[00:00:04]
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.
[3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.]
THIS IS TODAY IS FEBRUARY THE 11TH, 2026. AND THIS IS OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING FOR CECIL COUNTY.FIRST, FOR EVERYONE'S AWARENESS, I'D LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MS. HAWLEY WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TODAY, BUT SHE IS HERE WITH US ON THE PHONE.
MS. HAWLEY, CAN YOU HEAR US? MAYBE SHE'S NOT ON THE PHONE.
[LAUGHTER] SHE WAS. DO YOU WANT TO TRY AGAIN? SHE WAS. WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS ONE MORE TIME.
WE DON'T WANT HER TO MISS THE PLEDGE. I KNOW.
SHE WAS ON THE PHONE. I THINK SHE HUNG UP ON US.
HI. THERE SHE IS. OKAY. THANK YOU. MS. METCALFE, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
MR. HAMPTON, WILL YOU DO THE BOARD REFLECTION, PLEASE? 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. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. THIS IS JUST FOR THE MEETING'S AGENDA, NOT FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA.
OH, YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT. MEETING AGENDA. ANYBODY WANT TO TRY IT AGAIN? [LAUGHTER] I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
[4. Consent Agenda]
SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.[5. New Business]
MS. METCALFE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO START? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH ON, ON THIS REPORT. LAST MONTH, I ATTENDED THE JANUARY CECIL COUNTY COUNCIL OF STUDENT COUNCILS MEETING WHERE WE HAD A Q&A WE DISCUSSED CONSTRUCTION AND FACILITIES AND ALSO BEGAN TO DISCUSS SMOB APPLICATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING FOR ME. I'M EXCITED TO PASS THE TORCH ON TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS PAST MONTH I SENT OUT APPLICATIONS FOR MY SMOB ADVISORY COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL WILL BE A STUDENT LED GROUP CONSISTING OF STUDENTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTY, WHO WILL AID ME IN REPRESENTING THE STUDENT BODY AS A WHOLE SO I CAN HIT DIFFERENT AREAS THAT I WOULDN'T USUALLY GET REPRESENTATION FROM. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHILE, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GET IT UP AND RUNNING. APPLICATIONS CLOSED A WEEK AGO AND I'M PRETTY SURPRISED WITH THE TURNOUT.
I THINK I GOT CLOSE TO 40 APPLICATIONS, SO OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, I'LL BE GOING THROUGH THOSE, AND I PLAN ON HAVING OUR FIRST MEETING BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
BEGINNING THIS MONTH, MANY HIGH SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY ARE STARTING TO PERFORM MUSICALS AND PLAYS.
I KNOW ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL IS DOING LES MIS THIS WEEKEND, AND I'M GOING TO SEE IT TOMORROW.
I RECOMMEND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GO OUT AND SUPPORT OUR FINE ARTS PROGRAMS. I KNOW HOW HARD MY FELLOW STUDENTS WORK ON THESE PRODUCTIONS AND IT REALLY SHOWS.
THANK YOU. THANKS I WENT TO THE INDOOR TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP IN ESSEX AND CHEERED FOR OUR LOCAL OR FOR OUR CECIL COUNTY ATHLETES, WHICH IS FUN. I ATTENDED BOTH BAINBRIDGE AND PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, AND THIS WEEK, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S READING BUDDIES WINTER SESSION BEGAN AND I GOT TO SEE MY READING BUDDY.
WE'VE BEEN PAIRED SINCE THE FALL OF 2024, AND THIS WEEK WE READ ABOUT DRAGONS.
[00:05:03]
IT WAS COOL. FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AND HONORING AMERICAN HISTORY MEANS THAT WE DON'T GLOSS OVER DIFFICULT CHAPTERS.THANK YOU. NOTHING NEW TO REPORT TODAY. I'LL PASS MY TIME THANKS.
MR. DAVIS. THANK YOU, MS. HEATH. JUST A FEW ITEMS. THE BOARD IS CURRENTLY WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY IN REVIEWING EACH AND EVERY ITEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE FY 2027 CCPS BUDGET.
THIS PROCESS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND EACH OF US TAKES IT VERY SERIOUSLY. I WANT TO ENSURE THAT CECIL COUNTY COMMUNITY THAT THE TRANSPARENT DECISIONS WE MAKE AND THE FINAL BUDGET WE PRESENT TO THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT REVIEW, WILL PRESENT WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF EACH AND EVERY STUDENT, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I ALSO WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHICH PROVIDES STUDENTS ACROSS CCPS AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO THE DIVERSE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.
STUDENTS WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT PROMINENT AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERS SUCH AS FREDERICK DOUGLASS, HARRIET TUBMAN, ROSA PARKS, THURGOOD MARSHALL, AND THE REVEREND DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
THIS YEAR REPRESENTS THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH, STARTING IN 1926 WITH NEGRO HISTORY WEEK, AND EVENTUALLY LEADING TO CONGRESS OFFICIALLY PASSING A LAW IN 1986 RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
IT'S AN HONOR TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CCPS BOARD OF EDUCATION, BECAUSE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY WILL GREATLY DEPEND ON THE EDUCATION WE PROVIDE TO OUR FUTURE LEADERS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MS. HAWLEY, DO YOU HAVE A REPORT FOR US TONIGHT? SURE. JUST REAL FAST. THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES.
SO WE'VE ALL BEEN BUSY WITH THAT. JUST A COUPLE HIGHLIGHTS.
FIRST, ONE OF MY FAVORITES, THE UNIFIED BOWLING TOURNAMENT.
THIS YEAR, WE HAD 16 TEAMS FROM ALL FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS.
THERE WERE 82 STUDENT ATHLETES PARTICIPATING, WHICH WAS UP FROM LAST YEAR.
IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM THIS.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN YOU ALL KNOW IT'S A GREAT TIME.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT, THE TEAMWORK, SMILES, GENUINE SUPPORT THAT STUDENTS SHOW EACH OTHER.
THERE WERE OVER 280 STUDENTS, 36 STAFF MEMBERS AND AS WE ALL KNOW, IT WAS REALLY, REALLY COLD.
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY IS PRETTY ICY AT THIS POINT.
SO THEY RAISED OVER $42,000 FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS, INCLUDING UNIFIED SPORTS.
AND THAT'S JUST INCREDIBLE. AND THEN FINALLY JUST CONGRATULATE MS. METCALFE. I AM REALLY IMPRESSED WITH YOUR PROACTIVITY TO SEEK WIDER STUDENT FEEDBACK.
AND THE RESPONSE WAS FANTASTIC. ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
WE ALL GATHER IN ANNAPOLIS, BUT OUR WEATHER HAS NOT BEEN COOPERATING WITH US.
SO WE DID THAT VIRTUAL. I ALSO WAS HAD A LEGISLATIVE MEETING LIKE MS. HAWLEY SAID JUST TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ALL OF THE BILLS THAT WILL BE AFFECTING OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I ALSO ATTENDED THE CECILTON ELEMENTARY STEERING COMMITTEE, VOLUNTEERED IN SCHOOLS, AND HOSTED A SOFTBALL INTEREST MEETING AT BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL. JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS, THERE'S 17 DAYS TILL MARCH 1ST.
SPRING SPORTS STARTS. I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND LIKE MS. HAWLEY SAID, WE DID HAVE MANY STUDENTS AND STAFF PARTICIPATE IN THE POLAR BEAR PLUNGE.
ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR. AND THAT BENEFIT SPECIAL OLYMPICS.
AND THEN I WOULD ALSO JUST LIKE TO MAKE A COUPLE OF REMARKS ON THE REAPPOINTMENT OF DOCTOR LAWSON, WHO I BELIEVE HAS PROVIDED STEADY, THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP TO CCPS OVER HIS PAST TWO TERMS. HE'S REMAINED HIGHLY ENGAGED WITH OUR SCHOOLS, STAFF, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY AND HAS EARNED THE RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE OF THIS BOARD.
SO THANK YOU. AND THEN NOW YOU GET TO HAVE YOUR REPORT.
[00:10:06]
IF YOU DIDN'T FIGURE IT OUT, I'M NOT THE NEW GUY ANYMORE.BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS WILL BE MY THIRD AND ABSOLUTELY LAST TERM [LAUGHTER] AT THE AGE OF 65.
BUT BEING A PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT THESE DAYS ISN'T EASY, JUST IN THE SENSE THAT WITH SO MUCH GOING ON, YOU'RE CONSISTENTLY UNDER THE GUN FOR JUST FILLING THE REASON.
FILL IN THE BLANK ON THE REASON. THE REASONS CHANGE DAY TO DAY.
BUT WE FIND OURSELVES, YOU KNOW, IN THE CORNER QUITE A BIT.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO WORK WITH A BOARD SUCH AS YOURSELVES MEANS A LOT.
AND FRANKLY, AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE, AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER, I WOULDN'T CONTINUE IF I WEREN'T IN SUCH A GOOD SITUATION WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE BOARD, WITH MY COLLEAGUES OVER HERE TO MY RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, A DAY DOESN'T GO BY THAT I DON'T REALIZE HOW BLESSED I AM.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. AND WITH THAT, THERE'S MORE.
OH OKAY NOT YET. SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, I SPEND TIME IN.
WE COULD PROBABLY TURN THAT DOWN A LITTLE. I SPEND TIME EACH WEEK IN A 6TH GRADE CLASSROOM.
IT'S JUST REALLY REFRESHING FOR ME TO GO IN AND SEE THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS. YOU KNOW, KEEPS ME CURRENT WITH, IT REALLY GIVES ME SOME GREAT TALKING POINTS WHEN I TALK TO, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S FRIENDS, FAMILY, FOLKS LIKE YOURSELVES JUST TO TOUT THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPEN DAY IN, DAY OUT. AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THIS IS BRIDGET.
SHE'S A 6TH GRADER, AND I GOT THE OKAY FROM HER MOM AND DAD TO GO AHEAD AND PUBLISH THIS.
WE PUT IT UP ON INSTAGRAM AND GOT OVER 10,000 VIEWS.
I SAW BRIDGET THIS MORNING. KIND OF GAVE HER LIKE, LOOK AT HOW POPULAR THIS IS.
SO WHAT THIS IS THIS IS AI WORK. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND EVEN FOR ME, I'M NOT REALLY QUITE SURE WHAT IT MEANS OTHER THAN YOU CAN, LIKE, YOU KNOW, JUST IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE NEW GOOGLE ALMOST.
SO I'M TRYING TO GET MY HEAD AROUND IT, ALTHOUGH I HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT, LIKE, YOUR HEAD ON SOME COOL LITTLE PICTURE, I FIGURED THAT OUT TOO. BUT ANYWAY, BRIDGET. SO SHE'S USING THIS TOOL THAT INVOLVES AI.
SHE IS. SHE'S GETTING READY AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IT IN A SECOND.
SHE'S GETTING READY TO READ INTO HER CHROMEBOOK.
OKAY. AND A CHROMEBOOK IS LIKE A LAPTOP THAT'S BROKEN.
IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS YOU OPEN UP AND IT'S SORT OF LIKE THIS, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T STORE STUFF ON IT. SO SHE READS INTO THE CHROMEBOOK AND SHE'S READING INTO A PROGRAM CALLED READING COACH.
AND WHAT READING COACH IS DOING IS LISTENING TO HER AND IT WILL SCORE.
HER FLUENCY AND FLUENCY IS A BIG DEAL WHEN WE'RE TEACHING KIDS TO READ.
