Mar 24, 2022 Board of Education

[00:00:05]

>> TODAY IS THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022.

I CALL THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK SESSION TO ORDER.

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence/Mission Statement]

OF SILENCE. >> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ENSURES EXPRESENCE IN EDUCATION FOR ON YOU STUDENTS THROUGH SOUND POLICIES AND

[2.02 Recognition of HHS Track & Field]

SO WE HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR A THROWER AND THE TRACK TEAM.

AND WHICH ONE OF MY BOARD MEMBERS -- WHO IS DOING THROWER?

ON YOUR MICROPHONE.O] PAT, TURN- >> BOY THESE GUYS ARE BIG.

IS ADAM HERE? WHERE IS ADAM?

YOU ARE ADAM? >> YEAH.

>> COME ON OVER HERE, ADAM, WITH ME.

I'M GOING TO TRY THIS. OK? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THIS RESOLUTION. AND IT'S ADAM OF HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL HAS WON THE MARYLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 3A STATE INDOOR TRACK SHOT PUT FOR 2021-2022.

ADAM HAS SET INDOOR RECORDS IN THE SHOT PUT WITH A THROW OF 50.5/4 INCHES. ADAM WAS THE MPSSAA 3A INDOOR REGIONAL CHAMPION? THE SHOT PUT.

ADAM HAS A 6TH FARTHEST THROW IN MPSSAA BOYS INDOOR TRACK STATE MEET TOP 10 NOW. AND THEREFORE NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY COMMEND HIS FAMILY AND COACHES FOR AN OUTSTANDING YEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WISH HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN HIS FUTURE. SO LET'S GIVE ADAM A BIG HAND.

[APPLAUSE] >> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.

>> YES. OK.

I DIDHOW, I'M GOING TO GET THIS -- I WENT TO CALVERT.

SO THINK THE FIRST YEAR THEY HAD TRACK AT CALVERT WAS WHEN I WAS A JUNIOR. AND WE -- I DID WIN A LITTLE MEDAL FOR THROWING A DISCUS. SO -- JUST WANTED TO SAY YOU

AREN'T BY YOURSELF, MAN. >> YES, SIR.

>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE FOOTBALL. ALL WE HAD WAS BASKETBALL AND SOCCER AND I COULDN'T DO EITHER ONE.

SO -- I'M GOING TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND -- THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE DONE A RESOLUTION.

I GUESS WE PRESENT THIS TO YOU AND I NEED A SECOND.

WAS THERE A SECOND? >> WE DID.

THANK YOU. >> I WAS RUNNING MY MOUTH.

I COULDN'T HEAR. SO -- THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAN.

>> THANK YOU. >> DOES THE COACH WANTED TO SAY

SOMETHING? >> SURE.

I'LL KEEP IT BRIEF. >> MR. HULL.

RIGHT? >> YEAH.

>> YEAH. I RECOGNIZE YOU.

>> SO MY NAME IS JIM HALL, ASSISTANT COACH AT HUNTINGTOWN.

[00:05:02]

WE HAD 13 MEMBERS OF THE INDOOR TRACK TEAM THAT WON THE STATE TITLE AND WE HAD POINTS, CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EACH AND EVERY MEMBER THAT'S UP HERE. UNFORTUNATELY, 2021 DIDN'T HAPPEN SO WE DID WIN THE INDOOR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2020 AND NOW WE ARE THE INDOOR STATE CHAMP WITH A BRAND-NEW GROUP IN 2022. WE ARE TRYING TO ARGUE THAT WE ARE BACK TO BACK TO BACK. BUT PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING THAT.

VERY PROUD OF THIS GROUP OF GUYS.

REALLY THE GROUP THAT'S HERE IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GROUP THAN THE ONE WE HAD IN 2020. SO, IT SPEAKS WELL FOR OUR PROGRAM AND THE ATHLETES THAT WE HAVE.

MANY OF THESE GENTLEMEN WILL BE GOING ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL TO COMPETE AND I'M SURE WILL REPRESENT CALVERT COUNTY AND HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL VERY WELL.

MY ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR DOES WANT ME TO MENTION THAT I AM THE THROWS COACH AT HUNTINGTOWN AND THE THROWERS, ALL THAT EVENING THEY KEPT ANNOUNCING THE TOP FIVE TEAMS. NO HUNTINGTOWN. NEVER.

THE SHOT PUT WAS ONE OF THE LAST EVENTS AND THE TOTALS WEREN'T IN UNTIL THE LAST EVENT ON THE TRACK WAS BEING RUN.

THE STATE OFFICIAL THAT WAS DOING THE CALCULATION AND THE SCORE WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHOSE TEAM WAS GOING TO WIN AND WHEN THE SHOT PUT RESULTS CAME IN, THEY ALL TURNED TO ONE ANOTHER AND SAID WELL, HUNTINGTOWN'S THE WINNER.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE VIDEO THAT OUR COACHES HAVE POSTED OF THE KIDS GETTING TOGETHER AND WAITING FOR THAT WORD THAT HUNTINGTOWN WON AND THEY WERE VERY EXCITED AND SO WERE WE.

VERY PROUD OF THAT GROUP AND THANK YOU FOR THE RECOGNITION.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. MR. WHITE, WILL YOU RECOGNIZE THE TRACK TEAM. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I WAS GOING TO CALL UP THE AD AND MS. ABBIE GRAY.

ASK THEM TO COME UP. I'LL LET YOU DO THAT AND THEN I WILL READ IT. WHEREAS, THE 2021-2022 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK TEAM HAS WON THE 3A MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR INDOOR TRACK; AND WHEREAS, THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK TEAM IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH VALERIE COFFEY AND ASSISTANT COACHES JIM HALL, MIKE HENSHAW, DEB MORGAN, ADAM SCRIVENER AND COLIN MCKENNY; AND WHEREAS, THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK TEAM REPRESENTS HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIR PLAY; AND WHEREAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK TEAM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE INDOOR TRACK TEAM AT HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HEREBY EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WISH THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOLS BOYS INDOOR TRACK TEAM SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE.

[APPLAUSE] >> SECOND.

[LAUGHTER] >> WAS THERE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> NOTHING LIKE ON THE SPOT.

I CONSIDER, JIM SAID THE SHORT STRAW.

I CONSIDER IT THE LONG STRAW. MS. COFFEE SENDS HER DEEPEST REGARDS THAT SHE COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT AS WELL AS COACH HENSHAW AND OTHER COACHES. AS AN ADMINISTRATOR YOU TRY TO GET TO AS MANY THINGS AS POSSIBLE.

SEAN AND I WORK CLOSE TOGETHER TO GET TO AS MANY EVENTS AS WE CAN. COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THESE GUYS. NOT ONLY DO THEY TAKE CARE OF THINGS ON THE TRACK BUT ALSO THE SKOAL AND ARE GREAT ROLE MODELS.

[00:10:02]

THANKS TO SHAWN FOR ALL THE SUPPORTS, BUT KUDOS, GENTLEMEN.

KUDOS. [APPLAUSE]

>> EVERYBODY WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE WHILE THEY ARE ALL HERE? STEP ON UP.

[LAUGHTER] >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] >> WILL YOU RECOGNIZE THE

[2.03 Recognition of PHS Thespians]

PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS. >> COULD THE STUDENTS COME FORWARD AND MR. PRICE AND THE STAFF.

SO THERE ARE 15 STUDENTS HERE. WELCOME, GUYS.

THE STUDENT DIRECTOR IS BROOK BANEY, I UNDERSTAND.

AND MR. PRICE IS THE DIRECTOR, OF COURSE.

THERE'S ALSO, IF THERE ARE NOIR STAFF MEMBERS HERE, MARISSA, ANNA AND ROBIN. I WILL READ THE RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS, THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS HAVE WON THE MARYLAND THESPIANS FESTIVAL 2022 CHAPTER SELECT ONE ACT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THEIR PRODUCTION OF THE ONE ACT VERSION OF "LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE", BY NORA EPHRON AND DELIA EPHRON BASED ON THE BOOK BY ILENE BECKERMAN; AND WHEREAS, HE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO REPRESENT THE STATE OF MARYLAD AT THE 2022 INTERNATIONAL THESPIAN FESTIVAL HELD IN BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA IN JUNE OF 2022; AND WHEREAS, THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS ARE LED BY DIRECTOR ALLEN PRICE AND STUDENT DIRECTOR BROOKE BANEY; AND WHEREAS, THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS HAVE ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED A CONSISTENT STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN THE FIELD OF THEATRE ARTS; AND WHEREAS, THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS REPRESENT PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL AND CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH THE UTMOST PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO THEIR CRAFT; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY COMMEND THE MEMBERS, DIRECTORS, AND SUPPORTERS OF THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL HARLEQUINS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WISH THEM CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE ENDEAVORS BOTH ON AND OFF THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL STAGE.

>> WE HAVE A SEEK. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.

>> CONGRATULATION, EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE]

>> HELLO. I COULDN'T HAVE ASKED TO A BETTER GROUP TO GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE PROCESS WITH.

WE HAD TO OVERCOME SO MUCH ADVERSITY TO CAST THIS PLAY.

WE CAST IT LAST JUNE WHEN WE DIDN'T KNOW WHATS WORLD WOULD BE LIKE. WE DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WOULD GO BACK ONLINE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE MASK SITUATION WAS.

SO -- -- SORRY -- SO, BUT WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF WE WERE GOING TO ALLOW TO PRODUCE SHOWS. BUT WE JUST HAD HOPE.

SO WE STARTED AND THEN WE HAD THE WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS.

WE PRACTICED INDOORS, OUTDOORS, THERE WAS AN ONLINE REHEARSAL THAT WAS A MESS FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

MASK RESTRICTIONS EASED AND THEN THEY TIGHTENED AND WE COULD HAVE A FULL AUDIENCE AND THEN ONLY TWO PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO SHOW UP. AND THEN FESTIVAL WAS CANCELED THEN RESCHEDULED, BUT THROUGH ALL OF THIS, WE JUST HAD HOPE.

THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE DISCOVERED SOME OF THE BEST THEATER WE HAVE EVER PRODUCED. AND WE EVEN SCORED THE HEIST IN ALL OF THE SMALL ACTING AWARDS. WITH ZACH HERE AND BROOKE TAKING TOP HONORS IN MONOLOGUES AND DUET ACTING.

SO -- BUT I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THIS GROUP'S DEDICATION, DETERMINATION AND LOYALTY.

THEY HAVE EARNED THIS MOMENT LIKE ALL THE STUDENTS THAT SHOW UP HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> WANT TO POSE FOR A PICTURE?

>> WHY NOT. [LAUGHTER]

[00:15:10]

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> AND I AM JUST GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH SAYING THIS IS WHY I WAS A MINOR IN THEATER IN COLLEGE. BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE GIRLS WERE. THERE WEREN'T ANY GIRLS AT FOOTBALL PRACTICE.

[2.04 Recognition of PHS NJROTC]

>> MISS CLAGGETT WILL RECOGNIZE THE PATUXENT NJROTS AIR RIFLE TEAM.

