[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
[00:00:10]
[2. Closed Session]
ARTICLE 3-305B1.[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
WE ARE GOING TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION THE JANUARY 8TH, 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.MISS GRIFFIN, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[INAUDIBLE] WHOA! WE WERE REALLY FAST WITH THAT.
BOARD REFLECTION, MR. DAVIS. THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA.
IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[4. Consent Agenda]
BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.ARE THERE ANY ITEMS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT THE BOARD NEEDS TO REMOVE FOR DISCUSSION? OKAY. HEARING NONE. IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION? RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. BOARD MEMBER REPORTS WE'LL START DOWN THERE WITH MISS GRIFFIN.
[5. New Business]
WELCOME. OKAY.GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I HOPE EVERYONE HAD AN ENJOYABLE BREAK AND A GREAT TIME SPENT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
STUDENT LEADERS WERE EDUCATED ON WHERE THE FOOD IS SERVED IN SCHOOLS CAME FROM, MEAL PREPARATION, FOOD SCHEDULES, AND WHY THERE ARE CERTAIN OPTIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHICH WAS VERY EDUCATING BECAUSE I'M SURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE HAD THAT QUESTION BEFORE.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEXT MEETING.
THAT WILL BE A Q&A AS WELL, I BELIEVE WITH MR. BOYER AND HIS DEPARTMENT.
I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED TO APPLY, AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE AND WHAT IT MEANS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME TO ME THROUGH MY EMAIL LINKED IN THE CCPS WEBSITE.
THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MRS. GRIFFIN. THANKS, MR. FERDINANDO. HI. GOOD AFTERNOON OR GOOD EVENING? I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE WITH MY BOARD REPORT TO MENTION SOMEBODY THAT WE LOST, IT WAS A MEMBER OF OUR CCPS FAMILY THAT DIED RECENTLY THAT HAD AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG PERSON.
MR. LARSON WAS THE PRINCIPAL AT SCHOOL WHEN I MOVED INTO RISING SUN FROM OUT OF TOWN.
HE HAD HIS CELEBRATION OF LIFE ON THE 3RD WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE THAT.
BUT I DID WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND APPRECIATION FOR EVERYTHING HE DID FOR ME AS A YOUNG KID.
GREAT. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAD A SAFE AND RELAXING HOLIDAY BREAK.
I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK ITEM TODAY.
MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH IS THE OFFICIAL FEDERAL HOLIDAY IN OUR COUNTRY.
RECOGNIZING THE LEGACY OF THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR.
ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 18TH, THERE WILL ALSO BE A COMMEMORATIVE CELEBRATION IN ELKTON HONORING DOCTOR KING, WHICH WILL BE HOSTED BY FIVE RIVERS CHURCH WITH BREAKFAST STARTING AT 10 AND I'M SORRY, BREAKFAST STARTING AT 9, AND THE SERVICE STARTING SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
THIS WILL BE THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CEREMONY SPONSORED BY WRIGHT'S AME CHURCH.
IF YOU HAVE THE TIME ON THE 18TH, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO ATTEND THIS EVENT AS WE HONOR THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF A GREAT AMERICAN WHO DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO MAKING OUR COUNTRY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND FOUGHT FOR THE RIGHTS AND RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ALL PEOPLE.
[00:05:03]
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY NEW YEAR.JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND.
AT THE END OF LAST YEAR WE HAD HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS IN SEVERAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT I ATTENDED.
ALSO HAD A MABE BOARD MEETING AND THE SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE YEAR GALA.
I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, AND IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENING TO CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF.
THANK YOU. I'LL PIGGYBACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF HOLIDAY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS THAT I ATTENDED.
THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR, THE [INAUDIBLE], WE WILL HONOR OUR WINNERS THIS EVENING.
AND WE DID THAT IN DECEMBER AS MISS HEATH MENTIONED.
AND AS I MENTIONED AT THE GALA, OUR SUPPORT STAFF ARE REALLY THE BACKBONE OF OUR SYSTEM.
AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE PERSONALLY, MISS CANDI MAGAW, WHO'S BACK THERE, WHO WAS OUR SCHOOL BASED, THE LEAD SECRETARY FOR NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN ALSO MR. THOMAS FRICK, WHO WAS THE DISTRICT BASE.
HE'S THE LEAD GROUNDSMAN IN MAINTENANCE, AND WE'LL RECOGNIZE THEM LATER.
BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO MENTION HOW APPRECIATIVE WE ARE OF YOU OF YOUR WORK AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE WHO YOU GUYS REPRESENT. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENED TODAY.
IT ENDS APRIL 7TH, SO WE WILL BE VERY BUSY FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS.
AND WE WORK WITH MABE TO TRACK HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF EDUCATION RELATED BILLS.
AND BASED ON OUR, WE DEVELOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THROUGH MABE, AND WE WORK TO OPPOSE BILLS, SUPPORT BILLS, TRACK BILLS, MONITOR BILLS. SO FOR THE NEXT 90 DAYS, WE'LL BE PRETTY BUSY DOING THAT.
ALSO, DOCTOR LAWSON AND I WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE GRC, AND EDUCATION IS ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES AS WELL.
AND WE'RE INVOLVED IN THAT AND TOMORROW IS OUR CECIL DAY AND NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS.
SO ALSO NOT LAST BUT NOT LEAST, BUDGET SEASON.
THE DREADED BUDGET SEASON IS HERE.
SO FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THERE WILL BE A FLURRY OF ACTIVITY.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR MY REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.
THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
THEY'RE LIKE, THANK GOODNESS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL.
ALSO, WE HAVE IN THE WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS NOW ARE IN ALL HIGH SCHOOLS.
THE STAFF AT THOSE SCHOOLS ARE BEING TRAINED HOW TO USE THE DEVICES.
I SAW AN EMAIL FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, MR. MIRO. WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE GOING ON? I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT JUST QUICKLY HOW WE DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED WITH SNOW.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM IF YOU DON'T, SHAMELESS PLUG.
BUT REALLY, IT STARTS WITH THE WEATHER FORECAST, AS YOU'D SUSPECT.
YOU KNOW, WE SEE IT COMING DAYS IN ADVANCE.
AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE TIME WHERE SCHOOL COULD BE IMPACTED BY SNOW I COORDINATE WITH OTHER LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS, SPECIFICALLY SEAN BULSON FROM HARTFORD COUNTY, MATT BURROWS, THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM APPOQUINIMINK AS WELL AS PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION TO NEW CASTLE COUNTY AS WELL, WE'RE ALL IN THAT KIND OF AREA.
WE TRACK KEEP IN MIND THAT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I KNOW, AND I'M WELL AWARE, MAYBE TOO AWARE THAT THE MINUTE WE GIVE THE GO AHEAD FOR SCHOOL TO HAPPEN, 20,000 PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT ON THE ROAD.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A BIG THING WHEN WE DECIDE TO TO TO GO AHEAD WITH SCHOOL IN BAD WEATHER.
[00:10:02]
SOMETHING ELSE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT EACH YEAR AND THE BOARD WILL BE ASKED TONIGHT TO APPROVE NEXT YEAR'S SCHOOL CALENDAR.AND SO NOW WE'VE ALREADY USED TWO.
THEY WILL NOW BE SCHOOL DAYS BECAUSE OF YESTERDAY AND MONDAY.
OKAY. SO THAT'S APRIL 22ND AND MAY 23RD ARE TWO OF THE FIVE DAYS WE BUILD IN.
