Feb 09, 2023 Board of Education

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

[00:00:06]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

LY ASK YOU TO PLEASE STAND.

[2.04 CTE Recognition]

WE WILL BEGIN WITH A CTE RECOGNITION.

>> IF EVERYONE CAN JUST COME AND LINE UP.

I WILL LEAVE MS. AIKENS TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE AFTER THE PROCLAMATION. I WAS SO THRILLED TO SEE THAT CTE, CAREER TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION IS GETTING A PROCLAMATION TODAY.

I WAS JUST AT CTE THIS MORNING. I WAS W COMMISSIONER COX AND COMMISSIONER IRELAND THERE. COMMISSIONER COX WENT THROUGH CTE IN HIS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. COMMISSIONER IRELAND'S SONS HAVE DONE THE WELDING PROGRAM. I THINK HE KNEW EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THAT BUILDING. OH, AND HE WAS IN AS WELL.

WOW. IT JUST SHOWS YOU THE DEPTH OF THIS PROGRAM AND IT IS SO WONDERFUL TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF CALVERT COUNTY STUDENT PARTICIPATION, THAT THEY CAN STAY AROUND HERE. BUT ALSO THE WIDE VARIETY OF...

THAT IS THERE IN THAT BUILDING IS SOMETHING.

THESE KIDS GET REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE.

THAT THEY WILL FOREVER BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM.

SO I'M ALSO VERY THRILLED TO SEE THAT WE ARE MOVING THE CASE PROGRAM FROM JUST BEING AT CALL VERT HIGH SCHOOL TO CTE.

THAT IS GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE REST OF THE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS. OKAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. WHEREAS THE VISION IS TO PRODUCE GRADUATES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WITH CAREER AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICES IN THE 21ST CENTURY, AND PROFOUND ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES IN OUR SOCIETY ARE RAPIDLY REFLECTED IN THE STRUCTURE AND NATURE OF WORK, THEREBY PLACING NEW AND ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES ON OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND WHEREAS CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PREPARES STUDENTS FOR FULFILLING CAREERS BY OFFERING INTEGRATED PROGRAMS OF STUDY THAT LINK SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND LEAD TO THE ATTAINMENT OF INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZES HANDS OF ON LEARNING, APPRENTICESHIP, INTERNSHIP AND WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES AS VALUABLE TOOLS IN ENHANCING THE STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND OVERALL ENGAGEMENT IN LEARNING. AND WHEREAS THE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS OF CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY STAKE-HOLDERS AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS STIMULATES THE GROWTH AND VITALITY OF OUR LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ECONOMY BY PREPARING GRADUATES FOR CAREER FIELDS, FORECAST TO EXPERIENCE THE LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWTH.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL STAFF, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE DISTRICT AS ADVOCATES, ALLIES, AND PARTNERS TO INCREASE EQUITY, INCREASE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY, AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE, CITIZEN WILL BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE SERVICES AND BENEFITS OFFERED BY THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAM IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND TO SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

THEREFORE, WE HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 2023 AS CTE EDUCATION MONTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M GOING TO PASS OUT THIS AND SHAKE EVERYONE'S HAND.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO GO AHEAD. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION. HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. (APPLAUSE).

>> MOTION PASSES. >> SO WHILE MISS BALINSKI IS

[00:05:02]

PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. TOWNSEL, ALL OF OUR GUESTS, WHETHER YOU ARE HERE OR WATCHING FROM HOME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, TIME VERY PROUD PRINCIPAL AT THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY.

THANK YOU. AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND RECOGNIZE SEVERAL CTE INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE JOINED US TODAY. THESE INSTRUCTORS REPRESENT A VAST NUMBER OF TEACHERS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT WHO SERVE IN OUR CTE CLASSROOMS, AND THESE STUDENTS ALL HAPPEN TO BE SENIORS. SO THEY THEREFORE REPRESENT THE APPROXIMATELY 50% OF STUDENTS IN THE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2023 WHO WILL HAVE COMPLETED A CTE PROGRAM BY THE TIME THEY GRADUATE THIS JUNE. SO REPRESENTING THE FIRE AND RESCUE E.M.T. PROGRAM IS OUR INSTRUCTOR MARQUIS SMITH.

(APPLAUSE) AND OUR SENIOR CADETS JAY JACOB SCOTT, ISABELLA HOSIER AT CALL VERT AND NICHOLAS BOSWELL.

(APPLAUSE). NOW, THESE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING THEIR E.M.T. CONTENT.

I KNOW THAT THE END OF THIS YEAR, THEY WILL EACH BE WELL-PREPARED TO TAKE AND PASS THEIR E.M.T. CERTIFICATIONS.

THEY ARE EACH ACTIVE MEMBERS AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AND E.M.T.'S. AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE CAREERS. THANK YOU, STUDENTS.

THANK YOU, MR. SMITH. (APPLAUSE) SO REPRESENTING THE CASE PROGRAM WHICH STANDS FOR CURRICULUM FOR AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IS OUR INSTRUCTOR, MR. GUSTIN.

JOINING HIM TODAY ARE STUDENTS KAITLIN COSGROE AND OLIVER SIMON. (APPLAUSE) MR. GUST YIN HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO BUILD A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM AT CALL VERT HIGH SCHOOL: THIS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED A GREAT PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL CAREER PATHS. NEXT YEAR, WE ARE EXCITED THAT THECASE... THE CASE PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDING.

BOTH KAITLIN AND OLIVER, ASIDE FROM BEING OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME TO HELP EXPLAIN AND PROMOTE THE PROGRAM AS WE PLAN THE MOVE TO CTE.

THANK YOU, MR. GUTHIN AND... GUSTIN AND STUDENTS.

(APPLAUSE) SO I DO WANT TO TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZE MR. SMITH, MR. GUSTIN AND ALL OF OUR INSTRUCTORS. OUR CTE TEACHERS BRING YEARS OF INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO THEIR CLASSROOMS. MANY OF THEM STEP AWAY FROM CAREERS AND FIELDS WITH MUCH HIGHER SALARIES THAN TEACHING IN ORDER TO GIVE TO OUR STUDENTS. I COULD NOT BE MORE HONORED TO WORK WITH THESE TWO GENTLEMEN AND ALL OF OUR DISTRICT CTE TEACHERS EACH AND EVERY DAY. THEY ARE TRULY INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS. SO TODAY I DO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE CTE PROGRAMS. THEY PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR A WIDE RANGE OF HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS. AS I LOVINGLY SHARE OFTEN, TODAY'S CTE IS NOT VO-TECH ANYMORE.

IN CALL VERT COUNTY, WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE 25 DIFFERENT CTE PROGRAMS. 11 OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS AND 14 PROGRAMS AS OF NEXT YEAR, WILL BE OFFERED AT THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY. WE HAVE PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS ALL MARYLAND CLUSTERS. WHETHER IT IS A CAREER IN STEM OR HEALTH CARE OR CONSTRUCTION TRADES OR ANYTHING ELSE, OUR DISTRICT'S PROGRAMMING OFFERS SOMETHING FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY STUDENT TO EXPLORE. ONE COMMON MISCONCEPTION ABOUT CTE PERHAPS IS THAT THEY ARE SINGULARLY FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO GO DIRECTLY TO WORK AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

THAT IS NOT THE CASE. MANY OF OUR CTE PROGRAMS BOTH AT THE CTA AS WELL AS THE PROGRAMS AT THE HOME HIGH SCHOOLS, OFFER STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT.

ACTUALLY, ALL OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY IN THEIR PROGRAMS. THESE CREDITS ARE OFFERED TO STUDENTS VIA A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES, TECHNICAL SCHOOLS, AND FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITIES.

SOME NEAR AND SOME FAR. AND IN ADDITION TO COLLEGE, OUR CTE PROGRAMS ARE A RESPECTED PATHWAY FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO ENTER FURTHER TRAINING VIA REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS.

ALL TOTAL, BETWEEN COLLEGE APPRENTICESHIPS AND POST-SECONDARY TRAINING, APPROXIMATELY 76% OF OUR STUDENTS ELECT TO GO ON TO FURTHER EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. FOR STUDENTS WHOSE DESIRE IS TO

[00:10:01]

ESPECIALLY FROM AN ACADEMIC SENSE.

WHETHER THEY THINK THEY INTEND TO EVER ATTEND COLLEGE OR NOT.

HOWEVER, WE ESPECIALLY WANT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE CAREER-READY. ATTENDING COLLEGE BY ITSELF IS NOT A CAREER PLAN. IT MIGHT BE PART OF A CAREER PLAN BUT WE HOPE THE END RESULT OF A STUDENT'S FORMATIONAL EDUCATION IS TO FIND AND ENTER A GREAT CAREER THAT THEY ARE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT. THAT PROVIDES THEM WITH A LIFESTYLE THEY DESIRE. OUR CTE COURSES ARE GIVING STUDENTS THE SKILLS THEY NEED IN ANY CAREER.

SO THEY ARE A GREAT WAY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE BOTH TRULY COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY. AND AS WE SAY AT CTA, YES, WE DO THAT HERE. I ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND STUDENTS AT ALL LEVELS TO LEARN ABOUT TODAY'S CTE.

AND AGAIN, IT IS NO LONGER VO-TECH.

HELP US CONTINUE TO SHARE THE WORLD THAT ALL THAT CTE HAS TO OFFER TO OUR STUDENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY.

BY WAY OF SHAPING AND PREPARING A HIGHLY EDUCATED WORKFORCE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARD WORK OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.

AND TO RECOGNIZE OUR 25 INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS. THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE).

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> UP NEXT, WE WILL HAVE OUR

[2.03 National School Counseling Recognition]

>> JUST YOU? OKAY.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING RECOGNITION. WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE EMPLOYED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO HELP STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE ACTIVELY COMMITTED TO HELPING STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR ABILITIES, STRENGTHS, INTERESTS AND TALENTS AS THESE TRADES RELATE TO CAREER AWARENESS AND DEVELOPMENT AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP PARENTS FOCUS ON WAYS TO FURTHER EDUCATIONAL, PERSONAL, AND SOCIAL GROWTH OF THEIR CHILDREN AND WHEREAS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK TO TEACH... WORK WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER EDUCATORS TO HELP STUDENTS EXPLORE THEIR POTENTIAL AND SET REALISTIC GOALS FOR THEMSELVES. AND WHEREAS SCHOOL COUNSELORS SEEK TO IDENTIFY AND UTILIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT CAN ENHANCE AND COMPLEMENT COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS AND HELP STUDENTS BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. WHEREAS COMPENCIVE DEVELOPMENTAL SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAMS ARE CONSIDERED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS THAT ENABLES ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 6-10 AS NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK.

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

HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU. AND GOOD AFTERNOON.

I JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK AGAIN AS YOU DO EVERY YEAR.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN CALVERT COUNTY AS WELL AS ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR DILIGENT WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR CHILDREN. THE THEME FOR THE 2023 NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK IS SCHOOL COUNSELING, HELPING STUDENTS DREAM BIG. WALT DISNEY SAID "ALL OUR DREAMS CAN COME TRUE IF WE HAVE THE COURAGE TO PURSUE THEM." COURAGE, RESILIENCY, MOTIVATION, THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE MANY SKILLS THAT SCHOOL COUNSELORS HELP STUDENTS FIND OR IMPROVE EVERY DAY. THROUGH CLASSROOM LESSONS,

[00:15:02]

SCHOOL COUNSELORS ARE ON THE FRONT LINE IN OUR BUILDINGS TO ASSIST CHILDREN EVERY DAY. YOUR REQUEST TO ADD FOUR ADDITIONAL COUNSELORS LAST YEAR WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED AND NECESSARY. LOWERING THE RATIO OF STUDENTS TO COUNSELORS EQUALS MORE CLASSROOM LESSONS, MORE INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WITH STUDENTS, MORE CONSULTATION WITH TEACHERS AND PARENTS, AND BETTER ACCESS TO SUPPORT FOR ALL STUDENTS. IN FACT, NOTABLY, THE ADDITION OF ELEMENTARY COUNSELORS BROUGHT THE RATIO OF COUNSELORRING TO STUDENTS DOWN FROM ONE TO 533 TO ONE TO 400.

... 4 # # THIS YEAR. OUR COUNSELORS, ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS, HELP OUR STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE EVER-CHANGING CHALLENGES THEY FACE EACH DAY. IT IS WITH EXTREME GRATITUDE AND PRIDE THAT I RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN CALVERT COUNTY TODAY AND EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.

(APPLAUSE). >> UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR NORTHERN

[2.02 NHS Sports Recognition]

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS RECOGNITION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION, COACH JOSH DAWSON HAS MANY REGIONAL STATE CHAMPION SHINNS. IT IS PRETTY PHENOMENAL, WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO UP THERE. THEY HAD A NEED FOR A SPRINT COACH OR SOMETHING LIKE. THAT THEY RECEIVED THAT COACH.

YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO DO IS ADDING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT THEY ARE CONTINUING TO WIN FOR CALVERT COUNTY. NOW I'M GOING TO GET INTO THE RESOLUTION. WHEREAS NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WON THE 3-A2022 MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR OUTDOOR TRACK AND WHEREAS THE TEAM WON THE MPSSAAF INDOOR TITLE BY TWO POINTS WHILE NOT TAKING THE LEAD UNTIL THE VERY LAST EVENT AND WHEREAS THE TEAM WAS THE 20223-A SOUTH REGION CHAMPIONS. AND WHEREAS THE TEAM WAS THE 2022 SOUTHERN MARYLAND CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS.

WHEREAS THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH JOSH DAWSON, ASSISTANT COACHES, CLAYTON LEWIS, HAIDN'T TRENTER, SAMANTHA, COLE AND KIMMIE MAY.

THE TEAM REPRESENTS NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIR PLAY. WHEREAS THE SUCCESS OF THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE TRACK TEAM AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL NOW.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALL VERT COUNTY JOIN THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND STAFF IN COMMENDING THE TEAM AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WISHES THEM EVERY SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT, ACHIEVING THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

>> SECOND. (APPLAUSE).

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

ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES. >> AND SOME OF THE TEAM, THEY ARE NOT HERE. THEY ARE CONTINUING IN COLLEGE.

THEY ARE CONTINUING THEIR TRACK CAREERS IN COLLEGE.

[00:20:03]

>> I WANT TO THANK THE ADMINISTRATION, STAFF, AND MY COACHING STAFF THAT ALLOW US TO SIT HERE AND COACH AND PUSH THESE KIDS TO MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, THE TRACK TITLES BUT WE HAD A SENIOR-HEAVY TEAM LAST YEAR.

A LOT OF THEM ARE OFF COMPETING IN COLLEGE.

I THINK WE HAD FOUR OR FIVE KIDS TO GO ON AND COMPETE IN TRACK AND FIELD. THEN OF COURSE, TYLER HERE IS AT BROWN FOR FOOTBALL. WE WILL CLAIM HIM AS OURSELF AS WELL. THESE RIDS CAN HARD-WORKING.

... THESE KIDS ARE HARD-WORKING. I HAVE A GREAT COACHING STAFF.

THAT MAKES MY JOB A LOT EASIER. A TON OF KIDS THAT MAKE US LOOK A LOT BETTER THAN WE ACTUALLY ARE.

A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE GUYS.

(APPLAUSE) (APPLAUSE). >> NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO THE

[3. Consent Agenda]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE CAN DO THAT FIRST. THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

>> OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION?

SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, CONSENT AGENDA IS

APPROVED. >> AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO REORDER THE ACTION ITEMS. THE LIST TO BRING ITEM NUMBER 6 UP TO THE FIRST WHICH IS THE BLUEPRINT UPDATE FROM MR. SAMPSON.

BRING THAT UP TO BEFORE THE POLICIES FOR REVIEW.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

HEARING NONE, THOSE IF FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ACTION ITEM 7.06 TO 7.01. AND MOVE THE OTHER ITEMS DOWN.

[4.01 Public Comment]

>> OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING IS JOSH JOHNSON SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CALVERT CONCERNED CITIZENS.

>> HELLO. I APPRECATE YOUR TIME.

I AM JOSH JOHNSON. I DO REPRESENT CALVERT CONCERNED CITIZENS. SON OF A PASTOR, HUSBAND OF A MINORITY TEACHER, FATHER OF A BLENDED FAMILY, WE HAVE WONDERFUL FRIENDS OF EVERY RACE. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1654, CALVERT COUNTY HAS VALUED THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND HAVING THE BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. IN 2000, MARYLAND WAS RANKED THIRD IN THE NATION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND CALVERT TEST SCORES RANKED THIRD IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

ON THE JANUARY 26 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, WE HEARD OUR SUPPORT STAFF CRUCIAL IN EDUCATION DID NOT FEEL VALUED.

[00:25:06]

83% WHITE POPULATION PUT IN PLACE 66% BLACK BOARD OF EDUCATION LEADERS. AS WE FELT THEY REPRESENTED THE BEST HERE. FIVE PRESENTERS IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION H.R. DID NOT INCLUDE 30% OF THE EDUCATORS.

THROUGH THEIR STATS, ONLY TEACHERS HAVE VALUE.

THIS GAVE THEM THE ABILITY TO SAY WE FELL SHORT IN ONE PARTICULAR RACE. THERE ARE BIGGER DIVIDES IN OUR SPANISH COMMUNITY. WHERE WAS THE FLOW CHARTS AND THE RECRUITING CONCEPTS FOR THEM? BY DATA, PRESENTED THE PRESENTERS SEEMED TO SUGGEST ONE PARTICULAR RACE MIGHT BE BETTER TAUGHT BY THE SAME PARTICULAR RACE. ALL EDUCATORS MATTER.

THE BOARD OWNS DATA. 37% OF EDUCATORS SUPPORT 13% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION OF THAT RACE.

THREE TIMES THE PROPORTION. THE FIVE PEOPLE IN H.C . TO NOT SPEAK FOR CALVERT. I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF H.R. THIS FIGHT IS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR KIDS. RIGHT NOW WE MUST DECIDE IF OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE CONFUSED, SUBSERVIENT AND VULNERABLE OR IF WE CHOOSE A PATH FOR THEM.

WE HELPED CREATE LEADERS AND FOSTER OUR CHILDREN'S TALENTS TO UNITE OUR EFFORTS.% MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME HE NEVER CARED WHAT I DID, BUT HE EXPECTED THE BEST OF ME.

