[BUSINESS MEETING - 6:00 p.m.]
[00:00:10]
I CALLED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE STAND FOR 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.
[PUBLIC FORUM]
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. DR. JOHNSON.
>> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 30. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. PERSONS ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET MAY NOT CONVEY, TRANSFER, OR RELINQUISH ANY PART OF THEIR SPEAKING TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON OR GROUP. IF YOU HAVE HANDOUTS OR WRITTEN TESTIMONY, PLEASE GIVE THEM TO KAREN MAXEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOARD MEMBERS. TO PROTECT INDIVIDUAL CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DO NOT MENTION SPECIFIC STUDENTS OR STAFF MEMBERS IN YOUR REMARKS.
ALL COMMENTS ARE TO BE MADE IN A CIVIL MANNER. ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE ASKED TO STOP SPEAKING AND MAY FORFEIT THEIR RIGHT TO SPEAK AT FUTURE BOARD MEETINGS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING. COUNTY WILL RESPOND IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN. WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AT ANY TIME , FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BOARD. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS
BLAISE MARION. >> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BLAISE MARION, I HAVE A DAUGHTER AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE CUSTODIO APP WAS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE. I PERSONALLY AND LIMITED STRICT PARENTAL CONTROL AT HOME FOR MY KIDS, FOR OVER A DECADE NOW AND CLOSELY MONITORED THEIR TRAFFIC. SEE CPS ON THE OTHER HAND HAS OVER AND FOR 17,000 USERS. THEY CAN'T MONITOR EVERY STUDENT INDIVIDUALLY. SEEING THE APP WAS EXCITING, UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS THAT LEADERSHIP HAS DECIDED TO KEEP PARENTS IN THE DARK BY HIDING MY KIDS WEB TRAFFIC DURING SCHOOL HOURS. THEY KNOWINGLY DO THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MOST OF THE CUSTODIAN AND OTHER SCHOOL CUSTOMERS DO, THEY PROVIDE 100% OF THE WEB ACTIVITY DURING AND AFTER SCHOOL FOR PARENTS. CCPS ONLY GIVES US THE TRAFFIC OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL HOURS. I WAS TOLD BY CCPS THAT THE DECISION WAS IN STRUCTURAL IN NATURE. WHAT I'M HEARING IS KEEPING MY DAUGHTERS BROWSING DATA FROM ME WILL HELP HER IN HER EDUCATION. THIS DECISION IS IMPACTING MY DAUGHTER PERSONALLY. SHE'S SHARED THAT SHE'S TEMPTED TO WATCH YOUTUBE IN CLASS INSTEAD OF STUDYING AND HAS DONE SO A FEW TIMES. EVEN WITH THE FILTER IN PLACE SHE FEELS SHE'S BEING SET UP TO FAIL. SHE SHARED THAT MANY OF THE STUDENTS ARE ALSO ADDICTED TO MEDIA AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO FALL FOR THAT. WITH HER LIMITED TIME AND RESOURCES, THE NORTHERN STAFF AND TEACHERS CAN PROVIDE SUPPORT. SHE HAS ASKED ME TO HELP. I REACHED OUT TO THE I.T. DEPARTMENT AND WAS OFFERED ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS THAT JUST DON'T WORK. I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION AT THIS POINT. IF YOU GIVE ME HER WEB BROWSER, BROWSING ACTIVITY IN THE APP I CAN ASSIST HER IN MAKING WISE CHOICES. I'M ASKING YOU, SUPERINTENDENT AND THE BOARD, TO GIVE US PARENTS, WHO WANT TO HELP OUR KIDS ONLINE THE FULL CAPABILITY OF QUSTODIO, AND ALSO, IT'S A TAXPAYER-FUNDED APP. PLEASE GIVE IT TO US RIGHT
NOW, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JOE CORMIER.
>> GOOD EVENING, DR. NEWSOME, STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS. I'LL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF THIS EVENING. THANK YOU FOR MOVING PUBLIC COMMENT BACK TO THE START OF THE MEETING. IT'S REALLY HELPFUL. TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO REVIEW THE DECISIONS AND RHETORIC COMING FROM THIS BOARD SINCE YOU TOOK OFFICE JANUARY 25. WE WERE PROMISED A BORE THAT WOULD CLEAN HOUSE, PROTECT CHILDREN AND PROVIDE COMPLETE
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BUDGET TRANSPARENCY , AND INSTEAD THE LAST 12 MONTHS HAVE REVEALED A PATTERN OF DISDAIN FOR OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR COMMUNITY. LET'S LOOK AT THE RECORD. WE'VE HEARD MR. PAUL HARRISON REFER TO THE CENTRAL SERVICES WITH NON-ACADEMIC NEEDS AS MISSION CREEP, CALLOUSLY COMPARING THE CARE OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN TO SAVING STRAY DOGS. HE REFUSED TO APOLOGIZE DOUBLING DOWN ON THE IDEA THAT WE CAN JUST BEAT THE DIVINES OUT OF CHILDREN LIKE WE DID IN HIS DAY INCIDENT USING TRAUMA INFORMED, COAGULATION STRATEGIES THAT WE KNOW ARE MORE EFFECTIVE. WE LISTEN TO MISS GOSHORN START HER TENURE WITH A FABRICATED STORY REGARDING LGBTQ STICKERS PRIORITIZING CULTURE WAR FANFICTION OVER THE FACTUAL REALITY OF OUR CLASSROOMS AND THE WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS. SHE PITTED BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS AGAINST TEACHERS WITH UNCLEAR GUIDANCE ON WHAT EXACTLY NEEDED TO BE REMOVED. STICKERS, SIGNS, POSTERS, FLAGS OR RAINBOWS AND ANYTHING ABOUT BELONGING AND SAFETY. WE HEARD MR. MARCHIO CLAIM THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS, THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN EVERY MORNING AND AFTERNOON, ARE OVERPAID. DISREGARDING THE REALITY OF THEIR HARD WORK AND THE CRITICAL SHORTAGES WE FACE. CLOCKING IN BEFORE 6:00 A.M. AND OFTEN NOT LEAVING UNTIL AFTER 6:00 THEY MIGHT NOT BE THERE BEHIND THE WHEEL EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY BUT YOU EXPECT THEM TO SURVIVE WITHOUT A LIVING WAGE, OR SHOULD THEY RUN DOORDASH FROM 11 TO ONE OR WORK THE NIGHT SHIFT INSTEAD OF COMING TO WORK RESTED THE NEXT DAY? THE ON THE RHETORIC AND POLICY CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN CALCULATED TO DISMANTLE INCLUSION. YOUR MOTION TO GET THE MISSION STATEMENT SCRIPTED OF INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE THAT MADE EVERY CHILD FEEL WELCOME, PRESIDENT POST ANTIRACISM STATEMENT REMOVED CAN -- WITHOUT A SHRED OF PUBLIC INPUT, AND FINALLY THE BROKEN PROMISES. WE'LL GET IT ONLINE.>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHERRY
TORI O. >> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, BOARD MEMBERS, AND DR. NEWSOME. MY PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF PRINCE FREDERICK. PEOPLE OFTEN TAKE STOCK OF THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR.
I'D LIKE TO OFFER MY SUMMARY OF JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS BOARD. YOU REMOVED AND ESTABLISHED ANTIRACISM POLICY FROM THE CCPS CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE WEBSITE, DESPITE HEARING FROM THE NAACP ABOUT THE HATEFUL MESSAGE THIS SENDS AND THE HARM THAT IT CAUSES. YOU DECIDED TO BRING THE ANTIRACISM POLICY UP FOR REVIEW A YEAR AN A HALF AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. YOU REMOVED THE TERM SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE FROM THE CCPS MISSION STATEMENTS . YOU PRAISED CHARLIE KIRK , A PERSON WHO MADE HIS CAREER FROM RACIST, XENOPHOBIC, SEXIST, AND ANTI-LGBTQ STATEMENTS IN A PUBLIC MEETING. YOU ORDER THE REMOVAL OF SAFE SPACE STICKERS FROM CLASSROOMS, BASED ON A LIE, WHICH SUGGESTED THAT SUPPORTIVE ADULTS ARE GROOMERS. YOU REVISED THE FLAG POLICY TO BAN ANY LGBTQ REPRESENTATION IN CCPS. TWO COMPARED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS TO STRAY DOGS. YOU ORDERED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO LEAVE A MEETING BECAUSE YOU WERE ANNOYED THAT THEY SHOWED SUPPORT TO A SPEAKER WITH WHOM YOU DISAGREED. THIS LIST IS A DUBIOUS ACHIEVEMENT FOR A BOARD THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE TASKED WITH SUPPORTING STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS. YOU'RE PLAYING WITH THE LIVES OF ACTUAL STUDENTS TO ADVANCE A POLITICAL AGENDA. I PERSONALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME POSITIVE WORK FROM THIS BOARD , INSTEAD OF JUST TEARING DOWN THE PREVIOUS BOARD'S WORK. YOUR CALLS FOR UNITY RING HOLLOW WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE CONCERNS OF SO MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEXANDRA
NICHOLS. >> GOOD EVENING. MISS JONES, I SET FOR USE AT 19 YEARS AGO, GOOD ON YOU FROM BEING THERE, I'M WATCHING. YOU GOT MY EMAIL IF YOU WANT A MENTOR. THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT I SENT TO YOU ALL ON SEPTEMBER 10TH EARLIER THIS YEAR. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START READING IT NOW. DESPITE OUR OBVIOUS DIFFERENCES IN OPINION, I CERTAINLY HOPE THIS EMAIL IS FINDING YOU DOING WELL. I MEAN THAT. MY NAME IS ALEXANDRA, I WAS THE CALVERT COUNTY , LET ME BEGIN BY SAYING I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE EDUCATION I RECEIVED FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND. DR. JOHNSON, I'M LOOKING DIRECTLY AT YOU, MA'AM, THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU WERE THERE FOR A GOOD PART OF MY EDUCATION. I LEARNED TOP-TIER ACADEMICS, LIFELONG LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP, IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, ATHLETICS, THE WHOLE WORKS. I MADE SOME VALUABLE FRIENDSHIPS THAT I CHERISH. ALL
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IN ALL, I SPENT A TOTAL OF 12 FULL YEARS IN CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ATTENDING SUNDERLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND I SPENT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF UNDERGRAD AT UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, GRADUATING IN 2010 WITH DEGREES IN RUSSIAN AND ENGLISH. IT'S THOSE DAYS OF CONTINUED ON TO JOIN THE AIR FORCE, WHERE HE SERVED AS AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER 15 YEARS, LIVING ALL OVER THE WORLD AM A WORKING BOTH LETHAL AND NOTABLY HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS, PROUDLY SERVING MY COUNTRY WITH MY EDUCATION. I RECENTLY SEPARATED EARNING THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO EARNED A MASTERS IN 2015, AND JUST GOT ACCEPTED TO A CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AT YALE WHILE I AWAIT THE ONSET FOR MY SECOND MASTERS FROM CAMBRIDGE IN THE UK. I OWN A SMALL BUSINESS, AND I HAVE A GROWING SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE WHICH I BUILT FROM SCRATCH BECAUSE MY FORMATIVE YEARS TAUGHT ME ABOUT TEMERITY. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SAM
JONES. >> MY NAME IS ANN JONES, AND I WILL CONTINUE READING ALEXANDER'S LETTER. I SHARED ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED SUCCESSES TO SET THE STAGE FOR WHAT MY EDUCATION PROVIDED ME IN TERMS OF A FRUITFUL LIFE, FULL OF INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY. I WAS AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY, ALONG WITH MY PEERS, BECAUSE OF CERTAIN PROTECTIONS THAT WERE PUT INTO PLACE , ENSURING THAT NO STUDENT IS ENSNARED IN THE TRAP OF ANY SORT , BE IT RACISM, OR, MORE LIKELY TO HAVE AFFECTED ME PERSONALLY, SEXISM. IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT CERTAIN PROTECTIVE LANGUAGE WILL BE REMOVED VERY SOON FROM THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. I BELIEVE THE REVISION OCCURS TONIGHT, THIS LETTER IS FROM SEPTEMBER. MY DATES MIGHT BE OFF BUT MY CONVICTION IS FULLY CALIBRATED. THE LANGUAGE GETTING REMOVED FROM THE STRICT CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT AND THE MISSION STATEMENT REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST WORDS. IT REPRESENTS A PARADIGM SHIFT THAT IS HARMFUL TO STUDENTS. I STILL CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE STUDENTS OF CALVERT COUNTY, AND I FEEL A SENSE OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO WRITE ON THEIR BEHALF. PROTECTIONS MUST REMAIN IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE STUDENTS GET THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES I RECEIVED . COULD YOU IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE RACIST LANGUAGE IS NO LONGER PUNISHED? AT ITS BEST, IT WILL MANIFEST IN SOME STUDENTS BEING MADE TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE LESS THAN. AT ITS WORST, IT CAN MANIFEST IN STUDENTS MISSING OPPORTUNITIES DUE TO THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR, GOD FORBID, EVEN WORSE, VIOLENCE FROM A STUDENT WHO MAY BECOME RADICALIZED AND FEEL
EMBOLDENED. THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MIKE.
