Oct 28, 2021 Board of Education

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>> GOOD EVENING. I CALL THE PUBLIC MEETING SESSION TO ORDER. TODAY IS THURSDAY

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance]

WE'LL AGAIN WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND

[2.02 Moment of Silence]

[2.03 Superintendent's Report]

SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. >> THANK YOU.

JUST ONE BRIEF ITEM FOR TONIGHT. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER A MEGA GO WE EMPLOYED SOMEONE TO BE THE NEW PRESCRIPTION PALETTE PLUM POINT SCHOOL. THAT INDIVIDUAL WAS UNABLE TO FULFILL THAT OBLIGATION SO I BRING TO YOU A RECOMMENDATION TO --OF A PRINCIPAL AND THAT INDIVIDUAL'S NAME IS DANIEL SWAN. MS. SWAN CAME IN 2017 AS AN ASSIST APARTMENT PRINCIPAL. SHE SERVED IN OTHER POSITIONS SUCH AS READING SPECIALIST, TITLE I TEACHER.

BACHELOR OF ARTS OF EDUCATION IF READING WITH A MINOR IN MATHEMATICS FROM EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND A MASTER OF EDUCATION FROM GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOUR APPROVAL TO APPOINT DANIELLE

SWAN. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> SEEING NONE THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> MOTION PASSES.

[2.04 Joint Meeting of CASC and BOE]

THE STUDENT VOICE IS AN IMPORTANT VOICE.

7 I THINK EACH OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING AND * I WILL TURN IT OVER AND ASK MR. KELLY TO HELP

US BEGIN OUR DIALOGUE. >> HELLO, EVERYONE.

I'M THE STUDENT MEMBER BOARD OF EDUCATION -- FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THIS FORUM TODAY. I HOPE YOU PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION ON SOME OF THE TOPIC THAT'S WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AS THE STUDENT BODY. YOU GET TO WIDEN YOUR SCOPE AND SEE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY.

SO I THINK ALLISON IS GOING TO START OFF WITH OUR FIRST

QUESTION. >> GOOD EVENING.

BOARD MEMBERS. WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN GOAL WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION?

>> SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION ALLISON.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF?

>> YES. MY NAME IS ALLISON JONES.

I'M THE NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE AND CURRENTLY IN

8TH GRADE. >> THANK YOU SO YOUR QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS OUR GOAL FOR BEING ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE REASON WHY WE WERE INTERESTED IN BEING ELECTED

TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION? >> SO FOR ME PERSONALLY I HAD A STUDENT WHO ATTENDED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR GRADES K-8 AND DURING THAT TIME I WATCHED HIM MATRICULATE THROUGH THE SYSTEM WITHOUT HAVING MANY TEACHERS IN FRONT OF HIS CLASSROOM THAT LOOKED LIKE HIM. I ALSO PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE WAS LEARNING AND FELT THAT SOME ENRICHMENT COULD BE ADDED. I WATCHED HIM BE DISCIPLINED

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SO I JOINED THE CAC TO MAKE IT A POINT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHILE ON THE CAC I FELT THAT I COULD JOIN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND TO ASSIST SOME STUDENTS WHO I FELT WERE NOT RECEIVING AN EQUITABLE EDUCATION SO, THAT IS WHY I PERSONALLY RAN FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION. ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES THAT WOULD

LIKE TO SHARE. >> SURE.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION ALLISON.

SIMILAR TO MS. CLAGGETT MY DAUGHTER STARTED IN CALVERT IN 2ND GRADE. AND I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER WHEN SHE WAS IN THE 9TH GRADE I BELIEVE.

SO BETWEEN THE SECOND GRADE AND 9TH GRADE I OBSERVED A LOT OF DESPERATE TREATMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF HOW ACADEMIC ALLEY STRONG THEY WERE OR WERE NOT *.

I DID SEE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES BEING PRESENTED TO KIDS THAT WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS.

SO IT WAS DURING THAT TIME JUST WHEN I WAS OBSERVING THOSE THINGS THAT I THOUGHT THAT THAT IS NOT FAIR TO EVERY STUDENT.

THEY ALL DESERVE AN EQUAL CHANCE TO HAVE A WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION LIKE THE NEXT STUDENT WITHOUT ANY DIFFERENT TREATMENT SO THAT WAS ONE OF MY PRIMARY REASONS FOR WANTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ENSURE THAT EACH OF THE STUDENTS HAD THE SIMILAR

OPPORTUNITIES. >> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I'M THE ONLY MEMBER HERE THAT WAS APPOINTED.

AND HOW THAT HAPPENED IS UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST A LONG-TERM MEMBER OF THIS BOARD. I HAD PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR 8 YEARS AND DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE IN THAT POSITION. AND DECIDED NOT TO RUN FOR A THIRD TERM. I HAD NO IDEA I WOULD END UP HERE BUT OVER COURSE OF COVID NORMALLY THEY WOULD PUT OUT AN ADVERTISEMENT TO FILL A SLOT BUT BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE WAY WITH THINGS WERE GOING AT A VERY FAST PACE I THINK THEY FELT BECAUSE I HAD 8 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHICH WAS DEDICATED TO THE EDUCATORS AND CASEWORKERS FOR THIS COUNTY THAT I WOULD BE A GOOD FIT TO FILL OUT THIS TERM WHICH WILL BE OVER I THINK IN ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF.

BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THE SCHOOLS.

I PREACH EDUCATION. ALL OF MY CHILDREN, I WENT TO THE SCHOOLS HERE. MY CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, NIECES AND NEPHEWS SO I AM A BIG, BIG CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL PERSON. SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE

TONIGHT. >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS ANTWONE WHITE. * I GRADUATED FROM CALVER HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD A GREAT SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

MY TEACHERS WERE AWESOME. ONCE I HAD CHILDREN AND MY SON IS A SENIOR IN COLLEGE AND MY DAUGHTER IS IN THE 5TH GRADE SO, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED WITH SERVICE.

I'VE ALWAYS COACHED KIDS. MENTORED, BIBLE STUDY YOU NAME IT I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT MY GIFT WAS TO SERVE.

SO RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD THE REASON THAT MOTIVATED ME TO DO IT FOR ONE I HAVE A DAUGHTER IN SCHOOL BUT IT'S NOT JUST FOR MY DAUGHTER IT'S FOR ALL KIDS SO INSTEAD OF SITTING BACK AND SAYING I WISH SOMEONE SHOULD DO THIS AND THAT I WANTED TO BE AT THE TABLE. I WANTED TO BE HERE SO I COULD SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AND POSSIBLY TRY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THAT WAS MY MOTIVATION.

I RAN AND I'M HERE AND I'M ENJOYING IT AND YOU GUYS ARE HERE. THIS IS WHY I'M HERE.

BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS. >> HI.

I'M DAWN. AND MINE IS PRETTY SIMPLE.

I JUST GOT VERY INTERESTED IN THE INNER WORKINGS OF THIS LARGE

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WHEN I MY SON WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL I REMEMBER I WAS VERY DISMAYED. HE WAS A STRAIGHT A STUDENT AND HE STARTED GETTING FS. AND IT BLINDSIDED ME.

WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED THAT HE WASN'T TURNING IN PAPERS.

SO I SORT OF FINAGLED MY WAY ON TO THE TEAM.

IT'S NICE TO BE AROUND THE TABLE TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE LIKE YOU NOW HAVE. IT'S NICE TO FIND OUT HOW PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS AND SO FROM THERE I WENT TO THE CITIZENS'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE. EXCELLENT IF YOU GET ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE LISTENING IT'S A WONDERFUL WAY TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOL MAKES THE DECISIONS THAT IT DOES.

IT JUST WENT FROM THERE AND IT'S A BIG STEP.

IT'S SCARY. YOU'VE GOT TO CAMPAIGN.

YOU'VE GOT TO GET VOTES AND YOU'VE GOT TO TALK TO PEOPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT'S A SCARY PROPOSITION BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET INTO OFFICE.

BUT KEEP GOING. BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD TO GIVE

BACK. >> I CAN ANSWER THIS ONE TOO.

SO MY GOAL AS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE WAS TO BE THE BEST REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL OF THE VOICES OF CALVERT COUNTY AS POSSIBLE. I'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING THINGS LIKE THIS FORUM IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M JUST ONE STUDENT WHO ONLY GETS SOME AND AT HONEY TOWN HIGH SCHOOL AND I WANTED TO GET A WIDER RANGE AND A BROADER SPECTRUM OF STUDENT OPINION AND I HAVE STARTED DOING THIS THROUGH THINGS LIKE THIS ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ATTENDING TASK AND MASK AND THAT IS ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON IS REPRESENTING OTHER STUDENTS

OTHER THAN JUST MYSELF. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWERS. ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

ON THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JENNA, I'M THE REPRESENTATIVE OF -- HIGH SCHOOL AND REGARDING -- I'M THE CURRENT PRESIDENT. MY FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IS REGARDING TEACHERS LEAVING MID-YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT THIS YEAR HOW SHOULD STUDENTS WHO MISSED THE DAYS LEADING UP GO ABOUT COMPLETING THEIR MISSED WORK.

>> SO BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO SET POLICY FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND TO HIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT.

SO THAT IS REALLY A QUESTION THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CANNOT ANSWER. IT'S MORE OF A QUESTION FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT. HE DOESN'T HAVE STAFF HERE WITH HIM TONIGHT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER WHY YOU QUESTION BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE FOR THOSE STUDENTS?

>> PERSONALLY EACH TEACHER THAT HAS LEFT HAS BEEN A BIT DIFFERENT. FOR THE TEACHER THAT CURRENTLY LEFT THAT JUST LEFT LAST FRIDAY NONE OF THE WORK HAS BEEN GRADED. THAT WAS GIVEN LAST WEEK SO PERSONALLY I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL BE GRADED OR JUST EXCUSED.

BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN -- IT HAS BEEN ENTERED INTO THE GRADE BOOK. BUT NOBODY HAS A GRADE FOR IT YET. REGARDING THE ORCHESTRA TEACHER THAT HAS LEFT I AM PERMANENTLY NOT IN THAT CLASS BUT A FEW OF MY FRIEND ARE AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

A FEW OF THEM MISSED SOMETHING LAST WEEK BECAUSE THEY WERE GONE FOR MAYBE A FIELD TRIP OR QUARANTINE.

AND THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEIR MISSING ASSIGNMENTS SO I PERSONALLY -- PROBABLY THINK -- THAT MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM THESE BECAUSE THE TEACHER IS NO LONGER THERE TO AID THEM OR FILL THEM IN ON WHAT THEY MISSED AND ESPECIALLY IF THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE TEAMS MEETINGS AS SOME STUDENTS WERE NOT. I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE EXEMPT

PERSONALLY. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I'M

SURE DR. CURRY IS TAKING NOTES. >> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP JENNA AND WE'LL CHECK-IN WITH MR. WATSON AND SEE WHAT WE CAN

DO ABOUT FIXING THOSE THINGS. >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS HOW SHOULD A STUDENT GO ABOUT

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FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN I WAS IN THE 8TH GRADE I TURNED IN A PROJECT THE DAY IT WAS DUE AND I WAS NEVER GRADED FOR IT.

