[00:00:09]
>> I CALL THE CALVERTCALVERT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER. WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.
>> ALL: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION,NDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
THE CONSENT AGENDA IS NEXT ON THE AGENDA.>> SECOND. >> I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER.
WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF
SILENCE. >> MOTION PASSED, 4-0.
[SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
DR. NEWSOME WILL PROVIDE A SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.>> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU SO THE PUBLIC CAN SEE THIS.
>> I WILL -- I WILL READ MY REPORT AND THEN I'LL LEAVE IT FOR YOU TO REVIEW LATER.
SO OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS TO ATTEND SO MANY WONDERFUL EVENTS, AND I HAVE JUST BEEN THRILLED BY WHAT I HAVE SEEN AT OUR SCHOOLS. I WANT TO COMMEND OUR EDUCATORS, OWE STUDENTS, AND OUR FAMILIES FOR MAKING THIS SUCH A WONDERFUL SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO I'LL BEGIN BY A SHOUTOUT TO CHARLIE WHO IS A STUDENT STUDENT PETUXAN HIGH SCHOOL WHO INTERVIEWED ME FOR THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. HE'S A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNICATIONS AND JOURNALISM PROGRAM. I WAS ALSO WARMLY WELCOMED LAST WEEK BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, AND WE HAVE AGREED WE'RE GOING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR SCHOOLS.
THE MARYLAND REPORT CARD WEBSITE WAS UPDATED TODAY AND SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN UPDATED, AND SO YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO TO THAT SITE TO SEE THE MOST CURRENTCURRENT MAKING THIS SUCH A WONDERFUL -- THESE ARE JUST A FEW ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.
OUR GRADING PROCEDURES COMMITTEE CONVENED THIS WEEK, AND THEY'VE INITIATED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. OUR DISTRICT IN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADING PROCEDURES. YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS. TALKING POINTS IS A NEW MULTI- MULTI- MULTI- LINGUAL MESSAGING PLATFORM THAT ENABLES STAFF TO COMMUNICTE WITH NON- ENGLISH SPEAKER -- SPEAKING FAMILIES AND THAT'S JUST BEING LAUNCHED, AND THEN THE PANORAMA SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SCREENER IS BEING ADMINISTERED TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 THROUGH 12 FROM OCTOBER 6TH THROUGH THE 17TH IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. WE HAVE LAUNCHED THE OPERATIONS EFFICIENCY STUDY. SEPTEMBER 30TH WAS THE DEADLINE FOR POTENTIAL BIDDERS TO SUBMIT THEIR QUESTIONS, AND THUS FAR WE HAVE HAD OVER 60 QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND I WANT TO THANK MR. JOHNSON FOR HIS GOOD WORK AND THE WORK OF HIS TEAM.
WE WILL HAVE RESPONSES TO ALL OF TO THOSE QUESTIONS BY TOMORROW.÷÷THIS PROCESS IS MOVING ALONG VERY SMOOTHLY.
CONSTRUCTION WAS VOTED ON AND CERTIFIED BY THE CALVERT -- SORRY. FOR CALVERT ELEMENTARY AND CALVERT COUNTY -- I'M SORRY. CALVERT COUNTRY PARCEL THAT WAS
[00:05:01]
APPROVED FOR FUNDING THROUGH WORK AND APPEAL. THE KITCHEN AND GYM AREAS ARE 100% COMPLETED, AND THE HUNTINGTOWN ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL ON OCTOBER 23RD, AND TO TAKE MY SEAT, I'LL JUST SHARE A FEW OF THE SCENES AS I GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. I CAN TAKE PICTURES OF SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN CLASSES. THIS IS AN ART CLASS, FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. WE HAVE BEAUTIFUL LIBRARIES IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS WITH A VARIETY OF READING. THIS IS STORY TIME IN ONE OF OUR LIBRARIES.ENGLISH LANGUAGE ART LESSONS. THESE ARE STUDENTS AT -- THIS IS CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL. MEMBERS OF THE JUNIOR ROTC TEAM ARE ENGAGING IN THEIR FLAG- RAISING CEREMONY SCENES EVERY MORNING. WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WITH MEMBERS FROM THE LAB CLASSES AND THE ART CLASS AND THE MATH WALK-THROUGHS. THEN LAST WEEK, CHRIS JOINED US OVER AT THE TECHNICAL ACADEMY AS THE STUDENTS IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM PRESENTED THEIR PROJECT- BASED LEARNING CAPSTONES AND THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB THERE. THEY WORKED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD STUDENTS AND SENIORS. SENIORS WITH DEMENTIA AND ALZHEIMER'S. WHAT A WONDERFUL LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HOMECOMING AT HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS A FESTIVE EVENING. A GREAT MARCHING BAND, CHEERLEADERS AND THE FOOTBALL TEAM WON THE GAME.
THAT MADE EVEN BETTER.÷÷THESE ARE THE STUDENTS ENGAGED IN AN ALGEBRA CLASS, AND OUR PROFESSIONALS ARE ENGAGED IN THEIR OWN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, AND I WANT TO THANK DR. JOHNSON FOR LEADING THAT.
THESE ARE TEACHER LEADERS WHO ARE INSPIRING FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BACK TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THIS IS A WORLD LANGUAGE CLASS, MUSIC.
AND THE RIBBON- CUTTING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW S.T.E.M.
LAB. THIS IS AT SOUTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL. HERE ARE PICS FROM THE S.T.E.M.
LAB. THESE ARE 3D PICTURES YOU SEE IN THE MIDDLE, AND A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMITTEE WORK GOING ON HERE.
WE HAD OUR INSTRUCTIONAL MEETING, AND THE COUNCIL MEETING AND WE HAD OUR MEETING WITH OUR UNIONS TO TALK ABOUT HEARING THE ASSISTANCE REVIEW PROGRAM, AND THEN I ATTENDED THIS SESSION WITH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATORS AS PART OF THEIR TRAINING.
TODAY, WE HAD OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL MEETING, AND I TOOK A PICTURE WHEN THEY WERE WORKING HARD AND I SAID, LET'S SEE ONE OF YOU SMILE AND LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOURSELVES AND IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING WHERE WE REVIEWED DATA FROM OUR STATE ASSESSMENTS, AND THE ALIGNMENT OF OUR CURRICULUM AND OUR INSTRUCTION.
I STEPPED OUT OF THAT MEETING BECAUSE I SAW THE STUDENTS WITH ALL OF THESE BOOKS, AND SOMETIMES YOU THINK THAT OUR STUDENTS SPEND TOO MUCH TIME ON COMPUTERS. WELL, NOT THE CASE HERE AT THE LIBRARY AT HUNTINGTOWN. IT WAS ENGAGING STUDENTS TO GO THROUGH THESE BOOKS TO DETERMINE÷÷THEIR FAVORITE GENRE, AND THEY WERE ENGAGED IN THESE BOOKS, AND THEN FINALLY I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING WHERE ALLISON IS ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBERS, AND THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE BOARD, AND IT WAS JUST AN AMAZING MEETING, AND WE ALSO HAD THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION HERE ALSO WHO SPOKE, AND THEY ACTUALLY GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO GREET THE GROUP AS WELL OF ABOUT 400 STUDENT LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTY. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DR. NEWSOME.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FIVE- MINUTE RECESS TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THE TECHNICAL ISSUES FIXED.
[STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT]
>> WE ARE GOING TO RESUME OUR MEETING.
MS. JONES WILL PROVIDE THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD
[00:10:05]
SO AS DR. NEWSOME MENTIONED, THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCILS CAME TOGETHER TODAY WHERE WE HAD ALL SIX MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENTS AND ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GOVERNMENTS COME TOGETHER.
THEY DID WORKSHOPS AND ROUND TABLES WHERE THEY DEVELOPED THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND I ALSO GOT TO FACILITATE A ROUND SHOP -- OR EXCUSE ME, A ROUND TABLE WHERE I GOT TO HEAR ABOUT STUDENT OPINION ON STUDENT ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURE. I ALSO MET THE STATE STUDENT ON THE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. VERY GRATEFUL THAT HE WAS ABLE TO COME OUT AND INTERACT WITH OUR STUDENTS.
WE GOT TO GO ON A TOUR OF CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL WHICH WAS REALLY GREAT. I LOVED SEEING THE CAMPUS AND SEEING ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, AND I WANT TO THANK DR. NEWSOME FOR TAKING THE TIME TO BE THERE.
