGE. THAT'S ALL THE IN PERSON SPEAKERS. THERE ARE

[Board Member Comments]

NO VIRTUAL CORRECT. THERE IS NO VIRTUAL. OKAY. WE WILL MOVE ON TO BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND MISS, I'LL START WITH YOU. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

FRIDAY WAS A GREAT DAY FOR GPS. THE MORNING STARTED OFF SUPPORTING THE HARFORD COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARDS, WHICH HONORED NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL MICHAEL QUIGG WITH THE PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP AWARD, AND NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL'S ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CHRISTINA MARZULLO WITH THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP AWARD. THEN THE EVENING THAT WAS THE BIG ONE, WHICH I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL ALSO TALK ABOUT. WAS IT HARFORD COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR? MICHAEL JAMES WAS NAMED THE MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS THAT HARFORD COUNTY HAS HAD THIS HONOR. I WAS AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT FOR GPS AND THE NORTH HARFORD HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN ATTENDANCE. THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING. CAN I JUST SAY DITTO BECAUSE WE ATTENDED TOGETHER AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING DAY, SPENDING ALL THAT TIME CELEBRATING THE GOOD THAT'S GOING ON IN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND SHARING YOUR ISSUES THAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT. AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO

[00:40:01]

MATTHEW FOR COMING OUT AS A STUDENT. I ENCOURAGE STUDENTS SPEAKING UP AND I CHERISH THE STUDENT VOICE. SO I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT. AND REALLY, JUST TO KEEP IT BRIEF, I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT ON FRIDAY TO THE AWARDS, BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF HTTPS FOR MICHAEL JAMES, WINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR. SO SUPER, SUPER PROUD. THAT'S ALL FROM ME, MISS ALVAREZ. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND BEING ENGAGED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. TODAY IS THE FEAST DAY OF A REMARKABLE YOUNG MAN, CARLOS ACUTIS. HE WAS THE FIRST.

HE IS THE FIRST MILLENNIAL TO BE DECLARED A SAINT BY THE CHURCH. HE WAS A BRIGHT, ATHLETIC CHILD LIKE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT HAD A DIVINE KINDNESS THAT TOUCHED EVERYONE HE KNEW HE WAS GIFTED AND USED THOSE GIFTS TO REACH PEOPLE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY TO TELL THEM THE GOOD NEWS. YET HE WAS HUMBLE. HE WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD WHO DID NOT ALLOW HIS ILLNESS AND SUFFERING TO DISRUPT HIS JOY. I PRAY THAT SUFFERING WILL NOT PREVENT EACH OF US TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OUR WORLD HAS TO GIVE. MAY WE EXPERIENCE LIFE, EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HE OFFERS TO BE ENGAGED, CONNECTED, AND INFORMED. PLEASE ATTEND AN ATHLETIC GAME, ENJOY A CONCERT OR THEATRICAL PRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THERE'S MANY OFFERED. WATCH ONE OF THE MANY INFORMATIVE PODCASTS THAT ARE RECORDED ON TOPICS THAT WE THINK WILL BE OF INTEREST TO THE COMMUNITY. WE WANT YOU TO BE CONNECTED AND INFORMED. IT'S HARD FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO RESPOND TO EACH AND EVERY EMAIL, BUT WE KNOW THAT OUR STAFF IS ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERNS, AND I KNOW THAT I DO HAVE A FEW DUE OUT, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH ME AS I WORK TO COMPLETE ANYTHING I HAVE PROMISED. MY TERM WILL BE ENDING SOON, SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN ASSIST IN THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME. I WANT MY TIME IN OFFICE TO BE PRODUCTIVE AND SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I SERVE.

THANK YOU. SHE SWITCHED US UP ON US, DIDN'T SHE? SHE DID. SHE DID. I WANT TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYBODY AND THANKS FOR COMING OUT. ALSO TO CONGRATULATE MR. JAMES OF BEING THE MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WHICH WAS EXCITING FOR ME BECAUSE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, I'VE ATTENDED THOSE PRESENTATIONS AND IT WAS NICE TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM MARYLAND.

I ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO TO YOUR WEBSITE, TO HTTPS WEBSITE, AND TO LOOK AT THE PRESENTATION THAT DOCTOR MACK MADE TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. IT WAS DATED SEPTEMBER 29TH, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AT IT. SHE DID A FANTASTIC JOB AND MADE ME PROUD. AND, AND HAVING COME TO THIS POSITION, YOU KNOW, IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND DEALING WITH THE BUDGET AND ALL OF THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, DOCTOR MACK, FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. AND I WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT HALLS CROSSROAD BECAUSE I'VE BEEN OUT TO HALLS CROSS TO MEET CARL'S CROSSROAD, TO MEET WITH THE PRINCIPAL TO DISCUSS THE ABSENTEE RATE. AND SHE WAS TELLING ME ALL THE THINGS SHE WAS DOING. NOW, I AM NOT GOING TO TRY TO REMEMBER HOW TO PRONOUNCE PRONOUNCE HER NAME. SHE TOLD ME TO THINK ABOUT. I FORGET HOW SHE SAYS IT, BUT IT'S JANKOVIC. OH YES, BUT SHE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB IN THAT COMMUNITY. I HAD ALSO GONE TO THE MAYOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AT ABERDEEN TO ASK THEIR SUPPORT. BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED CHILD OFFENDERS IN THAT AREA AND A NUMBER OF WALKERS THAT THEY HAVE. AND SO I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO TO SEE THAT THEY REDUCED THE ABSENTEE RATE FROM 44% TO 15%. AND THEY DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB IN DOING THAT PRESENTATION AT THE STATE BOARD MEETING. AND THAT IS ALSO ON THE WEBSITE. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN MY REGION. AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT WE DO FOR THE STUDENTS IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE IT'S A IT'S AN ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE STILL GOING ON DOWN IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA AND ON WEAA AND CHANNEL. AND I WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO TO HAVE THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING HERE IN HARFORD COUNTY. AND ALTHOUGH I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING THE BOARD. BUT IF I CAN ASSIST IN ANYTHING IN THAT AREA, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME. SO THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING. I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU

[00:45:06]

DID A GREAT JOB SPEAKING. I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK AND AND YOU DID A GOOD JOB. IT'S DEFINITELY A DIFFICULT TO STAND IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE AND SPEAK. SO GOOD JOB. I ALSO WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. JAMES, OUR CPS AND MARYLAND STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR. MR. QUIGG, PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND MISS MARZULLO, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, ALL FROM NORTH HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL. I ALSO JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS EMAILED, CALLED, TEXTED, OR REACHED OUT IN ANY WAY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. I ALSO JUST WANTED TO ASK FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS I NAVIGATE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER IN SEPTEMBER. I'VE MISSED SOME IMPORTANT EVENTS IN CPS AND JUST WANTED TO OFFER AN EXPLANATION. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, ENGAGING WITH OUR THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE BOARD AND SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL THE GROUPS OUT THERE AND ALL THE ADULT VOLUNTEERS THAT WE KNOW SUPPORT STUDENTS, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH RAISING FUNDS, MENTORING, OR RUNNING IT'S ACADEMIC TYPE PROGRAMS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY. SO I LIKE THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, THE MARYLAND STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, MR. JAMES. AND HOW ABOUT THAT FOR NORTH HARFORD WITH THEIR HARFORD EDUCATION FOUNDATION'S PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR.

AND OF COURSE, MY GOOD FRIEND KAREN JANKOWIAK AT HALL'S CROSS AND ALL THAT SHE'S DONE TO GET STUDENTS INTO THE BUILDING, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO LEARNING. THEY GOT TO BE PRESENT FOR THAT. SO KUDOS TO EVERYBODY FOR THEIR HARD WORK. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS WEEK, WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMMUNICATION FROM OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PARENTS, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T GET TO RESPOND PERSONALLY TO EACH ONE, KNOW THAT YOUR VOICES ARE HEARD. WE WE DISCUSS THEM AND THAT WE APPRECIATE IT. AND OUR WORK IS MORE OF A MACRO LEVEL AT THE BIG LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE. AND THEN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS ALLOW US TO SEE THE. I CALL IT THE MICRO VIEW OF THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THE GROUND THAT WE DON'T GET TO SEE. SO WE APPRECIATE THAT PERSPECTIVE VERY MUCH. SO WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.

