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EVENING, EVERYONE . I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL
[1.01 Presentation of Superintendent's Proposed Operating Budget]
MEETING TO ORDER . TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO HEAR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET REPORT FY 2025 OPERATING BUDGET PRESENTATION. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR.YOU HEAR ME WELL? OKAY. DEVELOPING A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE OZONE -- PROPOSED BUDGET IS A MONUMENTAL TASK, AS IT FORMS THE FINANCIAL BLUEPRINT THAT INFLUENCES THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION PROVIDED. A WELL-CRAFTED BUDGET NOT ONLY ALLOCATE THREE-COURSE -- RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY, BUT LACKS THE SCHOOLS COMMITMENT TO RESPONSIBILITY. IN AN ERA WHERE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FACE EVER EVOLVING CHALLENGES AND FINANCIAL RESTRAINTS, THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A BALANCED BUDGET CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. THIS PROCESS GOES BEYOND MERE NUMBERS . IT IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO ENSURE THAT LIMITED RESOURCES ARE MAXIMIZED TO SUPPORT THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF STUDENTS , FACULTY, AND STAFF. ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG-TERM SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM. RAISING THE BAR, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO FIRST BEFORE I GET INTO THE PRESENTATION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW FROM FY 2023 TWO FY 24, WE RAISED THE BAR ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE RAISES TO EVERY EDUCATOR IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, THE GOAL IS TO CONTINUE ON THE TRAJECTORY OF VALUING EDUCATORS IN PROVIDING THE BEST SCHOOL SYSTEM POSSIBLE . ADDITIONALLY, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO BEFORE I GET INTO NUMBERCRUNCHING, TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC RETURN ON INVESTMENT ON THE BUDGET WE ALREADY HAVE, WHAT DO WE DO, HOW ARE WE PERFORMING? HOW ARE YOUNG PEOPLE ACHIEVING IN REGARDS TO ATHLETICS, ACADEMICS, ARTS, AND MORE. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH ONE OF OUR MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF THIS YEAR, OPENING BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, THE BUILDING WILL BE A CERTIFIED SILVER LEAGUE SCHOOL, THE BUILDING IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT NEXT GENERATION LEARNING THROUGH THE INFUSION OF FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE SPACES TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF DIVERSE LEARNERS, THE DESIGN PAGE RESPECTS AND LOCATION OF CHESAPEAKE BEACH BY INCORPORATING A CHESAPEAKE BAY ENVIRONMENT THROUGH INTERIOR FINISHES AND COLOR PALETTE AS WELL AS THE OVERALL THEME BEING AND SIGNAGE . I DO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT BEACH ELEMENTARY, IF YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO COVER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMING DOWN THE PIPE, THE NEXT POTENTIAL SCHOOL IS NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE PULSE OF THAT, THAT WILL BE A GREAT CAMPUS AS WELL.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR 2023 DISTRICT EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR , IF YOU COULD JUST JOIN ME IN CELEBRATING KAREN TUCK AND JOHN ALLEN FROM HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. I HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH BOTH INDIVIDUALS AND THEY DEFINITELY REPRESENT CALVERT COUNTY WELL. THEY DEFINITELY ARE DESERVING OF THE HONOR AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THIS YEAR'S EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR. A COUPLE OF STAFF HIGHLIGHTS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT 38 CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE NATURALLY BORED SERVER-SIDE -- CERTIFIED, 80% ARE HIGHLY QUALIFIED, 71% ARE TEACHING OVER FIVE YEARS, AND OF THOSE TEACHERS, 58% HAVE TAUGHT MORE THAN 10 YEARS. WE DO HAVE A VETERAN STAFF, WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS ALL ACROSS CALVERT COUNTY, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SERVICE AWARDS, IT BRINGS ME JOY TO SEE HOW PEOPLE BELIEVE IN MRS. NOT
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ONLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET AN EDUCATION, BUT A PLACE TO WORK IS MY HOPE AND GOAL ESPECIALLY DURING MY TENURE WE CAN KEEP THAT UP. ACADEMICS . THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT WE ARE A TOP HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN MARYLAND, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL IS THE FIFTH BEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THAT'S AN INCREASE FROM WHERE WE ARE , YOU ALSO SHOULD KNOW THAT OUR ELA NUMBERS ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS ARE LEVEL ONE, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE ACHIEVE THAT, WE ARE IN THE STATE FOR MATH, GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT , FIRST IN THE STAKE FOR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT PASSING AP AND PROFICIENCY, AP PROFICIENT . HER GRADUATION RATE FOR FOUR YEARS OF ALL STUDENTS ARE 99 FIVE -- 95% TO 96%, U.S. NEWS, NATIONAL, AND METRO RATINGS FOR ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS EARNED THE COLLEGE CORE AP HONOR ROLL DISTINCTION, WE HAVE SOME OF THOSE EDUCATORS HERE THAT CONTRIBUTE, IF I CAN GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO COMEUP. >> THE MEMBERS WITH REGARDS TO THE 2023 MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REPORT CARD , ALL 22 OF OUR SCHOOL SAW IMPROVEMENT IN THE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE LEVEL OF ELA AND 21 SAW IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERCENT PROFICIENT, CALVERT COUNTY SAW IMPROVEMENT IN ALL SUMMARY GROUPS AND ANNUAL TARGETS, EIGHT OUT OF NINE GROUPS, 16 SCHOOLS ALSO SAW IMPROVEMENT IN THE AVERAGE PERFORMANCE LEVEL , PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THE HIGHEST GRADUATION RATE IN THE STATE AND HAVE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ANNUAL TARGET FOR EVERY SUMMARY GROUP FOR OUR FOUR YEAR ADJUSTMENT, 12 OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE RANKED IN THE 80TH PERCENTILE OR ABOVE IN THE STATE , FIVE SCHOOLS RANK IN THE 90TH PERCENTILE OR ABOVE.
17 OF OUR SCHOOL SAW IMPROVEMENT IN THE STATE PERCENTILE RATING WITH SCHOOLS IMPROVING AS MUCH AS 21%.
CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS THE SECOND IN THE STATE FOR THE PERCENTAGE OF SCHOOLS THAT EARN FOUR OR FIVE STARS, AND CALVERT COUNTY IS ONE OF SEVEN DISTRICTS IN THE STATE THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY SCHOOLS, WITH ONE OR TWO STAR RATINGS. PAT YOURSELVES ON THE BACK, THAT'S YOU RIGHT THERE. LET'S TALK ABOUT ATHLETICS. REMEMBER, ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL , THE 2000 2223 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS FOR EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY TEAM, AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE GREAT ATHLETIC PROGRAMMING AS WELL, SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR COACHES AND VOLUNTEERS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. LOOKING AT OUR STATE CHAMPIONS, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INDOOR SHOTPUT, INDOOR TRACK, LONG JUMP, NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING BOYS, 113 GIRLS 130, HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS 110 AND 300 HURDLES. NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS OUTDOOR SHOT PUTTING AND DISCUS. WITH REGARDS TO THE ARTS, WE WERE THE 2023 BEST COMMUNITIES FOR SCHOOL AND MUSIC EDUCATION, THE MARYLAND STATE GATOR FESTIVAL , HUNTING DOWN HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE ONE ACT PLAY OF THIS RANDOM WORLD. WE WON THE NATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL WITH FIVE OF OUR STUDENTS EARNING SUPERIOR AND EXCELLENT. JUST A GREAT PROGRAM ALL THE WAY AROUND, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM, SKILLSUSA 45 MEDALIST, 30 AT THE STATE LEVEL. ONE GOLD MEDALIST IN 5-4 -- FIVE MORE TOP 10 FINISHES, I'M SHARING THAT TO SHOW YOU WE HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE GOAL IS TO SUSTAIN IT FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. WHO DO WE SERVE? LOOKING AT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE STUDENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL SERVICES OR A FREE REDUCED PRICE MEAL, JUST 22%.
