May 08, 2024 Board Meeting

[00:00:06]

OKAY IT'S 4:30.

[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE

[2. Closed Session]

IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION.

[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]

PLEASE STAND WHILE MISS RODGERS LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE.

THANK YOU MRS. RODGERS. WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO THE BOARD REFLECTION, PLEASE? THE MISSION OF A CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL 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.

THANK YOU, MISS RODGERS.

THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. Consent Agenda]

BEFORE WE DO A MOTION, IS THERE ANY BOARD MEMBER WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. FIRST ITEM IN NEW BUSINESS MR.

[5. New Business]

AS ALL OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN, I LIKE TO POKE FUN AT MISS HEATH OFTEN ABOUT THE BO MANOR RISING SUN RIVAL FOR SOFTBALL.

TODAY I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE AND BE SERIOUS BECAUSE WE LOST A LEGEND IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SOFTBALL COMMUNITY, THIS WEEK WHEN COACH ED LYNCH PASSED AWAY ON SUNDAY, MISS HEATH AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF COACHING WITH EDDIE AND BY HAVING OUR KIDS COACHED BY EDDIE.

ON MONDAY, THE RISING SUN TIGERS TEAM DECIDED TO PLAY THEIR FINAL GAME AT OF AN UNDEFEATED SEASON, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LESS THAN 24 HOURS AFTER HIS PASSING, AND HIS DAUGHTER JORDAN ALSO DECIDED TO PLAY.

THE GIRLS TALKED ABOUT IT, AND THEY KNEW THAT COACH EDDIE WOULD HAVE WANTED THEM TO PLAY, AND THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY IF THEY DID NOT.

THE GIRLS HAD TO PUSH THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN AND TEARS IN ORDER TO COMPETE AND TO COMPLETE THIS GAME, AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS I'VE EVER SEEN.

THEY HELD EACH OTHER UP THROUGH THIS TOUGH TIME LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

THEY COMFORTED EACH OTHER AND IT WAS A REAL MOMENT OF JOY IN CHAOS FOR ALL THESE GIRLS.

JORDAN WAS HIS DAUGHTER ON A TEAM, BUT NINE OF THE 12 GIRLS ARE.

TEN OF THE 13 WERE COACHED BY COACH ED AT SOME POINT, AND A FEW OF THEM WERE LIKE WERE LIKE CHILDREN TO HIM.

THEY WERE AT HIS HOUSE CONSTANTLY.

THEY PLAYED WITH THE TOUGHNESS THAT EDDIE HAD TAUGHT THEM.

AND DUE TO A FREAK INJURY, OUR CATCHER WAS INJURED.

AND JORDAN LYNCH HAD TO FINISH THE GAME BEHIND HOME PLATE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS, A POSITION THAT WAS HER FATHER'S POSITION AND THAT WAS REALLY SPECIAL TO HIM. SHE SAID TO ME AS SHE WENT INTO THE GAME THAT DAD WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS MOMENT, AND I KNOW HE'S LOOKING DOWN AS I GO BEHIND THE PLATE.

I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO COACH EDDIE AND HIS FAMILY FOR THE IMPACT THAT THEY'VE HAD ON THE COMMUNITY, AND THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE ON THE COMMUNITY FOR RAISING SOME OF THE TOUGHEST GIRLS THAT I'VE EVER MET.

AND THAT'S IT FROM ME.

[00:05:04]

I COACHED WITH ED AND HIS WIFE RENEE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

MY SON STARTED WITH ED WITH THE FIRST LEGENDS BASEBALL TEAM THAT HE COACHED.

MY SON WAS 12 HE'S NOW 25.

HE WAS ONE OF A KIND.

HE WAS TOUGH.

HE WAS THE TYPE OF COACH THAT YOU YOU DIDN'T COME TO PRACTICE WITHOUT YOUR SHIRT TUCKED IN.

YOU DIDN'T COME WITHOUT A BELT ON.

YOU CARRIED YOUR OWN BAG.

YOUR PARENTS DID NOT PICK IT UP.

AND IF YOU WERE LATE FOR PRACTICE, YOU'D BETTER BE RUNNING DOWN THAT HILL OR YOU WERE GOING TO BE SORRY.

HE WAS PROBABLY FOR A LOT OF THE GIRLS HE MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON THAT REALLY MEANT SOMETHING TO THEM THAT THEY THAT AND GUYS.

BECAUSE HE DID BOTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST PERSON THAT IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY, THEY LOST.

AND HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SO PROUD OF THAT RISING SUN TEAM THAT THEY WENT OUT THERE.

AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF KIDS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

AND THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF ROLE MODELS THAT WE NEED FOR OUR KIDS.

HE WAS A GENEROUS MAN.

HE CARED ABOUT THE KIDS. AND I'M JUST GOING TO TELL A QUICK STORY.

MY SON, WHEN HE WAS HE WANTED TO PLAY IN COLLEGE.

HE WAS AT A SHOWCASE AT HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

HE WAS THE LAST BATTER OF THE DAY.

AND THE GUY WAS THE KID THAT WAS THROWING WAS THROWING ABOUT ABOUT 88 MILES AN HOUR.

MY SON WAS OUT IN FRONT OF THE BALL AND IT FOULED OFF OF HIS BAT AND HIT HIM IN THE EYE.

AND WE HAD A FLIGHT TO SHOCK TRAUMA BECAUSE HE WAS BLEEDING BEHIND HIS EYE.

AND COACH ED MADE IT TO SHOCK TRAUMA BEFORE HIS DAD DID BECAUSE HE HAD TO CHECK ON THE GIRLS.

BUT THAT WAS THE KIND OF MAN HE WAS.

AND THAT'S THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED TO BE FOR OUR KIDS.

SO I JUST WANT TO THANK COACH ED, HIS FAMILY, AND JUST PRAY FOR ALL THE GIRLS AND THE AND THE THE GUYS THAT HE HE INFLUENCED AND AND HER FEELING FOR THAT LOSS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS WE'LL START WITH CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, MRS. LORI HRINKO.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR.

LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS BEING CELEBRATED TONIGHT.

WE HAVE OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BRITTANY RIGDON, WHO IS A PHENOMENAL TEACHER FROM THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE HAVE AMAZING STUDENTS BEING RECOGNIZED FOR FFA COMPETITIONS, SKILLSUSA, OUR CARSON SCHOLARS, OUR MUSIC AWARD WINNERS. AND IF THIS IS NOT YOUR FIRST BOARD MEETING, YOU KNOW AT EVERY MEETING, WE HAVE STUDENTS HERE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR AMAZING THINGS, WHETHER IT'S SCHOLARSHIP, ATHLETICS, ARTS, GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARDS.

OUR KIDS ARE TOP NOTCH AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

IT'S BECAUSE OF THEIR PARENTS, AND IT'S BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THEIR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT AT SCHOOL AND THEIR COMMUNITY.

I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION FOR 15 YEARS.

AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS RUNNING OUR TEACHERS THROUGH THE MUD A ND DOWNGRADING THEM IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC WITH THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO OUR MAILBOX EVERY DAY FULL OF LIES IS UNCONSCIONABLE.

SAYING WE'RE INDOCTRINATING OUR STUDENTS IF I COULD INDOCTRINATE MY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS, IT WOULD BE TO BE NICE TO EACH OTHER EVERY DAY AND TO TURN IN THEIR WORK.

IT'S JUST UNETHICAL.

TO SAY THAT WE ARE PUSHING A WOKE DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AGENDA.

YOU KNOW WHAT OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING WAS AGAIN, IT WAS TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER, TO HAVE OUR KIDS TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY WERE, WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE, ETC..

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, IF YOU HARM SOMEBODY, ADMIT THAT YOU'RE DOING WRONG, ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT YOU DID IMPACTED AND HURT OTHER PEOPLE AND MAKE A PLAN TO DO BETTER. ISN'T THAT WHAT WE WANT AS ADULTS? THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRAINED TO DO WITH OUR KIDS.

AND BY THE WAY, THERE'S STILL A BEHAVIORAL CONSEQUENCE.

IT DOESN'T END WITH A CONVERSATION.

THE CONVERSATION IS THE BRIDGE TO BUILDING THAT COMMUNITY BACK IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

[00:10:06]

THE CANDY IS GREAT.

THE MUGS, THE CARDS FROM THE KIDS I KEEP.

I'VE GOT A WHOLE DESK DRAWER FULL OF THEM.

I TREASURE THEM AND READ THEM ON BAD DAYS.

BUT THIS YEAR, I NEED YOU ALL TO STAND UP WITH US AND SAY AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS THAT WHAT WE DO IS IMPORTANT.

WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS.

WE DO IT BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT OUR KIDS AND THAT WE ARE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS COMMITTED TO YOUR CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO. THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION, MR. ERIC BROWN.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR.

LAWSON, TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

AND TO ALL OF YOU FOLKS WHO ARE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS WHO ARE REPRESENTED, ALL THE EXCELLENCE THAT IS REPRESENTED, ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD ABOUT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THAT ARE REPRESENTED BY ALL OF YOU, STAFF AND STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TONIGHT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WHO HAS FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.

I WANT TO THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO VOTED RIGHTLY FOR THE BUDGET THAT YOU SUBMITTED.

WE AS AN ADMINISTRATION, AS ADMINISTRATORS, UNION, WE APPRECIATE THAT FROM YOU.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE FOR US TO DO IS TO LEARN FROM WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO, TO LEARN HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEBODY IS NEGOTIATING IN BAD FAITH, AND TO LEARN HOW TO STAND STRONG IN THE FACE OF THAT, AND TO LEARN HOW TO NEVER DO THAT WHEN WE NEGOTIATE WITH OTHERS.

BECAUSE THERE'S A LESSON HERE, NOT JUST IN WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, BUT IN HOW TO BEHAVE AND HOW TO COMPORT ONESELF.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE HIGH GROUND, AND WE THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THE HIGH GROUND.

NOW WE HAVE TO SEIZE THAT HIGH GROUND BY EXERCISING OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO'S HERE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO'S GOING TO WATCH THIS ONLINE, GO TO THE POLLS.

I WON'T TELL YOU HOW TO VOTE, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU NEED TO VOTE.

AND IF YOU LOVE OUR CHILDREN, IF YOU VALUE EDUCATION IN CECIL COUNTY, IF YOU VALUE THE PEOPLE WHO POUR INTO YOUR CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEN YOU WILL VOTE FOR THOSE THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION.

I HAD A DAY TO DAY THAT WAS ACTUALLY NOT A BAD DAY FOR ME, BUT I WATCHED ONE OF MY ADMINISTRATORS HAVE EVERYTHING THROWN AT HER ALL DAY LONG, AND SHE SMILED.

AND EVERY TIME SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A KID AND TO NOT GIVE HIM A CONSEQUENCE, SHE DID THAT EVERY TIME SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A CHILD A DIFFERENT WAY TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES, TO TO ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES SHE DID THAT.

SHE DID THAT DESPITE BEING CALLED EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN BEFORE A 7:45 IN THE MORNING.

THAT IS WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.

WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT OUR SYSTEM, AND WE WANT YOU TO SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. THE CECIL EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION, MR. THOMAS [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, DR.

LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

IT'S BEEN A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE CESPA PRESIDENT FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, WORKING WITH AND FOR OUR CECIL EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.

OR AS WE SAY, ESP.

HAS BEEN AN HONOR AND SOMETHING I WILL CHERISH.

OUR CECIL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ARE SUCH IMPRESSIVE PEOPLE AND ARE SO DEDICATED TO THEIR JOBS AND THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM THEY DO AMAZING WORK AND CARE DEEPLY FOR OUR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

GAINING YOUR GAINING YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ESP BILL OF RIGHTS AS A BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND STUDENT ORGANIZATION HIGHLIGHT IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY TENURE. AS THE ESP BILL OF RIGHTS AT ITS CORE IS ABOUT VALUING AND RESPECTING ESP.

OUR ROLES AND WORK WE DO ARE WORKING TOWARDS ATTAINMENT OF LIVING WAGES AND COMPETITIVE PAY TO CONTINUE TO REGAIN OUR HIGH OR RETAIN OUR HIGH QUALITY WORKFORCE AND ATTRACT POTENTIAL SUPPORT STAFF TO CCPS.

[00:15:04]

LAWSON AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF ME AS THE CESPA PRESIDENT OVER THE YEARS AS I SERVED AND ADVOCATED FOR MY PEOPLE.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MISS SHAW FOR IMPLEMENTING IMPLEMENTING THE CECIL COUNTY SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.

WE'VE WATCHED OTHER LOCALS INSTITUTE A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS AND ARE JUST OVERJOYED.

SUPPORT STAFF AND CECIL COUNTY WILL NOW HAVE THIS LEVEL OF RECOGNITION LIKE OUR TEACHERS.

AND SPEAKING OF THIS, I'D LIKE TO EXTEND A WARM CONGRATULATION TO THIS YEAR'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BRITTANY RIGDON.

TONIGHT, OUR FOLKS UNDERSTAND DR.

LAWSON WILL PRESENT INFORMATION ON THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET.

AND I KNOW IT'S NOT A SURPRISE TO ANYONE WHEN I SAY OUR SUPPORT STAFF ARE ANXIOUS TO HEAR HIS UPDATE, TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT IMPACTS THEM, THEIR FAMILIES, WILL THEY MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT POSITION? WILL THEY BE REASSIGNED OR TRANSFERRED FROM THEIR WORKSITE? THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THIS BUDGET WILL IMPACT THEIR POSITIONS, OUR STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

THESE CHALLENGING, CHALLENGING TIMES ON SO MANY LEVELS RIGHT NOW, WE UNDERSTAND THE TOUGH DECISIONS YOU, THE BOARD, DR.

