Apr 25, 2024 Board of Education

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

[00:00:14]

COUNTY MEETING TO ORDER. FIRST WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE

STAND. >> I PLEDGE 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.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT DR. TOWNSEL TO DIRECT A SPECIFIC PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THE SAFETY CONCERNS WHICH WERE BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AT THE LAST MEETING. HE WAS THEN REPORT HIS PLAN OF ACTION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING.

FLOOR. >> SECOND PERIOD

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

>> I APPRECIATE THAT THE DOCTOR HAS MET WITH THE TEACHERS. I THINK THE NEXT STEP FROM HERE IS TO -- MEETINGS ARE NICE, BUT I AM SUBMITTING A FORMAL ACTION PLAN FOR CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL FOR YOU TO REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD. I THINK WE NEED AN ACTION PLAN. WHAT RESOURCES CAN YOU ADD? WHAT ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL ? I THINK WE NEED A PLAN.

>> MY CONCERN IS THAT , FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE SINGLING OUT ONE SCHOOL OUT OF THE 24 SCHOOLS WE DO HAVE. IT IS THE SUPERINTENDENCE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS -- OUR JOB IS TO, IF HE DOES NOT COME UP WITH A PLANNED THAT DOES NOT RESULT IN ANY SUCCESS, THEN THAT IS OUR JOB .

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN PUT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF IN DANGER BY WAITING. I THINK WE NEED A PLAN OF ACTION, AND WE

NEED IT NOW. >> THANK YOU. I CAN AGREE WITH THE PLAN. HOWEVER I THINK IT NEEDS TO BECOME SET -- COMPREHENSIVE. INSANE THE WERE COMPREHENSIVE, I DON'T THINK IN TWO WEEKS OUR SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH SUCH A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO REMEDY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BREWING AND FESTERING OVER MANY YEARS, AND IS MANIFESTING ITSELF IN THE WAY IT IS. I BELIEVE IT TAKES TRUE INTENSIVE WORK AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL TO ALLEVIATE CONCERNS AND ISSUES STAFF MAY HAVE. I ALSO KNOW THERE IS A DIVIDE IN THAT BUILDING BETWEEN THE STAFF WHO FEEL THE ISSUES ARE NOT AS FAST AS SOME COME TO DESCRIBE TO THE BOARD . I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO DISCOUNT THOSE THAT DO COME TO THE BOARD TO TALK ABOUT THEIR ISSUES. I SAY THAT TO SAY EVERYONE'S PERSPECTIVE IS NOT THE SAME. I DO NOT WANT TO DISCOUNT ANYONE'S PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE INCIDENT. I DO NOT WANT ANY STAFF TO FEEL UNSAFE IN THEIR WORKING CONDITIONS. THAT IS WHY I THINK IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO DEVELOP SOMETHING, TO COMPREHENSIVELY WORK AT SOLVING WHAT IS OCCURRING AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. WHILE I CAN AGREE TO A PLAN, WHICH THE BOARD WOULD LOOK AT AND HOLD ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCE WORK IN CARRYING OUT HIS DUTIES, JUST THINK THE TIME TO COME UP WITH THAT PLAN IS A LITTLE --

>> I HAVE A SENSE OF URGENCY ABOUT THIS. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE THINGS GET OUT OF CONTROL .

FROM THE TEACHERS I'VE TALKED TO, I DO NOT THINK THINGS ARE

[00:05:01]

IT NOW. >> OKAY. ACTUALLY, I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO A LOT OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS THERE ALSO.

SINCE APRIL THE SECOND THEY'VE HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS.

SINCE THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY MEDIATION CENTER HAVE BEEN IN THE SCHOOL, THEY SAID THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED. I'VE BEEN THERE. I SPENT SEVERAL DAYS THERE.

WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS AND TALKING TO THE STUDENTS. WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES DON'T WORK, LET ME SEE YOUR CERTIFICATION. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S BEEN DONE , DONE PROPERLY OR ANYTHING ELSE. WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING A LOT OF THESE THINGS, I AM THERE, I HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES. IF YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKE-MINDED, I AM NOT SAYING THIS IS DIRECTED AT YOU OR ANYTHING. BUT IF YOU SURROUND YOURSELF BY PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE YOU ALL THE TIME YOU ARE GETTING THE SAME THING. I HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME, I HAVE NEVER TALKED TO THEM BEFORE MY LIFE, TO LET ME KNOW THERE WAS, ONE, THERE WAS A MEETING, AND TWO, THEIR TAKE ON IT. I GET CONVERSATIONS AND EMAILS FROM BOTH SIDES. I DON'T MAKE DECISIONS OUT OF EMOTION. WHEN THINGS ARE SAID, I AM A 24-HOUR PERSON. I TRY TO WAIT 24 HOURS BEFORE I RESPOND, TO MAKE SURE I STILL FEEL THE SAME WAY I DO.

WITH THIS CASE, I GRADUATED FROM CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. I LOVE CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. OF COURSE, I AM THERE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS THEY ARE SAFE , AND THEY ARE BEING HEARD. I ALSO KNOW THEY ARE WORKING ON A PLAN. THEY JUST HAD THEIR MEETING ON MONDAY. TODAY IS THURSDAY.

GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT FORTH SOME ENERGY AND EFFORT TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO FIX SOME OF THE PROBLEMS. EVERYON IN THAT SCHOOL, THE PARENTS, THE EDUCATORS, THE PRINCIPLES, IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYBODY TO BE A PART OF THIS. YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE ONE SIDE. YOU HAVE TO HAVE BUY-IN FROM EVERYBODY TO DO THIS. LET'S GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO WORK IT. WE CAN DEMAND. WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AND A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS. YEAH, I DON'T THINK SINGLING OUT ONE SCHOOL -- IF THERE IS A DIVIDE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, MAYBE THEY NEED TO HAVE A CIRCLE.

MAYBE THEY NEED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK. IF THE SCHOOL IS THAT DIVIDED, IT IS AFFECTING THE KIDS. WE HAVE TO GET TO THE PROBLEM , THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. YOU HAVE A AN ADMINISTRATOR THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A YEAR, SHE'S DOING THE BEST SHE CAN. WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE STEP IN. WE ARE BUDGET, WE ARE HIRING THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT, AND POLICY. THOSE ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES. GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY , GOING THROUGH HIM, AND MAKING SURE HE IS COMMUNICATING WITH THE SENSIBLE, AND LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS , THAT WOULD BE MY TAKE.

>> THE THINGS YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE, AND THEY ARE NOT WORKING. I AM JUST PROPOSING THAT WE COME UP -- THAT WE ASK DR. TOWNSEL TO COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN . WE PUT IN ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED. WE USE THE PRINCIPAL 'S INPUTS, WE PROVIDE WHAT THEY NEED TO ENSURE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. ALL I'M ASKING IS WE PLACE A SENSE OF URGENCY ON IT. WE HAVE DR. TOWNSEL REPORT

WHAT HE CAN DO IN TWO WEEKS. >> I THINK THE SENSE OF URGENCY HAS BEEN THERE. THE MEDIATION CENTER WENT THERE ON APRIL 2ND.

THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW THEY NEEDED HELP FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND THEY WENT THERE. THE YOUNG LADIES -- WELL, THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH HAVE NOT HAD ISSUES. THERE ARE MORE THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE. THERE HAS BEEN A SENSE OF URGENCY. THE ADMINISTRATION KNEW THERE WERE -- THERE WAS A SENSE OF URGENCY , SO THEY REACHED OUT FOR HELP FROM THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT AND MEDIATION CENTER. TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE. TO TRY TO KILL SOMETHING, OR SAY SOMETHING IS NOT WORKING, AND IT'S ONLY BEEN A MONTH, I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE IRRATIONAL.

>> JUST TO CLARIFY ONE THING YOU SAID, LISA, AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU MEANT IT IN THIS MANNER OR NOT, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT TO CLARIFY FOR THE AUDIENCE AND OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU USE THE WORD, DON'T FEEL THE STORIES ARE EXAGGERATED. I DID NOT SAY ANYONE WAS EXAGGERATING THEIR STORY. I

[00:10:01]

MY STORY IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR STORY. WE CAN SEE THE SAME THING AND TAKE IT IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS. I DON'T DISCOUNT ANYONE'S FEELINGS OR OPINIONS . I DO AGREE THE ISSUES AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL NEED TO BE SOLVED. HOWEVER, A SENSE OF URGENCY, YES, BUT A SENSE OF URGENCY TO TAKE PROPER ACTION. NOT A SENSE OF URGENCY TO SOLVE SOMETHING JUST FOR IT TO RETURN AGAIN BECAUSE WE MADE A MISTAKE IN SOMETHING WE DECIDED TO DO AND IT HAD RAMIFICATIONS AND IMPACTS WE HAD NOT CONSIDERED. WHILE I WANT US TO WALK FAST, I WANT US TO WALK FAST IN THE PROPER MANNER TO SOLVE WHAT'S GOING ON. AGAIN, I CAN SUPPORT A PLAN, JUST NOT WITHIN TWO

WEEKS. >> MISS HAYES.

>> AFTER HEARING THIS CONVERSATION, REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS DECIDED, I WOULD STRONGLY URGE YOU TO, AT SOME POINT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, GO INTO CALVERT, LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING AND REALLY EXPERIENCE THE STEPS THEY ARE TAKING SO YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND EDUCATE US ON THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE. THE STUDENTS WATCHING THESE MEETINGS, AND THE PARENTS ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS, NO THEIR PARENTS ARE BEING SUPPORTED. THANK YOU.

>> JORDAN, I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THAT FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT TONIGHT. I WOULD ASK HIM IF HE IS NOT INCLUDED THAT IN HIS REMARKS, FOR HIM TO INCLUDE SOME AD LIB. IN HIS REMARKS REGARDING HIS VISIT THAT HE DID CONDUCT TO CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. THAT MAY ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS AND PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING.

>> DR. TOWNSEL, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK?

>> SURE, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEK TO MEET WITH ALL THE EDUCATORS THAT CAME TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING THE LAST TIME WE GOT TOGETHER. I CAME WITH LESS THAN 24 HOUR NOTICE , INTENTIONALLY, TO SEE WHAT I CAN SEE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS THERE. I GOT THERE AT 6:45 . I DON'T THINK I LEFT UNTIL ABOUT PUBLICLY, IT: 45.

AFTER MEETING WITH THE EDUCATORS AND TALKING ABOUT COMING TOGETHER WITH A PLAN, EVERYONE BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, BEING VISIBLE, BEING THE -- FOCAL, COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND NOT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO ANYTHING HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL. ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THAT, I WALKED THE HALLS, SPECIFICALLY , WITH AN EDUCATOR, FOR PROBABLY -- THEY CAN TELL YOU, 30 OR 40 MINUTES.

I SAID, SHOW ME THE BATHROOMS. SHOW ME WHERE . SHOW ME, SHOW ME, SHOW ME. WALKED ALL OVER THE SCHOOL FOR PROBABLY AN HOUR. HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HALL PASSES. FOR ANY DISTRICT LEADER TO BE IN ONE SCHOOL FOR THAT LENGTH OF TIME , LOOKING AGGRESSIVELY FOR PROBLEMS. I HAD MY HAND ON THE POST. I AM CONFIDENT WITH THE TEAM THAT IS THERE, THE TEACHERS I MET WITH, AND OTHERS THAT JUST PULLED ME TO THE SIDE SAYING, DR., THIS ONCE THE TEAM COMES AS A UNIFIED FRONT, WHATEVER THE CONCERN IS , WILL BE SOLVED. AND ON MONDAY. THIS WAS PRIOR TO MEETING THOSE EDUCATORS. PROBABLY ABOUT 50 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AUDITORIUM, WITH HOLDING LEADERSHIP. EVEN PRIOR TO INDIVIDUALS COMING TO OUR MEETINGS TO SPEAK ABOUT CONCERNS . I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING MULTIPLE TIMES WITH CLASSROOMS, GROUPS OF YOUNG PEOPLE. NOT ONLY ABOUT SCHOOL, BUT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE HAVING OUR HANDS ON THE POST. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR EDUCATORS. WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND. I KNOW SOME THINGS ARE SAID .

IT'S TERRIBLE, IT'S BAD, IT'S THIS. I AM IN THERE WITH MY HAND ON THE PULSE, WITH MY EYES WALKING FOR TWO HOURS, LOOKING FOR THE CONCERNS. I AM GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I'M GOING TO BE AS SUPPORTIVE AS WE NEED TO BE. NOT ONLY WITH OUR BUILDING LEADERSHIP, IT THE EDUCATORS. I WANTED ALL. GIVE ME ALL THE DATA, ALL THE REFERRALS. ME ALL THE INFORMATION. LET'S ALL PUT TOGETHER. SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED BY THE EDUCATORS WAS UNACCEPTABLE. UNACCEPTABLE. I TAKE DISCIPLINE VERY SERIOUS.

I DO BELIEVE NOT ONLY FOLLOWING THE CODE OF CONDUCT, BUT GOING TO THE MAX WHEN YOU GOT OUT OF HAND. I WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ENFORCING OUR POLICY AND PROCEDURS, AND CODE OF CONDUCT. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE RECENT

[00:15:06]

I WILL SHARE BACK WITH THE BOARD, BUT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE AFTERMATH OF THAT.

>> AND I FOLLOW UP WITH A QUESTION?

>> YES. >> WHAT WAS THE CONDITIONS OF THE BATHROOMS WHEN YOU WENT IN?

>> YOUNG PEOPLE WASHING THEIR HANDS, USING THE BATHROOM,

WALKING OUT. >> THE MAYORS WERE INTACT, THE COMMODES . EVERYTHING WAS INTACT?

>> I WAS LOOKING TO SMOKE FOR SMOKE I WAS LOOKING PRETTY HARD-CORE. I RAN INTO OUR RESOURCE OFFICERS, THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE LETTING ME KNOW, WE'VE GOT THIS ON LOCK RIGHT HERE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? OUR SAFETY AFRICANS ARE CONFIDENT THEY HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS THAT HAPPENED A MONTH OR SO AGO. I TRUST THE TEAM, I TRULY DO. I DO WANT TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE TEACHERS THAT ARE THERE, THAT HAVE THE MAJOR CONCERNS. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE LEADER THAT LEAD THE CONVERSATION, I WALKED WITH HER SPECIFICALLY IN THE HALLWAYS AND SAID, SHOW ME THE BATHROOM. WE TALKED ABOUT HALL PASSES.

I'M ASKING, WHAT DO YOU DO IF A YOUNG PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A HALL PASS? YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU DO. AND THEN I TELL THEM. I EVEN REDIRECT YOU, AND HOPEFULLY -- WHERE'S YOUR PASS THAT? OH, THANK YOU, I WENT -- SHE WENT BACK AND GOT A PASS. MY BOOTS ARE ON THE GROUND. HANDS HIM A PULSE. I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT AND CONTINUE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE TEAM. I AM WORKING IN GOOD FAITH. WE ARE ALL COMING TOGETHER WORKING COLLABORATIVELY. CALVERT HIGH

SCHOOL. >> I HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.

