[00:00:01] ALL RIGHT, IT'S 4:00. [1. Regular Meeting - 4:00 p.m.] I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE JULY 24TH, 2024 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, LITIGATION MATTERS, AND NEGOTIATIONS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE [2. Closed Session] GENERAL PROVISION 3-305 B1 EIGHT NINE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE AYE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. WE'RE IN CLOSED SESSION. WE'D LIKE TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION THE JULY 24TH, 2024. [3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.] BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. PLEASE STAND AS MISS GRIFFIN LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. BOARD REFLECTION, MISS HEATH. THE MISSION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. 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? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE RAISE YOUR HAND. AYE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT UP IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. [4. Consent Agenda] AND DURING THE CONSENT AGENDA, THERE'S MULTIPLE ITEMS FOR APPROVAL BY THE BOARD IN ONE SINGLE MOTION. AND THE BOARD HAS RECEIVED DOCUMENTATIONS ABOUT THESE ITEMS IN ADVANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW AND ITEMS MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AT THE REQUEST OF ANY BOARD MEMBER. SO, BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY ITEMS THAT ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED. OKAY. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. OKAY. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS. [5. New Business] WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR NEW STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MISS GRIFFIN. DO I HAVE TO HOLD IT. OKAY. NO. OH, THIS IS LOUD. OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. MY NAME IS GISELLE GRIFFIN, AND I AM HONORED TO BE HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE ON BEHALF OF ALL CCPS STUDENTS FOR THE 2024 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO THOUGHT IT FIT FOR ME TO BE IN THIS POSITION. I CANNOT EXPRESS HOW EXTREMELY GRATEFUL I AM. SINCE I AM A NEW MEMBER TO THE BOARD I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO REPORT ON. HOWEVER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM VERY EXCITED TO TAKE DIRECT ACTION THIS SCHOOL YEAR BY GETTING INTO SCHOOLS AND HEARING FEEDBACK DIRECTLY FROM THE MOUTHS OF THOSE WHO WE SERVE AND GOING FROM THERE. WITH THAT BEING SAID, NEXT MONTH ON THE 12TH I WILL BE ATTENDING A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD TRAINING DAY IN ANNAPOLIS TO RECEIVE FURTHER EDUCATION ON HOW TO PROPERLY SERVE DURING MY TERM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GRIFFIN. MR. DAVIS. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. I'LL KEEP MY REPORT SHORT AND SWEET TODAY. I HOPE EVERYONE IS STAYING SAFE AND SPENDING TIME WITH THEIR FAMILY AND ENJOYING THE SUMMER BREAK THUS FAR. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO WELCOME AND RECOGNIZE OUR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MISS GISELLE GRIFFIN. GISELLE, IT IS AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU AS A COLLEAGUE ON THE BOARD AND AS A FATHER. I'M PERSONALLY PROUD OF YOU. AND I KNOW MAYBE THAT MAY NOT BE THE RIGHT THING TO SAY, [LAUGHTER] BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU. AND I'M SURE THE COMMUNITY WILL FIND OUT HOW GREAT A PERSON YOU ARE, AND THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ADD SOME VALUE TO OUR BOARD DELIBERATIONS. SO WELCOME. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WELL, IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY SUMMER. I HOPE THAT EVERYBODY'S HAVING A GREAT TIME ON THEIR VACATIONS. HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS GET SOME VACATION OVER THERE. AND I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME GISELLE TO THE BOARD AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. OKAY. WE'RE ALL KEEPING IT SHORT TONIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MISS GRIFFIN. REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER. A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE ATTENDED A MABE EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING. AND I ALSO WE HAD A BOARD RETREAT AND OUR END OF YEAR SCHOOL [00:05:03] AND SCHOOL STAFF APPRECIATION PICNIC, WHICH WAS REALLY A GREAT TIME AS WELL. I THINK ALL THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE OUR LAST MEETING AND I JUST SOME WERE SPEEDING BY. SO EVERYONE GET READY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE, THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL BEFORE WE KNOW IT. SO PLEASE, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE, PLEASE. AND IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS, START TALKING TO THEM ABOUT VOLUNTEERING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. THIS YEAR WE WILL BE HAVING VOLUNTEER TRAINING SESSIONS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTY AT ALL THE SCHOOLS. YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR PRINCIPALS. YOU CAN CONTACT ME DOCTOR JOHNSON, BUT START THINKING ABOUT VOLUNTEERING IN OUR SCHOOLS AS WELL. AND OTHER THAN THAT, HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE SUMMER. I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT, BUT YOU GUYS KNOW ME. NO. [LAUGHTER] FIRST OFF THERE HAS BEEN SOME THINGS GOING ON STATEWIDE. I'VE DONE SOME STATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND SUCH AS I FEEL LIKE IT'S BUSY IN THE SUMMER FOR ME. THE THIS PAST TUESDAY I GUESS THAT WAS YESTERDAY. YEAH. THERE WAS A STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING, AND I ATTENDED THAT ON BEHALF OF MABE AS WELL. AND THE STATE BOARD HAD PASSED A RESOLUTION EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT DIRECTED MSDE TO DEVELOP A DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY POLICY, AND MSDE DRAFTED IT. AND I WANT TO SAY IT'S VERY DRAFTY. THEY EMPHASIZED THAT DRAFT, DRAFT, DRAFT. THEY SPOKE ABOUT IT AT THE STATE BOARD MEETING THIS WEEK, AND BOARD MEMBERS PROVIDED A LOT OF COMMENTS ON THAT POLICY. DRAFT POLICY, I SHOULD SAY. AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK, AND I KNOW I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH MABE. AND DOCTOR LAWSON IS ALSO WORKING WITH PSSAM TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND MONITOR THAT DRAFT POLICY BEFORE IT BECOMES FINAL. WE HAD AN ESMEC CONFERENCE THAT VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ATTENDED, AND I ATTENDED WITH THEM, AND THAT IS ALL OF THE EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES AND THE BOARDS AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS FROM THE EASTERN SHORE COUNTIES. THAT WAS EARLIER, I GUESS IN JUNE OR END OF JUNE, BEGINNING OF JULY, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT'S ALL TOGETHER. MISS GRIFFIN. NOT MUCH TO REPORT, I HAVE TO