[00:00:04]
I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE JUNE 12TH, 2024, BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.
[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, PENDING LITIGATION AND NEGOTIATIONS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE.[2. Closed Session]
GENERAL PROVISIONS. ARTICLE 3-305, B ONE, EIGHT AND NINE.OKAY, YOU HEARD THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
I WOULD LIKE TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION THE JUNE 12TH, 2024, BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.MISS RODGERS, FOR THE LAST TIME, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? THANK YOU. BOARD REFLECTION MR. HEATH. THE MISSION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. ADOPTION OF AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Consent Agenda]
FOR EVERYONE'S AWARENESS, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER, WHICH IS OUR PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE, PROVIDES A CONSENT AGENDA LISTING SEVERAL ITEMS FOR APPROVAL OF THE BOARD BY A SINGLE MOTION. DOCUMENTATION CONCERNING THESE ITEMS HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ALL BOARD MEMBERS IN ADVANCE TO ASSURE AN EXTENSIVE AND THOROUGH REVIEW.
ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF ANY BOARD MEMBER.
OKAY. HEARING NONE. I'D LIKE A MOTION, PLEASE.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[5. New Business]
SPRING ATHLETIC AWARDS 2020 FOR DR.LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
PRESIDENT HAWLEY. IS AN HONOR.
AND. BE HERE TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SPRING ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE SPRING SEASON, WHICH WE HAVE A LOT.
WE HAD 593 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES, 1012 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES, AND COMPLETED 542 FREE PHYSICALS LAST WEEK.
WE HAD SIX DIVISIONAL WINNERS RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS' LACROSSE, SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION, PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS' LACROSSE, SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION, NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL, CHESAPEAKE DIVISION, RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL, CHESAPEAKE DIVISION, ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL, SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION, AND RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS.
SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WAS OUR COUNTY CHAMP FOR UNIFIED BOCCE.
WE HAD FOUR SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, UNIFIED BOCCE, PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS' LACROSSE, BOW MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, GIRLS' LACROSSE, AND PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL.
WE HAD TEN REGIONAL CHAMPS THIS SPRING, WHICH IS THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE IN ONE SEASON.
[00:05:07]
DISCUS AND SASHA BROWN, ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL SHOT PUT AND DISCUS.SKYLER PERAZZOLI FROM BOW MANOR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 3200 METERS.
IN THE BOYS FOUR BY 800-METER BOW MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, JASON WOLFENDEN, DAN LENTZ, SHAHID COUNCIL AND JACOB SIPPEL. IN SOFTBALL, WE HAD RISING HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM AND BOW MANOR HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM, AND IN LACROSSE, WE HAD PERRYVILLE BOYS' AND GIRLS' LACROSSE TEAMS, WHICH IS JUST AN AMAZEMENT OF HOW MANY REGIONAL CHAMPS WE HAD THIS SPRING.
GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND WE SHOULD BE PROUD THIS SEASON AND DEFINITELY ALL WORTH ACKNOWLEDGING.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR STATE CHAMPIONS.
CAROLINE THREW A DISTANCE OF 120FT EIGHT INCHES LAST YEAR TO WIN THIS, AND THIS YEAR THREW 133 FOOT FOUR INCHES, WHICH WAS A NEW PERSONAL RECORD TO WIN THE STATE TITLE FOR A SECOND TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK CAROLINE, COACH TED MERCER AND PRINCIPAL JIM MORROW TO COME FORWARD.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR.
I GET A BETTER PICTURE. RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM WON THE 2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZING THEM TONIGHT.
WE WILL DO SO IN JULY AS THE ENTIRE TEAM EXCEPT COACH JOE FERDINANDO.
THEY ARE ALL DOWN CELEBRATING AT THE ORIOLES GAME TONIGHT.
OH, YEAH. NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE 2024 SPRING BACK SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS.
THIS MARKS THE 20TH YEAR WE HAVE RECOGNIZED SPORTSMANSHIP AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CONFERENCE.
I'M HONORED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR COUNTY, SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS AND STUDENT ATHLETES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AND FOR THEIR COMBINED BELIEF THAT SPORTSMANSHIP IS THE CORE TO EVERY TEAM. I'M PROUD AND HONORED AGAIN TO RECOGNIZE FOUR TEAMS WINNING THE SPORTSMANSHIP AS I CALL YOUR NAME.
PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE YOUR PLAQUE.
FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED BOCCE TEAM REPRESENTING RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS ANTHONY PRATICO, LELAND KIRBY, MICHAEL HOLBROOK, CHEYENNE KEENE, LILY FRAZIER, ELIJAH BOLT, COACH JENNIFER BLACK, AND MICHELLE BROWN, AND PRINCIPAL JIM MONROE.
[00:10:06]
OH, GOSH. SORRY.AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, GINA PUCCI.
COACHES BRIAN TRIUMPHALIS, AND PRINCIPAL JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN, AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR BRUCE KLEIN.
PLAYERS. SARA CANTRELL, TEGAN SPEIER, AND BELLA SAPENARO, COACH RYAN JACKSON, AND ADMINISTRATOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL GINA PUCCI.
CONGRATULATIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR AWARD
[00:15:06]
WINNERS. SLOW YOUR SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.LET THEM GET OUT OF HERE. THIS IS WHERE WE POLITELY PAUSE TO ALLOW THE STUDENTS TO LEAVE.
IF YOU WANT TO STAY, YOU CERTAINLY CAN.
SO, AT THIS TIME, WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING AS A BOARD MISS MADISON RODGERS, THIS IS HER LAST BOARD MEETING FOR HER SERVICE YEAR.
MISS RODGERS IS A RECENT GRADUATE OF BOTH ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AND HAS JUST DONE SOME AMAZING SERVICE AS OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD THIS YEAR.
BEFORE I MAKE SOME COMMENTS, I JUST WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SAY SOME PARTING WORDS TO OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I'LL GO FIRST.
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU, MADISON, FOR APPLYING FOR THIS AND TAKING THIS ENDEAVOR ON.
YOU'VE BEEN A GREAT ADVOCATE FOR YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS AND FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE FOR ME TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO COME BACK AND SEE US AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU'RE DOING.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO GREAT THINGS.
AND SO, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US AND FOR YOUR STUDENTS.
IN MADISON, I WROTE DOWN A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANTED TO SAY AS WELL TO YOU.
AND TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MISS HEATH SAID.
I THINK YOUR ADVOCACY FOR YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS IS COMMENDABLE.
AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THAT THE BOARD REALLY APPRECIATED.
AND I THINK YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS APPRECIATED IT AS WELL.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS.
AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE BOARD.
SO, MADISON, IT'S BEEN GREAT GETTING TO KNOW YOU.
AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT THAT YOU'RE WORKING IN THAT AREA.
AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN ALL YOU DO.
WELL, MY SIDE PARTNER HERE, I JUST, SOME THINGS I CAN'T TALK ABOUT.
JUST HOW SHE LIKES TO BUST MY CHOPS DURING A MEETING.
PICK ON ME A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WILL SAY THAT SHE'S HELPED ME OUT A LOT WHEN I'M NOT MUCH FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING, AND SHE'S GIVEN ME SOME GOOD TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THAT WHEN I'M UP IN FRONT OF A CROWD.
SHE'S BEEN A GREAT SUPPORT PIECE FOR ME, BEING ON THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT ABILITY TO HANDLE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS.
AND YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB ADAPTING AND CONQUERING WHERE NEEDED, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS HAVING YOU HERE BY MY SIDE MOVING FORWARD.
BUT I'M SURE THAT YOUR REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO BE JUST AS MUCH FUN AND MAYBE, MAYBE SPICY AT TIMES.
HOW EXCITING. I WROTE DOWN SOME QUICK THINGS SO I WOULD STAY ON TRACK.
I ALWAYS LOVE WORKING WITH STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND THIS YEAR WAS CERTAINLY NO DIFFERENT.
MADISON. THE FIRST WORD THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN I THINK OF YOU AND TALK TO YOU IS JUST FIRECRACKER.
AND YOU DID THAT LIFT AND YOU DID IT WITH GRACE AND YOU DID IT SO WELL.
THERE'RE A COUPLE THINGS I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR.
AND FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INITIATIVE.
[00:20:03]
YOU WERE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO GROW.YOU WERE ALWAYS ASKING FOR ADVICE, GUIDANCE.
SOMETIMES YOU DIDN'T ASK, AND I GAVE IT ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU FOR JUST BEING WILLING TO JUST BE BETTER AND ALWAYS BE BETTER.
AND IT'S HARD TO DO BECAUSE YOU'RE PRETTY GOOD.
SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS KEEPING ME IN LINE DOWN THERE WHEN I'M DOING.
YOU GUYS SAW ALL THE STUDENT RECOGNITIONS.
I WOULD BE A MESS IF SHE WEREN'T DOWN THERE ORGANIZING.
AND I KNOW MISS GRIFFIN JUST WAS PICKING UP THE PACE JUST AS WELL.
ALSO, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE.
YOU YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK AND USE YOUR VOICE.
AND THAT'S A REALLY HARD THING FOR A LOT OF ADULTS TO DO, LET ALONE A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.
SO, I DO THINK YOU DO THAT WELL, AND YOU DO IT WITH PROFESSIONALISM, LIKE I SAID.
AND A LOT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD LEARN A LOT OF THINGS FROM THAT.
YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE, GREAT PERSPECTIVE.
AND YOU ALWAYS SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE VERY WELL WITH US.
AND JUST IN CLOSING, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
A WHOLE YEAR, A YEAR OF GRINDING, A LOT OF GRINDING, A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF CHALLENGES.
SO, MADISON YOU KNOW, A LONG-TIME HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER, COACH, PRINCIPAL.
FATHER, I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL BY BALANCING INTO.
SPREAD YOURSELF IN A WAY THAT'S HEALTHY AND EXPOSES YOU TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY OBSERVATION IS YOU CLEARLY DO THAT.
YOU EMBODY, I THINK, WHAT WE ENVISIONED BACK IN 2014, 2015, WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY WAS OPENED, WE ADDED PROGRAMS THAT WE THOUGHT WOULD ATTRACT VERY HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS SUCH AS YOURSELF.
AND SO, IT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD IN MIND.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
AND ANY TIME WE COME INTO A SITUATION; I THINK ALL YOU CAN HOPE FOR IS TO HAVE AN IMPACT.
YOU ARE THE FIRST THAT I CAN RECALL IN MY 15 YEARS HERE.
YOU TRIED TO CONVINCE OTHERS AND MOVE PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT YOU BELIEVE.
AND I THINK YOU DID THAT. YOUR ROCK THE VOTE EFFORT WAS SUCCESSFUL.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR YOU.
YOU MADE THE HONOR ROLL BECAUSE I COUNT HONOR ROLL.
YOU MADE THE HONOR ROLL 13 TIMES SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
CLUBS, SPORTS, THE WHOLE THING.
SO, IT'S BEEN MY HONOR TO WORK WITH YOU.
THANK YOU. MADISON. YOU'VE GOT GOODIES.
