[00:01:20]
          I'M GOING TO GET STARTED. ALL RIGHT, IT'S 5:30 FINALLY. 
          [3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
I AM RECONVENING AN OPEN SESSION, THE JUNE 11TH,
2025 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING. 
          PLEASE STAND WHILE MISS GRIFFIN, FOR THE LAST TIME LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE. 
          WE HAVE MR. DAVIS CALLING IN. MR. DAVIS CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. 
          BOARD REFLECTION, MR. FERDINANDO. THE MISSION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE
EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS. 
          AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY WE WILL ENSURE THAT ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. 
          THANK YOU, MR. FERDINANDO. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES. CONSENT AGENDA. BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA,
IS THERE ANY BOARD MEMBERS 
          [4. Consent Agenda]
WHO HAVE ANY ITEMS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE REMOVE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO DISCUSS
SEPARATELY? OKAY. HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY
ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. 
          IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          FIRST ITEM IN NEW BUSINESS. WE ARE GOING TONIGHT TO CELEBRATE OUR OUTGOING STUDENT MEMBER
OF THE BOARD MISS GISELLE 
          [5. New Business]
GRIFFIN. MISS GRIFFIN JUST GRADUATED FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL,
AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS JUST A CHANCE TO SAY SOMETHING TO MISS GRIFFIN, IF YOU'D LIKE. 
          BEFORE I, BEFORE I GO. BEFORE YOU GO. WELL, MISS GRIFFIN,
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TO WATCH YOU MOSTLY FROM THAT SIDE OF THE TABLE. 
          BUT I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND HOW YOU BROUGHT YOUR PEER YOUR PEERS
PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARD. 
          THANK YOU. BEST WISHES IN THE FUTURE. THANKS. 
          YEAH, YOU SAID A COUPLE OF THINGS I WAS GOING TO SAY,
PROFESSIONAL, TOUGH. ALWAYS REALLY HAPPY, POSITIVE, YOU JUST KIND OF ALWAYS OVER THERE CHUCKLING,
RIGHT. 
          IT'S BEEN GREAT WORKING WITH YOU. I'M PROBABLY GOING TO MISS YOUR LITTLE SISTERS. 
          WHERE ARE THEY AT? ARE THEY HERE TODAY. OKAY. AND WATCHING THEM RESPOND TO YOU ON THE
FRONT ROW WITH ALL THEIR LITTLE ANTICS. 
          YEAH. THAT WAS ALWAYS FUN WATCHING THEM, BECAUSE THEY DEFINITELY LOOKED UP TO YOU. AND I
COULD SEE THAT YOU'RE A BIG DEAL TO THEM, TOO, WATCHING YOU UP HERE. SO VERY COOL. KEEP US UP TO DATE ON ALL YOUR SUCCESSES AS YOU GO, PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH. 
          CONGRATULATIONS. APOLOGIZE TO GISELLE AND EVERYONE THERE THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO BE IN PERSON
TODAY. 
          I HAD EYE SURGERY THIS MORNING, SO I'M STILL A LITTLE BIT IN RECOVERY RIGHT NOW,
SO MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT. 
          AS FAR AS GISELLE, GISELLE, THIS HAS BEEN QUITE A JOURNEY FOR YOU THIS PAST YEAR AS YOU'RE
AS YOU'VE SERVED AS A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SINCERELY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO REPRESENT AND ADVOCATE FOR
ALL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE CCPS. 
          [00:05:07]
YOU SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AND HONOR, AND YOUR GRACE UNDER FIRE SHOWED MATURITY THOUGHTFUL, KIND, AND INTELLIGENT YOUNG LADY. 
          AND I, WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO MISS YOU. BUT I'M HOPING THAT AS YOU REFLECT ON THIS PAST
YEAR, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND A PURPOSE IN THE TIME THAT YOU SPENT ON THE BOARD AND WILL USE
THE LESSONS YOU LEARNED TO FUEL YOUR FUTURE SUCCESS. 
          CONTINUE TO BE THAT CRITICAL THINKER YOU ARE,
AND NEVER STOP BELIEVING IN YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING THAT YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO. SO GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THE BOARD OF
EDUCATION. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GISELLE, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU AS A FELLOW MEMBER OF
THE BOARD WITH US. 
          IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE GETTING TO KNOW YOU. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN PROFESSIONAL AND ENGAGED,
AND YOU REPRESENTED, YOU REPRESENTED YOUR STUDENT BODY IN AMAZING WAYS. 
          PROUD OF YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DID THIS YEAR AND HOW YOU HOW YOU HOW YOU CARRIED YOURSELF. 
          PLEASE COME BACK AND SEE US AND LET US KNOW ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU'RE DOING. 
          COME BACK ONCE OR TWICE. YEAH, THAT'D BE GREAT. I'M JUST GOING TO ECHO A LOT OF THINGS
THAT MY COLLEAGUES JUST SAID, BUT I, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS, I'M JUST SO INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED BY YOUR MATURITY
AND YOUR GRACE AND YOUR PROFESSIONALISM. 
          YOU'RE ALWAYS KIND. YOU'RE ALWAYS RESPECTFUL. 
          YOU'RE SMART AGAIN, MATURE WELL BEYOND YOUR YEARS,
HONESTLY. 
          AND I SAY THAT I HEARD A COUPLE PEOPLE SAY MATURE,
BUT IT'S VERY TRUE. 
          AND I JUST ADMIRE YOUR ABILITY TO JUST FACE CHALLENGES WITH SUCH STRENGTH. 
          YOUR WORK ETHIC IS TOP NOTCH. THAT WAS EVIDENT FROM THE SECOND YOU,
WE MET YOU. 
          I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU JUGGLE EVERYTHING THAT YOU JUGGLE,
AND IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPRESSIVE. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK, YOUR PERSPECTIVE,
YOUR PERSEVERANCE AND SIMPLY JUST BEING YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE PRETTY AWESOME. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT ONLY A STUDENT THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS CAN LOOK
UP TO, BUT OUR ADULT, OUR ADULTS AND OUR STAFF AND ALL OF US AS WELL,
REALLY LOOK UP TO YOU AND ADMIRE YOU AND AND LEARN FROM YOU, FRANKLY. AND I JUST LOVE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE YOU SHINE. 
          AND I KNOW YOU'LL DO GREAT THINGS, AND I JUST I DID LOOK AT YOUR COLLEGE. 
          SHE IS GOING TO NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY. 
          AND I LOOKED ONLINE THERE BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO GET SEE IF WE COULD GET A LITTLE
SOMETHING FOR YOUR GIFT AS WELL. 
          BUT I NOTICED THE MISSION STATEMENT OF YOUR COLLEGE,
AND I'M GOING TO READ IT. 
          EDUCATES LEADERS TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD, EDUCATES LEADERS TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD. 
          AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU DO THAT SO WELL. 
          SO AGAIN, KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US. I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO DR. 
          LAWSON AS WELL, AND THEN I'LL GET YOUR GIFTS TOGETHER HERE. 
          JUST A FEW THINGS GISELLE. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE ALL CONSIDER ROLE MODELS,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU WERE TO ASK ME MY ROLE MODELS RIGHT AWAY,
I GO TO MY DAD, MAYBE A COUPLE FOLKS I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS. 
          AND THE TENDENCY IS TO LOOK UP AND LOOK OLDER AND LOOK IN PAST GENERATIONS FOR ROLE
MODELS. 
          BUT I THINK YOU SERVE AS A ROLE MODEL AT THE RIPE AGE OF 18 OR WHATEVER YOU ARE. 
          BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT, FACE IT, IT'S NO SECRET WHAT YOU ENDURED THIS PAST YEAR. 
          AND I THINK YOU KNOW EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY TAKES SHOTS HERE AND THERE AND THE TRUE MARK OF
A PERSON'S CHARACTER IS HOW YOU REACT AND RESPOND TO THOSE SHOTS. AND I THINK YOUR GRACE,
YOUR COMPOSURE THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING WHEN MANY IN THE ROOM WERE KIND OF LOSING IT A LITTLE BIT, YOU'RE ALWAYS EVEN KEEL MEASURED AND ACTING LIKE SOMEBODY WHO'S WORTHY OF
BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR ALL OF US. 
          AND SO I'M HAPPY FOR YOU. I'M PROUD OF YOU. AND YOU HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE,
GISELLE. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS,
BUT I'M USED TO YOU GETTING ALL MY STUFF TOGETHER DOWN THERE FOR ME, SO I, I'M GOING TO MEET YOU THERE. IF YOU WANT TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS,
I WILL. 
          I MEAN, I JUST I HAVE A WORD FOR IT. OKAY. WE CAN WAIT. 
          YOU WANT TO MEET THERE AND WE CAN GIVE YOU YOUR GIFTS. 
          YEAH. 
          [00:10:13]
SOMEBODY'S GOT TO HOLD IT DOWN OVER HERE. 
          OH THAT'S YOURS. OH, YEAH. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY,
WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT MR. JEREMY, JEREMY BROWNING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVES,
AND HE'S GOING TO PRESENT GISELLE WITH A CITATION IN APPRECIATION FOR HER OUTSTANDING SERVICE. MR. BROWNING. SO HELLO,
EVERYONE, GOOD EVENING. 
          MY NAME IS JEREMY BROWNING. I USE HE /HIM PRONOUNS,
AND IT'S MY GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND COMMISSION ON LGBTQIA+ AFFAIRS, WHICH IS HOUSED IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVES. 
          THE COMMISSION WAS CREATED BY THE 2021 MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ASSESS THE CHALLENGES
FACING LGBTQIA + COMMUNITIES AND ESTABLISH RECOMMENDATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR INCLUSION. SO IT'S MY GREAT HONOR TO RECOGNIZE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD GISELLE GRIFFIN
FOR HER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE TO ENSURE ALL STUDENTS CAN LEARN AND GROW IN A MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT. 
          GISELLE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE 4.45 GPA AND HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE,
HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN HER SCHOOL COMMUNITY, SERVING AS A MEMBER IN MULTIPLE CLUBS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND
THE PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL'S GSA. 
          GISELLE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION,
YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR COURAGE, AND YOUR SERVICE TO CECIL COUNTY, AS WELL AS THE STATE OF MARYLAND. AND WITHOUT WITHOUT FURTHER ADO,
I CAN PRESENT THE GOVERNOR'S CITATION. 
          SO THE STATE OF MARYLAND. GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO GISELLE GRIFFIN. 
          GREETINGS, BE IT KNOWN BECAUSE OF YOUR DEMONSTRATION OF HIGH INTEGRITY AND ABILITY
MERITING OUR GREAT TRUST AND RESPECT, WE ARE MOST PLEASED TO AWARD YOU THE GOVERNOR'S CITATION IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR
OUTSTANDING SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF THIS STATE. 
          AND IT'S SIGNED BY GOVERNOR WES MOORE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ARUNA MILLER,
AND SECRETARY OF STATE SUSAN LEE. 
          THANK YOU. 
          [APPLAUSE] AND NOW WE WILL GO TO OUR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS,
AND WE WILL START DOWN AT THE END THERE WITH MISS GRIFFIN. 
          OKAY. GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT. 
          IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ALREADY, TODAY MARKS MY FINAL BOARD MEETING WITH YOU. 
          IT'S A BITTERSWEET MOMENT, BUT I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT
GRATITUDE. SERVING IN THIS ROLE HAS BEEN AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT'S HELPED ME GROW NOT PROFESSIONALLY,
BUT PERSONALLY AS WELL. I'M INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND KINDNESS EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE SHOWN ME THROUGHOUT THIS JOURNEY. OH,
WHEN I FIRST STEPPED INTO THIS POSITION, I WAS EXCITED BY THE CHANCE TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE AND ADVOCATE FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST
OUR STUDENTS. 
          WHILE NOT EVERYTHING WENT EXACTLY AS I ENVISIONED,
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IN SOME SMALL WAY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. 
          I HOPE MY TIME HERE HELPED HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENT SUCCESS,
EQUITY, AND ENSURING EVERY VOICE IS HEARD. 
          I'LL DEFINITELY BE KEEPING UP WITH ALL THE EXCITING THINGS TO COME AT CCPS,
MOST LIKELY THROUGH DR. LAWSON'S FAMOUS INSTAGRAM [LAUGHTER]. BUT I'M ESPECIALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW OUR NEWLY EMPOWERED INSTITUTE MEMBER OF THE BOARD,
MISS METCALF, BRINGS HER PASSION AND ENERGY TO HER ROLE, HER OUTGOING NATURE, AND GET IT DONE SPIRIT WILL NO DOUBT SERVE THE STUDENT BODY WELL. 
          THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY. I WILL ALWAYS CARRY THIS EXPERIENCE WITH
ME, AND I'LL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN APART, APART OF SOMETHING SO MEANINGFUL, AND 
          [00:15:02]
THAT'S ALL. THANKS, GUYS [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU,
MISS GRIFFIN. 
          ALL RIGHT, MR. HAMPTON, YOU GET TO FOLLOW THAT. 
          WELCOME, EVERYONE. IT'S GOOD TO SEE THIS ROOM FILLED UP. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME ADDISON,
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SELECTION AS A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD. 
          AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING PERSPECTIVES YOU BRING TO BOARD MATTERS. 
          I ATTENDED PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL'S GRADUATION THIS MORNING. 
          I ATTENDED A PERRYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL'S EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION. 
          SHORTLY AFTER LAST BOARD MEETING, I VISITED BAINBRIDGE BAINBRIDGE ELEMENTARY AND LEARNED A
LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND THE IMPORTANT SERVICES THEY PROVIDE,
NOT ONLY TO OUR STUDENTS BUT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE. 
          LAST WEEK, I ATTENDED A SCREENING FOR THE WORLD WAR II MUSEUM'S ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIPS. 
          WE HAVE A CCPS TEACHER AND A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THAT ARE TOUR GUIDES IN TWO OF THE FILMS, SO EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT UTILIZES THOSE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES WILL
SEE OUR OWN CCPS REPRESENTATIVES PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE EVENTS NEAR AND AT THE AND FOLLOWING THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. 
          SO I THINK THAT WAS EXCITING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MR. HAMPTON. MR. FERDINANDO. SHORT AND SWEET. IT WAS A GREAT MONTH WITH WITH GRADUATIONS,
WHICH IS ALWAYS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR. 
          WELL SUMMER'S HERE, THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY. BUT ALSO JUST CELEBRATING ALL THE PEOPLE
GRADUATING. 
          I ATTENDED AND SPOKE AT THE RISING SUN GRADUATION. 
          LUCKILY WE GOT TO HAVE THE GRADUATION WENT WELL. 
          THE WEATHER HELD OFF, SO THAT WAS GREAT. WE WERE FINGERS CROSSED THE WHOLE NIGHT. 
          AND I WILL BE ATTENDING THE RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTION TOMORROW. 
          AND JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES. 
          THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MR. DAVIS, I THINK, IS YIELDING HIS TIME. 
          MISS HEATH. MY TURN. I'M GOING TO BE QUICK I THINK. 
          JUST A FEW THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. 
          I'VE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS ABOUT IEPS AND THE SPECIAL ED PROCESS. 
          AND I VISITED A RISE CLASSROOM AS WELL. I ALSO ATTENDED SOME FIT AND FITNESS DAYS,
WHICH ARE SO FUN. 
          THE SENIOR AWARDS AND SPORTS AWARDS AT BOHEMIA MANOR. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE I SPOKE AT THE BO MANOR GRADUATION,
AND I ALSO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL OF TECH GRADUATION. 
          AND I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MISS METCALF. THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR NEXT YEAR WITH US. 
          WE APPRECIATE THAT AND ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING TO KNOW YOU BETTER. 
          AND I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR SENIORS. 
          GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR
GRADUATES, OUR EIGHTH GRADERS, FIFTH GRADERS WHO ARE DOING PROMOTIONS THIS WEEK ALL OF OUR STUDENTS,
FOR YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, BOTH IN THE CLASSROOM AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. A LOT OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE TONIGHT. 
          BEHIND EVERY STUDENT, THERE'S AN EDUCATOR. SO I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR EDUCATORS,
OUR STAFF FOR WE HAVE TWO HALF DAYS LEFT. 