SAY LIKE SHE JUST STARTED. SHE HAD HER BOARD ORIENTATION WITH MISS OLSON AND THANKS TO MISS OLSON FOR DOING THAT AS WELL. IMPRESSED WITH HER VERY THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND VERY, VERY BIG INITIATIVES. SO THIS MAY BE THE LAST MONTH YOU HEAR HER SAY THAT AND SHE STILL DID STUFF. BUT I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS THIS YEAR. LAST WEEK US, UCSCA. I ALWAYS GET THAT ANALOGY WRONG. THAT WAS LAST WEEK FOR ALL THE ARTS PEOPLE. ALL THE VARIOUS FINE ARTS STUDENTS. AND IT'S A HUGE, HUGE UNDERTAKING. LOTS OF MOVING PARTS. IT WAS AT WASHINGTON COLLEGE AGAIN FOR A WEEK. THE KIDS STAY THERE, THEIR STAFF COVERAGE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK, DOCTOR HASTINGS AND HIS CREW, KUDOS TO THEM. IT RESULTS IN JUST AN ABSOLUTE FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS. SO I KNOW PROBABLY NEXT MONTH OR THE MONTH AFTER, DOCTOR HASTINGS WILL COME AND DO A REPORT FOR US, AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. FINALLY, NORTHEAST FEEDER SYSTEM HOSTING. AND I KNOW NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL YET, ESPECIALLY ALL OF YOU STAFF IN THE ROOM, BUT I'M GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY. A SPECIAL BACK TO SCHOOL BASH, BOOKS, BEATS, AND EATS. SOUNDS FUN, RIGHT? THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND FROM 4:00 TO 6:00. A BIG EVENT FOR ALL THE FEEDER SCHOOLS IN NORTHEAST, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE HIGH SCHOOL ALL THOSE SCHOOLS WILL BE REPRESENTED WITH TABLES. THERE'LL BE MUSIC, THERE'LL BE FOOD, THERE'LL BE BOOKS, THERE'LL BE LOTS OF RESOURCES THERE. AND I KNOW ELKTON IS DOING IT AS WELL. PRIOR TO THAT, I SEE A LOT OF ELKTON PEOPLE IN HERE. WE'RE NOT COPYING YOU, BUT WE ARE NORTHEAST FEEDER SYSTEM IS DOING IT AS WELL. SO AUGUST 22ND FOR THE NORTHEAST SCHOOLS 4:00 TO 6:00. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. LET'S SEE WHAT'S NEXT. ARE YOU UP? NO. EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS. DO WE HAVE ANY HERE? IS MISS SLATER HERE? NO. MISS HRINKO WAS. MISS HRINKO I KNOW WAS RUNNING LATE ON THE STUCK IN TRAFFIC. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO SKIP TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. [00:10:01] SO I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO GO OVER. THE FIRST BEFORE I HAVE SOME SLIDES I'D LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE I DO THAT, JUST TO UPDATE YOU. THE NEW SCHOOL IS OUT THERE. KIND OF STARTED IN A THEY'RE KNOCKING DOWN TREES KIND OF WAY. HANG ON, I'M GETTING THERE. SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING. IT'S $185 MILLION PROJECT. IT'S THE BIGGEST PROJECT, I GUESS, IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY. SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED. AND ALL THEY'VE DONE SO FAR IS THEY HAVE TWO DRIVEWAYS OFF IRISHTOWN ROAD. ONE IS RIGHT PAST THE FOOTBALL STADIUM. IF YOU MAKE A RIGHT, THERE'S LIKE A DIRT ROAD WITH SOME ROCKS AND IF YOU GO DOWN ABOUT ANOTHER MAYBE QUARTER MILE, THERE'S ANOTHER DIRT ROAD AND THE ROADS KIND OF CONNECT. AND SO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS THEY'RE GOING TO KNOCK OUT TREES AND WITHIN, LIKE THE 30 ACRE PLOT CLOSE AND WE PURCHASED A DRONE. SO I'M GOING TO GET OUT THERE. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME DRONE SHOTS AND GET EVERYBODY A CHANCE TO SEE. YOU CAN FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM IF YOU LIKE. RIGHT. NEVER HURTS, BUT IT REALLY IS JUST NEAT. IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A 2000 STUDENT SCHOOL BUILT FROM SCRATCH, AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE READY TO GO JULY 1ST OF 2027 IF EVERYTHING WORKS OUT RIGHT. SO THAT'S IT. AND THEN ALSO LAST NIGHT, IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE COUNTY FAIR, WHICH IS FUN, THE WEATHER'S ACTUALLY BEEN PRETTY NICE TO DO THAT. I HAD A CHANCE TO WALK AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WITH OUR GRANDDAUGHTER AND WATCH THE RODEO, AND SHE'S NOT QUITE SURE HOW TO SAY THE WORD RODEO YET, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY A NEAT EVENING. A LOT OF PEOPLE SAW A LOT OF TEACHERS, A LOT OF STUDENTS, RIDES THE WHOLE THING. IF YOU HAVEN'T, IT'S WORTH GOING. AND NOW. SO SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I GUESS IT MAY HAVE BEEN BACK IN MAY, MAYBE APRIL. DOCTOR JOHNSON, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER WE HAD A PARENT COME TO US UPSET WITH THE WAY A BULLYING MATTER WAS HANDLED OR AN HER CONCERN WAS NOT BEING HANDLED AT THE SCHOOL. AND HONESTLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN FOLKS COME FORWARD WITH PUBLIC COMMENT, WE LISTEN. AND IT REALLY GOT ME THINKING. AND SO THE NEXT DAY I ASKED DOCTOR HAMMER, DOCTOR FOYE, DOCTOR JOHNSON, YOU KNOW, GET COME, COME SEE ME. AND I ASKED THEM TO FIND OUT THE BULLYING REPORTS WHAT FAMILIES HAVE SAID. YEAH, BULLYING IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. HERE'S THE, YOU KNOW, THE X'S AND O'S BEHIND IT. AND WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS REACH OUT TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE FAMILIES THROUGH PHONE CALL. NOT A SURVEY, NOT A ONE THROUGH FOUR. AGREE. STRONGLY DISAGREE. AND I'M A FAN OF THOSE. BUT I WANTED TO ACTUALLY CALL THESE PEOPLE AND SEE HOW DID IT GO. AND SO WHAT THEY DID, TO THEIR CREDIT, WE GOT SUPPORT FROM OUR COUNSELORS, OUR STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND WE ACTUALLY COMMUNICATED WITH 80 FAMILIES THROUGH PHONE CALLS. AND WE GATHERED SOME DATA. AND THE DATA IS RAW. AND SO YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HERE TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S GREAT OR NOT. I'M TELLING YOU, THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND. SO THE FIRST THING WE DID IS WE WENT INTO OUR STUDENT REPORTING DATABASE WHICH IS CALLED POWERSCHOOL. AND THESE ARE THE HISTORICAL NUMBER OF BULLYING REPORTS THAT WERE MADE AWARE TO THE ADMINISTRATION. SO IT DEPENDS ON, YOU KNOW, THE SEVERITY, WHAT HAPPENS AS TO WHAT THE PROTOCOLS ARE. BUT THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF TIMES GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2017-18 THAT A STUDENT CAME TO AN ADMINISTRATOR OR TEACHER AND SAID, HEY, I'M BEING BULLIED OR A PARENT WENT CALLED AND SAID, THIS IS THE PROBLEM. AND YOU CAN SEE 2021 WAS THE YEAR WHERE WE STOPPED COMING TO SCHOOL ON MARCH 13TH OF 2020, AND WE REALLY DIDN'T GO BACK UNTIL MID-NOVEMBER. AND EVEN THEN IT WAS SPORADIC. SO YOU CAN SEE EVEN WITH SPORADIC ATTENDANCE, 2021-22 WAS KIND OF A YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM COVID, WE SAW A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN BULLYING. IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY MORE BULLYING OCCURRING IN SCHOOLS? I DON'T KNOW. OR IS IT BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY MORE REPORTING, YOU KNOW. AND SO WHAT IS BULLYING? IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, DOCTOR BUCKLEY HAS SAID SOMETHING TO ME THAT OFFENDS ME. AND, YOU KNOW, I'M