ALL RIGHT, MISS RODGERS, YOU HAVE THE MIC.
OKAY, EVERYBODY, IT'S MY LAST BOARD MEETING.
SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME TALK ONE LAST TIME.
JUST BASICALLY SOME OF THE THINGS I'VE SAID OVER THE PAST YEAR.
[00:25:04]
CECIL COUNTY.THE COMMUNITY HAS USED THEIR VOICE TO FIGHT TO KEEP POLITICIANS WITH ALTERNATIVE MOTIVES OUT OF OUR COUNTY COUNCIL AND WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION BECAUSE OF THE CONSEQUENCES FROM OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AND TO MAKE THINGS TRANSPARENT, GETTING EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I COULDN'T THANK ROCK THE VOTE AND FUND MORE.
WE'VE BROUGHT TOGETHER A COMMUNITY.
IT DIDN'T MATTER THEIR PARTY AFFILIATION.
ALL THAT MATTERED WAS EDUCATION.
SO, HERE'S TO A COMMUNITY WHO PUTS EDUCATION FIRST.
THANK YOU, JARED, COREY, MISS CHRISTINE, ERIC, GISELLE AND SAM, AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THE COMMUNITY IS HERE AND THEY'RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
AND WE'RE HERE AND WE'RE STILL GOING TO BE MAKING HEADWAY, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING ELECTION.
WE'RE BASICALLY LOOKING AT THIS NEW ELECTION COMING UP, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO REPRESENT IT.
AND I HOPE WE HAVE A GREAT YEAR WITH THAT.
LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
SINCE YOU JUST WRAPPED UP WITH MADISON, I'M GOING TO START THERE AS WELL, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
MADISON, YOU'VE BEEN AN EXAMPLE, NOT JUST FOR OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS, BUT FOR ALL OF US.
TRULY. YOU'VE SHARED THE GOOD AND THE BAD, THE EASY TO HEAR AND THE HARD TO HEAR.
YOU ADVOCATED FOR OUR STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND STAFF.
AND THAT'S HARD TO SAY, AND IT SADDENS ME TO SAY THAT, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE IT.
IF OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PARENTS HADN'T COME OUT, I DON'T THINK FOLKS WOULD HAVE LISTENED.
AND YOU AND YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS.
SO, WE DO HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
AND GISELLE. YOU HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL, BUT I'M CONFIDENT YOU WILL DO SO WELL.
IT'S LONG OVERDUE AND RECOGNIZING OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL.
AS A TEACHER, WE CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL RIGHT BESIDE US.
AND THAT'S AT ALL LEVELS, WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING IN THE SCHOOL OR AT THE BOARD OFFICE OR AT THE ASC.
WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING ALL OUR SUPPORT PERSONNEL.
I'D LIKE TO GIVE BEST WISHES TO OUR GRADUATING SENIORS, WHETHER THEY'RE JOINING THE WORKFORCE, GOING TO COLLEGE, A TRADE SCHOOL, OR THOSE THAT ARE PROUDLY OFF TO THE MILITARY. WE'RE SO AGAIN PROUD OF YOU AND JUST EXCITED FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD OF YOU.
AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD OF YOU.
[00:30:05]
THIS YEAR HAS JUST BEEN REALLY, REALLY HARD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.OUR TEACHERS ESPECIALLY, YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT LARGE CLASS SIZES, THE NEED FOR MORE SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND PARAS, AND OUR STRUGGLES WITH OUR STUDENTS SHOWING UNSAFE AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THIS YEAR, OUR TEACHERS HAVE FELT ATTACKED DUE TO THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN THE COUNTY, LIES IN ACCUSATIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS, AND TEACHERS HAVE HEARD OUR STAFF DEEPLY ATTACKING OUR SCHOOLS EVEN WHILE SAYING BUT NOT THE TEACHERS WE SUPPORT.
THE TEACHERS DIDN'T MAKE IT ANY BETTER.
STAFF AND OUR TEACHERS MAKE UP A MAJORITY OF THAT.
TEACHERS HAVE GIVEN AND CONTINUE TO GIVE.
BUT I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HURT OUR FOLKS.
BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET, WE'RE LOSING POSITIONS.
THERE ARE PEOPLE NOW THAT ARE GETTING MOVED AWAY FROM SCHOOLS.
WE'VE PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THROUGH THE YEAR AND ARE LEAVING NOW.
THAT WOULD HAVE STAYED HERE AND WORKED ANOTHER TEN, 15, 20 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE CLIMATE AND.
I MOVED TO CECIL COUNTY 27 YEARS AGO.
AND I'VE NEVER FELT THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS AND OUR KIDS WERE SUPPORTED.
I DON'T I'D LIKE TO SAY I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS A MAJORITY, AND IT HASN'T BEEN.
SO, I GUESS WHAT I'M REALLY DOING IS JUST CALLING ON THE COUNTY TO DO BETTER AND BE BETTER.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME TOGETHER FOR OUR KIDS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO COME TOGETHER FOR? AND SO, IT'S NOT A REPUBLICAN, A DEMOCRAT, A LEFT, A RIGHT, A CONSERVATIVE, A LIBERAL, WHATEVER TERMS YOU WANT TO USE. WE ALL WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES, OUR OWN FAMILIES, OTHER PEOPLE'S FAMILIES, THE FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO STAY HERE.
AND WE NEED TO DO IT TOGETHER.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK. WHEN WE'RE PICKING SIDES.
WE ALL SIT IN THE CHURCH PEWS TOGETHER.
WE ALL GO TO SPORTS GAMES TOGETHER.
IT'S TIME THAT WE SIT TOGETHER WITH EACH OTHER.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO SAY IT.
AND SO FINALLY, TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE REALLY EXCITED TO NOT HAVE SCHOOL ANYMORE.
THEY'RE EXCITED FOR SUMMER BREAK.
BUT WE JUST WISH THEM A SUMMER OF FUN OUTDOOR ADVENTURES.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO SOPA SEATO EDUCATION SUPPORT PERSONNEL ASSOCIATION, MR. THOMAS GUNZ.
PRESIDENT. MISS RODGERS, I TOO WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY, AND YOU WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO ENDORSE THE ESP BILL OF RIGHTS.
SO, I APPRECIATE THAT AND I'M GLAD TO SEE MISS KELLY MOLESWORTH HERE.
OUR SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY BOARD OF ED MEMBERS.
DR. LAWSON, MRS. OLSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
TONIGHT, I WILL BE VERY BRIEF.
ADDRESSING THE BOARD AS THE CSPA PRESIDENT, AS I HAVE DECIDED TO STEP AWAY FROM THIS ROLE.
BUT I CAN LET YOU KNOW THAT CSPA HAS COMPLETED OUR ELECTIONS AND WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR ALL CSPS SUPPORT STAFF, WITH DANIELLE SLATER BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT. DANIELLE HAS BEEN ASSESSED BY BOARD MEMBER FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND IS CURRENT CSPA VICE PRESIDENT.
I KNOW THAT DANIELLE WILL DO GREAT IN HER NEW ROLE.
[00:35:02]
I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT I SAT IN ON A MEETING YESTERDAY THAT WAS HELD WITH THE STUDENT SUPPORT TECHNICIANS, WHERE THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEIR POSITIONS WERE BEING CUT, EXCEPT IN SOME CASES WHERE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS MIGHT CHOOSE TO FUND THOSE POSITIONS.THEY WERE TOLD THE GOAL WAS TO KEEP EVERYONE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION.
THIS WILL INVOLVE TRANSITIONING THESE SSTS INTO OTHER ROLES, MOST LIKELY AS PARAPROFESSIONALS.
THEY DO PROVIDE A CRITICAL SERVICE TO THE STUDENTS IN CRISIS AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL STAFF.
WE AT CSPA HOPE TO BE INCLUDED IN DISCUSSIONS, TO HAVE A COLLABORATIVE DIALOG, TO FORM A PLAN TO DEAL WITH HOW THESE CUTS AND OTHERS ARE GOING TO AFFECT OUR CLASSROOMS AND OFFICES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER.
THANK YOU, MR. GUNNS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I KNOW DR. LAWSON WANTS TO JUST ALONG THOSE LINES, MR. GUNNS. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT AN EASY JOB.
YOU HAVE THE 3 TO 400 MEMBERS SHOULD BE PLEASED WITH WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THE WAY YOU ADVOCATE.
THANK YOU, MR. GUNNS. THANK YOU.
THE CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICE LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION, MR. SCOTT HECKERT. GOOD EVENING, DR.
LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP TEAM.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO ECHO SENTIMENTS.
MISS MADISON RODGERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR SERVICE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IT'S ALL IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO GET TO KNOW YOU.
AND ALSO, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO SUPPORT SERVICES KELLY MOLESWORTH OVER THERE.
NOBODY WORKS HARDER THAN KELLY.
I SEE HER IN MY BUILDING EVERY DAY.
WELL DESERVED. CONGRATULATIONS, KELLY.
I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT SERVICES HAVE TRANSPORTED OUR STUDENTS OVER 2.6 MILLION MILES THROUGH 4608 TRIPS THAT OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT HAS CLOSED OVER 200 TICKETS.
THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED 8213 WORK ORDERS.
ALTHOUGH IT IS HARD TO QUANTIFY, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO ALL EMPLOYEES OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND, OF COURSE, BUSINESS SERVICES, THE BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHO SERVE OVER 4000 PRINT AND DISTRIBUTION REQUESTS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND WHOM ALSO WORK TIRELESSLY TO TRANSPARENTLY REPORT OUR BUDGET TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS THROUGHOUT THIS TUMULTUOUS YEAR.
THIS HAS BEEN A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS ALIKE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CLASS OF 2024 AND WISH THEM WELL ON THEIR NEXT CHAPTER.
WHETHER IT'S COLLEGE, MILITARY, OR JUMPING INTO THE WORKFORCE.
WE ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR HARD WORK.
I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR GREATEST RIGHT AS CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY.
AND FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HARD WORKING FOLKS IN ALL OF OUR SUPPORT SERVICES ROLES.
YOU PLAY AN INTEGRAL PART IN EDUCATING OUR FUTURE.
YOU WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO SUPPORT, TRANSPORT, NOURISH OUR LEARNERS EACH SCHOOL DAY.
THANK YOU AND I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT SUMMER.
LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
AND THE AUDIENCE WILL SOON SEE.
WE HAVE PICTURES FOR CONSTRUCTION REPORT.
[00:40:05]
AS PROMISED, THE TRACKS ARE BEING INSTALLED AT BOTH SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.SO CERTAINLY OUR STUDENTS AND, AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WILL ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF THESE FACILITIES.
SO IT'S COMING ALONG, AND I ASSUME DR.
BOYER, IT'LL BE READY TO GO FOR FALL SPORTS, WHICH DOESN'T SEEM THAT FAR AWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN.
AND THAT'S ALL. I HAVE QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
AND SO THE BOSS CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE IT'S MOVING FORWARD ON THAT PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, WHEN WE COME UP ON THAT AGENDA ITEM, YOU CAN CERTAINLY MR. SIMPERS IS HERE.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
BUCKLEY WILL LEAD THIS PIECE OF THE AGENDA.
SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS REGARDING YOUR.
I WILL I WILL SHARE WITH YOU THAT SHE IS ONE OF THE MORE DEDICATED AND HONEST AND OPEN INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, AND THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT SHE HAS MET THAT SHE WILL NOT TACKLE, THAT SHE WILL NOT TAKE ON, AND THAT SHE WILL NOT GIVE HER BEST EFFORT TO DO.
SHE HAS AN ABSOLUTE CAN DO ATTITUDE.
SO, KELLY, 30 CANDIDATES, 31 CANDIDATES, YOU WERE SELECTED SUPPORT SERVICE OF THE YEAR AND THE CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION, ALONG WITH THE BEAUTIFUL CRYSTAL PLAQUE.
AND THERE'S A BAG OF SWAG AROUND THE CORNER FOR YOU.
HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT LITTLE BAG OF SWAG GOING ON? BUT WE ALSO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION THAT READS.
THIS CERTIFICATE IS PROUDLY PRESENTED FOR ONORABLE ACHIEVEMENT TO KELLY MOLESWORTH FOR BEING AWARDED THE 2024 CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR AND SIGNED JEFFREY, A LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
AND YOU ARE THE FIRST AND NOT THE LAST, BUT CONGRATULATIONS.
OKAY. OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES FISCAL YEAR 2025 DR.
LAWSON. EACH YEAR, WE ASK OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE WITH THE BOARD THEIR STANDING AS OF THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND AT THIS TIME, DR. TED BOYER WILL COME FORWARD AND LEAD THAT PIECE OF THE AGENDA.
[00:45:04]
SO THIS IS A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT.WE ARE A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND THAT OPERATES SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE COMES FROM MEAL REIMBURSEMENTS FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FROM THE USDA.
IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THESE REIMBURSEMENTS, WE MUST MEET VERY RIGOROUS NUTRITION AND MEAL COMPONENT STANDARDS, AND WE ARE REVIEWED EVERY THREE YEARS BY THE USDA TO ENSURE IN COMPLIANCE.
THIS YEAR, WE WILL HAVE SERVED 1.4 MILLION LUNCHES AND OVER 1 MILLION BREAKFASTS, WHICH I'M PROUD TO SAY SINCE I'VE BEEN WORKING HERE IS A RECORD THAT PRETTY MUCH TIES WHAT WE DID DURING COVID, AND WE DID IT IN ONE YEAR, SO IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.
THIS YEAR WE DID ADD TEN NEW CEP SCHOOLS THAT STANDS FOR COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION.
SO IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM FOR ALL THOSE KIDS.
WE HAD FOUR SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFIED FOR THAT PROGRAM LAST SCHOOL YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE HAD TEN.
SO AND WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO ADD.
ON THIS SLIDE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A SUMMARY OF OUR REVENUES.
WE BUDGETED WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR IS ON THE LEFT COLUMN WHERE WE PROJECT TO BE ON JUNE 30TH IS IN THE CENTER.
AND WHAT WE ARE BUDGETING FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR IS ON THE RIGHT.
AS I STATED EARLIER, OUR MAIN SOURCE OF REVENUE IS FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS.
WE ALSO GET REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE STATE TO SUPPLEMENT REDUCED MEAL PRICES.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MARYLAND PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE REDUCED PRICE LUNCHES.
SO SOME OF THOSE REVENUES ON THAT LINE ARE FROM MAKING UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IS A REDUCED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE FEDS TO MAKING IT A FREE REIMBURSEMENT.
IT'S IT'S AN EQUAL REIMBURSEMENT.
ON THIS SLIDE, THERE'S A SUMMARY OF OUR EXPENSES.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT IN THIS SLIDE.
THE FOOD AND NUTRITION. EXCUSE ME, THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT HAS A FUND BALANCE, AND WE ARE REQUIRED BY THE USDA TO SPEND THAT DOWN TO AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THREE MONTHS EXPENSES.
THEREFORE, WE HAVE A FEW LINES WHICH WE SPENT OVER BUDGET.
WE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OVER BUDGET AND CONTRACTED SERVICES.
THESE ARE SERVICES THAT WE PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF EQUIPMENT.
ALSO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT.
WE ALSO PURCHASED SUPPLIES FOR OUR KITCHENS, SUPPLIES THAT WERE IN GREAT NEED OF REPLACEMENT.
SO WE SPENT MONEY THERE TO REPLACE THINGS LIKE KITCHEN UTENSILS, UNIFORMS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE JUST TO MAKE EVERYBODY LOOK BETTER AND BE ABLE TO WORK A LITTLE BIT BETTER. THE OTHER LINE THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS OUR EQUIPMENT LINE.
THIS YEAR WE BOUGHT NEW CAFETERIA TABLES FOR MOST OF OUR SCHOOLS THIS YEAR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GILPIN MANOR, CHESAPEAKE CITY. THOSE TWO SCHOOLS ARE NEW SCHOOLS, SO THERE WAS REALLY NO NEED TO REPLACE THOSE TABLES.
I'M PRETTY EXCITED TO SHARE SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THESE NEW TABLES.
HERE'S LEEDS ELEMENTARY'S NEW TABLES.
HERE'S RISING SUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[00:50:03]
AND HERE IS CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.SO ONE THING I JUST KIND OF WANT TO POINT OUT, WHICH HAS BEEN REALLY COOL ABOUT THIS PROCESS, IS WHEN YOU GET TO WALK INTO THE CAFETERIA ON THE FIRST DAY THAT THE KIDS SEE IT, AND IT'S JUST SO COOL TO SEE THE SMILE ON THEIR FACE.
WE TOOK SOME VIDEOS OF ALL THE KIDS, LIKE WITH THEIR BIG.
IT WAS AWESOME. REALLY, REALLY COOL.
AND THERE THERE ARE SEVERAL SCHOOLS THAT HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR NEW TABLES YET.
THIS YEAR, I ALSO JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT WE ADDED A COUPLE OF NEW FACES.
KAJANG IS FINISHING UP HER FIRST YEAR AS ASSISTANT IN FOOD NUTRITION.
SHE CAME TO US FROM MSD, WHERE SHE WAS THE SECTION SECTION CHIEF FOR COMPLIANCE.
SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR TEAM AND SHE'S ALREADY MAKING A HUGE MARK ON OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE WILL ALSO BE ADDING MISS KRISTEN ENGLISH TO OUR TEAM AS OUR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, WHO WILL WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF FOOD NUTRITION ON BOOKKEEPING AND FINANCE. SHE'LL ALSO KIND OF BE OUR LIAISON TO THE BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO ADD HER TO THE TEAM.
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE REAL QUICK.
TO RECOGNIZE MISS JAMIE VAN DIKE.
JAMIE'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING, BUT I.
SHE HAS WORKED ALL 35 YEARS IN THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT.
JAMIE HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE OF OUR PROGRAM.
SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS SO AMAZING BECAUSE OF ALL THE ACCOUNTS THAT WE USE.
I MEAN, IT WAS AWESOME, BUT JAMIE HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR ME TO HELP ME STAY ON TRACK AND REMIND ME WHAT WE HAD COMING UP ON THE HORIZON. SHE'S A CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONAL AND A WONDERFUL PERSON.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WISH HER WELL IN HER WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JAMIE, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. HECKERT? NO.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NOW.
FOR NOW AND I WILL SAY ONE LAST PLUG.
WE ARE STARTING SUMMER FEEDING ON MONDAY.
WE HAVE LOCATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTY.
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE THE USDA APPROVED RURAL NON-CONGREGATE MEAL DISTRIBUTION.
SO WE WILL BE IN PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT WE'VE NEVER BEEN BEFORE.
WE WILL BE IN CECIL TIN EVERY TUESDAY.
WE WILL GO FROM CECIL ELEMENTARY TO CRYSTAL BEACH AND TO HACK'S POINT.
AND THEN ON WEDNESDAYS WE WILL BE IN PORT DEPOSIT ON MAIN STREET AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER THERE.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE CONGREGATE MEAL SITES THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WHERE IS THERE A LIST OF THOSE PLACES? YES, THERE'S A FLIER THAT IS ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL AS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE.
AND LIKE I SAID, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US AT ANY TIME.
WE'RE HAPPY TO HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SCHOOL MEAL AND MILK PRICES FOR 2024 2025.
DR. LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
AND IF YOU WANT A CHOCOLATE MILK, IT WAS $0.26.
SO IT'S GONE UP SINCE THEN, $0.26.
[00:55:04]
I RECOMMEND FOR THE 2425 SCHOOL YEAR THAT THE PRICE IS CHARGED FOR MILK.BREAKFAST AND LUNCH REMAIN THE SAME AS THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR.
YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THANK YOU. APPOINTMENT OF DESIGNATED TRUSTEE FOR THE OSMEK ENERGY TRUST.
DR. LAWSON I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPOINT MISS DENISE SOPA AS TRUSTEE FOR THE OSMEK ENERGY TRUST AND MISS DANIELA DUNLAP AS ALTERNATE TRUSTEE, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2020, FOR.
YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
DR. LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK OR ASK DR.
BUCKLEY CAN GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE DOCUMENT IS AND SAYS DR.
BUCKLEY. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR.
LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUEST.
THIS EVENING WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE EDUCATIONAL MASTER'S FACILITIES PLAN.
IT WILL LAY OVER UNTIL NEXT WEEK TO ALLOW US TO ALLOW YOU TIME TO DIGEST THE INFORMATION THERE.
THIS IS THE 24 BOOK THAT I HAVE WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION IN HERE.
AND WE SUBMIT THAT EVERY JULY FOR THEIR APPROVAL.
IT ALLOWS US TO PLAN FORWARD AS WELL.
THE OTHER THE PIECE IS YOU'LL SEE THERE ARE SIX INDIVIDUAL KIND OF COMPONENTS OF THAT, AND THEY'RE LISTED HERE THE GOALS AND STANDARDS, THE ANALYSIS, FACILITIES, INVENTORY EVALUATION, THE ENROLLMENT DATA.
AND THEN WE HAVE A SECTION IN THERE FOR THE FACILITY NEEDS.
SUMMARY. WE HAVE MAPS OF ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS, A LAYOUT OF ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.
THERE IS JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN THIS SINGLE DOCUMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION THAT WE UTILIZE FROM A CENTRAL OFFICE OUT OF OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY OFFICE, AS WELL AS OUT OF OUR MAINTENANCE DIVISION, TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT WHAT'S TAKING PLACE PHYSICALLY ON OUR SITES, BOTH LAND AS WELL AS CAPITAL BUILDINGS.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ADDRESS THOSE.
BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE HERE OUR GOAL PROVIDE A SAFE, SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? THANK YOU, DR.. THANK YOU.
OUR BID NUMBER 24 DASH 16 CUSTODIAL PAPER.
DR. LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE AWARD FOR ALL LINE ITEMS TO UNITED SALES CORPORATION FOR AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $76,020. YOU'VE HEARD DR.
IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED? SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THE NMC NHS REPLACEMENT PROJECT DASH ZERO THREE, A BUILDING CONCRETE DR.
LAWSON. AS I JUST MENTIONED, THE NEXT FOUR WILL BE CONTRACTS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SCHOOL AND AGAIN MR. SIMPERS IS AVAILABLE.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'LL GO AHEAD AND READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CERTAINLY ASK AT THAT TIME.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THE ANY MS NHS REPLACEMENT PROJECT 23 A MECHANICAL PLUMBING DR.
[01:00:02]
LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH ANCHOR MECHANICAL LLC FOR BASE BID.223 A MECHANICAL PLUMBING FOR THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $35,435,000 PER THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
THE THIRD ONE, NUMBER 2415 AND MS ANY AS REPLACEMENT.
LAWSON. DID I MISS ONE? MISS FIVE. ONE THREE.
MOVING BACK. 2415 ANY ANY MS KNEES REPLACEMENT PROJECT 23 BE GEOTHERMAL WELLS DR.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THIS RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT 26 A ELECTRICAL DR.
LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH ACTION ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS INCORPORATED FOR BASE BID 226 A ELECTRICAL FOR THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $26,892,000.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION SO MOVED? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NOW WE HAVE THE ADOPTION OF THE FY 2025 BUDGET REQUEST FOR OPERATING DR.
LAWSON. WELL, IT'S FINALLY HERE.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE BUDGET PROCESS NEVER REALLY ENDS.
BUT TONIGHT WE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR A BALANCED BUDGET GOING INTO FY 25.
YOU WILL SEE A USE OF OUR FUND BALANCE.
EXCUSE ME. I WOULD STRONGLY URGE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
HAMMER WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE REDUCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLUDED TO BY A FEW FOLKS.
AND AGAIN, WE THINK IT'S A IT'S A WELL THOUGHT OUT BUDGET THAT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION WHERE WE ARE FROM A FUNDING PERSPECTIVE AND WHERE WE HOPE WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD. AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO MISS SOPA.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.
LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS.
THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL FOR OUR OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 25.
THERE WE GO. YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF SIMILAR SLIDES FROM THE LAST PRESENTATIONS.
AND WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS JUST UPDATE THE PRESENTATION EACH TIME.
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO OUR BLUEPRINT FUNDING.
BUT LOOKING UP HERE, OUR REDUCTION IN FOUNDATION IS 1.5 MILLION.
SO FOUNDATION IS THE BULK OF THE MONEY THAT YOU CAN SPEND ON THE GENERAL THINGS THAT YOU NEED THAT AREN'T RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN PROGRAMS. THAT NUMBER HAS GONE DOWN BY 1.5 MILLION.
TO DRAW YOUR LINE, I'D DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY LINE.
CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY IS UP 1.8 MILLION.
SO THOSE ARE SCHOOLS AS IT SOUNDS, WITH THE HIGH LEVEL OF POVERTY.
WE WENT FROM FOUR SCHOOLS IN 24 TO 9 SCHOOLS FOR FY 25.
AND SO A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY MONEY WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A NURSE.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISOR.
SO THAT'S THE BULK OF THE ADDITION TO THE STATE FUNDING.
JUST A REMINDER OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT AND LOCAL SHARE.
AND FOR FY 25, THE LOCAL SHARE AMOUNT EXCEEDS THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT AMOUNT.
SO THE REQUIREMENT FROM CECIL COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS JUST $93 MILLION NUMBER GOING INTO FY 25.
JUST SOME IDEAS OF SOME THINGS THAT ARE INCREASING SALARIES DUE TO OUR BLUEPRINT REQUIREMENTS.
[01:05:02]
WHEN YOUR SALARIES GO UP, YOUR FIXED CHARGES ALSO INCREASE.HEALTH INSURANCE IS ALSO PART OF FIXED CHARGES.
HEALTH INSURANCE IS INCREASING THE COST OF NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS.
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO REQUIRE THOSE PLACEMENTS, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, CONTRACTED SERVICES.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH THERAPISTS, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND THE COST ASSOCIATED THERE AND OUR GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A NATIONWIDE TREND, WHICH IS CAUSING US TO DECREASE POSITIONS, DECREASE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE OFFER, DECREASE SOME PROGRAMS AND CURRICULUM, AND DECREASE SOME EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES SO THAT WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET.
CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR ATHLETICS ARE ALSO INCREASING TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
OUR ACTIVE HEALTH CARE AND OUR PORTION OF THE PENSION THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY.
SO I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS ABOUT FY 24 RECEIVING AN EXTRA $17 MILLION FROM THE STATE.
THOSE THESE ARE KIND OF THINGS THAT ARE DONE UNTO US.
JUST A REMINDER OF OUR STATE BUDGET CATEGORIES.
THESE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES.
THE ONES IN BLUE ARE REQUIREMENTS FOR OUR BLUEPRINT WORK THAT WE ARE COMPELLED TO DO AS PER THE LAW.
WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THIS FIRST SLIDE ARE THE SUMMARY TOTALS.
AND I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE INCREASED DECREASE LINE OUT HERE.
THESE ESSENTIALLY ARE MATERIALS, RESOURCES AND SUPPLIES THAT WE USE IN OUR EDUCATION SERVICES.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE POSITIONS.
SO YOU CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ASTERISKS OUT ON THE SIDE OVER HERE.
THE MR SOPA JUST MENTIONED TO YOU, THE GREEN IS A LARGE INCREASE AS A RESULT OF OF A FEW ITEMS THAT WERE HOUSED IN OUR ESSER GRANT THAT HAS EXPIRED AND IS RETURNING TO OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND FINALLY PRIVATE PRE-K.
YOU CAN SEE LISTED HERE AS WELL.
AT OUR LAST MEETING IN MAY, WE SHARED SOME POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS.
AND SO THESE ARE ACTUAL REDUCTIONS THAT WE'VE MADE FROM THE TIME THAT YOU APPROVED THE BUDGET, FEBRUARY 28TH, YOUR THE BUDGET PROPOSAL, THE BUDGET REQUEST, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD TO REMOVE FROM THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE'VE REDUCED OUR HOMELESS TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
TWILIGHT, WHICH IS OFFERED AFTER SCHOOL, WE'VE REDUCED HERE.
YOU CAN SEE WE'VE REDUCED TEACHERS AND TRANSPORTATION AND COUNSELORS FOR TWILIGHT.
SO WE'VE CUT TWILIGHT SERVICES.
NOT TOTALLY, BUT WE'VE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT IT CAN BE OFFERED.
JUMP START NURSES AND JUMP START TEACHERS.
SO THAT'S THE PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS GOING FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE SUMMERTIME.
SO THAT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET.
SO WE REMOVED THEM FROM THIS BUDGET AND WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE THEM THERE.
THE TWO ART KILNS ARE NO LONGER IN THE BUDGET MUSIC AND ATHLETICS.
WE HAD A PAY TO PLAY OPTION WHICH WAS GENERATING WHICH WOULD GENERATE REVENUE FOR THIS BUDGET.
SO WE REMOVED THE PAY TO PLAY OPTION.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE REMOVE THE OFFERING.
SO THE ALL COUNTY MUSIC EVENTS ARE STILL IN THE BUDGET.
AND ALL OF THE ATHLETICS FOR MIDDLE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL, JV AND VARSITY ARE IN THE BUDGET.
[01:10:01]
WHAT WE'VE TAKEN OUT OF THE BUDGET IS THE PAY TO PLAY OPTION WHERE WE WOULD BE CHARGING FAMILIES.SO THAT'S A REVENUE REDUCTION.
SO THAT'S REDUCING WHAT WE CAN SPEND OTHER MONEY ON.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE'VE REDUCED ELIMINATED AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITY STIPENDS AT ALL THREE LEVELS.
SO THOSE ARE CLUB STIPENDS FOR AFTER SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS TO RUN THOSE AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS.
THOSE ARE ALSO ELIMINATED FROM THIS BUDGET.
THE STIPENDS THAT ARE IN THE TEACHER CONTRACT LIKE HONOR SOCIETY, THOSE ARE STAYING.
IT'S JUST THE OTHER CLUBS THAT.
YEAH OKAY. IT'S JUST THE AFTER THE THINGS THAT AREN'T PART OF THAT PART OF THE AGREEMENT.
THAT'S ONLY FOR 2024, SO THAT MAKES SENSE.
THE PAY FOR THAT AFTER AFTER FY 25.
WE STILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THOSE BACK INTO THE BUDGET.
IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT WE CONTINUE WITH THAT PROGRAM.
IS THERE A PLAN TO ORIENT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS? IS JUMP START? ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE NEXT AREA WE'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IS ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
YOU CAN SEE THE VARIOUS CATEGORIES LISTED HERE AS YOU LOOK AT THE PARTICULAR LINE ITEMS. IF YOU'LL GO BACK SEVERAL SLIDES WHERE MRS SOPA PRESENTED ABOUT THE INFLATIONARY COST.
THE TOTAL $9 MILLION, I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION RIGHT DOWN HERE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE $372,000 REDUCTION IN THIS AREA, WHERE MANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES THAT NECESSITATED THE 9 MILLION INCREASE FROM 22 TO 23 ARE REFLECTED HERE.
YOU WILL NOTICE THAT WE HAVE DECREASED THE SAFE SCHOOLS.
THERE WILL ONLY BE AN INCREASE THERE OF 132,000.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO REPLACE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECURITY CAMERAS.
THIS 132 INCREASE WILL REPLACE THE SERVERS THAT WILL BETTER SUPPORT THE EXISTING CAMERAS WE'VE GOT.
AND SO WE HAVE REDUCED AND CUT THOSE THOSE CAMERAS.
WE'VE ALSO REDUCED IN TRANSPORTATION THE COST OF A BUS.
WE WILL NOT BE REPLACING OUR BUS.
SO AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THE REDUCTIONS THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED HERE BASED FROM OUR PREVIOUS PRESENTATION TO YOU, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAMERAS, THE SCHOOL BUS AND THEN VARIOUS SUPPLIES TO SUPPORT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
SO NOT INCLUDING GRANTS AND ANYTHING THAT'S RESTRICTED OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE FROM FY 24 TO FY 25.
AND THERE'S AN INCREASE OF 15 MILLION.
KEEP IN MIND WHEN PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL YOU'RE MAKING ALL THESE CUTS, WHY IS YOUR BUDGET INCREASING HERE? 15 MILLION.
REMEMBER WE HAD $16 MILLION IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET FOR FY 24.
WE NO LONGER HAVE THAT $16 MILLION.
THIS IS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET POSITIONS.
SO ACROSS THE TOP HERE WE HAVE OUR STATE CATEGORIES.
A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, THERE'LL BE A COMPARISON FROM FY 24 APPROVED POSITIONS TO FY 25, BUT RIGHT NOW UNRESTRICTED, ONLY 1,860.7 POSITIONS IN THIS DISTRIBUTION.