SCHOOL NJROTC AIR RIFLE TEAM HAS WON THE NAVY NATIONAL AIR RIFLE CHAMPIONSHIP; AND WHEREAS, THE TEAM EARNED A SEASON HIGH SCORE OF 4315; AND WHEREAS, THE MEMBERS, MADELINE VETTING, ANTARA PAREKHJI, CHRISTOPHER MARDONES, MARIAH STONE, AND GABRIELLE PRICE PLACED 2 ND, 8 TH, 10TH, 42ND, AND 47TH RESPECTIVELY, CAPTURING THE TITLE; AND WHEREAS, THE UNIT FACED OFF AGAINST 25 OF THE FINEST NAVY AIR RIFLE TEAMS IN THE NATION OF 583 NAVY JROTC UNITS; AND WHEREAS, THE PATUXENT NJROTC MADE SCHOOL HISTORY EARNING THE FIRST NAVY NATIONAL AIR RIFLE TITLE; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY EXTENDS THEIR CONGRATULATIONS FOR THEIR COUNTLESS HOURS OF DEDICATION; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ALL FRIENDS OF EDUCATION WISH THE PATUXENT NJROTC AIR RIFLE TEAM

EVER SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR,.

>> AYE. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

THERE WE GO. EVERY TIME WE DID THIS, SHE SCREAMS LET GO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

IT'S A PRIVILEGE, BIG HONOR AND THESE KIDS HAVE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB. YOU HAD THE STATE CHAMPIONS FOR MARYLAND. AREA STATE CHAMPIONS FIVE YEARS IN A ROW COUNTING THIS YEAR AND THEN OF COURSE THEY QUALIFIED NUMBER ONE BY OUR POSTAL MATCH THAT WE HAVE OUT OF 1500 TEAMS THAT SHOOT ACROSS THE 583 SCHOOLS, THEY QUALIFIED NUMBER ONE. NO PRESSURE AT ALL WHEN WE WENT TO NATIONALS. NONE.

NO HIGH EXPECTATIONS OR ANYTHING FROM THE COACH.

BUT THEY DELIVERED. WE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS AND IF YOU EVER WATCH A FOOTBALL GAME, THE FIRST QUARTER, YOU ARE LIKE OH, WOW THIS IS GOOD. THEN THE TEAM BOUNCES BACK THE SECOND QUARTER. WELL US, WE HAVE THREE POSITIONS. PRONE, STANDING, AND KNEELING.

AND WHEN WE WENT INTO THE SECOND DAY, IT'S A TWO-DAY COMPETITION, WE WENT IN. PRONE WE DID REALLY GOOD THE FIRST DAY. NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION.

NO PRESSURE. AND THEN THE SECOND DAY STARTED AND WE FALTERED A LITTLE BIT AND WERE THREE POINTS BEHIND.

HAVING A SEVEN-POINT LEAD GOING INTO THAT DAY.

AND WE RALLIED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND THEY SHOT THEIR BUTTS OFF WITH THEIR STANDING AND THEN THEY CAME BACK WITH KNEELING AND WE ENDED UP WINNING BY 14 POINTS.

SO AIR RIFLE IS EXCITING ONLY IF YOU ARE AT NATIONALS, THOUGH.

BOARD MEMBERS, WHAT I WOULD LICK Y'ALL TO DO IF YOU HAVE A BLANK

[00:20:02]

PLACE IT DOWN ON YOUR PAPER, MAKE A DOT.

THAT IS WHAT THEY SHOOT AT FROM 10 METERS.

IT IS A DOT THAT IS .5 MILLIMETERS THAT THEY HAVE TO HIT WITH A PELLET THAT IS 4.5 MILLIMETERS.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE SCORES AND ALL THE STUFF WE READ OUT, THEY DO INCREDIBLE THINGS WITH THESE AIR RIFLES.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING US TONIGHT.

GARY ANDERSON TRAVELING CUP THAT GOES WITH THE TEAM FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WE GET TO HAVE IT FOR A YEAR AND IT'S KIND OF OUR STANLEY CUP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE

[2.05 Approval of FY 2023 Budget]

>> IS THERE A MOTION IT APPROVE THE BUDGET?

>> SO MOVED. >> MOTION BY MISS CLAGGETT.

SECONDED BY MR. WHITE. THE FLOOR IS OPEN FOR

DISCUSSION. >> WE WILL JUST FOR THE AUDIENCE' SAKE POINT OUT THAT AT THE LAST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, THE BOARD ASKED THAT WE INCLUDE SIX NEW POSITIONS FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND TWO GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHERS.

THEY ASKED THAT WE REARRANGE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET SO AS NOT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET.

WE HAVE DONE SO AND THE DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED AND IS POSTED ON THE BOARD DOCS TO SHOW WHAT WAS REDUCED AND

WHAT WAS INCREASED. >> ANY MORE DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ALL OPPOSED? >> I'M NOT OPPOSED BUT I'M GOING

TO ABSTAIN AT THIS POINT. >> ANY BE A ABSTENTIONS.

>> MADAM PRESIDENT I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN UNTIL I GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON THE BUDGET. I KNOW WE HAD TO ASK FOR A FEW MORE COUNSELORS. WE ALSO THERE'S SOME CONCERN TO ME ABOUT CASEWORKERS. THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP THESE SCHOOLS TIP-TOP SHAPE AND HAVE TO RUN THROUGH PRETTY SERIOUS PROBLEMS. SO, AND THIS WAS DUE TO AN ACCIDENT THAT I HAD. THE SCHOOL BOARD DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. THEY WERE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND GO OVER THIS BUDGET WITH ME. BUT DUE TO AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT I HAD, THEY PUT ME ON A WALKER FOR THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND A CANE FOR A COUPLE DAYS SO I AM STILL NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SATISFIED WITH THE, AS PRESENTED UP THERE.

WITH THE BUDGET SO I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING.

>> MOTION PASSED. ONE ABSTENTION.

COUNSELORS, WE HAVE FOUR ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS.

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GUIDANCE COUNSELORS? OR -- WHAT KIND OF PROFESSIONALS WERE YOU SPEAKING OF?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE COUNSELORS PARTICULARLY THIS YEAR. BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE SHORT AT LEAST FOUR COUNSELORS AND SEVERAL LOWER EDUCATIONAL STAFF EDUCATION. EDUCATORS.

>> OK. SO WE ADDED FOUR.

REQUESTED FOUR AT THIS BUDGET. FOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, BUT NOT FOR LOWER EDUCATION. SO YOU CAN -- WE WILL DEFER -- WE WILL DEFER YOU TO DR. CURRY FOR ANY ANSWERS TO THE BUDGET AFTER THIS MEETING. IS THAT OK?

>> YEAH. >> OK.

[2.06 Blueprint Update]

[00:25:02]

THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING MS. COUSINS, DR, I AM HERE AS THE IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATOR TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE LEGISLATION IS AN OUTGROWTH OF THE WORK DONE BY THE MARYLAND COMMISSION ON INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION ALSO KNOWN AS THE KERWIN COMMISSION.

THE COMMISSION STUDIED HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL SYSTEMS BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD TO DETERMINE WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN MARYLAND TO BE ADVANCED EDUCATION. WHEN THE COMMISSION COMPLETED ITS WORK IN 2019, HOUSE BILL 1300 WAS INTRODUCED DURING THE 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED THE LEGISLATION. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNOR LATER VETOED THE PROPOSED BILL. AND DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRODE THE EARLIER VETO AND HOUSE BILL 1300 PASSED INTO LAW. ALSO DURING THE 2021 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, HOUSE BILL WAS PASSED, THE PURPOSE TO AMEND THE TIMELINES ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IN HOUSE BILL 1300 AND ALSO TO ADDRESS THE LEARNING LOSS THAT OCCURRED DUE TO THE COVID PEAK.

HOUSE BILL 1372 ALSO PASSED INTO LAW IN 2021.

AND ALTHOUGH BOTH BILLS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED INTO LAW, THERE ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIKE TO READ HOUSE BILL 1300 AND HOUSE BILL 1372 AND IF THEY DO, THEY ARE CAUTIONED TO READ BOTH OF THEM SINCE ONE AMENDS THE OTHER.

THE BLUEPRINT HAS TWO PRIMARY GOALS.

THE FIRST IS TO TRANSFORM MARYLAND'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PRIMARY AND SECONDED CATION SYSTEM TO LEVELS OF HIGH PERFORMING SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THE SECOND GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A CAREER LADDER SYSTEM FOR EDUCATORS COMPOSED OF LEVELS WHICH TEACHERS MAY PROGRESS THROUGH AS THEY GAIN CERTAIN AUTHORITY, STATUS AND COMPENSATION AND EXPERTISE IN THEIR FIELD.

THE BLUEPRINT IDENTIFIES FIVE POLICY AREAS AS ESSENTIAL.% THE FIRST IS EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ITS FOCUS IS TO EXPAND FULL DAY PREK OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOW INCOME, ENGLISH LEARNER STUDENTS AND SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS. THE SECOND IS PREPARATION OF HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS AND ITS FOCUS IS TO MAKE TEACHING A HIGH STATUS PROFESSION BY RAISING THE PAY AND STATUS OF TEACHERS AND TO CREATE A CAREER LADDER ON WHICH TEACHERS CAN PROGRESS AS THEY GAIN EXPERTISE AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE. THE THIRD POLICY AREA IS RIGOROUS COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS.

AND THIS IS TO DEVELOP A SET OF STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY ARE ABLE TO SUCCEED IN FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE CREDIT-BEARING COURSES.

THE FOURTH POLICY AREA IS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE FOCUS HERE IS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SOCIAL SERVICE AND HEALTH SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS THAT NEED THEM MOST.

AND FINALLY, THE FIFTH POLICY AREA IS GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. DIFFERENT FROM PAST INITIATIVES IN MARYLAND, THE BLUEPRINT PROVIDES A FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING STANDARDS TO MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THE BLUEPRINT ESTABLISHES AN ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD. THE AIB IS CURRENTLY A SEVEN-MEMBER BOARD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF THE BLUEPRINT ACROSS MARYLAND.

THE AIB HAS FINAL SAY IN CASES WHERE CONFLICT BETWEEN AIB POLICY AND OTHER ENTITIES OCCURS.

THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE FOR CONVENING THE AIB WAS JULY 1, 2021. HOWEVER, THE SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS WAS DELAYED. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THE GOVERNOR ASKED THAT THE ORIGINAL SLATE OF AIB CANDIDATES BE REVISED TO INCLUDE MORE DIVERSITY. AND THE GOVERNOR DID NOT FINALLY APPOINT THE CURRENT SEVEN MEMBERS UNTIL THE END OF OCTOBER. 2021.

THE INITIAL MEETING OF THE AIB WAS NOVEMBER 15, 2021 AND SINCE THAT TIME THE AIB HAS MET TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF

[00:30:02]

GENERALLY THEY ARE IN YOUTUBE FORMAT.

IN ADDITION TO THE AIB, THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUE PRINT. MSDE HAS ESTABLISHED THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT TO OVERSEE MSDE'S ROLE IN THE BLUE PRINT.

THIS OFFICE HAS BEGUN HOSTING MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATORS AND HAS UM PLENTIED WHAT THEY CALL THE HUB TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATORS AND MSDE.