FLUENCY IS JUST HOW CLEARLY, HOW SMOOTHLY DO THEY READ A PASSAGE, A PASSAGE.
BECAUSE WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE GREAT FLUENCY, YOU'LL HEAR THE STAMMERING.
KIDS LOVE IT BECAUSE IT SCORES THEM. IT'LL GIVE THEM A NUMERICAL SCORE.
AND THE TEACHER SAYS, OKAY, BEFORE THE END OF THIS CLASS, I WANT YOU TO GET A 95 OR BETTER.
AND SO YOU HAVE 26, 27 KIDS ALL AT ONCE READING INTO THEIR CHROMEBOOK.
AND AGAIN, IT'S PRETTY SLICK TO WATCH. SO THIS IS ABOUT 60S.
SO JUST CLICK ON GO. OKAY AND JOURNALISTS WERE EAGER TO TRACK DOWN THE ORIGINAL AND TO SECURE INTERVIEWS.
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE TO MEET DOCTOR JOSEPH BELL AT HIS HANDSOME HOUSE IN MELVILLE CRESCENT.
DOCTOR CONAN DOYLE HAS MADE NO SECRET OF THE FACT THAT DOCTOR BELL IS THE ORIGINAL OF HIS FAMOUS CREATION, SHERLOCK HOLMES, BUT DOCTOR BELL INSISTS THAT DOYLE'S A CLEVER MAN.
IT'S NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM. IT WAS WITH GREATEST DIFFICULTY IN THE WORLD THAT DOCTOR BELL WOULD SUBMIT TO BE INTERVIEWED, EVEN UNDER THE MOST SOLEMN PROMISE, AND AT FIRST I THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE TO RETURN WITH VIRGIN NOTEBOOK FROM BAKER.
I MEAN MELVILLE CRESCENT. BUT THE DOCTOR'S HATRED OF PUBLICATION IS OUTWEIGHED BY HIS ABNORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHEERY CORTICES, AND AT LENGTH I WAS SEATED, PENCIL IN HAND, BEFORE THE WHITE HAIRED, DENIED RUDDY FACED MAN WITH CLEAN SHAVED LIPS AND CHIN, BLACK VELVET JACKET OF FRIENDSHIP, AND WHOM INSPIRED DOCTOR DOYLE TO WRITE HIS FASCINATING SERIES OF BOOKS.
BY THE 1890S, IT WAS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT DOCTOR.
RELAX [LAUGHTER]. SO, BRIDGET, AFTER SHE READS WITHIN 10S, THIS POPS UP.
[00:15:04]
THERE'S SOME FLUENCY KIND OF CLUNKINESS, IF YOU WILL.COULD HAVE BEEN A PAUSE, COULD HAVE BEEN A HICCUP.
I DID IT A FEW TIMES MYSELF. IT COULD BE SOMETHING.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE SPEAKING ALL OF A SUDDEN? YOU KIND OF LIKE, DO A LITTLE SUBTLE BURP, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE, IT WOULD PICK UP ON THAT, AND THE AI WOULD THINK, OKAY, WELL, HE STRUGGLED WITH THAT WORD.
SO IT GAVE HER A SCORE OF 95. AND IT DOESN'T OFFER A TON OF DIAGNOSTICS TO THE TEACHER, OTHER THAN IT SHOWS THAT THE KID'S STRUGGLED WITH THESE WORDS AND THAT THERE COULD BE SOME CONTEXTUAL KIND OF THINGS, LIKE ONE OF THE WORDS IN THE PASSAGE THERE WAS EDINBURGH, WHICH IS LIKE A LOCATION. IT'S A PROPER NOUN.
AND SO SHE JUST KIND OF GOT CLUNKY ON THAT. BUT BUT THE AI POINTS THAT OUT.
SO IT'S REALLY GOOD STUFF. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE TELLING US NOW, RIGHT? IT'S NOT GOING TO BE US.
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS.
MS. HRINKO. IS SHE HERE? I HAVE NOT SEEN MS. HRINKO.
I HAVEN'T EITHER NOT COMING OKAY, WELL, WE'LL SKIP THAT, AND WE'LL GO RIGHT TO OUR CONSTRUCTION REPORT.
DOCTOR LAWSON. SO IF YOU LIKE THE VIDEOS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE THE PICTURES.
SO THIS IS THE CONSTRUCTION REPORT AND MONTHLY DOCTOR BOYER, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FACILITIES, AND MR. SIMPERS, OUR DIRECTOR FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
THEY COME THROUGH AND THEY CREATE THIS FOR US.
THERE'S SOME NARRATIVE UP HERE ABOUT THE ACTUAL PROGRESS.
STOP. OF THE NEW SCHOOL. I'LL SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES OF NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH IN A MOMENT, BUT WE'RE GETTING READY TO START A NEW PROJECT ON THE ROOF OF ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL TO PUT NEW AIR CONDITIONING IN THE GUIDANCE AREA, AS WELL AS WE'RE ADDING A BOILER FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING.
OKAY. AND THEN TWO MORE PROJECTS. ONE IS THERE'S GOING TO BE ROOF ON THE SAME ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING. AND THE SECOND ONE IS CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
ANYBODY HERE FROM CECIL MANOR? THEY ARE GETTING ENTIRELY NEW HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, SO IT'S QUITE A BIG DEAL. IT'S AN OVER $4 MILLION PROJECT.
THE CURRENT SCHOOL AND FOOTBALL STADIUM ARE OVER HERE.
THIS IS THE GYMNASIUM IS A COMING BACK HERE. C IS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WING.
DOWN HERE IS THE CAFETERIA AND MEDIA CENTER. OVER HERE IS KIND OF THE MAIN OFFICE COMPLEX.
THAT'S THE MAIN ARTERY THOROUGHFARE COMING THROUGH THE BUILDING.
