Oct 27, 2022 Board of Education

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

[00:00:08]

>>> GOOD EVENING I WELCOME YOU TO THE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC COOL WORK SESSION. WE'LL STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED. THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION ENSURES EXCELLENCE OF EDUCATION FOR OUR STUDENTS

[2.02 SECAC Community Report]

COMMUNITY REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH COMIER. AND I'M HERE TO GIVE YOU A REPORT OF A RECENT EVENT. EVERY COUNTY IN MARYLAND IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

IT'S THE SAME IDEAS, IT'S PARENT LED AND PARENTS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND GUARDIANS AND INVOLVED COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND STAFF MEMBERS COMING TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

THE LAW IS THE LAW AND WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM IS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO MATCH THAT. WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC WITH IT.

THAT'S WHERE SECAC COMES IN. IN CALVERT COUNTY WE HAVE UNDER 16,000 STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY. WE'RE ONE OF THE SMALLER COUNTIES IN MARYLAND. OF THAT, 1700 STUDENTS HAVE AN IEP OR A SPECIAL EDUCATION NEED. A MOBILITY ISSUE, READING DISABILITY, AUTISM, THERE'S A WIDE SPECTRUM OF THINGS TO IMPACT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT THAT STUDENTS HAVE.

SECAC LOOKS OUT FOR THE 10% OF STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM. THE LAW REQUIRES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM GIVE OUR STUDENTS A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO DO. TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK.

CALVERT COUNTY, SECAC, PARTNERED WITH PATH FINDERS, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND WE TRY TO WORKSHOP A WAY FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THE STUDENTS. WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN HAVE A RESOURCE FAIR TO BRING RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH THE FAMILIES AND DO SOME TRAINING WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND STUDENTS. WE HAD, WHAT TO DO IN A TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING. THEY WORKED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, TO HOLD THE EVENT, FROM TOP TO BOTTOM THEY WERE PHENOMENAL. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE AND THANK THEM. THEY BROUGHT IN VEHICLES, FIRE TRUCKS, AMBULANCES, THEY TALKED ABOUT CAR SEAT SAFETY.

THEY HAD A DRUG ABUSE INFORMATION TABLE AND THEY RAN TWO LANES OF THE TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING.

PARENTS OF STUDENT OF DRIVING AGE OR YOUNGER KIDS IN THE BACK SEAT COULD PULL IN AND DO A MOCK TRAFFIC STOP SO THEY COULD EXPERIENCE THAT IN A SAFE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT INSTEAD OF ON THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS IS A TWO FOLD TRAINING, IT GIVES THE YOUTH A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THIS AND THE SHERIFF OFFICERS HANDS ON TRAINING.

NOT THAT THEY DON'T GET TRAINING IN THE ACADEMY AND THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK, BUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO PUT FACES.

YOU COME ON A VEHICLE AND THERE'S A YOUTH IN THE BACK SEAT, 6'2, 200 POUNDS, AND IT COULD ESCALATE IN AN UNFORTUNATE

[00:05:03]

WE HAD KIDS GO THROUGH ONCE IN THE BACK SEAT WITH THE PARENTS, AND OH, I WANT TO TRY THAT. THE STUDENT GOT FWND WHEEL AND -- BEHIND THE WHEEL AND WENT THROUGH.

THIS TRAINING WAS A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ALL THE STUDENTS AND STAFF INVOLVED. AGAIN, A BIG THANK YOU TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR WORKING WITH US.

THEY HAD 20 STAFF MEMBERS OUT THERE, THE STATE POLICE, EMT'S, IT WAS A GOOD DAY OF TRAINING AND THE WEATHER COOPERATED WITH US. INSIDE, SUE HELPS TO SET UP THIS RESOURCE FAIR. WE HAVE TO GET THIS INFORMATION IN FRONT OF PARENTS. THE EARLIER WE DO THE INTERVENTIONS THE BETTER OUTCOMES IN THE CLASSROOM LATER ON. FOR EXAMPLE CALVERT COUNTY PARKS AND REC.

THE -- THE -- FOR A FIRST TIME PARENT SOMETIMES YOU'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT SCHOOL UNTIL PRESCHOOL AGE.

BUT WITH DISABILITIES, WE CAN GET THEM SERVICES FROM BIRTH.

WHETHER THEY'RE BORN WITH A PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR A DRUG INVOLVED PREGNANCY OR THEY WERE -- AGAIN A SPECTRUM OF THINGS TO IMPACT THE LEARNING CAPABILITIES, GOING TO THIS GETTING THE PARENT TRAINING, THE FAMILY SUPPORT BEFOREHAND REALLY PAYS DIVIDENDS OF UN-- WEALTH. THESE RESOURCES ARE PHENOMENAL AND IT'S GETTING THE INFORMATION IN THE PARENT'S HANDS.

THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WITH THE LOCAL PEDIATRICIANS, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE PLACES THAT THESE KIDS ARE BEFORE THEY GET IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WE WANT TO GET THEM CONNECTED IN THE SERVICES. FOR THE OLDER KIDS, THE MEDIATION CENTER TO HELP YOU WITH CONTENTIOUS IEP MEETING.

IEP MEETINGS SHOULD BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENT.

100%. BUT SOMETIMES AS ADULTS, OUR ATTITUDES AND EGOS GET IN THE WAY FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE TABLE AND A MEDIATOR CAN HELP DEESCALATE AND GET BACK ON THE STUDENT. THE DDA, YOU FIND OUT WHEN YOUR STUDENTS TURN 14, WE TALK ABOUT TRANSITION FOR THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY GOALS. THE KIDS DON'T DISAPPEAR WHEN THEY GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY GO IN THE COMMUNITY.

THESE ORGANIZATIONS HELP GET THE STUDENTS READY.

AND END HUNGER, NOW HAS A CULINARY PROGRAM.

I WROTE THIS DOWN, A TEN WEEK PROGRAM TO GET STUDENTS A SERVE SAFE, FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION, AND IT'S FREE TO THE STUDENT. A LOT OF SERVICES ARE FREE FOR THE FAMILIES. GRANT FUNDED, SCHOLARSHIPS, OR LOW COST. BUT A LOT ARE FREE TO THE FAMILIES WHO ACCESS THEM. IT'S GETTING PEOPLE TO OVERCOME THE STIGMA OF I DON'T QUALIFY OR LOOKING FOR A HANDOUT, WE NEED TO GET THEM THE INFORMATION THAT I SEE NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CAN BE A NEW LANGUAGE.

PART OF SECAC IS -- AN EVENT LIKE THIS WAS REALLY REALLY GREAT. FOR SUE, AGAIN, 100 THANKS TO HER. SHE HELPED TO COORDINATE THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GET THE TABLES SET UP.

AND THE BROWN CENTER FROM TOP TO BOTTOM AND FRONT TO BACK, EXCELLENT TO WORK WITH. TO HAVE THESE EVENTS, WE HAVE NOT HAD ONE SINCE THE PANDEMIC, BACK IN THE COMMUNITY WAS A GREAT DAY FOR US. SPECIAL EDUCATION IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I'VE BEEN A PARENT OF A SPECIAL ED STUDENT FOR 13 YEARS NOW. I VALUE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND THE STAFF IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM, YOU'RE ALWAYS

FREE TO CALL OR E-MAIL ME. >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

DID YOU DISCUSS WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WHAT TRAINING THEY GET IN GENERAL TO BECOME AN OFFICER WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION

KIDS? >> WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE

[00:10:02]

THEY HAD A SPECIAL AUTISM PATCH MADE THEY SOLD IN THE EVENT AND THEY'RE GOING TO DONATE THAT MONEY THROUGH THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT AND IT'S SOMETHING WE'LL KEEP GOING. I TALKED TO BOTH, AND THEY'RE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO SITTING DOWN AND SAYING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE KIDS GET IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE CAN GET THEM SERVICES INSTEAD OF HANDCUFFS.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. OF THE LITTLE OVER 10% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT RECEIVES SERVICES, YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT THE -- THIS EVENT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND HOW MUCH PARENT INVOLVEMENT DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAD WITH THIS PARTICULAR EVENT AND THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF AND ARE THERE BARRIERS THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT PREVENTS PARENTS BEING INVOLVED.

OW DO WE HELP THEM OVERCOME THAT?

>> TRANSPORTATION IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE FOR THESE EVENTS.

SOMETIMES THE FAMILIES, WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS IN THE LOWER ECONOMIC STATUS BECAUSE THEY'RE SPENDING MORE MONEY IN HEALTH CARE. TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO THESE EVENT.