          BUT WHO'S COUNTING? RIGHT. WE'LL KEEP GRINDING FOR THOSE TWO HALF DAYS. 
          AND ALSO I KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN SOME SKILLSUSA PEOPLE IN HERE THEY GO TO NATIONALS LATER
THIS MONTH AS WELL AS FBLA. SO GOOD LUCK TO OUR STUDENTS IN HERE FOR THAT. 
          THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY, DR. LAWSON. SO JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS FOR ME. 
          FIRST THIS YEAR SO I GUESS IT STARTED LAST AUGUST DURING A READING WORKSHOP FOR OUR SECOND
GRADE TEACHERS AT BAYVIEW THAT I DECIDED THAT, YOU KNOW, I JUST I WANTED TO BE MORE INVOLVED THAN JUST GOING AND VISITING A WORKSHOP FOR
20 MINUTES. 
          SO I COMMITTED TO GOING TO A SINGLE SCHOOL, IN A SINGLE CLASSROOM ONCE A WEEK,
FOR AN HOUR, FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR. AND WITH THE HELP OF DR. 
          JOHNSON AND KATIE FORTUNE, THE PRINCIPAL AT BAYVIEW,
WE LANDED ON MOLLY BIDDLE, THE SECOND GRADE TEACHER WHO USED TO BE MOLLY CLURE, YOU MAY KNOW HER. JUST A DYNAMIC, I DON'T KNOW,
SHE'S A KID, 26, 27 YEAR OLD TEACHER. 
          SHE'S FANTASTIC WITH THE KIDS. YOU KNOW, SHE'S SO RELATABLE. 
          SHE CARES FOR THEM. SHE JUST DOES EVERYTHING RIGHT. 
          AND SHE WAS WILLING TO HAVE ME IN THE ROOM AGAIN EVERY MONDAY,
AND IT TAUGHT ME SO MUCH. 
          I DON'T THINK I MISSED A MONDAY IF I MISSED ONE. 
          I TRIED TO GO MAYBE ON A TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY,
BUT JUST TO SEE HOW MUCH GOOD HAPPENS IN OUR CLASSROOM. 
          AND SO THEN ON JANUARY, I DECIDED I WANTED TO SEE A SECOND ROOM,
AND THIS TIME I WANTED TO SEE MATH. 
          SO NOT ONLY DID I CONTINUE WITH MISS BIDDLE,
I STARTED GOING TO LEAD SECOND GRADE WITH MICHAELA MARTINDALE TO WATCH HER SECOND GRADE LESSONS, JUST TO GET AN IDEA OF OUR MATH CURRICULUM. 
          AND THOSE TWO EXPERIENCES ARE PROBABLY BEEN THE MOST PROFOUND THING I'VE DONE AS A
SUPERINTENDENT IN TERMS OF LEARNING MYSELF. 
          HAVING BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER, RIGHT I'M NOT REALLY ACCUSTOMED TO SEVEN YEAR
OLD'S. 
          [00:20:02]
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THEM BOTH PUBLICLY. THEY WERE SO GRACEFUL IN TERMS OF THE WAY
THEY RECEIVED ME AND ALLOWED ME TO DO THINGS. 
          I HAD LITTLE GROUPS I GOT TO WORK WITH KIDS,
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, CALL THEM OUT AND TELL THEM HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM OF THEM
ALLOWING ME INTO THEIR ROOM. 
          AND IF ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN HAVE THEM AS TEACHERS,
YOU'RE LUCKY BECAUSE GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THOSE ROOMS EVERY SINGLE DAY. 
          AND SO THAT IT'S REALLY BEEN A HIGHLIGHT FOR ME. 
          SPEAKING OF HIGHLIGHTS, MARYLAND HAS A READ AND LEAD GRANT,
AND SO WHAT THAT WAS, THEY HAVE SET ASIDE $40 MILLION FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND. 
          AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACCOUNTS FOR 2% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE
STATE OF MARYLAND. 
          SO WHEN I SEE A $100 MILLION GRANT OPPORTUNITY,
I'M USUALLY THINKING, WELL, CECIL IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET $2 MILLION. 
          THAT'S THE WAY IT ALWAYS SHAKES OUT. SO WHEN I SAW THIS $40 MILLION,
I'M THINKING TO MYSELF, I COULD SEE US GETTING A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT OF THIS. 
          DR. HAMER, DR. JOHNSON, DR. FOY. I KNOW I'M MISSING SOME PEOPLE. 
          THERE ARE PROBABLY 6 TO 8 PEOPLE WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO PUT THIS GRANT TOGETHER,
AND WE FOUND OUT OVER THE WEEKEND WE RECEIVED $5 MILLION IN A GRANT [APPLAUSE]. 
          IT IS A HUGE YOU KNOW. MANY OF YOU DON'T KNOW THE FOLKS OVER HERE TO YOUR LEFT. 
          AND THEY THEY HOWEVER GOOD YOU MAY THINK I AM,
IT'S BECAUSE OF THEM BAD TOO. 
          SO IF YOU THINK I'M BAD, IT'S IT'S THEIR FAULT. 
          NO, NO BUT REALLY, THE WORK THEY DO IS JUST SECOND TO NONE. 
          AND FOR US TO GET THAT $5 MILLION, WILL WILL PUSH IN SERIOUS READING RESOURCES INTO OUR
CLASSROOMS BEGINNING NEXT YEAR. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE ON THAT. AND WITH THAT THAT'S ALL I HAVE. 
          GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION,
STARTING WITH MISS HRINKO, WHO IS THE CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT. 
          MISS HRINKO, WELCOME. 
          GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. 
          I'LL ECHO, IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THIS ROOM FILLED. 
          COME ON BACK NEXT TIME. SO AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
WE CELEBRATE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, NOT ONLY IN ACADEMICS, BUT IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. 
          AND TO SEE SO MANY KIDS IN THIS ROOM IS WONDERFUL,
RIGHT? YOU ARE WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO, YOU'RE WHY WE GET UP EVERY MORNING,
EVEN WHEN WE DON'T WANT TO. 
          SO CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 
          A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS ALSO TO OUR SENIORS,
THEY'VE GRADUATED AT THIS POINT. 
          AND WHETHER THEY'RE JOINING THE WORKFORCE, CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION OR SERVING IN THE
MILITARY, WE'RE PROUD OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE ROLE THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO PLAY IN THAT. 
          WE WANT TO WISH THEM WELL. WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEIR TEACHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT
THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM AS THEY TAKE THESE NEXT STEPS, WHETHER THEY'RE IN CECIL COUNTY OR WHEREVER THEY GO. 
          WE ALSO WANT TO SHARE A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES,
EACH OF YOU HERE, AND EACH OF YOU LISTENING AT HOME, OR THOSE OF YOU THAT AREN'T ABLE TO BE HERE FOR SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENTS AND WORKING WITH
US TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS GROW. 
          WHETHER IT WAS HELPING WITH HOMEWORK, TAKING THEM TO PRACTICE,
SERVING IN THE PTO OR PTA, BEING CLASSROOM HELPERS, MENTORS, OR JUST MAKING SURE THEY GOT OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
TO GET TO SCHOOL OR DRIVING THEM WHEN THEY WERE LATE. 
          THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AND PARTNERED WITH US. 
          WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. 
          I ALSO WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE AND CELEBRATE AND THANK GISELLE GRIFFIN. 
          YOU'VE BEEN SO DEDICATED REPRESENTING YOUR STUDENTS,
NOT JUST FOR YOUR SCHOOL, BUT FOR THE COUNTY. 
          EVEN BEFORE YOU TOOK ON THIS POSITION AS YOUR STUDENT BOARD OF ED MEMBER I WROTE THE SAME
WORDS EVERYBODY ELSE HAD, IT MUST BE TRUE. PROFESSIONALISM. PERSEVERANCE. 
          ADVOCACY. IT'S JUST BEEN EXCEPTIONAL. AND WE'RE SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO GOING
FORWARD. 
          AND AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING AND CLAPPING FOR YOU HERE AT HOME. 
          SO WHENEVER YOU COME BACK, KNOW THAT WE WE'RE WE'RE HERE ROOTING FOR YOU AS WELL. 
          AND THEN AS YOU STEP DOWN, WE WELCOME MISS METCALF SO. 
          BUT I DO HAVE A LITTLE SOMETHING FROM TRIPLE CTA FOR YOU. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. I LOVE THIS. 
          [LAUGHTER] AND FINALLY, AS WE DO CLOSE OUT THIS SCHOOL YEAR,
WE WANT TO THANK ALL OUR TEACHERS, OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS FOR THE LATE NIGHTS AND EARLY MORNINGS THAT
THEY'VE DEDICATED TO OUR STUDENTS FOR NOT ONLY THE ACADEMIC LEARNING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, 
          [00:25:03]
BUT FOR ALL THE COMPASSION AND CARE THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO OUR STUDENTS TO HELP THEM LEARN
AND GROW. 
          WE WISH ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE SUMMER BREAK. 
          THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO. 
          WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DR. 
          LAWSON. THANK YOU. MISS HAWLEY, AS THE BOARD CAN SEE DR. 
          TED BOYER AND MR. CHUCK SIMPERS, OUR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES,
HAVE ASSEMBLED A REPORT THAT ALWAYS HAS PICTURES, AND PICTURES ARE COOL. THIS IS THE NEW SCHOOL,
AND I'M GETTING PRETTY GOOD AT WHAT IS WHERE. 
          SO THIS IS THE CAREER AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION WING. 
          KEEP IN MIND THIS IS THE FIRST FLOOR. YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY ARE THREE STORIES HIGH OVER
HERE. 
          AND I'LL SHOW YOU MORE AS THE PICTURE SCROLL UP,
SCROLL UP. 
          SO THIS IS THE AUDITORIUM, RIGHT? THIS IS THE I'M TRYING TO NOT TREMBLE HERE. 
          THIS IS THE MAIN ARTERY COMING DOWN THE SCHOOL. 
          SO WHEN YOU COME IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE, YOU'RE COMING THROUGH THE MAIN PIECE. 
          THIS IS THE LOCKER ROOM AREA. AGAIN, THE BOTTOM FLOOR THAT WOULD BE KIND OF LIKE LEVEL
ZERO. 
          THERE ARE THREE LEVELS TO THE BUILDING, SO THERE WILL BE,
THAT'S THE VERY DOWNSTAIRS. 
          KEEP GOING UP. KEEP GOING. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S A GOOD ONE. 
          SO CAFETERIA, THIS IS LIKE THE UGLY BACK PART OF EVERY BUILDING WHERE THE DUMPSTERS ARE. 
          AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. BACK IN HERE,
THERE'S IRISHTOWN ROAD. 
          IF YOU DON'T KNOW, IN THIS STRETCH OF IRISHTOWN ROAD,
IT'S GOING TO BE FOUR LANES. 
          SO THAT'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL. ALL THE NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL BE LIKE BACK OVER HERE,
RIGHT OVER THERE BY THIS RIGHT KIND OF THERE. 
          THAT'S WHERE THE NEW HOUSES WILL BE. THESE TOWERS ARE FOR STAIRWELLS IN DIFFERENT SPOTS. 
          THIS IS PRIMARILY MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM AREA RIGHT HERE. 
          OVER HERE WILL BE THE GYMNASIUM. SCROLL UP. OKAY,
SO THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE. 
          SO AGAIN LOCKER ROOM AREA. JIM CAN YOU SCROLL UP A LITTLE BIT MORE. 
          NO. NO. OKAY, GOOD. SO, GYM, BASKETBALL THIS IS HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          THERE'S TWO GYMS THERE. THIS IS AN AUXILIARY GYM,
WHICH WILL BE A THIRD GYM THERE. 
          AGAIN, LOCKER ROOMS ON TOP OF THIS WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES. 
          THIS IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE. WHEN YOU COME IN,
YOU'LL COME IN RIGHT THERE. 
          ALL THE ARTS KIND OF MUSIC, CHOIR, BAND, INSTRUMENTAL LESSON AREAS WILL BE IN HERE WRAPPED
AROUND THE AUDITORIUM. 
          THAT WILL BE THE STAGE IN HERE. SO YOU'LL COME AND THE BUSSES WILL COME IN THERE. 
          COME AROUND, LOOP IN, GO BACK OUT AND BACK OUT TO IRISHTOWN ROAD. 
          THIS IS PRETTY GOOD, ISN'T IT? I KNOW I PRACTICED THIS YESTERDAY. 
          WAIT A MINUTE, WAIT WAIT WAIT. OH, COME ON NOW. SO,
SO THIS STRUCTURE, YOU WILL BASICALLY SEE THIS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BUILDING. 
          THIS IS LIKE PHASE A OF THE STEELWORK. AND THEY JUST MOVED THE CRANE LAST WEEK TO BEGIN
PHASE B. 
          SO THAT THE STRUCTURE WILL GO UP AND BACK HERE BEHIND THE CTE. 
          THERE'S GOING TO BE SIX CLASSROOMS HERE. REMEMBER THREE LAYERS,
TWO CLASSROOMS FIRST SECOND, THIRD FLOOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN SIX MORE MIDDLE SCHOOL. 
          AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE FINISHED OUT. THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING
TO PROVIDE THE FUNDS TO FINISH OUT THOSE 12 CLASSROOMS, WHICH IS REALLY A GOOD THING. IT'S AN EXTRA $3 MILLION ON THE PART OF THE COUNTY. 
          AND THEN THIS ROAD EXPANSION IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL,
I WOULD SAY, $2 MILLION. 
          AND AGAIN, THE COUNTY HAS COMMITTED TO DOING THAT. 
          ONE QUICK FACT HERE IS THAT THIS AREA HERE, WE HAVE LEARNED,
IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PARKING. 
          WE HAVE LEARNED THAT WHEN THE AREA WAS USED AS PRACTICE FIELDS BY NORTHEAST,
IT WAS FILLED WITH LIKE CLEAN FILL, WHICH HAS SINCE DECOMPOSED AND THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE PUTTING PARKING LOT ON TOP OF IT
BECAUSE IT'LL IT JUST WON'T SUPPORT THAT WEIGHT. 
          AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO DIG OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIRT AND BRING IN MORE DIFFERENT KIND OF
DIRT TO PACK. 
          SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A PRICE TAG OF UPWARDS OF ABOUT A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. WE EXPECT
IT'S OUT NOW IN TERMS OF THE COST. 
          SO WE'RE SEEING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME UP LIKE THAT. 
          BUT IT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING TOO. AND KEEP IN MIND,
IF YOU HAVE A THIRD GRADER, THIS IS WHERE THEY WILL GO TO SCHOOL AND SIXTH GRADE. 
          AND THAT COULD BE EYE OPENING FOR SOME OF THESE LITTLE GUYS. GO AHEAD. 
          WE HAVE TWO MORE SCHOOL YEARS BEFORE THIS BUILDING OPENS. 
          THE FIELD HOUSE IS NOW OPEN AT PERRYVILLE HIGH. 
          YOU CAN SEE IT'S BEAUTIFUL. 
          [00:30:02]
THANK YOU FOR SHARING. WE LIKE CANDID HERE. KEEP GOING. 
          AND THIS IS WHAT $1 MILLION WILL BUY YOU. WE MADE THE DECISION TO PUT SOD DOWN. 
          AND SOD IS A GAME CHANGER. EXCEPT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
YOU GOT TO WATCH SOD ALL DIE QUICKLY. 
          SO WE'VE BEEN WATERING IT DILIGENTLY. ALL THE CONCRETE WORK'S DONE AND I'VE BEEN TOO. 
          MISS GRIFFIN HOWEVER, I DIDN'T USE THE RESTROOM,
BUT I SEE HOW YOU COULD. 
          GO AHEAD AND SO YEAH, IT'S REALLY PRETTY SLICK LOOKING. 
          GOOD. I THINK THAT'S IT. RIGHT. AND THAT'S INSIDE. 
          RIGHT. AND YOU CAN SEE. SO IT IT'S FINALLY HERE. 
          THOSE OF YOU FROM THE PERRYVILLE COMMUNITY, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR ABOUT 30
YEARS, AND I MEAN LITERALLY 30 YEARS. AND I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE. 
          ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? AND THANK YOU,
DR. 
          BOYER, MR. SIMPERS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. 
          THANK YOU. DOES THE BOARD HAVE QUESTIONS? ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? DOES GISELLE HAVE QUESTIONS? OH, NO. I'M SORRY,
I JUST I DIDN'T GET TO SEE INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM AREA HERE, BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE SO GOOD FOR LIKE SPORTS TEAMS AND STUFF BECAUSE THE BATHROOMS THAT
WE HAD BEFORE WERE LIKE TWO STALLS, VERY HOT. LIKE YOU DIDN'T WANT TO GO IN THERE. 
          THIS IS GOING TO BE A GAME CHANGER. 
          ANY OTHER ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? IT'S HARD TO TAKE HER SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW. 
          ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. MOVING ON. NEXT HERE IS HEROISM AWARD TO ARIA SMITH, DR. LAWSON. SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS STORY JUSTICE BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS
A BIG DEAL AT THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO ASK ARIA SMITH, THE SCHOOL NURSE AT LEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,
TO COME FORWARD WITH MISS HAWLEY. 
          GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT. LET ME STAND UP. AND ARIA IS JOINED BY GAVIN GILBERT,
WHO IS A FOURTH GRADE STUDENT WHO ON MAY 19TH WAS PLAYING ON THE PLAYGROUND,
AND HE WAS UP ON THE TOP OF A SLIDING BOARD AND HE FELL. 
          HE LOST HIS BALANCE. HE FELL WITH SUCH FORCE THAT HE DISLOCATED HIS ELBOW,
AND IT LITERALLY BURST THE ENTIRE SKIN AROUND THE ELBOW JOINT. SO THE ELBOW WAS DISLOCATED AND AND IF PROBABLY AN 8 TO 10
INCH OPENING IN HIS ARM FROM THE BACK OF THE ELBOW,
WRAPPED ALL THE WAY AROUND UNDERNEATH HIS BICEP, LOSING BLOOD FAST. IT WAS SERIOUSLY, IT WAS A LIFE THREATENING EVENT AT THAT POINT. 
          NURSE SMITH WAS ASKED TO COME TO THE PLAYGROUND AND IMMEDIATELY SHE APPLIED A TOURNIQUET
SUCCESSFULLY. 
          WAITED FOR AN AMBULANCE TO ARRIVE. WITHIN HOURS,
HE WAS IN SURGERY AT THE AI INSTITUTE UP IN WILMINGTON. 
          AND I THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT MISS SMITH IS A HERO FOR HER ACTIONS ON THE PART
OF GAVIN. 
          [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MISS SMITH. NEXT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR SPRING ATHLETIC 
          [00:35:03]
AWARDS FOR 2025, DR. LAWSON. AT THIS TIME, MISS AMY SEXTON,
OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS, WILL RECOGNIZE THIS SPRING'S ATHLETIC AWARDS. 
          THERE ARE SOME SEATS UP FRONT FOR SOME OF THE FOLKS STANDING IN THE BACK. WE'RE JUST GOING
TO ROTATE A MINUTE. 
          BY 8:00, WE'LL BE HERE BY OURSELVES. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. 
          I'M NOT SURE I WANT TO FOLLOW AFTER THAT, BUT GOOD EVENING,
PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. 
          IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SPRING ATHLETIC
PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. 
          HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPRING SEASON. 
          WE HAVE NEW THREE DIVISIONS FOR THE CONFERENCE THE CONOWINGO,
THE HATEM, AND THE TYDINGS. 
          CECIL COUNTY ARE ALL IN THE CONOWINGO DIVISION. 
          WE HAD 532 MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES, 900 HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES,
AND COMPLETED 593 FREE PHYSICALS LAST WEEK. WE HAD 7 DIVISIONAL WINNERS, 8 SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS,
16 REGIONAL CHAMPS, AND THAT'S TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL WINNERS AND 3 STATE CHAMPIONS. SOME GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS,
AND WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THEM RIGHT NOW. 
          THIS SPRING WAS FUN TO WATCH THROUGH ALL THE RAIN AND ALL THE RESCHEDULING OF EVENTS AND
GAMES. 
          I'M EXCITED TO SAY WE HAD TWO STATE CHAMPIONS IN TRACK AND FIELD,
BOTH FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL AND TEAM A FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED BOCCE TEAM WON THE STATES IN THEIR DIVISION. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST RECOGNIZE FROM NORTHEAST HIGH
SCHOOL, LEANNA RODGERS, THE STATE 2A 1600 METER RUN CHAMPION. 
          LEANNA RAN AN IMPRESSIVE TIME OF 5 MINUTES 9 SECONDS. 
          THIS TIME NOT ONLY SHATTERED HER OWN PERSONAL BEST,
IT SET A NEW SCHOOL RECORD SHE PREVIOUSLY PREVIOUSLY HELD. 
          LEANNA WILL ATTEND EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY,
A DIVISION TWO SCHOOL LOCATED IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA. RODGERS IS A SIX TIME 2A EAST REGIONAL CHAMPION IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK ,
A MULTIPLE TIME ALL COUNTY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR SELECTION IN CROSS COUNTRY, INDOOR TRACK AND OUTDOOR TRACK,
AND HOLDS INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL RECORDS IN THE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR 1800, 1600 AND 3200. IN CROSS COUNTRY, RODGERS IS A THREE TIME CECIL COUNTY CHAMPION AND A TWO
TIME 2A EAST REGIONAL CHAMPION. 
          SHE HOLDS THE SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY RECORD AND IS NOW A STATE CHAMPION IN THE 1600. 
          VERY IMPRESSIVE [APPLAUSE]. I WOULD LIKE TO ALSO HAVE COACH JESSICA SPROUT AND JOSH PERNER ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MATT HACK AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
GINA PUCCI. 
          PLEASE COME UP. 
          THIS CERTIFICATE IS A WELL DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 2A TRACK GIRLS 1600 METER RUN CHAMPION, LEANNA RODGERS [APPLAUSE]. 
          I WOULD LIKE, LIKE NOW TO RECOGNIZE FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL HAILLE DRY,
THE STATE 2A INDIVIDUAL DISCUS CHAMPION. 
          HAILLE HAD AN IMPRESSIVE THROW OF 126FT, 10 INCHES. 
          HER WINNING TOSS WAS 15FT FARTHER THAN THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER. 
          IT WAS HER THIRD ATTEMPT THAT SHE WON HER TITLE WITH A 14 FOOT FARTHER THAN HER FIRST AND
SECOND THROW. 
          HAILLE WILL ATTEND MOUNT SAINT MARY'S UNIVERSITY,
A DIVISION ONE PROGRAM IN FREDERICK COUNTY. 
          [00:40:03]
SHE HAS WON A PAIR OF 2A EAST REGION TITLES IN SHOT PUT AND DISCUS AT THE 2025 2A EAST
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. 
          SHE ALSO PLACED IN TOP FIVE DISCUS AND SHOT PUT AT THE 2024 CLASS A STATES. 
          SHE IS A MULTIPLE TIME ALL COUNTY SELECTION IN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR TRACK,
AND HOLDS SCHOOL RECORDS IN INDOOR SHOT PUT, OUTDOOR SHOT PUT AND DISCUS AND IS NOW THE STATE CHAMPION IN THE DISCUS. 
          CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE]. AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE EVERYBODY UP THERE? I THINK SO. THIS CERTIFICATE IS WELL DESERVED WELL-DESERVED HONOR. 
          LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 2A TRACK GIRLS DISCUS
CHAMPION, HAILLE DRY. [APPLAUSE] AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE TEAM A FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL AS THE STATE
BOCCE CHAMPION FOR THEIR DIVISION. 
          THIS WAS AN EXCITING DAY AT WASHINGTON COLLEGE. 
          IT HAS BEEN TEN YEARS SINCE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL HAS WON THE STATE. 
          WHAT AN ACCOMPLISHMENT BY THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS. 
          REPRESENTING TEAM A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM ANTHONY PRATICO,
CHEYENNE KEEN, ELIJAH BOLT, LANDON HARBERT, ABIGAIL GIBNEY. COACHES TAYLOR ROBERTSHAW AND ALLISON KELLER, A-D, AND ADMINISTRATOR STEPHANIE GILBERT. 
          [APPLAUSE] I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU COME BACK UP AGAIN IN A MINUTE. 
          NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE 2025 SPRING UPBACK SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS FROM CECIL COUNTY. 
          THIS MARKS THE 21ST YEAR WE RECOGNIZE SPORTSMANSHIP AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR
CONFERENCE. 
          I'M HONORED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR COUNTY SPORTSMANSHIP WINNER AND STUDENT ATHLETES FOR
THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES, AND FOR THEIR COMMON BELIEF THAT SPORTSMANSHIP IS THE CORE TO EVERY TEAM. 
          THIS SPRING, WE HAVE STARTED SOMETHING NEW WITH THREE DIVISIONS IN THE UPBACK INSTEAD OF
TWO WITH CECIL COUNTY BEING IN OUR OWN DIVISION. 
          THERE ARE NEW BIGGER PLAQUES THAT WILL BE HANGING IN EVERY SCHOOL AND THE PLATES THEY ARE
RECEIVING TONIGHT ON THE CERTIFICATE WILL BE PLACED ON THOSE PLAQUES FOR EVERYONE TO SEE, INSTEAD OF THE INDIVIDUAL PLAQUES,
LIKE IN THE PAST. 
          AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO BE RECOGNIZED. 
          WE'RE GOING TO START WITH RISING SUN HIGH UNIFIED BOCCE TEAM. 
          REPRESENTING RISING SUN ANTHONY PRATICO, ELIJAH BOLT,
CHEYENNE KEEN, LANDON HARBERT, MAY LONG LONGACRE, LILLY FRAZIER, JAMES KIRBY AND ABIGAIL GIBNEY. 
          COACHES ALLISON KELLER, TAYLOR ROBERTSHAW, AND AD ADMINISTRATOR STEPHANIE GILBERT. 
          [APPLAUSE] 
          [00:46:27]
NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM. REPRESENTING NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL G ARRETT SLAVIN,
CRAIG AUBREY. 
          COACH TAYLOR [INAUDIBLE]. A.D. MATT HACK AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL GINA PUCCI. 
          [APPLAUSE] BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM KENDALL LEONARDI,
TEMPERANCE FITZSIMMONS, KAYLEE BERGMAN. 
          COACHES BROOKE MALMSTROM AND DIANE HEATH, PRINCIPAL JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN,
AND A.D. 
          JOE GRAF. [APPLAUSE] JUST IN CASE YOU GUYS COULDN'T TELL, DIANE HEATH SAT THIS ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A STUDENT IN THE
BACK ROW AND SECOND FROM THE LEFT. 
          FROM BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TRACK TEAM, WE HAVE KYLIE SHAW,
LEAH SHAW, MORGAN MOATS, SARAH HOLMES, SKYLER PIZZOLI, MACKENZIE REYNOLDS, AND RILEY DAYTON. 
          [APPLAUSE] COACHES EVAN COWAN, STEVE PIZZOLI,
PRINCIPAL JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN, AND A.D. 
          JOE GRAF. 
          [00:50:41]
BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS TRACK TEAM REPRESENTING BO MANOR JOSEPH SHAW,
DREW LENTZ, DANE LENTZ, MASON BALDWIN, [INAUDIBLE]. COACHES EVAN COHEN,
STEVE PIZZOLI, JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN, AND JOE GRAF. 
          [APPLAUSE] AND NOW BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS TEAM. GARCINIA BROWNE,
JOSEPH LIBERTI AND GRACIE NELSON. 
          COACHES MICHAEL LANGDON, PRINCIPAL JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN AND AD JOE GRAF. 
          [APPLAUSE] FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS LACROSSE TEAM REPRESENTING ELKTON TONIGHT IS COACH MACKENZIE
BARTON AND PRINCIPAL DR. 
          LEITGEB. 
          [APPLAUSE] AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS LACROSSE TEAM REPRESENTING ELKTON,
CADEN HATHAWAY, COACH COLTON BOWMAN AND PRINCIPAL DR. LEITGEB. 
          [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. 
          [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MISS SEXTON. ALL RIGHT. 
          NOW WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE OUR SKILLSUSA COMPETITION WINNERS,
DR. 
          [00:55:02]
LAWSON. THIS TIME DR. DAVID FOY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION,
AND DR. 
          NICOLE PARR PRINCIPAL, SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. WE'LL PRESENT OUR CERTIFICATES FOR SKILLSUSA
USA COMPETITION, DR. FOY. 
          I'M SORRY I COULDN'T GET TO IT. I LIKE IT HERE. 
          GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
DR. 
          LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE THE ADMINISTRATORS,
TEACHERS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE WHO WILL GET RECOGNITION FOR THEIR
ACHIEVEMENTS. 
          THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATORS WHO DIRECTLY SUPPORT THESE PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS ARE DR. 
          PARR AND ALSO OUR CTE PROGRAM COORDINATOR DR. 
          HANDLER. COME ON DOWN. FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE CCST TEACHERS SO THEY MAY BE IN
POSITION IN THE FRONT FOR PICTURES AS WE WILL CALL STUDENTS BY SCHOOL. 
          SO WILL THE FOLLOWING FOLLOWING TEACHERS FROM CCST PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT,
MRS. ALEXANDER CCST, SKILLSUSA ADVISOR [APPLAUSE]. 
          MR. BRYAN CCST DIESEL TECHNOLOGY [APPLAUSE]. 
          MR. TIM GUNDERSON, CCST FIRE SCIENCE [APPLAUSE]. 
          MARYLAND SKILLSUSA COMPETITION, MARCH 2025 BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL GOLD MEDAL WINNER
CYBERSECURITY AIDAN FICSHER [APPLAUSE]. ACCOMPANYING AIDAN IS THE PRINCIPAL OF BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, MR. ZIMMERMAN [APPLAUSE]. 
          OR NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL GOLD MEDAL WINNER. THEY HAVE TWO GOLD MEDAL WINNERS,
WHICH IS THE SAME PERSON D IESEL TECHNOLOGY AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR. SCOTT HOLMES [APPLAUSE]. 
          PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SILVER MEDAL WINNER, FIREFIGHTING SARAH CANTRELL [APPLAUSE]. 
          [01:00:04]
RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL SILVER MEDALS CARPENTRY,
T RAVIS CREESE [APPLAUSE]. 
          INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, CARSON PATRICK [APPLAUSE]. 
          COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR,
ERIC REYNOLDS [APPLAUSE]. 
          BRONZE MEDAL COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR,
MATTHEW RICKETS [APPLAUSE]. 
          ALSO ACCOMPANIED MRS. GILBERT, DEAN OF STUDENTS [APPLAUSE]. 
          AND NOW WE HAVE THE FFA COMPETITION WINNERS,
DR. 
          FOY, DR. FOY CONTINUES. THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW PRESENT CERTIFICATES FOR FUTURE FARMERS OF
AMERICA FFA MEMBERS WHO PLACED IN THE MARYLAND FFA REGIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION IN WHITE'S MILL,
MARYLAND IN MARCH. 
          GOLD MEDAL WINNERS WILL COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL IN WESTERN MARYLAND IN JUNE. 
          AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE FOR MRS. RACHEL COFFEY TO COME UP AS WELL [APPLAUSE]. 
          ALSO MRS. ALEXANDER AS WELL [APPLAUSE]. 
          SO WE WILL CALL UP BY SCHOOL FIRST FOR ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL GOLD MEDAL WINNER,
EXTEMPORANEOUS PUBLIC SPEAKING AARON SORENSEN [APPLAUSE]. 
          SILVER MEDAL PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING KAITLYNNE HARRIGAN [APPLAUSE]. 
          ALSO PRINCIPAL ELTON HIGH SCHOOL, DR. LEITGEB [APPLAUSE]. 
          NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL GOLD MEDALS EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS,
MACKENZY FOWLER [APPLAUSE]. 
          PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING, MICAELA PENNACHI PINAKI [APPLAUSE]. 
          DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? PENNACHI. I MAY NOT BE RIGHT. 