>> DR. TOWNSEL, AS YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR PLAN, I WOULD LIKE TO MODIFY MISS GRENIS'S MOTION, IF SHE IS WILLING TO ACCEPT MY FRIENDLY AMENDMENT, THAT SHE EXTEND THE TIME FOR A PLAN TO RECTIFY WHAT IS HAPPENING AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL TO OUR FIRST MEETING. THIS IS OUR SECOND MEETING IN APRIL. OUR MEETING IN JUNE. THERE CAN BE TIME OVER THE SUMMER FOR STAFF TO DIGEST YOUR PLAN AND PUT THE NECESSARY THINGS IN PLACE FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR . AND FOR YOU ALSO TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE BOARD AT OUR MEETINGS HOW YOUR PLAN YOU PUT TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE CARRIED OUT, AND AS WELL AS WHEN THE PLAN IS IMPLEMENTED, TO REPORT AT OUR MEETINGS ONCE A MONTH HOW THINGS ARE GOING AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE THERE TO BE CONSIDERATION FOR A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION TO HAPPEN WITH THE CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I WOULD LIKE FOR EVERY STUDENT FAMILY TO FEEL INCLUDED IN THAT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COMMUNITY MEDIATION CENTER TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION , BECAUSE I REALIZE, WHEN YOU BRING VARIOUS PERSONALITIES TOGETHER, CONVERSATIONS CAN GET OUT OF HAND. HOWEVER, IT NEEDS TO BE PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY SO WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, AND FOR THE COMMUNITY TO FEEL VESTED IN THAT SCHOOL. FOR FAMILIES TO FEEL LIKE THEIR STUDENTS ARE GOING TO FEEL SAFE ATTENDING CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT ADMINISTRATION DOES WANT EACH STUDENT TO COME TO SCHOOL AND FEELS SAFE , AND FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS TO OCCUR AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK IT TAKES HEALING. HEALING DOES NOT OCCUR IF EVERYONE DOES NOT COME TOGETHER, FOLLOW THE RULES, AND ARE VESTED IN HEALING AND HAVING TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDING. AS PER SPEC IS, AND NOT THE DIVERSE OPINIONS OF OTHERS. I WOULD ASK THAT IF WE APPROVE A PLAN THAT ALSO BECOME PART OF THE PLAN, BUT MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, YOUR PLAN BE PUT FORTH IN ABOUT FOUR WEEKS INSTEAD OF TWO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE MY MOTION AS IS. WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PUT 10 THINGS IN PLACE IN TWO WEEKS, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT THREE OR FOUR THINGS IN PLACE AND GET AN UPDATE. I AM NOT SAYING IN TWO WEEKS IT IS DONE AND WE WALK AWAY. I THINK WE CAN COME UP WITH SOME STRATEGIES TO HELP THE SITUATION THERE . MAKE IT AT OR AFTER THE TWO WEEKS. WE

[00:20:04]

EXCITED TO SHARE OUR STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE TONIGHT. A LOT OF THIS WILL BE ADDRESSED THERE. ONE OF THE MAJOR PRIORITIES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT EMERGED THROUGH OUR DATA DIVE WAS STUDENT SAFETY AND WELLNESS. THE WELL-BEING OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. THAT'S DEFINED THERE AS OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES. THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THAT IS MAKING IT A DISTRICT WIDE EFFORT. IT IS NOT JUST A CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, EVERYDAY. WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE EDUCATORS TO FOCUS AND GET THINGS WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE. WHAT I DO BELIEVE, STRONGLY , IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN, ONCE A FINALIZE, THAT IT WILL ADDRESS A LOT OF OUR ISSUES. WE'VE NOT HAD A STRATEGIC PLAN SINCE IT EXPIRED IN JUNE OF 2022. WE SPENT ALL OF THIS ACADEMIC YEAR WORKING WITH THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS TO GET THAT FINALIZED AND CHISELED DOWN. I THINK THAT WILL OFFER SOME REALLY GOOD INSIGHT TO THE WAY WE APPROACH IT AND THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE. I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE MY HAND ON THE PULSE, TO HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE. NOT ONLY IN THE BUILDING, BUT ALSO REACHING OUT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND ASKING WHERE SUPPORT IS NEEDED. AND TO CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE

SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. >> I ALSO HAVE A MEETING THERE. I WILL BE THERE ON MONDAY MYSELF. MY LIST IS GROWING OF TEACHERS TELLING ME WHAT ROOM THEY ARE IN. I WILL GO AND TALK TO ANY OF THEM. I WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ANYONE. I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF OF WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME. IF WE REALLY WANT TO BE REAL, THE STAFF HAS TO GET TOGETHER. BEFORE YOU CAN COME UP WITH A PLAN, YOU HAVE TO COME TOGETHER WITHIN THAT BUILDING. IF YOU TAKE THE MEETING OFF SITE AND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH SOME LANGUAGE YOU WOULDN'T SAY IN THE BUILDING, HAVE THAT. OUR KIDS ARE WORTH IT. IF WE ARE HAVING THESE MANY BATTLES , WE ARE NOT FOCUSING ON FIXING THE PROBLEM, AND GETTING THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, AND FEEL THEY ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF. ADULTS ARE HAVING ISSUES, AND IT'S AFFECTING THE KIDS. DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?

>> I WOULD LIKE DR. TOWNSEL TO CONSIDER INVITING US TO THE MEETING WHERE YOU MEET WITH THE 50 STUDENTS.

>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR. ALL IN FAVOR. OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED?

>> NO. >> NO.

>> MR. PRESIDENT, CAN I HAVE A MOMENT TO EXPLAIN MY VOTE?

>> YES. >> I VOTED NO TO THE MOTION FOR PLAN BECAUSE IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER TO HOLD THE SUPERINTENDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HE DOES AND DO NOT DO. I DO THAT. IT DOES NOT TAKE A PLAN, A WRITTEN DOCUMENTED PLAN FOR ME BE ABLE TO DO THAT. I BELIEVE DR. TOWNSEL IS WELL AWARE OF THE CONCERNS AND ISSUES AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. HE WENT THERE AND VISITED WITHOUT ANYONE ASKING HIM TO DO A VISIT . THAT WAS HIS OWN IDEA TO TRY TO SUBSTANTIATE WHAT HE WAS HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY. HE'S ALSO STATED TONIGHT THAT HE WILL WORK -- CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE STAFF.

HE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. WITH CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. ALSO CALVERT MEDIATION HAS BEEN THERE TO DO MEDIATION. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PLAN . IT MAY NOT BE IN WRITING. EVERYONE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. BECAUSE THE SUPERINTENDENT IS LEADING IN DOING HIS JOB . IF WE ALLOW HIM TO DO HIS JOB, AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT, I BELIEVE THE ISSUES WILL RESOLVE THEMSELVES. HENCE WHY I VOTED NO. I JUST DON'T FEEL WE NEED TO HAVE A WRITTEN AND DOCUMENTED PLAN THAT WE HAVE THROWN TOGETHER IN TWO WEEKS TO SOLVE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN GROWING FOR YEARS.

[2.02 HHS Sports Recognitions]

>> MOTION FAILS, 2-1. NEXT WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE SPORTS

RECOGNITIONS. MS. HAYES? >> IF XAVIER DAILEY AND COACHES WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE FRONT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO

[00:25:01]

ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY ON

THIS 25TH DAY OF APRIL 2024. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. WE AREN'T TAKING PICTURES ANYMORE? COFFEE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF COACHING XAVIER FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. WE STARTED IN THE COVID YEAR. QUITE INTERESTING, AND EVERYTHING. HE HAS DONE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRUCK. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HE IS AN OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR, ATHLETE, HIGH HONOR ROLL . HE HAS BEEN REGIONAL CHAMPION THREE TIMES. HE HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE STATE MEET.

EVERY YEAR. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE HIM HERE HIS SENIOR YEAR TO BE ABLE TO WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE 55 METER HURDLES. HE HAS EXCELLED IN BOY SCOUTS FOR 12 YEARS . OVER 300 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE. HE'S ALSO DONE CHEERLEADING. HE IS HEADED OFF TO SAULSBERRY UNIVERSITY TO MAJOR IN PHOENIX

AND DO TRACK. THANK YOU. >> HI, I AM BETH MORTON, THE PRINCIPAL . I WILL BE BRIEF. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO HAVE KNOWN XAVIER FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS HIS ATHLETIC ABILITIES ARE AMAZING. I WANT TO COMMENT, THOUGH, WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL CULTURE. HE IS NOT ONLY A FANTASTIC STUDENT, BUT HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE, HE IS ALWAYS ABOUT MAKING HUNTINGTOWN GREAT. THANK YOU.

[2.03 CHS Sports Recognitions]

>> CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN. NEXT WE HAVE THE CALVERT HIGH

SCHOOL SPORTS RECOGNITIONS. >> IF BRIAN DAVIS AND COACHES WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE FRONT. HERE'S THE RESOLUTION.

WHEREAS, BRIAN DAVIS OF CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, CHS, WON THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP FOR WRESTLING 138 POUNDS. AND WHEREAS, BRIAN WAS THE MPSSAA 2A-1A SOUTH REGIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPION. AND WHEREAS, BRIAN IS A SENIOR AT CHS. AND WHEREAS, HIS CAREER VARSITY RECORD IS 83-5. AND WHEREAS, WE THANK HIM FOR THOSE YEARS OF LEADERSHIP, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION. NOW THEREFORE,

[00:30:05]

>> SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[2.04 Subs of the Year]

TRACY. >> THIS IS A BIG GROUP.

>> EVERYBODY PUSH TOGETHER. >> IT'S GOING TO BE TIGHT.

>> WE ARE GOING TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND. I HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT ARE HERE TO VIEW THIS RECOGNITION. WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO GET EVERYBODY IN. THERE ARE SEATS UP FRONT.

COME CLOSE. >> CAN THE ADMINISTRATORS COME TOWARDS THE FRONT? THERE ARE PLENTY OF SEATS UP FRONT.

OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING. WAIT. I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS IN. THERE WE GO. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, I AM TRACY, THE SUPERVISOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

WE ARE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROFOUND AND LASTING IMPACT THAT OUR SUBSTITUTES HAVE ON STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SCHOOL COMMUNITIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OUR SUBSTITUTES SERVE IN MANY CAPACITIES WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. WHETHER THEY ARE SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, FOOD SERVICE WORKER, NURSE, BUILDING SERVICE WORKER , BUS ASSISTANT, BUS DRIVER, OR FRONT OFFICE SECRETARY. OUR SUBSTITUTES FILL THE INSTITUTIONAL BRIDGES, WHEN REGULAR EMPLOYEES ARE ABSENT.

FOR THE 2023, 2024 SCHOOL YEAR, SEE CPS HAD OVER 585 ACT OF SUBSTITUTES IN OUR SYSTEM. MANY SUBSTITUTES WORK DAY TODAY, WHICH GIVES THEM THE FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW OFTEN THEY WANT TO WORK. WE WANT TO LET YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH YOUR DECISION TO CHOOSE CCPS IS APPRECIATED. WHETHER YOU ARE A LONG-TERM SUBSTITUTE, OR WORKING DAILY ASSIGNMENTS , IT'S IMPORTANT YOU KNOW YOU MAKE A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE. OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ASSOCIATES, ARIELLA, WHO ASSISTS WITH HIM PLAY RECOGNITIONS WILL NOW READ THE NAMES OF OUR 2024 CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

[00:35:03]

SUBSTITUTE OF THE YEAR. >> BARSTOW ELEMENTARY, FAYE SHIELDS . BEACH ELEMENTARY, TERESA EDWARDS . BUILDING SERVICE, ÷SAMUEL WEEMS . CALVERT ELEMENTARY, JILLIAN YORK . CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL , JOSEPH CLARK . CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL, BARBARA JACOBS . CALVERT COUNTRY SCHOOL, WANDELLBUTLER . CTA, BILL COLLETTE . DOWELL ELEMENTARY, SARAH LANGLY . FOOD SERVICE, MEGAN DI IORIO .

HUNTINGTOWN ELEMENTARY , JILL WHEDBEE . HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, PATRICA GORMAN . HANNAH WISEMAN . ROBIN HOFFMAN . MOUNT HERMON THE ELEMENTARY, AMANDA STITES .

NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL, JAQUALINE HOLLAND . NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, CAROLYN YOUNG . PATUXENT APPEAL CAMPUS, STEPHINE GARNER . DENISE JOHNS . GEORGIANNA UMPHRIES . PLUM POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL, JEANINE HOLMES . ST. LEONARD ELEMENTARY, VENUS WALLACE . SOUTHERN MIDDLE , CAROLYN HAWKINS . SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY, DEOMATTIE SINGH-MONTES . TRANSPORTATION, DELEFIA COATES . WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY, JESSICA GOIN . WINDY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, ÷JENNIFER FRUM . PLEASE GIVE EVERYBODY A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[00:41:04]

[2.05 Student Presentation]

PRESIDENT OF THE PSYCHOLOGY CLUB AT HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT ADDRESSING STUDENTS SLEEP IN RELATION TO WHEN HIGH SCHOOL STARTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. THIS IS A PROJECT FOR A GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD , AND SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED TO DO SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS PROJECT BEGAN WITH A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTEREST IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WONDERING WHY MY MATH CLASS, IN FIRST PERIOD, I WAS SO TIRED. THEN I WENT ON TO TALK TO MY PEERS, AND LEARNING ABOUT A KID THAT GREW SEVERAL INCHES DURING THE SUMMER, OR HOW KIDS ARE ALWAYS, LIKE, OH, MY GOODNESS, THE DELAY. I LOVE IT. WHY CAN'T EVERYDAY BE LIKE THIS? I DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THAT MORE. LAST YEAR, WE DID A SURVEY. WE GOT 449 RESPONSES OF OUR 1358 HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATION. ONE THIRD OF OUR STUDENT BODY ANSWERED OUR SURVEY. WE ASKED THEM ABOUT OUR -- THEIR SLEEP QUALITY AND SLEEP PRACTICES IN RELATION TO WHEN HIGH SCHOOL STARTS. 7:15 A.M. THESE QUESTIONS WERE BASED AROUND WHAT IS CALLED THE CIRCADIAN RHYTHM. OUR BODIES HAVE AN INTERNAL CLOCK THAT TELLS US WHEN TO GO TO SLEEP, AND WENT TO WAKE UP. THIS IS DONE BY THE HORMONE , MELATONIN. MELATONIN, FOR TEENAGERS, CHANGES WHEN IT BEGINS PRODUCTION AND WHEN IT ENDS . KIDS, AS WE KNOW, WAKE UP EARLY AND GO TO BED EARLY .

TEENAGERS ARE NOT THAT WAY. MELATONIN, THE SLEEP HORMONE, BEGINS PRODUCTION AT AROUND 10:45 P.M., AND STOPS PRODUCTION AT AROUND 8:00 A.M. 8:00 A.M. IS THE END OF FIRST PERIOD. TRYING TO HAVE KIDS BE IN FIRST PERIOD, IS SIMILAR TO MAKING A COMPUTER, ON BATTERY POWER DOWNLOAD A ZILLION FILES. SHOVING A LOT OF INFORMATION INTO A SYSTEM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE RESTING ON CHARGING. ADDING THIS HIGH SCHOOL EARLY START TIME, WITH TEENAGERS BIOLOGICAL CLOCK, YOU ARE EQUALING THE RECIPE FOR SLEEP THAT LIBERATION -- SLEEP DEPRIVATION. NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP. IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP, WHICH IS 8 TO 10 HOURS, RECOMMENDED BY THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, IMPACTS MANY THINGS ACROSS THE BOARD.

LET'S START WITH ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. A STUDY IN SEATTLE SHOWED A 4.5% INCREASE IN GRADES WHEN HIGH SCHOOL STARTED JUST AN HOUR LATER. WHEN HIGH SCHOOL STARTS AT 10:00 A.M., THE HARVARD AND UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA DISCOVERED A 12% INCREASE. STARTING HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS TO FIT WHEN TEENAGERS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE AWAKE INCREASES THEIR GRADES. THERE IS ALSO DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH NOT GETTING THE NEEDED AMOUNT OF REST. THERE IS A DRIVING DANGER. LET'S PUT OUR YOUNG

[00:45:02]

THERE IS ALSO A MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT FROM SLEEP DEPRIVATION.

INCREASING THE RISK OF SUICIDE. AND THEN THERE IS BEHAVIOR DANGER. WE ALL KNOW OF THAT TODDLER THAT IS REALLY TIRED AND NEEDS TO TAKE A NAP, RIGHT? SO HE IS THROWING A TANTRUM.

TEENAGERS GET SOMETHING SIMILAR. IT INCREASES THEIR MOODINESS AND AGGRESSION. INCREASES DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR.

LEADS TO A LESSER AMOUNT OF RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. SLEEP DEPRIVATION ALSO HAS LONG-TERM IMPACTS , SUCH AS OBESITY, DEMENTIA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DEPRESSION , AND CAN LEAD TO IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPACTS, WHICH CAN MAKE -- ME AND MORE SICK DAYS FROM SCHOOL . INCREASE STRESS, AND CAN IMPACT GROWTH .

SUCH AS THE KID I MENTIONED EARLIER, WHO GREW SEVERAL INCHES WHEN HE GOT MORE SLEEP DURING THE SUMMER, AND CAN DECREASE YOUR APPETITE. WE HAVE SEVERAL DATA POINTS FROM THE SURVEY THAT SHOW THESE IMPACTS -- THESE EFFECTS ARE HAPPENING LOCALLY. 85% OF OUR RESPONDENTS ARE NOT GETTING THE NECESSARY 8 TO 10 HOURS OF SLEEP. 74% SAY THEY DO NOT PERFORM BEST WHEN TIRED. A LARGE MAJORITY SAY THEY WOULD LIKE SCHOOL TO START LATER , AFTER 7:15 A.M. , AND MORE THAN HALF HAVE ADMITTED TO FALLING ASLEEP DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AT SOME POINT. WE CAN EXAMINE THE FLEETS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION MORE CLOSELY. .289 -- 289 OUT OF 400 RESPONDENTS SAY THEY COMMONLY FEEL FATIGUE. 139 OUT OF 449 PUT DEPRESSION . 99 PUT A REDUCED ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE . WE EXAMINE THE MENTAL ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, 10 BEING I AM ROCKING, I AM AMAZING, AND ONE MEANING YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO TO THE COUNSELOR, OUR AVERAGE WAS 5.8. INCREASING SLEEP WITH A STARTING SCHOOL LATER WOULD BRING THAT NUMBER UP. TEENS DO THEIR BEST IN THEIR EDUCATION WHEN THEY START AT THE TIME THE CDC RECOMMENDS . 8:30 A.M. RIGHT NOW, CALVERT IS PRETTY FAR FROM THAT A: 30 A.M. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STARTS EARLIER THAN 90% OF THE NATION. THERE IS THIS GRAPH THAT VISUALIZES THAT IT MARYLAND. THE DARKER THE COLOR, THE LATER THE HIGH SCHOOL STARTS IN THE COUNTY.

THE LIGHTER THE COLOR, THE EARLIER. WE ARE GOING TO PLAY A GAME. FIND THE CALVERT COUNTY. IT IS RIGHT DOWN THERE. THAT LITTLE LIGHT RECTANGLE. THE VERY LIGHTEST COLOR ON THAT ENTIRE GRAPH , BASICALLY INVISIBLE. ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS START LATER. THE CHANGE THAT WOULD BE BEST FOR OUR TEENAGERS IS BEYOND POSSIBLE. THIS CHANGE IS ALREADY HAPPENING IN MARYLAND. MONTGOMERY COUNTY WAS THE FIRST TO TAKE THE DIVE, STARTING WITH 20 MINUTES IN 2015. -- DID IT LAST YEAR AT THE CDC RECOMMENDED TIME.