IT WAS REALLY GREAT FOR ALL THE STUDENTS TO SEE YOU.
SO THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT WAY FOR ME TO KICK OFF MY SCHOOL VISITS.
I AM ALSO STILL WORKING WITH MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS TO GET OUR STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE BOARD LEVEL UP AND I'M ALSO WORKING ON MAKING ÷÷MYSELF MORE ACCESSIBLE TO OUR STUDENTS SO THERE WILL HOPEFULLY BE A FORM SOON FOR THEM TO PUT OUT INVITES, OPINIONS, SUGGESTIONS, CONCERNS THAT I CAN SEE AT ANY TIME.
BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON.
[Policies for Review]
>> THANK YOU. ACTION ITEMS ARE NEXT.
POLICY FOR REVIEW IS FIRST. POLICY 3920 WILL BE PRESENTED BY MS. LEWIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT GRENIS, DR. NEWSOME, AND ALL ÷÷MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M CECILIA LEWIS, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SERVICES, AND TODAY I HAVE WITH
ME -- >> VALERY PARMER OF CHILD
>> WE ARE PRESENTING 3920 FOR REVIEW 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. THIS REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN AMENDED TO NOT BE SPECIFIC TO TREE NUTS AND PEANUTS ONLY, AND INSTEAD ACOME COMMODATE STUDENTS WITH ANY OF THE TOP NINE MAJOR ALLERGENS WHICH INCLUDE MILK, EGGS, FISH, SHELLFISH, TREE NUT, PEANUT, WHEAT, SOY, AND SESAME.
THE BOARD IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT GUIDELINES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO ANAPHALACHIC MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS.
6. 1 DETAILS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE GUIDELINES, WHICH INCLUDES DEVELOPING A SYSTEM TO DISCLOSE THE MAJOR FOOD ALLERGENS CONTAINED IN THE FOODS SERVED IN SCHOOL, DESIGNATION OF FOOD- FREE AREAS, DESIGNATION OF CAFETERIA TABLES THAT STUDENTS WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES CAN USE, AND INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES IN FIELD TRIPS, AND OTHER SCHOOL EVENTS. SINCE WE'RE REDUCING THE RISK OF EXPOSURE, WE'VE ADDED THE STATUTE REQUIREMENTS TO POLICY STATEMENT NUMBER 3920 REGARDING AVAILABILITY AND USE OF AUTO- INJECTABLE EPINEPHRINE WHICH ADDRESSES EXPOSURE TO A VARIETY OF OTHER ALLERGENS.
TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THE ADDITION OF THE PURPOSE STATEMENT B LISTED ABOVE, AND THE TERMS "FOOD ALLERGY" ÷÷AND "EMERGENCY USE EPINEPHRINE" TO THE DEFINITION SECTION WHICH ÷÷ARE BOTH RELATED TO FOOD ALLERGENS TO WHICH STUDENTS MAY BE EXPOSED. IN ADDITION, POLICY STATEMENT B TO HIGHLIGHT THE BOARD'S PRIORITIZATION OF STUDENT SAFETY BY ENSURING REASONABLE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO FOODS THAT TRIGGER ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN SCHOOL. FINALLY, THE CORRESPONDING CITATIONS RELATED TO THIS LAW HAVE BEEN ADDED.
WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY NOW
[00:15:01]
HAVE.>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MADAMPRESIDENT.
HI. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THOSE ÷÷STUDENTS IN DO WE HAVE IT ON THEIR LUNCH CARD? DO THEY WEAR A CHAIN AROUND THEIR NECK? WHAT'S THE -- I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO OSTRACIZE ANYONE, BUT HOW DO -- BECAUSE WE HAD A COMMENT THAT CAME THROUGH OUR EMAIL THIS WEEK OF A STUDENT THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT SUGAR AND WAS ORDERING ICE CREAM EVERY DAY.
SO SOMEHOW WE HAVE TO MANAGE THAT PERSON NOT BYING ICE UYING ICE CREAM EVERY DAY.
HOW DO WE KEEP THEM FROM EATING STUFF THAT'S GOING TO HURT THEM?
>> AS FAR AS THE CAFETERIA GOES, WHEN WE RECEIVE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION WHICH USUALLY COMES FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE, OR SOMETIMES DIRECTLY FROM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN, WE ENTER THAT IN ON THE STUDENT'S ACCOUNT, AND IT ACTUALLY -- WHEN THEY ENTER IN THEIR PIN NUMBER, IT POPS UP AN ALERT THAT THE CASHIER HAS TO ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT TRANSACTION. IF THE INSTANCE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE SAME ONE I'M THINKING OF THAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEK, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A STUDENT WHO HAD OTHER STUDENTS PURCHASING ITEMS ON THEIR BEHALF, AND WHEN CAFETERIA STAFF KNEW THAT STUDENT FROM A PREVIOUS SCHOOL AND BROUGHT IT BECAUSE SHE REALIZED THAT WAS HAPPENING.
>> OUTSTANDING. SO I JUST WONDER HOW ARE WE -- ARE WE REQUIRING -- BECAUSE WE'RE MAKING THIS ACCOMMODATION, ARE WE REQUIRING MEDICAL CERTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM OR ARE WE TAKING THE PARENTS' DESIRE?
>> THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PARTS TO THIS.
THERE'S THE SIDE WHERE IT'S THE MEAL SERVICE SIDE, AND THEN THERE'S THE REST OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT DOES THE COMMON AREAS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. FOR OUR PROGRAM, WE REQUIRE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION TO BE ON FILE. OUR DIETITIAN REVIEWS THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN REACHES OUT TO EITHER A PARENT OR GUARDIAN OR EVEN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE SOMETIMES TO GET ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATIONS SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THE STUDENT NEEDS, AND AGAIN, FROM THE MEAL SERVICE SIDE, WE GO THROUGH AND ACTUALLY COMPARE THE STUDENT'S RESTRICTIONS TO EVERY MENU ITEM THAT WE SERVE, AND AN APPROVED LIST IS CREATED BASED ON THAT STUDENT'S RESTRICTIONS.
THAT LIST IS SHARED WITH THE CAFETERIA MANAGER.
IT'S PLACED IN A RED ALLERGY BINDER AT REGISTER FOR QUICK REFERENCE, BUT THEN THE DIETITIAN TALKS TO THE MANAGER AND MAKES SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ENCOMPASSING ON THERE, AND ALSO IF THEY HAVE THE SUPPLIES THEY NEED.
FOR INSTANCE, IF WE HAVE A STUDENT WHO CAN'T HAVE GLUTEN, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE A GLUTEN- FREE ROLL READILY AVAILABLE. IF THEY DON'T BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER STUDENTS WE KIND OF PULL THOSE SUPPLIES FROM OTHER SCHOOLS UNTIL WE CAN ORDER DIRECTLY FOR THEM. SO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, AND THEN THE CAFETERIA MANAGER IN TURN, WORKS WITH HER STAFF AND SHE'S THE ONE THAT -- HE OR SHE IS OUT REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT STUDENT IS GETTING A MEAL THAT'S SAFE FOR THEM TO CONSUME, BUT THAT IS JUST -- THAT'S THE CAFETERIA
SIDE. >> WHERE DO WE KEEP THE EPINEPHRINE? IS THAT SELF-ADMINISTERED OR THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE? WHERE IS THAT?
>> WELL, THEY -- WE STOCK IT FOR UNKNOWN ALLERGIES IN THE SCHOOL HEALTH ROOM. IT'S EASILY ACCESSIBLE, AND THE TRAINED STAFF KNOW WHERE IT IS AND HOW TO ACCESS IT. WE HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF TWO TRAINED STAFF PER SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL NURSES PROVIDE THAT INTENSIVE TRAINING. WE DO ANNUAL TRAINING WITH ALL STAFF ON RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS ÷÷AND SYMPTOMS OF ANAPHYLAXIS, BUT WE DON'T GO INTO IN- DEPTH TRAINING UNLESS IT'S A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAS A STUDENT WHO HAS AN ANAPHYLACTIC ALLERGY.
WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO HAVE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL ORDERS AND THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL EMERGENCY PLANS FROM THE PHYSICIAN.
>> OKAY. AND DO WE DO THE SAME WITH NARCAN?
