[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence] [00:00:11] >> GOOD EVENING. CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER. NOW THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU. ARE YOU GUYS ALL PRAYING? LIKE REALLY PRAYING ABOUT THIS BUDGET TONIGHT? STOOD AN EXTRA LONG TIME [2.02 PHS State Champions Recognition] OUT THERE. NEXT WE HAVE THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL STATE CHAMPIONS RECOGNITION, AND MS. GRACE MINAKOWSKI IS GOING TO READ THE PROCLAMATION, IF I CAN INVITE THE PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL TEAM TO COME ON IN. >> ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE BOARD'S PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL CAPTURED THE 202421A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND WHEREAS PATUXENT FOOTBALL COMPLETED A PERFECT SEASON ENDING THE 2024 CAMPAIGN WITH AN UNDEFEATED RECORD OF 14- 0, AND WHEREAS PATUXENT FOOTBALL ENDED THE 50- GAME WINNING STREAK AND PUTUX WANT HIGH SCHOOL CAPTURED ITS SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP BECOMING THE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL IN CALVERT COUNTY WITH ULTIMATE FOOTBALL TITLES AND WHEREAS PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL CAPTURED THE 2024 SOUTHERN MARYLAND ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WHILE HAVING THE SMALLEST ENROLLMENT OF ALL MEMBER SCHOOLS, AND WHEREAS PATUXENT FOOTBALL CAPTURED ITS THIRD CONSECUTIVE MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS -- OR EXCUSE ME, MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, AND WHEREAS PATUXENT FOOTBALL IS COACHED BY -- AND WHEREAS PATUXENT FOOTBALL'S SUCCESS IS BASED ON AN UNWAVERING WORK ETHIC, A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND A BROTHERHOOD THAT CREATES LIFELONG BONDS. NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE MEMBERS CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DO HERE BY EXTEND THEIR CONGRATULATIONS AND WISH THE TEAM SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. CONGRATULATIONS. APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY, COACH? >> OKAY. MY NAME IS STEVE. I'M THE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU. THIS IS A GREAT HONOR FOR US TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I WANT TO THANK THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, DR. TOWNSEL, DR. JOHNSON, ALL THE PEOPLE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. IT'S NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED. THESE KIDS HAVE EARNED IT. YOU KNOW, THIS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IS A GREAT SYMBOL FOR THE WORK THAT THESE KIDS HAVE PUT IN. I KNOW IT'S JUST A GAME, BUT SINCE LAST JANUARY THESE KIDS HAVE ALL BEEN IN THE WEIGHT ROOM, ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER, YOU KNOW, SPECIALIZING THEIR CRAFT, AND SHOWING A COMMITMENT AND A DEDICATION [00:05:04] THAT'S NOT VERY COMMON SOMETIMES IN OUR WORLD. SO I THINK THAT'S THE TESTAMENT TO WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE DONE HERE. AND THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR US IS THAT WEWE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE TAKE A LOT OF GREAT PRIDE IN REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE OF OUR SCHOOL, THE ADMINISTRATION AND RICKWOOD IS WITH US TONIGHT. ANTHONY IS AT A WRESTLING TOURNAMENT OR HE WOULD BE HERE. WE HAVE UNBELIEVABLE SUPPORT FROM EVERYONE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO THE STUDENTS TO THE TEACHERS TO THE STUDENT BODY, SO IT'S GREAT -- WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND LIKE I SAID I'M VERY PROUD TO COACH THESE YOUNG MEN BECAUSE WHAT THEY DID WAS VERY SPECIAL, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN. [3. Consent Agenda] >> OKAY, NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOVE TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN [4.01 Public Comment] FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ANYBODY ANY DISCUSSION? TOO LATE, OKAY. MOVING ON. NEXT WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 20. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO 3 MINUTES. PERSONS ON THE SIGNUP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER, OR RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME ANOTHER GROUP OR PERSON. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXIM 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 MEETINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH [00:10:01] YOU DURING THE MEETING. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN. WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BOARD. OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHTTONIGHT TRACIE MAGUIRE. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS TRACIE MAGUIRE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON SCHOOL BOARD MATTERS. 13 SECTION-01-06- 01 WHICH ESTABLISHES AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROVIDE EVERY STUDENT EQUITABLE ACCESS TO THE EDUCATIONAL RIGOR, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE A STUDENT'S ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING. AS YOU MAKE DECISIONS AROUND YOUR BUDGET POLICIES AND EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO APPLY THE EQUITY LENS TO ENSURE YOUR DECISIONS DO NOT CONTRAVENE STATE LAW. ON A DIFFERENT MATTER I HOPE THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THE RECENTLY ADOPTED LANGUAGE IN POLICY 1450 REQUIRING CCPS TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO MEET THE CDC RECOMMENDED 60 MINUTES PER DAY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR STUDENTS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHELI BADEN. >> I'M READING THIS ON BEHALF. ASHTON COULD NOT BE HERE THIS EVENING DUE TO HOUSEHOLD ILLNESS. TODAY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. TOWNSEL, MY NAME IS ASHTON FELTON AND I'M THE NEW CHAIR PERSON OF THE SPECIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. I'M PLEASED TO TAKE ON THIS ROLE TO INCREASE INPUT AND SUPPORT THE CONTINUAL GROWTH OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES IN OUR DISTRICT. IT'S COMPOSED OF CCPS STAFF, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND RESOURCE PARTNERS ALL WITH A VESTED INTEREST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES. I LISTEN TO THE LAST MEETING OF DR. TOWNSEL'S BUDGET EDUCATION TEST SCORES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND STAFF RECOGNITION. CALVERT TRULY DOES SHINE, DOESN'T IT? THEY SHALL ALL BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES, AND SO SHOULD YOU AND STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT THEM TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. I QUICKLY REALIZE ALL OF THIS THE ADVANCEMENTS AND SUCCESSES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE NO MENTION. THE INCREDIBLE EXPANSION OF UNIFIED SPORTS, THE JOB EXPERIENCE, AND EVEN HIRING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE EVER GROWING WORK BASE LEARNING PROGRAMS, ANY MENTION OF POST SECONDARY RATES AND ACCEPTANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR QUITE FRANKLY ANY MENTIONING POSITIVE MOTIONS LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT OR INCLUSION DATA. WHILE IT IS UNDERSTOOD THIS IS A RELATIVELY VAST DATA MANY STUDENTS WITH IEPS ARE INCLUDED IN THESE AREAS. IT DOES NOT STRIKE A CORD THAT MAKES AN ALREADY MARGINALIZED GROUP FEEL EVEN MORE SAFE. WE HOPE THIS DOES NOT TRANSLATE INTO A CONCILIATORY TONE FOR THE BUDGET SEASON AND THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO ENTRUST IN YOU TO LEAN INTO AND TURN FULL FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS, ADEQUATE STAFFING, AND ROBUST AVAILABILITY OF SUPPORT SURROUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION ARE NOT ON THE BACK BURNER. ADVANCEMENTS IN ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS AND ARTS IS NOT TO ADVANCE WITHOUT THE INCLUSION OF THESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS, AND MAKING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES FEEL SEEN, VALUED, AND RESPECTED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING CONTINUED GROWTH FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN CALVERT AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU AND THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TO PROVIDE INPUT IN THESE AREAS. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL EACH JOIN AND ENGAGE WITH US IN OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS. OUR NEXT MEETING IS MARCH 11TH. I HOPE YOU WILL ALL JOIN US AT THE ANNUAL AWARDS ON APRIL 9TH. THE NOMINATIONS ARE ROLLING IN. KEEP SUBMITTING. [00:15:01] THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS IS FEBRUARY 28TH. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALL -- ALL STUDENTS IN CCPS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSEPH CORMIER. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JOE AND I'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF THIS EVENING. BOARD MEMBERS, THE NEW PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED IT WOULD REVERSE PREVIOUS GUIDELINES AND NOW ALLOW FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENCIES TO CARRY OUT ENFORCEMENT AT PLACES LIKE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS. THIS DECISION IS DEEPLY TROUBLING AND HAS CREATED FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY FOR MANY OF OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS. AS PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WE STAND WITH OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILY NEIGHBORS. SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A TRUSTED PLACE WHERE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND NOT A PLACE OF FEAR. WHILE WE WORK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS CHANGE MEANS, WE WANT TO BE CLEAR, OUR NEIGHBORS DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE. WE'RE CALLING ON YOU TO TAKE A STAND IN PROTECTING THE DIGNITY AND SAFETY OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE URGE YOU TO PUBLICLY REAFFIRM THAT OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS, OUR TRUSTED INSTITUTIONS REMAIN SPACES OF INCLUSION. WE ALSO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT UPHOLD THE RIGHTS OF OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT SUBJECTED TO UNNECESSARY HARM OR FEAR. WE HOPE TO ENSURE ALL MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY FEEL SAFE, VALUED, AND SUPPORTED. NO CHILD SHOULD BE WORRIED THEIR PARENT IS GOING TO GET PICKED UP IN THE SCHOOL BUS LINE. NO STUDENT SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO GO TO A SPORT WORRIED THEIR PARENTS MIGHT BE PICKED UP. ON ANOTHER NOTE TONIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM ALL THESE SUPERVISORS HERE ABOUT THE BUDGET. I NEED YOU TO REMEMBER THAT THESE KIDS AND THESE STAFF MEMBERS ARE NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET. WE CAN'T JUST SAY THERE'S 31 SPEECHES AT THIS SCHOOL BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST SERVICE HOURS. IT'S EVALUATIONS. IT'S MEETING WITH TEACHERS TO DO DIFFERENT INSTRUCTION. IT'S IEP MEETINGS, BILLING, ALL THOSE THINGS THAN NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET, AND WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THESE KIDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS [5.01 Grace Minakowski] EVENING. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. >> HI, EVERYONE. HAPPY FEBRUARY AND SOON TO BE VALENTINE'S DAY. HOPE THIS MONTH IS FULL OF LOVE AND WARMTH AND THAT WE KEEP CHUGGING THROUGH THIS COLD AND THE ALLEGED 16 INCHES OF SNOW THAT ARE COMING. I ALSO HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING HEALTHY. I'M CURRENTLY RECOVERING FROM THE FLU, SO I APOLOGIZE IF MY VOICE IS A LITTLE GROSS. I HAVE HAD QUITE A BUSY MONTH FIRST WORKING WITH MS. PENX IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT. WE HAD OUR OFFICIAL ROLLOUT OF THE MISSION, VISION AND PHILOSOPHY POSTERS DURING THE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. NOT ONLY DID WE PRESENT THESE POSTERS TO THE TEACHERS AFTER COLLABORATING WITH THEM OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TO DEVELOP ITS CONTENT, I GOT TO LEAD A TRAINING SESSION WITH EVERY MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER ON WHAT THESE VALUES LOOK LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FINDING NEW WAYS TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THIS INITIATIVE IN OTHER CORE CURRICULUM AREAS AND MAKE SURE THAT OPEN DISCOURSE IS A NORM IN EVERY CCPS CLASSROOM. ADDITIONALLY, LAST MONTH I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS CUN ONE OF CALVERT COUNTY'S TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S STUDENT PAGE PROGRAM. I SPENT A WEEK LIVING IN ANNAPOLIS AND WORKING WITH STUDENTS ALL ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP SERVE OUR LEGISLATURE. IN ADDITION TO MY WORK ON THE FLOOR, I WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH IT THREE DELEGATES FROM CALVERT COUNTY. DELEGATE MORGAN, FISHER, AND LONG AS WELL AS JACKSON. IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND A GREAT WAY TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP POUR LEGISLATORS, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE BACK ON WEEK 9 OF SESSION. IT WAS ALSO A WONDERFUL WAY TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT INTO THE PROCEDURES THAT AFFECT OUR BOARD'S DECISIONS. ALTHOUGH I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND THE SESSION ON MONDAY DUE TO AFOREMENTIONED SICKNESS I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT ABOUT A FEW BILLS THAT THEY WERE REQUESTING STUDENT TESTIMONY ON, AND I ALSO WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH DELEGATE JOE VOGEL ON PUSH BACK TO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY HINDER CIVIC YOUTH AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. NEXT, AS AN INDUCTEE OF THE CALVIN COOLIDGE PRESIDENTIAL FOUNDATION, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THE ANNUAL COOLIDGE CONFERENCE IN D.C. WHERE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM SO MANY PANELISTS ON ISSUES OF THE ECONOMY AND EDUCATION INCLUDING SUPREME COURT JUSTICE NEIL [00:20:02] GORSUCH AND MR. STEVE FORBES, WHICH WAS VERY COOL. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH IAN ROWEL WHO WAS A SENIOR FELLOW AT THE INSTITUTE. AND HE WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SEND EACH OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS A COPY OF HIS BOOK, "AGENCY," WHICH IS ALL ABOUT EDUCATION, SO I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THOSE WHEN THEY COME IN. THANK YOU TO BOARD MEMBERS GOSHORN AND HARRISON WHO TOOK THE TIME TO MEET WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND ANSWER MY MANY QUESTIONS. IT WAS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR ME, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE TIME HE TOOK TO LISTEN TO IMOO THOUGHTS. I'M ALSO WORKING TO REACH OUT TO STUDENTS REGARDING THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE BUDGET. I MET VIRTUALLY WITH MY SMALL STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, HOSTED A ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION AT OUR JANUARY CALVERT STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING, SENT LETTERS TO EVERY LEADER. I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO VERY IMPORTANT CAVEATS. NUMBER ONE, I FULLY RECOGNIZE I'M A STUDENT AND I AM NOT A TAXPAYER, AND MY ADVOCACY IN NO WAY SEEKS TO UNDERMINE THE PRIORITIES OF OUR STAFF OR PARENTS. AND SECONDLY, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT I AM A STUDENT AND I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROCESS, SO I HOPE I CAN EMBODY THAT ROLE AND ASK QUESTIONS, WHICH I'M SURE MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE AS WELL. WITH THAT, I WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THE RESULTS FROM THOSE SURVEYS AND FEEDBACK. OUR CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION REQUIRES OUR BOARD TO PUT PEOPLE, IE, OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS FIRST. WHEN I ASK STUDENTS WHAT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM REQUIRES FISCAL ATTENTION, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF STUDENTS SAID THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE LACKING SUPPORT. AND WHEN THAT MESSAGE COMES FROM STUDENTS THEMSELVES, IT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE WAYS THAT OUR EDUCATORS AND STAFF BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. IT IS A BASIC MARKET PRINCIPLE THAT PAYING OUR TEACHERS FAIR SALARIES IN CALVERT AND CONTINUING TO PAY THEM FAIR SALARIES IN CALVERT WILL ATTRACT NEW TEACHERS TO OUR SYSTEM AND OBTAIN IMPROVEMENT. AND SOME OF THE KMANTS I HEARD TEACHERS HAVE TO SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY ON FANS TO KEEP THE CLIMATE IN THEIR CLASSROOM BEARABLE AND TEACHERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED JUSTLY FOR SPONSORSHIP OVER COACHES OR CLUBS, AND THEY SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH CURRICULUM, TEXTBOOKS -- EXCUSE ME, CURRICULUM- ALIGNED TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR ACTIVITIES. SECONDLY, ON THE STUDENT SIDE, OUR STUDENT PROGRAMS NEED SUPPORT. MANY STUDENTS SHARED THAT WHAT THEY'RE NOT ASKING FOR IS NEW LAPTOPS, SMART BOARDS, PROGRAMS, OR FLASHY TECHNOLOGY. SIMPLY PUT, STUDENTS ARE ASKING FOR SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS, STEM AND SPORTS. ONE OF THE THINGS I HOPE THE BOARD CAN LOOK AT THIS YEAR IS THE MONEY WE DESIGNATE FOR SAF STUDENT ACTIVITY FUNDS, WHICH THEY CAN USE TO HELP STUDENTS WHO CAN'T PARTICIPATE TO HELP OVERCOME THAT FINANCIAL BARRIER. I ALSO HOPE WE CAN DISCUSS AREAS WE CAN INVEST IN -- EXCUSE ME, I ALSO HOPE WE CAN DISCUSS AREAS WE INVEST IN WHICH ARE NOT YIELDING THE INTENDED BENEFIT FOR STUDENTS AND LOOK AT HOW WE CAN REINVEST THAT BACK INTO STUDENT PROGRAMS. I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT I ALSO KNOW WE HAVE AN AMAZING TEAM WHO'S GOING TO FIGHT FOR EACH STUDENT, EACH STAFF MEMBER AND EACH FAMILY IN THIS BUDGET, AND I HOPE THAT I CAN SERVE AS THE NEUTRAL VOICE OF STUDENTS IN THIS PROCESS. AND THAT WAS VERY LONG, SO I APPRECIATE YOU STICKING WITH ME. BEFORE I END, I'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALLISON JONES FROM NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WHO TODAY WAS SELECTED AS NEXT YEAR'S STUDENT MEMBER AND SHE'LL BE TAKING OVER IN JUNE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE ELECTION, BUT I AM BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN ALLISON SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND SHE'S AN AMAZING STUDENT SO VERY EXCITED TO WATCH HER THRIVE [6.01 Dr. Andrae Townsel] IN THIS POSITION. WITH THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW MOVE INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. DR. TOWNSEL. >> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POST. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE AND SAY THANK YOU TO THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO IT RECENT WEATHER EVENT. THEIR HARD WORK ENSURED THE SAFE RETURN TO SCHOOLS, SO YOU ARE APPRECIATED. DUE TO THIS WEEK'S SCHOOL CLOSURE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE '24, OF THE '25 SCHOOL CALENDER MAKE- UP DAY CURRENTLY DIZINATES JUNE 16, 2025 AS THE WEATHER MAKE- UP DAY. WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONFIRM WHETHER THIS DATE WILL BE USE OR IF AN ALTERNATIVE DATE WILL BE SELECTED. JUST AS A REMINDER OF THE 12TH ANNUAL SCIENCE AND [00:25:02] ENGINEERING FEBRUARY 22ND FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. HELD AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS A FAMILY EVENT. IT'S FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE EXPO WILL SHOWCASE CALVERT COUNTY SCIENCE, ENGINEERING PROGRAMS AND STEM ORGANIZATIONS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES. IT'S DESIGNED TO SPARK INTEREST IN STEM CLASSES AND CAREERS. THIS HANDS ON ACTIVITY WILL INCLUDE SCIENCE EXPERIENCES -- EXCUSE ME, SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, COMPUTER CODING, BIOMEDICAL EXPERIMENTS, ROBOTS, LAB GAMES, CATAPULTS AND MUCH MORE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY TO EXPLORE. SO, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE COME OUT ON FEBRUARY 22ND FROM 11:00 TO 3:00 P.M. AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. LAST WEEK SEVERAL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE MARYLAND FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS ACADEMY STATE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONGRATULATES ALL ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENT AND WE SAY THANK YOU FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP. MS. NANCY, MS. GILLIS, AND MS. ATHENA. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE NOW MOVED ONTO THE NEXT LEVEL AND WILL BE COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA. I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY GRATITUDE TO THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY FOR HOSTING THE SKILLS USA SOUTHERN MARYLAND REGIONAL COMPETITION. ADDITIONALLY, I WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE FROM COMPETITORS CHARLES AND ST. MARY'S COUNTY. OUR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENTS SHOWCASE THEIR DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE ACROSS 20 CONTESTS EARNING AN IMPRESSIVE 29 MEDALS, TEN GOLD, NINE SILVER, AND TEN BRONZE. AND TODAY I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING AND INSPIRING TO SEE ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE COUNCIL AND EXTEND A HUGE THANK YOU TO MADELEINE, THE PAST PRESIDENT AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO OUR NEW INCOMING PRESIDENT, ALLISON. AND VERY LAST, THERE WILL BE NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH [7.01 Budget Discussion with Departments] IN RECOGNITION OF PRESIDENT'S DAY. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT POST. >> THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO ACTION ITEMS, AND WE HAVE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS WITH DEPARTMENTS. WHILE WE'RE TRANSITIONING, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST NOTE WE DO HAVE AN UNSCHEDULED BOARD MEETING. A PRESS RELEASE WAS SENT OUT ON THE 10TH. WE WILL BE CONDUCTING AN ADDITIONAL MEETING ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH. WE WILL ALSO HAVE OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING ON FEBRUARY 27TH. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. IN A FEW MINUTES MY COLLEAGUES, DR. JOHNSON, CHIEFS OPERATIONS OFFICER, AND DR. JACOBS, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, WILL PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR OR FY 26 BUDGET. LET'S BEGIN WITH A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET BOOK ORGANIZATION, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMPLIES WITH THE STATE REPORTING MANAGER AS WE DEVELOP THE BUDGET AND AS WE PRESENT THE DATA IN THE BUDGET BOOK. THE STATE FINANCIAL REPORTING MANUAL ORGANIZES ACCOUNTS IN 15 BUDGET WHAT ARE CALLED CATEGORIES, AND WE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS USES 12 OF THESE IN THE UNRESTRICTED OR GENERAL FUND. AND AS LISTED ON PAGE 8 OF THE BUDGET BOOK. AND FINANCIAL TABLES OF THE BUDGET BOOK ARE ALSO PRESENTED IN ORDER OF THESE BUDGET CATEGORIES SUCH AS ADMINISTRATION, MID- LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, ET CETERA. AND THE REPORTING MANUAL FURTHER [00:30:04] ORGANIZES THE BUDGET ACCOUNTS TO SEVERAL WHAT ARE CALLED OBJECTS INCLUDING WAGES, SALARIES, AND CONTRACTED SERVICES, SUPPLIES MATERIALS, OTHER AND EQUIPMENT, AND TRANSFERS AS SHOWN ON PAGE 8. THEN WITHIN EACH BUDGET CATEGORY, THESE OBJECTS OR EXPENSE TYPES ARE CONSISTENTLY PRESENTED IN THE SAME ORDER THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET BOOK. THE OTHER CATEGORY IN THE BUDGETBUDGET REFERS TO EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COSTS, A PORTION OF THE COSTS IN THE DISTRICT, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES INTERNET SERVICE, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DUES, UTILITY COSTS AND COSTS THE STATE CLASSIFIES AS OTHER COSTS. MOST INCLUDES BUDGET SUMERARY INFORMATION ON ONE PAGE AND MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS PRESENTED ON THE SUBSEQUENT PAGE. FOR EXAMPLE, ON PAGE 36 YOU'LL SEE A SUMMARY PAGE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE AND THE NEXT PAGE IS A DETAIL PAGE THAT'S ALSO FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE. >> SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION. CALVERT COUNTY HAS 4,300 ACTIVE BUDGET ACCOUNTS IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE BUDGET ACCOUNTS ARE ASSIGNED TO SPECIFIC BUDGET ADMINISTRATORS, AND CCPS HAS OVER 40 BUDGET ADMINISTRATORS IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. THE BUDGET ADMINISTRATORS INCLUDE PRINCIPALS, DIRECTORS, CHIEFS, AND SELECT SUPERVISORS. EACH BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR HIS OR HER BUDGET ACCOUNTS. THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS INCLUDES FOUR TRACKS. TRACK ONE IS DEVELOPING THE PRINCIPAL'S BUILDING BUDGETS, TRACK TWO IS THE DEVELOPMENTAL OF THE DIRECTOR'S DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS. TRACK THREE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF GRANT FUND BUDGETS, AND TRACK FOUR IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAGE, SALARY, AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS PROJECTIONS. >> SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TRACK ONE, PRINCIPAL SCHOOL BUDGET, EACH PRINCIPAL RECEIVES A FOR PEOPLE PER STUDENT DOLLAR ALLOCATION FOR HIS OR HER SCHOOL. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RECEIVE THAT PER PEOPLE ALLOCATION, AND THEN MIDDLE SCHOOL WILL RECEIVE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER PER PEOPLE ALLOCATION, AND THEN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS RECEIVE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS. SO IT DEPENDS ON THE LEVEL OF THE SCHOOL. PRINCIPALS DETERMINE HOW TO ALLOCATE THEIR SCHOOL'S TOTAL BUDGET ALLOTMENT AMONG THEIR BUDGET ACCOUNTS. THEY ACCOUNT THEIR FUNDS WITHIN THEIR ASSIGNED BUDGET CATEGORIES. WHEN PRINCIPALS ALLOCATE ANY OF THEIR BUDGET FOR EQUIPMENT, THEY ALSO MUST SUBMIT A ZERO- BASED BUDGET OR ZZB WORKSHEET TO ITEMIZE THAT EQUIPMENT. TRACK TWO ARE DIRECTORS OR SUPERVISORS BUDGETS. DIRECTORS PREPARE AND SUBMIT THEIR BUDGETS TO THEIR IMMEDIATE SUPERVISORS FOR IMMEDIATE REVIEW, AND THEN THE DIRECTORS MEET WITH ALL THREE CHIEFS TO DISCUSS THE BUDGET WITHIN EACH OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS. THEY ALSO HAVE SPECIFIC CATEGORIES THAT THEY WOULD DO ZERO- BASED BUDGETING FOR. AND TRACK THREE IS OUR GRANT BUDGET, WHICH IS OUR RESTRICTED FUND. THIS BUDGET WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE STAFF ACCOUNTANT FOR GRANT FUNDED PROGRAMS AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COLLEAGUES WHO MANAGE THE VARIOUS GRANTS WITHIN THE SYSTEM. >> TRACK FOUR, THE FINAL TRACK WE'LL SHARE THIS EVENING IS FOR SALARY AND WAGE PROJECTIONS. MOST OF THE SALARY AND WAGE PROJECTIONS WERE COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOPED WITH AN OFFICE EMPLOYEE. THESE PROJECTIONS INCLUDE WAGE OR SALARY STAFF INCREASES FOR ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. THEY ALSO INCLUDE ANY PREVIOUSLY NEGOTIATED COLA OR COST OF LIVING PAY INCREASES. THESE WAGE OR SALARY PROJECTIONS ARE DEVELOPED FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES, NOT FOR SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES. THE WAGE AND SALARY -- I'M SORRY, WAGE PROJECTIONS FOR SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES ARE DEVELOPED DIFFERENTLY, AND THOSE TYPICALLY RANGE FROM ABOUT 4% TO 6% DEPENDING ON THE ACCOUNT. AND THE PROJECTIONS FOR WAGES AND SALARIES ARE ALSO UPDATED IN THE SPRING TO REFLECT THE THEN MOST CURRENT STAFFING INFORMATION AS STAFFING IS DYNAMIC. SOME OF THE WAGE OR SALARY ACCOUNTS INCLUDE SOME SALARY LAPS COST SAVING ESTIMATES IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO REFLECT ESTIMATED SAVINGS THAT WILL BE REALIZED DURING EMPLOYEE POSITION VACANCY PERIODS. ON SOME OF THE PAGES IN THE BUDGET BOOK YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE WAGE AND SALARY SECTION FOR OTHER THIS TYPICALLY INCLUDES OVERTIME PAY, EXTRA DUTY, EXTRA PAY, SUBSTITUTE EMPLOYEES AND IN SOME CASES CONSTITUTED ABSENCES, WHICH IS PAYMENT FOR EARNED BUT [00:35:03] UNUSED VACATION DAYS. AND BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE SUBSTITUTES EXTRA DUTY PAY, COACHES STIPENDS, AND TEMPORARY STAFF, AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, RANGES FROM ABOUT 4 TO 6% ON AVERAGE. % IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT OVER THAT FOR THE TOTAL GROUP OF THESE EMPLOYEES. AND THEN SOME OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION TO SHARE REGARDING THE FY '26 BUDGET, THERE ARE A PAIR OF GLOBAL BUDGET CHANGES TO FY '26. ONE OF THESE HAS TO DO WITH SOFTWARE. CURRENTLY THE DEPARTMENT FUNDS -- FOR FY 26 WE MOVE THE BUDGET AMOUNTS FROM THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO THE APPLICABLE DEPARTMENT. SO A NUMBER OF CASES THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET BOOK YOU'LL SEE INCREASES OR NEW ACCOUNTS FOR SOFTWARE OR DEPARTMENTS THAT DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE. IN ADDITION A COPIER MAINTENANCE COST AND COPIER MACHINE LEASE COST HAS BEEN MOVED OUT OF A CENTRAL DISTRICT WIDE ACCOUNT AND ADDED TO DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS. FUNDING FOR THE COPIER COSTS WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE SCHOOLS. THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES AN EARLY ESTIMATE OF THIS FUNDING, AND THEN WE HAVE A BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENT TO CONSIDER. THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE REQUIRES SCHOOL DISTRICTS DEMONSTRATE THERE'S BEEN AT LEAST 75% OF THE BLUEPRINT FUNDS ON A SCHOOL BY SCHOOL BASIS. WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CONSULTING ORGANIZATION CALLED ASHTON PARTNERS TO DETERMINE AND ENSURE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS MEETING A 25% MINIMUM. IF NOT, WE MAY BE REQUIRED TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO ONE OR MORE SCHOOLS THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET. IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS AFTER THIS EVENING, THE BOARD WOULD IN THE NEXT FEW -- COUPLE OF WEEKS I BELIEVE, THE BOARD WOULD DECIDE CHANGES TO INCLUDE, IF ANY, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, AND THE FINANCE OFFICE STAFF WOULD UPDATE THE BUDGET, THEN WE WOULD CONVEY THE PROPOSED BUDGET -- THEN THE BOARD WOULD APPROVE THE BUDGET AND WE WOULD CONVEY IT TO THE COUNTY. AND AFTER THE BUDGET IS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY, THE BOARD HAS MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, TO MAKE ADDITIONAL REVISIONS TO THE BUDGET. CALVERT COUNTY DETERMINES THE BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THE FINANCE OFFICE STAFF WOULD UPDATE THE BUDGET TO INCLUDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER IN MAY. AND THAT COULD INCLUDE, LIKELY INCLUDE WAGE AND SALARY BENEFIT PROJECTIONS UPDATED TO REFLECT THEN STAFFING, AND IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ANY UPDATES TO STATE AID TO REFLECT THE FRESHEST STATE AID ESTIMATE, WHICH COULD CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN AND ALSO TO UPDATE ANY ADDITIONAL BUDGET ACCOUNTS THAT MAY REQUIRE CHANGES BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. ONE OTHER IMPORTANT STEP IN THE BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS IS FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO FINALIZE AND APPROVE THE STATE'S FY 26 BUDGET. THE STATE BUDGET THAT'S ENACTED MAY ULTIMATELY INCLUDE FUNDS THAT AMOUNTS OR DIFFER UP AND DOWN FROM WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. WITH THAT INTRODUCTION WE'D LIKE TO INVITE DR. GROOV AND MS. GROSS TO JOIN US AS WE HIGHLIGHT THE BLUEPRINT COMMUNICATION BUDGET ON PAGES 39 AND 40 FOLLOWED BY THE EQUITY AND SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET ON PAGES 42 AND 43. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ED. I'M THE BLUEPRINT FOR AMERICA'S FUTURE AND COORDINATION AND I'M HAPPY TO SHARE THAT SECTION OF BUDGET FOR YOU TONIGHT. IF YOU KINDLY REFER TO PAGE 40, YOU WILL SEE THE BUDGET DETAIL OF THIS AREA OF THE BUDGET ON THAT PAGE. THE BLUEPRINT AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATION SECTION COVERS SALARY AND WAGES, CONTRACTED SERVICES, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS AND OTHER CHARGES. WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE BY ALMOST $20,000 OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR. CONTRACTED SERVICES INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS OUR SCHOOL MESSENGER, OUR WEBSITE ANNUAL RENEWAL FOR OUR DISTRICT OF THE SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS OUR WEBSITE TRANSLATION TOOL, WHICH IS REQUIRED COMPONENT OF OUR WEBSITE. OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S ONLY ONE PAGE, SO IT'S A SMALL PORTION RELATIVELY SPEAKING OF THE BUDGET, BUT I ASSURE YOU WE ARE DOING SOME REALLY [00:40:04] EXCITING WORK, AND I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW, BUT WE ARE DIGGING IN. AND WE'RE EXCITED WE DID SUBMIT AND RECEIVE FULL APPROVAL FOR CALVERT'S BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, SO WE ARE IN THE WORKS GETTING THINGS MOVING ON THAT. BUT I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, AND FOR YOUR TIME. >> SO I HAVE A QUESTION. IN THE SALARIES AND WAGES COLUMN, DID WE JUST REALLOCATE A POSITION TO THIS PART OF THE BUDGET? IS THAT WHY THE LARGE INCREASE? >> YES, SO GREAT QUESTION. PREVIOUSLY WE HAD A CHIEF OF COMMUNICATIONS. LAST YEAR WE DID NOT, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT WAS REFLECTED. BUT THE FISCAL YEAR 2026, AND THAT SHOULD SAY 2026 IN THAT COLUMN AT THE TOP, THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE TWO FTE POSITIONS INSTEAD OF ONE. >> AND SO IS THAT JUST A MOVE FROM ANOTHER CATEGORY? >> YEAH. >> OKAY. >> IN THE CONTRACTED SERVICES, YOU SAID MOST OF THAT WAS FOR ALL WEB- BASED, TECHNOLOGY- BASED STUFF. AND YOU MENTIONED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S WEBSITE AS A WHOLE IS ALL OUT OF THE BLUEPRINT PART AND THE TRANSLATION FOR. AND WHAT ELSE WAS IN THE CONTRACTED SERVICES? >> THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION REALLY IS OUT OF THAT PART. >> OKAY. >> SO THAT'S OUR WEBSITE, ANNUAL RENEWAL, WHICH IS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE. BUT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN WEBSITE FROM THAT PAGE, SO THAT COVERS ALL OF THAT. IT ALSO COVERS OUR SCHOOL MESSENGER, OUR ANNUAL APP RENEWALS FOR ALL OF THE APPS WE HAVE WITH OUR SYSTEM. MORE NEWS LETTERS THAT MANY OF OUR BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS ARE USING TO CHUKT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT'S COVERED UNDER THAT AS WELL AS OTHER SERVICES TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE OF OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ADA REQUIREMENTS AND THE WEB CONCEPT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDE. I THINK I GOT THAT CORRECT. SO THAT IS ALL PART OF WHAT COMES UNDER THAT SECTION. >> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT PART OF IT WAS ABLE TO COME DOWN 19. JUST WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN THAT BUDGET? WAS THERE ONE SPECIFIC THING THAT CAUSED A REDUCTION OF THE 19TH? >> I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO -- THAT WE NO LONGER USE, SO THAT MIGHT HAVE COME OUT OF IT, BUT I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS IN FRONT OF ME. WE CAN TAKE A LOOK INTO THAT AND GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU. >> THE POSITIONS IN THAT BUDGET ARE REQUIRED BY THE BLUEPRINT, THOSE TWO POSITIONS, YOURS AND -- >> SO THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE BLUEPRINT. >> OKAY. >> THE OTHER POSITION IN THAT IS THE COMMUNICATIONS PIECE THROUGH THE WEBSITE, SO IT'S OUR STAFF THAT DOES THE WEBSITE. >> AND THE BUDGET YOU PRESENTED THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED SILK TIDE. >> YEAH, SO THAT IS ACTUALLY THE COMPANY THAT ENSURES OUR ACCESSIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH ADA, SO THAT'S THE COMPANY WE CONTRACT WITH TO HELP US WITH THAT. >> DOES THAT COMPANY INDEMNIFY US IF THERE'S A SUIT, AN ADA SUIT? >> WHAT IT DOES IT ACTUALLY REVIEWS OUR WEB CONTENT, SO IT IDENTIFIES ANYTHING THAT IS A VIOLATION SO THAT WE CAN FIX THAT BEFORE IT'S EVER PUBLISHED OR PUT OUT. >> SO IF SOMEONE BRINGS A SUIT, THEY'RENOT COVERING US, THEY'RE JUST A NO CONSEQUENCE CONSULTANT? TRYING TO HELP US BUT THEY'RE NOT COVERING IT IN CASE -- >> CORRECT. >> OKAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, AND EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I AM MARGOT GROSS, THE SUPERVISOR OF EQUITY AND I'M HERE TO DISCUSS THE EQUITY BUDGET. THE EQUITY BUDGET INCLUDES CONSULTANTS, SUPPLY, AWARDS, SERVICES, MEETINGS, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 43 OF YOUR BUDGET BOOK. THE BUDGET ALLOWS US TO MEET THE EQUITY TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STATE. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> IN THIS BUDGET THE SALARY IS GOING UP 7. 8%, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE GUIDELINES. WHAT EXPLAINS THAT? THE SALARY CHANGE FROM 25 [00:45:08] TO 26 IS 7. 8%, AND THAT SEEMS TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT'S GUIDELINE. >> YES, I'LL BE HAPPY TO CHECK INTO THAT. I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THAT RESPONSE BY TOMORROW OR MONDAY AT THE LATEST. THERE'S NOT AN ANTICIPATED SALARY INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'LL SEE ON THE BUDGET PAGE. IT MAY BE THAT THE BUDGET AMOUNT FOR -- >> WE'RE LOOKING AT PAGE 42 AND 43, CORRECT? >> ON PAGE 43 IT'S EVEN HIGHER. IT'S 12.2%. >> IT'S TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS. >> ON PAGE 42 THERE'S A 7. 8% CHANGE. BUT ON PAGE 43, SORRY, IT'S 12.2%. SO NEITHER OF THOSE PAGES ARE ACCURATE? JUST WITH THAT LINE ITEM, ANYWAY? >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO DOUBLE-CHECK. I MAY HAVE THE FORMULA POINTING TO THE WRONG COLUMN, BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO DOUBLE-CHECK THAT TOMORROW. >> THE NUMBERS IN BOTH COLUMNS ARE ALSO OFF. >> JUST FOR CLARITY ON THE PAGE 43 IT'S THE SALARIES PLUS OTHER, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THE 7. 8% CHANGE OVERALL FOR SALARIES, YEAH. SO THAT'S THE -- YEAH, NOT JUST SALARIES. >> THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME WE'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION, AND WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO TURN TO PAGES 123 AND 124 IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION. AND OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES I WILL SHARE SOME BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU RELATED TO CAPITAL OUTWAY. THE CAPITAL OUT WAY BUDGET IS SUMMARIZED AS DR. JOHNSON SAID ON PAGES 123 AND 124 OF THE BUDGET BOOK. I WANTED TO START OUT BY MAKING A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CAPITAL OUT WAY BUDGET ON MAINTENANCE OF PLANNED BUDGETS. CAPITAL OUT WAY FUNDS ARE PRINCIPALLY USED FOR CONSULTING PROJECTS. THESE ARE RELATED TO FEASIBILITY STUDIES, DESIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING COSTS, COSTS OF SMALLER PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT FINANCIALLY LARGE ENOUGH TO BE FUNDED THROUGH THE CIP PROGRAM, AND SAFETY AND SECURITY INITIATIVES. WHILE THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUDGET FUNDS RECURRING COSTS ASSOCIATE WOULD THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE EXISTING FACILITIES, CAPITAL OUT LAY FUND INITIATIVES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OR REPLACEMENT OF EXISTING CAPITAL ASSETS WITHIN THESE FACILITIES. CAPITAL OUT WAY ALSO CONNECTS TO ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATE WOULD THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OR CIP, WHICH IS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN OCTOBER OF EVERY YEAR AND ADOPTED BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AS PART OF THEIR OVERALL BUDGET. THE CIP, WHICH IS PLACEHOLDER IN THE BUDGET BOOK UNTIL IT'S APPROVED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IS REFERENCED ON PAGES 151 AND 152 OF THE BUDGET BOOK. AND FOR CONTEXT FOR CIP REQUEST FOR FY 2026 WAS $32. 9 MILLION. SO BACK TO THE CAPITAL OUT LAY BUDGET ON PAGE 124. WHILE THE OVERALL BUDGET SAW MINIMAL CHANGE BETWEEN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THE NEXT, WITHIN THE BUDGETARY UNITS UNDER CONTRACTED SERVICES, YOU WILL NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE FROM FY 2025 TO FY 2026. THIS IS DIRECT RESULT OF A REDUCTION IN CONTRACTED SERVICES REQUIRED FOR UPCOMING PROJECTS. AS EXISTING STUDIES AND DESIGN SERVICES WRAP UP, WE CAN ACHIEVE A TEMPORARY REDUCTION TO THIS BUDGETARY UNIT UNTIL FY 2027. ADDITIONALLY, YOU WILL NOTICE WITHIN THE LAND, BUILDING, AND EQUIPMENT BUDGETARY UNIT, THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO SCHOOL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS. AS THE NEW NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL COMES ONLINE DURING THE NEXT BUDGETARY CYCLE, IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO OUTFIT THE SCHOOL WITH SECURITY CAMERAS AND ELECTRONIC ACCESS. SUCH COSTS ARE BUDGETED ON A PER PROJECT BASIS AND ARE REFLECTED WITHIN THIS CATEGORY. THAT SUMMARIZES SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS ASSOCIATED [00:50:03] WITH CAPITAL OUT LAY, AND I MAY TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> I NOTICE THAT FOR NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, THERE'S NOTHING LISTED AFTER THAT. WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR THAT COMING FROM? >> FROM NORTHERN NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL'S CONSTRUCTION, THAT IS IN THE CIP PORTION AND THAT WILL NOT BE IN THE OPERATING BUDGET. SO AS I WAS MENTIONING ON PAGE 151 AND 152 OF THE BUDGET BOOK, THOSE ARE THE PAGES THAT ARE RESERVED FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, AND THAT IS WHERE THOSE COSTS WILL BE REFLECTED ONCE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS HAD A CHANCE TO GO OVER ALL OF THE CIP BECAUSE THEY WILL DO THAT DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE COUNTY. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THEY HAVE ALL OF OUR BUDGET REQUESTS. THAT IS WHERE THAT WILL BE REFLECTED ULTIMATELY WITHIN THE BUDGET BOOK. >> ON PAGE 124 UNDER ALTERATIONS, THE NUMBER WENT FROM 327 IN FY 24 TO 635 THIS YEAR AND CONTINUES TO 618 GOING FORWARD. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS AND ANY PIECE OF THAT CAPITALIZABLE? THANK YOU. >> YES, SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THAT LINE. THEY INCLUDE SOME SELECT ASPHALT REPLACEMENT AT SCHOOLS, WITHIN PLAY AREAS, SOME SEAL COATING WORK, THERE ARE ALSO GENERAL CONCRETE REPAIRS AT THREE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT AT SELECT SCHOOLS. THERE IS A GENERATOR UPGRADE AND UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK CONVERSION THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AT SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY. WE ALSO HAVE A HEATING PUMP REPLACEMENT THAT ISALICATED WITHIN THAT LINE AS WELL AS SOME CARPET TO VCT SMALLER PROJECTS. AND THEN LASTLY SOME SELECT ROOF REPAIRS TO THE STANDING METAL ROOF AT HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL. IN THE BUDGET YOU SUBMITTED THE ALTERATION BUT THE NUMBER WE HAVE ON BUDGET IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS. I KNOW THERE WAS A REQUEST TO CUT THAT BUDGET. WHAT IMPACT IS THAT GOING TO HAVE TO THE PROJECTS THAT YOU HAD PUT IN THE ORIGINAL ZERO BASE BUDGET? ARE THERE PLAYGROUNDS NOT GOING TO GET BUILT OR HOMES GOING TO FAIL? >> SO WE ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE A PESSIMISTIC BUDGET, AND SO WHAT WE DID IN CONJUNCTION WITH FACILITIES IS TO ESSENTIALLY LOOK AT THE MOST CRITICAL ITEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE FUNDED, SO PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT DOES REMAIN. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN REDUCED. SO CERTAINLY THERE ARE RAMIFICATIONS, BUT WE HAVE TRIED TO REALLY ENCOMPASS THE MOST CRITICAL NEEDS AND INCLUDE THEM WITHIN THIS BUDGET. >> OKAY, AND I KNOW EVERY YEAR WE DO FUND RAISERS AT SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY FOR NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT. ARE THOSE FUNDS RAISED THROUGH THE SCHOOL A PART OF THIS, OR IS THAT SEPARATE? HOW DO THOSE TWO SETS OF FUNDS WORK WHEN IT COMES TO REPLACING PLAYGROUNDS? >> SO THOSE ARE SEPARATE NOW. WITHIN THIS CATEGORY, THIS ALTERATIONS LINE IS NOT FUNDING A FULL PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT. WE DO HAVE THAT SEPARATELY AS A PLACEHOLDER IN OUR CIP. SO THIS YEAR WE DO HAVE $350,000 THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FROM THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT. SO THIS IS REALLY FOR SMALLER, SELECT PIECES WITHIN AN EXISTING PLAYGROUND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPLACE. >> OKAY. AND LAST QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERNS IN THE PAST ABOUT OUR PLAYGROUNDS BEING ACCESSIBLE TO ALL PEOPLE. ARE ANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IN THESE ALTERATIONS TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS? >> THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET WITHIN THE ALTERATIONS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ADA, BUT AS WE EARMARK THOSE FUNDS WITHIN THE CIP, THOSE ASPECTS WILL BE ADDRESSED. SO IT WILL HAPPEN THROUGH THE CIP. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THERE WAS A COMMITTEE PUT TOGETHER TO ASSESS WHICH SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS ACCESS. HOW MANY SCHOOLS WERE NOT IN COMPLIANCE? >> SO WE DO HAVE A PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE THAT MEET REGULARLY. THE FIRST PRIORITY OF THAT PLAYGROUND COMMITTEE IS TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE OCR [00:55:02] COMPLAINT THAT WAS MOVED FORWARD. SO AS PART OF THE RESPONSE TO THE OCR COMPLAINT, WE HAD OUR -- WE IDENTIFIED SIX SCHOOLS WITH PLAYGROUNDS THAT WERE DEFINITELY NOT ACCESSIBLE, AND WE ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE. >> BUT THAT'S NOT A PART OF THIS BUDGET TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE? >> IT WILL BE DONE INCREMENTALLY. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THEM ALL AT ONE TIME. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> BUT AS I UNDERSTAND, THAT COMES OUT OF THE CIP BUDGET? OKAY, SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE PURVIEW OVER. THAT'S COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE HAVE CURRENTLY SOME MONEY WITHIN OUR CIP. WE ARE EARMARKING MONEY EVERY YEAR, A ROBUST AMOUNT FOR THE PLAYGROUND PROJECTS. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THE SCHOOL SECURITY. I KNOW YOU SAID A LOT OF IT'S FOR THE NEW BUILD. ARE THERE -- I JUST LEARNED THAT OUR -- WHEN WE DID THE VAPE MONITORS IN THE SCHOOLS, THAT WE JUST DID A PILOT, THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY IN ALL THE BATHROOMS IN ALL OF THE SCHOOLS. IS THAT CONSIDERED SECURITY AND WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED SOMETHING IN THIS PART OF THE BUDGET? >> IT IS NOT CONSIDERED THIS PART OF THE BUDGET. ACTUALLY ALL THOSE SYSTEMS FOR THE RESTROOMS WERE PURCHASED WITH ESR FUNDS. AND WE HAD A PILOT A AT ONE HIGH SCHOOL A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT PILOT, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PLACE THEM IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR PREVENTATIVE REASONS AND THEN HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOL SELECT ONE RESTROOM THAT WAS A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA THAT THEY WOULD MONITOR. SO RIGHT NOW ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL RESTROOMS DO HAVE THOSE SENSORS IN THERE, AND IT'S MORE THAN JUST FOR VAPING. IT'S FOR DISRUPTION. IT COULD BE LANGUAGE, ANYTHING THAT WOULD ALERT ANYONE TO SOMETHING GOING ON IN THOSE RESTROOMS.