[00:00:09] >>> GOOD EVENING, I CALLED THE CALVERT COUNTY MEETING TO ORDER, WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE . >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> THANK YOU . OH, NO. UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. CAN I GET -- SORRY, WE ARE DOING THE [Audit Report] AUDITOR REPORT FIRST. I INVITE MR. JOHNSON AND MR. LEHMAN. >> GOOD EVENING , EVERYONE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I WAS THE ENGAGEMENT PARTNER OVER THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT. I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION , I WANT TO WALK THROUGH THE SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS AS WELL AS OUR REQUIRED COMMUNICATIONS. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS I GO THROUGH THIS , FEEL FREE TO ASK AND I CAN ALSO ASK AT THE END IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. SO, THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT WAS TO AUDIT THE JUNE 30TH 2025 STATEMENTS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RECEIVES MORE THAN $750,000 PER YEAR FEDERAL FUNDS, THERE IS ALSO A COMPLIANCE AUDIT THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED. THAT IS THE SCOPE OF OUR SERVICES FOR BOTH AUDITS, FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT, WE HAVE ISSUED A CLEAN AND UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE STATEMENTS, THAT WOULD BE THE BEST OPINION WE COULD GIVE UNDER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. WE DISCOVERED NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN ANY OF THE PROCESSES, I HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES THAT WILL HIGHLIGHT THOSE PROCESSES. THE SINGLE AUDIT IS STILL IN PROCESS AND WE ARE STILL WELL WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME FOR THAT TO BE COMPLETED . AND COMPLETED TIMELY. THIS IS A PICTURE OF OUR WORKSPACE AUDIT APPROACH, THE PHASES THAT WE GO THROUGH FOR FILTERING OUT RISK, THE NEXT FEW SLIDES THAT I WILL GO THROUGH REALLY GO THROUGH THE SECOND PHASE, WHERE WE ASSESS AND TEST THE DESIGN , THE OPERATION, AND THE INTERNAL CONTROLS. THE INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE LOOKING TO SAY, WHETHER MANAGEMENT HAS A PROPER DESIGN OF THOSE CONTROLS AND WHETHER OR NOT THOSE CONTROLS ARE ACTUALLY OPERATING EFFECTIVELY, ACHIEVING THE CORRECT OBJECTIVES , AND ACCOUNTS BEING BOOKED FOR THE CODING OF THE TRANSACTIONS , PROPER APPROVALS , AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. THIS GOES THROUGH THE AUDIT RISK AREAS IN WHAT WE ARE AUDITING FOR, WE LOOK AT CASH RECONCILIATIONS, MAKING SURE THOSE ARE BEING DONE TIMELY AND ACCURATELY, WE LOOK AT COLLECTIBILITY OF RECEIVABLES , MAKING SURE THERE IS NOT UNCOLLECTIBLE BALANCES , WE ALSO PERFORM AUDITING AROUND CAPITAL ASSETS, MAKING SURE THAT CAPITAL ASSETS ARE CAPITALIZED TIMELY AND MEET THE DEFINITION. WE ALSO LOOK AT THE COMPLETENESS OF PAYABLES AND LIABILITIES, REVENUE RECOGNITION, LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES AND HOW THOSE ARE CHARGED TO THE PROPER LINE ITEMS WITHIN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ALSO LOOK AT THE ACCOUNTING FOR THE PENSION. BEFORE WE GET INTO THE KEY PROCESSES , WE ALSO ASSESS THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT AND THERE ARE FIVE INTERRELATED COMPONENTS THAT HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THERE TO BE A CONTROL ENVIRONMENT, THERE IS THE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT, MANAGEMENT RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS, CONTROL ACTIVITIES , THE INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION AND THEN THE MONITORING. WE DID DETERMINE THERE WAS AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE PERIOD OF AUDIT. TAKING THAT A STEP FURTHER TO KEY PROCESSES, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE TESTING BOTH THE DESIGN OF THE OPERATION, WE LOOK AT THE TREASURY CYCLE. THERE ARE [00:05:01] CERTAIN ESTIMATES WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PROCESS, THE EXPENDITURE PROCESS, AS WELL AS TESTING THE PAYROLL, REVENUE, AND FIXED ASSETS. IN EACH OF THOSE AREAS WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE DESIGN AND OPERATIONAL CONTROLS WAS EFFECTIVE FOR THE PERIOD UNDER AUDIT. IN ADDITION, WE LOOK AT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS IT RESULTS -- RELATES TO THE LEISURE -- LEDGER. IS THE LEDGER BEING BACKED UP, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. FROM A SINGLE AUDIT PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS GRANT COMPLIANCE WE ARE TESTING RELATED TO THE SINGLE AUDIT THAT I MENTIONED . ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? AND THEN THIS IS A PAGE OUT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THAT SHOWS THE UNRESTRICTED FUND AND WHERE THAT ENDED FOR THE YEAR, IN COMPARISON TO BUDGET. AND THAT ENDED FROM AN ACTUAL BASIS OF $255 MILLION OF REVENUE ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, EXPENDITURES CAME IN UNDER BUDGET AT $261 MILLION AGAINST A FINAL BUDGET OF $271 MILLION. THAT IS SHOWN IN AN EXCERPT FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THAT IS THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. THERE IS THE RESTRICTED FUND THAT SHOWS A SEPARATE SCHEDULE AND THE ACTIVITIES COMBINED WOULD EQUAL THE GENERAL FUND ACTIVITY WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. >> WHAT WE SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC INCLUDES THE ACCRUAL? >> YES, THIS WOULD BE ON THE ACCRUAL BASIS. AN ADDITIONAL $1.4 MILLION TO THE BOTTOM LINE. >> RECONCILIATION AUDIT FROM BUDGET TO GAP, YOU ARE CORRECT. I DID NOT SHOW THAT HERE BUT IT IS WITHIN THE AUDIT. AND THEN THIS , I WILL NOT WALK THROUGH EACH ONE OF THESE POINTS. I MENTIONED EACH OF THESE UPFRONT AS I LEAD ON , WE HAD NO MATERIAL WEAKNESSES THROUGH THE AUDIT THAT I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION. HAVE WE FOUND ANY INSTANCES OF FRAUD, WE FOUND NO FRAUD, I WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION, IF WE HAD AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, THERE WAS NOTHING, NOTHING OF THAT NATURE THAT I NEED TO BRING YOU -- TO YOUR OPINION, WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE SINGLE AUDIT. >> WERE THERE SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OR FINDINGS DURING THE COURSE OF YOUR AUDIT? >> WE HAD NO SUFFICIENT -- SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES OR MATERIAL WEAKNESSES, I HAVE MY CONTACT INFORMATION HERE, IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF AUDIT SEASON. IF I CAN GET TO THAT. THERE IT IS. INCLUDED IN THE PRESENTATION, WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN IT UP . IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. >> CAN YOU TELL ME THE TIMELINE FOR THIS ? >> WE STARTED OUR PRELIMINARY FIELD WORK IN THE SUMMER WHERE WE TEST CONTROLS AND WE START SOME OF OUR SINGLE AUDIT TESTING AND ONCE MANAGEMENT CLOSES THE BOOKS, WE START THAT FINAL FIELDWORK WHERE WE TEST YEAR-END BALANCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND IT IS PREDOMINANTLY DONE IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, DUE TO THE TIMING AND CLOSING OF THE BOOKS, THAT CARRIED INTO OCTOBER FOR A LITTLE BIT. >> OKAY . IN HERE , YOU SAID YOU TALK ABOUT PROCESSES . IN REVIEWING, WE DO A LOT OF TRANSFERS, IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE BOARD HAS TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TRANSFERS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME OUT IN AN AUDIT LIKE THIS? >> BUDGETARY TRANSFERS? >> THE NUMBER OF TRANSFERS THAT WE DO. >> THE BUDGET, THAT IS THE UNAUDITED SCHEDULE. BUT WE DO TAKE THE INFORMATION AND TIE IT BACK TO THE BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ARTICULATES WITH WHAT THE APPROVED BUDGET IS, BUT WE DO NOT AUDIT THE PROCESS. >> IT ALSO MENTIONED HR PROCESSES IN THERE. WE HAVE HAD SOME POSITIONS OPEN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. IS THERE AN IMPACT TO THOSE? FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FINANCIAL PRACTICES ? >> IT WOULD NOT BE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT, PER SE. WHAT WE TEST FOR, ARE PEOPLE PAYING THE PROPER RATES? THE PAYROLL EXPENSE, WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . WE WANT TO KNOW, ARE PEOPLE PAID AT THE PROPER RATES? DID THE PEOPLE WORK THE HOURS, DID THEY SUBMIT TIME SHEETS, IS PAYROLL BEING [00:10:06] PROCESSED , NOT NECESSARILY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FUNCTION. THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE AUDIT. BUT WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT TRANSACTIONS ARE REFLECTED PROPERLY WITHIN THE NUMBERS. >> OKAY, ARE YOU READY? >> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, THIS IS GOING TO GO A LITTLE LONG. THIS IS WHAT I DO AT MY JOB. DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF WHAT YOU SHARED WITH US FOR THE AUDIT REPORT? I AM GOING TO GO TO PAGE NINE. OKAY? ON PAGE NINE, OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE WENT UP BY 19%, AND YOU DID DETAIL SOME OF THAT IN HERE. IS THAT UNCOLLECTED BALANCES FROM FEDERAL , STATE, AND LOCAL SOURCES? >> THE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL RECEIVABLES WOULD PREDOMINANTLY BE IN THAT BALANCE. >> SO, IS THE 19% INCREASE A MATTER OF OVERALL VOLUME? OR A DELAY IN COLLECTIONS? >> I WOULD SAY IT IS OVERALL VOLUME , WE DO LOOK AT SUBSEQUENT , CLEARLY NOT EVERYTHING COMES IN BY THE TIME WE AUDIT IT, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS AN ELIGIBLE RECEIVABLE, THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RISK, NOT UNLESS YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT COMMENTARY ON IT, I AM NOT AWARE OF DELAYS IN COLLECTIONS. >> WE CAN LOOK UP THE DETAIL. >> ON PAGE 10 , I KNOW HOW WE HANDLE IT THE WAY WE WERE, BUT HOW IS, HOW IS, SEE CPS HANDLING DEPRECIATION? ARE WE PUTTING MONEY INTO COFFERS , OR ARE WE JUST TRACKING IT? >> IT IS TRACKED WITHIN THE SYSTEM. SAY, ONCE THE SCHOOL IS CONSTRUCTED AND PLACED IN SERVICE, THAT WILL BE DEPRECIATED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THAT CAPITAL OUTLAY, THOSE EXPENSES HAVE HAPPENED IN THE YEAR THAT IT WAS BUILT, AND IT WILL BE DEPRECIATED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THAT WILL BE A NON-CASH -- >> WHEN WE BUILD SOMETHING, IT IS NOT OUR MONEY, IT IS USUALLY COUNTY MONEY, I WONDER ABOUT THE DEPRECIATION, WHY WOULD IT JUST STAY WITH US ? >> THE FUNDS ARE , THE COUNTY PROVIDES THE FUNDING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM . THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS RECOGNIZING THE REVENUE FROM THAT FUNDING AND IN TURN, RECOGNIZING THE CAPITAL ASSET ONCE THOSE FUNDS ARE SPENT SO IT WILL SHOW UP . THE WAY IT IS RECORDED, REVENUE COMES IN FROM OTHER SOURCES, FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND THEN, AS THOSE EXPENSES OCCUR, THE EXPENSES ARE RECORDED AS FIXED ASSETS. IN THE GENERAL FUND , THERE ARE EXPENDITURES, BUT YOU ARE REFERRING TO THESE STATEMENTS, THAT IS GOING TO BE SHOWN AS A FIXED ASSET . >> CORRECT . THAT IS GOING TO ONLY BE ON THE STATEMENT AND YOU WILL NOT SEE ANY APPRECIATION IN YOUR GENERAL FUND. >> ON PAGE 11, WE HAVE MISCELLANEOUS AND GENERAL REVENUES. IS THERE A FUND BALANCE CONTRIBUTION? >> THAT WOULD BE RECOGNIZED WITHIN, THAT IS THE BUDGETARY BASIS BUT ON YOUR GAP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, ON YOUR GAP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU ARE RECOGNIZING REVENUE FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES. >> YOU ARE SHOWING A DEFICIT IN THIS STATEMENT . IS THAT RIGHT? >> NOT WITHIN THE GAP STATEMENTS. CORRECT. >> ON PAGE 12, I WANTED TO THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR PROVIDING $6.7 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE PENSION PLAN, THANK YOU FOR ADDING THAT IN THERE ON PAGE 12, ON PAGE 13, THIS IS, I AM GLAD THAT YOU PUT THIS AS WELL, THIS [00:15:11] IS WHERE THE $22.5 MILLION REDUCTION WAS MENTIONED IN THE FY 2025 YEAR, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ACKNOWLEDGED PUBLICLY. >> MR. JOHNSON . >> WE BEAT HIM UP EVERY BOARD MEETING . HE IS PRETTY GOOD AT IT. >> THERE IS ANOTHER THING. AT THE BOTTOM OF PAGE 13, IT SAYS , THE BALANCE IN THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCE FOR HEALTH INSURANCE WAS $4.6 MILLION. IS THAT IN OUR FUND BALANCE? >> YES . AND THAT IS SHOWN -- >> PAGE 13, THE LAST TWO LINES. >> SO, SO , IS THAT A RESTRICTED PIECE OF THE FUND BALANCE , THAT IS WHAT I AM TRYING TO GET TO. >> IT IS ACTUALLY IN THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCE WHICH IS A FORM OF RESTRICTED FUNDS. >> WE SET IT ASIDE FOR FRINGE BENEFIT COSTS . I WANT TO POINT OUT ON PAGE 15, THANK YOU FOR INCLUDING THE ENROLLMENT STATISTICS. THIS IS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE OUR ENROLLMENT IS DROPPING. DO YOU AUDIT OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN MARYLAND? >> WE DO. >> ARE THEY ALL TENDING TO BE SHRINKING IN ENROLLMENT? >> I WOULD HAVE TO GO AND CHECK SCHOOL BY SCHOOL BEFORE I MADE A GENERAL STATEMENT ON THE TRENDS. >> FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR, THIS IS CALCULATED , THE INCOME AND REVENUE. >> IF I MAY, THIS TREND IS CONSISTENT . >> DO YOU THINK IT IS A MATTER OF NOT REPLACING THE POPULATION? DO YOU THINK IT IS A HOMESCHOOL TREND? WHAT DO YOU THINK? >> IN A RECENT CONVERSATION WITH SUPERINTENDENTS , IT IS A VARIETY OF ISSUES. IT IS BIRTHRATES . IMMIGRATION COULD BE A PART OF THAT . AS WELL AS HOMESCHOOL AND PRIVATE SCHOOL. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> WE ARE IN PAGE 17. IS, IS THE AR , THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STATE OF MARYLAND , AND CALVERT COUNTY, IS THAT CONSISTENT FROM YEAR TO YEAR THAT WE ARE THAT MUCH BEHIND ON THOSE COLLECTIONS? >> IT DID GROW A LITTLE BIT, WHEN YOU NOTICE YOUR FIRST QUESTION. RECEIVABLES WERE 19% UP SO, THEY DO FLUCTUATE BUT THAT IS WITHIN THE BALLPARK OF WHERE THOSE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN. >> I THOUGHT, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS CONGRUENT, BECAUSE THE STATE APPORTIONMENT DONE BY $22.5 MILLION FOR FY '25. I DID NOT SEE THE RISE IN VOLUME IN GOVERNMENT FUNDING. OKAY ? >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD PICK UP. >> WELL, WE TEST THE BALANCE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT ONE DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A RECEIVABLE. TECHNICALLY, ONCE YOU HAVE A RECEIVABLE, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRANSACTION IS REVENUE. WE CONFIRMED THE REVENUE WITH THE COUNTY. WE CONFIRM THE REVENUE WITH THE STATE. THAT GIVES US THE BASIS TO CALCULATE THAT AR. WE ARE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AR HAS BEEN EARNED AND WE HAVE NOT NOTICED A HISTORY OR A CONCERN WITH COLLECTIBLE RECEIVABLES FROM THE FEDERAL , STATE, OR LOCAL LEVEL, IDENTIFYING ANY CONCERNS WHERE THERE ARE COLLECTIBLE AMOUNTS IN THESE BALANCES. >> THANK YOU. >> SCOTT, I WILL ASK YOU ABOUT THIS ONE. YOU HAVE, ON PAGE 19, YOU HAVE YOUR FUND BALANCE, DETAILED. AND IS OUR CASH BALANCE, 38 MILLION ? IS THAT YOUR, THAT IS THE NUMBER. IS THAT THE RIGHT NUMBER, SCOTT? >> PAGE 19? I AM SEEING CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS OF $42.1 MILLION. >> 19, IT WOULD BE THE TOTAL [00:20:05] FUND BALANCE, SECOND LINE FROM THE BOTTOM . THE GENERAL FUND . >> 38.3 MILLION . >> FOR FOOD SERVICE, THAT IS ABOUT THE RIGHT NUMBER? >> IT IS NOT ALL FOR FOOD SERVICE, NONE OF IT IS FOR FOOD SERVICE. ON PAGE 47. >> OKAY, WE WILL GET TO THAT ONE, DID YOU AUDIT THE BANK RECONCILIATIONS TO MATCH CASH TO THE TOP ONE ? >> TO THE TOP LINE. >> THAT IS YOUR BANK STATEMENT, AT THE TOP LINE? >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU. NOW, ON PAGE 20, I THOUGHT THESE NUMBERS WERE REMARKABLE FOR LONG-TERM LIABILITIES , AND THE OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, OTHER POST EMPLOYEE BENEFITS, WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN ? IS THIS MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH ? >> THERE IS AN ACTUARY THAT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT, TRAN56, IF THE EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE, THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTHCARE IN RETIREMENT. YOUR ACTUARY WILL CALCULATE, AND TAKE THE EMPLOYEE BASE, AND RUN ALL KINDS OF ASSUMPTIONS OF HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO WORK, WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO RETIRE, HOW LONG ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE, AND THEN CALCULATE THE BENEFITS PROMISED TO THOSE EMPLOYEES AS SOON AS THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE AND THEN DISCOUNT THE VALUE IN TODAY'S DOLLARS. WHAT THAT REPRESENTS, OVER THE COURSE OF TIME, THAT IS THE ESTIMATE OF THE AMOUNT THAT WILL BE PAID TO RETIREES FOR HEALTHCARE, AT TODAY'S DOLLARS. >> SENSITIVITY, TOO . SPEAKERS ] >> THE CHANGE IN HEALTHCARE COST TREND RATES. >> IT IS A VERY BIG CHANGE, WHEN I MENTIONED ABOUT ESTIMATES, THAT IS A VERY LARGE ESTIMATE WITHIN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BECAUSE THE ACTUARY HAS A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS THEY ARE MAKING ABOUT INFLATION, HEALTHCARE , HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL BE ELIGIBLE, HOW LONG ARE THEY GOING TO LIVE, THAT IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE. >> IS THERE ANY WAY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WOULD FALL IN FUTURE YEARS? >> WE ARE PLANNING RIGHT NOW FOR FY '27 . SO, WHAT PIECE OF THAT $56 MILLION IS GOING TO BE A CASH DEMAND ON FY '27? >> THAT , IS HOW I WOULD DO THE CALCULATIONS. ONE THING THEY WILL PUT IN THEIR REPORT IS, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED REPORT THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER CONTRIBUTING TO THE PLAN, IF YOU WILL, OR BEING ABLE TO FUND THAT IN FUTURE YEARS . IT WOULD HAVE TO BE , IF YOU SET UP A TRUST AND HE PUT MONEY IN THE TRUST , IT WOULD BE REFLECTED HERE BUT THIS IS THE CALCULATED LIABILITY. I THINK THE ACTUARY, IT WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THAT, HOW TO FUND IT AND WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR THAT TO NOT CONTINUE TO GROW, CHANGE PLAN BENEFITS OR WHAT HAVE YOU. >> I DON'T WANT TO BE SURPRISED IN FY '27 BY A BIG NUMBER. >> WE RELY ON ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS, WE REVIEW THE REPORT AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE REASONABLE, AT LEAST, AS AN AUDITOR, BUT AT LEAST MY JOB IS MORE BACKWARDS LOOKING THAN FORWARD-LOOKING. I WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO PROTECT WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE THE NEXT YEAR, OR THE YEAR BEFORE. WE CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE LAST 10 YEARS AND SEE HOW IT HAS GROWN, WE COULD GO LOOK AT PAST AUDITS AND SEE HOW IT HAS CHANGED. >> BUT IN OTHER SCHOOLS THAT YOU AUDIT THEY HAVE LARGE -- >> GENERAL PURPOSE GOVERNMENTS, I CANNOT SAY EVERYONE HAS A HUGE LIABILITY, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF GOVERNMENTS THAT BOTH HAVE LIABILITIES, SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS WELL. >> NOW, I AM LOOKING AT PAGE 24. [00:25:06] THE BOARD CONSIDERS REVENUE TO BE AVAILABLE IF THEY ARE COLLECTED WITHIN 120 DAYS. >> MODIFIED ACCOUNTING, THERE IS THE AVAILABILITY CRITERIA ALSO ON TRANSACTIONS. IF IT IS EXPECTED THAT THAT REVENUE WOULD BE COLLECTED WITHIN THAT TIMEFRAME, IT WOULD MEET THE RECOGNITION CRITERIA WITHIN YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] THAT IS THE GADSBY REQUIREMENT. >> THERE IS ANOTHER TABLE ON PAGE 37, AT THE BOTTOM. AND THIS WAS GETTING CLOSER TO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WITH THE LAST NUMBER, THE $56 MILLION NUMBER, OTHER REPORT AS THE LORD -- DEFERRED OUTFLOWS RELATED TO PENSIONS, WILL BE RECOGNIZED AS FOLLOWED , SO ARE THESE FUTURE AMOUNTS THAT HAVE TO BE FUNDED? >> WHAT THE, THE ACTUARY, EVERY YEAR IS , SO, THIS IS IN THE PENSION PLAN . THE ACTUARY WILL CALCULATE EITHER THE NET PENSION OR NET OPEB LIABILITY. THAT LIABILITY COULD BE SUBJECT TO LARGE FLUCTUATIONS YEAR END AND YEAR OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE STOCK MARKET DOES POORLY ONE YEAR, THAT COULD INFLATE PENSION LIABILITY SIGNIFICANTLY, BECAUSE MARKET RETURNS ARE A FACTOR OF THE LIABILITIES. AND WHAT GADSBY ALLOWS IS A SMOOTHING OF THE LIABILITY. IF IT WERE TO INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY, THERE WOULD BE DEFERRED OUTFLOWS, MORE INFLOWS OF RESOURCES THAT GADSBY ALLOWS, THE SOOTHING OF THE LIABILITY SO THERE IS NOT HUGE HITS TO EXPENSES IN ANY ONE GIVEN YEAR. WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS CHART, ABOVE WHAT YOU REFERENCED , IS THE DEFERRAL OF CERTAIN ACTUARIAL CALCULATIONS, THE CHART BELOW, SIMILAR TO DEPRECIATION, NON-CASH EXPENSE, THESE ARE GOING TO BE PENSION EXPENSES IN FUTURE YEARS , BASED ON ACTUARIAL DEFERRALS. >> COMING FROM THE PENSION BALANCE ? NOT FROM CASH OPERATIONS ? >> CORRECT, NOTHING TO DO WITH CASH. >> ON PAGE 41, WE HAVE LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, LEASES, AND THE WAY THAT WE CONDUCT BUSINESS, PARTICULARLY FOR TRANSPORTATION, WE HAVE 162 AGREEMENTS FOR MANAGEMENT, IS THAT INCLUDED ANYWHERE IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT, THAT LIABILITY? >> I WOULD HAVE TO CHECK AND SEE IF THAT IS IN THAT NUMBER. I THINK WE ARE UNDERWRITING THE RISK OF THOSE. >> THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT NUMBER IS ? >> THE TOTAL VALUE OR COST? >> YEAH. >> I CAN LOOK UP THE AMOUNT FOR JUST THIS FISCAL YEAR BUT I THINK IT IS CLOSER TO 17-ISH MILLION. >> THAT IS ENOUGH OF THEM NUMBER. THANK YOU, SCOTT, DON'T DO ANY MORE WORK ON THAT. SORRY. SO, I CAN SEE YOUR SENSITIVITY , THOSE WOULD BE NUMBERS COMING FROM THE PENSION BALANCE. >> ALL THESE OPEB, PREDOMINANTLY, I THINK , JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IN FOOTNOTE 7 IS COMING FROM THE ACTUARY REPORT ENABLE TO THE SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS. THEY WILL PRESENT THE HEALTHCARE COST TREND RATE, AS WELL AS THE INCREASE OR DECREASE IN THE RATE OF RETURN , ACTUARIAL DRIVEN. >> LAST COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ON PAGE 84. JUST TRYING TO PICK UP ON THINGS THAT ARE FUTURE PROBLEMS. SO, IN MY SPACE, WHEN WE DID THE PENSION CASH BALANCES BELOW 80%, THERE IS A PROVISION THAT YOU CANNOT DO OTHER STUFF FROM THEM. HERE, I SEE ON PAGE 54 , THESE ARE, IT LOOKS LIKE, BALANCES LIKE . FOR 2024, THE BALANCE WAS -- $217 MILLION I GUESS WAS THE PENSION BALANCE, IS THAT WHAT THAT NUMBER IS? >> SO, THERE ARE TWO THINGS GOING ON IN THE CHART. IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND PENSION SYSTEM, CERTAIN EMPLOYEES , THE LIABILITY IS RELATED TO PENSION, [00:30:08] IT IS COVERED BY THE STATE. THE TEACHER'S PORTION, THE STATE PICKS UP THE LIABILITY WHEREAS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE. THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE BASE WHERE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES CONTRIBUTE, FOR THE TEACHER'S PORTION DOWN BELOW, THAT 217 MILLION REPRESENTS THE NET PENSION LIABILITY THAT THE STATE IS TAKING LIABILITY FOR. THEY ARE PAYING FOR THAT PORTION OF THE LIABILITY. CONVERSELY, THE PORTION ABOVE IS BEING PAID FOR BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THAT IS JUST AN ESTIMATE . >> THAT IS WHAT WE CONTRIBUTED? TO THE NUMBER? >> IT SAYS CCPS COVERED EMPLOYEE PAYROLL. >> THAT IS THE VALUE OF THE TEACHER PAYROLL, THAT ARE COVERED. THAT IS PAYROLL EXPENSE OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE PLAN. >> SO, NOTHING IN THAT INDICATES ANY KIND OF FUTURE PAYMENT ? >> 100% OF THAT LIABILITY IS ASSUMED BY THE STATE. >> I THINK WE ARE GETTING DOWN TO THE LAST ONE HERE. IN THE NEXT PAGE, PAGE 57 , THAT IS THE SAME ISSUE. THAT IS STATE LIABILITY ? >> THE ADJOURN LIABILITY IS NOT STATE , THAT IS SCHOOL SYSTEM. >> OKAY, NOW WE ARE GETTING THERE, THAT IS $200 MILLION , ON THE TOP LINE , OPEB LIABILITY IN THE FINANCIAL POSITION LOOKS LIKE -- IS IT ONLY $56 MILLION? >> IF YOU TAKE THE TOTAL ADJOURN LIABILITY AND CALCULATE BY THE ACTUARY, THERE IS $144 MILLION IN ASSETS SET ASIDE, IN THE JOINT PLAN WITH THE COUNTY, ASSETS SAVED BETWEEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTY. EXCUSE ME. THERE IS $144 MILLION OF CASH OR INVESTMENTS, I SHOULD SAY, SAVED IT, FOR THE $200 MILLION WORTH OF FUTURE, YOU KNOW, PRESENT VALUE, FUTURE PROMISES LIABILITY. THAT CREATES THE NET ADJOURN LIABILITY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUARIAL $200 MILLION AGAINST THE $144 MILLION THAT IS IN TODAY, THAT IS WHAT GETS YOU TO THE $56 MILLION NET OPEB LIABILITY. >> THAT IS $56 MILLION UNDERFUNDED FROM THE ACTUARIAL NUMBER? >> JUST NOT FUNDED . >> THAT IS JUST THE NET OPEB LIABILITY, I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY SAY IT IS UNDERFUNDED. WHAT ACTUARIES WILL DO IS CALCULATE HOW MUCH THEY RECOMMEND YOU SAVING EACH YEAR AND IN THE FUTURE, FOR OPEB BENEFITS AND THAT IS NOT A CURRENT LIABILITY THAT YOU WOULD OWE TODAY. THAT IS JUST THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AMOUNT THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, SAVED IN THE PLAN, PLUS, WHAT THE OPEB LIABILITY IS. >> I AM REALLY STARTING TO UNDERSTAND. LAST QUESTION, AND PAGE 58, IT IS NOT CASH LIABILITY, BUT HERE IS THE PART YOU JUST MENTIONED ABOUT FUNDING. OKAY ? IT LOOKS LIKE IN 2018, THE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THESE OPEB WITH $15 MILLION, IS THAT RIGHT ? THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN? OKAY. AND THEN IT WENT DOWN TO $6 MILLION, THE $9 MILLION, DOWN TO $6 MILLION, $6 MILLION, $6 MILLION, $8 MILLION, $9 MILLION. WHY WOULD IT GO FROM $15 MILLION DOWN TO $6 MILLION, IS THAT AN ACTUARIAL CALCULATION, BECAUSE THESE ARE CASH AMOUNTS? >> THE ACTUARY DOES DISCLOSE THAT IN THE REPORT THAT I THINK THAT IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN -- >> CONTRIBUTIONS. >> IF THERE WERE ANY . >> IF WE CAN TURN BACK TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE, 57 , FOR A MOMENT, THERE IS SOMETHING WORTH NOTING ABOUT HALFWAY DOWN THE PAGE ON THE LEFT, PLAN FIDUCIARY NET POSITION , IF WE LOOK BACK IN 2015, THE OPEB LIABILITY WAS FUNDED AT 36%, BUT IN 2025, IT [00:35:01] WAS ALMOST DOUBLE, 71.91%. >> OKAY, I AM JUST WONDERING ABOUT WHAT THE CASH DEMAND IS, FOR F WHITE '25. >> I HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK, I BELIEVE, THAT $9 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FOR 2025 REPRESENTS THE PAY GO THAT WAS MADE FOR PREMIUMS FOR RETIREES. THAT ACTUALLY , THAT ACTUALLY IS CASH RELATED, THAT IS PREMIUMS FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE COSTS . >> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A LECTURE, LATER. THANK YOU SO [CONSENT AGENDA] MUCH. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME. >> NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA. >> I MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND . >> ANY DISCUSSION ? MOTION CARRIES 5-0. AND UP NEXT, WE [SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT] HAVE , WELL IT IS NOT A REPORT, BUT I WILL TURN THE FLOOR TO DR. NEWSOME. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT, I DO NOT HAVE A REPORT , YOU HAVE A LONG AGENDA. BUT I DO HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD ACTION. I RECOMMEND, DENISE DAILY, THE SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION. SHE HAS SERVED AS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL , SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION FOR ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, LIBRARY MEDIA, AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT AT ST. MARY'S AS WELL, SHE HAS SERVED AS A HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AND INSTRUCTOR, IN MARYLAND, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION INSTRUCTOR AT NORTH SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS A REGIONAL PROGRAM IN SPRINGFIELD. SHE IS NATIONALLY BOARD-CERTIFIED, AND SHE HAS A POST-MASTERS CERTIFICATION FROM TOWSON UNIVERSITY AND A MASTERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION FROM GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY. IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THAT THIS PERSON BE APPOINTED AS THE SUPERVISOR FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE AREA >> EXCUSE ME, CAN WE GET THIS MADNESS AND HER HUSBAND TO COME UP AND SHARE. >> AND SHARE A COUPLE OF WORDS. >> GOOD EVENING , DR. NEWSOME, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. IT IS SO EXCITING FOR ME TO CONTINUE MY JOURNEY IN EDUCATION HERE AT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING OUR STUDENTS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITY AND BRINGING MY EXPERIENCE HERE. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE NOMINATION. I AM EXCITED TO BEGIN THIS JOURNEY. THANK YOU. >> WELCOME. [STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT] OF THE BOARD REPORT. >> THANK YOU, AND GOOD EVENING. I ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A LOT . IT HAS BEEN A BUSY COUPLE OF WEEKS. I HAVE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A LOT OF REALLY GREAT DISCUSSIONS THESE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. FIRST, I WENT TO THE CIVIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I ALSO WENT TO A STUDENT FOCUS GROUP MEETING FOR THE STUDENT SAFETY AND WELL-BEING COMMITTEE . WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND I GAINED A LOT OF GREAT INSIGHT AND FEEDBACK. I WAS AT THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING . REALLY, I HAVE BEEN DOING VISITS AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL AND I HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION. I WENT TO OUR BEST BUDDIES MEETING. IT IS REALLY AWESOME SINGING AND HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THEIR WORK. I HAD SOME REALLY GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR GSA AND FEMINISM CLUBS , VERY SIMILAR TO THE STUDENT ENVIRONMENT CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH THE STUDENT SAFETY AND WELL-BEING FOCUS GROUP. SO, REALLY GREAT. I HEARD A LOT OF REALLY GREAT DISCUSSION. I AM [Policies for Review] REALLY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> UP NEXT, OUR POLICIES FOR REVIEW, I INVITE MR. TITUS AND LARRY HOOK, FOR 1060, ELECTRONIC [00:40:01] SURVEILLANCE. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS LARRY TITUS AND I AM HERE TO PRESENT, I'M SORRY. THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES AND THE IMMUNITY RESOURCE SPECIALIST. AND I HAVE WITH ME THIS EVENING? >> MR. KEVIN HOOK, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION. >> WE ARE HERE TO PRESENT ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 1060, REGARDING ELECTRONIC AUDIO AND VIDEO SURVEILLANCE. THE PURPOSE SAFETY FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, AND VISITORS IN OUR BUILDINGS AS WELL AS TO PROTECT SCHOOL PROPERTY AND DETERRENCE OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE THE SCHOOL RULES IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND ON SCHOOL BUSES. WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF REVIEWING THE POLICIES AND WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES AT THIS TIME. BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS THAT THE BOARD MAY HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> NOT NECESSARILY TO THE POLICY BUT DID WE NOT RECENTLY PURCHASED A BUNCH OF NEW EQUIPMENT FOR THE BUSES THAT WAS INSTALLED RATHER QUICKLY? >> 210 BRAND-NEW CAMERA SYSTEMS. >> HOW ARE THOSE FUNCTIONING SO FAR ? >> WE HAD A COUPLE OF PICKUPS BUT RIGHT NOW THEY ARE WORKING PERFECTLY AND IN FACT, WE HAD AN ISSUE ON ONE OF OUR OUT OF COUNTY BUSES AND I WAS ABLE TO LOGIN LIVE, AND I WAS ABLE TO HELP OUT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME. >> FANTASTIC. >> CAN I ADD TO THAT ? HOW LONG ARE WE KEEPING THAT FOOTAGE AND THEN, HOW SECURE IS IT, WOULD IT BE HACKED? >> THAT FOOTAGE IS ON THE HARD DRIVE, WHICH IS STILL ON THE BUS. AND IT TAKES OVER ITSELF . THE ONLY TIME WE EVER PULL ANYTHING OFF THE HARD DRIVE AND PUT IT ON A THUMB DRIVE, THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WOULD NEED IT ON THEIR OWN , IT IS SAVED IN THE CLOUD ON ONE OF OUR SERVERS. AS SAFE AS OUR SERVERS ARE. ONCE WE GIVE THE INFORMATION OVER TO THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, BECAUSE THEY WILL REQUEST VIDEOS, THEY TYPICALLY GET A THUMB DRIVE. SO, WHATEVER THEY DO WITH THAT SMALL VIDEO THAT THEY USE. >> HOW MUCH VIDEO DOES IT STORE BEFORE IT OVERWRITES ITSELF? >> IT IS TWO TERABYTES . THAT IS ABOUT SIX WEEKS. OVER A MONTH AND A HALF. >> OKAY. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS , REGARDING THE POLICY SPECIFICALLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, UP NEXT , DID YOU WANT ME TO GO WITH WHAT IS ON THE ELECTRONIC, OR ON THE PAPER? DR. JOHNSON IS UP, SHE IS COMING UP, OKAY, GOOD. I THINK I HAVE 5560, BUT WHATEVER, WHICHEVER ONE. WHICH ONE IS IT? OH , OKAY. OKAY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE. I DO NOT WANT TO BE YELLED AT FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM . >> GOOD EVENING , MY NAME IS SUSAN JOHNSON, THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. I AM HERE WITH KEVIN HOOK TONIGHT TO REVIEW POLICY 5560, WE ASKED FOR THIS TO COME UP BECAUSE OF RECENT PURCHASES THAT WE HAD, AS WE WERE PREPARING FOR OUR VEHICLES TO COME IN THAT WE PURCHASED , THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL SCHOOL ACTIVITY BUSES, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE THE ONE PURCHASE FOR THE MCKENNEY VENTO GRANT , WE DO NOT HAVE A POLICY IN PLACE THAT ADDRESSES SCHOOL SYSTEM VEHICLES WHEN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS IN THEM, SO, THIS IS THE POLICY , FOR, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING ASSIGNMENT AND USE OF VEHICLES, WE ADDED A PURPOSE STATEMENT, THAT ENSURES THE SAFE TRANSPORT IN VEHICLES WHEN APPLICABLE. WE HAVE ADDED TWO DEFINITIONS, ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES, A VEHICLE THAT IS USE TO TRANSPORT VEHICLES FROM HOME TO SCHOOL OR SCHOOL TO HOME, AS WELL AS TO AND FROM SCHOOL -RELATED ACTIVITIES, NEITHER A TYPE I OR TYPE II SCHOOL VEHICLE, WHICH IS [00:45:01] A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL BUS. AND THEN THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL SCHOOL ACTIVITY BUS, WILL USE THE ABBREVIATION MS SAB , IT WILL TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO VARIOUS SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THESE BUSES CANNOT TRANSPORT STUDENTS FROM HOME TO SCHOOL OR FROM SCHOOL TO HOMES. WE ABBREVIATED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE SECOND DEFINITION WE ACTUALLY DELETED THE LAST PART OF THAT DEFINITION BECAUSE IT IS ACTUALLY WRITTEN DOWN IN THE BOARD POLICY STATEMENT. WE DELETED ASSIGNED ROUTE , BECAUSE THERE IS NO USE OF ASSIGNED ROUTE IN THAT POLICY SO WE DELETED THAT DEFINITION CAN BE DELETED UNDER SAFE DRIVING PRACTICES , THE LAST STATEMENT, FAILURE TO OBSERVE ANY OF THESE COULD RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION OF DRIVING PRIVILEGES, BECAUSE THAT IS ALSO IN THE POLICY STATEMENT. AND THEN WE'VE REARRANGED THE POLICY STATEMENT, B, NOW READS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BELIEVES THAT MULTIFUNCTIONAL SCHOOL ACTIVITY VEHICLES AND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES FURTHER SUPPORTS SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION OF STUDENTS AS PERMITTED IN THIS POLICY AND PROVIDES PHYSICAL SAVINGS WITH SMALLER -- WHEN SMALLER DISTRICT VEHICLES ARE UTILIZED. C, THAT IS THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE, BUT IT SHOWS UP BECAUSE IT WAS MOVED BELOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> I GUESS, ONE CLARIFICATION. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES. ONE VEHICLE IS FOR PERHAPS BOARD OF ED MEMBERS TO DRIVE TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. BUT THE VEHICLES PURCHASED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS WOULD NOT BE USED BY THE BOARD OF ED PERSONNEL. >> CORRECT, ALMOST. WE HAVE A WHOLE FLEET OF VEHICLES USED BY MAINTENANCE STAFF, BY TRANSPORTATION STAFF, BY OTHER PEOPLE. OUR FLEET , TO SAVE MONEY ON MILEAGE, THOSE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN OUR DISTRICT FOR A WHILE AND THEY ARE NOT USED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS. RECENTLY, AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF AN SUV TO TRANSPORT ONE OR TWO STUDENTS AT A TIME TO OR FROM SCHOOL. JUST RECENTLY, TWO BOARD MEETINGS AGO, WE APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF THE MULTI, MULTIFUNCTIONAL SCHOOL ACTIVITY BUSES, ONE FOR EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN CALVERT COUNTY. THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE STUDENTS TO ACTIVITIES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, OR AFTER SCHOOL, OR ON WEEKENDS. ONLY THOSE TRANSPORT STUDENTS FOR ANY REASON. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> WE HAVE AN SUV THAT TRANSPORTS ONE OR TWO STUDENTS TO AN FROM HOME TO SCHOOL WE >> THAT IS CORRECT . >> I THOUGHT WE COULD ONLY HAVE YELLOW VEHICLES ? >> IT ALLOWS US TO USE ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES WHEN FOUND NECESSARY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PARTICULAR VEHICLE PURCHASED BY STUDENT SERVICES WITH A GRANT FROM MCKENNEY VENTO, WE ONLY PICK UP HOMELESS STUDENTS RIGHT NOW WE ARE PICKING UP ONE PERSON WHO TURNS -- ATTENDS CALVERT A HIGH SCHOOL, OVER BY THE BRIDGE IN CHARLES COUNTY, WE TURN AROUND, WE GO BACK TO PICK UP A YOUNG LADY WHO GOES TO NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. DROP HER OFF, AND THEN, WE HAVE A STUDENT AT DOW, BUT HE IS NOT THERE. WE TRANSPORT THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT BACK, SHE GETS OUT EARLY, COMES BACK TO CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, TAKES HER BACK TO BELL HOWDEN, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE WHITE FLEET, ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES , TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS TO AND FROM HOME, BUT THEY CAN ONLY BE IN A CAR OR VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN 10 PASSENGERS. IT CANNOT BE OVER 10 PASSENGERS, THAT IS ACTUALLY A FEDERAL LAW. >> THE BUSES WE BOUGHT ARE FOR 14 PASSENGERS, IS THAT RIGHT? >> THOSE ARE MFSAB, THEY CAN ONLY BE USED TO TRANSPORT KIDS , THEY ARE NOT YELLOW, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE FLASHING RED LIGHTS AND THEY ARE OVER 11 PASSENGERS. >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE CLASSIFICATION. >> THIS POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO 30 DAYS, THANK YOU. THE NEXT POLICY FOR REVIEW IS [00:50:01] 5750, I INVITE MR. SCOTT JOHNSON FORWARD. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I SERVED AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. I WOULD RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT NO CHANGES BE MADE TO THIS POLICY AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS ? >> I DO . FOR BUSINESS CONTRIBUTIONS ? OR WE COVER INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN A DIFFERENT POLICY? >> THIS POLICY WOULD INCLUDE BOTH. >> I AM THINKING ABOUT MR. BELL, WHO IS VERY GENEROUS TO SUPPORT THE ASTRONOMY PLANETARIUM, RIGHT ? WOULD HIS GIFT COMPLY WITH OUR POLICY AS WRITTEN? >> YES . AND THE PROCEDURES WELL. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. THE NEXT PIECE WE HAVE, POLICY 6070, ATTENDANCE, AND CERTIFICATION OF LICENSURE, GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, MY NAME IS ZACH, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, I AM HERE TO REVIEW TWO POLICIES, THE FIRST ONE BEING POLICY 6070, REGARDING ATTENDANCE, LEAVE USAGE AND UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE, THE POLICY, REGARDING UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE, IT IS IN PLACE TO PROVIDE ALL EMPLOYEES WITH THE EXPECTATIONS RELATED TO THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY ATTENDANCE ON SCHEDULED WORKDAYS, THE USE OF AUTHORIZED LEAVE, AND ABSENCE WITHOUT AUTHORIZED LEAVE. I HAVE REVIEWED THE POLICY AND I AM NOT RECOMMENDING CHANGES AT THIS TIME. I DO WANT TO NOTE, THE CURRENT PURPOSE STATEMENT REFLECTS REVISIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN 2022. THE CHANGE DID SHIFT THE LANGUAGE FROM INSURING ALL EMPLOYEES UNDERSTAND, TO PROVIDE ALL EMPLOYEES WITH THE EXPECTATIONS RELATED TO. THIS WAS MADE TO EMPHASIZE CLARITY. ALSO MEASURABILITY, BY FOCUSING ON EXPECTATIONS, THE POLICY BECOMES MORE OBJECTIVE, IT ALIGNS WITH OUR COMPLIANCE STANDARDS AND PRIORITIZES DELIVERING CLEAR INFORMATION RATHER THAN ASSESSING INDIVIDUAL UNDERSTANDING. >> THANKS. MELISSA? >> DO THE PROCEDURES COVER THE LEAVE DONATION USE ? OR DO WE HAVE A POLICY FOR THAT ? >> A LOT OF THE LEAVE PROVISIONS ARE COVERED, LEAVE DONATION WOULD BE IN THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT , NOT IN THE PROCEDURES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> IN THE TITLE, IT TALKS ABOUT UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE . BUT, THERE IS NOTHING MENTIONED IN THE POLICY FOR THIS. >> UNAUTHORIZED LEAVE WOULD FOLLOW -- FALL UNDER NUMBER THREE, IF IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED, IT WOULD BE UNAUTHORIZED. >> DO WE NEED A STATEMENT IN THERE FOR THAT? >> PERHAPS, IF YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECOMMEND MAYBE CLARIFICATION ON THAT NUMBER THREE, THAT ABSENCE WITHOUT AUTHORIZED LEAVE WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNAUTHORIZED? BY DEFINITION, MAYBE? >> MAYBE A DEFINITION. >> ANY OTHER? NO? OKAY. OKAY , THAT WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO FOUR WEEKS. AND THEN, THE NEXT ONE IS 6121. >> YES, POLICY 6121, REGARDING THE CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE OF SUPPORT EMPLOYEES IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT SUPPORT EMPLOYEES WILL BE APPROPRIATE MARYLAND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, PERMIT, OR HEALTH PREVENTION LICENSE AS REQUIRED BY THEIR POSITION TO MEET INDUSTRY STANDARDS. I AM RECOMMENDING ONE CHANGE UNDER DEFINITIONS. I AM RECOMMENDING A CHANGE TO THE TERM PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE, UNDER SUPPORT EMPLOYEE, TO STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CREDENTIAL, THIS WERE MADE LAST YEAR WITH POLICY 6120, RELIGHTING -- RELATED TO THE CHANGE, WHEN THEY CHANGE FROM CERTIFICATION TO LICENSURE. THE TERM CREDENTIAL REFERS TO BOTH LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION, WE COVER BOTH, AND IT IS BEING RECOMMENDED TO REFLECT THE CHANGE. >> ANY QUESTION? OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR UP [Bid Approvals] TO 30 DAYS ALSO. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE BIT APPROVALS , AND WE HAVE SHELDON TAYLOR AND DR. NEWSOME. [00:55:03] >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I WILL GET STARTED AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MRS. TAYLOR. IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POSTED FOR QUALIFIED VENDORS TO SUPPORT BIDS FOR OPERATING THE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S CENTRAL OFFICE. PROPOSALS WERE ACCEPTED AND UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON OCTOBER 21ST. 12 THAT ARE SUPPORTED O CO PROPOSALS, OF WHICH ONE WAS DEEMED NONRESPONSIVE, AND FINALISTS WERE INTERVIEWED ON NOVEMBER 3RD, THE BIDS RANGED IN CHLORIDES FROM $90,000-$790,000, I WISH NOW , BEFORE YOU START, TO THANK YOU, MRS. TAYLOR, FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK, ALONG WITH MR. JOHNSON, YOU BOTH WORKED DILIGENTLY TO BRING IT TO THIS POINT TODAY. TAYLOR WILL SHARE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE RATIONALE AND THE PROCESS FOR THIS BIDDING. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, I AM SHELDON TAYLOR, SUPERVISOR OF FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT, I HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION, WITH A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. SEPTEMBER, 2025. CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOLS POSTED , FOR OPERATING AND EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT . I PROBABLY SHOULD START OFF BY TAKING WHAT AN OPERATING AND EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT IS. IT IS AN ASSESSMENT, AN EVALUATION TOOL THAT PROVIDES INSIGHT ON HOW EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE RESOURCES SUPPORT STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. WHY DO ONE HERE AT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? THE ASSESSMENT IS A TRANSPARENT WAY TO PROVIDE A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW RESOURCES ARE USED AND ASSIST WITH THE FY 2027 THROUGH 2029 BUDGET DECISIONS, BY PROVIDING DATA-DRIVEN INFORMATION SUPPORTING ACTUAL NEEDS FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS? IT IS NOT ALL-INCLUSIVE HERE, BUT SOME OF THE PRIMARY FOCUS AREAS, COST SAVINGS AND RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION, OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS, ALIGNMENT TO A STRATEGIC PLAN, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FOR THAT ONE, IN THE FINAL REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE, OFFER STAKEHOLDERS A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW RESOURCES ARE BEING CURRENTLY USED. THAT INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN OUR REPORT THAT IS PLACED ON OUR WEBSITE. ANOTHER PRIMARY FOCUS AREA, BENCHMARKING AGAINST THAT -- BEST PRACTICES AND RECOGNIZED STANDARDS. WHAT DEPARTMENTS WILL BE PART OF THE ASSESSMENT ? FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INSTRUCTION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. SO, AS DR. NEWSOME MENTIONED, 12 PROPOSALS, ONE WAS DENIED AS NONRESPONSIVE. FIVE FINALISTS WERE INTERVIEWED ON NOVEMBER 3RD. AND THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD TODAY WOULD BE TO AWARD THE BID FOR OPERATING AND EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF SIX DEPARTMENTS AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CENTRAL OFFICE TO PUBLIC WORKS LLC OF WEST CHESTER PENNSYLVANIA FOR $328,930. THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROJECT IS LOCAL FUNDS. >> BEFORE I MAKE THE FORMAL RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, THEY HAVE SERVED OVER 200 JURISDICTIONS, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED OVER $1 BILLION IN SAVINGS . THEIR CLIENTS HAVE ACCEPTED 99.5% OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS. AND THEY HAVE CONDUCTED THE MOST STATEWIDE EFFICIENCY REVIEWS IN THE NATION. AS MR. TAYLOR HAS SAID, SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND, ALLEGHENY, HARTFORD, MONTGOMERY, AND BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THEIR TEAM IS COMPRISED OF EXPERTS, INCLUDING A FORMER MARYLAND SUPERINTENDENT EXPERT, IN EDUCATION, CONSTRUCTION, POLICY, SCHOOL FINANCE, SCHOOL OPERATIONS, [01:00:03] INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS AND STRATEGIC PLANNING, PUBLIC WORKS HAS COMMITTED TO US THAT THEY WILL MEET OUR EXPEDITED DEADLINES BY DELIVERING AN INTERIM BRIEFING BY MID-DECEMBER. A DRAFT REPORT, AND A FINAL REPORT ON FEBRUARY 12TH , THEY WILL ENSURE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THE 2027 THROUGH '29 BUDGETING PROCESS AND THE FUNDING WILL COME FROM LOCAL FUNDS . I WILL REPEAT THE RECOMMENDATION, IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT TO AWARD THE BID FOR OPERATING THE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF SIX DEPARTMENTS AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CENTRAL OFFICE TO PUBLIC WORKS LLC OF WEST CHESTER PENNSYLVANIA, FOR $328,930. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION ? >> YES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. >> YOU HAVE BEEN CIRCLING. >> LIKE A SHARK. WHY ARE YOU NOT INCLUDING SCHOOL FACILITIES IN THE ASSESSMENT? >> PRIMARILY. I'M SORRY, PRIMARILY BECAUSE , THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER AREAS WE COULD HAVE INCLUDED BUT WE WANTED TO TRY TO KEEP COSTS DOWN. THAT IS THE PRIMARY REASON. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN IN PLAIN LANGUAGE HOW THIS IS ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE ASSESSMENT OR AUDIT THAT THE COMMISSIONERS DID? >> I CAN TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT FOR YOU BUT I THINK THE ONES THAT THE COMMISSIONERS DID WAS TO SUPPORT THE PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF FINANCE FOR PROCUREMENT. BUT IT WAS A PERFORMANCE REVIEW OF WHAT WE HAD DONE, I THINK , A COUPLE OF YEARS BASED ON THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT, THAT WAS WHAT THE PERFORMANCE AUDITORS WERE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS A WAY TO DETERMINE HOW EFFICIENT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE IN OVERALL OPERATIONS. IT LOOKS LIKE MORE THAN JUST A REVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY DONE. IT CAN TELL US , BASED OFF OF WHAT I HAD SHOWN EARLIER, ABOUT THE BUDGETS FROM FY '27, HELP US FORECAST FOR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND HELP US WITH STAFFING LEVELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AS WELL. >> IF I CAN ADD TO THAT, IN THE REQUESTED PROPOSALS, WE IDENTIFIED I BELIEVE FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE SIMILAR IN SIZE AND DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN MARYLAND AND ASKED THEM TO BENCHMARK THE OPERATIONS. WE ASKED THEM TO BENCHMARK TO NATIONAL BEST STANDARDS . >> OKAY . AND I LOVE THAT THEY ARE YOUR ABLE TO MEET THE ACCELERATED TIMELINE IN BUDGET SEASON. WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE STAFF , AND TO SUPPORT THE STAFF WILL HAVE TO GIVE, BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING BUDGETING , STARTING IN IT. >> SO, OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL BE ASKING FOR INFORMATION REPORTS. THEIR TEAM WILL BE ON SITE FOR ONLY FIVE DAYS. AND WE ANTICIPATE REVIEWS WILL BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 35 AND 40 MINUTES , WITH THE HANDS OF THE SPECIAL DEPARTMENT. >> WE DID A STUDY RECENTLY, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE DONE A WHOLE LOT, WE HAD THE COMMISSIONERS AUDIT , IT CAME BACK WITH A COPY AND PASTE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT RESULTS. I AM JUST A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE INVESTING IN SOMETHING ELSE WITH ANOTHER COMPANY THAT DISAPPOINTS US. HAVE WE REFERENCED ? HAVE WE GOT ANY REFERENCES OF PUBLIC WORKS? THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO FIND OUT HOW THEY LIKED IT? >> WE DID GET AN AUDIT REPORT, FROM PUBLIC WORKS, FROM A COUNTY IN VIRGINIA , THAT THEY HAD AUDITED OR DID THE ASSESSMENT FOR IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. >> OKAY, I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE DOING AN EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ANY ORGANIZATION. $330,000 IS A LOT . IT IS DEFINITELY MORE THAN I EXPECTED. [01:05:04] I DON'T KNOW WHAT I EXPECTED. BUT IT IS A LOT OF MONEY. AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY, THERE IS GENERAL CONCERN. I MEAN, I HAVE HEARD RECENTLY, WE HAVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT ARE ALREADY LIMITING COPIES THAT CAN BE MADE, ONE PAPER. SO, IF WE CANNOT MAKE COPIES AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, BUT WE CAN SEND 330,000 DOLLARS TO FIND OUT THAT WE CANNOT MAKE COPIES AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND. THIS IS A COSTLY INVESTMENT . IF THE BOARD WISHES, WE DO HAVE A COMPANY THAT WE RANKED SECOND, AND THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER IN COST, I BELIEVE IT IS $110,000, IT IS ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE COST, THEIR STAFF IS PROBABLY LESS THAN ONE THIRD OF THE SIZE. I DO BELIEVE THEY COULD DO A GOOD JOB FOR US. THIS IS A MATTER OF, IF I CAN USE AN AUTOMOTIVE ANALOGY. IT IS A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW -- >> THE KIA OR THE MERCEDES? >> I WOULD NOT MAKE IT KIA, I MIGHT MAKE IT A BUICK. >> OKAY, BUICK. GOT IT. >> HAS OUR SYSTEM EVER DONE AN OPERATING AND EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT , AND IF SO, HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? >> I AM NOT AWARE. I HAVE BEEN PART OF THESE EFFICIENCY REVIEWS AND DETAILED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WHERE I SERVED AS A SUPERINTENDENT. AS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, COMING TO A DISTRICT, IT WOULD TAKE YEARS TO UNCOVER WHAT IT WILL TAKE THEM TO UNCOVER IN A FEW MONTHS. AND I BELIEVE, THE EXPEDITED TIMELINE ALSO INCREASES THE COSTS. >> MR. HARRISON ? >> THAT WAS MY QUESTION, LISA. HAVE WE DONE THIS BEFORE? IS THERE A PROMISE THAT CAME WITH THE PROPOSAL OF THE AMOUNT OF SAVINGS? THEY SAY THEY HAVE SAVED $1 MILLION OVER THE YEARS. >> YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO BACK SOMEONE INTO A CORNER ABOUT MONEY, I TELL YOU WHAT. >> I DON'T THINK IT WAS A PROMISE, BUT ON AVERAGE, I THINK THEY WERE ABLE TO SAVE ABOUT 2% , FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, I THINK IT WOULD BE KIND OF HARD FOR THEM TO COME IN AND PROMISE WHERE THEY CAN SAVE US MONEY WITHOUT DOING THE ASSESSMENT. >> THEY COULD SAY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SAVINGS AND THAT WE HAVE DEFICIENCIES IN THREE OF, WHATEVER IT WAS, OF THE CATEGORIES. AND THAT WE NEEDED, WE NEED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, ADDITIONAL MONIES, OR ADDITIONAL STAFF. OR IT COULD SAY, THERE IS, YOU KNOW? OVERAGE, IF YOU WILL, IN TWO CATEGORIES AND THOSE SHOULD BE REALLOCATED TO OTHER AREAS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT COULD REVEAL A NUMBER OF THINGS. IT COULD REVEAL THAT MAYBE WE WERE DOING THINGS EXACTLY THE WAY WE SHOULD BE DOING IT BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT COULD REVEAL THERE COULD BE SOME SAVINGS, BUT IT COULD SAY YOU REALLY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH, INSTEAD OF BEING DOWN THE ROAD, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR. >> THAT IS CORRECT. IF THEY SAY 2%, ABOUT 2%, SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 2%, EACH POINT IS $2.8 MILLION. SO, IF WE ARE KEEPING OUT ON THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT, I HATE TO LEAVE $2 MILLION ON THE TABLE, BECAUSE WE CHEAPENED OUT. WE HAVE NEVER DONE IT BEFORE, WE HAVE NO BENCHMARK TO SAY, AND I WILL SAY THIS PUBLICLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED IN PRIOR AUDITS. THE COPY AND PASTE WAS SILLY. PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, THAT WAS SO -- >> I AGREE . ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ? >> WHAT WAS THE BIGGEST DETERMINING FACTOR AND THE DIFFERENCE IN RANKING, WITH PUBLIC WORKS , AND BAKER TILLY COMING IN SECOND, IT IS A BIG PRICE POINT DIFFERENCE. WHAT WAS THE LARGEST DETERMINING FACTOR BETWEEN THE ONE AND TWO BLANKS? >> THERE WAS A RUBRIC, HOW MANY CATEGORIES WERE ON THE RUBRIC? I THINK ABOUT FIVE? >> SIX CATEGORIES. >> SIX CATEGORIES. PUBLIC WORKS CAME OUT NUMBER ONE IN FIVE OUT OF THE SIX. THE ONLY ONE THEY DID NOT COME OUT IN FIRST PLACE WAS THEIR COST. >> OKAY. BUT WHAT PARTICULARLY [01:10:10] ABOUT THE OTHER FIVE OUT OF SIX MADE THEM FIRST, I UNDERSTAND THEY CAME IN FIRST IN FIVE OUT OF SIX, BUT WHY? >> CAN YOU SHARE THE CATEGORIES? >> I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, THE ONE THAT CAME IN SECOND PLACE, HOW MANY DID THEY HAVE, OUT OF SIX? >> WELL . THEY DID NOT COME IN FIRST IN ANY OF THEM. BECAUSE PUBLIC WORKS WAS FIRST IN ALL OF THE CATEGORIES. THERE WAS ONE BID I BELIEVE THAT WAS LESS THAN THEIRS. >> THEY PROBABLY , I THINK THERE WAS ANOTHER COMPANY, THEY PROBABLY CAME IN TIED FOR SECOND, BECAUSE OF THEIR COST . THEY WERE THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION. >> THE CATEGORIES, RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS, METHODOLOGY, BENCHMARKING APPROACH, PAST PERFORMANCE, ABILITY TO MEET TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES, COST-EFFECTIVENESS , AND WE SCORED THE FINAL. >> WHAT ABOUT THE ONE THAT PRODUCED THE INFORMATION FOR EXAMPLES, WAS THAT A FINALIST OR SOMEBODY WHO PRODUCED THE INFORMATION? >> ONE OF THE FINALISTS. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, 5-0. [Change Order] >> THANK YOU. >> UP NEXT, WE HAVE A CHANGE ORDER, FROM MS. CHIQUITA WARNER . >> GOOD EVENING , PRESIDENT POST , DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION AND I AM BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PRESENT AND ASK FOR APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE FOR THE WINDY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILLER PROJECT. I WILL PROVIDE BACKGROUND ON THE WORK THAT ACCOMPANIES CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE, THE CHANGE ORDER WORK IS FOR DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING WATER PUMP AND REPLACEMENT OF A EXISTING PUMP , AND THIS WILL ENABLE THE FACILITIES , FOR THIS FACILITY . AS THIS IS ONLY EQUIPPED WITH A SINGLE PUMP CURRENTLY, WHICH IS NOT IDEAL, IT INCLUDED WORK TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ICE CHILLER, WE DEVELOPED THE ALTERNATE TO TAKE ONE OF THE EXISTING PUMPS FROM THE OLD SYSTEM, AND SWITCH IT OUT FOR THE SECONDARY HEATING PUMP, TO AVOID THE REDUNDANCY. IT WILL BE AWARDED THE PROJECT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ANY ALTERNATES, BECAUSE OF THE PRICING, BUT WE DID ADD MONEY TO OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATIONS BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL CYCLE AND THE IDEA WAS, WE WOULD TRY TO LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS TO EITHER TRY TO GET A REPRICING PROPOSAL FROM THE CONTRACTOR FOR THIS WORK, WHO IS CURRENTLY ON SITE DOING THAT WORK OR BID IT OUT IN THE FUTURE, THE AWARDED CONTRACTOR WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO HONOR THE SAME PRICE, DURING THEIR BID SUBMITTED NOVEMBER 2024. THEY ARE CURRENTLY MOBILIZED ON SITE AND CAN INCORPORATE THE WORK WITHIN THE REMAINDER OF THE SCOPE. THE COST OF THE WORK AT THAT TIME WAS $58,000, WHEN THE BIDS CAME IN, THEY ARE HONORING THAT SAME PRICE, THAT IS WHAT THE CHANGE ORDER IS FOR, THIS WOULD BRING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECT TOTAL FROM $784,000-$842,000 . WITH CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATIONS PAYING FOR THIS WORK. SO I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME. AND I WOULD ASK FOR APPROVAL. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, I AM GLAD THAT YOU GOT THE BOOT OFF OF YOUR FOOT. THAT IS AWESOME. >> THANK YOU. >> DID YOU TELL THESE FOLKS THEY WERE GOING TO HONOR THE SAME PRICE OR DID YOU ASK NICELY? WHAT POSSESSED THEM? >> I CANNOT TELL THEM THEY HAVE TO HONOR THE PRICE, BECAUSE MARKET CONDITIONS COULD DICTATE [01:15:02] THAT A PRICE COULD GO UP. INTERESTINGLY, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, THE PROJECT WAS ORIGINALLY BID BY JP G INDUSTRIES, WHO IS CO-OWNED FROM THE PARENT COMPANY THAT ALSO OWNS AMERICAN COMBUSTION INDUSTRIES, BOTH BID ON THE PROJECT INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH . BUT THERE WAS A MERGER. SO ACI IS NOW DOING ALL THE WORK, WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PAPERWORK, THAT IS NOT AN ISSUE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PRICES , THE ACI PRICE WAS HIGHER , BUT THEY ARE HONORING JP G'S PRICE. >> EXCELLENT . >> THEY ARE ON TRACK, SCHEDULE -WISE? MY OTHER PART OF THAT QUESTION IS , THE INCREASE OF ABOUT 7.2% OF THE OVERALL CONTRACT VALUE, ARE WE APPLYING ANY WRITER FOR THE INCREASE IN THE CONTRACT AMOUNT AND IS THERE A MAINTENANCE BOND AT THE END? IS THERE A MAINTENANCE BOND AT THE END OF THIS ? >> SO, WE REQUIRE THAT THE PAYMENT AND THE PERFORMANCE TO INCORPORATE ANY CHANGE ORDER, THAT IS INCLUDED. >> OWED -- OH, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ? MOTION, SECOND, ALL [Blueprint Update] THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES 5- 0. UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR BLUEPRINT UPDATE, I WILL INVITE MS. MARSEILLE GRUBER. >> GOOD EVENING , PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, I AM MARCY GRUBER, OUR COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE BLUEPRINT UPDATE AND PROGRESS TONIGHT. ON OCTOBER 21ST, OUR TEAM MET WITH THE MIB AND AISD IN INDIANAPOLIS. IT WAS PROGRESS, BUT DISCUSS SPECIFIC CHALLENGES AND SHARE NEXT STEPS. THROUGHOUT THE SESSION, THE PANEL ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE IMPORTANT CONTEXT FOR CALVERT , SO THEY COULD SEE THE UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS WE HAVE, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OUR STRENGTHS. THE LINK TO THE DETAILED PROGRESS REPORT IS DETAILED ON THE SLIDE, YOU ALSO HAVE A HARD COPY, THIS PROVIDES A LOT MORE DETAILS THAN I WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU TONIGHT IN OUR PRESENTATION. OUR ASSESSMENT FOUND THAT THEY ARE MEETING EXPECTED PROGRESS IN ALL PILLARS WE RECEIVED A DRAFT MEETING SUMMARY FROM THE AIB AND WE HAVE OVERSEEN A SECOND DOCUMENT OUTLINING AREAS OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH. NEXT, WE WILL LOOK AT THE FIVE PILLARS STARTING WITH ONE, EARLY CHILDHOOD. CCPS HAS MADE MAJOR STRIDES IN EXPANDING LEARNING ACCESS, INCLUDING EXPANSION OF PRE-K SPOTS, EVERY TEAR ONE ELIGIBLE FAMILY RECEIVED A SPOT IN CCPS. WE ARE WORKING THROUGH THE CHALLENGE OF CONTINUED EXPANSION, GIVEN LIMITED PHYSICAL SPACE. OUR TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND PRIVATE PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE IN MAINTAINABLE WAYS. UNDER PILLAR TWO, THEY ARE DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE EDUCATOR PIPELINE THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP REPORTS , WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT A 350% INCREASE IN NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS AND AN ENHANCED INDUCTION AND MENTORING PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS EVERY NEW TEACHER JOINING OUR CALVERT TEAM. WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES IN A VERY COMPETITIVE LABOR MARKET, HOWEVER, OUR TEAM IS STRATEGIC AND DATA-DRIVEN. AS PART OF THE BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENT, WE ESTABLISHED A CAREER LADDER AND I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO NOTE OUR PROGRESS IN THIS IMPORTANT AREA. WE RECEIVED FEEDBACK ON OUR JULY 1ST SUBMISSION, AND WE MET ALL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS. ONLY MINOR REVISIONS WERE REQUESTED, WHICH WERE COMPLETED AND RESUBMITTED FOR AIB APPROVAL AFTER THE NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING. IT ESTABLISHES A 60/40 WORKDAY FOR PARTICIPATING TEACHERS. 50% OF THE TIME FOR DIRECT INSTRUCTION AND 40% COLLABORATION, WHICH MAY INCLUDE DATA ANALYSIS, SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTION AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AS SOME EXAMPLES. LEVEL FOUR POSITIONS WILL INTRODUCE INTRODUCTION ALL -- [01:20:01] INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS . WE DO HAVE EVIDENCE OF STRONG PRACTICES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND THIS CAREER LADDER STRUCTURE IS DESIGNED TO MAKE THOSE MORE CONSISTENT AND DEEPLY EMBEDDED , SYSTEMATICALLY. THIS BRINGS INSTRUCTIONAL BENEFITS AND ALSO INTRODUCES PHYSICAL -- FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS. AND WE ARE PLANNING FOR THOSE CAREFULLY AS WE MOVE FORWARD, ALERT THREE, CALVERT MAKES GAINS IN LITERACY, AND CAREER PATHWAYS, WE REGULARLY ANALYZE OUR DATA TO MAKE INFORMED STRUCTURAL INSTRUCTIONS THAT KEEP STUDENT LEARNING MOVING FORWARD. AT THE SAME TIME, IMPLEMENTATION IS IMPACTED BY OVERLAPPING STATE POLICY KANSAS -- CHANGES AS WELL AS POLICY RESOURCE LIMITATIONS WHICH COULD INCLUDE COACHING. TO STRENGTHEN OUR ACADEMIC MONITORING, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE PANORAMA DATA SUCCESS PLATFORM TO STREAMLINE HOW WE TRACK STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND SUPPORTS . CCPS IS MEETING GOALS FOR PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE STUDENT SUPPORT BY EXPANDING TARGETED PROGRAMS, INDICATING THAT MAKE IT INTEGRATING AND ADDRESSING, LIKE OTHER DISTRICTS, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE TIME TO DO EVERYTHING ARE WORKING ON DEEPENING COORDINATION OF SUPPORT SERVICES, ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND STRENGTHENING OUR MULTITIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT FRAMEWORK. THE AIB REQUESTED SPECIFIC DATA REGARDING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM PRIOR TO OUR CONFERENCE. THIS IS A PRIORITY AREA FOR THE STATE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS TABLE, CCPS HAS SUCESSFULLY REVERSED A SEVERE SPIKE IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. AFTER RISING FROM 2021 TO A HIGH OF 32.8% IN 2022, IT HAS DECLINED IN 2025. THIS IS A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND THAT REFLECTS THE DEDICATION OF OUR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. NEXT, CCPS IS MEETING EXPECTATIONS FOR GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WE FACE CHALLENGES DUE TO REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY SUBMITTED OUR BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND HAVE ESTABLISHED INTERNAL STRUCTURES FOR PROGRESS MONITORING. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS PHOTO OF THE SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, THANK YOU DR. NEWSOME, HE GETS THE CREDIT FOR THIS LAB IN OUR BLUEPRINT WORKING NEXT THAT STRENGTHENS LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS, THE PRIMARY DIFFICULTY IS THE COMPLEXITY OF FINANCIAL TRACKING WHICH CURRENTLY INVOLVES EXTENSIVE MANUAL RECONCILIATION BY A SMALL FINANCE TEAM. MOVING FORWARD, THE TEAM AIMS TO STREAMLINE AND COST ALLOCATION, AND STRENGTHEN CROSS DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION REGARDING FINANCIAL MATTERS. FINALLY, A QUICK UPDATE ON MINIMUM SCHOOL FUNDING, OR MS AT , THIS IS A MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITY COMPONENT OF THE BLUEPRINT, IT REQUIRES THAT 75% OF OUR PER-PUPIL FUNDING BE ALLOCATED DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THESE PROGRAMS, AND 100% FOR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND PRIVATE PRE-K GRANTS, THE INTENT WAS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS, AND I WANT TO POINT OUT, THIS IS ABOUT HOW WE ARE DOCUMENTING THE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS. AND THE DOLLARS, HOW THE DOLLARS ARE REACHING STUDENTS, IT IS NOT NEW FUNDING. FY '25 WAS THE BASELINE YEAR, IN FY '26, WE MUST REDUCE THE GAP OF SCHOOLS NOT IN THE PLANT BY AT LEAST 50%, IN FY '27, WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT 100% OF STUDENTS ATTEND A SCHOOL THAT MEETS THE APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS. THERE IS A WAIVER PROCESS FOR LEAS TO ENGAGE IN IF THEY ANTICIPATE NOT MEETING MSF REQUIREMENTS. TO BE CLEAR, WE HAVE BUDGETED PROACTIVELY TO MEET THE FY '26 TARGETS BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT COULD IMPACT COMPLIANCE, THIS IS TRUE FOR EVERY LE A IN THE STATE. THESE HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THE AIB, THEY WILL BE DISCUSSING THE WAIVER PROCESS INCLUDING POTENTIAL DEADLINE CHANGES AND WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ONCE ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED . IN SUMMARY, CCPS CONTINUES TO MAKE STRONG, STEADY PROGRESS ACROSS ALL FIVE BLUEPRINT PILLARS. WE ARE PROUD OF THE COLLABORATION HAPPENING ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS WE WORK TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND I AM HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ON PAGE THREE, EARLY CHILDHOOD, IT SAYS WE HAVE CAPACITY FOR 392 STUDENTS, IS THERE A REASON WE DID NOT FILL THE OTHER 74 SEATS? >> THERE IS . WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE, AND WHICH STUDENTS OR FAMILIES [01:25:05] HAD THE OPPORTUNITY , WE WERE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING AT TIER ONE FAMILIES. OUR EXPANSION THIS YEAR WAS REALLY ABOUT INCLUDING HEADSTART CLASSROOMS. WHERE WE HAVE STUDENTS IN THOSE CLASSROOMS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THEY ARE NOW CONSIDERED CALVERT COUNTY STUDENTS. WE DID NOT REACH THE TARGET THAT WE WANTED TO REACH. THERE IS ALWAYS THIS UNKNOWN. IT IS ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS, HOW MANY FAMILIES WOULD QUALIFY FOR BEING UP TO 300% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL. SO, IN SOME CASES , IT IS AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE, OR HOW MANY STUDENTS WOULD BE COMING IN TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT. THE OTHER PIECE THAT CAME INTO PLAY, THE SLIDING SCALE . SO, MSDE ADDED THE SCALE, IT WAS NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED FOR THIS YEAR, ONLY PARTIALLY IMPLEMENT IT. IMPLEMENTED FOR STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES, 350% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, WHERE THEY WOULD, PART OF TUITION WOULD COME FROM THE ALLOCATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM MSDE AND SOMEWHAT COME FROM FAMILIES, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME WE WERE IMPLEMENTING A SLIDING SCALE AND PAYMENT FOR PRE-K, WE STOPPED AT 350% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL. WE DO HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE TIER ONE, ANY TIER ONE FAMILY WHO APPLIED HAS RECEIVED A SPOT. THEY MOVED TO THE TIER TWO PROGRAM GOING UP TO 306 HE PERCENT OF THE POVERTY Ú FAMILY DECLINED. AND OTHERS, DECLINING TO INCLUDE THEIR STUDENTS. >> IS THE STATE MANDATING THAT WE CHARGE FAMILIES FOR PRE-K IF WE HAVE SPOTS? >> THAT IS A DECISION THAT WE MADE LAST YEAR, MOVING INTO THIS YEAR, BECAUSE WE WILL RECEIVE NO PER-PUPIL APPLICATION -- ALLOCATION. >> WE HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR 392, DOES THAT MEAN THAT WE HIRED STAFF TO SUPPORT CLASSROOMS FOR 392? >> THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE WOULD PUT INTO A CLASSROOM IS 20. HAVE WE REACHED THE MAXIMUM AT EVERY CLASSROOM ? NO. WE HAVE REACHED IT IN MANY CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND IN MANY SCHOOLS. IN SOME CASES, LIKE IN ST. LEONARD, THAT WAS OUR CLASSROOMS THAT REACHED CAPACITY, WE STILL HAVE MORE FAMILIES THAT , WE WERE TRANSPORTING THEM TO MUTUAL. SO, WE HAD THAT PIECE OF TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE SPACE FOR ALL TIER ONE FAMILIES, TWO, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO TRANSPORT THE STUDENTS WHO MEET THE TIER ONE REQUIREMENT. >> DID WE HAVE TO, BECAUSE WE DID NOT FILL ALL THE SEATS, DID WE HAVE TO GET RID OF ANY PEOPLE, THAT WE MADE OFFERS TO OR SAID WE WERE GOING TO HIRE FOR THESE ROLES? OR ALL BE -- ARE THEY ALL BEING USED? >> THEY ARE ALL BEING UTILIZED. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. >> FOR PILLAR FOUR , WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THAT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, WE SAW A REDUCTION, BUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, 21.9 TO 21.7, REALLY DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT -- MAYBE IT IS, I'M NOT SURE. WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR HIGH SCHOOL, IS THERE ANYTHING IN PLACE WE ARE DOING TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT? >> THERE ABSOLUTELY IS. THE DEPARTMENT DOES USE A FIVE TIER INTERVENTION SYSTEM , THEY HAVE REVIEWED IT MONTHLY, AS DO THE SCHOOLS. SO, THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED WHICH STUDENTS NEED SUPPORT AND THERE ARE SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS IN PLACE. IT DOES LOOK DIFFERENT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL THAN ELEMENTARY. HIGH SCHOOL IS BEING ADDRESSED, BUT WE RECOGNIZE IF WE CAN GET STUDENTS TO HAVE BETTER HABITS EARLY ON, THOSE TEND TO STICK AND THEY WILL HOPEFULLY REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AS STUDENTS ADVANCE IN GRADE LEVELS. BUT, MS. LEWIS AND STUDENT SERVICES HAVE THE MOST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS AREA SO I AM HAPPY TO GET MORE INFORMATION TO YOU ABOUT THAT. >> PILLAR THREE, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT OVERLAPPING MSDE POLICY CHANGES. DOES THAT MEAN THEY ARE CONTRADICTING EACH OTHER OR SOMETHING ELSE? >> THEY ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME, THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE FOR THE [01:30:02] LITERACY POLICY ARE HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE POLICY IS IMPLEMENTING THE TIMELINE, THAT IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR EDUCATORS, THEY ARE JUGGLING, TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE POLICIES. >> NEXT YEAR, I THINK WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO, IS IT 300 MINUTES? WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO TAKE THAT TIME FROM? >> LEADERSHIP TEAM HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THIS AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING WHAT THE SCHEDULE COULD LOOK LIKE. I DON'T HAVE THE STATISTICS FOR YOU BUT I AM HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT. >> WITH TIER ONE, WE TALKED ABOUT CONTINUING OUTREACH PROGRAMS WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS. HOW MANY PRIVATE PROVIDERS DO WE HAVE? >> WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE PARTNERING WITH US IN THE OFFICIAL CAPACITY FOR THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT, HOWEVER THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD COLLABORATIVE STRUCTURES IN PLACE WHERE WE ARE PARTNERING, AND MANY OF THEM ARE JOINING US WITH THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS . THERE ARE A LOT MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAN IS OFFICIALLY ON PAPER THROUGH THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS. >> I HAD ONE THING. I WANTED TO FOLLOW-UP AFTER MS. CCPS 'S QUESTION , THE STATE IS NOT MANDATING THAT WE CHARGE FAMILIES FOR PRE-K . THEY MADE THE DECISION LAST YEAR, OUR -- ARE WE CHARGING FAMILIES FOR PRE-K OUTSIDE OF THAT RANGE? >> YES. ANY FAMILY THAT IS BETWEEN 301 AND 360% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, THEY ARE PAYING SOME OF THAT SLIDING SCALE, ANYONE ELSE WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL PER-PEOPLE AMOUNT, BECAUSE CCPS WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY AMOUNT. >> WHAT ARE THE AMOUNTS AND WHO DETERMINES THEM ? >> IT IS THE STATE. THE STATE DETERMINES THAT, THE PER-PEOPLE AMOUNT IS $14,473. AND THEN, THE SLIDING SCALE, IS A PORTION OF THAT. AND I WOULD HAVE TO FIND THAT EXACT NUMBER BUT I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU. >> MAYBE THIS IS A BETTER QUESTION FOR SCOTT OR MAYBE YOU AS WELL, HAVE WE DONE ANY ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE NET COST WOULD BE IF WE FILLED ALL THE SEATS? OR DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MIGHT DO IT IF WE DO CHARGE VERSUS $10,000, $40,000 FOR PRE-K? >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SERVING APPROXIMATELY 25% OF THE TYPICAL GRADE LEVEL. WE DID NOT CHARGE AND WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ADD ALL THE CLASSROOMS, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT ADDING A KINDERGARTEN GRADE LEVEL, IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE ASKING. WE WOULD HAVE TO ADD THREE TO FOUR ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS PER BUILDING, IF IT WAS OPEN TO ALL FAMILIES , PRE-K IS NOT REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS TO ATTEND . BUT WE DO HAVE TO, THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT, HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES THAT MEET THE TIER ONE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT. >> WHEN THEY MEET THE TIER ONE, THE STATE GIVES US MONEY FOR THOSE, BUT FOR ANYBODY THAT DOES NOT MEET THE TIER ONE REQUIREMENTS WE DO NOT GET THE FUNDING, AND WE HAVE TO COVER THE COST? OKAY. IS THE STATE TELLING US HOW MANY SEATS WE NEED TO HAVE? >> SOMETIMES WE ARE ESTIMATING HOW MANY STUDENTS WE WOULD HAVE EACH YEAR AND AGAIN, JUST LIKE WITH ANY OTHER GRADE LEVEL, THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS IN THAT GRADE LEVEL, ONE YEAR, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FOUR KINDERGARTEN CLASSES AND THE NEXT YEAR WE MIGHT HAVE FIVE, THE FOLLOWING YEAR WE MIGHT HAVE THREE, THE PENDING AND HOW MANY STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, MEET THAT AGE REQUIREMENT. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH, IT IS NOT ONLY HOW MANY STUDENTS WE WOULD HAVE, BUT HOW MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WOULD MEET THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY WHICH IS VERY HARD TO ESTIMATE. SO, WE ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT. WE HAVE INSURED THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE PRE-K CLASSROOM IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL , SO THAT STUDENTS CAN ATTEND IN THEIR HOME ZONED AREA AND NOT HAVE THE TRAVEL FROM ONE SCHOOL TO THE OTHER. WE HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS. WE HAVE TWO, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE MORE STUDENTS WHO NEED -- MEET THAT INCOME [01:35:03] ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT. WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL CLASSROOM. AND WHERE WE PLACED THE HEAD START CLASSROOMS. SOME FLEXIBILITY OF WHERE THEY ARE PLACED, WE DO, IN OUR SOUTHERN SCHOOLS, WE MIGHT HAVE MORE STUDENTS . WE WANT TO ADD MORE CLASSROOMS . BUT EVERY SCHOOL HAS ONE AND WE FELT THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT SO STUDENTS WERE NOT TRAVELING FAR DISTANCES AND WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE SCHOOL THAT THEY WOULD ARTICULATE TO IN THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL. >> IF MY MEMORY SIMMERS -- SERVES CORRECT, WAS THERE AN ISSUE WITH MEETING THAT 75%, 100% CRITERIA WE BECAUSE WE HAD SOME TYPE OF A GRANT? >> SO, IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET GRANT FUNDING WHICH OF COURSE, WE WANT THE GRANT FUNDING, IT MAY IMPACT THE ABILITY TO MEET THAT 75% REQUIREMENT IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS. OUR FINANCE TEAM IS CURRENTLY CHECKING ALL OF THE NUMBERS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE, SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, OF COURSE, WE ARE WAITING FOR AIB TO TELL US IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES. >> HOW LONG IS THAT GRANT FOR? >> THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT . YEAH. AND THEN, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MR. MARCHIO, THE FULL TUITION IS $14,473. THOSE MEETING THAT, UP TO 360% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, FROM 301 TO 306%, THEY ARE PAYING $1447.30. >> CAN I ASK YOU? A FOLLOW-UP ON THAT, IT IS ABOUT $78 PER DAY, FOR THE KIDS. I WONDER , IS THAT AN IMPACT ON THE PRIVATE DAYCARE IN THE COUNTY ? >> AS FAR AS WHO IS NOT ATTENDING PRIVATE DAYCARE, AND COMING INTO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS? >> WE WENT THROUGH COVID, A LOT OF DAYCARE'S CLOSED UP BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DO THE CLEANING AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS THE PROTOCOL FOR THE STATE AND I JUST WONDER IF WE ARE HARMING OUR PRIVATE PROVIDERS BY PROMOTING THIS ? >> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT CALVERT COUNTY, WE DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF PRIVATE PROVIDERS. THERE IS A WAITING LIST IN PRIVATE PROVIDER SETTINGS . THIS EXPANDS THE OPPORTUNITY , ESPECIALLY FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD PRIVATE PROVIDERS. WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I PAY FOR MY OWN SON, FOR PRE-K, PER WEEK, VERSUS HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR A FAMILY THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT, THEY NOW HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I THINK IT EXPANDS THE OPPORTUNITY, THE OTHER PIECE OF THE BLUEPRINT THAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT COLLABORATION WITH PRIVATE PROVIDERS AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH THEM TO HAVE THEM APPLY FOR THE GRANT . WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM APPLY FOR THE GRANT AND RECEIVE IT . THAT IS THE NEXT STEP. WE ARE OUT OF SPACE IN A LOT OF OUR SCHOOLS, WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER CLASSROOM TO ADD ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR -YEAR-OLD ROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THEM, THEY WOULD WRITE FOR THE GRANT AND RECEIVE IT. TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PRIVATE PROVIDERS APPLY FOR THE GRANT THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED IT, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM AND IT MSDE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM TO WRITE FOR THE THREE-YEAR-OLD PROGRAM BUT THE PROBLEM IS ALSO, DO THEY HAVE THE SPACE? THEY ALREADY HAVE THREE-YEAR-OLDS IN THEIR BUILDING AND DO THOSE MEET THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY. AND IF THEY DON'T, THIS WOULD NOT BE A PLACE FOR THE PROGRAM, THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADD A CLASSROOM. OR WHEN THEY HAVE TO ADD MORE STUDENTS TO A CLASSROOM? THOSE ARE THINGS THEY WOULD HAVE TO WORK THROUGH, DO THEY HAVE SPACE TO ADD ADDITIONAL STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM? >> THAT IS A LOT TO CONSIDER. PILLAR TWO GIVES ME THE MOST PAUSE , FOR THE 60/40 REQUIREMENT. WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR UTILIZATION IS NOW , BETWEEN TEACHING AND COLLABORATION, WHAT DO YOU ESTIMATE THAT TO BE? >> GREAT QUESTION, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME BUILDINGS WITH INSTANCES OF THAT HAPPENING, SO [01:40:02] WE CAN LOOK AT WHERE WE DO H■AV THAT STRUCTURE IN PLACE, BUT THE BLUEPRINT HAS POSTPONED THE IMPLEMENT OF THAT PHASE OF THE PLAN. BEFORE, WE HAD THE EIGHT-YEAR PHASE-IN PROCESS, NOW WE WILL HAVE A SEVEN-YEAR PHASE-IN PROCESS. BUT THE IDEA IS, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE ARE LOOKING AT GIVING TEACHERS MORE TIME DURING THE WORK DAY FOR THAT 40% TIME. WE WOULD THEN HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COVER THE CLASSES THAT THEY ARE NOT TEACHING. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WOULD COME UP WITH THE MONEY. >> THAT, AND KEEP CLASS SIZES MANAGEABLE. >> IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GIVE EVERYBODY 40% COLLABORATION TIME, BUT IF YOU LOSE HALF YOUR COLLEAGUES, THAT IS NOT ON EITHER. >> YEAH, I HAVE TWO MORE COMMENTS AROUND THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. IT IS GREAT THAT WE ARE GETTING KIDS TO COME TO SCHOOL. WE HEAR A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM PARENTS, WHEN THEY GET THESE LETTERS, THEIR KIDS ARE KEEPING -- THEY ARE KEEPING THEM HOME SO THEY DO NOT SPREAD ILLNESSES. THEY GET THESE LETTERS SAYING , WE ARE GOING TO HOLD YOUR KID BACK IF THEY MISS MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL. WE DO NOT WANT SICK KIDS TO COME TO SCHOOL, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SPREAD DISEASE OR ILLNESS. WE GET A LOT OF EMAILS ABOUT, WE NEED TO BE REALLY AWARE OF WHAT WE ARE PUTTING OUT TO PARENTS AND SECOND , YOU TALK ABOUT STRATEGIES FOR GETTING KIDS TO COME TO SCHOOL. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, 1 MILLION YEARS AGO, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS EVERY YEAR WAS TO GET THE PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARD. AND MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER GIVING PERFECT ATTENDANCE AWARDS AGAIN, EVERY YEAR, I KNOW WE DO THEM. WE DO NOT DO THEM EVERY YEAR AND SOME KIDS REALLY LOVE THAT. SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UP NEXT [Financial Operating Report] , WE HAVE FINANCIAL OPERATING REPORT, MR. SCOTT JOHNSON. >> GOOD EVENING AGAIN , PRESIDENT POST, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS SCOTT , I AM THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR HARD WORK PREPARING FOR THE ANNUAL AUDIT, ESPECIALLY THE SUPERVISOR OF FINANCE. THANK YOU . THIS EVENING , I WILL PRESENT TWO SETS OF REPORTS, THE FIRST SET OF REPORTS WILL BE THE MONTHLY AND THE SECOND WILL BE QUARTERLY FINANCIAL REPORTS, LET'S BEGIN BY REVIEWING THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REVENUE REPORT FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND, THIS COLOR-CODED TABLE SHOWS THE INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEM BUDGET ACCOUNTS FOR ALL REVENUE ACCOUNTS IN WHICH ANY FUNDS WERE BUDGETED THIS FISCAL YEAR AND/OR RECEIVED SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE ACCOUNTS IN THE BLUE SECTION ARE FOR LOCAL REVENUE AND THE ACCOUNTS IN THE YELLOW SECTION OUR STATE REVENUE. THE TWO ACCOUNTS THAT YOU SEE IN THE GREEN AREA, FOR FEDERAL REVENUE, AND THE ACCOUNT NEAR THE BOTTOM IS THE PRIOR-YEAR FUND BALANCE. THE USE OF THE PREVIOUSLY-ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCE. AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVED $65.3 MILLION AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH, THIS REPRESENTS 22.7% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET, FOR THIS UNRESTRICTED FUND. ONE OTHER QUICK NOTE ON THIS SLIDE, TWO ACCOUNTS IN BLUE NEAR THE TOP OF THE SCREEN, IN THE LOCAL REVENUE SECTION ARE ACTUALLY FOR STATE AID AND SHOULD BE DOWN IN THE YELLOW SECTION. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT MOVING THESE BEFORE THIS WAS PREPARED. THE NEXT SLIDE COMPARES , THE BUDGET AMOUNT IS IN BLUE, THE AMOUNT RECEIVED IS IN THE ORANGE BAR. >> SHOULD WE ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO OR WAIT UNTIL THE END? >> THAT WOULD BE FINE. >> WHAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, WE ARE CURRENTLY , EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, THIS IS HOW THE STATE MONEY COMES IN. IS THAT RIGHT ? ONE NUMBER ? THE COUNTY COMES IN AS ONE PAYMENT. AND YOU SPLIT IT BETWEEN ACCOUNTS? >> IT COMES IN AS ONE PAYMENT TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WE ARE GIVEN THE AMOUNT BY THE TYPE OF REVENUE. AND WE ALLOCATE THE REVENUE IN THE VARIOUS BUDGET [01:45:03] ACCOUNTS. >> HOW DO YOU KNOW TO BUDGET THOSE AMOUNTS IN THOSE ACCOUNTS? >> THAT IS BASED ON THE BUDGET AMOUNT THAT I'M SORRY, THAT THE STATE PROVIDES , TYPICALLY IN JANUARY, BEFORE THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINS IN JULY AND IT IS UPDATED BY THE STATE IN MAY. >> SO, HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE TO THE REVENUE IN THE BLUE SECTION? >> IN THE BLUE SECTION, THERE IS A ROW FOR LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS. THAT APPROPRIATION COMES FROM THE COUNTY AND I BELIEVE THERE IS ONE OTHER LINE, THE COUNTY WORKFORCE, AM I CORRECT? THANK YOU. IT IS ALSO PART OF THE ALLOCATION COUNTY APPROPRIATION. >> YOUR REVENUE IS BASED ON THE FUND BALANCE SITTING IN THE BANK IS THAT RIGHT? >> IT IS BASED ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS. >> IT NOW BEGS THIS QUESTION . THE NEXT QUESTION IS , THE NEXT AMOUNT OF CASH, ONLY EXTRAPOLATES TO $261 MILLION, ARE WE NOT COLLECTING THE CASH FAST ENOUGH? >> WE RECEIVE IT ACCORDING TO THE STATE AID DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE. >> I AM JUST WONDERING IF THE COUNTY OR STATE IS UNDERSTANDING THAT IF THEY KEPT THEIR MONEY IN THE BANK, THEY WOULD EARN THE INTEREST INSTEAD OF US. THE AR WENT UP THIS TIME, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE AUDIT. >> I CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE STATE. >> OKAY. >> YOU ARE WELCOME. THIS NEXT SLIDE, OOPS . PRESENTS THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL RESULTS FOR EXPENDITURES , THIS REPORT IS A SUMMARY OF ENCUMBRANCES BY BUDGET CATEGORY. THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED BY BUDGET CATEGORY, LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO WALK THROUGH THIS REPORT. ON THE FAR LEFT , WE WILL SEE THAT THERE IS A THREE DIGIT CODE THAT SHOWS THE BUDGET CATEGORY NUMBER AND THE BUDGET CATEGORY TITLE. IN THE BLUE CATEGORY, IT SHOWS THE AMOUNT BUDGETED IN EACH CATEGORY, IN THE GRAY COLUMN, IT SHOWS THE AMOUNT SPENT DURING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER ALONE AND THE YELLOW COLUMN SHOWS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF ENCUMBRANCES OUTSTANDING FOR EACH BUDGET CATEGORY. THIS INCLUDES THE WAGE AND SALARY ENCUMBRANCES. THE NEXT YELLOW COLUMN INCLUDES THE YEAR-TO-DATE EXPENDITURES THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. AND IN THE GREEN COLUMN, IT REPRESENTS THE AVAILABLE BALANCE AFTER BACKING OUT WHAT HAS BEEN ENCUMBERED IN THE AMOUNTS IN YELLOW. THAT IS SUBTRACTED FROM THE BUDGET AMOUNT. YOU WILL SEE THERE ARE TWO AMOUNTS IN RECTANGLES, THE GREEN AMOUNT, FOR TRANSPORTATION, SHOWS THAT WE HAVE $17 MILLION AVAILABLE, THAT IS BECAUSE THE BUS CONTRACTOR ENCUMBRANCES WERE INPUT AFTER THE DATE OF THIS REPORT, SEPTEMBER 30TH, THERE WILL NOT BE THAT AMOUNT LEFT AFTER THOSE ENCUMBRANCES ARE INCLUDED, FURTHER DOWN ON THE SAME SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE IN PARENTHESES, THAT WE HAVE OVERSPENT BY $26.7 MILLION AND I WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT IN A MOMENT. IN THE PINK COLUMN, THE PERCENT OF EACH BUDGET CATEGORY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT OR ENCUMBERED AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER, SEPTEMBER 30TH. TWO TAKEAWAYS, SORRY, THE DISTRICT HAD EXPENDED OR ENCUMBERED 95.1% OF THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, SEPTEMBER 