HOWARD DID IT STARTING AT 8:00 OR LATER, BASED ON BUSING.

THERE WE GO. OKAY. THIS IS ALSO A NATIONAL SHIFT. YOU CAN SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THERE'S BEEN A GRADUAL SHIFT NATIONALLY , IN STARTING HIGH SCHOOLS LATER, AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

FLORIDA AND CALIFORNIA, SOME VERY BIG STATES, MADE THIS CHANGE. THIS SHIFT, THOUGH, IS NOT JUST OUR CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOLS. WHEN SCHOOL STARTS AND ENDS, THAT'S THE COMMUNITY SCHEDULE. THERE ARE SEVERAL PROS AND CONS TO CONSIDER.

[00:50:05]

OUR HIGH SCHOOL STARTS AT 7:15. THE ADVICE SCHEDULE IS 10:00 TO 11 CLOCK TO ABOUT 8:00 TO 9:00. OUR STUDENTS ARE FALLING ASLEEP WHEN THEY SHOULD, BUT WAKING UP WAY EARLIER THAN THEY SHOULD. THEY ADVISED SLEEP DURATION IS 8 TO 10. THE AVERAGE LOCALLY HERE IS SEVEN HOURS, WITH A LARGE PORTION GETTING FIVE AND SIX. HERE ARE SOME THREE POINTS.

THE CDC RECOMMENDS THE HIGH SCHOOLS START NO EARLIER THAN 8:30 A.M. . 85% OF HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GET LESS THAN THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF SLEEP. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THE FUTURE GENERATION BY GIVING THEM THIS CHANCE TO FIT THEIR CIRCADIAN RHYTHM, AND GO TO SCHOOL WHEN THEIR BODY SAYS I AM READY TO PERFORM AT MY BEST. PSYCHOLOGY CLUB DOESN'T STOP HERE WITH THIS PRESENTATION. I HAD DONE A VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS . THE FIRST NOTE OF WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING AN IN PERSON MEETING, WELL, I AM HERE NOW. WE HAVE A WEBSITE COMING.

IT WILL BE DONE FOR ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

LOTS OF RESOURCES AND RESEARCH ABOUT THIS. ALL THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM OUR SURVEY WILL BE ON THERE. THERE WILL BE A SHORTENED SURVEY GIVEN OUT FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL. THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. NOW IT IS YOUR PART . NOT THE AUDIENCE , YOU GUYS. WE ASK THAT YOU DO A QUICK FIVE-10 MINUTE SURVEY, AND CHECK OUT OUR START SCHOOL LATER TWITTER. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, YOU CAN EMAIL ME. THANK YOU.

>> THINK YOU VERY MUCH. WOULD YOU LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A COUPLE

OF QUESTIONS? >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YES. >> AND I STAND HERE?

>> AND I START WITH JORDAN PLEASE?

>> PUT MY PUBLIC SPEAKING SKILLS TO THE TEST. I CANNOT HAVE DONE THAT. I LOVE THIS. I TOOK AP PSYCHOLOGY FOR ONE QUARTER . THE THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT SLEEP SCHEDULE STRESSED ME OUT . I KNOW I'M GOING ON IS TELLING -- AND, I APOLOGIZE. I HAVE FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON COUNTY WHO JUST WOKE UP AND I AM SITTING IN AP CALCULUS. ONE QUESTION I HAVE TO SUM EVERYTHING UP, IT MAKES ME REALIZE THAT SOMETHING I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR. THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS HOW YOU ATTEMPT TO GAIN TRACTION WITH ADMINISTRATION AND ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO THE RHYTHM THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH WHAT THE SCHOOL START TIME TO LOOK LIKE

. >> WE FIND SOME TEACHERS ARE TOTALLY ON BOARD, AND SOME AREN'T. SOME ARE, LIKE, I

[00:55:03]

CONTINUING THE COMMUNICATION TREND WOULD BE ONE OF THE

MAJOR STEPS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN, YOU DID A PHENOMENAL JOB. I LOVE THIS, AND I WILL BE REACHING

OUT TO YOU IN THE FUTURE. >> THANK YOU.

>> I LOVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM. THAT WAS A FABULOUS PRESENTATION. IT MAKES YOU THINK ABOUT DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.

>> THANK YOU. >> KUDOS.

>> YOU DEFINITELY HAVE A PRESENTATION ABILITY THERE THAT WILL TAKE YOU FAR. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT, I THINK, WE AS A BOARD WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT, OR ONE OF THE ACTIONS FOR US WOULD BE THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE HEARD THERE'S A TREMENDOUS UPHEAVAL FOR DAY CARE. I JUST WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PARENTS , AND THOSE TRYING TO JUGGLE . IT IS A CONDITION . WE HAVE VERY FEW DAY CARES. WE HAVE A THREE-TIER BUS SYSTEM BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF BUSES ON THE ROAD. A LOT OF DIFFERENT ISSUES. THE SCIENCE IS HARD TO ARGUE WITH. I REALLY APPLAUD THE FACT THAT YOU LOOKED AT YOUR OWN SCHOOL, AND YOU HAVE FIRM DATA. IF YOU CAN CONVINCE THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS TO GO FORWARD WITH THAT, THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL AMOUNT OF DATA FOR THE BOARD TO DIGEST.

BUT I DO THINK THAT WE, AS A BOARD, WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY, TOO. THIS AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN

THIS COMMUNITY. >> ON THAT NOTE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO THE COMMITTEE FOR DISCUSSION? WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ASK KAREN TO ADD THAT TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I MIGHT BE A PLACE TO START.

>> I TALKED TO MY PEERS, SOME THAT GO TO OTHER SCHOOLS. ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WAS TO TALK TO THE OTHER PEERS. THEY WERE ALL, LIKE, PLEASE, I WANT PART OF THIS.

>> I THINK THIS PRESENTATION IS THE EPITOME OF WHY CALVERT COUNTY STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING BETTER THAN STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE. IT GOES TO SHOW THAT OUR STAFF HERE ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB ENCOURAGING OUR STUDENTS AND MOTIVATING OUR STUDENTS, AND ENCOURAGING THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. KUDOS TO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT GIVES US SOMETHIN TO CONTINUE TO DIGEST, TO CONTINUE TO STUDY, AND TO CONSIDER AS THE BOARD MOVES FORWARD. THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE NEVER MET YOU BEFORE, SO, HELLO. ACTUALLY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PROJECT BASED LEARNING PROGRAM , THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PROJECT-BASED LEARNING LOOKS LIKE . HAVING A STUDENT GIVE A PRESENTATION LIKE THAT . I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS AGO WE MET.

>> OH, GOODNESS. THIS TOOK YEARS, EVEN JUST TO GET THE SURVEY DONE TOOK MONTHS UPON MONTHS . YEAH, WE PUT A LOT

INTO LOOKING HOW TO DO THAT. >> THANK YOU. WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING, I WAS LOOKING AT OUR TRANSPORTATION EXPERT, MR. REED , WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BUSES. YOU WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. THAT IS HUGE. I WAS WONDERING, DID YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FROM ANY OTHER COUNTIES, OR ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS FROM OTHER

COUNTIES WITH THIS? >> NO. WE DID LOOK INTO WHAT OTHER SCHOOLS DID, SUCH AS HOWARD. THEY HAVE ON THEIR WEBSITE THE DIRECT PROBLEMS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING, AND HOW THEY ARE ADDRESSING IT. I THINK THAT IS REALLY COOL.

>> DO THEY PLAN TO CHANGE BACK, OR ARE THEY STAYING ?

>> I DO THINK THEY ARE MAKING A SMALL ADJUSTMENT, BUT THEY ARE NOT REVERTING ALL THE WAY BACK.

>> EXCELLENT. >> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU REACH OUT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THEY DID A FULL STUDY AND PUBLISHED A REPORT REGARDING THE BEST START TIMES FOR STUDENTS. IT MAY BE SOMETHING YOUR GROUP WANTS TO READ THROUGH AND CONSIDER. ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY ARE AN ADJACENT COUNTY. TO SEE IF ANY OF THEIR ISSUES ARE ISSUES WE ALSO HAVE HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY, THAT YOU COULD PUT IN

[01:00:03]

CONSIDER START TIMES. >> THANK YOU. SOUNDS LIKE A

BRILLIANT RESOURCE. >> ONCE AGAIN, GOOD JOB. AS FAR AS LEADERS, ADMINISTRATORS LISTENING TO THE STUDENTS, I THINK THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE , BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A A WHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOL. WE HAVE JUST DONE THINGS THE SAME WAY. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN. I DID MENTION PROJECT-BASED

[2.06 Bid Approvals]

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WHITE, , MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT. TODAY I HAVE THREE REQUESTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. ALL WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. JOINING ME TODAY FOR ALL THREE REQUESTS IS MR. JOE PALMER . SUPERVISOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. THE FIRST REQUEST IS TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR USING THE PENNSYLVANIA PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR COMPUTERS , COOPERATIVE CONTRACT . FOR THE FOUR-YEAR LEASE ACQUISITION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 25 REFRESHES ON 1365 NINTH-GRADE STUDENT LAPTOPS. THESE LAPTOPS WOULD REMAIN WITH OUR NINTH-GRADE STUDENTS UNTIL THE END OF THEIR SENIOR YEAR.

THE EQUIPMENT AND WARRANTY SERVICES NEEDED ARE VITAL TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEXT PHAE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS READY INITIATIVE. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVED IDENTIFYING CONTRACTS ON SCHOOL YEAR 2025, NINTH-GRADE LAP TOPS. AND AWARD THE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $888,847, WHICH BREAKS DOWN TO AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $222,212 PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS. THE FUNDING SOURCE OF THIS PURCHASE IS THROUGH THE FUTURE READY

BUDGET . >> MOVED TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> PROBABLY MOVED AND SECONDED

IT. DISCUSSION. >> I AM HAVING SOME TECHNICAL PROBLEM HERE. MY COMPUTER WILL NOT PULL IT UP. WHILE SHE IS WORKING ON THAT, I DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS. ARE TOUCHSCREEN

LAPTOPS A WANT OR A NEED? >> WE WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION ON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE, WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR. IT IS INTERESTING, WITH THE TOUCH SCREENS, THE SHIFT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE YEARSTHAT TOUCHSCREENS IN THE EDU LINE OF DEVICES, FOR THE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS, THEY ARE MOVING ALL OF THEIR -- THE MAJORITY OF THEIR MODELS TO TOUCHSCREENS THAT ARE IN THIS SPECIFICATION RANGE. WE GET DEVICES THAT HAVE A LITTLE MORE OUR A.M. IN THEM, CPU.

INCREASE THE USABILITY AND MAKING SURE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS. WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN, WITH THESE MODELS OF DEVICES, THAT THE ISSUES WITH THESE THAT COME UP DURING TESTING, OR DURING PROJECTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, HAVE BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED.

>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT NON-TOUCH SCREENS ARE NOT

OPTIONS? >> NO. EACH OF THE MANUFACTURERS MAKE WHAT ARE CALLED EDU LINES. THE DEVICES HAVE RUBBERIZED SURROUNDINGS TO HELP WITH IMPACTS, DROPS.

THEY HAVE STRONGER HINGES ON THEM. THEY HAVE ANCHORED KEYS SO THE LITTLE ONES CAN'T EASILY PICK THEM OFF. THEY ACTUALLY ARE MORE DESIGNED ACROSS A MILITARY SPECIFICATION TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN ACTUALLY TAKE SPILLS AND DROPS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. WHEREAS , THE NORMAL DEVICES, THEY DON'T HAVE THE

[01:05:04]

DEVICES. >> WHAT ABOUT REPAIR COSTS? IS IT GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR ATTACHED SCREEN?

>> THAT'S WHERE ADP COMES INTO PLAY. THE ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION WE HAVE. WE HAD THAT ONTO ALL OF OUR DEVICES.

IT HAS SAVED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM , BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I RAN THE NUMBERS THIS MORNING, FOR EVERYTHING. BECAUSE WE'VE HAD ADP ON THE NUMBER OF DEVICES WE'VE HAD FOR THIS YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE SAVED OVER $577,000. WHERE THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO

COME OUT OF OUR BUDGET. >> I NOTICED YOU ORDERED 1365 LAPTOPS. HOW MANY INCOMING NINTH GRADERS DO WE HAVE?

>> USE THE NUMBER THAT WAS -- I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THE NUMBER IS. THE NUMBER OF NINTH GRADERS WE HAVE COMING IN. BUT WE BUFFER IN A CERTAIN SPARE AMOUNT SO WE CAN MAKE

SURE WE CAN DO SWAPS. >> YOU KNOW HOW MANY? DO YOU

HAVE AN IDEA? >> 10%.

>> HOW MANY? >> 10%.

>> OKAY. THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IS RIGHT NOW, HOW ARE WE PURCHASING ANYTHING WITH THE CURRENT SPENDING FREEZE ? CAN

ANYONE ADDRESS THAT? >> THIS WAS IN OUR PART OF THE

FUTURE READY BUDGET. >> WE DON'T HAVE AN APPROVED BUDGET. NO ONE WANTS TO ANSWER THAT? IS THERE NOT A FREEZE THEN? I WOULDN'T AGREE THIS IS A FREEZE, BECAUSE IT'S IN A CENTRAL -- IT'S AN ESSENTIAL TO GET READY FOR NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS AN EXTRA EXPENDITURE, CORRECT?

>> THIS MONEY WOULD NOT COME UNTIL JULY.

>> IS ALREADY ALLOCATED FOR IN THIS BUDGET?

>> ALSO EVEN LAST YEAR WE TALKED ABOUT OUR FUTURE READY PLAN THAT HAS A COST. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WHEN THE TEAM SAYS THERE IS A NEED, WE

TRY TO ADDRESS THAT NEED. >> ANYMORE DISCUSSION?

>> IS THIS DIFFERENT? WHEN WE FIRST STARTED FUTURE READY WE DID GRADES, THREE, SIX AND NINE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE WERE DOING THREE YEAR LEASES. IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT? WE HAVE MOVED, MORPHED INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, TO HER FOR FOUR YEARS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT LAPTOP CARRIES THEM THROUGH THOSE FOUR YEARS. WHAT WE FOUND WAS WHEN WE HAD A THREE YEAR LEASES WE WERE IN A PICKLE COME THEIR SENIOR YEAR BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE A DEVICE FOR THEM.

>> OKAY. MAKES SENSE. >> IT'S NICER, TOO. WITH THE LEASE THEY ARE SMALLER AMOUNTS. THEY ARE A LITTLE EASIER TO DIGEST AND PLAN FOR. IT'S NOT A BIG CHUNK.

>> IN THIS BID, YOU MENTIONED, I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED, THAT YOU DID GET, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS PART OF ONE OF THE PIGGYBACK BIDS, YOU DID GO OUT AND FIND OUT YOU GOT QUOTES FROM OTHER VENDORS, BUT WE DID NOT SEE THIS . IT WASN'T PRESENTED TO US. HOW DIFFERENT WAS IT , AND WAS AT THE LOW BID?

>> IT WAS DEFINITELY THE LOWEST BID , GOING WITH THIS CONTRACT.

THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER. I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME, FORGIVE ME. I CAN SEND THOSE TO YOU, THOUGH.

>> OKAY, YEAH, I WOULD BE INTERESTED. ANOTHER ONE IS COMING UP. THERE WAS TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. I WAS UNSURE WHAT WOULD CAUSE THAT. I WILL ASK THAT IN THE NEXT BID. THANK

YOU. >> YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I HAVE A

[01:10:07]

WHERE DOES A FUTURE READY BUDGET COME FROM, AND HOW MUCH IS IN IT? I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING IN OUR BUDGET

BOOK FOR FUTURE READY. >> WE DO HAVE A LINE SPECIFICALLY FOR FUTURE READY. I'D BE HAPPY TO EMAIL THAT TO YOU OR I COULD LOOK IT UP TONIGHT.

>> I'M SORRY, I CANNOT HEAR YOU.

>> WE DO HAVE A LINE FOR FUTURE READY. I WOULD BE HAPPY

TO EMAIL YOU THE PAGE NUMBER. >> I COULDN'T FIND IT. THANK YOU. FOR MY RESEARCH, FUTURE READY IS A PROGRAM PUSHED BY AN ORGANIZATION CALLED ALL FOUR HEAD. IS THIS THE ONE WE ARE

WORKING WITH? >> CAN YOU CLARIFY YOUR QUESTION. WE HAVE SOMEONE COMING IN AND WORKING WITH US

FOR FUTURE READY? >> NO. FUTURE READY IS A PROGRAM . WITHIN THAT IS ALL FOR ED. IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO? OR ARE WE JUST CALLING FUTURE READY -- ARE WE BUYING FROM FUTURE READY?

>> I BELIEVE IN 2014 OR 2015 THAT THE TRICKERY THAT TOGETHER A GROUP OF PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT LAPTOPS AND MAKING SURE OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS UPDATED SO WE COULD HAVE LAPTOPS FOR STUDENTS IN SCHOOL. IT WAS ALL UNDER THE GUISE OF THE FUTURE READY PROGRAM. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS SPECIFICALLY TO THE PROGRAM YOU ARE SPEAKING OF . I WAS NOT A PART OF THAT ORIGINAL COMMITTEE. THAT HE PUT TOGETHER. THE FUTURE READY PROGRAM HAS DIFFERENT PRONGS.