          PENNACHI APOLOGIES. PENNACHI [APPLAUSE] PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SILVER MEDAL PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING CASSIDY JACKSON [APPLAUSE]. 
          [01:05:07]
RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL GOLD MEDAL WINNERS. EXTEMPORANEOUS PUBLIC SPEAKING KAITLYN CHAPLIN
[APPLAUSE]. 
          PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING JACKSON HORNING [APPLAUSE]. 
          ACCOMPANIED DEAN OF STUDENTS, MISS GILBERT [APPLAUSE]. 
          THE CCST FFA FOR CULTURAL TEAM EARNED THIRD OVERALL AT THE FFA STATE SPRING JUDGING
COMPETITION, PLACING THEM IN THE BRONZE CATEGORY. SARAH DEPAULO IS HERE REPRESENTING THE TEAM OF FOUR
THIS EVENING ON THEIR BEHALF. 
          CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR REPRESENTING THEM. 
          UNFORTUNATELY, SHE WASN'T ABLE TO COME. SHE'S DOING ANOTHER VOLUNTEER. 
          SO YOU ALL WE CAN GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FFA [APPLAUSE]. 
          DR. FOY WILL CONTINUE WITH THE ENVIROTHON 2025 WINNERS. 
          THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL RECOGNIZE CECIL COUNTY ENVIROTHON WINNERS. 
          STUDENTS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MRS. RACHEL COFFEY,
AGRICULTURE SCIENCE TEACHER AT THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, ARE TESTED IN FIVE AREAS OF NATURAL RESOURCES,
INCLUDING SOIL FORESTRY, WILDLIFE, AQUATICS, AND A FIFTH TOPIC, WHICH IS INCLUDED EACH YEAR AS A SPECIAL CARING EVENT. 
          WE WILL START FIRST WITH OUR FIRST PLACE TEAM FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL,
ALYSSA GIOVANNI, ELLA JOHNSON, DOOHWAN KILLIAN , ZANDER LITCHFIELD,
KAILEY STRASINGER ACCOMPANIED BY DEAN OF STUDENTS MRS. GILBERT [APPLAUSE]. 
          WOULD YOU LIKE A PICTURE [LAUGHTER]? WELL, THANK YOU,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO, SECOND PLACE TEAM. WE HAVE THREE. YEAH. 
          FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD. SO SECOND PLACE TEAM FROM THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. 
          DR. PARR, PRINCIPAL REPRESENTING THE SECOND PLACE TEAM KAITLYNNE HARRIGAN AND AARON
SORENSON. 
          [APPLAUSE] F WE CAN GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU SO MUCH. 
          ALL RIGHT. FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES. JUMPING TO FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES FISCAL YEAR
2026, DR. LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY FOLKS HAVE A GREAT DAY. 
          [01:10:03]
HAVE A GREAT HAVE A GREAT SUMMER AND ALL THAT STUFF. 
          WE KNOW HOW TO CLEAR A ROOM. THANK YOU TEACHERS. 
          NUMBER FIVE. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME,
DR. 
          TED BOYER WILL LEAD THE PRESENTATION OF THE FOOD AND NUTRITION BUDGET. 
          AS WILL MR. SCOTT HECKERT, OUR DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND NUTRITION,
DR. 
          BOYER. GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DR. LAWSON,
BOARD MEMBERS, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. 
          I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. SCOTT HECKERT, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND NUTRITION,
TO COME UP AND TO THE PODIUM. 
          BEFORE MR. HECKERT DOES HIS PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO THANK MR. HECKERT FOR ALL OF HIS WORK. A LOT OF TIMES,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WHAT HE DOES GOES UNSEEN. 
          BUT IF YOU GO TO A SCHOOL FOR A LUNCH, B LUNCH,
C LUNCH, AND YOU SEE A LOT OF KIDS DOWN THERE HAVING A QUALITY MEAL, YOU KNOW THAT HE'S DOING HIS JOB. AND, YOU KNOW,
BEING A PRINCIPAL FOR A LONG TIME, YOU CAN REALLY TELL HOW GOOD OF A JOB HE'S DOING. 
          BECAUSE IF YOU'RE DOING LUNCH DUTY AND IT'S QUIET,
THAT MEANS THE KIDS ARE ENJOYING WHAT THEY'RE EATING. 
          AND THAT COMES FROM MR. HECKERT AND ALL HIS HARD WORK. 
          SO ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 
          THANK YOU SIR. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. BOARD PRESIDENT HAWLEY,
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. 
          LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING. A QUICK SNAPSHOT
FOR THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT. 
          WE ARE A SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH MEANS WE ARE THE ONLY BUDGET IN THE COUNTY THAT IS
SEPARATE FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, 77% OF OUR REVENUES ARE GENERATED THROUGH FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE USDA FOR ALL
MEALS SERVED. 
          OUR FREE AND REDUCED RATE THIS YEAR WAS 52.3%,
AND OUR AVERAGE DAILY PARTICIPATION AT BREAKFAST WAS ABOUT 6,000 BREAKFASTS A DAY AND 08,200 LUNCHES A DAY, THAT'S COUNTY WIDE. THIS IS JUST A QUICK PHOTO OF A PICTURE OF OUR
FREE AND REDUCED RATES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, SINCE WE CAME OUT OF THE DREADED COVID 19. AS YOU CAN SEE,
WE'VE HOVERED IN THE LOWER 50% AND AS A RESULT, WE HAD THE PROGRAM BREAKDOWN THAT WE PARTICIPATE IN. 
          WE HAVE THE MARYLAND MEALS FOR ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM,
WHICH IS A FREE BREAKFAST PROGRAM THAT'S SPONSORED SPONSORED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND. 
          WE HAVE THAT IN 27 SCHOOLS. THERE'S ONLY TWO SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE
MARYLAND MEALS FOR ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM. 
          THAT PROGRAM, YOU NEED TO HAVE A 40% FREE AND REDUCED RATE OR HIGHER. 
          WE CURRENTLY HAVE 14 SCHOOLS THAT PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION. 
          THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION ALLOWS ALL STUDENTS,
REGARDLESS OF THEIR MEAL STATUS, TO RECEIVE BOTH A FREE BREAKFAST AND A FREE LUNCH. 
          ALL SCHOOLS IN THE ELKTON FEEDER PATTERN, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KENMOOR ELEMENTARY,
PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROVISION. 
          AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE OUR SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM,
WHICH IS ABOUT TO KICK OFF A WEEK FROM MONDAY, WHERE WE'LL HAVE 15 CONGREGATE SITES AND 4 NON CONGREGATE SITES. 
          THIS IS JUST A QUICK PICTURE OF OUR BREAKFAST PARTICIPATION OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          AS YOU CAN SEE PARTICIPATION IS UP. SO I THINK WE'RE DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB GIVING THE
KIDS WHAT THEY WANT AT BREAKFAST. 
          SAME THING AT LUNCH. WE'VE SEEN A RISE IN PARTICIPATION OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. 
          AND THEN LET'S GET INTO THE MEAT AND POTATOES HERE. 
          OUR SUMMARY OF OUR REVENUES AND EXPENSES. THE LEFT HAND COLUMN IS WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR
THIS FISCAL YEAR. 
          THE CENTER COLUMN IS WHAT WHERE WE PROJECT WE WILL FINISH THIS SCHOOL YEAR. 
          AND THEN, OF COURSE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. 
          AS I SAID, THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF OUR REVENUES IS FROM OUR FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENTS,
WHICH MAKES UP ABOUT 77% OF OUR REIMBURSEMENTS. 
          AND THEN THE STATE REVENUES A LOT OF THAT IS THE STATE REIMBURSEMENTS. 
          EXCUSE ME. THOSE COME MOSTLY FROM THOSE BREAKFAST PROGRAMS THAT I TOLD YOU THAT WE
PARTICIPATE IN. 
          ESSENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS THE STATE MAKES UP THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PAID
REIMBURSEMENT AND A REDUCED REIMBURSEMENT IN ORDER TO MAKE THE BREAKFAST FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS. AND JUST LIKE IN THE REVENUE SIDE,
THE EXPENSE SIDE, THE LEFT HAND COLUMN IS WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHERE WE PROJECT WILL BE AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR,
AND WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. 
          YOU'LL NOTICE THAT WE'RE OVER BUDGET ON OUR EXPENSES. 
          A LOT OF THAT HAD TO DO AS IF YOU'VE COME TO THESE MEETINGS EVERY JUNE. 
          WHEN I SPEAK, I TALKED A LOT ABOUT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THAT WE HAD A FUND BALANCE
THAT WE WERE TRYING TO SPEND DOWN. WE WE BOUGHT YOU NOTICE ON THE OTHER SUPPLIES LINE. 
          THAT'S WHERE IT WAS REALLY HIGH. WE, WE BOUGHT CAFETERIA TABLES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY
SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY. 
          [01:15:04]
I'M SURE YOU GUYS ENJOY THOSE. YEAH. SO LOOKING AHEAD WE ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE THE PAID
PRICE FOR LUNCH FROM $2.90 TO $3.00 $0.10 INCREASE. WE ARE NOT GOING TO INCREASE ANY PRICES AT BREAKFAST. 
          AND THAT'S MOSTLY BECAUSE MOST BREAKFASTS IN OUR COUNTY ARE SERVED FOR FREE TO ALL
STUDENTS. 
          OUR FUND BALANCE, WHICH I JUST SPOKE ABOUT, WE HAVE SPENT IT DOWN TO OUR ALLOWABLE BALANCE
THROUGH PURCHASES OF NEW EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES SERVING LINES OVENS YOU NAME IT,
WE BOUGHT IT. 
          AND OF COURSE, THE CAFETERIA TABLES, WHICH LOOK GREAT. 
          WE ARE STILL WAITING ON CHANGES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON WE HAVE IDEAS OF WHAT'S
PROPOSED, BUT NOTHING HAS COME DOWN YET. HOPEFULLY IT WON'T IMPACT US TOO MUCH,
BUT I DEFINITELY THINK IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SOME OF THOSE PROGRAMS WE TALKED ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION. 
          AS I MENTIONED, SUMMER MEALS IS GETTING READY TO KICK OFF ON MONDAY,
JUNE 23RD. 
          SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY THAT IS IN NEED OF A MEAL PLEASE TELL THEM TO CALL
OUR OFFICE AND WE'LL TELL THEM WHERE THEY CAN GO TO GET ONE. 
          WE WILL BE DOING MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITES IN DOWN IN CECILTON AND EARLVILLE ON TUESDAYS
BEGINNING JUNE 24TH. 
          AND THEN AT BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY BEGINNING JUNE 25TH. 
          AND THOSE MEAL DISTRIBUTIONS YOU HAVE TO REGISTER TO COME PICK IT UP. 
          BUT WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL SUPPLY YOU WITH SEVEN BREAKFASTS AND SEVEN LUNCHES FOR YOUR
CHILD. 
          AND YOU'LL HAVE THOSE FOR A WEEK. THE MEALS COME PACKAGED WITH PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS,
AND THAT REALLY HELPS A LOT, ESPECIALLY FOR, AS WE KNOW, THERE'S MANY PLACES IN OUR COUNTY THAT AREN'T WALKABLE. 
          SO THIS ALLOWS FAMILIES TO COME TO US AND WE CAN GET THEM THE MEALS ALL IN ONE SHOT. 
          AND THAT'S IT. CALL TO REGISTER. NO, IT'S A GOOGLE FORM. 
          SO IF YOU GO, IT'S BEEN POSTED ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE. 
          CECIL COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE. ALSO, I ASKED ALL PRINCIPALS TO PUT IT IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS. 
          SO IT'S THERE. IT'S JUST A QR CODE. YOU SCAN THE QR CODE AND REGISTER,
AND ONCE YOU'RE REGISTERED, YOU JUST COME AND PICK UP YOUR MEAL WEEKLY. WE'LL HAVE IT READY FOR YOU. 
          JUST FOR THE BOARD'S AWARENESS THAT THIS IS THE FIRST PRICE INCREASE OF ANY KIND THAT MR. HECKERT HAS ASKED FOR IN THE LAST THREE YEARS. 
          SO, I MEAN, EXTREMELY RESPONSIBLE WITH HIS HIS BUDGETING. 
          QUESTIONS FOR MR. HECKERT? I GOT A COUPLE. COULD YOU GO BACK TO SLIDE EIGHT FOR JUST A
MINUTE, PLEASE? SURE. THE REVENUES OR THE FARM RATES? OH, THE FARM RATES? SURE. YEAH. THAT ONE. SO I'M JUST LOOKING AT THE SCHOOL YEAR 24-
25. 
          JUST MAKING SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING. RIGHT. SO LIKE I GET IT. 
          THE 45.8%. THAT'S THE STUDENTS THAT QUALIFY FOR THE FREE MEALS? CORRECT. 6.5% IS THE QUALIFY FOR REDUCED PRICE MEALS. 
          CORRECT. THAT TOP NUMBER THEN 52.3 THAT'S THE SUM OF THOSE TWO. 
          YEAH. AND 47.7% THAT'S THE NUMBER OF MEALS WHERE STUDENTS PAID FOR. 
          THEY'RE PAYING FOR THE MEALS. YES. AND AND JUST JUST FOR THE RECORD TOO,
REDUCE PRICE MEALS WE DON'T CHARGE FOR REDUCED PRICE MEAL. 
          THERE WAS A BILL PASSED IN MARYLAND LAW. I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS TWO SESSIONS AGO THAT THE
STATE OF MARYLAND, PART OF THAT REVENUE LINE. MOST OF THAT STATE REIMBURSEMENT REVENUE LINE COMES FROM OUR
BREAKFAST PROGRAMS. BUT THE OTHER THE OTHER PART OF THAT REVENUE LINE COMES FROM REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE STATE
TO BALANCE OUT THE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR REDUCED AND FREE STUDENTS. EXCUSE ME. SO WHEN WE GET OUR FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT,
WHAT THE STATE WILL DO IS THEY'LL THEY'LL MATCH THE DIFFERENCE SO THAT WE GET THE FREE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR A STUDENT THAT QUALIFIES FOR REDUCED MEALS. 
          YOU WOULD STILL TECHNICALLY QUALIFY TO BE A REDUCED STUDENT. 
          AND IN BEFORE THIS BILL PASSED, YOU WOULD PAY $0.40 FOR A MEAL. 
          NOW WE DON'T CHARGE YOU FOR A MEAL. ONE QUESTION AND I'LL HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT. 
          BUT DOES THAT PRICE INCREASE FOR LUNCH? WILL THAT IMPACT ELIGIBILITY FOR. 
          IT DOES NOT IMPACT ELIGIBILITY AT ALL. ELIGIBILITY IS SET BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          WE JUST RECEIVED THAT. AND WE'RE WORKING ON OUR FREE REDUCE APPLICATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          THE ONLY REASON WHY WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT PRICE INCREASE IS JUST LIKE WHEN YOU SEE AT THE
GROCERY STORE, EVERYTHING'S COSTING A LITTLE BIT MORE. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF IT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF OR SO. BUT YOU KNOW THAT THAT $0.10 WILL GO A LONG WAY
TO HELP US COVER OUR COSTS. 
          AND JUST ONE COMMENT. I THINK THE THING THAT REALLY JUMPS OUT IN THE BIG TAKEAWAY IS
CONSISTENTLY MORE THAN 45% OF OUR STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR FREE MEALS. SO, I MEAN, YOU CAN ALL LOOK UP WHAT THAT MEANS. 
          AND OF COURSE SOME SCHOOLS THAT RATE IS MUCH HIGHER. 
          THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. 
          [01:20:03]
BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I JUST HAVE ONE. AT FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT
YOU'RE DOING. AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE SUMMER MEALS AND BEING ABLE TO TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. I DO HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE SUMMER MEALS. 
          SURE. ARE THEY THE ONES THAT ARE LIKE THE SEVEN DAY SEND AWAY? ARE THEY MEALS THAT LIKE THEY DON'T NEED LIKE MICROWAVE AND THINGS LIKE THAT? NO, UNFORTUNATELY SOME SOME WILL WON'T NEED THAT,
BUT SOME ARE. 
          JUST BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GIVE SOMEBODY SEVEN DAYS OF FRESH FOOD TO TO STRETCH OUT. 
