[00:00:05]
[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
MISS HEATH, I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE[2. Closed Session]
3305B AND ONE.ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION, THE SEPTEMBER 2024 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.PLEASE STAND AS MISS GRIFFIN LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE.
MR. DAVIS IS GOING TO LEAD US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN OBSERVANCE OF NINE OVER 11.
AS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL PLANK HOLDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND AS WE COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER THE 11TH, 2001, THAT OCCURRED IN NEW YORK, VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, LET US PROCEED WITH THE MOMENT OF SILENCE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MISS HEATH BOARD REFLECTION.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
AGENDA. AGENDA IS ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE CONSENT AGENDA BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION.
[4. Consent Agenda]
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY OF THE ITEMS FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS WILL START DOWN THERE WITH MISS GRIFFIN.
[5. New Business]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR COMING WITH MY TIME TODAY.I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD FROM AROUND THE STATE WHO ALL CAME TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY TO PROVIDE A STATEMENT IN UNITY SUPPORTING THE END OF GUN VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS.
HAPPY TO SEE A START OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.
AGAIN, SAD TO SEE SOME THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR SCHOOLS.
BUT IT IS THE BEGINNING OF A SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS HAPPENING.
SPORTS HAVE STARTED, WHICH IS A GOOD TIME FOR ME BECAUSE I'M VERY INVOLVED IN SPORTS.
STILL WATCHING FIELD HOCKEY, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS.
BUT MY DAUGHTER PLAYS, SO I HAVE TO GO.
IT'S A LOT OF WHISTLES, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I WATCHED THE SCORE.
SO WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TALK OF HOMECOMING AND PROM.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE ALREADY GETTING THERE.
TALKING ABOUT PICKING DRESSES OUT.
MY DAUGHTER IS A SENIOR, SO THIS IS A BIG YEAR.
BUT I DO. I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.
GOOD TO BE BACK AND I WISH EVERYBODY A SUCCESSFUL, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY AND SAFE SCHOOL YEAR THIS YEAR.
[00:05:01]
THANK YOU, MR. FERDINANDO.MISS DIXON. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING A VOICE.
I ALSO WANT TO REFLECT ON THE IMPACT OF THE EVENTS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH.
I'M SURE MANY OF US HERE REMEMBER THAT DAY AND WHERE WE WERE.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING AMAZING THAT HAPPENED THAT DAY ALSO.
IT WAS WHAT AMERICA DID COMING TOGETHER.
A TOTAL OF 6.5 MILLION MEALS WERE PACKED AND SENT TO THE VICTIMS. PEOPLE ACROSS AMERICA DONATED MONEY TO HELP REBUILD THE TORN AREAS OF NEW YORK, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND THE MEMORIAL AT SHANKSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.
IT WAS A TIME OF GREAT PATRIOTISM WHEN PEOPLE REALLY PULLED TOGETHER.
THAT IS WHY PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH PROCLAIMED SEPTEMBER 11TH AS PATRIOT DAY.
A SINCERE THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR NEW TEACHERS AND CSPS.
SEEING. OUR PRE-K AND ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RETURN.
SO IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE TO BE AT THOSE SCHOOLS, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE COOLEST PARTS OF BEING A BOARD MEMBER IS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND SEE OUR STUDENTS IN UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
LAST FRIDAY, I WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL RISING SUN FOOTBALL GAME, WHERE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A FIRST HAND VIEW OF OUR NEW WEAPON DETECTION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO KEEPING OUR STUDENTS AND FANS SAFE AT OUR ATHLETIC EVENTS.
AS A HOMELAND SECURITY PROFESSIONAL, I BELIEVE THAT HAVING THE SAFETY MEASURE IN PLACE PROVIDES AN ADDITIONAL DETERRENT FOR THOSE WHO MAY ATTEMPT TO BRING UNAUTHORIZED ITEMS ONTO OUR SCHOOL GROUNDS.
SO WE'LL SEE WHERE WE GO FROM HERE.
I KNOW THIS MIGHT GO WITHOUT SAYING, BUT WITH THE RECENT EVENTS GOING ON ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AT OUR SCHOOLS AND HERE IN OUR STATE, IT IS SO VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS. NOW MORE THAN EVER, AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK 100% OF THE TIME, AND IF THEY SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, WHICH IS SO VERY IMPORTANT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THESE DAYS.
LASTLY, I'LL JUST GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO OUR CCPS TEACHERS, FACULTY, SUPPORT STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATORS FOR THEIR CONTINUED DEDICATION AND HARD WORK ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CCPS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MISS HEATH. GOOD EVENING.
FIRST, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS ABLE TO DO OVER THIS PAST MONTH.
FIRST, LIKE MR. DAVIS HAD MENTIONED, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE NEW TEACHER RECEPTION, WHICH IS A GREAT EVENING OF INTRODUCING OUR OR BEING ABLE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF TO OUR NEW TEACHERS.
AND THEY'RE ABLE TO, THANKS TO SPONSORS, BE ABLE TO GET SOME ITEMS FOR THEIR CLASSROOMS. WHICH IS ALWAYS NEEDED WHEN YOU'RE A NEW TEACHER.
I ALSO WAS ABLE TO SPEND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THE MORNING AT CECILTON ELEMENTARY.
IT WAS AWESOME TO SEE THE KIDS COMING IN AGAIN AND FILLING THE SCHOOLS UP.
I ONLY SAW ONE LITTLE GIRL CRYING, SO IT WAS A GOOD FIRST DAY.
I'M SURE BY THE THIRD DAY WE HAD MANY MORE.
MOM AND DAD OR GRANDMOTHER OR GRANDFATHER.
SO THAT BEING SAID, I WILL BE STARTING MY CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERING NEXT WEEK.
I DO A CLASSROOM IN GILPIN MANOR AND A CLASSROOM IN CECILTON ELEMENTARY, AND I WANT TO JUST ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLEASE COME AND VOLUNTEER IN OUR SCHOOLS.
HAVING OUR PARENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY IN OUR SCHOOLS ONLY MAKES OUR SCHOOLS BETTER.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THAT, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
AND LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO WISH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS A GREAT FIRST.
[00:10:04]
I DID A BUNCH.I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT JUST A COUPLE THANK YOUS AND CONGRATULATIONS.
IT HAPPENED, AND IT WAS GREAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR STAFF FROM ALL THE NORTHEAST FEEDER SCHOOLS.
AND IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT.
I ALWAYS GO TO KINDERGARTEN ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, AND I DID IT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND YES, I DO IT BECAUSE IT'S VERY JOYOUS.
THERE WAS ONE CRYING KID, BUT HE WAS.
HE WAS FINE AFTER HE GOT USED TO IT AND THEN WAS ALL SMILES ALL DAY.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE FLOOR WITH A KID WHEN DOCTOR WRIGHT WALKED IN.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO A STUDENT.
YES. THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOURCE SHARED WITH US THAT ISSA WERR I ALWAYS SAY HER NAME WRONG, IS BEING HONORED AT THE NATIONAL CADCA DRUG-FREE KIDS CAMPAIGN AWARD DINNER IN OCTOBER, AND BASICALLY SHE WAS CHOSEN TO BE A GUEST SPEAKER ON THIS NATIONAL STAGE.
AND THIS IS A MASSIVE, MASSIVE HONOR.
THEY WILL BE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THEY'RE FEDERAL OFFICIALS, CORPORATE LEADERS, COMMUNITY COALITION MEMBERS.
CADCA REPRESENTS, I THINK, OVER 5000 COMMUNITY COALITIONS, ONE FROM EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY IN THE UNITED STATES AND MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
SECOND OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BRITTANY RIGDON.
SHE WAS NAMED A STATE FINALIST, ONE OF SEVEN STATE FINALISTS.
SO CECIL HAS A LOT TO CELEBRATE WITH OUR TEACHERS.
FANTASTIC EDUCATOR WHO REPRESENTS OUR SYSTEM.
WELL, WE WILL FIND OUT OCTOBER 4TH.
IT'S A FRIDAY WHEN THE STATE WINNER IS ANNOUNCED.
DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
MANY FOLKS DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IN CECIL COUNTY THAT WE HAVE A JROTC PROGRAM AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS, AND IT IS REALLY HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
OUR JROTC PROGRAM IS THROUGH THE ARMY.
AND IT WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE JROTC EACH YEAR AS A CLASS.
AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT PROGRAM.
WHEN I WAS A TEACHER AT MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD AN ROTC PROGRAM.
THE TYPICAL OUTCOME MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS WILL GO.
MANY STUDENTS WILL SEEK MILITARY APPOINTMENTS TO WEST POINT, ANNAPOLIS.
AND IT REALLY IS AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A RETIRED ARMY SERGEANT WHO IS ACTUALLY THE TEACHER.
AND SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY PLEASED.
I THINK DOCTOR HANDLER MAY BE HERE.
WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF HER COMING OUT AND SHOW US THE ATTENTION KIND OF THING.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AS IT RELATES BROADLY TO TO STUDENT SAFETY AND SCHOOL SECURITY.
THE FIRST BEING MR. DAVIS TIERNEY DAVIS BROUGHT IN AND HE WAS THERE.
THANKS TO ELKTON PD FOR BEING THERE AS WELL.
WE HAD A RISING SUN FAN BRING A KNIFE AND AN ELKTON FAN BRING A KNIFE.
ONE OF THE FANS CHOSE TO TAKE THE KNIFE BACK TO HIS CAR, AND THE OTHER FAN ASKED THE POLICE OFFICER TO HOLD THE KNIFE UNTIL THE END OF THE GAME, AT WHICH POINT IT WAS IT WAS RETURNED. SO IT REALLY IS JUST A WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE.
AND OUR STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY WE ARE PURSUING FOR MORE OF THESE SYSTEMS. WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BOUGHT MORE LAST YEAR HAD WE KNOWN WHERE WE WERE MONEY WISE.
[00:15:02]
I MEAN, AND WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS IN DETAIL LATER THIS EVENING.AND SO BUT YEAH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.
IT'S JUST A SIMPLER WAY OF GETTING IN TOUCH WITH A FAMILY MEMBER.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE, AND SO WE WILL BE AGGRESSIVE IN LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.
I KNOW I GOT A SURVEY TODAY FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ASKING ABOUT OUR CELL PHONE POLICY, AND I THINK IT'S A STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF SEEING SOMETHING MORE RESTRICTIVE COMING FROM THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN PLAY RIGHT NOW.
BUT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, SEVERAL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, YOU SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS IT RELATES TO RESTRICTING CELL PHONE.
WE ARE OPERATING RIGHT NOW WITH EXTREMELY LARGE CLASS SIZES.
65. WE HAVE ANOTHER 24 THAT ARE GREATER THAN 30.
SO I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER.
SO THE SECOND GRADE STUFF DOESN'T COME NATURALLY.
IT'S BEEN A CRAZY LEARNING EXPERIENCE, BUT YOU CAN SEE IN OUR CLASS WE HAVE 25 SECOND GRADERS, AND YOU CAN SEE HOW SOME OF THE STUDENTS COME IN WHO ARE COMPLETELY READY TO LEARN AND HAVE BEEN PREPARED AS IT RELATES TO, YOU KNOW, LETTERS, SOUNDS, COLORS, THE WHOLE THING.