WE'LL TRY TO BREAK THEM UP IN SMALLER EVENTS AND REPRODUCE THE TRAFFIC STOP TRAINING AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE SENT HOME FLIERS AND E-MAILS, SOCIAL MEDIA THINGS WE PUT AT HOME THROUGH IEP CHAIRS, THE INDIVIDUAL PROVIDERS AND AGAIN, PARENTS GETTING A LOT OF THINGS IN THE BACKPACKS EVERY DAY.

WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THE FLIERS STAND OUT.

WE DID IT ON A FRIDAY, IT WAS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY SO STUDENTS WERE OFF. WE HAD 30 FAMILIES COME THROUGH THAT DAY. AND I WISH WE HAD 1700, BUT IT WAS A WORKDAY FOR PARENTS. WE'LL TRY TO DO THINGS ON THE WEEKEND. IT WAS FROM 10 TO 2 ON FRIDAY.

WE'LL PUSH THAT INFORMATION, TRY TO CLOSE THE GAP TO GET PARENTS INVOLVED. AND WE PUSH SECAC OUT TO IEP CHAIRS AND INDIVIDUAL PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE SECAC IS A

RESOURCE. >> PERFECT.

CAN WE ALSO, CAN WE OFFER COMMUNICATION, THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO SOLICIT, TO SUPPORT THEM IN SOME

WAY FOR COMMUNICATION? >> YOUR DIRECTOR ALREADY REACHED OUT TO MAKE SURE OUR THINGS ARE ON THE WEBSITE AND PUSHED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO

BUILDING THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>> DO YOU WORK ANY WITH ARC? ARE THEY INVOLVED IN ANY OF THE

PROGRAMS? >> ARC, YES, OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND IS PART, THEY WERE THERE.

IN THE TOP THERE. ONE OF THE VENDERS.

THE CONNECTION OF THE AUTISM PROJECT.

THERE'S A LOT OF SMALLER THINGS HERE.

BUT OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS ARE TWO OF THE

BIGGER ONES. >> THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.

APPRECIATE THAT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK THIS EVENING AND THANKS FOR COMING OUT AND SPENDING TIME WITH US THAT DAY.

[2.03 Blueprint Update]

>>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M JOE SAMSON, THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR. AND TODAY, THE GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU UPDATES RELATED TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. AND THE PROPOSED TIME LINE AND IS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS.

REGARDING THE PLAN SUBMISSION TIME LINE.

[00:15:08]

SEQUENCING OF THE SUBMISSION IS LOGICAL BASED ON THE EMBEDDED MANDATES IN THE BLUEPRINT AND THE DATES THAT CORRESPOND WITH THE ACTIVITY. I'LL DISPLACE GRAPHICS LATER THAT MAKES SENSE OF THIS. BUT WITH A SLIGHT CAVEAT BECAUSE LAST NIGHT WE GOT THE PLAN THAT MAKES A LOT OF CHANGES TO WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DOING.

THE PLAN ASKS DISTRICTS TO DESCRIBE IMPLEMENTATION FOR DIFFERENT PART OF ALL FIVE PILLARS.

THIS NARROWS THE SCOPE OF THE WORK.

HERE'S JUST A REMINDER OF THE DELIVERABLES OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE REQUIREMENTS. THE SUMMER SCHOOL AND TUTORING REPORT WAS PUSHED BACK AND NOW NOT DUE UNTIL DECEMBER 1.

AND A REPORT TEMPLATE IS PROVIDED TO US BEFORE THE SUBMISSION DATE. ALL THE OTHER REPORTS AND DEADLINES HAVE BEEN MET AND ALL FUTURE DEADLINES AND REPORTS ARE TRACKING ON TIME. THIS PROVIDES A VISUAL OF THE NEW PROPOSED TIME LINE. THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE AIB.

SO FROM HERE, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS PHASE ONE IS STILL DUE MARCH OF 2023, AND THEN PHASE TWO IN 2024 WITH PERIODIC UPDATES ON THE WAY THROUGHOUT THE TIME LINE AND THE FINAL UPDATE FOR THE LAST PHASE IN 2028. SO FOR THE NEXT SET OF SLIDES WE'LL REVIEW WHAT DELIVERABLES ARE REQUIRED FOR EACH PILLAR, FOLLOWING EACH PILLAR SLIDE THERE'S A SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE REQUIRED ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR PHASE ONE OF IMPLEMENTATION.

MUCH OF THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR ALREADY CHANGED BASED ON THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED LAST NIGHT.

THEREFORE, I WILL NOT DETAIL THE IMPLEMENTATION SLIDES BUT SHOW THEM BRIEFLY FOR YOUR REFERENCE. MY PLAN IS TO COME BACK NEXT MONTH AND PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHANGES FROM THE MOST RECENT PLAN SUBMITTED. I WILL SAY THE WORK GROUPS IN EACH AREAS HAVE STARTED TO DIG IN TO THE TIME LINES AS WE KNEW THEM BEFORE, AND THE INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN PROVIDED.

WE'LL ADJUST THE TIME LINES AND THE WORK ACCORDEDLY BASED ON THE WORK WE GET. IN PILLAR ONE, THE DELIVERABLES ARE EXPANDING PREK TO FULL DAY. AND READINESS AND FAMILY EXPORTS. THE IMPLEMENTATION AS OF THE

20TH, WHICH AGAIN HAS CHANGED. >> YOU KEEP SAYING IT'S CHANGED

HAVE THEY DELAYED IT FURTHER? >> NO DELAYS IN THE TIME LINE, BUT THE ORDER IN WHICH IN TERMS OF THE TEN YEARS AND WHEN THINGS ARE DUE ACCORDING TO THE STATUTE, THERE'S NO DELAYS THERE BUT HOW THEY WANT US TO GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AND THE GUIDANCE, THAT'S BECOMING A REVISED VERSION OF THAT IS COMING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HOLDING OFF. IF I GO BACK, WHERE YOU SEE TWO OF THE ITEMS ARE LISTED AS PARTIAL, BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES OCCURRING, THEY'RE LISTED AS PARTIAL BUT ONCE AIB CONFIRMS EVERYTHING BY DECEMBER 1, WE'LL SEE THE YESES IN THOSE COLUMNS.

[00:20:04]

RECRUIT AND MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE STAFF.

INCREASE RIGOR OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS, IMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING. ESTABLISH NEW CAREER LADDER, AND IMPROVE EDUCATOR COMPENSATION. THESE ARE THE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES FOR PILLAR TWO. AND AGAIN, WHERE YOU SEE PARTIAL, ONCE WE GET THAT CONFIRMED GUIDANCE FROM THE AIB, THOSE WILL CHANGE. DELIVERABLES FOR PILLAR 3.

EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE CCR -- AND TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY CAREER COUNSELLING AND CTE PROGRAMS. AND YOUR IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR PILLAR 3.

PILLAR 4 DELIVERABLES ACCURATELY IDENTIFIES STUDENTS WHO NEED MORE RESOURCES TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS. PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOLS IN A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY, AND ENHANCING STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES.

AND THE GUIDANCE FOR PILLAR 4. AND THEN PILLAR 5 GOVERNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY. CREATING, REVIEWING AND IMPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

ESTABLISHING THE TEAMS, AND COORDINATING MARYLAND'S PARTICIPATION IN PISA. AND MONITORING BLUEPRINT OUTCOMES. SO, WHAT'S NEXT? THE AIB WILL HOLD ITS FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON NOVEMBER 10 AT WHICH TIME THEY'LL RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND FEEDBACK REGARDING THE DRAFT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

AND BEGINNING IN DECEMBER OUR STAFF WILL WORK WITH OUR CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER TO PLAN THESE DIFFERENT STAKE HOLDER AWARENESS ACTIVITIES. AND INITIALLY WE WERE LOOKING AT NOVEMBER TARGET DATE IT MAKES MORE SENSE THE AIB WILL NOT APPROVE THE PLAN UNTIL DECEMBER 1.

IT MAKES SENSE TO DO THESE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES STARTING IN DECEMBER, WITH THE FOCUS GROUPS, TOWN HALLS AND SURVEYS.

THE PURPOSE OF THOSE IS TO INFORM NOT ONLY SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF BUT OUR COMMUNITY STAKE HOLDERS ON WHAT THE BLUEPRINT IS, THE DETAILS OF OUR PLAN WILL BE GOING FORWARD, AND THEN PROVIDE OR ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR PROCESS. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> DON'T THINK THERE IS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[2.04 MABE Conference Overview]

[00:25:02]

SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO OFFER SOME TAKEAWAYS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED. WHAT DID YOU LEARN, WHAT DID YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE VITAL TO HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY, OR WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE EVENT? I CAN START WITH DAWN.