THESE WERE THE POSITIONS IN THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET THAT WE HAD TO REDUCE TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
SO WHEN WE PRESENTED A BUDGET TO YOU IN FEBRUARY, YOU APPROVED THE BUDGET REQUEST.
THESE POSITIONS WERE IN THE BUDGET.
ALL OF THESE POSITIONS ON THIS PAGE WERE IN THAT BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE NINE ADMINISTRATORS FOR ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, A HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, A CONSTRUCTION FIELD INSPECTOR, A SUPERVISING SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, AND A PURCHASING SPECIALIST.
YOU CAN SEE FOR SUPPORT STAFF.
THIS IS 18 STUDENT SUPPORT TECHNICIANS AT ELEMENTARY AND AN OFFICE ASSISTANT AT ELEMENTARY.
[01:15:05]
PROGRAM. SO THAT'S A TOTAL OF 71.5 POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.PEOPLE DOING THESE JOBS THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE NEXT YEAR.
WHEN YOU APPROVED IT IN FEBRUARY, THESE WERE THE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS THAT YOU REQUESTED.
I'M HOPING TO HAVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS TO REDUCE CLASS SIZE AND TO ASSIST IN OTHER AREAS, AND WE HAD TO REMOVE THOSE FROM THE BUDGET AS WELL SO WE COULD NOT ADD ANY POSITIONS AND WE HAD TO REMOVE THESE POSITIONS.
AND THAT'S AFTER US USING 6 MILLION OF OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS WIPING IT OUT.
THIS IS OUR TOTAL UNRESTRICTED BUDGET SUMMARY.
SO THIS INCLUDES EVERYTHING INCLUDING SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES.
SO OUR TOTAL UNRESTRICTED A BUDGET FOR FY 25 241.9 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE AGAIN IT'S AN INCREASE OF 15 MILLION FROM FY 24.
AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES BECAUSE WE HAVE REDUCED YOU SAW ALL THE AREAS WE REDUCED AND ADMIN SERVICES VERY, VERY SMALL INCREASE IN ED SERVICES. MOST OF THAT WAS CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AND SOME THINGS THAT CAME BACK FROM ESSER.
WHAT WAS THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS? ARE WE ADDING ABOUT 30 MORE IF WE ONLY USE FOUR? AND AT ONE TIME WE WERE OVER 100 POSITIONS THAT WE WERE THAT WE WERE TAKING OUT.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER OF WHAT WE PUT BACK IN.
I'LL SPEAK TO THAT NOW, BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE MODEL.
I GUESS IT WAS MAY 8TH. THAT DATE STICKS OUT.
WAS A $4 MILLION USE OF OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
I MEAN, I'M COMFORTABLE RECOMMENDING A $6 MILLION USE.
WITH THE FUTURE OUTLOOK FOR FUNDING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY AND YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT'S A VALUE JUDGMENT ON OUR PART TO RECOMMEND TO YOU ALL TO VOTE.
WE ARE OPTIMISTIC THAT MOVING FORWARD, THERE WILL BE A FOCUS ON EDUCATION.
AND YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, MISS HEATH.
I'M JUST GOING TO THROW A NUMBER OUT THERE OF OF 30 POSITIONS.
SO SO THE 71.5 WOULD HAVE BEEN 30 TO 35 HIGHER HAD WE STUCK WITH THE 4 MILLION.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO PAY FOR PLAY FOR SPORTS NOR PERFORMING ARTS.
AND. I FEEL LIKE I'M MISSING ANOTHER BIG ONE.
BUT YEAH, BUT THERE'S A MENU OF THINGS WHERE WE CAN NOW BRING BACK IN.
ASSUMING YOU ALL SUPPORT A $6 MILLION USE OF THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
WITH ACTOR LAWSON AT 6 MILLION.
IT DOES COME WITH SOMEWHAT OF A OF A RISK DEPENDING ON THE ELECTION IN FALL.
YEAH. I MEAN, WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.
I MEAN, LISTEN, WE NEED COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS TO STEP UP AND VALUE EDUCATION.
PERIOD. AND SO AND WE'RE SEEING THIS ACROSS THE STATE.
SO THIS IS OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET.
SO FEDERAL DOLLARS GRANT DOLLARS FROM THE STATE.
AND SO THIS IS JUST SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE FROM FY 24 TO FY 25 THIS IS A $7 MILLION DECREASE.
AGAIN WITH THE LOSS OF ESSER AND THE LOSS OF LEADS GRANTS.
BUT WHAT DID HAPPEN IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET IS WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF DUTY CENTERS AND DUTY CENTER GRANTS FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND, INCREASED PRE-K EXPANSION GRANTS, INCREASED TITLE ONE FUNDING, AND ALL THAT FUNDING IS GREAT AND PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT IT DOESN'T AFFECT CLASS SIZE AND GRADE THREE.
THESE ARE THE RESTRICTED BUDGET POSITIONS.
THE OBJECTS, THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THE POSITIONS DOWN THE SIDE.
SO THERE ARE 150 POSITIONS TOTAL IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET.
[01:20:02]
AND A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITY SERVICE IS RELATED TO OUR JUDY CENTER GRANTS.JUDY CENTER GRANTS, WHICH ARE WONDERFUL AND ARE SERVICING OUR STUDENTS OR OUR CHILDREN FROM 0 TO 5.
SO, MISS SOPA, JUST WE REALLY NEED TO BE CLEAR ON THIS, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS OF THE 71.5 POSITIONS BEING REDUCED, YOU CAN SEE ON THE LAST COUPLE OF SLIDES MISS SOPA PRESENTED, IT LOOKS LIKE WHILE THEY'RE BRINGING SOME POSITIONS BACK, WHY DON'T THEY JUST USE THEM TO TO HELP THE FIVE POSITIONS COMING OUT OF NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, THREE COMING OUT OF ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL FIVE COMING OUT OF RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.
WELL, WHY DON'T THEY TAKE THOSE POSITIONS AND AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF THERE? WELL, WE CAN, BECAUSE THE MONEY IS RESTRICTED.
IT'S GIVEN TO YOU ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING PRE-K EDUCATION.
RIGHT. THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO WITH THAT MONEY.
AND I DON'T ARGUE THAT, BUT BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS FOLKS START TO SEE THIS MONEY COMING IN.
AND THEY SAID, WELL, THEY'RE JUST MISMANAGING THEIR MONEY.
NO, WE'RE NOT. WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LAW.
WE HAVE TO USE THAT MONEY IN A CERTAIN WAY.
SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S THAT'S IT'S REALLY CRITICAL THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT A REDUCTION OF TEACHERS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL IN PARTICULAR, ESPECIALLY HIGH SCHOOL, ARE WE LOOKING AT INCREASED CLASS SIZES AND OR THE NUMBER OF CLASSES OFFERED, LIKE THE VARIETY OF CLASSES OFFERED, OR IS IT MORE THE FORMER THAN THE LATTER? WE ARE SEEING SOME REDUCTIONS IN SOME OF THE ELECTIVES.
HOWEVER, THE LARGER ISSUE IS GOING TO BE CLASS SIZE.
THAT NUMBER'S PROBABLY VERY CLOSE.
SO NEXT YEAR THEY'LL GO INTO THE YEAR WITH 11 ENGLISH TEACHERS.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE 71 POSITIONS WE'RE REDUCING.
AND WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT INCREASES THE CLASS SIZE.
INSTEAD OF HAVING 26 PER CLASS, NOW YOU HAVE 29 PER CLASS, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND YOU SPREAD THAT OUT ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND THE BIGGER THE SCHOOL, THE I HATE TO SAY IT THIS WAY, BUT IT'S TRUE.
THE BIGGER THE SCHOOL, THE EASIER IT IS FOR THEM TO ABSORB A CUT.
SOME OF OUR SMALLER SCHOOLS SIMPLY CANNOT.
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.
DOES THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION? YEAH OKAY. OKAY.
WOULD THAT ALSO MEAN THAT NOT ONLY DOES IT INCREASE THE CLASS SIZES, IT ALSO MAKES IT HARDER FOR STUDENTS TO GET THE CLASSES THAT THEY WANT. AND THAT'S JUST A MATH ISSUE.
THAT'S RIGHT. BECAUSE INSTEAD OF RUNNING, YOU KNOW, THREE SECTIONS OF AP STATISTICS, NOW YOU'RE ONLY RUNNING TWO AND CERTAIN STUDENTS CAN'T FIT IT WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GET THE AP CLASSES THAT THEY WANT. ANY HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL WILL TELL YOU YOU DON'T HAVE BAND AND AP CHEMISTRY THE SAME PERIOD BECAUSE KIDS NEED BOTH.
AND SO THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW.
SO YES. IS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION TERRIBLE? SO THIS IS OUR TOTAL RESTRICTED BUDGET SUMMARY.
THIS INCLUDES ALL OF THE MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, SERVICES AND THE POSITIONS AND FIXED CHARGES.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE FROM FY 24 TO FY 25 A REDUCTION FROM 30.7 MILLION TO 18.4 MILLION.
SO THIS IS WHERE YOU SEE THE DECREASE.
AND AGAIN THE QUESTION COMES UP.
YOU KNOW WE SAID WE'VE LOST $16 MILLION IN ESSER FUNDING AND LEADS FUNDING.
WE DID. BUT WHAT WENT UP WAS OUR DUTY CENTER FUNDING AGAIN SERVICING STUDENTS FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE FIVE, OUR PRE-K EXPANSION FUNDING, AGAIN SERVICING JUST PRESCHOOL, PRE-K STUDENTS AND EXPANDING THOSE PROGRAMS. SO THAT'S WHERE THE BULK OF THE MONEY IS COMING IN TO THE RESTRICTED BUDGET.
WONDERFUL PROGRAMS, BUT NOT ADDRESSING CLASS SIZE.
THIS IS OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET POSITION SUMMARY.
SO THIS TAKES OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
AND OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET PUTS THOSE TWO TOGETHER GIVES YOU A TOTAL AT THE BOTTOM.
AND THAT'S THE DISTRIBUTION FOR FY 25.
SO WHEN YOU COMPARE FY 24 TO FY 25.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN THE LAST FEW SLIDES.
POSITIONS APPROVED FY 25 IS ONLY A -20.3 POSITIONS.
NOW WHY IS THAT IF WE CUT 71.5 POSITIONS? SO GOING BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT SINCE THE TIME THE FY 24 BUDGET WAS STRUCK, TILL THE TIME RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE DOING THIS FY 25 BUDGET, 43.9 POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED IN THE RESTRICTED BUDGET.
[01:25:07]
THESE ARE NOT ADDRESSING CLASS SIZE.TITLE ONE INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS FOR TARGETED SCHOOLS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TARGETED AREAS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO ADD A COUPLE TEACHERS THERE.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAD TO ADD TO THE BUDGET WAS FIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORS.
SO REMEMBER OUR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY MONEY INCREASED FROM THE STATE BY $1.8 MILLION.
WE WENT FROM FOUR COP SCHOOLS TO NINE COP SCHOOLS.