E IS THE AUDITORIUM, F IS THE. THERE'S LIKE A COMMON AREA DOWN HERE WHERE THE SECOND FLOOR KIDS CAN STAND UP HIGH AND LOOK DOWN ON THE CAFETERIA. AS A HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, I THINK, LIKE, KIDS THROWING GUM.
THAT'S JUST WHERE MY HEAD GOES. AND THEN, G, THIS IS THE HIGH SCHOOL WING.
AND AGAIN, SO IT'S REALLY COMING ALONG. WE EXPECT IT TO OPEN JULY 1ST OF 2027.
AND SO 7TH GRADERS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, I'M THINKING, AS I'M TALKING WILL GO TO 9TH GRADE AT THE NEW SCHOOL, 3RD GRADER KNOW 4TH GRADERS AT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY AT BAYVIEW.
SOME OF LEEDS AND ELK NECK WILL ALL HEAD TO THE NEW NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY EXCITING. RIGHT NOW, IT STANDS AT ABOUT $185.
$190 MILLION PROJECT. AND WE HAVE SOME MORE PICTURES.
JUST SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION LOOKING STUFF. THAT'S THE MAIN HALLWAY.
GO AHEAD. YOU CAN SEE THE KITCHEN. ONE KITCHEN WILL SERVE BOTH CAFETERIAS.
THERE ARE SEPARATE CAFETERIAS. SO THE KIDS WON'T MIX NECESSARILY.
KEEP GOING. THAT'S THE TOP OF THE AUDITORIUM.
AGAIN. THE AUDITORIUM WILL SEE A THOUSANDS. THOUSAND PEOPLE AND HAS A BALCONY.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE MEDIA CENTER. I WAS TELLING YOU. THE MEDIA CENTER LOOKS OUT INTO THE COURTYARD.
A TYPICAL CLASSROOM. THERE'S THE BUS LOOP. SO YOU ARE FACING THE FOOTBALL FIELD, RIGHT? YOUR BACK IS TO THE WOODS AND YOU'RE FACING THE FOOTBALL FIELD.
AND THAT'S THE BUS LOOP WHERE THE KIDS WILL GET DROPPED OFF EACH MORNING. GO AHEAD SO NOW WE ARE AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING ROOF.
[00:20:01]
ONE MORE. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN REALLY SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BIT BY THIS WEATHER.GO AHEAD. AND THAT IS IT. ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD FOR DOCTOR BOYER OR MYSELF? OKAY THANK YOU. AND NOW, I THINK FOR THE MOMENT THAT MOST OF YOU ARE HERE THE ANTI-BULLYING POSTER RECOGNITION, DOCTOR LAWSON. YES CHRISTIE EDELSON, OUR COORDINATOR FOR GUIDANCE SERVICES, TO COME FORWARD AND LEAD THE RECOGNITION FOR OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE FOR THE ANTI-BULLYING POSTERS. AND YOU AND I WILL PROBABLY GO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE FOR THIS CELEBRATION OF THESE WONDERFUL ARTISTS.
THIS YEAR MARKS THE THIRD ANNUAL KICKOFF OF OUR BULLYING PREVENTION CAMPAIGN AND POSTER CONTEST, CENTERED AROUND THE POWERFUL SLOGAN, ALL IN UNITED AGAINST BULLYING.
WE ARE THRILLED TO SEE THE CREATIVITY AND HEART REFLECTED IN THIS YEAR'S POSTER SUBMISSIONS, AND WE EXTEND OUR SINCERE APPRECIATION TO EVERY STUDENT WHO PARTICIPATED.
AT THIS TIME I WILL RECOGNIZE EACH OF OUR WINNERS.
AS I ANNOUNCE EACH STUDENT'S NAME. I INVITE THE WINNER, THEIR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR OR SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND THEIR PARENTS TO JOIN US AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM FOR THIS SPECIAL EVENT.
EACH WINNER WILL RECEIVE A FRAMED COPY OF THEIR ANTI-BULLYING POSTER, A RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE, AND THE PRIZE THAT THEY SELECTED. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE THEIR PHOTO TAKEN WITH DOCTOR LAWSON AND MS. HEATH TO COMMEMORATE THIS ACHIEVEMENT. [LAUGHTER].
IT'S ALWAYS THE BIG BONUS OF THE DAY. THE POSTER THAT IS BEING SHOWCASED TONIGHT WAS DESIGNED BY A STUDENT IN THE INTERACTIVE MEDIA PRODUCTION PROGRAM AT THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. THE POSTER WILL BE DISPLAYED AT ALL CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE CECIL COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY POSTER DESIGN WINNER REESE BECK, GRADE 11 FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL.
CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. WONDERFUL JOB. THANK YOU THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU WE WOULD NOW LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE INDIVIDUAL POSTER CONTEST WINNERS OF THIS YEAR'S CONTEST.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS.
REPRESENTING THE PRE-K TO 2 LEVEL CHARLOTTE HOUDYSHELL GRADE KINDERGARTEN FROM NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY.
[APPLAUSE] WE INVITE CHARLOTTE, MS. ADAIR, NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL, MS. KENNEDY, SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND CHARLOTTE'S PARENTS, JEFFREY AND NICOLE HOUDYSHELL, TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
GO AROUND THE FRONT. I THINK SHE WAS OVER THERE.
[00:25:04]
IT'S HARD.THREE. LOOK THANK YOU SO MUCH.
RILEY HUFFORD, GRADE 4 FROM CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY.
WE INVITE RILEY, DOCTOR FOSKEY, CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL.
MS. DAVIDSON, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL. MS. FREDERICK, SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND RILEY'S PARENTS, DEAN AND JANET HUFFORD, TO COME TO THE FRONT. [APPLAUSE].
THANK I JUST WANT TO SAY REPRESENTING THE GRADE 3 LEVEL. AGAIN, WE HAVE LILLIAN TULOWITZKI, GRADE FIVE, FROM CHESAPEAKE CITY ELEMENTARY.
