Sep 11, 2025 Board of Education

[Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence]

[00:00:08]

>>> GOOD EVENING. I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER. AND IF I MAY TAKE A MOMENT OF EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE, COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REAFFIRMS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING EVERY STUDENT AND FAMILY IN OUR COMMUNITY. DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIME. WE BELIEVE FREE SPEECH IS A PILLAR OF BOTH OUR NATION AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HOLDS DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND WE WELCOME THE RESPECTFUL EXPRESSION OF THOSE VIEWS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ENCOURAGE STUDENTS, STAFF, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, TO MODEL COURTESY, COMPASSION, AND RESPECT. WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT RECENT EVENTS INCLUDING TRAGIC ACTS OF VIOLENCE MAY WEIGH HEAVILY ON OUR STUDENTS.

MANY WITNESSED TRAUMAS FIRSTHAND AND OTHERS ARE PROCESSING LOSS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. OUR COUNSELORS, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT. REACH OUT IF THEY NEED ASSISTANCE. AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN FIND UNITY THROUGH ACTS OF REMEMBRANCE. VOLUNTARY MOMENTS OF SILENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS, ON OUR ATHLETIC FIELDS, AND DURING COMMUNITY GATHERINGS OFFER STUDENTS AND STAFF RESPECTFUL OPPORTUNITY TO PAUSE, REFLECT, AND HONOR THOSE AFFECTED BY TRAGEDY. TONIGHT, THE BOARD WILL BEGIN ITS MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AS WE ALWAYS DO, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THIS TIME TO REMEMBER THE VICTIMS OF 9/11. THOSE IMPACTED BY RECENT VIOLENCE, AND TO EXPRESS OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR OUR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND FAMILIES. THANK YOU.

>> 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.

>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE THE CONSENT

[CONSENT AGENDA]

AGENDA. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MOTION PASSES, 5-0. NEXT WE HAVE OUR

[SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

>> THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR. I'M SORRY, MADAME PRESIDENT.

>> I'VE BEEN CALLED WORSE. >> MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE HERE IN SUCH AN AMAZING COMMUNITY AND AN AMAZING SCHOOL SYSTEM. OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND I'VE BEEN WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS FROM OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND EVEN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. I'VE ALSO OBSERVED SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN ON TASK. STUDENTS READY FOR LEARNING, TEACHERS ENGAGED, AND PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK SPECIFICALLY OUR 11 AND 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES WHO WORK DILIGENTLY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS WERE READY TO RECEIVE CHILDREN. SO TO THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO SHARE WITH YOU A BRIEF POWERPOINT PRESENTATION THAT I THINK BEST DEPICTS MY OBSERVATIONS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> I PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH A VERY DETAILED LIST OF TASKS THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETED. WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE NOW IS JUST ONE OR TWO OBSERVATIONS FROM EACH OF OUR MAJOR DEPARTMENT, STARTING WITH OUR FACILITIES THAT COMPLETED SUMMER CLEANING WITH INSPECTION SCORES BETWEEN 80% AND 97.5% IN ALL 25 OF OUR

[00:05:02]

AND OUR STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS A FOCUS ON LEGISLATIVE UPDATES, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING, ATTENDANCE, COUNSELING, SAFETY, COMPLIANCE, AND ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION AND ALSO SERVED OVER 200 STUDENTS IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAM. WE HAVE OUR EQUITY SUPERVISOR WHO WAS A SUPERSTAR IN GOING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, LEADING KEYNOTE SPEECHES AND MESSAGES TO ADDRESS COLLABORATION AND SHE WORKS HERE WITH NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS GRANT WRITING AND EMPHASIZING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

INTELLIGENT TEACHING, AND INCLUSIVE PRACTICES. AND FINALLY, OUR OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT CHILD NUTRITION, UPDATED MENUS. TRANSITION INVENTORY SYSTEMS, AND ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS AND NOW WE ALSO HAVE AN UPDATED BUDGET FOR FY2026, THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE. NEXT, WE HAVE SOME PICTURES THAT I HAPPEN TO TAKE AS I WALK AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS. SO THIS IS JUST A QUICK MONTAGE OF CCPS THROUGH MY EYES RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM. WE HAVE THE SUMMER SCHOOL GRADUATION. WE SEE OUR CADETS WHO ARE HERE TO PRESENT THE COLORS. WE HAVE OUR LARGEST ENROLLMENT IN THE COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN MARYLAND DUAL ENROLLMENT PROGRAM, WHERE OUR STUDENTS WILL BE GRADUATING WITH AN ASSOCIATED DEGREE. THIS IS OUR NEW TEACHER ORIENTATION.

EVERYONE IS HAPPY AND ENJOYING THE NEW JOBS AND NEW ASSIGNMENTS. WE ALSO HAD SUPPORT FROM THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. THESE ARE SOME OF THE MEMBERS AND THEY ALSO PROVIDED OUR TEACHERS, OUR NEW TEACHERS WITH SUPPLIES FROM THEIR FREE TEACHER SUPPLY STORE. HERE WE HAD OUR PRESCHOOL STAFF MEETINGS AND OUR TEACHERS WERE EXCITED TO COME BACK AND START A NEW SCHOOL YEAR. OUR BOARD MEMBERS WERE EXCITED AS WELL.

THIS IS A 9TH GRADE ORIENTATION AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. AND ALWAYS ENJOY SEEING OUR 6TH GRADE STUDENTS TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO MANAGE THEIR LOCKERS WITH THEIR NEW COMBINATIONS. THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING WELL. IT SEEMS TO BE ON SCHEDULE AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL. THIS WAS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. THIS WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL I VISITED. THE FIRST DAY. THE HIGH SCHOOL IS A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY, AND THE STUDENTS, STAFF, WERE RIGHT ON TARGET, RIGHT ON TASK. I WANT TO COMMEND THE STAFF FOR THE CLEANLINESS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BUILDING THIS IS AT ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. A FEW FAMILY WHO JUST MOVED HERE TO

[00:10:04]

MOM IS STANDING TO THE SIDE. SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT PHOTO READY THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING. THIS IS DONALD ELEMENTARY, FIRST DAY.

THIS IS A FIRST YEAR TEACHER. AS YOU SEE, SHE HAS HER STUDENTS WELL ORGANIZED, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CLASS. AND THEN THESE ARE JUST A FEW SNAPSHOTS. FIRST DAY ACTIVITIES. TEACHERS WERE ESTABLISHING ROUTINES FOR THE SCHOOL DAY AND FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF STUDENT VOICE AND I REALLY ENJOYED READING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK OF WHAT STUDENTS FEEL A GREAT CLASSROOM SHOULD LOOK LIKE, SOUND LIKE, AND FEEL LIKE.

AND THEN OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL ACADEMY, THIS IS THE FIREFIGHTER EMT CLASS AND THE YOUNG MAN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WHO IS WAVING AT ME, HE WAS NUMBER TWO IN THE COUNTRY IN THE SKILLS U.S.A. COMPETITION. AND HE IS GOING FOR NUMBER ONE THIS YEAR. PLUMBING AND HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING, ELECTRICITY. AND THEN LAST WEEK, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE A VISIT FROM DR. WRIGHT, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT, ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND OTHER OFFICIALS WHO HAD A GREAT VISIT TO OUR SCHOOLS. THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.

>> THANK YOU, DR. NEWSOME. >> I DO HAVE, IF I MAY, A FEW

FINAL REMARKS. >> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> SO, AS I CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT TO SHARE THAT I BELIEVE OUR SCHOOLS ARE A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A LOW PERFORMING SCHOOL IN A HIGH FUNCTIONING COMMUNITY. ALSO, OUR CHILDREN ARE A REFLECTION OF THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES. AND SO IF OUR ADULTS SPEAK WITH COMPASSON, KINDNESS, AND CIVILITY, THEN WE GROW STUDENTS WHO SPEAK THE SAME WAY. AND SO I JUST ENCOURAGE US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALWAYS MODELS, WHETHER WE ARE TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, CAFETERIA WORKERS. NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHETHER WE ARE PARENTS OR JUST COACHES OR ANYONE ELSE WHO SUPPORTS STUDENTS. REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ROLE MODELS FOR THEM. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THAT I KNOW, I THINK WE ALL REALIZE HOW DIVIDED THIS COUNTRY IS. SOMETHING WE ALL HAVE IN COMMON, WHETHER IT BE POLITICAL PARTY, RACE, ETHNICITY, GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, WE ALL LOVE OUR CHILDREN. AND WE CAN ALL FOCUS ON THAT. NO MATTER WHAT OUR DIFFERENCES ARE. WE CAN CREATE AN EVEN BETTER SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU HERE TONIGHT FOR YOUR SUPPORT. GOD BLESS YOU AND

LET'S HAVE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR. >> THANK YOU DR. NEWSOME.

[STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT]

APPLAUSE ] >> UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE STUDENT

MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT COUPLE FIRST WEEKS OF SCHOOL. I AM VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT MY FIRST FEW WEEKS AS A SENIOR HAS BEEN VERY PLEASANT. SO JUST TO QUICKLY SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON. RIGHT NOW, I'M ORGANIZING A STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHERE I'LL HAVE MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SHARING THEIR OPINION. SPEAKING TO THE ISSUES IN THEIR SCHOOLS. THINGS THEY NOTICED. THINGS THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT. I AM BEGINNING TO COORDINATE SCHOOL VISITS, SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTERACT WITH STUDENTS AT EACH AND EVERY SCHOOL AND I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH ALL THE STUDENT GOVERNMENTS AT EACH SCHOOL. I'M ALSO COORDINATING A VISIT TO OUR COUNTY FROM OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, HE IS VERY

[00:15:03]

[Policies for Discussion]

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M CECILIA LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES AND TODAY I'M PRESENTING POLICY 3920 FOR DISCUSSION. ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE ADVANCING POLICY 3920, REVIEW DATE OUTSIDE OF ITS NORMAL TIME LINE, TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN HOUSE BILL 78. HOUSE BILL 78 IS A STATE LAW DESIGNED TO PROTECT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES. STATE LAW PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED THE DESIGNATION OF A NUT-FREE TABLE IN THE CAFETERIA. THAT REQUIREMENT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAW TO NOT BE SPECIFIC TO TREE NUTS AND PEANUTS AND INSTEAD, ACCOMMODATE STUDENTS WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES TO ANY OF THE TOP NINE MAJOR ALLERGENS, INCLUDING MILK, EGG, FISH, SHELLFISH, TREE NUTS, WHEAT, PEANUTS, SOY, AND SESAME.

EACH COUNTY BOARD IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MARYLAND STATE HEALTH SERVICES GUIDELINES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE, TO MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS IN CLASSROOM AND COMMON AREAS. EDUCATIONAL ARTICLE STATE STATUTE 7-426.1 DETAILS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE GUIDELINES. WHICH INCLUDES TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM TO DISCLOSE THE MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS CONTAINED IN THE FOOD SERVED IN THE SCHOOL DESIGNATION OF FOOD-FREE AREAS. DESIGNATION OF CAFETERIA TABLES FOR STUDENTS WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES. AN INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES IN FIELD TRIPS. UPON REVIEW, WE DETERMINED THE REQUIRED GUIDANCE OUTLINED IN HOUSE BILL 78 ON REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS IN SCHOOLS BEST ALIGNS WITH OUR CURRENT POLICY STATEMENT 3920, REGARDING AVAILABILITY AND USE OF AUTOINJECTABLE EPINEPHRINE. SINCE THIS POLICY ALREADY ADDRESSES EXPOSURE TO A VARIETY OF OTHER ALLERGENS, WE ADDED THE PURPOSE OF HOUSE BILL 78 TO THE EXISTING PURPOSE OF POLICY 3920, AND THE APPLICABLE DEFINITIONS RELATED TO MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS TO WHICH STUDENTS MAY BE EXPOSED. THUS, REQUESTING REVIEW OF THIS POLICY DURING THIS BOARD MEETING.

>> SO -- IS THIS THE REVISED POLICY? NO, IT IS NOT. SO DO WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING IT UP FOR DISCUSSION NOW?

>> YOU WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE REVIEW OF IT AT AN

UPCOMING BOARD MEETING. >> OKAY, TO BRING IT UP AT A

FUTURE BOARD MEETING. >> CORRECT, IT IS OUTSIDE OF ITS

NORMAL TIME LINE FOR REVIEW. >> OKAY. I'M GOING TO MAKE A MOTION TO BRING UP POLICY 3920 INJECTABLE EPINEPHRINE TO REVIEW

AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING. >> SECOND.

>> THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? AL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. MOTION PASSES. 5-0. THANK YOU. UP NEXT,

[Policies for Review]

FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS NICOLE AND I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF SOCIAL STUDIES. TODAY, I'M HERE TO SHARE THE POLICY 1200, WHICH IS SELECTION AND SERVICE OF THE STUDENT MEMBER OF CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. I REVIEWED THE POLICY AND I AM RECOMMENDING NO CHANGES AT THIS TIME. I'M

[00:20:01]

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? NO.

OKAY, THANK YOU. THIS POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO 30 DAYS FOR REVIEW. UP NEXT WE HAVE POLICY 1741, WHISTLE BLOWER, MS. SUSAN JOHNSON.

>>> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, I'M SUSAN JOHNSON, THE CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER AND I AM REVIEWING 1741 REGARDING OUR WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION. WE HAVE REVIEWED THE POLICY AND WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING ANY CHANGES. HOWEVER, WE DID ADD A CITATION AT THE BOTTOM TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CORRECT LEGAL

CITATION WAS MADE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? OKAY, THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO 30 DAYS.

>>> NEXT, WE HAVE POLICY 3451, INTERSCHOLASTIC PROGRAM. MR.

MARK WATSON. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS MARK WATSON. I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF HEALTH, PE, AND ATHLETICS.

I'M HERE TO REVIEW POLICY 3451, WHICH IS THE ADDITION OR DELETION OF PROGRAMS. A NEW DEFINITION FOR WHAT ATHLETIC PROGRAM IS. THE DEFINITION WAS TAKEN FROM KOMAR TO BE MORE ALIGNED WITH THE STATE DEFINITION. AND THE SECOND CHANGE TO THE POLICY WAS JUT TO NOTE IN STATE REGULATION AND CITATIONS THAT THE CODE OF MARYLAND REGULATIONS KOMAR WAS LISTED, AS IT WAS NOT LISTED PRIOR.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? NO. I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THE AND THE RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO THE POLICIES THAT COME UP FOR REVIEW AND MAKE SURE WHERE THERE IS STATE LAW OR STATE REGULATION IS ADDED. IT'S A VITAL RESOURCE FOR ANYONE THAT GOES BACK AND HAS TO LOOK THROUGH THOSE THINGS. I APPRECIATE THAT EFFORT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THERE ARE NO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS

FOR REVIEW. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

[Review of Capital Improvements Program]

>>> UP NEXT WE HAVE THE REVIEW OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM WITH MS. WARNER, COMING IN HOT WITH HER CRUTCHES AND ALL

HER PAPERS. >> THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON A

CONSTRUCTION SITE. >> IT'S NOT RECORDABLE, RIGHT?

>> WHAT'S THAT? >> IT'S NOT RECORDABLE, RIGHT?

>> SHE HAS TO CHANGE IT OUT. THIS IS A PDF, NOT THE POWERPOINT. OH, OH, FROM A WORKER'S COMP STANDPOINT? NO,

IT HAPPENED ON VACATION. >> ON VACATION. GOT IT. RIGHT.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SAY IT HAPPENED ON VACATION. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY SOMETHING MORE OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW. A MOTOR CROSS, YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD ONE. YEAH. WE'LL GIVE MS. MAXI JUST

A MINUTE. >> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE PDF, I GENERALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FLOW WITH A POWERPOINT. I WOULD PREFER TO SHOW MY WORK OFF A

LITTLE BIT. >> WE'RE STILL KICKING THE TIRES ON THIS NEW SOFTWARE. I THINK MS. MAXI WOULD PREFER TO KICK IT ALL THE WAY TO THE CURB.

>> EXCELLENT. NO, YOU'RE FINE, THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, OR

[00:25:04]

PROJECTS ARE FUNDED JOINTLY BY THE STATE AND LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENTS OR THEY ARE FUNDED ENTIRELY BY OUR LOCAL COUNTY.

THE CIP FOR FY27-32 CONTINUES THE SAME THEME FROM LAST YEAR. A MAJORITY OF OUR PROJECTS ARE RENOVATION TYPES, SUCH AS ROOFS, WINDOW REPLACEMENTS, HVAC, THERE ARE NOTABLE CHANGES. AS I PRESENTED TO YOU LAST MONTH DURING THE OVERVIEW OF THE BROOKS, CALVERT ELEMENTARY AND CALVERT COUNTRY MASTER STUDY PRESENTATION, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE APPROVAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE STATE FOR THE CALVERT COUNTRY SCHOOL PROJECT, IT WILL NEED TO BE COLOCATED WITH CALVERT ELEMENTARY. THIS IS REFLECTED WITHIN THE FY27-32. CALVERT ELEMENTARY AND CALVERT COUNTRY ARE COMBINED AS A SINGLE PROJECT, RATHER THAN BACK TO BACK DESIGNS AND BUILDS. THIS HAS BEEN COORDINATED WITH THE STATE AND IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE IT SHOWN THAT WAY. SECONDLY, DUE TO MULTIPLE ROOFS AND HVAC SYSTEMS BEING LONG OVERDUE FOR REPLACEMENT, MANY OF THESE PROJECTS ARE BEING REQUESTED DURING THE SIX-YEAR CYCLE. AND FINALLY, DUE TO TARIFFS, THE BUDGETS FOR THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE MARKET CONDITIONS THAT WE FACE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR CIP IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. BEFORE WE GO INTO SPECIFIC PROJECT TYPES, I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY RECAP HOW PROJECTS BECOME ELIGIBLE AS PART OF THE CIP AND MOVE INTO A SUMMARY OF NOTABLE PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THIS YEAR'S UPDATE. SO, HOW DO PROJECTS BECOME ELIGIBLE? WELL, THIS HAPPENS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS. INTERNALLY, WE LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN. YOU APPROVED THAT IN THE CONSENT AGENDA TODAY, AS WAS PRESENTED BY FACILITIES. SO ANY ASSETS THAT ARE SHOWN FOR REPLACEMENT ARE ALIGNED WITH THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. WE LOOK AT WORK ORDER HISTORY. WE LOOK AT THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION.

