[2.01 Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]
[00:00:13]
I CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. WE'LL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[2.02 SY 2024-25 Calendar Adjustment]
>>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA WE HAVE SCHOOL YEAR 2024- 2025 CALENDAR. MISS JACKIE JACOBS.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I AM JACKIE JACOBS, CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER ON THE 2024- 2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR.
THIS YEAR THE SCHOOLS HAVE RESULTED IN INCLEMENT WEATHER THAT RESULTED IN SCHOOL CLOSINGS ON FEBRUARY 7, 8 AND 13.
THE SCHOOL CALENDAR IDENTIFIES THE FOLLOWING INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS, JUNE 12, JUNE 13TH AND DAYS ADDED TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A CLOSURE NOTIFICATION FORM TO USDE WITHIN TEN DAYS OF REOPENING OUTLINING HOW THE SCHOOL PLANS TO MAKE UP THE MISSED DAYS INCLUDING THE MAKEUP DAYS.
13A.02.04. D2A INDICATES THAT IF INCLEMENT WEATHER AND OTHER SIGNIFICANT CONDITIONS CAUSES THE STUDENT DAY TO FALL ON A MONDAY, THE AGENCY CAN REQUEST A WAIVER TO END THE SCHOOL YEAR ON THE PROCEEDING FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 13TH, INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY YOU WOULD BE MADE UP ON MONDAY, JUNE 16.
TWO DECISIONS WOULD NEED TO BE MADE TONIGHT. THE FIRST DECISION IS WHETHER THE BOARD WOULD LIKE THE CALENDAR TO REMAIN AS WRITTEN AND REQUEST A WAIVER FOR THE LAST DAY SINCE IT CURRENTLY FALLS ON A MONDAY. THE SECOND DECISION CONCERNS HOW THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW ADDITIONAL INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS WOULD BE MADE UP, THAT WOULD BE EITHER THE BOARD COULD DECIDE TO LEAVE THE CALENDAR AS WRITTEN.
CONTINUE TO ADD DAYS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, POSSIBLY UTILIZE OTHER DAYS THAT ARE OPEN WITHIN THE CALENDAR BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR SUCH AS SPRING BREAK, RECESS OR REQUEST TO USE A HOLIDAY.
EACH -- ANY TIME WE REQUEST TO USE A HOLIDAY IT WOULD REQUIRE MSDE APPROVAL.
THIS IS OPEN FOR YOUR DISCUSSION.
THAT FONT IS VERY SMALL, AND I'M IT UP ON MY COMPUTER.
THE FIRST ONE IS DO WE WANT TO ASK MSDE FOR A WAIVER FOR THAT MONDAY? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE HAVE OTHER INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS?
>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS COULD BE TO RESUBMIT THE WAIVER AND IF IT IS APPROVED AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INCLEMENT WEATHER WE MAY HAVE TO IDENTIFY A DAY WITHIN THE SCHOOL YEAR SUCH AS SPRING RECESS THAT WE WOULD USE TO MAKE UP THAT DAY BECAUSE THEN OUR LAST STUDENT DAY WOULD NOT BE ON A MONDAY AND THE WAIVER WOULD BE NULL AND VOID EVEN IF IT WAS APPROVED.
>> OKAY. >> IF WE CHOOSE TO CONTINUE TO ADD DAYS TO THE END OF THE YEAR WE WOULD GO FROM THAT TUESDAY VERSUS THAT MONDAY.
>> SO WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD THAT MSDE WOULD APPROVE THAT WAIVER FOR THAT LAST DAY, THAT MONDAY?
>> SO I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH MSDE LAST WEEK TO ASK ABOUT THAT WAIVER OF THAT MONDAY. WHAT WAS SHARED WITH ME IS THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO REQUEST A WAIVER WOULD NEED TO ADD THREE DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. WE'VE TECHNICALLY ADDED TWO.
THE THIRD ENDS ON A MONDAY SO MY NEXT REQUEST WAS CAN WE STILL REQUEST THE WAIVER, AND SHE SAID YES BECAUSE IT ENDS ON A MONDAY. WHETHER OR NOT THEY APPROVE IT, I'M NOT SURE. WE ARE REQUIRED TO GO 180 DAYS BASED ON COMAR AND MSD IS THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN WAIVE THAT
REQUIREMENT. >> AND IF THEY DON'T WAIVE THAT DAY WE GO TO SCHOOL.
>> YES. UNLESS YOU CHOOSE ANOTHER DAY ON THE CALENDAR TO MAKE UP.
>> WHICH HOPEFULLY WE WOULD KNOW IN TIME ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> JUST FYI, ON FRIDAY AT KAZAAM, I MET
[00:05:04]
WITH STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. KERRY WRIGHT AND THIS IS A POINT OF CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE'S SUPERINTENDENT. SO THEY ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE WAIVERS. IT IS A QUICK TURNAROUND ACCORDING TO DR.KERRY WRIGHT. SO THEY ARE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE IT. WE DID STATE OUR CASE IN PERSON AND IT'S UP TO THEIR LEXICON TO A DEGREE. JUST FYI, I DID PRE- MESSAGE THAT WE WOULD BE SENDING THEM A WAIVER. POSSIBLY.
>> OKAY. >> SO IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, WE HAVE TO -- WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKES UP TWO SCHOOL DAYS, RIGHT? DID WE MISS TWO DAYS OR THREE
MISSED FOUR. >> SO THREE OF THE DAYS ARE BEING MADE UP BEFORE THEY WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE CALENDAR AND WE WERE REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY THOSE DAYS, MARCH WAS ONE OF THEM. ? THE 31ST, JUNE 12TH AND JUNE 13TH AND THEN WE'RE GOING REQUEST A WAIVER. SORRY. GOT IT.
? SO I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION AND WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED AN EMAIL ABOUT THE HOURS VERSUS THE DAYS. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. WITH INCOME, IT DOES EXPLAIN THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE TO GO 180 DAYS AND MEET A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS, AND BASED ON THAT I BELIEVE IT'S 1,080 HOURS.
THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS MINIMUM AMOUNT OF INSTRUCTION. IT IS AN AND NOT AN OR.
SO WE DO AS CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOLS EXCEED THE NUMBER OF HOURS, BUT THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I THINK OF EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS THAT WILL DETRACT FROM THE NUMBER OF HOURS OUR STUDENTS ARE IN A SEAT. SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO BASE OUR CALENDAR OVER THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS.
WE HAVE TO GO 180 DAYS AND STILL MEET THAT MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS.
>> OKAY. ARE WE READY TO MAKE A
MOTION? >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
>> SO IF WE REQUEST A WAIVER FOR A MONDAY WE HAVE ANOTHER INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY WHICH NOW FALLS ON A MONDAY. CAN WE REQUEST A SECOND WAIVER?
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE SO. I THINK THE FIRST WAIVER, IF IT WAS APPROVED IT WOULD PROBABLY BE DENIED.
IF WE TACK IT ON TO THE END OF THE YEAR, IF WE DECIDE TO UTILIZE A SPRING RECESS DAY OR A HOLIDAY BETWEEN NOW AND THEN THEN THAT WAIVER WOULD STILL STAND AS IT WOULD FALL ON A
MONDAY. >> WHEN DO YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT THE WAIVER BY? BECAUSE TYPICALLY, WE CAN GET SNOW IN MARCH HERE.
>> WE'D HAVE TO SUBMIT IT WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RE-OPENING.
WE'D HAVE TO SUBMIT IT BY FEBRUARY 22ND TO SAY HOW WE WANT TO MAKE IT UP. SO WE COULD SUBMIT NOW WHICH WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION. OUR LAST STUDENT DAY FALLS ON A MONDAY AND KWT FAVOR AND SEE WHAT MSDE SAYS.
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST DECISION FOR YOU TO MAKE, AND THEN THE SECOND DECISION WOULD BE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IF OTHER INCLEMENT WEATHER HAPPENS AND THAT DECISION DOESN'T TECHNICALLY HAVE TO HAPPEN TONIGHT, BUT IT COULD BE A GOOD DISCUSSION TO ENGAGE IN.
>> SO IF WE WOULD GET THE WAIVER AND THEN HAVE ANOTHER SNOW DAY, IS AN OPTION ON THE TABLE OFFERING PERHAPS FLEX HOURS WHERE THEY COULD WORK ADDITIONAL HOURS A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OR COME IN EARLY? TO MAKE UP THOSE SEVEN HOURS?
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENT DAYS RIGHT NOW.
SO OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL FOR 180 DAYS.
>> I'M SORRY. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> SO THE DECISION'S GOT TO BE MADE BY THE 22ND. SO REALLY, YOU HAVE TO SUBMIT THE WAIVER REQUEST TOMORROW.
>> SO IF WE SUBMIT THAT WAIVER REQUEST TOMORROW AND IT'S NOT -- I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW IT'S APPROVED OR NOT BEFORE SPRING RECESS AND ENOUGH TIME TO POSSIBLY UTILIZE THAT FIRST MONDAY OF SPRING RECESS.
NOBODY WANTS TO DO, BUT I WOULD MUCH RATHER --
>> BECAUSE PART OF THE CONVERSATION COULD BE, ONE, THE DECISION ABOUT THE WAIVER AND HAVING THE LAST STUDENT DAY BE ON THE 16TH.
YOU COULD ALSO DECIDE THAT WE DON'T WANT THE LAST STUDENT DAY ON THE 16TH AND WE'LL TAKE A DAY AWAY FROM SPRING RECESS. THAT IS ANOTHER DECISION THE BOARD CAN MAKE, BUT I DO BELIEVE AND NOTIFY THE COMMUNITY THAT IN FUTURE EVENTS WE'LL TAKE THAT OFF SOONER HARTH RATHER LATER ON A SPRING RECESS DAY. YOU HAD A HOLIDAY AND
[00:10:03]
NOT THAT ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE THOSE AWAY, EITHER. CAN YOU HAVE MEMORIAL DAY AND WITHIN SPRING RECESS IT IS REQUIRING AN MSDE APPROVAL TOTO USE.>> SO JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR, THERE ARE CURRENTLY DESIGNATED MAKE- UP DAYS ALREADY PENCILED IN.
THAT'S MARCH 31ST, JEAN 12TH AND THE 13 TH, AND WE ARE POTENTIALLY ASKING MSDE A WAIVER FOR FEBRUARY 13TH.
IN THE EVENT THAT IT SNOWS, IT SAYS IT'S NOT GOING TO BECAUSE IT WILL BE 70 DEGREES UNTIL JUNE. I'M CHANNELING IT.
IT'S FREEZING. THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT SPRING RECESS OR A HOLIDAY OR
AND IT'S JUNE 16TH WOULD BE THE MAKE-UP DAY THAT WE WOULD REQUEST A WAIVER FOR. YOU SAID
FEBRUARY. >> IF WE WERE DENIED IT WOULD BE JUNE 16TH.
>> SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO SUBMIT THE WAIVER FOR THE MONDAY JUNE THE 16TH.
>> I SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
SORRY. I WAS THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
MOTION CARRIED. SO WE'LL LEAVE THE THREE DESIGNATED DAYS ALREADY. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION BECAUSE THAT WAS ALREADY ON THE CALENDAR. SO I THINK WE'RE GOOD THERE, AND THEN DO WE NEED TO HAVE A CONSIDERATION FOR ADDITIONAL MAKEUP DAYS RIGHT NOW OR SHOULD WE --
>> YOU DO NOT, BUT I DID WANT TO PUT THAT OUT AS FAR AS WHAT DAYS WERE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CALENDAR.
SO THE ONLY DAYS WE HAVE BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF THE YEAR THAT ARE POSSIBILITIES ARE SPRING RECESS.
>> YEAH. >> MEMORIAL DAY, AND THEN THE WAY THE CALENDAR CURRENTLY READS IT WOULD CONTINUE TO BE TACKED ON AT THE END OF THE YEAR. SO JUNE 17TH, 18TH.
SO BECAUSE YOU'RE THE EXPERT, IF WE GET THE WAIVER APPROVED AND WE HAVE ANOTHER SNOW DAY, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THAT MONDAY WOULD BE THE LAST DAY AGAIN?
>> SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
IF WE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO END ON THAT FRIDAY THEN I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO UTILIZE A DIFFERENT DAY WITHIN THE CALENDAR. I'M WONDERING IF THE WAIVER WOULD BE PULLED AND THAT NO LONGER APPROVED AND THEN WE WOULDED WOULD HAVE TO GO THAT MONDAY OR
TUESDAY. >> OR WE'D HAVE TO MAKE UP THOSE TWO
>> I CAN GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT. MY THINKING IS IF THEY APPROVE IT AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL ON MONDAY IT'S APPROVED AND IF ANOTHER SNOW DAY HAPPENS, THEN IT'S ALREADY APPROVED. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD DISQUALIFY THE WAIVER, JUST TO KNOW.
I MEAN WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN YOU GET
IT. >> AND KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
[2.03 Budget Discussion]
THANK YOU.>> OKAY NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS BUDGET DISCUSSION.
SO MAYBE I'LL START IT OFF. OKAY, GREAT.
THANKS SO MUCH. WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION LAST WEEK AND WE HAVE BEEN PUTTING TOGETHER AS INDIVIDUALS KIND OF THE PRIORITIES OF THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY BASED ON THE SURVEY THAT WE SHARED AND AS A RESULT WE WANTED TO COME TOGETHER TODAY TO SHARE THOSE WITH THE PUBLIC AS WELL AS WITH THE SCHOOL STAFF IN AN EFFORT TO KIND OF REVISIT WHERE THESE -- THESE PRIORITIES MAY FIT IN OUR BUDGET. I WILL ALSO SAY THAT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION AT THIS POINT THAT WE WILL NOT BE SEEKING ADDITIONAL MONIES FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
SO THAT ANY OF THE PRIORITIES THAT WE HEAR OR THAT WE STATE HERE, THE MONIES SHOULD BE -- WE SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW IN THE BUDGET WE CAN FIT THOSE WHERE WE HAVE OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE TO CUT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES SHOULD THIS COME TO FRUITION. ANYBODY WANT TO START WITH THEIR PRIORITIES? WE WANT TO START WITH A LIST?
[00:15:02]
>> KAREN, CAN I SHARE THAT LIST OR NO?
>> CAN YOU SEND IT TO HER AND SHE MIGHT BE ABLE TO PUT IT UP?
>> WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT I CAN JUST GET STARTED.
>> THANK YOU. >> I KNOW SOME OF MINE OFF THE TOP. SO I KNOW I'D SHARED DURING MY COMMENT AT THE FIRST BUDGET PRESENTATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A GATE TEACHER IN EVERY SCHOOL AFTER REVIEWING THE BUDGET.
AT THIS STAGE I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AT LEAST TWO GATE TEACHERS THAT WOULD GIVE US AT LEAST THE ABILITY TO HAVE A GATE TEACHER SPLIT BUILDINGS AND THEY CAN SPLIT TWO AND A HALF DAYS PER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE THAT. I KNOW THERE WAS ALSO SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL VPS OF THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS AND THEY WOULD ONLY HAVE TWO VPS AS WELL AS, STS.
I PERSONALLY THINK THAT WE NEED FOUR VPS AT EVERY SCHOOL END IN SST LEAD AT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL, BUT I WOULD SAY I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO TALK TO THE PRINCIPALS AT THE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS AND KNOWN IF THEY WOULD NEED ONE FOR THE TWO THAT DOESN'T HAVE THEM, AND THE VP FOR THE TWO THAT DON'T HAVE THEM. ? JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.
I SHARED LAST WEEK, BUT I ONLY TOUCHED ON IT.
CURRENTLY, BECAUSE THE THREE HIGH SCHOOLS WERE REDUCED TO THREE ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES, THEY USED THE CURRENT STAFFING AND KAFRNED OUT THE AN SST POSITION AND IN ESSENCE, THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE BACK TO YOU, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE TWO APS AND FOUR SSTS BECAUSE WHEN I TALKED TO THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AT THE OTHER TWO SCHOOLS THAT HAVE FOUR APS, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN CARVING OUT ADDITIONAL -- AN ADDITIONAL POSITION FROM THEIR CURRENT STAFFING. IF YOU ASK THE TWO PRINCIPALS WHO HAVE THE SSTS, THEY DID THAT IN ORDER TO HELP ACCOMMODATE THE FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES AND WOULD PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ASSISTANT
PRINCIPLES. >> SO MY REQUEST IS I WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE FOUR VPS AND AN SST AT EVERY ONE OF THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO SPEAK WITH THE PRINCIPALS, IF THE PRINCIPALS THAT DON'T HAVE AN SST THINK THEY'RE DOING JUST FINE AND THEY DON'T NEED ONE.
THEY'RE THE EXPERTS OF THEIR BUILDINGS. FROM WHAT I HEARD IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AND AN SST IN EVERY ONE OF THESE BUILDINGS, BUT IF THEY SAY THEY DON'T NEED THEM?
>> AT MINIMUM, I THINK WE ARE ASKING FOR A MINIMUM FOR THE TWO VPS OF THEIR TWO SCHOOLS.
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO BACK TO THE GATE TEACHERS.
I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT POSITION RIGHT NOW. THE WAY THEY'RE BEING UTILIZE SIDE NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THE TEACHERS, IT'S SUPPORTING THE NEED OF A WIDE VARIETY OF STUDENTS. THE GATE TEACHERS ARE, IN ESSENCE -- I'M SORRY. WHERE WAS I GOING?
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE IDEAL IF WE COULD GET A GATE TEACHER IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I KNOW THAT THE PRICE TAG FOR THAT COULD BE VERY HEFTY, BUT I AGREE. I THINK WE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER -- WE HAVE FOUR CURRENTLY, SO A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST TWO MORE GATE TEACHERS.
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? FOR GATE TEACHERS, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF RECRUITING A GATE TEACHER OR IS IT A CERTIFICATION JUST TO CLARIFY FOR ANYONE LISTENING WHO ISN'T AWARE OF WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.
>> THERE IS A CERTIFICATION TO BECOME A GATE TEACHER.
I'VE NEVER GONE THROUGH IT SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF IT, BUT THEY DO GO THROUGH A CERTIFICATION AS A
GATE TEACHER. >> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE TRAINING, OUR COUNTY OR OUR BOARD WOULD PAY FOR OR
[00:20:02]
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD PAY FOR OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT A TEACHER TAKES ON ON THEIR OWN?>> SO WITHIN THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COURSE REIMBURSEMENT WHEN YOU'RE GETTING CERTIFICATION, TYPICALLTYPICALLY FOR SOMETHING LIKE A GATE TEACHER OR SPECIAL ED CERTIFICATION THERE'S CERTAIN COURSE WORK THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE IN ORDER TO GET THAT CERTIFICATION. IN ORDER TOR GET REIMBURSEMENT IT SHOULD BE IN THE AGREEMENT BE LIMITED BASED ON HOW MUCH ANNUAL LEAVE THEY'LL GET, SO THERE COULD BE SOME SUPPORT THROUGH THAT PROCESS THROUGH THAT BENEFIT IN THE AGREEMENT, BUT IT MAY NOT ACCOUNT FOR EVERY COURSE THAT THEY MAY TAKE TO GET CERTIFICATION.
>> GOT IT. I THINK MY QUESTION IS IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET, WHAT PIECE OF THE BUDGET WOULD BE GOING TOWARD GETTING TO -- AT LEAST TWO GATE TEACHERS AT EVERY SCHOOL? I'M JUST WONDERING HOW THE ACTUAL PRIORITY FITS INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> SO ESSENTIALLY, WE WOULD HAVE TO -- WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND MONEY WITHIN THE BUDGET AND THAT MAY MEAN THAT EITHER THERE'S MONEY IN A RESERVE FUND THAT WE CAN USE AND ADD THOSE TWO POSITIONS OR LOOK AT VACANCIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE BOOKS FOR A LONG TIME AND THOSE CAN BE REAL GAITED, AND IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS IN THE BIRTH BUDGET AND OTHER KIND OF NON- PERSONNEL RELATED CHARGES THAT WE COULD MOVE THAT MONEY.
>> THAT MAKES SENSE. MY CONNECT BACK THE MONEY THAT WE WERE TAKING FROM OTHER PLACES GO TOWARD PAYING FOR THAT COURSE
WORK? >> THE CERTIFICATION FOR THAT ACTUAL TEACHER.
>> SO I THINK THE ASSUMPTION IS THAT WE WOULD HIRE THAT TEACHER WHO ALREADY HAS THAT CERTIFICATION.
>> UNDERSTOOD. THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.
>> YEAH. THAT WOULDN'T BE A TEACHER THAT WE WOULD THEN PAY NECESSARILY TO GET A CERTIFICATE. IT'S AN OPTION ON THEIR
>> SO IF THERE ARE TEACHER CANDIDATES WE WILL LOOK TO THOSE THAT ARE CERTIFIED FIRST.
IF THERE ARE NO CERTIFIED CANDIDATES AND WE WANT EIGHT TEACHERS THERE MIGHT BE A PROVISION WHERE WE WOULD SAY OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO HIRE THOSE THAT ARE MOST CLOSELY ALIGNED TO FINISH THE CERTIFICATION IN ORDER TO GET THE GATE TEACHERS IN.
I WAS JUST THINKING WHAT WOULD THE VIABILITY OF INSTEAD OF LOOKING TO CREATE OR HIRE ENTIRELY NEW GATE TEACHERS, CERTIFY CURRENT TEACHERS TO FILL THAT ROLE? THAT WAS KIND OF WHAT I WAS WONDERING, BUT THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
>> ALONG THE LINES OF GATE TEACHERS AND I KNOW I'LL PROBABLY GET BEAT UP IN THE PARKING LOT FOR SAYING THIS WITH MELISSA AND LISA. I KNOW THAT GATE IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM, AND I DO RECOGNIZE THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HIGH PERFORMERS AND IT IS ONLY 2% TO 3% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION AND IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL I THINK THERE ALSO NEEDS TO BE AN EMPHASIS ON LEARNING SPECIALISTS OR READING SPECIALISTS OR LITERACY SPECIALISTS. I SAY THAT BECAUSE THAT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR EVERYTHING, AND IF KIDS CAN'T READ COMING OUT OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL I THINK IT PUTS ANY STUDENT AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE.
I KNOW GATE TEACHERS CAN BE ALLOCATED AND UTILIZED AT THE END OF THE DAY FOR A NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AND MAYBE BROADER THAN WHAT THEY'RE BEING UTILIZED FOR AND THERE IS A DIFFERENT SKILL SET AND A DIFFERENT TRAINING FOR A LITERACY SPECIALIST VERSUS WHAT A GATE TEACHER HAS, AND I CERTAINLY HONOR THE REQUEST THAT LISA AND MELISSA SAYS AND WE SHOULD LOOK AT WHERE THERE WILL BE DEFICITS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVELS, AS WELL.
I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE NONE OR THERE SHOULD BE MORE IN TERMS OF THINKING ABOUT GATE, BUT THINKING ABOUT EVERY OTHER STUDENT, AS WELL AND LITERACY IS REALLY THE FOUNDATION.
>> SOMETHING FOR CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE TO HIRE -- I KNOW IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD INTERVENTIONISTS. WE'VE HAD INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS TRAINED TO DO INTERVENTIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, I KNOW HIRING MORE STAFF GETS PRICEY, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY A NEED AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVELS.
>> DO WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT FOR LEARNING SPECIALISTS IN TERMS OF NUMBERS IN EACH SCHOOL
[00:25:02]
OR IS THERE A STATE REQUIREMENT FOR THAT?>> THERE IS NO STATE REQUIREMENT SO EACH COUNTY HAS DIFFERENT POSITIONS BASED ON WHAT THEY'VE DECIDED TO ADD FOR THEIR COUNTY.
>> SO I THINK WHILE WE'RE ON THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUBJECT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING WAS SAFETY ADVOCATES AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR BEHAVIOR TECHS, AND I RECENTLY LEARNED FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE MUCH PREFERRED TO HAVE A BEHAVIOR TECH IN THEIR SCHOOL BASEDED ON THE CURRENT CLIMATE AND WHAT WE KNOW AND THE RESOURCES, I WOULD ALSO ASK THAT THERE BE A BEHAVIOR TECH ADDED TO EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THIS CURRENT BUDGET.