>> GOOD EVENING, MS. POST, DR. NEWSOME. AND BOARD AND STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I'M CONTINUING WITH ALEXANDER'S LETTER. SO, I IN TREEVIEW. COULD YOU IMAGINE A SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE REFUSE TO STAND UP FOR GROUPS WHO DON'T PERSONALLY MATCH THEIR OWN DEMOGRAPHICS? THEN ACT SURPRISED WHEN THE VITRIOL SHIFTS TOWARD THEIR OWN DEMOGRAPHIC SHORTLY THEREAFTER? EVERYONE ELSE IS TOO BEATEN-DOWN TO PUSH BACK. I SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT OF SUCH A SOCIETY. GUESS WHERE I LEARNED THAT? FROM READING A QUOTE IN EIGHTH GRADE LESSON AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU, BY THE WAY. THE QUOTE WAS FROM A LUTHERAN PASTOR ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST. THE QUOTE BEGINS, FIRST, THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST. THEN THEY CAME, YOU CAN FIND OUT THE REST OF THE QUOTE. WITH THE ENTIRETY OF MY VOICE, I URGE YOU TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. PROTECT TE STUDENTS. YOU USED TO DO AN AMAZING JOB OF THAT, AND I WAS PROUD TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I WAS PROUD OF MY EDUCATION. I WAS PROUD TO LEARN ALONGSIDE MY PEERS. DID YOU KNOW THAT IN 2006, MARYLAND HAD A 32% DELTA, INCREASE, IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES SINCE 1996? A 10 YEAR SPAN. IN 2005, MARYLAND HAD THE 12TH BEST PAID TEACHERS, 10TH PLACE IN THE NATION. ONCE ACCOUNTING FOR THE WEIGHTED COST OF LIVING. AND IT SHOWED IN THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION PROVIDED. YOU RANKED 11TH IN THE NATION IN 2005, 2006, FOR HOW
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MUCH MONEY WE SPENT PER STUDENT. I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT MY POINT IS THAT THE PROTECTION IN PLACE ARE HELPING STUDENTS DESERVE A FAIR SHAKE. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS UNIQUELY SUITED TO GIVE THE STUDENTS A FULL RANGE OF OPPORTUNITY BEFORE ADULTHOOD, INEVITABLY TAKES RAINS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NANCY
KRAUSE. >> THANK YOU. NANCY KRAUSE. I WILL FINISH THIS LOVELY LETTER THAT WAS WRITTEN BY A PREVIOUS STUDENT. I FACED A LITTLE SEXISM AS A CHILD, BUT MORE THAN I COULD FIT INTO, I FACED VERY LITTLE. VERY LITTLE SEXISM AS A CHILD, BUT MORE THAN I COULD FIT INTO AN HOUR-LONG TED TALK AS AN ADULT. THANKFULLY, BY THEN, I HAD A STRONG ENOUGH MORAL BACKBONE , ACADEMIC FOUNDATION, AND INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO HANDLE IT. I ACTUALLY LEARNED BACK FROM , I ACTUALLY LEANED BACK FROM TIME TO TIME ON A POEM ABOUT HARRIET TUBMAN THAT I LEARNED IN FIFTH GRADE. WHICH WE PUT TO MUSIC IN MISS CLARK'S CLASSROOM. AND WHICH STILL STICKS WITH ME TO THIS DAY. IN PARENTHESES, HARRIET TUBMAN DIDN'T TAKE NO STUFF , WASN'T SCARED OF NOTHING, NEITHER. END OF QUOTE, I HAD PLENTY OF THOSE TAKE NO STUFF MOMENTS MYSELF WHILE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ WHILE SQUARING OFF AGAINST MALE-DOMINATED SYSTEMS, WHILE BUILDING MY CAREER, AND CHARACTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. GOD BLESS. AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS EMAIL, THAT YOU WERE ALL EMAILED, THERE IS THE SITING OF WHERE SHE GOT HER STATISTICS. SHE CITES KNOWN INFORMATION. SHE DOESN'T JUST MAKE UP A STORY WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION. I AM SO HONORED TO BE ABLE TO STAND WITH OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS TO READ THIS IMPORTANT EMAIL. AND IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO READ IT BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I DO HOPE YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT TONIGHT, LISTEN HARD TO HER WORDS THAT ARE IN PRINT AND WHAT WE ALSO SAID TONIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
>> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.
>> THANK YOU, UP NEXT WE HAVE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
[SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
>> THERE'S A MOTION AT A SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, 5-0, SORRY, 4-0, JOE'S NOT HERE. UP NEXT WE HAVE OUR SUPERINTENDENCE REPORT.
DR. NEWSOME. >> THANK YOU, MADAM PRESIDENT. I DO HAVE A SHORT POWERPOINT PRESENTATION. AS YOU'VE COME TO EXPECT, FROM TIME TO TIME AS I VISIT SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES, I LIKE TO CAPTURE THEM, SO I HAVE JUST A FEW PICTURES AND HIGHLIGHTS OF ACTIVITIES IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS. ACTUALLY, THIS IS , I BELIEVE THE CALCULUS CLASS OVER AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL THAT I HAD OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN. WE JUST FOUND OUT THIS WEEK THAT OUR BLUEPRINT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE AIB, IN ALL AREAS , THEY ARE STILL LOOKING AT THE ASSESSMENT, IMPLEMENTATION THAT WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT WILL BE APPROVED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE FOR MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND, SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED, AND I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK MARCY GRUBER FOR LEADERSHIP AND WORKING WITH OUR TEAM. ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS TRAINING, MANDATED TRAINING IN SCHOOL , ANTI-BIAS, AND I'D LIKE TO COMMEND FOR THE TRAINING THAT SHE HAS BEEN PROVIDING, THE MOST RECENT TRAINING SHOWS THAT 89.9% OF THE PARTICIPANTS FELT THAT IT WAS WORTHWHILE, THEY HAD A
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SATISFACTORY RATING OR VERY SATISFIED. I'M ALSO PLEASED TO REPORT THAT OUR DISCIPLINE DATA SHOWS THAT WE HAVE 519 FEWER DISCIPLINE INCIDENCES THIS YEAR COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR. WE SEE THE GREATEST DECLINE IN THE USE OF PERSONAL DEVICES. I REMEMBER HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WITH HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS WHO WERE SAYING THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE WERE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE ONSLAUGHT OF CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM. WE CAN SEE NOW THAT WE'RE MAKING QUITE A BIT OF PROGRESS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER AREAS . BULLYING IS SLIGHTLY DOWN, TOBACCO AND VAPING SLIGHTLY DOWN, WHILE STILL TOO HIGH, THE TRENDS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ROBIN BURNS, A TEACHER OVER AT THE TECHNICAL ACADEMY, FOR HER FOUNDATION TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD, THIS IS THE NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD. THIS IS BECAUSE THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING IN CYBERSECURITY . YOU MAY REMEMBER MR. JACK VALE WHO WAS HERE BACK IN SEPTEMBER, HE DONATED $95,000 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF THE PROJECT SYSTEM.
I WAS OVER AT THE SCHOOL, AT THE CALVERT PLANETARIUM , HE JUST HAPPENED TO WALK IN WHILE I WAS ON THE TOUR, AND WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION. HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TO BRING THAT PLANETARIUM BACK TO LIFE. SO, WE EXTEND OUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS GENEROSITY.
