[00:00:29]
          A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATE AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. 
          THANK YOU. I'M NEXT, WE HAVE THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 
          [Election of Officers]
          >> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE WITH JANA AS THE PRESIDENT AND LISA AS THE VICE PRESIDENT. 
          [Eagle Scout Resolution]
          >> SECOND. >> THERE IS A MOTION AND A 
          SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIES 5-0. UP NEXT, WE WILL HAVE THE EAGLE SCOUT RESOLUTIONS, AND THEY WILL BE READ BY MISS ALLISON. SHE'S GOING TO READ ALL THREE AND WE WILL MOTION AT THE END. WHEREAS RAY HOLMBERG HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BY BEING ELEVATED TO EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING, AND HIS PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT HIM THIS HONOR AND TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF EAGLE, RAY EARNED 29 MERIT BADGES, SOME OF THEM REQUIRED AND OTHERS OF HIS CHOOSING AND RACE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AT GATEWAY PRESERVE IN PORT REPUBLIC. HIS PROJECT INVOLVED CONSTRUCTING A LEVEL PATIO AREA ON HILLSIDE WHICH WAS THEN BACKFILLED WITH SAND AND GRAVEL, ADDITIONALLY HE WAS HE REFURBISHED TWO PICNIC TABLES BY INSTALLING NEW SURFACES AND BENCHES. THE EFFORT CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO TRANSFORMING THE PRESERVE INTO A FULLY DEVELOPED PUBLIC LAND AND RAY HELD A VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS INCLUDING TROOP GUIDE, SENIOR PATROL LEADER, SCRIBE, HISTORIAN, AND OUTDOOR ETHICS GUIDE AND THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY JOIN THE FRIENDS, AND MEMBERS OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 430 IN COMMENDING RAY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ATTAINMENT OF EAGLE SCOUT AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WISH HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING HIS PERSONAL AND 
          PROFESSIONAL GOALS. >> SKYLER DAVID LESTER HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BY BEING ELEVATED TO EAGLE SCOUT , THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING AND HIS PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT, DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT HIM THIS HONOR AND TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF EAGLE, SKYLER EARNED 37 MERIT BADGES, SOME OF THEM REQUIRED AND OTHERS OF HIS CHOOSING AND SKYLER SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AT CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOL. HIS PROJECT FOCUS ON FOCUSED -- ON BUILDING A SUSPENDED BRIDGE ACROSS THE RAVINE, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SAFE AND EASY ACCESS TO THE NATURE TRAIL BEHIND THE SCHOOL. SKYLER DESIGNED THE BRIDGE TO BE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, INCORPORATING SMOOTH RAMP TRANSITIONS FOR EFFORTLESS ENTRY AND EXIT. THE STRUCTURE SPANS 32 FEET ACROSS THE RAVINE AND IS SUSPENDED 12 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ENSURING BOTH FUNCTIONALITY AND DURABILITY. SKYLER IS A JUNIOR AT CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL AND AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF SEVERAL TEAMS INCLUDING BASEBALL, FOR ALL, WRESTLING AND UNIFIED BOWLING AND CORN HOLE. 
          HE IS CURRENTLY IN ENROLLED IN THE CTA CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROGRAM WELL CONSISTENTLY MAINTAINING HIGH HONOR ROLL STATUS. IN ADDITION, SKYLER IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. THEREFORE BE AT THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY JOIN THE FAMILY FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 430 IN COMMENDING SKYLER UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS ATTAINMENT OF EAGLE SCOUT AND BE IT FURTHER THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WISH HIM EVERY SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING HIS PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. AIDAN 
          [00:05:08]
PATRICK WILLIAM HARRINGTON HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AMONG THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BY BEING ELEVATED TO EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING AND HIS PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT, DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP, COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF SCOUTING AND SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY HAVE BROUGHT HIM THIS HONOR AND TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF EAGLE, AIDAN EARNED A 29 MERIT BADGES, SOME OF THEM REQUIRED AND OTHERS OF HIS CHOOSING AND AIDAN SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED HIS EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AT KINGS LANDING PARK, DESIGNING AND CONSTRUCTING FOR NEW FIREWOOD STORAGE BOXES TO REPLACE THE OLD, DETERIORATING ONES. THE UPDATED DESIGN FEATURES DURABLE METAL ROOFING MATERIAL TO KEEP THE WOOD DRY AND ENSURE LONG-LASTING PERFORMANCE AND AIDAN HAS HELD HER VARIETY OF LEADERSHIP POSITIONS INCLUDING LIBRARIAN, HISTORIAN AND WEBMASTER AND AIDAN, A 20 2025 GRADUATE OF CALVERT HIGH SCHOOL, EARNED HIS VARSITY LETTER IN LACROSSE AND SPENT THREE YEARS PARTICIPATING IN JROTC. 
          [PUBLIC FORUM]
          >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR , AYE. THANK YOU. 
          >> UP NEXT, WE WILL HAVE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. 
          >> THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN. THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS IS LIMITED TO 30. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SPEAK, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO MINUTES. PERSONS ON THE SIGN-UP SHEET MAY NOT 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 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 THE BOARD OF EDUCATION VALUES YOUR COMMENTS AND CONCERNS, THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING, AND THE BOARD CANNOT RESPOND TO YOUR QUESTIONS OR ENTER INTO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU DURING THE MEETING. CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RESPOND TO THE ISSUES YOU RAISE IF YOU PROVIDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION WHEN YOU SIGN IN. 
          WRITTEN COMMENTS ARE WELCOME AT ANY TIME, FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BOARD. 
          >> OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS NANCY KRAUSE. 
