Jan 14, 2026 Board Meeting

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SHUT UP. [LAUGHTER].

GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS JANUARY 14TH, 2026. AND THIS IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CECIL COUNTY MEETING CALLING IT TO ORDER.

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

[2. Closed Session ]

GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE SECTION 3-305B1. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND AYE. OKAY I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY. SO MOTION CARRIES.

WE ARE NOW IN CLOSED SESSION. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. GOING TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION.

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

AND MS. METCALFE. MS. WHAT'S YOUR NAME AGAIN? [LAUGHTER] MS. METCALFE, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? THANK YOU.

HAWLEY, THE BOARD REFLECTION. SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING? THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY, WE WILL ENSURE THAT ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS.

THANK YOU. NEXT, I'D LIKE TO ADOPT THE AGENDA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. Consent Agenda ]

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

MOTION CARRIES. NEXT IS BOARD REPORTS. MS.

[5. New Business]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. HAPPY NEW YEAR. I HOPE ALL OF YOUR HOLIDAYS WENT WELL.

AT THE END OF LAST MONTH, I ATTENDED THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF STUDENT COUNCILS MEETING, WHERE WE MET WITH DOCTOR FOYE FOR A Q&A SESSION.

IT WAS VERY ENGAGING OVERALL, AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS STUDENT ASKED AND HOW THEY DIFFER FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL.

AND NEXT WEEK WE HAVE OUR JANUARY MEETING, WHICH IS ANOTHER Q&A, BUT WITH DOCTOR BOYER.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. OKAY MR. HAMPTON, GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, I ATTENDED THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR GALA.

WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THE TWO WINNERS THIS EVENING. AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR BEING NOMINATED.

AND AGAIN, THANK THEM FOR ALL THEY DO FOR CCPS.

I ATTENDED THE PROJECT LEAD THE WAY CAPSTONE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS AT BOTH PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND THE SCHOOL OF TECH.

THESE ARE STUDENTS IN THE BIOMEDICAL PROGRAM THAT ARE APPLYING SKILLS LEARNED IN CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS TO TOPICS OF THEIR INTEREST WILL ALSO GAIN AN EXPERIENCE WITH LITERATURE REVIEWS, TEST DESIGNS, STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING.

THESE ARE BRIGHT STUDENTS, AND IT'S ENJOYABLE TO SEE THEIR ENTHUSIASM FOR THEIR PROJECTS.

WHILE I WAS AT THE SCHOOL OF TECH, I ALSO VISITED THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT REPAIR COURSE AND THE STUDENTS EXPLAINED WHAT THEY WERE WORKING ON AND WHY.

I OBSERVED THEM TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS AND IDENTIFY SOLUTIONS, AND WHEN THEY GOT STUCK AND SOUGHT ADVICE, THE INSTRUCTOR WOULD SAY, WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL WORK? AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO FIGURE IT OUT ON THEIR OWN WHILE ENSURING THEY WERE DOING IT SAFELY.

IT DOESN'T GET MUCH MORE REAL THAN THAT, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM. I WENT TO WINGO ELEMENTARY'S HOLIDAY READING CELEBRATION AND WAS GROUPED WITH FOUR FIFTH GRADERS.

IT WAS A GOOD TIME AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'D BE DOING OVER BREAK.

BEFORE THAT, THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND AND CHORUS PERFORMED FOR THE SCHOOL, AND I SAW THE BOARD'S OWN STUDENT MEMBER IN THE BAND.

MS. METCALFE AND COMPANY SOUNDED GREAT. THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER]. MR. FERDINANDO HE FOUND A LOT OF TIME TO DO SOME STUFF DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON [LAUGHTER]. I DID NOT.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME AWAY THIS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

EVERYBODY ELSE HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY BREAK.

[00:05:03]

SO THAT IS OFFICIAL. OUTSIDE OF THAT TIME WITH MY FAMILY, DOWNTIME, VACATION, A LITTLE BIT OF SLEEPING, AND SOME NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. BUT THAT'S IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU. ARE YOU SHARING YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS OR NO? NO. [LAUGHTER]. MAYBE. OKAY. I AM. MS. HAWLEY.

NO COMMENT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. HAPPY 2026.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGAN TODAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO FOLLOW THINGS HAPPENING IN ANNAPOLIS, IT RUNS THROUGH APRIL 13TH. THE BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ONCE AGAIN A BIG ITEM.

WE WILL ALSO BE TRACKING A LOT OF THE PROPOSED BILLS THROUGH MABE AND ALSO TESTIFYING AS NEED BE SO BUSY SEASON BETWEEN NOW AND APRIL 13TH. THIS PAST MONTH THERE WAS SOME ACTIVITIES THAT I DID WEDGED BETWEEN THE HOLIDAY.

NOT GOING TO GET INTO ALL OF THOSE, BUT I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.

I SEE BOTH OF YOU HERE. WELCOME. MS. JULIA JACKSON, THE KITCHEN MANAGER AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

AND MS. RITA REDDISH FROM THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO CELEBRATE OUR SUPPORT STAFF.

THEY JUST REALLY PLAY YOU GUYS AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES PLAY A REALLY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR THE SUCCESS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES YOU MAKE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH STUDENTS THAT AREN'T REALLY THE TYPICAL CONNECTIONS, LIKE SOMETIMES IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT THERE ARE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS THAT DESERVE TO BE RECOGNIZED.

SO AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. JUST A SHOUT OUT TO DRUG FREE CECIL.

THEY WON A NATIONAL AWARD, THE 2025 DOSE OF PREVENTION AWARD, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST DRUG PREVENTION AWARD IN THE COUNTRY.

SO THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR AWARD AT THE BEGINNING OF FEBRUARY AT THE CADCA LEADERSHIP FORUM.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG HONOR THERE. THERE'S ALSO A WINTER ART SHOW HAPPENING AT MILBURN STONE THEATER RUNNING THROUGH JANUARY.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A PEEK AT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARTWORK, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE MS. HEATH. AND I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS. FIRST, AGAIN, I HOPE THAT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON AND A GOOD BREAK.

OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF ARE BACK WORKING HARD.

I KNOW THAT WE ALL NEEDED THAT BREAK, AND I CAN GAUGE THAT BECAUSE WHEN I WAS VOLUNTEERING IN A FIRST GRADE CLASS RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS, I WAS SITTING WITH A SMALL GROUP AND I COULD NOT KEEP THEIR ATTENTION.

THEY WERE ALL OVER THE PLACE. I WENT TO THE TEACHER.

I'M LIKE, WHAT IS GOING ON? AND SHE'S LIKE, I KNOW THIS IS CRAZY.

AND THEN I WENT BACK THIS THURSDAY AND WE HAD THE BEST SMALL GROUP.

THEY WERE ALL ENGAGED AND IT WAS AMAZING. AND THEY NEEDED THAT BREAK JUST AS MUCH AS WE ALL DO, I THINK. SO THAT WAS MY LITTLE STORY ABOUT OUR, MY FIRST GRADERS, BUT THEY'RE WORKING HARD NOW, AND THE STAFF IS ALL BACK WORKING HARD. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND.

I ATTENDED THE MABE LEGISLATIVE MEETING. CURRENTLY, THEY'RE TRACKING OVER 50 BILLS ON EDUCATION ALREADY.

SO THERE'LL BE MORE ADDING TO THAT AS THEY MOVE ALONG.

I WAS A ATTENDED THE LIBRARY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS WELL, AND OUR STEERING COMMITTEE AND THEN ALSO THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR BANQUET, WHICH HAPPY TO HAVE OUR TWO WINNERS HERE TONIGHT.

SO TO CELEBRATE YOU AGAIN. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE.

DOCTOR LAWSON, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

I JUST WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH MY TIME FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME THOUGHTS AND SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK, SURROUNDING STATE TESTING. AND SO I'VE COMMENTED BEFORE THAT I'M SPENDING EACH WEDNESDAY MORNING IN A 6TH GRADE CLASS OF BOHEMIA MANOR MIDDLE SCHOOL REALLY JUST IMMERSED IN A LANGUAGE ARTS CLASSROOM TO WATCH EXACTLY HOW THE LITERACY IS BEING TAUGHT, HOW STUDENTS LEARN. IT'S REALLY, REALLY, YOU KNOW, LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME, MY BACKGROUND, AGAIN, AS A HIGH SCHOOL MATH TEACHER. SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY DOESN'T NECESSARILY COME NATURAL TO ME, YOU KNOW, THE LITERACY INSTRUCTION. BUT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BETTER PART OF A DECADE.

YOU KNOW, PUBLIC EDUCATION THESE DAYS ARE GETTING CRUSHED ABOUT TEST SCORES.

YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU SEEN THE PROFICIENCY RATES. AND FRANKLY, IF YOU ASK ME, IT'S A THE PROFESSION, PUBLIC EDUCATION HAS DONE IT TO OURSELVES. IT'S BEEN KIND OF LIKE AN UNFORCED ERROR JUST SHOOTING OURSELVES IN THE FOOT.

