Sep 22, 2022 Board of Education

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

[00:00:08]

>>> GOOD AFTERNOON, I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK SESSION TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED. CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ASSURES SAFETY AND EXCELLENCE FOR OUR STUDENT

[2.02 Calvert County Foundation Presentation]

FOUNDATION. >>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. TONIGHT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING NIGHTS OF THE YEAR AS WE PRESENT GRANT AWARDS.

THIS YEAR IS EVEN MORE EXCITING AS WE HAVE EXTENDED THE GRANT AWARDS AND CREATED TWO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN EACH SCHOOL YEAR. WITH US THIS EVENING REPRESENTING THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL FOUNDATION, IS JANET JACKSON, CCFF BOARD PRESIDENT ALSO REPRESENTING CONSTELLATION, BONNIE BARRETT. GUTHERIE SMITH, BOARD MEMBER.

DONNA ESTENZO, BOARD MEMBER, CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

AND BARB MCKINNEY, BOARD MEMBER. >> WE'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A LITTLE WHILE SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU FIRST I AM BARBARA MCHENRY AND I'M GOING TO SHARE THE FOUNDATION'S PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY WITH YOU ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL FOUNDATION IS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND TAX DOLLARS IN SUPPORT OF UNIQUE RESOURCES AND INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING TO EVERY CHILD IN CALVERT COUNTY. THROUGH PROMOTION OF CREATIVITY, CRITICAL THINKING, AND ENGAGEMENT IN THE LEARNING PROCESS, WE CAN ENSURE OUR CHILDREN'S SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE WITHIN THE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND BEYOND.

>> I AM ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CONSTELLATION EMPLOYEE GOVERNMENT TOURNAMENT THIS YEAR RAISED AN ADDITIONAL $22,433 FOR THE FOUNDATION TO CONTINUE THIS AMAZING MISSION.

>> SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME HERE BEFORE, I SAY THE SAME THING BUT I MEAN IT FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING TO DO. SO OUR FIRST GRANT RECIPIENTS FOR THIS YEAR ARE THE CALVERT CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY, CHRISTINE STRAUSS AND LAURIE SERICO.

THEY ARE BEING AWARDED $4,500.46.

SO YES, WE DO GO DOWN TO THE PNNY.

ON TEACHERS IN THE ACADEMY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS LOCATED IN THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY CURRENT TRAINS STUDENTS IN AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FIRST AID AND CPR.

WITH THIS GRANT, AOHP TEACHERS WILL EXPAND CPR TRAINING TO OTHER STUDENTS AND STAFF IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ENSURING THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS THIS LIFE-SAVING PROCEDURE. GRANT FUNDING WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO EXPAND CPR AND FIRST AID INSTRUCTION INCLUDING ADULT AND INFANT MANNEQUINS, EXTRA LUNGS, AED TRAINERS, A FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR PACK AND INSTRUCTOR MANUALS. IN ADDITION BY EXPANDING THE CURRENT PROGRAM TO A TRAINING SITE FACILITY, CCPS STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO BECOME CERTIFIED CPR INSTRUCTORS.

[00:05:59]

>>> OUR SECOND AWARD GOES TO DR. CRYSTAL VICKS.

AND SHE IS RECEIVING HER GRANT FOR A PROJECT CALLED THIS GIRL'S STEAMS. HER GRANT IS IN THE TOTAL OF $10,000. AND THIS CONTINUING GRANT WILL SUSTAIN AND BUILD THE GIFTED AND TALENTED AND ADVANCED LEARNING PROGRAM ACROSS PRIMARY GRADES IN EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

SIX GIFTED AND TALENTED LIAISONS AND/OR ELEMENTARY EDUCATORS WILL TAKE PART IN 20 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THEN TEN SECOND AND THIRD GRADERS AT EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL EXPERIENCE 15 HOURS OF LIVE VIRTUAL STEAM PROGRAMS. WORKSHOPS WILL INCLUDE THE WACKY WORLD OF SCIENCE, SUPER SAMPLER, SEE ME IN STEM, KITCHEN CHEMISTRY, AND A CLOSING CEREMONY AT THE NAVAL AIR MUSEUM.

THIS PROJECT WILL ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH ABILITY LEARNERS TO THRIVE AND BE ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND PERSONALLY AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHER, I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED FOR THIS TO HIT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HERE IN CALVERT.

CONGRATULATIONS, CRYSTAL.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. LIKE TO SAY I'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE DIRT. THIS IS FOR OUR NEXT GROUP.

THIS IS HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AND WE HAVE RACHEL ALMER AND CAROLYN EFRON. THE NAME OF THEIR GRANT IS BOOK CLUBS FOR ALL. AND IT'S $1,005.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO THINGS LIKE THIS FUND WILL BE USED TO PURCHASE SETS OF HIGH INTEREST BOOKS THAT STUDENTS FIND COMPELLING AND RELATABLE IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT BOOK CLUBS IN ENGLISH CLASSES. BALANCING WHAT STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO READ AS PART OF ENGLISH CURRICULUM AND GIVING THEM A CHOICE OF WHAT THEY WANT TO READ IN A BOOK CLUB SETTING WILL BUILD THEIR READING CAPACITY AND FOSTER A CONFIDENCE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF READING AND THINKING.

APPLE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WHEN STUDENTS HAVE A CHOICE IN WHAT THEY ARE READING AND CAN ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CONTENT, THEY BECOME MORE INCLINED TO READ INDEPENDENTLY.

AND BY CREATING READING HABITS IN STUDENTS, TEACHERS HOPE TO INCREASE FLUENCY, COMPREHENSION, AND JOY, THUS LEADING TO STRONG INDEPENDENT READERS, WRITERS, AND THINKERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[00:10:26]

>>> THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR GIVING US TIME TO PRESENT THOSE FANTASTIC AWARDS AT THIS BOARD MEETING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT GRANT AWARD CEREMONY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT WAS FANTASTIC.

[2.03 Bid Approvals]

THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS WE HAVE BID APPROVALS BY SHELDON

TAYLOR. >>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M SHELDON TAYLOR.

BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ARE TWO REQUESTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST REQUEST VIA THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO WORK WITH SCHOOL DAY WITH ERIC THOMAS PROVIDING LIVE AND DIGITAL SERVICES, THE PLAYBOOK SUPPLIES LITERACY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS THROUGH CUSTOMIZABLE SUPPORT.

WE REQUEST THE BOARD PARTNER WITH SCHOOL DAY WITH ERIC THOMAS IN FUNDING FROM TH OPERATING BUDGET.

>> IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVED.

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

>> I THOUGHT WE WERE DOING -- I JUST ASK IF YOU COULD GIVE US A FULL IN DEPTH OVERVIEW BECAUSE THIS IS A NEW PROGRAM PRETTY EXCITING. AND I FOR ONE HAVE A LOT OF

QUESTIONS. >> IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS CALVERT COUNTY, EVERY HIGH SCHOOL WE'RE TARGETING 50 YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITH REGARDS TO LITERACY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

ALL OF THE SKILLS NECESSARY. THERE WILL BE A LARGE GROUP SESSION WITH THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WHERE THEY WILL PRESENT ALL DAY THE TENANTS OF THE PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO A GROUP SESSION WITH OUR PARENTS. ADDITIONALLY ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND PARENTS WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PLANNERS FOR WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR.

PART OF THE PROGRAM THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH EXPOSURE.

THE YOUTH EXPOSURE PROGRAM FOR THIS YEAR, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE BEST GAINS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNTY TO GO TO THE SUPER BOWL FOR 2023. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THE PLAYBOOK FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM IN MY PREVIOUS DISTRICT AND SAW HIGH GAINS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

OFTENTIMES I TALK ABOUT ENHANCING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND INCREASING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND THIS PROGRAM

WOULD DO SUCH. >> SO HOW SPECIFICALLY ARE THE

STUDENTS SELECTED? >> SO THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PRINCIPALS TO SELECT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST FROM THE PROGRAM. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM, WE'RE LOOKING AT ACADEMICS, WE'RE LOOKING AT BEHAVIOR, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL.

AND PRINCIPALS WILL PICK THE TOP 50 MOST NEEDY STUDENTS WITH REGARDS TO STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE PLAYBOOK FOR SUCCESS PROGRAM THAT TEACHES THEM STUDY SKILLS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, LITERACY

SKILLS. >> IS THIS SOMETHING LIKE THEY'RE PULLED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM?

>> YEP, IT WILL TAKE PLACE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AFTER THE LARGE GROUP SESSION AND THE SMALL GROUP SESSION ON A MONTHLY BASIS ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HAVE VIRTUAL SESSIONS IN ADDITION TO THEIR ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS TO SHARE WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE. AS WE ALL KNOW IN OUR SCHOOLHOUSE THERE'S ALREADY ADVISORIES THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE SCHOOL. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPLEMENT FOR SOME OF OUR IMMEDIATE STUDENTS.

>> AND IS THIS A FIXED COST OR IF WE START LOSING STUDENTS LIKE SOME DROP OUT BECAUSE OF POOR BEHAVIOR OR WHATEVER, DOES THE

[00:15:04]

PRICE DROP? >> IT'S A FIXED COST.

I DON'T EXPECT ANY YOUNG PEOPLE DROPPING OUT.

IT'S VERY ENGAGING. >> OKAY.

AND THE PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN FULLY ON BOARD WITH THIS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR PRINCIPALS WERE VERY EXCITED.