>> SO I HAVE A QUESTION. I SUPPORT THAT REQUEST. I HAVE A QUESTION. HOW MANY BEHAVIOR TECHS DO WE HAVE AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL TODAY? THEY FLOAT, RIGHT? THERE'S NO ONE THAT'S DESIGNATED NOW? SO WE HAVE FIVE AND A HALF BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS AND THEN WE HAVE FIVE BEHAVIOR TECHS THAT WORK UNDER THE
SPECIALISTS. >> AND THAT'S JUST AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL.
>> THAT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THOSE BEHAVIOR TECHES THAT IS SPECIFICALLY ASSIGNED SHOULD ALSO REPORT TO THAT STAFF IN THAT BUILDING.
THEY SHOULD REPORT TO THE ADMINISTRATORS IN THE BUILDING AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KNOW MORE THAN EVER WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE NEEDED AND THAT DEFINITELY HAS TO BE A PRIORITY. WE'VE ALL -- YOU SAID WE HAD FIVE AND A HALF BEHAVIOR TECH.
OKAY. >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE 1 1/2 VACANCIES OF THE SPECIALISTS.
>> WITH THAT OR SAFETY ADVOCATE FOR EACH OF
THESE SCHOOLS. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BEHAVIORAL TECH AND A BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST?
>> YOU GUYS DIDN'T KNOW THERE WOULD BE A TEST, RIGHT?
>> SORRY. THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWERS SO YOU CAN TELL US WHATEVER YOU WANT.
>> A BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST IS AER IS THE CERTIFICATED POSITION AND IT GIVES HANDS- ON SUPPORT FOR TEACHERS THAT WORK SPECIFICALLY WITH THE STUDENTS THAT ARE DEMONSTRATING BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS AND NEEDS SO THEY CAN HELP SHAPE AND SUPPORT AND CHANGE BEHAVIOR. BEHAVIOR SPECIALISTS, BECAUSE THEY WORK UNDERNEATH THE SPECIALIST MAY BE SERVING AS CONSULT. THEY MIGHT BE WORKING WITH TEAMS TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE NEEDS ARE OF THE STUDENTS AND THEN THEY WILL WORK WITH THE BEHAVIOR TECH TO HELP SUPPORT AND DO THE HANDS- ON PIECES.
>> SO WE HAVE TWO BEHAVIORAL SPECIALIST POSITIONS OPEN RIGHT NOW. ONE AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AND ONE THAT'S JUST NEW THIS YEAR DUE TO A POSITION WE HAVEN'T SAT BECAUSE IT'S 2024 IS IT ENOUGH TO HIDE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT KEEPING THEM HERE ANY WHEN YOU TAKE ONE AND SHE'S ALSO A PSYCHOLOGIST. SHE'S STILL HERE WHICH IS
>> BUT THE BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST IS A VERY SPECIALIZED CERTIFICATION, SO YOU'RE AT THE MERCY OF WHO HAS THAT CERTIFICATION.
>> SO TO YOUR ORIGINAL REQUEST, JANNA, WERE THEY LOOKING FOR BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS OR BEHAVIORAL TECHS.
>> TECHS. >> THEY WANT BEHAVIORAL
>> AND HOW MANY DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE?
>> SO, TO BE VERY CLEAR, IS THE REQUEST FOR 12 BEHAVIORAL TEXT AND ONE DEDICATED TO EACH ELEMENT WE SCHOOL AND THE OTHER ONE CONTINUING TO FLOAT. SO WE NEED SEVEN MORE.
YOUIO WANT THE FIVE TO FLOAT BETWEEN MIDDLE
[00:30:01]
POSITION? >> BEHAVIOR TECH IS A SUPPORT STAFF POSITION CASE, YES.
>> WHAT WOULD BE THE ESTIMATED IMPACT OF THE BEHAVIORAL BUDGET SPECIALIST.
>> $572,000. $572,000 FOR 12, AND THAT INCLUDES SALARY AND BENEFITS.
>> WHAT ABOUT TWO ADDITIONAL VPS?
>> GT TEACHERS, 200,000 BECAUSE YOU'RE HIRING NEW TEACHERS IN THEIR PLACE. SO IF WE HAVE CERTIFIED TEACHERS THAT ARE TAKING THIS POSITION YOU HIRE AT A LOWER LEVEL. YOU COULD ESTIMATE IF YOU WERE ADDING A LITERACY SPECIALIST THAT WE HAD PEOPLE TRAINED FOR THAT, THAT WE WOULD HIRE FROM WITHIN, SO WE'D BE REPLACING THEM WITH A LOWER- PAYING POSITION SO YOU COULD ALSO ESTIMATE THE TEACHER WITH $100,000 WITH SALARY AND BENEFITS.
>> THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE WE HAD DISCUSSED.
WE'RE SROS, AND I BELIEVE THE SROS AREN'T NECESSARILY STRAIGHT IN OUR BUDGET AND MAYBE IT'S AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO I BELIEVE WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SEVEN ADDITIONAL, RIGHT? IS THAT THE NUMBER? ADDITIONAL SRO AND ONE DEDICATED TO EVERY SCHOOL. I GUESS THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD.
>> SO MYSELF AND AGENT COX, IT IS PRESENTED TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO SUPPORT RESOURCE OFFICERS.
SO IN OUR CONVERSATIONS I'M LEARNING WHAT HE'S POSSIBLY GOING TO GET FROM THE COUNTY, TO SEE IF HE'S ABLE TO MEET THAT REQUEST. THAT ARE IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, AND WE'RE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE THAT AND THESE NOT A ALLOWED TO HEM, IS I AM MORE THAN THAN HAPPY FIND THE MONEY TO MATCH IT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR US. WE ARE POSSIBLY TALKING ABOUT ADDING TWO MORE.
>> I THINK, AND I ALSO WILL SEND HIM A MESSAGE.
WE'LL BE SO HAPPY TO HEAR FROM ME BECAUSE I'M GOING TO SAY WE SHOULD JUST ASK FOR THAT SEVENTH. HE SHOULD ADD IT TO THE BUDGET. THEY CAN SAY NO, BUT
WHY NOT? >> IF WE CAN'T ASK MONEY?
TOGETHER. >> BUT I DO KNOW THAT OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE ABOUT THE COMMITTEE AND I KNOW THEIR UNDERSTANDING IS THERE, BUT WE'RE ALL IN A TOUGH BUDGET SITUATION, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD TOWARDS IT.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT BASED OFF OF MY REGULAR CONVERSATIONS, BUT ABSOLUTELY, I WOULD PAY IT FORWARD.
>> OUR CURRENT MIU, WE PAY AROUND $114,000 FOR FOUR OFFICERS AS PART OF OUR COSTS TO THAT.
>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR SEVEN MORE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE.
>> I HEAR YOU. THAT'S $875,000.
>> I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW POWERFUL I AM. I ALREADY TALK ED TO RICKY COX.
HE DOESN'T KNOW IF THAT WILL COME THROUGH, BUT WE WILL WORK TO MEET IN THE MIDDLE TO MAKE IT WORK FOR EVERYONE, BUT IT WOULD BE FOR EVERY YEAR.
HE SAID HE PAYS FOR TEN NOW. THE SCHOOL BOARD PAYS FOR THREE OR FOUR.
>> WE PAY FOR FOUR, DR. JOHNSON? THE COST ON EACH OF THE SRO 'AS A VEHICLE IS THEIR 124,000 AND THIS WILL BE SOME EXPOSURE UP TO $875,000. SO IF -- OKAY.
>> CAN I ASK A QUICK CLARIFICATION QUESTION.
IN TERMS OF MOVING SROS AROUND IS THERE ANY LIMITATIONS TO WHAT WE COULD ASK OF AN SRO?
[00:35:02]
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE WAS A SPECIFIC HIGH SCHOOL THAT WAS MORE IN NEED, COULD WE SAYSAY AN SRO FROM ONE SCHOOL TO HAVE TWO AT THIS SCHOOL OR DO WE HAVE LIMITATIONS ON THAT?>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. THE MEMORANDUM OF OPERATION UNDERSTANDS HOW BEE FLEXIBLE.
LAST, AND SHERIFFA AND WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE OFFICER THERE.
THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO HIRE THE ADDITIONAL SROS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
>> FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE COVERED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ONE DEDICATED TO EACH SCHOOL, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? BECAUSE THEY BOUNCE BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND IT DEPENDS ON NEEDS.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS NJROTC.
I KNOW THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE MONEY AND THE BUDGET FOR THE INSTRUCTORS, BUT WE'VE STRUGGLED GETTING INSTRUCTORS. I THINK ONE THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER IS PERHAPS WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING INSTRUCTORS AND I HEAR THEY'RE HAVING TO DO A LOT OF -- THEY'RE STRUGGLING FOR BUSSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO FUND THE PROGRAM.
SO IF POSSIBLE, WE MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER ADDING SOME MONEY TO HELP FUND THE PROGRAM. IF GETTING INSTRUCTORS IS AN ISSUE, IS IT A POSSIBILITY TO GIVE A SMALL SIGNING BONUS, A STIPEND TO WORK FOR OUR COUNTY? BUT I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE THAT PROGRAM SAVED.
>> JUST FOR CLARITY, THE -- IT'S A STRUGGLE TO GET THOSE TEACHERS BECAUSE THE POOL IS EXTREMELY SHALLOW AND THE HUMAN CAPITAL IN SOME CASES IS NOT THERE. SO THAT'S WHAT THE CHALLENGE HAS BEEN. WE'VE HAD SOME SCHOOLS PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL AND WHILE I'VE BEEN HERE ON PROBATION, POSSIBLY LOSING THE PROGRAM BECAUSE OF EVEN LOW STUDENT ENROLLMENT AND IT'S THE ENGAGEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE GOING TO THE PROGRAM, AND IN ADDITION TO NOT HAVING INSTRUCTORS AVAILABLE. WHERE WE DEFINITELY DID ON OUR PART IN THE PAST PUT OUR OWN BUDGET INTO THE PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. WE PAID FOR THAT FREE AND CLEAR AS OPPOSED TO OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WOULD GET COMPENSATED THROUGH THE PROGRAM. MORE THAN HAPPY TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND THE HUMAN CAPITAL WASN'T THERE.
I WOND ARE IN A SENSE, I KNOW WHEN YOU GO TO CTA THEY HAVE A SIGNING DAY.
WHEN THEY GET ACCEPTED INTO A UNION. WE COULD ALSO DO THINGS LIKE A SIGNING DAY FOR THE DIFFERENT MILITARY BRANCHES AND ENSURING THAT OUR COUNSELORS ARE SEEING IT AS A VIABLE OPTION.
IT'S NOT JUST A COLLEGE PATH. IT'S NOT JUST A TRADE PATH, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE A MILITARY
PATH, SO. >> WE CAN ABSOLUTELY PROMOTE IT.
>> I KNOW WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT MILITARY FOLKS HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOME OUTREACH TO THE VFW, AND ANYWHERE ELSE TO GET FOLKS TO VOLUNTEER FOR THESE PAID POSITIONS, BUT THEY CAN REALLY STEP UP FOR A PAID POSITION.
>> YES. ANYBODY WHO WOULD BE INTERESTED WE'D CONNECT WITH THE AREA MANAGER OF THE NAVY AND THEN THEY WOULD WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH CERTIFICATION. ON A BRIGHT NOTE, WE ARE FULLY STAFFED AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AS OF YESTERDAY AND WE WELCOMED THE NEW COMMANDER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL SO THEY HAVE NOW TWO FULLY STAFFED, BUT HE IS SOMEONE THAT HAS MILITARY EXPERIENCE. ACTUALLY WAS TEACHING IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY. IT WAS DEEMED A PROMOTION BECAUSE IT'S A 12- MONTH POSITION SO HE WAS RELEASED FROM HIS CONTRACT FROM ANOTHER COUNTY AND THEN HE IS WORKING WITH THE NAVY TO GET HISSER IS THE IF I KAGSZ WITH THE ROTC.
I DO WANT TO REFERENCE JUST A SIGNING BONUS -- YEARS AGO THE ROTC INSTRUCTORS PETITION AND THEY ARE PART OF THE CEA UNIT AND THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. SO WHENEVER YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BONUSES THAT IS A NEGOTIATED ITEM. WE CAN'T DETERMINE BONUSES WITHOUT COMING TO THE TABLE AND ASSOCIATING THAT WITH THE
[00:40:01]
>> OKAY. ANOTHER THING THAT I MENTIONED WAS A MICROSOFT EXPERT.