SO BENCHMARKING AN ENERGY CONSUMPTION DATA. WE ENGAGE FOR STAKE HOLDER GROUPS. SUCH AS PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN WHEN WE DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR A NEW PROJECT, STAKE HOLDERS ARE ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS AS WELL. AND THEN LASTLY, OF COURSE, IF THERE ARE ANY EMERGENCIES OR IMPENDING FAILURES, UNLESS WE DO THAT THROUGH A DIFFERENT MEANS IF WE CAN, WE'LL TRY TO PUT THAT IN THE CIP RIGHT AWAY. EXTERNALLY, WE LOOK AT DATA FROM THE STATEWIDE FACILITY ASSESSMENTS. THEY ASSESS OUR FACILITIES EVERY YEAR, SO EVERY FOUR YEARS, ALL OF THAT DATA IS REFRESHED AND UPDATED. THIS INDEX WIDELY KNOWN AS THE FCI, IS A MEASURE OF REALLY THE REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF AN ASSET. IT IS EXCELLENT DATA FOR US TO RELY ON. AND THEN LASTLY, THE EDUCATIONAL SUFFICIENCY STANDARDS THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE STATE AS A MINIMUM STANDARD FOR WHAT A FACILITY SHOULD HAVE IN TERMS OF LEARNING, SPACES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ALSO GO INTO OUR ASSESSMENT AS WELL. OUR CIP IS COMPRISED OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING AS WELL AS PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE 100% LOCAL FUNDING. OUR FUNDING FORMULA FOR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN REDUCED DUE TO LAST YEAR'S FOUNDATION GRANT CALCULATION FOR CALVERT COUNTY. THEREFORE, FOR THIS YEAR, OUR STATE SHARE GOES DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS 56% TO 54%. IN FY28, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, THE STATE SHARE IS FURTHER REDUCED TO 51%. THE LOCAL SHARE IN TURN IS BUMPED UP TO 46% IN FY27 AND 49% IN FY28. IN ADDITION TO CONSTRUCTION FUNDING, THE STATE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE COSTS FOR DESIGN AT A MAXIMUM 10% CAP, AS CALCULATED AS A PERCENTAGE OF CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. AND THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN FFE, OR FURNITURE FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT. THIS IS FOR REPLACEMENT AND RENOVATION ADDITION PROJECTS. THAT'S MAXED OUT AT 5%. ALL OF THESE COSTS ARE ELIGIBLE AT THE NOW REDUCED STATE PERCENTAGE. ON THE LOCAL SIDE OF THE STATE ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 49% OF THE COSTS AS WELL AS THE PROJECT

[00:30:02]

NOW MOVING ON TO NOTABLE PROJECTS FOR THIS SIX YEARS. AS I SAID EARLIER, I'M NOT GOING TO GO PAGE BY PAGE TO HIGHLIGHT NEW OR UPDATED PROJECTS, BUT I WILL HIT ON THE HIGHLIGHTS IN ORDER TO SUMMARIZE THE RECOMMENDED PRIORITIES ASSOCIATED WITH FUNDING AND OVERALL PROJECT IMPLICATIONS. SO WE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR FUNDING FOR NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AS YOU KNOW, THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THAT WILL CONTINUE THIS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL AS IN FY28. WE ALSO HAVE CALVERT ELEMENTARY AND CALVERT COUNTRY SCHOOL WITH SPECKS AND DESIGN OCCURRING IN FY27 THROUGH 28, WITH CONSTRUCTION IN 29 THROUGH 31. AND THEN LASTLY, OUR FINAL MARQUEE PROJECT IS MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN FY22030.

YOU SEE IN ITALICS, THE SWING SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE EXISTING CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IS NOTED AND LOCATED IN THE CIP NOW AND THAT INCLUDES DESIGN AND LIGHT RENOVATIONS. THAT'S JUST SO WE CAN GET THE OLDEST SECTION OF THE ROOF REPLACED AND SOME HVAC AIR HANDLERS TAKEN CARE OF IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO POTENTIALLY UTILIZE THAT AS A SWING SPACE FOR MOUNT HARMONY.

WE FOLLOW A DESIGN SLATED IN FY32 AND CONSTRUCTION OF MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY IN 2033 AND 2034. THE REGIONAL PROGRAM FACILITY THAT I SPOKE ABOUT LAST MONTH IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CIP. THAT IS BECAUSE WE NEED TO SEAT A STAKE HOLDER COMMITTEE AND WILL REPORT BACK WITH THE FINDINGS. THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT LOCATED IN THE CIP. CONTINUING ON TO OTHER PROJECTS. ATHLETIC PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED HERE ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE LAST YEAR. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, OUR CAPITAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS DO INCLUDE MONEY FOR PAVING AND PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT. SO, TO SUMMARIZE, WE HAVE FOUR BUILDINGS THAT ARE PART OF OUR MARQUEE PROJECTS, NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, CALVERT ELEMENTARY, AND CALVERT COUNTRY, MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE HAVE 15 RENOVATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING HVAC, REROOFING, STORE FRONT SKYLIGHTS AND WINDOWS. THIS IS OCCURRING AT 12 SCHOOLS, BUT A TOTAL OF 15 PROJECTS, AND THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST FOR THIS SIX-YEAR CYCLE IS $172.4 MILLION. THE STATE SHARE IS $61.8 MILLION. AND THE LOCAL SHARE IS $110.6 MILLION AND THE REASON THAT IS $110.6 IS BECAUSE THE LOCAL SHARE REPRESENTS NOT ONLY THE STATE FUNDED PROJECTS WHERE THE LOCAL SIDE IS PICKING UP THAT PORTION, BUT THEY ARE ALSO PICKING UP 100% OF THE LOCALLY FUNDED PROJECTS. SO, NOW JUST LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THIS YEAR IN FY27, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, CONTINUED FUNDING FOR NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, NUMBER TWO IS SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THERE'S NO LOCAL ASK FOR THIS. WE REQUESTED AND RECEIVED LOCAL FUNDING LAST YEAR. WE ALSO RECEIVED ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS IN MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION GRANT MONEY, BUT WE STILL NEED SOME MONEY AND SO WE ARE REQUESTING A LITTLE OVER $700,000 FROM THE STATE. WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR EARLY DESIGN FUNDING AND THAT IS SHOWN FOR CALVERT ELEMENTARY AND CALVERT COUNTRY. AND LASTLY, WE ARE REQUESTING MONEY FOR THE PLUM POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL CURTAIN SKY LIT REPLACE PROJECT. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THAT WE'RE REQUESTING MONEY FROM THE STATE AND THE COST HAS GROWN FOR THIS PROJECT, WHICH IS WHY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL FUNDING AS WELL. WE DO HAVE A BACKUP PLAN, THOUGH, WE'RE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR ANOTHER MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION GRANT IN ITS ENTIRETY FOR THIS PROJECT AND WE SHOULD KNOW IF WE GET THAT BY

[00:35:03]

THAT YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> THANK YOU. MR. HARRISON.

>> THANK YOU. HI, HOW ARE YOU? CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE PLUM POINT ROOF PROJECT? IS THAT PART OF THIS PLAN OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING BACK TO THE LATEST CORRESPONDENCE, WE WERE GOING BACK TO THE VENDOR TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE ROOF UNDER

WARRANTY. >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH MULTIPLE STEPS WITH THE ROOFING MANUFACTURER, BECAUSE THE LEAK IS IN A PORTION OF THE ROOF THAT WAS REPLACED ABOUT 14, 15 YEARS AGO. IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF THIS AT THIS POINT AND TOMORROW, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING SOME DYE TESTING JUST TO LOCATE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE THE ROOF MIGHT BE LEAKING FROM.

>> OKAY. >> WE'RE IN THE PROCESS.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU. AND THEN THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS WERE WE ABLE TO GET THE COUNTRY SCHOOL AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE

TOWN CENTER BOUNDARY? >> SO, WE HAD -- WE WERE SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS THIS PAST TUESDAY. THAT'S BEEN PUSHED BACK TO THE END OF THIS MONTH.

NEXT WEEK, I'M SCHEDULED TO GO BEFORE THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY, THE PLANNING COMMISSION NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO CERTIFY APPROVAL AND THEN IT WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. SO, IT IS STILL IN THE PROCESS OF BEING PROPOSED AS A PRIORITY FUNDING AREA. SO WE WILL CERTAINLY REPORT BACK ONCE THOSE MEETINGS TAKE PLACE.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> MR. MARCHIO.

>> YOU MENTION THE CURTAIN WALL AND SKYLINE PROJECT. THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW WE REQUESTED FUNDING FOR THE SAME PROJECT, BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT. ANY SPECIFIC REASON WHY THEY

HAVEN'T PROVIDED US FUNDING? >> THE REASON IS, THEY DON'T

HAVE ENOUGH MONEY. >> FAIR ENOUGH.

>> THEY ARE LIMITED WITH THEIR BUDGET. THERE ARE A LOT OF REQUESTS AND SO THERE'S ONLY ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND, BUT WE DO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE MEA GRANT PROGRAM.

IT WILL QUALIFY BECAUSE IT WOULD INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT TOGETHER THAT WAY AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL

GET FUNDING. >> SO, OKAY. THANK YOU. SO YOU MENTIONED THAT THE STATE PERCENTAGE IS GOING DOWN YEAR OVER YEAR. ANY PARTICULAR REASON OTHER THAN POTENTIAL BUDGET SHORT FALLS THAT IS GOING DOWN, AND ALSO, ONCE IT IS SET FOR A GIVEN PROJECT, IT DOESN'T GO DOWN OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT. IT STAYS WHAT IT WAS WHEN THE PROJECT WAS APPROVED,

CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE REASON FOR THE PERCENTAGE GOING DOWN IS BECAUSE, AS PART OF CALVERT'S WEALTH CALCULATION, WE WERE DEEMED TO BE, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE CALCULATIONS ARE MADE, BUT IT IS TIED TO THAT $22 MILLION. AND IT WAS THE TIMING OF WHEN WE WERE DUE FOR A RECALCULATION AND WE FELL INTO THAT UNFORTUNATE TIME LINE. SO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE ARE BEING REDUCED DOWN. NOW THE FORMULA WILL BE RECALCULATED FOR FY29 AND BEYOND. HOWEVER, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE, SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE JUST KEEPING IT FOR FUTURE YEAR FUNDS AT 51%.

