[00:00:02]
IT'S 4:30. IT IS NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025. AND THIS IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
[1. Regular Meeting - 4:30 p.m.]
CECIL COUNTY MEETING CALLING IT TO ORDER. MR.[2. Closed Session]
HAMPTON, DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION? GENERAL PROVISIONS SECOND? OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. WE'RE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I WOULD LIKE TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION.THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY MEETING ON NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025.
PLEASE STAND AS MISS METCALF LEADS US IN THE PLEDGE.
THANK YOU. OUR BOARD REFLECTION, MR. HAMPTON.
THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON.
SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
AYE. LIKE ALL AYES. MOTION CARRIES. CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Consent Agenda]
BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ITEMS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE.REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR A SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND VOTE.
SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL AYES.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT WE HAVE NEW BUSINESS.
[5. New Business]
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO START WITH OUR RECOGNITION OF THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TIGER MARCHING BAND.DOCTOR LAWSON. YES. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE DOCTOR DAVID FOY, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, AS WELL AS DOCTOR DAVE HASTINGS, OUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND THEY WILL LEAD THIS PIECE OF THE AGENDA. GOOD EVENING.
PRESIDENT HAWLEY, MEMBER OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
AT THIS TIME, DOCTOR HASTING WILL PRESENT AND RECOGNIZE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND WHO WON THE TOURNAMENT OF BANDS CHAPTER 9, GROUP 2 A CHAMPION WITH THE PROGRAM ENTITLED WESTERN SIDE STORY.
GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR LAWSON, PRESIDENT HAWLEY. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK HERE TO REPRESENT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FINE ARTS PROGRAMS. THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR WITH ALL COUNTY PERFORMANCES AND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, AS WELL AS ALL COUNTY JAZZ BAND CONCERT THAT'S COMING UP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
STUDENTS FROM EVERY HIGH SCHOOL ARE REPRESENTED IN OUR COMPETITIVE MARCHING BANDS.
CAN I HAVE ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TIGER BAND ALONG WITH DIRECTOR UP HERE, PLEASE.
TONIGHT WE ARE RECOGNIZING ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL BANDS.
ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH, I ATTENDED THE TOURNAMENT OF BANDS CHAPTER 9 CHAMPIONSHIP AT LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL IN DELAWARE, IN WHICH OLIVER BANDS COMPETED. THE CECIL COUNTY BANDS DID WELL, COMPETING AGAINST MANY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS IN MARYLAND AND DELAWARE.
THE RISING SUN TIGER BAND PLACED FIRST IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE 2 WAY REGION.
HERE TO REPRESENT RISING SUN, OUR DRUM MAJOR IS JACOB HEATON, KYLIE KENNY, JACOB BARKER AS WELL AS SECTION LEADERS AND CAPTAINS MAX BOCKLAGE, OLIVIA LUNDY, REGAN REAGAN, BOYKO, BELL YOUNG AND DORY SNYDER.
ALSO PRESENT ARE STAFF MEMBERS DALE AND ASHLEY AMOS, AS WELL AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BAND,
[00:05:04]
MR. ANDREW STEINBERG, WHO IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE AND IN HIS SECOND YEAR OF TEACHING AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RISING SUN TIGER BAND.
DOCTOR HASTINGS, BEFORE SO I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THAT A PIECE OF TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS CELEBRATION OF RECOGNITION OF AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK. AND AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK WAS REALLY DESIGNED TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT HAPPENS IN OUR SCHOOLS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND THE REASON WE HAVE THESE FOLKS UP HERE, FIRST ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT IS BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE SO THEY CAN GO TO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL. SO AS A HANG ON, HANG ON AS NO, THAT'S NOT IT GETS BETTER.
AS A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, THIS EVENT WE INDUCTED KIDS INTERNATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY WAS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE NIGHT OF THE YEAR BECAUSE LET ME AND THIS IS FOR THE AUDIENCE. THESE STUDENTS ARE RECOGNIZED FOR THE FOLLOWING ATTRIBUTES SCHOLARSHIP, SERVICE, LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER AND ELIGIBILITY. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY.
AND MANY MOST OF US IN HERE ARE PARENTS. AND I THINK TO HAVE OUR CHILDREN RATED BY THEIR TEACHERS AND BY THEIR SCHOOLS, TO BE ADMITTED INTO THAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION IS THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT.
THEY PARTICIPATE IN THE MARCHING BAND. THEY PROBABLY WORK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IF NOT, CERTAINLY DURING THE SUMMER. THESE ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WILL BE SITTING UP HERE.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU'RE APPRECIATED AND RECOGNIZE YOU FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MUCH. AND CONGRATULATIONS.[APPLAUSE] I KNOW 4 TIMES. CONGRATULATIONS.[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. GOOD FOR YOU. THANK YOU.
OH. VERY NICE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU OKAY, NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.
I'M GOING TO START WITH OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MS. METCALF. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WELCOME. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ALREADY A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IT HAS FLOWN BY SO INCREDIBLY FAST. FIRST, I ATTENDED THE MABE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OCTOBER 21ST, WHICH OVERALL WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE. THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE, I GOT TO MEET BOARD MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, ATTEND INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ABOUT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, SUCH AS BLUEPRINT AND FOOD AND NUTRITION, AND REALLY CONNECT WITH FELLOW STUDENT MEMBERS, STUDENT [APPLAUSE]EMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M VERY EXCITED TO KEEP WORKING WITH THEM.
EVERYONE THAT I HAVE MET HAS BEEN SUCH A PASSIONATE AND INNOVATIVE STUDENT.
SECOND, I ATTENDED THE JOINT MEETING THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD WITH CECIL COLLEGE.
IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT HOW BOTH CECIL COLLEGE AND CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL LEADERS WORK SO CLOSELY TOGETHER, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE NOTICE, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE CECIL COUNTY COUNCIL OF STUDENT COUNCILS HAD OUR OCTOBER MEETING WHERE WE DISCUSSED STUDENT COUNCIL EVENTS AND GENERATED QUESTIONS FOR OUR ANNUAL BREAKFAST WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP TEAM, WHICH WILL BE NEXT WEEK ON FRIDAY.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT GOES. EVERY STUDENT THERE IS REALLY INTERESTED AND ENGAGED WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS, SO I'M ANTICIPATING THAT MEETING NEXT WEEK. AND LAST NIGHT I ATTENDED THE SECONDARY MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL, ALL COUNTY CHORUS CONCERT, WHICH I WOULD ARGUE WAS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
IT WAS REALLY GOOD. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. YEAH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS METCALF. MR. HAMPTON.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. IT'S NICE TO SEE A LARGE TURNOUT TONIGHT.