ONE OF THE FIRST PRONGS WAS TO ENSURE WE HAD A STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE WORK. ONE WAS MORE OF DO WE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT FOR STUDENTS TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS. THE NEXT PART WAS INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND ENSURING OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES WERE SHIFTED FOR BLENDED LEARNING.

ANOTHER PRONG WAS PERSONALIZATION AND HOW ARE WE USING OUR COMPUTERS AND PROGRAMS TO PERSONALIZE LEARNING. I WOULD SAY THAT CALVERT COUNTY HAS MOVED THROUGH A FEW OF THOSE PRONGS, BUT NOT TO THE DEGREE THAT WE DO STRONG PERSONALIZATION, INDIVIDUALIZE PERSONALIZATION

FOR STUDENTS AND LEARNING. >> I SPENT SOME TIME TODAY RESEARCHING FUTURE READY. I WILL SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU LATER. I WANT TO SEE IF THEY ARE CONNECTED WITH THIS -- WHAT WAS IT CALLED? ALL FOR ED.

>> PLEASE DO. I WILL CHECK. >> MR. JOHNSON, CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH -- WELL, YOU ARE GOING TO SEND ME A WRITTEN ACCOUNTING OF THE BUDGET. YOU SAID IT'S ALREADY IN THERE.

>> MISS HAYES. >> I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION. I KNOW IT'S TYPICAL STUDENTS -- WHEN THEY RECEIVE A BACKUP LAPTOP IT DOES NOT WORK CORRECTLY, IT DOES NOT FUNCTION VERY WELL. I JUST WANT TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER LAPTOPS WE ARE PURCHASING AS BACKUPS WILL FUNCTION THE SAME WAY AND

CAPACITY AND MANNER. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THE BACKUP LAPTOPS, THOSE ARE THE SPARES WE MENTIONED, THAT ARE THE LOWER END MODELS , THAT ARE THE NON-TOUCHSCREENS. THEY WORK IN A PINCH. THEY ARE LESS EXPENSIVE. THEY ARE NON-TOUCH.

OUR GOAL IN THE I.T. DEPARTMENT IS THAT IF MS. HAYES ' MACHINE GOES DOWN, SHE HAS A REPLACEMENT DEVICE WITHIN 24 HOURS. NOT ONE OF THE SPARES. THE SPARES TO GET HER THAT SHE HAS SOMETHING THAT SHE CAN CONTINUE HER SCHOOLWORK.

WITHIN 24 HOURS IT'S OUR GOLD TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS ONE OF THOSE , THE 10% THAT I MENTIONED.

>> I GUESS, MY CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE BOARD VOTED FOR A SPENDING FREEZE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE GOING AGAINST OUR OWN VOTE BY MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.

>> I THINK THIS WILL BEMADE IN SCHOOL YEAR 2025, WHICH IS THE BUDGET THAT IS ACROSS THE STREET WITH THE COMMISSIONERS AT THE MOMENT. WE RECOMMENDED A FREEZE FOR OUR CURRENT BUDGET

[01:15:03]

>> BUT WASN'T THE AGREEMENT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SPENDING UNTIL THE BUDGET WAS AGREED-UPON?

>> KNOW. I BELIEVE I PUT FORWARD A REQUEST TO THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ASK HIM TO CONSIDER FREEZING PURCHASES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. I DID NOT -- I DON'T BELIEVE I INFERRED THAT SHOULD GO INTO SCHOOL YEAR 2025,

WHICH STARTS JULY 1ST. >> I AM SAYING THERE WAS A FREEZE UNTIL THE BUDGET WAS APPROVED. UNTIL THE BUDGET PROPOSAL -- RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE IT IS IN DRAFT. IT'S

A PROPOSAL. >> CORRECT. THE BUDGET IS A

PROPOSAL. >> RIGHT. AM I WRONG THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DO A SPENDING FREEZE --

>> THAT WAS FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT'S NOW. THIS IS FOR 2025.

>> ARE WE UNSURE -- ENSURED THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE THERE? WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAPTOPS AND THE IPADS, YOU ARE TALKING CLOSE TO 1,000,000 1/2 DOLLARS. ARE WE ENSURED WE ARE

GOING TO HAVE THAT MONEY? >> YES. SHORT ANSWER.

REALISTIC ANSWER, I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T THINK THE COMPANY IS GOING TO WANT TO HEAR , I

DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PAY YOU. >> IF THIS IS NOT APPROVED AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO PURCHASE THESE LAPTOPS. WHAT WOULD YOUR

SOLUTION BE IN PLACE OF THIS? >> WE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO GET WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION BECAUSE NINTH GRADERS WOULD NOT HAVE LAPTOPS NEXT YEAR.

>> HAVE WE CONSIDERED THE USING OF LAPTOPS ? I REMEMBER THAT WAS A PRACHT IS FROM FIFTH GRADE. HAVE WE LOOKED INTO THAT AT ALL AND WHAT MAY BE UPDATING THE SYSTEMS WOULD COST

US? >> WE ARE BEING VERY CREATIVE GOING INTO THIS NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. BECAUSE WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PURCHASE THE THIRD GRADE LOT TAUGHT -- LAPTOPS AND SEVENTH-GRADE LAPTOPS. WE ARE SHIFTING. WE'RE GOING ONE 22 AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. SORRY, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE ARE BEING -- WE ARE TAKING THE THIRD GRADE LAPTOPS, THE CURRENT THIRD GRADE LAPTOPS AND SHIFTING THEM TO SIXTH-GRADERS.

OTHERWISE WE WOULD BE COMING BEFORE YOU ASKING FOR SIX GRADE LAPTOPS AS WELL. WE USUALLY DO THIRD, SIXTH AND NINTH EVERY SCHOOL YEAR. WE ARE ONLY ASKING FOR NINTH GRADE THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO SHIFT TO THOSE. THE SEVENTH-GRADE LAPTOPS WE ARE SHIFTING THEM BACK INTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK AND CREATIVITY IN THIS. I'M SURE WAS A CONFUSING AND EXCITING PROCESS.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT. >> SINCE I AM A FINANCE PROFESSIONAL, I UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WORKS. BUT MS. GRENIS HAS CLEARLY ASKED FOR A QUESTION AND CLARIFICATION. I WOULD ASK THAT MR. JOHNSON, SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, IF YOU WOULD COME FORWARD AND GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHY THERE ARE, SOMETIMES, A POTENTIAL NEED FOR CONTRACTS TO BE APPROVED PRIOR TO A BUDGET BEING APPROVED AND PUT INTO PLACE, AND HOW BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL'S WORK, TO ASSURE MS. GRENIS THAT IF THE DOLLARS ARE APPROVED -- NOT APPROVED, IT WILL NOT OCCUR.

>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PURCHASES THAT REQUIRED LEADTIME. IN ORDER FOR THE DISTRICT TO PROVIDE THESE LAPTOPS , TIME FOR THE NINTH GRADE STUDENTS WHO ENTER THIS FALL, WE NEED TO ENSURE WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE TO ACQUIRE THE COMPUTERS. WE CAN'T SIMPLY GO TO BEST BUY OR ANY OTHER LOCAL RETAILER AND PURCHASE THIS MANY COMPUTERS FROM INVENTORY. WE NEED TO PLACE THE ORDER AND TAKE TIME IN ADDITION TO PREPARE THE COMPUTERS, SET UP THE CONFIGURATION AND SOFTWARE FOR THE COMPUTER SO IT DOES TAKE

LEADTIME. >> IS THE MONEY THERE TO PAY FOR IT. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. YOU SAID WE HAVE IT IN A

LINE ITEM BUDGET. >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IS THERE ENOUGH AND THAT LINE ITEM BUDGET TO PAY FOR

THIS? >> THERE WILL BE, YES.

>> THERE IS IN CURRENTLY? >> THE BUDGET HASN'T BEEN ADOPTED YET. I AM CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE .

[01:20:06]

>> YOU ARE CONFIDENT THERE WILL BE.

>> MY QUESTION TO STAFF IS, CAN SOMEONE TELL ME OUR CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS HAVE A -- HAS A LANGUAGE THAT SAYS PENDING APPROPRIATION? MEANING IF THERE IS NOT CURRENT APPROPRIATION AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE, THAT A PURCHASE WERE NOT MADE, TO ASSURE OUR VENDORS, PENDING APPROPRIATION, THEY WILL BE MADE.

>> SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS TO HAVE THAT LANGUAGE IN THERE.

THE LARGER ONES TO HAVE LANGUAGE. IF FUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT YEAR, OR THE CURRENT YEAR, THAT THE CONTRACT CAN BE TERMINATED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT JUST YET. WE HAVE TO GET IT APPROVED FIRST, THEN WE GO INTO THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE DOCUMENTATION SIGNED AFTER THAT.

>> HOW SOON WITH THESE HAVE TO BE ORDERED TO GET THEM IN TIME FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR? IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE

POSTPONED ? >> I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH LENOVO, AND THEY SAID WE REALLY NEED TO GET THEM IN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, IF WE HAVE ANY HOPES OF HAVING THEM READY FOR THE BEGINNING OF NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. THEY ARE NOT STATESIDE. THEY HAVE TO COME FROM OVERSEAS WITH THIS QUANTITY WE ORDER. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES. THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE MORE SCHOOL SYSTEMS PURCHASE.

>> VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, WE CANNOT NEGOTIATE THAT LANGUAGE MOVING FORWARD, PENDING APPROVAL TODAY. WE CAN NEGOTIATE THE LANGUAGE IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS, WE HAVE

A WAY OUT OF THE CONTRACT. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE ONLY THING THAT WE HIT OUR BUDGET NEXT YEAR IS THE

222,000? >> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN DR. TOM -- DR. TOWNSEL WAS PUTTING TOGETHER OUR BUDGET, FUTURE READY WAS A BIG PIECES.

IT WAS THERE FROM DAY ONE. 3 1/2 MILLION? YEAH, 3.5 MILLION.

IT'S BEEN IN THE BUDGET, PART OF THE BUDGET, AND A HIGH-PRIORITY PART OF THE BUDGET SINCE THE VERY

BEGINNING. >> ALSO, FOR NOTES, FOR MS. GRENIS, THE ASTERIX AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOCUMENT INDICATES THIS WOULD BE A 48 MONTH LEASE. THE ANNUAL PAYMENT IS $222,000. ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE ARE PROVING MOST OF OUR CONTRACTS, IF IT'S A LEASE AGREEMENT, YOU ARE PROVING PAYMENTS FOR FUTURE YEARS WHERE YOU HAVE NOT ADOPTED A BUDGET.

THAT'S NOT A PRACTICE THAT IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

>> THERE IS ONE MORE THING I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO , THAT I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET THE ANSWERS FROM RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS THE ALL FOR ED. I NEED MORE INFORMATION ON THAT BEFORE

I CAN VOTE FOR THIS. >> WHO KNOWS? THERE'S PROBABLY LOTS OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS USING THE TERM FUTURE READY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS JUST PICKED UP BECAUSE IT WAS A NICE SOUNDING TERM. I DON'T THINK IT'S TRADEMARKED

ANYWHERE. >> IS THERE ANY OTHER

DISCUSSION? >> MS. GRENIS, DO YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT ALL FOR ED?

>> I'M GOING TO MEET WITH DR. JOHNSON.

>> OKAY, DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH US SO WE COULD BE AWARE ALSO .

>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO SHARE ANY MISINFORMATION.

>> OKAY, THANKS. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. THE MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES. ONE ABSTENTION. MOTION PASSES.

YES? ABSOLUTELY. LET'S DO IT. MOTION PASSED. 3-0, WITH

ONE ABSTENTION. >> OKAY. THE SECOND REQUEST IS TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR USING THE PENNSYLVANIA PURCHASING PROGRAM FOR THE CONTRACT NUMBER 2022 TO RENEW THE EXISTING HELP DESK SOFT WHERE THAT ALLOWS I.T. DEPARTMENT TECHNICIANS THE ABILITY TO EASILY NAVIGATE REQUESTS AND PROVIDE OUR DISTRICT WITH PERSONALIZED AND TIMELY SUPPORT. THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE ALSO PROVIDES THE I.T. DEPARTMENT WITH THE TOOLS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE USED INDEPENDENTLY

[01:25:03]

>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> EPPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> YES. >> MISS BALINSKI.

>> IS THIS TH VENDOR WE ARE CURRENTLY USING?

>> YES. >> DO WE KNOW WHY THE OTHER TWO QUOTES WERE MORE THAN DOUBLE?

>> IT DEPENDS . THE OTHER CONTRACTS WE PUT OUT FOR , IT

DEPENDS. THEY CAME IN LESS. >> I CAN SPEAK TO THAT.

DIFFERENT COOPERATIVES HAVE DIFFERENT TERMS. THEY ARE REALLY GOOD AT LOOKING AT THOSE AND FINDING AS THOSE PRICES WORKING THROUGH THE I.T. DEPARTMENT. THEY'VE BEEN GOOD AT DOING THAT FOR US. THE COOPERATIVES CAN GIVE YOU DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES OF SERVICES, PRODUCTS, AND DEPENDING ON THE COOPERATIVE YOU ARE PART OF, I THINK IT IS THE MARYLAND EDUCATION ENTERPRISE , I.T. IS ABLE TO SEE A MULTITUDE OF COOPERATIVES, AND GET PRICING

FROM THERE. >> THAT IS SOMETHING. OKAY,

THANK YOU. >> I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED THE ANSWER TO THIS, I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE MY COMPUTER OUT. HAS THE I.T. DEPARTMENT LOOKED INTO USING THE EXISTING MICROSOFT LICENSE TO CREATE A HELP DESK TICKETING PURCHASING SYSTEM? IS THAT ASKED ALREADY?

>> NO. MICROSOFT DOESN'T HAVE A TICKETING SYSTEM, THAT I AM

AWARE OF. >> IT DOES NOT HAVE THE

CAPABILITY? >> YOU COULD BUILD ONE . I'M SURE YOU COULD PROGRAM AND BUILD ONE, BUT THERE'S NOT AN OUT OF THE BOX SOLUTION THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE.

ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? MOTION PASSES , 3-0.

>> MOTION PASSES, 4-0. AS MS. MAXEY IS WALKING TO THE BACK, AND WEAK GIVE HER A HAND? SHE WAS OUR ASSISTANT YESTERDAY WAS ADMINISTRATOR PROFESSIONALS. SHE IS PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. YES. SHE IS

NO JOKE. >> THANK YOU, THE THIRD AND LAST REQUEST IS TO GAIN APPROVAL FOR USING THE MARYLAND EDUCATION PROJECT -- 972016 FOR THE LEASE TO OWN AGREEMENT OF 1260 IPADS FOR THE PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE REFRESH, WITH A FOURTH -- FOUR YEAR APPLECARE DAMAGE PROTECTION POLICY. RETURNING THE IPADS FOR A $50,400 BUYBACK. KEEPING THEM IN SERVICE FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE IDENTIFIED CONTRACT FOR THE LEASE TO OWN OF 1260 IPADS FOR THE PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE REFRESH, WITH THE INCLUDED DAMAGE PROTECTION POLICY. AWARD THE CAUGHT -- CONTRACT TO APPLE INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $495,117 , WHICH IS AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $123,779 PER YEAR

[01:30:02]

READY BUDGET. >> MOVED TO APPROVE .

>> SECOND. >> PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED.

DISCUSSION? >> HOW MANY IPADS WOULD THAT BE IN EACH CLASSROOM FROM PRE-K TO TWO ?

>> EVERYTHING SHOULD BE 1 TO 4 RATIO. ONE IPAD FOR EVERY

FOUR STUDENTS. >> DON'T THEY CURRENTLY HAVE

SIX RIGHT NOW? >> WE ISSUED SIX AT THE BEGINNING AS A TRIAL. AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR , BECAUSE OF SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IPADS WERE IN MY CLASSROOMS READY TO GO. WHAT WE FOUND WAS THERE WAS A DISPARITY ACROSS THE COUNTY WHERE WE HAD SOME TEACHERS THAT HAD SIX, WHEN MAYBE THEY SHOULD HAVE ONLY HAD FOUR. SOME TEACHERS -- WE RAN OUT. WE HAVE TO ADJUST A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS NEXT YEAR. JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERY TEACHER HAS THE 1 TO 4 RATIO. WE FLOAT UP WITH THAT,

TOO. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL

IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS?

MOTION PASSED, 3-0-1. >> THANK YOU.

[2.07 Budget Transfers]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE BUDGET TRANSFERS . MR. SCOTT JOHNSON.

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WHITE, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL POLICY 5515, APPROVAL IS REQUESTED FOR THE FOLLOWING SET OF INTRACATEGORY BUDGET TRANSFERS AS LISTED. THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS ARE FOR THE GENERAL FUND AND THE FOOD SERVICE FUND. BUDGET CHANGES FOR THE GRANT FUND WILL BE PROPOSED LATER THIS SPRING . IF APPROVED, THE BUDGET TRANSFERS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE COUNTY. RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED AS PRESENTED THE INTRACATEGORY BUDGET TRANSFERS. NET TO ZERO BY CATEGORY.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> DISCUSSION? >> YES, I HAVE A QUESTION.

THIS IS SO MUCH WORK TO GO IN AND TO MICROMANAGE THE LINE ITEMS, BUT YOU HAVE SAID TO US THAT YOU BELIEVE THIS IS IN BEST INTEREST OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WHO ARE NEEDING TO LOOK AT THEIR PROJECT, AND SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. IS THAT A CORRECT STATEMENT?

