[Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]
[00:00:17]
>> >> GOOD EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER. .
>>PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION,
UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >>THANK YOU.
[HHS Recognition]
>>THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE HIGH SCHOOL RECOGNITION. I INVITE COACHES AND THE TEAM
FORWARD, PLEASE. >> COME ON UP.
WHEREAS, THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, THE HURRICANES, HAS WON THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION 2A CHAMPIONSHIP; AND WHEREAS, HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL HURRICANES HAVE APPEARED IN THREE CONSECUTIVE STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS; AND WHEREAS, THE HUNTINGTOWN HURRICANES WERE THE 2025 MPSSAA STATE SEMI FINALISTS; AND WHEREAS, THE HUNTINGTOWN HURRICANES ACHIEVED THEIR FIRST FOOTBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE HISTORY OF HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL; AND WHEREAS, THE HURRICANES FINISHED THE SEASON RANKED 6TH PLACE IN THE WASHINGTON POST AND THE SECOND RANKED PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE DMV; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CALVERT COUNTY COMMEND THE FAMILIES, COACHES, AND MEMBERS OF THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM FOR AN OUTSTANDING YEAR WHICH RESULTED IN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, THAT THE SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBERS WISH THEM EVERY SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE. >>MOTION TO APPROVE.
>>SECOND. >>WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, "AYE".
>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES.
ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? ANYBODY HAVE ANY WORDS TO SAY? >> YES?
>>FIRST OF ALL, I DID WRITE A FEW THINGS, BUT PROMISE THAT IT'S ONLY ABOUT 40 SECONDS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR INVITING US HERE AND SEEING THEIR HARD WORK.
THIS REALLY MEANS SO MUCH TO OUR PLAYERS, COACHES AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. OF COURSE, I'M PROUD OF THESE PLAYERS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE. THE SENIORS HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE FOR MANY YEARS AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ESPECIALLY CONGRATULATE THEM FOR OUR WIN THIS YEAR. IT CAN'T GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT SUCCESS REALLY DOES OCCUR WITH LEADERSHIP. SO I REALLY I WOULD BE REMISS ED IF I DIDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE COACH. HE'S AN EPITOME OF A LEADER, AND YES, I'M SURE HIS WIFE WOULD AGREE THAT HE'S OBSESSED WITH
[00:05:09]
FOOTBALL, BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE REALLY CARES ABOUT THESE YOUNG MEN, THEIR SUCCESS, THEIR ACADEMIC GROWTH AND HE MAKES THE HIGH SCHOOL VERY PROUD. ON THE DAY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, I ALWAYS TRUST, EVEN WHEN WE ARE BEHIND, I ALWAYS TAKE A PAUSE AND TAKE A BREATH. I'M A SPORT FANATIC MYSELF AND WE WERE AT THE LAST SECONDS OF THE GAME AND THE SCORE HAD CHANGED NOT IN MY FAVOR AND MY STOMACH WAS IN KNOTS. I THOUGHT WE HAVE TO GET THIS AND I TOOK A PAUSE, TOOK A BREATH LIKE EVERY GAME IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS AND I SAID, I TRUST HIM AND I TRUST HIS PLAYERS AND WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY. I JUST WANTED TO SHARETHAT. CONGRATULATE THIS TEAM AND THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. >> ALL RIGHT. I WILL KEEP IT SHORT, BUT JUST KIND OF LIKE WHAT MR. SPE MORTON WAS SAYING. WE MADE IT THIS YEAR. WE ARE SMALL IN NUMBERS, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS PLAY OTHER SPORTS AND EVEN IN THE WEIGHT ROOM , ONE OF THE TRACK COACHES SAID HOW MANY MORE AND I SAID NONE. WE REALLY LOVE SEEING EVERYBODY GOING OUT ON A GAME AND SEEING EVERYBODY ON THE ROAD. IT'S AWESOME AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE GUYS. IT WAS JUST THREE IN THE TUNNEL FROM THE COUNTY AND WAS AMAZING TO SEE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[Bid Approval]
[00:10:14]
>>GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M WITH FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT. WITH ME, AND THE CALVERT SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND FACILITY. IN 2025, CALVERT SCHOOL REQUESTED QUALIFICATIONS FROM PROPOSALS FOR ENGINEERING FIRMS WITH PROVEN EXPERIENCE WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, DESIGN, ADMINISTRATIVE AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CALVERT COUNTRY FACILITY AND SITE IMPROVEMENTS. PURSUANT TO OMAR, CALVERT SCHOOLS RECEIVED PERMISSION FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION FOR THE SERVICES. A TOTAL OF 16 FIRMS SUBMITTED PROPOSALS FOR THE PROJECT AND 10 FIRMS WERE APPROVED. FOUR FIRMS WERE ADVANCED TO THE FINAL PHASE AND ARCHITECTS WERE SELECTED. THE IDENTIFIED WORK WILL BE THROUGH CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND CIP FUNDS AND WE RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD AWARD THE DESIGNS FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BY THE
ARCHITECTS IN A TOTAL NOT TO EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF $5,678,674. >>MOTION TO APPROVE.