LAWSON AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE BEING FORCED TO MAKE.

I'D BE VERY REMISS IF I DIDN'T MAKE A PLEA FOR OUR SUPPORT STAFF THIS EVENING.

OUR SUPPORT STAFF NEED THEIR JOBS TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND OUR STUDENTS NEED THE SERVICES AND RESOURCES PROVIDED BY ALL OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

OUR TEACHERS NEED OUR FOLKS ASSISTANCE IN THEIR CLASSROOMS MORE THAN EVER TO HELP DE-ESCALATE STUDENT BEHAVIORS, HELP OUR STUDENTS BECOME READY AND ABLE TO LEARN AND CREATE SAFE LEARNING AND WORK ENVIRONMENTS.

NOW, ON A MORE UPLIFTING NOTE, THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL NURSES APPRECIATION WEEK AND TODAY IS NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSES DAY.

I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR NURSES AND CNAS.

FROM THE VERY BOTTOM OF MY HEART THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO AND THE CARE YOU PROVIDE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU ARE A HERO TODAY AND EVERY DAY.

NOW, I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO OUR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS TOO NATIONAL INTERPRETER.

APPRECIATION DAY WAS MAY 1ST.

OUR INTERPRETERS ARE FLUENT IN A SECOND LANGUAGE, THAT BEING SIGN LANGUAGE, THEY ENSURE OUR DEAF AND HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS ARE ACTIVE AND ENGAGED MEMBERS IN THEIR CLASSROOM. IN SUMMARY, AMAZING WORK IS BEING PERFORMED BY AMAZING PEOPLE FOR AMAZING STUDENTS.

IT'S TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK TO OUR TEACHERS, RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS CCCTA UNIT MEMBERS.

WE ARE PROUD TO WORK WITH YOU AND SUPPORT THE WORK YOU DO FOR OUR STUDENTS.

WE BELIEVE YOU'RE AMAZING.

WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE EACH DAY AND ADVOCATE FOR LOWER CLASS SIZES, MORE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT RESOURCES, MAINTENANCE OF OUR FINE ARTS AND MEDIA PROGRAMS, OUR ATHLETIC AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE TRUST AND RESPECT FOR YOU.

YOU KNOW WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED INSTRUCTIONALLY AS WELL AS THE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

YOU NEED TO BE GIVEN PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY, TIME, AND RESOURCES TO DO YOUR JOBS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE SUPPORT YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO EACH DAY AND NIGHT.

TO MISS RODGERS AND THE REST OF THE 2024 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES.

I APPRECIATE I INSIST, TO WISH YOU A JOYOUS FUTURE.

REACH FOR THE STARS.

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WHEN YOU BELIEVE.

AS JOE BROWN STATES, DREAM WHAT YOU DARE TO DREAM.

GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

BE WHAT YOU WANT TO BE.

THE ONLY THING THAT STANDS BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DREAM IS THE WILL TO TRY AND BELIEVE THAT IT IS ACTUALLY POSSIBLE.

SO CARRY ON AND DREAM BIG.

WE BELIEVE IN YOU.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I HOPE EVERYONE WILL GO OUT AND VOTE NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 14TH IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY VOTED.

ELECTIONS DO MATTER AND HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON OUR PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL LIVES.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GUNNS. NEXT WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, TIMBERWOLF LANES.

DR. LAWSON.

THANK YOU, BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

YOU KNOW, AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE THIS DEEP FEELING AND IT'S AN OBSERVATION OF HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE TAKE OUR TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS, AND MANY OF THEM WILL GO AWAY TO GO TO COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITIES, AND RIGHTLY SO.

IT'S A GREAT THING FOR THEM, FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT I PUSH IS LET THERE BE LIGHT.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, WASN'T IT? LET THERE BE MORE LIGHT.

THE THING, THE THING I PUSH IS THAT THESE STUDENTS, WE NEED THEM TO COME BACK.

WE NEED THEM TO COME BACK TO BE CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY OF SOCIETY.

[00:20:02]

AND TONIGHT'S COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH HAS DONE JUST THAT.

KAT WOLFF.

KAT, WHERE ARE YOU? YOU'RE HERE AND YOUR HUSBAND IS HERE.

THE TWO OF YOU JOIN BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY UP FRONT, PLEASE AT THE PRETTY SNAZZY BACKDROP WE HAVE NOW.

KAT GRADUATED FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL IN 2010, AND SHE LEFT AND WENT TO KENT STATE IN OHIO.

COMPLETED HER COLLEGE, CAME BACK MET HER WHAT IS NOW HUSBAND AND THEY PROCEEDED TO BUY THE BOWLING ALLEY IN TIMBERWOLF LANES, WHICH IS JUST ACROSS THE STATE LINE UP BY RISING SUN.

AND THEY KIND OF CAME TO OUR RESCUE.

AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE BOWLING ALLEY OVER HERE, ELK LANES HAD A FIRE THAT REALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, DESTROYED THE ENTIRE BOWLING ALLEY.

KAT AND HER HUSBAND CAME FORWARD, ALLOWED US TO USE THEIR BOWLING ALLEY, WHICH AND YOU MIGHT NOT THINK TRADITIONALLY, YOU KNOW, BOWLING ALLEY WITH HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, BUT IT'S OUR COROLLARY ATHLETICS PROGRAM, WHICH IS HUGELY POPULAR.

AND IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

IT INVOLVES STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, TYPICAL PEERS.

IT'S JUST A GREAT TIME IF YOU'VE NOT EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY THEY SO GRACIOUSLY CAME FORWARD TO PROVIDE THEIR BUSINESS.

AND WE'RE PROUD OF YOU FOR COMING BACK.

AND THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING A COMMUNITY PARTNER.

THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO ANNOUNCE THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM, THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2024 THE RECOGNITION OF BRITTANY RIGDON [APPLAUSE].

GO AHEAD, BRITTANY, THEY'RE NOT CLAPPING FOR ME.

PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.

LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS, MY ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MISS BRITTANY RIGDON.

CECIL COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THOSE TEACHERS THAT DELIVER HIGH QUALITY DAILY INSTRUCTION TO THEIR STUDENTS AND SET HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR SCHOOLS.

STUDENTS, PARENTS, COLLEAGUES, ADMINISTRATORS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT THE NAME OF QUALITY EDUCATOR WHO REPRESENTS THE BEST OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION HERE IN CECIL COUNTY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MISS RIGDON AND THE OTHER 24 OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES WHO REPRESENTED CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS YEAR'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.

MISS RIGDON IS A LANDSCAPE HORTICULTURE TEACHER AT CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] OKAY. OUR NEXT RECOGNITION IS THE FFA COMPETITION WINNERS, DR.

LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.

AT THIS TIME, DR. FOYE WILL COME FORWARD AND ALONG WITH DR.

PAR, PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL OF TECH, TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES TO THE NURSERY LANDSCAPE TEAM.

[00:25:06]

AT THIS TIME I'LL HAVE DR.

PAR JOIN ME, PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT CERTIFICATES IN THE NURSERY LANDSCAPE TEAM, WHO PLACED SECOND IN THE STATE AND WILL GO ON TO COMPETE IN THE BIG EASY COMPETITION IN SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

THIS SEPTEMBER, STUDENTS SHOWED THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF PLANT, INSECT AND DISEASE IDENTIFICATION.

PRACTICUMS CONSISTED OF POTTERING NURSERY PLANTS, VERBAL CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE, PRUNING TECHNIQUES, PLOTTING OF LANDSCAPE PLANTS, AND WEED TRIMMING OPERATIONS.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL CALL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS TO COME DOWN TO BE RECOGNIZED.

NURSERY LANDSCAPE LANDSCAPE TEAM, SARAH DE PAULA.

VALERIA LOPEZ CAMACHO.

ABSENT IS CALEB GRAZIANO.

AND JARON HENSLEY [APPLAUSE].

ALSO ACCOMPANYING THEM IS ALSO THEIR TEACHER INSTRUCTOR, MRS. BRITTANY RIGDON.

LANDSCAPE AND HORTICULTURE [APPLAUSE].

OH, WE STILL HAVE ONE MORE RECOGNITION.

OH MY GOODNESS, I'M SORRY.

AGRISCIENCE FAIR ANIMAL SCIENCE, ANIMAL SYSTEMS DIVISION SIX, SILVER PLACE ALYSSA LONG ALSO THE INSTRUCTOR IS MISS BRITTANY RIGDON. SHE'S NOT PRESENT WITH US.

NEXT WE HAVE DR.

FOYE CONTINUING WITH THE SKILLSUSA WINNERS.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL ALSO HAVE MISS LINDA ALEXANDER COME UP AND WHO IS THE ADVISOR OF THE SKILLS USA WINNERS [APPLAUSE].

WE WILL PRESENT CERTIFICATES OF RECOGNITION TO STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE, WHO COMPETED AND WON AT THE MARYLAND SKILLS USA COMPETITION.

ALL GOLD WINNERS WILL ATTEND NATIONAL SKILLS USA COMPETITION IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

I WILL CALL THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS PLEASE COME DOWN ALONG WITH THEIR INSTRUCTOR.

WELDING FABRICATION GOLD MEDAL.

ELLIS BARRETT, BRADLEY DIETZ, SAMUEL PRICE, INSTRUCTOR, MR. CHARLES WOOD [APPLAUSE].

NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE INDUSTRIAL MOTOR SILVER MEDAL TRENTON WILSON AND INSTRUCTOR MR. SHIELD [APPLAUSE].

[00:30:44]

[APPLAUSE].

AND OUR LAST GROUP, WE WILL RECOGNIZE WHO'S PRESENT WITH US IS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICE BRONZE MEDAL ERIC HOLMQUIST, INSTRUCTOR, MR. CHARLES WOOD [APPLAUSE].

OKAY.

NEXT WE HAVE CARSON SCHOLARS, DR.

JOHNSON. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.

LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM. I'M EXCITED TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S CARSON SCHOLARS.

BOTH OUR NEW EARNING CARSON SCHOLARS, AS WELL AS OUR RENEWAL STUDENTS.

CARSON SCHOLARS HAVE A 3.75 GPA, AS WELL AS DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP AND HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES IN THEIR SCHOOL.

THESE ARE LEADERS, AND THIS IS A PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIP TO RECEIVE.

AFTER YOUR INITIAL YEAR, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AGAIN.

TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE NEARLY 20 STUDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THIS.

SO WHAT I'M GOING TO ASK IS, AS I RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS, YOU COME FORWARD AND SEE DR.

LAWSON AND MISS HAWLEY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE PHOTO OUTSIDE.

SO ONCE YOU FINISH SHAKING HANDS WITH EVERYONE, YOU'RE GOING TO WALK RIGHT OUT TO THE LOBBY TO GET YOUR PHOTO TAKEN.

SO I'LL START TONIGHT WITH OUR FIRST TIME CARSON SCHOLAR BRIDGETTE COHEN FROM CECILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

NEXT, WE'LL RECOGNIZE OUR SECOND TIME RENEWED STATUS EMMA BLANKENSHIP FROM RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

DAKOTA HOLM SMITH FROM OUR BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM [APPLAUSE].

[00:35:05]

AND GABRIELLE RINEHART FROM PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

NEXT UP, WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE RECEIVING THEIR THIRD CARSON SCHOLARSHIP RENEWAL.

CAITLIN BOLDEN FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

ARIANA FAZINO FROM CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

ANGELINA JACKSON FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

I BELIEVE AMELIA TROYAN ISN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT, BUT SHE'S A STUDENT AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.

OH. I'M SORRY. COME ON DOWN, AMELIA [APPLAUSE].

AND ELIZABETH WIECEK FROM PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. OUR NEXT GROUP OF RECOGNIZED STUDENTS ARE THE FOURTH TIME RENEWAL STUDENTS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING GABRIEL FAZINO [APPLAUSE].

ADELINE SCHERTZER FROM RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

AALIYAH WILLIAMS FROM ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

OUR FIFTH TIME RENEWALS CARSON SCHOLARS.

MCKENZIE. EXCUSE ME.

MADISON BURTON FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

JOHN EDLER FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

THE NEXT GROUP OF STUDENTS WILL RECOGNIZE TONIGHT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING RENEWED FOR THEIR SIXTH TIME AS CARSON SCHOLARS.

AVA BAGINSKI FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

CHASE WILLIAMS FROM ELKTON HIGH [APPLAUSE].

OUR NEXT STUDENT WILL RECOGNIZE IS RECEIVING SEVENTH TIME RENEWAL STATUS CAMERON MINK FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

EIGHTH TIME RENEWAL STATUS BRADEN MEANS FROM BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

FINALLY, WE HAD TWO STUDENTS EARNING NINE TIME RENEWAL STATUS WITH THE CARSON SCHOLARSHIP MCKENZIE SHEPHERD RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE]. SYDNEY WILLIAMS FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].

LET'S GIVE A HAND TO ALL OF OUR CARSON SCHOLARS.

NEXT WE HAVE THE FINE ARTS AND MUSIC AWARDS.

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.

HAMMER. GOOD EVENING.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU DR.