>> IT HELPS US TO ENSURE THE BUDGET IS IN ALIGNMENT -- OR THAT THE EXPENDITURES ARE ALIGNMENT AT FISCAL YEAR. IT ALSO HELPS US TO ENSURE THAT THE BUDGET WILL BE CLOSE TO BUDGET SEXUAL AT YEAR-END. THE BUDGETS ACTUAL WAS CLOSER THAN IT HAS BEEN IN YEARS. THAT WAS DUE LARGELY TO BUDGET TRANSFERS

. >> DO THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THESE -- STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, OPERATION, DO THEY SIGN OFF ON THIS ? IN OTHER WORDS, DO YOU GET THEIR

INPUT? >> TYPICALLY, I DO. THE SET I DID NOT. MOST OF THESE TRANSFERS ARE NOT ACCOUNTS THAT ARE MANAGED BY THE VARIOUS DIRECTORS. THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT ARE . HOWEVER, THESE ARE INTRA-CATEGORY , AND THEY HAVE NO IMPACT FOR ANY BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR. THE ONES THAT WERE MADE WITH -- WITHOUT CONSULTATION OF ADMINISTRATORS WILL REBALANCE THEIR ACCOUNT SO THOSE ACCOUNTS WILL BE IN THE BLACK INSTEAD OF THE RED. SO THERE WOULD BE NO REASON TO OBJECT TO HAVING THOSE ACCOUNTS BE REBALANCED .

>> OKAY, BUT, MY LAST QUESTION IS , I SEE YOU HAVE TAKEN OUT SOME, TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, YOU HAVE REDUCED SOME BY LARGE AMOUNTS, AND INCREASED OTHERS BY LARGE

[01:35:08]

>> I WOULD BE, HOWEVER, THE ONE AREA THAT IS A PINCH POINT, WHICH I WILL HIGHLIGHT IN THE REPORTS , WOULD BE THE ACCOUNT WE HAVE DISCUSSED BEFORE. THE SPECIAL EDUCATION TRANSFERS ACCOUNT . $375,000 OVER BUDGET. AS OF FEBRUARY 29TH. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME POSITIVES, INCLUDING MORE FAVORABLE REVENUE RESULTS , SO FAR, THIS FISCAL YEAR, COMPARED TO BUDGETS. INSURANCE REFUND. OFFSET THE ADDITIONAL COST WE HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SPECIAL-EDUCATION ACCOUNT.

>> YOU WILL BRING THAT UP IN THE GENERAL FUND DISCUSSION,

BUT IT'S NOT PART OF THIS. >> THAT TRANSFER IS NOT

INCLUDED HERE. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

NAVARRO, REGARDING THE ATHLETIC FIELD MAINTENANCE. I WILL TALK TO HIM WHEN HE GETS BACK. I AM STILL GETTING COMPLAINTS THAT THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL FIELD IS STILL A MESS. LOOK

INTO THAT. THANKS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO? THANK YOU. IT HAS PROBABLY BEEN MOVED OR SECONDED. NO MORE DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS. MOTION

PASSES, 3-0. >> THERE IS FOUR OF US.

>> 4-0. NEXT WE HAVE FINANCE REPORTS. MR. JOHNSON.

[2.08 Financial Reports]

>> THANK YOU. I WILL PRESENT THE FINANCIAL REPORT PACKAGE.

THE FIRST REPORT ON PAGE TWO IS THE GENERAL FUND TAX REPORT.

THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED $160.9 MILLION , REPRESENTING 60.3 OF THE TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET . AT THIS TIME, THE DISTRICT IS PROJECT TO END THE YEAR WITH REVENUES ABOVE THE AMOUNT DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCES I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO. THE SECOND REPORT IS AN EXPENDITURE SUMMARY REPORT BY BUDGET CATEGORY. IN THIS REPORT IT SHOWS , AS OF FEBRUARY 29TH, THE DISTRICT EXPENDED 174 POINT MILLION -- COMBINED , THIS REPRESENT 85.7 OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET. AS NOTED A MOMENT AGO, AND ALSO IN PREVIOUS MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, THE ONE PINCH POINT IS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CATEGORY, 206, ON PAGE 13 OF THIS REPORT. YOU SEE THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURE EQUALS NEARLY $375,000 OVER BUDGET. THIS AMOUNT MAY CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, BUT IT WILL BE OFFSET. MORE THAN OFFSET BY THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE FROM LOCAL SOURCES . THROUGHOUT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET REPORT ON PAGES EIGHT THROUGH 18, OTHER ACCOUNTS OVER BUDGET, AND THE BUDGET TRANSFERS APPROVED WILL BALANCE MOST OF THE ACCOUNTS OVER BUDGET BY MORE THAN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. HAPPY TO HIGHLIGHT THE OTHER FEW REPORTS IN THIS SET, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. IF NOT, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> MINE IS MORE OF A REQUEST, I SUPPOSE. WHERE ARE THE TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR CONFERENCES, AIRPLANE, HOTELS, THINGS LIKE THAT . YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT IF YOU COULD

PROVIDE THAT TO ME. >> SURE, I WOULD BE GLAD TO.

I'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FUTURE

[01:40:01]

IT'S A THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, ABOUT FIVE ROWS UP FROM THE BOTTOM. THE ROW IS TITLED INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY, SLASH , FUTURE READY. NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

>> I SENT QUESTIONS, I THINK, LATE LAST NIGHT. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT LATENESS. IT WAS IN THE RESTRICTED AREA. THE TWO OVER MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE OTHER PROGRAM ONCE. IF YOU CAN GET BACK TO US ON THAT. ESPECIALLY SINCE WE DON'T SEE THE REVENUE SIDE HERE. IF THE REVENUE HASN'T COME IN, IT'S AN EXPLANATION WHY WE HAVEN'T SPENT OF THIS EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY. MILLION DOLLARS. IF YOU CAN ANSWER THEM, THANK

YOU. >> I AM NO EXPERT AT REACHING -- READING BUDGETS OR UNDERSTANDING , I AM CONFUSED.

YOU NEED DATED A NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS WERE OVER BUDGET. WE JUST PREVIOUSLY MADE THOSE CHANGES TO GET UNDER BUDGET.

BUT WHAT ARE THE DEPARTMENTS OR AREAS DO REMAIN IN THE BUDGET IN THE FUTURE SO THIS DOESN'T HAVE TO KEEP REOCCURRING?

>> I'M SORRY, I COULD ONLY HEAR PART OF THE QUESTION.

>> I APOLOGIZE. YOU NOTATED EARLIER ABOUT A NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS BEING OVER BUDGET. AND YOU MADE CHANGES MOMENTS AGO IN ORDER TO RESET THAT AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHIN WAS NET ZERO, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. BUT WHAT ARE THESE AREAS OR DEPARTMENTS , WHATEVER IT MAY BE, DOING IN ORDER TO REMAIN UNDER BUDGET IN THE FUTURE, OR AT BUDGET IN THE FUTURE?

>> MOST OF OUR BUDGET ADMINISTRATORS , MOST OR ALL OF THEM, ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOBSTAYING WITHIN BUDGET.

SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, THERE ARE COSTS THAT RISE FASTER THAN EXPECTED. INFLATION. PERHAPS ADDITIONAL NEEDS YOU DEVELOP IN THE FISCAL YEAR AFTER THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED. THERE ARE VARIETY OF STRATEGIES . SOMETIMES OUR BUDGET DIRECTORS WILL LOOK FOR DIFFERENT SOURCES OF SUPPLIES, FOR INSTANCE.

THEY WILL WORK WITH OUR PROCUREMENT SUPERVISOR TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE VENDORS. ALSO USING PIGGYBACK CONTRACTS TO GET A PRICING THEN IF WE WERE TO PURCHASE ITEMS WITHOUT THE PIGGYBACK OR COOPERATIVE PURCHASE CONTRACTS.

>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING, I APPRECIATE IT.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. NEXT WE WILL

[2.09 Strategic Plan Update]

>> GOOD EVENING, ALL. MY GOAL IS TO SHARE OUR TRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS , AND AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE NOW. AS YOU RECALL, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, JULY OF 2023, WE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL TO DESIGN A STRATEGIC PLAN OF WHAT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. WE CONTRACT DID . MY GOAL IS TO SHARE WITH YOU WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW , AND WHAT WILL THE FUTURE OF CALVERT COUNTY LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR GETTING THERE .

WHAT IS A STRATEGIC PLAN? ESTABLISHES A SHARED MISSION AND VISION THAT DEFINES OPTIMAL AND AGREED-UPON FEATURE OF THE DISTRICT. ARTICULATES AND DEFINES DISTRICT PRIORITIES AND GOALS WITH THE MISSION AND VISION. PROVIDES A BASE FROM WHICH PROGRESS OF GOALS CAN BE MEASURED. CREATES A COMMUNICATION VEHICLE TO REGULARLY INFORM STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT DISTRICT INITIATIVES. ULTIMATELY, CREATE EXCITEMENT AND ENERGY FOR US ALL. THERE IS A FOUR PHASE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH. PHASE ONE IS ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS. I WILL SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WENT ON IN THAT PHASE. I WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH PHASE TWO, INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT. PHASE THREE, FOCUS ON THE FUTURE AND WHERE WILL WILL BE IN PHASE FOUR. PHASE ONE, ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS STAGE. IN SUMMER OF 2023, IN JULY, WE HAD OUR SUMMER LEADERSHIP . WE BROUGHT ALL OF OUR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY, FROM CENTRAL OFFICE TO EVERY SCHOOL, TO PREPARE AND SHARE LEARNING ON THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS. THE OUTCOME OF OUR ORGANIZATIONAL READINESS MEETING WAS TO DEVELOP A TIMELINE, ACTION STEP S, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR

[01:45:01]

THE GOAL OF THE INCLUSIVE STAGE WAS TO DEVELOP DATA REPORTS. WE LOOK AT THAT ALL OVER CALVERT COUNTY, SPECIFICALLY WITH OUR QUALITATIVE DATA. INTERVIEWS, FOCUS GROUPS, IN THE NORTH AND SOUTHERN PART OF OUR COUNTY. WE HAD 11 ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS.

22 FOCUS GROUPS, WHICH INCLUDE STUDENTS, PARENTS, COMMUNITIES, BUSINESS, PRESCHOOL, POSTSECONDARY PARTNERS, EMPLOYEES, TEACHERS, CERTIFIED STAFF, AND TWO COMMUNITY FORUMS . THAT WAS HELD IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WITH REGARDS TO OUR QUANTITATIVE DATA, WE HAD A COMMUNITY SURVEY. 2397 COMPLETED SURVEYS. RESULTED IN CATEGORIZING THE OUTCOME INTO FOUR PERFORMANCE AREAS. ONE IS VISION AND VALUES. SECOND IS TEACHING AND LEARNING. THIRD IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. FOURTH IS MANAGEMENT. DATA SCAN, EXPLORATION OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL DATA REPORTS THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE DISTRICTS CURRENT OPERATIONS. EXAMINE THE FACTORS THAT CAN POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE DISTRICT IN THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS. IN PHASE THREE, WE DECIDED TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE. THIS TOOK LACE IN THE WINTER OF 2024 , WHERE WE COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM THE INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT PHASE , AND WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO CREATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENTS. THE OUTCOME OF THIS MEETING WAS THE JOURNEY OF THE GRADUATE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MISSION, VALUES, PRIORITIES AND OBJECTIVES. THESE WERE FULL-DAY WORKSHOPS ON JANUARY 8TH WE HELD A DATA REVIEW SESSION. JANUARY 18TH WE TALKED ABOUT OUR JOURNEY OF THE GRADUATE AND CORE VALUES. JANUARY 26, PRIORITIES AND DIRECTIVES. MARCH 1ST, COMPLETION OF OUR DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN. AGAIN, THESE WERE ALL-DAY SESSIONS. WE HAD MEMBERS , JUST ABOUT EVERYONE REPRESENTED INVOLVED, INCLUDING LEADERSHIP FROM THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS. MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, PRINCIPALS, EDUCATORS. A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET EVERYONE IN THE ROOM TO DEVELOP A DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN. THE KEY STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES. TOP FIVE STRENGTHS OF CALVERT COUNTY IS WE ARE HIGH-PERFORMANCE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE. WE ARE EQUITY FOCUSED.

WE ARE ENGAGED WITH HIGH QUALITY EDUCATORS. WE INCLUDE DIVERSE STUDENTS AND PERSPECTIVES. STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRUSTED ADULTS. OUR TOP CHALLENGES, TOP FIVE CHALLENGES THAT EMERGED WERE STAFF WITH MULTIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES , STUDENT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, OPTIONS FOR PERSONALIZED LEARNING, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF ALREADY HIGH FUNCTIONING SCHOOLS, AN OPPORTUNITY AND ACHIEVEMENT GAPS THAT EXIST HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS . THE JOURNEY OF THE GRADUATE, THIS IS A VISION FOR THE SUCCESS OF ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FIVE KEY AREAS. NUMBER ONE BEING ENGAGED CITIZEN. TWO, EMPOWER LEARNER. THREE, CRITICAL THINKER. FOUR, COLLABORATOR. FIVE -- FIFTH, COMMUNICATOR. WE TALK ABOUT A JOURNEY OF A GRADUATE, YOUNG PERSON THAT COMES INTO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, ALL THE WAY THROUGH THEIR 12TH GRADE YEAR. WITH REGARDS TO BEING AN ENGAGED CITIZEN, WE SAY A CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT WILL DEMONSTRATE QUALITIES SUCH AS ON THE STREET, -- SUCH AS HONESTY, KINDNESS, AND WILL EXHIBIT THE MORAL COURAGE TO STAND UP WHAT IS FOR RIGHT. ALSO CONTRIBUTE COGNITIVELY THROUGH ETHICAL BEHAVIOR AND LEADERSHIP, AND INSPIRES AND UPLIFTS . THE STUDENTS WILL SHOW RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY AND PROMOTE A POSITIVE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. WITH REGARDS TO EMPOWER LEARNER, WE SAY A CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT WILL CONSISTENTLY STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND SEEK OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND LEARNING. THEY WILL SAY AND PURSUE CHALLENGING GOALS AND SHOW RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGES. THEY WOULD DEMONSTRATE DEDICATION, MOTIVATION, LEADERSHIP, AND CREATIVITY. IS, AND MAKE

[01:50:11]

WITH REGARDS TO OUR YOUNG PAPERS -- YOUNG PEOPLE BEING COMMUNICATORS. A CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT WILL ENGAGE DIVERSE AUDIENCES RESPECTFULLY EXCHANGING IDEAS AND INFORMATION RESPONSIBLY, LISTENING ACTIVELY, SPEAKING AND WRITING CLEARLY, AND USING PRINT AND DIGITAL MEDIA APPROPRIATELY. THEY WILL ALSO LISTEN ACTIVELY, CONTRIBUTE IDEAS CONSTRUCTIVELY, AND RESOLVE CONFLICTS AND MOCHA GLOBALLY -- RESOLVE CONFLICTS AMICABLY. . OUR MISSION, OUR BRIEF AND MEMORABLE STATEMENT OF WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT, AND FOR WHOM. THE CALVERT CONTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MISSION IS TO NURTURE AND -- AN INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO EMPOWER STUDENTS WITH A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC FOUNDATION THAT IGNITES A PASSION FOR LEARNING AND RAISES THE BAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION. OUR CORE VALUES, ETHICS AND PRINCIPLES AND HOW WE SHOW UP FOR EACH OTHER EACH DAY. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VALUES A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND WELL-BEING FOR ALL. GROWTH, ACHIEVEMENT, AND EXCELLENCE FOR ALL. A CULTURE OF COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY. ACKNOWLEDGING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, AND RESPONSIBLE AND ETHICAL STEWARDSHIP FOR OF ALL RESOURCES. WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED FOUR PRIORITY AREAS. STUDENT EXCELLENCE, CULTURE FOR LEARNING. ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. EACH OF THESE PRIORITY AREAS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO OBJECTIVES. OUR OBJECTIVES WRITE DOWN PRIORITY AREAS AND PROVIDE CLARITY AND DIRECTION AT THE GOVERNANCE LEVEL, WITHOUT SPACE -- DESCRIBING SPECIFIC STRATEGIES. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT STUDENT EXCELLENCE, THE EXCELLENCE IS TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT MEETS OR EXCEEDS CURRICULAR STANDARDS. EVERY STUDENT -- EXCUSE ME, WE ENSURE EVERY STUDENT DEVELOP AN ACADEMIC MIND-SET, AND HAS THAT SUPPORT LEARNING. WE ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. AND ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IS ENGAGED IN RIGOROUS, RESPONSIVE, AND AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

UNDER A CULTURE FOR LEARNING, WE SAY OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OBJECTIVES ARE TO GRAY AND IT SUPPORT ACCESSIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE INCLUSIVE. CREATE ENVIRONMENTS THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC GROWTH AND MIND-SETS. PROVIDE SYSTEMS FOR BEHAVIOR AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS AND INTERVENTIONS THAT CREATE SAFE AND ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS. CELEBRATE STUDENT STAFF SUCCESSES. PROVIDE RELEVANT AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

OPPORTUNITY. >> WE WILL SAY WE WILL RESPONSIBLY MANAGE RESOURCES, OPTIMIZE BUDGET ALLOCATION, AND SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICTS GOALS. WE WILL ENSURE FAIR AND JUST DISTRIBUTION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES. WE WILL RECRUIT, RETAIN, AND SUSTAIN HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE STAFF. WE WILL INVEST IN THE MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENTS TO PROVIDE OPTIMAL LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS. WE WILL OPTIMIZE OUR RESOURCES TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE TEACHING, PERSONALIZED LEARNING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY. AND COLLECT, ANALYZE, AND UTILIZE DATA TO INFORM PRACTICES, ALLOCATIONS, AND STRATEGIC PLANNING. WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WE SAY WE WILL ENSURE COMMUNICATION IS TRANSPARENT, CONSISTENT AND PURPOSEFUL. WE WILL ESTABLISH A WELL-DEFINED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND PLAN THAT SUPPORTS STRATEGIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMEN. AN INCREASE PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT THE LEARNING PROCESS. NEXT STEPS. THE GOAL WAS TO SHARE THIS SO WE CAN ALL REVIEW THE

[01:55:11]

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROGRESS, WHETHER YOU ARE PART OF A FOCUS GROUP, INTERVIEW, SURVEY, PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE, WERE ATTENDED OUR ALL-DAY WORK SESSIONS. WE TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT. A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS. I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT STRATEGIC LAND THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN CALVERT COUNTY. THAT WAS APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2017. THAT WAS A FIVE-YEAR PLAN THAT CONCLUDED IN JUNE OF 2022. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A PLAN APPROVED BY THE TIME WE START 2025. HAPPY FOR COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR

CONCERNS. >> ALONG PROCESS. I AM GLAD I WAS PART OF IT. THERE WAS TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF EXCHANGE AND IDEAS. THE GROUP THAT LED US THROUGH THE PROCESS, STARTED OFF DIFFERENTLY I WAS PART OF THAT STEERING COMMITTEE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD PROCESS THAT THEY LET US THROUGH. AS LONG AS WE CAN COME UP WITH THESE STRONG METRICS, ON HOW WE CAN GAUGE OUR PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE STRATEGIC PLAN IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT.