I JUST BASICALLY DROVE AROUND.
I RODE AROUND CECIL COUNTY ALL NIGHT BY MYSELF, JUST LISTENING TO MUSIC, REALLY JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT THE ROADS WERE LIKE AND PUTTING MYSELF IN THE BUS DRIVER SITUATION FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
BY THAT TIME, THE SNOW HAD STARTED AGAIN.
YOU COULD SEE IT WAS STARTING TO LAY ON THE ROADS.
I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT SAFER ON APRIL 20TH 2ND OR MAY 23RD.
NOW, ONCE THE SNOW IS ACTUALLY ON THE GROUND AND IT HAS STARTED AND WE'RE NO LONGER REALLY, YOU KNOW, MONITORING THE WEATHER FORECAST, WE COORDINATE WITH DOCTOR BUCKLEY, DOCTOR HELM, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO THEY WILL CALL ROAD UNITS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
JUST ASK THEM, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AS IT RELATES? SO JUST THE BOTTOM LINE IS IF IT'S CLOSE, WE ARE GOING TO ON THE SIDE OF BEING SAFE.
SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT GO THROUGH MY MIND, AS WAS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ON STUBHUB NOW.
AND I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU. THE SHAMELESS INSTAGRAM PLUG.
I WILL SAY THE COMMENTS ARE FANTASTIC.
SO THE FIRST TIME I ACTUALLY WOULD ADMIT TO THAT.
NEXT WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.
DO I SEE MISS HRINKO? THERE SHE IS. MISS HRINKO, OUR CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOMS TEACHER ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
I THINK I HEARD MR. FERDINANDO MENTION, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THE PASSING OF GEORGE, GEORGE LARSON, WHO WAS THE PRINCIPAL THAT WAS ACTUALLY VICE PRINCIPAL, BUT HE HIRED ME IN 1997 TO ALSO WORK THEN WITH DAVE RUDOLPH.
AND THAT YEAR THERE WERE, I THINK, 18 TO 20 OF US, BRAND NEW BABY RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE TEACHERS.
THE NEXT YEAR THERE WERE LIKE 22 BRAND NEW.
SO NOT ONLY WAS MR. LARSON A PRINCIPAL AND A MENTOR TO THE STUDENTS, BUT HE WAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF SO MANY TEACHERS THAT WORKED UNDER HIM.
AND IT WAS JUST THAT, LIKE GENUINE QUIET SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
I THINK I HEARD HIM YELL ONCE IN LIKE EIGHT YEARS.
BUT JUST HUGE STATURE AND CHARACTER AND DEVOTED TO THE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WE DID BETTER WITH A TWO HOUR DELAY THIS YEAR.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR MAKING THAT CALL AND KEEPING FOLKS SAFE.
BUT THEY WERE HAPPY YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE.
SO THANK YOU. BUT ALSO THANK YOU TO OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF FOR CLEARING THE SNOW.
[00:15:05]
YOU'LL GET AN IDEA OF WHAT OUR WHAT OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF DO, AND ALSO TO PREPARE AND KEEP THE BUILDINGS MAINTAINED OVER THE HOLIDAY WHEN WE'RE ALL HOME.SO THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE STAFF.
AS MISS HAWLEY MENTIONED, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID OPEN TODAY IN ANNAPOLIS.
AND SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAVE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE GREAT IMPACT ON US LOCALLY HERE IN CECIL COUNTY.
SO JUST STAY INFORMED, STAY TUNED.
WHAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT SERVICE WAS INITIALLY STARTED BY TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THEY CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY, SPONSORING AND PROMOTING IT.
SHAMELESS PLUG AGAIN, MR. DAVIS. CONGRATULATIONS, KEYNOTE SPEAKER.
I LOOKED IT UP AND I WAS LIKE, WELL, THERE HE IS.
THERE IS A CHANGE, THOUGH, IF YOU'VE BEEN ATTENDING NORMALLY IT'S BEEN THE ACTUAL MONDAY OF THE HOLIDAY, AND THIS YEAR IT'S ON SATURDAY, SO DON'T SHOW UP MONDAY IF YOU NORMALLY DO IT. THEY WILL. YOU WILL HAVE MISSED IT.
IT IS IT IS ON SATURDAY THIS YEAR.
OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND INVOLVED THE PAST YEAR OR SO WITH WHAT'S GOING ON FOR OUR SCHOOLS AND SUPPORTING AND PROMOTING WHAT THEY NEED IN THE CLASSROOMS AND IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SO WE KNOW OUR KIDS ARE ACTIVE, NOT JUST IN, IN THAT, BUT ALSO IN SCOUTS AND CLUB GROUPS AND THINGS.
AND SO WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THEY CAN BE A PART OF THE CHANGE THEY WANT TO SEE, NOT IN THE NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S TOO BIG.
BUT IN CECIL COUNTY AND IN THEIR HOMETOWNS THEMSELVES, AND A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE ALREADY DOING THAT.
PERHAPS YOU CAN WRITE LETTERS TO OUR OUR VETERANS, LETTERS TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS, OUR FOLKS THAT ARE IN NURSING HOMES AND COMMUNITIES, THAT WOULD BE A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE TO THOSE FOLKS. TO THE BOARD, AS YOU'RE CONSIDERING THE UPCOMING FY 26 BUDGET.
I URGE YOU TO KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DARKNESS LOOMING ON THE HORIZON, AND SO IT MIGHT NOT BE A TIME FOR NEW THINGS, NO MATTER HOW AWESOME THEY ARE, BUT JUST FOCUSING ON KEEPING UP WITH THE STAFFING AND ADDRESSING THE NEEDS THAT WE DO HAVE NOW.
SO PROVIDING THAT STAFFING AND THOSE PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES TO PROVIDE THE INSTRUCTION THAT OUR KIDS NEED AND DESERVE FOR THEIR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SHOULD BE KEY. WE STILL DO HAVE LARGER CLASS SIZES.
WE HAVE SEVERE STUDENT NEEDS AND BEHAVIORS.
AND AGAIN, THAT DECREASED STAFFING IS A CHALLENGE.
AND WE ALL RECOGNIZE YOU DO NOT HAVE AN EASY JOB.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO THAT.
AND I JUST ASK YOU GOING FORWARD TO MAINTAIN THAT AS THE PRIORITY.
AND I THANK YOU AGAIN AND WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
NEXT UP IS THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.
EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU MISS HAWLEY, AS THE BOARD CAN SEE DOCTOR TED BOYER AND MR. SIMPERS HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU A AN UPDATE OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE THAT ARE OCCURRING AROUND THE COUNTY, STARTING OFF WITH THE NEW NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS THE OTHER WAY.
I AM LOOKING AT THE PICTURES RIGHT HERE, AND THERE YOU GO.
[00:20:05]
THE, THE BULK MAIN BODY OF THE SCHOOL IS MORE TO THE LEFT OF THAT IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE SCREEN.BUT THE CONCRETE FOOTERS WILL BE POURED.
AND, YOU KNOW, ACQUIRING A PIECE OF STATE FOREST IS NOT EASY.
YOU KNOW, THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT TREES.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT SCHOOLS, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A CONFLICT THERE.
BUT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WORK SOMETHING OUT.
AND THE REASON WE NEED A PIECE OF THAT LAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD IS TO ALLOW FOR ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION LANES TO THE NEW SCHOOL, BECAUSE THE ROAD IS GOING TO BE WIDENED THERE. SO YOU CAN KEEP GOING.
