Sep 10, 2026 Board of Education

[00:00:01]

GOOD EVENING. I CALL THE CALVERT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TO ORDER.

[Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence]

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE APPOINTMENTS, DOCTOR NEWSOME. AM I MOVING FASTER THAN WARMED UP?

[Appointments]

I RECOMMEND TASHIKA GREEN FOR COORDINATOR OF EQUITY AND BLUEPRINT.

CURRENTLY, SHE SERVES AS A FOUNDER AND CHIEF EDUCATIONAL LEADER AND STRATEGIC CONSULTANT PROVIDING ADVISORY SERVICES TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS, UNIVERSITIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAMS. PREVIOUSLY, SHE SERVED AS. I BELIEVE SHE'S STILL WORKING AS A HARVARD GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION SENIOR TEACHER FELLOW.

SHE'S ALSO SERVED AS A PRINCIPAL IN ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SYSTEM SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

MANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND PRINCIPALS HERE IN IN CALVERT COUNTY KNOW HER AS WELL FOR HER WORK AND COACHING.

MANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND PRINCIPALS SHE HAS AN EARNED MASTER'S DEGREE IN ADMINISTRATION AND SUPERVISION AND A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, BOTH FROM BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY. I PRESENT MISS TASHIKA GREEN FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

WELCOME. COME ON UP.

THANK YOU. PRESIDENT DOCTOR NEWSOM, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND THE CALVERT PUBLIC SCHOOLS COMMUNITY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE YOU IN THIS CAPACITY. I RECEIVED THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE AND DEEP SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THROUGHOUT MY 25 YEAR CAREER AS AN EDUCATOR. I BELIEVE THAT OUR WORK IS ULTIMATELY ABOUT SERVICE, SERVING PEOPLE, SERVING THE STUDENTS, SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND STRENGTHENING SYSTEMS, AND CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR EVERY LEARNER TO ACCESS AN OPPORTUNITY AND THRIVE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO LISTENING, TO LEARNING, TO COLLABORATING, AND TO EXCELLING AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPORTANT WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED HERE IN UNDERWAY AT CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I AM TRULY GRATEFUL AND READY TO SERVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[MABE Presentation]

IF YOU MESS IT UP. IT GETS GETS OKAY. I, I WOULDN'T HAVE MESSED IT UP, BUT.

COME ON UP. YOU GUYS CAN JOIN US UP HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE'RE HAVING A LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION. GREEN COLOR. RED MEANS OFF. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STUDENT MEMBER.

RICE, DOCTOR NEWSOM AND MEMBERS OF THE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEADERSHIP TEAM.

MY NAME IS JOE GAETZ. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION FOR BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

AND AS YOU ANNOUNCED, THIS IS SAM MATTHIAS. HE IS OUR DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR ASSOCIATION PROGRAMS. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO JOIN THIS EVENING.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE. ON BEHALF OF THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF ED.

WE GREATLY VALUE CALVERT COUNTY'S ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN MAB AND APPRECIATE THE LEADERSHIP AND PERSPECTIVE THAT YOUR BOARD BRINGS TO OUR STATEWIDE WORK.

AS A FORMER LOCAL BOARD MEMBER, I UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENTS TO HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT DECISIONS BEING MADE AT ANNAPOLIS.

[00:05:04]

WE RECOGNIZE THE DEMANDS PLACED ON LOCAL BOARDS AND SUPERINTENDENTS, AND WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SERVING AS A RESOURCE AND ADVOCATE AND YOUR PARTNER AS YOU NAVIGATE THESE RESPONSIBILITIES. IT'S NOW MY PLEASURE TO TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO SAM.

SAM LEADS MUCH OF OUR LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND ADVOCACY WORK AND BRINGS A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF HOW STATE LEVEL DECISIONS AFFECT LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SAM, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. THANK YOU. I'LL MOVE THIS UP HERE.

THANK YOU, JOE, AND GOOD AFTERNOON. SLASH EVENING TO ALL OF YOU.

REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE. THIS IS A SHORT PRESENTATION ABOUT POLICY UPDATES AND SOME LEGISLATIVE INFORMATION THAT RESULTED FROM THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. JUST BY WAY OF QUICK BACKGROUND, AS I THINK THE BOARD WELL KNOWS.

BUT JUST FOR EVERYONE HERE MAB IS AN ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS ALL 24 SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN MARYLAND.

AND ONE OF THE KEY SERVICES THAT WE HAVE AS MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION IS DIRECT LOBBYING ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY. OUR LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS YOU KNOW, IS JANUARY THROUGH APRIL EVERY YEAR.

WE HAVE A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT HAS REPRESENTED MAB HAS A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE THAT HAS REPRESENTATION FROM EVERY LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD IN THE STATE.

VICE PRESIDENT GREENWICH IS THE CALVERT COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE AND BOARD MEMBER GOSHORN AS WELL.

HAS ATTENDED SOME OF THOSE MEETINGS. AND SO THIS IS A SLIDE AND SO, WELL, ONE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE. THIS IS A SLIDE REALLY THAT JUST REPRESENTS WHAT HAPPENED BY THE NUMBERS.

THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AS YOU'LL SEE ROUGHLY 10% OF ALL BILLS THAT ARE PRESENTED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELATE IN SOME WAY TO PUBLIC EDUCATION WHETHER IT'S YOU KNOW, AND CONSIDERING EVERYTHING THE STATE DOES, ENERGY.

YOU KNOW, TAX AND BUDGET 10% OF ALL BILLS PRESENTED IS REALLY A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT WOULD, COULD IMPACT PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE PRESENTATION TODAY IS GOING TO BE PRETTY SHORT.

IT'S JUST ABOUT FOUR BILLS AND FOUR POLICIES THAT YOU AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM AND BOARD LIKELY HAVE TO ADDRESS OR UPDATE AS A RESULT OF THE LAWS THAT WERE PASSED.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE IS NOT AN ENORMOUS URGENCY RELATED TO THESE.

IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE COMPLIANT WITH THE LAW AND UPDATE OUR PRACTICES AND POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO THE LAW.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT. THE FIRST ONE, WHICH I GIVE YOU ALL A GOLD STAR ON IS THE HB 525 CELL PHONE POLICY. I BELIEVE IN AUGUST, THIS BOARD ADOPTED A NEW CELL PHONE POLICY IN RESPONSE TO THIS BILL.

THIS WAS A BELL TO BELL. PROHIBITION OF CELL PHONE USE FOR ALL STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

AND THE DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC SCHOOL DAY IN THE LAW INCLUDES PASSING PERIODS, TRANSITION PERIODS.

SO IT REALLY MEANS THAT IN A WAY FOR THE DAY CELL PHONE CELLPHONE POLICY.

THAT I THINK YOU LARGELY ADOPTED WITH THE POLICY THAT YOU ALL ADOPTED LAST MONTH.

THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL IS THAT PART OF THE BILL ENABLES THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT REGULATIONS TO FURTHER IMPACT THIS BILL.

THEY ARE INTENDING TO ADOPT REGULATIONS THIS WINTER.

WE JUST, I KNOW THEY'RE DOING SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT LOOKS BEST, BUT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT DOES IT, WHAT DOES STORAGE MEAN AND WHAT DOES ACCESS MEAN? AND THINKING ABOUT THAT, THINKING ABOUT VERY CLEARLY DEFINING WHEN CELL PHONES CAN BE USED IN SOME OF THESE EXCEPTIONS THAT ARE ON THE SLIDE, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABILITIES, FOR HEALTH MONITORING, THEY'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SMART WATCHES, ACTIVITY TRACKING AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND SO I WOULD JUST STAY TUNED TO SEE WHAT THE REGULATIONS WHAT REGULATIONS ARISE MAB IS GOING TO COMMENT ON REGULATIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED. YOU KNOW, WE THIS IS A BILL THAT WE OPPOSED TO GIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AS MUCH WE WANTED SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO HAVE AS MUCH LEEWAY AS POSSIBLE TO ADOPT A CELL PHONE POLICY THAT THEY WOULD WORK OUT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES.

[00:10:02]

ANOTHER BILL THAT PASSED WAS SB 810. THIS IS A BILL THAT WAS ABOUT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND EXPANDING SENSITIVE LOCATIONS, NOTIFICATION AND GUIDANCE. IT EXPANDED THE DEFINITION OF WHAT SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL MEANS.

SO IT INCLUDES SROS, SECURITY EMPLOYEES, PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, REALLY EVERY ADULT IN A SCHOOL BUILDING IS NOW EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FROM INTERACTING WITH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.

AND IT MAKES IT VERY EXPLICIT ABOUT RECORDS NOT BEING SHARED WITH FEDERAL FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND REQUIRES SPECIFIC NOTIFICATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO YOUR LEGAL COUNSEL. IF EVER A WARRANT OR SUBPOENA, A JUDICIAL WARRANT OR A SUBPOENA IS PRESENTED AT A SCHOOLHOUSE DOOR.

THE ONE THING THAT, WELL, THIS SLIDE IS SLIGHTLY WRONG.

IT SAYS SCHOOL SYSTEMS MUST ADOPT A POLICY BASED ON AG GUIDANCE.

I REREAD THE LAW THIS MORNING, AND IT SAYS SCHOOL SYSTEMS MUST IMPLEMENT POLICY BASED ON AG GUIDANCE.

SO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS REQUIRED TO CREATE GUIDANCE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST.

SO PROBABLY IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL COME OUT WITH NEW GUIDANCE THAT IS SPECIFIC TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS. AND SCHOOLS NEED TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES RELATED TO THAT.

THEIR CURRENT GUIDANCE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE IN THE SLIDE PRESENTATION BY LINK, DOESN'T TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SYSTEMS AT ALL.

IT TALKS ABOUT CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND AND OTHER THINGS, BUT THEY ARE WORKING ON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM STUFF RIGHT NOW.

THIS NEXT BILL IS HB 575, REQUIRES SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ADOPT A POLICY THAT EXPRESSLY ALLOWS FOR ABSENCES, EXCUSED ABSENCES IF STUDENTS ARE GOING TO ENGAGE OR DO ANY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

SO TESTIFYING BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PARTICIPATING IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S PAGE PROGRAM, WHICH IS WHEN THEY GET TO SHADOW AND HELP OUT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, OR EVEN JUST MEETING WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THESE ARE NOW THINGS THAT EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM'S ATTENDANCE POLICY NEEDS TO EXCUSE AS AN ABSENCE.

I WOULD SAY, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW FROM BLUEPRINT SCORECARDS, THINGS LIKE THAT, AN ABSENCE IS AN ABSENCE.

IT COUNTS TOWARDS CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, WHETHER IT'S EXCUSED OR UNEXCUSED OR WHATEVER.

SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS JUST BECAUSE THIS, THIS LAW IS WHAT IT IS WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT TO THE EXTENT THAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE ENGAGING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO DO SOME REAL WORLD LEARNING.

IF THERE'S SOME WAY TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO YOUR CURRICULUM AND MAKE IT NOT AN ABSENCE AND MAKE IT PART OF A SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S GOALS IS TO REDUCE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM ACROSS.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THEY DO RATE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ON.

THAT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL BILL, BUT DOES REQUIRE AN EXPRESS POLICY CHANGE ON YOUR ATTENDANCE POLICY.

AND THEN THE FINAL BILL THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT, SB 685 REQUIRES THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BUILD A MODEL RESPONSE POLICY.

SO NOT A PREVENTION POLICY OR A REPORTING REQUIREMENT POLICY.

THOSE ARE NOT CHANGING, BUT A RESPONSE POLICY OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A ALLEGATION OF SEXUAL ABUSE OR MISCONDUCT SURFACES IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO THIS IS REALLY A PREVENTATIVE RESPONSE SYSTEM.

MSD RIGHT NOW IS DOING A DIVE INTO THE FOUR REQUIRED COMPONENTS THAT THIS LAW MANDATES THAT THEY BUILD A POLICY AROUND WHAT THE COMMUNICATION PLAN IS, WHAT THE ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT RETENTION POLICY WILL BE IN A SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDING A LINK TO CENTRALIZED RESOURCES FOR SUPPORTS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND THEN ALSO AN AFTER ACTION REVIEW PLAN. SO IN THE EVENT THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCURS, WHAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO TO LOOK BACK AND SAY, HOW CAN WE IMPROVE GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT INCIDENTS LIKE THIS DON'T HAPPEN? WAS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT? I PERSONALLY AM ON THE WORKGROUP WITH MSD HELPING BUILD THIS POLICY HAS REPRESENTATION.

THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY HAS REPRESENTATION. IT'S A, IT'S A BROAD WORKGROUP.

AND THEY'RE WORKING HARD RIGHT NOW, BUT ULTIMATELY WANT TO SHARE.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS FULL DISCRETION OVER WHAT THE POLICY ULTIMATELY WILL SAY.

AND THEN THE LAW REQUIRES SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ADOPT A POLICY YOU KNOW, IN LINE WITH WHATEVER THEIR GUIDANCE SAYS WHICH WILL COME OUT NEXT FALL, FALL 2027. SO THOSE ARE FOUR LAWS THAT WERE PASSED THIS PAST SESSION THAT ARE GOING TO IMPACT YOUR POLICIES AND PRACTICES DIRECTLY IN TERMS OF LIKE A WRITTEN POLICY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADOPT TO CONTINUE TO COMPLY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THAT IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ONE,

[00:15:03]

BUT THAT IS REALLY THE EXTENT OF WHAT I SHARE TODAY IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION.

THIS IS A, THIS PDF IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR, IN YOUR AGENDAS AND CLICKABLE.

ALL OF THESE LINKS ARE CLICKABLE. HERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES.

THE TOP LEFT IS ALL OF MABS LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY WORK.

AND THEN YOU CAN REALLY DIVE REAL DEEP IF YOU WANT INTO ALL THE TRACKED BILLS WE HAVE, ALL OUR TESTIMONY, ALL OUR ANALYSIS IS ON THERE. AND THEN THE OTHER THREE MAIN BULLETS ARE THINGS THAT THE STATE HAS PREPARED.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE JOINT CHAIRMAN'S REPORT.

THERE IS OVER A THOUSAND PAGES OF BUDGET INFORMATION.

SOMETIMES IT'S SUPER HELPFUL AS BOARD MEMBERS.

IF YOU OPEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT UP CONTROL-F CALVERT COUNTY, SEE WHERE THE MONEY IS FLOWING INTO COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHERE THEY'RE ALLOCATING MONEY FOR SCHOOLS, WHERE THEY'RE ALLOCATING MONEY FOR OTHER THINGS. IT'S A REALLY HELPFUL WAY TO JUST, YOU KNOW, GET A BIG PICTURE OF THAT.

THE 90 DAY REPORT IS ALSO A MASSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE DOCUMENT OF EVERY LAW, EVERY BILL THAT BECAME A LAW THAT WAS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LAST SESSION, AND THEN A LIST OF ALL THE BILLS. LOOKING AHEAD, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME BIG DATES COMING UP.

WE HAVE A BIG ELECTION NOVEMBER 3RD, WHICH I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOT JUST BOARD SEATS, BUT ALSO EVERY STATE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBER SEAT IS UP FOR ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER.

AND THEN OUR NEXT SESSION IS JANUARY 13TH THROUGH THE 27TH.

PUT SOME ALSO SOME KEY. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO FOR NEXT SESSION, I THINK FOLKS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A BIG FISCAL CLIFF.

THESE ARE THREE BIG FINANCIAL REPORTS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND STAFF AND THE COMPTROLLER ALL PUT OUT BOARD OF REVENUE ESTIMATES, WHAT KIND OF MONEY WE'RE EXPECTING TO RECEIVE IN TERMS OF TAX DOLLARS, CAPITAL DEBT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG A BIG REPORT RELATED TO SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AMONG A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

AND THEN THE SPENDING AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS SORT OF LIKE A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR BUDGET FORECAST IS LOOKING LIKE FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT REALLY, REALLY IMPACT HOW LAWMAKERS IN ANNAPOLIS THINK ABOUT BILLS AND CONSIDER WHAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO BE ABLE TO SPEND MONEY ON THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THAT IS YOU KNOW, WITH THAT I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING DOWN HERE.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OR, OR WHATEVER ELSE.

BUT ALWAYS HAPPY TO, TO PARTNER WITH YOU HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY.

MISS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND, AND SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH US.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION AROUND THE SEXUAL ABUSE AND MISCONDUCT RESPONSE POLICY IS THAT IN REGARDS TO STUDENTS AND STAFF, IT IS IT IS I THAT'S REALLY UP TO THE MSD. BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT IS A STUDENT ALLEGATION OF STAFF, NOT STUDENT ON STUDENT OR STAFF ON STAFF.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION. YES, SURE.

JOE, HOW ARE YOU? HEY, THANK YOU FOR COMING. SO I'D LIKE TO I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE STATE DELEGATES AND YOU'RE DEALING AROUND THESE FOLKS ALL THE TIME, AND THEY COME UP WITH A POLICY THAT CONTRADICTS FEDERAL LAW.

WHAT'S THEIR WHAT'S THEIR DEMEANOR? ARE THEY ARE THEY GIDDY? ARE THEY SAD OR ARE THEY SORRY? WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THAT AS? OH, I, I WOULD CHARACTERIZE EVERYBODY FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE IN ANNAPOLIS, LIKE TRYING TO MAKE POLICY THAT IS WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY ALIGNED TO THEIR BELIEFS AND VALUES.

SO, SO I JUST WITH, I JUST WONDER IF THEY HAVE THE EXPECTATION THAT WHEN THEY PASS A LAW THAT THEY EXPECT THE UNDERLINGS, LIKE A LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ALSO FOLLOW OR TO FOLLOW THEIR APPROACH, WHICH WOULD BE TO DISREGARD IT.

WHAT WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? I THINK IT WOULD YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY COMPLICATED QUESTION.

THAT WOULD DEPEND ON A SPECIFIC LAW SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW WHAT THE FEDERAL LAW IS, WHAT THE STATE LAW IS, WHETHER THERE'S PREEMPTION THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEY HAVE ADVISERS THERE THAT ARE TELLING THEM THEY HAVE ATTORNEYS AND ADVISERS THAT ARE TELLING THEM THIS CONTRADICTS FEDERAL LAW. I MEAN, DO THEY HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TELLING THEM THAT, RIGHT, RIGHT. WHEN THEY'RE PASSING THE LAW? I DON'T.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFIC, BUT I DON'T THAT'S I MEAN, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT OFTEN COMES UP. I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF ANY PARTICULAR LAW OR PARTICULAR BILL. I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT THANK YOU.