>> YES, SIR. WE HAVE IT STOCKED AND WE HAVE A STANDING ORDER FROM THE HEALTH OFFICER AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SIMILAR TRAINING IS ALSO DONE. BASIC TRAINING WITH ALL STAFF IS DONE ANNUALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR RECOGNIZING WHAT AN OVERDOSE LOOKS LIKE.
WE DO MORE INTENSIVE TRAINING WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO PEOPLE PER SCHOOL BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. BACK TO FOOD SERVICE THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WE CLARIFY FOR THOSE WATCHING. SO THERE IS AN OPTION IN THE SYSTEM, THE FOOD SERVICE SYSTEM,÷÷RIGHT? WHERE A PARENT CAN SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO HAVE CERTAIN THINGS, ISN'T THERE?
>> THERE IS AN OPTION FOR THEM TO RESTRICT A LA CARTE
[00:20:05]
PURCHASES, BUT NOT SPECIFIC FOOD ITEMS. THAT REQUIRES THE DIETITIAN ACTUALLY READING THROUGH ALL THE LABELS TO ENSURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.ONCE THEY FIGURE THAT OUT, THEN THEY COMMUNICATE THAT WITH THE
>> IS THERE ANY TYPE OF MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE PURCHASING A LUNCH OR EATING A LUNCH BEFORE THE SNACKS? ANY TYPE OF OVERSIGHT WITH THAT?
>> NO. THAT'S GOING TO VARY PROBABLY BY SCHOOL. SOME ACTUALLY HAVE THE STUDENTS COME THROUGH AND AT THE SAME TIME, THEY CAN MAKE AN A LA CARTE URCHASE. SOME ALLOW THEM TO COME THROUGH AND GET A LA CARTE PURCHASES.
>> HOW ARE THE SNACKS AND SELECTIONS CHOSEN?
>> THEY'RE BASED ON WHAT MEETS SMART SNACK REQUIREMENTS WHICH IS THE MARYLAND STANDARD FOR STUDENTS SO WE USE THOSE CRITERIA TO HELP IDENTIFY ITEMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, PLUS WHAT'S AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTOR.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT POLICY 5500 WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. GOTT.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, VICE PRESIDENT GRENIS, DR. NEWSOME. I'M GREG GOTT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL FACILITIES AND I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PRESENT POLICY 5500, THE PROCUREMENT OF GREEN PRODUCT AND CLEANING SUPPLIES.
AND AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES.
>> WE TOUCHED ON SOMETHING LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE ABOUT THE PLUM POINT ROOF? THAT'S BEING HANDLED?
>> THAT'S BEING HANDLED THROUGH
CONSTRUCTION. >> IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH FACILITIES?
>> IT DOES NOT COME THROUGH FACILITIES.
>> HOW ABOUT REBUILDING THAT FLOOR? WILL THAT COME THROUGH YOU?
>> THAT WILL BE PAID FOR BY ME.
IT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED. IT'S TENTATIVELY FOR NOVEMBER THE 17TH THE BEGINNING.
>> OKAY. THAT MEANS THEY DID FIX THE
ROOF. >> WE HAVE ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE ADDITIONAL WEEKS BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO DETERMINE THAT THE REPAIR WAS SUFFICIENT.
>> OKAY. DO -- THEY COULDN'T PUT THE FLOOR AS A CONSEQUENCE IN THE WARRANTY?
>> I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT STANDS AS FAR AS
WARRANTY GOES. >> I HAVE TO TALK TO LEGAL ABOUT THAT?
>> ONE QUESTION I HAD TO MR. JOHNSON WHEN WE MET YESTERDAY.
WE DON'T GET A SPECIAL RATE FROM SMECO?
>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. WE DO GET REBATES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE LOAD REDUCTION PROGRAM, BUT AS FAR AS THE RATE THAT WE ACTUALLY PAY, I BELIEVE WE PAY THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.
>> I'VE GOT ONE ADDITIONAL QUESTION.
JUST PIGGYBACKING OFF OF THAT. YOU SAID NOVEMBER 17TH, THE CONTRACTOR WILL BE THERE. WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE WORK?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN GIVE ME AN EXACT TIME FRAME BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS BASICALLY IF YOU USE THE OUT ÷÷OF BOUND LINES OF THE COURT, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ENTIRE CENTER SECTION UP. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE UNDERNEATH THE SURFACE.
MY GUESS IS THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SOME REPAIR NEEDED TO THE SUB- FLOOR PRIOR TO PUTTING DOWN THE NEW FLOOR.
ONCE EVERYTHING IS REPLACED, THEN THE ENTIRE GYMNASIUM WILL BE SANDED DOWN TO WOOD FINISH SO÷÷THAT WHEN THEY PUT THE SEALER BACK ON IT AND THE FINISH, EVERYTHING WILL BLEND EXACTLY REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S NEW WOOD OR OLD WOOD.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR.
>> THESE POLICIES WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL AT THE FIRST MEETING IN NOVEMBER.
[Bid Approvals]
BID APPROVALS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR. TAYLOR.MS. AIKENS, AND MR. SOLE WILL BE JOINING MR. TAYLOR.
>> GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT GRENIS, DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS SHELDON TAYLOR AND I'M THE SUPERVISOR OF PURCHASING. TODAY I HAVE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
JOINING ME FIRST THIS EVENING IS MS. CARRIE AIKENS, DIRECTOR OF CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, TO PROPOSE THE
[00:25:05]
PURCHASE OF SIX THOMAS MINOTAUR BUSES.THE BOARD APPROVAL IS REQUESTED TO PURCHASE SIX 14-PASSENGER BUSES TO SUPPORT THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE REQUIRED CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SIX THOMAS MINOTOUR BUSES FOR ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND FOR $539,388. ALL FUNDING FOR THIS REQUEST WILL BE THROUGH THE WORK FORCE, THE BUDGET CARRYOVER FROM FY '24 AND '25. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE SERVICE IS THE AUTHORIZED DEAL NER MARYLAND FOR THE THOMAS BUILT BRAND VIA THE SOURCEWELL
COOPERATIVE. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> SO I JUST -- COULD YOU FOR EVERYONE WATCHING, JUST EXPLAIN THE WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET. I READ IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT IT TALKED ABOUT THE STATE'S REALLY ENCOURAGING US TO SPEND THAT MONEY. COULD YOU JUST SPEAK TO THAT?
>> SURE. SO WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE THIRD YEAR -- IT'S UNDER WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND IT FUNDS THE CAREER COUNSELING PROGRAM. SO WE'RE IN OUR THIRD YEAR OFTHE PROGRAM. IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE PROGRAM, WE WERE GETTING UP TO SPEED.
MOST OF THESE CARRYOVER COMES FROM LEFTOVER THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR HIRING, RIGHT? SO IN THE FIRST YEAR, YOU KNOW, TOOK A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO GET ANYBODY ON BOARD AND THEN TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD, IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER, RIGHT.
SO MOST OF THE CARRYOVER IS ÷÷COMING FROM THAT.
>> I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S HUGE FOR OUR STUDENTS SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN THIS POSITION. SO THANK YOU.
>> SO NO -- THE FY '26 BUDGET IMPACT IS FROM GRANT FUNDING? IS THAT YOUR POSITION?
>> OKAY. AND THEN FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VANS, IS THERE A QUALIFICATION OR DEFENSIVE DRIVING PROGRAM OR SOMETHING THAT THEY TAKE TO HAVE PEOPLE AT THEIR --
>> GOOD QUESTION. SO THERE'S NO CDL REQUIRED TO DRIVE THESE BUSES AND I BELIEVE DRIVERS WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A CLASS HERE BY MR. TITUS AND MR. HOOK BEFORE THEY CAN USE ANY VEHICLES FOR
CCPS. >> AND ARE THE BUSES AVAILABLE FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE? SO SHOULD ONE OF OUR BUS CONTRACTORS NOT FILL A ROUTE ONE DAY, COULD WE USE THAT BUS?
>> NO. THESE BUSES ARE WHITE BUSES THAT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.
I THINK YELLOW BUSES HAVE TO BE USED FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.
>> YES. SO THESE BUSES WOULDN'T MEET THE ARAMETERS FOR TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO OR FROM SCHOOL. THAT WOULD BE WHAT YELLOW BUSES ARE FOR, IN ANY CAPACITY, ANY SIZE.