THEY WANT TO START IMMEDIATELY. I SAID HOLD ON, WE HAVE TO TAKE

THIS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. >> ANYBODY ELSE?

>> THAT ENDS OUR DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

JOINING ME NOW IS THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO PRESENT THE SECOND REQUEST WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE AWARD FOR THE

HVAC SYSTEMIC RENOVATION. >> GOOD EVENING.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISSUED A BID SOLICITATION FOR THIS WORK FOR THIS PROJECT IN JULY 2022 AND 2 FIRMS SUBMITTED THE PROPOSALS. A SUMMARY OF THE BID RESULT PROPOSALS ARE ATTACHED IN THE MEMO BEFORE YOU.

ALL ORIGINAL BIDS EXCEEDED THE ALLOCATED FUNDING AMOUNT FOR THE HVAC RENOVATION PROJECT. THEREFORE NEITHER BID WAS ACCEPTED AND CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUBSEQUENTLY WORKED WITH THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND OUR DESIGN CONSULTANT TO REVISE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2022, THERE WAS AN INVITATION FOR REVISED BIDS THAT WAS SENT TO ALL RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS BASED ON THESE REVISED DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS.

REVISED BIDS WERE ACCEPTED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH FROM WL GARY COMPANY AND AMERICAN COMBUSTION INDUSTRIES RESULTING IN THE PRICING BEFORE YOU. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH THE CIP. WE REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE SYSTEMIC RENOVATION AT PLUM POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL TO WL GARY COMPANY OF WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR THE BASE BID AND ALTERNATES 1 AND 6 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $3,830,000.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? >> SO WHAT ARE WE NOT DOING BECAUSE WE'VE JUST LOST OVER 40% OF THE FUNDING?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS ANYTHING THAT WE ARE NOT DOING.

THE DESIGN AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS PROJECT BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WAS TO BE FUNDED OVER A TWO YEAR PERIOD.

SO WE'VE RECEIVED PART OF THE FUNDS FROM THE STATE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TWO YEARS AGO AND THEN THE BALANCE OF THE FUNDS BASICALLY A YEAR AGO. SO AS YOU KNOW WITH COVID, PRICING HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.

SO WHEN WE RECEIVED THE 50% DESIGN, AT THAT POINT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BUDGET WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED AT $4 MILLION WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE SCOPE.

SO WE DEVELOPED ACTUALLY A NUMBER OF ALTERNATES.

BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THE PRICES HAD GONE UP.

SO WE ESSENTIALLY RELOOKED AT THE SCOPE AND WE DEVELOPED 13 ALTERNATES SO THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY AFFORD THE PROJECT.

AND THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS PROJECT WAS BID OUT ON AUGUST 25TH, THE BIDS CAME IN $1.6 MILLION OVER THE BUDGET.

THAT IS JUST FOR BASE BID. SO WE BASICALLY HAD TO GO BACK NOT TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE WITH HVAC UNIT LEAD TIMES IT'S 35 WEEKS RIGHT NOW TO GET EQUIPMENT.

[00:20:03]

BECAUSE AS WE WAIT LONGER, THE PRICING AT THIS POINT, WE CAN'T EVER CATCH UP. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ANYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING WRONG NECESSARILY.

IT IS JUST UNFORTUNATELY THE INHERENT MARKET AT THIS POINT.

I WILL SAY THAT I AM LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR FUTURE PROJECTS BECAUSE ONE THING WE ARE ABLE TO DO IS WE OBVIOUSLY ARE ONLY DOING A PORTION OF PLUM POINT MIDDLE.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO.

WE WANTED TO TRY TO REPLACE THE EQUIPMENT FOR A MAJORITY OF THE BUILDING. SO ONE THING WE ARE LOOKING AT IS IN NEXT YEAR'S HEALTHY SCHOOL FACILITY FUND GRANT WHICH HAS A STATE AND LOCAL MATCH, ONE OF THE OPTIONS I'M CONSIDERING IS REBIDDING OUT SOME ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR PLUM POINT MIDDLE SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE MORE OF AN IMPACT AT THE SCHOOL IN TERMS OF REPLACING MORE EQUIPMENT THAN JUST ESSENTIALLY 40% OF THE EQUIPMENT. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

HOPEFULLY THE NUMBERS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND WE WILL

JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE. >> I'M SORRY, I DID NOT IMPLY THAT YOU HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG.

I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH. MY QUESTION MEANT OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, WHAT ARE WE NOT ABLE TO DO AND YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU'VE SCALED BACK THE SYSTEMIC AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE ABLE

TO ADDRESS AT THIS TIME. >> CORRECT.

WHEN WE STARTED INITIALLY WE THOUGHT WE COULD REPLACE MOST OF THE EQUIPMENT EXCEPT MAYBE 1 OR 2 UNITS.

SO THAT WAS AT 50%, REALLY THAT WAS AT THE SCOPE DEVELOPMENT.

AND THEN WHEN WE GOT FURTHER AND FURTHER WE WERE JUST KIND OF CHASING AN UNTENABLE SITUATION. ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY IS THE EQUIPMENT THAT WE ARE REPLACING, I THINK IT WILL MAKE A LOT OF IMPACT. WE'RE NOT ONLY JUST REPLACING HVAC UNITS. WE HAVE VAB BOXES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THESE UNITS THAT ALLOW FOR INDIVIDUAL AIRFLOW WITHIN THE CLASSROOMS THAT ARE ORIGINAL THAT HAVE REALLY KIND OF DETERIORATED. AND SO WE'RE TAKING BASICALLY AN A TO Z APPROACH. WE'RE REPLACING THE EQUIPMENT AND WE'RE REPLACING ALL OF THE ASSOCIATED VABS.

SO THERE WILL BE WORK THAT WILL HAVE TO BE DONE WITHIN THE ROOMS, WITHIN THE CEILING. SO THAT IS WHY IT'S QUITE A BIT OF IMPACT. BUT IT WILL REALLY HELP THAT SPECIFIC ZONE. SO AT LEAST WITHIN THOSE SPACES, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE ENTIRE PROBLEM.

>> ANYMORE QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM IN OUR WORK

[2.04 Recruitment Study Update]

>>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT TO YOU OUR ACTION PLAN THAT WAS DEVELOPED BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED FROM WEST ED WITH THEIR CONSULT WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DURING THE 2021-2022 -- THE RESULT OF THE STUDY ALONG ACCOUNT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT WERE PRESENTED AT THE MAY 26, 2022, BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. SINCE THAT TIME, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES HAS CONTINUED OUR WORK WITH WEST ED TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN. I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO PRESENT

[00:25:03]

FOR EACH STRATEGY THAT IS PLANNED AN IMPLEMENTATION YEAR IS INCLUDED, A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE STRATEGY, AND A PROJECTED IMPLEMENTATION DATE. EACH STRATEGY HAS ALSO BEEN ASSIGNED TO A STAFF MEMBER OR GROUP OF STAFF MEMBERS.

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PUBLIC PRESENTATION THAT INFORMATION IS NOT INCLUDED. OUR FIRST GOAL IS BASED ON THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS RECEIVED TO ESTABLISH A CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT CYCLE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A YEAR ROUND OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO RECRUIT AND HIRE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES. AS YOU ARE AWARE, ONE OF THE BLUEPRINTS FOR MARYLAND SCHOOLS IS TO INCREASE MINORITY TEACHING STAFF IN ALL DISTRICTS. WHILE THIS HAS BEEN A GOAL FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE PAST, IT IS NOW A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WILL NOW INCREASE THE COMPETITION BETWEEN DISTRICTS.

WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS GOAL OF CREATING A YEAR ROUND RECRUITMENT AND HIRING PROCESS, WE WILL NOW HAVE MORE ABILITY TO HIRE MORE STUDENTS. OUR ACTION STEPS INCLUDE IDENTIFYING A YEARLONG RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES, BY FINDING AND REGISTERING FOR TEACHER RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FALL, WINTER, SPRING, AND SUMMER MONTHS. EXPANDING THE CONTINGENT CONTRACT PROCESS TO BEGIN EARLIER AND TO ALLOW US TO OFFER CONTINGENT CONTRACTS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR BEGINNING WITH THE FALL IMPROVEMENT TO INCREASE OUR ONLINE PRESENCE BY WORKING WITH THE CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS TO DEVELOP AN ONLINE RECRUITMENT AND MARKETING PLAN. ALSO TO PLAN AND BUDGET FOR UPDATING THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MARKETING PLATFORMS TO BE USED WITH RECRUITMENT.

THIS YEAR IDENTIFYING VENDORS AND COST ESTIMATES AND INCLUDING THAT IN OUR BUDGET FOR THE 23-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

AND THEN YEAR TWO WOULD INCLUDE UPDATING THOSE MARKETING MATERIALS AFTER A VENDOR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AND A BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED. WORKING TO RECRUIT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES PRIOR TO THEM GRADUATING AND DEFINITELY WHEN THEY GRADUATE. THIS GOAL ALSO INVOLVES US WORKING WITH OTHERS IN OUR DISTRICT AND IN OUR COMMUNITY TO INCREASE OUR COMMITMENT EFFORTS. THROUGH THE WEST ED STUDY, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE CURRENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS WITHIN CALVERT COUNTY THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THEIR ASSISTANCE THROUGH THEIR CONNECTIONS AND RECRUITING NETWORKS.