[00:20:03]

ALL TOO OFTEN WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LAWS, NEW LAWS THAT ARE ENACTED OR INTRODUCED EVERY, EVERY SINGLE YEAR. AND AS YOU SAID, A LOT OF THEM DO HAVE AN IMPACT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

AND SO WE ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES AROUND TO, YOU KNOW, OUR REAL ESTATE TAX BILLS.

WE'RE ALL RESIDENTS. SO WE FELT THAT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE DIFFERENT LAWS IMPACT EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL. NOT IT'S NOT IT'S, IT'S NOT EXCLUSIVE TO CALVERT COUNTY.

IT'S, IT'S ALL OVER THE STATE. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO JUST KNOW THAT OUTSIDE OF THIS SPACE, I MEAN, WE ARE HERE TO BE YOUR PARTNER. YEAH.

THANK YOU. SO AT ANY TIME THAT YOU THERE ARE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL NEED OR WE CAN ASSIST YOU.

I'D LIKE TO EQUATE OUR SERVICES AS KIND OF BEING BACK OF THE HOUSE IN THE KITCHEN OF THE RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW, SO SO WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU AND HELP YOU.

AND IF THERE'S ANY, ANY SPECIFIC AREA THAT YOU NEED, JUST SOME A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT FROM SUPPORT.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU ALL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME. THANK YOU. THANKS, MADAM CHAIR. YES.

SORRY, DOCTOR NEWSOME, JUST I CONTACTED SAM EARLIER THIS WEEK TO SEE WHEN WE WERE GOING TO BRING UP THE TIME FOR CARE ACT THAT I BELIEVE IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE EFFECT NEXT FISCAL YEAR 28.

AND I THINK THAT CERTAINLY MOST SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE QUITE CONCERNED THAT IT WOULD CAUSE A DRAMATIC NEGATIVE IMPACT, NOT ONLY ON STAFFING, BUT ON OUR FINANCES. YEAH.

I MEAN, I CERTAINLY COULD TALK. SO IT IS AN EVER EVOLVING ASPECT.

IT'S AN INTERESTING LAW. I THINK THE INTENT AND ANY GOOD SPACE WAS THAT YES, IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT, AN ADDED BENEFIT. BUT THERE ARE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AS WE'VE BEEN KIND OF MOVING ALONG, I MEAN, THIS, THIS HAS BEEN A BILL OR AN ACT THAT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.

I BELIEVE THAT FROM THE ORIGINAL, THE GENESIS WAS IN 2022, AND IT'S BEEN KIND OF PUSHED ALL THE WAY OUT.

SO FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE YOU KNOW, IT IS A VERSION OF THE FAMILY.

WELL, IT'S, IT'S MARYLAND'S VERSION OF THE, OF THE FMLA WHERE THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WILL BE PROVIDED TO, TO EMPLOYEES. EVERY EMPLOYEE ACROSS THE STATE, WHETHER YOU'RE PROFIT, NONPROFIT, WHATEVER IT IS.

THERE IS SOME MINIMUM NUMBERS. IF I BELIEVE IF, IF YOU'RE LESS THAN 15 EMPLOYEES OR LIVES, AS THEY CALL IT IN YOUR WORKFORCE, THEN YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY SUPPOSED TO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN PER SE.

BUT THE STATE IS VERY MUCH MOVING FORWARD. AND SO IN THAT SPACE, JUST KIND OF GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR.

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE TOO MUCH TIME. THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS OF GOING ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN CHOOSE THE STATE PLAN, WHICH THE STATE HAS A, A RATE THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE LOOKING TO HAVE MONIES PAID INTO AN ACCOUNT TO BUILD UP FOR JANUARY 28TH START. IF YOU GO WITH THE STATE PLAN, YOU, YOU AS AN ENTITY HAVE TO START ACCRUING JANUARY 1ST OF 27 FOR THESE COSTS. AND IT'S A PERCENTAGE OF SALARY. IF YOU PARTICIPATE IN WHAT WE WORK ON, WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON FOR MGYB IS THAT IF YOU'RE PART OF THE COLLABORATIVE, WHICH YOU ARE, THEN WE'RE WORKING ON THE THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 2027 KIND OF ESCROW PIECE SO THAT WHEN WHEN THE LAW DOES GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST 28, THAT'S WHEN YOU WOULD START PAYING INTO, INTO THE THE FUND.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT IS THE MOST RECENT. BUT LIVE AT FIVE COULD CHANGE IN TWO MINUTES.

SO I HATE TO BE LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE WATCHING IT.

WE ARE PARTNERED WITH WITH RML, MARYLAND MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AS WELL AS MOCO, THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION.

SO WE'RE WATCHING THIS COLLECTIVELY. AND WE'LL ALSO CONTINUE TO, TO PUT OUT INFORMATION AS WE SEE IT.

WE DO HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE CAN SEND OUT AGAINST.

WE HAVE FAQS KIND OF WHERE WE ARE. I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.

TO THE GROUP AGAIN. BUT YEAH, THERE ARE SOME FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS THAT WE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, RIGHTFULLY SO. SCHOOL SYSTEMS WE WORRY ABOUT, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, REALLY, IT'S EVERYONE ACROSS THE STATE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT BUDGETED. RIGHT. AND SO, SO IT'S AT LEAST NOT YET, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S JUST AN ADDED COST THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT.

IS THERE ALSO AN IMPACT, A FINANCIAL IMPACT TO THE EMPLOYEE.

DO THEY HAVE TO PAY IN A PORTION OF THIS AS WELL.

[00:25:02]

OKAY. SO SO THERE THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY. THE STATE HAS ESTABLISHED A 0.09% RATE.

THAT IS TO BE PAID FOR THE PROGRAM. WHAT THE EMPLOYER DECIDES TO DO WITH THAT POST.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL VERY, VERY MUCH RIGHT UP FRONT.

THERE HAS BEEN REALLY KIND OF A DECISION AS TO WHAT THAT MODEL LOOKS LIKE, WHETHER IT'S 50/50 EMPLOYEE PAID WITH EMPLOYER OR FULL, YOU KNOW, 100% THAT HAS TO BE DETERMINED. BUT YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME VARIATION.

THERE COULD BE ESSENTIALLY THERE COULD BE. YEAH. WE JUST KNOW THAT THAT RATE IS 0.09%.

GOT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT ONE UP DOCTOR.

THAT WAS A GOOD ONE. AND AGAIN A LOT OF INFORMATION.

WE CAN CERTAINLY SEND IT YOUR WAY. CONTINUE TO SEND AS WE HAVE BEEN WITH THE COLLABORATIVE.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL HAVE THAT INFORMATION SO YOU'RE NOT IN THE DARK. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PERMITS THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON ISSUES OF CONCERN.

[PUBLIC FORUM]

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 WILL 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. 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, AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT TO THE BOARD.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER TONIGHT IS DIAMOND MADISON, WASHINGTON.

COME ON UP. GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, NOT JUST AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO WHO INTIMATELY UNDERSTANDS THE ISOLATION THAT CAN DEFINE A CHILD'S DAILY LIFE. I GREW UP IN THE 1980S. A WORLD WITHOUT SMARTPHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, OR DIGITAL CONNECTIVE TISSUE THAT TODAY'S STUDENTS TAKE FOR GRANTED.

BACK THEN, I STRUGGLED PROFOUNDLY WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY.

SORRY, I HAVE IT NOW. CROWDS OVERWHELMED ME AND GROUP SETTINGS TRIGGERED A DEEP SENSE OF DREAD.

AT LUNCH, I WAS A STUDENT SITTING ALONE AT THE FAR END OF THE TABLE, WATCHING MY PEERS LAUGH AND INTERACT WITH EASE THAT FELT UTTERLY FOREIGN TO ME.

I REMEMBER THE PANG OF LONGING AS I WATCHED THEM, WONDERING WHAT IT MUST FEEL LIKE TO GENERALLY LIKE, BE LIKED AND INCLUDED. THE ISOLATION FOLLOWED ME FOR DECADES.

IT WASN'T UNTIL MUCH LATER IN LIFE THAT I WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED WITH AGORAPHOBIA.

LOOKING BACK, I AM CERTAIN IF I HAD ACCESS TO A SMARTPHONE DURING THOSE DARK LUNCH PERIODS, IT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED A MUCH NEEDED TETHER TO REALITY.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN JUST A DISTRACTION. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LIFELINE, SAVING ME FROM YEARS OF UNNECESSARY HEARTACHE AND CONFUSION.

HOWEVER, THE STAKES TODAY ARE EVEN HIGHER THAN MY OWN SOCIAL STRUGGLES, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE HARSH REALITY.

THERE ARE. SCHOOLS ARE NO LONGER THE SAFE SANCTUARIES MANY OF US REMEMBER FROM THE PAST.

WE CONDUCT ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS. WE'LL FACE LOCKDOWN THREATS AND DEAL WITH MEDICAL EMERGENCIES WITH EVERY SINGLE SECOND COUNT.

TAKING AWAY A CHILD'S PHONE DOESN'T JUST REMAIN REMOTE.

I'M SORRY. REMOVE A SOCIAL COMFORT. IT SEVERS THE ONLY GUARANTEED DIRECT LINE TO 911 TO THEIR PARENTS AND TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS.

IN CRISIS, SCHOOL INTERCOMS CAN FAIL, LANDLINES GET JAMMED, AND TEACHERS ARE OVERWHELMED TRYING TO SECURE DOZENS OF STUDENTS A SILENT, DISCRETE TEXT. EMERGENCY SERVICES FROM A TREMBLING CHILD HIDING UNDERNEATH A DESK COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.

EVEN OUTSIDE OF EXTREME EVENTS, PHONES EMPOWER CHILDREN TO ALERT SOMEONE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHINA.

[00:30:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHINA. WASHINGTON.

I'M A 16 YEAR OLD MARYLAND STUDENT, AND I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE STUDENTS DESERVE TO HAVE A VOICE WHEN LAWS DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.

I WANT TO BEGIN BY SAYING I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE BEHIND MARYLAND'S PHONE FREE SCHOOLS ACT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT PHONES CAN BE DISTRACTING IN CLASSROOMS. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA CHEATING, CYBERBULLYING, AND STUDENTS BEING ON THEIR PHONES INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR TEACHERS. MARYLAND'S CURRENT LAW LOOSELY DEFINES THE ACADEMIC SCHOOL DAY.

IT INCLUDES NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIONAL PERIODS BUT ALSO NON-INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.

THAT IS WHERE I BELIEVE WE NEED TO RECONSIDER THE POLICY.

I'M NOT ASKING MARILYN TO ELIMINATE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON PHONES DURING CLASS TIME.

I'M ASKING FOR SOMETHING MUCH MORE SPECIFIC. STUDENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ACCESS THEIR PHONE DURING SELF-DIRECTED PERIODS.

THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STUDENT SITTING IN A CLASSROOM WHILE A TEACHER IS TEACHING AND A STUDENT SITTING AT LUNCH WITH THEIR FRIENDS.

CLASS TIME IS FOR LEARNING. LUNCH IS A BREAK AND WE SHOULDN'T TREAT THOSE TWO SITUATIONS THE SAME.

I CREATED A PETITION ASKING MARILYN TO AMEND ITS PHONE FREE SCHOOL POLICY.

THAT PETITION HAS RECEIVED 9340 SIGNATURES AS OF SEPTEMBER 8TH.

SORRY, 2026 AND COUNTING. 9340 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO SAY THAT THEY SUPPORT GIVING STUDENTS REASONABLE ACCESS TO THEIR PHONES DURING DESIGNATED NON-INSTRUCTIONAL PERIODS. THOSE SIGNATURES ARE MORE THAN A NUMBER.

THEY REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO WANT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PARENTS. THEY REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO WANT TO LISTEN TO MUSIC DURING THEIR BREAK. THEY REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO WANT TO CHECK IN ON THEIR SCHEDULES, COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATE ABOUT AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR SIMPLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES TO THEMSELVES.

AND THEY REPRESENT STUDENTS WHO BELIEVE THAT HAVING A PHONE DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN THAT THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF BEING RESPONSIBLE WITH IT.

WE CAN CREATE A POLICY THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS SURROUNDING PHONES WITHOUT BANNING ACCESS DURING EVERY PART OF THE SCHOOL DAY.

SO TODAY I'M ASKING YOU TO HELP ME TAKE ACTION AND RECONSIDER HOW THIS LAW APPLIES AND AFFECTS US.

I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR POSITION AND INFLUENCE TO BRING CONCERNS OF THE MARYLAND STUDENTS BACK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND ADVOCATE FOR AN AMENDMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CONNIE PALOMBI.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT AND BOARD MEMBERS. I WAS AT LAST YEAR'S MEETING REGARDING THE RETIREES INSURANCE.

SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR RESPONDING SO QUICKLY TO THE RETIREE, BUT WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM.

I DO A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS, SO I WANTED TO SHARE WHAT I HAVE.

LIKE I TOLD YOU, I'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH DOCTOR OZ'S GROUP.

THE MEDICARE GUIDANCE ADVISED ME THAT SINCE WE WERE SWITCHED TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND WE'RE NOT HAPPY WITH IT, WE ARE UNDER OUR LEGAL RIGHTS, WHAT THEY CALL THE TRIAL RIGHTS, THAT WE CAN SWITCH BACK TO THE OTHER PLAN ANYTIME DURING THAT FIRST YEAR THAT YOU WERE SWITCHED OVER TO IT. SO FOR US TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY 1ST IS A BURDEN AND IT KIND OF VIOLATES THAT, RIGHT? BUT ALSO IT'S ALSO GIVING THE MESSAGE ANY RETIREES THAT ARE HAVING ISSUES GETTING PAYMENTS OR DENY OR CARE.

NOW WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL JANUARY FOR MORE MONTHS FOR ANYTHING TO BE DONE WITH OUR MEDICAL CARE.

THAT'S INCLUDING GOING TO THE DENTIST, GETTING YOUR EYE CARE, DOING HEARING ANYTHING.

IT'S NOT KNOWING IF IT'S GOING TO BE PAYING. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE IS A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT IS MORE LOOKING INTO FUNDING PROFITABLE. AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEWS RECENTLY, IN FACT, NEWSWEEK HAD ON TODAY THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY KICKING, SENDING OUT LETTERS TO OVER 600,000 RETIREES, KICKING THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY NOW TO PAY IT OUT.

THEY GRAB THE BIG INSURANCE COMPANIES TO JOIN US.

WE'LL HANDLE EVERYTHING. THEY GOT A PIECE OF THE PIE.

NOW THEY HAVE SO MANY RETIREES AND MEDICARE PEOPLE, THEY CAN'T PAY IT.

SO THEIR WAY OF DOING IT IS KICKING PEOPLE OUT, KICKING THEM OUT.

IT'S WRONG. AND I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, MEDICARE HAS NOT ONLY A, B, C, D, IT GOES ALL THE WAY TO N BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD IS NOW ADVERTISING MEDICARE G. IT'S CALLED MEDICARE GAP.

IT'S MEDICARE ITSELF. IT'S NOT A PRIVATE COMPANY.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY SAYING FOR MARYLAND PEOPLE JUST FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, IT'S $89.

SO I HAVE MORE. I'M JUST ASKING CONSIDERATION TO MOVE THE DATE UP TO WHERE WE CAN OPEN ENROLLMENT NOW.

[00:35:01]

I'LL EMAIL YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE TO YIELD BACK YOUR TIME. DOCTOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT. WHAT'S THE TIME TO CARE ACT? SO THERE IS A LOT OF FLAWS WITH THE FEDERAL OR THE STATE AGAINST FEDERAL THAT I DID ADDRESS.

SO I CAN SHARE THAT TO. THAT CONCLUDES OUR SPEAKERS FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THERE'S A MOTION, A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR SUPERINTENDENT REPORT, DOCTOR NEWSOME.

[SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT]

SO I'M GOING TO GET RIGHT INTO IT. A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING HERE IN CALVERT COUNTY SCHOOLS.

SO OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE, NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORK IN A SCHOOL, IN AN OFFICE OUT IN THE FIELD, IS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS GRADUATE ON TIME, COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.

WE HAVE THREE SIMPLE PRIMARY GOALS THAT SUPPORT LARGER GOALS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, STRONG TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS, AND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE.

TWO SYSTEMS THINKING WHERE WE'RE FOCUSED AND ALIGNED WITH OUR VISION, MISSION, ADULT COHERENCE AND TEAM WORK.

AND THEN THREE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO GET BETTER, MAKING DATA DRIVEN DECISIONS, INVESTING IN OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SKILLING UP BEST PRACTICES.

WHEN WE SEE WHAT WORKS WELL, WE WANT TO REPLICATE THAT DISTRICT WIDE.

ONE OF THE NEW TOOLS WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS OUR NEW INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK, AND I WANT TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF OUR CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT AND INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE DONE A LOT OF GREAT WORK, AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE.

I GUESS THAT'S THOSE BOXES ON THE RIGHT SHOW.

THOSE ARE ACTUALLY HYPERLINKS FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EDUCATORS TO ACCESS MANY OF THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK.

BUT BEFORE WE START SHARING MORE PICTURES FOR THIS YEAR, THERE WAS A, THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN OVER THE SUMMER.

AND I WANT TO THANK BRIAN WELKER FOR ORGANIZING THE SUMMER ARTS CAMP.

IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. THE STUDENTS WERE ENTHUSIASTIC, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THEY WERE VERY MUCH ENGAGED IN SOME WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES. WE ALSO HAD THE ORIENTATION FOR OUR EARLY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF THEM OVER AT CSM. AND THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD WORK DONE BY THE ADULTS.

OBVIOUSLY I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR MAKING SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF RETURNED AND VERY COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENTS, BUT WE ALSO HAD ALL OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SITE BASED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

WE HAD SOME OF OUR OWN EXPERTS HERE WITHIN THE DISTRICT PRESENTING.

BUT WE ALSO HAD AN EXTERNAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER, DOCTOR JORGE VALENZUELA, WHO JUST RECEIVED OUTSTANDING FEEDBACK FROM HIS PRESENTATION AND REALLY CONNECTED WITH OUR LEADERS.

SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID ABOUT THE CELL PHONE POLICY.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY OBSERVATIONS. I WANT TO THANK THE STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR FAMILIES FOR COMPLYING WITH THIS POLICY. I THINK FAR BEYOND THE EXPECTATIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD.

WE HAVE BEEN OUT TO A LOT OF SCHOOLS. I THINK WE'VE BEEN OUT TO, I'VE BEEN OUT TO ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT THE FIRST FEW WEEKS.

AND I SAW ONE CELL PHONE AND THAT WAS ABOUT A HALF SECOND BECAUSE WHEN THE STUDENTS SAW ME, SHE PUT IT AWAY SO QUICKLY WHICH MEANS THAT SHE KNEW THAT IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT.