I WAS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. POTE, AND HE DID MENTION THAT THE I.T. DEPARTMENT WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL SUPPORT IF WE WERE GOING TO BE USING TECHNOLOGY, BUT HE ALSO SHARED THAT IT MIGHT BE UTILIZING A CONSULTANT ON AN HOURLY BASIS INSTEAD OF A FULL- TIME EMPLOYEE AND SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE WE GO TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SEE WHAT KIND OF THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO DO IN A YEAR TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS AN FTE OR A SET OF CONSULTING HOURS, IF YOU WOULD.
SO I GUESS MY REQUEST WOULD BE % TO PUT SOME VARIABLE IN THE BUDGET TO ALLOW FOR THAT, AND HE WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST PERSON PERSON TO SPEAK TO ABOUT WHAT THOSE NEEDS WOULD BE, FINANCIALLY.
I JUST THINK THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO INTERJECT THE FACT THAT THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR ONE OF THE MAJOR PRI ORITS IS THAT WE DO NOT CUT ANY STAFF, SUPPORT STAFF.
THERE SHOULD BE NO CUTS IN THE BUDGET.
>> I WOULD JUST CLARIFY THAT WE HAVE 74, 76 OPEN POSITIONS CURRENTLY. I CAN TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW MANY IN EACH, BUT 42 SUPPORT STAFF AND 34 I GUESS PROFESSIONAL STAFF, IS THAT -- OKAY. AND SO BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM IT'S OVER $6 MILLION OF COST AND MANY OF THESE POSITIONS, SOME HAVE POSTED SINCE 2022 AS AN EXAMPLE. SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO LOOK AT THOSE VACANT POSITIONS AND SEE IF WE CAN UTILIZE THE COSTS THAT ARE ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR THOSE VACANCIES TO FILL THE PRIORITIES OF THE BOARD, BUT I AGREE, NO CURRENT STAFF SHOULD BE
CUT. >> AND WHEN WE'RE SAYING STAFF, WE'RE TALKING TEACHERS, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS AND SUBSTITUTES.
>> EVERYBODY COACHES. NO STAFF.
>> ESPECIALLY COACHES FROM PATUXIN THAT DO SO WELL WITH THEIR PROGRAMS AND NORTHERN,
ALSO. >> WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE VACANT POSITIONS, SO AS I LOOK AT THIS LIST I SEE VACANT POSITIONS THAT ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN FILLED BY LONG- TERM SUBS. SO WHEN YOU HAVE SCIENCE TEACHERS, WHILE THERE MIGHT BE A SCIENCE TEACHING POSITION THAT IS VACANT, IT IS A CLASSROOM THAT IS BEING FILLED BY A LONG- TERM SUB AT THIS TIME. SO IF WE LOOK AT THOSE POSITIONS, IN ESSENCE, IF THAT SCIENCE TEACHING POSITION WERE TO GO AWAY, THEN YOU HAVE YOU COULD BE AFFECTING WHAT COULD BE CLASS SCIENCE AT THAT SCHOOL WHEREVER THAT POSITION MAY BE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THERE ARE SEVERAL POSITIONS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STILL IN THE BUDGET FOR THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, THE SLP POSITIONS AND THOSE ARE POSITIONS THAT ARE VACANT AND THEY'RE ALSO POSITIONS THAT WE TRULY NEED BECAUSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE CASE LOADS OF THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS, THEY ARE QUITE HIGH.
MANY TIMES WE'RE CONTRACTING SERVICES OUT AND WE'RE ALSO PAYING FOR THE TELETHERAPY INSTEAD OF IT BEING IN PERSON.
>> THERE ARE COMPETING FACTORS AND NOT NECESSARILY THAT WE DON'T NEED THEM.
THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED.
SO SCHOOL COUNSELORS, ONE, WE WOULDN'T THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE AN AREA THAT WE'D HAVE DIFFICULTY GETTING SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS THAT WERE OPEN GIVEN BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN A BUILDING. SO THESE WOULD BE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO TALK THROUGH.
BECAUSE AS I LOOK AT THAT VACANCY LIST, THERE WOULD BE SOME THINGS THAT WOULD POP UP AS -- WAIT A MINUTE, THERE ARE SOME POSITIONS IN HERE THAT WE REALLY NEED AND ARE BEING FILLED BY SUBS.
>> YEAH. SO IN THOSE CASES WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THOSE SUBS, AND WE ALSO HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR THOSE FTES, SO MAYBEMAYBE YOU JUST NEED TO BUILD IN CONTINGENCY, BECAUSE HONESTLY A LONG-TERM SUB IS LESS, NO BENEFITS AND ALL OF THAT, THAN THE COST OF AN FTE. I THINK WE NEED TO MAYBE BIGZ, YOU'RE RIGHT. POSITIONS IN THE BUILDINGS AND MANY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, BUT ABSOLUTELY WE
[00:45:03]
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE SCIENCE CLASS WITHOUT A TEACHER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LISTED WAS A PIA SOFTWARE PROGRAM OR A JOYA SOFTWARE PROGRAM.
MAXIE HAD DONE RESEARCH ON THAT.
WEY FROM KWNTLY WE FREQUENTLY GET REQUESTS AND WHILE SHE'S BEEN A MACHINE AT DOING THOSE, AT SOME POINT SHE'LL WANT TO RETIRE AND YOU KNOW, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A SYSTEM IN PLACE. CURRENTLY, WE DON'T HAVE ONE.
IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH HER, THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND UTILIZED BY OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS SOME OF WHICH HAVE OPPORTUNITIES WHERE YOU CAN SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT PIAS THAT IT COULD BE A REQUEST THAT COMES IN RIGHT FROM THE WEBSITE, FROM OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM WEB PAGE, THAT IT ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS US TO HAVE A DATABASE, AND WE CAN QUERY IF WE HAVE A QUESTION COME IN.
WE CAN -- IF THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AND IT WOULD ALLEVIATE THAT HEAVY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT -- THAT WE HAVE. ADDITIONALLY, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO DOCUMENT AND CAPTURE ALL OF THOSE THINGS SO WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE.
THAT COST, I THINK IS ROUGHLY $10,000.
THAT'S A VERY, VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED AS A PRIORITY, AS WELL.
I THINK THE OTHER ONE THAT WAS ON HERE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING OUR BOARD MEETING LAST WEEK WAS ENHANCEMENTS TO THE TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM THAT LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO TO UTILIZE EITHER CURRENT CAPABILITIES OR ADD-ONES OR WHAT HAVE YOU TO MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF MANUAL PROCESSING THAT IS OCCURRING. SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS TO WHAT THAT IMPACT MIGHT BE.
>> WE STILL DON'T HAVE IT YET.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'D ADDED TO THE BUDGET, AND I DON'T THINK WE GOT A RESPONSE BECAUSE IT WAS PUT IN IN THE LAST DAY OR TWO. A SOLUTION TO THE FORMS THAT WE HAVE FOR PUTTING FOR MILEAGE AND PUTTING FOR -- WHAT ARE THE OTHER THINGS? REIMBURSEMENT. THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY USES SOMETHING CALLED WORK DAY FOR THEIR HR AND FINANCE, AND IT DOES COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE MIGHT WANT TO LOOK INTO. THANK YOU.
>> DID YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE MONEY FOR THE FOOD SERVICE FUND?
>> WE NEED MONEY FOR FOOD. YES.
>> AND MAYBE THE CATALYST BEHIND THE REQUEST ALSO.
>> YEAH. SO I'D SHARED -- I THINK IT WAS AT THE FIRST MEETING MAYBE, WE HAD A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ABOUT ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING WITH FOOD SERVICE. SO WE'RE SEEING LOCALLY, COOKING A LOT OF THINGS ON SITE, AND I WORKED WITH MISS VALERIE PARMER ON WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WE COOK ON SITE OR SOURCE LOCALLY AND THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF FOOD AND ALSO STAFF, COST AND TIME. YOU KNOW, THE ADDITIONAL STAFF THAT WE WOULD NEED. SO TO MAKE ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS WE WOULD LIKE A MILLION THERE ARES TO GO FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND THE FOOD SERVICE FUND. THAT BEING SAID, OUR CURRENT POLICY STATES THAT OUR FOOD SERVICE FUND HAS TO BE SELF-SUSTAINING. DID I LEARN THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND MANY SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE SELF- SUSTAINING FOOD SERVICE FUNDS.
THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO PROVIDE HIGHER QUALITY FOOD OR MORE HIGH QUALITY FOOD WITHOUT RAISING THE PRICE ON THE FAMILIES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME -- THAT WOULD MAKE NOW, I FORGET WHAT THE NUMBER WAS -- I CAN'TCAN'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS SIX OR EIGHT MORE MEALS PER MONTH COOKED FRESH ON SITE.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT EQUATED TO.
[00:50:04]
>> MELISSA, IS THAT TAKING MONEY FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND? THAT'S THE -- I GUESS THE FOOD SERVICE IT'S AN OUT OF NORMAL BUDGET AND SELF- SUSTAINING AND IT HAS $4 MILLION IN ITS ENTERPRISE FUND AND WE'LL TAKE A MILLION FROM THAT AND WE WILL HAVE THE FOOD SERVICE INTO THE NORMAL BUDGET.
>> NOW YOU'RE GETTING INTO LEGALITIES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TOTALLY PUT THE FOOD SERVICE INTO THE GENERAL. I DO KNOW THAT YOU CAN TAKE FROM THE GENERAL TO PUT INTO FOOD SERVICE.
>> MAY HAD AN EXAMPLE OF CONVERTING THE ENTERPRISE FUND INTO THE NORMAL. IF WE COULD DO THAT, SURE.
I DO KNOW THAT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH MISS PARMER, SHE WAS CLEAR TO NOT MAKE A DECISION FOR THE FOOD SERVICE FUND WAS MY SUGGESTION TO BUILD IT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. SHE SHARED THAT THE ENTERPRISE FUND WAS REDUCED AND WE BORROW FROM THAT EVERY YEAR TO KEEP THE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM AS IT IS.
SO I WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKEMAKE DECISION WITHOUT SPEAKING TO MR. JOHNSON ABOUT SHOULD WE BORROW FROM THE ENTERPRISE FUND OR TAKE FROM THE GENERAL FUND? I THINK MY GENERAL INTEREST IS JUST INCREASING WHAT WE'RE PROVIDING TO IMPROVE FOOD SERVICE WITHOUT PUTTING THAT BURDEN BACK INTO THE FAMILIES.
>> DID YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO DISCUSS MODELS LIKE A CENTRAL KITCHEN WHERE FOOD IS PREPARED?
>> WE ALREADY DO THAT IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS.
I THINK IT'S THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO THE MEALS WE PROVIDE SO THEY'RE COOKING THEM AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND BRINGING THEM.
>> SHE DID TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN SHE BUILT THAT MODEL BECAUSE THAT WOULD INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT WE ARE TRANSPORTING WHICH IS PART OF THE COST. WE HAVE TO BUILD AN ADDITIONAL STAFF AND AN ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET THAT STUFF. SO THAT WAS ALL INCLUDED IN THIS REQUEST.
>> IF I CAN JUST SHARE ON THE STUDENT END, I WAS ABLE TO SIT DOWN WITH STUDENTS FROM THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION AND STUDENT COUNCIL AS WELL AS STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A BIG ADVISORY COUNCIL WITH INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSIONS, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS DID SHARE THAT ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THEY FEEL AS A STUDENT IS SCHOOL LUNCHES, WHICH I GUESS IS THE MOST OBVIOUS FOR THEM, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD BRINGING THAT TO YOU. THEY HAVE THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.
>> ANY OTHER PRIORITIES? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD?
>> SO, I DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY IF THERE ARE COSTS INVOLVED WITHWITH THIS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR SUPPORT STAFF ARE MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AS A SEPARATE PROFESSIONAL STAFF. IT SEEMS IN SOME CASES THE SUPPORT STAFF DON'T GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF PDA AS THE REST OF OUR -- AS THE REST OF OUR TEAM, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT EVERYBODY THAT INTERFACES WITH THE STUDENT IS GETTING THE BEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WE CAN OFFER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THAT OR IF IT'S A PLANNING
THING. >> WELL, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STACY TAYMAN IN HOPEFULLY RECEIVING A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION AND THEY WERE AWARDED MONEY AND IT HAS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND ONLEARNING AND TRADING IN LEADERSHIP TIE INTO THAT. IT IS OUR HOPE AND KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSEDED THAT WE WOULD BE NOT ABLE TO ONLY IMPLEMENT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, BUT FIGURE OUT THE PLAN FOR SUSTAINING THAT.