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I PARTICIPATED IN BOTH BAINBRIDGE ELEMENTARY AND PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS.IT'S AMAZING HOW DIFFERENT THE NEEDS OF 2 ADJACENT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES CAN BE.
I HAD WONDERFUL VISITS AT CONOWINGO AND PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE] SCHOOLS AND HAD MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND EVEN SOME OF THE STUDENTS I WAS HONORED TO BE INVITED TO AND PARTICIPATE IN NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOLS VETERANS DAY WALK THROUGH.
THE STUDENTS AND STAFF REALLY PUT ON A WELCOMING EVENT, AND I ENJOYED TALKING WITH THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND ALL THE OTHER VETERANS THAT ATTENDED.
JUST BECAUSE CHARLESTOWN ELEMENTARY HAS AN ENROLLMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 300 STUDENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON. MR. FERDINANDO.
ALL RIGHT. SO THIS YEAR'S BEEN. I'M WITH YOU.
SO I'M SLIGHTLY DISCONNECTED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SCHOOL LIFE.
BUT I'VE ATTENDED MORE SPORTING EVENTS THIS YEAR THAN I EVER HAVE BEFORE.
FOR SOME REASON. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS, BUT I'M GOING WITH MY WIFE.
LIKE BACK IN 1995 WE HAD OUR 30 YEAR RISING SON GRADUATION EVENT, AND I MISSED IT, UNFORTUNATELY FOR WORK, BUT I HEARD IT WENT OFF WELL RISING SUN ALSO HOSTED AN EVENT CALLED FIELDS OF FAITH AT THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL WAS HOSTED BY FCA, WHICH I DID GET A CHANCE TO GO TO, AND WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR STUDENTS SPEAKERS WHO DID A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT. AND THEN LASTLY, TO CLOSE THIS OFF, YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT YOUR NAILS.
AND SO YOU NEED TO SHOW PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THOSE NAILS ARE FIRE.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT THAT DONE, BUT YOU SHOULD SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRLS NAILS. SO ANYWAY, I HAD TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THEY LOOK AMAZING. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. LIKE SQUIRREL, WHAT I DID, I NOTICED THEM AS WELL.
YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY NICE. THEY'RE REALLY NICE.
THANK YOU. MR. FERDINANDO. MISS HEATH. JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE MABE ANNUAL CONFERENCE WHERE OUR VERY OWN DIANA HAWLEY WAS ELECTED THE PRESIDENT OF MABE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO WE HAVE.
[APPLAUSE] I ALSO WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRUNK OR TREAT IN SEASON, WHICH WAS SO FUN.
I THINK THERE WAS A THOUSAND KIDS THERE. I MEAN, IT WAS IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE AND A GREAT NIGHT.
AND THEN I, WE, WE HAD OUR WORK SESSION WITH CECIL COLLEGE, WHICH WE DO EVERY YEAR 2 WEEKS AGO, WHERE WE JUST MEET WITH ALL THE ADMINISTRATION FROM OR THE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CECIL COLLEGE.
AND WE'RE ABLE TO TO JUST TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE, THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. SO THAT'S A LOT OF FUN EVERY YEAR THAT WE GET TO DO THAT.
AND I'M GOING TO PUT MY PLUG OUT THERE AGAIN, THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY FREE TIME AT ALL PLEASE GET INTO OUR SCHOOLS, VOLUNTEER. YOU CAN DO AN HOUR IN THE LUNCHROOM JUST TO HELP THE LITTLE ONES OPEN THEIR MILK.
YOU CAN GO IN THE CLASSROOM. YOU CAN TUTOR OR MENTOR A KID.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU IN THE CLASSROOMS. SO THAT'S IT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. I'M NOT SURE IF VOLUNTEERING IN THE LUNCHROOM IS EVERYONE'S DREAM, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET LOTS OF SO I DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
LOTS OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. I'VE ALSO BEEN IN SCHOOLS AND VOLUNTEERING AND MEETINGS WHICH AREN'T AS FUN, BUT TOWARD THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. HIGH SCHOOL? A COUPLE TIMES, ACTUALLY, AS MANY TIMES AS I CAN, I GO THERE.
THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEING MADE THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE GUYS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE BY, BUT THE PROGRESS IS JUST FANTASTIC, AND IT'S JUST AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THAT SITE AND SEE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.
IT'S JUST ENORMOUS AND IT'S AMAZING. IT'S GOING TO BE AMAZING.
SO IT'S VERY EXCITING FOR OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO FOR OUR COUNTY.
THE MABE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AS MISS HEATH MENTIONED.
MISS HEATH, I'M GOING TO THROW IT RIGHT BACK AT HER.
MISS HEATH WAS ALSO. I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER.
SHE WAS ONCE AGAIN SELECTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR MABE.
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AND THE COMMITTEE DECIDING WAS NO CECIL COUNTY PEOPLE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.BUT IT'S JUST REALLY A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK AND PASSION THAT SHE PUTS INTO STUDENTS IN SCHOOLS, NOT JUST ON THE LOCAL LEVEL, BUT AT THE STATE LEVEL AS WELL.
SO I WAS ALSO REALLY PROUD OF MISS METCALF FOR HAVING THE INITIATIVE AND FOR HER ATTENDANCE AT THE CONFERENCE AND FOR HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH OTHER STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ACROSS THE STATE.
IT REALLY IS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE. SO GOOD JOB.
OPEN MEETINGS, ACT TRAINING. EXCITING STUFF. RIGHT? MR. HAMPTON IS NOW CERTIFIED. HE ATTENDED A TRAINING.
I WAS THERE AS WELL. SAME WITH MISS OLSON. BUT BASICALLY, THAT MEANS ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOW CERTIFIED IN OPEN MEETINGS, ACT TRAINING. AND IT'S A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE THAT AT LEAST ONE BOARD MEMBER IS CERTIFIED.
