[00:00:05]
>> OH, GOODNESS. IT IS TIME TO CALL TO ORDER THE APRIL 10,
[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
2024 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS
[2. Closed Session]
PERSONAL MATTERS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE 3-305B AND ONE.>> WE HAVE A MOTION, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
>> ANY OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES.
WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION. TURN OFF YOUR MICS.
>> IT IS 5:30. WELCOME, EVERYBODY.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
I AM GOING TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION, THE APRIL 10, 2024, BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.PLEASE STAND WHILE MISS ROGERS LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WILL HAVE OUR BOARD REFLECTION, MR. FERNANDO.
>> THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.
WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS.
THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> THANK YOU, IS THERE A SECOND?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Consent Agenda]
I DON'T REALLY SEE ANY ITEMS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.
[5. New Business]
WE WILL START ALL THE WAY AT THE END THERE WITH MISS ROGERS, OUR STUDENT.OKAY, EVERYONE. IT'S BEEN A BUSY YEAR.
I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OF THE SENIORS WITH ALL OF THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS, GETTING TO SEE THEM ALL ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS IN THOSE COLLEGE LETTERS.
WE JUST HAD A WHERE ARE YOUR GEAR.
FROM YOUR COLLEGE, IT WAS SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY AND ALL THE SIGNINGS FOR THE SPORTS. IT WAS CRAZY.
I WAS LIKE, OH MY GOSH, I'M SO PROUD.
SEEING ALL THE SPRING SPORTS GO BACK IN SESSION IS GREAT SEEING THEM.
CERTIFICATION EXAMS, CCST VERY PROUD.
A LOT OF THE MEDICAL ONES HAD THEIR CERTIFICATION EXAMS YESTERDAY, SO THERE WAS A LOT OF PASSING.
I'M VERY PROUD OF EVERYONE. AGAIN, IT'S JUST A TEST.
YOU CAN ALWAYS RETAKE IT IF YOU DIDN'T.
SENIORS, STAY ON TOP OF THE ATTENDANCE ALONG WITH GRADES.
GRADUATION IS COMING UP SOONER THAN YOU THINK.
A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, TOURS.
IF YOU'RE IN EIGHTH GRADE, YOU WERE JUST TOURING THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
WITH THE EIGHTH GRADERS, THEY JUST HAD A TOUR OF ELPTON HIGH SCHOOL.
THE MOST COMMON QUESTION I HAD WITH THEM WHEN I WAS TOURING IS, WILL THIS BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR? WITH THE BUDGET CUTS, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE WORRIED IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITIES.
THE ONLY THING I COULD THINK OF IS HOW FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS FAILED EVERY CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY.
ONCE AGAIN, WITH HER BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE BUDGET DECISIONS MADE UNDER HER LEADERSHIP HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY PRIORITIZED THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, LEAVING THEM WITHOUT THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY DESERVE FOR QUALITY EDUCATION.
IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE, I ASK YOU TO SIT IN THESE CLASSROOMS BECAUSE IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE FOR YOUR SO CALLED RECORD FUNDING.
THAT WILL NOT SUSTAIN OUR COUNTY.
THOSE SO CALLED SCARE TACTICS, THEIR FACTS, AND IT WILL BE A REALITY NEXT YEAR.
WITH THOSE ALMOST THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO ARE ENTERING OUR SYSTEM NEXT YEAR, WHO WILL BE IN OUR SYSTEM FOR THE NEXT 12 YEARS OR ALREADY ARE IN OUR SYSTEM ARE NOW FORCED TO FEEL THE STRUGGLE OF PRIMITIVE LIKE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE BUDGET.
HOW SAD IS THAT? AGAIN, EVERYONE LIKES TO USE THE WORD SCARE TACTICS WHEN IT COMES TO CUTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE A REALITY FOR MANY STUDENTS, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS NOW KNOW AND ARE MAKING INFORMED DECISIONS ON WHERE THEY'LL BE ON MAY 14.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ROGERS, MR. FERNANDO.
>> GOOD EVENING. THIS TIME OF THE YEAR FOR ME IS SOFTBALL SOFTBALL AND MORE SOFTBALL SEASON HAS STARTED.
DOCTOR LAWSON STOPPED BY THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TO WATCH THE ROSING SUN TIGERS BEAT UP ON MS. HEATH BOWMAN AT EAGLES.
[00:05:04]
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY IT WAS AN EXCELLENT GAME.
>> NORMALLY IS SEVEN, SO THAT'S TWO EXTRA INNINGS.
WITH ALL THAT SAID, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO WIN.
FOR ALL OF MY GOLF FRIENDS, IT'S MASTERS WEEK THIS WEEK.
THEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH PHILLIES BASEBALL PLAYING AND OREOS PLAYING, THAT MEANS THAT SPRING IS FINALLY HERE.
SUMMER IS ON THE WAY, WHICH IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR.
LASTLY, ON A LITTLE BIT OF A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF US JUST KEEP TALKING.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE THAT HAVE BEEN ADVOCATES FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN HERE TO SEE ALL THE REPORTS THAT OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM HAVE PUT TOGETHER WHEN IT COMES TO OUR BUDGET, AND WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING TO OUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS.
I'LL TAKE THAT A STEP FURTHER, ENEMIES.
WE NEED TO KEEP TALKING TO THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS NOT.
THERE'S A LOT OF POSTCARDS GOING OUT AND MOST OF THOSE POSTCARDS HAVE LIES ON THEM.
THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS PRAISING THE FACT THAT, WELL, THIS IS A TRUTH THAT OUR SCORES HAVE INCREASED.
BUT AT THE LAST MEETING THAT SHE WAS AT, SHE WAS COMPLAINING THAT OUR SCORES HAVE NOT INCREASED.
SHE JUST KEEPS SAYING ONE THING HERE, ONE THING THERE, AND WE NEED TO BE OUT THERE TALKING TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS WORD OUT.
I JUST TALKED WITH A NEIGHBOR THAT KNOWS ME THAT WAS ASKING WHY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN OUR DETAILED DOCUMENTS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE YET.
AND SO THAT'S BEEN DONE AND DONE AND DONE FOR MONTHS NOW, AND PEOPLE ARE STILL ASKING WHERE IT IS AND IT'S BEEN PRESENTED AND IT'S MASSIVE AND IT'S TONS, WAY TOO MANY DETAILS.
THOSE LIVES JUST KEEP BEING SPREAD AND WE NEED TO BE OUT THERE FIGHTING THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR STUDENTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. FERNANDO, MS. DIXON.
>> WELL, THIS MONTH, I ATTENDED THE CCAC MEETING THAT SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
I HEARD A WONDERFUL SPEAKER, FRANK CROSS WHO SPOKE ABOUT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU COULD HELP SOMEONE WHO HAPPENS TO HAVE AUTISM, AND HE WAS JUST AMAZING.
I ENCOURAGE ANY OF YOU TO GET OUT TO THE CCAC MEETINGS WHENEVER YOU CAN, BECAUSE WE JUST LEARNED SO MUCH.
THE REALLY FUN THING IS, EVEN IF YOU THINK WE ALL HAVE OUR OWN DISABILITY SOMEWHERE, WE HAVE A DISABILITY AND JUST LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT DIFFERENT MINDSETS IS JUST REALLY A GREAT TIME.
SO I REALLY RECOMMEND THE CCAC MEETINGS.
MARCH 27, WE HAD A CAC MEETING HERE, CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMUNITY.
APRIL 7, I MET WITH A TEACHER FOR DINNER AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.
I'LL GET EMOTIONAL, BUT WE HAVE SOME VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS, THIS TEACHER AND I.
IT WAS JUST SO GREAT TO SIT DOWN AND HE COULD TELL ME HOW HE WAS FEELING AND I COULD TELL HIM HOW I WAS FEELING ABOUT SOME THINGS, AND IT WAS JUST SUCH A SPECIAL SPECIAL TIME TO DO THAT.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO DO THAT SOME MORE.
MAKING PLANS TO VISIT OTHER SCHOOLS.
I'LL BE GOING TO CHARLESTOWN SCHOOL AND I'M TRYING TO GET TO AT LEAST ALL THE SCHOOLS IN MY DISTRICT. THERE YOU GO..
>> GREAT. THANK YOU, MISS DIXON. MR. DAVIS.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HOLLY. THIS WEEK, WE ARE HAPPY TO CELEBRATE AND RECOGNIZE OUR DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING LIBRARIANS AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS DURING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK WHERE THIS YEAR'S THEME IS READY SET LIBRARY.
ON MONDAY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THOMPSON THE STATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO THANK THEIR MEDIA SPECIALIST FOR HER COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS.
ON TUESDAY, I VISITED ELKTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO PERSONALLY THANK THEIR STAFF FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING ALL OF THE DEDICATED LIBRARIANS AND MEDIA SPECIALIST THROUGHOUT CECIL COUNTY AND CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
JUST A FEW OTHER BRIEF ITEMS. LAST MONTH, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE PRINCE BEFORE DAY PROGRAM WHERE I VISITED ELK TO MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT AND A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ELPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, DOCTOR KEISHA BRINKLEY AND THE STUDENTS OF ELPTON MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY DURING MY VISIT. I TELL YOU WHAT.
BEING A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR IS A DEFINITELY DIFFICULT JOB, AND I TRULY RESPECT THEM.
VISITING OUR SCHOOLS AND INTERACTING WITH OUR STUDENTS IS BY FAR THE MOST REWARDING PART OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IN MY OPINION, ONE OF THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD MEMBERS IS TO ALWAYS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND STRONG ADVOCACY FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SUPPORT STAFF.
SERVING ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST WORTHWHILE ENDEAVORS THAT I HAVE EVER BEEN A PART OF, AND I AM TRULY HONORED AND APPRECIATIVE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE MY COMMUNITY.
LASTLY, AS WE CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE DIFFICULT AND OFTENTIMES CONTENTIOUS BUDGET PROCESS, I BELIEVE OUR COUNTY AND THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE BETTER SERVED IF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS STOPPED LOOKING AT FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION, AS AN EXPENSE, AND INSTEAD LOOKED AT IT AS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR CHILDREN AND THIS COUNTY'S FUTURE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> [LAUGHTER] NO. I'M GOING TO LET THAT GO BECAUSE I ALREADY SAID MY PIECE.
[00:10:04]
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TONIGHT.I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT SPRING BREAK AND A WONDERFUL EASTER AND GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
I HAVE BEEN VERY MUCH INVOLVED LIKE MR. FERNANDO WITH SOFTBALL.