>>SECOND: >>WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?
>> YES. >>SO THIS IS 4-5 YEARS, CORRECT? THE TOTALITY OF THE EXPENSE?
>> THIS IS FOR DESIGN SERVICES. >>I'M MS. WARNER, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION. WE WILL BEGIN PROGRAMMATIC DEVELOPMENTS FOR ESSENTIALLY THE SPACES. THAT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND SUBMITTED BY DSDE AND THEN WE'LL SUBMIT A DESIGN. LET ME GO BACK A LITTLE BIT. WHAT WE WANT TO DO AFTER THE SPECS ARE DONE IS WE WANT TO STUDY WHETHER THIS HAS A CHANCE OF GOING NET ZERO READY. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR CCPS. AND ASKED FOR THE STUDIES FOR THAT TO OCCUR. IF WE ARE ABLE TO THE ZERO NET READY, IT WILL ALLOW US TO GET THE STATE FUNDING AND GRANTS. THEY WOULD ASSIST US WITH THAT. THEN WE WOULD BEGIN DESIGN. YES, YOU ARE RIGHT. IT DOES TAKE SEVERAL YEARS. ESSENTIALLY WE ARE STARTING RIGHT NOW WITH THE SPECS PROCESS, THEN WE WILL BEGIN DESIGN REALLY NEXT CALENDAR YEAR. IT'S THE SPECS, THE FACILITY OF NET ZERO AND THEN CALENDAR YEAR 27. SO BASICALLY THROUGH THIS YEAR WE DO THE FIRST COUPLE OF PHASES THEY BEGIN THE DESIGN PROCESS. WE WOULD GET READY TO BID THE PROJECT FOR CONSTRUCTION SUMMER OF 28. AND THEN PARKER WOULD STAY ON BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION SERVICES AND THE PROJECT IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL IT WILL WRAP-UP UNTIL DECEMBER 2030. THIS IS A
COMMITMENT UNTIL 2030. 23450U8 RI >>RIGHT. I WANTED THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE ALL DONE IN ONE YEAR. THANK YOU FOR DOING THE VERY THOROUGH VETTING AT THE TOP FOUR WITH THE SCORING RUBRIC. I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY WELL DONE.
>>THANK YOU. IF I CAN ADD ONE MORE THING, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THANK THE SELECTION
[00:15:01]
COMMITTEE MEMBERS BECAUSE THE TEN RFP'S WE RECEIVED WERE IN EXCESS OF 100 PAGES EACH. ITPCS A L IT'S A LOT OF REVIEW. SO SPEED READING. MR. JOHNSON, MR. TAYLOR, CHUCK DAVIS AND MYSELF, WE COMPRISED THE SELECTION COMMITTEE. I THANK EVERYBODY FOR BRINGING THEIR AGAME TO THE TABLE. >>THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
[Budget Approval]
> AYE. Select to skip to this part of the video">NONE. >>ALL IN FAVOR SAY, "AYE". >> AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION CARRIES, 5-0. >>THANK YOU.