BECAUSE YOU'LL PROBABLY COVER EVERYONE'S --

>> WE DID TRY TO EXPAND OUT, AND YES, I JOTTED DOWN A COUPLE OF PAGES OF NOTES. BUT ANYWAY.

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT, AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS LEARNING EXPERIENCE, ESPECIALLY TALKING WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS IN THE STATE. IN MANY WAYS WE'RE A VERY FUNCTIONAL AND WELL RUN BOARD HERE.

THAT WE ALL HEARD SOME SCARY STORIES OF OTHER UNFORTUNATE DISTRICTS. BUT THE FIRST THING I ATTENDED WAS AN ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, THE AIB.

THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WAS THERE TALKING ABOUT THE STATE WHERE THEY WERE AT THE TIME. EARLY IN OCTOBER OF THE BLUEPRINT. SHE DID STATE THAT NORMALLY IN THE PAST EDUCATIONAL REFORMS IN MARYLAND WERE NOT AS PRESCRIPTIVE AS CURRENTLY. THIS TIME AROUND, THEY ISSUED HIGHLY DETAILED SPENDING PARAMETERS.

AND THE FIRST TIME, IF A SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT IMPLEMENTING THE BLUEPRINT THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT, THEY COULD TAKE SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ACTION AGAINST US.

THAT'S HANGING OVER US. AND ALSO, SHE DID EMPHASIS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EDUCATIONAL REFORM, THE MSD WAS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT, THEY'RE WORKING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ENTITIES. THEIR EFFORTS THERE ARE TO BREAK DOWN THE SILOS THAT EXIST IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND TO INCREASE THE COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS TO GET THE GOALS OF THE BLUEPRINT ON TRACK.

THEY BUDGETED FOR A STAFF OF 15. THIS IS A FULL, BRAND NEW ENTITY THAT'S EXISTED AND CREATED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

THEY WANT A STAFF UP TO 15, AT THAT TIME, THEY HAD THREE.

ONE OF THE REASONS THE PLAN HAD TO BE DELAYED, THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN THEIR DEPARTMENTS UP AT THE TIME.

BUT THEY DID MENTION THAT THEY'RE NOT -- THEY MAY END UP BRINGING IN CONTRACTED LABOR. SHE MENTIONED THE WORD RETIRED EDUCATOR. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF RETIRED EDUCATOR AND YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THIS, TAKE A LOOK AT THE JOB POSTINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL. THAT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY EXCITING PLACE TO BE IF YOU'RE INTO REFORM.

THEN, WHEN IT CAME TO QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS IN THE ROOM, THE MANY MANY BOARD MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY. AND HOW THE FLUNGED FLOW -- FUNDING WILL FLOW AND WHEN AND HOW WILL FALL IN THE COUNTIES TO FUND THE INITIATIVES. SO EVERY BOARD IS IN THE SAME BOAT WITH THESE QUESTIONS. AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO IMPLEMENTING THE SPECIFIC TASK, THEN, ESPECIALLY THE RAISING OF TEACHER SALARIES BY 10%. INCREASING THE STARTING SALARY, IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT DR. SAMSON OR BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR AND MR. JOHNSON OUR CFO LOCKED STEP WITH EACH OTHER, AND WORKING WITH THE UNIONS AND THE ADMIN AND EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS FROM A FINANCIAL

[00:30:04]

AND THE ONLY OTHER ONE I BRING UP WAS THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT DISCUSSION. THERE WAS A LEADER FROM THE NATIONAL PTA HOW TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILIES AND HOW TO EMPOWER THEIR OWN STUDENTS.

SHE SHOWED RESEARCH THAT SHOWS A STRONG CORRELATION, AND WE ALL KNOW. AND SHOWED SPECIFIC DATA ON SUCCESS IN MATHEMATICS, AS FAR AS THE STRENGTH OF THE FAMILY INVOLVEMENT. THE PURE CORRELATION THEY SHOWED. SHE LISTED STRATEGIES, QUITE A FEW STRATEGIES ON HOW TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MANY OF THOSE WE WERE ALREADY DOING.

BUT I TOOK NOTES OF TWO. I DON'T KNOW IF WE DO IT, BUT

SEEMS TO BE HELPFUL. >> SHE INCREASED SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP A STANDARD FLOWCHART TEMPLATE TO BE USED BY EVERY SCHOOL TO SHOW FAMILIES WHERE TO GO TO GET DIFFERENT QUESTIONS ANSWERED. IT'S A WAY FOR FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE EACH SCHOOL. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON BELL TIMES, THIS FLOWCHART WOULD SAY, HERE'S THE NAME IN OUR SCHOOL OF THE PERSON. HERE'S THE PHONE AND E-MAIL.

QUESTION OF COUNSELLING, HERE'S THE NAME.

THE SAME TEMPLATE EXISTED IN EVERY SCHOOL PARENT AS THEY MOVE THROUGH, WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA ON WHO THEY GO TO, TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED. AND THEN SHE RECOMMENDED BOARD MEMBERS THAT WE DO MORE WITH OUR OWN SURVEYS.

SO IF WE HAVE A BIG ISSUE BEFORE US, WE'VE ASKED SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF TO DO SURVEYS OF UNIONS, WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THIS OR THE TEACHERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVER PUT OUT A SURVEY, WE USED E-MAIL.

NOT EVERY PARENT TAKES THE TIME E-MAIL.

IF WE SENT PEOPLE OUT UNDER THE BOARD'S LOGO, THAT SAYS, WE'D LIKE YOUR RESPONSE TO XYZ, WE MIGHT GET MORE OF A RESPONSE.

IT'S A TARGETED THING. NEXT TIME SOMEONE COMES UP, I MIGHT PROPOSE THAT. AND MY LAST THING OF THE CONFERENCE IS THAT OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT, IS JUST DATA DRIVEN, I LOVE IT. AND HE PUT UP ALL ON THE WALLS THROUGH THE DIFFERENT ROOMS IN THE CONFERENCE STATISTICS.

WE COULD ALL PERUSE, WE HAD TO GO OUT AND WALK IN AND LOOK AT THE STATISTICS. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT STUCK OUT AT ME. THAT HIT ME.

THE PERCENTAGE OF MARYLAND SCHOOL POPULATION WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED INCREASED FROM 22% IN 2019, TO 27%. WHICH IS SIZABLE INCREASE.

THAT'S CURRENTLY. I THINK IT'S ROUGHL BY THE END OF 2021 OR THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR 2022.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT PROBABLY EXPLAINS IN PART HOW THE ACADEMIC SCORES HAVE DROPPED.

AND THEN AND ANOTHER AREA, THERE WAS A LISTING FROM THE LATEST CENSUS. FROM 2020.

THAT CALVERT COUNTY HAD THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE IN THE STATE OF PEOPLE LIVING IN HIGH POVERTY.

OURS WAS 12% OF PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY LIVING IN HIGH POVERTY COMPARED TO CAROLYN COUNTY, WHO WAS 82 AND 83%.

FIVE DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN THE 70% RANGE AND THE STATE AVERAGE WAS 44%. WHAT THIS TELLS ME IS WE'RE LUCKY TO NOT BE OVERWHELMED WITH HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING DUE TO POVERTY.

WHAT IT ALSO TELLS US IS IF ANYONE IN THIS STATE CAN BREAK

[00:35:08]

I WOULD LOVE IT IF WE COULD FOCUS ON THIS RELATIVELY SMALL POPULATION OF STUDENTS AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE AT THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. IT WOULD MAKE A REAL IMPACT ON THE CHILDREN AND SHOW WE COULD BE A MODEL OF HOW TO DO THAT.

THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THAT. NEXT PART HAS TO DO WITH THE GAP BETWEEN THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS OF COLOR IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE WORK FORCE. IN THE STATE, 66% OF STUDENTS OF COLOR. 30% OF TEACHERS OF COLOR.

A 36% GAP. POINT GAP.

AND OF COURSE, THAT SPEAKS TO THE DIFFICULTY OF ATTRACTING AND KEEPING MINORITY TEACHERS HERE. NOT JUST HERE BUT ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. OUR NUMBERS SAY WE HAVE 3% STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THE TEACHING FORCE OF 9% TEACHERS OF COLOR. IT'S A SMALLER GAP OF THE STATE BUT STILL SIGNIFICANT. AND THIS IS A KEY GOAL IN THE BLUEPRINT IS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORK FORCE.

THAT MEANS WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.

EVERYONE HAS A LONG WAY TO GO. IT'S HARD.

NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THE LACK OF MINORITY TEACHERS COMING OUT, BUT THE LACK OF TEACHERS PERIOD. THE SHORTAGES THAT ARE AROUND THE UNITED STATES. I SEE THIS AS BEING A REAL CHALLENGE FOR US. BUT HOPEFULLY WE GOT TO MAKE -- IN THERE. AND THE LAST COUPLE OF FACTS.

THEY'RE ABOUT TEACHER SALARIES. THE AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY, AVERAGE, IN THE STATE LAST YEAR WAS $76,000.

CALVERT HAD THE THIRD HIGHEST SALARY AT 80,000.

AND WE LOOK AT STARTING TEACHER SALARY, IT RANGED FROM LOW OF 46,000 TO HIGH OF 56,000 IN WASHINGTON.

WE WERE TIED FOR FIFTH WITH OVER 50,000.

AND WE WERE BEHIND MONTGOMERY, BALTIMORE CITY AND COUNTY.

JUST SAYING, WE'RE AT 50,000 NOW AND WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT 60,000 IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

I THINK IT'S THREE AND A HALF YEARS.

THAT'S A BIG STEP. ANYWAY, I FOUND THE CONFERENCE

TO BE VERY WORTHWHILE. >> THANK YOU.

LET'S GO TO OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.

>> THANK YOU, THE CONFERENCE WAS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.

I ATTENDED WORKSHOPS OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE, EQUITY AND -- AND ONE OF MY PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS I LISTENED TO A PANEL OF STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES.

I ALSO LEARNED A LOT IN THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT DEEP DIVE, AND I WAS PLEASED WITH A LOT OF THE DATA REGARDING CALVERT COUNTY'S PERFORMANCE. AND I LEARNED A LOT OF THE STAGGERING RESULTS THE PANDEMIC HAD ON THINGS LIKE TEST SCORES ACROSS THE BOARD. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THAT EVERY SINGLE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IN MARYLAND, DECLINED IN THE TEST SCORES AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

I THINK STANDARDIZED TESTING DISADVANTAGES IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND, WHEN THINKING ABOUT PROPERLY SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS.

GOING ALONG WITH THAT, SOMETHING THAT STUCK OUT WITH ME FROM THE EQUITY WORKSHOP I ATTENDED WITH MS. COUSINS, WAS A QUOTE THEY

[00:40:05]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR HAVING ME THERE WITH YOU. I'M GLAD I GOT TO ATTEND.

>> ABSOLUTELY, GLAD YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AS WELL AND ENJOY THE CONFERENCE WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES FROM AROUND THE STATE. AND BACK TO MS. CLAGGET.

>> MY HIGHLIGHT WAS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND COLLABORATE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

WE'RE A TEAM AND WE DO THIS TOGETHER.

I LOOK FORWARD TO FUTURE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU, MY HIGHLIGHT WAS SEEING THE IMPACT THAT OUR SUPERINTENDENT HAS ON THE REST OF THE STATE.

SITTING AT THE TABLE AND WATCHING AS EVERYONE COMES TO OUR TABLE TO MEET OUR SUPERINTENDENT, TO GET TO KNOW HIM. AND TO TALK ABOUT HIS FLAUN AND HIS IMPACT -- INFLUENCE AND IMPACT HE HAD BEFORE HE CAME TO MARYLAND, THEY KNOW HIM AND WATCH HIM, WATCH THE PODCASTS HE'S IN AND EXCITED HE'S HERE IN MARYLAND.

I WAS ALSO HAPPY TO SEE THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS ENGAGING IN THE CONFERENCE. THERE WAS A PANEL AT THE END OF STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY ANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR THE ADULTS TO TELL US WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM.

AND THE TYPES OF POLICIES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOARDS IMPLEMENTING IN THE VARIOUS COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.

I ENJOYED THAT ALSO. AND TO SEE THE CALIBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ELECTED BY THEIR PEERS TO REPRESENT THEIR DISTRICTS IS GREAT TO SEE ALSO. ALL OF THE STUDENTS AROUND THE STATE ARE OF THE SAME CALIBER. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE.

>> THANK YOU. MR. WHITE.

>> THIS IS MY SECOND YEAR ATTENDING, AND ONCE AGAIN I THINK IT'S AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH OTHER NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO SEE HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE YEARS.

THE FIRST COMMITTEE THAT I WAS A PART OF, THE RESOLUTION COMMITTEE, WE GO OVER THE RESOLUTIONS ABOUT TO EXPIRE.

WE DISCUSS THEM AND WE READOPTED MOST OF THEM.

I WAS REALLY PLEASE TO SEE HOW THEY TOOK THE RESOLUTIONS AND REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND SAT THERE AND MASTER MINDED, THIS IS WHAT THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS. IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THEM. AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO NAVIGATING MARYLAND'S COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PATH WAYS.

SOME DEALT WITH EQUITY, SUMMER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, BUILDIN A JOIN US RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY COLLEG AND THE WORK FORCE. WITH THAT, WHEN I SPOKE OF OUR CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY, IT WAS NICE TO KNOW THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH HER AND WHAT SHE'S DOING AND HAS DONE.

IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE THAT. WE'RE AHEAD OF THAT.

THEY'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

AND ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND A SOURCES OF STRENGTH WITH CAROL COUNTY. THEY'RE FOCUSED ON BREAKING SILENCE AND CONNECTING SUPPORT AND THEY WERE FINDING THAT A LOT OF THE STUDENTS NEED OR THEY'RE SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE TRUSTED ADULTS IN THE SCHOOLS. SO IT'S REALLY TALKING ABOUT BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED. ALL IN ALL AN AMAZING

[00:45:05]

CONFERENCE. >> THANK YOU.

I KNOW SHE WASN'T GOING TO TOOT HER OWN HORN BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTS THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT EVERY CONFERENCE ANNUALLY.

AND OURS WAS ELECTED TO SERVE ONE YEAR TERM ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SO CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.

NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT TO SERVE.

SHE'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHAMPION FOR CALVERT COUNTY SITTING HERE, SHE'LL CHAMPION FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE STATE.

CONGRATULATIONS FOR THAT. THIS IS MY EIGHTH CONFERENCE.

EVERY SINGLE YEAR ON THE BOARD, I'VE BEEN TO THE CONFERENCE AND IT'S EXTREMELY VALUABLE. THAT'S WHY I ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO GO. YOU GLEAN SO MUCH INFORMATION FROM IT, YOU GROW FROM IT, AND IT'S A PERFECT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO BE A BOARD MEMBER.

I WENT TO THE VERY FIRST OPENING PRESENTATION BY DR. DANIEL WALKER. HIS PRESENTATION I DEEMED AN EDUCATION SERIES. IF YOU WILL.

HE INCORPORATED STRATEGIES IN HIS STORY THAT HELP ADVOCATE FOR EQUITY. THE MAIN MESSAGE I TOOK IS HE PUSHED BOARD MEMBERS TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH STUDENT RECEIVES THE QUALITY EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

I DID THE BLUEPRINT DEEP DIVE SESSION AS WELL.

TALKING ABOUT EARLY EDUCATION, THE TAKEAWAY FOR ME WAS THAT HAS TO BE ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET. WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

AND I ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP ENGAGING FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU AND I WENT TO THE SAME ONE. AND TALKING ABOUT A POLICY STATEMENT, AND WE DO HAVE ONE ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IT'S STANDARD THREE REVIEW. OCTOBER 17.

THE LAST, 2019. PROCEDURES REVIEWED ON AUGUST 11 OF 2020. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES AND RECOMMEND A CHANGE OR NOT.

BECAUSE THE GOOD THING ABOUT THAT PRESENTATION WAS IT TALKED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE HAVE A VOTE TO BRING IT FORWARD, IT'S ALREADY AT THE THREE YEAR RENEWAL TIME.

WE DO HAVE THE POLICY, THAT WAS A RECOMMENDATION WE HAVE THAT AND WE'RE DOING OTHER THINGS THAT YOU SAID WE'RE COMMITTED TO IN THE COMMUNITY. I ATTENDED THE HOT TOPICS, EQUITY FROM POLICY TO ACTION. THE BIG TAKEAWAY IS EQUITY HAS TO BE OPERATIONALIZED. IT'S THE HEART BEAT, THIS QUOTE I LIKED ALSO, EQUITY MUST BE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO AND THE EQUITY POLICY LEADS THAT.

WE HAVE THAT BASED ON -- AND THE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY PIECE IS THE CENTER PIECE FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO AND IF WE OPERATIONALIZE IT, THAT'S VERY INTENTIONAL AND WE WON'T LEAVE ANY STUDENTS BEHIND. THE STUDENT PANEL, PHENOMENAL CONVERSATIONS. ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS. LAST YEAR'S CONFERENCE WAS THE FIRST TIME I THINK IN A LONG TIME THEY HAD STUDENT PANEL.