THOSE STUDENTS COME IN AND THEY'RE ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
THEY PICK UP THE INSTRUCTION QUICKLY.
THE STUDENTS THAT HAVEN'T HAD THE BENEFIT OF THAT EXPOSURE AS YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME, THEY STRUGGLE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND SEVERAL STUDENTS LABELED AS GIFTED AND TALENTED.
AND SO THAT, YOU KNOW AND MISS BIDDLE IS TRYING TO MEET EVERYBODY'S NEEDS.
AND SO JUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS REAL.
AND DOCTOR FOYE IS COMPILING SECONDARY NUMBERS FOR ME NOW, WHICH ARE WORSE? NORTHEAST. MIDDLE IS SIGNIFICANTLY OVERCROWDED, RISING SUN HIGH IS SIGNIFICANTLY OVERCROWDED.
BUT KNOW THAT THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF FUNDING OVER THE YEARS.
THIS DID NOT TAKE A SEMESTER TO GET THIS WAY.
THIS HAS BEEN 3 OR 4 YEARS, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THIS.
I SEE YOU BACK THERE, MISS HRINKO.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.
DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN COMING ALL SUMMER, SO THANK YOU.
THOSE OF YOU THAT TOOK A BREAK IN THE SUMMER.
WELCOME BACK. THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE NEW, WELCOME.
THEY WORKED AT SUMMER CAMPS, TOOK COLLEGE CLASSES, PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND CONFERENCES, AND JUMPED INTO BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING AS SOON AS THE PRODUCTS HIT LINES.
AND WE'RE PREPARING LESSONS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.
AND WE ALSO WELCOMED NEW TEACHERS DURING THEIR PROFESSIONAL DAYS AND AT OUR NEW TEACHER STORE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH BPAC, WHICH IS SPEARHEADED BY JEN SHAW, WHO HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN THE POSITION.
AND SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE NEW, WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE HUNDREDS OF SUPPLIES FOR OUR NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF AND THROUGH DONATIONS AND PART OF OUR CTA BUDGET, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO SHOP FOR FREE, BASICALLY JUST PICK UP BAGS OF NEW THINGS TO SET UP THEIR CLASSROOM AND HAVE SUPPLIES FOR THEIR
[00:20:06]
OFFICES. AND SO THAT'S REALLY A NICE WAY TO WELCOME FOLKS.KILBY'S, INC. HAS DONATED MONEY FOR US TO PURCHASE NEW TEACHER SUPPLIES FOR YEARS, AND IKEA DONATES THE BIG BLUE SHOPPING BAGS AND OTHER ITEMS FOR OUR STAFF AS WELL.
SO THANKS TO THOSE FOLKS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN.
TYPICALLY WE HAVE OVER 100 NEW TEACHERS, BUT THIS YEAR WE ONLY HAD AROUND 50.
AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL TEACHER SHORTAGE, BUT BECAUSE POSITIONS WERE CUT DUE TO BUDGET.
PEOPLE RETIRED AND THEIR PLACES SIMPLY WEREN'T FILLED.
THIS HAS CAUSED LESS COURSE OPTIONS, LARGER CLASS SIZES THAT DOCTOR LAWSON JUST REFERENCED, INCLUDING SOME OF OUR PRIMARY CLASSES, WHICH ARE NOW OVER 30 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS BEING ASSIGNED TO DIFFERENT AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE CONTENTS OR GRADE LEVELS, WHICH IS CERTAINLY NOT IDEAL FOR THE LEARNER OR THE EDUCATOR.
IN ADDITION, WE DON'T HAVE KINDERGARTEN PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND CCPS HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FILL SOME OF THE VACANT VACANCIES FOR INTENSIVE NEEDS PARAPROFESSIONALS, LEAVING GAPS FOR SOME OF OUR NEEDIEST LEARNERS.
WE'RE USED TO DOING MORE WITH LESS, AND TEACHERS REGULARLY WORK BEYOND THE DUTY DAY.
IN ADDITION MONEY'S BEEN CUT FOR TEACHERS RUNNING OR SUPPORTING AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, AND A LACK OF SUBSTITUTES FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF IS PUTTING A STRAIN ON THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF WHO ARE COVERING FOR THOSE OPENINGS.
ON A BRIGHTER NOTE, AS WAS MENTIONED THIS WEEK, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO FIND OUT THAT BRITTANY RIGDON, OUR CCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR, IS A FINALIST FOR MARYLAND STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR. CCPS HAS A GREAT TRACK RECORD.
WE'VE BEEN FINALISTS MANY, MANY TIMES AND SO NOT SURPRISED, BUT PLEASANTLY PLEASED.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE CHEERING HER ON IN OCTOBER.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO'S TAKEN TIME TODAY TO REFLECT ON THE LIVES LOST ON THE SURVIVORS AND FAMILIES WHOSE LIVES WERE FOREVER CHANGED BY THE EVENTS ON 9/11, WHETHER AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER IN NEW YORK OR THE PENTAGON, OR ON FLIGHT 93, WHICH CRASHED INTO THE FIELD IN SHANKSVILLE, PA.
THE STUDENTS THAT I'M TEACHING THIS YEAR WEREN'T ALIVE THEN, BUT I WAS TEACHING WHEN IT HAPPENED.
AND THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE ALIVE AT THAT POINT, I'M SURE HAVE SOME MEMORIES SEARED THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET, THAT YOU CAN SHARE WITH THOSE IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHO WEREN'T THERE TO HAVE THOSE MEMORIES.
WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO WERE AT THAT LOCATION WHO WERE AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, WHO NOT ONLY LOST FAMILY, BUT WERE INJURED THEMSELVES. AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO HOLD THIS AND BRING THAT FORWARD TO OUR KIDS.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF RESOURCES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE.
BUT JUST YOU MIGHT NOT REALIZE THAT OUR KIDS DON'T HAVE THAT MEMORY ANYMORE.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE TIME FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO REMEMBER THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WHO WERE KILLED IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN GEORGIA AND SO CLOSE TO HOME IN JOPPATOWNE, MARYLAND LAST WEEK.
IF WE CAN JUST TAKE A MOMENT, PLEASE.
WE ADOPTED ALICE PROTOCOLS TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AFTER STUDIES OF COLUMBINE AND OTHER HORRIFIC SCHOOL SHOOTINGS SHOWED THAT SHELTERING IN PLACE WASN'T THE SAFEST OPTION. AND I WANT TO THANK CSPS FOR RESPONDING SO QUICKLY WHEN THAT BECAME AVAILABLE.
BUT THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN BE A CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.
CHILDREN SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE THE SAFEST EXITS ARE, OR HOW TO BARRICADE DOORS.
BUT EDUCATION AT ITS BEST HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.
WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AND WE'D WELCOME YOU ABOARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO.
OUR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, MR. ERIC BROWN. THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL.
[00:25:08]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.PRESIDENT HAWLEY, SUPERINTENDENT LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO ENCOURAGE COURAGE, EVERYBODY.
WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR.
I PERSONALLY HAVE SEEN SOME WONDERFUL KIDS WALK THROUGH OUR DOOR.
I'M STARTING TO SEE GROWTH ALREADY, AND I'VE SEEN SOMETHING ELSE.
I'VE SEEN HOW HARD ALL OF OUR TEACHERS ARE WORKING.
I HAVE SEEN I HAVE SEEN THE LOVE THAT THEY POUR INTO OUR KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'VE SEEN PARENTS COME IN AND EXPRESS CONCERN.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY WHO IS HERE AND ANYBODY WHO'S GOING TO SEE THIS ON VIDEO, GET INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOL, GET INVOLVED, TALK TO YOUR ADMINISTRATORS. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE'S BUILDING, BUT MY BUILDING IS OPEN FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND VISIT AND SEE WHAT WE DO.
WE DO AMAZING THINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO HAVE WONDERFUL BRAND NEW KIDS THAT COME IN PREPARED.
WE'RE JUST DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO, WHICH IS EDUCATING THE WONDERFUL KIDS THAT WE HAVE.
REMEMBER OUR CUSTODIANS, REMEMBER OUR LUNCH LADIES.
REMEMBER ALL THE SUPPORT STAFF.
REMEMBER THE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR MAINTENANCE TO WALK INTO MY BUILDING EVERY OTHER DAY BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM, AND THEY GREET OUR KIDS AND THEY INTERACT WITH OUR KIDS. WE ARE A SYSTEM.
AND I THINK THAT WE NEED TO REALLY BEAR DOWN AND LEAN INTO THAT.
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THESE ARE ALL OUR KIDS.
THESE ARE ALL OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT AND KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WHEN WE GO CAST OUR VOTE IN NOVEMBER.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BROWN. CENTRAL OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICE LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND LEADERSHIP TEAM.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY BACK AND STARTING UP A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
I SAW CUSTODIANS WORKING THEIR TAILS OFF TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS CLEAN, THE FLOORS WERE POLISHED, AND I HAVE TO GIVE SOME BIG KUDOS TO THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT, WHO SERVED 76,000 MEALS TO OUR COMMUNITY THIS SUMMER, WHICH IS A RECORD THAT'S 62,000 MORE THAN WE DID LAST SUMMER.
A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON AT CCPS.
SO AS WE EMBARK ON THE START OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THE CRUCIAL ROLE THAT OUR SUPPORT SERVICES PLAY IN ENSURING THE SUCCESS AND WELLBEING OF OUR STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES.
OUR SUPPORT SERVICES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART TO ADDRESSING THESE CHALLENGES HEAD ON, PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR A PRODUCTIVE AND FULFILLING SCHOOL YEAR.
SUPPORT SERVICES ARE THE BACKBONE OF A HOLISTIC APPROACH, ENSURING THAT EACH STUDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND CARE THEY NEED TO THRIVE, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. OUR TEAMS ARE PREPARED AND DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH OUR SCHOOLS.
LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.
WE WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORING THE IMPACT OUR SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDE AND ARE READY TO ADAPT AND RESPOND TO EMERGING NEEDS AS THE YEARS PROGRESS.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENT SUCCESS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER AND SO DOES THE REST OF THE CASA GROUP.
I'M NOT GOING TO SAY IT BECAUSE IT'S A TONGUE TWISTER TO MAKE THIS SCHOOL YEAR OUR BEST ONE YET.
[00:30:04]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.OUR BPAC REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.
A SPECIAL NOTE IS THE NEW TEACHER RECEPTION AT THE PRINCIPIO MANSION.
AFTERNOON. AND THANKS TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS AND OUR 50 SOME NEW TEACHERS.
THANK YOU, MISS SHAW, FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MISS SHAW, FOR ORGANIZING ALL OF THAT.
MUCH APPRECIATED. GREAT EVENT.
OUR CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.
CHUCK SIMPERS IS OVERSEEING THESE PROJECTS.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE SCROLLING THROUGH SOME PICTURES.
THE NORTHEAST NEW SCHOOLS JUST BEYOND EXCITING.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN FOLLOW ME AT DOCTOR J A LAWSON ON INSTAGRAM.
SHAMELESS PLUG FOR HIS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT.
BUT I DID A DRONE VIEW, AND IT REALLY IS REALLY EXCITING.
IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME FOR A SCHOOL PERSON TO GET TO DO SOMETHING OF THIS SCALE.
IT'S $185 MILLION, 2000 STUDENTS.
