Mar 12, 2025 Board Meeting

[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]

[00:00:04]

I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE MARCH 12TH, 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AND A PENDING LITIGATION MATTER AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE GENERAL

[2. Closed Session]

REAL QUICK IT'S ALSO B ONE AND EIGHT. I FORGOT THE OTHER TWO.

OKAY SO READ YOUR MOTION AGAIN PLEASE. OKAY. I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ENTER INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AND A PENDING LITIGATION MATTER AS PURSUANT TO MARYLAND ANNOTATED CODE, GENERAL PROVISIONS, ARTICLE 3-305, B ONE AND EIGHT.

OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY, I'M GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO HAVE A QUORUM, BECAUSE WE HAVE FOUR, THREE BOARD MEMBERS IN PERSON AND ONE BOARD MEMBER CALLING IN.

CLOSED SESSION. 5:30. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION, THE MARCH 12TH,

[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]

BEFORE WE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, I JUST WANT TO ESTABLISH A QUORUM.

TONIGHT. WE HAVE ONE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER AND THREE BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT.

WE ALSO HAVE MR. DAVIS CALLING IN. MR. DAVIS, ARE YOU THERE? YES, I AM. LOUD AND CLEAR. HE'S HERE. SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

SO PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE AS MISS GRIFFIN LEADS US.

BOARD REFLECTION. MS. HEATH. THE MISSION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

OKAY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

[4. Consent Agenda]

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE.

OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEW BUSINESS WILL START WITH BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.

[5. New Business]

I HOPE EVERYONE IS ENJOYING THE WONDERFUL WEATHER WE ARE HAVING. I KNOW I HAVE.

FOR MY REPORT TODAY, AND IN HONOR OF WOMEN'S NATIONAL HISTORY MONTH, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR ALL AND DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO MAKING CCPS BETTER, NOT JUST AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUT AS A COMMUNITY.

YOUR UNWAVERING SUPPORT, STRENGTH, INTELLIGENCE, AND RESILIENCE ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND WILL PROCEED TO SET THE TONE AND PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO THANK YOU. SECONDLY, AT MY LAST STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET WITH DOCTOR FOY FOR A QUICK Q&A, WHICH IS VERY INFORMATIVE AND EXCEEDINGLY HELPFUL TO STUDENTS AROUND THE COUNTY WHO HAD QUESTIONS ONLY HE COULD ANSWER. SO THANK YOU, DOCTOR FORD, FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE. FOR OUR NEXT MEETING, WE WILL. I THINK WE'LL BE HELD NEXT WEEK.

WE WILL BE MEETING WITH THE FIVE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE NEXT STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS EXCITING BUT SAD.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR TODAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GRIFFIN.

MR. FERDINANDO. HI, GOOD EVENING. I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO EXPLAIN A COMMENT I MADE AT THE END OF OUR LAST BOARD MEETING WHERE I TOLD MISS DIXON I WAS CONFUSED.

I WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M SORRY ABOUT THE WAY I SAID IT AND DIDN'T PUT ANY OTHER WORDS TO IT BECAUSE I DIDN'T MEAN TO DELIVER A SOUNDBITE THAT THEN BECAME LIKE FACEBOOK BANTER.

THE REASON I SAID THAT I WAS CONFUSED. MY COMMENT WASN'T MEANT TO LIKE, BE AGAINST MISS DIXON AT THE MOMENT OR WHAT SHE WAS ASKING FOR.

I ACTUALLY THOUGHT WHAT SHE WAS ASKING FOR WAS REASONABLE.

MY CONFUSION CAME WITH THE FACT THAT IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE A VOTE WITHOUT REAL CONSIDERATION TO BE ABLE TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE IT AS A TEAM.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, THE BUDGET FOR WEEKS.

WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THINGS TO THE BOARD, TO BRING THINGS TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

[00:05:04]

WE WORK THROUGH THEM. WE PRESENT THINGS THAT WE WANT LOOKED AT, AND WE WANT RESEARCH DONE BY OUR BY OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM SO THAT WE HAVE REAL DATA AND WE CAN ACTUALLY DISCUSS THESE THINGS. SO IN THE MOMENT, I WASN'T CONFUSED WITH WHAT THE ASK WAS.

THE ASK WAS FOR ADDITIONAL MONEY, WHICH I AGREE WE SHOULD GET MORE AND WE NEED TO AT SOME POINT.

WE COULD HAVE HAD SOME LONG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT AND DEBATES ABOUT IT.

WE COULD HAVE VETTED THAT, ASK IF WE HAD TIME.

I WAS CONFUSED THAT MISS DIXON DIDN'T GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE AND CONSIDER IT.

SHE DIDN'T GIVE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESEARCH IT AND FIND OUT HOW WE WOULD DO AND PRESENT THAT IN A REASONABLE WAY TO OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND MY CONFUSION WAS WHY AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT WITH MORE THAN JUST I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE THAT BECAME DIVISIVE AND BECAME AN ARGUMENT AND IT BECAME A TOPIC I DON'T WANT TO BE THE GUY THAT EVERYBODY'S TEXTING ME LATER GOING, YEAH, YOU REALLY GOT HER. THAT'S NOT WHAT I WAS IN IT FOR.

I'M NOT IN IT TO GET SOMEBODY. I'M IN IT TO, BECAUSE I WANT US TO HAVE REASONABLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS AS A TEAM, WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO LET THESE GUYS DO WHAT THEY DO AND RESEARCH IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT MY COMMENT WAS ABOUT. IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE MEAN SPIRITED IN ANY WAY, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN A MOMENT.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAD TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FERDINANDO. MR. DAVIS, I BELIEVE, WAS YIELDING HIS TIME SINCE HE'S DRIVING.

I JUST WANT TO VERIFY THAT, MR. DAVIS. YES. THANK YOU, MISS HOLLY.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. OKAY. I'M GOING TO BE SHORT TONIGHT.

I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D JUST LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING I'VE BEEN CONTINUING TO VOLUNTEER IN CLASSROOMS. I DO A KINDERGARTEN CLASS AND A FIRST GRADE CLASS EVERY WEEK IN THE MORNINGS, AND I TRULY ENJOY MY TIME DOING THAT.

AND I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO HAS TIME TO GO IN AND VOLUNTEER IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT, COME SEE ME.

I ALSO HAVE BEEN BUSY. NOW LIFE REALLY GETS BUSY AND MY FAMILY, I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN TEXTS.

MOM'S GONE NOW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE I COACH SOFTBALL AT BOHEMIA MANOR.

LOVE DOING THAT AND THAT STARTED. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO DO READ ACROSS AMERICA FOR SEVERAL CLASSROOMS. I ALWAYS ENJOY THAT. AND I ALSO ATTENDED MAEVE'S LEGISLATIVE MEETING AND MAEVE'S DIRECTORS MEETING WITH MISS HAWLEY, AND WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BOTH OF US ON THE DIRECTOR'S TEAM THERE AT MABE.

SO THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH.

JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE AS A TEAM CONTINUE TO MONITOR BILLS AND WE PROVIDE TESTIMONY IN OUR LETTERS AS APPROPRIATE, THROUGH OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH MABE. BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT WE WORK THROUGH MABE.

WE'RE PRETTY ACTIVE WITH MABE. I'M ON THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AS LONG AS WELL AS MR. DAVIS AND MISS HEATH, AND THEY MEET REGULARLY THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.

AND WE'RE WE CONSTANTLY ARE MONITORING HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF BILLS.

THE CROSSOVER DATE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MARCH 17TH.

SANDY DAYS IS APRIL 7TH. RIGHT NOW THE MAIN FOCUS IS THE STATE BUDGET.

NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE HERE. I WANT TO TAKE A SECOND AND JUST SHARE SOME POSITIVE NEWS.

WE ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO IMPROVE, BUT I. I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES AND OUR STUDENTS SUCCESSES.

AND I'M GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF EVENTS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, INCLUDING. THE FIRST WAS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY FESTIVAL, WHERE IN ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, WE CELEBRATED THE CULTURE AND THE ARTS ON THE FINAL DAY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

FOLLOWED BY FREAKY FRIDAY AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, DOCTOR LAWSON AND I WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT GREAT TALENT, GREAT TALENT THERE. AND WE HAVE MORE UPCOMING MUSICALS PLAYS AT BOTH THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS COMING UP.

SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE AS WELL AS CONCERTS AND SPRING SPORTS.

THE ANNUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MULTILINGUAL AFFAIR.

THIS WAS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW FOR THAT, AND EVERY YEAR IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THIS YEAR IT WAS EXTREMELY WELL ATTENDED.

I WANT TO COMMEND OUR SMALL BUT MIGHTY MULTILINGUAL TEAM FOR PUTTING IT TOGETHER.

THE JUDY CENTER. ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND FAMILIES, INCLUDING A LOT OF THE STUDENTS WHO PERFORMED AT THAT EVENT AND ALSO HELPED WITH THE

[00:10:08]

READ ACROSS AMERICA, AS MISS HEATH MENTIONED, VISITED MANY, MANY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

I'D DO AS MANY AS I CAN. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE WEEKS OF THE YEAR TO SPREAD THE LOVE OF READING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY, AND IT'S ALWAYS REALLY FUN AND HELPFUL TO GET INTO THE CLASSROOMS AND INTERACT WITH BOTH THE STUDENTS AND THE TEACHERS.

ON MARCH 5TH, I, ALONG WITH VARIOUS MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY CELEBRATED THE SPREAD THE WORD DAY .

I WENT TO NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL. I KNOW OTHER STUDENTS AT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY PLEDGED TO SPREAD INCLUSION AND KINDNESS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND PROMOTE THAT EVERY STUDENT DOES BELONG.

AND TONIGHT, WE'LL ALSO SEE OUR BULLYING CONTEST WINNERS.

SO LEADING INTO THAT. BEHIND ALL OF THESE STUDENT SUCCESSES, WE ALSO HAVE GREAT EDUCATORS.

AND THIS IS KIND OF THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE WE HIGHLIGHT THAT THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES.

I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND HEAR THEM SPEAK, INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

WE THEY'RE QUITE IMPRESSIVE, AS THEY ALWAYS ARE.

AND WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING OUR EDUCATORS AND I GUESS, CROWNING.

