May 25, 2023 Board of Education

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I CALLED TODAY'S CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER.

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> YOU MAY BE SEATED. WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING WITH

[2.02 Budget Transfers]

SEVERAL CHANGES ARE TO MOVE DOLLARS FROM ONE DISTRICT WIDE ACCOUNT TO SEVERAL SCHOOL SPECIFIC ACCOUNTS FOR THE SAME PURPOSE. RECOMMENDED ACTION THE BOARD OF

EDUCATION APPROVED BOARD OF TRANSFERS. >> TAKE A MOTION.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WHAT'S WITH A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFER AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

>> SCOTT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THIS BEING NEW TO MARYLAND BUT IS IT A REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE TO TWEAK LINE ITEMS WITHIN A CATEGORY? IF THEY ARE RELATIVELY SMALL? WHEN YOU HAVE A $220 MILLION BUDGET YOU WILL HAVE UPS AND DOWNS BETWEEN ACCOUNTS.

DO WE HAVE TO MOVE $1500 FROM THIS ACCOUNT TO THIS ACCOUNT WHERE THE CATEGORY IS ZERO IMPACT?S THERE ANYTHING IN MARYLAND THAT SAYS WE SHOULD DO THAT? IS THAT ADVISABLE OR YOU FEEL THAT'S A BETTER WAY TO TRACK OUR SPENDING?

>> IS NOT REQUIRED BY LAW. IT PROVIDES BETTER BUDGETARY CONTROL IF WE HAVE BUDGET AMOUNTS THAT ARE IN FACT ALIGNED WITH PLANNED EXPENDITURES.

WE ALSO USE THIS FOR PURCHASING CONTROL. IT HELPS US ENSURE WE DON'T OVERSPEND ACCOUNTS IF WE BUDGET THE AMOUNTS WE ACTUALLY PLAN TO SPEND.

>> DO ACTUALLY GO TO EACH DEPARTMENT AND SAY WHAT YOU NEED ENCUMBERED OR WHEN OTHER CONTRACTS COMING UP? HOW DO YOU KNOW THE AMOUNT YOU'RE ESTIMATING HERE IS

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN? >> VARIES BY THE ACCOUNT. I LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THAT WAS SPENT SO FAR AND YOU WILL SEE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS ARE

FOR ACCOUNTS IN THE RED RIGHT NOW. >> RIGHT.

>> IT IS TO PUT THEM BACK INTO BLACK. >> OKAY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> MISS LISA GRENIS? >> SORRY I SAFER BOARD MEMBER EXPENSES THAT WE ARE ALMOST 4000 VER. I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE

EXPENSES ES ARE WHAT TYPE OF EXPENSES? >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO LOOK UP THE ANSWER FOR THAT. I DON'T HAVE THAT REPORT WITH ME THIS EVENING THAT HAS THE

TRANSACTIONS. >> I'M THINKING THERE'S GAS EXPENSES BUT THAT'S A DIFFERENT CATEGORY CORRECT? GAS IF SOMEBODY ASKED FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO CHECK. I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK. >> MISS LISA GRENIS IT IS POSSIBLY OUR EXPENDITURES WHEN WE GO TO CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS.

I KNOW RECENTLY THREE OF US WENT TO ORLANDO FOR THE NSB A CONFERENCE.

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YOU THE DETAIL BUT I WANTED TO ADD THAT IN THEIR. >> TO ADD TO THAT IT MAY ALSO BE THE TRAININGS WE ALL TAKE. SINCE THERE'S TWO NEW PEOPLE AND THERE'S NEW LAWS AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS THAT MIGHT BE PART OF THAT. I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER FOR YOU

BUT THANK YOU. >> THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS ABOUT WORKSHOP STIPENDS.

THIS IS WHEN TEACHERS OR STAFF STAYS AFTER SCHOOL FOR ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS?

>> WHICH CATEGORY ARE YOU REFERRING TO PLEASE? MAY I ASK WHICH CATEGORY?

>> IT SAID WORKSHOP STIPEND. >> OVER ON THE FAR LEFT. >> CATEGORY 203 PAGE 2 AT THE TOP. IS THAT TO WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING?

>> YES THANK YOU. YES THESE ARE FOR TEACHERS. >> WITH ALL THE WORKSHOP DAYS WE HAVE EMBEDDED AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORKSHOP DAYS EMBEDDED IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE WORKSHOPS SHOULD BE DONE DURING THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS.

I DON'T KNOW. I BELIEVE EVEN WHEN WE GO BACK TO THE BOARD WE SHOULD BE

STAYING WITHIN THE BUDGET. THE BOARD EXPENDITURES. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? WE WILL TAKE A VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?

[2.03 NHS Sports Recognitions]

>> THANK YOU MR. JOHNSON NEXT WE MOVED TO NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS RECOGNITIONS.

>> OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION TODAY IS FOR BREANNA HOLCOMB. WE'RE GOING TO DO ONE WRESTLER AT A TIME. WHEREAS BREANNA HOLCOMB WONDER MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WRESTLING AND 130 POUND CLASS.

WHEREAS BREANNA IS A SENIOR AND NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL AND WERE AS DRIVEN 2022 2023 SCHOOL YEAR BREANNA RECEIVED THIS ADDITIONAL HONORS 2023 38 S. REGION CHAMPION.

FIRST-PLACE FINISH IN THE WHO IS NUMBER ONE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT.

SIXTH PLACE FINISH IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT SELECTED AS A TEAM CAPTAIN AND PATRIOT AWARD WINNER BUT THE NORTHERN WRESTLING COACHING STAFF AS WELL AS SELECTED HONORABLE MENTION WRESTLING BY THE WASHINGTON POST THE SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON. WHEREAS BREANNA ENDED HER SENIOR YEAR AS A TWO-TIME BACK-TO-BACK STATE CHAMPION AND WHEREAS BREANNA IS COACHED BY JOHN BATTLE, CAROL COSENTINO, TONY HIPSTER, MICHAEL LEDBETTER AND MICHAEL YOUNG CAN EACH AND WHEREAS BREANNA SUCCESS IS ATTRIBUTED TO HER FOCUS, GRID, DAILY WORK ETHIC AND MINDSET AND DETERMINATION TO CONTINUOUSLY AUGMENT HER WRESTLING ACUMEN. WHEREAS BREANNA REPRESENTS MORE THAN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIR PLAY THEREFORE BE A RESULT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HEREBY EXTEND

THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH BREANNA SUCCESS IN HER FUTURE. >> SECOND.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR? >> ANY OPPOSED? RESOLUTION PASSES. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR MONTGOMERY.

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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HEREBY EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH DREW'S SUCCESS IN HIS FUTURE.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? PROCLAMATION PASSES. OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR NORMAN HIGH SCHOOLS GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD. WHEREAS, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM HAS WON THE 3A 2022-2023 MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR INDOOR TRACK; AND WHEREAS, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WERE THE 2022-2023 OUTHERN MARYLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND 3A INDOOR EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS; AND WHEREAS, THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME IN THE PAST SEVEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT NORTHERN GIRLS HAVE WON; AND WHEREAS, THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH JOSH DAWSON AND ASSISTANT COACHES JOHN URDAHL, DERELL QUICK, KEMI MAYE AND SAMANTHA COLE; AND WHEREAS, THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM REPRESENTS NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SPORTSMANSHIP ND FAIR PLAY; AND WHEREAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE TRACK AND FIELD TEAM AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HEREBY EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH THE TEAM SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE.

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

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?

PROCLAMATION PASSES. >> I WILL SAY A FEW WORDS. THIS TEAM AS WELL AS THE BOYS TEAM COMING IN LIKE TO LEAVE IT TO THE VERY LAST EVENT TO FIGURE OUT IF WE WANT OR NOT.

GOING INTO THE 4 X 4 OUR GIRLS DIDN'T KNOW IF WE HAD ONE YET OR NOT BUT THEY SECURED THE WIN BY 11 POINTS. IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS IT IS NOT THAT MUCH BUT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT STATE TITLES WE WON OVER THE YEARS IT IS LARGER THAN SOME OF THE WINDS.

THESE GIRLS WORK REALLY ARD. WE ARE MISSING A FEW TONIGHT BUT OVERALL IT IS A GREAT GROUP OF GIRLS I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF COACHING AND GREAT COACHING STAFF AND ALL THE ADMIN SUPPORT IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR THE BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM HAS - WON THE 3A 2022- 2023 MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP FOR INDOOR TRACK; AND WHEREAS, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM WERE THE 2022-2023 SOUTHERN MARYLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND 3A INDOOR EAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONS; AND WHEREAS, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1983 THAT NORTHERN TRACK AND FIELD HAVE WON THE INDOOR STATE TITLE; AND WHEREAS, THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS COACHED BY HEAD COACH JOSH DAWSON AND ASSISTANT COACHES JOHN URDAHL, DERELL QUICK, KEMI MAYE AND SAMANTHA COLE. WHEREAS, THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM REPRESENTS NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SPORTSMANSHIP AND FAIR PLAY; AND WHEREAS, THE SUCCESS OF THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD TEAM IS ATTRIBUTED TO THE TEAMWORK AND DEDICATION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE TRACK AND FIELD TEAM AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HEREBY EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH THE TEAM

SUCCESS IN THEIR FUTURE. >> SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?

PROCLAMATION PASSES. >> AS I MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE GIRLS TEAM THEY WON BY 11 AND THE BOYS ON THE OTHER HAND WE ONE BY ONE AND AND A HALF. THE TEAM THAT WAS CURRENTLY LEADING THE 4 X 4 WERE THE FAVORITE. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO WIN AND WE EDED TO GET SECOND BEHIND THEM OR IRD. WE ENDED UP GETTING FORTH DUE

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THESE BOYS AND GIRLS FOUGHT TO THE VERY END AND EVERY SINGLE STATE MEET WE WANT WHICH IS LIKELY A GOOD UNT. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THESE SE GUYS.

[2.04 Volunteers of the Year Recognition]

MS. CHEVALIER THOMAS? GOOD EVENING I'M TRACY THOMAS AND THE COORDINATOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THE GENEROSITY AND PROFOUND LASTING IMPACT THAT OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE ON STAFF, STUDENTS AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SHARE BOTH YOUR TIME, YOUR TALENT SAYS THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EACH OF YOU AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE SELFISHLY TO SUPPORT ALL THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. FOR THE 2022, 23 SCHOOL YEAR, SEE CPS HAD OVER 7000 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS IN OUR TEM. OUR VOLUNTEERS ARE COMMUNITY EMBERS, GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS, UNCLES, SIBLINGS, BUSINESS OWNERS, COACHES, MENTORS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.

WHILE WE KNOW YOU CHOOSE TO VOLUNTEER WITHOUT EXPECTATION OF BEING RECOGNIZED OR REWARDED TODAY WE WISH TO DO JUST THAT. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH YOUR DEDICATION IS APPRECIATED AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW EVERYONE AT CCPS IS GRATEFUL TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. WHETHER YOU ARE A LONGTIME VOLUNTEER OR IF YOU JUST GOT INVOLVED RECENTLY. REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY HOURS YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT WHAT YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE. OUR 2023 CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR ARE PARTIAL ELEMENTARY, JACQUELINE GERALD H ELEMENTARY SHERRY KLEIN. CALVERT ELEMENTARY, SHANNA UNDERWOOD.

CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, RHONDA THOMAS CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL, JACKIE WITHROW.

CTA MCKINNEY. NOW ELEMENTARY, SARAH CRAVEN. HONEY TOWN ELEMENTARY ANDREA HURLEY. HONEY TOWN HIGH SCHOOL, RACHEL FARBER.

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PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL, SANDY ARTS. PLUMP POINT ELEMENTARY ANNA MINNICK PLUMP POINT MIDDLE SHEENA BARTMAN. SAINT LEONARD ELEMENTARY, CHERYL DONALDSON SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL JAMIE APPLING. SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY REBECCA KUNZ. WENDY HILL ELEMENTARY, ALLISON BERG ROTH.

WENDY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, NICOLE RICE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR SYSTEM.

[APPLAUSE] NEXT WE MOVE INTO SECAC RECOGNITION.

[2.05 SECAC Recognition]

I APOLOGIZE. MR. CORMIER? >> GOOD EVENING BOARD AND DOCTOR COUNSEL MY NAME IS JOSEPH CORMIER AND I'M HERE ADVISING CITIZENS COMMITTEE.

THEY ARE WORKING ON GETTING MY POWERPOINT. SECAC IS MANDATED UNDER KOLMAR THE EACH LOCAL SCHOOL AGENCY HAVE A PEER GROUP SPECIFICALLY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CALVERT COUNTY IT IS SECAC. SECAC IS OPEN TO ALL PARENTS, GUARDIANS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ANYONE CAN JOIN. WE ARE BY PARENTS FOR PARENTS FOR PARENT INFORMATION.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THERE'S A BROAD SPECTRUM OF DISABILITIES THAT PROVIDE CHALLENGES IN CALVERT COUNTY. I ATTENDED THE BROOMS ISLAND ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE WITH MY FOURTH GRADE SON AND LEARNED AND OPERATED UNTIL 1932 WERE STUDENTS WERE SEGREGATED BY RACE AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WERE OUTRIGHT DENIED ENTRANCE TO THE SCHOOLS.

