[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
[2. Closed Session]
[00:00:08]
MATTERS. LITIGATION AND NEGOTIATION MATTERS AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE.
GENERAL PROVISIONS. ARTICLE 3305B1, EIGHT AND NINE.
OKAY, YOU'VE HEARD THE MOTION.
I IMAGINE THAT. ANY DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY.
WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO MUTE YOUR SIDE.
OKAY. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS 5:31 AND IT IS NOVEMBER 13TH, 2024.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
I'M GOING TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.OKAY. WE HAVE FOUR, FIVE, FOUR BOARD MEMBERS PLUS OUR STUDENT MEMBER PRESENT.
WE HAVE ONE BOARD MEMBER, MR. DAVIS, WHO IS CALLING IN.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AND BOARD REFLECTION, MISS HEATH, THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. MR. LEE. MR. DAVIS, THANK YOU.
OKAY. MOTION CARRIES ITS UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Consent Agenda]
BEFORE WE I ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, IS THERE ANY ITEMS THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE TO DISCUSS PRIOR TO DOING A MOTION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? ANYONE. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.
THANK YOU MISS DIXON, ANY DISCUSSION FURTHER? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. MR. DAVIS, THANK YOU, I HEARD YOU.
[5. New Business]
BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.WE'LL START DOWN THERE WITH YOU, MISS GRIFFIN.
SORRY, SORRY. IT GETS REALLY LOUD SOMETIMES.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME.
IT'S DEFINITELY WELL DESERVED.
HE DESERVES IT. HE DESERVES IT.
EVERYONE IN CCPS IS LUCKY TO KNOW THEY HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT WHO TRULY CARES AND IS SO INVOLVED.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
THE WALLS HAVE BEEN PUT UP AND THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WORKING ON IT EVERY DAY.
I HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW NICE IT WILL MAKE AS AN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE HERE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN ABOUT HOW IT'S ALREADY STARTING EXCITEMENT.
I'M ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE COUNTY COUNCIL STUDENTS WILL BE MEETING THIS FRIDAY, ACTUALLY TO HAVE A Q&A WITH CCPS LEADERSHIP AND BOARD MEMBERS REGARDING ISSUES THAT THEY BELIEVE NEED TO BE ADDRESSED OR JUST QUESTIONS THAT THEY WANT ANSWERED.
SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT LEADS AND THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GRIFFIN.
MR. FERDINANDO, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THE CONGRATULATIONS TO DOCTOR LAWSON.
A LITTLE GOOD BANTER BACK AND FORTH, WHICH WAS FUN TO HAVE.
SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN AND I REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF IT.
THE CLEARING OF LAND DOWN THERE IS TREMENDOUS.
I MEAN, I DROVE BY THIS LAST WEEK.
I WAS SHOCKED AS TO HOW BIG OF A FOOTPRINT THAT IS.
[00:05:02]
IT'S A HUGE ENDEAVOR.MISS DIXON, WELL, FOR YOUR THIRD CONGRATULATIONS AS WE JUST GO DOWN THE ROW HERE.
AND THEY SACRIFICED SO MUCH FOR US.
AND WE JUST SO APPRECIATE THAT.
NOW, IT'S NEAT THAT SOMEBODY MADE A DAY THEY RECOGNIZE IT AS WORLD KINDNESS DAY, BUT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING KINDNESS EVERY DAY, AND THAT WHENEVER WE GO TO SPEAK OR WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT WE THINK TO OURSELVES, IS THIS THE KINDNESS, THE KINDEST WAY THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS APPROACH? THANK YOU, MISS DIXON.
I'M GOING TO JUMP TO MR. DAVIS FIRST, MISS HEATH.
MR. DAVIS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO REPORT ON? SURE. REAL QUICK. THANK YOU, MISS HOLLY.
GREETINGS FROM BRUNSWICK, GEORGIA.
I DO LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO CECIL COUNTY IN A FEW WEEKS AND STUDENTS AND MY BOARD COLLEAGUES, I'D LIKE TO JOIN MY OTHER COLLEAGUES IN CONGRATULATING DOCTOR LAWSON ON THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD. OF COURSE, IT IS VERY MUCH WELL DESERVED.
AND CONGRATULATIONS, DOCTOR LAWSON.
VOTING IS HOW WE ENSURE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE OF, BY, AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO KEEP MY BRIEF AS WELL.
I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD CONGRATULATE DOCTOR LAWSON.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE CAN GET THROUGH THE DOOR ON THE WAY OUT.
CONGRATULATIONS. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE BANQUET, AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE EVENING.
AND WE DO APPRECIATE YOU AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
ALSO, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND CECILTON ELEMENTARY'S VETERANS DAY PROGRAM, WHICH WAS LAST FRIDAY.
THEY ALWAYS DO A GREAT JOB IN CARROLLTON ELEMENTARY.
IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH ALL THE VETERANS AND THE KIDS PARADE THEM IN.
AND I AM GRATEFUL AND HUMBLED THAT I WAS REELECTED.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST WE ARE GOING TO BE HOLDING.
I TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT LAST BOARD MEETING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIKE A LISTENING SESSION FOR OUR COMMUNITY, A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD MEMBERS.
WE ARE GOING TO HOLD IT. WE'RE CALLING IT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LIMITED OPEN FORUM.
IT IS GOING TO BE OUR FIRST ONE.
IT'S GOING TO BE DECEMBER THE 9TH FROM 5 TO 7.
AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD IT HERE.
AND THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION COMING OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
YES. RIGHT. TO MAKE IT ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY IN THE COUNTY.
BUT OUR FIRST ONE, WE'RE GOING TO START HERE.
THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A REALLY HECTIC MONTH AGAIN.
HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE ENTERING THE SECOND MARKING PERIOD ALREADY.
WE'VE HAD NHS INDUCTIONS, FALL SPORTS PLAYOFFS, MARCHING BAND COMPETITIONS.
TOMORROW AT PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AT 7:00 AND AN ALL COUNTY JAZZ CONCERT, WHICH IS ALWAYS FANTASTIC ON NOVEMBER 25TH AT 7:00. AND THAT ONE IS AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.
AND WE JUST WE HAVE A LOT OF TALENTED STUDENTS, AND I JUST ENCOURAGE ALL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THEM AND ENJOY JUST A REALLY NICE EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT.
IT'S A REALLY NICE PICK ME UP.
VETERANS DAY MS. HEATH MENTIONED THAT I MIGHT BE IN THE MINORITY HERE.
[00:10:01]
I LIKE HAVING SCHOOL ON VETERANS DAY.I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A SECOND AND RECOGNIZE OUR OWN BOARD VETERAN, MR. TIERNEY DAVIS.
HE IS A PROUD VET OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.