THOUGH MY FRIEND WHO TURNED IT IN THE LAST DAY OF THE QUARTER GOT A 100% AND WHEN I BROUGHT THIS UP WITH THE TEACHER SHE SAID SHE WILL FIGURE IT OUT AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT.

THE GRADE WAS NEVER CHANGED SO HOW SHOULD A STUDENT GO ABOUT

RESOLVING THIS ISSUE? >> ONCE AGAIN WE'LL HAVE TO --

DR. JOHNSON? >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. WE ALWAYS WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE ADVOCATES FOR THEMSELVES SO WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THEIR TEACHERS AND HOPEFULLY RESOLVE IT ON THAT LEVEL.

HOWEVER THERE ARE THOSE TIMES THAT THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND STUDENTS NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE REACHING OUT TO THEIR COUNCILOR OR TO THEIR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OR PRINCIPAL TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS.

OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN BRING YOUR PARENTS INTO THE EQUATION.

MAYBE THEY WOULD HELP YOU WITH THAT PROCESS IN TALKING WITH ONE OF THOSE IF YOU'RE NOT QUITE THERE BEING READY TO TALK WITH THOSE OTHER PEOPLE. AT THAT LEVEL YOUR PRINCIPAL OR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OR COUNCILOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT PROCESS TO FIND OUT WHAT THE REAL ISSUE IS AND HELP TO NAVIGATE THAT ISSUE OR IF IT IS JUST A MATTER OF FOLLOWING THROUGH ON SOMETHING AND MAKING SURE SOMETHING GETS DONE THAT IT

IS TAKEN CARE OF. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> HI.

I'M THOMAS FOLKS. AND I'M THE -- SGA PRESIDENT RIGHT NOW. MY FIRST QUESTION IS CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE POLICY ON LATE WORK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN DUE DATES AND DEADLINES FOR SHORT-TERM ASSIGNMENTS AS WELL AS THE MAXIMUM PUNISHMENT ALLOWED FOR

WORK BEING ONE DAY LATE. >> SO YOU REFERRED TO THAT AS A POLICY. IS THAT IN THE CODE OF CONDUCTOR WHERE IS THAT SPECIFICALLY STATED?

>> POLICY NUMBER 3415. >> ACTUALLY IT'S THE PROCEDURE.

I THINK AGAIN DR. JOHNSON WOULD BE THE BEST.

>> THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICY AND THE PROCEDURES THAT ARE FOLLOWED.

PROCEDURES ARE IMPLEMENTED TO ARE PUT IN PLACE TO IMPLEMENT WHAT THE POLICY SAYS AND THEY MAY CONTAIN STEPS ON -- THAT STAFF FOLLOW. AGAIN DR. JOHNSON I DON'T KNOW

IF YOU CAN -- COMMENT ON THAT? >> I JUST PULLED IT UP.

SO IN THE PROCEDURES THERE ARE TWO AREAS THAT ADDRESS LATE WORK. THE FIRST ONE ACTUALLY IS FOR EVERY DAY ASSIGNMENTS. IN THE PROCEDURES THERE ARE DUE DATES AND THERE ARE DEADLINES. SOMETIMES THEY ARE THE SAME DATE. IF YOU HAVE A HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT A TEACHER MAY SAY THE DUE DATE IT IS TOMORROW AND THAT IS ALSO THEIR DEADLINE DATE. ONCE THAT HAPPENS AND THOSE EVERY DAY ASSIGNMENTS THE TEACHER CAN DETERMINE HOW MUCH LATE WORK DEDUCTION HAPPENS SO IF THEY DO ACCEPT IT AFTER THE DEADLINE DATE THE TEACHER DETERMINES THAT.

AND THAT MEANS THERE MIGHT BE DIFFERENCES FROM CLASSROOM TO CLASSROOM BASED ON WHAT THE TEACHER'S EXPECTATIONS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM. THE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE IN THE PROCEDURES IS THAT OUR GUIDANCE TO TEACHERS IS THAT WE DO NOT WANT THAT MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LATE WORK TO DISCOURAGE A STUDENT FROM DOING IT. SO IF THE POINTS THAT YOU WOULD RECEIVE REALLY DON'T ADD UP TO ANY BENEFIT FOR YOU TO DO THE ASSIGNMENT YOU MIGHT CHOOSE NOT TO DO THE ASSIGNMENT ANDTH PURPOSE OF DOING ASSIGNMENTS IS FOR THE LEARNING SO WE WANT STUDENTS TO FOLLOW-THROUGH WITH THE ASSIGNMENTS SO EACH TEACHER DETERMINES THAT. THE SECOND PLACE IS LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS. MANY TIMES YOU MIGHT HAVE PROJECTS SO THE MAXIMUM PENALTY THAT CAN BE INCURRED ON A LONG-TERM PROJECT BECAUSE TYPICALLY THOSE THINGS COUNT INTO YOUR PRODUCT GRADE. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS 10%.

SO LONG TERM ASSIGN MINUTES ARE DIFFERENT THAN DAY-TO-DAY ASSIGNMENTS AND LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS ARE DICTATED BY THAT ONE INDICATOR OF NO MORE THAN 10% BUT DAY-TO-DAY ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CLASSROOM TEACHER.

MAKE SENSE? >> SO IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THE

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THAT IS THE MAXIMUM RANGE. I KNOW THAT IN FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS THE RANGE GOES DOWN TO 55/45 AND 60/40.

WHY IS OURS SO SKEWED THAN IN OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS? CAN YOU REPEAT THE SPECIFIC QUESTION.

WHY ARE PRODUCT GRADES MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO US?

>> AS -- THERE IS ALWAYS A GROUP THAT COMES TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT GRADING PROCEDURES AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE SHIFTED TO 70/30 OR 80/20 SO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING BACK THROUGH GRADES THERE WERE ASSIGNMENTS THAT DIDN'T MEASURE THE ACADEMIC LEARNING THAT NEEDED TO TAKE PLACE IN A CLASSROOM AND THEY WERE COUNTING MUCH MORE THAN A TEST OR QUIZ OR A PROJECT.

SO IN ORDER TO REALLY SHIFT FROM, WE WANTED TO SHIFT TO MAKE SURE GRADES WERE MEANINGFUL TO ACADEMIC LEARNING THAT WAS TAKING PLACE IN THE CLASSROOM. YOU WILL SEE MOST CLASSROOMS USE 70/30 AND THERE IS USUALLY AT LEAST SIX PRODUCT GRADES ALSO AT LEAST SIX PROCESS GRADES. THOSE ARE MINIMUMS. WE ENCOURAGE MORE TO GO INTO THAT IF THERE IS TIME AND AVAILABILITY IN THAT CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE PRODUCT GRADES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THAT WE DO PLACE A LOT OF VALUE IN STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR MASTERY OF THE CONTENT IN OUR SYSTEM.

>> THANK YOU. >> THOMAS MAY I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT. I FEEL LIKE I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE I KNOW SOME STUDENTS ARE NOT GOOD TEST TAKERS AND THAT PRODUCT GRADE COULD TANK THEIR GPA BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOOD TEST TAKERS.

NOT AN INTEREST ARE INDICATION OF THEIR INTELLECT OR MASTERY OF THE CONTENT SO I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION DR. JOHNSON.

>> HELLO. I'M KENDALL HAWKINS.

THE CO-STUDENT ADVOCACY -- I'M CURRENTLY IN 11TH GRADE.

TEACHERS ARE SUPPOSED TO ENTER GRADES WITHIN TWO WEEKS.

STUDENTS HAVE REPORTED TEACHERS WAITING TO THE LAST MINUTE.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO REINFORCE THIS TO TEACHERS SO STUDENTS ARE NOT HIGHLY STRESSED AT THE END OF THE QUARTER.

>> AT A MINIMUM WE NEED TO HAVE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT.

>> DEFINITELY. AND AGAIN THIS PIGGYBACKS ON THE STUDENT BEING ADVOCATE. IF YOU ARE CHECKING YOUR GRADES AND NOTICING THAT YOUR GRADES ARE NOT ENTERED AS APPROPRIATE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE POLICY HOPEFULLY YOU'VE FORMED A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR TEACHER AND YOU CAN SAY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY GRADES AND I SEE THERE IS NOTHING IN THE GRADE BOOK.

COULD MY GRADES BE PUT IN SO I KNOW WHERE I STAND.

COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME INDICATION OF WHERE I STAND IN THE CLASS AND IF THAT WORKS, GREAT.

IF NOT YOU JOIN WITH YOUR PARENTS AND HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH THE TEACHER AND THE PRINCIPAL IF NECESSARY IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU STAND IN THE CLASS.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO BE ADVOCATES. AS THEY MATRICULATE THROUGH THE SYSTEM SO OFTEN TIMES THAT MAY WORK AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS VERY IMPORTANT AND THIS IS HOW WE BUILD THESE

RELATIONSHIPS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> BUT MY QUESTION IS THAT PART OF THE TEACHE EVALUATION? DOES THE TIMELINESS OF GRADES AND RESPONSIVENESS TO STUDENTS?

>> YES. SO AS THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL SPOTS AND THAT COMES IN DOMAIN FOUR OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS

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FOR TEACHERS. >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS MADELINE KELLY. I'M A FRESHMAN.

FOLLOWING THE COUNTY'S GRADING POLICY OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO -- LESS THAN 50% IN THE GRADE BOOK.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THIS IN OUR COUNTY?

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING SOME PEOPLE END UP WITH LESS THAN 50% GRADE?

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU THOUGHT THAT OF THAT 50%

MINIMUM? >> WHAT WERE YOU SAYING ABOUT

THAT. >> HOPEFULLY YOU'LL GET AN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION. I WOULD BE INTERESTED.

DO YOU SEE ANY ISSUE WITH THE 50%?

NO LESS THAN 50% GRADE? >> I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE AS LONG AS THE STUDENT SHOWED THAT THEY ACTUALLY ATTEMPTED TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT WITH AN ACCURATE AMOUNT OF WORK.

NOT JUST WRITING I DON'T KNOW BUT ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE IT OR SHOWING THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO COMPREHEND THE SUBJECT.

THEY SHOULD GET THE 50% MINIMUM ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS IN OUR GRADING POLICY. AND IF WE DON'T SEE THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED ANY MORE THEN IT SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF THE

GRADING POLICY. >> MY UNDERSTANDING -- THAT IS IN FORCE FOR ONE, TWO AND THREE AND NOT THE LAST QUARTER.

IS THAT ACCURATE? >> IN MIDDLE SCHOOL IT'S EVERY QUARTER. IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE FIRST QUARTER AND SECOND QUARTER AND THIRD QUARTER STUDENTS CAN EARN LESS THAN 50% DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT YOUR QUESTION WAS SPECIFICALLY TO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NO ASSIGNMENT SHOULD RECEIVE A GRADE LESS THAN 50%.

ANY TIME UNLESS IT IS DEMONSTRATED ABSOLUTELY NO EFFORT IN THE ASSIGNMENT WAS DONE.