THOUGHTS I HAVE FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. IF WE CAN GO TO SLIDE 13. OH, THE MISSION STATEMENT. YOU KNOW, THE MISSION STATEMENT IS BRIEF AND MEMORABLE STATEMENT. I HAD TO TAKE MY HUSBAND TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ABOUT A MONTH AGO, THEY HAD THEIR MISSION STATEMENT PLASTERED ACROSS THE WALL, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF COOL. IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT ONE, THE ACTUAL MISSION STATEMENT, I DON'T MEAN TO CRITICIZE , BUT IT IS NOT BRIEF OR MEMORABLE, AND THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME. THE MISSION STATEMENT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT EVERY PERSON KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. WHEN I LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE INCLUSIVE AND SUPPORTIVE AS THE MEAT OF IT, A RIGOROUS ACADEMIC FOUNDATION IS AN AFTERTHOUGHT EMBEDDED IN A PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE. THE NUMBER ONE CONCERN IS ACADEMIC FOUNDATION. ON SLIDE 18, YOU REFERRED TO IT AS SOME STUDENT EXCELLENCE. A POSSIBILITY COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING ALL SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS THROUGH ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT. I THINK THE FOCUS NEEDS TO BE ON ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. JUST A SUGGESTION.

[02:00:02]

YOU USED THE WORD INSHORE IN EACH OF THE BOTTOM BOXES. YOU ARE GOING TO ENSURE THEY CAN DO ALL THESE THINGS. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT MEETS OR EXCEEDS STANDARDS. ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE TIED TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WHEN I READ THAT, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS THE HOODIES. IF A CHILD IS WEARING EITHER EARBUDS AND LISTENING TO MUSIC DURING INSTRUCTION, CAN WE ENSURE THAT CHILD IS GOING TO MEET OR EXCEED EXPECTATIONS? THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES IN THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. IN THE SECOND BOX, ENSURE EVERY STUDENT DEVELOPS ACADEMIC MIND-SETS AND HABITS THAT SUPPORT HARMONY. MY MIND IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE CELL PHONE POLICY. CELL PHONE POLICIES NEED TO BE ELIMINATED FROM THE CLASSROOM UNLESS DIRECTED BY THE TEACHER FOR INSTRUCTIONAL USE. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ENSURE GOOD MIND-SETS AND HABITS THAT SUPPORT LEARNING. IF YOU GO TO THE THIRD BOX, ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. THIS IS WHERE THE CODE OF CONDUCT NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED. IF WE WANT TO ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES AND PASSIONS, WE NEED TO GET THE BEHAVIOR OF OUR SCHOOLS UNDER CONTROL. AND THE LAST ONE, ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IS ENGAGED IN RIGOROUS, RESPONSIVE, AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES. I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT ON THAT ONE. OH. I'M SORRY, IF I GO BACK TO NUMBER THREE, I GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT ONE. ENSURE EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSION. THAT ALSO GOES INTO IF WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS, WELL, I TALKED ABOUT THE CODE OF CONDUCT, I GUESS THE RESPONSIVE AND AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THAT ALSO GOES INTO THIS. WITH THE AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES, WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IS THE 50% POLICY. IF YOU GIVE A CHILD 50%, THAT IS NOT AN AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE IF THEY'VE DONE NOTHING. IF THEY GO TO WORK, THEY MAY CHOOSE NOT TO GO TO WORK, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO GET 50% OF THEIR SALARY, SO THAT IS NOT AN AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I COULD

[02:05:08]

BEFORE I COULD EVER APPROVE THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, OUR CODE OF CONDUCT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED AND CHANGED. THANK YOU.

>> BLESS YOU. >> THANK YOU. SO, I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, LET ME CLARIFY THE WORDING. THE GRADUATE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH, WHEN DEVELOPING THIS, ARE THESE YOUR END-ALL, BE-ALL CIRCUMSTANCES? THEY SHOULD CONSISTENTLY STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE. WHEN YOU ARE DEVELOPING THIS, DID YOU BREAK IT DOWN, WELL, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THIS POINT AFTER FIRST GRADE OR SECOND GRADE?

DID YOU LOOK AT THAT AS WELL? >> THAT'S PART OF THE SCOPE AND SEQUENCE OF THE CURRICULUM. WHEN A YOUNG PERSON HAS COMPLETED PUBLIC SCHOOL, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE THESE

SKILLS. >> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY REGARDING STUDENT EXCELLENCE. I REALLY LOVE IT, I APPRECIATE THE POWERPOINT GENERALLY, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THAT I'VE SEEN WHERE I REVIEW THE AGENDA WHERE I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR AREAS OF CONFUSION, WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHARED, I APPRECIATE THAT. ANYWAYS, INVOLVED IN STUDENT EXCELLENCE IS STUDENT RESPONSE ABILITY, IN ORDER FOR A STUDENT TO EXCEL AS AN ADULT AND A MEMBER OF THE REAL WORLD, THEY HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATION FOR THEIR JOBS, AND WHATEVER THEY ARE INVOLVED IN. I DO AGREE SOME THINGS NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER, IN TERMS OF REQUIREMENTS AND HELICES, BUT I DO THINK STUDENTS SHOULD BE LEFT QUITE A BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM, IF YOU'D LIKE TO USE THAT WORD, IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THAT RESPONSE ABILITY. STUDENTS IN AP CLASSES ARE SPOTS BEFORE GRADES, FOR THE WORK THEY PUT IN. IF THEY CHOOSE TO PUT IN EARBUDS DURING A LECTURE, THAT'S ON THEM. AND I THINK THE GRADES REFLECT THAT. THERE ARE CERTAIN POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS, I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO LEAVE STUDENTS ROOM TO DEVELOP ACADEMIC RESPONSE ABILITY TO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL WILL BE SUCCESSFUL HUMANS AND NOT REACH FOR THEIR PHONE CONSTANTLY OR THEIR EARBUDS WHILE IN A WORK ENVIRONMENT. THANK YOU.

>> VICE PRESIDENT? >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WHITE.

A QUESTION FOR YOU. YOU MENTIONED YOU BELIEVE THERE ARE POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE CHANGED AND STRENGTHENED BEFORE YOU CAN SUPPORT THIS STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, THE BOARD ADOPTS POLICIES, THAT IS PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY, AND THIS STRATEGIC PLAN IS BEING DEVELOPED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT. HOW DO YOU DEFINE, COULD YOU DEFINE FOR ME HOW THE TWO INTERPLAY? ULTIMATELY, THE POLICIES COULD STOP THERE STRATEGIC PLAN BEING PUT INTO PLACE.

>> YOU CANNOT SEPARATE OUR POLICIES FROM THE STRATEGIC PLAN. THEY ARE SO INTERTWINED, OUR POLICIES ARE WHAT LEADS THIS, THEY ARE BASED ON THIS. WOULD YOU AGREE THAT THERE IS A CONNECTION? I THINK THAT WAS EVEN IN ONE OF YOUR SLIDES.

I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. >> NO PROBLEM. THE PLAN IS TO INCREASE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, WITH POLICIES THAT ARE IN PLACE, ALREADY APPROVED BY THE BOARD. WE HAVE A PLAN TO EXECUTE AND GET BETTER AS A DISTRICT. THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE MANAGE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND POLICY? THE POLICIES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, WITH THE POLICIES AS THEY ARE, WE

[02:10:07]

ACHIEVEMENT. >> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION? >> IT DOESN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE SAYING THE STRATEGIC PLAN CANNOT BE PUT INTO PLACE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T BELIEVE THE POLICIES ARE EFFECTIVE. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR MAKNG THE POLICIES EFFECTIVE, SO THAT THE PLAN CAN BE IMPROVED?

>> THE POLICIES NEED TO BE CHANGED IN ORDER FOR ME TO

ACCEPT THIS STRATEGIC PLAN. >> ULTIMATELY YOU ARE SAYING YOU COULD NEVER VOTE FOR THIS STRATEGIC PLAN, BECAUSE THE

POLICIES ARE NOT EFFECTIVE? >> I JUST EXPLAINED EACH BOX, WHAT ISSUE I HAVE WITH POLICIES THAT MAKE THIS , WE CANNOT ENSURE STUDENT EXCELLENCE, WE CANNOT ENSURE THESE THINGS FOR STUDENTS WITH THE POLICIES WE HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THIS SLIDE, THEN WE CAN TALK, BUT THE WAY THE POLICIES ARE RIGHT NOW, WE CANNOT ENSURE ANY ONE OF THOSE.

>> THE WAY I SEE IT, EXCUSE ME, THE WAY I SEE IT IS THAT YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING, POLICY OR NOT, WE DON'T SAY POLICY IS 50%.

>> WE CAN'T GIVE LESS THAN A 50%.

>> YOUR CONCERNS WOULD BE PUT INTO ACTION THROUGH THE METRICS, IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE ARE GAUGING SOME OF THOSE CURRICULAR STANDARDS THEY EXCEED, AND EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS, ARE WE GIVING EVERY STUDENT EVERY OPPORTUNITY? I THINK YOU SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE METRICS, WHICH WILL HELP US TO GAUGE WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MEETING THESE STANDARDS. THIS IS A BROAD DOCUMENT, THE POLICY, IN MY MIND, IS UNDERNEATH THAT. OUR JOB EVERY MONTH IS TO LOOK AT POLICY, SEE IF WE NEED TO CHANGE IT TO FIT THIS, NOT THE

OTHER WAY AROUND. >> THIS SUPPORTS LETTING CHILDREN WEAR HOODIES IN OUR CLASSROOM, THIS SUPPORTS ALL THE THINGS THAT I WENT THROUGH, AND THAT'S WHERE I'M STRUGGLING WITH THESE THINGS. THEY ARE WHAT STOP US FROM ENSURING THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN A CLASSROOM.

>> I BELIEVE I FEEL OPPOSITE, I LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AS A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT, A ROAD MAP FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE WORK THAT IS CARRIED OUT BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE POLICIES THAT THE BOARD PUTS INTO PLACE ARE ALSO GUIDELINES THAT SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP YOU FROM RUNNING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE ARE GOING DOWN OUR ROAD MAP, AND WHAT'S STOPPING US FROM RUNNING OFF THE ROAD IS THE POLICIES. THE BOARD WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE POLICIES TO SUPPORT CONTINUING DOWN THE PATH OF WHAT OUR STRATEGIC PLAN HAS OUTLINED. WHEN THE BOARD MAKES DECISIONS, WE SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

>> I GUESS I SEE IT MORE THE WAY THE DOCTOR EXPLAINED IT, THE POLICIES ARE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, AND OUR STRATEGIC PLAN HAS BEEN BASED ON THOSE. YOU SEEM TO BE REVERSING THIS, IF I'M FOLLOWING CORRECTLY. WE LOOK AT THE POLICIES ARE FOREVER CHANGING . WE LOOK AT THEM EVERY SINGLE MONTH, A NEW ONE

COMES UP. >> THANK YOU, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE POLICY CHANGES, SO THAT THESE

CAN BE. >> THE PLAN IS WHAT WE SHOULD STRIVE TO, WE DEVELOP OUR POLICIES TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> SO YOU ARE SAYING REVERSE THE SCENARIO? OKAY.

>> THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE NOW, IT IS STILL

IN PROCESS. >> YES, THIS IS THE LANGUAGE THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH. THE NEXT STEP IS TO PUT IMPLEMENTATION PLANS IN PLACE WITH RESPECT TO THE $75,000 TO DEVELOPMENTS, WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN MEET WHATEVER GOALS THE BOARD SETS.

WHATEVER POLICY IS IN PLACE, WE ARE CONFIDENT WE CAN EXECUTE.

>> I HAD A FEW THINGS ALSO. CREATING A COMMUNICATION

[02:15:09]

[2.10 BOE Calendar Approval]

ANY DISCUSSION? >> I OBVIOUSLY WON'T BE SERVING ON THE BOARD WHEN THIS CALENDAR YEAR IS IN PLACE. MY SUCCESSOR WILL, AND I FEEL THE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND OTHER STUDENTS WHO WILL BE SERVING THIS POSITION IN THE FUTURE. I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS A COMPELLING POINT THAT WAS MADE DURING FEBRUARY'S ELECTION, WARD MEETINGS ARE POORLY TIMED THROUGHOUT THE DAY. THE TIME AT 330 P.M. IS INACCESSIBLE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. WE WANT OUR STUDENTS TO BE INVOLVED, PROVIDE COMMENT AND BE ADVOCATES. HOW CAN WE SAY THAT WE WANT THIS IF THEY ARE BARELY ABLE TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS? THESE MEETINGS ARE LONG, I'VE BEEN IN A LOT OF THEM. WE WILL ALLOW IT TO BE MORE SUCCESSFUL AND ACCESSIBLE FOR STUDENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY, THIS ACCESSIBILITY IS STEMMING FROM THE MEETING TIMES. WHEN IT BOILS DOWN TO IT, I'VE HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL EARLY TO MAKE SURE I MAKE A MEETING. TOMORROW MORNING I WILL BE GOING IN LATE BECAUSE I'M GOING HOME LATE, SO I WON'T BE ABLE TO WAKE UP IN TIME. REALLY THIS ALL JUST BOILS DOWN TO THERE IS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD. SIX PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE CHANGES FOR THAT ONE PERSON, BUT IT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE, NOT JUST THE ONE THAT HAPPENS TO SIT ON THE BOARD. I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND PUSHING BUSINESS MEETINGS BACK TO 5

P.M. >> DOES THIS NEED TO GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? PEOPLE MAY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE TOPICS ARE, IN ORDER TO PREPARE PUBLIC COMMENTS. DID THEY GET THE

OPPORTUNITY? >> I DON'T BELIEVE THE BOARD CALENDAR GOES OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WHEN WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MEETINGS DURING THE MONTH, IT IS OUR DECISION ON WHEN THE MEETINGS WILL OCCUR, THE TIME, AND WHAT WILL BE ON THE AGENDA.

