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>> IT'S 5:00. I'M GOING TO CALL TO ORDER
[1.01 Call to Order]
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY WORK SESSION OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2025.MISS METCALFE, WOULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE. PLEASE STAND.
[OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU. THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS
[1.03 Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Report]
THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT, DR. LAWSON.>> THANK YOU, MS. HAWLEY. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO MISS DENISE SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WHO WILL WALK THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS AND PIECES OF INFORMATION FOR YOUR AWARENESS, AND THERE WILL BE A VOTE ASKED.
>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE MR. JASON OSTROWSKI.
HE'S A PRINCIPAL WITH UHY, AND THEY ARE OUR INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
ALSO HAPPENS TO BE A PERRYVILLE HIGH GRADUATE, WHICH IS AN INTERESTING FACT.
HE'S GOING TO SHARE THEIR AUDIT RESULTS WITH YOU FIRST, AND THEN I WILL SHARE SOME FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION AND THE FUND BALANCE AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, DENISE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JASON OSTROWSKI.
THANK YOU FOR THE INTRODUCTION.
AS DENISE MENTIONED HERE TODAY TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE JUNE 30, 2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
I THINK INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IS THE AUDIT OPINION, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH ON THE FIRST SLIDE HERE.
IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT, THE PRIMARY DOCUMENT THAT WE ISSUE AS PART OF DOING OUR AUDIT, AND IT'S THE REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. YOU'LL SEE THERE.
FIRST BULLETS OF THE HEADLINE.
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO ISSUE A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
WE'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING EVERYTHING AFTER THIS MEETING, WE'LL WRAP EVERYTHING UP AND ISSUE THE FINAL REPORTS BY THE DEADLINE.
BUT AGAIN, A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE PRESENTED IN CONFORMITY WITH US GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
THE SECOND BULLET THERE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE OPINION, AND IN THE FINANCIAL SECTION OF THAT ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS WHAT WE CALL THE MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND THE REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THERE THAT WE DO NOT ISSUE AN OPINION ON THAT REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION OR WHAT WE CALL THE MDNA OR MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS.
BUT WE DO GO THROUGH, WE PERFORM PROCEDURES ON THAT INFORMATION, WE RECONCILE THE SUPPORTING INFORMATION, MAKE SURE IT'S ALL PRESENTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS, BUT AGAIN, DON'T ISSUE AN OPINION ON THOSE SECTIONS.
THEN ALSO THE THIRD BULLET THERE, YOU'LL SEE.
IN THAT ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, THERE'S TWO SECTIONS IN ADDITION TO THE FINANCIAL SECTION.
THAT'S THE INTRODUCTORY SECTION AND THE STATISTICAL SECTION, TON OF GREAT INFORMATION IN THERE, BUT NOT COVERED BY OUR OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THOUGH, AGAIN, WE DO GO THROUGH THAT INFORMATION, MAKE SURE OUR RECONCILES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS PRESENTED.
IN THE FINANCIAL SECTION, WE ALSO GO THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS CHECKLIST.
PART OF THOSE SECTIONS ARE COVERED UNDER THAT CHECKLIST AND PART OF THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS AWARD.
GO THROUGH, AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE SECTIONS ARE COMPLIANT WITH THAT CHECKLIST, BUT AGAIN, ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT, DO NOT ISSUE AN OPINION ON THOSE SECTIONS.
THEN THE SECOND SLIDE HERE TALKS ABOUT THE REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OR FINANCIAL REPORTING COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS, AND YOU'LL SEE THERE, THIS IS A REPORT BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE AUDIT UNDER GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS THAT WE ISSUE IT'S REQUIRED REPORT WHENEVER AN AUDIT IS PERFORMED UNDER GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OR FINANCIAL REPORTING, AND HAPPY TO REPORT, WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY MATERIAL WEAKNESSES AND NO INSTANCES OF NON COMPLIANCE DURING THE AUDIT THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, VERY CLEAN AUDIT REPORT AND AUDIT RESULTS.
ONE THING TO HIGHLIGHT ALSO IN THE AUDIT RESULTS.
IN PRIOR YEARS, WE WOULD ALSO GENERALLY ISSUE THE AUDIT ON FEDERAL AWARDS OR WE CALL THE SINGLE AUDIT.
THE FEDERAL COMPLIANCE SUPPLEMENT HAS NOT BEEN FINALIZED YET, SO WE'RE WAITING FOR THAT TO GET FINALIZED.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH COMPLETE ALL OF OUR WORK ON THE AUDIT OF THE FEDERAL AWARDS, BUT WE HAVE NOT ISSUED THE FINAL REPORT THAT WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE FEDS ARE COMPLETED WITH FINALIZING THAT FEDERAL COMPLIANCE SUPPLEMENT.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE RESULTS THIS YEAR AT THIS POINT.
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BUT AGAIN, COMPLETED THE WORK AND EXPECT NO FINDINGS IN THAT TESTING AS WELL IN THAT REPORT.THE NEXT SLIDE HERE, ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET IS A WRITTEN GOVERNANCE COMMUNICATION.
IT'S REQUIRED UNDER AUDIT STANDARDS GOES THROUGH SOME BASIC REQUIRED AUDIT COMMUNICATIONS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER AUDIT STANDARDS, AND ALSO LIKE TO WALK THROUGH A FEW OF THOSE HERE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THAT WRITTEN COMMUNICATION.
THE FIRST BULLET THERE TALKS ABOUT AUDITORS RESPONSIBILITIES.
I ALWAYS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS VERSUS MANAGEMENT'S ROLE IN THE PROCESS.
OF COURSE, OUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS IS TO ISSUE AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND WHETHER THEY'RE MATERIALLY STATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH US GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, AND MANAGEMENT'S ROLE IN THAT PROCESS IS AROUND THE PREPARATION OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS WELL AS THE CONTROLS RELATED TO THE PREPARATION OF THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
RELATED TO SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, NO NEW SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES WERE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR, THOUGH.
IN THE GOVERNANCE COMMUNICATION AND IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, YOU'LL NOTE THERE WERE TWO NEW, WE CALL GASB.
IT'S THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD STANDARDS THIS YEAR AND WE EVALUATED BOTH OF THOSE.
ONE WAS RELATED TO COMPENSATED ABSENCES.
DENISE AND HER TEAM WENT THROUGH AN EVALUATION OF THAT STANDARD AND THERE WAS NO MATERIAL IMPACT TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS RELATED TO THAT SO NO CHANGES IN THAT.
THEN THERE'S ALSO A NEW STANDARD AROUND OUR SUBSEQUENT EVENTS ESSENTIALLY, THAT HAD NO IMPACT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT NO NEW ACCOUNTING POLICIES IN THAT REGARD WERE IMPLEMENTED, THOUGH THERE WERE TWO NEW GASBS THAT WE CONSIDERED AND WE LOOKED AT THIS YEAR.
THE THIRD BULLET THERE MANAGEMENT'S, JUDGMENTS AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, ALSO REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE ANY SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE AUDIT PROCESS.
THIS IS PRETTY SIMILAR TO PRIOR YEARS, DEPRECIATION EXPENSE RELATED TO YOUR FIXED ASSETS, THE SELF INSURANCE LIABILITY AND THE CALCULATION OF THAT, AS WELL AS THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODS RELATED TO THE CALCULATION BOTH OF THE NET PENSION LIABILITY, AS WELL AS THAT NET OPEB LIABILITY, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE RETIREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS AND THE RETIREE BENEFITS.
WE REVIEWED ALL OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS AND FOUND THEM TO BE REASONABLY STATED IN RELATION TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A WHOLE.
THEN NEXT SLIDE HERE, A FEW MORE COMMUNICATIONS IN THAT COMMUNICATION, NO CORRECTED OR UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS, SO NO AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS WERE IDENTIFIED DURING THE AUDIT THIS YEAR, AGAIN, HAPPY TO REPORT THAT.
NEXT BULLET GOES WITHOUT SAYING, ALWAYS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH DENISE AND THE ENTIRE TEAM HERE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW AWESOME [BACKGROUND] THE ACCOUNTANTS SHE WORKED WITH, I KNOW EVERYBODY BEHIND ME CONCURS [LAUGHTER].
IT MAKES OUR JOB EASIER AS AUDITORS COMING IN WHEN EVERYTHING'S PROVIDED TIMELY, EVERYTHING RECONCILES.
IT'S JUST A VERY CLEAN AUDIT, VERY OPEN COMMUNICATION, AND VERY EASY TEAM TO WORK WITH FOR US.
THEN NO DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT DURING THE COURSE OF THE AUDIT, AND THEN MANAGEMENT DID NOT CONSULT WITH ANY OTHER ACCOUNTANTS ON THE APPLICATION OF GAAP OR GAAS DURING THE AUDIT, AND THEN NO MAJOR ISSUES WERE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO OUR RETENTION AS THE AUDITORS THIS YEAR.
THE FINAL BULLET THERE, MANAGEMENT'S REPRESENTATIONS.
THAT WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE ENGAGEMENT, IT'S THE FINAL PIECE UNDER AUDIT STANDARDS.
WE GET REPRESENTATIONS FROM MANAGEMENT THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE ACCURATELY STATED, AND THEY PROVIDED US WITH ALL THE INFORMATION.
WE'LL BE PROVIDED THAT AT THE CONCLUSION, WHICH I THINK WE'RE EXPECTING TO WRAP UP HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND THAT WILL BE THE FINAL PIECE OF FINALIZING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT.
THOSE ARE THE RESULTS, CERTAINLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT OVERALL A VERY CLEAN REPORT.
>> MR. HAMPTON, YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YES, SO IN THE SIMPLEST TERMS, WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY, NOT CCPS EMPLOYEES, BUT AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY REVIEWED THE FINANCIAL DATA FROM FY 25, DID NOT FIND ANY DISCREPANCIES OR ANY VIOLATIONS WITH THE RULES, IS THAT CORRECT?
JUST TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY SO, YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT ON ANY, CONTROL DEFICIENCIES OR SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, JUST ON MATERIAL WEAKNESS, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE ARE REQUIRED IF WE IDENTIFY ANYTHING THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY AS WELL.
WE DON'T SAY WE DIDN'T FIND SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCIES, BUT WE CAN'T SAY MATERIAL WEAKNESS, BUT IF WE IDENTIFY A SIGNIFICANT DEFICIENCY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE REQUIRED UNDER AUDIT STANDARDS TO REPORT THE GOVERNANCE.
>> BECAUSE THE MATERIAL WEAKNESS WOULD BE LIKE A COMBINATION OF THOSE, CORRECT?
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>> WE HAVE MATERIALITY THRESHOLDS THAT WE SET DURING THE AUDIT, AND THERE'S SOME QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE FACTORS TO DETERMINE A MATERIAL WEAKNESS.
BUT IF WE IDENTIFY A MATERIAL ADJUSTMENT IN PARTICULAR, THAT WOULD RESULT IN A MATERIAL WEAKNESS GENERALLY, OR IF WE'RE JUST GOING THROUGH OUR RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND IN THAT PROCESS, WE'RE WALKING THROUGH THE CONTROLS OVER THE SIGNIFICANT PROCESSES AND ACCOUNT BALANCES, AND IF WE IDENTIFY ANYTHING IN THERE THAT COULD RESULT IN A MATERIAL WEAKNESS, EVEN IF WE DON'T FIND AN ADJUSTMENT, WE WOULD ALSO REPORT THOSE AS WELL.
>> DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I HAVE A PRESENTATION AS WELL, WHICH HAS SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
I KNOW WHEN MR. OSTROWSKI WAS SHARING ABOUT THE OPINIONS, SO WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
WE ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO AN ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
WE CHOOSE TO DO THAT, WHICH PROVIDES ALL OF THIS DETAIL SO I WANTED TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE TEAM.
BECKY ANDERSON TAKES A LEAD ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE [INAUDIBLE] AND HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
OUR WHOLE TEAM REALLY WORKS HARD TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I KNOW YOU MENTIONED A THREE MONTH TURNAROUND FROM THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR IS A BIG LIFT.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAS SIX MONTHS FROM THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS TURN THIS AROUND IN THREE, AND THE HELP OF OUR AUDITORS AS WELL BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT AND THEY ANSWER QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
THE FIRST STATEMENT I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION ON IS A STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
IT'S A GOVERNMENT WIDE STATEMENT, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT COMBINES ALL OF OUR FUNDS TOGETHER AND MAKES IT MORE COMPARABLE TO PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES.
WHAT IT DOES IS IT TAKES ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND DEFERRED OUTFLOWS, AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS, PLUS OUR LIABILITIES AND DEFERRED INFLOWS, AND THE CHANGE IN THAT GIVES YOU YOUR NET POSITION, WHETHER IT'S POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE, IT GIVES YOU THE FINANCIAL POSITION OR THE WELL BEING OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OVER TIME.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR WAS A POSITIVE $15.8 MILLION, AND THAT CAN BE MOSTLY ATTRIBUTED TO CONSTRUCTION OF NORTHEAST MIDDLE, NORTHEAST HIGH SO YOU CAN SEE THE CAPITAL ASSETS, THE INCREASE OF $20.2 MILLION HERE.
THE LARGE INCREASE, JUST IN COMPARISON FOR FY 24, OUR NET POSITION INCREASE WAS ONLY $151,932.
THIS CHANGE THIS YEAR IS REALLY RELATED TO THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
THIS IS A BALANCE SHEET FOR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE HERE, FUND BALANCE.
THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH IS FOOD AND NUTRITION, CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND THEN IN TOTAL.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE, USUALLY WHAT WE'RE THINKING OF AS A GENERAL FUND WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING FUND BALANCE SO THE NON SPENDABLE PART OF OUR FUND BALANCE IS PREPAID EXPENDITURES.
WE HAVE PREPAID INSURANCE COSTS BECAUSE WE ARE SELF INSURED.
UCSCA TUITION AND COLLEGE FARE IS PAID SO THESE ARE PREPAID THINGS THAT WERE PAID IN FY 25 TO BE UTILIZED IN FY 26 THAT'S WHERE THIS NUMBER COMES FROM IN YOUR PREPAID EXPENDITURES.
MOVING DOWN TO RESTRICTED, THERE'S NOTHING IN THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE THAT'S RESTRICTED.
FOR COMMITTED, SUBSEQUENT YEARS EXPENDITURES, THE $10 MILLION.
THIS IS THE 10 MILLION WE USED TO BALANCE THE FY 26 BUDGET.
COST OF OPERATION SORRY, DOWN HERE, BUDGET CONTINGENCY.
THIS IS THE 2% FUND BALANCE CONTINGENCY THAT IS THE BOARD POLICY.
THIS IS 2% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET THAT WE HAVE AS A BUDGET CONTINGENCY HERE COMMITTED IN OUR FUND BALANCE THEN WE HAVE THESE ASSIGNED [OVERLAPPING].
>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THE BUDGET CONTINGENCY FOR A SECOND? IT'S 2% IN POLICY.
YEARS AGO, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE 2019, IT WAS 5%.
IS IT RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE MORE THAN 2% IN BUDGET CONTINGENCY? I KNOW DIDN'T, WE MOVED IT DOWN BECAUSE WE HAD TO BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF COMPLIANCE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A [OVERLAPPING].
>> I WILL JUST SPEAK ANECDOTALLY AND SPEAKING WITH OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS AROUND THE STATE.
I THINK MANY OPERATE WITH NO FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT AND I'M SURE THEY'RE VARYING.
OBSERVATIONS FROM OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A RECOMMENDATION.
THAT WAS, AND I'LL SHARE THAT WHEN WE GET TO THE LAST SLIDE THAT I HAVE, WHICH IS THE FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION, WHERE YOU'LL VOTE ON THAT.
YOU'LL SEE THE YEAR WHERE WE SWITCHED FROM 5% TO 2%,
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AND WE DID THAT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T MEET THE 5% THRESHOLD.I THINK IT'S WHAT THE BOARD FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING IN RESERVE.