DAVID HASTINGS, PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR FINE ARTS, WHO WE'RE GOING TO BE INTRODUCING SOME PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO RECOGNIZE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS. GOOD EVENING, DR.

LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

TONIGHT WE CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL ART AND MUSIC STUDENTS FOR WORKS THEY CREATED OR COMPOSED THAT ARE RECOGNIZED AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIRST RECOGNIZE SEVERAL ART STUDENTS FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THESE STUDENTS COMPETED IN THE SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS, THE NATION'S LONGEST RUNNING, MOST PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE TEAMS. THIS PROGRAM STARTED BACK IN 1923.

[00:40:04]

KIM WILLIAMS [APPLAUSE]. SO I WILL CALL THEIR NAMES AND I ALSO HAVE THEIR ARTWORK THAT'S REPRESENTED THAT WON THE SCHOLASTIC AWARDS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR FIRST WINNER, MORGAN AYERS, FOR HER WORK BOAT AND FOR HER WORK AIRPLANE [APPLAUSE].

ELLA BYERLY FOR HER PORTFOLIO CONNECTIONS IN NATURE [APPLAUSE].

MELINA CRISTOFANO FOR HER WORKS MONKEY BARS, LAST KISS, AND SCHOLASTIC PORTFOLIO [APPLAUSE].

AND ANDREW HAMMOND FOR HIS WORK MIND BLOWN [APPLAUSE]. AND ELSIE RIO FOR HER WORK, MR. STUMP [APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENTS [APPLAUSE].

OUR NEXT STUDENT RECOGNIZED IS FOR A MUSICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO MAX BOCKLAGE AND HIS TEACHER, IF HE'S HERE, JORGE AYALA, AND ALSO MR. MATT ROBERTS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, YOU CAN COME TO THE SIDE AS WELL [APPLAUSE]. MAX IS A 10TH GRADER FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.

HE COMPETED IN THE YOUNG COMPOSERS PROJECT.

THIS IS A PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN K TO 12, IN WHICH THEY SUBMIT AN ORIGINAL PIECE OF MUSIC THEY CREATE ON THEIR OWN.

MAX'S PIECE LIGHT WAS SELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE YOUNG COMPOSERS SHOWCASE.

MAX PREVIOUSLY WROTE A PIECE FOR THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT BAND IN ONLY HIS FRESHMAN YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND IS CURRENTLY WRITING A PIECE FOR THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE SUMMER CENTER FOR THE ARTS BAND.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE ALL-STATE CHOIR, ALL COUNTY CHOIR, AND ALL COUNTY JAZZ BAND, AND HERE'S A RECORDING OF MAX'S PIECE [MUSIC].

[00:45:47]

I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.

JOE BUCKLEY, ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, DR.

BUCKLEY. THANK YOU PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE FOLLOWING FOLKS TO COME FORWARD REPRESENTING OUR LOCAL POLICE FORCES.

SERGEANT TODD CREEK FROM THE CECIL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE UNIT SUPERVISOR, CHIEF ROBERT NITZ, PERRYVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF STEVE YATES, NORTHEAST POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF CAROLYN RODGERS, ELKTON POLICE DEPARTMENT [APPLAUSE].

BEFORE I READ THE RESOLUTION, JUST A TREMENDOUS THANK YOU FOR THE WORK, THAT AND THE WORK AND LEADERSHIP THAT THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS PROVIDE FOR THEIR FORCES AND THEIR UNITS THAT WORK WITH AND FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND FOR CECIL COUNTY AS A WHOLE, IS JUST OUTSTANDING AND TREMENDOUS.

AND WE ARE FORTUNATE WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE YOU A PARTNER WITH US, AND WE THANK YOU IMMENSELY FOR YOUR WORK AND YOUR SUPPORT.

SO WITH THAT, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RESOLUTION, NATIONAL POLICE WEEK MAY 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH, 2024.

IN RECOGNITION OF THE SERVICE GIVEN BY THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO NIGHT AND DAY STAND GUARD IN OUR MIDST TO PROTECT US THROUGH ENFORCEMENT OF OUR LAWS.

WHEREAS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN CECIL COUNTY WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH CCPS STAFF TO REALIZE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION'S GOAL TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL LEARNERS.

AND WHEREAS THE DAILY PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE OFFICERS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 12TH THROUGH THE 18TH, 2024 AS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTED THIS 8TH DAY OF MAY 2024 AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT DIANA B HAWLEY AND SUPERINTENDENT JEFFREY A LAWSON.

THANK YOU, DR. BUCKLEY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU [APPLAUSE].

ALL RIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK.

DR. LAWSON.

THANK YOU. DR. FOYE WILL PRESENT THE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, DR.

FOYE. THANK YOU, DR.

LAWSON. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE FOR MISS HEATHER HANDLER TO COME DOWN WHO IS THE CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND STEM COORDINATOR DR. HEATHER HANDLER.

SORRY. MY APOLOGIES.

DR. HEATHER HANDLER.

CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS YOU FOR APPRENTICESHIP WEEK PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF APPRENTICESHIPS AMONG YOUTH EDUCATORS, PARENTS, STATE AGENCY, WORKFORCE PARTNERS AND INDUSTRY TO HIGHLIGHT THE BENEFITS OF APPRENTICESHIPS AS A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.

AND WHEREAS, YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK GIVES APPRENTICESHIP SPONSORS, CTE PROGRAMS, EMPLOYERS, LABOR UNIONS, WORKFORCE AGENCIES AND OTHER DIVERSE

[00:50:09]

AND WHEREAS, YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEKS GIVES YOUTH APPRENTICES AND BUSINESSES A PLATFORM TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR APPRENTICESHIP EXPERIENCE.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY HEREBY PROCLAIMS THE WEEK OF MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH, 2024 AS YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK PRESENTED THIS 8TH DAY OF MAY 2024, SIGNED DIANA B HAWLEY, BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT DR.

JEFFREY A LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, DR. FOYE I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

AGENDA 511 NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY DR. LAWSON.

MR. ROUSH, OUR DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AND SCHOOL SAFETY WILL PRESENT THIS RESOLUTION, MR. ROUSH. YES, SIR.

GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY BOARD MEMBERS DR.

LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

SINCE 1972, NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOL NURSES.

NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY WAS ESTABLISHED TO FOSTER A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF SCHOOL NURSES IN THE EDUCATIONAL SETTING.

SCHOOL NURSE DAY IS CELEBRATED ON THE WEDNESDAY WITHIN NATIONAL NURSES WEEK.

NATIONAL NURSES WEEK IS MAY 6TH THROUGH 12 EVERY YEAR, REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT FALLS.

BUT WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, TODAY WITH THE BOARD MEETING, WE HAVE THE ACTUAL DAY.

SO THAT'S A THAT'S A GREAT THING.

ACCEPTING THIS PROCLAMATION TONIGHT, OUR MISS STEPHANIE NORMAN, MANAGER OF SCHOOL NURSING, AND MISS TRACY HEBRON SCHOOL NURSE, BOHEMIAN MANOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] THE RESOLUTION READS AS FOLLOWS.

YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE RESOLUTION WHEREAS SCHOOL NURSES SERVE AS THE HEALTH ADVOCATE AND RESOURCE FOR ALL STUDENTS, FOCUSING ON THE PROMOTION OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLES AND THE PREVENTION OF ILLNESS AND DISABILITY ASSIST STAFF IN COMPLYING WITH POLICY PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS AS NECESSARY DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. AND WHEREAS, SCHOOL NURSES PROVIDE HEALTH ASSESSMENTS BY OBTAINING THE HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY OF STUDENTS SCREENINGS AND EVALUATING FINDINGS OF DEFICITS IN VISION AND HEARING, INITIATE REFERRALS FOR INTERVENTION AND REMEDIATION, AND PROVIDE ONGOING HEALTH COUNSELING.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ENDORSES THE OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSES DAY AND HEREBY PROCLAIMS WEDNESDAY, MAY 8TH, 2024, AS NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRESENTED ON THIS 8TH DAY OF MAY 2024 DIANA B HAWLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND JEFFREY A LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, MR. ROUSH I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION NATIONAL SCHOOL NURSE DAY AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YOU HAVE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. OKAY.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

[00:55:12]

BACK TO YOU, DR. LAWSON.

IT IS ME.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK DR.

BECKY MILLER DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, TO COME FORWARD TO READ THE NATIONAL SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING MONTH.

DR. MILLER. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY DR.

LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS STARTING MY CAREER BACK IN 1999 HERE AS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO INVITE MR. ANDY JANIS AND MR. TERRY MARGALIS UP TO THE FRONT, PLEASE [APPLAUSE].

SHARING THOUGHTS, IDEAS AND OPINIONS HELPS US TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTS US TO OTHERS SOCIALLY.

IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

NATIONAL SPEECH LANGUAGE AND HEARING MONTH BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION WHEREAS IMPAIRED COMMUNICATION, SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING DISORDERS CAN LIMIT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT.

AND WHEREAS, AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO SPECIALIZE IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS WITH EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PROPER TREATMENT, MOST PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS CAN LEAD FULL PRODUCTIVE LIVES.

AND WHEREAS EACH YEAR DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS THROUGHOUT MARYLAND AND THE NATION MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING DISORDERS.

NOW THEREFORE, BE RESOLVED THAT MAY 2024 BE RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING MONTH IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND COMMITS TO WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING DISORDERS HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY SERVICES TO HELP THEM COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY.

PRESENTED THIS 8TH DAY OF MAY 2024 SIGNED DIANA B HAWLEY, BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT AND DR.

JEFFREY LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, DR. MILLER.

I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE PROCLAMATION NATIONAL SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING MONTH AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO MOVED SECOND.

MIC] [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE THE CCPS PROLONGED STATE OF EMERGENCY VIRTUAL CLOSURE PLAN FOR 2024 -2026. DR.

LAWSON. YEAH, THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.

AS THE BOARD'S AWARE, LAST YEAR, SENATE BILL 610 WAS PASSED AND IT REQUIRED US TO GET A BOARD APPROVED PLAN FOR AN EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURE.

HONESTLY, IT'S TO ME, I THINK IT'S ASKING US TO ARTICULATE A LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS FOR A COVID TYPE SITUATION.

FORTUNATELY, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE HANDLED THE COVID WHOLE THING FAIRLY WELL.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO FALL BACK ON A LOT OF PAST PRACTICE.

SO WE ROLLED THIS OUT TO YOU LAST MONTH.

AND DR. HAMMER HAS A FEW REMARKS, I'D IMAGINE.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

WE WOULD CALL FOR A VOTE TONIGHT.

DR. HAMMER. JUST SO YOU RECALL, THE MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS PROVIDED US WITH SOME GUIDANCE TO CREATE THIS DOCUMENT THAT IS REQUIRED BY LEGISLATION.

WE PRESENTED IT TO YOU LAST MONTH.

IT PROVIDES ALL KINDS OF THINGS FROM GOALS FOR ASYNCHRONOUS, SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING.

SHUDDER AT THE THOUGHT OF SAYING THOSE WORDS RIGHT NOW.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE, ENSURING ENGAGEMENT OF ALL OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS AS WELL.

A COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION PLAN, ACCESS TO CHROMEBOOKS AND WI-FI, AS WELL AS NUTRITIONAL AND HEALTH SERVICES PLAN.

SO OUR TEAM PUT TOGETHER THIS PLAN.

BUT IT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU LAST MONTH, AND ONCE WE ARE WE HERE AND HAVE YOUR APPROVAL, WE WILL SEND THIS FORWARD TO APPROVAL WITH THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

[01:00:03]

OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. OKAY.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CCPS RFP, NUMBER 2415.

NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT.

DR. LAWSON. YES.

THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. IDEALLY, THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF I BELIEVE IT IS 13 CONTRACTS THAT WILL BE AWARDED TO SEE THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW SCHOOL.

AND AT THIS POINT, WE ARE ASKING FOR BOARD'S APPROVAL TO AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR SITE PREPARATION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I READ THE RECOMMENDATION? I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE A CONTRACT TO HORST EXCAVATING COMPANY FOR SITE WORK FOR THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $7,222,000.

EXCUSE ME. $7,221,430.

OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

FY 25 BUDGET RECOMMENDATION DR.

LAWSON. SO THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A RECOMMENDATION IN THE IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE THAT WHEN I SAY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD, TYPICALLY I'M CALLING IT ASKING FOR A VOTE.

THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE TONIGHT.

WE CANNOT ASK FOR A BUDGET VOTE UNTIL THE COUNTY HAS APPROVED THEIR BUDGET.

ONCE WE KNOW THE NUMBER THAT WILL COME FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WE WILL TURN AROUND AND PRESENT OUR BOARD WITH A BALANCED BUDGET TO BE APPROVED DURING THE MONTH OF JUNE. THAT SAID, WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE'VE PREPARED A PRESENTATION FOR YOU TO TO SHOW A MODEL OF WHAT A $4 MILLION CONTRIBUTION FROM THE BOARD TO OUR BUDGET, FROM THE FUND BALANCE.

SO THIS THIS MODEL WILL SHOW $4 MILLION USE OF FUND BALANCE.

AND IT WILL SHOW THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON US KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, AS SUPERINTENDENT, I WOULD NOT BE COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING A NUMBER HIGHER THAN THAT.

AND MISS SOPA HAS SOME OF THE INFORMATION SHE'LL SHARE WITH YOU.

AND AGAIN, I REALLY ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS AND DIALOG THROUGHOUT THIS.