SPECIAL EDUCATION POPULATION AT 10%, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AT 5%, LOOKING OUR DEMOGRAPHICS, 69, 65.9% WHITE, 10% TWO OR MORE RACES, LESS THAN 1% AMERICAN INDIAN, ONE .5% ASIAN, 13.6% BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN, LESS THAN 1% HAWAIIAN PACIFIC, AND 8.4% HISPANIC LATINO, THESE ARE YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE DISTRICT WE SERVE. WITH REGARDS TO FISCAL STEWARDSHIP PRACTICES, OUR SCHOOLS ARE DESIGNED WITH ENERGY SAVINGS IN MIND, WE HAVE TWO LEAD SILVER CERTIFIED SCHOOLS, ONLY
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MARYLAND DISTRICT WITH AN M.A. EOE 100% RATE DESIGNATION. YOU SHOULD SEE THIS PLAQUE, ALMOST EVERY ONE OF YOUR BUILDINGS, EVERY DISTRICT, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS QUALIFY FOR THAT PLAQUE. WE ALSO PARTICIPATE IN A COMPUTER DONATION PROGRAM, FY 24 WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE 665, $100,000, OUR ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN SCHOOLS HELP REDUCE OUR UTILITY AND BUSINESS SERVICES, THEY ARE COMPETITIVE TO MINIMIZE COSTS.HERE ARE OUR BUDGETING GOALS AND GUIDE PARAMETERS, NUMBER ONE FIRST AND FOREMOST IS TO ALWAYS PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STAFF AND TO MAXIMIZE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. ADDITIONALLY, ATTRACTING AND RETAINING HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL , ADMINISTRATIVE, AND SUPPORT STAFF, WE MUST FULFILL LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. WITH REGARDS TO OUR GOALS AS WELL, WE MUST HONOR OUR CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND PROVIDE A SKILLET -- EXCELLENT FISCAL STEWARDSHIP, WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHERE IS OUR MONEY GOING IN EDUCATION? THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE ACHIEVEMENT AND SUSTAIN IT OVER TIME. WE OFTEN HEAR OF OUT THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, THERE ARE FIVE POLICY AREAS. THESE FIVE AREAS ARE CONSIDERED THE PILLARS OF THE BLUEPRINT, MY HOPE AND MY ASK IS THAT WE CAN ALL COMMIT THIS TO MEMORY, IF SOMEONE SAYS PILLAR FIVE, YOU SHOULD SAY GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, PILLAR ONE IS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, YOU CAN SEE WE ARE DOING WORK IN THAT AREA, TWO IS HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHING, THIRD IS THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PILLAR, FOURTH IS MORE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IF HIS GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IF ANYONE TALKS ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, THEY TALK ABOUT THESE FIVE PILLARS, EACH ONE OF THESE PILLARS HAS SPECIFIC THINGS WE MUST DO AS A DISTRICT TO MEET THE NEW MANDATES. I WANT TO SHARE THE BLUEPRINT RELATED INCREASES FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET, IF YOU KNOW LAST YEAR, IT WAS FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WE ARE SUSTAINING THAT AND A LOT OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES HAVE INCREASED SUPPORT, FOR EXAMPLE, OUR CAREER, EDUCATIONAL CERTIFICATION COSTS, OUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTING COSTS, BUILDING ENROLLMENT, STUDENT SUPPORT, 3K PROGRAM, ESL WELL, PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND WORK 'S DEVELOPMENT COST, WE MUCH PAY FOR THAT -- MUST PAY FOR THAT. IN THE PAST, WE HAVE NOT BUT AS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT MUST BE PAID FOR BY FUNDS WE RECEIVE. WITH REGARDS TO STAFF, THE BLUEPRINT RELATED INCREASES YOU CAN SEE STARTING FROM JULY 1 TO JUNE 30TH OF THIS YEAR, OUR TEACHER SALARIES HAVE INCREASED 10%. THE CAREER LADDER AND THE NEW SALARY SCHEDULE IS BEING NEGOTIATED , BY JULY 1, 26 THE MINIMUM TEACHER SALARY WILL BE $60,000 FOR ALL TEACHERS. THE CONSTANT COSTS WITH OUR NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN NEGOTIATION LOOKING FOR A SUCCESS FOR -- SUCCESSOR . I DO NOT EVERYONE IS SAYING HOW IS THERE A BUDGET IF THERE IS NO CONTRACT IN PLACE? WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS, SO THE INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO INCREASE ONCE WE GET THESE NEGOTIATIONS APPROVED OR AGREED WITH BOTH PARTIES. I WANT TO SHARE THE SLIDE WITH YOU, THIS IS LOOKING AT OUR SALARY RAKE -- RANK, TOP EIGHT DISTRICT. WE ARE TOP EIGHT WITH REGARDS TO HOW WE PAY OUR TEACHERS, I DO WANT TO SAY WITH REGARDS TO GETTING A BACHELORS DEGREE, CALVERT COUNTY RANKS 18TH FOR BACHELORS DEGREE. STEP ONE, MINIMUM SALARY IS $52,000 , 910, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE, DON'T FORGET JULY 1, BY LAW MINIMUM CENTER -- SALARY GOES TO 60,000. OKAY? THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW, 50 2K AND WE ARE RANK 18. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE HIGHLIGHTED, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IT HERE BUT IF YOU LOOK AT CALVERT COUNTY WITH REGARDS TO MASTER DEGREE, WE ARE FIFTH , $104,000, WE HAVE MASTERS PLUS , WE ARE RANKED FIFTH IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE STATE. WITH REGARDS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE DOCTORATES, WE ARE RANKED NUMBER THREE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ASSURE THAT 70% OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE ON THE MASTERS MASTERS QUEST AND DOCTORAL PAY SCALE.
ALMOST 80% OF OUR TEACHING COURSE FALL ON THE TOP SKILL THAT WE HAVE. IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THAT CALVERT COUNTY
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IS 15TH WITH REGARDS TO COST PER PUPIL, HOW MUCH WE GET PER STUDENT , WE ARE 15TH, WE RECEIVED 16,000 $333 . THIS IS A CONSTANT CONCERN , OUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE. SINCE FY 21, OUR TRANSPORTATION COST HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY 77%, THIS TIME LAST YEAR, IT INCREASED BY 69% SO THAT IS CONSTANTLY GOING UP. YOU SHOULD KNOW ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SOME TYPE OF DEVICE IN THEIR HAND, THAT IS A PART OF OUR FUTURE READY SCHOOLS, DISTRICTWIDE, STUDENTS RECEIVED DEVICES , EVERYONE FROM GRADES THREE THROUGH 12 HAVE COMPUTERS, AND IPADS, YOUNG PEOPLE PRE-K THROUGH TWO.ADD A 1-4 RATIO FOR PRE-K THROUGH TWO, WE ARE ONE: 21 THIRD GRADE AND ABOVE. THE COST IS $3.5 MILLION TO MAINTAIN THERE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE THE EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COST INCREASE FROM FY 24 TO 25, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A PROJECTED INCREASE OF $3 MILLION FOR MANDATED BENEFITS AND NEGOTIATED BENEFITS, WHEN WE SAY MANDATES TOWARDS RETIREMENT, SOCIAL SECURITY, UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION, AND WORKER'S COMPENSATION. HEALTH INSURANCE, DENTAL, LIFE INSURANCE, VISUAL INSURANCE, AND WELLNESS, AND MORE. SO NOW, WHERE DOES ALL OF OUR MONEY COME FROM? VERY IMPORTANT. OUR UNRESTRICTED REVENUES BY FUNDING STORES -- SOURCE, 50% OF OUR MONEY COMES FROM COUNTY APPROPRIATION. OUR 30% IN FEDERAL IS LESS THAN 1% AS WELL AS THAT LOCAL AND TRANSFERS. 40% COMES FROM OUR STATE. YOU HAVE SOME INFORMATION I WILL SHARE WITH YOU WITH A COUPLE OF SLIDES, YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION TO IT. OUR PROPOSED BUDGET IF YOU LOOK AT FISCAL 2025, WE ARE ASKING FOR IN OUR REVENUE , UNRESTRICTED REVENUE WE HAVE TO COME TO CALVERT COUNTY TO OPERATE OUR DISTRICT IS $267 MILLION. WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT ALL OF THAT MONEY, 80% OF IT GOES TO SALARIES AND BENEFITS. AS YOU CAN SEE, ONLY 10% GOES TO OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES, LESS THAN 2% SUPPLIES AND MATERIAL, 4.4% INCLUDES UTILITIES SOFTWARE, DUAL ENROLLMENT, PROFESSIONAL -- DEVELOPMENT, EQUIPMENT 2% IN LESS THAN 1% TRANSFER, 80% OF OUR $277 MILLION EXPENDITURE.