HORRIFIED AT WHAT HE SAID. I GO TO ADMINISTRATOR AND IT GETS CODED AS BULLYING. AND SO THAT IS HARD SOMETIMES TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY TRIGGERS A STUDENT TO GO TO AN ADMINISTRATOR AND SAY, I'M BEING BULLIED. BUT YOU CAN SEE COMING FROM LAST YEAR, THE NUMBERS APPEAR TO START GETTING BACK TO NORMAL, SO TO SPEAK, AND WE HAVE THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH IN THE BLUE, ORANGE AND GREEN GOING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT FOR THE WHAT'S THAT, SIX SEVEN YEARS. AND SO IT'S GOOD STARTING POINT DATA. THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME WE'VE TAKEN A REAL GRANULAR LOOK AT THIS. AND WE BREAK IT DOWN BY SCHOOL EVEN BY GRADE. AND THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE. YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT 85 INCIDENTS AT HIGH SCHOOLS. THAT'S A HIGH NUMBER. AND SO AGAIN WE'RE GATHERING DATA TO TAKE A LOOK AND WORKING WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND STAFF AT THE SCHOOLS TO REALLY GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE KINDS OF THINGS WE SEE GOING SPECIFICALLY TO THE ACTUAL 80 PARENTS THAT WERE INTERVIEWED. HERE ARE SOME OF THE LOGISTICS BEHIND THE SURVEY. AND YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE QUESTIONS THAT THEY WERE ASKED. HOW WERE YOU ALERTED TO THE BULLYING SITUATION? [00:15:02] WHERE DID IT HAPPEN? WAS THE SCHOOL RESPONSIVE? WAS THE SITUATION RESOLVED, AND WERE YOU PROVIDED RESOURCES? AND AGAIN, I MEAN, JUST KEEP IN MIND WHAT BULLYING IS. IT'S AN INHERENT CONFLICT BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE. AND I THINK HUMANS, PARTICULARLY CHILDREN WHO WHO MAY NOT BE AS DEVELOPED EMOTIONALLY. THEY GET IN A CONFLICT. AND I WILL TELL YOU, AND I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL IN THE 70S. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE WEREN'T A WHOLE LOT OF BULLYING REPORTS GOING ON. BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THERE WAS BULLYING GOING ON. AND I THINK WE LIVE IN A DIFFERENT TIME NOW. AND SO AGAIN, THIS IS OUR EFFORT TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE'RE SEEING. SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS HOW DID YOU BECOME AWARE OF THE BULLYING SITUATION? 80% OF THE INSTANCES THE CHILD INFORMED THE PARENT. SO AND THAT'S A GOOD THING YOU WANT. AND, YOU KNOW, MANY OF US IN THE ROOM HAVE KIDS. YOU WANT YOUR SON, YOUR DAUGHTER COMING HOME AT THE DINNER TABLE. YEAH. THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY ANY PARENT IS GOING TO RESPOND A FRIEND SOMETIMES A STAFF MEMBER TOLD ME AGAIN, THESE ARE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED BY SCHOOL FOLKS TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN BULLIED. I WAS NOT AWARE, SO THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE WE WOULD CALL HOME AND SAY, WE'RE CALLING TO ASK ABOUT THIS, AND THE PARENT WASN'T SURE. NOW THAT COULD BE IT COULD BE A PARENT ISSUE. YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE MOM DIDN'T TELL THE DAD OR VICE VERSA. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DIVORCED FAMILY, YOU KNOW, BUT AND IT WAS ONLY 2%. AND THEN OTHER CAME IN AT 6%. AND AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF PHONE CALLS WE MADE WERE 80. WE SPOKE WITH 80 FAMILIES. WHERE DID THE BULLYING OCCUR? 69% ACTUALLY HAPPENED AT SCHOOL. 17% HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN 14% HAPPENS ONLINE. ONLINE IS A REAL SERIOUS ISSUE. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUR SCHOOLS. YOU'RE SEEING IT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR SCHOOLS ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH HAVING STUDENTS PUT THEIR PHONES PHYSICALLY AWAY DURING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME. WAS THE SCHOOL RESPONSIVE ONCE THEY WERE ALERTED TO THE SITUATION? 81% SAID YES. SO FOUR OUT OF FIVE INSTANCES THE FAMILY FELT LIKE THE SCHOOL WAS RESPONSIVE. OKAY, COULD THE 19% BE BETTER? OF COURSE. BUT AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR ARMS AROUND WHAT THE PERCEPTION IS OF OUR RESPONSE TO BULLYING IN THE COMMUNITY. WAS THE SITUATION RESOLVED THREE OUT OF FOUR TIMES? YES. AGAIN, THAT'S NOT BAD. YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. WE'LL DO THIS IN THE OUT YEARS TO KIND OF SEE HOW IT STACKS UP. SO THIS IS MORE JUST INFORMING US AS IT IS TO DRAWING CONCLUSIONS AT THIS POINT. AND WERE YOU PROVIDED ADEQUATE RESOURCES? TWO THIRDS BASICALLY SAYING YES. AND I KNOW SOMETIMES IN THIS ROOM IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, THOSE OF YOU WHO EVER GOTTEN TO MAYBE A FIST FIGHT ON THE PLAYGROUND IN 1969 OR 1970, IT'S THE OLD WHEN THE PRINCIPAL CAME AND BROUGHT YOU TWO TOGETHER AND MADE YOU SHAKE HANDS. THAT'S RESTORATIVE PRACTICE. THAT IS WHAT IT IS. AND YOU TRY TO GET THE KIDS IN THE ROOM, MAKE THEM SEE EACH OTHER'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HUG IT OUT AND GO ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS. AND HOPEFULLY THERE'S NO MORE DRAMA. BUT THAT REALLY IS KIND OF CAPTURES, I THINK, WHAT RESTORATIVE PRACTICES ARE. SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION IF ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD, CERTAINLY EITHER MYSELF OR DOCTOR HAMMER AND HER TEAM CAN RESPOND. BUT, YOU KNOW, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A NEAT GESTURE TO REALLY GO OUT AND START TO GET A HANDLE ON HOW SATISFIED ARE OUR CUSTOMERS, IF YOU WILL. I MEAN, I ALSO THINK JUST AS KIND OF A COMMENT, THE SATISFACTION SOMETIMES RESULTS IN, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TELL PARENTS CERTAIN THINGS. REALLY GOOD POINT. SO YOU KNOW, AM I? THE QUESTION WAS RESOLVED TO YOUR SATISFACTION, PROBABLY IF THE NO WAS BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW MORE. RIGHT. BUT THE SCHOOL CAN'T NECESSARILY PROVIDE ALL THE INFORMATION. AND HIS PARENTS, I MEAN, WE WANT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT REVENGE KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU HATE TO SAY IT THAT WAY, BUT IT'S TRUE. YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO KNOW THERE'S ACCOUNTABILITY. WELL, IF A PRINCIPAL SUSPENDS A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN BULLYING FOR THREE DAYS, FIVE DAYS, THEY CAN'T TELL THE PARENT OF THE VICTIM THAT. ALL THEY CAN SAY IS WE'VE APPLIED THE CONSEQUENCES AS REQUIRED, BECAUSE THE BULLY IN THIS CASE HAS RIGHTS TOO. AND THEY'RE A MINOR TOO. SO WE CAN'T START TELLING ONE FAMILY WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH ANOTHER CHILD. CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? YEAH. YES. DO YOU KNOW NOT, DO YOU KNOW? BUT DID MOST OF THE PARENTS HAVE AN IDEA OF THE RESOURCES THAT THEY DID HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM, OR WERE THEY KIND OF LIKE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WE DO IF THIS HAPPENS? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE LAST QUESTION WAS TRYING TO GET TO. HOW WHERE WERE THEY? AND SO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 63% OF 80, THAT'S WHAT, ABOUT 50. SO THAT'S A MORE YES THAN NO. BUT CLEARLY WITH 37%, THERE'S A THIRD OF YOUR FOLKS WHO SIMPLY WEREN'T AWARE THIS IS AFTER THEY'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A BULLYING INCIDENT. RIGHT. SO THIS JUST WASN'T YOUR AVERAGE PERSON, YOU KNOW? SO I WOULD SAY THERE'S SOME WORK TO DO THERE. THANK YOU. WELCOME, MISS GRIFFIN. GLAD TO HAVE YOU. OKAY. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DOCTOR WILSON. [00:20:02] NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, MARTINS RISING SUN. DOCTOR LAWSON, ARE YOU TAKING THAT? DOCTOR LAWSON CONTINUES. SO WE ARE RECOGNIZING MARTIN'S GROCERY STORE UP IN RISING SUN, AND MISS HAWLEY, COULD YOU GO TO THE FRONT, PLEASE? AND I WILL ASK MR. LOWE, BRAD LOWE TO JOIN BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY UP FRONT, PLEASE. AND SO SCHOOL MEALS ARE INTENDED TO BE HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE OPTION FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. EXPERIENCE UNEXPECTED HARDSHIPS, CAN FIND THE COST OF THESE STUDENTS, OR THE COST OF THESE MEALS TO BE A BURDEN ON THE FAMILY BUDGET IT'S THROUGH THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY MARTINS FEEDING THE KIDS INITIATIVE, THAT CCPS CAN HELP FAMILIES BY SUPPLEMENTING THE COST OF SCHOOL MEALS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THE SUPPORT IS INVALUABLE AND ENSURES THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE FULL BELLIES TO FUEL THEIR BRAINS FOR CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND NOURISH THEIR BODIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. WE THANK MARTINS OF RISING SUN FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT, WHICH TO THIS POINT IN THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS RAISED MORE THAN $27,000 FOR THIS INITIATIVE. AND WE'RE PLEASED TO HAVE YOU AS ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. SO I WANT TO THANK MARTINS AND THANK YOU, BRAD IN PARTICULAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY. NEXT WE HAVE OUR CONSTRUCTION REPORT. DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE HAVE SOME THINGS GOING ON. THERE'S NORTHEAST. THAT IS THE SECOND ENTRANCE TEARING DOWN. SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING, WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THE LUMBER? THE CONTRACTOR ACTUALLY HAS IT IN THEIR CONTRACT THAT THEY KEEP THAT LUMBER AND THEY SELL IT SOMETHING, I NEVER KNEW. AND THAT'S THE ROAD. SO THEY CLEARED THE ROAD ALL THE WAY AROUND THE PROPERTY. SO IN THE INSIDE OF THE ROAD WILL BE WHERE THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED. PRETTY MUCH ALL THOSE TREES WILL COME DOWN. AND THEY HAD TO DO THE SILT FENCE EROSION CONTROL. AND ONCE THOSE FENCES ARE PUT UP AND THE ROADS ARE ALL THE WAY CUT THROUGH, THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO BEGIN TO REMOVE THE TREES. OKAY. MORE ROAD. NEW TRACK AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. THIS IS THE BACK END OF THE PROJECT. OPEN SPACE, I BELIEVE. MS. SOPA DID DID FUND BALANCE COVER PART OF THIS OR IS THIS ALL OPEN SPACE, OPEN SPACE OR FUND BALANCE. THE TRACKS OPEN SPACE. YEAH. SO THIS WAS THE BACK END OF THE ARTIFICIAL SURFACE TURF FIELD THAT WAS PUT AT ELKTON HIGH AND RISING SUN. SO THEIR TRACK CAME IN. IT'S READY TO GO FOR FALL SPORTS. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL. AND ONE WAS AT ELKTON. AND HERE'S RISING SUN'S SAME THING. ALL FIVE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE NOW COMPLETE WITH TURF FIELDS AND OPERATIONAL TRACKS. TRACKS EVERY 7 TO 10 YEARS PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOT VERY ROMANTIC OR SEXY. HOWEVER, A WATER LINE REPLACEMENT IS HAPPENING AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL. THE OFFICES ARE CLOSED. IN FACT, MR. MORROW, THEIR PRINCIPAL, WORKED IN ONE OF OUR CONFERENCE ROOMS ALL DAY TODAY BECAUSE THEY'RE REPLACING THE WATERLINE AT RISING SUN, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO STUDENTS COMING BACK AND SPORTS TO BEGIN. AND THERE'S THE INSIDE. LOTS OF COPPER. CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL THIS IS AN ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PROJECT THAT'S OCCURRING IN THE CAFETERIA SLASH AUDITORIUM. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT MAYBE PAINTING OVER THE PAW PRINT OR WHATEVER, BUT THE SO THE ASBESTOS IS GOING TO COME OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO PUT NEW VINYL TILE IN AND ALL NEW CHAIRS. DOES ANYBODY KNOW THE NUMBER OF CHAIRS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD? 238 MR. OLSON FOR THE WIN. HE'S A [INAUDIBLE]. [00:25:01] SO 238 CHAIRS WILL BE IN BY NOVEMBER, AND CHAIRS ARE A LITTLE PRICIER THAN YOU WOULD THINK. AND SO THAT PROJECT IS COMING ALONG NICELY. THE ASBESTOS HAS ALL BEEN ABATED. THE TILE AND THE CHAIRS ARE COMING, AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY PICTURES OF THIS, BUT IF YOU FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM, YOU KNOW THAT THE AWNING IN FRONT OF CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS HIT BY A DELIVERY TRUCK, AND IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE THAT IS BEING IS NOW DOWN COMPLETELY. WE WERE ADVISED BY STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS TO TAKE THE AWNING DOWN. THE ISSUE WILL BE COVERED THROUGH MABE AS AN INSURANCE CLAIM. A NEW AWNING WILL BE BUILT. PROBABLY NOT QUITE AS STRUCTURALLY AMAZING AS THE FIRST ONES, YOU KNOW. HONESTLY, WE WILL LIKELY ALL BE AROUND TO SEE A NEW CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. IDEALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CIP PLAN AFTER THE NEW NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH, THE NEXT ONE ON THE DOCKET IS THOMPSON ESTATES. AND THEN AFTER THOMPSON ESTATES WOULD BE CHERRY HILL. SO YOU KNOW, NOT IN THE TOO FAR DISTANT FUTURE WE MAY SEE A NEW CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS. BEAUTIFUL. THE ACADEMY OF LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS. DOCTOR LAWSON. DOCTOR HAMMER. DOCTOR HAMMER. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL OUR GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING. HAPPY SUMMER. I'M VERY PLEASED TO ASK THE FOLLOWING FOLKS TO PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU, SO PLEASE COME FORWARD IF YOU COULD. RYAN CROUSE IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. JULIAN JENKINS, WHO'S THE LOCAL SUPPORT TEACHER AT GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AND HIS NEW PARTNER, SARAH MATTHEWS, IS THE NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PLEASE COME FORWARD. THESE THREE FOLKS, BEFORE YOU START CLAPPING. DOCTOR BUCKLEY, THESE THREE FOLKS WE ARE VERY PROUD OF, THEY RECENTLY PARTICIPATED IN A TWO YEAR PROGRAM CALLED THE ACADEMY FOR LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AT SALISBURY UNIVERSITY. THIS TWO YEAR PROGRAM PROVIDED THEM WITH LEADERSHIP TOOLS TO FACE THE CHALLENGES IN TODAY'S WORLD. WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEIR WORK. IN ADDITION TO THE TWO OF THEM, AMBER ASHEBU, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT THOMPSON ESTATES ELEMENTARY, AS WELL AS DAVID BOROS, WHO'S THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHO ARE NOT ABLE HERE TO DO US TO JOIN US TODAY. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOUR EFFORTS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN TIME AND YOUR OWN GROWTH. SO CONGRATULATIONS. NOW YOU CAN CLAP. [APPLAUSE] JUST REAL QUICKLY BEFORE WE CONTINUE JULIE AND SARAH, RYAN AND THEN AMBER AND DAVE T HEY'RE THE FOLKS THAT WILL BE UP HERE SOMEDAY. YOU KNOW, US OLD GRAY HAIR FOLKS KIND OF START GOING LOOKING FOR GOLF BALLS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. THEY'RE DEFINITELY REAL TALENTED PEOPLE, AND SO WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM. THANK YOU. OUR CCPS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023 2024. MISS SHAW. GOOD EVENING. THIS EVENING, WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. I DID DO A PRESENTATION IN DECEMBER. IN THE PAST, WE'VE DONE A FISCAL YEAR. WE'VE NOW CHANGED IT TO THE ACTUAL SCHOOL YEAR IN ORDER TO SHOW EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR. SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE FRONT, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A PICTURE WITH ECA STUDENTS WITH GRADUATION. THE NEXT PAGE WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE, HE IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT. HE LOVES WHEN WE LOOK AT HIS PICTURE. THE NEXT PAGE WE'RE LOOKING AT KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE. AND WHAT WE ENDED UP DOING IS THROUGH THE BREAKDOWN IS WE WANTED TO FOCUS ON THE AREAS OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEMATICALLY THROUGH OUR NEW ANNUAL SCHOOL PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING THIS INFORMATION. SO YOU SEE HERE WITH KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, WE HAD 490 SAFETY DRILLS COMPLETED THIS YEAR. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS. MICHELLE, I'M SORRY, COULD YOU EXPLAIN FOR THE AUDIENCE JUST THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CODE YELLOW AND A CODE RED? YES. WITH A CODE RED OR A SEVERE DRILL. WHAT IT IS, IS WITH THE YELLOW IS WHEN CLASSES ARE ABLE TO OCCUR, AND IF THERE'S A SITUATION, SCHOOLS ARE ALERTED ABOUT IT. [00:30:05] AND WITH THE CODE YELLOW IS, YOU KNOW, CLASSES ARE ABLE TO HAPPEN AT BUSINESS AS USUAL. BUT EVERYTHING STAYS INSIDE AND WE JUST KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT'S GOING ON. WHEN A SEVERE DRILL OR A CODE RED DRILL, WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING WITH THAT ONE IS IF IT'S SEVERE IN NATURE STUDENTS, WE WOULD DO SOMETHING THAT ALIGNS MAYBE WITH THE ALICE DRILL. IF ANYONE'S EVER HEARD OF THE ALICE DRILL CODE RED ALICE DRILL WHEN WE DO THAT IS THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE SEVERE IN NATURE. WE MIGHT HAVE AN, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEBODY MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING OR IT MIGHT BE MORE DIRECT IN NATURE WHERE WE HAVE POLICE INVOLVED AND WE HAVE TO HANDLE IT ACCORDINGLY. BUT WITH I'M TRYING TO THINK HOW DETAILED YOU WANT ME TO GET WITH ALICE [INAUDIBLE]. THAT'S FINE. OKAY. OTHER THINGS GOING ON, TOO. YOU'LL SEE UP HERE WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN DRUG FREE CECIL PROGRAMS. WE HAD 3400 AND ALSO MEALS SERVED EACH DAY. WE SAW THAT THERE WAS 13,680 MEALS SERVED PER DAY. OUR NEXT PAGE IS EQUITABLE AND RIGOROUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. SOME THINGS I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT IS FOR THE CLASS OF 2024, WE HAD 1066 GRADUATES, AND FOR THE CLASS OF 2023, WE HAD 90.3% GRADUATION RATE. WE WILL, THAT INFORMATION THE REASON WHY IT IS A YEAR BEHIND IS WE WAIT FOR IT TO BE VETTED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT. SO THAT'S WHY IT'S 2023 AND NOT 2024. BUT EVERY YEAR THAT WILL BE THIS ONE YEAR BEHIND. BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN 2023. SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR, IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN, WE HAD 9.5 MILLION OFFERED IN SCHOLARSHIPS YEAR FOR 2024, WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE. ALSO, YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM, 39 STUDENTS RECEIVED THE SEAL OF BILITERACY. AND SOMETHING ALSO THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT CCPS WAS RECOGNIZED AS A LITERACY LEARNING LAB IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, WHICH IS VERY IMPRESSIVE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE NEXT THING WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING ON IS MCAP AND MCAP SCORES. AGAIN, THIS IS FROM 2023 BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT TO ANALYZE THE INFORMATION. SO OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T HAVE 2024. BUT IF YOU LOOK UP THERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT IN 2023, AN END CAP MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH, WE HAD 49% PROFICIENT. AND THEN IN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS AND FOR MATH, WE WERE 14% PROFICIENT. AND THEN IN ENGLISH TEN ASSESSMENT, WE HAD 62% OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 10TH GRADE. THEY WERE PROFICIENT AS FAR AS ATTENDANCE RATE. WE HAD A 92.1% ATTENDANCE RATE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. AND JUDY CENTER, WE HAVE TEN JUDY CENTER LOCATIONS. ALL RIGHT. AND THEN GOING ON WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NEXT PAGE. WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE. AS FAR AS THE 2 TO 4 YEAR COLLEGE TOTAL STUDENTS, WE HAD 584 STUDENTS THIS YEAR THAT ARE EITHER CHOOSING TO GO TO A 2 OR 4 YEAR COLLEGE. AND THEN, AS YOU CAN SEE, OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE OCCURRING WITH CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY AVID SCHOOLS AS WELL. WE HAVE 11 THIS YEAR. WE'RE GAINING FOUR FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THEN IF YOU LOOK OVER TO THE RIGHT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT AS FAR AS PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY, TOTAL PIECES OF TECHNOLOGY. RIGHT NOW IN OUR COUNTY, WE HAVE 19,710. GOING ON TO THE NEXT PAGE, AGAIN, I'M JUST HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE IMPORTANT AS FAR AS THIS YEAR. EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES IN FINE ARTS AND ATHLETICS. YOU'LL SEE, AS FAR AS OUR STUDENT ATHLETES AT THE TOP, WE HAD 2800 IN HIGH SCHOOL AND 1100 IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. AS FAR AS ATHLETICALLY SPEAKING, 6 STATE CHAMPIONS, 18 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS AND TEN COUNTY DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS. AND I KNOW THAT MISS HAWLEY SPOKE ABOUT IT EARLIER. UCSCA GOT TO SLOW MY TONGUE ON THAT TOO. MISS HAWLEY. 