          >> GOOD EVENING. NANCY KRAUSE, PRIVILEGED CITIZEN WHO LIVES IN SOLOMON, MARYLAND. FIRST, THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST, THEN THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT, BECAUSE I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW. THEN THEY CAME FOR ME AND THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME. THIS IS WHY I COME TO THESE MEETINGS, TO STAND UP FOR THOSE WHO ARE MARGINALIZED, DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR, THIS HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED THROUGH THE FOLLOWING TWO ACTIONS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TOOK. I REMEMBER SO CLEARLY BEING A NEWBIE TO THESE MEETINGS, SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, KNITTING, WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ANTIRACISM POLICY WAS BEING REMOVED FROM THE SCHOOL PLATFORM. I SAT UP A LITTLE STRAIGHTER, LOOKED AROUND, IN SHOCK. WHAT DID I MISS? DID RACISM SUDDENLY LEAVE CALVERT COUNTY? DID SOMEONE WAVE A MAGIC WAND AND POUF, THIS TERRIBLE PART OF OUR SOCIETY WAS REMOVED? ANOTHER INCIDENT WAS THE REMOVAL OF THE SAFE SPACE STICKERS AFTER A BOARD MEMBER SHARED CONCERN THAT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE GROOMING WITH THE USE OF THE STICKERS . ONCE AGAIN I SAT UP STRAIGHTER AND LOOKED AROUND, DID THE BOARD FEEL ARE DEDICATED TEACHERS, COUNSELORS AND THOSE WHO WORK TIRELESSLY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS WERE PEDOPHILES AND USING SAFE STICKERS TO LURE CHILDREN INTO THE UNSAFE SITUATIONS? I'M NOT NAÏVE, I DO KNOW CHILD ABUSE CAN BE PRESENT, ANYWHERE, AND THERE IS A CURRENT INVESTIGATION GOING ON IN MONTGOMRY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. OUR LGBTQ+ YOUTH NEED OUR SUPPORT AND WE SHOULD NOT BE TAKING AWAY SAFETY ISSUES, RATHER PROVIDING THEM MORE SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM. I HAVE INCLUDED THIS PRINTOUT, GIVEN TO ALL OF YOU, THAT 
          [00:10:06]
INCLUDES STATISTICS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO READ. THANK 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
          YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. 
          >> THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING. 
          >> THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. 
          >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. 
          >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AYE, MOTION CARRIES, 5-0. ARE WE TRYING TO SET A RECORD DR. 
          [SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]
NEWSOME? OKAY, I KNEW THERE WAS A CATCH COME UP NEXT IS OUR 
          SUPERINTENDENCE REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY, I DO HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION THIS EVENING. 
          SUPERINTENDENCE REPORT . THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN CALVERT COUNTY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVERY DAY, AND SO, I HAVE A SNAPSHOT OF A FEW THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, THIS IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE OF A COUPLE OF THEIR KINDERGARTNERS DOING A READING LESSON WHILE WE WERE ACTUALLY HAVING AN INSTRUCTIONAL WALK THAT DAY AT THEIR SCHOOL . YEAH, I SHOULD TURN IT ON. OKAY, SO AS I SPEAK TONIGHT, AT THE CAREER AND TECH CENTER, WE HAVE AN OPEN HOUSE AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FLYER WELL, LET ME BACK UP, THIS YEAR ALREADY, WE HAVE HAD MORE STUDENTS TO REGISTER OR I GUESS, TO APPLY , FOR THE CAREER TECH ACADEMY THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE, THE NUMBERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UP FROM WHAT THEY WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A GREAT INTEREST AT LOOKING LONG TERM, WE HAVE TO CONSIDER WAYS THAT WE CAN ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED, FOR THE CLASS OF 2028, THERE WILL BE AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE CAREER TECH ACADEMY, I'M SORRY, THE OPEN HOUSES TONIGHT AND THE APPLICATIONS ARE DUE FOR THE CLASS OF 2028, BY JANUARY 30TH. 
          I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DR. KRYSTAL REX, FOR BEING SELECTED TO SERVE AS A NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHER ASSOCIATION STEM FELLOW AND AS A PART OF HER FELLOWSHIP, THIS APRIL IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, SHE WILL BE ONE OF THE PRESENTERS AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. MOST OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SWOT ANALYSIS, THAT'S BEEN AN ORGANIZATION THAT LOOKS AT THE STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS, AND SO, WE HAVE DONE THAT, I CONSIDER THIS ON STEROIDS, THE BOARD VOTED TO CONTRACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE EFFICIENCY ASSESSMENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE AREAS OF FINANCE, HUMAN RESOURCES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. PUPIL SERVICES AND FACILITIES WERE NOT PART OF THAT PACKAGE BUT THEY ADDED THAT IN, MANY OF YOU HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO INTERVIEW WITH THEM, THEY WERE HERE FOR A FULL WEEK IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, THEY CONDUCTED OVER 200 FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEWS, AND THEY POSTED A SURVEY WHERE WE HAD OVER 800 EMPLOYEES WHO RESPONDED. TODAY I ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THAT REPORT, IT'S WELL OVER 500 PAGES. IT IS MORE DETAIL THAN WE CAN GET OUR ARMS AROUND IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. WE WILL HAVE THE PROJECT MANAGER, DR. JOANNE COX, WHO WILL BE HERE ON THE BOARD MEETING ON FAIRBURY 12TH, TWO PRESENT THE FINAL REPORT, THEN OUR TEAM WILL GET TOGETHER AND START TO DEVELOP A STRATEGIC PLAN TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETED FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE, SO THAT WE CAN DETERMINE MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR STUDENTS. I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE OUR EXECUTIVE LEADERS AND THE ACADEMY THAT IS WELL UNDERWAY, WE ACTUALLY HAD OUR SECOND 
          [00:15:03]
SESSION LAST WEEK, AND WE HAD A DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF THREE SUPERINTENDENTS, HERE IN MARYLAND. DR. CHERYL DYSON, WHO IS IN FREDERICK COUNTY, DR. MARANO, HE AND I WERE FRIENDS FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS, WE STARTED OUT AS PRINCIPAL TOGETHER. HE ALSO SERVED AS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR WEST VIRGINIA. HE CAME OUT OF RETIREMENT AND IS NOW SUPERINTENDENT OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND THEN OUR NEIGHBOR IN CHARLES COUNTY, DR. MARIA NAVARRO, WHO IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE LEADING VOICES IN ANY ROOM THAT WE SEE HER IN, SO IT WAS A GREAT SESSION AND WE HAVE ABOUT 25 OF OUR LEADERS HERE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS ACADEMY. SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE HISTORY WORLD FAIR, WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN A REENACTMENT OF THE CHICAGO WORLD'S FAIR OF 1893. IT IS A CULMINATION OF THEIR HISTORY CLASS PROJECT, PROJECT-BASED LEARNING WHERE STUDENTS ARE ADORNING THE AUTHENTIC FASHIONS OF THE 1800S AND YOU CAN SEE FROM THESE TWO STUDENTS, WHEN HE FIRST WALKED IN THE DOOR, THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WERE ABLE TO RECITE , THEY MEMORIZE THE HISTORY AND THE ARTIFACT THAT THEY WERE SHARING WITH US, THE SPONSORS WERE ROBIN JAMES, LINDY MORRIS AND RACHEL YONKERS AND THIS IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS WITH ONE OF OUR NINTH GRADE STUDENTS, YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT, THERE WAS A BOOTH THEREFORE THE BUFFALO BILL WILD NEED MORE HISTORY ABOUT BUFFALO BILL THAN I THINK ALL OF US DO TOGETHER TONIGHT. THIS IS ONE OF THE BOOTHS, YOU SEE THE STUDENTS, THEY ARE ADVERTISING THE WORLD'S SMALLEST ELEPHANT. 