THE BLIND AND DEAF STUDENTS COULD BE SENT TO A STATE SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE WITH THOSE CONSIDERED MORONS AND DUNCES OR WORSE LABELS WE DON'T SAY ANYMORE WERE CONSIDERED UNEDUCATED BULL AND THE FAMILIES DID THE BEST THEY COULD 1970S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTED TO PASS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WERE GUARANTEED THE FREEDOM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE AND PUSH MORE RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE COLLEGE CAREER AND COMMUNITY READY THIS YEAR

[00:30:01]

ONE THING WE DO EVERY YEAR IS SECAC STAFF APPRECIATION AWARDS AND THIS YEAR I TRULY AM HUMBLED IT WAS OUR BIGGEST ZERO WE HAD OVER 100 PARENTS RECOGNIZE THEIR STAFF AND I WANT TO THINK CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL FOR ALLOWING US TO USE THEIR AUDITORIUM AND JROTC FOR PROVIDING FLAG DETAIL AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS WHO DID THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN TO YOU IN WORDS IN FIVE MINUTES ABOUT HOW IMPRESSIVE THESE NOMINATIONS WERE. JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THE WINNERS IN EACH CATEGORY.

WE HAVE FOUR CATEGORIES IN INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT STAFF WHICH IS ANY GENERAL EDUCATION STAFF MR. DESMOND CREEK FROM CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS NOMINATED BY THE CORRECTED FAMILY AND HIS WORK SO HARD TO MAKE SURE HIS RESOURCE IS INCLUSIVE FOR ALL STUDENTS. IN THE DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS BUT LIKE WE HAD MS. ALLISON SWITZER FROM MUTUAL ELEMENTARY THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST HAS GONE SO FAR ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE HER KIDS ARE NOT JUST REACHING THEIR GOALS BY SETTING THE BAR HIGHER FOR THE NEXT THING AND MOVING ON. AGAIN A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDERS. SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR WAS MS. HENSEL FROM CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL NOMINATED BY THE PATENT FAMILY SHE WORKS WITH SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ONE IS A CHALLENGE STUDENTS BUT STUDENTS WITH A LOT OF GENERAL ED ISSUES AND SHE HAS COME UP WITH SYSTEMS AND THINGS TO CONTINUOUSLY REINVENT THE WHEEL TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILD GETS THE EDUCATION HE IS SO DESERVING OF.

LASTLY OUR TEAM CAME FROM CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. KIMBERLY JACKSON, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER ALONG WITH HER ASSISTANCE THAT ROTATED IN AND DENISE LENNON AND ELIZABETH TABBY AND JOHN PRINCE. THE TEAM IS COHESIVE AND THEY COMMUNICATE WITH THIS FAMILY.

DAILY IF NOT TWICE OR THREE TIMES A DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILD IS GETTING THE SERVICES HE NEEDS THESE ARE THINGS WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND CELEBRATE TO MAKE SURE IT IS NOT JUST BEING CELEBRATED IN THE SCHOOL BUT YOU CAN TAKE THESE THINGS AND REPLICATE THEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. THEN WE HAD A SPECIAL AWARD THIS YEAR.

WORK-BASED LEARNING PROGRAM HAS A LOT OF EMPLOYERS IN THE COUNTY AND THEY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THREE BROTHERS@RESTAURANT WHO THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC, BART AND THE TEAM AT THREE BROTHERS MAKE SURE THOSE KIDS WERE ABLE TO COME IN AND HAVE THESE INTERNSHIPS AND JOB WORK OPPORTUNITIES IT IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITH THE SCHOOL BUS STOPS COMING AND THESE KIDS GRADUATED 18 OR 21 THEY DON'T JUST DISAPPEAR.

THEY ARE STILL IN OUR COMMUNITY SO HAVING THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS IS SO IMPORTANT AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS AMAZING LIST OF BUSINESSES FROM THE NORTH, MID AND SOUTH COUNTY WHO MAKE SURE THEY ARE MAKING THEMSELVES AVAILABLE. IT IS NOT AN IMPOSITION ON THEM BUT THEY COULD HIRE ANYBODY BUT THEY ARE TAKING TIME OUT OF THEIR DAY AND BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR YOUTH AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE EXPERIENCE THEY NEED TO BE COMMUNITY READY. NOT EVERYONE WILL BE COLLEGE-BOUND AND CAREER BOUND THEY WILL STILL BE IN THE COMMUNITY SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE RECOGNIZE THESE BUSINESSES TAKING A DIFFERENCE. EXCUSE ME. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR I GET FEEDBACK FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS NOT JUST DURING MEETINGS BUT TO MY EMAIL.

THESE ARE A FEW, NOT INCLUSIVE BUT THESE ARE SOME THINGS WE HEARD THIS YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY BEING A CHALLENGE FOR PARENTS NOT KNOWING WHO THEY NEED TO TALK TO. WE SAT DOWN WITH DOCTOR ANDERSON SHE CREATED A FLOW CHART SO PARENTS COULD SEE THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO KNOW CASE MANAGER, SERVICE COORDINATOR, IEP CHAIR. PRINCIPAL SO PARENTS KNEW WHERE THE NEXT LEVEL WAS WHEN THEY WERE NOT GETTING AN ANSWER. WE HAD PARENTS ASK ABOUT THEIR STUDENTS BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS AND AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS. WHEN STAFF ARE HESITANT TO INCLUDE THEM. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD TRAINING AND EDUCATION TO KNOW THAT WE NEED TO ASSUME COMPETENCE TO ALLOW THESE KIDS TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL ACTIVITIES, NOT JUST GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM. USUALLY AGREEABLE IEP TIMES.

I KNOW IT IS A STRUGGLE WITH STAFFING BUT WE CAN'T JUST SAY WE WILL ONLY HAVE IEP MEETINGS ONE DAY A WEEK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE PARENTS ARE AS FULL-TIME MEMBERS OF THE IEP TEAM AND

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I WAS ONE MANY YEARS AGO SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS ARE NOT GETTING TRAINING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION AND THEIR TWO DAYS OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING WHEN THEY GET OUT OF THE CLASSROOM AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO MARILYN IEP. THEY DON'T SEE WHAT'S BEYOND THE TEACHER NOTES WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHEN TEACHERS ARE MAKING THE SUBSTITUTE PLANS THEY COMMUNICATE NOT EVERY GRITTY DETAIL BUT LET THE TEACHERS KNOW WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS ARE IN WHILE THEY'RE SUBSTITUTING IN THE E CLASSROOM.

THE TRANSPORTATION CONCERNS WE TALKED D ABOUT ON AND OFF ALL L YOUR TRANSPORTATION IS FEDERALLY MANDATED TO THESE KIDS. IF IT'S IN THE IEP HAVE TO PUT THEM ON A BUS IT IS IMPORTANT ARE BUS DRIVERS AND BUS AIDS ARE TRAINED WE HAVE BACKUP STAFF FOR WHEN THE PEOPLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE. SO MAKE SURE OUR KIDS CAN SAFELY GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL LEG AND ACCESSIBILITY WE WILL EXPAND PRE-K TO UNIVERSAL STATUS OVER THE NEXT DECADE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PRE-K'S THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THESE NEW STUDENTS COMING N AND PARKS AND REC DOES A GREAT JOB MAKING PLAYGROUNDS ACCESSIBLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LARGER PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE COUNTY AND PARKS AND WRECKED TO MAKE SURE OUR PLAYGROUNDS ARE BEING RENEWED AND REFRESHED IN A WAY THAT MAKES THEM ACCESSIBLE TO ALL STUDENTS IN A ECONOMIC WAY. THEN WE DID NOT WANT TO END ON A DOWN NOTES WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT PARTNERSHIP WITH DIFFERENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS. SHERIFF'S OFFICE CREATED THIS PATCH SPECIFICALLY TO RAISE MONEY FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS IN THE COUNTY.

THE POLICE GOT THIS PATCH APPROVED AND THE RESULTING IN THE FIRST SET OF FUNDS WAS SENT TO THE ARK OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND. THIS SECOND RUN IS BEING DONE NOW SO YOU CAN CONTACT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO BUY THIS PATCH OR FIVE DOLLARS RAISE MONEY FOR OTHER LOCAL CHARITIES. WE'VE SENT SECAC MEMBERS TO DUTY SENDER EVENTS AND OTHER HEALTHCARE WORKSHOPS TO MAKE SURE OUR INFORMATION IS GETTING OUT TO PARENTS. TO WRAP IT UP OUR INCLUSIVE TRACK AND FIELD EVENT THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY WE BROUGHT KIDS FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTY TO CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL FOR A FIELD DAY TYPE EVENT COULD KIDS WERE ABLE TO NOT PARTICIPATE BUT PARTICIPATE FULLY WITH THEIR PEERS AND SEE OTHER KIDS LIKE HEM THEY MAY NOT SEE IN THEIR HOME SCHOOLS.

I WANT TO THANK MS. GRANNIS FOR BEING THERE AND CATHERINE GRASSO FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND MISS DAWN BALINSKI FOR BEING THERE THAT DAY SEEING THESE KIDS COME OFF THE BUS AND THE CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL KIDS CHEERING THEM ON AS THEY GET OFF THE BUS THE WHOLE DAY WAS PHENOMENAL CONSTANT ACTION AND JOY. FOR ONE DAY THESE KIDS GOT TO FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG TO. I WISH WE COULD DO MORE OF THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR INSTEAD OF ONE DAY AT THE END. IT WAS REALLY GREAT THING. I WANT TO THANK OUR FRIENDS ON THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BOARD FOR HAVING AUTISM PROCLAMATION IN APRIL.

AS SECAC CONTINUES WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TODAY AND HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PARTNER WITH SECAC. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS I'M

HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM TONIGHT OR SEND THEM BY EMAIL. >> MISS LISA GRENIS?

>> I HAVE A COMMENT. MR. CORMIER I ADMIRE AND RESPECT EVERYTHING YOU ARE DOING. ON THE EVENTS I'VE ATTENDED TO GET BETTER EVERY YEAR.

I AM JUST SO THANKFUL THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE EXISTING FROM THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THREE BROTHERS AND THEN YOU ARE PULLING A LOT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT INTO IT.

I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. YOU TALKED ABOUT PLAYGROUND ACCESSIBILITY.

OUR PLAYGROUNDS MAY MEET STATE GUIDELINES BUT THEY ARE NOT MEETING STUDENT NEEDS I THINK THAT NEEDS TO REALLY BE A FOCUS AND WE NEED TO GET OUR PLAYGROUNDS READY FOR ALL STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. FIELD DAY WAS AMAZING.

IT FOCUSED ON WHAT THOSE CHILDREN CAN DO. THAT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.

THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL WITH EVERYTHING THEY DID THAT DAY. THANK YOU.

>> THE OATH OF THAT DATE IS LET ME WIN BUT IF I CANNOT WIN LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT.

I THINK THAT IS THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR ANY CHILD. I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BECAUSE THE ENTIRE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WAS THERE THAT DAY AT THAT POINT ARE SHERIFF AND LIEUTENANT COLONEL WAS THERE FROM START TO FINISH.

THEY SUPPORTED US IN ANY WAY WE ASKED THEM. I AM SO EXCITED WE WERE ABLE TO

CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM. >> I WATCHED THE SHERIFF'S

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IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE SPEAKING WITH THE SHERIFF HIMSELF THEY BEEN OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY STRIVE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH EVERYONE. THEY CERTAINLY HIT IT OUT OF

THE PARK THAT DAY. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THANK YOU MR. CORMIER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HEARD. >> NEXT WE MOVE INTO BID

[2.06 Bid Approvals]

APPROVALS. MS. WARNER? >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET AND DOCTOR DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M SUPERVISOR BEFORE NEXT BIG BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ARE THREE REQUEST FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND PROJECT.

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OF MR. ERIC RUFO OF HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A FIRST REQUEST WHICH IS TO GET APPROVAL TO USE THE HJC COOPERATIVE PURCHASING CONTRACT NUMBER PR11-20 TWO UPGRADE AND INSTALL THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY. FUNDING WILL BE TO THE SCHOOLS OTHER COSTS NEW EQUIPMENT FUN AND THIS PROJECT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF HUNTINGTON ELEMENTARY FAMILY AND SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND MR. RUFO. THE HONEY TOWN ELEMENTARY FAMILY AND SCHOOL ORGANIZATION RAISED $50,000 TOWARD THE PROJECT TO THE SUPPORT OF HONEY TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FAMILIES AND LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE BOARD APPROVED UTILIZATION OF THE IDENTIFIED CONTRACT TO UPGRADE AND INSTALL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT AT HONEY TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND AWARD THE CONTRACT TO PLAYGROUND SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED OF THE THURMONT MARYLAND AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 56,000 AT THIS TIME I

INVITE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY AVE REGARDING THIS IS PROJECT. >> MOVED TO TO APPROVE.

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

WE ARE NOW IN DISCUSSION ANY QUESTIONS? MISS DAWN BALINSKI?

>> WHO RAISED THE 50,000? >> IT IS HONEY TOWN ELEMENTARY FAMILY AND SCHOOL ORGANIZATION.

>> WOW THAT IS WONDERFUL. AS A PREREQUISITE IN ORDER TO FUND THIS PROGRAM? DO WE KNOW? MR. NAVARRO CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE?

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH MR. RUFO AND HONEY TOWN. >> THAT IS WONDERFUL AND VERY PROACTIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE MEMBERS OF THAT ORGANIZATION.