AND IT WAS SO WELL RECEIVED BY THE ADULTS THAT THAT'S WHY THEY DID IT AGAIN THIS YEAR. THERE'S A TOWN HALL, IT'S A GOOD

[00:50:10]

WE MAY BE ABLE TO GLEAN SOME KEY TAKEAWAYS TO HELP IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HERE I COUNTY.

AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE AS FAR AS THE CONFERENCE IS CONCERNED. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

[2.05 Budget Priorities Discussion]

>> I DO HAVE NOTES. ACTUALLY, I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC WISH LIST. I THOUGHT AT THIS POINT, AND THE STATE'S PLAN ON THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION WAS THAT ABOUT TO BE RELEASED AND APPARENT IT HAS BEEN.

ANYWAY, I THOUGHT I WOULD FOCUS MORE ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT MANAGING THE CHANGES. OR MY THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT.

THIS COMING BUDGET CYCLE, IT'S A GIVEN THAT QUESTIONS ON THE MANDATED SALARY MOVEMENT AND THE BLUEPRINT WILL DOMINATE THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. AND THERE'S MANY QUESTIONS STILL OUTSTANDING. LIKE WHAT STAFF BEYOND THE -- RECEIVES THE SALARY INCREASE. WITH TEACHERS THE SOLE FOCUS, WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER STAFF IN THE BUILDINGS WHO DO GREAT WORK FOR THE STUDENTS, WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THEM.

THESE ARE SO MANY BIG QUESTIONS. I AM ALL FOR ELEVATING TEACHERS TO BE ON PAR WITH THE OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE WORK FORCE.

OUR PRODUCT THAT'S EDUCATING STUDENTS, CHILDREN IS PROBABLY IN MY 19 LOFTINESS OF ENDEAVORS THERE IS.

BUT IF WE DON'T DO THIS CORRECTLY WE COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS. MY MAIN CONCERN, WE NEED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE UNIONS AND THE ADMINISTRATORS, TO UNDERSTAND THE MOVEMENTS AND COMMUNICATE OPENLY WITH THE COMMISSIONERS ON THE FUNDING FLOW. THE ONES PROJECTED FROM THE STATE, ARE THE ONES WE HEAR THEY PICK UP PART OF THE BLUEPRINT INITIATIVE. WE NEED TO BE OPEN AND COMMUNICATIVE WITH THEM. HOW IT'LL ASK OUR BUDGET AND THEIR BUDGET. AND OVERALL OF THIS, WE NEED TO BE GOOD AND CAREFUL STEWARDS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE'S FUNDS.

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE EVERY PENNY IS SPENT AND WE NEED TO EXPLAIN IN LAYMAN'S TERMS OF THE IMPACT OF THE NEW FUNDING ON THE STUDENTS. TO SUM IT UP, AT THIS POINT IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, WE JUST NEED TO KNOW WE'RE LOOKING TO A DEEP DIVE ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE SALARY CHANGES, WE NEED TO OPENLY COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF THE STAKE HOLDERS ON WHERE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING IS GOING, AND ESPECIALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF HOW IT IMPACTS THE STUDENTS.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE SHORTAGES OF ALL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

WE ALL BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FULL STAFF.

WE ALWAYS HAVE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS BECAUSE WE CAN'T FEIGNED THE PEOPLE. THE BLUEPRINT IS HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON US BEING FULLY STAFFED.

I WORRY ABOUT THAT. AND LASTLY, AFTER THE UNCERTAINTIES I BROUGHT UP, I WANT TO END ON A POSITIVE NOTE AND SAY I'M PROUD TO BE IN ON THE EARLY STAGES OF MARYLAND'S AGGRESSIVE PUSH TO ELEVATE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM TO WORLD CLASS EDUCATION PLATFORM. ALL CHANGE IS DIFFICULT.

ALL NEW REFORM INITIATIVES ENCOUNTER BUMPY ROADS AT THE BEGINNING, BUT YOU DON'T GET ANYWHERE BY HOPING THINGS WILL

[00:55:02]

POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU.

ANYONE WITH ANYTHING TO ADD? >> SO JUST A FEW THINGS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON WITH THE BUDGET THAT START, I HAVE TO INCLUDE THINGS THAT ANY STUDENT WOULD SAY IN RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.

BETTER SCHOOL LUNCHES, MORE CLASSROOM MATERIALS, GUIDANCE STAFFS. AND OUTSIDE OF THAT, ONE THING THAT I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT WAS MORE BOOKS IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH SPECIFICALLY SPANISH OR OTHER LANGUAGES THAT ARE MORE COMMON IN THE COUNTY COULD BE ADDED TO THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES. WE HAVE SOME, BUT MORE COULD HELP MORE. IT COULD SUPPORT THE ESTABLISH LEARNERS AND THE STUDENTS WITH NONENGLISH SPEAKING FAMILIES AT HOME. TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE LIBRARY. CALVERT COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A HUGE POPULATION OF THE LEARNERS, THE POPULATION HAS GROWN 8.1% IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. THIS COULD BE A SIMPLE WAY TO SUPPORT THESE STUDENTS AND BE RESPONSIVE IN THAT CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU.

>> I LIKE THAT, THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> THANK YOU, WE LIVE IN A DOG GONE VIOLENT WORLD TODAY.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED RAPIDLY. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE PRIORITY WITH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE EDUCATORS.

IT'S JUST MY FEELING. I WANT WANT TO MAKE THAT POINT.

>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE?

>> I HAD FOUR THINGS, MENTAL HEALTH, COUNSELORS, ARTS AND SAFETY. WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY, I'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS, THE SAFETY OF THE SCHOOLS IS DEFINITIVELY A HIGH PRIORITY.

>> THANK YOU. >> MY BUDGET PRIORITY CONTINUES TO BE SMALLER CLASSROOMS. EQUITABLE SALARIES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. WE KNOW THERE'S CERTAIN CLASSES OF EMPLOYEES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS WHOSE SALARIES ARE NOT EQUITABLE, AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO WORK ON THAT AS A DISTRICT. COUPLED WITH THE BLUEPRINT IT'LL BE DIFFICULT. IT STILL IS EQUITY SHOULD STILL BE THE FOCUS AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO WORK ON THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE COUNSELORS IN THE SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT OVERBURDENED AND WE'RE WORKING WITH STAFF, THE STAFF TO STUDENT RATIO THAT'S RECOMMENDED BY THEIR ASSOCIATION.

>> THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO ADD. I AGREE WITH EVERY PRIORITY THAT

[3.01 Comments from the Public]

AND THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PUBLIC COMMENTS.

HOW MANY DO WE HAVE TONIGHT? >> THE NUMBER OF SWEDISHINGS IS LIMIT -- SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO TEN. STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES.

IF YOU OFFICIALLY REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION, YOU MAY SPEAK FOR FIVE MINUTES. IF YOU HAVE ANY -- WRITTEN TESTIMONY PLEASE GIVE -- TO BE GIVEN TO BOARD MEMBERS.

[01:00:02]

PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION, AND WRITTEN COMMENT ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. S

SEND. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS PATTY

WARD. >> I'M A CONCERNED PARENT.

I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET UPSET.

I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CHILDREN THAT HAVE LEARNING LOSS. AND MY CHILD IS ONE.

I WANT TO KNOW THE BIGGEST QUESTION IS WHERE IS THE FUNDING FOR TUTORING FOR THE CHILDREN THAT HAD LEARNING LOSS FROM COVID. WE'RE TWO YEARS IN, FOR THE KIDS TO HAVE EXTRA TUTORING TO COME FROM THE COVID FUNDING, MAYBE OFFER THE TUTORING WITH RETIRED TEACHERS, OR BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL FUNDING, BUT WHERE IS IT? YOU'RE PUTTING MONEY OUT HERE, AND I'M APALLED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE $340,000 TO PUT IN A PROGRAM, AND 10,000 TO STEM, THAT'S PENNIES FOR TUTORING.

I'M PAYING FOR A PRIVATE TUTOR FOR MY DAUGHTER.

THERE'S 63 CHILDREN TUTORED BY MY TUTOR THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS IN CALVERT COUNTY, BECAUSE OF LEARNING LOSS.

MAY SEEM LIKE LITTLE, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE MONTH.

P IF YOU WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN, TWO DAYS A WEEK, FOUR TIMES A MONTH, IT'S $360. IT ADDS UP QUICKLY.