SO ALL OF US ARE NOW. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT LOVELY CERTIFICATION.
BUT LEARNING AND TRAINING IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS A BIG DEAL. STATE BOARD MEETING I WAS THERE, HAD TO TESTIFY REGARDING A REGULATION THAT THE STATE BOARD IS PUBLISHING REGARDING LOCAL BOARD MEETINGS AND AND MABE AND LOCAL BOARDS TEND TO OPPOSE MEASURES WHERE WE FEEL LIKE OUR.
THE STATE BOARD IS ENCROACHING ON LOCAL CONTROL.
SO I WAS THERE AND I DID THAT. VETERANS DAY, MR. HAMPTON MENTIONED VETERANS DAY. YESTERDAY WAS VETERANS DAY.
AND I JUST THINK, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF SYSTEMS OTHER STATES MIGHT NOT HAVE SCHOOL ON VETERANS DAY, BUT I THINK IT'S A REALLY COOL THING THAT WE DO, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO SEE THE SCHOOLS AND THE STUDENTS RECOGNIZE AND HONOR AND CELEBRATE OUR VETERANS. I JUST I KNOW MY MY DAD IS A VET.
MY GRANDFATHER WAS A VET. IT'S A SACRIFICE. AND I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE WHO'VE SERVED OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING MR. HAMPTON AND MR. DAVIS, WHO'S NOT WITH US TONIGHT.
THROUGHOUT THE, THE COUNTY. LAST MONTH I MENTIONED LIVE FOR THOMAS ORGANIZATION AND IRONICALLY, TONIGHT YOU'RE HERE. BUT I REALLY AM EXCITED TO CELEBRATE YOU GUYS TONIGHT AND THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO WITH STUDENTS IN OUR COUNTY, SURROUNDING ISSUES OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION, IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THANK YOU, MISS HALL.
JUST A FEW THINGS. 1, AS I MENTIONED A LITTLE WHILE AGO, THIS IS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK.
WE'RE CELEBRATING THAT. AND YOU KNOW, I REALLY, REALLY TRY TO PRIDE MYSELF ON SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S VOLUNTEERING, BUT I'M IN A 6TH GRADE CLASSROOM ONCE A WEEK AT BOHEMIAN MANOR.
THIS YEAR, I'VE SELECTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS TO BE MY, YOU KNOW, LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
AND IT IS AGAIN, A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER.
SO THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THIS LANGUAGE ARTS STUFF DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME EASY TO ME, BUT BUT YOU LEARN AND, YOU KNOW, EACH YEAR WE HAVE A COUPLE MEETINGS WITH IT'S CALLED A SUPERINTENDENTS TEACHING AND LEARNING COUNCIL. AND IT'S ABOUT 15 TO 20 TEACHERS FOR ELEMENTARY FOR A HALF DAY AND THEN SECONDARY FOR A HALF DAY. AND IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO LEARN FROM THEM, THE THINGS THEY'RE SEEING, THE THINGS THEY'RE DEALING WITH, BECAUSE IT HELPS SHAPE MY, OUR PRIORITIES.
AND AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A WAY FOR ME TO STAY GROUNDED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU SAW THESE YOUNG PEOPLE OVER HERE TO YOUR RIGHT A LITTLE WHILE AGO. SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, JUST SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF.
IF YOU ALLOW SOCIAL MEDIA TO DEFINE PUBLIC EDUCATION JUST DOESN'T DO OUR INDUSTRY JUSTICE.
YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND SEE SCHOOLS AND SIT AND WATCH THESE CLASSROOMS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE INSPIRED. REALLY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING EVERY DAY.
2 WEEKS AGO I WENT TO. IT'S CALLED MS IN MARYLAND NEGOTIATING SERVICES.
[00:20:03]
SO WE'RE OPTIMISTIC ON THAT FRONT. AND THEN FINALLY SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT LAST TUESDAY NIGHT, IT MAY HAVE BEEN AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL BUILDING, THERE WAS A RATHER LARGE TURNOUT TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE PROSPECTS OF A FIELD HOUSE BEING CONSTRUCTED. THE SITE IS KIND OF A TO BE DETERMINED.YOU'RE HEARING WHETHER IT'S CALVERT, WHETHER IT'S THE COLLEGE, MAYBE SOME PLACE CLOSER TO ELKTON, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE COUNTY IS VERY INTERESTED IN CONSTRUCTING A ANYWHERE FROM 65,000 TO 85,000FT² INDOOR TRACK THAT WOULD HAVE SIX LANES AND BE ABLE TO HOST INDOOR TRACK MEETS. IT WOULD HAVE ATHLETIC ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELDS IN ON THE INFIELD OF THE TRACK, AND THAT'S QUITE THE UNDERTAKING. SO I GIVE COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR BUILDING THAT KIND OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE SEE SO MANY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP THEM HERE, IS TO KEEP THEM HERE, YOU KNOW, DO WELL IN SCHOOL, GO AWAY, DO YOUR COLLEGE THING, BUT COME BACK. COME BACK AND STAY HERE.
RAISE A FAMILY HERE. AND IT'S FOR THE BEST OF THE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. FANTASTIC. I AGREE, THANK YOU.
OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS, MISS RINGO, CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
WELCOME. YES. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT HAWLEY, DOCTOR LAWSON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.
I LOOKED IT UP TO MAKE SURE I WAS GETTING THIS RIGHT.
SO IN WORLD WAR 1 THE OFFICIAL DAY THAT ENDED WAS THE 11TH HOUR OF THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11TH MONTH.
SO WHEN THEY SIGNED ARMISTICE TREATY, SO CALLED ARMISTICE DAY AND IN 1954 IT WAS CHANGED TO VETERANS DAY AT THE URGING OF VETERANS SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS TO HONOR ESPECIALLY ALL OF THOSE WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR TWO AND THEN WORLD WAR 1 AND ALL FUTURE VETERANS.
AND SO THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE.
NEXT WEEK IS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK. AGAIN, IT WAS CREATED BY THE NEA AND VETERANS ASSOCIATIONS TO HONOR AND SUPPORT AND PROMOTE PUBLIC EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY IN A TIME WHERE NOT EVERYONE WAS GETTING AS MUCH EDUCATION AS THEY NEEDED TO BE SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
IT IS PUBLIC SCHOOL, SO IT'S PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE ALL CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO ATTEND AND WE WANT THEM TO ATTEND, BUT IT'S ALSO PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN IT TOGETHER, RIGHT? IT TOTALLY TAKES A VILLAGE. AND SO AS AS YOU SAID, WE NEED VOLUNTEERS.