I SPEND EVERY AFTERNOON FOR HOURS AT THE SOFTBALL FIELD, AND EVERY OTHER MOMENT THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
I COACH BO MANOR SOFTBALL IN CASE NO ONE CAUGHT THAT PREVIOUSLY.
I ALSO ATTENDED OUR CAC MEETING THIS PAST MONTH, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR CLIMATE IN OUR SCHOOLS. IT WAS A GOOD MEETING.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE MABE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY MEETING IN ANNAPOLIS THIS MONTH.
WE ACTUALLY GOT TO ALL BE IN PERSON.
THAT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR IN PERSON.
LIKE MR. DAVIS, I DID PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY AND I WAS AT HOLLY HALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THAT WAS WHERE I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO I HAD A GREAT TIME THERE.
SCHOOL LOOKS WAY DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I WAS THERE.
I WANT TO ACTUALLY THANK MISS RECKNER AND HER STAFF FOR HAVING ME.
IT WAS A AMAZING TIME WITH THE KIDS.
THEN I ALSO ATTENDED THE FUN CCPS RALLY AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING THIS PAST MONTH.
THE OTHER MONDAY, I THINK IT WAS, I ATTENDED THE FCA BANQUET.
I ALSO DID MY VOLUNTEERING IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE.
I ALWAYS VOLUNTEER AT A KINDERGARTEN CLASS AT GILPIN MANOR AND A FIRST GRADE CLASS IN CECILTON ELEMENTARY, AND THAT IS, BESIDES SOFTBALL, THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY WEEK EVERY WEEK.
I JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE AS WELL TO JUST CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND OUR CHILDREN, AND OUR TEACHERS, AND STAFF.
>> THANK YOU. I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND.
ABOUT THE BUDGET, I ECHO 100%, MR. FERNANDO, MR. DAVIS, MS. HEATH.
I'M GOING TO HOLD MY BUDGET COMMENTS UNTIL LATER IN THE AGENDA, BUT WITH THAT SAID, I'VE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE.
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THAT.
I JUST WANT TO CELEBRATE SOME OF THE SUCCESSES OF OUR STUDENTS AND OF OUR STAFF.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THESE GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND ARE 100% ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIRELESS HARD WORK OF OUR CCPS STAFF.
OUR STAFF, GRADUATION RATES, OUR STAFF, SCHOLARSHIPS.
FOR OUR SENIORS AS MISS ROGERS MENTIONED, THEY'RE ROLLING IN RIGHT NOW.
I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE STAFF WHO'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO HELP PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS WITH THE SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A COUPLE EXAMPLES FOR YOU GUYS.
WE SAW THEM HERE LAST MONTH, AND AFTER THAT, THEY WERE NAMED THE MARYLAND FBLA 23-24 MIRIAM B. DYER CHAPTER OF THE YEAR.
THIS WAS BASED ON THEIR ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM COMMUNITY SERVICE TO LEADERSHIP AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AS WELL AS THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE NATIONAL FBLA PROGRAM.
ADDITIONALLY, 17 OUT OF THE 17 CHAPTER MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED STATES PLACED IN THE TOP EIGHT, AND SEVEN OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE COMPETING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN ORLANDO IN JUNE.
ONE OF THE BIG HIGHLIGHTS FROM THAT TOO, IS THAT THE EXPENSES FOR THAT IS $14,000.
IT'S BEING PAID FOR BY OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
DR. MCGOWAN TOLD ME TODAY, $1,000 FROM APGFCU, $3,000 FROM ODEC, THE REMAINING $10,000 FROM THE ELKTON, AMERICAN LEGION.
[APPLAUSE] KUDOS TO THAT. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
NEXT, SECONDLY, CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
THEY WELCOME ME VERY GRACIOUSLY AS THEIR PRINCIPAL FOR THE DAY.
WHEN I WAS THERE AS MISS ROGERS MENTIONED, MANY OF THEM WERE PREPARING FOR THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, THEIR TESTS FOR THE CERTIFICATES, AND A LOT OF THEM ARE TAKING THEM NOW AS WELL.
I KNOW MISS ROGERS TOOK HERS YESTERDAY.
I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT OUR CCST IS MORE THAN JUST TRADES.
[00:15:02]
WE HAVE TEACHER ACADEMY, BIOMED, CYBERSECURITY, HOMELAND SECURITY, INTERACTIVE MEDIA.I COULD GO ON AND ON AND ON, BUT THE SCHOOL JUST OFFERS SO MANY DIVERSE OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I WANT TO JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MISS BYRD, WHO IS THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR THERE TOMORROW.
CCST IS HOLDING THEIR 14TH ANNUAL.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 16TH IF IT WASN'T FOR COVID, BUT 14TH ANNUAL JOB FAIR.
IT'S TOMORROW MORNING FROM 10:00-12:15.
THERE ARE 100 EMPLOYERS AND ORGANIZATIONS SCHEDULED TO ATTEND.
THIS EVENT WAS STARTED BY MISS BYRD MANY YEARS AGO, I GUESS, 16 YEARS AGO, AND SHE'S THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT CCST.
IT'S JUST REALLY A SPECTACULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS.
I KNOW A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN OFFERED JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT THIS FAIR.
THIS IS, AGAIN, THE RESULT OF OUR STAFF, MISS BYRD AND HER TEAM, THEIR HARD WORK AND THEIR EFFORTS TO ENSURE STUDENT SUCCESS FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MANY EXAMPLES OF SUCCESS STORIES, AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS, I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF, AND EVERYONE IN OUR SYSTEM WHO MAKES THESE THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DR. LAWSON?
>> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. JUST TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THEIR ADVOCACY AS IT RELATES TO OUR FY '25 BUDGET.
MANY OF YOU IN HERE, THE SAME THING.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG DEAL FOR US MOVING FORWARD.
AS IS MY PRACTICE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, I WILL PUSH OUT SURVEYS PRETTY RANDOMLY TO TEACHERS, TO PARENTS, EVEN TO STUDENTS SOMETIMES.
IT DEPENDS REALLY THE TIME OF YEAR AND THE KIND OF INFORMATION I'M LOOKING FOR AS IT RELATES TO THE SURVEYS.
THIS MOST RECENT SURVEY, I SENT TO ALL EMPLOYEES, ALL PARENTS, REALLY, WITH A FEW CERTAIN THEMES IN MIND.
THIS, YOU CAN SEE, WAS SENT OUT TO PARENTS.
JUST UNDER 2000 PARENTS RESPONDED IN JUST A MATTER OF MAYBE 48, 72 HOURS, JUST WITH A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION, I BELIEVE THAT MY STUDENT IS SAFE WHEN THEY LEAVE HOME AND GO TO SCHOOL.
ALTHOUGH THAT IS TOUGH TO SEE, IS 86% FEEL THEY AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE WITH THAT AND 13% DISAGREE.
THROUGHOUT THE SURVEY, AND EACH OF OUR SUPPORT ASSOCIATION, OUR TEACHERS, OUR ADMINISTRATORS, EVERYBODY'S SURVEY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME COMMON THEMES.
BY AND LARGE, IT WAS AN 85/15 SURVEY, WHICH IS PLEASING FOR ME.
I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THIS KIND OF STUFF AND I REFLECT DEEPLY.
THIS IS ONE THAT YOU HEAR IN THE COMMUNITY SOMETIMES.
DIFFERENT FOLKS HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS AS IT RELATES TO THIS ISSUE, BUT 84% BELIEVE THAT THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS OF THEIR CHILDREN SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN SCHOOL.
AGAIN, THIS IS 1,800 PARENT RESPONSES.
THIS IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT POPULATION ON THIS.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO, WE BELIEVE IN, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO, BUT I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE TO KNOW ONCE IN A WHILE INTERNALLY THAT WE HAVE BY AND LARGE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, THIS WAS A PARENT QUESTION.
THE THIRD PARENT QUESTION IS, I SUPPORT THE EFFORTS CCPS IS TAKING TO IMPROVE THE LEVEL OF FUNDING RECEIVED BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AGAIN, 85% AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE WITH THAT, AND JUST OVER 15% DISAGREE.
AGAIN, ANOTHER REAL STRONG MARKER FOR US.
THE BOARD CAN ASK ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, JUST A FEW MORE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WHEN I BECAME SUPERINTENDENT IN 2018, MY THEME WAS PEOPLE FIRST, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE 2,100 EMPLOYEES, THEY ALL MATTER, EVERY ONE OF THEM, SEVERAL ARE IN THIS ROOM.
SIX YEARS INTO THAT, I LIKE TO THINK THAT THEY KNOW IT'S HEARTFELT, AND IT'S WHAT I TRY TO DO EVERY DAY.
CLEARLY, THE NUMBERS BEAR THAT OUT WITH OVER 83%.
A SUPER STRONG RESPONSE RATE, AND IT INCLUDES ALL WALKS OF LIFE, TEACHERS, SUPPORT, ADMINISTRATORS.
>> AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I TAKE PRIDE IN GOING OUT TO SCHOOLS, TALKING WITH TEACHERS, TALKING WITH PARENTS, AND YOU LISTEN.
HONESTLY, WHEN THEY TELL YOU WHAT THEIR CONCERN IS, OFTENTIMES THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT IF THERE IS A WAY I CAN HELP, I WILL, AND IF THERE'S A REASON I CAN'T HELP, I'LL EXPLAIN WHY I CAN'T.
[00:20:01]
THE NEXT ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS EDUCATING OUR STAFF REGARDING THE FINANCIAL WELLNESS.TWO OF THE MAIN PIECES OF MY JOB RESPONSIBILITY AS IT RELATES TO COMAR, WHICH IS THE CODE OF MARYLAND, ARE THAT TWO THINGS, ONE, THAT I EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE FINANCIAL WELLNESS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND TWO, I ADVOCATE FOR THE ADEQUATE FUNDING OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THEY'RE FUNDAMENTAL, AND I THINK SOMETIMES IT GETS PORTRAYED IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S A POLITICAL EFFORT. IT'S NOT.
IT'S CENTRAL TO MY JOB RESPONSIBILITY, AND I TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I CONTINUE TO PUSH THE POSITIVE MESSAGE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
YES, WE DO NEED MORE SUPPORT, AND I DON'T BACK AWAY FROM THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS FROM JUST UNDER 1,600 OF OUR EMPLOYEES, AND 97.6% AGREE OR STRONGLY AGREE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I DO ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THIS IS ALONG THE LINES, REMEMBER, THERE'S TWO PIECES OF COMAR, THIS IS THE SECOND.