MY DAUGHTER WILL BE IN TUTORING PROBABLY THROUGH THE SUMMER.

AND ONLY REASON, AS A MOM YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU CAN FOR YOUR KIDS. 100%.

PUTTING ASIDE EVERY OTHER VIEWS, BELIEFS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW. I'M WORRIED ABOUT HER LEARNING.

WE MOVED HERE FOR IT. AND I'M DISAPPOINTED, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOME SCHOOLING TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDS. IF I HAD $10,000 I WOULD DO IT FOR TUTORING TO MAKE SURE SHE'S WHERE SHE IS.

BUT WHY AREN'T, WHY ISN'T THE BOE DOING IT? WHERE ARE THE OTHER THINGS FIRST PRIORITY? WHY IS IT DELAYED UNTIL DECEMBER 1.

PITTING MY EMOTIONS ASIDE, I'M ANGRY, I WANT TO SEE SOMETHING DONE. EVERYONE IS BURNED OUT.

I'M BURNED OUT AS A MOM, BUT I'LL DO IT BECAUSE I NEED TO DO IT FOR THE CHILD. I NEED THE BOARD WHO'S HERE FOR US, YOU'RE HERE FOR THE PARENTS. FOR THE KIDS.

THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR LIST. NOTHING ELSE.

THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT IT. WE DID IT FOR TWO YEARS.

>> THREE MINUTES IS UP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR

COMMENT. >> THANK YOU.

>> SECOND SPEAKER IS BETH -- >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME CALVERT COUNTY. WELCOME.

WE CELEBRATED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND APPEARS NORTHERN HIGH DOESN'T TREAT THE MALE AND FEMALE ATHLETES EQUALLY AND

[01:05:03]

THE BASEBALL FACILITY IS AN EXAMPLE OF INEQUITY.

IT'S TRULY A SPECTACULAR FACILITY, BUT THINK THE BASEBALL TEAM WON EIGHT CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUT THAT'S THE GIRL'S SOFTBALL TEAM. THE SOFTBALL FIELD IS INADEQUATE. AN OLD FENCE AND SMALL OUT DATED SCOREBOARD. THE GIRLS SOCCER TEAM WON TWO STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND USE FIELDS, AND ALL FOUR TEAMS PRACTICE ON THE SAME FIELD AT THE SAME TIME.

IT CREATES A CHAOTIC PRACTICE ATMOSPHERE.

THE FOOTBALL TEAM IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE INEQUITY.

115 PLAYER ROSTER THE PRACTICE FIELDS ARE FOUR TIMES AS REGULATION FOOTBALL FIELD. THE HEAD COACH WAS RECRUITED, WHOUZ TEAM WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

THE GIRL'S TENNIS TEAM WON A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT WAS THE ONLY SPORT CUT BY 50%.

THERE'S 32 PLAYERS WHO PRACTICE ON FOUR COURTS.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD A CONDUCTIVE PRACTICE.

THE TENNIS TEAMS NEED FIVE ADDITIONAL COURTS TO PLAY A HOME GAME TO COMPETE AGAINST THE RIVAL.

IT CONTINUES TO PUT THE TENNIS TEAM AT A DISADVANTAGE.

THEY MADE THE DECISION TO ELIINATE FOUR COURTS, THE FOOTBALL TEAM RECEIVED UPGRADES. THE BASEBALL TEAM IS THE OTHER PORT THAT RECEIVED A -- SPORT THAT RECEIVED AN UPGRADE.

THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM TO BUILD FIVE COURTS FOR THE TENNIS TEAM AND ADDITIONAL FIELDS FOR GIRLS SOCCER AND THE HOCKEY TEAMS. THE PARKING LOT IS MASSIVE, IT'S CLEARLY A WASTED SPACE, REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES, AND GUILD THE COURTS.

PEOPLE -- THE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THANK YOU YOUR THREE MINUTES IS UP.

SORRY. >> OUR THIRD SPEAKER IS BETTY

GOLDSTEIN. >> GOOD EVENING.

AND I'LL TAKE IT YOU'LL LET ME KNOW WHEN THE THREE MINUTES IS UP. FIRST THING, IS PLEASE DO NOT THINK THAT MENTAL HEALTH ONLY APPLIES TO SECONDARY.

I CANNOT MAKE THAT ANY CLEARER TO YOU.

I THINK YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED BY THE THINGS HAPPENING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AND YOU GREATLY UNDERESTIMATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT ON THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO BE CLEAR THE CONCERNS I'M ABOUT TO SHARE ARE NOT NEW CONCERNS LAID AT THE FEET OF COVID, PRECOVID I SPOKE TO THE BOARD OF THE CONCERNS REGARDING BEHAVIOR AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS. COVID EXACERBATED THE ISSUES, IT'S NOT THE ROOT CAUSE. ALL OF THE STORIES ARE NOT MY OWN AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM MY SCHOOL.

JUST SOME QUESTIONS. DO YOU CRY ON YOUR WAY TO AND FROM YOUR JOB? DO YOU NEED YOUR INHALER TO RUN AFTER THE STUDENT. DO YOU DO YOUR JOB WITH SOMEONE SCREAMING IN THE BACKGROUND BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS ARE SITTING IN THE CLASSROOM WITH SOMEONE DOING THAT, OR LIKE ME, THERE'S A CHILD IF THE POD SCREAMING. ALL OF THE CLASSES ARE LISTENING TO IT. I'M NOT TALKING MOMENTARILY

[01:10:01]

TALK TO SOME TEACHERS. AS YOU CONTEMPLATE THE BUDGET PRIORITIES, SERIOUSLY CONSIDER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE TRULY NEEDED TO RUN A SCHOOL. I CAN SAY AT MY BUILDING, WITH PRIMARY CLASSES OF 25, I BELIEVE CLASS SIZE IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT, BUT IT'S CONCERNING THE PRIMARY LEVEL BECAUSE OF THE SKILLS TAUGHT IN THE PRIMARY GRADES ARE THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW. IN ADDITION TO CLASS SIZE, CONSIDER HOW MUCH ADULTS ARE NEEDED IN THE CLASS AND THE SCHOOL BUILDING OVERALL. I'LL STOP THERE, AND NOT READ THE REST OF THE SPEECH. HERE'S AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A PROBLEM HIRING THE LUNCH MONITORS.

HIRE THEM AS EMPLOYEES, AND OFFER THEM A LIVING WAGE.

GIVE THEM HEALTH INSURANCE. PUT THEM IN THE LUNCHROOM AND THEY'LL DO COVERAGE. AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE TO GO IN AND COVER IN SITUATIONS TO HELP STUDENTS, TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS. TO LEARN HOW TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO INTERACT WITH CHILDREN.

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA,

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CEA. >> GOOD EVENING.

I'M AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. PRECOVID WE TALKED ABOUT CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP. THEN FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS WE'VE BEEN IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THE DISRUPTION IN LEARNING, THE LOSS OF FAMILY MEMBERS, ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND AN INCREASE OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

EDUCATORS ARE WORKING HARD AS WE TALK ABOUT MEETING THE BAR, RAISING THE BAR AND XAEGD THE BATON ROUGE -- EXCEEDING BAR, WE NEED MEASURES IN PLACE TO INTENTIONALLY FILL IN THE LEARNING GAPS TO MOVE FORWARD IN CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP AND ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH ABILITY LEARNERS TO THRIVE AND BE ACADEMICALLY CHALLENGED. I WOULD LIKE TO READDRESS OF DECREASING CLASS SIZE. SOME ARGUE THAT CLASS SIZE DOESN'T MAKE A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT IT IS NOT THE CASE.

UNDERSTANDING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CLASS SIZE AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AS WELL AS STUDENT RETENTION IS IMPORTANT AS YOU INTENTIONALLY MAKE THE BUDGET DECISIONS.

BETTER STUDENT TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS.

A PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION WHO WRITINGS ABOUT RESEARCH IN STUDENT'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR TEACHERS SAID, I THINK SCHOOLS IN MANY WAYS HAVE PUT THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY WANT TO JUMP INTO ACADEMICS AND REALLY DISMISS OR MINIMIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS.

MORE CUSTOMIZED INSTRUCTION. IN THE ARTICLE, SMALL CLASS SIZES WORK IT GIVES THE TEACHERS OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER STUDENTS MORE PERSONALIZED INSTRUCTION, THAT'S PROBABLY THE REASON THAT ACADEMIC XAECHLT GOES UP. -- ACHIEVEMENT GOES UP.

TEACHERS CAN INCREASE THEIR EFFICACY.

FEWER STUDENTS ARE LESS KISS TRACTING TO EACH OTHER.