÷÷THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE PURCHASE IT WAS DETERMINED IF WE USED IT FOR PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE A GREATER INFLUENCE ON OUR STUDENTS THAN BEING REACTIVE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PUT THEM IN ALL THE RESTROOMS. >> SO THERE'S NO MONEY IN THIS BUDGET TO EXPAND THEM IN ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS? >> NO. >> DO WE HAVE A DOLLAR AMOUNT, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT COST WOULD BE TO EXPAND IT TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO EXPAND THEM TO HAISKS? I WOULD TELL YOU TO PUT THEM IN ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THREE HIGH SCHOOLS IT WAS $300,000. >> CAN I ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION? ARE WE GETTNG A REPORT ON THE VAPING SYSTEMSTHAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, OR WAS THERE JUST A REPORT FROM THE PILOT PROGRAM? >> THERE WAS JUST INFORMATION FROM THE PILOT PROGRAM, AND WHAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS -- SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS SINCE THEY HAVE NOW BEEN INSTALLED THROUGH DECEMBER AND JANUARY OF MONITORING THEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED. WE HAVE SOME SITUATIONS WHERE, WELL, FOR INSTANCE AT NORTHERN MIDDLE, THEY WERE CHOPPING DOWN TREES FOR A WEEKEND FOR CONSTRUCTION AND IT WAS SETTING OFF THE VAPE. SO THEY'RE DOING SOME CALIBRATION OF THAT, AND FROM THERE WE'LL BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE HOW MANY ALERTS ARE HAPPENING AND WHAT THEY'RE FOR. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> DID I HEAR CORRECTLY THAT ALL THE BATHROOMS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAVE A VAPE DETECTOR? >> YES, ALL THE RESTROOMS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DO. >> AND THEN ONE BATHROOM PER HIGH SCHOOL? >> YES. >> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT. I HAD LUNCH WITH SOME STUDENTS TODAY, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE VAPE DETECTOR IN THEIR BUILDING HAD BEEN STOLEN. HAVE WE HAD ANY STOLEN VAPE DETECTERS? >> WE HAVE NOT. >> I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN THEM WORKING OR THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE INFORMATION IS ALL OVER THE PLACE. I THINK HONESTLY STUDENTS JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS OR HOW THEY WORK. >> THERE'S NOT A BIG ALARM. >> I DO ASK WHEN I TALK TO STUDENTS WHAT THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS, IT WAS THE VAPING IN THE BATHROOMS. THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE, THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE USING THE BATHROOM, SO I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. >> SO JOE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A WORD IN, SO GO AHEAD, JOE. >> THE ONE QUESTION I HAD HERE LOOKING UNDER OTHER CHARGES, AND AGAIN OTHER CHARGES WE WERE 0, $78 IN 23, 0, $1,200 AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 295, WHY? >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO THAT. INITIALLY IN THE BUDGET I HAD INCLUDED TWO POSITIONS FORGETTING WE HAD ONE POSITION WE HADN'T FILLED FOR SOME TIME. WE HAD POSTED FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND SO AFTER REALIZING I ADDED THE DOLLARS TO THE SALARY SECTION OF THE BUDGET AND PUT A NEGATIVE CONTINGENCY AMOUNT OF I BELIEVE IT WAS [01:00:02] $50,000 UNDER OTHER CHARGES, SO IN A FUTURE VERSION OF THE BUDGET WE'LL ZERO OUT THAT NEGATIVE CONTINGENCY. >> SO WILL THAT CHANGE THE SALARIES PORTION OF THIS OR NO? IT ULTIMATELY WILL BUT THE SALARY AMOUNT WILL CHANGE WOULD LIKELY CHANGE IN A FUTURE VERSION, YES. >> IF WE CAN GO BACK TO VAPING FOR JUST A SECOND, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE FOR STAFF, DR. TOWNSEL, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE LOOK INTO GETTING A QUOTE OR AT LEAST AT A MINIMUM PROVIDING THE BOARD WITH AN ESTIMATE -- A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO INSTALL VAPE DETECTERS IN ALL THE HIGH SCHOOL RESTROOMS, PLEASE? THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. WARNER? >> I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION. BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT OF DAMAGE, DO WE HAVE ANY INFORMATION? I KNOW WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THIS, ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE COSTS OR REPAIR COSTS FOR THE VAPING DEVICES? AND IF WE GET A REPORT, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD INCLUDE? >> I DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR YOU TONIGHT, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN GET IT FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. WARNER. >> THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. GREG DOTT. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES TO THE TABLE. AND I WOULD CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A FEW PAGES. WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PAGE -- PAGE 112, 113, AND THEN 118. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS GREGORY, AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL FACILITIES. SCHOOL FACILITIES INCLUDES OPERATIONAL PLAN AS WELL AS MAINTENANCE OF PLAN. THOUGH I DON'T ADMINISTER ALL THE OPERATIONS, I DO ADMINISTER A MAJORITY OF THAT LINE. I'M HERE TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. >> I KNOW LAST SEASON WE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE GRASS. HAVE WE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THE FOOTBALL FIELDS THIS SEASON? >> SO THE FIELDS HAVE PROGRESSEDPROGRESSED YEAR 1 TO YEAR 2. THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRESS AS WE GET MORE TIME IN GROWING AND TREATING THEM. SO, YES, THEY WERE BETTER THIS YEAR THAN THEY HAPPEN THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE ONLY COMPLICATION WE RAN INTO THIS YEAR WAS CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE TRANSITIONED FROM A WELL OVER TO CITY WATER BECAUSE OUR WELL WCHBT SUSTAIN THE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. SO THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THAT FIELD DIDN'T GET THE NECESSARY AMOUNT OF WATER THAT THE OTHER THREE DID. >> OKAY. A FOLLOW- UP TO THAT, WHICH IS SOMETHING I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD. BUT FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE'RE INVESTING INTO TRYING TO GROW GRASS ON THESE FIELDS, IS THE COST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAYING TURF DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER? I'M GOING TO ASSUME IT IS. >> ARE YOU REFERRING TO OUR OFFICIAL TURF? SO OUR YEARLY MAINTENANCE BUDGET FOR THE GRASS AT EACH STADIUM FIELD WAS $25,000 A YEAR, SO A TOTAL OF 100 BETWEEN THE FOUR SCHOOLS, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A TURF FIELD FOR $100,000. >> THANK YOU. >> IN THE SAME CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FIELDS, HAVE WE CONSIDERED -- I'M SO SORRY. I'M USUALLY SO LOUD. HAVE WE CONSIDERED LIKE AN MOU WITH THE COUNTY TO SEE IF UTILIZING THEIR CURRENT CONTRACTS FOR ALL THE FIELDS THEY MAINTAIN WOULD GIVE US ANY SORT OF A SAVINGS? >> I'M NOT SURE WHAT CONTRACT THE COUNTY DOES HAVE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACT THAT WAS AWARDED IN FY 23, AND IT WILL NOT EXPIRE. IT'LL RUN THROUGH FY 27. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION? THANK YOU. HI, HOW ARE YOU? >> I'M GOOD. >> SO I ASKED THIS QUESTION OF MR. JOHNSON, AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATE TO ADDRESS TO YOU. WE SPEND IT LOOKS LIE [01:05:02] WE'RE PROPOSING IN FY 26 $2. 1 MILLION FOR THE STAFF AND OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE SCHOOL AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT REPAIR. THAT'S ON PAGE 113. WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT THAT IS REPAIRED? >> SO AS I LED IN THAT I DON'T MANAGE ALL THESE PAGES, THAT IS ONE THAT MR. JOHNSON WILL NEED TO ANSWER BECAUSE I DON'T DO THE OFFICE EQUIPMENT. >> YOU CAN COME BACK WITH AN ANSWER LATER, BUT I JUST -- I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE SPENDING $2 MILLION A YEAR TO REPAIR EQUIPMENT, THE EQUIPMENT VALUE IS ONLY $500,000, WE PROBABLY SHOULD JUST BUY NEW. THAT'S MY QUESTION. >> WELL, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS 1. 8 MILLION IS SALARIES. SO I JUST WANTED -- >> OKAY, SO I HAVE A QUESTION. IN THE SALARIES AND WAGES CATEGORY THERE IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE OTHER NEGATIVE AMOUNTS. IS THAT ALSO FOR SAVINGS AND UNFILLED POSITION? SORRY, PAGE 112. UNDER SL SALARY WAGES THERE'S ANOTHER 54,000, IS THAT FOR UNFILLED POSITION? >> UNDER SALARY AND WAGES THAT'S FOR -- THAT'S A NEGATIVE BUDGET CONTINGENCY FOR WAGE LAPSE, WAGE AND SALARY LAPSE. >> THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE NEGATIVE 167 AND THE OTHER BE? >> THAT WOULD BE FOR AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF UTILITY COST SAVINGS, WHICH WILL OBVIOUSLY DEPEND ON -- >> WHAT ARE YOU BASING UTILITY COSTS ON? ELECTRIC SEEMS TO KEEP GOING UP. WHERE DO YOU THINK WE'LL HAVE UTILITY COST SAVINGS? I JUST DON'T WANT US TO KID OUR OURSELVES. >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK AT IT ON A UTILITY BY UTILITY BASIS. I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER BUT I'LL BE HAPPY TO CHECK. >> JUST LOOKING AT RATES OUTSIDE OF OUR COUNTY, THEY'VE GONE UP EXPONENTIALLY, SO I'M JUST REALLY CURIOUS WHERE WE WOULD SEE THAT. SO IF YOU'D GIVE ME MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, I'D APPRECIATE IT. >> WE POSSIBLY COULD HAVE SAVINGS IN THE HEATING FUEL. PRICES CURRENTLY ARE SUBSTANTIALLY DOWN FROM THIS TIME A YEAR AGO. >> SO IS THERE A REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T REFLECT THOSE SAVINGS IN THE INDIVIDUAL UTILITY LINE ITEMS INSTEAD OF AN OTHER LINE ITEM? >> YES, BECAUSE THE UTILITY COST ACCOUNTS FOR MANAGED BY MR. GOTT. THE OTHER ACCOUNTS ARE MANAGED BY YOURS TRULY. >> GOT IT. I'M LEARNING. OKAY, LAST QUESTION I HAVE. UNDER CONTRACTED SERVICES, IT'S AN OVERALL SAVINGS OF ABOUT $50,000. DID WE DO SOME NEGOTIATIONS IN THOSE CONTRACTS, OR WAS THAT A ZERO- BASED BUDGET UTILIZATION? >> THAT'S ZERO- BASED BUDGET AND THERE WILL BE SOME THINGS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE ELIMINATED IN ORDER TO REACH THAT GOAL. >> WHAT ARE THE IMPACT OF THOSE THINGS? >> WE HAVE SEVERAL THINGS WE'LL LOOK AT. WE'LL LOOK AT THE UNIFORM MONEY THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONTRACT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS MAYBE THE GPS SYSTEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY ON THE VEHICLES % WITHIN THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. >> MR. GOTT, I'M ALSO WONDERING IF WE HAVE GROUNDS CREWS AT EACH -- THAT SERVICE THE SCHOOLS. YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT DO THE MOWING AND THE MULCHING AND EDGING AND ALL THAT STUFF? >> SO WE -- WE HAVE A ATHLETIC CUSTODIAN AT EACH OF THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHOSE MAIN JOB DESCRIPTION IS TO MAINTAIN THE ATHLETIC FIELDS. THE REST OF THE SCHOOL- BASED MAINTENANCE IS THE BUILDING SERVICE STAFF. THEY DO SOME OF THEIR GRASS CUTTING CLOSE TO THE BUILDING, AND THEN WE HAVE A GROUNDS DEPARTMENT IN FACILITIES THAT DOES THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTIES. >> BUT JUST GRASS CUTTING, NOT MULCHING AND OTHER STUFF? >> THEY DO SOME MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF MULCHING AT THE SCHOOL. WE DELIVER TO THEM. THEY'LL PUT IT DOWN IN THEIR FLOWER BEDS OR WHEREVER THEY NEED IT. WE DO DO SOME PLAYGROUNDS. WE'LL PROBABLY START TO GO AWAY FROM THAT SINCE IT'S NOT ADA COMPLIANT, AND WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER ALTERNATIVES. >> COULD I QUICKLY ASK, DO WE SPEND ANY MONEY CURRENTLY ON ALTERNATIVE HEATING OR COOLING [01:10:01] METHODS, SO LIKE FANS OR SPACE HEATERS? >> ACTUALLY, IF YOU WERE TO GO TO THE ENERGY AND CONSERVATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THOSE ARE NOT ALLOWED. >> OKAY, YEAH. >> SO IT MIGHT BE BETTER OFF -- >> THANK YOU. I HAD A FEW STUDENTS ASKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THINK EVERY STUDENT HAS BEEN LIKE I'M TOO COLD IN THIS CLASSROOM, I'M TOO HOT IN THIS CLASSROOM AND TEACHERS CAN'T HAVE FANS OR HEATERS BUT THEN AC OR HEATING DOESN'T WORK. SO I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THAT AND ALSO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF ANY SORT OF IMPROVEMENTS OR INVESTMENTS IN THAT. I KNOW I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO PRETEND TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE OF IMPROVING IN THAT OR INVESTING IN THAT, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO ASK. >> AND SEVERAL PROJECTS MS. WARNER ARE DOING ARE HBAC RELATED. TYPICALLY WHEN WE GET A REQUEST FOR A PROBLEM IN A ROOM, WE RESPOND IMMEDIATELY. RARELY IS IT MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO, AND OF COURSE WE'VE HAD SOME EXTREME WEATHER THIS WINTER, WHERE SO THOSE EXTREME COLD DAYS ARE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH. >> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. ON PAGE 112, LEASING PORTABLE CLASSROOMS AND STORAGE TRAILERS, ARE WE ACTUALLY LEASING STORAGE TRAILERS? >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO STORAGE TRAILERS AT THE WAREHOUSE. ONE, I BELIEVE, MAY HAVE SOME I.T. EQUIPMENT IN IT. THE OTHER WE USE WHEN WE GET A LARGE DELIVERY OF, LIKE, PAPER PRODUCTS BECAUSE THEY COME MORE ON A TRACTOR- TRAILER, AND WE DO NOT HAVE THE SPACE IN A WEAR WAREHOUSE TO PUT ON TRACTOR-TRAILER. >> DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE PAY PER MONTH TO LEASE THAT? >> I'D HAVE TO LOOK THAT EXACT NUMBER UP. IT'S NOT A LOT. >> IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME CORRECTLY, IT WAS A VERY, VERY SMALL AMOUNT. LIKE VERY -- MAYBE LESS THAN $100 -- $30 FOR SOME REASON IS COMING TO MY MIND. IT WAS VERY, VERY MINUTE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I ASKED LAST YEAR. >> AND SINCE YOU ASKED LAST YEAR, WE HAVE ELIMINATED ONE THEM, SO WE ARE DOWN FROM 3 TO 2. >> THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THIS YEAR. >> AND SEVERAL -- SEVERAL WE WILL -- WE WILL ELIMINATE SEVERAL TRAILERS AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS. SO THOSE -- THOSE COSTS WILL GO AWAY FROM US. >> SO THEY ARE RESPONSIBLY BEING UTILIZED? >> YES. >> OKAY, YOU WERE ALSO PAGE 118 MAINTENANCE OF PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? >> YES, MA'AM. >> SOC, SO IN THAT APPLIESMATERIALS SECTION IT LOOKS LIKE A MAJORITY OF THOSE CATEGORIES ARE JUST BEING INCREASED BY 6. 5 MERSE. DID WE NOT DO A ZERO- BASED BUDGET IN THIS AREA? >> SO I BELIEVE THAT'S A MISPRECIPITATE, AND THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATED VERSION, WHICH SHOWS ALL THOSE LINES BEING DECREASED. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> OKAY, ON PAGE 113 WHERE IT SAYS REPAIRS, SCHOOL EMERGENCY -- OH, NO REPAIR SCIENCE, 150% INCREASE. IS THAT AN ERROR? >> SO ONCE AGAIN, THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE PAGES THAT I MANAGE. >> OH, THAT'S UNDER OPERATIONAL PLAN. >> CORRECT. >> BUT THERE ARE FOUR PAGES. I MANAGE TWO OF THE FOUR. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. GOTT. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. KEVIN HOOK FORWARD. HE'S THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. HE WILL BE DISCUSSING A COUPLE PAGES, BUT THE FIRST PAGE IS PAGE 108. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS KEVIN HOOK. I'M DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND ATHLETICS. I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, WHICH IS ONE OF YOUR LARGEST, AND I'M ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATHLETICS BUDGET, WHICH IS ONE OF YOUR SMALLEST. OUR TRANSPORTATION BUDGET PRETTY MUCH THE VAST MAJORITY OF [01:15:02] IT IS FLOW THROUGH. IT SIMPLY PASSES THROUGH OUR OFFICE AND GOES TO OUR 22 BUS CONTRACTORS FOR THE CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR BUS ROUTES AND FOR ALL THE TRIPS OUR STUDENTS TAKE FOR ATHLETIC TRIPS. AND OUR ATHLETIC BUDGET ACTUALLY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THIS YEAR, BUT IT WAS A GREAT THING BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR TRAINERS NOW AT EACH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, SO THAT INCREASED OUR BUDGET WITH THEIR SALARIES, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH IT. WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF E- MAILS FROM PARENTS THAT WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A TRAINER, AND IT'S A GOOD THING TO HAVE BACK, SO I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS. >> GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO CALL ON YOU BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE OUT OF CONTROL UP HERE. >> OKAY. SO YOUR BUDGET OVERALL IS A MILLION DOLLARS LESS FROM THIS YEAR TO THE PROPOSED. I SEE THERE'S AN OVERALL NEGATIVE $900,000 CHANGE, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT IS THE RESULT OR WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF THAT OVERALL MILLION DOLLAR CHANGE. >> SO WE WERE ASKED TO TRY TO FIND ABOUT 10% THAT WE COULD CUT. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT WITH THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IS A POSSIBILITY OF UTILIZING ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES INSTEAD OF BUSES FOR OUR NONPUBLIC OUT OF COUNTY STUDENTS AND YOUR OUR HOMELESS STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE TO TRANSPORT. CURRENTLY WE'RE USING SCHOOL BUSES TO DO ALL OF THIS EXCEPT FOR THE TWO TAXI SERVICE. WE HAVE TWO TAXIS THAT WE USE, WHICH YOU'LL ALSO NOTICE ON HERE WE TOOK THAT OUT, BECAUSE IF WE'RE ABLE TO USE OUR OWN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES, WE WON'T NEED TO USE THE TAXI SERVICES BUT WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE IS A MAJORITY OF IT IS SIMPLY IF -- IF WE ARE ABLE TO CUT FIVE OF THOSE NONPUBLIC OUT OF COUNTY BUSES, THAT'S ABOUT $575,000. SOME OF THAT MONEY WOULD GO BACK INTO EITHER PURCHASING OR LEASING ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES AND HIRING DRIVERS TO GO ALONG WITH THEM. BUT IT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS. >> IS THAT WHAT THE FIVE BUSES, IS THAT WHAT'S REPRESENTED IN THIS $575,000 CUT TO THE SPECIAL ED BUS ROUTES? >> IT'S ROUGHLY 115 TO $120 PER ROUTE THAT WE SPEND. >> I SEE THERE'S A LARGE CUT ALSO $63,000 CUT TO SUMMER PROGRAMS. WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THAT TO STUDENTS? >> THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE THE COVID PANDEMIC AND THERE WERE THINGS THE STATE OF MARYLAND SAID YOU HAD TO DO IN ORDER FOR SUMMER SCHOOL. THOSE WERE PUT INTO OUR BUDGET FOR THAT, AND I BELIEVE THOSE NOW HAVE BEGUN TO BE REMOVED, SO WE WERE JUST LOOKING AT POSSIBLE SAVINGS AND NOT RUNNING AS MANY BUSES IN OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. >> SO IS IT NO LONGER REQUIRED BY THE STATE TO PROVIDE THAT TRANSPORTATION OR -- >> SO WE NEVER HAD TO -- WE WERE NEVER REQUIRED TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAMS. WE DO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION IN OUR ESY PROGRAMS FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO NEED EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES THROUGH THEIR IEPS. AND SOME OF THE SAVINGS IS A RESULT OF THAT. PRIOR TO -- PRIOR TO THE -- THE ESER FUNDS PAYING FOR THE TRANSPORTATION, WE DID SOME DEPOT STOPS FOR OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS. HOWEVER, IF WE ARE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RUN THAT, THAT WOULD BE AN AREA OF CUT THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TRANSPORTATION FOR SOME OF OUR SUMMER SCHOOL REQUIRED -- REQUIRED SUMMER SCHOOL FOR CREDIT. >> OKAY. AND, I MEAN, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT COULD IMPACT SOME CHILDREN THAT DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO SUMMER SCHOOL IF THEY NEED IT TO PASS TO THE NEXT GRADE, YEAH? >> TYPICALLY WE HAVE WORKED WITH FAMILIES, SO IF THERE ARE SOME DIFFICULTIES WITH FAMILIES GETTING TO SUMMER SCHOOL AND THAT IS A PREVAILING REASON WHY THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND, WE WOULD WORK WITH THEM TO SEE IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM. BUT IT WOULD BE ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS PRIOR TO THE FUNDS HAVING TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED TO STUDENTS IN K-12. >> IN THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, WOULD THOSE DRIVERS OF THOSE VEHICLES BE CCP EMPLOYEES AND THE ABILITY TO USE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION? >> YES, SO IN FACT WE ARE PLANNING -- SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF MODELS WE COULD UTILIZE. WE COULD DO A CONTRACTED SERVICE WITH A COMPANY THAT COMES IN AND OFFERS THE SAME SERVICE WITH THEIR OWN DRIVERS. WE COULD HIRE OUR OWN DRIVERS AND USE OUR OWN VEHICLES. THE GAME PLAN IS IF WE HIRE OUR OWN, THEY WOULD BE 11- [01:20:03] MONTH EMPLOYEES AND THEY'D BE UTILIZED FOR SUMMER RUNS. IN FACT, MOST OF OUR NON- COUNTY OUT OF PUBLIC STUDENTS GO ALL SUMMER ANYWAY. THEY GO 205, 210 DAYS AS OPPOSED TO 80. THE GAME PLAN WOULD BE TO UTILIZE THEM IF WE NEED TO FOR ANY HOMELESS STUDENTS WHO NEED A RAIDER RIDE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL OR ANYONE ELSE WHO NEEDS A RIDE FOR SUMMER SCHOOL. >> AND LAST QUESTION ON THAT TOPIC, I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS REQUIRE UNADDITIONAL STAFF PERSON TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. WOULD THESE VEHICLES ALSO BE VEHICLES HELP TRANSPORT THOSE TYPE OF STUDENTS AND WE INCLUDED TWO STAFF IN THOSE -- >> SO THOSE STAFF MEMBERS ARE ALREADY ON THE BUSES THAT ARE CURRENTLY OUT THERE, SO YOU DON'T SEE A CHANGE IN OUR BUDGET, OTHER THAN YOU WILL NOTICE ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE WE ADDED TWO BUDGET SYSTEMS IN THE PAST YEAR WHICH IS REFLECTED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AS WELL. WE HAVE TWO OUT OF COUNTY STUDENTS WHOSE IEP REQUIRED THEM TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ADULT WITH THEM, SO WE HAD TO HIRE SOME EXTRA STAFF THIS YEAR. >> THE REDUCTION OF THE FIVE ROUTES, WHY WERE THEY REDUCED? WHY DID WE LOSE FIVE ROUTES? >> WE HAVEN'T REDUCED THEM YET. >> BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES OR POSSIBLY ROUTE COMBINATION IS WHERE YOU'RE COMING UP WITH THAT SAVINGS? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LEAVING SOMEONE OUT HERE. >> WE WOULDN'T BE LEAVING ANYONE OUT. WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE REPLACING A BUS WITH A VAN. >> OKAY. >> WE WOULD ONLY HAVE ONE STUDENT TRAVELING, FOR EXAMPLE, TO GAITHERSBURG FOR A SCHOOL. WE WOULD JUST USE A VAN INSTEAD OF A FULL- SIZED BUS. >> THANK YOU. >> I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY ON PAGE 108, THE CONTRACTED BUS ROUTES FOR REGULAR ED INCREASED BY 3%, BUT THE CONTRACTED BUS ROUTES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION DECREASED BY 10%. IS THAT BECAUSE OF THESE SPECIAL VEHICLES THAT YOU'RE -- >> YES, MA'AM. SO THE 3% FOR THE MOST PART OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES WE USE THE CPI TO DO OUR INCREASES FOR BUS DRIVER PAY AND ET CETERA, MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS, AND IT WAS 2. 