I GUESS YOU DON'T REALLY CROWN THE NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BUT THE NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 3RD, AND JUST ONE UPCOMING EVENT, WHICH WILL BE SHOWN LATER IN THE AGENDA.

BUT FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T GOING TO BE HERE AT THAT POINT, THE YOUTH PREVENTION RALLY IS ON MARCH 24TH FROM 6 TO 730 AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, AND IT'S HOSTED AND LED BY OUR YOUTH LEADERS AT YOUTH EMPOWERMENT SOURCES DRUG-FREE CECIL.

SO, I JUST ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND SEE THE GOOD.

SEE ALL THE THINGS THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE DOING AND THAT ARE HAPPENING AND SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE.

SO WITH THAT DOCTOR LAWSON. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.

I ATTENDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL AS WELL WITH MISS HAWLEY THE FREAKY FRIDAY THING, WHICH I'M NOT REALLY A THEATER GUY. I TRY. I SHOW UP AND I REALLY TRY TO PAY ATTENTION.

I'M. I'M BETTER IF THERE'S A BALL AND SCORE AND REFEREES, I CAN KEEP TRACK OF IT, BUT I DO TRY.

MISS BARTON IS HERE FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WAS THE DIRECTOR OF MAMMA MIA AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

WAS VERY WELL DONE. I GUESS THAT WAS LAST MONTH.

THAT HAPPENED. SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN THE SPRINGTIME RIGHT NOW.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ZACH GARVIN, STATE CHAMP WRESTLING.

RISING SUN WILL BE RECOGNIZED A LITTLE BIT HERE, AS WELL AS MISS RAMADAN'S DAUGHTER, REAGAN.

CONGRATULATIONS AS WELL. ALSO, NOT HERE TONIGHT IS MASON BOYD FROM.

I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S HERE FROM NORTHEAST HIGH.

HE'S THE FIRST STATE FINALIST AT NORTHEAST HIGH IN 30 YEARS IN WRESTLING.

SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND, YOU KNOW, WRESTLING IS AN ABSOLUTELY GRIND OF A SPORT.

AND IT IS A HARD, NEVER WRESTLED, IT IS A GRIND OF A SPORT.

SO, HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS THAT DO ALL THAT WORK.

THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES, INCLUDING PARENTS TAKING THEM TO PRACTICES WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE.

AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS. ALSO, I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T BRING UP TWO TEACHERS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

MIKAYLA MARTINDALE, SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT LEEDS ELEMENTARY, AND MOLLY BIDDLE, SECOND GRADE TEACHER AT BAYVIEW.

EACH MONDAY I GO AND I SPEND AN HOUR IN BOTH OF THEIR CLASSROOMS, REALLY, JUST TO LEARN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

I SPENT THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR LEARNING ABOUT READING TO SECOND GRADERS AS MISS BIDDLE'S CLASSROOM, AND IT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT FOR THE TEACHERS, IT'S PRETTY DAUNTING TO HAVE ME, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LOOK AT MYSELF THAT WAY.

IT'S JUST INTIMIDATING TO HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT COME IN EVERY MONDAY.

BUT THE KIDS ARE COOL. IT'S FUN. THE TEACHERS DO A GREAT JOB, AND IF YOU EVER DOUBT THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR CLASSROOM, YOU CALL ME AND YOU AND I WILL GO OUT AND SEE SOME OF WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR CLASSROOMS, AND I'LL LET THAT WORK SPEAK FOR ITSELF.

AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION, STARTING WITH OUR CECIL CLASSROOM CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, MISS LORI RENKO AS SHE MAKES HER WAY TO THE FRONT.

MISS RENKO, WELCOME.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT. IN JANUARY, WE WERE ABLE TO REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE BOARD'S NEGOTIATING TEAM.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF BOTH BARGAINING TEAMS WHO WERE ABLE TO MEET AND HAVE OPEN, HONEST DIALOG AND RESPECTFUL DISCUSSION TO REACH THAT TENTATIVE AGREEMENT.

[00:15:01]

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS THAT MADE THAT POSSIBLE.

I BELIEVE EXCUSE ME, MISS HOLLY MENTIONED THAT ON FEBRUARY 28TH, ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL HAD THEIR ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN FESTIVAL AND THE THEME WAS ART THROUGH THE AGES. THANK YOU TO THE ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF WHO ORGANIZED THE EVENT, AND ALL THE STUDENTS INVOLVED. IT FEATURED JUST AMAZINGLY TALENTED ARTISTS FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND FROM THE COMMUNITY.

POETRY AND STORYTELLING, DRUMLINE, A DANCE ENSEMBLE, THE ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ ENSEMBLE, AND LOCAL CHOIRS IN THE AREA. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, JUST A PHENOMENAL EVENT, THERE WERE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WITH TABLES AND TRIPLE CTA WAS PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO HOST A TABLE, AND WE FEATURED PAINTINGS BY MARYLAND ARTIST MARILYN GATES DAVIS, AND WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO GIVE AWAY KITS FOR UNITY BRACELETS.

AGAIN, THERE WERE FOLKS OF ALL AGES THERE, AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SET IT ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR NEXT YEAR, IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENT. LAST WEEK DURING FACULTY MEETINGS, MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS LEARNED THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW EIGHT BLOCK SCHEDULE NEXT YEAR, INCREASING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR MATH AND LANGUAGE ARTS TO 90 MINUTES, AND REDUCING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME FOR SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES TO 45 MINUTES.

WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY TEACHERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE CHANGES AND THE EFFECT THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE WITH THE SCHEDULING.

TEACHERS MAY NEED TO SWITCH CONTENT AREAS. A POTENTIAL INCREASED WORKLOAD WITH MORE CLASSES.

CURRICULUM NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED AND POTENTIALLY LIMITING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COURSES.

SOME OF OUR STUDENTS CAN TAKE BECAUSE OF THE REMOVAL OF THE REVISIT PERIOD.

WE DO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO INCREASE INSTRUCTIONAL TIME IN ELA AND MATH.

WITH THE NEED TO IMPROVE TEST SCORES IN THOSE AREAS AND MEET STUDENT NEEDS, AND ALSO AS A REQUIREMENT FROM MSDE.

AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR HELP AND SUPPORT WITH TO MEET TEACHER CONCERNS IN THOSE AREAS.

AND WE DO HAVE THAT ONGOING SUPPORT. AND WE'VE ALWAYS WORKED TOGETHER, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE TO TO MEET THIS HURDLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, IF YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE NEWS THIS WEEK, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL HAD THEIR STAFF CUT IN HALF. THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ALSO CUT MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS AND SCHOOLS BY TERMINATING TWO PROGRAMS THAT AID GOVERNMENT FOOD PURCHASES, AND THAT INCLUDES A BUY LOCAL PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTED THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS FROM LOCAL FARMERS, AND PROVIDING THAT FRESH FOOD TO SCHOOLS AND FOOD BANKS IN THE AREA.

THE IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES NOT MANDATE CURRICULUM, BUT THEY DO PROVIDE FUNDING AND OVERSIGHT IN MANY AREAS, INCLUDING TITLE GRANTS LIKE TITLE ONE THAT SUPPORT SO MANY OF OUR HIGH NEEDS SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT AND FUNDING THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH WITH DISABILITIES AND JUST ALL THE STUDENTS IN OUR PROGRAMS. SO IN RESPONSE TO THIS, ON MARCH 19TH, NEXT WEEK, THERE WILL BE A DAY OF UNITY TO PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

DIFFERENT THINGS WILL BE HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BUT WE'RE ASKING CECIL COUNTY FOR FOLKS TO WEAR RED FOR ED AND TO CONTACT THEIR LEGISLATORS EVERY DAY, BUT ESPECIALLY ON THAT DAY, AND ASK THAT OUR FEDERAL LEGISLATORS BLOCK ANY CUTS THAT WOULD GO TO FUNDING OUR OUR STUDENT NEEDS. SO WE MAKE THAT ASK THAT NEXT WEEK ON THE 19TH, THAT EVERYBODY WEAR RED FOR ED TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS AND YOU LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS RENKO. MR. ERIC BROWN, I SAW YOU.

THERE YOU ARE. CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION.

WELCOME. GOOD EVENING, MISS HAWLEY.

DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DO EVERY DAY AS ADMINISTRATORS.

I WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE PUBLIC EDUCATION CONTINUES TO BE UNDER ATTACK, AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT COMES FROM EVERY SIDE AND FROM EVERY DIRECTION.

OFTENTIMES, PEOPLE FLIPPING SIDES IN ONE MINUTE, ARGUING THAT WE DON'T NEED TO HAVE MONEY, AND THE NEXT MINUTE ARGUING THAT WE DO OUT OF THE BLUE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THAT, IN SPITE OF ALL THAT, WE COME TO WORK EVERY DAY AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN.

I START EVERY SINGLE DAY THE SAME WAY WHEN I WALK IN MY BUILDING.

[00:20:01]

I DON'T. I, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE I DON'T LOVE, OH MY GOSH, SINCERELY LOVE EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERYTHING I DO.

BUT THE NEEDS ARE GREAT AND WHILE PEOPLE ARE POLITICALLY POSTURING AND TRYING TO MAKE POINTS AND TRYING TO PRESS ISSUES AND TRYING TO GET GOTCHAS, I REALLY APPRECIATED WHAT MR. FERDINANDO SAID EARLIER.

THANK YOU, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SO MANY PEOPLE TRYING TO GET EACH OTHER THAT WE'RE LOSING SIGHT OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS OUR BABIES, EVERY SINGLE DAY.

TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, LUNCH LADIES, SECRETARIES, BUS DRIVERS.

WE GET UP AND WE GO DO THE WORK. AND THE WORK IS LOVING ON THESE KIDS.

THE WORK IS MAKING SURE THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THESE WONDERFUL YOUNG PEOPLE GET UP HERE AND GET RECOGNIZED.

THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS MORE, LIKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, THAT NEED THE LOVE AND ATTENTION OF A GOOD PUBLIC EDUCATION.

MOREOVER, THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT NEED WHAT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE AN OUTREACH NIGHT.

PEOPLE SHOW UP AND THEY COME BECAUSE THEY WANT TO LEARN HOW TO READ WITH THEIR KIDS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO TEACH THEIR KIDS MATH.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HELP US EDUCATE THEIR KIDS.

BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THE NONSENSE YOU HEAR OUT HERE IN THE AIRWAVES, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY, AND IT HAPPENS AT EVERY SINGLE BUILDING IN THIS DISTRICT.

WE'RE AT A TIME NOW WHERE WE'VE GOT ADMINISTRATORS THAT ARE HAVING TO MAKE LIFE DECISIONS.

THEY'VE GOT TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE XANAX IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE STRESS OF ALL THIS POLITICAL NONSENSE, ALL THE BUDGET. THEY'VE GOT TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE A HIT TO THE FACE BY A KID WHO'S DISTRESSED AND TRAUMATIZED.

THEY'VE GOT TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT IN ANOTHER 12 HOUR DAY, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF THEIR JOB.

SO WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE TALK ABOUT, LET'S REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE HUMAN BEINGS ON THE OTHER END OF THIS, AND THEY'RE WORKING REALLY, REALLY HARD FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN BECAUSE WE LOVE THEM, BECAUSE IT'S OUR JOB.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN ALL OF THAT, BECAUSE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

THANK YOU, MR. BROWN.

THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.

THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AS THE BOARD CAN SEE, DOCTOR TED BOYER, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, HAS PREPARED SOME PICTURES OFF ON YOUR RIGHT.

AND THAT IS THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN POURED. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ENOUGH DIRT IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN TO MAKE THAT FLUSH, AND WE WILL BE BRINGING IN A TON OF NO THOUSANDS OF TONS OF DIRT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND SO A LOT IS GOING ON. OKAY. WE HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR EACH.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S HAPPENING NOW. AND I THINK THIS THIRD PICTURE TELLS THE BEST STORY OF WHERE IT IS.

THAT'S REALLY THE FOOTPRINT OF THE SCHOOL RIGHT THERE.

WHAT? HOLD THAT FOR A SECOND. YOU CAN SEE THE BLOCK AND THE RECTANGLE THAT'S JUTTING OUT TOWARDS THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN, THAT'S THE IRISHTOWN ROAD, WILL RUN ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THAT SCREEN FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IS KIND OF THE MAIN LOBBY AREA OF THE SCHOOL THAT YOU SEE THERE IN THE VERY FRONT.

THE SCHOOL WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THREE LEVELS, AND IT GETS KIND OF TIERED DOWN BECAUSE OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF THAT PARTICULAR ACREAGE.

THERE'S A PRETTY STEEP DESCENT DOWN AND BUT REALLY EXCITING STUFF.

AND THEY ARE ON SCHEDULE AND EVERYTHING'S GOING WELL MOVING FORWARD.

THIS IS FINISHING UP THE NEW AIR CONDITIONING CHILLER AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE THAT READY BEFORE THE FIRST WARM WEATHER HITS.

PLEASE. OTHERWISE, THE EMAILS COME FAST AND HEAVY FROM KIDS, FROM TEACHERS.

BUT IT'S ANTICIPATED IT'LL BE READY FOR THIS SEASON'S WARM WEATHER.

AND THIS IS THE. THEY'RE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE PERRYVILLE FIELD HOUSE.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE IT READY. THERE IS A RATHER LARGE MAY TRACK MEET.

WE'RE HOPING THAT THE FIELDHOUSE WILL BE READY FOR THAT TRACK MEET JUST IN A FEW WEEKS.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MYSELF OR DOCTOR BOYER REGARDING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS? ANY QUESTIONS? JUST KEEP IT ON YOUR RADAR. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS.

YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO SUPPLEMENT OUR BUDGET WITH 1.7 $1.8 MILLION FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO INCLUDE ROADWAYS, SIDEWALKS. SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING STUFF GOING ON.

IT SHOULD HAPPEN ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BOYER.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR BOYER FOR THE REPORT. OUR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION REPORT.

[00:25:05]

IT IS NOW THE CECIL COUNTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION.

IT'S REALLY THE EFFORT OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LOCAL BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE BASICALLY JUST TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON ALL FRONTS. AND SO CREDIT TO MISS SHAW, OUR BPAC, OUR FOUNDATION COORDINATOR FOR THE WORK THAT GOES ON BEHIND THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JEN. QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT REPORT? BOARD QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, MICHELLE. NOW I'M HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH, THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 15. DOCTOR LAWSON. SO AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COMMANDER ROBERT, BOB NORMAN AND CAROL LOGAN TO COME FORWARD AND TO GO TO THE FRONT WITH BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

THEY ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN ELKTON.

AMERICAN LEGION POST 15. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE DONE FOR US OVER THE RECENT YEARS.

BACK IN 2019, THEY SUPPLIED OVER $15,000 FOR OUR COROLLARY ATHLETICS PROGRAM.

THAT'S FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ATHLETICS PROGRAM.

IT'S AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STUDENT HELPERS AND ATHLETES, WHETHER IT'S BOWLING, BOCCE BALL, TENNIS, THE WHOLE THING. SO $15,000 GOES A LONG WAY TOWARDS CARRYING THAT, THAT ENTIRE PROGRAM AND THEN TURN IT AROUND IN 2023 AND GAVE ANOTHER $20,000 FOR THE VERY SAME EFFORT.

I MEAN, THAT IS THAT'S NOT NOTHING THERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND JUST KNOW THAT LOTS OF KIDS BENEFIT FROM YOUR EFFORT.

AND THEN FINALLY, THIS YEAR, $10,000 WAS GIVEN TO OUR JUDY CENTERS BY THE AMERICAN LEGION.

AND WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THAT. AND THIS SYSTEM DOESN'T RUN THE WAY IT RUNS WITHOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. [APPLAUSE] OKAY, NEXT ON THE AGENDA THE ALL IN UNITED AGAINST BULLYING WINNERS.

DOCTOR LAWSON. I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS CHRISTIE EDELSON, OUR COORDINATOR FOR GUIDANCE SERVICES, AND MR. JOHN ROUSH, OUR DIRECTOR OF STUDENT AND SCHOOL SAFETY, TO COME FORWARD TO RECOGNIZE THE ALL IN UNITED AGAINST BULLYING POSTER CONTEST WINNERS.

MR. ROUSH. GOOD EVENING. BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

DOCTOR LAWSON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS. THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR IS THE 12TH YEAR FOR THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT OF STUDENT SERVICES TO PROMOTE THE MONTH OF OCTOBER AS BULLYING PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH.

ONCE AGAIN, A COUNTYWIDE POSTER CONTEST WAS HELD.

THIS EVENING, WE WOULD LIKE TO UNVEIL THE WINNING LAYOUT AND RECOGNIZE THE GRADE LEVEL WINNERS OF THE ALL IN UNITED AGAINST BULLYING POSTER CONTEST. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MISS CHRISTIE EDELSON, COORDINATOR OF SCHOOL COUNSELING, TO INTRODUCE THE POSTER CONTEST WINNERS. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. ROUSH. SO, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR THAT WE KICKED OFF THIS POSTER CONTEST WITH A NEW SLOGAN, WHICH IS HAS BEEN MENTIONED ALL IN UNITED AGAINST BULLYING.

AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO SEE ALL THE AMAZING POSTER ENTRIES THAT CAME IN THIS YEAR.

SUCH TALENTED STUDENTS AND WE THANK EVERYONE FOR PARTICIPATING.

AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO RECOGNIZE AND CALL EACH WINNER ALONG WITH THEIR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, UP TO THE FRONT AS I ANNOUNCE THE WINNER'S NAME.

AND I WILL ALSO ANNOUNCE THE FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HAVE JOINED US FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENING, AND YOU ARE WELCOME TO COME UP AS WELL.

[00:30:08]

THEY WILL ALSO GET A RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE AND THE PRIZE THAT THEY CHOSE.

WE HAD A NICE SELECTION FOR THEM TO CHOOSE FROM THIS YEAR.

WINNERS WILL ALSO HAVE A PHOTO TAKEN WITH DOCTOR LAWSON AND MISS HAWLEY.

ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS THE SELLING POINT WHEN I WAS GETTING PEOPLE.

THE POSTER THAT'S BEING SHOWCASED TONIGHT WAS DESIGNED BY A STUDENT IN THE INTERACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION PROGRAM AT THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, AND THE POSTER WILL BE DISPLAYED AT ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.

THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY POSTER DESIGN WINNER IS WILL HENDERSON, BUT WILL WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US THIS EVENING DUE TO ILLNESS.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR. NOW WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR INDIVIDUAL POSTER WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S CONTEST.

WE HAVE TWO ELEMENTARY WINNERS, SO WE CHOOSE ONE FOR PRE-K TO TWO AND THEN 3 TO 5.

AND WE HAVE ONE MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNER AND ONE HIGH SCHOOL WINNER IN ADDITION TO THE DESIGN.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TWO ELEMENTARY WINNERS WERE ALSO COULD NOT MAKE IT THIS EVENING.

SAD TO SAY. AND THEY JUST HAVE A LOT GOING ON AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

SO, WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT HAWLEY BROWN, GRADE ONE FROM CALVERT AND HANNAH BROWN, GRADE FIVE FROM CALVERT, IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD TWO SIBLINGS IN A YEAR.

THEY ARE ELEMENTARY WINNERS, AND WE WILL BE SURE TO RECOGNIZE THEM ALONG WITH WILL HENDERSON.

BUT WE DO HAVE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE WINNER JULIANA SMITH, GRADE EIGHT FROM RISING SUN MIDDLE.

WE INVITE JULIANA, MRS. RAHNAMA TO OUR RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND JULIANA'S MOTHER, MRS. SMITH, TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] AND REPRESENTING THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, NORA SNYDER, GRADE 11 FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.

WE INVITE NORA, MR. MIRO, PRINCIPAL OF RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL, AND NORRIS PARENTS, ANDREW AND LAUREN SNYDER AND SISTER DOROTHY, TO PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE STUDENTS FOR AN OUTSTANDING DESIGN AND FOR HELPING TO SUPPORT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN AGAINST BULLYING.

CONGRATS AGAIN TO ALL THOSE STUDENTS. NEXT WE ARE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR FINE ARTS.

SO FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. ALL STATE CHORUS AND BAND RECOGNITIONS AND OUR SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS.

[00:35:01]

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

IF DOCTOR HASTINGS COULD COME DOWN TO RECEIVE THE PROCLAMATION.