TOGETHER WE SHOULD RAISE OUR CHILDREN, FINDING THE BEST QUALITY OF TEACHERS, THE BEST EDUCATION SO THAT IT IS THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THEY CAN TRY TO BE THEIR BEST.

20 TEACHERS WERE ASKED BY MYSELF IF RACE WAS A PRECURSOR TO BEING THE BEST. THEY SAID NO.

POLLED 20 STUDENTS TO FIND IF THEY FELT LIMITED BY A TEA TEACHER... WAS ANY LIMITATION BY RACE.

EVERY SINGLE STUDENT SAID NO. MANY SHARED STORIES OF STAFF MEMBERS OF OTHER RACES THAT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THEIR LIFE.

IT IS MY BELIEF THIS HIRING FALLS UNDER THE 1960S... 1967 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT. MUCH LIKE CALVERT COUNTY'S HIRING NOT LIMITED TO ONE RACE. IT IS ENCOMPASSING OF ALL, AND WE SHOULD BE. WE SHOULD BE HIRING THE BEST.

THE FIVE PRESENTERS MAKE A COMBINED $675,000, TO GET TO THE WRONG CON LUCIEN. THE WRONG C CON CONCLUSION FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND THE WRONG CONCLUSION FOR OUR CHILDREN.

WHEN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ASKED FOR MORE $24 MILLION AND WE GET THE WRONG CONCLUSION, THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BE SEEN IN WHAT YOU DO TODAY AND MOVING FORWARD: TONIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME, AND FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, AS I... I WOULD LIKE YOU TO ASK YOURSELF TWO QUESTIONS.

NUMBER ONE, IS IT BEST TO BE DEFINED BY RACE? WOULD I HIRE BASED FIRST ON RACE? NUMBER TWO, HOW CAN WE DEMONSTRATE WE VALUE OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND NOT HAVE THEM FEEL LIKE POLITICAL CHESS PIECES.

THE PRIDE AND JOY OF CALVERT COUNTY IS OUR ROTC PROGRAM.

IT IS RANKED THIRD IN THE REGION AND FIFTH IN AMERICA.

YET THEY LACK THE $25,000 TO REPRESENT CALVERT COUNTY TO AMERICA AND THE WORLD. HOW IN CALVERT COUNTY CAN WE REWARD $344,000 FOR KIDS TO SHOW UP, GIVE 2.5% RAISES WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A BUDGET BUT CAN ENSURE THAT THE KIDS THAT WORK SO HARD GET THEIR JUST DUE. I WILL ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO MAKES $240,000 A YEAR TO DONATE OR RAFFLE A SUPER BOWL TICKET. THE ROTC REQUIRES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

(APPLAUSE. >> THANK FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARLLA POSEY MOSS, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF FREE STATE PTA.

>> THANK YOU. FOR ALLOWING ME TO VISIT WITH YOU TODAY. I'M REPRESENTING THE NATIONAL PTA IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. I APPRECIATE YOUR WELCOME, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL AND BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS.

I ASSOCIATE A FACE WITH THE STATE PTA.

AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, DATES OF INTEREST AND HIGHLIGHTS AND PRIORITIES.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT DISTINGUISHES US FROM OTHER PARENT GROUPS. AS THE LARGEST CHILD ADVOCACY

[00:30:01]

THE PTA REALIZE THAT IS STRONG EDUCATION THAT CONSIDERS DEI HELPS CHILDREN, THEIR FAMILIES AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES BE MORE SUCCESSFUL. MOREOVER, A QUALITY EDUCATION IS ATTAINED WHEN DIVERSE VOICES, PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES ARE INFUSED IN ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOMS, EXECUTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND CONDUCTING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. AND ACHIEVEMENT IS IMPROVED WHEN EDUCATION IS TAILORED WITH THE PROPER RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS. THAT IS EQUITY.

MEMBERSHIP TO PTA IS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN THE PURPOSES AND VALUE OF PTA. AND THIS INCLUDES INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN TO. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF COURSE, YOURSELVES, AS POLICY MAKERS.

NOW, ON TO POLICY-MAKING. ANNUALLY, THE FREE STATE PTA DEVELOPS THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ON WHICH I HOPE YOU HAVE RECEIVED ACCESS. OR AT LEAST A LINK TO IT.

AT THE ROOT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE AGENDA IS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND ADVOCACY FOR ALL STUDENTS. THEIR FAMILIES, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. THE MISSION OF PTA IS TO MAKE EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL A REALITY BY ENGAGING AND EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL CHILDREN. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THAT WE SUPPORTED IN ANNAPOLIS.

HOW BILL 185, NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, CORPORAL PUNISHMENT PROHIBITION. HOUSE BILL 185 PROHIBITS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FROM ADMINISTERING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND REQUIRES THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT REGULATIONS FOR THE REGISTRATION OF FAMILY AND LARGE FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES AND THE LICENSING AND OPERATION OF CHILD CARE CENTERS TO PROHIBIT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.

ANOTHER BILL I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS HOUSE BILL 24, SALES AND USE TAX, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, EXEMPTION.

THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL CHANGE THE LAW SO THAT THE SALES AND USE TAX DOES NOT APPLY TO THE SALE OR RENTAL OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS TO BE USED BY A STUDENT WHO IS ENROLLED IN AN ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL OR POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTION OR REGISTERED WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM AS HAVING RECEIVED HOME INSTRUCTION. SENATE BILL 120, PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANAPHALATIC FOOD ALLERGIES GUIDELINES.

THE BILL REQUIRES EACH COUNTY BOARD OF ED TO ADOPT, IMPLEMENT AND PUBLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE REDUCING THE RISK OF STUDENTS WITH ANAPHALATIC FOOD ALLERGIES AND DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO DISCLOSE THE MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS CONTAINED IN THE FOODS SERVED IN SCHOOLS. AN EXCELLENT COMPONENT OF SENATE BILL 120 IS THE EMPHASIS IT HAS ON COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOL STAFF, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS REGARDING NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS ABOUT MEASURES THE SCHOOL IS TAKING TO AVOID ALLERGENS.

THIS LANGUAGE COMPORTS WITH THE EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AS IT RELATES TO CHILD SAFETY.

EN... IN CLOSING, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW WE DO HAVE A FREE STATE CONVENTION IN JULY. YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INVITATION.

NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE THE VIRTUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE ON FEBRUARY 16. I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT THE FREE STATE PTA OFFERS PROGRAMS AND FUNDING TO PTAS AT THEIR LOCAL UNITS WHICH HAS MONEY INVOLVED TO HELP WITH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND MYSELF AS A COMMUNITY LEADER IS ADMINISTERING ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE HERE ON THE BOARD OF ED.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA STENSO, SPEERKING ON BEHALF OF THE CALVERT EDUCATION

ASSOCIATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS DONNA STENSO. I'M AN ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIAION.

[00:35:03]

I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING THAT I RECOGNIZE THE OVERALL PROPOSED BUDGET IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN BUDGETS IN THE PAST.

AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS INCREASE IS PRIMARILY DUE TO MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLAW... OUTLINED IN THE LAW, THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE WHICH REQUIRES EACH COUNTY TO RAISE THEIR OVERALL TEACHER SALARY BY 10% FROM 2019 TO '24. THE IMPORTANCE IN PROVIDING THIS TO OUR ESP'S AND OF COURSE, THE INCREASE IN COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTATION. SO YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING I COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE COMING BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR MORE. BUT I AM.

MORE WHAT? PEOPLE.

I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME WHO WOULD SAY HOW CAN SHE ASK FOR MORE PEOPLE WHEN THE OVERALL ENROLLMENT IS PROJECTED TO BE DOWN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BY 321 STUDENTS? BEING DOWN 321 STUDENTS EQUATES TO APPROXIMATELY 14 TEACHING POSITIONS. AND IF ALL 321 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE SAME SCHOOL, THE MATH WOULD BE SIMPLE.

BUT WE KNOW IT IS NOT. I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF 321 STUDENTS IS NOT CHANGING OUR STAFFING NEEDS. LAST YEAR, I ADVOCATED FOR THE HIRING OF 12 GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHERS.

ONE FOR EACH OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO ACCELERATE, EXTEND, OR ENRICH INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT. SO THE GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS CAN DEVELOP TO THEIR POTENTIAL.

THE FINAL BUDGET INCLUDED THE HIRING OF TWO GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHERS. ONE WAS PLACED AT PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ONE PLACED AT MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ABSOLUTELY THIS HAS BEEN WONDERFUL FOR THESE TWO SCHOOLS. IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE ME, ASK THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS WHO HAVE SEEN HOW HAVING THIS DESIGNATED GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHER IN THEIR BUILDING HAS ALLOWED FOR VARIOUS ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE STUDENTS AND COLLABORATION WITH CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

WHY, THEN, DOES THIS BUDGET NOT CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF GIFTED AND TALENTED TEACHERS AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL? DOESN'T EVERY STUDENT WHO QUALIFIES FOR A GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM DESERVE TO HAVE THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE STUDENTS AT PLUM POINT AND MOUNT HARMONY HAVE? WE ALL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION.

OF COURSE THEY DO. SET IS BAR, MEET THE BAR, RAISE THE BAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT MONEY MATTER.

FOR SMALLER CLASS SIZES, ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION OUTCOMES.

AS WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO CLOSE THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS NO INCREASE IN STAFFING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, SOME OF YOU MAY NOT, THAT APPROXIMATELY THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, CALVER% COUNTY BEGAN A TRANSITION STARTING WITH A HANDFUL OF SCHOOLS AND CHANGING HOW SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WERE DELIVERED TO STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THIS SHIFT IS HOW SERVICES ARE BEING DELIVERED, CONTINUING TO BE PHASED IN IN OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY.

I'M NOT HERE TO DISCUSS THE MERITS OF THIS MODEL.

LIKE WITH ANY CHANGE YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR PROS AND CONS.

WHAT I AM HERE TO SAY IS IF YOU TRULY WANT TO SEE THIS MODEL WORK, THEN YOU NEED TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF.

ADDITIONAL STAFF TO ENSURE THAT GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS HAVE A DAILY COLLABORATIVE PLANNING.

ONE THAT IS BUILT INTO THEIR CONTRACTUAL DAY.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ALLOW FOR CURRENT STAFF TO SHADOW INCLUSIVE PROGRAM SPECIALISTS FOR A WEEK OR MORE WHILE THEY MODEL WHAT THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CURRENT STAFF TO VISIT SCHOOLS IN THE CLASSROOMS, TO SEE WHAT THIS MODEL LOOKS LIKE IN SCHOOLS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY MANAGING THIS TRANSITION.

AND TO TALK WITH THE EDUCATORS PROVIDING AND DELIVERING THE SERVICES THAT THESE... AT THESE SCHOOLS.

WHY IS THIS NECESSARY? BECAUSE THERE IS A COUNTY, STATE, AND NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.

BECAUSE THE BURNOUT AND TURNOVER IN SPECIAL EDUCATION IS REAL.

BECAUSE OUR MOST FRAGILE POPULATION DESERVES BETTER.

BECAUSE AS A SYSTEM, WE ARE NOT CLOSING ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

ELECTED BOARD, IF YOU DO NOT BUILD THESE INCREASED POSITIONS INTO THE PROPOSED SUPERI SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET, WE KNOW THEY WILL NOT HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. AND IF NOT NEXT YEAR, WHEN? INVESTING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IS INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.

THANK YOU. (APPLAUSE).

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH CORMIER, SPEERKING ON BEHALF OF CCAC.

[00:40:07]

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

I'M JOSEPH CORMIER. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AS DISCLAIMER, I'M A CALVERT COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

I'M A CASE UNION MEMBER. I'M A PARENT FIRST.

AND WE ARE A GROUP OF PARENTS WHO WORK TO BRIDGE THAT COMMUNICATION GAP. WE HAD A MEETING ON FEBRUARY 7.

DR. HOLLY BRISCOE, OUR STAFF PSYCHOLOGIST CAME IN AND PROVIDED A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ON EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING. OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON MARCH 7 AT 6:30. WE INVITE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY TO JOIN US. THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR WHO I JUST LEARNED WAS NOT HERE ANYMORE.

THEY HAVE MOVED A LINK ON THE WEB PAGE UNDER QUICK LINKS.

YOU CAN FIND US MUCH EASIER. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT COLLABORATION. I WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE ARE NOW TAKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE STAFF APPRECIATION AWARDS. THAT LINK IS ON THE WEBSITE.

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FORM AND FILL IT OUT OR DO IT ON-LINE.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A CEREMONY ON APRIL 20.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU ALL THERE.

IT IS A GREAT NIGHT TO CELEBRATE THE THINGS THAT ARE WORKING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. A LOT OF TIMES IN THE NEWS, WE ONLY HEAR WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WRONG.

THIS IS A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE WHAT'S GOING RIGHT TO UN-SILO THOSE THINGS SO WE CAN SPREAD THOSE ACROSS THE COUNTY.

WE HOPE YOU ARE ABLE TO JOIN US FOR THAT.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO KIND OF WANDER FOR A SECOND.

CUT ME OFF WHEN MY TIME IS UP. THIS BUDGET IS HUGE.

I KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF STICKER SHOCK TO IT.

FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT IS PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR US.

BECAUSE WE ASK FOR STUFF EVERY YEAR, AND WE ARE TOLD, WELL, WE WILL GET TO IT. WE WILL GET TO IT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THE BIG LEAPS.

THERE IS A RAMP OUTSIDE FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS.

NOT BECAUSE IT IS EASY OR CHEAP BUT BECAUSE THERE IS A LAW THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENTRANCES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE.

THERE IS ELEVATORS IN EVERY BUILDING.

FOR ACCESSIBILITY. NOT BECAUSE IT IS CHEAP AND EASY. BUT BECAUSE IT IS THE LAW.

WHEN OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SIT THERE AND WRING THEIR HANDS AND SAY "I KNOW IT IS FOR THE CHILDREN," I NEED THEM TO ALSO UNDERSTAND IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM FEEDS OUR COMMUNITY.

WE JUST SAW WITH THE CTA PROGRAM THAT IS BARELY OUT, WELDERS AND

PLUMBERS AND ELECTRICIANS AND. >> ER, WE CAN KEEP BUILDING ON THAT AND GET EDUCATORS AND SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS.

WE CAN GROW OUR OWN HERE AND KEEP THEM HERE.

I WANT TO KEEP PARTNERING WITH YOU TO MAKE ALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN. I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU ARE DOING. MAKE THE BIG SWINGS.

AND YOU KNOW, REAP FOR THE STARS.

... REACH FOR THE STARS. WE WILL HIT THE MOON TOGETHER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

(APPLAUSE). >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAN MEES.

>> STATE YOUR NAME FOR US AGAIN. >> JAN OR JANET LEES.

THANK YOU. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.

YIKES. BASICALLY, I WENT TO A MEETING RECENTLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND I WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER ABOUT WHAT WAS PRESENTED. BASICALLY, THEY WERE SAYING IF HBO199 PASSES IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO TEACH, KINDERGARTEN WILL BE GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION, FOURTH GRADE, SIXTH GRADE, SEX-ASSIGNED AT BIRTH CAN BE DIFFERENT THAN GENDER. 7TH-GRADE, THIS RANGE.

S WILL A RANGE OF IDENTITIES AND SOLO, VAGINAL, AN, AND ORAL SEX.

WHAT? I'M HOPING THIS IS TOTALLY WRONG AND THIS IS NOT WHAT IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE INFORMATION THEY WERE SAYING... IT IS CALLED "BEHIND SCHOOL DOORS.COM." I DIDN'T KNOW ANY OF THIS KIND OF STUFF.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY PRESENTED WAS A BOOK THAT THIS ONE WOMAN TRIED TO GET TAKEN OFF. AND JUST LOOKING AT THE PICTURES WAS DISGUSTING. AND THEN OH,... WE AS PARENTS NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW... AND HAVE A VOICE IN WHAT'S BEING TAUGHT. WHAT BOOKS ARE BEING PRESENTED.

THESE ARE OUR KIDS. THEY ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

AND IF THIS IS THE STUFF THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE TEACHING OUR KIDS, IT IS JUST WRONG. SO YOU KNOW, BASICALLY, IF YOU

[00:45:08]

TRUE HISTORY. DON'T CHANGE IT.

>> YOU THINK IT WAS WRONG, GO BACK AND RE-CHECK IT.

MAKE SURE WHAT YOU ARE TEACHING IS NOT WOKE OR POLITICALLY CORRECT OR WHATEVER. TEACH THE TUTANKHAMUN...

TEACH THE TRUTH. TEACHERS DON'T WANT TO TEACH THIS EITHER. WHAT WE CAN DO IS... WE SHOULD BE TEACHING HEROES. HELEN KELLER.

THAT IS WHO I GREW UP WITH. I THOUGHT SHE WAS AMAZING.

DEAND BLIND. YET SHE COMMUNICATED.

SHE HAD A LIFE. SHE WOULD GO OUT AND BE PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT IS, LIKE, MAN, TALK ABOUT A ROLE MODEL. THAT IS AMAZING.

WE NEED TO HAVE ROLE MODELS FOR OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO. NOT, YOU KNOW, WELL, THIS IS LIKE THIS. THIS IS LIFE.

WHO DO WE LOOK UP TO? JACKIE ROBINSON.

I SAW A LITTLE BIT OF THE MOVIE. THERE WAS RACISM.

THERE WAS ABUSE. HE WAS AN HONORABLE MAN.

I MEAN, HE DID RIGHT THING. AND YOU KNOW, FOR EVERYBODY OF ALL COLORS. I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO HAVE THAT WE CAN LOOK UP TO.

AND PRESENT TO OUR KIDS. NOT SAY, WELL, THIS IS RACISM.

THEY WERE BAD. THEY TREATED HIM WRONG.

NOT GO FROM THAT POINT OF WHAT WAS WRONG.

LOOK AT WHAT'S RIGHT. WHAT HE DID RIGHT.

IS THAT IT? OKAY.

I'M THERE FOR THE KIDS. THAT IS HOPEFULLY, BE THERE FOR

THE KIDS. >> THANK FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

(APPLAUSE). >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIMBERLY MCDONALD. SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND WELCOME. MY NAME IS KIMBERLY MCDONALD.

I'M ONE OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAVE BEEN A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR THE PAST 18 YEARS.