          HERE'S A REPLICA OF THE WORLD'S FAIR FERRIS WHEEL, THIS YOUNG MAN ACTUALLY DESIGNED IT HIMSELF, IN THE MIDDLE I THINK THESE TWO YOUNG LADIES WERE REPORTING ON THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIME AND HERE'S THE TYPEWRITER THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT AND I BELIEVE ON THE RIGHT, THEY WERE SHARING RESEARCH ON THOMAS EDISON AND YOU CAN SEE THE AUTHENTIC COSTUMES, THEY WERE REALLY INTO THIS. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THE COMMUNITY AND SPEND TIME WALKING THE PARADE ROUTE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WE ALL GOT THROUGH IT, NONE OF US WERE OUT OF BREATH, IT WAS A GREAT TIME AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY WE SAW OUT THERE THAT DAY. I'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND MEETINGS, MY GOAL IS TO ATTEND AT LEAST ONE FACULTY MEETING AND EVERY SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND THIS WAS JUST BEFORE THE BREAK, SO YOU WILL SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE DRESSED IN THEIR FESTIVE, SEASONAL ATTIRE, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO MEET THE TEACHERSAND SHARE SOME UPDATES WITH THEM AND TO GET FEEDBACK. ONCE A WEEK WE HAVE OUR STUDENT CAFÉ THAT IS MANNED BY THE STUDENTS FROM CALVERT COUNTRY AND THEY ARE ALL SMILES WHEN THEY COME HERE AND THEY SERVE THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY COME IN AND THIS IS ANOTHER FACULTY MEETING AT PATUXENT ELEMENTARY. I THOUGHT THIS WAS REALLY UNIQUE. IT WAS THE FALCON TEAM THAT'S MY FACULTY MEETING AT BARSTOW AND WHAT WERE THE CHANCES THREE STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED BARSTOW CAME BACK TO BECOME TEACHERS, ALL THE SAME YEAR, THIS YEAR, FIRST-YEAR TEACHERS, ALL IN THE SAME GRADE LEVEL, ALL THREE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. WHAT ARE THE ODDS? YEAH, AWESOME. COME BACK HOME. WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER PROJECT-BASED LEARNING ACTIVITY, THE HEALTHCARE, SPONSORED BY THE ALLEY, AND THE STUDENTS, THEY JUST DID A WONDERFUL JOB, YOU SEE THE STUDENTS TO THE RIGHT OF THE TABLE, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA, HERE, THERE'S ANOTHER SESSION TO THE LEFT, THEY PRESENTED ON VAPING, TO THE RIGHT, YOU CAN'T SEE THAT . I'M NOT GOING TO GUESS, BUT ANY EVENT, THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB, ANYTIME I GO BY THEM MIDDLE SCHOOL I TAKE PICTURES. I WAS HERE YESTERDAY, TO MEET WITH THE FACULTY AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND YOU CAN SEE THEY HAVE 
          [00:20:01]
ACTUALLY STARTED TO CLOSE IN PART OF THE BUILDING. SO LOTS OF GOOD PROGRESS. AND THE ARCHITECTS AND THE ENGINEERS CAME TO DO A PRESENTATION TO ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN THE STUDENT ASSEMBLY TO TALK ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BUILDING, THE ENGINEERING, HOW IT'S DESIGNED, WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME A GREEN SCHOOL AND THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND IT WAS A REALLY INFORMATIVE AFTERNOON. WE ALSO HAD OUR SUPERINTENDENTS OPEN HOUSE, AND I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENTS FROM BEACH AND CALVERT ELEMENTARY WHO SERENADED US THROUGHOUT THE MEETING. IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. WE ALSO HAD STUDENTS, I BELIEVE THEY WERE FROM HONEY TOWN OF MARY. I ALSO ATTENDED THE CHARACTER ASSEMBLY, HIGHLIGHT OF THE MORNING FOR ME WAS THE ENDING ACTIVITY WAS A SQUARE DANCE SO I GOT TO SQUARE DANCE WITH SOME OF THE KINDERGARTNERS. WE HAVE SUCH A BENEVOLENT COMMUNITY HERE. WE ALL REMEMBER THE FIRE AT FISHING CREEK APARTMENTS IN CHESAPEAKE BEACH, THE STUDENTS ON BUS 89 SAW THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER LAST WEEK, WENT TO THE BUS DRIVER AND SAID WE WANT TO HELP SOME OF THE FAMILIES WHO ARE DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE, SO STUDENTS FROM NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL, WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, BEACH ELEMENTARY RAISED $2600 TO SUPPORT THE FAMILIES, AND WE LOVE TO SEE THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT FROM EVERY SCHOOL, FOR THEM TO IDENTIFY A PERSON OR A COMMUNITY IN NEED, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING, GIVING BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY. I'M GOING TO END HERE, WITH A NEW INITIATIVE, WHICH IS CALLED THE SUPERINTENDENT LIGHTHOUSE AWARD AND WE ARE JUST STARTING. WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST RECIPIENTS IN FEBRUARY AND EVERY MONTH WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE THREE STUDENTS , ONE FROM ELEMENTARY, ONE FOR MIDDLE AND ONE FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WE WILL RECOGNIZE AN EDUCATOR FROM THOSE SCHOOLS, EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATOR. SO, WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, INNOVATION, AND THOSE WHO INSPIRE OTHERS TO EXCELLENCE. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. WE JUST RELEASED THIS I BELIEVE, WEDNESDAY, WE PUBLISHED THIS AND WITHIN THE FIRST FEW HOURS WE HAD OVER 50 NOMINEES, SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY POPULAR. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. 