          SO WE GIVE YOU STUFF THAT YOU HAVE TO YOU WOULD HAVE TO REHEAT IN THE MICROWAVE OR IN THE
OVEN. 
          IT'S VERY SIMPLE. IT'S EVERYTHING'S ALREADY PRE-COOKED. 
          IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HEATING IT UP. SO AND LIKE I SAID,
WE GIVE WE GIVE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS, NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO HEAT IT, BUT ALSO HOW TO HANDLE IT SAFELY SO THAT NOBODY,
YOU KNOW, GETS SICK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. 
          I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. THAT'S THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM. 
          FOR OUR SCHOOL MEAL AND MILK PRICES THEN FOR 2025-
2026, DR. 
          LAWSON, YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. 512 I RECOMMEND I RECOMMEND THAT FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL
YEAR, THE PRICE IS CHARGED FOR MILK, BREAKFAST AND LUNCH BE ADJUSTED AS PRESENTED. 
          OKAY. YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. 
          SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ARE YOU STILL THERE? FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MISSED IT,
HE HAD SURGERY THIS MORNING, AND HE'S STILL ON THIS PHONE CALL. 
          YEAH. THAT'S GREAT. SO THAT'S GREAT. MOTION CARRIES. 
          THAT IS GREAT. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE OUR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER
PLAN, FISCAL YEAR 2026, DR. LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. 
          AT THIS TIME, DR. BUCKLEY WILL SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR EFMP THAT IS DUE TO THE
STATE EACH YEAR. 
          WE WILL SUBMIT OURS IN JULY. DR. BUCKLEY WILL SHARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS IN THE NEXT MOMENT OR
TWO. 
          I URGE THE BOARD TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE DOCUMENT. 
          ANY QUESTIONS YOU CAN CERTAINLY GIVE ME A CALL,
SEND US AN EMAIL. 
          AND IT'S FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD. I WILL GIVE DR. 
          BUCKLEY AND HIS TEAM CREDIT. IT DOES REQUIRE THE COORDINATION OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAM
LEADERS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS WELL AS STATE DATA AND COUNTY DATA. SO HARVESTING ALL THIS INTO ONE DOCUMENT IS NOT AN
EASY FEAT. 
          SO WE HAVE IT THERE FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT. 
          AND AGAIN, WE'LL ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL AT THE JULY MEETING,
WITH THAT DR. 
          BUCKLEY. THANK YOU, DR. LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY,
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUEST. 
          SO I HAVE IN MY HAND THE FY 25 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN IN BOARD DOCS IS THE 196
PAGE PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          A COUPLE OF THINGS WE USE THIS AS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CIP,
OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WE PLAN, THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE STATE EACH YEAR. EMBEDDED WITHIN THERE IS OUR PROJECTED ENROLLMENTS, DATA THAT WE COLLECT FROM THE STATE, DATA THAT WE COLLECT FROM THE COUNTY. 
          ONE PAGE IN PARTICULAR I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO IS PAGE 53. 
          AND THAT PAGE SERVES AS A SUMMARY OF EVERY ONE OF OUR BUILDINGS;
THE YEAR THAT IT WAS BUILT, IF THERE'S BEEN A RENOVATION ON IT, WHAT THE SQUARE FOOT CAPACITY,
WHAT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS ON IT, CAPACITIES AND SO FORTH. SO THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT WE USE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES. 
          ALSO INCLUDED IN THE BACK OF THAT WILL BE MAPS OF FLOOR PLANS FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR
BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS THE USAGE OF THOSE BUILDINGS AND THE NUMBER OF CLASSROOM SPACES THAT WE HAVE. 
          IT'S ORGANIZED IN THIS FASHION WITH GOLD STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES. 
          THE COMMUNITY ANALYSIS PART, WHICH IS WHERE WE COLLABORATE WITH THE COUNTY AND WE WE
REGULARLY ATTEND THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT ARE HELD MONTHLY AT THE COUNTY BUILDING. AND THAT'S WHERE THEY GO THROUGH THE VARIOUS SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTS AND
HOMES THAT ARE BEING BUILT IN CECIL COUNTY. 
          MR. SIMPERS AND CAPITAL OUTLAY THEY PROVIDE. COMMON TO EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS
PLANNED IN CECIL COUNTY. 
          AND THE IMPACT, POTENTIAL IMPACT THAT THAT WILL HAVE ON CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. SO
THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT IS ALIVE AND BREATHING FOR US YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT. 
          AND IT TAKES CONSTANT ATTENTION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 
          AGAIN, YOU SEE HERE OUR ENROLLMENT DATA FACILITY NEEDS. 
          EACH OF OUR BUILDINGS ARE RATED IN THEIR IN TERMS OF THEIR CONDITION,
WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD, EXCELLENT, POOR, FAIR. AND THEN THE LETTERS OF APPROVAL FROM THE IAC,
THE INTERAGENCY COMMISSION CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION, WITH ALEX DONAHUE AS THE LEAD, AS WELL AS MR. STEVEN O'CONNOR OUT OF THE LAND USAGE BUILDING FOR THE COUNTY. 
          SO, AS DR. LAWSON INDICATED, THIS WILL LAY OVER FOR THIS MONTH AND YOU'LL VOTE ON IT NEXT
MONTH. 
          AND AGAIN, AS WE SAID, THIS IS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR CAPITAL,
OUR CIP PROGRAM. 
          AND YOU'LL SEE ON THIS LAST SLIDE HERE, THOMPSON ESTATES AND CHERRY HILL ARE OUR TWO
HIGHEST PRIORITY BUILDINGS AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND MOVE BEYOND THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT. SO THESE WOULD BE THE NEXT TWO UP ON THE SLATE,
AND WE'LL BE LOOKING TO TAKE THOSE FORWARD TO THE COUNTY IN THE UPCOMING YEARS. 
          [01:25:06]
AGAIN, IF YOU DO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MYSELF,
DR. 
          BOYER, MR. SIMPERS. WE'D BE WILLING TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TALK THROUGH ANY OF THE
INFORMATION THAT'S IN HERE. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? ONE THING FOR THE BOARD'S AWARENESS IS I KNOW EVERYBODY'S EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROGRESS BEING MADE ON THE NEW NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL. 
          BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE INTEND TO START AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING PLANNING FUNDING FOR NEW
THOMPSON ESTATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WE WOULD WANT TO BEGIN RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF NORTHEAST FINISHING. SO YOU'LL START TO HEAR THAT KIND OF DISCUSSION AND RHETORIC
AS WE MOVE INTO THE CIP PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH I BELIEVE IS IN OCTOBER. SO WE'RE JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY FROM STARTING TO TALK ABOUT
NEXT YEAR, WHERE WE'LL ASK THE COUNTY TO LOOK AT FUNDING THE PLANNING FOR NEW THOMPSON ESTATES. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS. THANK YOU, DR. BUCKLEY. 
          THANK YOU. HAVE A WHOLE MONTH TO READ IT. OKAY. 
          NEXT IS THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MABE LSA DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE DIRECTOR. 
          YEAH. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AS MEMBERS OF MABE EACH SCHOOL SYSTEM RECEIVES TWO SEATS ON
THE LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION. 
          ONE IS THE DIRECTOR FOR THE LEA AND THE SECOND IS AN ALTERNATE. 
          OUR DIRECTOR WILL BE DR. BOYER OUR ALTERNATE IS DR. 
          BUCKLEY, AND THIS IS A SIMPLE REQUEST FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS TO THOSE ASSOCIATIONS THROUGH
MABE. 
          AND THIS IS TECHNICALLY A REAPPOINTMENT, SO THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT. 
          IT EXPIRES LAST YEAR. DR. BUCKLEY WAS THE DIRECTOR,
DR. 
          BOYER WAS THE ALTERNATE THIS YEAR, THEY'RE FLIPPING. ANY QUESTIONS? I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPOINT DR. 
          THEODORE BOYER AS LSA DIRECTOR AND DR. JOSEPH BUCKLEY AS LSA ALTERNATE DIRECTOR FOR TWO
YEAR TERMS, EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2025. FURTHER RECOMMENDATION? IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. MR. HAMPTON GOT YOU FIRST. 
          ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. 
          MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR SERVING ON THAT. 
          NUMBER 25-13 EMS AC REPLACEMENT, DR. LAWSON. THE NEXT THIS 515 AND THEN 516 ARE BOTH
PROJECTS THAT THE COUNTY IS FUNDING THAT THE BOARD IS AWARE OF AND HAS APPROVED. WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE BID PROCESS FOR BOTH PROJECTS,
SO I'LL READ THE RECOMMENDATIONS. 
          AND CERTAINLY BEFORE YOU VOTE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE'RE PREPARED TO ANSWER THOSE
QUESTIONS. 
          SO FOR 515, I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE AWARD FOR
THE CONTRACT TO DENVER-ELEK. 
          INCORPORATED FOR THE ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AC REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$204,100. 
          YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. 
          THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. 
          OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT IS THE 25- 14 OUR RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL BOILER STACK
REPLACEMENT, DR. LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE AWARD FOR
THE CONTRACT TO RECON GROUP, LLC FOR THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL BOILER STACK REPLACEMENT PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF
$174,811. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          ADOPTION OF THE FY 26 BUDGET REQUEST FOR OPERATING,
DR. 
          LAWSON. AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. 
          AT THIS TIME, MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER,
IS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND SHARE WITH THE BOARD WHAT I WILL CALL A BALANCED BUDGET MOVING INTO FY 26. SO THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT TRICKY. 
          OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS LEGISLATION ALL THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT POTENTIALLY
MITIGATED OUR PLANS FINANCIALLY. 
          WE STILL HAVE YET TO RECEIVE WHAT WE CALL THE STATE AID WORKBOOK,
WHICH LAYS OUT THE EXACT AMOUNTS WE'LL GET FOR EACH LINE, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT OR TYPICAL UNRESTRICTED MONEY. 
          SO WE WILL ASK YOU AND SHOW YOU A BALANCED BUDGET THIS EVENING FOR YOUR APPROVAL. 
          THERE ARE SOME CHANGES. WE'VE RECENTLY LEARNED OF A 17% REDUCTION ON OUR FEDERAL TITLE ONE
MONEY, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT. AND WE'VE TRIED TO MOVE MONEY AROUND TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT SPECIFICALLY
CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY MONEY, WHICH IS I'LL CALL TITLE ONE ISH THROUGH THE BLUEPRINT IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S DIRECTED
TOWARDS SCHOOLS IN POVERTY. 
          [01:30:05]
SO MRS. SOPA AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AT BALANCING THIS. 
          WHAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS THAT AT AT WHEN WE RECEIVE THE STATE AID BUDGET BOOK FROM THE
STATE, WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER VOTE ON ON WHAT I WOULD SAY IS A MORE REFINED
AND ACCURATE BUDGET TO THE DOLLAR. 
          AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING ON THE MOST RECENT DOLLAR FIGURES THE STATE HAS GIVEN US. 
          BUT SUPERINTENDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE UPSET THAT WE SHOULD CLEARLY HAVE HAD THESE,
THESE FIGURES BY NOW. 
          AND SO WE WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST WE CAN AT THIS MOMENT. 
          BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MISS SOPA FOR MAKING THIS WORK. 
          AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. REALLY,
THERE HAS BEEN IN THIS BUDGET SINCE NOVEMBER AND THERE CONTINUES TO BE. 
          SO THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY REQUIRE YOUR ATTENTION AGAIN,
POSSIBLY IN JULY, SO WITH THAT, MISS SOPA. 
          GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
DR. 
          LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS. AS DR. 
          LAWSON EXPLAINED, WITHOUT THE FINAL STATE AID WORKBOOK,
WE'RE WORKING ON THE NUMBERS THAT WE RECEIVED IN JANUARY. 
          AND SO IN JANUARY, WE RECEIVED NUMBERS RIGHT BEFORE OUR FIST JANUARY WORK SESSION. 
          AND SO WE USE THOSE REVENUE NUMBERS TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET. 
          AND NORMALLY WHAT WE WOULD HAVE DONE IS SPENT SOME TIME IN FEBRUARY REALLY CLEANING UP OUR
ALLOCATIONS AND TIGHTENING UP THE BUDGET. 
          BUT THERE WAS A WHOLE LOT AT STAKE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION,
AND THINGS WERE REALLY UP IN THE AIR AS FAR AS HOW THINGS WERE GOING TO BE BUDGETED, WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. AND SO WE JUST KIND OF SAT TIGHT UNTIL WE KNEW WHAT THE
FINAL LEGISLATION WAS. 
          AND AGAIN, WE'RE EXPECTING SOME TWEAKS WHEN WE RECEIVE THE FINAL NUMBERS,
BUT I DON'T EXPECT IT TO BE ANYTHING DRASTIC. 
          THE ONLY PLACE I COULD SEE MAYBE A BIG SHIFT WOULD BE PRE-K NUMBERS,
BECAUSE I'M NOT QUITE UNDERSTANDING THE PRIVATE PRE-K NUMBER THAT THEY'RE USING FOR CECIL COUNTY. SO THAT'S JUST OTHER THAN THAT, WE'RE IN THE BALLPARK. 
          SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETELY OFF. SO WHAT WE WANTED TO
SHOW FOR YOU IS WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES AND REVISIONS WE'VE MADE SINCE THE LAST TIME WE MET ABOUT THIS BUDGET IN FEBRUARY. AND RIGHT NOW,
JUST TALKING ABOUT THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          SO FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL NOW, THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET HAS BEEN INCREASED ABOUT $1.3 MILLION. 
          AND IT'S BEEN INCREASED FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. 
          SO I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE BIG ONES THAT CAUSED A SHIFT IN THE BUDGET. 
          ONE, WE WERE ABLE TO REDUCE THE BOARD LEGAL FEES FOR WHAT WE HAD PLANNED FOR FY 26. 
          THERE WAS ALSO AN INCREASE IN THE COST FOR DILIGENCE,
SO WE HAD A BOARD DOCS REPLACEMENT FEE IN THE BUDGET. 
          BUT NOW THAT WE'RE MOVING TO DILIGENCE, THAT'S MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BOARD DOCS SO THERE'S A
SWITCH THERE. HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REALIGNMENT OF COP EXPENSES, CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY, AS DR. LAWSON EXPLAINED,
THIS YEAR FOR FY 26, OUR CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY REVENUE INCREASED $1.8 MILLION, WHICH MEANS THAT $1.8 MILLION HAS TO BE SPENT ON CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY. 
          AND WHEN WE ORIGINALLY RECEIVED OUR DOLLARS,
WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE REVENUE LINED UP WITH COP EXPENSES BECAUSE AT THE TIME, AGAIN WITH LEGISLATION, IT WAS STILL UP IN THE AIR WITH WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH COP. 
          SO WHAT WE HAD TO DO WAS REALIGN AND SAY, IF THERE'S $1.8 MILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR
COP, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE EXPENSES IN THE BUDGET THAT ARE COP RELATED FOR THAT
FUNDING. 
          SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK EXPENSES. DR. FOY IS WORKING THROUGH AN MOU WITH THEM. 
          AND SO PROPOSING SOME CHANGES THERE, A REDUCTION IN CHAPTER ONE TUTORING WITH OUR TSI
FUNDING FROM THE STATE. 
          SO WE REDUCED THE TUTORING TO HELP PAY FOR THE TSI COACHES. 
          AGAIN, ALL IN THE TSI FUNDING, BUT IT'S JUST REDUCING OR CHANGING HOW WE ALLOCATED THE
FUNDING. 
          THERE WERE SOME INCREASES TO EXTRA PAY FOR EXTRA DUTY AND RELATED SERVICE PROVIDER
STIPENDS AS A RESULT OF TRIPLE CTA NEGOTIATIONS. 
          WE DID INCREASE OUR BUDGET FOR ELECTRICITY BASED ON INCREASES THAT WILL HAPPEN WITH
CHANGES TO THE ESMEC AGREEMENT AND THE ELIMINATION OF THE MARYLAND STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY PENSION ADMINISTRATION FEE. 
