Jan 12, 2023 Board of Education

[00:00:05]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO STAND.

YOU MAY BE SEATED. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYONE

[2.02 Swearing in of Incoming Board of Education]

MS. KATHY SMITH, IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD.

WE WILL START WITH MS. DPRENIS. ... MS. GRENIS.

(INAUDIBLE). >> YOU WANT TO COME UP TOGETHER? (INAUDIBLE) (INAUDIBLE) CONGRATULATIONS.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE) IT SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE OF CALVERT COUNTY HAVE GREAT TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN YOUR INTEGRITY AND WISDOM. YOU WERE ELECTED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. (INAUDIBLE).

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (APPLAUSE).

[2.03 Election of Officers for Board of Education]

>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO ELECT INEZ CLAGGETT AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ANTOINE WHITE AS VICE PRESIDENT

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SE SECOND.

[00:05:02]

THREE FOR AND TWO ABSTAINED: THANK YOU, MS. BALINSKI.

[2.04 NHS Band Recognition]

TO READ? >> THANK YOU.

>> I'M GOING TO BE READING THE RESOLUTION, AND THEN WE CAN HAVE ANYONE FROM THE BAND COME UP AND SPEAK AFTERWARDS.

SO WHEREAS THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND FINISHED FIRST IN THE 202 U.S. BANDS GROUP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH AN OVERALL SCORE OF 94.6, AND WINNING BEST MUSIC AND BEST VISUAL, AND WHEREAS THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND ALSO FINISHED FIRST IN THE 2022 U.S. BANDS GROUP I.A. MARYLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WITH AN OVERALL SCORE OF 84.8, WINNING AWARDS FOR BEST MUSIC, BEST VISUAL, AND BEST COLOR GUARD, AND WHEREAS THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND IS THE SECOND BAND TO WIN A U.S. BANDS NATIONAL TITLE IN CALVERT COUNTY HISTORY AND WHEREAS THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND IS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DIRECTOR SAMANTHA ANDREICHUK AND ASHLEY STERN AND PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR DONALD REXROAD. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY COMMEND THEIR SUCCESS WHICH IS ATTRIBUTED TO TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONGRATULATES THE MARCHING BAND AND WISHES THEM SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. (APPLAUSE).

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

HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. >> HELLO, EVERYONE.

I AM THE DIRECTOR HERE AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR HAVING US HERE.

WE ARE SO VERY APPRECIATIVE OF IT, AND THE STUDENTS WERE VERY GRATEFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE.

WE HAD AN AWESOME SEASON, SO I TRANSITIONED INTO THIS ROLE IN JULY. AND WE STARTED, YOU KNOW, REALLY WORKING INTO AUGUST, AND THE STUDENTS HAVE JUST BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH, AND THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROGRAM, AND WE ARE JUST SO THANKFUL FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES TO COME HERE AND TO REPRESENT CALVERT COUNTY AT BOTH THE MARYLAND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND UP IN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYONE'S SUPPORT. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT ALL OF YOU AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE). >> OH, YEAH.

HERE. F WE ARE GOING TO GET A PICTURE.

OKAY, YEAH. >> ARE YOU DOING A PICTURE?

>> YES. >> WE ARE COMING OUT FOR THE

PICTURE. >> CAN YOU COME STAND AROUND

HERE? >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[00:10:01]

(APPLAUSE). >> ARE YOU READING?

[2.05 Eagle Scout Recognition]

MS. BALINSKI? >> I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THE RESOLUTION FOR BRETT MICHAEL SHERANKO.

WOULD HE HAPPEN TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE? I HAVEN'T CHECKED. OKAY.

WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO PRESENTING THIS IN PERSON TO MR SHERANKO THIS SUNDAY. IT IS HIS EAGLE SCOUT CEREMONY.

THE RESOLUTION FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION READS, "WHEREAS BRETT MICHAEL SHERANKO HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BY BEING ELEVATED TO EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING. WHEREAS HIS PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING, AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT HIM THIS HONOR, AND WHEREAS TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF EAGLE, BRETT EARNED 85 MERIT BADGES, SOME OF THEM REQUIRED, OTHERS OF HIS CHOOSING. WHEREAS BRETT COMPLETED HIS PROJECT WHERE HE DEVELOPED AN INVENTORY AND STORAGE SYSTEM FOR HIS COMMUNITY CHORUS, VOICES AND PRAISE, FOR WHEN THEY TRAVEL ON TOUR. WHEREAS BRETT HAS HELD LEADERSHIP POSITIONS AS SCRIBE, CHAPLAIN'S AIDE, SENIOR PATROL LEADER, AND WEBMASTER. AND WHEREAS BRETT IS A SOPHOMORE AT PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL AND HE IS ON THE SWIM TEAM, ALL COUNTY CHORUS. J LAB TEAM, DRILL TEAM, ORIENT OTHERRING TEAM AND PATRIOT TEAM. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION JOIN THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 451 IN COMMENDING BRETT UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ATTAINMENT OF EAGLE SCOUT.

BE OUT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCHOOL MEMBERS WISH HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

AND ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, THEY HAVE TO ACHIEVE BEFORE THE AGE OF 18. IT IS QUITE AN ACHIEVEMENT.

THANK YOU. >> I'LL TAKE A SECOND?

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ON THE FLOOR.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR...

>> AYE. >> ANY A POSED? RESOLUTION PASSES. NEXT I'LL TAKE A MOTION FOR OUR

[3. Consent Agenda]

CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

[4.01 Public Comment]

>> CITIZENS WHO WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD DURING THE OPEN FORUM ARE ASKED TO FILL IN THE INFORMATION BELOW.

WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES.

IF YOU ARE OFFICIALLY... 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. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDETIALITY, 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 MEETINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING, AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER ANY DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING.

THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE, SO BE SURE TO FILL IN YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. THANK YOU.

>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS JOSEPH CORMIER SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF

CCAC. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DR. TOWNSEL, AND STAFF.

MY NAME IS JOE CORMIER. I'M HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I PROVIDED MS. MAXIE WITH A

[00:15:02]

IT IS CALLED "WELCOME TO HOLLAND." HAVING A CHILD IS LIKE TAKING A TRIP TO ITALY.

YOU GET ALL YOUR PLANS DONE, YOUR CLOTHES PICKED OUT, AND YOU GET ON THE PLANE AND YOU FALL ASLEEP.

WHEN YOU WAKE UP, THEY SAY "WELCOME TO HOLLAND." YOU SAY I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO HOLLAND.

I WANTED TO GO TO ITALY. THE LONGER YOU SPEND IN HOLLAND, YOU REALIZE THAT HOLLAND ISN'T BAD, IT IS JUST DIFFERENT.

HOLLAND HAS TULIPS, REMBRANDTS, WINDMILLS AND BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES. YOU KNOW, YOUR FRIENDS ARE COMING AND GOING FROM ITLY. YOU ARE SEEING THEIR PICTURES.

YOU ARE STILL IN HOLLAND. YOU REALIZE THAT HOLLAND ISN'T THAT BAD. AND YOU REALIZE THAT WHILE YOUR LIFE ISN'T WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE, IT IS STILL GOING TO BE BRET. AND SO BEING A SPECIAL ED PARENT FOR THE LAST 13 YEARS, IT'S ALWAYS A STRUGGLE BECAUSE YOU HAVE THOSE DREAMS THAT HAVE D DIED, AND YOU HAVE TO MOURN THOSE. BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE TODAY FOR YOUR KIDS. I COME IN HERE AND I ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF SPECIAL EDUCATION BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT. ABOUT 10% OF OUR POPULATION HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY ARE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FROM BIRTH TO 21. A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WHEN THEIR KID TURNS SIX, THE BUS IS GOING TO COME, TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL, AND THAT IS IT.

LESS THAN A HUNDRED YEARS AGO, OUR KIDS WERE TOLD YOUR CHILD IS UNEDUCATABLE. YOUR CHILD IS DUMB OR A MORON OR ALL THE SLUR THAT IS WE DON'T USE ANYMORE.

WE HAD TO FIGHT FOR THOSE CIVIL RIGHTS, SO YOU KNOW, WE GOT THE AMERICAN DISABILITIES ACT STARTED.

AND SO NOW OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE BLIND OR DEAF OR HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES NEED BRAILLE, THEY ARE COVERED.

WE HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT.

THE IDEA. THAT IS A FEDERAL MANDATE THAT YOU NOW SERVE. AND YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR CURRENT ABILITIES, IS GIVEN A FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE LEAST RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT. AND IT WOULD BE LOVELY IF ALL 25 KIDS WOULD COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY WITH THE SAME SKILLS AND THE SAME PREPAREDNESS FOR SCHOOL, BUT THAT IS NOT THE REALITY.

AND SO WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DISRUPTIONS IN THE CLASSROOM AND CLASSROOMS CLEARING AND CHAIRS BEING THROWN, THESE ARE NOT CHILDREN BEING WILLFULLY DISOBEDIENT.

THESE ARE KIDS IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH YET. THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE SKILLS.

THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE ABILITIES. IMAGINE IF YOU CAME INTO A ROOM AND EVERYTHING WAS IN SPANISH, AND YOU COULDN'T FOLLOW ALONG THE LESSON. YOU WERE CALLED ON AND YOU COULDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION. IT WOULD BE FRUSTRATING.

IMAGINE IF YOU WERE SITTING THERE AND YOU WERE HUNGRY BUT YOU COULDN'T COMMUNICATE THAT "I NEED A SNACK" OR I NEED TO GO TO THE PATH ROOM. YOU CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN THINGS BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE RULES OF THE GAMES THAT ARE GOING ON. THESE ARE WHAT OUR KIDS ARE DEALING WITH EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THE AMAZING STAFF HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE TODDLERS PROGRAM ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE WONDERFUL CTA PROGRAM AND THE HIGH SCH SCHOOLS, THEY ARE WORKING EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS GET THAT FREE AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENCY, THAT THEY HAVE THOSE COLLEGE AND CAREER AND COMMUNITY-READY SKILLS. WHEN THE BUS STOPS COMING AT 21, THESE KIDS DON'T DISAPPEAR. I'M SO GLAD THAT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WHEN CHILDREN AGE OUT OF THIS SYSTEM, THEY COME INTO THEIR SYSTEM.

FINDING THOSE BRIDGES TO GET THEM INTO CAREERS OR COMMUNITY CENTERS, DAILY PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT JUST LOCKED AWAY LIKE WE DID A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.

SO AS YOU COME INTO YOUR ROLES HERE AND THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR LONG, I HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO CCAC, AS YOU BUILD YOUR STAFFING PLANS AND YOUR BUDGETS, THAT YOU REMEMBER THESE KIDS AREN'T JUST NUMBERS.

OUR KIDS DON'T FOLLOW THE FORMULA OF 25 KIDS TO ONE TEACHER. SOMETIMES IT IS ONE CHILD WITH 25 PROFESSIONALS FROM INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS TO, YOU KNOW, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

THE DAY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.

THE BUS AIDES, THE BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS, THE CAFETERIA STAFFER, THE SECRETARIES WHO HIGH-FIVE AND HAVE DANCE PARTIES EVERY DAY. THE SUPPORT STAFF, AND THE CERTIFIED TEACHERS. ALL OF THE STAFF WORK HARD EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS GET WHAT THEY NEED.

I HOPE THAT YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU BUILD OUT YOUR BUDGETS AND YOUR STAFFING PLANS, AND AS YOU RESET THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

THAT WE ALL WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE THE EARLIEST INTERVENTIONS WE DO NOW WILL PAY OUT UNTOLD DIVIDENDS WHEN OUR KIDS GET INTO THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

(APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALICIA MARE.

>> THIS DOES NOT GET EASIER. I DECIDED TO SPEAK THIS AFTERNOON TO WELCOME JANA AND LISA.

I WAS GOING TALK ABOUT THE CONVENIENT TIMING OF THE... THE EXTENDING OF THE SPEAKING LIMIT AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.

[00:20:03]

I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT ANYMORE.

THAN WHAT I JUST SAID. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING HOW JANA AND LISA HANDLE THEIR NEW AND WELL-DESERVED POSITIONS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO FIX EVERYTHING. I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO YOUR BEST TO RIGHT ANY WRONGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND TO NOT JUST LISTEN TO OUR CONCERNS AS PARENTS BUT TO ACT ON MAKING CHANGES THAT CAN BENEFIT THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF AS A WHOLE.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK. (APPLAUSE).

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY TAMAN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CASE.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, AND BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. I'M STACY TAMAN.

I'M A 26-YEAR EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF.

AS WE KNOW, THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS HERE.

THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS DUE IN A MATTER OF WEEKS, AND IT REQUIRES A LOT OF COMPLIANCE. A RECENT PRESS RELEASE DETAILED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN CCPS AND THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THAT DETAILED UPCOMING PAY INCREASES THAT KEEP CCPS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BLUEPRINT.

CCPS HAS STATED THEY WILL NOT DO THE SAME FOR SUPPORT STAFF BECAUSE THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO DO SO.