>>UP NEXT WE HAVE BUDGET APPROVAL. GOOD EVENING, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE TO CONGRATULATE THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THREE GAMES AND ESPECIALLY THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. A SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO MS. JONES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO GRACIOUS TONIGHT TO NOT WINNING THE GAME AND FOR HER, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EASY. YOU ARE THE CHAMPS. MAYBE YOU WILL GET TO CHEER FOR
THEM NEXT YEAR. >>I DON'T WANT TO GO INTO THE DETAIL TONIGHT THAT I DID AT THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY HAD A PRESENTATION. I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH YOU EACH INDIVIDUALLY. YOU HAD LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE RESPONSES THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR TO HELP YOU MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION TONIGHT. SO, I WILL START WITH THE MAJOR CHANGE FROM THE JANUARY 29TH PROPOSED BUDGET THAT I SHARED. WE HAVE REDUCED THIS BUDGET NOW BY $5 MILLION. BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WENT INTO THIS DECISION. WE WANTED ā O MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE KEPT OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR EMPLOYEES TO FULLY FUND THEIR CONTRACT AND STEP INCREASES AND STILL MAINTAIN SMALL CLASS SIZES AND ENSURE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS SO THIS DOES NOT DIRECTLY IMPACT SCHOOLS. WE ALSO THROUGH THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE REDUCED SEVERAL NEW ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED BY PUBLIC WORKS. WE HAVE SHIFT FUNDING FOR ARTIFICIAL TURFS AND FROM THIS FY27 PROPOSAL, WE FEEL IT WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS. OUR ATHLETES DESERVE THIS. THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT OUR INVESTMENT PAYS OFF. SO, IT'S NOT COMPLETELY OFF THE TABLE, BUT IT'S OFF THE TABLE FOR THIS 27 OPERATING BUDGET. WE HAVE ALSO MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO SUPPLIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES, EQUIPMENT TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET. I HAVE ADMINISTERED THIS ORGANIZATIONAL CHART TO YOU ON JANUARY 29TH. WHAT YOU SEE X'S, WE HAVE EXCLUDED RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS FROM OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. WE HAVE ELIMINATE THE DIRECTOR FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. THE UPGRADES TO THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE SCHOOLS IN LEARNING AND THE DEPUTY OF SUPERINTENDENT FOR OPERATIONAL, AND A RECOMMENDATION FROM PUBLIC WORKS FOR A BOARD AND STAFF ATTORNEY. SO WE HOPE TO GET AMPLE TIME TO RESEARCH THIS. SO HERE IS A SUMMARY OF POSITIONS BY CATEGORY. AND YOU WILL SEE THAT
[00:20:05]
WE HAVE THE ACTUALLY FY25, THE ADOPTED FY26, AND THEN THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THIS INCLUDES THE CHANGES. AND GOING ACROSS EACH CATEGORY STARTING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, THERE IS A REDUCTION OF ONE POSITION, MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, 1.1 POSITION INCREASE. THAT'S THE RESULT OF THE EFFICIENCY REVIEW. INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND WAGES, NO CHANGES IN POSITIONS.SPECIAL EDUCATION 1.4, STUDENT PERSONNEL, NO CHANGES, STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES, NO CHANGES.
TRANSP TRANSPORTATION. I NEED TO CLARIFY THIS. THIS IS FOR THE APPROVAL OF EQUIPMENT THERE WERE TWO VANS AND SIX BUSSES. WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL HAVE FUNDS IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET TO FUND THOSE VEHICLES AND WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE THE POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET. IF WE CAN'T FUND ALL OF THEM, WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE POSITIONS. THEN OPERATION PLAN FOR FIVE POSITIONS. THESE PRIMARILY ARE THROUGH REDUCTION AND POSITIONS, NO CHANGES. A TOTAL OF 9.5 POSITIONS PRIMARILY THOSE ARE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION. HERE IS THE UNRESTRICTED REVENUE BUDGET. THIS CAN BE CONFUSED. WE HAVE THE ACTUAL FY25, ADOPTED FY26.
YOU WILL SEE FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET. I HAVE THE DATE THAT I PRESENTED THIS TO YOU. THIS IS JANUARY 29TH. IF YOU GO DOWN THE COLUMN, THE COUNTY APPROPRIATIONS WENT FROM 163 TO $169.7 MILLION TO INCREASE $3.7 MILLION. LET ME DIGRESS. I WANT TO EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT STAFF STARTING WITH MS. TURNER AND HER TEAM. SHE REMINDS ME THAT WE HAD THE SAME TEAM AND VERY PRODUCTIVE AND AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE WE GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE TO PROVIDE THE BEST FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. STATE AID, INCREASE OF $5.9 MILLION.