          AND SO THAT'S A ONE YEAR ELIMINATION OF THAT FEE STARTING NEXT YEAR WILL BE ROLLED INTO
OUR LOCAL SHARE AMOUNT. 
          SO IT WILL COME BACK INTO THE BUDGET. BUT BEING ABLE TO ELIMINATE THAT WAS ABLE TO OFFSET
SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE BUDGET. 
          AND THEN WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE CHANGES IN STAFFING FROM THE TIME WE MET
LAST UNTIL NOW. 
          AND KIND OF EXPLAIN SOME REASONS. SO MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS,
THIS IS THE ONLY AREA WHERE WE ACTUALLY ADDED POSITIONS FOR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS BECAUSE OUR POPULATION IS INCREASING AND WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO MEET THE 75/25% COMPONENT. 
          SO WE REALLY NEED TO BE INCREASING WHAT WE'RE SPENDING TO SUPPORT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. 
          AND SO THIS WAS AN INCREASE THERE. ADDING THE COP MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR IS PART OF THE
COP FUNDING. 
          SO AS I MENTIONED, WE RECEIVED THIS ADDITIONAL $1.8 MILLION TO BE SPENT ON COP SCHOOLS. 
          [01:35:01]
SO WHETHER WE SPEND IT ON WRAPAROUND SERVICES OR WRAPAROUND POSITIONS,
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THOSE SCHOOLS. 
          AND WITH 11 CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY SCHOOLS NEXT YEAR,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP COORDINATE WITH 11 SCHOOLS. 
          WE HAD, AS YOU CAN SEE, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT WHEN WE GET TO THE RESTRICTED SLIDE. 
          BUT WE HAD REDUCTIONS LARGE REDUCTIONS IN SOME OF OUR RESTRICTED BUDGETS. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE THE CSI, CSI GRANT WAS REDUCED. 
          SO WE HAD TO MOVE HALF OF THE POSITIONS IN THAT GRANT TO THE RESTRICTED BUDGET TO BE
UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THOSE POSITIONS. WE HAD REDUCTIONS TO TITLE ONE. 
          SO THERE WERE SOME TITLE ONE POSITIONS PAID FOR BY TITLE ONE SCHOOLS WHO ALSO HAPPEN TO BE
CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY SCHOOLS. 
          AND SO THESE POSITIONS ALSO FIT IN CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY AS WRAPAROUND SERVICES. 
          SO WE CAN PAY FOR THEM WITH CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FUNDS,
WHICH IS WHY THESE POSITIONS ARE MOVED TO THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          YOU CAN SEE THESE CAREER COUNSELORS HERE AGAIN AS OUR PROPOSAL THROUGH THE MOU WITH
SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE NETWORK. 
          SO MONEY THAT WE WOULD OTHERWISE PAY TO SWIN FOR CAREER COACHING. 
          WE'RE PROPOSING TWO POSITIONS OURSELVES. COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORS. 
          WE WERE REQUIRED TO ADD TWO FOR OUR TWO NEW CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY SCHOOLS. 
          OUR JROTC INSTRUCTOR IS FUNDED HALF BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. 
          SO THAT'S MOVING HALF OF THE JROTC INSTRUCTOR TO THE RESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          AND THEN WE HAD SOME CHANGES TO SOME OF OUR RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS. 
          KEEPING IN MIND THAT SOMETIMES WE CAN PICK UP FULL TIME EMPLOYEES AND WHEN WE CAN FOR
THOSE POSITIONS WE DO WE INCREASE THOSE POSITIONS AND REDUCE THE CONTRACTED SERVICES. 
          SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REDUCE THE POSITIONS IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE. 
          AND SO THIS IS AN ELIMINATION OF A PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT WE WILL HAVE TO USE
CONTRACTED SERVICES FOR THAT. 
          AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, AS WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE,
THE CHANGE FROM DEANS OF STUDENTS TO 11 MONTH ELEMENTARY APS. 
          I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT, BUT I FELT LIKE I WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT
THE CHANGES ARE. 
          MRS. SOPA, FOR THE TITLE ONE REDUCTION DR. LAWSON SAID IT'S ABOUT 17%. 
          WHAT IS THAT IN DOLLARS, DO YOU KNOW? ALMOST $900,000. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS JUST OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET BY STATE CATEGORY,
AND THIS IS JUST SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES TO SHOW YOU THE CHANGE OVER TIME BY STATE CATEGORY. 
          THESE ARE THE POSITIONS IN THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. SO,
AS I SAID, THE CHANGES IN THIS CHART ARE WHAT WAS DETAILED THAT I SHARED A FEW MINUTES AGO AND THAT BULLETED LIST. AND THIS WILL THIS WILL BE A LITTLE CLEARER WHEN WE LOOK AT THE
COMPARISON SLIDE AT THE END. 
          AND THEN THIS IS OUR TOTAL UNRESTRICTED BUDGET SUMMARY BY STATE CATEGORY. 
          SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES ARE HERE. FIXED CHARGES IS ITS OWN STATE STATE CATEGORY. 
          AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL UNRESTRICTED BUDGET REQUEST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FY 26
COLUMN. 
          MRS. SOPA IF I COULD JUMP IN HERE. JUST FOR THE BOARD'S AWARENESS,
IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER, $19.1 MILLION. THAT NUMBER IS HIGH, AND THE REASON IT'S AS HIGH AS IT IS IS BECAUSE
THERE'S BEEN A DECREASE ON THE RESTRICTED SIDE. 
          AND SO WE'RE COMPENSATING FOR THAT WITH MORE MONEY COMING FROM THE UNRESTRICTED SIDE AND
YOU'LL SEE THAT I THINK SOON. 
          OOPS I'M FORGETTING WHICH BUTTON TO USE. SO THESE ARE THE CHANGES TO THE RESTRICTED
BUDGET. 
          SO THERE'S A REDUCTION IN THE RESTRICTED BUDGET BY $1.3 MILLION. 
          AND SO AGAIN A 17% 17% REDUCTION TO TITLE ONE,
A REDUCTION TO THE TSI CSI GRANT, TITLE THREE WAS ELIMINATED COMPLETELY, 25% REDUCTION IN TITLE FOUR. WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT TITLE TWO,
BUT WE'RE ASSUMING IT'S GOING TO FOLLOW THE TREND OF THE REST OF THE TITLE GRANTS. 
          AND THEN MULTIPLE SPECIAL ED GRANTS SOME INCREASES,
SOME DECREASES JUST IN SMALL AMOUNTS THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET. 
          SO THAT REQUIRED US TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND STAFFING. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE SOME TITLE ONE POSITIONS THAT WERE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED. 
          SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE ACTUALLY HAD A MEETING. WE CALLED IN TITLE ONE PRINCIPALS,
AND WE SAT DOWN AND SAID, HERE'S YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR. 
          HERE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR OUT OF THESE GRANTS. HERE'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING
TO COST. HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T AFFORD AND HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS THERE. 
          SO IF IT'S ELIMINATED, THAT MEANS WE DIDN'T PICK IT UP IN THE RESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          AND THEN SOME OF THE ONES, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE THESE POSITIONS
WERE MOVED FROM RESTRICTED TO UNRESTRICTED. 
          SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE EXPLANATION OF THE CHANGES. 
          AND AGAIN, WE ALSO HAD AT THE BOTTOM SOME CHANGES,
REDUCTIONS IN DUTY CENTER AT BAYVIEW SO REDUCTION IN TWO POSITIONS THERE. 
          SO, SO THE SO THE BOARD MIGHT RECALL BACK PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY,
WE HAD A RATHER LONG, DRAWN OUT DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW OUR STAFFING NUMBERS LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THE TIME WE HAD LAST YEAR'S BUDGET APPROVED TO THAT
PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME, 
          [01:40:04]
BECAUSE WE LEARNED ABOUT ADJUSTMENTS IN FEDERAL REVENUE,
PROBABLY IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER, AND WE HAD TO MOVE POSITIONS. SO LIKE AUGUST,
SEPTEMBER, I SCHOOL WAS STARTING. 
          WE KNOW THEM EARLIER NOW SO THAT THIS IS HAPPENING NOW. 
          AND DOES THIS MAKE SENSE. AND YOU WON'T SEE IT IN LATE FALL. 
          SO SO WE'RE LEARNING OF THIS ADJUSTMENT EARLIER. 
          SO SO REMEMBER FEDERAL DOLLARS OPERATE ON A DIFFERENT TIME SCHEDULE. 
          SO FEDERAL DOLLARS START OCTOBER 1ST. SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. 
          DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION. JUST A I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING. 
          I'M JUST GOING TO WALK THROUGH IT THOUGH THAT THERE'S BEEN A REDUCTION IN RESTRICTED
FUNDING TO SUPPORT PERSONNEL. 
          BUT YOU'RE OBLIGATING UNRESTRICTED FUNDS TO MAKE UP FOR THAT DIFFERENCE. 
          AND IN PART, THOUGH, DOES THIS ACCOUNT FOR THE INCREASE FROM THE BUDGET REQUEST TO THE
WHAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE FROM THE FUND BALANCE $6.1 MILLION TO $10 MILLION. 
          SO I CAN EXPLAIN THAT NOW, OR I CAN EXPLAIN IT WHEN I GET TO THAT SLIDE. 
          SO THERE IS AN INCREASE IN WHAT WE'RE ASKING TO USE FROM FUND BALANCE. 
          AND SO PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE MOVED POSITIONS FROM THE RESTRICTED BUDGET TO THE
UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          PART OF IT IS BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN WE BROUGHT YOU THAT ORIGINAL NUMBER,
IT REQUIRED LIKE $10 MILLION FROM OVER LAST YEAR FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR US TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET WHILE WHILE THEY WERE GENEROUS AND WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED AND THE CAPITAL
BUDGET AND IN OUR IN OUR REGULAR ALLOCATION, IT WAS $2.7 MILLION LIGHT ON WHAT WE NEEDED TO BALANCE THAT BUDGET. 
          SO THAT $2.7 MILLION PLUS THIS $1.3 IS ANOTHER $4 MILLION SO WE HAD THE $6.1. 
          THAT'S WHERE THE $10 MILLION IS COMING FROM. THANK YOU. 
          SO THESE ARE THE SAME SLIDES THAT WE LOOKED AT FOR THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. SO AGAIN
SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES BY STATE CATEGORY. 
          YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION HERE. AND REMEMBER AS DR. 
          LAWSON STATED THIS IS FROM WHAT WAS APPROVED FOR FY 25 VERSUS WHAT WE'RE APPROVING FOR FY
26. 
          THESE ARE THE POSITIONS. AND THIS IS THE TOTAL RESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          JUST DRAWING YOUR ATTENTION TO FROM APPROVED FY 25 THAT'S A REDUCTION OF $4 MILLION. 
          AND REALLY LOOKING AT WHERE WE'VE GONE FROM FY 24 TO FY 26,
THE CHANGE IN OUR RESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          THE COVID REVENUE IS OFFICIALLY GONE. YEAH. SO THIS IS OUR TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET SUMMARY
AGAIN BY STATE CATEGORY. THIS INCLUDES THE RESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED. 
          RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED BUDGETS TOGETHER. 
          AND THE TOTAL DOLLAR VALUE FOR THE BUDGET IS THERE WITH THE TOTAL INCREASE OVER FY 25. 
          THESE ARE THE TOTAL POSITIONS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR FY 26. 
          AND THIS REALLY SHOWS YOU THE CHANGE. THIS IS THE SAME CHART THAT YOU SAW THE LAST TIME. 
          SO KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE WERE POSITIONS THAT WE ADDED DURING FY 25. 
          THOSE POSITIONS ARE STILL IN THIS BUDGET FOR 2026. 
          IN ADDITION TO THOSE CHANGES THAT I SHARED WITH YOU ON THE RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED
SLIDES, THOSE ADDITIONAL 5 MULTILINGUAL TEACHERS. SO YOU CAN SEE IN TOTAL WE'RE UP 45 POSITIONS,
BUT YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION IN THE RESTRICTED BUDGET AGAIN, BECAUSE OF THE LOSS IN FUNDING, WHICH MAKES THE UNRESTRICTED NUMBER ELEVATED. 
          AND THEN THIS IS OUR FINAL OPERATING REQUEST WITH OUR COUNTY CONTRIBUTION. 
          THE STATE DOLLARS REPRESENT RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED FUNDS,
FEDERAL REVENUE. 
          OUR INTEREST INCOME AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE FOR A TOTAL OF
$275.5 MILLION. 
          WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT FOR FY 26 THAT THAT USE OF THE FUND BALANCE,
THAT WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE TO DO THAT. 
          YOU KNOW, FY 26- FY 27. AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK GOING FORWARD. 
          BUT WE DO FEEL CONFIDENT IN THAT NUMBER. I MEAN,
I GUESS I WAS ALSO, AT THE TIME KIND OF FACTORING IN WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TEACHER PENSION AND THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY IS COVERING THAT AS WELL IS COVERING THE
ADDITIONAL $1.5 ISH $1.3, I THINK. BUT IN THE IN THE BALLPARK. YES. 
          SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT. DO YOU KNOW WHERE THAT LEAVES US FOR? I KNOW IT'S NOT EXACT RIGHT NOW, BUT WHERE THAT LEAVES US FOR OUR FUND BALANCE? I WON'T KNOW UNTIL WE ACTUALLY CLOSE. BUT I'M THINKING AFTER THAT,
PROBABLY WITH ANOTHER $14 MILLION IN THE BALLPARK, $12 TO 14 MILLION. WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE WHILE WE PROJECTED TO USE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THE FUND BALANCE, IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR REVENUE COMING IN. AND WE'VE HAD SOME REIMBURSEMENTS FROM HEALTH
CARE AND SOME OTHER THINGS. 
          SO WHERE WE END, WE'LL KNOW WHEN WE'RE WORKING ON OUR FINANCIALS THIS SUMMER,
BUT WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THAT $10 MILLION IS SAFE AND THAT THERE'S STILL PLENTY FOR OUR 
          [01:45:06]
HEALTH CARE RESERVE AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED. 
          WE'LL ASK YOU FOR A FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION. 
          THAT'LL BE A BREAKDOWN OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS THERE,
HOPEFULLY BY SEPTEMBER. 
          I MEAN, BECAUSE WE CLOSE OUT IN JULY AND IT TAKES,
YOU KNOW, I GUESS MAYBE AUGUST, BUT PROBABLY SEPTEMBER. 
          BUT THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE SET ASIDE $3 MILLION AND CHANGE IN OUR HEALTH CARE RESERVE,
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THAT. 
          WE ESTIMATED A 20% INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE YEAR OVER YEAR,
AND IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN THAT MUCH. 
          SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE BOTTOM LINE. 
          AND MRS. SOPA AND HER TEAM WILL REALLY RECONCILE AND CLOSE OUT THE YEARS. 
          IT'S CALLED MR. HAMPTON FOR YOU PRIMARILY. AND THEN ONCE WE CLOSE OUT,
THAT'S WHEN WE CAN SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT OVER AND ADJUST THE FUND BALANCE ACCORDINGLY. 
          BUT WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THE USE OF A $10 MILLION FUND BALANCE FOR FY 26 IF WE WEREN'T
COMFORTABLE THAT IT WAS THERE TO USE. 
          AND I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION WHEN YOU'RE READY. 
          OTHER QUESTIONS WHEN YOU'RE READY. NO OTHER QUESTIONS. 
          GO AHEAD. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $275,519,158, WHICH INCLUDES A COUNTY APPROPRIATION OF $105,386,116 AND A FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION OF $10 MILLION. 
          YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? RIGHT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          NEXT IS THE ADOPTION OF THE FY 26 BUDGET REQUEST FOR CAPITAL,
DR. 
          LAWSON. NOT QUITE AS COMPLICATED, BUT MRS. SOPA CONTINUES,
AND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION WHEN SHE FINISHES. 
          SO THIS DOES NOT LOOK MUCH DIFFERENT SINCE YOU SAW IT IN FEBRUARY. 
          NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT IS STILL OUR NUMBER ONE PROJECT. 
