[00:00:04] >> WELCOME. I AM GOING TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION THE MAY 21, [3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.] 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND WHILE MS. GRIFFIN LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE. >> >> WORD REFLECTION, MS. HEATH. >> THE MISSION OF THE 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 BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING, AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. >> PERFECT. THANK YOU. THE ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THE CONSENT AGENDA. [4. Consent Agenda] BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION, I'D LIKE TO ASK IF THERE'S ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE ANY ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL DISCUSSION FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> IS THERE A SECOND. >> SECOND. >> DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEW BUSINESS. MIXING IT UP A LITTLE BIT TODAY. [5. New Business] THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR NEW BUSINESS IS THE PRESENTATION OF THE HONOR CHORDS, FOR OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. I THINK THIS IS EITHER THE SECOND YEAR, THIRD YEAR THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN HONOR CHORDS FOR OUR GRADUATE WHO IS A PERRYVILLE GRADUATE THIS YEAR, SO SHE'LL BE ABLE TO WEAR THE CHORDS AT GRADUATION NEXT WEEK. [APPLAUSE] THEY'RE IN THE BEAUTIFUL CCPS COLORS. YOU CAN OPEN IT. [LAUGHTER] ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL? IT IS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT. IT LOOKS GREAT. THANK YOU, GISELLE. >> THANKS. >> NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD YOUR MOMENT WITH YOUR CHORD, YOU'RE GOING TO START WITH THE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANKS FOR COMING. I FIRST WANTED TO USE MY TIME TODAY TO WELCOME OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER BRIAN HAMPTON. I KNOW THAT EVERYONE IS PLEASED TO HAVE YOU UP HERE AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW YOUR FUTURE PLAYS OUT AS A CCPS BOARD MEMBER. WE KNOW THAT YOU WILL ACT IN THE BEST INTENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND STEPPING UP. SECONDLY, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THE SCHOOL YEAR IS IN PROCESS OF COMING TO AN END. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE TO PAY ATTENTION TO UPCOMING EVENTS FOR STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY SENIORS, REGARDING AWARD CEREMONIES AND OBVIOUSLY GRADUATION, WHICH I CAN SAY I'M A PART OF. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. GRIFFIN. MR. HAMPTON, YOUR FIRST BOARD REPORT. >> THANK YOU. I ATTENDED THE CAPSTONE PROJECT GALLERY WALK AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL ON 8 MAY. THAT WAS A GREAT EVENING AND I ENJOYED TALKING WITH MANY STUDENTS. WHAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THE ENTHUSIASM A LOT OF THE STUDENTS HAD IN EXPLAINING THEIR PROJECTS. ENTHUSIASM AND INTEREST IS REALLY WHAT DRIVES LEARNING. THIS WAS THE SECOND YEAR THAT I'VE MENTORED STUDENTS AS THEY WORKED ON THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MENTOR STUDENTS, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO ME OR CONTACT OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATOR FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIRECTLY, THAT'D BE DR. HEATHER HANDLER. I VISITED PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY, CHARLESTON ELEMENTARY, AND PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, SPOKE TO THE PRINCIPALS JUST LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES OF EACH SCHOOL BUILDING. YESTERDAY, I ATTENDED LUNCH AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THE PRINCIPAL, MR. DOLLENGER HOSTS LUNCH TO HONOR SENIORS THAT WILL BE ENLISTING IN THE MILITARY FOLLOWING GRADUATION. THAT'S A NICE DAY. IT WAS A GOOD VISIT WITH MANY OF THE VETERANS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND LISTENING TO THE STUDENTS AND WHAT MOTIVATED THEM TO WANT TO ENLIST. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT LONG AGO THAT I WAS A SENIOR COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS NOT ONLY TO GRADUATION, BUT WHEN I WOULD GO TO BOOT CAMP. FINALLY, I HAVE ATTENDED MANY BOARD MEETINGS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, [00:05:01] AND TONIGHT IS THE FIRST TIME I'M PARTICIPATING FROM THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE. I'M ACUTELY AWARE THAT I WAS APPOINTED TO THIS POSITION AND NOT ELECTED. BUT NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PROCESS, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT ME, PLEASE KNOW THAT I WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO BE SUCCESSFUL. EVERYTHING I DO, EVERY DECISION I MAKE AS A MEMBER OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION, WILL BE WITH THE SUCCESS, SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL STUDENTS IN MIN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON. MR. FERDINANDO. >> WELL, WELCOME, BRIAN. IT'S A FAMILIAR FACE. I'M WELCOMING YOU LIKE YOU SAID TO THIS SIDE BECAUSE YOU'RE USUALLY SOMEWHERE RIGHT OUT THERE. THIS MONTH HAS BEEN JUST SOFTBALL, SOFTBALL, AND SOFTBALL. IT'S FOR TWO OF US. WE'RE BOTH HELPING COACH, AND IT'S BEEN WHO'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL THE PRACTICES AND GAMES AND MOVING OF GAMES AND WEATHER AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENED. THE SEASON ENDED ABRUPTLY, UNFORTUNATELY FOR US IN STATES. OUR CHANCE AT A 3P AT STATES WAS A 3-2 LOSS AND A VERY HEARTBREAKING LOSS. THERE'S THAT, BUT WE WERE BEING GREEDY ASKING TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE A THIRD TIME. I WAS STILL A LOT OF FUN, A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED ON THE YEAR. THE THING I LOVE ABOUT SPORTS AND WHY I THINK SPORTS A CRITICAL PART OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE LESSONS THAT KIDS CAN LEARN THROUGH FAILURE, THROUGH FALLING AND GETTING BACK UP. THERE'S A ONE OF MY PLAYERS THAT WILL LAUGH AT THAT BECAUSE SHE FELL ACROSS THIRD BASE TWICE THIS YEAR. THE BAGS TEND TO TRIP PEOPLE SOMETIMES. BUT JUST THE LESSONS OF FALLING GETTING BACK UP, LEARNING TO BE A GOOD TEAM A, THINGS THAT YOU'LL HAVE TO DO IN THE WORKPLACE AFTER GRADUATION IS WHY I LOVE SPORTS SO MUCH. WHY I LOVE BEING INVOLVED IN TEACHING THESE YOUNG LADIES AND MENTORING THEM AND JUST BEING A PART OF THE TEAM WITH THEM. IT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT I MISS IF I DON'T DO IT IN THE FUTURE. THIS SEASON WAS A VERY SPECIAL SEASON FOR US. BESIDES THAT, PREPARING FOR GRADUATION, I DO HAVE A SENIOR MYSELF AND WITH ALL THE WORK THAT'S INVOLVED WITH THAT MYSELF PERSONALLY, AND FOR THE SCHOOLS, THAT'S THE LAST 30 DAY HAS BEEN SOFTBALL AND GRADUATION AND GET MY BACKYARD READY FOR A PARTY. THAT'S EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FERDINANDO. MR. DAVIS. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS. I WANT TO SAY HOW MUCH I LOOK FORWARD EACH YEAR TO THE UPCOMING HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION CEREMONIES NEXT WEEK. SEEING OUR STUDENTS MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIVES, WHETHER IT'D BE ENTERING A COLLEGE, TRADE SCHOOL, DIRECTLY INTO THE WORKFORCE, MILITARY SERVICE, OR OTHER PATHWAYS LIKE APPRENTICESHIPS. I WANT TO EXTEND THE SINCERE CONGRATULATIONS IN ADVANCE TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES AND THEIR FAMILIES. JUST ANOTHER THING, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND MY PERSONAL WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST BOARD COLLEAGUE, MR. BRIAN HAMPTON, SINCE I WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND HIS SWEARING IN CEREMONY LAST WEEK. BRIAN IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU JOIN THE CCPS BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AS WE COLLABORATE TO SUPPORT EACH AND EVERY STUDENT WHO ATTEND CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MS. HEATH. >> THANK YOU. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MR. HAMPTON AS WELL TO OUR TEAM. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH MR. HAMPTON ON SEVERAL OTHER COMMITTEES, AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM. COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS MONTH. IT HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH. LIKE MR. FERDINANDO SAID, I HAVE BEEN NECK DEEP IN SOFTBALL AS WELL. I'VE BEEN VOLUNTEERING IN CLASSROOMS, WORKING WITH THE STEERING COMMITTEE IN CECIL ELEMENTARY, COACHING SOFTBALL, ATTENDING MAY DIRECTORS MEETINGS, ATTENDING END OF YEAR EVENTS, AND ATTENDING MEETINGS TO GAIN UNDERSTANDING FOR NEXT YEAR'S SCHOOL YEAR. IT'S BEEN VERY BUSY, FOR EXAMPLE, MONDAY, I TRAVELED OVER 1,500 MILES TO MAKE IT BACK FOR BOHEMIA MANOR SOFTBALL PLAYOFF GAME. WE WERE SUPPOSED TO PLAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT. RAIN, AS WE KNOW, CAME IN. WE DID NOT PLAY. I WAS SCHEDULED TO BE IN MIAMI ON SATURDAY TO SEE MY DAUGHTER WHO'S IN SCHOOL THERE. I SPENT SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THERE, CHANGED MY FLIGHT, TO MAKE IT EARLY, LANDED BACK IN PHILLY AT 10:10, GOT IN THE CAR, MADE IT TO BO BY 11:15, AND ON THE BUS TO THE GAME, AND THEN WE LOST. [LAUGHTER] BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED IT. I WANTED TO BE THERE FOR THE GIRLS, AND IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE ABLE TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM AND BE ON THE FIELD AND BE WITH OUR STUDENTS. I REALLY LOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. LIKE MR. HAMPTON HAD SAID, I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE CAPSTONE WALK, AND IT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FOR ME OF THE YEAR. I TRULY ENJOY WATCHING THE STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR PROJECTS, AND WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS JUST HOW WELL SPOKEN THEY ARE. I LOVE THAT. WHEN PEOPLE POOH POOH THIS GENERATION, WELL, [00:10:02] THEY NEED TO COME TO THE CAPSTONE WALK BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND HOW WELL THEY PRESENT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR SENIORS AND WISH THEM THE BEST. I KNOW THAT I SPEAK FOR ALL OF THE BOARD WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE PROUD OF YOU SENIORS AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HAS TO HOLD FOR YOU. THANK YOU. >> CLEARLY, THIS IS THE MONTH WHERE WE'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE AND MONDAYS FEEL LIKE THURSDAYS EVERY TIME. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR READJUSTING YOUR SCHEDULES AND BEING HERE TONIGHT. WE APPRECIATE BEING FLEXIBLE. I KNOW THIS MEETING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LAST WEEK AND WE HAD TO CHANGE IT TO THIS WEEK, AND I KNOW FOR SOME OF YOU, IT WAS A BIG DEAL TO DO THAT. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT. MR. HAMPTON, WELCOME. SWORN IN LAST WEDNESDAY, HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND SEEING YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AT THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE. YOU'RE CLEARLY JUMPING INTO ONE OF THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE YEAR. THERE WE GO. MS. HEATH MENTIONED MABE, MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION. WE BOTH SERVE ON THAT BOARD. I'M AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER ON THAT BOARD. WE'VE HAD BOARD RETREATS, BOARD MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THAT. ZIPPING DOWN TO ANNAPOLIS FOR THINGS LIKE THAT. DR. LAWSON AND I HAVE BEEN DOING OUR FACULTY MEETINGS AT EACH OF THE SCHOOLS. WE DO THIS TWICE A YEAR ONCE IN THE SPRING AND ONCE IN THE FALL. HE'S DONE IT FOR A LONG TIME. I JOINED HIM, I THINK THREE OR FOUR TIMES AGO. IT SEEMS LIKE A LONG TIME. CECIL COUNTY IS BIG. IT'S A LOT BIGGER THAN YOU THINK WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO ALL 29 SCHOOLS. BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE HAVE A HANDFUL REMAINING. WELL, IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN TO YOUR SCHOOL, YOU GET THIS COMING SOON. NEXT OFF, THE SECOND ANNUAL CECIL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION DAY HAPPENED. I THINK 1,072 SEVENTH GRADERS ATTENDED. THERE WERE TWO SCHOOLS EACH DAY THAT ATTENDED IN OVER THREE DAYS IN MAY AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER FOR THOSE THREE DAYS. STUDENTS BASICALLY WENT TO DIFFERENT STATIONS WHERE PRESENTERS USED AGRICULTURE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING STEM AND OTHER SCIENCE CONCEPTS. I LEARNED MORE ABOUT AGRICULTURE THAT DAY THAN I THOUGHT I WOULD EVER LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE. BUT IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PAUL RICKERT AND HIS TEAM FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION. THERE WERE A TON OF VOLUNTEERS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND SPONSORS WHO COLLABORATED TO MAKE ALL THAT HAPPEN. I THINK THEY'LL BE AT AN UPCOMING WORK SESSION TO TALK ABOUT IT AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SEVENTH GRADERS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS PAID FOR NOT BY US. AGAIN, IT'S A REALLY GREAT THING THAT IS HAPPENING THERE. OUR CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS. THEY HAVE BEEN BUSY. THEY'VE BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM BUSY CERTIFICATIONS, BUT ALSO OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. THEY WERE ALSO AT THE AG DAY. SOME OF THEM WERE PRESENTERS, AND THEN AFTERWARDS, ALL THE PROGRAMS WERE REPRESENTED, STUDENTS CAME AND REPRESENTED THEIR PROGRAMS SO THEY COULD TALK TO THE SEVENTH GRADERS THAT WERE ATTENDING. THAT WAS PRETTY COOL. THEY HAD A JOB FAIR AT CCST, REALLY, REALLY BIG DEAL. MS. BYRD AND HER STAFF AND ALL THE STAFF THERE. THIS OPPORTUNITY, WE HAVE KIDS WHO ARE GOING TO THIS JOB FAIR AND GETTING JOB OFFERS RIGHT ON THE SPOT FROM CCST. GREAT JOB. THEIR SPRING'S SHOWCASE, IF ANY OF YOU WERE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT IN, I THINK IT WAS MAY. A COUPLE OF SATURDAYS AGO. PLANTS, SALES, PETTING ZOO, WELDING, ALL OF THEIR PROGRAMS WERE THERE. IT WAS PACKED, IT WAS GREAT. YOU HEARD ABOUT THE CAPSTONE GALLERY WALK A LOT OF OUR CCS STUDENTS WERE THERE ALONG WITH THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY AND STEM STUDENTS, ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE ONE PROJECT THAT YOU ALWAYS TALK ABOUT. MAYBE HE WILL WITH CHICKENS AND FEEDING THEM DIFFERENT FOODS. ANYWAY, APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND. SOMEBODY MENTIONED APPRENTICESHIPS. BUT APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND HAD THEIR GRADUATION. THIS YEAR, THERE WERE CLOSE TO 100 PEOPLE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S UP FROM A HANDFUL TWO YEARS AGO. HATS OFF TO DR. HANDLER FOR HER LEADERSHIP WITH THAT. THEN CECIL COLLEGE GRADUATION, WE HAD 41 OF OUR GRADUATES WHO GOT [00:15:01] THEIR ASSOCIATES DEGREES AT CECIL COLLEGE PRIOR TO GETTING THEIR DIPLOMAS NEXT WEEK. >> PERRYVILLE AND ELKTON ECA STUDENTS, CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. ALL OF OUR GRADUATIONS ARE NEXT WEEK. WE'RE HOPING THE WEATHER GETS OUT OF ITS SYSTEM NOW. TUESDAY IS SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ARE THE FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS. CONGRATULATIONS, AGAIN TO ALL OF OUR SENIORS. WE DO HAVE FREE SPORTS PHYSICALS. REGISTRATION STARTING TOMORROW. WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT I THINK IN A LITTLE WHILE, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES, IT'S ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH BUT YOU HAVE TO REGISTER AND THAT'S TOMORROW. FINALLY, AS I'M LOOKING AT MS. SCHAFER WHO'S OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR, REMINDING ME NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL DID THEIR SERVICE DAY THIS YEAR. THIS IS THE SIXTH YEAR SCHOOL-WIDE SERVICE DAY AND THIS IS A MONSTROSITY OF AN EVENT TO PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL TO GO TO 14 DIFFERENT SITES TO DO SERVICE. THIS YEAR IT HAPPENED OVER TWO DAYS, BECAUSE IT RAINED ON FRIDAY. BUT FRIDAY THE SIXTH GRADERS STILL DID IT AND THEN THE SEVENTH, AND EIGHTH GRADERS DID IT ON THE MONDAY. IT WAS REALLY GREAT TO GET OUT THERE AND SEE OUR KIDS DOING COMMUNITY SERVICE WITH A SMILE, MOST OF THEM. MS. SCHAFER PLANTED TREES WITH SOME STUDENTS AT ELK NECK STATE PARK. AGAIN, CONGRATS TO ALL OF OUR AND I SEE A COUPLE OTHER NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL PEOPLE HERE, FOR ALL THEIR WORK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN FOR OUR STUDENTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DR. LAWSON. >> THAT'S ALL? >> THAT'S IT. [LAUGHTER] I COULD KEEP GOING. >> LITERALLY NOTHING ELSE. BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT NEW HERE, WHATEVER THEY'VE DONE I'M WITH THEM, SO ALL THAT. TWO RECOGNITIONS I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. THE FIRST IS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE IS SOME QUESTION OF THE VALUE OF HAVING POLICE IN SCHOOLS AS STAFF. IT'S SOMETHING I KNOW I FULLY SUPPORT AND I BELIEVE OUR BOARD DOES AS WELL, BUT OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND TOWN POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTY WORK WITH CCPS STAFF TO PROVIDE A SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE DAILY PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN OUR SCHOOLS HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE OFFICERS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE SKIP ROLAND IS WANDERING AROUND OUT THERE SOMEWHERE. HE JUST EMBODIES THE WORK AND THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH OUR LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU FOR THAT DURING NATIONAL POLICE WEEK. ALSO NATIONAL SPEECH LANGUAGE HEARING MONTH. OUR AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS ARE PROFESSIONALS WHO SPECIALIZE IN THE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS. WITH AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND PROPER TREATMENT, PEOPLE WITH COMMUNICATION DISORDERS CAN LEAVE WHOLE AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES. DURING THE