>> OKAY. THEN RELATING TO THE PROJECTS, YOU MENTIONED WE HAVE TO CARRY THE CONTINGENCY TO CARRY CHANGE ORDERS. WHAT LEVEL OF CONTINGENCY TO WE CARRY PERCENTAGE WISE AND DO WE HAVE ANY STOP LOSS ASSURANE ON ANY OF THOSE CONTINGENCIES?

>> THE ONLY STOP LOSS THAT WE HAVE WOULD BE FOR OUR MAJOR PROJECTS, WHICH TYPICALLY WE WILL DO AT RISK, AND SO FOR THOSE PROJECTS, THE CONTINGENCY IS DEFINED BY THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AND BECAUSE IT'S A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE ON THAT CONTINGENCY IS INCLUDED, THAT WOULD BE A STOP GAP. HOWEVER, FOR SYSTEMIC PROJECTS, THAT IS GENERAL CONTRACTOR, IF SAY THERE

[00:40:04]

DEPEND PROJECT BY PROJECT. >> THEN LAST ONE I HAD, SORRY GUYS. AS FAR AS NORTHERN MIDDLE BEING DONE, WHAT'S THE CURRENT CPM LOOK LIKE AND ARE THEY ON TRACK WITH A CONTRACTUAL END

DATE ? >> THEY HAVE LOST TIME WITH THE RAIN THAT HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER. THEY HAD ONE MONTH OF RAIN BASICALLY. IT REALLY SET THEM BEHIND. THEY MADE UP ABOUT TWO WEEKS AT THIS POINT. AT THIS POINT, WITH THEIR SCHEDULE UPDATES ARE SHOWING THAT THEY ARE STILL GOING TO BE DONE. THEY ARE PLANNING TO BE DONE BY NEXT SUMMER. SO, WE WILL -- I WILL CERTAINLY REPORT BACK IF SOMETHING CHANGES, BUT THAT IS CURRENTLY WHAT THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE FOR PHASE ONE AND THEN AT THAT POINT, THE STUDENTS WOULD OCCUPY HE SCHOOL AND THEN THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL ABATEMENT, ETCETERA, THAT WOULD BE DONE IN THE EXISTING BUILDING. THERE WOULD BE DEMOLITION, AND THE LAST PHASE WOULD BE PARKING.

>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I JUST HAVE A QUICK ONE. WHAT IS MEANT BY SWING SCHOOL DESIGN?

>> SO REALLY THE DESIGN, IT WAS IDENTIFYING IT AS A SWING SCHOOL. BUT THE DESIGN DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAKING IT INTO A SWING SCHOOL. SWING SCHOOL IS BASICALLY THE SPACE THAT, AS I PRESENTED LAST MONTH, IS KIND OF IDENTIFYING THE EXISTING CALVERT ELEMENTARY BUILDING AS A PLACE HOLDER TO BE ABLE TO SITUATE TEMPORARILY THE STUDENTS AT MOUNT HARMONY. THE DESIGN THAT I'M REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS ANY KIND OF HVAC REPLACEMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT DESIGNED. ANY REROOFING, THAT WORK REQUIRES DESIGN. SO THERE'S A DESIGN COMPONENT AND MONEY WE HAVE TO SAVE FOR THE DESIGN OF THOSE TWO SYSTEM REPLACEMENTS AND THEN THE ACTUAL

WORK. >> THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU MS. WARNER.

[Citizen Advisory Committee Appointments]

>> THANK YOU. >> UP NEXT WE HAVE THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT. DR. JOHNSON.

>> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, I'M SUSAN JOHNSON, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER. ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF YOU ARE THE LISTS OF NAMES SUBMITTED FOR THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WE'RE ASKING APPROVAL AT THIS TIME.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.

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

>> HAVE WE CONTACTED FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE STILL INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE CAC?

>> SO PRIOR TO THIS BEING SUBMITTED, WE SEND OUT INFORMATION REQUESTING INTEREST AND THEN ONCE THOSE PEOPLE SUBMIT THEIR NAMES, THEN FROM THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PUT IN THEIR NAME FOR CONSIDERATION, THEN THEY ARE SELECTED. AND THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SELECTED. ONCE YOU APPROVE THEM TONIGHT, THEN MRS. MAXI WILL LET THEM KNOW THEY HAVE

BEEN SELECTED AND APPROVED. >> AWESOME, THANK YOU.

>> I NOTICE THAT NORTHERN ONLY HAS ONE STUDENT MEMBER AND P EPUXEN HAS TWO. CAN STUDENTS GET APPOINTED?

>> THIS IS THE LIST WE HAVE NOW, SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. WE STILL SOLICIT INFORMATION FROM PRINCIPALS TO TRY TO FIND STUDENTS WHO WILL WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CAC.

>> THANKS. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND SECOND.

NO MORE DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

>> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES 5-0. THANK YOU

[00:45:08]

DR. JOHNSON. >>> UP NEXT WE WILL MOVE INTO

[PUBLIC FORUM]

PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN.

THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 30. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. PERSONS ON THE SIGNUP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER, OR RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANY OTHER PERSON OR GROUP. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXI TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTTY, DON'T MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS. ALL COMMENTS MUST BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FOR FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO SPEAK. THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO YOUR 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 TONIGHT IS

DEBRA HARRIS. >> GOOD EVENING, DEBRA HARRIS. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THREE MINUTES. I AM PART OF A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION. I KNOW THE LAST MEETING, ORGANIZATIONS GOT THREE MINUTES.

>> THE ORGANIZATION? >> OH YEAH.

>> THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAD THREE MINUTES LAST TIME WAS OUR ASSOCIATIONS, EITHER THE CALVERT EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF, OR THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF SUPERVISORS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

>> OKAY. 'LL DO THE BEST I CAN. I COME TO EVENING ON BEHALF OF THE NAACP OF CALVERT COUNTY. WE ARE CONTINUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND EFFORTS TO DISMANTEL DEI IN OUR SCHOOLS.

THESE ACTIONS ADVERSELY AFFECT THE WELL BEING OF OUR CHILDREN AND HINDER THEIR ACADEMIC SUCCESS. AT THE END OF THE LAST MEETING, ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS STATED THAT 27,000 VOTERS IN OUR COUNTY VOTED FOR HIS PLATFORM AND FURTHER STATED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO VOTE. WHILE WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE THAT VOTING IS IMPORTANT AND VOTERS SHOULD BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE CANDIDATES BEFORE THEY VOTE. WE TOOK A LOOK AT THE PLATFORM PRESENTED DURING THE LAST ELECTION TO VOTERS HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY. THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HAVE 411, WHERE THEY INTERVIEW ALL OF THE CANDIDATES IN A VARIETY OF AREAS. SO WE TOOK A LOOK AT THIS CANDIDATE'S POSITION ON DEI.

AND THIS IS HIS DIRECT QUOTE. DEI IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ALL PEOPLE MATTER. DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT IS IMPORTANT AS WE HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE WAYS OF THINKING THAT ARE DIFFERENT AND WORTHY OF RESPECT. IT'S IMPORTANT AS WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND IF WE CHOOSE, EXCEED BY WORKING HARDER THAN OTHERS. INCLUSION IS A NECESSITY AS WE SHOULD ALWAYS INVITE OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE OR OTHERWISE EXCLUDED TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR CIRCLES AND FRIENDS GROUP. WHILE DEI, EQUITY IS IMPORTANT, INCLUSION IS A NECESSITY. THIS IS THE PLATFORM THAT 27,000 MEMBERS, VOTERS IN CALVERT COUNTY VOTED FOR.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY GOT. THEY GOT A REVERSAL OF WHAT WAS STATED. A BAIT AND SWITCH. A PANDERING OF A CANDIDATE'S

PLATFORM. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> THANK YOU.

REAMES. >> HI. MY NAME IS GENE REAMES.

[00:50:14]

THAT IS, I AM MORE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE THAN I AM DIFFERENT. I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL THINK ABOUT AND TRY AND APPLY AND THINK ABOUT HOW IT APPLIES TO US AND ALL OF THE OTHER STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF, IN CALVERT COUNTY. IT'S IMPORTANT. WE ALL HAVE A SHARED GOAL TO HAVE SAFE, CARING SCHOOLS, WHERE OUR STUDENTS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THEY CAN REACH THE GOALS THEY WANT TO REACH. WE NEED TO GO BEYOND ALL THE NOISE OF POLICIES AND ALL THE NOISE OF THE NATIONAL AND OTHER POLITICS. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHO OUR PEOPLE ARE. WHO THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY ARE AND REPRESENT THEM. THE STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS. PLEASE, ONLY WORK ON POLICY CHANGES THAT REALLY MAKE THE SCHOOLS BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS, FOR OUR TEACHERS, BECAUSE WE ALL WANT WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR COUNTY. PLEASE ELIMINATE ALL TALK OF OTHER.

THINK OF US AS ALL ONE. BECAUSE IT MATTERS. AND PLEASE DON'T USE ACCRA ANYMORES, ABBREVIATIONS, USE WORDS. WORD WE FIND IN THE DICTIONARY. IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. I'M MORE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE THAN I AM DIFFERENT. PLEASE REMEMBER THOSE

WORDS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHERRY. >> GOOD EVENING BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND WELCOME TO DR. NEWSOME. MY NAME IS SHERRY.

MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE, HER, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRINCE FREDRICK. DESPITE YOUR POSITIONS BEING NONPARTISAN, THIS BOARD IS FOLLOWING A POLITICAL AGENDA. YOU DISMISS THE CONCERNS AND INFORMATION PRESENTED BY THOSE WHO DISAGREE WITH YOU. BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD WORK TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS OF CCPS, AND NOT TO ADVANCE THE POLITICAL AGENDAS OF COMMISSIONERS, DELEGATES, OR OTHER DONORS TO YOUR CAMPAIGNS.

YOU CLAIM TO BE ALL ABOUT CREATING A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, BUT YOU ELIMINATED THE ANTIRACISM POLICY, DESPITE HEARING FROM STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT PROTECTED FROM RACIAL HARASSMENT AND BULLYING. YOU ARE AGAINST DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. YOU HAVE DICTATED THE REMOVAL OF ALL LGBTQIA FLAGS, DESPITE HEARING HOW THESE HELPED STUDENTS FEEL WELCOMED. THESE DECISIONS HELP NO ONE. SINCE THIS BOARD DOES NOT SUPPORT STUDENTS WHO ARE -- WE ADULTS WHO DO CARE WILL ADOCATE FOR THEM. WE LIVE HERE, TOO. WE WILL BE THE VOICE FOR THE QUOTE, STRAY DOGS, UNQUOTE, THAT YOU CAN'T BE BOTHERED WITH. YOUR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT THE LEGACY OF THIS BOARD TO BE. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, IF BECAUSE OF YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS, ONE STUDENT IS BULLIED, HARASSED, OR HARMED BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, IF ONE STUDENT FEELS UNWELCOME OR UNSAFE IN SCHOOL, IF ONE STUDENT FEELS UNWORTHY OR LESS THAN, THAT IS ON EACH OF YOU. FURTHER MORE, IF YOUR WORDS AND POLICY CONTRIBUTE TO EVEN ONE STUDENT FEELING HOPELESS, HELPLESS, OR SUICIDAL, BECAUSE THEIR IDENTITY IS INVALIDATED AND ATTACKED,

THAT, TOO, IS ON EACH OF YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> NEXT SPEAKER IS LEE REID. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

[00:55:01]

LEAVING OUT A COUPLE OF THINGS, AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS WERE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOLS AT HIGHER RATES. SINCE 2012, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSELY WITH CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND WE WELCOME THAT INVITATION TO YOU AS WELL.

IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THE BOARD GIVES VERY SERIOUS, VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO REESTABLISHING THIS POLICY. EDUCATION IS A KEY

COMPONENT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ETSEL BROWN, L BROWN, JR.

>> GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS ETZEL BROWN, JR. I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF ALPHA FRATERNITY. SOME WEEKS AGO, I STOOD AT THIS VERY PODIUM AND URGED YOU NOT TO REPEAL THE ANTIRACISM POLICY. I ASK THAT YOU TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON ITS VALUE TO OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY, DESPITE THOSE APPEALS, THE POLICY WAS REPEALED WITH LITTLE DELIBERATION. THAT DECISION WAS MORE THAN SYMBOLIC. IT REMOVED THE SAFEGUARD THAT PROVIDED ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSURANCE TO PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND STAFF ALIKE. ALPHA FRATERNITY FOUNDED IN 1906, HAS ALWAYS STOOD FOR SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. ITS MEMBERS INCLUDE GIANTS SUCH AS DR.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AND JUSTICE SIR GOODE MARSHALL, WHO DEVOTED THEIR LIVES. THAT LEGACY LIVES ON IN OUR LOCAL CHAPTER HERE IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND. THROUGH OUR MENTORING PROGRAMS AND YOUTH INITIATIVES, WE SEE FIRSTHAND HOW CRITICAL IT IS FOR SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE SAFE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN THRIVE. AS CHAIR OF THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND MINORITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I BRING A PERSPECTIVE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. E KNOW THAT EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE NOT ABSTRACT IDEAS, THEY ARE PRACTICAL NECESSITIES. BUSINESSES THAT EMBRACE FAIRNESS GROW STRONGER. THOSE THAT IGNORE IT FALL BEHIND. THE SAME IS TRUE OF EDUCATION. BY ELIMINATING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY, THIS BOARD LEFT A VOID. ONE THAT UNDERMINDS TRUST AND WEAKENS ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT VOID SENDS AN UNINTENDED, BUT UNMISTAKABLE MESSAGE, THAT THE CONCERNS OF STUDENTS OF COLOR AND THEIR FAMILIES MAY NOT BE VALUED.

TONIGHT, I RESPECTFULLY CALL ON YOU TO RECONSIDER. IF NOT TO RESTORE THE ANTIRACISM POLICY IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM AND REPLACE IT WITH AN EQUITY AND INCLUSION POLICY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AMANDA RACER.

>> THERE'S A TIMER. FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF. MY SON STARTED KINDERGARTEN THIS WEEK.

IT'S SURREAL MY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER IS BEHIND ME, AND MY SECOND GRADE TEACHER. I DON'T WANT TO READ FROM THIS. I

[01:00:03]

WE ARE EACH OTHER'S HOPE TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER. US.

AND I FEEL THAT THE REMOVAL OF THESE POLICIES ONLY WORK TO DIVIDE. PUT YOURSELVES IN THE SHOES OF THE KIDS BEHIND US AND THE NEWS THAT THEY HAVE TO WATCH AND THE SOUND BITES THEY HAVE TO LISTEN TO AND KIDS GETTING SHOT. WE CAN'T BRING THAT HERE TO THE SCHOOLS. TO THE POLICIES, TO THE PROTECTION OF THESE STUDENTS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW REMOVING ANY OF THIS IS PRODUCTIVE AND I'M A BIT SPEECHLESS. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY VALUES. EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE SEEN. AND REMOVING THOSE FEELS LIKE A CLEAR AGENDA TO ONE SIDE.

I FEEL, I'M PRETTY NEW TO THIS. WHEN I COME HERE, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S REALLY UP FOR DEBATE THAT THESE FORMS ARE FOR PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS FOR DIFFERENCES AND THINKING ABOUT HOW THINGS COULD BE BETTER. I THOUGHT I WOULD BE COMING HERE TO TALK ABOUT TECH USE AND HOW TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND IMPROVE OUR CURRICULUMS AND YET, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN REMOVE THINGS THAT MAKE KIDS FEEL SAFE AND SEEN AND SO I ASK FOR US TO REPRESENT ALL VOICES OF CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOL AND NOT JUST THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT PAY FOR OUR SEATS. SO PLEASE, THINK ABOUT THE KIDS AND HAVING THEM BE SEEN AND HEARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. PLEASE HOLD YOUR APPLAUSE.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE SHISLER.

>> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, SUPERINTENDENT NEWSOME. MS. GOSHORN, MR. HARRISON, MR. MARCHIO, MS. JACOBS, AND MR. JOHNSON. I'LL PICK UP WHERE I LEFT OFF LAST MONTH ON AUGUST 7.

I'LL GO BACK TO MY RECURRING QUESTION. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? SO, YOUR GOAL IS TO GET RID OF THE EQUITY POLICY AND THE ANTIRACISM POLICY. SO, AVOID PUBLIC INPUT. YOU ARE IN CHARGE.

YOU JUST DO IT. YOU AVOID PUBLIC INPUT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE POWER. I PRESUME THAT ALL OF YOU, OR AT LEAST SOME OF YOU, HAVE HEARD THE QUOTE FROM THE BRITISH HISTORIAN LORD, ACTON.

POWERCORRUPTS, ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, POWER TENDS TO CORRUPT, ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS, ABSOLUTELY. WE HEARD EARLIER THIS YEAR, IN THIS ROOM, FROM ONE OF YOUR CALVERT COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. HE STATED HIS SATISFACTION THAT WE NOW HAVE FIVE WHITE REPUBLICAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND WE HAVE FIVE WHITE REPUBLICAN BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. THAT REPUBLICAN SPEAKER WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH THOSE CONSEQUENCES. PRESUMABLY, YOU FIVE BOARD MEMBERS ARE ALSO VERY SATISFIED WITH THOSE CONSEQUENCES. THE BOARD OF ED WAS INTENDED TO BE A NONPARTISAN BOARD. YOUR DUTY IS TO GUIDE AND SUPPORT POLICIES THAT PROTECT ALL OUR STUDENTS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF. YOUR TRACK RECORD SO FAR IS VERY PARTISAN. YOU ARE NOT WORKING ON BEHALF OF ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF. SO WHETHER YOU WON THE LAST ELECTION, WITH 25,000, 26,000, OR 27,000 VOTES, YOU WERE ELECTED TO WORK FOR THE GOOD OF ALL STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. NOT JUST THE KIDS WHOSE PARENTS HAVE AN R BEHIND THEIR NAMES. IF YOUR AGENDA IS ONLY FOR THE R FAMILIES, THEN YOU ARE THE WRONG PERSON IN THIS JOB. THANK YOU. STAY HEALTHY.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NANCY

KRAUSE. >> THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS NANCY KRAUSE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND DISCUSSION THAT WENT INTO CREATING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY THAT THE BOARD IS TRYING TO APPEAL. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY. AT THE TIME, WHEN LOOKNG AT STUDENT DATA, IT WAS CLEAR THAT POLICIES THAT EXISTED WERE NOT SOLVING THE ISSUES OF RACIAL DISPORTIONALTY AND ACHIEVEMENT AND DISCIPLINE. I WANT YOU TO HEAR THAT CLEARLY. YES, DATA.