MSDE PLANS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN AN FAQ SHEET TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AND GUIDANCE FOR THE MANY QUESTIONS THAT CURRENTLY EXIST. THEY DID RECENTLY PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE PROCESS LOCAL SYSTEMS WOULD USE TO AID EYE IDENTIFY LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS. IN THE FUTURE, MSDE EXPECTS TO SUPPLY PLAY BOOKS FOR EACH OF THE FIVE POLICY AREAS AS WELL AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS THEY BEGIN TO DEVELOP THEIR IMPLEMENTATION PLANS.

AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS A STEERING COMMITTEE WHICH MEETS MONTHLY.

THE PURPOSE IS TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK OF THE AIB, MSDE, AND CCPS POLICY AREA WORK GROUPS AND TO DISCUSS ISSUES CONCERNS REGARDING THE LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT.

THE CCPS POLICY AREA WORK GROUPS ARE CURRENTLY COMPLETING AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE LEGISLATOR REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FIVE POLICY AREAS. THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY ARE GAINING FROM THIS IN-DEPTH STUDY WILL SERVE US WELL WHEN WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

IN ADDITION, WE ARE MEETING WITH CEA, CAESS AND CASA MONTHLY TO DISCUSS AND COMPARE OUR UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION AND REQUIREMENTS. THIS HAS PROVED BENEFICIAL SO FAR. AND ACROSS SOUTHERN MARYLAND, THE IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATORS FROM CALVERT, CHARLES, AND ST. MARY'S COUNTY MEET WEEKLY TO DISCUSS UPDATES, ISSUES AND TO SHARE RESOURCES. IT'S ALWAYS BETTER NOT TO HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL EACH TIME AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL TO SOUTHERN MARYLAND AREA.

AND FINALLY, MR. WILLIS AND I COMMUNICATED RECENTLY AND THE INITIAL MEETING OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD IN APRIL 2022.

WITH REGARD TO THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE BLUEPRINT LAW.

TWO OF THEM ARE CONTAINED IN HOUSE BILL 1450 AND THE THIRD IS IN HOUSE BILL 633. THE FIRST PROSED CHANGE, WOULD CHANGE THE TIMELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUBMISSION OF IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINES. THE PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD MOVE THE DEADLINE FOR MSDE TO PROVIDE CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING IMPLEMENTATION PLANS FROM APRIL 2022 TO SEPTEMBER 2022.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE AIB TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENT AGENTS PLAN WOULD MOVE FROM FEBRUARY 2022 TO DECEMBER 2022 AND THE DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUBMIT LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION PLANS WOULD MOVE FROM JUNE 2022 TO MARCH 15, 2023. THESE CHANGES ARE PREDICATED ON THE FACT THAT THE AIB DID NOT CONVENE UNTIL NOVEMBER, FAR AFTER THE EXPECTED DATE OF JULY 2021.

AND SO, THE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, THEY HAVE TO BE ACTED UPON BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY ARE PART OF LAW.

THE SECOND PROPOSAL CHANGES THE TIMELINE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUPPORT PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ACHIEVE COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY STATUS BY THE END OF GRADE 10.

IT WOULD PROPOSE CHANGING THIS FROM SCHOOL YEAR 22-23, TO SCHOOL YEAR 23-24. MSDE ORIGINALLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL OF THE CCR PATHWAYS BE DELAYED UNTIL 24-25. HOWEVER, THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO REFLECT PERHAPS A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH FROM THE AIB. AND THE FINAL PROPOSAL EXPANDS THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE AIB FROM SEVEN TO 11 MEMBERS.

[00:35:02]

AS WITH MOST NEW INITIATIVES, THERE ARE OFTEN MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AT FIRST. THIS IS CERTAINLY THE CASE FOR THE BLUEPRINT. TO DATE, NEARLY 70 QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH MSDE AND WE ARE AWAITING CLARIFICATION ON THOSE QUESTIONS. THE SLIDE THAT YOU SEE SHOWS SOME OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

THE FIRST BEING THE 10% SALARY INCREASE FOR TEACHERS.

THE LAW REQUIRES THAT TEACHER'S SALARIES INCREASED 10%, AT A MINIMUM, BETWEEN THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2019 AND JUNE 30, 2024.

WHEN CEA AND CCPS NEGOTIATED OUR CURRENT AGREEMENT, AND WE DID THAT IN GOOD FAITH, WE FELT THAT WE WOULD MEET THIS 10% REQUIREMENT. HOWEVER, IT HAS SINCE BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE STATE, THAT THE STEPS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED CANNOT BE COUNTED TOWARD THE 10%.

THEREFORE, THAT LEAVES A DELTA. A DIFFERENCE THAT MUST BE MADE UP. AND AS RECENTLY AS TODAY, MR. NAVARRE AND I SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM CEA ABOUT HOW WE ARE INTERPRETING THAT DELTA AND GATHERING MORE INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED.

THE NEXT QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AND THAT QUESTION HAS REALLY THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT HAS COME UP HAS REALLY DECREASED SINCE MSDE RELEASED ITS FRAMEWORK FOR DETERMINING AND IDENTIFYING LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

CCPS HAS NO LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS AS MANDATED BY MSDE'S FRAMEWORK. THE NEXT IS A DEFINITION OF TEACHER. IN THE BLUEPRINT, THE LEGISLATION INTENTIONALLY IDENTIFIES BLUEPRINT MORE NARROW THAN PERHAPS WE HAVE IDENTIFIED TEACHERS IN THE PAST.

IT DEFINES A TEACHER AS A CERTIFIED PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE WHO IS PRIME PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR TEACHING STUDENTS IN CLASS. IT GOES ON TO SAY THAT TEACHER DOES NOT INCLUDE SUCH POSITIONS AS CURRICULUM SPECIALISTS, INSTRUCTIONAL AIDES, ATTENDANCE PERSONNEL, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND SO ON.ÚSO HOW WE NAS WITH THE NARROW DEFINITION ESTABLISHED BY THE BLUEPRINT IS A QUESTION THAT REMAINS ACROSS THE STATE. AS FAR AS THE $10,000 SALARY INCREASE FOR NBC TEACHERS, THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT JULY 1, 2022. SO NEXT YEAR, NBC TEACHERS THAT FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION BY THE BLUEPRINT OF TEACHER WILL RECEIVE A $10,000 SALARY INCREASE.

AND FINALLY, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT IS NOW PREVALENT IN THE STATE IS IF WE ARE MOVING OTHER TIMELINES ABOUT SUBMISSION OF PLANS, ETC., WHAT EMBEDDED TIMELINES IN THE LAW, WHAT OTHER ONES ARE GOING TO MOVE? AND SO, THAT IS A QUESTION THAT WE ARE HOPING THE AIB WILL BEGIN TO ANSWER AS IT DOES ITS DEEP DIVE IN THE LEGISLATION. SINCE JULY 2021, CCS HAS SUBMITTED ALL REPORTS ON OR BEFORE SPECIFIED DEADLINES.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS A PARTIAL LISTING OF UPCOMING DEADLINES AND IT'S LIKELY THAT HOUSE BILL 1450 WILL RESULT IN ADDITIONAL TIMELINE ELEMENTS BEING ADDED TO SCHOOL YEAR 22-23.

SO FOR JULY 1, THE SYSTEM MUST SUBMIT A REPORT EVALUATING DISTRICT HIRING PRACTICE, RELATED DIVERSITY, AND A PLAN FOR CHANGES BASED ON REPORT FINDINGS.

FOR JULY 1, WE MUST ALSO DO A $10,000 SALARY INCREASE FOR NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS.

FOR JULY 1, 2024, WE MUST HAVE CAREER LADDERS IN PLACE AND IMPLEMENT THEM. AND JULY 1, 2024, WE MUST ALSO EVALUATE OR ALIGN OUR TEACHER EVALUATION MODEL WITH THE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION. AND IN JULY 1, 2026 AS THEY STAND NOW, AGAIN, THESE MAY CHANGE, MINIMUM STARTING SALARY OF $60,000 FOR TEACHERS. BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026.

THIS CONCLUDES THE BLUEPRINT UPDATE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> SO YES.

THE STATE HAS COMMITTED -- IS THIS A CORRECT STATEMENT? THE STATE HAS COMMITTED TO PAY FOR ALL ASSOCIATED EXPENSES AND THE CAREER LADDER AND THE 10% AND THE NATIONAL BOARD

[00:40:05]

>> NO. NO.

THE STATE IS GOING TO PAY ITS PORTION, BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOCAL COMPONENT FOR THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE BLUEPRINT. AND AT OUR NEXT UPDATE, PERHAPS WE WILL KNOW MORE. RIGHT NOW, CFOS ACROSS THE STATE ARE TRYING TO UNPACK THE RECENT STATE ALLOCATIONS SO THAT THEY CAN DETERMINE WHICH POTS OF MONEY THEY HAVE RECEIVED.

SO RATHER THAN TRY TO GIVE YOU A COMPLETE ANSWER NOW, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE KNOW MORE FOR THE NEXT UPDATE IN APRIL.

>> ALL RIGHT. THEN, YOU KNOW, LUCKILY CALVERT COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS CHOSEN TO FUND ITS SCHOOLS OVER MAINTENANCE OF EFFORTS SO WHEN WE COMPARE, WE ARE COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES IN THE STATE, WE COMPARE FAVORABLY AND THEREFORE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE CALVERT COUNTY WILL LOCALLY HAVE A HUGE BURDEN FOR THEM TO HAVE TO INCREASE.

HOWEVER, THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT FOR WHAT THE LOCAL SHARE IS. WHICH IS, MIGHT BE DIFFICULT SINCE THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT JUST TOLD US THAT THEY ARE HAVING SOME BUDGET ISSUES. SO THAT'S -- TO BE DETERMINED, I GUESS. WHAT THAT LOCAL SHARE SHOULD BE.

>> AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE CLARIFICATION PERHAPS MORE.

CFOS ARE UNPACKING THAT NOW. I DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING

BEYOND THAT AT THIS TIME. >> AND SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN THESE DELAYS, HAS THERE BEEN DISCUSSION THAT THE MEETING THE 10% MIGHT BE OUT ANOTHER YEAR, AS WELL?

>> THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION AND COMMENT AND RACHEL HEISS, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR AIB, MENTIONED IN ONE OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS THAT SUCH ITEMS AS THE CAREER LADDER MAY BE DELAYED.

SHE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY SAY THE 10%.

AND THAT'S THAT YOU WILL WE HAVE HEARD SO FAR.

AND THAT'S NOT ANYTHING WE WOULD CONSIDER OFFICIAL.

>> BECAUSE THOSE ARE BIG NUMBERS.

IF WE CAN ONLY INCLUDE THE COST OF LIVING, WE CAN'T INCLUDE OUR STEPS, WE ARE LOOKING AT, I THINK THERE WERE EVALUATIONS IN THE 4 TO $5 MILLION RANGE ANNUALLY INCREASING.

THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. SO THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

IN REGARD TO THEIR STEERING GROUP AND LOOKING AT OTHER HOUSE BILLS, ARE YOU CONSIDERING THE HOUSE BILL 1349 AND SENATE BILL 831, WHICH GIVES THE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF ADDITIONAL $500 IN BONUS FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS JUST SHORT-TERM RELIEF.

>> THAT HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT UP IN ANY OF THE BLUEPRINT MEETINGS

THAT I HAVE ATTENDED. >> OK.

BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT OF COURSE IS A STICKING POINT WITH, YOU KNOW, GETTING BLUEPRINT FUNDS TO TEACHERS.