THE SUPERINTENDENT ADVOCATES FOR THE ADEQUATE FUNDING OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND AGAIN, JUST OVER 97%. IT'S INTENTIONAL. I TRY.
MS. HAWLEY AND I HAVE GONE OUT TO EVERY FACULTY.
TYPICALLY, I GO OUT TO EVERY SCHOOL TWICE A YEAR FOR JUST AN OPEN Q&A.
I USUALLY HAVE SOME SLIDES, SOME THINGS I WANT TO SAY, BUT BY AND LARGE, IT'S JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TEACHERS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND ENGAGE IN WHATEVER IS RELEVANT.
WITH THAT, THAT'S JUST SOME DATA I HAD, I'D LIKE TO SHARE. THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.
FIRST, WE HAVE OUR CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MISS LORI HRINKO.
>> MR. DAVIS HAD ALREADY MENTIONED THAT IT IS A LIBRARY ON MEDIA AND EVEN THOUGH THOSE FOLKS WERE RECOGNIZED LAST MONTH, I FELT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO BRING THAT FORWARD AGAIN.
OUR MEDIA SPONSORS ARE A REALLY INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL.
THEY WORK WITH ALL CURRICULAR AND SUPPORT ALL THE TEACHERS AND ALL THE STUDENTS IN THE BUILDING; NOT JUST THE CRITICAL THINKING BUT WITH RESEARCH WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY.
IT'S ALSO OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH AND OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS WORK AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED HELP WITH THEIR DAILY FUNCTIONAL SKILLS AND SOME OF THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS.
IF YOU THINK OF STUDENTS THAT MAYBE STRUGGLE WITH MUSCULAR ISSUES OR THINGS AND THEY'RE REQUIRED TO WRITE OR TO TYPE DIFFERENT THINGS.
OUR PTS AND OUR OTS ARE REALLY PHENOMENAL HELPING SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH THEIR DAILY SKILLS AND THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS.
IT'S ALSO COMING UP AS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK; OUR SECRETARIES, OUR BOOK KEEPERS, OUR CLERKS.
WHEN YOU BECOME A TEACHER; WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH COLLEGE, THEY TELL YOU TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH TWO PEOPLE FOR SURE: YOUR SECRETARIES AND YOUR CUSTODIANS AND THEY ARE NOT WRONG.
OUR SECRETARIES REALLY KEEP OUR BUILDINGS RUNNING, THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY JUGGLE ALL THE THINGS, THEY SUPPORT OUR ADMINISTRATION, THEY SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS, THEY SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND FAMILIES AND SO WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.
ALSO WE'RE GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.
WE SEE THE WORK THAT YOU DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THE HEART THAT YOU PUT INTO EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THAT PASSION AND DEDICATION THAT'S NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THAT YOU TAKE HOME WITH YOU AT NIGHT, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GIVING OF YOURSELF AND JUST DOING IT WHEN IT'S HARD.
YOU COME BACK DAY AFTER DAY AND EVERY DAY IS A FRESH START FOR OUR STUDENTS SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AS A TEACHER, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE LUNCHEONS AND THE SWEET LITTLE TREATS AND THINGS.
BUT I NEED TO TELL YOU THAT FOR TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK THIS YEAR, WE REALLY NEED YOU TO STAND UP WITH US TO STAND UP FOR US AND SAY THAT WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT AND THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE RESPECTED AND VALUED AS DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
WE NEED YOU TO STAND WITH US AS WE NAVIGATE THESE CHALLENGING TIMES WHEN DIVISION AND NEGATIVITY THREATEN THE GOOD WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY.
WE NEED OUR COMMUNITY TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT OUR KIDS AND THEIR EDUCATION IS TOO IMPORTANT TO LET THIS SLIDE.
WE NEED THE STAFF AND RESOURCES TO HELP EACH CHILD LEARN TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND FRANKLY, WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR.
WE NEED ELECTED LEADERS THAT VALUE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS THAT SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES EACH DAY NOT JUST WITH LIP SERVICE AND TALKING POINTS, BUT WITH FUNDING THAT WILL SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS' NEEDS.
[00:25:01]
THE LIES AND FALSE ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT OUT ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR TEACHERS ARE DISGUSTING AND IT SHOULD BE BENEATH ANYONE DEDICATED TO SERVING ALL OF THE CITIZENS IN CECIL COUNTY.SOME OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE BLAMING US ON ONE HAND FOR ALL THE ILLS OF THE WORLD AND THEN TAKING CREDIT FOR WHAT WE DO AND IT'S WRONG.
OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN POINT.
IF EDUCATION WERE TRULY A PRIORITY, THEN OUR ELECTED LEADERS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THESE THINGS WITH US AND SHARING THEIR CONCERNS LONG BEFORE ELECTION SEASON BUT WE DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEM BEFORE THEN.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY AND THIS YEAR AT THE BALLOT BOX WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON CECIL COUNTY AND OUR SCHOOLS, LONG AFTER THE CAMPAIGN ADS AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ARE GONE.
PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR THE CANDIDATES THAT WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF ALL OF CECIL COUNTY AND ITS CITIZENS.
YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED TO VOTE FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION.
IT IS TOO IMPORTANT TO SIT THIS OUT.
THE CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICE LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE, MR. SCOTT HECKERT.
>> BEFORE I BEGIN, THANK YOU LORI.
AS A HUSBAND OF AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
GOOD EVENING DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO REPRESENT THE CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICES LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION.
I STAND HERE TONIGHT A VERY FRUSTRATED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY AFTER HEARING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED HER PLANS FOR THE 2025 BUDGET.
FIRST OF ALL, AS A PARENT OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT WHO ARE BOTH GETTING AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION AND EXCELLING IN THEIR STUDIES, I AM FRUSTRATED THAT THEIR EDUCATION EXPERIENCE IS GOING TO CHANGE.
BUT I'M ALSO EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY AS A DISTRICT LEADER HERE AT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AS THE PRESIDENT OF MY GROUP, I REPRESENT SUPPORT SERVICES, LEADERS, AND SUPERVISORS.
THESE FOLKS ARE OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, TRANSPORTATION, BUSINESS SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, AND FOOD NUTRITION SUPERVISORS.
THESE ARE ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE GREAT STEWARDS OF OUR BUDGET.
FOR OUR SO-CALLED COUNTY LEADERS TO SAY OUR MONEY HAS BEEN MISSPENT OR MISHANDLED IS A GREAT OFFENSE TO THE MEMBERS OF MY GROUP AND MYSELF.
WE ARE CURRENTLY STARING AT A $44 MILLION DEFERRED MAINTENANCE TAB.
WITH MANY AGING BUILDINGS, THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE THEM OPERATIONAL AND SAFE FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WE ARE ALSO LIVING IN A TIME WHERE CYBERSECURITY IS PARAMOUNT AND IT'S ALSO EXPENSIVE.
TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE RISING.
CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL IS A SYSTEM THAT EDUCATES 15,000 STUDENTS IN 29 BUILDINGS.
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS ISN'T CHEAP.
BUT WE IN THE COST GROUP, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEE GROUPS WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DO SO WITH CARE CONCERN, AND RESPONSIBILITY.
WE HOLD OURSELVES TO A STANDARD OF HONESTY AND TRANSPARENCY.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME IN THIS COUNTY INCLUDING OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHO CONTINUOUSLY TELL LIES ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR SYSTEM.
WE EVEN HAVE AN ELECTED MEMBER OF OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, HAS NOT BEEN PRESENT AND HAS VOTED NO TO APPROVING THE SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET.
AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND A LEADER HERE AT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WANT TO ASK EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S GOING ON AND UNDERSTAND THAT ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
THE CECIL COUNTY PRIMARY IS ON MAY 14TH.
PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF AND PLEASE GO OUT AND VOTE.
AS THE BOARD CAN SEE, MS. JEN SHAW, OUR PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER HAS CREATED A REPORT FOR YOUR VIEWING.
>> THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT.
DR. BOYER IS NOT WITH US THIS EVENING, BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.
[00:30:01]
BOTH THE RISING SUN ELEMENTARY IN CONOWINGO, SAFE AND SECURE ENTRANCES ARE COMPLETED.THE NORTH EAST MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT, THERE'S A BIG DAY COMING THIS FRIDAY, THERE WILL BE UP TO 19 DIFFERENT BIDS OPEN FOR THE DIFFERENT PIECES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT SCHOOL, SO THAT PROJECT IS PROCEEDING AS IS THE PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE.
WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE ON ALL THOSE PROJECTS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS EITHER MYSELF OR DR. BUCKLEY CAN ANSWER.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, SUPERDOJO. DR. LAWSON.
[LAUGHTER] TO START, I'D LIKE TO ASK JOSH HAYHURST TO COME UP AND STAND WITH BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY IN FRONT OF OUR SNAZZY BACKGROUND OVER THERE.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW JOSH, HE IS AN ABSOLUTE BUNDLE OF ENERGY. HE'S A KID.
I'M NOT SURE HOW OLD HE IS, BUT HE'S CERTAINLY YOUNGER THAN ME.
[LAUGHTER] JUST A QUICK THING TO READ HERE.
WE WELCOME AND INTRODUCE JOSH OWNER OF SUPERDOJO.
ONE OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN PRIORITIES FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TO CREATE A SUPPORT NETWORK THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND JOSH EMBODIES THAT.
HE IS AN OFFICER FOR BEPAC, WHICH IS OUR BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP GROUP.
I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE IS A PRESENCE IN OUR SCHOOLS, A POSITIVE PRESENCE, CONSISTENTLY POSITIVE.
JUST ONE OF THESE GUYS YOU SEE ON YOUTUBE, JUST WAITING FOR HIM TO SHOW UP IN A BAD MOOD ONE DAY.
[LAUGHTER] THE NEAT THING ABOUT JOSH IS WHAT HE'S DONE TODAY IS HE'S BROUGHT STUDENTS WITH HIM.
I WANT TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY AND CALL EACH OF YOU UP TO JOIN MS. HAWLEY AND MR. HAYHURST UPFRONT.
I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST ON YOUR NAMES, AND I'M PRETTY SURE I HAVE YOUR SCHOOL.
WE HAVE ABBY HILLMAN FROM NORTH EAST MIDDLE, CORRECT? STAND UP.
[LAUGHTER] WE ALSO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] FROM NORTH EAST MIDDLE.
[APPLAUSE] WE HAVE SERENA MARGIE [APPLAUSE] AND WE HAVE RYAN YOUNG FROM NORTH EAST MIDDLE AS WELL.