SO WE HAD TO HIRE OR WE WILL HAVE TO HIRE FIVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORS.
THOSE POSITIONS HAD TO BE ADDED TO THE BUDGET AND DOWN HERE, RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS.
IT IS CHEAPER TO PAY FOR A SPEECH THERAPIST, AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, A PHYSICAL THERAPIST.
AS A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE, IT'S CHEAPER THAN IT IS TO PAY A COMPANY TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
THIS IS OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET SUMMARY.
SO YOU CAN SEE FROM FY 24, FY 25, 257 MILLION TO 260 MILLION.
SO AN INCREASE IN 2.7 MILLION.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
SO 83% OF WHAT WE DO IS PEOPLE.
THE OTHER 17% IS EVERYTHING ELSE.
THIS IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENSES FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET.
SO WE HAVE OUR UNRESTRICTED ALLOCATION FROM CECIL COUNTY GOVERNMENT, OUR STATE ALLOCATION.
THIS INCLUDES OUR RESTRICTED DOLLARS AND OUR UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS, OUR FEDERAL MONEY RESTRICTED REVENUE, OTHER MONEY, WHICH IS MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, INTEREST REVENUE THAT FALLS INTO THIS OTHER CATEGORY.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE.
SO WE'RE USING OUR ENTIRE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
SO FROM JUNE 30TH FY 23 THIS WAS OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE NUMBER.
AND WE'RE USING THE WHOLE THING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE OUR UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED EXPENSES.
SO YOU CAN SEE OUR REVENUE MATCHES OUR EXPENSE WHICH IS A BALANCED BUDGET FOR FY 25.
THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HAVE WE HEARD ANY MORE FROM JUDY CENTER ABOUT THOSE TWO DRUG EDUCATION POSITIONS? WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ON ANY MORE, TO TAKE ANY GRANTS? HAVE YOU HEARD, HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ELSE FROM THEM? SO WE I MEAN, FROM.
OH, YES. SORRY. YES, YES, SORRY, I SAID YES.
DID NOT KNOW. YES. HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING YET ON THAT.
YEAH. OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY HELP THERE.
THE THE GAME PLAN OR WHAT WILL BE? OR HAVE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE GAME PLAN OF HOW TO HANDLE THE WORKLOAD THAT'S GOING TO BE LOST WITH THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL REDUCTION? WELL GO AHEAD DR., ARE THERE ANY OTHER PLACES IN THE SCHOOL THAT CAN HANDLE SOME OF THAT? GO AHEAD. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO WITH IT.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CREATE A HEAVY LOAD ON A FEW AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.
AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY COST.
UNFORTUNATELY. I WILL SEE THERE WILL BE SOME CONSEQUENCES IN TERMS OF RESPONSE TIME TO FAMILIES.
WE HAVE LESS PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK.
AND SO THE QUALITY IS GOING TO GO DOWN.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
SOME INSTANCES, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE SCHOOL.
WE ARE UTILIZING LOCAL SUPPORT TEACHERS LSTS AS WE CALL THEM.
PRINCIPALS. LSTS CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS ADMINISTRATIVELY IN TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT DAY TO DAY.
THEY CAN'T DO CERTAIN BIG THINGS, SO IT'S GOING TO PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE PRINCIPALS FOR SURE.
EVALUATING TEACHERS AND LST CAN'T EVALUATE TEACHERS.
I DON'T BELIEVE LSTS CAN SUSPEND.
SO THESE ARE SOME PRETTY CENTRAL PIECES TO THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL.
SO, I MEAN, WE'RE KIND OF WE'RE DOING IT WITH A LOT OF DUCT TAPE RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THAT'S GOING TO PUT A LOT MORE PRESSURE ON THE PRINCIPAL, TOO, BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I'M IN THERE, WHEN THEY GET A CALL, IF THE VICE IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IS BUSY, THE PRINCIPAL IS DOWN HELPING IF THE SST ALREADY HAS SOMEONE ELSE.
[01:30:02]
SO I JUST FEEL LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE UNDERTAKING.ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YOU A RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $260,393,999, WHICH INCLUDES A COUNTY APPROPRIATION OF $97,950,830, AND A FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION OF $6,067,563.
YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT IS THE ADOPTION OF THE FY 2025 BUDGET.
SO HERE'S THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR FY 25.
YOU CAN SEE THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT INCLUDED ELK NECK ELEMENTARY.
ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR $2 MILLION.
THE RISING SUN ELEMENTARY PARKING PARKING LOT RESURFACING, RESURFACING AND PAVEMENT FOR 269,000.
CONVERTING THE CECILTON ELEMENTARY BOILER TO GAS FOR 175,000.
THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY CHILLER REPLACEMENT THIS YEAR WE RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE STATE AND IN A HEALTHY SCHOOLS FACILITIES PROJECT, AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED $925,000 FOR THE BALANCE OF THAT REPLACEMENT.
AND THEN OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT IS OBVIOUSLY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT.
YOU CAN SEE THE AMOUNT COMING FROM THE STATE THAT'S BEEN COMMITTED THERE.
QUESTIONS FOR MISS SOPA ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FY 25.
OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE SCHOOL CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $21,896,413, WHICH INCLUDES A COUNTY APPROPRIATION OF $16,702,120. ALL RIGHT.
YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED SECOND.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
BUT WE'RE REQUIRED TO REPORT THIS AS PART OF OUR BUDGET.
SO YOU CAN SEE FOR FY 25 THE TOTAL PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE ON BOND OBLIGATIONS ON OUR BEHALF IS $8.6 MILLION. QUESTIONS.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE COUNTY'S TOTAL APPROPRIATION OF $8,650,427 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 DEBT SERVICE BUDGET.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT WE HAVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET UPDATE.
DR. LAWSON, FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF MISS SOPA, WE CONTINUE WITH 5.18 AND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION UPON CONCLUSION OF HER PRESENTATION. SOPA.
OKAY. SO THIS IS A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.
SO AGAIN THIS IS THE COVER LETTER THAT GOES TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
AND I ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE THIS TROUBLE WHEN I DO THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVERY MONTH.
SO HERE'S SOME ADDITIONS TO SOME RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
APG AND YORK BUILDING PRODUCTS MADE DONATIONS TO SUPPORT OUR SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR GALA.
[01:35:04]
INSECURITIES. AND THEN FUNDING FROM THE READ-A-THON PROGRAM AT CECIL MANOR TO PURCHASE A 3D PRINTER.SO THESE ARE RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
YOU CAN SEE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FY 20 FOR SCHOOL SAFETY EVALUATION GRANTS.
SO THERE WAS A SAFETY EVALUATION DONE, ITEMS WERE NOTED AND THEN GRANT MONEY WAS GIVEN TO ADDRESS THOSE ITEMS. SO THEY COULD BE THINGS LIKE LOCKS ON DOORS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED OR A CAMERA HERE OR THERE.
SO HERE'S A $53,000 GRANT FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT LIFE SKILLS TRAINING GRANT TO SUPPORT STUDENT TRAINING AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. AGAIN, THIS IS LIKE THE DRUG FREE ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS CAN SEE IN RESTRICTED RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE A DECREASE IN OUR MARYLAND LEADS GRANTS FOR PARTNERSHIP COSTS.
AND SO BECAUSE THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE PARTNERSHIP COST, THEY'RE REDUCING WHAT'S ACTUALLY COMING TO US FOR OTHER ACTIVITIES SUPPLIES RESOURCES BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING DIRECTLY TO THOSE PARTNERS.
ALL COUNTY CHORUS COLLECTS MONEY.
SAME THING FOR THE STEP PROGRAM.
THEY MAKE ITEMS THEY SELL ITEMS THEY MAKE MONEY OFF OF WHAT THEY DO AND THEY ARE SELF-SUSTAINING.
SO THE MONEY THAT THEY MAKE GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE PROGRAM TO PAY FOR THINGS FOR THE PROGRAM.
AGAIN, THIS IS REALLY HARD TO SEE IN THIS TYPE OF FORMAT.
THIS IS REALLY HERE FOR YOU AS THE BOARD AND FOR COUNTY COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE ACTUAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT HAPPENED AND BE ABLE TO SEE THE INS AND OUTS OF THE STATE CATEGORIES. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER, EVERY MONTH WE SHOW OUR BUDGET ON THREE DIFFERENT SLIDES.
AND THEN WE DISPLAY THEM IN THE WHOLE BUDGET IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS.
SO THOSE ARE OUR STANDARD REPORTS.
THESE ARE OUR UNRESTRICTED EXPENDITURES.
SO AGAIN THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE GRANTS, STATE GRANTS, FEDERAL FUNDING.
THIS IS JUST OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
THIS IS JUST A THREE YEAR LOOK TO SEE KIND OF HOW WE'RE TRENDING FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
AND IT'S REALLY NOT A SURPRISE.
IT'S THE SAME THING THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL YEAR LONG.
WE JUST RECEIVED A CLAIMS INVOICE FROM CAREFIRST FOR ONE WEEK.
THAT'S THREE TIMES THE NORMAL AMOUNT.
SO HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE REAL.
AND REMEMBER WE PAY THE ENTIRE.
WE PAY THE CLAIMS. WE'RE SELF-INSURED.
AND THE LAST PAGE IS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET REPORT BY DEPARTMENT.
AND THAT'S ONLY IF SOMETHING IS ENCUMBERED.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR HEALTH CARE, THE CLAIMS ARE NOT ENCUMBERED.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT AVAILABLE.
BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS ENCUMBERED.
SOME THINGS ARE. AND SO THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT THE YEAR TO DATE AVAILABLE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE OPERATING BUDGET.
OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $69,546 AS PRESENTED.
FOR DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.
[01:40:03]
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM AS A REMINDER FOR YOU.
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 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 THIS EVENING.
TWO 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 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THE SPELL.
PERSONNEL MATTERS, PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE AND OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, AND SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS 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 ROLE 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.
THEY MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.
A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE CORNER OF THE TABLE, AND YOU MAY LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS THERE IF YOU WISH.
WE HAVE 14 PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.
SEAN BRIM IS ALREADY AT THE TABLE.
THANK YOU. AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY DEB SHORT.
AND PLEASE PUSH THE GREEN BUTTON OR ON THE MICROPHONE.
THAT ON THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY 1863, ALL PERSONS HELD AS SLAVES WITHIN ANY STATE OR DESIGNATED PART OF A STATE, THE PEOPLE WHEREOF SHALL THEN BE IN REBELLION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES SHALL BE THEN THENCEFORWARD AND FOREVER FREE.
AND I DO HEREBY ENJOIN UPON THE PEOPLE SO DECLARE TO BE TO BE FREE, AND THAT SUCH PERSONS OF SUITABLE CONDITION WILL BE RECEIVED INTO THE ARMED SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES. SIGNED.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN 16TH 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION IS OUR NATION'S SECOND DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE.
THIS IS WHAT JUNETEENTH IS ABOUT.
LINCOLN'S PROCLAMATION CONVERTED THE CIVIL WAR TO A HIGHER PLANE AND SERVED THREE PURPOSES.