          >> THANK YOU DR. NEWSOME. OF NEXT WE HAVE OUR STUDENT MEMBER 
          [STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT]
          OF THE BOARD REPORT. >> AND EVENING, I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GREAT WINTER BREAK. AND OUR READJUSTING TO THE SCHOOL ROUTINES AS THE SECOND QUARTER COMES TO AN END. I DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TO REPORT, BUT STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT APPLICATIONS ARE OUT INTO TOMORROW FOR ANY 10TH AND 11TH GRADERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN APPLYING, SO NEXT YEAR'S MEMBER WILL BE ELECTED BY THE STUDENT COUNCILS IN FEBRUARY AT THE THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IT'S REALLY EXCITING NEWS. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO MEET THE CANDIDATES VERY SOON IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF 
          [Policies for Review]
INTERESTED STUDENTS. THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT, THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. >> UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR ACTION ITEMS, AND UP FIRST, WE HAVE POLICIES FOR REVIEW, 1320 SUPERINTENDENT ACTING FOR THE POOR, MS. MAXEY, WHILE WE ARE ON THIS SECTION, IT LOOKS LIKE THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION LINK IS NOT 
          WORKING ON THE INTERNET. >> 
          >> OKAY. IT'LL BE POSTED AT A LATER TIME. OKAY, AND THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT, THANK YOU. SORRY, GO AHEAD. 
          >> GOOD EVENING , MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, I'M HERE TO REVIEW POLICY 1320, REGARDING PERMITTING THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ACT FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. WE HAVE REVIEWED THIS POLICY AND WE HAVE NO ADJUSTMNTS AT THIS TIME. 
          >> ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU, SEEING NINE, THIS WILL BE 
          [00:25:10]
POSTED FOR FOUR WEEKS, UP TO, FOUR WEEKS. OF NEXT, WE HAVE POLICY 6036, OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION OF CERTIFICATED 
          EMPLOYEES. >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES. I'M HERE TO REVIEW POLICY 6036 AND PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. POLICIES 6036 IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE CLEAR AND FAIR PROCESSES FOR THE OBSERVATION AND EVALUATION OF NONADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES. THIS INCLUDES OUR TEACHERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT REQUIRING AN MSD CREDENTIAL. MY TEAM AND I HAVE REVIEWED THIS POLICY AND WE LIKE TO RECOMMEND UPDATING THE POLICY TO INCLUDE THE NEW CERTIFICATION TERMINOLOGY NOW USED BY, SPECIFICALLY I RECOMMEND THAT THE TERM LICENSURE BE USED IN ADDITION TO THAT CERTIFICATION THROUGHOUT THE POLICY TO REFLECT THE UPDATED LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE MSDE REQUIRED CREDENTIALS. IN 2024, ADOPTED NEW REGULATIONS REGARDING TEACHER CREDENTIALS AND MOVED FROM THE TERM CERTIFICATION TO LICENSURE, AS OUR EMPLOYEE CERTIFICATION EXPIRES, IT'S NOW BEING RENEWED AS LICENSURE. AS MOST CERTIFICATIONS ARE VALID FOR FIVE YEARS, THIS TRANSITION TO THE NEW LICENSURE WILL TAKE PLACE NOW THROUGH 2028 AT WHICH TIME EVERYONE WILL HAVE TRANSITIONED TO THE NEW LICENSURE MODEL. UNTIL THEN WE WILL HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT HOLD EITHER AT MSDE CERTIFICATION OR MSDE LICENSURE. SO WE WANT TO ENSURE THE POLICY IS CLEAR AND INCLUDES BOTH TERMS UNTIL THAT TIME, SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING 
          THIS EDIT TO INCLUDE THOSE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, SEEING 
          [Financial Discussion]
MAN, THIS POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR UP TO FOUR WEEKS FOR REVIEW 
          AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> THANK YOU. OF NEXT WE HAVE THE FINANCIAL DISCUSSION, MR. 
          JOHNSON? >> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT POST, DR. NEWSOME, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MY NAME IS SCOTT JOHNSON AND I SERVE AS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . IN THE NEXT FEW MINUTES I WILL PRESENT THE NOVEMBER 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND AND AFTERWARDS, I'LL PRESENT THE MULTI-YEAR EXPENDITURE COMPARISON BY BUDGET CATEGORY . 
          THANK YOU. IT'S GOOD, THANK YOU. AND AFTER THESE REPORTS ARE PRESENTED, EXCUSE ME, A PROPOSED , REGARDING THE 27 BUDGET. 