I'LL PREFACE THIS WITH BY SAYING THAT THE IMPLICATION THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS $18 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE TO USE TOWARDS THE BUDGET IS JUST SIMPLY WRONG.

AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A BACK AND FORTH, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, AND MISS SOPA WILL LAY OUT LINE BY LINE THAT THE $18 MILLION IS NOT THERE TO USE AS A REVENUE SOURCE MOVING INTO FY 25.

AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS SOPA, DR.

HAMMER AND DR. BUCKLEY.

AND AGAIN, WE WOULD ENCOURAGE DIALOG FROM YOU ALL AS WE GO THROUGH THIS MISS SOPA.

SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.

LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS.

SO THIS IS THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FUND BALANCE.

SO KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FUND BALANCE IS CALCULATED AT THE END OF A FISCAL YEAR.

SO THIS IS CALCULATED AT THE END OF FY 23.

BECAUSE WHAT IT IS IS IT SHOWS US REVENUE MINUS EXPENSE.

AND IF YOU END THE YEAR WITH MORE REVENUE THAN EXPENSE, YOU END WITH A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE.

IF YOU END WITH MORE EXPENSE THAN REVENUE, YOU HAVE A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE.

ACTUALLY, AT THE END OF 23 WE HAD A NEGATIVE NUMBER.

SO WE REDUCED OUR FUND BALANCE AT THE END OF FY 23.

I'D LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT TOO.

SO THIS IS A MEASUREMENT THAT'S TAKEN AT THE END OF FY 23.

AND THEN THERE ARE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT YOU ASSIGN OR THAT YOU LABEL THE PARTS OF YOUR FUND BALANCE.

SO THE $18.7 MILLION IS OUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE.

THAT INCLUDES SPENDABLE MONEY AND NON SPENDABLE MONEY.

THE $7 MILLION HERE IS ASSIGNED AND IT'S ASSIGNED FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

SO ONE CHUNK OF THE MONEY IS CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.

THAT'S STATE FUNDING THAT WAS NOT SPENT IN FY 23 THAT WE WERE REQUIRED TO SPEND ON CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY IN FY 24 SO THAT'S PART OF THE FY 24 BUDGET. STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS.

THESE ARE FUNDS RAISED BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS LEFT OVER FROM FROM 23-24 THAT GETS CARRIED INTO THE FUND BALANCE CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.

IT CAN'T BE USED FOR ANYTHING.

WE WANT TO SO THAT MONEY WHILE IT IS A CARRYOVER IT STAYS RESTRICTED IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S USED.

THANK YOU. AND IT'S BUDGETED AS PART OF THE FY 24 BUDGET BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO SO.

[01:05:03]

AND APPROXIMATELY WHAT WHAT DOLLAR VALUE DO WE HAVE? $1.7 MILLION.

SO $1.7 MILLION OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE IS STUDENT MONEY IT'S NOT FOR OUR USE.

CAPITAL PROJECTS.

SO THIS IS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPEN DURING THE YEAR.

SO FOR EXAMPLE OUR PORTION OF THE SECURE ENTRANCES ARE PAID WITH THIS MONEY.

SO PLANS THAT WE HAD, WE LOOKED AT OUR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE LIST AND OUR OUR SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE SUBMITTED TO BE COVERED BY THE COUNTY FOR FY 24.

SO THOSE THINGS THAT WERE AT THE TOP OF OUR LIST THAT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR ARE LISTED AND ASSIGNED HERE AS FAR AS DOLLAR VALUES.

AND THEN WE HAVE A HEALTH CARE RESERVE.

WE WORK WITH A HEALTH CARE CONSULTANT WHO LOOKS AT OUR HEALTH CARE PROJECTIONS AND RECOMMENDS AN AMOUNT TO HAVE IN RESERVE FOR HEALTH CARE SINCE WE ARE SELF-FUNDED FOR HEALTH CARE. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY CLAIM THAT COMES IN FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ON THERE AND THEY'RE COVERED FAMILY MEMBERS, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE CLAIMS. AND SO THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO BE HELD IN RESERVE IN CASE OUR HEALTH CARE CLAIMS EXCEED WHAT WE HAVE BUDGETED THIS YEAR.

THIS NEXT AMOUNT, THE $6 MILLION AMOUNT IS OUR ASSIGNED UNASSIGNED AMOUNT.

AND THIS IS OUR AVAILABLE FOR SPENDING AMOUNT.

NOW THIS YEAR WE'VE ACTUALLY USED SOME OF THIS UNASSIGNED BECAUSE WHILE WE HAD SOME ASSIGNED MONEY FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, WE HAD SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE DIDN'T PLAN ON HAPPENING. SO THEY WERE CHILLERS AT RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL, PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT COME UP THAT YOU DON'T THINK THAT ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THEY DO WHEN YOU NEED MONEY FOR THAT, WE CAN GO TO OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

IN A RECENT FOX 45 INTERVIEW, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE INDICATED THAT THE COUNTY WOULD COVER US, SO TO SPEAK, IF WE GOT INTO A PINCH. YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN 18 MONTHS AGO.

18 MONTHS AGO, WE HAD A $2 MILLION ROOF PROJECT AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND WHEN THE PROJECT WAS FINISHED OUT, THE PROJECT WAS $40,000 SHORT.

NOW, HISTORICALLY IN CECIL COUNTY HISTORY, THAT $40,000 WOULD ALWAYS BE COVERED BY THE MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS FROM CECIL COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

WE REQUESTED THE $40,000 AND WE WERE TOLD NO, AND WE TURN AROUND WE HAD TO TAKE THAT MONEY OUT OF OUR FUND BALANCE.

SO THIS IDEA THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE COVERED SIMPLY HISTORY SAYS THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

THIS $4.8 MILLION IS OUR RESTRICTED OR OUR COMMITTED PART OF THE FUND BALANCE.

SO TO BALANCE THE FY 24 BUDGET, WE USE $2.068 MILLION JUST TO BALANCE THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

SO WE BUDGETED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND THEN THE ADDITIONAL THAT ACT UP TO THE $4.8 IS OUR BUDGET CONTINGENCY.

SO THE BOARD HAS A POLICY THAT 2%, WE MUST HAVE 2% OF THE OPERATING BUDGET AS FUND BALANCE.

THAT'S DOWN FROM 5%.

IT USED TO BE A 5% CONTINGENCY, BUT AT THE END OF FY 20, I BELIEVE WE COULD NOT MEET THAT 5% CONTINGENCY.

WE ONLY HAD 4.5% IN OUR FUND BALANCE.

AND SO THE BOARD REDUCED THE REQUIREMENT TO 2%.

SO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS PART OF OUR BOARD POLICY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ON HAND.

AND AGAIN, A LITTLE OVER $2 MILLION OF THIS WAS BUDGETED AS PART OF FY 24.

AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR NON SPENDABLE AT THE BOTTOM WHICH WAS PREPAID HEALTH CARE EXPENDITURES.

SO FOR SOMEONE TO IMPLY THAT WE CAN USE $18.7 MILLION TO BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WE CAN'T.

BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE ALREADY USED TO BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE STAND UNTIL THE END OF FY 24 TO SEE WHAT THERE IS IN THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WE CAN REASONABLY LOOK AT THIS AREA HERE, OUR UNASSIGNED, BECAUSE IT'S NOT EARMARKED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SO THAT'S WHY WHEN YOU HEAR DR.

LAWSON TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT FROM THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE CAN USE FOR FY 25, WE CAN SAY RIGHT HERE THAT THIS IS A SAFE POT OF MONEY.

IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR US TO TAKE THE $18.7.

WE'D BE TAKING STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS.

WE'D BE TAKING STATE MONEY THAT'S REQUIRED TO BE USED FOR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY.

SO THERE IS NOT $18.7 MILLION TO USE TO BALANCE FOR FY 25.

SO BEFORE WE CONTINUE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE ISSUE? BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE GROUNDWORK AND PREMISE OF SO MUCH DISCUSSION THAT'S OUT THERE RIGHT NOW IS OUR FUND BALANCE.

ANY QUESTIONS? WHERE WOULD MONEY BE THAT'S WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HAVING MONEY ALLOCATED JUST FOR PAYROLL WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE PAYROLL.

AND THEN SO THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD POINT.

YEAH. WHAT MR. FERDINANDO IS GETTING THERE IS THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY LIQUID.

AND WHEN I SAY THAT TYPICALLY EACH PAYROLL FRIDAY IS A PAYDAY IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SOMEWHERE AROUND 7 TO $7.5 MILLION WILL GO OUT THE DOOR TO OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR PAYCHECKS.

SO THAT'S HOW MONEY GOES OUT.

THAT'S JUST PAYROLL.

MONEY COMES IN FROM THE COUNTY EVERY MONTH.

SO IF THE COUNTY GIVES US $90 MILLION A YEAR, A 12TH OF THAT COMES EACH MONTH.

THE STATE GIVES US REVENUE EVERY OTHER MONTH.

SO IF THE STATE CONTRIBUTION IS $135 MILLION EVERY OTHER MONTH, WE WOULD GET A SIXTH OF THAT OR YOU KNOW, 25, $24 MILLION.

[01:10:07]

YOU NEVER WANT TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE NEXT DEPOSIT TO HONOR YOUR PAYCHECKS.

YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

AND THAT'S THAT'S JUST A FUNDAMENTAL POINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GENERALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO REMAIN LIQUID.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT ABOUT CASH FLOW, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP, IS THAT ALL OF OUR GRANTS ARE REIMBURSABLE.

SO WE DON'T JUST GET HANDED STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT MONEY.

WE HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY, SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AND GET REIMBURSED.

SAME THING WITH STATE AND COUNTY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THE CAPITAL MONEY FROM THE COUNTY, WE DO NOT RECEIVE A BLANK CHECK FROM THEM THAT WE CAN THEN SPEND FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.

WE HAVE TO SPEND THE MONEY, PAY THE BILLS, SUBMIT THEM FOR REIMBURSEMENT, AND THEN GET REIMBURSED.

SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT MONEY UP FRONT.

SO THE BUDGET IMPACT.

AT THE END OF FEBRUARY, THE BOARD APPROVED A BUDGET THAT SHOWED US NEEDING $21 MILLION ABOVE LOCAL SHARE TO MEET THAT BUDGET.

SO THE BUDGET THAT WE PROPOSED, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LOCAL SHARE THAT THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE, ACCORDING TO THE STATE CALCULATIONS, WE NEEDED $21 MILLION ABOVE LOCAL SHARE TO MAKE THAT BUDGET WORK.

INCLUDED IN THAT $21 MILLION WAS $4 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

SO IF YOU REMEMBER, AT THE TIME WHEN WE MET IN FEBRUARY, YOU CAME BACK, SAID YOU WANTED ADDITIONAL POSITIONS.

SO THERE WAS $4 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL POSITIONS BAKED INTO THAT, $21 MILLION OBVIOUSLY NOT INCLUDED IN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.

SO IF YOU REMOVE THOSE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF THE BUDGET, NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT WE NEED $17 MILLION ABOVE LOCAL SHARE JUST TO SUSTAIN WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR FY 24.

SO IF WE DON'T ADD THOSE 64 ADDITIONAL POSITIONS AND WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THE POSITIONS AND THE PROGRAMS AND THE WAY WE'RE DOING BUSINESS IN FY 24, WE NEEDED $17 MILLION ABOVE LOCAL SHARE TO SUSTAIN.

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE INCLUDED $4 MILLION OVER LOCAL SHARE IN HER BUDGET PROPOSAL.

WE HAVE A PLAN FOR $4 MILLION IN CCPS UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.

IT LEAVES US WITH A $9 MILLION SHORTFALL, WHICH IS WHAT YOU'LL SEE SOME OF WHAT OUR PLAN IS FOR THAT TONIGHT.

AGAIN QUESTIONS SO FAR? SO THIS IS ALL ASSUMING THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVES THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET.

YES. AS PRESENTED? YES. CORRECT.

GOOD EVENING TO PICK UP ON THE $9 MILLION FUNDING SHORTFALL YOU'LL NOTE HERE TWO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.

PROGRAM CUTS AND POSITION CUTS.

THIS TOTALS THE $9 MILLION.

THE $2,299,321 IS ROUGHLY 25% OF THAT $9 MILLION.

IF YOU'LL RECALL FROM OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THIS WINTER, ROUGHLY 80% OF OUR OVERALL NET BUDGET GOES TOWARDS PEOPLE.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE $6,797,008.

THE 88, 85.5 POSITIONS IS ROUGHLY 75% OF THE $9 MILLION SHORTFALL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED POSITION CUTS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

I WILL SAY THAT THE THE CUTS, THE NUMBER OF CUTS THAT ARE HERE ARE COMMENSURATE WITH THE WITH THE PERCENTAGES OF EACH OF THOSE EMPLOYEE GROUPS THAT WE HAVE.

NO ONE GROUP IS NECESSARILY OVER IDENTIFIED OR UNDER IDENTIFIED AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER.

SO THEY'RE COMMENSURATE WITH THE CURRENT PERCENT OF WORKFORCE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE WITHIN CCPS.

SO WHERE ARE WE LOOKING IN TERMS OF PROGRAM IMPACTS? I COULD READ THIS LIST TO YOU.

I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST, INCREASED CLASS SIZES WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEED TO CUT THE 55 AND A HALF TEACHING POSITIONS THAT WILL HAVE A DEFINITE IMPACT ON CLASS SIZES.