>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I SEE NONE. THOSE IN FAVOR.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ÃZERO. >> THE SECOND REQUEST IS SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL RESTORATION PROJECT. JOINING ME NEXT IS MR. WARNER DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION TO PRESENT THE SECOND REQUEST WHICH IS TO APPROVE THE AWARD

FOR SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL PAVING RESTORATION PROJECT. >> GOOD EVENING CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ISSUED A BID SOLICITATION FOR THIS PROJECT IN MARCH 2023.

ONE FROM SUBMITTED A BID, A SUMMARY OF THE ORIGINAL BID RESULTS ARE ATTACHED IN THE MEMO BEFORE YOU. THE ORIGINAL BID EXCEEDED THE ALLOCATED FUNDING AMOUNT FOR THE PAVING RESTORATION PROJECT. THEREFORE THE BIDS WERE NOT ACCEPTED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUBSEQUENTLY WORKED WITH THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE SCOPE AND ENGINEERING CONSULTANT TO REVISE THE DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS. ON MAY 9, 2023 A INVITATION FOR A REVISED BID WAS SENT TO THE RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER BASED ON THESE REVISED DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO COLMAR 1430 SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 B REVISED BID WAS ACCEPTED ON MAY 17 FROM RE: SHE HAD TRUCKING AND PAVING LLC RESULTING IN THE PRICING BEFORE

[00:45:05]

FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH CIP FUNDS. WE WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

MISS DAWN BALINSKI? >> DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU ONLY RECEIVED ONE BID GYM.

>> NO I DO NOT AT THE PRE-BID WE ACTUALLY HAD AT LEAST THREE BIDDERS INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT AND IN FACT THE COMPANY WHO ENDED UP BIDDING ON IT HAD NOT MADE IT TO THE PRE-BID THEY CAME AFTERWARDS TO ESSENTIALLY SCOPE THE PROJECT. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE OTHER BIDDERS AND WHY THEY LOST INTEREST. I HAVE NOT REACHED OUT TO THEM TO SEE WHY THEY DID NOT BID. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY DO AFTER THIS PROCESS TO SEE WHY THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INTEREST AFTER IT POTENTIALLY COULD BE THAT IT WAS SORT OF LATE IN THE ATE IN THE YEAR. I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE BETWEEN THE TIME THE PRE-BID OCCURRED AT THE BID OPENING, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER BIDDERS MAY HAVE ALREADY LINED UP SOME OTHER WORK. THAT COULD BE ONE OF THE

REASONS BUT I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE. >> IN INSTANCES LIKE THIS HOW DO WE GAUGE WHETHER THE PRICING IS CORRECT? THE FIRST PRICE CAME IN WAY OVER OUR BUDGET. WAS THAT JUST BECAUSE OF GENERAL INFLATIONARY PRESSURES?

HOW DO WE KNOW THE SECOND BID IS GOOD? >> WE DID DO AN ENGINEERS ESTIMATE. THE FIRST TIME AROUND. OUR ENGINEER HAD REQUESTED SOME BUDGETARY PRICING FROM SOME LOCAL COMPANIES AS WELL. BY THE TIME THAT NUMBER CAME THROUGH WE HAVE ALREADY BID THE FIRST TIME AROUND AND WE DID LEARN THAT DURING THE D'S COPING PROCESS, WE HAD AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF THE SCOPE TIED UP IN CARBON GUTTER AND CONCRET WORK. WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT OUT AND THAT REDUCED THE BID AMOUNT BY UPWARDS OF NEARLY $180,000. AND THEN WE DECIDED TO ACTUALLY CHANGE THE SCOPE FROM THE SLURRY SEAL MIX TO JUST STRIP MILL AND OVERLAY FOR THE PAVEMENT WORK.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR COME IN THE CASE OF THIS PARTICULAR BIDDER, THAT WAS CERTAINLY A MORE ECONOMICAL OPTION BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE TO BRING ANOTHER SUBCONTRACTOR WHO HAD TO PAY FOR THE WORK. WITH ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES THEY BROUGHT SOME ECONOMY OF SCALE AND I BELIEVE HE ALSO REACHED OUT TO, BECAUSE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONCRETE WORK REMAINING IN THE PROJECT AND WE DO HAVE UNIT PRICING WITHIN THE PROJECT FOR SOME CONCRETE AND CURB AND GUTTER WORK HE REACHED OUT TO SOME OTHER BIDDERS FOR THAT WORK AS WELL. THAT I BELIEVE HELPED TO REDUCE THE PRICING AS WELL.

WE DO BELIEVE BASED N ENGINEERING ESTIMATE NUMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN REFINED, THIS

NUMBER IS MUCH MORE ACCURATE AT THIS POINT. >> MS. WARNER I HAVE A COUPLE

QUESTIONS MY FIRST QUESTION IS THIS PROJECT TIME SENSITIVE? >> YES IT IS.

THAT IS THE ONLY PROVISION UNDER WHICH WE CAN UTILIZE COLMAR AS IF THERE IS A TIME SENSITIVITY FOR THE PROJECT. AS YOU KNOW WE WERE DEVELOPING THESE DOCUMENTS.

UNFORTUNATELY IN THE SPRING. OUR FEAR WAS IF WE DID NOT GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS DEFINED IN COLMAR WHERE YOU CAN REJECT BIDS. YOU CAN DO SCOPE THE PROJECT AND YOU CAN ESSENTIALLY INVITE THE RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS IF THE WINDOW IS TIME AS SUCH THAT IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOW OF TIME YOU HAVE NO AVENUE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK.

[00:50:03]

THAT IS THE REALITY. THAT IS ONE YEAR BECAUSE YOU CANNOT DO PARKING LOT PAVING WORK. IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE SUMMER IN THE WINTERTIME ASPHALT PLANTS CLOSE SO THAT'S THE ONLY WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY THAT IS

THE REASON AND MECHANISM WE USED. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE. TAKE A VOTE.

THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ÃPASSES

FIVE ÃZERO THANK YOU. >> THAT THE REQUEST WILL BE PRESENTED MR. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL I'M TONY NAVARRO CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER.

BEFORE YOU YOU TODAY IS OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO AWARD THE BID FOR A SUPPORT STAFF COMPOSITION STUDY TO EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE AT THE COST OF HARM 14,000 0 $150. THERE IS THE BID ATION. THE SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES TO CONDUCT A MARKET PAY RATE ANALYSIS REVIEW AND RECOMMEND REFINEMENTS TO JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND THOSE ARE TWO OF THE OVERALL DELIVERABLES BUT OVERALL THERE ARE 22 DELIVERABLES FOR THIS STUDY. REGARDING THE RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY WAS TO IMPROVE INTERNAL PAY EQUITY WITHIN CCPS AND ATTAIN OR MAINTAIN EXTERNAL EQUITY PAY AND COMPETITIVENESS WITH OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES OVERALL TO HELP CCPS DETERMINE COMPETITIVE PAY RATES TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN HIGHLY QUALITY SUPPORT STAFF. REGARDING BUDGET INVITATIONS AND FUNDING SOURCE IS THE MAY RATE STABILIZATION FUND THIS WILL BE A FUN BALANCE NEUTRAL.

THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES OUT WILL BE EQUAL WITH RESPECT TO THE MAY RATE STABILIZATION FUND THROUGH THE YEARS CCPS AND THE POOL OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR THE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY LIABILITY INSURANCE RECEIVES RECONCILIATION PAYMENTS AND THE BALANCE GROWS.

THE RATE STABILIZATION IS HELD BY MADE WE CAN ACCESS THE FUND TWICE A YEAR AND USE THIS FUNDING AT OUR DISCRETION. AS THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT WE CHOSE TO USE THE SOURCE OF FUNDING. WHO ELSE HAS DONE A SIMILAR STUDY? FREDERICK COUNTY AND I WILL ADD CHARLES COUNTY AND WICOMICO COUNTIES HAVE DONE SUCH A STUDY. AGAIN I RECOMMENDATION IS TO AWARD THE BID FOR SUPPORT STAFF COMPOSITION STUDY TO EXPERIENCE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE FOR $114,150.

I INVITE YOUR QUESTIONS. >> MISS DAWN BALINSKI? >> SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION TO

APPROVE FIRST? MOTION TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE A SECOND?

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. >> I WILL ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS.

BOOKS I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THIS DID NOT COME FROM OUR COUNTY BUDGET.

>> MAID IS COMING THE FULL AMOUNT. >> COMING FROM THE

STABILIZATION FUND NOT THE OPERATING GET. >> MISS DAWN BALINSKI I UNDERSTAND INTERNAL EQUITY EVEN THOUGH I WOULD HAVE HOPED WHEN WE SET OUR RATES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE PAYING EVERYONE IN THE SYSTEM. I GUESS WE NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT. I UNDERSTAND COMPETITIVENESS WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPETITIVE AND THEIR STEPFATHER HAPPENING WE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.

BUT EXTERNAL EQUITY I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT.

>> PEOPLE IN SIMILAR POSITIONS. COULD BE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS. I WOULD COMPARE TO CHARLES AND

ST. MARY AND OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS LIKE US. >> I WOULD NOT CALL THE COMPETITIVE. WE DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE INEQUITIES IN THEIR SYSTEM.

>> YOU COMPARE A CERTAIN JOB, LIKE JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

[00:55:07]

>> YOU ARE SAYING WE MATCH OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS. OKAY.

>> IN TERMS OF PAY YES. >> CAN I ASK WHAT THE IMPETUS OF THIS STUDY WAS?

WHY DO WE DO THIS? WHY DO WE THINK WE NEED THIS? >> OUR INTERNAL TEAM THAT WORKS WITH PHYSICIANS AND PAY SCALES AND DISCUSSIONS FEEL THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO.

WE'VE NOTED THERE COULD BE SOME INEQUITIES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IN TERMS OF PAY RATES.

IT IS TIME TO DO AN ANALYSIS AND COLLECT INFORMATION. >> ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? I SEE NONE. WE WILL TAKE A VOTE THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ÃERO THANK YOU MR. NAVARRO.

>> THANK YOU. >> NEXT WE HAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

[2.07 Mental Health Awareness Month Proclamation]

PROCLAMATION. >> FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH PROCLAMATION CAN WE HAVE THE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE B-1 PROJECT, PLEASE? WE HAVE CAMILLA BREANNA AND BUILDERS AND ANYONE ELSE NVOLVED. WHEREAS, MAY IS RECOGNIZED IN THE UNITED STATES AS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND WE INTEND TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THIS STIGMATIZED, AND OFTEN TABOO, TOPIC, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO OUR COMMUNITY; AND WHEREAS, TOGETHER WE FIGHT THIS STIGMA, PROVIDE RESOURCES, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AN ADVOCATE TO SUPPORT THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AFFECTED BY MENTAL ILLNESS, AND TO HONOR THE COURAGE AND RESILIENCY OF OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AS WE ALL ATTEMPT TO ATTAIN, MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN MENTAL WELLNESS; AND WHEREAS, THE CALVERT COMMUNITY IS NOT IMMUNE FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. MENTAL ILLNESS CAN AFFECT ANYONE AND DEVELOP AT ANY TIME. ITS EFFECTS SPREAD WELL BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS; AND WHEREAS, WE, AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE COMMITTED TO OUR STUDENTSB ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND ARE FINDING WAYS TO INCORPORATE A BROADER CULTURE OF WELLNESS INTO OUR POLICIES, SYSTEMS, AND DAY-TO-DAY STUDENT LIFE; AND WHEREAS, MENTAL WELLNESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF EVERY STUDENT; AND WHEREAS OPEN AND SAFE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS AND THE DIVERSIFIED WAYS IT IMPACTS THOSE INVOLVED, IS CENTRAL TO HELPING OUR COMMUNITY AND ENDING THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO THE TOPIC; AND WHEREAS CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMBRACES THE CHARGE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AND COLLECTIVELY SUPPORTS OUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATORS, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, EDUCATORS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, SUPPORT STAFF, ATHLETIC COACHES, PARENTS, AND CHILDREN ASARTNERS IN AWARENESS; AND WHEREAS THE STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL WORK WITH SCHOOLS DURING THE MONTHF MAY BY ASSISTING OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH FAIRS AND HAVING A COUNTYWIDE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FAIR. IN ADDITION, WE WILL ASSIST SCHOOLS WITH OTHER STUDENT ACTIVITIES THAT WILL PROMOTE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND TO PROMOTE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH; AND WHEREAS, WE, AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM ACKNOWLEDGE STUDENTS ARE CARRYING THEIR OWN BURDENS AND ARE FIGHTING THEIR OWN BATTLES. THEREFORE, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EMBRACES THE BECOME ONE PROJECT B VALIDB VIDEO EXHIBITION AS AN INSPIRING EXPRESSION OF OUR STUDENTSB PRACTICES, AND RECOGNIZES THE PROJECT RAISES AWARENESS OF OUR STUDENTSB EACH OTHERB POSITIVE BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL WELLNESS THROUGH ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT TO THEM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 2023 AS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

IN CALVERT COUNTY. SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND ANY DISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED?

PROCLAMATION PASSES. >> MY NAME IS TIFFANY MCFARLAND THE MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR FOR CALVERT PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I WANT TO THINK EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AND EVERYONE IN THE SCHOOLS AND

[01:00:04]

IN THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO ACTIVITIES FOR ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE MONTH OF MAY TO PROMOTE MENTAL WELLNESS IN THE SCHOOLS I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND BECOME ONE I HEARD YOU GUYS HAD A GREAT EVENT ON MAY 3.