AND IF YOU COULD STOP RIGHT THERE, YOU CAN SEE HOW THINGS HAVE KIND OF BEEN RECONFIGURED.
CAN YOU GO UP A LITTLE MORE? IS THAT PICTURE SHOW OR IS IT THE NEXT ONE? MAYBE THE NEXT ONE. YEAH. GO TO THE NEXT.
NOW SO OBVIOUSLY THE FOOTBALL STADIUM WILL STAY AS IS, BUT ALL THE PRACTICE STADIUM OR PRACTICE FOOTBALL AREA HAS NOW BEEN KIND OF YOU KNOW, IT'S USED AS A STAGING AREA.
YOU CAN SEE A PIECE OF THE FIELD TO THE LOWER LEFT IS BEING USED.
THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S SOCCER ISH FOR PRACTICE FIELD.
IRISHTOWN ROAD IS ON YOUR LEFT AND GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
I'M SORRY. JUST GO UP A LITTLE BIT MORE.
KEEP GOING. WHERE'S THE PICTURE THAT HAS THE SOFTBALL FIELD IS NOW BEING USED BY THE BAND.
ANYWAY, IT'S A TOTAL HODGEPODGE.
YOU KNOW, IN THE FEW YEARS IT'S GOING TO TAKE THIS BUILDING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
THIS IS PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
WE EXPECT GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW FIELDHOUSE.
ANY TIME YOU CAN SEE THOSE TWO BIG PINE TREES, THAT'S WHERE THE NEW FIELD HOUSE WILL GO.
HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THIS WEEK FOR WHAT THAT PROJECT WILL COST.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS ALL WE HAVE.
AND MR. SIMPERS, I BELIEVE IS HERE, AS IS DOCTOR BOYER.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND ANSWER THIS.
THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS REGARDING ANY OF THOSE? NO, NO, I JUST WANT TO THANK ATHLETIC DIRECTOR HACK, THE COACHES AND THE STUDENT ATHLETES AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL JUST FOR THEIR FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S KIND OF A MESS.
BUT THEY'RE MAKING DO AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITH POSITIVITY.
THANK YOU. THE BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECIPIENT OF GFOZ AND ASBO AWARDS.
DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
YOU KNOW, FOR YET AGAIN, THEY'VE WON THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE.
WE ARE AUDITED EVERY YEAR, NOT THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT THAT'S IN EVERY THREE, 4 OR 5 YEAR THING.
BUT WE HIRE OUR OWN INDEPENDENT AUDITORS WHO WILL PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS HERE ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.
AND OUR BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS JUST OUTSTANDING THERE.
[00:35:01]
THERE IS A PIECE OF THE BLUEPRINT RIGHT NOW THAT'S REQUIRED THAT I WANT TO SAY IT'S QUESTION 23, IN THE BLUEPRINT PROCESS THAT REQUIRES US TO DEMONSTRATE THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THE FINANCIAL REPORTING THAT'S REQUIRED AS PART OF THE BLUEPRINT, ONLY SEVEN COUNTIES OUT OF THE 24 IN THE STATE HAVE EARNED A SATISFACTORY RATING IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA, AND WE'RE ONE OF THEM.AND THIS IS AN EVERY YEAR THING.
I MEAN, CRITICS CAN ARGUE HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY, HOW WE PACE THINGS OUT.
THAT'S ALL. GOOD MINDS CAN DISAGREE THERE.
BUT WHAT CAN'T BE DISPUTED IS THE QUALITY THAT COMES OUT OF OUR BUSINESS SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU. DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUEST.
THIS TRULY IS AN HONOR FOR ME THIS EVENING.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE FORWARD MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, MISS REBECCA ANDERSON, OUR ASSISTANT AND BUSINESS SERVICES, MISS NONA FANNING, OUR PAYROLL SPECIALIST.
AND MISS KAY PORTER, OUR SENIOR PURCHASING AGENT, UNABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING.
BUT I FEEL IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
MISS DANIELLA DUNLAP, PURCHASING AGENT.
MISS SARAH HOLMES, ACCOUNTING CLERK.
MISS ERIN SEATO, SUPERVISOR OF BUSINESS SERVICES.
MISS CHRISTINA TUNNELL, ASSISTANT IN PAYROLL.
MISS REBECCA WELLS, ASSISTANT IN BUSINESS SERVICES.
KEISHA GILARDI, ACCOUNTING CLERK AND I'M GOING TO GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MR. RICK RALEIGH, WHO WAS A PURCHASING AGENT WHO RETIRED BUT WAS WITH US ALL OF LAST YEAR AS WELL.
SO WITH THAT, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING IS PRESENTED TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, MARYLAND, FOR ITS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR JUNE 30TH, 2023.
CONGRATULATIONS. WHERE'S THE OTHER? THAT'S THE ONE.
THERE IS A SECOND ONE AS WELL.
THE ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BUSINESS OFFICIALS INTERNATIONAL, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ASBO CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, PRESENTED TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ITS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.
THIS DISTRICT REPORT MEETS THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED FOR ASBO INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE, AND MRS. SOPA. THIS IS HOW MANY YEARS IN A ROW NOW? 21. THIS IS 21 YEARS IN A ROW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR FINANCIAL REPORTING EXCELLENCE.
THAT IS EXCEPTIONAL AND THAT DOES DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S A BOY BACK THERE.
NO, NO, I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK ABOUT THESE.
GO AHEAD. IF I MAY, REAL QUICKLY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA, YOU KNOW MISS SOPA IS NOW STARTING HER THIRD YEAR AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE $250 MILLION A YEAR OPERATION WITH JUST THOUSANDS OF ACCOUNT LINES THAT NEED TO BE BALANCED AND I APPROACHED DENISE ABOUT DENISE WAS A LONG TIME PRINCIPAL, NORTHEAST, MIDDLE BAYVIEW, CECIL MANOR, RIGHT.
AND I APPROACHED DENISE PROBABLY IN 2018, MAYBE 2019 ABOUT LEAVING THE PRINCIPALSHIP AND COMING TO BUSINESS SERVICES, AND IT WAS AND I KNOW IT RAISED SOME EYEBROWS IN HERE OVER HERE BECAUSE IT WAS AN UNORTHODOX SELECTION.
MOST CFOS HAVE AN ACCOUNTING BACKGROUND.
SHE WAS A TEACHER AND SHE WAS A PRINCIPAL.
WELL DONE. NEXT WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, UTILTRAIN.
DOCTOR LAWSON. SO EACH MONTH WE DO THIS.
[00:40:04]
PARENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND CCPS STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM OUR MANY BUSINESS AND VOLUNTEER PARTNERSHIPS IN MORE LAYPERSON'S TERMS. WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT WE GET FROM OUR VARIOUS BUSINESS PARTNERS, THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT COME OUT AND VOLUNTEER AND HELP THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHETHER IT'S TUTORING A SECOND GRADER OR IF IT'S HELPING AT AN ATHLETIC EVENT, OR IF IT'S HOSTING AN APPRENTICE FROM OUR SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY OR OUR CTE PROGRAM.IT REALLY HELPS BUILD THE COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS.
AND THIS MONTH WE'RE RECOGNIZING THE UTILITRAIN PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY PRETTY COOL.
THEY HAVE A THING WHERE YOU CAN GO AND YOU CAN SIT AND YOU HAVE LIKE JOYSTICKS, AND THERE'S THREE TVS AND YOU'RE PRETEND OPERATING LIKE A BACKHOE OR A FRONT END LOADER.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.
AND IF YOU'VE NOT BEEN THERE, IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH A TOUR.
THIS EVENING WE HAVE LUKE GRANGER, THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF UTILITY.
12 OR 13 OF OUR STUDENTS WENT TO THE UTILITRAIN PROGRAM AND WENT THROUGH KIND OF A BOOT CAMP THING, AND SO AS THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL, THEY ARE LIKELY TO GO ON AND BE LINEMEN, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE STUFF THAT THEY'RE DOING WAY UP THERE, YOU KNOW? AND LORD KNOWS SOCIETY NEEDS THOSE PEOPLE.
AND UTILITRAIN IS COMMITTED TO PREPARING THESE YOUNG FOLKS FOR THAT LINE OF WORK IN THE FUTURE.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO BRING UP, FOR THOSE OF YOU ALL THAT ARE HERE, I HAVE SOME NAMES.
IF YOU COULD COME UP AND JOIN MR. GRANGER AND MISS HAWLEY.
LOGAN ALLER, HASANI BAINES, GAVIN BOLANDER.
NO. SAM GRANGER, ANYBODY? BRADY HUTCHINSON.
AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED THIS PAST SUMMER.
AIDEN KOZMINSKI, JOSHUA LOWRY MASTER.
KADE MCDANIELS, DOMINICK REYES ALVARENGA, CAMERON SHANE AND VINCENT SCHOLZ.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THIS PROGRAM THIS PAST SUMMER.
MR. GRANGER, AS RETIREMENT GETS CLOSER FOR ME.
I JUST MIGHT TAKE YOU UP ON THAT.
I COULD SEE ME. I TELL YOU WHAT.
LIKE WAY UP ON THE POLE OR NOT? HELICOPTER ONE WHERE THEY LIFTED DOWN.
YEAH, NO. IT IS REALLY, REALLY COOL EXPERIENCE.
GREAT. COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATOR APPRECIATION WEEK RESOLUTION.
AND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON HIS CONCLUSION, MR. ROUSH. GOOD EVENING.
BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL TRANSFORMS A SCHOOL INTO A PLACE WHERE EDUCATORS, LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FAMILIES, AND STUDENTS WORK TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN CONDITIONS FOR STUDENT LEARNING AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT.
[00:45:10]
AND WE'RE HERE TO RECOGNIZE THEM THIS EVENING.WE'RE FORTUNATE TO NOW HAVE NINE OF OUR SCHOOLS DESIGNATED AS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS IN ATTENDANCE TONIGHT FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES DURING COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK, SEPTEMBER 5TH THROUGH 21ST, AS DOCTOR LAWSON SAID.
AND WOULD THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE PLEASE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION? MEGAN HANDY, NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SO I NOTICED THAT ANDREA HOLTZ BAINBRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
STEVEN HOLTZ, CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY.
KIMBERLY MORRIS, CECILTON ELEMENTARY.
MISTY PEARSON, GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY.
VICTORIA RODRIGUEZ GARVEY, SHE WORKS HERE AT THE CARVER CENTER, BUT SHE'S THE MULTILINGUAL ADVISER.
HOPE STAMBLER, ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND MATTHEW WHITE, BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY.
THE FOLLOWING COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORS WERE UNABLE TO ATTEND, BUT I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS WELL.
LISA GONZALEZ FROM THOMPSON ESTATES ELEMENTARY AND DAVID RHOADS FROM HOLLY HALL.
PRINCIPALS ATTENDING FOR THESE SCHOOLS ARE DOCTOR KATRINA LONG FROM CECIL MANOR, ADAM GOODWIN FROM GILPIN MANOR, ERIC BROWN FROM ELKTON MIDDLE, KATIE FORTUNE FROM BAY VIEW ELEMENTARY, AND MEGAN BROWN FROM THOMPSON ESTATES.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOLS AND YOUR PEOPLE.