TOTAL GENERAL EXPENSES FOR THESE UPCOMING YEARS, WE EXPECTED TO BE AT ABOUT $277 MILLION , SO OBVIOUSLY WE DO THE MATH, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SECOND TO LAST COLUMN THAT SAYS CHANGE WITH THE $, YOU CAN SEE THAT IS A CHANGE, AND ASK OF 10 MILLION 450 -- $100,000. OUR RESTRICTED FUND WHICH IS YOU CAN SEE THAT 64% FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS, 12% COME FROM STATE FUNDED PROGRAMS AND 23% ARE FOR DIRECT PRIVATE FUNDED PROGRAMS. CHALLENGE, NOW, I SHARED WITH YOU ONE SLIDE, LET ME GO BACK TO REFRESH YOUR MEMORY. ON THIS SLIDE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE FUNDING SOURCE THAT SAYS STATE, FOLLOW IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS TO FISCAL 25 PROPOSED , WE ARE ANTICIPATING $109 MILLION IN CHANGE, WHAT WE FOUND OUT FRIDAY, THAT WE FOUND OUT THAT STATE IS GOING TO -- CURRENTLY PROJECTING TO GIVE US $22.5 MILLION LESS THEN WHAT WE PREDICT -- THE
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QUESTION IS WHY, I WILL GET TO THE WHY BEHIND THAT, HERE'S SOME CHALLENGES. THE CHALLENGE IS TO FUND PROGRAMS CURRENTLY WE ARE SUPPORTING, IF YOU REMEMBER THAT COVID-19 MONEY, THAT MONEY IS GONE. THOSE PROGRAMS, WE DON'T HAVE THE CASH. WE CAN DO IT. THE STATES BLUEPRINT IS ADDING NEW COST PRESSURES TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE, THE VARIOUS BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS ARE STILL BEING CLARIFIED, THE CORRESPONDING COST ESTIMATES ARE BEING UPDATED AS NEW INFORMATION ARRIVES, I SHARE WITH YOU THE SLIDE OF THE LARGE INCREASES OF STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, AND THE INFLATIONARY PRESSURES CURRENT AND FUTURE, AT THE VERY LAST WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT, STATE REVENUE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED, NOT FINALIZED BY THE STATE FOR FY 25, HERE'S THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN TAXABLE ASSESSMENT , THE REASON WHY WE ARE GETTING OUR PROPOSED $22.5 MILLION LESS, I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO OUR STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND SPEAK WITH OUR CFO AT THE STATE, THEY FORWARDED ME TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION, THE REASON WHY, I'M GOING TO SAY IT TO YOU VERY PLAIN I'M GOING TO REDO THE EXPLANATION, CALVERT COUNTY SEEMS TO BE WEALTHIER, THE WEALTHY ARE YOUR COUNTY IS, THE WEALTHY ARE YOUR STATUS, YOU RECEIVED $4 BILLION, WE ARE GIVING YOU $22 MILLION LAST.WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE COUNTY, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION TO COLLABORATE AND ADVOCATE TO GET THAT $22 MILLION BECAUSE FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE IS A MISTAKE THAT'S BEEN MADE. WHAT THEY TOLD ME IS THAT THIS SPIKE IS MOSTLY ENTIRELY DUE TO THE COAL POINT LIQUID NATURAL GAS IT IS AN EXPORT TERMINAL WHICH ENGAGES IN MASSIVE EXPANSION OPERATIONS COVERED BY A 15 YEAR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES AGREEMENT WITH CALVERT COUNTY, PART OF THE AGREEMENT STIPULATED THAT THIS YEAR, THE PILOT WOULD CONVERT FROM A FLAT FEE TO A 42% CREDIT OF THE ASSESSED VALUE. THIS NEW PILOT STRUCTURE REQUIRES A STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT TAXATION FOR THE FIRST TIME TO INCLUDE THE EXPANDED COLD POINT LIQUID NATURAL GAS AND ITS ACCESSIBLE BASE FOR CALVERT COUNTY , THE VALUE THAT IS CURRENTLY ESTIMATED AROUND $4 BILLION, THAT IS THE PRIMARY CHANGE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS IN A SITUATION WITH A DIFFERENT IDENTITY IN CALVERT COUNTY WHICH IS THE CALVERT COUNTY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WHICH HAD ITS PILOT EXPIRE ALTOGETHER, NOT RELATED TO COLD POINT WHATSOEVER. IT HAPPENED THAT BOTH PILOTS CHANGED AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXPIRATION OF THE PILOT ADDED 630 MILLION TO THE BASE ESTIMATES, CERTAINLY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT BUT NOT A SIGNIFICANT AS THE COAL POINT.
THAT IS WHY THE STATE IS GIVING US LESS MONEY, CALVERT COUNTY APPEARS TO BE WEALTHY, RICH, WE HAVE THIS INFLUX OF CASH BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE , THERE ARE SOME ERRORS THERE ABOUT MONEY THAT DID NOT EXIST. WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND EXECUTIVES , OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE THE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, WE ARE CORRECT -- PROACTIVE AT $22 MILLION WE ARE PROJECTED TO NOT RECEIVE, DID I AM -- EXPLAIN THAT CLEARLY? ANYTHING CONFUSING? I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT CAME UP. HERE ARE OUR BUDGET UNKNOWNS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, THE BIG UNKNOWN IS WHAT WILL WE RECEIVE FROM THE STATE, WITHOUT ROUGHLY 109, $10 MILLION, WE FOUND OUT IT WAS POTENTIALLY $22 MILLION LESS, BUT WITH THE IMPACT OF FI 25 HAVE ON THE FUTURE YEARS? ADDITIONALLY, WITH EXPENDITURES, THE CAREER LADDER COST FOR TEACHERS OBVIOUSLY, CONTRACT NEGOTIATION IS NOT COMPLETE, AND MY PRAYER IS THAT WE SUCCESSFULLY COME TO SOMETHING THAT OUR TEACHERS DESERVE. I BELIEVE IN INVESTING IN EDUCATORS, I KNOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS WELL CAN COLLABORATE WITH THAT.
ALSO, ACTUAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH COSTS, INSURANCE COSTS, ACTUAL UTILITY COSTS, VERY LAST, OUR STUDENT ENROLLMENT FOR FY 25 WHICH IMPACT STAFFING LEVELS , YOU KNOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ACROSS THE STATE, BIRTH RATES ARE DOWN. JUST NATURALLY, ENROLLMENT GOES WITH THAT. IF OUR NUMBERS DROP IN THE MONEY THAT YOU RECEIVE PER STUDENT OBVIOUSLY DROPS. WE ARE WATCHING THAT AND ENSURING OUR COUNT IS ON POINT, THESE ARE SOME BUDGET UNKNOWNS WITH REGARDS TO EXPENDITURES AND OUR REVENUE. VERY IMPORTANT, MARK YOUR CALENDARS, HERE'S OUR
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BUDGET CALENDAR, WE STARTED THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN NOVEMBER WORKING WITH OUR DIRECTORS, BUILDING BASED ADMINISTRATORS , COLLABORATING WITH OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. TO DAY IS THE PRESENTATION PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE PUBLIC HEARING, BETWEEN TOMORROW AND MARCH 13TH, OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE OPEN TO RECEIVE A WRITTEN COMMENT REGARDING THE BUDGET ON MARCH 14TH , THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PROPOSED BUDGETMUST BE APPROVED AND SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OR INCLUSION OF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET MUST BE SUBMITTED TO OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT BY APRIL. IN JUNE, AFTER THE COUNTY APPROVED THE BUDGET, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPTS THE BUDGET. THAT IS THE PROCESS. LET ME REITERATE , CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION, MYSELF, COUNTY EXECUTIVE, AND OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THE $22 MILLION, THIS RIGHT NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IS TEAM TELLER COUNTY, ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.WE ARE LOCKING ARMS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, AND FIGURING THAT OUT TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE WHATEVER WAS POTENTIALLY MADE AT NO COST TO -- NO FAULT OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR CALVERT COUNTY GOVERNMENT. HERE IS THE WRITTEN COMMENT PERIOD, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SHARING WRITTEN COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED IN TWO WAYS, ONE VIA U.S. MAIL, TO CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, PLEASE COPY MS. KAREN MAXEY , 20678 OR BY EMAIL, CALVERTNET.K12.ME.US, WRITTEN COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM MARCH 13TH, 2024. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SET THE BAR, EXCEED THE BAR, RAISE THE BAR , WE ARE VERY HAPPY FOR THE WORK WE'VE DONE SO FAR, THE WORK WILL CONTINUE, WITH THAT, I WILL -- OPEN TO THE BOARD , THANK YOU.
