Dec 12, 2024 Board of Education

[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

[00:00:17]

ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE

[2.02 Outgoing Board Member Recognition]

>> THANK YOU. HELLO, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS A BIG NIGHT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE, THREE OF US ARE OFFICIALLY LEAVING THE BOARD, WHICH I THINK IS ASTOUNDING. I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENED IN A WHILE. AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING A RESOLUTION IN THANKING OUR BOARD MEMBER CLAGGETT FOR HER SERVICE ON THE BOARD.

>> WHEREAS, INEZ N. CLAGGETT HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SINCE JANUARY 2019 WITH COMPASSION, INSIGHT AND HARD WORK. AND WHEREAS, DURING HER TERMS OF OFFICE, SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT TWO YEARS AND VICE PRESIDENT THREE YEARS, AND WHEREAS, SHE SERVED AS A MABE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OFFICER FOR TWO YEARS AND ALSO WORKED ON THE FOLLOWING MABE COMMITTEES: BUDGETING, LEGISLATIVE, AND RESOLUTIONS. IN ADDITION, SHE WAS AN ALTERNATE TRUSTEE FOR LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION AND NBO TO FURTHER THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION IN CALVERT COUNTY AND ACROSS THE STATE. AND WHEREAS, SHE ADVOCATED FOR POLICY CHANGES TO LIMIT THE USE OF RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AIMING TO ELIMINATE SECLUSION ENTIRELY. AND WHEREAS, SHE PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE APPROVAL OF THE POLICY STATEMENT ON ANTI-RACISM, THE ANTIRACISM RESOLUTION, AND THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF TRANSGENDER, NONBINARY, AND ALL LGBTQ+ STUDENTS. AS A RESULT, CALVERT COUNTY BECAME ONE OF THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO ESTABLISH IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONS FOR EQUITABLE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL STUDENTS.

AND WHEREAS, SHE UNDERSTOOD THE INTRICACIES OF SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGETS AND HOW THEY SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING. AND WHEREAS, SHE MET ALL CHALLENGES WITH DIGNITY, REFLECTIVE THINKING, AND MEASURED DECISION MAKING. AND WHEREAS, SHE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THOSE SHE SERVED AND WHO SERVED WITH HER. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION JOINS THE CITIZENS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EXTENDING OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO INEZ N. CLAGGETT FOR HER DEDICATED EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF CALVERT COUNTY. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ALL FRIENDS OF EDUCATION WISH HER WELL IN HER PURSUIT OF GOALS BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> SO I DIDN'T WRITE A SPEECH FOR TONIGHT LIKE SOME OF MY OTHER MEMBERS. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE WHO CAME TO SUPPORT ME TODAY. THANK YOU TO MY SISTERS THAT I SEE OUT IN THE AUDIENCE. I LOVE EACH OF YOU. AND THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY WHO HAVE JOINED ME THIS EVENING. I LOVE YOU ALL ALSO.

AND THANKS TO THE BEST, BEST FRIENDS ON EARTH. THEY KNOW WHO THEY ARE, AND THEY ARE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE. I WANT TO ALSO SHOUT OUT MY SON TYSON, WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A SUPPORTER AND WHO HAS BEEN GIVING OF MY TIME BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE LESS TIME TO SPEND WITH HIM AS A MOM. SO I WANT TO THANK HIM.

HE IS OFF AT SALSBURY TAKING FINALS. WE WILL BE SPENDING MUCH TIME TOGETHER, TIME THAT WE HAVE MISSED SPENDING TOGETHER OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS THAT I HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD, SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE CCPS COMMUNITY, ALL OF MY SUPPORTERS, AND I SEE MISS REED

[00:05:01]

>> HA, HA, HA. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M ANTOINE WHITE. I HAVE THE HONOR OF READING THE RESOLUTION FOR DAWN BALINSKI.

WHEREAS DAWN BALINSKI SERVED AS MEMBER OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM 2011-2014 AND 2017 UNTIL PRESENT WITH COMPASSION, INSIGHT, AND HARD WORK. AND WHEREAS DURING HER TERM OF OFFICE, SHE SERVED AS PRESIDENT ONE YEAR AND VICE PRESIDENT ONE YEAR. AND WHEREASSHE WORKED ON THE FOLLOWING MABE COMMITTEES: BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION, AWARDS, BUDGETING, LEGISLATIVE, NOMINATING TO FURTHER THE CAUSES OF CALVERT COUNTY EDUCATION AND ACROSS THE STATE.

WHEREAS SHE COMMITTED HER TIME TO LEARNING THE REQUIREMENTS OF HER JOB AS A BOARD MEMBER AND ATTENDING MABE AND NSBA CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS. AND WHEREAS SHE NEVER FAILED TO LINK STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WITH EVERY ASPECT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATION. AND WHEREAS SHE MET ALL CHALLENGES WITH DIGNITY, REFLECTIVE THINKING, COLLABORATION, AND MEASURED DECISION MAKING. ND WHEREAS SHE SHOWED UNFAILING COURTESY AND ATTENTION TO ALL APPROACHES IN HER ROLE AS A BOARD MEMBER.

AND WHEREAS SHE EARNED THE RESPECT OF THOSE SHE SERVED AND WHO SERVED WITH HER. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION JOINS THE CITIZENS OF THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT IN EXTENDING OUR SIN VEER APPRECIATION TO DAWN C BALINSKI FOR HER DEDICATED EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN OF CALVERT COUNTY AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE THAT HAD THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ALL FRIENDS OF EDUCATION WISH HER IN HER PURSUIT AND GOALS FOR BOTH PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL

ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU, DAWN. >> [APPLAUSE]

>> NOW, BEFORE I HAND THIS, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS SISTER IS NO JOKE. SHE PULLS OUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS, A TELESCOPE, WHATEVER SHE HAS TO, TO REALLY TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO EVERYTHING. BEFORE I GOT ON THE BOARD, I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DAWN TO FIND OUT WHAT I WAS REALLY GOING TO BE GETTING INTO, AND IT REALLY TAKES A TEAM. AND DAWN IS THAT PERSON WHO'S GOING TO CROSS T'S, DOT I'S, AND THEN GO BACK OVER THEM AGAIN. AND YOU KNOW, SHE SENDS E-MAILS TO SCOTT OR TO, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. TRUST AND BELIEVE WHEN SHE'S UP HERE SPEAKING, SHE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET ALL THE INFORMATION 110%. SO YOU KNOW, YOUR VALUE AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE, DAWN, IS DEFINITELY IMMEASURABLE. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

>> AND I HAVE, I'M GOING TO DO WHAT I ALWAYS DO, WHICH IS IN PUBLIC COMMENT, I'M GOING TO READ A THREE-PAGE SPEECH. SO I AM RESERVING MY PARTING THOUGHTS UNTIL THEN. BUT IT'S BEEN SUCH A WONDER WORKING WITH THIS BOARD. EVERYBODY AROUND.

SO THANK YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING UP FOR US.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF READING THE RESOLUTION FOR OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER, WELL OUTGOING PRESIDENT MR. ANTOINE S WHITE.

>> WHEREAS, ANTOINE S. WHITE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM 2021 UNTIL PRESENT WITH COMPASSION, INSIGHT AND HARD WORK. AND WHEREAS, DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE, HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT ONE YEAR AND VICE PRESIDENT ONE YEAR. AND WHEREAS, HE WORKED ON THE MABE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE AND WAS APPOINTED TO THE LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION FROM 2022

[00:10:02]

>> IT HAS BEEN A TRUE PLEASURE TO BE ANTOINE VICE PRESIDENT THIS PAST YEAR. I CONTINUE TO WISH HIM WELL IN ALL THAT HE

WILL DO. >> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. AGAIN. AS FAR AS WHEN BEFORE I EVEN RAN FOR THE BOARD, I HAD QUESTIONS. SO I REACHED OUT TO PAM, INEZ, DAWN, EVERYONE WHO'S CURRENTLY ON THE BOARD TO FIND OUT WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE, WHAT THE TIME COMMITMENT WAS GOING TO BE, AND REALLY WHAT THE JOB ENTAILS AND TRY TO LEARN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. I LEARNED A LOT ONCE I GOT HERE. WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE AND FINDING OUT WHAT IT REALLY ENTAILED. BUT ONCE AGAIN, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN MY PLEASURE. AS I'M LOOKING OUT IN THIS ROOM, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE FORMED WITH THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A PLEASURE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE STUDENTS, AND EVERYTHING. AND I'LL STILL BE HERE. I'LL STILL BE AROUND, STILL CONTRIBUTING. I MAY NOT HAVE A TITLE, BUT I CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK I'VE BEN DOING. SO ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.

[2.03 Eagle Scout Resolutions]

>> I'M GOING TO BE READING A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT RESOLUTION, THE EAGLE CUT RESOLUTION. WHEREAS THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS HAVE DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BY BEING ELEVATED TO EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING. DANIEL ARAGNA, TANNER CHAPMAN, JAVIER DELGADO CAMPBELL, JASON FREY, GAVIN HOOK, GARRET HOOK, JOVIE MASRUKIN, CARIO RIANO, MICHAEL SCHUESSLER, JACOB STRAIN, AND HENRY VALENTIN. WHEREAS THEIR PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS, DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, COMMITMEN TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT THEM THIS HONOR. AND WHEREAS EACH SCOUT COMPLETED AN EAGLE PROJECT THAT BENEFITED THIS COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THESE SCOUTS ARE EITHER CURRENTLY ATTENDING OR GRADUATES OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THEY EACH HAVE PARTICIPATED IN CLUBS, TEAMS, AND VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THEIR ACADEMIC JOURNEY. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY JOIN THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOY SCOUT TROOP 430 IN COMMENDING THESE SCOUTS UPON THE OCCASION OF THEIR ATTAINMENT OF EAGLE SCOUT. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WISH THEM EVERY SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF JEFFREY LONG AND WANTED TO SEE IF YOU HAD A COUPLE OF WORDS YOU'D LIKE TO

SAY. >> ALWAYS. GOOD AFTERNOON.

[00:15:01]

>> AND LIKEWISE, IF THEY'LL REMAIN STANDING, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WHITE FOR YOUR INDULGENCE. THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OFFICIAL CITATION THAT SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS ARE OFFERED TO THE HONORABLE DAWN BALINSKI, THE HONORABLY CRAG, AND THE HONORABLE ANT WHITE IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR YEARS OF DEDICATION TO THE CITIZENS OF CALVERT COUNTY AS A MEMBER OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, I COMMEND AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL AND FAITHFUL SERVICE PRESENTED ON THIS 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2024 BY OUR GREAT STATE SENATOR MICHAEL A JACKSON OF CALVERT, CHARLES, AND PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, DISTRICT 27.

[3. Consent Agenda]

>> OH, WOW. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. NEXT WE'LL HAVE A MOTION

TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> SECOND. THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES 5-0. NEXT

[4.01 Public Comment]

>> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 20. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD, AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES. PERSONS ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER, OR RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TO ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP. IF YOU HAVE ANY HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS.

TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS.

ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETING.

[00:20:03]

>> THIS EVENING WE HAVE 12 SPEAKERS. THE FIRST SPEAKER IS

STACY TAMAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR. TOUNCIL. THE EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF EXPRESSES OUR SINCERE GRATITUDE TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL STUDENT.

YOUR EFFORTS IN THE FOSTERING A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATED. THE ESP'S HAVE EXPERIENCED TREMENDOUS GROWTH BETWEEN CCS AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. IT IS CLEAR YOU RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF US WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE EACH CHILD CAN SUCCEED, AND THAT BEGINS WITH STAFF. DR.

TOWNCIL, WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THE LONG, WINDING ROAD WE HAVE BEEN ON AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES TOGETHER.

MISS MINAKOWSKI, YOU ARE A POWERHOUSE, AND I AM CONTINUALLY IMPRESSED BY YOU. MR. GRENIS AND MISS POST, WE'LL CONTINUE THIS LONG-WINDING JOURNEY TOGETHER. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING TOGETHER, TO GROWING TOGETHER, AND OUR DOOR REMAINS OPEN TO YOU. AND NOW YOU THREE. WHERE DO I EVEN START? YOU ARE A TRUE CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, DEDICATING OVER 12 YEARS OF YOUR LIFE TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE ARE BETTER BECAUSE OF YOU. VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, MENTOR, EPITOME OF STRENGTH AND PERSEVERANCE. CASE WILL WORK TO PROTECT THE PROGRESS THAT CCPS HAS MADE THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP. AND PRESIDENT WHITE, OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE FOR YOUR UNWAIVERRING SUPPORT AND PRESENCE. YOUR ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY SHOW UP AND ENGAGE WITH INTENTION IS A TRUE GIFT.