AS DR. LAWSON MENTIONED, THERE ARE SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT DON'T HAVE FUND BALANCE AT ALL.
>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF EDITORIALIZING THAT WE HAVE NOW OFFICIALLY GONE INTO AN ERA OF WHERE WE ARE USING FUND BALANCE AS A REGULAR PRACTICE, AND I THINK IT FORCES SCHOOL SYSTEM, BUREAUCRACY INTO CAUTIONARY SPENDING SO THAT NOW, WE HAVE BEGUN OFFICIALLY FY 26.
WE ARE ALREADY IN CONSERVE MODE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE EXPENSES THAT ARE BEING DRAWN FROM THE $10 MILLION, THAT'S A NON RECURRING SOURCE.
WE'VE DONE THIS PROBABLY NOW THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW WHERE WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE.
IMMEDIATELY, YOUR MIND GOES TO, HOW CAN WE CAUTION, OUR SPENDING, MOVING TO FY 27.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CYCLE THERE, AND IT HAS BECOME A PIECE OF OUR BUDGETING CULTURE.
I WOULD ARGUE, I'M NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT IT'S BEEN A FUNCTION OF OUR BUDGET CIRCUMSTANCE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
>> YEAH. I MEAN, WE MAKE DO, BUT YOU DEFINITELY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S REVENUES, AND WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT FY 27 POTENTIAL STATE REVENUES.
>> THAT'S JUST THE REALITY OF WHERE WE ARE.
>> THE NEXT AREA IS THE ASSIGNED PORTION OF THE FUND BALANCE, THE PER-PUPIL ALLOTMENT FOR SCHOOLS.
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE PPA, WHICH IS THE SUPPLIES FUNDING THAT EACH SCHOOL RECEIVES, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO CARRY OVER THEIR BALANCE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
THAT WAY, IF THEY'RE SAVING UP FOR LARGER PURCHASES, THEY HAVE THAT TO DO SO.
THIS 459,000 WAS THE CARRYOVER FROM FY 25 PPA.
IT IS ABOUT $200,000 LESS THAN IT WAS FOR THE BEGINNING OF FY 25; SCHOOLS HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO SPEND THE SUPPLY MONIES.
PRE-KINDERGARTEN, THIS AMOUNT, IF YOU REMEMBER, WHEN WE BALANCED THE BUDGET, WE DID NOT HAVE THE STATE WORKBOOK, AND SO WE WERE UNSURE ON THE PRIVATE PRE-K AMOUNT AND WHAT THE STATE AMOUNT WAS AND WHAT THE LOCAL SHARE WAS.
WE HAD THIS 186,000 BUILT IN THAT WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING FROM THE STATE FOR PRE-K REVENUE, BUT WE'RE NOT BECAUSE THAT'S PRIVATE PRE-K REVENUE.
BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THAT EXPENSE, THIS IS ASSIGNING FUND BALANCE TO COVER THAT EXPENSE IN THE BUDGET FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN.
THIS $223,000 LINE IS ABOUT $155,000 IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SECURITY CAMERAS.
YOU APPROVED THAT IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT AT ONE OF THE LAST BOARD MEETINGS.
THERE IS A SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT FOR $200,000.
IT'S THIS MONEY PLUS THAT GRANT THAT WILL PURCHASE THOSE SECURITY CAMERAS.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES, I BELIEVE IT'S A PROOFPOINT EMAIL SOFTWARE BECAUSE WE HAD THE EMAIL ISSUE THAT HAPPENED.
SOME CYBERSECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR US IN PURCHASING THAT SOFTWARE THAT WE HAD NOT BUDGETED FOR.
THIS IS THE CARRYOVER OF THE BALANCES OF THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS IN THE SCHOOL CHECKING ACCOUNT.
THIS IS ALSO ABOUT 2-$300,000 LESS THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR.
AGAIN, SCHOOLS ARE MAKING AN EFFORT TO SPEND THOSE.
CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
I'LL ELABORATE A LITTLE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THESE ARE ANY CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WERE IN OUR GENERAL FUND, NOT IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
THESE WERE THINGS THAT WE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IN FY 25, AND THE PROJECTS WERE NOT FINISHED IN FY 25, SO WE'RE CARRYING THE BALANCE OF THE PROJECT INTO FY 26 USING THE FUND BALANCE, AND THE BALANCE OF THAT ONE MILLION IS JUST MONEY THAT WE ARE ASSIGNING FOR DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS AS THEY ARISE SO THAT WE HAVE MONEY ASSIGNED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT COULD SHUT DOWN A BUILDING IF THEY'RE NOT ADDRESSED.
THE LAST ASSIGNED LINE IS HEALTHCARE, WHICH IS ABOUT $2.9 MILLION.
WE WORK WITH WTW, WHO ARE HEALTHCARE CONSULTANTS, AND THERE'S AN ACTUARIAL REPORT THAT'S DONE TO DETERMINE, SINCE WE ARE SELF-FUNDED FOR HEALTHCARE, WHAT WE SHOULD BE HOLDING IN RESERVE ASSIGNED IN OUR FUND BALANCE FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THAT LEAVES $3.1 MILLION UNASSIGNED IN OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
OUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE, 25.3 MILLION, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, SO IT'S BEEN REDUCED BY 1.4 MILLION COMPARED TO THE END OF FY 24.
NOW, THERE'S ALSO A FUND BALANCE FOR SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH IS FOOD AND NUTRITION, BUT IT'S RESTRICTED BECAUSE IT IS OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION FUND.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE SOME PREPAID INVENTORY, AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE A FUND BALANCE.
MR. HECKER HAS BEEN WORKING AND BUYING KITCHEN EQUIPMENT AND CAFETERIA TABLES, AND THINGS TO ADDRESS THAT FUND BALANCE.
THEN THIS IS OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
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IN TOTAL, THAT MAKES UP THE BALANCE SHEET.THESE ARE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT I MENTIONED ON THE LAST PAGE, REPLACING HVAC CONTROLS AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, LEEDS ELEMENTARY WATER TREATMENT, AND THE RISING SUN HIGH FIRE PANEL.
AGAIN, RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS.
THOSE PROJECTS WERE STARTED IN 2025, CARRYING OVER INTO 2026, AND THEN THE BALANCE IS WHAT WE'RE ASSIGNING FOR ANY DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, EMERGENCY, SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS TO BE USED IN FY 26.
THE STATEMENT OF REVENUE EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE.
WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING HERE ON THE GENERAL FUND.
YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN REVENUE FROM 24-25 IS A NEGATIVE $230,796.
WHILE WE DID RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN COUNTY REVENUE AS COMPARED TO 24, AN ADDITIONAL 2.9 MILLION IN STATE REVENUE, AND AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 IN INTEREST OR OTHER REVENUE.
FEDERAL REVENUE DECREASED BY $13.8 MILLION.
WHEN YOU TOTAL THOSE TOGETHER, THAT GIVES US A REDUCTION IN REVENUE FROM FROM 24-25 OF -230,000.
SPECIAL REVENUE, AGAIN, THIS IS ALL FOOD AND NUTRITION, AND THEY'RE OPERATING.
CAPITAL PROJECTS, YOU CAN SEE A BIG CHANGE FROM 24-25.
AGAIN, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS A NORTHEAST MIDDLE, NORTHEAST HIGH PROJECT.
THERE'S A LOT OF REVENUE FUNNELING IN FOR THAT PROJECT.
THIS IS THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE STATEMENT, WHICH SHOWS OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES COMPARING 24-25.
ONE OF THE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND, AND I SHOULD HAVE MENTIONED THIS ON THE LAST PAGE, THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE IN THIS STATEMENT INCLUDES $14.8 MILLION THAT THE STATE PAYS ON BEHALF OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PENSION.
WHAT WE PAY FOR THE PENSION PLUS WHAT THE STATE PAYS.
THEIR PART OF OUR PENSION FOR FY 25 WAS 14.8 MILLION.
THAT'S COUNTED IN THAT STATE REVENUE NUMBER.
IT'S ALSO COUNTED IN OUR EXPENDITURES HERE UNDER FIXED CHARGES, 14.8 OF THAT IS THE PENSION THAT'S PAID ON OUR BEHALF BY THE STATE.
JUST SOME INFORMATION HERE, THIS LINE FOR INSTRUCTION, THESE ARE STATE CATEGORIES.
THIS INCLUDES INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES, INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL COSTS LIKE CONTRACTED SERVICES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONTRACTED SERVICES AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES.
THE TOTAL INSTRUCTION NUMBER IS 37% OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25.
SPECIAL EDUCATION IS ABOUT 13.7% OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25.
FIXED CHARGES ARE 25% OF OUR EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25, 24.9.
WHEN YOU THINK OF INSURANCE, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO ALL THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF HIRING AN EMPLOYEE, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE SALARIES.
AGAIN, I SAID, THOSE FIXED CHARGES INCLUDE THAT TEACHER PENSION PAID ON OUR BEHALF BY THE STATE.
GENERAL SALARIES IN TOTAL FOR FY 25 WERE A LITTLE OVER 162 MILLION.
WHEN YOU ADD THE SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES TOGETHER, THAT WAS 83% OF OUR EXPENDITURES FOR FY 25, SO 83% OF WHAT WE SPENT WAS ON PEOPLE AND THE FIXED CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH HIRING THOSE PEOPLE.
>> DOES THAT INCLUDE THE AMOUNT THAT THE COUNTY PAID FOR PENSIONS THIS YEAR, THAT ONE POINT?
>> THE COUNTY DID NOT PAY AN FY 25.
>> WE BELONG TO MABE OPEB TRUST, AND OPEB STANDS FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
WHAT THIS IS IS A SAVINGS FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
IN THE EVENT BECAUSE WE ARE SELF-INSURED, THAT WE NEEDED TO DIP INTO THE SAVINGS FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
IT STARTED OUT IN 2008 WITH FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WE ARE UP TO NINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW.
IT'S ADDING MONEY SO THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY, AND IT CAN GROW IN THE EVENT THAT WE NEED THIS FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
YOU CAN SEE FOR FY 25, THE INVESTMENT INCOME OF 1.3 MILLION MINUS THE CUSTODIAL FEES GIVES YOU YOUR NET INCOME OF ABOUT 1.2 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE OUR ENDING BALANCE; WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER 17 MILLION IN THIS TRUST.
IN TOTAL, THE WHOLE COLLABORATIVE HAS ABOUT 772 MILLION.
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WHAT WE HAVE INVESTED IS 772 MILLION.>> MS. SOPA, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THERE ARE PARENTHESES IN THE COLUMN UNDER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR FISCAL YEARS 21 AND 22?
>> TWENTY-ONE AND 22, WE ACTUALLY MADE WITHDRAWALS FROM THIS FUND FOR OUR BUDGET FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
THESE WERE LEAN BUDGET YEARS WHERE WE WERE BEING FUNDED AT MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.
THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DIP INTO THIS RETIREMENT FUND TO PAY FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE DURING THOSE YEARS.
>> GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE WILL PAY FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE OUT OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET YEAR TO YEAR, BUT IN THE EVENT, THINGS GET TIGHT, THE OPEB ANNUITY, WHICH IS REALLY WHAT IT IS, WE WILL USE THAT SOMETIMES TO COVER RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU, MR. HAMPTON, BECAUSE IT'S REAL.
WE HAVEN'T DONE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT THERE ARE TIMES.
THAT TENDS TO COINCIDE MAYBE WITH THE YEAR WHERE WE WENT FROM A 5% RESERVE AS A FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT TO A 2%, BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE 5%.
>> YOU CAN ALSO SEE ALTHOUGH I'M ONLY SHOWING 10 YEARS, BECAUSE I SHOW MORE THAN THAT, IT'S NOT FRIENDLY TO LOOK AT ON THE CHART.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WERE MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THEN WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TWO YEARS WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY WITHDRAWING FUNDS, AND WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN AGAIN MAKING REGULARLY MAKING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS TRUST.
>> TYPICALLY, WE EXPECT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF FOUR MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
THAT'S A DECENT NUMBER, SOME YEARS, MORE, SOME YEARS, NOT AS MUCH, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, FOUR IS A GOOD NUMBER.
[1.04 Designation of Fund Balance for FY25]
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS THE FUND BALANCE DESIGNATION FOR THE OPERATING FUND.
WHEN I SHARED THE FUND BALANCE EARLIER, I SHARED OPERATING FUND, SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
THIS IS JUST FUND BALANCE FOR THE OPERATING FUND, AND IT SHOWS YOU THE DETAILS FOR THE FUND BALANCE FROM 2018 TO THE PRESENT.
THIS LAST COLUMN IS THE COLUMN THAT YOU'LL BE APPROVING OR NOT.
YOU PREPAID EXPENSES, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT EACH OF THESE AREAS MEANS, THE BUDGET CONTINGENCY, AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS' EXPENDITURES.
THEN YOU CAN SEE THE ITEMS THAT WE ASSIGNED THAT WERE ALL DISCUSSED ON A PREVIOUS SLIDE.
THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE OF 3.1 MILLION.
A TOTAL FUND BALANCE OF 25.3 HAPPENS TO BE 9.2% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET FOR FY 26.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S A REDUCTION IN 1.4 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
THIS IS THE COLUMN THAT DR. LAWSON WAS DISCUSSING WITH FY 20, AND THIS IS WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE 5% REQUIRED BY OUR POLICY.
WE REDUCED TO 2%. YOU CAN SEE WE WERE UNDER 5% BY 1.1 MILLION.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR IS ALSO WHEN WE STOPPED MAKING THOSE CONTRIBUTIONS.
ACTUALLY, I THINK WE STARTED MAKING THE CONTRIBUTIONS BEFORE HERE WHEN WE WERE IN THE RED.
WE DID NOT MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO OPEB TRUST IN THESE TWO YEARS, AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAD TWO YEARS WHERE WE ACTUALLY DIPPED INTO THAT.
YOU CAN SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN WHERE OUR FUND BALANCE STOOD, WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE, AND WHAT WE WERE DOING WITH OPEB AND RETIREE HEALTHCARE.
>> YES. I WAS HERE. DOES THE BOARD HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. HAMPTON.
>> HOW HARD IS IT TO BORROW FROM ONE OF THE ALLOCATIONS IN THE FUND BALANCE TO ANOTHER?
>> YEAH. CAN YOU JUST DO A SHELL GAME OF LIKE, OH, WE HAVE MORE MONEY IN A SMALL-CAP PROJECTS, AND WE NEED SOME MONEY FOR I DON'T KNOW, MORE MONEY FOR A BUDGET CONTINGENCY.
CAN YOU JUST TAKE THAT MONEY, OR IS THERE A PROCESS FOR IT?
>> WHENEVER WE'RE DOING ANYTHING IN THE FUND BALANCE, WE COME TO YOU.
THE FIRST THING THAT WE WOULD TOUCH WOULD BE THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS BUDGET CONTINGENCY.
SUBSEQUENT YEARS' EXPENDITURES IS SPOKEN FOR.
THAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED; WE'RE NOT CHANGING THAT.
THIS BUDGET CONTINGENCY WE WOULD NOT TOUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS WE NEED THAT THERE.
IN THESE ASSIGNED ITEMS, AGAIN, THESE ARE ASSIGNED BECAUSE SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY BUDGETED.
WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THIS 3.1 MILLION.
A QUESTION YOU BROUGHT UP, I THINK, IS A SMALL CAPITAL PROJECTS LINE, THAT ONE MILLION.
IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ANY OF THAT FUNDING, WE HAVE TO COME TO THE BOARD WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT, AND YOU HAVE TO APPROVE USING THE FUND BALANCE FOR THAT.
>> THE DETAILS OF THAT QUESTION ARE IN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT AT THE END OF EACH BOARD MEETING, TYPICALLY.
>> YOUR ANSWER IS WHAT I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.