[2.01 Public Comments]
KNOW WE MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING,SENATOR? >> EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES SO THE LIVE FEED, YOU GUYS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE PRESENTATION BUT YOU CAN HEAR IT, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE AWARE OF
TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS DONNA
SENSO . >> GOOD EVENING, DR. TOWNSEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I AM DONNA SENSO, A PROUD EDUCATOR OF 35 YEARS. A PROUD RESIDENT AND TAXPAYER OF CALVERT COUNTY. YOU SEE THE SEA OF RED, IT REPRESENTS THE HEART OF YOUR , JUST LIKE THE HEART IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
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MUSCLE IN THE HUMAN BODY. YOUR EDUCATORS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE WITHIN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.HER BUDGET MUST SHOW LOVE AND RESPECT TO YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, WHO HAVE CHOSEN CALVERT AS THE PLACE TO WORK AND CALL HOME. IT MUST INCLUDE A STEP , IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THIS, AND INCREASING CLASS-SIZE, EXTENDING THE WORK DAY, RAISING HEALTHCARE COSTS, OR HIRING LESS SUPPORT STAFF.
NO ONE EVER ASKED TEACHERS WHAT THEY NEED OR WHAT THEIR BUDGET PRIORITY IS, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL READ EACH ONE OF THE MANY POSTCARDS YOU RECEIVE THIS MONTH. BY IGNORING TEACHERS VOICES, IT IS PARTIALLY HOW WE HAVE GOTTEN HERE. ALL CHILDREN DESERVE TEACHERS THAT ARE FULLY INVESTED , NOT SO OVERWHELMED HER OTHER LIPS IS UNDERAPPRECIATED THAT THE UNDERSTAND HOW THEY HAVE 1 FOOT OUT OF THE DOOR. I HOPE YOUR FINAL BUDGET PROPOSAL WILL INCLUDE SALARIES, THAT SHOW YOU THE VALUE OF THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOUR EDUCATORS, AND WHEN I SAY YOUR EDUCATORS, THAT INCLUDES OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL AS WELL, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD EVENING, CAN YOU HEAR ME? GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, AND ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
MY NAME IS LEE, MOST PEOPLE KNOW ME BY LEE. I'M A MEMBER OF CLOSING THE GAP COALITION. AS AN ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP SINCE 2012, CLOSING THE GRAPH GAP IS IN SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL ANTIRACISM POLICY IS WRITTEN.
IN ADDITION, WE USE THE WORDS WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHITE PREUSS -- SUPREMACY, WITHIN THESE NEXT THREE MINUTES, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND ON THE AFOREMENTIONED CONCEPTS. I WILL GIVE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PERSONAL RACISM AND STRUCTURAL, AND/OR INSTITUTIONAL RACISM. IF WE ARE ALL ON US INCLUDING MYSELF, WE CARRY OUR OWN PERSONAL BIASES DAILY. THESE VICES DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY GO AWAY AS WE PROMISE THE THRESHOLD OF OUR SCHOOLS. AN EXAMPLE OF GEORGE WALLACE, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA WHO ON JUNE 11TH, 1963, LITERALLY BLOCKING THE DOORWAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA TO PREVAIL THE -- PREVENT THE ENROLLMENT OF TWO AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS. PHYSICAL PRESENCE AT THE DOORWAY AS AN ACT OF PERSONAL RACISM. THE PURPOSE WAS TO PRESENT -- PROTECT THE STRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL POWER -- SEGREGATION. AN EXAMPLE OF STRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RACISM, POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
WHILE TIME DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO THROUGH THIS STATED 10 POLICIES, I WOULD LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO 1938 AND I QUOTE I SHOULD GET THE 200% OF THE $120 BILLION IN NEW HOUSING, SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BETWEEN 1934, AND 1962 WENT TO NON-WHITES . MOVING ONTO THE TERM WHITE SUPREMACY, WHICH IS THE BELIEF THAT WHITE PEOPLE ARE BETTER IN SOME WAY THAN PEOPLE FROM OTHER GROUPS. AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA UNITE THE RIGHT RALLY IN AUGUST OF 2017. A MERE 6+ YEARS AGO.
ONLY 130 3.5 MILES -- AWAY FROM CALVER.
>> MS. READ, CAN YOU FINISH YOUR LAST SENTENCE PLEASE?
>> THE TURN -- TERM WHITE PRIVILEGE AND WHITE SUPREMACY ARE READILY USED ACROSS ALL MEDIA, FOR THE MENTAL AND
[00:35:01]
PHYSICAL WELL-BEING OF ALL STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY, CLOSING THE GAP SUPPORTS THE BOARD'S DECISION TO MAINTAIN THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL ANTIRACISM POLICY ASWRITTEN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHELSEA GAL YOU --
>> GOOD EVENING, I AM CHELSEA CALLILUGH, I'M ONE OF THOSE NATIONALLY CERTIFIED TEACHERS IN CALVERT COUNTY, I WILL SAY THAT AGAIN AND AGAIN BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK, I TEACH EIGHTH GRADE AT MIDDLE CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL, WANTED TO COME TONIGHT TO FOR TO INVEST IN STAFFING, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND INCLUSION WHICH I IMAGINE WOULD FALL UNDER PILLAR FOUR SINCE YOU TOLD ME TO TAKE NOTES. AN INVESTMENT IN STAFF IS AN INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS, OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN A SHARP RISE IN BEHAVIORS WHILE SOME OF IT IS OUT OF OUR CONTROL AS IT RELATES TO LEGISLATION. MUCH OF IT IS RELATED TO AN INABILITY TO STAFF AT LEVELS THAT COULD SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION, OR INCLUSION. BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY AS IT RELATES TO ASSAULT ON TEACHERS AS A WAY TO CURB THE PROBLEM. I'M HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR STAFFING FOR EARLY INTERVENTIONS INSTEAD. OFTEN AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, CONCERNING STUDENT BEHAVIORS ARE EXPLAINED AWAY AS THEY NEED TO GROW AND THEY ARE LITTLE, WELL THEY DO AND THEY ARE, NOT EVERY CHILD IS PLANTED IN FERTILE SOIL, SOME STUDENTS NEED MORE WATER OR FERTILIZER TO GROW. WE SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN THOSE CHILDREN WHO WERE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED STRUGGLE WHEN STAFFING SUPPORTS AND PLANNING TIME ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO GIVE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. WHILE I BELIEVE INCREASE STAFFING TO SUPPORT INCREASED NEEDS IS NECESSARY AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE COUNTY, MORE IN THE SOUTH. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE INVEST HEAVILY IN EARLY INTERVENTION BEHAVIOR STAFFING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL. EARLIER AND MORE OFTEN WE CAN MEET THE SOCIOEMOTIONAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS, THE SAFER THE BUILDING BECOMES AND THE LESS LEARNING IS DISRUPTIVE, BY THE TIME THEY RECH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, INTERVENTIONS ARE CONSIDERABLY MORE DIFFICULT.