YOU ALL HAVE REMARKABLE STRENGTH IN YOUR MORAL COMPASSES. THE CLARITY AND INTEGRITY WITH WHICH YOU NAVIGATE THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS WORK IS TRULY INSPIRING. YOUR GLOBAL MINDSETS HAVE BEEN PIVOTAL IN ADDRESSING OUR EVOLVING CHALLENGES AND CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

AND STAFF AS THEY REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING TRUE TO WHAT IS RIGHT. YOU WILL LEARN HOW IT CONNECTS TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS, A CAMPAIGN THAT OUTLINES IMPORTANT STANDARDS THAT MEMBERS BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL ESP EMPLOYMENT. WE ARE FORTUNATE IN CALVERT COUNTY TO HAVE SEVERAL OF THESE TENANTS OR A VARIATION AS PART OF OUR CAREERS OR CURRENT COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS. OTHER COUNTIES ARE LESS FORTUNATE. CASE HAS THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH BRILLIANT, COLLABORATIVE MINDS WHOSE INTRINSIC VALUES SUPPORT THE WORK OF RACIAL, SOCIAL, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AMONGST OUR RANKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR HARD WORK, AND TO THE STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RACHEL

HALTMAN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM THE BEHAVIOR TECH FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I'M EAGER TO BUILD ON THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE WORK WE ARE ACCOMPLISHING AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ACROSS THE STATE.

CASE ALONG WITH THE MARYLAND STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN ADVOCATING AROUND THE MSEA BILL OF RIGHTS TO BRING EQUITY AND SUPPORT TO EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. THIS BILL OF RIGHTS OUTLINES IMPORTANT STANDARDS THAT MEMBERS BELIEVE SHOULD BE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL ESP EMPLOYMENT. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING NOT JUST THROUGHOUT CALVERT COUNTY BUT OUR STATE, ENGAGING IN HEARTFELT CONVERSATIONS WITH ESP'S AT THEIR FRONT DOORS. THEIR STORIES ABOUT THE

[00:25:01]

AND THE CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH INTERPRETING THE COMPENSATION STUDY IS INVALUABLE. YOU AS A BOARD HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING A PATH FORWARD TO SUPPORT A LIVABLE WAGE. THE JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER, BUT WE ARE ON OUR WAY. IT IS INSPIRING TO KNOW OUR BOARD IS DEDICATED TO FINDING SOLUTIONS. THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE ON DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING HIGHLIGHTS THE COMMITMENT TO TRAINING AND SUPPORTING CAREER ADVANCEMENT.

WE HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED ONE GRANT AND ARE PREPARING FOR A MUCH LARGER ONE. THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF CCPS AND OUR ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER. FURTHERMORE, CCPS DEMONSTRATED ITS VALUE FOR STAFF EDUCATION BY SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ACHIEVE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION. WE CAN IMPROVE WITH WORKLOAD AND STAFFING. SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, 200 SUBSTITUTE REQUESTS HAVE BEEN UNFILLED. THIS PLACES AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THE REMAINING STAFF WHO ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR INJURY AND BURNOUT DUE TO THE PHYSICAL AND DEMANDING NATURE OF THESE JOBS. THIS IMPACTS SAFE AND HEALTHY WORKING ENVIRONMENTS. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF OUR ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS, WE ARE ALREADY WORKING TOWARD IMPROVEMENT. WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE POLITICS CAN DIVIDE US. LABELING ONE PARTY AGAINST THE OTHER. THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT EDUCATION UNIONS ARE AT ODDS WITH SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THAT IS NOT THE CASE IN CALVERT. YOU ARE NON-PARTISAN. WE ARE NON-PARTISAN. WE ARE THE EXAMPLE OF WHAT WORKING TOGETHER LOOKS LIKE. WHEN I TALK ABOUT OUR FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OUTLINED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS, I DO SO WITH THE BELIEF THAT EVERY STUDENT DESERVES THE VERY BEST. WE OFTENTIMES HOPE THAT A BETTER TOMORROW IS TRULY

COMING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PRISCILLA BRADLEY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. PRESIDENT WHITE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS PRISCILLA BRADLEY. THE MSEA BILL OF RIGHTS IS A PRODUCT OF THOUSANDS OF ESP VOICES ACROSS OUR STATE. THEY ARE FOUNDATIONAL RIGHTS FOR ALL ESP EMPLOYMENT. OTHER COUNTIES ARE STRUGGLING TO GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THEIR DISTRICT AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. BUT HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A MORE FORTUNATE POSITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNWAIVERRING SUPPORT. WHEN THE BUDGET WAS TOUGH LAST YEAR AND THE SCHOOL BOARD HAD TO GO TO THE COMMISSIONERS FOR MONEY, WE STOOD UNITED BEHIND YOU DURING THIS CRITICAL MEETING. AND THIS SCHOOL BOARD PRIORITIZED STAFF AND FOUGHT SO THAT THERE WERE NO LAYOFFS. THAT WAS AMAZING. THE STUDENT DAY DOES NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT US. WE ARE THE FIRST FACES OUR STUDENTS SEE IN THE MORNING. THE PERSON THAT ANSWERS THE PHONE WHEN THE PARENTS CALL. THE PERSON THAT HELPS A SICK STUDENT, ENSURES HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, MAKES SURE THE SPORTS FIELDS ARE MOWED SO THE GAME CAN GO ON AS PLANNED. AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE PERSON LIKE ME WHO FEEDS THE STUDENTS HOT MEALS EVERY DAY. WHEN WE ENGAGE IN A STATEWIDE CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS WORK, WE SEE FIRSTHAND THAT CALVERT COUNTY IS AHEAD OF THE PACK. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS ONLY FITTING THAT THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION BE THE FIRST IN MARYLAND TO ENDORSE THE BILL OF RIGHTS. WHAT DOES AN ENDORSEMENT MEAN? ENDORSING THE ESP BILL OF RIGHTS IS SUPPORTING THE STUDENTS BY SUPPORTING THE STAFF THAT TAKE CARE OF THEM EVERY DAY. IT HOLDS SIGNIFICANT IMPORTANCE AS IT SERVES AS A PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF THE INVALID CONTRIBUTIONS WE ARE MAKING AND IT SIGNIFIES THE ONGOING NATURE OF OUR JOURNEY. THIS WOULD BE A BIG STEP FOR A LITTLE COUNTY LIKE CALVERT COUNTY. AND QUITE HONESTLY, GIVE YOU THE

[00:30:02]

DEDICATION. >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE SCHISSLE R.

>> CAN YOU HIT YOUR BUTTON? >> SORRY. RESTART. GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.

TOWNSEL, AS WELL AS DR. JOHNSON, MISS JACOBS, MR. JOHNSON, AS WELL AS MISS MAXEY. I BELIEVE THIS SESSION FALLS INTO THE CATEGORY OF A BITTERSWEET MOMENT. WE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU. THIS COMMUNITY IS GOING TO MISS HAVING YOU IN YOUR ROLES AS BOARD MEMBERS. 12 YEARS ON THE BOARD, IS THAT CORRECT? SO MADAME BALINSKI, THAT MEANS YOU ARE THE DOEINE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. DO YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE SERVED LONGER ON THE BOARD THAN A TWO-TERM PRESIDENT OF FRANCE? I BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART OF HEARTS THAT YOU ARE GLAD YOU'RE IN CALVERT COUNTY RATHER THAN IN FRANCE. WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOU'RE HERE WITH US FOR THOSE 12 YEARS.

MISS CLAGGETT, SIX YEARS ON THE BOARD OR EIGHT? SIX? THANK YOU.

MISS CLAGGETT, YOU BROUGHT A COOL HEAD FOR NUMBERS AND FOR FAIRNESS. WE WILL MISS YOUR IDEAS AND YOUR TENACITY. MR. WHITE, FOUR YEARS ON THE BOARD, CORRECT? YOU DID MUCH MORE THAN JUST SHOW UP. YOU TAUGHT US. YOU TAUGHT US WHAT A MAN OF COLOR, A GRADUATE OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COULD DO.

MANY TIMES FROM THIS PAST FEBRUARY TO DECEMBER WHEN I WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH YOU, I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE. THIS PAST SUNDAY AT THE BEACH ELEMENTARY DEDICATION, I LEARNED THAT YOU WERE A STUDENT OF MISS DESIREE STAMPS. CORRECT? THAT EXPLAINED A LOT TO ME. TO EACH OF YOU, THANK YOU, KEEP TEACHING, AND KEEP

LEADING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAMELA COUSIN S.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND DR. TOWNSEL PRESIDENT WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, MEMBER DAWN BALINSKI, YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL. I GOT YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE ON THIS BOARD, YOUR TIRELESS COMMITMENT TO THIS POSITION IS TRULY COMMENDABLE.

YOUR EXCELLENCE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS SHOWS YOUR DEDICATION.

THIS ENGAGEMENT IS CRUCIAL FOR THE BOARD'S SUCCESS AND IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED. YOU EACH REFLECT THE RICH DIVERSITY OF CALVERT COUNTY, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IN OUR REPRESENTATION. YOUR ACTIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAS MADE

[00:35:01]

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLADYS

WHITE . >> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT TOWNSEL. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MISS CLAGGETT, MISS BALINSKI, AND MR. WHITE FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE TO ALL THE STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY. ALSO, THANKS FOR VALUING, SUPPORTING, AND RESPECTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. BEST WISHES TO ALL THREE OF YOU. YOU WILL BE TRULY MISSED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JASON OATS.

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WHITE, VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JASON OATS. I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPRESENTING 1,035 MEMBERS OF CEA. WHEN I SAW YOU LAST, I BROUGHT A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE.

AS PROMISED AT THE END OF THAT MESSAGE, I CAME BACK WITH A WISH LIST FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON. THE ONE WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO: BUDGET SEASON. THOUGHT I WAS GOING WITH SOMETHING ELSE, DIDN'T YOU? HOWEVER, AFTER HEARING THE LAST COUPLE PEOPLE SPEAK, I'M GOING TO TAKE THE FOUR PAGES THAT I TYPED UP AND TURN THEM INTO AN E-MAIL, WHICH I'LL SEND TO ALL OF YOU TOMORROW MORNING, AND I JUST WANT TO ECHO THE SENTIMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED TONIGHT. AND THANK OUR OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE, FOR THE DEDICATION YOU'VE HAD TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. DR.

TOWNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COLLABORATION. TO OUR REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS, I APPRECIATE THE COLLABORATION WE'VE HAD. I HOPE WE KEEP THAT GOING FORWARD. THERE'S NOTHING I CAN ADD ABOUT BUDGET WISH THAT REALLY BELONGS TONIGHT, SO

WE'LL TALK LATER. THANKS. >> [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH

CORME RE. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF EDUCATION, DR. TOWNSEL, STAFF. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING WRITTEN DOWN BECAUSE THREE MINUTES ISN'T ENOUGH TIME. MISS CLAGGETT, LET'S GO BACK TO 2018 WHEN KELLY MCCONKEY GOT HIS SEAT AND PEOPLE STEPPED UP IN THE COUNTY AND YOU WERE

[00:40:05]

MUCH. >> [APPLAUSE] .

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY

MCGUIRE. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS TRACY MCGUIRE. I COME THIS AFTERNOON TO THANK MEMBERS BALINSKI, VICE PRESIDENT CLAGGETT, AND PRESIDENT WHITE FOR YOUR BOARD SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR PUSHING BACK WHEN OTHERS WANTED TO CRIMINALIZE STUDENT BEHAVIORS. THANK YOU FOR PUSHING BACK WHEN OTHERS WANTED TO VILIFY AND UNDERMINE EDUCATORS. THANK YOU FOR PUSHING BACK WHEN OTHERS WANTED TO ABDICATE YOUR AUTHORITY FOR OVERSIGHT AND PASS IT TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS USING THE EQUITY LENS TO DECIDE IMPORTANT MATTERS AROUND POLICY, BUDGET, AND STAFFING. YOU EACH HAVE SERVED THE STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY, EDUCATORS IN CALVERT COUNTY, AND FAMILIES IN CALVERT COUNTY WITH COURAGE, INTEGRITY, AND STEADFASTNESS. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND I HOPE YOU HAVE HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND PEACE ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIVES.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHELLY BADE N.