[00:10:01]

AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT AN ASSIGNMENT.

SO WHEN YOU SEE RED KAYAK THEME RESPONSE, FORMATIVE GRADE, THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF US KNOW IS QUIZZES.

RIGHT? BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS A QUIZ OR A TEST.

A FORMATIVE GRADE IS NOW WHAT WE CALL A QUIZ.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A 60 SECOND DESCRIPTION OF RED KAYAK, RED KAYAK IS IT'S I THINK IT'S INFORMED OR REALISTIC FICTION.

DOCTOR JOHNSON, IT'S A, IT'S A FICTIONAL STORY SET ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND, AND IT CENTERS AROUND THREE BOYS, 11, 12 YEARS OLD. THEY'RE REAL CLOSE FRIENDS.

THEIR FATHERS ARE ALL WATERMEN. AND THERE'S A NEIGHBOR THAT MOVES IN AND, YOU KNOW, THE BOYS AREN'T A FAN OF THE NEIGHBORS BECAUSE IT KIND OF TOOK A PLAY AREA AWAY FROM THEM. SO THEY HAD THESE KIND OF LIKE NEGATIVE VIBES GOING IN.

AND ONE DAY THEY SEE THE WOMAN AND HER THREE YEAR OLD SON GOING OUT ON A KAYAK INTO THE WATER.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE THE RIVERS ON THE SHORE.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY KNOW SHE'S GOING INTO A KIND OF A ROUGH AREA WHERE THE RIVERS CONVERGE.

AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT, DO WE YELL AT HER, GIVE HER A WARNING OR DO WE NOT? AND THEY DECIDE TO NOT. WELL, SURE ENOUGH, THEY GO OUT AND THE BOAT OVERTURNS.

THE WOMAN IS SAVED. THE BOY IS MISSING, AS IT TURNS OUT THAT ONE OF THE BOYS FINDS THE LITTLE BOY DEAD.

AND SO IT'S KIND OF A DEEP BOOK. THERE'S A LOT OF CONFLICTING GOING ON BACK AND FORTH, AND SO IT'S A VERY SERIOUS BOOK.

I READ THE BOOK, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CLASS. AND SO ONE OF THE FORMATIVE GRADES, THE TEACHER ASKED THE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE BASED ON THE STORY.

NEXT SLIDE. SO SHE'S ASKING THEM TO. I PROMISE SHE IS.

SHE'S ASKING THEM TO WRITE AN ESSAY. THERE YOU GO.

SO THE ESSAY IS A MULTIPLE PARAGRAPH ESSAY THAT ASKS THE STUDENTS TO ANALYZE AND EXPLAIN.

SO YOU CAN SEE UNDER STEP ONE, READ THE PROMPT.

WRITE AN ESSAY ANALYZING HOW THE PLOT OF THE STORY AND THE CHARACTERS RESPONSES TO CONFLICT REVEAL THE STORY'S THEME.

NOW, MIND YOU, THESE ARE 11 YEARS OLD, RIGHT? SO ONE STUDENT IN PARTICULAR, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT IDENTIFYING THE STUDENT.

YOU CAN SEE THE STUDENT CHOSE TO USE WHAT WE CALL A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER.

SO STEP THREE ORGANIZE GOING ACROSS THE COLUMNS.

WHAT WHAT CHOICE OR INTERNAL CONFLICTS DO THE CHARACTER STRUGGLE WITH? WHAT WERE THEIR OPTIONS? WHAT DECISIONS DID THEY MAKE AND WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR DECISION? AND YOU CAN SEE UP UNDER STEP TWO, ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS IS TO ADDRESS THAT YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE FREE TO CHOOSE, BUT YOU'RE NOT FREE FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT CHOICE.

SO THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE STUDENTS TAKE THAT IDEA THAT WE'RE ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR CHOICES AND APPLY THAT TO THE STORY THAT THEY READ, AND ALONG THE WAY, IDENTIFY THE CONFLICTS THAT EACH OF THE CHARACTERS EXPERIENCE.

SO IF YOU HAVE THESE 312 YEAR OLD BOYS WHO SEE THIS WOMAN WITH HER TODDLER GO OUT ON THE WATER, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE'S A CONFLICT. DO THEY FESS UP AND SAY, WELL, WE SHOULD HAVE WARNED HER.

AND A LITTLE TWIST IN THE STORY IS, AS IT TURNS OUT, A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THEY WERE KIND OF DOING SOME VANDALISM, AND ONE OF THE BOYS WENT AND DRILLED A HOLE IN THE KAYAK.

AND SO ALL THE BOYS KNOW THAT THIS HOLE GOT DRILLED.

SO DO WE GO REPORT THAT TO TO THE POLICE? BUT REALLY THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HERE IS YOU CAN SEE HOW THE STUDENT GOES THROUGH AND WHAT THE STUDENT DOES IS SITE ACTUAL PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT ARE IN THE TEXT THAT APPLY TO THE HEADERS OF THAT CHART.

FOLLOW ME SO FAR. NOW, WHEN A STUDENT TAKES MCAT, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO DO THIS.

SO MCAT IS KIND OF AN OPEN BOOK TEST IF YOU WILL, IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN THEY READ A PASSAGE THEY CAN TAKE AND THEY HAVE THE PASSAGE THERE WHILE THEY'RE WRITING THE RESPONSE, THE ESSAY.

SO THERE'S NO KIND OF LIKE INCONSISTENCIES WITH WHAT THE KIDS ARE EXPECTED TO DO.

AGAIN, I'M COMPARING TO THIS, WHAT THEY'RE EXPECTED TO DO DURING MCAT.

THAT IS A STATE TEST. THE MARYLAND COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.

SO THE STUDENT TAKES ALL THIS INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM THE BOOK, SYNTHESIZES IT INTO THIS, WHAT WE CALL GRAPHIC ORGANIZER AND THEN GENERATES.

NEXT SLIDE. THIS ESSAY. SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE SECOND PARAGRAPH.

INDULGE ME. ONE CHARACTER WHO FACES A CONFLICT IS BRADY, THE PROTAGONIST.

BRADY EXPERIENCES AN INTERNAL CHARACTER VERSUS SELF CONFLICT WHEN HE WANTED TO WARN WHO HE THOUGHT WAS MS. D'ANGELO ABOUT TAKING THE RED KAYAK OUT ONTO THE RIVER IN BAD WEATHER.

BRADY'S OPTIONS WERE TO YELL OUT A WARNING OR STAY SILENT.

IN CHAPTER TWO ON PAGE 11, BRADY SAYS. COME ON, LET'S YELL SOMETHING.

BRADY CHOSE TO LISTEN TO HIS FRIENDS J.T. AND DIGGER INSTEAD OF HIS INSTINCTS AND DID NOT CALL OUT.

UNKNOWINGLY, IT WAS MR. D'ANGELO'S WIFE AND SON BEN WHO DIES IN THE HOSPITAL.

THE MOOD WAS EXCITEMENT AND PRIDE, SINCE BRADY WAS A HERO FOR RESCUING BEN FROM THE FRIGID WATER,

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AND WHEN HE TOOK HIM TO THE HOSPITAL A FEW DAYS LATER, HE PASSED AWAY. SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GETTING AT. HERE'S THE POINT.

YOU SEE THE KIND OF WORK THAT AN 11 YEAR OLD IS GENERATING IN A 6TH GRADE CLASSROOM IN ONE OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THE KICKER THIS CHILD WAS NOT THIS STUDENT WAS NOT PROFICIENT IN GRADE THREE AND GRADE FOUR AND IN GRADE FIVE.

SO WHEN WE START TALKING, AND TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE FOR ME IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'M THE KIND OF GUY THAT HAS NO LIFE.

SO I LISTEN TO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS BOARD MEETINGS.

I HEARD STUDENTS THAT DON'T PASS THE MCAT FOR FUNCTIONAL ILLITERATES.

SO THAT IS THE KIND OF SPIRIT, IF YOU WILL, THAT WE'VE.

WE, BEING PUBLIC EDUCATION, HAVE CREATED IN THE SENSE THAT IF A STUDENT'S NOT PASSING MCAT, IT'S DEEMED TO BE A FAILURE. NOW, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO REFLECT.

IS THAT PIECE OF WRITING THERE FOR AN 11 YEAR OLD? DOES THAT CONSTITUTE FAILURE? AND CLEARLY IT DOESN'T.

AND SO JUST KNOW THAT WHEN YOU HEAR AT THE BACKYARD BARBECUE AT THE PARTY, YOU KNOW, A HAPPY HOUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOOD.

AND AGAIN, I PUT THE OFFER OUT THERE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOMEBODY TOOK ME UP ON IT THIS MORNING. IF YOU WANT TO GO SIT AND WATCH A LESSON, I WILL BE GLAD TO ARRANGE. AND I WILL ESCORT YOU.

YOU TELL ME WHAT GRADE YOU WANT TO SEE. YOU WANT TO SEE EIGHT YEAR OLDS, YOU WANT TO SEE 18 YEAR OLDS.