I ONLY BRING THAT UP BECAUSE WE OFTEN HEAR LIKE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND EVEN BUSINESSES SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHIN THEIR MEANS.
[00:30:02]
YES, WE SHOULD JUST LIKE I DO IN MY HOUSEHOLD.THE DIFFERENCE IS, IF I HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND I SAY, THIS MUCH IS FOR MY NEW CAR THAT I WANT, AND I GET AN UNEXPECTEDLY LARGE ELECTRIC BILL, WHICH A LOT OF US ARE, AND I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH COMING IN AS I'D LIKE TO, GUESS WHAT? MY CAR BALANCE IS THAT'S WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, AND I DON'T HAVE TO GET ANY PERMISSION OTHER THAN HOWEVER I ARRANGE MY HOUSEHOLD FINANCES.
ONLY POINT IS IT SOUNDS LIKE YES, WE CAN RELOCATE DOLLARS WITHIN THE FUND BALANCE, BUT YOU HAVE TO GET A BOARD APPROVAL TO DO THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT FOR THESE ASSIGNED AREAS, WE BROUGHT TO YOU IN THE LAST BUDGET AMENDMENT, THIS PPA USE OF FUND BALANCE, THE PRE-KINDERGARTEN USE OF FUND BALANCE, THE SECURITY CAMERAS, THE CARRYOVER OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS.
THESE HAVE ALL COME TO YOU IN A BUDGET AMENDMENT ALREADY, THE FIRST BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FY 26.
THE ONLY THING THAT HASN'T IN CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHEN I SHOWED YOU THE LIST OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE STARTED IN 25, YOU DID APPROVE THE CARRYOVER OF THOSE BUDGETS, THE BALANCE OF THAT ONE MILLION, YOU HAVE NOT APPROVED ANY SPENDING FOR THAT YET.
TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH ANYTHING ABOVE ON THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH, THIS 934, WE HAVE TO COME TO YOU WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT, AND YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
THIS IS NOT A SIGN FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC RIGHT NOW.
>> LIKE FOR A ROOF ON THIS BUILDING?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BY THE BOARD?
>> ARE WE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS NOW? BECAUSE THERE IS A SEPARATE SLIDE JUST COVERING THIS.
>> THIS IS THE SLIDE FOR THE VOTE.
>> SO FOR A QUESTION, THE LAST BOARD MEETING TWO WEEKS AGO, WE APPROVED THE PROOFPOINT EMAIL FILTER, WHICH THIS YEAR WAS GOING TO BE COVERED FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
I ASSUME THAT'S COMING FROM THE TECHNOLOGY CYBERSECURITY?
>> JUST THE ONE. THIS 223,000 IS 150,000 FOR THE SECURITY CAMERAS THAT WERE APPROVED, AND THE BALANCE OF THAT PROOFPOINT SOFTWARE BECAUSE REMEMBER IN THE OUT YEARS WE'RE GOING TO BE BUDGETING FOR IT.
>> GOT YOU. WHAT I HINTED AT EARLIER, WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKED HERE SHORTLY TO APPROVE A ROOF REPLACEMENT ON THIS BUILDING AND THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THAT 934,000?
>> MR. HAMPTON IT'S NOT THIS BUILDING.
IT'S THE ASC, I BELIEVE, WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
>> SERVICES BUILDING UP IN BAYVIEW.
>> SORRY. BUT THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE 934,000 ALLOTTED FOR ADDITIONAL PROJECTS?
>> YES. IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THAT, THAT'S WHERE THAT'S ASSIGNED.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION?
I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE OF $25,394,091 AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR. SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES SIX NOTHING UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR FY26 COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN,
[1.05 FY26 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan/FY27 Capital Improvement Plan]
THE FY27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, DR. LAWSON.>> THANK YOU. MS. HAWLEY AT THIS TIME, DR. BUCKLEY, AND DR. BOYER WILL SHARE THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN, AS WELL AS THE IT CIP PLAN FOR FY27. DR. BUCKLEY.
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT, DR. LAWSON.
PRESIDENT HOLLYWOOD WAS THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUEST.
DR. BOYER IS GOING TO LEAD US OFF AND SHARE WITH YOU THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN, AND THEN I'LL BE SHARING WITH YOU THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN TWO PARTS.
>> EACH YEAR, THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT COMPREHENSIVE.
>> EACH YEAR, THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN TO THE IC.
TONIGHT, I'LL BE GOING OVER SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED PLAN.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CMP IS TO COMMUNICATE THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT'S INTENTIONS FOR THE COMING YEAR, AS WELL AS PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
[00:35:02]
WITHIN THE CMP, THERE'S INFORMATION ON THE DEPARTMENTS REGARDING BACKGROUND INFORMATION, FACILITY OUTCOMES, RESOURCES, AND INPUTS, FUTURE PLANS.THE FACILITY DEPARTMENT HAS A STAFF OF 162 MEMBERS.
WITHIN A 162, THERE ARE EIGHT ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEMBERS, INCLUDING SIX SUPERVISORY ROLES, TWO ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARIES, 117 CUSTODIAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE ASSIGNED TO BUILDINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, 37 MAINTENANCE STAFF, INCLUDING ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, HVAC MECHANICS, CARPENTERS, AND OTHER SKILLED TRADES.
THE FACILITY DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS 31 CCPS FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE OVER 2.4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING SPACE, AND 660 ACRES OF GROUND.
>> WANT ME TO ASK QUESTIONS NOW OR WAIT TILL THE END.
LAST YEAR'S REPORT HAD 667 ACRES.
WHERE DID SEVEN ACRES GO? IS THAT A DISCREPANCY IN OUR REPORT OR DID WE LOSE SOME OF THE EASEMENTS LIKE AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL?
>> THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ERROR IN THE PREVIOUS REPORT.
THIS IS THE CURRENT INFORMATION I RECEIVED THIS YEAR.
>> HERE'S THE SUMMARY OF LAST YEAR'S SPENDING AND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN MAINTENANCE, HVAC, BUILDING AND GROUNDS ARE MOSTLY THE HIGHLY COST AREAS.
THESE THREE AREAS COST ALMOST $1 MILLION LAST YEAR.
IN OPERATIONS, FUEL OIL CONTROLS, REMOVAL AND CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES WERE JUST UNDER $1 MILLION.
AS YOU CAN SEE IN TERMS OF MAINTAINING BUILDINGS, IT'S EXPENSIVE.
BUT OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AND FACILITIES DO A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF MAXIMIZING ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY HAVE TO KEEP OUR BUILDINGS UP.
ON THIS CHART, YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT THE FACILITY DEPARTMENT SPENDS MOST OF THE TIME MAINTAINING THE PHYSICAL, BUILDING, GROUND, AS WELL AS HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS. ON THE CHART ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THE PROPORTION OF LABOR, SPEND ON CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE.
IF SOMETHING IS REPORTED BROKE, THIS IS WHAT WE GO OUT AND FIX IT VERSUS THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE SPEND ON PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE AND KEEPING OUR ABILITIES UP AND RUNNING.
ONE OF THE GOALS FOR THE CECIL FACILITY DEPARTMENT IS TO EXPAND WHAT WE DO IN PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
BUT IN TERMS OF WE DO HAVE SOME LOWER BUILDINGS, SO CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE IS ONGOING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND WITH OUR STAFF, THEY DO A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES IN A TIMELY FASHION AND ON THE NEXT SLIDE, I'LL SHOW YOU ABOUT WHAT WE'RE [INAUDIBLE].
>> JUST TO COMMENT ON THIS CHART.
ONE, I DO AGREE THAT THE STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB.
I SEE THE MOUNTAIN ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT I'M NEAR.
IT WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP LAST YEAR, THOUGH THAT THE PRIORITY TO EXPAND THE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
BUT GOING BACK A COUPLE OF SLIDES, IT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF PERSONNEL.
MY QUESTION IS, ARE WE ABLE TO DO ALL THE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE NECESSARY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS OR SOME OF THAT NOT GETTING DONE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF LIMITATIONS.
>> I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTIONS. IN TERMS OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE, THERE ARE VOLUMES AND VOLUMES OF WORK WORDS THAT WE RECEIVE ON A YEARLY BASIS, ON OUR NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.
THE GOAL IS TO DO MORE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE IN OUR BUILDINGS, BUT DUE TO THE VOLUME OF THE AMOUNT OF CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE WE DO, IT BECOMES A CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF EXPANDING AMOUNT THAT WE DO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.
>> UNDERSTOOD. YOU'RE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.
>> SO WE'RE UNDERSTAFFED IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING BASICALLY? YEAH. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT THERE IS SOME DESIRED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE THAT SHOULD BE DONE THAT ISN'T SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE HOURS THE MAINTAINERS AREN'T AVAILABLE TO DO ALL THAT.
WELL, AND DURING OUR LEAN YEARS, MR. HAMPTON, I WOULD ARGUE FACILITIES AND MAINTENANCE TOOK A DISPROPORTIONAL AMOUNT OF THE CUTS, THE STAFFING CUTS.
IF YOU COMPARE OUR FACILITIES, STAFF TO OUR SISTER COUNTY, ST. MARY'S CALVERT, WICOMICO, WE ARE CLEARLY THE LOWEST, PROBABLY BY A GOOD 30, 40 POSITIONS, SO IT IS CLEARLY AN AREA OF WEAKNESS FOR US IN TERMS OF OUR STAFFING OF THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
>> ALSO, FOR HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, MR. HAMPTON, GOING BACK TO 20, OUR CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE WAS 86%, AND PREVENTATIVE WAS 14%.
SO THAT NUMBER ISN'T THAT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO, EVEN TEN YEARS AGO, IT WAS 81% AND 19%.
>> THIS WASN'T MEANT AS CRITICISM,
[00:40:01]
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING.IF THERE IS ANY, ARE WE SKIPPING PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE?
>> I THINK THAT'S A TREND OF WHERE WE'RE AT.
>> LOGIC WOULD SAY LIKELY, YEAH.
>> THE ACREAGE, WAS THE OLD CHESAPEAKE CITY WENT BACK TO THE COUNTY?
>> PERFECT. GREAT. THE CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE THAT INCLUDES BOTH SCHEDULED AND UNSCHEDULED?
>> AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IN TERMS OF WORK ORDERS, OUR FACILITY DEPARTMENT THEY RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 10,000 WORK ORDERS A YEAR.
THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT IT TAKES THAT DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE A WORK ORDER IS 11 DAYS COMPARED TO THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE OF 14 DAYS.
IF YOU'RE COMPARING THE WHOLE IN TERMS OF THE VOLUME OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE AMOUNT, TURN AROUND IS GOOD.
>> INDUSTRY AVERAGE BEING MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT?
>> ALSO WITH THE WORK ORDERS, OF THE WORKERS THAT ARE SUBMITTED, 60% OF OUR WORK ORDERS ARE CLEARED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS, WHEREAS THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE IS 65, SO WE'RE RIGHT THERE.
BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT A LITTLE BIT, I DO WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO THANK THE FACILITIES DEPARTMENT FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO.
I KNOW WE ALL GO THROUGH BUILDINGS AND WIDE PASS SCHOOLS, WE GO THROUGH TOURS AND THEY'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
LIKE I SAID, I ALWAYS PREACH THIS EVERY YEAR, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO ALL THE HARD WORK THEY DO.
PEOPLE ONLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM.
I WANT TO GO ON RECORD TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.
>> NEXT WILL BE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND THERE YOU SEE A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF THE CURRENT NORTHEAST MIDDLE NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE ANNUAL SUBMISSION THAT WE MAKE TO THE STATE IN OCTOBER BROKEN DOWN INTO FOUR COMPONENTS, THE PLANNING APPROVAL REQUEST, FUNDING APPROVAL REQUEST, SUMMARY PROJECT REQUEST, AND THE STATUS OF PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECTS.
THIS FIRST SLIDE IS LOOKING AT THE STATE.
I THINK THAT'S A KEY REMINDER THERE.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE STATE FUNDING IN THIS FIRST SLIDE.
YOU'LL SEE HERE OUR PRIORITIES ARE THE SAME NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT, THOMPSON ESTATES REPLACEMENT, FOLLOWED BY CHERRY HILL REPLACEMENT.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST THERE, YOU'LL SEE FOR EACH OF THOSE THREE BUILDINGS LISTED OUT ON THE PAPER OR THE CHART IN FRONT OF YOU.
THE TOTAL STATE FUNDS FOR NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH PROJECT IS 103,447,000.
PREVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE GIVEN 67,918,997.
THIS YEAR, OUR ASK IS GOING TO BE $26,646,002.
I'M READY. THE CURRENT OR THE CURRENT REQUEST, LIKE WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
THE CURRENT REQUEST YOU'LL SEE IN YOUR CHART, THE CURRENT REQUEST THAT YOU'LL SEE THERE, IS FOR $26,646,002.
AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT CHART, YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS REQUEST, WE HAVE AN MOU WITH THE COUNTY THEY HAVE AGREED TO FRONT $40 MILLION OF THIS PROJECT, BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR THAT ALLOCATION FROM THE STATE SO THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR TOTAL AMOUNT OF 103,000 WHILE THE BUILDING IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR FY27 AND FY28.
THAT'S WHY THAT ASK IS A LITTLE BIT LARGER FOR FY27 AND FY28.
YOU'LL ALSO NOTE THERE UNDER THE STATE THAT WE HAVE REQUESTED THE PLANNING FOR THOMPSON ESTATES AND FY27.
FOR FY 27, AND THIS IS THE LOCAL PLANNING, SO WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT SLIDE WHICH LOOKS AT THE LOCAL FUNDING, YOU'LL SEE A REQUEST THAT GOES THERE. THAT WAS NOT EVEN WORKING.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY I THINK THIS IS A BATTERY MAYBE.
ON THE LOCAL, YOU WILL SEE HERE, AGAIN, THE LOCAL FUNDING HAS BEEN 48,943,371 FOR THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH PROJECT.
THIS YEAR, FROM LOCAL, WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKING $16,544,629,
[00:45:05]
AND YOU'LL ALSO SEE THIS YEAR THE 2 MILLION FOR LOCAL PLANNING.THAT WILL ALLOW US TO BEGIN A FEASIBILITY STUDY AND BEGIN WORK ON THE THOMPSON ESTATES PROJECT.
YOU CAN SEE HERE IN THE OUT YEARS OF WHAT OUR ASK WILL BE AS WE COMPLETE AN FY29, MOVING INTO FY29, WE COMPLETE THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH PROJECT AND FOCUS ON THOMPSON ESTATES AND CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> IT'S PROBABLY WORTH AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING AT THIS POINT, THE PARTNERSHIP WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND WE HAVE CURRENTLY WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
YES, WE'RE ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION TOWARDS LOCAL PLANNING FOR A NEW THOMPSON ESTATES BUT IN ORDER FOR THOMPSON STATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A NEW SCHOOL TO BEGIN UPON COMPLETION OF THE CURRENT NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH PROJECT, WE NEED TO START PLANNING ON THAT NOW.
YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW THEY HAVE GIVEN QUITE A BIT WHEN IT COMES TO CIP.
WHAT I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, IS PART OF THE STATE'S AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY FRONT-LOADING THEIR FUNDING IS THE STATE WILL REPAY THE COUNTY $6 MILLION A YEAR UNTIL THE DEBT SO THAT IN THESE OUT YEARS OF '28, '29, '30, THEY'RE GOING TO GET CHUNKS OF $6 MILLION FROM THE STATE AS A REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN, AND SO WE'RE HOPING THAT THE COUNTY WILL BUY INTO THIS IDEA, LET US START PLANNING NEXT YEAR FOR A NEW THOMPSON STATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN NORTHEAST COMPLETES, WE CAN START WITH A NEW THOMPSON ESTATES RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THAT.
>> DR. LAWSON, HAVE YOU STARTED CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT AT ALL?