>> I AM SHELLY BADEN, THE VICE CHAIR OF CCAC. JUST GONNA GET A LITTLE EMOTIONAL HERE FOR A SECOND. SO GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, BOARD MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENT TOWNSEL. ON BEHALF OF MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK PRESIDENT WHITE, MISS CLAGGETT, MISS BALINSKI FOR YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT OVER THE LAST YEARS. I JUST WANT TO SAY YOU LISTENED TO ME, AND I FELT HEARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. I DO ALSO APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE REMAINING BOARD MEMBERS AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU AND THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE YET TO COME. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO DISCUSS CCAC FOR THOSE WHO MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR, IT STANDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

IT OPERATES AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PARENTS, GUARDIANS, EDUCATORS, SUPPORT STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. MEETINGS ARE HELD MONTHLY. VISIT THE WEBSITE UNDER SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR THE MEETING LINKS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS, GUARDIANS WITH STUDENTS IN THE SPECIAL

[00:45:01]

THE HEARTFELT SUBMISSIONS ARE A REMINDER OF JUST HOW MANY STAFF RESIDE IN OUR STAFF. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THIS YEAR'S NOMINEES AT THE CCAC AWARDS CEREMONY ON APRIL 9TH. I WOULD ENCOURAGE PARENTS, GUARDIANS, CCPS STAFF, AND OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS TO ATTEND THE UPCOMING MEETINGS.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO PARTICIPATE IN CONVERSATIONS AND CONTINUE TO EDUCATE YOURSELF IN ORDER TO BEST SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION. CONSEQUENCES WILL NOT SOLVE OR RESOLVE PROBLEMS THAT LEAD INTO BEHAVIOR ISSUES. COMPASSION, EMPATHY, AND COLLABORATING IS WHAT IS REQUIRED OF ALL OF US TO PREVENT BEHAVIORAL ISSUES FROM OCCURRING. THANK YOU FOR

YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU.

>> [APPLAUSE] >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOYCE

FREE LAND. >> I AM JOYCE FREELAND, THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP. I LIKE TO BRING GREETINGS TO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. ON BEHALF OF OUR PRESIDENT, DEBRA HARRIS, AND THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CALVERT COUNTY BRANCH OF THE NAACP, NUMBER 7011, WE THANK DAWN BALINSKI, INEZ CLAGGETT, AND ANTOINE WHITE FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE STAFF, CHILDREN, AND FAMILIES OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOUR DEDICATION AND SERVICE HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON THE CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO ENSURING SUCCESS FOR ALL STUDENTS. THIS COMMITMENT HAS PLACED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS ONE OF THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. WE THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS CONSIDERING OUR CHILDREN FIRST WHEN MAKING DECISIONS AND POLICIES THAT YOU HAVE PUT FORTH. OUR BEST WISHES TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS

FOR THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU.

>>> I'M KEEPING MY EYE ON MISS MAXEY IN THE BACK TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, IF I NEED TO PROCEED, OR MISS BARONE. OKAY.

[5.01 Grace Minakowski]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND YOU'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE UPCOMING BREAK. DECEMBER IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE MONTHS OF SCHOOL WITH THE FESTIVE CONCERTS, EVENTS, AND IT'S BEEN AMAZING TO SEE THE TALENT AND WARMTH OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY THIS YEAR. TO BEGIN MY REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE STUDENT FREE EXPRESSION RESOLUTION INTRODUCEED AND

[00:50:02]

TOWNSEL NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN BRING THIS RESOLUTION TO THE BORDER OMMUNITY. SWITCHING GEARS, MISS LEWIS AND I HAVE FINALIZED OUR GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO WILL PART OF THE WORK GROUP WHICH WE'LL BE HEADING TOGETHER. THE WORK GROUP HAS REPRESENTATION FROM STUDENT LEADERS IN EACH OF OUR FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS. WE FLOATED THIS IDEA BACK IN SEPTEMBER AS WE WERE DISCUSSING WAYS TO MAKE STUDENTS MORE AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT, DISSEMINATE THAT KNOWLEDGE MORE EFFECTIVELY, AND GATHER MORE STUDENT FEEDBACK AS IT RELATES TO THE CODE. WE'RE HAMMERING OUT FINAL DETAILS NOW AND WE'RE EXCITED TO START THE GROUP UP FOLLOWING THE HOLIDAY BREAK. ADDITIONALLY, WE RECENTLY HOSTED OUR SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING LAST WEEK WITH ABOUT 300 MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEADERS.

I TAUGHT A WORKSHOP AS WELL AS LED OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES. I ENCOURAGE ANY STUDENT TO ATTEND OUR NEXT GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN FEBRUARY. AT THIS GA, WE'LL BE ELECTING NEXT YEAR'S STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS CRAZY TO THINK ABOUT. AND I ENCOURAGE ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN RUNNING TO CONTACT THEIR SCHOOL'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT ADVISOR FOR MORE DETAILS AS IT'S A RATHER LENGTHY PROCESS.

LAST SATURDAY, I ATTENDED THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL COMMUNITY CONVERSATION IN CROWNSVILLE, MARYLAND WITH YOUTH STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO INFORM MY NEXT LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM AND ENSURE CCPS STUDENTS ARE REPRESENTED IN PRIORITIES OF THE COUNCIL. I WAS FORMERLY THE CHAIR CREATED BY THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REPRESENT YOUNG PEOPLE BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, SO IT WAS A NICE FULL CIRCLE MOMENT. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND LAST MONTH'S STUDENT SAFETY AND WELL BEING ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHERE I GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHT ABOUT THE ROLE OF MCSS AND HOW SCHOOL SAFETY OPERATES LEGALLY AND LOGISTICALLY IN CALVERT.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, I'M EXCITED TO ATTEND THE BOY SCOUT EAGLE SCOUT CEREMONY THIS SUNDAY. I'M WORKING WITH JOE VOGEL ON A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE GREATER ACCESS TO CIVIL PROJECTS. AT MY SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENT, WE ARE MAKING ORNAMENTS FOR THE CALVERT NURSING HOME, WHICH WE'LL BE DELIVERING NEXT WEEK TO SPREAD SOME HOLIDAY CHEER. AS I CLOSE, THOUGH I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY IN MY COMMENT, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR RELENTLESS SERVICE. YOU HAVE BEEN MENTORS TO ME AND IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HUMBLING TO SERVE ALONGSIDE YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE TO HELP CCPS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES. THANK YOU.

[6.01 Dr. Andrae Townsel]

>> THANK YOU, MISS MINAKOWSKI. DR. TOWNSEL?

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WHITE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS WHOSE ARTWORK HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THIS YEAR'S CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL HOLIDAY CARD.

ANDREW HIMMON, A FOURTH GRADER. AMAYAH BUTLER, A SIXTH GRADER AT CALVERT MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND ENDEERA DAVIS, AN 11TH GRADER AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. WE RECEIVED TO MANY WONDERFUL PIECES OF ARTWORK. WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE ARTS COUNCIL OF CALVERT COUNTY WHO IS PATIENCELY HOSTING A DISPLAY OF ALL OF OUR STUDENT SUBMISSIONS AT THEIR GALLERY LOCATED AT 110 SOLOMON'S ISLAND ROAD. IT WILL BE

[00:55:02]

>> [APPLAUSE] >> CONGRATULATIONS TO HUNTINGTON'S FOOTBALL TEAM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY AS WELL. JUST SO YOU KNOW, HUNTINGTON WAS ONE POINT AWAY FROM THEIR STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I DO KNOW THAT PUTUXEN, THEY'RE LOOKING TO GET CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS AND LETTERMAN JACKETS. WHATEVER SUPPORT YOU CAN OFFER, I DO ENDORSE THAT OR I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. PRESIDENT WHITE AND I ATTENDED THE SECOND SESSION OF THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

WE ATTENDED THE FIRST SESSION ON OCTOBER 23RD. THESE SESSIONS ARE DESIGNED TO LAUNCH MARYLAND'S NEW LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR SUPERINTENDENTS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND SCHOOL LEADERS AS OUTLINED IN THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR LA RATIFICATIONS, IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL ISSUES WITHIN LEA'S AND THEIR ALIGNMENT OF LEADERSHIP EFFORT FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. WE AIM TO GAIN A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT OUR DISTRICT AND ITS LEADERS IN DRIVING MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS. ALSO WANT TO SHARE THIS PAST SUNDAY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO DEDICATE THAT CAMPUS TO THE COMMUNITY. IT WAS AN OUTSTANDING EVENT. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MISS WARNER AND HER TEAM AND THE ENTIRE BEECH ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY. FYI, SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED FROM MONDAY, DECEMBER 23RD THROUGH MONDAY, JANUARY 1ST FOR STUDENTS AND 10 AND 11 MONTH STAFF. OUR OFFICES WILL REMAIN OPEN ON THE 23RD. ALSO JANUARY 2ND IS A TWO-HOUR LATE ARRIVAL FOR STUDENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO WISH OUR STUDENTS, FAMILIES, STAFF, COMMUNITY A JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON. ENJOY YOUR TIME WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES. VERY LAST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OUTGOING MEMBERS FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. I BELIEVE IT WAS MOHAMMED ALI WHO SAID SERVICE IS THE RENT YOU PAY FOR YOUR TIME HERE ON EARTH. THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING TO THAT SERVICE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE NEW MEMBERS IN JANUARY. MY PRAYER IS WE KICK IT OFF WITH A RETREAT, WE GET ROCKING AND ROLLING, AND KEEP CALVERT

COUNTY LEVELING UP. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. TOWNSEL.

>>> NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS. OOPS. YES.

>> [INDISCERNIBLE] >> ABSOLUTE LY.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BARONE, THE

[01:00:02]

[7.01 Policies for Review]

FOR LETTING ME READ THAT. >> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO ACTION ITEMS. POLICIES WERE REVIEW. FIRST WE HAVE POLICY 1515, WEAPONS POSSESSION. MISS

CECILIA LEWIS . >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M CECILIA LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES. WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU POLICY STATEMENT 1515 OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING WEAPONS IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY IS TO ENSURE THAT CCPS PROPERTIES ARE SAFE AND WEAPON-FREE AND OUTLINES THAT NO PERSON, UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY LAW OR BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL CARRY OR POSSESS A WEAPON OR LOOK-ALIKE WEAPON OF ANY KIND ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. UPON REVIEWING THIS POLICY, WE ARE NOT RECOMMENDING ANY CHANGES AT THIS TIME.

>> ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. IT WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.

>> OKAY. TANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU, MISS CLAGGETT, MR. WHITE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. ONE QUICK THING WE ALWAYS SAY THAT LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT PURPOSE, NOT POSITION.

SO I'M VERY EXCITED THAT EACH OF YOU WILL CONTINUE TO WALK IN YOUR PURPOSE, NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS POSITION, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND SCHOOLS AT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE POLICY 1450, NUTRITION AND

WELLNESS. MISS PALMER? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS VALERIE PALMER, AND I AM THE SUPERVISOR FOR THE CHILD

NUTRITION PROGRAM. >> I'M ALSO FOR ROTC.

>> WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT FOR REVIEW POLICY NUMBER 1450 REGARDING NUTRITION AND WELLNESS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE RECOMMENDING A CHANGE TO ONE SENTENCE IN THE POLICY LANGUAGE. THE CHANGE IS LOCATED IN SECTION B WHERE THE CURRENT SENTENCE STATES THEREFORE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL USE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE REGARDING NUTRITION AND WELLNESS TOO, AND THEN IT'S FOLLOWED BY A LIST OF ITEMS. WE ARE RECOMMENDING THEREFORE, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL USE CURRENT RESEARCH TO SET GOALS THAT, FOLLOWED BY THE SAME LIST THAT'S EXISTING IN THE POLICY NOW. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE IS TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE POLICY IS NOT A STATIC

[01:05:05]

NO ADDITIONAL REVISIONS ARE BEING RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME.

>> THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. THE POLICY WILL BE

POSTED FOR 30 DAYS. >> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT WE HAVE POLICY 4305, SCHOOL FIRST FOOD SERVICES.

>> THAT'S ALSO ME. I AM PRESENTING POLICY 4305 REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM.

I'M RECOMMENDING TWO CHANGES TO THE POLICY LANGUAGE. THE FIRST ONE IS A CHANGE FROM THE WORD MANDATES TO REGULATIONS.