>> AND MY NEXT QUESTION I HEARD IT WAS A GROWING CONCERN WITH MANY STUDENTS THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT OFFERING REASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS WHILE IT SAYS MULTIPLE MEANING MORE THAN ONE REASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITY IS REQUIRED PER QUARTER. HOWEVER MANY TEACHERS DON'T FOLLOW THIS AND SAY IT'S LEFT UP TO THE TEACHER DISCRETION.

>> SO AGAIN IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SOME CONTINUED ACCOUNTABILITY WITH OUR STAFF. I'M SURE DR. JOHNSON AND DR. CURRY ARE LISTENING TO THE QUESTIONS AND REMARKS AND I'M SURE THAT THERE WILL BE CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STAFF TO

ADDRESS THESE ITEMS. >> RIGHT & AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER AND BELIEVE ME THESE GUYS ARE ALL SELF-ADVOCATES.

I'VE KNOWN SOME OF THEM FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY KNOW HOW TO SPEAK UP. AND SO IF THERE IS A POLICY NOT BEING FOLLOWED TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

GET SOME HELP. AND DR. JOHNSON.

>> I WAS GOING BACK TO REREAD WHAT IT SAYS.

I APPRECIATE YOU SHARING WHAT IT SAYS.

WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS READING IT ACCURATELY.

SO THAT ONE CAVEATS THAT THE TEACHER DETERMINES REASSESSMENT DOES GIVE A LOT OF LATITUDE TO TEACHERS.

HOWEVER AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THAT NUMBER 11 IN THIS SET OF PROCEDURES IT LEADS WITH -- WHEN APPROPRIATE AND IT DOES ALSO ALL COURSES SHALL INCLUDE MULTIPLE REASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EACH MARKING PERIOD. AND THEN THAT THE TEACHERS WILL DETERMINE THAT SO WE HAVE REALLY ENCOURAGED AND/OR PRINCIPALS ARE SPENDING TIME WITH TEACHERS TALKING ABOUT REASSESSMENT BECAUSE THEY ALSO SEE SOME OF THAT IMPACTING THAT LANGUAGE ABOUT TEACHERS DETERMINING WHEN REASSESSMENT OCCURS.

IMPACTING HOW OFTEN THAT HAPPENS.

THE OTHER PIECE THAT COMES UP THAT IS IMPORTANT IN THIS STATEMENT IS BEFORE A STUDENT IS REASSESSED ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE STUDENT TO LEARN THE MATERIAL. AND MANY TIMES THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES AT LUNCH AT DIFFERENT SCHOOLS PATRIOT TIME,

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YOU CAN ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

>> SO THE WAY THAT YOU'RE WORDING THAT DO YOU FEEL THAT TEACHERS FOR MULTIPLE REASSESSMENT GIVEN THE LANGUAGE OR IT IS UP TO THE TEACHER DISCRETION.

>> THE TEACHER DETERMINES IT BUT IT LEADS WITH MULTIPLE REASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES SO WE ENCOURAGE OUR TEACHERS AND ASKING OUR TEACHERS TO GIVE MULTIPLE REASSESSMENT OPPORTUNITIES BUT IT'S NOT FOR EVERY ASSIGNMENT.

THEY DETERMINE WHICH ASSIGNMENTS IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR.

>> SO IT'S SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO OFFER MULTIPLE BUT IT'S UP TO THE TEACHER WHICH ASSIGNMENTS THOSE ARE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> SO IF YOU HAD A TEST AND EVERYONE SCORED AN 80% OR HIGHER EXCEPT MAYBE TWO STUDENTS A TEACHER MAY NOT DEEM THAT ONE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT BUT ON ANOTHER TEST WHERE STUDENTS STRUGGLED WITH IT AND THEY SAW SOMETHING IN THE CLASSROOM TO SAY I MAY NEED TO RETEACH THIS THAT MIGHT ONE THEY DEEM

APPROPRIATE FOR REASSESSMENT. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. SO REGARDING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY, WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO LIMIT THE STAFF STUDENT

SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION. >> WHO ASKED THE QUESTION?

>> I DID. >> CAN YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION.

>> WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO LIMIT THE STAFF STUDENT

PRESIDENT OF MISINFORMATION? >> I DON'T KNOW IF I UNDERSTAND

THE QUESTION. >> REGARDING THE ANTIRACISM

POLICY. >> CORRECT.

WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO STOP THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION BETWEEN STAFF AND STUDENTS IN PARTICULAR STUDENT STAFF MEMBERS ARE MISS INFORMED ON THE POLICY SO THEY BLAZE EVENTUALLY MAKE REMARKS THAT INFLUENCE STUDENT'S OPINIONS AND THESE STUDENTS SHARE MISINFORMATION THAT THEY'VE HEARD. WITHOUT EVEN REFERENCING THE

POLICY WHATSOEVER. >> SO YOU'RE ASKING IS THERE I A -- THERE ARE TEACHERS TALKING ABOUT ANTIRACISM AS A POLICY IN

CLASS. >> YES.

MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS THE BOARD DOING TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS ARE NOT SPREADING MISINFORMATION TO THEIR STUDENTS?

>> PASSING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY.

>> I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.

I'M SORRY. JENNA.

>> I COULD TAKE A STAB AT IT AND I EVEN WROTE DOWN THOUGHTS ON THIS. WHAT WE CAN DO IS TO BE VERY EARNEST IN OUR DESIRE TO INFORM PEOPLE OF WHAT OUR INTENT WAS ON THAT -- THE EQUITY POLICY AS WELL AS THE ANTIRACISM.

SO I'M GOING TO READ SO I CAN GET THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.

SOME PARENTS SAY THAT OUR EQUITY POLICY AND ANTIRACISM POLICY IS BASED ON CRT THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY BECAUSE WE ENCOURAGE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CURRICULUM.

WHAT OUR EQUITY WORK HAS BEEN OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS IS TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON LEARNING HOW TO RAISE THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF EVERY CHILD. FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM THOSE THAT ARE STRUGGLING AND THOSE WHO ARE HIGH ACHIEVERS. THE WORK HAS BEEN TO UNDERSTAND THE BARRIERS WHETHER CAUSED BY POVERTY OR DIFFICULT FAMILY LIFE OR FEELING THAT YOU DON'T FIT IN OR JUST BY HAVING NOT THE BEST COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GO TO SCHOOL. ONCE WE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE WHY SOMEONE IS ACTING OUT IN OUR CLASS OR WHY SOMEONE IS FAILING TO TURN IN HOMEWORK THEN WE CAN HELP THEM TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE OBSTACLES AND STAY ON COURSE FOR GRADUATION.

IT TAKES EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING AND THAT WE ALL NEED TO LOOK AT OUR OWN PERSONAL PREJUDICES.

AND THAT IS A CONTINUAL PROCESS TO HAVE AS A GOAL AND THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SAID. EQUITY IS OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IN OUR SYSTEM AND THE BOARD HAS ALL GOTTEN E-MAILS FROM SOME PARENTS THAT SAY WE'VE EMBEDDED CRT INTO OUR CURRICULUM AND OF COURSE WE HAVE NOT. THE HONEST TREE CLASSES.

[00:35:03]

AND I'M SURE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU HAVE IN CLASS ARE DEEP AND ILLUMINATING. THERE IS NO COUNTRY ON EARTH THAT HAS A -- IT'S JUST BEEN A PART OF HUMAN HISTORY THAT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT NEEDS TO BE TOLD.

THE PURPOSE OF LEARNING HISTORY IS THAT WE DON'T REPEAT THE BAD PARTS SO WE OWE OUR STUDENTS THE BEST IN-DEPTH EDUCATION THAT WE CAN OFFER. AND SOME PARENTS HAVE SAID THAT OUR ANTIRACIST POLICY IS RACIST BECAUSE WE DEFINE THE TERM WHITE PRIVILEGE AND THEY SAY CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TEACHING OUR KIDS THAT ALL WHITE PEOPLE ARE GUILTY FOR THE IN JUSTICES OF THE PAST AND OF COURSE WE DON'T DO THAT.

WE REALIZE THAT THE WORK TO TEACH TOLERANCE AMONG ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WASN'T WORKING AS WELL AS WE HOPED IT HAD.

WE WERE STILL GETTING REPORTS OF INCIDENCE OF RACIST BEHAVIOR IN OUR SCHOOLS. THE MOST EGREGIOUS IS THE VANDALISM AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL.

AND WE FELT THE NEED TO BE STRONGER SO WE FRAMED A POLICY THAT ASKED EVERYONE IN OUR SYSTEM TO BE VIGILANT IN STOPPING RACIST BEHAVIOR AND TO BE INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF. SOME PARTS OF THE POLICY OF COURSE HAVE BEEN INCLUDED FOR YEARS AND OTHER DISCIPLINARY POLICIES UNDER THE NAMES LIKE BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION AND THE LIKE BUT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SPECIFICALLY CALL OUT RACIST BEHAVIOR BECAUSE OF THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT IT COULD HAVE ON OUR STUDENT BODY WHETHER INTENTIONAL OR NOT.

SO YOUR QUESTION WHAT CAN WE DO -- WE'VE GOT TO KEEP TALKING ABOUT IT AND KEEP SPOUTING OUR OWN BELIEFS AND -- AND THE INTENT BEHIND WHY WE CREATED THAT POLICY.

>> I KEEP FORGETTING TO TURN THIS ON.

>> THAT IS ALL NICE WITH THE WRITTEN DOWN STUFF.

BUT YOU KNOW -- CRT IS A GENERAL TERM USED THAT IS GOING THROUGHOUT THE UPS AND ACTUALLY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

I -- I'M NOT NOT HOW THAT FITS IN HERE.

I UNDERSTAND THE "R" THE RACE. THEORY IF I WANT THEORY ALL I HAVE TO DO IS ASK MISS MILLIE. SHE HAS A THEORY ABOUT EVERYTHING. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS. BUT IT'S THE WAY THAT YOU GO ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. DON'T IN DOCTORATE ME TO YOUR POLITICAL VIEWS. IF YOU'RE GOING TO TEACH ME ABOUT RACE. DON'T IN DOCTORATE ME TO YOUR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. AND WHEN YOU SAY I'M A PERSON OF COLOR WELL WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NOW I'VE GOTTEN CONFUSED BECAUSE I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME I'M A PERSON OF COLOR.

AND I FIGURED ARE YOU AFRICAN-AMERICAN? BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT TERM WAS.

BUT NOW EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE OFFENDED IS A PERSON OF COLOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN.

I WAS TALKING TO A PERSON A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE WERE TALKING -- THESE THINGS AND THEY WERE SAYING I'M A PERSON OF COLOR AND I'M SAYING I'M NOT SURE WHAT MEAN AND I DIDN'T WANT TO OFFEND THEM AND I DIDN'T WANT TO EMBARRASS MYSELF.