YEAH, YOU CAN COME OVER THIS WAY BECAUSE YOU'LL BE RIGHT UP NEXT.

CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOL MONTH PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS FINE ARTS SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED THE MORALE AND QUALITY OF THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHEREAS, THE COUNCIL FOR ART EDUCATION HAS DESIGNATED MARCH 2025 AS YOUTH ART MONTH.

AND WHEREAS, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MUSIC EDUCATION HAS DESIGNATED MARCH 2025 AS MUSIC IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH.

AND WHEREAS, THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE FOR THEATER EDUCATION AND THE EDUCATIONAL THEATER ASSOCIATION HAS PARTNERED TO SPONSOR MARCH 2025 AS THEATER IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ENDORSES THE OBSERVANCE OF FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOL MONTH.

TO ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT A QUALITY FINE ARTS EDUCATION FOR ALL STUDENTS PRESENTED THIS 12TH DAY OF MARCH 2025.

SIGNED, DIANA B HAWLEY. BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT SIGNED DOCTOR JEFFREY A LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR FOY. I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.

I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

FURTHER RECOMMENDATION, IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I REALLY LIKE THE WAY YOU SAID SCHOOLS.

IT MAKES IT SOUND SO MUCH MORE. IT'S SO MUCH COOLER.

SO THAT'S MY DISCUSSION. I KEEP SAYING SCHOOLS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S ALL. WELL DONE. WELL DONE. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OKAY. UNANIMOUS MOTION CARRIES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] YOU'D THINK I KNOW HOW TO DO THIS? I'VE DONE THIS, LIKE 20 TIMES, BUT.

GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOL MONTH, TO ME, IS A CELEBRATION OF OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SO MANY FANTASTIC EVENTS THAT MAKE THIS MONTH VERY SIGNIFICANT.

ALL OF OUR FINE ARTS PROGRAMS ARE THRIVING. WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES IN ALL COUNTY MUSIC IN TERMS OF BAND, CHORUS, ORCHESTRA, AND THAT'S AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AS A RESULT, CLOSE TO 500 STUDENTS HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THESE PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, WE HOSTED ANOTHER ART SALE FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO SOLD OVER $2,500 OF THEIR OWN WORK.

BESIDES ART AND MUSIC, ALMOST ALL OF OUR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE PUT ON AND OR ARE PREPARING TO PUT ON PLAYS OR MUSICALS.

SO FAR, BOHEMIA MANOR MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL. RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.

PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WELL ATTENDED.

THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT THE HELP AND SUPPORT OF OUR TEACHERS.

THEY DEDICATE THEIR TIME TO PROVIDE THESE EXPERIENCES.

WITH ALL THAT BEING SAID, IT IS GREAT TO WATCH THESE AMAZING THINGS HAPPEN IN CCPS.

I'M ALSO HERE THIS EVENING TO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR AMAZING FINE ARTS STUDENTS IN THE AREA OF MUSIC.

FIRST, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO WERE SELECTED TO BE IN THE ALL-STATE ENSEMBLE TO BE A PART OF THIS AND BE SELECTED IN THIS ENSEMBLE, YOU GO THROUGH A RIGOROUS AUDITION PROCESS.

PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM SEVERAL SCHOOLS.

PERRYVILLE SCHOOL STUDENTS COULD NOT BE HERE BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER CONCERT THIS EVENING.

I'M ALSO AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENTS WHO ACHIEVED THE DISTINCTION IN ALL STATE COURSE.

I WILL ALSO RECOGNIZE THE TEACHERS. I WILL CALL EACH SCHOOL SEPARATELY, INCLUDING WITH THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WE ARE GOING TO START TONIGHT WITH ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

THOSE STUDENTS, ALONG WITH DOCTOR JIM LACOB AND TEACHER MISS MACKENZIE BARTON, CAN COME FORWARD.

I'M GOING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. YEAH, I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE STUDENTS NAMES.

AVA BAGINSKI, SENIOR TREBLE CHORUS. JAMES ESTEP, SENIOR MIXED CHORUS.

[00:40:05]

THERE'S BEEN ONE STUDENT SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN MY EIGHT YEARS THAT HAS MADE IT TO ALL EASTERN.

ADDISON GOODWIN ALSO ACHIEVED THAT.

NEXT WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.

AND THEY CAN COME FORWARD. MR. CONKEY, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MR. CASTLE, TEACHER AND EMMA HAMMOND WHO ACHIEVED FOR SENIOR TREBLE CHORUS ALL-STATE.

[APPLAUSE] FINALLY WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE RISING SUN. WE HAVE MR., JIM MIRO HERE THIS EVENING.

AND STUDENTS MAXWELL BOXLEDGE, ALANA FALCO, [INAUDIBLE] WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL ART STUDENTS FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

THESE STUDENTS COMPETED IN THE SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS, THE NATION'S LONGEST RUNNING AND MOST PRESTIGIOUS RECOGNITION PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE TEAMS. THIS PROGRAM STARTED BACK IN 1923. THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE TEACHER, MISS JOLENE FIRKUS, ALONG WITH REBECCA CULLOP, STUDENT KATELYN GENTRY, AND FINAL STUDENT JOCELYN HERNANDEZ LOPEZ. [APPLAUSE]

[00:45:33]

THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] IN THE LAST OF OUR STUDENT AWARDS TONIGHT WE HAVE OUR WINTER 2025 ATHLETICS AWARDS.

DR. LAWSON. BECAUSE IT'S MARCH, IT'S WINTER ATHLETICS AWARDS TIME.

MISS SEXTON, YOU ARE UP.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE.

IT IS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE OUR WINTER ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND NUMBERS FROM THIS WINTER SEASON.

WE HAD TWO STATE CHAMPIONS, WHICH I WILL INTRODUCE IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

WE HAD 11 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS. PERRYVILLE GIRLS BASKETBALL AND TEN INDIVIDUAL INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD AND WRESTLING.

ALL THESE REGIONAL CHAMPIONS PLUS OTHER TOP INDIVIDUALS WENT ON TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

WE HAD SIX WRESTLERS PLACED IN THE TOP SIX OF THE STATE, TWO FIRST PLACE, ONE RUNNER UP, TWO THIRD AND ONE SIXTH PLACE FINISH, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. WE ALSO HAD FOUR SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS.

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT BELLAIRE, I MEAN BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, WON THE UNIFIED BOWLING BUMPER AND NON BUMPER DIVISIONS OF THE UNIFIED BOWLING TOURNAMENT, AND IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT THAT WE HAD 167 MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES PLAYING GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL AND 645 HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES PLAYING FIVE DIFFERENT SPORTS THIS WINTER.

SO IMPRESSIVE WITH THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ALL THE HIGH NUMBERS.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS STATE CHAMPIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE WAIT UNTIL AFTER I RECOGNIZE YOU.

THEN I WILL CALL YOU UP TO RECEIVE THIS. YOUR CERTIFICATES.

FIRST FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR REGAN RAMADAN.

THE STATE 1A2A WRESTLING, 155 POUND WEIGHT CLASS CHAMPION.

REGAN IS THE FIRST FEMALE WRESTLER IN CECIL COUNTY HISTORY TO WIN A STATE TITLE SINCE THE STATE SANCTIONED A GIRLS WRESTLING IN 20 1920 SEASON, REGAN PICKED UP HER FIRST EVER STATE CROWN IN A64 DECISION OVER HER OPPONENT.

SHE ENDS HER JUNIOR YEAR WITH ONLY TWO LOSSES, PLUS A CONFERENCE, REGIONAL AND STATE TITLE FOR HER FIRST YEAR AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.

THIS IS SO IMPRESSIVE. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE DOES NEXT YEAR.

NO PRESSURE. AT THIS TIME I WOULD ASK RAGAN, COACH SETH GARVIN, COACH LUKE GARVIN, COACH ANTHONY CIMAROSI, AND PRINCIPAL JIM MIRO TO COME FORWARD. [APPLAUSE] THIS CERTIFICATE IS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 1A2A, WRESTLING 155 POUNDS STATE CHAMPION, REGAN RAMADAN.

ALSO, FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR ZACH GARVIN, THE STATE 1A/2A WRESTLING, 165 POUND WEIGHT CLASS CHAMPION.

[00:50:02]

ZACH USED A TAKEDOWN IN THE FIVE IN THE FINAL FIVE SECONDS OF THE 165 POUND FINAL TO NEGATE A11 TIE AND SECURE HIS FIRST EVER STATE TITLE IN A41 DECISION OVER HIS OPPONENT.

ZACH ENDED HIS JUNIOR YEAR WITH ONLY ONE LOSS WITH A CONFERENCE, REGION, AND STATE TITLE.

WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT. AND AGAIN, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK ZACH, COACH SETH GARVIN, UNCLE, COACH LUKE GARVIN, DAD, COACH ANTHONY CIMAROSI AND PRINCIPAL JIM MIRO TO COME FORWARD.

[APPLAUSE] THIS CERTIFICATE IS A WELL-DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 1A/2A WRESTLING 165 POUNDS STATE CHAMPION, ZACH GARVIN.

WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE THE 24-25 WINTER UCBAC SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS.

THIS MARKS THE 21ST YEAR WE HAVE RECOGNIZED SPORTSMANSHIP AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WITH HARFORD COUNTY.

I AM HONORED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO FOUR TEAMS FROM OUR COUNTY AND RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENT ATHLETES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES.

FIRST, FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, THE UNIFIED BOWLING TEAM PLAYERS MASON HALTER, TYLER JACKSON, HALEY JACKSON, STEPH START, KYLIE SCOTT, RILEY BAGINSKI, SAMANTHA AMODEI, COACHES ANGELA EICHER AND BRENDA HUGHES AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR LEITGEB.

FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM IN THE SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION.

PLAYER TYSON GIBSON. HEAD COACH MIKE WRIGHT. ASSISTANT COACH DAN WRIGHT AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR LEITGEB.

[APPLAUSE]

[00:55:23]

SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION PLAYERS. HAILEY STANSFIELD AND I'M SORRY, AVA GUERRIERI, HEAD COACH HAILEY FIELDS.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOE GRAF.

[APPLAUSE] AND FROM BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM IN THE SUSQUEHANNA DIVISION.

PLAYER CHRIS HARRIS, HEAD COACH. SANDY GRIMES, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOE GRAF.

[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF RESOLUTIONS. THE FIRST IS PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY.