THE AGENDA TOPICS THAT YOU SEE, THEY ARE SUGGESTIONS AND TOPICS BASED ON WHAT TOPICS HAVE BEEN ON CERTAIN MEETINGS IN THE PAST. THIS IS KIND OF A REMINDER. OCTOBER 10 WE WILL TALK ABOUT CIP AND THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN. BASED ON WINDOWS NEED TO BE APPROVED, THIS WOULD BE THE BEST MEETING FOR IT TO BE ON THE AGENDA. IT IS NOTHING SET IN STONE. THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO STAY ENGAGED, THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO ACCESS THE WEBSITE TO READ THE AGENDA EACH WEEK WHEN THEY AGENDA IS POSTED, AND TO JUST DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY, AND BE GOOD CITIZENS, AND JUST REMAIN ENGAGED WITH US, IN

ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. I & AS I EMPATHIZE, THESE MEETING TIMES ARE DIFFICULT. WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON THE BOARD, WE HAD ONLY DAYTIME MEETINGS. IT WAS TO ACCOMMODATE STAFF, BECAUSE STAFF ARE THE ONES WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF. TO HAVE THEM STAY ANOTHER FIVE HOURS AT NIGHT IS DIFFICULT. WE DID MOVE IT IN THE EVENING SO THAT MORE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD COME, STUDENTS CAN'T COME. IT'S TOUGH. IT'S FUNNY, WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO THE EVENING, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG WHILE FOR PEOPLE TO GET COMFORTABLE, AND TO WANT TO COME. WE STILL THINK THAT EVENING MEETINGS ARE A REQUIREMENT, EVEN IF NO ONE SHOWS UP, IN AN INSTANCE WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOME HOT TOPICS, IT IS GOOD TO HEAR FROM

[02:20:04]

PEOPLE. >> JUST A PIGGYBACK, YOU WILL NOTE THE FIRST MEETING OF OUR MONTH, TYPICALLY WE DO BUSINESS, BUILDING ON THINGS THAT NEED TO BE VOTED UPON, AND THEN IN THE EVENING MEETING, THERE ARE TYPICALLY RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, UPDATES ON THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE SYSTEM, AND MORE INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED FOR COMMUNITY AWARENESS. I BELIEVE IT HAS PLAYED UPON THE DECISION OF THE TIMES IN THE MEETINGS. WE HAD AN ADVOCATE MOVING THE 10 A.M. MEETINGS TO THE EVENING, SHE ADVOCATED FOR THAT, SHE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED TO MOVING THE OTHER EVENING MEETING TO THE AFTERNOON. IT GIVES ENOUGH TIME FOR STAFF TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS DURING THEIR WORKDAY, SO THEY ARE NOT BEING PAID OVERTIME IF THEY ARE HOURLY EMPLOYEES, IF THEY ARE SALARY. WE APOLOGIZE IF THEY TAKE THEIR TIME AFTER HOURS, BUT AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE A WORK LIFE BALANCE. HOW DOES IT LOOK IF THE BOARD WANTS TO HAVE MEETINGS, AND WE ARE FORCING YOU TO STAY AFTER HOURS, TAKING TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY? THEN WE ARE ALSO SAYING YOU SHOULD HAVE A WORK LIFE BALANCE. IN MY OPINION, I THINK AFTERNOON MEETING IS A GOOD COMPROMISE. AND THEN WE HAVE THE SECOND MEETING IN THE EVENING AS A COMPROMISE TO ENCOURAGE A DIVERSE GROUP OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO COME AND MEET. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE DURING THE DAY, NOT EVERYONE WORKS DURING THE DAY, WE HAVE STAY-AT-HOME MOMS, I CALL THEM DOMESTIC ENGINEERS. WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY WORK AT NIGHT, WHO WORK SHIFT WORK. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, TO MAKE SURE WE ARE WE TEACHING THE WIDEST AUDIENCE WE CAN WITH OUR MEETING TIMES, TO GIVE PEOPLE TIME TO COME AND GIVE

PUBLIC COMMENT. >> THANK YOU, ANYTHING ELSE?

YES? >> JUST A QUICK QUESTION. I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, I'M HEARING THE REASONING, IT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE. I WAS WONDERING WHY WE ALWAYS HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF THESE WORK SESSIONS AND NOT THE BEGINNING. STUDENTS HAVE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY AND ABILITY TO ATTEND 7 P.M. MEETINGS, SOME NIGHTS IT DRAGS ON UNTIL ABOUT 10 P.M., AND THEIR PARENTS WANT THEM HOME AND IN BED. IS IT AN OPTION TO MOVE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE BEGINNING OF THE

MEETING? >> ONCE AGAIN, WITH THE STAFF, SOME OF THEM BEING HERE AT 7:00 A.M., IF THEY ARE COMING TO GET HIS INTENTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE TO BE CONSIDERATE OF THEIR TIME ALSO. DO WE DO THAT? I GUESS IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN THINK

ABOUT. >> SOMETHING FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO CONSIDER AS WE MOVE FORWARD, MAYBE WE CAN VOTE ON THIS AND MAKE A FORMAL MOTION, DISCUSS IT AND VOTE ON IT IN THE FUTURE AFTER WE HAVE EACH HAD SOMETIMES TO THINK ABOUT IT.

MAYBE ADDING A STUDENT PUBLIC COMMENT TIME TO OUR MEETINGS, IF A STUDENT IS HERE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, THAT WOULD OCCUR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, LATER IN THE MEETING WE WOULD HAVE REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENT. JUST FOR A COMPROMISE, FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO COME AND TALK TO US, TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GO TO BED. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEIR

ACADEMIC SUCCESS ALSO. >> WE ALSO ACCEPT WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT THAT ANYONE CAN SUBMIT AT ANY TIME DURING THE DAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, ON THEIR LUNCH BREAK AT SCHOOL.

THEY ARE NOT RESTRICTED FROM PUTTING IN ALL THE COMMENT JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T MAKE IT TO A MEETING.

>> THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. MOVED, SECONDED. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? THE MOTION PASSES

[3.01 Public Comments]

[02:25:01]

BOARD. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER, TIFFANY.

>> THANKS TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE BEHAVIORS SPEAKING - - THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SPEAK ABOUT THE HORRIBLE BEHAVIORS IN YOUR SCHOOL. I TALKED TO THE TEACHERS ABOUT THE DISRESPECT THEY RECEIVE ON A DAILY BASIS. AS MUCH AS I LOVE TEACHING, I WOULD QUIT IF I HAD TO PUT UP WITH THAT MESS EVERY DAY.

TEACHERS GO INTO THE PROFESSION TO TEACH, NOT TO BUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER TRYING TO BREAK UP FIGHTS. YOU SAID WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. TEACHERS CAN TELL YOU THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS NOT BEING ENFORCED, AND PARENTS WANT PARENT ANYMORE. THERE ARE LITTLE CONSEQUENCES FOR BAD BEHAVIOR, AND STUDENTS HAVE LEARNED THAT THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ALONE DO NOT WORK ON THIS CONSEQUENCE IS ALSO GIVEN.

WE NEED TO INTERVENE WITH THE STUDENTS AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL. THEY NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED AT A YOUNG AGE, SO THEY LEARN A LESSON FROM THEIR BAD BEHAVIORS EARLY ON. THAT WAS HAPPENING, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE SERIOUS ISSUES WE'VE BEEN HAVING. IT'S USUALLY THE SAME FEW STUDENTS DISRUPTING BITES AND LEARNING. IF THESE STUDENTS CAN'T BEHAVE IN A GENERAL PUBLISHING, THEY NEED TO BE SENT TO ALT ED, TO LEARN THE SKILLS TO BEHAVE AT A REGULAR SCHOOL. WE DON'T WANT OUR STUDENTS TO LEAVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FEEL LIKE THEY CAN BE A MENACE TO SOCIETY, BUT UNTIL WE START IS PUTTING THESE CHILDREN AND HOLDING THEM A COUPLE FOR BAD BEHAVIOR, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. OUR SCHOOLS ARE IN CRISIS, TEACHERS HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. THIS IS HAPPENING IN OTHER SCHOOLS ACROSS OUR COUNTY AS WELL. HAS THE BOARD OR CENTRAL OFFICE PRESSURE DEMONSTRATORS TO LOWER NUMBERS TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE OUR COUNTY DOESN'T HAVE A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM? LOWING LOWERING THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS IS ONLY A FACADE OF BEHAVIORS IS NOT ACTUALLY IMPROVING. THE CEA RELEASED RESULTS OF OUR REFERRAL SURVEY. 116 TEACHERS SAID THEIR ADMINISTRATOR TRIED TO CONVINCE THEM NOT TO WRITE A REFERRAL IN THE PAST 30 DAYS. 100 TEACHERS SAID AN ADMINISTRATOR TRY TO REDUCE THE REFERRAL TO AN ALERT IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. I GIVE YOU 323 COMMENTS FROM TEACHERS, IT'S HEARTBREAKING. FIGHTS, VIOLENT OUTBURSTS, VANDALISM, DRUGS, .

SUMMIT MINISTERS ARE NOT HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE. I'VE GOT TWO OTHER SCHOOLS TO SEE EXACTLY THE RECORD NUMBER OF VIOLENCE, DISRESPECT, AND VANDALISM. YOU NEED TO BE IN THE HALLWAYS DURING CLASS, AND IN THE CAFETERIA MONITORING BATHROOMS DURING THE LOVE LUNCH SHIFTS. YOU NEED TO BE HERE ON SCHEDULED BUSINESS DAYS. STUDENT - - STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW THAT THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND TEACHERS NEED YOUR SUPPORT. IF THINGS DON'T CHANGE, I WILL BE PUTTING MY KIDS IN PRIVATE SCHOOL. IT'S AN EMBARRASSMENT TO WORK FOR A SCHOOL SYSTEM YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT YOUR KIDS THROUGH. I ASK YOU TO HIRE MORE SAFETY ADVOCATES AND HAVE POLICE OFFICERS IN SCHOOLS. THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF SHOULD BE YOUR TOP PRIORITY, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE THE CHANGES WE NEED SO WE CAN HAVE THE SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

THAT OUR KIDS DESERVE. >> THANK YOU. TO THE NEXT

SPEAKER IS CECELIA WILLIAMS. >> HELLO, MY NAME IS CECELIA WILLIAMS, I'M IN SIXTH GRADE. I HAVE NEWS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THIS YEAR I SPADED IN BASKETBALL, SOCCER, AND TRACK. AFTER A LONG DAY IN SCHOOL, I WANT TO BE ACTIVE ACTIVE. SCHOOL SPORTS ARE A FANTASTIC WAY FOR KIDS TO LET

[02:30:02]

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ARE THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE ACTIVE. SCHOOL SPORTS ALSO TEACH KIDS HOW TO BE PART OF THE TEAM. THEY ALSO TEACH GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. BEING PART OF A TEAM CAN GIVE KIDS A WAY TO FEEL WELL. SCHOOL SPORTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SO MUCH TO STUDENT LEARNING. THANK YOU FOR

YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH,

GREAT JOB. >> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CLAIRE

WILLIAMS. >> HEY, I REMEMBER YOU GUYS.

>> HELLO, BOARD OF EDUCATION'S, MY NAME IS CLAIRE WILLIAMS. I WANT TO SPEAK AT THIS MEETING TO SHARE WHY MIDDLE SCHOOL INAUDIBLE ] IS SO IMPORTANT. I'M PART OF THE SOCCER, BASKETBALL, AND TRACK TEAM THIS YEAR. I'VE LEARNED MANY LIFE LESSONS AND SKILLS. MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOLS - - MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS MOTIVATE ME. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS TEACH TEAMWORK. WE'VE WORKED TOGETHER TO LEARN NEW PLACE, AND COME TOGETHER AFTER A TOUGH LOSS TO GET READY FOR THE NEXT GAME. KIDS ALSO ARE LEARNING TO NEVER STOP TRYING. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ALSO TEACH SPORTSMANSHIP. AFTER EVERY GAME, WIN OR LOSE, WE ALWAYS SHAKE HANDS WITH THE OTHER PLAYERS. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THE CHANCE TO REPRESENT THEIR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JOYCE CARTER.

>> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M A PRODUCT OF INAUDIBLE ] COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I CAME BACK HOME AFTER COLLEGE TO TEACH AND COACH HERE. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE POSSIBLE BUDGET CUTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. WE ARE IN A DIFFICULT FINANCIAL TIME, EVERYTHING IS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE. BUT I COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF I DID NOT SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS IN OUR KIDS LIVES. I'VE BEEN TEACHING BASKETBALL FOR THE ENTIRETY OF MY TEACHING CAREER, ALL 15 YEARS AND COUNTING. COACHING IS A PASSION OF MINE. EACH YEAR YOU TAKE THIS LITTLE GROUP OF KIDS AND BECOME FAMILY. STUDENTS HAVE A TRUSTED ADULT TO CONFIDE IN, A PLACE TO CONFIDE WHEN THEIR FATHER BATTLES CANCER, WHERE CONFLICTS CAN BE MEDIATED, AND WHERE THEY CAN BE TUTORED BY THEIR PEERS. AS A COACH, I'M NOT JUST TEACHING THEM HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL, I'M TEACHING THEM TIME MANAGEMENT, PERSEVERANCE, AND HOW TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES. MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE TOPIC FOR ADULTS AND STUDENTS. COACHING THESE GIRLS HAS HELPED MY MENTAL HEALTH STAY IN THE RIGHT PLACE. NO MATTER HOW CRAZY OF A DAY IT IS IN THE CLASSROOM, AND BELIEVE ME IT HAS BEEN CRAZY, I'M ABLE TO WALK ON THE COURT AND KEEP MY HEAD IN THE RIGHT PLACE. IT'S THE SAME FOR MY PLAYERS, NO MATTER WHAT DRAMA OR STRESS IS HAPPENING IN THEIR LIVES OR IN THOSE CLASSROOMS, YOU CAN PUT IT ASIDE FOR A COUPLE HOURS. MANY WILL SAY WE HAVE RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, AND WE DON'T REALLY NEED MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE BECOMING SO PRICEY, MANY PARENTS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE LAST YEAR, FOR MY SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ALONE, I SPENT $450 IN REGISTRATION FEES, AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE UNIFORMS OR EQUIPMENT. MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS SERVE AS MOTIVATION FOR STUDENTS TO DO WELL IN THE CLASSROOM, AND AS A REWARD FOR HARD WORK IN SCHOOL. STRUGGLING STUDENTS ARE SOMETIMES THE ONES THAT SHINE THE MOST ON THE

[02:35:02]

IT'LL SCHOOL SPORTS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT THE 12 PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE TEAM, EACH SEASON, HUNDREDS OF KIDS ARE DISPLAYED IN A THREE-WEEK CLINIC WHERE THEY BUILD RELATIOSHIPS WITH COACHES, MAKE NEW FRIENDS, IMPROVE SCORING, AND THREE WEEKS OF TIME SPENT AWAY FROM THAT COMPUTER SCREEN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHO IS GUIDING RENTALS ARE OUTLINED IN THESE MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS WOULD EVEN CONSIDER CUTTING MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS AS AN OPTION. PLEASE UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ARE. PLEASE

DON'T DO THAT TO OUR KIDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS.

>> THANK YOU. TO RACHEL IS OUR NEXT SPEAKER. GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS RACHEL, I'M A MOTHER TO TWO BOYS, I WORK AS A BEHAVIOR TECH. I WANTED TO COME HERE AND TALK ABOUT BEHAVIORS. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES IN THE HIGH SCHOOL, AS A MOM, I HEAR ABOUT IT ALL, BUT IT'S NOT JUST ONE HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS STRUGGLING, BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS OTHER BEHAVIORS. WE DO NOT HAVE BEHAVIORS, WE USE BEHAVIORS. KIDS ARE USING BEHAVIORS TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET, JUST LIKE WE USE BEHAVIORS TO GET OUR NEEDS MET. IF MATH IS HARD, FLIPPING A DESK IS GOING TO GET ME REMOVED AWAY FROM WORK, I'M GOING TO DO THAT. IF A STAFF MEMBER IS IN MY SPACE, IF I HAD THEM, THEY WILL GO AWAY. YOU NEED TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE BEHAVIOR. IS IT A LAGGING ACADEMIC OR SOCIAL SKILL? IS IT UNSTABLE HOME LIFE, PAST TRAUMA, OR SO ON? I HAVE WORKED WITH STAFF ON A PLAN THAT IS RECOMMENDED. THE ONE TIME IT DOESN'T WORK, THEY REFUSED TO DO IT. I CAN GO INTO THE NEUROSCIENCE BACKGROUND ON WHY IT TAKES TIME TO RESHAPE BEHAVIORS, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, WE NEED ALLIES IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THESE KIDS LEARN COPING STRATEGIES THAT WORK FOR THEM, FAMILIES NEED HELP, MOST OF THEM DON'T EVEN REALIZE THEY NEED IT. WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND DO BETTER FOR OUR KIDS, WE NEED TO ALL DO BETTER. TELL ME WHO I CAN TALK TO, TO BRING IN MORE SUPPORT. WE CANNOT REMOVE THEM FROM OUR SCHOOLS, THAT IS GIVING UP, AND SO MANY HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO DO THIS, IT WILL TAKE TIME, THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND OR PLAN, BUT OUR KIDS CANNOT AFFORD FOR US TO GIVE UP ON THEM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

TO THE NEXT ONE. IF SHE'S HERE, WE WILL COME BACK TO HER.

MEGAN JEFFRIES. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS MEGAN JEFFRIES, I'M A THIRD GRADE TEACHER. THIS PAST MARCH, I WAS HONORED TO BE NAMED THE 2025 KEECH COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO DONATED TO THAT GALA IN MARCH. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GALA IN MARCH, I WAS SITTING IN MY CLASSROOM WITH A GROUP OF EDUCATORS FROM SUNDERLAND, FACILITATING A BOOK STUDY ON TANGIBLE EQUITY. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, YOU SHOULD. I MADE A JOKE WITH FELLOW TEACHERS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO GET TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK THE PANEL WOULD APPROVE MY ADVOCACY AND STRONG WILL ABOUT OUR CURRICULUM HERE. I SPENT NINE YEARS TEACHING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE I TAUGHT AT A DEDICATED TAG SCHOOL.

COMING HERE, WE HAVE GATE RESOURCE TEACHERS IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, GATE RESOURCE TEACHERS THAT ARE PROVIDING AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, EVERY DAY, FOR THOSE STUDENTS. I SERVE ON SUTHERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS A CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE DOCTOR AND THE AMAZING THINGS SHE HAS GOING ON HERE, IN OUR STUDENTS. AND IT IS UP TO OUR TEACHERS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE GETTING THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY DESERVE. I WORK WITH AMAZING EDUCATORS, AND I KNOW THAT THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

BUT A SCHOOL RESOURCE TEACHER THAT WAS DEDICATED TO TAG STUDENTS COULD GO IN AND MEET THE RIGOR, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, AND DO THOSE LESSONS THAT THOSE GATES STUDENTS NEED TO EXCEL. EVERYBODY IS ASKING FOR MONEY AND PROJECTS, I'M ASKING TO PLEASE KEEP GAIT PART OF YOUR

[02:40:04]

CONVERSATIONS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ERIN HAMMOND.