BUT WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS TO JUDGE ME BY WHAT I DO IN THE COMMUNITY. HOW I CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY. DON'T PREJUDGE ME FROM 100 YEARS AGO. IS THERE A TIME WHEN THIS STOPS? IS THERE A TIME FORWARD? 10 YEARS FROM NOW IF I'M BORN WHITE AM I STILL PRIVILEGED? THESE ARE QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND DO THEY TEACH INDIVIDUAL CLASSES? I DON'T KNOW. BUT I SIT RIGHT HERE IN A CLASS

[00:40:03]

BUT THAT IS FOR A DIFFERENT TIME AND A DIFFERENT PLACE.

>> JENNA, IF I MAY THE PREMISE BEHIND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ANTIRACISM POLICY IN THE COUNTY WAS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY LOOK LIKE WHERE THEY LIVE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS IS TREATED WITH DECENCY AND COURTESY.

THAT IS IT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD FEELS SAFE AND EVERY STAFF MEMBER FEELS SAFE IN THE SPACE WHICH IS THEIR SCHOOL WHICH IS THE PLACE THEY SHOULD FEEL SAFE IN. IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES NOT JUST ANTIRACISM BUT POLICIES THAT MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED.

NOT THE NEXT STUDENT BUT WHAT NEED AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT -- THAT IS WHY THE ANTIRACISM POLICY WAS STARTED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> SO IN THE ANTIRACISM RESOLUTION LETTER IT STATES THAT TEACHERS AND STAFF WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TRAINED ON PROCEDURES REGARDING IMPLICIT BIAS WHAT ARE THE POLICER AND HOW CAN WE BETTER AMPLIFY THE SPECIFIC

PROCEDURES WITHIN SCHOOLS? >> THAT IS TRAINING CURRENTLY HAPPENING WITH NOT NECESSARILY WITH THE ANTIRACISM BUT WITH THE EQUITY TEAMS THAT THEY HAVE IN EVERY SCHOOL -- OUR SUPERVISOR OF EQUITY WORKS WITH STAFF TO CONDUCT CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING, CULTURAL INCLUSION TO UNDERSTAND BIASES THAT SOMEONE MAY CARRY ABOUT CERTAIN PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE.

HELPING THEM TO UNDERSTAND JUST RECOGNIZING SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY BE THINKING OR THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE TRUE. SO WITH THE TRAINING IT HELPS DISPEL PROBABLY YOUR BELIEF. IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHO YOU ARE BUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT OR MAY HAVE SAID COULD IMPACT A PERSON NEGATIVELY AND OFTEN TIMES WHEN YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT IT'S A VERY CONSCIOUS THING THAT YOU KNOW THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN OFFENSIVE OR IT MAY IMPACTED SOMEONE AND THAT WAS NOT THE INTENT AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF IT IS INTENTIONAL. IT'S JUST THAT YOU'RE NOT AWARE.

SO WITH THE TRAINING IT'S HELPING THE EDUCATORS AND STAFF RECOGNIZE THINGS THAT THEY MAY HAVE DONE, HAVE LEARNED, PRACTICES THAT COULD BE CONCEIVED, RECEIVED AS NEGATIVE BY SOMEONE ELSE. ME MAY NOT HAVE EVER KNOWN.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND REGARDING BUSING.

FIRST OF ALL WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT STUDENTS WHO A BUS DOES

NOT COME OR ALSO ON STRIKE? >> SO I BELIEVE THERE WAS AN E-MAIL SENT OUT BY DR. JOHNSON PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONS TO STAFF FOR WHAT SHOULD BE DONE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO CANNOT MAKE TO IT SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR BUS DID NOT COME.

THOSE STUDENTS ARE BEING ALLOWED TO LOG ON VIRTUALLY TO ATTEND THEIR CLASSROOM AND PARTAKE IN INSTRUCTION.

HOWEVER FOR THE YOUNGER GRADES I BELIEVE PRE-K-2 THEY ARE BEING GIVEN APAC IT AND THEY DO IT AS IF IT'S MAKE UP WORK.

* 1. >> THANK YOU.

MAY I SAY AT THIS POINT THIS IS SUCH AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION AND YOU KNOW IT'S HAPPENING NATIONWIDE.

THE FACT THAT I AGREE THIS IS THE UNDERSTANDING A NEW UNDERSTANDING ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ESSENTIAL AND THAT THEY ARE DEMANDING THAT THAT THEY BE VALUED ADEQUATELY AND WE'RE WORKING FAST AS WE CAN TOWARDS THAT. SO I'M SO SORRY TO ALL OF THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH SUCH A HORRIBLE TWO YEARS. YEAR AND A HALF THAT WE HAD TO

[00:45:01]

THERE IS ISSUES. SO WE'RE WORKING AS FAST AS WE

CAN TO TRY GET THIS RESOLVED. >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU AND SECOND, IF STUDENTS NEED TO ARRIVE EARLY OR STAY LATE AT SCHOOL DUE TO THE INABILITY TO RIDE A BUS WILL THERE BE A PLACE AND IF THEY ARRIVE LATE WILL THEY BE

EXCUSED? >> SO FAR EVERYTHING IS EXCUSED.

CERTAINLY IF IT'S IN REGARD TO THE TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES.

INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS NEED TO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHETHER THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ATTEMPT TO ACCOMMODATE EARLY OR LATE.

DR. JOHNSON WOULD YOU ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

>> THERE IS A SPECIAL CODE WHEN IT HAS TO DO WITH TRANSPORTATION SO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO USE THAT CODE WHEN A PARENT INDICATES THAT IT WAS DUE TO US ABOUTING THAT THE STUDENT WAS EITHER ABSENT OR LATE TO SCHOOL.

IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL OR IF YOU'RE LATE TO SCHOOL OR IF YOU CANNOT LOG ON FOR SOME REASON. MAYBE YOUR INTERNET WAS DOWN AT HOME AND YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO LOG ON THEN YOU CAN USE THAT INFORMATION TO GET THAT EXCUSE CODE.

YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE UP ANY MISSED WORK WHEN YOU RETURN SO

THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR THAT. >> AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL I GUESS YOU KNOW WITH EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON THAT THOSE KIDS ARE ABLE TO GO INTO THE CAFETERIA AND THEY HAVE STAFF THERE, TEACHERS NOT LIKE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH GOING ON BUT THEY STAYED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY KID IS PICKED UP SO THEY HAVE A PLACE TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT AND IF I COULD ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION.

I'VE BEEN LATE ALMOST EVERY DAY THIS WEEK BECAUSE I'M A STUDENT DRIVER AND THE TRAFFIC IS ABOUT A TWO MILE BACK UP AND I LEAVE EARLIER AND IT GETS WORSE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR IF THEY ARRIVE EARLY THEY ARE MADE TO STAY OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS CHANGED TO THE CAFETERIA. IS THERE A MESSAGE THAT COULD BE SENT OUT TO ALLOW STUDENTS TO COME INSIDE THE BUILDING ESPECIALLY SINCE IT'S GETTING COLDER.

>> HAVE YOU ASKED? >> I NOT BEEN ABLE TO AS I'VE BEEN LATE EVERY DAY AND GO ABOUT MY SCHOOL DAY.

I CAN ASK FIRST THING IN THE MORNINGS.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING SOME OF THE FLEXIBILITY ON SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PAST PRACTICES WHILE WE'RE IN THIS SITUATION.

FIRST I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU ASK. >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. 7.

>> HI. I'M MADISON -- -- -- SO WHY ARE STUDENTS WITH FULLER BODY SHAPES BEING --

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT QUESTION.

I DIDN'T NOT HEAR ALL OF. >> WHY ARE STUDENTS STILL BEING DRESS CODED WHEN THEIR CLOTHING IS WITHIN THE DRESS CODE?

>> SO -- I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS BUT I WANT TO HEAR WHAT THINK IT MEANS BECAUSE I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN. AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. STUDENT WHO HAVE A FULLER BODY SHAPE AND WEAR TIGHT CLOTHING -- WHICH THE CODE IS PAST YOUR FINGERTIPS AND YOU'RE OKAY. ARE STILL BEING DRESS CODED BECAUSE IT SHOWS OFF CURVES AND THAT IS BEING UNACCEPTABLE AND MAKES FEMALES UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE THEY ARE BEING DRESS CODED BY MALE TEACHERS. LOTS OF STUDENTS HAVE BEEN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND EXPLAINED THEIR CONCERN AND NOTHING HAS

CHANGED. >> I SUSPECT THE PARENTS ARE

BUYING THE CLOTHES. >> RIGHT.

>> I'M ASSUMING BUT STILL I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S ACCEPTABLE.

>> IT'S NOT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE IS BUYING THOSE CLOTHES FOR YOU THAT YOU'RE WEARING.

THE FACT THAT AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE WITH THE FULLER BODY TYPE. AND THE FACT THAT IT'S THE SECOND WALLLIZED UNNECESSARILY* ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A FORM FITTING GARMENT. BUT IT'S COVERING ALL OF THE IMPORTANT PARTS. IT'S BELOW THE KNEES.

[00:50:03]

TO WHOEVER IS SEEING THIS. BEHAVIOR SO I WOULD HAVE TO DEFER TO DR. CURRY AND STAFF ON HOW THAT IS HAPPENED BECAUSE I AGREE WITH YOU IT SHOULD NOT BE THAT WAY JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FULLER BODY TYPE. AND YOU DON'T BUY THE CLOTHES.

>> AND I WILL PIGGYBACK ON THAT. I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW OF INSTANCES WHERE IT'S NOT JUST A FULL BODY TYPE BUT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO BOYS AS WELL AND GIRLS WITH WEARING JEANS WITH HOLES IN THEM. AND BEING TOLD OH, THAT IS GANG WE AR AND NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF ENSURING OUR STAFF IS AWARE OF HOW OUR POLICIES AND OUR CODE OF CONDUCT ARE TO BE APPLIED AND ENSURING THAT IT IS APPLIEDTHE F OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND THAT THE SUBJECTIVENESS OF THE APPLICATION IS BEING REMOVED FROM HOW WE'RE APPLYING THE POLICY.

SO IT SHOULDN'T BE SUBJECTIVE ON HOW THE POLICY OR REGULATION IS APPLIED AND IT SHOULD BE THE SAME ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> HELLO. MY NAME IS MAGGIE.

I'M A SOPHOMORE AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. FOR MANDATORY COVID QUARANTINES WHAT IS THE TEACHER'S RESPONSIBILITIES.

THERE IS NOT A LOT HALF CLARITY IN THE EXPECTATIONS THAT ARE

BEING SET. >> WHAT ARE YOU SAYING THAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR CLASSROOM THAT IS A CONTROVERSY.

>> CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION. >> WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR

CLASS THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL? >> I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WORKING WITH MICROSOFT TEAMS AND TEACHERS BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE STUDENTS ON-LINE WHILE IN

QUARANTINE FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS. >> SO IT'S MORE OF THE COVID PROTOCOLS AS FAR AS THE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT.

HOW STUDENTS CAN STILL LEARN WHILE THEY ARE IN QUARANTINE AND WHAT TEACHERS ARE BEING TOLD ABOUT THAT.

>> SO FOR THE MOST PART WE HAVE ASKED TEACHERS ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO TEACH STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN ISSUED LAPTOPS TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED. TO GIVE THEM A TEAMS INVITE TO THE CLASS. WE'VE VOIDED DIRECTING THAT YOU MUST TEACH CONCURRENTLY BECAUSE THERE IS MORE INVOLVED IN CONCURRENT TEACHING BUT SOME DO. SOME TEACHERS SLIP RIGHT IN.