AND AS YOU KNOW, HE'S NOT HERE IN PERSON.
HE'S HERE ON A LITTLE DEVICE RIGHT NOW, BUT HE'S CONTINUING HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY BY, BY CURRENTLY WORKING IN AREAS DEVASTATED BY HURRICANES. AND I'M JUST REALLY PROUD OF HIS ONGOING WORK AND HIS SACRIFICE.
THERE'S A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY TO ASSIST OTHERS IN NEED.
SO AGAIN, MR. DAVIS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, THIS GUY SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR YOU'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF HERE, ARE YOU? I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO OPEN ALL THESE DOORS TONIGHT, BUT I JUST I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I'M REALLY PROUD OF OF HIS ALL AROUND LEADERSHIP.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I COULD SAY RIGHT NOW WHICH WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO BECAUSE FOR MULTIPLE REASONS, I THINK I'VE ALREADY TOLD YOU, BUT DOCTOR LAWSON HAS WORKED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR 40 PLUS YEARS, AND WITH THAT COMES A WEALTH, A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
BUT ONE THING THAT REALLY TOUCHES ME IS DOCTOR LAWSON ALSO HAS HEART, AND YOU HAVE THE HEART FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR DOING WHAT IS RIGHT FOR OUR STAFF.
SO, AND FOR WORKING TIRELESSLY TO MOVE OUR ENTIRE COUNTY FORWARD THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SO AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND NOW WE WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE MARYLAND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR, DOCTOR JEFFREY A LAWSON.
I WILL BE A LITTLE LONGER THAN USUAL.
NOT TOO LONG, JUST SO I CAN TALK ABOUT MYSELF.
BUT TRUTHFULLY YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF THE STAFF HAVE HEARD ME SAY THIS AND EVEN THE BOARD.
I THINK IT'S COMMON IN PUBLIC EDUCATION FOR US TO GET ALL JAZZED UP ABOUT CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
LET'S FACE IT, IT'S WHAT WE DO.
WE ALL TAKE THESE COURSES AS UNDERGRADS.
WE'RE ALL CONCERNED WITH HOW A CHILD DEVELOPS.
AND BUT I DO THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT GETS LOST SOMETIMES IS THE ADULT DEVELOPMENT.
AND THE ADULT DEVELOPMENT IS ON FULL DISPLAY.
WHEN YOU HIRE SOMEBODY THAT'S 23 YEARS OLD AND THEY STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM UNTIL THEY'RE 63 YEARS OLD, YOU'RE THERE WITH THEM FOR 40 YEARS, AND THEY COME IN NOT MUCH MORE THAN A TEENAGER, AND THEY GO THROUGH LIFE MOST TIMES GETTING MARRIED, HAVING FAMILIES, DEALING WITH PARENTS AS THEY GET OLDER, AND THEN WHEN THEY AND THEN WHEN THE STAFF PERSON GETS OLDER, THEN THEIR KIDS GET OLDER AND THE WHOLE THING.
WE KNOW THAT. AND JUST TO STICK BY PEOPLE AND KNOW THAT THEY CHANGE.
I AM NOT, AS A 64 YEAR OLD GUY, WHAT I WAS WHEN I WAS 23 AND YOU ALL ARE BETTER FOR IT, TRUST ME.
BUT I THINK THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT WE STAY WITH OUR PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, CECIL COUNTY HAS CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE HIGHEST RETENTION RATES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
WE KEEP OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE TRY TO DO RIGHT BY THEM.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE THE BEST PIECE ABOUT WORKING WITH THE OTHER 23 SUPERINTENDENTS IN MARYLAND.
THEY HAVE MADE ME BETTER AND FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
SOME ARE SO WELL GROUNDED IN BUDGET, SOME ARE GROUNDED IN STATUTE, SOME ARE GROUNDED IN CURRICULUM.
AND JUST BY GOING TO EVERY MEETING AND LISTENING.
AND I LEARN FROM PEOPLE 15, 20 YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME CONSISTENTLY.
AND THAT'S BEEN THE COOLEST THING ABOUT IT.
AND THE AWARD, YOU KNOW, COMING TO THIS BUSINESS FOR AWARDS AND IT'S KIND OF I TOLD JOE BUCKLEY WHEN IT FIRST DROPPED, I GOT NOMINATED BY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS IS GOING TO BE 35 AWKWARD MOMENTS DURING THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE IT REALLY COMES ACROSS AS THIS SELF-CONGRATULATORY THING, AND I REALLY, REALLY HATE THAT.
AND I TOLD MY WIFE, I'M MUCH BETTER AT BEING CRITICIZED THAN I AM.
YOU KNOW, I TAKE THAT A LOT BETTER IF YOU INSULT ME THAN I DO IF YOU COMPLIMENT HIM.
IT'S JUST IT'S JUST I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT THERAPY IS FOR, RIGHT? BUT, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO SO MANY PEOPLE.
[00:15:01]
AND IT REALLY, TRULY MEANS A LOT, PARTICULARLY WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS, HAS GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS, TWO YEARS.SO ENOUGH WITH THAT, VETERANS DAY, I TOO, WENT TO NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
MY WIFE, MY SON, MY DAUGHTER IN LAW ALL WORK FOR THE BRANDYWINE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN WILMINGTON.
AND TYPICALLY I HEAR, WELL, WHY ARE YOU GOING TO WORK TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE OFF? IT'S VERY COMMON FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO BE OFF ON VETERANS DAY.
AND MY RESPONSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME BECAUSE WE DO IT RIGHT.
600 STUDENTS GATHER IN THE GYMNASIUM, SEATED.
THEY TAKE TURNS SINGING SONGS.
AND IT HAPPENS IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
ANOTHER COMMENT I'D LIKE TO MAKE IS JUST TO RECOGNIZE THE CANDIDATES THAT RAN IN THE PRIMARY LAST MAY THAT RAN IN THE ELECTION LAST WEEK, NOVEMBER 5TH.
MISS WATSON HAS JOINED US TONIGHT.
YOU KNOW, CANDIDATES TAKE HEAT, YOU KNOW, AND ANYTIME YOU'RE WILLING TO PUT YOUR NAME OUT THERE AND PUT IT ON A BALLOT AND PUT IT IN SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE SOMETIMES THE AUDIENCE ISN'T AS MAYBE NICE AS IT COULD BE.
I COME FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, I TIP MY CAP TO EVERYBODY THAT HAS RUN, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW.
HAVING THE NERVE SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU.
SO I MEAN, IT SPEAKS A LOT TO OUR PROCESS.
AND THERE WAS A LOT OF ANGST ON ALL SIDES AS IT RELATES TO ELECTIONS.
SO NOW THAT IT'S IN OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR, HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, I HAVE A QUICK POWERPOINT AND THEN A TWO MINUTE VIDEO.