TEN OF WHICH AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

I LOVE IT. THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THE PROFESSION FOR ME. AND I'M ACTUALLY A PRODUCT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL SPECIFICALLY. WHEN I MOVED BACK UP NORTH FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, I WAS ACTUALLY GIVEN THE CHOICE OF WHICH SCHOOL SYSTEM TO WORK FOR. SO CALVERT WAS MY NUMBER ONE CHOICE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A CHOICE OF WHICH HIGH SCHOOL TO WORK AT.

AGAIN, NORTHERN WAS MY CHOICE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT AND THE INITIATIVE FOR THE SALARY INCREASE FOR NATIONAL BOARD-CERTIFIED TEACHERS. I HAVE BEEN A NATIONAL BOARD-CERTIFIED COUNSELOR... WELL, TEACHER SINCE 2010.

IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AND I RECERTIFIED IN 2019 UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THERE WOULD BE NO COMPENSATION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF MY OWN POCKET WHICH WAS FINE WITH ME.

BECAUSE THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR ME AS A PROFESSIONAL, FOR MY FAMILIES, FOR MY STUDENTS.

THEY ARE NUMBER ONE. THE MONEY DID NOT MATTER TO ME AT ALL. WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT AND THE NATIONAL BOARD INCREASE OF SALARY, I THOUGHT, WOW, THAT IS PRETTY NICE. BUT THEN I FOUND OUT THAT AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR, I WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS $10,000 SALARY INCREASE AS I AM NOT CLASSIFIED AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER, AND MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAD CLARIFIED THAT THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS SALARY INCREASE SPEND 60% OF THEIR TIME IN THE CLASSROOM PROVIDING DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO THE STUDENTS.

BUT I WAS VERY, VERY CONFUSED. HOW IS THIS EQUITABLE AND FAIR TO COMPENSATE SOME PROFESSIONALS WHO HOLD THIS CERTIFICATION BUT DENY THE SAME COMPENSATION TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS WHO HOLD THE SAME CERTIFICATION? THE SAME COMPANY, THE SAME CERTIFICATION, THE SAME WAY EXACTLY TO GET THE NATIONAL BOARD. SO I STILL COULDN'T WRAP MY HEAD AROUND THAT. SO I AM THE ONLY NATIONALLY BOARD-CERTIFIED TEACHER WHO IS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, I PULLED EVERY SCHOOL COUNSELOR IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ALMOST 60% OF THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO GO FOR NATIONAL BOARDS IF THEY WERE INCLUDED IN THIS BLUEPRINT.

WHAT A QUALITY PROGRAM THIS WOULD BE IF EVERYONE WERE

[00:50:01]

OH. I'M JUST ASKING FOR THIS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE... IN YOUR BUDGET.

FOR EXWITTY. EQUITY.

THAT IS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

(APPLAUSE). >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY...

IS IT HEALEY? ST NEELY?

>> HEALEY. >> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE COULDN'T TELL THE FIRST LETTER.

>> NO PROBLEM. YOU GUYS WILL HEAR IT AGAIN.

STACY NEELY. I'M REPRESENTING MY DAUGHTER AND ALL THE KIDS LIKE HER. SHE IS SEVERELY DISABLED.% SHE STARTED SCHOOL AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE.

AND SHE STARTED SCHOOL WITHOUT A RAMP.

SHE IS A QUADRIPLEGIC WITHOUT A BUTTON TO OPEN THE DOOR.

SHE STARTED SCHOOL WITH A $5,000 CHAIR THAT WE HAD TO PROVIDE FROM HOME. SCHOOL SYSTEM STILL DOES NOT HAVE SENT FOR HER INDIVIDUAL COMMUNICATION DEVICE.

WE HAVE PURCHASED OURSELVES. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FAILING MY DAUGHTER. AND I CAN NOT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THE AMOUNT OF TIME I HAVE HEARD THERE IS NO MONEY.

I HAVE MET WITH THE PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL.

AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE NOTHING ELSE THAT WILL BE DONE FOR MY DAUGHTER FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

CONSIDERING THAT THERE IS A WHEELCHAIR CHILD THAT ACTUALLY IS A GRADE HIGHER. THERE WAS NOTHING DONE.

THERE IS A RAMP RIGHT NOW. MY DAUGHTER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PICKED UP INTO THE SCHOOL. AT LEAST THERE IS A BUTTON RIGHT NOW, BUT TODAY I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET IN '24, CONSIDERING THAT I HEAR THAT THERE IS NO BUDGET FOR '23.

MEET INVESTIGATION BEEN HELD WITH DIRECTORS OF FACILITIES, WITH OTER DIRECTORS, AND I HEAR THE SAME THING TO.

ME THAT, MEANS THAT YOU GUYS DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. CALVERT COUNTY IS IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF ADA RIGHT NOW. CALVERT COUNTY IS FAILING MY CHILD AT CIVIL RIGHTS. THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

SHE DOES NOT HAVE A COMMUNITY EDUCATION DEVICE.

SHE CANNOT COMMUNICATE IN THE SCHOOL.

SHE IS ON THE SIDEWALK DURING RECESS BECAUSE THERE IS NO PATHWAY TO THE PLAYGROUND AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY, TO LEARN TO EXPERIENCE, TO BUILD CONNECTIONS AND LEARN EVERY LIFE SKILL THERE IS NEED TO.

RIGHT? IF THERE WAS NO EXCEPTIONAL TEAM... THANKFULLY, SHE DOES HAVE AMAZING TEACHERS AND THERAPISTS. SHE WOULD BE ALONE ON THE SIDEWALK WATCHING THE KIDS PLAY. BEFORE YOU GUYS TELL ME THAT THERE IS NO BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I MANAGE FOUR TIMES THE AMOUNT OF BUDGET YOU GUYS ARE HANDLING.

I ASKED FOR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.

EVERYTHING YOU GUYS CAN THINK OF.

BEFORE YOU TELL ME THERE IS NO BUDGET.

I KNOW THERE IS. THERE IS PRIORITIES.

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO AVA. AVA IS MY QUADRIPLEGIC DAUGHTER.

AND SHE WAS ON THE PAGE WITH THE SAME TIME... WITH A PROGRAM OF $344,000 THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED. YOU KNOW VERY WELL WHAT THAT IS.

IRONIC. VERY IRONIC.

BEFORE YOU GUYS CONSIDER... >> IF YOU COULD FINISH YOUR

SENTENCE, PLEASE. >> YUP.

BEFORE YOU CONSIDER ANOTHER DOLLAR, CONSIDER THIS.

MY DAUGHTER IS ON THE SIDEWALK BY HERSELF BECAUSE SHE IS WATCHING KIDS. THIS IS NOT EXCELLENCE.

THERE IS NO BAR TO MEET. THIS IS PURE TORTURE.

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

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MELISSA GOSHHORN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF

CALVERT PARENTS. >> SORRY.

MY NAME IS MELISSA GOSHHORN. I WANT TO START BY SHARING SOME COMMENTS AND SOME QUESTIONS AROUND THE BUDGET.

I HAVE SENT SOME QUESTIONS ALREADY.

I'LL SEND MY FULL SUITE OF QUESTIONS.

[00:55:01]

I KNOW THAT WAS A NEW ADDITION THIS YEAR.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE COULD SEE STAFFING BY BUILDING AS WELL TO SEE HOW THAT CORRELATES TO STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND STUDENT EXPENSES. IT WAS VERY GOOD TO SEE.

HOWEVER, IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING BECAUSE SOME THINGS THAT I NOTICED WERE HOW THE EXPENSES CORRELATED TO THE STUDENT POPULATION AT THAT SCHOOL. THE MOST STUDENTS FROM THE HIGH SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE WITH 1,512. IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR TOTAL SUPPLIES, TEXTBOOKSES AND SUPPLIES SECTION, NORTHERN WILL GET $73 PER STUDENT. CALVERT HIGH, $124 PER STUDENT.

THAT IS LOOKING AT THE TEXTBOOKS AND SUPPLY SECTIONS SPECIFICALLY. I ALSO NOTICED IN THE BUDGET WE ARE REDUCING THE AMOUNTS FOR MATH, SCIENCE, ELA AND TECHNOLOGY. WE ONLY HAVE $16,000 FOR GATE AND $11,000 FOR FIELD TRIPS. I'M CURIOUS HOW THIS BUDGET IS PRIORITIZING CLOSING THE GAP IN LEARN LOSS WHEN WE SEEM TO BE REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR LEARNING.

THE BUDGET ALSO HAS $71.64 NEW POSITIONS.

I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THESE POSITIONS ARE FOR.

WHAT OUR NEW STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIOS WILL LOOK LIKE WITH THESE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS. BASED ON THE NUMBERS, IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE HIRING AND RAISING THE SALARIES OF ADMINISTRATION WHILE LEAVING GAPS IN DIRECT-TO-STUDENT POSITIONS LIKE NURSES, TEACHERS, SPECIAL EDUCATION SECRETARIES, COUNSELORS AND OTHER DIRECT TO STUDENT STAFF.

I HAVE MANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT STAFFING THAT I WILL EMAIL TO YOU. ANOTHER THING THAT STUCK OUT TO ME WAS WE ARE... ALTHOUGH ADDING 1.5 BEHAVIORAL THIS YEAR.

WE ARE STALLING AT 6.5 BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS.

WE HAVE 24 SCHOOLS. OUR GOAL IS TO USE PBIS AND RESTORATIVE PRACTICES. WE SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE A BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST IN EVERY SCHOOL TO ENSURE THAT THAT IS EVEN POSSIBLE. LASTLY, I NOTICED TWO NEW LINE ITEMS ON PAGE 68. I THINK THERE WAS POTENTIALLY AN ISSUE. THE CHANGE COLUMN DIDN'T HAVE AN AMOUNT. THERE WAS AN AMOUNT CHANGE.

ONE WAS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT $923,8 HUNDRED.

ONE FOR BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT FOR $860,000.

AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT EXACTLY THOSE ARE FOR.

AND IF IT IS PART OF THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION OR IF IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT. SO I WILL SEND YOU ALL OF MY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET SO YOU HAVE THEM IN EMAIL.

SECONDLY, I WANTED TO COME HERE AND GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE BOOK RECONSIDERATION PROCESS THAT I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH.

A LADY SPOKE ABOUT IT HERE ALREADY, ACTUALLY.

I HAVE MY HEARING. AND THE ENTIRE COMMITTEE APPROVED THE BOOK TO REMAIN ON THE SHELVES.

THERE IS AN APPEAL PROCESS. THAT APPEAL PROCESS IS CURRENTLY TAKING SOME TIME. I DID WANT TO READ THE TESTIMONY THAT I GAVE AT THE BLANKET BOOK RECONSIDERATION HEARING FOR YOU TODAY. I'M HERE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING WHEN DISCUSSING IF THESE BOOKS SHOULD REMAIN ON SHELVES OR NOT. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE LIBRARIAN.

THE DEFENSE WAS "I HAVE TO APPEAL TO ALL STUDENTS AND AGE RANGES AND WHAT MAY BE CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE TO ONE MAY NOT BE INAPPROPRIATE TO ANOTHER." A TEACHER IN SUPPORT OF PEDOPHILIA BOOKS IN SCHOOLS SAYS IT CAN COULD HELP A STUDENT RECOGNIZE BEHAVIOR IS WRONG.

A PARENT ARGUED IN SUPPORT OF BOOKS SUCH AS THIS.

I WANT MY CHILD TO READ BOOKS LIKE THIS SO THEY CAN LEARN AND HAVE EMPATHY FOR OTHERS AND THE SITUATIONS.

ANOTHER ARGUED THAT A CHILD BEING ABUSED OR HAS BEEN ABUSED BY AN ADULT COULD READ BOOKS LIKE THIS AND RECOGNIZE THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND NOT TO HAVE SHAME. THIS FORCED ME TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH ABOUT THE POTENTIAL GOOD BOOKS LIKE THESE MAY DO FOR CHILDREN. MAYBE PER PERSPECTIVES I HADN'T CONSIDERED. I SPOKE WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. I MET WITH TRAUMA SPECIAL IS, SEX SPECIALISTS, PROFESSIONALS SPECIALIZING IN CHILD PSYCHOLOGY. WHAT I LEARNED NEEDS TO BE SHARED WITH EACH OF YOU AS YOU CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF THIS BOOK, AND FUTURE BOOKS LIKES THIS.

CHILDREN AT THE AGE OF TWO UNDERSTAND INSTINCTIVELY THAT THE BEHAVIORS WE CONSIDER ADVERTISE CALL SEXUAL ABUSE ARE WRONG. THAT IS MY TIME.

I WILL EMAIL YOU MY TESTIMONY. SO YOU HAVE IT IN FULL.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

(APPLAUSE). >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS

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

[01:00:02]

[6.01 Dr. Andrae Townsel]

THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

I WANT TO SHARE THAT I HAVE STILL BEEN MEETING W WITH A LOTF STAKE HOLDERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO GIVE RUNDOWN ON EXACTLYWHO I HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH AND WHY. I MET RECENTLY WITH TONYA MARTIN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OF GIRL SCOUTS NATIONS CAPITAL. WE DISCUSSED HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR EXCITING ENRICH. OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE PATHWAYS TO THE EMPLOIT AND EXCATION FOR YOUR YOUNG PEOPLE BY BEING A CAMP COUNSELOR. SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH BUILDING LEVEL PRINCIPALS TO SHARE ABOUT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SHERIFF COX AND LIEUTENANT-COLONEL PAYNE WHICH WAS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF US A OFFICE.

WE DISCUSSED THE USE OF OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COLLABORATION OVER SCHOOL SAFETY, THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING VAPING IN SCHOOLS, AND JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE ONLY WORRY ABOUT STUDENT SAFETY, AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE COMES AFTER THAT.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE NEW C.E.O. OF CALVERT HEALTH. MR. JEREMY BRADFORD.

ALSO I MET WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THAN THROPPIC OPPORTUNITIES, TERESA JOHNSON, CHIEF OPERATION OFFICER, MR. TONY BLADEN. WE ARE GOING TO PARTNER WITH THEM ALSO AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT VAPINGL IN THE SCHOOLS.

I MET WITH PATRICIA MCCOY AND, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION. WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES AS AN ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP IS COMING UP THAT WE WILL SHARE WITH OUR STUDENTS.

HOPEFULLY, THEY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, I DO SERVE ON THE BOARD FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEMS OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND. I MET WITH SONYA HYNES FROM THE BARSTOW ACRES CHILD CARE CENTER. SHE IS INVITED TO SPEAK AT OUR UPCOMING PRINCIPALS MEETING TO SHARE ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. YOU KNOW THEY SUPPORT WITH MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES AS WELL. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH DAWN TUCKER OF THE CALVERT COUNTY MINORITY BUSINESS ALLIANCE. WE TALKED ABOUT BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIP AND THINGS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH REGARD TO THE BUSINESS ALLIANCE.

AND LAST, I MET WITH THE UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN.

THIS YEAR, THERE WILL BE A SPRING CAMPAIGN.

THEY WILL ALSO MEET WITH OUR BUILDING LEVEL LEADERSHIP TO TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES WITH UNITED WAY.

YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS GEARING UP FOR OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR EVENT. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEIRY- SCHOOL'S NOMINATION OF THEM FOR THE HONOR.

ON JANUARY 30, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST AN ADDITIONAL LET'S TALK SESSION WHICH FOCUSED ON THE '24 BUDGET.

I WAS ABLE TO FIELD OTHER QUESTIONS AS WELL.

THERE WERE ABOUT 20-30 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

I SEE SOME OUT HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT. I WANT TO PAUSE AND TALK ABOUT DISCIPLINE AND VIOLENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY LISTENING TO OUR FAMILIES, TO OUR STUDENTS ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE GOING ON IN SCHOOLS WITH THE FIGHTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE. AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AREST, OUR SAFETY ADVOCATES, OUR BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS, OUR TEACHERS ARE WORKING HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY TO PROVIDE THE SAFEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRE-MESSAGE WITH OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. I LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR AND ALSO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMPARISON OF PREVIOUS YEARS. LET ME START.

THE INCIDENTS THAT I'M LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY... I'M TALKING ABOUT COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN ATTACK ON ADULTS.

ATTACKS ON STUDENTS. FIGHTING, SERIOUS BODILY INJURY.

AND SEXUAL ATTACKS. FY '19, THERE WAS A TOTAL FROM AUGUST TO NOW, AUGUST TO THE END OF JANUARY, THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 579 INCIDENTS OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT I JUST DISCUSSED.

AND FISCAL YEAR '20, THERE WAS 698 TOTAL INCIDENTS.

FISCAL YEAR '22, 489. CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT

[01:05:01]

LESS THAN IT WAS THE PREVIOUS YEARS.

I WANT TO JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY BY A SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND THEIR TEACHERS, OUR RESOURCE OFFICERS, SAFETY ADVOCATES. THEY ARE WORKING HARD EVERY SINGLE DAY. THE PROBLEM IS ISSUES ARE STILL HAPPENING, BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT CHANGE IS NOT AN EVENT. IT IS A PROCESS.

WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS NOW.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE HARD WORK OF OUR EDUCATORS TO SEE THAT WE ARE LESS THAN WITH THE INCIDENTS TODAY THAN WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR AND THE PREVIOUS YEA. THAT IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR HARD-WORKING SCHOOL STAFF. I WANT TO SHARE THAT I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE ASKED BY TEACHERS JACKIE MULLRY IS TO READ TO CHILDREN AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THIS WAS THEIR PBIS GRADE-LEVEL INCENTIVE DAY.

THEY WERE AWARDED WITH A PA JAM MA AND HOT COCOA DAY.

WE HAD SOME HOT CHOCOLATE. I READ A BOOK CALLED THE BOOK WITHOUT PICTURES. YOU ALL HEARD ABOUT THAT BOOK.

GOOD BOOK. I HAVE DON'T RECOMMEND YOU READ IT TO KIDS. IT IS A LOT OF FUNNY SOUNDS.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE IT SOUND CRAZY TO ENTERTAIN THE KIDS.

IT WAS COOL. I ENJOYED MY VISIT TO CALL VE VERT... CALVERT COUNTRY SCHOOL. THE STUDENTS AND STAFF WERE ENGAGING IN INSTRUCTIONAL IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HIGH-LEVEL TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH THE TEAM OVER AT THE CALVERT COUNTRY SCHOOL. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WILL BE BACK THERE NEXT WEEK TO SEE ONE OF THE CLASSES IN ACTION. LAST YEAR... LAST WEEK I WAS...