WE WILL GO AND WATCH AND YOU JUDGE FOR YOURSELF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

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

NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS 5.03 CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.

MS. HRINKO.

TRY AND MOVE THE MOUSE WITHOUT TOUCHING ANYTHING PRESIDENT HEATH. DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS.

TODAY IS, I THINK, AS MENTIONED, THE OPENING TO MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, IT DOES RUN 90 DAYS. SO IT WILL CLOSE ON APRIL 13TH, WHICH IS TYPICALLY CALLED SINE DIE.

I KNOW IT'S LATIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT STANDS FOR. IT JUST MEANS THAT'S THE END. SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET A BILL PASSED HALFWAY THROUGH IS CROSSOVER DAY, WHERE THEY PASS IT THROUGH BOTH BOTH SIDES. AND THE 13TH IS THE DAY IT NEEDS TO PASS OR IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR THAT YEAR.

SO AS YOU'RE SPEAKING TO YOUR LEGISLATORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT IS A DAY TO KEEP IN MIND, AS WELL AS IF YOU'RE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU.

TONIGHT, THE MARYLAND STATE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THAT WE'RE A PART OF IS HOSTING A LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH LEGISLATORS IN ANNAPOLIS.

TOMORROW, ALL THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTS WILL MEET AND START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE 50 SUBMITTED EDUCATION BILLS.

AND THEN TOMORROW NIGHT IS CECIL NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS, WHERE THE CECIL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS HOSTING A SESSION FOR LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO MEET WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ANNAPOLIS AS WELL.

SO IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR KIND OF GET ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE ROOM AT ONE TIME BEFORE THINGS GET TOO HEAVY.

MONDAY IS JANUARY 19TH, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE 36TH ANNUAL DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS INITIALLY STARTED BY CCPS EMPLOYEES.

IT'S HOSTED BY WRIGHT'S AME CHURCH AND ALSO NOW THE ELKTON COLORED SCHOOL MUSEUM AND CULTURAL CENTER.

IT WILL BE AT THE FIVE RIVERS CHURCH, AND THE THEME THIS YEAR IS LIVING THE DREAM LIFTING THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND AS EDUCATORS AND NEW PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE ROOM WE REALLY ARE CHARGED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO SUPPORT AND ADVANCE THE GROWTH OF OUR STUDENTS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO ATTEND.

IF YOU'VE NEVER ATTENDED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ANYBODY. IT'S A VERY WELCOME AND OPENING SITUATION AND JUST A REALLY GOOD SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

AND SO THAT STARTS AT NINE ON MONDAY. AND I WOULD I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND.

IF YOU CAN'T ATTEND, THEN MARK THAT DAY BY A DAY OF SERVICE.

HELP A NEIGHBOR, HELP A FRIEND. HELP IN ONE OF OUR MANY COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES.

BUT MAKE THAT DAY SPECIAL IN SOME WAY. I GUESS SPEAKING OF SERVICE, I DID ALSO.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ATTEND THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.

AND WHEN WE SAY SUPPORT STAFF THERE ARE NO SUPPORTING ROLES.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE ACT, WE'RE ACTING AND THEY'RE LIKE THE THIRD TREE OR THE FIFTH TOWNSPERSON.

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT OUR SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.

AND SO, MS. REDDISH, I'VE. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH IN ASSOCIATION CAPACITY.

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WE REALLY CANNOT DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT YOU. AND THE KIDS NEED YOU AND WE NEED YOU.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO EVERY DAY.

AND I GUESS IF LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS BEGINNING, THAT ALSO MEANS BUDGET SEASON IS BEGINNING.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY GO HAND IN HAND. SO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE NEXT THURSDAY IS HOLDING A BUDGET HEARING OR TOWN HALL.

SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME INPUT INTO PRIORITIES IN THE COUNTY'S BUDGET, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO GO AND ATTEND AND SPEAK NEXT THURSDAY.

I BELIEVE YOU CAN ALSO PUT IN SOME WRITE IN COMMENTS AND THEN TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS.

WE JUST KEEP HEARING BUDGET CONCERNS, BUDGET AT ALL LEVELS.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WEIGHS HEAVILY ON YOU. SO GOING FORWARD, IF WE CAN JUST PLACE THE PRIORITIES ON THE STAFFING AND THE MATERIALS AND, AND THE THINGS THAT OUR KIDS NEED THAT THEY CAN'T DO WITHOUT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT THINGS, A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS. AND I THINK I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THERE ARE NICE TO HAVES AND NEED TO HAVES.

SO IF WE CAN FILL IN THOSE NEED TO HAVES FIRST, ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT A LOT OF OUR YOUNGER STUDENTS ARE EXHIBITING MORE CHALLENGING NEEDS, WE KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT OVERCROWDED CLASSROOMS AND CCPS IS WORKING.

I KNOW TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. BUT I JUST I NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT, LIKE I SAY, THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY FOR OUR STAFF, THAT WE HAVE THE STAFFING AND THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO DO OUR JOB TO GIVE THE KIDS THE EDUCATION THEY DESERVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MS. HRINKO. I THINK THAT'S OUR REPORT FOR TONIGHT FROM OUR ORGANIZATIONS.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT. DOCTOR LAWSON.

YEAH. THANK YOU, MS. HEATH. BEFORE WE START SHOWING THE PICTURES JUST SOME OF THE NARRATIVE HERE.

THE FIRST SET OF INFORMATION IS ABOUT SOME OF THE NUANCE DETAIL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE NEW SCHOOL.

WE HAVE SOME PICTURES IN A MINUTE. THE ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL REPLACEMENT.

THAT'S A PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF THE BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO START THIS MONTH, AS WILL THE BOILER REPLACEMENT FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW, THE AAC IS THE BUILDING THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THAT'LL GET GOING THIS SPRING. THE ROOF AT THAT SAME BUILDING IS BEING WORKED ON AS WE SPEAK.

AND THEN THERE'S A $4 MILLION HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT BEGINNING THIS SPRING AT CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND AGAIN, THAT ONE IS LONG OVERDUE. AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UPWARDS OF A YEAR TO COMPLETE THE CECIL MANOR.

SO HERE WE GO. WE'RE TRYING TO MIX IT UP FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT HERE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE GYMNASIUM. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE CAFETERIA AREA DOWN IN HERE.

THIS IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WING. THAT AREA UP THERE IS NOT THE PENTHOUSE FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND ADMINISTRATORS.

THAT IS WHERE THE CHILLERS AND ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE BUILDING WILL GO.

D I HAVE A LITTLE CHEAT THIS IS THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL ART AREA, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE AUDITORIUM.

YOU SEE, THE AUDITORIUM IS NOW UNDER ROOF. F IS GOING TO BE THE LIBRARY WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO KIND OF LOOK DOWN INTO THE CAFETERIA AREA. IT'S PRETTY COOL. AND THIS IS THE HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTIONAL AREA.

AND BACK HERE ARE THE NEW CLASSROOMS THAT ARE BEING FITTED OUT.

THERE WERE 12 CLASSROOMS THAT WERE NOT ORIGINALLY SPECKED OUT TO BE FINISHED.

AND AGAIN, THANKS TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR FREEING UP, ACTUALLY, A CONTRACT THAT'S VOTED ON THIS EVENING FOR $2.5 MILLION TO FINISH THOSE CLASSROOMS. SO WE'RE CERTAINLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.

AND YOU CAN SEE IT CERTAINLY TAKING SHAPE MORE THAN 100 WORKERS ON SITE EVERY DAY.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE POINT, NORTHEAST FOOTBALL STADIUM IS OUT HERE.

OKAY, GOOD. I'M SORRY. GO BACK TO THIS WE ALSO EXPECT THIS SUMMER THE BOARD WILL VOTE THIS EVENING TO APPROVE THE WIDENING OF IRISHTOWN ROAD, GOING UP AND DOWN TO FOUR LANES FOR A GOOD STRETCH THERE TO ACCOMMODATE ENTERING AND EXITING THE BUILDING.

SO, AGAIN, A LOT OF EXCITING STUFF. GO AHEAD SO MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO START TO SHOW SOME PICTURES INSIDE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING. THIS WILL BE THE MAIN CORRIDOR. RIGHT IN HERE IS THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING.

SO THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO AS THE BOARDWALK CORRIDOR.

I'M NOT QUITE SURE HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THAT, BUT THEY DID.

KEEP GOING. THIS IS CLASSROOM SPACE. STARTING IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE STEEL HAS BEEN SPRAYED WITH THE INSULATION BLOCK WALLS COMING OUT. THIS WILL BE A CORRIDOR OUT HERE.

[00:25:02]

WHICH ARE RIGHT.

I HATE WHEN THAT HAPPENS I MENTIONED THE IRISHTOWN ROAD FOUR LANE WIDENING.

THAT TOO WAS NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL PROJECT.

SO AND THAT'S A THAT'S A MORE THAN $1 MILLION CHANGE, WHICH AGAIN IS BEING PAID FOR ENTIRELY BY THE COUNTY.

PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE PROJECT IS BEING SPLIT BETWEEN THE STATE AND THE COUNTY.