[APPLAUSE] >> WE AT THE BECOME ONE PROJECT TRIED TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO TALK ABOUT HARD SUBJECTS LIKE MENTAL WELLNESS AND WE DO BELIEVE TEENS ARE THE BEST MESSENGERS. WE CREATE THESE PLATFORMS WHERE WE CAN HEAR THEM AND I WANTED TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SPEAK ON THIS PLATFORM FOR BECOME ONE IN BEHALF OF US AND TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROJECT AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

TO THEM. >> HI MY NAME IS MEG, A SENIOR AT HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL I PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT WAY TO SPREAD AWARENESS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT COPING MECHANISMS ARE UTILIZED TO TRY TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

I STRUGGLED WITH MENTAL HEALTH MYSELF A LOT. I SEE A THERAPIST AND A PSYCHIATRIST AND TAKE MEDICATION. IT IS VERY MUCH A PART OF MY LIFE AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE NORMALIZED A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY SCARED TO TALK ABOUT IT. IT IS A SCARY THING AND YOU DON'T WANT YOUR PEERS TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL DO AND WHAT THEY WILL SAY AND HOW THIS WILL IMPACT YOUR FUTURE AND JOBS AND THAT STUFF. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENT IS DIFFICULT AND SCARY TALK ABOUT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO IMPACT YOUR FUTURE IN ANY WAY. THAT WAS WHY I DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT PROJECT. I REALLY ENJOYED BEING ABLE TO SEE MY FELLOW PEERS ACROSS THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HOW DIFFERENT STUDENTS COPE WITH THEIR DAILY STRESSES. ANOTHER THING I THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING UP AT THE CSM LODGE OF THIS WAS HOW YOUNGER KIDS CAN BE IMPACTED BY THIS.

IT WAS NICE WE FOCUSED ON THE HIGH SCHOOL ASPECT BUT YOUNGER PEOPLE ALSO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. I HAVE YOUNGER BROTHER WHO IS 12 AND I NOTICE IN HIM HE HAS STRUGGLES WITH HIS ANGER AND DEALING WITH SITUATIONS AT SCHOOL I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHED LIGHT ON THAT AS WELL. JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SMALL DOES MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE BIG PROBLEMS AND IT CAN BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR SMALLER PEOPLE TO VERBALIZE THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE VOCABULARY OR LIFE EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO PUT INTO WORDS CLEARLY EXACTLY HOW THEY FEEL WE AS OLDER PEOPLE NEED TO BE COMPASSIONATE TOWARD THEM AND TRY TO LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. EVEN WHEN WE DON'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE SAYING. [APPLAUSE] E]

[2.08 Appointments]

I WILL TURN TO DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL FOR APPOINTMENTS. >> THANK YOU FOR INEZ CLAGGET AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET I HAVE TWO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MS. SCHMIDT WHO IS CURRENTLY THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE RECEIVED HER BACHELORS OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION WITH A MATHEMATICS CONCENTRATION FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK.

HER MASTERS DEGREE IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION FROM WESTERN MARYLAND COLLEGE. SHE BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY AT PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SHE HAS ALSO TAUGHT AT PLUM POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL.

LATER MOVING TO HONEY TOWN HIGH SCHOOL WHERE SHE SERVED AS THE CORE LEAGUE FOR MATHEMATICS AS WELL AS ASSISTANT INCIPAL I'M RECOMMENDING YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF MS. SCHMIDT

AS PRINCIPAL OF WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. >> I WILL TAKE A MOTION.

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

[01:05:04]

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL HONORED AND HUMBLED BY THIS APPOINTMENT TO SERVE AS PRINCIPAL OF WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

I KNOW THIS POSITION COMES WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN PREPARING AND CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS WELL AS ENSURING STAFF ARE SUPPORTED IN THIS MISSION I'M COMMITTED TO THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL GROWTH OF ALL STUDENTS THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR PLACING YOUR TRUST IN ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE THE DEDICATED STAFF AND FAMILIES OF THE WINDY HILL COMMUNITY AND OUR JOURNEY AHEAD.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU NEXT MS. MORRISON BEGAN HER TEACHING CAREER TEACHING MATH AND SCIENCE AT CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL. SHE ALSO TAUGHT MATH FOR A YEAR IN KENTUCKY.

COMING BACK TO CALVERT MS. MORRISON SERVE AS HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, THAT CORE LEAD, SECONDARY MATH LEARNING SPECIALISTS AND ACTING ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. MS. MORRISON RECEIVED HER BACHELORS OF ARTS DEGREE FROM MARSHALL UNIVERSITY IN WEST VIRGINIA AND HER MASTERS DEGREE IN HUMAN RELATIONS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. I'M RECOMMENDING YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE APPOINTENT OF JULIE MORRISON AS SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS.

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ANY ISCUSSION? THOSE IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ÃZERO. CONGRATULATIONS

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL. HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS APPOINTMENT AS ELEMENTARY MATH SUPERVISOR I LOOK FORWARD TO COLLABORATING WITH PRINCIPALS, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. ALL IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EACH STUDENT TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR ABILITY TO THINK MATHEMATICALLY. I AM EXCITED TO LEAD AND CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE PRE-K TO 12TH MATHEMATICS PROGRAM. WE ARE STUDENTS CAN KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOERS OF MATHEMATICS.

THANK YOU FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL.

[3.01 Public Comments]

NEXT WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT MR. NAVARRO? >> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN.

THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 20 WHEN YOU'RE CALLED TO SPEAK PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES PERSONS ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER OR LANGUAGE THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP.

IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXINE TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS. ALL COMMENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN WRITTEN COMMENTS

ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. >> DOCTOR JOHNSON? >> FOR SPEAKER TONIGHT IS TIM M

SINCLAIR. >> HELLO I'M TIM SINCLAIR AND WELL AM A TEACHER AT NORTHERN HI I'M NOT HERE IN THAT CAPACITY TONIGHT INSTEAD I'M HERE AS A PARENT OF TWO CHILDREN AND A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY A HUMAN BEING I'M HERE ABOUT BOOKS BOOKS HAVE POWER BECAUSE THEY ALLOW US TO EXPERIENCE PEOPLE'S STORIES I SPENT THE LAST YEAR WORKING WITH UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WRITING PROJECT AND THE MUSEUM AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ON A PROJECT CALLED RESTORING THE IDEA OF THIS RESTORING PROJECT IS TO BRING BACK THE PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHOSE STORIES HAVE BEEN STRIPPED AWAY.HEN WE ALLOW DOMINANT NARRATIVES TO REMOVE THE COMPLETE STORY OF PEOPLE FROM THE CONVERSATION WE ERASE THE PEOPLE AS WELL.

[01:10:04]

STORES ALLOW US ACCESS TO THINGS WE WILL NEVER BE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO EXPERIENCE ON OUR OWN THEY ALSO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND SUPERVISE WITH THINGS EXPERIENCED TO THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE THAN US WE LEARN FROM STORIES HOW TO HAVE COMPASSION FOR THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE SO DIFFERENT THAN OURS INSTEAD OF ONLY FOCUSING ON PEOPLE JUST LIKE US AND NEVER REACHING OUTSIDE OUR OWN BACKYARDS. STORIES BUILD UP WHAT IT MEANS TO NOT JUST BE HUMAN BUT TO BE A PART OF HUMANITY. THE MACHINE AXIS TWO LIVES AND EXPENSES OF OTHERS AND STORIES IS TO LIMIT OUR CAPACITY FOR UNDERSTANDING EMPATHY AND COMPASSION. TURNING TO POLICY 2305. CAN WE DROP THE PRETENSE IT IS ABOUT COLORATION? GENERATION IS ABOUT ACCESS AND PRESERVATION.

THIS IS ABOUT REMOVAL PLAIN AND SIMPLE. IN FACT I WANT TO GO A STEP FURTHER AND SAY POLICIES DRAFTED IS OTHER NONSENSE THAT OFFICE GET CENSORSHIP IN A CLOUD OF REASONABLE THIS. IT IS MENTIONED IN CONSULTING EXPERTS MAKE SURE THE EXPERTS ARE HEARD YET IF THAT'S THE SE IN THE POLICY WHAT ARE THE THREE LEVELS OF EXPERTS IN THE POLICY? LIBRARIAN, SCHOOL COMMITTEE, REGIONAL COMMITTEE WHO CANNOT BE COMPLETELY OVERRIDDEN BY THE ELECTED BOARD OF EDUCATION. THAT'S NOT LISTENING TO EXPERTS BUT CREATING A POLICY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO FISH FOR THE RESPONSE THEY WANT.

IF ALL ELSE FAILS DO WHAT THEY WANT ANYWAY. IT IS THE LEAST PLEASANT IRONY AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK SO MUCH ABOUT THE FREEDOMS OUR COUNTRY IS FOUNDED ON ALSO FIGHT SO HARD TO STRIP THEM AWAY IF THEY DON'T AGREE WITH THEM.

I WANT TO AND WITH THIS AND I WANT EVERYONE ESPECIALLY STUDENTS TO PAY ATTENTION WHENEVER PEOPLE TRY TO LIMIT THE EXPRESSION OF OTHERS THEY'RE GOING TO BE THOSE WHO STAND AGAINST IT. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOUR ACCESS TO STORIES, EXPERIENCES AND HUMANITY OF YOURSELF OR OTHERS IS TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU I WANT TO POINT YOU AT THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THE BOOKS ON BAND PROGRAM LOOK IT UP.

TEENAGERS NATIONWIDE CAN APPLY FOR A FREE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARIES E-CARD IN THAT CAR GRANTS ACCESS TO THEIR ONLINE LENDING LIBRARY WHICH HAS BEEN CURATED ACTUAL CURE RATION TO PROVIDE AND PRESERVE ACCESS TO THE STORIES THAT ACTUALLY MAKE US HUMAN.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> I WILL ALLOW THE PASSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT I WILL NOT ALLOW THE CHEERING AND JEERING AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND WE MUST MAINTAIN THE COURT I

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT MR. SINCLAIR. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NATALIE

GEIGER. >> WOULD YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE? TURN IT ON. PRESS THE BUTTON AND PULL IT CLOSE TO YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING BOARD MEMBERS TODAY AND VOICING MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED LIBRARY POLICY DRAFT FEBRUARY 3, 2005. AS ENGLISH TEACHER IN THE COUNTY FOR SEVEN YEARS I'VE BECOME FAMILIAR WITH A VARIETY OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY.

MY STUDENTS HAVE USED THE LIBRARY COUNTLESS TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS I REMEMBER THE JOY OF STUDENTS WHO FIND LIBRARY BOOKS THEY CAN DO THE RESEARCH ON ESPECIALLY ABOUT CENSORED BOOKS AFTER READING BRADBURY'S FAHRENHEIT 451. A BOOK WITH TIMELESS SCENES FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICY FEBRUARY 3, 2005 SHOULD ALARM THE CCP 'S COMMUNITY BECAUSE THE ROOTS OF THESE CHANGES COULD IMPACT ACCESS TO BOOKS THAT MAKE THE LIBRARY A HOME FOR EVERY ENT. LIBRARIES AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS WORK HARD TO MAKE E SURE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS ARE ADEQUATE FOR THEIR SCHOOLS INCLUDING APPROPRIATE AGE RANGE FOR THE STUDENTS AT THEIR SCHOOL.

CREATING VARIOUS COMMITTEES THAT WILL CAUSE SIGNIFICANT TIME AND MONEY FOR A JOB THAT LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR AND DO EVERY DAY AS FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL POLICY AND CURE RATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT LIBRARY MATERIALS.

THE POLICY OF WALKING UP THESE BOOKS AND REQUIRING PARENTAL PERMISSION CREATES UNNECESSARY RESTRICTION OF THESE BOOKS BASED ON THIS POLICY THE SCHOOL CAN BE LOCKING UP AND ESSENTIALLY CENSORING LITERARY WORKS FROM CONCERT, SHAKESPEARE AND THE BIBLE.

PARENTS ALREADY HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO SEE WHAT THE KIDS ARE READING AT SCHOOL CREATING ACCESS RESTRICTIONS AND CENSORSHIP ON EVERY STUDENT PARENTS HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THEIR CHILD READS BUT DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE WHAT OTHER CHILDREN READ SOME BOARD MEMBERS MADE A LOT OF CHANGES TO THIS POLICY HOWEVER MANY OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE OF COLLABORATION WITH THE LIBRARY OR MEDIA SPECIALISTS IN THE DISTRICT. SEVERAL PARTS OF THE PROPOSAL SUCH AS SECTION G RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS NUMBER FOUR AND SECTION B CURE RATION OF

[01:15:03]

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WHAT'S OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA GRAFF. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M HERE BOTH AS A TEACHER AND A PARENT TONIGHT. BUT I MOVED BACK TO CALVARY COUNTY IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND FOUR YEARS AGO I WAS INTRODUCED IN ANTIRACISM POLICY WE DEVELOPED.

I WAS GLAD TO SEE PROGRESS IN THE AREA WHERE I GREW UP AND WHERE ACCEPTANCE OF THE LGBT Q COMMUNITY. YET THE BACKLASH SINCE THEN HAS BEEN HATEFUL AND OVERWHELMING AND WE ARE SEEING IT IN THE LIBRARY NOW I STARTED THIS YEAR FACING HARASSMENT BECAUSE A HANDFUL OF PARENTS NOT CONNECTED TO MY BUILDING DID NOT LIKE A RAINBOW FLAG.