MRS. HAWLEY. I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. THE GIRL THAT WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION IN ALGEBRA CLASS.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATOR APPRECIATION WEEK AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU FOR THE RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
RIGHT. NOW WE WILL INTRODUCE OUR NEW LEADERSHIP PERSONNEL.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE TWO THINGS.
ONE, THESE ARE NOT NEW POSITIONS.
THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT HAD VACATED WITH DURING THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO.
AND THE SECOND IS DOCTOR HAMMER IS GOING TO INTRODUCE SOME NEW DEANS.
[00:50:08]
AND IT'S KIND OF A CLUNKY OLD TERM THAT WE USED FOR YEARS.WHEN THEY PHONE HOME AND SAY, I'M THE LST, THE PARENTS SAY, OKAY, WHAT'S AN LST? SO IT WAS KIND OF A SEMANTIC TITLE CHANGE THAT WE THOUGHT MADE SENSE.
AND IT'S KIND OF BEEN A LONG TIME COMING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT BEFORE DOCTOR HAMMER INTRODUCES.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THIS EVENING MEMBERS, NEW MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
SO I'M MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE FOLLOWING FOLKS.
FIRST OF ALL IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD, WE'LL DO THREE GROUPS, FOLKS.
NEXT, MISTER ERIC BROWN, PRINCIPAL AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MISS ASHLEY GROSS, PRINCIPAL AT ELK NECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND MISS NIKKI KEENE, PRINCIPAL AT CALVERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AT THIS TIME, I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU SOME NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS TO OUR RANKS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MR. JEFF CONKEY, WHO IS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.
MISS NICOLE EYMANN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND FINALLY, MISS SARAH MATTHEWS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME OUR TEACHER LEADERS WHO ARE STUDENTS OR DEANS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE JOINING US THIS EVENING, STARTING WITH MISS MELISSA DAVISON, WHO IS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
NEXT, MISS DIONNE HARRIS WHITE, WHO IS THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT THOMPSON ESTATES ELEMENTARY.
MR. BILL MOON, DEAN OF STUDENTS AT LEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MISS MEGAN OWENS, DEAN OF STUDENTS AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
DOCTOR LORI PITCOCK, DEAN OF STUDENTS AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
MISS MELISSA PRATT, DEAN OF STUDENTS AT KENMORE ELEMENTARY.
MISS HEATHER WORTMAN, DEAN OF STUDENTS AT CHARLESTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[00:55:08]
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEIR PRINCIPAL AND SUPERVISORS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AS WELL.MIC] ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THE FY 25 COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN, FY 26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN CIP, DOCTOR LAWSON.
BEFORE I ASK MR. CHUCK SIMPERS, OUR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, THESE AND MR. ANDREW KERN, OUR SUPERVISOR OF FACILITIES, TO COME FORWARD TO SHARE THESE PLANS.
KEEP IN MIND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION UPON THEIR CONCLUSION.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.
DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
TONIGHT, I WILL BE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED CMP.
THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE CMP IS TO COMMUNICATE OUR INTENTIONS.
MAKING SURE YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION, MR. KERN. OKAY, SO THIS IS MR. KERN'S FIRST TIME, AND YOU'VE DONE A TIMER.
AND TAKE THIS AS A COMPLIMENT.
IT LOOKS LIKE HE JUST CAME OUT OF SAINT MARK'S HIGH SCHOOL, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, TRUST ME.
WE HAVE 117 CUSTODIAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
HERE'S A SUMMARY OF LAST YEAR'S SPENDING AND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
THIS IS ONLY THE ACCOUNTS AND AREAS THAT WE OVERSEE THE SPENDING OF IN MAINTENANCE.
HVAC IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MORE COSTLY AREAS.
LAST YEAR WE HAD SOME MAJOR CHILLER REPAIRS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.
ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE, THE FUEL OIL CONTROL ACCOUNT IS AT THE TOP OF OUR SPENDING.
THIS IS PRIMARILY THE CONTRACT WE HAVE WITH JOHNSON CONTROLS.
AFTER THAT WOULD BE REFUSE REMOVAL FOLLOWED BY SUBSTITUTES, EQUIPMENT, AND SOME OTHER MISCELLANEOUS COSTS. OUR LABOR, DISTRIBUTION AND MAINTENANCE DOES LOOK A BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS YOU CAN SEE ON THE CHART ON THE LEFT.
THE MAIN AREAS WHERE WE SPEND OUR TIME ARE MAINTAINING THE PHYSICAL BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS THE HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS. THE CHART ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE PROPORTION OF OUR LABOR SPENT ON CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE AND MAKING REPAIRS AFTER AN ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED VERSUS PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, SUCH AS CHANGING BELTS, GREASING FITTINGS, REPLACING FILTERS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
[01:00:04]
THIS WILL LEAD TO FEWER EMERGENCIES AND LESS DISRUPTION TO SCHOOL OPERATIONS.THE RATE AT WHICH WE COMPLETE WORK ORDERS IS PROBABLY THE BEST METRIC.
WE HAVE TO NOT ONLY GAUGE OUR PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY, BUT THIS ALSO HAS A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON STAFF, STUDENTS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO SPENDS TIME IN OUR BUILDINGS. PROVIDING CLEAN, SAFE, AND COMFORTABLE BUILDINGS IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL, AND RESPONDING QUICKLY TO REQUESTS DETERMINES OUR SUCCESS IN THAT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S CMP.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MR. SIMPERS? MR. KERN? JUST A YOU KNOW, I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY WHEN A GOAL OF MINE AND DOCTOR BOYER PROBABLY KNOWS THIS BETTER THAN ANYBODY IS THAT WHEN SOMEBODY RIDES BY A CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL, I WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK AT IT AND SAY THAT BUILDING IS CARED FOR.
AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT MR. BROWN LEFT. HE KNOWS I GO BY ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL MULTIPLE TIMES, ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.
IF I SEE SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE, IT COULD BE WEEDS.
IT COULD BE A SIDEWALK THAT NEEDS TO BE POWER WASHED.
THERE'S TOO MUCH GUM STUCK TO THE SIDEWALK.
I WILL PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL MR. BOYER AND SAY, MR. BOYER, THAT NEEDS TO GET TAKEN CARE OF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF.
THANK YOU. I JUST CAN I PIGGYBACK ON THAT? IT MIGHT HAVE A QUESTION IN THERE, TOO.
OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF IS STILL PROBABLY ONE OF THE LOWEST IN THE STATE, RIGHT.
IS THE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERCENTAGE SO LOW BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF? ADDITIONAL STAFFING WOULD CERTAINLY ALLOW US TO PERFORM MORE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.
YES. YOU KNOW, WHAT MISS HALL IS REFERRING TO IS LAST YEAR WE PRESENTED DATA.
IT'S CALLED FROM A STATEWIDE PERSPECTIVE.
IT'S THE SEPTEMBER 30TH BUDGETING STAFFING REPORT.
EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE HAS TO DO IT.
AND WE TYPICALLY COMPARE OURSELVES TO WHAT SAINT MARY'S AND CALVERT.
AND IN TERMS OF MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, WE ARE A GOOD 75 FEWER PEOPLE THAN THOSE OTHER COUNTIES.
AND SO WE GET AN AWFUL LOT OF MILEAGE OUT OF OUR PEOPLE.
AND SO WE'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT, BOTH OF YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, MR. KERN. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
PRESIDENT HAWLEY, FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON AND GUESTS.
WHILE MR. KERN COVERED 2024 WORK PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND WORK ORDERS.
ANOTHER PART OF THE SUBMISSION THAT WE SUBMIT EVERY YEAR TO THE STATE AT THIS TIME IS THE CIP.
THEY COME IN TANDEM, AND WHILE THE CMP TAKES A LOOK BACK, THE CIP TAKES A LOOK FORWARD.
SO IT ALSO IT'S AN ACTUAL DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE TO SUBMIT.
I DON'T HAVE THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT WITH ME, BUT IT'S IN MY OFFICE.
AND WHEN YOU'RE READY TO COME LOOK AT IT, IT'S ABOUT 300 PAGES.
SO, WE WHAT IT COVERS IS THE PLANNING APPROVAL FOR THE CIP REQUESTS.
I'LL GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE TO SHOW YOU WHAT OUR REQUESTS ARE GOING TO BE THIS YEAR.
IF WE ARE CONSTRUCTING A PROJECT, IT'S CONTINUED FUNDING.
WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE STILL GOING THROUGH YEAR AFTER YEAR AND OTHER ONES THAT ARE COMPLETE.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S THE MAIN HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CIP SUBMISSION EVERY YEAR.
THE SLIDE MAY BE A LITTLE TOUGH TO SEE BECAUSE THERE'S A THE PRINT IS FINE.
BUT THESE ARE OUR FOUR PRIORITY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN REQUESTS.
THE FIRST ONE YOU ALL ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH, WHICH IS THE NEW MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
AND THIS REQUEST THIS YEAR, YOU SEE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE FOR 2026.
I DON'T HAVE A HIGHLIGHTER, BUT YOU CAN SEE IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
IT IS FOR THE $6 MILLION FROM HERE ON OUT, WHICH IS WHAT WE GET FROM THE STATE.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD THE PREVIOUS COLUMN IS WHAT WE HAVE RECEIVED TO DATE.
AND THEN THE NEXT TWO COLUMNS ARE THE SPLIT BETWEEN OUR STATE REQUEST.
[01:05:04]
THEY PROVIDE A PORTION, A PERCENTAGE PER PORTION.AND THEN THE COUNTY REQUEST IF I'M CORRECT.
BUT ANYWAY, THE SECOND REQUEST THAT WE HAVE.
SO JUST TO BACK UP THE FIRST PRIORITY IS OUR LARGE PROJECT.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO ASK FOR CONSTRUCTION FUNDING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.
SO THAT SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE.
AND IT'S AN HVAC COMPLETE HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN CECIL MANOR.
AND AS YOU AS IT GOES OUT TO THE RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT MONEY THIS YEAR.
AND THEN AS YOU CONTINUE DOWN THREE AND FOUR AND REQUESTS THREE AND FOUR, THOSE ARE FUTURE PROJECTS.
THOMPSON ESTATES AND CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT THE LP LETTER THERE IN THE 2027.
I BELIEVE IT IS. EXCUSE ME 2028.
WHY DON'T I PUT MY GLASSES ON THAT WOULD HELP ON THE 2028 WOULD BE FOR LOCAL PLANNING.
AND THEN CHERRY HILLS FALLS AFTER THAT.
AND YOU'LL SEE THE YEARS AS THEY GO OUT.
THEY GET PUSHED. SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD FOR YOU ALL TODAY.
IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO.
THANK YOU, MR. SIMPERS. QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CIP.
OKAY. I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025, AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS TO BE APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. IT'S APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE FY 24 FUND BALANCE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE MR. SOPA COMES UP AND PRESENTS WHAT WE ARE CALLING, CALLING THE UNAUDITED DRAFT FOR OUR FUND BALANCE, KEEP IN MIND THAT THE FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION IS A VOTE THAT WILL HAPPEN BY THE BOARD OF ED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.
SO THIS IS MONEY THAT WE HAVE FOR AT OUR ACCESS FOR THIS YEAR.
THAT'S INDEPENDENT OF OUR DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS. AND IT'S REFERRED TO AS A FUND BALANCE.