          CECIL MANOR HVAC REPLACEMENT IS ALSO ON THE LIST,
AND THE COUNTY DID APPROVE FOR SMALL CAP PROJECTS, THE AC ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR $750,000. SO A TOTAL CAPITAL BUDGET OF $33,029,950. 
          ANY QUESTIONS? I DO, SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE A LONG
TIME. 
          MISS SOPA AT WHAT POINT AND I NEVER ASK HER QUESTIONS UNLESS SHE KNOWS THEY'RE COMING. 
          BUT THIS IS A AND I THINK AT WHAT POINT DO WE ADD IN THE COST OF THE 12 UNFINISHED
CLASSROOMS AND THE INCREASED COST OF THE FOUR LANE ROAD,
WHICH WILL BE AN IRISHTOWN ROAD? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON THAT? ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED,
AND I THINK AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO THE CIP FOR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS HAS KIND OF HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR,
WE HAVE TO SUBMIT OUR ESTIMATE AND WHAT WE HAVE TO THE COUNTY. 
          WE SUBMIT TO THEM IN THE FALL, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER. 
          AND SO I THINK IT'S JUST AN AGREEMENT WORKING WITH THE IT'S NOT THE CONTRACTOR,
BUT THE COMPANY. 
          THAT'S GRIMM AND PARKER. YEAH. WITH HESS YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE FOR THE
AMOUNT, AND WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH WHAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION IS. 
          IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE STATE CONTRIBUTION. THE STATE'S CONTRIBUTION,
I BELIEVE, IS $103 MILLION. 
          AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS, RIGHT? SO ANY EXTRA IS WHAT THEY'RE AGREEING TO FUND. 
          AND SO THAT'S PART OF THEIR BUDGET THAT THEY WILL BE PASSING. 
          SO PAY ATTENTION WHEN I SAY THIS SO THAT THE BOARD KNOWS THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY SITTING
THERE FROM THE STATE AND NOW THE COUNTY. 
          AND HAS GRIMM AND PARKER WERE GETTING INVOICES AND THEY'RE DRAWING AGAINST THAT. 
          AND NOW YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESS OF THIS NEW BUILDING. 
          THE DRAW SCHEDULE IS REALLY PICKING UP. AND SO AT SOME POINT THE COST FOR THESE NEW
CLASSROOMS AND THAT ROAD EXPANSION ARE FACTORED IN, AND IT'S PROBABLY STILL MAYBE A YEAR OR TWO AWAY BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS. 
          AND ALSO LIKE THE UNFORESEEN STUFF, LIKE THE PARKING LOT,
THE PARKING LOT THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL COST. 
          AND I'M SURE, LIKE WE ALL KNOW, WHEN WE DO HOUSE PROJECTS,
THINGS HAPPEN AND THERE'S A BUFFER. 
          THERE'S A BUFFER BUILT IN FOR THOSE THINGS. YOU KNOW,
SO THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING A CHANGE ORDER EVERY TIME SOMETHING LIKE THAT COMES UP. 
          SO THERE IS A BUFFER. BUT THESE THINGS THAT DR. LAWSON SHARED,
LIKE NOT SHELLING THE CLASSROOMS AND THE FOUR LANE HIGHWAY OUTSIDE. 
          THOSE WERE REALLY LARGE EXPENSES, NOT YOUR YOUR THINGS THAT YOU BUILD IN FOR YOUR BUFFER. 
          THE OTHER THING I WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO IS THAT THE COUNTY AGREED TO FUND THE STATE
BECAUSE THE STATE WAS NOT PROVIDING THE FUNDING AS FAST AS WE NEED TO FINISH THE BUILDING ON THE ON THE SHORTENED TIMELINE. AND SO THEY'VE ALSO AGREED TO THIS $11.6 MILLION IN FY
26 TO FUND THE STATE, BECAUSE THE STATE IS GIVING US $6 MILLION IN FY 26. 
          SO THE COUNTY HAS PUT A LOT INTO THIS PROJECT. 
          [01:50:04]
YES THEY HAVE, AND I WORRY THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY JEOPARDIZE OUR PUSH FOR LOCAL
PLANNING MONEY FOR THOMPSON. 
          IT'D BE BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS ON THE HOOK FOR THE STATE BASICALLY,
THE COUNTY HAS LENT THE STATE MONEY. 
          AND THEY IT'S UP TO THEM TO WORK OUT A REPAYMENT PLAN,
OBVIOUSLY. 
          BUT I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, IT COMES THROUGH US. 
          SO WE SUBMIT THE REIMBURSEMENTS AND THEN WE REIMBURSE THE COUNTY. 
          I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE'VE HAD GREAT COLLABORATION AND DISCUSSIONS WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT
THE COUNTY LEVEL, SO THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. WE'VE MET SEVERAL TIMES TO GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL DRAW
PLAN FOR THE MONEY AND, YOU KNOW, THE TIMELINE GOING OUT. SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND WORKING TOGETHER. 
          SO I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT EVERYBODY'S WORKING TOWARD THE SAME GOAL AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT
THAT IS. 
          THANK YOU, MISS SOPA. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SO 518 RIGHT. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE CAPITAL
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $33,029,950, WHICH INCLUDES A COUNTY APPROPRIATION OF $15,423,950, AND A COUNTY FRONT FUNDING OF STATE FUNDS OF $11,606,000. 
          YOU'VE HEARD DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. 
          SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 
          MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. ADOPTION OF THE FY 26 BUDGET REQUEST FOR DEBT SERVICE,
DR. 
          LAWSON. MRS. SOPA CONTINUES. SO THIS DOES LOOK DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE SHARED IN FEBRUARY. 
          THESE ARE NUMBERS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT,
AND THEY DID SOME RESTRUCTURING OF THEIR DEBT. 
          SO IF YOU WERE TO COMPARE THIS TO THE SLIDE THAT WE SHOWED BEFORE,
THE NUMBERS HAVE CHANGED. 
          BUT THESE NUMBERS COME DIRECTLY FROM THEM. SO AGAIN,
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM. AND THESE ARE THE BONDS THAT THEY SELL TO FUND OUR CONSTRUCTION. AND THEN WE REPORT THESE NUMBERS AS PART OF OUR FINANCIALS. 
          SO THEY'RE MAKING THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS ON OUR BEHALF. 
          THIS BECOMES PART OF OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 
          AND SO FOR FY 26 THEY'LL BE PAYING A TOTAL OF $8,525,787 FOR PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST FOR
OUR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. 
          OF WHICH $2.4 MILLION IS INTEREST ALONE? YES,
THAT'S A PRETTY HEAVY NUMBER FOR JUST INTEREST. 
          QUESTIONS FOR MISS SOPA? I THINK YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION THAT IT'S THE COUNTY AND
RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT. 
          I'M JUST KIND OF CONFUSED ON WHY PRIOR YEARS BALANCES WOULD CHANGE AND THE PAYMENTS
REPORTED ON THE PRINCIPAL WOULD CHANGE FROM FEBRUARY TO NOW. BUT IF THAT'S A COUNTY QUESTION. WE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION AND WE RECEIVED A LENGTHY
RESPONSE, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE THE NEW THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THEIR POSITIONS ARE WORKING
THROUGH SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED PRIOR TO THEM ARRIVING, AND THEY HAVE DONE SOME RESTRUCTURING. AND THESE ARE THE NUMBERS THAT BECAUSE WE ALWAYS
REACH OUT BEFORE. 
          SO WE, WE REACH OUT BEFORE WE PRESENT TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE ARE THE RIGHT
NUMBERS. 
          AND THEN WE ACTUALLY SEND THEM WHAT'S CALLED A CONFIRMATION WHEN OUR AUDIT IS DONE FOR OUR
FINANCIALS. 
          SO EVERY YEAR WE SEND THEM A CONFIRMATION LETTER IN THE SUMMER. 
          THEY CONFIRMED THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT AND THAT'S HOW THEY BECOME PART OF OUR
FINANCIAL. SO THAT'S HAPPENED EVERY YEAR. SO YES, THIS IS DIFFERENT. AND SO THAT THE BOARD KNOWS,
I THINK YOU MAY. 
          YESTERDAY MORNING WE HAD ALMOST A THREE HOUR MEETING IN THIS ROOM WITH THE LEADERSHIP
TEAM. 
          AND WE DO A DRY RUN OF ALL THIS. IT'S KIND OF A PRACTICE RUN IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE DO
IT EVERY MONTH. 
          AND THIS ISSUE VERY MUCH CAME UP AND WE STILL HADN'T HAD NUMBERS FROM THE COUNTY THAT WE
WERE CERTAIN OF. 
          NOW, THAT SAID, IN FAIRNESS TO THE COUNTY, AND I TRY NOT TO ROLL ANYBODY UNDER THE BUS. 
          I THINK THE COUNTY RIGHT NOW IS IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RECONCILE SOME PAST NUMBERS
FROM THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, SQUARE THE, THE ROUND HOLE KIND OF THING. 
          AND SO I THINK AND THAT'S AND I ALSO THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY RESTRUCTURING THEIR
DEBT. 
          AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE COUNTY, BUT I BUT I THINK THEY ARE LOOKING AT
RESTRUCTURING THEIR DEBT IN GENERAL. 
          SO YEAH, IT'S IT'S INTERESTING. IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION THOUGH. 
          ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU. GOOD QUESTION. GO,
GO. 
          GO OUT IN A BLAZE OF GLORY OR SOMETHING. YEAH OKAY. 
          I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE COUNTY'S TOTAL
APPROPRIATION OF $8,525,787 FOR THE YEAR 2026 DEBT SERVICE BUDGET. YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? 
          [01:55:01]
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET UPDATE, DR. LAWSON. 
          MISS SOPA CONTINUES. AND I HAVE A REQUEST FOR A VOTE WHEN SHE'S FINISHED. 
          SO THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM THE MONTH OF MAY. 
          SO YOU CAN SEE AN INCREASE IN $93,361 OF REVENUE,
WHICH INCLUDES INCREASES OUR EXPENDITURES BY THE SAME AMOUNT. 
          SO AGAIN, SOME VARIOUS GRANTS THAT WERE RECEIVED,
ONE FROM THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND PROGRAM, YORK BUILDING PRODUCTS GRANT TO SUPPORT SCHOOL OF TECH DIESEL CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AND
EQUIPMENT, YORK BUILDING PROJECTS PRODUCTS GRANTS TO REPLACE CLASSROOM TECHNOLOGY AT CHARLESTOWN,
CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY PTO MADE A DONATION FOR THREE DOCUMENT CAMERAS AND A VPAC TEACHER OF THE YEAR DONATION TO NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR CLASSROOM SUPPLIES. 
          SO THE TOTAL THERE $33,300. SOME ADDITIONAL STATE RESTRICTED REVENUE. 
          TEACHER ACADEMY OF MARYLAND TO SUPPORT STUDENT ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL TAM CONFERENCE. 
          SOME RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE. INTERESTINGLY,
A LITTLE INCREASE TO TITLE THREE FOR FY 25. 
          TO SUPPORT STAFF DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES. AND REMEMBER,
TITLE THREE IS ALL ABOUT MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. 
          AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION PRESCHOOL FUNDS TO SUPPORT SPEECH SERVICES. 
          SO A SMALL INCREASE THERE. AND THEN IN UNRESTRICTED REVENUE WHEN YOU SEE DONATION FROM
THESE ARE SCHOOLS USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO PURCHASE THINGS. SO AGAIN PURCHASING A SPEAKER SYSTEM FOR STADIUM EVENTS AT RISING SUN
HIGH, A SCOREBOARD AT BO MANOR AND PERRYVILLE, AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE COLLECTED FOR ALL COUNTY
CHORUS AND BAND ACTIVITIES. 
          SO AS PEOPLE PAY FOR THOSE EVENTS, THAT'S REVENUE THAT THEN BECOMES PART OF THE BUDGET AS
IT'S COLLECTED. 
          THE NEXT PAGE AGAIN, IS THE COMPARISON OR THE TRYING TO GET IT TO GET A LITTLE,
JUST TO HAVE AN IDEA. 
          IF THERE IS A DASH HERE WHICH REPRESENTS A ZERO IN ACCOUNTING TERMS,
THAT JUST MEANS A SWITCH FROM ONE STATE CATEGORY TO THE TO THE NEXT. 
          IF THERE IS A TOTAL IN THAT COLUMN THAT REFERS BACK TO ONE OF THE PROJECTS ON THE FIRST
PAGE THAT SHOWS YOU AN INCREASE IN THE REVENUE. 
          CAN WE MAKE THAT A LITTLE SMALLER? WELL, I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET ALL THE. 
          I WAS TRYING TO GET ALL OF THE THINGS ONTO ONE PAGE. 
          AT LEAST WE HAVE. I KNOW MR. DAVIS CAN SEE IT. 
          WELL, YOU KNOW WHY THAT SLIDE IS THERE. OH, YEAH. 
          OKAY. NOBODY CAN READ IT. YOU ZOOM IT ON YOUR SCREEN. 
          OH, OKAY. IT'S REALLY THERE FOR YOUR REFERENCE. NOT AS MUCH TO TO SHARE HERE. 
          SO AGAIN, AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE YEAR,
OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET PLUS ANY YEAR TO DATE AMENDMENTS GIVES OUR CURRENT BUDGET. 
          AND SO WE HAVE IT BROKEN DOWN BY UNRESTRICTED RESTRICTED AND TOTAL. 
          AND WE'RE WINDING DOWN THE YEAR HERE. SO WE HAVE OUR THREE YEAR AVERAGE. 
          JUST AGAIN HEALTH CARE IS UP AS DR. LAWSON SAID WE PROJECTED IT. 
          WE BUDGETED FOR IT. SO WHILE IT'S UP, WE BUDGETED FOR IT. 
          AND WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO NEED THE HEALTH CARE RESERVE,
BUT THAT HEALTH CARE RESERVE IS THERE IN THE FUND BALANCE FOR CATASTROPHIC SITUATIONS. 
          SO WE ARE WE'RE DOING WELL IN THAT AREA. AND THEN AGAIN,
THE LAST SLIDE IS JUST THE SAME INFORMATION FROM THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET. 
          AND IT JUST GOES BY DEPARTMENT NAME, WHICH IS A LITTLE EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THAN
STATE CATEGORY, BUT NOTHING REALLY SIGNIFICANT AT THIS POINT OF THE YEAR. WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE
JUST CLOSING OUT. STAY HEALTHY FOLKS. 
          QUESTIONS FOR MISS SOPA. ANY QUESTIONS? I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL
COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $93,361 AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD DR. LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION. 
          IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. 
          DO WE WANT TO MOVE THE TABLE? YES. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. 
          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,
WITH 3 MINUTES ALLOTTED TO EACH SPEAKER. 
          WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE. 
          [02:00:01]
NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30 SECONDS REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS B ELL. 
          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. 
          WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING. AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER WILL BE SHAWN BRIM,
WHO IS ALREADY SEATED, FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE GIVENS, AND A BOX HAS BEEN PLACED ON THE CORNER OF THE TABLE FOR
YOUR REMARKS. 
          THANK YOU. THANKS. I'M SHAWN BRIM OF NORTHEAST. 
          SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, GISELLE, OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE BOARD,
HAD A SCHEDULE CONFLICT WITH A MONTHLY BOARD OF ED MEETING. PRESIDENT HAWLEY RECOMMENDED THAT SHE ATTEND HER SPORTS EVENT INSTEAD. I MENTIONED IN MY PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING THAT
MEETING THAT THE SITUATION REMINDED ME OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME AS A 1988 NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY. 
          WHAT IF THEY GAVE YOU AN AWARD AND DIDN'T TELL YOU? ONE DAY, MY RESEARCH SEMINAR TEACHER, ANN SELZER ASKED ME ASKED TO SEE ME AFTER CLASS. 
          SHE ASKED IF I WAS PLANNING TO ATTEND THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT. 
          I REPLIED, WELL, I DON'T KNOW. I CAN GO BECAUSE I WROTE A POEM FOR THE STUDENT HANDBOOK,
BUT MAYBE NOT. 
          ANN REPLIED, YOU SHOULD GO, I SAID I SHOULD,
SHE SAID YES, YOU SHOULD GO. 