ALL RIGHT. I'D ALSO LIKE TO OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS TO MARYLAND'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, HARBOR COUNTY'S OWN MICHAEL JAMES FROM NORTH HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL. BUT I WANT SOME MORE BROADLY RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE EDUCATORS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND OUR ADMINISTRATION THAT MAKE THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM THE BEST IT CAN BE. EVERY DAY THERE ARE THOUSANDS AMONG US HERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT NEVER RECEIVE AN AWARD. BUT I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE EVERYONE FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THEY HAVE EVERY DAY, ALL YEAR LONG. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON SPORTS FOR LIFE COMPONENT. I PERSONALLY, AND I BELIEVE THIS BOARD IS COMMITTED TO FINDING A WAY TO BRING MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS BACK AND SPORTS FOR LIFE, AT LEAST IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND ADVOCATING FOR THAT. AND AS WE LOOK AHEAD, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STAY ENGAGED. THERE'S A FY 28 BUDGET SURVEY. YOU CAN ATTEND ONE OF DOCTOR MACK'S COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS OR PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON BOARD POLICIES. YOUR INPUT DOES MATTER. I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THAT THEME HERE THIS EVENING, AND WE HAVE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AHEAD THAT IMPACT OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, EMPLOYEES AND TAXPAYERS. SO THE STRONGER OUR PARTNERSHIP WITHCOMMUNITY, THE D WE CAN BE. AND TO MR. JAMES, THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING HARFORD COUNTY SO WELL. WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU. GRATEFUL TO YOUR SERVICE, TO OUR STUDENTS, AND EXCITED TO SEE YOU REPRESENT MARYLAND ON THE NATIONAL STAGE AS YOU CONTINUE TO COMPETE FOR THE NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS. WELL

[Dr. Dyann Mack, Superintendent's Report]

DESERVED. AND WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. AND OF COURSE, I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE MR. QUIGG AND MISS MARZULLO FOR THEIR RECOGNITION BY THE FOUNDATION FOR BEING PRINCIPAL AND EP OF THE YEAR. THEY WILL BE LEADING US WITH THOSE TITLES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO NORTH HARTFORD THIS MORNING AND THEIR LEADERSHIP, THEIR ENTHUSIASM REALLY JUST SETS THE TONE FOR THAT, THAT SCHOOL AND THAT COMMUNITY. AND SO I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. IF YOU EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET OUR MR. JAMES, HE IS AMAZING. HE HAS A PASSION FOR WHAT HE DOES. HE HAS A PASSION FOR HIS STUDENTS. AND THERE'S JUST SOMETHING REALLY ABOUT HIM AND BEING WITH HIM AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND OUR STAFF. FRIDAY NIGHT WAS BY FAR A HIGHLIGHT OF MY PROFESSIONAL

[00:50:04]

CAREER. IT WAS JUST SIMPLY AMAZING. I SAT THERE IN THAT MOMENT, AND I KNOW MR. JAMES HAD A SENSE OF PRIDE FOR HIMSELF, FOR THE NORTH HARTFORD COMMUNITY. SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF THERE, AS WELL AS FOR HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW ON NOT JUST A STATE STAGE, BUT WE'LL BE HEADING INTO A NATIONAL STAGE. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT. I'M EAGER TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. AND I KNOW THAT HE WILL REPRESENT US WELL AS HE MOVES FORWARD WITH HIS RECOGNITION. SO CONGRATULATIONS, MR. JAMES. AS HAS ALREADY BEEN STATED, WE HAVE SOME COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS COMING UP. THE FIRST ONE IS THIS WEDNESDAY AT EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE AT ABERDEEN HIGH SCHOOL ON OCTOBER THE 19TH. I'LL BE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS ABOUT WITH OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY, HOW WE CAN MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES WHEN THERE'S LIMITED RESOURCES, HOW WE CAN BETTER PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION. SO PLEASE JOIN US. AND PLEASE JUST CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES IN ORDER TO GET MORE INFORMATION. AND THEN ALSO THERE IS A BUDGET SURVEY THAT IS OUT THERE. SO PLEASE JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY, GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COLLECTING THAT FEEDBACK AND MAKING SOME VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE'RE MOVING ON OLD BUSINESS.