I WANT TO THANK OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND OUR TEACHERS.

IT TAKES EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS HAPPENS.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE BOARD'S POLICY DOES PROVIDE SOME EXEMPTIONS FOR SPECIAL SITUATIONS.

BUT AGAIN, KUDOS TO, TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR GETTING OFF TO SUCH A GREAT START THE CELL PHONES.

[00:40:03]

I UNDERSTAND THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE HERE BEFORE.

IT WAS STUDENT LED AND HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SHOTS.

I WANT TO THANK MR. AND MISS SMITH POST FOR BEING THERE AND MISS POST FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THE STUDENTS WERE JUST INCREDIBLE AND SO WELL RECEIVED BY OUR EDUCATORS.

YES, THERE WAS A MUSIC THEME. WE STARTED OUT WITH THE DRUMLINE.

THE PLACE WAS ROCKING. EVERYONE WAS HAVING A GREAT TIME.

AND THEN THIS IS ONE OF MANY VERY POSITIVE EMAIL MESSAGES.

HERE I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU HOW MUCH MY STAFF ENJOYED AND WERE INSPIRED BY TODAY'S CONVOCATION.

MANY COMMENTS. COMMENTS WERE MADE THAT IT WAS THE BEST ONE EVER.

THEY LOVED THE STUDENTS LEADING IT. JACOB'S SPEECH ON AI AND HOW IT CAN SUPPORT ACCESSIBILITY WAS ALSO INSPIRING.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO BEGIN THE 2027 SCHOOL YEAR.

THIS WAS FROM BETH MORTON, PRINCIPAL OF HUNTINGTOWN.

THE NEXT DAY SHE SENT ME SO MANY MESSAGES FROM HER STAFF, AND WE RECEIVED THOSE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW TALENTED OUR STUDENTS WERE WHO PRESENTED.

SO NOW WE GET TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. IT WAS FILLED WITH EXCITEMENT.

AND THESE ARE JUST A FEW SHOTS. AND I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF THESE.

MARCI GRUBER, DOCTOR GRUBER WAS OUT THERE THE FIRST DAY TAKING PICTURES AS WELL.

AND THEN I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET SOME OF THE PARENTS WHO WERE BRINGING THEIR CHILDREN IN FOR THE FIRST DAY TO MEET THEIR TEACHERS.

THEY HAD ONE ON ONE MEETINGS WITH THEIR TEACHERS TO GET ADAPTED TO THE NEW ENVIRONMENT.

AND THIS IS THE CLASS OF 2039. YOU SAID THE 3039.

WHAT DID I SAY? 23, 30, 39 NO, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE 2039.

OKAY. SOMEONE DIDN'T PROVE THIS. YES. THE CLASS OF 2039.

YES. BUT IT WAS A GREAT BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAD OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS WHO WERE OUT IN FORCE.

WE WERE ACTUALLY VISITING MILL CREEK AND WE RAN INTO SHERIFF COX.

AND NOW WE HAVE FULL COMPLEMENT OF SRO OFFICERS FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

OUR LEADERS ARE WORKING REALLY HARD BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND THIS WAS JUST A SHOT OF ONE OF OUR MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE CALL THIS BELOW THE ICEBERG.

THE PUBLIC SEES WHAT HAPPENS ABOVE THE WATER.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE BACKGROUND. I WANT TO THANK OUR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DOCTOR MICHELLE SMITH AND CECILIA LEWIS FOR ALLOWING ME TO HANG OUT WITH THEM AS WE VISITED SCHOOLS, MANY SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST WEEK.

HERE WE ARE AT PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST ENJOYED SEEING THE STUDENTS AT WORK.

THEY WERE ALL ON TASK. I DON'T THINK WE SAW ANY STUDENT OFF TASK.

IT WAS PRETTY AMAZING. SCIENCE PROJECTS. ACTIVE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT.

AND THEN WE HAD A VISIT FROM A MEMBER OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MISS MEDINA.

SHE TOURED BEACH ELEMENTARY WITH US AS WELL AS WENDY HILL MIDDLE.

SHE HAD. SHE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS CLASS. IT WAS A SPANISH CLASS, AND OBVIOUSLY SHE SPEAKS FLUENT SPANISH AND I THINK SHE COULD HAVE STAYED THERE ALL DAY.

AND THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A HARD HAT TOUR OF THE NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. OH, THAT'S THE CAFETERIA.

HERE WE HAVE THE GYMNASIUM. I WAS ABLE TO MEET UP WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO HAD A TOUR TODAY, AND THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IS QUITE COMMENDABLE.

I WAS CONCERNED WHEN WE WERE OVER THERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT MEETING OUR DEADLINE.

I'M A LITTLE BIT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT NOW.

WHAT THE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY WILL CERTAINLY ENJOY THIS.

THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, DOCTOR NEWSOM.

[STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT]

[00:45:10]

OKAY. GOOD EVENING. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE ENJOYING THE START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO REPORT TONIGHT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING THE STATE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD VISITING PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL NOVEMBER 2ND. SHOULD BE AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH THE STATE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD AND LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HER POSITION AND WHAT SHE'S DOING THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'M FOCUSING ON FILLING FILLING THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

STUDENT MEMBER POSITIONS. AS I KNOW THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND I WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR.

I'VE BEEN PRETTY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. RECENTLY, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SEVERAL STUDENT LEADERS TO ESTABLISH SOME CLUB VISITS THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR SO THAT I CAN GET CONNECTED WITH OUR STUDENT BODY.

AND ADDITIONALLY, I ATTENDED THE SEPTEMBER CAS EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING WHERE I HAD SOME CASUAL BUT VERY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH MANY OF OUR STUDENTS.

OVERALL, AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, I'VE NOTICED SOME SIMILAR THEMES REGARDING SOME OF THE CONCERNS FROM STUDENTS.

SO FIRST OFF, OF COURSE, MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE STUDENTS HAVE MENTIONED THEIR CONCERNS WITH CPS CELL PHONE POLICY AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION THIS YEAR.

AND ON ANOTHER NOTE MANY DIFFERENT RESTRICTIVE POLICIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED INDIVIDUALLY AT THE SCHOOL LEVELS, WHICH MANY STUDENTS HAVE ADDRESSED THEIR CONCERNS WITH ME ABOUT THOSE AND THE UNNECESSARY BURDEN THAT MAY BE CAUSING TO THEM AND THEIR TEACHERS.

OKAY, THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[Policies for Review]

POLICY. 1047 DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS. AND I INVITE MISS GRUBER UP.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DOCTOR NEWSOM AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD POLICY 1047 REGARDING DISPLAY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS IS BEFORE YOU AS PART OF ITS REGULAR REVIEW CYCLE, THE PROPOSED REVISIONS ARE INTENDED TO MODERNIZE AND CLARIFY THE POLICY AND PROVIDE A MORE CONSISTENT FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS SHARED BY OUTSIDE ENTITIES.

THE REVISIONS FOCUS ON THREE PRIMARY AREAS. FIRST, THE POLICY HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO MORE CLEARLY ADDRESS BOTH PHYSICAL AND ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION. SECOND, DEFINITIONS HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED, PARTICULARLY AROUND INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS, OUTSIDE ENTITIES. CSPS COMMUNICATION CHANNELS AND THE LIMITED PUBLIC FORUM.

AND FINALLY, THE REQUIRED DISCLAIMER HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT APPROVAL TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SPONSORSHIP OR ENDORSEMENT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR CSPS. OVERALL, THE REVISIONS PRESERVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE RELEVANT INFORMATION WITH OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, WHILE PROVIDING CLEARER AND MORE CONSISTENT PARAMETERS FOR CSPS.

IT LOOKS WORSE THAN IT ACTUALLY IS, BUT WE RECOMMEND THE REVISED POLICY FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

NOT SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE POLICY LANGUAGE, BUT I KNOW I THINK IT WAS THE LAST BOARD MEETING.

IT WAS PRESENTED ABOUT A NEW COMMUNICATION TOOL.

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THESE, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE THINGS WOULD BE WOULD THAT BE A MECHANISM TO DISTRIBUTE THESE MATERIALS? SO I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO PARENT SQUARE, OUR TWO WAY COMMUNICATION.

SO THAT IS SEPARATE. THIS IS WHAT WE POST ON OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS PAGE.

OKAY. IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO TO TRY TO STRENGTHEN THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

JUST AS ANOTHER AVENUE FOR OUR ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF CSPS TO SHARE INFORMATION WITH FAMILIES.

MOST DISTRICTS THAT DO THIS, I LEARNED NOT ALL LEAS ACTUALLY DO THAT.

BUT THOSE THAT DO TYPICALLY USE LIKE A THIRD PARTY VENDOR.

SO THE OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS SUBMIT AND WITH A FEE, IF THEY ARE CHARGING ANYTHING, THEY DO HAVE A FEE, A FEE THAT GOES TO SUBMIT FOR THAT OUTSIDE AGENCY TO REVIEW EVERYTHING FIRST, AND THEN THE LEE WOULD ULTIMATELY STILL APPROVE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. SO IS IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, REC TEAM SPORTS TEAMS OR LIKE, IS IT THAT SORT OF THING? YES. SO WE HAVE A QUITE A VARIETY OF, OF ACTIVITIES, BUT IT DOES HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO OUR STUDENTS AND OR THEIR FAMILIES. SO IT CAN'T JUST BE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR AN ORGANIZATION OR SOMETHING THAT WOULDN'T BE RELEVANT TO EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS GRANNIS. I GUESS I WANTED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT TOO, BECAUSE I'VE HAD TWO ORGANIZATIONS REACH

[00:50:08]

ONE WAS THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, WHICH DOESN'T NECESSARILY FIT INTO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT THEY OFFER A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND AN AMAZING I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT.

YEAH, IT'S SOME TYPE OF PROGRAM THEY GO TO AND THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET.

THEY TRIED TO ADVERTISE THROUGH OUR SCHOOL, BUT THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO.

IS THIS A SOURCE FOR THEM? ABSOLUTELY. AND WE'VE ACTUALLY MADE IT EASIER FOR OUR ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBMIT SOMETHING FOR APPROVAL.

WE NOW HAVE OUR COMMUNICATIONS ZEN DESK SET UP, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE TICKETS THAT ANYBODY CAN ACCESS IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY OR, AND THE OUTSIDE FLIERS IS ONE OF THE TICKETS THAT THEY COULD SUBMIT AND IT HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO CONSIDER FOR APPROVAL FOR DISTRIBUTION. OKAY. THE OTHER ONE WAS I THINK WAS IT WAS THROUGH THE NAACP.

JOE AND I WENT TO AN EVENT TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD BUSINESSES THAT WANTED TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIPS AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GO THROUGH.

CSPS. WOULD THIS BE THE APPROPRIATE CHANNEL FOR THEM? SO SCHOLARSHIPS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT. I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE PROCESS FOR THAT, JUST BECAUSE WE DO HAVE DIFFERENT AVENUES FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE SHARING THAT INFORMATION. BUT THIS IS MORE FOR JUST GENERAL EVENTS OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.

SO I'LL CLARIFY AND LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC, I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS BECAUSE IF, IF OUR STUDENTS CAN GET MONEY THAT WAY, I THINK THE HARDEST PART IS THEM LOCATING THE SOURCES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

AND IT SHOULDN'T BE, WE SHOULD MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.

SO THAT'S ONE THAT YEAH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT.

ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT.

SO PREVIOUSLY ALL THE SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE COUNSELING OFFICE, OUT TO THE SCHOOLS, AND THEN THE SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN SITES THAT THEY ADVERTISE TO THE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE TO THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR CLASS FOR WHICHEVER THE SCHOLARSHIPS APPLY. YEAH. BUT SHOULDN'T THAT BE UNIVERSAL? IF THERE'S A SCHOLARSHIP, ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT RATHER THAN SCHOOL BY SCHOOL.

SO TYPICALLY, IF IT IS A SCHOLARSHIP THAT EVERY STUDENT IN THE COUNTY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT, IT WOULD GO TO ALL FOUR SCHOOLS. THERE ARE SOME SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE PAST THAT WOULD BE VERY SPECIFIC TO A NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, BECAUSE IT WAS A FORMER STUDENT OR STAFF MEMBER WHO HAD CREATED AN ACCOUNT, A SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PATRONS OF NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL. SO THAT WOULD GO RIGHT TO THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS. THANK YOU. UP NEXT WE HAVE POLICY 2350 POLICY REGARDING PROGRAMS FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED AND ALP STUDENTS. ADA MR. SCOTT MCCOMB.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT DOCTOR NEWSOM AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

MY NAME IS SCOTT MCCOMB AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE.

THIS EVENING I WILL BE PRESENTING THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS TO POLICY 2350, WHICH ADDRESSES GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION AND ADVANCED LEARNERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, DOCTOR RICKS, WHO IS OUR SUPERVISOR OF GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION, HAD A LOSS IN HER FAMILY AND IS UNABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

SO I'M PRESENTING THE POLICY. BUT I WANT TO ENSURE THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THAT SHE WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE REVISIONS.

THE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS TO POLICY 2350 ARE AS FOLLOWS UNDER PURPOSE.

THERE ARE THREE RECOMMENDED REVISIONS. LETTER B NOW READS TO ENSURE THAT DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ARE SYSTEMATICALLY PROVIDED FOR IDENTIFIED, GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS IN GRADES PRE-K THROUGH 12, INCLUDING STUDENTS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS, MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

LETTER C NOW READS TO ENSURE THAT GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS ARE OFFERED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES BEYOND THOSE NORMALLY PROVIDED IN THE REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAM AND LETTER D READS. TO ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS FOR EQUITABLE IDENTIFICATION, UNIVERSAL SCREENING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, AND GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION.

THESE PROPOSED REVISIONS ARE MADE TO ALIGN OUR POLICY WITH THE UPDATED REQUIREMENTS AND LANGUAGE OF COMAR 13 AYE 0.040.07.

[00:55:08]

UNDER DEFINITIONS, THERE ARE TWO RECOMMENDED REVISIONS AND ONE DELETION UNDER LETTER A, WHICH NOW DEFINES ADVANCED LEARNERS AS STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT FORMALLY IDENTIFIED AS GIFTED AND TALENTED, BUT DEMONSTRATE READINESS FOR ADVANCED INSTRUCTION THROUGH HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, ACCELERATED LEARNING, ADVANCED REASONING, CREATIVITY, PROBLEM SOLVING, INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY, OR OTHER INDICATORS OF POTENTIAL. LETTER C, WHICH DEFINED PRIMARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT, HAS BEEN DELETED, BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR. THIS SHOULD NOT SUGGEST THAT WE DO NOT HAVE PRIMARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT OR THAT OUR K 12 OR I'M SORRY K THROUGH TWO PROGRAM HAS BEEN REMOVED.

PRIMARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT IS STILL ARTICULATED IN OUR PROCEDURES, WHERE DESCRIPTIONS OF INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS AND APPROACHES BELONG AND ARE FULLY DESCRIBED. HOWEVER, DEFINITIONS SHOULD ONLY DEFINE TERMS THAT ARE ACTUALLY FOUND IN THE POLICY STATEMENT, AND PRIMARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT IS NOT REFERRED TO IN THE POLICY.

THAT'S WHY IT'S REMOVED. LETTER D NOW BECOMES LETTER C AND READS TWICE EXCEPTIONAL, WHICH IS A STUDENT WHO IS IDENTIFIED AS A GIFTED, AS GIFTED AND TALENTED, BUT ALSO HAS A DISABILITY AS DETERMINED BY APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

AGAIN, THESE CHANGES ARE MADE TO ALIGN WITH MSD POLICY AND THEY THEY REPLACE OUTDATED LANGUAGE.

THERE ARE FOUR RECOMMENDED CHANGES UNDER POLICY STATEMENTS.

LETTER A NOW READS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ACKNOWLEDGES THAT GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS ARE FOUND IN ALL SCHOOLS, IN ALL GRADE LEVELS AND COME FROM ALL RACIAL, CULTURAL, ETHNIC AND ECONOMIC STRATA.

THEREFORE, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL IDENTIFY AND EQUITABLY SERVE EACH STUDENT.

LETTER B HAS BEEN REVISED TO READ. THROUGH THIS POLICY, THE BOARD COMMITS TO THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE IN IDENTIFYING AND SERVING OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE GIFTED AND TALENTED, INCLUDING ADVANCED LEARNERS AND TWICE EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS.

THE BOARD RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING PROGRAMS IN COMMERCE AND SERVICES BEYOND NORMALLY PROVIDED BY THE REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LETTER C AND D HAVE BEEN ADDED. SO THEIR NEW LETTER C STATES THAT THE BOARD DIRECTS THE SUPERINTENDENT TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN EQUITABLE IDENTIFICATION PROCESS THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL STUDENTS, UTILIZES UNIVERSAL SCREENING AND MULTIPLE INDICATORS OF POTENTIAL, ABILITY AND ACHIEVEMENT, AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR IDENTIFICATION THROUGHOUT THE STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

AND LETTER D STATES THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL ENSURE THAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

I'M SORRY, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING IS PROVIDED REGARDING GIFTED AND TALENTED IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES.

CHARACTERISTICS OF GIFTED LEARNERS, INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES, AND THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS.

THIS LANGUAGE WAS ADDED BECAUSE UNIVERSAL SCREENING OF ALL STUDENTS AND THE USE OF MULTIPLE INDICATORS OF GIFTEDNESS ARE EXPLICITLY REQUIRED AND DESCRIBED AND DESCRIBED BY KUMAR. ADDITIONALLY, KUMAR SPECIFICALLY REQUIRES ONGOING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING RELATED TO IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES, CHARACTERISTICS OF GIFTED LEARNERS, AND ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF GIFTED STUDENTS.

FINALLY, UNDER DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY, WE FELT THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CITE THE SPECIFIC CITATION WE MUST ENSURE OUR POLICY ALIGNS TO.

AT THIS TIME, I'M PLEASED TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS TAKE DOWN ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY BE SPECIFICALLY FOR DOCTOR RICK SO THAT I CAN HAVE HER FOLLOW UP. MISS GOSHORN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I KNOW DOCTOR RICK'S ISN'T HERE, BUT I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE EDITS TO THIS POLICY.

AND I THINK THAT THE CLARIFICATIONS ARE GOING TO REALLY HELP FURTHER SUPPORT ALL OF OUR, ALL OF OUR GIFTED STUDENTS.