AND RIGHT NOW IT STANDS AT $26.8 MILLION.
OKAY. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 23, I MET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, HORNBERGER, AND HER DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, MR. OVERBY. AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT BASED ON THE PRELIMINARY REVENUES WE WERE SEEING FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE NOW IN THAT WE COULD BE LOOKING AT UPWARDS OF $25 MILLION DEFICIT. AND WE KNEW BECAUSE OF THE ESSER MONEY FROM COVID THAT WAS EXPIRING, THAT THIS WAS AN ISSUE.
WE KNEW THAT WE HAD RECEIVED THREE YEARS IN A ROW OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, AND THAT WE HAD FALLEN TO AMONG THE BOTTOM IN FUNDING 23RD LAST YEAR, 24TH THE YEAR BEFORE OUT OF 24.
AND IT WAS AT THAT TIME THAT I DIRECTED MS. SOPA, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO REACH OUT TO SCHOOLS AND BASICALLY SAY, STOP SPENDING MONEY.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT FISCAL YEAR 25 IS GOING TO BRING.
WE CANNOT SPEND ANY MONEY BECAUSE IT JUST COULD BE A TOTAL MESS.
AND IT ULTIMATELY, I TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE WE STAY IN GOOD FINANCIAL STANDING.
MAKE SURE THE MONEY IS THERE, GIVES ME CORRECT INFORMATION.
[01:10:07]
OPERATE. SO GIVEN NOVEMBER OF 23, I DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WORD PANIC.WE'RE EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT SIMPLY NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY TO GO INTO THIS YEAR, FY 25.
SO, WITH THAT, NOW THAT 24 HAS SETTLED AND WE'RE SEEING JUST HOW MUCH MONEY WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE, WE ARE RELEASING SIGNIFICANT CHUNKS OF MONEY BACK INTO THE SYSTEM WITH TWO DRIVING PRIORITIES.
AND MS. SOPA WILL LAY THAT OUT.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS.
AS DOCTOR LAWSON WAS EXPLAINING ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE.
IT'S BASICALLY A ONE TIME MEASUREMENT THAT WE TAKE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
ANY REVENUE YOU HAVE IN EXCESS OF EXPENSE IS A POSITIVE FUND BALANCE NUMBER.
REVENUE THAT IS LESS THAN YOUR EXPENSES MAKES A NEGATIVE FUND BALANCE NUMBER.
SO THIS NUMBER HERE IS UNAUDITED, WHICH MEANS WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR AUDITORS RIGHT NOW.
SO THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE SEAL OF APPROVAL FROM OUR AUDITORS YET.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY.
AND THAT'S THE OTHER THING. THIS IS A PLAN.
IT'S OUR PLAN OF HOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE MONEY, HOW WE THINK THE MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT.
SOME THINGS HAPPEN ACCORDING TO PLAN.
BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS OF THE FUND BALANCE.
SO THE FIRST ONE BEING UNSPENDABLE.
AND THESE ARE PREPAID EXPENDITURES.
BECAUSE WE HAVE WE PAY FOR EXPENSES IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR FOR AN EVENT THAT HAPPENS.
SO WE PAID IN 24 FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE SUMMER OF 25.
THE NEXT PART OF YOUR FUND BALANCE IS SOMETHING THAT WE CALL COMMITTED.
AND COMMITTED IS MADE UP OF OUR SUBSEQUENT YEAR'S EXPENDITURES AND OUR BUDGET CONTINGENCY.
SO THOSE FUNDS ARE COMMITTED, AND THOSE FUNDS ARE WHAT WE'RE USING AS PART OF OUR REVENUE TO FUND FY 25, BECAUSE WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO USE AS MUCH OF OUR FUND BALANCE. THIS BUDGET CONTINGENCY IS LIKE YOUR EMERGENCY RAINY DAY RESERVE.
SO THIS IS OUR 2% BOARD NUMBER.
AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT'S THE NON-NEGOTIABLE AS FAR AS ASSIGNMENTS AND THE FUND BALANCE.
SO AFTER YOUR UNSPENDABLE AND YOU'RE COMMITTED THEN YOU HAVE YOUR ASSIGNED.
AND THESE ARE THE THINGS WHERE WE START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE NEED.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE FOR THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE FUND BALANCE.
SO ONE THING IS THE PER PUPIL ALLOTMENT FOR SCHOOLS.
SO EVERY YEAR EACH SCHOOL RECEIVES WHAT WE CALL A PER PUPIL ALLOTMENT, A PPA.
THEY GET THE SAME NUMBER OF DOLLARS PER STUDENT, $62 PER STUDENT.
AND THAT'S THEIR SUPPLY MONEY.
SO CLASSROOM SUPPLIES, ART SUPPLIES, FURNITURE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
SO WHAT USED TO HAPPEN WERE THERE WERE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS HELD FUNDS UP HERE AT THE BOARD OFFICE, AND IF SOMEBODY NEEDED SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY COULD AFFORD, THEY WOULD APPEAL TO AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WELL, WHAT WE STARTED DOING INSTEAD WAS CARRYING OVER, LETTING THEM CARRY OVER THEIR BALANCE.
SO WHATEVER THEY DON'T SPEND FOR THEIR SUPPLIES THIS YEAR, IF THEY'RE SAVING UP FOR SOMETHING BIGGER, WHETHER THEY NEED TO REPLACE A SOUND SYSTEM OR FURNITURE, THINGS THAT ARE A BIGGER EXPENSE THAT THEY CAN CARRY OVER THEIR PPI FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE IT'S LEFTOVER, IT'S PART OF THE FUND BALANCE.
SO IT'S ASSIGNING THE FUND BALANCE TO THE SCHOOLS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
TRANSITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION.
THESE WERE STATE FUNDS THAT WERE TO BE USED FOR ADDRESSING TSI TUTORING IN SCHOOLS.
AND SO THE PLAN IS TO USE THAT WITH SOME EARLY INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN KINDERGARTEN.
[01:15:02]
REINSTATING CLASSROOMS SOME STUDENT SUPPORT TECHNICIANS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR BY SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH SOME SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS.AND SO THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY WAS ASSIGNED TO REINSTATE 23 STUDENT SUPPORT TECHNICIANS AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, SO THAT WOULD REINSTATE ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS. DOCTOR LAWSON SPOKE TO CLASS SIZE.
MISS SOPA, LET ME INTERRUPT YOU THERE.
SO I THINK I THINK, I HOPE FOLKS UNDERSTAND THIS, THAT RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING $1.9 MILLION WILL PAY FOR 19 TEACHERS AND FOUR PRE-K PARAPROFESSIONALS. NOW, WHEN WE SAY 19 TEACHERS, WE ARE ASSUMING WE'RE GETTING A SIXTH YEAR TEACHER, AND WE ASSUME THAT THAT PERSON PICKS UP A CERTAIN HEALTH CARE.
YOU MAY END UP GETTING A FIRST YEAR TEACHER WITH A HEALTH CARE PLAN.
THAT IS JUST A SINGLE GIRL WHO CAME OUT OF TOWSON.
SHE IS GOING TO BE CHEAPER AS IT RELATES TO HEALTH CARE.
YOU MAY GET A 27 YEAR TEACHER VETERAN FROM PENNSYLVANIA WHO'S CARRYING BENEFITS FOR AN ENTIRE FAMILY, AND THAT EMPLOYEE IS GOING TO COST US CLOSER TO $130,000 A YEAR.
SO THESE NUMBERS THAT WE ASSIGN TO THESE POSITIONS ARE ARBITRARY.
IF IT IS NOT A SIXTH YEAR TEACHER, IT WILL NOT BE $90,000.
SO THE 90 INCLUDES BENEFITS TOO.
SO THAT GAME OF UP AND DOWN AND UP AND DOWN HAPPENS ALL YEAR LONG.
AND I THINK IT'S FRUSTRATING TO MANY PEOPLE THAT THAT THEY LOOK OH WELL THEY'RE HIDING THINGS.
WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT 1.9 UNTIL WE'VE HIRED THE 19 TEACHERS.
IT DEPENDS ON THE EXPERIENCE OF THOSE 19 TEACHERS.
WE ASSIGN AN ARBITRARY NUMBER OF YEARS EXPERIENCE THEY'RE GOING TO COME IN WITH.
AND IF THAT NUMBER VARIES, THOSE NUMBERS VARY.
OKAY. AND THAT'S HOW WE END UP SEEING THESE.
WE THOUGHT WE'D SPEND $130 MILLION IN SALARIES, BUT WE ONLY SPENT $126.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE THIS DYNAMIC I'M TALKING ABOUT WITH 2000 EMPLOYEES, IT VARIES.
THAT IS A BIG PIECE, AS IS HEALTHCARE.
WHY? BECAUSE WE CAN'T PREDICT IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET SICK.
WE ARE SELF-INSURED HEALTH CARE EMPLOYER.
SO WHEN SOMEBODY GOES AND HAS A KNEE SURGERY, WE PAY FOR THAT KNEE SURGERY.
IF YOU IF THE PERSON DOESN'T HAVE THE KNEE SURGERY, WE DON'T PAY.
THEY PROJECT FOR US AND WE USE THEIR NUMBERS.
OKAY. CAN I INTERRUPT FOR ONE SECOND.
SURE. AND YOU MAY HAVE SAID THIS.
THE 19 TEACHERS TO ADDRESS CLASS SIZE.
YOU SAID FOUR WERE IN PRE-K OR THE BULK OF THE REST OF THOSE IN ELEMENTARY OR LIKE TEN.
SECONDARY TEN PLUS FOUR PLUS FOUR.
THAT'S CORRECT. IT'S 23 HUMANS.
PRE-K RIGHT NOW IS UPWARDS OF 28.
IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN A ROOM WITH 28 FOUR YEAR OLDS, YOU HAVE NOT LIVED.
WHEN ASSUMING WE CAN HIRE TEACHERS, CLASSROOMS WILL BE SWITCHED.
PROBABLY FIRST MARKING PERIOD IF WE CAN.
AND THE SCHOOLS HAVE SPACE FOR THAT.
I THINK WE WILL. YOU WILL SEE ADJUSTMENTS.
FRANKLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WAIT TO THE VERY END UNTIL WE HAVE EVERYBODY.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR. YES IT DOES.
THANK YOU. PIGGYBACK ON THAT REAL QUICK.
THEY'RE LIKE KINDERGARTEN PARAPROFESSIONALS STUDENT SSTS.
WHAT, THESE ARE POSITIONS THAT AREN'T BUDGETED FOR NEXT YEAR NECESSARILY.
SO THE FUND BALANCE ISN'T THERE NEXT YEAR.
HOW DO YOU HIRE 76 PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A JOB NEXT YEAR? WELL, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GAMBLE, I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.
WE HOPE WE'RE IN A MORE FAVORABLE CLIMATE FOR BUDGETING RIGHT NOW, MOVING INTO FY 26 AND SEVEN AS
[01:20:09]
ARTICULATED IN THE BLUEPRINT LAW, THERE IS EXPECTED TO BE A 5% INCREASE IN THE FOUNDATION.SO RIGHT THERE, BY LAW, AS IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, I UNDERSTAND THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE BLUEPRINT THIS LEGISLATIVE SEASON, BUT AS IS ARTICULATED NOW, THERE'S A 5% INCREASE FOR FOUNDATION.
THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 5% MORE FROM THE STATE.
WE WILL ONCE WE GET OUR SEPTEMBER.
THE QUESTION WAS, HOW WILL WE KNOW? HOW MUCH WILL THAT BE? THE 5%. IT'LL DEPEND ON OUR ENROLLMENT COUNT.
YEAH, YEAH, WE'RE COMING IN RIGHT NOW.
MY HUNCH IS LAST YEAR WITH OUR PRE-K AND FOUR YEAR OLDS, WE CAME IN AT ONE WITH 14,997.
MY PREDICTION WE'RE GOING TO COME IN PLUS OR -25.
EITHER WAY, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BE WITHIN.
WE'LL BE CLOSE TO THAT NUMBER.
I'M NOT ASKING THAT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS.
I THINK WE SHOULD HIRE PEOPLE.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. IT'S ALWAYS.
WHAT NEXT? YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS A GAMBLE USING FUND BALANCE.
IF WE HAVE THE MONEY AVAILABLE, WE SHOULD DO IT.
AND I'M MORE COMFORTABLE MAKING THAT GAMBLE.
AND WE HAD NO REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC BASED ON THE HISTORICAL PATTERNS OF THE THREE PRIOR YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS.
AND THESE FOLKS KNOW ESPECIALLY, YOU SEE, THE $675,000 PER PUPIL ALLOTMENT CARRY OVER.
THAT NUMBER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN 675.
BUT WHEN IT WHEN A SCHOOL NEEDED PAPER, THEY WERE CALLING DOCTOR JOHNSON.
CAN WE BUY A CASE OF, YOU KNOW, A PALLET FULL OF PAPER.
AND SO IT REALLY GOT THAT GRANULAR IN TERMS OF SAVING MONEY.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS, BY THE WAY.
AND JUST BECAUSE WE DID THOSE THINGS.
OUR STUDENTS SUFFERED AND OUR STAFF SUFFERED.
SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE DECIDING TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS NOW BECAUSE YES, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM AND PUT MORE PEOPLE IN THE CLASSROOMS TO HELP THE STUDENTS SUCCEED, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AND HELP OUR STAFF.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S A GAMBLE. IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD BE BACK SCRAMBLING, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
SO ALSO IN A SIDE LINE IS ROBOTICS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM FOR ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
DOCTOR LAWSON DISCUSSED THE WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEM EARLIER.
EVERY YEAR WE CREATE A PRIORITIZED LIST OF SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS, THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
WE SUBMIT THOSE TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE FOR TO BE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT MAY NEED TO BE DONE, THAT MAY RISE TO THE LEVEL OF AN EMERGENCY JUST TO EARMARK THEM, SO THAT IF WE HAVE SOME TYPE OF EMERGENCY CHILLERS GOING DOWN, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WE HAVE MONEY THAT WE'VE EARMARKED FOR THOSE THINGS.
SO BUT SOME OF THAT MONEY IS SPOKEN FOR NOW.
CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS? ARE SOME OF THAT IS SO THE RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL CHILLER IS ONE OF THEM, WHERE THE PART THE COMPANY ORDERED, THE PART, IT WAS THE WRONG PART.
LIKE WE'VE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR FOR THIS PART.
THEY'VE BEEN PAYING FOR THE EMERGENCY CHILLERS THIS ENTIRE TIME.
SO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THE RISING SUN WATER LINE, THERE ARE STILL SOME FUNDING LEFT THERE.
THE CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.
THERE ARE FOUR OF THEM, AND I'VE JUST FORGOTTEN WHAT THE LAST ONE IS.
WELL, THE WATER LINE, SCHOOL TECH CHILLER, THE SCHOOL OF TECH.
MISS HAWLEY ASKED ABOUT PARKING LOTS.
THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF MONEY IS RISING SUN.
THAT IS FOR AN ENTIRE NEW PARKING LOT, PARKING SPACES, DRIVEWAY.
IT'S NOT FIVE SHOVEL FULL OF ASPHALT INTO A HOLE.
WE ARE GOING TO CUT OUT PIECES OF DIFFERENT KEN MOORE COMES TO MIND.
THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GET THE COMPLETE RENOVATION IS RISING SUN ELEMENTARY, RISING SUN MIDDLE.
THIS IS NOT NEW PARKING SPOTS.
[01:25:07]
AND SO WE'LL DO KIND OF A HODGEPODGE PATCHWORK.AND SO WE'VE GOT SOME CATCH UP WORK THERE TO DO AS WELL.
AND THAT'S THE THING I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF DRIVEWAYS.
IT IS AS SOON AS THERE'S LEAKS.
WE HAVE BUCKETS IN THE HALLWAYS AND WE HAVE GUYS UP ON THE ROOF PATCHING IT UP, BUT THE ROOF IS DECADES YEARS OLD, SO IT'S JUST THE KIND OF THING A TYPICAL PERSON DOESN'T THINK ABOUT WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT SCHOOLS.
YOU THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, KIDS AND TEACHERS, AS YOU SHOULD.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF WHAT IS IT, 32 PROPERTIES.
OKAY. WE ALSO HAVE MONEY EARMARKED FOR TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT TEACHERS VERSUS SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
THAT'S OKAY. BUT THE AUDIT, YOU KNOW, THE AUDIT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION PROBABLY SIX MONTHS OR SO AGO BECAUSE SOME OF THE TRANSPORTATION FINDINGS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, WHAT DIDN'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S REDACTED FROM THE REPORT, ARE CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS.
AND THE OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE AUDITS DOES NOT ARTICULATE THOSE PUBLICLY BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ADVERTISING TO NON-WELL DOERS WHERE OUR VULNERABILITIES ARE FROM A TECHNOLOGY PERSPECTIVE.
THEY STOLE EMPLOYEE DATA, STUDENT DATA, THE WHOLE THING.
AND I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER BEEN RESOLVED.
I BELIEVE THEY ENDED UP ACTUALLY PAYING THE PEOPLE THAT STOLE THAT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE $1 MILLION FOR SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS AS WELL AS DATA SECURITY EXPERTS.
ALSO A LINE FOR OUR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS.
SO REMEMBER THOSE ARE CUSTODIAL FUNDS MONIES RAISED BY STUDENTS FOR STUDENTS.
BUT IT'S NOT MONEY THAT WE CAN USE TO FUND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATING BUDGET.
DOCTOR LAWSON ALSO MENTIONED THE HEALTHCARE RESERVE.
THIS IS AN ACTUARIAL NUMBER THAT COMES FROM WILLIS TOWERS WATSON, WHO IS OUR HEALTH CARE CONSULTANT.
SO THAT TAKES ALL OF THESE UNSPENDABLE COMMITTED AND ASSIGNED TO THIS $25 MILLION NUMBER, WHICH LEAVES ABOUT $1.6 MILLION IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE. IF WE USE THIS PLAN FOR THE FUND BALANCE COMPARED TO THE 6 MILLION WE HAD UNASSIGNED LAST YEAR.
CORRECT. THAT'S $6 MILLION IS IN ROW TWO.
WE'VE TAKEN THAT MONEY FROM UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE AND WE'RE USING IT FOR THIS YEAR.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME MS. SOPA OPENING UP THE NEXT BUDGET ITEM OR, EXCUSE ME, THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
DO YOU KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE BUDGETED FOR HEALTH CARE? FIXED CHARGES FOR FY 25.
I WANT TO I WANT TO SAY IT'S 47, 48 MILLION.
AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS BESIDES HEALTH CARE IN THERE, RIGHT.
SO ANYWAY, LET'S SAY IT'S 45 MILLION FOR HEALTH CARE.
YOU SEE THE HEALTH CARE RESERVE ON THE LEFT, THE BOTTOM ROW IF YOU GO ACROSS WILLIS TOWER WATSON IS SUGGESTING WE PUT, PUT ASIDE $2.9 MILLION AS A RESERVE. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT, YES, YOU'VE BUDGETED 45 MILLION.
YOU SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SPEND 48.
[01:30:03]
AND THAT IS ALL WE HAVE ON THIS ISSUE.GREAT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS PREVIEW PRIOR TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
I APPRECIATE IT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? OKAY. MOVING ON THEN TO LET'S OPEN UP MY AGENDA.
THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE.
YES. I WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION UPON HER COMPLETION, AND I CANNOT.
IS IT FROZEN? I'M NOT SEEING ANYTHING.
YOU GOT IT. SO THIS IS THE FIRST BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FY 25, AND THIS ONE IS QUITE LENGTHY.
AND BECAUSE THIS IS THE CARRYOVER OF OUR RESTRICTED FUNDING.
SO THIS FRONT PAGE SUMMARIZES THE DIFFERENCE IN REVENUE AND EXPENSE.
AND ALL OF THE DETAILS FOR THESE NUMBERS EXIST ON THE NEXT FEW PAGES OF THIS REPORT.
SO THIS FRONT PAGE IS A SUMMARY LETTER.
SO WE HAVE A RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE GRANT.
SO THESE ARE GRANTS THAT ARE NOT STATE GRANTS OR NOT FEDERAL GRANTS.
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS OR AGENCIES MADE THESE DONATIONS TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE DEVELOPED A BUDGET FOR THOSE GRANT FUNDS.
THOSE GRANT FUNDS WEREN'T EXPENDED ENTIRELY IN THE YEAR THAT WE RECEIVED THEM, WHETHER IT'S 23, 24.
AND SO THEY CARRY OVER UNTIL WE SPEND THEM.
AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE OF THEM BECAUSE THERE'S A LONG LIST.
BUT I WILL TOUCH ON SOME HIGHLIGHTS AS WE GO THROUGH THE LIST.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE THE THINGS TO DRAW SOME ATTENTION TO HERE.
HERE WE HAVE RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.
AND SO AGAIN, THESE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT DEADLINES.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, JUDY CENTER GRANTS HAD A DEADLINE OF AUGUST.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE SEEING THIS HERE NOW, THESE JUDY CENTER GRANTS DID END IN AUGUST, BUT WE HAVE TO REFLECT THEM THAT THE PART THAT ROLLS OVER INTO THE FY 25 BUDGET, AGAIN, SOME MORE STATE REVENUE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF DUTIES ON OUR GRANTS.
SO YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THOSE RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE.
THE FEDERAL TIMELINE IS DIFFERENT THAN OUR TIMELINE.
SO WHILE WE RUN JULY 1ST THROUGH JUNE 30TH.
SO ALL OF OUR FEDERAL GRANTS HAVE A DIFFERENT TIMELINE SO THEY DON'T END.
SO WE HAVE EVEN LONGER TO SPEND THEM.
SO THIS IS TAKING THE BALANCE OF THE GRANTS AT THE END OF 24 ON JUNE 30TH AND ROLLING THEM OVER.
TITLE ONE IS ONE OF OUR BIGGER GRANTS THAT ADDRESSES STUDENTS FROM POVERTY.
SO YOU CAN SEE NUMBERS THAT TITLE ONE SCHOOLS HAVE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER TO SPEND.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE ESSER THREE GRANT AND THE LEEDS GRANT.