THAT'S CONCRETE BEING POURED THERE.
SO THE SCHOOL IS ACTUALLY, PAY ATTENTION TO ME HERE, DOCTOR BOYER, DOCTOR BUCKLEY.
IT'S ACTUALLY A THREE STORY SCHOOL WITH ONE BECAUSE IT'S IT'S ON A HILL THE WAY IT'S GRADE.
SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A COOL LOOKING BUILDING AS IT GETS FURTHER ALONG.
THAT IS FOR THE NEW CHILLER SYSTEM AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
AND THAT WAS A $1 MILLION PROJECT.
THIS IS THE FIELD HOUSE AT PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING PROGRESS.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT OPEN SOMETIME BEFORE SUMMER.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR BOYER OR DOCTOR BUCKLEY FROM THE BOARD? NO QUESTIONS.
NO QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BOYER FOR THE REPORT.
COME ON UP, JAMES. SO ON DECEMBER 11TH, AND THE COOLEST THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE VIDEO, ALL OF OUR ALL OF OUR CAFETERIAS HAVE CAMERA SETUPS.
AND SO THE CAMERA IS KIND OF LIKE BACK HERE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A GROUP OF SIX BOYS SITTING TOGETHER AND THREE OF THE BOYS ARE FACING THE CAMERA, AND THEN THREE OF THEIR FRIENDS HAVE THEIR BACK TO THE CAMERA, AND JAMES IS ON THE RIGHT WITH HIS BACK TO THE CAMERA, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FACES OF THE THREE BOYS.
AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THE BOY OFF TO THE LEFT CHOKED ON A PIECE OF FOOD.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR SEVERAL SECONDS HE COULDN'T BREATHE.
AND AND YOU CAN'T TALK IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS.
SO WE ARE RECOGNIZING JAMES AND YOU CAN TELL HE'S AN UNASSUMING, NEAT KID AND HE JUST REALLY IS.
AND WE'RE PROUD OF HIM AND HONORED TO HAVE HIM [APPLAUSE].
HE TOLD ME HE LEARNED IT FROM THE DOCTOR SHOWS I WATCHED, GREY'S ANATOMY [LAUGHTER].
[00:25:03]
AND WHEN WHEN THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN, I COULD SEE JAMES GET UP AND PUT A BEAR HUG AROUND HIM.AND MY FIRST THE FIRST REACTION WAS, STOP DON'T DO THAT.
AND HE JUST YELLED AT ME AND SAID, HE'S CHOKING.
AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY AND POP, CAME FOOD.
[APPLAUSE] . AND JAMES IS ALSO GOING TO BE HONORED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNTY COUNCIL.
I BELIEVE IT'S NEXT WEEK, I THINK.
HE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE HONORED. I'M NOT CERTAIN OF THE DAY.
THANK YOU. YEAH. YOU CAN LEAVE.
OUR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR FOR 2025, DOCTOR LAWSON.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START I'M GOING TO ASK MISS CANDI MAGAW TO PLEASE COME FORWARD [APPLAUSE].
CANDI IS THE CCPS SCHOOL BASED [INAUDIBLE] SUPPORT STAFF MEMBER OF THE YEAR.
SHE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THERE WHEN I WAS A STUDENT.
BUT I WAS A SENIOR AND SHE WAS ONLY 18.
THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY IS SO BLESSED TO HAVE HER.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL TO RECOGNIZE MISS CANDI MAGAW [APPLAUSE].
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE MR. TOM FRICK FORWARD.
HE IS THE SUPPORT SERVICE OF THE YEAR DISTRICT BASED EMPLOYEE, TOM [APPLAUSE].
TOM HAS SERVED AS OUR LEAD GROUNDSKEEPER FOR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HE HAS DONE THIS WORK BEHIND THE SCENES FOR THE PAST 25 YEARS.
EVERY ATHLETIC FIELD, EVERY ATHLETIC EVENT TOM HAS A HAND IN PREPARING THOSE FIELDS AND GETTING EVERYTHING READY FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES, FOR OUR COACHES, FOR OUR VISITING TEAMS, AND JUST DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB IN COORDINATING THAT ALL THESE YEARS.
TURF FIELDS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MAKE IT ANY EASIER, DOES IT, TOM? IT DOES NOT. THEY'RE WONDERFUL AND THEY'RE NICE, BUT THERE'S STILL WORK INVOLVED WITH MAINTAINING THEM AS WELL.
HE HAS JUST AGAIN BEEN BEHIND THE SCENES THROUGHOUT IT ALL.
DOCTOR LAWSON SPOKE ABOUT SNOW PLOWING.
TRUCK 79 TOM'S HAD A LOT OF SEAT TIME WITH TRUCK 79 THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.
[00:30:03]
SO TOM, AGAIN, THANK YOU, YOU'RE AN INTEGRAL PART NOT ONLY FOR OUR ATHLETES, BUT FOR ALLOWING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO OPEN AND BE A SAFE OPERATING SYSTEM.SO THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].
IF I COULD SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK, MISS HAWLEY, AS WE'RE WRAPPING THIS UP, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST THE POWER OF HAVING YOUR LEAD SECRETARY BEING AS GOOD AS MISS MAGAW IS AND TOM, WITH THE GROUNDS, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE MAKE THE SCHOOLS GO.
LISTEN FOR NOT A MINUTE, DO I THINK THAT I MATTER THE WAY THESE TWO MATTER.
SO WHAT YOU DO IS APPRECIATED.
AND ANYBODY THAT'S CLOSE TO A SCHOOL KNOWS HOW MUCH.
AND NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK, DOCTOR LAWSON.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN. AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE MISS CHRISTIE EDELSON, THE COORDINATOR OF GUIDANCE SERVICES, AS WELL AS AMY COOK, COUNSELOR AT ELK NECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, KELLY SEHLHOFF, COUNSELOR AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
WHEN I THINK ABOUT SCHOOL COUNSELORS, I THINK ABOUT A QUOTE FROM MR. ROGERS THAT IS, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS, OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, OUR FAMILIES TO HELP BRING OUT THE BEST IN OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORT THEM THROUGH SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 3RD THROUGH SEVENTH SCHOOL COUNSELING, HELPING STUDENTS THRIVE.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION APPROVED.
MIC] NEXT WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION, FINE ARTS, TOURNAMENT OF BANDS RECOGNITION, DOCTOR LAWSON.
AND DOCTOR DAVE HASTINGS, OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR FINE ARTS AND OTHER STUFF.
GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS, AT THIS TIME, I'LL HAVE DOCTOR HASTINGS COME AND RECOGNIZE AND INTRODUCE THE TOURNAMENT OF THE BANDS, WINNERS.
GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE TO REPRESENT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FINE ARTS.
WE HAD A BUSY FALL WITH ALL COUNTY PERFORMANCES IN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS, AS WELL AS THE ALL COUNTY JAZZ BAND, AND TWO OF OUR MUSIC ENSEMBLES PERFORMED AT THE CECIL COUNTY INAUGURATION.
ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS HAD EXCELLENT HOLIDAY CONCERTS AND WERE WELL ATTENDED.
[00:35:02]
CURRENTLY, STUDENTS ARE PREPARING FOR UPCOMING SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL HELD AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH, AS WELL AS GETTING READY FOR AUDITIONING FOR ALL-COUNTY ORCHESTRA. AND OUR ANNUAL WINTER ART SHOW, REPRESENTING STUDENTS FROM ALL OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE EXHIBITED AT MILBURN STONE THEATER STARTING FRIDAY. THE SNOW KIND OF PUSHED IT A LITTLE BIT.WE TRIED TO DO THIS RECOGNITION BECAUSE THIS IS FROM OCTOBER, YOU KNOW, EARLIER NOVEMBER.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST WE CAN GET EVERYBODY IN HERE TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
SO FOUR OF OUR FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE COMPETITIVE MARCHING BANDS.