SO AGAIN, WE INVITE LILLIAN, DOCTOR FOSKEY, CHESAPEAKE CITY PRINCIPAL, MS. DAVIDSON, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, MS. FREDERICK, SCHOOL COUNSELOR, AND LILLIAN'S PARENTS, JORDAN TULOWITZKI AND ASHLEY TULOWITZKI, TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM. [APPLAUSE].
REPRESENTING GRADE 3 TO 5 LEVEL ZOE WOODARD, GRADE 4.
FROM KENMORE ELEMENTARY. WE INVITE ZOE AND MS. WARNER, SCHOOL COUNSELOR AND ZOE'S PARENTS, ZACH WOODWARD AND SUMMER DICKINSON, TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AT THIS TIME.
[00:30:06]
JUST A NOTE ABOUT THE PRIZES. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN AN OPTION TO CHOOSE.THERE WAS A CHROMEBOOK OPTION, A TABLET, AIRPODS, AND ONE OF THOSE FANCY HIGH SCHOOL CALCULATORS.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE THE VARYING DIFFERENCES OF THE WEIGHT OF THE BAG.
WE INVITE CYNTHIA, MRS. SANDS, CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, AND CYNTHIA'S PARENTS, PHILIP WILCOX AND SARAH BAISH. SORRY IF I SAID THAT WRONG.
TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM AT THIS TIME.
REPRESENTING THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL. EMERSON WALLACE, GRADE 9 FROM BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL.
WE INVITE EMERSON, MR. EVANS, PRINCIPAL OF BOHEMIA MANOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND EMERSON'S PARENTS, CHRIS AND SAMANTHA WALLACE, TO COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
[APPLAUSE] OH, ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY CONGRATS, MOM. YES, I REMEMBER YOU FROM THE DOWNSTAIRS.
[APPLAUSE]. FAMILIES CAN CERTAINLY FEEL FREE TO LEAVE. OTHERWISE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SUCKED INTO A. I GUESS I DIDN'T HAVE TO TELL YOU, DID I? [LAUGHTER]. EVERYBODY WANTS TO HEAR THEY SEE ME COMING, THEY LEAVE LEADERSHIP TEAM. YOU HAVE TO STAY. [LAUGHTER].
YEAH. THANK YOU. AND YOUR POWERPOINT IS RIGHT HERE OKAY. FOR THE NEXT ONE. CATHY OKAY. OKAY FUN'S OVER. SORRY [LAUGHTER]. SOPA. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET UPDATE.
YEAH. THANK YOU, MS. HEATH. AT THIS TIME, MRS. SOPA, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILL SHARE WITH THE BOARD OUR FY 26 BUDGET UPDATE, WHICH WILL REQUIRE A VOTE.
[00:35:02]
AND WITH THAT, MRS. SOPA. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HEATH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS THAT STAYED.THANK YOU. SO THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM THE MONTH OF JANUARY.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE IT WAS A RELATIVELY QUIET MONTH.
SO ADDITIONAL REVENUE, $14,991 AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSE.
AND. THE NEXT PAGE SUMMARIZES THAT. SO YOU CAN SEE THERE'S ONLY THREE ADDITIONS HERE TO REVENUE.
SO A MUCH SMALLER LIST THAN WE'RE NORMALLY LOOKING AT.
YOU CAN SEE IF I TURN THIS ON RESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE.
SO WE HAVE A ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GRANT TO RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TO SUPPORT SOME CLASSROOM SUPPLIES FOR PROJECT LEAD THE WAY, SOME ADDITIONS TO RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE FOR OUR PERKINS GRANT FOR CTE TO SUPPORT CLASSROOM SUPPLIES AT THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY FOR $13,593.
BUT YOU DO HAVE THE WHOLE REPORT FOR YOUR REFERENCE, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY.
DOCTOR LAWSON HAS MADE A RECOMMENDATION. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED.
SECOND? SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE SO THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD TIME SHARING INFORMATION WITH WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL EVENTUALLY BE A RESPONSIBLE RECOMMENDATION FOR AN FY 27 BUDGET. MRS. SOPA HAS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
WE BASED ON BOARD FEEDBACK FROM OUR LAST BUDGET HEARING, WHICH WAS LAST TUESDAY.
WE WILL SHARE WITH YOU THE MOST RECENT CHANGES.
AND CERTAINLY, AS YOU SEE CHANGES ALONG THE WAY, FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT AND ASK MRS. SOPA. AND I BELIEVE BETWEEN HERSELF AND THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WE CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WITH THAT, MRS. SOPA. SO, AS DOCTOR LAWSON EXPLAINED, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SHARING TONIGHT IS THE UPDATED BUDGET BASED ON REDUCTIONS THAT WERE DISCUSSED ON FEBRUARY 3RD. SO AT THE END OF JANUARY, WE CAME TO YOU WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE KNEW WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO TRY TO MAKE SOME REDUCTIONS.
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS HERE. SO KEEP IN MIND AS WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE TONIGHT, THAT WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
AND REDUCTIONS WERE MADE TO DEPARTMENT BUDGETS AND EDUCATION SERVICES AND ADMIN SERVICES.
AND THEN WHATEVER WE CANNOT REDUCE FOR OUR EXPENSES AND OUR REVENUE TO EQUAL THE BALANCE OF THOSE REDUCTIONS WILL BE IN FTE SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES, UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS THAT ARE IDENTIFIED BY THE LEADERSHIP TEAM OR THE BOARD.
SO NO CHANGES TO THE RESTRICTED BUDGET. EDUCATION SERVICES.
SO WE LOOKED AT THESE SLIDES AT THAT FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
AND WE DIVIDE EDUCATION SERVICES. THERE'S TWO SLIDES BECAUSE IT'S TOO MUCH TO FIT ON ONE SLIDE.