ONE COMMENT I HAVE, AND I DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC EDIT TO THE POLICY, BUT ONE CHALLENGE THAT I'VE HEARD IS NOT HAVING ENOUGH GIFTED PROGRAMS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AND SOME OF THOSE BEFORE SCHOOL OR AFTER SCHOOL OR ON THE WEEKEND.

AND SO MAYBE TO STRENGTHEN THE POLICY SOME, WE JUST CLARIFY THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WILL EXIST FOR ALL STUDENTS.

AT LEAST ONE YOU KNOW, WILL EXIST FOR ALL STUDENTS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MISS GRIFFITH. I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF TOOLS TO SCREEN, BUT HAVING THE TOOLS ISN'T THE SAME AS SHOWING THAT THE TOOLS WORK.

SO MY QUESTION IS REALLY ABOUT OUTCOME DATA, NOT JUST SCREENING INSTRUMENTS.

WHAT OUTCOME DATA DO WE HAVE THAT SHOWS STUDENTS WE IDENTIFY OR STUDENTS WHO NEED THE PROGRAM OR NEED THESE SERVICES.

AND HOW ARE WE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT MISSING STUDENTS WHO SHOULD HAVE QUALIFIED? SO IF I CAN TAKE THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAMA REQUIRES, AND ONE THING THAT'S PART OF OUR PROGRAM,

[01:00:07]

SO THERE'S TWO WAYS I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION. WE FORMALLY IDENTIFY STUDENTS IN SECOND AND SEVENTH GRADE, BUT IF A STUDENT COMES AT IT COMES TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AFTER SECOND GRADE WE WILL THEN IDENTIFY, WE'LL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IDENTIFIED.

IF A STUDENT IS DEMONSTRATING SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY.

THEY CAN BE REFERRED TO OUR THROUGH TEAMS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR BUILDINGS TO BE MAYBE REASSESSED.

ADDITIONALLY. AND THIS IS THE LANGUAGE WE HAD IN TERMS OF ADVANCED LEARNERS.

IF A STUDENT IS NOT FORMALLY IDENTIFIED AS A GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY CAN'T ACCESS GIFTED AND TALENTED OPPORTUNITIES.

IF THE TEACHERS ARE SEEING THAT THE STUDENT IS, IS DOING WELL IN THEIR STUDIES AND LET'S SAY IN FOURTH GRADE THEY THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING THAT THEY ARE READY TO MOVE BEYOND THE, THE CURRICULUM THAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS, THEY CAN GO AND PARTICIPATE WITH THE STUDENTS WHO ARE FORMALLY IDENTIFIED AS GAY STUDENTS.

AND SO THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT WE PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO BE IDENTIFIED, EVEN AFTER THE FORMAL IDENTIFICATION PERIODS.

AND WE WERE REQUIRED TO DO THAT, BUT WE WOULD DO THAT ANYWAY AND PROVIDE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THE OTHER ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS THAT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS TO ACCELERATE DIFFERS BY INSTRUCTIONAL LEVEL.

SO I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO START AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND WORK MY WAY BACKWARDS.

SO ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO EXPERIENCE ACCELERATED AND MORE RIGOROUS OPPORTUNITIES IS THROUGH OUR ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN LIKE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY BIO BIOMEDICAL OR, OR AEROSPACE ENGINEERING. AND WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THAT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD OUTCOMES IN THOSE THOSE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST AP PROGRAM RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE.

WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE NOT ONLY STUDENTS TAKE A LOT OF STUDENTS TAKING AP, BUT THEY'RE TAKING THE ASSESSMENT AND THEY'RE PERFORMING QUITE WELL.

I THINK LAST YEAR WE REPORTED THAT WHEN IT CAME TO STUDENTS WHO WERE QUALIFYING WITH A THREE OR BETTER, WE RANKED SECOND IN THE STATE FOR STUDENTS WHO FELL INTO THAT CATEGORY.

GOING BACK TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'LL GO WITH ELEMENTARY.

IS THAT THE STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE WITH IN THE GATE PROGRAM? OBVIOUSLY IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THE GATE SERVICES THAT THEY RECEIVE AND THEIR PERFORMANCE ON MCAT.

BUT WHAT WE DO SEE IS THAT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE, WHO ARE GIFTED, WHO ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY ABLE WHO ARE BEING PULLED OUT OF CLASS AND HAVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ENRICHED ARE ALSO SCORING VERY WELL IN MCAT.

SO I CAN'T, SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW GIVE YOU A CORRELATION BETWEEN HOW MANY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WHO ARE GETTING GATE SERVICES AT ELEMENTARY, WHO THEN ARE SCORING FOR. I MEAN, WE COULD PUT TOGETHER THAT DATA, BUT I DON'T HAVE IT SITTING IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. RELATED TO THE POLICY. YES.

OKAY. GO AHEAD. I'LL ALLOW IT. OKAY. I HAVE ONE MORE THOUGHT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT LIKE I WAS A JUDGE. SO AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE A FORMAL EDIT TO THE POLICY, BUT JUST A GENERAL THOUGHT THAT COULD INFORM AN EDIT TO THE POLICY. SO WHEN MISS GRANNIS AND I DID THE GATE TOURS LAST YEAR, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS AND KIND OF EXPERIENCE THAT AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL, ONE THING THAT WAS VERY CLEAR IS THE DEDICATED CLASSROOMS PROVIDED AN ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIED OR ADVANCED LEARNERS OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE'RE DEFINING MUCH DIFFERENTLY THAN FOR THOSE CLASSROOMS WHERE THE GATE TEACHERS HAD TO WORK IN THE GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOM.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S POLICY WORTHY, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE IN WHAT THE STUDENTS GET WHEN THERE'S A DEDICATED CLASSROOM VERSUS A PUSH IN MODEL. AND SINCE WE ARE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BEING EQUITABLE, IT IS VERY DIFFERENT.

THE EXPERIENCE THAT THE CHILD GETS IN A SCHOOL BUILDING WITH A DEDICATED CLASSROOM, AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT A CHILD GETS IN A PUSH IN ENVIRONMENT.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. BUT I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING THAT WE DID THIS YEAR, TO SOME EXTENT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DEDICATED CLASSROOMS, WE DON'T HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE SPECIFICALLY WITH OTHER GAY, OTHER GAY STUDENTS THE ENTIRE DAY. BUT IN TERMS OF THE PULLOUT CIRCUMSTANCE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THIS YEAR WAS TO LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF THE SCHOOL. LAST YEAR IN OUR PROGRAM, A SMALL SCHOOL AND A LARGE SCHOOL WOULD BOTH GET A GAY TEACHER TWO DAYS A WEEK.

AND THEN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE WEEK, THEY WOULD BE WORKING WITH OUR PRIMARY TALENT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND DOCTOR RICK'S WORK TO SWITCH UP THAT SCHEDULE SO THAT IF THERE'S A LARGE SCHOOL AND THAT'S USUALLY HOW IT'S MARRIED UP A LARGE SCHOOL AND A SMALLER SCHOOL.

[01:05:02]

SOMETIMES THAT DYNAMIC THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS NOT JUST A SCHEDULING CHOICE BY THE PRINCIPAL, BUT IT WAS ALSO JUST A LOGISTICAL CHOICE OF, OF HOW MANY STUDENTS YOU COULD SERVE IN THE TIME THAT YOU WERE WITHIN THE BUILDING.

SO THE INCREASED TIME IN THE BUILDING, I THINK, IS ALSO GOING TO HELP TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT ISSUE THAT YOU DESCRIBED.

THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. MCCOMB. THIS POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE BID APPROVALS. WHAT IS THE POLICY? OH, SURE. OH, MATT POTEET, WHERE ARE YOU? I WOULD NEVER WANT YOU TO NOT PRESENT AN AI POLICY.

YOU DIDN'T COME HERE FOR NOTHING. MISS GOSHORN WOULD BE SO UPSET IF WE SKIPPED OVER THE AI POLICY.

SHE GETS VERY EXCITED WHEN IT'S TECHNOLOGY BASED.

WE'RE EXCITED TOO. OKAY, GOOD. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DOCTOR NEWSOM AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M MATT POTEET, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

JOINING ME THIS EVENING IS TJ HILL, SUPERVISOR OF THE OFFICE OF LEARNING AND INNOVATION.

AND WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT CSP'S PROPOSED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE POLICY.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, MARYLAND ENACTED SENATE BILL 720, THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE READY SCHOOLS ACT.

THE ACT DID NOT INITIATE CSP'S WORK IN THIS AREA.

INSTEAD, IT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORMALIZE AND STRENGTHEN EFFORTS ALREADY UNDERWAY.

AS WE HAVE TAKEN A PROACTIVE APPROACH BY HELPING STAFF UNDERSTAND EMERGING AI TECHNOLOGIES, COMMUNICATING RESPONSIBLE USE PRACTICES AND REVIEWING TOOLS THROUGH ESTABLISHED DISTRICT PROCESSES.

THE NEW LAW ESTABLISHES MARYLAND'S FRAMEWORK FOR THE RESPONSIBLE USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN K TO 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND REQUIRES LOCAL SYSTEMS TO BASICALLY DO FOUR THINGS. FIRST, ADOPT A LOCAL AI POLICY, ALIGN WITH MSD GUIDANCE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR TONIGHT. SECONDLY, TO DESIGNATE A CENTRAL OFFICE NON-INSTRUCTIONAL AI COORDINATOR OR COORDINATORS TO SERVE AS THE DISTRICT LIAISON WITH MSD. THIRDLY, TO EVALUATE AI PRODUCTS THROUGH ESTABLISHED PROCESSES CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE MSD REQUIREMENTS, TOOLS, AND GUIDANCE. AND FINALLY, TO PROCURE AI PRODUCTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE PROCUREMENT LAWS AND REQUIREMENTS.

IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE.

IT DOES NOT REQUIRE CSPS TO ADOPT ANY PARTICULAR AI PRODUCT, AND IT DOES NOT REQUIRE TEACHERS OR STUDENTS TO USE AI.

INSTEAD, THE ACT REQUIRES SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO ESTABLISH THE GOVERNANCE POLICIES AND PROCESSES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT ANY CURRENT OR FUTURE USE OF AI IS EVALUATED AND IMPLEMENTED RESPONSIBLY. THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE POLICY BEFORE YOU.

AT ITS CORE, IT ESTABLISHES THE FRAMEWORK FOR CSPS TO RESPONSIBLY EVALUATE, MANAGE AND POTENTIALLY USE AI TECHNOLOGIES WHILE KEEPING HUMAN JUDGMENT, STUDENT LEARNING, PRIVACY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND APPROPRIATE OVERSIGHT AT THE CENTER.

THE POLICY CONTAINS TWO DEFINITIONS. THE FIRST DEFINES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USING THE DEFINITION REFERENCED IN MARYLAND LAW.

SO OUR POLICY IS ALIGNED WITH THE SAME LEGAL FRAMEWORK AS THE ACT ITSELF.

THE SECOND DEFINES THE CSPS SOFTWARE APPROVAL PROCESS.

WE INCLUDED THAT BECAUSE AI TOOLS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM OUR EXISTING REVIEW PROCESSES, ANY AI PRODUCT OR SERVICE CONSIDERED FOR CSPS USE WILL CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED THROUGH ESTABLISHED DISTRICT PROCESSES THAT CONSIDER PURPOSE, PRIVACY AND SECURITY, ACCESSIBILITY, TECHNICAL COMPATIBILITY, COST, AND OVERALL APPROPRIATENESS BEFORE APPROVAL.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT. THIS POLICY BUILDS ON ITS OWN EXISTING CSPS GOVERNANCE RATHER THAN CREATING A SEPARATE APPROVAL STRUCTURE FOR AI.

THE POLICY ITSELF ESTABLISHES FOUR PRIMARY PRINCIPLES.

FIRST, AI MAY SUPPORT TEACHING, LEARNING, STUDENT PREPARATION, AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS.

SECOND, AI SHOULD SUPPORT NOT REPLACE HUMAN JUDGMENT, PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, CRITICAL THINKING, AUTHENTIC STUDENT LEARNING, AND MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS.

AI IS A TOOL, NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OR HUMAN DECISION MAKING.

THIRD, AI USE MUST REFLECT APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS AROUND PRIVACY, DATA PROTECTION, ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY. NONDISCRIMINATION. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY.

TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND HUMAN OVERSIGHT.

AND FOURTH, AI PRODUCTS AND SERVICES MUST CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED AND APPROVED, APPROVED AND PROCURED THROUGH ESTABLISHED CSPS PROCESSES CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE STATE REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDANCE. THE POLICY ALSO RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF AGE APPROPRIATE AI LITERACY FOR STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONAL

[01:10:08]

AI WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE RAPIDLY. THE TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE SEVERAL YEARS FROM NOW WILL LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE AVAILABLE TODAY, BUT THE PRINCIPLES REFLECTED IN THIS POLICY SHOULD REMAIN CONSISTENT.

HUMAN JUDGMENT. STUDENT LEARNING, PRIVACY, SAFETY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION AND LOCAL DECISION MAKING.

THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE READY SCHOOLS ACT PROVIDES THE STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK AND MSD HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE.

THIS POLICY GIVES CSPS THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE TO APPLY THAT FRAMEWORK RESPONSIBLY AND THOUGHTFULLY, IN A WAY THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL MISSION AND OUR COMMITMENT TO STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. TJ AND I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

MISS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS POLICY.

I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS STUFF FOR QUITE SOME TIME, SO I APPRECIATE FINALLY, YOU KNOW, SEEING IT IN FRONT OF ME. I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC LINE EDIT CHANGES, BUT I JUST HAVE TWO GENERAL THOUGHTS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, AI CHANGES EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND I CAN APPRECIATE THAT THE PRINCIPALS AND THE POLICY HOPEFULLY WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE VERY QUICK CHANGES.

I DO HAVE GENERAL CONCERNS OF A THREE YEAR REVIEW CYCLE, JUST BECAUSE THINGS ARE CHANGING SO QUICKLY IN THIS AREA AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, YOU KNOW, AI IS GOING TO HOLD FOR US IN SIX MONTHS.

ALSO, I KNOW PROCEDURES STILL NEEDED TO BE DEVELOPED.

AND SO I DON'T, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY AWARE.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CHANGING THIS POLICY OR JUST SOMETHING OPERATIONALLY THAT WE DO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE TAKE A VERY FOCUSED EFFORT ON REVIEWING THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE, DARE I SAY, QUARTERLY, BECAUSE THINGS ARE JUST HAPPENING SO QUICKLY.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE THOUGHT THAT I HAVE. THE SECOND ONE IS AROUND HOW THIS IS GOING TO IMPACT BUDGET.

I MEAN, IF ANYBODY IS READING ANY BIT OF BUSINESS NEWS THESE DAYS A, I BUDGETS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IMPLEMENTED AND DID NOT PROPERLY DO THEIR RESEARCH OR UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE DOING ARE GOING BANKRUPT ON THE USAGE OF AI CREDITS.

AND SO THIS HAS A MAJOR IMPACT TO THE SCHOOL'S BUDGET.

HOW WE UTILIZE THIS OR NOT UTILIZE IT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WOULD LOVE AT SOME POINT TO SEE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AROUND SPECIFIC CLASSES FOR DEVELOPING AI AND ALL OF THESE THINGS, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE MAJOR IMPACTS TO OUR BUDGET AT A TIME WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HEARD WE HAVE A 0.09% INCREASE IN, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL STAFFING COSTS.

SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY A POLICY BASED COMMENT, BUT THESE ARE THINGS WE REALLY NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IMPACTS THE POLICY OR THE PROCEDURE.

JUST GENERAL HOW WE OPERATE. IT'S VERY EXCITING.

IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, CAN BE VERY CONCERNING FROM HOW WE IMPLEMENT AFFORD IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. I'LL JUST REAL QUICKLY ON THE PROCUREMENT PIECE THAT IS ONE PIECE WHERE THAT'S ONE OF THE FOUR COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW.

SO REQUIREMENT PROCUREMENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME VETTING PROCESSES THAT ALL OF OUR APPLICATIONS DO, BECAUSE YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I MEAN, SOME PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS ARE FINDING THESE COSTS OUT OF CONTROL.

I THINK IT'S PARTLY BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE A POLICY DEVELOPED WITH PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAD TO FOLLOW. SO THAT'S WHY I FEEL LIKE THE GOVERNANCE IS THE FIRST STEP. THE PROCEDURES, WHICH ARE REALLY GOING TO BE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE FRAMEWORK, ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EXTENSIVE AND DETAILED THAN THIS POLICY, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATING IN THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.

AND I WOULD JUST ALSO ADD TO THAT TOO, JUST LIKE IT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR OUR SYSTEM IS CONTINUALLY DOING, JUST CONSTANTLY ANALYZING DIFFERENT SOFTWARES THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT BECAUSE LIKE, AS WE KNOW, SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT TODAY MAY INCLUDE AI THAT WE'VE ALREADY ADOPTED.

SO IT IS OUR PART OF OUR PROCEDURES TO KIND OF GO BACK AND LOOK AT THOSE THINGS AND, AND KIND OF SEEK OUT WHAT THOSE BUSINESSES ARE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE SAFE AND PROTECTED FOR OUR, FOR OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS HERE AS WELL.

YEAH. AND ONE THING I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S COME UP OR NOT, BUT MOST ORGANIZATIONS THAT USE ANY SORT OF AI HAVE TO GET ADDITIONAL BUSINESS INSURANCE WITH A BUSINESS AND A SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THIS SIZE.

THERE'S A LOT OF INSURANCE CARRIERS THAT DON'T EVEN HAVE THE BUSINESS INSURANCE THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S COME UP ANYWHERE YET, BUT IF IT HASN'T, I'M SURE IT'S COMING.

ANOTHER EXPENSE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FIND.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT WAS A QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE TRUST, RIGHT? YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS POLICY WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS.

[01:15:04]

[Bid Approvals]

I'M SHELDON TAYLOR, SUPERVISOR OF FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT.

AND TODAY I HAVE FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE APPROVAL TO USE THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CONTRACT FOR SPORTS COURTS, PARKING LOTS, REPAIR AND PAINTING SERVICES TO AWARD MID-ATLANTIC ASPHALT $107,667 FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. CHARLES DAVIS, SUPERVISOR OF PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION, TO DISCUSS THE OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR NEWSOM, PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST. THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL LOWER TENNIS COURTS REQUIRE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO RESTORE A SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL USE OF THIS FACILITY. OVER TIME, THE COURT SERVICES AND SURROUNDING INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE DETERIORATED, CREATING CONDITIONS THAT IMPACT BOTH SAFETY AND USABILITY.

THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDES CRACK REPAIR, ASPHALT REPAIRS, RESURFACING.