THOSE ARE HIGHLIGHTED HERE BECAUSE WE DID END UP AT THE END WITH ABOUT $500,000 IN ESSER THREE, WHICH IS ALL BEING SPENT ON MATH RESOURCES AND CHROMEBOOKS TO SPEND THAT DOWN, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THE DEADLINE FOR THAT WAS THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
WE DID END UP WITH FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE MARYLAND LEADS GRANT AND IN ALL OF THESE GRANTS, WE MOVED ALL OF THE FUNDS TO THE SCIENCE OF READING TO BE SPENT ON READING AND SUPPORTING THAT.
SO ALL THINGS TO SUPPORT THE SCIENCE OF READING.
SO AGAIN YOU CAN SEE THE LIST OF FEDERAL GRANTS STATE REVENUE.
THIS IS SOMETHING TO NOTE THAT CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AS NOTED IN THE BLUEPRINT, IS SOMETHING THAT IF WE DON'T USE THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FUNDS IN ONE YEAR, WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE THOSE FOR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AT THE SAME SCHOOLS THE FOLLOWING YEARS.
SO THE 202,000 HERE IS A CARRYOVER FROM CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY SCHOOLS.
IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO THOSE SCHOOLS FOR THE SAME PURPOSES FOR FY 25.
THEN WE SEE DOWN HERE SOME UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
SO THESE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED ABOUT THE FUND BALANCE.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS A CARRYOVER THAT WE DISCUSSED THE PPA CARRYOVER.
THE NEXT LINE ITEM IS THE ROBOTICS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION.
AND THREE OF THE FOUR PROJECTS THAT WEREN'T FINISHED IN 24 THE RISING SUN HIGH WATER LINE, THE CHERRY HILL MIDDLE AUDITORIUM, AND THE SCHOOL OF TECH CHILLER, AND YOU WILL SEE THE RISING SUN MIDDLE CHILLER ON THE NEXT BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THEN WE HAVE HERE SOME THINGS THAT ARE ENDED UP BEING ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
SO FY 25 DONATION FROM LEEDS ELEMENTARY FOR CLASSROOM SMART BOARDS.
SO THAT'S THEM USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO PURCHASE SMART BOARDS.
[01:35:04]
THIS WAS UCSCA COLLECTION.SO REMEMBER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES PAY TO PARTICIPATE IN UK.
WE COLLECT THAT REVENUE AND THEN THAT REVENUE IS USED TO PAY THE UCSCA EXPENSES.
THE STEP PROGRAM AGAIN THAT'S A SELF-SUSTAINING PROGRAM.
THIS WAS ADDITIONAL DONATE, THE REBATE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM A COMMUNITY MEMBER.
THESE WERE DONATIONS TO SUPPORT THE JUDY CENTER PROGRAM.
SO COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES PAY TO ATTEND COLLEGE AND CAREER NIGHT.
AGAIN SHOWING THE BUDGET BY REVENUE, SHOWING IT BY EXPENSE BY CATEGORY AND THEN SHOWING IT BY EXPENSE BY OBJECT. ON THIS PAGE IS OUR THREE YEAR HISTORY, SORT OF AS A COMPARISON.
AND THE ONLY THING WE WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HERE IS ANYTIME YOU SEE A STATE CATEGORY WHERE THE PERCENTAGE IS HIGHER THAN WE WERE AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, IT ALL HAS TO DO WITH THE TIMING OF OUR PAY DATES.
AND SO IT JUST THROWS YOUR NUMBERS OFF A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO IT'S REALLY JUST DUE TO TIMING OF PAY DATES RIGHT NOW.
AND WE DO AN ENTRY IN MUNIS FOR OUR FINANCIALS AT THE END OF EVERY FISCAL YEAR.
SO YOU WON'T SEE ANY ACTIVITY FOR 25 UNTIL THE END OF FY 25, WHEN WE HAVE TO DO THE ENTRY FOR OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS MANAGED IN SCHOOL CASH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND THEN OUR LAST.
YOU CAN SEE HIGHLIGHTED FOR BUDGET TRANSFERS IN CAPITAL OUTLAY.
AND THIS IS MOSTLY OUR COP FUNDING HERE.
AND THIS IS SOME OF OUR PROJECTS THAT ARE UNFINISHED THERE.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
SO THERE'S REALLY NOTHING REMARKABLE ON THE LAST PAGE.
THANK YOU, MISS SOPA. QUESTIONS FOR MISS SOPA.
A QUICK QUESTION, NOT ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WELL, YEAH, IT'S BOTH THE VAPE DETECTION MONEY THAT I SEE CARRYING OVER.
I'M SORRY, THE VAPE SETTLEMENT MONEY I SEE CARRYING OVER.
DO WE HAVE PLANS TO USE THAT FOR VAPE DETECTION? WELL, WE INSTALLED A VAPE DETECTION SYSTEM AT BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE'RE STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW TO INTERFACE THE SOFTWARE.
THAT DETECTION SYSTEM WITH THE CAMERA SOFTWARE, AND WE ARE IN A HOLD POSITION RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WE REQUESTED FUNDING FOR A NEW CAMERA SYSTEM IN ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
SO THE LARGER PLAN IS TO HAVE VAPE DETECTION SYSTEMS IN OUR HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOMS. BUT WE ARE PROBABLY SOME MONTHS AWAY FROM HAVING IT OPERATIONAL.
OKAY. I'M NOT TRYING TO BE EVASIVE AT ALL, BUT THE $700,000 FOR THIS CAMERA SYSTEM, I THINK 180,000 OF IT WAS FOR THE SOFTWARE PLATFORM WE'VE PURCHASED THAT NOW WE ACTUALLY NEED THE NEW CAMERAS, AND WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT WHEN NEW CAMERAS GET PUT IN, THE VAPE DETECTION SYSTEM WILL WORK, AND WE WILL PUSH THE VAPE DETECTION SYSTEMS IN TO THE REMAINING SCHOOLS.
ONLY ONE SCHOOL NOW, RIGHT? CORRECT. CORRECT.
GOOD QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS SOPA.
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $8,248,812, AS PRESENTED FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION.
[01:40:06]
GOOD EVENING.ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD.
AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM.
AS A REMINDER, THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE MEETING IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH REASONABLE, CONTENT NEUTRAL AND VIEWPOINT NEUTRAL PARAMETERS.
THE BOARD WILL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER.
THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED.
THE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOTTED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.
IN GENERAL, A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER.
WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE.
NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL.
PERSONNEL MATTERS PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE AND OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, AND SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED.
ABUSIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PROFANITIES MAY BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY EXPRESS OPINIONS FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR PUBLIC ROLE ONLY.
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER NON-ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. SPEAKERS MUST STATE THEIR NAMES AND MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.
A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE CORNER OF THE TABLE.
YOU MAY LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS IN THE BOX IF YOU WISH.
THIS EVENING, WE HAVE FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS ALREADY AT THE TABLE, SEAN BRIM, AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER.
MY CCPS TEACHERS TAUGHT ME THINGS THAT GO BEYOND THE CURRICULUM AND BEYOND LINE ITEMS IN THE BUDGET.
THEY TAUGHT ME HONOR, DUTY, AND HONESTY.
THESE LESSONS WERE SPECIFIC FOR ME TO RECALL FROM SPECIFIC DAYS, INCLUDING A FRUSTRATED HISTORY TEACHER IN 1987 WHOSE NOTE I HAVE KEPT ALL THESE DECADES.
THERE'S BEEN IN TOTAL TWO COMPLAINTS LODGED AGAINST YOU, MISS DIXON, SINCE LAST YEAR.
SO FAR AS I KNOW, NO PAST BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER IN THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS THAT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF A REQUEST FOR REMOVAL WITHIN THE LAST FOUR DECADES, IF AT ALL.
AND BY THE RECORD BEFORE ME PROVERBS 1618.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER WORD TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DID IN MY LINE OF WORK AS A HISTORY STUDENT.
SEVERE OFFENSE FOR A SIMPLE REASON.
WE DON'T. WE WON'T KNOW THE TRUTH IF MEANING IS MISAPPLIED TO THINGS SAID ON THE RECORD.
AND EITHER WAY, MY OWN WORDS WENT UNHEEDED.
I WANT IT ON THE RECORD THAT I OBJECT TO THAT.
I ALSO WANT IT ON THE RECORD THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE FELT THE NEED TO REVISIT THIS MATTER, WERE IT NOT FOR YOUR SEEMING UNWILLINGNESS TO DELIBERATE ON THE STATE BOARD'S OPINION OF LAST JANUARY.
THE OPINION IS FOR A DOCUMENT COMING FROM A GROUP OF EDUCATORS.
A THUNDEROUS PRONOUNCEMENT BEING ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS A MATTER OF HONOR.
AND AS A CHRISTIAN, I FIND IT ALARMING.
A RATHER CASUAL WAY YOU QUOTED SCRIPTURE.
IT'S NOT WORTHY OF A BOARD OF ED MEMBER.
RODNEY BREWER WILL BE FOLLOWED BY ERIC GEORGE.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR LAWSON AND ALL WHO ARE HERE THIS EVENING.
[01:45:02]
MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER.THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SHARE.
I WANT TO CONTINUE SPEAKING ABOUT THE BOOK WHAT ARE THE CHANCES BY ANGELA RODRIGUEZ ON THE FRONT OF THE COVER, IT SAYS THE UNCANNY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE TITANIC 9/11 ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES.
IT HAS BEEN 23 YEARS AS WE REMEMBER THAT TRAGIC DAY IN OUR HISTORY, AND TWO MORE SCHOOL SHOOTING TRAGEDIES HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN PLACE AND LET US REMEMBER THOSE WHO LOST FAMILY MEMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 11TH AND IN THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.
WE SHOULD KEEP THEM IN ALL OUR PRAYERS.
GETTING BACK TO THE BOOK, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? I REMIND YOU THAT IT IS A WORK OF HISTORICAL FICTION? I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU A TRUE STORY ABOUT ISIDOR AND IDA STRAUS, WHO WERE ON THE TITANIC.
THE SHORT EXCERPT THAT ANGELA MENTIONED WAS PORTRAYED IN SOME OF THE MOVIES ABOUT THE TITANIC.
THE SCENE IS FROM ISIDOR AND IDA ARE AT THE LIFEBOATS.
IDA WAS ASKED TO GET INTO THE LIFEBOAT, BUT SHE REFUSES.
ISIDOR ENCOURAGES HER, BUT SHE AGAIN.
SHE REFUSES AND SHE SAYS, TOGETHER WE'VE BEEN WITH OUR LIVES.
WOW! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL STORY OF LOVE AND COMMITMENT.
IF YOU WANT TO WATCH A 1958 CLASSIC MOVIE, SEARCH FOR A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL STORY COMES FROM THE BOOK OF RUTH IN THE BIBLE.
NAOMI ENCOURAGES HER DAUGHTER IN LAW, RUTH TO RETURN TO HER FAMILY, BUT RUTH REFUSES.
RUTH SAYS, DON'T URGE ME TO LEAVE YOU OR TURN BACK FROM YOU.
WHERE YOU GO I WILL GO, AND WHERE YOU STAY, I WILL STAY.
YOUR PEOPLE WILL BE MY PEOPLE.
THAT LOVE AND COMMITMENT TO FAMILY.
WAS IT COINCIDENCE OR COINCIDENCE THAT IDA STRAUSS WOULD USE THOSE SAME WORDS? MAYBE NOT. ISIDOR AND IDA WERE JEWISH, SO THEY WOULD BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY OF RUTH.