THEN THAT LEAVES ALL THE OTHER STAFF NOT HOLD AS WELL.

>> IT IS. WHEN I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR DR. KERWIN SPEAK AND HE ADDRESSED IN HIS CONVERSATION THAT THE BLUEPRINT CERTAINLY TALKS ABOUT THE 10% AND THE INCREASE FOR TEACHERS. AS DEFINED BY THE BLUEPRINT.

BUT WENT ON TO ADD THAT HE HOPED THAT LOCALS WOULD FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO ALSO ADDRESS THAT SALARY INCREASE OR SOME SALARY INCREASE FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE SYSTEM.

>> OK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS UPDATE TO US ON A MONTHLY BASIS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR UPDATE

NEXT MONTH. >> AND IF THERE ARE ANY PARTICULAR AREAS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE OR FOCUS ON, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW SO THAT WE CAN PREPARE THAT

URGEDLY. >> WILL DO.

>> THANK YOU. >> AND I BELIEVE YOU WILL BE

STAYING PUT? >> YES.

[2.07 Bid Approvals]

A BID PROPOSAL. >> OK.

WELL, GOOD EVENING, MS. COUSINS, DR. CURRY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM, THIS TIME, THE DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A REQUEST FOR A REWARD FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE -- PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY.

THE SUPERVISOR FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION WILL PRESENT

[00:45:02]

DETAILS ABOUT THIS PROJEC. >> GOOD EVENING.

I AM DARYL BARACLO, SUPERVISOR FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.

THIS REQUEST IS TO APPROVE OUTLY CATION OF THE OMNEA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACT FOR THE PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT OF THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY. THE SCOPE OF WORK WILL INCLUDE THE PARTIAL REMOVAL OF THE EXISTING ROOFING SYSTEM AND THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW TWO-PLY COLD APPLIED MODIFIED ROOFING SYSTEM ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED FLASHINGS, COPING, AND ROOF DRAINS. THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH THE CIP FUNDS.

WE ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE AWARD OF THIS PROJECT TO GARLAND DBS INCORPORATED OF CLEVELAND, OHIO IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $1,549,632. QUESTIONS?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE HAD A MOTION BY MS. CLAGGETT, SECOND BY MS. WALENSKY. IS THERE A DISCUSSION?

>> I HAD NOTICED IN AN EARLIER CIP THAT WE HAD THAT PROJECT IN FOR $960,000. IT WAS LIKE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. I AM JUST WONDERING IS THAT THE -- JUST THE INCREASE PURELY ON THE FACT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PRICING HAS INCREASED SO MUCH OR IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPONENT THAT WOULD HAVE ADDED COST?

>> ON THIS PROJECT IT IS THE ROOFING COMPONENT HAS INCREASED THAT MUCH. ROOFING INSULATION HAS GONE OUT OF CONTROL IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

YEAH. WITH SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE SUPPOSED TO IMAGINE THIS KIND OF PRICE INCREASES HAPPENING.

THANK HEAVENS WE FINISHED NORTHERN.

WHEN WE DID. MY GOODNESS.

OK. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

>> COULD YOU SHARE WITH US THE USEFUL LIFE THAT WILL BE ON THE

ROOF ONCE IT'S REPLACED? >> THE WHAT?

OH, -- >> THE USEFUL LIGHT LIFE.

>> TYPICALLY A 25 YEAR NO DOLLAR AMOUNT WARRANTY.

25-YEAR LIFE. BUT WE TYPICALLY WITH OUR MAINTENANCE GET A LOT MORE THAN 25 YEARS OUT OF OUR ROOFS.

>> ANY MORE DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR?

AYE. >> MOTION APPROVED.

THANK YOU. AND YOU WILL STAY PUT AGAIN?

>> YES. >> ME, TOO.

[2.08 Calendar Review]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANKS, DARYL.

>> OK ON FEBRUARY 24, MR. KEVIN MICHAEL AND I WERE PRESENTD A PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR THAT RESULTED FROM WORK WITH A NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS ON A COMMITTEE OVER TIME. WHERE TYPICALLY WE WAIT 30 DAYS BEFORE WE ASK THE BOARD TO APPROVE A CALENDAR AFTER INITIAL ONE HAS BEEN INTRODUCED. THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED COMMENTS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS RECEIVED PARTICULARLY FROM TEACHERS ASKING FOR MORE TWO-HOUR EARLY DISMISSALS AND MORE TWO-HOUR EARLY, OR LATE STARTS.

IN ORDER TO HAVE MORE TIME TO PLAN AND MORE TIME TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS. THE BOARD RECEIVED A COUPLE OF E-MAILS FROM FOLKS LOOKING FOR A LONGER CHRISTMAS BREAK.

WHAT WE GENERALLY CALL THE WINTER BREAK, TO LAST AN ENTIRE TWO WEEKS. AND WE RECEIVED I BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE ASKING, SUGGESTING WE START EARLIER.

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT IN MY TIME HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY, I HAVE NOT SAT ON THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL CALENDAR COMMITTEE, NOR HAVE I TRIED TO INFLUENCE ITS SHAPE.

BECAUSE EVERY COMMUNITY HAS THEIR OWN PRIORITIES.

BUT I WILL SAY ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO BE STANDARD IN MOST COMMUNITIES. MY PHILOSOPHY IS, YOU MAKE 180 DAYS FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN BEST. AND THAT SHOULD BE WHAT GOES ON THE CALENDAR FIRST. AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE LAST.

BUT STILL CALVERT COUNTY LIKE MOST, FIRST YOU PUT IN THE HOLIDAYS. AND FAIR DAY.

AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS GET THEIR 180 DAY INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS WITH WHATEVER IS LEFT. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF -- THERE WAR VARIETY OF PHILOSOPHIES AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT WE HAVE, MR. MICHAEL HAS COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM SCHOOL CALENDARS FOR NEXT YEAR FROM ALL THE COUNTIES IN MARYLAND AND I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF PIECES.

FIRST OF ALL, CALVERT COUNTY HAS 14 DAYS THAT HAVE TWO-HOUR LATE STARTS OR EARLY DISMISSALS. THERE'S ONLY ONE COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT HAS MORE. AND THAT'S ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY AND THEY HAVE 15. OTHERS HAVE AS FEW AS ONE.

MORE IN THE MIDDLE FROM 6 TO 8 TO 12.

[00:50:03]

A FEW STARTING, ONE STARTING AS EARLY AS AUGUST 17.

AND SEVERAL STARTING AFTER LABOR DAY.

ON SEPTEMBER 6. AND AS WE CAN ALL FIGURE OUT, THE LATER YOU START, THE LATER YOU ARE GOING TO END YOUR SCHOOL YEAR. SO OUR LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS IN THIS PROPOSED CALENDAR IS JUNE 13 OF '23.

THAT'S KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF OTHER PROPOSALS.

THERE ARE MANY I SEE THE 15TH. THERE'S ONE, GARRETT COUNTY, THAT DOESN'T HAVE SO MANY LONG BREAKS AND THEY LOOK TO CLOSE SCHOOL ON JUNE 1. AND OTHERS GO AS LATE AS OUR NEIGHBORS ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY WOULD LOOK TO CLOSE ON, WELL THEY ARE JUNE 16, TOO. BUT A FEW WILL GO MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT. FINALLY, THE WINTER HOLIDAY, I'LL PUT IN THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL START THEIR WINTER HOLIDAY ON THE 23RD OR THE 24TH OF DECEMBER. I THINK THAT'S A THURSDAY OR A FRIDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS. TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL START THEIR WINTER HOLIDAY ON MONDAY THE 19TH OF DECEMBER HAVING A FULL TWO WEEKS OF HOLIDAY AT THAT TIME.

SO -- THAT IS VARIETY OF WHAT WE HAVE.

A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE NEAR WHERE WE ARE AS FAR AS OUR PROPOSAL IS. BUT NOW IT IS UP TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IF THEY WANT TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO CHANGE

THE CALENDAR AS PRESENTED. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ARE YOU JUST PRESENTING CHANGES TODAY OR ARE YOU ASKING FOR

APPROVAL? >> TYPICALLY THIS WOULD BE THE MEETING AT WHICH THE CALENDAR IS APPROVED SO THAT FAMILIES CAN BEGIN TO MAKE PLANS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THIS SUMMER. >> THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE CALENDAR AS

PRESENTED. >> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE?

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> MOTION BY MS. BALINSKI, SECOND BY MS. CLAGGETT.

ANY DISCUSSION? >> YEAH, I WISH WE COULD ACCOMMODATE ALL THE REQUESTS, BECAUSE THE TEACHERS NEED MORE PLANNING AND THE FAMILIES WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, GET OUT EARLIER BEFORE CHRISTMAS. BUT I HAVE TO LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS ON THE COMMIT WHO JUST HAMMERED IT ALL OUT.

IT'S A LONG DROWN-OUT PROCESS I IMAGINE.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK AND WE DID ASK HOW OUR NUMBER OF EARLY DISMISSAL AND LATE ARRIVALS STACKED UP AGAINST OTHERS, AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH AT THE TOP. SO I WOULD GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.

>> I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT CAME IN REGARDING THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CALENDAR AND LIKE DAWN SAID WE CAN'T ACCOMMODATE EVERYTHING AND SPECIFICALLY THE TWO-HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL AND, IN COMPARISON TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

SO I APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION PASSES 5-0.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. NEARLY SIX MONTHS AGO THE BOARD

[2.09 Personnel Action]

AND WITH THE STAKEHOLDER INPUT WE HAVE COME TO A DECISION WITH A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL

ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I MOVE THAT PURSUANT TO SECTION 4-201 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE CODE OF MARYLAND, THE BOARD APPOINT DR. ANDRE TOWNSELL AS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM BEGINNING JULY 1, 2022 CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE APPOINTMENT IN

[00:55:02]

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> SECONDED BY MR. WHITE. ANY DISCUSSION?

HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ALL OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIANS?

>> IF YOU GIVE ME A MOMENT. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO REALLY GOOD TIME TO INJURE YOURSELF. BUT I SWEAR TO GOD, I INJURED MYSELF AT A REALLY BAD TIME. AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND I DID NOT HAVE THAT CHANCE.

THE WORLD DOESN'T STOP BECAUSE I HAVE AN INJURY.

I'M NOT OPPOSING ANYTHING, BUT I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE BECAUSE I FEEL BETTER IF I COULD HAVE MET IN PERSON THIS CANDIDATE. NOW -- IT'S NOT HIS FAULT I INJURED MYSELF. SO, LIKE SAID, TIME GOES ON.

IT DOESN'T STOP BECAUSE I HAD AN INJURY.

BUT, I JUST CAN'T, UNTIL I HAVE PERSONAL CONTACT, AND SEE A PERSON, WE HAVE SEEN HIM OVER THE, I GUESS, SITE -- WHAT IS IT CALLED THE VISUAL THING. BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAD A VISUAL.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE A PERSONAL CONTACT.

YOU CAN TELL A LOT ABOUT A PERSON WITH PERSONAL CONTACT.

WHEN YOU ASK THEM A QUESTION, YOU CAN TELL BY THEIR BODY LANGUAGE CERTAIN THINGS. BUT, I AM NOT OPPOSING, BUT I AM GOING ABSTAIN. IF I ABSTAIN FROM THAT, THEN I AM GOING TO ABSTAIN FROM THE CONTRACT.