IN SECTION 2A. THIS WILL ENSURE THE LANGUAGE MORE CLOSELY ALIGNS WITH TERMINOLOGY THAT'S USED IN THE SUPPORTING FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS. THE SECOND CHANGE IS ALSO IN SECTION 2A, SPECIFICALLY THE LAST SENTENCE OF THAT SECTION. THE SENTENCE CURRENTLY STATES IN ADDITION USING FEDERAL AND STATE SUBSIDIES, THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM SHOULD OPERATE ON A SELF-SUPPORTING BASIS WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF ANY LOCAL OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS. I'D LIKE TO REMOVE THE BENEFIT OF ANY AND REPLACE THAT WITH SUBSIDY FROM. THAT MEANS THE NEW REVISED SENTENCE WOULD THEN STATE IN ADDITION USING FEDERAL AND STATE SUBSIDIES, THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM SHOULD OPERATE ON A SELF-SUPPORTING BASIS WITHOUT SUBSIDY FROM LOCAL OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHANGE WAS JUST TO CLARIFY THE LANGUAGE. AND THERE ARE NO OTHER ADDITIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS AT THIS TIME.

>> ANY DISCUSSION? THANK YOU. IT WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.

[7.02 Change Order Approval]

>> THANK YOU. >>> NEXT WE MOVE INTO CHANGE

ORDER APPROVALS. MISS WARNER? >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION. AND I AM BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PRESENT AND ASK FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HVAC AND PARTIAL ROOFING REPLACEMENT PROJECT. I WILL RECAP THE CHANGE ORDER PROPOSALS THAT ENCOMPASS CHANGE ORDER ONE. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF THREE ITEMS OR THREE PCO'S. ITEM NUMBER ONE IS FOR DOCK WORK AND SHEET METAL MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED DUE TO EXISTING CONDITION ISSUES. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS FOR ELECTRICAL MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THE AIR HANDLING EQUIPMENT PUMP STARTERS. AND ITEM NUMBER THREE IS FOR ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY LIGHTING IN THE MECHANICAL ROOM PER THE CALVERT COUNTY INSPECTOR. SO THAT SUMMARIZES THE PROPOSED CHANGE ORDERS THAT ENCOMPASS CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE PROJECT. THE CHANGE ORDER WOULD BRING THE PROJECT TOTAL TO $2,839,508. FUNDING FOR THE CHANGE ORDER WILL COME THROUGH CIP FUNDS. AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME. I FORGOT THE

40-CENTS AT THE END. >> ANY DISCUSSION?

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION. THE $51,000, DOES THAT COME OUT OF YOUR GENERAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUNDS? CAPITAL FUNDS? OR JUST FUNDS THAT WERE CONTINGENCIES FOR THIS PROJECT?

>> WE SET ASIDE ENOUGH CONTINGENCY FOR THIS PROJECT, SO IT WILL COME OUT OF THAT CONTINGENCY, OUT OF THAT CIP ACCOUNT. SO THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDS WILL BE DRAWN OUT FOR ALL

THREE OF THESE ITEMS ACTUALLY. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CHANGE ORDER REQUESTED AND DISCUSSED BY STAFF IN THE AMOUNT OF $51,467.40.

>> SECOND. >> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES 5-0. >> THANK YOU.

[7.03 Bid Approvals]

>>> NEXT WE MOVE INTO BID APPROVALS. MR. SHELDON TAYLOR

AND MISS WARNER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT WHITE, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS SHELDON TAYLOR. TODAY I HAVE FIVE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JOINING ME HERE FIRST IS MISS WARNER, DIRECTOR

[01:10:03]

EIGHT, AND NINE. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A

SECOND. DISCUSSION? >> I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE DON'T GET FULL FUNDING FROM THE STATE.

YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE FIRST YES, IT WAS 75% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FUNDING OF PROJECTS. WILL THIS BE IMPACTED? AND IF THE SO, IS THIS BUILT INTO THE CONTRACT

THAT WE HAVE WITH KELLAR? >> SO WE ALWAYS HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO TERMINATE A CONTRACT IF THERE'S NOT FUNDING. BUT OUR INTENTION IS, UM, TO TRY TO OBVIOUSLY GET THE STATE FUNDING THAT WE REQUESTED THIS YEAR. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME POTENTIAL SAVINGS FROM SOME OTHER PROJECTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE TO LEVERAGE CASH FLOW THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED. SO I'M IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT JUST IN CASE THE STATE FUNDING THIS YEAR DOES NOT WORK OUT TO THE FULL AMOUNT THAT WE REQUESTED.

SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO. STATE FUNDING, THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT THAT THEY WILL PAY WHAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED TO THE PROJECT, BUT IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY WILL PAY IT, THAT IS ALWAYS UP FOR DEBATE BASED ON THE STATE FUND

ING. >> IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR MIND? AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THE AMOUNT THAT WAS AGREED UPON PRIOR TO.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER HAPPENED BECAUSE THEY DID APPROVE AND COMMIT TO THE PROJECT. THEY COMMITTED LOCAL PLANNING. THEY'VE GIVEN MONEY TO THE PROJECT IN PREVIOUS CYCLES THAT WE'VE UTILIZED AND THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY BANKING IN ORDER TO CASH FLOW THIS PROJECT FORWARD. I'VE NEVER SEEN THE STATE NECESSARILY GO BACK ON A COMMITMENT AFTER THEY

MADE IT. >> OKAY. JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, YOU KNOW. WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET AT THE STATE LEVEL AND JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND HOW WE COULD BE IMPACTED HERE IF THINGS COULD

GO SIDEWAYS. SO THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN

FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES 5-0. >> THANK YOU. MR. WARNER WILL STAY FOR THE NEXT RECOMMENDATION, WHICH IS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE UNIT REPLACEMENT AND HEATING WATER PLANT ADDITION. OCTOBER 2024, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

[01:15:07]

BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE BID OPENING, WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE UNIT REPLACEMENT AND HEATING WATER PLANT ADDITION AT THE CENTER TO MCOR SERVICES OF ATLANTA, MARYLAND FOR THE BASE BID OF $940,389. FUNDING FOR THIS REQUEST IS VIA CIP FUNDS.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> WHEN IS THIS TO BEGIN AGAIN? >> THIS PROJECT IS TO COMMENCE WITH ON-SITE MOBILIZATION IN SUMMER. THIS UPCOMING SUMMER OF

2025. >> SO IF THE STATE DECIDES TO DELAY THAT, THEN WE HAVE TIME TO ADVISE?

>> SO I HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STATE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FUNDING THROUGH FY 2025 CIP THAT WE RECEIVED. WE RECEIVED PARTIAL FUNDING FROM THE STATE, AND WE RECEIVED FUNDING FROM OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. AND WE HAD SOME STATE RESERVE MONEY FROM OTHER STATE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY REQUESTED TO UTILIZE SO THAT WE CAN FULLY FUND THIS PROJECT AND JUST MOVE FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE, SO THAT IS GOING TO GO BEEN THE IAC. I BELIEVE WE'LL BE FULLY FUNDED THIS FISCAL YEAR.

>> IS THIS PART OF THE NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILD TOO? IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS DONE WHILE THAT NEW BUILDING IS

BEING CONSTRUCTED? >> ABSOLUTELY. IT'S REALLY IMPERATIVE THAT THIS BE DONE BEFORE THE EXISTING BUILDING IS DEMOLISHED BECAUSE THE HEATING PLANT FROM THE EXISTING NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL SERVICES THE CENTER. WE'RE TRYING TO GET AN INDEPENDENT HEATING PLANT WITHIN THE HARRISON CENTER BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. IN ORDER TO HAVE ADEQUATE TIME, IT JUST MAKES SENSE TO DO THE WORK THIS SUMMER.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN

FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> AYE.

>> MOTION PASSES 5-0. >> THANK YOU. THE THIRD REQUEST IS FOR THE RECOMMENDATION TO GAIN APPROVAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND TRACK LED LIGHTING RETROFIT. PURSUANT TO THE POLICY 5510, BOARD APPROVAL IS REQUESTED TO USE THE KEYTONE PURCHASING NETWORKING CONTRACT FOR THE FOOTBALL AND TRACK LED LIGHTING RETROFIT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. THE FULL SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE PROJECT IS DETAILED WITHIN THE ATTACHED QUOTE.

FUNDING FOR THIS PURCHASE WILL BE THROUGH THE SCHOOL SAFETY STATE GRANT FUNDS. LOCAL EMERGENCY CONSERVATION FUNDS AND THE OPERATING BUDGET ON THE ATHLETIC FIELDS LINE. WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THE BOARD APPROVE THE USE OF THE KEYSTONE PURCHASING NETWORK CONTRACT AND AWARD THE FOOTBALL AND TRACK LED LIGHTING RETROFIT PROJECT FOR $364,912.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S BEEN A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN

FAVOR? MOTION PASSES 5-0. >> NEXT UP, WRITTEN QUOTES MUST BE RECEIVED FROM THREE VENDORS. BOARD APPROVAL IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO A REQUISITION BEING ENTERED FOR ANY GOODS AND SERVICES. WHEN A VENDOR IS NOT THE LOWEST BIDDER HAS BEEN CHOSEN OR THREE COMPETITIVE VENDOR QUOTES WERE NOT OBTAINED, A WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION IS APPROVED. WE ASK THE BOARD APPROVE THE FOLLOWING VENDOR, SIDELET EDUCATION FOR COACHING AND CONSULTING BASED ON THE LANGUAG INTERACTIVE CLASSROOM. A CUMULATIVE PURCHASE AMOUNT FOR FY 25 THAT INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE SAME SERVICES. THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION GENERATED THIS REQUEST AND ALL FUNDING WILL BE VIA TITLE II

FUNDS. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> THERE HAS BEEN A MOTION AND

A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? >> I HAD A QUICK QUESTION. WITH REGARD TO THIS PROGRAM AS I WAS READING THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE DOCUMENT, IS IT SPECIFICALLY FOR CALVERT HIGH

[01:20:05]

>> I DO HAVE MISS SPARKS, SUPERVISOR, HERE TO ANSWER THAT

QUESTION. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF WORLD LANGUAGE, PE, AND NJ ROTC. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTION, THE TRAINING THAT I'M DOING AT THIS POINT FORWARD, WE DID A WHOLE SCHOOL TRAINING AT CALVERT HIGH IN AUGUST TO INTRODUCE THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND THE SEVEN STEPS TO TEACHERS, WHAT WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NOW IS TO ACTUALLY GO INTO A COACHING/MENTORING CYCLE IN INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS AND ALSO HAVE A GROUP OF ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS THAT WILL FISH BOWL AND LEARN THAT PROCESS FROM OUR COACH FROM SEIDLITZ EDUCATION. WE'RE DRILLING DOWN TO INTENSIVE TRAINING WITH TEACHERS IN THE ROOM AND DOING A WHOLE GROUP KIND OF REFLECTION WITH THE STAFF AT THE END OF THE DAY. BUT IT WILL BE FOUR DIFFERENT DAYS THAT WE HAVE A COACH COME IN AND WORK WITH OUR TEACHERS.

>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT IT IS SPECIFICALLY FOR CALVERT HIGH

SCHOOL? >> THIS ROUND, YES. WE'VE DONE SOME WITH ADMINISTRATORS IN THE PAST. WE'VE DONE SOME WITH SCHOOL REGIONAL BUILDINGS AND OTHER TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND WE'VE DECIDED TO INTENSIFY CALVERT HIGH. THAT'S WHERE WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE WITH THE STAFF THERE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN

FAVOR? >> AYE.