>> I THINK YOU MAY HAVE ADDRESSED IT, BUT JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR'S REPORT TO THIS YEAR'S REPORT FOR THOMPSON ESTATES WAS ABOUT A LITTLE OVER SIX MILLION, AND FOR CHERRY HILL, IT'S A LITTLE OVER FOUR MILLION.
THE STATES PROJECTED FUNDING WENT DOWN.
THERE'S A BIGGER BURDEN ON THE COUNTIES ON US ON THE COUNTY TO DO THAT.
IS THAT INCREASE TO THE PROJECTED BUILDING COST? AN ESTIMATE BASED ON THE INCREASED COST THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR OR IS THIS WORKING WITH ANYBODY IS IT INTERNAL ESTIMATES?
>> IT'S AN ESTIMATE BASED UPON THE CURRENT CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLETE THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH PROJECT AND THEN TRANSFERRING THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SCOPE OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING FOR THOMPSON STATES AND CHERRY HILL. THAT IS AN ESTIMATE.
>> MR. SIMBERS IS IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH STUDIO JADE, WHO DOES A LOT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL WORK.
THESE AREN'T JUST THROWING A NUMBER OUT THERE, IT'S AN EDUCATED GUESS.
THAT SAID, THAT'S WHAT THE $2 MILLION IS FOR TO ACTUALLY START THE PLANNING AND START TO SPEC OUT WHAT THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD LOOK LIKE.
THOSE NUMBERS WILL GET MORE AND MORE FIRM AS WE GET CLOSER TO THOSE YEARS.
>> I CAN UNDERSTAND IN OUT YEARS, THE DIFFERENCE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, THERE'S STILL VARIABILITY, BUT I JUST NOTICED THERE IS SOME INCREASES ON THOSE BILLS.
>> THE COST PER SQUARE FOOT FOR BUILDING HAS GONE FROM 280, 290, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO TO OVER $500 A SQUARE FOOT SO THOSE COSTS ARE REAL.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THE CHANGE IN NUMBERS.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLAN FOR THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027.
THE FOLLOWING FIVE YEARS BE APPROVED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM.
>> WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION.
>> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR NUMBER 26-03 ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CENTER OF REPLACEMENT, DR. LAWSON.
[1.06 #26-03 Administrative Services Center - Roof Replacement]
>> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARD A CONTRACT TO MIKE KOBITHEN ROOFING AND INSULATION INCORPORATED FOR THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS.
>> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT OUR CECIL COUNTY AGRICULTURE EDUCATION DAYS,
[1.07 Cecil County Agriculture Education Days - 7th-grade students.]
OUR SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS, AND DR. HAMMER WILL INTRODUCE OUR GUESTS.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD,
[00:50:01]
DR. LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM, AND ALL OF OUR SPECIAL GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING.AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE AND HAVE COME FORWARD.
MR. DAY MASHONGAMHENDE, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATOR FOR SCIENCE IN CECIL COUNTY, DR. PAUL RICKERT, CECIL COUNTY AG EDUCATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION CO-CHAIR, MR. MEL BACON, CECIL COUNTY AG EDUCATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBER.
IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED AND HAPPEN TO FOLLOW SOME FARM EQUIPMENT IN CECIL COUNTY DURING HARVEST SEASON, CECIL COUNTY IS RICH IN AGRICULTURE.
THIS GROUP OF FOLKS BEGAN WITH A VISION AND HAVE PULLED IT OFF.
WE'RE EXCITED TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU THIS EVENING THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO PUT TOGETHER AN AG DAY FOR ALL SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M GOING TO TURN OVER THE MICROPHONE. WE'RE GOING TO BRING SOME STUDENT.
>> WE'LL SAY OUR SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE NO LONGER SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS.
YOU'RE EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS NOW, MY APOLOGIES. GO AHEAD.
IT'S CERTAINLY NICE FOR ME TO BE BACK HERE AS A BOARD MEMBER FOR THE CECIL COUNTY AG EDUCATION PLANNING ASSOCIATION.
BUT IT IS ESPECIALLY NICE FOR ME TO WALK BACK IN THIS BUILDING.
I WALKED IN HERE IN JUNE OF 1972 AND INTERVIEWED FOR A JOB WITH THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT DAY IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I SPENT THE NEXT 37 YEARS AS A TEACHER FOR THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
PART OF THAT COMMITTEE THAT DAY WAS JENNY'S FATHER, BILL FRAZIER.
HE WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FIRST PRINCIPALS I WORKED FOR AND I KNOW TO DATE MYSELF BACK IN 1972 IN SEPTEMBER, RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE AGNES HIT, THE BAINBRIDGE NAVAL STATION WAS STILL OPEN.
IT WOULD BE OPEN FOR A COUPLE MORE YEARS AND IT WAS GREAT FOR THE STUDENTS AT BAINBRIDGE, BECAUSE WE COULD USE THAT FACILITY ON SATURDAYS, AND I RAN A NUMBER OF SATURDAY PROGRAMS THERE.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S 50 SOME YEARS HAVE GONE BY THAT FAST.
BUT I'M HERE FOR A REASON, I HAD MENTIONED TO DIANA AT OUR EVENT LAST APRIL THAT I WOULD LIKE OUR GROUP COME IN AND TALK TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS FOR ALL THE SEVENTH GRADERS IN THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND ALSO BECAUSE WE INVOLVE 80-100 VOLUNTEERS FROM CECIL COUNTY.
THIS IS FROM WHAT WE ENVISIONED THREE YEARS AGO, THIS HAS GROWN IMMENSELY AND IT'S JUST GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY YEAR.
DIANA WORKED HER MAGIC A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE IN HERE THIS EVENING FOR A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO YOU AS THE BOARD, BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I WAS A TEACHER, I FOUND OUT THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY HAVE HEARD OF SOMETHING THAT WE WERE DOING AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL OR BAINBRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT NEVER REALLY CAME DOWN TO SEE THAT.
WE CERTAINLY WANT YOU TO COME OUT AND VISIT US.
OUR EVENT NEXT YEAR IS APRIL 28TH, 29TH, AND 30TH.
IF YOU HAD TO PICK A DAY, I'D SAY PICK THAT FIRST DAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF DIGNITARIES THAT COME OUT FROM AROUND THE STATE AND VISIT, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.
I THINK IT MAY NOT BE A SECRET TO YOU, BUT WHEN I BEGAN TEACHING AT BAINBRIDGE IN CONOWINGO, IN 1972, I HAD A FOURTH GRADE STUDENT AND HIS NAME WAS STEVE CONLEY.
STEVE CONLEY HAS BEEN NOW THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
IT'S NICE I NEVER IN MY WILD STREAMS, DID I EVER THINK THAT STEVE WOULD EVER BE BACK AND I'D BE TALKING WITH HIM IN A DIFFERENT CAPACITY, BUT THAT'S WONDERFUL FOR ME AND IT'S A NICE PLUG FOR CECIL COUNTY.
HE STILL LIVES OVER ON CONLEY ROAD WITH HIS FAMILY IN CONOWINGO.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE, I HAVE TWO PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME WITH ME TODAY.
OF COURSE, ALL OF YOU KNOW DAY.
DAY IS OUR CHAIRPERSON FOR OUR GROUP, BUT THE NICE THING FOR ME WITH DAY WAS I WAS STILL TEACHING AT NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL WHEN DAY BEGAN HIS TEACHING CAREER IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[00:55:01]
I'D ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE PAUL RICKERT TO EVERYBODY.DR. RICHARD IS ACTUALLY WORKS FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S EXTENSION OFFICE.
HE IS THE AREA OR REGIONAL COORDINATOR FOR AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, CAROLINE, KENT, QUEEN ANNE'S AND CECIL COUNTY.
HE HAS AN UPPER EASTERN SHORE THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF.
I THINK WE ARE THREE PEOPLE OUT OF 10, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
I'D LIKE YOU TO COME OUT TO MEET ALL THE OTHER SEVEN BOARD MEMBERS THAT I WORK WITH.
WE HAVE A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF THEM WORK IN THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD, AND THEY MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND THAT'S ALL PART OF THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN THIS OVER TO TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO THAT WE WANT YOU TO WATCH.
IT WILL GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF WHAT WE DO.
BY THE WAY, YOUR PRESIDENT, DIANA CAME OUT LAST YEAR.
I THINK SHE'S COME OUT TWO YEARS NOW, SHE ACTUALLY OBSERVED ONE DAY AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED, SHE WANTED TO COME BACK AND ACTUALLY WORK THE SECOND DAY, SO SHE WAS CARRYING A FLAG, AND THAT'S NEAT.
WE WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS VIDEO.
THIS IS FROM A YEAR AGO, SOMEBODY PULLED THE PLUG ON.
WELL, LET ME SAY THIS TO EVERYBODY.
THE VISION FOR THIS CAME ABOUT FROM A MEETING THAT I WAS IN, WE HOSTED THE NEWLY APPOINTED SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, KEVIN AT THE CECIL COUNTY FARM MUSEUM.
I SAT NEXT TO HIM THAT DAY, BUT IN THAT MEETING WAS DR. RICHARD.
WHEN THE MEETING WAS OVER, KEVIN TOOK A TOUR OF THE COUNTY.
PAUL CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, HEY, I HAVE AN IDEA.
I'D LIKE TO GET A GROUP OF PEOPLE FROM CECIL COUNTY.
I'M INVITING YOU, AND I WANT YOU TO COME DOWN WITH ME TO QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY AND SEE WHAT THEY DO FOR THEIR SEVENTH GRADERS.
ABOUT A MONTH LATER, WE DROVE DOWN.
I THINK THERE WERE EIGHT OR NINE OF US AND WE OBSERVED THEIR ONE DAY EVENT.
THEY'RE SMALLER THAN WE ARE HERE IN CECIL COUNTY, BUT IT WAS LIKE, WOW, WE CAN DO THIS, AND WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS THING, AND THAT'S HOW ALL THIS BEGAN.
THERE WASN'T ONE PERSON IN THE GROUP THAT ATTENDED THAT DAY WITH PAUL, INCLUDING MYSELF THAT SAID, NO, WE CAN'T DO THIS, AND THAT'S HOW THIS BEGAN.
BUT OUR BIGGEST EMPHASIS OF THIS WAS, WE NEEDED TO CONNECT WITH THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BECAUSE THE SEVENTH GRADERS WERE OUR AUDIENCE, AND IT WAS DR. HAMMER WHO AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT ACTUALLY MET WITH US, AND THAT'S HOW ALL THIS GOT STARTED AS UNFOLDED.
IS HELD IN THE FAIR GROUNDS AT THE FAIR HILL.
>> LEADERS IN THE COUNTY SET OUT TO DESIGN A DAY OF LEARNING AND INSPIRATION FOR MORE THAN 1,100 SEVENTH GRADE CECIL COUNTY STUDENTS.
THE ADVISORY BOARD WAS GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT BY THE CCPS WITH UNANIMOUS CONSENT AND EXCITEMENT.
FROM THERE, THE CECIL COUNTY AG EDUCATION DAYS PLANNING ASSOCIATION WAS BORN.
THE PLANNING ASSOCIATION, CONSISTING OF AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS IN THE COUNTY, WAS TASKED WITH FUND RAISING TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM, BUILDING THE THREE DAY CURRICULUM, FINDING EDUCATORS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR EACH DAY OF THE EVENT, AND ORGANIZING THE LOGISTICS WITH THE TEACHERS, SCHOOL SYSTEM, TRANSPORTATION, CATERING AND VENUE PARTNERS.
THE EVENT CONSISTED OF FOUR MAIN TOPIC AREAS THAT
[01:00:04]
MET THE STANDARDS FOR THE SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE CURRICULUM.THESE FOUR MAIN AREAS WERE EACH BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE SUBSTATIONS AND AREAS OF STUDY FOR A TOTAL OF 12 EDUCATION STATIONS FOR EACH STUDENT.
THE STATIONS INCLUDED FOOD SYSTEMS, WHICH TAUGHT STUDENTS ABOUT CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD SAFETY AND THE MAFE SHOWCASE.
LAND AND WATER, WHICH COVERED CONSERVATION PRACTICES, SOIL HEALTH AND WATER QUALITY TOPICS.
ANIMAL SCIENCE, WHERE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT POULTRY, EQUINE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK CARE AND BIOLOGY.
AG TECHNOLOGY WHERE STUDENTS LEARNED ABOUT GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEMS, AUTOMATION IN AGRICULTURE AND DRONE TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS. AFTER THE EVENT, REPORTS BEGAN POURING IN FROM ALL SIX MIDDLE SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTY THAT THE STUDENTS WERE RAVING ABOUT THE EVENT.
IT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ALL AROUND AND A ROARING SUCCESS IN THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS.
THE PLANNING ASSOCIATION HOSTED OVER 80 VOLUNTEERS, MORE THAN 1,100 STUDENTS, DOZENS OF EDUCATORS, AND NUMEROUS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER DIGNITARIES.
THE SUPPORT RECEIVED ACROSS THE COUNTY AND THE STATE WAS UNPARALLLED.
A POST SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED AMONG VOLUNTEERS, PRESENTERS AND TEACHERS.
THE OVERALL OUTLOOK WAS POSITIVE WITH A 100% SURVEYED VOLUNTEERS DECLARING THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR.
THIS EVENT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE OF OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS.
>> THE CECIL COUNTY AG EDUCATION DAYS PLANNING ASSOCIATION IS PROUD TO SHARE THIS EVENT WITH YOU AND THRILLED TO CONTINUE TO HOST THIS EVENT EACH YEAR, INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AGRICULTURISTS WITH THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
>> I'M DAN MACHO GAMDE, THE INSTRUCTIONAL COORDINATOR FOR SCIENCE.
THE ENTRY POINT FOR THIS IS LIFE SCIENCE, WHICH START IN GRADE 7.
SO ALL THE SIX MIDDLE SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
SO WE ACTUALLY REQUIRE STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ESSAY CONTEST.
AND AS A FORMATIVE GRADE FOR THE EXERCISE, IT'S ALSO ENHANCED WITH AN INCENTIVE, THAT IS TO SAY THE WIN PRIZES.
EACH OF THESE SIX BUILDINGS WILL SEND US THREE WINNERS.
AT THIS LEVEL, WE WILL SELECT THREE, 1, 2, 03, AS THE FINALIST THAT WOULD THEN GET A PRIZE.
SO THIS YEAR, I'M ACTUALLY PLEASED TO HAVE INVITED THE WINNERS.
I'M GOING TO CALL YOUR CHILD AND THEY CAN STAND WITH YOUR PERMISSION, IS THAT OKAY? SO THE ONE THAT GO THE FIRST PLACE IS BEAU KUURAS FROM RISING SAN MIRO BEAU.
SECOND PLACE WAS BRIELLE QUINLAN FROM BMMS. AND THIRD PLACE WAS TALIA LISTER FROM [INAUDIBLE] I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PARENTS THAT BROUGHT THE STUDENTS WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, WHO WOULD NOT BE HERE HERE.
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE LORI WAS, SHE'S A TEACHER AT BOM MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE WILL ACTUALLY BE JOINING US THIS YEAR.
SHE DOES SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE BOM MIDDLE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT SHE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ON OUR COMMITTEE THIS YEAR, SO I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE MISSES LORI WAS.
SO TO THAT END, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IF YOU WANT THE KIDS TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCES?
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS,
[01:05:03]
BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND SHARING SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES, MAYBE WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT EXPERIENCES THAT YOU HAVE FROM THE DAY WHEN YOU WERE THERE IN APRIL.BEAU DOES NOT LOOK LIKE HE WANT IT.
>> MY EXPERIENCE AT THE AGRICULTURE DAY WAS A VERY POSITIVE ONE.
I REALLY ENJOYED ALL THE STATIONS, AND I'VE BEEN IN THE WORLD OF AGRICULTURE FOR QUITE A BIT NOW, AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS SHARED WAS REALLY INTERESTING AND EVEN NEW TO ME.