HOWEVER, IN THE MOU THAT WAS SIGNED WITH CEA, THERE ARE STAFF WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THE INCREASES WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. THE PRESS RELEASE WENT OUT SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE THE WINTER BREAK AND WENT OVER LIKE A LEAD BALLOON WITH OUR ESP'S. THE BLUEPRINT IS LESS ABOUT COMPLIANCE AND MORE ABOUT A VISION.

WHERE WE WANT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE.

WE CANNOT VIEW THE BLUEPRINT SUPERFICIALLY.

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO IT THAN JUST WHAT APPEARS IN THE INK.

ONLY WORKING TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE BLUR IT IS VISION OF THE BIGGER PICTURE. IT IS NARROW-SIDED TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION WHEN WE HAVE NOT ENSURED THE FOUNDATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, OUR EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IS SECURE AND STRONG ENOUGH TO HANDLE IT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE VERY DEPARTMENT THAT IS GOING TO BE PROCESSING A LOT OF THE NEW REQUIREMENTS AND THE SALARY IMPLEMENTATIONS... IMPLICATIONS, EXCUSE ME, FOR THE TEACHERS THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT IS CURRENTLY REDUCING THE HOURS OF THEIR SUPPORT STAFF ONE POSITION AT A TIME THROUGH VACANCY POSTINGS. THEY ARE ALREADY UNDERSTAFFED.

THEY ARE NOW TAKING AWAY STAFF HOURS.

WE HAVE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS WHOBARELY HAVE WORKED IN THEIR ASSIGNED ROLES DUE TO HAVING COVER CLASSES.

INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS ARE TO SUPPORT THE DELIVERED INSTRUCTION SO ALL STUDENTS HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO LEARNING.

WHEN THEY ARE REMOVED, THE SERVICE IS HALTED.

STUDSTUDENT SUCCESS IS DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS WHO SUPPORT THEM. LAST MONTH, TWO SAFETY ADVOCATES SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED FOR FULL-TIME SAFETY ADVOCATES AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS SO WE CAN PROPERLY ENSURE THE SERVICES THOSE STUDENTS SO DESPERATELY NEED.

HALF-TIME ASSIGNMENTS FOR THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL ADVOCATES IS INSUFFICIENT. EMAILS ARE SENT TO SCHOOLS, ASKING FOR ANY STAFF WHO MAY BE AVAILABLE TO RIDE THE BUS HOME WITH STUDENTS BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH BUS ASSISTANCE OR SUB BUS ASSISTANCE TO COVER THE RUNS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE BUS ASSISTANTS WHO HAD THEIR HOURS REDUCED BECAUSE FOR MIDDAY RUNS, THEY TRAINED I.A.'S TO DO THEIR DUTIES. WE HAVE BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS WHO TAKE LEAVE AND DON'T HAVE IT COVERED SO THEIR COWORKERS ARE NOT ONLY DOING THEIR OWN ASSIGNMENT, THEY ARE DOING THE ASSIGNMENTS OF THEIR COWORKERS. WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE ARE MANIPULATING JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND DUTIES TO PATCH THE CRACKS IN OUR FOUNDATION, AND IT IS NOT GOING TO HOLD UP.

ESP HAS PROVEN TIME AND AGAIN THAT THE SCHOOL DAY DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT US. WE ARE THE FIRST IN AND THE LAST OUT. WE ARE HERE.

WE ARE ALWAYS HERE. WE WERE THE ONES IN THE BUILDINGS WHEN NOBODY ELSE WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE ARE DOING THE WORK. WITHOUT US, THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION WILL BE DIFF DIFFICULT, IF NOT UNATTAINABLE.

TO ONLY SAY THAT SALARY INCREASES WILL BE PROPOSED AND SIMILAR IS NOT ENOUGH. WE DESERVE THE INVESTMENT, AND WE DESERVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

[00:25:01]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MICHELLE

LECLERC. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DR. TOWNSEL. MY NAME IS MICHELLE LECLERC, A 16-YEAR EPS WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CURRENTLY THED A MONEY TRAYTIVE SECRETARY FOR ED DOWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I'M SPEAKING TODAY BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES IN MY CURRENT POSITION. CCPS SECRETARIES ARE STRUGGLING, AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. OUR DUTIES HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, AND WE HAVE ASSUMED MANY NEW RESPONSIBILITIES, ALL WITHOUT COMPARABLE PAY INCREASES OR WORKLOAD CONSIDERATIONS.

THERE IS LITTLE TO NO PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROVIDED.

WE RELY ON ONE ANOTHER OR THE OCCASIONAL VIDEO TUTORIAL TO LEARN THE MULTITUDE OF SOFTWARE REQUIRED TO DO OUR JOBS.

WE ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERSTAND AND ENFORCE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AS THEY PERTAIN TO HIGHLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION THAT WE SAFEGUARD. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE OR CONSISTENCY. OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED SEEM TO HAVE NO BOUNDARIES. SCHOOL-BASED SECRETARIES CREATE MASTER SCHEDULES. WE ENSURE CLASSROOM COVERAGE.

WE MONITOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FULFILLING BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCES WITHOUT BEHAVIOR-SPECIFIC TRAINING.

WE ORCHESTRATE DISMISSALS WHICH INCLUDES THE SAFE AND LAWFUL RELEASE OF STUDENTS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY ADULTS ALL WHILE JUGGLING THE EVER-CHANGING DEMANDS OF OUR DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES. WE WORK LONGER THAN OUR CONTRACTED HOURS WITHOUT COMPENSATION TO OUR BUILDINGS, WE ARE NOT WIRED TO WALK OUT WHEN THE CLOCK ANNOUNCES THE END OF OUR DAY. HOWEVER, THIS COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF IS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.

I RECOGNIZE THAT AN MOU WAS SIGNED WITH THE TEACHERS UNION BECAUSE LEGISLATION DICTATED IT. I'M ASKING THAT A SIMILAR MOU BE SIGNED WITH CASSE NOT BECAUSE YOU MUST, BUT BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BIJT MUST REFLECT INVESTMENTS IN THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR SUPPORT STAFF. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

(APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA. >> HELLO.

I'M UNSCRIPTED TODAY WHICH IS A FIRST.

I JUST WANT TO WELCOME BOTH LISA AND JANA.

I OBVIOUSLY, AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND I THINK THAT I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF A LOT OF PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE BLESSED, WE ARE EXCITED, WE ARE HAPPY, AND WE JUST WISH YOU ALL OF OUR BLESSINGS AS YOU START THIS PROCESS.

AT THE SAME TIME, I HI THAT IT WOULD BE... I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR ME TO MAYBE STATE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I HAVE ADDRESSED IN THE PAST WHEN YOU WERE NOT ON THE BOARD. THEY REMAIN UNHANDLED, AND YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR ME SPEAK ABOUT THEM AGAIN IN THE FUTURE UNTIL THEY ARE. SO A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, AS YOU GUYS KIND OF GET YOUR FEET WET IS THE LIBRARY POLICY WITH THE BOOKS AND OUR LIBRARIES.

I THINK THAT THE POLICY TO GET A BOOK IN THE LIBRARY IS ONE THAT REQUIRES A SINGLE LIBRARIAN TO MAKE A DECISION, BUT TO GET A BOOK OUT OF THE LIBRARY, WE NEED TO INVOLVE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, A LARGE AMOUNT OF TIME AND IN SOME CASES, ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT TO READ THE BOOKS. I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT OUR SEXUAL HEALTH CURRICULUM.

IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN CREATED WITH SEXUAL THERAPISTS INVOLVED OR OTHER SEXUAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO ENSURE THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN IS NOT DOING THEM HARM. AS WE HAVE ADDRESSED BEFORE, WE HAVE A MAJOR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM IN OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR TEACHERS ARE NOT GETTING THE TRAINING THAT THEY NEED TO KEEP THEMSELVES AND THE OTHER STUDENTS SAFE.

I THINK WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE THAT TRAINING.

AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY STEP IT UP ON ENFORCING OUR CODE OF CONDUCT AS IT RELATES TO DRUGS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

[00:30:04]

THESE FLOWERS ARE NOT FROM ME, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE THEM TO YOU BOTH ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PARENT WHO COULD JUST DROP IN QUICKLY WITH THESE FLOWERS. THANK YOU AND WELCOME.

(APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ROBIN COX.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.

AND DR. TOWNSEL. MY NAME IS ROBIN COX.

I'M HERE TODAY TO HAPPILY WELCOME OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS WITH OPEN ARMS. MEMBERS JANA POST AND LISA GRENIS, CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND TAKE ON A CAMPAIGN IN THIS CHALLENGE FOR WHICH CALVERT COUNTY CITIZENS HAVE PUT THEIR TRUST IN YOU. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS YOU B BOTH. OUR COUNTY NEEDS YOU BOTH.

OUR TEACHERS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS NEED YOU BOTH. IT IS TIME FOR COMMON SENSE, FAIRNESS, AND COOL HEADS TO RETURN TO THIS BOARD.

AND WELCOME TO OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. TOWNSEL.

CALVERT COUNTY CITIZENS HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR YOUR TIME HERE.% THIS DISTRICT NEEDS TO SERIOUSLY BE TURNED AROUND FROM THE RADICAL DIRECTION PREVIOUS PERSONS AND IN APPOINTED AND ELECTED POSITIONS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS PUSHED... HAS BEEN PUSHING ON US. THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTY MADE IT VERY CLEAR IN NOVEMBER THAT IS NOT THE DIRECTION CALVERT COUNTY WANTS FOR OUR COUNTY AND OUR STUDENTS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR STUDENTS. I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK FORMER BOARD OF ED MEMBER PAT NUTTER FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY. TO INCLUDE HIS YEARS ON THIS BOARD. IT WASN'T EASY, BUT HE DID TRY TO BRING COMMON SENSE DURING HIS TENURE.

HOWEVER FUTILE, HE STILL SHOWED UP AND TRIED, AND HE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR HIS EFFORTS. ALSO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO PERSONALLY THANK MELISSA FOR HER CONSTANT SUPPORT...

(CHEERS). >> TO FIND AND GET ELECTED COMMON-SENSE CANDIDATES. MELISSA, YOUR TIRELESS EFFORTS HAS PRODUCED GREAT THINGS THAT WILL BE SEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR YEARS TO COME. TO HELP OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE NEED TO GET BACK TO EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS AND NOT INDOCTRINATING THEM. THEY NEED READING, WRITING, AND ARITHMETIC. AS DR. KING SO FAMOUSLY SAID AND I PARAFRAIRKSZ "JUDGE A MAN BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER AND NOT BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN." AS I STATED WHEN I FIRST SPOKE BEFORE THIS BOARD, WHEN YU HAVE COME FOR OUR CHILDREN, YOU HAVE COME TOO FAR.

THANK YOU. ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME TO OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND DR. TOWNSEL. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATIE FORD.

>> IT IS SO GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I WANT TO JUST REITERATE MY POSITION. I AM A MOTHER OF THREE YOUNG CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AT WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY.

I HAVE BEEN HERE A FEW TIMES BEFORE.

WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED SO SEE... TO SEE A NEW SEASON FOR THIS BOARD. FOR THE SAKE OF OUR CHILDREN.

I'M GOING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE UNUSUAL, BUT I FELT LIKE I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS LONG BEFORE.

I'M A WOMAN OF PRAYER. AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE, AND I'M SURE MANY OF YOU ARE, TOO. SO IF THIS OFFENDS YOU, JUST IGNORE ME. IF YOU ARE WITH ME, I BELIEVE THAT GOD WANTS TO USE YOU MIGHTILY TO BE A BEACON IN OUR COUNTRY. NOT JUST OUR COUNTY.

HE THINKS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN WE DO.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN ME IN AGREEMENT, LORD JESUS, WE COME TO YOU. HUMBLE AND BROKEN IN THIS CRAZY WORLD THAT YOU DESIGNED FOR US TO BE BORN AND LIVE AND WALK AND BREATHE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN.

I THANK YOU, KT LORD, FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU ROSE UP TO BE ON THIS BOARD TO BE IN LEADERSHIP.

YOU PUT THEM THERE, AND THEY ALL KNOW THAT.

THEY KNOW THAT, LORD. I PRAY FOR UNITY.

UNITY BEYOND WORDS. BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF

[00:35:06]

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PRIORITIZE, TO ALLOW THESE PEOPLE TO SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE NIGHTS THEY DON'T SLEEP WELL. THERE IS SO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE.

I KNOW YOU NEED TO HELP THEM. HELP THEM, LORD.

GIVE THEM WISDOM. LET THEM HEAR THE HEART OF TH THEIR... OF THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THEM THERE.

AND LET THEM BE DILIGENT AND HONORABLE AND UNITED, EVEN IN THE UGLY TIMES, AND LET THEM HAVE OPEN EARS TO HEAR THE OTHER SIDE. WE JUST THANK YOU, LORD, FOR THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. THAT ARE BEING RAISED IN VERY DIFFICULT TIMES. LORD, LET THIS BOARD KNOW THAT THEY HAVE POWER, BUT ONLY THE POWER THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.

WE THANK YOU, AND WE PRAY THIS ALL IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN. (APPLAUSE).