I ENJOYED A VISIT TO THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY.

ACTUALLY, THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE UP HERE BEING ACKNOWLEDGED EARLIER TODAY, I SAW THEM IN ACTION.

I POSTED SOME OF THAT. ENSURING THAT WAS ON OUR DISTRICT SOCIAL MEDIA. JUST TO SEE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION THAT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVED IN OUR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY.

ONE OTHER THING. TWO MORE THINGS FOR YOU.

THIS EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THEY ARE HAVING THEIR FREDERICK DOUGLAS LITERACY NIGHT. FIRST AND SECOND-GRADERS WILL BE PERFORMING SPECIAL SONGS. THE GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS WILL PRESENT PROJECTS. GIRLS WILL SHARE THEIR SKILLS.

THERE WILL BE A BRAND NEW EXHIBIT THAT WILL BE PART OF THE SCAVENGER HUNT. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT WILL BE THE FEATURED GUEST NATHAN RICHARDSON, THE FREDERICK DOUGLAS ACTOR CHARACTER WHO WOULD DELIVER A PRESENTATION ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE WAS A MATH CHALLENGE HELD AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL.

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT FROM THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND AREA COMPETED IN THE MATH CHALLENGE. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THOSE PARTICIPANTS. TONIGHT THERE IS ALL-COUNTY ELEMENTARY BRAND... BAND AND ORCHESTRA CONCERT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TONIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. I'LL BE BRINGING GREETINGS THERE. IF WE FINISH HERE ON TIME.

VERY LAST, A REMINDER THAT SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 13 FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND PARENT CONFERENCES.

AND ON FEBRUARY 20, FOR THE CELEBRATION OF PRESIDENT'S DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT.

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

[7.06 Blueprint Update]

>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM JOE SAMPSON, III.

THE BLUEPRINT CORD MAY THE FOR FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. TODAY MY AIM IS TO PROVIDE A BRIEF STATUS UPDATE ON OUR IMPLEMENTATION AND OUR NEXT STEPS. THE FOCUS OF TODAY'S UPDATE WILL BE ON THE BLUEPRINT QUESTIONS THAT WERE SENT TO FAMILIES ON THE REOPENING PLAN SURVEY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN WRITING.

I WILL GIVE YOU INFORMATION ON THE UPCOMING EVENTS SCHEDULED ALONG WITH REMINDERS ABOUT OUR EXISTING TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS. THE SURVEY WAS DISTRIBUTED IN

[01:10:05]

THE PURPOSE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS TO ESTABLISH A BASE LINE BY WHICH WE CAN ESTABLISH PLANS FOR FUTURE COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. THE THREE QUESTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS. HOW FAMILIAR ARE YOU WITH THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE AND ITS INDIVIDUAL COLOR AREAS? HOW MANY LIVE OR RECORDED PRESENTATIONS HAVE YOU SEEN? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE BLUEPRINT INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE? THE FIRST QUESTION WAS DESIGNED% TO HELP DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE BLUEPRINT OVERALL. AND TO DETERMINE STAKE HOLDER KNOWLEDGE OF EACH PILLAR OF THE BLUEPRINT.

THE RESULTS SHOW THAT WHILE OVER 70% OF RESPONDENTS ARE AT LEAST FA MILL Y WITH THE BLUEPRINT, MOSTLY IN TERM, THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF INCREASING AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF EACH AREA OF THE BLUEPRINT.

46% OF ALL RESPONDENTS INDICATED THEY ARE NOT AT ALL FAMILIAR WITH PILLAR ONE. AND 41% OF RESPONDENTS WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH PILLAR FIVE AT ALL.

YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER NUMBERS INDICATED THERE FOR THE OTHER PILLARS AS WELL. THE NEXT QUESTION SIMPLY ASKS THE NUMBER OF BLUEPRINT PRESENTATIONS RESPONDENTS HAD SEEN EITHER LIVE OR RECORDED. OVER 50% OF RESPONDENTS HAVE NOT SEEN OR ATTENDED OR WATCHED THE BLUEPRINT PRESENTATION.

THE LAST QUESTION WAS AN OPEN RESPONSE ITEM, AND RESPONDENTS COULD LIST THEIR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION AND RECEIPT OF FUTURE BLUEPRINT INFORMATION.

THE MOST COMMON RESPONSE WAS EMAIL.

YOU CAN SEE THAT 32% OF RESPONDENTS PREFER TO RECEIVE INFORMATION THROUGH THIS METHOD. THE CCPS WEBSITE, SCHOOL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND HARD COPIES IN THE MAIL WERE OTHER RESPONSE THAT IS SHOWED UP MORE THAN ONCE BUT LESS THAN 5% FOR EACH QUESTIONS. OR EACH COMMENT.

THERE WERE SOME VERY GOOD SUGGESTIONS IN THE OPEN RESPONSES AS WELL. A FEW OF WHICH OUR TEAM IS LOOKING AT IMPLEMENTING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SUCH AS DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS, AND CONSIDERATION OF TEXT MESSAGES AS WELL. SO OUR CURRENT PROGRESS AND YOU ARE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AS OUR COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO WORK TO GET OUR IMPLEMENTATION DRAFT COMPLETED.

WE SHARED PROGRESS WITH OUR CALVERT COUNTY BLUEPRINT COMMITTEE WHICH WILL PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON OUR DRAFT.

WHEN I LAST REPORTED PROGRESS IN JANUARY TO OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPEREYESORS, THEY HAD COMPLETED 45% OF THE DRAFT'S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. AS OF FEBRUARY 4, WE HAD 73% OF THE 164 ITEMS COMPLETED WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE REMAINING ITEMS BEING DATA TABLES. OUR TEAM HOPES TO HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE REMAINING ITEMS COMPLETED BY TOMORROW IN PREPARATION FOR OUR LEA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MEETING WITH MSCA AND AIB. THAT IS ON FEBRUARY 17.

WE WILL RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN FROM MSDE.

SO THIS SLIDE INDICATES THE TYPES OF ITEMS THAT ARE REMAINING BY PILLAR. IN TERMS OF THE ITEMS THAT STILL NEED TO BE COMPLETED IN PILLAR ONE, THEY ARE MAINLY ITEMS ADDRESSING HOW PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROVIDERS WILL MEET STANDARDS TO RECEIVE FUNDING. AND PILLAR TWO AND THREE, AS I INDICATED BEFORE, MOSTLY DATA TABLES.

RELATED TO MONITORING TEACHER QUALITY AND DIVERSITY AND ALSO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROJECTIONS.

SO REGARDING NEXT STEPS, NOW WE ARE IN THE HOME STRETCH IN TERMS OF OUR REMAINING TIMELINE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

I STATED EARLIER, WE SHARED OUR DRAFT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WITH OUR COMMITTEE IN PREPARING FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSION ON FEBRUARY 17. OUR PLAN IS TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN DRAFT DURING THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON FEBRUARY 23.

THE FOCUS WILL BE PILLARS ONE AND TWO.

AND AGAIN, ON MARCH 9, FOCUSING ON PILLARS THREE AND FOUR.

AND THEN ALSO ADDING A SUMMARY FOR PILLAR FIVE.

WE SENT COMMUNICATION YESTERDAY ABOUT OUR NEXT SCHEDULED TOWN HALL MEETING WHICH IS FEBRUARY 28.

AT 6:30 P.M. HERE AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE.

AND WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO CREATE INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS FOR EACH BLUEPRINT PILLAR THAT WILL BE POAFERSED TO THE CCPS WEBSITE AND DISTRIBUTED TO STAKE HOLDERS.

THERE WILL BE AN IN-PERSON SESSION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PILLAR DURING THE MONTH OF MARCH TO ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO

[01:15:04]

WHICH WILL BE COME POSED OF OUR PHASE ONE IMPLEMENTATION, AND WE WILL BEGIN PLANNING PHASE TWO WHICH IS DUE IN MARCH OF 2024.

THAT WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING THREE YEARS OF BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

IT WAS DISAPPOINTING THAT OF ALL OF THE PARENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY, ONLY ABOUT 2,300 OF THEM RESPONDED TO THE QUESTIONS. I WONDER IN PART IF IT WAS BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY QUESTIONS.

EVEN THE STUDENTS, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, IT WAS KIND OF LOW.

I'M SURE THE FOUR OF MINE LOOKED AT IT AND THOUGHT NO WAY, IT IS WAY TOO HARD. THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO IT.

MY APOLOGIES. I'M PART OF THIS PROBLEM, NOT THE SOLUTION, IT SEEMS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW, I NOTICED THERE WERE ONLY 1,700 STAFF THAT ALSO RESPONDED.

IT MAKES IT HARD FOR US TO REALLY GAUGE WHEN THE RESPONSES ARE SO LOW. SO I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS I'M WONDERING WHAT COULD WE D DO... I MEAN, I KNOW IT WAS SENT IN EMAIL AND THERE WERE REMINDERS.

IS THE THERE SOMETHING ELSE WE D DO TO INVENTIVIZE FOLKS TO RESPOND IN MAYBE A GREATER EXPLANATION AS TO HOW IMPORTANT IT IS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I DON'T KNOW.

THEN THE SECOND ONE IS I HEARD YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SUBMIT THESE TO, YOU KNOW, THE VARIOUS STAKE HOLDERS.

AND YOU KNOW, THE VIDEOS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE... WHAT IS IT? CALVERT BROADCAST AND ASK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IF MAYBE THIS IS... I MEAN, THEY DO CERTAIN SEGMENTS AND THINGS LIKE.

THAT MAYBE THIS CAN BE A SEGUE INTO SOMETHING THERE WHERE WE CAN BEGIN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT, A DIFFERENT BASE OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW.

IT WOULD BE WORTH IT. BECAUSE EVERYBODY, WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL OR NOT, IF YOU OWN DIRT HERE, IT IS IMPORTANT. THAT IS ALL.

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> YES. I HAD A QUESTION.

SO WHAT... ARE WE AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ALLOWED TO SAY WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THE STANDARDS OR THE NUMBERS, THE GOALS OF THE BLUEPRINT? AND I'M THINKING OF THE PRIVATE VIEDERS FOR DAY CARE... PRIVATE PROVIDERS FOR DAY CARE.

I THINK ALMOST EVERY DISTRICT HAS ISSUES WITH BEING ABLE TO BRING ONBOARD AND PARTNER WITH ENOUGH PRIVATE PROVIDERS.

THEN SECONDLY, JUST LIKE ONE OF THE CCR... YOU KNOW, APPRENTICESHIPS, I THINK OUR NUMBER WOULD BE WE WOULD HAVE TO GO FROM 12 TO 120 OR SOMETHING. I WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT THE EXACT NUMBERS. BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN COUNTIES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR STANDARDS.

YOU KNOW, IS THAT WHAT OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS GOING TO SAY IN WE WILL SAY WE WILL KEEP TRYING.

BUT WE PROBABLY WON'T MAKE IT? >> SO CURRENTLY, OUR DRAFT SPEAKS TO WHERE WE ARE, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR FOR THIS FIRST PHASE. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

AND THEN WHAT ARE OUR PLANS FOR MOVING FORWARD.

REGARDING THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS, THERE IS A WAIVER PROCESS.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN APPLY FOR THAT.

IF WE DON'T MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

REGARDING THE APAREN APPRENTICESHIPS, WE SET THE GOAL. WE DETERMINE HOW WE WILL GET THERE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. >> AND MS. POST, TO YOUR COMMENT ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION AND PARTNERING WITH CALVERT COUNTY, WE HAVE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE BLUEPRINT... THE CALVERT COUNTY BLUEPRINT COMMITTEE AND OUR CO-CHAIR MR. WILLIS. AND HE HAS OFFERED THEIR SERVICES WHEN WE ARE READY TO PRODUCE VIDEOS AND PUT OUT

COMMUNICATION AS WELL. >> YES.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY GREAT TO HEAR.

I THINK... I'M SORRY. I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT RIGHT THERE. IT IS GREAT TO HEAR.

IT IS ALSO... WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY DO OUR BEST TO EDUCATE THE FOLKS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

SOME BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T... MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE KID IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO THEY SAY, OH, IT DOESN'T PERTAIN TO ME. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE KIDS.

A LOT OF THEIR TAX MONEY COMES TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

WHICH WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR. BUT IT ALSO IS A STICKER SHOCK IN THE EVENT THAT... YOU KNOW, WE DON'T QUITE FULLY UNDERSTAND

[01:20:04]

IT IS VERY VAST. HARD TO KNOW AND APPRECIATE THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WE GO AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY THIS YEAR AND THEN WE GO BACK NEXT YEAR AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY, AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO REACH THE... WE ARE GOING TO TIP THE SCALES.

THEN EVERYBODY IS GOING TO GET ALL ANGSTY, THE COMMISSIONERS TT RAISING TAXES. THAT IS THE LAST THING THAT WE CERTAINLY WANT. ESPECIALLY ME.

I DON'T NEED ANY MORE TAXES TO PAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT IT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SO THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS EDUCATED AND THEY KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A BOARD REALLY DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE ABOUT LOOKING AT THE BUDGET TO UNDERSTAND BEST WHERE OUR MONEY IS BEING UTILIZED AND SPENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU,

DR. SAMPSON. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE INTO POLICIES FOR REVIEW.

[7.01 Policies for Review]

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

I'M DR. SUSAN JOHNSON, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.

I'M PRESENTING THIS POLICY ON BEHALF OF KEVIN HOOK.

HE REVIEWED THIS POLICY, AND THE ONLY CHANGE THAT WAS SUGGESTED WAS TO ALIGN IT WITH THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE, AND IN LETTER A, THE LAST SENTENCE, FREE ADMISSION CARD TO ALL SCHOOL SYSTEM ATHLETIC EVENTS EXCEPT THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND STATE PLAY-OFF

CONTESTS. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM

COLLEAGUES? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> MS. POST? >> SO THERE IS A... I'M SORRY.

I CAN'T SEE IT FROM HERE. IT IS VERY SMALL.

YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT THERE IS A PASS FOR ANYONE 65 AND OVER?

>> YES. >> IS THIS A CURRENT POLICY OR

NEW? >> IT IS CURRENT BUT WE ARE

REVISING? >> YES.

>> OKAY. SORRY.

I'M NEW HERE. GIVE ME A BREAK.

I WANTED TO KNOW. THAT I'M BROKE FROM PAYING FOR MY MOTHER'S ENTRANCE FEES FOR ALL THE SPORTING EVENTS THIS YEAR. SO I'M THANKFUL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU.

THAT IS ALL. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. OH.

MS. GRENIS? OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. 30 DAYS FOR REVIEW?

>> YES. THE POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR 30-DAY REVIEW. MS. JACOBS WILL GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF POLICY 2500 ON TEST ADMINISTRATION, DATA COLLECTION

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

I'M JACKIE JACOBS, DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE. I AM HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU POLICY 2500, REGARDING TEST ADMINISTRATION AND DATA COLLECTION AND REPORTING. THERE IS ONE EDIT TO THE POLICY THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GO OVER WITH YOU TODAY.

THE EDIT INCLUDES, INCLUDING THE WORD "LOCAL" TO THE STATEMENT A UNDER THE PURPOSE SECTION. THE SENTENCE WOULD NOW READ TO ENSURE TESTING CONDITIONS MEET THE STATE AND LOCAL REQUI REQUIREMENTS. BY ADDING THIS LOCAL REQUI REQUIREMENT, THE POLL SILL ENSURES THAT ALL TESTING CONDITIONS ARE MET. WHETHER THEY ARE STATE OR LOCAL

ASSESSMENTS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, THANK YOU, MS. JACOBS.

>> THANK YOU. >> POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR

[7.02 General Funds Report]

30-DAY REVIEW. >> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT WE WILL HAVE OUR GENERAL FUNDS REPORT.

MR. JOHNSON? >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT. DR. TOWNSEL.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON.

I'M THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.

TODAY WE HAVE FOUR BUDGET-TO-ACTUAL REPORTS TO PRESENT. THESE REPORTS ARE FOR THE DISTRICT'S TWO PRIMARY FUNDS. THE FIRST REPORT IS THE F FOR TE UNRESTRICTED FUND AND THE SECOND IS FOR THE RESTRICTED OR GRANT FUND. THE FIRST REPORT IS THE REVENUE BUDGET REPORT FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND.

AS SHOWN ON THIS REPORT, THE DISTRICT RECEIVED $137.2 MILLION OF THE TOTAL REVENUE BUDGETED FOR THIS FUND.

AS OF JANUARY 31. ON THIS REPORT, YOU WILL NOTE THAT THE YEAR-TO-DATE INTEREST REVENUE IS ALREADY MORE THAN $71,000 HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS BUDGETED LAST JUNE.

THE INTEREST REVENUE IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DISTRICT

[01:25:02]

THIS REPORT COMPARES THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES INCURRED SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR AS OF JANUARY 31 WITH THE BUDGET.

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

AS OF JANUARY 31, THE DISTRICT HAD SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 93% OF ITS ANNUAL UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. THERE IS ONE CATEGORY IN PARTICULAR ON THIS REPORT, ON PAGE... ON CATEGORY 209.

THAT IS FOR TRANSPORTATION. THAT IS STILL EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT COST PRESSURE. THIS CATEGORY WAS $# 32,000 OVER BUDGET AS OF JANUARY 31. IT IS POISED TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE THROUGH A BUDGET RECOMMENDATION, BUDGET ADJUSTMENT RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE THIRD REPORT PROVIDES MORE GRANULAR BUDGET-TO-ACTUAL DATA FOR EACH OF THE 13 BUDGET CATEGORIES THAT ARE INCLUDE IN THE EXPENDITURE SUMMARY.

AS YOU REVIEW THIS REPORT, YOU WILL SEE THAT SEVERAL ACCOUNTS THROUGHOUT THE REPORT HAVE NEGATIVE AVAILABLE BALANCE, A BUDGET TRANSFER RECOMMENDATION WILL BE MADE IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR MOST OF THOSE NEGATIVE INCLUDING ONE FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. AND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION CONTRACTED SERVICES. THE FOURTH AND FINAL BUDGET REPORT IS BUDGET-TO-ACTUAL EXPENDITURE REPORT FOR THE GRAND LPT GRANT FUND. THE DISTRICT HAD SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 41.6% OF THIS FUND'S BUDGET.

FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A PUBLIC THANK YOU TO STAFF ACCOUNTANTS FOR POLISHES THE FORMAT OF THE RESTRICTED GRANT FUND BUDGET REPORT. THAT CONCLUDES THE FINANCIAL PRESENTATION. THANK YOU.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO

ANSWER THEM. >> QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES?

>> SO WHAT EXPLAINS THE TRANSPORTATION OVERAGE? BECAUSE THAT IS QUITE A RISK. IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE A LARGE BUDGET ADJUSTENT. IS... DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE BUS DRIVER SALARY THAT IS WE APPROVED? I THOUGHT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET.

I WASN'T SURE OF THE TIMING ON THAT.

>> MOST OF THIS ADDITIONAL COST IS DUE TO THE CONTRACTED TRANSPORTATION, YES. A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WILL BE PROPOSED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AT THE NEXT MEETING OR

SUBSEQUENTLY. >> SO WE HAD GOTTEN... LET'S SEE. WAS THAT LAST YEAR? WE WERE SHARING THE $2.6 MILLION COST WITH THE...

>> CORRECT. THAT WAS FISCAL YEAR '22.

>> OKAY. THAT WAS FISCAL YEAR '22.

WE KNEW AT THE TIME. WE SHOULD HAVE REALLY... MAYBE WE HAD ALREADY APPROVED A BUDGET AT THAT TIME.

I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK BACK ON THE TIMING.

OKAY. SO YOU ARE COMING FORWARD.

WE HAVE A RISK IN OUR BUDGET NOW.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.

. >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ANY SAVINGS ANYWHERE? >> WE WILL PRESENT A WAY TO HELP OFF-SET THESE ADDITIONAL COSTS AS PART OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT

RECOMMENDATION. >> OKAY.

>> YES. PART OF THIS IS DUE TO TWO ROUTES BEING ADDED SO FAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> YES. THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE ANTICIPATE FOUR ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY ROUTES THE SECOND HALF

OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

THEY ARE MAKING QUITE A FEW CHANGES IN THAT AREA AND HAVING TROUBLE LINING UP THE BUSES EVEN WHEN THEY WERE APPROVED AND THE LIKE. I HOPE THAT WORKS OUT.

THANK YOU. >> MS. GRENIS?

>> I HAD A QUESTION REGARDING... ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE GUEST SPEAKERS WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS.

IT IS ONE THING I KEPT HEARING WAS HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.

SO WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, ARE PRINCIPALS ABLE TO SAVE THEIR BUDGET AND TRANSFER IT TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR UNTIL THEY ARE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH MONEY TO PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS SUCH AS A PARAPLEGIC?

>> TYPICALLY, PRINCIPALS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CARRY OVER UNUSED FUNDS FROM ONE FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT.

HOWEVER, TYPICALLY, COSTS OF THAT NATURE ARE NOT FUNDED BY...

OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUDGETS. THEY ARE TYPICALLY FUNDED

THROUGH ANOTHER SOURCE. >> THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO RAISE

THEIR OWN MONEY TO... >> NO.

I DIDN'T SAY. THAT THEY ARE TYPICALLY FUNDED THROUGH ANOTHER SOURCE. OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUDGET.

[01:30:02]

WE HAVE A CAPITAL OUTLAY SET OF ACCOUNTS.

WE HAVE SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE STATE.

AND I'M ACTUALLY PLANNING TO MEET WITH MRS. WARNER TOMORROW.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH HER ABOUT FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THOSE NEEDS. FOR ADA NEEDS.

>> I'M NOT SURE I HAD MY QUESTION ANSWERED.

IF THEY SAVE THE MONEY, CAN THEY SAVE FOR A PERIOD OF, SAY, THREE

YEARS? >> NO.

THEY ARE NOT TYPICALLY ALLOWED TO CARRIE OVER UNUSED FUNDS FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT. COMPLICATED. THIS IS KIND OF- I REALIZE THAT. THE WHOLE BUDGET PROCESS IS VERY OVERWHELMING. THAT IS WHERE THOSE CAPITAL OUTLAY AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CATEGORIES, IF YOU WILL, RIGHT, COME INTO PLAY. THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE SAVED. IT WOULDN'T BE SAVED AT A SCHOOL LEVEL. IT WOULD BE SAVED OR EARMARKED AND SAVED FOR YEARS UNTIL THERE WAS ENOUGH.

BUT IT WOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY OR A DIFFERENT POD OF

MONEY, IF YOU WILL. >> OR IT COULD BE ADDED TO

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT CATEGORY. >> OKAY, YEAH.

>> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? MR. JOHNSON, I HAVE A QUESTION.

COULD YOU DO SOME ANALYSIS FOR THE BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WAS ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR TRANSPORTATION COSTS? COMPARED TO, TO SEE IF THE NUMBER THAT WAS BUDGETED WAS REALISTIC BASED ON OUR AGREEMENT TO DO THE INCREASE FOR BUS DRIVER COMPENSATION. AND THEN TAKE A LOOK TO SEE IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMING INTO PLAY REGARDING THE OVERAGE IN THAT ACCOUNT, MEANING IS IT THE INCREASES IN GAS? WELL, DIESEL. IS IT WE HAVE HIRED... YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL BUS ROUTES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERAGE. AND GIVE US KIND OF YOUR ANALYSIS OF WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON THERE IN THAT COST CATEGORY.

SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT NEXT YEAR, WE DO A LITTLE BIT MORE INVESTIGATION INTO THAT ACCOUNT TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS ENOUGH

FUNDING THERE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I KNOW YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A MILLION AND TWO BUDGET QUESTIONS. I APOLOGIZE FOR PING-PONGING THAT ON TO YOUR SHOULDERS ALSO. BUT I'M SURE YOU CAN HANDLE IT.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. NEXT WE WILL MOVE INTO BID

[7.03 Bid Approvals]

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME OUR TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AS WELL.

MY NAME IS SHELDON TAYLOR, SUPERVISE FOR OF FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT. BEFORE YOU TODAY ARE EIGHT REQUESTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JOINING ME TODAY FOR THE FIRST REQUEST IS MR. GREG GOTT, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL FACILITIES.

TO PRESENT THE FIRST REQUEST, TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR UTILIZING OF THE OMNI APARTMENTS CONTRACT NUMBER 201700134, TO REPLACE AND INSTALL THE RAMP N AND DECKING OF THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT DELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

ALL FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH THE CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATIONS FUND. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE UTILIZING OF THE IDENTIFIED CONTRACT TO REPLACE AND INSTALL DECKING OF THE EXISTING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT DELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND AWARD THE CONTRACT, DOING BUSINESS AS GAMETIME OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA IN THE

TOTAL AMOUNT OF $53,439.49. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND IN.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

MOTION PASSES. >> JOINING ME NEXT IS MS. MS. WARNER, THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO PRESENT THE SECOND REQUEST. WHICH IS THE AWARDING OF THE SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILLER AND KINDERGARTEN ROOF

FOP UNIT PROJECT. >> GOOD AFTERNOON.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISSUED A SOLICITATION FOR THIS WORK IN DECEMBER, 2022. AND 7 FIRMS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS.

[01:35:04]

BASED ON THE BIDS RECEIVED ON FEBRUARY 1, 2023, WE REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CHILLER AND KINDERGARTEN ROOFTOP UNIT AT SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO GAIGEN MECHANICAL OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA FOR THE BASE BID. AND ALTERNATE NUMBER TWO IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $773,737. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH STATE HEALTHY SCHOOL FACILITY FUNDS, LOCAL CIP FUNDS, AND THE OPERATING BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT BECAUSE THE BIDS CAME IN OVER BUDGET, CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATION FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,159 ARE BEING UTILIZED TO FUND THE BUDGET OVERAGE. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME PASS-THROUGH GRANT FUNDS THROUGH THE STATE THAT CAN BE UTILIZED TO REDUCE THE CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATIONS ALLOCATION BY APPROXIMATELY $106,000. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PROCESS WITH THE COUNTY AND THE STATE IEC THAT WE WILL NEED TO FOLLOW TO GET THIS ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDING APPROVED.

WE PLAN ON DOING THAT IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

HOWEVER, FOR NOW WE NEED TO FORWARD 100% OF THE DELTA WITH THE CAPITAL ALTERATIONS TO AWARD THE PROJECT SO LONG THE EQUIPMENT CAN BE RELEASED BY THE FACTORY IN TIME FOR THE WORK.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> THAT IS QUITE AN INCREASE.

THE INCREASE WAS $224,000? OVER WHAT YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT

COST? >> OUR BUDGET WAS $546,050.

IT HAD BEEN ADJUSTED AND INCREASED.

THE COSTS FOR EQUIPMENT ESSENTIALLY TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, ARE ASTRONOMICAL. ONE THING YOU MIGHT SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIDS IS OBVIOUSLY WE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST.

WE HAD 7 BIDS. AND THEY RANGED FROM A BASE BID OF $766,209, UPWARD TO $1,00031. SO CERTAINLY, WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS WE ARE GETTING ARE NOT SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THESE BIDS WERE QUITE TIGHT.

SO IT'S AN UNPRECEDENTED TIMEST RIGHT NOW.

>> SO I IMAGINE YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT OUR WHOLE CIP PROJECTS

LIST. >> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, WE DEVELOP OUR CIP IN ADVANCE BECAUSE WE ARE OBVIOUSLY DESIGNING THESE PROJECTS SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE.

IT IS TOUGH. AND SOMETIMES... ESPECIALLY ON A SMALLER PROJECT LIKE THIS. IT IS DIFFICULT TO REALLY CUT ANYTHING. THAT IS THE ISSUE.

WHEREAS WITH SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE A LARGER SYSTEMIC COMPONENT, WE CAN MAKE SOME CHANGES, MAKE SOME CUTS AND STILL BE ABLE TO GET THE MORE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TAKEN CARE OF. WITH THE PROJECT SUCH AS THIS, THAT IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE AT ALL.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I'LL TAKE A MOTION.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

>> JOINING ME NEXT ARE THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE SUPERVISOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOR THE THIRD REQUEST. THE TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR THE UTILIZING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR MICRO-COMPUTERS COOPERATIVE CONTRACT NUMBER 5 # 1722 FOR THE THREE-YEAR AND FOUR-YEAR LEASE ACQUISITION OF FY '24 REFRESHES OF STUDENT AND TEACHER LAPTOPS. THE EQUIPMENT AND WARRANTY SERVICES NEEDED ARE VITAL TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FUTURE READY INITIATIVE.

WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE UTILIZING THE IDENTIFIED CONTRACT TO ACQUIRE THREE ARFOUR-YEAR LEASES ON

[01:40:03]

THE FUNDING SOURCE WILL BE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY

CONNECTIVITY FUND. >> AS MR. TAYLOR MENTIONED, THIS REQUEST ALLOWS CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WITH THE LAPTOP REFRESH AS PART OF THE COUNTY'S FUTURE READY INITIATIVE.

ALL THIRD, SIXTH, AND SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS WOULD RECEIVE A NEW LAPTOP AS PART OF THE THREE-YEAR LEASE.

STUDENTS IN NINTH GRADE WOULD RECEIVE A NEW LAPTOP AS PART OF A FOUR-YEAR LEASE. ALL CLASSROOM TEACHERS WOULD RECEIVE A LAPTOP REFRESH AS PART OF A FOUR-YEAR LEASE.

AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> A MOTION? IS THERE A SECOND IN.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. SORRY.

>> ONE MOMENT. >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

WE WILL NOW MOVE TO DISCUSSION. MS. POST?

>> SO IS THERE A REASON THAT WE LEASE LAPTOPS VERSUS BUY THEM? IS IT MORE EFFICIENT? IS IT MORE EFFECTIVE?

>> SO WE ACTUALLY PREFER TO PURCHASE.

IT IS JUST THE STICKER SHOCK. >> OH.

>> WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE LEASED BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIED TO SPREAD THAT COST IN ORDER TO GET US OFF THE GROUND.

WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT WAYS... WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE. IT IS JUST IT IS VERY LARGE SUM

OF MONEY. >> OKAY.

MY NEXT QUESTION IS AS IT RELATES TO LAPTOPS.

I'M SURE THIS IS NO SURPRISE TO YOU.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO A VAST WORLD OF THE INTERNET IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES. SO IS THERE... I KNOW THIS IS SPECIFIC TO LEASE PAYMENTS AND LAPTOPS.

BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO SHAMELESSLY PLUG A SERIOUS NEED FOR SOME SOFTWARE OR SOME SORT OF PROTECTIONS SO THAT OUR CHILDREN CAN GET TO CERTAIN PLACES ON THE INTERNET.

THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> YES. DID I HEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PAYING FOR THIS THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CONNECT I HAVE THEFY FUND? THAT IS IN THE RESTRICTED

BUDGET? >> BECAUSE IT SAYS HERE IT IS GOING TO BE FROM FUTURE READY WHICH IS OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. IT WOULD BE COMING OUT OF FUTURE READY FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE FOLLOWING

FISCAL YEAR, YES. >> WELL, THERE IS SOME NEW FUND THAT I SAW IN THE RESTRICTED FUND.

IT IS CALLED EMERGENCY SOMETHING... CONNECTIVITY.

I THINK I JUST ASKED YOU AT ONE POINT, CAN... WHAT CAN WE FLOW THROUGH THERE? IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF I READ THE DESCRIPTION CORRECTLY.

IT IS 1,200,000. IS THAT TAKEN, DO YOU KNOW?

>> THE ECF MONEYS HAVE BEEN EAR EARMARKED FOR OTHER PROJECTS.

>> OH. >> AND IN FACT, ONE OF THEM WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU IN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

>> OKAY. (LAUGHTER) OKAY.

WELL, THAT IS A SHAME. ANYTHING THAT WE COULD FIND...

OTHER SOURCES FOR INFORMATION TO TRY TO HELP OFFSET OUR OPERATING

FUNDS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. >> YOU CAN REST ASSURED THAT ALL OF THESE MONEY THAT IS OUR DEPARTMENT APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED WILL BE SPENT ON THESE TYPE OF EXPENDITURES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES. THOSE FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR THOSE PURPOSES. JUST NOT FOR THE LAPTOP REFRESHES. WE HAVE A FUTURE READY PORTION

OF THE BUDGET THAT HANDLES THAT. >> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANKS.

>> DID YOU ALSO SAY THAT THE HIGH SCHOOLERS... IT IS A FOUR-YEAR? ONCE THEY BECOME FRESHMEN, THEY HAVE THE SAME COMPUTER ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> OKAY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OR CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

MOTION PASSES. >> ALL RIGHT.

FOR THE FOURTH REQUEST, MR. RICK LIFERRED WILL JOIN US TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR THE UTE LYING OF THE MIDWESTERN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTRACT NUMBER. FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRODUCTION

[01:45:01]

>> IN JULY OF 2021, THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT STARTED THE PROCESS TO DEFINE SPECIFICATIONS, INVESTIGATE SOLUTIONS, AND EVALUATE VENDORS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRODUCTION COMPUTER HARDWARE AND OUR MAIN DATA CENTER AND DISASTER RECOVERY SITE WHICH COMES INTO LIFE IN AUGUST OF 2023. THIS HARDWARE HOSTS VIRTUAL SERVERS THAT INCLUDES OUR FINANCE AND STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THIS HARDWARE ALLOWS FOR CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS AT OUR DESIGNATED DISASTER RECOVERY SITE IN CASE OF A COMPLETE LOSS OF OUR MAIN DATA CENTER.

THIS SOLUTION WILL ALSO INCLUDE A COMPLETELY SEPARATED BACK-UP STORAGE SYSTEM. UTILIZING THE MHEC CONTRACT MENTIONED ABOVE, THE SET-UP SELECTED FOR THE PLACEMENT WITH

THE DELL RAIL SOLUTION. >> WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE EDUCATION CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRODUCTION HARDWARE TO SUPPORT OUR MAIN DATA AND DISASTER RECOVERY SITES AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO THE KEAN FROM ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> SO THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

ANY DISCUSSION FROM COLLEAGUES? >> SO HOW OFTEN HAVE WE DONE THIS? DO WE HAVE TO TURN THIS OVER? (INAUDIBLE) THIS CONTRACT IS ACTUAL I FOR FIVE YEARS OF MAINTENANCE. FOUR-HOUR RESPONSE TIME 7 DAYS A WEEK. FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

THE LAST TIME WE BOUGHT THE SYSTEM WAS IN FY-17, MAY 24, 20017. THIS WOULD BE FOR A FIVE-YEAR

CYCLE. >> SUPER.

AND SO THIS $600,000 WON'T BE COMING... RUNNING THROUGH THE OPERATING. IT WILL GO THROUGH THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY. THAT LEAST ABOUT $500,000.

>> WE HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ON THE NEXT ONE.

>> I MEAN, SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE FACED WITH SOME TREMENDOUS EQUIPMENT... TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS, AND UPTHANKFUL THAT WE HAVE VERY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE MANAGING THIS.

AND I DO, YOU KNOW, TO THE POINT ABOUT THE LEASE.

THIS IS COMING UP IN OUR BUDGET. FOR NEXT YEAR.

I GUESS THIS IS MAYBE NOT THE FORUM TO DO IT.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET A BID APPROVED.

ANYWAY, THAT IS A QUESTION. LET ME ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION, ACTUALLY. IT SHOULD BE ON THE OTHER BID.

THE $1,300,000 THAT WE APPROVE FOR LEASE, NEXT YEAR THINKING ABOUT MOVING TO PURCHASING A NEXT ROUND OF LAPTOPS, WILL THAT REDUCE THIS LEASE PAYMENT IN THE FUTURE?

>> YES. I'M NOT SURE IF MR. JOHNSON WAS ABLE TO SEND MY RESPONSES TO YOUR QUESTIONS.

BUT IN THAT YOU WOULD... YOU HAD ASKED THAT.

YES. WE WILL HAVE COST SAVINGS IF WE HAVE THE $750,000 APPROVED TO PURCHASE NEXT YEAR'S THIRD-GRADE LAPTOPS. WE WOULD HAVE ONE GRADE LEVEL WHERE WE HAVE PURCHASED THEM. THAT DOES BRING ABOUT A COST SAVINGS FOR US EACH YEAR. BECAUSE AS MR. APARTMENTER INDICATED, WHEN WE PURCHASE, WE ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY VERSUS BUYING IN THE LONG RUN. WHEN WE PURCHASE, WE HAVE TO PAY EVERYTHING FOR UP-FRONT. THE LEASES ALLOW US TO PAY THEM OFF OVER THE COURSE OF THE PROGRAM.