MONTH OF MAY, OUR AUDIOLOGISTS AND SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS MAKE SPECIAL EFFORTS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING DISORDERS. JUST TO TOUCH ON SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A FEW BOARD MEMBERS. IT WAS THE STEM CAPSTONE. IT'S PROBABLY THE SINGLE BEST NIGHT FOR ME JUST TO WALK AROUND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA OUT NEAR THE MEDIA CENTER, SOME OF THE HALLWAYS. UPWARDS OF 150 MOSTLY SENIORS ARE SHOWING OFF THEIR CAPSTONE PROJECT. I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S OFTEN SAID BY PEOPLE WHO GET OLDER, LIKE ME THAT ALL OF THIS NEW GENERATION THEY JUST CAN'T DO THIS. THEY DON'T DO THAT. I WOULD ARGUE PEOPLE THAT SUBSCRIBE TO THAT NOTION SIMPLY HAVEN'T SPENT ENOUGH TIME WITH YOUNG PEOPLE. YOU HAVEN'T. MY YOUNGEST IS 21 YEARS OLD, SHE'S GETTING READY TO START HER SENIOR YEAR AT DELAWARE, AND THEN MY OLDER SONS. YOU WATCH THEIR FRIENDS COME THROUGH OVER THE YEARS AND THE AMOUNT OF INTERACTION I HAVE WITH OUR STUDENTS, THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOOD KIDS TO LEAD THE WAY. I THINK THAT'LL BE CAPTURED TONIGHT WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR CARSON SCHOLARS. THESE ARE STUDENTS WHO NOT ONLY EXCEL ACADEMICALLY, BUT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH OUR CAPSTONE KIDS. THEY WORK PART TIME. THEY'RE TYPICALLY PERFORMING ARTS, ATHLETICS, CLUBS, THEY'RE LEADERS IN THE SCHOOL AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY. I JUST THINK YOU PARENTS ARE IN HERE THIS EVENING WITH YOUNGER KIDS YOU REALLY NEED TO BE PROUD, BECAUSE THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND JUST MONITOR, PRAY, LOVE THEM, BUT MAKE SURE YOU'RE TAKING TIME TO STEP BACK AND ENJOY THE BLESSING THAT YOU HAVE. I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF THE KIDS I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS. I SEE MS. HRINKO, PRESIDENT OF THE CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. WELCOME, MS. HRINKO. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND GUESTS. THOSE YOU AT HOME YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE, [00:20:01] THERE ARE A BUNCH OF STUDENTS IN THE AUDIENCE, AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT ARE BEING RECOGNIZED TONIGHT FOR CARSON SCHOLARSHIP AWARD WINNERS. THESE STUDENTS HAD TO HAVE 3.75 GPA WHICH IS PHENOMENAL IN ITSELF, BUT THEY'RE ALSO IN ADDITION BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY WHICH IS ANOTHER HUGE PART OF MAKING JUST WELL-ROUNDED GOOD PEOPLE. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS FOR THOSE AWARDS, AND THANK YOU PARENTS FOR HELPING AND YOUR PART IN THAT AS WELL WITH THEM. MS. HALL, YOU MENTIONED A LOT OF WHAT I'M GOING TO GET TO. THANK YOU FOR WARMING IT UP. [LAUGHTER] BUT OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES THIS YEAR WERE PHENOMENAL. FOLKS THAT WERE NOMINATED BY EITHER THEIR PEERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY, AND JUST EXEMPLARY. THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR THIS YEAR IS TAYLOR SCHAFER FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL AND I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH HER FOR SEVERAL YEARS. SHE'S INNOVATIVE. SHE'S ENTHUSIASTIC. SHE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HER SUBJECT, HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, CIVICS, AND IT RUBS OFF ON THE KIDS. IF YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THEY ARE EXCITED TOO AND THAT SHOWS. IF YOU'RE AN EXPERIENCED PARENT, YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A TOOLBOX OF THINGS. IF IT'S YOUR FIRST BABY, YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING. BY THE TIME YOU'VE GOT TWO OR THREE UNDER YOUR BELT YOU'RE LIKE, I GOT THIS AND YOU CAN PULL STUFF OUT AT THE BACK OF YOUR POCKET WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT. TAYLOR SOMEHOW HAS THOSE SKILLS OF AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER. SHE'S GOT THAT TOOLBOX BEING RELATIVELY YOUNG IN HER CAREER. SHE JUST REALLY BRINGS AMAZING THINGS TO OUR KIDS IN HER CLASSROOM, AND SO I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HER FOR THAT HONOR BEING RECOGNIZED AND SUPPORTING THE TEACHERS IN CECIL. WELCOME TO MR. BRIAN HAMPTON AGAIN, FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT. THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING THAT. YOU'VE BEEN HERE, I THINK SINCE COVID THAT I'VE RECOGNIZED AS A PARENT IN THE AUDIENCE AND YOUR DEDICATION TO COMING AND SHOWING UP TO THESE MEETINGS, AND LEARNING AND SPEAKING OUT FOR THE KIDS SPEAKS VOLUMES. I'M HOPEFUL FOR YOUR ROLE ON THE BOARD HERE, AND SO THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMITMENT TO OUR KIDS AND THE STAFF THAT ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT OUR KIDS. YOU MENTIONED SPEECH LANGUAGE AND HEARING MONTH. OUR SLPS AND OUR AUDIOLOGISTS DO PHENOMENAL WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE OUR LEARNERS, AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW, WE HAVE KIDS THAT ARE IN THE INFANTS AND TODDLERS FROM BASICALLY BIRTH TO HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAVE PATHOLOGISTS THAT ARE GOING OUT INTO HOMES FOR KIDS THAT AREN'T EVEN IN SCHOOL YET WHEN THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE HEARING DEFICIENCIES AT THAT AGE, AND THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR KIDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL WITH COMMUNICATION NEEDS. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MENTIONED OUR SERVICE DAY WHICH IS WONDERFUL AND SOME OF OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNICATION CLASSROOM GOT TO GO TO THE ZOO AS PART OF THEIR LEARNING. I GOT AN EMAIL FROM OUR SPEECH PATHOLOGIST THE WEEK BEFORE SAYING, "HEY, BY THE WAY I TOOK SO AND SO'S TABLET, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND I PUT IN ALL THESE PHRASES SO THAT WHEN THEY GO TO THE ZOO THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ANIMALS AND ABOUT WHAT THEY SEE AND ABOUT THE HABITAT." WE DIDN'T ASK, THEY WERE ALREADY ON IT IN ADVANCE AND ARE HELPING JUST PLAN AND SUPPORT, SO THAT ALL OF OUR KIDS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE AND APPRECIATE THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY'RE GETTING. THANK YOU TO OUR FOLKS THAT WORK WITH SOME OF OUR KIDS THAT REALLY NEED THAT SUPPORT IN THE HEARING LANGUAGE AREAS. NINETY PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 95% OF OUR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ATTEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS OPPOSED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND 40% OF ALL STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS. THOSE ARE NATIONAL STATISTICS AND YOU MIGHT FIND THAT IN CECIL COUNTY, THEY MIGHT EVEN BE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THAT. THE REASON I'M SHARING THIS IS, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THERE IS A HOUSE BUDGET BILL THAT CALLS TO EXPAND TAX CUTS AND JOB ACT OF 2017. WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS ACTUALLY CUT PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT SOME OF OUR NEEDIEST COMMUNITIES AND STUDENTS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT WILL DO IS ESTABLISH NEW ELIGIBILITY LIMITS FOR MEDICARE AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. I THINK A LOT OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL HEALTH COVERAGE FOR A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, AND ON A NATIONAL LEVEL THE STATISTICS ARE 38 MILLION CHILDREN AND ONE OUT OF 10 EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECEIVE SUPPORT EITHER THROUGH MEDICARE OR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THAT REALLY IS IMPACTFUL TO OUR KIDS AND THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. IN ADDITION, $290 BILLION IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM KNOWN AS SNAP AND OTHER ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS ARE BEING CUT THAT COULD AFFECT OUR KIDS THAT APPLY FOR SCHOOL MEALS, AND FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES. I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT. [00:25:02] I DON'T CLAIM TO BE ANY OF THAT, BUT JUST WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT THINGS ARE THERE, THERE MAY BE VERY MANY GOOD THINGS IN THAT BILL, IN THAT BUDGET, BUT I WOULD REQUEST THAT YOU REACH OUT TO YOUR CONGRESS FOLKS AND ASK THEM TO LOOK AT AMENDING THE THINGS THAT WOULD REALLY BEING HARMING OUR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE FOLKS THAT ARE MOST NEEDIEST ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING HURT BY SOME OF THESE THINGS, AND SO I ASK YOU TO REACH OUT FOR THAT. IT'S SUMMER ALMOST, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE SCHOOLS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT IT IS TESTING SEASON. WE ARE JUST FINISHING UP OUR STATE TESTING. FOR PARENTS, GIVE YOUR KIDS A LITTLE EXTRA SNACK. THEY NEED A LITTLE ENERGY, A LITTLE EXTRA ENCOURAGEMENT, BUT WE'RE JUST FINISHING THROUGH THE END OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A DIRTY TRICK