OUR ACTION STEPS FOR THIS GOAL INCLUDE IDENTIFYING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA AND ESTABLISHING CONTACTS WITH THEIR EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS. WE'D LIKE TO ALSO SHARE RECRUITMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB POSTINGS WITH THE IDENTIFIED UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND INCREASE OUR PRESENCE ON CAMPUSES IDENTIFIED THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

IN ADDITION WE'D LIKE TO UTILIZE LOCAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO ASSIST WITH RECRUITMENT, FIRST IDENTIFYING THE GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HELPING AND THEN DEVELOPING PROCESSES WITH THEM TO UTILIZE THEM IN THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

AND THEN ALSO TO UTILIZE CURRENT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMPLOYEES, THAT MAY BE ALUMNI AT UNIVERSITIES TO ASSIST WITH THE

RECRUITMENT PROCESS. >> COULD YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES OF WHAT LOCAL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS LOOK LIKE OR WHO THEY ARE?

>> DURING OUR STUDY WITH WEST ED, THEY ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS INCLUDING THE CITIZEN'S ADVISORY GROUP FOR CALVERT COUNTY, THE CLOSING THE GAP COALITION WAS ANOTHER GROUP THAT THEY WORKED WITH.

AND THERE WERE A FEW OTHERS BUT THOSE ARE TWO JUST RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. GOAL THREE INVOLVES US WORKING TO INCREASE OUR CANDIDATE POOL THROUGH GROW YOUR OWN INITIATIVES. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALREADY HAS A GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM AS PART OF THE TEACHER ACADEMY OF MARYLAND PROGRAM. HOWEVER WE HAVE PLANNED FOR ADDITIONAL ACTIONS TO INCREASE OUR GROW YOUR OWN EFFORTS EVEN FURTHER. AS RECOMMENDED BY WEST ED, WE ARE WORKING TO DEVELOP A TEACHER PIPELINE PROCESS FOR CURRENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT STAFF. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH BOWIE STATE SKBRUNIVERSITY AND A FEW OTHERS FOR CURRENT STAFF TO RECEIVE DEGREES AND CERTIFICATION.

THIS IS BEING FUNDED AS PART OF THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVEN EMPLOYEES THAT ARE PART OF THE PROCESS THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROGRAM.

ALS THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT, WE HAVE RECEIVED FUNDING TO PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS TO ADDITIONAL CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADUATES THAT ARE PURSUING EDUCATION DEGREES THAT

[00:30:02]

WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS GOAL AS WE KNOW THAT AVAILABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED IN CALVERT COUNTY AND ARE A BIG FACTOR IN OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR NEW TEACHERS. HOWEVER THIS GOAL IS ALSO A BIG CHALLENGE. WITH IT BEING A BIG CHALLENGE, THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR HELPING NEW TEACHERS WITH FINDING HOUSING. AND WITH THAT SAID, WE HAVE WORKED WITH WEST ED TO ESTABLISH AND GOALS TO ASSIST NEW TEACHERS IN THIS AREA. ACTION STEPS INCLUDE OFFERING COMMUNITY RESOURCE MATERIALS TO NEW AND PERSPECTIVE TEACHERS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY RESOURCE PACKET FOR NEW AND PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS.

WE'D LIKE TO DEVELOP A RENTAL HOUSING RESOURCE FOR NEW TEACHERS IDENTIFYING RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS WITHIN CALVERT COUNTY AND MAINTAINING THAT RESOURCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO ADVERTISE NEW OPTIONS FOR OUR TEACHERS. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR NEW TEACHERS, CONTACTING THEM, AND OFFERING TO COLLECT AND PROVIDE AGENT REFERRALS TO NEW AND PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS. AS WELL AS RESEARCHING LOCAL AND STATE PROGRAMS FOR HOUSING SUPPORT THAT WE'RE NOT AWARE OF CURRENTLY. ESTABLISHING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY AND IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL HOUSING OPTIONS THAT MAY EXIST FOR NEW TEACHERS.

GOAL SIX INVOLVES DEVELOPING HIGH QUALITY MENTORING AND INDUCTION PROGRAMS. THIS GOAL IS BEING HANDLED AND ADDRESSED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION OUTSIDE OF HUMAN RESOURCES. MRS. JACOBS, JACKIE JACOBS, THE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION SHARED WITH ME THAT THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT, THEY'RE PARTNERING WITH A NEW TEACHER CENTER. THROUGH THAT PARTNERSHIP, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL ENGAGE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING FOCUSING ON INSTRUCTION, MENTORING, ENGAGE IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR MENTORS AND SCHOOL LEADERS ON COACHING AND FEEDBACK, AND ALSO CONDUCT A PROGRAM EVALUATION.

THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT ALSO, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS ABLE TO HIRE THREE FULL-TIME MENTOR TEACHERS WITHIN A TWO YEAR POSITION AS PART OF THAT GRANT TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE NEW TO TEACHING IN CALVERT.

GOAL SEVEN INVOLVES CREATING EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS TO ASSIST WITH TEACHER RETENTION. AN EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP IS A NETWORK WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS WHERE EMPLOYEES MEET IN PERSON OR REMOTELY FOR ACTIVITIES BASED ON SHARED CHARACTERISTICS, INTERESTS, EXPERIENCES, OR GOALS.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS COLLABORATING WITH WEST ED EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING GROUP OUTSIDE OF THIS STUDY ON A 1.5 YEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN OF EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS.

EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS OFFER A CHANCE TO NETWORK, SOCIALIZE, WORK ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RAISE AWARENESS OF RELEVANT ISSUES. WE WILL RESEARCH AND APPLY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE AREA WITHIN THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRATEGIC PLAN.

ESTABLISHING THESE GROUPS WILL CREATE A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDE A NURTURING, ACCEPTING, RESPECTFUL, SAFE, AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.

WEST ED'S RECOMMENDATIONS WILL HELP CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEVELOP A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AMONGST STAFF AS THESE GROUPS ARE RESEARCH AND DATA SUPPORTED TO INCREASE EMPLOYMENT AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH DISTRICT-WIDE EVENTS.

[00:35:01]

AND THIS GOAL IS ALSO BEING ADDRESSED AND HANDLED, MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION.

AGAIN JACKIE JACOBS SHARED WITH ME THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION CONTINUES TO ADDRESS THIS AREA AS WE REVIEW AND UPDATE OUR CURRICULUM. ALL CURRICULAR DOCUMENTS ARE BEING UPLOADED INTO A NEW FORMAT.

DURING THE PROCESS OF UPDATING THE NEW CURRICULUM, SUPERVISORS AND TEACHERS ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS ON HOW IT IS CULTURALLY RELEVANT, RESPONSIVE, AND COMPREHENSIVE.

GOAL NINE IS NOT A GOAL PER SE, BUT IT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED THROUGH OUR WORK WITH WEST ED.

TWO AREAS THAT WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED BUT COULD PROVIDE HELPFUL INFORMATION TO THE DEPARTMENT IN OUR WORK INCLUDE REVISING OUR EXIT INTERVIEW SURVEY AND CREATING DATA DASHBOARDS TO EXAMINE OUR RECRUITMENT, HIRING, AND RETENTION DATA. THE ACTION STEP OF REVIEWING AND RVISING THE CURRENT EXIT SURVEY TO GAIN ADDITIONAL USE FOR INFORMATION WAS ONE THAT CAME UP AS A RECOMMENDATION DURING OUR STUDY SO THAT WE CAN FURTHER DISAGGREGATE OUR EXIT SURVEY DATA TO EXAMINE POTENTIAL TRENDS FOR OUR EXITING EMPLOYES.

THE DATA DASHBOARDS WAS ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION THAT CAN BE USED AND WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN MONITORING OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACTION PLAN AS IT WOULD GIVE US A TOOL TO INSTANTLY VIEW TEACHER AND STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND VIEW TRENDS IN OUR RECRUITMENT, HIRING, AND RETENTION DATA.

AND WE HAVE BEEN ALREADY WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY TO DEVELOP THESE DATA DASHBOARDS AND THEN USE THEM TO COLLECT DATA FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION OF OUR ACTION PLAN.

BUT BEFORE WE OPEN UP TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WE ARE ALREADY SEEING SOME POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM OUR EARLY IMPLEMENTATION.

AS YOU KNOW, WE WORKED WITH WEST ED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR LAST YEAR. SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS, THE BIG RECOMMENDATION OF CREATING A YEAR ROUND RECRUITMENT CYCLE SHOWED US SOME BIG GAINS IN OUR HIRING FOR LAST YEAR AS WE STARTED A NEW CONTINGENT CONTRACT PROCESS IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOT WAITING FOR POSITIONS TO BECOME AVAILABLE, WE WENT AHEAD AND STARTED HIRING AS SOON AS CANDIDATES APPLIED. THAT GAVE US MORE ACCESS TO MORE CANDIDATES AND DEFINITELY A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF CANDIDATES AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT FOR THE 22-23 SCHOOL YEAR, 17 OUT OF THE 126 CERTIFICATED STAFF HIRES WERE MINORITIES.

11 OF THOSE 17 WERE CLASSROOM TEACHERS OR ARE CLASSROOM TEACHERS. AND TEN OUT OF THE 11 CLASSROOM TEACHERS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS MINORITIES ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN.

THAT ACCOUNTED FOR JUST ABOUT 13% OR ACTUALLY JUST ABOVE 13% OF OUR NEW CERTIFICATED HIRES FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. COMPARE THAT TO OUR PREVIOUS YEAR IN 21-22 BEFORE THAT PROCESS WAS IN PLACE, WE HAD FOUR OUT OF OUR 12 MINORITY HIRES WERE CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

AND TWO OF THE FOUR WERE AFRICAN AMERICANS.