THEY ARE THROWING CALCULATORS AT TEACHERS, IN A MORE RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT THAT IS STILL NOT MEETING THEIR NEEDS, THERE IS NOWHERE FOR THEM TO GO FROM THERE. STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WITH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL OR SKILLS SHOULD NOT BE PIGEONHOLED BY THEIR DEFICITS, THE ANSWER SHOULD NOT BE THERE IS NOT ANY OTHER PLACEMENT FOR THAT KID, WE NEED TO INVEST ANOTHER PLACEMENTS. I HOPE YOU CONSIDER DEVELOPING STAFFING A ROBUST NETWORK OF PROGRESSIVELY RESTRICTIVE NEEDS BASED ON ENVIRONMENTS FOR ANY STUDENT. CLASSES OF 30 WITH ONE ADULT AT READING LEVELS AND SOCIOEMOTIONAL SKILLS RANGING FROM KINDERGARTEN TO COLLEGE CANNOT MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, THEY NEED TO BE MET. DECREASED CLASSROOM STAFF TO STUDENT RATIOS TO BE CLEAR, I'M ADVOCATING FOR PEOPLE AND NOT PROGRAMS. THERE IS NO QUICK FIX FOR THIS. THE SOLUTION INVOLVES OFFERING MORE PROGRAMMING OPTIONS AND NOT LESS. IT INVOLVES MORE STAFFING AND NOT LESS, IT INVOLVES MORE PLANNING TIME AND LOT -- NOT LESS, IT INVOLVES GREATER TIME INVESTMENT IN STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH ACADEMICS OR BEHAVIOR, NOT LESS , YOU CANNOT PUSH THEM TO THE SIDE, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF CREATING PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS, WE CANNOT ABANDON PART OF THE POPULATION BECAUSE WE AREN'T REQUIRED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE EXULTATION OF TEACHERS IS THAT WE NEED THE HUGE VARIETY OF NEEDS THAT STUDENTS IN FRONT OF US. WE DO NOT THINK IT'S UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THE BOARD TO BUDGET TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE VARIETY OF STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY. THANK YOU. '
>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACY TEMA .
WHITE, ELECTED BOARD, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MS. HAYS. I AM STACY TAYMAN, A 28 YEAR EDUCATIONAL PROFESSIONAL WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SERVING AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF. IN NOVEMBER, I PRESENTED TO YOU INFORMATION REGARDING THE MSC A ESP BILL OF RIGHTS, I APPRECIATE THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED OUT FOR INFORMATION, I WELCOME EVERYONE TO DO THE SAME. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS A GROUNDBREAKING OPPORTUNITY TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO ENDORSE THESE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE SCHOOL DAY DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT US. AS YOU KNOW, CASE IS CURRENTLY WORKING THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS WITH C CPS, WE CRAFTED PROPOSALS ROOTED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF BILL OF
[00:40:04]
RIGHTS, AND BELIEVE THEY WILL HELP TO BUILD A BETTER CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL. THE ABSENCE OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS TO YOU IS ONLY A SIGN THAT IS NOT YET TIME TO TURN UP THE HEAT. OF GREAT CONCERN TO THE PROGRESSION OF NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT BUDGETARY IMPACT IS THE DELAY IN THE COMPLETION OF THE COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION STUDY THAT BEGAN IN AUGUST , THIS STUDY IS CRITICAL TO CORRECTING AN EQUITY OF DUTIES, EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS, AND PAY THROUGHOUT SUPPORT STAFF POSITIONS. IT IS VITAL TO PRODUCING TURNOVER AND TO ENSURE THAT C CPS OFFERS FAIR AND COMPETITIVE WAGES T THE SUPPORT STAFF HERE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD THE RESULTS WILL BE DELIVERED IN JANUARY.YESTERDAY, WE WERE TOLD IT COULD BE MARCH, OR APRIL, OR POSSIBLY EVEN MAY. THERE WAS JUST NO WAY TO KNOW. THIS IS PROBLEMATIC FOR ONE, IT IS ODD THAT C CPS WOULD EXPECT AN OPEN-ENDED DELIVERY DAY ON SUCH VITAL INFORMATION, SECONDLY, THIS BUDGET CANNOT POSSIBLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE IMPORTANT FINDINGS OF THE STUDY .
THIRDLY, IT -- A MAY DELIVERY COULD ILLUMINATE OUR ABILITYTO COMPLETE NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND UNNECESSARILY WREAK HAVOC ON OUR SUPPORT STAFF IN HUMAN RESOURCES, AND FINANCE. THE EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DILIGENTLY COMPLETED NEARLY 700 SURVEYS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION FOR THE STUDY , TO HELP MAKE IMPACTFUL CHANGES . WE DID THE WORK. WE NEED C CPS TO PROVIDE A CLEAR TIMELINE FOR DELIVERABLES , AND TRANSPARENT ACCESS TO THE REPORT AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE SO THAT WE CAN COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON SALARIES THAT ALSO SUPPORTS -- SUPPORT STAFF DESERVES, ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LIZA ORTIZ.
MAKING A SPEECH BUT I DID NOT HAVE TIME THIS WEEKEND, BECAUSE I WAS COMPLETING REPORT CARDS, I WAS GRADING PAPERS ALL WEEKEND LONG, I HAVE NOTES THAT I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP UP WITH. SO, THIS LEADS INTO ME AS A MOTHER WHO'S HURTING. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN, I HAVE A HUSBAND, I HAVE PARENTS WHO LIVE NEXT DOOR TO ME AND NO TIME TO GIVE THEM. ALL OF MY TIME GOES INTO GRADING, CALLING PARENTS, TEXTING PARENTS, EMAILING PARENTS, PLANNING FOR THE NEXT DAY, ET CETERA. SO, YOU WANT TO INCREASE OUR WORKLOAD AND INCREASE THE HOURS WE WORK? THINK ABOUT THIS, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO IMPROVE OR REPLACE WINDOWS IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS THAT CANNOT BE OPENED UNLESS I HAVE THREE PEOPLE CLIMB ON TOP OF THE WINDOW SILL TO GET IT OPEN? WHY, BECAUSE OUR HVAC SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY. SOMETIMES IT IS 85 DEGREES IN MY CLASSROOM, SOMETIMES IT IS 50. TEACHERS GO AROUND WEARING JACKETS , SOME TEACHERS GO AROUND WEARING T-SHIRTS LIKE MYSELF. IT WAS ABOUT 75 DEGREES IN MY CLASSROOM. I HAVE A STUDENT WHOSE ASTHMA GETS TRIGGERED WHENEVER IT IS TOO HOT IN MY CLASSROOM, I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE MOTHER BEING UPSET, OUR PRINCIPAL DOES HER BEST , THEY SENT PEOPLE TO OUR SCHOOL TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT OCCURS AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS.
NEXT THING, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SUBS? BECAUSE WE HAVE A HARD TIME TAKING OFF FROM WORK TO GO TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, ET CETERA. THEY TAKE ASSISTANCE FROM KINDERGARTEN AND LEAVE THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WITH ALL THE KIDS BY HERSELF. ANOTHER THING, 71% OF TEACHERS HAVE TAUGHT OVER FIVE YEARS , EXPECT THAT TO DECREASE NEXT YEAR, DOZENS OF YOUR TEACHERS WILL BE LEAVING TO GET OTHER CAREERS AND OTHER JOBS THAT CAN PAY MORE AND BE LESS OF A WORKLOAD. I CAN SAY THAT THERE IS TEACHERS THAT I KNOW THAT ARE WILLING TO LEAVE, THAT IS GOING TO LEAVE A LOT OF STRESS ON THOSE VETERAN TEACHERS WHO STILL REMAIN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THINK ABOUT ALL THE THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN SPENT ON OUR VETERAN TEACHERS TO MAKE WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT,
[00:45:03]
YOU WERE PRAISING TEACHERS ABOUT. THAT IS ALL PD THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FOR YEARS. THESE TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO LEAVE C CPS ARE TAKING ALL OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE WITH THEM. ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO COME AND PROVIDE US WITH PT SESSIONS TO KEEP THE GRADES AND TO KEEP US NUMBER FIVE OR EIGHT, I FORGOT. THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE -- I'M SORRY. WELL, I WILL COMPLETE AND FINISH MY SENTENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I HOPE YOU CONSIDER THE TIME I'VE TAKEN TO SPEAK INSTEAD OF DOING MY TEACHER DUTIES , SUCH AS COMPLETING PAPERS, SUCH AS 504 IEP'S, SST PAPERS, CHILD LINE ET CETERA. I JUST WANT TO HAVE SOME FREE TIME FOR MYSELF ANDMY FAMILY, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JIMMY GO.
>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I APPRECIATE IT.
TONIGHT, YOU BRING A BUDGET THAT I CAN OBVIOUSLY ASSUME IS INCOMPLETE, THAT SEEMS LIKE A BOLD STATEMENT COMING FROM A CLASSROOM TEACHER. IS THIS BETTER?