WE RECEIVED THAT INFORMATION LAST MONTH. PRETTY MUCH VERY LITTLE CHANGE IN FEDERAL REVENUE. $15,000. OTHER LOCAL SERVICES, REDUCTION OF $1.7 MILLION. SO THE PROPOSED
BUDGET IS A CHANGE IN MINUS 1.7. >>IF WE GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOM THE TOTAL UNRESTRICTED REVENUES, I PROPOSED $300 MILLION. A $15 MILLION INCREASE AND WE REDUCED THAT BY $5 MILLION THAT BRINGS OUR PROPOSAL TO $298 MILLION. HERE IS A MORE DETAIL SPREADSHEET OF THE EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY. I WILL SPEND SOME TIME HERE, AND THEN I WILL NOT SPEND SO MUCH TIME ON THE FOLLOWING SLIDE. IF WE GO BY THE CATEGORY T CHANGE FROM THE JANUARY 29TH PROPOSAL TO TONIGHT, IF WE LOOK ON THE RIGHT COLUMN MINUS $840,000. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST OVER THIS 30 DAY WINDOW. MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION, WE REDUCED THE BUDGET BY $204,000. AGAIN, THIS WAS ALL REQUIRED TO GET TO THE $5 MILLION IN CUTS. INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND WAGES, MINUS $180,000. TEXTBOOKS, $99,000 REDUCTION. OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS,
[00:25:09]
$331,000, STUDENT PERSONNEL SERVICES, $19,000, STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES $15,000. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION $438,000. OPERATION OF PLANT, $218,000. MAINTENANCE PLANT $259,000.>>CAPITAL OUTLAY, $1.655 REDUCTION. THIS WAS FUNDING PRIMARILY ALLOCATED FOR THE TURF ATHLETIC FIELD. THE REDUCTION FROM JANUARY 29TH IS $5 MILLION. OVERALL INCREASE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY $10 MILLION. THIS IS THE VALIDATION THAT WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE COMMITMENT IN THIS PROPOSAL TO FURTHER NEGOTIATE THE AGREEMENT AND THESE ARE THE INCREASES FROM THE FOUR UNITS OF $7.77 MILLION. AGAIN, THE REQUEST AT THIS POINT FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WOULD BE $6.7 MILLION THAT WOULD GET US ALMOST HOME TO FULLY FUND THESE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS. THE NEXT SEVERAL SLIDES, I HAVE GONE THROUGH EACH OF THE CATEGORIES AGAIN. I HAVE ALREADY SUMMARIZED THEM. THIS PROVIDES YOU WITH AN EXPLANATION THAT YOU HAVE A COPY OF. AND WE WILL MAKE THIS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THEY CAN SEE THE EXPLANATION OF EACH WI ONE OF THESE CHANGES. FOR CLARIFICATION, WE HAVE THE FOUR BARS ON THE BAR GRAPH AND YOU WILL SEE HIGHLIGHTED THE ACTUAL DECREASE IN ORDER TO MEET THE $5 MILLION DECREASE IN FUNDING. SO, ADMINISTRATION, $840,000, AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE. HERE WE HAVE MID-LEVEL ADMINISTRATION. INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND WAGES. TEXTBOOKS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES. OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS.
SPECIAL EDUCATION, STUDENT SERVICES. STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES. STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. OPERATION OF PLANT. MAINTENANCE OF PLANT.
>>AND FIXED CHARGES. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. CAPITAL OUTLAY.
THIS IS THE BUDGET TIMELINE. WE ARE HERE TONIGHT FOR YOUR ACTION ON THE BUDGET IS DUE TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS BY SATURDAY. PENDING YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT, WE WILL GET THIS OVER TOMORROW, MARCH 26TH. I WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING IN APRIL 6TH OF THE STATE BUDGET BILL IS PASSED HOPEFULLY. APRIL 13TH, GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS AND SOMETIME IN JUNE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WILL ADOPT THE BUDGET AND WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR FINAL ADOPTION. WE HAVE OUR TEAM HERE READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>PRESIDENT JANA SMITH-POST: THANK YOU, DR. NEWSOME.
>>WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? >> YES.
[00:30:02]
>>PAUL HARRISON: YES. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TEAM TOGETHER. ARE WE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT DISCUSSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE COUNTY SO FAR, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE --
THEIR COMMITMENT SO FAR? >> DR. MARCUS NEWSOME: DURING OUR MEETING TODAY, THE COMMIT WAS TO FUND THE COUNTY'S OBLIGATION BY THE STATE. AND THE COMMITMENT WAS THAT WE WOULD HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE WOULD CLOSE THIS $7 MILLION GAP. THAT IS THE GAP RIGHT NOW. AGAIN, THE REQUIREMENT IS WHAT THE COMMITMENT WAS, AND ALSO MS.
VICE-PRESIDENT LISA GRENIS, WAS PART OF THAT MEETING. >>THIS SHOULD HAPPEN ON THE
CAMERA FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE? >> IT WILL HAPPEN IN MARCH , ASI UNDERSTAND IT.