THE REST OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE HERE ARE ALL CRITICAL TO OUR OPERATION.

THEY'RE CRITICAL TO TO WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION AND INSTITUTION, PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CURRICULUM CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT.

HUGE. YOU THEN START TO GET INTO INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS, GIFTED AND TALENTED MEDIA DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AGAIN, THESE ARE PROGRAMS, LONG STANDING PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HELD HERE IN CECIL COUNTY, WHERE WE HAVE DEDICATED STAFF THAT WORK DAY IN AND DAY OUT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING THE FULL EDUCATION AND THE FULL BENEFIT AND COMPLEMENT OF INSTRUCTION NECESSARY FOR THEM TO MOVE OUT INTO OUR GREATER COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

ON THE KIND OF RIGHT SIDE THERE, YOU'LL START TO SEE SOME IMPACTS IN TERMS OF UPDATED SECURITY CAMERAS, NEW BUSSES.

SO AS WE LOOK TO MAINTAIN WHERE WE ARE IN THE TECHNOLOGY FRONT, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO ACCESS ALL OF OUR, OUR SOFTWARE AND

[01:15:03]

AND THEN YOU MOVE INTO ACTUAL PROGRAMING THAT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR STUDENTS MORE SO THAN WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AFTER SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, JUMP START MUSIC AND ATHLETICS. WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMIND THE BOARD, AS WELL AS THE AUDIENCE WHO'S PRESENT HERE AND ONLINE, THAT MANY OF THE VALUED SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE, THAT WE ENJOY IN EDUCATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY INCLUDED.

AND A PART OF THE FUNDING THAT COMES THROUGH BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION, AND THAT INCLUDES CONTROLLING CLASS SIZE, SAFETY AND SECURITY, MUSIC AND ART, WORLD LANGUAGE, EXTRACURRICULAR, ATHLETICS, TECHNOLOGY AND EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.

WE JUST WE SHARED THAT WITH YOU AT THE WORK SESSION LAST MONTH, BUT WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARED THIS WITH WITH THE GROUP AS A WHOLE.

SO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WILL HAVE A BUDGET IMPACT WILL BE ON OUR FAMILIES AND SOME COSTS THAT WILL BE ABSORBED BY FAMILIES.

BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED, THAT WILL INCLUDE COSTS FOR ALL COUNTY MUSIC AND FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

WE WILL ENGAGE IN A PAY TO PLAY MODEL, CTE CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURE EXAMS FOR OUR STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER PROGRAMS. AP EXAM COSTS WILL RETURN TO FAMILIES AND ALSO TRANSPORTATION TO OUR FAIR HILL NATURE CENTER, WHICH WE RETAIN AS A PART OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMING.

SO THESE COSTS WILL OFFSET THE BUDGET AND BE ABLE TO HELP US SUSTAIN THESE PROGRAMS, BUT AT THE COST TO FAMILIES.

ANOTHER COST THAT I DO THINK NEEDS TO BE NOTED IS SOME OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL.

I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. I HAVE A QUESTION.

SO LET'S SAY WHAT ABOUT OUR FARM FAMILIES? WOULD WE BE ABLE TO USE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS FOR FAMILIES SO STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS, WE CERTAINLY DO HAVE A PLAN FOR THEM.

OKAY. THAT WE WOULD WE ARE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR NEEDS.

GOOD QUESTION. THANK YOU.

WE NEED TO SPEAK TO THE INSTRUCTIONAL IMPACT.

I WAS A CLASSROOM TEACHER MYSELF, AND IF I'M PRESENTED WITH LARGER CLASS SIZES THAT FAMILIES AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND, THAT INCREASED CLASS SIZE IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES, EFFICIENT AND QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL FEEDBACK IS GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY COST OF THESE INCREASED CLASS SIZES.

WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION AND THE RESTRICTIONS THAT COME WITH THAT SPENDING.

WE ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY THE NEXT STEPS THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS BUDGET.

WE ARE LOOKING, ONCE WE RECEIVE THE FINAL BUDGET FROM THE COUNTY COUNCIL ON JUNE 4TH, I BELIEVE OUR GROUP WILL COME TOGETHER WITH HOPEFULLY A FINAL BUDGET TO YOU ON JUNE 12TH FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR FY 25.

WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY, WHICH IS PARAMOUNT TO OUR WORK.

SO BEFORE WE JUST OPEN IT UP, CAN I JUST ADD A COUPLE THINGS IN? YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASY TO, FOR A CYNIC TO ASK WHY NOW? WHY ARE THEY ANNOUNCING THESE CUTS NOW? AND THERE'S A VERY SIMPLE, STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I'M REALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME, EVERY LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBER HAS BEEN A PRINCIPAL FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

OUR PRINCIPALS NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY TEACHERS THEY HAVE.

THE HIGH SCHOOLS, BY AND LARGE, HAVE ALREADY SCHEDULED THEMSELVES.

THE SCHEDULING PROCESS, THE STAFFING PROCESS TAKES MONTHS, AND PRINCIPALS NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY TEACHERS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

WE'VE I CAN ASSURE YOU, STARTING TOMORROW, DR.

JOHNSON, DR. FOYE WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH PRINCIPALS AND FOR INSTANCE, RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.

YOU'RE LOSING FOUR POSITIONS THEREABOUTS.

IDENTIFY WHAT POSITIONS WILL BE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING.

SO NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THIS.

WE SIMPLY CANNOT WAIT FOR COUNTY APPROVAL TOO OFTENTIMES, IF YOU NOTICE RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT 55.5 TEACHER POSITION REDUCTIONS.

THE QUESTION I GET A LOT IS, YOU KNOW, WILL THAT WILL THAT PUT US IN A PLACE WHERE WE ARE SAYING TO THE BRAND NEW TEACHER JUST OUT OF TOWSON, YOU NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A IT'S ALMOST HUMAN NATURE TO WANT TO ASSIGN A PERSON TO A CUT, BECAUSE NOW WE FEEL BAD ABOUT THE PERSON LOSING THEIR JOB.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AS A HUMAN REACTION, BUT THE TRUE IMPACT OF THIS KIND OF MOVE IS CLASS SIZE, AND IT'S THE PRESSURE IN THE CLASSROOMS THAT'S THE REAL PRESSURE.

ONCE WE CAN GET PAST THE IDEA OF SOMEBODY LOSING THEIR POSITION RIGHT, WE LOSE UPWARDS OF 50, 60, 65 TEACHERS A YEAR.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY TIGHT TO RETIREMENT, RELOCATION, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO WE'RE RIGHT ABOUT AT THAT SPOT WHERE WE MAY NOT SAY TO PARTICULAR TEACHERS, YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB ANY LONGER.

[01:20:03]

WE WILL TRY TO MAKE THE PAIN AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.

IN THE YOUNGER YEARS, HIGH SCHOOLS WILL LIKELY TAKE, YOU KNOW, THE HEAVIEST BRUNT PROPORTIONALLY.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS GOING TO HURT.

DAILY, I GET EMAILS FROM FAMILIES SAYING I GOT ONE TODAY AND FORWARDED IT TO DR.

FOYE JUST 3 OR 4 HOURS AGO.

MY SON IS STRUGGLING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH MATH.

WE'RE PROVIDING TUTORING.

HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME.

THE TEACHER DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME DURING THE DAY WITH ALL THE OTHER KIDS TO ADDRESS HIS NEEDS.

HE'S SLOWLY FALLING BEHIND AND DROWNING IN MATH.

WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CALL. WE TRY.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS TOMORROW, THAT SAME CHILD IS WALKING INTO A CLASSROOM WITH 29 PEERS TO LEARN MATHEMATICS, AND THE TEACHER IS GOING TO SCRAMBLE BEST SHE CAN TO GET IT DONE.

SO THAT'S THE REAL IMPACT OF THESE KINDS OF REDUCTIONS.

AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE FREE TO OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.

I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION, DR.

LAWSON, IS THERE A FRAMEWORK FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS LIKE PAY TO PLAY? IS THERE LIKE WHAT IS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO YES, WE HAVE A MODEL.

WE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO SAY AT THIS MOMENT IT WILL COST X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS OR X NUMBER OF DOLLARS, MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS.

BUT WE'VE MODELED OUT A COUPLE THINGS AS WE GET CLOSER TO HAVING TO PROVIDE YOU ALL WITH A BALANCED BUDGET, WE WILL MAKE THAT CLEAR TO THE COMMUNITY WHAT IT WILL BE.

THANK YOU. AND, MR. DAVIS IT GOES THE SAME FOR ALL COUNTY CHOIR AND ALL COUNTY BAND.

I JUST HAVE A COMMENT ON THE PAY TO PLAY.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT WHETHER THERE'LL BE SOMETHING FOR OUR FARMS KIDS AND THAT TYPE OF THING, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO TO DO.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST THAT.

IT'S ALSO THOSE KIDS WHO MAY HAVE THE MEANS.

HOWEVER, THEY'RE THEY'RE NOT MAYBE THE STARTER ON A TEAM, OR THEY MAY NOT BE A STAR, BUT THEY STILL WANT TO TRY OUT FOR THE TEAM AND STILL BE A PART OF IT.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THAT IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY.

IT ALSO CHANGES THE COMPLETE DYNAMIC OF COACHING THOSE KIDS WHEN THEY'VE PAID FOR IT.

SO JUST WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

ALSO, WHERE DO WE WHERE DO WE MANAGE AND COLLECT AND WHO'S WHO'S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE ADMINISTRATORS AND POSITIONS.

WHO'S GOING TO MANAGE THE COLLECTION ACTIVITIES.

THERE ARE LOGISTICAL CHALLENGES WITH A PAY TO PLAY, THAT IS FOR SURE.

AND DOES A KID NOT PAY? AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY'RE NOT PLAYING ON FRIDAY BECAUSE OF LIKE, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH. AND IF AND IF A STUDENT PLAYS OR PAYS AND THEY DON'T GET THE AMOUNT OF PLAYING TIME THEY THINK THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I'VE PAID TO BE PART OF THIS AND NOW I'M NOT.

IT OPENS UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

JUST ANOTHER QUESTION.

I KNOW FOR SOME ACTIVITIES, WE MAY BE ABLE TO REACH INTO DIFFERENT GRANTS.

I MEAN, ARE WE I GUESS WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR, SAY, LIKE, OUR DRUG EDUCATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.

CAN WE RELY ON GRANTS? WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING IN THAT? MRS. SOPA. I DON'T THINK GRANTS ARE A RELIABLE SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE OUT YEARS.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR NEXT YEAR, AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY, THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

BUT TO START TO PLAN OUT 5, 10, 15 YEARS GRANTS TEND TO BE VERY UNPREDICTABLE.

PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR GRANTS TO AUGMENT THINGS, SUCH AS PAYING TO BE IN BAND OR PAYING TO PLAY FOOTBALL.

THERE'S NOT MUCH OUT THERE IN THE WAY OF GRANTS FOR THAT KIND OF THING.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT A SCALE WE WE COST IT OUT ONE MODEL THAT HAD STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL PAYING $100 PER SEASON, AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS PAYING $50 PER SEASON, AND IT IT WAS UPWARDS OF $350,000 IN REVENUE.

SO THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF SCALE WISE, THE KIND OF THING YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

AND I KNOW WITH IN PARTICULAR DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY REALLY IMPORTANT IN OUR COUNTY, I KNOW WE PARTNER WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOURCE ON THAT, AND I KNOW THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR GRANTS, AND THERE WERE SOME THAT THEY THEY WERE HOPING TO GET TO HAVE INSTRUCTORS IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND I DON'T THINK THEY WON THAT GRANT.

DOESN'T MEAN THEY WON'T TRY AGAIN, BUT OTHER COMMENTS QUESTIONS.

JUST ANOTHER CONCERN THAT I HAVE OVER GIFTED AND TALENTED BEING CUT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE WE HAVE A LOT OF WE HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT HAVE CHALLENGES AND WE TRY TO MEET THOSE AND IT'S DIFFICULT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF KIDS THAT NEED TO BE CHALLENGED. AND BY TAKING THAT AWAY, I FEEL LIKE THAT THAT DAMAGES THEIR EDUCATION AND EVEN PUTS THEM AT AT RISK OF OF US HAVING ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEM, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE BORED, IF THEY'RE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED, THEN THAT CAUSES OTHER ISSUES, CAUSES BEHAVIOR ISSUES WHEN YOU'RE BORED, RIGHT? YES. I MEAN, THERE IS NO I'M SORRY.

[01:25:06]

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

I THOUGHT IT WAS IN THE BUDGET THOUGH THAT I KNOW IT'S A SMALL PART OF THE BUDGET, BUT THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAID SHE WOULD PAY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS.

SO MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS YEARS AGO.

WELL, ACTUALLY, BACK IN 2017, THE COUNTY RAN AN INTRAMURAL SPORTS PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS.

AND MY FIRST YEAR AS SUPERINTENDENT, WE CHANGED IT TO TRUE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS, WHERE BOHEMIA MANOR PLAYS RISING SUN.

AND YOU KNOW, PERRYVILLE PLAYS ELKTON AND IT'S GROWN.

IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLY SUCCESSFUL.

PROBABLY UPWARDS OF 800 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN SOME LEVEL.

I THINK I SPEAK FOR THE ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, MRS. SEXTON IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INTEREST IN GOING BACK TO AN INTRAMURAL MODEL, WHICH IS WHAT IT WAS.