SO. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE AT BOARD MEETINGS IN THE LAST, PROBABLY TWO BOARD MEETINGS ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE AS IT RELATES TO CELL PHONE USE BY STUDENTS.
CLEARLY, IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE FOR KIDS.
IF YOU ASK ME PERSONALLY, IT SIMPLY IS.
BUT NONETHELESS, ANY IN SCHOOL PERSON WILL TELL YOU THAT THESE CELL PHONES ARE NOT ONLY EXTREMELY DISRUPTIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STUDENT, BUT ALSO DISRUPTIVE TO A STUDENT'S LEARNING. AND SO WE PUT OUT A SURVEY TO ALL OF OUR SECONDARY TEACHERS.
AND OUR TEACHERS ARE ROCK STARS WHEN IT COMES TO RESPONDING TO SURVEYS.
AND SO I GRABBED A FEW PIECES OUT OF THE SURVEY THAT I THOUGHT MIGHT INTEREST YOU.
AND AGAIN, THESE ARE OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS COMBINED.
AND YOU CAN SEE IT'S AN 8020 ISSUE.
FOUR OUT OF FIVE TEACHERS WILL TELL YOU IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND SO WHAT WE DO WHEN WE DO THESE SURVEYS, IT'S A 4 POINT LIKERT SCALE.
IT'S STRONGLY DISAGREE, DISAGREE, AGREE AND STRONGLY AGREE.
AND AGAIN, IF THE BOARD HAS ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY.
SECOND QUESTION WAS THAT WE NEED FURTHER RESTRICTIONS.
DO WE? THIS IS A 2 TO 1 ISSUE.
WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO, IT'S TEACHER TO TEACHER REALLY.
UNLESS A TEACHER TELLS YOU, YOU CAN TAKE IT OUT.
STUDENTS CAN, NOW, THIS IS HIGH SCHOOL.
STUDENTS CAN USE THEIR CELL PHONE IN THE HALLWAY.
THEY CAN USE THEIR CELL PHONES AT LUNCH.
OKAY. AND THAT'S PROBABLY BEEN CLOSE TO TEN YEARS NOW.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT. MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE MEANT TO BE OFF AND AWAY AT ALL TIMES.
SO THE SENIORS DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE LAX IN THEIR IN THEIR RULES.
BUT EVEN GIVEN THAT YOU CAN SEE TWO OUT OF THREE TEACHERS SAY WE NEED TO GO A STEP FURTHER.
KEEP IN MIND WE PROBABLY ONLY HAVE 550 500.
SO. AND THE REASON AND SO WE DID PUT OUT THE SURVEY TO STUDENTS.
AND IT KIND OF WENT AS YOU'D EXPECT.
SHOULD STUDENTS BE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEIR PHONES.
YES. AND PARENTS TO THE PARENT.
[00:20:05]
THEY SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CONSTANT USE UNDER THE DESK.AND SO BUT YEAH, WE'RE PARTICULARLY YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO BE REAL CLEAR, THE RATIONALE FOR FURTHER RESTRICTING CELL PHONE USE HAS TO DO WITH INSTRUCTION AND STUDENT WELLNESS.
OKAY. THEY ARE THE TWO PIECES THAT OUR PEOPLE SEE IN THESE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY.
AND SO THERE'S THREE OF THE BIG PIECES.
AND I'D BE CERTAINLY WILLING TO SHARE.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS MISS OLSON IS ALMOST READY.
THE PRODUCT WE HAVE PURCHASED WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL, WAS IT TWO MONTHS AGO OR LAST MONTH? LAST MONTH? LAST MONTH IS THEY ARE CALLED YONDR POUCHES, AND YONDR POUCHES ARE ABOUT THIS SIZE.
AS SOON AS THEY COME IN SCHOOL, THEY GRAB A YONDR POUCH OUT OF THE BIN.
THEY SLIDE IT INTO THE YONDER POUCH.
AND AS YOU'LL SEE IN THE VIDEO, THE YONDR POUCH LOCKS.
AND NOW THEY'RE CARRYING AROUND A LOCKED POUCH FOR THE DAY.
THE KID GOES UP, HOLDS THEIR YONDR POUCH TO THE DEVICE, UNLOCKS IT.
THE PHONE COMES OUT, PHONES IN THE POCKET, GOES BACK IN THE BIN AND OFF THEY GO.
SO THE STUDENT HAS THEIR PHONE ALL DAY.
THE QUESTION WE'LL GET FROM THE COMMUNITY IS WHAT IF I NEED TO CONTACT MY CHILD? OUR RESPONSE WILL BE CALL THE SCHOOL AND WE WILL MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD CAN GET TO A PHONE, EVEN IF IT'S THE CHILD IS IN DOCTOR BUCKLEY SCIENCE CLASSROOM.
CHILD CAN GO UP, YOU KNOW, THE TEACHER GETS WORD.
JOHNNY NEEDS TO USE HIS PHONE.
COME ON UP. UNLOCK THE DEVICE.
USE YOUR PHONE. YOU'RE FINISHED.
SO WE THINK IT CAN BE AND THE FINAL PIECE BEFORE I RUN THIS TWO MINUTES IS YOU HEAR SOMETIMES WHAT ABOUT IN THE EVENT OF EMERGENCY? WE HAVE CONTACTED OUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES IN TERMS OF OUR PARTNERS, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PEOPLE.
AND THEY ARE ALL SAYING WE DON'T WANT KIDS WITH PHONES IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT 500 LITTLE JUNIOR REPORTERS AT CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, RIGHT? LET THE ADULTS HANDLE THE EMERGENCY AND WE WILL.
OKAY. AND SO WITH THAT, I THINK YOU'LL FIND THIS INTERESTING.
CELL PHONES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO MANY OF THE DISTRICT'S RECENT PROBLEMS. TEXTING AND TWEETING.
PIECES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.
BULLYING. STAGING FIGHTS AND FILMING FIGHTS.
IT'S AN EASY SOLUTION FOR A GENERATION IN THE MIDST OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
YONDR IS THE ESTABLISHED LEADER IN CREATING PHONE FREE SCHOOLS FOR OVER TEN YEARS.
AS STUDENTS ENTER SCHOOL, THEY PLACE THEIR PHONE IN THEIR ASSIGNED YONDR POUCH.
THEY CLOSE AND SECURE THEIR POUCH, KEEPING IT WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
WHEN LEAVING SCHOOL, STUDENTS TAP THEIR POUCH ON AN UNLOCKING BASE TO RETRIEVE THEIR PHONE.
YONDR IS USED BY MILLIONS OF STUDENTS EVERY DAY ACROSS 26 COUNTRIES.
OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS REPORT HAVING MORE TEACHING TIME IN THE CLASSROOM, IMPROVED STUDENT SAFETY AND WELLNESS, BETTER STUDENT ENGAGEMENT, STUDENT BEHAVIOR, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
CREATING PHONE FREE SCHOOLS IS A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE.
OUR COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OUR SCHOOL PARTNERS FROM START TO FINISH WITH STEP BY STEP GUIDANCE, PARENT COMMUNICATION MATERIALS, POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PROVEN EXPERTISE TO ENSURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE DIFFERENCE OF PHONE FREE EDUCATION CAN MAKE.
I SEE MORE PEOPLE LIKE INTERACTING RATHER THAN BEING ON THEIR PHONES.
LIKE ESPECIALLY AT LUNCH TIME AND BREAK TIME, THEY ARE WAY MORE ENGAGED, EVERYONE'S HAPPIER.
IT'S NIGHT AND DAY. I SAW KIDS FACES AGAIN.
[MUSIC] SO JUST REAL QUICKLY, THE WAY WE WILL IMPLEMENT THIS IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE SIX MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE BEEN MEETING.
THEY WILL DEVELOP A SET OF GUIDELINES FOR EXACTLY HOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
[00:25:04]
WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXCITED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE.
YOU KNOW, THE BUSSES LEAVING THE PARKING LOT THE FIRST DAY WHEN WE HAVE TO UNLOCK ALL THESE THINGS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HICCUP, BUT WE'RE READY FOR IT. AND WE THINK THE KIDS WILL SETTLE IN.
AND YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING I GET ASKED WHEN I TALK TO TEACHERS ABOUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE IF THERE'S A DIABETIC IN THE ROOM, YOU LIKELY KNOW THAT YOU MONITOR YOUR BLOOD SUGAR WITH YOUR PHONE.
AND THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON THESE DAYS.
SO, YOU KNOW, IN THOSE KINDS OF MEDICAL ISSUES, YOU CAN GIVE A YONDR POUCH THAT DOES NOT LOCK.
AND SO THE STUDENT WOULD TAKE IT OUT.
AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THAT ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.
WHAT DO WE EXPECT WITH STUDENTS THAT DON'T WANT TO COMPLY? LISTEN, IN EVERY SCHOOL YOU HAVE 5% OF THE STUDENTS THAT WANT TO TRY TO MAKE A GAME OF IT.
AND MY ANTICIPATION IS THAT WE WILL HAVE 5% OF THE STUDENTS THAT TRY TO MAKE A GAME OF IT.
SO THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WE CAN RESPOND TO THAT.
WE'LL BE OKAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
AND IF NOT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
DO THEY KEEP THEIR LITTLE YONDR BOX OR DO THEY GET A NEW ONE EVERY DAY? SO OUR. AND THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
IN SOME, IN SOME SCHOOLS THEY DO.
WE WILL NOT WE WILL KEEP THE YONDR POUCHES IN THE BUILDING.
THEY WILL COME IN AND GET IT, USE IT, PUT IT BACK AND GO.
WE WORRY THAT IF WE ISSUE THEM TO STUDENTS.
TRUST ME. YOU GIVE OUT 500 TODAY, 420 ARE COMING IN TOMORROW.
YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT'S GOING TO BE.
THEY'LL GET LOST IN THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.
SO NO, WE WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO TAKE THEM HOME.
OKAY. AND MY NEXT QUESTION IS WHAT ABOUT THE WATCHES THEM TOO.
SO THEY WILL GO IN THERE. ABSOLUTELY.
OKAY. YEP. AND THEN HOW MANY UNLOCKING DEVICES WILL WE HAVE FOR SCHOOL? DO WE KNOW THAT YET? I WANT TO SAY PROBABLY ABOUT A DOZEN TO 15, BUT WE'RE PREPARED TO BUY MORE IF WE NEED THEM.
FULL DISCLOSURE, MY OLDEST SON IS A PRINCIPAL, AND THEY'VE USED THOSE.
THEY'RE USED THEM ALL YEAR SO FAR WITH TREMENDOUS SUCCESS.
I TOLD HIM THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO NEED MORE UNLOCKING DEVICES, PARTICULARLY IN CLASSROOMS. HE SAID WE'D BE FINE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO PLAY IT BY EAR AND ORDER MORE IF WE NEED TO.
IF YOU HAVE 12 OR 13 SMALL SCHOOLS, IT GOES UP TO ABOUT 18 OR 19, RIGHT? RIGHT. AND JUST A COUPLE OF WE WENT TO EVERY SCHOOL STAFF MEETING.
AND SOME OF THE QUESTIONS LIKE YOU GUYS HIT ON A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS, BUT SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WERE, CAN YOU STILL TRACK YOUR KID OR FIND MY FRIEND'S LIFE 360 IF YOU HAVE THOSE APPS.
AND THE ANSWER IS I THINK YES.
THE LIKE, LIKE DOCTOR LAWSON MENTIONED, IT WAS THE PRINCIPALS WENT AND SAW IT IN ACTION IN DELAWARE AT SCHOOLS AND THE DELAY, INITIALLY MY CONCERN WAS LIKE, GOSH, HOW LONG IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR THEM TO GET THESE LOCK THEM UP? AND IT WAS ABOUT FOUR MINUTES INITIALLY AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT BETTER NOW.
AND I THINK YOU GUYS HIT EVERYTHING ELSE.
INITIALLY WE HAD SOME ELEMENTARY TEACHERS SAY HOW ABOUT FIFTH GRADE? WE HAD SOME HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS SAY, LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW THEY WORK IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS FIRST.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY IF WE NEED TO REVISIT, WE CAN REVISIT.
GOOD QUICK QUESTION. FOLLOW UP.
SO BEING ONE OF THE 5% WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I WOULD HAVE A SECOND PHONE THAT'S A FAKE PHONE PUT IN THE YONDR POUCH, HAVE A BURNER PHONE AND OR JUST SAY, I DON'T HAVE A PHONE OR I ASSUME THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEIR WRITING POLICY, EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT.
RIGHT? RIGHT. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
IF THEY DON'T, YOU KNOW, THEN THERE'S CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT.
IF THEY DO THEY TAKE THE PHONE.
WE'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK TO, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S KIND OF INHERENT IN WHAT WE DO, FRANKLY.
I JUST WANT TO ASK, LIKE, ARE CONSEQUENCES LIKE GOING TO VARY FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
LIKE, LIKE IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE ALL THE SCHOOLS ARE UNDER THE SAME CONSEQUENCES OR LIKE PRINCIPALS ARE ALLOWED? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, MISS GRIFFIN.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE CONSISTENCY IN TERMS OF CONSEQUENCES.
AND HONESTLY, AS TIME GOES, MAYBE IT IS SOMETHING WE LOOK AT FOR HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL.