BUT THE ADDITION OF THE 12 CLASSROOMS AND THE WIDENING OF THE ROAD, BOTH OF THOSE ARE BEING CARRIED AFTER THE FACT STRICTLY BY COUNTY.

WE'LL TRY THIS ONE MORE TIME. IF IT DOESN'T WORK, THAT'LL BE IT. THERE WE GO.

SO THIS IS FROM THE INSIDE OF A CLASSROOM SHOWING THE ALUMINUM STUDS.

THAT'LL BE THAT REAL THAT HEAVY DUTY DRYWALL THAT'LL GO THERE.

MOVING ON. THIS IS JUST A TRADITIONAL HALLWAY, AND I BELIEVE.

WHAT IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. KEEP GOING. YOU CAN SEE THE DOWNSTAIRS.

THE CAFETERIA IS DOWN HERE AND SOME OF THE CAFETERIA.

SO ONE KITCHEN, TWO SEPARATE CAFETERIAS. THIS IS MORE CAFETERIA. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFETERIA. AUDITORIUM.

SO BALCONY RIGHT THERE. YOU'RE IN THE AUDITORIUM.

YOU'RE STANDING ON THE STAGE LOOKING OUT. THIS WILL BE THE SEATS.

BALCONY. SIDE BALCONY. GYMNASIUM. A LOT OF NATURAL LIGHT COMING IN THERE.

THERE'S ALSO AN AUXILIARY GYM. MORE GYMNASIUM.

ROOF AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING.

AGAIN. WRAPPING UP. I THINK THAT'S IT AND I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? DIDN'T WE TALK ABOUT AT ONE POINT THE SHADE STRUCTURES FOR THE GYM WINDOWS? I NOTICED THAT, TOO. I'M SURE THEY HAVE. IF I KNOW SOME OF THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, GILPIN MANOR, SAME KIND OF THING. YOU GO INTO GILPIN MANOR'S. YEAH THAT. DOCTOR BOYER, DO YOU KNOW, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD THE PLANS FOR LIGHT CONTROL COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A PROCESS TO, YOU KNOW, MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT COMES INTO THE GYMNASIUM. SO IT'S IN PROGRESS.

YEAH. WE CAN FIND OUT FOR YOU EXACTLY WHAT'S IN PLACE THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON. NEXT WE HAVE THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION REPORT.

AS THE BOARD CAN SEE, MS. JEN SHAW, OUR COORDINATOR FOR THE FOUNDATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS PREPARED A REPORT FOR YOUR VIEWING.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. SHAW? NOPE NO THANK YOU FOR THE EVENT. THE FUNDRAISING EVENT.

I THINK IT WAS A REALLY NICE FUNDRAISING EVENT.

SO THANKS FOR ORGANIZING THAT. AND NEXT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR 2026.

AT THIS TIME, DOCTOR JENNI HAMMER, OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION SERVICES, WILL LEAD THIS RECOGNITION, DOCTOR HAMMER. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HEATH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING. AND A MOMENT OF PAUSE [LAUGHTER]. FOR THE PAST FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS RECOGNIZED THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF OUR SUPPORT STAFF EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.

THIS PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TWO CATEGORIES OF SUPPORT STAFF, ONE OF WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF, AND THE OTHER IS STUDENT CENTERED SUPPORT STAFF.

THIS YEAR, WE HAD 24 CANDIDATES REPRESENTING CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND WE GET TO RECOGNIZE THE TWO WINNERS WITH YOU THIS YEAR.

SO AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE RITA REDDISH TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

RITA REDDISH IS THE 2026 ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.

MS. REDDISH IS THE BOOKKEEPER AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, AND SHE IS 38 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

[00:30:06]

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE MS. JULIA JACKSON TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

MS. JACKSON, IF YOU'RE NASTY. I'M SORRY. MS. JACKSON [LAUGHTER].

IS THE. IS THE 2026 STUDENT CENTERED SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.

I'M SORRY, MS. JACKSON. [LAUGHTER]. I'M GOING TO GET TICKLED.

MS. JACKSON IS THE KITCHEN MANAGER AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL.

WITH 20 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU YOU SO MUCH I APPRECIATE IT OF COURSE. YOU'RE WONDERFUL JACKSON [LAUGHTER]. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.

SORRY ABOUT THAT NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE PROPOSED 2026-27 SCHOOL CALENDAR.

THANK YOU, MS. HEATH. AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, LAST MONTH DOCTOR HAMMER AND BUCKLEY PRESENTED THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2627. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR HAMMER? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I KNOW IT'S BEEN DONE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, BUT I DO LIKE HOW THE INCLEMENT WEATHER MAKEUP DAYS ARE INCORPORATED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, RATHER THAN A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORING DISTRICTS PUT THEM ALL IN JUNE.

JUST TO QUALITY OF THAT CLASS TIME IS MUCH BETTER WHEN IT'S IN MARCH, APRIL, MAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OTHER? OKAY DECEMBER 10TH, 2025. NO I DON'T.

YEAH, I GOT IT, I GOT IT. I RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AND ADOPT THE CCPS 2026-2027 SCHOOL CALENDAR. AS PRESENTED, THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS CALENDAR BASED UPON LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

DOCTOR LAWSON HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION. SO MOVE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE AYES HAVE IT. MOTION CARRIES. NEXT NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF POLICY BFG.

POLICY REVIEW. FOR THE COMMUNITY'S AWARENESS.

YOU KNOW WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. WE'RE ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY OF REVIEWING ALL POLICIES.

THERE ARE ABOUT 160, 170 POLICIES THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATES WITHIN.

AND EACH POLICY HAS A REGULATION. SOME HAVE MORE THAN ONE REGULATION.

ALL TOLD, THERE'S A NEIGHBORHOOD OF 400 POLICIES AND REGULATIONS TO INCLUDE FORMS, EXHIBITS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. AND SO WE'RE WELL THROUGH AND GOING THROUGH THIS AS COMPREHENSIVELY AS WE HAVE BEEN.

WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE SOME CHANGES THAT SHOULD BE MADE. AND YOU KNOW, THANK YOU TO THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

DOCTOR HAMMER IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THAT PROCESS BEFORE I ASK FOR A VOTE.

QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR HAMMER ABLE TO BE REVIEWED EVERY TWO YEARS? ABSOLUTELY.

MR. HAMPTON. VERY BASICALLY, IT'S THE QUANTITY OF THEM.

[00:35:01]

SO WE NEED TO REVIEW THAT. SO I THINK REVIEWING ALL POLICIES AT SOME REGULAR INTERVAL IS A GOOD IDEA.

YEAH. IF I COULD TAKE A STAB AT A PRETTY LAME KIND OF METAPHOR HERE.

IT'S NOT UNLIKE LIKE YOUR TOOLBOX. YOU GET THESE NEW TOOLS ONCE IN A WHILE, AND YOU USUALLY BUY THEM FOR A REASON, AND SO YOU USE THEM AS SOON AS YOU HAVE THEM.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CORE GROUP OF TOOLS THAT ARE IN YOUR TOOLBOX AND USE THEM ALL THE TIME.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE TOOLS THAT YOU KIND OF NEVER TOUCH.

AND THEY GET USED ONCE OR TWICE, AND THEY SIT IN YOUR BASEMENT FOR 20, 30 YEARS.

IT'S NOT UNLIKE POLICIES A LITTLE BIT. YOU HAVE THE NEW POLICIES THAT COME UP.

THEY'RE. THEY'RE GENERATED THROUGH SOME LEGISLATIVE ACTION OR SOME REGULATION THAT HAPPENS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THEY'RE LIKE TOP OF THE LINE. WE GOT THEM.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE POLICIES THAT WE TOUCH ON ALL THE TIME.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A GRADING POLICY, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE POLICIES THAT ARE THERE AND THEY ALMOST NEVER GET LOOKED AT AND THEY NEVER GET TOUCHED.

AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KIND OF FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS SOMETIMES.

AND YOU DON'T REALLY TAP IT UNTIL SOMETHING COMES UP AND FORCE YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT POLICY AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THIS IN A WHILE. IT'S KIND OF OBSOLETE.

SO I DO THINK THAT KIND OF CAPTURES, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE ARE.

AND WE HAVE BEEN FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS NOW, REALLY GOING CLOSELY.

AND THAT'S WHY TO ROUND THIS OUT, THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING A SENTENCE IN THE, IN THIS POLICY THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL.

THAT SPEAKS TO THE RETIRING OF POLICIES. SOME POLICIES SIMPLY AREN'T RELEVANT ANYMORE.

THEY CAN JUST GO AWAY. WELL, WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE WILL IDENTIFY THOSE, BRING THOSE TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO ACTUALLY RETIRE THE POLICIES.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU GIVE THE TOOL TO YOUR KID.

[LAUGHTER] SO I.