SO THESE MULTI- FUNCTION STUDENT ACTIVITY BUSES WOULD BE DRIVEN BY OUR STAFF WHO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS AND TAKE THE COURSES, AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SUPPORT NOT ONLY THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH THE CORE COUNCILING PROGRAMS, BUT ONCE WE CREATE A HIERARCHY WITH MRS. AIKENS, AND IF THERE ARE SMALL TEAMS AND BUSES AVAILABLE, THEN THE GOLF TEAM COULD USE IT OR THE MOCK TRIAL TEAM COULD USE IT, BUT IT'S A HIERARCHY.
IT HAS TO BE FIRST USED THROUGH ALL THE CAREER COUNSELING AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THOSE PROGRAMS.
>> SO THIS WILL HELP PREVENT THE ISSUE WE HAD WHERE I THINK WE HAD AN ISSUE WHERE THE JUNIOR ROTC COULDN'T RESERVE A BUS? THIS WILL HELP PREVENT THAT WHICH IS FANTASTIC AND I GUESS MY ADDITIONAL QUESTION WOULD BE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE POTENTIALLY -- HOW ARE THE DRIVERS ACCOUNTED FOR BUDGETARILY, AND HOW ARE THEY COMPENSATED? HOW DOES THAT WORK? IS THAT EXTRA DUTY, EXTRA PAY? WHERE IS THAT CARRIED IN THE BUDGET AND WHAT KIND OF EFFECT DOES IT HAVE?
>> SO AS FAR AS THE CAREER COUNSELING ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY, A LOT OF THE THINGS ARE GOING TO TAKE SO SMALL, SPECIFIC FIELD TRIPS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO THINGS LIKE MAYBE IF WE÷÷HAVE TEN TUDENTS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN VETERINARY CAREERS TO GO OUT TO THE VETERINARY CLINIC FOR AN HOUR AND COME BACK, RIGHT? SO SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THE CAREER COUNSELLORS WILL PLAY A ROLE AND THAT'S DURING THEIR NORMAL WORKDAY, AND ROTC TEACHERS ARE FUNDED WITH EXTRA DUTY, EXTRA PAY FOR THEIR CLUBS' ACTIVITIES, ET CETERA FOR THAT, AND OTHER THINGS WOULD BE
[00:30:03]
I GUESS ON A THOSE FOLKS' BASIS.>> AWESOME. WHAT'S THE TIMELINE IF APPROVED TO WHEN WE WOULD HAVE BUSES ON ÷÷HAND, AND READY TO TRANSPORT OUR÷÷STUDENTS?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING FROM MR. HOOK IS THAT THE BUSES WOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE TO US ONCE WE GO THROUGH APPROVAL TODAY.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. AIKENS.
JOINING ME NEXT IS MR. ZACH SOLE FOR THE ADOPTION OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN FOR RETIREES.
ELIGIBLE RETIREES MAY USE THAT THROUGH CARE FIRST. IT MAINTAINS HIGH- QUALITY COVERAGE, AND OFFERS SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS FOR BOTH CCPS AND THE MEDICARE RETIREES. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE PROPOSAL PLAN CONTRACT AND AWARD CARE FIRST BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. ALL FUNDING WOULD BE THROUGH THE HUMAN RESOURCES PREMIUMS' BUDGET ACCOUNT.
>> THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
THE SAVINGS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SAVINGS.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS SAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM?
>> SO WE WORK WITH BOLTON PARTNER WHO IS ESTIMATE A SAVINGS OF APPROXIMATELY $1.3 MILLION ANNUALLY TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, A SAVINGS TO OUR MEDICARE- ELIGIBLE RETIREES. SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS TO THEM AS WELL. AN EXAMPLE, AND IT DEPENDS ON THE PLAN THAT THEY HAVE, BUT AN EXAMPLE THAT I HAVE IS FOR MEDICARE- ELIGIBLE RETIREE WITH THE TRADITIONAL PLAN PAYS AN ADDITIONAL $165 PER MONTH WITH THIS NEW GROUP ADVANTAGE PLAN.
IT WILL PAY $114 PER MONTH. SO THERE IS A SAVINGS TO THE RETIREES AS WELL.
>> WOW. SO THIS IS -- EVERY RETIREE IS ELIGIBLE. THIS IS FOR MEDICARE- ELIGIBLE RETIREES. 65 OR OLDER OR DISABLED.
>> DISABLED, CORRECT. >> GOTCHA.
>> AND THEN CAN YOU SHARE -- OBVIOUSLY IT'S WONDERFUL YOU WERE ABLE TO FIND A PLAN THAT'S GOING TO SAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MONEY. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS THEMSELVES? ARE THEY COMPARABLE TO WHAT THE RETIREES HAD IN THE PAST?
>> THEY ARE, SO THE NEW MEDICAL PLAN OR THIS NEW PLAN PROVIDES COMPARABLE OR IN MANY CASES ENHANCED COVERAGE, AND IN MOST AREAS, ENSURING THAT OUR ELIGIBLE RETIREES CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THAT HIGH- QUALITY BENEFIT THAT THEY'RE USED TO.
THERE'S SOME KEY IMPROVEMENTS THAT INCLUDE REDUCED COST FOR HEARING AIDS, LOWER OUT OF POCKET PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, AND REDUCED EMERGENCY ROOM CO- PAY FOR EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS AND ZERO- COST PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER FOR VISITS.
THEORY THE RETIREES ALSO SEEM EXCITED ABOUT THE SILVER SNEAKERS PLAN INCLUDED IN THIS, WHICH PROVIDES FREE GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO OUR F1 RETIREES, MEDICARE- ELIGIBLE RETIREES AND IT SIMPLIFIES THE ACCESS BY ALSO COMBINING WHAT WOULD NORMALLY BE MEDICARE COVERAGE AND SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE REALLY INTO ONE COVERAGE. SO MEDICARE WOULD ONLY SHOW ONE CARD WHEN THEY GO FOR A VISIT VERSUS HAVING TO REALLY PROCESS
>> NOW FOR THIS CHANGE, HOW MUCH DISRUPTION WOULD THIS BE TO ANY OF OUR CURRENT RETIREES THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PLAN, AND WHAT KIND OF GUIDANCE OR HELP ARE WE PROVIDING TO THEM TO HELP MANAGE THAT CHANGE TO MAKE SURE NOBODY HAS ANY ISSUES WITH THE CHANGE THAT HAPPENS?
>> SO GOOD QUESTION. PART OF OUR PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THIS PLAN IS TO DO THAT -- WE CALL DISRUPTION ANALYSIS. THAT WAS COMPLETED BY CARE FIRST, AND SOMEWHERE AROUND 3% IS WHAT THEY ESTIMATE IN TERMS OF DISRUPTION OR ACTUALLY HAVE FOUND -- NOT ESTIMATE.
THEY'VE FOUND BASED ON OUR CURRENT MEMBERS AND THEIR CURRENT PROVIDERS AND CURRENT PRESCRIPTIONS.
THE BIGGEST DISRUPTION COMES FROM NOW FOLLOWING THE FORMULARY FOR MEDICARE, AND WE FOLLOWED IT FROM CAREFIRST. THEY CREATED THIS FOR US, AND IT'S FOR CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL RETIREES AND THEY WERE ABLE TO CREATE THAT PLAN WITH VERY LITTLE DISRUPTION.
ABOUT 3% WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON, ACTUALLY VERY GOOD MOVING IN TERMS OF PLANS.
NOW BASED ON THAT, CARE FIRST ALSO CONTRACTS WITH
[00:35:06]
RETIREE FIRST, AND THEY'RE HELPING WITH OUR TRANSITION, AND HELPING THEM÷÷MANAGE ANY DISRUPTIONS THAT MAY BE CAUSED.WHEN THERE IS A DISRUPTION OR A PRESCRIPTION THAT IS NO LONGER COVERED, THEY'LL WORK WITH THE DOCTOR TO HAVE ANOTHER DOCTOR THAT EITHER COVERS IT OR TO WORK WITH CARE FIRST TO COVER THAT MEDICATION SO THE DISRUPTION IS MINIMAL.
>> THANK YOU, AND THEN ONE LAST THING WOULD BE HOW MANY POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS DO WE HAVE THAT ARE GOING TO BE ROLLED OVER? JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS THAT 3% MAY BE.
>> APPROXIMATELY WE HAVE ABOUT 800 MEDICARE- ELIGIBLE RETIREES OR DEPENDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING THIS PLAN.
>> 800, AND WE'LL SAVE ÷÷$1.3 MILLION?