BUT YOU KNOW, HONESTLY MOVING INTO NEXT YEAR, THE NINTH GRADERS WILL HAVE DONE IT.
SO EACH YEAR IT WOULD PROBABLY GET A LITTLE EASIER TO DO.
[00:30:04]
YEAH. I MEAN, YOU'RE A SENIOR, CORRECT? YEAH. THERE YOU GO. I MEAN, IT IS, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME INITIALLY WHEN WE PUT IT IN HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, HAD NO CELL PHONES, KIDS WERE UP IN ARMS, MY KID WAS UP IN ARMS. AND BUT THEN HE WAS SORT OF LIKE, WELL, IF EVERYONE LIKE, IT'S NOT SO BAD WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS, IS IN THE SAME BOAT.SO IT'S SORT OF LEARNING HAPPENS.
MORE TEACHERS HAVE MORE TIME TO TEACH.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME HEAT INITIALLY, BUT I THINK WE'RE USED TO THAT.
SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR LAWSON.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.
MISS RENKO, I SEE YOU BACK THERE FROM THE CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
I ALSO WANTED TO START OUT BY THANKING ALL OF OUR VETERANS AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WE DID SOMETHING THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE TRADITIONALLY DONE FOR OUR GRADUATING SENIORS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD ABOUT, BUT IN IN MAY, WE TYPICALLY BRING OUR GRADUATING SENIORS IN FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY COME INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEY WALK THROUGH THE HALLS, ALL THE HALLWAYS, AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS STAND OUT IN THE HALLWAYS AND JUST CLAP AND CHEER.
AND THEY SEE THEIR FRIENDS AND THEIR, YOU KNOW, THEIR SIBLINGS.
AND IT'S JUST ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF ASPIRING TO GRADUATION.
SO WE INVITED VETERANS FROM OUR COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST.
WE INVITED VETERANS THAT ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OF OUR STUDENTS WE HAD A BREAKFAST KIND OF CELEBRATION FOR THEM, AND THEN WE LINED THE HALLS AND CHEERED FOR OUR VETERANS.
AND IT WAS WONDERFUL AND TRULY HAD AN IMPACT ON THE KIDS AS WELL AS THE VETERANS.
AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS CAN BE A LITTLE SALTY.
BUT BUT I WILL SEE KIDS STOPPING AND LOOKING AT THOSE PICTURES, AND SO IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I DON'T KNOW. I THINK I'M SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH IN LINE TO CONGRATULATE DOCTOR LAWSON.
TO BE THIS YEAR'S MARYLAND SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR.
HE TRULY IS DEDICATED TO SERVING STUDENTS AND STAFF.
AND IF YOU'RE IN THE ROOM FOR MORE THAN, I DON'T KNOW, FIVE MINUTES, YOU'LL FIND OUT.
AND HE'S SHOWN HE'S NOT AFRAID TO ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND SERVE, WHETHER IT'S IN THE CAFETERIA.
HE IS OUT AND ABOUT AND DOESN'T STAND ON PRETENSE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF A POSITION.
IF YOU'VE BEEN TO THESE MEETINGS, YOU'VE HEARD HIM SAY HE DOES HIS OWN POWERPOINTS.
BUT HE ALWAYS TRULY KEEPS AT THE TOP WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY FOR THAT.
AND I WANTED TO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATE YOU.
SOMEBODY MENTIONED ELECTIONS AS WELL.
AND I DIDN'T, PER SAY, WRITE A MISSION STATEMENT, BUT I KIND OF FELT I WROTE WHAT IS TRUE.
I BELIEVE, FOR ALL OF MY TEACHER COLLEAGUES.
AS TEACHERS, WE STRIVE TO BUILD A COMMUNITY OF CARING LEARNERS WHO RESPECT THEMSELVES AND OTHERS WHO CAN THINK LOGICALLY AND PROBLEM SOLVE, AND WHO DEVELOP WORK HABITS AND PRACTICES THAT WILL HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE IN ANY FIELD THEY CHOOSE.
SO WHATEVER CUTE MEME YOU SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PLEASE JUST THINK BACK.
REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU VOTED OR WHO YOU VOTED FOR.
[00:35:01]
AT ANY LEVEL, KIDS WERE A KEY ISSUE AND THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE.SO THIS IS THE TIME TO KIND OF PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO HELP OUR KIDS AND HELP OUR COMMUNITIES THRIVE.
THEY'RE VISITING THE ELDERLY, THEY'RE SERVING MEALS, PROVIDING FOOD, ORGANIZING TOY DRIVES, COAT DRIVES, COLLECTING GOODS FOR FOLKS WHO'VE LOST THINGS IN FIRES AND NATURAL DISASTERS GOODS ALL OVER.
YOU JUST HAVE TO LOOK FOR IT THROUGH THE BAD.
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL DO AND ALL BE THANKFUL FOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS RENKO.
DOCTOR LAWSON, THANK YOU AGAIN.
AS THE BOARD CAN SEE, DOCTOR TED BOYER, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ALONG WITH CHUCK SIMPERS, DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, HAVE PREPARED A PRESENTATION FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE.
PICTURES INCLUDE STARTING WITH THE NEW SCHOOL.
YOU CAN'T GROW GRASS AND IT JUST BECOMES A CHALLENGE IN ANY EVENT.
THIS IS A GEOTHERMAL WELL BEING DUG FOR REASONS THAT I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN, A LOT OF SITE PREP.
KEEP GOING. IT'S SOME PRETTY COOL PICTURES ON THIS ONE.
YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTBALL STADIUM OFF IN THE HORIZON.
TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE SCOPE AND THE SIZE OF THE LOT THAT'S BEEN CLEARED.
THE NEXT ONE IS A REAL NEAT AERIAL.
THAT'S THE NORTHEAST RIVER OUT THERE TOWARDS TURKEY POINT.
GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF JUST THE VAST SIZE OF THE.
AND I WOULD SAY THE ACTUAL BUILDING ITSELF IS GOING.
YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN THAT'S GRAVEL AND A CONSTRUCTION TRAILER.
THAT'S ABOUT WHERE THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE FOR A REFERENCE PERSPECTIVE.
SO AGAIN, REALLY EXCITING STUFF.
THIS IS THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY CHILLER HAS BEEN DELIVERED, FINALLY LONG AWAITED.
AND IT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSTALLED NOW JUST FOR WINTER TO ARRIVE.
BUT, YEAH. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS BUILDING, I GUESS IT WAS BACK IN 2015.
14. WE KNEW THERE WERE HVAC ISSUES.
GOING TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE IT'S COME FURTHER ALONG.
THERE'S SOME OF THE WALLS STARTING TO GO UP.
YEAH, THEY'RE OUT THERE EVERY DAY.