WE ARE SCHEDULED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A WORKFORCE UPDATE IN JANUARY. AS PART OF THAT UPDATE, WE'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH AN UPDATE ON HOW THE ACTION PLAN IS GOING IN ANY OTHER UPDATES WE HAVE WITH OUR DATA.

AT THIS TIME WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE

ABOUT OUR ACTION PLAN. >> SO YOU'RE NOW GOING TO DO YEARLONG RECRUITMENT. WHEN WAS RECRUITMENT EFFORTS IN

PLACE BEFORE? >> TYPICALLY RECRUITMENT IN THE PAST HAPPENS IN THE SPRING. THERE ARE A FEW JOB FAIRS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FALL AND EVEN IN THE SUMMER.

BUT MOST OF THEM OCCURRED IN THE SPRING AND THAT'S WHEN WE ATTENDED BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN WE WERE LOOKING TO HIRE.

NOW WE'RE STARTING ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK I THINK WE HAVE OUR FIRST RECRUITMENT FAIR. AND WE HAVE A PROCESS THAT IS JUST ABOUT IN PLACE BY THE TIME WE GO NEXT WEEK WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY OFFER CONTINGENT CONTACTS FOR POSITIONS THAT WE ANTICIPATE BASED ON TREND DATA HAVING AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO ADD TO THAT, WITH CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT FROM TRULY A YEARLONG PERSPECTIVE. SO WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE SUMMER, THE FALL, THE WINTER, AND THEN AS WE'RE APPROACHING THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR TO BE PROACTIVE TO ACTIVELY HIRE.

AND I THINK WITH CONTINGENT CONTRACTS, THAT WAS A REALLY BIG ONE WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID. BUT THEN ALSO UTILIZING THE

[00:40:03]

SO THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO OPEN IT UP AND WE'RE GOING TO START IN NOVEMBER. THAT REALLY OPENS IT UP FOR PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTIES AND PEOPLE WHO ARE GRADUATING, DECEMBER GRADUATES, MAY GRADUATES, AND PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTIES WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC

SCHOOLS. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE RECRUITMENT. THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR HBCUS GEOGRAPHICALLY CLOSE TO US. ARE ALL FOUR OF THEM INCLUDED IN

THAT 100 THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT? >> YES.

AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY INCLUDED AND ONE OF OUR OUTREACH, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IN THE FUTURE IS LOOKING AT DEVELOPNG REALLY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM SPECIFICALLY TO NOT JUST GO AND BE A PART OF THE CAREER FAIR, BUT TO GO AND BE ABLE TO IMMERSE OURSELVES WITHIN THE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY AND SHOW OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH MENTORSHIPS, US GOING INTO THEIR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION WITHIN THAT. AND THEN BEING ABLE TO PRESENT, BEING ABLE TO OFFER INTERNSHIPS TO TEACHERS, PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS. WE REALLY WANT TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIP THERE. AND I THINK THAT ALSO GOES INTO UTILIZING OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND OUR ALUMNI AND REALLY FOCUSING ON HOW CAN WE BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE I'M SURE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ALREADY HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED. WE WANT TO EXPAND ON THAT.

>> AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT QUESTION, DO YOU KNOW PERCENTAGE WISE HOW MANY POTENTIAL GRADUATING STUDENTS THAT LIKE FOR EXAMPLE BOWIE STATE HAS LOOK LAST YEAR.

BECAUSE I HEARD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ARE LOW, THE NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN OR MINORITY STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATING. AND THEN OF COURSE THEY HAVE THE WORLD TO GO AND WORK IN. SO HOW ARE WE ATTRACTING THOSE GRADUATING STUDENTS WHEN THEY HAVE A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM?

>> I THINK THAT'S A PART OF OUR ONGOING CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT CYCLE. AND TRUTHFULLY I THINK THAT WE'RE AT A SPOT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND GET INTO THOSE SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITIES. AND IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO RECRUITMENT FAIRS, IT REALLY IS IMMERSING OURSELVES WITHIN LOCAL HBCUS, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND FIGURING OUT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THOSE STUDENTS IN THAT SCHOOL AND HOW WE AS CALVERT COUNTY CAN SUPPORT THAT.

>> IF I CAN ADD TO THAT TOO, ONE OF THE PARTS THAT WE INCLUDED IN THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT INCLUDES US ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO CURRENT STUDENTS AND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDING BOWIE WHO WE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH NOW TO OFFER THEM OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTINGENT CONTRACTS EVEN BEFORE THEY GRADUATE AND RETURN FOR SOME SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO HELP TO FINISH PAY FOR THEIR SCHOOLING. SO YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

THEY'RE NOT GRADUATING A WHOLE LOT OF TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND AT ANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND ALL OF THE COUNTIES ARE TRYING TO ATTRACT THEM IN DOING DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE TO BE UNIQUE, LIKE THE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO THINK OF WHAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT THEM TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE SET UP THROUGH THAT ACTION PLAN INCLUDING THE RESOURCE GROUPS FOR MINORITY TEACHERS, WE HOPE WILL BE AN ATTRACTION FOR CANDIDATES.

SOME OF THE THINGS WE HOPE TO PUT IN PLACE WITH HOUSING, WITH SOME MARKETING MATERIALS FOR CALVERT COUNTY, WE NEED TO MARKET AND SHOW THEM WHY CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THE BEST PLACE TO WORK AND GET THE WORD TO THEM EARLY EVEN BEFORE THEY GRADUATE. ONCE THEY GRADUATE, THEY'RE PROBABLY GETTING OFFERED FROM EVERYONE.

IF WE CAN GET THEM BEFORE THAT, THAT'S THE OTHER KEY TO GET THEM

INTERESTED. >> I WANT TO LOOP BACK AROUND AND SAY I'LL FIND OUT THOSE NUMBERS FOR YOU SO THAT WE HAVE

A BASELINE GOING FORWARD. >> OVER THE SUMMER DR. RICKS HAD A PROGRAM AT CALVERT HIGH. THERE WERE ABOUT A DOZEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND WE ACTUALLY WENT TO BOWIE.

I THINK ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN HE'S GOING TO BE WORKING HERE

[00:45:02]

SO THE INTEREST IS DEFINITELY THERE.

SO BRINGING THOSE STUDENTS HERE AND SHOWING THEM WHAT WE CAN OFFER IS ONE WAY OF ATTRACTING STUDENTS.

AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT SO GOOD JOB.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING HIRING PRACTICES.

I NOTICE THAT THAT IS A YEAR TWO IMPLEMENTATION.

WHAT IS THE REASONING BEHIND IT BEING IN YEAR TWO AS OPPOSED TO

YEAR ONE? >> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH WHEN WE STARTED THIS ACTION PLAN ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE RECEIVED FROM WEST ED WAS TO TRY TO SPREAD THIS OUT.

DON'T TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, IT'S JUST NOT REALISTIC. THIS IS ON TOP OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO DAY-TO-DAY. AS WE STARTED TO ASSIGN THE YEARS FOR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ACTION PLAN, WE REALIZED WE COULD IMPLEMENT, WE THINK, ALL OF THESE GOALS WITHIN TWO YEARS.

SO WE REDUCED IT DOWN FROM THREE.

THE REASON THAT THIS ONE POTENTIALLY OR WAS RECOMMENDED TO GO TO YEAR TWO IS IT'S A HEFTY GOAL.

IT'S VERY INVOLVED, TAKING A LOOK AT ALL OF THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AND COMING UP WITH STANDARDIZED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR EVERY POSITION THAT WE HAVE IS GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME. AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME THOUGHT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE A GROUP NOT JUST EVEN OUTSIDE OF HR TO REALLY WORK TO DO THAT CORRECTLY. THE CURRENT INTERVIEW PRACTICES AGAIN WE WERE ALWAYS LOOKING AT INTERVIEW PRACTICES.

WE DO ANNUAL TRAINING WITH ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN GENERAL, HR DOESN'T DO ALL OF THE INTERVIEWING AND HIRING. THAT TAKES PLACE ALL OVER THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS ARE INVOLVED, SUPERVISORS, A LOT OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS.

WE HAVE A LOT TO TRAIN WITH THAT.

WE DO DO ANNUAL TRAINING WITH ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS ON INTERVIEW PRACTICES. BUT WE RECOGNIZE AND WEST ED GAVE US SOME SUGGESTIONS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE EVEN DIFFERENTLY. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE FOR EXAMPLE WHO IS ON INTERVIEW PANELS.

WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT IT'S DEFINITELY MORE THAN ONE ADMINISTRATOR. BUT THAT'S REALLY IT.

SO WE WANT OUR INTERVIEW PANELS TO REPRESENT THE TYPE OF DIVERSITY THAT WE WANT WITHIN OUR SYSTEM AS WELL.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF A PRACTICE THAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT CONSIDERING AND IMPLEMENTING.

BUT THERE'S MORE AND WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE AND REALLY PUT A THOROUGH PLAN TOGETHER BEFORE WE JUST ROLL THAT OUT.

SO I SAY YEAR TWO, IT'S IN PROCESS.

THAT'S WHEN IT WILL BE COMPLETED.