>> OKAY, I APOLOGIZE, I THOUGHT IT WAS LOUDER. SO, ANYWAY , I'M ASSUMING THE BUDGET THIS EVENING IS INCOMPLETE . I MAKE THAT ASSUMPTION SINCE THERE ARE CONTRACTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED, SINCE THAT'S THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE BUDGET , THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOGICAL CONCLUSION. THE REASON THAT THIS IS ALARMING TO ME, PERSONALLY , NOT ONLY AFFECTED STAFF MEMBER, I'M A PARENT WITH THE CHILDREN IN THE SYSTEM, IT IS HURTING MY CHILDREN. I MOVED TO CALVERT COUNTY BECAUSE OF THESE SCHOOLS. THOUSANDS OF OTHER FAMILIES DID TOO, IT IS UNDOUBTABLY THE TOP REASON THE TIME -- FAMILY WOULD MOVE HERE FOR MORE THAN A GENERATION, PEOPLE HAVE COME TO CALVERT COUNTY BECAUSE OF ORIGIN -- REPUTATION AS A LEADER. UNFORTUNATELY, OVER MY 20+ YEARS IN THIS COUNTY, I HAVE SEEN OUR ADVANTAGE SLIP AWAY FROM US, THE REALITY IS THAT FOR THE ENTIRETY OF MY TIME HERE, IT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF A SLOW DECLINE TO MEDIOCRITY. I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HIRED HERE IN 2002, I WAS THE ENVY OF MY PREVIOUS COLLEAGUES, THEY WERE GENERALLY -- JEALOUS I CAME TO WORK AT CALVERT COUNTY. HOW ONLY THEY CAN BE -- THEY CAN BE SO FORTUNATE. I WAS ONE OF FOUR STAFF MEMBERS HIRED IN MY BUILDING, THE PREVIOUS YEAR , THEY ONLY HIRE TWO OR THREE STAFF IT THE FOLLOWING YEAR WAS SIMILAR. OF THE FOUR MEMBERS HIRED THAT YEAR, THREE OF US THAT ARE STILL WORKING HERE. TWO OF MY COLLEAGUES REMAIN HAVE ONE POINT OVER THE CAREER BEEN NAMED TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WE ALL PROVIDE LEADERSHIP IN OUR CLASSROOMS AND BEYOND. BY CONTRASTING 2015 WHEN I TRANSFERRED OUT, THE TURNOVER IN THAT BUILDING WAS 15 TO 20 STAFFER YEAR. IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. CURRENTLY, IT IS COMMON FOR SCHOOLS TO OPERATE WITHOUT ENOUGH STAFF. WE CAN'T EVEN GET SUBS. THIS YEAR, MY OWN SECOND-YEAR DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT A CONSISTENT TEACHER FOR A MONTH, THE PERSON HIRED TO DO THE JOB QUIT THE DAY BEFORE STARTING THE JOB. STAFF TURNOVER IS INEVITABLE, PEOPLE RETIRE, MOVE ON, HAVE LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS, IT CAN BE MANAGED AND MINIMIZED. OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I'VE WATCHED DOZENS OF MY COWORKERS LEAVE FOR NEIGHBORING SYSTEMS , TO EARN A BETTER LIFE AND -- THAT WAS UNTHINKABLE TO ME 10 YEARS AGO, CALVERT COUNTY NEEDS TO TREAT STAFF BETTER IN ORDER TO RETURN TO A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE REGION. OUR BUDGET NEEDS TO BE ADEQUATE TO PROVIDE STAFF WITH RAGES -- WAGES THAT ARE GOOD, NOT OKAY. WAGES NEED TO BE HIGH ENOUGH THAT STARTING STAFF CAN AFFORD MOVING IN OUR COUNTY AND RETURNING STAFF ARE MOTIVATED TO STAY.
>> AND YOU FINISH YOUR LAST SENTENCE? THANK YOU.
>> MOTIVATED, QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT COMING TO JOIN US IF THEY DON'T SUPPORT A BUDGET THAT MEETS EVERYONE'S NEEDS, THEY HAVE FAMILIES THAT WILL NOT CHOOSE CALVERT COUNTY IF WE ARE NOT IN THE LEAD. THANK YOU.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMY HAMILTON.
[00:50:14]
>> GOOD EVENING, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY ALREADY. I GOT TO RUN THE CLOCK TONIGHT AT OUR BOYS BASKETBALL GAME, YET WE WON.
BOARD MEMBERS, I'M ALSO HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET. I AM REALLY KIND OF DISAPPOINTED THAT A MORE DETAILED BUDGET WAS NOT GIVEN IN THE PAST, WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE STAFFING NUMBERS WILL GO UP, WHERE WE WILL BE HIRING ADDITIONAL STAFF OR LOSING STAFF, I FELT LIKE IT WAS A REALLY NICE OVERVIEW, BUT I DID NOT FEEL LIKE THEY WERE ENOUGH DETAILS, WHERE'S THE MEAT? USUALLY, LIKE LAST YEAR A PARENT AND I TALKED ABOUT GTT, WE WERE ABLE TO HIRE MORE GDT STAFF SO IT WAS NOT JUST A RANDOM AFTERSCHOOL PERSON WITH A PAID POSITION, GDT NEEDS A CURRICULUM, THEY NEED SUPPLIES, THEY NEED RESOURCES , WE ARE NOT FIGHTING ENOUGH FOR THOSE KIDS THAT ARE AT THE TOP, NOT IN HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL HAS A FEW PROGRAMS THAT ARE GREAT, WHAT ARE WE DOING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, I TEACH SEVENTH GRADE MATH, WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR MY KIDS IN GTT, THIS TEACHER MADE THIS PROGRAM WHERE I CAN REACH OUT TO THIS OTHER ENTITY AND TRY TO PULL SOMETHING, WE HAVE NOTHING CONCRETE, SHE NEEDS A BUDGET, SHE NEEDS MONEY, MONEY MAKES IT HAPPEN. I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ALSO LOOKED AT -- TALKING ABOUT COLAS, I KNOW YOU CAN TALK TO OUR LEAD NEGOTIATOR, WE HAVE THE LOWEST COLA OF THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OF ANY COUNTY IN THE STATE . YES, WE MADE 10% THAT WE HAD BEEN DOING OTHERS ALONG THE WAY, IF WE ONLY GIVE TEACHERS AND NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT A 1%, THEY WILL LEAVE. IN RUNDLE COUNTY, THEY ARE OFFERING 5% WITH HER STAFF. THAT IS THE BOE'S PROPOSAL, YOU KNOW BETWEEN THEM AND THE UNION, IT WILL BE HIGHER. WE ARE GOING TO LOSE PEOPLE, I KNOW FIVE TEACHERS IN MY BUILDING RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LOOKING TO EITHER LEAVE EDUCATION WITH 15 OR MORE YEARS OR MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTY. WE ARE GOING TO LOSE ALL OF OUR QUALIFIED STAFF , THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION IS GOING TO GO DOWN BECAUSE WE ARE LOSING THE QUALIFIED STAFF, WE ARE LOSING THAT EXPERTISE, AND WE ARE GETTING IN NEW HIRES AT A CHEAPER RATE , WE DON'T HAVE THAT BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE THAT WE REALLY NEED, I KNOW MY CURRICULUM INSIDE AND OUT, ASKED ME THE CHAPTER, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT IT IS. WHEN SCHOOLS DECREASE, AGAIN WE MOVED HERE BECAUSE SCHOOLS WERE GREAT, WE ARE A MILITARY FAMILY. PROPERTY VALUES WILL DECREASE, IF WE CANNOT GET THE SCHOOLS TO INCREASE AND HIRE THAT STAFF, I DON'T EVEN KNOW MANY UNSTAFFED POSITIONS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT EITHER HAVE LONG-TERM SUBS OR PROVISIONAL, PEOPLE ARE QUITTING MIDYEAR, THEY GIVE UP, WE QUIT, WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME. NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION, PILLAR TWO, HIGHLY QUALIFIED. 38 PEOPLE, FOLKS IS LESS THAN 4% OF OUR TEACHING STAFF. 4%. WE NEED TO DO BETTER, WE NEED A CAREER LADDER THAT ACTUALLY COMES INTO NEGOTIATION, WE NEED TO HAVE MENTORS FOR NBC'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO PROGRAM, WE NEED TO DO BETTER FOR STAFF WHO WILL IN TURN AFFECT OUR
STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.