BE IT THREE OR FOUR YEARS. >> RIGHT.

>> YES, WE WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN TO INCUR SAVINGS WITH THE PURCHASES. STARTING IN FQ '25 IF THE THIRD GRADE LAPTOPS ARE PURCHASED FOR '24.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WHILE YOU ARE HERE.

I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LAPTOPS ALSO.

SINCE MS. BALINSKI OPENED THAT CAN OF WORMS. ONCE... IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE LAPTOPS FOR THE THIRD GRADE, DO

THEY KEEP THEM? >> IT WOULD BE OUR HOPE THAT WE WOULD HAVE THOSE STUDENTS KEEP THEM.

I ALSO PROVIDES A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEM. WHEN WE HAVE STUDENTS AND ADULTS AS WELL, WHEN THEY RENT SOMETHING FOR A YEAR, AND THEY ARE GOING TO TURN IT IN AND GET A DIFFERENT DEVICE, THEY TYPICALLY HAVE LESS ACCOUNTABILITY AND OWNERSHIP.

YES, IT WOULD BE OUR PLAN FOR THEM TO HAVE THOSE LAPTOPS AND

[01:50:01]

AT THE END OF FIFTH GRADE, THEY WOULD THEN GET ANOTHER SET FOR

SIXTH GRADE. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NOTHING FURTHER, ALL

THOSE IN FAVOR... >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. MR. TONY NAVARRO, THE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION WILL JOIN ME FOR THE FINAL FOUR REQUESTS WHICH ALL APPLY TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO ISSUE SEPARATE SOLICITATIONS FOR MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG, VISION, AND DENTAL INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES, RETIREES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.

THE CCPS HEALTH CARE TEAM'S MAIN FOCUS DURING THE REVIEW OF PROPOSALS WAS TO FIND A PROVIDER WHO COULD MEET AND EXPAND ON THE CURRENT PLAN DESIGNS, MINIMIZE COST, AND PROVIDE NO DISRUPTION OF SERVICES WHILE MAINTAINING NEGOTIATED HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS. DURING OUR REVIEW PROCESS, THE HEALTH CARE TEAM EXAMINED CLOSELY THE PROVIDER'S NETWORKS, THE ADMINISTRATION, AND PROGRAMS OF EACH PROVIDER, CLIENT REFERENCES, AND PRICING. WE PAID CLOSE ATTENTION TO ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND ITS COST.

PERFORMANCE GUARANTEES OFFERED BY EACH PROVIDER, CUSTOMER PROGRAMS AND THE OVERALL BENEFIT FOR CCPS EMPLOYEES, RETIREES AND THEIR DEPEND ET... DEPENDENTS. THE FIRST RESM DAYS IS FOR THE AWARD OF MEDICAL INSURANCE. THREE VENDORS RESPONDED TO THE SOLICITATION. BASED ONLY ANALYSIS COMPLETED BY THE TEAM AND PARTNERS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT TO CARE FIRST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MARYLAND. CARE FIRST COMMITTED TO NOT INCREASING ADMINISTRATIVE FEES FOR FY '24 THROUGH '26.

THERE WOULD BE NO DISRUPTION TO THE NETWORK OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS. PRESENTLY USED BY OUR MEMBERS.

PLUS, CARE FIRST CAME IN WITH THE BEST PRICING FOR THE PLANS.

THEY WILL CONTINUE THE INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION THAT WE

CURRENTLY HAVE WITH THEM. >> COLLEAGUES, WHAT SAY YOU?

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE AWARD OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE.

TEN VENDORS RESPONDED TO THIS SOLICITATION.

BASED ON THE ANALYSIS COMPLETED BY THE CCPS HEALTH CARE TEAM AND PARTNERS, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT TO CARE FIRST, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.

THEY ARE THE CURRENT PROVIDER. THEY OFFERED THE DEEPEST DISCOUNTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WITH NO DISRUPTION FOR EMPLOYEES, ARE TIE REES AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION.

>> SECOND. >> AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE...

>> WELL, WAIT. WE SHOULD SAY BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THREE OR FOUR MORE BIDS.

THE PROCESS THAT... THE WHOLE HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE HAS GONE THROUGH HAS BEEN A PRETTY EXHAUSTIVE AND THAT THEY HAVE...

YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE ARE GOING OUT FOR BID WITHIN A CERTAIN INTERVAL IS... KEEPS THESE VENDORS ON THEIR TOES.

IN A SENSE. WE ARE GOING WITH THE SAME PROVIDER, BUT HOPEFULLY, IT IS, YOU KNOW, FORECAST IT SAYS FINANCIALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL EMPLOYEES. IS THAT CORRECT?

>> CORRECT. >> COULD YOU SAY FOR THE RECORD, WHO IS ON THE COMMITTEES? WHO DOES THIS REVIEW OF THESE?

>> MARK LYNN OF BOLTON PARTNERS. MR. TAYLOR.

SCOTT JOHNSON. CECILIA LEWIS.

AND BRIDGET SCOTT. AND TONY NAVARRO.

>> YOU PASSED THE TEST. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CHIEF OF OPERATIONS. >> YES.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THESE PRETTY QUICKLY.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE JUST HAD, LIKE I SAID, AN EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW.

HOPEFULLY, OUR EMPLOYEES WILL BE SET.

SO... >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

>> THANK YOU. >> THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION IS

[01:55:03]

FIVE VENDOR SMITD PROPOSALS. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS COMPLETED BY THE HEALTH CARE TEAM AND THE BOLTON PARTNERS TEAM, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT TO CARE FIRST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND.

CARE FIRST AGREED TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL ROUTINE EXAM PER YEAR FOR A MUTUALLY AGREED LIST OF MEDICALLY NECESSARY CONDITIONS.

CCPS WAS ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WELLNESS TOOL.

WE HAVE CARE FIRST MANAGING OUR MEDICAL PLAN AS WELL.

THERE WILL BE NO DISRUPTION TO THE NETWORK OF VISION PROVIDERS

PRESENTLY USED BY OUR EMPLOYEES. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, THOSE IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED?

MOTIONS PASS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE AWARD OF DENTAL INSURANCE. 7 VENDORS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS.

BASED ON THE ABLE SI BIS THE CCPS HEALTH CARE TEAM AND BOLTON PARTNERS, WE REQUEST THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT TO CARE FIRST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. CARE FIRST COMMITTED TO NOT INCREASING FEES THROUGH '26. THEY AGREED TO ADD UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL CLEANINGS PER YEAR FOR A MUTUALLY AGREED LIST OF MEDICALLY AGREED CONDITIONS. WITH CARE FIRST BEING OUR DENTAL INSURANCE PROVIDER, THERE IS NO DISRUPTION TO THE NETWORK AND TO PROVIDERS PRESENTLY USED BY OUR MEMBERS.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> MOTION PASSES.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. TAYLOR. NEXT WE WILL MOVE INTO BUDGET

[7.04 Budget Priorities]

LIKE TO GO FIRST. >> YOU KNOW WHAT? I WILL GO FIRST. I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT.

WHEN I SAW BUDGET PRIORITIES, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS INTENDED FOR US TO SHARE WHAT OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES WERE.

MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT BEING PREPARED.

I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, IN LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BUDGET ITEMS AND THEN JUST, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PAYING ATTENTION FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND VAGUELY BEFORE THAT, I THINK THE PRIORITIES ARE THE STAFF THAT ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR SCHOOLS, AND THAT IS TO INCLUDE EVERYONE. NOT JUST TEACHERS.

THERE IS... IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THERE IS A NEED.

AND I KNOW PRESIDENT CLAGGETT LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES WAS THE REDUCTION IN CLASS SIZE.

THE STUDENT-TO-TEACHER RATIO. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WELL.

I THINK IN THAT WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT MAKE A SCHOOL RUN AND BE SUCCESSFUL FROM DAY TO DAY.

SO THANK YOU. >> ANYONE ELSE?

MS. GRENIS? >> MY PRIORITY IS ALSO WITH OUR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF. ALL INCLUSIVE.

THINGS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IS THE PRIORITY. AND I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED SEEING THE BUDGET WHERE THERE IS A DECREASE IN MATERIALS FOR MATH, SOCIAL STUDIES, SCIENCE AND READING.

BUT AN INCREASE IN HEALTH. AND THERE AGAIN, I THINK THE PRIORITY HAS TO BE WHAT AFFECTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

>> AS FAR WAS ME, SPECIAL EDUCATION, MENTAL WELLNESS, AND SAFETY ARE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO

ME, SEEING IN THE BUDGET. >> MS. BALINSKI?

>> YEAH. THERE ARE SO MUCH.

THIS BUDGET HAS THE BASICS. I MEAN, THE $25 MILLION INCREASE TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. BUT A LOT OF THAT IS MANDATED.

BY THE STATE. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT $18 MILLION OF THAT $25 MILLION IS OUR PEOPLE, EVERYONE IN OUR

[02:00:02]

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP. THE FACT THAT ANY NEW ADDITIONS ARE TO TRY TO HELP IMPROVE THE CLIMATE IN OUR BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, TO HELP WITH SAFETY AND LESS DISRUPTIONS, IN OUR BUILDING. THOSE ARE, I BELIEVE, THE CORRECT ITEMS TO PUT INTO OUR BUDGET.

THE ONE THING THAT I'M WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND, AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL BE GETTING MORE ANSWERS FROM THE STATE, IS THAT EVERY STATE RELEASE OF INFORMATION THAT GIVES BLUEPRINT NUMBERS BY COUNTY, I HAVE SEEN THEIR ESTIMATED CHANGE IN DIRECT STATE AID BY COUNTY, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT IN 2023, THEY WILL GIVE US... THEY WILL GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

WELL, LAST YEAR, WE GOT OPS THER THIS YEAR, THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, THEY DID GIVE US $11 MILLION.

THAT WAS CLOSE. TO WHAT THEY HAD SAID IN THEIR OWN REPORTING. FOR 2024, THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID THAT THEY... CALVERT'S SHARE WILL BE $14 MILLION FROM THE STATE. AN INCREASE OF $14 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. AND YET WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS $5 MILLION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO GET THAT WORKED OUT.

BECAUSE OF COURSE, THE ONUS WOULD FALL ON THE COMMISSIONERS, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THAT UP IF WE CAN PULL THE BUDGET.

WE WILL BE HAVING MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE AND SEE IF WE ARE MISSING SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY, IT IS A LITTLE ERROR. AND THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, PART OF IT IS WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A MISINTERPRETATION OF WHAT'S RESTRICTED AND WHAT'S OPERATING. ANYWAY, THAT IS TO COME.

RIGHT NOW, AS THIS BUDGET BOOK IS BILLED, IT SHOWS THAT THE STATE IS ONLY GIVING US ADDITIONAL $5 MILLION.

>> I HAVE SHARED MY BUDGET PRIORITIES PREVIOUSLY.

THOSE HAVE NOT CHANGED. AND WHILELY NOT REITERATE THEM AT THE MOMENT,LY ASK DR. TOWNSEL IF HE AND STAFF WILL REACH OUT TO MS. NEELY AND FOLLOW UP WITH HER DIRECTLY ON HER CONCERNS REGARDING HER STUDENT AND HER STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE HERE AT CCPS. IT IS CONCERNING WHEN I HEAR POTENTIALLY THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS VIOLATING THE LAW.

I BROUGHT FORTH CHANGES TO POLL SILL PREVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LAW VIOLATIONS THAT OCCURRED HERE WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IT IS MY PRIORITY TO DO SO AGAIN IF THAT IS THE CASE.

SO IF YOU ALL COULD REPORT OUT TO THE BOARD WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT SITUATION, IF WE ARE, INDEED, VIOLATING THE LAW.

IF THERE IS SOME MONEY WE NEED TO COMMIT SO WE ARE NO LONGER VIOLATING THE LAW, IT WOULD BE NICE TO KNOW NOW AS OPPOSED TO IN THE FUTURE AFTER WE HAVE PASSED A BUDGET ALONG SO THAT WE AS A BOARD, CAN CONSIDER IMPLEMENTING THE NECESSARY FUNDS INTO OUR BUDGET TO BRING OURSELVES OUT OF VIOLATION WITH ANY LAWS WE MAY POTENTIALLY BE VIOLATING.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES REGARDING BUDGET PRIORITIES? MS. GRENIS?

>> I WANTED TO ADD ONE MORE PRIORITY.

I NOTICE WE INCREASED THE BUDGET FOR SRO OFFICERS.

BUT THEY ARE ALL BEING PLACED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. AND ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IS CHANGING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THEY DO POP IN, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS NOT THE SAME AS THE ELEMENTARY SCHEDULE.

THAT TO ME IS A HUGE ISSUE. I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS BEING PROACTIVE INSTEAD OF REACTIVE.

>> WE START BUILDING THESE RELATIONSHIPS EARLY, I THINK IT COULD HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON REDUCING THE VIOLENCE WE ARE SEEING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL.

LET'S GET THESE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS, HIGHLY VISIBLE, DOING PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, ASSEMBLIES.

WHATEVER WE CAN. TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CHILDREN. THANK YOU.

>> DR. TOWNSEL? >> YES.

WITH REGARDS TO OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BUDGET.

[02:05:03]

THEY ARE PROPOSING THAT IN OUR BUDGET.

IF THAT IS APPROVED, THEN WE WOULD MODIFY OUR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO SUPPORT THAT. WE ARE ALSO... NO PROBLEM.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO... WE HAVE OFFERED OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WE MET ABOUT.

WHATEVER THAT DIFFERENCE IS, WE WILL PAY THAT.

>> SO TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, I THINK THERE IS ALSO... YOU WILL HAVE TO HELP ME OUT HERE. THERE ARE TWO ADDITIONAL SAFETY ADVOCATES THAT ARE BEING ADDED. OH, THREE.

EXCUSE ME. THREE IN THE BUDGET.

THOSE ARE IN ADDITION TO SRO'S. I WANTED TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION. SO EVERYBODY KNOWS.

THANK YOU. >> YES.

FOR CLARITY. SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE NOT RESOURCE OFFICERS. THEY ARE SEPARATE.

SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND THE RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE IS WILL HAVE'S.

ARE THE SHERIFF'S. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE ON.

[7.05 Legislative Position Paper]

I WILL DO THAT OVERVIEW. MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION WHICH IS AN ASSOCIATION OF ALL OF THE...

THEY REPRESENT ALL OF BOARD OF EDUCATIONS WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. AS A GROUP THAT SPEAKS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDS TO THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THEY ALSO DO FEDERAL... ADVOCACY ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR THE MARYLAND STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

THE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS FOR 2023 WERE SHARED WITH COLLEAGUES AND HOPEFULLY, MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH THEM. THEY ARE PRETTY STANDARD EVERY YEAR. THTHEY ARE BASED ON RESOLUTIONS THAT THEY COME UP WITH, THEY BUILD THE RESOLUTIONS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS. SO THE 2023 LEDGE SLAY TY POSITIONS, THE PAPER HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO YOU.

HOPEFULLY, YOU WILL TAKE A DIVE IN.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN REACH OUT DIRECTLY.

IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE FOR DISCUSSING THE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THE LEGISLATIVE POSITIONS ARGUES TO ADVOCATE FOR OR ADVOCATE AGAINST LEGISLATION THAT THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS PUT FORWARD EACH YEAR. SO THIS LEGISLATIVE POSITION'S PAPER WILL BE COMING FORTH EVERY YEAR ON OUR AGENDA FOR US TO REVIEW. AND FOR US TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT. OR ASK FOR CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, ASK FOR CONSIDERATIONS TO MAKE CHANGES TO.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

>> LY JUST SAY I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW IT BRIEFLY BECAUSE IT IS MANY PAGES, BUT THERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC THINGS AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT... I WON'T GO LINE BY LINE AND READ.

I DO ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE PAGES, ONE OF WHICH IS PAGE 13, I THINK, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT VOUCHERS AND PUBLIC FUNDING FOR NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

ANYTHING THAT IS... YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PAGINGS SURROUNDING THAT. THAT MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU FOLKS TO ADVOCATE WITH... YOU KNOW, WITH THOSE LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS AT THE SAME TIME. THANK YOU.

>> ANYTHING ADDITIONAL? ALL RIGHT.

[7.07 SY 2023-24 Calendar Review]

'23-'24 CALENDAR. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT. DR. TOWNSEL.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JACKIE JACOBS.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE.

I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A PROPOSED DRAFT CALENDAR FOR THE '23-'24 SCHOOL YEAR. A CALENDAR COMMITTEE WORKED ON THIS PROPOSED CALENDAR, AND THE COMMITTEE CONSISTED O'.

>> STAKE HOLDERS REPRESENTING THE EMPLOY YE ASSOCIATIONS COMMUNITY REPRESENTATION AND REPRESENTATIONS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVIEWED

[02:10:02]

SPRING RECESS FOR STUDENTS WOULD BE FROM MARCH 29 THROUGH APRIL 9. APRIL 23 IS A PRIMARY ELECTION DAY. TYPICALLY IN THE PAST, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS CLOSED ON ELECTION DAYS.

AND THIS PROPOSAL, THE CALENDAR INDICATES THIS DAY WOULD BE AN ASYNCHRONOUS DAY FOR STUDENTS. I CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT.

TENTATIVE GRADUATION DATES SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 5 AND 6.

THE LAST STUDENT DAY WOULD BE JUNE 11.

BASED ON AN 180-DAY STUDENT CALENDAR.

THE LAST TEACHER DAY WOULD ALSO BE JUNE 11.

ONE LATE ARRIVAL DAY ON JUNE 7 AS INDICATED.

TWO EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS ON JUNE 10 AND 11 INDICATED AS END-OF-THE-YEAR CLOSEOUT PREPARATION.

MOVING THE LAST TEACHER DAY TO BE THE SAME AS THE LAST STUDENT DAY PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THE CALENDAR COMMITTEE HAS ALSO BUILT IN THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE-UP DAYS ON FEBRUARY 2, MARCH 1, AND MAY 24.

THESE DAYS ARE DESIGNATED FOR SCHOOLS TO BE CLOSED FOR STUDENTS AND TEN AND 11-MONTH STAFF.

IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER, PRIOR TO THOSE DATES, THAT REQUIRES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO CLOSE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD REALLOCATE ONE OF THOSE THREE DAYS IDENTIFIED AS MOVING TO A STUDENT DAY. IF ADDITIONAL DAYS ARE NEEDED, THE RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO AMEND AFTER JUNE 11 OR ANY OTHER CHANGES PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CALENDAR?

>> MS. POST? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

I PROBABLY HAVE 25. WE HAVE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS A COMMITTEE THAT WORKS TOGETHER.

I'M SORRY IF YOU SAID IT. ARE ANY OF THE STAFF TEACHERS? THAT PROVIDE INPUT TO WHAT THIS CALENDAR LOOKS LIKE?

>> SO THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT WAS A MEMBER OF THE...

WAS REPRESENTED. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> YEAH.

I HAVE ONE. SORRY.

>> I KNOW THAT THERE WAS ONE YEAR WHERE WE STARTED AFTER LABOR DAY THAT WAS AN INITIATIVE BY GOVERNOR HOGAN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAS BEEN REVERSED.

IS THERE A ■SPECK REASONTHAT... DID IT WORK BETTER TO START SCHOOL BEFORE LABOR DAY? WAS IT BETTER AFTER? DO YOU KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY FEEDBACK OR EXPERIENCE THAT YOU

CAN SHARE? >> SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, WHEN THAT WAS PUT INTO PLACE, THERE WAS MINIMAL DAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO IT REALLY COMPACTED THE 180 DAYS THAT THE STUDENT WERE IN SESSION. THERE WERE REALLY LIMITED SPRING RECESS, WINTER RECESS, BECAUSE YOU HAD TO PUT THE 180 DAYS BETWEEN LABOR DAY AND I BELIEVE, JUNE 15 AT THE TIME.

SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAD MOVED AWAY FROM IN THE

PAST. >> SO AND IF I MAY, THIS IS REALLY JUST A COMMENT... AND I NO ETHE ETHERE IS SOMETHING COMP SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SYNCHRONOUS SNOW DAYS.

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A PARENT WHO HAS MANY CHILDREN BUT ONE OR TWO OF WHICH WHO DO VERY WELL AND THRIVE IN AN SYNCHRONOUS ENVIRONMENT AND THE OTHER TWO WHO DO NOT, I WOULD CAUTION WHEN LOOKING AT THE CALENDAR AND CONSIDERING THOSE TYPES A AND IF IT IS ONE, I'M NOT SURE IT IS NOT GOING TO MAKE OR BREAK, RIGHT? IF THAT BECOMES A PATTERN THAT WE WILL MOVE TOWARD THAT, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LEARNING LOSS. ESPECIALLY WITH OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS NOW GOING INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL OR IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW LEAVING% CERTAIN KIDS, ESPECIALLY TO DO THEIR OWN THING, IS THE BEST METHOD. JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT.

THANK YOU. >> MS. GRENIS?

>> I'M JUST WONDERING IN LIGHT OF OUR TEACHERS BEING BURNED O OUT, OVERWORKED, STRESSED OUT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE TIME THE TEACHERS ARE GIVEN T TO... FOR JUST TEACHER WORK TIME? WAS THERE A DECREASE IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TIME? AND TRADED FOR TEACHER WORK TIME?

>> SO THE CEA CONTRACT REQUIRES THAT THERE ARE SIX EARLY

[02:15:05]

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS ADDED INTO THE CALENDAR.

>> ARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOP D DAYS... IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF REQUIRED? ARE WE ABLE TO REDUCE IT ANY?

>> SO THE CALENDAR... THE NUMBER OF WORK DAYS THR THROUGH THE CEA CONTRACT IS 190 DAYS. 180 OF THEM ARE STUDENT DAYS.

CHA TAKES THE REMAINING TEN DAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

THIS CALENDAR HAS FIVE SET FOR PRE-SERVICE DAYS.

FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO STUDENTS STARTING.

AND THEN FIVE DAYS WITHIN THE CALENDAR.

ONE THING THAT IS DIFFERENT IN THIS CALENDAR THAN IN OTHER YEARS IS THAT TWO OF THOSE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS DO COINCIDE WITH THE RETURN FROM WINTER RECESS AND SPRING RECESS.

AS THE ABILITY TO COME BACK, RECHARGE, AND HAVE SOME TIME TO PLAN THROUGH, HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, COLLABORATIVE PLANNING. HOWEVER THESE DAYS MIGHT END UP

TO BE USED. >> THANK YOU.

>> I JUST HAVE ONE NOR QUESTION. ARE THERE MORE OR LESS OR THE SAME AMOUNT OF LATE ARRIVAL OR EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS IN THIS CALENDAR? DO YOU KNOW?

>> I BELIEVE THERE ARE FEWER. THAN LAST YEAR.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

. >> ALL RIGHT.

SEEING NO MORE QUESTIONS, THE CALENDAR WILL BE POSTED FOR A 30-DAY COMMENT FROM THE COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[7.08 Virtual Snow Make-Up Days]

>> AND NEXT WE WILL HAVE OUR PRESENTATION REGARDING THE VIRTUAL SNOW MAKEUP DAYS. MS. JACOBS?

>> THANK YOU. SO I AM HERE TODAY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE VIRTUAL DAY INSTRUCTION PLAN FOR THE USE OF ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION ON DAYS IDENTIFIED IN THE CALENDAR AS INCLEMENT MSDE REQUIRES THAT THE VIRTUAL DAY INSTRUCTION PLAN BE PRESENTED PUBLICLY, THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES THE PLAN PRIOR TO SUBMISSION TO MSDE FOR FINAL APPROVAL.

THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VIRTUAL DAY PLAN WAS ORIGINALLY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN NOVEMBER.

ON 10. AND WE RECEIVED PUBLIC COMMENT AFTER THE BOARD MEETING AND SOLICITED FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITIES, PARENTS, AND STAFF THROUGH THE REOPENING PLAN SURVEY. ADDITIONALLY, THE PLAN WAS SHARED WITH DPS AND SCHOOLS FOR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK.

ARE YOU ABLE TO ADJUST THAT A LITTLE BIT? OH. SORRY.

OKAY. COULD YOU ADJUST THE SCROLL A LITTLE? THANK YOU.

MSDE CREATED THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO REPURPOSE CERTAIN DAYS AS VIRTUAL.

DURING THE '22-'2 SCHOOL YEAR. AS PART OF THE OPPORTUNITY, THERE ARE MANDATES THAT MUST BE MET.

THAT INCLUDES THE USE OF NO MORE THAN EIGHT VIRTUAL DAYS.

THE DAYS MAY BE SYNCHRONOUS. THAT MEANS LEARNING OCCURS THROUGH LIVE ON-LINE INSTRUCTION.

OR ASYNCHRONOUS. MEANING LEARNING OCCURS ON-LINE OR OFF-LINE WITHOUT REAL-TIME INTERACTION WITH AN INSTRUCTOR OR EDUCATOR. NO MORE OF THE THREE OF THE EIGHT DAYS MAY BE ASYNCHRONOUS. IF SYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION DOES OCCUR, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO DEVICES AND WHY PHI. WI-FI.

WITHIN THE PLAN I WILL BE OUTLINING, YOU WILL FIND THAT CCPS IS REQUESTING TO USE THREE ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS.

CURRENTLY, THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CALENDAR INDICATES THAT APRIL 3, 4, AND 5 TO BE USED AS STUDENT MAKEUP DAYS IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MUST CLOSE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.

THE VIRTUAL DAY PLAN SHARED TODAY REQUESTED TO REPURPSE THOSE DAYS FROM IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION TO THE USE OF ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION. STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 WOULD EXPERIENCE ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION WHERE ALL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND ASSIGNMENTS WOULD BE POSTED IN SCHOOL. TEACHERS WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING OFFICE HOURS, UTILIZING MICROSOFT TEAMS. TEACHERS MAY ALSO SET UP TIMES DURING THE DAY FOR VIR CLUL SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION, USING MICROSOFT TEAMS AND STUDENTS

[02:20:03]

STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2 WILL EXPERIENCE INSTRUCTION THROUGH AN ASYNCHRONOUS PACKET THAT WILL BE POSTED AND PROVIDED TO STUDENTS ON MARCH 31.

TEACHERS WILL CREATE A MICROSOFT TEAMS LINK FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO USE WHEN REQUESTING SUPPORT, TO ASK QUESTIONS AND TO CLARIFY ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR CONFUSIONS REGARDING THE LESSONS PROVIDED IN THE PACKET. TEACHERS WILL ALSO CALL INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS T AND SUPPORT LEARNING DURING THE INSTRUCTIONAL DAY. WE KNOW THAT ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION BY ITSELF MAY NOT BE THE BEST FIT FOR ALL LEARNERS.

AND ON ANY INSTRUCTIONAL DAY, STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR TEACHERS TO SUPPORT LEARNING.

FOR THESE REASONS, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR TEACHERS THROUGH THE USE OF OFFICE HOURS, VIRTUAL SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION AND WHEN NEEDED, INDIVIDUAL STUDENT CONTACT. THE STUDENT DAY DURING THESE ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING DAYS, THE STUDENT SCHEDULE WOULD BE MODIFIED AND WOULD INCLUDE AT A MINIMUM OF FOUR HOURS OF INSTRUCTION, AND THE STUDENT SCHEDULES W WOULD BE POSTED AND PROVIDED TO STUDENTS AND STAFF AND PARENTS IN ADVANCE.

AS MENTIONED, ALL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE POSTED IN SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS AND SUBMIT WORK.

STUDENTS IN PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 2 WILL RECEIVE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS VIA PACKET ON MARCH 31.

ASSIGNMENTS PROVIDED DURING ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE HANDED IN ONCE STUDENTS RETURN FROM SPRING RECESS.

ATTENDANCE DURING THE ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS WOULD BE BASED ON COMPLETION OF STUDENT WORK. AND STUDENT TEACHERS WOULD DETERMINE HOW THE ASYNCHRONOUS ASSIGNMENTS WOULD BE USED AS AGREED. STUDENTS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES AND SUPPORT TO COMPLETE THE ASSIGNMENT. SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL UPLOAD ASYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITIES, SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND ALIGNING WITH THEIR CURRENT INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PLAN. ACCOMMODATIONS INCLUDING SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION, RELATED SERVICES, AND SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES WOULD BE DELIVERED DURING OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. CASE MANAGERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL POST THEIR OFFICE HOURS IN ADVANCE, AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REACH OUT TO PROVIDERS DURING THOSE OFFICE HOURS AND IN SOME CASES, THE PROVIDERS MAY SCHEDULE SOME DIRECT SERVICE TIME ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

PRIOR TO PROVIDING ASYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION, SCHOOLS WOULD WORK DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS TO PROVIDE ANY TECHNICAL SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED. IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT A STUDENT WOULD HAVE DIFFICULTY DURING THIS TIME, ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY ON ONE OR MORE OF THE DAYS, THE STUDENT WOULD BE PROVIDED A PAPER PACKET. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDES DEVICE AND APPLICATION SUPPORT DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND WOULD PROVIDE IT ON THESE DAYS.

THAT WOULD BE THROUGH THE CCPS HELP DESK FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF. THEY CAN EITHER EMAIL THE HELP DESK OR THEY CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND CLICK ON QUICK LINKS. THEN CLICK ON THE TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT LINK. WE KNOW THAT NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD FIRST NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY AND STAFF WHEN WE RECEIVE FINAL APPROVAL FROM MSDE. THIS INITIAL NOTIFICATION WOULD SHARE THE PLAN AND INFORMATION RELATED TO HOW AND WHEN THE VIRTUAL DAYS WOULD BE USED IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER REQUIRING STUDENT MAKEUP DAYS. THE SECOND NOTIFICATION WILL OCCUR WHEN WE HAVE AN INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY.

WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO ENSURE THAT THE KNOWIFICATION COULD HAPPEN AT LEAST THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE USE OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT WEATHER IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND IS SOMETIMES UNPREDICTABLE. WE WOULD TRY TO MAKE SURE WE NOTIFY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND STAFF WOULD BE NOTIFIED VIA SCHOOL MESSENGER.

WHEN ONE OR MORE OF THESE DAYS WILL BE USED AS A MAKEUP DAY.

S IF WE HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT IS LATE IN THE SEASON, WE WOULD PROVIDE THAT NOTIFICATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

AN FINALLY, THE THIRD NOTIFICATION WOULD OCCUR ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31 WHERE ALL STUDENTS IN GRADES 3-12 WOULD BE DIRECTED TO TAKE HOME THEIR SYSTEM-ISSUED DEVICE AND STUDENTS IN PREKINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWO WOULD TAKE HOME THE INSTRUCTIONAL PACKET. THE THREE DAYS INDICATED IN THE PLAN ARE CURRENTLY 12 MONTHS... ARE 12-MONTH EMPLOYEES ARE SCHEDULELED TO WORK. THEREFORE, OFFICES AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS WILL BE OPEN. THE TEN AND 11-MONTH NONINSTRUCTIONAL STAFF MAY INCLUDE ON-SITE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, PROVIDING MEAL PICKUPS AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS AND TASKS DEFINED BY IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS.

STAFF WILL NEED TO REQUEST TO WORK OFF-SITE, REQUEST TO BE

[02:25:01]

55% OF THE RESPONSES RECEIVED BY PARENTS INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF USING THESE DAYS AS VIRTUAL.

33% OF THE PARENTS INDICATED THAT THEY DID HAVE A CHILD IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 2. 73% INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO A DEVICE AT HOME. AND 98% INDICATED THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. PARENTS' CONCERNS INCLUDED 27% ACCESSING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, 16% ACCESSING THEIR TEACHER, 24% ACCESSING SUPPORT FOR THEIR CHILD, AND 14% RELIABLE INTERNET, AND 54% INDICATED NO CONCERNS.

1.8% OF THE PARENT RESPONSES INDICATED THEY DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY DUE TO LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. WRITTEN RESPONSE COMMENTS INCLUDED CONCERNS REGARDING THE USE OF THE DAYS DESIGNATED DURING SPRING RECESS. THE IDEA THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE COMMENTS THAT WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS DURING THE SPRING RECESS WAS A BURDEN, AND IT WAS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE USED THEM AS INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS OR MAKEUP DAYS.

AND THEN THE FOLLOWING DATA REPRESENTS THE 975 STAFF RESPONSES WITHIN THAT REOPENING PLAN SURVEY.

SPECIFIC TO THE VIRTUAL DATE PLAN.

75% OF THE RESPONSES RECEIVED BY STAFF INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF USING THE DAYS AS VIRTUAL.

75% OF THE RESPONSES RECEIVED BY STAFF INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NEED NO ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OR THAT THE CHANGE WOULD NOT IMPACT THEIR POSITION. 12.5% OF THE STAFF RESPONSES INDICATED NEEDING SUPPORT. WRITTEN COMMENTS INCLUDED THE NEED FOR PLANNING TIME, PRE-K TO TWO STUDENTS NOT HAVING ACCESS TO DEVICES, AND THE USE OF DAYS DESIGNATED DURING SPRING RECESS.

AT THIS TIME, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PLAN?

>> MS. GREEN JIS? ... GRENIS?

>> I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE PACKET. IF YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW MORNING TO SNOW, HOW DOES THE CHILD ACCESS THAT PACKET?

>> THE WAY THAT THIS IS INTENDED IS THAT THE SNOW DAY WOULD HAPPEN EARLIER. IF, LET'S SAY, NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A SNOW DAY. THAT IS A SNOW DAY FOR STUDENTS.

SCHOOL SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. THE STUDENTS WOULD MAKE UP THAT DAY DURING THAT APRIL 3, 4 OR 5 DAY.

THE BEGINNING OF SPRING RECESS. SO THE REASON WHY WE DID THAT WAS NOT BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT ALL STUDENTS ON THE DAY THAT IT ACTUALLY SNOWED, SO WHEN WE HAVE IN OUR CALENDAR CURRENTLY INDICATED AS A SNOW MAKEUP DAY, WE COULD BE PREPARED, AND STUDENTS WOULD HAVE WHAT THEY NEED WHEN THEY LEFT SCHOOL THAT FRIDAY TO BE ABLING TO PARTICIPATE THAT MONDAY.

>> ARE TEACHERS BEING GIVEN TIME TO CREATE THESE PACKETS?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ALSO IN THE REOPENING PLAN SURVEY. THAT THEY WOULD NEED TIME FOR PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS WOULD BE ABLE TO BE TAKEN HOME ON THAT DAY. SO WE WOULD LOOK TO SEE WHEN

THAT MIGHT OCCUR. >> SO LOOKING AT THE... GOING BACK TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

AND EDUCATORS WILL HAVE TO UPLOAD THE ASYNCHRONOUS ACTIVITIES. WHERE THERE ARE KIDS THAT ARE COMBINED IN CLASSES. I FORGET WHAT THAT IS CALLED.

FORGIVE ME. WHAT KIND OF A BURDEN DOES THAT PUT ON THE TEACHER? ARE THERE INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENTS THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING THAT GOES TO THE REST OF THE CLASS? HOW MUCH TIME WILL TEACHERS HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THAT? I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO ANSWER IT. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT. BECAUSE STAFF ARE ALREADY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF AT THE BRIM. IT IS SPILLING OVER, IT SEEMS. THE SECOND THING IS THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT STAFF, IF THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FULFILL THAT OR THEY COULDN'T COME IN, THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE LEAVE. DOES THAT THEN MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE ASSIGNED A VIRTUAL SUBSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN DURING THAT SCHOOL DAY THAT WOULD NEED ASSISTANCE? OR THEN THE KIDS JUST DEFAULT AND THEY ARE ON THEIR OWN?

>> SO WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND SOME TYPE OF COVERAGE FOR THAT.

THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SOMEONE TO ACCESS TO TO ASK QUESTIONS AND

[02:30:02]

THEIR OFFICE HOURS. >> THANK YOU.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS? >> ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION.

WERE PARENTS INFORMED OF THE RESULTS OF THESE SURVEYS?

>> THE REOPENING PLAN SURVEY RESULTS ARE POSTED ON-LINE.

SO COLLEAGUES, THIS ITEM REQUIRES ACTION.