AND IT WAS QUITE, THE QUITE THE ENDEAVOR TO DIG BECAUSE OF THE ROCK UNDERNEATH.
THOSE OF YOU WHO LIVE OUT IN THAT AREA, THERE'S A LOT OF ROCK UNDERGROUND THERE.
AND, YEAH, WE ANTICIPATE DOCTOR BOYER OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD.
WHEN'S THAT GOING TO BE IN THE FALL? EARLY SUMMER. GOOD.
SO IT SHOULD BE READY, HOPEFULLY FOR FALL SPORTS NEXT YEAR.
THIS IS THE CHERRY HILL AUDITORIUM.
IT WAS AN ASBESTOS FLOOR CLEANED UP AND THEN REPLACED WITH NEW CHAIRS.
AND THAT IS THAT FLOOR COMPLETE YET, DO YOU KNOW THE CARPETS DOWN THERE? IT IS. YEAH.
SO THAT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING TOO.
THIS CANOPY DOES NOT OVERHANG THE ROAD, AND THAT'S COMING ALONG AS WELL.
SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE PROJECTS FROM THE BOARD? EXCITING STUFF.
NEXT WE WILL INTRODUCE OUR CCPS COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, APG FCU.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MISS LIZ MONTE AND ANDREA VUNCANNON TO COME FORWARD TO STAND UP NEXT TO THE REALLY COOL BACKDROP THERE WITH BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY.
YOU KNOW, PROBABLY THREE YEARS AGO WE STARTED RECOGNIZING OUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND I OWE THESE TWO LADIES AN APOLOGY BECAUSE YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE.
APG REALLY IS UNPARALLELED WITH THE WAY THEY SUPPORT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[00:40:08]
THEY SUPPORT OUR SUPPORT PERSON OF THE YEAR.AND I DON'T MEAN WITH LIKE $125.
THEY WRITE CHECKS FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, I MEAN, IT'S JUST AGAIN, THEY ARE PROBABLY THE SINGLE BIGGEST.
IT'S. YEAH. AND SO WE TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
YOU KNOW. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE'D LOVE YOU ANYWAY IF YOU EVEN JUST GAVE US A TINY BIT.
BUT TO DO WHAT YOU DO REALLY CERTAINLY GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND AND WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE TO THAT.
[APPLAUSE] AND NOW WE WILL HAVE DOCTOR HAMMER INTRODUCE THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK.
AND MISS HAWLEY, I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS.
I'M REALLY SPEEDING ALONG HERE.
I'M LIKE, YES. THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE.
AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK, HERE WE GO.
IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
RECOGNIZING NOVEMBER 18TH THROUGH 22ND NEXT WEEK AS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK.
I'D LIKE THE FOLLOWING FOLKS, WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT, TO PLEASE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT THIS PROCLAMATION, STARTING WITH MISS LORI RENKO, SCIENCE TEACHER AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL AND PTA PRESIDENT.
ALSO, I BELIEVE BRENDA HUGHES, PARAPROFESSIONAL AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, IS HERE THIS EVENING.
JORDAN SEQUIN, TEACHER AT BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IS HERE.
HOLLY KUNKLE. I DON'T SEE YOU.
OKAY. ALSO, MY LATEST VICTIMS, KYLE MILLER YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP INSTRUCTIONAL COACH.
PLEASE COME FORWARD. JOHN ROGERS, YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP LIAISON.
YOU'RE GOING TO GET DOUBLE DUTY THIS EVENING.
SO AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK WILL BE RECOGNIZED ACROSS OUR DISTRICT NEXT WEEK, WITH CELEBRATIONS TO REINFORCE THE ECHO FROM MISS RENKO, THE VERY IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT PUBLIC EDUCATION DOES TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
STAFF LIKE THIS, STAFF THAT SERVES IN OUR COMMUNITY MAKE THIS THIS PLACE A BETTER PLACE TO BE.
PUBLIC EDUCATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THAT NEXT WEEK.
MISS HAWLEY, I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.
YEAH. I ALMOST FORGOT THAT I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OKAY.
YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
SORRY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD HIM.
OKAY. AND NOW WE HAVE DOCTOR FOY TO PRESENT NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO COME DOWN FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
DOCTOR HEATHER HANDLER, COORDINATOR FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, APPRENTICESHIP AND STEM.
MR. JOHN RODGERS, CTE INSTRUCTIONAL COACH AND MR.
[00:45:05]
CAL MILLER, INSTRUCTIONAL COACH KYLE MILLER, INSTRUCTIONAL COACH, CTE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY.WHEREAS THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK IS A NATIONWIDE CELEBRATION WHERE EMPLOYERS, WHEN EMPLOYERS, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, WORKFORCE PARTNERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOWCASE THE SUCCESS AND VALUE OF A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP.
AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK DEMONSTRATES THE UNIFYING POWER OF APPRENTICESHIP BY UPLIFTING EXAMPLES OF PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION AMONG NATIONAL REC NATIONAL REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PARTNERS, AND NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER THE 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2024, AS NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIP WEEK PRESENTED THIS 13TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, SIGNED DIANA B HAWLEY, BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT DOCTOR JEFFREY A LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR FOY.
OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE AYE.
THANK YOU. MR. DAVIS WAS IN A UNANIMOUS MOTION.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
RIGHT. OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE.
AND THERE IS A RECOMMENDATION UPON CONCLUSION AS SOPA.
SO I'LL BE SHARING THE BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
ON THIS PAGE IS A SUMMARY OF ALL OF OUR RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
SO A VULCAN MATERIALS GRANT FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR FOR THE DIESEL PROGRAM, A UTILITY TRAIN DONATION FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL ROBOTICS INSTITUTE FOR AMERICAN APPRENTICESHIPS GRANT TO SUPPORT YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHER ASSISTANCE.
A [INAUDIBLE] GRANT FOR SPECIAL ED STAFF TRAINING AND SUPPLIES.
MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS GRANT TO SUPPORT GIRLS DAY IN STEM FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE AMERICAN LEGION OF RISING SUN MADE DONATIONS TO BAYVIEW, CALVERT, CONOWINGO, RISING SUN ELEMENTARY, AND RISING SUN MIDDLE FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALS AND PBIS PROGRAMS, AND THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY MADE A GRANT TO ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL TO PURCHASE SCIENCE LAB MATERIALS.
LEEDS ELEMENTARY MADE A DONATION TO LEEDS TO INSTALL A FENCE AROUND THE SCHOOL PLAYGROUND, AND GREAT WOLF LODGE MADE A DONATION TO PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TO RENOVATE THE STAFF LOUNGE, AS WELL AS PURCHASING STUDENT DESKS AND CHAIRS.
OTHER REVENUE, MOSTLY OUR COMMUNITY DONATIONS TO THE SCHOOL FOR PROGRAMS IN OUR BUILDINGS.