OR WHAT, BUT IT FALLS RIGHT AROUND TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK WHEN WE'RE DOING THE MIDDLE OF TESTING. THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS, THE PTOS, AND ALL THE FOLKS. REALLY, IT'S NOT JUST TEACHER APPRECIATION, IT'S STAFF APPRECIATION. IT'S ALL OF OUR EDUCATORS. OUR SCHOOLS DO A GOOD JOB OF SUPPORTING AND APPRECIATING NOT JUST THE TEACHERS, BUT OUR PRAYER PROFESSIONALS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY FOR THAT. WITH THAT THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT, SO YOU SHARE OUR KIDS WITH US. WE GET TO SHARE YOUR KIDS DURING THE DAY. I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO VOLUNTEER, REACH OUT TO YOUR TEACHERS, REACH OUT, COME IN. WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU AND IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS LET US KNOW, BUT THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS. IT'S A TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND THANK YOU FOR THAT. >> THANK YOU, MS. HRINKO. THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AS THE BOARD CAN SEE, DR. TED BOYER AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, ALONG WITH CHARLES SIMPERS, OUR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES HAVE PREPARED A CONSTRUCTION REPORT FOR YOUR VIEWING. AS USUAL, THE PICTURES ARE GREAT. THIS IS THE LATEST GREATEST FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH. YOU CAN SEE STEEL IS BEING ERECTED. AN AWFUL LOT GOING ON. GO UP JUST A LITTLE BIT. YOU CAN SEE EXTENSIVE CONCRETE WORK IS UNDERWAY. KEEP GOING, PIECES OF THE BUILDING ARE ACTUALLY UNDER ROOF. A LOT OF THIS STEEL AND ROOF HAVE ALREADY, PROBABLY IN THE LAST WEEK, 10 DAYS. BECAUSE I WAS JUST THERE LAST WEEK AND THAT WASN'T THERE, SO KEEP GOING. YOU CAN SEE AN UPDATED AERIAL VIEW, THE SECTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION. IF YOU SEE THE CONSTRUCTION TRAILERS IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER AND THE BLOCK WORK THAT'S ON THE GROUND, THEY ARE I BELIEVE THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. YOU CAN SEE THAT LARGE CONCRETE SLAB AREA WILL BE THE CAFETERIA AUDITORIUM AREA, WHAT I WOULD CALL THE COMMONS AREA WHERE ALL THE KIDS ARE GOING TO USE. THERE WILL BE TWO CAFETERIAS WITH ONE KITCHEN. AN AWFUL LOT IS HAPPENING. IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO PURCHASE AROUND 1.3 ACRES OF THE FOREST ACROSS THE STREET TO WIDEN THE ROAD TO FOUR LANES. THE FOUR LANES ON IRISHTOWN ROAD WILL BE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL TO PASS THE SCHOOL TO THE ENTRANCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT BACK BEHIND THE NEW SCHOOL. THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT HAPPENING AND IN ALL TOLL WILL PROBABLY BE UPWARDS OF $190 MILLION PROJECT WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING. NOT AS EXCITING, BUT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY TEACHERS ARE JUST AS HAPPY. THIS IS A $1 MILLION WORTH OF AIR CONDITIONING WILL BUY YOU AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. YOU CAN SEE IT'S PRETTY, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T GET THE WOW REACTION THAT THE NEW SCHOOL DOES. THAT'S WHAT'S INSIDE. THESE ARE THE PIPES TO GO TO THE CHILLERS OUTSIDE, PRETTY SNAZZY. THERE'S A SOLAR FIELD IN THE BACKGROUND AND THEY ARE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, MR. OLSON. CAN I CALL THOSE CONDENSERS? >> THEY'RE CHILLERS. >> THEY'RE CHILLERS. [LAUGHTER] OF COURSE, THEY ARE. BUT WHEN WE PURCHASED THE SCHOOL BACK IN 2014, 2015 WE KNEW THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS GOING TO NEED SIGNIFICANT RENOVATION IN THE COMING YEARS, SO FRANKLY WE WERE LUCKY TO GET A DECADE OUT OF IT. GO AHEAD. THESE ARE BATHROOMS. [LAUGHTER] YOU DIDN'T KNOW. I WAS REMINISCING EARLIER TODAY DURING THE MEETING AT WILLIAM PENN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1978, THE COLONIALS. WE DIDN'T HAVE DOORS ON OUR STALLS. I'LL LET YOUR IMAGINATION TAKE IT FROM THERE WHAT THAT ENTAILED, BUT THEY ARE THE BATHROOMS IN THE NEW PERRYVILLE FIELDHOUSE. THERE ARE SOME MORE OF THE RESTROOM AREA AND THERE'S THE FIELDHOUSE ITSELF. IT IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO GO. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SOD AND THOSE THINGS. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO BEING USED BY STUDENTS. THAT IS ALL I HAVE IN THE WAY OF PICTURES. [00:30:02] ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? >> QUESTION? >> NO. >> NO? >> THANK YOU, DR. BOYER. >> THANK YOU. >> THE MOMENT A LOT OF US HAD BEEN WAITING FOR, CARSON SCHOLARS 2025. DR. LAWSON. >> AT THIS TIME, DR. SEAN JOHNSON, OUR ESTEEMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATION WILL LEAD US THROUGH THE CARSON SCHOLARS 2025 WINNERS. DR. JOHNSON. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND OUR GUESTS. AS BOTH MS. RINCON AND DR. LAWSON SHARED EARLIER, WE'RE ABOUT TO RECOGNIZE AN INCREDIBLE GROUP OF STUDENTS. IF YOU'RE NOT AWARE, THE CARSON SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION AWARDS ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS. THEY CAN INITIALLY APPLY AND THEN REPEATEDLY APPLY. WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE STUDENTS TONIGHT WHO ARE IN THEIR FIRST RECOGNITION ALL THE WAY UP TO THEIR SEVENTH RECOGNITION FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP. IN ORDER TO APPLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM GPA OF 3.75, YOU HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES. THESE ARE THE STUDENTS WHO ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY'RE VERY HARD TO TRACK DOWN WHICH YOU'LL SEE TONIGHT. [LAUGHTER] WE'VE ATTEMPTED TO RECONCILE EVERYONE. I WILL CALL YOU FORWARD IN JUST A MOMENT TO BE RECOGNIZED AND TO GET YOUR PHOTO WITH DR. LAWSON AND PRESIDENT HAWLEY. AS I DO, FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO WILL BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT, YOU'LL COME FORWARD, GET A PICTURE TAKEN BY MS. SHAW, YOU'LL SHAKE THE HANDS OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEN RIGHT HERE ON OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM. AGAIN, WE WANT TO SHARE CONGRATULATIONS. THESE ARE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS THAT WE SHOULD KEEP OUR EYE ON BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS. WE'RE CERTAIN OF IT. WE'LL BEGIN TONIGHT WITH OUR FIRST TIME RECOGNIZED STUDENTS. >> [INAUDIBLE]. >> MS. SHAW WHO IS SECRETLY IN CHARGE HERE IS TELLING ME THAT PLEASE WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, WAIT OUTSIDE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET A GROUP PHOTO OF ALL OF OUR SCHOLARS BEFORE YOU HIT THE ROAD TONIGHT. PLEASE STAY AROUND FOR WHILE WE DO THAT. WE'RE READY TO GO. WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED TONIGHT WITH A FIFTH GRADE STUDENT FROM ELK NECK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING BENJAMIN BURTON. [APPLAUSE] BENJAMIN IS A FIRST TIME CARSON SCHOLAR. TONIGHT, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO RECOGNIZE A 10TH GRADE STUDENT AT BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, GAVIN ROGERS. [APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT A FIRST TIME SCHOLAR IS JOSHUA VON STEUBEN, A STUDENT AT RISING SUN ELEMENTARY. OUR SECOND TIME RENEWED CARSON SCHOLAR, PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING BRIDGET KHAN FROM CECILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN FIFTH GRADE. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] THIS NEXT GROUP OF STUDENTS OUR THIRD TIME CARSON RECOGNITION STATUS, EMMA BLANKENSHIP, A SEVENTH GRADER AT RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] DAKOTA HOLMES SMITH FROM OUR CCPS BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM. GABRIELLE REINHART, AN EIGHTH GRADER AT PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE TWO OTHER THIRD TIME STUDENTS THIS EVENING THAT WERE UNABLE TO JOIN US. LET'S CONGRATULATE REESE JONES AND KENNEDY O'LOUGHLIN. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE A GROUP OF FOURTH TIME CARSON SCHOLARS. JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING ARIANNA FAZZINO, A NINTH GRADER AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO ACKNOWLEDGE AMELIA TROYAN, A SEVENTH GRADER AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] UNABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT AN ADDITIONAL FOURTH TIME SCHOLAR IS ELIZABETH WIECEK, A NINTH GRADER AT PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. WE'RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A FIFTH TIME RENEWED CARSON SCHOLAR, A NINTH GRADER AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL GABRIEL FAZZINO. [APPLAUSE] WE'D ALSO LIKE [00:35:04] TO CONGRATULATE TWO OTHER FIFTH TIME SCHOLARS, ADELINE SCHERZER AND ALIYAH WILLIAMS FROM RISING SUN AND ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. [APPLAUSE] THAT'S OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS, ALIYAH. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE A SIXTH TIME CARSON SCHOLAR TO RECOGNIZE; THEY'VE BEEN RENEWED SIX TIMES, MADISON BURTON AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL. CONGRATULATIONS, MADISON. [APPLAUSE] FINALLY TONIGHT, WE'RE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE A ARSON SCHOLAR WHO HAS BEEN RENEWED SEVEN TIMES AVA BEGINSKI, AN 11TH GRADER AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] WE HAD ONE FINAL CARSON SCHOLAR RENEWED ON SEVEN OCCASIONS. THAT WAS CHASE WILLIAMS, A 10TH GRADER, ELKTON HIGH. LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US ACKNOWLEDGE THESE CARSON SCHOLARS WHO ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE THEIR GROUP PHOTO OUT IN THE LOBBY. CAN WE GIVE THEM ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR A JOB WELL DONE. [APPLAUSE] SHE BOARD. [BACKGROUND] >> WAS THERE AN EIGHTH AND NINTH? >> YES. >> I APOLOGIZE. I DO NOT THINK EITHER THE STUDENTS ARE PRESENT. >> THEY'RE NOT HERE. OKAY. [OVERLAPPING] >> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN RECOGNIZE THEM. MY APOLOGIES. AN EIGHTH TIME CARSON SCHOLAR, WE'RE TO RECOGNIZE CAMERON MINK AND 12TH GRADER AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL [APPLAUSE] AND A NINTH TIME RENEWED SCHOLAR, BRAEDEN MEANS A SENIOR AT BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. JOHNSON. WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH HERE, CHRISTIANACARE UNION HOSPITAL, DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LISA FIELDS, KATIE HUNTER, AND KATE ZACK TO PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STAND WITH MS. HAWLEY. YOU'RE NOT GETTING CARSON SCHOLAR AWARDS WHETHER OR NOT YOU'VE EARNED THEM. [OVERLAPPING] AMY SAXON WILL JOIN US AS WELL. [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU. LADIES, YOU DON'T KNOW ME, BUT WHEN I'M SUPPOSED TO READ, SOMETIMES I HAVE A HARD TIME WITH THE READING PIECE. BUT ANYWAY, IN 1994, A SMALL GROUP OF DOCTORS SUGGESTED OFFERING FREE PHYSICALS TO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES IN CECIL COUNTY AND AT THE TIME THE PHYSICALS WERE DONE IN EACH OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE FIRST EVENT WHICH WAS HELD IN 1997, THEY CAME TOGETHER AND STARTED TO DO THE PHYSICALS ALL AT ONCE. THIS IS DONE BY UNION HOSPITAL NOW THROUGH CHRISTIANACARE AND MOST RECENTLY, THEY ADMINISTERED 700 PHYSICALS IN ONE DAY COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL FAMILIES. THAT IS AN IN KIND SERVICE UPWARDS OF 30, 40, $50,000. THE PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH UNION HOSPITAL IS LONGSTANDING AND I HOPE AND TRUST YOU KNOW IT GOES BOTH WAYS. [00:40:01] BUT A HEARTFELT THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR PARTNERS FOR HELPING SO MANY KIDS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. [BACKGROUND] >> AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO RECOGNIZE OUR CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2025 TEACHER OF THE YEAR. FROM NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL MS. TAYLOR SCHAFER. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS THIS EVENING. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M INTRODUCED ME RIGHT NOW. [BACKGROUND] >> JUST STAY IN THERE AWKWARDLY. >> HONESTLY. BUT JUST SO THE AUDIENCE UNDERSTANDS, THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM RECOGNIZES THOSE TEACHERS WHO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION TO OUR STUDENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY. THIS YEAR, ANYBODY FROM THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS STAFF MEMBERS, TEAMS CAN SUBMIT NOMINATIONS FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. WE HAD 21 OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES THIS YEAR FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND AN AMAZING VERY WELL HOSTED TEACHER OF THE YEAR CEREMONY EARLIER IN APRIL. IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE MS. TAYLOR SCHAFER. SINCE JOINING NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL IN AUGUST OF 2016 AS AN EIGHTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, JUST AS MS. RINCON SAID, SHE HAS TAUGHT WITH PASSION AND PATIENCE AND CREATIVITY. I GOT TO EXPERIENCE AS A PARENT FOR BOTH OF MY CHILDREN AND SO IT'S AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE HER AT THIS TIME AND WITH HER BULLDOG SWAG ALL OVER. YOU MAY NEED TO TURN AROUND. THERE YOU GO. >> AFTER I WON TEACHER OF THE YEAR, ACTUALLY A CO-WORKER HAD THIS MADE FOR ME WHICH WAS AWESOME. GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, BOARD OF EDUCATION LEADERSHIP TEAM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BEFORE I BEGIN, ACTUALLY, I WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT OUT TO THE NEWEST BOARD MEMBER, MR. BRIAN HAMPTON. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. I HAVE BEEN TO MY FAIR SHARE OF BOARD MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS. SOME OF THEM MORE CONTENTIOUS THAN OTHERS AND YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN UNWAVERING SUPPORTER OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOICE IN YOUR SERVICE. YOU'RE GOING TO BE GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR THIS RECOGNITION. IT'S AN ABSOLUTE HONOR TO RECOGNIZE AND TO REPRESENT THE HARDWORKING TEACHERS OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE 16 DAYS OF SCHOOL LEFT; EXACTLY 16 DAYS LEFT. WE ARE FEELING IT. BY THAT, I MEAN YES, STUDENTS, STAFF, AND TEACHERS ALIKE ARE FEELING THE ANTICIPATION OF THE SUMMER. BUT ALSO WE'RE SOAKING IN THE EXCITEMENT OF WHAT EVERY SCHOOL YEAR END HAS TO OFFER; FIELD TRIPS, CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES, SHOWCASES, REFLECTION OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND EXCITEMENT THAT GOES INTO A SCHOOL YEAR. LIKE MS. HAWLEY SAID, THIS PAST MONDAY NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, WE COMPLETED OUR ANNUAL SERVICE DAY. I GOT TO VISIT ELK NECK STATE PARK AND PLANT TREES ALONGSIDE STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES. OTHER GROUPS ATTENDED PLACES LIKE NORTHEAST TOWN PARK, FAIR HILL, THE ANIMAL SHELTER AS WELL. IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HOW OUR SCHOOLS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO HAVE NEW AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCES, TO FIND NEW PASSIONS TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY IN POSITIVE WAYS. DAYS LIKE THIS MAKE OUR YEAR MEMORABLE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 16 DAYS AS WE FINISH OUT THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH MORE MEMORABLE MOMENTS TO COME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION TONIGHT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR REPRESENTING CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. [APPLAUSE] [00:45:44] [BACKGROUND] >> CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN, MS. SCHAFER. LIKE DR. HAMMER, MY SON WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THE EXPERTISE AND FUN MS. SCHAFER. AGREED. THANK YOU SO MUCH. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 21 CANDIDATES AS WELL THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. REALLY JUST A STELLAR GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH GREAT TEACHERS IN OUR COUNTY. THANK YOU. INCOMING STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. PRIOR TO THIS MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION, THE CECIL COUNTY COUNCIL OF STUDENT COUNCILS HAD ELECTED THREE CANDIDATES FOR US. WE CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING AND WE WERE ABLE TO SELECT VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS FROM THREE AMAZING CANDIDATES. IF WE HAVE A MOTION. >> I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPOINT ADDISON MCCAFE AS THE 2025, 2026 STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. CONGRATULATIONS, ADDISON. >> IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ADDISON. [INAUDIBLE] SHE IS A RISING SON HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR, AND SHE WILL BE JOINING MS. GRIFFIN NEXT MONTH, SHADOWING MS. GRIFFIN AND THEN TAKING OVER THE ROLE OF STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD STARTING IN JULY. CONGRATULATIONS TO ADDISON. [APPLAUSE] NEXT ON THE AGENDA, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS TIME. WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. WE DID HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED, AND THE REASON WHY WE MOVED IT UP THIS TIME WAS BECAUSE ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS, WERE ONLY TWO, AND ONE OF THEM WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT, AND WE WOULD PREFER WHEN PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT VOTING ITEMS THAT THEY SPEAK PRIOR TO US VOTING. WITH THAT PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, MS. OLSON. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. ALL OF THE GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ARE OUTLINED IN POLICY BDD, AND I WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THEM 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, AND IN GENERAL, A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES WILL BE RESERVED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. THREE MINUTES ARE ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER. WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE. NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30 SECONDS REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL. [NOISE] 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 OR APPOINTED 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 ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS AND A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON [LAUGHTER] THE CORNER OF THE TABLE. YOU MAY LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS IN THE BOX IF YOU WISH. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE [00:50:03] THE SECOND SPEAKER READY TO GO ONCE THE FIRST PERSON HAS FINISHED. OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE LINDSEY BERGMAN-DEBES, AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY JESS GOBBLE REAL. LINDSEY, YOU ALREADY PUSHED THE BUTTON. THANK YOU. >> OBVIOUSLY, I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING TONIGHT. [LAUGHTER] GOOD EVENING. I'M HERE TONIGHT WITH TWO MESSAGES, ONE OF CELEBRATION AND ONE OF VIGILANCE. FIRST, I WANT TO OFFER MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO BRIAN HAMPTON ON HIS APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BY GOVERNOR WEST MOORE. BRIAN, YOUR DEDICATION TO EQUITY, INCLUSION AND STUDENT VOICE HAS BEEN EVIDENT SINCE I MET YOU AND I'M GENUINELY EXCITED TO SEE YOU IN THIS ROLE. WHEN HEARING THERE WERE MULTIPLE NAMES BEING CONSIDERED, I SUBMITTED A LETTER TO GOVERNOR MOORE. IN THAT LETTER, I WROTE THAT BRIAN IS ONE OF THE MOST GENEROUS, KIND HEARTED AND COMMUNITY MINDED PEOPLE THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO KNOW. I ALSO NOTED HE'S NOT PERFORMATIVE, HE DOES THE WORK, AND I MEANT EVERY WORD. I'M GLAD THE GOVERNOR LISTENED. TO THE REST OF THE BOARD, I KNOW THIS IS A TEAM THAT VALUES INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND STANDS UP FOR ALL STUDENTS. I'VE WATCHED YOU LEAD WITH COMPASSION, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT, AND I BELIEVE BRIAN'S PRESENCE WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN THAT SHARED MISSION. BUT I ALSO WANT TO REMIND US ALL GENTLY BUT FIRMLY THAT WE MUST REMAIN VIGILANT. WE'VE SEEN HOW EASILY HARMFUL IDEOLOGIES CAN FIND THEIR WAY INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR POLITICS. WE'VE SEEN IT RIGHT HERE. FORMER BOARD MEMBERS LIKE RENAE DIXON, HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DESTROY PUBLIC EDUCATION, HARM LGBTQIA KIDS, AND UNRAVEL THE CULTURE OF EXCLUSIVITY THAT THIS DISTRICT IS WORKING SO HARD TO BUILD. WE CANNOT IGNORE THAT, WE CANNOT GROW COMPLACENT. BRIAN'S APPOINTMENT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THE WORK CONTINUES, AND I TRUST THAT THIS BOARD IS READY TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE TOGETHER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. BERGMAN-DEBES. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS JESS GOBBLE REAL. >> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS JESSICA GOBBLE REAL, AND I'M HERE AS A PARENT, A TAXPAYER, AND A PROUD VOLUNTEER IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY. MY ENTIRE FAMILY GIVES BACK. WE VOLUNTEERED OUR LOCAL FIRE COMPANY, SERVE AT BINGOS, AND EVEN MY YOUNG SON HOLDS THE TITLE OF LITTLE FIRE CHIEF FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THIS TOWN IS MORE THAN JUST WHERE WE LIVE. IT'S WHERE WE SERVE, CONNECT, AND BELONG. THIS IS WHY I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED SCHOOL BOUNDARY CHANGES. OUR HOME IS JUST 1.3 MILES FROM OUR CURRENT SCHOOL. UNDER THE NEW PROPOSAL, WE WOULD BE REASSIGNED TO A SCHOOL 3.9 MILES AWAY, REQUIRING TRAVEL OVER TWO MAJOR HIGHWAYS; ROUTE 40, AND ISLE 95. THAT IS NOT A SAFE OR LOGICAL TRADE OFF, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG STUDENTS. THESE ROADS, AS I KNOW FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE, ARE KNOWN FOR CONGESTION AND HIGH ACCIDENT RATES. SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION OVER THOSE ROUTES ADDS UNNECESSARY RISK. IF I WERE TO REQUEST AN EXCEPTION TO KEEP MY CHILD IN THE CURRENT SCHOOL, I WOULD THEN BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MY OWN TRANSPORTATION. TO ME, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. ESPECIALLY WHEN MY TAX DOLLARS ARE ALREADY FUNDING THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, I AM IN FACT BEING PENALIZED FOR TRYING TO DO WHAT'S SAFEST AND MOST STABLE FOR MY CHILD. BEYOND DISTANCE AND SAFETY, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACT. MY CHILD, LIKE MANY OTHERS AFFECTED BY THE SHIFT, HAS AN IEP AND BENEFITS FROM CONSISTENCY, STRUCTURE, AND TRUSTED SCHOOL STAFF. DISRUPTING THAT SUPPORT PUTS HIM AT A DISADVANTAGE. THIS PROPOSAL ALSO THREATENS THE INTEGRITY OF THE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS LIKE NORTHEAST AND BAYVIEW. REDRAWING BOUNDARIES COULD LOWER THEIR QUALIFYING PERCENTAGES, LEADING TO FUNDING CUTS THAT DIRECTLY HURT STUDENTS IN NEED. STUDENTS WHO RELY ON ACADEMIC SUPPORTS, MEALS, AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL PROGRAMMING. ACCORDING TO THE 2022 CECIL COUNTY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, 33.7% OF ADULTS HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE OR MORE ACES, ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, HIGHER THAN THE STATE AND NATIONAL AVERAGES. REMOVING VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM THEIR ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS, ENVIRONMENTS ONLY COMPOUNDS THAT TRAUMA AND INSTABILITY. LET'S NOT FORGET THE CCPS MISSION STATES THAT WE SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. YET THIS PROPOSAL EXCLUDES STUDENTS WHO LIVE WITHIN TOWN LIMITS FROM ATTENDING THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL. THAT IS NOT EQUITABLE NOR COLLABORATIVE. I URGE YOU, DO NOT SACRIFICE SAFETY, SPECIAL EDUCATION, SUPPORT, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION FOR THE SAKE OF REDRAWING THESE LINES. KEEP OUR IN TOWN STUDENTS IN THEIR IN TOWN SCHOOLS. LET THEM WALK INTO BUILDINGS THAT FEEL LIKE HOME [NOISE] >> YOU STOP THERE. >> WITH TEACHERS THAT KNOW THE ROADS THAT ARE SAFE. WE ARE PART OF THIS TOWN. WE SERVE IN THIS TOWN, AND PLEASE DON'T TAKE THAT FROM OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. WE ALSO RECEIVED YOUR EMAIL COMMENTS. I THINK THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TOO. >> YEAH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [00:55:03] >> NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR FIRST BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT, THE BAYVIEW, ELK NECK, NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BEFORE I ASK FOR ANY RECOMMENDATION, I WANT TO SEE IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS. >> I DO, PRESIDENT HOLLY. I JUST WANT TO WALK THROUGH TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS AND ANYONE THAT'S WATCHING UNDERSTANDS WHAT THE BOARD WILL BE VOTING ON. GOING BACK TO THE MARCH WORK SESSION AND LAST MONTH'S BOARD MEETING JUST TO FOLLOW ON A LINE OF QUESTIONING, BUT JUST STARTING WITH THE BASICS. NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS OVERCAPACITY WITH THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PRESENTED BY ABOUT 82 STUDENTS. IT'S AT ABOUT 115% OF ITS CAPACITY. TO ALLEVIATE THAT, THE PROPOSAL IS TO HAVE SOME STUDENTS THAT CURRENTLY ATTEND NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY GO TO BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY AND SOME OTHERS GO TO ELK NECK ELEMENTARY. ALL THREE OF THOSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FEED INTO NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL, IS THAT CORRECT? >> CORRECT. >> THE NEXT CONCERN AS WAS BROUGHT UP BY THE SPEAKER IS NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY IS A TITLE 1 SCHOOL, AND TITLE 1 IS DETERMINED AT LEAST IN PART BY THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE AND REDUCED MEALS, IS THAT CORRECT? WITH THAT, THOSE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT COULD BE TEACHER OR INSTRUCTION MATERIALS. BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY IS ALSO A TITLE 1 SCHOOL, IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THERE COULD BE DILUTION OF BOTH BY TRANSFERRING STUDENTS THAT AREN'T TITLE 1 TO BAYVIEW. BUT IN COMMENTS MADE IN THOSE MEETINGS, YOU DON'T EXPECT THE TITLE 1 STATUS OF EITHER NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY OR BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY TO CHANGE. >> FOR ELK NECK, CORRECT. NONE OF THE THREE. >> I'LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. BUT ELK NECK CURRENTLY IS NOT TITLE 1. > NOT TITLE 1, CORRECT, AND IT WILL REMAIN NON TITLE 1. >> FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT PROPOSAL THAT ARE IN NORTHEAST CURRENTLY AND WILL BE GOING TO ELK NECK NEXT YEAR. THERE'S APPROXIMATELY 44. THERE'S A SUBSET OF THEM THAT DO CURRENTLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE TITLE 1 STATUS OF NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY, CORRECT? >> YES. >> THEY