[APPLAUSE] FROM KENMORE ELEMENTARY, WE HAVE JAMES [INAUDIBLE].
FROM THOMPSON, [INAUDIBLE] JOHNSON.
[APPLAUSE] FROM CHERRY HILL MIDDLE, ANGEL GARCIA MEDINA.
[APPLAUSE] AGAIN, JOSH, PUBLICLY, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
HEY, I'M OVER HERE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
WHO WANTS TO HOLD IT? [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND].
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [BACKGROUND].
>> EVERYONE OF YOU, NICE FIRM HANDSHAKES.
>> THAT WAS FINE. IT IS TRUE, I DID BREAK A BOARD INTO THREE PIECES, GUYS.
>> SHE'S MOVING OVER AND OVER.
>> THERE'S A VIDEO, IS THERE NOT?
>> THERE IS. I'LL SEND IT TO YOU SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M LIKE MR. FERDINANDO TALKING ABOUT SOFTBALL.
>> MAYBE YOU COULD SHOW IT AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
>> THERE WE GO. NEXT, WE HAVE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MONTH RESOLUTION. DR. LAWSON.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK
[00:35:01]
DR. BECKY MILLER TO COME FORWARD [APPLAUSE] TO SHARE THE ATTACHED RESOLUTION.>> CONGRATULATIONS, DR. MILLER.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS, AND GUESTS.
OT IS SUCH AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OUR STUDENT'S DAY-TO-DAY, JUST EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO.
ALL OF OUR STUDENTS ARE HAVING TO MANEUVER OUR BUILDINGS, THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO WRITE, THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO TYPE, AND MS. RINCO, UNFORTUNATELY, STOLE A LOT OF MY COMMENTS, SO I HAVE TO REPHRASE ON THE SLIDE HERE.
I WANT TO JUST ASK NICOLE OSGOOD TO COME FORWARD.
SHE IS ONE OF OUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND AN INTEGRAL PART OF ALL OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAMS IN SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ACCESSING THE GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MONTH.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, ADVANCING HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
WHEREAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS WORK TIRELESSLY TO EMPOWER THE CHILDREN OF CECIL COUNTY FROM BIRTH THROUGH GRADUATION TO ACHIEVE THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL GOALS, AND WHEREAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS EMPOWER CHILDREN TO USE CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING TO FUNCTION AT THEIR HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL, AND WHEREAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS EMPOWER CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES THAT ARE MEANINGFUL AND PURPOSEFUL.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2024 AS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MONTH IN ALL OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRESENTED THIS 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2024, SIGNED BY DIANA B. HAWLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DR. JEFFREY LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MONTH AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> WE'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
CONGRATULATIONS. WE PREMATURELY [INAUDIBLE] .
[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND].
NEXT UP IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS' WEEK, DR. LAWSON.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, DR. BUCKLEY, OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WILL READ THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING APRIL 21ST THROUGH THE 27TH AS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS' WEEK, DR. BUCKLEY.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I'M SORRY, MS. HAWLEY, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.
>> JUST BECAUSE YOU BROKE THE BOARD DOESN'T MEAN YOU GET A DOCTOR FOR BREAKING THE BOARD.
>> PRESIDENT HAWLEY, EXCUSE ME.
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS' WEEK, AND REAL QUICK I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT MENTION CAROL LOVELACE, PAT ZUZAOS, LOIS KIRK, WENDY BRYANT, CAROLE ENGLAND, KATHY OLSON, KATHY THOMAS.
THOSE ARE THE SEVEN WOMEN IN MY 34 YEAR CAREER WHO HAVE BEEN LEAD SECRETARIES WHERE I HAVE WORKED, AND THEY WERE ALL EXCEPTIONAL AS ARE THE FIVE I'M ABOUT TO CALL THIS EVENING.
WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE FORWARD, MS. MARGARET BROWN, OUR ASSISTANT IN HUMAN RESOURCES FOR OFFICE PROFESSIONALS.
MS. KATINA DENNIS, LEAD SECRETARY, KENMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MS. AMY DILL, GUIDANCE SECRETARY AT CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, MS. CHRISTINA DOYLE, LEAD SECRETARY AT HOLLY HALL, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MS. SUSAN THOMPSON, ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY AT HUMAN RESOURCES, EXCUSE ME, AND ONE OF THE NAMES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, MS. KATHY THOMAS, OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AND EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
SURPRISE, MS. THOMAS [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] CECIL'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESOLUTION, NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK ICARE, APRIL 21 TO 27, 2024.
WHEREAS GUIDED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SECRETARIES, BOOKKEEPERS, CLERKS,
[00:40:03]
GENERALISTS AND OFFICE ASSISTANTS PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS AND CENTRAL OFFICE, AND WHEREAS THE WORK OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS TODAY REQUIRES EXPERTISE IN VITAL OFFICE MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS IN ORDER TO REMAIN THE STEADY CENTER OF OFFICE EFFICIENCY, AND WHEREAS THE ICARE CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS EXPRESS THE COMMITMENT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SUPPORT STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND ALL STAKEHOLDERS, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 21 THROUGH 27, 2024 AS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK, SALUTING THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS MAKE TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORTS CONTINUED TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT PERSONNEL, RECOGNIZING THAT A WELL TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.PRESENTED THIS 10TH DAY OF APRIL 2024 AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT DIANA.
A. LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU, DR. BUCKLEY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS WEEK AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> PER THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A MOTION?
>> SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
CONGRATULATIONS. NOW YOU CAN CLAP.
>> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, LANEY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THAT'S IT. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, DR. LAWSON.
>> DR. HAMMER, OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION SERVICES, WILL SHARE THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING MAY 6-MAY 10 AS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, DR. HAMMER.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING.
I WISH I COULD NAME ALL OF THE TEACHERS THAT HAVE IMPACTED ME OR HAVE IMPACTED YOU, BUT I WOULD LIKE YOU AT THIS MOMENT TO THINK OF THAT ONE TEACHER, ONE, THAT HAS IMPACTED YOU IN YOUR LIFE IN SOME WAY.
JUST PUT THEM IN YOUR MIND, SEE THEIR FACE, THINK ABOUT THEIR NAME, AND GIVE THEM A MOMENT.
AT THIS TIME, I HAVE THREE VERY SPECIAL FOLKS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BRING FORWARD.
MS. LAURIE RINCO TEACHER AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND PRESIDENT OF THE CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
ALSO MS. JENNIFER BERKELEY, JUDY CENTER INSTRUCTIONAL COACH, AND MS. JORDAN SEGUIN, TEACHER AT BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, THANK A TEACHER HASHTAG.
MAY 6 THROUGH 10, 2024, WHEREAS OUR TEACHERS WORK TO OPEN STUDENTS' MINDS TO THE MAGIC OF IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, AND DREAMS, AND WHEREAS OUR TEACHERS KEEP AMERICA DEMOCRACY ALIVE BY LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP, AND WHEREAS ALL OF OUR CCPS TEACHERS SERVE AS LISTENERS, ROLE MODELS, SUPPORTERS, MOTIVATORS, MENTORS, AND CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE LONG AFTER OUR SCHOOL DAYS ARE ONLY MEMORIES, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 6 THROUGH 10TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND URGES THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO OBSERVE THIS WEEK BY TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF TEACHERS ON OUR LIVES.
PRESENTED THIS TENTH DAY OF APRIL 2024, SIGNED DIANA.
[00:45:03]
B. HAWLEY BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT AND JEFFREY A LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.>> THANK YOU, DR. HAMMER. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION, NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>>YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES. CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
>> THANK YOU. I'M COMING FOR YOU.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS PROLONGED CLOSURE PLAN FOR 2024, 2026. DR. LAWSON.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HOLY. FOR THE BOARD'S AWARENESS.
WE ARE NOW REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A PLANE IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A CATASTROPHE CRISIS OF SOME SORT, NOT UNLIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH COVID, WHERE WE ARE REQUIRED TO SHUT DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
DR. HAMMER AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF PUTTING THIS DOCUMENT TOGETHER.
KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WILL COME TO YOU ON MAY EIGHTH AND ASK FOR A VOTE.
DR. HAMMER WILL LAY OUT REALLY WHAT'S BEHIND IT, AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LEISURE AND REACH OUT WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU, DR. LAWSON. YOU'RE AWARE IN THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SENATE BILL 6:10 WAS PASSED.
THAT SENATE BILL REQUIRES THAT SCHOOL ON OR BEFORE JUNE FIRST OF 2024, WHICH IS TICK TALKING AROUND THE CORNER, THE A COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SHOULD ADOPT A FULLY VIRTUAL EDUCATION PLAN FOR US DURING A PROLONGED STATE OF EMERGENCY.
IT'S IN THE ANNOTATIVE CODE AND A PROLONGED STATE OF EMERGENCY IS DEFINED, IT WILL BE DECLARED BY THE GOVERNOR AND IT'S UNDER TITLE 14 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE IS WHERE IT WOULD APPEAR.
ESSENTIALLY, THE WAY IT IS DEFINED THAT IF IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE IS NOT ABLE TO HAPPEN AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR AT LEAST 14 CONSECUTIVE SCHOOL DAYS.
IT'S TAKING ME BACK ABOUT THREE YEARS AND A MONTH AGO.
WHERE WE ALL HAD A FULL BODY CHILL THAT WE HAD SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS.
THIS LAW THAT IS IN PLACE BASICALLY ALLOWS US AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION TO HAVE THIS PLAN READY TO GO, SHOULD WE HAVE TO CLOSE EITHER A SCHOOL OR THE WHOLE DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 14 DAYS.
THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND IN THIS LAW, THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS, STAFFING AND PERSONNEL ASSIGNMENTS, STUDENT INSTRUCTION, STUDENT ASSESSMENT AND LEARNING SUPPORT, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION, TECHNOLOGY, NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, AND FINALLY, A RETURN TO IN PERSON INSTRUCTION, ARE ALL COMPONENTS THAT HAVE TO BE A PART OF THIS PLAN.
OUR TEAM DUSTED OFF THE OLD COVID PLAN AND ALSO USE SOME OF THE STRATEGIES WE HAVE USED DURING OUR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE PAST YEAR TO BUILD THIS PLAN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE EXPECTATIONS FROM MSDE AND THE LAW.
OUR GOAL, LIKE DR. LAWSON SAID IS THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS, PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU MAY HAVE OUR WAY, AND WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS SO THAT WE HAVE A FINAL FORM OF THIS PLAN BY OUR MAY MEETING SO THAT WE CAN THEN SUBMIT TO MSDE AND BE READY TO GO IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW.