AND GETTING BACK TO THE STORY OF RUTH, SHE WILL END UP MARRYING BOAZ AND HAVING A BABY BOY, OBED.
JESSE WILL HAVE A SON, AND HIS NAME IS DAVID.
AND DAVID WILL BECOME THE KING OF ISRAEL AFTER A THOUSAND YEARS.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT CERTAIN BOOKS TO GIVE THE BOARD MEMBERS EXAMPLES THAT, IN MY OPINION, WILL BRING GOOD CHARACTER LIKE COMMITMENT, FAITH, GENEROSITY, HONESTY, TRUTHFULNESS, AND THOUGHTFULNESS.
AND THERE'S A VERSE IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS THAT, AND WE SHOULD NOT, AS ADULTS AND AS ADULTS, WE SHOULD BE KIND TO THOSE THAT WE DO NOT AGREE WITH.
AFTER ALL, JESUS SAID IN MATTHEW, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.
ERIC GEORGE, FOLLOWED BY LINDSEY BERGMAN DEBOSE.
YOU SHOULD HAVE A COPY OF MY EMAIL TO YOU.
ALL RIGHT. HI, FOLKS, I'M ERIC GEORGE.
FOR THOSE THAT SAW MY POST ON FUND CCPS YOU MIGHT KNOW A LITTLE SECRET.
I LIKE NUMBERS JUST A LITTLE BIT.
AND AS WE ALL SAW DURING THE PRIMARY, HAVING ACCURATE AND TRANSPARENT ANALYSIS COMBINED WITH CITED AND SOURCED REFERENCES IS AN EFFECTIVE DISINFECTANT FOR DISINFORMATION.
OUR EFFORTS TO SHOW YOUR WORK MUST NOT CONCLUDE WITH THE COUNTING OF THE BALLOTS.
IN ASSESSING THE AFTERMATH OF THE ELECTION, I BELIEVE IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE WAS A VULNERABILITY THAT WAS EXPOSED BETWEEN CCPS AND THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF MESSAGING AND REACH.
AND THAT VULNERABILITY WAS EXPLOITED EARLIER ON IN THE MOVEMENT, WITH THE CAMPAIGNS, WITH CERTAIN CAMPAIGNS AND THE CECIL WASHER, AND IT WAS FILLED WITH A LOT OF DISINFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER IT WAS DOCTOR LAWSON SALARY OR EVERYTHING ELSE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF VULNERABILITIES THAT WERE THERE.
AND ULTIMATELY, THE ELECTION WAS CLOSE, BUT I THINK IT WAS A LITTLE TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT.
FIRST, KEEP THE FACTS FACEBOOK PAGE ALIVE.
I THINK LETTING IT EVOLVE FROM A DISINFECTANT FOR DISINFORMATION TO A DEPOSITORY FOR DATA SUCCESSES, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, JUST USING IT AS A DIFFERENT MESSAGING SYSTEM TO CO-LOCATE AND COMPILE ALL THE SURVEYS AND THE CHARTS AND THE DATA THAT YOU PRESENT HERE AT THE BOARD INTO A REPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S ALL LOCATED IN ONE PLACE THAT YOU CAN GO, MUCH LIKE HOW
[01:50:01]
WE DID. WE ULTIMATELY DID WITH THE BUDGETING STUFF SO WE CAN ALL FIND IT.AND THERE'S A STORY TO IT THERE, A COMPREHENSIVE STORY THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
THREE. MAKE SURE TO HAVE DATA TO BACK UP SOME OF YOUR DECISIONS.
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE DATA TO BACK THAT UP.
LET IT BE A TEACHABLE MOMENT WITH MENTORINGSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I'M HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN TO KIDS HOW YOU DO RESEARCH.
FIVE CONSIDER A DIGITAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER IS ANOTHER MESSAGING OUTLET.
AND LASTLY, MORE IMPORTANTLY, JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
THANK YOU, MR. GEORGE LINDSEY, FOLLOWED BY OUR LAST SPEAKER, BRIAN HAMPTON.
I'M LINDSEY BERGMAN FROM ELKTON.
AND WHILE WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE COUNCIL AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES WHO ALL SHOW SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION, WE STILL HAVE VOTE ON BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE HAVE SEEN WHAT HAVING A MEMBER OF MOMS FOR LIBERTY ON THE BOARD IS LIKE, WHY WOULD WE VOTE IN TWO MORE? THE CURRENT MOMS FOR LIBERTY MEMBER HAS HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THINGS SHE HAS DONE WHILE REPRESENTING OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION AND MOMS FOR LIBERTY IN GENERAL, IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROMOTES HATRED OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS UNDER THE GUISE OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.
RECENTLY, I ASKED COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER AND MOMS FOR LIBERTY LEADER DONNA CULBERSON ABOUT STUDENTS RIGHTS, AND SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO THINK KIDS HAVE ANY RIGHTS BEFORE THEY TURN 18.
NOW, I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD LET A SIX YEAR OLD GET A BUNCH OF TATTOOS ON THEIR ARMS LIKE I HAVE, BUT I AM SAYING THAT KIDS DESERVE TO BE LISTENED TO AND SEEN AND RESPECTED, AND WE SHOULD EMBRACE CURRICULA THAT ENCOURAGE EQUITY AND KINDNESS, SOMETHING THAT MOMS FOR LIBERTY HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN THAT THEY WON'T DO. WHERE I GREW UP, PEOPLE WITH MOMS FOR LIBERTY TIES ACTUALLY CONTROL THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND THEY ARE PASSING POLICIES THAT COULD GET THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUED FOR VIOLATING TITLE NINE.
AND JUST WITH MY REMAINING TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MISS SOPA FOR HER DILIGENT WORK IN FINDING WAYS WE CAN HIRE MORE TEACHERS, EVEN IF IT CAUSED THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK ROW HERE TO GRUMBLE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE HERE WHO CONTINUOUSLY GOES TO BAT FOR STUDENTS.
AS A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION MYSELF, I CANNOT IMAGINE COMING TO A MEETING JUST TO FIND THINGS WRONG WITH PEOPLE WHO SEEK TO PROVIDE THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY'S KIDS, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY'S KIDS.
AND I URGE THOSE OF YOU WATCHING AT HOME TO REMEMBER THAT AT THE VOTING BOOTH THIS FALL.
THANKS. THANK YOU, MISS BERGMAN.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER, BRIAN HAMPTON.
ALTHOUGH, DEPRESSINGLY, THIS MONTH ALSO BRINGS US THE RETURN OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ARE LOW PROBABILITY EVENTS.
OF THE NEARLY 150,000 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS THAT SERVE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS ACROSS THE U.S., THERE WERE BETWEEN 150 AND 200 REPORTS OF GUNFIRE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS OVER EACH OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'RE AT 134, 139 SO FAR THIS YEAR.
OR, TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, 99.9% OF SCHOOLS IN ANY RECENT YEAR DIDN'T HAVE A GUNFIRE INCIDENT.
THAT DOES NOT MAKE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS ANY LESS HORRIFIC OR TRAGIC.
IT DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS TRAUMATIZING FOR ANY, EVEN STUDENTS WHOSE ONLY PROXIMITY TO A SCHOOL SHOOTING ARE THE ACTIVE SHOOTER DRILLS WE MAKE THEM ENDURE. WITH THAT SAID, METAL DETECTORS AT SCHOOL ENTRANCES CAN BE A PREVENTIVE MEASURE BUT ARE EXPENSIVE.
[01:55:04]
REALISTICALLY, METAL DETECTORS MIGHT BE THE STARTING LOCATION OF A SCHOOL SHOOTING RATHER THAN FROM DEEPER WITHIN THE SCHOOL.ARMING TEACHERS IS ANOTHER SOLUTION.
I WON'T ADDRESS THE NECESSARY MENTAL CHANGE FROM TEACHER FIRST TO ARMED GUARD FIRST, BUT HOW WOULD AN ARMING TEACHERS POLICY BE IMPLEMENTED IN A COMMUNITY WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT CAN'T AGREE TO ADEQUATELY FUND SCHOOLS, SUCH THAT KINDERGARTEN CLASSES ARE LESS THAN 30 OR HIGH SCHOOL MATH AND ENGLISH CLASSES ARE LESS THAN 35? WHO PAYS FOR METAL DETECTORS AND TEACHER WEAPONS AND THE NEEDED TRAINING LICENSES AND INSURANCE? AND WILL TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS, WHERE TEACHERS SHOULD COLLABORATE AND SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND IMPROVE LESSON PLANS BE REPLACED BY TEACHER SHOOTING RANGE DAYS. METAL DETECTORS AND ARMED TEACHERS MAY DETER SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN SOME INSTANCES, BUT THEY DON'T ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES AT ALL.
AND IF WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING OUR SCHOOLS SAFER, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE CAUSES.
PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS CAN RESEARCH WHAT PROMPTS WHITE MEN AND BOYS TO SHOOT THEIR CLASSMATES, BUT KINDERGARTEN CLASSES OF 30 STUDENTS AREN'T HELPFUL FOR THE HEALTHY SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO? CCPS SHOULD INCLUDE SUFFICIENT SPECIAL EDUCATORS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND PARAPROFESSIONALS IN THE FY 26 BUDGET REQUEST AND WE SHOULD DEMAND THAT OUR NEXT CECIL COUNTY OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE FUND CCPS TO SUPPORT THOSE RESOURCES, TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS SAFE AND ALLOW THEM TO GROW INTO HEALTHY ADULTS WITH THE FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON. YEAH.
GO AHEAD. ONE THING I'D LIKE TO JUST MENTION IS PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, FOUR WEEKS, YOU WILL SEE THE FIRST EDITION OF WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE CCPS CHRONICLES. DOCTOR JOHNSON HAS SPEARHEADED THAT EFFORT WITH MISS SHAW.
IT WILL BE A HARD COPY OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT'S MAILED TO EVERY RESIDENCE IN THE COUNTY.
WHY ARE WE DOING THAT? BECAUSE ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED, I THINK, IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS, IS AS WE LOOK TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE ARE LIMITED TO REACHING REALLY FAMILIES OF OUR STUDENTS AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND WHATEVER THE WIG MAY HAPPEN TO COVER, WHICH RECENTLY HAS BEEN VERY LITTLE COVERAGE.
SO THIS IS AN EFFORT TO REACH CONSTITUENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE GRANDCHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM MAY NOT BE ON FACEBOOK AT ALL.
TO LET THEM KNOW SOME OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
AND IT'S REALLY AN OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR GETTING THIS DONE.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OF OURS.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. MISS HAWLEY, THANK YOU.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT? SURE. I SEE A WORK SESSION HERE ON SEPTEMBER 25TH.
WE WILL AGAIN ASK THE BOARD TO VOTE ON OUR FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION.
THERE IS A COLLEGE FAIR AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL ON OCTOBER 2ND.
OCTOBER 4TH IS THE FIRST EARLY DISMISSAL DAY FOR STUDENTS.
AND ON THE 16TH WILL BE OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING HERE.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR ALL OF THE REFLECTIONS ON THIS HISTORIC DAY AND ALSO REFLECTIONS ON RECENT SCHOOL ACTS OF VIOLENCE.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT.
MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.