>> AND I DID TALK TO HER ABOUT THAT GRANT SPECIFICALLY.
IS THAT ONLY FOR A LEARNING MANAGEMENT PLATFORM, THOUGH? VIRTUAL LEARNING OR DOES IT ALSO HAVE IN- PERSON P D-DAYS?
>> THERE MIGHT BE SOME VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE, BUT THERE ARE MANY MORE IN- PERSON OPPORTUNITIES.
>> WE ALSO HAD A DISCUSSION FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE TEACHERS TO MAKE SURE IT'S TARGETED, RELEVANT AND BASED ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. SCOTT -- SCOTT
[00:55:03]
MCCOMB SHARED HIS LAST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND I HAVE TO SAY I WAS VERY IMPRESSED. I THINK HE DID AN AMAZING JOBJOB OFFERING A VARIETY OF OPTIONS.TEACHERS REALLY HAD A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE INSTRUCTION. SO -- YE. THANK YOU, MR. MCCOMB.
>> DR. , COUNCIL AND LADIES. ONE OF THE ISSUES I BROUGHT UP IN THE CAMPAIGN IS THE 68% OF KIDS THAT AREN'T PROFICIENT IN MATH. DO WE HAVE A PLAN OF ATTACK IN FY-26 TO IMPROVE PROFICIENCY EN MASSE.
>> OUR MATH DEPARTMENT CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THERE MIGHT BEGANS AND OUR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING IS ALWAYS BASED ON WHAT OUR DATA IS SAYING AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE DEPARTMENT IS EXCITED ABOUT IS AN INTERVENTION MODEL THAT WILL SUPPORT STUDENTS AND IT'S WITHIN THIS TIER 1 AND WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR SCAFFOLD AND SUPPORT AND, TOO, WHEN THAT'S NOT WORKING HOW ARE WE PUTTING CYCLES OF VENTIONS NOT TARGETED IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT SAYING IN THE FOUR TO SIX WEEKS WE'LL TRY THIS, DOES IT WORK, DOES IT NOT AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE. ALSO WITHIN THAT AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WE HAVE OUR EYE READY. OUR STUDENT TAKE THAT DIAGNOSTIC, OUR UNIVERSAL SCREENER IN THE FALL AND THEY TAKE IT INTO THE WINTER AND SPRING AND THEY HAVE SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTIONS TO IDENTIFY AND SUPPORT STUDENTS IN THE MOMENT.
SO THE DATA IS BEING USED AND OUR TEACHERS ARE LEARNING HOW TO UTILIZE THOSE INTERVENTION MODELS AND HOW TO BUILD THE STRONG TIER 1 IN SUPPORTING STUDENTS AND MATHEMATICS.
>> IS IT RAW DATA THAT WE'RE USING OR IS IT CURVED DATA?
>> I WAS JUST GOING ASK, IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT COMMON CORE IS THERE A WAY TO APPROACH MATH? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT? I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET IN TROUBLE WITH THE HIGHER
UPS. >> WHEN I THINK ABOUT MATHEMATICS I THINK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE ABOUT LEARNING MATHEMATICS DURING THE PROCEDURAL LENS AND YOU FOLLOW THESE STEPS.
WHAT WAS MISSING FOR ME WAS REALLY WHY DO I NEED TO KNOW THIS AND HOW DOES IT A PLAY TO AUTHENTIC SITUATIONS. SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE COMMON CORE AND THE PUSH FROM THE CTM IS HOW HOW ARE YOU MAKING MATHEMATICS AUTHENTIC.
WHAT DOES IT APPLY TO? WHY ARE WE DOING IT THAT WAY AND REALLY LEARNING FROM DISCOVERY AND MAKING MEANING OF THE MATHEMATICS AND THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE THERE AND YES, THEY'LL GET TO THE AL ALGORITHM PIECE AND LET'S GET THERE BY EXPERIENCING IT VERSUS JUST SAYING OKAY, SO HERE HEY THIS MATH PROBLEM THAT ARE JUST NUMBERS AND LETTERSES AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO TO SOLVE IT AND IT HAS MOW MEANING IN MY HEAD AND DRIVING CROSS COUNTRY AND LOOK AT HOW THAT INCREASES IN IDENTIFYING THAT PIECE, SHOWING THE RELATIVE AND THE AUTHENTIC PIECE OF IT AND THAT'S WHAT I TAKE AWAY FROM COMMON CORE.
>> YES. I WANTED TO SHARE A PART OF THE TALKS ON THE SCHOOLS AND I ADDEDED ON TOP OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE STUDENTS I TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LEARNING AND NOT ONLY ARE WE TEACHING AND DOING OUR PART, BUT YOU WANT TO DO IT AND I CONSTANTLY REINFORCE THAT. IF FAMILIES ARE LISTENING IS ANOTHER ADDED VALUE IS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT OF WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE NOT ONLY WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND REINFORCING THE EXPECTATION OF THE SCHOOL.
FOR EXAMPLE, AS A FATHER WITH A SECOND GRADE DAUGHTER I USE WHATEVER RESOURCES I HAVE TO PUT HER IN MATHNASIUM. WHEN DADDY IS ONBOARD, I TAKE HER TO WHENEVER THEY ARE, MY MESSAGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE IS TARGET, AND I DID WANT TO COMMENT THE BOARD WHEN IT COMES TO CELLULAR PHONES. I TRULY BELIEVE JUST WITH MY OWN EYES, I THINK OUR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
[01:00:02]
IF NOT EQUAL, IT WILL BE GREATER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THAT SMALL ADDED VALUE OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. SO I'M VERY OPTIMIST BEING WITH HOW YOUNG PEOPLE PERFORMED WITH MATH AS WELL AS LAST YEAR AND ALL OF THE TESTING SUBJECTS. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT TIDBIT.>> THAT'S AWESOME. ARE WE TAKING THE SAME APPROACH WITH ELA. SO THAT WAS ABOUT 38%% THAT WEREN'T PROFICIENT.
>>, WE DO, AND WHAT WRITE BE THE TO READ ACT IN GRADES K THROUGH 3 TO MAKE SURE THEY GET THE TARGETED INSTRUCTION SO WE MAKE SURE THEY'RE ABLE TO READ BY THE END OF THIRD GRADE.
THE LETTERS TRAINING THAT CAME THROUGH A LEADS PLAN AND CAME TO BE A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL TEACHERS WHO ARE TEACHING READING HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE SCIENCE OF READING SO THAT LOGICAL AWARENESS -- CAN NEVER SAY THAT RD WO, AND FOCUSING ON HOW STUDENTS READ AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE THAT OVER THE GRADE LEVELS AND GROWING AND WE SEE A HUGE IMPACT WHEN THEY GET TO HIGH SCHOOL AND WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE FOR ELA OR ENGLISH, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT TO SEE. SO WE ARE TARGETING THE INSTRUCTION AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT INTERVENTIONS ARE NEEDED AND SUPPORTED WITHIN THE
>> IS THERE A NEED FOR SUPPORT TO ADMIN TER THOSE
INTERVENTIONS? >> WHO CURRENTLY IS ADMINISTERING THEM?
>> SEE IT IS VERY DEPENDENT ON THE SCHOOL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IS TO ENSURE THAT IF AN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM IS PROVIDING THE INTERVENTION THAT THEY ARE TRAINED AND THAT THERE'S ALSO A GENERAL EDUCATOR IN THE BUILDING WHO HAS BEEN TRAINED ON THE SAME INTERVENTION SPECIFICALLY IF IT'S SUPPORTING A STUDENT WHO HAS AN IEP, SO THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT THE INTERVENTION IS BEING IMPLEMENTED. SO IT CAN BE A TEACHER. IT CAN BE AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT AND ANYBODY WHO IS PROVIDING AN INTERVENTION GOES THROUGH TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN IMPLEMENT IT
EFFECTIVELY. >> I GUESS MY WORRY WITH THAT ISIS POLLED CONSTANTLY AS OTHER DUTIES ARE NEEDED. I'M WONDERING IF THERE IS A GREAT NEED TO INCREASE SPECIFICALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL AND THE NUMBER OF INSTRUCTION ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE POLLED. IF A CHILD NEEDS AN INTERVENTION THAT SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY AS FAR AS HER BEING ABLE TO ADMINISTER IT, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER THINGSTHINGS COME UP.
>> AND SO AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL WE ALSO LOOK AT THE FLEX TIME THAT'S BUILT INTO THIS SCHEDULE AND SO WE HAVE SEEN SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE DATA AND SORTING STUDENTS BASED ON NEED AND PROVIDING IN THE MOMENT INTERVENTIONS VERSUS THE BIG I INTERVENTIONS AND SO WHAT DOES THAT TARGETED INSTRUCTION LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO WE TAKE OUR STRONG TIER 1 AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE MEETING THE NEEDS THROUGH DIFFERENTIATION AND SCAFFOLDING SO THAT THEY MIGHT NOT NEED AN INTERVENTION.
DO WE NEED A PREVIEW VERSUS PROVIDE AN INTERVENTION OR REMEDIATION AFTER THE FACT. SO WE'RE REALLY DIGGING WHO INTO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE ARE SUPPORTING TEACHERS AND IMPLEMENTING THAT IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> AT WHAT GRADE LEVEL WOULD THEY BE WITH AN INTERACTION AS OPPOSED TO JUST INTERVENING.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE READY TO READ ACT THEY ARE LOOKING AT WHO NEEDS TARGETED SUPPORT SO IT COMES THROUGH THE LENS OF TARGETED SUPPORT AND IT IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT THE NEED IS AND HOW THAT MATCHES THE STUDENTS AND I CAN'T GIVE YOU A SPECIFIC GRADE LEVEL OF WHEN IT STOPS OR STARTS AND IT DEPENDS ON THE NEED THAT THE STUDENT IS SHOWING.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER BUDGET ITEMS TO DISCUSS? NOT TO HEAR YOU ALL ALONG, BUT -- IN YEAH.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION AROUND -- WE HAD SPOKEN EARLIER AROUND A SPECIFIC LITERARY, AND WE ARE TALKING NOW LITERACY AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERVENTIONS FOR MATH AND OTHER THINGS. ARE THOSE DIFFERENT PEOPLE? ARE, LIKE, COULD THEY BE THE SAME PERSON? I'M TRYING TO THINK AS WE LOOK AT THEM AND MAKING OUR REQUESTS FOR SPECIFIC ADDITIONS, COULD WE HAVE AN INTERVENTION SPECIALIST THAT DOES READING AND MATH OR
[01:05:03]
ARE THOSE TWO SEPARATE SPECIALTIES?>> SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE PROVIDED THEY CAN BE AN EDUCATIONAL TEACHER OR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT.
IT COULD BE TARGETED INSTRUCTION AND IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE CLASSROOM OR IT CAN HAPPEN INSIDE THE CLASSROOM.
SO IN THE FLEX TIME AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND ADVISORY TIME AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND FINE TIME AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THEY CAN INTERVENE AND BEING VERY TARGETED ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
SO WE MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY NEED AN ADDITIONAL PERSON TO PROVIDE THE INTERVENTIONS, BUT I WOULD SAY IN THE PAST AND LISA AND I WERE BOTH LEARNING SPECIALISTS AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE HAD BOTH ONE PERSON. AT FIRST IT STARTED WITH ONE PERSON AND IT BECAME A READING AND MATH TYPE OF POSITION. MOST RECENTLY, WE HAD THE LITERACY COACHES THROUGH THE ROSE GRANT AND THEY FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON READING.
>> SO FROM A BOARD PERSPECTIVE, ARE WE CLEAR ON WHAT OUR SPECIFIC -- ARE WE CLEAR ON WHAT OUR SPECIFIC REQUEST OF THE STAFF IS AS IT PERTAINS TO LITERACY SPECIALISTS AND JUST INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS?
>> I SUPPOSE IN A PERFECT WORLD WE WOULD NEED 12 OF THOSE TO GO ALONG WITH THE 12 BEHAVIOR TECHS.
>> BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO ALSO REMEMBER THAT IF WE CAN SOMEHOW MUSTER UP THE MONEY FOR GATE TEACHERS, THOSE GATE TEACHERS COULD PULL THE HIGH- PERFORMING STUDENTS AT THE PRIMARY GRADES SO THAT THOSE TEACHERS COULD STILL BE WORKING WITH CHILDREN WHO MAY NOT BE MASTERING
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS AS A GATE TEACHER ARE THEY SKILLED AT THE SCIENCE OF READING AT THE LEVEL THAT WE ARE TRYING TO TARGET. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLEPEOPLE IN RIGHT POSITIONS TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE. I REALIZE IT COULD BE A SHARED RESOURCE. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE UNREALISTIC, BUT IF THAT'S AA POSITION WHERE WE HAVE IN SOME OTHERS WHERE THEY ARE ALLOCATED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS PER SCHOOL AND MAYBE IT'S IDENTIFIED BASED ON THE LEVEL OF NEED BY THAT ADMINISTRATOR AT THE SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
MAYBE IT'S BASED ON STUDENT POPULATION, YOU KNOW? THERE COULD BE OTHER CRITERIA.
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT I THINK INVESTING IN OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS IS SUCH A POWERFUL INVESTMENT BECAUSE IF WE CAN FILL THE NEEDS OF THEIR ACADEMIC DEFICITS AT AN EARLY AGE, THAT'STHAT'S TO HELP THEM EACH YEAR AS THEY GO DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE THAT FOUNDATION, IF YOU START OFF WITH A WEAK FOUNDATION, IT IS SO HARD TO FEEL AS THE YEARS GET -- AS THE CHILDREN GET OLDER AND THE CURRICULUM GETS HARDER.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT THAT FOUNDATION .
SO IF THE MONEY IS THERE I FULLY SUPPORT PUTTING WHAT IS NEEDED AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVELS. IT WOULD ALSO HELP, I BELIEVE, WITH BEHAVIOR ISSUES BECAUSE CHILDREN WOULD NOT BE AS FRUSTRATED AS THEY GET OLDER.
>> I THINK YOU SAID THERE WERE 6 MILLION OF OPEN POSITIONS WHICH WAS YOUR ROUGH NUMBER? SO THERE ARE PROBABLY POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD DEFINITELY PRIORITIZE OVER OTHERS AND I SEE THEIR 3 MILLION WORTH OF BOARD PRIORITIES. SO MAYBE THERE'S SOME MIDDLE GROUND WITH POSITIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE OR YOU ABSOLUTELY SEE THE VALUE IN OR OTHER POSITIONS THAT CAN GO AWAY.
DO YOU THINK THAT'S RECONCILABLE?
>> ONE THING -- I'M JUST CLEARING MY THROAT. I WASN'T NERVOUS. I'M JUST CLEARING MY THROAT. ONE THING I WAS THINKING THIS ENTIRE TIME AS WELL, TOO, I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BOARD IS THINKING BECAUSE WE'RE RIGHT NOW ABOUT $9.5 MILLION EXPENDITURE OVER REVENUE. WE'RE ABOUT $9.5 MILLION EXPENDITURE UNDER REVENUE FOR FY-24 AND FY-25 TO COVER
[01:10:01]
THE DEFICIT. MI QUESTION IS AS WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND TRYING TO BE CREATIVE, IT'S POSSIBLE MY EXPENDITURE MIGHT BE ABOVE 9. 5 ABOUT SOME EXTRAS AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE RESOURCE OFFICERS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE CUT TO ADD SOME STUFF.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I'M ALSO ASKING, IS THERE FLEXIBILITY, IF I NEED TO GO UP ANOTHER $5 MILLION TO MAKE IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN AS OPPOSED TO REALLY HAVING TOUGH DECISIONS TO WHAT WE MUST CUT TO MAKE THINGS
HAPPEN. >> WE ALSO MIGHT BE GETTING OUT OVER OUR SKIS.
>> WE MIGHT BE GETTING OUT OVER OUR SKIS, AHEAD OF OURSELVES. I CALLED THE COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE TO TRY TO GET CONFIRMATION ON THE AMOUNT THAT'S GOING TO COME TO CALVERT
>> FROM THE STATE, AND HE'S WORKING ON IT, BUT HE DID CAUTION TO SAY THAT NUMBERS ARE ALL SUBJECT TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
>> I WAS AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WITH THE THEM TESTIFYING ON THE GENERAL EDUCATION, AND I MET WITH MY STUDENTS, AND THE REALITY IS IS THEY ARE LOOKING TO CUTCUT THE -- WHAT'S THE TIME CALLED? NO, NO, NO.
>> YEAH. THE COLLABORATION TIME --
>> SO IT'S PART OF THE BLUE PRINT.
THERE ARE TWO PROVISIONS AND ONE IS TO ADD ADDITIONAL STAFFING IN HAVE TEACHERS TEACHING 60% OF THE DAY AND COLLABORATING WITH STUDENTS 40% OF THE DAY AND THE PAR ASSISTANCE TEACHER IS THE PEER REVIEW TEACHER WHICH IS A PROGRAM WHERE YOU WOULD HIRE TEACHERS THAT WOULD GO INTO SUPPORT TEACHERS THAT MIGHT BE HAVING SOME DIFFICULTY SO THAT THEY CAN HELP SUPPORT IN THE OBSERVATION AND VALUATION
PROCESS. >> SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO THE NEW PROPOSED BILL IS TO PAUSE THAT PROGRAM, BUT BY PAUSING THAT PROGRAM THAT MEANS THAT FORMULA AND FOUNDATION GOES AWAY, MEANING WE MAY RECEIVE LESS MONEY PER PUPIL ININ UPCOMING YEAR. OUR NUMBER IS BASED OFF OF THE ASSUMPTION, BUT IF THIS BILL GETS PASSED, WE MIGHT BE LOSING UP TO $6 MILLION FROM AIR STATE AID WHICH IS A POSSIBLE CUT. SO -- WE TESTIFIED AGAINST IT, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT STANDS AND MY ASK WAS SAY WE ARE GETTING WHAT WE EARNED, IS THERE FLEXIBILITY TO POSSIBLY GO UP A LITTLE MORE IN OUR EXPENDITURE? AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING AND IT'S POSSIBLE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY HAVE TO CUT, AND I'M JUST PUTTING THAT ON THE TABLE BECAUSE I REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT CONTRACT AND SERVICES.
WE SCRUBBED THAT LIST TO A TEE. AT THIS POINT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE.
>> I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN MAKE ALL OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT IT, AND I THINK IF YOU TAKE THESE THINGS AND YOU GO BACK WITH YOUR TEAM AND YOU GO THROUGH THAT AND YOU ARRIVE AT A NUMBER AND THAT'S THE NUMBER THEN WE NEED TO COME BACK TOGETHER AND HAVE A CONVERSATION AND MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A 120% EFFORT TO DO THE BEST WE POSSIBLY CAN.
>> I'M SORRY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, AS FAR AS USING FUND BALANCE IS CONCERNED I HAVE A HARD TIME UTILIZING FUND BALANCE FOR THINGS LIKE STAFFING. I WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE IF WE IDENTIFIED ONE- TIME STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS THAT WE WERE MAKING AND USING THE FUND BALANCE FOR THOSE THINGS. SO IF WE LOOK AT DEBT RIGHT NOW IT'S 9 MILLION AND 500 THOUSAND AND IF WE COULD IDENTIFY 900,000 STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, I WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE BUDGET THAT IS USING IT, I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME BORROWING FUND BALANCE FOR REGULAR RECURRING COSTS AND WE WOULD HAVE TO BORROW EVERY YEAR AND THAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE.
>> WHEN ARE WE GOING TO -- IS THERE ANY INDICATION ON WHEN WE'LL GET SOME INFORMATION?
>> I THINK WHENEVER WE END UP SUBMITTING IT WILL BE A BOARD- APPROVED CONDITIONAL BUDGET WAITING FOR --
>> WELL, IT GOES TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND THEN THEY HAVE TO APPROVE IT OR NOT.
>> APPROVE WHAT THEY'RETHEY'RE
[01:15:02]
TO GET AND I DON'T SEE WHY THEY WOULDN'T. IT'S POSSIBLE -- I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS AT ALL, BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO ASK FOR SOME MONEY JUST BECAUSE IF WEWE GET CUT, AND WE'VE ALREADY MADE A 10% CUT ACROSS THE BOARD AND USE THE PREVIOUS FUND BALANCES AND IN GOOD FAITH, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD AND TRIED NOT TO ASK FORFOR DIME. HOWEVER, WE JUST GOT CUT $6 MILLION TO NOBODY'S FAULT. CAN YOU GIVE US A BONE? SO I'M JUST SAYING WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE AND THE OPEN CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING, I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT I THINK WE HAVE A SCHEDULED MEETING, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, TOMORROW WITH THE BUDGET FINANCE DIRECTOR FROM THE COUNTY AND THESE ARE ONGOING DIALECTS AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THEY'RE SAYING MAKE MAGIC HAPPENHAPPEN WITH NUMBER WE GIVE YOU.>> CAN WE INVOLVE YOUR CFO FOR A MINUTE.
HOW ARE YOU DOUG THERE? SCOTT, I ASKED IN ONE OF THE ITEMS AND I DID NOT SEE IF YOU'D RETURNED IT, BUT I ASKED FOR THE FY- 25 DECEMBER CLOSE NUMBER.
WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET? UNFORTUNATELY, WE ROLLED OVER THE PAYROLL INCUMBERENCESINCUMBERENCES RUNNING THAT REPORT.
SO WE DON'T HAVE DECEMBER, WE CAN SHOW THE YEAR TO ACTUAL AND THE INCUMBERENCE AMOUNT IN THE LEDGER WOULD NOT BE REFLECTIVE OF DECEMBER 31 INCUMBERENCES.
>> IRRESPECTIVE OF THE INCUMBERENCES WHAT IS THE ACTUAL TO DATE OF 12/31 FOR INCUMBERENCES. DO YOU HAVE THAT NUMBER? I DO. I ALSO HAVE THE JANUARY 31 YEAR TO DATE.
OURSELVES. >> LET'S GO WITH DECEMBER.
>> DECEMBER 31 WERE 133,721,936. SO IF WE STRAIGHT LINE THAT WE'LL BE AT ABOUT 266 FOR THE YEAR .
>> I'LL GO WITH YOUR NUMBER AND OUR BUDGET, REMIND ME WHAT THE BUDGET WAS.
>> SO THAT'S ABOUT $2 MILLION POSSIBLE OF SURPLUS.
YES? DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT? THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF THEIR 12 MILLION. I DON'T ANTICIPATE $12 MILLION.
>> OKAY. WHAT OTHER EXPENSES DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HIT IN THE SPRING THAT MIGHT DETRACT FROM THAT NUMBER?
>> UTILITIES AND A VARIETY OF OTHER COSTS.
I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T BRING A LIST OF OTHER COST, BUT THERE WOULD CERTAINLY BE OTHER COSTS. I DID PROVIDE A RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION FOR PROJECTION FOR THE EXPENDITURES FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS FISCAL YEAR AND ATTACHED THOSE TO ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.
>> ARE YOU STILL GOOD FOR THE 2.5 MILLION AND THAT WAS THE NUMBER YOU SHARED AT THE LAST MEETING, DO YOU THINK?
>> I EXPECT IT WOULD BE OVER THAT, BUT WE'RE BARELY HALF WAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU FOR CERTAIN WHAT THAT MEMBER NIGHT BE AT THIS POINT, BUT I DO EXPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE MORE UNDERSPENDING THAN 2.25 OR $2.5 MILLION.
>> DID YOU GET A NUMBER FROM THE HEALTH REBATE? WERE YOU EXPECTING A NUMBER SOMEWHERE FROM THE 1. 9 RANGE?
>> LAST YEAR WE GOT 1.9, AND I'M NOT CERTAIN WHAT IT WOULD BE FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE DO EXPECT THOSE FUNDS RELATIVELY SOON.
>> SORRY, MR. JOHNSON, I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.
SO I KNOW WE'RE IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET LOOKING AT 9.5 MILLION FROM FUND BALANCE.
WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE OUR FUND BALANCE BEING AT THE END OF THIS YEAR THAT WE'D BE BORROWING FROM?