PAINTING. LINE STRIPING AND RELOCATION OF THE EXISTING FENCING TO ADDRESS AN UNSAFE EDGE CONDITION THAT HAS CAUSED INJURIES.

THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE REMOVAL AND REINSTALLATION OF THE OF APPROXIMATELY 880 LINEAR FEET OF CHAIN LINK FENCING, REPLACEMENT AND RELOCATION OF THE FENCE POSTS, AND THE LABOR MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO RETURN COURTS THE COURTS TO OPERATIONAL CONDITION. THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE FACILITY, IMPROVE SAFETY AND PROVIDE STUDENTS AN ATHLETIC ATHLETIC PROGRAMS WITH A QUALITY PLAYING SURFACE FOR YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH FY 27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

FUNDS DESIGNATED FOR FACILITIES AND ATHLETIC FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.

WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO USE THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CONTRACT AND AUTHORIZATION TO EXPEND $107,667 WITH MID-ATLANTIC ASPHALT INC. FOR THE HUNTINGTOWN HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS COURTS RENOVATION PROJECT.

WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I'D LIKE TO ASK A COUPLE QUESTIONS. HOW LONG? HOW LONG THE EXISTING COURTS BEEN IN PLACE? 15 YEARS SINCE SINCE THE SCHOOL WAS OPENED.

SCHOOL WAS CONSTRUCTED? YES. AND? AND HAVE WE MADE ANY REPAIRS DURING THAT TIME, OR IS IT JUST FALLEN INTO JUST MINOR MINOR PAINTING AND MINOR PATCHING. THIS WILL BASICALLY RESTORE THE SURFACE FOR ANOTHER 15 YEARS.

15 YEARS IS THE ESTIMATE FROM THE VENDOR AND FROM THE REPAIR SYSTEM THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THERE.

AND HAVE WE USED THIS COMPANY BEFORE? YES, YES, IT WAS FOR WHERE WE JUST PAVE THAT WAS PEEL ELEMENTARY, BUT THAT WAS IMAGE ASPHALTING. SO, BUT WE HAVE USED.

THEY ARE A VENDOR THAT'S BEEN IN OUR SYSTEM IN THE PAST, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A LEGITIMATE QUOTE.

100. 100. YES. OKAY. YES. THANK YOU. MR.. DO WE HAVE A WARRANTY PERIOD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS? WE GET BASICALLY ONE YEAR WARRANTY FOR ALL ALL OF OUR PROJECTS.

YES. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION IS APPROVAL OF THE BOARDROOM AUDIO VISUAL MODERNIZATION PROJECT AND AWARD OF A CONTRACT TO AV THREE, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,381.

I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. MATT POTEET, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND MR. ADAM WILL, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY APPLICATION SPECIALIST AND PROJECT MANAGER, TO DISCUSS THE OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT.

THANKS, MR. TAYLOR. DOCTOR. NEWSOME, PRESIDENT POST AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST.

THE BOARD ROOM SERVES AS THE PRIMARY LOCATION FOR BOARD MEETINGS, WORK SESSIONS, EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS, PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS, AND DISTRICT WIDE FORUMS FUNCTIONS.

MUCH OF THE EXISTING AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT HAS REACHED THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE AND NO LONGER PROVIDES THE FUNCTIONALITY, VISIBILITY, RELIABILITY, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY NECESSARY TO SUPPORT TODAY'S MEETING ENVIRONMENT.

THIS PROJECT WILL MODERNIZE THE BOARDROOM BY REPLACING THE EXISTING PROJECTOR AND PROJECTOR SCREEN SYSTEM WITH COMMERCIAL GRADE DISPLAYS,

[01:20:05]

THESE ENHANCEMENTS WILL IMPROVE VISIBILITY THROUGHOUT THE ROOM, STRENGTHEN HYBRID MEETING CAPABILITIES, REDUCE MAINTENANCE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AGING TECHNOLOGY AND CREATE A MORE EFFECTIVE MEETING EXPERIENCE FOR BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS, AND REMOTE PARTICIPANTS.

FOLLOWING A COMPETITIVE EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS, AVERY WAS DETERMINED TO PROVIDE THE BEST OVERALL VALUE BY DELIVERING ALL REQUIRED FUNCTIONALITY AT THE LOWEST COST, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING THE STRONGEST WARRANTY AND SUPPORT PACKAGE.

SUPPORT PACKAGES AMONG THE FIRMS REVIEWED. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. POTEET. FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH REMAINING EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND MONIES PREVIOUSLY AWARDED TO CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT TO AWARD A V THREE INC IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $28,381 AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO. OKAY. GO AHEAD. I'LL ALLOW IT. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, JUDGE. YOUR HONOR. SO I WANT TO KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE OUR SYSTEM WORKS BECAUSE I'M WATCHING A FEED RIGHT HERE. SO WHAT DO WE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BENEFIT FROM THE 28,000? WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE OPERATIONAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE SOLVING BY SPENDING MONEY ON OURSELVES? SO RIGHT NOW, THE CONFIGURATION YOU SEE IN THE ROOM, EVERYBODY'S GOT ATTENTION.

EYES HAVE ALL GOT TO GO THERE. AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT WORSE FOR DOCTOR NEWSOM THAN YOU GUYS OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PODIUM THERE FOR HIS VIEW. BUT BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO THIS IS THE ONLY VISUAL PRESENTATION IN THE ENTIRE ROOM.

SO HOW THIS WILL CHANGE. YOU GUYS WILL ALL HAVE 10 OR 11 INCH MONITORS IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S ON THE SCREEN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU.

THE PRESENTERS HERE, INSTEAD OF US HAVING TO MAKE A 90 DEGREE TURN, WE'LL HAVE 265 INCH DISPLAYS UP FRONT HERE THAT WILL BE ABLE TO SEE.

AND THEN FOR THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, THERE'LL BE TWO LARGE 85 INCH DISPLAYS THAT WILL BE IN THESE GENERAL AREAS HERE, POINTING OUT FOR THE AUDIENCE TO VIEW. SO SOME SUBSTANTIAL HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS, ADDITIONS, ENHANCEMENTS, AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES THAT MISS MAXIS HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT WILL GET CLEANED UP AS WELL.

I HAVE A QUESTION. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WAS GOING TO ASK. SORRY. GO FOR IT, PAUL. SO AND WHAT OTHER PURPOSES ARE WE USING THIS ROOM FOR? I KNOW THERE'S SOME TRAINING THAT GOES ON. AND WHAT.

TELL ME WHAT OTHER PURPOSES WE USE THIS ROOM FOR.

SO IT'S USED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. OUR CABINET MEETINGS ARE HELD HERE.

THERE'S LOTS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS THAT OCCUR HERE.

THIS ROOM IS RESERVED JUST LIKE THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM IS.

SO I DON'T KNOW ALL OF ITS USES. I JUST KNOW THAT IT'S USED AN AWFUL LOT BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT COME IN HERE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MEETINGS AND THAT SORT OF THING. THE BOARD MEETINGS OBVIOUSLY ARE ONLY TWICE A MONTH.

BUT THIS ROOM IS UTILIZED TO BE TOUGH FOR ME TO SAY.

WE MAYBE HAVE TO ASK SOME OTHER FOLKS HERE, BUT IT'S UTILIZED PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY.

AND IS THERE ANY REPURPOSE OF PLAN TO PUT MAYBE THIS EQUIPMENT IN THE IN THE OTHER ROOM ACROSS THE HALL OR.

SO THESE ARE SO OLD, I DON'T ADAM COULD MAYBE HELP.

WE BOUGHT THAT PROJECTOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME AGO.

THAT'S AN EXTREMELY OLD PROJECTOR. AND THEN THIS SCREEN HERE IS REALLY NOT GOING TO SERVE ITS PURPOSE ANYMORE.

COULD WE REPURPOSE IT? ABSOLUTELY WHERE IT WOULD BEST FIT.

WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PAUL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HOW LONG DO WE ANTICIPATE THIS SYSTEM LASTING? AND THE ONLY REASON THAT I ASK IS BECAUSE I DO SEE UNDER THE WEAKNESSES SECTION IS THAT THERE'S NO IT SAYS AV OVER IP PLATFORM FOR FUTURE EXPANSION. SO I'M JUST LIKE, ARE WE WORRIED ABOUT THAT? DO WE SEE THAT HAPPENING? MAYBE IN 20 YEARS THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW BUILDING.

WILL IT TRANSFER? YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF THINKING IT WOULD THAT WOULD BE GREAT, WOULDN'T IT? IT'S A NEW BUILDING, YOU KNOW. DARE TO DREAM. DARE TO DREAM. IN 20 YEARS, MAYBE WE CAN ALL HOPE.

BUT I'M SO THIS IS A, WE BELIEVE, A TEN YEAR SOLUTION FOR SURE.

I THINK THE WARRANTY IS GOOD FOR THREE. AND JUST IN CASE THIS IS THE OUTFIT THAT WE THINK IS GOING TO PROVIDE SOME, SOME FANTASTIC ENHANCEMENTS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WOULD BE NEEDED IN THIS ROOM, BUT A NEW SUPERINTENDENT, SOMEBODY ELSE, A NEW BOARD MIGHT, MIGHT, MIGHT WANT SOME OTHER ENHANCEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL WIRING AND CONNECTIVITY WILL JUST ALLOW FOR EXPANSION IF IT'S NEEDED.

BUT I THINK THE CONFIGURATION THAT WE'VE CREATED, I THINK SHOULD, SHOULD LAST A VERY LONG TIME.

OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO.

[01:25:01]

EXCUSE ME, MR. POTEET, TO DISCUSS THE CYBERSECURITY AND OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.

THANKS AGAIN. SHELDON. DOCTOR NUZUM PRESIDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR CONSIDERATION OF THIS REQUEST.

CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS REMAINS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF PROTECTING CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS SENSITIVE INFORMATION, AND DAILY OPERATIONS. FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, CSPS HAS UTILIZED KNOWBE4 TO PROVIDE CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING AND PHISHING SIMULATIONS FOR STAFF. AS PART OF OUR ONGOING REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EVALUATED ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE FUNCTIONALITY WHILE REDUCING COSTS.

FOLLOWING THAT EVALUATION, ADAPTIVE SECURITY WAS DETERMINED TO PROVIDE THE STRONGEST OVERALL VALUE FOR THE DISTRICT.

THE PLATFORM MAINTAINS ALL OF THE CORE CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS FEATURES CURRENTLY UTILIZED BY CSPS, WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING AVAILABLE CAPABILITIES.

THE SOLUTION INCLUDES AI FOCUSED CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING, DEEP FAKE AND IMPERSONATION IMPERSONATION SIMULATIONS, QR CODE PHISHING EXERCISES, MULTILINGUAL TRAINING SUPPORT, PHISHING TRIAGE AND REMEDIATION TOOLS, AND ADVANCED HUMAN RISK MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES DESIGNED TO ADDRESS EMERGING CYBERSECURITY THREATS.

IN ADDITION TO ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY, THIS RECOMMENDATION PROVIDES A SUBSTANTIAL FINANCIAL BENEFIT TO OUR DISTRICT.

THE PROPOSED SOLUTION REDUCES ANNUAL COSTS BY APPROXIMATELY 23% COMPARED TO OUR CURRENT PLATFORM, AND IS PROJECTED TO SAVE MORE THAN $35,000 OVER THE THREE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TERM, WHILE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL CAPABILITIES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE REQUIRE SEPARATE PRODUCTS AND LICENSES. AS CYBER THREATS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, THE PLATFORM WILL HELP STRENGTHEN EMPLOYEE AWARENESS, IMPROVE THREAT DETECTION AND REPORTING, AND ENHANCE THE DISTRICT'S OVERALL CYBERSECURITY POSTURE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. POTEET. THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES A NO COST TRANSITION PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027, FOLLOWED BY A THREE YEAR ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENTS OF $38,316.

FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OPERATION OPERATING BUDGET BEGINNING IN FY 28 AND SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEAR, SUBJECT TO ANNUAL APPROPRIATION. WE RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT AWARD TO EPLUS TECHNOLOGY, INC. FOR ADAPTIVE SECURITY, ELITE CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS TRAINING AND HUMAN RISK MANAGEMENT PLATFORM SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $114,000.

909 $114,948. AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS? ASK A QUESTION. YES. THANK YOU. SO, SHELDON, TELL ME HOW THE HOW THE PAYMENTS ARE GOING TO BE STRUCTURED.

WE'RE MAKING A ONE TIME PAYMENT OF 114. WE'RE MAKING ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF 38,000.

WHAT'S THE. NO, IT'S. SO FOR THIS YEAR THERE IS NO PAYMENT.

STARTING IN FY 28, IT'LL BE ANNUAL PAYMENTS OF THE 38,316 FOR THREE YEARS.

FOR THREE YEARS? YES, SIR. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. THE QUESTION I.

THIS IS TOO MUCH FUN TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS. FIRST IS I KNOW BECAUSE I HAD TO I HAD TO GET HER TO SAY YES.

OKAY. IS THIS ONLY FOR STAFF OR WILL STUDENTS ALSO GET THE PHISHING EMAIL? YOU KNOW, TESTS IF YOU WILL. SO WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING WITH THIS FOR STUDENTS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

OUR CURRENT TRAININGS WITH KNOWBE4 HAVE BEEN FOR STAFF ONLY.

THE NICE PIECE WITH THIS ADAPTIVE SECURITY IS THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GIVE US THE SCORM FILES THAT WE CAN WORK WITH.

TJ HILL IN THE OFFICE OF LEARNING INNOVATION AND POTENTIALLY PUT SOME OF THESE INTO SCHOOLOGY AND ALLOW TEACHERS TO LEVERAGE THEM WITH STUDENTS IF WE'D LIKE THEM TO.

SO WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEVERAGE OR TO ENGAGE THIS WITH STUDENTS MOVING FORWARD WITH ADAPTIVE.

WE COULDN'T DO THAT BEFORE, WITH NO BEFORE. OKAY.

THANK YOU. AND THEN THE SECOND, THE 3100 USER LICENSES FOR DEEP FAKES AND ALL OF THAT.

CAN YOU JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL DO, HOW THEY'LL BE UTILIZED? I'LL TAKE THAT ONE. YEAH, SURE. SO SO CURRENTLY WE I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF A COUPLE OF OUR TRAINING SESSIONS,

[01:30:08]

WE DO THAT ON A PD DAY. WE'VE BEEN GETTING A GOOD RESPONSE TO THAT.

WE WENT UP FROM LAST YEAR, 68% TO ALMOST 75 OR 76% PARTICIPATION, WHICH IS GOOD.

WHAT WE'LL BE DOING WITH THIS IS THESE ARE MUCH MORE FOCUSED SESSIONS.

MUCH SMALLER FIVE MINUTE, SIX MINUTES. I THINK THE MAX ONE IS ABOUT SIX MINUTES LONG.

SO WE CAN AFFORD TO PUT A FEW MORE OUT, PUT THEM OUT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN OPTIONALLY TAKE THEM.

THE SCORM FILES THAT MATT MENTIONED WERE SOMETHING THAT WERE A GREAT DEAL.

NO. BEFORE WANTED TO CHARGE ABOUT $2.80 PER STUDENT TO DO THAT.

THESE ARE FREE ALLOWING US TO USE THAT. AND THEN WE JUST WON'T BE TRACKING ANY OF THEIR TRAINING DATA, WHICH IS A SHAME, BUT PROBABLY A GOOD DATA GOVERNANCE THING ANYWAY.

WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $11,000 A YEAR WITH THIS. HAD WE STUCK WITH NO BEFORE AND IMPLEMENTED ALL THE ADDITIONAL PIECES WE NEEDED TO MATCH, THIS SAVINGS WOULD HAVE MOVED UP FROM ABOUT 11,000 PER YEAR TO 40 TO 50,000 PER YEAR.

THEY WERE WANTING AN AWFUL LOT OF ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR WHAT ADAPTIVE IS GOING TO INCLUDE IN THEIR ELITE PACKAGE.

SO AGAIN, THE DEEP FAKES THE VOICE OVERS WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND AGAIN WITH THE NEW AI COMING OUT, THE CYBERSECURITY PIECES HAVE GOT TO STEP UP TRUTHFULLY.

NO, BEFORE IS HAD A OVER 90% OF THE MARKET SHARE 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO.

AND THEY KIND OF, THEY'VE LET THAT GO BY THE WAYSIDE.

AND SO THESE OTHER COMPANIES ARE COMING IN AND THEY'RE, AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMING UP WITH THE TIMES. NO, BEFORE IS BASICALLY THE SAME PLATFORM THAT IT WAS 4 OR 5 YEARS AGO.

AND SO THESE GUYS HAVE COME OUT. IN FACT, I SAW THEM, I SAW THEIR CEO A YEAR AGO ON CNBC AND I THOUGHT, WHOA, THAT THESE GUYS MIGHT PUT NO BEFORE OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND THEN WE STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THIS.

WE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL COMPANIES AND THEY'RE FANTASTIC. WE ALSO REACHED OUT TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT. WE STARTED WITH NO BEFORE FOUR YEARS AGO, COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN USING THEM. AND THAT'S ACTUALLY WHERE WE GOT THE IDEA. AND, AND WE JOINED WITH THEM.

WE'RE SO HAPPY WITH THIS. I CALLED UP STEVE AND PRAYER OVER COUNTY GOVERNMENT. TOM TALKED TO CAT AS WELL.

AND THEY'RE STRONGLY CONSIDERING MAKING THE MOVE AS WELL. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET WITH THIS IS SOMETHING MATT SAID, THAT WE GET AN EXTRA COUPLE OF FEATURES, AND ONE OF THEM IS WHAT'S CALLED FISH TRIAGE.

CURRENTLY, EVERYBODY KNOWS IF YOU'RE A STAFF MEMBER, YOU KNOW WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BUTTON IS IN YOUR EMAIL.

YOU CAN REPORT IT AS SPAM. WELL, THAT DOES SOME COOL THINGS, BUT ONE THING IT DOESN'T DO IS STOP THE OTHER HUNDREDS OF THEM FROM GOING OUT.

THIS PRODUCT, AT NO ADDITIONAL COST, PROVIDES US WITH FEATURES TO ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO OUR EXCHANGE.

AND THEY WILL FIND SIMILAR SAME EMAILS, DELETE THEM BEFORE SOMETIMES EVEN OTHER USERS CAN READ THEM.

SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A $60,000. THANK YOU. YEAH.