WE'RE NOT WAITING. SOME OF THE THINGS OBVIOUSLY THAT WE HEAR ABOUT NOW THAT NEED TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY, WE'RE

IMPLEMENTING RIGHT AWAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THAT QUESTION. WONDERING WHY IT'S IN YEAR TWO AS WELL. SO WITH YOUR EXPLANATION, I HEAR THAT. BUT THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO ME AT THAT TIME IS SO IN BETWEEN THIS TIME NOW AND THEN, HOW MANY CANDIDATES WILL BE SUBJECTED TO POTENTIAL IMPLICIT BIAS, THAT SORT OF THING IN THE MEANTIME? BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ELIMINATE THAT PROBLEM OF NOT GETTING QUALITY MINORITY EDUCATORS, BUT YOU HAVEN'T IDENTIFIED PARTICULARLY IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS WHAT THOSE BARRIERS ARE THEN I WOULD FEEL LIKE THAT WAS A PRIORITY TO AT LEAST WORK ON THAT FIRST SO YOU CAN TRY NOT MISS CANDIDATES UNTIL 2024. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> IT DOES. AND I THINK AGAIN THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE INTERVIEW TRAINING THAT WE DO ANNUALLY AT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS INTERVIEW BIAS.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS DONE ANNUALLY AND IT'S WE'VE EXTENDED AND EXPANDED IT, IT'S NOT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER. SO WE ARE DOING SOME THINGS TO ADDRESS INTERVIEW PRACTICES. I THINK FOR THIS PARTICULAR GOAL AND MAYBE SPLITTING THAT UP INTO TWO YEARS, A YEAR ONE WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT INTERVIEW PRACTICES, AND THEN YEAR TWO WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS MIGHT BE MORE REALISTIC. BECAUSE I DO HEAR YOU AND UNDERSTAND AND AGREE, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY CANDIDATES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. SO IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE A

LOOK AT. >> THANK YOU.

ANYMORE QUESTIONS? >> YEAH, SO THE HOUSING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BARRIER. IF THE YOUNG PEOPLE GRADUATING DO THEIR HOMEWORK, THEY WOULD SAY THAT CALVERT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES TO LIVE. SO IF YOU COULD TRULY DEVELOP A RENTAL HOUSING RESOURCE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY I IMAGINE TO SEE

[00:50:03]

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TALKED TO THE CALVERT COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ALSO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION TO TRY TO COME UP, AND THOSE ARE JUST TWO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WHAT WE'VE DONE INITIALLY.

BUT THE CONVERSATION IS HAPPENING AND WE'RE AWARE AND TRYING TO MAKE AS MANY BARRIERS AS WE CAN BE ELIMINATED.

>> YEARS AGO ACTUALLY WHEN I WAS HIRED, 26 YEARS AGO, HUMAN RESOURCES KEPT A BINDER AND AS A NEW TEACHER, YOU COULD COME IN AND FLIP THROUGH THE BINDER AND LOOK AT HOUSING RENTAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE AVAILABLE.

IT KIND OF EVOLVED, WE STILL HAVE THAT, BUT IT'S NOT VERY, THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH TO IT. BUT WE ALSO HAVEN'T PURSUED AND ADVERTISED. WE ACTUALLY, WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE JUST RECENTLY AS WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS THAT WE HAVE CURRENT TEACHERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR RENTALS FOR BASEMENT APARTMENTS OR SINGLE ROOMS WITHIN THEIR OWN HOUSE.

SO WE SEE EVEN OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE AS BEING A RESOURCE TO POTENTIALLY OFFER SOME RENTAL PROPERTY AND OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. AND THEY'D BE HAPPY TO HAVE US ADVERTISE IT. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE A BINDER, OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD HOPE TO CREATE THAT RESOURCE

WHICH COULD BE UPDATED DAILY. >> ALSO YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THREE TEACHER MENTORS. YOU SAID YOU HIRED THREE OR ARE THEY TEACHERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SYSTEM?

>> THEY WERE FULL TIME. THEY'RE ACTUALLY FULL-TIME TEACHER MENTORS. I KNOW ALL THREE OF THEM WERE TEACHERS, WERE CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND THEY TOOK ON THIS POSITION TO BE SPECIFICALLY MENTOR TEACHERS.

NO LONGER IN THE CLASSROOM. >> ARE THEY IN SECONDARY

SCHOOLS, PRIMARY SCHOOLS? >> SO THEY ARE ALL OVER.

THEY'RE HOUSED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION AND THEN ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. >> SO JUST TO ADD TO THAT THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT, WE'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THOSE FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS WHO ARE NEW TO EDUCATION, NOT THOSE WHO HAVE COME IN FROM OTHER DISTRICTS WHO HAVE TEACHING EXPERIENCE AND FOCUSING ON SO THAT THEY CAN GET THROUGH OO- THEIR FIRST YEAR AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO REACH EACH STUDENT WITHIN THEIR CLASSROOM, BOTH FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO FROM AN

INSTRUCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS.

>> IN TERMS OF THE MARKETING MATERIALS, WE DON'T.

THAT'S THE BIG REASON THAT WAS NUMBER TWO IS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WITHOUT LOOKING INTO THAT WHAT KIND OF COST THAT WOULD

INCLUDE. >> BEFORE YOU GO ON, COULD YOU GET MORE DETAILS ON WHAT EXACTLY YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN THAT?

>> SO WHAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IS WHEN WE GO OUT RECRUITING, HAVING MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE AND REALLY SPOTLIGHT THINGS ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY. WE HAVE SOME FLIERS, SOME INFORMATION NOW ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY.

BUT A LOT OF IT IS OUTDATED. WE WANT SOME CURRENT MATERIALS.

SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT CANDIDATES TO COME TO CALVERT COUNTY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, WHAT MAKES US UNIQUE, AND WHAT WOULD MAKE NEW TEACHERS.

AGAIN WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST ALL OF THE COUNTIES IN CALVERT OR IN MARYLAND WHEN WE'RE IN MARYLAND RECRUITING.

AND WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST ALL OF THE STATES AROUND US WHEN WE GO TO NORTH OR SOUTH CAROLINA OR ANYWHERE ELSE.

I KNOW I EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR IN LAST YEAR WHERE WE HAVE SOME GREAT PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, A LOT.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY AND WHEN I SHOWED THEM WHERE IT WAS AND TOLD THEM ABOUT IT, THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF INTEREST. WE NEED SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE FLASHY AND ATTRACT AND MAKE CANDIDATES WANT TO COME HERE TO CALVERT. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING

ABOUT. >> WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ISSUED WITH FIDELITY AND WE DON'T WANT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH MARKETING MATERIALS, WE SPEND ALL OF THIS HUNDRED ON THIS AND IT'S INEFFECTIVE.

[00:55:02]

UTILIZE IT BEST. >> HAVE YOU DONE ANY WORK WITH THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT?

AND TOURISM? >> SO I'M MEETING WITH THEM TOMORROW. WE HAVE A MEETING AT 12:00 TOMORROW AND THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT.

>> OKAY, GREAT. BECAUSE THEY'RE MEMBERS OF THE GREAT MACO, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES.

AND I THINK THE COUNTY'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT DOES A VERY GOOD JOB OF PROMOTING THE COUNTY.

SO I THINK THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO OFFER WITHOUT US THEN HAVING TO THEN GO OUT AND HAVE A VENDOR POSSIBLY CREATE THE VERY SAME THING THAT THE COUNTY MAY BE USING. SO WE WANT TO DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING THOSE RESOURCES.

>> THE GOAL NUMBER THREE, ARE YOU REACHING OUT TO, I KNOW WE HAVE THE TEACHER ACADEMY. BUT IN OUR SCHOOLS WE HAVE MAX SCHOLARS, DESTINED FOR SUCCESS, AND ALL OF THE MINORITY CLUBS.

DO YOU SPECIFICALLY TARGET THOSE CLUBS.

>> NOT NECESSARILY US IN HR. BUT I KNOW THE CTA, THEY DEFINITELY DO. WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN TEACHING OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN TEACHING, BUT WHEN THEY HEAR THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD BECOME INTERESTED.

WE AS PART OF THIS PLAN WANT TO EXTEND THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IN THE PAST AGAIN ONLY STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE TEACHER ACADEMY OF MARYLAND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THAT SCHOLARSHIP. AND THROUGH OUR LEADS GRANT, WE NOW HAVE FUNDING AVAILABLE TO OFFER TO ALL STUDENTS WHICH COULD BE VERY ATTRACTIVE. WE ALSO WANT TO BALANCE THE TEACHER ACADEMY AND THE NEED TO GROW THAT PROGRAM WITHIN THE CTA. WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THAT BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN ONE WAY WE CAN ATTRACT TEACHERS TO THAT IS BY PROVIDING THAT SCHOLARSHIP.

HOWEVER WE KNOW THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO BE IN THAT THAT ARE GETTING READY TO GRADUATE THAT IT'S TOO LATE FOR THEM TO NECESSARILY JOIN THAT PROGRAM.

WE STILL WANT THEM TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO SCHOOL TO BECOME A TEACHER AND COME BACK AND SERVE CALVERT COUNTY.

>> JUST HAD ONE ADDITIONAL THOUGHT, I THINK WE MIGHT BE MORE COMPETITIVE IF WE GO OUT OF STATE JUST BECAUSE THE NEW UPCOMING TEACHER STARTING SALARY OF $60,000 I THINK MIGHT BE A GREAT INTEREST TO KIDS THAT ARE IN COLLEGE AND THAT ARE COMPARING THEIR LOCAL SALARIES WHEREAS EVERYBODY ELSE IN MARYLAND IS GOING TO BE AT THE SAME LEVELS.