AND FROM ALL MY PEERS, THEY ALSO, I HEARD REALLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EVERYBODY.
THERE WERE DEFINITELY PEOPLE THAT I KNEW THERE AND I SAW A LOT OF SMILING FACES.
>> BEAU CONTEST, TOO, DID YOU?
>> I REALLY ENJOYED THE EXPERIENCE THERE.
I FEEL LIKE THE PEOPLE PRESENTING HAD A LOT PREPARED AND THEY HAD A LOT OF INTERESTING HANDS ON ACTIVITIES THAT KEPT US ENGAGED.
I REALLY LIKED A LOT OF THE STATIONS.
I LIKED HOW WE GOT TO GO AROUND AND SEE THE ANIMALS AND LEARN ABOUT THEM AND IT WAS INTERESTING.
A LOT OF EXTRA STUFF THAT WE WOULDN'T NORMALLY KNOW.
>> YOU READY, BUDDY? YOU GOT IT.
>> IT WAS REALLY COOL BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE THE DRODE AND THE TRACTORS AND JUST LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HOW IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
IT WAS COOL TO SAY SEEING HOW OUR FOOD IS ACTUALLY MADE AND HOW THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS.
I WILL HAVE TO AGREE WITH THAT PART.
THE TECHNOLOGY PIECE IN ALL OF THE EXPANSIVENESS THAT AG HAS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAD NO IDEA, EVEN AS A I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE AGE ADULT.
THERE WERE A LOT OF VARIETY OF THINGS THERE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE.
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CONSIDER MYSELF AN AG GIRL.
>> WE SAW YOU WITH THAT PIG AT THE FAIR.
>> YOU SAW ME. YOU SEE ME WITH ANIMALS.
BUT IT WAS JUST DEFINITELY SUCH AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE AND THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS TO MAKE THIS EVENT FREE FOR OUR STUDENTS IS JUST SECOND TO NONE.
I WANT TO OPEN IT UP TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS TOO AND INVITE THE BOARD APRIL 28TH-30TH.
IF YOU CAN MAKE IT, IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WON'T REGRET I PROMISE.
>> I DON'T NEED QUESTIONS, BUT JOB WELL DONE SPEAKING WHEN THEY THROW A MICE IN FRONT OF YOU AT THE DON'T EVEN TELL YOU TO BE PREPARED FOR IT. YOU ALL DID VERY GOOD.
I'M HAPPY I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE DRONE.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT IN PERSON.
I'M WITH YOU ON THE TRACTORS AS WELL.
I THINK THAT MIGHT JUST BE A BOY THING.
WE WANT TO BE ON THE TRACTORS AND THE DRONES.
>> I JUST HAD TWO QUESTIONS REAL QUICK.
THE ESSAY WAS THE SPECIFIC TOPIC THAT THEY HAD TO DO AND THEN ALSO WHAT CLASS WAS THAT A GRADE FOR?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. IF YOU NOTICE IT'S ACTUALLY AN ESSAY AND RUBRIC, ALL THAT INFORMATION IS IN THERE.
THE ACTUAL QUESTION AND THE RUBRIC.
ALL THE SEVENTH GRADERS, THEY HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IS ACTUALLY A FORMATIVE GRADE. SO THEY HAVE TO DO IT.
>> SCIENCE. YES. THAT'S RIGHT.
THE ENTRY POINT IS THE NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS, AND THE ENTRY POINT IS SEVENTH GRADE SCIENCE BECAUSE SIXTH GRADE IS SCIENCE AND EIGHTH GRADE IS PHYSICAL SCIENCE.
IT WAS APPLICABLE IN THAT REGARD.
THAT'S WHY WE INTENTIONALLY CHOSE SEVENTH GRADERS FOR THIS PROJECT.
I THINK I'D BE REMISS IF I NEGLECT TO MENTION THAT THE PRESENTATIONS WERE HANDED OUT AT THE COUNTY FAIR.
THIS IS WHERE THEY RECEIVED THEIR PRIZES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK NEED TO BE TO UNDERSCORE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
>> AND I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT JUST A STATEMENT.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TODAY MR. BACON AND DR.
RICHIE FOR FOR YOUR PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE IN CECIL COUNTY.
I KNOW THE STUDENTS REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM AGRICULTURE.
THAT'S FOR SURE. SO AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO THE WINNERS. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KNOW REAL FAST BEFORE YOU DO THIS OVERVIEW.
[01:10:02]
THE RCCST STUDENTS WERE THERE.AND THAT PIECE WAS HUGE IN MY OPINION BECAUSE ALL OF OUR SEVENTH GRADE STUDENTS ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH RCCST STUDENTS, AND WE EVEN HAD SOME CCST STUDENTS AT SOME OF THE STATIONS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT THAT THAT CONNECTION WAS REALLY GOOD.
>> IF I CAN JUST SEE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
SO DR. HEMA HAS THIS VISION WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE A PROJECT BASED LEARNING WHEREBY WE ARE BRINGING OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
WE'RE ACTUALLY INVITING SOCIAL STUDIES THIS YEAR TO ACTUALLY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ENDEAVOR BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS WE WANT APPLICATION AS MUCH APPLICATION IN SCIENCE SO THAT KIDS ARE DOING SCIENCE INSTEAD OF LEARNING ABOUT SCIENCE.
NOW THIS YEAR IS SOMETHING WE CAN LEVERAGE.
IT'S ALREADY AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY.
IF WE CAN INTEGRATE THAT INTO A CLASSROOM, IT ACTUALLY BRINGS THE RELEVANCE THAT NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS IS LOOKING FOR.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE EXPLORING THIS YEAR.
IT'S BEHIND DR. HAMMER'S MANDATE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU PAUL. I JUST WANT TO GIVE A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE NUMBERS.
THERE'S 11 OF US ON THE PLANNING ASSOCIATION THAT CCPS STAFF MEMBERS, AS WELL AS SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, STAFF MEMBERS, MARYLAND AGED FOUNDATION, HORIZON FARM CREDIT, CECIL OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CECIL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION, AND MR. BACON.
WE RAISED $25,000 TO PULL THIS EVENT OFF.
WE HAD 16 FISCAL PARTNERS OR DONORS, AND WE TOLD THEM THAT WE WOULD LET YOU KNOW WHO DONATED.
GORE, MARYLAND AGED FOUNDATION, MILBURN ORCHARDS, APGFCU, THE CECIL COUNTY FARM BUREAU, UPPER SHORE REGIONAL COUNCIL, THE EXTENSION OFFICE, KILBY'S INC, DIVIDING FARM, RISING SUN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHOP TANK ELECTRIC, UPPER BAY URTON CLUB, MORRIS AND RICHIE, HORIZON FARM CREDIT.
AND CECIL OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS SUSQUEHANNA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
THEY COVERED ALL THE BUSES FOR US.
WE SPENT $23,528 ON MAKING THIS EVENT HAPPEN.
WE HAD 60 VOLUNTEERS, EACH OF THE THREE DAYS WE OPERATED.
THERE WERE 1,852 HOURS THROUGH THE YEAR TOWARDS PLANNING AND EXECUTING THIS EVENT.
GIVING A VALUE, IF YOU USE INDEPENDENT SECTOR.ORG VALUE OF A VOLUNTEER HOUR OF $34.78 PER HOUR, $64,431.08.
ADD THAT TO THE $25,000 WE RAISED.
THIS EVENT WAS $87,959 AND IT COSTS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NOTHING.
THERE WERE OVER 1,100 STUDENTS THAT WENT THROUGH OUR STATIONS THOSE DAYS.
WE PULLED THE TEACHERS ABOUT EACH STATION AND ASKED THEM WHAT THEY THOUGHT OF THE STUDENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS CCPS TEACHERS, AND 83% SAID IT WAS EITHER GOOD OR VERY GOOD AT EACH STATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE WORKING ON NEXT YEAR IS TRYING TO GET THAT NUMBER A LOT HIGHER.
SOME OF THE CHANGES WE MADE THIS YEAR, BASED ON FEEDBACK, REQUESTS FROM SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.
WE'VE NOW GOT AN MOU WITH CCPS THAT'S BEEN SIGNED.
WE'VE OFFICIALLY BECOME A 501 C3.
SO WE CAN MANAGE THE FUNDS AND EXPEND THE FUNDS.
THE FIRST YEAR WE PARTNERED WITH THE FARM MUSEUM, THEY MANAGED OUR FUNDS.
THIS YEAR, WE PARTNERED WITH MARYLAND AG FOUND, THEY MANAGED OUR FUNDS.
NOW WE'RE A 501 C3, SO WE CAN MANAGE OUR FUNDS AND GIVE PEOPLE THAT DONATE THE TAX DEDUCTIBLE RECEIPT.
WE SPREAD OUT OUR STATIONS MORE FOR FLOW AND TO ALLOW FOR BETTER HEARING OF THE INSTRUCTORS BY THE STUDENTS.
WE ADDED ANIMAL FIBER SPINNING.
WE ADDED MORE HAND WASHING STATIONS.
WE DOUBLED THE SIZE OF OUR FOOD SAFETY STATION SO THE KIDS COULD COMPLETE ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT WERE THERE.
WE INCLUDED THE SCHOOL OF TECH PROGRAM REPRESENTATIVES FOR 20 OF THE 22 PROGRAMS THAT THE SCHOOL OF TECH HAS.
WE ADDED MORE SPACE FOR THE LIVE DEMO FOR AG DRONES, AND THEY EVEN WOULD SPRAY WATER.
YOU COULD SEE WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE AND HOW THE PROPS PUSH WHAT IT'S SPRAYING DOWN ONTO THE CROP OR BASICALLY DIRECTED TARGETS ONTO THE CROPS.
[01:15:01]
THE ANIMAL STATION WAS MORE OPEN HOUSE STYLE THIS YEAR TO GIVE THE BRAIN A LITTLE BIT OF DOWNTIME.THEY COULD GO AROUND, THEY COULD STILL LEARN ABOUT THE ANIMALS, THEY COULD TALK TO PEOPLE, THEY COULD ASK QUESTIONS, BUT IT ALLOWED SOME OF THAT BRAIN DOWNTIME INSTEAD OF GETTING LURE AND THINGS LIKE THAT THE WHOLE TIME.
THEN WE INCORPORATED MORE OF THE SCHOOL OF TECH A SCIENCE STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET A BUS THAT WAS DEDICATED TO BRINGING THEM OVER RATHER THAN RELYING ON FRIENDS AND PARENTS AND WHO COULD GET THEM THERE.
THAT WOULD BE RACHAEL COFFEE'S STUDENTS IN THE AG SCIENCES SCHOOL OF TECH.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES WE MADE JUST THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONVERSATIONS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER NEXT YEAR.
>> THERE WE GO. THEY'RE UP THERE.
>> ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO END OR ADD AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO END HERE IS THAT FOR ME AS A TEACHER, HAVING BRITTANY RIGDON FROM THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL TECH AS YOUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR WAS HUGE FOR WHAT I'M INVOLVED WITH NOW.
YOU CECIL COUNTY, I THINK I HEARD OUT OF THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT 40% OF THE LAND IN CECIL COUNTY IS USED FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES.
IT'S BIGGER THAN WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK FOR THIS.
AND BRITTANY IS MARRIED INTO THE RIGDON FAMILY OF HARFORD COUNTY, TO GIVE YOU A QUICK BACKGROUND THAT YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT SHE HAS A DIRECT CONNECTION TO WINTER.
SHE GOT HER MASTER GARDENER CERTIFICATE FROM WINTER, AND RACHEL COFFEE ALSO HAS A CONNECTION TO WINTER MUSEUM.
>> HER MOTHER WORKED THERE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I WAS ABLE TO MAKE A CONNECTION THROUGH THEM TO BRING THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES DOWN WHEN I WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE FARM MUSEUM.
HE SPENT ABOUT TWO HOURS WITH ME AND ANOTHER TWO HOURS VISITING THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECH.
WHEN IT WAS IN SESSION, I WANTED TO SEE THE GREENHOUSES AND ALL OF THAT, AND THE STUDENTS WERE WONDERFUL DOING THINGS.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO GIVE SOME CREDIT TO DR. HAMMER FOR, SHE HAD MADE A SUGGESTION ABOUT A YEAR AGO ABOUT HOW WE COULD IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.
IT MIGHT BE SOMEHOW WE COULD BRING THE SCHOOL OF TECH STUDENTS DOWN FROM DIFFERENT PROGRAMS AND HAVE A CAREER RECRUITING DAY.
WE COULD EXPOSE THE SEVENTH GRADERS TO WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL AT TECH.
I WANT TO TWEAK THAT A LITTLE BIT TO MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE WE WERE KIND OF CRAMPED THEM IN THIS YEAR.
BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME, I THINK THE SEVENTH GRADERS COULD ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WELD, THE PEOPLE IN THE FOOD SCIENCES, THE TEACHERS ACADEMY, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF NOW.
THE STUDENTS ARE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AHEAD OF THEM IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD POSSIBILITIES OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
I'M LOOKING AT THIS. WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.
THAT'S HOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS SUSTAINABILITY OF THIS.
I WANTED TO SHARE ALL THAT WITH YOU TONIGHT.
WE DID AS A GROUP, AND PLEASE MARK ON YOUR CALENDARS OUT.
ON THAT DAY, I'M WORKING, BUT WE HAVE BOTH DAY AND PAUL, THEY'RE THE SMOOZERS.
ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE COME AND THEY WALK THEM AROUND.
PERSONALLY, AS AN EDUCATOR, I'M THRILLED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THAT IN TWO YEARS TO OUR THIRD YEAR.
>> DOCTOR RICHARD, DID YOU WANT TO SAY SOMETHING I CAN TELL YOU.
>> I WANTED TO SAY THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT PUSHED THIS IDEA FORWARD IN OUR MINDS AND THROUGH OUR COMMUNICATIONS WASN'T SIMPLY TO SAY, HERE'S SOMETHING IN AGRICULTURE LOOK AT APPLIES TO A SCIENCE CONCEPT.
BUT AGRICULTURE IS SO FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR CIVIL SOCIETY THAT MOST OF US DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT ANYMORE.
YOU JUST RUN TO FOOD LINE TO GRAB YOUR FOOD OR ACE, AND YOU TRUST THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THERE.
THERE'S AN ENTIRE WORLD GOING ON BEHIND THAT THAT NOT ONLY FEEDS YOU, BUT IT CREATES MEDICINES.
IT CREATES OTHER TYPES OF TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS COME FROM AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES,
[01:20:04]
BIOTECH, ALL SORTS OF THINGS, TO EXPOSE YOUNG PEOPLE TO THAT.I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD AN AG DAY WHEN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, IT WAS LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO BE A FARMER. GUESS WHAT? THERE'S OVER 270 CAREERS THAT AREN'T FARMING, BUT THEY'RE RELATED.
THEY'RE STILL AGRICULTURAL CAREERS.
THE IDEA WAS TO EXPOSE THEM TO THAT AND MAKE IT BECOME AT LEAST AN OPTION. THANK YOU.
>> THAT EXPOSURE WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE IT DEFINITELY OPENED MY EYES TO ALL OF THE THINGS.
THANK YOU STUDENTS FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU PARENTS FOR BRINGING THEM HERE AND SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENTS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU GUYS DO. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE FY26 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS.
[1.08 FY26 High School Graduations]
I JUST WANT TO START THIS OFF BY SAYING THAT LAST BOARD MEETING, WE INVITED ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HERE AND HAD A EXTENSIVE PRESENT AND BOARD DISCUSSION ON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION OPTION AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.AT THAT TIME, OUR BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS GO BACK INTO THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, ENGAGE WITH THEIR STAKEHOLDERS BECAUSE WE KNOW EVERY SCHOOL COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT BECAME APPARENT AND ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE HAD RECEIVED.