IF THE BOARD DOES HAVE FEEDBACK, DO YOU WANT US TO GO DIRECTLY TOO?
>> CERTAINLY, I CAN EMAIL DR. HAMMER MYSELF. YEAH.
>> PERFECT. WE WILL BE VOTING IN MAY. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NEXT, WE HAVE OUR FY 25 BUDGET UPDATE, DR. LAWSON.
>> THIS IS TO BRIEF THE BOARD AND CERTAINLY THE COMMUNITY ON WHERE WE STAND AS WE PREPARE FOR FY25.
WE'VE OBVIOUSLY MADE IT CLEAR FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS THAT WE WOULD NEED $17 MILLION IN NEW FUNDING TO CARRY THIS YEAR'S SERVICES INTO NEXT YEAR, SAME NUMBER OF TEACHERS, SAME NUMBER OF SUPPORT FOLKS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SO ON.
[00:50:02]
UPON RELEASE OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES BUDGET, WE RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL $4 MILLION ABOVE LOCAL SHARE.NOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL BE FACED WITH CLOSING A $13 MILLION GAP.
I THINK DR. BUCKLEY AND DR. HAMMER ARE HERE TO BRIEF YOU ON SOME OF THE THOUGHTS BEHIND THAT AND THEN CERTAINLY ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL WOULD HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. PRESIDENT HALL, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM GUEST.
THIS EVENING, WE JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE'RE AT FOR THE FY 25 BUDGET AS DR. LAWSON HAD INDICATED.
WE HAVE ONE SLIDE THAT WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AGAIN ON JANUARY 24.
WE CAME OUT OF THAT BUDGET MEETING WITH THE DIRECTION TO INCLUDE $17,114,026 ABOVE THE LOCAL SHARE AND THAT THOSE DOLLARS WERE SIMPLY TO TAKE FY 24 AND REPLICATE THAT INTO FY 25.
YOU CAN SEE A BREAKDOWN THERE OF THE 14.4 AND CHANGE THAT WAS RELATED SPECIFICALLY TO POSITIONS AND THE BREAKDOWN.
WE HAD A BREAKDOWN OF TEACHERS ADMINISTRATORS, SUPPORT STAFF AND COSLA AS WELL, AND THEN 2.6 MILLION IN PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, AND YOU CAN SEE ATHLETICS, FINE ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND SUCH.
PROFESSIONAL AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IN THE DIVISION OF EDUCATION SERVICES.
APRIL FIRST, COUNTY EXECUTIVE PROVIDED HER BUDGET.
IT IS 4 MILLION OVER THE LOCAL SHARE.
SUBSEQUENTLY, THAT LEAVES US WITH A $13.1 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT FROM BUDGET-TO-BUDGET IN TERMS OF TAKING FY 24 AS WE WERE DIRECTED ON JANUARY 24TH, AND MOVE THAT INTO FY 25, WE ARE 13.1 MILLION SHY OF THAT TARGET NUMBER AT THIS TIME.
WE WILL BE WORKING OVER THE SUBSEQUENT MONTH AND A HALF OR SO, TO BRING TO YOU A PLAN TO REFLECT WHERE THOSE CUTS, WHERE THOSE POSITIONS, WHERE THOSE PROGRAMS ARE GOING TO COME FROM, KNOWING THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL ON, I BELIEVE IT IS JUNE FOURTH, WILL HAVE THEIR FINAL BUDGET SAY, AND SO DEPENDING UPON WHAT COMES OUT OF THE JUNE FOURTH MEETING, WE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE TO MAKE ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THIS NUMBER AND TO THE CUTS THAT YOU SEE THERE.
BUT AS IT STANDS TODAY RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 13.1 MILLION.
ON THE JUNE 12TH BOARD MEETING, WE WOULD BE COMING BACK TO YOU WITH A PLAN THAT WOULD REFLECT 13.1 MILLION LESS OF OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 25.
>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, DIALOGUE THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO HAVE?
>> IF YOU GO BACK TO A BOARD MEETING THAT WAS AT THE COUNTY OFFICE ON APRIL 27TH, 2021, AN HOUR 37 MINUTES INTO IT.
DR. LAWSON HAD SAID THAT HE WAS ABLE TO SAY, CCPS WAS ABLE TO SAVE $8 MILLION BECAUSE OF COVID.
BECAUSE OF MONEY THAT YOU DIDN'T SPEND DURING COVID.
THEN YOU SAID IN THAT MEETING THAT THAT $8 MILLION WOULD BE PUT AWAY FOR 2025.
>> THAT'S NOT TRUE. I THOUGHT THIS MIGHT COME UP.
>> THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THE COUNSEL TAKEN BY MS. OLSON AND WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU JUST SAID THERE ARE PIECES OF WHAT WAS SAID.
THE FIRST PARAGRAPH THAT HAPPENED OR THE FIRST STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE AT THE ONE HOUR, 34 MINUTE MARK IS MADE.
NOW, MIND YOU, THIS IS APRIL OF 21.
WE WERE IN THE HEELS OF COVID.
THIS IS WHERE I SAY TO COUNSEL THAT I WAS ON A CALL WITH THE ADMINISTRATORS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN DECEMBER SAYING THAT WE WERE PLANNING TO REDUCE 175 POSITIONS GOING INTO '22.
AT THE 1308 MARK, THIS IS WHERE I MENTIONED THE $8 MILLION THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE DURING THE YEAR WE WERE SHUT DOWN.
BUT IF YOU SEE THERE, THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TO BE SAVED FOR FY 25.
THAT MONEY HELPED US GET THROUGH FY 22, FY 23, AND FY 24.
IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE ONE HOUR AND 43 MINUTE MARK, IT SAYS, AS WELL AS FOR THE FUTURE, MY CONCERN IS NOT SO MUCH FY 22, 3, AND 4 BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL MONEY IS OUT THERE.
THEN I GO ON TO SAY, I'M MORE WORRIED NOW ABOUT FY 25, 6 AND 7.
THAT MESSAGE, MS. DIXON, I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IN DEFENSE.
>> WELL, THE TRANSCRIPT [INAUDIBLE] .
>> I HEAR YOU. YEAH. I'LL LISTEN TO IT AGAIN WHEN I SEE THE TRANSCRIPT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SHOWING IT TO ME.
I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING IS WE SEE THINGS BEING TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT AND ONLY PARTS OF DIALOGUE THAT HAPPENED ARE PUT OUT THERE IN PUBLIC.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THAT AND WE WENT BACK AND TOOK A LOOK AT IT.
>> LISTEN TO IT AND THEN HERE'S THE TRANSCRIPT.
>> YEAH. ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS SAID IN 2021 VERSUS WHERE WE ARE NOW.
[00:55:02]
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE TRANSCRIPT.BUT NO MATTER WHAT, WHETHER YOU KNOW THAT $8 MILLION GOT US THROUGH, WE KNOW WHAT MONEY WE HAVE NOW AND WE KNOW WHAT MONEY WE NEED.
THERE IS A $13 MILLION DEFICIT.
UNLESS SOMEONE THINKS THAT ONE OF US IS POCKETING THE MONEY, THEN THEN IT'S NOT THERE.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU, WE GET AUDITED.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE ALL THE MONEY HAS BEEN AND WHERE IT'S BEEN SPENT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DR. LAWSON SAID IN 2021, OR WHAT WE SAID, WHATEVER SOMEONE MAY THINK, WE'RE $13 MILLION SHORT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE CUTS.
>> EVERYTHING WAS LAID OUT IN THE LINE-BY-LINE BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHERE THE MISCOMMUNICATION IS OR WHERE THE MONEY THAT THEY THINK IS MISSING IS, IT'S ALL LAID OUT RIGHT THERE.
>> I WOULD ADD IN THAT WINDOW OF TIME, WE'VE HAD SOME EXTREME INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT HAVE IMPACTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS UPTICKS IN THE COST OF SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, HEALTH CARE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
THE INFLATIONARY IMPACT THAT THAT HAS HAD ON OUR SYSTEM AS WELL HAS COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM.
AS INDICATED, THIS IS WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY, SO THAT AS WE MOVE INTO THE JUNE BOARD MEETING, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THAT 13.1 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, THAT SHORTFALL THAT WE KNOW EXIST TO REPLICATE THIS YEAR INTO NEXT YEAR AND MAKING DECISIONS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'M SORRY. I THINK MR. DAVIS.
>> DO YOU WANT TO RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WELL, NO, I JUST WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE GOT TO THIS SITUATION, IT DROPPED OUT OF THE SKY.
DR. LAWSON HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS.
THE RED LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING ON THE DASHBOARD FOR A WHILE.
WE KNEW THE EXTRA MONEY WOULD BE LEAVING, AND WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND LOCAL SHARES SO I'M JUST SURPRISED THAT ALL OF A SUDDEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE ABOUT LINE BY LINE WHEN THIS HAS BEEN FORECAST FOR QUITE A WHILE.
I JUST THINK IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE HAD OUR SPECIAL WORK SESSION AND WE ALL WENT THROUGH THE ITEMIZED BUDGET.
MS. HOPE IS NOT HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO THANK HER AGAIN FOR PUTTING ALL OF THAT TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYTHING GOT TO THE COUNTY THAT NEEDED TO BE THERE.
BUT WE WENT THROUGH IT LINE BY LINE.
WE'VE LOOKED, YOU LOOKED, I LOOKED, WE ALL DID.
WHERE CAN WE FIND $13 MILLION? HOW HOW CAN WE SAVE THIS BUDGET WITHOUT CUTTING PEOPLE, WITHOUT CUTTING PROGRAMS? IT'S NOT THERE.
WE CAN'T FIND IT UNLESS ANYBODY HAS SOME MONUMENTAL.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT WE NEED $13 MILLION.
>> WILL WE BE ABLE TO USE ANY OF OUR FUND BALANCE TOWARDS IT?
>> THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON.
WE PUT 2 MILLION IN LAST TIME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO COVER.
WE USED 2 MILLION OF OUR FUND BALANCE LAST TIME.
WE CAN ONLY DO THAT FOR SO LONG.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION AS WELL.
>> USING FUND BALANCE FOR RECURRING COSTS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, PERIOD.
>> IT WOULD NOT BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AS WELL, IT JUST WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE ON OUR PART.
>> WELL, AND YOU HEARD SOMEONE EARLIER, I THINK IT WAS MR. HECKERT SAY THAT WE ALSO HAVE 40 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, CORRECT? THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN USING OUR FUND BALANCE FOR COVERING SMALL CAP ITEMS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FUNDED BY THE COUNTY.