IT'S THE WAY THAT WE GROUP ACCOUNTS TOGETHER FOR WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCOUNTS.
MOST USUALLY THE ROLL UP CODE IS RELATED TO THE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE UNDERSTANDABLE FOR THE END USER INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT EVERYTHING BY STATE CATEGORY. ALTHOUGH WE DO APPROVE A BUDGET BY STATE CATEGORY.
THIS WAS THE REQUEST THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU AT THE END OF JANUARY, AT THE JANUARY 28TH MEETING, I BELIEVE. THIS IS THE REQUEST AFTER THE LINE BY LINE ITEMS THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK ON FEBRUARY 3RD WITH THE REDUCTION.
SO THIS INCLUDES THOSE REDUCTIONS. SO THIS FIRST COLUMN HERE SHOWS THE REDUCTIONS THAT WERE MADE BETWEEN WHEN WE PRESENTED TO YOU IN JANUARY VERSUS PRESENTING TO YOU IN FEBRUARY. SO THIS COLUMN HERE SHOWS ALL OF THE GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD THAT WE DID TO MAKE REDUCTIONS TO THIS YEAR'S REQUEST.
SO WE'RE SHOWING A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SCREEN.
SO AGAIN, THESE ARE THE CUTS THAT WE'VE MADE SINCE THE JANUARY 28TH MEETING.
THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAST YEAR'S APPROVED BUDGET AND WHAT THE CURRENT REQUEST IS.
[00:40:06]
AND THAT IS FROM THE DEPARTMENT, THE DIVISION OF SERVICES AND 40,017 STUDENT CLASSROOM AIDS, WITH A BUDGET OF $112,200, WAS AN ADDITIONAL REDUCTION THAT WE INCLUDED.MRS. SOPA, YOU SAID THERE'S NO CHANGES TO THE RESTRICTED BUDGET REQUEST, BUT AT THE 3RD FEBRUARY MEETING, THE INFANTS AND TODDLERS, THERE'S A REDUCTION OF $484,000.
BUT IT WAS SAID AT THAT MEETING THAT THERE WAS A GRANT APPROVED FOR THAT.
SO THAT SERVICE WAS STILL BE PROVIDED. IT JUST WON'T BE COMING FROM THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, BUT IT WILL IMPACT THE RESTRICTED BUDGET. JUST WE WON'T SEE THAT.
SO WHAT HAPPENS IS CCPS IS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S PAID FOR BY A GRANT. THEY'LL REVIEW AND SAY, YEP, AND THEN THEY'LL REIMBURSE CCPS.
AND WE WOULD SEE THAT AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
SO YOU'RE REFERRING TO THIS INFANTS AND TODDLERS LINE HERE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE REDUCED IT BY $484,000. THAT WAS BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WHEN WE WORKED ON THIS BUDGET, WE WERE WE WERE TOLD BY MSDE THAT THE GRANT THAT NORMALLY PAYS FOR THOSE RELATED SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS WAS GOING AWAY.
UNLESS THEY CHANGE SOMETHING ABOUT AN AMOUNT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.
DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES IT DOES. SO WE'LL SEE IT IN ONE OF THE MONTHLY BUDGET AMENDMENT REPORT TO GIVE? CORRECT.
KINDERGARTEN? YES. KINDERGARTEN AND HELPING. CORRECT.
SO THAT PROGRAM WILL NO LONGER BE? THAT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF EDUCATION SERVICES. SO AGAIN, THESE ARE THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT FALL UNDER DOCTOR HAMMER AND EDUCATION SERVICES.
AGAIN, THESE ARE THE CUTS THAT WE MADE BETWEEN THE JANUARY MEETING AND THE FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE REDUCTIONS HERE IN TOTAL OUR REDUCTIONS TO EDUCATION SERVICES.
WE REDUCED $3.4 MILLION FROM OUR JANUARY 28TH MEETING TO OUR FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING.
WE REDUCED JUMP START $19,040. AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE'RE INCLUDING THIS IN, I BELIEVE, A TITLE IV GRANT. AND SO SINCE THAT'S COVERED IN THE TITLE IV GRANT, WE DO NOT NEED TO BUDGET FOR IT IN THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY BEING REMOVED FROM THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET.
IT'S BEING REMOVED FROM THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS THE SECOND HALF OF EDUCATION SERVICES.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE'VE REDUCED FROM OUR ASK IN JANUARY BY $3.4 MILLION.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT FY 26 BUDGET TO WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING FOR FY 27 IS A $2.5 MILLION INCREASE JUST FOR EDUCATION SERVICES. ANY QUESTIONS? SO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES WHICH FALL UNDER DOCTOR BUCKLEY HERE YOU CAN SEE AND THERE'S ONLY ONE PAGE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
THESE ARE THE REDUCTIONS THAT WERE MADE BETWEEN JANUARY 28TH AND FEBRUARY 3RD.
SO WE'VE REDUCED ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BY A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE IN ADMIN SERVICES FROM FY 26 TO THIS REQUEST IS $1.3 MILLION.
HALF A MILLION OF IT IS UTILITIES. WE SHARED LAST YEAR THAT OUR UTILITIES WENT UP ABOUT HALF $1 MILLION FROM ONE ACTUAL FISCAL YEAR TO THE NEXT, AND AN ADDITIONAL PROPOSED REDUCTION THAT WAS NOT DISCUSSED AT OUR FEBRUARY 3RD MEETING IS THREE INTERACTIVE MEDIA INTERNS IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,500 WHO ARE BUDGETED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.
SO WE'RE PROPOSING THAT AS AN ADDITIONAL CUT ALONG THE LINES OF THE STUDENT CLASSROOM AIDES.
SO THIS GIVES YOU A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE STAND.