>> I AGREE. AND WE'RE CERTAINLY KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSE THAT THAT WILL BE HELPFUL.

OUR EXPERIENCE OUT OF STATE LAST YEAR WAS NOT GREAT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO COME TO MARYLAND AND SPECIFICALLY CALVERT COUNTY.

THE IN STATE RESIDENTS WERE INTERESTED IN CALVERT, AT LEAST THE ONES THAT KNEW ABOUT US. BUT OUT OF STATE THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF INTEREST IN COMING TO MARYLAND AND CALVERT COUNTY.

AGAIN WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT THE NEW SALARIES AND ALSO THE NEW MARKETING MATERIALS WILL MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE.

BUT FOR NOW WE DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF LUCK LAST YEAR UNFORTUNATELY GOING OUT OF STATE.

>> LAST ONE FOR REAL THIS TIME. I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW TEACHERS THAT TEACH IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT LIVE HERE IN CALVERT. THEIR STUDENTS GO TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING GOING FORWARD TO TRY TO RECRUIT THOSE TEACHERS TO COME TO WORK IN CALVERT COUNTY VERSUS, I'M SURE THE SALARIES ARE PROBABLY THE ISSUE WITH A SEASONED PROFESSIONAL THAT'S IN ANOTHER COUNTY. BUT I THINK THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME WAY TO SWAY THEM TO CONSIDER STAYING IN THE COUNTY.

>> LAST YEAR, I HATE TO USE THE WORD STOLE, BUT WE STOLE A LOT OF TEACHERS FROM SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

IN THE PAST WHAT'S HAPPENED IS WE HAVE TEACHERS FROM OTHER COUNTIES THAT WANT TO COME TO CALVERT THAT AREN'T OFFERED CONSIDERATION UNTIL POSITIONS BECOME AVAILABLE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF TIMES, THAT'S AFTER JULY 15TH.

AND ONCE WE HIT JULY 15TH, WE CAN'T TOUCH ANYONE FROM ANY

[01:00:05]

YES, THAT WAS AN AMAZING EFFORT LAST YEAR.

EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE WAS FROM ONE OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

SO WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH AND WE STILL HAVE MORE THAT WANT TO COME TO CALVERT COUNTY FOR THAT EXACT REASON.

THAT IS A RESOURCE THAT WE'RE TAPPING INTO.

WE'LL EVENTUALLY RUN OUT I'D IMAGINE BUT FOR NOW IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SOURCE FOR US TO HIRE TEACHERS THIS PAST YEAR.

>> THANK YOU. ANYMORE QUESTIONS? THANK YOU FOR THE EXTENSIVE REPORT.

[3.01 Comments from the Public]

WE'LL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. >> GOOD EVENING.

PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY GUIDELINES, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO TEN. 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.

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 ANY HANDOUTS, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NINE COPIES TO KAREN MAXEY, SHE WILL DISTRIBUTE TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. 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 WHY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION 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 IN THE MEETING. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO YOUR ISSUES YOU MADE IF YOU PROVIDED CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGNED IN. FOR ANYMORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MOLLY

STEVENS. >> JUST TURN YOUR MIC ON, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> HELLO EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS MOLLY STEVENS, A SEVENTH GRADER. WHAT'S THE DRESS CODE? FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CONSTANT STRESS OF IT, THE DRESS CODE IS A RULE TO HELP OTHERS FOCUS.

BUT TO THE GIRLS WHO HAVE TO BE TOLD THAT THEIR BODIES ARE TOO DISTRACTING, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A RULE.

IS IT SO CRAZY THAT WE CAN'T EVEN WALK THROUGH THE HALLWAY WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL STAFF SCANNING OUR BODIES UP AND DOWN. WHAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE DRESS CODE ANYWAY? TO HAVE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT, WHAT IT'S DOING IS MAKING TEENAGE GIRLS LIKE ME FEEL ASHAMED OF OUR BODIES AND THAT WE SHOULD HIDE THEM SO THAT WE DON'T DISTRACT OTHERS. ARE WE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW OTHERS ACT AND THINK? WHY BLAME THE PROBLEMS ON US.

STUDENTS CANNOT WEAR WHAT THEY FEEL CONFIDENT AND COMFORTABLE IN. INSTEAD WE GET THE PLEASURE OF WEARING EVERY DAY ONCE AGAIN SEXUALIZED BY SCHOOL STAFF AND EMBARRASSED BY OUR PEERS. MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH OUR VICE PRINCIPAL WAS TO GET DRESS CODED BEFORE I EVEN GOT OFF THE BUS FOR WEARING SWEATPANTS AND A TANK TOP.

IT WAS 85 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I WORE PANTS BECAUSE NONE OF MY SHORTS FIT THE DRESS CODE. THE DRESS CODES ARE RUINING STUDENT TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS, BECAUSE WHEN A TEACHER DRESS CODES YOU, IT'S NOT THAT EASY TO LIKE THEM.

AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS.

THE TEACHERS ARE PROBABLY NICE AND JUST DOING THEIR JOB, BUT IT'S HORRIBLE. I'M WEARING A NORMAL OUTFIT THAT ANY OTHER PERSON WOULD WEAR. I COULDN'T EVEN WEAR THIS TO SCHOOL BECAUSE MY SHORTS AREN'T LONG ENOUGH AND MY STRAPS ARE TOO THIN. HOW DO MY LEGS AND SHOULDERS PREVENT STUDENTS FROM LEARNING AND POSE ANY KIND OF SAFETY RISK? THIS OUTFIT MAKES ME CONFIDENT AND I'M COMFORTABLE IN IT, BUT THAT'S NOT THE COUNTY STANDARD.

IN STORES THEY DON'T ADVERTISE SHORTS LONG ENOUGH FOR GIRLS, AND IF THEY DID PEOPLE WOULD GET TEASED FOR WEARING UNSTYLISH OR OUTDATED SHORTS. DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS GENERATION OF YOUNG WOMEN TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS MESSED UP ORDEAL WITH THE DRESS CODE? SUPPORT FEMALE STUDENTS BY CHANGING THE DRESS CODE. THANK YOU, I CAN EMAIL YOU THE

DRESS CODE THAT THEY HAVE. >> THANK YOU, MS. STEVENS.

[01:05:15]

INDIVIDUAL OR A GROUP? >> I WANT TO FIRST START BECAUSE THERE ARE KIDS IN THE ROOM TO LET THE PARENTS KNOW THAT SOME OF WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY IS GOING TO BE SEXUALLY EXPLICIT.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN FROM THAT, NOW WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD TIME. MY NAME IS MELISSA, I'M THE MOM OF THREE KIDS AND IN CCPS. I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE LIBRARY.

SHE WAS CHASED AROUND THE LIBRARY BY THREE BOYS OVER A BOOK TITLED ON THE BRIGHT SIDE I'M NOW THE GIRLFRIEND OF A SEX GOD. THIS IS THE BOOK.

THE COVER IS OF A BOY AND A GIRL IN AN EMBRACE.

THE BOYS WERE NOT JUST CHASING HER AROUND THE LIBRARY, THEY WERE CHASING OTHER STUDENTS AS WELL, BOYS AND GIRLS.

AND YOU KNOW IN THE SIXTH GRADE, YOU HEAR THE WORD SEX AND THAT'S KIND OF SILLY AND YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO ALSO.

SO I ASKED HER TO BRING THE BOOK HOME SO I COULD READ IT.

IN THE BOOK THERE WERE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT FOR ME PERSONALLY I DON'T THINK ARE NECESSARILY APPROPRIATE FOR MY SIXTH GRADE DAUGHTER. SOME EXERTS FROM THIS BOOK, I WENT OUT WITH HIM FOR A FORTNIGHT AND WAS GOING TO DUMP HIM, BUT HE DUMPED ME FIRST BECAUSE THE OTHER GIRL EMMA LET HIM DO THINGS TO HER. I FEEL THAT BOYS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN A MYSTERY TO ME, I FELT THAT PARTICULARLY SINCE MARK UP THE ROAD RESTED HIS HAND ON MY BOSSOM.

COUSIN JAMES ASKED ME TO PLAY STRIP POKER, I WAS SO EMBARRASSED. ROSIE SENT ME A NOTE, ASK MS. WILSON IF GOD HAD A PENIS. AFTER SWIMMING TODAY, MS. STAMP CAME INTO THE SHOWERS TO MAKE SURE WE ALL WENT IN.

SHE SAYS WE PRETEND TO HAVE A SHOWER AND THAT WE ARE UNHYGIENIC, THAT IS WHY SHE MUST SUPERVISE US, BUT THE REALITY IS BECAUSE SHE IS A LESBIAN. SHE WATCHED A THROUGH OF US GO THROUGH, SHE SHOUTED COME ON, YOU SILLY NINNIES GET IN AND GET OUT. I DASHED TO GET IN AND OUT QUICKLY BECAUSE MS. STAMP IS A LESBIAN AND MIGHT WELL LOOK AT ME. ANOTHER BOOK, THIS IS IN ALL FOUR OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, HOW I SEXUALLY MATURE, WHAT I MEAN IS I KNEW ABOUT SEX. FROM SIX UP, I USED TO KISS OTHER GUYS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, KISS THEM, MAKE OUT WITH THEM, I USED TO PERFORM ORAL SEX. I LIKED IT.

I TOUCHED THEIR YOU KNOW WHATS. I WAS MAKING OUT WITH GIRLS TOO, BECAUSE EVERYBODY THOUGHT IT WAS COOL.