PUT MY CHILDREN ON THE INTERNET EASILY IDENTIFY ME I HAD PEOPLE CALL ME A PEDOPHILE AND GROOMER BECAUSE OF PERCEIVED IDENTITY. SPENT A DAY IN COURT WITHOUT SUBPOENA AND MS. POST WILL REMEMBER AS SHE WAS THERE ALL OF THAT FOR WHAT? SO THAT MORE HATRED CAN BE SPREAD TO HARM OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES? WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE TO WORK TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE SECAC AND IMPROVE PLAYGROUNDS AND ACCESSIBILITY.

INSTEAD WE ARE LOOKING AT A INCONCEIVABLE PLAN THAT CAN NEVER BE ENACTED FOR OUR LIBRARIES. IT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL TO RESTRICT STUDENT ACCESS COMPLETELY TARGET CERTAIN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BECAUSE A FEW PARENTS DON'T LIKE IT. CAN I MARCH IN AND DEMAND YOU TAKE OUT THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA BECAUSE ON WHAT THE CHRISTIAN ALLEGORY IN THERE? ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN, CHILD LABOR? HE IS OFF THE SHELVES. IT IS RIDICULOUS.

IT IGNORES THE QUALIFICATIONS OF OUR LIBRARIANS IT IS BUILT ON BIGOTRY WE DON'T NEED HERE.

THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL OF US BUT NOT ROOM FOR PEOPLE TO STOMP ON THE RIGHTS OF MY CHILDREN AND

MY STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HARLAN CHRISTIANSEN. >> HELLO BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT COUNSEL. MY NAME IS HARLAN AND I'M IN FIFTH GRADE AT PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY. I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT DESTINATION IMAGINATION IS AND WHAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS WHAT WE LEARN AND HOPE FOR THE FUTURE AND THE PROGRAM OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN WONDERING WHAT DESTINATION IMAGINATION IS WE CALL IT DI FOR SHORT. TEAMS OF UP TO SEVEN WORK ON OPEN ENDED CHALLENGES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO TEACH THE CREATIVE PROCESS.

THE CHALLENGES CHANGE EVERY YEAR. THERE ARE ONES FOR TACTICAL, SCIENTIFIC, IMPROV, ENGINEERING AND SERVICE LEARNING. LAST YEAR THERE WERE THREE TEAMS AT PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY MADE UP OF VIRGIN FIFTH-GRADERS THIS YEAR WE HAD SIX TEAMS AND THERE WERE 13 TEAMS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS IN CALVERT COUNTY WHO COMPETED AT THE COMPETITION.

MY TEAM BUILT A ROLLER COASTER FOR A GOLF BALL AND ANOTHER TEAM BUILT TWO MACHINES TO PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE. THIS YEAR EVEN MY FIRST GRADE SISTER GOT TO BE ON A TEAM WHERE THEY MADE INSTRUMENTS. ALL THE CHALLENGES ARE DIFFERENT BUT THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT THING THAT IS THE SAME. THERE'S NO INTERFERENCE ALLOWED. THAT MEANS NO IDEAS ARE HELP FROM PARENTS OR TEACHERS.

WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ALL THE IDEAS ON OUR OWN AND BUILD EVERYTHING ON OUR OWN AND WRITE EVERYTHING AND DECIDE EVERYTHING AS A TEAM WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT RESOLVING DISAGREEMENTS, PROBLEM-SOLVING, TIME MANAGEMENT AND A WHOLE LOT ABOUT TRIAL AND ERROR AND

[01:20:06]

IT IS A REALLY AWESOME PROGRAM BECAUSE A GOOD TEAM TAKES A LOT OF DIFFERENT TALENTS THERE'S ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION BUT ALSO STORYTELLING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO WRITE PERFORMANCE AND ACTING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PERFORM A SKIT AND OURS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO MAKE PROPS AND SCENERY YOURSELF AND A LOT OF CREATIVITY. WE LEARN EVERYBODY HAS SOMETHING TO CONTRIBUTE. WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD ON OUR PROJECTS BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL AND ON THE WEEKENDS. GUESS WHAT? AT THE STATE COMPETITION IN APRIL WHEN MY TEAM GOT FIRST PLACE IN THE OTHER TWO GOT SECOND.

WE HOPE YOU SEE THE VALUE IN DI I WILL SUPPORT CALVERT COUNTY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE FUTURE I WANT TO PARTICIPATE AGAIN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND KEEP LEARNING AND HAVING FUN.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS MR. CHRISTIANSEN.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMELIA ROGER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SUPERINTENDENT COUNSEL. MY NAME IS AMELIA ROGER AND EMMA FIFTH-GRADER FROM PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DESTINATION IMAGINATION FOR TWO YEARS NOW. MY FIRST YEAR I DID THE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE WHERE MY TEAM HAD TO A RULING STRUCTURE OUT OF ONLY WOOD AND GLUE AND NOTHING LSE.

WE HAD TO PUT WEIGHTS ON THE TOP TO SEE HIM MUCH IT WOULD LD HOLD THIS PAST YEAR I I PARTICIPATED IN A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE WHERE WE HAD TO MAKE TWO DEVICES, ONE THAT COULD MOVE, COULD BE ELECTRICAL AND ONE MOVEMENT WITHOUT ELECTRICITY.

WE HAD TO USE THE DEVICES TO PUT TOGETHER A PUZZLE AND PUT ON A PERFORMANCE TO SHOW THE DEVICES. AT THE MARYLAND STATE COMPETITION MY TEAM PLACED FIRST IN OUR CHALLENGE. IT WAS THE ONLY ELEMENTARY TEAM TO GET THE RENAISSANCE AWARD FOR OUR CAR THE OPERATOR WITH ONLY MAGNETS AND HYDRAULICS. TEAMS THAT PLACED IN THE TOP TWO AT THE STATE COMPETITION GOT INVITED TO GLOBAL COMPETITION IN MISSOURI.

WE DID NOT GO BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK THEY COULD FUND RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO DO IT.

DID YOU KNOW THAT CHARLES COUNTY, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PAYS PFOR THE TEAM THAT GETS FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE COMPETITION? TO GO TO THE GLOBAL COMPETITION? WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT, SUPPORT WE GOT FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM UP TO THE STATE COMPETITION. WE HOPE THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT DI IN THE SCHOOLS DI HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE FOR THESE PAST YEARS, TWO YEARS.

DI ISN'T JUST ABOUT BUILDING AND ACTING. IT IS ABOUT MEETING NEW PEOPLE AND TEAMWORK. I HAVE MADE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE I WOULD NEVER HAVE SEEN BEFORE DI. HARLAN IS ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

DI CAN CREATE FRIENDSHIPS WHERE YOU MIGHT NOT EXPECT IT GIVES KIDS A CHANCE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S DIFFERENT SKILLS AND TALENTS.

DI CREATED NEW EXPERIENCES THAT HELPED ME LEARN NOT ONLY MATH, SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BUT ALSO PROBLEM-SOLVING. HOW TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO COOPERATE AND ALSO TEACHES QUICK THINKING AND HOW TO SHARE IDEAS WITH OTHERS AND LET EVERYONE'S VOICE BE HEARD.

WE WANT THE SCHOOL BOARD TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT DI IS TO US AND WHAT IT HAS DONE FOR OUR CONFIDENCE AND LEARNING WE WILL LEAVE THIS WORLD AND DI PREPARES THE YOUNG MINDS TO DO

SO. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU MISS

ROGER FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CRYSTAL AUTHOR.

>> GOOD EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE POLICIES REGARDING STUDENT DRESS CODE ON HATS AND HOODS. IT REALLY HASN'T BEEN THAT MUCH CONFLICT UNTIL IT WAS REINSTATED. AS ALLOWABLE.

IT STATES IN THE DRESS CODE POLICY 3170 THAT THE BOARD VALUES ARE PLACE SO TEACHERS CAN FOCUS ON TEACHING WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL AND OFTEN UNCOMFORTABLE BURDEN ADDRESS

[01:25:04]

ONE FRIND DECIDES TO TAKE ANOTHER HAT AND RUNS DOWN WITH IT DOWN THE HALL.

STUDENTS ARE PUSHED AND RAN INTO HARMING OTHERS AND PUTTING THEIR SAFETY AT RISK.

THIS INEVITABLY ROLLS INTO THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT DISRUPTING THE BEGINNING OF CLASS AND TAKING AWAY FROM THE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. HOODIES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE WORN BUT HOODS NEED TO STAY DOWN AND HATS JUST NEED TO STAY HOME.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT TEACHERS FROM BEING BURDENED WITH DRESS CODE ENFORCEMENT OF HATS AND HOODS. PLEASE PUT A END TO THIS AND PLEASE PUT STUDENT SAFETY FIRST. LET US GET BACK TO LEARNING AND TEACHERS BEING ABLE TO TEACH AND LET US NOT BE BURDENED WITH DETERMINING IF THE STUDENTS FACE IS CONCEALED OR NOT.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

[APPLAUSE] >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JAMES ARTHUR.

>> HELLO BOARD MEMBERS ARM JAMES ARTHUR CONCERNED PARENT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. WHEN POLICY 1012 REGARDING POLICY AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT WAS PRESENTED AT THE LAST MEETING I NOTICED A CRITICAL AREA MISSING IN THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT. IMPACT ANALYSIS COULD CURRENTLY LARGE CHANGES CAN BE MADE TO POLICIES WITHOUT REGARDS TO THE COST FOR WORKFORCE ALLOCATION. SINCE I SECOND. IS BUDGET LIMITED IT WOULD PRIMARILY ADDRESS REALLOCATION OF FUNDING AND STAFF TIME WILL BE TAKEN FROM. IN OTHER WORDS WHAT WILL BE SACRIFICED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES TO THE POLICY. THE PROPOSED POLICY IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IMPACT ANALYSIS IS NEEDED IT QUIRES CREATION OF F 28 DIFFERENT COMMITTEES FOR R EXISTING SCHOOL STAFF, PARENTS AND OUTSIDE SCHOOL SPECIALISTS IT WORKS OUT TO 87 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES. 84 PARENTS. 82 CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGISTS OR TRAUMA SPECIALISTS FOR GRAND TOTAL OF 253 PEOPLE NEEDED JUST FOR THE COMMITTEE PORTION OF THIS POLICY. THIS IS NOT INCLUDED THE HUNDREDS OF LIBRARIAN STAFF HOURS NEEDED FOR REVIEWING THE NEW MATERIALS.

WHERE WILL THE STAFF TIME COME FROM? GIVEN THE LARGE NUMBER OF BOOKS THAT JENNA POST-CLOSE FRIEND AND PODCAST ALYSSA KASHI HAD IN HER SIGN-UP GENIUS AND SEPARATE AFFILIATED WEBSITE WHERE SHE PROMOTES HER LOSS VEGAS BASED GROUP A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WORK HOURS WILL BE NEEDED TO BE ALLOCATED FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO COMPLETE THE TASK IN THE REQUIRED 90 DAY TIMEFRAME. WHAT WILL BE CUT? WILL THE ELA TEACHERS PULLED AWAY FROM TEACHING? WILL SCHOOL LIBRARIES NO LONGER BE INSTRUCTING STUDENTS AND SPENDING THE MAJORITY OF THEIR DAY READING BOOKS AND PREPARING DOCUMENTATION FOR COMITTEES? WILL SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR BUDGET BE SPENT CONTRACTING WITH THESE OUTSIDE SPECIALISTS THAT'S REQUIRED OF THE POLICY? OR IS THIS POLICY UPDATE A BACKDOOR WAY TO LIMIT ACCESS TO DIVERSE CONTENT IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES AS INCREASING COSTS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS BECOMES TOO HIGH? THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH CORMIER.

>> GOOD EVENING BOARD OF EDUCATION LONG TIME NO SEE MY NAME IS JOSEPH CORMIER AND I'M

[01:30:01]

EVERY COUNT AND EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM FACES SIMILAR STRUGGLES WE HAVE BUT I SAY TO YOU THE WAY WE GET MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS IS INVEST IN SUPPORT STAFF THE COMPOSITION AND HEALTH INSURANCE RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO BRING THEM TO CALVERT THE JOBS WE HAVE POSTED NOW AND INCREASE THE FOOTPRINT. FOR TOO LONG WE'VE ASKED STAFF TO DO MORE LEFT FOR WORK OFF THE CLOCK TO DO IT FOR THE CHILDREN. THE MORE THEY DO OFF THE CLOCK AND OFF THE BOOKS THE EASIER IT IS TO SAY WE CAN SHRINK STAFF BY ONE OR TWO THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF BRINGING MORE STUFF WHICH IS WHAT WE DIRELY NEEDED. WE SHOULD BE TRAINING STAFF ON DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND BEING PROACTIVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THE MELTDOWNS AND CRISIS THAT TAKE AWAY FROM EVERYONE'S DAY TO COMPLETE THE TASK AT HAND AND OF THE BLUEPRINT HAS TAKEN UP A LOT OF OUR HORIZON BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF ALL OF OUR STAFF WE CAN HAVE THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND MOST BEAUTIFUL FIELDS AND THE BEST BUILDINGS BUT WITHOUT PEOPLE TO STAFF IF THEY ARE USELESS FOR THE CHILDREN WE CANNOT GIVE OUR CHILDREN THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR CHILDREN WHO ARE BEING FACED WITH STRUGGLES TODAY THAT ARE BEING HURT AND HUNGRY THAT NEED SUPPORT. INSTEAD WE ARE FISHING FOR PROBLEMS AND LIBRARY BOOKS ON THE SHELF THAT THE STUDENT MAY NEVER SEE THE PRIORITIES ARE THERE AND I DON'T THINK WE ARE ON THE RIGHT ONES RIGHT NOW WILL THERE ARE WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN WE NEED TO FIND THEM THROUGH SUPPORT STAFF. NOT IN HIRING MORE CONSULTANTS TO STUDY THE PROBLEM WE KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. PAY THE EOPLE UNION STRONG

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ELLA NNIS. >> GOOD EVENING MADAM CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL.