>> I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN SINCE I AM AN EMPLOYEE OF CCPS.
[FY 25 Financial Update]
>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE WILL HAVE MR. JOHNSON WHO WILL PROVIDE THE FY '25 FISCAL REPORTS FOLLOWED BY THE FY '27 BUDGET PROCESS.
>> GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT GRENIS, DR. NEWSOME, AND MEMBERS÷÷OF THE BOARD. I SERVE AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, I'LL PRESENT THE HIGH- LEVEL UPDATE TO RECAP THE '24 '25 FISCAL YEAR.
THE FINANCIAL RESULTS ARE UNAUDITED AND WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING A DRAFT COPY OF THE AUDIT REPORT IN THE NEXT TWO TO FOUR BUSINESS DAYS. THE RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED IN ORDER OFOF FUNDS, THE SERVICE FUND FIRST AND FOLLOWED BY THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUND, THE GENERAL FUND AND WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I'LL START WITH THE FOOD SERVICE FUND.
ON THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM USED NEARLY $554,000 OF FUND BALANCE DURING FY25 -- THIS WAS WITHIN $61,000 OF THE ESTIMATE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE FY25 BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT WAS APPROVED ON JUNE 30.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE A GRAPH THAT SHOWS THE FOOD SERVICE FUNDFUND HISTORY, AND THIS WAS AS OF THE END OF EACH FISCAL YEAR FROM FY16 ONWARD. THERE WAS AN UPWARD SPIKE IN FY22 PRIMARILY FROM THE RECEIPT OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS, HAVE BEEN RETURNING TO PRE- COVID LEVELS.
>> YES. >> LISA, CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO ALONG OR SHOULD WE WAIT UNTIL THE END?
>> SCOTT AND I HAVE ALREADY MET THIS WEEK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. SO WE ALREADY WENT THROUGH THIS, BUT I WANTED -- I WANTED TO MAKE SURE FOR CLARITY, FOR FULL DISCLOSURE, FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PUBLIC THAT÷÷MAY BE WATCHING, TELL US THE REASON WHY YOU THINK THAT THOSE NUMBERS WERE LOWER.
>> FOR THE FOOD SERVICE. WAS IT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS? WHAT WAS THE -- WHAT DO WE SAY WAS THAT DRIVER IN THAT CHART?
>> FOR THIS CHART -- YOU MEAN ÷÷FOR THE FUND BALANCE --
>> SO WE PROJECTED $6.757 MILLION IN REVENUE, AND WE ONLY GOT $6.108 MILLION, AND THE NUMBER WRS S WERE LOWER.
>> I ANTICIPATED WE WOULD RECEIVE MORE STATE AID AND BECAUSE OF THE END OF THE COVID FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS -- WE RECEIVED FEWER STATE AID DOLLARS IN FY25.
>> BUT WHAT I THINK IS REMARKABLE, AND I THINK IT'S STILL A GOOD STORY, WE HAD $600,000 LESS IN REVENUE, BUT WE'RE ONLY $60,000 OFF IN OUR NET. SO THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S STILL A GOOD STORY.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION THERE. WHY WERE THE EXPENDTURES SO MUCH LESS THAN BUDGETS?
MEALS? >> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.÷÷WE JUST RECENTLY
[00:40:02]
UPDATED THE INFORMATION HERE.SO I WOULD BE HAPPY TO DRILL DOWN AND PROVIDE THAT IN THE WEEKLY UPDATE.
>> IT IS IN PROPORTION, SO I THINK IT IS NUMBER OF MEALS BASED, BUT I GUESS THE STATE IS NOT SUBSIDIZING TO THE SAME DEGREE. BUT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE STILL IN LINE.
WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT PLATE COST AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF.
>> WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT HER AROUND, RIGHT?
>> SHE COULD HAVE SAVED SOME MONEY WITH HER PURCHASING AGREEMENTS. MAYBE THAT'S
>> FOR THE NEXT FUND, WE WILL MOVE TO THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUND. THIS FUND IS TO RECORD THE REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND FOR SYSTEMIC CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS FUND REALIZED A VERY MODEST INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE, APPROXIMATELY $4,000 IN FY25.
THIS WAS A PRIMARY INTEREST EARNINGS.
THE GRAPHIC ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN SHOWS THE TOTAL REVENUE IN EXPENDITURES FROM ÷÷THIS YEAR ONWARD.
THEY'RE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER, SO CLOSE TO EQUALING EACH OTHER WE CAN ONLY SEE THE EXPENDITURES ÷÷BECAUSE THE REVENUES ARE BEHIND IT, AND THE SECOND TAKEAWAY FROM THE GRAPH IS THE REVENUE'S EXPENDITURES VERY CLOSELY MATCH EACH OTHER, BUT THE TOTAL REVENUES CAN VERY SIGNIFICANTLY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AND THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES CAN ALSOALSO FROM YEAR TO
YEAR. >> AND THESE MANY -- THE MONEYS ARE COMING FROM THE COUNTY? IS THAT CORRECT?
>> APPROXIMATELY HALF THE FUNDS COME FROM THE COUNTY, AND THE OTHER HALF FROM THE STATE, APPROXIMATELY.
>> BUT THAT FORMULA IS CHANGING A LITTLE BIT RIGHT, FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING? WE'RE GOING TO RECEIVE LESS FROM THE STATE, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE MORE FUNDED BY LOCAL.
>> THEN CONTINUING WITH THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUND, THIS GRAPH PRESENTS THE FUND BALANCE HISTORY FOR THE FUND AS WE CAN SEE IN THIS GRAPH.
THE FUND BALANCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION FUND IS RELATIVELY STABLE FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
NEXT WE WILL MOVE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE GENERAL FUND IS COMPRISED OF TWO FUNDS, AND THIS INCLUDES WHAT WE CALL THE RESTRICTED FUND, AND THE UNRESTRICTED FUND.
>> THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.
>> JUST, YOU KNOW, IT DOES SAY STABLE FUND BALANCE.
JUST WHAT WAS THE BIG DRIVER BETWEEN '22 AND '23 TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THAT FUND BALANCE TOOK ALMOST 50% DECREASE?
>> GOOD QUESTION, AND I CONTEMPLATED THAT, BUT I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK THAT UP, BUT I WILL PROVIDE THAT
TOMORROW. >> IT CAUGHT MY EYE.
SO YEAH, IF YOU COULD, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> THAT'S NOT IN SCALE. THAT'S ACTUALLY $90,000 AND $50,000.÷÷SO --
>> MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
I DON'T KNOW. THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A LOT OF FUND BALANCE TO ME.
>> RIGHT? I MEAN, OUR OTHER FUND BALANCE IS $47 MILLION.
THIS IS 90 -- OR, LIKE, A ROUNDING ERROR FOR $50 MILLION SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, RIGHT?
>> YES. THE GRAPH MAKES IT LOOK DRAMATIC, BUT IT DROPPED FROM $90,000 TO ABOUT
$50,000. >> THAT'S STILL A 50% CREASE.
>> THE RESTRICTED FUND IS USED FOR RECORDING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE RESTRICTED, AND THIS IS PRIMARILY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS AND ALSO FOR SOME LOCAL RESTRICTED FUNDS. THE UNRESTRICTED FUND OR OPERATING FUND IS USED FOR RECORDING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR OPERATING EXPENSES OTHER THAN FOOD SERVICE EXPENSES AND SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FUND EXPENSES AND RESTRICTED FUND EXPENSES.
ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN,÷÷WE'LL SEE THAT THE UNRESTRICTED FUND IS THE LARGEST OF THESE TWO FUNDS, AND IT COMPRISES 92% OF THE COMBINED EXPENDITURES FOR BOTH OF THESE FUNDS, AND AT FISCAL YEAR END, THE FINANCIAL RESULTS OF THESE TWO FUNDS ARE PRESENTED IN THE AUDIT REPORT SEPARATELY, AND N THEY'RE COMBINED INTO ONE FUND IN THE REPORT. AND THEN MOVING TO THE RESTRICTED FUND, THIS PROVIDES THE RESULTS WHO HAD $23.5 MILLION IN THE BUDGET AND, PENDTURES. THE ACTION FOR BOTH WAS APPROXIMATELY $21.7 MILLION. NO INCREASE IN FUND BALANCE, NO CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE. THE RIGHT GRAPH SHOWS THE TOTAL REVENUES AND TOTAL EXPENDITURES PER FISCAL YEAR FROM 2016 FISCAL YEAR, '16 ONWARD AND IT
[00:45:02]
INCLUDES THE PROJECTED BALANCE FORFY26. >> AND THIS ONE, SCOTT, YOU HAVE 100% COLLECTION. SO BRAVO ON THAT.