[2.02 Board Comments]
FOR THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU, WE WILL MOVE INTO
BOARD COMMENT. MS. HAYS? >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN. BEFORE I GET INTO THE MEAT OF WHAT I SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND A THANK YOU FOR THE LOCAL COUNSEL FOR CAREER READINESS TO INVITE ME, AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE CTA CULINARY STUDENTS FOR SERVING AS A WONDERFUL BREAKFAST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT ON JANUARY 20 -- 31ST, MY SECOND OF MY FOUR BIMONTHLY STUDENT FORMS WILL BE OCCURRING HERE FROM 6:00 TO 7:00 P.M., I'LL BE DISCUSSING THE THIRD PILLAR IN MARYLAND'S BLUEPRINT, WE WILL ALSO GET A LITTLE BIT OF DETAILS ON THE REST OF THE BLUEPRINT, JUST TO PROVIDE EVERYBODY WITH A SORT OF SKELETON OF THAT IDEA. ALL STUDENTS ACROSS CALVERT COUNTY ARE WELCOME AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ELEMENTARY AGE STUDENTS PARENTS TO ATTEND AND LEARN WHAT IS CHANGING IN THE COUNTY AND THE NEW PROGRAMS AND PROCESS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE A PART OF IN THE FUTURE. TO SHIFT GEARS INTO THE MEAT, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, COUNTLESS STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY HAVE TALKED TO ME ABOUT CONCERNS, THE TWO THEMES ARE IMPROVEMENTS TO BEHAVIOR AND
[00:55:06]
EXTRACURRICULARS, THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT CONCERNS OF BUDGET. STUDENTS DRINK OVER DID NOT EXPERIENCE AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE IN BEHAVIOR AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, WE NEED TO PUT EFFORT AND FUNDS INTO REBUILDING A FOUNDATION OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, THIS HAS BECOME A CONCERN FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFETY, WE NEED TO BE TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, THAT NEEDS TO BE NOW. SEPARATELY, STUDENTS AND CCPS ARE INCREDIBLY INVOLVED, THE STUDENTS FEELS THAT THEY CAN BE MORE SUPPORTED, ATHLETES LIKE TRAINERS, SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT AFFORD TO BE INVOLVED AT HIGHER LEVELS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENTS AND HELP THEM ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THEIR SELECTED EXTRACURRICULARS. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR HAVING>> THANK YOU. MS. GRANNIS -- GRENIS?
>> THANK YOU. >> WE NEED TO DEVELOP A EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIBLE SPENDING THAT PRIORITIZES THE NEEDS OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF , TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY HAVE SPOKEN LOUDLY ABOUT THE CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS AND THEIR CONCERNS. IF WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM, WE MUST LISTEN TO OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO ARE ON THE FRONT LINES OF EDUCATING MORE THAN 15,000 STUDENTS . I WOULD LIKE TO READ SOME OF THE TEACHER AND STAFF COMMENTS ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH ME. ON THESE CARDS, I'VE GOT NEW ONES TODAY SO THE LIST WILL BE EXTENDED. MORE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT IS NEEDED IN GENERAL EDUCATION, ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, AND THE BDT PROGRAM. HAVE THE NEGOTIATION TEAM MEET MORE FREQUENTLY TO MAKE THE CONTRACT AGREEMENT A PRIORITY.
NO ONE WANTS TO WORK MORE HOURS FOR FREE. RETAIN THE TEACHERS PER PROVIDES AN EXTRA DAY OF PERSONAL LEAVE PER YEAR FOR SERVICE OVER 25 YEARS. COLAS SHOULD HAPPEN MORE THAN ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS. FUND ANNUAL STEP INCREASES, MAINTAINS SMALL CLASSROOM SIZES , APPROVE SICK LEAVE TRANSFER FOR WOMEN WITH
COMPLICATED PREGNANCIES >> PERSONALLY AFFECTED BY , LET'S MAKE SURE BUDGET PURDY SHOW OUR STAFF THAT WE CARE , RESPECT, AND PRIORITIZE THEM AND ALL THEY DO FOR THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU.
>> YES HARD TO PRIORITIZE WHEN IT SEEMS THAT EVERYTHING IS A PRIORITY. I WOKE UP THIS MORNING FEELING ALL KINDS OF ANGST AND ANTICIPATION FOR HAVING BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
BASED ON INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED, IN EMAIL AND LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED IN PART -- CONVERSATION THAT I HAVE, WHILE I'M AT THE GROCERY STORE OR IN OTHER PLACES IN THE COMMUNITY, IT IS VERY CLEAR AND APPARENT THAT THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR CHANGE. WE ARE HURTING , THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES , THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY, I KNOW THAT, I'M A PARENT AND I HAVE FOUR KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, I DON'T EVEN HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY. IF I HAD TO BE IN A CLASSROOM AND HAVE ALL OF MY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION TO 25 OR 30 CHILDREN A DAY, THEN HAVE TO COME HOME AND DO ALL THE THINGS I HAVE TO DO AS A PARENT, I WOULD BE EVEN MORE STRESSED THAN I AM NOW. SO, I CAN COMPLETELY APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE I THINK THAT BEHAVIOR AND OTHER INTERVENTIONS CERTAINLY NEED TO BE IMPROVED UPON . AND I WILL SAY THAT JUST SINCE I HAVE -- COVID REALLY WAS THE TIME THAT I REALLY TRULY STARTED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, AND HOW POLITICS PLAYS A ROLE IN HOW WE LIVE OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, ONE OF THE THINGS IN TALKING TO SOME OF MY TEACHER FRIENDS, IN THE
[01:00:01]
COMMUNITY WAS UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE INCREDIBLY RESOURCEFUL , TEACHERS HAVE A REALLY FANTASTIC IDEAS. THEY HAVE WAYS OF HELPING KIDS DO THINGS, THEY HAVE WAYS OF ASSISTING PARENTS, THEY HAVE WAYS OF HELPING OTHER TEACHERS.THAT ONLY COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, AND THE ONLY WAY TO TRANSFER THAT KNOWLEDGE IS TO KEEP EXPERIENCED TEACHERS , TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROMOTE THE FIELD OF STUDY OF EDUCATION AND GET THEM INTO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN BECAUSE THE ULTIMATE PRICE WE WILL PAY IS THAT OUR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE EDUCATED. SO, I DO NOT TAKE THESE THINGS VERY LIGHTLY, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO AS ONE PERSON PUT , THE MEAT IN THE BUDGET BUT BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL WARRANT SOME SERIOUS DISCUSSION ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE POTENTIAL WE WILL LOSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT IS A REALLY BIG PROBLEM ON. I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING WEEKS AND AS YOU ALL ARE IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND CLASSROOMS, THINKING ABOUT WAYS WE CAN IMPROVE OUR WAYS WE CAN BE MORE RESOURCEFUL ARE THINGS THAT YOU THINK, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SURE, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL, SEND US A MESSAGE AND LET US KNOW, IT IS REALLY HELPFUL AND YOU GUYS ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU TELL US, THANK YOU.