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS

FOR TODAY. >> THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON.

[5.01 Maggie Rathgeb]

REPORT. >> THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. WELCOME BACK.

IN RECENT NEWS, THIS MONDAY, THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS MET ACROSS THE HALL. WE HAD A GREAT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BRAINSTORMING NEW WAYS TO GET OUR STUDENTS CIVICALLY ENGAGED.

WE BEGAN PLANNING OUR NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHICH WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 22. THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE THE ELECTION OF OUR NEXT STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUC EDUCATION, SO APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN.

IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW WHO IS A 10TH OR 11TH-GRADER IS INTERESTED, BE SURE TO HAVE THEM REACH OUT TO YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT ADVISOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THE APPLICATION WILL CLOSE IN LATE JANUARY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OR THE POSITION AS A WHOLE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO REACH OUT TO ME AS WELL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND THE INVITATION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AS IT WILL BE IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE STUDENT YOU WILL BE WORKING WITH NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS.RADT ROTHGEB. >> NEXT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT

[6.01 Dr. Andrae Townsel]

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT.

FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY WELCOME LISA GRENIS AND JANA POST, OUR TWO NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS.

CLAP IT UP FOR THEM. THANK YOU.

WELCOME, WELCOME. (APPLAUSE).

>> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MS. INEZ CLAGGETT WHO WILL SERVE AS OUR PRESIDENT MOVING FORWARD AND MR. ANTOINE WHITE WHO WILL SERVE AS VICE PRESIDENT THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH WITH YOU ALL AS WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE STUDENTS AND FAMILY OF THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. PRIOR TO... THIS IS OUR FIRST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME POSITIVE THINGS THAT OCCURRED PRIOR TO OUR LAST BOARD MEETING. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM'S FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ON BEHALF OF THE SUPPORT EDUCATION FOUNDATION. THE END OF DECEMBER MARKED THE BEGINNING OF THE ANNUAL WARMING HEARTS AND HANDS CAMPAIGN, WHERE THEY BROUGHT HATS, SCARVES, GLOVES AND OTHER ITEMS TO STUDENTS WHO MAY NEED EXTRA HELP DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY DO AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES. SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE NATIONAL TRENDS AND SERVICE FACET OF THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND CHAIN OF THE LINKS INCORPORATED FOR THE ANNUAL MCKENNEY COAT DRIVE DONATION. WE RECEIVED DOZENS OF COATS, HATS, SCARVES, A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ARE NICE AND WARM DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. I WAS HONORED TO BE ASKED TO BE A JUDGE FOR THE SHARK TANK EVENT AT CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 19. OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PRESENTED COMPREHENSIVE BUSINESS PLANS THAT SHOWED THEIR DARK CHARACTERISTICS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOME YOUNG LADY HAD THESE VERY INNOVATIVE BOOKMARKS.

IT WAS REALLY NICE. I'M GIVING THEM AWAY FOR FREE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO READ. ON JANUARY 4, I ATTENDED THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, 2023 STATE PRE-LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST.

THIS WAS VERY INFORMATIVE. IT WAS A SESSION WHERE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS PERTAINING TO BILLS AND THE BUDGET THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED DURING THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I'M ALSO... I WILL ATTEND A BREAKFAST AND A WELCOME RECEPTION FOR OUR NEW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND OUR NEW COUNTY SHERIFF.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WATCHING THEM SWEAR IN... I REALLY LOOK

[00:40:04]

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT AS A WHOLE IN CALVERT COUNTY.

YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FOR THE FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA HELD AT THE MARY HARRISON CENTER NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MANY GREAT STUDENT LEADERS.

I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO THANK MS. OLIVIA MARIJUANA,... OLIVIA HEROINE,... HARRE NEE. SHE IS A SOPHOMORE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REACHING OUT TO ME AND ALLOWING ME TO KEYNOTE THE EVENT. BRIEF REMINDER: TOMORROW, JANUARY 13, IS A TWO-HOUR DISMISSAL FOR STUDENTS.

NO AFTERNOON PRE-KINDERGARTEN. STAFF WILL BE ENGAGED... WILL BE ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND COLLABORATIVE PLANNING.

ON MONDAY, JANUARY 16, SCHOOLS AND OFFICES ARE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY.

DURING MY SCHOOL VISITS, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FAMILIES, FRIENDS, A LOT OF GREAT LEARNING IS HAPPENING AT ALL OF OUR CAM US CAMPUSES ACROSS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGHOUT THE HIGH SCHOOL.

WE DO HEAR YOU WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE DISRUPTIONS AT SOME OF OUR CAMPUSES. I DO WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEARNING. TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE DEFINITELY ENGAGED IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS.

AND IT IS A CONSTANT FLUX OF GETTING BETTER.

WE TALK ABOUT IT EVERY MONTH WHEN WE MEET WITH OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AND OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER. SO WE HAVE AN ACADEMIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT. SPECIFICALLY, WE TALK ABOUT INCREASING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> THANK YOU, DR. TOWNSEL. NEXT WE WILL MOVE INTO ACTION

[7.01 Policies for Review]

APPOINTMENT OF NEGOTIATING TEAM. MR. NAVARRO?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I'M TONY NAVARRO. CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER.

THERE ARE NO RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THIS POLICY.

>> COLLEAGUES, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, THE POLICY WILL GO UP FOR A 30-DAY REVIEW.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE WILL HAVE POLICY 1320. PERMISSION FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE BOE.

DR. TOWNSEL? >> POLICY STATEMENT NUMBER 1320 THE PURPOSE IS TO GRANT THE SUPERINTENDENT THE AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN SPECIFIC SITUATIONS WITH REGARDS TO THIS POLICY STATEMENT, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY DULY AUTHORIZE IT IS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS TO ACT ON ITS BEHALF IN FILLING PROJECTS AND APPLICATIONS FOR VARIOUS FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDS.

FURTHERMORE, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE THE REPRESENTATION AND COMMITMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD AND OTHERWISE ACT AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. THERE ARE NO RECOMMENDED CHANGES

TO THIS POLICY. >> COLLEAGUES, QUESTIONS OR

CONCERNS? >> NO.

JUST THANK HEAVENS THIS POLICY EXISTS.

OTHERWISE, WE WOULD SPEND OUR ENTIRE TIME SIGNING DOCUMENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT. THE POLICY WILL GO UP FOR 30-DAY REVIEW. NEXT POLICY: 1630.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS. MS. JACOBS?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

I AM JACKIE JACOBS, DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE. I AM HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU POLICY 1630 REGARDING THE USE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS.

AT THIS TIME, THERE ARE NO PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE POLICY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE POLICY FORWARD FOR

A 30-DAY REVIEW. >> ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, 0-DAY REVIEW.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[7.02 General Funds Report]

>> NEXT WE WILL HAVE MR. JOHNSON AND OUR GENERAL FUNDS

REPORT. >> DR. TOWNSEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON, THE CHIEF FINANCAL OFFICER. TODAY THERE ARE FOUR BUDGET REPORTS TO PRESENT. THESE REPORTS ARE ALL FOR THE

[00:45:02]

THE FIRST REPORT IS THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT FOR REVENUE IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. AS SHOWN ON THE REPORT, THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED $107 MILLION OR 43% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THIS FUND AS OF DECEMBER 31.

THE SECOND BUDGET REPORT WILL REVIEW... THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL SUMMARY REPORT FOR EXPENDITURES. THIS REPORT COMPARES THE EXPENDITURES WITH THE BUDGETED EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS.

THIS ONE-PAGE SUMMARY REPORT COMPARES THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL DATA FOR THE 13 BUDGET CATEGORIES.

AS OF DECEMBER # 1, THE DISTRICT HAS SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 93% OF THE ACTUAL BUDGET. THE ENCUMBRANCES INCLUDE PRIMARY SALARIES OF THE STAFF FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

THERE IS ONE CATEGORY, CATEGORY 209, FOR TRANSPORTATION, THAT IS EXPERIENCING COST PRESSURE. THIS CATEGORY WAS $211,000 OVER BUDGET FOR THIS CATEGORY. AS OF DECEMBER 31, AND IT IS POSED TO... POISED TO INCREASE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

CONSEQUENTLY, A BUDGET INCREASE WILL BE PROPOSED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION CATEGORY IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH.

THE THIRD REPORT PROVIDES MORE DETAILED BUDGET-TO-ACTUAL DATA FOR EACH OF THE 13 BUDGET EXPENSE CATEGORIES INCLUDED ON THE SUMMARY. REPORT.

AS YOU REVIEW THIS REPORT, SEVERAL ACCOUNTS HAVE A NEGATIVE AVAILABLE BALANCE. MOST OF THESE NEGATIVE AMOUNTS THAT ARE OVER$25,000 WILL BE RESOLVED SAID... TODAY WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS SHORTLY.

THE FOURTH AND FINAL BUDGET REPORT IS THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL EXPENSE REPORT FOR THE GRANT FUND.

AND AS OF DECEMBER 31, THE DISTRICT HAD SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 46% OF THIS FUND'S TOTAL BUDGET. THAT CONCLUDES THE FINANCIAL PRESENTATION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, I'LL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> I DO.

>> MS. BALINSKI? >> THE TRANSPORTATION... I APOLOGIZE. I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THIS EARLIER. BUT SINCE MOST OF IT IS IN THE CONTRACTED BUS ROUTE, I ASSUME THAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE HAD RAISED BASIC... YOU KNOW, THE NONESSENTIAL EMPLOYEES OR THE ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE PAY AFTER WE HAD ALREADY APPROVED A BUDGET. IS THIS THE CORRECT STATEMENT? BECAUSE LAST YEAR OUR BUDGET... WE NEEDED $2.6 MILLION TO RECONCILE THE INCREASE BY THAT YEAR END.

I ASSUME WE ARE OVER IN THIS REPORT BECAUSE OF THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS THAT, MR. NAVARRO OR IF IT IS OTHER INCREASES. THAT HAVE COME ABOUT.

OKAY. YEAH.

IF WE COULD FIND OUT EXACTLY. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

BECAUSE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

AND THE COMMISSIONERS NICELY SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH US FOR THAT. I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ACTUALLY CAUSING THAT MAJOR OVERAGE.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I'LL GO AHEAD AND ASK MY QUESTION.

MR. JOHNSON, WHILE YOU ARE WORKING ON GETTING TOGETHER DATA TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER MS. BALINSKI'S QUESTION, COULD YOU ALSO LOOK INTO THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR CONTRACTED BUS ROUTES AND KIND OF GIVE THE BOARD OF AN OVERVIEW OF HOW THAT

NUMBER WAS DERIVED? >> HOW THAT NUMBER WAS...

>> WAS DERIVED. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WOULD BE GLAD TO.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

[7.03 Budget Transfers]

JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY 5515 AND AS PART OF A MIDYEAR BUDGET UPDATING PROJECT, THE RECOMMENDATION IS BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REBALANCE BUDGET ACCOUNTS THROUGH THE FORMAL BUDGET... I'M SORRY. THROUGH THE FORMAL BOARD APPROVAL PROCESS. THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS WILL NEITHER INCREASE OR DECREASE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE BUDGET. THE COST OF THE TRANSFERS WILL NET TO ZERO. MOST OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS ARE TO REALLOCATE COSTS THAT OR ORIGINALLY BUDGETED ON A DISTRICT-WIDE BASIS BY TRANSFERRING BUDGET FUNDS TO SCHOOL-SPECIFIC SALARY ACCOUNTS FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PURPOSE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO

ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS?

MS. BALINSKI? >> SO YOU ARE BREAKING DOWN THE

[00:50:06]

DEPARTMENT TO DO THIS? AND WHETHER IT IS WORTH WHATEVER WE ARE AFTER. YOU KNOW? AND YOU DID GIVE ME QUITE A COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE.

I THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT SAYS THAT DUE TO THE BLUEPRINT, THEY ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE OUR MONEY FLOWS, THAT IT DOES FLOW DOWN TO THE BUILDINGS. TO THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DOING THE WORK. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND YOUR RESPONSE WAS THAT YES, THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY PROVIDE THAT DETAIL, AND YOU KNOW, PROVE TO THEM THAT OUR SPENDING FLOWS DOWN TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING, AND WE HAVE ALL OF THE... YOU KNOW, 85% OF OUR BUDGET IS SALARY.

THAT TAKES CARE OF GREATER BUTT K OF IT.

MY QUESTION IS IF YOU CAN JUST TALK... I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF OUR STAFF IS LISTENING THAT HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS.

BUT IF YOU COULD HELP US UNDERSTAND THE REPERCUSSIONS TO THE STAFF FOR THIS TYPE OF MINUTE RECORDING OF OUR PAYROLL.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR ASKING. IT DOES REQUIRE THE CREATION OF QUITE A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS.

FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS. HOWEVER, SINCE IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF A BLUEPRINT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF COSTS THAT ARE BEING ALLOCATED AND SPENT ON A BUILDING BASIS, I BELIEVE THAT WE REALLY HAVE VERY LITTLE FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING THIS CHANGE.