OTHERS THE CAMERA ON AND THE MICROPHONE ON AND CHECK-IN ON THE KIDS. HOW ARE YOU DOING THOSE OF YOU AT HOME. AND WE HAVE SOME OF THESE YOUNG TERSE TOLD ME LAST TIME WE MET I BELIEVE SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME AND TEACHERS HAVE AFFIRMED THIS -- IF THE TEACHER DOES GO TO THE EFFORT TO CONNECT YOU AND BRING YOU IN THEN WHEN YOU COME BACK AFTER THE QUARANTINE DON'T EXPECT TIME TO MAKE UP YOUR WORK LIKE YOU'VE BEEN ABSENT. THEY'VE PUT IN THE EFFORT AND SO THEY RUN INTO SOME STUDENTS WHO ARE QUARANTINED.

THEY ARE HEALTHY BUT TREATING IT LIKE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF TIME WHEN THEY GET BACK. SO THERE IS A LOT BEING LEARNED

OUT THERE ABOUT THIS PROCESS. >> THANK YOU.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION. -- A PLAN HAS BEEN SET IN MOTION FOR A TOWN HALL TO TAKE PLACE IN THE FUTURE?

>> HAVE PLANS BEEN SET IN MOTION? AT THIS TIME THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS NOT DISCUSSED AS A GROUP FOR A TOWN HALL TO BE HELD IN THE FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US.

I WANT TO THANK YOU EACH OF YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.

I WILL SAY THAT I'VE LEARNED A FEW THINGS ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITHIN YOUR SCHOOLS THAT I WAS NOT AWARE ABOUT.

[00:55:03]

YOU ARE OUR STUDENT LEADERS. AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT YOU SHARE WITH US. MR. KELLY, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD OR SAY?

>> JUST LIKE YOU SAID I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT. I KNOW YOU PUT A LOT OF OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO YOUR QUESTIONS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANKING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR ALLOWING EVERYONE TO COME AND ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.

IT'S A TESTAMENT AS TO HOW YOU VALUE STUDENT'S OPINION AND I HOPE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SOME OF THE ISSUE THAT'S MAY BE ARISING IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> WE'LL TAKE AMEN. WELL -- -- WE'LL TAKE A MINUTE TO GET INTO PUBLIC COMMENT AND A LOT THE STUDENTS

FIND THEIR SEAT. >> NOW WE MOVE INTO THE PUBLIC

[3.01 Public Comments in-person are limited to 10 at this time. Written comments will be posted.]

THE RULES. >> GOOD EVENING.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF COMMENTERS IS LIMITED TO 10. 7 WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE OR FIVE MINUTES DEPENDING IF YOU'RE SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP. PERSONS ON THE SIGN UP SHEET MAY NOT RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY PLEASE GIVE THEM TO ME AND I WILL DISTRIBUTE TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS. ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS.

WHILE THE BOARD OF ED VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING. CCPS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN AND YOU PUT YOUR REAL NAME.

SO I WILL CALL THE FIRST PERSON. THEY WILL GO UP TO WHERE THE MICROPHONE IS UP FRONT. STATE YOUR NAME AND MAKE SURE YOU TURN MICROPHONE ON AND DR. CURRY WILL BE RUNNING A TIMER FOR YOU. MARY ANNIKA ON.

-- -- MARY ANN -- CANON. SHE WILL BE * SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CALVERT PARENTS FOR EDUCATION AND SHE WILL RECEIVE FIVE

MINUTES. >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES. >> ALL RIGHT.

MY NAME IS MAYOR YAM CANNING SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CALVERT PARENTS. I'VE BEEN SPEAKING OUT.

I'VE WRITTEN TESTIMONY SPOKEN ENPUBLICALLY.

[01:00:03]

FICTIONAL NOVELS ARE BEING OFFERED WHICH REFLECT POLICE BRUTALITY NEGATING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT PROVES OTHERWISE.

CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SEPARATED AND I MEAN DEMOCRATS ON ONE SIDE AND CONSERVATIVES ON THE OTHER. THIS IS IN THE CLASSROOM.

A RADICAL LEFT LEANING GROUP THAT ONLY SUPPORTS PARTISAN IDEAS. OUR CHILDREN SHOULD ALWAYS BE TAUGHT A BALANCED VIEW OF THE WORLD.

THE DRIVING FORCE IS THE IDEA THAT THEY MAY HAVE VARYING PERSPECTIVES. WE DON'T NEED VARIOUS SHADES OF ROBOTS. OUR STUDENTS NEED TO BE ABLE TO DISAGREE WITHOUT FEAR OF BEING OSTRACIZED AND TEACHERS PLAY A HUGE ROLE. WE DON'T WANT YOUR RACIST OR ANTIRACIST ENVIRONMENTS. WE OF WANT OUR CHILDREN TO FREELY EXPLORE IDEAS. THEY ARE OUR CHILDREN.

NOT YOUR ACTIVIST. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF THEM.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE LIMITING OF SPEAKERS.

I WAS ON AN E-MAIL THREAD AND THE BOE PRESIDENT -- AND IN AN E-MAIL SENT YESTERDAY -- IN AN ATTEMPT TO FURTHER CLARIFY OUR COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS -- ABOUT ATTENDING A MEETING.

STEPHANIE'S RESPONSE WAS AS FOLLOWS.

THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSE. IT SEEMS THE BOE IS MISUNDERSTANDING THE CONCERNS. THE CONCERN CENTERS ON THE PRESENT CURRENT ONGOING INSTITUTIONLIZED SYSTEMATIC PLACE OF THE BOE THAT MATERIALLY LIMIT THE ABILITY OF THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE, COMMENT, AND PROVIDE INPUT ON MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN. WHILE THERE IS CURRENTLY GREAT INTEREST IN THE POLICIES THE PRESENT PRACTICES OF THE BOE ARE DEEPER AND IMPACT ALL BUSINESS CONDUCTED BY THE BOE AND THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO HAVE ITS VOICE HEARD.

CURRENT AND PRESENT AND ONGOING -- PRACTICE OF LIMITING MEMBERS TO 10. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE RECURING PRACTICE OF HOLDING MEETINGS DURING THE DAY WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF BURDENING WORKING PARENTS AND MINORITY WORKING PARENTS SPECIFICALLY. THESE PRACTICES HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON THE PUBLIC'S ABILITY TO PROVIDE INPUT TO THE BOE.

IN LATE OF THE RECURING CALLS -- TO CHANGE ITS PRACTICES TO INCLUDE PUBLIC APPEALS BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AS WELL THE BOE'S FAILURE TO TAKE ACTION TO ADJUST THESE PRACTICES MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO CONCLUDE -- -- SPECIFIC USAGE OF PAST TENSION REGARDING POLICY 1015 AND 1018.

WHERE THE BOARDED DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.

AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS MET ITS ILLEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR BOTH POLICIES. ASSERTS THAT THE REPEAT OF THE PAST TENSE CHARACTERIZATION REINFORCES THE POSITION THAT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE BOE IS THAT IT'S UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO RECEIVE OR CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENT OR AS TO THE IMPLEMENTATION EFFORT RELATED TO THE POLICIES.

IN THE VERY SAME EXCHANGE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BOE WILL NOT BE LIFTING THE 10 PERSON LIMIT. ALL WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE'RE AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITY JUST GIVEN TO THESE MINOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU -- FOR VOTING IN FAVOR OF THE COMMUNITY YOU SERVE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LIFT THE SPEAKER LIMIT. I'VE SEEN THAT AS A FEATHER IN YOUR CAP. PLEASE DON'T STOP REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE. --

>> NEXT SPEAKER IS KAREN PITCHER.

[01:05:02]

THREE MINUTES. >> GOOD EVENING.

I'M KAREN -- -- >> CAN YOU GET CLOSER TO THE

MICROPHONE. >> I'M NEW TO THIS.

>> I'M KAREN PITCHER. I HAVE BEEN A BUS DRIVER FOR OVER 30 PLUS YEARS. IT SADDENS ME THAT AFTER 30 YEARS THIS IS WHERE I SIT BEFORE YOU EXPLAINING WHY WE DESERVE TO BE PAID AT A BETTER SALARY AND BETTER BENEFITS.

EACH YEAR THE CONTRACTORS ASK FOR MORE HELP TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR DRIVERS. EACH YEAR THEY'VE BEEN DENIED.

SO EACH YEAR WE DRIVERS RETURN TO OUR JOBS WITH EMPTY PROMISES.

OUR EXPENSES KEEP RISE WITH NO RELIEF AND WE -- RAISE OR COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE AND WHEN WE DID GET ONE IT WAS 1% AND I FELT THAT WAS A SLAP IN THE FACE.

WE TAKE EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF YOUR CHILDREN AND WE ARE MORE THAN JUST BUS DRIVERS. WE WEAR MANY HATS.

WE TAKE CARE OF THEM LIKE A NEWS.

WE LISTEN TO THEM. WE'RE FRIENDS AND EVERY YEAR WE'RE TOLD HOW IMPORTANT WE ARE. WELL NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW US AND NOT JUST TELL US WITH EMPTY PROMISES.

THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS. MY NAME IS AMY COX AND I'M HERE AS A DEEPER STANDING FOR BUS DRIVERS.

TEACHERS ARE SHOWING UNITY WITH DRIVERS.

WE HAVE A SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

WE WERE ALREADY SHORT DRIVERS BEFORE THIS WEEK'S STRIKE AND BEFORE COVID HIT. BECAUSE THE PANDEMIC AND REOPENING OF SCHOOLS BUS DRIVERS ARE DECLARING OUT LOUD THEIR WORTH TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. ALL OF THE LIP SERVICE IN THE WORLD WILL NOT PAY THEIR BILLS OR COMPENSATE THE ABUSE THEY SUFFER EVERY DAY. HOWEVER A PAY INCREASE SURE WOULDN'T HURT. I LISTENED TO MY STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THE BUS STRIKE. THEY WERE FULLY SUPPORTIVE.

DRIVERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY PUT UP WITH EVERY DAY.

THESE STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT SHY ABOUT SPEAKING THEIR MINDS WOULDN'T REPEAT SOME OF THE AWFUL COMMENTS THEIR PEERS SAID ABOUT BUS DRIVERS. THEY ARE SURPRISED OF THE LACK OF RESPECT SHOWN TO THESE ADULTS.

SOME STUDENTS REFUSE TO WEAR THEIR MASK ESPECIALLY IF THEY SIT IN THE BACK OF THE BUS. THIS NOT ONLY PUTS ALL STUDENTS AT RISK BUT BUS DRIVERS TOO. DRIVERS MAY BE VACCINATED BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THEY CANNOT BE INFECTED BY COVID.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS CCPS CAN NEGOTIATE A TEMPORARY AGREEMENT DESIGNATING ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR BUS DRIVER SALARIES.