I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT. AS A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF CALVERT COUNTY I HAVE STRONGLY WANTED TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND THEIR EDUCATION AND TO SEE EVERY STUDENT IN CALVERT COUNTY RECEIVES A GOOD EDUCATION, EXCELLENT EDUCATION I COMMEND THE BOARD AND THE TEACHERS FOR ALL THEIR EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE OUR CHILDREN TO ACHIEVE EXCELLENT EDUCATION. AS A CITIZEN I FIND IT HARD TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND IN OUR SCHOOLS. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT THIS ONCE BEFORE A FEW YEARS AGO. I WOULD URGE YOU TO SET UP AN ONLINE SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAILS REGULARLY AS YOU SET UP YOUR AGENDA.

BEHIND THE AGENDA THE BACKUP MATERIALS. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DOES THIS AND EACH WEEK YOU RECEIVED AN EMAIL AND YOU CAN JUST CLICK ON THE AGENDA. IT BRINGS UP THE AGENDA. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON THE VARIOUS ITEMS. EACH BACKUP MATERIAL IS HIGHLIGHTED AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAP ON IT AND IT BRINGS UP THE UNDERLYING DOCUMENTS. I THINK IT WOULD HELP THE CITIZENS TO BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS DOING.

HELP US TO HAVE MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.

[01:35:03]

I URGE YOU PLEASE TO CONSIDER DOING THAT. THE SYSTEM WORKS VERY WELL FOR THE COMMISSIONERS. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD WORK VERY WELL FOR YOU ALL AND HELP US ALL TO BE BETTER INFORMED THE OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IS WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AFTER THE CHILDREN HAD NOT BEEN IN SCHOOL IN PERSON SCHOOL AND THEN COME BACK AND HAD THIS YEAR IN PERSON TRAINING TO SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE IN MAKING UP FOR THE LOSS OF A READING AT ACHIEVEMENT OBVIOUSLY IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IF WE COULD SEE WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THE TESTS WERE TAKEN LAST FALL BY GRADE LEVEL AND SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS THEY'VE MADE IN THIS YEAR. IT WILL HELP US ALL TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THAT EVERY CHILD IS GOING TO GET BACK UP TO GRADE LEVEL.

I THINK THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING EVERY CHILD READ AT GRADE LEVEL.

AND BE ABLE TO DO MATH AT GRADE LEVEL. THERE'S NOTHING THAT WILL GIVE THEM MORE CONFIDENCE IN BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS AS TO BEING ABLE TO READ AT GRADE

LEVEL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RILEY BROWN. >> HI EVERYONE.

I'M NEW TO THIS SO IF I STUTTER I'M SORRY MY NAME IS RILEY BROWN AND EMMA CALVERT COUNTY BOARD RACE INDIVIDUAL AND GOING TO SCHOOL IN THIS COUNTY FOR A MAN ENTIRE ACADEMIC CAREER.

I'VE READ MANY SOURCES OF LITERATURE DURING CLASS AND RELEASE EXPERIENCE SECOND GRADE WAS MY TEACHER PULLING OUT TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. THIS BOOK HAS BEEN MENTIONED IN CONVERSATION NOT BECAUSE IT'S INHERENTLY A BAD BOOK BUT BEING USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF HYPOCRISY I RECALL HEARING A SLUR FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I RECALL WITH THE STORY MADE ME FEEL.

IT MAY RECOGNIZE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WORK OF FICTION REFLECTING ONGOING SITUATIONS.

I RECALL READING AND WATCHING ANYTHING DISNEY, THE TYPICAL PRINCESS AND PRINCE TROPES AND THE PRINCE GETS THE PRINCESS. I RECALL BEING TAUGHT WHAT DEATH WAS.

MY PEERS BEING FIRST RESPONDERS MENTIONED DEATH BUT NEVER SEEN IT UNTIL I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD WE WASH FOOTAGE OF PEOPLE THROWING THEMSELVES OUT OF THE TOWERS ON 9/11.

I WATCHED AFTERMATH WE WERE TOLD TO REFLECT TO REMEMBER WE WERE TAUGHT WAS SLAVERY WAS AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND TOLD IN DETAIL WHAT A WHIP COULD DO TO SOMEONE SKIN WAS DRIPPING A HUMAN OF THEIR CULTURE LOOKED LIKE. IN FIFTH GRADE I WAS TAUGHT WITH A. [BLEEP] AND REGINA AND SEXUAL ORGANS WERE.

I WAS TAUGHT ABOUT ORAL, RENAL AND REGINA SEX ABOUT WHAT SEXUAL ABUSE WAS I RECALL READING A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BY TEACHERS THAT DESCRIBE THE ABUSE OF ORPHANS. I READ MOCKINGJAY WHICH DESCRIBE PRIMROSE BEING BLOWN UP AND MANY OF MRS. FRED'S BEEN TORN OR SHOT AND EATEN. I WATCH TV SHOWS AND MOVIES ABOUT COUPLES HETEROSEXUAL AND THOSE WERE ENCOURAGED AND THOSE WERE NOMAL.

I READ THE THINGS THEY CARRIED A DESCRIPTION OF SUICIDE AND JIMMY CROSSES FANTASIES OF MARTHA. IN DETAIL. I DON'T NEED TO MENTION THIS IS A WAR BOOK IS FULL OF VIOLENCE AND FOUL LANGUAGE. I RECALL READING THE MOVING NOVEL OF NIGHT THIS BOOK DESCRIBES THE HORRORS OF HOLOCAUST FROM OUR YOUNG BOYS EYES. THESE BOOKS ARE BOOKS THAT FILL OUR CHILDREN WITH KNOWLEDGE AND THESE ARE WITHIN OUR CURRICULUM SO WHAT ARE THESE ALLOWED UNDER THE NEW POLICY PROPOSED BY ANYTHING REMOTELY LGBT Q IS NOT RATHER SIMPLE. A BOARD MEMBER HAS EXPRESSED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BELIEVE LGBT Q INDIVIDUALS ARE CHILD GROOMERS AND THEY HOLD A BOOK BURNING POCKETS WITH HER BEST FRIEND. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY WHERE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT WILL SPOIL THE BUNCH MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AGAINST ATTACK COMMUNITY IS INCREDIBLY DISHEARTENING THIS COMMUNITY INCLUDES CHILDREN AND WANTS OF TRYING TO PROTECT JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE WE SHOULD NOT EXIST DOESN'T MEAN WE DEALT I WISH THROUGHOUT MY ACADEMIC CAREER AT A BOOK THEY WERE PRESENTED ME IN MY CLEARNESS I CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS GOING ON WHILE I WAS BEING RAISED IN A METHODIST HOME AND METHODIST CHURCH THAT GROOMED ME. I WISH THERE WAS A BOOK AVAILABLE AT MY SCHOOL LIKE IDENTICAL TALKED ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND PARTNERS. THERE ARE PEOPLE HEAR WHO ARE ANGRY AT A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE BLINDLY APPOINTED BY PEOPLE IN POWER AND DEBBIE ENEMY AND UNHOLY IN THE OUTSIDERS. YOU ARE HERE TO MAKE OUR SCHOOL SAFE AND CHILDREN SAFE TO DO IT. DENY THIS POLICY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANNA

[01:40:13]

JONES. >> DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL AND PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MY NAME IS ANNA JONES AND I'M THE LIBRARIAN IN MY 19TH YEAR AT WINDY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I WANT TO SHARE MY CONCERN OVER NOT ONLY THE MULTITUDE OF CHANGES TO POLICY 2305 PRESENTED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING BUT THE FACT THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS FELT THEY WERE QUALIFIED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. POLICY 2305 WAS WRITTEN BY HIGHLY QUALIFIED EDUCATORS. THIS POLICY HAS SERVED LIBRARIANS AND OUR PROGRAMS WELL. IT IS FAIR, ALL-ENCOMPASSING AND EFFECTIVE.

TWO YEARS AGO AT THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY PROGRAM ONE NATIONAL LIBRARY PROGRAM OF THE R. THIS NATIONAL AWARD WAS BASED ON OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DE EQUITABLE, IMPACTFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS. CREATING FOUR COMMITTEES MADE UP OF NINE MEMBERS EACH, ONLY THREE OF WHICH ARE EDUCATORS CREATES A UNNECESSARY LOGJAM TO A PROCESS CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE AND WORKING WELL. SCHOOL LIBRARIANS PURCHASE BOOKS TO REFLECT THEIR POPULATION AND MEET THE NEEDS OF A PROJECT SUCH AS HISTORY FAIR, ARGUMENTATIVE RESEARCH, BIOGRAPHIES AND NONFICTION ASSIGNMENTS AND BOOK CLUBS TO NAME A FEW. WE BUY BOOKS WITH STUDENTS IN MIND.

NOT ALL BOOKS ARE FOR ALL STUDENTS. THIS IS WHERE PARENTS CAN GET INVOLVED. TALK TO YOUR CHILD. GO ON TO DESTINY, OUR ONLINE CATALOG. VIEW BOOKS TOGETHER AND BUILD A READING LIST PRIOR TO YOUR CHILD'S VISIT TO THE LIBRARY. I FILTER MY BOOKS AND BOOK PURCHASES SO THEY ARE APPROPRIATE FOR WINDY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL YOU COULD FILTER FURTHER TO MEET YOUR CHILD'S INTERESTS AND LIMIT BOOKS AS YOU SEE FIT FOR YOUR CHILD. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS WE ARE MISSING THE MARK IF WE THINK BOOKS ARE OUR CHILD'S ENEMY.

WE ARE COMPETING FOR A CHILD'S ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES TO READING.

BETWEEN CELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS, TV AND GAMING SYSTEMS, CHILDREN HAVE UNLIMITED ACCESS AT THEIR FINGERTIPS TO CONSTANT ENTERTAINMENT. GIVEN A CHOICE BETWEEN READING A BOOK BY GOING ONLINE MANY CHILDREN WILL CHOOSE THE LATTER.

THIS IS OUR BATTLE. PARENTS PARTNER WITH LIBRARIANS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TEACHERS TO INSTILL A LOVE OF READING. THANK YOU TO THOSE PARENTS WHO DO. READING INSTILLS CURIOSITY, EMPATHY, CREATIVITY AND FOCUS IN A WORLD FULL OF DISTRACTIONS. LET'S SHIFT THIS INITIATIVE PROPOSED BY THE BOARD MEMBER LAST WEEK FROM LIMITING BOOKS TO PROMOTING BOOKS.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION AND FUTURE.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> AND GIVE YOUR COMMENTS. >> ARCTIC SPEAKER IS MARK KOESTNER.

. >> DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL AND PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MY NAME IS MARK CAPTIONER AND I WILL EXPRESS MY STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES TO POLICY NUMBER FEBRUARY 3, 2005 INTRODUCED AT THE MEETING MAY 11. I'M A PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL LIBRARY IN CALVERT COUNTY AND HAVE BEEN FOR 27 YEARS. THE SELECTION OF BOOKS FOR LIBRARY REQUIRES EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LITERATURE AND VERY SUBJECT AREAS.

IN ADDITION TO THE SCIENCE, HISTORY AND EDUCATION COURSES I TOOK AS AN UNDERGRAD AS PART OF MY COURSEWORK WHILE GETTING MASTERS IN LIBRARY SCIENCE IN NEW YORK WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE MULTIPLE COURSES IN CHILDREN'S LITERATURE YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE AND COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT. IF THE COMMUNITY BOARD WERE TO TAKE OVER THE BOOK SELECTION PROCESS THEY CERTAINLY WILL NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE.HIS CAN LIMIT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY OF LABORERS COLLECTION AS STATED BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND THE FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT, IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR LIBRARIANS TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE WIDEST DIVERSITY OF VIEWS AND EXPRESSIONS INCLUDING THOSE UNORTHODOX AND UNPOPULAR. AS A PROFESSIONAL I FIND THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE TO BE CAPRICIOUS AND FLAWED.