30TH, INCLUDING PAYROLL ENCUMBRANCES, THE DISTRICT HAD $14.2 BILLION UNEXPENDED AND UNENCUMBERED. THE NEXT SLIDE PRESENTS THE SAME INFORMATION DIGITALLY BY CATEGORY. THE BLUE BARS ON THE LEFT REPRIMAND THE AMOUNT BUDGETED FOR EACH CATEGORY WHILE THE ORANGE BARS REPRESENT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT SPENT OR ENCUMBERED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30. OVER ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE THE ORANGE BAR, THAT IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE BLUE BUDGETED AMOUNT , AND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR, WE HAD INADVERTENTLY DUPLICATED THE ENCUMBRANCE , THAT INCREASES THE AMOUNT , THAT AMOUNT HAS BEEN REMOVED . THIS WILL BE [01:50:07] REFLECTED ON NEXT MONTH'S FINANCIAL REPORT. >> THAT AMOUNT WAS $1.47 MILLION? >> THE AMOUNT, I BELIEVE IT WAS CLOSER, I WILL PUT MY COLLEAGUE ON THE SPOT, IT WAS OVER $20 MILLION, THAT IS WHY IT HAS SINCE BEEN -- >> INSURANCE AND SUCH ? >> YES, HELP INSURANCE. AND, MOVING TO THE PRESENTATION BY BUDGET OBJECT OR TYPE OF EXPENDITURE, THE BLUE COLUMN IS THE AMOUNT BUDGETED, PERIOD EXPENDITURES FOR SEPTEMBER EXCLUSIVELY, AND THE OUTSTANDING ENCUMBRANCES. MOST OF THIS IS FOR PAYROLL. NEXT COLUMN, YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES. AVAILABLE BALANCE, $25 MILLION IN THE HOLE TO OTHER CHARGES, PRIMARILY EMPLOYEE INSURANCE. OVER ON THE FAR RIGHT, IT SHOWS THE AMOUNT THAT IS COMMITTED FOR EACH BUDGET CATEGORY. >> WHAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BALANCE BE WITHOUT THE DUPLICATE? >> APPROXIMATELY 25, THIS IS VERY EARLY , IT IS GOING TO CHANGE, MOST LIKELY SIGNIFICANTLY, >> I AM MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE OPERATING AND EFFICIENCY AUDIT. >> THIS SLIDE PRESENTS THE SAME WE SHOWED THE OTHER CHARGES BEING SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE BUDGET FOR THE MOMENT I SAID A MOMENT AGO, MOVING TO BE RESTRICTED FUND, SOMETIMES CALLED THE GRANT FUNDED, THIS IS AN EXCERPT OF THE REPORT, BUDGET TO ACTUAL, THE NEXT ONE IS FOR THE FOOD SERVICE BOND THAT, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30 , YOU CAN SEE THE YEAR TO DATE RECEIPTS, ALMOST $548,000 SO FAR , AND THIS REPRESENTS , 7.23% OF THE FOOD SERVICE FUND BUDGET. >> JULY AND AUGUST ARE ZERO? OR DO WE HAVE SOME IN JULY AND AUGUST? >> I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD MINIMAL REVENUE IN JULY AND AUGUST . MOVING TO THE EXPENDITURES SIDE OF THE FOOD SERVICE FUND , WE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION, I'M SORRY, WE ENCUMBERED APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION AND WE HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $760,000 LEAVING US AN AVAILABLE BALANCE OF $1.7 MILLION AND WE COMMITTED , EXPENDED, OR ENCUMBERED ALMOST 77% OF THIS BUDGET . THIS CONCLUDES THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS. WE WILL TURN NEXT TO THE QUARTERLY REPORTS, THE QUARTERLY REPORTS OR COMPARISONS FROM THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR TO THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE WILL START WITH THE QUARTERLY REPORT FOR REVENUE. YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THE DETAILED REVENUE LIST ON THE LEFT SIDE. AND IN THE FIRST BAR, I'M SORRY, THE FIRST BOX WITH THE RED OUTLINE, THIS IS THE DATA FOR FY '25. ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU WILL SEE THAT FY '26 REVENUE AMOUNTS, SHOWN IN GREEN, WE ARE COMPARING THE TWO GREEN COLUMNS, FISCAL YEAR , THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, I KNOW IT IS HARD TO READ ON THE SLIDE, THE RIGHT TWO COLUMNS SHOW THE YEAR-OVER-YOUR CHANGE, IT WILL PROVIDE A CLEAR COPY TO THE BOARD. CLEARER THAN WHAT WE CAN SEE HERE. THE AMOUNT IN GREEN ON THE FAR RIGHT ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. WE HAVE JUST A FEW SLIDES TO GO. THIS SLIDE COMPARES EXPENDITURES, NOT INCLUDING ENCUMBRANCES , IN THE SALMON -COLORED COLUMN. WITH EXPENDITURES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF THIS YEAR, AND A VERY LIGHT BLUE COLUMN, THIS ANSWERS THE QUESTION , HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR COMPARED TO THE LAST , YOU CAN SEE THE DOLLAR CHANGE AND THE PERCENT CHANGE. OVER ON THE FAR RIGHT -- >> CAN WE GO BACK TO THAT ONE? >> YES. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE EXPECTED IN OUR BUDGET PLANNING, DID WE EXPECT 10% INFLATION? >> WE DID NOT EXPECT TO HAVE 10% [01:55:03] INFLATION ACROSS THE BOARD. NO. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK , ONE OF THE COMMENTS, OR THINGS THAT I DISCUSSED , THIS YEAR, WE HAD MORE UNFILLED POSITIONS THAN EVER, AT CCPS, IS THAT THERE? TEACHING POSITIONS. TEACHING . >> THIS PAST YEAR ? >> THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR? >> MORE FILLED TEACHER POSITIONS THAN EVER. >> YES. WE HAD LOWER VACANCIES . >> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. >> I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING. >> THAT COULD BE ONE CONTRIBUTING FACTOR, WE DO NOT HAVE AS MANY VACANT POSITIONS. >> THAT CERTAINLY IS A POSSIBILITY. WE ALSO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE EARLY IN THE FISCAL YEAR , FOR FUTURE-READY PURCHASES MADE EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR SO THAT WILL SKEW THE RESULTS SOMEWHAT. THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THIS DATA IS NOT AS USEFUL AS IT WILL BE. >> INC. >> ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, IN THE ORANGE COLUMN, WE COMPARED THE AMOUNT THAT WAS SPENT YEAR TO DATE WITH THE INITIAL BUDGET, SO WE TOOK THE $2.2 MILLION IN THE RED CIRCLE ON THE LEFT AND SHOWED THE PERCENTAGE OF THE INITIAL BUDGET THAT HAS BEEN SPENT SO FAR, NOT INCLUDING ENCUMBRANCES. AND THE NEXT SLIDE PRESENTS THE SAME INFORMATION GRAPHICALLY, AGAIN, QUARTER-TO- PORTER, AND IN THIS SLIDE, IT PRESENTS THE INFORMATION BY OBJECT OR TYPE OF EXPENDITURE, AGAIN, COMPARING THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST FISCAL YEAR TO THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. THE LARGEST DOLLAR INCREASEWAS ON THE EQUIPMENT LINE, PRIMARILY FOR FUTURE-READY PURCHASES MADE EARLIER IN THE FISCAL YEAR. AND AGAIN, THIS IS EXCLUDING ENCUMBRANCES. INFORMATION, PRESENTED IN THE GRAPH, YOU CAN SEE QUITE A DIFFERENCE IN THE BAR HEIGHTS BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE PURCHASE. AND THIS CONCLUDES THE FINANCE PRESENTATION. I AM HAPPY TO RESPOND. >> I WANTED TO ADD, IF THAT WAS INCREDIBLY PAINFUL, I WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I ASKED SCOTT TO PREPARE THE SCHEDULES, PARTICULALY, YEAR OVER YEAR AND BY CATEGORY. I DO THAT NOW BECAUSE ONE OF OUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES IS BUDGET AND I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE BUDGET . SORRY. >> I HAD ONE QUESTION, ON SLIDE EIGHT. AND, YOU MAY HAVE DISCUSSED IT, OR I MAY HAVE MISSED IT . FOR THE FIXED CHARGES, IT LOOKED LIKE WE HAD PROJECTED WE HAD ABOUT $65 MILLION, AND WE HAD SPENT CLOSE TO $90 MILLION, THAT IS LIKE , $25 MILLION. WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT? >> THE OVERT ENCUMBRANCE, YES. >> OKAY . THANKS. >> THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON. OKAY, [BOE Calendar Modification] UP NEXT, WE HAVE DR. NEWSOME, WE WILL TURN TO YOU FOR THE CALENDAR MODIFICATION. >> THANK YOU , MADAM PRESIDENT, APRIL 5TH, 2025, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED THE CALENDAR MEETINGS FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR , THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED MEETINGS ON JANUARY 8TH AND JANUARY 27TH, 2026 , SHOULD BE RESCHEDULED TO JANUARY 15TH AND JANUARY 29TH , OF 2026 TO ALIGN WITH THE BUDGET PREPARATION PROCESS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE MEETINGS OF THE 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR. >> MOTION TO APPROVE? [BOE Meeting Format] >> MOTION AND SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, 5-0. >> NOW IT IS CURRENT BUSINESS. OUR MEETING. ANY COMMENTS? [02:00:26] >> SURE. >> SUGGESTIONS? >> MISS MAXIE DID A LOT OF RESEARCH. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT WHAT ALL OF THE BOARDS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND ARE DOING AND I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH DR. NEWSOME. AND I WAS HAVING YOU COULD PROVIDE INPUT. WE WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF YOU BEFORE WE PROCEED. >> I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE OF DR. NEWSOME CIRCUM-EDITIONS, AS WELL. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY POTENTIALLY TO SPLIT THE PUBLIC FORUM AND HAVE SOME BEFORE WE, YOU KNOW, TAKE ACTION ON CERTAIN ITEMS. I DON'T WANT TO MOVE ALL OF IT IN FRONT, YOU KNOW. IN RELATION TO THE TIME OF THE STAFF THAT ARE HERE ALL DAY . I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THEM WAIT UNTIL IT IS ALL OVER. IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT IF WE HEARD THE BEFORE AND WE TAKE ACTION ON ITEMS. I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT EVERYONE ELSE HAS TO SAY, AS WELL. >> YEAH. I DO THINK -- WE DO POLICY AT THE FIRST MEETING OF EVERY MONTH AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE OTHER BOARD OF EDUCATION'S, THEY ONLY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE MEETING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH. THE SECOND MEETING IS CONSIDERED A WORK SESSION WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THERE'S NO -- IT IS STRICTLY A WORK SESSION. I THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HAVING -- GUESTS SPLITTING THE COMMENTS AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END. I THINK THE ONLY RESERVATION I HAVE ABOUT DOING THAT IS, HOW DO WE -- POLICE -- FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD -- WHO SIGNED UP TO BE FIRST BECAUSE IT IS RELATED TO POLICY AND WHO IS GOING TO STAY ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END? I THINK IF WE ARE GOING TO SWITCH IT, WE SHOULD JUST -- I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SWITCH IT TO THE PUBLIC, AND BEING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOR THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE POLICY REVIEW OR APPROVAL, AND NOT TRY TO DO BOTH, BUT DR. NEWSOME, YOUR THOUGHTS? >> SURE. AS WE DISCUSSED, I HAVE WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF BOARDS, AND THEIR VARIETY OF APPROACHES. THE ONE I FEEL IS PROBABLY MORE EFFECTIVE FOR A SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THIS SIZE AND DEMOGRAPHICS WOULD BE TO SCHEDULE ONE BUSINESS MEETING PER MONTH WHERE YOU WOULD FOCUS ON POLICY. ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING SO THAT THEIR COMMENTS COULD POSSIBLY INFLUENCE THE DECISIONS OF THE BOARD. ALSO BE CONSIDERATE OF THOSE THAT HAVE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AT HOME. AND I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE TRANSPARENCY AND TRYING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE BOARD. THE SECOND MEETING WOULD STRICTLY BE A WORK SESSION WHERE THE BOARD CAN DIG DEEPER INTO SOME OF THE TOPICS SO WHEN YOU COME BACK TO THE BUSINESS MEETING NEXT MONTH, THEN, I THINK THE BUSINESS MEETINGS CAN BE MORE SUSTAINED AND FOCUSED. >> YEAH. I HAVE A COMMENT FOR -- YEAH. SO. ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT AT THE MEETING -- PUBLIC COMMENT -- WE ARE ONLY DOING POLICY OR ARE THERE ALSO BID APPROVALS. I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENTIATION OF WHAT WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THE TWO MEETINGS. >> TYPICALLY AT THE BUSINESS MEETING, YOU WOULD FOCUS ON POLICY AND BOARD ACTIONS. THE WORK SESSIONS WOULD BE MORE REVIEW OF THE WORK AND SOME OF THE ISSUES FACING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. >> SO THOSE REVIEWS COULD OF BEEN LIKE THE BLUEPRINT. >> EXACTLY. YEAH. >> WE JUST HAPPENED TO CRAM THEM ALL IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE MEETING THIS MONTH. >> SO I'LL JUST SAY, I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, BUT AS SOMEBODY WHO WAS A REGULAR PUBLIC COMMENTARY IN THESE MEETINGS FOR MANY MANY YEARS, MY SCHEDULE MIGHT NOT [02:05:02] ALIGN. AND THERE COULD BE THINGS THAT SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS TO SHARE THAT MIGHT NOT BE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO A POLICY THAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA OR A DECISION THAT WE ARE MAKING. BUT THE POLICIES FOR THE COMMON -- MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT YET. >> BUT WE WOULDN'T LIMIT IT TO -- IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE TOPIC. >> WE ARE ONLY GIVING THEM ONE SHOT A MONTH. >> WE HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES THAT EVERYBODY CAN -- OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> GETTING ON THE MICROPHONE SOMETIMES IS MORE EFFECTIVE . >> WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR BUSINESS MEETINGS -- PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE END OF OUR WORK SESSIONS. THAT WAY, THEY GET TO SPEAK AT ALL OF THEM, BUT WE GET TO HEAR THEIR VOICE BEFORE WE PUT SOMETHING UP FOR VOTE. I THINK THAT'S MORE TRANSPARENT. VOTING AND THEN HEARING PUBLIC COMMENT. >> I FEEL BETTER ABOUT THAT. I WOULD -- I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO LIMIT -- I THINK EVERYBODY HAS VERY BUSY SCHEDULES AND THEY MIGHT NOT BE FREE FOR ONE MEETING BUT GIVING THEM TWO CHANCES IS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER. OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> THAT'S A FAIR COMPROMISE. >> CAN I MAKE A MOTION? >> SURE. >> ALL RIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT -- >> THAT WE CHANGE THE PROCEDURES FOR -- >> THAT WE CHANGE THE PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR BUSINESS MEETINGS AND WE CHANGE PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE END OF OUR WORK SESSION MEETINGS. >> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? >> SOUNDS REASONABLE. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? >> CAN ASK A QUESTION? >> HURRY. OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME 30 SPEAKERS? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? [PUBLIC FORUM] >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, 3-0. I AM GETTING READY TO JUMP AHEAD, LET ME GET MY GLASSES ON. UP NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. >> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 30. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. THE FIRST ONE ON THE SIGN 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. ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE EVENTS WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMES AND CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT ANSWER 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 CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN. WRITTEN CONDIMENTS THE COMMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME. >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS ASH ASHMAN. >> GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M ADDRESSING TWO OF YOU DIRECTLY TODAY. THIS MELISSA GOSHA AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU TRY TO SCRUB IT, YOUR MISGIVINGS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WILL FOREVER LIEN AT STAIN. LET'S TALK ABOUT A FEW EPISODES OF YOUR PODCAST AND LET ME GIVE YOU AN ASSURANCE. I'VE LISTENED TO, DOWNLOADED, AND HAND TRANSCRIBED EACH EPISODE. ONCE THE MP3 FILES ARE PROPERLY FORMATTED, I WILL BE UPLOADING THEM TO THE INTERNET ARCHIVE AND MY OTHER EVIDENCE TO JOSHUA MICHAEL UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF BALTIMORE CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. LET'S GET TO THE CHASE. JANA, YOU HAVE A FEW AND SELECTED EPISODES WE WILL BE DISCUSSNG. IN EPISODE 11, YOU CALLED TRANSGENDER PEOPLE MENTALLY ILL. AND INTENTIONALLY MISCONSTRUED TRANS IDENTITIES -- WE ARE [02:10:01] DEALING YOU ARE HOMOPHOBIC AND TRANSPHOBIC SO LET'S GET TO THE MEAT OF IT. MELISSA, YOU SAID, LET ME -- MAKE IT COME HOME AND I HOPE MY -- STRIKER ASS THIS EPISODE ALSO SHOWS A MAJOR CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHERE BOTH OF YOU INTENDED TO GET RID OF THE SAFE SPACE STICKERS SINCE AT LEAST SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2022 -- SINCE THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THIS UPSET. THAT YOU DON'T SUPPORT THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. EPISODE 47 -- IS AND UPSET THAT IMPRESSED ME DOES NOT IN A GOOD WAY, OF COURSE, BUT I'M JUST IMPRESSED THAT YOU SEEM TO LIKE READING COMP ENGINE, LITERACY, PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, CRITICAL THINKING, KNOWLEDGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY. YOU FALL FOR CONSPIRACY THEORIES FOLLOWING THE PEOPLE LIKE LAMBS TO THE SLAUGHTER, SAID YOU WERE PART OF Q AND ON. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> BEFORE WE GET SOMEONE TO DO IT FOR YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DEBORAH HARRIS. >> DEBORAH HARRIS. >> GOOD EVENING. ON BEHALF OF THE CALVERT COUNTY NAACP, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT FIRST TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO -- YOU TO RECONSIDER HAVING ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OURS WITH ONLY TWO MINUTES. OUR MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES STUDENTS AS WELL AS THE STAFF OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE FEEL WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED MORE THAN TWO MINUTES . THE SECOND THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS TODAY IS WORLD KINDNESS DAY. AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE WORLD KINDNESS DAY. IN KINDNESS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ALL HAVE TO AGREE, BUT IT DOES MEAN WE LEAD WITH RESPECT, EMPATHY, AND A SHARED DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY. SO TODAY, IN THAT SPIRIT, WE EXPEND -- EXTEND A GESTURE OF KINDNESS TO THIS BOARD. MAY THE STATE REMIND US THAT ALL THE ACTS OF KINDNESS BOTH LARGE AND SMALL CAN BUILD BRIDGES, AND INSPIRE POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO WE ALSO BROUGHT YOU A LITTLE GIFT . WE WERE TOLD WE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU AT THE END OF THIS MEETING, BUT WE THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS PAMELA COUSINS. >> GOOD EVENING. REFERENCING THE BOARD MEMO REGARDING THE BID APPROVAL FOR THE HUNTINGTON'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND, DURING THE MEETING ON OCTOBER 23RD, ONE BOARD MEMBER INQUIRED WHETHER THE SECTION WOULD ENSURE THE PLAYGROUND MEETS ADA STANDARDS. UPON HEARING IT WOULD, THE MEMBER RESPONDED WITH A COMMENT , OUTSTANDING. THIS TELLS ME THAT THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT EACH STUDENT IS UNIQUE, WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND ABILITIES. THEREFORE, IT HAS A DUTY TO ACT. THE SAME MEMO STATES THIS INVESTMENT SUPPORTS CCPS'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING SAFE CONFIRMS FOR ALL STUDENTS. HOWEVER, THIS BOARD RECENTLY AND SWIFTLY REMOVED POLICY 18, ANTIRACISM, WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC INPUT OR ENGAGEMENT. FAILING TO CONSIDER HOW THIS DECISION MIGHT AFFECT THE VERY STUDENTS THEY CLAIM TO SUPPORT. IT SEEMS ACCEPTABLE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO A PLAYGROUND FOR A BLACK STUDENT WHO REQUIRES WHEELCHAIR, BUT THE BOARD APPEARS UNCONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME STUDENT ON THE SAME PLAYGROUND IN COUNTERING RACIAL SLURS SUCH AS BEING CALLED THE N-WORD, OR BEING TOLD TO GO BACK TO AFRICA BY WHITE PEERS. ADDITIONALLY, IN THE CLASSROOM, THIS SAME STUDENT MAY BE FUNNELED AWAY FROM ADVANCED COURSES. THE SITUATION DOES NOT APPEAR TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL STUDENTS CAN FOCUS ON LEARNING. NOW, DOES IT? THIS GROSS CONTRADICTION OF GOVERNANCE IS BOTH UNACCEPTABLE AND SHAMEFUL . UNTIL YOU REVERSE [02:15:07] YOUR DECISION ON POLICY 1018, ANTIRACISM, ALL OF YOUR STUDENTS -- STUDENTS -- EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM -- WILL REMAIN VULNERABLE TO UNCHECKED RACISM, HATE, AND MICRO AGGRESSIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> AND YOUR BOARD TELLS ME YOU'RE PERFECTLY FINE WITH THAT. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAILA SHANGER. WHAT IS IT? I AM SO SORRY. DALE SHANER. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M A BEEKEEPER AND I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER MY SERVICES FOR EDUCATING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. I'VE BEEN A BEEKEEPER FOR EIGHT YEARS IN CALVERT COUNTY. I'VE GOT ABOUT 45 HIVES NOW, AND I'VE ALREADY BEEN TEACHING AT HUNTING TOWN ELEMENTARY FOR THREE YEARS AND HAVE GONE TO ELEMENTARY LAST YEAR, SO I'M OFFERING A SERVICE TO THE COUNTY FREE OF CHARGE. I AM A BUS DRIVER AS WELL, SO THAT'S MY ONLY PROBLEM IS I HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK TO DO IT. BUT I THINK IT IS WELL RECEIVED. I GET A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK. YOU CAN GO TO HUNTING TOWN AND TALK TO THEM AND SEE HOW I TALKED. AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TEACH THESE YOUNG COMING UP ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER IT BE OUR WATER -- BECAUSE I WAS A WATER MAN AS WELL, OR BEES THAT HELP POLLINATE MOST OF OUR FOOD THAT WE EAT. SO I'M JUST HERE TO OFFER MY SERVICES. I DIDN'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DO IT. I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING TO EVERY SCHOOL BUT IT'S A LOT OF TIME CONSUMING AND BECAUSE I'M A BUS DRIVER, I ONLY HAVE SO MUCH TIME, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD COME HERE TODAY TO PRESENT MYSELF TO YOU. OKAY? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. [FUTURE BUSINESS] >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS THAT I NEED TO COLLECT TONIGHT? >> I THINK WE SHOULD COME UP WITH A B PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU ALL. I'LL PUT THAT ON FUTURE BUSINESS. >> DID YOU KNOW THAT HONEYBEES [BOARD COMMENTS] WERE NOT NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA. THEY WERE IMPORTED. THEY WERE A NON-NATIVE SPECIES. I WAS GOING TO BE AN ENTOMOLOGIST IF I WASN'T A BOARD OF EDUCATION . >> NEXT, WE WILL MOVE INTO BOARD COMMENTS. MISS JONES. >> THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME REALLY GREAT THINGS I'VE BEEN SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITY THIS PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. I SAW OUR JR. ROTC PROGRAMS PARTICIPATE IN SEVERAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONIES WHICH WAS AMAZING TO SEE THEM HONOR OUR VETERANS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND A COUPLE OF CONGRATULATIONS TO. -- I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR TEAMS. IT WOULD TAKE ALL NIGHT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT PERFORMANCES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR FALL SPORTS TEAMS FOR A GREAT SEASON. ALSO OUR MARCHING BANDS WHO HAD COMMISSIONED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND ALL PLACING WITHIN THEIR DIVISIONS WHICH IS A REALLY GREAT COMPLIMENT TO SAY AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY, OUR ICICLES ARE HAVING THEIR PLATE PRODUCTIONS COME OUT. SO IF YOU CAN, GO CHECK THOSE OUT. THEY'RE ALWAYS REALLY GREAT TO SEE. REALLY AMAZING PERFORMANCES. >> THANK YOU. MR. MARCIO. >> I HAD A FEELING I WAS INAUDIBLE ] OUT THE CONGRATULATIONS ARE YOUNG LADIES WHO WON THE FIRST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR FLAG FOOTBALL SO THAT'S PRETTY COOL. ALSO, I BELIEVE CALVERT'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM MADE IT TO THE STATES AND MICE. GO OUT AND SUPPORT THEM IF YOU CAN. THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT. >> MR. HARRISON. >> THANK YOU, THIS POST. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOMETHING THAT I RECEIVED FROM JENNY BORALLI. IT SAYS, TO ALL, CAPITAL REGION HONOR FLIGHT WANTS TO THINK THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, LESHAWN GROSS. SORRY. IT'S IN HER HANDWRITING. THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. HHS VICE PRINCIPAL AND EVERYONE WHO PLAYED A PART IN OPENING HUNTING [02:20:02] TOWN HIGH SCHOOL FOR OUR OAKHAM HOME -- HAVE -- HAVING AN ENCLOSED PENNY WAS SO AWESOME, GIVING THE DOWNPOUR WE HAD THAT EVENING. BUT SPIRITS WERE NOT EXAMINED. THANK YOU. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK ENCOMPASSES SUCH A GREAT SPIRIT ND I WAS HAPPY TO KIND OF SEND SOME REMINDERS. I DIDN'T DO MUCH. I SENT A COUPLE OF EMAILS, BUT AT LEAST IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HONORED PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HONORED WHEN THEY CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM, PARTICULARLY. THANK YOU. >> MS. GOSSHORN. >> A COUPLE OF PLAYS -- AS THEY'RE DOING IT TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY AND THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. HUNTINGTOWN IS DOING THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY STARTING TOMORROW AND NEXT WEEKEND. AND CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL IS DOING SHERLOCK HOLMES. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GOT TO THIS. I'M GOING TO BE AT A CHRISTMAS CAROL TOMORROW NIGHT. I'M REALLY EXCITED. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT DISPLAYS FOR VETERANS DAY, AND THE PROGRAMS THAT OUR SCHOOLS DID. CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL DID A NICE DISPLAY OUTSIDE. WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DID A THING. IT IS REALLY NICE TO SEE SO MANY IN OUR SCHOOL -- COMMUNITY SHOWING UP TO SUPPORT VETERANS. THAT'S ALL. >> MISCREANT. >> I WANTED TO SHARE SOME CELEBRATIONS. WE ARE REALLY DOING SOME AMAZING THINGS, AND WHAT HAD ME EXCITED WAS THAT WHEN I LOOKED AT THE NEW STATE REPORT CARD THAT WAS RELEASED, CALVERT COUNTY STUDENTS SHOWED IMPROVEMENT LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS THE '24 -'25 SCHOOL YEAR. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAW AN UPGRADE IN EVERY CATEGORY WHILE % ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IMPROVED IN EVERY AREA EXCEPT PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY CATEGORY. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE SO LOW WITH THAT THAT IT'S KIND OF HARD, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT DR. NEWSOME HAS HIS FINGER ON THIS, AND WE'LL BE MOVING THINGS FORWARD. -- HIGH SCHOOL AP STATISTICS TEACHER ALEX KNIGHT WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE DOZEN 25 OFFENDING TEACHER SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HER. I DON'T THINK WE TALKED AT THE LAST MEETING ABOUT THE CTA MOCK INTERVIEWS. I KNOW JAN AND I PARTICIPATED IN THAT, AND THIS EVENT GAVE OVER 200 STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE INTERVIEWING. SO I WANT TO THINK MICHELLE MCGOVERN, NIKKI PHILLIPS AND THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS, FOR THEIR HARD WORK ON THIS PROJECT. IT WAS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE STUDENTS TO PRACTICE INTERVIEWING SKILLS. SO I REALLY ENJOYED PARTICIPATING IN IT. I WANT TO THANK THE MT. HERMON HE ELEMENTARY FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR STAFF ARE AN AMAZING DAY CELEBRATING OUR VETERANS. I KNOW THEY WERE JUST ONE SCHOOL OF MANY, RECOGNIZING THE VETERANS. NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 19TH FROM 7:00 TO 8:30. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT. THANK YOU. >> SO, I ALSO -- I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THOSE MOCK INTERVIEWS. I ATTENDED BOTH DAYS AT CTA, AND YES, A BIG THANK YOU TO MISS MCGUFFIN AND MISS AIKINS. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF INTERVIEWING WELDING STUDENTS THE FIRST DAY AND THEN THE SECOND DAY GOING BACK AND INTERVIEWING STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES, AND I WILL TELL YOU, I'VE WOULD'VE PROBABLY HIRED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. THEY WERE AMAZING. THEY DID SO GREAT. SOME OF THEM ARE SUPER NERVOUS BUT IT WAS ALSO REALLY FUN TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THEM, AND THEN GIVE THEM SOME POINTERS AND SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT BEING ON A JOB INTERVIE. AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO THE, YOU KNOW -- IN THE WELDING PROGRAM. THOSE KIDS ARE PREPPING TO THE APPRENTICES, AND SO IT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THIS -- THIS IS POTENTIALLY THEIR CAREER. AND IT WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO PARTICIPATE . I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO VISIT THE REPUBLICAN CLUB AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF HANG AROUND FOR SOME VOTER [02:25:01] REGISTRATIONS. IT WAS NICE TO TALK TO ALL THE KIDS. AND SEE HOW INVOLVED THEY WERE INTERESTED IN NOT ONLY LEARNING ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND ALSO TO TALK TO THE ARMY RECRUITERS TO SEE WHAT KINDS OF OTHER ACTIVITIES HAPPEN IN THE SCHOOL. I FINISHED OUT THAT SAME WEEK. IT WAS A VERY BUSY WEEK AT -- THERE WAS A PROJECT WHERE THEY USED CURRENT DATA ANALYSIS AND EXAMINED AND INTERPRETED THE DATA TO PRESENT BEST PICTURE FILM. SO, THEY DIDN'T DO ANY OF THIS FOR A GRADE. BUT I TOLD MRS. KNIGHT THAT SHE DESERVED SOME SORT OF REALLY GREAT AWARD FOR MAKING AP STATISTICS A FUN AND RELATABLE CLASS BECAUSE THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME AND SHE SAID HER NEXT VENTURE WAS GOING TO BE WORKING ON SOMETHING WITH ROLLER COASTERS IN A DIFFERENT CLASS. SO I SAID I'M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT. I'M EXCITED NEXT WEEK TO GO TO MUTUAL AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ TO SOME OF THE CHILDREN, AND I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A VERY PEACEFUL AND SAFE THANKSGIVING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.