WE THOUGHT THAT HAVING A MORE GRANULAR PUBLIC INPUT AT THE SCHOOL BASED LEVEL WOULD BE USEFUL.
THEN WE ASKED ALL ADMINISTRATORS TO SEND THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ALONG WITH THE RATIONALE FOR THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO DR. LAWSON AND THAT WE COULD USE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DETERMINE THE STEP FORWARD.
WE HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WILL OWN THE FACT THAT I WANTED TO PUT THIS OUT AT OUR WORK SESSION TONIGHT SO THAT WE COULD FINALIZE THIS ISSUE.
KNOWING THAT THE PUBLIC INPUT AT THE SCHOOL BASED LEVEL HAD HAPPENED AT ALL FIVE HIGH SCHOOL SIX WITH SCHOOL OF TECH HIGH SCHOOLS.
WITH THAT SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY.
THE BOARD RECEIVED THE WRITE UP, I BELIEVE, AS WELL AS THE SPREADSHEET SHOWING WHAT EACH SCHOOL'S RECOMMENDATION WAS, AS WELL AS THE ENGAGEMENT AND RATIONALE THAT WAS BEHIND EACH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR'S RECOMMENDATION.
I ASSUME THE BOARD HAS HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT ALL OF THAT.
YES. I WOULD LIKE TO AT THIS POINT, BEFORE WE DO A RECOMMENDATION AND A VOTE, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO IF WE WANT TO HAVE A BOARD DISCUSSION BEFORE WE HAVE THE RECOMMENDATION.
I WANT TO OPEN THE FLOOR TO THAT WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? SURE. MR. HAMPTON.
>> FIRST OF ALL, I PERSONALLY THINK THE BENEFITS OF GRADUATING AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS OF REMAINING AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE OPTICS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS I'VE HAD WITH MY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
JUST, FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE SEEN THAT THIS WAS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS WORK SESSION FOR A WHILE, BUT JUST THIS MORNING WAS INFORMED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A VOTE ON IT.
IN THE PUBLIC IS GETTING WORD OF THAT.
WE LEFT THE BOARD MEETING ON THE TENTH SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ADMINISTRATORS DO A THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND REACH OUT WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND THE EXTENDED FAMILIES.
THEY'VE DONE THAT. THEY'VE DONE EXACTLY WHAT WAS ASKED OF THEM.
BUT IT WASN'T STATED THAT 24 SEPTEMBER WILL VOTE ON IT, AND THERE'S THE OPTICS WITH THAT AS WELL AS THE COST, ALTHOUGH THE COST, I THINK IS MINIMAL.
BUT I THINK WE RISK GOODWILL WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE AT IN GENERAL SUPPORT CCPS BY PROCEEDING WITH THIS TONIGHT.
HINDSIGHT IS USUALLY 2020, AND YOU CAN BLAME THE BOARD.
YOU CAN BLAME ME BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION AT OUR JUNE 18 BOARD RETREAT.
[01:25:05]
THIS IS WHEN IT WAS FIRST INTRODUCED FORMALLY TO US.WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING, HOW SHOULD WE COMMUNICATE THIS? IT WAS DECIDED UPON TO LET'S GATHER THE INFORMATION FIRST, AND THAT MADE SENSE BECAUSE IT'S THE BACKGROUND OF IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAY THERE'S A PROBLEM, DON'T JUST SAY THERE'S A PROBLEM, TELL ME WHAT YOUR SOLUTION IS TO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE VOTED TO OR AGREED.
I WASN'T A VOTE. WE AGREED WITH THAT PROCEDURE.
WE GOT OUT SOMEHOW AT THE PUBLIC AND AND WAS CONVEYED THAT WE'RE BEING SECRETIVE, I DON'T THINK WE WERE, BUT THERE IS THAT PERCEPTION.
I THINK REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME TONIGHT, BACKING UP AGAIN, 2020 HINDSIGHT, WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN A BETTER ROUTE AND WOULD BE A BETTER ROUTE GOING FORWARD WHEN THERE ARE PROCEDURAL CHANGES, HIGH VISIBILITY PROCEDURAL CHANGES OR REQUESTED CHANGES IS TO ANNOUNCE OUR INTENT EARLY.
IN JUNE, WE COULD HAVE ANNOUNCED, GIVEN THE WHETHER INVOLVED OR WHETHER PROBLEMS WITH THE RECENT GRADUATIONS AND THAT FACT THAT ALL OF OUR ADJACENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALL GRADUATE AT OFFSITE VENUES.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE AT CECIL.
WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST? WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT THAT TO YOU, THE PUBLIC, AND THE BOARD IN AUGUST, SEPTEMBER FOR YOU TO THEN PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON AND WE'LL VOTE ON IT THEN.
THAT'S JUST MY RECOMMENDATION BE FOR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS GOING FORWARD.
REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME TONIGHT, I THINK THIS GRADUATION SHOULD BE A LINE ITEM IN FY27 BUDGET REQUEST.
ALTHOUGH IT'D BE A SMALL A DELTA ROUGHLY 30K, BUT IT SHOULD BE IN THERE THAT, GOING FORWARD, THIS IS WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.
PUBLIC HAS PLENTY OF TIME TO DIGEST THAT AND SAY, I SUPPORT OR DON'T SUPPORT YOUR BUDGET REQUEST.
THIS IS WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT, AND THIS IS WHAT I DON'T. THANK YOU.
>> I'LL PIGGYBACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.
THE PART ABOUT LOOKING AT IT SINCE JUNE GAVE US BASICALLY THREE MONTHS TO DIGEST IT, THREE MONTHS TO REVIEW IT, THREE MONTHS TO DISCUSS IT.
FEASIBILITY STUDY, LIKE YOU SAID, JUST RESEARCH AND BE ABLE TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND IT, AND WE GAVE THE PUBLIC TWO WEEKS TO TALK ABOUT IT, AND THEN DIDN'T INFORM THEM THAT WE WERE VOTING TODAY.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
IN HINDSIGHT, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MENTIONED THAT WE WERE DOING THIS FEASIBILITY STUDY, LET PEOPLE THINK AND CONSIDER WHAT IT MEANS.
SINCE THEN, JUST GOING NOW TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, WE DID HAVE A TOWN HALL AT RISING SUN THAT WASN'T AS WELL ATTENDED AS I WOULD LIKE.
THERE WERE PROBABLY 10 OR 11 PARENTS.
I THINK MR. MORO SAID SIX WERE AGAINST IT.
THREE WANTED TO PULL THE STUDENTS.
SIX AGAINST IT THREE DIDN'T HAVE A REAL ANSWER.
IF YOU DID THAT ALONE, WE DO KNOW THAT FROM THAT INFORMATION ALONE, THAT PARENTS WERE AGAINST IT FOR A SMALL PERCENTAGE, ONLY 10 PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, TEXTS, TO ME, HAVE BEEN HEAVILY AGAINST DOING IT.
MR. MARO SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO A SENIOR MEETING AND HAVE A POLL.
I ASKED IF I COULD BE PRESENT.
I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT WHY STAYING WAS A GOOD IDEA WHILE HE PRESENTED WHY MOVING WAS A GOOD IDEA.
THE STUDENTS WERE GIVEN A PRESENTATION IN FAVOR OF BOB CARPENTER CENTER, AND THEN GIVEN A POLL.
I OBJECT TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S INFORMATION BIAS AND POLL PRIMING.
THE RESULTS OF THAT POLL, WHICH ARE STATED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE NOT ACCURATE.
THEY CAN'T BE CONSIDERED ACCURATE BECAUSE OF HOW THERE WAS NO OPPOSITION TALKING ABOUT STAYING.
IT WAS REALLY JUST FOR BOB CARPENTER CENTER WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT STAYING WOULD MEAN.
THE MEETING WITH THE PARENTS, WE HAD TEACHERS THERE AND SOME OF THE TEACHERS SAID WHY THEY THOUGHT BOB CARPENTER CENTER WAS A GOOD IDEA.
ONE IN PARTICULAR SAID THAT STUDENTS WEREN'T REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR PARENTS. WHAT AM I SAYING? WASN'T ABOUT WHAT THEY CARED ABOUT IT, BUT THAT PARENTS HAD TRADITIONS, AND THAT THIS IS A TRADITION THAT THE PARENTS WERE
[01:30:03]
WANTING TO PASS ON BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE GRADUATED THE GRANDPARENTS MAY HAVE GRADUATED THERE.THE TEACHERS SAID THAT KIDS ARE MAKING UP THEIR OWN TRADITIONS AND THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY CONCERNED WITH THEIR PARENTS TRADITION.
THE PARENT FOUGHT BACK AND SAID, AS A PARENT, IT'S OUR JOB TO STEWART THESE TRADITIONS.
WE HAVE TRADITIONS LIKE THANKSGIVING.
WE HAVE TRADITIONS LIKE CHRISTMAS AND THESE THINGS THAT WE DO TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, AND THIS IS A TRADITION THAT WE LIKE.
IT IS A PARENT CHILD CONVERSATION LATER ON IN THE MEETING, ANOTHER TEACHER SAID, WE HAVE A TRADITION AFTER GRADUATION TO GO TO.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS CHESAPEAKE IN OR IF IT WAS SCHAFFERS, I CANNOT REMEMBER.
BUT THERE'S A TRADITION TO COME BACK INTO TOWN.
THIS WAS AN ARGUMENT FOR WHY WE WOULD COME BACK INTO THE ART COMMUNITY AND EAT.
ONE POINT OF THE ARGUMENT, TRADITION DIDN'T MATTER ANOTHER PART, IT DID.
BUT IN THE END, IT REALLY BECAME A TEACHERS VERSUS PARENT CONVERSATION.
THE PARENTS THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR KIDS AND THE TEACHERS THINK THEY KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR FOR THE KIDS.
THAT'S A CONVERSATION WE'VE BEEN IN A LOT OVER THE YEARS, THAT PARENTS AREN'T HAPPY WITH TEACHERS THINKING THEY KNOW WHAT'S BETTER FOR THEIR KIDS MORE THAN THE PARENTS DO.
THAT'S WHAT THE FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION WAS, AND I'M SICKENED BY THAT COMMENT BECAUSE IT DID ABSOLUTELY FEEL THAT WAY.
THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE INVITED TO COME TO TEACHERS THAT WERE THERE FOR PRESENTING FOR.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE ANY TEACHERS THAT WERE AGAINST IT.
I THINK IT JUST AGAIN, OPTICS.
TEACHERS KNOWING BETTER THAN PARENTS, ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF IS WHAT BECAME OF A CONVERSATION THAT WAS ABOUT GRADUATION.
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH TIME FOR COMMUNITY CONSIDERATION, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME UP WAS BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, WANTED TO DISCUSS IT, WANTED TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME RESEARCH AS TO HOW MUCH BUSINESS COMES AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AND WHAT IT MEANT TO THEM, AND THERE WAS A BUSINESS LEADER THAT SPOKE UP AND SAID THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HEAR FROM THEM.
I THINK MOST OF WHAT I JUST SAID COMES DOWN TO THREE MONTHS FOR US TO REVIEW IT AND TWO WEEKS FOR THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS IT AND THINK ABOUT IT, AND THEN A VOTE COMING AND WE WERE TOLD THIS MORNING THAT WE'RE VOTING WHEN IT WAS NEVER ACTUALLY PART OF THE AGENDA, AND IT WASN'T TALKED ABOUT AHEAD OF TIME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RUSH IS. I'VE SAID THIS FROM THE BEGINNING.
THERE'S A RUSH TO GET THIS DONE.
WE NEED TO HURRY UP AND GET IT DONE.
WE'VE HAD DECADES OF DOING IT ONE WAY AND NOW OF A SUDDEN WE'RE DOING IT A DIFFERENT WAY AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN AS WITH ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
I WOULD REQUEST TO POSTPONE THE VOTE.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T GIVE OUR COMMUNITY TIME TO BE INVOLVED AND TO COMMENT TWO WEEKS ISN'T ENOUGH. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> I TRY TO KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF.
BASICALLY, ONE OF THE OLD HEADS ON THE BOARD, AND I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL IN 1982. GUESS WHAT? MY GRADUATION WAS AT A COLLEGE THAT WAS 40-SOME ODD YEARS AGO.
I'M SAYING THIS IS NOT A NEW PHENOMENON FOR ME, FROM WHERE I GREW UP IN ST. LOUIS.
BUT ONE THING I WILL SAY, I UNDERSTAND TRADITION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT FAMILIES WANT THEIR CHILDREN GO TO THE SAME GRADUATION FORM THAT THEY WENT TO AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT I DO THINK NONE OF US CAME TO THE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE THINKING ABOUT.
WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY FINAL DECISION, NO FINAL VOTE YET, BUT WE'VE ALL GIVEN IT DUE DILIGENCE.
NO ONE CAME TO THE DECISIONS WITHOUT THINKING IT THROUGH, WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS, GETTING INFORMATION, GETTING THE DATA.
BUT I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO GET LOST WITH FEELINGS OVER WHAT THE FACTS ARE, WHETHER IT BE FINANCIAL, WHETHER IT BE SECURITY-RELATED, WHETHER IT BE LOGISTICS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME WITH IT.
I THINK MY BACKGROUND, FROM MY TIME IN THE MILITARY, MY TIME WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DOING DIFFERENT THINGS, I DO BELIEVE THAT SOMETIMES THE MOST POPULAR DECISIONS AREN'T ALWAYS THE BEST DECISIONS.
WE GOT TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS.
I KNOW WHEN I CAME ON THE BOARD FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS FIRST VOTED IN, I KNEW WE WOULD COME TO SOME DECISIONS SOMETIMES THAT WOULD NOT BE POPULAR IN THE COMMUNITY.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO WIN A POPULARITY CONTEST.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS, WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR EXPERIENCES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I FEEL PRETTY GOOD ABOUT WHATEVER DECISION I MAKE.
I KNOW I MADE IT BASED ON THE FACTS, AND I KNOW I WON'T MAKE IT LIGHTLY, AND IT MAY NOT BE THE PERFECT DECISION, BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD DECISION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD.
IN THIS PARTICULAR FORM, THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL.
I KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF, AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL.
>> I'M GOING TO SAY JUST WHERE I AM.
INITIALLY, WHEN THIS WAS BROUGHT UP TO US IN JUNE AT OUR BOARD RETREAT, I THINK I INITIALLY WAS LIKE, WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT AT HIGH SCHOOLS.
THEN WE ALL TALKED ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT.
[01:35:01]
LET'S EXPLORE THIS. WE WANT YOU TO EXPLORE THIS.WE TOLD DOCTOR LAWSON EXPLORE BRING US A PROPOSAL.
WE DECIDED TO WAIT FOR THAT INFORMATION, AND WE WANTED TO DO THIS WHILE SCHOOL WAS IN SESSION SO THAT IF THERE WAS QUESTIONS, IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAD CONCERNS ABOUT OR ANYTHING, EVERYONE WAS AROUND.
IT WASN'T SUMMER. WE COULD DO THAT.
THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS BROUGHT IN SEPTEMBER.
YES. IT LEAKED. AS YOU WOULD SAY, I MEAN, WHATEVER THAT MEANS, IT WASN'T A SECRET.
I NEVER FELT LIKE IT WAS A SECRET.
I KNOW DOCTOR LAWSON BROUGHT PEOPLE TO THE BOB TO SEE IT.
IF IT WAS A SECRET, I DON'T THINK HE WOULD HAVE ROUNDED UP 20 PLUS PEOPLE TO GO TO THE CENTER TO LOOK AT IT.
I THINK THAT IT'S I KNOW A LITTLE DISHEARTENING AFTER ALL THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS FOR PEOPLE TO STILL CONTINUE TO THINK THAT WE'RE HIDING THINGS AND THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE SOME CONSPIRACY THINGS GOING ON, THAT'S DISHEARTENING TO ME BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE THAT'S ON THIS SIDE OF ME AND EVERYONE ON THE SIDE OF THE TABLE, WE'RE ALL REALLY HERE FOR THE STUDENTS, AND WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STUDENTS.