WELL, I KNOW THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE DONE ALWAYS, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD ALSO COST THEY WOULD TYPICALLY GO THROUGH PARKS AND REC, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THERE WOULD BE A COST FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO AND IT WAS A PAY TO PLAY MODEL AND IT WAS A PAID IT WAS A PAY TO PLAY MODEL BACK THEN.

YOU'RE ATTRACTING A DIFFERENT YOU'RE ATTRACTING A DIFFERENT GROUP OF MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES.

AND I THINK THAT IT NOT AS MANY IN WHAT I SAW.

DO WE HAVE ANY CLARIFICATION FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WHETHER THAT $100,000 THAT SHE WAS GOING TO DO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS IS IN THAT $4 MILLION THAT ALREADY THAT SHE'S GIVEN US, OR IS SHE TALKING? SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US AN EXTRA $100,000.

MY UNDERSTANDING IT IS NOT IN THE $4 MILLION.

AND THAT SHE WOULD SIMPLY ASK PARKS AND REC TO RUN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL INTRAMURAL PROGRAM IN A PAY TO PLAY MODEL, AS WE HAD DONE BACK IN 2014 THROUGH 17. SO REALLY, SHE AND THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION ON MY PART.

THAT'S AN ASSUMPTION.

SO JUST AGAIN AND I KNOW THERE'S, YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE PRINCIPALS.

WE WILL TALK START TALKING TO PRINCIPALS TOMORROW ABOUT SOME OF THE REAL SPECIFICS ABOUT WHAT THIS IS GOING TO MEAN.

AND, YOU KNOW, LIBRARY MEDIA AND GIFTED AND TALENTED, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, THERE'S 21 POSITIONS IN THERE.

WE HOPE TO FIND A WAY TO DO 21.

YEAH, 11 MEDIA AND 10 GIFTED AND TALENTED.

CORRECT. YEAH.

SO WE WILL WORK TO SEE HOW WE CAN TRY TO THREAD THE NEEDLE TO SOME LEVEL TO PROVIDE SOME LEVEL OF SERVICE.

BUT AGAIN THIS IS NOT EASY.

AND AND YOU SAW THE WAY THE FUND BALANCE BREAKS OUT.

YOU KNOW IF WE TAKE $4 MILLION OF FUND BALANCE AND USE IT FOR NEXT YEAR WHEN WE SIT HERE ONE YEAR FROM TODAY, WE DO NOT HAVE THAT $4 MILLION THAT IS GONE.

ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION NOT TO BE A PESSIMIST OR ANYTHING, BUT ARE WE PREPARED TO COME BACK WITH A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL IF THE COUNTY DOES NOT GIVE US WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US? HOW DIFFICULT A PIVOT IS THAT? YES WE ARE. WE'RE READY.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE WE SAW IN JANUARY.

WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE IN THE ROOM WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY AT RISING SUN.

I FORGOT TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT COACH ED HAD PASSED AWAY, THE RESPONSE OF THE SCHOOLS.

AND I DIDN'T BRING THAT UP.

I MEAN, I HAD I HAVE SO MUCH I COULD SAY, BUT I'M JUST NOT ABLE TO.

SO I'M BUT THEY WERE THE KIDS THAT WERE AT SCHOOL THAT DAY NEEDED SOMEBODY.

AND I FEEL THAT THE MORE WE GET INTO THIS AND THE MORE WE REDUCE STAFF, WE'RE GOING TO START SAYING, STAY HOME AND LET YOUR PARENTS DEAL WITH THIS.

AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY AT HOME TO HELP THEM.

I KNOW THAT AT LEAST TWO OF THE PRINCIPAL, ONE PRINCIPAL AND ONE ASSISTANT HAD A KID IN THEIR IN THEIR OFFICE ALL DAY ON MONDAY.

I KNOW THAT THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS WERE BOOKED.

SOME WENT TO THEIR MEDIA SPECIALISTS BECAUSE THEY JUST WANTED TO BE SOMEWHERE QUIET WHERE THEY COULD, YOU KNOW, KIND OF DEAL WITH IT BY READING OR JUST SITTING.

AND THEY ALL NEEDED THAT.

AND THE MORE WE REDUCE THIS, LIKE, I KNOW THIS DON'T HAPPEN EVERY DAY.

BUT THEY DO HAPPEN OFTEN ENOUGH TO WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE SAYING, LET'S GET BY WITH JUST THE BARE MINIMUM AND SO, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE ANY PLAN AT ALL WHEN WE HAVE ANY SORT OF IMPACT LIKE THAT.

AND WE'VE HAD SOME PEOPLE SAY WE DON'T NEED ALL THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS THAT WE HAVE.

THEY ARE BUSY DOING THESE TYPES OF THINGS ALL THE TIME, TALKING TO STUDENTS THAT HAVE TROUBLE AT HOME, A DEATH IN THE FAMILY THEY'RE CONSTANTLY DISCIPLINED AND T HIS JUST HITS HARDER NOW SPEAKING OF SPORTS, THINKING ABOUT CUTTING THEM OR PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY AND THOSE GIRLS THAT NEEDED THAT ON MONDAY NOT HAVING IT. WHEN THEY WERE CRIPPLED, I MEAN, THEY REALLY NEEDED TO BE THERE WITH THEIR WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND THEIR STUDENT, FELLOW STUDENT ATHLETES TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH A TRAGEDY IN LIFE. AND I DON'T KNOW, IT JUST IT'S SO DARN CALLOUS, IN MY OPINION, TO BE CUTTING THIS MUCH FOR MORE THAN JUST.

[01:30:09]

IT'S NOT BEING FAIR TO THE GENERATIONS BEHIND US.

AND FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE RATIONALE FOR NOT FUNDING SCHOOLS.

IT'S SHORTSIGHTED.

IT JUST IS. AND SO THIS GENERATION OF STUDENTS WON'T GET WHAT MOST OF US GOT.

AND THAT'S THAT'S PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING FOR ME.

AND IT'S NOT EVEN THE BARE MINIMUM.

IT'S LESS THAN THE BARE MINIMUM, RIGHT.

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE BARE MINIMUM IS WHAT WE SEE ALREADY.

WE WERE LOOKING TO JUST SUSTAIN THAT ADD $4 MILLION.

IT'S ALREADY TOO MUCH.

YEAH, IT. I HOST TWO GROUPS.

ONE IS THE SECONDARY SUPERINTENDENTS TEACHING AND LEARNING COUNCIL, AND THE SECOND IS THE ELEMENTARY.

YESTERDAY WE MET WITH THE SECONDARY GROUP, AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EVERY SECONDARY SCHOOL.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THE REAL MEATY ISSUES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GROUP HAS APPROVED AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IS JUNIOR OPTION.

OKAY. SO THE STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE KNOW WHAT SENIOR OPTION IS.

SENIOR OPTION IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A CLASS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO SCHOOL.

OKAY. SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT? ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A, YOU KNOW, 17, 18 YEAR OLD.

YOU HAVE YOUR LICENSE, YOU DON'T HAVE A FIRST BLOCK.

YOU COME IN AT 9:30, A QUARTER TO 10:00.

OKAY. WE ARE NOW GOING TO CREATE JUNIOR OPTION.

SO JUNIOR OPTION MEANS IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CLASS YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME TO SCHOOL AS AN 11TH GRADER.

JUNIOR OPTION ISN'T BEING DONE BECAUSE IT'S THIS CUTTING EDGE EDUCATIONAL APPROACH.

JUNIOR OPTION IS BEING DONE BECAUSE WE CAN'T SERVICE THE KIDS.

SO I JUST QUESTION PEOPLE WHO WHO DON'T WANT TO INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WHAT IS SOPHOMORE OPTION NEXT? AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY WE'VE GOT TO START SUPPORTING ALL OF THESE STUDENTS? AND IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR ME, TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU.

OKAY WITH THAT.

I GUESS THAT'S ME. THANK YOU GUYS.

JUST REAL QUICKLY, MISS SOPA, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

JUST HOURS AND HOURS ON THIS STUFF.

AND YOU KNOW YOUR QUESTION, MR. DAVIS HOW READY ARE WE TO PIVOT IN THE EVENT THE COUNCIL DOES NOT APPROVE THE BUDGET AND WE HAVE TO CUT EVEN FURTHER? WE'RE READY. IT WOULD BE BLOODIER, BUT WE'RE READY.

ALL RIGHT. OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET UPDATE DR.

LAWSON. MISS SOPA CONTINUES.

OKAY. CAN'T GET THE PAGE TO MOVE.

IS IT THE. CAN I DO IT WITH THE MOUSE? OKAY. THERE WE GO SORRY.

DR. LAWSON FILLED IN FOR ME LAST MONTH, SO I'M A LITTLE RUSTY.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, I DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I WAS WATCHING FROM HOME.

I WAS WATCHING.

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS THE LETTER AND THE EXACT REPORT THAT IS SENT TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR APPROVAL.

AND SO THIS FIRST PAGE IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE INCREASE IN REVENUE AND THE INCREASE IN EXPENSE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.

SO THIS IS SUMMARIZING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, KEEPING IN MIND THAT OUR CHANGE IN REVENUE MUST ALWAYS EQUAL OUR CHANGE IN EXPENSE TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.

THE NUMBERS ON THAT FIRST PAGE CORRELATE TO THE NUMBERS ON THIS PAGE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

AND ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS ADDITIONAL REVENUE, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY EASY TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, OH, LOOK AT ALL THIS GRANT MONEY.

LOOK AT THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING.

NONE OF THESE ARE SUPPORTING CLASSROOM TEACHERS IN A CLASSROOM.

THEY'RE ALL WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE NECESSARY, THAT ARE HELPFUL, BUT THEY'RE NOT PAYING FOR ADDING CLASSROOM TEACHERS TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE OR CHANGE CLASS SIZE.

SO WE HAVE A COUPLE SOURCES OF OTHER REVENUE.

WE HAVE A DONATION FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION FOR SCIENCE CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AT ELKTON HIGH.

WE HAVE A BEPAC DONATION FOR SUPPORT STAFF AT THE YEAR ACTIVITY.

WE HAVE A READ-A-THON DONATION FOR CECIL MANOR FOR 3D PRINTERS AND PRINTER FILAMENT, AND WE HAVE A GREAT WOLF LODGE DONATION TO PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TO IMPROVE STAFF AREAS.

THOSE ARE OUR OTHER REVENUE INCREASES.

RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.

THIS IS ONE LARGE GRANT.

IT'S A CTE LEADERSHIP GRANT.

THIS IS PURCHASING A HEAVY EQUIPMENT SIMULATOR AND TUITION FOR STUDENTS TO USE.

HOW TO LEARN HOW TO USE THIS HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

AND IT'S IN COORDINATION WITH UTILITY TRAIN.

AND SO STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO USE THIS SIMULATOR TO PRACTICE AND RECEIVE CERTIFICATIONS.

[01:35:07]

AND THEN THE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO LEARN HOW TO USE IT.

WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL FEDERAL REVENUE.

THIS IS A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND PARAPROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, SUMMER PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

SO THIS IS ALL AGAIN SUMMER WORK FOR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AT THESE IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS TO THE TUNE OF $507,000. SOME ADDITIONAL TITLE THREE GRANT FUNDING TO SUPPORT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.

AND THEN DOWN HERE YOU CAN SEE A DONATION FROM CECILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR ADDITIONAL MEDIA BOOKS.

WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT CECILTON IS USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS, PROBABLY MONEY THAT BECAME THAT THEY RAISED THROUGH BOOK FAIRS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT SO THAT THEY CAN PURCHASE ADDITIONAL BOOKS FOR THEIR MEDIA CENTER.

ALL OF THESE NUMBERS CORRELATE TO THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT YOU SAW ON THE FIRST PAGE.

SO THIS TAKES US THROUGH THE NEXT PAGE AND IT'S VERY SMALL HERE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH IT. BUT THESE ARE THE ACTUAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS, BUDGET TRANSFERS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL SHOWING YOU ANY TIME THAT WE'VE CROSSED STATE CATEGORY.

SO TRANSFERRING FROM ONE CATEGORY TO THE NEXT OR ANY NEW REVENUE THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND HOW IT'S ALLOCATED ACCORDING TO STATE CATEGORY.

AND THEN THIS BREAKS OUR BUDGET DOWN INTO OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET AND OUR TOTAL BUDGET.

SO KEEP IN MIND ON EACH OF THESE WE DISPLAY THE BUDGET BY REVENUE.

THEN I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THIS TODAY, I APOLOGIZE.

WE DISPLAY IT BY STATE CATEGORY, AND THEN WE DISPLAY IT BY OBJECT.

SO AGAIN, KEEPING IN MIND THAT YOUR ORIGINAL BUDGET PLUS ANY YEAR TO DATE AMENDMENTS WILL EQUAL YOUR CURRENT BUDGET.

SO UNRESTRICTED, RESTRICTED AND THEN OUR TOTAL BUDGET WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR UNRESTRICTED AND YOUR RESTRICTED TOGETHER.

AGAIN, THE THREE DIFFERENT CHARTS ON ONE PAGE ARE SHOWING YOU THE SAME BUDGET IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.

THIS PAGE IS ONE OF OUR THREE YEAR SUMMARY.

JUST WE LIKE TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW WE'RE DOING COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS.

THIS IS REALLY LOOKED PRETTY MUCH THE SAME ALL YEAR.