THAT'S AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. POTEET. MR. MORAN. THE FINAL ITEM THIS EVENING IS APPROVAL FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOL BUS CONTRACT AGREEMENTS COVERING FY 27, THE FY 27 SCHOOL YEAR AND BEYOND, INCLUDING NEW 12 YEAR, TWO YEAR AND ONE YEAR CONTRACT AWARDS, SUPPORTING STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. BEFORE CONSIDERATION OF THIS RECOMMENDATION, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. KEVIN HOOK, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, WHO PROVIDED ADDITIONAL DETAILS REGARDING THE CONTRACT AWARDS.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT POST, DOCTOR NEWSOM, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS THIS EVENING.

THIS RECOMMENDATION SUPPORTS THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STUDENT TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THROUGH THE AWARD OF NEW SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTOR AGREEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027. THE CONTRACTS BEFORE. YOU INCLUDE 12 YEAR AGREEMENTS, SOME TWO YEAR AGREEMENTS RESULTING FROM SOME TRANSFERS OF CONTRACTS BETWEEN CONTRACTORS AND SOME ONE YEAR SHORT TERM AGREEMENTS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.

SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTORS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PARTNER IN PROVIDING SAFE AND RELIABLE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THESE CONTRACT AWARDS ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF SERVICE ON OUR EXISTING ROUTES AND ALLOW OUR DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE COVERAGE WHILE CONTINUING TO MEET STATE AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS. OUR 12 YEAR CONTRACTS PROVIDE LONG TERM STABILITY FOR THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM AND TO SUPPORT CONTRACTOR INVESTMENT IN NEW REPLACEMENT BUSSES, SAFETY EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND DRIVER RECRUITMENT.

THE ONE YEAR CONTRACTS PROVIDE NEEDED FLEXIBILITY FOR OUR ROUTES THAT CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE ENROLLMENT FLUCTUATIONS, OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS OR STAFFING CONSIDERATIONS.

THE TWO YEAR CONTRACTS, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, REFLECT THE TRANSFER OF EXISTING CONTRACTS FROM ONE CONTRACTOR TO OTHER CONTRACTORS AND ALLOW THE REMAINING CONTRACT TERMS TO BE FULFILLED BY THESE NEW CONTRACTORS.

COLLECTIVELY, THESE AGREEMENTS SUPPORT OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING DEPENDABLE SERVICE WHILE MAINTAINING SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION

[01:35:08]

WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTORS AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO SAFELY TRANSPORTING OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL EACH DAY.

THANK YOU. MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND.

THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? MR. HARRISON? I DO SO. HI, KEVIN. HOW ARE YOU? SO SO WE'RE GOING OUT WITH 15 MORE 12 YEAR LEASES.

IS THAT RIGHT? SO I WONDER. 19. BUT YES. 19. OKAY, I'LL GO WITH THAT.

WHAT IS THE WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGE OF KEEPING IT STAGGERED AND NOT TRY TO ALIGN ALL THE.

NO, NO, THERE'S 160, 168. I THINK YOU SAID BEFORE.

RIGHT. WE HAVE CURRENTLY THIS YEAR 159. 159 SO.

SO WHAT'S THE ADVANTAGE OF STARTING THESE. 19 INSTEAD OF TRYING TO ALIGN THE END DATES UP WITH THE OTHER 140.

SO EVERY YEAR THERE'S DIFFERENT AMOUNTS AND IT'S BASED ON WHAT WAS PURCHASED THAT YEAR.

GOING BACK 12 YEARS. AND PRIOR TO THAT WE HAD TEN YEAR CONTRACTS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, NEXT YEAR, I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE FIVE THAT WILL BE COMING UP AS OPPOSED TO THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE 15 IN FY 29 WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 14 THAT WILL BE COMING UP BECAUSE IT'S THE END OF THEIR 12 YEARS.

BUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND REQUIRES THAT A BUS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR A 12 YEAR PERIOD.

THAT'S THE MAXIMUM LIFE OF A BUS FOR A SCHOOL BUS ROUTE.

SO IT HAS BEEN SET UP ON THE PURCHASE BASIS OF THE 12 YEAR CONTRACT IS BASED ON WHAT THE THE STATE ALLOWS.

AND ORIGINALLY IT WAS TEN YEARS AND THEN THE STATE EXTENDED IT TO 12 YEARS.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT I JUST. ARE WE THEN GOING TO THE BLUEBIRD BUS COMPANY AND SAYING WE NEED 12 SIMILARLY OUTFITTED VEHICLES AND WE'RE GETTING A DISCOUNT ON THE 19.

WE DO NOT PURCHASE ANY OF THE BUSSES. EACH INDIVIDUAL BUS CONTRACTOR CAN CHOOSE WHICHEVER OF THE THREE BUS COMPANIES THEY WISH.

BLUEBIRD, THOMAS OR INTERNATIONAL. WHAT WE DO IS WE REACH OUT TO EACH OF THE THREE COMPANIES WITH OUR BUS SPECIFICATIONS, AND THEY GIVE US WHAT WOULD IT COST US, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PURCHASE THAT BUS FROM THEM FOR THE YEAR? AND THEN WE TAKE THE MEDIAN COST, THE MIDDLE ONE OF OF WHICHEVER THE THREE BUSSES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE BASE OUR PVA'S ON FOR THE BUS CONTRACTS FOR THAT YEAR.

IT'S JUST, IT JUST SEEMS TERRIBLY INEFFICIENT.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH THAT? I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD AGREE OR DISAGREE.

THE OLA HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHEN THEY COME IN COUNTIES WHO HAVE BUS CONTRACTORS, THEY SUGGEST THAT YOU LOOK AT OWNING BUSSES AND COUNTIES WHO OWN BUSSES.

THEY SUGGEST THEY LOOK AT BECOMING CONTRACTED AND WHY WOULDN'T WE STANDARDIZE ON ONE MANUFACTURER? WHY DO WE CHOOSE FROM THE THREE? FREEDOM OF CHOICE I WOULD SAY.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW. IT'S BEEN THAT WAY SINCE BEFORE I CAME HERE.

AND I'VE BEEN HERE. THIS IS MY 24TH FREEDOM OF CHOICE COST MONEY.

SEE. SO THIS IS WHY WE DO CHOOSE THE MEDIAN COST FOR PVA.

IF THEY CHOOSE TO PURCHASE A BLUEBIRD, WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE, WE DON'T PAY THEM FOR THE MORE EXPENSIVE BLUEBIRD.

RIGHT. AND WE'RE UNDERWRITING THE LEASE IF THEY DEFAULT.

RIGHT. ISN'T THAT HOW THE HOW THE LANGUAGE RIGHTS? NO, NO. SO WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN THAT? WE'RE WE'RE JUST HANDLING AN ARM'S LENGTH.

THEY'RE BUYING THE LEASING THE BUS FOR 12 YEARS.

EVERYTHING WITH THE CONTRACTOR IS THE PURCHASE OF THE BUS.

IT IS THEIR BUS. THEY OWN THE BUS WITH THE BUS COMPANY.

BUT THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME STICKINESS WITH THE DRIVERS THAT WE WE DO LIKE A SICKNESS SICK BAY.

NO. NO. NO. THERE'S A DIFFERENT ISSUE. AND THAT'S NOT.

THERE'S A REQUIREMENT BY DOT REGULATION FOR AN EMPLOYEE, I.E.

A BUS CONTRACTOR, NOT AN EMPLOYEE, BUT AN EMPLOYEE OF THE BUS CONTRACTOR TO GET FIVE SICK DAYS PER DOT REGULATIONS.

RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE TOTAL OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF HOURS.

OKAY. SO IT'S BASED ON A NUMBER OF HOURS. SO FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S IT'S FIVE PREVIOUSLY CONTRACTS THAT WERE NEGOTIATED.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS GAVE THREE OF THOSE FIVE DAYS OR WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF HOURS WERE.

BUT I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS JUST PART OF THE WE WERE DOING IT BY BUS.

AND THAT'S HOW WE WERE DETERMINING THAT COST.

NOT NOT BY BUS ROUTE. NO, NOT BY A BUS. MAYBE THAT WAS THE PROPOSAL.

SORRY, I MIGHT BE GETTING THAT CONFUSED. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I HAVE A QUESTION. HI. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR THE 12 YEAR CONTRACTS.

[01:40:02]

OKAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

UP NEXT. UP NEXT, WE HAVE A DESIGN SERVICES APPROVAL.

[A/E Design Services Approval]

I'M SHUCHITA WARNER, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT, AND I'M CHUCK DAVIS, SUPERVISOR FOR PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION.

WE ARE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO REQUEST CONTRACT APPROVAL ASSOCIATED WITH PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARY HARRISON CENTER FACADE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT. IN FEBRUARY 2024, CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS POSTED A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PROPOSALS FROM QUALIFIED ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING FIRMS TO ESTABLISH AN ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING SERVICES POOL.

THE PURPOSE OF THE POOL WAS TO ENGAGE WITH DESIGN FIRMS TO PROVIDE ON CALL DESIGN SERVICES ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.

FROM THE PERIOD STARTING IN FY 2025 THROUGH FY 2027.

ON JUNE 13TH, 2024, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED TEN ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FIRMS TO PROVIDE THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICES. THE CONTRACT APPROVAL BEFORE YOU TODAY IS FOR DESIGN WORK SPECIFIC TO THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF FACADE ELEMENTS ON THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL MARY HARRISON CENTER.

BASED ON THE CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED DESIGN SERVICES POOL, WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE BOARD APPROVED THE CONTRACT WITH GAIL ASSOCIATES OF TOWSON, MARYLAND, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF SPECIFIC FACADE ELEMENTS ON THE NORTHERN HIGH SCHOOL.

MARY HARRISON CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $81,913.

FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT IS THROUGH THE FEDERAL DULY GRANT.

WE'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME.

CAN I GET A MOTION FOR MOTION TO APPROVE? SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? THERE'S A MOTION. THANK YOU.

JESUS. THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE THE REVIEW OF OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

[Review Capital Improvement Plan]

I'M CHACHITA WOERNER, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT.

AND I AM BEFORE YOU TODAY TO PRESENT THE FY 2028 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OR CIP.

THE CIP IS DEVELOPED ANNUALLY, AND IT INCLUDES CAPITAL BUDGET EXPENDITURES FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR AND A FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR FUTURE YEARS. PROJECTS ARE FUNDED EITHER JOINTLY BY THE STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, OR THEY'RE FUNDED ENTIRELY BY THE LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

THE CIP FOR FY 2028 THROUGH 2023 2033 CONTINUES THE SAME THEMES FROM LAST YEAR'S CIP, IN THAT A MAJORITY OF OUR PROJECTS CONTINUE TO BE SYSTEMIC RENOVATION PROJECTS SUCH AS NEW ROOFS, HVAC, WINDOW REPLACEMENTS, ETC.. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME NOTABLE CHANGES WHICH I'LL REVIEW BRIEFLY TODAY.

WHEN I CAME BEFORE YOU A FEW MONTHS AGO TO PRESENT THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.

I EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT BECAUSE CALVERT EXPERIENCED RECORD GROWTH AS A COUNTY IN THE 1990S, MUCH OF OUR INVENTORY OF ASSETS IS COMING DUE SIMULTANEOUSLY.

THIS PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE WE HAVE MANY SYSTEMIC PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE UNDERTAKEN AT THE SAME TIME, REQUIRING GREATER FUNDING THAN WE HAVE TYPICALLY ASKED FOR IN PREVIOUS SIP CYCLES.

ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE ALSO ADDED REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR ARTIFICIAL TURF AT THE FOUR HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM FIELDS WITHIN THE CIP.

IN FY 2028. LASTLY, DUE TO TARIFFS AND GENERAL ESCALATION, THE BUDGETS FOR ALL OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO REFLECT THE MARKET CONDITIONS WE FACE. AS YOU KNOW, OUR CIP IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS AS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN.

[01:45:08]

SO HOW DO PROJECTS BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR THE CIP? IT HAPPENS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS.

INTERNALLY, WE LOOK AT THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN, WHICH I PRESENTED TO YOU LAST MONTH WE LOOK AT WORK ORDER HISTORY, ENERGY BENCHMARKING. WE CONFER WITH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND LOOK AT IMPENDING FAILURES.

EXTERNALLY, WE LOOK AT THE STATE'S FACILITY CONDITION INDEX FOR EACH SCHOOL.

THIS INDEX, WIDELY KNOWN AS THE FCI, IS A MEASURE OF THE REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF THE EXISTING FACILITY AND ITS COMPONENTS.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE LOOK AT THE STATE'S EDUCATIONAL SUFFICIENCY STANDARDS.

THESE ARE THINGS LIKE ACOUSTICAL PROPERTIES WITHIN A CLASSROOM BECAUSE IT MIGHT BE AN OPEN SPACE CLASSROOM THAT WAS DESIGNED IN THE 1970S. OKAY.

SO OUR CIP IS COMPRISED OF PROJECTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FUNDING, AS WELL AS PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE 100% LOCAL FUNDING.

OUR FUNDING FORMULA FOR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN REDUCED EVEN FURTHER DUE TO THE MOST RECENT FOUNDATION GRANT CALCULATION FOR CALVERT COUNTY.

THAT WAS DONE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. THEREFORE, FOR THIS YEAR, OUR STATE SHARE GOES DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS 54% DOWN TO 51%.

THE LOCAL SHARE, IN TURN, IS BUMPED UP TO 49% IN 2028.

IN ADDITION TO CONSTRUCTION FUNDING, THE STATE CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FUNDING TOWARDS DESIGN AT A RATE CALCULATED AT A MAXIMUM OF 10% OF THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. THEY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN FUNDING F, F, E OR FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT AT A COST, CAPPED OUT AT 5% FOR RENOVATION OR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

ALL THESE COSTS ARE ELIGIBLE AT THE NOW REDUCED STATE PERCENTAGE ON THE LOCAL SIDE.

THE. AS OF 2020, AS OF FY 2028, THE COUNTY IS RESPONSIBLE, AS I STATED BEFORE, FOR 49% OF ALL COSTS AND WE ALSO HAVE TO PICK UP 100% SHARE OF THE PROJECT CONTINGENCY. SO FOR ANY CHANGE ORDERS, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS ON THE HOOK FOR THAT.

AS THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, THE TREND OF STATE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO CSPS VIA THE CIP HAS NOT ONLY GONE DOWN OVER TIME, THE AMOUNT OF BUILDABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE THIS FUNDING CAN BUY HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER TIME.

I WILL GO INTO THIS NOW JUST BRIEFLY. SO AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS CHART, IN FY 2022, THE PUBLISHED COST PER SQUARE FOOT, WHICH IS BASED ON THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE OF HOW MUCH A PROJECT WOULD COST IN THE YEAR PRIOR, THE STATE ESSENTIALLY STATED 500 $405 A SQUARE FOOT IS WHAT THEY WOULD BASE THEIR FUNDING ON.

WE RECEIVED IN FY 2022 A LITTLE OVER $5 MILLION IN 2028.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT FOR CONSTRUCTION IS NOW PUBLISHED AT $533.

A SQUARE FOOT OR TARGET ALLOCATION WENT DOWN IT.

IT DIPPED DOWN. IT WENT UP A LITTLE BIT. BUT STILL, WHAT DOES THIS AFFORD US? WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK IN FY 2022. THAT AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVED.

WITH THAT, WE COULD BUILD 12,500FT² OF BUILDABLE SQUARE FOOTAGE.

WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED A LITTLE BIT LESS FUNDING, BUT BECAUSE THAT DOLLAR BUYS YOU EVEN LESS, WE CAN REALLY ONLY BUILD 7540FT². SO NOT ONLY IS OUR FUNDING GOING DOWN, IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT HASN'T GONE DOWN THAT MUCH, BUT WHAT IT CAN BUY IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS.

SO THE TAKEAWAY IS THAT THIS TRULY REPRESENTS A SITUATION THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE OVER THE LONG TERM.

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN OUR FACILITIES OVER THEIR LIFE CYCLE.

NOW, FOR THIS YEAR'S CIP SECTION TWO OF THE CIP, WHICH IS CONTAINED ON PAGES 13 THROUGH 18 OF THE CIP SHOWS PROJECTS DIVIDED UP INTO TWO CATEGORIES. YOU CAN SEE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.

THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT GET STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING.

AND THEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, THESE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE 100% LOCALLY FUNDED.

[01:50:08]

SO TO START OUT TODAY. SOME OF YOU WERE AT NORTHERN FY 2028.

THIS WILL MARK THE FINAL YEAR OF FUNDING, WHICH WE WILL ACTUALLY JUST GET FROM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO FINISH UP CONSTRUCTION.

OUR NEXT PRIORITY PROJECT IS THE CALVERT ELEMENTARY CALVERT COUNTRY CO-LOCATED FACILITY.

FY 2028 WILL MARK COMPLETION OF THIS FACILITY'S EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS, WHICH WE WILL PRESENT TO THE BOARD FAIRLY SOON FOR APPROVAL. WE WILL ALSO BE COMPLETING A NET ZERO FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR THE FACILITY AND BEGIN FUNDING FOR DESIGN.

CONSTRUCTION FUNDING IS SLATED FROM FY 2029 THROUGH FY 2031.

AND OUR LAST NOTABLE PROJECT OR MARQUEE PROJECT IS MOUNT HARMONY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE ANTICIPATE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN FY 2030.

AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THE IDEA IS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY CONSTRUCT A PROJECT AT MOUNT HARMONY, WE DO NEED TO DISPLACE THE STUDENTS.

SO WE ANTICIPATE UTILIZING THE EXISTING CALVERT ELEMENTARY BUILDING AS A SWING SPACE OR HOLDING SCHOOL, WHICH WOULD THEN ALLOW US TO ACTUALLY UTILIZE THE THE SITE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE FLEXIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY EVEN BUILD MOUNT HARMONY ON ITS EXISTING FOOTPRINT, WHICH WE CANNOT DO OTHERWISE.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, DESIGN IS SLATED FOR FY 2032 WITH CONSTRUCTION IN FY 2033 THROUGH 2034.

NOW, ONE THING THAT IS NOT IN OUR CIP THAT WE ARE STILL EVALUATING IS A REGIONAL PROGRAM, FACILITY, OR EVEN POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR A CENTRAL OFFICE ANNEX OR REMODEL OR WHAT HAVE YOU FOR THIS BUILDING THAT IS CURRENTLY NOT IN OUR CIP, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO LOOK TOWARDS IN THE FUTURE.

SO CONTINUING NOTABLE PROJECTS ON THE LOCAL SIDE.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ATHLETIC PROJECTS WE HAVE ADDED, AS YOU CAN SEE, ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS IN FY 2028.

WE CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR FIELD HOUSE PROJECTS.

CURRENTLY WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BEGINNING DESIGN FOR PATUXENT HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOUSE, WHICH IS WHY THAT IS NOT LISTED THERE.