TONIGHT WE'RE RECOGNIZING TWO HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BANDS.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WANT TO INVITE, WE'LL START WITH ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE DIRECTOR, MR. WILLIAMS. JIM WILLIAMS AND MADISON SWANN, DESIREE DUBROSKI, WHO'S OUR DRUM MAJOR.
AND ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER, VICTORIA FLICK.
ELKTON RECEIVED FIRST PLACE IN THE 1A REGION.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT ELKTON STARTED COMPETITIVE MARCHING BAND SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE].
MR. WILLIAMS IS A PERRYVILLE ALUMNI, TOO, BY THE WAY.
MIC] NOW WE'RE GOING TO INVITE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTING AS THE DIRECTOR, MR. GEORGE COSTA AND DRUM MAJORS LEANNA RODGERS, CONNOR BROWNE, AND CALEB OWENS [APPLAUSE].
NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL PLACED FIRST IN THE TWO WAY REGION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MR. COSTA, WHO IS IN HIS FIRST YEAR AT, SORRY, AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL AS THEIR DIRECTOR.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO NORTHEAST [APPLAUSE].
SO HERE'S THE THING. THESE SEVEN, I BELIEVE.
I THOUGHT THERE WERE FOUR COMING.
SO WE WENT INTO THE RECORDS TODAY, AND WE PULLED AND THE FOUR.
YOU HEARD DOCTOR HASTINGS TALK ABOUT THEY HAD A TOUGH TIME GETTING HERE THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE THEY PLAY SPORTS, THEY'RE IN CLUBS, THEY WORK, THEY'RE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR SOMEBODY SAY THAT THIS GENERATION IS DOOMED, THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AREN'T ANYTHING, IT IS FAKE NEWS, RIGHT? THESE ARE GOOD QUALITY YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WILL BE WILL BE THE LEADERS.
THEY'LL SIT UP HERE AND OVER THERE IN THE NEXT 15, 20, 25 YEARS.
SO THANK YOU GUYS. CONGRATULATIONS.
[00:40:02]
[INAUDIBLE] AND NOW YOU CAN LEAVE.NOW YOU CAN LEAVE NOW. YOU CAN LEAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.
AND I THINK SOMETIMES THE SENSE IN THE PUBLIC IS THAT WE JUST DO THIS KIND OF STUFF AND THE CELEBRATING AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES BEHIND THE SCENES THAT'S IN DETAIL, AND IT'S FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
IT'S FOCUSED ON ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.
AND SO DOCTOR BUCKLEY AND DOCTOR HAMMER WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT AND ENCOURAGE THE BOARD.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY, JUST THROW UP A HAND.
GOOD EVENING AGAIN, AND THIS IS NOT MY LAST TIME UP HERE THIS EVENING, BUT GOOD EVENING AGAIN.
SO THIS THE REASON WE'RE GOING TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS.
WE'RE NAVIGATING DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CCPS WEBSITE TO SHOW NOT ONLY YOU, BUT THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A LIVING, BREATHING DOCUMENT THAT IS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR NOT FACEBOOK PAGE, I APOLOGIZE, OUR WEBSITE.
IT'S UNDER THE ABOUT US SECTION.
SO ON THIS PAGE RIGHT HERE IF YOU CLICK HERE, IT COMES RIGHT INTO THE LIVE DOCUMENT, THE STRATEGIC PLAN, I'M GOING TO MOVE IT INTO A DIFFERENT VIEW RIGHT NOW SO THAT YOU CAN YOU CAN SEE IT.
BUT THEY ARE ALIGNED DIRECTLY.
THIS IS ALL ABOUT CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND IT'S EXPECTED IN ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS.
IT'S ALIGNED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN, AS I SAID HERE WITH THE STRATEGIC THEMES.
THERE'S ACTIVITIES THAT GO WITH THAT STRATEGY.
A DEPARTMENT THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
BECAUSE EDUCATORS LOVE ACRONYMS, IS KPI, WHICH IS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS GOING WELL.
THIS IS A DISTRICT LEVEL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
IT'S THIS CYCLE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN, DO, STUDY, ACT.
IT'S A CYCLE THAT WE GO THROUGH.
SO I'M GOING TO GOING TO GET STARTED WITH A COUPLE OF THESE.
AND DOCTOR BUCKLEY IS GOING TO JUMP IN.
BUT STARTING WITH SAFE SCHOOLS, HERE'S SOME OF OUR PRIORITIES THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT AND YOU'LL SEE HERE THIS IS ALIGNED TO PILLAR FOUR.
IN BLUEPRINT WE HAVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND TEACHERS ARE IMPLEMENTING THOSE EXPECTATIONS APPROPRIATELY ACROSS THE BOARD.
SOME OTHER THINGS I'LL HIGHLIGHT HERE IS ANOTHER GOAL WE HAVE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE AND AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES, AND THAT AT A CLICK OF A BUTTON, THEY CAN FIND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
ANOTHER THING WE'LL SEE HERE IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SECURING OUR WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE IN TERMS OF SAFE SCHOOLS, THAT OUR MATERIAL AND INFORMATION IS SAFE AND SECURE FROM THE DANGERS OUTSIDE.
[00:45:06]
SO THAT ALL FITS UNDER THAT SAFE SCHOOLS UMBRELLA.OKAY. NEXT ONE, THIS IS THE MEAT AND POTATOES OF THE DIVISION OF EDUCATION SERVICES.
THIS IS EQUITABLE, RIGOROUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT ALSO, YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, AND IT MUST BE OF HIGH QUALITY TO SUPPORT; A PROVISIONAL TEACHER WHO'S WALKING OUT OF COLLEGE WITH VERY LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN EDUCATION, AS WELL AS A 25 YEAR VETERAN.
SO IT'S COMPLEX TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF SUPPORT AND LEARNING FOR OUR PROFESSIONALS.
AND AS YOU MOVE THROUGH THIS GOAL OR THIS THEME, YOU'LL SEE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, AND THAT'S REALLY CATCH NETS FOR STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE MEETING THE GOALS ACADEMICALLY WITH ATTENDANCE OR DISCIPLINE.
AND FINALLY, YOU'LL SEE SCIENCE OF READING TRAINING, WHICH IS VERY MUCH A PART OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR TEACHERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE AND THE STRATEGIES TO USE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS LEARNING HOW TO READ.
OKAY. THE NEXT ONE COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT.
SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THIS STRATEGY.
THESE STRATEGIES WILL INVOLVE, FIRST OF ALL, OUR CCPS COMMUNICATIONS PLAN.
WE SET GOALS FOR OURSELVES THERE.
WE ALSO HAVE A TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIC PLAN.
ALSO ONGOING LEARNING AND SUPPORT FOR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE.
THERE'S DIRECTIONS ONLINE TO SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE ALSO, THIS IS SOMETHING A CRISIS COMMUNICATION GUIDE.
SO IN THE EVENT OF A CRISIS, WE HAVE LANGUAGE ALREADY READY TO GO SO WE CAN IMMEDIATELY RESPOND.
ONE OF THE KEYS TO COMMUNICATION IS TIMELINESS.