          LET'S TURN TO THE NOVEMBER FINANCIAL REPORTS. IN THE NEXT MOMENT, THREE REPORTS WILL BE PRESENTED, INCLUDING THE UNRESTRICTED FUND REVENUE TAX REPORT AND TO MAKE IT EASIER TO READ THIS REPORT, THE REPORT WILL BE SPLIT INTO THREE SLIDES, AND TWO REPORTS FOR THE UNRESTRICTED FUND, THESE TWO VERSIONS WILL INCLUDE ONE BUDGET CATEGORY AND ONE WILL BE PRESENTED BY BUDGET TYPE EXPENDITURE. IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO NOTE THAT THE DISTRICT WAS LESS THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, ACTUALLY 41.6% AS OF NOVEMBER 30. THE DATE ON WHICH THESE REPORTS ARE BASED. WITH THAT, LET'S TURN TO THE FIRST REPORT. THIS REPORT IS THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT FOR REVENUE IN THE UNRESTRICTED FUND. IN THIS FIRST LIGHT OF THE TOP ONE THIRD OF THE REVENUE REPORT, THE HIGHLIGHTED ACCOUNTS, YOU CAN SEE READ HERE, ORANGE BOXES, OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS AND SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE RECEIVED HALF $1 MILLION FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WE SEE THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED OVER $725,000 AS OF NOVEMBER 30, IN INTEREST EARNINGS, AND THAT'S COMPARED TO THE $900,000 THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THE FISCAL YEAR. SO THE DISTRICT IS POISED TO EXCEED THAT BUDGET TARGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR INTEREST EARNINGS. TURNING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS A CONTINUATION OF THE BOTTOM THIRD OF THE REVENUE REPORT, YOU WILL SEE THE DISTRICT HAD RECEIVED $111 MILLION AS OF NOVEMBER 30 AND THIS EQUATES TO 38.7% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE BUDGET FOR THIS 
          [00:30:05]
UNRESTRICTED FUND. THAT'S RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THE PERCENTAGE OF THE FISCAL YEAR THAT'S BEEN FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR. LET'S TURN TO THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT . THE FIRST IS PRESENTED BY BUDGET CATEGORY AND WHEN THE BOARD ADOPTED, IT ADOPTS IT BY BUDGET CATEGORY. ON THE SLIDE, I WILL HIGHLIGHT ONE BUDGET CATEGORY THAT WAS NOTABLY BELOW BUDGET AND THAT WAS THE INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND WAGES CATEGORY IN GREEN. AND I WOULD NOTE THAT THIS CATEGORY WILL STILL INCUR EXTRA DUTY PAY AND OTHER COSTS, SO THE AVAILABLE BALANCE WILL DECLINE AS THE FISCAL YEAR PROGRESSES. WE WILL ALSO SEE ON THE SLIDE THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES THAT ARE SHOWING FISCAL STRESS AS SHOWN IN THE RED BOXES, TRANSPORTATION AND FIXED CHARGES. FOR TRANSPORTATION, WE EXPECT THE TRANSPORTATION CATEGORY TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR WITH THIS FISCAL STRESS ALTHOUGH ANY UNDERSTANDING IN THE CATEGORY WILL MITIGATE THAT STRESS. BUT NOT LIKELY ELIMINATE IT COMPLETELY. LOOKING AT THE FIXED CHARGES, WE SEE A $-2.1 MILLION IN THE AVAILABLE BALANCE COLUMN AND THIS OVERAGE IS SPECIFICALLY IN EMPLOYEE GROUP, HEALTH, DENTAL VISION INSURANCE ACCOUNTS. THE AMOUNT FOR THIS ACCOUNT WAS REDUCED A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IT WILL BE REDUCED AGAIN, TO BETTER REFLECT PROJECTED FY 26 EMPLOYEE INSURANCE COST, NOW THAT WE ARE ALMOST MIDWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, TURNING TO THE EXPENDITURE TOTALS ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS REPORT, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE DISTRICT HAD ENCUMBERED $185.2 MILLION AND HAD EXPENDED $89.6 MILLION AS OF NOVEMBER 30, AND THAT LEFT ON NOVEMBER30, AND AVAILABLE BALANCE OF $13.3 MILLION. NOT ALL COSTS ARE ENCUMBERED AS WE GO TO THE FISCAL YEAR. AND SO, THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT CCPS WILL HAVE $13 MILLION AVAILABLE TO EXPAND ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUNE, THE NUMBER WILL SHRINK AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL -- YES ? MARK 
          >> ARE YOU MAKING A MANUAL ENTRY TO ADJUST THOSE BALANCES OR ARE THEY AUTOMATICALLY REDUCED FROM PAYMENT? 
          >> MOST OF THEM ARE AUTOMATICALLY REDUCED BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR, IT'S FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, IT'S NOT 
          AUTOMATICALLY REDUCED . >> THANKS. 
          >> YOU'RE WELCOME, GOOD QUESTION. 
          >> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUDGET TO ACTUAL SIDE FOR EXPENDITURES BY TYPE OF EXPENDITURE, AND THE LIST OF OBJECTS ARE SHOWN IN THE SECOND COLUMN , WEARS HIS TITLE IN SALARIES AND SO ON. WE CAN SEE IN THE FAR RIGHT SIDE OF THE SCREEN THERE WAS AN AVAILABLE BALANCE OF, MEANING UNSPENT AND UNENCUMBERED OF $11.4 MILLION. FOR SALARIES AND WAGES BUT AS NOTED, SOME WAGE COSTS ARE NOT ENCUMBERED LIKE SUBSTITUTE WAGE COST AND COST FOR EXTRA DUTY, EXTRA PAY AND CERTAIN TYPES OF WAGE AND SALARY COSTS ARE NOT ENCUMBERED SO THIS NUMBER IS EXPECTED TO DECLINE AS THE YEAR PROGRESSES -- PROGRESSES. AND ONE OTHER CHANGE, AND THIS OVERAGE IS DUE TO THE GROUP HEALTH DENTAL AND INSURANCE THAT I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, AND THE ENCUMBRANCE HAS REDUCED THE AVAILABLE BALANCE FOR OTHER CHARGES AND IT WILL TURN POSITIVE. THE NEXT SLIDE, OH, I'M SORRY, YOU SEE THE SAME TOTALS, WE HAVE SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 95% OF THE BUDGET SO FAR THIS FISCAL YEAR. THIS NEXT SLIDE IS NOT A BUDGET TO ACTUAL REPORT, INSTEAD IT'S A MULTIYEAR COMPARISON OF EXPENDITURES BY BUDGET CATEGORY. 