NINE PERCENT COMMITTEE TO COLLECT LIBRARY BOOKS WITH EXACTLY ONE LIBRARIAN THAT'S

[01:45:02]

IN FACT CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL LIBRARY DEPARTMENT WAS CHOSEN BY THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AS THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM OF THE YEAR TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS THERE WE ARE DOING A POOR JOB? THE ENTIRE THING SEEMS PARTICULARLY UNWARRANTED AND SEEMS TO BE SUBSTITUTING POLITICS FOR PROFESSIONALS THAT IS NOT GOOD POLICY. IN CONCLUSION IT IS CRUCIAL LABORERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELECT THE BOOKS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE LIBRARY THIS CANNOT HAPPEN IF THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE MADE TO POLICY FEBRUARY 3, 2005.OR DECADES OUR SELECTION POLICY SERVED OUR COMMUNITY WELL I HAVE SEEN ZERO EDUCATION ANY CHANGES NECESSARY ESPECIALLY THIS AS STIC AND RADICAL. I WILL CLOSE WITH THE IDEA I'M NOT NST PARENT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I THINK IT IS WORTH EXPLORING CERTAINLY NOT AT THE LEVEL BEING OFFERED HERE WERE THE PROFESSIONALS ONLY PEOPLE TRAINED TO DO THE B ARE ON EXTREME MINORITY ON THIS PROPOSED MMITTEE. THIS WOULD A INJUSTICE TO OUR STUDENTS. IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO SAY PLEASE SUPPORT HARLAN AND

DESTINATION IMAGINATION CREW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> ARCTIC SPEAKER IS MORGAN . MILLER. >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MORGAN MILLER. I GREW UP IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTS I HAD WHILE I WAS IN SCHOOL I HAVE GROWN TO BE A WELL DIVERSE ACCEPTING AND KNOWLEDGEABLE YOUNG ADULT WITH A JOB THAT FOCUSES A GREAT DEAL ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION. I'M ALSO THE DAUGHTER OF A WOMAN WHO IS GIVEN 30 YEARS OF HER LIFE TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 26 OF THOSE BEING READING AND ENGLISH RELATED ARTS TEACHER. AND NO ONE HAS GO TO READ THE BOOK FAHRENHEIT OR 51 BRADBERRY WROTE A REMARKABLE QUOTE AND STATED YOU DON'T HAVE TO BURN BOOKS TO DESTROY A CULTURE.

YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP READING THEM. MRS. POST YOUR PROPOSAL IS TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO STOP READING THEM. ANY BOOKS WILL NOT DESTROY THE LGBT Q ENTRANCE COMMUNITY AND CULTURE. YOUR POLICY CHANGES WILL NOT STOP KIDS FROM LISTENING TO AND WATCHING CONTENT ABOUT THESE TOPICS.

I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE PART OF THE LGBT Q ENTRANCE COMMITTEE AND THE TRUTH IS WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME COMMUNITY. WE ALL SHOULD CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER'S RIGHTS.

YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE RIGHTS AWAY FROM THEM AND FROM THE KIDS BUT YOURS COULD BE NEXT THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT THEM BUT ALL OF. WE ARE ALL ONE E COMMUNITY.

MRS. POST YOU HAVE E CHILDREN IN THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SYSTEM AND I'M SURE YOU OVERSEE WHAT MOVIES, TV SHOWS AND VIDEO GAMES AND BOOKS YOUR CHILDREN READ AS YOU SHOULD AS THEIR MOTHER THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH A PARENT DECIDING A BOOK IS NOT RIGHT FOR THEIR CHILD AT THAT TIME. I EXPERIENCED THIS MYSELF WITH MY PARENTS.

THERE IS A COLOSSAL PROBLEM WITH THE PARENT DECIDING NO CHILD SHOULD READ THAT BOOK STRAIGHT FROM THE CCPS WEBSITE IT STATES CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NURTURE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY, GROUP MEANINGFUL DIVERSE EXPERIENCES AND VALUE AND ACCEPT DIFFERENCES. AND SEEK TO UNDERSTAND AND ABOLISH ANY QUALITIES.

YOUR POLICY CHANGES DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CCPS VISION STATEMENT MRS. POST AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY DANA ON NOVEMBER 7, 2022 OF YOU STATED " I WILL WORK TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND REPRESENT ALL CONSTITUENTS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE ". YOUR SUGGESTED REVISIONS OF THE BOE POLICY FEBRUARY 3, 2005 DOES NOT SUPPORT YOUR WORDS FROM SIX MONTHS AGO KIDS TO READ BOOKS WITH CHARACTERS LIKE THEMSELVES WIND UP FEELING LESS MARGINALIZED KIDS WILL NEVER ENCOURAGE EONE FROM THEM CAN DO IN A SAFE SPACE OF A BOOK BOOK FANS CREATE A DIVIDE AMONG PEOPLE. I AM NOT I AM NOT TRANS OR A ARENT AND NOT A LIBRARIAN. I'M IN ACCEPTING WELL-ROUNDED STRAIGHT WHITE WOMAN.

WHO WILL USE HER VOICE TO STAND UP FOR THOSE IN THE LGBT Q AND TRANS COMMUNITY AND USE MY VOICE FOR KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE A SAY IN WHAT YOU'RE TAKING AWAY FROM THEM THESE KIDS DESERVE TO HAVE INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM LET PARENTS PARENT AND KEEP CULTURE WARS OUT OF CLASSROOMS.

[01:50:04]

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBATING

HT. >> HI MY NAME IS DEVON AND APPEAR TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS A PARENT OF TWO HIGH SCHOOLERS IN THE SYSTEM.

I FIND THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICIES TO 305 AND 2015 DISAGREEMENT DISHEARTENING GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF LGBT RHETORIC COMING FROM THE BOARD MEMBER THAT DRAFTED THESE E CHANGES IN THE GROUP OF UP OF CITIZENS THAT WORKED ALONGSIDE THEM TO DRAFT SAID ANGES I'VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THE CHANGES ARE PART OF A LARGER OUNTYWIDE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ENDEAVOR TO RAISE PROTECTIONS INCLUSION EQUITY SAFETY AND ACCESS TO A FREE AND FAIR PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN IN CCPS ESPECIALLY ONE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN CHILDREN THAT IDENTIFY AS LGBT Q AND FAMILIES THAT MAKE UP THE QUEER COMMUNITY IN CALVERT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET OUR CHILDREN THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN AS A COMMUNITY ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND POLICY CHANGES BASED ON BIGOTRY ARE EVEN PERSONALLY BELIEVES HAVE NO PLACE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BELIEFS LIKE THESE AND HATE THEY FOSTER OUR DANGEROUS AND INFLICT SIGNIFICANT PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL DYSFUNCTION AND SUICIDALITY AND FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE OF BAD OUTCOMES OVER THE LIFE COURSE OF THE CHILDREN BEING TARGETED. ANYONE WHO HAS WATCHED A CHILD THEY LOVE CUT, HARM AND TRY TO KILL THEMSELVES DEVELOP HEATING AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDERS, AVOID SCHOOL AND PEERS, RIGHT ENDLESSLY AND DOUBT THEIR VALUE.

EXCUSE ME. FAIL TO FORM SOLID IDENTITIES AND HEALTHY BOUNDARIES IN RELATIONSHIPS DOESN'T HAVE TO WONDER WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLICIES LIKE THIS ARE PASSED INTO LAW IT IS PARTICULARLY CRUEL THIS POLICY CLAIMS TO BE INTENDED TO PROTECT VULNERABLE CHILDREN ALL THE WHILE TAKING THINGS MORE PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY DANGEROUS FOR LGBT Q KIDS. SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SOCIETY.

ESPECIALLY IN THIS CLIMATE THESE ARE NOT MATTERS OF OPINION BUT THEY DO REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ACCESS TO FREE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR KIDS IN CCPS.

MOREOVER TEACHERS AND LIBRARIANS HAVE A TRULY DAUNTING MANDATE IN TEACHING GUIDING AND HELPING TERESA CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND OUR SYSTEM IS LOSING EDUCATORS TO THE HARDSHIPS SUCH AS THESE CURRENTLY PRESENT. THOUGH NOT DIRECTLY UNDER SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND LEGAL ATTACKS FROM SMALL CITIZENS MINORITY.

TYING THEIR HANDS AND SCHEDULES BY ROBBING THEM OF THEIR COLLECTIVE PROFESSIONAL AGENCY AND WASTING PUBLIC MONEY SETTING UP COMMITTEES AND AVENUES FOR PARENTAL OVERSIGHT AND POOR USE OF RESOURCES AND FOCUS ON THE PART OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THIS TIME. I ORGANIZE FOR A LIVING. WE ARE TRYING TO GET 284 PEOPLE INTO A ROOM UNTO COMMITTEES DOING THINGS THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

IT IS STRANGE ON ANY GIVEN DAY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GET FIVE ADULTS TO DO SOMETHING.

NOT ONLY IS THIS A NONSENSICAL WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME BUT LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE.

I GOT LOST. WE ALREADY HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE OF THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL WORKING PERFECTLY FINE. UNLIKE THE POLICY CHANGES OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IN COMPLIANCE

WITH STANDARDS. >> SORRY TO INTERRUPT THAT IS YOUR TIME.

>> AMONG THE DRAFT POLICY STATED WE ARE ACTUALLY IN COMPLIANCE WITH COLMAR STANDARDS. THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE. THANKING YOU FOR GIVING ME THE

OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSHUA

JOHNSON. >> I WOULD KINDLY ASK THE YOUNG ONES WOULD STEP OUT IF THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT. I WOULD APPRECIATE KEEPING MY TIME.

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE DIALOGUE AND AMAZING HEAR THE ELOQUENCE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON TONIGHT.

WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS BOOKS THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT RENAL PENETRATION AND PLAYFUL RENAL PENETRATION. SUCKING DICK THIS WAS GIVEN BY MELISSA AND HER STATEMENTS.

[01:55:02]

THIS IS VERY ELOQUENT BUT THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT. YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE ELEGANCE. YOU WERE GIVEN CORRESPONDENCE TODAY BY WHAT WOULD BE 20,000 CITIZENS THAT ARE FIRMLY AND STAUNCHLY APART MAKING SURE THIS POLICY GOES INTO PLACE 2315 AND 2305. IT IS TIME TO LOOK AT COMMON SENSE.

YOUNG ONES HERE WERE NOT RESPECTED WHEN THINGS WERE SAID THAT SHOULD NOT BE.

WE ALSO HAD THREE TIMES THE GUIDELINES BROKEN. THE FEW CAN'T SUPERSEDE THE MONEY WE RESPECT EVERYONE I HAVE FRIENDS THAT HAVE DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES AND WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND HAVE DRINKS TOGETHER. THAT BEING SAID AT THE END OF THE DAY WE RESPECT EACH OTHER AND THAT WAS NOT RESPECT IN EITHER CATEGORY AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IF THE CHAIR NEXT TIME WOULD MAKE SURE THE GUIDE IS FOLLOWED WHAT SCHOOLS HAVE FOUND OBSCENE BOOKS IN THEIR SCHOOLS ADMITTEDLY BECAUSE THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DEALING WITH WILLFUL NEGLECT I GAVE YOU THE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT NEIGHBOR BALTIMORE COUNTY MOST KNOWN FOR HAVING ONE OF THE WORST EDUCATION SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY'VE TAKEN BOOKS OUT OF THE SCHOOL AND ADDRESSING THIS THEY ARE REALIZING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. HERE IN CALVARY COUNTY WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST PERVERSE CURRICULUM IN OUR HISTORY. WHICH IS CREATING RECORD-SETTING FIGHTS IN OLS 150 0 ARRESTS. .

RECORD 150 ARRESTS. THE LOWEST TEST SCORES IN THE COUNTY IS MANAGED.

I WOULD BELIEVE AT THIS POINT YOU SHOULD LOOK INTO FIDUCIARY DUTY.

IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FUTURE IT SUPERSEDES STATE LAW AND GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO WHERE THE NATION WAS FOUNDED. I THINK 20,000 PEOPLE IS A LITTLE BIT LOUDER THAN WHAT IS GOING ON TONIGHT. I WOULD KINDLY ASK THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SPEAK AFTER ME WOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN YOUNG ONES IN THIS ROOM.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOE EMBRY. >> GOOD EVENING MY NAME IS JOE EMBRY I'M BELABORING AT CALVERT SCHOOL AND I'M HERE TO VOICE MY OPPOSITION 2305 I EMAILED A LENGTHY LETTER THAT I WILL SHARE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THESE FEW MINUTES.

" CHOICE DOES NOT BELONG TO SELF-APPOINTED ". THE REST OF THE QUOTE BY DEBORAH STONE ABOUT THE BOOK CHOICE. SHE'S THE DIRECTOR OF THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OFFICE FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM IRONICALLY IN THE PROPOSED POLICY THAT CREATES FOR SETTING COMMITTEES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO BOOKS AND CALVERT LIBRARIES THIS INCLUDES PART OF THE QUOTE BY DEBORAH CALDWELL. ABOUT BOOK CHOICE. THE ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE CAN BE FOUND ONLINE. THE ENTIRE QUOTE " THE CHOICE OF WHAT TO READ MUST BE LEFT TO THE READER OR IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN TO PARENTS THAT CHOICE DOES NOT BELONG TO SELF-APPOINTED BOOK POLICE ". STONE ALSO STATED " EACH ATTEMPT TO BAN A BOOK BY ONE OF THESE GROUPS REPRESENTS A DIRECT ATTACK ON EVERYONE'S CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED RIGHT TO FREELY CHOOSE WHAT BOOKS TO READ AND WHAT IDEAS TO EXPLORE ".

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ATTEMPT TO SWAY THE GROUP IS MANIPULATING EXCEPT EXPERTISE AND DATA TO APPEAR SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR VIEWPOINT. POLICY UPDATE IS VERY GOOD EXAMPLE. THERE ARE MANY WAYS THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGHOUT THE PROPOSAL.

WILL DISCUSS ONE'S MOST OBVIOUS TO ME AND THOSE I COLLABORATED WITH DURING MY STUDY OF THE DOCUMENT. OTHER PARTS OF THE PROPOSAL OVERREACHING FOR SUCH LOGIN IS UNDERTAKING THAT CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED AS WRITTEN. REATING FORCE ANY COMMITTEES THAT INCLUDE RANDOMLY SELECTED MEMBERS WITH NO TRAINING OR BACKGROUND.