I THINK THAT'S HUMAN NATURE, THAT WHEN YOU DON'T USE IT, IT KIND OF SITS IN THE BACK.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A POLICY, WE, THE BOARD THEN NEED TO EXERCISE OUR OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE THAT THEY THAT THE POLICY IS BEING FOLLOWED.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE. I'VE BEEN TRACKING IT SINCE THE LAST MEETING. SO A LOT THERE'S BEEN MORE PROGRESS. BUT AS OF LAST NIGHT, 92 OF THE 458 POLICIES, REGS OR EXHIBITS HAVE LAST REVIEWED DATES MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE STILL GOING TO. THAT'S 92 OUT OF 450.

RIGHT. SO THAT'S ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY THROUGH. THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT. YEAH NOW IT'S FOUR. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WRONG ANSWER GIVEN THE AMOUNT. AND THAT A LOT OF THE POLICIES CCPS NEVER SEES THOSE SCENARIOS.

SO I THINK FOUR YEARS IS THE RIGHT ANSWER. BUT WITH WHAT I, WHAT I WAS GETTING AT THOUGH, WAS THAT IF WITHOUT THAT CONTEXT, WHEN YOU IF SOMEONE WERE TO GO THROUGH THERE AND SEE 90 OR WHATEVER THAT HAVE LAST REVIEW DATES BEYOND TWO YEARS OR NOW FOUR YEARS. I UNDERSTAND THE PERCEPTION THAT ARE WE WHAT ELSE ARE WE NOT ADHERING TO POLICY WISE? SO BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S COMING CAN I MAKE A COMMENT HERE? I DO. MS. OLSON AND I WENT THROUGH ONE OF THE SECTIONS, I THINK, IN EARLY DECEMBER, END OF NOVEMBER, AND IT WAS PRETTY LABOR INTENSIVE.

AND IN DOING SO, I THINK WE HAD ZERO CHANGES.

EVERYTHING LOOKED OKAY. SO BECAUSE I THINK THE ONES THAT NEED CHANGES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE REGULARLY CHANGED BASED ON COMAR OR BASED ON, OH, WE SEE A NEED TO DO THIS. USUALLY THE ONES THAT KIND OF SIT IN THE TOOLBOX DON'T REALLY NEED CHANGE.

THEY JUST WHEN YOU REVIEW THEM, YOU CHANGE THE REVIEW DATE.

BUT EVEN IN DOING THAT IT'S IT IS FAIRLY LABOR INTENSIVE I ALWAYS SAY.

I KNOW IT'S INTENSE. BUT IF THE POLICY SAYS EVERY FOUR YEARS, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE EVERY FOUR YEARS, OR COME BACK AND SAY, THESE ARE THE POLICIES THAT ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BE REVIEWED EVERY THIS AMOUNT OF TIME, AND THESE ONES WILL DO AS, AS NEEDED. THAT'S ANOTHER OPTION.

BUT IF WE'RE GOING FOUR YEARS, THEN EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE HAVE A LAST REVIEW DATE.

[00:40:05]

AND ONE MORE QUESTION, IF I MAY. IF SOMEONE'S GOING THROUGH THERE AND HOW DO THEY DISTINGUISH? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, COULD YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLICY, THE REGULATION AND THE EXHIBITS? AND HOW WOULD SOMEONE THAT'S GOING THROUGH THAT PORTION OF THE WEBSITE DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THEM ALL? ABSOLUTELY. SO THE POLICY IS REALLY THE WHY. THAT IS A IT'S A BROAD GUIDELINE.

AND IT'S THE WHY THESE PROCESSES EXIST. THE REGULATION REALLY IS THE HOW AND THE WHEN.

SO THOSE ARE REALLY THE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGE WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH AND LOOKING AT THIS, YOU'LL SEE, FOR INSTANCE BFG IS ONE OF OUR POLICIES.

SO IT'S UNDER WE HAVE LABELS THAT ARE ALPHABETIZED A THROUGH I WANT TO SAY H J.

K? A THROUGH K. AND UNDER EACH ONE OF THOSE SUBHEADINGS THERE ARE POLICIES LISTED.

POLICIES DO NOT HAVE A DASH AND AN RA OR AN EA.

AFTERWARD REGULATIONS HAVE THAT DASH AND AN RA FOR REGULATION AND AN EA FOR AN EXHIBIT.

SO THOSE ARE MORE THE OPERATIONAL LANGUAGE THAT WE USE IN OUR OPERATIONS IN DAY TO DAY.

OKAY. AND JUST TO CLARIFY, THE POLICIES ARE WHAT OUR BOARD DRIVEN AND REQUIRE BOARD VOTE TO CHANGE.

THE REGULATION IS ALL SUPERINTENDENT DRIVEN BECAUSE THAT IS MORE OF THE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT POLICY.

SO DOCTOR HAMMER, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 98 LEFT THAT HAVE THAT NEED TO BE UPDATED.

YES. DO YOU HAVE A SCHEDULE ON HOW LONG YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE FOR YOU.

ASAP. [LAUGHTER] AS SOON AS WE CAN. YEP. THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THERE'S NOTHING TO STOP A BOARD MEMBER FROM PICKING UP THE PHONE AND TELLING ME, HEY, I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH BFD, AND I WILL GET ON IT YESTERDAY.

AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT BEEN REVIEWED DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT BEING FOLLOWED. RIGHT. THIS JUST MEANS WE HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING ANTIQUATED OR OUTDATED. IT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT SOMEBODY IN LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT LANGUAGE IN IT THAT'S OLD OR OUTDATED OR.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS WHEN SOMETHING GETS TRIGGERED BECAUSE OF A STATE CHANGE, IS THAT THEN THE REVIEW DATE HAS BEEN DONE AT THAT POINT.

CORRECT? IF WE TRIGGERED IT, LOOKED AT IT NOW, THAT'S BEEN SO. THAT'S CORRECT. THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN THAT ARE NEWER, THAT HAVE BEEN UPDATED A LOT ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE CHANGED A LOT RECENTLY. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? RECOMMENDED THE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE AND ADOPT THE PROPOSED CHANGES PRESENTED AT THE DECEMBER 10TH, 2025 FOR POLICY BFG. WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. WE'LL VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS. CARRIES. NEXT. 5.10 IS THE 26-10 DENTAL INSURANCE PROVIDER. QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? OH STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS. DOCTOR HAMMER.

YEAH. THIS POLICY ADDRESSES HOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SUPPORTS STUDENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT AND HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. AND THIS IS BEING DONE AS A RESULT OF A POLICY REVIEW.

ARE THERE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, HAVING LOOKED AT THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES? I THINK THIS THIS REALLY HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE LEVEL OF EFFORT WITH THOSE POLICY REVIEWS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST INTERNAL CCPS. YOU'RE REACHING OUT TO, IN THIS CASE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND WAITING FOR THEM TO GET BACK TO YOU. AND FROM READING THAT, THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAME BACK AND SAID THAT THIS POLICY OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS NO LONGER VALID, SO THAT THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF CCPS REVISION.

BUT THE REGULATION WHICH DESCRIBES HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEET THAT POLICY HAS SUBTLE CHANGES.

BUT IN PRACTICE. WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THERE WOULDN'T BE MUCH DIFFERENCE IN HOW A PREGNANT STUDENT IS.

THINKING OF THE WORD. TREATED THIS POLICY CHANGE? THIS IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE, LIKE YOU SAID.

SO IT IS VERY SIMILAR IN THE PREVIOUS POLICY.

THE POLICY HOUSED NOT ONLY THE WHY, BUT IT ALSO HOUSED THE HOW.

SO WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE'VE PULLED THE HOW OUT AND PUT THAT INTO THE REGULATIONS SINCE IT'S MORE OPERATIONAL.

[00:45:03]

SO IT'S BASICALLY THE WHY. AND THAT'S WHAT SHOULD LIVE IN POLICY.

SO THE REGULATION TAKES ALL THAT HOW AND PUTS IT INTO THE THE REVISED REGULATION.

THANK YOU. AND WE VOTE ON THE POLICY BECAUSE THE REG IS.

THE POLICY IS HANDLED WITH YOU. CORRECT. BUT THIS IS LAYING OVER.

YES.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT ONE? OKAY, NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE DENTAL INSURANCE PROVIDER.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT WAS EASY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTRACT FOR DENTAL INSURANCE.

BEFORE I ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION. I RECOMMEND THAT CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO OFFER UCCI, AS OUR DENTAL PROVIDER FOR THE NEXT THREE BENEFIT PLAN YEARS, BEGINNING SEPTEMBER OF 2026.

WE HAVE RECOMMENDATION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? NO? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. UNANIMOUS. MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE ARE AT 5.11. AND THAT IS THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT, THE IRISHTOWN ROAD THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

DOCTOR LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARD A CONTRACT TO ALLAN MYERS, MARYLAND, INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,325,777.

WE HAVE RECOMMENDATION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SO THE PAYMENT IS PRIMARILY OR THE FUNDS IS PRIMARILY FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

IS THAT RIGHT? AND ANY ADDITIONS ANYTHING ABOVE THAT WOULD BE COVERED BY THE COUNTY? CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NOW WE HAVE THE FY27 BUDGET PREVIEW.