>> I WOULD BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THAT ESTIMATE NEXT WEEK. SORRY, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER AT MY FINGERTIPS THIS EVENING. WE ARE DOING SOME
MODELING. >> THAT'S FINE. I APPRECIATE IT. I'LL JUST SAY THAT LOOKING AT THE BUDGET OVER TIME. SO FROM 2022 ACTUALS TO WHAT WE WERE ORIGINALLY PROPOSING BEFORE THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, IT'S $53 MILLION MORE FOR PROPOSAL 2026 THAN ACTUALS FOR 2022. OUR
[01:20:06]
STUDENT ENROLLMENT FROM THAT TIME IS DOWN 362 STUDENTS AND WE'VE HIRED 144 MORE STAFF FOR THE PROJECTIONS FROM 2026, AGAIN, BEFORE THIS DISCUSSION.SO THERE'S OBVIOUSY BEEN A TON OF INFLATION AND WE HIRED 144 MORE PEOPLE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERN FROM THE COMMUNITY ABOUT OUR RATE OF SPENDING, AND SO I'LL JUST SAY I KNOW WE ASK FOR A LOT, AND AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING WITH ALL OF THE STAFF THEY DID AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC JOB.
>> I COME TO THIS BUDGET WITH A MILLION STICKY NOTES.
WE'RE UP FOR AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE FOUND A LOT OF AREAS WHERE THERE WAS ANY PLACE TO CUT THINGS. SO I WANT TO SAY I RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB AT PREPARING THIS BUDGET.
INFLATION HIT US AND WE NEEDED MORE STAFF, WE STILL NEED MORE STAFF, OBVIOUSLY.
SO WE'RE UP FOR SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF AND NOT FOR THE BOARD. I KNOW WE ASK FOR A LOT OF THINGS AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE ALL OF THEM. I'M WILLING TO BE FLEXIBLE.
I JUST -- I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT FOR ANYTHING WE BORROW FOR FUND BALANCE IT IS FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND NOT RECURRING COSTS, SO THANK YOU.
>> AFTER THAT DISCUSSION, I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO SAY THIS, BUT ONE OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES THAT WE REALLY HAVE NOT DISCUSSED TONIGHT WAS CTA. I KNOW MOST OF THE MATERIALS THERE ARE CONSUMABLES IN THE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO BE REPLENISHED EVERY YEAR, AND I'M WONDERING HOW INFLATION HAS AFFECTED THAT. WHEN I LOOK AT THE BUDGET BOOK IT SEEMS THAT THEY'VE CUT AND I'M WONDERING WHERE THEY STAND AND WHAT THEY NEED TO FUNCTION?
>> I WILL SAY PRINCIPAL AIKINS IS PHENOMENAL AND SHE'S DOING AN A AMAZING JOB. WE CAN ALWAYS REVISIT CONVERSATIONS. SHE SUBMITTED A GOOD BUDGET, BUT WE DID ASK EVERYONE ACROSS THE CUT 2% THAT WE HAD TO BEND OVER MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO FIND THAT AND THAT INCLUDED CAREER TECH CENTER. SHE'S NOT EXPRESSED, DR. TOWNS, I'M AT A DEFICIT WITH THAT, BUT WE'LL REVISIT THE CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE HER NEEDS ARE MET.
OUR KIDS ARE DOING A PHENOMENAL JOB OVER THERE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANYTHING. SO WE CAN KEEP THAT CONVERSATION OPEN AND ADD VALUE WHERE WE CAN.
>> THEIR CLASSES ARE UNLIKE OTHER CLASSES WHERE IT'S BASED ON HAVING MATERIAL.
>> YES. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
>> I WILL ADD THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND WELDING MATERIALS, THOSE MATERIALS HAVE INCREASED OVER TIME JUST OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT INDICATED THEY'RE FEELING, CERTAINLY MISS AIKINS IS A CONSTANT PUSH/PULL PACKER SHE'S BALANCING AND HAS CONCERNS ABOUT, TOO.
>> HAVE WE CONSIDERED JUST FOR CTA, PARTICULARLY, HAVE WE CONSIDERED PARTNERSHIPS WITH, LIKE, LINKEDIN OR MILLER? LIKE A WELDING COMPANYCOMPANY PUT IN MILLER WELDING PRODUCTS SO THEY SUPPLY US WITH WELDERS AND RODS? I KNOW WE SPENT, LIKE, $40,000 A YEAR ON WELDING RODS.
>> THEY CURRENTLY GET A LOT OF THE MATERIALS FROM THE TRADE PARTNERS OR SOME OF THE OTHER MATERIAL SHOWS UP WHEN THEY ASK IT. INSTRUCTIONOR, I KNOW DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB AT REUSING MATERIAL AND THEY DISASSEMBLE THINGS AND REUSE THEM AND THEY PINCH EVERY PENNY THAT WAY, BUT THEY DO GET A LOT FROM THE PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS WHERE SOME OF OUR STUDENTS END UP GOING TO WORK AFTER THE FACT, SO WHEN THEY NEED STUFF IT TENDS TO SHOW UP.
>> I WILL SAY, PRINCIPAL AIKINS, SHE'S FLIPPED OVER EVERY ROCK TO MAKE THE PROGRAM PHENOMENAL.
I WILL SAY YES, SHE EXPLORED IT KNOWING HER, BUT I'LL PUT IT ON HER DESK AND SAY HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND WITH THE TRUSTEES.
>> YEAH. I WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION, AND I THINK THIS GOES BACK TO THE ISSUES THAT OUR STATE IS FACING WITH THE BLUEPRINT.
A LOT OF STUDENTS WERE ASKING QUESTIONS TO ME ABOUT WHAT
[01:25:01]
NEXT YEAR LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF PAYING FOR A.P. EXAMS AND PAYING FOR OTHER TESTS. I KNOW LAST YEAR WE PAID FOR ALL STUDENT A.P. EXAMS AND THIS YEAR WE PAID UP TO FOUR.OBVIOUSLY, IT WAS AN UNAVOIDABLE PROBLEM, BUT THAT DID CREATE A LOT OF WEIRD INCENTIVES FOR SOME STUDENTS TO NOT TAKE EXAMS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PAY FOR ALL OF THEM OR TO ONLY TAKE CERTAIN CLASSES, ET CETERA.
>> I WANTED TO FIRST IF YOU HAD ANY IDEA IN TERMS OF FUNDING. IT GOES TO THE UNCENTY PIECE THAT WE CAN'T PAY FOR IN THE FOL
>> SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BLUEPRINT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PUT IN PLACE IS AN AP PATHWAY AND ONCE WE HAVE THE AP PATHWAY IN PLACE THEN WE WILL ADJUST TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT. RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE FIVE COURSES OVER THE YEAR -- OVER THE FOUR YEARS, BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE THAT FIGURED OUT, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS SHARED.
RIGHT NOW WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THE FULL YEAR.
>> AND TO CLARIFY, THOSE ARE FIVE FOR EACH
STUDENT. >> IT'S THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE PATHWAY.
>> AND I KNOW IT'S STATE REQUIREMENTS.
IS THERE ANY FLEXIBILITY IN TERMS OF MOVING THAT AROUND FOR A STUDENT WHO DOESN'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE FOR THE FIVE AP COURSES, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A STUDENT WAS TAKING SIX OVER TIME? I TOOK, LIKE, 12 DURING MY TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL. IS THERE ROOM FOR THAT MONEY TO BE MOVED AROUND TO PAY FOR OTHER STUDENTS' TESTS OR NO?
>> AT THIS TIME WE WEREN'T LOOKING AT THAT PIECE.
WE WERE LOOKING AT BEING ABLE TO PAY FOR THE PATHWAY, THE A.P PATHWAY AND SO THE REQUIREMENT RIGHT NOW WOULD LOOK AT FIVE COURSES THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE ASSESSMENTS FOR AND AGAIN, IF THERE IS A FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, WE ALSO PAY FOR THAT GOT IT. THANK YOU.
>> ARE YOU ASKING IF A YOUNG PERSON DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE AN ASSESSMENT, IF THERE ARE FIVE TESTS OUT THERE CAN IT BE REALLOCATED TO ANOTHER STUDENT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING?
>> I'M NOT SURE. WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT
THAT. >> I THINK LAST YEAR ESPECIALLY WAS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL, I KNOW AN AP PROGRAM HAS EXPLODED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO A POINT WHERE WE USED TO HAVE, LIKE 30 KIDS TAKING MORE THAN -- OR THREE EXAMS AND NOW WE HAVE A HUNDRED KIDS TAKING EXAMS WHICH IS AMAZING AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING SOME LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY, AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT JUST BECAUSE STUDENTS WERE, LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON? I WAS, LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BUDGET- RELATED
QUESTIONS? >> NOT REALLY A QUESTION.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE QUESTIONS OUT OF IT, SO ESSENTIALLY WHERE WE ARE WE HAVE NOW LISTED WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE FROM EVERYTHING WE'VE GONE THROUGH AND COLLABORATED ON, RIGHT? SO THEY'LL GO BACK AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BUDGET AND PRESENT US WITH A NEW BUDGET BOOK AND BASED ON WHAT THEY CAN DO ON WHAT WE MADE PRIORITIES?
>> I DON'T WANT TO OVER COMMIT. DR. TOWNSEND?
>> YES, OUR GOAL IS TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND WHATEVER THE MOST CONVENIENT WAY OF DOING THAT AND MAYBE NOT UPDATES OR IN THE DOCUMENT AS AN FYI AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO TAKE THE QUESTIONS AND WHAT ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT, AND WE'LL ANSWER IT THAT WAY AND ULTIMATELY BEFORE NEXT THURSDAY IF POSSIBLE, WE CAN GAME AS A SUPERINTENDENT WHAT THE BOARD IS WILLING TO LIVE WITH WITH ALL OF THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE GOOD FAITH WORK WE'VE DONE, AND PRESENT THAT TO THE BOARD FOR A POSSIBLE BOARD
ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET. >> RIGHT.
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S SOME CHANGES BASED OFF OF LAST WEEK'S
>> WOW! I DIDN'T THINK I WAS SPEAKING THAT LONG. GEEZ.
>> YOU DIDN'T GET A WORD IN TONIGHT.
I THINK THERE WERE SOME CHANGES OR UPDATES AND SOME THINGS NEEDED TO MOVE AROUND WITH THE SCIENCE BUDGETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE FROM LAST WEAK'S MEETING. SO I REALLY HAVEN'T SEEN A FULL REDRESSING OF THAT, IF YOU WILL. I'LL JUST MAKE A NEW BUDGET BOOK ABOUT HAVING THE ACTUALS OF FISCAL YEAR '25 THROUGH SIX MONTHS AND THE YEAR PROJECTION IN LINE WITH THE BUDGET BOOK OF WHAT'S BEING ASKED FOR IN EACH CATEGORY IN '26.
[01:30:03]
I TRIED TO GO THROUGH AND MATCH THOSE UP FROM WHAT WE HAD IN DECEMBER, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY BUDGET TRANSFERS OR WHAT, I COULDN'T MATCH EVERYTHING UP. I MIGHT SEE THE ACTUALS AND THE PROJECTION FOR THE FULL YEAR NEXT TO THE PROPOSEDPROPOSED VERSUS WHAT WAS ADOPTED IN '25.I'M MORE INTERESTED IN THE ACTUAL TATA AT 25 IN COMPARISON TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THAT, AND THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION, SCOTT, YOU ANSWERED MY INITIAL QUESTION REGARDING THE PRINCIPALS AND BUDGET NUMBERS AND IT CREATED ANOTHER QUESTION FOR ME.
>> THEY GAVE YOU A PESSIMISTIC AND OPTIMISTIC VERSION.
WHICH ONE IS IT? IS IT THE OPTIMISTIC OR IS IT THE PESSIMISTIC?
>> THE PESSIMISTIC WITH THE 10% REDUCTION.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING.
>> YES. I WAS VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT PRESENTING THE MOST CONSERVATIVE BUDGET POSSIBLE WITH EVERYONE DOING A 10% CUT, WITH US NOT ASKING ANYTHING AND THIS IS THE PESSIMISTIC BUDGET AND I DIDN'T EVEN BRING THIS GUY TO THE BOARD RESPECTFULLY.
>> NO, I GET THAT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU CLARIFYING.
ARE WE ABLE TO GET THE INFORMATION OF WHAT WAS SENT TO YOU GUYS AS A REQUEST BY THE
SCHOOLS? >> I MEAN T DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE A BUNCH OF PERSONNEL DATA.