>> MOST PASSES 4 TO 1ABSTEANTIAN.

[2.10 Public Comments]

>> THE NEXT TIME ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTERS? >> WE DO.

FIRST LET ME READ THE GUIDELINES.

THE BOARD MUCH EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF COMMENTS, COMMENTERS IS LIMITED. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. IF YOU OFFICIALLY REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION, YOU MAY SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES.

I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ON THE LIST IDENTIFIED AS REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION. PERSONS ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER OR RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP.

IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE PROVIDE THEM TO MS. MAXIE IN THE REAR AND SHE WILL SEE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS GET THEM. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS. ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING.

THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH ALEXANDRIA ALLEN. AND I WILL BE THE TIMER.

YOU WILL HEAR A FUNNY NOISE WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.

>> CAN YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONE ON AND PULL IT CLOSE TO YOU, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS LEXI ALLEN. I AM A JUNIOR AT CALVERT HIGH.

I WAS BORN IN THIS COUNTY RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD ACTUALLY.

LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, I LOVE THIS COUNTY.

IT IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE MY HOME.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THREE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY RESIDE IN THIS COUNTY, MANY MAKE A POINT TO ENSURE I FEEL UNWELCOME. ISN'T PART OF WHY WE ALL LOVE THIS COUNTY BECAUSE OF HOW SAFE IT IS? HOW WELCOMING IT IS? WHEN I WAS 13 YEARS OLD, AN ADULT MAN THREATENED TO HARM ME AND MY MOTHER.

SINCE I WAS 12 YEARS OLD, I FACED STREET HARASSMENT TO A DEGREE NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO FACE.

I FELT UNSAFE IN THE STREETS OF MY OWN HOMETOWN.

I AM SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ANY OF THAT IN OUR COUNTY. I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

WHEN YOU SEE ME, DO YOU SEE A THREAT TO YOU, TO YOUR CHILDREN? ALL BECAUSE I'M TRANS GENDER? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

[01:00:06]

>> THANK YOU, LEXI ALLEN. [APPLAUSE]

>> DEREK DOMAN. >> HE'S IN THE OTHER ROOM.

>> OK. >> HE'S ON HIS WAY?

>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR THE RECORD THAT I AM REPRESENTING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL BRANCH OF ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BRANCH. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS DEREK DOMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE OF CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL ALLIANCE. A PARENT GROUP PLANNING TO REPRESENT STUDENTS SPREADS LOUD WORDS FUELED BY INFLAMMATORY SPEECH AND HATE WITH A LACK OF EMPATHY FOR OUR COMMUNITY WAS UNIQUE DIFFERENCES. I DON'T NEED TO STAND HERE AND EMPHASIZE HOW CRITICAL RACE THEORY HAS BEEN TWISTED AND REORGANIZED INTO A CATCH-ALL TERM TO TEACHING WHITE STUDENTS TO FEEL BAD ABOUT THEMSELVES. THE TRUE CONCEPT IS THE INTERSEXUALITY OF RACE LAW AND SOCIETY WHICH IS NOT TAUGHT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.

NO, I DON'T EVEN NEED TO STAND HERE AND DEFEND THE HEALTH CURRICULUM TEACHING CONSENT TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND ANALYZING MEDIA MESSAGES IS NOT AN INDOCTRINE CONTINUATION OF THE LGBTY AGENDA. I AM HERE TO REPRESENT ALL STUDENTS TO CELEBRATE DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND REPRESENTATION WHILE SPEAKING IN DEFENSE TO THE SCHOOL'S CULTURES AND CURRICULUMS THAT REPRESENT WHAT MANY REFER TO AS A WOKE AGENDA.

WE WANT TO PROVIDE ALL STUDENT WAS A SAFE PLACE TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY IDENTITY, MANAGE EMOTIONS AND CREATE POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEMSELVES AND PEOPLE AROUND THEM SO THEY CAN BE HAPPY HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.

OUR PURPOSE IS NOT A VESSEL TO PUSH IDEOLOGICAL VIEWS AS MANY CLAIM IT IS. NOR IS IT A REPLACEMENT FOR TRADITIONAL EDUCATION AS SO MANY FEAR THAT IT IS.

IT'S SUPPLEMENTARY. I LOVE MY STUDENTS AND CARE FOR THEM DEEPLY AS HUMANS WHICH IS WHY IT BREAKS MY HEART TO HEAR SO MANY STORIES OF HARDSHIP. STUDENTS CAN BE THEM RECEIVES AT HOME. STUDENTS FEEL UNSAFE IN CERTAIN CLASSROOMS BECAUSE OF TEACHERS IN OUR OWN SYSTEM THAT OPENLY AND GLEEFULLY MOCK THE PLIGHTS OF MINORITIES OR REFER TO AFRICAN AMERICANS AS QUOTE INNERBELT KNICKLY IMPURE.

THESE ARE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN TERMS OF REPRESENTING OUR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES AND NOT UNIQUE TO CALVERT COUNTY.

IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER COUNTRY AND STUDENTS ARE SEEKING SAFETY AND KNOWLEDE. FOR MANY STUDENTS, SCHOOL IS THE ONE PLACE THEY FEEL UNAFRAID TO LIVE LIVES BOLDLY AND AUTHENTICALLY. THERE'S NOT A SINGLE REASON STUDENTS SHOULDN'T FEEL SAFE BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION. THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT A STUDENT IS EXPOSED TO SOMETHING THEY PERSONALLY DO NOT AGREE WITH IN WHICH CASE THEY CAN SIMPLY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT AND GO ABOUT THEIR DAY.

THE SHIFT TO INTEGRATE SEL HAS MADE AN INSCRIBABLE IMPACT ON STUDENTS EVERYWHERE. IT HAS SAVED LIVES.

MUTE MAN BRAIN IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED UNTIL AGE 25.

IT'S IMPERATIVE TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE INFORMATION AND OPPORTUNITIES THEY NEED TO NAVIGATE THEIR WORLD INCLUDING OPPORTUNITYS TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, RESPECT FOR CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND ACCEPTANCE FOR PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT VALUES AND BELIEFS. WOULD HE GIVE STUDENTS INFORMATION AND TUNES TO PRACTICE HEALTH ENHANCING SKILLS TO THEY BUILD SUPPORT TO BE EMPOWERED TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THEIR LIFE. IT'S ABOUT THE AWARENESS OF THOSE AROUND US AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO EMPATHIZE AND LISTEN, MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS AND AND RISE MEDIA MESSAGES AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCES AND HOW TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND THEM. THE INFORMATION ALLOWS STUDENTS TO ALIGN THEM TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS CREATING A KINDER COMMUNITY. IF A STUDENT LEARNS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS IN CLASS, RECOGNIZES SIGNS OF DEPRESSION WITHIN THEMSELVES THEN ADVOCATES FOR SUPPORT FROM A TRUSTED ADULT, THE CONTEXT OF THE CURRICULUM DIDN'T MAKE THEM DEPRESSED. THE EXACT SAME THING IS TRUE OF THEIR TEACHERS CONFIDE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF RACISM OR DOME A REALIZATION THAT THIS HE HAVE DONE THINGS THAT THEY NOW REALIZE ARE PHOBIC. THE CONTENT DIMENSION BRAIN WASH THEM BUT PROVIDED THEM TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE NEEDS AND RECOGNIZE HOW WORDS AND LANGUAGE MATTERS.

CCPS IS NOT HARMING KIDS FOR CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES AND HAVING APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION WITHIN CURRICULUM RESOURCES. TEACHERS CARE ABOUT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. DRAW FROM THE INFORMATIONS PRESENTED COMES FROM THEIR INTERPRETATION OF THE INFORMATION. WE THE TEACHERS THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING EQUITY INCLUSIVE CLASSROOMS AND ASK THAT YOU

[01:05:01]

IT KEEPS HARD WORKING TEACHERS FROM BEING ABLE TO PROPERLY DO THEIR JOBS. IF YOU WOULD LICK TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING, SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH TEACHERS, BUILDING ADMIN AND ASK QUESTIONS WITH THE INTENT OF LISTENING BEFORE YOU SPEAK OR POST ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOLS, SEEK TO TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INSIDE OF THE ROOMS LOOK LIKE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. [APPLAUSE]

>> MYRA GONES? >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I AM AN AUTHOR, A CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR. AND I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU ALL. IT'S A PHILOSOPHICAL ANSWER BY ERIC H. ERICSON. HE'S A PSYCHO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. AND HE IS WELL-KNOWN TO ALL TEACHERS. SO THERE'S FIVE AND I WON'T GO INTO ALL FIVE OF THEM, BUT HIS THEORY IS THIS.

A BABY, A CHILD, THAT IS BORN AT ONE SECOND OLD, UP TO ONE YEAR OLD, ONLY HAS THAT TIME TO LEARN TRUST.

IF THOSE BABIES DO NOT LEARN TRUST IN THEIR FAMILY, IN THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY, THEY NEVER LEARN IT.

IT'S ANIME POSSIBILITY TO TEACH IT TO THEM.

I ADOPTED THAT THEORY WHEN I WAS WRITING MY BOOKS, I GOT CERTIFIED AS AN EARLY LEARNING TEACHER AND I WAS AMAZED WHEN PARENTS WOULD COME TO ME AND THEY WOULD SAY -- THE BIRACIAL CHILDREN, HOW DO I RAISE THEM? HOW DO I RAISE MY BARBIE? WHAT DO I DO? AND I WOULD SAY TO THEM -- YOU RAISE THEM AS A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL.

LOOK AT IT THAT WAY AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU RAISE THESE LITTLE CHILDREN UP. ' NOW I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MOST STUDENTS DO NOT MASTER THE BASIC ELEMENTS OF CRITICAL THINKING UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL. LATE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT'S THE BEGINNING FOR THEM. AND CRITICAL THINKING IS A COPING SKILL. THAT WE HAVE.

AND WE HAVE TO BE AT A CERTAIN AGE TO BE ABLE TO START TO CRITICALLY THINK ABOUT THINGS. IT ENTAILS LEARNING HOW TO THINK ABOUT THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED TO SOMEBODY, HOW TO ARGUE AND DEFEND A POSITION WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY CONSIDERING ANOTHER POSITION. TEACHERS MUST REMEMBER THAT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED FROM US.

AND WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING IS THAT TEACHING IS A PARTNERSHIP.

PANS GIVE TEACHERS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GUIDE, TO TEACH, SUPPORT AND ABOVE ALL, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN.

MUCH IS EXPECTED FROM OUR TEACHERS.

TEACHERS SHOULD EXPECT PARENTS TO HELP SET THE CURRICULUM CONTENT AND TEACHER GUIDELINES BASED ON THE STUDENTS' LEARNING LEVEL. AND I AM SO WORRIED AND AFRAID THAT OUR COUNTY IS BECOMING UNATTACHED TO ONE ANOTHER.

AND I WOULD HOPE SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU AND THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS CAN WORK THROUGH THIS VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TIME THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> CATHERINE GRACHO. >> HI.

I AM ACTUALLY DONNA ZUNAPANAK READING THIS FOR SARAH LIVELY.

[01:10:01]

>> THE MIC. >> IS IT ON?