DATA WAS LOOKED AT. IT WAS DECIDED MORE WAS NEEDED TO CLOSE

[01:05:04]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ASH.

>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF EDUCATION. LAST TIME I SPOKE HERE, I DISCUSSED THE RACISM MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ACQUAINTANCES HAVE FACED IF SCHOOLS. APPARENTLY, THE VERBAL AND PHYSICAL HARASSMENTS I DETAILED IN MY SPEECH WAS NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE YOU. SO MAYBE WE'LL LOOK AT THE FACTS, BECAUSE YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T HAVE ANY EMPATHY FOR YOUR STUDENTS OF COLOR. ACCORDING TO THE U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, 30% OF YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT IS CHILDREN AGE 4 TO 19, IN YOUR SCHOOLS, ARE OF COLOR. THAT'S AROUND 4,600 STUDENTS. OUTOF 15,400. THAT'S 4,600 STUDENTS THAT YOU ARE DISREGARDING. 4,600 STUDENTS THAT YOU ARE DEEMING LESS THAN THE REST. 4,600 STUDENTS FOR WHO YOU TOOK AWAY THEIR ONLY PROTECTION AGAINST PREJUDICE AND HATE IN YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THAT IS 15,400 STUDENTS WHO YOU ARE FAILING BECAUSE YOU ARE FALLING PAINFULLY SHORT OF YOUR JOBS. TO QUOTE YOUR OWN WEBSITE, YOUR MISSION IS TO MIRROR THE DIVERSE DEMOCRACIES YOU SERVE AND MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. IT DOESN'T SEEM TO ME LIKE YO'RE MIRRORING THE DIVERSE DEMOCRACIES YOU SERVE, SEEING AS WE, THE PUBLIC, ARE STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY ARGUING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT. IT DEFINITELY DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU ARE AIDING SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, SEEING AS YOU ARE LEAVING 4,600 STUDENTS TO THEIR OWN DEVICES. AN UNSAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT IS NO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT ALL. WE ARE NOT BEGGING YOU. WE ARE NOT IMPLORING YOU, WE, THE PUBLIC, ARE TELLING YOU THAT YOUR DECISIONS ARE HEINOUS AND WE THE PUBLIC ARE TELLING YOU TO REINSTATE YOUR ANTIRACISM POLICY. IF IT WALKS LIKE A DUCK AND QUACKS LIKE A DUCK, IT'S A DUCK. SIMILARLY, IF YOU'RE AGAINST AN ANTIRACIST POLICY,

YOU'RE A RACIST. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STACEY TAMEN.

ASSOCIATION. >> YES.

>> GOOD EVENING, I AM STACEY, PRESIDENT OF THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF. I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH A MESSAGE THAT BLENDS CELEBRATION WITH VIGILANCE.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO A NINE-YEAR CCPS EMPLOYEE WHO WAS NAMED THE 2025 MARYLAND STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR. THAT PERSON IS STEPHANIE PATTERSON, OUR SECRETARY AND CASE MEMBER.

STEPHANIE'S UNWAIVERRING DEDICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND ADVOCACY FOR HER COLLEAGUES HAVE EARNED HER THIS WELL DESERVED HONOR. SHE WILL PROUDLY REPRESENT MARYLAND AT THE NATIONAL ESP CONENTION IN ANAHEIM THIS MARCH AND I KNOW SHE WILL CARRY THE VOICES OF MARYLAND ESPS AND ESPECIALLY THOSE IN CALVERT COUNTY WITH STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY. I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DEVELOPMENT TEAM FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING WORK ON THE INAUGURAL ESP ORIENTATION SESSION THAT WAS HELD ON

[01:10:04]

BEYOND THE SMOKE AND MIRRORS AND DISTRACTIONS, THERE IS REAL SUBSTANTIVE WORK BEING DONE. AND WHILE WE CELEBRATE THESE ACHIEVEMENTS, WE MUST ALSO REMAIN VIGILANT. YOU GUYS KNOW THAT THE EMPLOYEES ARE PAYING ATTENTION. SPECIFICALLY, TO POLICIES THAT APPEAR TO CONSOLIDATE POWER AT THE EXPENSE OF TRANSPARENCY, COLLABORATION, AND EMPLOYEE RIGHTS. I'M SURE YOU ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT ANY ATTEMPT TO DIMINISH THIS COLLABORATION, SIDELINE OR ELIMINATE THE VOICES OF STAFF OR THE UNIONS THAT REPRESENT THEM, WILL BE MET WITH ORGANIZED RESISTANCE AND UNWAIVERRING SCRUTINY. WE CANNOT ALLOW THESE ATTEMPTS TO GO UNADDRESSED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPEAK OUT, SHOW UP, AND SHINE A LIGHT ON DECISIONS THAT AFFECT THE WELL BEING OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO MAKE THEM RUN.

SO TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE AND WE RECOMMIT TO

ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DONNA ESTENZO.

>> GOOD EVENING, I AM DONNA ESTENZO, A RETIRED EDUCATOR OF 35 YEARS WITH CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CALVERT COUNTY. I KNOW BY THE TIME I'M ABLE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU WOULD HAVE APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA AND VOTED TO REPEAL 1018 REGARDING ANTIRACISM. LET'S BE HONEST. THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE WITH THE ANTIRACISM POLICY IS NOT THAT IT IS REDUNDANT, OR THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED YOU WOULD BE ELEVATING ONE FORM OF DEDISCRIMINATION OVER ANOTHER.

IT'S THAT THE POLICY USES WORDS LIKE WHITE PRIVILEGE, AND WHITE SUPREMACY. AND THAT MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. DEFENSIVE EVEN. BECAUSE YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, I'M NOT RACIST.

RACISM IS BAD. EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY.

YOU HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU SUPPORT THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS AND GROUPS AGAINST ANY DEDISCRIMINATION AS OUTLINED IN THE DISCRIMINATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES. HOWEVER, THIS IS REACTIVE. ESSENTIALLY WAITING FOR THERE TO BE A COMPLAINT OR INCIDENT. UNLIKE BEING NOT RACIST, WHICH IS A PASSIVE STANCE. AN ANTIRACIST POLICY IS A DELIBERATE PRACTICE THAT USES INTENTIONAL ACTIONS TO DISMANTEL SYSTEMIC RACISM. AND CREATE AN EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERYONE. THIS IS WHY HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE PROTESTING BEFORE THE BOARD OF ED MEETINGS. WHY THE ROOM IS FILLED AGAIN TONIGHT. WHY CALVERT COUNTY MADE THE BALTIMORE CBS NEWS LAST MONTH, AND THE WASHINGTON NBC NEWS LAST WEEK. THESE ACTIVISTS RALLY ON THE STREETS, WRITE LETTERS, PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT TO CHALLENGE THE REMOVAL OF POLICIES THAT HARM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED PEOPLE. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, DO YOU REPRESENT ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN CALVERT COUNTY OR JUST THE PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR YOU?

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAMELA COUSINS.

>> YOUR DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE ANTIRACISM POLICY, CLAIMING IT IS REDUNDANT, I'LL TELL YOU WHY GENERIC POLICIES FALL SHORT.

DISCRIMINATION POLICIES ADDRESS OBVIOUS VIOLATIONS. CLEAR CUT CASES. BUT RACISM IN OUR SCHOOLS SETTLE UNSYSTEMMIC. WHEN

[01:15:07]

WHEN STUDENTS ARE ASKED, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, REALLY, OR HAVE CLASSMATES TOUCH THEIR HAIR WITHOUT PERMISSION, THESE INCIDENTS RARELY GET REPORTED AS DISCRIMINATION. WHY GENERAL POLICIES AREN'T ENOUGH, STUDENTS OF COLOR FACE SUSPENSION RATES TWICE AS HIGH AS WHITE PEERS FOR IDENTICAL BEHAVIORS. THEY ARE UNDER REPRESENTED IN HONORS COURSES, AND OVER REPRESENTED IN DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS. THIS ISN'T HAPPENING BECAUSE OF OVER DISCRIMINATION OUR CURRENT POLICY WOULD CATCH. IT'S HAPPENING BECAUSE OF UNCONSCIENCE BIAS, SYSTEMIC PRACTICES, AND SUBTLE EXCLUSIONS THAT POLICIES DON'T RECOGNIZE OR ADDRESS. POLICY 1018 SPECIFICALLY TACKLED THE ROOT CAUSE LIKE PROACTIVE BIAS TRAINING, DATA TRACKING BY RACE, CURRICULUM REVIEW, RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, AND CLEAR PROTOCALLS. BY ELIMINATING POLICY 1018, YOU TOLD STUDENTS OF COLOR THAT THE SUBTLE BARRIERS THEY FACE, THE ONES THAT CHIP AWAY AT THEIR CONFIDENCE AND BELONGINGS AREN'T WORTH ADDRESSING. MEANWHILE, THE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS PERSIST BECAUSE OF TREATING SYMPTOMS INSTEAD OF CAUSES. I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS DECISION, ANTIRACISM POLICIES AREN'T REDUNDANT. THEY ARE WATCHING. ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS STANDING FOR RACISM, EXCLUSION, HATE, AND

DISCRIMINATION. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> LEGACY IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PATTY DEMKE.