I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IN ALL OF YOU AND IN ALL OF YOU.
IT STILL MAKES ME UPSET THAT WE HAVE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT DON'T TRUST US.
I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO TRY AND GET THEM TO EARN THAT TRUST.
ANYWAY, BACK TO THE ACTUAL DECISION ABOUT GRADUATION, I'M VERY MUCH A FACT-TYPE OF PERSON, AND I WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE BETTER OPTION WHEN I'M DOING THIS.
WHAT I'M LOOKING AT, WHAT IS THE BETTER OPTION? THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, THE BETTER OPTION, THE BETTER PLACE FOR A GRADUATION IS THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.
I'VE SHARED THIS WITH A FEW OF YOU GUYS, THAT I'VE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES IN MY OWN LIFE WHERE GRADUATION DID NOT WORK OUT SO WELL.
ONE, MY DAUGHTER'S GRADUATION GOT PUSHED TO ANOTHER DAY BECAUSE OF RAIN.
WE ENDED UP HAVING FOOD WASTED AND PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO MAKE IT, AND ALL OF THAT JUST BECAUSE WE HAD TO MOVE THE DAY.
WE ALL CAN ADAPT, AND WE HAVE TO DO THAT. BUT THAT WAS ONE THING.
THE OTHER THING IS, MY NIECE WAS VAL VICTORIAN AT BO MANOR.
HER 90-YEAR-OLD GRANDFATHER WANTED TO BE THERE TO SEE HER SPEAK.
HE CAME FROM NEW JERSEY DOWN TO SEE HER SPEAK AND HAD TO SIT IN THE CONCESSION STAND BECAUSE IT WAS TOO HOT FOR HIM TO GET OUT ON THE TURF.
HE COULDN'T REALLY HEAR HER. HE MADE THAT TRIP AND WASN'T REALLY ABLE TO HEAR.
THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT ALL THE TIME. WE KNOW ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO THE BETTER PLACE TO HAVE IT IS THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.
THE OTHER THING THAT I HAVE BEEN REALLY AWARE OF RECENTLY, AND I THINK WE ALL HAVE, IS SECURITY.
THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER IS NO DOUBT A BETTER PLACE FOR SECURITY.
EVERYONE WILL WALK IN THROUGH METAL DETECTORS IS CONFINED THERE.
IN OUR STADIUMS, WE ARE OUTDOORS.
WE HAVE ONE WEAPON DETECTOR SYSTEM.
THANK YOU THAT WE CAN GO THROUGH. ALL OF THAT BEING SAID.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE TRADITION, AND I AM A CECIL COUNTY PERSON.
I ONLY LEFT FOR FOUR YEARS FOR COLLEGE. I CAME BACK.
I UNDERSTAND THE TRADITION AS WELL.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT OUR PRINCIPALS WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK? THEY WENT TO THE KID AND SAID, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I WENT TO TONY EVANS, THE BO MANOR PRINCIPAL, AND I SAID, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, AND LET'S DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIND OUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, AND LET'S DO THAT.
I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT MR. EVANS DID THAT, AS I FEEL THAT ALL THE PRINCIPALS DID THAT.
I PUT MY TRUST IN THEM AS WELL, AND THEY ALL CAME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
FIVE OUT OF THE SIX RECOMMENDED TO DO IT AT THE BOB.
AGAIN, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE THINKING THAT WE ARE DOING SOME CONSPIRACY THING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING OUT OF IT, THAT THEY WOULD THINK THAT, WHY WOULD WE BE HIDING SOMETHING? WHAT DO THEY THINK DOCTOR LAWSON IS GETTING? I DON'T KNOW SOMETHING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE?
[01:40:02]
NONE OF THAT IS HAPPENING. THE OPTICS OF IT, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.IT'S BEEN MORE THAN TWO WEEKS BECAUSE PEOPLE KNEW ABOUT IT TWO WEEKS BEFORE OUR BOARD MEETING, AND THEY WERE PUTTING EVERYTHING OUT ON FACEBOOK.
BASICALLY, IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE OUR COMMUNITY HAS KNOWN.
WE HAVE ASKED THEM TO EMAIL US.
SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS HAD SENT LETTERS OUT.
I'VE GOTTEN TWO EMAILS FROM MY COMMUNITY.
I KNOW YOU'VE GOTTEN A LOT MORE JOE.
I'VE SEEN OTHERS FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES.
WELL, I HAD GOTTEN IT AS WELL.
SHE SENT IT TO ME. MAYBE ONLY GOT ONE.
I GOT ONE THAT YOU FORWARD ME WITH THE SAME NOW.
TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT OR A SHORT STORY LONG, I'M NOT SURE.
BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO REASON FOR US NOT TO VOTE ON THIS.
I THINK THAT IF WE WAIT TILL OUR BOARD MEETING TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, I DON'T SEE THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH CHANGE.
I THINK THAT PEOPLE WHO REALLY HAVE WANTED TO DIGEST THIS, SENIOR PARENTS, THE SENIORS, AND THE STAFF HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AND HAVE REACHED OUT IF THEY WANTED TO.
I'M READY TO VOTE FOR THIS, AND AGAIN, I ALWAYS WELCOME MY COMMUNITY IN MY DISTRICT AND ACROSS THE COUNTY, TO PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY SUGGESTIONS, ANY CONCERNS.
I CONTINUE TO ASK PEOPLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S ALL. THAT'S WHERE I AM. THAT'S ALL.
>> THAT'S ALL. I THINK YOU PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING I WAS GOING TO SAY.
I JUST THINK FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT THIS CONTRACT IS FOR 58,000 PLUS SUM.
IT'S $50,000 IS THE THRESHOLD FOR A BOARD VOTE.
IF THIS HAD BEEN UNDER $50,000, IT WOULDN'T HAVE NEEDED A BOARD VOTE ANYWAY.
I THINK AT SOME POINT YOU GOT TO BITE THE BULLET.
AFTER YEARS OF CHALLENGES, I THINK WHAT WE DID IS WE LOOKED AT INFORMATION.
WE ALL FIVE OF US ASKED AT THE JUNE MEETING, YES, SEEK MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INDOOR VENUES, AND IT TOOK SOME TIME TO DO THAT.
AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, I ASKED SPECIFICALLY FOR SCHOOL-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE GOT THE SCHOOL-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE CAN USE THE SCHOOL-BASED RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE SCHOOLS WERE CHARGED WITH ENGAGING IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
FRANKLY, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WANTS TO FORCE THIS ON ANY COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T WANT IT.
BUT WHEN THE MAJORITY OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR ADMINISTRATOR SUPPORTS THIS OR NOT SUPPORTS THIS, I WILL SUPPORT WHAT THEY SAY.
WITH THAT SAID, I THINK ALL THE ENGAGEMENT HAPPENED.
I TRUST THE ENGAGEMENT THAT HAPPENED.
17 AND 18-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS HAVE THEIR OWN MINDS. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
SOMETIMES WE CAN TRY TO CONVINCE THEM OF ONE THING.
THEY'RE GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT THEY THINK.
THE SURVEYS THAT WERE DONE WERE ANONYMOUS, I BELIEVE, AT ALL THE SCHOOLS.
ALL THE PRINCIPALS THAT I KNEW, IF THEY DIDN'T DO A SURVEY, THEY SENT EMAILS TO PARENTS AND TO STUDENTS.
THE ENGAGEMENT THEY GOT IS IN OUR SPREADSHEET HERE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING AT.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I THINK IT IS ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT TO HAVE DIFFERING OPINIONS, AND I LIKE SEEING DIFFERING OPINIONS ON OUR BOARD, AND I LOVE DISCUSSING AND HAVING CIVIL DISCOURSE, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T THINK IF WE PUT THIS OFF ANY LONGER, MUCH WOULD CHANGE.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING REALLY WOULD CHANGE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR ADMINISTRATORS, AND I CANNOT DISCOUNT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OUR ADMINISTRATORS AFTER THEY DID EXACTLY WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO.
I THINK AT SOME POINT YOU JUST NEED TO MOVE ON, WHICH IS WHY I PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT.
YOU CAN AGREE WITH ME OR NOT AGREE WITH ME, AND YOU CAN VOTE ACCORDINGLY.
WITH THAT SAID, IF ANYONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE.
>> LET ME MAKE SOMETHING CLEAR. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'VE SAID THIS LAST MEETING.
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING SHADY HAPPENED.
I KNOW THAT WE ASKED FOR THIS TO BE REVIEWED.
I'M JUST SAYING, IN HINDSIGHT, MORE TIME FOR IT TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COMMUNITY PROBABLY MAKES SENSE.
I DEFINITELY WAS PART OF THAT CONVERSATION. I SAID THIS LAST TIME.
I SAID THIS AT THE TOWN HALL TO THINK THAT THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING.
[01:45:04]
THAT SOMEHOW YOU'RE GETTING SOME KICKBACK IS JUST WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT, FOR SOMETHING THIS VISIBLE WOULD BE BORDERLINE STUPIDITY, YOU'RE WAY SMARTER THAN THAT.I WAS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE. IT WAS JUST REALLY DUMB TO DO THAT.
I THINK THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND THOSE TYPES OF COMMENTS ARE DISHEARTENING, UPSETTING.
THE TIME TO REVIEW IT IS ONE THING.
THEN THE COMMENT THAT KEEPS GETTING MADE THAT I JUST WANTED TO SAY IS HARD TO HEAR AND HARD TO LISTEN TO.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER, AS A FACILITY, IS THE BEST OPTION.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT. I SAID THIS AT THE TOWN HALL.
I DIDN'T SAY IT, AND I DIDN'T ARTICULATE IT WELL ENOUGH AT OUR LAST BOARD MEETING.
BUT THE WAY I CAN SAY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY IS, I GOT MARRIED AT A CHURCH THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE WORST FACILITIES TO GET MARRIED AT, AND WE HAD WAY BETTER OPTIONS.
WE LOOKED AT ALL THE OTHER OPTIONS, AND ONE BEING A COUNTRY CLUB, AND WE COULD HAVE DONE ANY OF THEM.
IN THE END, WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO FACILITIES.
WE DIDN'T CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION WHEN IT CAME TO THE WAY THAT THEY COULD PRESENT, THE WAY THAT AUDIO SYSTEM WAS.
WE ACTUALLY CHOSE THE WORST OF THOSE OPTIONS BECAUSE OUR CHURCH HAD SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO IT THAT OUTWEIGHED ALL THE OTHER THINGS.
I'VE HAD SOME EMAILS GO BACK TO PARENTS THAT SAY, THAT IT'S JUST OBVIOUSLY A BETTER PLACE, AND DISCOUNTING THAT YOU'RE NOT USING FACTS TO MAKE YOUR DECISION, AND YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISION BASED ON EMOTIONS.
YOU CAN'T TAKE EMOTION OUT OF GRADUATION.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE.
THE WHOLE GRADUATION, WHAT WE TALK ABOUT IS ALL EMOTIONAL.
IT'S ALL EXPERIENCING, AND ALL THAT EXPERIENCE AND EMOTION IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THE FACT THAT WE CAN GATHER ON A FIELD IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN GATHERING ON A LAWN OUTSIDE OF THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.
TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION BASED ON FACT ONLY, SOUNDS INSULTING SOMETIMES BECAUSE THIS IS NOT JUST A FACTUAL DECISION, IT'S OBVIOUSLY EMOTIONAL DECISION.
>> JOE, JUST I AGREE WITH YOU.
THERE'S OBVIOUSLY THERE HAS TO BE SOME EMOTIONAL PART TO THIS BECAUSE IT IS AN EMOTIONAL THING FOR I STOOD AND CRIED AT MINE.
IT'S EMOTIONAL TIME. IT'S A HEARTFELT TIME.
BUT THE THING THAT I KEEP GOING BACK TO IS, I WANT TO DO WHAT THE KIDS WANT TO DO, AND WHAT I'M SEEING IN OUR POLLS IS WHAT THE KIDS ARE SAYING THEY WANT.
THE MAJORITY. WE LIVE IN, I THINK WE'VE DONE THE DEMOCRATIC THING, AND WE'VE ASKED, AND THEY VOTED.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO SAY, YOU VOTED FOR IT, BUT NO, SORRY, YOU CAN'T DO IT. I DON'T [OVERLAPPING]
>> SURE, I'M JUST QUESTIONING THE WAY THE POLL WAS DONE, AND MR. MARO HAS A TON OF SWAY.
>> I'M NOT TAKING THAT AWAY FROM HIM.
HE HAS A TON OF SWAY, THOSE KIDS LOVE HIM.
HE IS SO INTERACTIVE AND SO AMAZING WITH THOSE KIDS. HE REALLY IS.
I'VE BEEN THERE IN THE HALLWAYS WITH HIM AND SEEN THE HIGH FIVES AND THE HUGS AND PEOPLE CRYING AFTER THEY GRADUATE AND WANTING TO SEE HIM AT THE END, WANTING TO GET THOSE HUGS, HE HAS A TON OF SWAY AND TO GO IN THERE AND PRESENT IT AS HOW AMAZING IT IS, AND I SAY THIS IN THE BEST WAY.
THAT'S NOT A NEGATIVE AND I DON'T WANT THAT TO COME ACROSS NEGATIVE.
IT'S COME ACROSS NEGATIVE IN SOME E MAILS FROM PARENTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT IT WAS SHADY.
I THINK IT'S WHAT HE BELIEVES AND HE'S REALLY GOOD AT SELLING.
WHEN YOU DO THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE POLL, THERE'S A HIGH FROM THAT PRESENTATION AND THERE'S A SWAY FROM THAT PRESENTATION WHERE YOU MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT WITHOUT HAVING TO REALLY THINK IT THROUGH.
IT WAS A PRESENTATION THAT WAS ALL POSITIVE AND ALL GYM AND A PULL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT.
THAT IS ABSOLUTELY PULL PRIMING TO THE HUNDREDTH DEGREE.
>> OBVIOUSLY, AND BO, WE DID A SURVEY.
I WAS THERE FOR THE PRESENTATION.
MR. EVANS GAVE THEM HIS PRESENTATION, WHICH WAS HERE'S WHAT YOU GET AT THE BO AND HERE'S WHAT YOU GET AT THE FIELD HERE.
HE ALSO GAVE THEM THE PRESENTATION THAT WE GOT THAT THE BOARD RECEIVED.
THEY GOT THAT AS WELL, WHICH APPARENTLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAD SAID WAS A SALES PITCH, SO THAT WAS DEFINITELY VERY MUCH FOR THE BOB.
THEY GOT THAT AS WELL, AND THEN THEY GOT THEIR SURVEY.
BO VOTED, THEY VOTED 58%, I FORGET WHAT IT WAS AT 56 OR SOMETHING PERCENT OR 58% TO STAY AT BO.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY, MR. EVANS IS NEW TO THE SCHOOL, MAYBE HE DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH SWAY, MAYBE I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I MYSELF HAVE HAD FOUR SENIORS.
I CAN TELL YOU, MAYBE MY KIDS ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS, BUT WHEN THEY WERE A SENIOR, WHEN THEY WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL,
[01:50:01]
AND THEY HAD THEIR MIND ON SOMETHING, I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.IF YOU HAD COME TO MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS THERE AND SHE HAD HER MIND SET OUT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE AT HER SCHOOL, AND SOMEBODY SAID, "BUT THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER." SHE WOULD HAVE SAID, "I'M GOING TO BE AT MY SCHOOL." MAYBE THAT'S NOT FOR ALL KIDS.
I JUST THINK THAT WE CANNOT DISCREDIT WHAT THE BRAINS THAT OUR KIDS HAVE AND THE SELF CONFIDENCE THAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR SELVES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISION.