EVERYBODY WAS ENCOURAGING ME. ANOTHER BOOK IN ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. BLOW JOB, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT A BLOW JOB IS, IT'S ORAL SEX, KIDS.

OH MY GOD, THEY TOTALLY WEREN'T EXPECTING US TO RENT THIS, RIGHT. IT'S LIKE X-RATED.

HELLO, THAT'S PORN. PORN IS X.

VIOLENCE AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF IS R.

ANOTHER BOOK IN ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

HE REACHED HIS HAND DOWN AND PULLED OUT MY DICK, HE QUICKLY WENT TO GIVING ME HEAD. I SAT BACK AND ENJOYED IT AS I COULD TELL HE WAS TOO. HE WAS ALSO DEFINITELY EXPERIENCED IN WHAT HE WAS DOING BECAUSE HE WENT TO WORK QUITE CONFIDENTLY. HE THEN CAME UP AND ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO TRY IT ON HIM. I SAID SURE, I BEGAN AND HE SAID WATCH YOUR TEETH. I DIDN'T WANT TO LET HIM KNOW I WAS INEXPERIENCED SO I SLOWED DOWN AND TOOK MY TIME AND LUCKILY GOT INTO A GOOD RHYTHM. HE DIDN'T KNOW I WAS A VIRGIN, AND I DID MY BEST TO ACT DOMINANT LIKE MY FAVORITE PORN STAR. I WAS AN ACTOR AND THIS WAS MY MOVIE. THESE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THE BOOKS THAT ARE ON DISPLAY IN OUR LIBRARIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.

AND ALTHOUGH SOME PARENTS MIGHT THINK IT'S COMPLETELY ACCEPTABLE, SOME OF US WANT TO KEEP THIS FROM OUR KIDS AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BETTY

GOLDSTEIN. >> GOOD EVENING.

AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING I SHARED WITH YOU THE REALITY OF BEING AN ELEMENTARY-RELATED ARTS TEACHER.

TODAY I'VE COME TO SPEAK ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ISSUES INCLUDING ONE RELATED TO MY LAST COMMENT.

[01:10:01]

PERSONALLY I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE A FIFTH FIRST GRADE TEACHER. AND YES SPACE IS AN ISSUE.

BUT I WILL SAY WE HAVE A FORMER COMPUTER LAB TURNED PLC ROOM THAT WOULD MAKE A NICE SIZE CLASSROOM.

IN SECOND GRADE, WE HAVE FIVE TEACHERS AND ARE ALREADY SITTING AT 20, 21, 21, AND 23. I KNOW MEMBERS OF THIS ELECTIVE BOARD HAVE SPOKEN IN THE PAST ABOUT THEIR DESIRE TO CAP PRIMARY CLASSES AT 20. I STRONGLY BELIEVE IF WE THOROUGHLY COMMITTED TO PRE-K THROUGH 2ND GRADE, MANY OF THE SECONDARY TEACHERS I KNOW WITH STUDENTS THAT CANNOT READ WOULD HAVE DIFFERENT STUDENTS IN FRONT OF THEM.

OF COURSE IT'S NOT JUST THE STUDENTS, BUT ALSO THE FAMILIES WE NEED TO PROVIDE GREATER SUPPORT TO IN ORDER TO DEVELOP ALLIES IN OUR QUEST TO EDUCATE THEIR CHILD.

ONCE AGAIN I COME BEFORE THIS BOARD TO POINT OUT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE PRIMARY STUDENTS THAT ARE HITTING, KICKING, AND SPITTING ON ADULTS, SOMETIMES CLASSMATES TOO.

ATTEMPTING TO ELOPE TO OTHER PLACES AND THROWING THINGS IN CLASSROOMS. ALTHOUGH SOME OF THESE STUDENTS ALREADY HAVE ONE ADULT DEDICATED DIRECTLY TO WORKING WITH THEM, SOMETIMES IT ESCALATES TO THE LEVEL OF 2, 3, OR 4 ADULTS INVOLVED. BESIDES NOT HAVING THE BODIES FOR THAT, CAN YOU BEGIN TO PICTURE WHAT TOLL THAT TAKES ON EVERYONE INVOLVED, THE CLASSROOM TEACHER, THE IA, THE STUDENT, AND THE CLASS AS A WHOLE. FRANKLY I DOUBT YOU CAN EVEN BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

YOU PROBABLY STRUGGLE TO PICTURE A CHILD OF 6 TO 8 SPENDING MORE TIME OUT OF THE CLASSROOM THAN IN IT.

BUT LET ME BE CLEAR, I'M NOT ADD VOW -- ADVOCATING FOR THAT CHILD TO BE LEFT INTERRUPTING THE EDUCATION OF EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM. I ALMOST GOT THROUGH IT ALL.

I'LL SEE YOU ANOTHER MONTH. BYE.

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA ESTENZO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE CALVERT EDUCATION

ASSOCIATION. >> THANK YOU.

I AM GIVING A SPEECH TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF SARAH COOKE GENERAL MUSICS TEACHER AT DOW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN ASKED BY YOUR EMPLOYER EACH WEEK TO COMPLETE FIVE DAYS WORTH OF WORK IN FOUR DAYS? NOW HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ASKED ON THE FIFTH DAY TO COVER FOR A COLLEAGUE INSTEAD OF DOING YOUR OWN JOB? IT SEEMS ABSURD, RIGHT? THAT IS WHAT MANY OF THE RELATED ARTS TEACHERS ARE BEING ASKED TO DO IN CALVERT COUNTY.

DID YOU KNOW THAT EIGHT MUSIC/ART TEACHERS EITHER RESIGNED OR ARE ON A LEAVE OF ABSENCE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

AND OF THOSE 8, 2 POSITIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING FILLED BY A LONG-TERM SUB. IF YOUR GOAL IS TO RETAIN QUALITY EDUCATORS, THIS NUMBER SHOULD BE ALARMING TO YOU.

IF YOUR EMPHASIS IS TRULY ON THE ARTS, THIS NUMBER SHOULD BE ALARMING TO YOU. BUT AFTER ALL IT IS NOT ABOUT US AS TEACHERS. IT IS ABOUT THE STUDENTS.

AT THE LAST MEETING YOU HEARD ABOUT HOW COLLAPSING RELATED ARTS CLASSES WAS IMPACTING BARSTOW.

THIS IS A SYSTEMATIC ISSUE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT DATA.

THE AVERAGE CLASS IN THIRD GRADE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM IS 19. IN THIRD GRADE RELATED ARTS THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 25. THIS IS A 31% INCREASE IN CLASS SIZES MOVING FROM THE GENERAL EDUCATION SETTING TO THE RELATED ARTS SETTING. IN SECOND GRADE THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION SETTING IS 17.

IN SECOND GRADE RELATED ARTS THE AVERAGE CLASS SIZE IS 23.

[01:15:03]

WE KNOW THAT UNLESS STUDENTS ARE SOCIALLY, MENTALLY, AND PHYSICALLY WELL, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LEARN.

THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS IS PUT INTO QUESTION WHEN THEY ARE SEPARATED FROM THEIR HOMEROOM CLASS.

ONE OF THE FIVE COMPETENCIES IS RELATIONSHIP SKILLS.

STUDENTS SPEND TIME EACH MORNING PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND THEIR TEACHER. THIS FOUNDATION SETS THEM UP FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING THROUGHOUT THEIR SCHOOL DAY.

WHEN STUDENTS ARE THEN PLACED INTO ANOTHER GROUP FOR RELATED ARTS, THAT FOUNDATION SHIFTS AND THE RELATIONSHIPS THEY'VE BUILT IN THEIR CLASSROOMS ARE NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE.

AS RELATED ARTS TEACHERS WE ARE ALSO ASKED TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS AND BE PART OF SETTING THE FOUNDATION FOR A POSITIVE, SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

HOW ARE WE TO DO THAT ADEQUATELY WHEN CLASS SIZES IN THE RELATED ARTS CLASSROOMS ARE STEADILY INCREASING.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, I COMMUNICATED WITH MY PRINCIPAL TO SEE OUR CLASSES IN THEIR HOME ROOM GROUPS RATHER THAN COLLAPSING INTO LARGER CLASS SIZES.

IT WAS SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THE COLLAPSING OF CLASSES IS BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION. THE PE TEACHERS ASSIGNED TO OUR BUILDING ARE NOT THERE ENOUGH DAYS TO ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMEROOM CLASSES FOR RELATED ARTS BECAUSE THEY TRAVEL BETWEEN SCHOOLS. THIS IS THE SAME ANSWER MANY RELATED ARTS TEACHERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I URGE YOU TO REEVALUATE THE FORMULA FOR DETERMINING PE STAFF ALLOCATION.

ALL SCHOOLS WITH FIVE OR MORE CLASSES PER GRADE LEVEL SHOULD BE ASSIGNED AT LEAST TWO FULL-TIME PE TEACHERS.

IF CCPS DOES NOT HAVE THE ADEQUATE STAFFING TO ALLOW FOR THAT, THEN MORE TEACHERS SHOULD BE HIRED.

CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER DUE TO THE LACK OF ADULTS ABILITY TO PROBLEM SOLVE. I RECENTLY SAW SOMETHING THAT SAID THERE IS NOT A TEACHER SHORTAGE, THERE IS A SALARY SHORTAGE, THERE IS A WORTH AND LIFE BALANCE SHORTAGE, THERE IS AN EMPATHY SHORTAGE. THERE IS BEING TREATED LIKE A PROFESSIONAL ADULT SHORTAGE. EQUITY IN CLASS SIZES, IN TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIOS, IN STIPENDS, IN WORKLOADS AND CONTRACTUAL PLANNING TIMES MUST BE AUTHENTIC AND PRESENT AT EVERY LEVEL IN ALL DEPARTMENTS AND ALL CONTENT AREAS.