FRANKLY, THESE ARE COUNTY BUILDINGS.
WE HAVE 31 BUILDINGS THAT ARE AGING QUICKLY AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEEDS IN THESE BUILDINGS.
IF AN HVAC SYSTEM GOES, THAT COMES OUT OF FUND BALANCE.
WE HAVE $7 MILLION AT LEAST THAT GOES OUT THE DOOR EVERY TWO WEEKS.
WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CUSHION TO PAY OUR PEOPLE IN CASE WE NEED IT.
>> I'M SORRY, HAWLEY. I THINK A GOOD EXAMPLE IS JUST TODAY, THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGIES AIR CONDITIONING UNIT DIDN'T FIRE UP.
NOW WE KNOW THAT'S A PROJECT THAT WE'VE GOT ON THE BOOKS, IT'S PAID FOR, BUT THE UNIT TO BE DELIVERED IS 25 WEEKS OUT.
THEN ONCE THESE AIR CONDITIONERS ACROSS THE COUNTY START GOING UP, THAT'S WHEN BIG TICKET ITEMS START POPPING UP.
SO YES, THERE IS A $6 MILLION FUND BALANCE AND YES, ON MAY 8TH, WE WILL BRING YOU MORE DETAIL IN TERMS OF RECOMMENDATION.
BUT ULTIMATELY, AS MS. HAWLEY MENTIONED, IT'S A BOARD FUNCTION TO DESIGNATE FUND BALANCE.
>> BUT WE CAN GO TO THE COUNTY FOR SOME OF THE SMALL CAP THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, LIKE THE HVAC AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
>> SHE PROVIDED THAT IN HER BUDGET.
>> SHE PROVIDED THAT IN HER BUDGET.
>> SHE PROVIDED, I THINK, A LITTLE OVER 3 MILLION OUT OF OUR REQUESTED SIX.
[01:00:03]
>> I GUESS FROM ME AND A LITTLE BIT PERSONAL JUST IN THE SENSE THAT IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMETIMES MY INTEGRITY GETS CALLED INTO QUESTION, THIS RIGHT HERE LAYS OUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS SAID, AND IT LAYS OUT THE TIME IT WAS SAID.
IF YOU WANT TO GRAB A PHRASE FROM THE 1 HOUR AND 34 MINUTE MARK AND THEN A PHRASE FROM 1 HOUR, 38 AND A 1 HOUR, 43 AND PUSH THEM TOGETHER TO MAKE A POINT, YOU CAN, BUT THAT'S NOT WHEN IT WAS SAID.
I CLEARLY SAY THERE ON APRIL OF 2021, THAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT FY 25.
I DON'T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL AND NONE OF MY FINANCIAL FORECASTING IS ACCURATE ALL THE TIME, BUT I HAVE A HANDLE ON AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FINANCIALLY, AND WE KNEW THIS WAS COMING.
THEN WHEN WE GOT TO CONTINUOUS YEARS OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IN '22, '23, '24, IT JUST MAKES '25 THAT MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN AND WE'RE SEEING IT NOW.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT'S FRUSTRATING.
MR. FERNANDO, YOU HAVE SOMETHING.
>> SURE. JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MS. HEATH SAID.
WE MET FOR WHAT HOURS, FIVE, 4 HOURS, 5 HOURS THAT DAY.
ALL OF US COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING MEANINGFUL TO CUT.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ALL THOSE DETAILS, THE COUNTY COUNCIL HAS ALL THOSE DETAILS.
IT'S ALL BEEN PUBLISHED, AND THE OPPOSITION STILL DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO RECOMMEND.
WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING.
DURING OUR LAST MEETING, I ASKED FOR DETAILS FROM MS. DIXON AND SHE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW." THAT'S WHAT WE HEAR. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE 13 MILLION, FIND SOMETHING.
HERE IT IS, LOOK AT IT, I DON'T KNOW JUST DO SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHAT WE JUST KEEP HEARING FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE, OUR COUNTY COUNCIL, PEOPLE THAT ARE IN POSITIONS OF POWER THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE BUDGET BECAUSE THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE EMPTY.
IT JUST KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
TRYING TO FIND $13 MILLION DEFICIT, IT'S GOING TO BE 80% PEOPLE.
WE'VE SAID THAT FROM THE BEGINNING, 80 SOMETHING PERCENT ARE SALARIES AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY AROUND THAT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WITH BOOTH STREET, WHICH KEEPS BEING BROAD BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A TINY DENT IN THIS DEFICIT.
SO IT'S JUST A LOT OF NONSENSE AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
THAT'S WHY I SAY WE NEED TO GET OUT AND TALK TO OUR FRIENDS, FAMILIES, NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY HEAR PARTIAL SOUND BITES FRAMED A CERTAIN WAY THAT HIT THE SOCIAL MEDIA IN A CERTAIN WAY OR A POSTCARD AND THEY GO OFF OF SOMETHING WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING INTO IT.
I UNDERSTAND BEFORE I GOT INTO THIS ROLE, I HAD SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS BECAUSE I SAW THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND I DIDN'T KNOW THE TRUTH.
THEN WHEN I GOT INTO THE ROLE, A LOT MORE WAS AVAILABLE TO ME AND THE SAME PEOPLE COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND GET TO KNOW THIS STUFF.
WE NEED MORE, AND WE NEED YOU GUYS TO HELP US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN EDUCATE EVERYBODY THAT YOU SEE.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, MR. FERNANDO.
THERE IS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE, AND IT'S FRUSTRATING.
WE HAVE YET TO HEAR A VIABLE SOLUTION.
THAT'S FRUSTRATING. WE SUBMITTED A 500 PLUS PAGE BUDGET.
HOW MANY QUESTIONS? ZERO QUESTIONS.
I DO HAVE I GUESS, A COMMENT AND A QUESTION.
WE LOOKED AT THE BUDGET REPORT, AND THERE WERE ALSO SOME ERRORS IN THAT THAT THE CFO MENTIONED.
OUR CFO, DENISE SOPA HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY, WELL, EMAIL, I THINK.
THE FIRST IS THERE WERE WRONG SCHOOLS THAT WERE INACCURATELY LISTED FOR OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY PROJECTS.
THE COUNTY CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE REVISING THE DESCRIPTIONS IN THE APPROVED VERSION OF THE BUDGET.
THE SECOND THING IS A LOT MORE CONCERNING BECAUSE THE FY 25 BUDGET PROPOSAL SAYS THAT IT IS A $115.9 MILLION FOR CCPS.
BUT THEN THE NARRATIVE SAYS THAT IT'S 120.3 MILLION.
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL, THERE'S ABOUT $4.3, $4.5 MILLION IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT SEEMS TO BE MISSING FROM CCPS.
MS. SOPA ASKED THE COUNTY ABOUT IT AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD BE USING THE MONEY TO REPLENISH THE COMMITTED FUND, WHICH IS THE LOCKBOX.
MS. SOPA THEN POINTED OUT TO THEM THAT A PLAN TO REPLENISH THE LOCK BOX AT THE END OF FY 24, IS NOT PART OF FY 25 BUDGET FOR CCPS FUNDING.
[01:05:01]
SO THAT WOULD MAKE THE NARRATIVE OF $120.3 MILLION.ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? I'M SORRY, THAT'S AN INCORRECT NARRATIVE.
I KNOW MS. SOPA WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE.
DO YOU KNOW DR. LAWSON IF SHE'S RECEIVED ONE? THAT WAS LAST WEEK.
>> AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, WE'VE NOT HEARD BACK.
>> I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
>> AGAIN, OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE TO COME AT THE MAY 8TH BOARD MEETING.
>> NEXT WE HAVE OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET UPDATE.
>> FOR THE RECORD, I AM NOT MS. SOPA.
>> SHE DOES ALL THESE AND SHE'S PROBABLY HOME WATCHING THIS.
SHE'S UNDER THE WEATHER. NOW I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST.
THE BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNTY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS SHOWS INCOMING REVENUE THAT WE GET ALONG THE WAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT EXPENDITURES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BALANCE THE BOOKS.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO WALK YOU THROUGH THIS IN A FORMER MATH TEACHER KIND OF WAY.
WE'LL START RIGHT THERE WITH THE $58,000 AND OTHER REVENUE THAT CAME IN.
THAT $58,000 CAN BE FOUND AS A COMBINATION OF THIS 57,000 WHICH CAME FROM A SERIES OF DIFFERENT GRANTS.
AT THE PAST BOARD MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WELLNESS PROGRAM WE WERE REGISTERED IN AND WE GET REVENUE FROM THAT OCCASIONALLY DEPENDING ON THE PARTICIPATION OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THAT $34,000 CAME IN.
SO THERE'S 57,000 AND IF YOU GO DOWN TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE SHEET, THAT 1,288.
THOSE TWO COMBINE FOR AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OF 58,404.
THE NEXT INCREASE IN REVENUE IS FROM THE STATE.
IT'S FOR $274,000, AND IT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THE BONUS PAY FOR OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL THAT WAS A FUNCTION OF LEGISLATION, I BELIEVE IN 2022.
WE ARE REQUIRED WITH THE STATE CONTRIBUTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THE BONUS PAY TO OUR SUPPORT PEOPLE FOR $274,000, AND THAT IS THE SECOND LINE OF THE REVENUE.
THE THIRD LINE IS $75,000 THAT CAME IN FROM FEDERAL SOURCES, AND THAT IS SHOWN RIGHT HERE, AND THE BULK OF THAT IS A GRANT WE RECEIVED FOR HOMELESS EDUCATION INNOVATION.
THAT'S TO SUPPORT OUR HOMELESS STUDENTS OF WHICH THEY ARE APPROXIMATELY 400 AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME.
I WILL SAY I'M DOING A PRETTY DAMN GOOD JOB HERE, AREN'T I? [LAUGHTER]
>> GIVE ME TIME, PLEASE NO QUESTIONS.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, KNOW THAT THESE TWO HAVE TO BALANCE AND THESE ARE THE STATE BUDGET CATEGORIES THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT FROM, TO ALIGN WITH THE STATE REPORTING SYSTEM.
YOU CAN FIND THE BREAKDOWN FOR EACH OF THESE NUMBERS ON PAGE 3 IN THE WORLD'S SMALLEST FONT.