NONPUBLIC SPECIAL EDUCATION, NONPUBLIC COSTS ARE UP.

IN FACT WE'RE OVER BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS.

SO THOSE ARE STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE A PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE OVER BUDGET FOR THAT.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, WE'RE UP A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR AS FAR AS WHAT WE PAID FOR NEW BUSSES AND OUR CONTRACTOR COSTS.

HEALTH CARE AGAIN IS UP.

WE'RE $2 MILLION AHEAD OF WHERE WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

AND WHEN I SAY AHEAD, I SHOULD REALLY SAY BEHIND $2 MILLION MORE IN EXPENDITURES AT THIS POINT THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR.

AND CAPITAL OUTLAY IS UP AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE $700,000 THAT WE PUT INTO SECURE ENTRANCES AT RISING SUN AND CONOWINGO.

SO THAT SKEWS THAT NUMBER A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS YEAR.

AND THE LAST PAGE JUST SHOWS BY ROLL UP CODE OR DEPARTMENT WHERE WE STAND SO FAR THIS YEAR.

NOTHING THAT'S REALLY AN ANOMALY UNTIL, YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED NONPUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SPECIAL ED AGAIN THERE'S NON PUBLIC PROGRAMS ARE EXCEEDING THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.

ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU MISS. NO QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MISS SOPA. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $1,023,903 AS PRESENTED.

YOU'VE HEARD DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

MISS OLSON.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD, AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM AS A REMINDER.

THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE MEETING IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH REASONABLE, CONTENT NEUTRAL AND VIEWPOINT NEUTRAL PARAMETERS.

THE BOARD WILL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER.

THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED.

THE GUIDELINES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

THE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOTTED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

[01:40:03]

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 WILL HEAR THIS BELL.

PERSONNEL MATTERS, PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE AND OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, AND SPECIFIC DISCIPLINARY MATTERS OF STUDENTS MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED.

ABUSIVE PUBLIC 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 ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.

THIS EVENING WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE LEAH IDO AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SEAN BRIM.

AND MISS IDO IF YOU WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON ON THE MICROPHONE TILL YOU SEE THE GREEN.

THANK YOU, MR. BRIM, IF YOU NEED THAT NOW.

SURE. AND A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE CORNER OF THE TABLE.

YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR WRITTEN REMARKS IN THE BOX.

YOU SAID PUSH A BUTTON.

I'M SORRY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. YOU ARE SET.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

OKAY. MY NAME IS LEAH IDO.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, I'M THE MOM OF A FIFTH GRADER AT BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

MY DAUGHTER WAS BULLIED FOR MOST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND HAS SAID SHE WANTED TO END HER LIFE ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

THIS YEAR SHE WAS CALLED A SLUT, TOLD SHE SHOULD BE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, WAS MADE FUN OF FOR HER WEIGHT, AMONGST OTHER THINGS.

IN INSTANCES OF MY DAUGHTER REPORTING THE BULLYING SHE HAS HAD HER RECESS MINUTES TAKEN AWAY AND MADE HER TO SPEND HER LUNCH TIME IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE ALONE.

NOBODY NEVER NOTIFIED ME FROM THE SCHOOL AT ALL.

I NEVER HEARD FROM ANYBODY DURING THIS TIME.

MY CHILD REPORTED THE BULLYING TO MANY ADULTS MANY TIMES IN SCHOOL.

NOT ONE TIME WAS THERE ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION TAKEN EXCEPT AGAINST MY CHILD.

MY DAUGHTER EXPRESSED HER, EXPRESSED HER GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TWO TIMES THIS YEAR, ABOUT TWO MONTHS APART, THAT SHE HAD SUICIDAL FEELINGS.

ON MY WAY TO THE SCHOOL THE SECOND TIME I DID CALL DR.

LAWSON'S OFFICE, HE WAS WALKING INTO A MEETING, BUT I DID NEVER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK FROM HIM.

WHEN I ARRIVED TO THE SCHOOL, THE PRINCIPAL TRIED GIVING ME REASONS FOR WHY THIS IS GOING ON.

THEY HAVE THE SAME FRIEND GROUPS.

THEY WON'T STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER, AND I ASKED ABOUT MEETING WITH THE GIRL AND HER MOM TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT, AND I WAS TOLD THEY DON'T WANT TO REFEREE PARENTS AND THAT WASN'T AN OPTION FOR US.

I ASKED THREE TIMES THIS SCHOOL YEAR FOR THAT.

WHEN I ASKED WHAT THEY WERE DOING ABOUT IT, I WAS MET WITH WE CHANGED THEIR CLASSES.

WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. WE'VE EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE SAME CLASSES.

I TOOK MY DAUGHTER OFF THE SCHOOL BUS.

THEY SAW EACH OTHER AT LUNCH AND IN RECESS AND IN THE HALLWAYS.

I PROMISE MYSELF THAT I WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO LEARN IN AN ATMOSPHERE FREE FROM BULLYING, HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND RETALIATION.

I LEFT MESSAGES EVERYWHERE I COULD WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, INCLUDING GOVERNOR MOORE'S OFFICE.

I WAS CONTACTED BY MR. BRAD ENGEL FROM THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD THE FOLLOWING DAY.

EVERYONE I ORIGINALLY CONTACTED STARTED CONTACTING ME BACK, AND EVERY TIME I SPOKE WITH SOMEBODY NEW, THEY SAID, I HEARD YOU REACHED OUT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, NOT, HEY, I GOT YOUR MESSAGES AND HEARD FROM YOU.

AFTER FINALLY GAINING SOME TRACTION FROM THE COUNTY, I WAS PUT IN TOUCH WITH DAWN FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH PANEL.

SHE'S AN ANGEL.

ONE OF THE OPTIONS WE HAD WAS MEETING WITH EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

DURING THAT MEETING, I REALIZED THE OTHER PARENTS WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH MY DAUGHTER UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHICH LINED UP TO THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS IN THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR'S OFFICE SAYING THAT SHE WANTED TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

I LOST MY FATHER AT FIVE YEARS OLD FROM SUICIDE, SO IT'S SOMETHING I DO TAKE EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, AND IT'S SOMETHING HER AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

IN THE UNITED STATES 1 IN 3 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE BULLIED 20 TO 30% OF CHILDREN BULLIED HAVE HAD THOUGHTS ABOUT SUICIDE AND THAT'S JUST WHAT'S REPORTED.

GIRLS AGES 10 TO 14 ARE AT A HIGHER RISK OF ATTEMPTING OR COMMITTING SUICIDE THAN ANY OTHER AGE GROUP, AND ABOUT 4400 DEATHS OF CHILDREN PER YEAR IN OUR COUNTRY ARE DUE TO SUICIDE. IT'S THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF MINERS IN THE UNITED STATES, PER THE CDC WEBSITE.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A PARENT HAS TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS TO GET HELP WITH BULLYING AND HARASSMENT AT SCHOOL, WHEN THERE'S A STATEWIDE POLICY THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. WHY IS NOBODY TAKING THE SITUATION SERIOUSLY UNTIL I CONTACTED GOVERNOR MOORE'S OFFICE? WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE BULLYING POLICY ON PAGE 20 OF THE CCPS STUDENT HANDBOOK TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS? AND WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO DON'T HAVE PARENTS WILLING TO FIGHT AS I AM? WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE KIDS? UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF THOSE KIDS WILL BECOME PART OF THE STATISTIC I DESCRIBED IN MY DAUGHTER WILL NOT.

WHAT WILL THE SCHOOL BOARD DO TO ENSURE PARENTS AND STAFF ARE FULLY AWARE OF ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, LIKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH PANEL, AND WHAT ACTIONS WILL

[01:45:01]

THANK YOU.

SEAN BRIM, FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER.

I'M SEAN BRIM OF NORTHEAST.

BOOKS SAVE LIVES, SO KEEP READING.

THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT HB 785 HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR IS NOW THE LAW OF THE LAND.

I'VE BORROWED THE MOTTO BOOKS SAVED LIVES.

SO KEEP READING BECAUSE IT'S THE BEST ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE ME AN ENTIRE ESSAY TO EXPLAIN.

NEXT, I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF NEWS FOR THE BOARD.

AFTER THE FUND CCPS CECIL SOLIDARITY RALLY ON FEBRUARY 6TH, PRESIDENT GREGORY THREW OUT THE MEETING AUDIENCE AFTER A DISRUPTION BY A REPUBLICAN IN THE COUNCIL MEETING THAT EVENING. THIS RESULTED IN TWO OPEN MEETINGS ACT COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE HORNBERGER GREGORY ADMINISTRATION, AND I RECEIVED AN UPDATE ABOUT THE COMPLAINT YESTERDAY.

TO MISS HUNTER AND MR. BRIM DUE TO THE WORKLOAD OF THE COMPLIANCE BOARD, AS WELL AS NOVEL ISSUES RAISED BY THE COMPLAINTS, THE COMPLIANCE BOARD HEREBY ISSUES THIS STATEMENT OF DELAY IN YOUR CASE.

THE COMPLAINTS OVER THE INCOMPETENCE OF JACKIE GREGORY IS ABOUT TO MAKE NEW PRECEDENT UNDER THE STATE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

NEXT, THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL IN TECHNOCRATIC LANGUAGE REMINISCENT OF EXECUTIVE HORNBERGER, GET OFF MY LAWN, SUGGESTED THAT HORNBERGER FILE HER SO-CALLED ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST DR.

LAWSON WITH EITHER THE COUNTY OR STATE ETHICS COMMISSION INSTEAD, ONE WONDERS WHY SHE HAD NOT DONE SO.

FIRST, SHE CANNOT DO SO BECAUSE FILING AN ETHICS COMPLAINT IS CONFIDENTIAL.

THE COMPLAINANT WAIVES THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT IT, AND WHICH WOULD NOT SERVE HER GOAL OF SCORING CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS.

SECOND, THE CECIL COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSION NO LONGER EXISTS.

ONLY ONE OF THE LAST FOUR PEOPLE APPOINTED ARE NOW SERVING UNDER AN UNEXPIRED TERM OF OFFICE.

I HAVE FILED A SECOND OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT OVER THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY HELD A MEETING WITHOUT A QUORUM TO DO BUSINESS.

MY COLLEAGUE, ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES, HAS ALSO FILED HIS OWN COMPLAINT WITH THE STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

MY OPEN MEETINGS COMPLAINT NUMBER THREE WILL BE OVER THE FORTHCOMING MAY 23RD COUNTY BUDGET HEARING, WHICH THIS YEAR IS NOT GOING TO BE AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, BUT INSTEAD IT'S GOING TO BE THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING ON CHESAPEAKE BOULEVARD.

JACKIE GREGORY WANTS TO INFRINGE ON THE PUBLIC'S FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT FOR THEIR VOICES TO BE HEARD OVER THE COMPLETE DISASTER THAT WILL RESULT BECAUSE OF THE HORNBERGER ADMINISTRATION'S INCOMPETENT SHORTCHANGING OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR PARTISAN POLITICAL REASONS.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THIS IN MY LIFETIME.

I AM A FOURTH GENERATION RESIDENT OF CECIL COUNTY.

UNTIL 2021, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ALIKE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AGREE ON AT LEAST ONE THING THAT WE LIKE OUR SCHOOLS, WE LOVE OUR SCHOOLS. WE ARE PROUD OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND REGARDLESS OF ALL THE DEFERRED MAINTENANCE THAT HAS BEEN BUILDING UP OVER DECADES, POLITICIANS, VOTERS AND TAXPAYERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AT LEAST AGREE THAT WE KEEP OUR SCHOOLS GOING BECAUSE WE LOVE OUR SCHOOLS.

RODNEY BREWER, FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY BERGMAN DEBUS.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, BOARD MEMBERS, DR.

LAWSON AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT.

MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ABOUT A BOOK I RECENTLY READ.

AS WE ALL KNOW, MEMORIAL DAY IS THE 27TH OF MAY THIS YEAR.

THE BOOK I PLAN TO SHARE IS VERY APPROPRIATE.

THE TITLE OF THE BOOK IS BEYOND VALOR, WRITTEN BY JOHN IRWIN AND WILLIAM DOYLE.

IT'S A TRUE STORY ABOUT HENRY EUGENE IRWIN.

JOHN IRWIN'S GRANDFATHER, WHO WENT BY THE NICKNAME OF RED FOR HIS RED HAIR.

THE TIME SETTING IS WORLD WAR TWO.

THE YEAR 1945.

RED AND HIS CREW ARE IN A B-29 IN THE SKIES OVER JAPAN.

THE MISSION TO DROP INCENDIARY BOMBS ON THE MILITARY BASES AND INDUSTRIES TO BRING JAPAN TO ITS SURRENDER.

I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A PARAPHRASE FROM PAGES 69 TO 73.

THAT DAY, SOMETHING WENT TERRIBLY WRONG.

THE CINERARY CONTAINER WAS SUPPOSED TO DROP SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET BEFORE IT DETONATED TO A MID-AIR SHOWER OF FIRE, BUT IT BACKFIRED INTO THE PLANE.

RED RECALLS, IT TOOK THE HAIR OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

IT TOOK MY RIGHT EAR OFF.

IT BLINDED ME.

PHOSPHORUS WAS ALL OVER ME AND BURNING.

SMOKE WAS FILLING THE PLANE.

NOW RED HAD BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR A LONG TIME, AND WHAT HE DID NEXT NATURALLY CAME TO HIM.