DOCTOR LAWSON. YEAH. THANK YOU, MS. HEATH. I'VE ASKED MS. SOPA TO PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION FOR THE BOARDS AND THE AUDIENCE AWARENESS.

TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT, WE WILL HAVE OUR FIRST BUDGET HEARING.

JANUARY 28TH. AND I'VE ASKED MS. SOPA TO PREPARE FOR YOU SOME RELEVANT INFORMATION THAT I THINK WILL HELP YOU AS WE GO INTO THE 28TH BOARD HEARING. AND WITH THAT, MS. SOPA. THANK YOU.

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

SO THIS IS OUR PREVIEW OF. WRONG BUTTON. WHAT WE KNOW NOW FOR THE BUDGET.

SO JUST A LITTLE REVIEW OF MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT VERSUS LOCAL SHARE TO CALCULATE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED TO GIVE US THE SAME AMOUNT, AT LEAST THE SAME AMOUNT PER STUDENT FOR NEXT YEAR THAT WE RECEIVE PER STUDENT THIS YEAR. SO WE TAKE THE TOTAL ALLOCATION FROM CECIL COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR THIS YEAR, DIVIDED BY THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS FOR THIS YEAR.

THAT'S A PER PUPIL AMOUNT. AND THEN YOU MULTIPLY IT BY THE ENROLLMENT FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD FIND YOUR MOE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

LOCAL SHARE IS A FUNCTION. IT'S A NEWER TERM CAME ALONG WITH THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION.

AND THAT'S A STATE CALCULATION THAT UTILIZES COUNTY WEALTH DATA ALONG WITH ENROLLMENT DATA TO DETERMINE THE STATE SHARE OF OUR FUNDING AND THE LOCAL SHARE OF OUR FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE HIGHER OF THE TWO MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT OR LOCAL SHARE.

SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SOME HISTORY FROM FY 23 THROUGH PROJECTED FY 27, WHAT OUR MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT NUMBERS ARE, AND THEN OUR LOCAL SHARE NUMBERS. THIS IS WHEN LOCAL SHARE STARTED IN FY 23.

WE HAVE PROJECTED AND I SAY PROJECTED HERE BECAUSE WHILE WE HAVE SUBMITTED ENROLLMENT DATA TO THE STATE, ONCE IT IS VERIFIED BY THE STATE, WE'LL HAVE A VERIFIED MOE NUMBER FOR NEXT YEAR.

HERE, BUT RIGHT NOW, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH OUR PROJECTED MOE WOULD BE IN THE BALLPARK OF $104 MILLION.

FOR FY 26 OUR COUNTY ALLOCATION WAS $105 MILLION.

JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME COMPARISON AND THIS LOCAL SHARE NUMBER HERE.

THIS LOCAL SHARE NUMBER HERE FOR FY 27 IS TO BE DETERMINED BASED ON THE WEALTH AND ENROLLMENT CALCULATIONS FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THEN SOME REVENUE HISTORY JUST SHOWING YOU OVER TIME THE SAME TIME FRAME FY 23 THROUGH FY 27.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGES IN FEDERAL REVENUE.

SO THESE YEARS 23 AND 24 WERE SOME OF OUR HEAVY ESSER YEARS WITH ESSER THREE FUNDING.

[00:50:05]

NOW IN FY 26, WE'RE BACK DOWN TO WHAT WAS A NORMAL FEDERAL FUNDING LEVEL.

AGAIN, OUR FY 27 NUMBERS ARE TO BE DETERMINED.

YOU CAN SEE THE CHANGE IN STATE REVENUE ALONG WITH BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION AND THEN COUNTY REVENUE.

SO FOR 23 AND 24 THESE WERE YEARS THAT WE WERE FUNDED AT MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT LEVEL BY THE COUNTY.

THEN YOU CAN SEE IN 25 AND 26 THAT THE COUNTY PROVIDED AN ALLOCATION ABOVE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT.

AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD ALSO ABOVE LOCAL SHARE REQUIREMENTS.

ANY QUESTIONS? CCPS STUDENT ENROLLMENT OVER TIME AGAIN LOOKING AT THE SAME TIME PERIOD.

SO WHEN WE TAKE AN OFFICIAL COUNT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER IT'S NOT FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.

IT'S FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR. SO YOU CAN SEE SOME TRENDS HERE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRENDS IN PRESCHOOL AND PRE-K, WHEN YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTION FROM LAST YEAR.

THIS WAS A PURPOSEFUL REDUCTION. WE CHANGED WHO WE WERE ADMITTING INTO PRE-K, BECAUSE AS FAR AS THE STATE REGULATIONS FOR BLUEPRINT, WE HAVE TO ADMIT STUDENTS UP TO 300% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, TIER ONE STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN TIER TWO, UP TO 360% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL. THOSE ARE STUDENTS WE RECEIVE FUNDING FOR.

IF YOU'RE A TIER ONE STUDENT, YOU RECEIVE FULL FUNDING.

IF YOU'RE TIER TWO STUDENT, UP TO 360% OF THE POVERTY LEVEL, YOU RECEIVE PARTIAL FUNDING.

AND SO WE WERE ADMITTING STUDENTS WHO WERE APPLYING FOR PRE-K AND WE WEREN'T RECEIVING FUNDING FOR THEM.

AND THAT BECAME AN ISSUE WHEN YOU HAVE TO START ADDING TEACHERS TO STAY WITH YOUR 1 IN 10, ONE ADULT TO TEN STUDENT RATIO. AND WE'RE HAVING TO ADD MULTIPLE TEACHERS AND WE'RE NOT RECEIVING FUNDING FOR THOSE STUDENTS.

SO THAT'S A CHANGE THERE THAT YOU SEE IN PRESCHOOL AND PRE-K.

YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A DECLINE IN OUR ACTUAL K TO 12 FUNDED ENROLLMENT.

AND AGAIN, FOR FY 27 GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, THESE WERE OUR PAST SEPTEMBER 30TH NUMBERS AND AGAIN JUST PENDING FINAL STATE VERIFICATION.

WE DO GET THE HIGHER OF THE TWO, EITHER THE ACTUAL ENROLLMENT OR THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE HAS BEEN HIGHER FOR EVERY YEAR EXCEPT FOR FISCAL 25, WHEN OUR ACTUAL ENROLLMENT NUMBER WAS WHAT WAS USED FOR OUR FUNDING.

SO I GET HOW THE THREE YEAR AVERAGE IS A PARTIAL STUDENT, BUT FOR THE ACTUAL SEPTEMBER 30TH ENROLLMENT, HOW IS A PARTIAL STUDENT? IT COULD BE DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT. SO WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE DAY A STUDENT IS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM VERSUS AT THE COLLEGE? THAT'S USUALLY WHERE YOU GET YOUR PARTIAL STUDENTS FROM. DOES THIS THING.

DOES THAT INCLUDE LIKE THOSE SENIOR OR JUNIOR OPTION STUDENTS AS WELL THAT I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE I DON'T DO THE ENROLLMENT.

SO I COULD SPEAK TO THAT. STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUNIOR AND SENIOR OPTION HAS THE REQUIRED COURSES TO BE COUNTED AS FULL TIME STUDENTS.

OKAY. SO THERE WOULD BE A ONE? CORRECT BLUEPRINT FUNDING. SO THE FOUR BLUEPRINT. WE RECEIVED A POT OF MONEY FROM THE STATE THAT COULD BE UTILIZED IN ANY WAY.

AND IT WAS BASED ON OUR TOTAL ENROLLMENT AND OUR TOTAL WEALTH INDICATORS.

AND NOW THE LET ME GO BACK BECAUSE THIS IS THE ENROLLMENT SLIDE, NOT THE NEXT SLIDE.

I'M A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF. SO THIS IS OUR ENROLLMENT PER BLUEPRINT CATEGORY STILL RELATING TO WHAT I WAS JUST SAYING.

WE RECEIVE AN AMOUNT OF MONEY PER BLUEPRINT PROGRAM PER STUDENT THAT FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY.

SO A FOUNDATION STUDENT IS ALL OF OUR STUDENTS K TO 12.

WE RECEIVE A FOUNDATION FORMULA AMOUNT FOR ALL STUDENTS K TO 12 COMPENSATORY EDUCATION.

THOSE ARE STUDENTS FROM FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEAL HOUSEHOLDS.

PRE-K STUDENT SELF-EXPLANATORY ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES.

TRANSITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS NEEDING SOME ENRICHMENT AND INTERVENTION IN READING AND MATH, AND THEN COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS FOR OUR OLDER STUDENTS.

SO YOU CAN SEE OUR CHANGE IN ENROLLMENT FROM FY 26 TO FY 27, SOME REDUCTIONS IN SOME AREAS.

I'D LIKE TO NOTE THE COMPENSATORY EDUCATION WHERE YOU SEE THIS REDUCTION WRITTEN INTO THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION.