FIRST, HE GAVE THE SOLDIERS ON A BATTLEFIELD SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.
NEARLY 200,000 DID HAVE THE NERVE.
TO HIS LAPEL, GIVE HIM A MUSKET ON HIS SHOULDER AND BULLETS IN HIS POCKET, AND THERE IS NO POWER ON EARTH THAT CAN DENY HE HAS EARNED THE RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE ARE THE REASONS WHY AMERICA COULD NO LONGER BE HALF SLAVE AND HALF FREE.
AS LINCOLN ONCE SAID, THE SLAVES KNEW BEFORE LINCOLN HIMSELF KNEW WHAT THE CIVIL WAR WAS ABOUT.
AND THIS QUESTION HAUNTS US STILL.
AND WITH MY LAST FEW SECONDS, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO MR. RODGERS. AND THIS LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
THANK YOU, MR. BRIM. DEB SHORT, FOLLOWED BY BETH ANN GRIFFIN.
[01:45:05]
I WANT TO THANK EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR OUR CHILDREN.ONE IN PARTICULAR ISSUE YOU HAVE ADDRESSED IS THE IMPROPER BOOKS IN THE LIBRARIES.
JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES ARE THE FIRST ONE, THE PUBLIC DISPLAY, INCLUDING HERE AT SOME PAST BOARD MEETINGS AND ACTUALLY TONIGHT AS WELL, OF INTOLERANCE FOR A PARTICULAR ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT INTOLERANCE GREW AND TEACHERS AND OTHER KSPS EMPLOYEES WERE ALLOWED TO SPEAK ONLY THEIR SIDE TO THEIR STUDENTS. MANY CHILDREN WENT HOME CRYING.
MAY I SUGGEST CHILDREN AS A WHOLE DON'T UNDERSTAND FINANCIAL ISSUES.
THEREFORE, GREAT CONFUSION AND EMOTIONS ENTERED THEIR MINDS.
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU WANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, I FIND FAULT IN THIS AVENUE THAT WAS TAKEN.
AND SECOND, THE PUBLIC DISPLAY, AS NOTED IN THE CECIL WHIG OF ATTEMPTING TO TAKE DOWN ONE OF YOU.
BEWARE. IN THE END, THE TRUTH WILL COME OUT.
ASK YOURSELVES HONESTLY, ARE YOU LISTENING TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS JORDAN.
BETH ANN GRIFFIN, FOLLOWED BY JARED GARDIPEE.
MY NAME IS BETH ANN GRIFFIN AND THIS IS DIRECTED AT YOU, MISS DIXON.
INTELLIGENT, BEAUTIFUL, ACCOMPLISHED, RESPONSIBLE, LOVING, FUNNY.
HELPFUL. HER SERVANT'S HEART IS ONE MOST PEOPLE COULD ONLY WISH FOR.
THOSE ARE JUST A FEW WORDS THAT DESCRIBE MY DAUGHTER, GISELLE.
HOWEVER, YOU CHOSE TO FOCUS ON TWO SPECIFIC POINTS ABOUT MY CHILD HER FAITH AND SEXUALITY.
SO TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT.
SHE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.
NOW, I KNOW YOU'RE THINKING, WHY IS SHE IN HERE TALKING ABOUT THIS LOUDLY? YOU MADE A CHOICE TO INVOLVE MINOR CHILDREN IN A QUEST TO GET INFORMATION ON ANOTHER CHILD.
WHILE SHE WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD HAVE PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
NOT ONCE DID YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THAT YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH OTHER STUDENTS COULD HAVE OUTED MY CHILD, NEGATIVELY, IMPACTED HER MENTAL HEALTH. NOT ONCE DID YOU ATTEMPT TO APOLOGIZE TO HER OR THE OTHER STUDENTS YOU CROSSED THE LINE WITH OR HER PARENTS.
GISELLE IS MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO BE A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, AND I, FOR ONE, AM SO PROUD TO BE THE TO BE THE MOTHER OF THE REASON THAT YOU WILL BE REMOVED. SIMPLY PUT, YOUR DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS AND ARROGANCE WILL BE THE REASON YOU WON'T SIT IN THAT SEAT MUCH LONGER.
GISELLE WILL HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE IN HER NEW ROLE AS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
SHE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATION, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
AND QUITE HONESTLY, SHE ALREADY HAS.
JARED GARDIPEE, FOLLOWED BY KRISTINE GIBBONS.
I WANT TO GIVE MY TIME TO BETH ANN.
JUST KIDDING. I CAN'T DO THAT.
I REALLY WANTED TO COME TO SAY THANK YOU TO MADISON.
THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A ROLLER COASTER, AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW YOU FAIRLY WELL.
[01:50:05]
AND. I THINK CECIL COUNTY IS HEADED IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, AND I THINK YOU'RE A BIG PART OF THAT.IT TOOK FOLKS SITTING NEXT TO YOU ON THIS BOARD.
BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HERE WITHOUT YOU.
AND I WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU.
OUR FUTURE WILL BE DIFFERENT IN.
THIS WILL IMPACT OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COUNTY FOR FOR YEARS TO COME.
IT WAS IT WAS A REALLY A PLEASURE TO GET TO TO MEET YOU.
SITTING NEXT TO YOU IS MISS GRIFFIN.
I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW KNOW YOU A LITTLE BIT DURING THAT SAME PROCESS AS WELL.
AND. I'M HERE TO SAY I SEE YOU AND I SUPPORT YOU.
YOU DO HAVE BIG SHOES TO FILL.
YOU'RE TALENTED AND SMART AND KIND AND PASSIONATE.
AND YOU DESERVE TO BE IN THAT SEAT AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. GARDIPEE. CHRISTINE GIVENS, FOLLOWED BY RON ROBUSTO.
THIS CIRCUS CREATED BY YOU AND YOUR BUDDIES HAS BEEN AN EMBARRASSMENT AND UNNECESSARY DISTRACTION THAT HAS TAKEN US AWAY FROM BEING ABLE TO COME TOGETHER TO TRULY CREATE A BETTER CECIL FOR US ALL.
THEY SAY THE TRUE TEST OF A PERSON'S CHARACTER IS WHAT THEY DO WHEN NO ONE'S WATCHING.
AND YOU ARE THE DEFINITION OF THAT.
AND OVER THE YEARS, YOUR SPUNK, YOUR TENACITY, YOUR DETERMINATION, YOUR FEARLESSNESS, AND YOUR DEDICATION TO YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS AND THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN THE DEFINITION OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TRUE SERVANT LEADER.
AND WHILE MADDIE HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR WHAT A STUDENT BOARD REPRESENTATIVE SHOULD BE AND COULD BE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE HER PASS THE BATON TO GISELLE, THIS YOUNG LADY I'VE KNOWN FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND SHE EMBODIES THESE VERY SAME CHARACTERISTICS AND IS THE LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE PHRASE I AM MY ANCESTORS' WILDEST DREAMS. YES, YOU ARE. I AM SO PROUD, AND I CONSIDER IT AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO WATCH YOU GROW AND EVEN MORE IN THIS ROLE AND WISH YOU ALL THE SUCCESS IN THE NEXT YEAR.
RON ROBUSTO, FOLLOWED BY NORMA.
CARRIE. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS RON ROBUSTO FROM CECIL COUNTY.
AND AS YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY I'LL BRING IN PREPARED REMARKS.
BUT AFTER HEARING WHAT HAS JUST GONE ON, I'D RATHER JUST SPEAK TO YOU FROM MY HEART.
MISS DIXON, I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AS A AS A GOD FEARING, CHRISTIAN LIVING WOMAN WHO DOESN'T HAVE A RACIST PART OF YOU IN YOUR BODY, AND THE HATE AND THE SPEW AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON OVER THE MONTHS.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS, I APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
I'M A SAVED, BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, AND WHAT GOD DID FOR ME ON THE CROSS IS AMAZING.
BY THE WAY, THE LORD PLACES YOU IN ALL THESE POSITIONS.
WE ARE ALL CAPABLE OF MAKING MISJUDGMENTS.
BUT IF ANYONE DOES SOMETHING, THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE DEFENDED.
I'VE NEVER HEARD ONE PUBLIC COMMENT DEFENDING HER.
[01:55:01]
I'VE SEEN AT LEAST TWO COMMENTS THROWING HER UNDER THE BUS.I'M GOING TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR POSITIONS.
I'M GOING TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I'M GOING TO CLOSE IN PRAYER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PLACING THESE BOARD MEMBERS IN PLACE.
AND PLEASE DISREGARD THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO EMPTY YOUR WORD.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE IN THIS COUNTRY AND ALL THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE GIVEN US.
AMEN. THANK YOU, MR. ROBUSTO. NORMA CARA, FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER.
HI, I'M NORMA CAREY, AND ON MONDAY, MY NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL GRANDDAUGHTER WENT TO THE BATHROOM, OPENED AN UNLOCKED STALL, AND THERE WAS A BOY IN THE STALL STANDING THERE LOOKING AT HER. SHE IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE OFFICE AND SPOKE TO THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
IF SHE WERE BEING TOLD TO USE THE UNISEX BATHROOM, WHY CAN'T THE BOY BE TOLD TO USE THE UNISEX BATHROOM? THAT COULD BE A SIMPLE SOLUTION.
SHE SAID THAT SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN ASKED TO FILL OUT THESE SURVEYS, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS IS ALWAYS, DO YOU FEEL SAFE? AND SHE SAID, OF COURSE, I DON'T FEEL SAFE WHEN BOYS ARE ALLOWED IN GIRLS BATHROOMS. THEN SHE CONTINUED, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, IF THEY REALLY CARED ABOUT OUR SAFETY, THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS.
AND I'M SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT THIS IS NOT OKAY, AND THAT IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO HAVE OUR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS FEEL SAFE IN THE SCHOOL. WHAT CAN WE DO? I MEAN, MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS FIVE FOOT TALL AND A 100 POUNDS, AND SHE'S NO MATCH FOR A HIGH SCHOOL BOY.
SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.
AND I KNOW THAT NONE OF US WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS SITUATION IS CRAZY AS IT IS CALLING FOR MR. DIXON'S RESIGNATION AGAIN WHEN SHE RAN FOR THE SEAT IN 22, SHE GARNERED MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE AT THE TIME.
HOW MANY TIMES NOW HAVE YOU CALLED FOR HER RESIGNATION? THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND WANT HER ON THIS BOARD.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN HER DISRESPECT ANYONE? I HAVEN'T EITHER, SO LET'S JUST WORK TOGETHER.
AS LORI SAID EARLIER, FOR THE SAKE OF OUR STUDENTS.
AND MAY IT START WITH THIS BOARD.
AND WHILE WE'RE AT IT, CAN WE KEEP OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAFE, ESPECIALLY OUR GIRLS? THANK YOU, MISS CARRIE. RODNEY BREWER, FOLLOWED BY BILL KILBY.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH YOU ALL A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER.
I'M ABLE TO VOICE MY OPINION REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE WITH ME OR NOT.