SO NOT ONLY IS IT CLEAR, BUT IT'S TIMELY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THAT CRISIS COMMUNICATION GUIDES FOR US.
THE FINAL PIECE IS HERE, YOU'LL SEE OUR ENGAGING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
YAY! YOU'RE HERE THIS EVENING.
AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THAT MESSAGE ACROSS CECIL COUNTY.
DOCTOR BUCKLEY IS GOING TO JUMP IN AND SHARE THE LAST TWO STRATEGIC THEMES WITH YOU.
ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR BEFORE WE.
SO OUR NEXT OUR NEXT THEME IS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF HIGH QUALITY WORKFORCE.
AND AS THE BOARD IS AWARE BUT I WANT TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE.
AND THAT'S THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO, I THINK, THE BOARD.
I THINK THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO THE TRIBUTE TO THE LEADERSHIP IN THE BUILDINGS, AND THAT'S A TRIBUTE TO OUR SITTING TEACHERS, BECAUSE THEY WORK WITH OUR NEW HIRES TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND HELP THEM ALONG THE WAY, SO THAT THAT CONTINUES TO BE A GOAL FOR US.
AND THAT'S THAT'S A STRUGGLE FOR NOT ONLY CECIL COUNTY, BUT ACROSS THE STATE AS WELL.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE SECOND BULLET HERE CONTINUING DOWN.
ONCE WE HIRE OUR TEACHERS AND YOU HEARD DOCTOR HAMMER SPEAK ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THERE, THE NEXT KIND OF PHASE FOR THAT IS THEN HOW DO WE GET THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM? AND SO WE'VE WE'VE DOUBLED OUR REDOUBLED OUR FOCUS THERE TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE SYSTEM AND HOW WE CAN PROVIDE LEADERSHIP GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES ACROSS OUR SYSTEM.
AND WE'VE GOT A VARIETY OF THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THIS ON THIS YEAR TO SUPPORT THAT.
A NEW THEME FOR US THIS YEAR IS OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.
AND SO I'M REALLY GOING TO FOCUS IN THE FIVE BULLETS THAT YOU SEE UNDERNEATH OF HERE.
[00:50:02]
SO WE HAVE TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT.SO WE'VE WORKED ON PROCESSES TO SUPPORT OUR PURCHASING CARD PROCESSES, OUR TIME CLOCK PLUS, WHICH IS HOW WE MANAGE OUR HOURS FOR OUR WORK WORKFORCE AS WELL AS OUR TYLER MUNIS WORKFLOWS.
BUSINESS SERVICES IS ALSO WORKING TO UPDATE THEIR HANDBOOK ON TOP OF THAT AS WELL, TO REFLECT CHANGES AND FINDINGS THAT HAVE OCCURRED THROUGH THE RESULT OF THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT. ALSO, THE BLUEPRINT HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FISCAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND MRS. SOPA AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN MIRED IN REDOING ALL OF OUR ACCOUNTS.
AND WORK ORDERS ARE BASICALLY THINGS THAT ARE SUBMITTED THROUGH SCHOOLS, FROM SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL, WHETHER THAT'S A CRACKED SIDEWALK, DRYWALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, TOUCHED UP, PAINTING, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, ELECTRICAL, HVAC.
AND SO WE'VE DOUBLED, WE'VE DOUBLED OUR EFFORTS THERE AND REFOCUSED.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO DEFINE OUR POSITION CONTROL EFFORTS.
AND SO WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE THAT WE'VE GOT.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THAT.
SO AGAIN, AS DOCTOR HAMMER HAS SHARED, EACH OF OUR DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, WE ARE NO DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, THESE ARE THESE ARE THE THE GOALS THAT DRIVE US.
SO ANY QUESTIONS? HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. A LOT OF THESE ITEMS ARE VERY RELIANT ON A BUDGET THAT SUPPORTS THIS STRATEGIC PLAN.
THE PROPOSED 2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR, DOCTOR LAWSON.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT LAYS THAT OUT FOR NEXT YEAR.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHEN WILL WE START SCHOOL NEXT YEAR? THIS IS THE ANSWER.
WHEN WILL CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BREAK BE? THIS IS THE ANSWER. SO THIS LAYS OUT ALL THE DATES AND DOCTOR HAMMER AND DOCTOR BUCKLEY WILL SHARE THIS RECOMMENDATION.
AND I WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION HOPEFULLY FOR YOUR APPROVAL UPON THEIR CONCLUSION, DOCTOR.
THE GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU CAN SEE LISTED, IT'S A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TOGETHER.
WE HAD TWO MEETINGS SET UP, BUT THIS THIS WAS AN OVERACHIEVING GROUP AND WE WERE ABLE TO REALLY DIAL ALL THROUGH ALL OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAD TO DEVELOP THE 25-26 CALENDAR.
THE THERE ARE SEVERAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT NEED TO BE THAT ARE MADE AS WE ARE DEVELOPING THIS CALENDAR. THE FIRST THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS THAT IS NOT LISTED HERE IS WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE COMAR EXPECTATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE.
THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS THAT NEED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.
THERE ARE ALSO DAYS THAT WE CANNOT HAVE SCHOOL IN SESSION.
WE LOOKED AT THE LENGTH OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, FEDERAL HOLIDAYS, WINTER AND SPRING BREAKS.
IDENTIFYING EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS.
WE ALSO DESIGNATED THE END OF SCHOOL YEAR AND A GRADUATION WINDOW.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A CHANGE FROM TRADITIONAL IN THIS CALENDAR FROM WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
SO ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I GET STARTED ROLLING THROUGH THE MONTHS.
[00:55:04]
OKAY. SO JUST SEVEN SHORT MONTHS FROM NOW WILL BE JULY.4TH OF JULY IS ON A FRIDAY, AND THAT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO BE CLOSED.
THAT'S WHEN OUR NEW TEACHERS WERE INTO THE SYSTEM.
COME BACK AND GET TRAINED ON ALL THINGS CCPS.
HERE IS ONE MAJOR CHANGE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE RIGHT HERE.
WE ARE MOVING THAT BACK TO FOUR, AND HERE'S WHY.
AND BY PUTTING IT ALL AT THE VERY FRONT LOADING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, IT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET THE UPDATES THAT WE NEED TO OUT TO OUR STAFF AS THINGS CHANGE AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BUILD SOMETHING MORE INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WILL BE OCTOBER 2ND, THE DAY AFTER LABOR DAY.
WE ALSO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DAY, WHICH IS TRADITIONALLY THE THIRD FRIDAY IN OCTOBER, WHICH IS MSCA DAY, AND THAT ALLOWS OUR STAFF TO ATTEND THAT. AND THAT WILL BE A SCHOOL OR TYPICALLY A DISTRICT BASED PROFESSIONAL DAY.
CAN I INTERRUPT YOU JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S EDIFICATION.
STUDENTS WILL GO TO SCHOOL 180 DAYS A YEAR.
TEACHERS WILL WORK 189 DAYS A YEAR.
SO THOSE NINE DAYS ARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM THERE, IT SAYS PROFESSIONAL DAY NUMBER FIVE.
SO WE TRACK THEM LIKE THAT UP TILL NINE.
THE FIRST FOUR HAPPEN IN AUGUST.
SO AGAIN ALL STUDENTS ARE GOING 180 AND OUR TEACHERS ARE WORKING 189.
NOVEMBER. THIS IS WHERE WE'VE DECIDED TO ADD A PROFESSIONAL DAY THAT WE TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT.