MAY LOSE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AT NORTHEAST. BUT IF THEY HAVE IEPS, THAT'S BLOW. IT'S INCUMBENT ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE WHAT'S AGREED UPON AT IEP, CORRECT? >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> THE BOARD IS BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, IS TO ALLEVIATE THE OVERCAPACITY SITUATION AT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY, IS TO APPROVE REDISTRICTING STUDENTS TO BOTH BAYVIEW AND ELK NECK ELEMENTARIES, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE MAY BE SOME LOSS OF TITLE 1 RESOURCES TO THOSE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT MAY GO TO ELK NECK, OR VOTE TO CONTINUE WITH THE STATUS QUO WITH THE OVERCAPACITY BUILDING AT NORTHEAST, BUT ALL STUDENTS WOULD RETAIN THEIR CURRENT TITLE 1 RESOURCES. DO I HAVE THAT ALL CORRECT? >> I BELIEVE SO. [LAUGHTER] I DO. RIGHT NOW, KEEP IN MIND THAT FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS CAN "GRAND FATHER AND THEY CAN STAY." WE'RE ANTICIPATING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 20 TITLE 1 STUDENTS. AGAIN, WE WON'T KNOW. YOU MAY HAVE A FOURTH GRADE FAMILY AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M GOING TO THE OTHER SCHOOL, OR I WANT TO STAY WHERE I AM. WE WON'T BE ABLE TO NAIL DOWN THESE NUMBERS FOR SURE UNTIL WE SEE. THEN ALSO ANY FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADER THAT GRAND FATHERS, A CLUNKY WAY TO PUT IT, BUT ANY OF THOSE KIDS WHO HAVE SIBLINGS THAT ARE PK-3 CAN ALSO STAY WITH THEIR OLDER SIBLING. BUT ALL THAT'S A LONG WINDED WAY OF SAYING, WE'RE ESTIMATING PROBABLY 20 STUDENTS WHO ARE TITLE 1 TO LEAVE NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY AND GO TO, DR. JOHNSON, YOU'RE ON YOUR PERCH. COME ON. [LAUGHTER] >> SORRY. >> BUT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER THIS DATA, MR. HAMPTON IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS ISSUE COMING UP. [01:00:02] >> I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TITLE 1 FUNDING IS ASSIGNED. >> TITLE 1 FUNDING IS ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL BUILDING AS A POPULATION GROUP FOR THE STUDENTS. THERE AREN'T SERVICES LINKED DIRECTLY TO A CHILD THROUGH THE TITLE 1 FUNDING, IT'S ONLY TO SUPPLEMENT. FROM OUR DISTRICT PERSPECTIVE, THERE WOULD BE COMMON CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENTS, RESOURCES, EXPECTATIONS FOR SERVICES LIKE 504, IEP. ALL THOSE WOULD HAVE TO CONTINUE. THE BIGGEST CHANGES WOULD BE IN THOSE SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS THAT SOME OF THE TITLE 1 SCHOOLS USE THAT FUNDING TO PROVIDE, SO BEFORE AND AFTER CARE PROGRAMMING OR THOSE THINGS. >> DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? >> YES. THANK YOU. >> IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG-TERM PROCESS, FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT. WE'RE GRANDFATHERING FOURTH AND FIFTH, POTENTIALLY THE SIBLINGS OF THAT, FAMILIES WHO HAVE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN REACHING OUT TO YOU, AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH THESE FAMILIES. TRANSPORTATION IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE. TRANSPORTATION HUBS IS WHAT I'M HEARING THAT WILL BE PROVIDED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, WE HAVE TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THE CAPACITY, AND WE DO HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS THAT WE SHOULD NOT EXCEED, AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 600 STUDENTS. I KNOW THE CAPACITY AT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY IS LOWER THAN THAT, AND THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS HIGHER THAN 600 FROM MY UNDERSTANDING. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AS WELL, THAT IT'S NOT A HARD CUT AND DRY, HERE'S THE LINE, WE'RE DOING IT TO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, NOT WORKING WITH FAMILIES. IT'S GOING TO WORK ITSELF OUT LONG TERM. I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S HARD. ANYTIME YOU WANT TO REDRAW LINES, IT'S A HARD THING BECAUSE FAMILIES ARE ROOTED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS ARE GREAT SCHOOLS, THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO. MY KIDS WENT TO NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY. I UNDERSTAND NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY, BUT I ALSO KNOW BAYVIEW, AND I ALSO KNOW ELK NECK ELEMENTARY. I'M CONFIDENT THAT THESE STUDENTS AREN'T GOING TO LOSE ANYTHING, REALLY. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE OVERCAPACITY. THE LINE HAS TO BE SOMEWHERE. >> AS FAR AS THE "IN-TOWN STUDENTS" GOING TO NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WOULD BE EVERYBODY'S PREFERENCE, BUT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY ONLY HOLDS SO MANY KIDS. THIS ISSUE IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION THAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL. THERE'S NOTHING TO SAY THAT THE BOARD WON'T HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AGAIN IN 5, 8 YEARS, DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AS IT RELATES TO NEW CONSTRUCTION IN THE NORTHEAST AREA. MR. FERDINANDO. >> TO ADD TO WHAT YOU SAID, I ASKED THE QUESTION OF, CAN WE EXPAND THE SCHOOL? THE ANSWER WAS, IF WE HAVE CAPACITY IN OTHER SCHOOLS, WE CAN'T EXPAND EXISTING SCHOOLS [OVERLAPPING]. >> EXCELLENT POINT. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD BE LOGICAL JUST TO MAKE NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY BIGGER. >> THERE ARE TWO CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE STATE WILL SUPPORT NEW CONSTRUCTION. THE FIRST IS IF YOUR SCHOOLS ARE DILAPIDATED, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH NORTHEAST MIDDLE AND NORTHEAST HIGH. THAT'S WHAT WARRANTED A NEW BUILDING. THE SECOND CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WILL WARRANT NEW CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT FROM THE STATE IS IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SEATS. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH SEATS IN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL, THAT'S ENOUGH SEATS IN THE COUNTY. BEFORE THE STATE PROVIDE STATE-LEVEL FUNDING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THEY WANT TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE BALANCED OUT ALL OF YOUR DISTRICT THEATER BECAUSE YOU COULD MAKE THE CASE THAT NORTHEAST HIGH IS CLOSE TOO. YES, IT IS, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE BECAUSE WE'RE CROWDED WITH SEATS. THEY WOULD WANT TO SEE SEATS REASSIGNED FROM NORTHEAST TO ELKTON, FROM RISING SUN TO ELKTON, FROM NORTHEAST TO PERRYVILLE, BECAUSE PERRYVILLE AND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL ARE CURRENTLY THE TWO HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAVE SEATS AVAILABLE, SO THE STATE WOULD WANT TO SEE A REASSIGNMENT OF KIDS BEFORE THEY AUTHORIZE NEW CONSTRUCTION. THAT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT POINT, MR. FERDINANDO. >> WE BROUGHT PORTABLES INTO NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY ALREADY, AND I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK PORTABLES ARE A GOOD IDEA AT SCHOOLS, BUT YOU KNOW THEY NEEDED TO BE THERE FOR THE CAPACITY. >> WE DO HAVE PORTABLES AT NORTHEAST HIGH, AT RISING SUN HIGH, AND AT BO IN NUMBERS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIAL. I KNOW WE HAVE SOME PORTABLES IN OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT THAT'S WHERE THE BIG NUMBERS ARE. THE REASON WE DON'T PURSUE OVERCROWDING AT RISING SUN HIGH IN PARTICULAR IS BECAUSE ON ANY GIVEN DAY, [01:05:02] RISING SUN HIGH HAS UPWARDS OF 150 STUDENTS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SENIOR OPTION, MEANS THEY'RE NOT THERE, AND YOU HAVE EQUAL NUMBER, ABOUT 150 STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, DEPENDING ON WHETHER IT'S AN A DAY OR A B DAY. ON A DAY, ALL THE SCHOOL OF TECH SENIORS AT RISING SUN HIGH AREN'T THERE. THEY GET ON A BUS AND THEY GO TO THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. THE OVERCROWDING ISSUE ISN'T AS PRONOUNCED AT OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF RAW OPERATIONAL ISSUES, LIKE THE WAY IT IS AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS FOR THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. >> YOU CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. >> SORRY. >> YES, I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENTS AS LISTED BELOW FOR BAYVIEW, ELK NECK, AND NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT THE APRIL 9TH, 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. >> YOU'VE HEARD THEIR RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE THE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT FOR ELKTON MIDDLE AND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. BEFORE WE DO OUR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ADJUSTMENT? >> JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR BOTH ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AT BOHEMIA MANOR. SINCE THOSE TWO ARE SO CLOSE WITHIN 1%, DO WE