>>WE HAVEN'T ARRIVED AT A NUMBER. >>OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO GIVEN THE WAY THIS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING WORKS. WHAT WE TEND TO DO AND CHRIS, WELCOME TO OUR MEETING. THANK YOU. OUR NEW CFO. WE TEND TO SPEND A LOT OF OPERATING FUNDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. YOU SAW $7 MILLION IN OUR BUDGET, BUT I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO EXTRACT SOME OF THAT OUT INTO A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, BUBBLE, BECAUSE THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF THINGS THAT REQUIRE ATTENTION IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE CONTINUE TO SPEND OPERATING FUNDS TO FIX THINGS OR ADDRESS THINGS, BUT WHERE WE PROBABLY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THEM OR IMPROVE THEM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND OPERATING FUNDS FOR THAT. AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU EXPLORED IN YOUR OTHER POSITION? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU CAN SHARE?
>> >>IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT OUR OPERATING BUDGET FUND, REPAIRS AND TYPICAL MAINTENANCE TYPE EXPENDITURES. SO WHEREAS OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND AND THE MONEY WE GOT FROM THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AS MR. WARNER PRESENTED TONIGHT ARE TYPICALLY THOSE THAT LAST MORE THAN ONE YEAR. WHEREAS THE OPERATING BUDGET IS JUST ONE
YEAR. >>OKAY. >>SO IF PROJECTS WILL LAST FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR, WE WILL TAKE THEM OUT OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AND PUT THEM INTO THE CAPITAL
PROJECTS FUND, AND USE CAPITAL FUNDS. >>SO BY DURATION, NOT BY TYPE?
>> BY DURATION AND TYPE. MEANING IF WE CAN DO A PROJECT IN ONE YEAR AND WE HAVE THE OPERATING FUNDS TO FUND THAT PROJECT, THEN WE CAN KEEP IT IN THE OPERATING BUDGET, AND WE WOULD CATEGORIZE
IT UNDER THE CAPITAL OUTLAY CATEGORY. >>OKAY, FOR EXAMPLE, ANOTHER JURISDICTION WHERE YOU WOULD IMPROVE THE TURF FIELD OR THE STADIUM AND THAT DOESN'T COME FOR A YEAR, WOULD THOSE BE IN CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT OR CAPITAL FUNDS?
>> CAPITAL PROJECTS. >>OKAY. WE ARE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WHAT I NOTICED DIFFERENT HERE THAN OTHER BUSINESSES THAT I HAVE SEEN IS WE DON'T HAVE A DEBT SERVICE CATEGORY. WE ARE NOT CARRYING ANY DEBT LOAD. WE ARE PAYING EVERYTHING CASH AND CARRY. IS
THAT A FAIR STATEMENT? >> AS THE COMPONENT UNIT OF A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, HERE IN THE MARYLAND SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE DON'T RAISE BONDS TO FUND OUR OPERATING EXPENSES. WE ARE A COMPONENT UNIT OF CALVERT COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND WE GET OUR FUNDS FROM CALVERT COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THE DEBT RAISING IS WITH THE GOVERNMENT, NOT WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>>, BUT THE COUNTY HAS BONDING AUTHORITY WHERE THEY BORROW MONEY, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >>SO SOMEONE IS BORROWING MONEY. >>YES.
>>DO WE HAVE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT BORROWING MONEY ON OUR BEHALF?
>> THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE CIP PLANNING PROJECT THAT WE DO TYPICALLY EVERY YEAR IN THE FALL
FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OUT. >>OKAY. THE REASON I ASK THESE
[00:35:05]
QUESTIONS IS BECAUSE I WANT THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND CERTAINLY THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY TO SEE SOMETHING FOR THEIR MONEY. WE MAKE A TREMENDOUS INVESTMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND WE JUST MADE A -- I WAS GOING TO SAY HOW TO BETH. BUT THEY JUST PUT A NICE BULLETIN AT HUNTINGTON HIGH AND IT LOOKS NICER. WHY WOULDN'T WE DO THAT AT THE OTHER 23 PROPERTIES FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND MAKE THAT A CAPITAL PROJECT. I'M NOT SURE. MAYBE THAT'S ALREADY A DISCUSSION IN THE OPERATING ROOM, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE HEARD THAT. WHAT WOULD WE DO WHEN WE MAKE APPROVALS FOR THE BUILDING. THIS BUILDING HAS A LEAK. DO WE PUTIT TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING TO SPEND OUT? >> IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF REPAIR, TYPE OF IMPROVEMENT ON, WHICH TYPE OF FUNDS ARE BEING USED. I HAVEN'T YET HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACQUAINT MYSELF WITH THE CIP FUNDS, AND THE ALLOCATION FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS TO HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE BEING SPENT, BUT THAT IS A PRIORITY TO KNOW WHAT PROJECTS ARE IN LINE AND HOW THEY ARE BEING FUNDED. BUT YES, IF WE NEEDED A REPAIR ON A ROOF, THEN OUR DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE WOULD WORK WITH MS. WARNER, AND FIGURE OUT THE EXTENT, THE NATURE OF THE REPAIR, THE COST OF THE REPAIR, AND THEN WE WOULD DETERMINE WHAT TYPE OF FUNDING
WOULD BE USED. >>OKAY. >>TO SUPPORT THAT.