WE KNOW THAT HE LEADERSHIP , THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF ANY ORGANIZATION STARTS WITH THIS LEADERSHIP. I'D LIKE TO COMMEND DR. SUSAN JOHNSON FOR LEADING THE NEXT GENERATION LEADERSHIP ACADEMY. THESE LEADERS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, MOST OF THEM ARE TEACHER LEADERS, THEY COME OUT ON SATURDAYS FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. AND DR. JOHNSON LET ME CRASH AND SHARE A BIT OF TIME WITH THE GROUP. WE'RE ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT STARTING NEXT WEEK, WE ARE LAUNCHING THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EXECUTIVE LEADERS AND ASPIRING SUPERINTENDENCE ACADEMY. THE NEXT TIME THAT THERE IS A VACANCY AT THE TOP, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE LEADERS HERE IN THE SYSTEM READY TO FILL THE VOID. RIGHT NOW I HAVE SIX SUPERINTENDENCE, MOSTLY MARYLAND SUPERINTENDENCE, SOME FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE WHO WILL BE PART OF THE FACULTY FOR THIS ACADEMY. IT'S AN ABBREVIATED VERSION, WE'LL HAVE FOUR SESSIONS OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR MONTHS. THIS IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT ORGANIZATION. WE WERE MEETING IN ANNAPOLIS EARLIER . I GUESS THIS WAS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO. AND WE HAD A SPIRITED DISCUSSION ON LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT, AND THE MAJOR CONCERN IS ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDING TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE MANDATES IN THAT BLUEPRINT. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS TO BE ACTIVE IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO ACHIEVE A PURPLE SCHOOL STATUS. THERE ARE SOME TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS, THERE IS ONE STILL LEFT ON DECEMBER 16TH, SO WE'RE ENCOURAGING OUR SCHOOLS IF THEY HAVE NOT PARTICIPATED TO GET INVOLVED. THIS IS JUST A SNAPSHOT FROM VISITING ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. HERE'S AN ALGEBRA CLASS. I THINK THAT WAS ALGEBRA ONE. CONSTRUCTION AT NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL HAS MOVED REALLY FAST. IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE. THE PRINCIPAL THERE HAS WORKED WITH EVERY STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIGN, SO, THEY'LL BE PART OF HISTORY, THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
AND ON THE RIGHT, THEY LET ME GET IN AND GET MY SIGNATURE THERE AS WELL. SO, EVERY MONTH DURING OUR PRINCIPAL MEETINGS, WE HAVE MEETINGS WITHIN A SCHOOL, AND THEN THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF TOURS THE SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE PRINCIPLES FROM THAT GROUP, THE ELEMENTARY BUILDING, HIGH SCHOOL, WE DO INSTRUCTIONAL WALKS, THIS WAS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE CLASS.
THAT WAS DOING A SCAVENGER HUNT BASED ON ONE OF THEIR LEARNING TARGETS. THIS WAS ANOTHER STRUCTURE, THE STUDENTS WERE COLLABORATING ABOUT THE STORY THE TEACHER HAD JUST READ WITH THEM. AND THIS WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE LESSON WHERE THE
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STUDENTS DID A LESSON ON CRYSTALS, THEY DID AN EXPERIMENT THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, I WAS SO ENGAGED I FORGOT TO TAKE MY CAMERA OUT AND TAKE A PICTURE OF THE EXPERIMENT. THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THE MUSIC LESSON AT ONE OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS IS J RT CADETS, THIS IS A GROUP THAT I ADMIRE AND TRY TO PROVIDE AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE. HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH THE STUDENTS THAT DAY. THIS IS A CELEBRATION, THIS WAS THE SUPERINTENDED SHE SERVED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR 44 YEARS AND SERVED PROBABLY 18 OF THOSE YEARS. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS NOT THAT PICTURE. AND THEN WE HAD AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK WEEK BEFORE LAST, WHO CAME OUT TO READ TO OUR STUDENTS, AT ST.LEONARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THERE YOU SEE THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON ONE SIDE, A FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, THERE WE SEE HE BROUGHT HIS GOODIE BASKET THERE THIS IS OUR NEW DEPUTY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR , THIS IS OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, WE HAD THOSE CIRCLE READINGS TO A GROUP OF FIRST GRADERS. WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER WHO GOT IN YOU WERE ILLUSTRATING WHAT WAS IN THAT STORY THERE. THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME. I WAS TREMENDOUS, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER WAS THE PRESIDENT OF BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY. THERE WAS ALSO A PRESENTATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION THAT WAS PRESENTED. THIS IS HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS , THESE STUDENTS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR HAVING A 3.9 GRADE POINT AVERAGE OR HIGHER AFTER THE FIRST GRADING PERIOD , AT THAT BREAKFAST. WOULD GREAT CONVERSATION, THERE WAS ONE YOUNG MAN, I ASKED HIM WHAT WAS HIS GPA, HE SAID 5.0. I SAID, WELL, I GUESS YOU'LL QUALIFY TO GO TO ANY UNIVERSITY IN THE WORLD. HE SAYS YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. HE WAS VERY HUMBLE. THESE ARE SOME PICTURES, THE CLASS TOOK A PICTURE TOGETHER. IT WAS SPONSORED BY THE FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES, THERE AT THE BOTTOM. AND I'D LIKE TO END WITH A CELEBRATION OF OUR ATHLETES, CALVERT COUNTY IS KNOWN FOR NOT ONLY ITS ACADEMICS BUT IT'S ATHLETES IN SPORTS AS WELL. WE HAD A GREAT SEASON, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND MR. MARK WATSON, THE SUPERVISOR FOR ATHLETICS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND WE SEE, HEAR, WE HAVE SOME RECOGNITION FROM OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. I THINK THIS IS THE VOLLEYBALL AND SOCCER BALL CHAMPION STATISTICS, HERE. YOU CAN SEE WHERE THEY RANK, NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL DID QUITE WELL. AND HERE ARE SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL DID A REALLY GOOD YEAR, THEY HAD THE STATE PLAYOFFS IN FOOTBALL, ALTHOUGH THEY FELL A LITTLE SHORT THEY STILL RANKED, THEY ENDED THE SEASON AMONG THE TOP RATED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE STATE. I'M SORRY, IN THE REGION. HERE WE HAVE ANYTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS, BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY PLACING IN THE STATE AS WELL AS GOLF. AND SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF NORTHERN. AND THEN, THIS PAST SATURDAY, DR. JOHNSON AND I AND SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM OUR TEAM HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE NAVAL MARINE STADIUM IN ANNAPOLIS, TO WATCH THREE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL GAME. SO, FIRST GAME WAS AGAINST A SCHOOL IN ALLEGHENY. THAT WAS A GREAT CROWD , SHERIFF COX AND I HAVING A GREAT TIME. YOU CAN SEE WHO WON THE GAME. THOSE KIDS, EXCITED AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILIES. AND THERE THEY ARE, HOLDING THE TROPHY , A REALLY GOOD DAY FOR THEM. BY THE WAY,
[00:30:08]
THEY WERE LOSING, I BELIEVE, 28-7 AND THEY CAME BACK AND WON THAT GAME. SO, THIS IS THE STAFF IN HONEY TOWN, LEADERSHIP TEAM THERE, THEY PLAYED AGAINST NORTHERN. WE HAD AN INTERCOUNTY RIVALRY, THERE, AND THIS IS DR. JOHNSON WITH THE NORTHERN ADMINISTRATORS. AND CHEERLEADERS AND THE DANCE TEAM IN THE BACK.AND THEY WON, I BELIEVE BY THREE POINTS. YOU CAN SEE THE CELEBRATION. AND HERE ARE THE STUDENTS, WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY. I'D JUST LIKE TO END BY WISHING EVERYONE HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE SOME IMPORTANT DATES, DECEMBER 23RD EARLY DISMISSAL FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL BE OUT ON THE 24TH DECEMBER AND THEN OUR KIDS WILL COME BACK ON JANUARY 3RD. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, MERRY CHRISTMAS. I WISH YOU THE BEST OF THE NEW YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, DR. NEWSOME. UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR STUDENT MEMBER
OF THE BOARD REPORT. MS. JONES. >> GOOD EVENING. SO, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING. RECENTLY I WENT TO THE CITIZENS ADVISORY MEETING WHERE WE TALKED ABOUT THE GRADING POLICY, WE HAD VERY INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS GIVEN TO US AND I HEARD SOME REALLY GREAT INPUT FROM THE HIGH SCHOOLS, I WENT TO THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR HOSTING THAT, THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB , OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, WE ALSO HAD A GUEST SPEAKER. WITH THAT, APPLICATIONS WILL BE COMING OUT SOON BEFORE WINTER BREAK, SO OUR SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS PAY ATTENTION AND BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT. IT'S A VERY EXCITING PROCESS, AND LAST YEAR WE HAD CANDIDATES FROM ALL FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS, COMPETE. SO, PLEASE APPLY. IT'S A REALLY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE ALL COUNTY BAND CONCERT, WHERE WE HAD SOME REALLY, BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCES BY BOTH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL BANDS, I WAS AMAZED . BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
[Policies for Review]
>> THANK YOU, MS. JONES. UP NEXT, WE HAVE A POLICY FOR REVIEW. POLICY 8123. DR. JOHNSON.
>> GOOD EVENING, DR. NEWSOME AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I AM PRESENTING POLICY 8123 REGARDING PARENT CAREGIVER AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. OUR STAFF IS MADE A FEW CHANGES, AND ADDITIONS TO THIS POLICY BEGINNING WITH UNDER THE PURPOSE, LETTER E, TO ENCOURAGE AN ACTIVE AND ROBUST WORK-BASED LEARNING CONTINUUM WHICH ENHANCES STUDENTS, CAREER CONNECTED LEARNING , WHICH IS UPDATED PHRASING, EXPERIENCES THROUGH A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, FROM SHADOWING AND INTERNSHIPS UP TO AND INCLUDING REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIPS. THAT LANGUAGE WAS JUST UPDATED, AND LETTER F WE HAVE UPDATED THE LANGUAGE TO ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO MEET WITH BOARD MEMBERS , TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON DISTRICT INITIATIVES OUTSIDE OF BOARD MEETINGS, AND PARTICIPATE IN BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DISTRICT COMMITTEES. WE ADDED THAT LANGUAGE TO ENCOMPASS OTHER DISTRICT COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE. WE'VE ADDED THE DEFINITION OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, FAMILY ENGAGEMENT REFERRING TO THE MEANINGFUL AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF FAMILIES IN THE CHILD'S EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT, THIS ENGAGEMENT INCLUDES COMMUNICATION, INVOLVEMENT IN LEARNING, PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS. THE VOLUNTEER DEFINITION WAS UPDATED TO MATCH THE VOLUNTEER DEFINITION ACROSS OUR POLICIES, SO ANY PERSON AT THE REQUEST OF THE PRINCIPAL OR DESIGNEE WHO PROVIDES SERVICES FOR THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WITHOUT RECEIVING MONETARY COMPENSATION. FINALLY,
[00:35:02]
WE UPDATED THE POLICY STATEMENT, SO WE'VE ADDED THE LANGUAGE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BELIEVES STUDENTS ACHIEVE THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIA WHEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY WORK IN PARTNERSHIP THE BOARD ENDORSES MEANINGFUL FAMILY AMONG SCHOOLS, PARENTS, AND GUARDIANS, CAREGIVERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION AND EXPECTS THEIR PARTICIPATION ON DISTRICT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEES. THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO CREATING WELCOMING SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, BUILDING TWO WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, ENCOURAGING ACTIVE PARTICIPATION , AND ENSURING ALL FAMILIES REGARDLESS HAVE ACCESS TO ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND ON THE CITATIONS, WE MADE THE CONNECTION TO POLICY 11.10 REGARDING BOARD OF EDUCATION.>> THANK YOU. DR. JOHNSON, UNLESS I'M LOOKING IN THE WRONG SPOT, THIS ONE IS NOT THE REDLINED ONE. OKAY. YOU'LL JUST UPDATE THAT, THANK YOU. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SEEING NONE, MISS MAXEY WILL POST THE OTHER ONE.