SO YOU'LL SEE ON NOVEMBER 10TH, WE HAVE ADDED A PROFESSIONAL DAY THERE AND THAT WAS RECOMMENDED.
WE ARE WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO POTENTIALLY YOU DO SOME TYPE OF WORK WITH PARENT ENGAGEMENT DURING THAT TIME? IT'S AROUND THE TIME OF THE END OF THE MARKING PERIOD.
WE HAVE A THURSDAY HOLIDAY ON THE 25TH FOR CHRISTMAS.
DOCTOR BUCKLEY IS GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO NOW WE'LL GET INTO THE INTERESTING WINTER MONTHS.
YOU CAN SEE WE'LL COME BACK ON MONDAY THE 5TH HERE.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT ON THE END OF THE SECOND MARKING PERIOD WILL BE ON THE 23RD OF JANUARY WITH AN EARLY DISMISSAL DAY ON THE 26TH, AND THAT WILL ALLOW OUR STAFF TO STAFF TO WORK IN BUILDINGS. FEBRUARY 9TH WILL BE ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY WITH PRESIDENT'S DAY FOLLOWED ON THE 16TH.
DAY AFTER. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHEN'S THE SUPER BOWL? SO I WAS GOING TO SAY TRIVIA.
THE SUPER BOWL WILL BE FEBRUARY 8TH NEXT YEAR, IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING AND THEN WE GET INTO MARCH, AGAIN YOU'LL SEE PROFESSIONAL DAY NUMBER EIGHT ON MARCH 6TH, FOLLOWED BY, WHICH IS AFTER AN EARLY DISMISSAL DAY.
THE END OF THE THIRD MARKING PERIOD IS GOING TO BE APRIL 1ST.
SO THOSE TWO DAYS BE ABOUT RIGHT AFTER MIDTERMS OR INTERIM TIME PERIOD.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS BUILT IN ON THE 7TH AND THE 8TH.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT THEY'RE DENOTED OVER HERE AS NUMBER TWO AND NUMBER THREE.
AND I'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT AS WE AS WE WRAP UP THE PRESENTATION THIS EVENING.
THEN WE GET INTO MAY AND JUNE.
THE 22ND WILL BE AN INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY.
APRIL 22ND AND MAY 23RD, I THINK THIS YEAR.
WE'VE LOST THOSE TWO DAYS ALREADY.
SO NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST DAY THAT WE WOULD LOSE WOULD BE MAY 22ND.
THEN WE GET INTO JUNE TENTATIVELY.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS BASED UPON INCLEMENT WEATHER AND THE USE OF OUR INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE UP DAYS.
THE LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS WOULD BE JUNE 11TH, EXTENDING OUT POSSIBLY TO JUNE 15TH.
[01:00:03]
AND THEN AND THEN FOR 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES WHO WOULD STILL BE WORKING ON JUNE 19TH, WE WOULD BE OFF ON JUNETENTH.SO TO CLOSE OUT, YOU'LL SEE HERE THIS IS THE DESIGNATED ORDER OF INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE UP DAYS.
OUR FIRST WOULD BE MAY 22ND, APRIL 8TH, THEN APRIL 7TH.
AND THE REASON IT'S APRIL 8TH AND 7, IS WE WOULD BACK INTO THE SPRING HOLIDAY THERE SO THAT WE COULD EXTEND THAT AS LONG AS WE COULD, DEPENDING UPON THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT WE HAVE, WRAPPING UP AT THE END OF THE YEAR WITH THE FINAL TWO INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKE UP DAYS.
ANY QUESTIONS? EARLY DAYS, WHEN DOES IT BECOME A PARTIAL DAY TOWARDS THE CALENDAR OR HOW DOES THAT GET CALCULATED? YOU KNOW, SO LONG, LONG TIME LUNCH IS THE BIG THING.
IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE GETTING YOUR KIDS LUNCH, IT QUALIFIES AS A FULL DAY.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU MEAN EARLY DISMISSAL OR TWO HOUR LATE EARLY DISMISSAL.
LUNCH TIME. SO WE'VE GONE AGAINST TRYING TO DO SYNCHRONOUS OR ASYNCHRONOUS DAYS FOR SNOW DAYS.
CORRECT. THERE THERE ARE SOME AVAILABILITY ALLOWABILITY FOR BOARDS TO PROVIDE THAT BEYOND ONCE YOU'VE USED ALL THE BUILT IN DAYS IF WE GET TO THAT POINT. IS IT TOO LATE TO SUBMIT A PLAN? I SHOULDN'T BE ASKING YOU THIS IN PUBLIC.
YOU'VE TAUGHT ME HOW TO RESPOND.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW. DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M ASKING FOR? OKAY. YEAH. I MEAN, THE REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE JUNE 15TH IS A MONDAY.
AND WORST CASE SCENARIO, YOU HAVE.
CORRECT. NOBODY COME INTO SCHOOL THAT LAST DAY OF SCHOOL? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE THE RECOMMENDATION? OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AND ADOPT THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR AS PRESENTED.
THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS CALENDAR BASED UPON LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE, DOCTOR LAWSON.
THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. THIS TIME, MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WILL WALK THE BOARD THROUGH THIS MONTH'S BUDGET AMENDMENT, MISS SOPA, KEEP IT IN MIND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION WHEN SHE'S FINISHED, MISS SOPA.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS THAT HAPPEN DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.
SO YOU CAN SEE, AS WE SHARE EVERY MONTH THE LETTER THAT IS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
THIS SUMMARIZES OUR TOTAL CHANGE IN REVENUE, OUR TOTAL CHANGE IN EXPENSE, KNOWING THAT THE TWO MUST ALWAYS EQUAL FOR A BALANCED BUDGET, AND THE DETAILS REGARDING THIS ARE ON THE NEXT FEW PAGES.
SO WE CAN SEE SOME ADDITIONS IN RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
A ROBOTICS PROGRAM GRANT TO SUPPORT ROBOTICS CURRICULUM AND COMPETITIONS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS.
SOME CHANGES TO RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE.
SO A REDUCTION IN TITLE THREE MULTILINGUAL GRANT FUNDING, $30.
AND REDUCTION IN TITLE TWO GRANT FUNDING FOR -$105,000.
AND THE BIG ALL THE YELLOW THAT YOU SEE HERE UNDER UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
REPLACING A FIRE PUMP PANEL AT RISING SUN HIGH.
UPGRADING PARTIAL CONTROLS AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, I BELIEVE THAT'S ALSO A FIRE PANEL.
RELOCATING HOT WATER HEATING AND HOT WATER CONTROL VALVE AT CONOWINGO.
INSTALLING A WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AT LEEDS.
LEEDS STILL OPERATES ON A WELL, SO THIS IS PART OF THE PFAS ISSUE.
USE THE FUND BALANCE TO REPAIR PAVING AT MULTIPLE SITES.
SO WE HAVE SOME SITES THAT HAVE NOT HAD ANY PAVING WORK DONE TO THEM IN YEARS.
SO THIS IS TO KEEP THOSE PARKING LOT AREAS SAFE.
A DONATION FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH TO PURCHASE AN IPAD FOR ATHLETICS.
[01:05:02]
SO AGAIN, THAT'S FROM STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUND.A DONATION FROM ELKTON HIGH TO PURCHASE AN ICE MACHINE FOR THE ATHLETICS FIELDHOUSE.
SO AGAIN THAT'S USING STUDENT THE FIDUCIARY FUNDS TO PURCHASE THOSE.