DO YOU HAVE A RESERVE FOR UNCOLLECTED BALANCES FOR GRANTS?
>> WE DO NOT, BUT IF WE HAVEN'T -- IF WE RECEIVE THE FUNDS -- TYPICALLY, THE FUNDS ARE ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS SO WE DON'T RECEIVE THE FUNDS UNTIL AFTER WE EXPENDED THE FUNDS, BUT WE HAVEN'T -- TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HASN'T BEEN A COLLECTION
ISSUE. >> NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH COLLECTIONS?
>> I WOULDN'T SAY NEVER, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SIGNIFICANT OR RECENT PROBLEMS.
>> NOW THAT COULD CHANGE WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.
NOW THAT THE COVID- RELATED GRANT FUNDING HAS ENDED, THE TOTAL GRANT REVENUES IN THIS FUND HAVE DECLINED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THAT GRAPH. MOVING TO THE RESTRICTED -- SORRY. THE UNRESTRICTED FUND, WHICH IS ALSO CALLED THE OPERATING FUND, YOU'LL SEE THAT WITH THIS TABLE, THE DISTRICT HAD REVENUES UNDER EXPENDITURES MEANING WE USED APPROXIMATELY $6.8 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE IN FY25. WE ALSO SEE THAT THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL FOR THE REVENUES WAS ÷÷WITHIN TWO- TENTHS OF 1%, AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL WAS WITHIN 3.6%.
>> I THINK THIS SLIDE NEEDS A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION.
TO HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING. THE EXPECTATION FOR FY25 WAS THAT WE WOULD USE $17 MILLION OF OUR FUND BALANCE. OUR FUND BALANCE IS MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE BANK, RIGHT? SO WE DIDN'T USE $17 MILLION. WE ONLY USED JUST UNDER $7 MILLION. SO THAT'S -- THAT'S A $10 MILLION IMPROVEMENT TO RESULTS.
>> IT'S $10 MILLION BETTER THAN BUDGET.
>> SO IN THE LEAD UP TO DEVELOPING THE FY25 BUDGET, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION, AND I REMEMBER THERE WAS A MEETING IN THE COMMISSIONERS ROOM AT THE CIRCUIT COURT BUILDING.
I BELIEVE THEY ASKED FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AT THE TIME, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AT THE TIME ASKED FOR $10 MILLION. WHAT WAS THE EXPECTATION AT THAT TIME THAT WAS -- IS $10 MILLION GOING TO CLOSE THE GAP? SHOULD THEY HAVE ASKED FOR $17 MILLION? YOU TELL ME HOW THAT -- HOW THAT HAPPENED. I THINK YOU WERE THERE, TOO, ÷÷RIGHT?
>> I WAS THERE. I WOULD NEED TO CHECK MY NOTES TO SEE AT THAT TIME WHAT WAS PROJECTION WAS.
>> OKAY. WE PROBABLY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY BECAUSE I DO RECALL THE COMMISSIONERS ALLOWING $10 MILLION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ASKED
FOR. >> DID THEY ASK FOR $14 MILLION?
>> I THINK IT WAS CLOSER TO $15
>> SO WHAT WAS THE DRIVER IN THE REDUCTION IN THE EXPENDITURES THAT RESULTED IN THE ROUGHLY $10 MILLION IMPROVEMENT FROM WHAT WE ANGLED AT? HOW WERE WE ABLE TO -- I MEAN, I'M GLAD WE MADE THAT -- MADE THE SAVINGS AND IMPROVED THE LOSS, ESSENTIALLY, BUT JUST A LITTLE INTEREST ON WHERE THAT CAME FROM FOR EVERYBODY.
>> SURE. ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THE BIGGEST REDUCTION MEANING SAVINGS COMPARED TO BUDGET WAS IN THE FIXED CHARGES. THAT WAS PRIMARILY IN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, FICA, RETIREMENT, HEALTH INSURANCE, GROUP LIFE INSURANCE, AND ALSO THE DISTRICT UNDERSPENT THE UTILITIES BUDGET BY APPROXIMATELY $700,000.
INITIALLY THERE WAS SOME REDUCTION OR UNDERSPENDING IN SALARIES AS WELL. AND SAVINGS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY BUDGET CATEGORY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE.
>> AND ONE OTHER CATEGORY, AND THAT WAS CAPITAL.
IT WAS BECAUSE OF THAT ISSUE, THE CAPITAL PROJECT.
>> REMARKABLY WE'RE GOING OVER SOME OF THESE NUMBERS, I REMEMBER BACK TO FY24.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY HAD FY25 NUMBERS YET FOR OUR TOP EXPENDITURES, BUT I THINK HERE WE GOT $46 MILLION IN PAYMENTS IN FY24, AND PROBABLY HIGHER IN FY25.
SO IT'S ONE OF OUR LARGEST DRIVERS OF EXPENSE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE FUND BALANCE HISTORY FOR THE RESTRICTED FUND FROM FY16
[00:50:04]
ONWARD, AND ON THIS GRAPH, THE ÷÷FUND BALANCE IS REPRESENTED BY THE BAR ON THE SECOND BAR FROM THE RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT MOST BAR IS THE FUND BALANCE LEVEL THAT'S PROJECTED FOR JUNE 30, 2026.A COUPLE OF TAKEAWAYS ON HERE, THE FUND BALANCE CLEARLY DID DECLINE IN FY25. MOST OF THE REDUCTION WAS IN UNASSIGNED BUND FUND BALANCE AND EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT HAD A REDUCTION, WITH THE FUND BALANCE IN EXCESS OF 10% OF THE TOTAL REVENUES OR UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED FUND EXPENDITURES.
>> AND THIS IS -- THIS IS THE POLICY THAT WE JUST PASSED TO HAVE A TARGET OF 12% TO 16% IN OUR FUND BALANCE. SO WE'RE AT -- WHAT NUMBER AT ÷÷THE END OF FY25? YOU SAID THAT WAS $35 MILLION?
>> IT WILL BE -- IT DEPENDS ON WHICH FUND BALANCE YOU USE.
>> IT USES TWO FUND BALANCES, BUDGETARY AND GAP FUND
BALANCE. >> THE GAP FUND BALANCE IS
>> SO USING THE CASH NUMBER, WHAT WOULD THE CASH BALANCE BE?
>> THE BUDGETARY BASIS WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $36
MILLION. >> OKAY, AND THAT'S HOW MANY PERCENT OF OPERATING INCOME AT $288,125. I'VE GOT A
CALCULATOR. >> IT'LL BE VERY CLOSE TO 12% USING FY26 TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR BOTH FUNDS.
IT WOULD BE I BELIEVE, BETWEEN 11.5% AND 12%, VERY CLOSE TO THE 12% TARGET.
>> OKAY, GREAT. NOT THAT WE CAN'T USE THAT, BUT THE TARGET IS BETWEEN 12% AND 16%. JUST AS WE COME UP WITH OUR BOARD PRIORITIES. THANK YOU, SCOTT.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. TURNING NEXT TO NEXT STEPS, WE HAVE TWO REGULAR -- OR TWO AUDITS THIS FISCAL YEAR.
TWO EXTERNAL ANNUAL FINANCIAL AUDITS IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER AUDIT, AND THAT THE REGULAR AUDIT, WE HAVE THE AUDIT ISSUING DRAFT THE REPORT WITHIN THE NEXT÷÷FEW BUSINESS DAYS, AND THEN OUR FINANCE TEAM, OR A COUPLE OF FINANCE STAFF WILL BE REVIEWING THE DRAFT REPORT. THEN PROVIDING FEEDBACK WITH A FINAL REPORT, AND THE AUDIT OPINION, AND THEN WE'LL SUBMIT THE AUDIT REPORT COPIES TO THE STATE AND WE HAVE THE FEDERAL AUDIT PROGRAM, THE FEDERAL PROGRAM AUDIT, AND THE REGULAR ONE, AND THIS IS DUE IN DECEMBER. DECEMBER 31. AFTER THAT, THE AUDIT IS COMPLETE, AND WE WILL MAKE ANY JOURNAL ENTRIES THAT MAY BE REQUIRED FROM THAT AUDIT, AND WE'LL POST THOSE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY AND THEN WE CAN OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE BOOKS FOR
FY25. >> SO ALL THOSE JOURNAL ENTRIES, THAT'S WHY I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RESERVE.