ONE BENEFIT THAT WE WILL PROVIDE THE DISTRICT IS THAT WHEN IT WILL INCREASE BUDGETARY CONTROL, NOW WE HAVE A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT BUDGETED ON A BUILDING... I'M SORRY.

ON A DISTRICT-WIDE BASIS. AND THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE IF WE ARE OVER BUDGET UNTIL LATE IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

BY BUDGETING ON A BUILDING BY BUILDING BASIS, WE ARE ABLE TO LOOK AT ANY GIVEN ACCOUNT AND SEE THATS IF OVER BY 50 OR 20 OR WHATEVER PERCENT. IT MAKES IT EASY TO IDENTIFY BUDGET OVERAGES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHY BY LOOKING AT ANY ONE ACCOUNT. IT WILL REQUIRE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK. I DON'T EXPECT THAT IT WILL HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON I.T. DEPARTMENT, HOWEVER.

THIS IS SIMPLY AN ACCOUNTING CHANGE.

ACCOUNTING AND BUDGETING CHANGE >> OKAY.

AI ASSUME THAT WHEN WE GET BOARD REPORTING, WE WON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AT THAT GRANULAR LEVEL. WE WILL JUST LOOK AT SALARIES.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. ACTUALLY, THE CATEGORIES,

PRIMARILY. >> RIGHT.

>> WE DON'T ANTICIPATE CHANGING THE REPORTING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ALTHOUGH WE CERTAINLY WOULD BE OPEN TO MODIFYING SOME OF THE REPORTS TO MAKE IT MORE USER-FRIENDLY.

>> OKAY. THE LAST QUESTION.

I NOTICED ON SOME LINE ITEMS, YOU HAVE DONE A BUDGET TRANSFER REQUEST FOR, THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, LINE ITEMS LIKE LEGAL AND SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT. AND OTHER AREAS, ESPECIALLY IN SPECIAL ED. DID YOU WORK WITH THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VARIANCE THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NO HAS BEEN AGAINST OUR BUDGET?

AND GET THEIR INPUT ON THIS? >> FOR LEGAL FEES, I WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE RATIONAL FOR THAT EXPENDITURE PRESSURE BEFORE CONFERRING WITH THEIR DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL ED.

I DID SHARE THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL ED TO INVITE HER CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT BEFORE

THE REQUESTED BOARD APPROVAL. >> GOOD.

THAT KIND OF COOPERATIVE BUILDING OF OUR NEW BUDGET THAT IS COMING ALONG, WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO IF WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET,

THEY NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT. >> AND AS POINT OF CLARIF CLARIFICATION, THIS DOES NOT CHANGE THE OVERALL SPECIAL ED

BUDGET. >> RIGHT.

>> BY A DIME. OR ANY AMOUNT AT ALL.

IT IS SIMPLY REBALANCING. IN FACT, IT ACTUALLY BENEFITS THE SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT. THAT ACCOUNT WILL HAVE EVERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ITS ACCOUNTS THAT ARE UNDER BUDGET.

WHEREAS A NUMBER OF THE ACCOUNTS ARE ALREADY EXPERIENCING BUDGET

PRESSURE. >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

LOOKS LIKE THE BUDGET WAS A BIT ASKEW.

YOU ARE CORRECTING THAT. >> I'M SORRY.

I DIDN'T HEAR THE FIRST PART OF THAT.

>> IT LOOKED LIKE OUR BUDGET WAS NOT ACCURATELY REFLECTING

[00:55:01]

CORRECTION. >> THAT IS ONE WAY TO CHARACTERIZE IT. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT EXPENDITURE PRIORITIES MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED

MONTHS AGO. >> RIGHT.

YES. OKAY.

THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

I'LL ALSO TAKE A MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET

TRANSFERS. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> ANY ABSTENTIONS? MOTION PASSES.

[7.04 Bid Approvals]

OR MR. JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU.

I'M HERE FOR MR. TAYLOR. GOOD AFTERNOON.

JOINING ME THIS AFTERNOON IS MS. SHUCHITA WARNER, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL DESTRUCTION AND MR. RICK LIPPERT, THE SUPERVISOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. TO PRESENT A REQUEST FOR BOARD APPROVAL TO USE THE PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR MICRO-COMPUTERS COOPERATIVE CONTRACT.

FOR THE PURCHASE OF TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE AND EQUIPMENT FOR BEECH

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M SHUCHITA WARNER, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.

SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, THE DEPARTMENTS OF CONSTRUCTION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY JOINTLY COORDINATED WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AT BEECH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO FINALIZE THE TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW BEECH

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M RICK LIPPERT, SUPERVIESESSOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. WE THEN PROCEEDED WITH SECURING A QUOTE FOR THE INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS AND ASSOCIATED AMOUNTS THROUGH CDW. A VENDOR WITH AN EXISTING CONTRACT THROUGH THE PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATION PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR MICRO-COMPUTERS.

>> SO WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT OF TECHNOLOGY HARDWARE AND EQUIPMENT AT BEECH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO CDW GOVERNMENT OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS IN THE AMOUNT OF $175,717.38. THE IDENTIFIED FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS WORK IS THROUGH THE CIP BUDGET.

>> I'LL TAKE A MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. DISCUSSION? COLLEAGUES? QUESTIONS?

>> MS. BALINSKI? >> OF COURSE.

I'M GETTING VERY EXCITED THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO FINISHING BEECH. THAT IS JUST WONDERFUL.

WHEN DO YOU EXPECT DELIVERY OF THESE?

>> SO WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE LEAD TIME FOR THE INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS IS FOUR WEEKS. WE ARE GOING TO PLACE OUR ORDER PRIOR TO FEBRUARY BECAUSE THERE IS A PRICE INCREASE AS OF FEBRUARY, 2023. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE, NORTH TO KEEP THIS PRICING, THAT WE PLACE THE ORDER.

WE HAVE ALREADY COORDINATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE READY TO DO THE INSTALLATION QUITE YET WITH A FOUR-WEEK TIME AND DELIVERY DATE.

THEY HAVE PLENTY OF SPACES WITHIN THE BUILDING THAT WILL BE CONDITIONED WHERE THESE CAN BE STORED.

WE HAVE ALREADY COORDINATED FOR THAT.

AND THEN THEY WILL BEGIN THE INSTALLATION AROUND APRIL, MAY

TIME FRAME. >> I WAS SORT OF SURPRISED YOU SAID FOUR WEEKS. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE FACING WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ALL HEARING. EXTENDED DELAYS.

>> THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.

SO IF YOU GO ON SMART SITE, I BELIEVE IT SAYS 12 WEEKS, BUT MR. LIPPERT CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN STOCK AND AVAILABLE THROUGH CDW. I BELIEVE HE HAS MORE

INFORMATION ON THAT. >> YOU ARE ACTUALLY RIGHT.

IN MOST CASES, THERE ARE LONGER LEAD TIMES.

IN THIS CASE, CDW IS A VERY LARGE VENDOR.

THEY WORK WITH OTHER COMPANIES THAT HAVE STOCK ON HAND.

AND WITH THE STOCK ON HAND, RIGHT NOW THEY SAID THEY COULD SUPPLY THE AMOUNT WE NEEDED. IN FOUR WEEKS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

[01:00:04]

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. NEXT, WE WILL MOVE INTO

[7.05 Blueprint Committee Appointment]

IS THAT MS. MAXIE? DR. TOWNSEL?

(LAUGHTER). >> THANK YOU.

APPOINTMENTS OR BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE, ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2021, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND EDUCATION PERTAINING TO THE CREATION OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL APPOINT TWO CITIZENS THAT ARE RESIDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY TO THE COMMITTEE.

ON DECEMBER 9, 2021, DR. MIKE CHISELER WAS APPOINTED FOR THIS PURPOSE. THE SUPERINTENDENT ASK THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE PAMELA COUSINS AS THE SECOND APPOINTED CITIZEN FOR THIS PURPOSE.

THANK YOU. >> I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

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

HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

>> OPPOSED. >> ANY ABSTENTIONS?

>> MS. GRENIS. I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR VOTE.

I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR VOTE ON THE MOTION. YOU ARE VOTING YES? ALL RIGHT. MOTION PASSES.

4-1. >> AM I CORRECT IN SAYING THIS

IS JUST AN INVITATION? >> CORRECT.

SHE HAS TO ACCEPT. >> SHE HAS TO ACCEPT.

[7.06 Strategic Plan Update - Workforce]

>> NEXT WE WILL HAVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE FOR

WORKFORCE. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE WORKFORCE PRIORITY AREA FROM THE CCPS STRATEGIC PLAN.

JOINING ME THIS AFTERNOON IS CECILIA LEWIS, SUPERVISOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, TRACY THOMAS, COORDINATOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DR. JOE SAMPSON, THE BLUEPRINT MARYLAND LEADS GRANT COORDINATOR AND JACKIE JACOBS, OUR DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE.

EACH OF US WILL BE SHARING AN UPDATE WITH YOU REGARDING THIS PRIORITY AREA. THE CURRENT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STRATEGIC PLAN WAS DEVELOPED IN 2017 AND HAS BEEN UTILIZED AS A GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE PRIORITY AREAS AND THE STRATEGIC PLAN ARE IMPORTANT TO THE ACADEMIC AND OPERATIONAL GROWTH OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE WILL UPDATE YOU ON THE PRIORITY OF WORKFORCE, SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL BE REVIEWING THE WORKFORCE GOALS FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN, PROVIDING A CURRENT WORKFORCE... PROVIDING THE CURRENT WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, PRESENTING DATA USED TO MONITOR THE GOALS, DESCRIBING STRATEGIES BEING IMPLEMENTED TO ACHIEVE WORKFORCE GOALS, UPDATING YOU ON THE MINORITY RECRUITMENT HIRING AND RETENTION ACTION PLAN, UPDATING ON THE MARYLAND BLUEPRINT AND MARYLAND LEADS PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION, AND ALSO PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. WORKFORCE FOCUSES ON THE

[01:05:04]

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRIDESITTE ON HAVING THE BEST TEACHERS AND STAFF IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IN ORDER TO DLIF THE HIGHEST QUALITY INSTRUCTION TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSE AND HIGH-QUALITY STAFF AND THE IMPACT THAT BOTH OF THESE HAVE ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. THEREFORE, OUR FIRST TWO STRATEGIC GOALS ARE FOCUSED ON THESE TWO AREAS.

NUMBER ONE, ENSURING THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORKFORCE.

NUMBER TWO, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH-QUALITY STAFF.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT PROVIDING STAFF WITH MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING HELPS US TO GROW AND DEVELOP TOGETHER, DEVELOPING A LEARNING COMMUNITY AND FURTHER HELPING US REACH ALL OF OUR LEARNERS. OUR THIRD STRATEGIC GOAL RECOGNIZES THIS IN STATES TO PROVIDE STAFF WITH PERSONALIZED AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT FOSTERS PERSONAL GROWTH IN ORDER TO INCREASE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. IN LOOKING AT OUR FIRST GOAL, ENSURING THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORKFORCE,LY DISPLAY THE CURRENT DEM GRAPHICS. HOWEVER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE THE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHEN LOOKING AT THE DIVERSITY OF THE WORKFORCE, OUR GOAL IS FOR OUR WORKFORCE TO BE REFLECTIVE OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.

AS WE HAVE SHARED IN THE PAST, RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HAVING A DIVERSE TEACHER WORKFORCE BENEFITS ALL STUDENTS.

MINOR STUDENTS... MINORITY STUDENTS, SPECIFICALLY, ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL WHEN TAUGHT BY MINORITY TEACHERS.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND OUR OBLIGATION TO STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THIS RESEARCH AND MAKE EFFORTS TO INCREASE OUR MINORITY TEACHER WORKFORCE TO MATCH OUR STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS.

IN ADDITION, AS YOU WILL HEAR A LITTLE LATER FROM DR. SAMPSON, THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE ALSO RECOGNIZES THIS RESEARCH AND INCLUDES MANDATES FOR ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN MARYLAND TO MAKE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE MINORITY TEACHER WORKFORCE. TO BEGIN, I'LL DISPLAY OUR SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE. SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, AS WE KNOW, PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE OPERATIONS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS MADE UP OF 845 EMPLOYEES, CLOSE TO HALF OF THE ENTIRE EMPLOYEE WORKFORCE.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS SHOW A CLOSE MATCH TO OUR STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS.

THE TEACHER WORKFORCE IS COMPOSED OF ALL OF OUR NONADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND OTHER CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES SUCH AS OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND STAFF. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION, THE TERM TEACHER REFERS TO THIS ENTIRE GROUP OF EMPLOY EASY. THIS IS OUR LARGEST GROUP OF EMPLOYEES AT 1,294 CURRENTLY. CURRENT EMPLOYEES.

THEY MAKE UP OVER HALF OF OUR ENTIRE WORKFORCE IN CALVERT COUNTY. AND LOOKING THAT THE GROUP, WE RECOGNIZED A DEMOGRAPHIC DISPARITY BETWEEN OUR TEACHER WORKFORCE AND OUR STUDENT POPULATION.

THIS IS THE MAIN... ONE OF THE MAIN FOCUSES OF THE WORKFORCE GOALS THAT WE WILL BE DESCRIBING TO YOU.