>> AYE. >> OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES 5-0.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS SPARKS. JOINING ME FOR THE FINAL REQUEST IS MR. KEVIN HOIGHT FOR THE APPROVAL TO USE SMART RIDE FOR ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE SERVICES. SEEKING APPROVAL TO CONTINUE THE USE OF SMART RIDE FOR NON-SCHOOL BUS SERVICES. IT HAS BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO ALLEVIATE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ROUTE SUPPORT THAT ARISES DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE DRIVERS FOR SMART RIDE HAVE CURRENT CERTIFICATION THROUGH OUR HR DEPARTMENT. IF APPROVED, THE CONTINUED USE OF SMART RIDE WILL SUPPORT THE NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE SERVICES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025. ALL FUNDING FOR THIS PURCHASE WILL BE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION BUDGET. WE RESPECTLY RECOMMEND THE BOARD APPROVE TO SMART RIDE FOR UP TO $75,000 FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S BEEN A PROPER MOTION AND SECOND. ANY

DISCUSSION? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> YOU GO AHEAD. >> UM, I SEE IN THE DESCRIPTION YOU MENTION CONTINUATION OF SERVICES. HOW WAS THIS VENDOR

IDENTIFIED PREVIOUSLY? >> WE'VE BEEN USING, EXCUSE ME, GOOD AFTERNOON, KEVIN HOOK, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND ATHLETICS. WE'VE BEEN USING THIS VENDOR FOR ALMOST EIGHT YEARS NOW. ORIGINALLY, WE WERE USING A TAXI COMPANY FROM ANN ARUNDEL COUNTY. AND ACTUALLY SMART RIDE WHO HAS BEENS TO BE ON DORSEY ROAD REACHED OUT AND SAID THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH US. FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, WE'VE HAD AT LEAST TWO OF THEIR DRIVERS. WE HAVE THREE DRIVERS OF THEIRS THAT ARE TAKING STUDENTS TO AND FROM. THEY'RE USING THEM FOR

TWO VEHICLES RIGHT NOW. >> AND WITH THAT, I KNOW THERE IS A POLICY, WELL LAW THAT SAYS NOW SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE ALLOWED TO USE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS. AND I HAVE BROUGHT THIS ISSUE UP PREVIOUSLY. COULD YOU GIVE US A TIMELINE FOR WHEN A FULL OR A FEE WILL BE PUT ON THE STREET TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS THROUGH ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE

METHODS? >> ACTUALLY, I WILL BE DOING A PRESENTATION NEXT MONTH FOR THE BOARD OF ED ABOUT ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES AND THE RESEARCH WE'VE DONE ON IT. AND THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED. ONCE WE DO THAT, WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION, HOW THEY WOULD LIKE US TO PROCEED.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> I'M DISTRACTED BY DR. TOWNSEL TODAY. HE'S GOT A LOT GOING ON. HE'S GOT A LOT OF CANDY OVER HERE: . THERE'S A

[01:25:02]

VINTO? DID WE BUY A VEHICLE? >> YES. I THINK THAT WAS MAYBE THE MEETING IN NOVEMBER, MAYBE OCTOBER.

>> SO WHAT IS THAT VEHICLE FOR? I MEAN, IS THAT FOR A STAFF PERSON TO USE VERSUS TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS?

>> GO AHEAD. >> SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S GOING TO BE TRANSPORTATION FOR STUDENTS.

>> IT IS GOING TO BE. >> YES.

>> AT THIS TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DRIVERS TO DRIVE AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE, AND THAT VEHICLE ACTUALLY NEEDS A COUPLE MORE ITEMS ADDED TO IT TO BE CONSIDERED AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

>> SO THE UP TO $75,000 AND THEN IF I SCROLL DOWN HERE, THE PRICING WHERE IT GIVES HOURLY RATES AND LOCAL RATES. AND IF I GO EVEN FURTHER, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S TWO LOCATIONS. SO $75,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY. I'M JUST CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE, WHERE DID WE ARRIVE AT $75,000 IF WE ONLY HAVE THESE TWO RIGHT NOW? THESE TWO LOCATIONS?

>> SO I BELIEVE WE BASED THAT ON $2,500 A WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE

SCHOOL YEAR. >> OKAY.

>> TO COME TO $75,000. >> FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS

SCHOOL YEAR? >> YES, MA'AM. WE'RE HOPING TO NOT HAVE TO SPEND THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT. AFTER OUR

PRESENTATION. >> OKAY. HOPE IT'S A GOOD

PRESENTATION. >> I BELIEVE IT WILL BE.

>> SO WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR GETTING THE VEHICLE PREPARED TO BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AS AN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLE?

>> HONESTLY, IT'S JUST MATTER OF GETTING IT HAS TO HAVE A BACKUP ALARM ON IT, AND IT ALSO WE WOULD LIKE TO PUT GPS AND AN INTERIOR CAMERA, WHICH LOOKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD.

>> AND WHAT'S THE TIMELINE FOR THAT?

>> HONESTLY, IT WOULD BE AS SOON AS WE CAN CONTACT SOMEONE TO COME AND INSTALL IT. SO IT COULD BE JUST A MATTER OF

WEEKS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS. >> AND HOW ABOUT FOR OBTAINING

DRIVERS? >> THAT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF AN HR QUESTION. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH WITH THE PEER REVIEW OF GETTING DRIVERS FOR ALTERNATIVE

VEHICLES. >> OKAY. SO MR. HOOK, I WOULD ASK WHEN YOU GIVE THAT PRESENTATION NEXT MONTH THAT YOU ENCLOSE IN YOUR PRESENTATION ESTIMATES FOR DRIVERS, TIMELINES, AND COST TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SO A NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION CAN MAKE AN EFFECTIVE DECISION BASED UPON SOME FACTS SURROUNDING WHEN THESE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES WILL BECOME AVAILABLE FOR OUR SYSTEM. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE ONE VEHICLE, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT IF WE ARE PLANNING TO BUY OTHERS THAT WE ALSO WILL BE PREPARING FOR THE FACT THAT WE WILL NEED MECHANICS AS WELL AS LOCATIONS TO PREPARE THOSE VEHICLES. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING AND WATCHING FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE DAIS NEXT MONTH YOUR EXTENSIVE

AND DETAILED PRESENTATION. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES 5-0.

>> THANK YOU. >>> NEXT WE HAVE P3 WORKGROUP

[7.04 P3 Workgroup Presentation]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, AND I AM BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PRESENT THE FINAL P3 REPORT AS APPROVED BY THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS P3 WORK GROUP ON DECEMBER 3, 2024 AT THE WORK GROUP'S FINAL MEETING. IN ADVANCE, LET ME JUST SAY I APOLOGIZE. THIS MIGHT BE SOME DRY MATERIAL FOR SOME OF YOU, BUT WE ARE LEGISLATIVELY MANDATED TO PRESENT IT BY DECEMBER 31ST,

[01:30:03]

THE WORK GROUP WAS CHARGED WITH MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING USING A P3 FOR NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION OF SCHOOLS TO MEET THE IDENTIFIED NEEDS AT A LOWER COST. MEMBERS WERE APPOINTED AND ARE LISTED ON THE SECOND PAGE OF THE REPORT. THAT WAS IN BOARD DOCS. ADDITIONALLY, THE STAFF THAT SUPPORTED THIS WORK IS LISTED TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF THAT SAME PAGE. A TOTAL OF FIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS CONCLUDED ON DECEMBER 3RD. THE MEETING AGENDA AND WORK PLAN ARE NOTED ON PAGE TWO OF THE REPORT. SO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE REPORT, I WILL PRESENT YOU WITH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TODAY. AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT A P3 ARRANGEMENT IS, A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CALVERT'S FACILITY NEEDS, WHERE P3'S HAVE BEEN USED IN MARYLAND, THE LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, POTENTIAL PROJECTS WE COULD CONSIDER, AND OVERALL RECOMMENDATIONS. SO WHAT IS A P3? IT IS A DELIVERY MODEL. A PUBLIC AGENCY AND A PRIVATE ENTITY ENTER INTO A CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT TO DESIGN, BUILD, FINANCE, AND POTENTIALLY MAINTAIN AND OPERATE PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR SERVICES. IT'S TO LEVERAGE PRIVATE SECTOR EFFICIENCY AND FINANCING. WHEN DONE IN A K-12 ENVIRONMENT, THE MODEL THAT'S MOST APPLIED IS DESIGN, BUILD, FINANCE, AND MAINTAIN OR DBFM, LEAVING THE OPERATIONS UNDER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CONTROL. ONE OF THE REASONS MAINTENANCE IS OFTEN TRANSFERRED FOR THE TERM OF THE ARRANGEMENT IS IT SHIFTS THE RISK AWAY FROM THE OWNER. SO WHAT IS P3 NOT? IT IS NOT AN AVENUE TO PRIVATEIZE A PUBLIC SECTOR FACILITY. THE PUBLIC AGENCY RETAINS OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE ASSET. BY INCORPORATING PERFORMANCE BASED CONTRACTING AND LINKING FINANCING TO AGREED UPON OUTCOMES, P3'S CAN ALLOW DISTRICTS TO IDENTIFY LONG-TERM PLANNING AND INVESTMENT. A TYPICAL P3 TERM CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM 20-99 YEARS. THE PRIVATE FINANCING MUST BE REPAID THROUGH AN AVAILABILITY PAYMENT. THINK OF IT KIND OF LIKE A MORTGAGE PAYMENT, IF YOU WILL. AND THERE CAN BE MILESTONE PAYMENTS AS WELL DURING THE COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION FOR SEVERAL MILESTONES THAT HAVE BEEN ATTAINED. THE FUNDING OR REVENUE STREAM HAS TO BE IN PLACE AND BE CREDIT WORTHY TO ENSURE THAT IT'S VIABLE, THAT THE P3 IS VIABLE. AND THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH TAX REVENUES, DEDICATED SET ASIDE FUNDS, USER FEES, AND GOVERNMENT GRANTS. SO WHY LOOK AT A P3? THE MOST ATTRACTIVE ASPECT IS THE ACCELERATED DELIVERY OF THE PROJECT BECAUSE YOU'RE LEVERAGING PRIVATE FINANCING AND A LOT OF IT AT ONE TIME. BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS TO ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTOR FINANCING, THE PROJECT NEEDS TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THE PRIVATE SECTOR. SO PACKAGES HAVE TO TYPICALLY BE AT LEAST $100 MILLION. SMALLER SIZE PROJECTS LIKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS CAN BE BUNDLED TOGETHER TO CREATE THIS ATTRACTIVE THRESHOLD. MOVING ON TO AN OVERVIEW OF OUR NEEDS, TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAINTAINS 25 ACTIVE BUILDINGS AT $ 2,475,898 GROSS SQUARE FEET. THE CURRENT REPLACEMENT VALUE OF CCPS IS GROSS SQUARE FOOTAGE AS ESTIMATED BY THE

[01:35:03]

BUT BY FY 2025, WE'RE AT ABOUT 10% OF THE RECOMMENDATION. NOW, WHAT I MEAN BY CAPITAL MAINTENANCE IS ESSENTIALLY THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING, RENEWING, OR REPLACING THE ASSET. LIKE ROOF, HVAC, WINDOWS, DOORS. THESE ARE THE TYPICAL PROJECTS THAT WE SEE IN OUR CIP'S. SO THOSE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS WE SEE IN THE CIP. HERE WE SEE CALVERT'S FACILITY CONDITION INDEX COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE STATE. THE FACILITY CONDITION INDEX IS A WIDELY RECOGNIZED METRIC TO EVALUATE THE CONDITION OF SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND. THE FCI ASSIGNS A SCORE BETWEEN ZERO AND 100 TO ASSESS THE OVERALL STATE OF BUILDINGS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS. A SCORE CLOSER TO ZERO MEANS THE BUILDING IS NEWER. A SCORE CLOSER TO 100 MEANS THAT THE BUILDING SHOULD BE FULLY REPLACED. SO A SCORE OF ABOVE 60 INDICATES THAT THE BUILDING FUNCTIONS ARE BECOMING UNRELIABLE, AND IT'S TIME TO INVEST SOME MAJOR CAPITAL FUNDING INTO THAT ASSET. OUR SCORE IS 51% ON AVERAGE, AND IT'S WELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT WITH LESS AND LESS CAPITAL FUNDING, WE ARE DEFERRING OUR MAINTENANCE, CAPITAL MAINTENANCE LONGER AND LONGER. THEN THAT FCI SCORE, OF COURSE, WOULD RAPIDLY INCREASE. THAT IS ONE OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES.