          THIS WAS PREPARED AT THE REQUEST OF A BOARD MEMBER AND THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THE PINK COLUMN ACTUALLY, IT LOOKS MORE GRAY ON THE SLIDE OR ON THE SCREEN, IS FOR PRIOR-YEAR DATA, FY 24 AND FY 25 ACTUALS AGAIN IT PRESENTED BY THE EXPENDITURE CATEGORY. AND THEN THE NEXT COLUMN OVER, THE LIGHT GREEN COLUMN SHOWS THE AMOUNT THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED BACK IN JUNE. I'M GOING FURTHER TO THE RIGHT, YOU WILL SEE IN LIGHT BLUE, UPDATED FY 26 PREDICTIONS, AGAIN THIS IS FIVE MONTHS AND WE ARE NOT QUITE THROUGH THE YEAR. AND THEN YOU 
          [00:35:06]
CAN SEE ESTIMATED DOLLAR CHANGE BY BUDGET CATEGORY WITH CURRENTLY NO PROJECTED CHANGE IN TOTAL EXPENDITURES ALTHOUGH THAT CERTAINLY CHANGES AS THE YEAR GOES BY. AND THEN, ALMOST NEAR THE END OF THE PRESENTATION , ONE FOOTNOTE TO THE SLIDE NEAR THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE SCREEN, YOU WILL SEE $1.75 MILLION LINE FOR DOLLAR CHANGE AND FIXED CHARGES , WITH THE NOW PLANNED SECOND REDUCTION IN GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE, HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE, THE PROJECTED $1.7 MILLION INCREASE IS LIKELY TO BE UNNECESSARY OR DISCUSSIONS LIFE, THE SLIDE PRESENTS A FEW BOARD DISCUSSION TOPICS OR QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER, AND TO DISCUSS AS THE BOARD REVIEWS THE FY 27 BUDGET THAT WILL BE PRESENTED IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND WITH THAT I CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION AND I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY 
          QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. >> MR. HARRISON? 
          >> THANK YOU, SCOTT, SO, I NOTICED IN THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS WE ARE ON TRACK TO GET ABOUT $267 MILLION USING THE STRAIGHT LINE FOR REVENUE. SO, WE ARE RELYING FULLY ON THE 11.7 OF FUND BALANCE FOR FY 26, IS THAT CORRECT? 
          >> CURRENTLY, BUT, WE WERE LESS THAN HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT ESTIMATE CAN CERTAINLY BE REVISED AS THE YEAR 
          PROGRESSES. >> YOU DON'T EXPECT THAT ON THE EXPENSE I THAT WE WILL BE 11.7 UNDER BUDGET ON THAT? 
          >> NO, I DON'T. NOR, DO I EXPECT THAT WE WOULD SPEND EVERY 
          SINGLE DOLLAR BUDGETED. >> SO THAT'S WHY I SAY CAUTION ON THE FLAT FUNDING, BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY TARGETED TO USE 11.7 OF THE BANK MONEY AND NEXT YEAR WOULD BE WORSE. UNLESS, DR. 
          NEWSOME CAN COME UP WITH SOME MONEY FROM MARYLAND. 
          >> LOOK AT ALL THIS, WE TURNED OUR HEADS QUICK. IS THAT NUMBER SUPPOSED TO COME OUT? YOU SAID IT WAS MAYBE IN A COUPLE OF 
          WEEKS? >> THE GOVERNOR HAS RELEASED HIS BUDGET. I DON'T KNOW THAT OUR STAFF HAS RECEIVED THE LINE ITEMS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHERE THE ALLOCATIONS 
          WOULD BE AT THIS POINT. >> SO THAT NUMBER FROM THE STATE IS $109 MILLION, WAS THAT YOUR NUMBER BACK ON SLIDE NUMBER TWO? 154 FROM THE COUNTY, ALMOST 110 FROM THE STATE? THAT'S WHY I JUST WENT TO CAUTION EVERYBODY THAT WE ARE NOT IN A GOOD 
          TRAJECTORY. >> THANK YOU, SCOTT. 
          >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. JOHNSON. NEXT, 
          [FUTURE BUSINESS]
WE HAVE FUTURE BUSINESS, IS THERE ANY? NO? 
          >> I WANT TO MENTION ONE THING AFTER THE SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT AND THINGS. I THINK, WE GET SO FOCUSED ON KERWIN AND WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND KERWIN, ESPECIALLY CTA, THEY WILL HAVE AN ENORMOUS CLASS COMING IN AND I WONDER IF THAT FACILITY IS BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE DEMAND AND I DON'T THINK IT IS. 
          >> IT'S NOT. >> WE ARE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS 
          ALREADY. >> IS THERE ANYTHING, I WISH SHE WAS HERE BUT IS THERE ANYTHING IN PLANNING FOR A GREATER CTA OR INDEPENDENT CTA BUILDING OR IS IT GOING TO STAY WHERE IT IS? 
          >> I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BUILDING OR EXPANDING CTA, IN ANY DEPTH. 
          >> IT'S NOT IN THE CIP AT THIS POINT. 
          >> THAT'S WHY I WONDER, WE MIGHT WANT TO GET AHEAD OF THAT BEFORE WAITINGFOR THE STATE TO GET INVOLVED AND WE MIGHT WANT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN EXPAND INTO TEMPORARY STRUCTURES OR SOMETHING TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND. AND I SAY THIS AT A PERSONAL BENEFIT, MY SON IS A STEAM, FOURTH-YEAR APPRENTICING CAME THROUGH MR. BRADFORD'S PLAN OR MR. 