>> SPEAK A LITTLE LOUDER. >> SOW ARE SAYING YOU ARE

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF -- >> OF SARA LIVLEY AND THE CONCERN OF CALVERT COUNTY PARENTS.

>> WAS THAT A SWITCH ON THE AGENDA IN ADVANCE?

KAREN? >> NO.

SHE ACTUALLY WAS ASKED TO LEAVE. >> SHE HAD TO LEAVE.

>> SHE HAD TO LEAVE SO SHE'S REPLACING --

>> STATE YOUR NAME AGAIN PLEASE. >> DONNA ZUPANSEK.

I WILL BE THE ONE TO ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

A REASON ARTICLE ABOUT THE STATEMENT I GAVE REGARDING MY CONCERNS WITH THE TWO BOE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATES, HE MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT I WAS WHITE.

THE QUESTION IS. WHY? MY COMMENT WAS MADE OVER THE PHONE.

HOW OR WHY DID HE CONCLUDE THAT I WAS WHITE? ISN'T THAT RACIST? ADDITIONALLY TO THE ARTICLE, MR. MYERS PRONOUNCED THE NOUN "SHE" REFERRING TO MY COMMENT AND TODAY'S MODERN SOCIETY, ISN'T THAT OFFENSIVE? HOW DOES HE KNOW THAT I IDENTIFY AS A "SHE"? I AM A MORE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS, WHY DOES IT MATTER IF I AM WHITE? HE WAS TRYING TO INSINUATE THAT THE REASON FOR PROTESTING THESE TWO CANDIDATES IS BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK. LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR.

THE PEOPLE PROTESTING THESE CANDIDATES DON'T CARE WHAT COLOR OUR NEXT SUPERINTENDENT IS. THEY CARE ABOUT THE QUALIFICATION, MORALS, VALUES AND POLITICAL AGENDAS.

PERSONALLY MY FIRST CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT CANDIDATE IN 2016 BASS NOT PRESIDENT TRUMP, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT WAS BEN CARSON WHO HAPPENS TO BE BLACK WHO I SUPPORT BECAUSE OF HIS VALUES, NOT BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN.

IF CANDIDATES OWENS OR THOMAS WOLLEN WANTED TO RUN FOR SCHOOL SYSTEM, I WOULD BE OK WITH IT. 100%.

I ALSO WENT TO BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY WHERE I WAS THE MINORITY BUT THAT IS THE KIND OF GARBAGE THAT THEY ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL THAT YOU ARE RACIST IF YOU USE ANY DESCRIPTION OF COLOR OR HAVE OBJECTIONS TO A PERSON OF COLOR AND YOU ARE INTENSIFIED IF YOU USE SOMEBODY'S BIOLOGICAL PRONOUN. BUT DICK'S ARTICLE PROVES THAT THE REAL WORLD IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE OUT THIS FANTASY DESCRIPTORS AS OFTEN NECESSARY AND AREN'T TABOO AND SHAMEFUL IN SOCIETY HAS MEANT THEM TO BE. THIS MENTALITY IS ESTABLISHING A RACIAL DIVIDE. CONCEPTS LIKE WHITE PRIVILEGE AND CRITICAL RACE THEORY ARE PITTING HUMANS AND I SPEAK FOR MANY WHEN I SAY I HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO LOVE, EMBRACE EACH OTHER REGARDLESS OF RACE AND NEED TO STOP BRAIN WATCHING OUR KIDS TO THINK THEY ARE SOMEONE OTHER THAN WHAT GOD HAS CREATED THEM TO BE. SO OUR ISSUES WITH THESE CANDIDATES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE AS MR. MYERS INSINUATED AND THE NAACP HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE OUR CITIZENS BELIEVE. WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PREVENT BLACK PEOPLE FROM ASSUMING POSITIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ARE TRYING TO PREVENT OUR SCHOOLS FROM TURNING INTO INDOCTRINATION CAMPS TO TEACH THE KIND OF GARBAGE THAT I JUST LAID OUT FOR YOU BEFORE TONIGHT. THESE CANDIDATES ARE NOT QUALIFIED AND THEY COME WITH AGENDAS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO OUR KIDS. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ISSUES WITH THESE CANDIDATES I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO INTO TONIGHT BECAUSE OF OUR LIMIT. THERE IS DATA AND PERFORMANCE RESULTS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE CANDIDATES LACK THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT I WILL LET MY FELLOW CITIZENS ADDRESS BUT IT'S THE ISSUE OF RACE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED TONIGHT BECAUSE IT IS THE CORE OF THE DIVISION IN TODAY'S SOCIETY AND IT'S TIME TO OVERCOME IT. WHILE WE ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS GREAT AGAIN, THE ARGUMENT THAT WE ARE RACIST AND HOMOPHOBES NEEDS TO LAY THE A REST.

WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ANY MORE.

IT'S NOT ONLY SLANDEROUS LIES BUT DEMONSTRATES THAT YOU HAVE NO OTHER ARGUMENT TO SUPPORT YOUR POSITION.

ON THE ISSUE OF RACE I WILL LEAVE YOU WITH ONE QUESTION.

HAVE YOU EVER LOOKEDFOR ANY WHITE CANDIDATES FOR THIS POSITION? WE WOULDN'T KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANY TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

[APPLAUSE]

>> JAMES MCQUEEN? >> I'M JAMES MCQUEEN FROM CALVERT COUNTY. I ALWAYS LIKE TO SAY THIS, I HAVE 138 RELATIVES HERE IN THE COUNTY.

ALSO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I AM A DIVERSE FAMILY.

WHAT'S A DIVERSE FAMILY TODAY? I HAVE PEOPLE A BROTHER, I HAVE A DAUGHTER. I HAVE IN-LAWS.

I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER. WE ARE ALL DIVERSE.

SOME ARE BLACK, SOME ARE WHITE, AND SOME ARE IN THE LGBT

[01:15:01]

AND THAT'S HOW WE TREAT THINGS. THAT'S HOW WE HANDLE THINGS.

IT'S A FAMILY. AND WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT HERE IN THE COUNTY. IN THIS COUNTY, IT WAS BUILT ON FAMILY. DIDN'T MATTER WHO YOU WERE.

AND I SPEND MY DAYS EVERY MORNING GETTING UP WITH MY YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTER BECAUSE I AM HELPING HER MOTHER AND FATHER, MY DAUGHTER AND MY SON-IN-LAW, FIND A HOME SOMEWHRE IN MARYLAND. BECAUSE THEY MOVED HERE FROM TEXAS. ONE OF THE THINGS I DO EVERY MORNING IS I HOLD THAT BABY AND TELL HER HOW MUCH I LOVE HER AND HOW MUCH SHE'S GOING TO BE OK AND WE ARE HERE FOR HER.

AND I MAKE SURE SHE LAUGHS. AND I MAKE SURE SHE'S HAPPY.

THAT'S MY JOB. BECAUSE I AM A GRANDFATHER.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT COLOR SHE IS.

I AM A GRANDFATHER. AND I AM PROUD OF HER.

I AM PROUD OF MY FAMILY. WHAT I AM NOT PROUD OF IS THE SCORES THAT THE PERSON THAT YOU HAVE HIRED COMING OUT OF MICHIGAN, THE SCHOOLS THERE, SCORES ARE LOWER THAN OURS.

IN CALVERT. NOT A LITTLE BIT.

AND YOU WANT TO DEBATE IT, WE CAN SIT DOWN AND DEBATE IT.

BUT THERE IS NO DEBATE HERE. IT'S PURELY US TALKING.

YOU LISTENING. AND HOPING YOU HEAR SOMETHING.

SO YOU JUST HIRED SOMEBODY INFERIOR TO WHAT OUR CURRENT SCHOOL LEVELS ARE. I DON'T CARE WHO IT IS.

IT'S REAL SIMPLE. THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT HE'S IN TODAY HAS AN AVERAGE 75% FAILING.

WHERE ARE WE GOING HERE IS IF WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? WHY ARE WE LOWERING OUR STANDARDS? WHY? I DON'T HAVE A CLUE.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY YOU CHOSE TO DO THAT.

IT MAKES NO SENSE. BECAUSE WE ARE ALWAYS TAUGHT TO WORK HARD, DO WHAT YOU DO IS RIGHT.

TREAT EVERYBODY CORRECTLY. AND YOU WILL SUCCEED.

AND WE AREN'T DOING THAT HERE. THAT'S ALL.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. [APPLAUSE]

>> MAYIESHA GALWAY. SOMEONE IN THE OTHER ROOM?

>> HELLO. >> ALL RIGHT.

CAN I BEGIN? HELLO MY NAME IS MAYISHA GALWAY, THE MOTHER OF A DAUGHTERRER WHO ATTENDS PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE IN CALVERT. I CAME AS A CONCERNED PARENT AND I WISH TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE BOARD APPROVED COURSEWORK BEING USED TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN THAT IT IS HEALTHY TO REJECT THEIR BODILY REALITIES. AFTER RECEIVING THE COURSE, OR AFTER REVIEWING THE COURSE MATERIAL THAT HAS BEEN SHARED BY OTHER CONCERNED PARENTS, I FEEL THAT THE TEACHING OF GENDER AS AN IDENTITY EXTENDS FAR BEYOND THE COMMON GOAL OF EDUCATING OUR YOUTH TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OTHERS.

UNDER THE GUISE OF CREATING AN INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT, THE TEACHING OF GENDER AS AN IDEOLOGY PERPETUATES THE DISTORTED PHILOSOPHICAL CLAIM OF GENDER FLUIDITY, WHICH IS BASED ON THE UNSCIENTIFIC BELIEF THATEND EXISTS SEPARATE FROM BIOLOGICAL SEX. FOR THE PAST DECADE OR SO, EXTREMELY RADICAL GROUPS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REDEFINE GENDER AS A SUBJECTIVE CONCEPT BASED IN STEREOTYPES AND IDEOLOGIES BUT THE ETYMOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE WORD SHOWS THAT SINCE THE EARLY 15TH CENTURY, GENDER HAS BEEN USED AS THE COLLOQUIAL WAY TO OBJECTIVELY REFERENCE THE TWO SEXES MALE AND FEMALE.

ACCORDING TO THE APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL ON GENDER IDENTITY, BIOLOGICAL SEX IS SAID TO BE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH BUT IN REALITY, SEX IS ESTABLISHED WHEN THE CHILD IS CONCEIVED.

AND OUTSIDE OF DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES CAUSED BY MEDICAL

[01:20:02]

OUR SCHOOLS HAVE NO RIGHT TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO DISREGARD THEIR ANATOMY AND CHOOSE THEIR GENDER BASED ON FEELINGS.

NO CHILD SHOULD BASE THEIR EXISTENCE ON GENDER AND -- NEITHER, UM -- GENDER IS NEITHER A CHOICE OR AN IDENTITY.

THE EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL BELIEFS HELD BY GENDER-IDENTITY IDOL GISTS HAVE NO PLACE IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I SEE THIS ALL AS A BLAANT TO SOCIALLY INDOCTRINATE OUR CHILDREN. WE AS PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN ACCORDING TO OUR BELIEVES AND VALUES.

THAT IS WHY I STRONGLY FELT, I GUESSES I FELT THAT THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AFTER THE COMMUNITY HAD VOTED IN BOARD MEMBERS WHO BELIEVE THAT PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT OUR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

[APPLAUSE] >> KAYLYN --

>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS KAITLYN FRIGILAT -- A HEALTH EDUCATOR.