165 STUDENTS AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM TALKING TO DOCTOR HASTINGS, TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE, THEY HAD AN OUTSTANDING TIME, LIKE USUAL. IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. HOPEFULLY MY CHILDREN WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED IN THE NEAR FUTURE IN THIS, BUT IT LOOKS, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS HAD AN OUTSTANDING TIME AND I HAD TO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING THE DOCTOR HASTINGS PRESENT ON THAT. NEXT THING, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. JUST LOOKING AT SERVICE LEARNING HOURS. YOU CAN SEE MIDDLE VERSUS HIGH. MIDDLE HAD ABOUT 5500 AND HIGH HAD ABOUT 12,000 SERVICE LEARNING HOURS. IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS BPAC, WE HAVE 21 BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS. WE ARE HOPING TO EXPAND TO MORE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS THIS YEAR. VOLUNTEERS YOU SEE, WE HAVE 329. AND AS YOU KNOW, MISS HEATH, I THINK EVERY MEETING WE HAVE ALWAYS IS PROMOTING THAT VOLUNTEER. AND YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE VOLUNTEERS. BUT AGAIN, WE HAD 329 FOR LAST YEAR. OKAY. NEXT PAGE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF THE HIGH QUALITY WORKFORCE. [00:35:01] YOU'LL SEE UP TOP. WE HAD 52 STAFF TRAINED IN LEXIA LETRS, WHICH IS LANGUAGE ESSENTIALS FOR TEACHERS OF READING AND SPELLING. THAT HAPPENED WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY TEACHERS. ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU'LL SEE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION. WE HAD 30 NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED TEACHERS RIGHT NOW FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE HAVE 79 THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROGRESSION TO BE CERTIFIED. AND AT THE BOTTOM YOU'LL SEE OUR TWO REPRESENTATIVES FOR CECIL COUNTY THIS YEAR. BRITTANY RIGDON FOR OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. AND FOR OUR FIRST TIME, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR, MISS KELLY MOLESWORTH. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN. I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS IS WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS, BUT IT IS GOING TO BE UPDATED AND IT WILL BE ADJUSTED FOR NEXT YEAR. AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS FOR DOING THAT. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A SUMMARIZATION OF SOME IMPORTANT FACTS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. OKAY. WE WILL BE POSTING THIS ON THE WEB PAGE AND ALSO SENDING IT OUT TO FAMILIES AS WELL, SO WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO IT. THANK YOU. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MISS SHAW. OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET UPDATE. DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. MISS SOPA IS HERE FOR JULY'S BUDGET REPORT. BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS NOW OF CLOSING OUT FY 24. TO SEE HOW WE FINISHED OUT THE YEAR FINANCIALLY. AND AT THE END OF MISS SOPA'S PRESENTATION, I WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. MISS SOPA. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. DOCTOR LAWSON. LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS. AS DOCTOR LAWSON SAID, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING OUT 2024, WHICH USUALLY RUNS JULY AND AUGUST, AT WHICH POINT WE FINISH OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING THOSE TO YOU AT OUR 2ND SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING, THE WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER. SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE ARE BUDGET AMENDMENTS FROM THE MONTH OF JUNE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE DOCUMENT THAT IS SENT TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT. SO THIS INCLUDES THE COVER LETTER THAT GOES THAT SHOWS THE TOTALS, THE TOTAL BUDGET AMENDMENT. AGAIN OUR TOTAL REVENUE CHANGE EQUALING OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURE CHANGE. SO THIS FRONT PAGE IS A SUMMARY OF EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE NEXT PAGES. HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED REVENUE. SO A MARYLAND 4H FOUNDATION GRANT TO SUPPORT SPRING ROBOTICS COMPETITION TRANSPORTATION, A GRANT FROM MARKET STREET CAFE AND KONA ICE TO CHARLESTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO THOSE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. WE RECEIVED SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE. AND THIS WAS A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GRANT THAT PROVIDED SOME ATTENDANCE FOR STAFF MEMBERS FOR VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCES, SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE. SO TITLE THREE MONEY TO SUPPORT MULTILINGUAL LEARNER STUDENTS WITH CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND TUTORING HOURS, AND AN INCREASE IN MARYLAND LEADS GRANT DUE TO CHANGES IN PARTNERSHIP COSTS. THE CHANGE THAT KEEPS HAPPENING IN HERE. PARTNERSHIP COSTS ARE PAID DIRECTLY BY THEM. SO THIS FLUCTUATES BASED ON THE PARTNERSHIP HOURS AND THEIR COSTS VERSUS OUR COSTS. AND THEN UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. DOCTOR LAWSON SHOWED PICTURES A LITTLE WHILE AGO ABOUT THE AUDITORIUM SEATING IN CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. SO THIS IS USE OF FUND BALANCE TO PAY FOR THAT PROJECT. AND A DONATION FROM CHARLESTOWN ELEMENTARY TO PURCHASE MEDIA BOOKS. SO THIS IS CHARLESTOWN USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUND, MOST LIKELY MONEY RAISED BY THE BOOK FAIR THAT THEY'RE NOW USING TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL BOOKS FOR THE MEDIA CENTER. SO AGAIN, THESE NEXT THREE PAGES SHOW OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. I'M SORRY. THESE THREE PAGES ACTUALLY SHOW ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS OF ALL OF THE BUDGET TRANSFERS THAT WERE SUMMARIZED AT THE BEGINNING. SO ANYTHING THAT'S ADDITIONAL REVENUE OR ANYTHING THAT'S CHANGING FROM ONE CATEGORY TO ANOTHER. SO THAT'S JUST DETAIL BEHIND THE OVERALL NUMBERS. THE ON THE FRONT. AND AGAIN, THIS IS OUR BUDGET AGAIN, FY 24 BUDGET, NOT FY 25 BROKEN DOWN INTO UNRESTRICTED, RESTRICTED AND TOTAL. AGAIN SEPARATED BY REVENUE EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY. EXPENDITURES BY OBJECT. KEEPING IN MIND, WE START WITH OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, ANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS YEAR TO DATE, AND THAT RESULTS IN OUR CURRENT BUDGET. SO THESE ARE THE STANDARD THREE REPORTS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN EVERY BUDGET AMENDMENT PROCESS. THIS IS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. SO REMEMBER THIS ISN'T ANY GRANTS. SO THIS IS NO FEDERAL MONEY NO STATE GRANTS NO LOCAL GRANTS. AND THIS IS AGAIN SHOWING OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET A THREE YEAR VIEW, JUST TO DO SOME COMPARISON YEAR OVER YEAR OF WHERE WE STAND. AND SO REALLY, AGAIN, THE THINGS THAT STAND OUT ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE STOOD OUT ALL YEAR LONG, NON PUBLIC COSTS AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER [00:40:07] COSTS, NEW BUSSES AND CONTRACTOR COSTS AND TRANSPORTATION, HEALTH CARE AND FIXED CHARGES IS DEFINITELY UP. WE BUDGETED MORE FOR IT THIS YEAR, BUT IT IS UP IN TOTAL AND CAPITAL OUTLAY. THAT WAS US USING FUND BALANCE FOR SECURE ENTRANCES FOR RISING SUN ELEMENTARY AND CONOWINGO. AND THIS LAST PAGE IS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT. AGAIN JUST SHOWING THROUGH THE YEAR WHERE WE STAND FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT. OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET ANY TRANSFERS, WHAT THE REVISED BUDGET IS, WHAT WE'VE ACTUALLY SPENT ENCUMBRANCES IS WHAT'S SITTING IN PURCHASE ORDERS. AND KEEP IN MIND, OUR FY 24 PURCHASE ORDERS AREN'T CLOSED YET BECAUSE WE'RE STILL PROCESSING FROM THEM. SOME OF THEM WILL ROLL INTO 25 DEPENDING ON WHAT THE PROJECT IS, AND THEN IT TELLS YOU WHAT'S AVAILABLE ON THE PERCENT OF THE BUDGET USED. AND SO CLEANING UP THESE ACCOUNTS IS WHAT HAPPENS AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR WHEN WE'RE CLOSING UP 24 AND OPENING UP 25. ANY QUESTIONS? I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $125,019 AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, MISS OLSON. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. 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. HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED. SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THE GUIDELINES. 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 COMMENT. 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 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL. 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 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, AND A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE CORNER OF THE TABLE WHERE YOU MAY LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS IF YOU WISH. WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED. OUR FIRST SPEAKER, SHAWN BRIM, IS ALREADY SEATED AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY MARY NELSON. SO. AND SHAWN HAS ALREADY PUSHED THE GREEN BUTTON. MY COLLEAGUE JEFF CAYCE HAS PUT A DONATION TO THE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM HIS TAX REBATE. THE MARYLAND OPEN MEETINGS ACT IS MY FAVORITE STATE STATUTE. TO QUOTE MYSELF, THE OMA IS NOT A MERE TECHNICALITY. IT'S AS CLEAR AS ANY CLASSROOM RULE SET DOWN BY A TEACHER ABOUT HOW CLASS WILL BE RUN. BECAUSE, LET'S FACE IT, A CLASS IS A PUBLIC MEETING. WITHOUT KNOWING HOW A PUBLIC BODY WILL CONDUCT PUBLIC BUSINESS UNDER THE ACT, THE PEOPLE CANNOT BE SURE OF WHAT THINGS ARE BEING DONE IN THEIR NAME AND MAY LOSE VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD. AS THE MARYLAND SUPREME COURT ONCE PUT IT, IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY THAT PUBLIC BUSINESS BE PERFORMED IN AN OPEN AND PUBLIC MANNER, AND THAT THE CITIZENS BE ADVISED OF AND AWARE OF THE PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS THAT GO INTO THE MAKING OF PUBLIC POLICY. I FIND THESE MODEST WORDS TO BE UPLIFTING. THE BY WORD WE'RE CONSIDERING HOW MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED IS CONSISTENCY WITH AGENDAS, MEETING MINUTES, PUBLIC NOTICE AND VENUE. [00:45:04] THE OMA IS NOT A MERE TECHNICALITY. I'VE BEEN GOING TO OPEN MEETINGS FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. BOTH MY POLITICAL OPPONENTS AND MY ALLIES HAVE VARIOUSLY AT TIMES MISREAD WHAT I'M DOING GOING TO SO MANY MEETINGS. THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT STATUTE ONLY OUTLINES THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CONDUCTING OPEN MEETINGS. TO QUOTE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THIS IS THE REAL TEST OF A PUBLIC BODY. I READ BETWEEN THE LINES THAT THE ACT ALL BUT COMMANDS EXCEED THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE PUBLIC AS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. THE CECIL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS EXCEEDED MY OWN EXPECTATIONS, AND EVEN IN TIMES WHEN ARGUABLY IT MAYBE DID NOT HAVE TO. HOW AN OPEN MEETING IS CONDUCTED. I NOW SEE IN A BROADER SENSE, HAVING GONE TO SO MANY MEETINGS AND I CONTINUE TO GO TO MANY MEETINGS, VARIOUS KINDS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF CECIL COUNTY, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, HERE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AS WAS SAID OVER 40 YEARS AGO BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS, LIEUTENANT, IT'S NOT A TEST OF YOUR COMMAND ABILITIES. IT'S A TEST OF CHARACTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD AFTERNOON TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATION AND GUESTS. MY NAME IS MARY NELSON AND I LIVE IN ELKTON. I WOULD LIKE TO START BY CONGRATULATING ALL THE TEACHERS WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO TEACH AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH DURING THE YEAR. THERE ARE MANY STORIES OF POLICE, STUDENTS AND PARENTS. MY COMMENTS TONIGHT ARE KIND OF ON A DIFFERENT VEIN. AND WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT THE BOARD REFLECT ON THE AMAZING TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN LOST OVER THIS PAST YEAR. INSTEAD OF TEACHING THE STUDENTS THAT EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO HIS, OR HER VIEWPOINT, INSTEAD OF INSISTING THAT ALL VIEWS BE HEARD AND RESPECTED, AND INSTEAD OF FOSTERING UNDERSTANDING AND WAYS TO DEAL WITH OPPOSITION, IT APPEARS THAT INSTEAD RUDENESS, HATE, AND SOMETIMES CASES OF VANDALISM HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED FROM THE TOP DOWN. STUDENTS, INSTEAD OF BEING GUIDED TO PEACEFUL UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENCES BY THE EXAMPLE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SOME PARENTS HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED IN THE RUDENESS OF VERBAL ATTACKS AND THREATS WE HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST MEETINGS AND AROUND TOWN. THIS BEHAVIOR, WHICH HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND ENCOURAGED, WILL DO A GREAT DISSERVICE TO OUR STUDENTS AS THEY GO OUT IN THE WORLD, WHETHER THEY GO DIRECTLY TO WORK OR TO FURTHER EDUCATION THE WORLD MAY NOT BE SO ACCEPTING OF THIS ATTITUDE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH DIFFERENCES FOUND AT VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, COLLEGES OR IN THE WORKPLACE. I HOPE THAT AS WE ENTER THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THE EMPHASIS CAN BE ON POSITIVITY WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE CLASSROOMS SO THAT STUDENTS LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES IN A POSITIVE MANNER. THANK YOU, MISS NELSON. NEXT IS DONNA CULBERSON, FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS DONNA CULBERSON AND I AM FROM CONOWINGO. I AM HERE TONIGHT AS A JOYFUL WARRIOR TO SPEAK TO ALL OF YOU ABOUT AN EXISTING POLICY, WHICH I FEEL SOME MAY NOT BE FOLLOWING. I ACTUALLY HAVE IT WITH ME IN CASE ANYBODY WANTS TO SEE IT. THE POLICY IS WRITTEN TO ADDRESS STUDENTS, BUT IT SHOULD APPLY TO ALL SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATION STAFF, COACHES, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS, AND EVEN DOCTOR LAWSON. I'M REFERRING TO THE BULLYING, HARASSMENT, AND INTIMIDATION POLICY. I HAVE HEARD NUMEROUS TIMES IN THESE VERY ROOMS AND MEETINGS FROM TEACHERS, FROM PARENTS, AND EVEN SOME STUDENTS ABOUT THE HORRENDOUS BEHAVIORS OF STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS. I'M WONDERING IF THIS POLICY IS CONTRIBUTING TO THOSE POOR BEHAVIORS. AS YOU SEE, I'M THINKING THAT PERHAPS BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN THE CLASSROOMS CAN BE CONTRIBUTED PARTIALLY TO THE BEHAVIOR MODELED BY STAFF. SO LET ME EXPLAIN. I HAVE WITNESSED BELITTLING AND INTIMIDATION OF MISS DIXON BY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD AND EVEN DOCTOR LAWSON. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE IF YOU DISPLAY THE BEHAVIOR DURING PUBLIC MEETINGS. IT'S PROBABLY ALSO HAPPENING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. I HAVE ALSO WITNESSED REPEATEDLY BULLYING, SLANDER, HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION OF MISS DIXON BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS DURING BOE [00:50:09] MEETINGS. BOARD OF ED MEETINGS. I KNOW THIS POLICY IS APPLICABLE TO EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH CCPS BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE WHEN MY GRANDSON WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. WITH THAT SAID, I AM CURIOUS WHY MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD ARE PERMITTED TO EXHIBIT THOSE BEHAVIORS TOWARDS A MEMBER OF YOUR OWN BOARD WHILE IN A PUBLIC MEETING. AND I'M ALSO CURIOUS WHY MISS HAWLEY OR DOCTOR LAWSON PERMIT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO SIT HERE MONTH AFTER MONTH AND SLANDER, INTIMIDATE, BULLY AND DEGRADE A MEMBER OF THEIR VERY OWN BOARD. NOT ONCE HAVE YOU GAVELED SOMEONE WHO WAS BEHAVING IN THIS MANNER. YOU HAVE REPEATEDLY ALLOWED THE HARASSMENT TO CONTINUE, WHICH SIMPLY ENCOURAGES THE BEHAVIOR OVER AND OVER AGAIN. MISS DIXON HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FROM THE MOMENT SHE WAS SWORN IN. WHAT HAPPENED TO TEAM SPIRIT? WHAT HAPPENED TO SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER? MISS DIXON, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HAS NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF ANY OF THE CHARGES FILED AGAINST HER. SO I ASK, WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE ARE YOU SETTING FOR THE STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE HERE OR IN STUDENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT? SO I'M GOING TO JUMP AHEAD. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OF ALL OF YOU IS THAT YOU PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR OWN POLICY. PLEASE SET THE EXAMPLE FOR EVERYONE, INCLUDING ALL OF THE STUDENTS. THEY DESERVE BETTER. AFTER ALL, AREN'T THEY WORTH IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CULBERSON. [APPLAUSE] RODNEY BREWER, FOLLOWED BY LINDSEY BERGMAN DEBOSE. HOWEVER, I DON'T SEE LINDSEY PRESENT. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DOCTOR LAWSON BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT. MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER AND I LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE IN CECIL COUNTY. I EVEN TAUGHT SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY. THE BOOK I'M READING NOW IS CALLED WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? AND BY ANGELA RODRIGUEZ, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW NEXT MONTH. MAYBE. BUT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME THE NEW STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, MRS. GRIFFIN. LAST MONTH, YOUR MOTHER SHARED THAT YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN. JUST LIKE YOU KNOW I AM ALSO. YOUR MOTHER SAID THAT YOU IDENTIFY YOURSELF WITH THE LGBTQ PLUS, RIGHT? I'M SURE YOU'RE A GOOD POSITION ON THE BOARD THAT YOU WILL ENSURE THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE COUNTY, JUST AS MISS RODGERS DID. BEING AN LGBTQ PLUS CHRISTIAN, YOU MIGHT FIND THE FOLLOWING FACT INTERESTING. I DID, AS YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH WAS PRIDE MONTH AND MANY FOLKS WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ PLUS WERE FLYING THEIR FLAGS. BUT DID YOU KNOW AND I JUST FOUND OUT THIS MYSELF JUST LAST MONTH, THAT THE FLAG HAS ONLY SIX COLORS. LOOK IT UP. RED. ORANGE. YELLOW. GREEN. BLUE. VIOLET. NOW GOD'S RAINBOW HAS SEVEN COLORS. RED. ORANGE. YELLOW. GREEN. BLUE. INDIGO. VIOLET. YOU CAN SEARCH IT OUT FOR YOURSELF. THIS IS ALL TRIVIA, BUT AN INTERESTING FACT THAT THE FLAG HAS SIX AND GOD'S RAINBOW HAS SEVEN. AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW THIS. CHRISTIANS ASSIGNED THE NUMBER ONE TO GOD AND GOD ONLY. THE NUMBER THREE REPRESENTS THE TRINITY, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE NUMBER SEVEN IS GOD'S PERFECT NUMBER, THE NUMBER OF COMPLETION SEVEN DAYS IN A WEEK. AND THE JEWS CELEBRATE SEVEN FEASTS IN THE YEAR. AGAIN, THIS IS TRIVIA WITH NUMBERS. AND AS A RETIRED MATH TEACHER, I ENJOY INTERESTING FACTS WITH NUMBERS. AND BY THE WAY, DOCTOR LAWSON, I KNOW YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN AND YOU ALSO TAUGHT MATH IN THE BIBLE IN THE LAST CHAPTER IN JOHN, EARLY IN THE MORNING, YOU FIND JESUS STANDING ON THE SEASHORE. THE DISCIPLES ARE OUT FISHING ALL NIGHT LONG AND THEY HAVEN'T CAUGHT A THING. BUT THEN JESUS YELLS OUT, THROW YOUR NET ON THE RIGHT SIDE. AND YOU GUESSED IT, THEY PULLED IN A HUGE AMOUNT OF FISH. BUT IT MENTIONS 153. MY QUESTION, DOCTOR LAWSON, IS WHY DOES THE BIBLE MENTION 153? SO WHAT? SO WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 153? WELL, ONE, FIVE AND THREE ARE ODD NUMBERS. OH, BY THE WAY, DOCTOR LAWSON SUM UP THE NUMBERS FROM 1 TO 17 USING CARL FRIEDRICH GAUSS SUMMATION FORMULA. AND THANK YOU. AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. GOD BLESS. THANK YOU, MR. BREWER. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? [00:55:05] I DON'T SEE ANY. NO, I HAVE NOTHING. ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO UPCOMING EVENTS, DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS AUGUST 14TH AND IT IS SUMMER. AND I INVITE EVERYBODY TO TAKE VACATION, GO TO THE BEACH, FISH AND ENJOY YOURSELVES. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. AND THE FAIR? THE FAIR, RIGHT. RIGHT. YOU MENTIONED. AND THE FAIR? THE FAIR IS FUN. WITH THAT WE ARE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA. HAVE A GREAT EVENING. ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER. THE TEACHERS WHO WERE IN HERE, WE TALKED ABOUT BACK TO SCHOOL EARLIER. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU STILL HAVE TIME, BUT ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR MONTH EARLY AUGUST AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.