>> DITTO TO ALL OF THOSE BUDGET PRIORITIES, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS THAT WE HAVE ARE OUR EMPLOYEES. WE HAVE GOT TO STAY COMPETITIVE, WE HAVE GOT TO STAY CARING, WE HAVE GOT TO SOLVE THE SHORTAGE ISSUES, WHICH IS AFFECTING EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES, NOT JUST SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THERE IS -- YOU KNOW, I GOT STOPPED IN MY TRACKS WHEN WE SAW FROM THE STATE, THEY WAIT THEY WOULD CUT US 20% WHICH IS YOU KNOW -- IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY. THE STATE IS SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDING EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH ENOUGH MONEY TO FUND THE VERY AGGRESSIVE INITIATIVES CALL BLUEPRINT, WHERE WE CAN PAY $10,000 TO EVERY SINGLE TEACHER WHO MAKES NBC, WHO ATTAINED THAT HIGH , VERY DIFFICULT TO ATTAIN CERTIFICATION THAT WE CAN PAY FOR ALL THE NEW PRE-K TEACHERS THAT WE WANT , SO THAT WE CAN MEET OUR PRE-K REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BLUEPRINT. JUST ALL OF THE DIFFERENT -- PAYING FOR STUDENT FEES THAT WE NOT PICK UP FOR DYLAN ROMAN, CTE. IT IS GREAT, THESE ARE EXCELLENT INITIATIVES, WE ALL CONCEPTUALLY AGREE WITH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. THE STATE SAID THE BLUEPRINT CAME WITH STATE FUNDING, NOT ON ONLY -- NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT FUND OUR BLUEPRINT, NOT ONLY ARE WE NOT GETTING FUNDED, WE HAVE ENDURED WHAT THEY SAY IS A $22 MILLION DROP, SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY OUT OF WHACK AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAKE CALVERT COUNTY HOLE, NO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND EXPERIENCED ANY DECREASE EXCEPT FOR THE CALVERT COUNTY, WE STICK OUT LIKE A SORE THUMB, WHEN I CAN GET OVER THIS, AND THANKS -- I KNOW OUR COUNTY SAID THEY ARE HAVING SOME TOUGH TIMES TOO, I LOOKED AT FLAT FUNDING FROM THE COUNTY, OUR PRIORITY IS TO KEEP, RETAIN, AND ATTRACT QUALITY EMPLOYEES ALL THROUGHOUT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE WILL JUST NOT DO OUR JOB -- BUT HELP OUR STUDENTS ATTAIN ABSOLUTE -- ATTAIN AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION IF WE CAN'T HAVE A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT'S FULLY STAFFED AND VERY COMPETITIVE SALARIES, AND IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEEL LIKE THAT THEIR WORKLOAD IS NOT TOO MUCH. THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROCESS, WE WILL BE WORKING VERY HARD OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO, ONCE WE GET THE DETAILED BUDGET, WHERE WE CAN HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ANSWER WHICH RIGHT NOW IS A VERY TOP LEVEL LOOK AT A GUESS. SO, PLEASE KEEP LETTING US KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, AND SPECIFICALLY IF YOU DO GET A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION IN THERE IN THE BUDGET BOOK WHEN IT GETS PUBLISHED, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A LOT MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT
THIS. >> THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT
[01:05:01]
CLAGGETT? >> THANK YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE COMMISSIONER COX SITTING IN OUR AUDIENCE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LISTENING TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION HOPEFULLY WHEN THE BUDGET BOOK IS PUBLISHED, YOU WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GO THROUGH IT AND BE ABLE TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE, I WOULD ASK DR. TOWNSEL TO ENSURE THAT STAFF PRIORITIZES PRODUCTION OF THE DETAILED BUDGET BOOK , IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DISAPPOINTED IN NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENTED WITH THE BOOK TONIGHT, I LOVE TO DIG INTO THE NUMBERS, CREATE SOME CHARTS, DO SOME ANALYSIS, BEFORE I HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SYSTEM, I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK , HOPEFULLY TWO AT THE LATEST. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT AFTER THIS MEETING, IF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN STICKING AROUND SO THAT WE COULD FLESH OUT SOME DATES WE COULD HAVE A STAFF WORK SESSION THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR US TO GO THROUGH AND BE ABLE TO TALK THROUGH AND WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET BOOK TO ENSURE WE EACH FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE AND WHERE WE SHOULD PRIORITY -- SHOULD MOVE IN THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY A STAFF WORK SESSION I'M RECOMMENDING, ALSO A BUDGET TOWN HALL WHERE WE INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO ALSO COME IN AND DO THE SAME THING , WHERE THEY WILL PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF THAT CAN THEN BE NOTED AND THEN WE CAN PUBLISH ON OUR WEBSITE ANSWERS TO OUR COMMUNITIES QUESTIONS, SO THAT THE COMMUNITY REMAINS FULLY AWARE AND WE ARE BEING TRANSPARENT WITH OUR BUDGET AS WE HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST. I HAVE HEARD EVERY COMMENT FROM EVERY PERSON WHO HAS SAID -- SAT IN A CHAIR TONIGHT, AS I'VE SAID IN THE PAST, I BLEED RED AND BLUE, THAT DOES NOT CHANGE. I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS TOO . OUR STUDENTS CANNOT BE EDUCATED, HOWEVER IF WE DO NOT HAVE QUALITY INDIVIDUALS STANDING AT THE FRONT WHO CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS AND KNOW THAT EACH STUDENT SHOULD DESERVE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME TO SCHOOL IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND GET A QUALITY EDUCATION. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME TO ENSURE STATUS TAKING CARE OF AS ALWAYS, THAT INCLUDES EVERY STAFF MEMBER FROM THOSE WHO SWEEP FLOORS AND EMPTY TRASH CANS ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, TAKING CARE OF EVERYONE IS A PRIORITY FOR ME, THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, DR. TOWNSEL FOR THE PRESENTATION, SCOTT, AND ALL THE TO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO PREPARED EVERYTHING FOR THIS PROPOSAL TO BE PRESENTED TONIGHT, I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE DETAILS AND WE WILL HAVE THE QUESTION-AND-ANSWER AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT AS MENTIONED. AS STACY MENTIONED, AS FAR AS IF YOU WORK IN CALVERT COUNTY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE IN CALVERT COUNTY.
CALVERT COUNTY IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PLACE TO LIVE, WE ALL KNOW THAT BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE COMPENSATE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS SUPPORTED. I APOLOGIZE FOR ADDRESSING DOWN , I WAS ALSO AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL TODAY OFFICIATING A GAME SO I LEFT THERE TO COME HERE, I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING DRESSDOWN. YOU SEE I AM ROCKING THE RED
AND BLUE. >> READING -- RIGHT THERE, TANNIN YELLOW, BRING IT ON. I WILL WEAR IT, I'VE ALWAYS SUPPORTED THEM, I WAS BORN AND RAISED, WENT TO THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS, I'VE INTERACTED, WORKED WITH, AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU. SOME OF YOU ARE HERE EVERY MEETING AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU REALLY SUPPORT AND LOVE, AND VALUE OUR KIDS. I DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THAT. WITH NEGOTIATIONS, THIS IS SOMETHING WE AS A BOARD TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY. WE HAVE MEETINGS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE COMPS IT -- COMPENSATED AND FEEL SUPPORTED. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH COMMISSIONER HAND -- TODAY. Y'ALL ARE SURPRISED, I KNOW.
I WILL ECHO WHAT DR. TOWNSEL SAYS, IF THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MIXUP, THEY ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT. WHEN THEY HAD THEIR MEETING, THEY WILL INVITE US TO COME THERE SO WE COULD GO, AND HEAR WHAT IS GOING ON OURSELVES, I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FOR ME, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR, BRING HEALTH, MENTAL WELLNESS, BRAIN HEALTH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME , RESOURCES FOR
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, I'M ECHOING WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN DOWN BUT WE DO A LOT OF WORK IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS, IF WE CAN GET THEM A LITTLE SOONER, CHANGE THE CULTURE OF THESE THIRD, FOURTH GRADERS, MAYBE WE WILL NOT HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES LATER ON IN LIFE, I THINK THAT'S ONE OF MY PRIORITIES, OF COURSE BEHAVIOR IS SAFETY IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR EVERYONE, I LOOKED AT OUR VIDEO FROM THIS TIME LAST YEAR, SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT NOW, THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING. WE REALLY NEED TO TRY TO PUT -- SOMEONE SAID WE CANNOT EAT FLUFF, WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME MEAT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD, SALARIES, WE CANNOT THROW MONEY AT THINGS, SOMETIMES, TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY ARE VALUED, YOU HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE -- EVERYONE WHO HAS DISCUSSED TONIGHT, I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND REPEAT WHAT THEY SAID, THEY ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY SAID, WE DO GET THE EMAILS, KAREN DOES AN AMAZING JOB TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE MEN WE READ THEM, WE MAKE SURE WE HEAR YOU AND LISTEN TO YOU GUYS, AND MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND. IF THAT IS ABOUT IT, MEETING IS ADJOURNED.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.