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND REVIEW FOR UP TO 30 DAYS, THANK YOU. I
[Bid Approval]
SAW YOU LOOKING FRANTICALLY. I SAW YOU. UP NEXT IS BID APPROVALS, WE HAVE MR. SHELDON TAYLOR AND MR. CHUCK DAVIS.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, D. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I NAME IS SHELDON TAYLOR, I AM A SUPERVISOR IN FINANCE OF PROCUREMENT. TODAY I HAVE ONE RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. JOINING ME THIS EVENING IS MR. CHARLES DAVIS .
HE IS THE SUPERVISOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION TO RECOMMEND AWARDING A DESIGN BUILD DOOR IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT EIGHT SCHOOL LOCATIONS. JANUARY 2043, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POSTED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FROM DESIGN BUILD CONTRACTORS TO PROVIDE A CONSTRUCTION SERVICES ON AN ON-CALL BASIS AT VARIOUS SCHOOL SITES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
AND THREE VENDORS AWARDED BY OUR BOARD. CCPS DEPARTMENT CONSTRUCTIONS DISTRIBUTED A PROJECT SOLICITATION FOR DOOR HARDWARE CONVERSIONS AND LOCKER ROOMS AND MISCELLANEOUS SPACES AT THOSE EIGHT SCHOOLS TO BE TO THE APPROVED VANDERPOOL ON OCTOBER 20 OF 2023 WITH PROPOSALS DUE BACK BY NOVEMBER 21ST, 2025. OF OUR THREE DESIGN BUILDERS, TWO SUBMITTED PROPOSALS WITH ONE SELECTING NOT TO PRICE THE PROJECT. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE PROJECT DESIGN BUILD DOOR HARDWARE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT THOSE EIGHT SCHOOL LOCATIONS TO SCHEIBEL CONSTRUCTION FOR $80,900. AS OUTLINED WITHIN THE BOARD MEMO. THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE THROUGH SCHOOL SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM, AGING SCHOOLS PROGRAM, AND CAPITAL OUTLAY ALTERATIONS.
>> MOVED TO APPROVE. >> SECOND.
>> THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE HARDWARE ACCOMPLISHES ? THAT WAS A QUESTION I ASKED OFF-LINE AND I THINK THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW WHAT THE HARDWARE ACCOMPLISHES.
>> THANK YOU. SURE. THE HARDWARE IS FOR GYMNASIUM LOCKER ROOMS, IT WAS IDENTIFIED BY OUR SAFETY ADVOCATES, EACH OF THE SCHOOLS, THE GYMNASIUM LOCKER ROOMS ARE USED AS SHELTER IN PLACE DURING A POTENTIAL INCIDENT. RIGHT NOW, THE LOCKER ROOM DOORS DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BE LOCKED BY THE INSTRUCTOR FROM THE INSIDE, LIKE ALL OTHER CLASSROOMS IN THE DISTRICT. THAT IS WHAT THIS IS DOING AT ALL THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THE HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL WHICH ALREADY HAS
THAT CAPABILITY. >> SO WE'RE IMPROVING SAFETY BY THIS PROJECT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
[Qustdio App Presentation]
>> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES, 4-0. THINK YOU VERY MUCH. UP NEXT, WE HAVE MR. MATT AND MR. T.J. HILL FOR
THE QUSTODIO APP PRESENTATION. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M DIRECTOR OF
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. >> I'M T.J. HILL, SUPERVISOR OF
[00:40:01]
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY. TONIGHT WE'LL SHARE AN UPDATE ON DIGITAL SAFETY AND ARE STEPS FOR PARENT ENGAGEMENT.>> AS YOU ARE AWARE, TECHNOLOGY IS FULLY INTEGRATED INTO TEACHING AND LEARNING. STUDENTS USE MULTIPLE PLATFORMS AND APPLICATIONS DAILY. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT AND ENSURE FAMILIES FEEL INFORMED AND CONNECTED ON THEIR CHILD'S ONLINE LEARNING. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS WE HAVE MODERNIZED OUR DIGITAL SAFETY ECOSYSTEM FOCUSED AROUND THREE PRIORITIES. ONE, PROTECTING STUDENTS WITH DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ONLINE SAFEGUARDS. TWO, SUPPORTING TEACHERS WITH TOOLS THAT MAINTAIN STUDENT FOCUS AND PRODUCTIVITY. THREE, PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES SO THEY HAVE MEANINGFUL INSIGHT INTO THEIR CHILD'S DIGITAL HABITS.
EVERYTHING WE'LL SHARE TONIGHT CONNECTS DIRECTLY TO THESE THREE GOALS. THE FIRST STEP IN STRENGTHENING DIGITAL SAFETY WAS IMPLEMENTING ON ALL DISTRICT DEVICES. UNLIKE TRADITIONAL NETWORK FILTERS, WORKS AT THE DEVICE LEVEL, KEEPING STUDENTS AND STAFF PROTECTED ON CAMPUS, AT HOME, AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. THIS ENABLED TOOLS LIKE CLASS -WISE TO HELP TEACHERS GUIDE FOCUS AND DIGITAL BEHAVIOR.
>> LAST YEAR WE LAUNCHED WHICH GIVES EDUCATORS AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIEW OF STUDENT ONLINE ACTIVITY DURING CLASS. IT IS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL, NOT A SURVEILLANCE TOOL. IT HELPS TEACHERS MAINTAIN FOCUS, REDUCE DISTRACTIONS, AND GUIDE STUDENTS TOWARD PRODUCTIVE DIGITAL HABITS. LAST SPRING, CCPS INTRODUCED THE ONLINE SAFETY HUB, CREATED BY CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND DIGITAL SAFETY SPECIALIST , TO GIVE FAMILIES PRACTICAL RESOURCES ON HEALTHY DEVICE USE, ONLINE BEHAVIOR, AND EARLY WARNING SIGNS. IT ALSO HELPS CONNECT FAMILIES TO QUSTODIO AND SUPPORT CLASSROOM TOOLS LIKE CLASSWIZE. PARENT FEEDBACK ABOUT THE ONLINE SAFETY HUB HAS BEEN POSITIVE.
>> THIS FALL WE EXPANDED OUR FAMILY PARTNERSHIP WORK BY INTRODUCING THE QUSTODIO PARENT APP FOR GRADES THREE THROUGH 12.
THE APP IS FREE FOR ALL FAMILIES WITH AN OPTIONAL UPGRADE FOR ADDITIONAL CONTROLS ON MULTIPLE PERSONAL DEVICES. SOME FEATURES INCLUDE THE ABILITY TO VIEW WEBSITES AND ACTIVITY LOGS , TIMESTAMPS, AND USAGE TRENDS OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS. THIS ULTIMATELY HELPS FAMILIES START CONVERSATIONS, SET EXPECTATIONS, AND UNDERSTAND EVENING AND WEEKEND USE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE JUST OVER 700 CCPS STUDENTS CONNECTED TO PARENT ACCOUNTS. BEFORE WE DISCUSS EXPANDING VISIBILITY, WE WANT TO CLARIFY HOW PRIVACY IS HANDLED ON PERSONAL DEVICES.
PARTICIPATION IS OPTIONAL. CCPS HAS NO ACCESS TO DATA FLOWS. THE APP COMPLIES WITH . ADDITIONALLY, PARENTS MAY REQUEST FULL DELETION AT ANY TIME. ULTIMATELY, THE PARENT ACT GIVES FAMILIES CLEAR INSIGHT INTO THEIR CHILD'S DIGITAL HABITS, SUPPORTS HEALTHIER , MORE PRODUCTIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY, IN A MANNER THAT PROTECTS PRIVACY.