BUT IF YOU COME ACROSS HERE, THIS IS THE AMOUNT OF EXPENDITURE CHANGE FOR ADMINISTRATION, EXPENDITURE CHANGE FOR INSTRUCTION, SALARIES DECREASE, AND THIS IS RELATED TO THE BONUS PAY AS WELL BECAUSE THE STATE PICKS UP THE LION'S SHARE OF THE BONUS PAY.
WE COVER A SIGNIFICANT PART AT A LOCAL MONEY AS WELL.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WILL BE ASKING THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TO SIGN A BUDGET AMENDMENT OF $408,208.
A COUPLE OTHER PIECES OF INFORMATION WE LIKE TO SHOW.
THIS REPORT RIGHT HERE IS SIMPLY ANOTHER VERSION OF WHAT I JUST SHOWED YOU.
IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO GET INTO THE WEEDS.
QUICK SEGUE. IF YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, WE DON'T PROVIDE A LINE BY LINE BUDGET, HEAVEN SAKES.
IF PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO LOOK AT THIS, YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING FINANCIALLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT THIS IS A SEPARATE REPORT THAT SHOWS THE SAME SET OF INFORMATION.
THIS ONE COMING UP RIGHT HERE IS MY FAVORITE BECAUSE WHAT THIS DOES, AND THIS IS FAIRLY NEW JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THAT WE COMPARE OUR SPENDING PACE FROM FY 22, 23, AND 24 IS THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE THE PERCENTAGE.
IN 2022, AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR, IS THAT 76 OR 74?
[01:10:01]
>> SEVENTY FOUR. WE WERE 74% OF THE WAY THROUGH OUR MONEY AT THIS POINT.
LAST YEAR, WE WERE 77% OF THE WAY THROUGH OUR MONEY, AND THIS YEAR, THAT IS A 79.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE SPENDING FASTER IN THE AREA OF ADMINISTRATION.
ADMINISTRATION IS NOT THE SUPERINTENDENT.
ADMINISTRATION OF THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY, SAFE SCHOOLS.
THESE ARE STATE BUDGET CATEGORIES THAT HAVE SUBCATEGORIES THAT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT MISLEADING SOMETIMES.
GOING DOWN ANOTHER SPECIAL EDUCATION, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD THERE.
THAT'S DUE TO OUR NON PUBLIC COSTS.
AGAIN, WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO STRUGGLE WHO HAVE TRAUMA, WE HAVE TO FIND APPROPRIATE PLACEMENTS FOR THOSE CHILDREN.
SOMETIMES IT'S A NON PUBLIC SETTING.
OUR RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS OR OUR OTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, PHYSICAL THERAPIST SPEECH.
MANY TIMES, WE ARE CONTRACTING OUT FOR THOSE SERVICES AND THAT TENDS TO BE COSTLIER THAN THE SALARY WE WOULD PAY IF WE HIRE THEM ON OUR OWN.
SOME NEW BUSES WERE PICKED UP THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY TRENDING A LITTLE BIT FAVORABLY IN HEALTH CARE.
YOU CAN LOOK WE'RE ABOUT A MILLION AHEAD BUT WE BUDGETED A GOOD SIX MILLION AND SO IN TERMS OF PACE, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT FAVORABLE WITH HEALTH CARE RIGHT NOW.
BUT THE THING WITH HEALTH CARE IS, YOU'RE JUST A FEW INSTANCES.
WE'RE A SELF INSURED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SO WE COULD HAVE A BAD MONTH WITH OUR 2000 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE MORE SICKLY IN A PARTICULAR MONTH.
IT HAPPENS THAT WAY, AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY IT'LL COST MORE.
THAT IS ALL I HAVE, IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, OF WHICH I HOPE NOT.
>> I WISH THE BOARD HAD QUESTIONS.
>> I'M COMING FOR YOUR JOB, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE LISTENING. THANK YOU.
>> YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. I WAS GOING TO SAY A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE AMENDMENT.
>> WHILE I'M BRINGING IT UP, I DO FEEL LIKE I'M FAIRLY STRONG AS SUPERINTENDENTS GO WITH BUDGET, AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF TOM CAPRA WHO WAS THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND RETIRED NOT THAT LONG AGO.
TOM WAS JUST AN OUTSTANDING MENTOR FOR ME IN THE WORLD OF BUDGET.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $408,208 AS PRESENTED.
>> YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION?
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MS. OLSON.
I'M GOING TO READ A FEW POINTS FROM THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND THOSE GUIDELINES ARE OUTLINED IN OUR POLICY BDD.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOTTED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
IN GENERAL, A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER.
WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE.
NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30 SECONDS REMAIN AND YOU'LL HEAR THIS BELL.
[NOISE] PERSONNEL MATTERS, PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE, AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS AND SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED.
ABUSIVE COMMENTS AND PROFANITIES MAY BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY EXPRESS OPINIONS FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR PUBLIC ROLES ONLY.
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER NON ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
SPEAKERS MUST STATE THEIR NAMES, AND MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.
THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY INTERRUPT OR TERMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT WHEN IT IS TOO LENGTHY OR VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES.
THE BOARD ALSO ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS, AND THERE IS A BOX ON THE TABLE FOR YOU TO LEAVE THEM.
WE DO HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER ALREADY AT THE TABLE IS SEAN BRIMM, AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DOCTOR STEWART HUTCHINSON.
SEAN KNOWS THE DRILL, TO PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE MICROPHONE UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN.
[01:15:04]
>> I'M SEAN BRIMM, MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE.
THE LADY OF THE LIBRARY SAYS, BOOKS SAVE LIVES, SO KEEP READING.
FOR ME, I CANNOT THINK OF ONE TEACHER.
THERE ARE TOO MANY. A UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY SAYS WITH ONE VOICE, WE FULLY SUPPORT THE CCPS BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY DOCTOR LAWSON AND HIS TEAM.
WE ARE AGAINST THE SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS OF AT LEAST 13 MILLION IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.
THESE CUTS ARE UNPRECEDENTED IN CECIL COUNTY HISTORY, ANYTIME IN THE LAST 40 YEARS OR MORE.
TO QUOTE FROM OUR OP ED IN TODAY, CECIL WHIG, IT IS NOT THE PLACE OF PARTISAN LOCAL POLITICIANS LIKE EXECUTIVE HOMBURGER TO MAKE DEMANDS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CURRICULUM TO USURP THE ROLES OF LIBRARIANS AND TEACHERS, AND WHAT BOOKS ARE IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES.
THE HIRING AND FIRING OF ADMINISTRATORS OR ENGAGE IN A BLATANT PARTISAN TAKEOVER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE DEMOCRATS ARE PROUD OF OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR LIBRARIES.
BOOKS SAVE LIVES, SO KEEP READING.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT HB 785, THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT IS NOW LAW, INCLUDING IN ITS PROVISIONS IS THE DIRECTIVE, "MATERIALS MAY NOT BE EXCLUDED FROM A SCHOOL LIBRARY, SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE ORIGIN BACKGROUND OR VIEWS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WHO CREATED THE MATERIAL." IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT NO MARYLAND SCHOOL BOARD MAY, "TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS AGAINST CERTAIN SCHOOL LIBRARY PERSONNEL FOR PERFORMING THEIR JOB." LOOKING AT YOU, CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
FINALLY AND I WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY ON THIS AT A LATER TIME.
BUT THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN DUE THESE LAST THREE YEARS.
IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN NEEDED FOR 40 YEARS.
COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOOKS GO BACK AT LEAST THAT FAR IN MY EXPERIENCE, WHILE I WAS ATTENDING CCPS BUT IT WAS NEVER WEAPONIZED UNTIL RECENTLY.
CCPS IN ITS OWN WAY HAS HELPED MAKE THE BOOK REVIEW PROCESS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE CREATION OF A FORMAL PROTOCOL OF THE BOOK REVIEW PROCESS.
IT'S BECAUSE SIMPLY, BOOKS SAVE LIVES, SO KEEP READING.
THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE IN IGNORING THE 500 PAGE BOOK THAT SHE DEMANDED IS A DISGRACE.
WE DEMOCRATS WILL OPPOSE ANYTHING THAT SHE DOES HERE, BECAUSE SHE JUST BLATANTLY IGNORED IT AFTER SITTING THERE AND DEMANDING IT.
WE WILL WORK TO UNSEAT HER AT THE BALLOT BOX.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GRAM. STEWART HUTCHINSON, IS FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE GIBBONS.
>> GOOD EVENING, BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM STUART HUTCHINSON PRINCIPAL OF RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MY COMMENTS THIS EVENING WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS MS. DIXON WHO HAS FAILED TO UPHOLD THE BOARDSMANSHIP STANDARDS SET FORTH FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
AT A MINIMUM, SHE HAS FAILED TO UPHOLD THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS; REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE COUNTY, RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL GROUPS OR PATRONS AND PREPARING FOR BOARD MEETINGS BY REVIEWING ADVANCED INFORMATION AND BRINGING THESE MATERIALS AS NECESSARY TO THE MEETING.
MY CONCERNS WITH MS. DIXON BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER SHE TOOK HER OATH AS A BOARD MEMBER.
UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE HAD NOT VISITED ANY SCHOOLS AND HAD NO EXPERIENCE WORKING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WAS CONCERNED WHEN MS. DIXON PUBLICLY EXPRESSED THAT ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS SHOULD RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM.
HOPING THAT I'D BE ABLE TO CONVINCE HER OTHERWISE, I WROTE HER A LETTER THAT EXPLAINED ALTERNATIVE COST SAVING MEASURES THAT DR.
LAWSON AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM HAD ENACTED PERSONALLY AT RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THESE INCLUDED A REDUCTION ADMINISTRATORS, REDUCTION OF CUSTODIAL STAFF, AND THE USE OF GRANTS TO PAY FOR POSITIONS.
YET SHE'S CONTINUED TO HAVE A FIXED PERSPECTIVE THAT IS NOT SHARED BY BOARD MEMBERS, THE MISSION OF THE BOARD OR THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STRATEGIC PLAN.
MS. DIXON HAS ATTENDED BOARD MEETINGS, VISITED SCHOOLS, AND SPENT HOURS AND MEETINGS DISCUSSING THE BUDGET, YET SHE VOTED AGAINST A BUDGET BECAUSE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS SHARED THAT IT IS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE COUNTY.
A BOARD MEMBER WHO'S CHARGED WITH PROMOTING PUBLIC EDUCATION SHOULD PROMOTE THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS DESPITE WHETHER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE VIEWS OUR BUDGET AS UNSUSTAINABLE.