TEACHERS HAVE MORE TIME TO TEACH, THERE'S FEWER DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS. SMALL CLASS SIZES MAKE IT EASIER TO MANAGE THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

TEACHERS ARE HAPPIER AND FELL MORE FULFILLED WHEN THEY CAN PROVIDE QUALITY INSTRUCTION. THIS MEANS THEY'LL STICK AROUND LONGER. GIVING EVERY SCHOOL THE BENEFIT OF EXPERT INSTRUCTORS. SMALLER CLASS SIZES ARE THE STEP TO THE GOAL OF KEEPING EXPERIENCED TEACHERS IN THE PROFESSION. IF WE'RE TRULY COMMITTED TO

[01:15:03]

>> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER, JANINE

BARNHILL. >> HI, I WAS HERE -- A PARENT OF A 2023 CALVERT GRADUATE. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE VIOLENCE HAPPENING AT THE SCHOOL.

MY SON PERSONALLY WAS ASSAULTED THERE LAST YEAR OVER A MATTER OF STOLEN MONEY. THE NINE WEEKS THEY'VE BEEN IN SCHOOL, I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN SEVEN VIDEOS OF FIGHTS THAT HAPPENED IN CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE TO ADDRESS THIS. WE SPECIFICALLY BOUGHT OUR HOUSE WHERE WE BOUGHT IT SO OUR CHILDREN CAN GO TO CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. AFTER MY SON WAS ASSAULTED, I DIDN'T PULL HIM OUT, THAT'S NOT WHAT HE WANTED.

BUT THIS YEAR, THANK GOD HE'S GRADUATING THIS YEAR, BECAUSE IF I HAD A CHOICE TO SEND MY CHILD TO CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, IT WOULDN'T BE A DECISION I WOULD MAKE.

I DON'T FEEL SAFE WITH MY SON THERE.

IT STINKS TO SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL AND NOT THINK OF A DAILY BASIS THAT THEY'LL BE SAFE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT SPEAKER, JOSEPH CORMIER.

>> GOOD EVENING AGAIN. A COUPLE OF THINGS ABOUT TONIGHT. I'M ENCOURAGED BY THE DISCUSSIONS OF THE BLUEPRINT. IT'S VERY TEACHER FOCUSED AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS MAKE THE DAY HAPPEN. FROM THE TIME THEY WALK IN THE BUILDING, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE, WORKERS, THE BUILDING SERVICE STAFF THEY MAKE THE DAY WORK.

THE NURSING STAFF, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT PART OF THE BLUEPRINT AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF. WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY IN HIRING, WE'LL NEVER FIGURE THAT OUT UNLESS WE BUILD A BETTER PIPELINE. WE NEED KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE TO LEARN HOW TO BE -- WHATEVER, AND COME BACK IN THE COUNTY TO DO THESE THINGS. RECENTLY A COMMISSIONER MEETING THE FIRST THING IS TURF FIELDS. NOT WHEN TO FEED KIDS OR WHEN TO GET TURF FIELDS. THE SAME COMMISSIONER WHO COMPLAINED $17,000 WAS ASKING THE STATE TRANSPORTATION WHERE ARE WE CHASING PEOPLE DOWN. AS WE TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET, LET'S TALK ABOUT FEEDING KIDS. NOT EVERY SCHOOL HAS A PTA, TALKING WITH THE NATIONAL PTA AND IMPORTANT, DON'T BUILD YOUR WHOLE PIPELINE OFF THAT, A LOT OF SCHOOLS ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THEM ANYMORE. RECENTLY THE STATE SAID THAT EVERY STUDENT WHO QUALIFIES FOR MEDICAID, WILL AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR THE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS.

WE NEED TO GIVE ALL KIDS FOOD. WE DID IT IN THE PANDEMIC AND WE CAN BE A LEADER IN THAT GROUP. OF THE 17,000 KIDS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS ANN

LAWRENCE. >> HELLO, I'M A 7TH GRADE HONOR

[01:20:03]

THE OUT RAGE OF GIRLS MY AGE IS TOLD TO CONCEAL THEIR BODY.

THIS FRUSTRATION IS DISTRACTING STUDENTS FROM THEIR WORK.

IT SHOULD BE THAT CHILDREN CAN WEAR CLOTHES THAT'S COMFORTABLE FOR THEM. BODY SHAPED BY SCHOOL OFFICIALS SHOULD NOT BE A FACT OF LIFE THAT STUDENS NAVIGATE.

MOST CLOTHING COMPANIES ADVERTISE SHORT SKIRTS, AND THIN STRAPS AND WHEN STUDENTS WEAR THE SAID CLOTHES THEY'RE TOLD IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND FORCED TO WEAR BAGGY OVERSIZED CLOTHING.

I'M SUGGESTING WE CHANGE THE RULE OF THE LENGTH OF SHORTS AND SKIRTS, BUT THE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING CAN BE SLIGHTLY SHAERT THAN THE LONGEST FINGER TIP. AND THE RULE OF EXPOSED SHOULDERS SHOULD BE -- THESE WILL BENEFIT THE STUDENTS ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMER. ANOTHER BENEFIT IS THE OVERALL SENSE OF BETTER MENTAL HEALTH. CHANGING THE DRESS CODE CAN MAKE KIDS MORE SELF-CONFIDENT AND WILLING TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

WHO'S MORE CONFIDENT, THE STUDENT TOLD THE WIDTH OF THE SHIRT STRAP IS UNACCEPTABLE, OR A STUDENT WEARING SOMETHING THAT IS ACCEPTABLE IN HOT OR COLD. THE DRESS CODE CAN EASILY BE ADAPTED AND PROMOTE BETTER RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENT, AND WEARING TEMPERATURE APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. AND PROMOTE OVERALL BETTER

MENTAL HEALTH. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE -- >> I'M A SOPHOMORE AND SENIOR AT HIGH SCHOOL. MY DAUGHTER'S MATH TEACHER HAS A RAINBOW LOVE IS LOVE SIGN HANGING IN THE CLASSROOM.

AND PLAIN RAINBOW FLAGS AND A CONTAINER OF MINI FLAGS SO STUDENTS CAN TAKE TO DISPLAY THEIR SEXUALITY.

I ASKED WHAT HER SIGN HAD TO DO WITH TEACHING MATH.

SHE WANTS TO SHOW SUPPORT TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND I ASKED HER IF THE PHRASE IS USED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE USED BY MEPS, I ASKED HER TO TAKE THE SIGN DOWN, IT COULD BE MISCO MISCONSTRUED.

AND SHE SAID NO. I ASKED HER TO REMOVE THE ONE WITH AN INAPPROPRIATE -- AND WHY DOES SHE MINI FLAGS FOR STUDENTS, IT'S EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE, UNLESS SHE WANTS TO KNOW A CHILD'S CHOICE. MY SON'S GOVERNMENT TEACHER HAD A PIRNG SIGN THAT SAID, DON'T BE LOCKED UP, KNOCKED UP.

AND A POSTER UNDER THE WHITE BOARD.

THEIR BEST SONG IS CALLED DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS.

HERE'S A SMALL SAMPLE OF THE LYRIC.

I DON'T NEED THIS , YOU , WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HOW IT FEELS.

GET READY TO DIE. THESE TEACHERS ARE PAID TO TEACH HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL MATH AND GOVERNMENT, THE SIGNS INVOKE THE CONVERSATIONS OF THE CONTENT. I DON'T KNOW THEM, THEIR OPINION ON MORAL SEX, HOW TO DEAL WITH RELIGION, ET^CETERA, AND FRANKLY I DON'T CARE. THE TEACHERS WORK AND REPRESENT THE STATE. TREATING EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND TEACHING THE SUBJECT THEY'RE PAID TO TEACH IS ENOUGH.

THE PARTNER HAVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

THE PRINCIPAL TOLD ME THERE'S NO POLICY IN PLACE OF WHAT MAY OR

[01:25:02]

THE POLICY I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE -- NOT DISPLAY OR DISTRIBUTE MATERIALS NOT RELATED TO THE SUBJECT THAT'S TAUGHT.

EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT EXHIBIT MATERIALS TO INFLUENCE THE ACTIONS OF STUDENTS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE

FORD. >> GOOD EVENING.

THANKS FOR HAVING US. ON THE TAIL OF THAT, I'M AN OLDER WOMAN WITH THREE YOUNG EEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, JUST MOVES TO CALVERT COUNTY, EXCITED ABOUT THE YOUR REPUTATION.

THEY ALL HAVE IEP'S, AND THEY'RE ATHLETIC AND BEAUTIFUL.