>> TO REGISTER FOR QUSTODIO, PARENTS USE A SCHOOL MESSENGER EMAIL OR THEIR PARENT APP LINK ON OUR WEBSITE. ONCE REGISTERED, THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTED TO THEIR CHILD'S CCPS ISSUED LAPTOP AND MAY ADD PERSONAL DEVICES IF THEY CHOOSE. IF QUESTIONS ARISE, FAMILIES CAN ACCESS THE FAQ OR QUSTODIO SUPPORT DIRECTLY. THE APP PROVIDES SEVERAL TOOLS TO HELP BUILD HEALTHY ONLINE ROUTINES AND SUPPORT DEVICES USED AT HOME. PARENTS CAN SET DAILY SCREEN TIME LIMITS, MONITOR WEBSITE IN APPS, PAUSE THE INTERNET ON PERSONAL DEVICES OR ON THEIR CHILD'S CCPS DEVICE, DURING AFTERSCHOOL HOURS, AND VIEW THEIR CHILD'S ONLINE ACTIVITY LOGS THROUGH THEIR DASHBOARD SCREEN. CURRENTLY, FAMILIES HAVE 24/7 VISIBILITY ON PERSONAL DEVICES, AND AFTERSCHOOL VISIBILITY ON CCPS DEVICES. THIS ROLLOUT WAS INTENTIONAL TO ENSURE ACCURATE REPORTING, ENCOURAGE CLEAR COMMUNICATION, AND PROVIDE FOCUS CLASSWIZE TRAINING TO STAFF. WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN PLANNING FOR CCPS? CCPS WE ARE COMMITTED TO GIVING PARENTS VISIBILITY DURING SCHOOL HOURS THROUGH QUSTODIO, REINFORCING OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. THIS VISIBILITY SUPPORTS HEALTHY ONLINE HABITS BY PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO THEIR CHILD'S ONLINE ACTIVITY THROUGH LOGS, INCREASING SAFETY THROUGH EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF CONCERNING TRENDS, ALLOWING FOR MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN REGARDING APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE ONLINE USE, AND STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE HEALTHY ONLINE HABITS AND THE OVERALL WELL-BEING OF STUDENTS. BY LAUNCHING SCHOOL DAY VISIBILITY WE CAN CREATE MORE LEARNING, GREATER FOCUS, AND STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH WILL CREATE
[00:45:02]
A UNIFIED APPROACH THAT EMPOWERS EVERY STUDENT TO ACHIEVE AND EXCEL RESPONSIBLY IN A DIGITAL WORLD. EXPANDING VISIBILITY SUPPORTS HOMESCHOOL COLLABORATION BUT THERE ARE KEY POINTS TO CONSIDER SINCE CONTEXT TRULY MATTERS. LOGS CAN BE MISINTERPRETED. A LOG OF YOUTUBE.COM AT 8:22 A.M. COULD WELL HAVE RESULTED FROM A LEGITIMATE ASSIGNMENT ISSUED BY A SCIENCE TEACHER. THEREFORE, CLEAR GUIDANCE IS ESSENTIAL TO PREVENT CONFUSION AND PROTECT INSTRUCTIONAL INTEGRITY.>> WE PROPOSE ALLOWING DURING SCHOOL HOURS VISIBILITY TO THE CUSTODIAL PARENT APP IN THE FALL OF 2026, WITH A PHASE ROLLOUT TO SUPPORT PARENT AND STAFF READINESS. FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON INTERNAL READINESS WITH PRINCIPALS, COUNSELORS, TEACHERS, AND SUPPORT STAFF RECEIVING GUIDANCE MATERIALS, FAQS, AND CONSISTENT TALKING POINTS. DURING THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 2026 WE WILL FOCUS ON PARENT EDUCATION, THROUGH SCHOOL MESSENGER UPDATES, WEBSITE COMMUNICATION, SAMPLE REPORTS TO HELP FAMILIES UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PARENT APP SHOWS AND WHAT IT DOES NOT SHOW. NEXT FALL WE WILL LAUNCH SCHOOL DAY VISIBILITY OF QUSTODIO WITH ELEVATED SUPPORT FROM BOTH QUSTODIO ENGINEERS AND CCPS STAFF.
>> IN CLOSING, EXPANDING VISIBILITY IS THE NEXT STEP IN OUR DIGITAL SAFETY JOURNEY. IT STRENGTHENS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES, SUPPORTS DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP, AND ENSURES A MORE UNIFIED APPROACH TO ONLINE LEARNING WHILE RESPECTING CONTEXT, PRIVACY, AND INSTRUCTIONAL REALITIES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> MS. GOSHORN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT SINCE IT LAUNCHED. I USE IT WITH MY DAUGHTER'S PERSONAL DEVICE AND HER SCHOOL DEVICE, AND I THINK IT'S A FANTASTIC TOOL. I KNOW, TO DRIVE HOME SOME OF THE POINTS THAT YOU'RE MAKING IN THIS PRESENTATION, WE KNOW SOME OF THE LOGS ARE GREAT, ESPECIALLY THE TIME LOG, FOR EXAMPLE. MY DAUGHTER'S COMPUTER PINGED THAT, I DON'T REMEMBER LOOKING FOR PIZZA OR SOMETHING RANDOM. THE SNAKE GAME AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING. IT DIDN'T ACTUALLY OCCUR AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING. IT OCCURRED EARLIER IN THE SCHOOL DAY BUT THE WAY THE LOGS SYNCED, IT REPORTED AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING. I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S SOME WEIRD THINGS GOING ON WITH HOW THE TIME LOGS WORK.
THAT BEING SAID, I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO ACCELERATE THE TIMELINE TO GETTING THE SCHOOL DAY OPENED UP TO FAMILIES. HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU SAY ARE SIGNED UP FOR THE
APP? >> STUDENTS CONNECTED RIGHT NOW
AT 705. >> THAT'S 705 ON PERSONAL
DEVICES? >> WHETHER IT'S PERSONAL.
>> IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PARENTS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE TO EDUCATE, IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR TOTAL STUDENT POPULATION. IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A GOOD GROUP TO PILOT WITH THOSE 700 PARENTS, SO WE CAN ANTICIPATE THE QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE, AND BE MORE PREPARED TO PUSH HARDER THE USE OF THIS APP, TO THE REST OF THE STUDENT BODY AND FAMILIES IN THE FUTURE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA TO USE SOME OF THE STUDENTS THIS YEAR TO DO A PILOT. I DO ALSO SAY, I KNOW YOU LIKE TO ACCELERATE EVERYTHING AND I DO LOVE AND APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU. MOST OF THE TIME. BUT, FOR SOME THINGS, I THINK IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE TIME TO DOCUMENT. I LOVE THE PILOT OPTION BECAUSE THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT WE MAY NOT ANTICIPATE THAT STUDENTS, PARENTS COULD REALLY HELP US TO UNDERSTAND AS WE ROLL IT OUT TO THE LARGER GROUP, AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE GUARDRAILS AROUND EXPECTATIONS FOR WHEN PARENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, I THINK YOU MENTIONED IT'S NOT A SURVEILLANCE TOOL. THE TEACHERS ARE NOT USING THIS TOOL DAY TODAY, ALL DAY LONG. LOOK AT WHAT STUDENTS ARE DOING NECESSARILY. IT'S ALSO NOT DESIGNED TO BE A SURVEILLANCE TOOL FOR PARENTS. IT'S DESIGNED TO BE AN ENHANCED OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY IN WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE ACCESSING WHETHER IT BE IN THE DAY OR NIGHT. THAT BEING SAID, THE PRIMARY GOAL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL DAY IS FOR THERE TO BE PARTICIPATION BETWEEN THE PARENT , EXCUSE ME, THE TEACHER AND THE CHILD, AND LEARNING SHOULD BE OCCURRING, AND WHAT WE DON'T WANT IS FOR A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER TO BE INUNDATED BY ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS OR IMMEDIATE RESPONSES NEEDED ABOUT SOMETHING THEY MAY BE SEEING. I THINK THE
[00:50:01]
PILOT IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT FOR THE TRAINING IS GOING TO BE EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT FOR THOSE THAT MAYBE DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND. ALYSSA WORKS IN AN I.T. ENVIRONMENT, SHE KNOWS GENERALLY MORE THAN A LOT OF FOLKS OUT HERE, SO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE PROPER DOCUMENTATION AND WE TAKE THE TIME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC SO THAT WE'RE NOT INUNDATING THE STAFF DAY TODAY FOR THESE THINGS AS WELL. THANKYOU. >> IS THERE AN ABILITY WITHIN QUSTODIO TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? PICK 100 FAMILIES, AND JUST OPEN IT UP DURING THE SCHOOL DAY FOR THOSE FAMILIES?
>> I'LL ADDRESS THE PILOT QUESTION , AND I'LL LET MR. HILL ADDRESS THE TRAINING QUESTION. THAT'S A GREAT ONE, WE CERTAINLY ASK THE VENDOR THAT BECAUSE WE'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PILOT IT. WHEN WE DECIDED TO ROLL IT OUT WOULD LOVE TO PILOT IT WITH A SMALLER GROUP. ESSENTIALLY ONE GRADE LEVEL AT ONE SCHOOL. THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE, IT'S A DISTRICTWIDE SETTING. WHEN WE SAY A PILOT, IT WOULDN'T BE A PILOT. WE MAY ONLY HAVE 705 STUDENTS CONNECTED BUT THAT CONTINUES TO GROW. AS THIS GETS OUT AND MORE EMAILS GO OUT WE PLAN ON SENDING ANOTHER REMINDER TO ALL FAMILIES AGAIN. RIGHT BEFORE THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T DO A PILOT, IT'S A
DISTRICTWIDE SETTING. >> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, WHILE WE UNDERSTAND IT IS HARD TO ACCELERATE THE ROLLOUT, OUR CURRENT TIMELINE IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE A SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS. WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR LIMITED TIMES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO STAFF. THE APPROACH ALLOWS US TO PROVIDE THOROUGH TRAINING TO SUPPORT STAFF, SO THEY FEEL CONFIDENT USING THE CLASSWIZE SYSTEM, TO EDUCATE THE PARENTS ABOUT THE APP AND WHAT IT SHOWS AND WHAT IT DOES NOT SHOW AS WE TALKED ABOUT. SOMETIMES THOSE LOGS CAN BE MISINTERPRETED. WE ARE TRYING TO SMOOTH THAT TRANSITION BETWEEN PARENTS AND BUILD THAT RELATIONSHIP. WE HAVE THOSE KEY PIECES TOGETHER. WE WILL KEEP MONITORING THE SITUATION AS WE'RE GOING FORWARD. IF WE FIND A TRAINING CAN GET DONE FASTER WE CAN LOOK AT ELEVATING THOSE TIMELINES. FOR NOW, OUR TIMELINE WOULD SUGGEST IT TO MAKE SURE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ALL STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAINING IS DONE ON EVERYONE'S END, THAT FULL ROLLOUT.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO COLLECT FEEDBACK OR QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW FROM ANY PARENTS, WHETHER IT BE THE 700 SOME THAT ARE USING IT, OR NEW PARENTS THAT JOIN IN, RATHER THAN JUST SENDING AN EMAIL THAT MIGHT GET LOST. IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FORM OR POSSIBLY TOGETHER, MAYBE THE VENDOR HAS SOMETHING WHERE IT COULD LINK TO AN FAQ, OR SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS HERE. OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED MORE QUICKLY. TO HELP IN THAT PROCESS. BECAUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ME NOW, IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A TRICK QUESTION BUT I'M THINKING ABOUT FROM A PRODUCT SUPPORT PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I DO. WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP AN END-USER, WHICH WILL IN TURN HELP US. WHERE CAN WE GO TO FIND RESOURCES AS EASILY IDENTIFIABLE. ARE THERE EVER CUES THAT WE CAN HAVE THE USER COULD HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO? IS THERE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE OR REPORT A PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY. WHAT IS THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE? WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS THAT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO
INCORPORATE AS WELL. >> WE HAVE AN FAQ DOCUMENT THAT WE PROVIDE THE PARENTS WITH THE SCHOOL MESSENGER LETTER THAT GOES OUT. WE ARE SOLICITING FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS THAT HAVE USED THE APPLICATION IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE TO THIS POINT. SOME PARENTS HAVE CALL US TO LET US KNOW BUT,
>> I DON'T MEAN THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD ACTIVELY SOLICIT FEEDBACK. I THINK THAT IF THERE'S A SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE THAT SHARES INFORMATION ABOUT THIS APPLICATION, IT SHOULD HAVE THIS INFORMATION RIGHT THERE READILY AVAILABLE, AND THERE SHOULD BE CHECK OUT OUR FAQS, AND DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT OR CONCERN, SUBMIT IT HERE. ON THE BACK IT CAN BE A WAY THAT THAT'S CAPTURED THAT GOES TO YOU ALL, THAT THEN AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS THOSE CAN BE INCORPORATED, AND MAYBE YOU CAN TAILOR THE ROLLOUT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. WE HAVE THE LINK ON THE WEBPAGE AND THAT COULD BE A LINK THAT TAKES TWO LUMINARY DOCUMENT.