THERE WAS A CHANGE THAT WAS SET TO TAKE PLACE IN FY 27 WHERE BASICALLY WE USED TO LOOK AT THE STUDENTS WHO QUALIFIED BY DIRECT CERTIFICATION. SO THEY RECEIVED SOME TYPE OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE AND STUDENTS WHOSE FAMILIES FILLED OUT THE FORM STARTING IN FY 27 FOR CEP SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY, SCHOOLS, YOU ONLY CAN TAKE THE HIGHER OF THE TWO.

SO YOU CAN'T HAVE AN SITUATION WHERE YOU TAKE YOUR DIRECT CERT STUDENTS AND YOUR FORM STUDENTS.

[00:55:03]

SO BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL WAITING ON THE ACTUAL INFORMATION FROM THE BUDGET TO DETERMINE.

BUT WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT COMP ED WILL BE HELD HARMLESS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK WE REALLY HAVE A DROP IN 750 STUDENTS WHO DON'T RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS, BECAUSE THEY DO. THEY JUST DON'T COUNT FOR COMPENSATORY EDUCATION.

I THINK THAT THAT KIND OF CRACKS THE DOOR FOR THE LARGER ISSUE OF PROJECTED REVENUES.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW YET. I MEAN, SO WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU IN TWO WEEKS EXACTLY WHAT'S BEING REQUESTED FROM OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAM LEADERS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR EVERY EXPENDITURE, THERE'S AN EXPECTED REVENUE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE, AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR REVENUE AND OUR STATE REVENUE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE GOVERNOR MAY DROP HIS BUDGET THIS WEEK.

WE'RE HOPING.

BUT THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON LEGISLATION.

SO SIMILAR TO THE LAST SLIDE, THESE ARE THE AMOUNTS PER STUDENT FOR THESE BLUEPRINT PROGRAMS. SO YOU CAN SEE FOUNDATION INCREASES SLIGHTLY.

COMP ED IS SLIGHTLY REDUCED. YOU CAN SEE A LARGE INCREASE IN PRE-K PER STUDENT AND SOME OTHER SMALL CHANGES.

TRANSITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION ACTUALLY GOES AWAY IN FY 27, SO THERE'S NO MORE FUNDING FOR THAT DURING THE DAY TUTORING FOR YOUR EARLY ELEMENTARY STUDENTS. AND AGAIN, ALL OF THIS IS PENDING FINAL STATE LEGISLATION OR ANY CHANGES THAT MAY OCCUR.

THIS IS INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES, WHERE THEY TAKE ALL OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND THEY LOOK AT THE STATE FUNDING THAT EACH SYSTEM RECEIVES PER STUDENT.

THE LOCAL FUNDING PER STUDENT, AND THEN A TOTAL.

AND THEN THEY RANK ORDER OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE FY 26 DATA HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET, SO FY 25 IS THE MOST RECENT WE HAVE.

SO WHEN YOU TAKE OUR TOTAL AMOUNT PER STUDENT $17,690, WE RANK AT 22 OUT OF 24 STUDENTS AS FAR AS OUR FUNDING PER STUDENT.

SO KEEP IN MIND HERE IN CECIL, WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THE SAME EXPERIENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS THAT A SYSTEM THAT GETS $23,000 PER STUDENT PROVIDES.

AND I THINK SO I CAN GET LOST IN THIS STUFF. I REALLY ENJOY LOOKING AT THIS.

BUT JUST LOOK AT THE RANK PER PUPIL FUNDING FOR THE TOP FOUR IN THE STATE.

BALTIMORE CITY. WORCESTER. SOMERSET. HOWARD. POOR.

WEALTHY. POOR. WEALTHY. SO THAT THE WEALTHIEST AND THE POOREST GET FUNDED AT HIGH LEVELS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

THE WEALTHIEST GET FUNDED HIGH BECAUSE THEIR COUNTIES ARE WEALTHY.

AND SO IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF A COUNTY IS RELATIVELY WEALTHY OR RELATIVELY POOR, LOOK AT THE STATE VERSUS THE LOCAL SHARE.

THE MORE MONEY THE STATE'S PUTTING IN AS COMPARED TO THE LOCAL, THE MORE POVERTY IS IN THAT COUNTY.

SO ALLEGHENY RIGHT OFF THE TOP, HIGH DEGREE OF POVERTY.

GO DOWN TO WORCESTER AT THE BOTTOM YOU CAN SEE THE LOCALS CARRYING WHAT, THREE QUARTERS OF THEIR FUNDING.

IT'S A WEALTHY COUNTY. IF YOU GO TO IF YOU GO TO THE RANKINGS ON THE FAR RIGHT, YOU CAN SEE THE LOWEST FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE STATE IS $17,000.

$17,565. AND SOME WOULD SAY, WELL, CARROLL COUNTY OUTPERFORMS YOU IN TERMS OF TEST SCORES.

WHY IS THAT? THEN YOU GO BACK INTO THE OTHER CHART AND YOU LOOK AT CARROLL.

WHERE'S MORE OF THEIR REVENUE COMING FROM? LOCAL.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS IT'S A WEALTHIER COUNTY.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TENDS TO TRACK WITH WEALTH AND SO IT REALLY DOES FIT TOGETHER IF YOU LOOK AT THIS.

I JUST THINK IT'S FASCINATING NUMBERS TO LOOK AT.

FRUSTRATING. FOR ME, FRANKLY. BUT IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

THOUGHTS OR COMMENTS? IS THAT? THAT'S THE LAST ONE? NO. JUST SOME KNOWN EXPENSE INCREASES.

WE KNOW SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES, HEALTH CARE.

EVERYONE SEES WHAT'S HAPPENING TO HEALTH CARE IN THE NEWS. PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS. WHEN YOUR SALARIES GO UP.

IT'S BIGGER PENSION EXPENSE, UTILITIES, NONPUBLIC PLACEMENTS AND THE COST OF THOSE.

INSURANCE AS FAR AS PROPERTY INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE, CONTRACTED SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION.

AND SOME OF OUR BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS THAT FOR FY 26, WE'RE USING $10 MILLION FROM OUR FUND BALANCE TO BALANCE THIS YEAR, THAT WE DO HAVE SOME REDUCTIONS IN ENROLLMENT FOR SOME OF OUR BLUEPRINT PROGRAMS, THE LOSS OF THE TSI FUNDING AND, AS DOCTOR LAWSON STATED, STILL UNKNOWN STATE AND LOCAL APPROPRIATIONS.

[01:00:02]

BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME THINGS UP IN THE AIR THAT WOULD AFFECT THOSE NUMBERS. SO THAT $10,000 WE'RE USING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE OR $10 MILLION. GOD, I WISH YEAR. RIGHT? NO, THAT WAS ADDITIONAL. OTHER QUESTIONS COMMENTS, THOUGHTS? OKAY, SO AGAIN, A WHOLE LOT MORE TO COME IN TWO WEEKS TONIGHT.

MS. SOPA CONTINUES WITH HER BUDGET AMENDMENT.

IS IT HERE? IT IS. THEN YOU ARE. THERE.

OH, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? TO. THERE WE GO MONTH, THE FIRST PAGE IS A SUMMARY OF WHAT'S TO COME IN THE NEXT PAGES.

AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T GO THROUGH THIS WHOLE DOCUMENT HERE IN THIS PRESENTATION, IT IS ALL UPLOADED INTO DILIGENT SHOWING THAT OUR ADDITIONS TO REVENUE EQUAL OUR ADDITIONS TO EXPENSE. AND THIS NEXT PAGE ACTUALLY TELLS US WHAT THOSE ADDITIONS OR REDUCTIONS ARE.

SO YOU CAN SEE RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE MADE DONATIONS TO SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,008, YOU CAN SEE SOME RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.

THIS IS A FIELD TRIPS TO MUSEUM OF CULTURAL IMPORTANCE GRANT THAT PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION TO STUDENTS TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

$11,225. AND THEN WE SEE SOME ADDITIONS TO RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE.

AGAIN, SOME SMALL AMOUNTS HERE, SOME ADDITIONS TO TITLE ONE SOME ADDITIONS TO SPECIAL EDUCATION, SPECIAL ED PRESCHOOL PASS THROUGH. WE CAN SEE AND HEAR SOME SPECIAL ED INFANT AND TODDLER.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE LARGEST ADDITION FOR SPECIAL ED.

SO THE TOTAL INCREASE TO FEDERAL REVENUE IS $95,055.

AND THEN UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. WE JUST HAVE ONE INSTANCE OF ELKTON HIGH USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO REPAIR TWO POTTERY WHEELS.

SO ALL OF THOSE TOTAL BACK TO THE INCREASE IN REVENUE ON PAGE ONE.

AND THEN THE REPORTS THAT FOLLOW ARE THE SAME REPORTS THAT WE LOOK AT EACH MONTH WITH NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? DOCTOR LAWSON YOUR RECOMMENDATION I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $176,721 AS PRESENTED.

DOCTOR LAWSON MADE A RECOMMENDATION. WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SECTION.

[6. Public Participation ]

AND I WILL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM. AS A REMINDER, THE BOARD WILL TAKE TIME TO LISTEN AND CONSIDER THEY WILL NOT RENDER A DECISION ON PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ISSUES WHEN THEY ARE PRESENTED.