>> PROBABLY IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO BECAUSE ONCE I MADE THE DECISION TO BE PESSIMISTIC WE WENT ALL IN, WE WENT ALL IN ON THE PESSIMISTIC BUDGET. GENERALLY, WHEN WE DO AN OPTIMISTIC BUDGET, IN THE PAST WE ASKED FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS SO I SAID I'M NOT APPROVING ANY NEW POSITIONS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD IT. AND THE BOARD WHO MIGHT HAVE THEIR OWN PRIORITY AND I PRIORITIZED THE BOARD'S NEED AND RESPECTFUL LEAL OVERSTAFFED.
>> ESSENTIALLY, IT WAS A PER-PUPIL AMOUNT THAT'S GIVEN TO EACH SCHOOL, RIGHT? THAT'S BASED OFF OF AN ENROLLMENT AND THAT'S HOW ESSENTIALLY THEY ARRIVED AT THE NUMBER.
>> THAT AND PLUS THE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANY SUPPLIES.
>> CORRECT, BUT BECAUSE WE'VE LOST OUR TAX MONEY FROM LAST YEAR THERE WAS NO WAY POSSIBLE -- WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> YEAH. >> WE ARE STILL $22 MILLION IN THE HOLE.
>> JUST AS A REMAINOR IN THE BACK OF THE BUDGET BOOK ON PAGE 126, 127, 128 AND 129, YOU WILL ACTUALLY SEE HOW EACH SCHOOL ALLOCATED THAT MONEY IN THAT CHART. SO, FOR EXAMPLE O , ON 12 YOU CAN SEE THE BUDGETED ENROLLMENT AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S WHAT WAS REQUESTED VERSUS JUST -- WHETHER THAT WAS THE OPTIMISTIC AND THE PESSIMISTIC. I SAW THAT RESPONSE.
WHICH ONE WAS IT? WHETHER THAT WAS MORE AND THEY WERE ALLOTTED WHEN THEY WERE GIVEN AND BE IT IC. HOPEFULLY, I KNOW WE CAN ONLY DO WHAT WE CAN DO FOR EACH SCHOOL AND I HOPE WE'RE NOT DICTATING TO EACH SCHOOL THIS IS WHAT YOU GET REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU NEED.
>> ONE THING FROM LAST WEEK, MR. JOHNSON IS THAT YOU HAD SEVERAL PLACES OF BUDGETED AND WHAT YOU CALLED THEM, BUDGETED CONTINGENCIES, AND I WOULD LIKE ALL OF THOSE ROLLED UP INTO ONE LINE IN THE SUMMARY PAGE SO THAT OF THE 287.3, WHAT PIECE OF THAT IS CONTINGENCY THROUGHOUT ALL THOSE
[3.01 Public Comments]
>> OKAY. MOVING INTO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF OUR MEETING THIS EVENING.
>> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF CONCERN AND THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS HAVE, AND AND THE PERSON'S ON THE SIGN- UP SHEET MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER RELINQUISH SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON. IF YOU HAVE HAND-OUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXI TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS.
TO PREVENT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DON'T MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS. ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES MAY BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY REFUSE THE RIGHT T SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. WHILE THE BOARD VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEET. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC
[01:35:04]
SCHOOLS WILL ARISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN.WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME. PLEASE CONTACT THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOARD. >> TONIGHT, WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER AND THAT IS MIKE SHISHLER.
>>> GOOD EVENING, PRESENT AND POST AND COUNCIL -- MISS JACOBS AND I NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVEN OF YOU UP ON THE DEUS. AND SERVE OF US ON THIS SIDE OF THE DEUS. WE COULD HAVE SOME KIND OF GAME AND YOU COULD OFFICIATE. I REALIZE THIS IS YOUR FURTH PUBLIC MEETING AND YOUR THIRD MEETING ON THE BUDGET. I'VE HEARD YOUR MEMBERS SAY THAT YOU'RE IN SUPPORT OF ADDITIONAL STAFF.
LAST WEEK YOU WERE MENTIONING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND SAFETY ADVOCATES AND BEHAVIOR TECHS AND GATE TEACHERS AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAN IT STANDS FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION. YOU TALKED ABOUT VICE PRINCIPALS AND IET FACILITATORS AND MATH AND READING INTERVENTIONISTS AND LITERARY COACHES AND THESE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IN THE PAST.
I'VE ALSO HEARD YOUR MEMBERS SAY IN RESPONSE TO DR.
TOWNSEND'S PROPOSED BUDGET THAT YOU WERE GLAD THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ASKING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR FY-26.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ALL ADVOCATES OF THE CDB, ZERO- BASED BUDGETING. WHAT YOU HEARD LAST SPRING WAS THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU THREE QUESTIONS, AND I'LL PROVIDE THE ANSWERS THAT I FOUND SINCE THIS IS TECHNICALLY A PUBLIC COMMENT SESSION AND NOT A PUBLIC CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK WE CAN HAVE A CHAT WITH JUST THE NUMBER WEISE HAVE TONIGHT. FIRST QUESTION, WHAT IS MARYLAND'S RANK AMONG OUR 50 STATES IN TERMS OF WEALTH? THE ANSWER FROM THE U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT IS THAT WE RANK THIRD AMONG THE 50 STATES.
SECOND QUESTION, WHAT DOES CALVERT COUNTY RANK IN AMERICAN COUNTIE IN TERMS OF WEIGHT. THIS ANSWERS FROM THE MARYLAND DEMOGRAPHIC SITE. AGAIN, WE RANK THIRD.
WE ARE THIRD OUT OF 23 COUNTIES IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE OUT OF 24 JURISDICTIONS.
LAST QUESTION, WHAT DOES CALVERT RANK AMONG U.S. COUNTIES IN TERMS OF WEALTH.
THERE ARE 531 COUNTIES IF THE COUNTY AND OTHER SIMILAR JURISDICTIONS LAKE PARISHES AND LOUISIANA. CALVERT RANKS 17TH OUT OF 3,141 COUNTIES. SO I'D LIKE YOU TO KEEP THOSE RANKINGS IN MINE AS YOU APPROVE THIS BUDGET. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT MORE STAFF IS NEEDED FOR THE SAFETY AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS THEN DON'T PROMISE A BUDGET TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN ADVANCE.
FOCUS ON THE NEEDS OF OUR KIDS, OUR STAFF AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES. BUILD THIS BUDGET ON THEIR NEEDS. THANK YOU, STAY SANE AND HEALTHY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
[4.01 Comments from the Board of Education]
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
>> OKAY. WE'LL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS AND WE'LL START WITH MISS
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO KINDLY ANSWERING ALL MY QUESTIONS DURING THIS PROCESS BECAUSE IT'S VERY CONFUSING FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THE IMPORTANCE AS THE BUDGET IS FINALIZED ON OUR END, AT LEAST OR SEMIFINALIZED THAT I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE HOW WE'VE BEEN DELIBERATE FOR BUDGETING FOR CTA.
I THINK THESE STUDENT PROGRAMS AMONG OTHER STUDENT PROGRAMS ARE THE BASIS OF STUDENT SUCCESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO I THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND I THINK THE STATISTICS THAT WE PRESENT IN THE BUDGET DEMONSTRATE THE EXCELLENCE OF S.T.E.M. SPORTS IN CALVERT COUNTY.
I ALSO WANTED TO SHARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS THAT WERE SHARED WITH ME. THE APPLICATION TO BECOME A CHESAPEAKE CONNER IS CHESAPEAKE CONSERVATION OR CLIMATE CORPS FELLOW IS CURRENTLY OPEN WITH THE
[01:40:03]
MARCH 6TH DEADLINE AND IT'S OPEN TO RECENT GRADUATES OR SENIORS WANTING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT AND EARNING A STIPEND AND THISSING CAN FOUND ON THE ORGANIZATION TRUST ORGANIZATION WEBSITE AND LOCAL, NEARBY, WHICH IS AMAZING. ADDITIONAL, THE MARYLAND SERVICE OPTION FOR SENIORS IS ALSO TAKING APPLICATIONS UNTIL MARCH 1ST. THIS IS A RECENT PROGRAM AND IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE FOR STUDENTS, AND THEN FINALLY, I WANTED TO SHARE THAT THE CALVERT LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IS ALSO ACCEPTING APPLICATIONSAPPLICATIONS MARCH 6TH, I BELIEVE, AND THAT'S A REALLY GREAT WAY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND CCPS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT.
>> I DID NOT ROLLIZE EALIZE THAT THIS POSITION WOULD BE SO MUCH READING AND I'M MUDDLING MY WAY THROUGH THE FACILITIES PLAN WHICH IS 300 PAGES AND THAT'S A TOUGH ONE. I DID NOT FORGET CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. I THINK THEY HAVE GREAT ATHLETICS, AS WELL AND COACH SNEAD, AND I DON'T WANT TO GET GRIEF FOR THAT SINCE THAT'S DISTRICT 2.
I'LL BE RUNNING IN DISTRICT 2 NEXT TIME.
WE PUT QUIT A BIT OF PRESSURE THE STAFF TO GET TO THESE -- TO GET TO THESE NUMBERS. I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU AND YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DR. TOWNSEND, THANK YOU. YOU'VE ASSEMBLED A GREAT TEAM. WE -- WE HAVE -- IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE HAVE TO GET RIGHT TO THESE NUMBERS, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED AND I ALSO TALKED TO DELEGATE FISHER ABOUT THE 22.5 MILLION, AND I AM VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THAT MONEY, AND I THINK WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE AGAIN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CLOSE THAT GAP, SO I HATE TO BE PESSIMIST, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S A TIME TO BE A PESSIMIST, AND I THINK WITH THE $3 BILLION DEFICIT LOOMING IN THE STATE HOUSE IT'S TIME TO BE A PESSIMIST.
SO THAT'S MY CONCERN. THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STAFF.
THIS PROCESS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE STAFF, AND I MEAN, EVERYONE DID SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB. LAST WEEK THEY WERE HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND THEY ANSWERED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE QUESTION WE HAD, AND WE DIDN'T SEND THEM ALL OF THE QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW WELL THEY ARE PREPARED. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AGAIN.
>> I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK LEADERSHIP.
THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET AS OF TODAY. I KNOW I PERSONAL LE HAVE SENT QUESTIONS AT VARIOUS TIMES DAY AND NIGHT IF SOMETHING POPS INTO MY HEAD OR IF I PICK UP THAT BOOK AND SEE SOMETHING NEW I SEND IT OUT, AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE AND IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE -- WE AS A TEAM ARE SO DEDICATED TO NOT ONLY SPENDING THIS MONEY EFFICIENTLY, BUT ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE GETTING WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE JOB OF A BOE MEMBER -- WE HAVE THREE RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE OVERSEE DR. COUNCIL AND WE HAVE PROVEN RIGHTS POLICIES AND BUDGET AND THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST CHALLENGING JOB BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND ANYTHING WE TAKE AWAY FROM IT COULD IMPACT A CHILD OR SEVERAL CHILDREN.
SO KNOW THAT IT IS -- I AM PERSONALLY SAYING I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL NOT ONLY FOR LEADERSHIP, BUT FOR THE PEOPLE SITTING UP HERE WHO ARE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS A SENSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE EFFICIENT BUDGET.
>> SO I CERTAINLY ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY IT'S RR REFRESHING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALWAYS HAVE CONVERSATION.
SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ARGUE THAT I TALK TOO MUCH, AND THAT'S
[01:45:01]
PROBABLY TRUE, AND THAT'S NOT CHANGING.SORRY. IT IS HELPFUL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATION, AND IT IS A LOT.
IT'S A HEAVY LIFT FOR STAFF TO HAVE A VERY NEW BOARD ALTOGETHER, TO COME IN AND HERE WE ARE JUST A MONTH AND A HALF IN AND WE HAVE BIG DECISIONS TO MAKE, SO I DO APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.
ALL OF THE INTERACTIONINTERACTIO N STAFF HAVE HAD WITH US BECAUSE IT WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THE BEST BUDGET THAT WE CAN POSSIBLY HAVE MOVING FORWARD. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HUNTINGTON HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM.
I KEPT THAT A SECRET. I THOUGHT PAUL WOULD COME OUT WITH THAT, AND CONGRATULATIONS TEAM AND A VERY GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS WHO ARE COMPETING IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR SWIMMING THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.