>> MAYBE IT'S JUST A SIMPLE MICROSOFT FORM THAT HAS GUARDRAILS AROUND WHAT THEY CAN SUBMIT. ARE YOU REPORTING A TECHNICAL ISSUE, A BUG, DO YOU HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION? MAYBE THERE'S PRE-POPULATED ITEMS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW TO CHECK THAT, BUT THIS IS WHAT I WANT. AND THEN THAT CAN HELP
THEM. >> WE CAN PROVIDE IT AGAIN, A BEAUTIFUL PIECE QUSTODIO DOES PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AND PARENTS. ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS THEY CAN ANSWER DIRECTLY, IT'S THEIR APPLICATION. TJ AND I HAVE PUT
[00:55:04]
OUR NAMES OUT THERE, AND PARENTS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO EMAIL US AND CALL US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS. WE LOVE THE IDEA AND ADDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE APP ON THEWEBSITE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO. >> I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE AVAILABLE BUT AS THE PUBLIC COMMENTERS SAID, THERE ARE SEVEN I.T. FOLKS TO SUPPORT A VERY LARGE ORGANIZATION. SO TO SPEAK. TWO MINIMIZE THE ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN, TO BE ABLE TO CAPTURE INFORMATION AS WELL AS HAVE INFORMATION OUT THERE AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. IT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO THERE AND LOOK AT IT. AT LEAST IT'S THERE AND IF SOMEBODY DOES CALL YOU CAN SAY, HAVE YOU SEEN , IT'S A GOOD WAY FOR US TO BE LIKE, HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE WEBSITE? HERE'S WHERE YOU CAN SUBMIT FEEDBACK. IT HELPS WHEN WE GET SOME OF THOSE EMAILS RATHER THAN HAVING TO INUNDATE YOU GUYS. WE CAN SEND THEM TO OTHER PLACES AS WELL AND IT WILL HELP THEM GET THEIR ANSWERS.
>> SO, YOU MENTIONED ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR TEACHERS, BUT, WE DID A FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF CLASSWIZE LAST YEAR. ONE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO TEACHERS NEED, AND HOW DOES THAT CHANGE OR IMPACT THIS EXPANSION OF QUSTODIO?
>> OUR OFFICIAL TRAINING THAT WE SPENT FOR THE BULK OF LAST YEAR WAS JUST GET THE SYSTEM, OUR STAFF TO UNDERSTAND HOW CLASSWIZE WORKS. THIS DOES BRING A DIFFERENT ELEMENT TO IT WITH THE QUSTODIA APP, NOW IT'S WE CAN USE THOSE TOOLS DIFFERENTLY, SETTING UP THE RULES TYPICALLY, SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN A TRUE PARTNERSHIP. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MISINTERPRETATION FILES, OR MISINTERPRETATION OF LOGS, THAT'S WHAT THE PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY SEEING ON THE QUSTODIO SIDE. WITH ACTUAL VISIT OF THE CLASS, WHAT CLASSWIZE DOES. THEY SEE A LOG. SO, THAT'S ALL THEY ARE INTERPRETING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE STAFF WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE ON THEIR END, SO THAT WE CAN ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO PARENTS AND STAFF COMMUNICATE IN TOGETHER. WE MIGHT ANTICIPATE PARENTS BEING CONCERNED IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, AND WANT TO CONTACT A TEACHER FOR IT. WE HAVE TO BRIDGE THAT GAP SOMEHOW, THAT'S OUR NEXT PHASE OF TRAINING SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDEA.
WE HAVE TEACHERS THAT DON'T HAVE STUDENTS IN THE SYSTEM.
MYSELF INCLUDED. I HAD TO DO RESEARCH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT QUSTODIO LOOKS LIKE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE THE OPTION TO PUT MY KID ON THAT PROGRAM. A LOT OF OUR STAFF DON'T EITHER.
>> YOU WANT MY KIDS? LET ME SEE, HERE. THREE THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT
WHAT THEY'RE DOING. I'LL SHARE. >> THAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL. IN
ADDITION TO THAT, . >> I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THE PERCENTAGE OF TEACHERS THAT ARE ENGAGING IN A CONSISTENT BASIS, WE NEED THOSE NUMBERS TO GO UP. IT HAS NOT BEEN A REQUIREMENT FOR TEACHERS TO USE THAT THAT APPLICATION. PARENTS WILL HAVE ACCESS , THAT MAY BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR TO HAVE THEM BE TRAINED AND START USING THE SYSTEM MORE. IF SOME TEACHERS HAVEN'T USED IT AT ALL YET, THAT'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRAIN, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A REQUIRED APPLICATION TO USE, NOT ALL OF OUR STAFF
MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FULLY TRAINED. >> I THINK THE CONCERN I HAVE, GENERALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THE TEACHER IN THIS, AND THAT'S NOT THE INTENT, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS A PARENT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY CHILD IS DOING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY BECAUSE I KNOW SHE'S SEARCHING FOR CUTE DRESSES AND NEW SHOES AND MAKEUP OR WHATEVER. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL DAY. I DO RECOGNIZE, I GET THE EMAILS. I RECOGNIZE THAT WE DO HAVE PARENTS IN THIS COMMUNITY THAT ARE GOING TO BLAME THE STAFF NO MATTER WHAT. I FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT'S THE REALITY. BUT, THE LONGER WE TELL PARENTS THEY CAN'T HAVE ACCESS TO WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE LEARNING, THE MORE WE'RE CREATING A PROBLEM. REALLY. WHAT WE'RE SAYING TO THE PARENTS ARE, THE TEACHERS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO HIDE BETTER. AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. THE TEACHERS DON'T NEED TO HIDE ANYTHING.
OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. WE PRESENTED THE RISE IN TEST SCORES RECENTLY. OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. OUR PARENTS NEED TO KNOW IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PARENT TO HOLD THEIR CHILD ACCOUNTABLE.
IT'S NOT THE EXPECTATION THAT THE TEACHER NEEDS TO KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER IS SEARCHING FOR SUMMER DRESSES. THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY, AS A PARENT. I RECOGNIZE, MAYBE I'M DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO THINK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY HERE, AND THE OPPORTUNITY IS TO RE-ENGAGE THE
[01:00:03]
PARENT AND SAY, YES, YOUR CHILD WAS DOING X, Y, AND Z DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE TEACHER A CANNOT MONITOR YOUR CHILD SEARCHING FOR SUMMER DRESSES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY AS A PARENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE US TO SWITCH THE CONVERSATION. I KNOW THERE'S A REALITY HERE. IT IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CREATE THAT PARTNERSHIP THROUGHTHIS TOOL. THAT'S MY THOUGHT. >> I WOULD SAY WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS, THIS TIME FIVE MONTHS AGO THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY ON STUDENT DEVICE AT ALL OR ANY PERSONAL DEVICES.
WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ROLLOUT THIS YEAR. A LOT OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS , THEY DO NOT EVER OPEN THE VISIBILITY.
SOME START OUT, LIKE WE HAVE AND THEY OPEN IT LATER AFTER THE TRAINING, THAT'S THE ROUTE WE'VE TAKEN. I WILL SAY, WITH ADDITIONAL TRAININGS WITH TEACHERS, AS TO YOUR POINT, THEY CAN'T MONITOR 25, 30 STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING EVERY SECOND. THEY'RE FACILITATING A CLASSROOM DISCUSSION AND TEACHING. INSTEAD WE WANT TEACHERS TO USE THOSE FOCUS SESSIONS MORE, IF I'M A TEACHER, AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THREE OR FOUR WEBSITES THAT I WANT MY STUDENTS TO GO TO DURING THAT CLASS. I USE A FOCUSED SESSION AND PUT THOSE WEBSITES IN THERE, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE ONLY WEBSITES THAT MY STUDENTS CAN GO TO DURING THAT CLASS PERIOD. SO, I DON'T HAVE TO MONITOR THEM, AND THE PARENT WOULDN'T SEE ANY OTHER WEBSITES OTHER THAN THOSE THREE. THAT'S ALL THEY CAN GO TO. HAVING TEACHERS DO MORE OF THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY AS WELL. WE COMPLETELY AGREE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO ROLL THIS OUT. I THINK WE WOULD RATHER ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING METHODICAL AND ENSURING THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE WELL INFORMED AND READY.
LIKE TJ SAID IF WE CAN ROLL IT OUT QUICKER, WE'RE CERTAINLY
OPEN TO THAT. >> AND SO PARENTS LIKE YOU
WON'T SEE DRESSES BEING SOLD. >> BEFORE QUSTODIO, I HAD MY OWN LOGS RUNNING AND I KNEW SHE WAS SEARCHING FOR SUMMER DRESSES BEFORE QUSTODIO. I APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENT SAFETY ONLINE. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPRESS HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS. IT'S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, YOU GUYS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH SEVEN
PEOPLE ON STAFF. >> WE DON'T HAVE ONLY SEVEN
PEOPLE ON STAFF. >> HOWEVER MANY NUMBER PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT, IT'S TRULY WONDERFUL. THE COMMITMENT YOU GUYS HAVE TO STUDENT SAFETY ONLINE. THANK
>> I HAD ONE OBSERVATION. WHEN I'M SEEING THIS BEING ROLLED OUT IN SPRING OR SEPTEMBER, I'M GOING TO ASK THAT THERE BE A CLEAR COMMUNICATION ON WHOM PARENTS ARE TO GO TO FOR ANY TYPE OF GLITCH OR RESPONSE. BECAUSE WE DO NOT NEED OUR TEACHERS BEING INUNDATED WITH EMAILS SAYING, HOW DO I DO THIS, OR FIX THAT, ANY ISSUES THAT COME UP. I JUST ASK THAT SOMETHING BE VERY CLEARLY SPELLED OUT ON WHO PARENTS ARE
TO REACH OUT TO. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION BUT I WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT BEFORE I ASK. SO, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS APP, I'VE HAD IT ON MY SCHOOL LAPTOP FOR A YEAR AND A HALF WHEN IT WAS IMPLEMENT IT, BUT I'VE ALSO HAD IT ON MY PERSONAL DEVICE SINCE I'VE HAD IT. SO, MY CONCERN WITH IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS APP IS THAT, OCCASIONALLY, IT LOGS WEBSITE, CONTENT, EVEN SEARCHES OF CERTAIN TOPICS THAT ARE ON THINGS SUCH AS WAR, VIOLENCE, WEAPONS. I DON'T SEE ANY STUDENTS IN THE ROOM, BUT, FOR ANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE TRIED TO TAKE HEALTH CLASS AND TRY TO DO ANY RESEARCH FOR THEIR ASSIGNMENTS, IT'S QUITE A
CHALLENGE. >> BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING BLOCKED?