REMEMBER WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
SO OUR TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE FOR FY 27 IS A LITTLE OVER $271 MILLION.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS NUMBER INCLUDES THESE THINGS IN THIS BOX.
THIS INCLUDES US USING $5 MILLION FROM OUR FUND BALANCE.
[00:45:03]
IT INCLUDES US USING $3 MILLION IN OPEB OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR RETIREE HEALTH CARE.SO IF WE USE THIS AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE, IF WE USE THIS FROM OPEB, AND IF WE GET $10 MILLION OVER THIS YEAR FROM THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, THIS WILL BE OUR REVENUE LINE. RIGHT NOW IN THIS BUDGET, THIS IS OUR AMOUNT FOR EXPENSES $278 MILLION.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE STILL HAVE A $7.2 MILLION DEFICIT.
SO ADDITIONAL REDUCTIONS ARE NEEDED IN THE AMOUNT OF $7.2 MILLION.
AND THAT'S IF ALL OF THESE THINGS HOLD TRUE. MRS. SOPA WE'RE TALKING JUST ABOUT THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, BUT IT'S TRULY NOT UNRESTRICTED.
A LOT OF THE FUNDING HAS A THERE'S STRICT GUIDELINES THAT MUST BE ADHERED TO.
COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT TRULY IS UNRESTRICTED FOR CCPS TO SPEND AS THEY SEE FIT? SO THE TERMS UNRESTRICTED AND RESTRICTED GO BACK TO THE DAYS BEFORE BLUEPRINT WHEN THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET TRULY WAS UNRESTRICTED.
AS FAR AS WE DON'T HAVE STRINGS ATTACHED FOR HOW IT'S SPENT.
THE OPEB WOULD HAVE TO BE SPENT ON RETIREE HEALTH CARE, SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY CHOICES THERE. ANYTHING ABOVE M0E OR LOCAL SHARE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT. SO WHATEVER THE COUNTY, THE MINIMUM THAT THE COUNTY IS REQUIRED TO GIVE US, ANYTHING THEY GIVE IN ADDITION TO THAT IS UNRESTRICTED.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE FOR ALL OF OUR BLUEPRINT FUNDING, OUR STATE FUNDING, WE HAVE 75% OF IT HAS TO FOLLOW THE STUDENT BY PROGRAM, BY SCHOOL. SO IT'S REALLY ONLY OF THE BLUEPRINT FUNDING 25% OF FOUNDATION.
SO WHEN I DID THE MATH FOR THIS QUESTION THAT YOU ASKED, IT'S ABOUT 18% OF THIS BUDGET.
THANK YOU. SO A. BY FINANCIAL TERMS. BY LEGAL TERMS, THIS IS THE UNRESTRICTED BUDGET, BUT MAYBE A BETTER IN PRACTICE TERM IS THE LESS RESTRICTIVE BUDGET? YES, IT'S THE LESS RESTRICTIVE BUDGET. THANK YOU.
I'LL GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDITORIALIZE HERE.
I MEAN, THERE'S VERY LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM. WE ARE GETTING APPROXIMATELY $1.5 MILLION NEW MONEY FROM THE STATE, AND MUCH OF THAT HAS TO GO TO CERTAIN LINES IN THE BUDGET, WHETHER IT'S COMPENSATORY EDUCATION.
COMPENSATORY EDUCATION IS ANOTHER WAY FOR SAYING STUDENTS FROM POVERTY, FEDERAL LEVEL, THEY CALL POVERTY MONEY TITLE I IN THE STATE, IT'S CALLED COMPENSATORY EDUCATION. IT'S DOLLARS DESTINED FOR THE SAME STUDENTS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GET TO MAKE A LOT OF THE INDEPENDENT DECISIONS THAT HISTORICALLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT HARDER AND HARDER TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT SCHOOLS IN POVERTY.
YOU'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE GOING TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD FOR AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, A TIERED STAFFING MODEL WHICH WILL SHOW LARGER CLASS SIZES THAT ARE NON-TITLE I SCHOOLS.
BALTIMORE COUNTY HAS DONE IT, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY HAS DONE IT. AND REALLY WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL SAY RIGHT UP FRONT TO THE COMMUNITY, LOOK AT A PLACE LIKE GILPIN MANOR. YOU MIGHT SEE CLASS SIZES TOP OUT AT 23.
AT A PLACE LIKE KENMORE, YOU MIGHT SEE CLASS SIZES TOP OUT AT 32.
AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO HOME WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER SYSTEMS. AND WE WILL DO THAT JUST AS A WAY TO INFORM THE PUBLIC.
I'M GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I SEE OUR WONDERFUL BUS CONTRACTORS HERE, AND WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION TODAY WHERE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE GET FOR TRANSPORTATION FROM THE STATE DOES NOT COVER OUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
IT'S $4 OR $5 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT OUR TOTAL TRANSPORTATION COSTS ARE.
SO WHERE DOES THAT OTHER $4,000,000 $5,000,000 COME FROM? FOUNDATION. SPECIAL ED WAY UNDERFUNDED AND SPECIAL ED.
SO WHERE DOES THAT MONEY COME FROM? FOUNDATION.
[00:50:08]
I'LL JUST SHARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE WITH THIS.AND IT'S ONE WHEN I VISIT SCHOOLS A TITLE I SCHOOL, NON-TITLE, I SCHOOL.
WHEN I SEE TEACHERS, I'LL ASK THEM, WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE EFFECTIVE? AND THE ANSWERS IN GENERAL ARE CLASS SIZES. BUT THEN TO THAT END, IT'S ALL THE SUPPORT STRUCTURES IN PLACE.
SO MORE SPECIAL EDUCATORS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, THERAPISTS AND COUNSELORS, AND ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT TO HELP WITH SOME OF THE OUT OF CLASSROOM WORK, SUCH AS DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS AND SUCH.