>>SO WE HAVE THAT OPTION AT THAT POINT? >> YES.
>>TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION? >> YES. >>I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. I JUST NOTICED THAT THE STATE NUMBER IS STILL A POTENTIAL NUMBER BECAUSE IT'S STILL SUBJECT TO THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, WOULD THAT BE CORRECT, DR. NEWSOME? AND THE COUNTY MONEY IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED. SO MY AGREEMENT TONIGHT IF WE DO VOTE ON THIS, I EXPECT WE WILL.
WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE STILL SOME NUMBERS THAT ARE TO BE DETERMINED.
>>THE PROCESS WILL BE WHAT WE PROPOSE TO BE VOTED ON AND SHOULD THAT MOTION CARRY BASED ON WHAT DR. NEWSOME HAS PROPOSED THAT WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THEY CAN COME BACK WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND WOULD COME BACK TO US AND WE WOULD HAVE A SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION AND PERHAPS ANOTHER VOTE BASED ON WHAT IS SHARED THERE.
>>LAST YEAR? I REMEMBER. >>YES. >>THANK YOU.
AND HIS BOARD FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND FOR ALL THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS AND USING THE ZERO BASED APPROACH TO JUSTIFY EVERY EXPENSE. THIS ENSURES EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY AND PUTS TAXPAYER MONEY IN DIRECT SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. SO,
THANK YOU. >>MELISSA GOSHORN: I WANT TO ALSO SAY THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE. I KNOW IT WAS NOT EASY. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE, IT IS A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME TO BE DOING BUDGETS. BUT YOU GUYS WERE ABLE TO REALLY INCLUDE SOME INCREASES, IMPROVEMENTS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM AROUND MATH AND ELA SUPPORT WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE THAT THE TEAM HAS REALLY LOOKED AT CREATIVE WAYS TO GET THOSE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF AND INCREASE TO OUR SUMMER
[00:40:03]
SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER SUPPORTS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN A TIME THAT'S REALLY REALLY TOUGH. I APPRECIATE ALL THE CREATIVE WAYS. WE CUT $5 MILLION FROM THE PROPOSED AND STILL ARE ABLE TO FIND WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS IN THIS BUDGET. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. IT'S REALLY APPRECIATED. I FEEL THAT IT SUPPORTS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE WHICH ISEDUCATING OUR CHILDREN. SO, THANK YOU. >>PAUL HARRISON: WE ARE BEING
CONSISTENT WITH THE FUND POLICY, IS THAT CORRECT? >> DR. MARCUS NEWSOME: YES, THE $5 MILLION WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WOULD HAVE APPROXIMATELY $5 MILLION THIS YEAR IN FUND BALANCE AND NEXT YEAR WOULD PUT YOU IN COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR POLICY.
>>I DO WANT TO THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY -- HAD THE PAN IN THE FIRE AND VICE VERSA AND WAS AN INOPPORTUNE TIME FOR OUR PREVIOUS LEAD TOREER TO LEAVE. T TO THANK DR. MARCUS NEWSOME.