DOCTOR LAWSON. DOCTOR HAMMER. DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING.

IT IS. I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY.

AND I HAVE TWO FOLKS WHO I'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD.

JACQUELINE HORSEY FROM CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND TARA STANHOPE, PLEASE COME FORWARD FROM THOMPSON ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

[APPLAUSE] THEY'RE ROLLING THEIR EYES.

CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY.

APRIL 3RD, 2025 RESOLUTION. WHEREAS PARAPROFESSIONALS ARE INTEGRAL PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL TEAM THAT PROVIDES A SAFE AND HEALTHY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS. AND WHEREAS PARAPROFESSIONALS SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS WITH GREAT SKILL, CARE, COMPASSION, HUMOR, AND SENSITIVITY. AND WHEREAS THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE CRITICAL IN THE LIVES OF THE STUDENTS WITH WHOM THEY WORK.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY, CONVENED IN PUBLIC SESSION, HEREBY PROCLAIMS APRIL 3RD, 2025 AS PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY, TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

PRESENTED THIS 12TH DAY OF MARCH 2025. SIGNED DIANA B HAWLEY, BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT JEFFREY A LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PARAPROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION DAY AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THERE HE IS. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

[01:00:13]

THE THEME, OF COURSE, IS DRAWN TO THE LIBRARY.

WE'RE EXCITED TONIGHT TO HAVE TWO MEDIA SPECIALISTS WITH US TO RECEIVE THIS RESOLUTION.

SO, I'LL ASK MISS MELISSA FRIEL FROM RISING SUN MIDDLE, AS WELL AS JAMIE BRUNO FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE TO COME FORWARD AND JOIN PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

THE RESOLUTION READS WHEREAS MEDIA SPECIALISTS ENSURE THE SCHOOL LIBRARY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM OF THE SCHOOL.

AND WHEREAS MEDIA SPECIALISTS HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED TO TEACH THE SKILLS OF LOCATING AND USING INFORMATION THROUGH TRADITIONAL RESOURCES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE LITERATURE APPRECIATION ACTIVITIES AND GUIDE AND ENCOURAGE CONTENT AND RECREATIONAL READING TO EVERY STUDENT.

AND WHEREAS THE MEDIA SPECIALISTS OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE DEDICATED THEMSELVES TO WORK FOR QUALITY SCHOOL LIBRARIES FOR ALL PATRONS.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY DOES HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2025 AS SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRESENTED THIS 12TH DAY OF MARCH 2025, SIGNED DIANA B HAWLEY, BOARD OF EDUCATION PRESIDENT AND JEFFREY A LAWSON SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE RESOLUTION SCHOOL LIBRARY MEDIA MONTH AS PRESENTED TO BE OBSERVED IN ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HEARD DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. DISCUSSION.

OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

THANKS AND CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] OUR FISCAL YEAR 2025 CAPITAL BUDGET UPDATE. DOCTOR LAWSON.

THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO ASK MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TO COME AND SHARE A CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENT WITH THE BOARD FOR $1.7 MILLION. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK AND KNOW THAT UPON HER CONCLUSION, I WILL ASK FOR A VOTE. SOPA. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS.

WE DON'T OFTEN HAVE A CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENT, BUT BECAUSE COUNTY COUNCIL PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO COVER THE COST OF SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE COUNTY, THEN WE'RE ALSO AMENDING OUR CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE SAME AMOUNT.

SO COUNTY COUNCIL APPROVED A $1,787,727 IN SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND SO THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET. THAT BRINGS OUR INCREASES, OUR TOTAL FY 25 CAPITAL BUDGET TO $36,408,844. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT BIGGER HERE, BUT THESE PROJECTS HERE, THE PARKING LOT REPLACEMENT, SIDEWALK REPAIRS, THIS GROUP OF PROJECTS HERE THAT WERE ADDED ARE WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THIS BUDGET FROM THE LAST TIME UNTIL TODAY.

OKAY. JUST A CLARIFICATION. IF THIS AMENDMENT EXCEEDS OR GOES BELOW THIS AMOUNT, WILL THERE BE ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO? SO, WHAT THIS IS THESE ARE THE BUDGETED NUMBERS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS AS THE PROJECTS OCCUR, WE BILL FOR THE ACTUAL AMOUNT.

AND IF SOMETHING WAS TO CHANGE AND SOMETHING WENT ABOVE BUDGET, THEN IT WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK HERE FOR APPROVAL AND COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD APPROVE IT AS WELL IF THEY WERE WILLING TO COVER THE OVERAGE.

GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS? ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE SCHOOL CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $1,787,727 AS PRESENTED.

[01:05:04]

SECOND. SECOND. OH, TOO LATE, TOO LATE, MR. DAVIS.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO THANK COUNTY COUNCIL FOR AGREEING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE SMALL CAP PROJECTS FOR US. THANK YOU. COUNTY COUNCIL. SECOND. YEAH.

THEN, I MEAN, BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN BE DONE DURING THE SUMMER, SUMMER, SUMMER WHEN WE DON'T HAVE KIDS THERE.

SO YES. YES, YES. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY.

ALL IN FAVOR. AYE AYE AYE. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NEXT IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE. MISS SOPA CONTINUES.

YES, MISS SOPA. SO THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR OUR OPERATING BUDGET.

THIS IS THE COVER PAGE THAT ALWAYS ACCOMPANIES OUR REQUEST TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

AND THIS PAGE SUMMARIZES WHAT WE'LL SEE ON THE NEXT PAGES, SHOWING A REDUCTION IN REVENUE AND AN EQUAL REDUCTION IN EXPENSES FOR THIS AMENDMENT.

SO WE HAVE SOME ADDITIONS AND RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.

FY, LET ME MOVE THE MOUSE BECAUSE THERE'S A HAND THERE.

FY 24 CARE FIRST WELLNESS GRANT TO SUPPORT WELLNESS INITIATIVES.

THAT'S JUST A CORRECTION OF THAT GRANT BY A DOLLAR.

FY 25, CECIL COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT TO SPONSOR APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND PROGRAM SIGNING DAY $417 SPECIAL OLYMPICS MARYLAND DONATION TO SUPPORT STIPENDS FOR UNIFIED SPORTS COACHES IN ALL MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

25,552. A BANK OF AMERICA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION GRANT TO THOMPSON ESTATES TO SUPPORT PBIS INITIATIVES IN THE AMOUNT OF 500, AND REDUCING THE BPAC GRANT FOR SUPPORT SERVICES OF THE YEAR AWARD IN ORDER TO GIVE THE AWARD DIRECTLY TO THE STAFF WINNER.

SO ORIGINALLY, THEY GAVE US $1,000, BUT INSTEAD WE GAVE THAT BACK TO THEM FOR THEM TO PRESENT THE CHECK AT THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR EVENT SO THAT THEY COULD DO THAT.

AND SO THAT'S JUST A REDUCTION IN $1,000. WE HAVE SOME CHANGES TO RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.

CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT CATCH MY BREATH GRANT TO SUPPORT THE ELKTON HIGH SBR CLUB TO DETER STUDENT USE OF VAPES, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUGS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,000 AND FIELD TRIPS TO MUSEUMS OF CULTURAL IMPORTANCE.

GRANT TO SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION AND SUBSTITUTE COVERAGE AT SOME MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, AND THE AMOUNT OF $10,771.

WE HAVE SOME CHANGES TO FEDERAL REVENUE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

PERKINS FUNDS TO SUPPORT THE CNC MACHINING PROGRAM WITH STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

$21,184. TITLE THREE IMMIGRANT GRANT TO PROVIDE TUTORING TO IMMIGRANT STUDENTS $14,283. SPECIAL EDUCATION DIRECTORS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY GRANT TO PROVIDE TRAVEL AND LODGING FOR AN MSD CONFERENCE FOR $300. REDUCTION TO TWO SPECIAL EDUCATION GRANTS HERE IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,429 AND A REDUCTION OF $91 FOR THIS ONE. AND WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT RELATES DIRECTLY TO WHAT I JUST SHARED WITH THE CHANGES IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

SO THESE ARE ALL OF THE SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED AS PART OF THE SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

AND SO SOME OF THE SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS WE HAD BUDGETED IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET USING FUND BALANCE, THEY WERE THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND NEEDED TO START GETTING WORK ON.

AND SO ONCE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AGREED TO PAY FOR THOSE, THEY MOVED TO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

SO, WE REDUCED THE AMOUNTS IN OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND WE INCREASED THOSE SAME AMOUNTS IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

NOT ALL OF THE PROJECTS HAD BEEN BUDGETED ALREADY, SO YOU WON'T SEE THE EXACT SAME LIST HERE, BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WERE ALREADY BUDGETED IN THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT ARE NOW MOVED TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET.

SO, YOU CAN SEE THE CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL SIDEWALK REPAIRS FOR 33,100.

THE RISING SUN MIDDLE CHILLER REPAIRS FOR $182,625.

CHERRY HILL MIDDLE AUDITORIUM REPAIRS 140,993.

CHERRY HILL MIDDLE OFFICE FLOORING, THE WATER LINE REPAIRS.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE WATER LINE WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS FUNDED BY COUNTY GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR, AND THIS WAS THE OVERAGE. THAT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ADDED AS PART OF AND THE COUNCIL APPROVED TO COVER THE OVERAGE THIS YEAR.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE PAVING REPAIRS. THIS WAS PART OF OUR BUDGET REQUEST THIS YEAR, LAST YEAR.

THAT WAS APPROVED IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR AND THEN CHANGING SOME REFRIGERANT MONITORS IN SEVERAL SCHOOLS.

SO AGAIN, MOVING ALL THOSE PROJECTS TO OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.

[01:10:09]

THE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT IS THAT IT GIVES YOU THE DETAILS.

FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE.

AND SO THEY GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THE ONES THAT HAVE A TOTAL IN THE TOTAL COLUMN, THESE ALL MATCH ALL OF THOSE ADDITIONS AND SUBTRACTIONS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGES. SO THINGS LIKE THE GRANT AND I'M TRYING TO GET IT TO BLOW UP NOW SO THAT YOU CAN SEE IT.

THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED GRANT, THERE'S THAT $25,525,552.

SO THESE TOTALS THAT YOU SEE HERE MATCH THE TOTALS ON THE PRIOR PAGE.

THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE A TOTAL THAT SUM INTO A ZERO.

THOSE WEREN'T ADDITIONS OR REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE.

THOSE WERE JUST MOVEMENTS FROM ONE STATE CATEGORY TO ANOTHER WITHIN A DEPARTMENT ALREADY.

SO IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WAS ADDITIONAL OR REDUCED. IT WAS JUST MOVING BETWEEN STATE CATEGORIES.

SO LET ME. AND THESE PAGES SUMMARIZE OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET, OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET I APOLOGIZE, KEEPING IN MIND THAT OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET, PLUS ANY YEAR TO DATE AMENDMENTS WILL GIVE YOU OUR CURRENT BUDGET AND WE SHOW THE SAME THING FOR RESTRICTED.

AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL OF OUR GRANTS. ALL OF OUR FEDERAL REVENUE FALLS IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET.

AND THEN THE NEXT PAGE TAKES OUR UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED BUDGETS TOGETHER TO GIVE YOU OUR TOTAL BUDGET.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU TOOK ALL THE YEAR TO DATE AMENDMENTS THAT WE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD, PLUS OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET GIVES YOU OUR CURRENT BUDGET.

THE NEXT PAGE IS OUR THREE YEAR TREND. AND IF YOU REMEMBER AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN I MENTIONED THE TIMING OF PAYROLL, THE THREE PAYCHECKS LAST YEAR WERE IN JANUARY, AND OUR MONTH WITH THREE PAYCHECKS THIS YEAR DOESN'T FALL UNTIL MARCH BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CALENDAR FALLS. SO ALL OF THESE THAT ARE TRENDING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER AT THIS POINT THIS YEAR ARE BECAUSE AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, WE HAD THREE PAYCHECKS ALREADY. AT THIS POINT THIS YEAR WE HAVE NOT.

SO, WE'RE THE OTHER WAY AROUND THIS POINT. THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD IT AT THIS POINT.

THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD THEM THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE DID NOT.

SO THAT'S WHY IT LOOKS THE WAY THAT IT DOES. AND THIS LAST PAGE JUST TAKES ALL OF OUR UNRESTRICTED FUNDS BY DEPARTMENT TO JUST BREAK IT DOWN IN A DIFFERENT WAY INSTEAD OF STATE CATEGORY.

AND AGAIN, JUST TAKES OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET PLUS ANY TRANSFERS FOR A REVISED BUDGET.

AND YOU CAN SEE FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT WHERE WE STAND AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL EXPENSE, ANYTHING THAT'S ENCUMBERED AND WHAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, AND THERE IS REALLY NOTHING THAT STANDS OUT ON THIS REPORT.

QUESTIONS? YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE MR. DAVIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. NO QUESTIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR A -$649,239, AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT MAKES ME LAUGH EVERY TIME. THANK YOU, MISS SOPA.

NEXT, WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. MISS OLSON.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD.

AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM JUST AS A REMINDER.

THE BOARD WILL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER.

THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED.

THE AMOUNT OF TIME ALLOTTED FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

IN GENERAL, A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER. WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE.

[01:15:02]

PERSONNEL MATTERS PENDING APPEALS, GRIEVANCES, LITIGATION, EMPLOYEE AND OR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS AND SPECIFIC STUDENT DISCIPLINARY MATTERS MAY NOT BE DISCUSSED.

ABUSIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND PROFANITIES MAY BE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY EXPRESS OPINIONS FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE ON THE PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS IN THEIR PUBLIC ROLE ONLY.

COMPLAINTS CONCERNING SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS AND OTHER NON-ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED DIRECTLY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT SPEAKERS MUST STATE THEIR NAMES AND MAY NOT SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL.

THE BOARD PRESIDENT MAY INTERRUPT OR TERMINATE AN INDIVIDUAL STATEMENT WHEN IT IS TOO LENGTHY OR VIOLATES THE GUIDELINES.

THE BOARD ALSO ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.

THIS EVENING WE HAD TEN PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT TWO ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND, SO WE HAVE EIGHT FOLKS TO BRING PUBLIC COMMENT THIS EVENING.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.

OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE DEB SHORT, FOLLOWED BY DONNA CULBERSON.

MISS SHORT, IF YOU WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON TO WHERE THE MICROPHONE TURNS GREEN, THERE YOU GO.

JUST A QUICK EXPLANATION BEFORE I BEGIN. THERE ARE MANY HERE AND VIEWING THIS FROM HOME WHO BELIEVE IN THE REALM OF GOD AND CHRISTIANITY, AND WE CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIANS. WE HONOR GOD AND JESUS.

ONE ASPECT OF BELIEVING IN GOD IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS CONFORM TO WHAT HE WANTS FROM US.

WE CALL THAT OUR NATURAL SELF AND IT INCLUDES OUR EMOTIONS, GOOD AND BAD.

OUR EMOTIONS CAN LEAD US ASTRAY MANY TIMES WITHOUT US REALIZING IT, AND THEY BECOME STRONGER AND STRONGER.

MAYBE ANOTHER WAY TO PUT IT LOUDER AND LOUDER.

UNFORTUNATELY FOR ALL OF US HERE, IN MY VIEW, THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE CONSTANT BATTLING AGAINST SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER RENE DIXON. A STATEMENT THAT WAS SAID IN CONFIDENCE WAS MISUSED BY YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.

YOUR MISUSE LIGHTED UP THE EMOTIONS IN MANY. THE RESULT ANGER AND HOSTILITY TOWARD MRS. DIXON THAT NEVER EVER NEEDED TO HAPPEN. WHY DID YOU ALLOW THIS TO GO FORWARD AS LONG AS IT HAS.

I'M SURE YOU WOULDN'T WANT THE SAME HARASSMENT TO BE SHOWN ABOUT YOU.

THERE NEEDED TO BE AN END TO THIS. SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS WOMAN FIRST.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO FIND ANOTHER PERSON AS CARING AND LOVING AS SHE IS SURPRISED.

MAYBE IF YOU HAVEN'T WATCHED HER TEACH YOUNG AND OLD, THEY MASTER A SKILL THAT PROMOTES STRENGTH, KNOWLEDGE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SO MUCH MORE.

MRS. DIXON IS FULL OF KINDNESS AS SHE CAREFULLY GUIDES ALL HER STUDENTS TOWARD THEIR GOALS.

MANY OF HER STUDENTS NEED HER SAFE AND KIND LOVE.

THAT IS A GIFT SHE HAS BECAUSE OF HER LOVE FOR EVERYONE.

SHE GUIDES HER STUDENTS TOWARD THEIR GOALS WITH PATIENCE, UNDERSTANDING, AND THE LOVE THAT I WILL SAY AGAIN, IS INCREDIBLE. OH, BUT YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, BUT DON'T PUT SOMEONE WITH A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE IN FRONT OF HER.

NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE. HAVE YOU EVER VISITED HER HORSE RANCH? IF NOT, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW THE REAL MRS. DIXON.

TAKE A LOOK AT ALL HER YOUNG AND OLDER VOLUNTEERS.

THEY COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE. ALL I WANT TO SAY IS THERE HAS BEEN GREAT MISREPRESENTATION GUIDED BY EMOTIONS ABOUT MRS. DIXON AND I, ALONG WITH MANY, MANY KNOW THIS.

DOCTOR LAWSON AND BOARD MEMBERS. I ASK WITH ALL RESPECT FOR YOUR POSITIONS TO NEVER EVER LET ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

JUST LIKE IN THE IN THE CLASSROOM, JUST LIKE AT WORK.

AND JUST LIKE WITH THIS BOARD, WE ARE HERE TO SEEK TRUTH AND NOT SIMPLY OUST SOMEONE BECAUSE OF ILL PERCEIVED CLAIMS. YES, I AM SAYING IN MY OPINION THAT YOU BROUGHT THIS MISREPRESENTATION OF JUSTICE ON YOURSELVES.

YOU OWE ALL OF US, EVERY ONE OF US SITTING HERE, INCLUDING MRS. DIXON, EITHER FOR OR AGAINST MRS. DIXON AN APOLOGY.

AND THIS IS A SUGGESTION TO ALL OF US TO NOT LET OUR EMOTIONS CONTROL OUR ACTIONS WITHOUT THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING TALKING TO THE PERSON. OTHERWISE, IT CAN BECOME A SLIPPERY SLOPE THAT CAN END UP HURTING SELF.

NOT MRS. DIXON, BUT SELF. EVEN IF YOU WIN. THANK YOU, MISS SHORT.

MISS CULBERSON FOLLOWED BY SHAUN BRIM. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

[01:20:05]

BUT AFTER SOME THINGS THAT I HEARD THIS EVENING, I'M GOING TO AD LIB A LITTLE BIT.

I CONSTANTLY HEAR FROM THE BOARD, FROM LEADERSHIP ABOUT HOW EVERY STUDENT IS IMPORTANT, HOW EVERY STUDENT DESERVES A GOOD EDUCATION, AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH THAT.

I'M PROUD OF ALL OF THESE STUDENTS THAT WERE UP HERE, RECEIVED.

ALL OF THOSE AWARDS WERE RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

BRAVO TO THEM. BUT THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT WE CONSTANTLY ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT, AND THOSE ARE OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BRING ME TO THE BOTTOM PART OF MY SPEECH.

SO IN MY OPINION, THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS FAILING OUR STUDENTS, SPECIFICALLY OUR STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND DISABILITIES. STUDENTS ARE FALLING BETWEEN THE CRACKS DUE TO THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND MANTRA.

THIS IS MY OPINION AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S PHILOSOPHY THAT BELIEVES STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE RETAINED, REGARDLESS OF THEIR INABILITIES. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT MENTALITY IS THAT STUDENTS ARE BEING PUSHED FROM ONE GRADE TO THE NEXT, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT MEETING GRADE STANDARDS, AND EVEN IF THEY'RE UNABLE TO READ AND WRITE.

THERE ARE TEACHERS IN CECIL COUNTY THAT HAVE PULLED THEIR OWN CHILDREN FROM CCPS AND PLACED THEM IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE DISTRICT'S FAILURE TO MEET THEIR CHILD'S NEEDS. UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL PARENTS CAN TAKE THE SAME ACTION, AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE THE ONES WHO SUFFER THE MOST.