HAVE AN ANTICIPATION ON WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE FROM SOUTHFIELD TO THOSE? >> THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO. NOW, THERE ARE STATE FORMULAS THAT WILL TELL YOU, DON'T HOLD ME TO THESE NUMBERS, BUT THEY'RE CLOSE, 0.3 STUDENTS PER DWELLING. YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT, AND THEN THEY BREAK IT DOWN FURTHER IN THREE DECIMAL POINTS THAT ADD TO 0.3. OF THE 0.3, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO EXPECT 0.15 ELEMENTARY AND MAYBE 0.07 MIDDLE, AND 0.08 HIGH SCHOOL. IT REALLY DOES GET THAT COMPLICATED. THAT'S HOW THIS IS CALCULATED. YOU COULD LOOK AT AN APARTMENT COMPLEX FROM WHAT I SEE, IT LOOKS LIKE A BUNCH OF THEM, AND YOU COULD APPLY THOSE DECIMALS AND MULTIPLY AND GET AN IDEA OF WHAT MIGHT BE COMING. BUT TRUTHFULLY, MR. DAVIS, YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL THEY SHOW UP. HONESTLY, BIRTH RATES ARE DOWN AND ENROLLMENT HAS BEEN DECLINING NOW FOR THE PAST UP TO 10 YEARS IN CECIL COUNTY. WE HAVE AN IDEA, BUT IT'S AN EDUCATED GUESS, I WOULD CALL IT THAT. I THINK, IN CASE SOME ARE WONDERING, THE RATIONALE IS SOUTHFIELD STUDENTS, SECONDARY, WE HAVE ROOM AT HOLLY HALL TO ACCOMMODATE AND THE STUDENTS WILL ATTEND ELKTON MIDDLE AND ELKTON HIGH. IF YOU LOOK AT BOHEMIA MANOR, YOU CAN MAKE THE CASE THERE IS SOME ROOM AT BO MIDDLE, BUT THERE'S NOT ROOM AT BO HIGH. IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE PRACTICAL TO ASSIGN STUDENTS TO BO MIDDLE, ONLY TO TURN AROUND, THEN HAVE THEM TO GO BACK UP THE ROAD FOR ELKTON HIGH. THE DECISION WAS, AND THIS PROVIDES STABILITY TO THE EXISTING FAMILIES IN THOSE FEEDERS, AND AT THE SAME TIME, GIVES NEW FAMILIES COMING INTO THE AREA FOREKNOWLEDGE THAT SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL BE ASSIGNED TO ELKTON MIDDLE AND ELKTON HIGH. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION? >> YES. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENTS AS LISTED BELOW FOR ELKTON MIDDLE AND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AT THE APRIL 9TH, 2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. >> YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT, WE HAVE OUR CCPS BID NUMBER 25-10, DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE AWARD FOR DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION TO BEST CHOICE DRIVING SCHOOL FOR NORTHEAST PERRYVILLE AND RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOLS, AND TO LANCAM LLC., DBA DRIVERS UNIVERSITY FOR THE BOHEMIA MANOR AND ELKTON HIGH SCHOOLS. >> YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? [01:10:02] >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE. DR. LAWSON. >> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY, AT THIS TIME. MS. DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WILL SHARE WITH THE BOARD THIS MONTH'S BUDGET AMENDMENT. KEEP IN MIND THAT I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION WHEN SHE FINISHES. MS. SOPA. >> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS, AND GUESTS. THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM APRIL THAT WE PRESENT DURING THE MAY MEETING, AND THE FRONT PAGE, AGAIN, IS JUST A SUMMARY OF THE CHANGE IN REVENUE AND THE CHANGE IN EXPENSE. WE GET INTO SOME DETAILS ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES. IN RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE, A MITSUBISHI DONATION TO SUPPORT SUMMER ALIGNMENT AND MACHINE OPERATOR TRAINING, 98,500, AN AMERICAN LEGION POST DONATION FOR COROLLARY SPORTS AT RISING SUN HIGH FOR 1,500, AND A GREAT WOLF LODGE DONATION TO PERRYVILLE HIGH TO SUPPORT MARYLAND HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM CLASSROOM SUPPLIES IN THE AMOUNT OF 4,000. RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE. A CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANT TO PROVIDE TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION PROGRAMS IN THE AMOUNT OF 5,000. RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE. TITLE II SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT TO SUPPORT TEACHER TRAINING FOR AP PROGRAMS, $1,950, AND A CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANT, PASSED GRANT TO PROVIDING SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMS THROUGH THE YES PROGRAM AT SEVERAL SCHOOLS FOR 25,000. OTHER UNRESTRICTED REVENUE AT THE BOTTOM, A DONATION FROM RISING SUN HIGH. THIS IS USING STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO PURCHASE A STAGE FOR STUDENT EVENTS. THIS GASB 87 LEASE RECOGNITION IS A TECHNICAL ENTRY THAT WE HAVE TO DO FOR OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. GASB STANDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARDS. THIS PRONOUNCEMENT STARTED, I THINK THIS IS THE THIRD, WHERE WHAT THEY SAY IS WHEN YOU ENGAGE IN A LEASE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEASE, YOU HAVE THE ENTIRE RIGHT OF USE OF THE PROPERTY. THIS LEASE REPRESENTS VEHICLES FOR MAINTENANCE. WHEN WE START THE LEASE IN THIS YEAR, WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THE ASSET WHEN YOU BEGIN THE LEASE. WE HAVE TO DO AN ENTRY THAT SHOWS THE ASSET AND THE LIABILITY FOR THE ENTIRE $182,666. IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GETTING REVENUE, IT MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE AT THE BEGINNING THAT THIS IS THE VALUE OF THESE LEASES THAT WE'RE ENGAGING IN OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD, AND THEN WE ACTUALLY RECORD THE EXPENSE FOR FY25, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING DURING THIS YEAR. AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO REPORT IN OUR ECFA, WHICH IS WHY THAT'S THERE. FEES COLLECTED FOR THE ROBOTICS COMPETITION IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, $225, AND ADDITIONAL FUNDS AWARDED FOR THE JOULE SETTLEMENT, 39,920. THE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE ABOUT THIS PAGE IS THAT WHENEVER YOU SEE A COLUMN AT THE END THAT HAS A TOTAL WITH A DASH THAT SIGNIFIES A ZERO, THAT'S A SCHOOL OR DEPARTMENT TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER ACROSS THE STATE CATEGORY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY NEEDED MORE MONEY FOR SUPPLIES AND MOVED IT FROM CONTRACTED SERVICES TO SUPPLIES, BUT THE NET EFFECT IS A ZERO. WHEN YOU SEE A COLUMN WITH AN AMOUNT AT THE END, THESE TRANSLATE BACK TO THE LAST PAGE, SO THESE ARE ADDITIONS TO REVENUE OR REDUCTIONS IN REVENUE AND JUST SHOW YOU THE STATE CATEGORIES WHERE THOSE ADDITIONS OR REDUCTIONS ARE MADE. THE NEXT FEW PAGES BREAK DOWN OUR BUDGET BY OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, AGAIN, BY OUR REVENUE, AND THEN EXPENSES BY CATEGORY AND EXPENSES BY OBJECT, OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET, AND THEN OUR TOTAL BUDGET. AGAIN, JUST WHERE WE STAND AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR. THEN WE HAVE OUR THREE-YEAR VIEW BY DEPARTMENT. THIS IS OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET ANYWAY, ONLY, SO IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OF OUR GRANTS, FEDERAL DOLLARS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AGAIN, REALLY NOTHING SIGNIFICANT EXCEPT FOR HEALTH CARE, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT UP FROM BEFORE, AND WHERE YOU SEE SOME DIFFERENCES IN CAPITAL OUTLAY IN THE PAST. THAT WAS WHERE WE WERE FUNDING SOME SECURE ENTRANCES FROM OUR FUND BALANCE. THAT'S WHERE YOU SEE SOME DIFFERENCES THERE, BUT OTHERWISE, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT IN THE THREE-YEAR TRENDS. THE LAST PAGE IS JUST WHERE WE STAND SO FAR FOR '25 IN OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET BY DEPARTMENT. AGAIN, NOTHING THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT AS OFF FROM THE YEAR BEFORE. [01:15:04] WE JUST USE THIS AS A LOOK AT WHERE WE STAND SO FAR IN THE BUDGET. >> DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $355,761 AS PRESENTED. >> IS THERE A MOTION? >> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. UPCOMING EVENTS. DR. LAWSON. >> SURE. WE HAVE A FEW THINGS. TOMORROW NIGHT IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING AT THE COUNTY BUILDING, STARTS AT SEVEN O'CLOCK THIS COMING MONDAY. IT'S NICE FOR A THREE-DAY WEEKEND, ALTHOUGH SUPPOSED TO BE A LITTLE CHILLY. GRADUATION NEXT WEEK, AS WAS MENTIONED DURING THE BOARD REPORTS. WE HAVE THE SCHOOL OF TECH GRADUATION ON THE 27TH. IT'S A BUSY RUN FOR US. THREE IN FOUR NIGHTS. MAY 29TH, MAY 30TH ARE THE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS. SOME OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS WERE INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF WORLD WAR II DOCUMENTARY, AND THAT SCREENING WILL BE HERE ON JUNE 5TH AT FIVE O'CLOCK. IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN JUNE 11TH, TIME, SAME PLACE, RIGHT BACK HERE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> GREAT. WE ARE NOW AT THE END OF THE AGENDA. AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR FLEXIBILITY WITH THE MEETING CHANGE AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT. HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. MEETING ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.