OUR KIDS NEED MORE SUPPORT AND HELP THAN EVER BEFORE.
THEY MIGHT NOT BE GETTING AS MUCH SUPPORT AS HOME BECAUSE PARENTS MIGHT NOT BE ABLE, LIKE WE HAVE MORE FOLKS TO 2 PARENT FAMILIES, TWO PARENT JOBS. FOLKS ARE WORKING DOUBLE OVER OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.
GRANDPARENTS ARE RAISING KIDS AND KIDS JUST NEED MORE HELP AND SUPPORT.
SO WHETHER IT'S OPENING THOSE MILK CARTONS, WHETHER IT'S HELPING WITH MATH FACTS, WHETHER IT IS HELPING KIDS ORGANIZE THEIR BINDERS, BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS WERE STRUGGLING ON ORGANIZATION.
YOU KNOW, IF IT'S PRACTICING READING TO SOMEBODY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EXPERT SKILLS.
WHAT SKILL YOU HAVE TO HAVE IS TO CARE ABOUT KIDS AND WANT TO HELP THEM.
AND SO EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT. SO WE CAN TAKE ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO HELP.
WE WILL FIND A SPOT FOR YOU. AND SO WITH THE END OF THAT, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.
NOVEMBER IS ABOUT BEING THANKFUL, FOCUSING ON WHAT YOU'RE THANKFUL FOR.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE RIGHT NOW. RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE HURTING, THAT ARE SUFFERING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M THANKFUL FOR IS THAT WE DO HAVE A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT KIDS AND WHO CARE ABOUT NEIGHBORS.
YOU GO INTO LITTLE NEIGHBORHOODS, BACKWOODS ROADS.
THERE ARE LITTLE FOOD PANTRIES SET UP AT THE END OF PEOPLE'S DRIVEWAYS NEAR PARKS.
EVERYBODY IS DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO SUPPORT. WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR HOMELESS SHELTERS AND OUR COMMUNITY KITCHENS AND COLLECTING FOR FOLKS WHEN YOU KNOW THERE ARE FIRES AND ACCIDENTS AND THINGS, PEOPLE HERE REALLY CARE AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT EVERYWHERE.
SO IF WE CAN JUST LIKE CONNECT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.
IF WE CAN EXPAND WHO OUR NEIGHBORS ARE SO THAT WE'RE ALL CARING ABOUT EVERYBODY.
[00:25:08]
DIVIDING UP. SO THAT WOULD BE MY REQUEST THAT AS WE CONSIDER WHAT WE'RE THANKFUL FOR AND THE FOLKS THAT HAVE HELPED US, THAT WE ALSO LOOK OUT AND SEE WHO WE CAN HELP.THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS RENKO. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT.
DOCTOR LAWSON. IT'S TIME FOR PICTURES. DOCTOR TED BOYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, AND MR. CHUCK SIMPERS HAVE PUT OUR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, HAVE PUT TOGETHER AN UPDATE ON OUR VARIOUS PROJECTS.
THAT IS THE AUDITORIUM, RIGHT? THIS WILL BE THE LOCKER ROOM AREA, BUT IT'S MULTI FLOOR.
THERE WILL BE 1 KITCHEN AND 2 CAFETERIAS. A LOT OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
AND IT USED TO BE THE PRACTICE LACROSSE FOOTBALL FIELD.
AND WHEN THEY STARTED DIGGING, THEY REALIZED THERE'S A BUNCH OF CLEAN FILL THERE.
SO THEY COULDN'T USE IT AS A PARKING LOT. THEY HAD TO DIG OUT UPWARDS OF 6 FEET WORTH OF DIRT AND STUFF, AND PUT IN GOOD DIRT AND PACK IT DOWN FOR THE PARKING LOT TO THE TUNE OF JUST UNDER $800,000 CHANGE ORDER KIND OF THING.
SO REALLY COMING ALONG THIS IS WHERE THE BUSSES WILL COME IN.
THEY'LL DROP KIDS OFF. IT'S GOING TO BE A COURTYARD IN HERE.
BEAUTIFUL SKY. MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS OUT HERE.
THERE ARE ALSO GEOTHERMAL PIPES THAT GO UNDERGROUND HERE, THAT COOL WATER.
THAT'S A WALKWAY THAT'S GOING TO GO BACK TO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S GOING TO BE BUILT OUT IN HERE SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? AND NOW CONSIDERABLY LESS SEXY, BUT NONETHELESS VERY IMPORTANT TO CECILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
IT'S A NEW HEATING SYSTEM. NEW BOILER SYSTEM.
THAT PART OF THE COUNTY NOW HAS ACCESS TO NATURAL GAS, SO THEIR HEATING WILL CONVERT TO NATURAL GAS.
AND THAT IS A PRETTY SNAZZY. THERE WE GO AGAIN.
I MEAN, THIS IS THE KIND OF STUFF THAT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE GO, WOW. BUT I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S CRITICAL FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND AND TO HAVE A COUNTY GOVERNMENT THAT IS IN A PLACE WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE SUPPORTING US IN THIS KIND OF STUFF IS.
AND JUST A TIP OF THE CAP TO ERICA BERG, WHO IS HERE.
SHE'S A CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR DELEGATE SEAT IN 2026.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT. THIS IS THAT'S BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SO ON THE OTHER SIDE WHERE WE ARE, IF YOU GO UP ONE, THIS IS THE MATERIAL FOR A NEW ROOF AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CENTER.
AND THAT NOW THAT EQUIPMENT'S ON TOP OF THAT ROOF.
IT'S THE OLD SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY IS WHAT IT IS.
SITS UP THERE IN BAYVIEW. GO AHEAD. AND THERE IT IS.
DO WE KNOW? I'M SORRY, DOCTOR BOYER BUCKLEY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT THAT WE KNOW AN ETA ON THE TIMELINE FOR THIS TO FINISH THE ROOF IS DECEMBER? GREAT, GREAT. OKAY. KEEP GOING. THAT'S IT.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? BOARD. HAVE QUESTIONS? OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU.