>> YES, ALMOST ALL GOOGLE SEARCHES FOR ANY TOPIC IN HEALTH CLASS TYPICALLY GET BLOCKED BEFORE ANY RESULTS CAN EVEN LOAD. MY QUESTION IS, A LOT OF THESE, FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, THESE ARE AUTOMATICALLY FILTERED AND AUTOMATICALLY FLAGGED. IS THERE ANYTHING BEING DONE TO MANUALLY FILTER THE CONTENT OF THESE WEBSITES, ANY THAT WERE UNNECESSARILY FLAGGED, WHETHER THEY WERE ON HISTORY CLASS, THAT HAPPENS TO MENTION A WAR WEAPONS OR VIOLENCE, OR ANY EDUCATIONAL CONTENT FOR HEALTH CLASSES , IS THERE A WAY THAT WE ARE FILTERING FOR THOSE THAT WERE UNNECESSARILY FLAGGED AND SOME
[01:05:02]
THAT SHOULD BE FLAGGED THAT WORK?>> WITH OUR FILTERING SYSTEM, WE HAVE CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT ARE BLOCKED. CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT ARE OPEN AND CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT ARE BLOCKED FOR STUDENTS BUT TEACHERS HAVE THE ABILITY TO OVERRIDE THAT AND OPEN IT. THAT LINEWIZE FILTERING ALLOWED US TO DO THAT. WE ALSO HAVE A WEBSITE BLOCK SO IF THERE ARE WEBSITES THAT A STUDENT CAN'T GET TO AND NEEDS TO, OR THE STUDENT IS GETTING TO AND SHOULDN'T, WE HAVE THIS ELECTRONIC PROCESS WHERE A TEACHER CAN SUBMIT, AND THE ADMINISTRATOR, ANY STAFF MEMBER, CAN SUBMIT AND ASK FOR A WEBSITE TO BE OPEN OR BE BLOCKED. IN TERMS OF THE GOOGLE SPECIFIC SEARCHES I'D WANT TO TALK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT THAT. THOSE ARE SETTINGS WITH KEYWORDS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADJUST. IT'S THE FIRST I'VE HEARD OF IT, SO I WOULD OFFER SUGGEST IF YOU CAN SHOOT ME AN EMAIL AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS AND WORK THROUGH
IT WITH YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT. IS THERE A WAY TO GET ANY TYPE OF FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS REGARDING THIS, TO SEE HOW IT'S BEING RECEIVED? I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, WHEN WE IMPLEMENT SOMETHING NEW, THAT WE FOLLOW-UP TO SEE THE GOOD AND THE BAD.
>> TEACHER FEEDBACK ON THE QUSTODIA APP? OR CLASSWIZE? TEACHER FEEDBACK ON THE QUSTODIA APP, TEACHER FEEDBACK ON CLASSWIZE? ON THE NEW PROPOSED APP? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING?
>> YES. >> I'M NOT SURE THAT TEACHER FEEDBACK HAS BEEN ASKED ABOUT THE PARENT APP BECAUSE IT'S FOR PARENTS. HOWEVER, THE CLASSWIZE SYSTEM, TJ'S GROUP SENT OUT SURVEYS LAST YEAR AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRAINING, WHAT TYPE OF TRAINING THEY WOULD PREFER, TJ'S TEAM WENT OUT TO SCHOOLS AND DID THEM IN PERSON, THEY DID THE REMOTELY. EVEN THE LINEWIZE VENDOR, THEY OFFERED SESSIONS WHEN WE WENT TO THEM AND SHARE THE RESULTS. TJ HAS THOSE RESULTS AND TEACHERS THAT WERE USING THE SYSTEM WERE ECSTATIC ABOUT IT, VERY HAPPY WITH IT. WHEN WE ASKED THEM, MOST OF THEM SAID THEY DID NOT NEED TRAINING, IT WAS A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THEM BUT DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH IT, THAT'S WHEN WE OFFERED, WHEN THEY OFFERED MULTIPLE TRAININGS LAST YEAR. FEEDBACK FROM TEACHERS ON CLASSWIZE HAS BEEN FANTASTIC. IF WE TOOK THAT AWAY FROM THEM RIGHT NOW I THINK WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM. BUT I DON'T THINK WE'VE ASKED ABOUT TEACHER FEEDBACK ON THE PARENT.
>> IT WOULD BE MOOT AT THIS POINT. THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ANYTHING DURING THE DAY, SO, THAT MAY BE , THAT MAY BE A CONSIDERATION FOR ONCE THAT'S PART OF THE PLAN THAT AS THIS GOES AND IT BECOMES ACCESSIBLE IN THE DAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
DAY, >> THEN IT WOULD IMPACT AND WE WOULD WANT TO GET SOME RESULTS.
[Budget Discussion]
>> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> UP NEXT, WE HAVE A BRIEF BUDGET DISCUSSION. WITH A FEW SHORT SLIDES. AND A SMALL NUMBER OF QUESTIONS. HELLO, MR.
JOHNSON. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON, I SERVE AS THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES I'LL PROVIDE A QUICK UPDATE ON THE FISCAL YEAR 27 OR FY 27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT, FOLLOWED BY -- FOLLOWED BY AN OVERVIEW OF STAFFING ADDITIONS REQUESTED. THIS PRESENTATION WILL ALSO INCLUDE SOME BLUEPRINT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION S A- THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A BOARD DISCUSSION REGARDING WHICH HIGH-LEVEL CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS , AND THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD DISCUSSION TO USE ANY FUND BALANCE IN FY 27. WITH THAT LET'S START WITH AN UPDATE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FY 27 BUDGET. IN A PREVIOUS PRESENTATION I SURE THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE TRACKS IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THE DIFFERENT COLORS HERE ARE USED TO HIGHLIGHT DIFFERENT TRACKS OF THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
THE DIFFERENT, SORRY, ONE OF THESE TRACKS IS DEVELOPING THE DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR DIRECTORS.
LAST MONTH, LAST MONTH, THE DIRECTORS SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGETS TO THEIR SUPERVISOR, ONE OF THREE CHIEFS. THIS INCLUDED
[01:10:05]
ZERO-BASED BUDGET DETAILS AND DETAILED EQUIPMENT REQUESTS.NEXT, EACH DIRECTOR MET WITH ALL THREE CHIEFS TO WALK THROUGH THEIR BUDGET PROPOSALS. AND MOVING TO ONE OF THE OTHER TRACKS, IN SEPTEMBER, THE ENROLLMENT DATA WAS OBTAINED FOR THIS YEAR, AND PRINCIPLES RECEIVED AFTER THAT THEIR PRELIMINARY FY 27 BUDGET ALLOCATIONS. LET'S MOVE NEXT FROM PREVIOUS STEPS IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT TO FUTURE, AND THAT INCLUDES RECENTLY SUBMITTED THEIR PROPOSED FY 27 BUDGETS, AND LOOKING AHEAD, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 27 BUDGET WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2026. LET'S TURN NEXT TO STAFFING ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR FY 27. OVER 50 NEW OR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FOR FY 27, FROM THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. THERE'S ALSO A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OR MORE REQUESTS WILL BE COMING RELATED TO BLUEPRINT POSITIONS. BEFORE THE FY 27 BUDGET IN LATE JANUARY, THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL NARROW DOWN THE LIST OF PROPOSED STAFF ADDITIONS TO ALLY WITH ESTIMATED FUNDING AVAILABLE. THIS NEXT SLIDE IS AN EXCERPT OF THE LIST OF NEW OR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS REQUESTED FROM FY 27. LET'S TOUCH NEXT ON THE BLUEPRINT RELATED COSTS THAT WILL AFFECT FY 27 BUDGET, AND ONE OF THESE IS THE MINIMUM SCHOOL FUNDING REQUIREMENT THAT WILL IMPACT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE. THIS REQUIREMENT REQUIRES THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SPEND AT LEAST 75% , OR IN SOME CASES 100%, OF THE DIFFERENT STREAMS OF BLUEPRINT FUNDING HIGH SCHOOL. AND FOR CCPS, THIS WILL REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND TO REPLACE PRE-K GRANT FUNDING THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING, AND USING THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE PRE-K PROGRAM.
ANOTHER COST PRESSURE THAT WE'LL HAVE IS FUNDING THE CAREER LADDER , AND THIS IS FOR TEACHERS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. AND A THIRD BLUEPRINT RELATED COST PRESSURE IS NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION COST, AND THIS COST WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS ADDITIONAL STAFF EARN THIS PROFESSIONAL DISTINCTION. NEXT, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE OTHER COST PRESSURES THAT THE DISTRICT WILL FACE IN FY 27, AND WILL HAVE COST INCREASES RELATED TO THE NEGOTIATED LABOR AGREEMENTS INCLUDING STEP INCREASES FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND COST OF LIVING INCREASES. NEXT, LOOKING BACK TO LAST DECEMBER, WE HAD THESE SIX GUIDING CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET, AND AS WE PREPARE THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSED BUDGET IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO DETERMINE IF THE BOARD WISHES TO ADD CHANGE OR DELETE ANY OF THESE GUIDING CONSIDERATIONS. AND WE'RE IN THE HOME STRETCH, LET'S TURN TO FUND BALANCE.