IF IT ISN'T, THEN OUR COUNTY LOSES THE INTEGRITY AND TRUST OF ITS CONSTITUENTS AND COMMUNITY. THE LOSS AND EXIT OF SOME OF OUR QUALITY COLLEAGUES IS A DIRECT RESULT OF SWEEPING OUR NEEDS UNDER THE TABLE AND NOT LISTENING TO OUR VALID AND HONEST CONCERNS. DO NOT CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF THE SHORTAGE. THANK YOU.

>> SPEAKER NUMBER FIVE IS KATIE FORD.

>> THANK YOU. I WASN'T PREPARED TO SPEAK BUT THERE WAS EXTRA SPOTS SO I FELT LIKE I MUST.

MY NAME IS KATIE FORD. >> CAN YOU SPEAK INTO THE MIC, PLEASE. THANK YOU.

>> YES. I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS.

MY HUSBAND AND I ADOPTED THREE CHILDREN THAT WE DID FOSTER CARE IN DC. THEY'RE AFRICAN AMERICAN.

I ALWAYS WANTED THREE CHILDREN, THAT'S WHAT I GOT.

WE LOVE THEM AND ONLY WANT TO GIVE THEM THE BEST.

WE COULD NOT LIVE IN DC ANYMORE. ALL OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, THEY ALL HAVE AN IEP AND PRIVATE SCHOOL IS NOT AN OPTION THEREFORE WE'RE HOMESCHOOLING. WHAT WE WERE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN, WE HAD AN ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQ AND CRDC.

[01:20:06]

WE'VE BEEN VERY BLESSED HERE. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO SAFE RACIALLY FOR MY CHILDREN HONESTLY, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS LOVE OUR CHILDREN.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE WERE IN A DREAM UNTIL WE DISCOVERED THAT THE -- CURRICULUM IS TARGETED. IT'S IN EXISTENCE AND I WAS SHOCKED, MY CHILDREN WILL BE SAFE UNTIL 5TH GRADE, POSSIBLY JUST 4TH. BUT I JUST WANT TO BESEECH YOU ALL THAT I HAVE SOME QUALITY KIDS.

THEY ARE BRIGHT. THEY ARE STRONG.

THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL AND SMART. AND I WILL PULL THEM IN 5TH GRADE AND THEY WILL BE WORLD CHANGERS, YOU WATCH.

THEY MIGHT BE SITTING UP HERE SOME DAY.

BUT THEY WILL NOT BE SUBMITTED TO THIS STUFF THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING TO BE TAUGHT. I DON'T CARE WHO'S TELLING YOU, THE GOVERNOR, BUT YOU HAVE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT AND WE HAVE A GROUP PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE UNITY AND A STAND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT RIGHTEOUS. AND YOU'LL SEE MORE OF ME.

I REALLY, WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU ESPECIALLY MR. TOWNSEL.

I WORKED THREE YEARS AT HBCU WHERE I GOT BAPTIZED BY FIRE.

I WAS THE FRESHMAN GIRL'S DORM DIRECTOR AND I'M TELLING YOU IT WILL BE A MOVIE SOME DAY. AND I FEEL VERY HONORED TO BE

HERE, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON. WE'LL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS.

[4.01 Comments from the Board]

>> GOOD EVENING. FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR STUDENT WHO CAME OUT AND SPOKE TODAY.

IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU HERE.

I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE TO GET UP HERE AND SPEAK AT THE BOARD ESPECIALLY AS A STUDENT SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND SAYING WHAT YOU SAID. IN OTHER NEWS, I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF YET AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FEW WEEKS OF SCHOOL. AND IN SOME RECENT STUDENT LEADERSHIP NEWS, THIS SATURDAY MY SCHOOL NORTHERN HIGH IS HOSTING THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCIL WORKSHOP PRESENTER CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING.

THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCIL FACILITATES STUDENT ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THIS EVENT IS ABOUT TRAINING OUR STUDENT LEADERS TO BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE. THESE STUDENTS HAVE A VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR SCHOOL AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL TO BE HOSTING AN EVENT AND IT TRULY REPRESENTS THE DEDICATED STUDENT LEADERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. MR. WHITE.

>> GOOD EVENING. I THINK YOU DID DO A GOOD JOB.

YOU SAID YOU WERE NERVOUS, YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

MY DAUGHTER IS IN 6TH GRADE SO THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I ACTUALLY HAD TO GO SCHOOL SHOPPING AND YES, IT'S DEFINITELY, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SHE COULD WEAR OR NOT WEAR. SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CALVERT COUNTY FOUNDATION.

ALSO I WANTED TO THANK CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DR. TOWNSEL AND EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND HELPED IN OUR SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, WE GOT OVER 120 PEOPLE THERE INCLUDING TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS.

IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. AND ALSO SATURDAY WE'RE HAVING OUR SECOND ANNUAL ROTARY RIDE WHICH WILL BENEFIT THE CTA.

LAST YEAR WE RAISED ABOUT $15,000 AND WE WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE CERTIFICATIONS AND TESTING AND THINGS FOR OUR STUDENTS AT THE CTA. SO THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR IT. YOU CAN GO ONLINE AT THE ROTARY RIDE. IT STARTS AT 9:30 ON SATURDAY.

SO FOR ALL OF THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS, JEEPERS, CLASSIC CARS, AND VOLUNTEER, PLEASE DO. AND I ALSO AGREE THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, YOU GUYS ARE DOING AMAZING JOB.

[01:25:03]

AND I LIKE THE POSITIVE ENERGY THAT'S BEING PUT OUT THERE.

BUT ALSO THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND ALSO THE COUNSELORS, THEY HAVE A TALL TASK.

AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WE HEAR YOU GUYS, WE'RE LISTENING, WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

MS. BALINSKI. >> THANK YOU ALSO TO THE CALVERT SCHOOL FOUNDATION AND THE RECIPIENTS OF THEIR GRANTS.

WE'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE WHO PUTS IN THE TIME TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS. AND AGAIN SOME REALLY QUALITY IDEAS COMING THERE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE RECIPIENTS. I GET THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT MS. GOLDSTEIN AND M MS. ESTENZO BROUGHT UP THE RELATED ARTS TEACHER ISSUE. SO I DO BELIEVE THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AND WHEN YOU USE THE EXPRESSION EQUITY WORKLOAD, AND TREATING PEOPLE LIKE PROFESSIONALS, SO I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A PROBLEM. AND I DON'T KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A HEAD COUNT PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE IT. BUT ARTS ARE DEFINITELY ONE OF THE CORE COMPETENCIES, SO I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A VERY SERIOUS LOOK BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE THESE QUALITY PROFESSIONALS. I ALSO AM CONCERNED, I'M OUT AND ABOUT AND WAS IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YESTERDAY WHERE I DID LEARN THAT THERE WAS 25 TO 26 KIDS IN THE KINDERGARTEN CLASS.

AND OUR BOARD HAS HOPED THAT WE COULD STAY WITH THE 20 LEVEL OVER THE YEARS. AND IT NEVER SEEMS LIKE WE GET THERE. SO I WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE A REAL SERIOUS LOOK IF WE CAN TRY TO REMAIN IN THE SMALLER CLASS SIZE AS POSSIBLE. THAT'S IT.

>> THANK YOU. MS. CLAGGETT.

>> I WANT TO THANK MS. MOLLY STEVENS FOR COMING AND GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING AND DITTO THE COMMENTS FROM OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. IT IS VERY COURAGEOUS OF YOU AS A STUDENT TO COME BEFORE US TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO THANK YOU AND ENCOURAGE YOUR PEERS THAT THEY CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME. WE WELCOME THE COMMENTS FROM THE STUDENTS AND WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL.

BEFORE WE MOVE ALONG IN THE YEAR AND GET TO A POINT IN OUR AGENDAS WHEN WE'RE ASKED WHAT OUR BUDGET PRIORITY IS, MY BUDGET PRIORITY IS PRE-K TO TWO SMALLER CLASSROOMS. I SAY THAT EVERY YEAR. THAT IS MY PRIORITY AND I SHARE YOU CONCERN, DAWN, OF HAVING 25, 26 YOUNG CHILDREN IN A CLASSROOM WITH A TEACHER. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD THAT THE EARLIER YEARS ARE THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS AND I THINK US AS ADULTS NEED TO REALLY PUT SOME EFFORT INTO BELIEVING THAT IT'S THE FOUNDATIONAL YEARS AND HAVING SMALLER CLASSROOMS SO THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND GROW AND BE SUCCESSFUL AS THEY MATRICULATE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS. >> THANK YOU.

DR. TOWNSEL, CAN YOU VERIFY THE BOOKS THAT WE HEARD ABOUT TODAY? CAN YOU VERIFY THAT THEY ARE IN FACT IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS? I FIND IT VERY ALARMING THAT SOMETHING THAT GRAPHIC WOULD BE.

BUT CAN YOU VALIDATE AND REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR US, PLEASE. AND BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING, THE SIX OF US WILL BE TOGETHER AT THE ANNUAL SCHOOL BOARD CONFERENCE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL OF US SITTING TOGETHER, LEARNING TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE OTHER 23 DISTRICTS. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AND WE'LL GET TOGETHER AND COME BACK WITH A REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.