AND NOW I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE MONTH LIVE FOR THOMAS FOUNDATION.
DOCTOR LAWSON. DO YOU WANT TO. SO AT THIS TIME, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, WILL YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JOIN MISS HAWLEY OVER THERE? DOCTOR AMY OCASIO, THE CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF LIVE FOR THOMAS MICHAELA OCASIO.
AND WHEN I FIRST SAW HER, I THOUGHT SHE WAS AN 8TH GRADER FROM THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. BUT SHE'S NOT. I LEARNED KELLY ZIMMERMAN MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS COORDINATOR DANIELLE HEFFNER, DEN, 22, PROGRAM MANAGER, APRIL MANOR, TREASURER, ADOLESCENCE LIFE GROUP FACILITATOR ANGELINA BATTAGLIA, BOARD MEMBER. TEDDY JOHNSON, BOARD MEMBER, NEIL JENNINGS, BOARD MEMBER.
[00:30:05]
AND JOHN ROUSH, WHO IS HERE WITH US. HE IS ALSO OUR DIRECTOR FOR STUDENT AND SCHOOL SAFETY.THROUGH YOUR DEDICATION AND COMPASSION, OUR STUDENTS HAVE GREATLY BENEFITED FROM YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TALKS, WHICH HAVE EMPOWERED OUR ATHLETES WITH VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE, RESILIENCE AND SUPPORT.
THE POWER OF EXPRESSION PROGRAM HAS BROUGHT MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR SELF-DISCOVERY AND CREATIVITY TO OUR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS, FOSTERING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND CONNECTION.
THESE INITIATIVES HAVE CREATED SAFE SPACES AND PEER LED SUPPORTS FROM FROM PEERS FOR OUR YOUTH.
THANK YOU FOR THE CARE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO PROVIDE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.[APPLAUSE] WORTH LOOKING AT, RIGHT? YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. OH, I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU.
HI, GUYS. THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. THANKS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES I REMEMBER.
AGENDA ITEM 507, THE EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY, I. WHERE I GO, THERE YOU GO, WHERE I GO. IT'S OVER THERE. YEAH.
IF YOU EVER WONDERED HOW THE SAUSAGE IS MADE, I DON'T LIKE.
I READ MOST OF THIS. I'M NOT JUST. IT'S NOT HERE.
IT'S NOT EVERYTHING OFF. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY CONTINUE THE CONTRACT WITH BUSINESS HEALTH SERVICES AS OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR 3 YEARS BEGINNING JULY 1ST, 2026.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION. SO YOU JUST SAID, DOCTOR LAWSON, THAT THIS THIS CONTRACT WOULD BEGIN NEXT JULY, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR WITH OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS.
WHAT YEAR IS IT COMING OUT OF THIS YEAR'S FUNDS, OR WOULD IT BE COMING OUT OF THAT FY 27? IT'S A RECURRING.
THIS FOR THE NEXT YEAR WOULD BE ROLLED UP IN FY 27 BUDGET REQUEST.
YES, YES. AND IT'S RECURRING AND IT'S A GROUP WE'VE USED HISTORICALLY, SO IT'S A RECURRING LINE ITEM EACH YEAR, CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, JUST UPPING THE CONTRACT. THANK YOU.
MISS HOPE HAS THIS BAKED INTO FIXED CHARGES OR IS THIS STANDALONE? YES IT IS. OKAY. SO IT'S A PIECE OF THE FIXED CHARGES LINE.
OKAY. THERE WAS A MOTION. THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
WAIT A SECOND. PULLING IT AFTER LAWSON. YES. OKAY.
508, NUMBER 25-17, CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT REBID.
[00:35:02]
DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY. THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING PROJECT.THIS WILL BE A $4.5 MILLION PROJECT. THAT IS A COMPLETE REVAMP OF THE ENTIRE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM AT CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR FOR JUST UNDER $4.5 MILLION. AND SO ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PROJECT OR THE FUNDING THAT WE CAN ADDRESS BEFORE I READ THE RECOMMENDATION? I THINK THIS IS MORE FOR THE THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS PROJECT AND THE ASSOCIATED FUNDS WERE APPROVED IN FY 26 CAPITAL BUDGET. SO TONIGHT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH EXISTING FUNDS SO THAT THAT WORK CAN BEGIN.
THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARD A CONTRACT TO BMC SERVICES, LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,479,000. DOCTOR LAWSON MADE A RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I DIDN'T THINK SO.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE. ALL EYES. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE AWARD OF THE CCPS RFP, NUMBER 26-0 FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT AND SUPPORT FOR K-8 SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MTSS DOCTOR LAWSON.
EXCUSE ME, $99,500. OKAY. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION? MR. HAMPTON? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS A I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE EXPERTISE TO DO THIS IS IN-HOUSE.
HOWEVER, THE ADVANTAGE OF BRINGING IN AN OUTSIDE GROUP IS THAT WHEN THEY'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? IT'S CLOSE. SO THIS IS THESE ARE FUNDS THAT WERE AWARDED TO US THROUGH A READ AND LEAD GRANT THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT IS BASED ON FEDERAL FUNDS THAT ARE COMING OUR WAY.
THEIR GOAL IS TO MAKE SYSTEMATIC OUR PROCESSES ACROSS THE DISTRICT WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US.
THERE IS A LOT OF EXPERTISE ALREADY IN OUR SYSTEM.
SO OUR GOAL IS TO SUPPORT EACH SCHOOL WHERE THEY ARE AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE SYSTEMS IN PLACE TO MEET STUDENTS NEEDS IN A TIERED AND A TIERED APPROACH. AND THIS IS PART OF A $5 MILLION GRANT, WHICH WAS, I GUESS WE LEARNED PROBABLY A 2 OR 3 MONTHS AGO.
WE WERE AWARDED BY THE STATE, AND IT WAS THE SECOND LARGEST GRANT AMOUNT IN THE STATE.
SO WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO GET THIS LARGE NUMBER.
OTHER QUESTIONS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE OUR 2025-2026 PROPOSED CALENDAR REVISION. DOCTOR LAWSON. BEFORE I READ THE RECOMMENDATION, JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME QUICK BACKGROUND, IS THAT THIS IS A FUNCTION OF THE THE POSSIBILITY THAT OUR SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY GRADUATION MAY BE AT 1:00 IN THE AFTERNOON ON THAT DAY. SO WE HAVE DECIDED THAT IN THE EVENT THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL PROVIDE A HALF DAY FOR THE COUNTY.