WHEN NEGOTIATION COMES AROUND ALLOW DRIVERS A SEAT AT THE TABLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IF CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING TO BE USED AGAINST THEM IN PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM CCPS. I'M SURE DRIVERS APPRECIATED THE CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO THEM THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS LIFESAVING HOWEVER THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR LIFE AT RISK EVERY TIME THEY PICK UP OUR CHILDREN.

THEY SHOULD BE PAID FOR THE LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH THEIR JOB. THEY CONSISTENTLY AND SAFELY GET OUR KIDS TOO AND FROM SCHOOL EVERY DAY.

I SAY THAT IS PRICELESS.

>> DONNA -- ASTENZO. FIVE MINUTES AS A GROUP.

>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DONNA -- I DEBATED SIGNING UP TO SPEAK TONIGHT FOR FEAR THAT MY MESSAGE WOULD BE TWISTED FOR THOSE TO BLAME AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD FOR A PROBLEM THAT EXISTED BEFORE MANY WERE EVEN ELECTED TO OFFICE.

WE HAVE A REAL PROBLEM FACING IS US IN 2021 THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE US IF WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE AND ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE OF THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE IN EDUCATION.

OUR HUMAN RESOURCES. TEACHERS RELATED SERVICE

[01:10:04]

NURSES, BUS DRIVERS, SUBSTITUTES TO NAME JUST A FEW.

THIS PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR OVERNIGHT.

IT IS NOT A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC NOR IS IT ONLY A PROBLEM IN MARYLAND. THIS IS A CRISIS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRACKS TEACHER SHORTAGE AREAS. IT IS REPORTING THAT NORTH CAROLINA HAS A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN ALL GRADES OF MATH AND SPECIAL-ED INDICATION AND ALL CORE SUBJECTS IN ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADES. THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS VERY REAL. COLLEGES ARE GRADUATING VERY FEW NEW TEACHERS. IT WAS 110,000 IN 2018 AND COULD REACH 200,000 BY 2025. THE SHORTAGE IS CRUCIAL AND IMPORTANT TO EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.

AS THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE TEACHERS DECLINES CLASS SIZES ARE RISING. HAVING MORE KIDS IN A CLASS CAN ALSO AFFECT BOTH TEACHER PERFORMANCE AND MORALE.

THERE ARE MORE BOOKS TO MARK. MORE CHILDREN TO HONOR.

MORE CHILDREN'S BEHAVIOR THAT NEEDS MANAGING.

THE PRESSURE AND IT CREATES A VICIOUS CYCLE AND IT IS STARTING TO SNOWBALL. THE SHORTAGE IS ONLY SET TO INCREASE UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES.

CALVERT TEACHERS ARE TEAM PLAYERS BUT AFTER CONSTANT CHALLENGES THE REACTIVE CLIMATE IS TAKING A TOLL ON STAFF.

TEACHERS ARE BEING STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT.

THEY ARE CAUSE IS DIG RUNS TO INSTRUCTION.

TEACHERS ARE HAVING TO COVER CLASSES DURING THEIR PLANNING.

ONE TEACHER SAID THAT HER IA HAS BEEN PULLED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM MORE TIMES THAN SHE HAS BEEN PRESENT.

CEA CONDUCTED A SURVEY. WHEN ASKED IF THIS YEAR PRESENTED THE SAME CHALLENGES AS ANY SCHOOL YEAR OVERWHELMINGLY 536 OF THE 627 WHO ANSWERED THIS QUESTION DISAGREED OR STRONGLY DISAGREED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL YEAR AND TEACHERS IN CALVERT ARE FEELING UNSUPPORTED.

ON TOP OF DEALING WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES AND COVID-19 QUARANTINES TEACHERS ARE WORKING TO COMBAT BOTH STUDENT LEARNING WHILE ATTENDING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL NEEDS STUDENTS CAME TO SCHOOL WITH. WE KEEP HEARING -- SELF-CARE AND WELLNESS YET WE'RE BEING COMPLETELY RUN INTO THE GROUND.

IF WE HAVE NO ENERGY TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS HOW CAN WE BE WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS WHOSE LIVES DEPEND ON US.

THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VIRGINIA ANNOUNCED THAT SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 1-5 AS TEACHERS AND THE STAFF ARE AT RISK OF BURN OUT.

THE DISTRICT ALSO ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD ACT ON SEVERAL STRESSORS THAT WERE IN THEIR CONTROL. PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES AND CURRICULAR WOULD BE INTRODUCED. WE NEED TO DO LESS BETTER.

AND WE NEED TO HEED THIS ADVICE HERE IN CALVERT.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING HOW TEACHERS ARE FEELING STRESSED AND OVERWORKED. LESSON PLANNING, LOADING MATERIALS AND SCHOOL BASED MEETINGS WERE THE TOP TWO ACTIVITIES THAT WERE MONOPOLIZING THEIR TIME DURING THE WORKDAY. TEACHERS FEEL LIKE IT'S ONE MORE THING BEING ADDED TO THEIR ALREADY FULL PLATES.

70% OF THE MEMBERS THAT COMPLETED THE SURVEY DO NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE ADEQUATELY SUPPORT TO HAVE A HEALTHY WORK/LIFE BALANCE. FEW OUTSIDE EDUCATION REALIZE THE PRESSURE. BECAUSE IT IS FOR THE GOOD OF THE STUDENTS. WE CAN AND MUST DO BETTER FOR OUR STAFF SO THEY CAN OPTIMALLY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. FOR ALL OF THE EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS WHO KEEP THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM RUNNING WE MUST ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THE ISSUES OVER WHICH WE HAVE POWER.

I URGE YOU TO REFLECT ON HOW TO FIX THIS SITUATION INSTEAD OF LETTING ANOTHER DAY GO BY THAT WILL COMPOUND AND EXACERBATE THE IMPACT ON US ALL. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MY NAME IS PAUL DILL. LIKE MANY PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO

[01:15:07]

CHILDREN WERE LEFT OUT IN THE COLD AND THAT WAS EMBARRASSING.

THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER JOB DONE ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE AND IT'S QUITE CLEAR THAT CURRENTLY THE DISTRICT HAS NO ABILITY TO MANAGE THIS. I SUGGEST THREE STEPS.

COMMUNICATE OFTEN AND WITH EXTREME DETAIL TO ALL STUDENTS.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE THE ISSUES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUS DRIVERS WANT.

PARENTS DO NOT KNOW. THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO GET AHEAD OF THAT ISSUE. WHAT THE ISSUE IS WHEN THE ISSUE IS EXPECT TO BE RESOLVED AND WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED ALREADY. TO DATE THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN LIMITED AND VAGUE AND INCOMPLETE.

NO OVER ARCHING STATEMENT AND PARENTS ARE LEFT IN THE DARK.

I DON'T KNOW WHO TO SUPPORT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BUS DRIVERS ARE WANTING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE DIRECT. THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT MANAGING THIS. WE HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT.

THE ONLY STATEMENTS I'VE RECEIVED IS WE'RE ANTICIPATING REACHING AGREEMENTS THAT WILL SOON PREVENT SUCH ACTION IN THE FUTURE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? NO ONE HERE KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS.

AND THAT IS A FAILURE AND PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND IF THEY CAN'T HANDLE THIS CRISIS THEY NEED TO LEAVE.

THAT NEEDS TO BE MANAGED. TAKE WHATEVER STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO END THIS IMMEDIATELY.

THIS COUNTY HAS PLENTY OF MONEY. WE ALL PAY TAXES.

THEY NEED TO BE USED IF YOU NEED MORE MONEY ASK FOR IT NOW.

BUT AGAIN I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.

SO IF THEIR DEMANDS ARE UNREASONABLE TELL THE PARENTS THAT. BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

YOU NEED TO GET AHEAD OF THIS. CRISIS MANAGEMENT.

THE DISTRICT IS FAILING. IT'IT'S -- 101.

STOP SAYING IT'S THE CONTRACTORS.

YOU'RE PASSING THE BUCK. TODAY THERE IS A STATEMENT ISSUED TO THE LOCAL MEDIA THAT SAID IT'S A CONTRACTOR ISSUE.

THAT IS COWARDICE. LET'S BE HONEST.

CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND HAVE THEM EDUCATED.

WE'VE MADE GREAT INVESTMENTS IN OUR FACILITIES.

NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. A WONDERFUL FACILITY.

OUR TEACHERS ARE EXCELLENT. MANAGE THIS CRISIS.

THANK YOU.

>> NICOLE WHITE. >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS NICOLE AND I HAVE TWO OF KIDS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING SCHOOL IN CALVERT COUNTY.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY SYMPATHY TO THE BUS DRIVERS WHO NEED TO GO TO EXTREME LENGTHS OF RISKING THEIR JOBS AND INCOME TO BE HEARD. THEY PUT IN THE EFFORT EVERY DAY. THEIR CONCERNS NEED TO BE HEARD AND RESOLVED FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS A TOPIC THAT A MAJORITY TEND TO FORGET.

SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. 7 MY OLDEST IS NONVERBAL AUTISTIC WITH A MUSCULAR DISORDER.

MY SON ATTENDS CALVERT COUNTY COUNTRY SCHOOL -- AND FUR NOT AWARE OF WHEN IT COMES TO AUTISM CHANGING FROM A SIMPLE TASK TO ANOTHER IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

WHEN YOU BREAK UP THEIR ROUTINE IT'S NOT LIKE YOU AND I WHERE WE CAN ADAPT AND MOVE ALONG. THIS CAN CAUSE A HEALTH CONCERN FROM SCREAMING TO CRYING. MY SON ADORES HIS BUS DRIVERS AND ASSISTANTS THAT HE NEEDS IN ORDER TO GET ON AND OFF THE BUS BECAUSE HE ISSUES A SPECIAL SEAT BELT.

HE ARE UNABLE TO PROTECT HIMSELF.

LATELY WITH ALL OF THIS GOING ON HE LOOKS AND SKIES -- WHY IS MOMMY TAKING ME TO SCHOOL RATHER THAN RIDING THE COOL SCHOOL BUS LIKE A BIG BOY? HIS CLASS WILL TAKE TRIPS OUT TO THE PUBLIC TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR LEARNING AND SOCIAL

[01:20:01]

WHEN COVID HIT I LOST MY REGULAR JOB AND BEGAN WORKING NIGHTS IN ORDER TO BE HOME WITH MY BOYS. NOW DUE TO THE THIS SITUATION I NEED TO TAKE THEM BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.

IT CAN TAKE UP TO THREE HOURS RATHER THAN JUST TAKING THEM TO THE BUS STOP LEAVING ME WITH ONLY FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP.

THIS IS BEGINNING TO TAKE A TOLL ON ME AND MY MENTAL HEALTH.

YOU ARE CALVERT COUNTY'S LEADERSHIP TEAM AND I SUGGEST YOU START ACTING LIKE IT. HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? THANK YOU.

YOUR LAST NAME WHEN YOU GET UP THERE PLEASE.

>> YES. THANK YOU.

>> -- GOOD EVENING. I'M KEVIN MELET.