INTERVIEWS WERE DONE AND ALL TO HELP AND THOSE THAT FILLED IN THE GAPS ALONG THE WAY. IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. NEXT YEAR, I HOPE THAT WE ARE IN A BETTER PLACE, WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE DOCUMENTATION A LOT EARLIER IN THE PROCESS ESPECIALLY SO THAT THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, AND ASK SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I KNOW THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A UNIQUE SITUATION. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDING THAT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE THINGS IN A MORE TIMELY FASHION NEXT YEAR, BUT I DID WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ONE MORE, I KNOW WE REMOVED THE TURF FIELDS WHICH IS A BIG THING FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SOMETHING THE PARENTS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR. I KNOW THERE IS CONVERSATION ABOUT ONE. I DON'T SEE REALLY SEE HOW ONE IS GOING TO -- THAT SEEMS LIGHT IT MIGHT GO OVER A LEAD BALLOON. IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW WE COULD INCORPORATE TWO OR EVEN ALL FOUR, IF I'M REALLY WISHING A LOT SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPREAD OUT THE EQUITY OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS FROM THE NORTHERN PORTION TO THE SOUTHERN. OBVIOUSLY,, ALL OF OUR TEAMS ARE AMAZING AND THEY ALL DESERVE THE GREATEST. THAT'S KIND OF HEARD. I DON'T KNOW IF E CAN EVEN VOTE ON ONE. I WOULD LIKE TO CONSIDER MAYBE IN THE FUTURE WE TALK ABOUT ALL FOUR, AT LEAST TO START. WE'LL GO BIG AND THEN WE'LL PIVOT AFTER THAT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT I DID HAVE SOME CONVERSATION AND THIS HAS COME UP IN THE PAST AND I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO TALK ABOUT THAT THEY DO PLAN TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDS FOR SRO'S FOR THE SCHOOLS AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL TO THEM FOR FUNDING THOSE. WHEN THEY SAID ALL SIX, WHO AM I TO ARGUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THAT. I APPRECIATE IT. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR
[FUTURE BUSINESS]
5-0. THANK YOU. >>NEXT, WE HAVE OUR OPEN FORUM. ANY COMMENTS? NO COMMENTS. ANY
[00:45:07]
FUTURE BUSINESS? >> JUST A REQUEST REGARDING THE FOOTBALL FIELDS. EVERY YEAR WE GET LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS OVER THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR FIELDS. IF WE CAN ENSURE NOW THAT OUR IRRIGATION SYSTEMS ARE WORKING RATHER THAN WAITING UNTIL SPRING, WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO BE PROACTIVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THESE FIELDS ARE USABLE FOR OUR STUDENTS. WE HAVE SOME KIDS THAT DESERVE GRASS ON THEIR FIELD. SO ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO ENSURE EVEN THEIR SAFETY
USING THESE FIELDS. >>SO INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION WHO DOES FIELD MAINTENANCE AND IN A CONVERSATION WITH DR. NEWSOME LAST WEEK, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A CONVERSATION TO SEE HOW THEY CAN HELP US TO BRIDGE THAT GAP IN WHAT THEY DO FOR MAINTENANCE OF THEIR FIELDS AND
HOW THEY CAN MAY BE ASSIST US ON THAT. >>THAT MAY BE PROBLEM SOLVED.
THANK YOU. >>MAYBE THE GOLF COURSE WITH THE EQUIPMENT CAN COME UP HERE.
[BOARD COMMENTS]
>>THE COUNTY OWNS THE GOLF COURSE. >>IS THERE ANY FUTURE BUSINESS?
>> OKAY, COMMENTS. >>ALLISON JONES: FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO WORKED ON THE BUDGET. FOR ME, COMING INTO THIS POSITION, THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW A BUDGET, THOSE WERE SOME BIG NUMBERS FOR MY EYES, BUT I HAVE REALLY BEGUN TO SEE THE PROCESS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND SEEING WHAT GOES INTO IT AND WHERE ALL THIS GOES. IT'S BEEN REALLY AWESOME GETTING TO SEE ALL THAT AND EXPERIENCE THAT LEARNING. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK. IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL FOR ME TO SEE IT. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FOOTBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP. ALSO, LAST SATURDAY, AT THE ENGINEERING EXPO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WAS SUCCESSFUL. I HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT ALL WEEK. ALSO TODAY, STUDENTS FROM THE CALVERT ASSOCIATION STUDENT COUNCIL WENT TO ANNAPOLIS TO THE STATEHOUSE WHERE THEY GOT TO MEET SOME OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WHICH IS A REALLY COOL OPPORTUNITY. I GOT TO DO THAT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS AND REALLY COOL FOR THE STUDENTS TO GET TO DO THAT. AND THIS YEAR, THE HIGH SCHOOL HOSTED A VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER DAY WHERE WE HAD TONS AND TONS OF PEOPLE COME IN, GUESTS COME IN TO TALK TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEY GOT TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. I WANT TO SHARE THOSE THINGS FOR SOME REALLY AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING WITH OUR STUDENTS AND IN OUR COUNTY RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU.
>>JOSEPH MARCHIO: FIRST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR LEADERSHIP. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ALSO, LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCOMPANY A COUPLE BOARD MEMBERS TO THE SERVICE AWARDS WHERE WE HONORED EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN AT THE COUNTY 30, 25 AND 20 YEARS AND THERE WAS QUITE A FEW PEOPLE. IT WAS VERY AWESOME TO SEE A GREAT EVENT OVERALL RUN. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE THE COMMITMENT TO OUR DISTRICT ALL THIS TIME AND PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS ALL WORK.