SO IT'S CONSIDERED A DONATION.
THIS NEXT PAGE JUST SUMMARIZES ALL THE INS AND OUTS.
IT'S HARD TO LOOK AT HERE, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION FOR SOME MORE SPECIFICS.
AND THEN ON THE NEXT FEW PAGES, WE SEE OUR BUDGET BROKEN DOWN BY UNRESTRICTED, RESTRICTED AND TOTAL.
SO THESE TWO PAGES, UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED EQUAL OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET.
THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH THAT'S REMARKABLE ON IT THIS TIME.
IF YOU LOOK AT ADMINISTRATION, THE INCREASE HERE IS REALLY THE PURCHASE OF THE METAL DETECTORS.
AND AGAIN, JUST KIND OF TIMING OF EXPENSES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING REMARKABLE TO POINT OUT.
AND THE LAST PAGE TAKES OUR BUDGET AND SHOWS IT BY OUR ROLL UP CODE OR DEPARTMENT.
AND AGAIN, REALLY NOTHING TO HIGHLIGHT THERE.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ON TARGET FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.
ANY QUESTIONS? I RECOMMEND THAT RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $522,895 AS PRESENTED.
YOU HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, MISS OLSEN.
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 30 SECONDS 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 ROLES ONLY.
COMPLAINTS CONCERNING SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND OTHER NON-ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
SPEAKERS MUST STATE THEIR NAMES AND MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.
WE HAVE SIX PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.
WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE DARIA MARTIN, FOLLOWED BY SEAN BRIM.
AND MISS MARTIN, IF YOU WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON TO WHERE YOU SEE THE GREEN LIGHT.
AND THERE ALSO IS A BOX ON THE TABLE IF YOU WISH TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS.
[01:10:02]
CAN YOU HEAR ME? THANK YOU. GREETINGS MRS. HAWLEY, MRS. HEATH, MR. FERDINANDO. MR. DAVIS, MRS. DIXON AND DOCTOR LAWSON.HAPPY NEW YEAR. MY NAME IS DARIA WEBSTER MARTIN.
AFTER ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH PLAYERS AND THEIR PARENTS, I HAVE BECOME AWARE OF LONG STANDING CHALLENGES WITHIN THIS ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM, SPECIFICALLY THE LACK OF A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ADEQUATE RESOURCES.
DESPITE THESE OBSTACLES, THE TEAM HAS DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE PERSEVERANCE AND ACHIEVEMENT.
BEYOND THEIR PERFORMANCE ON THE COURT, THESE YOUNG MEN HAVE COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BY PARTICIPATING IN AFTER SCHOOL STUDY HALLS AND MAINTAINING AT LEAST A C AVERAGE.
AS BOOSTER CLUB PRESIDENT, I AM COMMITTED TO ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROGRAM AND ITS PLAYERS.
I AM CALLING ON ALL OF US; EDUCATORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO COME TOGETHER AND PROVIDE THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT NECESSARY FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THIS SPECIFIC ATHLETIC PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT.
NEXT WE HAVE SEAN BRIM, FOLLOWED BY RODNEY BREWER.
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BOOKS I'VE EVER READ IS MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING BY VIKTOR FRANKL.
THE FIRST COURSE IN WHICH I DISCUSSED THE HOLOCAUST WAS A EUROPEAN HISTORY COURSE, AND IN THE SECOND CLASS IN WHICH WE DISCUSSED THE SHOAH, WAS IN A COURSE ON ETHICS, WHICH INCLUDED FRANKL'S BOOK.
IT WAS INDEED THE FIRST ELECTIVE CLASS OF ANY SORT I TOOK.
ETHICS IS NOT MERELY A SUBSET OF PHILOSOPHY TO STUDY TO ME, AS FRANKL'S BOOK TITLE SUGGESTS ETHICS IS NOT SOME RULE ONE FOLLOWS IN GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY. IT IS A MEDITATION ON THE QUESTION WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LEAD A GOOD LIFE.
ETHICS ARE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIRTUE AND PURSUIT OF POWER.
I WILL NOTE HERE THAT ALL NEWS ANNOUNCEMENTS OF 2023 AND 2024 ON THE WEBSITE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE CECIL COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAVE BEEN DELETED, INCLUDING THE EMBARRASSMENT OF THE FALSE ETHICS CHARGES BY THE LAST CHIEF EXECUTIVE AGAINST THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WITH REGARDS TO THE MATTER BEFORE US BY MISS DIXON.
I REALLY WISH THAT MISS GISELLE GRIFFIN HAD NOT BEEN BROUGHT INTO THE MATTER.
MISS GRIFFIN HAS REPRESENTED HERSELF AND HER FELLOW STUDENTS IN THE HIGHEST REGARD, AND DID NOTHING TO WARRANT WHAT HAS HAPPENED, AS DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT BEFORE ANNAPOLIS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD.
NO BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER IN MY LIFETIME IS IN SUCH TROUBLE AS MISS DIXON IS IN NOW.
[01:15:08]
ONE THING I WANT TO DO NEXT MONTH, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE SNEAK PREVIEW IS QUOTING FROM MARYLAND, QUOTING MARYLAND'S GREATEST SON, WHO ONCE SAID, HE SAID VERY PROVOCATIVE THINGS ALL THE TIME.BUT THE ONE QUOTE THAT THAT I REMEMBER THE MOST IS THAT POWER DOES NOT YIELD WITHOUT A DEMAND.
IT NEVER HAS, AND IT NEVER WILL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. GRIM. THE NEXT SPEAKER, RODNEY BREWER, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HAMPTON.
MIC] GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, BOARD MEMBERS, DOCTOR LAWSON AND ALL WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
MY NAME IS RODNEY BREWER AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A SAFE AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR.
ANOTHER ONE CRASHED IN KYRGYZSTAN, BOTH DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER, THERE WAS A TRAGIC SHOOTING OF ABUNDANT LIFE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF A TEACHER AND A STUDENT.
AND THERE ARE ALSO WARS IN VARIOUS PLACES.
PEACEFUL HOLIDAYS, NOT AROUND THE WORLD, AND SOMETIMES NOT EVEN HERE.
WELL, I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A SAFE AND A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR CELEBRATION.
AND AS ADULTS, HOW ARE YOU ADJUSTING TO THE TRIALS IN YOUR LIFE? AND WHAT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS COUNTY OR OTHER PLACES? TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ARE SOMETIMES THE ONES TO CONSOLE YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRIALS AND LOSSES IN THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES.
AND SOME STUDENTS DON'T EVEN HAVE A GOOD LIFE SITUATION.
BUT OUR TEACHERS IN CECIL COUNTY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY NOT ONLY TO TEACH ACADEMICS, BUT IN SOME CASES, HELP TO BRING PEACE INTO THE LIFE OF OUR STUDENTS. AND WHAT I'M SAYING TO ALL OUR CLASSROOM TEACHERS IS THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THESE STUDENTS WHO NEED A GOOD ROLE MODEL TO FOLLOW.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING THEM SOME STRUCTURE IN THEIR LIVES.
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING THEM YOUR LISTENING EAR.
IN MY QUIET TIME I WILL OFFER UP A PRAYER FOR OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND PARENTS.
NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES, BUT I GIVE TO YOU.
DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NOR LET IT BE FEARFUL.