SO IF THERE WAS AN UNALLOWABLE EXPENSE, SOMETHING THAT'S MAYBE A VIOLATION OF THE TERMS, THERE'S NO RESERVE FOR CCPS?
>> FOR AUDIT FINDINGS. THIS IS WHAT I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF RIGHT NOW. IT'S WHY I'M TIRED AND LOSING SLEEP EVERY NIGHT, BUT WE HAVE -- WE HAVE A RESERVE THAT'S A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF OUR FEDERAL EXPENDITURES. 1%, 3%, DEPENDING -- IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR. BUT FOR HERE IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S UNALLOWABLE, WE PUT THAT ALCOHOL ON A GRANT, AND THE BUDGETERS WOULD FIND THAT AND THEY WOULD REVERSE IT. WHERE WOULD THE REVERSAL BE CHARGED?
>> WELL, ULTIMATELY, IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE EXPENSE, AND IT WOULD LIKELY BE CHARGED TO
>> THE GENERAL FUND,OPERATING FUND.
>> UNLESS IT COULD BE LEGITIMATELY PROPERLY CHARGED TO ANOTHER FORCE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY CREDITS AND THANKS TO THE FINANCE TEAM.
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT FINANCE TEAM, A VERY HARDWORKING TEAM.÷÷AND I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK ANY TEAM MEMBERS FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK PREPARING FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT, AND FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND ALSO FOR THEIR HARD WORK THE OTHER NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
THIS IS FULL STAFF? >> IT IS NOT YET, BUT WE'RE
WORKING ON IT. >> HOW MANY MORE POSITIONS DO ÷÷YOU HAVE TO FILL?
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. I'LL RESPOND TO ANY OTHER
[00:55:02]
QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. >> DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ALTHOUGH I HAVE A COMMENT.
I WANTED TO THANK YOU -- YOU OR WHOMEVER FROM YOUR STAFF THAT DRESSED UP WHAT CAN BE A VERY SOMETIMES BORING AND ARDUOUS PRESENTATION WITH A LOT OF FUN ANIMATIONS.
>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SCOTT AND I TALKED ABOUT -- YOU'RE GOING TO SEE AT THE NOVEMBER -- FIRST NOVEMBER MEETING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE AUDITOR WILL ACTUALLY BE HERE, AND WILL PRESENT THE AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANY FINDINGS AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS, AND THAT WILL COME RIGHT FROM THEM.
>> I HOPE YOU WILL HAVE REVIEWED THE DRAFT.
SO NOTHING'S A SURPRISE. BUT THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE THAT THE MONEYS ARE AUDITED, AND TO WHAT DEGREE.
[FY 27 Budget Process ]
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. WE WILL MOVE TO THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> GOOD EVENING. OVER THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, WE'LL QUICKLY DIVE INTO THE FOUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TRACKS, THE CALENDAR, WE'LL HIGHLIGHT KEY PARAMETERS IN THE BUDGETING DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND WE'LL SHARE A FEW EARLY PRIORITIES SHAPING BUDGETING FOR FY27.÷÷WE'LL START WITH THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT -- THE CLICKER. THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TRACKS.
THE FIRST TRACK IS THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE BUDGET, AND THIS INCLUDES THREE LEADING AREAS.
ONE WOULD BE THE STATE AID, AND WE RECEIVE PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OR AT LEAST WE'RE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE THAT ESTIMATE FOR STATE AID FOR FY27 BY NOVEMBER.
SO THAT'S WITHIN THE NEXT SIX, SEVEN WEEKS.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF OUR BUDGET, AND THAT WOULD BE THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION AND THE COUNTY PROVIDES US WITH AN ESTIMATE IN THE SPRING AND THEY DETERMINE THE FINAL ALLOCATION TYPICALLY IN EARLY JUNE, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER SOURCE OF REF KNEW, VENUE, AND THAT WOULD BE THE LOCAL REVENUE, AND IT INCLUDES FEDERAL REVENUE AS WELL THAT'S IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND, AND WE PREPARE THIS ESTIMATE OR THESE ESTIMATES FOR THE OTHER REVENUE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FISCAL CAREER AND THEN WE UPDATE THIS ÷÷INFORMATION AS THE FISCAL YEAR PROGRESSES.
TURNING NEXT TO TRACKS TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
THESE ARE ALL EXPENDITURE TRACKS UNLIKE THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, AND THEY HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TIMELINES.
ONE OF THESE, PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE TRACKS IS THE WAGE AND SALARY PROJECTIONS.
THIS REPRESENTS FOR FY26, APPROXIMATELY $175 MILLION IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND BUDGET.
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE SCALE, AND THEN TRACK THREE IS THE BUDGETS FOR THE DIRECTORS, COORDINATORS, AND SUPERVISORS. THIS REPRESENTS ABOUT ÷÷$48 MILLION IN FY26, AND THAT ALREADY BEGUN.
WE'VE PROVIDED THE DIRECTORS AND OTHERS IN TRACK THREE WITH THEIR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE SO THEY CAN BEGIN DEVELOPING THEIR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL FOR FY27. THEN THE FOURTH TRACK HERE IS THE PRINCIPAL'S BUDGETS.
EACH PRINCIPAL RECEIVES A BUDGET WORK SHEET OR SET OF BUDGET WORK SHEETS TO PREPARE THEIR BUDGET ALLOCATIONS WHICH ARE -- THEIR ALLOCATIONS ARE BASED ON A PER STUDENT ALLOCATION, TIMES THE NUMBER OF PROJECTED ALLOCATIONS PER SCHOOL.
>> I'M GOING TO INTERJECT HERE. SO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR MEETING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BOARD PRIORITIES FIRST FOR FY28 SINCE THE DIRECTORS HAVE ALREADY DONE SOME OF THIS WORK FOR FY27, BUT WE'LL DO THE BOARD'S PRIORITIES FIRST. THEN THAT WILL THEN GO TO THE DIRECTORS, THEN IT WILL GO TO THE PRINCIPALS.
SO -- AND THEN ALSO WE PROBABLY SHOULD INVOLVE THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL IN CASE THEY HAVE ANY INPUT FOR THE BUDGET PROBABLY AT THE SAME TIME, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO ON THAT. IS THAT -- WAS I CLEAR? THAT WAS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT?
>> YES, AND WE HAVE A -- WE HAVE A CAC MEETING SUCCEEDED IN LATE OCTOBER, IN WHICH WE WILL PRESENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE BUDGET
DEVELOPMENT. >> AWESOME, AND SO OUR -- THE 23RD, WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT BOARD PRIORITIES.
>> NOT THAT THERE'S ANY MONEY, AND I THINK THAT'S BACKWARDS ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS THAT WE DON'T KNOW, LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH ALL THESE PIE IN THE SKY THINGS OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO, AND THEN WE DON'T KNOW UNTIL MAYBE NOVEMBER-ISH ABOUT THE STATE ALLOCATION.
[01:00:02]
THAT'S JUST AN ESTIMATE, NOT THE REAL NUMBER, AND THE COUNTY NUMBER WE DON'T GET UNTIL NEXT YEAR. SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER'S GOING TO BE.>> SO THIS IS ALL WORK THAT COULD BE FOR NOTHING IF THOSE NUMBERS DROP SUBSTANTIALLY.
SO I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE -- I'M SORRY, MAN.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. THANK YOU,
THE PRINCIPAL'S BUDGET TRACK WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER ONCE WE RECEIVE THE DATA FOR THE FINAL OR OFFICIAL COUNTS FOR ENROLLMENT FROM SEPTEMBER. MOVING NEXT -- SORRY.
MOVING NEXT TO THE BUDGET CALENDAR -- WRONG BUTTON.
THIS IS A PAIR OF THUMBNAIL VIEWS.