CERTAINLY THIS IS WRITTEN TO INCLUDE VIEWPOINTS NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE DISCUSSION SECTION 2G MS. POE SITES COLMAR 13 A 041801. THERE IS NO MENTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS OR COMMITTEE FOR LIBRARY MATERIALS AND HAT HOME OR AT T ALL THIS IS FABRICATED SECTION 111 B3 THE STATEMENT SUGGESTS PUBLISHERS AND AWARDS ACTIVELY DECEIVE CONSUMERS WHICH IS NOT EVEN LOGICAL CONSUMERS WILL NOT PURCHASE BOOKS FROM A SOURCE NOT TRUSTWORTHY. AWARD COMMITTEES AND PROFESSIONAL TRADE PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT CONTROLLED BY PUBLISHERS NOR BENEFIT MONETARILY DIRECTLY FROM THE

[02:00:03]

WE LIBRARIES UTILIZE PUBLISHED REVIEWS, AWARD LIST AND BEST-SELLING INFORMATION WHEN SELECTING NEW MATERIALS NONE OF THESE SOURCES ARE CONTROLLED BY PUBLISHERS THERE ARE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH A PROPOSAL THAT TIMING WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO SHARE.

AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS VERY IMPORTANT MATTER.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS READING KIRK.

>> HAVING GROWN UP IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM OF CALVERT COUNTY WITH NO REPRESENTATION MADE IT HARDER FOR ME TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND MYSELF AS I GREW IT ALSO MADE ME A HUGE TARGET FOR BOWLING SINCE I'M DIFFERENT. NOT HAVING ACCESS TO STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE SHOULD BECOME AN OUTCAST IN YOUR OWN MIND.

ON TOP OF THIS IT PUSHES MARGINALIZED GROUPS DOWN MAKING THE SCENE INFERIOR TO OUR WHITE THEN NARROW TYPICAL PEERS. WHICH IS NOWHERE NEAR TRUE WE FOUGHT MANY BATTLES FOR OUR REPRESENTATION BEFORE WE WILL NOT BE SILENT ABOUT THIS POLICY.

YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE YOURSELF REPRESENTED IN THE MEDIA YOU CONSUME SO WHY SHOULDN'T YOUR CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME PRIVILEGE? BOOKS TEND TO BE A SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE. SOME CHILDREN'S BEST OPTION FOR REPRESENTATION IS IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY. IF THIS POLICY WERE TO BE PASSED WE WOULD BE TAKING A STEP BACK IN CREATING A SAFE AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS.

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

[3.02 Board Comments]

>> THANK YOU DOCTOR JOHNSON NEXT WE MOVE INTO THE BOARD COMMENTS AND I WILL START WITH

THE STUDENT MEMBER. >> I FIRST WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE TWO STUDENTS FROM DESTINATION IMAGINATION THAT CAME AND SPOKE WITH US TODAY YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS ARE REMARKABLE AND YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM ANYMORE BUT YOU DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB SHARING THE WITH THAT I WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STATE CHAMPIONS.

AND EVERYONE ELSE RECOGNIZED AT TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING MOVING ON AS IT IS MY LAST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING I WANTED TO GIVE THANKS FOR EVERYONE FOR THIS TERM.

FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO MADE THIS TERM POSSIBLE.

AND SHARED YOUR WONDERFUL IDEAS AND INSIGHTS WITH ME THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR THANK YOU FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND DR. ANDRAE TOWNSEL AND DOCTOR JOHNSON AND SO MANY OTHERS WHO SUPPORTED ME AND TAUGHT ME NEW THINGS THIS YEAR I'M INCREDIBLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I BELIEVE THE STUDENT VOICE IS ESSENTIAL TO EDUCATION AND THIS ROLE FACILITATES THE ACTION.

I HOPE THE ROLE OF STUDENTS CONTINUES TO BE RESPECTED AND HEARD THROUGHOUT OUR NEXT TERM I WANT TO THE FUTURE OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I WILL MOVE TO MS. BURNESS. >> I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU WILL BE MISSED AND WE WISH YOU MUCH SUCCESS IN YOUR SENIOR YEAR.

I WANTED TO TOUCH FOR A MOMENT ON THE SUPPORT STAFF,. I'M REALLY HOPING IT'S GOING TO BE A STUDY THAT CAN HELP OUR SUPPORT STAFF. I'M LOOKING G FORWARD RD TO SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THEM. ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO RTI STUDENTS.

IT IS A FABULOUS OGRAM. I WANTED TO REALLY REFLECT ON THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE DEAL WITH SO MANY PROBLEMS AND ISSUES OF SO MANY HEAVY THINGS.

BUT TONIGHT I REALLY WANT TO THINK AND FOCUS ON CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENTS.

AS THE SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THAT HAVE MADE THIS YEAR A SUCCESS. WHATEVER CAPACITY YOU HAVE SERVED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS YOU ARE A TRICKLE PART IN MAKING THIS YEAR SUCCESSFUL FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THE IMPACT YOU HAVE WILL NOT ONLY BE IN THE HEARTS OF STUDENTS BUT THE HEARTS OF COWORKERS AND PARENTS AS WELL. YOUR DEDICATION IS RECOGNIZED AND YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

WE HAVE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES AHEAD. BUT WE ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF WORKING TOGETHER TO RESOLVE PTHEM. THANK YOU ALL.

>> THANK YOU MISS LISA GRENIS. MS. JANA SMITH-POST? >> TO THINK I WAS GOING TO

[02:05:02]

THE PURPOSE OF HAVING FIVE ELECTED OFFICIALS UP HERE AND PURPOSE OF INVOLVING COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PURPOSE OF HAVING IT VISIBLE FOR PUBLIC INPUT FOR 30 DAYS IS ALL THE INPUT.

GOOD, BAD AND IN BETWEEN. LET ME BE CLEAR. THERE IS A REQUIREMENT IN COLMAR FOR A HEALTH COMMITTEE THAT WAS THE CATALYST FOR LOOKING AT THESE POLICIES.

I AM NOT MARRIED TO A SINGLE THING OTHER THAN WHAT IS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR THAT POLICY. BOTH OF THOSE POLICIES. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION. FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT OF VIEW AND YOU CAN TRY TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS. THAT'S IT. I APPRECIATE ALL THE SHADOWS AND KIND WORDS. I'M REALLY NOT THAT INTRIGUING AND NOT THAT INTERESTING.

I THINK IF ANY OF YOU TOOK THE TIME TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ME AND I WILL COME THAT BY ANY OF YOU ALL THE TIME COME I THINK YOU WOULD SEE THERE IS NO SMOKING GUN SO TO SPEAK. NO SECRETS IF YOU WILL. I AM HOPING WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING IN JUNE IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU ALL TO WITNESS SOME REAL DISCUSSION AND REAL DELIBERATION THAT YOU WILL HEAR FROM ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THEIR PURSUIT TO MAKE THIS THE BEST POLICY AND MAKE SURE WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH COLMAR AND MAKE SURE ALL STUDENTS OR AS PRESIDENT INEZ CLAGGET LIKES TO STAY EACH STUDENT.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EACH STUDENT IS RECOGNIZED. DON'T BE ANGRY BECAUSE I'M ONLY PEAKING FOR ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER OR VICE VERSA. YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A VOICE THAT OTHER PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE A DIFFERENCE THEY DON'T HAVE A VOICE EITHER.

THAT'S NOT MY ROLE IT IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOUR

LONG WEEKEND. >> THANK YOU MISS JANA SMITH-POST.

I WILL MOVE TO MS. DAWN BALINSKI. >> THANK YOU GUYS EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU HAVE NOT SET YOUR COMMENTS INTO THE BOARD OF ED PLEASE AT LEAST SEND THEM TO ME. I'VE BEEN GATHERING A LOT OF INPUT FROM THEM. UNFORTUNATELY I WON'T BE HERE IN JUNE.

I WILL HAVE A HOUSE FULL OF 10 HOUSEGUESTS AT THAT TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER AND BRAND-NEW GRANDSON AT EVERY FAMILY MEMBER WE HAVE WITHIN 100 MILES WILL BE THERE.

I CAN'T LEAVE BECAUSE THEY ARE COMING AND THAT NIGHT. ANYWAY.

I WILL PROVIDE MY COMMENTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RULES ARE BUT PERHAPS I CAN ASK SOMEBODY TO READ MY COMMENTS. I HAVE TO TELL YOU I THINK ALL THE WONDERFUL SPEAKERS GOT OUTSHINED BY THE DESTINATION IMAGINATION KIDS IT MAKES ME SO PROUD THAT THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE GROWING THE PARENTS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT IT IS ALL CCPS RELATED I CONGRATULATE THEM AND THE LIBRARIANS I CONGRATULATE THEM AND DESTINATION IMAGINATION IS A WONDERFUL PROGRAM I HOPE IT CONTINUES STRONG. MAGGIE WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU SO MUCH BUT WE HAVE YOU FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU HELPING OUR NEW ONE BUT ALSO SHOWING UP AT BOARD MEETINGS. AND STILL CONTINUING TO USE THE STUDENT VOICE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN AN EXCELLENT MEMBER I HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL SENIOR YEAR. ALSO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE CHAMPIONS AND PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE. THE WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON

THIS MONTH OF MAY. THANK YOU GUYS. >> THANK YOU THIS TRAIT.

MR. WHITE? >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WILL MAKE THIS ICK.

FIRST OF ALL I HAD THE PORTUNITY TO GO N A SIXTH, CHAPERONED FOR SIX GRADERS GOING TO A BASEBALL ME. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY Y AMAZING. BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHAPERONED A MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE. PLEASE VOLUNTEER FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE IF YOU WANT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. IT WAS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY

[02:10:03]

WE ARE FOCUSED ON HIGH SCHOOL KIDS THAT THEY ARE TELLING US TO GO DOWN YOUNGER.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAKE SURE THEY ARE OKAY. I LIKE THAT TOMORROW CALVERT SOFTBALL TEAM WILL BE PLAYING FOR THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND.

I THINK AT 5:30 P.M.. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THERE.

ALSO SATURDAY TOCSIN BASEBALL WILL BE PLAYING AT REGENCY STADIUM AT 4:00 ALSO PLAYING IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. CONGRATULATIONS TO PLUM POINT SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL TEAMS. PLUM POINT HAS BEEN SWEEPING THIS YEAR I THINK THEY WON FOUR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

FOR THE EMAILS AND MESSAGES I RECEIVED FROM THE CALVERT FOLKS I WILL GIVE NATE SMITH A PHONE CALL AND TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TO SEE 22 STUDENTS CONDUCTED INTO THAT. I GAVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT SPOKE TO THEM SO PUBLIC SPEAKING IS SUCH A FEAR FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

I HAD EIGHT KIDS THAT VOLUNTEERED TO COME TO THE MICROPHONE AND SPOKE SO THAT WAS AMAZING. ONE OTHER THING. WHILE I WAS AT THE DANCE THE SRO CALVERT MIDDLE, THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT CAME UP AND GAVE HIM FIST PUMPS AND POUNDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THE SROS ARE STILL DOING AN AMAZING JOB IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THAT IS ONE THING I WOULD NEVER WAVER ON LAST BUT NOT LEAST LIBRARIANS ROCK.

>> THANK YOU MR. WHITE FOR YOUR OMMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE STUDENTS WHO WERE HERE EARLIER TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. THAT IS MY PASSION.

SEEING THEM COME BEFORE THE BOARD AS ADULTS AND GIVE THEIR COMMENTS ON THEIR OPINIONS AND THEIR THOUGHTS AND WHAT TRULY MEANS TO THEM WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM INCIDENT AND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEY WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY SUPPORT FOR ONTINUING DESTINATION IMAGINATION. IT IS OBVIOUSLY PRODUCING SOME GOOD STUDENTS. INTERESTED IN SEEING WHAT THEY GO ON TO DO AS THEY MATRICULATE INTO ADULTHOOD I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY BEST WISHES TO MAGGIE.

OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. SHE HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

SHE HAS WORKED TO MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BETTER. SHE HAS BROUGHT US THE STUDENT VOICE AND EVERYTHING SHE SHARES WITH YOU ALL. SHE HAS GIVEN HER ALL THIS YEAR AND I TRULY APPRECIATE HER BEING A MEMBER OF OUR BOARD AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT STUDENT MEMBER DOING JUST AS WELL. FOR THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRAVELING FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL TO SEE STUDENT RECOGNITIONS BECAUSE IT IS THE END OF THE YEAR AS WE GEAR UP FOR GRADUATION. WE'VE BEEN TO A NUMBER OF AWARD NIGHTS AND THAT'S ALWAYS HEARTWARMING. I ALSO WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SHOUT OUT THOSE STUDENTS WHO NEVER RECEIVED AWARDS WHOSE NAMES ARE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED BUT WHO CONTINUED TO COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY AND DO THEIR BEST.

SHOUT OUT TO THOSE STUDENTS AS WELL. ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT RECOGNIZED IN YOUR NAME MAY NOT BE IN LIGHTS AND YOUR NAME MAY NEVER BE SAID INTO THE MICROPHONE YOU STILL MATTER YOU STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND YOU ARE STILL AN IMPORTANT PA

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.