I HAVE BEEN A HEALTH EDUCATOR FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE 2008. I WANT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE MISINFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN SHARED PUBLICLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITHOUT ANY CONTEXT. COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION IS AN ESHAKEN COMPONENT TO A WELL ROUNDED CURRICULUM.

IT ALLOWS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, APPLY, AND ACCESS MEDICALLY ACCURATE INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO LIVE LONG HEALTHY HAPPY LIVES.

HEALTH TOPICS INCLUDE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, FIRST AID IN RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, FAMILY LIFE AND HUMAN SEXUALITY, DISEASE PREVENTION AND NUTRITION. CCPS USES A SKILLS-BASED APPROACH FOR DELIVERING HIGH-QUALITY INSTRUCTION OF THE CORE CONCEPTS HELPING STUDENTS BUILD CONFIDENCE AND EMPOWER THEM TO ADOPT HEALTH-ENHANCING BEHAVIORS AND AVOID RISKY BEHAVIORS THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY, ILLNESS OR PREMATURE DEATH. OUR SKILLS-BASED INSTRUCTION FOCUSES ON ANALYZING INFLUENCES, ACCESSING VALID AND FACTUAL INFORMATION, USING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF MAKING DECISIONS, CREATING AND ACHIEVING GOALS, ADOPTING PERSONAL SELF-MANAGEMENT SKILLS TO MANAGE THEIR STRESS, AVOID SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION AND PROTECT THEIR PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL HEALTH.

WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE HEALTH OF THEMSELVES, OTHERS AND OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN STUDENTS ARE OFFERED A WELL-DESIGNED, WELL-DELIVERED COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION WE CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY, PREVENT DISEASES AND THROUGHOUT ADULTHOOD. STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN A VARIETY OF DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP POSITIVE ATTITUDES AND VALUES TOWARD PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

ACTIVITIES SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS ABOUT HEALTH WHILE HELPING THEM GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW SOCIETY, FAMILY, MEDIA AND PEERS SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OUR BELIEFS ABOUT HEALTH.

HEALTH EDUCATION IS A SAFE SPACE THAT ALLOWS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF RACE, GENDER, RELIGION, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, TO BE THEIR AUTHENTIC SELF WITHOUT FEAR OF JUDGMENT, HARASSMENT OR DISCRIMINATION. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ASK QUESTIONS, EXPRESS EMOTIONS, PRACTICE EMPATHY, ADVOCATE FOR PERSONAL NEEDS AND LEARN THE BEST WAYS TO CARE FOR THEIR PERSONAL WELL-BEING. EVERY STUDENT IN CALVERT COUNTY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SEEN AND INCLUDED.

AS EDUCATORS WE MUST SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

WE ARE OBLIGATED TO TEACH A CURRICULUM THAT REFLECTS THE STUDENTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS. ACCESS TO MEDIA AND CELL PHONE USE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE MESSAGES KIDS ARE RECEIVING ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. SPECIFICALLY INFORMATION RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE, VIOLENCE AND RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIORS. THEY ARE VERY SAVVY ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AND HOW TO HIDE IT FROM ADULT SUPERVISION.

THEY DO SO OUT OF FEAR. AS HEALTH EDUCATORS WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR YOUTH. WE WANT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO

[01:25:01]

WE NEED TO START CELEBRATING AND RESPECTING OUR UNIQUE DIFFERENCES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR

SUPPORT. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

[APPLAUSE] >> THOMAS NOBLES.

SOMEONE IN THE OTHER ROOM? THOMAS NOBLES.

LOOKS LIKE NOBLES. NO ONE? HOW ABOUT WILLIE FLOWERS? HERE WE GO.

>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY MR. KELLY WHO SHOULD BE IN BED. BUT -- I REMEMBER HIM FROM LAST WEEK, I REMEMBER ALL OF YOU FROM LAST WEEK AND I WANT TO SAY REAL QUICK THAT LAST WEEK WAS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING A BOARD MEETING AND I FELT LIKE FAMILY. AND I WANT TO EXPRESS THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LOT GOING ON AND WHAT WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH IS NOT A MATTER OF CALVERT COUNTY.

IT'S REALLY A MATTER OF THE REALITY OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT WILL TAKE THE TYPE OF HOSPITALITY YOU EXTENDED TO ME.

LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. CURRY WHO HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON CLOSING OUT YOUR CAREER AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER.% BECAUSE IT KIND OF NEVER ENDS.

RIGHT? BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE UNITY AND HOSPITALITY THAT YOU EXPRESSED TO ME I TOOK IT ALL THE WAY HOME AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF REALITY THAT THIS, ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRES, TO BE SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM.

I CERTAINLY WANT TO EXPRESS THAT ON BEHALF OF THE NAACP, THAT OUR BRANCH, LED BY MICHAEL KENT IS HERE WITH THEIR MANY MEMBERS TO CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO THAT AND NOT ONLY THAT, OUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IS WATCHING COMMUNITIES LIKE CALVERT COUNTY AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS A GOOD REPORT ON WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE COME TOGETHER ON SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS A SUPERINTENDENT. BECAUSE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, AS DR. CURRY KNOWS, YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH A GENERATION, RIGHT, SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT YOUR CAREER WAS WORTH IT. I AM GOING TO CLOSE WITH THIS JUST BY THANKING YOU AGAIN FOR THE TYPE OF HOSPITALITY I WAS OFFERED WHEN I WAS HERE THE LAST TIME.

BUT WHEN I LEFT, NOBODY KNEW THIS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW EVERYTHING WAS COOL IN HERE. BUT WHEN I GOT TO MY CAR, BECAUSE I FLEW DOWN FROM HOWARD COUNTY, I'M FROM HOWARD COUNTY MARYLAND, I HAD A NAIL IN MY TIRE.

RIGHT IN THIS PARKING LOT. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO THE YOUNG LADY WAS, I DIDN'T GET HER NAME AND I FEEL BAD BECAUSE I HAD TO FIND PLACE TO GET THIS TIRE PLUGGED, SHE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED INTO ACTION. NOT ONLY DID SHE NOTICE THE TIRE BEFORE I DID, I THINK SHE'S A SECRETARY HERE, BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO GET ONE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES TO PUMP IT UP JUST LIKE THAT.

I DIDN'T EVEN TALK TO THE BROTHER OR ANYTHING.

BUT, AND SHE ALSO CALLED THE GOODYEAR, WHICH IS LIKE TWO MILES AWAY. SHE CALLED GOODYEAR AND I COULD HEAR THE CONVERSATION AND IT WAS BASICALLY I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO STAY OVER FOR A FEW MINUTES, THERE'S A GENTLEMAN HERE WHO NEEDS HIS TIRE PLUGGED AND I COULD HEAR THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE SAYING GET HIM HERE BECAUSE I GOTTA GO HOME. BUT, THE POINT IS, HE STAYED THERE UNTIL I GOT THERE. SHE CALLED, SHE SENT ME OFF, SHE KNEW, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GET THERE SO I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO ENGAGE WITH HER AND THEY TOOK CARE OF ME WHILE I WAS HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY. AND I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TREAT YOUR SUPERINTENDENT THE SAME WAY.

IT'S NOT HARD TO DO. IT'S PART OF YOUR CULTURE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY AND I THINK THAT WITH THAT, AS A PART OF WHAT CALVERT COUNTY DOES, IT WILL MAKE HIS TENURE HERE JUST AS SUCCESSFUL AS DR. CURRY'S. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

>> -- MR. NOBLES? >> EXCUSE ME.

I AM HERE SPEAKING IN PLACE OF THOMAS NOBLES.

FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.

MY NAME IS EDSEL BROWN JR. ON BEHALF OF SIGMA ALPHA LAMDA

[01:30:06]

I KNOW IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TASK AND NEEDLESS TO SAY THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF SITUATIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS REGARDING THIS SELECTION REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT WAS GOING TO WIND UP BEING. BUT THE ORGANIZATION THAT I AM REPRESENTING, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THERE, WHETHER YOU HAD DISAGREEMENTS BEHIND THE SCENES OR NOT, I KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE AND ALL YOU HAD TO DEAL WITH OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

THIS NEW SUPERINTENDENT REGARDLESS OF COLOR, CREED, NATIONALITY, ETC., IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION.

SO WHETHER YOU LIKE THE SELECTION OR NOT, WE WANT THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN. I HAVE A SON IN HIGH SCHOOL HERE AND I WANT THE BEST FOR HIM. I KNOW EVERY PARENT IN THIS COUNTIEN WITH AS THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILD.

THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL OF US TO RALLY AROUND THE SELECTION AND NOT TRY TO HINDER HIM IN HIS DUTIES BUT TO ASSIST HIM AND, LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, HE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

SO, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT COLOR HE DOES, IT'S HOW YOU PERFORM. SO ONCE AGAIN I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO WELCOME THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT AND LET'S MAKE THIS WORK.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

>> THAT IS ALL. >> THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO OUR BOARD

[2.11 Board Comments]

MEMBER OF THE BOARD. >> OH, HELLO, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS HAYDEN KELLY. I WILL START OFF WITH A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. ONE OF WHICH BEING WE HAVE A -- ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6:00 MONDAY THROUGH ZOOM.

SO, IF YOU ARE A STUDENT I HAVE ALREADY DONE THE -- ADVISORY COUNSEL SPIEL BUT I'LL DO IT AGAIN.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT AT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND INTERESTED IN BECOMING MORE ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SMALL ADVISORY COUNCIL HELPS ME GET A BROADER IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOLS OF CALVERT COUNTY.

HELPS ME A LOT WITH MY JOB AND IT'S AN OPEN MEETING SO THOSE WHO ARE NOT ON THE COUNCIL CAN ATTEND SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE LINK.

ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR INCREASING THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS THAT WE WILL SEE IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITHIN THE NEXT UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT EVER SINCE I STARTED SCHOOL IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND IT'S VERY MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE STUDENT BODY THAT YOU GUYS CLEARLY CARE ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE CURRENT WORLD CIRCUMSTANCES. NEXT, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS, THE APPLICATIONS FOR AN OFFICER POSITION WHICH INCLUDES PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT, TREASURER AND SECRETARY ARE DUE APRIL 15. SO IF YOU ARE A STUDENT LEADER IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND YOU WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU ATTEND OUR NEXT MEETING AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION. SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE RECOGNIZED TODAY FOR WINNING A STATE OR EVEN A NATIONAL TITLE. THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO DOING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IS TRULY INCREDIBLE.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST GIVE ANOTHER CONGRATULATIONS FOR ALL OF THOSE HONORED TODAY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO ECHO MR. KELLY, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE WHO RECEIVED AWARDS TONIGHT. I ALSO WAS -- HAD THE HONOR OF BEING A JUDGE FOR THE HISTORY FAIR A COUPLE OF WEEKENDS AGO AND IT JUST REASSURE IMMEDIATE THAT OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT BECAUSE I LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THOSE STUDENTS AT THAT HISTORY FAIR. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO HAD A HAND IN THAT.