THEREFORE, MS. DIXON, YOU HAVE VIOLATED OUR BOARDSMANSHIP STANDARD BECAUSE YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO REPRESENT THE VIEWPOINTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE INSTEAD OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
LET ME BREAK DOWN A SECOND STANDARD THAT REQUIRES BOARD MEMBERS TO SIMPLY PREPARE FOR MEETINGS.
MS. DIXON HAS SAT IN HOURS OF DISCUSSION REGARDING THE BUDGET.
[01:20:01]
HOWEVER, SOMEHOW, SHE WAS UNPREPARED TO ARTICULATE COST SAVING MEASURES WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE CCPS BUDGET REQUEST TO THE COUNTY.INSTEAD, IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS RELATED TO OUR BUDGET ON FEBRUARY 28TH, YOU SAID, "HONESTLY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY COST SAVING MEASURES AT THE MOMENT, MAYBE THE VICE PRINCIPALS COULD START HELPING OUT IN CLASSROOMS." AT THE VERY LEAST, MS. DIXON YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND, WE DO NOT HAVE VICE PRINCIPLES, WE HAVE ASSISTANT PRINCIPLES.
KNOWING THAT YOU'VE BEEN UNWILLING TO PREPARE ADEQUATELY FOR MEETINGS AND UNWILLING TO PROMOTE PUBLIC EDUCATION OVER THE DESIRES OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THIS BOARD AND THE CONSTITUENTS YOU REPRESENT SHOULD USE MY COMMENTS AS A SPRING BOARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER YOU HAVE UPHELD THE BOARDSMANSHIPS STANDARDS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> THANK YOU, HUTCHINSON. [APPLAUSE]
>> CHRISTINE GIBBONS, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST SPEAKER JOSH MANGOLD.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. I'M CHRISTINE GIBBONS, AND I WANTED TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A CRUCIAL ASPECT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK, EDUCATION, AND PROPERLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS SPECIFICALLY.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE TOUCHED ON THE TOPIC OF INTEGRITY, AND TO ME, THAT MEANS ALWAYS BEING DIRECT AND ALWAYS SPEAKING THE TRUTH.
PEOPLE CAN SAY A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT ME AND ABOUT CECIL SOLIDARITY, BUT ONE THING THAT WILL NEVER BE TRUE IS THAT NEITHER I NOR MY ORGANIZATION LACKS INTEGRITY.
WE DO AND SAY THINGS THAT MAKE PEOPLE FEEL UNEASY AND UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT WE DO IT BECAUSE WE SEE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S AT STAKE IF WE TIPTOE AROUND TOPICS, SUBJECTS, AND CERTAIN PEOPLE.
YOU SEE BEING NICE TO THOSE WHO INTEND TO HARM OTHERS IS NOT ONLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR SOCIETY, BUT ALSO HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SO ELOQUENTLY STATED, INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.
IN THE PURSUIT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, HONESTY AND DIRECTNESS ARE INDISPENSABLE.
WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THIS IF WE SHY AWAY FROM CONFRONTING THE TRUTH.
BEING DIRECT HELPS BRING ATTENTION TO THE INJUSTICES COMMITTED AND HOLDS ACCOUNTABLE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRYING TO DISMANTLE PROGRESS TOWARDS A MORE EQUITABLE AND JUST SOCIETY FOR US ALL.
OTHERS BEFORE US, BY SPEAKING TRUTHFULLY AND DIRECTLY, WE GIVE A VOICE TO THE MARGINALIZED, THE OPPRESSED, AND THE DISENFRANCHISED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR ALSO REMINDS US THAT WE CANNOT BE COMPLACENT IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT EVER BE NICE TO THOSE KNOWINGLY WHO PERPETUATE HARM ONTO OTHERS.
IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, RIGHT HERE IN CECIL COUNTY, WE HAVE SEEN THE ACTIONS OF BOARD MEMBER RENE DIXON, A SITTING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND WHILE SHE MAY HAVE SHED HER TEARS AND QUOTED BIBLE VERSES, WE MUST NOT BE SWAYED BY HER OUTWARD DISPLAYS OF EMOTION.
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, RENE, AND YOUR VOTE TWICE AGAINST THE PROPOSED SCHOOL BUDGET REVEALS YOUR TRUE VALUES AND YOUR PRIORITIES.
AGAIN, BY VOTING AGAINST THE BUDGET, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AND HAVING ZERO RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW WE GO ABOUT FUNDING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW AND YOU'RE CONFUSED, YOU HAVE SHOWN EXACTLY WHO WE THOUGHT YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE ELECTED.
A MERE PAWN OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, MS. DIXON.
YOU HAVE SHOWN US TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT YOU ARE WAY OVER YOUR HEAD AND YOU ARE AN INCOMPETENT, UNQUALIFIED PERSON DESIGNATED TO SIMPLY CARRY WATER FOR THOSE IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKING TO FEVERISHLY DISMANTLE PUBLIC EDUCATION.
WE ALL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
BUT BY ALLOWING DIXON TO CONTINUE IN HER POSITION WITHOUT QUESTIONING HER MOTIVES BOTH PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY AND FALLING FOR THE OKIDOPE WITH SILLY TEARS, CONFUSION, AND OUTRIGHT DISRESPECT FOR THE POSITION SHE WAS ELECTED TO DO AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, WE ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TO THE CAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE ALL FIGHTING FOR, AND THAT'S TO FULLY FUND OUR SCHOOLS IN THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTY.
MOVING FORWARD, I AND OUR CS COMMUNITY URGE YOU ALL, EVERYONE LISTENING AND EVERYONE WATCHING TODAY TO EMBRACE DIRECTNESS AND TRUTH TELLING IN THE PURSUIT OF SOCIAL JUSTICE.
>> OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MR. JOSH MANGOLD.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM JOSH MANGOLD, AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING OUR SYSTEM AS THE MANAGER OF BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AND HOME AND HOSPITAL.
I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADERSHIP FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS YOU PUT IN ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHILE THERE IS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, I AM UNFORTUNATELY HERE TO EXPRESS CONCERNS RELATED TO MS. DIXON.
THE BOARDSMANSHIP STANDARDS SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
THEY SPECIFY THE BOARD MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS BASED UPON A DESIRE TO BEST SERVE STUDENTS AND TO PREPARE FOR MEETINGS BY REVIEWING INFORMATION AND BRINGING MATERIALS AS NECESSARY.
MS. DIXON, YOUR ACTIONS INDICATE THAT YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE STANDARDS.
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ON 228, YOU PARTICIPATED REMOTELY IN THE BUDGET WORK SESSION WHERE THE OPERATING BUDGET WAS APPROVED IN A 4-1 VOTE WITH YOUR VOTE BEING THE ALONE NO.PRIOR TO VOTING, YOU STATED, "I ABSOLUTELY WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN, BUT WE NEED A BUDGET THAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOR OUR COUNTY, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS BUDGET IS NOT A BUDGET THAT OUR COUNTY CAN SUSTAIN." PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND MR. FERNANDO ASKED, "WHAT DO YOU PROPOSE AS A SOLUTION OR CUT TO THIS BUDGET?" YOU REPLIED, "EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET RAISES, BUT MAYBE WE CAN LOOK AT THE UPPER MANAGEMENT AND ASKED THEM NOT TO TAKE RAISES.
IF UPPER MANAGEMENT DIDN'T TAKE THEIR RAISES, WE COULD SAVE $793,000.24." IMPORTANT FACT CHECKING AND COMMENTS ENSUED BEFORE PRESIDENT HAWLEY STATED, "I WANT TO GO BACK.
I'M ONLY HEARING $600,000 WORTH OF CUTS." MR. FERNANDO INTERJECTED, ARE YOU ASKING IF RENE HAS OTHER SUGGESTIONS, TO WHICH YOU REPLIED, "HONESTLY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY AT THE MOMENT.
MAYBE THE VICE PRINCIPALS COULD START HELPING OUT IN THE CLASSROOMS.'' MS. DIXON, PUTTING ASIDE THAT YOUR SUGGESTIONS WERE ILL INFORMED, OFFENSIVE AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE CURRENT BUDGET PROCESS AND BASIC MATH, THEY DEMONSTRATE HOW YOU MAKE DECISIONS THAT DO NOT ALIGN TO THE BOARDSMANSHIP STANDARDS.
YOU ARE A CCPS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER.
YOU'RE NOT A CCL COUNCIL MEMBER OR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
YOUR PURPOSE IS TO SERVE THE STUDENTS OF CECIL COUNTY.
AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU RECEIVED HOURS OF PRESENTATIONS AND HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED RELATED TO THE FUNDING REALITIES OF CCPS.
FURTHER, IT WAS AND IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE BEEN INFORMED, ASKED INFORMED QUESTIONS AND COME UP WITH INFORMED SUGGESTIONS TO SUPPORT A BUDGET THAT SERVES OUR STUDENTS.
INSTEAD, YOU CHOSE TO SPREAD INACCURATE INFORMATION FROM THE SOCIAL MEDIA TALKING POINTS OF THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
MS. DIXON, AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED A LIMITED CURIOSITY AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR ROLE.
WHILE EACH BOARD MEMBER HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON THE BUDGET HOW THEY SEE FIT, THEY CAST THEIR VOTES BASED ON AN EDUCATED VIEWPOINT AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF STUDENTS.
YOUR NO VOTE WAS NEITHER INFORMED OR ALIGNED TO WHAT WAS BEST FOR STUDENTS.
INSTEAD, IT WAS ALIGNED TO YOUR POLITICAL ALLY AND FRIEND, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THE SAME COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHOSE PACK DONATED FUNDS TO FREEDOM HILLS, WHERE YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER 28 DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR NO VOTE ON THE BUDGET.
YOUR ACTIONS ARE UNFIT FOR THE POSITION YOU HOLD, AND THEY ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT AND STAIN ON YOUR BOARD COLLEAGUES, OUR STUDENTS IN THIS PROUD SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO UPCOMING EVENTS, DR. LAWSON.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. JUST A FEW THINGS ON BOTH APRIL 12TH AND APRIL 29TH, THERE EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, SECONDARY GOES OUT FIRST THEN ELEMENTARY.
NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY IS OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR GAL, MAYBE THE BEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR FOR ALL OF US.
WE HAVE A WORK SESSION HERE ON APRIL 24TH, AND THEN OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HERE, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE, MAY 8TH. THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. SEEING WE ARE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA, I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT THIS EVENING FOR YOUR CONTINUED ADVOCACY FOR OUR SCHOOLS.
PLEASE CONTINUE, PLEASE KEEP IT UP.
MEETING IS ADJOURNED. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.