OUR ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFORCE EMPLOYEES ARE MADE UP OF BUILDING-BASED AND CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS, INCLUDING MEET AND CONFER ADMINISTRATORS.

THESE INCLUDE PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANCE PRINCIPALS, SUPERVISORS, COORDINATORS AND DIRECTORS.

THIS GROUP IS SMALL. AT ONLY 111 EMPLOYEES.

WE RECOGNIZE THE LARGE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE THESE EMPLOY EASY HAVE ON OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. PART OF THEIR IMPORTANT WORK AS ADMINISTRATORS IS TO INTERVIEW AND RECOMMEND HIRING OF THE TEACHER WORKFORCE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR ROLE IN BIDDING A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS COMPARISON, AND THIS SLIDE, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE WORKFORCE, LIKE SUPPORT EMPLOYEES, CLOSELY ALLIANCE WITH THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR STUDENT POPULATION.

THIS SLIDE MAKES CLEAR THE DISPARITY THAT EXISTS BETWEEN OUR STUDENT POPULATION AND OUR TEACHER WORKFORCE.

SPECIFICALLY, THE PERCENTAGES THAT ARE DISPLAYED ON THE SLIDE SHOW A NEED TO CONSIDER AND FOCUS ON OUR BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEACHING STAFF AS OUR STUDENT POPULATION IS 13.8%. WHILE THAT TEACHING STAFF IS ONLY AT 7%. OUR NEW TEACHER HIRE DATA DISPLAY THIS IS DISCREPANCY ALSO IN OUR MINORITY HIRING OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, WE HAVE SHOWN IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR MINORITY TEACHER HIRING.

GOING FROM A MINORITY TEACHER HIRING PERCENTAGE OF 9% IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 TO 11.7 IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 13.9 IN 2023. WE ARE SERVING... WE ARE SEEING IMPROVEMENT. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS GROWTH WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ACTION

[01:10:03]

THE ACTION PLAN WAS DEVELOPED AS PART OF THIS WORK.

IT WAS PREVIOUSLY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN THE FALL.

BUT I'LL BE REVIEWING THAT PROGRESS A LITTLE BIT LATER IN

THIS PRESENTATION. >> ONE OF THE CRITICAL DATA ANALYSIS POINTS THAT WE UTILIZE AS A DEPARTMENT ARE THE ANALYTICS BETWEEN THE HIRING CYCLE THAT HIRING CYCLE RANGES FROM THE START OF AN APPLICATION TO THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND THEN TO THE OFFICIAL HIRE. THE NEXT THREE SLIDES, YOU WILL SEE DISPLAY DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FROM THE MOST RECENT CERTIFIED STAFF HIRING CYCLE. THESE ANALYTICS ARE AVAILABLE TO US THROUGH OUR APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM AND UNIFIED TALENT. THIS DATA REPRESENTS OUR MOST RECENT DATA FOR APPLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND HIRES FROM FEBRUARY 15, 2022 TO JANUARY 6, 2023.

WHICH IS OUR HIGHEST RANGE OF HIRING FOR CERTIFIED STAFF.

THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 916 APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFIED POSITIONS, COMPARED TO 1,148 APPLICATIONS LAST YEAR.

THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTED DATE RANGE.

THE THREE PIE CHARTS DISPLAY THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS BY ETHNICITY, RACE, AND GENDER. WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER DEMOGRAPHICS THAT WE DO ANALYZE ON A REGULAR BASIS IN ORDER TO MONITOR OUR PRO PROGRESS.

HOWEVER, THESE ARE OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION. AT FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE GREEN PORTIONS OF THE EACH OF THE PIE CHARTS PRESENTED WHICH REPRESENT THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO CHOSE NOT TO RESPOND TO THE ETHNICITY, RACE, OR GENDER OPTIONS ON THEIR APPLICATION. AS THESE DESIGNATIONS ARE VOLUNTARY PER THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACT.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT DATA POINT AND DISCLOSURE, NOTING A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF OUR APPLICANT POOL WHOSE ETHNICITY, RACE, AND GENDER ARE UNKNOWN, DURING THE APPLICATION SCREENING PROCESS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC TOTALS ON THIS SLIDE REPRESENT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS, NOT THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHART BY RACE, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 99 APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES WHO IDENTIFIED AS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, BUT FURTHER DESEGREGATION OF THIS DATA REVEALED THAT IT REPRESENTS 58 BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CANDIDATES OF WHICH SOME APPLIED FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS. ALTHOUGH DATA ANALYSIS, WORK FORCE GOAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MONITORING OF THESE GOALS OCCUR ACROSS ALL DEMOGRAPHICS, WE HAVE SELECTED RACE, MORE SPECIFICALLY, BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHICH IS THE PURPLE SEGMENT ON THE MIDDLE PIE CHART, AS A SINGLE COMMON POINT FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION. IN ORDER TO EXPLAIN THE DATA PRESENTED AND HOW THIS DATA HELPS US TRACK PROGRESSION FROM APPLICATION TO HIRE. OF ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ACROSS MULTIPLE DEMOGRAPHICS. THIS SLIDE DISPLAYS THE INTERVIEW DATA THIS IS TOTAL NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS THAT OCCURRED WITH SELECTED CANDIDATES FROM THE APPLICATION POOL ACROSS DEMOGRAPHICS FROM THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.

FOE KUING OUR ATTENTION TO RACE, AGAIN TO HAVE A SINGLE DATA POINT OF CONTINUUM, OUTLINED IN THE MIDDLE PIE CHART AND FOLLOWING THE SAME POINT OF THOSE WHO IDENTIFY AS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHICH IS THE PURPLE SEGMENT, 60 INTERVIEWS TOOK PLACE FROM THE 99 APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY AFRICAN-AMERICANS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT 44 OF THE 58 BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN APPLICANTS WERE INTERVIEWED. OF WHICH SOME INTERVIEWED FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS. THUS, THERE WAS A 74% APPLICATION TO INTERVIEW RATE AMONG THIS DEMOGRAPHIC.

IN ADDITION, SOME CANDIDATES WERE OFFERED INTERVIEWS AND DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE. THUS, THE NUMBERS DISPLAYED ONLY REPRESENT THOSE WHO ACCEPTED THOSE INTERVIEWS.

AN ADDITIONAL NOTE IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT APPLICATION DOES NOT EQUAL QUALIFICATION. NOT ALL APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFIED POSITIONS MET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION TO QUALIFY FOR AN INTERVIEW.

THE MAJORITY OF CCPS TEACHING POSITIONS REQUIRE A MINIMUM BACHELOR'S DEGREE. HOWEVER, SOME APPLICANTS WHO

[01:15:02]

THE HIRING DATA REPRESENT IN THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA OF THE FINAL PHASE OF THE HIRING CYCLE OF HIRING PROGRESSIONS FROM THE APPLICATION SITE.

FOCUSING OUR ATTENTION AGAIN TO THE PURPLE SEGMENT TO THE MIDDLE PIE CHART OF THE 60 POSITION INTERVIEWS THAT TOOK PLACE, AMONG 44 CANDIDATES WHO IDENTIFIED AS BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, AND ACCEPTED AN INTERVIEW, CCPS MADE 24 HIRING OFFERS. A TOTAL OF THOSE CANDIDATES ACCEPTED THE OFFER F FOR HIRE IN A CERTIFIED POSITION WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 19 OF THOSE 20 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ONBOARD AND HIRING PROCESS.

WE RECOGNIZE THERE IS TREMENDOUS GROWTH OPPORTUNITY AMONG OUR WORKFORCE. WE ARE EXCITED THAT WE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO THIS DATA TO FURTHER ANALYZE THE VARIETY OF DATA POINTS RELATED TO APPLICATION POOLS, INTERVIEW AND HIRING RATES. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEAM TO HELP US FURTHER MONITOR, ASSESS, AND IDENTIFY AREAS OF NEED TO SUPPORT OUR DEVELOPMENT OF ACTION PLANS TO INCREASE WORKFORCE DIVERSITY.

THIS LAST DATA GRAPH SHOWS THE REPORTED COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES APPLICANTS ATT ATTENDED, AS REPORTED ON THEIR APPLICATIONS. THIS DATA PROVIDES US WITH A TARGETED LENS OF WHERE TO CONTINUE OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITY GAPS RELATED TO RECRUITMENT.

>> IN THE PAST, CCPS HOSTED PRESCREENING INTERVIEWS FOR SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS. THIS YEAR, WE DECIDED TO EXPAND THE INTERVIEW WINDOW AND OFFER MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERVIEW POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ACROSS ALL CONTENT AREAS.

TO EVALUATE THE PROCESS, WE HAVE ALSO SWITCHED FROM CONDUCTING PRE-SCREENING INTERVIEWS TO FUTURE CERTIFIED POSITION INTERVIEWS. PRIOR TO THIS UPDATE, GREAT CANDIDATES WOULD BE MOVED INTO A SECOND LEVEL OF INTERVIEWS THAT WOULD OCCUR AT A LATER DATE WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BY OFFERING EARLIER AND MORE FUTURE CERTIFIED POSITION INTERVIEWS, THIS ELIMINATED THE EXTRA STEP IN THE INTERVIEW PROCESS AND ALLOWED FOWS OFFER CONTINGENT CONTRACTS EARLIER TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES. THIS ALSO ALLOWS FOR EARLY ACCESS TO HIGHLY QUALIFIED MINORITY CANDIDATES.

FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR, CCPS OFFERED 51 CONTINGENT CONTRACTS FROM FEBRUARY THROUGH MAY.

AND WE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH ONLY 13 CERTIFICATED OPENINGS SYSTEM-WIDE. WITH 7.5 OF THOSE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. THIS TRANSLATES TO A 1.1% VACANCY. FAR BELOW WHAT MANY SURROUNDING SCHOOL SYSTEMS EXPERIENCE TO START A SCHOOL YEAR.

AS A PART OF THE WEST ED RECOMMENDATIONS, WE UTILIZE A HANDSHAKE PLATFORM AS A MEANS OF OUTREACH TO MOST COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. HANDSHAKE PROVIDES COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AS WELL AS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH A WAY TO EXPLORE, CONNECT, AND POST JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

CCPS POSTS ALL CURRENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 150 SCHOOLS UTILIZING THIS PLATFORM. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, CCPS IS ALSO SUPPORTING A BOOTH AT THE ANNUAL NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS CONFERENCE, AND THIS YEAR, WE ARE ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY 12TH ANNUAL SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CONFERENCE AND EMPLOYMENT FAIR IN AN EFFORT TO RECRUIT RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS TO OUR SYSTEM8 COLLEGE OF EDUCATION SPECIFIC RECRUITING FAIRS. OUR GOALS FOR RECRUITING SEASON WERE TO CAST A WIDER NET TO SCHOOLS WE ATTEND, GOING BEYOND THE LOCAL AREAS. WE FOCUSED ON ATTENDING SCHOOLS WITH DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND HBCU'S.

CCPS IS ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR SUPPORT EMPLOYEES TO EXPLORE NUMEROUS POINTS OF ENTRY, TO BECOMING A CERTIFIED TEACHER.

IN ADDITION TO HOSTING INFORMATION SESSIONS ON DIRECT BILL OPTIONS, THE APPLICATION PROCESS, AND MSDE CERTIFICATIONS, LIKE THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH THE STATE UNIVERSITY, WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY FOR ALL SUPPORT EMPLOYEES AND CONDITIONALLY CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO OFFER TUITION RATES AT A DISCOUNTED RATE WHICH ALLOWS FOR TUITION REIMBURSEMENT TO COVER

[01:20:04]

>> DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR, THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT PARTNERED WITH WEST ED TO COMPLETE A YEAR-LONG STUDY OF OUR MINORITY HIRING PRACTICES.

FROM THIS STUDY, AN ACTION PLAN IN THE AREAS OF CANDIDATE RECRUETMENT, HIRING SELECTION AND TEACHER RETENTION.

WITH EACH OF THESE GOALS, ACTION STEPS AND STRATEGIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION WERE DEVELOPED AND ARE CURRENTLY BEING IMPLEMENTED. THE DETAILS FROM THAT ACTION PLAN WERE PRESENTED IN THE FALL, BUT TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE THAT THE ACTION PLAN WHICH INCLUDES EIGHT GOALS AND 26 ACTION STEPS IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND WILL BE IMPLEMENTED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO.

DATE, WE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED OR BEGUN IMPLEMENTATION OF TEN OF THE 26 ACTION STEPS.

WITH FULL IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETE IN THE

PLAN BY THE FALL OF 2024. >> SO THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO INCREASE EDUCATION FUNDING FOR STUDENTS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS? AND ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCES, ACCELERATE STUDENT OUTCOMES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THERE ARE FIVE PILLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BLUEPRINT.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS AND LEADERS, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, MORE RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

WITH THE BLUEPRINT SPECIFICALLY, IT HAS TWO ASPECTS THAT HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BY CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH REGARD TO WORKFORCE. THE FIRST IS INCENTIVIZING NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 19 TEACHERS IN THE COUNTY WHO ARE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED.