FROM THE BOARD. >> SO AS PART OF THIS, RIGHT? WE WOULD ASK THAT THE BOARD VOTE TO EITHER AFFIRM THIS PLAN.

IF IT IS AFFIRMED, WE WOULD SUBMIT TO MSDE FOR FINAL APPROVAL. IF IT IS NOT AFFIRMED, THE SNOW MAKEUP DAYS THAT WILL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR CURRENT CALENDAR, MEANING THAT THE FIRST THREE DAYS OF SPRING BREAK WOULD BE USED FOR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION, IF WE HAVE INCOMPLEMENT WEATHER BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

INCLEMENT WEATHER BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

>> WHAT IS THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD? OR DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION? WOULD WE LIKE ADDITIONAL

DISCUSSION? >> SURE.

>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> YOUR MOTION IS TO AFFIRM?

THE PRESENTATION? >> YES.

>> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION?

>> COULD YOU REPEAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PARENTS THAT WERE FOR THIS AND THE PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS FOR IT?

>> SO 75% OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES... RESPONSES OF TEACHERS WERE FOR USING THEM AS VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION DAYS.

AND 55% OF THE RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM PARENTS INDICATED

THAT THEY WOULD BE IN FAVOR. >> 55% OF PARENTS.

THAT SEEMS VERY LOW. >> OKAY.

TO BE CLEAR, IT IS 75% OF TEACHERS OF THE 1,700 THAT RESPONDED. NOT THE TOTAL.

>> CORRECT. >> AND 2,300 PARENTS RESPONDED.

50% OF ONLY THOSE 2,300. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW PARENTS

FEEL ABOUT THIS. >> YEAH.

>> SO IT WAS 55% OF THE 1,944 PARENTS THAT RESPONDED TO THAT

QUESTION. >> OKAY.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALSO TO CLARIFY THAT THE 75% WAS OF THE 975 STAFF THAT

RESPONDED TO THE QUESTION. >> SOILY ASK THAT IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS, IF YOU COULD ENSURE THAT STATISTICS ARE PLACED ON A PRESENTATION TABLE SO THAT WE ARE ABLE TO VIEW AS WE THINK ABOUT AND YOU KNOW, CONSIDER THE INFORMATION.

I THINK IT MAKES IT EASIER TO DIGEST AND TO REMEMBER.

THAN TO JUST HAVE THE NUMBERS AND STATISTICS READ OFF.

BECAUSE YOU TEND TO FORGET A PERCENTAGE OF HOW MANY RESPONDED VERSUS A PERCENTAGE OF EVERYONE WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

. >> I'M OVER HERE MAKING UP NUMBERS. SORRY.

>> THAT IS OKAY. (LAUGHTER).

>> I WANT TO VOICE A CONCERN ABOUT THE PARENTS IN THIS.

BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ULTIMATELY GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION THAT DAY.

IS THERE A WAY WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION OR MORE... WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR THE PLAN TO GO TO THE STATE?

>> SO THERE IS NO EXACT DEADLINE.

THIS WOULD NEED TO BE APPROVED AT SOME POINT IN TIME PRIOR TO THESE DAYS COMING TO FRUITION. SO THEN THE OTHER PIECE IS THAT IF WE DON'T HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT ON HAPPENS IF WE HAVE SNOW DAYS BETWEEN NOW AND SPRING RECESS. WE WOULD NEED APPROVAL SO IT COULD GO TO MSD. I'M NOT SURE HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FOR THEM TO GIVE THEM... FOR THEM TO GIVE US THEIR

ULTIMATE APPROVAL IF IT GOES UP. >> WELL, I HAVE BEEN WAITING ON SOMEONE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. SOMEONE WHO HAS KIDS IN THE SCHOOL NOW OR, YOU KNOW, IS A TEACHER OR... THIS IS DURING SPRING BREAK, SO IF WE HAVE ONE DAY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR SNOW, THEN YOU ARE SAYING THE KIDS AT THE BEACH WILL BE

SPENDING FOUR HOURS ON-LINE. >> THEY COULD, YES.

>> SO WILL THE TEACHERS THAT WILL NEED THAT SPRING BREAK BY THE TIME. I LIVE WITH MINE.

I HAVE KNOW THEY NEED A SPRING BREAK.

>> AND THE TEACHERS ON THE BEACH WILL HAVE TO SPEND FOUR HOURS.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO VACATION TOGETHER, IT SEEMS LIKE.

[02:35:04]

>> IF WE HAVE INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THIS PLAN DOES NOT GO FORWARD, YOU ARE IN-PERSON OR ABSENT ON THAT DAY.

YUP. >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY, TO ME, IT IS A WONDERFUL OPTION, YOU KNOW, THAT SOME KIND OF LEARNING WILL HAPPEN. AS OPPOSED TO DESTROYING EVERYONE'S LONG-THOUGHT VACATION.

>> THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. I KNOW THAT PARENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPRING BREAK TO TAKE VACATIONS.

IT IS EASY TO PACK A LAPTOP IF YOU HAVE ONE.

OR TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU TRY TO GET ACCESS TO THAT EQUIPMENT BEFORE THAT VACATION PLANNING.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE THAT VACATION. THERE WILL BE A SYNCHRONOUS DAY.

VACATIONS YOU PLAN A YEAR IN ADVANCE.

SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE. THIS IS SOMETHING ALREADY PLANNED. IF WE HAVE A SNOW DAY, YOU CAN'T CANCEL. BECAUSE THEN THERE GOES YOUR MONEY. UNLESS YOU PAID FOR THAT VACATION INSURANCE WHICH MOST LIKELY, MOST PEOPLE DON'T DO.

SO FOR ME, IT IS A BENEFIT IN ONE.

BUT THEN IPSE I SEE THE NEGATIVES ALSO AND THE OPTION.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PERFECT SOLUTION.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO IT THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

WHERE EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM.

BUT THEN THERE ARE GOING TO BE CHILDREN WHO WILL MISS THE DAY.

THEY WERE ON VACATION WITH THEIR PARENTS.

AND PARENTS ARE NOT GOING TO MISS THEIR VACATION BECAUSE OF A SNOW MAKEUP DAY. SIX IN ONE HALF AND HALF A DOZEN

IN THE OTHER. >> OKAY.

ARE WE READY TO VOTE? ANY FURTHER DIDISCUSSION NEEDED?

>> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> I'M OPPOSED.

>> OKAY. MOTION PASSES.

4-1. >> THANK YOU.

[8.01 Comments by the Board]

>> WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS.

I'LL START WITH MS. GRENIS. >> ALL RIGHT.

WE WILL MOVE TO MS. BALINSKI. TAKE YOUR TIME.

>> JUST I HOPE THAT WE ARE TAKING NOTES WHEN PEOPLE COME AND SAY THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE ADA. AND THEN THE ONE THAT HIT ALSO IS THAT THERE IS A $25,000 NEED FOR JRTC.

OR SOMETHING. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST CAME ON THE BOARD, AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING A NEED TO THE BOARD.

AND IT WAS $10,000 WHICH WAS HUGE.

YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO. AND YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, IT WAS FOR ROBOTICS TEAMS. THEY REALLY, REALLY... THEY STARTED TO TAKE OFF BECAUSE THEY WERE ALLOWED... YOU KNOW, THEY WERE GIVEN THOSE RESOURCES.

SO I HOPE THAT SOMEONE CAN MAKE A NOTE AND FIND SOME MONEY THAT'S BEEN SQUIRRELED AWAY. YOU KNOW, AND HELP THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL TODAY. AND LIKE I SAID, I WAS AT CTA THIS MORNING. THEY HAVE SUCH A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PROGRAM THERE. AND I'M VERY EXCITED THAT WE ARE STARTING THE NATURAL RESOURCES, THE AG SCIENCE IN CTA.

I WANT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO AS BIG OF A PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN TO JUST REALLY EXPOSE THE KIDS TO THIS.

THAT THIS IS NOT JUST... IT IS NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S FARMING.

WHEN THEY THINK OF IT. IT IS GENETIC RESEARCH.

ALMOST BEING LIKE CSI. YOU KNOW? AND JUST ALL SORTS OF WONDERFUL THINGS THAT KIDS CAN LEARN ON HOW TO BE... TO HELP THE ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT AGRICULTURE AS AN EXCITING BUSINESS.

I ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO LOOK AT IT WHEN THAT IS ONE OF THE OFFERINGS FOR CTA NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> MS. GRENIS? >> SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I'M NOT WELL-VERSED IN FOOTBALL. I'M ABOUT TO THROW OUT A HAIL

[02:40:03]

I SEE AN INCREASE IN THIS BUDGET FOR $22.4 MILLION OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY. IN THE INTEREST OF EFFICIENT SPENDING OF TAX DOLLARS, AND TO SUPPORT A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF COMPENSATION, I BELIEVE WE SHOULD HIRE A HIGHLY QUALIFIED CPA TO CONDUCT A BEST-COST ANALYSIS. THIS PERSON'S JOB WOULD BE TO GO THROUGH EXPENSES AND METHODS OF HOW THINGS ARE DONE TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER POSSIBLE. I SEE THAT AN AUDIT WAS DONE IN 2022. BUT THE AUDIT MAY NOT HAVE SPECIFICALLY LOOKED FOR BEST COST OR EFFICIENCY IN SPENDING.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PENNY IS A STEP TOWARDS GETTING EVERY STUDENT A BETTER EDUCATION AND A RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT THAT OUR CITIZENS AND STUDENTS EXPECT FROM CALVERT COUNTY.

IF THE CPA IS ABLE TO FIND JUST ONE... 1% ININVESTMENT COST OR EFFICIENCY SAVINGS, IT COULD SAVE OUR COUNTY MILLIONS.

THIS INDIVIDUAL WOULD REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON THE FINDINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE SUPERINTENDENT TO HIRE A WELL-QUALIFIED CPA AN ANALYSIS TO LOOK AT COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF EXPENSES AND SUGGEST MORE EFFICIENT WAYS OF SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

>> SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, MS. BALINSKI IN.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T THINK IT IS A CPA... IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SOMETHING LIKE A CONSULTANT THAT IS WELL-STEEPED IN MARYLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT ACCOUNTING.

AND YOU KNOW, IN MY MIND, THAT IS WHY WE DID A FULL-ON SEARCH, AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL CFO. YOU KNOW, IT IS A TOUGH THING.

AND WE ARE OVERSIGHT. THE BOARD IS OVERSIGHT.

I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE NOT, WE ARE NOT ACCOUNTANTS.

BUT I THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY SPEND MORE HAVING SOMEONE LOOK AT IT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD EVER FIT INTO OUR BUDGET CYCLE BEFORE WE WOULD HAVE THE BOARD APPROVES OUR OWN BUDGET. SO I THINK THAT THAT IS

PROBLEMATIC. >> I GUESS I'M COMING FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF 50% OF THE PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE INHERITED THIS BUDGET. YOU KNOW, DR. TOWNSEL, JAN POST AND I. JUST CONTINUALLY ADDING MONEY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. WE HAVE TO DOING MANY... WE HAVE

TO DO SOMETHING. >> JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

DR. TOWNSEL DOES NOT VOTE ON THE BUDGET THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THE VOTE THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BELONGS TO THE BOARD.

TO CLARIFY YOUR COMMENT. >> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MONEY IS EFFICIENTLY BEING SPENT.

>> TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

I DON'T DISAGREE WITH EITHER OF THE COMMENTS.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A LARGE UNDERTAKING.

I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE FACED WITH, GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE COMMISSIONERS THIS YEAR AND THEN REALLY NOT KNOWING WHAT WE MAY HAVE TO ASK FOR NEXT YEAR, AND IT HAS BEEN A TASK TO SAY THE LEAST, IN LOOKING THROUGH THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT IS VERY, VERY LARGE.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY.

I KNOW A LITTLE BIT, I DON'T KNOW A TON.

I CERTAINLY HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT THE FOLKS THAT ARE PUTTING THIS TOGETHER ARE NOT DOING THE BEST. THIS ALONE IS CONTRACTED SERVICES. IN LOOKING... I'M ONE PERSON.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE EYE.

IT WOULD BE PROBABLY A FIRM AND A CONSULTING LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

I THINK IT WOULD BE IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO REALLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND IF ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY ON, CONSULTING SERVICES. SOME MIGHT BE NEEDED.

SOME, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE SHOULD TRIM THE FAT, SO TO SPEAK. LIKE WAS DONE WITH MY NAME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. BUT BUT THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT. SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT

[02:45:01]

UP. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? >> THE MOTION FAILS 3-2.

MS. GRENIS AND MS. POST WERE IN FAVOR.

THE REMAINING MEMBERS WERE OPPOSED.

MS. GRENIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS?

>> THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I'LL MOVE TO MS. POST.

>> I THINK I HAVE USED UP ALL MY WORDS TODAY.

I JUST, AGAIN, WANT TO ECHO, I APPRECIATE WHAT MRS. GRENIS ATTEMPTED TO DO. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

I THINK REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT HAPPENS OR NOT, IT IS GOING TO BE AN OBLIGATION. WE HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE MONEY, THE TAX DOLLARS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE BEING USED THE MOST EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY. AND SITTING HERE TODAY I CA CAN'T... I'M NOT TERRIBLY CONVINCED THAT IS THE CASE.

I HOPE, YOU KNOW, AS THINGS GO ON, THAT WILL CHANGE.

I'M OPTIMISTIC. AT THE SAME TILE, VERY CAUTIOUS.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. POST.

MR. WHITE? >> GOOD EVENING, AGAIN.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE ADMINISTRATORS, EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN WORKING SINCE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS BUDGET.

I MEAN, WITH MY COLLEAGUES, IT IS PROBABLY ABOUT TEN EMAILS A DAY. THANK YOU MR. JOHNSON, FOR WORKING SO HARD TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, PRESIDENT CLAGGETT AND I WERE ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH MR. HART AND MR. HANSON.

IT TURNED INTO A COUPLE OF HOURS.

WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE SAME THING. THE SAME GOAL.

AND THAT IS THE STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY.

WE ARE ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS. YOU KNOW, WE ARE PUT HERE BY THE PEOPLE. I THINK THAT IS IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE AN EFFORT... MAKE SURE WE ARE PUTTING FORTH AN EFFORT TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE AND NOT HAVE ANYTHING SNEAK UP FROM BEHIND. BECAUSE IF WE HAVE THE TEACHERS TO SUPPORT... THE SUPPORT STAFF, IF WE ARE REALLY HERE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SUPPORTING THE CITIZENS OF CALVERT COUNTY, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THAT. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE IN ALL THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE PUT IN TODAY. AND DR. TOWNSEL, I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE. PUTTING IN WORK AND MEETING PEOPLE. I HAD THE PLEASURE OF... YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY WENT TO THE CTE PROGRAM MYSELF.

LAST YEAR, I WAS ABLE TO VISIT AND WATCH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING. AT THE TIME, THEY WERE PRACTICING CUTTING A RING OFF OF SOMEONE'S FINGER.

I WAS JUST, LIKE, SCARED TO DEATH BECAUSE THEY HAD THE SAW AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING, WATCHING THEM WORK. OTHER THAN THAT, THAT IS IT.

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

I ATTENDED THE EQUITY SYMPOSIUM ON JANUARY 28 IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THIS YEAR'S EQUITY SYMPOSIUM WAS NOT LIKE ANY OF THE OTHERS THAT I HAVE ATTENDED. IT WAS CONCENTRATED ON RURAL AREAS AND RURAL STUDENTS. AND IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE CONCENTRATED THEIR EQUITY SYMPOSIUM ON THE LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO GO AND LEARN FROM MY COLLEAGUES AND HEAR FROM COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES REGARDING EQUITY CHALLENGES THEY FACE DURING COVID, WHAT THEY DID WHEN THEY FACED THOSE CHALLENGES, DECISIONS THAT THEY MADE.

THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS THAT THEY MADE, THAT THEY FELT THEY COULD HAVE MADE BETTER.

AND TO SHARE IN THE LESSONS LEARNED, AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES REGARDING EQUITY AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE TRI-COUNTY ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA BETA FOR HAVING ME AS A SPEAKER IN THEIR GOVERNMENT FOR YOU FORUM. THEY LIVE-STREAMED ON FACEBOOK.

THEY ASKED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT-ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME AND TALK ABOUT THEIR DUTIES. THEY WERE MAINLY TRYING TO ADVOCATE FOR DIVERSITY IN THOSE WHO RUN FOR OFFICE.

TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS FEEL SUPPORTED WHEN THEY RUN. THEY KNOW WHAT THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE WILL BE. SO THAT MORE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WILL FIND THE COURAGE TO ACTUALLY RUN FOR AN

[02:50:03]

I ALSO WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE GARAGEIATING FROM CPS. AND THEN RETURNING TO CPS, AS STAFF WE GET BEHIND THE SCENES PERSONNEL REPORTS.

AND IT WAS HAPPY... I WAS HAPPY AND ENLATED TO SEE THAT WE HAD HIRED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM CCPS AND HAD COMPLETE ID THEIR GRADUATE EDUCATION AND CAME BACK TO CCPS TO BECOME A TEACHER IN OUR SYSTEM.

SO IT WARMS MY HEART TO SEE THAT OCCURRING AND TO SEE US ACTUALLY MAKING GOOD ON OUR GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM.

CONGRATULATIONS TO US. ALSO I HAVE ASKED DR. TOWNSEL TO DO SOME FOLLOW-UP WITH MS. NEELY.

THAT IS OUT OF THE WAY. AND JUST TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE ON WHAT MS. GRENIS PROPOSED, IT IS NOT THAT I'M NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO CONSIDERATION OF A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR OUR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS. HOWEVER, THE MOTION WAS PROPOSED DURING BOARD COMMENTS. DURING BOARD COMMENTS DOESN'T ALLOW FOR US TO HAVE A THOROUGH ENOUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT PROS, CONS, WHAT THAT ANALYSIS WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WHO WOULD DO THAT ANALYSIS, WHO WOULD BE THE MOST APPROPRIATE PERSON TO DO THAT ANALYSIS, SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT MS. GRENIS, YOU WORK WITH BOARD LEADERSHIP TO POSSIBLY ■COMEUPWITHSPACE ON A BOARD AGENDA MOVING FORWARD WHERE THE BOARD MEMBERS CAN SIT DOWN AND HAVE A LENGTHY DISCUSSION IF THAT IS A PRIORITY THAT YOU HAVE AS A MEMBER. AND SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.