          [00:40:11]
BRADFORD'S CLASS, AND HE'S DOING REALLY WELL FOR HIMSELF. I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOT OF KIDS. 
          >> YEAH, FOR SURE. >> I THINK IF WE BUILD ANOTHER BUILDING, IT WOULD BE FULL CAPACITY AS WELL. WE HAVE ENOUGH 
          STUDENTS, THE NEED IS THERE. >> YEAH, AND MY DAUGHTER IS IN THE AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM, SO, I THINK THAT HAS OPPORTUNITY AS 
          [BOARD COMMENTS]
          WELL. >> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL TURN TO BOARD COMMENTS AND WE WILL START WITH MISS JONES? 
          >> THANK YOU. SO, THIS PAST SUNDAY I SAW THE TRI-COUNTY BAND CONCERT. SO WE HAD A MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND IN HIGH SCHOOL BAND, ST. MARY'S, CALVERT COUNTY, AND CHARLES COUNTY . WE HAVE BANNED STUDENTS FROM ALL THREE COUNTIES COME TOGETHER AND PUT ON AN INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE AND I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THEM ON A REALLY SUCCESSFUL CONCERT. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL MUSIC, THE WHOLE TIME, IT SOUNDED PROFESSIONAL, SO I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THEM. 
          >> >> THANK YOU. 
          >> SO THE ONLY THING I REALLY GOT IS SOMETHING MOSTLY OUT OF OUR PURVIEW, ON THE BOARD, SOME OF IT CAME FROM RECENT PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING DATA CENTERS AND I SHARE A CONCERN AND THAT, ESPECIALLY IN THE EXAMPLE WHERE MAYBE LOCATED CLOSE TO OUR SCHOOLS, TYPICAL DATA CENTER REQUIRES A BIG DENT DATA CENTER WILL TAKE ABOUT 5 MILLION GALLONS A DAY OF WATER. THE ENTIRE COUNTY CURRENTLY IS A 6.3 MILLION A DAY AND WE ONLY HAVE THREE AQUIFERS IN THE COUNTY THAT WE CAN DRAW FROM, SO, HAVING ANY OF THAT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL AS ELECTRONIC FIELDS, 49ERS HAVE HAD A LOT OF INJURIES RECENTLY AND HAVE A GIGANTIC SUBSTATION THAT IS NEXT TO THEIR STADIUM AND FACILITY , LONG EXPOSURE OVER TIME CAN BREAKDOWN YOUR CONNECTIVE TISSUE. SO, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO MAYBE HAVE A DISCUSSION AND WATCH THAT VERY CLOSELY IF ANYTHING WILL COME UP CLOSE TO ANY OF OUR SCHOOLS AND PROTECT OUR KIDS. THAT'S ALL 
          I'VE GOT FOR TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU. MR. HARRISON? 
          >> THANK YOU. SO, I WANTED TO JUST THINK BETH MORTON AND HER FOLKS AT HHS HUNTINGTOWN HIGH, INCLUDING MISS GEORGE, WHO RECOGNIZED MY DAUGHTER , HAD A HEALTH ISSUE AND SHE WAS RUSHED BY AMBULANCE TO CALVERT HOSPITAL AND SHE'S OKAY, BUT I WANT TO THANK BETH AND NURSE BLYTHE FOR TAKING CARE OF HER AND MS. CUNNINGHAM . ON THE 20TH OF DECEMBER WE HAVE THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD AND THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN. ALLISON AND I WENT TO THE TRI-COUNTY BAND, I WAS IN THE FRONT ROW, IT WAS PRETTY NICE I LIKE TO THANK BRIAN WELKER FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB AND THE COMPOSERS WHO HAD ONLY TWO DAYS TO BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER, IT WAS SO ENJOYABLE, I JUST THINK THAT IS VALUE BEYOND JUST THE BASIC SUBJECTS. THE MUSIC WAS GREAT AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE, 
          THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. 
          >> I ALSO ATTENDED THE HISTORY FAIR WITH DR. NEWSOME AND JUST SHARE ALL YOUR SENTIMENTS. IT WAS SO AWESOME TO SEE THESE KIDS LIVE OUT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED. I LEARNED A LOT, AS A HUGE DISNEY FAN, I WAS DISAPPOINTED I DID NOT WIN THE DISNEY MATCHING GAME AT ONE BOOTH, SO I NEED TO BRUSH UP ON MY OLD DISNEY MOVIES BUT IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT AND I REALLY, REALLY ENJOYED TALKING TO A BUNCH OF THE KIDS THERE. THE ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE MEETING AT NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER NOW BUT I THINK THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO EDUCATE KIDS ABOUT CAREER PATHS. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT SAME TYPE OF THING AT THE OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL BUT I'M SURE THE STUDENTS GOT A LOT OUT OF IT AND ALWAYS LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE STUDENTS REAL LIFE EXAMPLES OF CAREER 
          [00:45:02]
PATHS. I KNOW THE WATER SAFETY PROGRAM HAPPENED YESTERDAY, WAS IT? IT WAS THIS WEEK. YESTERDAY. THAT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING PROGRAM THAT I GOT TO WATCH LAST YEAR AND I DIDN'T GET TO WATCH THIS YEAR. WE TALKED ABOUT EXPANDING THAT. I KNOW WE ARE IN A TOUGH BUDGET SITUATION BUT I DO JUST WANT TO GIVE CONGRATULATIONS THAT WE CONTINUE THAT PROGRAM. EVEN AT ONE SCHOOL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN ONE PLACE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF WATER THAT WE DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN EXPAND THAT PROGRAM IN THE FUTURE. I'M EXCITED TO RECEIVE THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, 500 PAGES SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD WEEKEND TO ME SO HOPEFULLY I GET THEM ALL, AND THE LAST TWO THINGS, I JUST WONDER THANK YOU DR. NEWSOME, FOR ALL OF THE NEW INITIATIVES THAT YOU BROUGHT, WHEN I GOT THE MAIL ABOUT THE LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS, I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY GREAT. NOT ONLY ARE WE RECOGNIZING STUDENTS BUT YOU KNOW, TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION. I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO YOU KNOW, CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND THAT'S ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT EVERYONE IS DOING AROUND HERE. I LOVE THAT, ARE GREAT SO THANK YOU. AND THE LAST THING I JUST WANT TO SAY IS THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS BEGINNING SOON, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BILLS THAT ARE ALREADY FILED THAT ARE GOING TO POTENTIALLY IMPACT EDUCATION. 