SIX OF THOSE WHO JUST RECEIVED THEIR CERTIFICATION IN DECEMBER.

THERE ARE AN ADDITIONAL 46, WE DID HAVE A COUPLE WITHDRAW.

CANDIDATES CURRENTLY CONTINUING THEIR PURSUIT OF CERTIFICATION IN OUR DISTRICT. THEN ADDITIONAL 27 INITIAL CANDIDATES. WE POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE AS MANY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INITIAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE WANTING TO PURR PURSUE ALL FOUR COMPONENTS.

WE COULD HAVE 65 CERTIFIED TEACHERS NEXT DECEMBER.

THE SECOND IS THE FOCUS ON DIVERSITY.

ALSO HIGHLIGHTED PREVIOUSLY IN THIS PRESENTATION.

PILLAR TWO NOT ONLY REQUIRES THE REPORTING OF TEACHER DIVERSITY% BY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUT ALSO MENTIONS PRIORITIZING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

AND HISPANIC INSTITUTIONS WITH A TRACK RECORD OF PREPARING HIGH-QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS.

THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT FUNDING IS DESIGNED TO HELP OVERCOME LEARNING LOSS FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

ACCELERATE STUDENT LEARNING, AND PROVIDE MORE TARGETED SUPPORT FOR HISTORICALLY UNDERSTOOD SERVED STUDENTS.

MARYLAND LEADS ALSO ATTENDS TO THE LONG-STANDING NEED TO ESTABLISH AND STRENGTHEN TEACHER PIPELINES AND DEVELOPMENT.

AND ALSO SERVES TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE PRIORITIES WITHIN THE CCPS STRATEGIC PLAN. AS A RESULT OF THESE GOALS, CCPS HAS UTILIZED FUNDING FOR MARYLAND LEADS WHICH IS ALSO DIRECTLY DIRECTLY LINKED TO THE GOALINGS OF THE BLUEPRINT TO ELEVATE TEACHING AND LEARNING IN CALVERT COUNTY.

THOSE INITIATIVE, ALL SUPPORTED BY LANGUAGE AND BLUEPRINT PILLAR TWO ARE AS FOLLOWS: HIRE A NATIONAL COORDINATOR.

HIRE FOUR FACILITATORS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO ASSIST TEACHERS GOING THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS.

PARTNER WITH THE STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE GROW YOUR OWN INITIATIVE WHICH WE CURRENTLY HAVE NINE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT STAFF ENROLLED IN A DUEL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AND SPECIAL EDUCATION. THIS PROGRAM PAYS FOR TUITION SO THEY CAN ATTAIN THEIR TEACHING CERTIFICATE IN TWO YEARS.

HIRE THE PRINCIPAL MENTOR TO WORK WITH OUR PRINCIPALS HAVING THREE OR LESS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN THE POSITION AND SUPPORTING VETERAN PRINCIPALS. THESE EFFORTS ARE RELATED TO WORKFORCE. THERE ARE OTHER ACTIVITITIES TO PROMOTE THE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STAFF ALSO LINKED TO MARIJUANA LEADS WHICH WE WILL... MARYLAND LEADS WHICH WILL BE DISCUSSED IN THE NEXT SEGMENT OF OUR PRESENTATION.

>> THE THIRD GOAL OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, SHARED EARLIER

[01:25:02]

AS DR. SAMPSON SHARED, THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT HAS PROVIDED OUR SYSTEM WITH MANY NEW AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO REIMAGINE OUR WORK. IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, WE USE THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT AND OTHER GRANT FUNDING TO PROVIDE LETTERS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RISE PROGRAM, AND ENHANCED OUR TEACHER INDUCTION MENTORING PROGRAM. LANGUAGE ESSENTIALS FOR TEACHERS OF READING AND SPELLING OR LETTERS IS A TWO-YEAR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS THAT BRIDGES THE INNER DISCIPLINARY BODY OF SCIENTIFICALLY BASED RESEARCH ABOUT READING TO THE STRUCTURE LITERACY APPROACH USED IN CALL VET CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CLASSROOMS. THIS SUPPORTS THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY TO HELP ALL STUDENTS BECOME PROFICIENT READERS. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 284 TEACHERS PARTICIPATING IN THE LETTERS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

WITH 260 OF THEM BEING PAID THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT. AND THE TITLE TWO FUNDING.

ALL GENERAL EDUCATORS, ALL SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS, AND TITLE ONE TEACHERS IN GRADES K-5 ARE PARTICIPATING THIS YEAR IN THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. 206 TEACHERS ARE THIS YEAR ONE.

AND 24 TEACHERS ARE IN YEAR TWO. TEACHERS HAD THE CHOICE OF RECEIVING AN ANNUAL STIPEND. MSDE CREDIT OR SUBSTITUTE COVERAGE TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING.

20 FULL-TIME SUBSTITUTE POSITIONS WERE HIRED THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT TO COVER FOR LETTERS AND THE RISE PROGRAM WHEN TEACHERS ELECTED TO PARTICIPATE DURING THE STUDENT DAY. THE CALL VERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REIMAGINING SOCIAL STUDIES ENGAGEMENT OR RISE PROGRAM LEVERAGES PROJECT-BASED LEARNING AND DELIBERATIVE DISCOURSE STRATEGIES TO COORDINATE CLASSROOMS WHERE LEADERSHIP IS ENCOURAGED. THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED 44 COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATORS WITH INTENSIVE ONGOING JOB AND VETTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTED BY MONTHLY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEER COLLABORATION.

THE FIRST PATHWAY IN THIS PROGRAM IS THE DELIBERATIVE CLASSROOM COHORT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PATHWAY IS TO EQUIP TEACHERS WITH STRATEGIES THAT GIVE STUDENTS THE STRUCTURE NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIL DISCOURSE.

GIVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE THESE SKILLS IS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPING OUR NEXT GENERATIONS OF LEADERS AND CITIZENS. THE SECOND COHORT AIMS TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT IF THROUGH THE PROJECT-BASED LEARNING PATHWAY THAT PROVIDE TEACHERS WITH THE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. THE PROGRAM CON SIFSED OF A THREE-DAY SUMMER CONFERENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH MAGNIFY LEARNING. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE SUPPORT SESSIONS OCCURRING TWICE A MONTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THIS STRUCTURE ALLOWS FOR SUSTAINED PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COLLABORATION AND REFLECTION. THE RISE PROJECT BASE LEARNING PATHWAY ALSO EMPHASIZES COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP ENRICH THE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH OF OUR TEACHERS.

IN THE FALL SEMESTER, TEACHERS FORGED RELATIONSHIPS WITH TE CALVERT COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

CALL VERT COUNTERCALVERT COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, SAFE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION AND CALVERT COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT HAS ALSO PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO EXPAND AND ENHANCE OUR MENTORING PROGRAM THROUGH TEACHER INDUCTION. THE FIRST PHASE INVOLVED PARTNERING WITH THE NEW TEACHER CENTER TO DEVELOP THE COACHING FOR OPTIMAL LEARNING PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM ENSURES THAT TEACHERS NEW TO THE PROFESSION ARE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR TEACHER SPECIALIST. THROUGH THE GRANT, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE THREE FULL-TIME MENTOR TEACHERS TO ENGAGE TEACHERS IN A COACHING CYCLE THAT INCLUDES LESSON-PLANNING INFORMAL, OBSERVATIONS AND ANALYSIS OF STUDENT WORK.

THESE TEACHERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL ONE HOUR OUTSIDE OF THE 7-HOUR WORK DAY TO WORK WITH THE MENTOR TEACHER SPECIALISTS. THIS OPPORTUNITY IN YEAR ONE IS RUNNING FROM JANUARY TO MAY. AND TEACHERS ARE COMPENSATED FOR THE ADDITIONAL TIME. 25 OF OUR 33 NEW-TO-PROFESSION TEACHERS HAVE OPTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COACHING OPTIMAL LEARNING PROGRAM. THESE THREE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES SHARED THIS EVENING EXHIBIT WAYS IN

[01:30:01]

THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE TO FOSTER AND IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT WAYS TO OFFER DIFFERENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN ORDER TO MEET THE LEARNING NEEDS OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.

>> THIS CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION REGARDING WORKFORCE GOAL OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN. HOPEFULLY, THE PRESENTATION HELPED TO CLEAR... HELPED TO MAKE CLEAR OUR CURRENT STA CUSS WITH THIS GOAL AS WELL AS EFFORTS FOR A CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN THE AREAS OF ENSURING A DIVERSE... ENSURING THE DIVERSITY OF OUR WORKFORCE, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH QUALITY STAFF AND PROVIDING STAFF WITH PERSONALIZED AND DIFFERENTIATED PRONATION FALL... PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

AT THIS TIME, WE MAY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR

WORKFORCE. >> MS. GRENIS?

>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE TEACHER TRAINING REGARDING LETTERS. THERE HAS BEEN... THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TEACHERS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN TRAINED IN LETTERS.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A DIFFERENTIATION FOR THEM.

THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN TIME OTHER THAN CHILDREN, TO TEACHERS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEIR TIME

IS BEING USED EFFICIENTLY. >> SO IF THE TEACHERS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN THROUGH THE LETTERS TRAINING, SO WE HAD TEACHERS LAST YEAR WHO WENT THROUGH YEAR ONE, SO THOSE WERE THE 24 WHO WERE GOING THROUGH YEAR TWO.

WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR K-3 TEACHERS PREVIOUSLY TRAINED.

THIS WAS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR K-3 TEACHERS AT SOME POINT IN TIME, HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN LETTERS.

>> MS. POST? >> HI.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

I'M NEW HERE. BEAR WITH ME.

WHAT DO WE DO CURRENTLY TO RETAIN OUR TEACHERS? WHAT ARE THINGS THAT ARE IN PLACE TO... FOR OUR VETERAN STAFF? WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> I JUST SAW THAT TEACHER RETENTION WAS ONE OF THE MOST...

NOT JUST NEW TEACHERS AND YOU KNOW, TRAINING THEM.

WHAT ARE WE DOING CURRENTLY? WHAT IS ONGOING TO RETAIN OUR

STAFF IN. >> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION. THAT IS DEFINITELY AN AREA WE ARE LOOKING INTO FURTHER TO IMPROVE.

BECAUSE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITY GAPS THERE IN TERMS OF SOME DIRECT SUPPORTS OUTSIDE OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS.

AS THE HUMAN RESOURCES TEAM, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING THE WHOLE TEACHER, NOT JUST THEIR INDIVIDUAL TRAINING. WITH MS. JACOBS OUTLINING VERY WELL, IN TERMS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

WE CERTAINLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, INFORMATION MORE SO IN TERMS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE SUCH AS SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL AND EMOTIONAL BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS.

RIGHT NOW IT IS A MATTER OF ACCESSIBILITY AND CONTINUING TO COMMUNICATE WHAT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDS ARISE.

WE BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE MORE ON RETENTION.

BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONGST COMMUNITIES, ONE OF THE FOCUS AREAS OUR... ARE EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS.

CURRENTSLY, I'M CONSULTING WITH WEST ED AS WELL.

CONTINUING TO WORK WITH A DIFFERENT TEAM WITHIN WEST ED.

TO HELP TO BUILD COMMUNITIES OF SUPPORT WITHIN SCHOOLS AND

DEPARTMENTS. >> HAVE WE EVER ASKED THE TEACHERS? WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL? THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A POLL. I'M NOT PRIVY.

>> NOT AT ALL. I CAN'T SAY EVER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOREVER. CERTAINLY, NOT WITHIN THE TIME THAT I'M HERE. WE DO THE SURVEYS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THEY ARE TARGETED ENOUGH TO GET THE GOOD RESPONSES THAT WE NEED. THAT IS SOME INFANCY LEVEL SUPPORTS. THE FIRST THING IS US RECOGNIZING THAT IS A NEED. AND THE FIRST STEPS ARE CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO DO. .

>> YES. >> I WANT TO ADD, I HAVE A TEACHER ADVISORY COUNCIL. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY.

A LOT OF THE AGENDA ITEMS WE TALK ABOUT ARE AROUND HOW TO BETTER TEACHERS' EXPERIENCE IN CALVERT COUNTY.

FOR EXAMPLE, TWO DAYS AGO, I MET WITH THE SECONDARY TEACHER ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND GETTING... I THINK WE HAD AT A BOARD MEETING, TEACH TEACHER ARE SPENG THEIR OWN MONEY FOR DIFFERENT THINGS. THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH TEACHERS ARE, WHAT ARE YOU SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON? WHAT CAN WE SUPPORT WITH? FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY CAME UP, LIKE, THE DIFFERENT SUBSCRIPTION THAT IS TEACHERS PAY FOR.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THAT FROM TEACHERS.

TO SEE HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY SUPPORT DIFFERENT RESOURCES LIKE THAT. TAKING THAT BURDEN OFF OF OUR TEACHERS SPENDING THEIR OWN MONEY.

>> THANK YOU. AND SO I KNOW THAT WE TRACK HOW

[01:35:01]

>> YES. GOOD QUESTION.