I'M A FATHER OF THREE KIDS. I'M A BUSINESS OWNER OF A COMPANY HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY AND IN BUSINESS FOR OVER 46 YEARS. I'M ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR THE MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES. I'M HERE FOR TWO PRIMARY REASONS. ONE THE BUSING.

YOU MENTIONED THAT CALVERT COUNTY IS THE NUMBER ONE EMPLOYER IN -- -- WELL THEN YOU NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB AND YOU NEED TO START LISTENING TO OUR CUSTOMERS THAT ARE RIGHT HERE BEHIND US. 7 WE -- -- PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THEY SHOULD HAVE INSURANCE.

THEY SHOULD BE TREATED AS PART OF THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE PAID FOR AN 8 HOUR DAY INSTEAD OF MISSING THE GAP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. WE TRUST THEM WITH OUR CHILDREN ON BUSES MANY WITHOUT SEATBELTS. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM THE PAY THEY DESERVE AND WHERE THEY FEEL APPRECIATED.

SECONDLY IS THE MARYLAND COALITION FOR INCLUES I HAVE EDUCATION. THIS IS * 100% NEEDED BUT OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT GIVEN THE RESOURCES TO PROPERLY EXECUTE.

WE NEED TO SET THEM UP FOR SUCCESS NOT FAILURE IN IMPLEMENTING THESE COMPLICATED STRATEGIES.

MCIE PLACES ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, DOCUMENTATION AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND TRAINING AND ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM CHALLENGES. TEACHERS ARE TAUGHT TO SCAFFOLD THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOM. YOU NEED TO SCAFFOLD THE TEACHER IN THE CLASSROOM. SUPPORT THOSE IMPLEMENTING THE CHANGE. WHEN YOU HAVE A SINGLE TEACHER CLASSROOM AND THERE IS A BEHAVIOR ISSUE THAT IS REPETITIVE BEHAVIOR ISSUE THAT IS PART OF THE DISABILITY THAT SINGLE TEACHER WILL SPEND UP TO 80% OF THEIR TIME DEALING WITH ONE STUDENT. THIS MAY HAVE EQUITY BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE EQUALITY FOR THE OTHER 80% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM. THESE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND NEED TO BE CHANGED.

WE NEED TO CREATE A MODEL FOR SUCCESS NOT FAILURE.

THANK YOU.

>> SINCE MY DINGER DIDN'T DING, THE FIVE ESSENTIAL VARIABLES FOR

[01:25:02]

SUCCESS AND IMPLEMENTING -- >> I WAS RIGHT AT THREE MINUTES.

>> SO I TIMED IT PERFECTLY. >> I THOUGHT YOU WERE DONE.

>> THE BEGINNING SALARY FOR BUS DRIVERS IS $18 AN HOUR.

THAT HAS BEEN A MISS READ ON THE SIGN.

THERE IS AN OLD SIGN UP THERE.

>> GOOD EVENING. APE DJ TEMPLETON.

I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT. OUR BOYS GRADUATED IN 2006 AND 2008 FROM HONEY TOWN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE YEARS AND TALKING TO DIFFERENT PARENTS AND I'M VERY CONCERNED. OBVIOUSLY THE ISSUE TONIGHT IS THE BUS DRIVERS AND GET -- GETTING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL.

SINCE OUR KIDS ARE NOT IN SCHOOL NOW I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT ONCE THEY GET THERE.

I'VE TENDED SEVERAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETINGS AND I NOTICED A BIG DIVIDE IN THE CRT ISSUES AND WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT.

AND I WAS WONDERING -- WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

8 HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A PROFESSIONAL MEDIATOR TO HELP CLOSE THAT DIVIDE? WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL WE HAD TUESDAY AFTERNOON WAS RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DAY.

OUR PARENTS SIGNED US UP TO GO TO THE METHODIST CHURCH, THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TAKE A BUS TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR STAY IN THE CLASSROOM. IF WE WENT BACK TO WHAT GOD TEACHES THE BIBLE HIS WORD WE WOULD NOT HAVE HALF OF THESE DISCUSSIONS. IF WE GOT BACK TO GOD CREATED US NOT WE EVOLVED FROM APES OR THE BIG BANG IF WE GOT BACK TO GOD CREATED US WE ARE A COUNTRY UNDER GOD AS IN THE PLEDGE.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU DO A PILOT ELECTIVE COURSE ON GENESIS. EVERYONE IS CREATED EQUAL.

UNDER GOD. GENESIS 1:27.

WE'RE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE. WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE DISCUSSION OF GENDER CONFUSION. HE CREATED MALE.

HE CREATED FEMALE. NO IN BETWEEN.

VERY CLEAR. WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE DRUG ALCOHOL SUICIDE ISSUES. AS MUCH.

GOD CREATED EACH PERSON FOR HIS PURPOSE AND HIS PLAN JEREMIAH 29:11 THAT WOULD GIVE HOPE TO EVERYONE AND WE PLEASE THE LORD NOT OURSELVES. NOT IN DESPAIR.

THE VIOLENCE, IF WE TAUGHT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.

THOU SHALL NOT MURDER. WE WOULD HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR LIFE. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU OFFER THE BIBLICAL CONSTITUTION CLASS. GET BACK TO THE BASICS.

I'M A VERY SIMPLE BASIC PERSON. THANK YOU.

>> ADMITTEDLY MYSELF AND MY COMMUNITY WE ALL SUPPORT THE BUS DRIVERS AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE THE BUS DRIVERS AND THE CARE THAT THEY OFFER TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STUDENTS.

PERMANENTLY I'M JUST DEEPLY THANKFUL AND COMMITTED AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR MY CHILDREN WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE GOING TO SCHOOL. THANK YOU.

[01:30:03]

7 HOW DOES THE COMMUNITY REACH OUT TO YOU AND ASK HOW CAN WE HELP IN FINDING A BETTER CONTRACTOR? THE CONTRACTOR PERSONALLY AT THIS TIME WAS PAID FROM MARCH 2ND WHEN OUR STUDENTS WENT HOME BECAUSE OF COVID AND DID NOT RETURN UNTIL SEPTEMBER. THOSE DRIVERS WERE STILL PAID AND RIGHTFULLY SO. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN PAID AND YOU DID PAY THEM: IT WAS THE CONTRACTORS OR THE CONTRACTOR OF THE BUS SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THESE BUS DRIVERS. I DON'T PERMANENTLY MY OWN THOUGHT IS I SHOULD BE SITTING AT THAT CONTRACTOR'S DRIVEWAY AND PETITIONING AGAINST THEM NOT AGAINST YOU BECAUSE AT THIS POINT I HAVE NOT SEEN A CLEAR CASE OF WHERE YOU HAVE DROPPED WHAT I ASKED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN I CAME.

WHAT I DO SEE IS THE CONTRACTOR LEAVING YOU IN THE LURCH AND MAKING YOU THE BAD GUYS. I DON'T DISAGREE THAT THE BUS DRIVERS NEED OUR HELP AND HOW CAN WE FIX THIS? I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF THE BUS DRIVERS COULD BE POTENTIALLY BECOME AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY IF THAT WAS ONE OPTION.

IF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE SO EAGER TO TAKE AWAY THE $5 MILLION THAT WAS LEFT OVER THAT WAS NOT USED WHY DOESN'T THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TAKE THAT MONEY AND MAKE OUR OWN BUS SYSTEM AND THEN THEY WOULD BE AN EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WANT TO TAKE MORE MONEY FROM THE STUDENTS. WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING TO? THAT MONEY WAS MEANT FOR THE STUDENTS AND NOT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. I'M ASKING YOU HOW CAN WE HELP AND HOW CAN THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STEP FORWARD IN TAKING CARE OF OUR MUCH NEEDED BUS DRIVERS FOR OUR MOST IMPORTANT -- FOR THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIVES IS OUR CHILDREN AND OUR STUDENTS. 7 WE HAVE ADMITTED SO MUCH -- THANK YOU.

>> SHERRI READE. >> BOARD MEMBERS THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.

MY NAME IS SHERRY READE. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CALVERT COUNTY. GRADUATE OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. I'M A PARENT OF FOUR CHILDREN ONE OF WHICH ATTENDS PLUM POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MY MOTHER GAYLE READE IS A 30 YEAR RETIRED EDUCATOR AND MY FOR THE IS A THIRD GENERATION SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTOR FOR CALVERT COUNTY. MY FATHER HAS BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND TO THIS DAY DROVE CALVERT COUNTY CHILDREN.

MY BROTHER JR READE AND MYSELF WE'RE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS FOR OUR FAMILY BUSINESS READE AND READE INCORPORATED.

I COME IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS OF CALVERT COUNTY AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS AND RESPOND TO THE LETTER DR. CURRY SENT TO US DRIVERS YESTERDAY EXPRESSING HIS SADNESS OVER THE ONGOING STRIKE AND PROTEST AND INADEQUATE WAGES WHICH WE ARE PAID THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

MR. SUPERINTENDENT I'M SO SORRY YOU'RE SAD.

YOU KNOW WHY I'M SAD. I'M SAD BECAUSE WE DON'T MAKE A LIVING WAGE. I'M SAD BECAUSE WE SHOW UP FOR WORK EVERY DAY AT DAWN LOYAL TO TRANSPORT OUR KIDS OUR SCHOOLKIDS YET WE FEEL NO RESPECT -- NO ONE HERE RESPECTSES US ENOUGH TO COMPENSATE US FAIRLY.

I'M SAD BECAUSE MY COLLEAGUES AND I MANY OF US WHO WORKED YEARS TRANSPORTING OUR CHILDREN SAFELY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO STRIKE IN ORDER TO GET ANYONE TO ACTUALLY PAY US ANY ATTENTION.

TO LISTEN TO WHAT THE CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN SAYING TO

[01:35:02]

WE ARE UNDER PAID. AND IT CANNOT CONTINUE.

WE MUST MAKE A FAIR AND LIVING WAGE.

WE'RE SAD THAT WE WORK SO HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THE BENEFIT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FAMILIES WE COLLECTIVELY SERVE AS WELL AS OUR OWN FAMILIES AND YET WE'RE NOT COMPENSATED IN A FAIR MANNER AND THEN OSTRACIZED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES BUT RATHER EMPLOYEES OF OUR CONTRACTORS.

THE RECENT INCREASE DR. CURRY -- DR. CURRY-TOUTS ABOUT AMOUNTS TO LESS THAN 75 CENTS AN HOUR. THAT INCREASES NOT ONLY INADEQUATE IT SERVES TO REPLACE THE INCREASES THAT WERE APPROVED BUT NEVER RECEIVED IN FISCAL YEAR 2020 AND IN FISCAL YEAR 2021. YES WE WERE PAID DURING COVID LIKE MANY OTHERS. WE WERE PAID -- THAT MEANT WE DID NOT SEEK UNEMPLOYMENT. EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE ADDITIONAL COVID DOLLARS. IT'S BEEN SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE CHOOSING NOT TO WORK BECAUSE THEY COULD MAKE MORE WORK COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT. I'M NOT POINTING ANY FINGERS NOR AM I UNGRATEFUL BUT THIS MONEY WAS ALREADY BUDGETED AND ALLOCATED. SCHOOL STAFF WERE CONTINUOUSLY PAID AND RECEIVED HAZARD PAY. I'M GRATEFUL OUR CONTRACTORS CONTINUED TO PAY US DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY WERE FORCED TO SIGN A DOCUMENT STATING THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD REVIEW TO MAKE SURE WE WERE PAID.