          WELL, OKAY. AT THE SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT, MY PHYSICS TEACHER,
BILL KEYA KEYA, GOT UP ON STAGE AND ONE OF THE AWARDS WENT THE MOST IMPROVED SCIENCE STUDENT GOES TO SEAN BRIMM. ME? I SAID I HAD NO IDEA. AND WHY DID I GET THIS RECOGNITION? STAY WITH ME HERE. AFTER WRITING SAID POEM FOR THE STUDENT HANDBOOK,
I WROTE AS AN ASSIGNMENT IN A RESEARCH SEMINAR CLASS FOR ENGLISH, A PAPER ON THE BIG BANG THEORY AS IN EINSTEIN. 
          THIS PAPER DOUBLED AS MY STUDENT PROJECT FOR MY PHYSICS CLASS BECAUSE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
STUDIES, AND FOR WHICH I GOT MY MOST IMPROVED STUDENT RECOGNITION. 
          IT WAS A TOTALLY DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE WAY TO FINISH UP MY SENIOR YEAR. 
          SO WHAT DID I DO THEN? WELL, AFTER I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,
I SCHOOL I STARTED MY COLLEGE CAREER AT WHAT WAS THEN CALLED DIXIE COLLEGE IN SAINT GEORGE, UTAH. TOOK CLASSES IN ETHICS, ALGEBRA,
CLASSICAL MUSIC APPRECIATION. 
          AND AFTER I CAME BACK TO MARYLAND, I TOOK MY SCIENCE EDUCATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND GOT A
DEGREE IN EDUCATION, THEN TWO DEGREES IN HISTORY. AND THAT IS WHY I'VE SPENT THE LAST 25 YEARS AS WAIT FOR IT,
AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONAL. 
          BECAUSE THAT'S THE PERFECTLY LOGICAL THING TO DO WITH A HISTORY WITH TWO HISTORY DEGREES
THAT HAVE PHILOSOPHY STUDIES ON THE SIDE. 
          IT'S GENIUS REALLY. IN 2025, I GAVE AWAY SCHOLARSHIPS TO CECIL COLLEGE FOR THE CECIL
DEMOCRATIC CLUB. 
          TWO STUDENT FROM NORTHEAST AND FROM BO MANOR BECAUSE OF COURSE,
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD END UP DOING. 
          AND I SWEAR THIS IS ALL TRUE. AND THAT'S WHY I MISSED LAST MONTH'S MEETING. 
          SO THAT'S WHY I MISSED BRIAN'S FIRST FIRST BOARD OF ED MEETING WAS BECAUSE I WAS AT
NORTHEAST HIGH THAT NIGHT GIVING AWAY OUR OUR FIRST OF OUR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. 
          AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR SUMMER. THANKS. 
          THANK YOU, MR. BRIMM. CHRISTINE GIVENS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY BETH ANN GRIFFIN. 
          I SHOULD CHANGE THAT TO THOMPSON, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON. 
          ALL RIGHT. SORRY. THAT WAS PROBABLY MY FAULT. 
          GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO QUICKLY ADDRESS MY
NIECE, GISELLE. YOU HAVE REPRESENTED OUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL
BLEND OF GRACE AND POISE. 
          AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SO I WON'T BE TOO LONG WITH THAT. 
          WE ARE ALL SO, SO MUCH BETTER FOR KNOWING YOU AND BEING IN YOUR PRESENCE,
YOUR RESILIENCE AND THE FACE OF CHALLENGES THAT YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR AND YOUR UNWAVERING DETERMINATION HAVE SHOWN US REALLY WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF STRENGTH AND GRACE MEANS. 
          [02:05:05]
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU, A GUIDING LIGHT IN OUR COMMUNITY,
AND FOR SHOWING US WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD WITH COMPASSION AND KINDNESS. 
          WE ARE ALL SO VERY PROUD OF YOU AND LOOK FORWARD TO WITNESSING THE INCREDIBLE THINGS THAT
YOU WILL ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE. 
          I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY, WELCOME TO YOU, MISS METCALF. 
          I DON'T KNOW YOU, BUT GISELLE HAS SPOKEN VERY HIGHLY OF YOU. 
          SO IF SHE SAYS YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE GOOD. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT STUDENTS IN THIS
POSITION OVER THE YEARS, SO YOU HAVE SOME BIG SHOES TO FILL. BUT I THINK ON BEHALF OF MY ORGANIZATION,
WE HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOU WILL CARVE YOUR OWN PATH AND YOU WILL LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT ON ALL OF US. AS YOU EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY,
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ALWAYS BE BRAVE AND USE YOUR VOICE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THINGS THAT MATTER, EVEN WHEN OTHERS MAY HESITATE OR SHY AWAY FROM DOING THAT. 
          IT TAKES COURAGE AND TO CHALLENGE THE STATUS QUO HERE,
AND TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. 
          AGAIN, GISELLE SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF YOU, SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WITNESSING THE POSITIVE
IMPACT THAT YOU WILL UNDOUBTEDLY MAKE IN THIS COMMUNITY. 
          WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BRING TO THE BOARD,
AND THE WAYS THAT YOU'LL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND TO THE GROWN UPS ON THE BOARD. HI, GUYS. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGING
FEW YEARS FOR ALL OF YOU. 
          BUT WE RECOGNIZE THE COMMITMENT IN THE HOURS THAT YOU'VE PUT IN TO SERVE IN THE BEST
INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS. 
          AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR,
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF OUR COLLECTIVE MISSION. 
          AS WE KNOW, THE SANCTITY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS UNDER ATTACK,
AND WE MUST BAND TOGETHER TO HOLD THE LINE AND CONTINUE TO ACT IN THE VERY BEST INTEREST OF OUR STUDENTS. EDUCATION FORMS THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY,
AND WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM A SAFE, INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT THAT'S BUILT UPON A FOUNDATION OF TRUTH AND EQUALITY AND
EQUITY. THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE REQUIRE UNITY AND RESOLVE. 
          WE MUST REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR DEDICATION TO OUR STUDENTS,
REMEMBERING THAT THEY ARE THE HEART OF OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS AND NOT YIELD TO THOSE WHO SEEK TO DISRUPT AND DESTROY. THE ROAD AHEAD MAY BE UNCERTAIN,
BUT WITH OUR SHARED DETERMINATION AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT, WE CAN STEER OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TOWARD A BRIGHTER AND MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE FOR OUR
STUDENTS. 
          SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU AND
OTHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS WE HAVE LOTS OF IMPORTANT WORK TO DO TOGETHER. 
          SO HAVE A HAPPY SUMMER AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU,
MISS THOMPSON. 
          MISS GRIFFITH FOLLOWED BY CHRIS FULTZ. THAT'LL CHANGE SOON TOO. 
          I FORGOT TO PRINT THIS OUT. BUT I'M GOING TO SEND IT BECAUSE I WANT THIS ON RECORD. 
          FIRST, MISS METCALF, CONGRATULATIONS. SUPER EXCITED FOR YOU. 
          I CAN CONFIDENTLY TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE IN SAFE HANDS WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND DR. LAWSON. SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU DO. 
          THE REST OF THIS IS FOR GISELLE, AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND DO IT WITHOUT CRYING. 
          PROBABLY WON'T HAPPEN. RESILIENT. POISED. SMART. 
          FUNNY. BEAUTIFUL. PROFESSIONAL. THESE ARE ALL WORDS. 
          SORRY. THERE ARE SO MANY WORDS I COULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU,
BUT I ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES, AND LUCKILY, I GET TO LIVE WITH YOU. GISELLE,
YOU ARE THE MOST AMAZING YOUNG WOMAN. 
          AND TODAY I'M SO GLAD THAT DR. LAWSON, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION,
THE LEADERSHIP TEAM. 
          QUITE FRANKLY, ALL OF US HAVE GOTTEN TO WITNESS YOUR BRILLIANCE FIRSTHAND. 
          THE TRUTH IS, IS YOU'VE SEEMED TO HANDLE EVERYTHING LIFE HAS THROWN AT YOU BETTER THAN I
EVER COULD. 
          BUT I WAS NEVER SURPRISED. EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU TAUGHT ALL OF US LESSONS IN GRACE,
STRENGTH, AND AUTHENTICITY. YOU ARE UNAPOLOGETICALLY YOURSELF. 
          EVEN WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT FOUND YOU AND YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR IT,
YOU STILL SHINED. 
          YOU KEPT SHOWING UP WITH THAT BEAUTIFUL SMILE,
THAT STEADY COURAGE AND THAT HEART THAT NEVER STOPS GIVING. 
          THE LAST YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL WASN'T EASY FOR YOU. 
          NOT WITH EVERYTHING THAT YOU BALANCED SCHOOL,
WORK, FAMILY AND YET YOU MANAGED TO DO IT ALL WITH RESILIENCE AND GRACE. 
          YOU HAVE BEEN THE MOST INCREDIBLE DAUGHTER, SISTER AND TT. 
          AND I WANT TO THANK YOU NOT JUST FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED,
BUT FOR WHO YOU ARE. 
          YOU'VE INSPIRED ALL OF US MORE THAN YOU WOULD EVER KNOW. 
          YOU TAUGHT ME PERSONALLY SO MUCH, AND I CAN NEVER REPAY YOU FOR THAT. 
          I NEVER WANT YOU TO FORGET THE IMPACT THAT YOU'VE HAD,
NOT ONLY ON OUR FAMILY, BUT THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
          AS YOUR MOTHER, THERE IS NO GREATER PRIDE THAN HEARING PEERS,
TEACHERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY SPEAK OF YOUR LIGHT AND THE WAY THAT YOU'VE TOUCHED THEIR LIVES. 
          NOW, AS YOU HEAD OFF TO NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND ON THOSE WELL-EARNED SCHOLARSHIPS,
CARRY THOSE MEMORIES WITH YOU. 
          CARRY THE IMPACT, YES, BUT ALSO REMEMBER TO JUST BE A COLLEGE STUDENT. 
          LAUGH. EXPLORE. FALL IN LOVE WITH NEW IDEAS. HAVE FUN. 
          [02:10:01]
SPREAD LOVE. ENJOY YOUR LIFE. GISELLE, I LOVE YOU AND WE ARE ALL SO PROUD OF YOU. 
          KEEP YOUR MAGIC. THE WORLD IS SO MUCH BETTER WITH YOU IN IT. 
          THANK YOU [APPLAUSE]. I DO. 
          AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IS CHRIS PAUL. YEAH. GOOD LUCK. 
          OKAY. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO WISH GISELLE WELL ON HER JOURNEY AS SHE CONTINUES TO COLLEGE AND
BEYOND YOU STOOD STRONG, PROUD, AND WITH GRACE OVER THE PAST YEAR,
AND IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. 
          TO MISS METCALF AS A FORMER STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF CECIL COUNTY WE WELCOME YOU AND
WE HOPE THAT YOU VALUE ALL STUDENTS AND CONTINUE GISELLE'S LEGACY. 
          GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. TONIGHT,
I'M HERE TO SPEAK PLAINLY ABOUT THE VALUES THAT SHAPE OUR SCHOOLS, SUCH AS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS BOARD HOLDS OF
UPHOLDING THEM FOR ALL STUDENTS. 
          JUNE IS PRIDE MONTH, AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S FORMALLY RECOGNIZED OR NOT,
LGBTQIA+ STUDENTS HERE IN CECIL COUNTY ARE HERE. 
          THEY ARE LEARNING IN YOUR CLASSROOMS, THEY ARE WALKING IN YOUR HALLWAYS,
AND THEY ARE NAVIGATING A WORLD, OFTEN WITHOUT AFFIRMATION OR PROTECTION THEY DESERVE. 
          THEY ARE NOT INVISIBLE. THEY ARE WATCHING. AND RIGHT NOW THEY ARE WONDERING IF THE ADULTS
CHARGED WITH THEIR EDUCATION TRULY SEE THEM. 
          THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS OR SOCIAL ISSUES. IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE. 
          IT'S ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BULLIED,
ISOLATED AND AT HIGHER RISK FOR DEPRESSION AND SUICIDE NOT BECAUSE OF WHO THEY ARE, BUT BECAUSE OF HOW THEY ARE TREATED. PRIDE MONTH IS ONE WAY TO SAY YOU BELONG HERE AND YOU
MATTER. 
          WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC SUCCESS, WE MUST ALSO TALK ABOUT THE SAFETY,
THE IDENTITY AND THE HEALTH, THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EQUITY,
WE MUST INCLUDE THOSE IDENTITIES THAT ARE OFTEN EXCLUDED FROM THE CONVERSATION AND WHEN WE SAY THAT WE VALUE ALL STUDENTS, WE MUST MEAN IT. 
          THIS IS A MOMENT FOR THE LEADERSHIP TO AFFIRM THAT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS IN A
PLACE WHERE EVERY STUDENT, REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE OR WHO THEY LOVE,
CAN THRIVE. 
          SO I CHALLENGE THE BOARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE PRIDE MONTH. 
          MAKE A SPACE. MAKE THE SPACE VISIBLE. COMMIT PUBLICLY AND CLEARLY TO PROTECTING AND
UPLIFTING THE LGBTQIA YOUTH. 
          NOT JUST FOR THE MONTH, BUT EVERY MONTH. AND IF YOU'RE READY TO SHOW SUPPORT BEYOND THESE
WALLS, I PERSONALLY INVITE YOU TO OUR CECIL PRIDE PARTY TOGETHER WE BUILD IS THE THEME ON SUNDAY, JUNE 22ND FROM 2 TO 5 P.M. AT FIFTH COMPANY BREWERY IN PERRYVILLE,
MARYLAND. 
          COME STAND WITH US, CELEBRATE WITH US, AND HELP BUILD A MORE INCLUSIVE CECIL COUNTY. 
          THE STUDENTS ARE WATCHING, AS ARE THE REST OF US,
AND I'LL SEND YOU AN EMAIL FORMALLY LATER TONIGHT. 
          SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. YEAH. 
          THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR COMMENTS. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? UPCOMING EVENTS. SO JUST A FEW THINGS. IT'S REALLY COOL THAT NEXT MONDAY,
OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD, KENMOOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WILL GET A COMPLETELY NEW PARKING LOT AND THEN GRADE LINE
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, WHO'S DOING JUST A BUNCH OF PAVING FOR US ACROSS THE COUNTY,
WE'LL BE BUSY AT WORK REALLY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, TOUCHING MANY OF THE SCHOOLS THAT JUST DESPERATELY NEEDED. 
          THEY'VE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR MANY YEARS. AND SO,
AGAIN, THANK YOU TO COUNTY COUNCIL, COUNTY EXECUTIVE STRAIGHT FOR SETTING ASIDE THE FUNDING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. TWO DAYS, LAST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR KIDS. 
          MONDAY WE WILL HAVE SOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR A FEW HOURS FOR TEACHERS. 
          AND WE HAVE THE STAFF PICNIC AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY,
WHERE PROBABLY UPWARDS OF 1,200 RESPONSES YESTERDAY. 
          SO IT'LL BE A REALLY FULL HOUSE, AND IT'S ALWAYS A FUN DAY. 
          JUNETEENTH SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. JULY 4TH, SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED. 
          OUR NEXT MEETING IS BACK HERE J ULY 16TH SAME TIME,
05:30. 
          AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. AND JUST NOTE THAT JULY 16TH IS THE THIRD WEDNESDAY. 
          IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN NORMAL. IT'S USUALLY THE SECOND WEDNESDAY. 
          SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. WE'VE REACHED THE END OF OUR AGENDA. 
          MR. DAVIS, THANKS FOR ATTENDING AND GRINDING THROUGH. 
          APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. MISS METCALF, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND SHADOWING AND WELCOME. 
          [02:15:10]
AND, GISELLE MISS GRIFFIN IT WAS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE YOU TONIGHT. 
          WELL DESERVED. I, I HOPE YOU HEARD AND TAKE TO HEART ALL THE COMMENTS THAT WERE SAID TO
YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE FIRE AND YEAH, WITH THAT GOOD LUCK. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMPACT. 
          IT WAS AWESOME. SO WITH THAT MEETING IS ADJOURNED. 
          THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.