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

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

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

NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL.

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

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

[01:05:04]

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

ALSO, THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS AND THEY CAN PLACE THEM ON THE TABLE AND I WILL GET THEM AFTER THE MEETING. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING.

SO THE FIRST PERSON WILL BE MS. MEG MULFORD AND THE SECOND PERSON WILL BE SEAN BRIM.

SO, MS. MULFORD, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND THERE'S A BUTTON, IF YOU WOULD PUSH THE BUTTON, YOU'LL SEE THE LIGHT WILL TURN GREEN. GO AHEAD.

THERE YOU GO. [LAUGHTER] HI. YOU CAN SIT. THIS IS MY FIRST TIME EVER DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YES. OKAY TRANSPORTATION. BY LAW, A CHILD NO YOUNGER THAN THE AGE OF EIGHT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS ALLOWED TO BE HOME WITHOUT AN ADULT PRESENT.

MY TRANSPORTATION ALONE. MY DAUGHTER IS SEVEN.

SHE'S IN FIRST GRADE. SHE GOES TO CECIL. CECILTON ELEMENTARY.

MULTIPLE INSTANCES THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT FIRST GRADERS ARE ALLOWED OFF THE SCHOOL BUS WITHOUT AN ADULT PRESENT.

THAT IS THEIR SCHOOL GUIDELINES. THEY SAY THAT THEY CAN JUDGE.

I HAVE THREE KIDS, NINE, EIGHT AND SEVEN. THEY HAVE TO CROSS THE ROAD TO COME TO OUR DRIVEWAY WHERE IT IS, AND IT'S JUST TO ME, IT'S DANGEROUS. SHE'S VERY TINY, AND I KNOW PEOPLE BLOW SCHOOL STOP SIGN BUS, SCHOOL STOP SIGNS A LOT. I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND.

THEY DON'T SLOW DOWN. THEY DON'T STOP. I WENT TO WAR WITH MY KIDS LAST SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION SERVICE.

THEY HAD MY KIDS WALKING FROM ONE SCHOOL, ONE STOP TO ANOTHER ON A 50 MILE PER HOUR HIGHWAY, AND PEOPLE WOULD JUST BLOW THROUGH THE YELLOW LIGHTS, RED LIGHTS.

IT'S THE THINGS I'VE SEEN IS SCARY AS A MOTHER.

I STRESSED THIS TO THE SCHOOL MULTIPLE TIMES.

AND I JUST FEEL LIKE AS A MOM, WE CAN DO BETTER TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.

I DON'T KNOW. LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THINGS TO PUT IN PLACE TO HELP GET THESE KIDS OFF THE BUS SAFER.

I JUST KNOW THAT THE TRANSPORTATION AND THE PARENTS HAVE TO WORK BETTER AS A TEAM TO GET THE KIDS, ULTIMATELY TO THE PARENT. A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFER.

I ASKED MY BUS DRIVER PERSONALLY, WOULD HE CONSIDER BEEPING OR WAITING A COUPLE MINUTES IF I HAD TO RUN BACK INTO THE BATHROOM OR SOMETHING AND COME BACK OUT? HE FLAT OUT TOLD ME NO, THEY DON'T BEEP. THEY DON'T LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE.

AND I JUST THINK WE HAVE TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE UNDERSTANDING, A LITTLE BIT MORE EMPATHY, AND TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE SAFER PRACTICES TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE KIDS ARE GETTING HOME TO THEIR PARENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THAT NO KID IS GETTING OFF THE BUS AND POTENTIALLY GETTING STOLEN OR TAKEN OR, YOU KNOW, BEING HOME LEFT ALONE WITHOUT A PARENT THERE.

AND I KNOW THAT FALLS ON THE BUS, OR I KNOW THAT FALLS ON THE PARENT AS MUCH AS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BUT I WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION TO SEE HOW WE CAN TRY TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

THAT'S ALL I GOT. [LAUGHTER]. THANK YOU. I BROUGHT A WHOLE BUNCH OF, LIKE, PICTURES AND STUFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW. WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING AND SHARING WITH US. YOU'RE WELCOME WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT. AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL DEFINITELY BE IN TOUCH.

AND I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM SOMEWHAT AS WELL, SO. YEAH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH SEAN BRIM. I'M SEAN BRIM OF NORTHEAST. HOW DOES ONE QUANTIFY THE UNQUANTIFIABLE? THE SCHOOL BUDGET IS AN ATTEMPT TO DO EXACTLY THAT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON FROM MY TIME AS A CCPS STUDENT IS THAT EDUCATION IS ITSELF A VALUE TO HOLD DEAR.

WHAT GOT US TO THE MOON? WHAT ENABLED US TO SMASH THE FASCIST MENACE? WE ARE HERE. AND THE SOVIET UNION IS ON THE ASH HEAP OF HISTORY.

WHAT ENABLED US TO PROVE FOR ALL TIME THAT COMMUNISM WAS A DEAD PHILOSOPHY AT THE END OF THE COLD WAR.

IT'S PUBLIC EDUCATION. MY PUBLIC EDUCATION TAUGHT ME HONOR, DUTY, PATRIOTISM, LOYALTY TO COUNTRY.

[01:10:05]

YOU CAN'T FIND THAT IN A LINE ITEM ON A SPREADSHEET.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MS. SOPA. BUT NONETHELESS, IT'S THERE BEHIND ALL THE NUMBERS.

AND IF WE TALK ABOUT NUMBERS, THE $8,000 OR SO SPENT PER STUDENT PER YEAR IS GIVEN BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, NOT MERELY IN INCOME TAXES PAID BACK OVER A LIFETIME, BUT IN CREATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES BY THOSE SAME STUDENTS.

IT'S PAID BACK IN SERVICE TO COUNTRY IN OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES, AS MY ENTIRE FAMILY OF COUSINS DO.

IT'S PAID BACK WHEN WE IN TURN SEND OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN BACK TO THOSE SAME SCHOOLS IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S PAID BACK WHEN THOSE SAME STUDENTS ENGAGE IN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

THAT LEADS TO THE NEXT TECH INNOVATIONS THAT DRIVE OUR ECONOMY'S ENGINE AND MAKE US THE ENVY OF THE WORLD.

IF WE CHANGE THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE WILL NO LONGER BE GREAT.

AND WITH REGARD TO HONOR, I WOULD POINT OUT RECENTLY, OUR COUNTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE HAS BEHAVED A BIT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WE SHOULD EXPECT FROM A CHIEF EXECUTIVE. HIS LANGUAGE ONLINE WAS INTEMPERATE, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND UNBECOMING OF HIS OFFICE WITH REGARD TO A SIMPLE QUESTION ABOUT THE APPALLING AND UNPROFESSIONAL THINGS THAT FEDERAL POLICE ARE DOING IN OUR NATION'S HEARTLAND.

BLOODSHED SHOULD NOT BE, SHOULD, SHOULD. BLOODSHED SHOULD BE THE LAST, NOT FIRST RESORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

OTHERWISE, WE MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE ENTIRE IDEA.

IT JUST GOES TO PROVE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHY I DIDN'T VOTE FOR OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I DON'T VOTE FOR POLITICIANS WHO BEHAVE DISRESPECTFULLY.

I DON'T VOTE FOR POLITICIANS WHO ARE SO EASILY TRIGGERED AND CONTRARY TO WHAT THE SEEMS TO THINK, THERE WILL BE NO WAIT AND SEE INVESTIGATION OF THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE BLOODSHED IN MINNEAPOLIS IN RECENT DAYS.

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BURIED THE INVESTIGATION BEFORE IT EVER GOT STARTED.

ADAM STRAIGHT SHOULD TAKE HIS OWN ADVICE AND SIT OUT THE REST OF HIS TERM INSTEAD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BRIM. OKAY, THAT IS THE END OF OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. SO, I GUESS UPCOMING EVENTS. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT?

[8. Upcoming Events ]

BUT THE EXHIBITS ARE UP THE ENTIRE MONTH. THIS MONDAY FOR M.L.

KING HOLIDAY. THERE'S ALWAYS A REALLY NICE SERVICE AT FIVE RIVERS CHURCH.

I KIND OF PREFERRED THE AME CHURCH, BUT. BUT, YEAH, IT'S ALWAYS A NICE TURNOUT.

IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO. IT IS REALLY WORTH GOING.

I HAVEN'T MISSED ONE IN 17 YEARS. JANUARY 26TH EARLY DISMISSAL.

SECONDARY THEN ELEMENTARY. WE WILL BE HERE TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT.

ON FEBRUARY 3RD, WE HAVE ANOTHER BOARD WORK SESSION THAT IS AT 10:00.

PRETTY MUCH ALL DAY. IT'S USUALLY FIVE HOURS OR SO.

AND THEN WE HAVE A HEART FUNDRAISER ON FEBRUARY 6TH AT SCHAEFER'S.

THANK YOU, MS. SHAW. AND THEN WE WILL BE BACK HERE FOR OUR NEXT BUSINESS MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON.

AND WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA. SO MEETING ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.