HERE'S WHERE YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE'LL GET TO THE WHAT'S CAUSING THE DECREASE FOR OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THE HIGH SCHOOL PREVENTION CLUBS AND THE AMOUNT OF 15,000.
HERE WHERE YOU SEE THESE NEGATIVES FOR THE JUDY CENTER.
SO YOU SEE TWO -215,000 AND 2 POSITIVES.
[00:50:01]
THAT'S JUST A WAY THAT THEY PROVIDED THE GRANTS.THEY COMBINED THEM INTO ONE GRANT NUMBER.
SO THIS IS JUST US IN THE BOOKS SWITCHING IT FROM TWO GRANTS TO ONE GRANT.
WE HAD TO CHANGE THE PROJECT NUMBER.
AND SO THAT'S A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO DO THAT.
THE BIG THING HERE IS THE REDUCTION OF THE FY 25 PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT.
SO IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WHEN WE STRUCK THE BUDGET AND I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE RESTRICTED BUDGET, ALL OF OUR GRANTS, THOSE WERE ESTIMATES AT THE TIME WE LOOKED AT WHAT WE HAD FOR FY 24, WE PROJECTED INTO FY 25.
WE HAD APPLIED FOR THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANTS.
WE HAD RECEIVED THEM IN THE PAST AND ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE THEM.
WE DID NOT. SO WE HAD BUDGETED $1.7 MILLION FOR PRE-K EXPANSION.
GRANTS IN THAT BUDGET WAS ALSO INCLUDED TEN POSITIONS IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET.
WE DID NOT RECEIVE THAT GRANT.
SO WE DID NOT WE DID NOT HIRE THOSE POSITIONS IN THAT GRANT.
BUT WE DID EXPAND OUR PRE-K PROGRAM WITH OUR OWN FUNDING.
AND SO WE DID FOR MR. JOHNSON FOR PRE-K CLASSROOMS ON OUR OWN, BECAUSE WE DID NOT RECEIVE A PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT FROM THE STATE.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE MAJORITY OF THE DECREASE FOR THE FY.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IS RIGHT THERE IN THAT LINE.
SO ADDITIONAL PERKINS AWARD TO SUPPORT CAREER AND TECHNICAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT 27,487 CARRYOVER BALANCE OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROVIDE RELATED SERVICES FOR STUDENTS.
AND THEN HERE THIS IS SOME DESCRIPTION OF SOME OTHER REVENUES.
USE THE FUND BALANCE TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL SIDEWALK REPAIRS AT CHERRY HILL, SO THE INSURANCE MONEY COVERED THE REPAIRS THAT WERE A RESULT OF THE ISSUE WITH THE OVERHANG.
AT ONE TIME, WHILE YOU ALREADY HAD SOMEONE ON SITE WITH THE MACHINERY.
THESE ARE JUST ALL THE SPECIFIC INS AND OUTS.
SO ALL THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT OCCURRED IN OUR SYSTEM FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER FOR THE DETAILS EVERY MONTH WE SHOW THESE THREE PAGES, WHICH IS A SUMMARY OF OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, A SUMMARY OF OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET, AND THEN A SUMMARY OF BOTH TOGETHER, WHICH IS OUR TOTAL, KEEPING IN MIND THAT OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, PLUS ANY YEAR TO DATE AMENDMENTS, GIVES YOU OUR CURRENT BUDGET, AND WE REPORT OUR BUDGET BY REVENUE, AND THEN WE REPORT IT AS EXPENDITURES BY CATEGORY AND ALSO AS EXPENDITURES BY OBJECT.
SO THESE THREE PAGES ARE FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
HERE WE HAVE OUR THREE YEAR TREND BY CATEGORY.
BUT ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE ARE SEEING IS A BIG UPTICK IN ACTIVE HEALTHCARE.
SO ACTIVE HEALTHCARE IS UP SO FAR THIS YEAR.
AND THE LAST PAGE JUST SHOWS WHERE WE STAND AS FAR AS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT.
AND THERE'S REALLY NOTHING SIGNIFICANT, NOTHING REALLY NOTABLE TO POINT OUT.
AGAIN, JUST FOR YOUR REFERENCE.
ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MISS SOPA. OKAY.
NO, I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $1,275,342, AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION.
MISS OLSON. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD.
AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GUIDELINES.
IN GENERAL, A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[00:55:05]
THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER.WHEN THE TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE.
NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THE SPELL.
PERSONNEL MATTERS PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE AND OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, AND SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED.
ABUSIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PROFANITIES MAY BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY EXPRESS OPINIONS FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR PUBLIC 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.
ALSO, THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE THREE FOLKS SIGNED UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER ALREADY AT THE TABLE IS SHAWN BRIM, AND HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER.
AS THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES, AS IF WAR WERE A CONTAGIOUS MALADY, THE GERMAN ARMY WAS TO SWEEP INTO NEUTRAL BELGIUM, INVADE THE SACRED SOIL OF FRANCE, AND ATTEMPT TO DEAL A, QUOTE, KNOCKOUT BLOW TO THE FRENCH BY CAPTURING ITS CAPITAL, PARIS.
THIS PLAN DESCRIBED NOTHING LESS THAN A WAR CRIME.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS WERE KILLED AS THE GERMANS INVADED NEUTRAL BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.
AND THEN THE PLAN WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE.
AS THE OLD MILITARY TRUISM GOES, NO PLAN SURVIVES CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY.
AND SO IT WAS IN 1914, THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN, DREAMED UP BY THE GERMAN GENERAL OF THE SAME NAME, ULTIMATELY LED TO THE DEFEAT OF GERMANY'S ARMIES AND 10 MILLION DEAD ON THE BATTLEFIELD. AFTER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF CONFLICT, THE GERMAN WAR PLAN CHANGED THE STRUCTURE OF OUR WORLD A RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, A GREAT DEPRESSION, A WORLD WAR TWO, WORLD WAR TWO, IN FACT, NEARLY SENT THE SCHLIEFFEN PLAN TO THE FIRE BECAUSE ALLIED BOMBING NEARLY DESTROYED THE TOP SECRET COPIES THAT EXISTED IN 1945. THE WORLD, TO ITS GREAT ASTONISHMENT, WAS ONLY TOLD OF THE PLAN IN 1956, UPON WHICH SO MUCH OF OUR SHARED HISTORY DEPENDED.
IT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT THIS VETERANS DAY.
WITH MY LAST FEW SECONDS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS MISS DIXON ONCE MORE.
THE SITUATION YOU FIND YOURSELF IN IS NOT WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS.
IT'S WORSE AND I TAKE THESE MATTERS VERY SERIOUSLY.
I'M A GRADUATE OF NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M A FOURTH GENERATION RESIDENT.