BUT, I AM SCARED. I AM SCARED OF WHAT I'M HEARING, MY FRIENDS, THREE SPECIFIC THEY WERE HOME SCHOOLED MOST OF THEIR LIFE. AND THEY'VE BEEN -- THEY'VE DECIDED TO PUT THEM IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I THINK IT WAS TWO OF THEM, ONE OR TWO OF THE THREE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, THE TEACHER INTRODUCED THEMSELVES, AND I'M MARRIED TO A MAN. I'VE BEEN SCHOOL MY WHOLE LIFE.

NO ONE SAID I'M HETEROSEXUAL. THAT'S NOT WHY YOU'RE AT SCHOOL.

THIS IS NONE OF ANYONE'S BUSINESS.

IF YOU'RE AN ATHEIST, THAT'S NONE OF ANYONE'S BUSINESS.

IF YOU WORSHIP BUDDHA, THAT'S NOT ANYONE'S BUSINESS.

DO YOU HAVE THE STICKERS? YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, RAINBOW STICKERS. THOSE WERE HANGING IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHAT CONCERNS ME MOSTLY IS THAT NONE OF THE PARENTS WERE ADVISED THOSE ARE ON THE WALLS OF THE CLASSROOM.

THE FRONT DOORS OF THE CLASSROOM.

THEY CAN'T PREP THE KIDS, THE KIDS DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THANK GOODNESS I KNEW. THEY WENT ON AN EARLY NEW STUDENT INTERVIEW AND SAW THEM AND ALERTED ME.

I AGREE WITH THIS OTHER KATIE. THERE'S MANY MANY PARENTS WHO FEEL THE SAME. THIS IS UNPROFESSIONAL.

IF I AS A CHRISTIAN WOMAN AND TEACHER WANT TO PUT UP A CHRISTIAN SIGN ON MY DOOR, WOULD THAT BE ALLOWED? WHAT ABOUT EQUITY? EQUITY, EQUITY, EQUITY.

THAT'S ALL I HEAR. THAT'S NOT EQUITABLE.

PUT UP ANYTHING YOU WANT. PUT UP AKA.

RECRUIT THOSE PEOPLE. IS THAT EQUITY.

NO, THAT'S NOT ALLOWED. WHY ARE THESE ALLOWED TO BE ON THERE. OUR CALVERT COUNTY TEACHERS CAN BE TRUSTED TO BE KIND, TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH SEXUAL GENDER IDENTITY ISSUES. WE CAN TRUST THEM.

BY PASTOR'S WIFE AS TAUGHT 30 YEARS AT NORTHERN MIDDLE AND SHE'S A MATH TEACHER. DOESN'T MATTER OF.

ANYWAY, SHE LOVES THEM ALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[4.01 Comments from the Board]

>> THANK YOU, NEXT ITEM IS BOARD COMMENT.

>> FIRST OF ALL I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN THIS PAST WEEK WE RATIFIED THE CONSTITUTION AND GLAD TO INCLUDE EVERY BOARD MEMBER OR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE BOARD IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. THE PURPOSE IS BASED AROUND THE ASSEMBLY TO LOBBY LAWMAKERS FOR MOVING ON, SOMETHING OF MAJOR IMPORTANCE IS COMING UP BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.

THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS. EARLY VOTING STARTS TODAY AND ENDS NEXT THURSDAY. THE STUDENTS WHO ARE 18, YOUR VOTE MATTERS. AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE IS

[01:30:03]

>> THANK YOU. MR. WHITE.

>> THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO SAY, I KNOW A LOT OF FALL SPORTS ARE WRAPPING UP, AND KIDS ARE GETTING READY FOR PLAYOFF AND CHAMPIONSHIPS. GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THEM.

AND ALSO, I WANT TO THANK BRAD AND STACY CHRIS.

I KNOW A LOT OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE FCA'S, THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. I WAS INVITED, IF SOMEONE INVITES ME TO SOMETHING I WILL GO AND SUPPORT IT.

EACH STUDENT AND EACH GROUP AND THE STUDENT NEEDS TO KNOW THAT THEY BELONG AND THEY'RE SUPPORTED.

AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COUNSELOR AT -- MIDDLE SCHOOL, SHE INVITED ME TO THEIR RED RIBBON WEEK.

THAT'S A VERY GOOD PROGRAM. ONE THING THAT REALLY SURPRISED ME WAS OUT OF ALL OF THE GROUPS, WHEN SHE ASKED FOR THE SHOW OF HANDS OF KIDS FAMILIAR WITH IT, THE SIXTH GRADERS ARE MORE SIXTH GRADERS FAMILIAR WITH FENTANYL AND THE EFFECTS THAN THE EIGHTH GRADERS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S REAL AND I'M GLAD OF THE WORK SHE'S DOING UP THERE.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW IT'S FUNNY, I WAS THINKING TODAY AT MY AGE -- I'M ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND THIS BLOCK.

AND IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT JOURNEY.

SOMETIMES. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT, I KNOW I'M ALMOST AROUND THIS BLOCK TO THANK -- WHO WORKS IN THE BACK, WHO I KNOW SHE'S SORRY SHE GAVE ME HER CELL PHONE NUMBER.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S FRIDAY EVENING, SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, IF I NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING I WILL CALL HER.

AND USUALLY THE FIRST THING WHEN I COME IN HERE, SHE SAYS, PUT YOUR HEARING AIDS IN. I WANT TO THANK HER.

SHE DOES A GREAT JOB. LAST WEEK OR THE LAST MEETING, I BROUGHT A COUPLE OF SUBJECTS, ONE WAS THE ELIZABETH BROWN RECREATION. I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO FIND OUT, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAD NO IDEA WHO THIS EDUCATOR FROM THE PAST WAS.

I'M GLAD I BROUGHT IT UP. I'VE BEEN ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR SIX YEARS. TRYING TO GET THE NEW ONE BUILT.

I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I'VE BEEN PROUD OF THAT CAN I, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK. I WAS WITH A MEETING LAST WEEK AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S A PICTURE OF ELIZABETH BROWN OUT THERE. AND I DID HAVE TWO EDUCATORS CALL ME AND THANK ME FOR BRINGING THAT OUT.

JUST KEEP THE WORD OUT. SHE'S A -- WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PERSON. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER PERSONALLY. I DID LAST WEEK SAY SOMETHING, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M PART OF MAKING A MOTION THAT'S NOT GOING TO PASS. I'M TIRED OF THE BATTLE AND THAT'S NOT ME. I'LL TELL YOU, I MAKE THIS MOTION NOT TO BRING ATTENTION, I'M DUMB WITH ALL OF THAT.

IT'S MY BELIEF, AND I MAY BE WRONG BUT YOU BEGIN TO SAY, YOU CAN SPEAK BUT SORRY, YOU GOT HERE 30 SECONDS LATE, YOU CAN'T SPEAK. I'M OPPOSED TO IT.

I'M OPPOSED TO A LIMITED NUMBER OF SPEAKERS.

I BELIEVE IN THE END, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SPEAKERS.

[01:35:09]

THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT GOES. SO I MEAN GOING TO MAKE MY MOTION AGAIN, TO MOVE THE TEN PERSON LIMIT.

FOR SPEAKERS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS FOR THE SPEAKERS, ONE LADY I KNOW WELL, THE PROBLEM OF IT IS, WHEN THEY TYPE OUT THE THINGS AND WANT TO READ THEM, THEY'RE READING SO FAST YOU LOSE THE POINT. TRY TO MAKE A COPY TO GIVE TO THE ASSISTANT SO SHE CAN GIVE US A COPY OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

WITH THAT I'LL MAKE THE MOTION. THAT'S MY MOTION.

>> IS THERE A SECOND. >> WE HAVE A SXHOEGS A SECOND.

DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, TWO.

OPPOSED. MOTION FAILS, 3-2.

THANK YOU. >> I WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY IN CLOSING EXCEPT JUST THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT RECEIVED THE HONOR OF BEING ON THE BOARD OF MEMBERS, PAM WAS FOR THREE FULL YEARS. AND VERY WELL RESPECTED AND NOW THEY'RE DEVASTATED THAT SHE'S NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT SERVICE AND STEPPING UP.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STUDENT TONIGHT WHO GAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

THANK YOU. WE'LL BE TAKING A LOOK HOPEFULLY OF THE STUDENT DRESS CODE, IF ADDITIONAL STUDENT HAVE SOMETHING THEY WOULD LAKE FOR US TO TAKE A LACK AT IN THAT CODE, I WOULD LAKE TO SUPPORT THEM AND COMING TO THE -- LIKE TO SUPPORT THEM AND COMING TO THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THEY'RE WELCOME TO LOOK UP THE E-MAIL ADDRESSES AND SEND US A NOTE. THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.