HE PRAYED, OH LORD I NEED YOUR HELP NOW.

AS SOON AS HE UTTERED THE PRAYER, RED FELT THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THREE THINGS HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE.

[01:50:05]

SECOND, HIS MIND LOCKED ON THE SLIM CHANCE HE HAD TO SAVE EVERYONE'S LIFE TO FIND THE BOMB AND THROW IT OUT THE WINDOW.

AND THIRD, AND THIS IS WHERE THE STORY BECOMES TRULY COSMIC.

HE SENSED THE PRESENCE OF ANGELS NEAR HIM AND THEY GAVE HIM A CLEAR MESSAGE GO, GO, GO, YOU CAN MAKE IT.

AND WITH THOSE WORDS IN MIND, HE RECALLS, I WAS BLIND, BUT MANAGED TO FIND THE GRENADE.

I COULD TELL THE PLANE WAS GOING DOWN.

RED FOUND THE FIREBALL, SCOOPED IT UP WITH HIS BARE HANDS THROUGH THE THICK SMOKE.

RED STUNNED HIS CREWMATES AS THEY BEHELD A BLIND MAN ENVELOPED IN FLAMES, STUMBLING THROUGH THE AIRCRAFT TOWARD THE WINDOW.

AND FOR RED'S DISPLAY OF COURAGE, AND AT THE RISK OF HIS LIFE AND BEYOND, THE CALL OF DUTY, RED WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR.

RED SAVED THE LIVES OF 12 CREWMATES.

IN THE BIBLE, JESUS SAID, GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN.

A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIEND.

AND JESUS CAME TO EARTH TO TAKE AWAY MY SINS AND SAVE ME FROM THE WRATH OF GOD, AND TO DEMONSTRATE HE HAD POWER OVER DEATH.

HE ROSE AGAIN JUST LIKE HE SAID HE WOULD.

LIFE HERE ON THIS EARTH IS TEMPORARY AND WE WILL ALL MEET DEATH.

BUT JESUS SAID, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM WOULD NOT PERISH, BUT WOULD HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BREWER. LINDSAY BERGMAN DEBUS.

AND THE NEXT SPEAKER I HAVE IS ANGELA SCARENEY.

I'M NOT SURE IF SHE'S PRESENT THIS EVENING.

GOOD. HI, I'M LINDSAY BERGMAN DEBUS OF ELKTON.

THE ETHICS OF DR.

LAWSON WERE RECENTLY CALLED INTO QUESTION BY SOMEONE WHO DISBANDED HER ENTIRE ETHICS COMMITTEE AND REPLACED IT WITH HER FRIENDS.

ACCUSING SOMEONE OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS WHILE PRACTICING QUESTIONABLE ETHICS ONESELF IS NOT ONLY HYPOCRITICAL, BUT ALSO DEEPLY UNETHICAL.

THIS DOESN'T SURPRISE ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING ALONG THE LAST FEW MONTHS OR YEARS TO SEE HOW THE SCHOOLS HAVE SOMEHOW BECOME THE ENEMY OF THE HORNBERGER ADMINISTRATION AND HER FOLLOWERS. ACCUSING OTHERS OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS WITHOUT UPHOLDING SIMILAR STANDARDS O NESELF PERPETUATES A CULTURE OF DOUBLE STANDARDS AND MORAL RELATIVISM. IT SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT ETHICS ARE ONLY RELEVANT WHEN CONVENIENT, AND CAN BE DISREGARDED WHEN THEY STAND IN THE WAY OF ONE'S OBJECTIVES.

SUCH A MINDSET FOSTERS A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT WHERE ETHICAL LAPSES BECOME NORMALIZED AND ETHICAL ACCOUNTABILITY IS SELECTIVELY APPLIED.

BUT I DON'T NEED TO TELL ANYONE THESE FACTS.

WE'RE WITNESSING THEM IN REAL TIME IN OUR COUNTY AND OUR COUNTRY.

THOSE OF US FIGHTING FOR THE COMMUNITY ARE CONFRONTED BY MORALITY POLICE CALLING THEMSELVES MOMS FOR LIBERTY AND TRAMPLING ON THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF MARGINALIZED CHILDREN. THE RHETORIC ON FACEBOOK ALONE SPEAKS VOLUMES.

I'VE ARGUED WITH PEOPLE WHO TREAT THEIR CHILDREN LIKE POSSESSIONS.

THEY MUST DEFEND FROM SUPPOSED PROPAGANDA.

THAT IS ACTUALLY JUST EMPATHY.

I'M SICK OF IT. I'M AT A BREAKING POINT.

WE WILL WAKE UP MAY 15TH AND KNOW JUST HOW HARD WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I'M HOPEFUL, BUT I'M NOT OVERLY CONFIDENT.

THERE IS A LOT OF HATE IN THE HEARTS OF CECIL COUNTIANS.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE YOU, MISS DIXON, THAT YOUR FRIENDS JACKIE AND DANNY AND YOUR FRIENDS JACKIE AND DANNY, THAT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS MAY 14TH, ON MAY 15TH, WE WILL BE TAKING AN EVEN MORE UNWAVERING AND STEADFAST APPROACH.

WE'LL REMEMBER WHO YOU CAMPAIGNED FOR WHEN TEACHERS JOBS WERE ON THE LINE.

WE'LL REMEMBER HOW YOU VOTED TWO YEARS IN A ROW TO BLOCK A BUDGET THAT WOULD KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN OUR SCHOOLS, WITHOUT LEGITIMATE SUGGESTIONS OF WHAT YOU WOULD CUT.

YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS HAVE AWAKENED THE SLEEPING GIANT, THOUSANDS OF US, AND WE WON'T STOP FIGHTING FOR EDUCATION.

AND BELIEVE ME, WE'LL FIGHT EVEN HARDER FOR THE STUDENTS THAT YOU REFUSE TO SEE.

THE BLACK AND BROWN KIDS, THE QUEER KIDS, AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BAN THEM OR INCITE FEAR IN THEM, WE WILL PERSIST RELENTLESSLY AND FIGHT WITHOUT QUESTION TO ENSURE THEIR EQUITABLE TREATMENT.

ALWAYS [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.

ANGELA SCARENEY.

AND THE LAST SPEAKER WOULD BE BRIAN HAMPTON.

HELLO, EVERYONE.

I DON'T HAVE A WRITTEN SPEECH.

I'M MORE OF A BULLET POINT OF BULLET POINT TYPE OF GIRL.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO OFF THE TOP HERE.

SO THANK YOU FOR SEEING ME.

MY NAME IS ANGELA SCARENEY. I'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

I'M ACTUALLY FROM DELAWARE.

MY MOTHER WORKED FOR THE CHRISTIANA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, YOU KNOW, BEING IN FRONT OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND VOTING FOR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT MATTER.

[01:55:03]

I AM A CLIFTON STRENGTHS OR EXCUSE ME, I'M AN ANALYTICAL TYPE OF THINKER.

SO INITIALLY WHEN I WAS LED TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THIS BUDGET, THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND WAS, OKAY, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH BOTH SIDES? LIKE, WHY IS THERE A RESPONSE THIS WAY, AND WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE? RIGHT. SO I, I ENDEAVOR TO ALWAYS STAY IMPARTIAL, RIGHT IN THINGS LIKE THIS.

BUT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE LIKE I DON'T.

AND JUST LISTENING TO THE FIRST LADY LIKE THAT MAMA BEAR ENERGY IS NOTHING TO MESS WITH.

LIKE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR KIDS, WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THEM, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE PERSONAL.

IT'S GOING TO BE MY BUSINESS.

RIGHT. BUT I ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, I TRY TO REMAIN IMPARTIAL, BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF SYNERGY THAT'S HAPPENING BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE SCHOOL BOARD.

BECAUSE IF YOU ARE RELIANT ON, YOU KNOW, THEM FOR FUNDS.

I JUST IT'S KIND OF BEEN ALMOST LIKE A, LIKE A WWE BATTLE THAT LIKE, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM FOLD FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT'S JUST LIKE REALLY DISTURBING.

AND I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT LIKE THE LEVEL OF LIKE HOW IT AFFECTS PEOPLE, HOW IT AFFECTS LIKE FAMILIES, LIKE I DON'T THINK THAT HAS BEEN REALLY THOUGHT OF.

RIGHT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, BY ANY MEANS, WE GOT TO GET, YOU KNOW, THIS FUNDING.

WE GOT TO FIGURE THIS OUT, WHICH IS IT'S ADMIRABLE.

BUT WHEN IT COMES AT THE COST OF, LIKE, THE WELL-BEING OF, LIKE, PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING INVOLVED IN THIS POLITICAL ARENA, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS EXTREMELY POLARIZED.

AND IT'S LIKE, HONESTLY, I JUST THINK IT'S OUT OF CONTROL.

SO I JUST WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THIS AND OF COURSE, LIKE WE'VE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE INCIDENT AT THE HARBOR.

RIGHT. AND HOW THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WANTED TO DO WAS LIKE, OKAY, HOW CAN I RALLY AROUND AND USE MY SKILLS TO HELP? LIKE, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP OUT WITH THIS BUDGET CRISIS? RIGHT. BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, HEARING ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE CUT AND THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE, IT'S VERY LIKE HURTFUL.

SO I SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M, YOU KNOW, I AM BEEN IN ACCOUNTING FOR A WHILE.

MY, MY HUSBAND'S BEEN IN FINANCE 15 YEARS.

I'M, YOU KNOW, I'M CURRENTLY IN LAW SCHOOL.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP, YOU KNOW, ASSIST WITH THE, WITH THE ISSUE WITH THE CRISIS.

SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT I'M HERE TO ASSIST, RIGHT? BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMUNITY LIKE THE SCHOOLS AND KIDS.

THIS IS A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP LIKE ONE DOESN'T WORK WITHOUT THE OTHER.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST, LIKE, REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO REMEMBER OUR WHY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR, GOVERNOR MORRIS TOLD US A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO BUT YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S ALL I WANT YOU TO LET YOU KNOW IS THAT I'M HERE TO HELP.

SO THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. AND THE LAST SPEAKER, BRIAN HAMPTON.

GOOD EVENING, DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

MY NAME IS BRIAN HAMPTON.

I LIVE IN PERRYVILLE. I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ATTEND CCPS.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THE HARD WORK TO DO THE BEST THAT CAN BE DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY, WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S PROPOSED BUDGET.

AND AS STATED EARLIER, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALSO DISCUSSING FURTHER CUTS SHOULD THE COUNTY COUNCIL VOTE TO REDUCE THE BUDGET TO THE LOCAL SHARE AMOUNT.

ANYONE CAN TALK THE TALK AND SAY THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT OR THAT ART IS IMPORTANT.

BUT WHEN THE SAME PEOPLE THAT SAY THIS ALSO HAVE INFLUENCE OVER THE COUNTY BUDGET, BUT DON'T DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT CUTS TO THESE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THAT IS NOT WALKING THE WALK.

THAT'S ALL TALK AND NO WALK.

IT IS ALSO INTERESTING THAT IN THE SHORT BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES POSTED ON THE CCPS WEBSITE, ONLY ONE OF THEM DOES NOT CONTAIN THE WORDS CHILDREN OR STUDENTS.

PERHAPS THAT IS AN OVERSIGHT OR MAYBE I'M LOOKING INTO IT TOO MUCH, BUT IT FITS A PATTERN THAT ONE OF YOU DOES NOT ADVOCATE FOR ALL STUDENTS IN CECIL COUNTY [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU.

UPCOMING EVENTS. I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT.

YEAH. THERE'S JUST A LIST OF A FEW THINGS HERE.

WE HAVE OUR SPRING ART SHOW CURRENTLY ON EXHIBIT IN THE NORTHEAST LIBRARY, AND THAT WILL BE THE CASE FOR ALL MONTH.

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, WE HAVE THE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS EVENT AT ELKTON HIGH AT 4:30 TILL 7:30.

MAY 14TH IS THE PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.

MAY 15TH IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE BEST NIGHTS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT'S THE CAPSTONE GALLERY WALK.

SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HEAR THAT THIS CURRENT GENERATION IS ALL ISN'T ALL THAT TALENTED, GO TO THE CAPSTONE GALLERY WALK.

YOU WILL BE HUMBLED.

WE HAVE A SPRING ENROLLMENT FAIR FOR OUR JUDY CENTER.

OUR NEW SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR PROGRAM IS MAY 20TH AT SCHAEFER'S.

[02:00:05]

MAY 27TH. WE'RE CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY, AND THEN MAY 28TH STARTS OUR RUN OF SIX GRADUATIONS.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

AND OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS JUNE 12TH.

RIGHT. SCROLL DOWN JUNE 12TH.

IT'S A LONG LIST THIS TIME.

OKAY, SEEING, WE ARE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA.

MISS RODGERS GRADUATES THIS MONTH.

AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR SENIORS CLASS OF 2024.

SENIOR AWARDS.

THERE'S LOTS GOING ON FOR CELEBRATIONS.

SO I JUST I HOPE WE CAN ALL TAKE A MINUTE AND CELEBRATE OUR STUDENTS THIS MONTH.

CAPSTONE, PROJECT SENIOR AWARDS, END OF THE YEAR AWARDS.

SPORTS AWARDS, GRADUATIONS, CLASS OF 2024.

AND AGAIN, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE MAY 14TH.

THANKS FOR COMING.

THANKS FOR ENGAGING.

MEETINGS ADJOURNED.

THE CAPSTONE IS AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.