I'D LIKE TO GO INTO THE STATE PUBLISH COST OF CONSTRUCTION VERSUS OUR TARGETED ALLOCATION NOW. HERE WE SEE THE STATE'S, CALVERT'S HISTORICAL STATE CIP FUNDING. THIS TABLE IS IMPORTANT. YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT IN FY 2020 IT WAS $378 A SQUARE FOOT. IN 2026, THE PUBLISHED COST PER SQUARE FOOT AND THIS IS BASED ON WHAT PROJECTS ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN AT WAS $495 A SQUARE FOOT. SO THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE INCREASE. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE TARGET STATE ALLOCATION. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THE STATE, NOT NECESSARILY AT THE END OF THE CIP, BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY TARGET THAT THEY WILL LIKELY FUND HAS BEEN GOING DOWN. IN FY 2020, IT WAS $6.6 MILLION. IT HAS BEEN GETTING LESSER AND LESSER AND LESSER. SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? $3.8 MILLION PER YEAR. THAT CAN'T REALLY LET YOU BUILD A NEW SCHOOL VERY QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY A HIGH SCHOOL. SO I WANT TO JUST GIVE THIS EASY EXAMPLE. SO IMAGINE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SIZED AT 75,000 SQUARE FEET. PRETTY STANDARD. COST OF CONSTRUCTION BASED ON TODAY'S MARKET COSTS ESTIMATED AT $38.5 MILLION. IF WE WERE TO BUILD AND BUILD A NEW SCHOOL, DEMO THE OLD BUILDING, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS. BASED ON OUR STATE

[01:40:03]

IT DOES HAVE PROVISIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF A SCHOOL. YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE COOPERATIVE USE OF THE SCHOOL OR AN ADJACENT PROPERTY AND GENERATION OF REVENUE TO OFFSET THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OR USE OF THE SCHOOL. AND STATE FUNDING, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE PER THE STATUTE. UNDER THE CURRENT LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK, CCPS CAN PURSUE A P3, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FUNDING THE AVAILABILITY PAYMENT WOULD FALL SQUARELY ON CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE CALVERT COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SO LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE TO BE ENACTED IN ORDER TO GET THE STATE TO PARTICIPATE. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL HERE. IT IS INCLUDED IN THE REPORT. BUT SOME OF THE ISSUES OF THE WORK GROUP LOOKED AT WERE THINGS I'VE SORT OF OUTLINED. CASH FLOW LIMITATIONS FOR MAJOR MARQUEE PROJECTS, PRE-K CAPACITY, WHICH IS SOMETHING WE'RE DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF PRE-K, SO IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LOOK AT P3 WISE. WE HAVE CASH FLOW LIMITATIONS FOR OUR CAPITAL MAINTENANCE PROJECT. WE ARE NOT GETTING ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR THOSE, NOR ARE WE GETTING ADEQUATE CASH FLOW FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION. WE KNOW THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO RESOLVE. SO THAT WAS LOOKED AT.

I WANT TO JUST KIND OF SHOW YOU WITH A SNAPSHOT THE FCI SCORES.

[01:45:02]

THESE ARE, OF COURSE, THINGS WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. WE ALSO LOOKED AT POTENTIAL PROJECTS FOR P3 DELIVERY. OBVIOUSLY, NORTHERN MIDDLE IS ALREADY FUNDED, FOR THE MOST PART. AND WE ARE GETTING READY TO START CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY.

HOWEVER, WE COULD LOOK AT SOME OF THESE OTHER PROJECTS. THEY ARE NOTED IN TERMS OF THE DESIGN FUNDING CYCLE. AND OF THESE THREE, THE LAST ONE, MT. HARMONY WOULD BE ANTICIPATED TO COMPLETE 10 YEARS FROM NOW. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED. THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS HERE THAT ARE NOTED BASED ON FCI SCORE, BASED ON ENROLLMENT PROJECTION AS A PERCENTAGE OF CAPACITY, BUT REALLY YOU'D WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING VERY, VERY HOLISTICALLY. AND ONE THING THAT REALLY WAS APPARENT IS WE SHOULD LOOK AT FUTURE PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A P3.

HIGH FCI SCORES, OPEN SPACE CLASSROOMS, OR OTHER ISSUES THAT SCHOOLS MIGHT BE SUFFERING FROM, BUILDING UTILIZATION, ENROLLMENT TRENDS, AND OPERATIONAL COSTS. THESE ARE ALL ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE STUDIED. MOVING ON TO THE FISCAL AND OPERATIONAL VIABILITY, THERE CERTAINLY ARE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES TO P3S. FINANCIAL BENEFITS INCLUDE RISK TRANSFER, ACCESS TO PRIVATE CAPITAL, COST EFFICIENCY THROUGH POTENTIAL STREAMLINING AND LIFE CYCLE COST MANAGEMENT.

THERE ARE RISKS, HOWEVER, TOO. THE FACT THAT THESE ARE COMPLEX FINANCIAL STRUCTURES IS SOMETHING TO REALLY THINK ABOUT AND STUDY VERY, VERY DEEPLY. THERE ARE HIGHER FINANCING COSTS. THIS IS PRIVATE CAPITAL. SO IT'S GOING TO COST MORE MONEY THAN PUBLIC BONDS, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE IS A LONG-TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENT. REMEMBER, THESE ARE TERMS THAT GO FROM 20 TO POTENTIALLY 99 YEARS. POLITICAL AND REGULATORY RISK IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. AND OTHER FACTORS, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT STREAMLINING AND YOU'RE, SAY, DESIGNING ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF SCHOOL AND THEN TRYING TO SIMULTANEOUSLY, YOU KNOW, APPLY THAT EFFICIECY, YOU MAY NOT GET ALL OF YOUR PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS AND PERFORMANCE NEEDS.

ANY P3 STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE TO CAREFULLY ENSURE THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AND ENFORCED DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS. WHEN COMPARING COSTS OF TRADITIONAL PUBLIC FUNDING VERSUS P3 FUNDING, THERE ARE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES TO EACH. WITH TRADITIONAL PUBLIC FUNDING, YOU HAVE LOWER FINANCING COSTS THROUGH LOWER INTEREST GOVERNMENT BONDS, FOR EXAMPLE. YOU DON'T HAVE A PROFIT REQUIREMENT, UNLIKE A P3 WHERE THE PRIVATE INVESTORS REALLY ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A PROFIT. SO YOU CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE THAT WITH TRADITIONAL PUBLIC FINANCING. YOU DO HAVE UP-FRONT CAPITAL EXPENDITURES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR DESIGN COSTS. THERE ARE UP-FRONT COSTS THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO EXPEND MONEY FOR. AND POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, SLOWER DELIVERY AND INCREASED RISK OF COST OVERRUNS ARE CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT ARE A POTENTIAL ISSUE. WITH P3 FINANCING OR P3 FUNDING, IT IS HIGHER PRIVATE CAPITAL COSTS, BUT THERE IS THAT REDUCED PUBLIC BURDEN BECAUSE THE BONDING AUTHORITY, YOU KNOW, CAN BE, IT'S ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE STRETCHING THOSE PAYMENTS OVER A MUCH LONGER TERM. BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO INCLUDE VALUE FOR MONEY CONSIDERATIONS. AND ESSENTIALLY, THIS IS WHERE THE PUBLIC SECTOR AGENCY IS GOING TO HAVE TO ASSESS WHAT THE LONG-TERM BENEFITS REALLY ARE FOR A P3. COST CERTAINTY, RISK TRANSFER, LIFE CYCLE EFFICIENCY TO REALLY JUSTIFY THOSE HIGHER COSTS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PG COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DID, AND THEY DETERMINED THROUGH THEIR ANALYSIS IT WAS STILL MORE BENEFICIAL EVEN WITH THE HIGHER INTEREST FUNDING. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF ANALYSIS HAS TO BE DONE. THERE ARE

[01:50:03]

>> MISS GRENIS. >> HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY? AND WHICH

ARE THEY? >> WE DON'T KNOW YET. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO REALLY, WE DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY LIMIT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. WE WANT TO REALLY TAKE A FRESH APPROACH. WHAT WE DID DURING OUR WORK GROUP SESSIONS BETWEEN AUGUST 20TH AND TODAY OR LAST WEEK, TWO WEEKS AGO, WAS REALLY LOOK AT POTENTIALS. BUT WE'D WANT TO REALLY LOOK AT IT IN MUCH MORE IN-DEPTH DETAIL.

>> >> I HAVE A QUESTION. BESIDES PG COUNTY, ARE THERE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN MARYLAND WHO HAVE ANALYZED THIS AND HAVE DONE FEASIBILITY STUDIES. AND IF YES, WHAT WERE THEIR DETERMINATIONS?

>> I DO KNOW THAT CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DID A P3 STUDY, AND THEY DID A FEASIBILITY. THEY LOOKED AT VARIOUS PACKAGES TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THEIR ENROLLMENT ISSUES. AND THEY LOOKED AT, I BELIEVE IT WAS THREE SEPARATE PACKAGES IF MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE P3 DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE AS FINANCIALLY ADVANTAGEOUS. I BELIEVE IN ONE OR TWO PACKAGES, IT WAS SLIGHTLY ADVANTAGEOUS. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE DONE ANYTHING FURTHER AFTER THAT MONEY FOR VALUE ANALYSIS WAS

DONE. >> ESPECIALLY FOR A COUNTY OF OUR SMALL SIZE, THAT FIRST OF ALL OUR CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE BUILD OF THREE SCHOOLS AT THE SAME TIME. IF WE HAD TO PACKAGE, YOU KNOW, DEVELOP A $100 MILLION PACKAGE. SO THAT MEANS THERE'S AN

[01:55:01]

THIS? >> WELL, MISS GRENIS CAN ALSO CHIME IN BECAUSE SHE WAS PART OF THE WORK GROUP. AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN. IN TERMS OF MISS BALINSKI, ARE YOU ASKING IF THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH THESE ASPECTS OF BEING

ABLE TO STAFF AND MANAGE A P3? >> NO. JUST IN GENERAL. YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOCKING OURSELVES INTO HIGHER INTEREST RATES. WE'RE GOING TO BE BUNDLING, FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER REALLY DONE IT, IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY. BUNDLING BIG PROJECTS TOGETHER TO SAVE US FUTURE COST. AND IT COULD INVOLVE CASH FLOWS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT, IT'S HARD FOR US TO FORECAST WHETHER THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. AND I'M NOT TRYING AS WHAT DID THE COMMISSIONERS SEE PROBLEMS WITH MOVING FORWARD WITH P3, BUT MY QUESTION IS WAS THE ENTIRE WORK GROUP IN FAVOR OF SPENDING? WHICH IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING LIKE $100,000 ON A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CONSIDERED HIGH RISK?

>> SO I THINK THAT IS WHY THE WORK GROUP STRUCTURED THE RECOMMENDATION AS THEY DID, TO DO IT AS FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE. ONE THING I WILL ADD, ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE WORK GROUP WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE IEC, AND THE ISSUES THAT HE SEES RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE CLIMATE OF STATE

CIP FUNDING IS NOT IMPROVING. >> RIGHT.

>> SO THE STATE IS, OF COURSE, EXTREMELY INTERESTED IN COUNTIES DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY. I DON'T KNOW IF AT THE END THE INTENTION WOULD BE TO TRY TO LEVERAGE FOR MORE STATE CIP MONEY OR TRY TO PARTNER, BUT THE STATE CERTAINLY IS INTERESTED. HOWEVER, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW PERSONALLY, YEAH, THAT'S AN ISSUE IF YOU'VE GOT AVAILABILITY PAYMENTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING. IT DOES NOT MAKE SOME OF YOUR OTHER CAPITAL MAINTENANCE NEEDS GO AWAY. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS SOME OF THE DISCUSSION INCLUDED DON'T JUST LIMIT IT TO THESE PARTICULAR PROJECTS. LOOK AT REALLY YOUR ENTIRE PORTFOLIO AND SEE WHAT COULD REALLY BE DONE TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, ALLEVIATE THIS BURDEN FOR THE LONG TERM.

>> YEAH. IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KNOCK OUT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN DEFERRING. OKAY. SO MY LAST QUESTION IS, IS THE BOARD SUPPOSED TO VOTE ON THIS? THAT'S A DECISION FROM THE WORK GROUP AND IT WILL BE, WHO IS GOING TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION OF WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FEASIBILITY STUDY?

>> I WILL BE GOING BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS NEXT TUESDAY TO DO THE PRESENTATION, THE SAME PRESENTATION AS I'M DOING FOR YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPES OF QUESTIONS TO ANTICIPATE. I IMAGINE POTENTIALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE ASKED IS HOW MUCH WOULD A FEASIBILITY STUDY SUCH AS THIS COST? I MEAN, ULTIMATELY THE FUNDING EITHER WOULD HAVE TO GO FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET OR ANOTHER MEANS. SO I THINK AT THIS POINT, I DON'T, THERE IS NO EXPECTATION FOR THE BOARD TO VOTE ON THIS. IT IS JUST A PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD. SO THERE IS NO ACTION NECESSARILY THAT'S NEEDED. IT IS AN

INFORMATIONAL ITEM. >> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER? >> YEAH. I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION. I APOLOGIZE IF I MISSED THIS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS WITH REGARD TO THE DATA PRESENTED IN THE PRESENTATION, HOW WE TRACK THE BENEFITS OF P3 AGAINST INFLATION RATES.

OBVIOUSLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HIGHER RISK FUNDING AND FINANCING WITH A CONSTRAINED BUDGET. I KNOW YOU ALSO BROUGHT UP PG COUNTY, SO I WAS INTERESTED AND I'M SURE IT WOULD BE A GOOD CLARIFICATION QUESTION TO ASK HOW MAYBE THAT WAS TRACKED IN PG COUNTY WITH THE EXAMPLE YOU BROUGHT UP OR WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> I BELIEVE THE EASIEST WAY, THE WAY THAT I UNDERSTOOD IT

[02:00:04]

>> YOUR SUMMARY WAS GOOD, MISS WARN ER.

>> START THINKING ABOUT THEIR CONSTRUCTION FUNDING BECAUSE THEY KNEW THAT CONSTRUCTION FUNDING WAS GOING TO BEGIN TO BE MORE LIMITED IN THE OUT YEARS. THEY WERE TRYING TO PUT INTO COUNTY STAFF MINDS NEW WAYS TO COME UP WITH FUNDING, YOU KNOW, WAYS TO FUND CONSTRUCTION, WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY ON TOP OF MAINTENANCE SO THAT SCHOOL BUILDINGS WOULD REMAIN IN TIP-TOP SHAPE. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF STUDIES THAT SUPPORT THE BRIGHTER THE BUILDINGS ARE, THE MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS WORK WITH, THE MORE ACADEMIC SUCCESS THEY HAVE. STUDENTS LIKE TO GO TO BUILDINGS THAT LOOK NICE. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PRISTINE, BUT THEY HAVE TO BE WELL MAINTAINED. SO WHEN THE IAC ISSUED THAT CAUTION, IT KIND OF SENT ALL OF THE STAFF PLAYERS BACK TO THE TABLE TO COME UP WITH, WELL, HOW CAN WE FUND THESE MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WE HAVE? PRINCE GEORGES PUT TOGETHER A WORK GROUP THAT WENT OUT AND BEAT THE STREET TO COME UP WITH HOW THIS COULD BE DONE. AS MISS WARNER'S PRESENTATION DOES SHOW, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT RISKS WITH DOING A P3 PROJECT.

HOWEVER, EACH COUNTY HAS TO EVALUATE THEIR PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR OWN LIMITATIONS, AS WELL AS WITHIN THEIR OWN BUDGET. SO IT COULD BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR SOME COUNTIES. IT MAY NOT BE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR OTHERS, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO CONSIDER. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY MAY HAVE THE WORKFORCE AND VENDORS AND SUPPLIERS TO DO A P3. DOES CALVERT COUNTY HAVE THAT TYPE OF WORKFORCE HERE TO BE ABLE TO DO A P3-TYPE OF PROJECT? THAT WOULD AFFORD US THE ABILITY TO SAVE MONEY OVER THE LONG TERM. IT IS NOT SHORT-TERM SAVINGS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN A P3 PROJECT, BUT IT IS LONG TERM SAVINGS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO EVALUATE, AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THE WORK GROUP'S, UM, I GUESS PRESENTATION AT THE END TO SAY YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER A WORK GROUP TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT AND TO STUDY THE BENEFITS, THE COSTS, HOW THIS COULD BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE BUDGET OR BUDGET CONSTRAINTS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR THE COUNTY.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU, MISS

[7.05 Budget Transfers]

WARNER. >> THANK YOU.

>>> NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO BUDGET TRANSFERS. MR. JOHNSON?

[02:05:03]

>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT WHITE, I SERVE AS THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. I'M HERE TO PRESENT PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICY 5515. APPROVAL IS REQUESTED FOR THE BUDGET TRANSFERS PROVIDED ON THE ATTACHMENT. MANY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS ARE TO REBALANCE WAGE, SALARY, AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFIT BUDGET ACCOUNTS CURRENTLY IN THE RED. SOME ARE TO FILL PRINCIPLES AND DIRECTORS REQUESTS TO REBALANCE SOME OF THESE ACCOUNTS. THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL ALL NET TO ZERO AT THE CATEGORY LEVEL AND THE FUND LEVEL IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. AND THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE FOOD SERVICE FUND ALL NET TO ZERO AT THE FUND LEVEL. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AS PRESENTED THE GENERAL FUND AND FOOD SERVICE FUND BUDGET TRANSFERS.

>> MOVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET TRANSFER.

>> SECOND. >> THERE HAS BEEN A PROPER MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR?

>> AYE. >> AYE.

[7.06 Financial Reports]

>> MOTION PASSES 5-0. >>> NEXT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL

REPORT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT I'LL PRESENT THE OCTOBER FINANCIAL REPORTS BEFORE PRESENTING THESE REPORTS, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO NOTE THE BUDGET TRANSFERS, THAT BUDGET TRANSFERS WERE APPROVED AND POSTED IN NOVEMBER. SOME OF THE ACCOUNT OVERAGES THAT APPEAR ON TODAY'S FINANCIAL REPORTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED WITH THE NOVEMBER BUDGET TRANSFERS. THE FIRST BUDGET REPORT ON PAGE TWO IS YOUR GENERAL FUND TAX REPORT. AS OF OCTOBER 31, THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED $71 MILLION FOR 25 AND A HALF PERCENT OF THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. PAGE THREE IS AN EXPENDITURE SUMMARY REPORT BY BUDGET CATEGORY. AND THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT AS OF OCTOBER 31, THE DISTRICT HAD EXPENDED $25.8 MILLION AND HAD ENCUMBRANCES OF $166.1 MILLION.

COMBINED, THIS REPRESENTED 83.4% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE BUDGET. OUR NEXT REPORT THAT IS BUDGET TO ACTUAL SUMMARY BY TYPE OF EXPENSE WERE OBJECT, AND ON THIS REPORT WE SEE THAT MOST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ENCUMBRANCES, $115.9 MILLION OF THE $166.1 MILLION TOTAL ENCUMBRANCES ARE FOR SALARIES AND WAGES. AND THE NEXT REPORT ON PAGES FIVE TO SEVEN PROVIDES A BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL SUMMARY REPORT FOR EACH BUDGET CATEGORY AND IS PRESENTED BY TYPE OF EXPENSE, ALSO CALLED OBJECT. THE NEXT REPORT IS A DETAILED EXPENDITURE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT, AND THIS IS THE MOST DETAILED EXPENSE REPORT IN THE PACKET. SIXTH REPORT IS THE BUDGET TO EXPENSE REPORT FOR GRANT FUND. AS OF OCTOBER 31, THE DISTRICT HAD TOTAL EXPENDITURES AND ENCMBRANCES OF $20.3 MILLION. AND OUR LAST FOUR REPORTS ARE ALL FOR THE FOOD SERVICE FUND. AND THE FIRST REPORT SHOWS BUDGET TO ACTUAL ON THE REVENUE SIDE THROUGH OCTOBER 31, AND AS OF OCTOBER 31, FIVE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL REVENUE'S BUDGET HAD BEEN RECEIVED AND RECORDED. THE NEXT TWO REPORTS ARE EXPENDITURE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT, AND THESE REPORTS SHOW THAT 90% OF THIS FUND HAD BEEN EXPENDED OR COMMITTED, MOSTLY COMMITTED AS OF OCTOBER 31. IN THE LAST REPORT IS THE FINANCIAL REPORT ON THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM MEAL PARTICIPATION REPORT. I'D BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY

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

[8.01 Comments by the Board]

MR. JOHNSON. >>> NEXT WE'LL GO INTO BOARD

COMMENTS. MISS MINAKOWSKI? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I WANTED TO FIRST TAKE A MINUTE TO BRING UP A CONCERN I'VE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE STUDENTS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I'VE GOTTEN QUITE A FEW E-MAILS FROM STUDENTS EXPLAINING THAT THEIR SCHOOLS WERE NOT AN ADEQUATE CLIMATE TO LEARN IN TERMS OF IT BEING WAY TOO HOT OR WAY TOO COLD. I RECOGNIZE THIS IS A BIG CHALLENGE, AND IT'S NOT AS EASY AS ME SAYING IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT SO IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN WORK ON FINDING SOLUTIONS FOR IN THE FUTURE. SWITCHING GEARS, I WANTED TO KIND OF SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THAT FOR ALL CCPS STUDENTS OR CCPS GRADUATES WHO

[02:10:04]

I HOPE I CAN EMBODY A FRACTION OF YOUR WISDOM AS I CONTINUE MY TIME ON THE BOARD AND AS A PERSON. MISS BALINSKI, I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS RESPONDING TO MY IDEAS, PROVIDING FEEDBACK, AND CHALLENGING ME TO THINK ABOUT POLICIES AND IDEAS IN NEW WAYS. YOU ARE BEYOND KIND, CARING, AND SUCH A LIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND MR. WHITE, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP, WHETHER IT BE MY SOPHOMORE YEAR PLAY OR ANY OTHER EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY. I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU TO BE THERE. EVEN SINCE BEFORE I TOOK ON THE ROLE, I KNEW WHO YOU WERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING AN INCREDIBLE MENTOR.

TO ALL OF CCPS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL IN JANUARY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE TWO BOARD MEMBERS THAT WILL BE CONTINUING AND THE THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS THAT WILL BE JOINING US. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU. MISS GRENIS?

>> I'M GOING TO MAKE TONIGHT'S CLOSING VERY BRIEF SO THAT THE FLOOR CAN BELONG TO OUR THREE OUTGOING MEMBERS. I DO WANT TO EXTEND MY WARM WISHES TO THE FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AS THEY EMBARK ON NEW ADVENTURES. I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO CCPS STAFF FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS DURING THESE CHALLENGES HOLIDAY MONTHS. DESPITE TURKEY, TINSEL, AND NUMEROUS CELEBRATIONS, YOU REMAIN DILIGENT, ENSURING THAT A FOCUS ON ACADEMICS IS MAINTAINED IN THE CLASSROOMS. I WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A PEACEFUL, RELAXING, AND WELL-DESERVED HOLIDAY BREAK. MAY JOY AND GOOD WILL RESONATE THROUGHOUT YOUR CELEBRATIONMENT THANK YOU.

>> MISS POST? >> SO I NEVER COME SCRIPTED. I ALWAYS LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, FLY BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS. AND I WAS GOING TO MENTION HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL'S HARRY POTTER.

BEACH ELEMENTARY ALSO HAS AN UPCOMING PLAY. IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE DO TAKE SOME TIME TO GO SEE THOSE. W HAVE SOME VERY TALENTED YOUNG FOLKS, AND IT'S QUITE ENJOYABLE. I ALSO WAS GOING TO ECHO WHAT MISS GRENIS SAID AND DAWN WARNED US SHE HAD THREE PAGES, SO I TOO WISH EVERYBODY A PEACEFUL HOLIDAY SEASON AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND I WILL YIELD BACK MY TIME FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU.

>> BOARD MEMBER BALINSKI. >> I WARNED EVERYONE. THIS IS GOING ON RECORD. MY PARTING WORDS. OKAY. SO AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES OVER MY 12 YEARS ON THE BOARD, IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO BE ELECTED TO SERVE. I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE INNER WORKINGS OF A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IN DOING SO HAVE COME TO HAVE THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. EVERY SINGLE YEAR THE EMPLOYEES OF CCPS HAVE HAD TO ADJUST AND ADAPT TO CONSTANTLY CHANGING FINANCIAL, INSTRUCTIONAL, AND/OR ORGANIZATIONAL REALITIES, ALL WHILE CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO HONE THEIR OWN SKILLS AND TO INCREASE THE SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS. I'VE FOUND THAT FOR THOSE WORKING INSIDE OUR BUILDINGS, BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS MORE THAN A JOB, IT'S A CALLING. FOR NOT ONLY OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS BUT ALSO FOR EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYEE BECAUSE THEIR WORK IMPACTS HOW WELL OR HOW POORLY WE FUNCTION AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM. LUCKILY, CCPS IS WELL POSITIONED TO CONTINUE IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS. AND THUS, TO CONTINUE MOVING UP IN THE TOP FIVE RANKINGS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. I THINK MY COLLEAGUES HERE WOULD AGREE THAT THE JOB

[02:15:03]