SORRY, IT'S TINY. WE'LL BE PROVIDING A COPY OR POSTING A COPY ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE, AND THE -- IT'S COLOR- CODED BY STAKEHOLDER AND/OR PARTICIPANT. MOVING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE GUIDING PARAMETERS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR STAFF AND ALSO TO MAXIMIZE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH- QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND TO MEET THE STATE AND FEDERAL AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS AND WE'LL HAVE A REALLY IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT FOR THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER IMPORTANT PARAMETER IS TO HONOR A CURRENT COLLECTOR OF BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT STEWARDSHIP FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET PRIORITIES TO PRESENT TONIGHT, AND THOSE INCLUDE MEETING THE BLUEPRINTS' MINIMUM SCHOOL FUNDING REQUIREMENTS. YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT OF 75% FOR EACH OF THE REVENUE SOURCES FROM THE BLUEPRINT, AND THEN A SECOND PRIORITY IS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FY27 WITHOUT USING ANY FUND BALANCE THAT WAS ACCUMULATED IN PREVIOUS YEARS. AND AT THE TIME NEXT BOARD MEETING, BOARD DISCUSSION IS PLANNED OF THE BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR FY27.
I'LL RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS A THOUGHTFUL -- IT HAS TO BE CAREFUL.
A THOUGHTFUL, A STRATEGIC, AND RESPECTFUL PROCESS.
WE DON'T WANT TO RUN TO THE COMMISSIONERS IN AUGUST AND ASK THEM FOR MONEY. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF ALL OF OUR DEMANDS, OUR NEEDS FROM UNION CONTRACTS.
WE HAVE FOUR UNION CONTRACTS, RIGHT? SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WAGE PRESSURE IS. WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR FIXED CHARGE IS OR WHAT I WOULD CALL FRINGE BENEFITS ARE GOING TO BE. TO WHAT AMOUNT IS THE STATE GOING TO TRANSFER MORE OF THE RETIREMENT FUND BALANCE TO US? THAT'S A NUMBER THAT WENT UP YEAR, AND LUCKILY FOR US, AND FORTUNATELY FOR US, THE COUNTY ACTUALLY COVERED THAT PORTION. IS THAT AN EXTRA $1.7 MILLION? I THINK IT WAS, RIGHT?
>> $1.7 MILLION OR $1.6 MILLION.
>> $1.6 MILLION. SO -- $1.6 MILLION, YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS BETWEEN FRIENDS? IT'S A LOT.
IT COULD BE. $40,000 OR $50,000 AND $1.6 MILLION, IS -- WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE VERY CLEAR WITH WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE, AND QUANTIFY THEM. RIGHT?
[PUBLIC FORUM]
>> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. PUBLIC COMMENT IS NEXT.
>> 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 ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS.
ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER.
ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR SPEAK TO FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE÷÷BOARD OF EDUCATION 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 MEETING.
CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR
[01:05:01]
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 IS NANCY KRAUSS.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I REALLY WASN'T SURE WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN I CAME HERE TONIGHT, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT AS A PRIVILEGED CITIZEN OF CALVERT COUNTY, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO ALWAYS SPEAK ABOUT THINGS THAT CONCERN ME. MR. JOHNSON TONIGHT STRESSED IN HIS PRESENTATION WHICH WAS WAY TOO FINANCIAL FOR ME, BUT THAK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE, THAT THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS WAS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
WHAT DISAPPOINTS ME IS OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION HERE THAT REPRESENTS NONE OF MY CHILDREN OR MY GRANDCHILDREN, OR MY GREAT-GRANDCHILD,DOES NOT SEEM TO ME, TO PLACE THAT SAFETY AS NUMBER ONE. SAFE STICKERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED.
THE ANTI- RACISM STATEMENT WAS REMOVED, AND AS I RECALL, THE REASON WAS IT WAS REDUNDANT. ONCE AGAIN, LET ME STRESS THAT I'M A WHITE, PRIVILEGED CITIZEN.
ALSO A HETEROSEXUAL WOMAN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I HAVE A LOT OF RIGHTS, AND I WANT OUR CHILDREN OF CALVERT COUNTY TO ALSO HAVE THOSE RIGHTS.
I'M GRAY. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE YEARS I HAVE ON THIS PLANET, BUT OUR CHILDREN WHO WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EDUCATING, THEY ARE OUR FUTURE. SO I COME HERE BEFORE YOU ASKING YOU TO ALWAYS KEEP OUR STUDENTS' SAFETY A PRIORITY. THANK
YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
>> DOES ANY BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS?
[BOARD COMMENTS]
NO? >> NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF.
>> OKAY. BOARD COMMENTS ARE NEXT.
MS. JONES? WE CAN START WITH YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TOTO SAY THANK ÷÷FOR THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT IS PUT INTO THEM.
I KNOW I PERSONALLY LEARN A LOT FROM THEM. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR EVERYONE THAT COMES IN THIS ROOM, AND JUST SHOWS US WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.÷÷THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, PRESIDENT GRENIS. SO I TALKED TO ZACH SOLE, DIRECTOR OF HR JUST BEFORE THE MEETING, AND HE MENTIONED A VERY INTERESTING STATISTIC.
THIS YEAR, WE STARTED THIS YEAR WITH THE FEWEST NUMBER OF TEACHER OPENINGS.
EVER. THAT'S PRETTY AWESOME. I MET THIS WEEK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WITH SCOTT JOHNSON AND DR.
NEWSOME. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
WE WANT TO -- WE WANT TO WORK TOWARDS IMPROVING TIMELINESS.
WE WANT TO INCREASE CLARITY SO THAT THESE NUMBERS DON'T, YOU KNOW, MAKE YOU ZONE OUT, AND WE WANT TO INCREASE THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS.
ALSO AS WE HAVE THIS PROCESS UNDER GREATER CONTROL AND A GREATER PROCESS, IT ALLOWS US TO LOBBY BOTH OUR STATE AND OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, DECISION- MAKERS ON WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE. THEY MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED. THEY MUST BE ABLE TO BE ARTICULATED IN DOLLARS.
THE FOLKS THAT ARE COMING UP WITH THIS MONEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ASK IS, AND IT CAN'T JUST BE AN AUGUST MEETING WITH A LIST OF STUFF THAT'S GOING AWAY ÷÷IF THEY DON'T GET IT, AND I THOUGHT HAT WAS VERY POORLY HANDLED.
[01:10:03]
SO WE ARE GOING TO -- WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK AT THIS, AND I'LL DO SO, YOU KNOW, IN MY OFF TIME. ALL RIGHT?THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
MS. GOSHORN? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT THE STAFF HAVE BEEN REALLY BUSY EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT ON ONE THING THAT HAS BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION HERE LATELY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORKS, AND THAT IS THE VAPING IN SCHOOLS, AND THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR KIDS IN BATHROOMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE JUST A GROWING CONCERN ESPECIALLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS. I KNOW THIS ISN'T NEW.
I'M NOT SAYING ANYTHING WE HAVEN'T DISCUSSED HERE BEFORE, BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING DISCUSSED ARE CHILDREN THROWING TRASH CANS OVER THE STALLS WHILE KIDS ARE GOING TO THE BATHROOM, AND KIDS FEELING LIKE THEY CAN'T USE THE RESTROOM ALL DAY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS ARE VAPING IN THE BATHROOM OR THEY'RE FIGHTING IN THE BATHROOM OR THEY'RE JUST CAUSING A RUCKUS AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONES WHO GET IN TROUBLE BY USING THE RESTROOM THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I KNOW WE TALK ABOUT IT AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON IT, BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO FIGURE OUT NEW÷÷STRATEGIES. A CHILD HOLDING THEIR BLADDER ALL DAY IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE. KIDS FEELING SCARED TO USE THE RESTROOM IS SAD, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE RESORTING TO KIDS HAVING TO GO DURING CLASS TIME WHEN THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO ALL THE TIME. THEY WANT TO GO WHEN THEY'RE IN BETWEEN CLASSES SO THAT THEY'RE NOT MISSING INSTRUCTION, BUT ÷÷THEY DON'T WANT TO GO BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE BUSY, AND THAT'S WHEN ALL THE BAD STUFF IS HAPPENING, AND SO I KNOW IT'S A COMPLEX PROBLEM. I'M NOT PLACING BLAME ON ANYONE, BUT IF WE COULD JUST CONTINUE AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THIS SITUATION BETTER, I WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATIVE. SO THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK THE PRESENTERS AND OUR ÷÷BOARD MEMBERS FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS. I ALSO WANT TO THANK DR. NEWSOME FOR HIS SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR HOW INVOLVED AND INVESTED YOU ARE IN OUR SYSTEM.
THAT CONCLUDES THIS MEETING. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.