SO THAT WAY THEY CAN CONCENTRATE MORE ON THE LESSON PLANNING AND COORDINATION WITH THEIR TEAM, WITH THEIR SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS, TEACHING AND GRADING.
THAT'S WHY THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY IS SPENT. AND ALSO, LIKE DOCTOR LAWSON SAID, WE HAD, WHAT, A $1.5 MILLION INCREASE APPROXIMATELY FROM THE STATE BUT OUR SALARIES, BECAUSE OF BLUEPRINT, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE IS $8 MILLION.
SO THAT $1.5 MILLION IS NOT TOUCHING WHAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HIT THE MARK, THAT WE NEED TO. $500,000 IN UTILITIES. IF ANYBODY'S SEEN YOUR ELECTRIC BILL LATELY, IMAGINE THAT FOR THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS THAT WE HAVE, 31 BUILDINGS. MRS. SOPA WHEN DOES THAT COME OUT? IS THAT COMING OUT SOON? FOR THE 27? WE HAVE THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IS A LITTLE OVER $104 MILLION. I DON'T HAVE THE REST OF THE DIGITS MEMORIZED, BUT THIS YEAR WITH THE COUNTY HAS PROVIDED TO US IS $105,386,116. I DO KNOW THAT NUMBER. AND SO IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY PER STUDENT FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT BECAUSE THERE ARE FEWER STUDENTS ENROLLED, THE NUMBER IS ACTUALLY $104 MILLION AND CHANGE.
THANK YOU IF THE COUNTY GIVES US $10 MILLION OVER THIS YEAR'S ALLOCATION, WE HAVE $7.2 MILLION IN POSITION SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES TO REDUCE.
IF THEY GIVE US $8 MILLION ABOVE, WE NEED TO CUT $9.2 MILLION.
LIKEWISE, IF WE GET $6 MILLION ABOVE THIS YEAR, WE HAVE TO CUT $11.2 MILLION.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE POSITIONS AND THE COMPOSITION OF OUR WORKFORCE.
SO THIS IS OUR WORKFORCE BY FTE COMPOSITION. SO PURELY BY NUMBER OF FULL TIME EMPLOYEES.
SO IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, ADMINISTRATORS MAKE UP 7%.
AND WHEN I SAY ADMINISTRATORS I'M NOT TALKING CATEGORY 0-1 ADMINISTRATION I'M TALKING YOUR COORDINATORS, DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, PRINCIPALS, THE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF ADMINISTRATORS.
TEACHING STAFF INCLUDES OBVIOUSLY TEACHERS, BUT MEDIA SPECIALISTS, COUNSELORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, RELATED SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE ALL IN THAT TEACHER UNIT.
THESE ARE ALSO ONLY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES. THEY DO NOT INCLUDE HOURLY EMPLOYEES.
BUT THEN IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CCPS WORKFORCE COMPOSITION BY SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES.
ANY QUESTIONS? THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE IS JUST OUR UPCOMING BUDGET MEETINGS.
OUR BUDGET HEARING WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 25TH. SO AGAIN, JUST A REMINDER FOR THE BOARD THAT THE END OF THIS MONTH, ON FEBRUARY 25TH WE WILL ASK YOU TO APPROVE A FINAL BUDGET THAT WE CAN TURN AROUND AND SEND ACROSS THE STREET TO THE COUNTY.
AT THAT POINT, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS UNTIL MARCH 31ST TO PUBLISH HIS BUDGET.
AND THEN AFTER MARCH 31ST IS WHEN WE HAVE TO RECONCILE.
IF IN FACT, IT'S A $10 MILLION INCREASE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM THE COUNTY.
THIS IS THE BUDGET. IF IT'S AN $8 MILLION, IF IT'S SIX, AND WE'VE SHOWN YOU.
SO ONCE WE SEE WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE WE WILL THEN GO BACK AND BEFORE JUNE 30TH PRESENT A FINAL BALANCED BUDGET TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL. OR QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? JUST TO PIGGYBACK AND MRS. SOPA TOUCHED ON IT, WE HAVE BECKY AND DALLAS HERE ON A DATE NIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] THESE ARE I KNOW, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
[00:55:02]
YEAH, I KNOW YOU KNOW, COREY HALL, JUSTIN DAVIS.I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS PUBLICLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE WORK YOU DO.
IT'S NOT LOST ON US. IT IS HARD WORK. IT IS. YOU KNOW, SOME THERE ARE DAYS WHERE I COULD SEE MYSELF DRIVING THINGS THAT DON'T TALK I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO TALK OR MAKE ANY NOISE. THE BOX IS IDEALLY RIGHT.
BUT WE DO RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE]. AND MR. DAVIS.
MR. DAVIS HAS DRIVEN OUR SOFTBALL TEAM TO MANY, MANY WINS.
THANK YOU. OH, THERE YOU GO. WELL, IT'S NOT EASY THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. AND THAT'S WHY WE APPRECIATE YOU. YEAH.
AS WE SAID TODAY, TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IS IT DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US RIGHT NOW? YES ABSOLUTELY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE RESULTS THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? NO? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT.
[8. Upcoming Events]
AND I THINK IT'S THE LAST THING ON OUR AGENDA IS OUR UPCOMING EVENTS.DOCTOR LAWSON, YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT? SO NEXT MONDAY IS PRESIDENT'S DAY.
ENJOY THAT NEXT TUESDAY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR AN EXCITING DATE NIGHT, TUESDAY 6:00 HERE WILL DO VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE JUST DID WITH A BUDGET PRESENTATION MORE DETAILED THOUGH.
AGAIN, I MENTIONED ON THE 25TH WILL BE OUR FINAL BUDGET HEARING ON MARCH 5TH IS AN EARLY DISMISSAL.
AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR COMING OUT.
AND MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.