THE DRIVERS ARE THE BACKBONES. THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND THERE IS NO REASON TO TELL US WE SHOULD NOT BE FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS FAIR AND EQUITABLE NOW THAT WE'RE BACK TO WORK.

7 TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST TO ME DR. CURRY'S LETTER REPRESENTS SOMEONE ON HIS IVORY TOWER LOOK WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR YOU.

YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY. LIKE DR. CURRY I'M TOO AM SAD ABOUT THE EFFECT THE DRIVER'S STRIKE HAS HAD.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING THAT WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO THIS INFORMATION.

TO STRIKE IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.

WE LOVE OUR KIDS THAT WE DRIVE FOR AND THEIR FAMILIES AND WE'RE PROUD TO SERVE THEM IN THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM YET WE MUST FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS AND EQUITY AND WHAT IS RIGHT.

OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES ARE WORKING TO INCREASE THEIR PAY.

CHARLES COUNTY HAS MET WITH THEIR DRIVERS AND CONTRACTORS THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST SEVEN DAYS AND HAS OFFERED A RESOLUTION. IT CAN BE DONE.

IT SHOULD BE DONE. AND CALVERT COUNTY NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING. THIS COULD END TONIGHT.

DR. CURRY IF YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL AGREE TO PAY THE DRIVER PAY SCALE AND BENEFITS AND ADDITIONAL STEPS RETROACTIVE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO YOUR OFFICE WITH THE PROMISE OF ADDITIONAL NEGOTIATIONS -- ALL OF THE DRIVERS WILL BE AT WORK TOMORROW ON THEIR BUSES BUT WE NEED THIS IN WRITING TONIGHT BY MIDNIGHT JUST LIKE YOU SENT THE LAST E-MAIL.

THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT. WE WANT TO BE BACK AT WORK.

I CAN GUARANTEE YOU WE WILL. EVERY CONTRACTOR HAS DESIGNATED THE DRIVER REPRESENTATIVE AND I'M IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION.

DR. CURRY THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAVE SPOKEN AND NOW THE DRIVERS HAVE SPOKEN.

DO THE RIGHT THING. ARE YOU GOING TO AGREE TO PAY US SO WE CAN DRIVE TOMORROW?

>> NO MORE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU.

OUR RULES ARE NOT TO RESPOND TO QUESTIONS THAT ARE POSED FROM

THE TABLE. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOMED.

[01:40:08]

>> SO THAT WAS OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE EVENING.

[4. Board Comments]

>> I HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT AND IT'S A THANK YOU TO MS. POLIN SKY. AS MANY OF YOU KNOW -- HELD ITS FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN WELL OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN PERSON SO I HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU STAYED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE THE STUDENT LED WORKSHOPS BUT THAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. I HOPE YOU GOT TO SEE SOME OF THE STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTY AND I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK IN PERSON.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ATTENDING. IT MEANS A LOT.

>> THANK YOU, MR. KELLY. MR. WHITE.

>> YES. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

LAST WEEK I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE FARMING FOR HUNGER AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH DR. MURPHY AND BERNIE -- JUNIOR. I ALSO WOULD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE DEDICATION OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO SOMEONE ESE TO SPEAK ON LATER.

I DO ALSO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I'VE HAD TO ACTUALLY GO TO THE SCHOOLS, TALK TO TEACHERS, NURSES, PRINCIPALS, TO FIND OUTFITTER HAND WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.

I APPRECIATE THE PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE AND I ALSO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT THE STUDENTS AND BUS DRIVERS ARE DOING. ACTUALLY WAS ABLE TO TALK TO MY DAUGHTER'S BUS DRIVER. SHE WAS MY BROTHER'S BUS DRIVER.

MY BUS DRIVER AND MY DAUGHTER AND SON'S BUS DRIVER AND SHE IS STILL DRIVING TODAY. SO WE DO FULLY UNDERSTAND AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS THAT EVERYONE SAID TONIGHT.

AND JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT WE WILL SEE A AN END TO THIS SOONER THAN LATER. THAT IS ALL.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. WHITE.

MR. NUTTER. >> THANK YOU.

YOU SCARE ME TONIGHT -- BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT COMING WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SUCH A SHORTAGE THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT ALL OF US. AND I KNOW THAT IS COMING.

AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I HAD A NEIGHBOR CALL ME AND SAID I'M TRYING TO VOLUNTEER AT A SCHOOL AND I'M AND A HEAD OF THE GROUP FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THEY WON'T LET US DO ANYTHING.

THEY WON'T LET US IN THE SCHOOL. WE CANNOT GET TO THE VOLUNTEER CABINETS. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE AFFECTING YOU AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT IS GOING TO BE CLEARED BUT HOPEFULLY SOON I ASSUME BECAUSE OF COVID THAT THEY HAD THIS PROGRAM. BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK WE'VE SEEN COMING.

EVEN AT MY AGE -- AND MAYBE LACK OF NOT LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE SOMETIMES BUT I COULD SEE THIS COMING.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE BUS DRIVERS.

HERE IS THE NEAT THING. IN 2011 AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER I WAS SITTING WITH A GROUP OF BUS DRIVERS THAT WANTED TO TALK TO ME. PEAKING ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING THEN AS THEY ARE NOW. NOW WHY IS THAT? WHY IS IT NOT GOTTEN BETTER? NOW YOU COULD THINK -- AS -- BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT OUR JOB IS TOTALLY POLICY.

BUT THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE BUCK STOPS HERE.

AND WE HAVE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE MAY NEED SOME HELP FROM THE COUNTY AND I'M SURE THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

BUT THAT JUST MAY BE THE WAY IT GOES BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING. FUNDING THAT IS NEEDED NOW.

YOU CAN TELL SOMEBODY WELL, WAIT UNTIL 2022 OR 2023 BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT NOW. WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

AND THE BUCK STOPS HERE. THAT IS THE WAY IT IS.

SO GOOD LORD. THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

[01:45:04]

-- THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. NUTTER.

MS. BALINSKI. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK WITH US. THE BUCK DOES STOP HERE AND WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD. MY BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE IF WE DO HAVE TO ENDURE A DAY OR SO MORE.

THANKS. >> MS. SETZFAND.

>> THANK YOU. THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATION SERVICE WAS VERY, VERY NICE AND I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT. BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND THE AMENITIES ARE PHENOMENAL SO IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO TOUR THE NEW SCHOOL PLEASE DO SO.

JUST WANT TO CLARIFY POLICY 1015 EDUCATION ALEC TEE IS A LAW IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT ALL 24 SCHOOL DISTRICTS MUST HAVE POLICY 1015 SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN WITH POLICY 1015 AND THE FORMATION OR THE FACT THAT IT EXIST THEN WE'RE FOLLOWING COMAR LAW. AS FAR AS THE BUS CONTRACTORS JUST KNOW ALL PARTIES CONCERNED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION -- THAT WE SUPPORT AND WILL DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT IT IS MODIFIED IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO EVERYONE.

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO DON'T THINK THERE ARE NO ACTIONS BEING TAKEN. THERE ARE ACTIONS BEING TAKEN.

AND AS FAR AS POLICY 1018 ANTIRACISM -- THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY THAT I AM GOING TO DECIDE TO REPEAL POLICY 1018 BECAUSE EVERY STUDENT AND I STAND BY THIS EVERY STUDENT IN OUR DISTRICT NEEDS TO FEEL SAFE, PROTECTED AND WELCOMED.

AND AS LONG AS I'M HERE WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN THAT POSITION.

NO ONE IS INDOCTRINATED ANYONE'S STUDENT.

WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT FEELS SUPPORTED AND THEY CAN LEARN WITHOUT FEELING THREATENED OR HARMED PERIOD. WHEN I JOINED THE BOARD IN 2015 OR WAS ELECTED IN 2015 BOTH MEETINGS WERE AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING. NOT CONDUCIVE TO YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AT 7:00 FOR A MEETING. SO IN 2016 I THINK ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS BECAME 7:00 P.M. BECAUSE THE ENTIRE BOARD FELT AND AGREED THAT 10:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY COMING TO A MEETING.

MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO LATER THE SECOND MEETING MOVED FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M. SO THE SACRIFICES THAT THAT DECISION HAS ON OUR STAFF THAT IS HERE TO SUPPORT US IN THE EVENINGS IS HUGE. BUT IT WAS A SACRIFICE THAT THE BOARD WAS WILLING TO ASK IN ORDER FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO AN EVENING OR LATE AFTERNOON MEETING. SO IF THE PUBLIC WISHES TO GO BACK TO 10:00 A.M. WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

BUT THIS BOARD MAYBE NOT THESE MEMBERS BUT I WAS ON THE BOARD -- WE MOVED THE MEETINGS TO THE EVENINGS TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

MS. COUSINS. >> I WILL ECHO THE COMMENTS MADE BY MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT REGARDING THE UNFORTUNATE BUS DRIVER SITUATION. AND I WILL SAY THANK YOU TO THE BUS DRIVERS AND THE CONTRACTORS FOR INVITING ME TO COME AND LISTEN TO YOUR CONCERNS. I HEARD THEM LOUD AND CLEAR.

AND I WILL WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO ENSURE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE HIM AND HIS STAFF FOR WORKING WITH YOU TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

OUR AGENDA TONIGHT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RETURN TO CLOSED SESSION -- TO

DISCUSS PERSONNEL. >> I SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE -- MR. NUTTER --

[01:50:03]

CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE. >> MADAM PRESIDENT I HAVE NEGLECTED TO MAKE A MOTION IF I'M OUT OF ORDER JUST TELL ME I'M OUT OF ORDER OTHERWISE I HAVE A MOTION TO MAKE WHICH I

MAKE EVERY WEEK -- >> UNDERSTAND YOUR MOTION HOWEVER THERE IS A CURRENT MOTION ON THE FLOOR SO WE NEED TO ENTERTAIN THIS MOTION FIRST AND THEN I WILL ALLOW TO YOU

MAKE YOUR MOTION. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. >> SO THERE IS A MOTION TO RETURN TO CLOSED AND A PROPER SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE THOSE IN FAVOR --

AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION. 7 I APOLOGIZE MR. NUTTER WANTED

TO MAKE A MOTION. >> AND I DO APOLOGIZE.

I DO THANK YOU -- I WANT TO MAKE MY MOTION WHICH I MAKE EVERY WEEK. TO ALLOW MORE THAN A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS. I DON'T THINK IN ANY WAY THAT THIS WOULD CREATE A DIFFICULT PROBLEM IF YOU CHANGE THE MINUTES TO TWO MINUTES AND LESS THAN PROBABLY FIVE FOR AN ORGANIZATION. SO I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. THOSE IN FARE.

AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> OPPOSED. >> OPPOSED.

>> MOTION FAILS. 2-3.

>> WE MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION. WE'RE ADJOURNED.

7

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.