[B. Consent Agenda]

WE HAVE NO OLD BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS EVENING. MR. SEWELL, IF YOU WILL READ THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. SO NUMBER ONE IS CONTRACT AWARD. STUDENT LAPTOP LEASE. NUMBER TWO IS CONTRACT AWARD FOR EVALUATION DESIGN AND GRANT SERVICES FOR FIVE SCHOOLS. NUMBER THREE IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE 2026 THROUGH 2027 NEGOTIATING TEAMS FOR THE 2027 THROUGH 2028 CONTRACT YEAR. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY YES. YES YES YES. ANY OPPOSED? PLEASE SAY NO.

[C. Decision on Administrative and Supervisory Appointment, Mr. Bernard Hennigan, Deputy Superintendent for Schools]

CONSENT. AGENDA PASSES FOR NEW BUSINESS ITEM C DECISION ON ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY APPOINTMENT. I WILL NOW CALL TO THE STAGE MR. BERNARD HENNIGAN, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCHOOLS FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT SEWELL, SUPERINTENDENT MACK AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM BERNARD HENNIGAN, SUPERINTENDENT, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR SCHOOLS, AND I BRING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ONE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY POSITION FOR YOUR APPROVAL. THE DIRECTOR OF STAFF AND LABOR RELATIONS POSITION, THE DIRECTOR OF STAFF AND LABOR RELATIONS, PROVIDES STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP, OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYEE AND LABOR RELATIONS FOR HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SERVING AS THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ADVISING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION, EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND WORKFORCE MATTERS. THIS POSITION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE LABOR MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE EMPLOYMENT LAWS, REGULATIONS, BOARD POLICIES AND NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS, AND OVERSEEING EMPLOYEE INVESTIGATIONS, GRIEVANCES, ARBITRATIONS, APPEALS, DISCIPLINARY MATTERS AND EMPLOYMENT RELATED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN COLLABORATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THE CANDIDATE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BOARD FOR APPOINTMENT INTO THIS ROLE IS DANIEL J. REIMERS. MR. REIMERS BRINGS 22 YEARS OF SCHOOL SYSTEM EXPERIENCE, ALL WITHIN HARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INCLUDE CLASSROOM TEACHER, ASSISTANT, PRINCIPAL, STAFFING SPECIALIST AND TO SERVE THE PAST FOUR YEARS AS THE STAFF AND LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST. THE SUPERINTENDENT. RESPECTFULLY REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME. BOARD. THE CHAIR WILL NOW ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPOINT DANIEL REIMERS TO THE DIRECTOR OF STAFF AND LABOR RELATIONS. SO MOVED. SECOND, IF YOU WILL TAKE A ROLL CALL, VOTE MR. CURTIS. YES, DOCTOR. MUELLER. YES, MISS. NANDURI.

MR. PREFERENTIAL ONLY. MRS. MILLER. YES. MRS. HAHN. YES. MISS. BRUCE. YES. MRS. ALVAREZ.

YES. VICE PRESIDENT. SEWELL. YES. PRESIDENT. PAGE. YES. THIS MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU IN THIS POSITION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD.

[D. Presentation on Harford County Public Schools Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program Performance, Mr. Andy Wachter, Supervisor of Accountability, and Mr. Brian Powell, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services]

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO ITEM D PRESENTATION ON HTTPS MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT

[00:55:01]

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE. I WILL NOW CALL ON MR. ANDY WATCHED HER SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND MR. BRIAN POWELL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT PAIGE, VICE PRESIDENT, SEWELL, SUPERINTENDENT, MAC AND BOARD MEMBERS. MR. WALTER AND I ARE HERE AND ARE THRILLED TO JOIN THIS EVENING TO SHARE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR HTTPS MCAT PERFORMANCE FROM THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR. I AM BRIAN POWELL, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION SERVICES. I'M ANDY WALKER, SUPERVISOR OF ACCOUNTABILITY. AND BEFORE WE DISCUSS THE MCAT PROFICIENCY DATA FROM THE 2526 SCHOOL YEAR, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT MCAT ASSESSMENTS ARE ONLY ONE MEASUREMENT OF STUDENT PROGRESS.