THANK YOU. >>PAUL HARRISON: THANK YOU. SORRY I MISSED THAT SERVICE AWARD. I WANTED TO BE THERE, BUT I COULDN'T. I GOT HELD UP AT WORK. THAT'S GREAT. THAT TAKES SOME STRESS OFF OF ME. THAT'S ONE OF THE PROMISES THAT I THROUGH OUT AT THE CAMPAIGN AND I'M GLAD THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THANK YOU FOR THAT. 86% OF THIS BUDGET IS PEOPLE. SO, IT'S NOT FACILITIES. IT'S PEOPLE. YOUR PEOPLE THAT YOU LIVE WITH IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
AND IF WE GET IN A PICKLE AND WE HAVE TO CUT MONEY, USUALLY, COMES WITH CUTTING PEOPLE. I
[00:50:02]
WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT. CHRIS, I REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO WORK ON SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE BOARD HAS AND SEE HOW WE CAN FUND IT ANDWELCOME. IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK. >>YES, IT HAS BEEN A HOMECOMING OF SORTS.
>>THAT'S AWESOME. WELCOME BACK. THEN, I WANT TO THANK ALL THE SNOW CREWS THAT TOOK CARE OF THE LAST SNOW BECAUSE THERE IS MORE SNOW COMING MONDAY. THANKS TO ALL THE WORKERS AT THE
FACILITIES. THAT'S IT. >>THANK YOU. MR. HARRISON. >>MELISSA GOSHORN: THANK YOU TO THE TEAM FOR THE BUDGET. I'M SORRY I MISSED THE AWARDS LAST NIGHT. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS I DID LAST YEAR WAS ATTEND THE AWARDS. SORRY I MISSED IT. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF AND THANKS TO ALL THE STAFF THAT COME IN EVERY SINGLE DAY AND DO THE WORK.
>>VICE-PRESIDENT LISA GRENIS: I WANT TO THANK THE STAFF MEMBERS THAT WERE RECOGNIZED YESTERDAY FOR 20, 25, 30 AND EVEN 35 YEARS OF SERVICE. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU. YOU LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT WHEN YOU SHOW UP EVERY DAY. I ALSO THAT HAD PRIVILEGE OF VISITING THE BOWLING ALLEY TO WATCH OUR UNIFIED SPORTS PARTICIPATION IN ACTION. A GROUP OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, ATHLETES AND PARTNERS ALIKE HAVING A WONDERFUL TIME. MY OWN SON PARTICIPATED IN UNIFIED SPORTS DURING HIS HIGH SCHOOL YEAR AND I SAW FIRSTHAND THE BENEFIT OF THE STUDENTS THAT PARTICIPATE. A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR STAFF AT CALVERT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS FOR HOSTING AND ACCOMMODATING EVERYONE SO WONDERFULLY. PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THRIVE BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY
SUPPORT. >>I ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN NOMINATED BY THEIR PEERS FOR TEACHER AND SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING WITH YOU IN MARCH. LASTLY, I ATTENDED THE 13TH ANNUAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EXPO, AND IT WAS PHENOMENAL. WE HAD 75 EXHIBITORS WHO SHARED STEM HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES TO MORE THAN 1400 ATTENDEES. OVER 200 STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WHO STEPPED UP TO HELP SET UP, BREAKDOWN AND RUN THE EXHIBITS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF THEIR TEACHERS. SO, I THANK YOU TO ALL WHO MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVERY YEAR. I SWEAR IT GETS BIGGER AND BETTER. I KNOW I SAY THAT EVERY YEAR, BUT EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS TO GET BIGGER AND
BETTER. THANK YOU. >>PRESIDENT JANA SMITH-POST: THANK YOU. I OBVIOUSLY, ECHO THE SENTIMENTS OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE SERVICE AWARDS, AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR STAFF TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I DODO A LITTLE PLUG. THERE ARE STILL SOME HIGH SCHOOL PLAYS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IF YOU ARE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO, ALL FOUR OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE OFFERING SOME PLAYS THAT ARE STILL GOING ON.
ALSO THE CTA IS HAVING A BOWL--A-THON. WE NEED THREE MORE. DR. NEWSOME SAID HE'S ONLY GOING TO SUPPORT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? YOU ARE THE CHEERLEADER, THE MASCOT. I DON'T REMEMBER. HE DOESN'T WANT TO BOWL WITH US IS THE SHORT ANSWER. SO I'M STILL LOOKING FOR THREE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE. WE CAN ALL GO AND BOWL TOGETHER. IT WOULD BE GREAT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.