SO WHEN TRIALS AND HEARTACHE COME YOUR WAY AND THEY WILL COME, WHY NOT TURN YOUR EYES UPON THE ONE WHO CAN RESCUE US FROM OUR SORROWS? NEXT MONTH I PLAN TO SHARE SOME BOOKS TITLES WHOSE AUTHORS GIVES US HOPE IN DARK TIMES.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR LETTING ME SHARE.
GOD BLESS. THE NEXT SPEAKER, BRIAN HAMPTON, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE GIVENS.
GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'M BRIAN HAMPTON FROM PERRYVILLE.
AND MEDIA SPECIALISTS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW OUR STUDENTS IN NON-CLASSROOM SETTINGS AND INSPIRE STUDENTS TO LEARN, WHETHER IT BE ABOUT DINOSAURS AND RACE CARS, ASSIGNED RESEARCH OR ABOUT THEMSELVES.
[01:20:02]
WHEN ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS INQUIRE OF STUDENTS MINORS ABOUT THE RELIGION AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION OF ANOTHER STUDENT, ALSO A MINOR THAT ISN'T ABOUT FREEDOM BUT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF CONFORMITY.I SAY THIS BECAUSE IT IS MEDIA SPECIALISTS THAT CAN, WITHOUT INFRINGING ON ANYONE'S RIGHTS OR FREEDOMS, HELP STUDENTS THAT MAY STRUGGLE WITH SELF DOUBT OR SIMPLY WANT TO VIEW THE WORLD FROM ANOTHER'S PERSPECTIVE.
CHRISTINE GIVENS AND OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE CHRIS FULTZ.
I'M A LITTLE SHORT, SO I PULLED IT CLOSER.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY FOR A FEW REASONS.
I'D LIKE TO START BY OFFICIALLY BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A WHILE.
CONGRATULATING TIERNEY AND MISS HEATH, MR. DAVIS AND MISS HEATH. EXCUSE ME FOR YOUR ELECTION WINS.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO BE A PART OF YOUR TEAM.
SO THANK YOU SO YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.
AND THE OTHER COUNTIES, NEIGHBORING COUNTIES THINK THE SAME THING.
FOR MONTHS NOW, WE'VE BEEN TIRELESSLY PUSHING FOR RENEE DIXON'S RESIGNATION AS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER DUE TO HER UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR AND MOCKERY OF SUCH AN IMPORTANT POSITION AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLY UNFAIR SITUATION FOR MY NIECE, GISELLE, WHOSE TENURE HAS BEEN UNFAIRLY OVERSHADOWED BY THE ENTITLEMENT, ARROGANCE, BIGOTRY, RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA DISPLAYED BY MISS DIXON.
IT'S INFURIATING TO WITNESS GISELLE BEING FORCED TO SHARE THE SAME SPACE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS PLAGUED BY A SERIOUS SUPERIORITY COMPLEX, SOMEONE WHO IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHAT MEDIOCRITY LOOKS LIKE IN THE FLESH.
HOPEFULLY, THE STATE DOES WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
TO GISELLE, MY NIECE, BY LOVE, NOT BY BLOOD, BUT YOU ARE MY NIECE.
I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THESE THINGS ALREADY, AND WE TELL YOU ALL THE TIME, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT OUT LOUD BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IN THE TIMES THAT WE LIVE IN TODAY, TO SAY THESE THINGS OUT LOUD THAT OTHER PEOPLE ALSO NEED TO HEAR.
AND WE KNOW THAT. I DON'T NEED TO SAY IT, BUT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU DESERVE KINDNESS, COMPASSION, AND UNDERSTANDING.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND AUDIENCE, AND BEFORE I ACTUALLY KIND OF GO THROUGH WHAT I HAD WRITTEN DOWN, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TONIGHT'S BEEN KIND OF A GREAT NIGHT FOR ME TO COME.
THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT I HAD INTERACTIONS WITH AND INFLUENCED MY LIFE THROUGHOUT MY CAREER HERE IN CECIL COUNTY AND OF COURSE, TOO I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO MR. LARSON'S FAMILY. HE WAS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND HE WAS A GREAT PRINCIPAL.
[01:25:03]
MISS OLSON WAS MY LEAD SECRETARY.MISS HRINKO WAS MY SCIENCE TEACHER.
MISS COOK TONIGHT WAS MY SECOND GRADE ELEMENTARY TEACHER.
AND MISS MAGAW ALSO WAS THE SECRETARY WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WHEN PEOPLE GO AFTER THE SCHOOL BOARD, TO ME, IT'S PERSONAL, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHO I WOULD BE TODAY WITHOUT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM OR WHO WERE IN THIS ROOM EARLIER.
BUT ON TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO KIND OF DISCUSS TONIGHT.
SO TODAY I COME BEFORE YOU AS A CITIZEN, INSPIRED BY THE POWER OF SOME RECENT ACTION.
RECENT EVENTS REMIND ME OF LESSONS IN THE MOVIE WICKED, PART ONE.
THE TRUE, WHERE THE TRUE MEASURE OF LEADERSHIP IS REVEALED THROUGH INTEGRITY AND COURAGE.
SIMILARLY TO RENEE DIXON'S TREATMENT OF OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBER, GISELLE.
REFLECTS SOME OF THE DESTRUCTIVE AND MISUSE OF AUTHORITY.
I APPLAUD THIS BOARD FOR TAKING THE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS INJUSTICE.
YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS SENT AN UNEQUIVOCAL MESSAGE.
DISCRIMINATION HAS NO PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, AS WE LEARN FROM WICKED, THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE DOESN'T JUST END WITH ONE DECISION.
I URGE THE MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION TO FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE AND HOLD RENEE DIXON ACCOUNTABLE, ENSURING SUCH ACTIONS NEVER ARE REPEATED. THE STORY WICKED TEACHES US ABOUT THE COURAGE TO STAND AGAINST INJUSTICE, THE POWER OF INTEGRITY, AND THE RESILIENCE OF THOSE WHO REFUSE TO BE SILENCED, LIKE ELPHABA, GISELLE HAS SHOWN US WHAT IT MEANS TO RISE ABOVE THAT DISCRIMINATION AND HATE.
BUT AS ELPHABA DECLARES, NOBODY IN ALL OF OZ, NO WIZARD THAT THERE IS OR EVER WAS, IS EVER GOING TO BRING US DOWN. ADDED EFFECT. THANK YOU MR. FULTZ. NEXT WE HAVE, YOU HAVE COMMENTS.
UPCOMING EVENTS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT DOCTOR LAWSON.
AS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED, JANUARY 20TH IS THE KING HOLIDAY.
AND AGAIN OUR VERY OWN MR. DAVIS BRINGING THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS.
AND I KNOW WE'RE WE'RE PUMPING YOU UP OVER THERE, MR. DAVIS. ON JANUARY 22ND, WE KICK OFF OUR BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I WOULD URGE YOU PLEASE, TO ATTEND, SCRUTINIZE OUR BUDGET, ASK QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE A DAY LONG WORK SESSION BEGINNING AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING ON FEBRUARY 4TH.
AND WITH THAT, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
GREAT. AND ALSO, JUST TO MENTION THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY'S BUDGET HEARING THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S BUDGET HEARING IS JANUARY 16TH, I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. JANUARY 16TH AT 6:00 AT THE COUNTY BUILDING SO THAT IS JUST SOMETHING IF IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMENTS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
WITH THAT SAID, MAKE SURE YOU GO AND SEE MR. DAVIS. IT'S LIKE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR.
RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
STAY WARM. IT'S COLD OUT THERE.
AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.