I SWORE THE SAME OATH OF OFFICE THAT YOU DID.
AND THIS IS THIS IS MUCH BIGGER THAN YOU OR ME OR THE BOARD OR ANYTHING.
THIS IS ABOUT OUR COUNTY'S FUTURE.
I HOPE YOU THINK ABOUT THAT AS THE DAY.
THE MATTERS THAT I SEE BEFORE ME ON THE RECORD CONCERN ME VERY GREATLY.
AND I TAKE THESE MATTERS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT'S ABOUT THE COUNTY'S FUTURE AND I HOPE YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND.
THIS HANDWRITING SAMPLE BROUGHT TO YOU BY TEACHERS OF CCPS.
THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RODNEY BREWER.
AND WHO WILL BE FOLLOWED BY LINDSAY BERGMAN DEBOSE.
TONIGHT I WISH TO EXPRESS MY THANKFULNESS.
[01:00:03]
THIS IS THE MONTH OF THANKSGIVING FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND IS DOING.BUT FIRST, THANK YOU, MRS. OLSON. DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, VICE PRESIDENT HEATH, MR. DAVIS, MRS. DIXON, MR. FERDINANDO AND MS. GRIFFIN FOR SERVING OUR COUNTY, OUR PARENTS, OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE VETERANS HERE TONIGHT AND IN CECIL COUNTY.
THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS, FOR YOUR SERVICE IN THE AIR FORCE AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO ANY VETERAN WHO HAS SERVED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
KNOWING YOU PLACED YOUR LIFE IN DANGER FOR THE FREEDOMS OF OUR COUNTRY.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS WHO HAVE OFFERED SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR OUR VETERANS.
I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK MRS. DIXON FOR EXTENDING YOUR APPRECIATION TO OUR MILITARY FAMILY FROM DOVER AIR FORCE BASE.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BY GIVING THEM A HORSE RIDING ADVENTURE, SOMEONE SAID, WHEN YOU HAVE A FAMILY, YOU EITHER HAVE MONEY OR KIDS, BUT OFTEN YOU DON'T HAVE BOTH. THE FAMILY YOU HAVE HOSTED AT YOUR FACILITY.
FREEDOM HILL'S THERAPEUTIC RIDING HAS FOUR KIDS.
JUST LAST WEEK, I WAS TALKING TO THE FATHER ON THE PHONE AND AGAIN, THANK YOU MRS. DIXON. TRULY, I AM THANKFUL FOR EACH ONE OF OUR TEACHERS, OUR SCHOOL STAFF, ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, AND ALL WHO HAVE COMMUNICATED WHO HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN.
I KNOW IN YOUR HEART YOU WANT THE VERY, VERY BEST FOR THEM.
AND THANK YOU, PARENTS, FOR BEING ADVOCATES FOR OUR CHILDREN ALSO.
I'M ALSO THANKFUL FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND HER GRACIOUS REMARKS AFTER THE ELECTION.
HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT ASPECTS OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, AS WE ALL SHOULD.
AND IN THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, ABOVE ALL ELSE, I THANK GOD FOR HIS SON, MY LORD JESUS.
FOR SENDING THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THIS WORLD, THAT WE MIGHT KNOW HIM BETTER.
I THANK THE FATHER FOR THE PROMISE OF SENDING HIS SON BACK, FOR JESUS SAID, I WILL COME BACK.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BREWER. AND OUR LAST SPEAKER THIS EVENING WILL BE LINDSEY BERGMAN DEBOSE.
OKAY. WHAT IS SHE GOING TO TALK ABOUT NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER THEY MUST ALL BE WONDERING.
WELL, SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION THIS MONTH.
I WILL START WITH A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO DIANE HEATH AND TIERNEY DAVIS, WHO WON THEIR ELECTIONS WITH RESPECTABLE MARGINS DESPITE COMPETITION THAT WAS FUNDED BY OUT-OF-STATE POLITICAL GROUPS.
DIANE AND TIERNEY RAN A CAMPAIGN THAT TRULY PUT STUDENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AT ITS HEART, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE SOME OF THE MOST SELFLESS LEADERS I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO KNOW.
THEIR DEDICATION TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOWS AN ALTRUISM THAT DOES NOT TYPICALLY EXIST IN POLITICS, WHICH IS WHY BOTH OF THEM WILL BE QUICK TO TELL YOU THAT THEIR POSITION IS NOT POLITICAL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ELECTED.
I KNOW THEY WILL PUSH FOR THE FUNDING.
OUR SCHOOLS NEED TO KEEP TALENTED TEACHERS, PROVIDE TOP TIER EDUCATIONS TO OUR STUDENTS, AND THEY'LL LEAD BY EXAMPLE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING IN OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. ANOTHER POSITIVE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION WAS SEEING THAT OVER 60% OF OUR COUNTY VOTED YES ON QUESTION ONE.
LIVING IN A STATE LIKE MARYLAND GIVES ME HOPE AND BECAUSE I HAVE BASIC EMPATHY, IT ALSO MAKES ME SAD FOR MY FRIENDS IN STATES THAT DON'T OFFER SUCH ROBUST PROTECTIONS OF OUR PERSONAL FREEDOMS AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN BODY.
[01:05:04]
ANTI-PUBLIC EDUCATION RHETORIC WAS ANSWERED IN THE PRIMARY AND THE GENERAL WITH A FIRM NO THANK YOU.WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAND UP AGAINST RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, ABLEISM, ANY HATE YOU THROW OUR WAY, WE WILL CONTINUE SHOWING UP AND DOING THE WORK TO CREATE A CECIL FOR ALL PEOPLE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS BERGMAN.
OKAY, MOVING ON TO UPCOMING EVENTS.
DOCTOR LAWSON, DO YOU WANT TO DO THOSE? YEAH. THANK YOU. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS.
TOMORROW NIGHT'S OUR ALL COUNTY CONCERT AT FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AT 7:00 AT PERRYVILLE HIGH.
NEXT. I GUESS IT'S THE 20TH, WHICH IS NEXT TUESDAY.
WEDNESDAY? THE SERVICE RECOGNITION GALA AT SCHAEFER'S, WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE.
WE RECOGNIZE OUR 30, 35 AND 40 YEAR EMPLOYEES.
NEXT WEEK, ALSO ON THE 25TH IS OUR ALL COUNTY JAZZ BAND.
SOME REAL TALENTED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON THE 27TH, WHICH IS THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
AND IT'LL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE BOARD TO ENGAGE ON TWO WAY CONVERSATION, UNLIKE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
THE SPEAKERS WHO SPOKE, AND WE ALL HAVE A LOT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR.
THANKSGIVING IS AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, SO ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR FRIENDS.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.
THE SECOND DOOR.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.