6%, SO WE JUST ROUND IT UP TO 3% ON THE CONTRACTED SERVICES. AND THE DECREASE THAT YOU SEE IN THE SPECIAL NEEDS IS THE FIVE BUS ROUTES IF WE WERE TO REMOVE THOSE. AND AGAIN, THAT'S AN INWE WERE TO REMOVE THOSE. IT'S NOT SET IN STONE YET. >> QUICK FOLLOW UP. I ATTENDED THE CITIZENS YOU PRESENTED AT, AND YOU THAT- WERE TALKING ABOUT BUSES WITH SEAT BELTS. >> YES, MA'AM. >> AND YOU SEEMED TO BE LEANING TOWARDS GOING THAT ROUTE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT'S NOT LAW YET. >> CORRECT. >> BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT THE INCREASE IN BUDGET WOULD BE FOR THAT, AND IS THAT INCLUDED IN THIS? >> THAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS BECAUSE IF IT DOES BECOME LAW, IT WOULD START IN 2027. SO WE WOULD PROBABLY START NOT THIS COMING YEAR BUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR. TO PURCHASE A NEW BUS TAKES ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF FOR THE BUS TO COME, SO THEY HAVE TO ORDER IT A YEAR AND A HALF IN ADVANCE. IF THAT BECOMES STATE LAW, THEN WE WOULD PUT THAT IN EFFECT BEGINNING IN FY 27, AND WE WOULD ONLY DO IT AS THE BUSES COME IN. SO THE BRAND -- LET'S SAY IF THERE'S FIVE NEW BUSES THAT YEAR TO REPLACE THE FIVE OLD BUSES TAT ARE TRETIRING, THEN THOSE FIVE BUSES WOULD HAVE SEAT BELTS, AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT BOOELD DO THOSE. SO IT WOULDN'T BE RETROACTIVE. IT WOULD BE PHASED IN. IT WOULD TAKE 12 YEARS TO HAVE ALL THE BUSES WITH SEAT BELTS. >> THANK YOU. >> AND ON THAT NOTE, CAROL COUNTY AND SAINT MARY'S COUNTY HAVE ALREADY LIMPMENTED ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A NEW LAW. AND THE GAME PLAN BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING HAVE TO START CREATING NEW PROCEDURES AND POLICIES FOR STUDENTS IF THEY DON'T WEAR A SEAT BELT ON THE BUS. WHAT THE COUNTIES HAVE DONE IS ACTUALLY QUITE INTERESTING. WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE THEY'RE STARTING WITH ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED. SO AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH AFTER FIVE TO SIX YEARS THEN YOU SAY, OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO START MIDDLE SCHOOL. WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE THOSE STUDENTS ARE NOW MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO THEY'RE USED TO IT. AND WHAT THEY HAVE FOUND IN THE TWO COUNTIES IS THAT THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DON'T EVEN BAT AN EYE. THEY SIT DOWN AND GRAB A SEAT BELT AND LOOK UP BECAUSE THEY'RE USED TO GOING IN THEIR OWN CARS AND ALSO FOUND IT REDUCED THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS BECAUSE THE KIDS AREN'T MOVING AROUND. THEY'RE TALKING BUT NOT MOVING AROUND OR GETTING UP, SO IT SEEMS TO BE A WIN-WIN. >> I WAS LOOKING AT A BUDGETARY -- THE NUMBER OF SEAT BELTS. IF YOU HAVE TWO SEAT BELTS PER SEAT -- PER SEAT, THAT WOULD -- [01:25:03] WE WOULD NEED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BUSES WE HAVE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IN ELEMENTARY WE CAN FIT THREE CHILDREN. >> CORRECT. SO TYPICALLY THE BUS SEATS HAVE THREE÷÷ SEAT BELTS, AND THEY'RE DESIGNED LIKE THE TWO OUTSIDE ONES WOULD BE FOR YOUR BIGGER MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AND THE BIGGER ONE WOULD BE FOR YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. >> THEY ARE SETUP THREE AND YOU WOULD ONLY USE TWO FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. >> HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. LISTEN $115,000 A PIECE FOR A BUS THAT WE'RE SAVING ON THOSE FIVE ROUTES, THAT INCLUDES THE DRIVER. >> CORRECT. >> DRIVER INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFIES AND ALL THAT STUFF. DOES THAT INCLUDE THE BUS ASSISTANT? >> IT DOES NOT. THAT WOULD BE UNDER OUR SPECIAL ASSISTANCE BUS ITEM NUMBER. THEY TYPICALLY ARE STAYING CURRENTLY AT EITHER BALTIMORE, GAITHERSBURG, ROCKVILLE, A LOT OF PLACES. >> A LOT OF DOWN TIME. >> CORRECT. THEY'RE WORKING ROUGHLY 11 HOURS. AND HOPEFULLY IF WE WERE TO GET ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES, THAT VEHICLEWOULD GO UP, COME BACK, HAVE SOME DOWN TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, GO BACK AND PICK THE STUDENTS UP AND COME BACK. >> DOWNTOWN MIDDLE OF THE DAY WOULD THAT BE PAID? >> IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE BECAUSE THEY'RE GUARANTEED 7- HOUR EMPLOYEES AND JUST THE DRIVE TIME UP AND BACK WOULD BE ABOUT 7 TO 8 HOURS, SO WE WOULD DECREASE OUR OVERTIME COSTS. >> AND FOR THOSE FIVE ROUTES, DID ANYBODY MISS A DAY? DID THE BUS BREAK DOWN, FIND ANOTHER BUS? >> WE'VE HAD SOME BUSES BREAK DOWN, BUT IT'S TYPICALLY ACTUALLY ON THE RUN, SO THE KIDS HAVEN'T MISSED A DAY. IF IT DOES HAPPEN THE BUS CAN'T RUN AT ALL, WE ACTUALLY OFFER THE PARENTS PAY MILEAGE, AND SOME OF US WILL TAKE US UP TO TAKE THEM TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. >> WOULD THAT BE A PLAN ALSO WITH THE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES, IF ONE WOULD BREAK DOWN, YOU WOULD CALL THE PARENTS? >> YES, AND ACTUALLY OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE AN EXTRA ONE HERE AS A SPARE JUST IN CASE WE WOULD EVER HAVE AN ISSUE. IT WOULD BE A THE SPARE DRIVER. WE WOULD ALSO BE HIRING SUBSTITUTE DRIVERS AS WELL. WE HAVEN'T ADVERTISED THAT YET, BUT WE JUST GOT DONE ADVERTISING FOR A FULL TIME DRIVER BECAUSE WE DO HAVE ONE VEHICLE THAT WAS PURCHASED WITH THE GRANT SO WE ARE GETTING READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AT LEAST ONE VEHICLE FOR THE STUDENTS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> DID WE ANSWER THE $900,000 ALREADY? PAGE 108 OTHER, THAT WAS ANSWERED? >> YOU HAD ONE OTHER QUESTION? >> YES. ON PAGE 108 -- IT'S ACTUALLY TWO QUESTIONS. AWARD SERVICES AND MEETINGS, YOU HAVE A 33. 3% INCREASE. WHAT EXACTLY IS THAT GOING TOWARDS? >> THAT ACTUALLY IS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN CUT FROM OUR BUDGET WHENEVER WE HAD TO MAKE BUDGET CUTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR I WAS ABLE TO SEND MY SUPERVISOR AND OUR DRIVER TRAINER TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS CONFERENCE IN TEXAS, WHICH IS WHERE YOU GO TO LEARN HOW TO TRAIN PEOPLE TO BE A BUS ASSISTANT PROPERLY. WE HADN'T HAD ANYONE AT THAT CONFERENCE IN 27 YEARS. SO IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE'D BEEN ABLE TO GET SOMEBODY TO GO TO THAT CONFERENCE. SO I'M TRYING TO INCREASE OUR BUDGET SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO THINGS LIKE THAT EASIER. I HAD TO REALLY PULL SOME MONEY AND MOVE THINGS AROUND TO BE ABLE TO COVER THAT COST. >> YOU ALSO HAVE SAFETY TRAINING UNDER THERE WITH A 57. 1% INCREASE. >> SO SAFETY TRAINING WOULD BE FOR, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, I BELIEVE THAT IS TO COVER OUR BUS ASSISTANCE FOR THE -- ACTUALLY THAT'S NOT. I APOLOGIZE. THAT'S TO COVER THE BUS DRIVERS FOR THE SAFETY TRAINING THAT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH BY COMAR LAW. COMAR SAYS THEY HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE DAY OF PRESERVICE AND ONE DAY OF IN SERVICE, SO THAT'S TO HELP COVER FOR THAT. >> OKAY, SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION ON TRANSPORTATION. SO THERE IS ALWAYS IT SEEMS WHEN DIFFERENT GROUPS GET TO GO TO STATE COMPETITIONS OR THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO FUND RAISE FOR BUSES, FOR THINGS LIKE THAT, DOES THIS -- LIKE, I DON'T SEE AN NJRCT ITEM, FOR EXAMPLE. THERE'S BAND AND THEATER AND CHORUS AND DRAMA -- ARE THOSE OTHER -- WE JUST HAD SKILLS USA TRANSPORTATION, WAS THAT INCLUDED IN HERE SOMEWHERE? >> I'LL BE HONEST, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF. I'VE ONLY BEEN IN THIS POSITION SINCE LAST DAY THIS [01:30:05] PAST APRIL. BUT, NO, I HAVE ACTUALLY ALWAYS HEARD FROM THE NJROTC PEOPLE BECAUSE MY STUDENTS WERE IN ROTC AND THEY WERE ALWAYS ASKING FOR MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR BUSES AND WHAT NOT. I DO NOT HAVE THAT IN MY BUDGET OF THOSE SPECIFIC TYPE OF EVENTS. >> CAN YOU GET US AN IDEA WHAT THAT MIGHT COST? >> I CAN, SURE. I CAN FIND OUT FROM THE DIFFERENT ROTC GROUPS WHERE THEY GO. >> IF YOU CAN GIVE US A BUDGET FOR THAT TO COVER THOSE TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> AND TYPICALLY JUST SO YOU KNOW EVEN WITH THE BAND AND COURSE COMPETITION, THERE'S A SET AMOUNT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION THAT GOES OUT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY AS YOU GET INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, SO DEPENDING ON HOW ACTIVE AN ORGANIZATION IS COULD -- COULD REALLY IMPACT THE OVERALL COSTS. SO WHAT -- WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE BAND AND CHORUS TRANSPORTATION LINES IN THE PAST IS TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S BEING EQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGH -- THROUGH THE SCHOOLS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTION? THANK YOU, MR. HOOK. >> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. ZACK FORWARD. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, AND WE'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE -- WHAT IS IT, 49. THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. I'M GOING TO SHARE A FEW PIECES OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET AND CERTAINLY CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE. OUR BUDGET SIMILAR TO MANY OTHERS WE'VE HEARD FROM THIS EVENING INCLUDES SEVERAL OF THE SAME CATEGORIES. THE SALARIES AND WAGES FIRST ITEM INCLUDES ALL OF THE SALARIES AND WAGES FOR THE HR DEPARTMENT STAFF. UNDER OUR CONTRACTED SERVICES, THAT INCLUDES THAT HR SOFTWARE AND APPLICATIONS INCLUDING OUR LIVE SCAN FINGERPRINTING APPLICATION, EMPLOYEE I.D. S AND MATERIAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR EMPLOYEES, OUR INTERVIEW SOFTWARE SPARK HIRE THAT WE USE, ALSO OUR SECRETARIAL TESTING SOFTWARE. AND A MAJORITY OF THAT BUDGET IS INCLUDING OUR POWER SCHOOL SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS SUITE, WHICH INCLUDES APPLICANT TRACKING, EMPLOYEE RECORDS, SMART FIND EXPRESS, WHICH IS OUR SUBSTITUTE PLATFORM AS WELL AS OUR OBSERVATION EVALUATION PLATFORM, PERFORM, THAT WE USE. THE LARGE THE CREASE IN CONTRACTED SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THAT POWER SCHOOL HR APPLICATIONS BEING MOVED FROM I.T. THIS YEAR TO THE HR BUDGET FOR THE FY 26 SCHOOL YEAR. THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS LINE INCLUDES GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLY COSTS, ALSO INCLUDING POSTAGE AND INK CARTRIDGES FOR OUR OFFICE THE OTHER CHARGES INCLUDES ESTIMATED COST FOR ADA RELATED PURCHASES AND SERVICES. COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PREEMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND CHECKS, MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT, AND HR ADMINISTRATOR MEMBERSHIP DUES. TWO OF OUR LARGEST EXPENSES ARE FOUND IN THE OTHER CHARGES CATEGORY AND INCLUDE OUR AWARDS SERVICES AND MEETINGS. THAT CATEGORY INCLUDES OUR AWARDS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES INCLUDING THE EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS, THE EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION, AND OUR RETIREMENT CELEBRATION. EACH INCLUDING A COST FOR THE PROGRAM OR EVENT AND ALSO GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES. THE RECRUITMENT, WHICH IS ALSO FOUND IN THAT CATEGORY, INCLUDES COSTS TO ATTEND EDUCATION RECRUITMENT FAIRS AS WELL AS TRAVEL COSTS FOR ATTENDANCE. BOTH OF THE PROPOSED BUDGETS IN THESE TWO AREAS HAVE BEEN REDUCED. WHILE THEY ARE THE LARGEST, THEY'VE BEEN REDUCED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS BASED ON SPENDING TRENDS AS WELL AS SOME ADJUSTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE IN PRACTICE. SPECIFICALLY, WE REDUED OUR ESTIMATED COST FOR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION BASED ON PRIOR YEARS EXPENSES, NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES BEING RECOGNIZED, AND PLANNED COSTS FOR GIFTS FOR EMPLOYEES BEING RECOGNIZED. WE'VE BEEN MONITORING OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. AND WHILE WE WERE PREVIOUSLY DIRECTED TO CAST A WIDER NET WITH RECRUITMENT, WE SHIFTED OUR FOCUS ON SURROUNDING STATES TO MARYLAND, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT IN THE MOST CANDIDATES IN THE PAST. AND WHILE THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS TO THIS, WE REFLECT A BUDGET TO OUR OUT-OF- STATE TRAVEL AND FAIR EXPENSES. THE FINAL INCLUDES EQUIPMENT COSTS, WHICH INCLUDES A FIREPROOF FILE CABINET FOR EMPLOYEE MAIL RECORDS [01:35:03] RELATED TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO REPLACE THE OUTDATED DESKTOP COMPUTERS. WE HAVE THREE ADDITIONAL HR ASSOCIATES WE HAVEN'T PURCHASED NEW LAPTOPS FOR WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PURCHASE AS WE'VE BEEN IMPROVING THEM OR UPGRADING THEM OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BUDGET? >> I JUST HAVE ONE. IT'S IN THE LIST OF ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUBMITTING, AND THERE'S A COMMENT, SO I WANTED TO JUST FOLLOW-UP. I DO NOT KNOW THAT WE ARE -- I'M GOING TO USE THE WORD MANUALLY FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD PROCESSING FOR PAYROLL EMPLOYEES. AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS AND WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO OPERATIONALIZE THE TIME KEEPING MODULE. WE DON'T HAVE THAT. I WOULD ASK DR. TOWNSEL TO GET A QUOTE ON THE SYSTEM. >> CAN WE ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR THAT, THOUGH? >> YES. >> YOU JUST SAID THAT THAT PROCESS SUPPORT STAFF BY TIME SHEET? I KNOW THAT HOURLY -- THERE'S MORE MANUAL THAN USING A TIME KEEPING SYSTEM TO PROCESS LIKE TIMECARDS AND THINGS. >> SO MR. JOHNSON, DO YOU WANT ME TO ANSWER THAT, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANSWER WHO GETS PROCESSED BY TIME SHEET? SO WE HAVE CERTAIN GROUPS THAT DO GET PROCESSED BY TIME SHEET, AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW THEIR LUNCHROOM MONITORS, SO THEY'RE VERY SHORT- TERM EMPLOYEES. WE ALSO PROCESS BY TIME SHEET PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERTIME OR PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING EXTRA DUTY, EXTRA PAY. BUT FOR EMPLOYEES GENERALLY, THEY ARE NOT SUBMITTING TIME SHEETS IF THEY'RE AN HOURLY EMPLOYEE, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTOOD WHAT YOU WERE -- >> THANK YOU FOR CLAR IFYING THAT. WE SHOULDN'T BE PROCESSING ANYTHING MANUALLY. FOR WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE SURE WE AUTOMATE ANYONE WHO'S IN PAYROLL AND WE HAVE AN AUTOMATED PROCESS TO SEE WHAT THE COMPARISON COST WOULD BE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE TIME IT TAKES CURRENTLY TO DO THAT AND WHERE WE CAN AUTOMATE THAT AND MAYBE LEVERAGE THOSE FOLKS TO DO OTHER THINGS. >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT IN REGARDS TO THAT QUESTION YOU ASKED, ONE IS WE ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT THE COST. THE OTHER THING WE ARE ALSO CONNECTING THREE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS BECAUSE WHILE IT IS GENERATED FROM -- OUR PEOPLE ARE GENERATED FROM HR, PAYROLL IS PROCESSED THROUGH FINANCE. AND THEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE APPLICATIONS, OUR I.T. DEPARTMENT IS INVOLVED. MANY TIMES WITH POWER SCHOOL, WHILE WE DO HAVE POWER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS WITHIN THE POWER SCHOOL PRODUCT, THEY ALSO HAVE BOUGHT DIFFERENT -- DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE EAST SCHOOL PLUS AS OUR STUDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. WHILE POWER SCHOOL OWNS IT, IT IS NOT A POWER SCHOOL PRODUCT. THE SAME THING WITH E-FINANCE. SO WE DON'T USE A POWER SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR E-FINANCE. SO WHEN WE ADD ON AN APPLICATION, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY WE CAN PURCHASE IT BUT HOW DOES IT INTERFACE WITH OUR OTHER APPLICATIONS? SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING INTO AS YOU'VE ASKED THAT QUESTION. >> THANK YOU. >> FOLLOWING THAT, I NOTICE THAT PRINTING AND PUBLISHING WAS A 50% INCREASE, AND THAT'S WHERE MY BRAIN WAS GOING IS CAN ANY OF THIS BE AUTOMATED AS OPPOSED TO PRINTING? >> YEAH, I BELIEVE SO. IN TERMS OF OUR -- WE'VE ACTUALLY REDUCED A LOT. I THINK PART OF THAT IS THE THE-- THE INCREASE BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT TO START WITH. IT -- IT CALCULATES AS A LARGE PERCENTAGE JUST BY INCREASING THAT $1,500. >> AND IS YOUR STAFF INCREASING? >> OUR STAFFING IS NOT INCREASING FOR THE HR DEPARTMENT. THERE IS AN ERROR, I BELIEVE, IN THE PRINTED BUDGET BOOK THAT INCLUDES AN INCREASE IN ONE OF THE CATEGORIES SUPERVISORS, BUT WE ARE NOT INCREASING. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> I ACTUALLY SEE THAT THE SALARIES AND WAGES CATEGORY OVERALL IS ACTUALLY DECREASING BY $97,000. ARE YOU LOSING A POSITION IN HR? >> WE'RE NOT. THE SALARIES ARE ACTUALLY CALCULATED BY MR. JOHNSON. MY UNDERSTANDING IS BECAUSE SOME OF THE TURN OVER JUST IN THE PAST YEAR OR TWO AS WE BRING IN NEW PEOPLE, THE SALARIES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN FOLKS THAT HAVE MAYBE BEEN WITH US A BIT LONGER. >> HOW ARE YOU? IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON CREATING A ELEMENTARY EDUCATION TRACK AT CTA? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? TO CREATE A PIPELINE OF TEACHERS [01:40:04] TO FILL OUR JOBS, IS THAT SOMETHING YOU'VE LOOKED AT? >> YOU HAVE THE PROGRAM. SOSORRY, DIDN'T MEAN TO TAKE YOUR SPOTLIGHT, WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM, SO THAT SPARKED MY EAR. >> WE DO HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM THROUGH THE TAM PROGRAM AT THE CTA. AND I BELIEVE ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE THE TAM CLASSES AS WELL. WE DO OFFER SCHOLARSHIPS TO SENIORS GRADUATING AND GO INTOCOLLEGE TO STUDY AND EDUCATION. WE OFFER HOLARSHIPS THEY CAN APPLY FOR. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN SEVERAL TEACHES INTO THAT PROGRAM. IT'S TAM. IT STANDS FOR TEACHER ACADEMY OF MARYLAND. >> I DON'T SEE IT IN THE PROGRAM OFFERED AT CTA. THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING. >> SO IT'S A CTE PROGRAM, AND CURRENTLY YOU START THE PROGRAM AT EACH OF THE HOME HIGH SCHOOLS. AND RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE, THEY FINISH THE PROGRAM AT THE CTA. SO THEY GO TO THE CTA FOR THEIR FINAL TWO CLASSES IN THEIR SENIOR YEAR. >> OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> WE'D LIKE TO INVITE UP THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY. AND WE'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO PAGE 52 AND AGAIN BACK TO 113. AT THIS TIME I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTION TO COME UP AS WELL. THERE MIGHT BE SOME OVERLAP BETWEEN SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGIES QUESTION, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE HE'S UP HERE AS WELL. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M MATT, THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND I'LL TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SHARE SOME BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS WITH YOU. OUR I.T. BUDGET SMGZ REFLECTS A CAREFUL BALANCE BETWEEN COST REDUCTION, STRATEGIC REALIGNMENT, AND ESSENTIAL INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY. BY SHIFTING SOFTWARE EXPENSES TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT UTILIZE THEM, WE'VE REDUCED OUR OVERALL BUDGET REQUESTS WHILE ENSURING THAT FUNDING DECISIONS ALIGN WITH CCPS' STRATEGIC PLAN. AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE MAKING CRITICAL INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WHILE MAINTAINING A SECURE, EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF. WE'LL FOCUS ON PAGES 52 AND 113 OF THE BUDGET BOOK. ON PAGE 52 YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL DECREASES FROM FY 25 TO 26. WE'VE REDUCED ALL BUDGET UNITS UNDER CONTRACTED SERVICES WITH THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN DATA PROCESSING. WHILE THE TERM IS OUTDATED, IT REFERS TO SOFTWARE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS THAT I.T. PAYS FOR. THIS INCLUDES ESSENTIAL LICENSES ALL CCPS STUDENTS AND STAFF BENEFIT FROM. FOR EXAMPLE, OUR MICROSOFT CONTRACT PROVIDES STAFF AND STUDENTS WITH E-MAIL, CLOUD STORAGE, TEAMS, MICROSOFT OFFICE, PLUS FIVE ADDITIONAL DOWN LOADS, WINDOWS, MULTIFACTOR AUTHORIZATION, AND MANY MORE. IT COVERS CCPS SYSTEMS AND THE ERP SYSTEM USED BY FINANCE, HR, AND ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. IT ALSO PAYS FOR SEVERAL APPLICATIONS USED BY STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS SUCH AS THE ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD AND THE SMART LEARNING SUITE AS WELL AS AWARENESS TRAININGS AND PHISHING SIMULATIONS. WHILE THIS MAY APPEAR TO BE A BUDGET CUT, THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THIS REDUCTION IS THE REALIGNMENT OF SERVICE CONTRACTS TO THE DEPARTMENTS THAT MANAGE AND UTILIZE THE SOFTWARE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PERFORMANCE MATTERS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CONTRACTS HAVE MOVED FROM I.T. TO INSTRUCTION AS INSTRUCTION DETERMINES THEIR VALUE AND RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THIS APPROACH ENSURES THAT FUNDING DECISIONS ALIGN WITH DEPARTMENTS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE APPLICATIONS WHILE PREVENTING I.T. FROM MAKING UNILATERAL CUTS TO CRITICAL SOFTWARE. OTHER THAN THAT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET BOOK, THE COMPUTER DONATION PROGRAM CONTINUES TO GENERATE COST SAVINGS FOR CCPS. LAST YEAR WE SECURED 709 DESKTOP COMPUTERS AND 659 MONITORS SAVING THE DISTRICT $650,000. BY PROVIDING THESE TO TEACHERS, WE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE NEED FOR SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE THEM ALLOWING PRINCIPALS [01:45:02] TO ALLOCATE FUNDS TO OTHER RESOURCES. ALLOCATING EQUIPMENT SPECIFICALLY FOR SMART BOARD REPLACEMENT FOR GRADES 3-12. DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS OUR TEN- YEAR REPLACEMENT FOR THESE BOARDS HAVE BEEN ON HOLD FOR FOUR OR THREE YEARS. WHILE THIS INCREASE MAY SEEM SUBSTANTIAL, IT SIMPLY REINSTATES THE PROCESS FOR THE 1,000- PLUS SMART BOARDS LOCATED IN OUR CLASSROOMS. HOWEVER, TO REDUCE COSTS WE WILL TRANSITION TO A 15- YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE. THIS IS FOR EQUIPMENT INCLUDING SCANNERS, BAR CODE READERS AND PRINTERS. NOW I'D LIKE TO SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO PAGE 113. I.T. ONLY HAS A COUPLE OF ENTRIES ON THIS PAGE, SO IF YOU MOVE DOWN TO THE SCHOOL AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT REPAIR SECTION UNDER SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, YOU'LL FIND AN ENTRY FOR REPAIR PARTS ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. WE'RE INCREASING THIS BUDGET BY $10,000 BECAUSE THE CURRENT ALLOCATION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR HAS BEEN NEARLY DEPLETED. THESE FUNDS SUPPORT OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS COVERING SUCH EXPENSES AS WIRING NEW NETWORK DROPS, REPAIRING EXISTING DROPS, PURCHASING PRINTER PARTS, AND ADDING SECURITY CAMERAS. THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WAS A CAMERA INSTALLED AT SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS FALL. THE OTHER ENTRY OF NOTE THAT I.T. HAS ON PAGE 113 DEALS WITH STAFF TRAINING AND WE REDUCE THAT REQUEST FOR FY 26. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF OUR TEAM'S DEDICATION TO PROVIDING OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT, PROTECTING NETWORK AND SENSITIVE DATA, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE WAY TO MAXIMIZE ON INVESTMENT AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> THANK YOU. SO REGARDING THE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS RIGHT THERE. DO YOU THINK A 15- YEAR CYCLE IS SUSTAINABLE? IS THAT REALISTIC? >> WE ARE VERY HOPEFUL SINCE WE'VE MOVED AWAY FROM PROJECTORS, AND THESE ARE NOW ALL IN ONE UNITS. THESE ARE ACTUALLY DISPLAYS WHERE A PROJECTOR IS NOT NEEDED. OUR HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL LAST 15 YEARS. I WILL BE HONEST, WHEN WE HAD TEACHERS USING THEM EVERY SINGLE PERIOD OF EVERY SINGLE DAY, THAT BOARD MAY NOT LAST 15, BUT WE DO OTHER TEACHERS WHO DO USE THEM A LOT LESS FREQUENTLY, SO WE DO FEEL LIKE THAT AVERAGE WILL BE GOOD. WE ALSO SET IT UP SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE OLDEST SMART BOARDS REPLACED IN A BUILDING BUT THE SMART BOARDS THAT HAVE GOT THE MOST HOURS ON THEM. IN THAT CASE WE DO FEEL THAT AVERAGE WILL WORK OUT. IT'S OFTEN DIFFICULT TO PROGNOSTICATE 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, BUT WE WOULDN'T DO IT IF WE DIDN'T FEEL CONFIDENT. >> DO WE KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE LIFE CYCLE IS CURRENTLY ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WE HAVE? >> WE'VE HAD SMART BOARDS. WE STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BOARDS UP IN MANY OF OUR CLASSROOMS ARS OLD NOW. AND SO THE BOARDS HAVE HELD UP EXTREMELY WELL. IT'S JUST IN THOSE CLASSROOMS IT'S THE PROJECTORS THEMSELVES WE'VE CONSTANTLY HAD TO DISPLACE. SO NOW THE ALL IN ONE UNITS DISPLAYS. >> COULD MOVING BOARDS BETWEEN CLASSROOMS BASED ON USAGE NEEDS, COULD THAT HELP WITH THAT AS WELL? YOU'VE GOT A CLASSROOM THAT DOESN'T GET USED EVERY DAY AND ONE GETTING USED A LOT, POSSIBLY SWAPPING THEM OUT AND EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THOSE? >> NOT A BAD IDEA. THE PROBLEM IS SWAPPING THEM OUT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PROCESS. >> NOT A LABOR COST. >> AND WE'RE TALKING THESE THEY'RE DRILLED INTO CONCRETE, SO THERE'S QUITE A BIT TO THEM. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF REQUESTS SCHOOLS WOULD LIKE TO MOVE A BOARD FROM ONE WALL TO ANOTHER, AND WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO SATISFY THOSE REQUESTS. >> THANK YOU. >> LAST YEAR YOUR DEPARTMENT CAME TO THE BOARD AND ASKED FOR APPROVAL TO HIRE A TECHNICIAN TO DO IN- HOUSE REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WOULD SAVE US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE HAVE SAVED BY DOING IN-HOUSE? >> WE HAVE NOT -- THAT POSITION HAS NOT BEEN POSTED AND HAS NOT BEEN HIRED, SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO IN THE FUTURE, THOUGH. >> THE POSITION WAS POSTED, AND IT WAS POSTED INTERNALLY BECAUSE WE DID NOT INCREASE THE POSITIONS, AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE APPLICANT FOR THE POSITION, BUT THAT APPLICANT ACTUALLY HAD APPLIED FOR ANOTHER POSITION IN OUR SYSTEM AND ACTUALLY RECEIVED THAT -- THAT POSITION. SO THEREFORE, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE IN-HOUSE. THE THE INTENT BEHIND THAT ORIGINAL POSTING WAS THAT WE WERE NOT INCREASING STAFF. SO WE'VE BEEN PLACING IT ON HOLD PENDING OR WHETHER OR NOT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO ADD THAT POSITION IN ORDER TO PUBLICIZE IT OUTSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> OKAY, SO THAT'S THE ONLY POSITION THAT'S BEEN ADDED TO -- [01:50:03] TO THE DEPARTMENT SINCE LAST YEAR? >> SO IT HASN'T BEEN ADDED YET. >> SO IT HASN'T BEEN. THANK YOU. >> WE STILL HAVE 34 EMPLOYEES IN OUR DEPARTMENT. THAT POSITION, WE COULD POST IT AT ANY TIME, AND WE WOULD START TO SEE THE SAVINGS I BELIEVE IMMEDIATELY. >> AND I ALSO THINK, IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, THAT LAST YEAR SOMETHING WAS PUT IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT IF A STUDENT INTENTIONALLY DESTROYS A COMPUTER THAT THEY WERE GOING TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. IS THAT CORRECT? >> SO WE DO -- WHEN A STUDENT DAMAGES THEIR COMPUTER AND STUDENT NEGLIGENCE IS NOT ACCIDENTAL BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE ACCIDENTAL PROTECTION, THEY ARE CHARGED DIFFERENT RATES FOR THAT DEPENDING ON THE BREAKAGE, SO THOSE PARENTS ARE BILLED FOR THOSE DAMAGES AND FOR THE REPLACEMENTS. >> THANK YOU. >> OKAY, SO I SEE A REDUCTION OVERALL IN SALARY WAGES. $96,000. IS THAT A SAVINGS BECAUSE THE POSITION HAS NOT BEEN HIRED, OR ARE WE REMOVING SOMEONE? SORRY, 52. >> I'M GOING TO TURN THAT -- >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO VERIFY. I BELIEVE THAT THE AMOUNT IN FY 25 MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HIGH, BUT I'LL DOUBLE-CHECK. >> OKAY. SO I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT I.T. AND I'LL SAY WE USE THE MICROSOFT SUITE OF PRODUCTS. I THINK WE DID A SURVEY TO THE STAFF, AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED WERE AROUND ARE THERE PROCESSES THAT COULD BE OPTIMIZED OPTIMIZED OR AUTOMATED OR THINGS LIKE THAT? I'LL JUST SAY I PERSONALLY THINK IT WOULD BE A SMART INVESTMENT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BRING IN A MICROSOFT EXPERT SO WE CAN BETTER UTILIZE OUR MICROSOFT SUITE OF PRODUCTS, SO THAT WE CAN AUTOMATE SOME OF THESE PROCESSES THAT ARE MANUAL TO TAKE THE BURDEN OFF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I KNOW YOU'RE NOT HERE TO ADD TO YOUR BUDGET, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER BECAUSE I THINKTLE IT WOULD BE A REAL VALUE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE VALUE OF OUR PEOPLE, SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. ÚAS W MICROSOFT CONTRACT, I KNOW THAT'S ARGUABLY THE LARGEST LINE ITEM IN SOFTWARE. DO WE GO OUT TO NEGOTIATE THAT CONTRACT OFTEN? ARE WE DIRECT TO MICROSOFT? DO WE GO THROUGH A THIRD PARTY? HOW DOES THAT PROCUREMENT WORK? SORRY. >> I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE OUR SUPERVISOR WHO WORKS INTIMATELY WITH THAT ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> HI, GOOD EVENING. >> HI. >> ACTUALLY WE ARE A PART OF THE MEEK PROGRAM WHICH IS THE MARYLAND EDUCATION SOMETHING CONSORTIUM. AND EVERY COUNTY IN MARYLAND IS A PART OF IT. BASICALLY WE GET TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, MICROSOFT, WE WANT A DEAL. AND THEY DO NEGOTIATION FOR US. WE HAVE RFP POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND GO THROUGH THAT AND IT'S USUALLY A THREE OR FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT. I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT YEAR WE'RE IN NOW, TWO OR THREE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE BEST DEAL. ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT -- WITH THE MICROSOFT AGREEMENT THAT WE DO HAVE IS NORMALLY IF YOU WERE A HOMEOWNER AND OUT THERE BUYING THIS PRODUCT, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL LICENSE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MEEK HAS NEGOTIATED FOR US, WE PAY FOR STAFF LICENSES. EVERY STUDENT LICENSE IS FREE. SO IT'S A HUGE BENEFIT JUST FOR THE BASE LICENSE AND CLOUD SERVICES WE HAVE, NOT INCLUDING THE IN- TUNE MANAGEMENT, THE ADP DEFENSE ANYTHING LIKE THAT, JUST E-MAIL, SHARE DRIVE AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS, RIGHT NOW I THINK WE PAY JUST FOR THAT IS SOMEWHERE AROUND $200,000. IT WOULD BE ABOUT $1. 4 MILLION. >> COUNTY, GOVERNMENT, AND OTHER ENTITIES NONEDUCATIONAL WOULD LOVE TO GET THESE PRICES. >> BY THE WAY, IF WE COULD JUST PAUSE FOR ONE MOMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGE MR. PALMER AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OTHERS. WHEN WE GOT TOGETHER WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO REARRANGE THINGS, BLOW IT UP, USE SHAREPOINT, PUT IN LISTESS AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND IT WAS A BIT OF A CURVE FOR EVERYBODY. APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN KIND OF HELPING US GO THROUGH THIS AND HELPING US KIND OF STREAM LINE. EVENTUALLY ALL THE KINKS WILL BE WORKED OUT AND WE CAN STREAM LINE. APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, THANK YOU. [01:55:02] IT'S BEEN FANTASTIC. SO THE SMART BOARD REPLACEMENTS THE $424,000 IN THE BUDGET, HOW MANY SMART BOARDS WILL THAT GET US? IS THAT ALL OF THEM? I MEAN HOW MANY OF THAT -- >> SO WHAT IT WOULD DO IS IT WOULD GET US BACK TO -- SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT BOARDS WE PUT IN PRE- K TO 2 CLASSROOMS. THOSE HAVE NOT BEEN CUT. THAT MONEY WITH TYPICALLY 1,000 SMART BOARDS WITH A TEN-YEAR REPLACEMENT WE'D BE CUTTING THAT BACK DOWN TO ABOUT 66 OR 67. >> OKAY. AND THEN THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE, ARE WE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT THE LAPTOPS AND ALL THAT NOW, RIGHT? >> SURE. >> SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION -- WE HAVE LOOKED -- OR YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEASING AND PURCHASING. AND THE SUGGESTION THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN THIS BUDGET IS TO PURCHASE LAPTOPS BECAUSE OF THE LONG- TERM SAVINGS. I'LL JUST SAY THE ONE CONCERN I HAVE IS THAT THE MODEL IS ASSUMING LAPTOPS WILL LAST TEN YEARS. I HAVE THREE CHILDREN. I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OF THEM KEEPING A COMPUTER FOR TEN YEARS AND SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERINFLATING HOW LONG WE THINK A LAPTOP WOULD ACTUALLY WORK. IF WE'RE BUYING MAX AND SAY TEN YEARS WOULD ACTUALLY DO IT, BUT WITH A PC THEY REALLY DON'T LAST THAT LONG. SO I WANTED TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE TEN-YEAR. >> IT IS OBVIOUSLY A BIT OF A CONCERN. I WILL SAY THAT WE DO HAVE ACTUALLY SOME STAFF MEMBERS WITH DEVICES THAT ARE UPWARDS OF 8, 9 YEARS OLD, UNFORTUNATELY. AND WE DO HAVE SOME CURRENT DEVICES STUDENTS ARE USING THAT ARE FIVE OR SIX YEARS OLD THAT ONLY HAVE 4 GIGS OF RAM IN THEM. THESE ARE DEVICES WAELD BE PURCHASING THAT HAVE 32 GIGS OF RAM, VERY MUCH FEATURE PROOF FOR THE YEARS AHEAD. THE OTHER TWO THOSE ARE COMPUTERS WITH ONLY 8 GIGS OF RAM. SO THOSE PROGNOSTICATIONS WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE A BIT BECAUSE TEN YEARS FROM NOW THERE'S NO WAY THAT MACHINE WOULD HOLD UP. WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT. OBVIOUSLY WE HAVEN'T HAD A ONE-TO- ONE PROGRAM FOR TEN YEARS IN THE COUNTY. WE MIGHT HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT IN FIVE, SIX YEARS AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING. THIS PLAN WOULD START THE LAPTOPS WITH STUDENTS IN NINTH GRADE. THEY'D HOLD ONTO THEM IN FOUR YEARS. THEIR OBLIGATION WOULD THEN BE OVER, AND WE'D REPURPOSE THAT, REIMAGE IT AND SEND IT DOWN TO THIRD GRADE STUDENTS AND WOULD LAST THROUGH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL DEVICES ARE WHEN WE SEE THE MOST DAMAGES OCCUR MORE SO THAN ELEMENTARY SKOO HIGH, AND THAT WOULD BE ON YEARS EIGHT, NINE, AND TEN. AND THERE REALLY WOULDN'T BE TOO MUCH IN TERMS OF DAMAGES THAT STUDENTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AFTER THAT POINT IN TIME. DOYOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> NO, I THINK YOU COVERED IT. >> ONE FINAL QUESTION. ON PAGE 113 IT WAS 150% INCREASE IN REPAIRS FOR SCIENCE. WHAT -- WHAT ARE WE REFERRING TO FOR THAT? PAGE 113. >> REPAIRS FOR SCIENCE ARE WHAT YOU WOULD THINK IN OUR LABS. WE HAVE SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT AND SO ON, AND AFTER A WHILE THAT CAN WEAR OUT OR BREAK DOWN. AND THAT'S THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. >> DID YOU HEAR THAT? >> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? SAY IT A LITTLE BIT LOUDER. DON'T BE SHY. >> IT SOUNDS LOUD TO ME. >> I KNOW. >> THAT IS JUST FOR REPAIRS OF EQUIPMENT IN OUR SCIENCE LABS. YOU ALL CAN IMAGINE WHAT A SCIENCE LAB IS AND THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT OUR STUDENTS USE, BEAKERS AND SO ON. AND WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION SOMETIME TO REPLACE THAT EQUIPMENT OR MAKE EQUIPMENT REPAIRS. >> WOW. SEEMS LIKE A HUGE NUMBER. I'M SURE SCIENCE EQUIPMENT IS EXPENSIVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> SO I JUST HAVE A QUESTION, AND THIS MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT TIME, BUT THIS PAGE SPECIFICALLY SAYS REPAIRS. I'VE HEARD FROMFROM THAT WE DO A LOT OF SCIENCE LABS ON COMPUTERS AND NOT IN PERSON, AND I THINK THAT THAT NUMBER IS REALLY, REALLY LOW, AND WE SHOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT INVESTING ON GETTING HANDS- ON SCIENCE LABS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE PLACE OR SOMEWHERE ELSE NEEDS TO BE THE PLACE, BUT I THINK [02:00:02] IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO SCIENCE EXPERIENCE WITH YOUR HANDS. >> I'M SUSPECTING THAT MIGHT BE A CONVERSATION THAT WILL CROSS INTO ANOTHER TIME BECAUSE THAT'S OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICE. SHE INITIALLY HAD RESPONSIBILITY JUST FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND OUR STEM PROGRAM, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY PUSHED IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. ACTUALLY AS SHE BEGAN TO WORK WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SHE FOUND THAT ESPECIALLY COMING BACK OUT OF COVID WHEN THINGS HAD TO BE MORE DIGITALLY BASED AND LESS EXPERIMENTALLY BASED, THAT THAT WAS KIND OF THE MODE THAT SOME OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS ARE FALLEN INTO, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHE'S ACTIVELY WORKING WITH A CURRICULAR REVISION TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS ARE ACTUALLY DOING SCIENCE, NOT JUST READING ABOUT SCIENCE. >> THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR. THANK YOU. >> AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO TURN THE ATTENTION TO MS. JACKIE JACOBS. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PAGES 66 TO 75. AND THEN ALSO 77 TO 81, THE INSTRUCTION BUDGET IS PRETTY BIG WITHIN THIS BOOK, SO IT'S, AGAIN, PAGES 66 TO 75 AND 77 TO 81. >> SO GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS SCOTT MCCOMB. I'M SUPER OF PERFORMANCE. AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GLEANED FROM THOSE PAGE NUMBERS AND PAGE 108 UNDER TRANSPORTATION, WE REALLY HAVE A MULTIFACETED BUDGET. WE COVER ACCOUNTS 201 -- CATEGORIES 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, AND 210. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET BOOK AND THOSE PAGES YOU'RE NOT ONLY SEEING WHAT HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE DEPARTMENT BUT BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE OUR BUDGET REQUEST INTEGRATED INTO THOSE THAT ARE BEING MADE BY THE SCHOOLS AS WELL. AND SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT CATEGORY SUCH AS MATERIALS ON INSTRUCTION, YOU'LL SEE THAT IS THAT THE SUMMARY LINE IS BETWEEN WHAT IS REQUESTED BY THE SCHOOLS AND INSTRUCTION. YOU SAW MS. JACOBS AND I CONCURRING. WE DO BUDGET TRANSPORTATION FOR ROTC. WE BUDGET $20,000 FOR ROTC, WHICH IS ISN'T GOING TO COVER ALL THAT THEY DO. THEY TRAVEL FREQUENTLY AND SOMETIMES PRETTY GREAT DISTANCES, BUT WE DO BUDGET THAT TO HELP OFFSET THEIR COSTS, AND SO I'M GUESSING THAT ON PAGE 108 THAT MIGHT BE EMBEDDED IN THAT LARGER NUMBER OF SPECIAL TRIPS BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME OTHER OTHER PROGRAMS IN MY LINE ITEM BUDGET, AND THAT MAKES A REALLY GOOD POINT SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TEASE OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION BUDGET IS THE LARGER SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGET. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO BESIDES THAT. I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE OTHER BUDGET. AS SOME OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES MOST NOTABLY ESR FUNDS ARE COMING TO AN END. THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET. FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION APPROXIMATELY $1. 1 MILLION WORTH OF COST THAT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO THE LOCAL BUDGET WAS ACTUALLY MOVED TO ESR FUNDS. AND SO NOW WITH THE END OF THAT FUNDING STREAM, THOSE WAS SUMMER SCHOOL. SO FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS SUMMER SCHOOL WAS PAID OUT OF THOSE FUNDS AND THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR $212,000 ADDED TO THE BUDGET THAT DID NOT EXIST BEFORE WE HAD THOSE ASSESSOR FUNDS IS PROBABLY IN OUR BUDGET. PROBABLY THE BIGGEST AREA WHERE YOU WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT SHIFT FROM AND SUMMER SCHOOL IS [02:05:16] ONE AREA, AND WE WERE ABLE TO PAY FOR STAFF TRAINING AND WORKSHOP FUNDS OUT OF THOSE FUNDS AS WELL. SO THOSE ARE THREE AREAS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SHIFT. ONE OTHER THING I'LL MENTION BEFORE I TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS IS THAT AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, WE TOOK SOME DIGITAL RESPONSIBILITIES OFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF -- DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. $165,000, WHICH COVERS OUR PERFORMANCE MATTERS UNIFY SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR DATA -- I'M SORRY, ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND DATA ANALYSIS SYSTEM AS WELL AS OUR POWER SCHOOLS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SUITE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO TRACK THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OF OUR TEACHERS, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR LICENSESURE. SO THOSE ARE SOME NEW EXPENSES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION. AT THIS TIME, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> YEAH, SO ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS ON PAGE 68 DOWN AT THE BOTTOMCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT DOING SCIENCE WITH THE HANDS. I AGREE WITH THAT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I LOOK AT THE SCIENCE SUPPLIES FOR THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS. >> THEY TYPICALLY TALK WITH TEACHERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHY THERE WAS A CUT IN THERE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPALS, BUT THOSE ARE BASED ON THEIR BUDGETS THAT THEY SUBMITTED. >> CAN WE REVISIT THAT? CAN YOU ASK -- THAT'S WHAT MELISSA WAS SAYING -- >> ON THAT SAME PAGE UNLESS I'M NOT READING THIS CORRECTLY THERE'S $6,750 WITHOUT A SCHOOL DAY? AM I READING THAT RIGHT? >> THERE'S A LOT OF LINES. THE OTHER THING I HAD WAS 72 ALL PROGRAMS. BUT WHY THE REDUCTION AND WHAT WAS BUDGETED FROM 25, JUST CURIOUS WHAT'S GONE DOWN TO BUDGET A LITTLE CLOSER TO 24 ACTUAL. >> ATHLETICS ISN'T MY -- >> I'LL TAKE IT. SO WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO DO A 10% REDUCTION, HE DID LOOK AT ALL HIS CATEGORIES? WE WOULD CERTAINLY NEED TO LOOK AT THAT THROUGHOUT THE SPRING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD RUN OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PROGRAMS ON THAT AMOUNT, BUT THAT WAS AS A RESULT OF LOOKING WHERE WE COULD MAKE REDUCTIONS GENERALLY. >> ON PAGE 77 ON THE MJROTC THERE'S ACTUALLY NO BUDGET LISTED. >> SO WHAT WE DID NOTICE IS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN MS. JACOBS AND I DO A LITTLE LISTENING OVER HERE, AND THE REASON WAS THAT JUST AS I KNEW THERE WAS MONEY BUDGETED WE ACTUALLY HAVE $26,000 BUDGETED FOR THAT PROGRAM, AND WE JUST FEEL IT WAS CLASSIFIED IN A WRONG LOCATION. >> SO JUST TO BE CLEAR IT'S FOR THE NMDCC PROGRAM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TAKE ON THOSE COSTS. OTHER COSTS FOR MJROTC ARE ALSO COVERED BY THE NAVY. SO YOU CAN SEE OVER THE YEARS WE'VE HAD NOT HAD ANYTHING IN THAT LINE ITEM. AND THE MISPRECIPITATE INT BECAUSE IT WENT INTO THE WRONG ACCOUNT LISTED HERE. ACTUALLY IT'S ON ANOTHER PAGE -- I THINK IT'S ON PAGE 69, YES. >> 69 OR 59? >> WELL, 69. IT SHOULD READ $26,000 FOR AN NDCC. THAT WAS MISCATEGORIZED ON OUR PART, SO WE WILL GET THAT FIXED [02:10:02] AND UPDATED. >> I KNOW WE'RE STRUGGLING TO GET INSTRUCTORS FOR THAT PROGRAM, FOR THE NJROTC, AND I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER PERHAPS SIGNING BONUSES OR SOMETHING TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE JOB ON, SO SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. THANK YOU. >> GO FOR IT. >> HI THERE. THANK YOU. PAGE 65, MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION. CONSISTENT 1. 3 TO 1. 5, COMES BACK TO 1. 3 IN 26, BUT IN 25 IT WAS 2.1. WHAT DID WE SPEND ALL THAT MONEY ON? >> I'M SORRY, CAN YOU TELL ME THE PAGES YOU WERE LOOKING AT? >> PAGE 65. MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION. FISCAL 25 ADOPTED 2. 1 MILLION, THIRD LINE DOWN. >> IF THAT AMOUNT HAS BEEN BUDGETED, IT'S NOT BEEN FULLY SPENT. I'LL BE HAPPY TO LOOK UP THE AMOUNT SPENT YEAR TO DATE, BUT THAT'S THE AMOUNT BUDGETED. >> 2. 1 IS THE AMOUNT BUDGETED. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> AND I'M WONDERING WHY THE INCREASE IN THE PRIOR YEAR. >> I BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS. >> OF THE 30 QUESTIONS OUT THERE, PROBABLY COVERED IT. >> MOI IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS I POINTED OUT THAT ACTUALLY COVERS THE SCHOOL'S REQUEST AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT 10% REQUEST TO REDUCE OUR BUDGET. I CAN SPECIFICALLY SPEAK TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION, AND OUR MOI REQUEST FOR THIS PAST YEAR WAS REDUCED TO US BY $10,000. OUR REQUEST WAS $31,000 JUST FOR MOI FOR DEPARTMENT OF INSTRUCTION FROM $41,000 THE YEAR BEFORE. AND THAT WAS BOTH BY TRYING TO REDUCE THE BUDGET OR SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING THE BUDGET BY THAT REQUEST BY 10%. AND I TOLD YOU WE ALSO HAD TO REASORB THAT $1. 1 MILLION WORTH OF COST BACK TO THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. BUT CUT IS NOT AS SUBSTANTIAL. >> ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION IF YOU LOOK AT PAGES 68 AND 69, EVERYTHING LISTED IN THOSE TWO TABLES MAKE UP THAT AMOUNT, SO THAT BREAKS IT DOWN BY CATEGORY OR SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT OF WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE PROPOSED OR BUDGETED. >> I DON'T SEE ON THOSE PAGES WHERE THERE'S MATERIALS -- YOU HAVE MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE HEADER. >> YES, SO EVERYTHING LISTED UNDER THERE WOULD GO TO MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION. >> INCLUDED IN THAT CATEGORY. YES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. SO, FIRST, I'LL SAY I LOVE SEEING TEXTBOOKS INCREASING. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS MUCH PENCIL AND PAPER AND BOOKS AS POSSIBLE AND A LOT LESS TECHNOLOGY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE MAJORITY OF THAT TEXTBOOKS INCREASE IS CENTRAL OFFICE, $114,000 IS THE DIFFERENCE, 536 TOTAL ON PAGE 67. IS THAT CENTRAL OFFICE BUYING TEXTBOOKS THAT GO THROUGH ALL OF THE SCHOOLS? I MEAN HOW DOES THAT WORK? >> THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE TEXTBOOK PURCHASES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THAT INITIAL PURCHASES, THERE'S REALLY TWO PARTS TO THIS. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOK OR HARD COPY TEXTBOOKS, WHEN WE DO A NEW ADOPTION, WE BUY THAT FIRST ALLOTMENT FOR SCHOOLS, SO IF WE HAVE 800 STUDENTS ACROSS FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED THE TEXTBOOK, WE PURCHASE THAT LOCALLY, AND THAT WOULD FALL INTO THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET. AND THEN OVER TIME AS SCHOOLS HAVE TO REPLACE BOOKS BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OR ADDITIONAL ENROLLMENT, THEY ALSO GET AN ALLOTMENT FOR TEXTBOOKS, AND SO THEY WOULD BUY THE ADDITIONAL TEXTBOOKS THEY NEEDED. WHERE WE HAVE DIGITAL TEXTBOOKS BECAUSE OF A DIGITAL LICENSING, THOSE WILL CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE CENTRAL OFFICE BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE LICENSING PROCESS. [02:15:03] AND SO IN MY OLD ROLE IN SUPERVISOR SOCIAL STUDIES, WE PURCHASED HARD COPY TEXTBOOKS FOR OUR AP GEOGRAPHY COURSE. WE MADE THAT INITIAL PURCHASE. WE'RE STILL FINE WITH THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS STILL RELATIVELY RECENT. BUT AT SOME POINT IF THAT ENROLLMENT GROWS, THE SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE. FOR OUR 6TH AND 7TH GRADE PROGRAM, WE USE A DIGITAL TEXTBOOK. IT'S A TEXTBOOK IN EVERY OTHER WAY EXCEPT THAT, ONE, IT'S ALWAYS UP-TO- DATE ANNUALLY BECAUSE IT'S DIGITAL AND THEY CAN PUSH IT OUT THAT WAY. BUT BECAUSE THAT IS LICENSED SYSTEM, AND WE WILL CONSISTENTLY MAKE THOSE PURCHASES. AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THIS COUNT FLUCTUATE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IT FLUCTUATE FOR THOSE PURPOSES. WHEN WE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM MAKE THAT ADOPTION, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT AMOUNT SOMETIMES GO UP. AND ALSO AS LICENSES EXPIRE, AND ONE MORE TIME WITH THE EXAMPLE OF SOCIAL STUDIES, SO THAT IS GOING THE COST WE >> OF THIS $114,000 OUR ELEMENT STUDENTS IN BOTH ELA AND CURRICULUM IN THROUGH I- READY AND IN THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION, FOR INSTANCE, OUR MATH PROGRAM, THE REASON IT IS UNDER TEXTBOOKS IS BECAUSE WE ARE PURCHASING THE HARD COPY WORKBOOKS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT'S JUST UNDER $200,000, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL 12 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ALL GRADES IN THAT -- ALL OF THE GRADES THAT PARTICIPATE IN I-READY. WE GET THE DIGITAL RESOURCE AS WELL. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AGILE MIND IS -- THAT'S EXPIRING SOON. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE WAY WE'VE NEGOTIATED THAT CONTRACT, WE HAVE -- WE'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF, NOT REALLY RENEGOTIATING, BUT WE ARE AT THE END OF ONE CONTRACT CYCLE AND BEGINNING THE NEXT CONTRACT CYCLE WITH NO ADDITIONAL COST, AND SO THE WAY THAT THAT WAS NEGOTIATED, WE PLAY ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND THAT WAS TO KEEP THE OVERALL COST DOWN. >> AND THEN, I KNOW THAT THE STATE IS CURRENTLY TALKING ABOUT REDOING ALL THE MATH STANDARDS. SO, WOULD WE BE LOOKING TO RENEW AGILE MIND FOR A SINGLE YEAR, TEMPORARILY, WHILE THE STATE READJUSTS? I KNOW THAT BASED ON THE STAFF SURVEY, THERE'S MIXED OPINIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AGILE MIND AS A CURRICULUM. >> I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT A DIGITAL CURRICULUM IS THAT IT DOES HAVE FLEXIBILITY. FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN CHANGE IN THE STATE STANDARDS AND THE COURSES THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO WHERE WE USE AGILE MIND, WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A POOR FIT FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING TO DO. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> I'D LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK. SORRY, LISA. I'D LIKE TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE 2.11 ON PAGE 65. THE SUB TOTAL FOR MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTION ON PAGE 69 IS 1.425. THERE'S A $700,000 ISSUE IN THAT NUMBER, SCOTT. ALL THE OTHER COLUMNS MATCH. I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING. I'M AN ACCOUNTANT. >> WAS THAT ON TEXTBOOK AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES, IS THERE A REASON SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS NO BUDGET? ARE THEY GOOD AT RECYCLING OR THEY DON'T NEED BOOKS? >> WELL, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE DECISION OF THAT PARTICULAR PRINCIPAL. I WOULD SAY THEY ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, DID THEY HAVE NO TEXTBOOKS, THEY CERTAINLY HAVE THE SAME TEXTBOOKS. THE ONE THING I CAN ASSURE YOU IS THAT ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, IF WE USE A PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE IN ANY ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING IT ACROSS ALL OF THOSE. IT MAY SIMPLY BE THAT WHEREVER THEY ARE IN THEIR PURCHASING CYCLE FOR THOSE THINGS THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR, THAT THEY'RE [02:20:01] NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED REPLACEMENT. AND THEN I WILL ALSO STRESS THAT OUR SHIFT TO MORE DIGITAL TYPE OF CURRICULUM IS -- MEANING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE PROBABLY LESS EXPENDITURES AND TO SOME EXTENT AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL BECAUSE WE'RE PICKING UP THOSE COSTS AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE LEVEL. >> GOT YOU. ARE YOU ALSO, PAGE 77? I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. GOT A LOT OF PAGES EARLIER. UNDER THE CONTRACTED PSYCHOLOGIST, WHY SUCH THE STARK JUMP BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, 25 ADOPTED AND WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING FOR '26, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LAST TWO ACTUALS OF 270 AND 119 FOR '23 AND '24? THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY STARK JUMP. WHAT'S CAUSING THAT? >> SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MRS. LEWIS COME UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. THAT IS ONE OF THE CATEGORIES UNDER STUDENT SERVICES THAT ACTUALLY FALLS UNDER INSTRUCTION, SO ANYTHING WITH OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, OUR SCHOOL PSYCHS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE HERE. SO, I WOULD HAVE HER OR MR. JOHNSON RESPOND TO THAT. WHEN SHE GETS UP HERE. THANKS. >> YOU HAVE A QUESTION? >> ON PAGE 77, THE ONE- ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE HAS A 62. 2% DECREASE. WE ARE NOT DECREASING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS VISITING THAT, ARE WE? >> I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT LINE. >> OH, I'M SORRY. MY EYES -- >> I THINK YOU SAW "OTHER. " JUST TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER, WE HAVEN'T REDUCED OUR FUNDING FOR THE ONE- ROOM SCHOOL OR THE OLD CALDWELL SCHOOL AT ALL. >> OKAY. THE OTHER THING WAS I KNOW ONCE COVID HIT, THAT'S, I BELIEVE, WHEN WE STARTED GOING TO A WORKBOOK FOR THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL STUDENTS. AND I WOULD -- I WAS TOLD THAT THE WORKBOOK ALIGNS TO MARYLAND STATE STANDARDS, CORRECT? >> WHICH COURSE ARE YOU REFERRING TO? >> MATH. >> YEAH, NO, AGAIN, THE BOOK ALIGNS -- WELL, OUR PROGRAM THAT WE USE, THE CURRICULUM WE USE IS ALIGNED WITH THE STATE STANDARDS AND THE WORKBOOK IS ALIGNED WITH THE I- READY PROGRAM SO IT GIVES THE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN A PAPER AND PENCIL SORT OF ENVIRONMENT AS WELL AS UTILIZING THE I-READY PLATFORM AS WELL. >> OKAY. SO, IF THE -- THE STANDARDS FOR MATH DO CHANGE, THE COMPANY COMPANY I GUESS, ADJUST TO THE MARYLAND STANDARDS? >> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE CHOSE I- READY WAS BECAUSE OF ITS ALIGNMENT AND INTERACTION WITH OUR STATE AND OUR STATE STANDARDS. JUST TO GIVEYOU AN EXAMPLE. RECENTLY, WE GAVE OUR WINTER DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT, AND THE STANDARDS FOR THAT WERE SET IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A PRODUCT THAT IS GOING TO BE NIMBLE AND FLEXIBLE IF THE STANDARDS SHOULD CHANGE. >> I GUESS MY WORRY IS JUST LIKE WITH COVID, THERE WERE GAPS SPECIFICALLY IN MATH. IF IT CHANGES AGAIN, HOW ARE WE GOING TO MORE EFFICIENTLY ADDRESS THOSE GAPS FROM A CHANGING CURRICULUM? >> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO STAY APPRISED OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE STATE. SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL ALWAYS PROMISE YOU IS OUR CURRICULUM IS GOING TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE STATE STANDARDS SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO CONJECTURE EXACTLY WHAT CHANGES MIGHT NEED TO BE MADE, BUT THE TWO THINGS I CAN ASSURE YOU IS THAT IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO THE STATE STANDARDS THAT AFFECT OUR CURRICULUM, OUR CURRICULUM WILL ADJUST AND ONE OF THE REASONS I'M PLEASED WITH THETHE THAT WAS SELECTED IN I- READY IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, THEY ARE WELL ALIGNED WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND. NOT ONLY WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE, BUT THEY ARE ALIGNED WITH THE SHIFTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY'RE WELL POSITIONED TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARYTO HELP THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE A GOOD RESOURCE FOR US. >> IS THERE MONEY DIRECTED TOWARD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS BUDGET TO HELP OUR TEACHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AREAS WE WERE FALLING SHORT IN? >> ABSOLUTELY. ONE OF OUR LARGEST BUDGET LINE ITEMS IS IN WORKSHOPS AND ANOTHER AREA, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE SORT OF A LARGER BUDGET, BUT WE ARE PART OF THAT LARGE SUBSTITUTE BUDGET AS WELL. AND SO WE WORK WITH OUR TEACHERS BOTH IN THE SUMMER [02:25:02] AND DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE SOMETIMES ASK -- WE WORK WITH OUR SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN COVER IT. WE BRING OUR TEACHERS HERE. WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN DOING TRAINING WITH ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MATH -- ACTUALLY, ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHERS, BRINGING THEM IN AND GROUPS OF TEACHERS, AGAIN, DISTRIBUTED OUT. THAT'S SUB MONEY THAT WE SET ASIDE SO WE CAN BRING THEM IN AND TRAIN THEM ON OUR INTERVENTION STRATEGY SO WE CAN HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL NOT ONLY IN DELIVERING GOOD TIER ONE INSTRUCTION BUT ALSO MAKE THEM AWARE OF WHAT IF THE AVENUES WHEN STUDENTS HAVE TO MOVE INTO TIER TWO AND TIER THREE INTERVENTIONS IN MATHEMATICS. WE PROVIDE AFTERSCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES IN TERMS OF TRAINING AND USE OUR WORKSHOP MONEY IN THE SUMMERTIME TO HAVE PROGRAMS FOR OUR TEACHERS AS WELL. THAT IS SOMETHING WE'VE WORKED PARTICULARLY HARD AT DOING A GOOD JOB OF, AND I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB OF IT. >> MRS. GRENIS, JUST TO ADD, ACROSS THE STATE, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS HAVE BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO THE NEW STANDARDS IN MATHEMATICS. I HAVE A MEETING NEXT WEEK, SO I WILL FOLLOW UP TO LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THAT. BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FAST THE IMPLEMENTATION IS BEING PUT IN PLACE, HOW QUICKLY WE CAN ALIGN THINGS, AND TO MRS. GOSHORN'S QUESTION ABOUT CURRICULUM, THAT IS GOING TO BE A HUGE IMPACT. SO, IT IS THINGS THAT WE ARE CONSIDERING. IT IS WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS. AND TRYING TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION FRONT LOADED AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE TRANSITION MORE SEAMLESS. BUT IT SEEMS FROM THE STATE RIGHT NOW THAT TRANSITION MAY HAPPEN QUICKER THAN WE WOULD LIKE. >> YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THROW IN A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE HERE WHERE WHEN WE HAD THE STANDARDS FOR READING CHANGED, PRINCIPALS KIND OF GROUPED TOGETHER AND HIRED A SPECIALIST TO WORK WITH THE TEACHERS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF THAT STANDARD. AND IT COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED HOW TEACHERS WERE TEACHING, WHAT WE WERE TEACHING AND ENSURING THAT WE WERE TEACHING TO THE STANDARD. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I THINK THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR MATH, IF WE END UP GOING WITH A CHANGE. THANK YOU. >> MS. GOSHORN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY FUNDS WITHIN THIS BUDGET FOR TUTORING? I KNOW THAT I RECENTLY LOOKED AT THE MATH SCORES, MIDDLE SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, HAD A 23% PROFICIENCY RATE IN MATH. CLEARLY, OUR STUDENTS NEED SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS. DO WE HAVE ÚTUTORING BUILT INTO THIS BUDGE? >> THERE'S NOT SPECIFIC TUTORING FUNDS BUILT INTO THE BUDGET. WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS FOR TWILIGHT SCHOOL, WHERE WE WORK WITH OUR STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL HOURS TO SUPPORT THEM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY TUTORING MONEY, NO. >> OKAY. JUST WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THE BUDGET AND I KNOW THAT THE WAY THAT WE DO THINGS HERE IS WE ALLOW OUR PRINCIPALS TO DECIDE, WE GET A PER STUDENT NUMBER, A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT THEY CAN ALLOT TO THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WITHIN THEIR BUDGET. ONE THING, WHEN I LOOK THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT A SCHOOL HAS AVAILABLE TO THEM, SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE, GRACE BROUGHT THEM UP DURING HER COMMENTS EARLIER. SOME SCHOOLS WILL PUT MINIMAL AMOUNTS TO SUPPLIES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN THAT BURDEN FALLS ON THE TEACHERS OR FALLS ON THE PARENTS TO PROVIDE THOSE SUPPLIES. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SOME WAY THAT WE COULD APPLY SOME STANDARDS TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST CERTAIN MINIMUMS ARE MET SO THAT THE BURDEN DOESN'T FALL ON OUR TEACHERS, JUST TO GIVE SUPPLIES BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN ALL THAT BUDGET SOMEWHERE ELSE. I MEAN, SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE $500 FOR SUPPLIES, WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNSUSTAINABLE. >> AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I'M RELUCTANT TO TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT SCHOOL- BASED DECISION, PRINCIPALS' DECISION. I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU THAT I THINK FROM -- DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DEFINE SUPPLIES. A LOT OF OUR TEACHERS DO A WONDERFUL JOB IN MAKING THEIR CLASSROOM A REALLY NICE PLACE TO BE, AND I KNOW THAT THEY CAN SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON THOSE KINDS OF SUPPLIES AND THAT CAN FALL BACK ON TEACHERS. IN TERMS OF INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES, I THINK OUR TEACHERS ARE WELL SUPPLIED FROM THAT STANDPOINT. BUT ALWAYS WOULD BE AN ADVOCATE FOR MORE FOR TEACHERS. >> WOULDN'T IT BE MORE COST EFFICIENT -- >> THIS IS YOUR LAST QUESTION. >> WOULDN'T IT BE MORE COST EFFICIENT TO BUY THINGS IN BULK AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THEN TO DISTRIBUTE? >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT TOILET PAPER OR TEXTBOOKS? THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE. PENCILS, PENS? >> PAPER -- >> LET ME TAKE THIS ONE. NO. IT'S NOT CHEAPER. NO. NO. NOT WITH AMAZON AND NOT WITH OFFICE DEPOT AND NOT WITH [02:30:03] ALL OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE THAT THAT'S WHAT THEY DO ALL THE TIME. THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IT WOULD COST TO STORE THOSE ITEMS, THE VEHICLES TO PROVIDE THE STAFF -- TO STORE A PALETTE OF PAPER HERE, THERE'S REALLY NOT -- HOW'D I DO? GOOD? OKAY, GOOD. GOING BACK TO TUTORING FOR ONE SECOND, PLEASE. I KNOW THAT PRIOR YEARS, THERE WERE OFFERINGS OF TUTORING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF SOME SR FUNDS AND THAT WAS OFFERED. MAYBE IT WAS ESSER FUNDS. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASSUMING. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EVER -- I'D REALLY LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. I KNOW THAT WE DO OFFER IT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, BUT JUST SPEAKING FROM HAVING NINTH GRADERS AGAIN AND COMING FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL AND WHAT THAT TRANSITION HAS BEEN LIKE, ESPECIALLY IN ALGEBRA I, AND I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY GREAT BENEFIT TO THEM AND TO LOTS OF KIDS TO MAYBE HAVE THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. NOT JUST IN HIGH SCHOOL. >> SO, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, FIRST STARTED OUT OF ESR AND THEN CAME OUT OF A TREASURY GRANT. WE HAD TUTORING FUNDS. WE HAVE THOSE 'TIL THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. SO, ALL SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN OFFERED AN AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY CAN USE TOWARDS TUTORING. THAT GRANT WILL END AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS, AND MR. MCCOMB HAD SHARED, WAS HOW DO WE SUPPORT THE STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOLDAY? THAT SUPPORT WOULD COME THROUGH OUR MULTITIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, SO WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT HAVING OUR MATH TEACHERS COME AND LEARN ABOUT OUR TIER TWO AND TIER THREE SUPPORTS AND INTERVENTIONS, WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS DURING THE DAY SO THEY'RE NOT REQUIRED TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL OR BEFORE SCHOOL. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT BOTH IN MATH AND READING. OTHER THAN THE TWILIGHT SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING THAT WAS IN THIS BUDGET. >> THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP. THAT IS A GOOD POINT BECAUSE IT IS REALLY BENEFICIAL TO HAVE THOSE THINGS DURING THE DAY BECAUSE THEN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, WHICH I DO BELIEVE ARE EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT, ARE NOT AS IMPACTED BY THAT. I THINK THAT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL1 LEVEL, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GO AND HAVE THAT KIND OF TUTORING IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT CLASSES. NOT JUST MATH OR READING. I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S THE SAME IN MIDDLE SCHOOL EXCEPT FOR AT THE END OF THE DAY WHERE THEY HAVE SOME -- THEY HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. SO, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT ANOTHER TIME. THANK YOU. >> ON PAGE 78, DIGITAL LICENSE AND FEES. WE HAVE INCREASED THAT BUDGET FROM $310,000 THIS YEAR TO $777,000. >> YEAH, THAT WAS THE ONE I WAS TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE ESR FUNDS. >> OKAY. >> THAT IS THE BIGGEST AREA. THE ESR FUNDS HAD -- ESR HAD CERTAIN CATEGORIES YOU COULD SPEND IN, AND ACTUALLY I DON'T -- I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU NEED THE SPECIFICS, BUT THAT WAS THE PLACE THAT WE MOVED MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE USE IN -- THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY PAY FOR LOCAL THAT WERE NOT EXTRAS. THEY WERE NOT PLUSES. THEY WERE THINGS -- EVERYTHING FROM, LIKE, A SCHOOLEGY. IT DOES NOT WORK WITHOUT OUR LEARNING MATCHING SYSTEM. THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR ANYWAY. WE PAID OUT OF ESR FUNDS. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE, THAT INCREASE IS PRETTY MUCH EXCLUSIVELY AS A RESULT OF MOVING THOSE FROM ESR BACK INTO LOCAL. >> GOT IT. AND I'M SO SORRY. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS -- I HAVE SO MANY -- I HAVE LIKE A SPREADSHEET. I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS ON YOUR PAGE OR NOT. BUT GATE -- THE GATE BUDGET HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REDUCED IN THIS BUDGET BY 48%, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S IN ONE OF YOUR PAGES OR ANOTHER PAGE, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY WE'RE CUTTING IT IN HALF. >> DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PAGE? >> I DON'T. I'LL TELL YOU THE NAME OF THE TABLE. >> IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 69, THERE'S GIFTED EDUCATION ON PAGE 69 AS WELL. >> IT'S NOT THAT. IT'S GIFTED AND TALENTED GATE TEACHERS. CATEGORY 203, SALARIES AND WAGES. IT'S ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND WAGES TAB IN THE EXCEL. >> I'M GOING TO TURN THAT OVER TO MR. JOHNSON. I WAS JUST CHECKING. WE DID NOT REDUCE OUR GATE [02:35:01] MOI AT ALL. IT'S FLAT. SO, I THINK THAT WAS MORE OF A SALARY KIND OF QUESTION. >> I'LL BE HAPPY TO CHECK. IT MAY BE THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE GATE TEACHERS BEING CHARGED TO A REGULAR TEACHER ACCOUNT RATHER THAN A GATE TEACHER ACCOUNT. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> IT'S PAGE 64. >> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE LINE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT THAT TABLE, YOU'LL ALSO SEE THAT THERE'S A DECREASE IN DEANS AND ESL TEACHERS ALSO. WE ARE NOT PROPOSING ANY DECREASES, BUT IF YOU GO TO ALL TEACHERS, YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE CAPTURED IN THE OVERALL TEACHER CATEGORY. SO, THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY. >> GOT IT. THANK YOU. >> UP NEXT, WE HAVE MRS. CECILIA LEWIS FOR STUDENT SERVICES. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT PAGES 63, 102, AND 105. >> COULD YOU REPEAT THOSE PAGES? >> I THINK THERE ARE PAGES 63, 102, AND 105. >> WHAT ABOUT 77? WASN'T MY LAST QUESTION ON THAT PAGE. >> AND I MISSED 77. THANK YOU. >> JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS IT. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M CECILIA LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES. THE STUDENT SERVICES BUDGET REFLECTS OUR DEPARTMENT'S INVESTMENT IN STUDENT SUPPORTS RELATED TO SAFETY AND SECURITY. STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES, BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH, ATTENDANCE, DISCIPLINE, AND COLLEGE AND CAREER SERVICES. OUR DOLLARS PROMOTE POSITIVE SCHOOL CLIMATE, WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR STUDENTS' ABILITY TO ACCESS THE EXCELLENT INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM THAT CHARACTERIZED CALVERT COWAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE BUDGET BOOK HIGHLIGHTS THE DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES PRIMARY BUDGETARY ITEMS ON PAGES 63 THROUGH 64 AND PAGES 101 THROUGH 105, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT OTHER STUDENT SERVICES BUDGET ITEMS ARE IN OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET BOOK. STARTING WITH PAGES 63 THROUGH 64, WHICH OUTLINES STAFFING ALLOCATIONS AND SALARIES AND WAGES COSTS. EXAMPLES OF INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL WHO ARE BUDGETED AS A PART OF STUDENT SERVICES ARE SCHOOL COUNSELORS, PUPIL PERSONNEL WORKERS, SCHOOL NURSES, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS, SAFETY ADVOCATES AND HOME AND HOSPITAL TEACHERS. IF YOU'LL NOW FLIP TO PAGE 102, IT PROVIDES A DETAILED OVERVIEW OF THE SERVICES, SUPPLIES, AND MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT REQUESTED FOR OUR DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS. YOU'LL NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN CONTRACTED SERVICES, THE OTHER CATEGORY, DUE TO THE CREATION OF A NEW DESIGNATED SOFTWARE CATEGORY. THE OTHER CATEGORY WAS HISTORICALLY USED TO PURCHASE SOFTWARE FOR DAILY OPERATIONS FOR STUDENT TRANSFERS, ALUMNI GRADUATION VERIFICATION, AND TRANSCRIPT ORDERS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO SUPPORT DISTRICT SAFETY AND SECURITY. IT NOW REFLECTS ONLY COSTS RELATED TO NON-SOFTWARE- RELATED ITEMS SUCH AS MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OFPOLICE SECURITY COSTS FOR GRADUATION, SENIOR WEEK, AND OTHER EVENTS WHERE WE MIGHT NEED THEIR ASSISTANCE. THE NEW SOFTWARE LINE REPRESENTS COSTS FOR ALL PREVIOUSLY MANAGED SOFTWARE AND THREE ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS THAT ARE NOW INCLUDED IN OUR BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT WAS FORMERLY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY'S BUDGET. THIS PROPOSED LINE NOW INCLUDES POWER SCHOOL ENROLLMENT, RAPTOR VISITOR MANAGEMENT AND SELF- SERVICE MODULES, CAMERA AND ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS. THESE THREE ADDITIONAL LINE ITEMS FOR THE SOFTWARE CATEGORY IS NOW IN OUR STUDENT SERVICES BUDGET. THAT IS DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS. [02:40:01] THAT ITEM IS INCLUDED IN INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL BUDGETS AS WE SUPPLEMENT ADDITIONAL NEEDS OR COMPLIANCE ITEMS WITH THE CENTRAL OFFICE BUDGET LISTED UNDERNEATH IT. WE CONTINUE TO REDUCE OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS. FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, AS WELL AS OUR COURSE PLANNING GUIDE, THROUGH REDUCING REDUCING PRINTING COSTS AS WE TRANSITION DOCUMENTS TO ONLINE PLATFORM ACCESS AND WE REDUCED WORKSHOP COSTS DUE TO REALLOCATING FUNDING FOR STUDENT SUPPORT TRAINING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT TO BE PAID THROUGH GRANTS SUCH AS THE FEDERAL TITLES 1 AND 2 TRAUMA GRANT, FEDERAL TITLE IV GRANT, MSDE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GRANT, AND THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT. WE ARE OPTIMIZING GRANT ALLOCATION TO ENSURE WE ARE MEETING STUDENT SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS THROUGH MARYLAND BLUEPRINT SCHOOL FOR SCHOOLS, BLUEPRINT FOR SCHOOLS, PARTICULARLY PILLAR FOUR, MORE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN ADDITION TO GRANTS, CONTRACTED SERVICES ARE CRITICAL TO STUDENT SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE, ON PAGE 77, YOU'LL SEE COLLEGE ADVISOR SERVICES, WHICH IS THE COMPLIANCE COST AS OUTLINED BY REGULATIONS FROM MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, IDENTIFIED FOR NEEDING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WITH FAFSA COMPLETION AND THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS. YOU'LL ALSO NOTE AN INCREASE IN CONTRACTED PSYCHOLOGISTS SERVICES TO CONTINUE TO MEET THE INCREASED PERSONNEL DEMAND FOR BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE NOT BEING FILLED THROUGH TRADITIONAL HIRES AS CCPS EMPLOYEES. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING STUDENT SERVICES. >> I DID SEE ONE OTHER, BUT NOW I GOT TO FIND IT AGAIN. >> FOR THE CONTRACTED PSYCHOLOGISTS, SO, ARE WE NOT INTERESTED OR UNABLE TO HIRE PSYCHOLOGISTS? >> WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HIRING AS MANY PSYCHOLOGISTS -- EVERYBODY ON THE TV, PLEASE, SEND YOUR FRIENDS. WE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HIRE AND MAINTAIN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FOUR VACANCIES BASED ON OUR ALLOCATION. BUT WE DO HAVE FOUR CONTRACTED PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO ARE NOT FILLING THOSE FOUR VACANCIES BECAUSE THAT WAS ALREADY SET ASIDE FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. BUT EVERY SCHOOL NEEDS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST. >> AND SO, ARE SALARIES TOO LOW? IS THAT WHY WE HAVE AN ISSUE FILLING THEM, BUT WE CAN GET THEM CONTRACTED? >> WE CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THOSE TYPES OF PARTICULAR POTENTIAL REASONS. BY LOOKING AT THE COMPETITIVE MARKET, IT IS EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE. A LOT OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, THEY COME FROM A CLINICAL BACKGROUND WHERE THE -- THERE'S A HUGE CHANGE WHEN YOU SHIFT TO AN EDUCATIONAL MARKET. SO, WE HAVE SOME MARKET DEMANDS THAT ARE NOT ALWAYS -- WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MEET AT A SCHOOL LEVEL, PER SE, WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> SO, FOR THIS $250,000 INCREASE, HOW MANY MORE STUDENTS DO WE THINK WE CAN SERVE? >> OH, I DON'T HAVE A CALCULATION PER STUDENT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITH US ONLY HAVING -- WE HAVE 11 BODIES IN-HOUSE. HOWEVER, ALL OF THOSE BODIES AREN'T A ONE FULL- TIME EQUIVALENCY, SO SOME OF THEM ARE HALF. SOME OF THEM ARE 0.6. SO, THEY SERVE MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, BUT I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT BREAKDOWN OF WHAT THAT AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WOULD BE. >> IT WOULD BE AN IMPROVEMENT. >> IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS HELP, YES. >> I HAVE A QUESTION. ON PAGE 105, SCOTT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TELL US THAT IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF HIS ITEMS THAT HE PLUGGED IN THERE. BUT IT'S IN THE FY25 ADOPTED. OTHER. $75,000 CREDIT AND OTHER, $155,700 CREDIT. CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE ARE FOR? >> THOSE ARE BOTH NEGATIVE BUDGET CONTINGENCY AMOUNTS. >> SO, WE REALIZED THOSE AMOUNTS ALREADY, OR THAT'S JUST TO SET THE BUDGET? >> THOSE ARE BUDGETED. SO, ULTIMATELY, THE AMOUNT WILL VARY SOME. COULD BE UP OR DOWN. >> OKAY. SO, WE EXPECT IT, AND WE'LL LIKELY GET IT, RIGHT? >> OR WE MAY -- IF WE DON'T ACHIEVE IT, WE'LL LIKELY ACHIEVE IT IN ANOTHER BUDGET CATEGORY. >> AND WHERE IS IT COMING FROM? IS IT A REBATE FOR SERVICES? ARE WE GETTING SOME -- [02:45:01] >> NO, POTENTIAL BUDGET SAVINGS. COULD BE SALARY LAPSE. COULD BE YOU UNDERSPENDING OF A VARIETY OF ACCOUNTS. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> UNDER SUBSTITUTES, IT WAS A 7% INCREASE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE USED TO -- WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A HUGE SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE. WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS TAKING SUBSTITUTES AND PUTTING THEM INTO LONG- TERM POSITIONS, AND THAT'S CREATING SHORTAGES. BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE USED TO -- IF A SUBSTITUTE COVERED FIVE DAYS, THEY WOULD GET PAID FOR SIX. DO WE STILL DO THAT? AND WOULD THAT HELP EASE THE SUBSTITUTE SHORTAGE? >> DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE PUT THAT INCENTIVE IN PLACE. ONE OF THE REASONS WE PUT THAT INCENTIVE IN PLACE WAS BECAUSE MANY TIMES ON FRIDAYS AND MONDAYS, WE WERE NOT GETTING SUBSTITUTES, SO IN ORDER TO DO FIVE DAYS, YOU WOULD GET AN ADDITIONAL PAY IF IT CROSSED OVER FRIDAYS AND MONDAYS. LAST YEAR, AT SOME POINT, THE THE ACTUAL HOURLY RATE FOR SUBSTITUTES INCREASED, AND WHEN THEY INCREASED THAT RATE, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE INCENTIVE WAS NO LONGER NECESSARY. SO, THEY INCREASED THE HOURLY RATE OF THE SUBSTITUTES BY NOT CONTINUING THE INCENTIVE. >> SO, THEIR HOURLY RATE INCREASED? >> YES. >> BUT WE'RE STILL HAVING A SHORTAGE? YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS - >> I THINK WE HAVE HAD A SHORTAGE FOR MANY YEARS. SO, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE A SHORTAGE. WITH SUBSTITUTES, WE TRIED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. WE HAVE A LOT OF SUBSTITUTES ON THE BOOKS, BUT ONE OF THE BENEFITS TO SUBSTITUTES IS THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. SO, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK ON A PARTICULAR DAY, THEN THEY CHOOSE NOT TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THEY LIKE TO DO THAT, SO WE TRY TO INCREASE AS MANY SUBSTITUTES AS WE CAN, BUT CERTAINLY, OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO WORK WITH OUR SCHOOLS TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SUBS EVERY DAY. WE REALIZE IT'S AN ISSUE. >> HAVE WE INCREASED HOW OFTEN PEOPLE CAN GET CERTIFIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE? >> WE DO MONTHLY, I BELIEVE. TWO TIMES A MONTH. WE ARE DOING INTAKE FOR SUBSTITUTES . >> MS. LEWIS, I FOUND MY OTHER QUESTION. IT WAS ON ONE OF THE TWO. I SEE WE'VE INCREASED THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND DECREASED THE CONTRACTED SOCIAL WORKER. I'M ASSUMING THOSE PLAY TOGETHER, BUT THE DOLLARS AREN'T REALLY EQUAL. WE STILL GOING TO BE ABLE TO RENDER THE SAME SERVICE TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF STUDENTS WITH WHAT'S IN THERE? >> THAT'S CORRECT. , WE DO HAVE -- WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET SOCIAL WORKERS. WE'VE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL WITH SOCIAL WORKERS COMING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SHIFTING FROM THAT CLINICAL BACKGROUND INTO THE SUPPORTS IN THE SCHOOLS, AND THAT REDUCTION IS REFLECTING MAINTAINING THE -- WE HAVE ONE CONTRACTED SOCIAL WORKER NOW, AND MAINTAINING THAT INDIVIDUAL, BUT WE -- YES. WE'RE -- WE'RE LOOKING TO INCREASE BY ONE FOR NEXT YEAR. >> INTERNALLY, NOT CONTRACTED, RIGHT? >> CORRECT. THROUGH CCPS. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. I DID WANT TO CLARIFY, MS. MS.MS. MS. GRENIS, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE 7% OF THE SUBSTITUTE. THAT PARTICULAR PAGE IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO NURSE SUBSTITUTES. SO, THAT'S FOR SCHOOL NURSES. SO, JUST -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OVERALL INSTRUCTIONAL SUBSTITUTE DIFFERENTIAL OR SHORTAGE IS. BUT IN TERMS OF SCHOOL NURSES -- >> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> ON PAGE 105, THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN SALARIES AND A NEW LINE ITEM FOR ATHLETIC TRAINERS. IS THAT JUST WE'VE CREATED A NEW LINE ITEM, OR HAVE WE REDUCED? >> I DON'T MANAGE ATHLETIC TRAINERS. >> YES, WE HAVE A NEW LINE ITEM THERE FOR ATHLETIC TRAINERS AND BEFORE, THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE SALARIES ROW ABOVE IT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN, ON PAGE 102, THERE IS A SMALL REDUCTION IN SAFETY ADVOCATES. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S JUST A SALARY LAPSE THING. LIKE WE'VE SEEN ON OTHER PAGES, BUT I JUST WANT TO STATE I'VE HEARD FROM MANY PEOPLE THAT SAFETY ADVOCATES ARE AN INVALUABLE PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND IF WE CAN TRY AND GET A SAFETY ADVOCATEADVOCATE EVERY BUILDING, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD REALLY BE A GREAT SUPPORT [02:50:01] FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS. >> SURE. WE HAVE NOT DECREASED. WE HAVE ONLY INCREASED IN SAFETY ADVOCATES, AND THAT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR US TO CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO, WE ARE AT STAFFING CAPACITY FOR SAFETY ADVOCATES AND WOULD LOVE MORE. >> OKAY. >> WE DON'T HAVE THOSE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RIGHT? WE JUST HAVE THEM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. >> WE DO HAVE A DESIGNATED SAFETY ADVOCATE -- I'M SORRY. THAT WAS SCHOOL RESOURCE LIAISONS. CORRECT. WE HAVE TWO SAFETY ADVOCATES PER HIGH SCHOOL, ONE PER MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND ONE DESIGNATED FOR THE CTA CURRENTLY. >> OKAY. >> BUT WE DO HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER LIAISONS ASSIGNED TO ALL THE -- ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT, AND WE HAVE FULL- TIME STAFFING CURRENTLY IN THREE ELEMENTARY, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO EXPAND THAT IN ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. >> SO, WE NEED NINE? IS THAT HOW MANY WE NEED? >> WE WOULD -- >> WE NEED TEN? >> FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED THERE. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> SROS OR SAFETY ADVOCATES? >> SAFETY ADVOCATES. RIGHT? >> WE WOULD -- >> OH, NO. I'M SO SORRY. >> WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAFETY ADVOCATES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THEM AS WELL. >> OKAY, SO, 13 THAT WE WOULD NEED FOR SAFETY ADVOCATES. >> 13 ADDITIONAL TO COVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK THAT WAS ASKED OF US IS TO COST OUT POSSIBLY A SAFETY ADVOCATE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OR BEHAVIOR TECH, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT THOSE TWO POSITIONS AND TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST FIT FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS. SO, WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A SAFETY ADVOCATE POSITION OR IF IT IS INDEED SOMEBODY WHO IS ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT BEHAVIOR. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET WHICH THAT IS? >> WE DO HAVE AN ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS MEETING NEXT WEEK SO I WAS GOING TO TALK WITH THEM TO SEE WHERE THEY THOUGHT THEIR BEST SUPPORT WOULD BE NEEDED. >> YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK -- I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SAFETY ADVOCATES AND WE HAVE SROS EVERYWHERE, BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THE RESOURCES IN PLACE AND HAVE THEM AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL. BECAUSE THEY'RE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROBLEMS, AND WHEN THEY GET BIGGER, THEY'RE BIGGER PEOPLE, AND THE PROBLEMS ARE BIGGER, AND IF WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE CAN -- THAT WE CAN HAVE IN PLACE TO KIND OF HELP, EVEN IN, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIORS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE JUST REGULAR DAY-TO-DAY TO KIND OF HELP KIDS. THAT WOULD REALLY MAYBE TRANSITION INTO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BE A LITTLE SMOOTHER AND THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL. >> OUR ARE T LEADS PARKING LOT OF OF YOUR AREA? >> THEY'RE NOT DESIGNATED STAFFING FOR STUDENT SERVICES BUT WE SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THE SST PROCESS. >> OKAY. >> BUT NO, THEY -- THEY'RE CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL STAFFING. >> OKAY. >> SO, AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT QUESTION CAME UP AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING SST LEADS. SO, WHEN CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL WERE REDUCED AN ADMINISTRATOR, THEY HAD THEIR STAFF ALLOTMENT AND FROM THEIR STAFF ALLOTMENT, THEY MADE A REQUEST. SINCE WE DON'T HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATOR, COULD WE USE ONE OF OUR STAFFING NUMBERS TO CREATE A POSITION TO HELP SUPPORT SOME OF THE REQUIREMENTS THAT ADMINISTRATORS USUALLY HANDLE? SO, IF THEY WERE GIVEN TEN PEOPLE FOR TEACHING POSITIONS, THEY USE ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS TO CREATE THE SST LEAD, AND THE SST LEAD IS HANDLING 504S AND WORKING WITH THE COUNSELORS AND THE TEACHERS TO HELP SUPPORT THE STUDENTS IN NEED, BUT THEY ACTUALLY TAKE THAT OUT OF THEIR STAFFING REQUIREMENT. IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL POSITION THAT'S DESIGNATED FOR THEM. >> YEAH, I'VE JUST HEARD SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT THE SUPPORT THAT THINK PROVIDE, AND I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN THAT ARE -- I MEAN, OUR IEP AND OUR 504 NUMBERS ARE INCREASING, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT AS A STANDARD OF CARE FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CHILDREN, I THINK IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONSIDER AS A STANDARD IN OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT AN OPTION. >> SO, CURRENTLY, THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES DO FALL TO THE ADMINISTRATOR IN THE BUILDINGS AND AT EACH LEVEL, THE ADMINISTRATORS BREAK UP THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES IN DIFFERENT WAYS. SO, AT A MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU MIGHT SEE A PRINCIPAL TAKING ON SST AND MAYBE THE DEAN IS TAKING ON 504, SO THEY'RE STILL GETTING [02:55:01] THE SUPPORT. THE SST LEAD IS VERY SPECIALIZED BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THOSE TWO SCHOOLS LOST AN ADMINISTRATOR. SO, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT THAT MEANS IF WE'RE PROVIDING THAT SUPPORT. >> WHAT ABOUT SSTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL? >> AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL, IT'S THE SAME WAY. THEY'RE DESIGNATED BY THE PRINCIPAL AND THETHE PRINCIPAL AND IF THEY HAVE A PART- TIME DEAN OR A FULL- TIME DEAN, THEY LOOK AT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES AND DETERMINE HOW THEY WANT TO DESIGNATE THOSE. SOMETIMES, IT IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL THAT IS DOING MORE OF THE IEP PROCESS, AND YOU'LL SEE THE DEANS PICKING UP THE 504 PROCESS AND THE SST PROCESS WHILE THE PRINCIPAL MIGHT BE TAKING ON MORE OF THE OBSERVATION EVALUATION PROCESS AND DEALING WITH A DISCIPLINE. SO, IT REALLY VARIES SCHOOL BY SCHOOL, BUT ALL SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE SOMEONE DESIGNATED TO BE THE SST CHAIR AND ALSO THE 504 CHAIR. >> EVERY SCHOOL HAS DESIGNATED ASSISTANCE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GENERAL BUDGET AND THEN THEY HAVE ASSISTANCE THAT COMES OUT OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET. WE SEE THIS MORE OFTEN AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WHERE A STUDENT MIGHT BE EXHIBITING SOME BEHAVIORS, THEY WILL LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE. THEY COLLECT THE DATA FROM THE STUFF THAT THEY DO HAVE, MAKE THAT DETERMINATION. IF THERE A STUDENT INVOLVED IN THE IEP ANDERSON AND SHE CAN COME UP EVENTUALLY TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS AND THEY DETERMINE WHAT SITE -- TYPE OF SUPPORT IS NEEDED AND THEY DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF POSITION IS FUNDED BECAUSE IT IS LISTED IN THE IEP OR IF IT IS A SUPPORT POSITION FULFILLED THROUGH THE LONGTIME SUB AND AS PART OF THAT THEY HAVE TO DETERMINE HOW LONG THE STUDENT WILL NEED THE SUPPORT AND HOW WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD THE SKILLS OF THE STUDENT SO THAT THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO RELY ON THE ADULT TO HELP SUPPORT THEM. ALL OF THOSE PARTICULAR CASES COME UP INCIDENT BY INCIDENT BASED ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOLS AND WHAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS ARE NEEDED. IF IT IS A STUDENT THAT IS A GENERAL EDUCATION STUDENT WHO DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION, TYPICALLY THAT CONVERSATION EITHER HAPPENS WITH THEIR DIRECT SUPERVISOR WHICH EITHER WOULD BE MRS. JACOBS OR MYSELF OR THEY MIGHT GO THROUGH MRS. LEWIS AS PART OF STUDENT SERVICES. MANY TIMES THEY WILL ASK DR. ANDERSON, REGARDLESS OF WHO IT IS, THAT WE NEED ADDITIONAL HELP SO WE PULLED TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HELP SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS. >> I KNOW LAST YEAR WE TRIED TO GET THOSE TWO ADDITIONAL ADMIN BACK INTO THE SCHOOL. WE ARE GOING TO SAY WE WANT THAT TO BE AN INITIATIVE AGAIN THIS YEAR SO I'M KEEPING A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE HINTED THAT SO FAR. >> ON PAGE 64, THERE IS A REDUCTION IN AFTERSCHOOL INSTRUCTION . IT IS THE FIRST LINE, AND THEY WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THE GRANT SECTION AND JUST WANTED TO KNOW , IS THAT REDUCTION BECAUSE WE HAVE A GRANT? ONE OF THE NAMES ON THE GRANT SEEM TO COINCIDE. >> THAT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH TOILET FUNDING AND THAT IS IN THE BUDGET. I JUST DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFIC PAGE. THAT IS WHAT THAT IS REFERRING TO, SO THAT IS SOME FUNDS THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO HELP SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO NEEDED TO PASS THE ASSESSMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION SO THAT IS WHERE THAT WAS COMING FROM. >> OKAY, THEN ON PAGE 63 , THERE IS THE STAFFING TABLE AND IT LOOKS LIKE , YOU KNOW, WE ARE CHANGING THE DESIGNATIONS BUT IT [03:00:02] SAYS AN OVERALL CHANGE OF 28.48. I KNOW MR. JOHNSON THAT YOU HAD SAID WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY ADDED ANY POSITION SO BEFORE THE PUBLIC GETS THIS BOOK AND SENDS US A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS ABOUT NEW POSITIONS CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE CHANGES THAT WE WENT THROUGH, AND FTE DETERMINATIONS? >> THANK YOU. FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET, I MADE THE MISTAKE OF NOT REQUESTING FTE DATA FROM THE DISTRICT'S EXPERT DATA MINOR IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT AND THAT PROFESSIONAL DID ASSIST ME BY PROVIDING THAT DATA FOR THE FY 25 -- I, FOR THE FY 26 -- FY 25 DATA. SORRY, I DID NOT PUT DOWN THE YEARS IN MY NOTES BUT BECAUSE I USED A DIFFERENT DATA SOURCE, WE HAVE DIFFERENT FTE'S. IT APPEARS WE HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN FTE'S WERE IN FACT STAFFING HAS REMAINED RELATIVELY CONSTANT. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CHANGES AND I THINK WE INDICATED THOSE IN OTHER RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE USE OF DIFFERENT DATA SETS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. LEWIS? THANK YOU. >> SO, NEXT WE WILL HAVE DR. ANDERSON, SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR. THE PAGES WE WILL BE LOOKING AT OUR 83, 86 , 88 , 90 , 92 . LOTS OF PAGES , 94 , 96 AND 99. I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. ANDERSON AND SHE CAN TAKE YOU THROUGH A QUICK SUMMARY AND SEE WHAT QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> GOOD EVENING , PRESIDENT POST, DR. TOWNSEL AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE WITH FY 26. BEFORE I ENTERTAIN THOSE, YOU HAVE THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR LOCAL FUNDS BASED ON HISTORICAL AND TREND DATA. ALTHOUGH THIS DATA IS OUR BEST SYSTEM AND FOR FUTURE NEEDS THERE ARE MANY VARIABLES THAT CANNOT BE ANTICIPATED, THIS PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE INFLUENCED SIGNIFICANTLY BY GRANT FUNDS FROM FEDERAL AND STATE SOURCES. SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS IN MARYLAND HAVE NOT RECEIVED PROPOSED GRANT AMOUNTS AT THIS TIME AND WILL NOT RECEIVE THOSE ESTIMATES FOR A FEW WEEKS. ONCE RECEIVED YOU MAY SEE SHIFTS IN THE PROPOSAL FOR MY DEPARTMENT. THIS PROPOSAL REPRESENTS WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR IDENTIFIED STUDENTS IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WITH THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. LOOKING AT PAGE 83, WHICH I THINK CONTINUES IN THE DETAILS ON 85, THERE IS A REDUCTION UNDER PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR $267,000 WHICH I THINK EQUATES TO A REDUCTION IN SALARIES AND WAGES AND I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND , WE ARE NOT REDUCING STAFF, ARE WE? >> NO, WE ARE NOT REDUCING STAFF. I THINK THAT IS A CALCULATION. >> I WILL BE HAPPY TO CHECK BUT I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE TWO OR THREE EMPLOYEES AND ONE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD BE IN A DIFFERENT PROGRAM AND SO CONSEQUENTLY IT SHOWS A REDUCTION HERE GREATER THAN AN EXPECTED INCREASE IN ANOTHER PROGRAM. >> ON PAGE 85 UNDER OTHER CHARGES, IT APPEARS TO BE A $229,000 INCREASE BUT THERE WAS A NEGATIVE IN THE PRIOR YEAR SO IT IS ONLY 96,000 THIS YEAR, WHICH IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEARS WHEN THERE WAS A POSITIVE NUMBER, SO I WAS CURIOUS WHAT INVESTMENTS ARE WE MAKING IN THE OTHER CHARGES? OR ARE THERE INVESTMENTS BEING MADE? >> FY 25, THE AMOUNT OF $210,000, THE NEGATIVE AMOUNT WAS THE NEGATIVE BUDGET CONTINUANCE HE AND WE ARE BUDGETING UP TO $20,000 CONTINGENCY FOR FY 26. >> 85 YES, SORRY. >> OH, SORRY. >> SO WHEN 86 WAS THE DETAIL YOU WERE JUST DISCUSSING, MR. JOHNSON . SO JUST OTHER -- THE 20,000 IS JUST A CONTINGENCY [03:05:13] DOLLAR AMOUNT? >> YES, THAT WAS A NEGATIVE CONTINGENCY BEFORE AND THAT NEGATIVE CONTINGENCY IS NOW EITHER ZERO OR $20,000. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ON PAGE 90 UNDER HOME AND HOSPITAL, THERE WERE SALARY WAGES OF 65,325 , AND THERE ARE NO SALARIES AND WAGES IN 2026. HOW ARE WE GOING TO HANDLE HOME HOSPITAL FROM A STAFFING PERSPECTIVE? >> WE ARE GOING TO CHECK TO SEE IF THAT MIGHT'VE BEEN CHARGED OR CODED TO A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT ON A REPORT. >> THERE IS ALSO HAM HOSPITAL UNDER STUDENT SERVICES, SO IT IS UNDER TWO DIFFERENT PLACES SO UNDER SPECIAL ED AND STUDENT SERVICES. >> DOES THE SAME PERSON COVER EACH? OR, IS IT TWO PEOPLE? >> I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT PROCEDURALLY. IN MOST CASES , HOME AND HOSPITAL COMES OUT OF STUDENT SERVICES BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON A MEDICAL NEED OR AN EMOTIONAL NEED THAT IS DOCUMENTED BY A DOCTOR. IN RARE OCCASIONS, IT OCCURS THROUGH MY DEPARTMENT OFTEN BECAUSE A STUDENT IS TRANSITIONING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, AND THAT IS WHY THE FIGURES ARE FAR LOWER, SO IT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE REASON FOR THE HOME HOSPITAL THAT DERIVES WHAT BUDGET CODE IT COMES FROM. >> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THOUGH, HOME HOSPITAL TEACHING IS HANDLED OUT OF STUDENT SERVICES SO IF IT IS DESIGNATED IN THE IEP OR UNDER THE PROVISION DR. ANDERSON JUST SHARED THEN THEY WOULD COMMUNICATE WITH STUDENT SERVICES TO ENSURE THE FAMILY GOT A HOME HOSPITAL TEACHER. >> THANK YOU. >> EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES I SEE FOR THIS YEAR, THE ADOPTED 2025 AND AGAIN THE PROPOSED 2028, THE AMOUNT IS THE SAME. IT IS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. IS THAT BECAUSE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE STUDENTS WE NEED TO SERVE AND ANTICIPATING AN INCREASE IN THOSE SERVICES? >> I'M A VISUAL LEARNER. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT PAGE YOU'RE ON? >> PAGE 99. IT IS THE EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SERVICES, ALSO FROM NOW ON THAT'S WHAT I'M IN A SAFE AND SOMEBODY'S TALKING TO ME AND I HAVE NO IDEA. >> I REALLY AM A VISUAL LEARNER. >> ME, TOO. >> WE HAVE BASED OUR COSTS ON ESTIMATED ACTUAL COSTS AND NOT SEEING A REAL INCREASE OVERALL IN SERVICES. I'M NOT SURE WHY THE CHANGE WAS SO SIGNIFICANT FROM 24 TO 25 BUT I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEN THE LINE ITEM IT WAS CODED IN. >> THE AMOUNT FOR FY 25 IS THE BUDGET AMOUNT. I WILL BE HAPPY TO CHECK TO SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE SPENT SO FAR. 24 TO 25? >> WE ARE ASSUMING THE SAME SO I WAS NOT SURE IF IT IS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE ARE SERVING, YOU LOOK AT AN INCREASE I WASN'T SURE BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS AROUND WORKSHOPS. SOME OF THE FEEDBACK I RECEIVED WHEN TALKING TO DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS GIVE OUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE THE SAME LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT . IS THIS INCREASE IN WORKSHOPS TO HELP SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SYSTEMS AND OTHER STUFF? >> I'M REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING WITH INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS BECAUSE I THINK PRIOR TO MY TENURE I DON'T KNOW IF MUCH OF ANYTHING WAS HAPPENING SO I AM REALLY PLEASED WITH THAT. WE ARE CURRENTLY PROVIDING PD FOR IA S ON DAYS WHEN TEACHERS ARE DOING [03:10:02] OTHER THINGS IN THE BUILDING AND WE ARE DOING THAT VIRTUALLY SO SOME OF THAT INCREASES FOR THAT, BUT I AM REALLY PROUD OVERALL OF THE WORK THAT MY TEAM HAS DONE AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE. >> BUT, IS THAT INCREASE IN WORKSHOPS OVERALL, IS THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RELATED? IN PREVIOUS YEARS WE WERE AROUND 70,000 BUT NOW PROPOSING 165,000 SO IS THAT WORKSHOP'S LINE ITEM FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT? >> SOME OF IT IS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SOME OF IT IS FOR THE AFTER SCHOOL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE TO DO. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPONENTS TO THAT, SO I DON'T WANT TO ATTRIBUTE IT TO JUST ONE THING BUT PROGRAMMATICALLY, IT IS A REAL PUSH TO BUILD CAPACITY AND TRAIN OUR EMPLOYEES AT EVERY LEVEL -- IAS TEACHERS, AND SUPPORTING STAFF. >> IS ANY OF THAT BUDGET SPECIFICALLY AROUND EXPANDING OUR BEHAVIORAL PROGRAM TRAINING? >> WE HAVE BEEN EXPANDING THAT EXPONENTIALLY FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND WE HAVE REALLY REFINED WHAT WE ARE DOING. WE ARE NOT JUST REACTING TO BEHAVIOR . WE ARE DOING TRAINING ON HOW TO CREATE THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENTS TO SUPPORT ALL LEARNERS AND THEN HOW TO , AT EACH LEVEL, TIER ONE, TIER TWO AND TIER THREE, TEACH THE SKILLS STUDENTS NEED TO IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. >> IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES I WILL COVER PAGES 45 AND 46, THE FISCAL SERVICES BUDGET AND AS A QUICK INTRODUCTION, OUR SERVICES INCLUDE ACCOUNTING, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND RECEIVABLE, BUDGET PREPARATION, CREDIT CARD BILL PROCESSING, EMPLOYEE EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS, FINANCIAL REPORTING, INVESTMENT AND PAYROLL AND EMPLOYEE LEAVE TRACKING, SUPPORT FOR CHILD NUTRITION AND MORE. LOOKING NOW AT OUR PROPOSED FY 26 BUDGET, WE ARE PROPOSING A FEW SIGNIFICANT BUDGET CHANGES ON THE FIRST ONE IS REDUCTION OF OVER $182,000 IN SALARIES AND WAGES. THIS REDUCTION IS DUE TO FY 25 STAFF ATTRITION IN WHICH NEW HIRES WILL LIKELY COME IN WITH LESS EXPERIENCE THAN EMPLOYEES WHO LEFT FOR OTHER PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE SECOND REASON FOR WAGE BUDGET REDUCTION ACCOUNT REDUCTION IS DUE TO BUDGETING CHANGE . NOW, WHEN ONE OF OUR SKILLED CLERKS OR EMPLOYEES BACK FILLS FOR A SCHOOL FINANCIAL SECRETARY POSITION WE CHARGE THAT PORTION OF THE COST TO THE SCHOOL FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAGE ACCOUNT. THIS HELPS US TO BETTER MEET THE BLUEPRINTS REQUIREMENT TO SPEND AT LEAST 75% OF BLUEPRINT FUNDS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL. TURNING NEXT TO THE OTHER CHARGES OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, THE 87 THOUSAND DOLLARS INCREASE ON THE SOFTWARE LINE IS A TRANSFER OF DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC SOFTWARE FROM THE I.T. DEPARTMENT TO THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. THAT IS FOR AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PROGRAM CALLED POWER SCHOOL ERP AND THAT IS USED FOR PAYROLL, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, PROCUREMENT AND MORE . AT THIS TIME , AND WE ALSO HAVE AN $87,000 BUDGET REDUCTION ON THE SOFTWARE LINE DUE MOSTLY TO AN $82,000 REDUCTION IN BUDGET CONTINUED SEE IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR ALL CENTRAL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENTS. AT THIS TIME I WOULD BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. ON PAGE 46 THERE IS A NEW LINE ITEM, $10,000 FOR ADVERTISING. WHAT ARE WE ADVERTISING? >> WE ADVERTISE FOR COMPETITIVE BIDS PRIMARILY FOR THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO HAVE A NEW ADVERTISINGACCOUNT FOR HR, A DIFFERENT PART OF THE BUDGET. >> I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE PLACE BUT I'M GOING TO THROW IT OUT THERE. IS THIS WHERE CONFERENCES WOULD FALL UNDER? >> WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CONFERENCE ACCOUNTS. WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT IN THE FINANCE OFFICE BUT THAT IS EXCLUSIVELY FOR FINANCE STAFF AND WE HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF OTHER CONFERENCE AND [03:15:05] PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS. >> WELL, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE CONFERENCE DATA THAT YOU SENT AND THERE ARE TICKETS PURCHASED FOR OVER $1000. IS THERE A LIMIT ON WHAT A STAFF MEMBER CAN PURCHASE A TICKET OR A FLIGHT FOR? >> I AM NOT AWARE OF THE DOLLAR LIMIT FOR FLIGHT PURCHASES , BUT I CAN VERIFY. I DON'T THINK I HAVE SEEN THAT IN OUR POLICY OR PROCEDURES. >> SO, WE COULD LOOK AT OUR TRAVEL AND REIMBURSEMENT POLICY? >> DEFINITELY. >> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW YOU GUYS HAD A DEPARTURE IN THE DEPARTMENT AND SOME OF THAT IS REFLECTED HERE. ARE YOU LOOKING TO FILL THAT POSITION? >> YES. WE ARE LOOKING TO FILL EACH OF THE VACANT POSITIONS. >> OKAY, SO IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT , INCLUDING FULL STUFFING? >> IT INCLUDES FILLING ALL THE VACANT POSITIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. >> HI, MISS JOHNSON. HOW ARE YOU? WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PAGE 29. IT IS THE GENERAL REVENUE PICTURE. >> BE HAPPY TO TURN TO THAT NOW. >> I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC AND HOPEFULLY THE COMMISSIONERS ARE WATCHING, BUT IT IS LATE FOR SURE. THE NUMBERS PRESENT IN A WAY THAT IT SEEMS LIKE THE PILOT FUNDING IS BEING RESTORED, AND THAT IS NOT ACTUALLY THE CASE. THIS IS A PIECE OF FUNDING THAT IS COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S $500 MILLION PROMISED TO ADD TO EDUCATION. IS THAT CORRECT? >> THE STATE AID AMOUNTS ARE BASED ON THE AMOUNTS FROM THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD CHANGE UP OR DOWN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. >> SO, WAS THERE ANY DISCUSSION WITH MS DE ABOUT RESTORATION OF THE PILOT FUNDS? >> WE DID WRITE A JOINT LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO SEE IF WE COULD RECOUP THE MONEY WE LOST LAST YEAR BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A NEW PILOT IN PLACE, THEY PROACTIVE TO JULY 1 OF 2023 BUT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CONFIRMATION THAT WE CAN REGAIN THE 22.5 MILLION WE DID NOT RECEIVE FY 25. HOWEVER, FY 26 WE ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE THAT $22 MILLION ROUNDABOUT BASED ON WHAT WE GOT FROM MST. >> SPECIFIC TO THE PILOT, NOT SPECIFIC TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROGRAM? >> CORRECT. MOVING FORWARD. WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR DATA IS FROM MSDE WE WERE RESTORED WITH OUR STATE ALLOTMENT. >> THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY PIECE OF THE 500 MILLION THE GOVERNOR IS SETTING ASIDE FOR EDUCATION? >> I'M NOT SURE. >> I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE PILOT MONEY IS SEPARATE. TOTALLY SEPARATE, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY OFFERED THIS YEAR. WESTMORE IN HIS PROPOSED STAGE -- STATE BUDGET WAS HAVING AN ADDITIONAL $500 MILLION TO EDUCATION. THE 20 SOME MILLION THAT WE GOT, COINCIDENTALLY, IS OUR PIECE OF THAT 500 MILLION. >> OKAY, SO THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET STRAIGHT. >> YES . IT IS NOT THE PILOT. IT IS SEPARATE, YES. >> THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE WE NEED A LOBBYING CAMPAIGN FROM THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND DELEGATION COMMISSIONERS . I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COMPTROLLER GIVING ME AN EMAIL TO CALL IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I'M GOING TO SEND THAT GENTLEMAN AN EMAIL BUT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT RESTORATION OF THE PILOT AND THE PIECE OF THE $500 MILLION INVESTMENT AND THAT TAKES A LOT OF PRESSURE OFF OF HERE IN THE KIRWAN REQUIREMENTS. GO AHEAD. [03:20:13] >> WHETHER THERE WAS AN EXTRA 500 THAT THE GOVERNOR IS RECEIVING FOR EDUCATION ON THAT WE STILL WOULD'VE BEEN RESTORED. THAT'S WHY I'M NOT PERSONALLY CARVING IT OUT OF THAT, BECAUSE WHETHER THAT EXISTS OR NOT BASED ON HOW WE ASSESS ON OUR TAX, WE RECEIVED BECAUSE THE PILOT IS NOT IN PLACE. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME ALLOTMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BASED OFF OF THIS. I HAVE A MEETING TOMORROW WITH ALL THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN THE STATE SO I CAN PUT THAT QUESTION ON THE TABLE. >> THE REASON I ASK THAT QUESTION IS BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AND OUR ENROLLMENT IS ACTUALLY COLLAPSING. K THROUGH FIVE ENROLLMENT IS GOING WAY DOWN, ABOUT 84 KIDS PER CLASS PER BUILDING SO THERE ARE 20 KIDS LAST PER CLASS BUILDING SO THAT IS SOMETHING I THINK WE ALSO HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH. YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT. THANK YOU. >> THIS IS NOT NECESSARILY IN YOUR FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTION, BUT IT IS -- YOU CAN EXPLAIN THIS TO THE PUBLIC. IN THE LOCAL FUND ON PAGE FIVE, IN THE REVENUE SUMMARY, WE ARE RECEIVING A ONE TIME OVER $1 MILLION PAYMENT, IF YOU WILL, REVENUE STREAM . CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS TO THE PUBLIC, PLEASE. >> YES. WE HAVE TWO TYPES OF RESERVES . ONE IS FOR PROPERTY INSURANCE AND THE OTHER IS FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE SO THOSE FUNDS HAVE ACCUMULATED AT MABE AND IT SEEMS PRUDENT TO TAP THOSE FUNDS FOR FY 26. >> THEY ARE HOLDING MONEY FOR US? >> IT IS PART OF THE RATE STABILIZATION FUNDS THEY HAVE. >> ANY INTEREST ON THAT MONEY? >> THEY DON'T CREDIT US INTEREST. I ACTUALLY DID ASK. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. JOHNSON? THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. >> AND, THAT CONCLUDES OUR BUDGET SESSION . >> BUT THAT SLIDE UP. MELISSA WILL CLICK THROUGH REAL QUICK. I PROMISE. EVERYONE'S CLOSING COMMENTS WILL BE VERY SHORT. SO, AS A COMMITMENT TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM -- THAT IS DR. TOWNSEL'S. WHILE WE ARE GETTING THE RIGHT POWERPOINT UP, WE HAD ASKED STAFF . WE HAVE COME UP WITH A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS, A SURVEY, I'M DR. JOHNSON AND STAFF WORKED TO SEND OUT THIS SURVEY TO ALL OF THE C CPS STAFF. THE BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT , AS OUR COMMITMENT WE SENT THIS OUT. IT WAS ANONYMOUS AND CONFIDENTIAL AND SENT TO ALL STAFF. AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, 939 TEACHERS RESPONDED AND 479 SUPPORT STAFF. WE WERE APPRECIATIVE OF -- I CHANGED THIS WHOLE ENTIRE SLIDE RIGHT HERE AND IT IS NOT THE RIGHT ONE. THE COMPLETE LIST -- COMPLETENESS AND HONESTY, I DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE THAT, NOT ME. WE WERE PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS WE RECEIVED AND WE APPRECIATED THE CANDID FEEDBACK THAT MANY OF THE STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED TO US. WE ALSO HAVE SHARED THE RESULTS WITH THE C LETTER A LETTER A AND CASE PRESIDENTS AND WE HAVE A COMMON GOAL . WE RECOGNIZE AND ARE [03:25:03] EXCITED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. THE PURPOSE FOR SHARING THIS DURING THIS VERY LONG MEETING WAS ONE, IN TRANSPARENCY SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND HOW THE SCHOOL STAFF ARE FEELING BUT ALSO TO HELP THE PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY UNDERSTAND WHY OR BUDGET PRIORITIES WILL SHIFT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS. WE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CLASSROOM STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO . ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF PREVIOUS SPORTS WAS THE STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO IN CLASSES. HOW MANAGEABLE IS IT? YOU CAN SEE HER 66% SAID YES, 38 NO AND THEN NONAPPLICABLE'S WERE NOT TEACHERS. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS ANSWERED BY SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT A CLASSROOM TEACHER SO IT COULD'VE BEEN AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT OR OTHERS THAT ANSWERED. THEY FELT THESE WERE THE RESPONSES THEY GAVE, THAT 35% WAS MANAGEABLE. SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING WE TALKED ABOUT OR ASKED ABOUT. 63% SAID YES, IT SHOULD BE BASED ON INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ASKED WAS DO YOU SUPPORT GIVING A STUDENT PERCENT FOR TURNING IN MY WORK. BIG RESULT OF THEIR . TEACHERS SAID NO, THEY DON'T. SO THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK. NON-CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND OTHER STAFF SAID THE SAME THING. THEY DON'T SUPPORT IT. 75%. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND NEVER USED AND TO CLARIFY THIS QUESTION AND I THINK WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THEY'RE TRYING TO REPLACE US WITH TECHNOLOGY, NO, NO. QUITE THE OPPOSITE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A BALANCE, THAT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BEING USED IS USED IN A WAY TO ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE STUDENT BUT ALSO ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS, NOT JUST IN APPLICATIONS THAT ARE FOR STUDENTS, BUT DAY TO DAY USE OF APPLICATIONS, EVEN SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WHERE YOU LOG YOUR TIME SHEETS. ALL THOSE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES. SAME THING , TEACHERS -- DID YOU JUST SKIP THROUGH THE WHOLE QUESTION? I DON'T KNOW. JUST KEEP GOING. OTHER TECHNOLOGIES OR PROGRAMS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WOULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE FOR BETTER SUPPORT YOUR STUDENTS? 47% SAID YES. 37, NO AND 17, NA. CLASSROOM TEACHER, NO. AGAIN THE RESULTS 29%. 35 WERE KNOWS. 'S COLLABORATION WITH THE TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION SPECIALIST ENHANCING THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN WRITING LESSON PLANS WHILE ALSO CHALLENGING STUDENTS TO DEMONSTRATE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MATERIAL THROUGH ASSIGNMENTS. 36% SAID YES, 35 SAID NO AND 19% NOT APPLICABLE. DO YOU NEED HELP IN THE CLASSROOM. THE NON-TEACHER RESPONSE 37% SAID YES. 32 AND 42% SAID NOT APPLICABLE. THESE WERE SUPPORT STAFF QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED. ASPECTS OF YOUR JOB YOU FEEL COULD BE HANDLED BETTER BY SOMEONE ELSE. 55% SAID NO. I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD. 34%, YES. CCPS PURCHASE TECHNOLOGIES OR PROGRAMS YOU THINK ARE RELEVANT TO YOUR WORK THAT ARE NEVER USED? 61% SAID YES. SAME SITUATION HERE. TECHNOLOGIES OR PROGRAMS YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE? THIS WAS AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU TALK TO TEACHERS OR TALK TO FOLKS IN THE BUILDINGS, THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON A LOT OF THINGS, SO IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO UNDERSTAND SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, APPLICATIONS OR THINGS TO BE AWARE OF THAT ARE [03:30:05] HOPEFUL THAT THEY COULD LEARN ABOUT. TIME-CONSUMING TASKS THAT COULD BE REVISED, IMPROVED, OR AUTOMATED. 37% SAID YES. 50% SAID NO. 13, NA. SO AN INITIAL ANALYSIS, AND WE JUST DID RECEIVE THIS THIS WEEK SO WE HAD A QUICK OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF REVIEW BUT OBVIOUSLY LOOKING AT THE GRADING POLICY MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REVISIT THAT . THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES THAT EXIST IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT WE DO HAVE SOME GREAT TECHNOLOGY, BUT MAYBE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME TRAINING FOR JOB AIDS FOR THINGS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE OPTIMALLY USING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AND THAT STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS OR AUTOMATION COULD REDUCE THE STAFF WORKLOAD AND REDUCE BURNOUT. THANK YOU, AND [8.01 Comments by the Board] GOOD NIGHT. >> OKAY, ALL RIGHT, WE WILL HAVE BOARD COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION. WE WILL START WITH YOU. >> FIRST I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE STAFF THAT SENT US VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS. IT REALLY WAS SUPER HEARTWARMING TO ARRIVE TODAY TO A TON OF CARDS, SO THANK YOU. ALSO, I WANT TO THANK STEPH AGAIN FOR TAKING TIME TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY. WE DID RECEIVE FANTASTIC COMMENTS. I HAVE READ EVERY SINGLE LINE OF THOSE COMMENTS AND PLAN TO UTILIZE THOSE AS WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND YOU KNOW, MY NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF. ELECTIONS WERE FANTASTIC TODAY. I REALLY ENJOYED PARTICIPATING IN THAT AND I AM APOLOGIZING TO EVERYONE FOR KEEPING US HERE SO LATE. THANK YOU. >> MISS GRENIS. >> FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE NEW STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ALLISON JONES FROM NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU JOIN OUR TEAM. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY TO ANSWER THE NUMEROUS BUDGET QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY BOARD MEMBERS NOT ONLY TODAY THAT OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL STAFF MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SURVEY. OUR GOAL IS TO ENSURE THAT CCPS STAFF HAS A VOICE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS. THIS BOARD VALUES OUR EMPLOYEES. WE VALUE YOUR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS AND ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE SUPPORT YOU NEED TO BETTER OUR SYSTEM. YOUR TIME AND COMMENTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IN MY OPINION, THE BUDGET PRIORITIES NEED TO FOCUS ON OUR STAFF. WHEN TEACHERS ARE ASKED, DO YOU NEED MORE HELP IN THE CLASSROOM, AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, 62% SAID YES. MIDDLE SCHOOL, 59%, AND HIGH SCHOOL, 39%. OUR TEACHERS NOTED IN THE SURVEY COMMENTS THAT THEY NEED MORE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE, MORE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND MORE SUBSTITUTES. THIS BUDGET SHOULD AIM TO GET THE MORE HELP. FROM SURVEY RESULTS THERE IS A CLEAR NEED FOR MORE SUPPORT AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVELS. BY PROVIDING THE SUPPORTS NEEDED TO OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS, WE COULD POTENTIALLY ALLEVIATE THE ACADEMIC CHALLENGES AND BEHAVIORAL ISSUES THAT OCCUR BETWEEN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL. THE SURVEY PRESENTED TONIGHT IS ONE STEP IN WORKING TOWARDS THE GOAL OF REDUCING TURNOVER, IMPROVING MORAL, AND GIVING OUR STAFF A VOICE. THANK YOU. >> JOE. >> IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS I HAVE HAD A LOT OF GOOD EXPERIENCES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY WITH THE SKILLS USA COMPETITION, SO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PUT ON A FANTASTIC SPAGHETTI DINNER DOWN THERE. IT WAS GREAT BUT THE ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT EVERY TIME I HAVE WALKED IN ANY OF OUR BUILDINGS IS HOW IMMACULATE AND CLEAN THEY ALL ARE. OUR BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS AND SUPPORT STAFF DO AN AMAZING JOB. I HAVE NOT SEEN A DIRTY BUILDING YET. THEY ARE ALL SPOTLESS. THEY ARE SHINING. THEY ARE A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR KIDS SO I REALLY WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND THANK THEM FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF. >> I THINK IT WAS GREAT TO HAVE THE FOOTBALL GUYS HERE. PRETTY AWESOME THAT WE WON THE STATE CHAMPION. THAT'S GREAT. I SAY WE. I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR IT. NEXT THURSDAY WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BUDGET MEETING. SCOTT, I [03:35:02] WILL PEPPER YOU AGAIN WITH QUESTIONS AND THE CONCENTRATION FOR NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE FIXED CHARGES. PROBABLY WE SHOULD BE CALLING THOSE FRINGE BENEFITS. THEY ARE FAR FROM FIXED BUT YEAH. I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR BEING HERE LATE. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WORKED ALL DAY AND THE NEXT THREE, FOUR OR FIVE HOURS IS A LOT SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US. MS. JOHNSON AND MS. JACKIE, WE ARE HERE ALL THE TIME ANYWAY SO IT'S THE SAME OLD. THAT'S IT FOR ME. THANK YOU. >> I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY BOARD MEMBERS. I TOO RECEIVED LOTS OF VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS. I'M GOING TO GO HOME AND BRAG UNTIL MY KIDS THAT THEY ARE SERIOUSLY SLACKING, JUST UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS THE WAY TO GO SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THOSE. IT IS REALLY REFRESHING TO SEE THIS AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE SENTIMENT. CONGRATS TO THE SHE WROTE ME A NOTE TO TELL ME HE HAD TO GO HOME AND GO TO BED. SHE HAD TO DRIVE. I WANTED HER TO TAKE ME WITH HER BUT NONETHELESS, THE STEM EXPO IS COMING UP IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK THAT OUT. IT IS AMAZING, ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS, SO PLEASE DO THAT. I SAT THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR. I WANT TO APPLAUD THE STAFF AND COUNSEL. YOU ALL DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I FELT LIKE YOU WERE VERY PREPARED TO ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS. I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT AND THE TIME YOU ALL PUT IN TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH BUT IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL HAVE SOMETHING AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE 27 AND DELIVER ON TIME TO OUR COMMISSIONERS. WITH THAT, * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.