I ALSO ATTENDED HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, THEY MADE TO THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THEY DIDN'T WIN BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MAKING THE TEACHERS' AWARD THAT EVENING BUT IT WAS A GREAT TIME TO BE THERE WITH THE KIDS.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINTER SPORTS, CHORUS, ORCHESTRA, BAND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE DONE IN COMPLETING YOUR SEASONS AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM NOT AN EDUCATOR.

I HAVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE IN PLACE TO DO THOSE THINGS WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS, TEACHERS OR WHAT HAVE YOU AND I AM HERE TO MAKE SURE I SUPPORT THEM. BUT ALSO TO SUPPORT ALL OF THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THAT ARE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

[01:35:04]

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. WHITE. MR. NUTTER?

>> THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, I PICKED THE WORST TIME TO INJURE MYSELF AND THERE'S NO GOOD TIME TO INJURE YOURSELF OF COURSE, BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS I MISSED EVERYTHING.

LAST WEEK. WE HAD THE CANDIDATES DOWN, I MISSED THEM. BUT REALLY, WHAT I REALLY MISSED WAS HAVING THE DINNER OR THE LUNCHES AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL.

I STILL CALL IT VOTECH. THEY MAKE THE BEST FOOD OVER THERE. I MEAN REALLY.

SO I MISSED THAT. I KNOW THAT THEY SENT ME A LETTER TODAY SAYING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FOOD TRUCK NEXT WEEK.

SO PLEASE DON'T LET ME FORGET THAT.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I -- THE HISTORY FAIR, I WENT THROUGH ALL THE MATERIAL AT THE HISTORY FAIR. OH, MY GOD IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL. SOME OF IT PERTAINED RIGHT TO TODAY WHAT'S GOING ON IN SOME OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, I HAD IT ALL IN MY HEAD HOW I WAS GOING TO WORK THIS AND I HAD TO CALL THEM AT THE LAST MINUTE AND SAY YOU KNOW WHAT? I CAN'T WALK.

SO -- I MEAN I COULDN'T EVEN -- I HAD TO GET MILLIE TO PUT MY SOCK ON. I COULDN'T GET IT ON.

SO -- ANYHOW, THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING.

I DO WANT TO MAKE MY USUAL REMARK AS FAR AS MAKING A -- I STILL THINK WE NEED TO -- IT'S IN A MOTION FORM, TO OPEN UP THE, MORE THAN 10 SPEAKERS. I MEAN YOU SEE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO RUSH TO GET IN LINE TO MEET THAT 10 PEOPLE THING AND THAT'S JUST TO ME, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

I TELL YOU ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAD TONIGHT, I HAD A FELLOW THAT WAS READING. HE HAD FIVE MINUTES AND FIVE MINUTES IS A LONG TIME BUT HE WAS SPEAKING SO QUICKLY TO GET THROUGH THOSE MINUTES THAT I COULD UNDERSTAND SOME OF WHAT HE WAS SAYING AND I HAVE MY HEARING AIDS AND ALL IN.

BUT HE HAD TO READ SO FAST THAT YOU LOSE SOME OF THE SUBJECT MATTER. SO SOMEHOW WE EITHER HAVE TO ADD ON 30 SECONDS OR SOMEHOW. SEE I'M USED TO HAVE BEEN A COMMISSIONER AND I'VE JUST LET THE PEOPLE FINISH SAYING WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT MY CALL. SO -- I DO WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT. IT'S A HARD JOB.

IT'S NOT EASY. AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I WASN'T HERE LAST WEEK AND THAT'S THE WAY I HAD TO VOTE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WASN'T 100% SURE OF THE WAY THAT I WANTED TO GO.

DIDN'T WANT TO OPPOSE ANYTHING BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO VOTE EITHER UNTIL I HAD MORE INFORMATION. THANK YOU.

>> MR. NUTTER, ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION?

IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? >> I'M SORRY.

>> ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION? >> OH, YES THAT WAS A MOTION.

>> OK. >> SECOND.

>> SECOND BY MS. CLAGGETT. ANY DISCUSSION?

ALL IN FAVOR? >> FAVOR.

FLURONA. >> ALL OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> MOTION FAILS 3-2.

MISS BALINSKI? >> I OFFER MY CONGRATULATIONS ALSO. THE WONDER OF CALVERT COUNTY, THE NUMBER IN ATHLETICS AND THEATER AND BAND, IT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT CAME IN TO SPEAK. IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL HEAR THE DIFFERENT VOICES. AND THAT WE ALL DO THIS CIVILLY.

AND THINGS AT LEAST IN THIS ROOM WERE HANDLED SO NICELY AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND WE HEAR EVERYONE.

AND THE KEY WORD IS THAT WE ARE HOPING TO, FROM THE TOP DOWN, IMPRESS EVERY, IN EVERY CLASSROOM, THAT EMPATHY IS THE

[01:40:02]

YOU NO HE? IT'S JUST -- THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND I AM SO GLAD TO HEAR THAT THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE ARE JUST TRYING TO TEACH EMPATHY AND OPENNESS TO DIFFERENT THINGS AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND JUST REINFORCING THAT MESSAGE.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT DR. CURRY IS GOING TO BE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. BIG SHOES TO STEP INTO, BUT WE FEEL WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE WHO IS HAS GREAT QUALIFICATIONS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO INTRODUCING HIM TO EVERYONE.

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME -- WE ARE STILL GUIDED BY OUR WONDERFUL DR. CURRY. SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MS. CLAGGETT?

>> THANK YOU. DR. CURRY, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

DURING THE TIME I HAVE BEEN ON THE BOARD IT'S BEEN WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH YOU. SO AS YOUR TIME WINDS DOWN, I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO ENJOY YOUR LAST DAYS AND LEAVE WITH MANY, MANY MEMORIES THAT YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SAY PUBLICLY THAT I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR HB 13 4-9D AND SB 831 WHICH SUPPORTS OUR BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS AND CASEWORKERS IN RECEIVING ADDITIONAL PAY INCREASES. THE BILLS DO NOT PUT MUCH MONEY INTO THEIR POCKETS, BUT IS IT ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK AS A STATE TO ENSURE THAT LEVELS OF PAY AND SALARY FOR THOSE CLASSES OF WORKERS ALSO GETS TO A STANDARD WHERE THEY ARE CONSIDERED PROFESSIONALS, AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STUDENTS WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT.

IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AS A STUDENT TO WALK UP TO THAT PODIUM AND TO SPEAK WORDS INTO THAT MICROPHONE AND TO BE PROUD OF WHAT YOU SAY. AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE AS ADULTS AND AS THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THOSE STUDENTS LIVE, THAT WE SUPPORT THEM. IT IS VERY, VERY DISHEARTENING FOR ME TO HEAR THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE PICKED ON OR BULLIED BY ADULT MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY. THAT SHOULD NEVER, NEVER, NEVER HAPPEN. AND IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AS LONG AS I CONTINUE TO SERVE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO ECHO THE COMMENTS OF MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORTING THOSE WHO CAME TONIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED THROUGH RESOLUTIONS, FOR ALL OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AT ATHLETIC AND AIR RIFLE SHOOTING. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY DIFFICULT TASK AND I KNOW I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT.

SO, AS ALWAYS, OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE THE BEST. AND THAT IS IT FOR ME.

>> THANK YOU, MS. CLAGGETT. >> MS. COUSINS MAY I SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE YOU CLOSE THINGS OUT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE BOARD ON A SUCCESSFUL SEARCH FOR A SUPERINTENDENT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH DR. TOWNSELL IN TRANSITION SHARING WITH HIM WHATEVER HE NEEDS TO KNOW IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF YOU KNOW MY HISTORY.

I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR AN ENTIRE CAREER. 34 YEARS.

THE ONLY TIME I WAS EVER TO EARN THE JOB OF SUPERINTENDENT AS AN INSIDER WAS MY FIRST JOB. AND THEY AWARDED ME WHERE I HAD BEEN WORKING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE, I GOT TO BE SUPERINTENDENT BY A VOTE OF 3-2. THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD KNOWN ME FOR 10 YEARS. SO THEN I MADE A CAREER OF BEING THE OUTSIDER GOING IN AND FOUR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HIRED ME UP AGAINST ALL INSIDE CANDIDATES AND OTHER OUTSIDE CANDIDATES.

AND FOUR OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS INCLUDING THIS ONE.

AND I CAN SAY I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN PEOPLE SAY YOU AREN'T FROM AROUND HERE, ARE YOU! AND THEY DOUBT THAT YOU CAN ADAPT. THEY DOUBT THAT, BUT YOU BRING I HOPE THAT I BROUGHT TO EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE I WORKED AS AN OUTSIDER, I BROUGHT THE SKILLS NECESSARY ■TOBRING THAT SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE NEXT LEVEL FROM WHEREVER IT WAS.

AND IT TAKES TEAM BUILDING AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR BEING HERE AND LIKE I SAID, WILL BE HERE TO SUPPORT DR. TOWNSELL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DR. CURRY. ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR THE WORK THAT WE PUT IN TO DO AGAIN ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT JOBS THAT A SCHOOL BOARD HAS AND I DO APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BEST QUALITY EDUCATION THAT OUR STUDENTS DESERVE.

[01:45:02]

EACH CHILD IS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DECENCY AND EACH CHILD IS LOVED AND SUPPORTED. SO THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE FOR THE REST OF MY BOARD TERM AND IT'S WITH EQUITY THAT EACH CHILD WILL RECEIVE EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO FEEL SUCCESSFUL AND TO REACH THE GOALS THAT THEY HAD SET FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS SET FOR THEMSELVES AND WE WANT THE PUBLIC -- I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. EQUITY WILL REMAIN A FRONT-AND-CENTER FOCUS TO ENSURE THAT THE KEY WORD AGAIN IS "EACH" WHICH IS CLEARLY IDENTIFIES EVERY SINGLE CHILD VERSUS THE "ALL CHILDREN." THIS QUESTION IS F, DR. CURRY. CAN YOU REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY INCREASE IN OUR PREK PROGRAMS IN THE THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR? I APPRECIATE THAT.

' AND, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, WE WENT -- I WAS AT THE HISTORY FAIR, TOO. SO THAT WAS A PHENOMENAL EXPERIENCE AND I LEARNED A LOT, TOO.

AND IT'S ALWAYS AN EXCITING JOURNEY TO EVALUATE THESE PERFORMANCES BY THESE STUDENTS AND IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY ALL ARE YOU KNOW SUPERSTARS. BUT DURING THAT, FOR THE AWARDS PRESENTATION, I HAD A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER HANCE ABOUT THE TWO BOARDS HAVING A MEETING.

SO WE ARE GOING TO GET A CALENDAR APPOINTMENT HOPEFULLY IN APRIL AND I WOULD LIKE FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER A JOINT EVENING MEETING BETWEEN THE TWO BOARDS SO WE CAN HAVE AAN AGENDA AND HAVE FULL CONVERSATION THAT'S AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC TO LISTEN TO PRIMARILY PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT MONEY AND THE BUDGETS GOING FORWARD AND THE BLUEPRINT.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR CALENDARS FREED UP FOR NEXT MONTH SO WE CAN MEET THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR AN EVENING MEETING. AND WHAT ELSE.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON MY AGENDA.

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE E-MAILS THAT WE RECEIVE. WE DEFINITELY READ THEM AND TAKE THEM UNDER ADVISEMENT AND I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT AND BARRING ANY OTH

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.