THAT IS THE WEEK AFTER. EXCUSE ME, MEMORIAL DAY.
AND THIS IS COMING THROUGH AS A CALENDAR CHANGE.
AND TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE DO NEED BOARD APPROVAL.
AND SO IF THERE ARE ANY CLARIFICATIONS OR QUESTIONS YOU ALL MAY HAVE.
BECAUSE, AS YOU SUSPECT, I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IN FRONT OF ME.
SO NO MATTER WHAT TIME THE GRADUATION IS, WE ARE DOING THE HALF DAY.
AND IF THEY ARE, WE GET BUMPED TO THE DAY AND WE KIND OF KNEW THIS GOING IN.
AND THEN THERE'S A CONCERT. I RECOMMENDED. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVED THE REQUEST TO REVISE THE 2025 2026 SCHOOL CALENDAR BY ADDING AN EARLY DISMISSAL DAY ON FRIDAY, MAY 29TH, 2026.
IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS?
[00:40:06]
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.AND I'M LOOKING FOR THE CLICKER. THERE WE GO.
THANK YOU. SO THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
SEEING THAT OUR ADDITION TO REVENUE EQUALS OUR ADDITION TO EXPENSE.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE SOME ADDITIONS TO RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.
MOST OF THIS RELATED TO THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND TO CATCH YOUR BREATH NO VAPING.
SO THESE ARE BOTH FROM THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND THEN A DRIVER'S EDUCATION GRANT.
SO THESE ARE STATE EDITIONS OF REVENUE THAT TOTAL $136,483.
THE NEXT SECTION WITH RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE, RELATES RIGHT BACK TO 1 OF THE QUESTIONS THAT MR. HAMPTON JUST ASKED. AND SO THIS READ AND LEAD GRANT THAT DOCTOR LAWSON ALLUDED TO, WHICH IS $5 MILLION OVER 5 YEARS.
SO WE HAVE RECEIVED YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2 FUNDING.
SO YOU DO SEE A SMALL EARLY CHILDHOOD GRANT HERE, A SMALL INCREASE IN TITLE 2 ALLOCATION.
AND THEN THESE LAST 4 ARE RELATED TO THE READ AND LEAD GRANT YEARS 1 AND 2.
AND THEN HERE WE HAVE SOME CHANGES TO RESTRICTED UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
AND SO THERE ARE SOME ITEMS THAT ARE USE OF FUND BALANCE.
THE 1ST 1 IS LEEDS ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND WHICH WAS IN DIRE NEED OF REPAIR.
AND WE DID HAVE IN OUR FUND BALANCE A AN ASSIGNMENT OF $1 MILLION FOR NECESSARY MAINTENANCE OR EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE, SMALL CAP PROJECTS. AND SO THAT IS PART OF THAT AMOUNT FROM THE FUND BALANCE.
THESE 3 PROJECTS, THE LEEDS ELEMENTARY WATER TREATMENT, THE RISING SUN FIRE PANEL AND THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY HVAC CONTROL WERE APPROVED LAST YEAR IN FY 25, BUT THE PROJECTS WERE NOT COMPLETED IN 25.
AND SO THAT MONEY GOES BACK TO THE FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN HERE WE DO HAVE A USE OF THE FUND BALANCE TO HIRE 20 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS AND 12 PARENTS.
SO BASED ON CLASS SIZE ISSUES AND NEEDS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES, THOSE POSITIONS WERE ADDED, WHICH IS FROM OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN THE LAST FEW ARE DONATIONS FROM STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS.
SO SCHOOLS USING STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO PURCHASE THINGS FOR STUDENTS FOR SCHOOLS.
AND THIS TOTAL IS ABOUT $2.9 MILLION. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE PAGES.
YEAH, I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE USE OF THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE LEEDS ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND, JUST AS A CLARIFICATION THAT THAT 144 145,000 IS FROM 2 SEPARATE EFFORTS.
RIGHT? SO LAST MONTH WE APPROVED THE PROCUREMENT INSTALLATION OF NEW PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, AND THEN THERE'S SOME REPAVING OF PART OF THE PLAYGROUND.
THERE'S A PAVED SURFACE FOR PLAYING FOR THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOURSQUARE OR KICKBALL.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT PAGES OF THE REPORT ARE FAIRLY STANDARD.
AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL OF THE ACTUAL INS AND OUTS OF THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
AND THE NEXT FEW PAGES, AGAIN, ARE UNRESTRICTED, RESTRICTED AND TOTAL BUDGET.
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO HIGHLIGHT.
I HAVEN'T HIGHLIGHTED IN THIS THE 3 YEAR REVIEW.
I'M SORRY. SURE. YEAH. WE'RE BOTH GOING TO ASK THE SAME QUESTION.
SO BACK TO THE LEEDS PLAYGROUND. I THINK I THINK IT WAS 144,000 AND CHANGE.
REFRESH MY MEMORY. DID THAT INCLUDE THE 35 GRANT THAT THE VENDOR PROVIDED TO US? SO THAT'S REALLY 179 OR IS IT 144 LESS 35. SO THAT TOTAL THERE WAS AFTER THE GRANT FROM THE VENDOR OF THE 35,000. SO WE DID 44 PLUS THE 30 SOMETHING. SO IT'S ACTUALLY WORTH ANOTHER $35,000.
BUT WE RECEIVED THAT GRANT REDUCING OUR CAUSE.
[00:45:01]
WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD A SPECIAL MEETING ABOUT? YES. TO APPROVE THAT. SPECIFICALLY FOR THE PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT.BUT THE WHAT MAKES IT 145 THIS MONTH IS 32,000 FOR PAVING.
CORRECT. THANK YOU, MISS SOPA. SORRY TO INTERRUPT YOU.
HEARD THE RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
SECOND. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
FISCAL YEAR 2026 CAPITAL, HOLD ON CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENT.
1 IS THAT WE HAVE SOME PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROJECTS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND BY COUNTY COUNCIL AND FUNDED, AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS CAME IN LOWER THAN EXPECTED.