>> OKAY. THE REAL REASON -- MAKE SURE THE CLOCK DOESN'T START TOO SOON. THE REAL REASON THAT YOU GUYS ARE REPEALING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY WAS OUTLINED IN A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST THE BOARD THREE YEARS AGO WHERE THEY ARGUED THAT CLASSROOMS DISCUSS WHITE SHAMING, STUDENTS OF COLOR RECEIVE SPECIAL TREATMENT, RACISM POLICIES IMPLEMENT DISCRIMINATION CURRICULUMS. CAUSED NEW RACISM AGAINST WHITE STUDENTS. ANTIRACISM POLICIES FUEL RACISM TOWARDS WHITE STUDENTS. THESE WERE ALL TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM THE LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN THAT LAWSUIT. THE LAWSUIT SOUGHT TO ELIMINATE EDUCATION ABOUT RACISM AND DIVERSITY IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE LAWSUIT ALSO SOUGHT AN AWARD OF $75,000. THE LAWSUIT COST THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MONEY FOR LEGAL SERVICES AND THE BOARD'S TIME, WHICH WAS PAID FOR WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS. THE CASE WAS DISMISSED FOR LACK OF STANDING. THEY COULD NOT SUBSTANTIATE ANY OF THEIR CLAIMS. ONE OF THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS LAWSUIT WAS MELISSA GOSHORN WHO NOW SITS ON THE BOARD. I BELIEVE THE ARGUMENT SHE MADE IN THE LAWSUIT AND THE ACTION SHE HAS TAKEN ON THIS BOARD DEMONSTRATE EXTREME PREJUDICE AND THIS DISQUALIFIES HER AUTHORITY TO MAKE POLICY DECISIONS FOR A SCHOOL SYSTEM WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION. THIS IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

SHE'S CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT SHE IS INCAPABLE OF SERVING THE COUNTY SCHOOL FAMILIES AND TAXPAYERS WITH IMPARTIALITY, BECAUSE SHE IS TOO BUSY PUSHING HER OWN AGENDA. BECAUSE OF THESE REASONS, I'M CALLING ON YOU TO RESIGN, MELISSA GOSHORN.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANTWON

WHITE. >> SEEMS A LITTLE DIFFERENT ON THIS SIDE. GOOD AFTERNOON, DR. NEWSOME. THANK YOU FOR THE MEETING AND GIVING YOUR TIME TO MEET WITH ME. MR. JOHNSON, LISA,

[01:20:03]

IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING. I'M STILL DOING THE JOB WITHOUT A TITLE. I'M STILL WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS. I'M STILL HELPING PEOPLE. I GOT A PHONE CALL, A TEXT WHILE I WAS SITTING HERE.

THERE'S A PARENT, HER STUDENT, HER CHILD, ACTUALLY WAS REALLY STRUGGLING AND IS STRUGGLING BECAUSE SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY PLACE THAT SHE FELT SAFE. BECAUSE THE MOM IS STRUGGLING DEALING WITH HER WHAT HER DAUGHTER IS GOING THROUGH AND THE DAD DOESN'T SEEM TO BE INTERESTED OR CAN'T. HE'S HARD TO DEAL WITH, SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS ONLY PLACE SHE FELT SAFE. SO NOW SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT. I'VE TALKED TO COUNSELORS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE TALKED TO COUNSELORS. THEY ARE STRUGGLING BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.

BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURES THAT ARE COMING FROM YOU GUYS. THEY WANT TO DO THEIR JOB. THEY WANT TO PROTECT EACH AND EVERY STUDENT. NOT JUST ALL. EACH AND EVERY STUDENT, BECAUSE EACH AND EVERY STUDENT HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS. WE USED TO BE A BOARD THAT WAS REBEL. THEY LOOKED AT OUR BOARD AS THE CHANGE MAKERS.

NOW IT'S JUST PRETTY MUCH, SHAKING THEIR HEADS AND BEING

REALLY, OKAY. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIRIAM CANNING.

>> HELLO. GOOD EVENING, BOARD, AND WELCOME DR. NEWSOME. I HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOUR WORK AND YOUR CHARACTER. IT'S A BLESSING TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE YOU WITH SO MUCH EXPERIENCE TO HELP SHAPE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE'RE HAPPY YOU'RE HERE. I WANT TO APPLAUD ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO OUR CHILDREN, TOO OFTEN PEOPLE DON'T SEE THE TOLL PUBLIC SERVICE TAKES. THE ENDLESS SCRUTINY, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PILEONS, YET THIS BOARD KEEPS SHOWING UP FOR OUR KIDS, SO THANK YOU. THIS WEEK, OUR NATION'S RECORD CARD REVEALED RECORD LOW TEST SCORES IN READING AND MATH. A DECLINE THAT BEGAN BEFORE COVID AND IS ONLY WORSENED SINCE. WE SAW THIS COMING WHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS DRIFTED FROM ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND WOVE JUSTICE STANDARDS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF GEORGE FLOYD, MANY SYSTEMS TOOK A SHARP POLITICAL TURN THAT ULTIMATELY WEAKENED INSTITUTIONS, VILIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND FAILED OUR STUDENTS. THIS BOARD CHANGED THAT. THEY SET BOUNDARIES, ESTABLISHED NEW POLICY TO REMOVE POLITICAL ACTIVISM WITHIN CCPS AND REPEALED A DISCRIMINATORY ANTIRACISM POLICY, ALIGNING WITH EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN MARYLAND. WE HAVE POLICIES NOT JUST REACTIVE, BUT PROACTIVE. PLEASE REVIEW THE POLICIES. STUDENTS ARE FULLY PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION WITHOUT POLICIES THAT TARGET ENTIRE GROUPS. OUR CURRENT BOARD ALSO CREATED A POLICY CENTERED ON POLITICAL NEUTRALITY, REVEALING A REAL RESPECT FOR FREE SPEECH AND A POLITICAL CLASSROOM CREATES SPACE FOR REAL DIALOGUE. WHEN TEACHES SHARE PERSONAL VIEWS, STUDENTS OFTEN FEEL PRESSURED TO AGREE OR SELF-SENSOR. THE TRAGIC ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK SHOWS THE DANGER OF SILENCING VOICES. TOO MANY STAY QUIET TO AVOID CONFLICT, BUT SILENCE MAKES TRUTH TELLERS LOOK LIKE FRINGE OUTLIERS. EVEN THOUGH THE LAST ELECTION PROVED OTHERWISE, PEOPLE TRULY WANTED A RETURN TO COMMON SENSE. FREE SPEECH IS THE CORNER STONE OF FREEDOM. THIS BOARD IS BUILDING THAT FOUNDATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THE SAME AND WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE WHO ENDURE THE COST SO THE REST OF US CAN REMAIN COMFORTABLE. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BETH.

>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'VE HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOU, DR. NEWSOME AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. FIRST, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE BOARD HAS

[01:25:03]

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TRACY

MCGUIRE. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS TRACY MCGUIRE. CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, ARE YOU NOT CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOUR POLICIES AND DECISIONS IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING? STUDENT SAFETY? EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS? OR REALLY ANYTHING? ARE YOU NOT CURIOUS ABOUT HOW THE POLICY RESTRICTING CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS AFFECTED STUDENT BEHAVIORS? STUDENT LEARNING AND EDUCATOR CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT? ARE YOU NOT CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT EDUCATORS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT EQUITY? ANTIRACISM, SAFE SPACE STICKERS, OR REALLY ANYTHING. DO YOU EVER WONDER ABOUT BEST PRACTICES IN GOVERNANCE? EDUCATION? OR REALLY ANYTHING? IT APPEARS NOT. FROM THIS SIDE OF THE DICE, IT APPEARS YOU ARE ALL STUMBLING AROUND LIKE U DRUNK SAILORS. DOING AS MUCH HARM AS POSSIBLE IN THE SHORTEST PERIOD OF TIME. YOUR LEGACY WILL BE THE DECONSTRUCTION OF A ONCE HIGHLY ADMIRED PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHEN YOU ARE GONE, OTHERS WILL CLEAN UP THE MESS YOU HAVE MADE. HOWEVER, FOR THE STUDENTS IN YOUR CARE RIGHT NOW, THE HARM TO THEIR EDUCATION WILL BE ENDURING. I HOPE IT HAUNTS YOU. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE COURSE. GET CURIOUS, ASK QUESTIONS. GET DATA. ASK EDUCATORS ABOUT INSTRUCTION, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, AND DISCIPLINE. HAVE A RETREAT WITH EDUCATION EXPERTS AND DISCUSS HOW YOU CAN BEST SERVE STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS. MAKE DATA INFORMED DECISIONS. CONSIDER PUBLIC COMMENTS. AND STOP THE HARM THAT YOU ARE DOING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS

FOR THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU, NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS AND WE WILL START -- OH SORRY. I WAS SO EXCITED TO BE DONE. NEXT WE'LL MOVE INTO FUTURE BUSINESS.

>> I'M SORRY, YOU'LL HAVE TO LEAVE IF YOU SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

MS. GOSHORN. >> CAN I SAY SOMETHING REALLY QUICK?

[FUTURE BUSINESS]

[01:30:08]

MATH STANDARDS. >> YEAH, I ASKED TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM AT A FUTURE BOARD MEETING FOR THE NEW MARYLAND

MATH STANDARDS. >> WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT.

>> I HAVE AN ISSUE, TOO. CAN I ADD?