>> I HEAR THAT. THE ONLY REASON I CAN SAY THAT I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE WHEN WE HAD OUR TOWN HALL MEETING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, HIM AND I, AND JUST IN GENERAL, IT WAS 50% WERE STRONGLY TO STAY THERE.
A HIGH PERCENTAGE DIDN'T CARE AT ALL, AND THERE WAS PROBABLY A FEW 10% OR LESS THAT ACTUALLY WERE STRONGLY FOR MOVING TO THE BOB.
THEN HE DOES THE PRESENTATION AND IT COMPLETELY CHANGED.
THAT WAS A CONVERSATION WITH MR. MORO.
IT WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DID NOT CARE AT ALL AND THAT CHANGED.
>> WELL, HE WENT AND MET WITH THEM IN THEIR CLASSROOMS THE DAY BEFORE AND THE CONVERSATIONS HE HAD WERE EITHER STRONGLY FOR IT OR I DON'T CARE.
THERE WAS NOT A STRONGLY FOR STAYING AT THE SCHOOL I'M SAYING.
>> MR. FERNANDEZ, SO IF I'M WRONG, I APOLOGIZE. I THINK I'M RIGHT.
HE VISITED THE ENGLISH CLASSROOMS PRIMARILY, MAYBE THE SECOND, THIRD DAY OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THEN DID THE POLL THE DAY AFTER YOU GUYS HAD THE TOWN HALL.
THAT'S ONE THING. ON HIS POLL, THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS.
IF DR. FARLAN CAN YOU LOOK IT UP?
>> I BELIEVE THE SECOND QUESTION WAS, I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT HAVING GRADUATION AT A PARTICULAR VENUE.
OF THOSE THAT FELT STRONGLY, 60% WANTED TO GO TO BOB CARPENTER CENTER.
BUT THAT'S NUANCE THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
CAN I JUST SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN FLOATED AROUND?
>> THEY'LL LOOK UP SOME OF THESE HARD NUMBERS. THEY'RE LOOKING RIGHT NOW.
I CAME AWAY FROM THE JUNE 18 BOARD WORK SESSION OR THE BOARD RETREAT, THINKING I HAD MARCHING ORDERS, AND I GENERATED SOME OF THAT BECAUSE I FELT LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE GOT AT LEAST GIVE US AN OPTION.
WE GOT TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER OPTIONS WITH THESE GRADUATIONS BECAUSE WE CAME OFF A TOUGH YEAR.
CERTAINLY A CONSENSUS, IF NOT UNANIMOUS, TO GO AHEAD.
TAKE A LOOK AT SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
I WOULD SAY PROBABLY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, I ORGANIZED A MEETING AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER TO INCLUDE PRINCIPALS FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK, A COUPLE OF ASSISTANTS, A GRADUATION ADVISOR OR TOO, MOST OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
WENT THROUGH, EVERYBODY SAW WHAT IT WAS.
A FEW OF US HAD BEEN THERE, SO WE KNEW.
YOU KNEW DURING JULY, YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE ALL OF YOUR 10 MONTH PEOPLE ARE OUT, YOUR 11 MONTH PEOPLE ARE GONE.
YOUR 12 MONTH PEOPLE ARE REALLY USING THAT TO TAKE VACATION.
THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS DEAD IN JULY.
THE THINKING AGAIN WAS THAT WE WOULD COME BACK AND WE WOULD START.
I DID A VIDEO ON SEPTEMBER 4. WE LOOKED THIS MORNING.
I GOT JUST OVER 25,000 VIEWS, WHICH IS A BIG NUMBER FOR THESE LITTLE VIDEOS I DO.
IT WAS EVERYWHERE. WE HAD PRINCIPALS MEETING WITH THEIR SENIOR CLASSES, SENDING MAILERS. TWO OBSERVATIONS.
ONE, I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN A SINGLE TOPIC DISCUSSED MORE IN THE COUNTY SINCE I'VE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM IN 2009.
THEN TWO, I THINK IT GOES TO MS. HAWLEY'S POINT, I LIKE THE THIS THAT WE'RE SEEING A LITTLE BIT, THE PUSH AND THE PULL.
MR. FERNANDEZ AND I HAD THIS BACK AND FORTH IN AN E MAIL.
I SAID, "DO I BELIEVE THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER IS THE BETTER VENUE?" I DO. THAT'S OKAY.
WE CAN HAVE THESE DIFFERENT OPINIONS.
DO I SEE A PLACE FOR THE TRADITION OF SOME OF THE LOCAL STADIUMS? I DO. BUT I THINK SOME OF THE TENDENCY ON THE PART OF MR. MORO, I'M SPEAKING FOR HIM NOW.
I THINK I'M RIGHT, IS THAT HE PROBABLY FELT COMPELLED TO SHARE WITH THE KIDS, THIS IS WHAT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER IS KNOWING THAT THEY KNOW WHAT THE STADIUM IS.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING I CAN OFFER AS AN EXPLANATION FOR HIM COMING OUT AND SAYING BECAUSE YOU KNOW FULL WELL THAT YOUR SENIORS, THEY KNOW WHAT THE GRADUATION OUT IN THE STADIUM IS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE LOOKS LIKE.
I'M JUST OFFERING THAT AS A POTENTIAL.
THEN THE LAST THING IS THAT THE SECOND QUESTION, IT WAS I HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THE LOCATION OF GRADUATION.
THERE WERE 193 RESPONSES, 56% SAID TRUE.
OF THOSE 56% THAT SAID THEY HAD STRONG FEELINGS, 60% CHOSE THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER, SO MAKE OF THAT WHAT YOU WILL.
>> CAN I JUST TOUCH ON THE WHOLE EMOTIONAL PIECE FOR A SECOND BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE THE FLIP SIDE.
IT IS EMOTIONAL WHEN YOU HAVE IT AT THE STADIUM.
BUT WHAT IF YOU CAN'T OR WHAT IF YOU CAN'T DO THE WHOLE PROGRAM, WHICH WE'VE SEEN MULTIPLE TIMES.
[01:55:02]
WHAT IF YOU'RE RUSHED, YOU HAVE ONE SECOND BETWEEN NAMES.IT'S NOT VERY PLEASANT FOR STUDENTS, AND I'VE HEARD FROM STUDENTS.
LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR, AFTER SCHOOL OF TECH GRADUATION, NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WE WERE LOOKING AT CRAZY WEATHER ENDED UP BEING A TORNADO WATCH.
WE GO IN AND THESE STUDENTS ARE LIKE, "PLEASE DON'T CONDENSE THE PROGRAM? PLEASE DON'T CONDENSE THE PROGRAM?" WE FELT GYPPED.
WE FELT LIKE SCHOOL OF TECH WAS NOT A GRADUATION.
THAT'S MEMORABLE, EMOTIONAL, IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
SAME WITH IF YOUR FAMILY CAN'T COME.
MY MOTHER IN LAW COULDN'T COME TO MY SON'S GRADUATION BECAUSE IT WAS AT A STADIUM.
SHE COULDN'T BE THERE. THAT'S A MEMORY HE HAS.
MY FAMILIES, SOME PEOPLE CAN'T MAKE IT IN STADIUMS. IT'S HOT, IT'S STADIUM SEATING.
IT'S JUST NOT ACCOMMODATING BATHROOM FACILITIES, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, TICKETS, PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL FOUR TICKETS PER STUDENT.
IN THE STADIUM BECAUSE THEY ONLY HAVE THAT ONE SECURITY ISSUES.
I HAVE MAJOR SECURITY ISSUES, ESPECIALLY AS OF LATE, AND I FEEL LIKE THE CHALLENGES AT THE STADIUM ARE CHALLENGES THAT ARE HARD TO FIX.
WELL, THE CHALLENGES OF THE STADIUM ARE EASY TO FIX IF YOU GO TO THE BOB.
THE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING, THE EMOTIONAL, THE TRADITION.
I FEEL LIKE IF WE CAN THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX, LOCAL BUSINESSES, THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX AND ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET THESE THINGS IN THE PICTURE.
GET LOCAL BUSINESSES THE WEEK BEFORE GRADUATION, MAYBE EVEN HAVE MULTIPLE NIGHTS WHERE RESTAURANTS WOULD BE BUSIER ON ONE NIGHT, THEY'RE AT CAPACITY.
ALL RESTAURANTS ARE AT CAPACITY.
THEY CAN ONLY HOLD SO MANY PEOPLE.
IF YOU DO MULTIPLE NIGHTS, "HEY, LOOK AT THAT.
IT'S EVEN BETTER FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES." OPENING UP THE STADIUM FOR PICTURES.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. THESE ARE ALL CONCERNS THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED.
THE CONCERNS WITH STADIUMS ON THE FLIP SIDE, WEATHER CHALLENGES, ACCOMMODATIONS, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE.
I DON'T THINK ADDING MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS OR GET PUBLIC INPUT.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO'VE ALREADY PROVIDED THEIR INPUT.
IF YOU SEE AN INFLUX NOW, I THINK THAT HAPPENED JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAYING, "HEY, YOU GOT TO EMAIL THE BOARD NOW, YOU'VE HAD FOUR WEEKS REALLY TO DO THIS." THAT'S WHERE I AM.
THAT'S WHY I PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT AS A VOTE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO GET IT DONE AND WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO OTHER ISSUES LIKE TEST SCORES, CLASS SIZES, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT ALSO MATTER. THAT'S WHERE I AM.
>> I GOT SOMETHING ELSE REAL QUICK.
I PROMISE TO BE BRIEF, BUT I REMEMBER FIVE YEARS AGO, WHEN DIANNE AND I FIRST CAME ON TO THE BOARD, WE HAD ANOTHER HUGE ISSUE CALLED COVID AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE WENT THROUGH, AND I KNOW IT MIGHT BE APPLES AND ORANGES.
WE MIGHT NOT BE COMPARING THE SAME THING, BUT TRUST ME, DOCTOR LAWSON CAN ATTEST TO THIS.
THAT WAS A VERY TOUGH TIME FOR US TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE STUDENTS? IT WAS TOUGH. YOU THINK THIS GRADUATION THING IS TOUGH.
IT DOES NOT COMPARE TO THAT IN MY OPINION. THAT'S LIFE AND DEATH.
>> YES. I'M SAYING THAT WAS A TOUGH TIME.
I'M SAYING THAT TO SAY, I THINK IF WE PUSHED IT OFF LONGER, I DON'T KNOW CONSIDERING HOW DIVIDED WE ARE AS A COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND ALL THIS CRAZY STUFF GOING ON.
I WORK IN PHILADELPHIA AND WE HAD A LOT OF SECURITY ISSUES TODAY BASED ON THE SHOOTING IN TEXAS.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT TO GET PEOPLE TO AGREE ON ALMOST ANYTHING NOW IS SO DIFFICULT.
IF WE WAITED A YEAR, I DON'T KNOW THE VOTE WOULD STILL BE SKEWER, 60-40, 55-45, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
MY OPINION IS THAT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER HOW LONG YOU TAKE, BUT I DO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S FEELINGS ABOUT TRADITION AND NOSTALGIA AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU GOT TO MAKE A DECISION THAT YOU THINK IS BEST, AND YOU GOT TO STAND TEN TOES DOWN AND DEAL WITH IT.
BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET A HIT, NO MATTER WHAT.
IF YOU DO IT OR YOU DON'T DO IT.
SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH IT.
>> I APPRECIATE ALL THE CONVERSATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF COMPELLING ARGUMENTS.
ONLY THING I'LL ADD WITH RESPECT TO COVID IS THIS FOLK ISN'T ABOUT IMPROVING CLASSROOM OUTCOMES.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THOSE OUTCOMES.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF THE DESTINY, NOT THE JOURNEY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND IT SHOULD BE.
BUT I PERSONALLY PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON THE JOURNEY.
IF WE VOTE AGAINST THIS AND PERRYVILLE HAS A GRADUATION THAT'S IN THE RAIN OR IT GETS POSTPONED AND THE FAMILIES ONLY GET TWO TICKETS, BLAME ME.
NOT DR. WILLIAMS, THE PRINCIPAL,
[02:00:01]
OR DR. LAWSON THIS IS OUR DECISION.>> WHAT IS THE RAIN DATE? WHAT WOULD THE RAIN DATES BE FOR BOB CARPENTER CENTER IF SOMETHING HAPPENED? I KNOW IT'S NOT A RAIN DATE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE RAIN, BUT WHAT IF THE BUILDING LOST POWER? HOW DO WE RESCHEDULE THAT IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENED? DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA THAT AT ALL?
>> I'M NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT THAT'S HAPPENED, CORRECT? YEAH.
>> IF COULD HAPPEN. I THINK WE'D HAVE TO COME BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY BOOKED UP THE REST OF THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I MEAN. I HAVE NOT BEEN AROUND THERE FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE NOT EVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN, BUT I GUESS IT'S POSSIBLE.
ONE THING THAT I WOULD MAKE A NOTE WHEN I WRITE THE BOOK, I'M NEVER GOING TO WRITE IS THAT MY PREDICTIONS, PROGNOSTICATIONS AS TO HOW THIS WOULD LAND.
I THOUGHT ALL ALONG ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL WOULD LIKELY WANT TO DO THIS.
SCHOOL OF TECH WOULD LIKELY WANT TO DO THIS.
I THOUGHT THE OTHER FOUR WERE A TOSS UP.
WHAT I'VE SEEN HAS BEEN A COMPLETE 180 FROM WHAT I EXPECTED ON THE PART OF PRINCIPALS AT NORTHEAST AND PERRYVILLE.
JUST IN THE SENSE THAT THERE WAS NO REALITY WHERE DR. WILLIAMS AND MR. DOLLINGER HAVE BECOME ABSOLUTE SUPPORTERS.
ABSOLUTE SUPPORTERS, I THINK FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
BUT YEAH, SO IT'S JUST BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THIS WHOLE THE WAY THIS THING HAS EVOLVED AND DEVELOPED.
>> MISS METCALFE, I WANT YOU TO HAVE A OPPORTUNITY HERE.
>> ADDING STUDENT PERSPECTIVE TO THIS, I GOT THE CHANCE TO TALK TO STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS, MOSTLY RISING SUN BECAUSE THAT'S THE SCHOOL I GO TO.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, AT FIRST, IT WAS A LOT OF STUDENTS SAID THEY DIDN'T REALLY CARE AS LONG AS THEY GOT THEIR DIPLOMA.
BUT I DID HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE FIND THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER REALLY APPEALING.
BEFORE THE RISING SUN SENIOR CLASS MEETING, I WAS TALKING TO STUDENTS AROUND ME.
A LOT OF THEM WERE LIKE, "YEAH, PUT MY FACE UP THERE." THEY WANTED THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER, BUT SOME WERE DEFINITELY REALLY AGAINST IT.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CLARIFY THAT THE PRESENTATION THAT MR. MORO GAVE US WAS THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT THE BOARD GOT.
IT WAS VERY BRIEF COMPARED TO THE ONE THAT WE GOT AT THE BOARD.
IT WAS MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LONG.
HE DIDN'T REALLY ADD TO A LOT OF IT.
HE JUST SAID WHAT WAS ON THE PRESENTATION, EXPLAINED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE WENT TO THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER, AND THEN HE DID THE VOTE.
EVIDENTLY, A LOT OF STUDENTS REALLY DO WANT TO HAVE IT AT THE BOB.
I ALSO GOT THE CHANCE TO TALK TO SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE BOB, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY LIKED GRADUATING FROM THERE.
FROM STUDENT PERSPECTIVE, I'VE HEARD MIXED REVIEWS, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM STUDENTS TO GRADUATE AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I WANT TO CALL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION. PLEASE.
>> I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE FOR THE RENTAL OF THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,855.
>> YOU'VE HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. SO MOVED.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> WE HAVE TWO OPPOSED, MOTION CARRIES.
AT THIS TIME, WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPINIONS, YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR COMMENTS, AS ALWAYS, AND MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.