SOME CAME IN HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. SO IT IS TAKING THE PROJECTS THAT WERE ALREADY APPROVED WITH THE BUDGET THAT WAS APPROVED FROM COUNCIL AND REARRANGING THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN COVER THE COST OF THE PROJECTS AND INCLUDING.
SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO BLOW THIS UP, BUT THIS DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COOPERATING WITH ME TODAY.
AND ADDING FOR THE ASC ROOF. THIS $364,000 FROM ESTATE FUNDS TO FUND THE BALANCE OF THIS PROJECT. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE FOR THE ROOF WAS 750,000.
DOCTOR LAWSON MENTIONED EARLIER IT WAS THE OLD SCHOOL OF TECH ROOF, WITH LOTS OF COMPONENTS ON THE BUILDING THAT REQUIRED A MORE COMPLICATED ROOF PROJECT THAN WE ANTICIPATED. SO IT CAME IN WAY ABOVE BUDGET.
THIS LEAVES THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY HERE THAT WE WOULD COVER AND A STATE FUNDS JUST TO EXPLAIN THOSE IS THAT WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY AND EITHER THEY HAVE A WILL AND THEY LEAVE THEIR FUNDS TO CCPS OR THEY DON'T HAVE 1, AND THEY'RE UNABLE TO FIND THE ERRORS THAT WILL EARN SUCH MONEY.
IT COMES TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IT COMES TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD THOSE FUNDS FOR EITHER 3 YEARS, FROM THE DATE OF DEATH OR 1 YEAR FROM THE DATE OF DISTRIBUTION, WHICHEVER IS LONGER.
AND SO WE DO HAVE A POT OF MONEY THAT WE ARE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AS REVENUE, BECAUSE IT HAS HIT THAT CUTOFF WHERE WE NO LONGER HAVE TO HOLD IT IN CASE A FAMILY MEMBER COMES FORWARD, AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO USE THOSE FUNDS TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE ROOF SO THAT WE CAN FINISH THE ASC ROOF WITH WHAT WAS PERMITTED BY COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND THIS MONEY. THIS ALSO ADDS SOME PROJECTS THAT YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM HERE WHICH ARE BADGE SWIPES, PROXIMITY LOCKS AT A MAJORITY OF OUR SCHOOLS.
AND SO THAT IS A STATE SCHOOL SAFETY GRANT. SO THAT IS ALSO PART OF THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT.
AND THE OTHER CHANGE THAT YOU'LL SEE AT THE TOP, AND THIS WAS A DISCUSSION WITH THE CECIL MANOR HVAC WHEN WE APPROVED THIS BUDGET AT THE BEGINNING OF FY 26 THERE WAS A $2.6 MILLION STATE AMOUNT, AND THERE WAS A $1.3 MILLION COUNTY BOND AMOUNT, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER $792,000 THAT WAS NEEDED TO FINISH THE PROJECT.
AND IT WAS IN THE FUTURE FUNDING COLUMN, AND WE REQUESTED IT FROM THE STATE AND IT WAS DENIED.
AND SO IN WORKING WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHERE OUR ELK ROOF CAME IN LOW, TAKING SOME OF THE BALANCE OF THAT PROJECT FROM THE ROOF TO APPLY TO THE HVAC SO THAT WE DON'T LOSE THE $2.6 MILLION IN $2.6 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING SO THAT THIS PROJECT CAN BE COMPLETED.
AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A COOPERATIVE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THIS MOVING MONEY AROUND IF WE'RE BECAUSE WHEN WE ESTIMATE WHAT A ROOF IS GOING TO COST FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING, WE CAN DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO GET AN ACCURATE NUMBER.
THEN THE QUESTION BECOMES WHAT DO YOU DO WITH EITHER THE SURPLUS OR THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE SHORT? AND YOU KNOW, IN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, WE RELY ON THE COUNTY TO TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND ALLOW US TO MOVE MONEY AROUND BASED ON THE OUTCOME OF A PROJECT.
AND AND THAT'S A NEW VERY RECEPTIVE TO THIS. THIS IS A NEW THING FOR US.
SO IT'S I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE COUNTY IS WILLING TO DO THAT.
[00:50:03]
AND IT SOMETIMES ALLOWS US TO GET MORE PROJECTS DONE.AND IT WAS AN OLD THING THAT BECAME NEW AGAIN. WELL, OKAY.
THAT'S RIGHT. [LAUGHTER] IT HAD BEEN IT WAS IT WAS THE WAY IT'S A STANDARD THING.
IT WAS A STANDARD STANDARD AND NOW IS STANDARD FOR YEARS A LITTLE WHILE.
QUESTIONS? I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. SO YEAH, JUST A GENERAL QUESTION.
AND EACH MONTH, MAYBE MORE SO THIS MONTH, THE VALUE OF THOSE, THE LARGE CAP AND SMALL CAP TOTALS, CHANGES BASED ON IF IT COSTS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED OR IT COSTS MORE THAN ANTICIPATED.
BUT ALSO COMPLICATING THAT IS SOME OF OUR FUNDING SOURCES HAVE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS OF WHAT IS LARGE CAP AND SMALL CAP, AND DOES THAT IMPACT WHERE THAT MONEY GOES? OR WE JUST LOOK AT THE OVERALL CAPITAL BUDGET? SO THE WAY WE CLASSIFY PROJECTS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM THE COUNTY.
SO YOU SEE OUR LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, OUR PROJECTS THAT HAVE STATE IAC CONSTRUCTION FUNDING MONEY AND COUNTY FUNDING MONEY, THESE ARE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS THAT WE CONSIDER A LARGE CAP.
ANYTHING THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE'RE FUNDING FROM OUR FROM FROM THE COUNTY SPECIFICALLY OR ANY OF THE SMALLER GREAT GRANTS LIKE THE SAFE SCHOOLS GRANTS FROM THE STATES OR THE HEALTHY SCHOOLS FACILITIES GRANTS BECOME PART OF OUR SMALL CAP.
BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS FOR US, THIS IS ALL OUR CAPITAL BUDGET.
IT'S ALL IN FUN. 30 WE JUST CLASSIFY THESE PROJECTS AS SMALL AND LARGE.
THE COUNTY HAS A CIP BUDGET WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM THEIR OPERATING BUDGET.