ANOTHER PROPOSED DISCUSSION TOPIC IS WHETHER OR NOT THE BOARD PREFERS TO USE PREVIOUSLY ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCE IN THE FY 27 BUDGET, FOR MANY PERSONS, A BALANCED BUDGET IS ONE IN WHICH TOTAL REVENUES EQUAL OR EXCEED THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES.
FOR OTHERS, A BALANCED BUDGET CAN INCLUDE THE USE OF SOME PREVIOUSLY ACCUMULATED FUND BALANCE. DEPLETION OF FUND BALANCE COULD IMPAIR THE BOARD'S ABILITY TO MEET THE FUND BALANCE TARGETS SPECIFIED IN THE POLICY 5520. WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND INVITE THE BOARD'S DISCUSSION ON THE FY 27 BUDGET. THANK YOU.
>> YOU GET THE PRIZE FOR FASTEST PRESENTATION TONIGHT, THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE. I'M GOING TO TURN TO MY RIGHT, THIS IS PAUL'S FAVORITE PART. HE'S BEEN WAITING ALL NIGHT TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT FINANCE OR BUDGET.
>> I LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS. >> I KNOW YOU DO.
>> CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE ENROLLMENT WAS AND HOW MUCH IT WENT UP OR DOWN FROM LAST SEPTEMBER?
>> RATHER THAN PROVIDE YOU AN ESTIMATED FIGURE I'D PREFER IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME TO LOOK THAT FIGURE UP TOMORROW AND EMAIL IT
TOMORROW. >> DID IT GO UP OR DOWN?
>> I BELIEVE IT WENT DOWN A LITTLE.
>> DOWN. THAT CONTINUES THE TREND. I THINK THE TOUGH PART OF, WHEN YOU SAY THERE'S 50 NEW POSITIONS REQUESTED, I DON'T THINK THAT'S IN FY 27 ISSUE. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE IN FY LATER ISSUE. PART OF, I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO FUND IT PREDICATED
[01:15:05]
ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IS LESS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LESS TO WORK WITH.>> IT WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON THE AMOUNT OF INCREASE PER PUPIL.
>> SAYS -- SO DOES THAT CHANGE? FROM YEAR TO YEAR?
>> IS DRIVEN IN PART BY THE ENROLLMENT AND ALSO BY THE LEGISLATIVE AMOUNT FOR VARIOUS CATEGORICAL'S.
>> SO MOE IS DIFFERENT THAN THE MOE FOR ST. MARY'S, IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. FOR US, I THINK WE NEED TO OPERATE IN A SPACE WHERE WE SHOULD CONSIDER THAT OUR FUNDING IS GOING TO BE FLAT OR LOWER. SO WHATEVER THOSE SIX PRINCIPLES WERE, WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT IT'S GOING TO BE FLAT OR LOWER. THE STATE IS FACING A $1.4 BILLION DEFICIT, MY RENEWAL WAS DOUBLE WHAT IT WAS LAST YEAR, AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE DOUBLE AGAIN TO TRY AND EASE OUT THIS $1.4 BILLION. I DON'T SUSPECT OUR STATE ALLOCATION IS GOING TO GO UP. AND I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T MAKE A DEMAND OF THE COMMISSIONERS FOR OUR MOE NUMBER TO GO HIGHER. I THINK WE NEED TO DEAL IN A FLAT SPACE RIGHT NOW. SHOULD I MAKE A MOTION TO AGREE? IS THAT JUST DISCUSSION?
>> JUST DISCUSSION. >> I THINK IT MIGHT BE PREMATURE TO SAY THAT WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ASK FOR FLAT FUNDING FROM THE
COMMISSIONERS. >> NO, I'M JUST SAYING AS WE DEVELOP THIS BUDGET, I THINK WE SHOULD WORK ON THE MIND-SET OF FLATS. IF SOMETHING COMES UP, THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE, THEN I THINK WE SHOULD RESERVE THE RIGHT TO GO BACK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AND ASK FOR SOME AMOUNT OF MONEY,
>> THE PURPOSE OF ACCELERATING THE AUDIT THAT WE'RE OING IS GOING TO PROVIDE US WITH INSIGHT AND HELP US MAYBE FORMULATE .
>> AREAS FOR SAVINGS. >> OR WHERE THERE MAY BE INCREASES AND WE HAVE A SOLID, UNDERSTANDING OF WHY WE NEED TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY FOR THAT AS WELL.
>> DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD TABLE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS UNTIL THAT
WORK IS DONE, OR -- >> WE CAN'T, REALLY.
>> WE SHOULD GO WITH THE FLAT FORMULA.
>> I DON'T, I AGREE. THAT THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD TRY TO DO. I'M SURE THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE ACTUALLY.
>> WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO THROW MONEY AT US. THAT'S THE SAFEST SPACE TO BE. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE DISCUSSION. >> HOW MANY NEW POSITIONS DID
YOU SAY WERE BEING PROPOSED? >> WE HAD ONE WAS 45 1/2 OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS PROPOSED BY STAFF AND WE HAD POSITIONS PROPOSED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE TOTAL AMOUNT
EXCEEDED 50. >> I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE POSITIONS AND SEE HOW MANY ARE DIRECTLY WORKING WITH STUDENTS. BUT I ALSO THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THAT BEFORE WE APPROVE ANY POSITIONS, WE NEED , WE NEED TO FIRST FUND ALL NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS WITH CDA, AND C.A.S.A. I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE A BIG PRIORITY. FOR THIS BOARD.
>> YOU HAD ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT FUND BALANCE, AND AROUND THAT TOPIC, FOR ME, WE PUT IN A POLICY FOR FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR, WE WANT 12 TO 16%. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD EXPECT. IS THAT WE MAINTAIN AND MEET OUR POLICY. I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE THE USE OF ANY FUND BALANCE IF WE ENDED UP HAVING EXTRA, MORE THAN 16%. PROJECTED IN FUND BALANCE UNLESS HEY WERE FOR
STRATEGIC ONE TIME PURCHASES. >> SO I THINK WE SHOULD ALSO, ON LISA'S COMMENT, WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT EACH FULFILLING OF THE LANGUAGE IN THOSE INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTS ARE GOING TO COST. IF YOU COULD WORK ON THAT, THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS?
>> WE'RE GOING TO PUT A $WITH EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS. OKAY?
>> I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
[01:20:03]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. JOHNSON. WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. IS THERE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS? OKAY. SEEING NONE, WE
[BOARD COMMENTS]
WILL GO NEXT TO OUR BOARD COMMENTS. MISS JONES?>> NOT TOO MUCH TONIGHT. I DO APPRECIATE THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO GIVE PRESENTATIONS AND FOR THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I GAINED A LOT OF INSIGHT, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTY. THAT'S ALL FOR
TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. MR. HARRISON.
>> IT WAS A GREAT TIME AT THE NORTH BEACH CHRISTMAS PARADE. I HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT. CONGRATULATIONS TO HUNTING TOWN AND ALSO NORTHERN FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOOTBALL THIS YEAR. IT'S CLOSE TO MY HEART. I WAS ASKED TO SERVE ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE AT THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION. THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING ME WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY. WE DID MEET, AND WE DID APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT YEAR, AND IT WAS FLAT. FYI, THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR ME. MERRY CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MISS GOSHORN. IS IT HARRISON WITH 1R OR TWO?
>> IT'S ONE S IN HARRISON, THANK YOU FOR TRYING TO CHANGE
MY NAME. IT'S FRENCH. >> ON THAT TOPIC I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENTS IN CCPS THAT DESIGNED ALL OF THE ARTWORK FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FLOAT THAT WAS IN THE NORTH BEACH PARADE. IN THE PRINCE FREDERICK PARADE THIS WEEKEND, AND ST.
LEONARD NEXT WEEKEND. I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENT, IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART. THANK YOU, I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A MERRY
CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. >> I'LL CHANGE THE NAME OF MY
>> OKAY. I HAVE TO TELL YOU, MY FAVORITE PART OF MEETINGS RIGHT NOW IS THE SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. I LOVE YOUR SHOTS, OF WHAT'S ALL THE AMAZING THINGS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S INCREDIBLE TO CELEBRATE THAT AT THE MEETINGS. THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON. WE MENTIONED THE PARADES. I WANT TO ADD THAT THE PRINCE FREDERICK PARADE THAT WE WILL BE IN IS AT 10:00 AND THE ST. LEONARD WILL START AT 4:00. IF YOU CAN MAKE ANY OF THOSE, PLEASE DO. LET'S SEE. CCPS GRADUATES OF THE CULINARY PROGRAM ARE CELEBRATED AT CHESAPEAKE CHURCH AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE GRADUATES. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR INVITING US TO THEIR FIRST MEETING IN THE NEW COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. WE WERE TREATED TO A TOUR, AND IT IS TRULY AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING. I'D LIKE TO THANK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR INVITING US TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK AS GUEST READERS. THAT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE ACTIVITIES TO ATTEND. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK MR. FULTON, AT BEACH ELEMENTARY FOR INVITING US TO HIS FOURTH GRADE PRODUCTION OF RUDOLPH. THOSE KIDS ARE FOURTH GRADERS, AND THEY DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB EVERY YEAR. IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH. I HAD A BLAST AT THE RECENT FOOTBALL GAME. IT'S INCREDIBLE TO GO TO A FOOTBALL TEAM AND ROOT FOR BOTH TEAMS. YOU CAN'T LOSE. SO, IT WAS AN AWESOME GAME. I'M NOT A HUGE FOOTBALL SPECTATOR, BUT, BOY, DID I ENJOY THAT GAME. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN TO WATCH. THERE WAS GREAT SPORTSMANSHIP DISPLAYED ON BOTH TEAMS. WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS. IT WAS JUST A FANTASTIC DAY. HAPPY
HOLIDAYS. >> THANK YOU. I, TOO, HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO ST. LEONARD AND DO SOME READING. I'M SAD THAT I DIDN'T MAKE THE POWERPOINT BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE SOME PICTURES AT THE TWO SCHOOLS AND I'LL BE SURE TO SEND THEM ALONG WITH A SIGNATURE. NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
I'M GOING TO BE AT PLUM POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEXT WEEK, FOR SOME PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND WE'LL ALSO BE AT EMIGRANT HIGH SCHOOL FOR THEIR ANNUAL HEALTH FAIR, LOOKING FORWARD TO ATTENDING THAT AS WELL. ALONG WITH ALL OF THE PARADES AND THE OTHER FESTIVITIES THAT ARE
[01:25:03]
HAPPENING. I WISH EVERYBODY A VERY PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS AND PEACEFUL HAPPY HOLIDAYS* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.