WE ACTUALLY DO PROVIDE AN EXIT INTERVIEW FOR ANYONE THAT LEAVES THE SYSTEM. SUPPORT STAFF, TEACHERS, ANY STAFF MEMBER THAT LEAVES. AS PART OF THE EXIT INTERVIEW SURVEY THAT GOES TO THEM AUTOMATICALLY, THEY HAVE THE OPTION OF SELECTING AN EXIT INTERVIEW.

SOME WOULD PREFER TO PROVIDE INFORMATION IN WRITING.

SOME HAVE TAKEN US UP ON A MEETING, SHARING THOSE AS WELL.

THAT IS ACTUALLY A GOOD QUESTION AS WELL BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS IN OUR ACTION PLAN THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT MOST OF THE TIME, THOSE EXIT INTERVIEWS OR THE SURVEYS ARE DONE ANONYMOUSLY. IT IS ALSO HARD FOR US TO TRACK ANY PARTICULAR CATEGORY OR EVEN DEMOGRAPHIC OF TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER THAT LEAVES BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY ARE DONE ANONYMOUSLY. THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING WE ARE WORKING ON. WHERE WE COULD INCLUDE RACE, FOR EXAMPLE, AS AN OPTION WHEN THEY ARE COMPLETING THAT.

SO WE CAN SEE IF THERE IS ANY PATTERNS OR TRENDS IN FOLKS THAT

MIGHT BE LEAVING. >> OKAY.

TWO MORE QUESTIONS. I PROMISE I WON'T TALK ANYMORE.

THAT IS A LIE. Y'ALL ARE GOING TO HEAR ME A LOT. OF ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED, DO WE INTERVIEW EVERYONE THAT SUBMITS... EVERY QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL THAT SUBMITS AN APPLICATION OR ARE WE ONLY INTERVIEWING THE MINORITY CANDIDATES BECAUSE THOSE ARE TARGETED? SO IT IS EVERYBODY?

>> ABSOLUTELY. WE DO NOT INTERVIEW EVERYONE THAT IS QUALIFIED, IN GENERAL. JUST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS...

DEPENNING ON THE POSITION, IT IS JUST NOT... THERE IS NOT THE POSSIBILITY TO DO SO. SO WE IDENTIFY THE MOST

QUALIFIED, AND THEN... >> THANK YOU FOR THAT, BY THE

WAY. >> AND WE DO NOT INTERVIEW BASED ON ANY DEMOGRAPHIC. AS I STATED BEFORE, THE MAJORITY OF OUR DATA RELATED TO ANALYTICS WITH RACE OR GENDER, PEOPLE CHOOSE NOT TO RESPOND. THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IS VETTING, IN ORDER TO SAY, LET'S GET ALL OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CANDIDATES AND MAKE SURE TO INTERVIEW THEM.

WE ENCOURAGE THE POOL TO BE INCREASED.

GET EVERYONE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A DIVERSE REPRESENTATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. BUT THEN THE VETTING THAT OCCURS NOT JUST... YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR TEAM, IT IS PRIMARILY IN THE DEPARTMENTAL OR SCHOOL LEVEL, IT IS BASED ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OUTLINED ON THE JOB DESCRIPTION IT WAS.

>> OKAY. HOW MANY TEACHER VACANCIES DO WE

HAVE RIGHT NOW? >> YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME.

>> I ACTUALLY HAVE THAT DATA. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE ARE ONE AND A HALF TEACHER VEA KANSASS.

FIVE MIDDLE SCHOOL VACANCIES. THREE HIGH SCHOOL VACANCIES.

INCLUDED IN THAT OR IN ADDITION TO THAT IS FIVE AND A HALF SPECIAL EDUCATION VACANCIES. A TOTAL OF 15 # TEACHER VACANCIES. ACTUALLY, THAT IS MORE AS WE MENTIONED, THAN WE STARTED THE YEAR WITH.

WE DID HAVE SOME MIDYEAR RETIREES WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL.

IT IS NOT AN UNUSUAL NUMBER FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

WE HAVE ALSO HAD SOME MID-YEAR RELOCATIONS.

SOME FOLKS THAT RESIGNED TO MOVE TO OTHER STATES BASED ON JUST MOVEMENT WITHIN THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

YES. CURRENTLY 15.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I CAN ALSO ADD TO THAT? THAT I THINK IF WE DO ANY TYPE OF SURVEYS, WE NEED TO ALSO BE EXAMINING WHY OUR SUPPORT STAFF IS LEAVING.

THEY ARE VITAL TO OUR SYSTEM RUNNING SMOOTHLY.

>> YES. I WAS WONDERING.

DO WE HAVE ANY CONSIDERATION FOR RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY? I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT TEN TEACHERS WHO EITHER GO TO ST. MARY'S-FOR-OR OTHER COUNTIES.

THEY LIVE HERE BUT THEY HAVE TO GO OTHER PLACES.

SOME HAVE RECEIVED INTERVIEWS. SOME HAVE NOT.

IS THERE ANY PRIORITY TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TO WORK

HERE? >> I WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY TELL THEM TO APPLY. IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED AND ELIGIBLE. LAST YEAR, THROUGH OUR CONTINGENT CONTRACT PROCESS, PROBABLY HALF OF THEM, AT LEAST WERE TEACHERS FROM OTHER COUNTIES THAT LIVE IN CALVERT THAT WANTED TO TRY TO GET INTO CALVERT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHAT HAPPENS IS A LOT OF TIMES OUR VACANCIES, WE ARE NOT REAL CLEAR ON SPECIFIC VACANCIES UNTIL AFTER JULY 15.

AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS A LAW THAT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ANY TEACHERS THAT ARE TEACHING UNDER CONTRACT IN ANOTHER COUNTY TO COME TO US. THEY KIND OF GET STUCK.

LAST YEAR, THROUGH THE CONTRACT PROCESS, WE HIRED THEM BEFORE JULY 15 NOT EVEN KNOWING WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO GO.

BUT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE VACANCIES. THEY AGREED TO THAT.

THEN AFTER WE KNEW WHERE THE VACANCIES WERE, WE PLACED THEM IN SCHOOLS. WE TRIED TO ACTUALLY PLACE THEM CLOSE TO THEIR HOME AS WELL. AS WE SAW THAT AS PART OF RETENTION. TRYING TO PLACE THEM IN A

[01:40:01]

IF YOU KNOW OF THEM, PLEASE TELL THEM TO APPLY.

CALL ME. >> OKAY.

LY DEFINITELY DO THAT. I WILL DEFINITELY DO THAT.

WHEN SOMEONE DOES RECEIVE AN INTERVIEW, IF THEY DO NOT GET THE POSITION, ARE THEY MADE AWARE OF THE REASON THAT THEY

DID NOT GET THE JOB? >> THE LETTER THAT GOES OUT TO THEM THAT STATES THAT THEY DIDN'T REF IS JOB DOES NOT GO INTO SPECIFICS. THEY ARE ALWAYS FREE TO CALL.

SOME OF THEM DO. USUALLY MYSELF OR MRS. LEWIS WILL SIT DOWN WITH THEM AND TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHY THEY WEREN'T SELECTED OR IF THEY HAVE THINGS THAT THEY CAN WORK ON.

A LOT OF TIES, IT COMES DOWN TO EXPERIENCE OR A LOT OF

CANDIDATES FOR THAT POSITION. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. OH.

ONE LAST THING. SORRY.

I STOLE THAT FROM YOU ALREADY. AS FAR AS WITH STUDENTS, JUNIORS AAND SENIORS WHO ARE POSSIBLY GOING TO GET INTO THE EDUCATION FIELD, ARE WE KIND OF TALKING TO THEM OR KIND OF GROOMING THEM OR KIND OF MAKING IT... INVITING THEM TO COME BACK?

>> YES. ACTUALLY, THAT IS ONE OF THE GOALS IN OUR ACTION PLAN. FROM WEST ED.

WE HAVE... AND MRS. AIKENS WORKS IN A TEACHER ACADEMY PROGRAM.

SHE TARGETS THE ONE THAT IS ARE ALREADY IN THE PROGRAM.

WE HAVE EXPANDED THE SCHOLARSHIP OFFERINGS TO STUDENTS THAT ARE EVEN OUTSIDE OF THAT PROGRAM THROUGH OUR ACTION PLAN TO OFFER SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THAT MIGHT WANT TO COME BACK. AND THAT WE WOULD HELP PAY FOR SOME COLLEGE EXPERIENCE TO ENCOURAGE THEM.

ACTUALLY, REQUIRE THEM TO COME BACK.

THEY ENTER THROUGH A CONTRACT WITH US.

THAT WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR PART OF THEIR COURSES.

THEN THEY WILL COME BACK AND TEACH WITH US.

WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT EVEN MORE.

BUT YES. WE ARE DOING THAT AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU. >> JUST TO EXTEND ON THAT A BIT.

BECAUSE TYPICALLY, STUDENTS WHO FOLLOW THAT TRACK FOR THE TEACHER ACADEMY OF MARYLAND, THEY ARE KIND OF... THEY KIND OF KNOW THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THEY HAVE AN IDEA THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

PART OF THE ACTION PLAN IS TO IDENTIFY OTHER STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT KNOW YET BUT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EXPANDING INFORMATION TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TEACHING, AND SO WE HAVE A PLAN TO WORK... TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES AENED THE COUNSELORS.

IN PARTICULAR. THEY HAVE THE DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND GETTING REFERRALS FROM TEACHERS THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD CAN'T DATE TO AT LEAST PULL THEM IN FOR INFORMATION SESSIONS RELATED TO THE VALUE OF TEACHING AND SOMETHING TO CONSIDER GOING

FORWARD. >> MS. GRENIS.

>> YEAH. ONE MORE QUESTION.

YOU SHARED WITH US THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS WE WERE SHORT IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

DO WE HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF DATA FOR SUPPORT STAFF?

>> WE DO. I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN BY LEVEL OR POSITION.

FOR SUPPORT STAFF. OUR CURRENT SUPPORT STAFF VACANCY IS... 33.

33 VACANCIES FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

>> 33. AND DO WE KNOW WHY THAT NUMBER

IS SO HIGH? >> THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT MORE TURNOVER WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

WITH TEACHERS ANDER CERTIFICATED STAFF, THERE IS ONLY A FEW ALLOWANCES FOR RESIGNATION IN THE MIDDLE OF A YEAR.

ONCE THEY SIGN THAT YEAR CONTRACT, THEY ARE WITH US FOR A YEAR. OR THEY COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE THEIR CERTIFICATION. IS UP OR SUPPORT STAFF DOES NOT HAVE THAT SAME REQUIREMENT. SUPPORT STAFF ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO GIVE A TWO WEEKS NOTICE. WE DO HAVE A LOT OF TURNOVER WITH OUR SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL. I CAN SAY THAT OUR SUPPORT STAFF VACANCY PERCENTAGE RIGHT NOW, THAT 33 EQUATES TO ABOUT 3.7% VACANCY. THAT IS THE LOWEST THAT IT HAS BEEN IN THREE YEARS. WE HAVE MADE A LOT OF EFFORTS TO TRY TO FILL OUR SUPPORT STAFF VACANCIES.

THROUGH OUR OFFICE, THROUGH OUR SUPERVISOR IN THE OFFICE, THROUGH OUR H.R. ASSOCIATE THAT WORKS WITH SUPPORT STAFF IN OUR OFFICE. AND AGAIN, WE ARE ACTUALLY... WE REALIZE THAT IS A LARGE NUMBER. THAT SOUNDS LARGE.

ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO OUR TEACHING FORCE.

THAT IS THE LOW IT HAS BEEN IN THREE YEARS.

AND WE HOPE TO MAKE THAT EVEN LESS.

WE ARE CERTAINLY... WE HIRE MULTIPLE SUPPORT STAFF ON A

DAILY BASIS. >> RIGHT.

AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, THAT IS THE CURRENT DATA OF THE OFFICIAL HIRE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE APPROXIMATELY 12 IN COUP. ... IN CUE.

THERE IS A TURNOVER RATE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE CERTIFICATED

[01:45:05]

STAFF. >> MS. BALINSKI?

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE JUST A NOTATION.

THAT... I WAS LISTENING IN ON THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION BOARD OF ED MEETING. THEY MENTIONED THAT MSDE, THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS, AS ONE OF ITS GOALS, SO RELEASE... TO RELEASE ON HOW TO REDUCE THE TEACHERCTS- VACANCIES. IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

YOU KNOW, AND WHEN HE READ OUT SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW, IT IS THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY F SORT OF APPROACHED. THE ONE THAT WE HAVEN'T, LIKE, THE GROW YOUR OWN WE HAVE. THE, YOU KNOW, BE A LITTLE FLEXIBLE IN LIE CENSURE LIE CENSURE.

THE ONE I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE EVER REALLY DISCUSSED, IT WOULD MEAN GETTING OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ALL DIFFERENT...

AND OUR BANKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT INVOLVED, IS TO REDUCE THE POINTS ON MORTGAGES FOR, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALS, FOR POLICE, TEACHERS, A FIRE. THINGS LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS GOING TO COME DOWN.