HC ALSO USES DISTRICT WIDE LOCAL ASSESSMENTS, TEACHER PROGRESS MONITORING TOOLS, AND DAILY FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS TO GUIDE INSTRUCTION. OUR EDUCATORS WORK DILIGENTLY TO USE THIS INFORMATION TO DETERMINE STUDENTS CURRENT LEVELS OF MASTERY. PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPORT INDIVIDUALLY AND IN SMALL GROUPS. THEY ADJUST INSTRUCTION AND HELP STUDENTS MEET GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS. SCHOOL SPORT TEAMS FURTHER ANALYZE MCAT AND LOCAL ASSESSMENT DATA TO IMPLEMENT TO IMPLEMENT SCHOOL WIDE SUPPORTS, INTERVENTIONS, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, AND FAMILY RESOURCES THAT HELP IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR EVERY STUDENT. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE IS THAT MCAT HAS FOUR PERFORMANCE LEVELS. LEVEL FOUR AS A DISTINGUISHED LEARNER, LEVEL THREE AS A PROFICIENT LEARNER, LEVEL TWO AS A LEARNER, AND LEVEL ONE A BEGINNING LEARNER. THE DATA WE'RE ABOUT TO DISCUSS SHOWS THE PERCENT OF STUDENTS WHO EARNED LEVEL 3 OR 4 PROFICIENT AND DISTINGUISHED LEARNERS. IF A STUDENT DOESN'T EARN THAT LEVEL, IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY CANNOT READ OR DO MATH OR KNOW SOCIAL STUDIES OR SCIENCE. IT MEANS THAT THEY DID NOT MEET THE STANDARD CUT SCORE THE STATE SET ON THE MCAT ASSESSMENT TO SHOW THEY DEMONSTRATED KNOWLEDGE OF GRADE LEVEL STANDARDS TO THE DEGREE TO MEET THOSE PERFORMANCE LEVELS. ONE LAST THING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT MARYLAND IS IN THE MIDST OF A SIGNIFICANT TRANSITION IN ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENTS. AS MSD UPDATES RELA AND MATHEMATICS STANDARDS TO BETTER SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING. NEW CURRICULA, COURSES AND ASSESSMENTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED TO ALIGN WITH THOSE CHANGES. THE STATE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CURRENT MCAT MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT DOES NOT FULLY REFLECT THESE UPDATED EXPECTATIONS, WHICH IS WHY MARYLAND IS TRANSITIONING TO A NEW ASSESSMENT SYSTEM. WE'LL PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THESE NEW ASSESSMENTS LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MR. WALTER AND OUR ACCOUNTABILITY TEAM FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO ANALYZE OUR SYSTEM AND SCHOOL DATA, AS WELL AS THE AS THE AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT THEY PROVIDE TO SCHOOLS AROUND DATA LITERACY. I'D NOW LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MR. WALTER, WHO WILL SHARE SOME MORE SPECIFICS AROUND OUR MCAT PERFORMANCE. THANK YOU. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT GO THROUGH A COUPLE YEARS OF DATA. MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE MOST RECENT DATA THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH ELA FIRST. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S A CHART SHOWS A FIVE YEAR CHANGE IN MCAT SCORES. ELA IS INCREASED INCREASED ACROSS EVERY GRADE LEVEL OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WITH THE LARGEST GAINS OCCURRING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. GRADES SIX AND SEVEN IMPROVED BY 18.3 AND 18.9 PERCENTAGE POINTS, RESPECTIVELY, DEMONSTRATING SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH OVER THAT TIME PERIOD. MIDDLE SCHOOL MOMENTUM CONTINUED IN 2025 AND 26, WITH GRADES SIX, SEVEN AND EIGHT ALL POSTING YEAR OVER YEAR GAINS, WITH GRADE EIGHT FROM 53.5% TO 55.7%, A 2.2.2.2 POINT PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL INCREASE AMONGST ALL GRADES. ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE REMAIN STRONG, WITH GRADES THREE AND FOUR EXCEEDING 60%, PROFICIENCY IN 2025 AND 26, AND GRADE TEN REACHING A 63.9%, ITS HIGHEST LEVEL IN FIVE YEARS. HC THIS YEAR AT THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, WHEN THEY WERE PRESENTING ABOUT MCAT DATA, RECORD RECOGNIZED HARFORD COUNTY AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM LEADING IN READING. BASED ON OUR GROWTH OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, CPS RANKS SIXTH IN THE STATE AND EXCEEDS STATE PROFICIENCY AVERAGES THROUGHOUT. STRONG ELA GROWTH IS DRIVEN BY EARLY LITERACY AND SCIENCE OF READING EFFORTS.