BUT WE, YOU SEE THE OTHER THREE FIELD HOUSES AND THEN WE'VE ALSO ADDED A MISCELLANEOUS TENNIS COURT RESTORATION LINE THAT WILL CONTINUE IN 28, 29 AND 2030. AND THEN OTHER CAPITAL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS INCLUDE 3.75 MILLION FOR PARKING LOT PAVING AS WELL AS PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT. AND THOSE ARE CAPTURED THERE IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL YEARS.

SO AS FAR AS SUMMARY OF STATE FUNDED CIP PROJECTS, WE HAVE THREE MAJOR MARQUEE PROJECTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT A FEW MOMENTS AGO, AND I PARDONED THIS ERROR. IT IS ACTUALLY 12 SYSTEMIC RENOVATION PROJECTS, WHICH ENCOMPASS THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE HERE, WITH AN ESTIMATED PROJECT COST OF 223.8 MILLION.

ANOTHER ERROR THERE THAT SHOULD REALLY SAY FY 28 THROUGH 33.

BUT THE DOLLAR VALUES ARE CORRECT. STATE SHARE OF 105.4 MILLION AND A LOCAL SHARE OF ONE 18.4 MILLION.

NOW HERE ARE OUR PRIORITY PROJECTS FOR FY 28 THAT WILL REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN PRIORITY ONE AND PRIORITY THREE, YOU DON'T SEE ANY STATE FUNDING.

THE REASON IS WE HAVE ACTUALLY REQUESTED AND RECEIVED ALL OF OUR STATE FUNDING FOR NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO WE'RE ONLY REQUESTING LOCAL FUNDING TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT.

AND PRIORITY THREE, HUNTINGTOWN ELEMENTARY. WE RECEIVED STATE FUNDING FOR THAT PROJECT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

SO WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR LOCAL FUNDING. BUT THE OTHER THREE PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED HERE, WE WILL BE ASKING FOR STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING.

NOW YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, WELL, WE HAVE RECEIVED 4 OR $5 MILLION IN THE PAST.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING FOR 7.1 MILLION. WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY.

WE'RE ASKING FOR ALL OF THIS FUNDING, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING AFTER A MARYLAND ENERGY ADMINISTRATION GRANT FOR ONE OF THESE PROJECTS.

[01:55:01]

AS YOU CAN SEE, PRIORITY NUMBER SEVEN IS THE STADIUM ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS.

WE HAVE DONE A CONCEPT DESIGN THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED BY THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE 10 MILLION ASK UP TO 11 MILLION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE REVIEW AND THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED IN TERMS OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS.

SO BASED ON THAT THESE COSTS HAVE BEEN INCREASED.

AND THIS WOULD ESSENTIALLY BE REQUESTING FUNDING IN FY 28.

WE WOULDN'T BE GETTING THAT FUNDING TILL SUMMER OF 27.

SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE WORK WOULD ACTUALLY GET DONE IN SUMMER OF 28 BECAUSE DESIGN WOULDN'T GET STARTED UNTIL WE GET FUNDING.

SO THIS IS ESCALATED AT THE 11 MILLION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO ACTUALLY DO THE CONSTRUCTION.

SO THAT PRETTY MUCH ROUNDS OUT THE CIP. AND I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THIS TIME.

OH, AND THIS WILL BE POSTED FOR 30 DAYS. AND WE WILL ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AT THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE NEXT AT THE NEXT MONTH'S MEETING. THANK YOU, MISS WARNER. ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. HOW MANY TOTAL SQUARE FEET DO WE HAVE OF FACILITIES IN CALVERT COUNTY? HOW MANY TOTAL SQUARE FEET DO WE HAVE? WE HAVE ABOUT TWO POINT 5,000,000FT².

AND WE CAN DO 7500 A YEAR. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTOOD LIKE THE DIRE IN TERMS OF REPLACEMENT.

YES, IT'S A REALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WAS AWARE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. AND AND DO YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE OUR NUMBERS ARE SHRINKING ON THE PERCENTAGE OF STATE COVERAGE.

IS IT OUR OUR RELATIVE WEALTH IN THE STATE THAT IS THE LARGEST FACTOR.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FACTORS. I MEAN, CERTAINLY THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT DO NOT THAT ARE NOT AS WEALTHY AS US, AND THEY DO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FUNDING. HOWEVER, EVERYBODY IS IN A BAD SITUATION.

IS THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY THE BEST ANSWER THAT I HAVE FOR YOU.

BUT IT IS CERTAINLY OUR WEALTH THAT GIVES US LESSER FUNDING.

I DON'T FEEL VERY WEALTHY. I JUST GOT MY TAX BILL.

I DON'T EITHER. I DON'T I DON'T FEEL IT. I'M NOT FEELING THE WEALTH.

MISS GRANNIS. I JUST HAVE A QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THIS.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LOCALLY ONLY FUNDED PROJECTS AND PROJECTS NOT REQUIRING THE IAC APPROVAL, IS THAT PART OF OUR 2028 BUDGET? AND IF IT'S IF IF THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT APPROVED, HOW DO WE DETERMINE WHICH ONES ARE COMING OUT. DOES THAT GO TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? SURE. SO THIS IS THE CAPITAL BUDGET. SO WE HAVE THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT MISS JEWETT WILL, OF COURSE PRESENT. THE CIP IS IN ADDITION. SO IT IS SEPARATE FROM THE OPERATING BUDGET.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF LINES SUCH AS CAPITAL OUTLAY, ALTERATIONS, BUT THOSE ARE REALLY FOR LIKE KIND OF MORE SMALLER RECURRING THINGS.

THESE ARE LARGER CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. SO WHEN THE COUNTY APPROVES THEIR BUDGET AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, THEY WILL APPROVE THE OPERATING PLUS THE CAPITAL.

SO THE TWO GET MESHED TOGETHER. OKAY. THANK YOU.

AND THEY AND THEY DO THEY DO THE BOND. IS THIS LIKE LISTED IN THE BOND ISSUE WHEN THEY ISSUE DEBT? YES. SOME PROJECTS THEY MIGHT PAY THROUGH PAYGO.

OTHERS THEY WILL BOND. SO THEY WILL MAKE THAT DETERMINATION ON WHAT THEY WILL BOND AND WHAT THEY WILL PAY THROUGH PAYGO.

A LOT OF TIMES FOR IN COUNTIES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE GROWTH, SUCH AS IF WE'RE ADDING A SCHOOL BECAUSE OF GROWTH, WHICH WE ARE NOT. BUT IF THERE WERE A SITUATION LIKE THAT, THERE MIGHT BE EXCISE TAX THAT WOULD BE USED IN ORDER TO FUND THAT.

BUT IN OUR CASE IT WOULD JUST BE BONDS AND PAYGO FUNDS, BECAUSE I JUST GOT MY PROPERTY TAX BILL AND IT WENT UP 10%.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MISS WARNER. ABSOLUTELY.

UP NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PRESENTATION.

[MCAP Presentation]

[02:00:24]

MY NAME IS SCOTT MCCOMB AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SYSTEM AND INSTRUCTIONAL PERFORMANCE. WITH ME THIS EVENING ARE MATHEMATICS SUPERVISORS JULIE MORRISON AND DOCTOR JOE SUTTON, AND SUPERVISORS MELISSA HUFFMAN AND LAUREN GRIMES.

OUR SUPERVISORS WILL PRESENT ELA MATHEMATICS DATA FROM THE 2026 MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS MCAT. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION, WE WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.

NOW, I'M PLEASED TO TURN THINGS OVER TO MISS MORRISON, WHO WILL BEGIN WITH ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS.

HELLO, I'M JULIE MORRISON, SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS.

ON THE LEFT, WE SEE THE STATE'S PERFORMANCE IN GRADES 3 TO 5 FROM 2023 TO 2026.

THE DARK GREEN BAR IS THE FOR THE 2026 DATA. ON THE RIGHT, WE SEE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERFORMANCE IN THIRD GRADE RANKED THIRD OUT OF THE 24 DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 17 POINTS.

IN FOURTH GRADE, WE RANKED THIRD, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 14 POINTS, AND IN FIFTH GRADE WE RANKED THIRD, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 13 POINTS. HELLO, I AM JOE SUTTON, SUPERVISOR OF SECONDARY MATHEMATICS.

YOU'LL SEE ON THE LEFT THE STATE'S PERFORMANCE IN GRADES SIX THROUGH ALGEBRA ONE.

ON THE RIGHT, YOU WILL SEE CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PERFORMANCE. IN SIXTH GRADE, WE RANKED FIFTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY NINE POINTS. IN SEVENTH GRADE, WE RANKED FOURTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 12 POINTS.

IN EIGHTH GRADE, WE RANKED FIFTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY SIX POINTS.

AND IN ALGEBRA ONE, WE RANKED SEVENTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY FIVE POINTS.

SOME CELEBRATIONS INCLUDE. WE'RE NOW RANKED IN THE TOP FIVE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE IN EVERY COURSE, FROM MATH THREE THROUGH MATH EIGHT, AS WELL AS ALGEBRA TWO.

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO IN ALGEBRA ONE AND GEOMETRY, AS WE ALWAYS DO IN ALL COURSES, WE ARE EXCITED BY THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE. CLIMBING ONE SPOT IN ALGEBRA ONE AND THREE SPOTS IN GEOMETRY, SIGNIFICANTLY OUTGAINING GROWTH ACROSS THE STATE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS POSITIVE TRAJECTORY AND FURTHER STRENGTHENING STUDENT OUTCOMES ACROSS OUR MATHEMATICS PROGRAM IN THE YEAR AHEAD.

THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS DRIVEN BY GROWTH THAT FAR EXCEEDED THE STATE AVERAGE LAST YEAR.

MARYLAND'S PROFICIENCY RATE INCREASED BY JUST 0.6 PERCENTAGE POINTS, WHILE CSE INCREASED BY 4.9 PERCENTAGE POINTS, DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL GAINS IN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

NOT ONLY ARE WE RANKED HIGHLY, BUT WE WERE GROWING FASTER THAN OUR COUNTERPARTS AND OUR ABILITY TO HELP STUDENTS MEET THE HIGH BAR OF PROFICIENCY ON THESE ASSESSMENTS.

SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DID THAT LED TO THIS GROWTH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING, WHICH WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFINE. FIRST, OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WORKED HARD TO STRENGTHEN STUDENTS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE THEIR THINKING THROUGH HIGH QUALITY WRITTEN RESPONSES TO COMPLEX MODELING AND REASONING TASKS.

THIS WORK WILL CONTINUE. WE'VE STRENGTHENED OUR STUDENT SUPPORT SYSTEMS BY TRAINING TEACHERS TO PROACTIVELY IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS STUDENT NEEDS BEFORE ACADEMIC CHALLENGES EMERGE. THIS WORK WILL DEEPEN WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PANORAMA, PROVIDING SCHOOLS WITH REAL TIME INSIGHTS TO IDENTIFY SUPPORT NEEDS AND DEVELOP PERSONALIZED PLANS FOR STUDENT SUCCESS. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MSD AND DOCTOR CRYSTAL RIX, CALVERT COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF GIFTED AND ADVANCED LEARNING, WE'VE IDENTIFIED MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENHANCE OUR ACCELERATION PRACTICES.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING THE STRUCTURES, RESOURCES, AND TEACHER EXPERTISE NEEDED TO ENSURE EVERY STUDENT IS WELL PREPARED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THEY ARE READY. OUR TEACHERS HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TO UNDERSTAND AND MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE REVISED MARYLAND MATHEMATICS STANDARDS IN MATH THREE THROUGH MATH EIGHT, AND CONTINUE TO BUILD THEIR EXPERTISE AS IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESSES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF IS HOW HARD OUR TEACHERS CONTINUE TO WORK, DESPITE OUR ALREADY COMPARATIVELY STRONG STUDENT OUTCOMES.

LAST YEAR, OUR TEACHERS FOCUSED ON STRATEGIES THAT HELP STUDENTS UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE, VALUE, AND RELEVANCE OF WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING EACH DAY. THIS YEAR, WE WILL BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION AS A DISTRICT WIDE PRIORITY.

THROUGH OUR CONTINUED EXPLORATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK.

THIS GRAPH REPRESENTS EVERY DISTRICT'S CHANGE IN MCAT PROFICIENCY FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR.

HORIZONTALLY, WE HAVE EACH OF THE 24 DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND, AND THE VERTICAL AXIS REPRESENTS THE CHANGE IN PROFICIENCY FROM 2025 TO 2026.

WHILE MOST DISTRICTS SAW MODEST GAINS AND A FEW EXPERIENCED SLIGHT DECLINES.

[02:05:01]

WE WERE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO SEE THE WORK OF OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HIGHLIGHTED AT THE MSDE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF ONLY TWO DISTRICTS IN MARYLAND TO ACHIEVE DOUBLE DIGIT PROFICIENCY GROWTH SINCE THE LAUNCH OF MCAT IN 2022. THIS RECOGNITION REFLECTS THE DEDICATION OF OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND SUPPORT STAFF TO A SHARED COMMITMENT OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO MELISSA HUFFMAN, SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS.

HELLO. SO HERE WE HAVE OUR ELEMENTARY ELA DATA.

IN THIRD GRADE, WE RANKED SECOND, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 17 POINTS.

IN FOURTH GRADE, WE RANKED FOURTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 13 POINTS.

AND IN FIFTH GRADE WE RANKED FIRST, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 15 POINTS.

I'LL NOW PASS IT OVER TO LAUREN GRIMES, SUPERVISOR OF SECONDARY ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE ARTS.

AND SECONDARY ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. SIXTH GRADE RANKED THIRD, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 14 POINTS.

SEVENTH GRADE RANKED FOURTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 12 POINTS.

EIGHTH GRADE RANKED FOURTH, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 13 POINTS AND 10TH GRADE FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR RANKED FIRST, OUTPERFORMING THE STATE BY 20 POINTS. MISS HUFFMAN AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS STRONG AND CONSISTENT ACHIEVEMENT ACROSS ALL MCAT ELA ASSESSMENTS. WE CONTINUE TO RANK IN THE TOP FIVE DISTRICTS IN OUR STATE, AND WE'RE RANKED FIRST IN FIFTH AND 10TH GRADES.

WE ARE FOCUSED ON INCREASING AWARENESS OF EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVING PROGRESS MONITORING TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS, AND CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN OUR CORE LITERACY INSTRUCTION LIKE MATHEMATICS.

WE ARE PROUD THAT MSDE RECOGNIZED CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELA FOR DOUBLE DIGIT GROWTH SINCE 2022.

WE ARE PROUD OF OUR SUSTAINED HIGH PERFORMANCE AND THE GROWTH WE HAVE MADE, BUT WE ARE EQUALLY DETERMINED TO SUSTAIN AND ACCELERATE IMPROVEMENT TO DO SO.

WE WILL REMAIN VIGILANT IN ALIGNING DISTRICT CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES AND SYSTEM WIDE ASSESSMENTS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING WITH MARYLAND'S EVOLVING STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT EXPECTATIONS.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD OUT THE PANORAMA STUDENT SUCCESS PLATFORM TO BETTER MONITOR OUR STUDENTS PROGRESS, HELP TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS IDENTIFY STUDENT NEED EARLY SELECT APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSES AND DETERMINE WHETHER STUDENTS ARE RESPONDING TO THE SUPPORTS PROVIDED. THIS INFORMATION WILL ALSO GUIDE OUR SUPERVISORS, LEARNING SPECIALISTS AND ELEMENTARY LITERACY COACHES AND PROVIDING TARGETED SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS, INSTRUCTIONAL TEAMS AND TEACHERS. ADDITIONALLY, OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, OUR DISTRICT EMPLOYEES, A MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM SUPPORT TO ASSIST LEARNERS IN THEIR REGULAR CLASSROOMS WHILE ALSO IDENTIFYING STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL LEVELS OF SUPPORT AND ENSURING THAT INTERVENTIONS ARE IN PLACE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. THIS INCLUDES IDENTIFYING OR DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS, MAKING THEM READILY AVAILABLE TO STAFF AND PROVIDING THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS NEED TO IMPLEMENT THEM EFFECTIVELY. THE SUCCESS WE EXPERIENCED IN CSAP AND THE GROWTH WE HAVE MADE ARE NOT INCIDENTAL.

THEY ARE THE RESULT OF INTENTIONAL ACTIONS AND HARD WORK BY OUR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS, AND MOST ESPECIALLY BY OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

TO THIS END, WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT WORK WHILE ALSO IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL STEPS SUCH AS THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PANORAMA STUDENT SUCCESS PLATFORM TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE TOOLS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO HELP EVERY STUDENT SUCCEED.

AT THIS TIME, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. MISS GRANNIS FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

THE RESULTS REFLECT A LOT OF HARD WORK FROM OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND FAMILIES.

AND I'M PROUD THAT CALVERT COUNTY CONTINUES TO OUTPERFORM THE STATE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SWITCHING TO A NEW TEST CALLED M STAR.

AND I BELIEVE THAT OCCURS IN 2028. I READ AN ARTICLE ON THAT TODAY.

PARDON ME. I READ AN ARTICLE ON THAT TODAY. YES.

OKAY. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ALIGN OUR COURSES TO THE TO THE NEW TEST? HOW ARE. HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THERE'S THERE'S A PROPER ALIGNMENT.

SO OUR IMPLEMENTATION WILL ACTUALLY BE THIS YEAR.

[02:10:01]

CAN'T HEAR ME SAYING THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF M STAR WILL BEGIN THIS YEAR IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THE SUPERVISORS TO SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT PREPARATION IN THEIR AREAS.

RIGHT IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT. BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO BE USING IT.

SO HOW HOW DO WE I'M NOT SURE HOW TO WORD THIS.

HOW ARE WE KEEPING HIGH SCHOOL COURSES ALIGNED TO THE TESTS? THAT'S GOING TO COUNT FOR FINAL GRADES. SO ALL THROUGHOUT LAST YEAR WE WORKED WITH THE THREE THROUGH EIGHT TEACHERS TO UNDERSTAND AND UNPACK THE NEW STANDARDS TO IDENTIFY HOW THEY RELATE TO THE PREVIOUS STANDARDS.

WHERE ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CHANGE ABOUT OUR SEQUENCE, ABOUT OUR PEDAGOGY, AND SO ON? THIS YEAR, THE INTEGRATED ALGEBRA ONE TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH A VERY SIMILAR PROCESS.

IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE INTEGRATED ALGEBRA TWO TEACHERS ARE GOING TO BE GOING THROUGH THAT SAME KIND OF PROCESS, REALLY FOCUSING IN AND LOOKING AT WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE EXPECTATIONS IN THE COMING YEAR. ADDITIONALLY TO THIS, WE ARE GIVING ONGOING SUPPORT AND KIND OF JUST IN TIME COACHING AS THE TEACHERS COME TO THE AFFECTED PORTIONS OF THE COURSES. WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THE TEACHERS FEEL COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN WHAT ARE WE NOW IMPLEMENTING THIS YEAR THAT MAY LOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN IT HAS IN YEARS PAST, BUT THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE AND ROLL ITS WAY UP AS THIS TRANSITION MOVES UP THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HARRISON. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FIVE FOR I SEE THE PROUD.

YOU SHOULD BE PROUD. ABSOLUTELY, SIR. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT.

IT'S INTENTIONAL. AND DOCTOR NEWSOM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

MR. MCCOLLUM YOU'VE GOT A GREAT TEAM THERE. WILL YOU PLEASE AND PLEASE SPEAK CANDIDLY.

BUT FROM EACH OF YOU. FIVE WHAT IS IT THAT THE BOARD COULD DO TO HELP YOU EVEN MORE? LIKE IF IF I WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, THAT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

OVERRULED. I LOVE YOU. I'M JUST KIDDING. WHAT CAN WE DO TO TO HELP YOU EVEN MORE? AND YOU COULD SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED COFFEE BREAKS OR, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP YOU EVEN MORE? I'M GOING TO GO FIRST.

I LOVE THAT SHE ALREADY HAD AN ANSWER. READY? YEAH. SO FIRST, MY TEACHERS WORK EXTREMELY HARD.

YOU GUYS ALREADY KNOW THAT. AND THEY PUT EVERYTHING THEY HAVE INTO TEACHING OUR STUDENTS.

AND WE ARE SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE BEST CURRICULUM.

WE'RE SUPPLYING THEM WITH ALL THE RESOURCES, THE MANIPULATIVES, ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED, WITH ONE SMALL EXCEPTION. AND I BRAG ON OUR LITERACY COACHES BECAUSE I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ASKING ME, WHEN ARE WE GETTING COACHES MEANING MATH COACHES? THAT'S THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

I SHARE IT WITH THE TEACHERS. I GET ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES FROM THE C, I, P TO EVERY OTHER THING.

BUT IN ALL HONESTY, THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. MYSELF AND ONE OTHER PERSON RIGHT NOW ARE GOING SCHOOL TO SCHOOL AND OR IN LARGE GROUPS AND SMALL GROUPS.

BUT A BRAND NEW TEACHER TO MATH, FOR INSTANCE, THEY NEED SOMEONE TO SIT BESIDE THEM AND REALLY HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND, FOR INSTANCE, THAT VOLUME IS NOT JUST A FORMULA THAT IT'S REALLY TAKING AREA AND LAYING IT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.

AND ONCE THEY'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO THAT, THEY THEN OPEN THAT ALL UP TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN FRONT OF THEM.

AND IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST LOOKING AT A REALLY WELL LAID OUT CURRICULUM.

SO IN ALL HONESTY, THAT'S AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US AND WHO IS ABOVE US.

THEY HAVE COACHES. IT'S NOT THE CURRICULUM. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OR NOT, BUT OUR CURRICULUM IS ACTUALLY BEING USED BY FIVE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS IN THE STATE RIGHT NOW. THREE OF THE FIVE ARE IN THE TOP FIVE, AND FIVE OF THEM ARE ALL IN THE TOP TEN.

SO WE JUST NEED SOME MORE SUPPORT. THAT'S AWESOME.

SO TELL ME, WE'RE GOING TO SELL THAT CURRICULUM SO THAT WE CAN GET THOSE GET THE MONEY FOR THAT.

BECAUSE THE, THE MATH THE MATH COACHES DO WE NEED ONE COACH FOR THE TEACHERS OR DO.

HOW MANY COACHES DO WE NEED? OH WELL. ALL RIGHT.

WELL THAT'S THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS THERE. I WOULD PROBABLY WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF EACH IN EVERY SCHOOL, BUT I WOULD IF WE COULD HAVE SIX TO START WITH.

YEAH. SO THAT THEY COULD BE DIVIDED, MUCH LIKE THE LITERACY COACHES ARE BETWEEN TWO SCHOOLS.

IT WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT US, BUT I'LL TAKE WHATEVER YOU GIVE ME.

WORK ON TRADEMARKING THAT CURRICULUM AND AND THEN I SEE BIG THINGS FOR US IN THE FUTURE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT. THAT THAT.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, PAUL, BECAUSE THAT REALLY IS A THAT IS A GOOD ONE.

WE DID WE DID MAKE THAT INITIATIVE FOR THE LITERACY COACHES.

[02:15:02]

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OFTEN HAPPENS, WE TALK, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW BUDGETS ARE GOING TO GET TIGHT.

AND I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. AND WHAT WE SEE IS AS BUDGETS GET TIGHT, THOSE THOSE SUPPORTING POSITIONS ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO GO.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. I DON'T I DON'T ENVY ANYONE WHO HAS TO PUT TOGETHER A WHOLE SYSTEM BUDGET.

IN A TIME WHEN THINGS ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE AND THERE'S POTENTIALLY LESS FUNDING AVAILABLE. BUT THOSE SUPPORTING POSITIONS ARE IMPORTANT.

AND I SAID I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OF MELISSA BECAUSE SHE DOES HAVE THOSE LITERACY COACHES, AND THE STATE IS PUTTING A LOT OF DEMANDS ON SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS EVEN MORE EARLY TO DEFEND, TO IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES, TO CREATE STUDENT READING INTERVENTION PLANS.

MATH IS JUST BEHIND THAT. AND SO I DON'T, I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW SOMEBODY WHO I THINK WORKS AROUND THE CLOCK COULD POSSIBLY DO ALL THEY NEED TO DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THOSE POSITIONS.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING IS SOMETIMES IT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED MORE.

IT'S JUST MAKING SURE WE DON'T END UP WITH LESS.

DOCTOR NEWSOM. YES, I DID HAVE A COMMENT REGARDING FUNDING.

THE QUESTION THAT I WOULD IMAGINE MANY TAXPAYERS WOULD ASK IS IF YOU HAVE A DECREASE IN ENROLLMENT.

WHY WOULD YOU BE REQUESTING MORE FUNDING? AND THE ANSWER IS, WELL, WE STARTED OUT THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT WHERE WE HAD REPRESENTATIVES FROM ABE THAT TALKED ABOUT OVER 400 NEW BILLS.

MANY OF THOSE BILLS COME WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES.

THEY COME TO THE LOCALITY, NOT TO MENTION THE THE COST OF LIVING FUEL THE CIP CONTRACTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES. AND SO WHILE THERE MAY BE A DECREASE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ENROLLMENT, THE COST OF EDUCATION HAS ACTUALLY GONE UP DRAMATICALLY, DRAMATICALLY BEYOND WHAT THE DECREASES ARE. SO I THINK OUR WE NEED TO HELP OUR PUBLIC UNDERSTAND AND, YOU KNOW, AND THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT BECAUSE WE DO OFTEN HEAR WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE ASKING FOR MORE MONEY, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE HAD A DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT.

BUT THAT IS A PERFECT RESPONSE TO THAT BECAUSE THE, THE INCREASES HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF UNFUNDED MANDATES THAT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON NOT JUST CALVERT COUNTY, BUT ALL THE LEAS FOR SURE. ANY ANYTHING ELSE? FINAL WORDS? ANY FINAL QUESTIONS? ONE SECOND.

GO AHEAD. I WOULD JUST ADD SEEING THE WORK THAT OUR LITERACY COACHES HAVE DONE LAST YEAR WAS THEIR FIRST YEAR BUILDING A TEAM AND TO HAVE OUR NEW TEACHERS BEGIN THIS YEAR AND TO GET TO HEAR FROM THE COACHES YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE SHARING, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WEIGHT OF ALL THE NEW POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ROLL OUT.

BUT TO HAVE A COACH SHARE, I WAS LIKE, WE NEED TO HAVE SOME CELEBRATIONS.

BUT THEY HAD SHARED WITH ME THAT SOME OF THE BRAND NEW TEACHERS SAID THAT THEY HAVE NEVER FELT MORE SUPPORT WITH, YOU KNOW, THE LITERACY. THAT'S REALLY EXCITING TO HEAR.

AND THAT'S THAT'S EXACTLY WHY THEY'RE THERE. AND, YOU KNOW, I GET TO SEE ALL OF THEIR CALENDARS AND THEY USE A BOOKING LINK AND TO SEE ALL OF THE TEACHERS THAT ARE BOOKING TIME WITH THEM TO GET SUPPORT, WHETHER IT BE CURRICULUM ASSESSMENTS THEY'RE BUSY, YOU KNOW, DAY TO DAY REALLY SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS FOR SURE.

FOR SURE. IS MISS GREENWICH, YOU HAD ONE MORE QUESTION. YEAH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT FOR THIS NEW M STAR TESTING, WE USE I-READY MAP AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN TEACHER GRADES TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.

BUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO KNOW IF WE ARE ALIGNED WITH THE TESTS THAT WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT? LIKE USUALLY WE USE IT AS IT'S KIND OF A PREDETERMINED AS TO HOW WELL WE'RE DOING.

SO HOW HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK? INSTEAD OF LAGGING DATA, YOU KNOW.

YEAH. SO AFTERWARDS, OVER THE YEARS, WE'VE BUILT SOME PROJECTION SYSTEMS AND THEY DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF PREDICTING WHERE OUR STUDENTS ARE AND HELPING US IDENTIFY STUDENTS THAT ARE ON TRACK OR ARE NOT ON TRACK. ONE OF THE THINGS WE KIND OF HAVE TO TAKE ON FAITH IS THAT THE STATE SAYS IT'S KIND OF AN EQUIVALENT FORM.

THE PROJECTIONS ARE STILL GOING TO BE ACCURATE.

WE'RE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHERE THE CUT SCORES ARE GOING TO BE. AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL BE DETERMINED LATER. BUT WHAT WE'RE OPERATING ON RIGHT NOW IS,

[02:20:08]

SO YOU THINK THE, THE ALIGNMENT IS GOING TO BE THE THE WAY TO TRACK HOW WE'RE DOING.

OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. QUITE A BIT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALIGNED TO WHAT'S COMING NEXT.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEW CUT SCORES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE. WE CAN'T PREDICT THAT UNTIL THAT'S BEEN RELEASED.

OKAY. AND CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY? I THINK IT WAS WITH ALGEBRA TO HELP WITH THE TO HELP STUDENTS GET THE CONCEPTS.

SO WHAT'S, WHAT WILL BE COMING? WE, WE ARE CURRENTLY WHAT'S IN WHAT'S CALLED A TRADITIONAL SEQUENCE, THE A G A ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA TWO SEQUENCE.

THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS MOVING TO AN INTEGRATED SEQUENCE IN WHICH ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, SOME DATA ANALYSIS AND SOME ALGEBRA TWO.

THE MOST ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS FROM THOSE COURSES ARE INTEGRATED INTO A TWO CORE SEQUENCE.

AFTER THAT, THE STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE TAKING TWO POST COLLEGE AND CAREER READY MATH COURSES.

ONE OF THE AIMS FOR THIS IS. MARYLAND IS LOOKING TO BE ONE OF THE PIONEERS IN GETTING KIDS THE ESSENTIAL COURSES.

AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO. EVERY STUDENT THAT ENTERS NINTH GRADE AND INTEGRATED ALGEBRA.

ONE CAN MAKE IT TO CALCULUS IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UP NEXT, WE HAVE A REVISION TO

[BOE Calendar Revision]

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING CALENDAR HAS BEEN REVISED AS FOLLOWS.

THE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED.

THE MEETING, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 8TH, 2026, HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 1ST, 2026. THE MEETING, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 12TH, 2026, HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO NOVEMBER 5TH, 2026. THESE CHANGES WERE MADE TO ACCOMMODATE THE SCHEDULING NEEDS TO ENSURE THE EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF BOARD BUSINESS, SO PLEASE DO UPDATE THE CALENDARS ACCORDINGLY.

THE REVISED MEETING SCHEDULE WILL ALSO BE POSTED ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WEBSITE AND COMMUNICATED THROUGH THE USUAL NOTIFICATION CHANNELS.

MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO OR VOTE CARRIES.

NOT THE MOTION. UP NEXT, WE HAVE FUTURE BUSINESS.

[FUTURE BUSINESS]

AND. OKAY. IT'S ALSO ALMOST MY BEDTIME. IT'S SIX MINUTES, AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER THE COVERS.

UP NEXT, WE GO INTO BOARD. COMMENTS. ALI. YEAH.

[BOARD COMMENTS]

THAT'S SOMETHING I'M STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING, AND I'LL BE PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION WITHIN ABOUT THE NEXT WEEK ABOUT POSSIBLE DATES AND FINALLY SCHEDULING THAT OFFICIALLY. LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

THANK YOU, MR. MARSHALL. NOT A WHOLE LOT. I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT PRESENTED TONIGHT.

THE TEST SCORE IMPROVEMENTS WERE VERY ENCOURAGING AND REPRESENTATIVE OF ALL THE HARD WORK GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.

SO IT'S AWESOME TO HEAR AND SEE AND GET PRESENTED TO EVERYBODY SO EVERYBODY ELSE CAN ENJOY THAT.

AND ALSO SEEMS WE'VE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND EXCITING START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO ALL THE GREAT THINGS THAT LIE AHEAD FOR OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS.

THANK YOU, MR. HARRISON. SO DOCTOR NUZUM, GREAT JOB.

THIS IS LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVE TEAM. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THESE FOLKS OUT HERE, AND YOU SEE IT IN THE MEASUREMENT.

AND I AND I SAID IT DURING MY CAMPAIGN, I SAID, WELL, WHEN YOU DO WELL IN SOMETHING, THE STATE WILL CHANGE THE ACRONYM TO SOMETHING ELSE.

SO WE FINALLY GOT THE M CAP, WE FINALLY GOT THE M CAP DOWN, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO M STAR, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS TOO CLOSE TO DEATH STAR, I DON'T KNOW.

SO THE OTHER THING I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS IS TOMORROW IS A ANNIVERSARY OF A VERY SOMBER DAY 25 YEARS AGO.

AND I'D LIKE IF EVERYONE AS WELL THINK ABOUT IT AS YOU WILL, BUT YOU KNOW, WRITE, WRITE, WRITE IN THE MORNING.

JUST JUST THINK ABOUT HOW THAT DAY CHANGED. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

[02:25:04]

SO VERY HAPPY WITH THAT, MISS GOSHORN. YES. THANK YOU.

I WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS. I THINK REALLY OF THE WHOLE EVENING, THE SCORES ARE SO WONDERFUL TO SEE AND NOT SURPRISING.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK. DOCTOR NEWSOM, I LOVED SEEING YOUR PRESENTATION.

I WAS SO SAD TO HAVE MISSED THE CONVOCATION THIS YEAR.

I YOU HAD SHARED THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE STUDENT LED.

AND I'VE ONLY HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS FROM ANYONE THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO ABOUT IT.

IT DEFINITELY HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT. SO I WAS REALLY SAD TO MISS THAT AND HOPE YOU DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

SO I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLEAR MY SCHEDULE AND ATTEND.

I ALSO JUST WANTED TO SHARE AND THANK SHASHIDA FOR TAKING US ON A TOUR OF NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL TODAY.

IT LOOKS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND IT'S JUST REALLY INSPIRING TO SEE THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT GOES INTO EVERY LITTLE TINY DECISION, YOU KNOW, PAINT COLORS AND HOW WALLS ARE SHAPED AND WHERE WE PUT WINDOWS AND HOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CHOOSING CARPET OR TILE. AND I MEAN, THERE ARE SO MANY LITTLE DETAILS THAT REALLY GO INTO THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU CAN TELL SHE AND HER TEAM JUST ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.

AND IT WAS JUST REALLY A WONDERFUL THING TO GET TO EXPERIENCE TODAY.

I ALSO JUST WANT TO SHARE, I'VE HEARD OBVIOUSLY SOME, WE HAD SOME PUBLIC COMMENTERS TONIGHT NOT SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE CELL PHONE CHANGES, THE CELL PHONE POLICY CHANGES. I'VE ACTUALLY HEARD THE OPPOSITE FROM SO MANY KIDS.

I'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY KIDS. IT'S SO NICE TO SIT AND LUNCH AND TALK TO PEOPLE.

AND THEY'RE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, ALL LOOKING AT THE SAME CELL PHONE OR PLAYING A GAME, SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER, BUT NOT TALKING TO EACH OTHER. SO I'VE HEARD REALLY WONDERFUL THINGS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO ELIMINATE THE STRUGGLES THAT SOME ARE HAVING, BUT I REALLY DO WANT TO THANK EVERY FAMILY, EVERY STUDENT, EVERY STAFF PERSON.

THIS WAS A MAJOR CHANGE THAT THE STATE KIND OF PUT INTO OUR LAP.

AND I'M JUST REALLY GRATEFUL THAT EVERYBODY IS TAKING IT UNDER THEIR WING AND DOING THE BEST THAT WE CAN.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR OF THE SUCCESS STORIES.

SO THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. MISS GRANNIS I THINK EVERYTHING ON MY LIST HAS BEEN COVERED, BUT I, I HAVE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO THANK DOCTOR NEWSOM.

THE BACK TO SCHOOL GATHERINGS STARTED THE YEAR ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LEVEL.

I THINK WE HAD MORE EXCITEMENT IN THAT ROOM THAN I'VE EVER SEEN.

AND MORE ENGAGEMENT. AND THERE'S JUST A DIFFERENT FEEL ABOUT THIS YEAR.

AND I SAW ON YOUR SLIDE WHERE YOU TALKED ABOUT WHERE IT STATED ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, SYSTEM THINKING AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

AND I THINK THAT IS REALLY THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR, FOR THAT TYPE OF LEADERSHIP.

I ALSO WANTED TO THANK SHOSHANA WARNER FOR THE TOUR TODAY, GOING THROUGH NORTHERN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE ON TRACK AND WILL BE HOPEFULLY FINGERS CROSSED.

OPENING IN NOVEMBER. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL AND SOME CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE VERY LUCKY BEING ABLE TO GO THROUGH THAT.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MCAT SCORES. IT'S JUST THERE'S SUCH A SENSE OF PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WHEN WE SEE OUR CHILDREN MAKING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

WE WANT EVERY CHILD IN OUR SYSTEM TO KEEP REACHING THEIR ABSOLUTE FULL POTENTIAL.

SO THANKS TO THE STAFF, OUR STAFF, OUR STUDENTS WHO PUT IN THE WORK AND OUR PARENTS WHO SUPPORT THEM.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THANK YOU. NO COMMENTS FROM ME TONIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.