PARENTS, PLEASE TO HOLD CHILDREN BACK ARE FALLING ON DEAF EARS.

ALL OF YOU. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE MCAT SCORES, AND YOU WILL SEE THE ABYSMAL PROFICIENCY LEVELS IN BOTH READING AND MATH.

AND BEFORE YOU SAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, LET ME SHARE A LITTLE STORY WITH YOU.

MY GRANDSON, WHO IS 11 YEARS OLD, SOON TO BE 12, RECENTLY CAME TO LIVE WITH ME AND I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT HE HAS SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS. THE CHILD CANNOT READ AND HE CANNOT WRITE.

HE CAN'T EVEN WRITE HIS OWN NAME PROPERLY. AND IN MY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE REASONING BEHIND THIS, ALL I REALLY GOT WAS THAT HE WAS THAT STUDENTS ARE NOT RETAINED.

SO MY POINT BEING IS THAT THESE CHILDREN ARE NOT GETTING THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED, AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE EDUCATION THAT THEY DESERVE.

I AM ON THE PATH RIGHT NOW OF HIRING A TUTOR WHO IS VERSED AND TRAINED IN DYSLEXIA TO TUTOR HIM THREE DAYS A WEEK IN THE EVENINGS AFTER SCHOOL. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE FAST.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY STUDENT IN THIS POSITION. OTHER STUDENTS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE IN THE SAME POSITION.

IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU. SEAN BRIMM, FOLLOWED BY SANDY WARD. I'M SEAN BRIM OF NORTHEAST.

NEXT WEEK ON THE 19TH, THE PERRYVILLE LIBRARY WILL BE HOLDING A SEMINAR, THE FORGOTTEN WOMEN OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.

ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT IF YOU MENTION THE WORD MOZART, YOU WILL START ME TALKING AND I WON'T SHUT UP.

THE MOZART FAMILY INVENTED THE VERY IDEA OF THE ROCK BAND WORLD TOUR BEGINNING IN THE 1760S.

THE MOZART FAMILY, IN AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE TOWARD THE GREAT CITIES AND CAPITALS OF EUROPE AUGSBURG, PARIS, LONDON, ROME AND, OF COURSE, VIENNA. THE CITY OF MUSICIANS.

OF THE MOZART, SEVEN CHILDREN BORN TO THEM, ONLY TWO SURVIVED INFANCY MARIA ANNA AND WOLFGANG AMADEUS, THE GENIUS WHO INVENTED OPERA AS WE KNOW IT. THAT ONLY TWO OF THE MOZART CHILDREN SURVIVED IS TRAGICALLY TYPICAL OF 18TH CENTURY HISTORY.

MARIA ANNA, WOLFGANG'S OLDER SISTER, HAD A TALENT FOR PLAYING THE PIANO THAT WAS THE EQUAL OF HER BROTHER, WHO WAS THE FIRST GREAT CHAMPION OF THE THEN NEW INSTRUMENT, THE PIANO.

HISTORY ALSO STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT SHE HAD A DORMANT ABILITY TO WRITE MUSIC THAT MAY VERY WELL, HAD IT BEEN ENCOURAGED, MIGHT HAVE RIVALED HER BROTHERS.

INDEED, MOZART HIMSELF HANDED DOWN TO US A HINT OF THIS, BECAUSE IN ONE OF HIS LETTERS TO HER, HE COMPLIMENTED HER ON THE COMPOSITION OF A SONG SHE ONCE WROTE.

MOZART WOULD NOT HAVE SAID THIS UNLESS HE THOUGHT WELL OF THE PIECE, BECAUSE HE NEVER MINCED WORDS WHEN IT CAME TO HIS JUDGMENT OF MUSIC.

BUT WHY DO WE NOT HEAR HER NAME IN TANDEM WITH HIS?

[01:25:01]

IT IS SIMPLY AND TRAGICALLY TRUE THAT IN THAT CENTURY OF MUSIC, WOMEN WERE NOT ENCOURAGED TO COMPOSE OR WRITE MUSIC AT ALL.

MARIA ANNA'S NAME IS THE CLOSEST THAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THAT CENTURY TO SUCH FAME, AND IT IS TO ME ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTING QUESTIONS IN ALL OF HISTORY OF MUSIC.

MARIA ANNA OUTLIVED HER BROTHER BY HALF A CENTURY.

HER OBSCURITY ONLY DEEPENED BECAUSE MUCH OF WHAT SHE WROTE IS LOST TO TIME.

I'VE RECOMMENDED READING MOZART'S WOMEN, HIS FAMILY, HIS FRIENDS, HIS MUSIC BY COMPOSER, CONDUCTOR AND HISTORIAN JANE GLOVER.

I'D ALSO LIKE TO ADD ONE OTHER THING. MR. FERDINANDO FROM MR. FERNANDO'S COMMENTS EARLIER TONIGHT. I WAS PRESENT IN THE MEETING LAST A FEW WEEKS AGO AS WELL.

I UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHAT YOU MEANT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I TEND NOT TO GO OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MAKE COMMENTS, BECAUSE IT IS JUST TOO EASY TO TWIST OTHER PEOPLE'S WORDS.

AND IN FACT, I AGREE WITH YOUR WITH YOUR QUESTION.

I WAS JUST AS PERPLEXED AS YOU WERE. I WISH WE'D HAD MORE TIME TO HAVE CONTEMPLATED AND DELIBERATED OVER WHAT MISS DIXON WAS TRYING TO SAY, BUT AT THAT 11TH HOUR, THERE WAS NO WAY WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING, OR THE COUNTY FOR THAT MATTER, THEY WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO DURING IT WOULD NEED TO HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BRIM. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SANDY WARD, AND NEXT ON MY LIST IS MISS JACKIE GREGORY. I DON'T SEE HER PRESENT.

ALL RIGHT. AFTER MISS WARD WILL BE MISS NORMA KERRY.

I STARTED ATTENDING AND SPEAKING AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS IN THE SUMMER OF 2021.

WHY? I SPOKE AS AN ADVOCATE OF PARENTS. THEY WERE AFRAID TO SPEAK TO YOU GUYS, THE BOARD, AND THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE NOT BEING HEARD.

I UNDERSTAND THEIR FRUSTRATIONS. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WOULD NOT ADVOCATE FOR THEM WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND, EVEN FOR SIMPLE QUESTIONS LIKE WHEN MY CHILD HAVE TO WEAR A MASK, YOU WOULD NOT GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER TO THE PARENTS.

YOU DID NOT FIGHT FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS TO CHOOSE WHETHER OR NOT THEIR CHILD WORE A MASK.

PARENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT PORNOGRAPHY BOOKS, YET YOU DID NOT CARE ENOUGH TO FIGHT FOR PARENTAL CONCERNS AND AGAINST THE LEGISLATION TO PERMIT THESE BOOKS TO STAY IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

PARENTS VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT BOYS PLAYING IN GIRLS SPORTS AND BOYS USING THE GIRLS LOCKER ROOMS AND RESTROOMS. YET THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS CONCERN AND CHANGED THE POLICY TO PROTECT GIRLS, BUT CONTINUED TO PERMIT BOYS INTO THESE SPACES.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY WERE NOT COMPLETELY ADDRESSED BECAUSE MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO SECURE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE SAFER WAS INSTEAD SPENT ON OTHER PROGRAMS, SUCH AS MAYBE DEI INDOCTRINATION AND DESPITE POOR TEST SCORES, I DON'T HEAR THE BOARD DISCUSSING WAYS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION ITSELF.

INSTEAD, I HEAR ABOUT THE BUDGET WOES AT EVERY MEETING, EVEN AT THE CAC MEETINGS, WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A PLATFORM FOR PARENTS.

INSTEAD, THE MAJORITY OF THE CAC MEETINGS ARE FILLED WITH PROPAGANDA, AND PARENTS ARE GIVING ONLY A FEW MINUTES AT THE END TO ASK THEIR QUESTIONS OR VOICE THEIR CONCERNS. I WILL REPEAT, THIS BOARD HAS NOT SHOWN THAT THEY CARE FOR CHILDREN.

QUITE THE OPPOSITE. THE BOARD HAS SHOWN A LACK OF SYMPATHY FOR PARENTS, AND A LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE WELL-BEING AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF CHILDREN.

THE BOARD HAS SHOWN HOSTILITY TO ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

THE ONE BOARD MEMBER WHO REALLY IS A TRUE ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS.

AND YOU KNOW WHO THAT IS? RENEE DIXON. SHE WAS VOTED INTO THIS BOARD POSITION BECAUSE PARENTS KNEW SHE CARED ABOUT CHILDREN.

SHE HAD MORE VOTES THAN ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAS EVER RECEIVED.

YET YOU HAVE BEEN HARASSING HER AND ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE HER SINCE SHE STARTED IN THIS POSITION.

I'VE KNOWN RENEE FOR 30 YEARS. HER LIFE HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN.

SO I WONDER WHAT ULTERIOR MOTIVE THAT YOU HAVE.

ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD SEEM TO WANT. YES, MEN ON YOUR BOARD, PEOPLE WHO WON'T QUESTION YOUR AGENDAS AND PLANS.

IT'S NO WONDER THAT SO MANY PARENTS HAVE REMOVED THEIR CHILDREN FROM YOUR SYSTEM IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

PARENTS WANT A VOICE AND RENEE WAS A VOICE. AND SADLY, YOU HAVE REMOVED THEIR VOICE.

[01:30:03]

DURING THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PORTION OF THE MEETINGS, THERE HAS BEEN A FACTION WHO, MONTH AFTER MONTH, HAVE BEEN ATTACKING RENE DIXON AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD BELIEVES ALL THE HATEFUL COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT HER. SO, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT RENE'S CHARACTER BECAUSE UNLIKE MANY OTHERS WHO DON'T EVEN KNOW HER, I DO KNOW HER AND I AM HONORED TO CALL HER A FRIEND.

RENE IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST HONEST PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.

YOU KNOW THAT PERSON THAT YOU GO TO WHEN YOU WANT THE BRUTAL, HONEST TRUTH THAT IS RENE.

FOR ME, SHE IS A LOYAL TO THE FAULT TYPE OF PERSON.

SHE LOVES THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THAT IS EVIDENT IN ALMOST EVERY CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE.