          AND SO, A COUPLE OF THEM THAT PIQUED MY INTEREST I WANTED TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY AWARE OF, THERE'S A CELL PHONE BILL THAT IS BEING PROPOSED AGAIN, IT WAS PROPOSED LAST YEAR. THERE'S ALSO A BILL AROUND MANDATED START TIMES ACROSS THE STATE, MANDATING START TIMES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL . I THINK A LOT OF CONTROVERSY AROUND THAT. SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE, IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOOK AT BILLS, IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME, I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT I WILL SEND YOU THE WEBSITE AND THERE'S A LOT THAT WILL POTENTIALLY IMPACT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SOME OF THESE THINGS GET PAST AND AS A COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUALS, WE SHOULD DO OUR PART AND MAKE SURE OUR LEGISLATORS KNOW WHAT WE SUPPORT AND WHAT WE DON'T. 
          THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> I LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE CALVERT COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS IS TRULY APPRECIATED. THIS AFTERNOON, I ATTENDED THE HEADSTART MEETING, AND I WANTED TO RECOGNIZE TWO OUTSIDE -- OUTSTANDING PEOPLE THAT WERE NOMINATED. FIRST, MR. SOLLECITO, I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT. HE'S A DEDICATED MEMBER OF THE HEADSTART TEAM AND HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AT BARSTOW ELEMENTARY. THIS WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION HIGHLIGHTS NOT ONLY HIS IMPACT, BUT THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT HEADSTART STAFF PLAY IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND STRENGTHENING THE BROADER COMMUNITY. IT ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE TRINA GANT, I'M BEING NOMINATED FOR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE CCPS STAFF MEMBERS CAN ONLY , ONLY CCPS STAFF MEMBERS CAN BE SELECTED, WE ARE THANKFUL TO HAVE HER AS PART OF THE HEADSTART TEAM. I ALSO WANT TO SEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU OUT TO TERESA BOOKER, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR, AND SHE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB . THAT WOMAN IS ON TOP OF OUR HEADSTART PROGRAM AND SHE RUNS THE PROGRAM LIKE A WELL OILED MACHINE. SHE HAS EVERYTHING IN LINE FOR OUR MEETINGS. IT'S AMAZING. I ACTUALLY ENJOY GOING TO THEM AND THE WHOLE TEAM IS AMAZING, BUT SHE IS VERY SPECIAL. IT ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE THREE YOUNG MEN THAT RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, AIDAN HARRINGTON, RAY HOLMBERG, AND SYLER LESTER , ALL OF CALVERT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. 
          THAT IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT, AND THEY DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR PUTTING IN THE WORK TO GET TO THAT LEVEL. PAUL AND I ENJOYED THE TRI-COUNTY BAND CONCERT AT HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS COMPRISED OF CALVERT, ST. MARY'S AND CHARLES COUNTY AND THEY DID A PHENOMENAL JOB . THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE MEETING WAS HEARING DR. NEWSOME TELL US THAT THREE FORMER STUDENTS CAME BACK TO TEACH IN OUR COUNTY. THAT IS SO AWESOME. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO END BY THANKING PAUL HARRISON FOR 
          [00:50:04]
BRINGING THAT TRAILER, SO THAT ALL OF COULD PARTICIPATE IN ALL THREE PARADES THIS YEAR. I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK, PAUL, BUT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AND WE HAD SO MUCH FUN 
          PARTICIPATING. THANK YOU. >> IS ALWAYS HARD TO GO LAST, AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, PAUL ALMOST RAN OVER ME ONLY ONE TIME AT THE PARADE, SO I WANTED TO SHARE SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE COULD SHARE AND THAT WAS IT. THERE WERE SO MANY EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER AND ALSO EARLY IN JANUARY FROM BAND CONCERTS TO PLAYS, PARADES, WINTER SPORTS ARE IN FULL SWING , BUT THERE IS ONE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, I WON'T SAY IT WAS MY FAVORITE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IT BECAUSE IT WAS AWESOME, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO MILL CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL AND LEARN ABOUT THE INVASIVE SPECIES AND THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IN THE CHESAPEAKE REGION FOR THE BLUE CATFISH. WELL MY HUSBAND AND MY CHILDREN ARE AVID FISHERMEN, I CERTAINLY KNEW OF THE BLUE CATFISH FROM THEIR STORIES AND THINGS THAT THEY SHARED, WHAT I NEVER DREAMT OF IN 1 MILLION YEARS WAS EATING THEM . AND THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT THAT THESE CHILDREN PUT INTO, AND THE STAFF, PUT INTO CREATING ESSENTIALLY A MENU AND A MARKETING PLAN , AND ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN EAT THESE BLUE CATFISH AND TO CONVINCE PEOPLE OF WHY THEY SHOULD BE EATEN AND ALSO YOU CAN REPURPOSE THEM AND I'M NOT A FISH PERSON BUT TAKE EVERYBODY'S WORD FOR IT, VERY DELICIOUS, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW IT IS, YOU SHOULD ASK ONE OF THE KIDS, THEY WOULD BE BETTER AT IT THAT I WAS. IT WAS A REALLY AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND WATCH THEIR INTERACTION AND ALL THE THINGS THEY DID, AND I WAS VERY GRATEFUL TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.