>> YES, OF COURSE. IS THAT ALL? >> YES.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> SO, I SAW ON SOME OF THE SHARED E-MAILS AND THINGS THAT CAME AROUND THAT WE ARE PLANNING TO INCREASE OUR MATH TIME TO 60 MINUTES AND OUR ELA TIME TO 60 MINUTES. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT ON A FUTURE BOARD MEETING, TOO, BECAUSE THAT ADDRESSES THE 68% SHORT FALL WE HAVE IN MATH PROFICIENCY UNDER PREVIOUS BOARDS. AND 38% LACK OF

PROFICIENCY ON ELA. >> SO, YOU ARE ASKING FOR A

PRESENTATION? >> ON THE PLAN TO MIGRATE TO THE 60 MINUTES OF MATH AND THE 60 MINUTES OF ELA.

>> OKAY. >> AND THEN WHAT GOES AWAY.

>> OKAY. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. MR. MARCHIO. >> I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD DISCUSSING THE CHANGE TO FUTURE MEETINGS AND THE ORDER OF THINGS, POTENTIALLY MOVING THE PUBLIC COMMENT UP OR SPLITTING IT IN HALF. SME OF IT SOONER, SOME OF IT CURRENTLY WHERE IT IS. WE HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION STAFF THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME FOR THEIR PRESENTATION. WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE ALL STAFF WAIT UNTIL THE PUBLIC COMMENT. MAYBE WE COULD

SPLIT IT. SOME EARLY, SOME LATE. >> SURE. MS. MAXI HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH HOW OTHER BOARD OF EDUCATIONS WERE DOING THAT. SHE CAN SHARE SOME INFORMATION SHE FOUND AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. I'M MAKING A NOTE HERE.

MRS. GRENIS. >> THE PRESIDENTIAL YOUTH FITNESS PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE PRESIDENTIAL FITNESS TEST, IS BEING REINSTATED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. HE SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAUNCHING A NATIONAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS WHAT WHITE HOUSE HAS CALLED THE WIDESPREAD EPIDEMIC OF DECLINING HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS AMONG AMERICA'S YOUTH. GIVEN OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT THE WELL BEING OF STUDENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL YOUTH PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE MEANINGFULLY INCLUDED. BY DOING SO, WE NOT ONLY ALIGN WITH THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT, BUT WE ALSO INVEST IN THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.

>> SO THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

>> SECOND. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

>> YES. WHAT IS THE COST OF DOING THIS? IS IT DURING SCHOOL? IS IT AFTER SCHOOL? I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROGRAM.

>> IT'S DURING P.E. TYPICALLY. I WANTED TO GET THIS ROLLING NOW, BECAUSE I DID MEET WITH THE SUPERVISOR. THEY SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME PLANNING. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS SPECIFICALLY, BUT LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO RUN A MILE. SCHOOLS NEED TO KNOW HOW TO MARK WHAT THAT WOULD BE AND HOW CAN WE ADAPT IT TO A STUDENT WITH DISABILITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO EVEN THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY OR EVEN THIS YEAR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO

SEE US MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU. >> OH, ONE MORE THING. WHEN YOU WERE ADDRESSING THE COST, HE WAS SAYING THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME APPARATUS THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED, BUT IT DIDN'T SOUND LIKE IT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY. MOST SCHOOLS PROBABLY HAVE SOME OF THE THINGS AND PUSHUP BARS AN STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> SHOULD BE A PULLUP BAR THAT IS NEEDED.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. MOST OF THEM HAVE IT.

>> CAN YOU JUST REREAD YOUR MOTION TO ME ONE MORE TIME?

>> SURE. >> SO I'M CLEAR.

>> CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL YOUTH FITNESS PROGRAM TO INCLUDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE MEANINGFULLY INCLUDED.

>> IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO? ALL THOSE IN

FAVOR. >> AYE.

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

>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER FUTURE BUSINESS? OKAY. I KNOW. IT'S A

[BOARD COMMENTS]

>> THANK YOU. SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS. I PERSONALLY GO RIGHT NEXT TO IT EVERY DAY AND I'M WOWED BY JUST HOW FAR ALONG THEY ARE ALREADY. THANK YOU MS. WARNER, FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS. I ALSO WANTED TO EXTEND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE NEW CITIZEN ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENT MEMBERS.

I HOPE TO REACH OUT AND MEET THEM AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS TONIGHT. I REALLY APPRECIATE HEARING ALL OF THE CONCERNS AND ALL OF THE OPINIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT IMPACT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> MR. MARCHIO. >> I WANTED TO BRING A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION TO THE GIRLS ATHLETICS IN OUR COUNTY. I WANT TO MAKE THEIR FIRST SEASON HAVING GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL VARSITY SPORT, ALL THREE OF OUR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS ARE 2-0.

THAT'S PRETTY FANTASTIC. >> AWESOME. GOOD FOR YOU. MR.

HARRISON. >> OH YES. I WANT TO START ON A VERY POSITIVE NOTE. OUR CTA LED BY PRINCIPAL KERRY AIKENS, HAS JUST WON AN AWARD OF $180,000 FROM THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FY26 CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION RESERVE. I THINK THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE. DR. NEWSOME, THANK YOU. IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE. DR. JOHNSON, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE EXCELLENT JOB YOU DID AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT. I HAVE NOT SAID THAT YOU, AND I MEANT TO DO THAT. TODAY IS A SOMBER DAY BECAUSE IT IS SEPTEMBER 11, AND 24 YEARS AGO, THE VICTIMS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES FROM A TERRORIST PLOT TO DESTROY AMERICAN SYMBOLS. I REMEMBER, AND I WILL NOT FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE. I HOPE YOU REMEMBER, TOO. 13 YEARS AGO, FOR THE VICTIMS OF U.S. EMBASSY ATTACK IN LIBYA, AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, SEAN SMITH, AND NAVY SEALS, I REMEMBER. AND I WILL NOT FORGET THEIR SACRIFICE. I HOPE YOU REMEMBER, TOO. AND YESTERDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, IS A SAD DAY FOR MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF, BECAUSE THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK. AN OUTSPOKEN LEADER OF THE YOUNG CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT. HIS VOICE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. MY PRAYER FOR ALL OF US IS THAT WE WORK TOWARD THE UNITY OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2001, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE ALIVE AND REMEMBER. THAT WAS A GREAT DAY.

AFTER A TRAGEDY. EVERYBODY TALKED TO ONE ANOTHER. THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER IN THE EYE. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT THING THAT CAME FROM A TRAGEDY. TONIGHT, KAREN, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED IT. I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE THE FREE EXCHANGE OF THOUGHTS AND IDEAS WITHOUT THE VITREAL THAT PRESRA*EUDS OUR EYES. THE LADIES IN THE BACK SAT QUIETLY WHILE EVERYONE GAVE AN OPINION THAT WAS NOT THEIR OPINION. AND THEY DIDN'T HOWL OR SNAP OR DO ANYTHING. THEY SAT THERE QUIETLY AND GAVE YOU THE RESPECT. AND THEN WHEN THEY CAME UP AND EXPRESSED AN OPINION DIFFERENT THAN YOURS, THERE WAS DERISION.

I THINK THAT WAS RIDICULOUS. I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS THAT YOU CALL PEOPLE OUT ON THE BOARD. YEAH, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE. YOU'RE RIGHT. AND I'M ACCOUNTABLE, TOO. I'M ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT I WROTE FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS. AND I'M NOT GOING TO WALK AWAY FROM IT. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT. THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY FOR TONIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MR. HARRISON. MS.

GOSHORN. >> THANK YOU. DR. NEWSOME, WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL MEETING. IT HAS BEEN TRULY WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH YOU SO FAR. IT'S BEEN A SHORT TIME, BUT YOU ARE VERY ATTENTIVE. YOU ARE SUPER ACTION ORIENTED AND IT

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THAT IS SOMETHING I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT EXPANDING GIRLS SPORTS. SO, THAT'S AWESOME. THE LAST THING I JUST WANTED TO SHOUT OUT AGAIN, STEPHANIE PATTERSON, FOR GETTING SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR OF MARYLAND, THAT'S REALLY A HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A WONDERFUL THING. SO THAT'S ALL. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. GRENIS.

>> TODAY, WE REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. AND HONOR THE LIVES LOST, THE BRAVERY OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE RESILIENCE OF OUR NATION. THEIR LEGACY REMINDS US TO COME TOGETHER, SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, AND NEVER TAKE FREEDOM FOR GRANTED. I APPRECIATE OUR COUNTY AND CCS'S PARTICIPATION AND FLYING OUR FLAGS AT HALF STAFF. I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE STEPHANIE PATTERSON. I WISH HER WELL ON HER NEXT COMPETITION. IT IS GREAT TO SEE HER WIN. I WANT TO REMIND SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE STILL ACTIVELY TRYING TO GET ALL SCHOOLS TO BE PURPLE STAR SCHOOLS. SO, PLEASE REACH OUT IF YOU NEED HELP OR ASSISTANCE IN THAT. I THINK WE STILL HAVE BRANDON TEMPLE IN CALVERT. DO WE NOT? HE IS STILL AROUND, SO YOU NEED TO GRAB HIM FAST. HE'S

GOING BE MOVING. >> HE WILL BE SO LUCKY YOU

SHOUTED HIM OUT TONIGHT. >> AND LAST OF ALL, I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH MELISSA. DR. NEWSOME, YOU ARE AWESOME. I HAVE MET WITH HIM ALREADY TWICE THIS YEAR. YOU ARE PROACTIVE. YOU ARE AN EXCELLENT LISTENER. YOU GIVE GREAT ADVICE AND GUIDANCE AND I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS YEAR, BECAUSE I THINK WE WILL BE DOING

GREAT THINGS. HANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MS. GRENIS. A LOT OF TIMES, JUST SAY WHAT I'M THINKING IN THE MOMENT AND I

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