YOU SHARE YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT MANY POLICIES AND TOPICS.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ADDRESS THE BOOK ISSUE SETTING UP THAT THE OLDER TEEN SECTION.
AND BY THE WAY, HOW IS THAT GOING? I LISTENED TO OTHER CITIZENS IN OUR COUNTY WHO PARTICIPATED AT THESE MEETINGS.
IT HELPS ME TO KNOW WHAT CONCERNS THEY HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, FUNDING OF THE SCHOOLS, BULLYING THE SCHOOLS, AND TAKING A QUOTE FROM A PARTICIPANT LAST TIME THAT BOOKS SAVED LIVES.
AS A CHRISTIAN, I WOULD SAY, WELL, NOT BOOKS, BUT THE BOOK, THE BIBLE MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE.
BUT EVEN THAT IS NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.
AND WHAT I MEAN IS ONLY GOD, JESUS, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN SAVE A LIFE.
I WILL SAY THAT READING THE BIBLE HELPS US TO KNOW THESE THREE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY.
A FRIEND OF MINE SAID THE BIBLE STANDS FOR THE BASIC INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE LEAVING EARTH READING THE BIBLE, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE READ THE BIBLE AND ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN I AM, BUT HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED THE LORD JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR.
THAT MEANS THEY DO NOT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE AND THAT GOD OFFERS NOW.
[02:00:01]
DISAGREE WITHOUT PERSECUTION.HAVE A SAFE SUMMER, ENJOY THE 4TH OF JULY AND WITH FATHER'S DAY THIS SUNDAY.
HAVE A GOOD FATHER'S DAY AND MAY YOUR CHILDREN BLESS YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BREWER. BILL KILBY, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HAMPTON.
I'M BILL KILBY AND I'M A CANDIDATE, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AS A VOLUNTEER, I SPENT THREE DAYS LEADING GROUPS OF SEVENTH GRADERS FROM STATION TO STATION TO LEARN ABOUT CHICKENS, SOIL CONSERVATION, TRACTORS, COMBINES, AND JOBS AVAILABLE IN THE AGRICULTURAL RELATED BUSINESSES.
I FOUND THE EXPERIENCE TO BE VERY INSPIRING.
THE STUDENTS WERE NOT ONLY COURTEOUS, THEY WERE CURIOUS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE AG RELATED BUSINESSES WHO MADE THE EVENT POSSIBLE. I CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR JOB WELL DONE.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING IN THE FUTURE.
AND ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE GROUP WAS A PAST EDUCATOR, MEL BACON.
SO, YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF THAT, TOO.
AND BEPAC MISSION STATEMENT, AND I'M PARAPHRASING IS TO ENHANCE QUALITY EDUCATION IN CECIL COUNTY SCHOOLS, TO SUPPORT LIFELONG LEARNING AND TO HAVE STUDENTS BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
THE APPROXIMATE 70 MEMBERS OF BIPAC ARE WILLING TO GO ABOVE JUST PAYING TAXES TO SUPPORTING BY BEING DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
YOU CAN SHARE THAT WITH US IF YOU'D LIKE.
YEAH. BRIAN HAMPTON, FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FOLTZ.
GOOD EVENING, DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'M BRIAN HAMPTON FROM PERRYVILLE.
I HAVE ONE KID THAT STILL ATTENDS CSPS AND ONE VERY RECENT GRADUATE.
AS YOU WRESTLED WITH THE DIFFICULT DECISIONS TO FINALIZE THE FY 25 BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF THE MANY BENEFITS TO THE WELL-ROUNDED PROGRAM CSPS HAS OFFERED.
OF COURSE, ATHLETICS GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION, BUT THAT REALLY IS A PROGRAM WHERE MANY STUDENTS DO PUSH THEMSELVES TO DO THEIR BEST AND IN MANY INSTANCES KEEPS THEM RETURNING TO SCHOOL. BUT LET'S ALSO NOT FORGET ABOUT THE ARTS.
AND OF COURSE, HOW COULD ANYONE NOT BE IMPRESSED WITH THE CONTENT, PRESENTATION SKILLS, AND THE OUTWARD ENTHUSIASM SHOWN BY THE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS IN THE GALLERY WALK OF CAPSTONE PROJECTS? UNFORTUNATELY, ANY AND ALL OF THESE AFOREMENTIONED PROGRAMS. MAY BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY THE SHORT SIGHTEDNESS AND THE WAR ON PUBLIC EDUCATION WAGED BY THE CURRENT COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
THE SENIOR CLASS SURVEY RESULTS PRESENTED AT THE JANUARY WORK SESSION REMAINED RATHER PROFOUND.
ONLY 31% OF THE 801 SENIOR RESPONDENTS ANSWERED YES.
I PLAN TO REMAIN IN CECIL COUNTY OR RETURN TO AFTER SCHOOL TRAINING.
WHEREVER YOUR LIFE'S ADVENTURES TAKE YOU, YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE CECIL COUNTY BETTER.
I STAND WITH YOU UNTIL YOU NO LONGER FEEL THE NEED TO MASK WHO YOU ARE.
I STAND WITH YOU AND TELL PEOPLE NO LONGER HAVE THE AUDACITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOU THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING ON YOUR ABILITY OR INCOMPETENCY TO FILL ROLES TO WHICH YOU APPLY. THANK YOU.
CHRIS FOLTZ, FOLLOWED BY LISA NURNBERGER.
[02:05:07]
GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM.AUDIENCE. HAPPY LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK AND WISH MADISON WELL FOR HER DEDICATION AND HARD WORK.
AS THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AT THE SAME TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS TO GISELLE ON HER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF BECOMING THE NEXT STUDENT BOARD MEMBER. AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.
SO TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU, NOT ONLY AS A CONCERNED CITIZEN OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT AS THE FORMER STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, DEEPLY DISTURBED BY RECENT EVENTS, THE UNPROFESSIONALISM AND DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS BY YOU, MISS RENEE DIXON TOWARDS GISELLE, THE NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER STRIKES AT THE VERY HEART OF OUR VALUES AND PRINCIPLES.
AS A FORMER STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, AND A PROUD MEMBER OF THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, I'VE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE DEVASTATING IMPACT OF DISCRIMINATION.
THE LGBTQ YOUTH FACE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RISK OF SUICIDE DUE TO DISCRIMINATION RIDICULE.
WE CANNOT ALLOW SUCH BEHAVIOR TO FESTER WITHIN OUR INSTITUTION.
IT ERODES THE TRUST UPON WHICH THIS COMMUNITY IS FOUNDED.
THAT WE SEND AN UNEQUIVOCAL MESSAGE THAT DISCRIMINATION WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN ANY FORM.
OUR STUDENTS ARE WATCHING, AND THEY DESERVE LEADERS WHO EMBODY COURAGE AND INTEGRITY, WHO CHAMPION DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, DIVERSITY AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY INDIVIDUAL FEELS RESPECTED.
I URGE YOU TO BE THOSE LEADERS AND TAKE ACTION.
THANK YOU. LISA NURNBERGER FOLLOWED BY JEFF CASE. IS MR. CASE HERE? THE NEXT WOULD BE JANICE STENGER.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT MY TOPIC WAS DIVERSITY.
MY TOPIC I CHOSE THE TOPIC OF DIVERSITY BECAUSE THIS IS LGBTQIA+ PRIDE MONTH.
PRIDE MONTH IS A CELEBRATION OF HOW A VERY SMALL, MARGINALIZED GROUP OF PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER AND STOOD UP AGAINST UNFAIR, UNEQUAL, AND AWFULLY, OFTEN PHYSICALLY VIOLENT TREATMENT.
THEY WEREN'T GOING TO TOLERATE BEING BEATEN OR BEING KILLED OR BEING LEGALLY DISCRIMINATED AGAINST.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT TODAY, ON THIS DAY EIGHT YEARS AGO.
SOME OF US ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR OUR RIGHT TO LIVE.
WE'RE DIFFERENT AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHICH LETTER OF THE LGBTQIA+ WHICH LETTER I IDENTIFY WITH, IT DOESN'T MATTER. IT SHOULDN'T MATTER TO ANY ONE OF YOU.
IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS, AND NOBODY HAS A RIGHT TO ASK ANYONE.
IF I TRUST YOU, I WILL CHOOSE TO SHARE MY IDENTITY IDENTIFICATION WITH YOU.
THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON DIVERSITY.
DIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE DIVERSITY TEACHES US LOVE, ACCEPTANCE.
LOVE, ACCEPTANCE, AND I LOST MY PLACE ANYWAY.
DIVERSITY INTRODUCES US TO PEOPLE, PLACES AND IDEAS THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF OURSELVES.
IT GIVES US TOLERANCE OF OTHERS.
IT ALLOWS US THE ABILITY TO LOVE SOMEONE WITHOUT KNOWING THEM.
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK, JOSEPH.
[02:10:12]
THANKS, MADDIE.I WANTED TO SAY ACTUALLY, I, I SHOWED UP TONIGHT BECAUSE I WANTED TO THANK MADISON.
I'VE BEEN HIDING OUT A LITTLE BIT LATELY.
I HAD SOME HEALTH ISSUES AND JUST.
I DON'T KNOW. I'VE BEEN HIDING OUT, BUT.
BUT THIS IS WORTH COMING OUT FOR.
MADDIE, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY THIS YEAR.
YOUR PART IN FUND CPS? I THINK IT'S REALLY IT'S REALLY AMAZING.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED ABOUT THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THE STUDENTS GOT A WIN, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT NOW A GENERATION OF YOUNG ADULTS WHO I HOPE ARE PLUGGED INTO THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND TO THE POLITICAL WORLD SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THAT THAT JUST A SMALL GROUP OF COMMITTED FOLKS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. SO AND I THINK I THINK THAT GISELLE'S ALREADY PART OF THAT.
FOR GISELLE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THAT I'M HERE, I'M WISHING A WARM WELCOME.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I SEE YOU AND THAT I APPRECIATE YOU.
MISS DIXON, I HATE TO GIVE YOU ANY MORE AIRTIME, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO GO.
IT'S THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE WERE HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR INTOLERANCE.
AND YOU SEEM TO BE INCAPABLE OF LEARNING AND OF SELF-REFLECTION.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MISS GINGER.
BUT WE WILL IN BOARD DOCS, WE HAD A TYPO ON THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION FOR THE BUDGET.
IT READ $97,950,830, WHEN IN FACT, IT SHOULD HAVE READ $97,550,830. SO, THE BOARD WILL ADDRESS THAT ISSUE AT OUR JUNE 18TH MEETING, WHICH SHOULD ONLY TAKE A MINUTE JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES.
ALSO, A COUPLE THINGS COMING UP.
TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS.
JULY 4TH IS JULY 4TH, AND OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE JULY 24TH.
WE'VE COME TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA, SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT.
MADISON EXCLUDED FROM SPEAKING.
EXCUSE ME. YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER, SIR.
WHY? MATT? SIR? YOU WERE NOT REGISTERED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.