>> THEY CAN DO ANYTHING AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP US.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE ACUTE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

IT IS KILLING OTHER DISTRICTS. AND WE ARE SO VERY LUCKY THAT WE ONLY HAVE 15 AND A HALF POSITIONS OPEN RIGHT NOW.

SOME SCHOOLS STARTED WITH HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES WHICH IS JUST TERRIFYING. SO I REALLY APPLAUD SOME OF THE STEPS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN. ESPECIALLY THE CONTINGENCIES CONTRACTS. FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE. JUST MAYBE FOR THE NEXT TIME THAT THIS IS PRESENTED TO US. YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT... SOME OF WHAT JANA SAID. YOU KNOW, WHAT IS OUR EXPERIENCE WITH RETENTION? MAYBE WE COULD START LOOKING AT TREND DATA AND MAYBE IT IS OV OVER... YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SHOWS UP IN TRENDS THAT SAYS, OH, THIS IS JUST SORT OF LIKE A SEASONAL THING WITH US. BECAUSE WE HAVE TRANSITIONAL POPULATION. WITH THE MILITARY AND THE LIKE.

OR IT SHOWS SOMETHING ELSE. THAT WE NEED TO DELVE INTO IT IF SO SOME OF THE DATA ON RETENTION.

AND THEN ALSO ON WHO WE INTERVIEW AND GIVE OFFERS TO VERSUS HOW MANY DO ACCEPT US. AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T GET MUCH DATA OUT OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT JOIN OUR SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, WHY DIDN'T YOU ACCEPT OUR OFFER? THAT KIND OF THING. IS IT THE HIGH COST OF HOUSING? IS IT THE FACT THAT WE ARE JUST TOO SLEEPY A RURAL DISTRICT TO ATTRACT THEM? YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF... IT IS SORT OF LIKE THE OPPOSITE OF AN EXIT INTERVIEW.

IT IS WHY YOU DIDN'T ACCEPT US TO BEGIN WITH.

ANYWAY, THAT IS ALL I HAD. >> WE DO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA. WE WILL MAKE NOTE TO SHARE THAT FOR THE NEXT TIME WE PRESENT. BECAUSE THERE IS AN OPTION.

AND AGAIN, IT IS OPTIONAL. WHEN WE HAVE A DECLINE, THAT FOR

THEM TO INPUT THE REASON WHY. >> IF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL ASK MINE.

WHEN MS. GRENIS ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT SUPPORT STAFF, YOU SAID THERE WERE 33 VACANCIES.

DID YOU MENTION PROVIDING A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THOSE VACANCIES ARE? SUPPORT STAFF IS A LARGE GROUP.

IT IS VERY ENCOMPASSING. IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW WHERE THOSE VACANCIES ARE. LIKE, AS FAR AS POSITION, TITLE,

OR SOMETHING. >> I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT TO YOU. WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATA.

I JUST DIDN'T BRING IT THIS AFTERNOON.

I'LL SEND THAT TO YOU. >> THANK YOU.

AND THEN GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE, ON THE APPLICANT POOL SLIDE, THERE ARE TWO BARS FOR ST. MARY'S COLLEGE.

CAN YOU TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?

>> THERE IS NOT A DIFFERENCE. I DID LOOK INTO THAT.

THE ANALYTICS THAT IS REPORTED IS BASED ON HOW THE PLATFORM IS

SET UP THROUGH POWER SCHOOL. >> OKAY.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A GLITCH IN TERMS OF... THEY H HAD... I DON'T KNOW. PROGRAMMED WHERE THERE WAS ONE BOX THAT STUDENTS COULD CLICK. AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER.

THAT IS A COMBINED NUMBER. IT IS THE ST. MARY'S COLLEGE OF

MARYLAND FOR BOTH. >> OKAY.

IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN CORRECT OUR GRAPH TO SHOW ST. MARY'S IN

THE CORRECT PLACE? >> UNFORTUNATELY, NO.

I DID FOLLOW UP TO INQUIRE ON THAT.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE BACK OFFICE PROGRAMMING THAT IS BEYOND A

DISTRICT LEVEL. >> OKAY.

>> BUT A CASE WAS PUT IN TO INFORM THEM OF THAT GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM FOR THAT PARTICULAR CASE.

[01:50:02]

>> THANK YOU. >> I ALSO NOTED ON A FEW OF THE SLIDES, THE TEACH... WELL, THE STUDENT STATISTICS SHOWN ALONG WITH THE STAFF STATISTICS. AND THAT IS NOT ON THE BOARD DOCS. THE VIEW OF THE PRESENTATION.

CAN BOARD DOCS BE UPDATED SO THE TWO STATISTICAL PIECES OF

INFORMATION ARE SHOWN TOGETHER? >> YES.

THAT WAS A LATE ADDITION. JUST SO WHEN WE WERE COMPARING, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK AND FORTH.

WE CAN UPDATE THE DOCS. >> OKAY, GREAT.

THAT WAS ALL OF MY QUESTIONS. AND SO WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TO JOIN US THIS EVENING. AND GIVING THAT PRESENTATION.

BEFORE WE MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS, I DO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEMBERS WHO WERE HERE THIS EVENING. FOR ATTENDING OUR MEETING.

[8.01 Comments by the Board]

OF THE BOARD, MS.RADT RATHGEB. >> HELLO, EVERYONE.

JUST GOING BACK TO WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE KIND OF WHAT MR. WHITE WAS TALKING ABOUT. ABOUT GETTING HIGH-SCHOOLERS INVOLVED EARLY WITH THE TEACHER RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPAND THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM WITH MORE OF THE STUDENTS.

STARTING IN THE LATE MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.

TO OUR STUDENTS. SO WE CAN GET MORE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY EXCITED ABOUT THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND STARTING THAT RECRUITMENT PROCESS EARLY. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. WHITE FOR BRINGING UP THAT POINT. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THIS DISCUSSION. AND THEN I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE, AGAIN, THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BAND ON THEIR INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND THEN WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. POST AND MS. GRENIS FOR JOINING US ON THE BOARD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

MS. GRENIS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TODAY, ESPECIALLY THE PARENTS WHO WERE EITHER HERE PERSONALLY OR LISTENING VIRTUALLY.

I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF YOUR CHILD'S EDUCATION, AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND AWAE OF THE DECISIONS THAT THIS BOARD MAKES.

WE DON'T HAVE DATA SHOWING THE PERFORMANCE OF CALVERT COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU STATEWIDE, MARYLAND IS IN A ACADEMIC CRISIS. 69% OF FOURTH-GRADERS AND 75% OF EIGHTH-GRADERS ARE AT OR BELOW BASIC ACHIEVEMENT IN READING AND MATH. THOSE ARE STATE LEVELS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE WITHIN THAT. WE NEED TO DISCUSS ANY ISSUES THAT INTERFERE WITH THEIR EDUCATION.

WE NEED OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF TO BE FULLY SUPPORTED, AND WE NEED THESE POSITIONS FILLED. OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO ADDRESS ANY ISSUES THAT INTERFERE WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.

IT REQUIRES OUR SCHOOLS TO TEACH THE CORE SUBJECTS, MAINTAIN HIGH ACADEMIC STANDARDS, TRAIN, RETAIN, AND PROPERLY COMPENSATE OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM WITH DISCIPLINE. I'M HONORED TO HAVE A VOICE AND A VOTE IN THE FUTURE OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE).

>> THANK YOU, MS. GRENIS. MS. POST?

>> I DID NOT PREPARE A SPEECH. BUT NOT TO WORRY.

I'M NEVER AT A LOSS FOR WORDS. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING ALL OF US TODAY.

IT WOULD BE AMAZING IF WE COULD HAVE THIS KIND OF TURNOUT EVERY THURSDAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'LL SEE YOU GUYS IN TWO WEEKS AND TWO WEEKS AFTER AND BEYOND.

IT WOULD BE GREAT. LOOKING FORWARD IT TO.

I'LL SEND EACH ONE OF YOU A PERSONAL MESSAGE, IF THAT WOULD MAKE YOU COME HERE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

THANK YOU. I ATTENDED THE TRI-COUNTY BAND CONCERT OVER THE WEEKEND. THAT WAS MY FIRST INVITATION AS A BOARD MEMBER. IT WAS VERY EXCITING.

I DID ALSO ASK ONE OF MY SONS IF HE WANTED TO ATTEND.

HE IS IN THE ORCHESTRA. HE SAID NO, I HAVE THINGS TO DO.

I SAID, WHAT? HE SAID "NOTHING." LITERALLY NOTHING. I SAID, OKAY.

POINT TAKEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I DO WISH HE HAD ATTENDED WITH ME.

IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THE MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS AND TO SEE THE HIGH-SCHOOLERS. HOW WONDERFUL A PROGRESSION IT IS. IT IS AMAZING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY CHILDREN INVOLVED.

I WAS ASTOUNDED AT THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND VOLUNTEERS THAT IT TOOK TO PULL THAT OFF. MUCH LIKE IT DOES EVERY SINGLE

[01:55:04]

AND EVERY SINGLE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY.

SO I APPLAUD THE CHILDREN FOR THEIR HARD WORK.

TODAY I'M GOING TO APPLAUD ALL OF THE ADULTS THAT ARE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO MAKE THESE CHILDREN BETTER PEOPLE, AND TO EDUCATE THEM. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MS. POST. MS. BALINSKI?

>> YES. HAPPY NULL YEAR, EVERYONE.

I'M LOOKING SO FORWARD TO THIS REMAINDER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

YES. I WAS AT THE DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE... AND THE FACT THAT AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT, THE HIGH SCHOOL GUEST CONDUCTOR CAME DOWN WITH COVID, AND THEY DIDN'T SKIP A BEAT. YOU KNOW, OUR FINE ARTS DIRECTOR JUST... THE ADULTS STEPPED IN.

AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. IT WAS VERY, VERY OWNERRER JIEZING ENERGIZING TO SEE EVERYONE WORKING TOGETHER.

WONDERFULFULLY. WELCOME TO MS. POST AND MS. GRENIS. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY

PRODUCTIVE END OF THE YEAR. >> THANK YOU, MS. BALINSKI.

MR. WHITE? >> YES.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME, JANA.

AND LISA. WELCOME TO THE BOARD.

IT IS GOING TO BE SOME FUN. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP. AS BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HOLIDAY BREAK, BUT WE DON'T GET A BREAK.

THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON, AND WE CONSTANTLY ARE WORKING TO TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

WHEN IPSE THE BLUE SHIRTS, I SEE CASE AND EVERYTHING.

I'M A BASKETBALL OFFICIAL, SO I'M IN SCHOOLS ALL THE TIME.

AND FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, 9:00 AT NIGHT, THEY ARE STILL CLEANING UP AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

THEY ARE WORKING. RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER SPORTS. SO WE HAVE BASKETBALL.

WE HAVE WRESTLING. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON. A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING IN A LOT OF TIME.

WE DEFINITELY SUPPORT AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DOZENS OF EMAILS THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS, WE DO READ THEM. BECAUSE WHEN WE ARE OUT AND ABOUT, AND SOMEONE SAYS, HEY, DID YOU GET MY EMAIL? YEAH. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER TO LET THEM KNOW THAT YES, WE DID. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A PRODUCTIVE REST-OF-THE-SCHOOL YEAR ALSO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE BOARD AS THE VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE). >> THANK YOU, MR. WHITE.

I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MY TWO NEWEST COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR TERMS. AND I ALSO ATTENDED THE TRI-COUNTY BAND CONCERT. AND IT WAS MAGNIFICENT.

I LOVE MUSIC. SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE AND HEAR THE MUSIC AND TO SEE THE CALVERT STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY PERFORMING IN THE TRICOUNTY. TO SEE THE ONE THAT IS MADE TRI-COUNTY AND TO SEE MY COLLEAGUES AND CHARLES AND ST. MARY'S. I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS ON THE CHARLES COUNTY BOARD AS WELL. IT WAS NICE TO SEE THEIR NAMES IN PRINT AND TO SEE THEM AT THE EVENT AND GET TO TALK TO THEM AND SHARE WITH THEM AND MEET STUDENTS FROM THE OTHER COUNTIES. SO I DEFINITELY ENJOYED THAT EVENT. I THINK OUR STAFF, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, WHO INVITE US BOARD MEMBERS TO THEIR EVENTS, SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT EVERYTHING, SO WE CAN'T SHOW UP AT EVENTS. IT IS VERY NICE TO GET THAT PERSONALIZED INVITATION IN YOUR EMAIL.

TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND VISIT THE SCHOOLS AND SEE STUDENTS.

AND CASE, I HAVE RECEIVED... I DON'T THINK DOZENS, I HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN DOZENS OF LETTERS FROM OUR CASE STAFF MEMBERS. I HEAR YOU.

I SEE YOU. I WILL CONTINUE TO ASK QUESTIONS. AND JUST KNOW THAT I, WITH MY ONE-FIFTH VOTE DO SUPPORT YOU. LY CARRY OUT THE WILL OF THIS BOARD AS PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.

I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR PUTTING THEIR TRUST IN ME TO LEAD THIS BOARD THIS CALENDAR YEAR.

THAT IS IT. WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.