IS THEIR OPERATING MONEY. THEY CALL IT PAYGO BECAUSE IT'S OPERATING MONEY.
SO AND AND THAT'S WHAT IS THEIR CHOICE. YES. THE COUNTY CAN ISSUE BONDS TO SELL.
BUT YEAH, IT'S EITHER COMING FROM BONDS OR THEIR OPERATING MONEY, BUT THEY'RE CLASSIFYING SOME OF WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING, A SMALL PROJECT LIKE THE ROOF OR THE PERRYVILLE FIELD HOUSE, THE SCHOOL OF TECH CHILLER, THOSE ARE IN THEIR CAPITAL BUDGET.
WE'RE CALLING THEM SMALL CAP. BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY JUST THE WORDS THAT WE'RE USING.
WE ALL HAVE THEM IN OUR CAPITAL BUDGETS, WHICH IS SEPARATE FROM OUR OPERATING BUDGETS.
CORRECT. WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CAPITAL BUDGET? DOES A SURPLUS CAN WE? IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET THERE'S NOT 1 BECAUSE THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS REIMBURSABLE.
SO WE BUILD, WE BUILD, WE BUILD, WE GET REIMBURSED.
SO WE PAY UP FRONT AND THEN WE GET REIMBURSED.
THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THERE IS NO FUND BALANCE WITH CIP.
OTHER QUESTIONS. GO AHEAD. RECOMMENDATION I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE FY 26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AMENDMENT BY 400. EXCUSE ME. $542,842 FOR A TOTAL OF FY 26 CAPITAL BUDGET OF $37,867,747. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU, MISS SOPA.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. WE HAVE 1 PERSON WHO REGISTERED TO SPEAK.
[6. Public Participation]
I DON'T BELIEVE WE NEED TO READ THE RULES OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.CONSIDERING YOU HAVE THEM PROBABLY MEMORIZED IN YOUR HEAD.
SO, MR. BRIM, SHAUN BRIM, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
IN FLANDERS FIELDS, WHERE THE POPPIES BLOW BETWEEN THE CROSSES.
ROW ON ROW THAT MARK OUR PLACE. AND IN THE SKY THE LARKS STILL BRAVELY SINGING.
FLY SCARCE HEARD AMID THE GUNS BELOW. WE ARE THE DEAD.
SHORT DAYS AGO WE LIVED, FELT DAWN. SAW SUNSET GLOW.
LOVED AND WERE LOVED. AND NOW WE LIE IN FLANDERS FIELDS.
TAKE UP OUR QUARREL WITH THE FOE. TO YOU FROM FALLING HANDS.
[00:55:03]
WE THROW THE TORCH. BE YOURS TO HOLD ON HIGH.IF YOU BREAK FAITH WITH US WHO DIE. WE SHALL NOT SLEEP.
THOUGH POPPIES GROW IN FLANDERS FIELDS. WORLD WAR 1 IS THE EVENT OF EVENTS.
IT PERMANENTLY CHANGED THE STRUCTURE OF OUR WORLD.
PACIFISTS REALIZED IT, AND THE POLITICIANS AND MILITARY MEN WHO PREPARED FOR WAR WERE BLIND TO THE DANGER, EVEN AFTER THE GUNS OF AUGUST SOUNDED, AND IT WAS TOO LATE.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE NUCLEAR WEAPONS TO DESTROY THE WORLD.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORLD WAR1 AND A NUCLEAR CONFLICT IS ONLY THE SCALE OF TIME.
EVEN AT A WALKING PACE, EUROPE WAS ON THE PATH TO DESTROY ITSELF IN DAYS AS THE GERMAN TROOPS BEGAN THEIR INEXORABLE MARCH FOR THE FRENCH FRONTIER IN 1914, AND ALLIES MARCHED IN KIND. EVEN IN THE AGE OF THE TELEGRAPH.
EVENTS MOVED SO QUICKLY AS TO NEARLY DEFY THE HUMAN MIND'S ABILITY TO COMPREHEND IT ALL.
AS SUCH, I HAVE SOME MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU TO CONTEMPLATE.
I USE THE WORD CONTEMPLATE BECAUSE SUCH STORIES LEAVE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN AND NOT COME TO ANY STANDARD HOLLYWOOD MOVIE ENDING. THE 1ST ONE IS A BRAND NEW MOVIE, THE HOUSE OF DYNAMITE, DIRECTED BY KATHRYN BIGELOW, DIRECTOR OF THE HURT LOCKER. IT'S ON NETFLIX.
IT'S ON. I SAW IT SOME DAYS AGO. IT IS RIVETING.
AND LASTLY, STANLEY KUBRICK'S DR. STRANGELOVE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB, 1964. STRANGELOVE IS A DARK COMEDY WITH ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS ENDING SEQUENCES IN ALL OF ALL OF CINEMA HISTORY.
YEE HAW! AND EVEN IF YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THE MOVIE, YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THE ENDING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. BRIM. I HAVE NO COMMENTS.
DO YOU HAVE COMMENTS? OKAY. UPCOMING EVENTS. DO YOU WANT TO READ THEM?
[8. Upcoming Events]
THERE THEY ARE. RIGHT THERE. THERE THEY ARE. HERE WE ARE, THE NOVEMBER 17TH CITIZENS ADVISORY, AS I ASK YOU TO READ THEM. AND THEN I'M GOING TO READ THE FIRST ONE. THE CAC MEETING IS NEXT MONDAY AT 6:00 PM.IT IS A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD. SO IT IS A PUBLIC OPEN MEETING.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE COMMITTEE IS THE THE BODY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THE DISCUSSION.
DO YOU WANT TO DO THE REST? I'LL GO. NOVEMBER 7TH NOVEMBER 19TH IS OUR SERVICE RECOGNITION, WHERE WE'LL HONOR OUR 30,35 YEAR AND 40 YEAR EMPLOYEES.
NOVEMBER 24TH ALL COUNTY JAZZ BAND CONCERT AT RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL AT 7:00 THE 26TH.
SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR STUDENTS AND 10 MONTH STAFF, AND THE 27TH AND 28TH.
THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES ARE ALSO CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING.
DECEMBER 10TH IS OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING. OUR OPEN SESSION STARTS AT 5:30 P.M..
THAT'S ALL. ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE TO SAY? ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.