SHE INSPIRES ME TO BE A BETTER CHRISTIAN AND LIVE MORE KINDLY AND COURAGEOUSLY.

BEING A CHRISTIAN DOESN'T MEAN THAT THAT IS SOMEONE WITHOUT SIN.

WHILE RENE IS GOOD, SHE IS NOT SINLESS OR PERFECT.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WHO HAS MADE THAT CLAIM AND THAT IS JESUS CHRIST THE LORD.

AS A CHRISTIAN, RENE'S SINS ARE FORGIVEN, AND SO SOMEDAY SHE WILL BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE A HOLY GOD AND CLAIM WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR HER.

JESUS EVEN SAID, IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED A DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.

I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS BUT SINNERS.

THAT IS RENEE. THAT IS ME. THAT IS ALL OF US.

I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT RENEE HAS A NONPROFIT THAT SERVES PEOPLE IN CECIL COUNTY CALLED FREEDOM HILLS THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM.

WHILE I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU GUYS GO INTO THE SCHOOLS AND WORK WITH THE STUDENTS, SHE MAY NOT GO INTO THE SCHOOLS PER SE, BUT SHE HAS HER OWN STUDENTS. THEY'RE YOUNG, THEY'RE OLD, THEY'RE BLACK, WHITE AND BROWN.

THEY'RE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED. THEY'RE MENTALLY CHALLENGED.

THEY'RE VETERANS. THEY'RE CHILDREN FROM THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

SHE OFFERS THEM THERAPY THROUGH HER RIDING AT NO CHARGE TO THEM.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT ONE OF HER MANY STUDENTS.

HER NAME IS CASSIDY. SHE'S A DOWN SYNDROME YOUNG LADY.

AND SO THREE YEARS AGO, SHE BEGAN IN THE RENEE'S PROGRAM.

WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED, SHE WAS TOO AFRAID TO EVEN SIT ON A HORSE.

AFTER THAT HURDLE, SHE BEGAN TO WALK SLOWLY WITH A TRAINER NEXT TO HER, NEXT TO HER.

LITTLE BY LITTLE, HER FEAR STARTED TO SUBSIDE.

CASSIDY HAS BEEN IN THE PROGRAM FOR THREE YEARS NOW.

HOWEVER, SHE'S NOT JUST SITTING AND WALKING WITH A TRAINER, SHE IS FULL ON GALLOPING BY HERSELF.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BUILT THIS YOUNG LADY'S COURAGE, RESOLVE AND CONFIDENCE.

THIS IS RENEE'S HEART TO TAKE PEOPLE WITH MANY CHALLENGES IN LIFE AND GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE THROUGH RIDING HORSES IN HER PROGRAM, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, POSITIVELY IMPACTING THEM FOR ALL THAT THEY WILL DO IN LIFE.

THAT IS. THAT IS WHO RENEE IS. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRIS FULTZ, FOLLOWED BY BRIAN HAMPTON.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND AUDIENCE.

I THINK ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE'VE SEEN RENE'S CHARACTER IN COURT.

WE'VE SEEN HER CHARACTER HERE IN MEETINGS. AND RATHER, SHE IS APPROPRIATE IN HER OWN PERSONAL BUSINESS IS BESIDES THE FACT OF WHAT SHE HAS DONE HERE AS THE AS THE BOARD MEMBER FOR THIS COUNTY AND THE WAY THAT SHE'S ACTED FOR FAR TOO LONG, WE'VE WAITED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT THE TIME HAS PASSED.

RENEE HAS PROVEN AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT SHE IS UNFIT TO SERVE THE BOARD.

HER ACTIONS, HER BEHAVIOR, AND HER BLATANT DISREGARD FOR PROFESSIONALISM HAVE MADE IT CLEAR SHE NEEDS TO GO.

AT THE LAST MEETING, WE SAW FIRSTHAND. IF NOT, CHECK CCPS FOR A FUN VIDEO.

A DESPERATE, LAST MINUTE POLITICAL STUNT TO SCORE POINTS.

YET SHE COULDN'T EVEN EXECUTE IT PROPERLY. SHE FUMBLED THROUGH READING A FACEBOOK POST FROM A BAD BUILT BUTCH BODY FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER STRUGGLING TO STRING TOGETHER A COHERENT SENTENCE. THAT PATHETIC PERFORMANCE WAS JUST EMBARRASSING.

IT WAS A BLATANT DISPLAY OF INCOMPETENCE. IT WAS WEAK, IT WAS A TRANSPARENT PLOY, AND IT HAD FAILED.

BUT BEYOND THE HUMILIATION, IT SHOWED US THAT RENE DIXON IS UNPREPARED, UNPROFESSIONAL AND UNDESERVING OF THE SEAT OF THE BOARD.

IF SHE CAN'T BE TRUSTED TO READ A SIMPLE POST FROM FACEBOOK CORRECTLY, HOW CAN WE TRUST HER TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT IMPACT THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS?

[01:35:05]

THIS COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD THE WAIT. WE CANNOT ALLOW HER INCOMPETENCE AND HER DIVISIVENESS TO STRAIN THE BOARD ANY LONGER.

THE MESSAGE IS SIMPLE RENEE MUST GO STEP DOWN AND DO THE RIGHT THING, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, RENEE, THIS COMMUNITY WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE NO CHOICE.

AND LIKE THAT GREAT SONG. NA, NA, NA, NA, HEY, HEY, HEY.

GOODBYE. THANK YOU, MR. SCHULTZ. AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER THIS EVENING, BRIAN HAMPTON. GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. I'M BRIAN HAMPTON FROM PERRYVILLE.

THERE ARE MANY COMMENTS SIMILAR TO. WHY ISN'T CCPS SPENDING THE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS INSTEAD OF FINISHING EACH YEAR WITH MILLIONS LEFT OVER? IT'S A FAIR QUESTION, BUT WHEN LOOKING AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE APPROVED BUDGETS, CCPS IS SPENDING WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN INITIALLY AUTHORIZED, OR EVEN SLIGHTLY MORE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, I'LL FOCUS ON THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET. BUT RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED BUDGETS WOULD YIELD A SIMILAR RESULT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.

THE ORIGINAL APPROVED TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WAS 232 MILLION.

ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES WERE 233 MILLION. FOR FY 23, THE ORIGINAL APPROVED TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WAS 241 MILLION.

ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES WERE 243 MILLION LAST SCHOOL YEAR.

FY 24 FOR THE ORIGINAL APPROVED TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET WAS 258 MILLION.

ACTUAL OPERATING EXPENSES WERE 258 MILLION. THE APPROVED TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 25.

THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR IS 260 MILLION, 6 MILLION OF WHICH CAME FROM THE FUND BALANCE.

IT'S OFTEN SAID THAT GOVERNMENT FUNDED SERVICES SHOULD BUDGET LIKE A HOUSEHOLD OR BUSINESS, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NEITHER. HOWEVER, JUST AS IT'S UNWISE FOR HOUSEHOLDS AND BUSINESSES TO BEGIN ALLOCATING AND EXPANDING INCOME THAT ISN'T YET CERTAIN.

CCPS IS WORKING WITHIN THEIR APPROVED OR MORE CERTAIN BUDGET.

CCPS DID REQUEST MORE FROM THE COUNTY THAN WAS RECEIVED FOR FY 22 THROUGH 25.

BECAUSE OF. TO RELIABLY INCREASE A TEACHER WORKFORCE REQUIRES BUDGETARY CERTAINTY AND STABILITY.

SO HOW DOES CSPS END UP WITH UNSPENT FUNDS FOR EACH YEAR WHEN EXPENSES EQUAL OR EXCEEDS THE ORIGINAL BUDGET? TWO REASONS. AND WE JUST WENT THROUGH IT BEFORE PUBLIC COMMENT GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH ARE NOT A CERTAINTY DURING THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND EXPENSES THAT ARE NOT AS LARGE AS ANTICIPATED.

THERE ARE MONTHLY CHANGES TO GRANTS AND DONATIONS.

SOMETIMES GRANT FUNDS ARE REDUCED AND SHOW A REVENUE LOSS, BUT ON THAT, CSPS DOES GENERALLY RECEIVE MORE FUNDS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAN INITIALLY BUDGETED, BUT THE AMOUNT IS NOT CERTAIN. ALSO USE OF THE FUND BALANCE TO PAY FOR EXPENSES IS FIRST REPORTED AS REVENUE, AND THE FUND BALANCE IS USED FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THE FUND BALANCE IS NOT A SLUSH FUND, BUT LARGELY ALLOCATED TO A NUMBER OF EFFORTS AND POTENTIAL EXPENSES, FROM THE CUSTODIAL STUDENT ACTIVITY ACCOUNTS TO SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS TO SUBSEQUENT YEARS OPERATING EXPENSES, SUCH AS THIS YEAR'S 6 MILLION CONTRIBUTION TO THE OPERATING BUDGET.

TO SAY THAT CCPS ENDS EACH SCHOOL YEAR WITH MILLIONS LEFT OVER ISN'T WRONG, BUT IT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY EITHER.

THE BEST WAY TO SUSTAIN IMPROVED CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION RESOURCES IS TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL SUCH THAT THEY TOO PRIORITIZE BUDGETARY CERTAINTY AND STABILITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON.

I HAVE NOTHING. UPCOMING EVENTS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT? YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS FRIDAY IS A PROFESSIONAL DAY FOR SO SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED FOR STUDENTS.

RIGHT. STAFF WILL BE HERE ON MARCH 24TH IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AT 6:00.

THE YOUTH PREVENTION RALLY BY OUR DRUG FREE CECIL STUDENTS NEXT MARCH 26TH.

I'M SORRY. TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT IS A WORK SESSION.

MARCH 27TH. ALL COUNTY ORCHESTRA AT ELKTON HIGH.

APRIL 3RD IS OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR GALA. MAY BE THE BEST NIGHT OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR US.

WE'LL HAVE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 300 PEOPLE THERE TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, APRIL 5TH ARE OUR BAND ALL COUNTY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL AGAIN AT ELKTON HIGH.

AND THEN APRIL 9TH MARKS THE END OF THE THIRD MARKING PERIOD.

AND THAT SAME DAY IS OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING HERE AT 530.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. AND LIKE I SAID IN MY OPENING, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THE ATHLETIC EVENTS,

[01:40:03]

MEETING ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.