SOMETIMES OUT OF THE BLUE THAT NEED TO BE DECIDED UPON, AND THE BUCK STOPS AT THE BOARD. SO IT'S UP TO BOARD MEMBERS TO DO THE WORK, TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE, AND TO COLLABORATE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND STAFF TO DECIDE WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR SYSTEM. IT CAN BE A LOT OF WORK THAT CARRIES THE HEAVY BURDEN OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LIVELIHOOD OF ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND FOR THE WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS. WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THIS 2010, THE ISSUE AT THE TIME WAS THAT DUE TO COUNTY AND STATE DEFICITS CAUSED BY THE RECESSION, WE WERE FORCED INTO REMOVING ALL PLANNED RAISES AND STEP INCREASES FOR OUR STAFF. OUR BOARD MEETINGS WERE FILLED TO OVERFLOW CAPACITY WITH TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF PLEADING FOR SALARY INCREASES TELLING US THEIR STORIES OF HARDSHIP AND HOW UNFAIR WE WERE BEING. IT WAS PAINFUL TO HAVE TO PUT MY NAME ON THOSE BUDGETS THAT WERE UNIVERSALLY DETESTED BY OUR EMPLOYEES. AND IT TOOK YEARS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE OUR STAFF WHOLE AGAIN AND TO PROVIDE ANNUAL INCREASES THAT EVERYONE DESERVED. NOW AFTER YEARS OF IMPROVING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND WITH ALL THE RECENT SALARY INCREASES DUE TO BLUEPRINT MANDATES, THOSE EARLY YEARS OF DEPRIVATION HAVE FADED FROM MEMORY. SO IT'S BECOME MUCH EASIER FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO PUT THEIR NAMES ON THE BUDGET. HOWEVER, LAST YEAR CAUGHT US OFF GUARD WHEN THE STATE DROPPED OUR FUNDING ALLOCATION BY $22 MILLION BECAUSE VALUATION ISSUES. WE HAD TO DRAIN EVERY PENNY WE HAD IN RESERVE AND IMPLEMENT SPENDING FREEZES TO MAKE OUR BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WHOLE. BUT IF THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES DOES NOT READJUST THE FUNDING LEVELS WITH COVE POINT, THEN THE NEW BOARD IN JANUARY WILL BE IN THE UNENVIABLE POSITION OF HAVING TO PASS A VERY RESTRICTIVE BUDGET. OTHER DIFFICULT ISSUES HAVE COME UP OVER THE YEARS SUCH AS ON THE SAFETY SIDE. THE BOARD HAS HAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF SHOULD WE ARM TEACHERS IN RESPONSE TO SCHOOL SHOOTING IN ST. MARY'S? SHOULD WE RISK TRAUMATIZE STUDENTS WITH ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS? ON THE CLASSROOM SIDE, WE HAD TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF HOW WE CAN BEST PROTECT OUR TEACHERS FROM GETTING INJURED BUT STILL COMPLY WITH THE STATE BAN ON SECLUSION PRACTICES IN OUR SPECIAL ED POPULATION. I'VE LEARNED FROM THESE ISSUES THAT SAFETY IS A SCHOOL SYSTEM'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. PARENTS ENTRUST THEIR CHILDREN WITH US FOR SEVEN TO EIGHT HOURS A DAY, AND IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THEM SAFE. OUR EMPLOYEES EXPECT US TO DO THE SAME AND MAKE OVERALL CLIMATE OF CCPS BE A PLACE WHERE THEY FEEL SUPPORTED, SAFE, AND WHERE THEY WANT TO COME TO WORK EACH DAY.

NOW MOVING TO THE MOTHER OF ALL DIFFICULT ISSUE, WHICH WAS COVID. IT WAS HORRENDOUS SITTING IN THIS CHAIR SEEING COMMUNITY MEMBERS DYING AND HEARING OF BED SHORTAGES AT THE HOSPITAL. AND COMING TO UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER WHAT DECISION WE MADE, IT WOULD CAUSE HARM. EITHER WE DECIDE TO REDUCE THE TIME THE KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL, THEREBY IMPEDING THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, AND IMPACTING THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

OR DO WE BRING THEM BACK INTO ENCLOSED ENVIRONMENTS, THEREBY POTENTIALLY EXPOSING STAFF, STUDENTS, AND IN TURN THEIR ENTIRE FAMILIES TO A SERIOUS AND AT THE TIME A POTENTIALLY FATAL DISEASE. IT'S EASY TO SIT IN AN ARMCHAIR AT HOME WHERE YOU CAN CONTROL WHO COMES IN AND OUT AND KNOW WHAT PRECAUTIONS THEY HAVE TAKEN. IT'S EASY TO CRITICIZE THE DECISIONS MADE BY YOUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. BUT KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SIT IN THIS CHAIR, YOU MUST CONSIDER THE LIVES OF 2,200 EMPLOYEES AND 15,000 STUDENTS AND THEIR GRANDMOTHERS AND BABY SIBLINGS. IT'S A DAUNTING TASK. THE EXPRESSION HINDSIGHT IS 20/20 IS APPLICABLE HERE. UNLESS YOU WERE PART OF THE FULL, EXCRUCIATING DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, ONE WILL NEVER KNOW THE ENTIRE SCOPE OF POSSIBILITIES THAT HAD TO BE WEIGHED. LEAVING THE DIFFICULT SIDE, THE FUN AND REWARDING PARTS OF THE JOB ARE ENDLESS. TEACHER AND EDUCATION SPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR , MULT VISIT OPPORTUNITIES, THE SPORTS AND MUSIC AND THEATER EVENTS, THE ROBOTICS AND SKILLS USA COMPETITIONS, THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS, IT IS ALL INSPIRATIONAL AND SO HEARTENING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THE STAFF'S HARD WORK TO MAKE CCPS AN ECOSYSTEM OF LEARNING AND PERSONAL GROWTH. ANOTHER GREAT PART OF THE JOB IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CONFERENCES AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.

WHERE YOU LEARN HOW OTHER BOARDS WORK, HOW THEY ADDRESS

[02:20:03]

OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD IS SUCH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF STUDENT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO PRODUCE. SHE'S INTELLIGENCE, THOUGHTFUL, INQUISITIVE, CONFIDENT, AND THIS YOUNG WOMAN AS SHE HAS JUST SPOKE ABOUT HAS RECENTLY BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION A PROBLEM SHE IDENTIFIED AMONG THE STUDENT BODY. THAT SOME STUDENTS TEND TO SHUT DOWN OR RIDICULE OPINIONS THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEIR OWN. IN HER STUDENT-FREE EXPRESSION RESOLUTION, SHE STATES THAT THE CURRENT POLARIZATION OF SOCIETY HAS A CHILLING EFFECT ON SPEECH AND INQUIRY. THAT EFFECTS STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ALL POLITICAL SPECTRUM. WE ALL KNOW THIS IS TRUE AMONG ADULTS AS WELL. I HAVE HAD TO SOUL SEARCH A LOT MYSELF AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE LAST ELECTION AND HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT THAT I NEED TO DO MORE WORK AND TO DIG FURTHER TO FIND OUT WHY OTHERS HOLD THE VIEWS THEY DO AND HOW THOSE VIEWS CAN POSSIBLY HELP TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND MISS MINAKOWSKI IS LEADING THE WAY BY HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR CIVIL DISCOURSE AND OPEN DISCUSSION ALL THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM. I HOPE THAT CCPS CAN FORGE NEW TERRITORY IN THIS AREA. AS A FINAL STATEMENT TO THE NEW BOARD COMING IN, PLEASE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SIT UP HERE, WORDS MATTER, PROPOSALS MATTER, ACTIONS MATTER. THEY HAVE AN IMPACT THAT FILTERS WAY BEYOND YOUR OWN CHILDREN AND YOUR OWN CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE. EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE SHOULD SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY YOU SHOULDER FOR EVERY CHILD IN OUR BUILDINGS. LASTLY, MY THANKS. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY. HA, HA. THE CITIZENS OF CALVERT COUNTY FOR ALLOWING ME TO SERVE THEIR CHILDREN. ALL THE CURRENT AND FORMER STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN SO GRACIOUS OF THEIR TIME WORKING WITH ME AND HELPING ME TO BE A BETTER BOARD MEMBER. MY COLLEAGUES PAST AND CURRENT WHO HAVE BEEN JUST A JOY TO WORK WITH. THE HEADS OF THE UNIONS WHO ARE HERE WHO HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT IN GIVING VOICE TO THE EMPLOYEES AND IN HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. AND TO DR.

TOWNSEL, ESPECIALLY, FOR ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE OF HELPING US SOLVE LEARNING LOSS AND SHOOTING FOR THE STARS. AND LASTLY TO MY HUSBAND WHO HAS PUT UP WITH BEING A BELEAGUERED

[02:25:04]

EVERYBODY. >> [APPLAUSE]

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

I DON'T HAVE A THREE-PAGE SPEECH TO GIVE TONIGHT. I DON'T THINK I HAVE THAT MANY WORDS IN MY VOCABULARY BECAUSE I DO SPEAK TO THE LEGISLATORS ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL THE TALKING I WANT TO DO. I DON'T WANT TO DO ANY TALKING AFTER I'VE LEFT MY PROFESSIONAL JOB. SO I HAVE SAID MY THANKS FOR THE NIGHT WHEN I ACCEPTED MY RESOLUTION.

THANK YOU TO THE MEMBERS I HAVE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MENTORSHIP, THE FEEDBACK, AND THE GROWTH THAT YOU ALL HAVE GIVEN ME AND FORCED ME TO GO THROUGH AS I WAS A BOARD MEMBER. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, THE COMMUNITIES, AND I WILL SHOUT OUT THE CALVERT LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS. THAT PROCESS WILL BE OPENING UP I BELIEVE IN JANUARY. SO IF YOU HAVE A STUDENT IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE CALVERT LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PORTAL WEBSITE. AND IF YOU ARE A SENIOR, SEARCH FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO POSSIBLY WIN SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS SO THAT YOU CAN USE THOSE FUNDS AS YOU GO ON TO ATTEND A COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. AND SOME SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OPEN FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING A TRADE SCHOOL. MAKE SURE YOU LOOK OUT FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES OR SHARE THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH A SENIOR THAT YOU MAY KNOW WHO ATTENDS A CCPS SCHOOL. I'M NOT GOING AWAY. I'M JUST HOPPING OVER THE DAIS. I'LL BE GIVING PUBLIC COMMENT, PAYING ATTENTION, AND BEING A NUISANCE. AND I'LL ENJOY IT. I'LL SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAIS IN JANUARY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> THANK YOU. >> [APPLAUSE]

>> THIS PAST WEEK HAS BEEN JUST AS CRAZY AS THE REST BETWEEN THE PARADE LAST SATURDAY GOING TO THE FOOTBALL GAME AND GOING TO THE SCHOOL DEDICATION, I REALLY ENJOYED SHOWING UP AND BEING A PART OF CCPS. I LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE AND MY DAUGHTER WHO ALLOWS ME TO DO THAT. IT WAS INTERESTING. I WOULD START THE WEEK OFF BY SAYING OKAY, THESE ARE THE EVENTS THAT ARE GOING ON. WHICH ONES CAN I DO? SO I'M GLAD THAT SHE ALLOWED ME TO DO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS. FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS. THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE FORGED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HERE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE PHONE CALLS, THE E-MAIL, AND EVERYTHING TO HELP ME SERVE CCPS. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING, MENTAL WELLNESS, SPORTS, BUS DRIVERS, CCAC, HISTORY FAIR, GRACE. I HAVE GRACE ON HERE BECAUSE I'M TELLING YOU, THIS YOUNG LADY IS AMAZING. SHE REALLY GIVES US HOPE OF WHAT OUR FUTURE IS GOING TO BE. I CAN'T DO THAT RIGHT NOW. AND ALSO DR.

TOWNSEL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP OVER THESE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. YOU BROUGHT CCPS TO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE CONTINUING TO STRIVE. AS OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SAID, OUR UNION PRESIDENTS, YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON AND TRY TO HELP YOU GUYS. AND I'M SURE WITH THE BILL THAT YOU GUYS PRESENTED TODAY, I'M SURE THAT THE INFORMATION WILL BE LOOKED AT AND HOPEFULLY THAT ENDORSEMENT WILL COME IN THE NEXT MEETING. DR. JOHNSON, MR. JOHNSON, JACKIE, ALL THE EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN AMAZING. KAREN'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT SISTER REALLY IS AMAZING. PEOPLE THINK THAT, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE, BUT PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME FOR THINGS. I CALL HER. SO ACTUALLY, SHE RUNS EVERYTHING, AND SHE DOES AN AMAZING JOB AT IT. BUT LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN AN HONOR AND A PLEASURE TOSERVE THE BOARD IN THIS CAPACITY. AND LIKE WHAT OTHERS SAID EARLIER, I'LL STILL BE HERE, I'LL STILL BE INVOLVED. WHETHER IT'S VOLUNTEERING OR BECOMING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER OR WHATEVER IS NEXT FOR ME, AND I CAN'T GET OFF WITHOUT SAYING THANK YOU TO JAY. THAT BROTHER IS A SERIAL COMMENTER AND

[02:30:03]