>> GOOD EVENING. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST ADDRESS OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT, SUPPORTED BY 47 DIFFERENT TEACHERS OUT OF 61 THAT WERE SENT THE SURVEY. OF THE 30 WHO ATTENDED THE LAST MEETING, 20 CAME BEFORE THE DR. TO MEET BEFORE CONTRACTED HOURS, LESS THAN 24 HOURS NOTICE. I'D LIKE TO SAY I DON'T THINK THAT IS A MINORITY OF OUR STAFF, SAYING THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THAT WE NEED SOLUTIONS FOUR. THAT BEING SAID, IN OUR MEETING YESTERDAY, I WAS ASKED WHAT MY CONCERNS WERE, AND WHAT THE CONCERNS OF ME AND MY PEERS WERE. I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT EVERYONE HERE IS VERY AWARE OF OUR CONCERNS. OUR HOPE FOR YESTERDAY'S MEETING WAS TO BE MORE ON THE IDEA OF SOLUTIONS, AND ORIENTED TOWARD SOLUTIONS.

WE NEED A COLLABORATIVE PLAN OF ACTION, RATHER THAN JUST TALKING ABOUT THINGS. ACCORDING TO OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, UNDER THE STUDENT DISCIPLINE SECTION, IT STATES TO HELP MAINTAIN A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE WILL BE USED, INHERENT TO PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE IS A PROCESS TO HELP STUDENTS LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE, AND TO MODIFY BEHAVIOR WHICH INITIATED THE DISCIPLINE. WHAT HAS CCP HAS BEEN DOING TO MODIFY BEHAVIOR? THE BLUEPRINT IS HEAVY ON APPROACH PER INTERVENTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF M TSS, A TIERED FRAMEWORK TO HELP EDUCATORS DIVIDE ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES.

IT'S HEAVY ON DATA COLLECTION AND ASSESSMENT. AS SOMEONE NOMINATED TO SERVE IN THE TASK FORCE, WHAT IS ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY LOOKING LIKE IN C CPS? ARE WE FORMALLY ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR INTERVENTION PROGRAMS? DISTORTED PRACTICE IS A C CPS ROLLED OUT INITIATIVE ALSO KNOWN AS RESTORATIVE JUSTICE. IT IS A PREVENTATIVE AND RESPONSIVE APPROACH FOCUSED ON BUILDING AND REPAIRING RELATIONSHIPS. IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE MODEL, AND IT IS USING DATA TO GUIDE DECISION-MAKING. DOES OUR DISTRICT HAVE DATA THAT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES HAVE BEEN PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED? IS THERE PROOF THAT DATA AND INTERVENTIONS ARE ACTUALLY SUCCESSFUL?

>> PLEASE FINISH YOUR LAST SENTENCE.

>> I'M GOOD, THANK YOU. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT SPEAKER. >> GOOD EVENING. EXCUSE ME. I HAVEN'T HAD A CHILD IN ONE OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN OVER 12 YEARS, THEY ALL DID WONDERFULLY. I'M HEARING SO MANY NEGATIVE THINGS, I THOUGHT IT WOULD COME TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE. A GROUP I AM AFFILIATED WITH GIVES A SCHOLARSHIP TO EACH HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT DOCUMENTATION, S.A.T. SCORES AND GRADES, AND THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRE TO WRITE AN ESSAY. READING THESE 21 ESSAYS FROM THESE STUDENTS, I WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE ESSAYS, LOOKING AT THE BACKGROUNDS OF ALL OF THE STUDENTS, JUDGING FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS, IT WAS AMAZING.

HAVE WONDERFUL GRADES, WONDERFUL S.A.T. SCORES, WONDERFUL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. I THINK THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DOING A GREAT JOB IN EDUCATING OUR STUDENTS. THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE HICCUPS. I WENT TO SCHOOL IN THE 70S, I UNDERSTAND HICCUPS, BUT IT'S NOTHING THAT

[02:45:02]

I'M SURE IF WE WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN IMPROVE WHAT NEEDS TO BE

IMPROVED. IN QUEUE. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DONNA.

EARLIER TODAY, I WAS HONORED FOR DIRTY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, AND I'M TRULY VERY PROUD TO HAVE RECEIVED THIS AWARD. THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, I'VE SEEN MANY CHANGES IN EDUCATION, SOME GOOD, SOME NOT SO GOOD, BUT I THINK THE CHANGE THAT SADDENS ME THE MOST IS THE BEHAVIOR AND DISRESPECT THAT IS SHOWN TO EDUCATORS ON A DAILY BASIS BY SOME STUDENTS. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALLY GRASP WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE A PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER TODAY. NO ONE CAN, UNLESS THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN A CLASSROOM, IN THE SHOES OF A TEACHER. I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE STAFF FOR ATTENDING THE LAST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. THEIR VOICE, ALONG WITH OTHER EDUCATORS, STANDING TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY, BROUGHT AWARENESS TO THE BEHAVIOR AND CONCERNS IN THEIR SCHOOL, CONCERNS THAT HAD NOT BEEN ADDRESSED PREVIOUSLY, WHEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF ADMINISTERED READERS AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF. I BELIEVE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT AS TEACHERS, WE STRIVE FOR AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN THRIVE AND LEARN EFFECTIVELY. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THIS POSITIVE LEARNING ATMOSPHERE, IT IS ESSENTIAL WE S PROPERLY, AND EFFECTIVELY.

TEACHERS ACROSS THE SCHOOL HAVE EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR ACTION WHEN IT COMES TO HOLDING STUDENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR. IT IS VITAL THAT THE CODE OF CONDUCT IS AT HER TO BUY ALL STUDENTS, TO ENSURE A CONDUCIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. BEHAVIOR THAT INTERFERES WITH LEARNING CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED, AND IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THESE CHALLENGES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AT HAND, AS IGNORING IT ONLY HINDERS STUDENT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY , ADMINISTERED READERS, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS CRUCIAL IN ENABLING US TO DO OUR JOBS EFFECTIVELY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANTED TO CHECK ONE MORE TIME, BREANNA. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR

TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. WAS THAT THE STUDENT WHO GAVE THE PRESENTATION?

>> IS THAT WHO IT WAS? >> YES. OKAY. THANK YOU TO ALL

[3.02 Board Comments]

>> THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME AGAIN TONIGHT. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PSYCH CLUB FOR THEIR HARD-WORKING EFFORT, RESEARCH, DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OUR SCHOOL EXPERIENCES, EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, IT'S VERY EXCITING AND REFRESHING.

I'M EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH HER. I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR CHANGING SCHOOL START TIMES. IT IS SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS HAVE WANTED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SEEMED ATTAINABLE UNTIL TODAY, SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING. I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR ABOUT THIS ACTION BEING TAKEN. I'VE TALKED TO MY PEERS, STUDENTS KNOW THAT CHANGE IS NEEDED, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT CHANGES

[02:50:06]

ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. SINCE OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD MORE TEACHERS AND PARENTS COME FORWARD WITH CONCERNS ABOUT SERIOUS LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY ISSUES. MY FEAR IS THAT THESE PROBLEMS WILL ESCALATE, AND LEAD TO SOMETHING TRAGIC, SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE PREVENTED. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOLS TEACHERS AND A STUDENT CAME FORWARD TO SHARE STORIES OF A SCHOOL THEY CLAIM IS OUT OF CONTROL. THEY REVEALED THAT FIGHTING, DRUG USE, AND DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIOR OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND MANY OF THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE AFRAID TO COME TO SCHOOL. ILLEGAL DRUG USE CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE NORTHERN AND HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE REPORTED BETWEEN 15 AND 19 DRUG-RELATED REFERRALS AND OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS. BY COMPARISON, THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS REPORTED EIGHT REFERRALS AND SIX OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS.

PLEASE INVESTIGATE, TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE FEWER DRUG PROBLEMS, OR IF WE HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. ON APRIL 11, ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PARKING LOTS WERE SEARCHED FR DRUGS. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CANINE HALLWAY SEARCHES WERE DECLINED AT ALL HIGH SCHOOLS.

SEE CPS INITIATED ONE-ON-ONE DEVICES AND MOST STUDENTS AT HIGH SCHOOLS NO LONGER USE HALLWAY LOCKERS. UNLESS WE HAVE A SCHOOL WITH NO DRUGS, OR OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OCCURRING IN THE BUILDINGS, ALL LOCKERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEARCHED. LET'S NOT ENTERTAIN EXCUSES, OR AVOID DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY. STUDENTS MAY NOT BE USING LOCKERS TO SCHOOL STORE SCHOOL MATERIALS, BUT WE SHOULDN'T BE SO NAÏVE TO THINK THAT THEY MAY NOT BE STORING INAPPROPRIATE OR ILLEGAL ITEMS IN THE LOCKERS. COMBATING CRIME AND CORRECTING SERIOUS DISCIPLINE ISSUES IN OUR SCHOOLS IS A TEAM EFFORT.

WE NEED EVERYONE INVOLVED IN ENFORCING THE CODE OF CONDUCT IN A UNIFORM AND CONSISTENT MANNER. EVERYONE SITTING UP HERE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING SOMETHING IS DONE, AND IT HAS TO BE DONE NOW. IN QUEUE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO SPEAK TO US. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS ARE IMPORTANT, TRANSITIONAL YEARS, AND THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT, I KNOW. BUILDING CONFIDENCE, CAMARADERIE, THE FEELING OF BELONGING THAT SPORTS BRINGS TO THE GROUP, IT'S SO TRUE. IT HELPS GRADES, AND HELPS BEHAVIOR, YOU LEARN PERSEVERANCE. IT'S EVERYTHING WE ARE TRYING TO COMPASS. WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS IS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE OVER OUR DEAD BODIES. HOPEFULLY EVERYTHING WILL BE FUNDED NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS WHO DID THE PRESENTATION ON SLEEP DEPRIVATION, THAT WAS EYE-OPENING. WE'VE ALL READ THE SCIENCE ON IT, BUT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IN OUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL, IT IS EXCELLENT. I THINK IT WILL ENGENDER A LOT OF CONVERSATION. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING OUT. THERE IS SO MUCH TALK ABOUT BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, AND IT'S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, AND IT IS SO DISAPPOINTING, BECAUSE TEACHERS ARE DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB, THEY

[02:55:02]

WE HAD A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY, WE SUSPENDED ON A DIME, WE TOOK THE KIDS OUT BECAUSE WE DID NOT TOLERATE BAD BEHAVIOR. THE PENDULUM SWUNG, AND IT HAS SWUNG THE WHOLE WAY.

ADMINISTERED HER HANDS ARE TIED A LOT. WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THE SUSPENSIONS LIKE WE USED TO. SO, WE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT. I'M SURE THE COUNCIL HAS GOTTEN THE MESSAGE, LOUD AND CLEAR. JUST AS EVERYONE HAS SAID, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN, AND FOR CONTINUING TO HOLD US ECONOMY FOR THIS. I'M GOING TO LET THAT BE IT, BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN A LONG NIGHT.

>> VICE PRESIDENT? >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WHITE.

I WANT TO THANK THE YOUNG LADIES WHO CAME TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT SAVING MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. I'M DEFINITELY AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT, IT WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL WHEN I STARTED PLAYING SPORTS,I PLAYED AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. SPORTS, ESPECIALLY FOR GIRLS, IT'S A CONFIDENCE BUILDER. I'M A BIG SUPPORTER OF SPORTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL. IT IS SUCH AN OUTLET FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE NEED TO BURN OFF ENERGY, TO GIVE THEM CONFIDENCE, TO MOTIVATE THEM, AND IT MAKES SCHOOL FUN. SPENDING TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS IS IMPORTANT. I WILL DEFTLY SUPPORT ENSURING THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE FUTURE. AS FAR AS THE ISSUES AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, I HAVE SAID HOW I FEEL ABOUT THAT. I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT IN THEIR WORK, I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STAFF AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, THOSE WHO FEEL THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM, THOSE WHO DON'T FEEL THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM, AND ENCOURAGING OUR SUPERINTENDENT TO CONSIDER INVITING THE COMMUNITY INTO THE SCHOOL TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION, WE MUST ALL COME TOGETHER, WE MUST ALL START TO UNDERSTAND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES, WE MUST ALL LEARN TO SET BIAS ASIDE, AND GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER. WE MUST DO THIS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CONTINUE TO MATRICULATE AND ACHIEVE

ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE YOUNG LADIES ALSO. AFTER OFFICIATING THE GAME, I SAID WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS? I MET MOM, THEY ARE IN SIXTH GRADE, THEY HAVE SKILLS, THEY DEFINITELY HAVE SKILLS, IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE LADIES HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS. I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY GO TO THE LIBRARY, AND COACH, I SAW YOU AT THE LIBRARY ON WEDNESDAY. WE HAD THE AWARDS, WE WERE ABLE TO GO THERE, IT WAS SIMPLY AMAZING TO SEE WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING WITH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY, DR. ANDERSON, DOING PHENOMENAL THINGS THERE. OVER THE WEEKEND, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HANG OUT WITH SOME STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING SCHOLARSHIPS. BLACKWELL, SHE WILL BE ATTENDING SALISBURY, JOE HUDSON WILL BE GOING TO UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, TAYLOR WEBSTER, SHE WILL BE GOING TO SPELMAN, AND ONE OF MY HEROES, PAIGE WILL BE GOING TO STANFORD. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED, WITH ME, I GET INVOLVED. WE NEED TO FEED 15,000 STUDENT. I WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AND END HUNGER SOUTHERN MARYLAND, TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS WERE ABLE TO BE FED. MENTAL WELLNESS, SUICIDE AWARENESS, I GET INVOLVED. WE STARTED A SUICIDE PREVENTION AWARENESS WALK. TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS REALLY GET INVOLVED, MENTAL ILLNESS IS SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS ALL OF US. WE ALSO HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH GALLERY,

[03:00:03]

SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED ONE, BUT WE DO, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO GET BETTER AT THAT. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ACTIONS, LOOK AT WHAT WE DO. LOOK AT THE ATTACKS THAT WE DO ON EACH OTHER THROUGH MAILERS, THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. SOMEONE IS UPSET, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS GO TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO SEE WHO'S GOING TO VIBE WITH THEM. YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMMENTING AND ADDING STUFF, AND THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT IS FACTUAL OR NOT. THERE IS NO AGE FOR BULLYING, YOU CAN BE 75 YEARS OLD AND STILL BE A BULLY. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE DOING AND HOW WE ARE DOING IT, THEY ARE WATCHING US. WE CAN SAY DON'T DO THIS, DON'T DO THAT, THEY ARE WATCHING WHAT WE ARE DOING. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM, AND I GRADUATED IN 1988. THE CLASSROOM HAS CHANGED, IT CHANGED FROM 2019, IT CONSTANTLY CHANGES. I DEFINITELY ADMIRE ALL THE EDUCATORS THAT WE HAVE, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE CHANGING WITH THE STUDENTS, AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. YOU KNOW, WE ARE LISTENING TO THE STUDENTS, THEY ARE TELLING US WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO HELP THEM, WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT. THE CENTRAL OFFICE, THE PRINCIPLES, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE, NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING, BUT AT LEAST HAVE CONVERSATIONS. I LOOK FORWARD TO HANGING OUT WITH YOU ON MONDAY, ERIN. WHEN I GO INTO SOMETHING, I'M GOING IN LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION, SO WE CAN YELL THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, PEOPLE CAN ARGUE ABOUT THE HOUSE BEING ON FIRE, THEN THE HOUSE BURNS DOWN, AND THEN THEY WONDER WHY. IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE FOCUSED ON BLAMING SOMEONE, SOMEONE IS TO BLAME, WE WANT THE POUND OF FLESH, INSTEAD OF REALLY TRYING TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. YOU CAN'T RESTORE A RELATIONSHIP THAT HAS NEVER BEEN BUILT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP FIRST, THEN YOU CAN WORK TOWARD RESTORING WHAT IS FRACTURED. VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, I CALL ON MY ALUMNI AND EVERYONE ELSE, GET BACK INTO THE SCHOOL. I LOVE MY HIGH SCHOOL AND SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK, GIVE BACK TO SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS. THERE IS A FLAG FOOTBALL CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW. WHAT GETS ME, IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAG ME IN A POST, TALK TO ME FIRST, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN WORK GOING ON FOR THE PAST MONTH AND A HALF, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT WHEN YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH ALL THIS NEGATIVITY, THEY DON'T EVEN SEE THAT STUFF. DO WE REALLY WANT TO GO THERE? AS ADULTS, WE ARE POSSIBLY TAKING AWAY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENTS BECAUSE OUR ACTIONS. THERE ARE GOTTEN ON BOARD, SO THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT. YOU HAVE TO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO TALK, TO TRY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS, TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING DONE, BEFORE ATTACKING. THE MEDIATION CENTER, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THEY PARTNERED UP WITH THESE SCHOOLS. THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE AMAZING, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THEM.

GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THEIR JOB, AND WITH THE SAFETY ADVOCATES, THEY ARE THERE, THEY ARE HANDS-ON. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH INPUT THEY HAVE ON WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS WITH THE

[03:05:01]

THAT'S A VERY MILD FORM OF BULLYING, BUT IT IS A FORM OF BULLYING ALSO. WE ARE SITTING HERE, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, LOOKING OUT FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL OF THEM. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF, AND OR EVERYONE WHO IS IT'S NICE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING INPUT, LIKE ALWAYS, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.