>> NOT YET. [00:00:01] >> IN OPEN SESSION. I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER THE AUGUST 14TH, [1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.] 2024, BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO [2. Closed Session] DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, A NEGOTIATION MATTER, AND A LITIGATION UPDATE PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE GENERAL PROVISION ARTICLE 3-305, B189. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE IN CLOSED SESSION. >> I MOVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO APPROVE THE JULY 24TH, 2024 CLOSED SESSION MEETINGS AS PRESENTED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> [INAUDIBLE] IT'S 5:30, GOING TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION, [3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.] THE AUGUST 14TH, 2024, BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. WE HAVE ALL BOARD MEMBERS HERE PLUS OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS, SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. PLEASE STAND AND JOIN MISS GRIFFIN AS SHE LEADS THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. ALLEGIANCE] THANK YOU. I FEEL REALLY LOUD. BOARD REFLECTION, MR. DAVIS. >> THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE AND COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING, AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. >> GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. ADOPTION OF AGENDA IS THEIR MOTION. >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? GREAT. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS. CONSENT AGENDA. [4. Consent Agenda] BEFORE I ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THERE ANYONE WHO HAS ANY ITEMS THEY'D LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION? [INAUDIBLE] >> NO. YOU'VE DONE THAT BEFORE. JERRY'S BACK. [LAUGHTER]. >> WE FORGOT HOW IT WORKED AFTER. >> HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> I MOVE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? >> NO. >> ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUS. YOU SEEM A LITTLE PUNCHY TONIGHT, GUYS. WE'RE GOING TO GO TO BOARD MEMBER REPORTS. [5. New Business] WE'LL START DOWN THERE WITH MISS GRIFFIN. >> HI. WELL, THIS IS REALLY LOUD. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON TODAY DURING MY REPORT. FIRST BEING THE MABE TRAINING DAY I ATTENDED THIS PREVIOUS TUESDAY. IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO WORK AND DISCUSS WITH OTHER STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARDS FROM AROUND THE STATE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK ON NEW IDEAS THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING IN THEIR OWN COUNTY. THE MABE TRAINING IN TOTAL WAS VERY EYE-OPENING AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. I RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD TIPS ON CORNERS ON HOW TO NOT ONLY BETTER MYSELF AS A BOARD MEMBER, BUT ALSO BETTER MYSELF AS A COLLEAGUE AND LEARN HOW TO EFFECTIVELY WORK AS A TEAM TO PROMOTE A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR STUDENTS. SECONDLY, YESTERDAY WAS ELKTON'S BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT, WHICH WAS SO MUCH FUN. I AND A FEW OF THE BOARD MEMBERS GOT TO STOP BY AND CHECK IT OUT. KIDS AND FAMILIES WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND I WAS ABLE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF AND DISCUSS FUTURE PLANS WITH MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. IT WAS OVERALL, SUCH AN AMAZING IDEA TO BRING STUDENTS TOGETHER AND GET THEM BACK INTO THE SCHOOL MINDSET. WITH THAT BEING SAID, SCHOOL IS STARTING UP AGAIN, AND ALONG WITH THAT, THERE ARE SPORTS TRIALS THAT ARE STARTING RECENTLY. STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SCHOOLS AND CHECK YOUR EMAILS TO STAY UPDATED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MISS GRIFFIN. MR. FERDINANDO. >> I HAVE NO BOARD REPORT TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MISS. DIXON. >> MINE'S PRETTY SHORT. IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY SUMMER. >> OR SHORT. MR. DAVIS. >> WE'RE READY. >> WELL, THANKS, MS. HAWLEY. I HAVE A FEW THINGS I WANT TO SAY. AS USUAL, THE SUMMER BREAK GOES BY WAY TOO FAST, AND WE'RE ABOUT THREE WEEKS OUT BEFORE THE START OF THE 24/25 SCHOOL YEAR. I JUST HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME THIS SUMMER AND SPENT SOME QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. ANOTHER NOTE, TO SAY WE WENT THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT TIMES DURING THE SECOND HALF OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR WOULD BE QUITE AN UNDERSTATEMENT. HOWEVER, WE DID MANAGE TO PULL TOGETHER AS A COUNTY AND [00:05:02] DECISIONS WERE MADE THAT WE THOUGHT WERE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL CCPS STUDENTS. YESTERDAY, I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CCPS BACK TO SCHOOL KICKOFF FOR THE ELKTON AND NORTHEAST FEEDER. THIS ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT INCLUDES FOOD, GAMES, MUSIC, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. I'M NOT SURE THE EXACT ATTENDANCE NUMBERS, BUT IT DID SEEM LIKE IT WAS QUITE A TURNOUT, AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER WITH SO MANY THINGS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY TODAY THAT DIVIDE US. IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A COUNTY. I THINK WE NEED THAT. THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD OF COMMUNITY IS THE LAST FIVE LETTERS, U-N-I-T-Y, UNITY. WE NEED THAT. LASTLY, I WANT TO GIVE A PERSONAL SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE CCPS TEACHERS, FACULTY, AND ADMINISTRATION, AND ALSO OUR SUPPORT STAFF, AS YOU PREPARE FOR THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. WE SO APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND ARE DEDICATED TO OUR STUDENTS. YOUR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS DO NOT GO UNNOTICED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN SAY SINCERE THANK YOU, LEADERSHIP TEAM, COMMUNITY, AND ALL CCPS STAFF. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MISS HEATH. >> I'M GOING TO KEEP MINE SHORT AS WELL. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE ELKTON FEEDER SCHOOL KICKOFF YESTERDAY. IT WAS AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THEIR TIME TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, DID A GREAT JOB. IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. I THINK ALL OF THE FAMILIES THAT CAME REALLY ENJOYED THAT. I KNOW I DID. IT WAS GREAT. ALSO, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT ON FACEBOOK AND DIFFERENT MEDIA PLACES WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOW STARTING TO COLLECT DONATIONS FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND FOR OUR STUDENTS. IF YOU SEE ONE OF THOSE, IF YOU DON'T MIND DONATING, WHETHER IT'S A BACKPACK OR PENCILS OR PENS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE ASKING FOR, PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR THOSE AS WELL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS. FIRST, I SERVE ON THE YES COALITION, WHICH IS THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOURCE, I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF THEIR PROGRAMS, THE DRUG FREE CECIL PROGRAM. THAT GROUP WORKS WITH OVER 30 COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO TRY TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF SUBSTANCE USE IN CECIL COUNTY, WHICH IS MUCH NEEDED. DRUG FREE CECIL JUST PRESENTED TO US THEIR FY24 REPORT. IT WAS REALLY LONG AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, BUT ONE REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE HIGHLIGHT WAS THAT BETWEEN ALL OF THE PREVENTION CLUBS, THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY DID, THEY SERVED IN FY24 3,502 STUDENTS. I JUST THINK THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER THAT IS WORTH NOTING, AND IT'S STUDENT LED. IT'S OUR STUDENTS MAKING AN IMPACT AND CONTRIBUTING TO THIS IMPORTANT DRUG PREVENTION EFFORT IN OUR COUNTY. THEY ARE DOING AN UPCOMING PLANT YOUR PROMISE. THEY WERE AT THE CECIL COUNTY FAIR. I THINK THEY HAD OVER 1,300 PEOPLE SIGN THEIR PLEDGE. EVERY YEAR, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY PLANT A GROVE OF TREES AND DEDICATE A BENCH AT A LOCATION IN CECIL COUNTY LAST YEAR IT WAS AT PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. THIS YEAR, THEY'RE DOING IT HERE AT CARVER CENTER IN THE BACK BY THE PLAYGROUND AND THE FENCE BACK THAT WAY. JUST AS A PHYSICAL REMINDER OF EVERYBODY WHO PLEDGED. YOU CAN GO TO PLANT YOUR PROMISE.ORG IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. THAT IS ON SEPTEMBER 28TH AT 10:00. AS MISS GRIFFIN NOTED FALL SPORTS. FALL SPORTS STARTED TODAY. IT'S KIND OF CRAZY. WE'RE STARTING. ELKTON HAD THEIR KICK OFF YESTERDAY. IT WAS GREAT TO SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE. MISS GRIFFIN ATTENDED AS OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, AND IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE THAT SHE WENT UP TO EACH OF THE SCHOOLS TO TALK TO THE ADMINISTRATORS TO SEE HOW SHE CAN WORK WITH THEM IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THAT WAS EXCITING. NEW TEACHERS. NEW TEACHERS START NEXT WEEK. THERE'S A RECEPTION THAT BPEC SPONSORS FOR THEM, AND I KNOW THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION ALSO HAS SUPPLIES FOR NEW TEACHERS THAT THEY GIVE OUT TO THEM, WHICH IS REALLY, REALLY USEFUL. FINALLY, PLUG NORTHEAST FEEDER SYSTEM. WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED AT ELKTON YESTERDAY. NORTHEAST IS DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE FEEDER SYSTEM. IT'S LOCATED AT NORTH EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT IT'S NOT JUST FOR NORTH EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WERE CONFUSED ABOUT THAT. IT IS FOR THE WHOLE FEEDER SYSTEM, ALL THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL THAT FEED INTO NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S CALLED BOOK, BEATS AND EATS. IT'S THURSDAY 4:00-6:00 ON AUGUST 22ND. ONE NOTE OF DIFFERENCE, [00:10:03] THERE WILL BE FOOD TRUCKS THERE. FAMILIES WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE FOOD FROM VARIOUS FOOD TRUCKS THAT ARE AT THE EVENT. SORRY. MR. DAVIS WAS THE HOT DOG GRILLER AT ELKTON YESTERDAY. YOU CAN COME HERE. WE WON'T PUT YOU TO WORK. THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS EXCITING THAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NORTHEAST FEEDER. WITH THAT SAID, DR. LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT. >> THANK YOU. JUST A FEW THINGS. I TOO WENT YESTERDAY TO THE ELKTON BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT. SPECIAL THANKS TO JEFFERS BROWN AND CHRIS FIELDER, TWO ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS FROM ELKTON HIGH WHO REALLY DO SPEARHEAD THE EFFORT OF PUTTING THAT EVENT TOGETHER. AND YESTERDAY'S MY OPINION WAS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL I'VE SEEN. I WOULD JUST GUESS 300-400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE JUST WALKING AROUND, A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT VENDORS AND TENT SETUP. IT WAS GOOD AFTERNOON AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER. SHOUT OUT TO OUR FOOD SERVICES WHO HAS SERVED OVER 75,000 MEALS AROUND THE COUNTY THIS SUMMER, SO A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES THERE. HUMAN RESOURCES HAS BEEN BUSY. AS OF NOW, WE'VE HAD 105 CERTIFICATED OR ADMINISTRATORS RESIGN THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR WITH THE EFFECTIVE LEAVING DATE, IF YOU WILL, JULY 1, 37 OF THOSE WERE RETIREES OR RETIRES, 34 FOR PERSONAL REASONS, FIVE WENT TO DELAWARE TO TEACH, THREE LEFT CECIL TO GO TO MARYLAND, ONE LEFT TO GO TO PENNSYLVANIA, SIX HAVE MOVED, AND THERE'S A SMATTERING OF OTHERS. WE KEEP PRETTY CLOSE TRACK OF WHERE FOLKS GO ONCE THEY LEAVE US. TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE TIED FOR FIRST, HAVING THE LOWEST ATTRITION RATE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND LAST YEAR WE WERE THIRD. TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE 7.1%, AND LAST YEAR, WE WERE 8.9%, BOTH VERY STRONG NUMBERS. WE DO A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING OUR PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY TUCKED UP NEXT TO NEWCASTLE COUNTY, HARFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL DISTRICT TO THE NORTH. WE DO A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING OUR PEOPLE. AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE HIRED 42 NEW TEACHERS TO BEGIN, AND WE CURRENTLY HAVE EIGHT VACANCIES. ALSO, THANK YOU, DR. BOYER, CHUCK SIMPERS, ERIC OLSON, BRIAN REIMEL, AND ANDREW KERN. THEY LEAD THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEY ARE BUSY PEOPLE THIS TIME OF YEAR. WHEN KIDS ARE GONE, A LOT HAPPENS AROUND SCHOOLS WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS, JUST THE UPKEEP. DR. BOYER USED THE TERM TODAY, CURB APPEAL. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY OUR SCHOOLS, YOU LOOK AT THEM, AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THE SCHOOLS, AND WE TRY TO TREAT THEM THAT WAY. OUR FOLKS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH THAT AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> GREAT. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS. I DON'T BELIEVE. NO ONE IS HERE FOR THAT. CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, AS I JUST MENTIONED IN MY REPORT. WE HAVE SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTY. IF YOU ARE NEAR IRISHTOWN ROAD, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU TAKE A RIDE BY THE CONSTRUCTION SITE FOR THE NEW SCHOOL. THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING. THEY HAVE REALLY AGGRESSIVELY STARTED TO TAKE OUT TREES. A PARTICULAR VENDOR CAME IN IN JUST A MATTER OF A WEEK OR TWO, JUST TOOK OUT A TON OF THE TREES. I ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TREES, AND THEY SELL THE TREES. THAT'S PART OF THE VENDORS IN THEIR CONTRACT. YOU CAN SEE THAT'S THE BASEBALL FIELD RIGHT THERE. THE ROAD CUTS BEHIND THE BASEBALL FIELD AND THEN GOES TOWARDS YOUR LEFT. SCROLL UP SOME SO WE CAN SEE THAT. THAT LITTLE ONE RIGHT THERE. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S THE PRACTICE FOOTBALL FIELD. KEEP SCROLLING DOWN, AND AS SOON AS YOU COME PAST THE FOOTBALL STADIUM ON YOUR RIGHT. THAT CUTOUT IS NOW A DRIVEWAY TO GET INTO THAT WHICH WAS A PRACTICE AREA. AGAIN, YOU GO BACK TOWARDS THAT TREE LINE AND CUT LEFT, ALL OF THAT'S WHERE THE NEW SCHOOL WILL BE. THIS IS THE LEAST SEXIEST CONSTRUCTION PICTURE OUT THERE. HOWEVER, IT'S A DESPERATELY NEEDED WATER PIPELINE SYSTEM FOR RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, WATERLINE REPLACEMENT. IT'S NOW FINISHED AND READY TO GO. >> IT'S PRETTY COOL. >> SO EXCITING. [LAUGHTER] >> THAT WAS A HOLE THAT LED TO THE SAID NEW WATER PIPES. THAT IS CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, THEY HAVE AN AUDITORIUM SORT OF ODEON ROOM, AND THAT IS IF YOU'RE STANDING ON THAT STAGE, LOOKING OUT THE CONCRETE THAT'S IN THE FOREGROUND. [00:15:01] THAT IS STRIPPED OUT OLD ASBESTOS TILE, AND THE ASBESTOS TILE RAN BACK INTO THE CAFETERIA WHERE YOU SEE THOSE DOORS. THAT'S NEW TILE FOR THE CAFETERIA, SO THE CAFETERIA IS READY TO GO FOR STUDENTS. THE ODEON WILL BE READY WITH CHAIRS SOMETIME IN OCTOBER. THAT'S THE CAFETERIA. THAT IS IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? >> ALSO, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY STARTED TO BRING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ONTO THE PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SITE TODAY TO BEGIN THE PERRYVILLE FIELD HOUSE, WHICH IS EXCITING. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING FOR THAT PROJECT. I WANT TO SAY 6-8 MONTHS I THINK. QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. >> THANK YOU. AS WE GAVE IT A LITTLE PLUG LAST MONTH, THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE SUMMER CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTATION. DR. WILSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, DR. FOY WILL LEAD THE PRESENTATION FROM THIS POINT FORWARD. DR. FOY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE. [INAUDIBLE] >> GOOD EVENING DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. THIS YEAR'S UCSCA WAS A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR PARTICIPATION, AND ADD MORE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HADN'T HAD IN THE PAST. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN VERY VALUABLE TO STUDENTS. BY FAR IN CECIL COUNTY, WE DO THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES ACROSS ALL THE FINE ARTS. UNLIKE A LOT OF COUNTIES THAT JUST DO A MUSIC CAMP OR AN ART CAMP, WE EXPAND THIS TO PROVIDE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE AREA. THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY. WE HAD 158 STUDENTS ATTEND. THE TUITION INCREASE THIS YEAR, BUT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS, WE WERE ABLE TO DO $19,100 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS. LAST YEAR WAS $7,000. WE DID A LOT MORE GRANT WRITING, A LOT MORE FUND RAISING AND SOUGHT OUT VARIOUS SOURCES, AND I'LL SHOW YOU THOSE LATER. THESE ARE ALL THE DISCIPLINES THAT ARE AT THE CAMP. FROM WRITING, TO DANCE, TO VISUAL ARTS AND THE USUAL ONES THAT YOU USUALLY SEE. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT HELP DIRECT IT; ONE IS A TEACHER HERE AT PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE OTHER IS SOMEBODY THAT'S TAUGHT AT UCSCA FOR 10 YEARS, WHO IS A TEACHER AT TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL. HOW THIS WORKS IS, THE KIDS, THEY GET DROPPED OFF JUST LIKE IN COLLEGE ON A SUNDAY AND THE PARENTS SET UP THEIR DORM ROOMS, SO THEN THERE ARE OTHERS FOR THE WHOLE WEEK, AND THEY HAVE A SCHEDULE THAT THEY FOLLOW. THEY GO TO BREAKFAST IN THE DINING HALL, THEY GO TO THEIR CLASS, THEY GO TO LUNCH, THEY GO TO ANOTHER CLASS, THEN THEY HAVE SOME EVENING ACTIVITIES. IT IS LIKE COLLEGE FOR THE WEEK. THERE'S ALL ACTIVITIES WE HAVE AT NIGHT. WE DO TEAM BUILDING, WE PLAY A SCAVENGER HUNT, WE HAVE A LIT AND TRIVIA NIGHT, TALENT SHOW DANCE, WE BRING IN BALTIMORE IMPROV TO DO SOMETHING. WE HAVE TONS OF ACTIVITIES. WE HAVE A COUNSELING STAFF AND THEY'RE ALL FORMER UCSCA STUDENTS; MOST OF THEM ARE CECIL COUNTY STUDENTS THAT COME BACK, AND WE ARE REGULATED. THIS CAMP IS REGULATED BY SEVERAL ENTITIES, NOT ONLY CCPS, BUT IT'S THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. THERE'S A LOT OF EYES ON THIS CAMP, AND A LOT OF INSPECTIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. EVERY STUDENT AT THE END OF CAMP GETS A REPORT CARD, A RUBRIC AND BASICALLY AN ASSESSMENT OF HOW THEY DID AND FROM THE TEACHER WITH SOME COMMENTS, AND THEY DO A FINAL PRESENTATION AT THE END. [00:20:03] [NOISE] WHERE WE GOT SOME GRANT SUPPORTS, THE FINE ARTS INITIATIVE GRANT, WHICH HELPED WITH STAFFING AND SCHOLARSHIPS. WE SOUGHT SOME GRANT MONEY THROUGH TITLE IV FOR STAFFING. WE ALSO SOUGHT A GRANT FROM THE ARTS COUNCIL. IT'S A ARTS IN EDUCATION GRANT. THEY HELPED FUND SCHOLARSHIPS. THAT'S WHY WE WERE ABLE TO GET $19,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND REALLY HELP SUPPORT STUDENTS THAT NEEDED THE FINANCIAL HELP. EVERYONE THAT ASKED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT RECEIVED IT. WE ALSO HAD SOME SCHOLARSHIP DONORS, PRIVATE, NORTH EAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. ALL THESE GROUPS HELPED OUT WITH SCHOLARSHIPS. THE WORK TO DO THAT STARTS IMMEDIATELY. I ACTUALLY WAS WRITING THE GRANTS FOR NEXT YEAR DURING CAMP THIS YEAR. IT'S A YEAR LONG PROCESS AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU A VIDEO THAT WE HAVE. MAYBE I'M NOT SHOWING YOU THE VIDEO. IS THAT THAT LITTLE THING AT THE BOTTOM? THERE IT IS. LOOK AT THAT. NOPE. THERE WE ARE. [MUSIC]. >> YOU KNOW THE TOPS. [BACKGROUND] >> I WAS CRAZY ONCE. [BACKGROUND] >> I SPIT IT AROUND. HI, MISS BAILEY. EVERYBODY WANT TO SAY HI. [MUSIC] >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD, BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT. NO NEED TO TAKE IT SLOW. I'M STEPPING TO YOUR TOE TO TOE. I SHOULD BE SCARED, HONEY, MAYBE SO. BUT I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT RIGHT NOW (RIGHT NOW). KEEPING DREAMS ALIVE, 1999, HEROES. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT RIGHT NOW (RIGHT NOW). SWIMMIN' IN THE FLOODS, DANCING ON THE CLOUDS BELOW. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT (HEY) >> I'M AT MY BEST WHEN I GOT SOMETHING I'M WANTING TO STEAL. WAY TOO BUSY FOR THEM PROBLEMS AND PROBLEMS TO FEEL (YEAH, YEAH) NO STRESSING, JUST OBSESSING WITH SEALING THE DEAL. I'LL TAKE IT IN AND LET IT GO. >> BUT I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT RIGHT NOW (RIGHT NOW). KEEPING DREAMS ALIVE, 1999, HEROES. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT RIGHT NOW (RIGHT NOW). SWIMMIN' IN THE FLOODS, DANCING ON THE CLOUDS BELOW. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT. I AIN'T WORRIED 'BOUT IT (HEY) >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. HASTINGS. QUESTIONS FOR DR. HASTINGS. >> NOW, JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS, DR. HASTINGS. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE SNIPPETS, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THIS VIDEO. I TALKED ABOUT IT LAST MONTH. BUT IT REALLY IS VALUABLE FOR THE STUDENTS. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM. SOME OF THEM HAVE NEVER LEFT CECIL COUNTY BEFORE. SO HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE FOR THEM IS JUST SO MEMORABLE. SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM DO TO ORGANIZE. >> AND FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW, DR. DAVE IS THE INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATOR FOR FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS. AND BASICALLY JACK OF ALL TRADES AS IT RELATES TO OUR ENTIRE ARTS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY THAT INCLUDES PRE K TO 12. FOR STARTERS, TAKING 158 TEENAGERS FOR SIX NIGHTS, SEVEN NIGHTS IS CRAZINESS. [00:25:03] SO RIGHT THERE, I MEAN, YOU GUYS DESERVE SO MUCH CREDIT, AND YOU PERSONALLY HAVE GONE AND JUST SOLICITED GRANTS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR EVERY STUDENT. LIKE YOU SAY, IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE FOR MANY OF THESE KIDS AND SOMETHING THEY'LL NEVER FORGET AND KNOCK ON WOOD. WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS. IT'S SUCH A GOOD GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE SUPPORT OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE COMMUNITY, AND DAVE, YOU DESERVE A TON OF CREDIT. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR YOUR WORK YOU DO BEHIND THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> NEXT YEAR IS YEAR 25. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. >> IT'S THE FEEL GOOD MOMENTS IN OUR MEETING TODAY. THEN WE GO TO BUDGET. THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET UPDATE. DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL COME FORWARD AND SHARE WITH THE BOARD A BUDGET REPORT AND KEEP IN MIND THAT I'LL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION UPON CONCLUSION. MS. SOPA. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS. WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TODAY IS THE SECOND HALF OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. LAST MONTH, YOU APPROVED THE FIRST HALF. SO YOU'LL SEE IN WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED VERSUS THE NEW ITEMS FOR THIS MONTH. THE FIRST PAGE IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE CHANGES IN REVENUE TO THE CHANGES IN EXPENDITURE, KEEPING IN MIND THAT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET, THEY SHOULD EQUAL AS THEY DO. ON THE NEXT PAGE IS WHERE WE GET INTO SOME SPECIFICS HERE, AND I DON'T SEE THE HIGHLIGHTING ON THIS ONE. IS IT ON YOUR ATTACHMENT? YEAH. SO I WILL DIRECT YOU WITH THE POINTER HERE. WHAT YOU CAN SEE; THE THINGS IN THIS COLUMN, THE NUMBERS IN THIS COLUMN ARE THINGS THAT WERE APPROVED AT OUR LAST MEETING IN JULY. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE ITEMS IN THIS COLUMN. SO THE FIRST ONE, SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK PROVIDED MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ATTEND AG DAY, A LITTLE OVER 4,000. CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PTO DONATED MONEY FOR FIELD TRIP TO FAIR HILL NATURE CENTER, A LITTLE OVER 1,000 THERE. THE RISING SUN BOOSTERS DONATED MONEY FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION FOR MARCHING BAND. AND TESIL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT PROVIDED A GRANT TO ELKTON HIGH TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION AND SUBSTITUTE COVERAGE FOR STUDENTS FOR AN ENVIROTHON COMPETITION. SO THAT RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. THEN WE HAVE CHANGES TO STATE REVENUE, AND HERE WE HAVE A REDUCTION IN TWO DIFFERENT HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANTS, AND THAT WAS JUST BASED ON FUNDS NOT USED THAT WERE RETURNED, SO REDUCTIONS IN THOSE TWO AREAS, SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY. RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE; YOU CAN SEE IN THIS COLUMN HERE, ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR MEDICAID MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. FOR SCHOOL AGE FUNDING AND INFANTS AND TODDLERS FUNDING, ADDITIONS THERE. THEN WE HAVE SOME UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE, AGAIN, FOCUSING ON THIS COLUMN, PERRYVILLE HIGH ARE USING MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PROJECTOR. THE NEXT THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE WHERE IT REFERS TO GASB 87, GASB 84, THAT'S THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARDS. AND SO THESE ARE ENTRIES THAT WE NEED TO SHOW IN OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. AND SO WHEN IT MENTIONS LEASE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS, WE'RE REQUIRED TO LOOK AT ANY NEW LEASES WE ENTERED INTO THIS YEAR OR ANY NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS. SO IT CAN BE SOFTWARE LICENSES, PUBLICATION SUBSCRIPTIONS, VEHICLE LEASES. AND WHAT THEY SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU ENTER INTO A LEASE, YOU GAIN THE USE OF THE ENTIRE ASSET AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEASE, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE PAYING YEARLY. SO WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE ASSET AND THE ENTIRE LIABILITY AT THE SAME TIME EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ONLY PAYING YEARLY FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND LEASES. AND SO THIS IS JUST REALLY A TECHNICAL ENTRY THAT HAPPENS IN OUR BUDGET REGARDING OUR LEASES AND OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS. >> MS. SOPA, I NEVER DO THIS TO YOU. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU A QUESTION THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE READY FOR. SO THEN WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR? AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IF WE ENTER INTO A THREE YEAR LEASE THIS YEAR FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, THE EXPENDITURE GETS SHOWN IN THIS YEARS. SO WHAT HAPPENS IN YEAR 2 IS MY QUESTION? >> IN OUR BUDGET, WE'RE SHOWING THE EXPENDITURES EVERY YEAR AS THEY OCCUR. >> SORRY. THIS IS JUST A YEAR-END ENTRY TO SHOW WHAT ASSETS WE'VE GAINED THIS YEAR AND WHAT OUR OVERALL LIABILITY IS. I WILL BE HONEST, MS. ANDERSON DOES THESE. SHE'S OUR LEASE AND SUBSCRIPTION. SHE DOES THESE ENTRIES, WHICH ARE REALLY TECHNICAL AND ALSO REQUIRE ASSISTANCE FROM OUR AUDITORS. IT'S ONLY THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE'VE HAD TO RECORD LEASES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS. >> I REMEMBER THIS LAST YEAR. I WAS JUST CURIOUS. THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME. I DON'T KNOW THAT I DID A GOOD JOB OF ANSWERING IT. [00:30:03] BUT STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS, WE'VE HAD TO REPORT FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, SO YOU'LL NOTICE WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR FUND BALANCE, THERE'S A LINE FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS, WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AS PART OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THE MONEY THAT'S HELD BY SCHOOLS IN THEIR CHECKING ACCOUNTS AT THE CREDIT UNION, THAT'S MONEY RAISED BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS. AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TECHNICAL ENTRY. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS IS NEW MONEY THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, BUT WE HAVE TO RECORD THAT INFORMATION AS PART OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. HERE, AS DR. HASTINGS WAS SHARING ABOUT, UPPER CHESAPEAKE CENTER FOR THE ART. THIS IS ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT WERE COLLECTED FOR UCSCA, SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING. OUR STEP PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, THEY CREATE REVENUE. THEY ARE A SELF-FUNDED PROGRAM, SO THE REVENUE THAT THEY CREATE, THAT THEY GENERATE PAYS FOR THEIR MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TO START THE NEXT ROUND OF PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS. THEY REALLY SELF-FUND THEIR PROGRAM BY MAKING A SMALL PROFIT ON THE THINGS THAT THEY DO TO BE ABLE TO UPKEEP EQUIPMENT AND BUY MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES. THEN THIS HERE IS REVENUE THAT WAS RECEIVED FOR OUR COLLEGE & CAREER NIGHT PROGRAM. WE HAVE COLLEGES PAYING TO ATTEND IN OCTOBER, AND THEN THE MONEY THAT WE COLLECT FOR THAT IS USED FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS. STUDENTS WHO ATTEND CAN APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS. THESE PAGES, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT SHOWING UP WELL HERE, ARE BASICALLY ALL OF THE ENTRY. ANY BUDGET AMENDMENT THAT IS IN ADDITION TO REVENUE OR REDUCTION IN REVENUE, OR ANYTHING THAT CHANGES ACROSS STATE CATEGORY IS LISTED HERE. THIS, AGAIN, IS JUST A REVIEW OF OUR BUDGET. THESE THREE PAGES, THERE'S AN UNRESTRICTED PAGE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, THEN WE SHOW OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET, AND THEN OUR BUDGET IN TOTAL. KEEPING IN MIND THAT HERE WE'RE SHOWING OUR BUDGET BY REVENUE SOURCE, HERE BY EXPENDITURE, STATE CATEGORY, AND A LITTLE BIT LOWER BY OBJECT. FOR OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET, KEEP IN MIND THAT FEDERAL GRANTS HAVE A DIFFERENT TIMELINE THAN OUR FISCAL YEAR. WHILE OUR FISCAL YEAR RUNS JULY 1 THROUGH JUNE 30, FEDERAL GRANTS RUN FROM OCTOBER 1 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, SO WE HAVE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO EXPEND ANY GRANTS THAT WERE FY24 GRANTS. SOME GRANTS LIKE TITLE 1, WE HAVE TO SPEND DOWN TO AT LEAST 15%, LEAVE NO MORE THAN 15%, AND THEN THAT 15% CAN BE CARRY OVER INTO FY25, BUT WE'RE STILL IN THE FEDERAL GRANT PERIOD. THEN THIS IS JUST A RECAP OF OUR BUDGET IN TOTAL. THIS IS A SLIDE THAT WE'VE SHOWN AT EVERY MEETING THAT JUST TAKES A THREE-YEAR LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND. SOMETHING JUST TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION, WE'VE BEEN DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION ALL YEAR TO NON-PUBLIC COST. A COUPLE OF THESE AREAS THAT JUST REALLY HAVEN'T CHANGED. IF I [INAUDIBLE] MAKE IT THAT BIG. I'M TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. BUT SPECIAL ED HERE, WHILE YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET SPENT FROM LAST YEAR IS DOWN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL, IT'S ABOUT $3 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR, SO WE INCREASED OUR BUDGET. WHILE THE PERCENT OF BUDGET MIGHT NOT BE AS MUCH SPENT AS THE YEAR BEFORE, WE'VE INCREASED THE BUDGET, SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SPENDING IS UP. THE SPENDING IS ALSO UP IN STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, SPENDING IS UP IN HEALTHCARE, AND AGAIN, IN CAPITAL OUTLAY AND CAPITAL OUTLAY IS, AGAIN, THE RESULT OF THE SECURE ENTRANCES AT CONOWINGO AND RISING SUN. >> THANK YOU, MS. SOPA. QUESTIONS FROM, MS. SOPA? >> THERE'S ONE MORE PAGE, BUT IT'S NOT MOVING AT ALL. NOW IT'S MOVING. THE LAST PAGE, AGAIN, IS THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, SHOWING YOU THE SAME INFORMATION, BUT SHOWING YOU BY OUR ROLL-UP CODES OR DEPARTMENTS. AGAIN, SHOWING YOU PERCENTAGE OF BUDGET USED, AND WE ARE WORKING RIGHT NOW ON OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, SO AT THE WORK SESSION IN SEPTEMBER, WE'LL HAVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SHARE WITH YOU AND OUR AUDITORS WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE AS WELL. THEY WERE ACTUALLY ON SITE ALL WEEK THIS WEEK, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM SINCE THE MIDDLE OF JUNE. >> AT THAT TIME, THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TO DESIGNATE A FUND BALANCE FOR CLOSEOUT OF FY24? NOW, ANY QUESTIONS FROM MS. SOPA? >> THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS. >> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY [00:35:04] APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $3,799,392 AS PRESENTED. >> I'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? I DIDN'T THINK SO. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE. MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. MS. OLSON. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD, AND I AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME JUST AS A REMINDER. THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE MEETING IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH REASONABLE CONTENT-NEUTRAL AND VIEWPOINT-NEUTRAL PARAMETERS. THE BOARD WILL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER, THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED. THE 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 30 SECONDS REMAIN, AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL. PERSONNEL MATTERS, PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, AND EMPLOYEE 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 ROLES ONLY. COMPLAINTS CONCERNING SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER NON-ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. SPEAKERS MUST STATE THEIR NAMES AND MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL. THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY INTERRUPT OR TERMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT WHEN IT IS TOO LENGTHY OR VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES. THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS. WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE BE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED. OUR FIRST SPEAKER THIS EVENING WILL BE MR. TOM WESLEY, AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SEAN BRIM. THERE IS A BOX ON THE TABLE TO PLACE YOUR COMMENTS. MR. WESLEY. >> TESTING. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS TOM WESLEY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, INCLUDING THE GREAT DR. JENNI HAMMER. PERSONALLY, I CONSIDER MYSELF MY SPECIALTY TO BE MATHEMATICS, BUT TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO SHARE A HISTORY LESSON. AS MANY OF YOU ARE AWARE, THAT THIS IS THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROWN V. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHICH MADE IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL IS NOT EQUAL. THAT HAPPENED IN 1954, 70 YEARS LATER, HERE WE STAND. BUT ONE THING I DID WANT TO SAY IS, THOUGH THAT HAPPENED IN 1954, IT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY INTEGRATE ALL THE SCHOOLS, NOT EVEN HERE IN MARYLAND, NOT EVEN IN CECIL COUNTY. HERE'S HOW I KNOW THAT, BECAUSE I, OF COURSE, I WASN'T BORN WHEN THAT RULING TOOK PLACE. HOWEVER, IN 1961, I STARTED SCHOOL RIGHT DOWN THAT HALLWAY THERE. THIS HALLWAY GOUT, MAKE A LEFT, THE LAST ROOM ON THE RIGHT WAS MY FIRST AND SECOND-GRADE CLASSROOM. THE HALLWAY DOES NOT LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT THAN IT DID THEN, IT REALLY DOESN'T. ONE THING THAT WE REALLY LOVED WAS THAT DOOR AT THE END OF THE HALLWAY. [00:40:05] THAT WAS WHEN WE KNEW WE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE FOR PLAYING, RECESS. THAT DOOR IS STILL THERE. THE HANDLES ARE DIFFERENT, BUT THAT HALLWAY LOOKS ALMOST THE SAME. PRIMARY WAS DOWN, THIS HALLWAY, INTERMEDIATE WAS THAT HALLWAY, RIGHT IN THIS VERY BUILDING. EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS A FEW YEARS LATER AFTER THE DECISION, SCHOOLS WERE STILL SEGREGATED. NOW, ONE THING THAT ALSO TOOK PLACE IS THAT AT ONE POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT MY TEACHER FELT THAT I NEEDED MORE OF A CHALLENGE AND ASKED MY PARENTS IF THEY WOULD TRY TO ENROLL ME IN ELKTON ELEMENTARY. THIS SCHOOL WAS THOUGHT OF AS THE BLACK SCHOOL, AND ELKTON ELEMENTARY, WHICH IS RIGHT DOWN THIS ROAD WAS WHAT WE CONSIDERED THE RIGHT SCHOOL, IT'S RIGHT WHERE CECIL COLLEGE IS NOW. I COULD NOT JUST GO THERE, I HAD TO COME TO THE BOARD, GET SPECIAL PERMISSION, MY PARENTS DID, IN ORDER TO ATTEND. I DID GET TO ATTEND. THEN LATER UP UNTIL GRADE FIVE, THE OTHER STUDENTS CAME AND FOLLOWED US TO ELKTON ELEMENTARY, AND THEN I WILL CLOSE BECAUSE I KNOW MY TIME IS UP. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> [LAUGHTER] I FEEL READY TO GET DINGED. I'M JUST TAKING FIVE SECONDS FOR ON BEHALF OF MY FATHER. THERE IS A SCHOOL, A WOODEN SCHOOLHOUSE UP BY CHERRY HILL THAT MY FATHER ATTENDED, AND HE WAS BORN IN 1918, STILL STANDS. IT'S A ONE-ROOM WOODEN SCHOOLHOUSE. LOOK FOR IT OFF OF KIRK ROAD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. WESLEY. [APPLAUSE] NEXT IS SEAN BRIM, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HAMPTON. >> GOOD EVENING. I'M SEAN BRIM OF NORTHEAST. I HAVE A FAVORITE FEDERAL LAW, THE EQUAL ACCESS ACT OF 1984, 20 US CODE SECTION 4071 READS, AND I QUOTE, "IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL WHICH HAS A LIMITED OPEN FORUM TO DENY ACCESS OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY STUDENTS WHO CONDUCT A MEETING ON THE BASIS OF A RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL, PHILOSOPHICAL, OR OTHER CONTENT OF THE SPEECH AT SUCH MEETINGS." EARLIER THIS YEAR, SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTY HOSTED SUCH MEETINGS AND LED BY STUDENTS TO PROTEST SCHOOL BUDGET CUTS BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE. PEOPLE WHO DID NOT LIKE THAT STUDENTS WERE EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES OFTEN COMPLAINED THAT THESE MEETINGS WERE "ILLEGAL". NOT ONLY WERE THESE MEETINGS NOT ILLEGAL, BUT IN PERFECT KEEPING WITH THE INTENT OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT, UNDER FEDERAL LAW, FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO REFUSE SUCH MEETINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN ITSELF ILLEGAL. IN SO DOING, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 2024 PAID BACK WITH INTEREST A SMALL DEBT INCURRED DURING THE 1980S TO ITS STUDENTS. I FIRST RESEARCHED THIS LAW IN 1988 IN THE PAGES OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, AND THUS WAS THE FIRST LAW I EVER LOOKED AT IN DEPTH. IT WOULD NOT BE THE LAST. WHY, YOU MIGHT ASK, DID I DO THAT IN 1988? THAT IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY, BUT ONE FOR WHICH I HAVE BEEN LEAVING BREADCRUMBS TO FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS. NEXT, CECIL COUNTY ETHICS COMMISSION WILL HAVE AN EXTRA ITEM ON ITS NEXT MEETING AGENDA. NEXT, THE GOP-CREATED SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM IN ARIZONA BLEW A $270 MILLION HOLE IN THE STATES BUDGET AND IS EXPECTED TO CLIMB TO 400 MILLION NEXT YEAR, SO MUCH FOR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. NOW, WHY DID THE ARIZONA BUDGET BALLOON OUT OF CONTROL? PEOPLE WHO NEVER SENT THEIR KIDS TO PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WERE THUS, NEVER ACCOUNTED FOR IN PUBLIC FUNDING, WERE GETTING $7,000 VOUCHER CHECKS TO SEND THEM TO THE SAME PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT THEY WERE ALWAYS GOING TO SEND THEM TO IN THE FIRST PLACE. OOPSY. REMEMBER, BOOKS SAVE LIVES. >> KEEP READING. I HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS. LET'S SEE. MACO ALERTS COUNTY AGENCIES TO THE THREAT OF MALWARE AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS, BOOBY TRAPPED PDFS. HAPPENED IN VIRGINIA, HAS NO REPORTS OF IT HERE, BUT APPARENTLY, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE AWARE OF IT. LASTLY, CHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? ARE YOU OKAY? CHRISTINA SCHOOL DISTRICT? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [00:45:02] >>THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. NEXT IS BRIAN HAMPTON, FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY BERGMAN-DEBES. >> GOOD EVENING, DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS BRIAN HAMPTON FROM PERRYVILLE. DURING THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF LAST MONTH'S BOARD MEETING, IT WAS ALLEGED THAT MS. DIXON IS BEING BULLIED. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR WHAT HAPPENS IN CLOSED MEETINGS. BUT LET ME OFFER A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE FROM PUBLIC MEETINGS. FIRST IS NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH OR POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. THAT'S NOT WHY YOU, MS. DIXON, HAVE BEEN CALLED OUT. YOU ARE FREE TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT YOU ARE ALSO IN A POSITION TO OVERSEE THE WELL BEING OF ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING STUDENTS YOU'VE OFFENDED, AND THAT IS WHERE THE CONFLICT RESIDES. REAL LEADERS WHEN TOLD THEIR WORDS OR ACTIONS ARE HURTFUL, LISTEN AND STRIVE TO BE BETTER. WHEN WE OFFEND A GROUP, ESPECIALLY ONES WHICH WE HAVE AGENCY OVER, IT IS NOT FOR US TO CLAIM, THAT'S NOT OFFENSIVE OR ALL ARE JUST TOO SENSITIVE. RATIONAL ACTORS CAN DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE I'M OFFENDED STATEMENTS OF THE IMPLIED, I FIND THE MERE EXISTENCE OF THEM TO BE OFFENSIVE. HEY, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT US IS NOT ONLY HURTFUL, BUT ALSO JEOPARDIZES OUR SAFETY. FOR THOSE THAT MAY THINK MY WORDS TONIGHT AMOUNT TO BULLYING, I CHARACTERIZE IT AS PUSHBACK AGAINST ILL ADVISED BEHAVIOR BY AN ELECTED OFFICIAL DIRECTED TOWARDS STUDENTS, CHILDREN, AND THEIR FAMILIES. IT WAS ALSO CLAIMED LAST MONTH THAT NO ONE DURING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION WAS EVER GAVELED WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT MS. DIXON. BUT PRESIDENT HAWLEY DID EXACTLY THAT DURING AT LEAST THE NOVEMBER 2022 BOARD MEETING. REGARDING YOUR JOB PERFORMANCE, HAVING DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON AN ELECTED BOARD IS A GOOD THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN EVERYONE BRINGS SOUND RATIONALE TO THE DISCUSSION. BUT REMEMBER, AFTER MONTHS OF CONCERN OVER THE CCPS BUDGET, WHEN POINTEDLY ASKED, "WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC THING THAT RENEE DIXON THINKS WE SHOULD CUT FROM THIS BUDGET," ALL YOU COULD DO WAS RESPOND WITH, "HONESTLY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANY AT THE MOMENT," I CAN LIVE WITH POLICY DIFFERENCES. I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO GET EVERYTHING I WANT, BUT THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW DETAILS OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS STANCES. PUBLIC DISSATISFACTION WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE AS A BOARD MEMBER, MS. DIXON, ISN'T BULLYING. THE WORD YOU AND YOUR SUPPORTERS ARE LOOKING FOR IS ACCOUNTABILITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. HINTON. LINDSAY BERGMAN-DEBES FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER. >> BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO THIS, I JUST WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT GREAT PRESENTATION ON UPPER CHEPAE THE ARTS THING. I AM STILL FRIENDS 20 PLUS YEARS LATER WITH SOMEBODY I MET AT A CAMP LIKE THAT, AND THAT PRESENTATION ALWAYS MAKES ME TEAR UP. I'M LINDSAY BERGMAN-DEBES FROM ELKTON. LAST MONTH, ONE OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND A LEADER OF OUR LOCAL CHAPTER OF CECIL COUNTY MOMS FOR LIBERTY, DONNA CULBERSON, ENCOURAGED HER FOLLOWERS TO EMAIL THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ENCOURAGE REMOVAL OF MENTIONS OF GENDER AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION FROM THE STATE HEALTH CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS. NOTHING INAPPROPRIATE IS BEING TAUGHT WITH THIS HEALTH CURRICULUM. IN FACT, I WILL QUOTE THE SECOND GRADE STANDARD, WHICH IS SIMPLY DEMONSTRATE WAYS TO TREAT PEOPLE OF ALL GENDER IDENTITIES AND EXPRESSIONS WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. CONTINUALLY, QUEER PEOPLE ASK MERELY FOR DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND ARE MET WITH HATRED AND EXCLUSION. WHEN GROUPS LIKE MOMS FOR LIBERTY ATTEMPT TO ERASE US FROM THE CURRICULUM, IT'S NOT JUST A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BUT AN ACT OF VIOLENCE. CURRENT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER RENEE DIXON IS A MEMBER OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY, WHICH SHOWS THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS IN HER HEART. BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATE DETA WATSON IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THIS HATEFUL GROUP, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT POINT. THE SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PREVAILED IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, BUT THE FIGHT IS NOT OVER. WE STILL HAVE A GENERAL ELECTION TO CONTEND WITH, AND BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL BE ON THE BALLOT. DANIEL HORNBURGER'S DECISION TO UNDERFUND CCPS LED TO HER DEFEAT, BUT SHE DID THROW MONEY THAT COULD HAVE AVOIDED POSITION CUTS AT ANOTHER TAX REBATE. I CHOSE TO DONATE THE REBATE TO INCUMBENT BOARD MEMBERS, TIERNEY DAVIS AND DIANE HEATH, BY SUPPORTING THE DEDICATED TO STUDENTS GOLF CLASSIC THIS FRIDAY AND USING THE REMAINDER TO SUPPORT OTHER CANDIDATES WHO ARE SUPPORTING AN INCLUSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION. PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, FOSTERING UNITY, GROWTH, AND OPPORTUNITY. THEY PROVIDE A SAFE HAVEN FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN, [00:50:03] OFFERING NOT ONLY ACADEMIC KNOWLEDGE, BUT ALSO VITAL SOCIAL SUPPORT, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SERVE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE WHERE EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO A QUALITY EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR BACKGROUND OR SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. THEY BRING TOGETHER TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS CREATING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT THAT ENSURES NO CHILD IS LEFT BEHIND. I CHOOSE TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO CHAMPION PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I HOPE OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION AT THE BALLOT BOX THIS FALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. RODNEY BREWER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE GIVENS. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, BOARD MEMBERS AND ALL WHO ARE PRESENT. MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER. THE BOOK I'M READING NOW AND WE'LL SHARE ABOUT IS, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES BY ANGELA RODRIGUEZ? THE COPYRIGHT IS 2015. ON THE FRONT COVER UNDER THE TITLE, IT SAYS THE UNCANNY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE 911 ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES. FIRST, LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE AUTHOR. THE INFORMATION ABOUT HER COMES FROM THE INTERNET SOURCE, MY PARAPHRASE, A FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF 14 YEARS. A FULL TIME WRITER OF OVER 10 YEARS. ANGELA RODRIGUEZ IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE INTERCESSORS FOR AMERICA, A PRAYER MINISTRY. HER FAVORITE AREAS OF STUDY ARE THE HEBREW ROOTS OF THE BIBLE. SHE HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST IN BIBLE PROPHECIES AND HOW IT APPLIES TO THE HISTORICAL EVENTS OF PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. SHE HAS A GREAT LOVE FOR THE WORD OF GOD AND ITS SYMBOL NATURE. SHE IS PURSUING A DEGREE IN MESSIANIC STUDIES AS A WORD OF GOD, WELL AS A HOME SCHOOLING HER YOUNGEST SON. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR COMES FROM THE BOOK ITSELF, THE INTRODUCTION. SEVENTH GRADE, SHE WAS FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST. ANGELA STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE JEWISH CULTURE, LIFESTYLE, OR RELIGIOUS VIEWS, SHE SAID SHE FELT A DEEP LOVE FOR THEM. WHEN SHE BECAME A TEACHER, SHE MADE A POINT TO COVER THE HOLOCAUST, EVEN WHEN IT WASN'T IN THE CURRICULUM. SHE FOUND A WAY TO WEAVE IT IN. AS EDUCATORS, WE HAVE ALL HAVE A PERSONAL BELIEF WE BRING INTO THE CLASSROOM. I AM A CHRISTIAN. I TAUGHT MATH IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AT PERRYVILLE, BUT I ASSURE YOU I NEVER GAVE A GOSPEL MESSAGE ABOUT JESUS IN THE CLASSROOM. I DO RECALL A CHARLIE BROWN CARTOON I HAD ON THE BULLETIN BOARD AND A SOMEWHAT SILENT PRAYER, PEPPERMINT PATTY IS PRAYING THAT THE TEACHER WOULD NOT CALL ON HER. CHUCK TURNS AROUND AND TOLD HER THAT PRAYER WAS NO LONGER ALLOWED IN SCHOOL. HER RESPONSE WAS, CHUCK, THIS KIND OF PRAYER WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US. COMING BACK TO THE INTRODUCTION IN THE BOOK OF WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? SHE RECALLS ONE OF HER STUDENTS ASKING HER, WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST? THAT HAPPENED A LONG TIME AGO. HER RESPONSE WAS, THE REASON I'M TEACHING YOU ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST IS BECAUSE IT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. PERHAPS YOUR GENERATION WILL BE THE ONE TO KEEP THIS HORRIBLE THING LIKE THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WHAT ARE WE SEEING TODAY IN REGARDS TO ANTI-SEMITISM? WHERE DOES OUR NATION STAND AND WHERE DO YOU OR I STAND? AS EDUCATORS, WHAT BELIEFS ARE WE BRINGING TO WORK OR SCHOOL? GOOD QUESTION. IN GENERAL, OUR NATION IS VERY SUPPORT OF ISRAEL AND MANY OF OUR PRESIDENTS HAVE THEN ALSO. THE BOOK, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES, A HISTORICAL FICTION, ANGELA RODRIGUEZ USES FICTIONAL CHARACTERS IN A FICTIONAL SITUATIONS, BUT THEY ARE CONNECTED TO REAL HISTORICAL DATES AND FACTS RELATED TO THE UNITED STATES AND ALSO TO ISRAEL. I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE BOOK, AND I WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IT NEXT MONTH. AND THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. >> THANK YOU. CHRISTINE GIVENS. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AS EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERS EMBRACING LIFELONG LEARNING, IT EQUIPS US TO ADAPT AND RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. CONTINUOUS LEARNING ALSO ENRICHES OUR VOCABULARY AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF OUR WORDS, RESULTING IN MORE EFFECTIVE, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPECTFUL COMMUNICATION. REAL LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE POWER AND IMPORTANCE OF OUR WORDS AND USE THEM TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND INSPIRE, UNITE, AND DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE. THE VOCABULARY WORD THAT WE'RE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT TODAY, RENEE, EXTEND ITS ACCOUNTABILITY. TO EDUCATE THOSE THAT DON'T VALUE LIFELONG LEARNING LIKE YOURSELF, WHO HAS MADE A MOCKERY OF YOUR ELECTED POSITION AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT REQUIRING YOU TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS IS NOT BULLYING. TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE CORNERSTONE OF ALL GREAT LEADERSHIP, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, AND REQUIRES A LEADER TO BE VULNERABLE, HUMBLE, ACT WITH INTEGRITY, [00:55:03] AND TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND BE WILLING TO PUT THEIR EGO ASIDE AND SAY, SORRY, AND MOVE ON. IT'S MORE IMPORTANT. IT'S MORE THAN JUST HOLDING YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE. IT'S ALSO BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU VOWED TO SERVE. IN PARTICULAR, ACCOUNTABILITY IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHOSE JOB IT IS TO SERVE AS ADVOCATES FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. WE RELY ON PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO WORK WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY TO STRENGTHEN AND ADVANCE OUR LOCAL PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR ALL STUDENTS, NOT JUST THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE YOU, AND HELP FOSTER BETTER MORE POSITIVE LEARNING OUTCOMES. IF IT HASN'T BEEN CLEAR YET, IT CERTAINLY SHOULD BE CLEAR TO EVERYONE NOW THAT YOU DON'T VALUE ANY EDUCATION AND ARE, IN FACT, NOT A LIFELONG LEARNER. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND BULLYING, AND YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REAL LEADER IN ANY CAPACITY. YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ANY LONGER, AND YOU DON'T DESERVE TO HAVE ANY DEALINGS WITH ANY CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY AND NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM YOUR POSITION IMMEDIATELY. WE'RE TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT. THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND MOVE ON, BUT WE WILL NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS OR SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT WHO YOU REALLY ARE AND THE DANGER THAT YOU REALLY BRING TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM AND OUR STUDENTS AND THIS COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AS LONG AS YOU'RE SITTING IN THAT CHAIR. I'LL END THIS WITH A QUOTE BY EDMUND BURKE. THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS FOR GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SIT BACK AND NOT DO ANYTHING. YOU WILL HEAR ME, YOU WILL HEAR ALL THE OTHERS, AND WE WON'T BE QUIET UNTIL YOU'RE GONE. THIS QUOTE EMPHASIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE, AND THIS IS FOR EVERYONE LISTENING TO TAKE ACTION AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE AND WRONGDOING. WE'RE DOING THAT, AND I'M PROUD OF EVERYONE THAT CONTINUES TO SPEAK OUT. IT SERVES AS A CALL TO ACTION AND REMINDS US THAT WE CANNOT BE COMPLACENT AND INACTIVE IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON AND MOVE FORWARD IN A BETTER WAY. BY ALLUDING TO THOSE WORDS, WE CAN STRIVE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE ACCOUNTABILITY AND MORAL COURAGE WILL PREVAIL. WE'LL ULTIMATELY WORK TOGETHER TO FOSTER A BETTER MORE INCLUSIVE SOCIETY FOR EVERYONE. THANK YOU. >> I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER, MS. HAWLEY. >> I MEAN NEITHER. I GUESS, NO. UPCOMING EVENT. >> UPCOMING EVENTS. TOMORROW IS THE EDUCATION LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AT ALTON HIGH SCHOOL. IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THE LEADERS IN THE SYSTEM, SCHOOL LEVEL, DISTRICT LEVEL TO COME TOGETHER, REFLECT, LEARN, HAVE SOME FUN, TRY TO FIND THAT BALANCE AND GEAR UP FOR THE 15,000 STUDENTS THAT WILL BE COMING BACK IN 20 DAYS ON AUGUST 21, OUR NEW TEACHERS COME IN FOR THREE DAYS OF STANDALONE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR JUST THOSE NEW TEACHERS. ON AUGUST 22, AS MS. HAWLEY MENTIONED, IS THE NORTHEAST FEEDER BACK TO SCHOOL EVENT, SO IT SHOULD BE A GOOD EVENING. ALL OF OUR TEACHERS COME BACK ON AUGUST 26. OUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 3. LABOR DAY IS THE SECOND, THIS YEAR? >> I DON'T KNOW. >> OUR FIRST DAY BACK FOR STUDENTS IS THE THIRD, AND THEN OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING HERE, SEPTEMBER 11, AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. >> LABOR DAY MOVES EVERY MONTH. WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME TO COME THIS EVENING. WE APPRECIATE THOSE OF YOU WHO SPOKE, AND THIS IS OUR LAST MEETING, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS. WE WISH EVERYONE A GREAT REST OF THE SUMMER. I KNOW THE KIDS ARE EXCITED. THE KIDS I TALK TO A TON ARE EXCITED. OUR STAFF IS DOING SOMETHING RIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE READY TO GO BACK. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE. HAVE A GOOD EVENING MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.