[00:00:06] GOOD EVENING. IT IS NOW 5:30 AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION. [3. Open Session - 5:30 p.m.] IT IS MARCH THE 11TH, 2026 AND THIS IS THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY. WE HAVE SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS ON THE PHONE, SO I NEED TO TAKE A ROLL CALL COUNT TO ESTABLISH QUORUM. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST RESPOND BY GIVING YOUR NAME AND WHETHER YOU ARE PRESENT OR JOINING US REMOTELY. BRIAN HAMPTON. PRESENT. TIERNEY DAVIS. PRESENT REMOTELY. JOE FERDINANDO. JOINING REMOTELY. SORRY. DIANA HAWLEY. PRESENT. AND I AM DIANNE HEATH, AND I AM HERE. PRESENT. SO WE HAVE FIVE BOARD MEMBERS HERE, TWO REMOTE AND THREE IN PERSON. SO WE HAVE A QUORUM. MISS METCALFE, COULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE? I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. AND, MR. HAMPTON, CAN YOU DO THE BOARD REFLECTION FOR US, PLEASE? YES, I CAN. 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. AND CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, MOTION PASSES. [4. Consent Agenda] NEXT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION, EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [5. New Business] NEW BUSINESS. DOCTOR LAWSON, SUPERINTENDENT REPORT. YES. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. JUST A COUPLE THINGS. FIRST, I WANT TO START BY THANKING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FOLKS WHO MADE LAST SATURDAY HAPPEN. IT WAS OUR FIRST DAY OF ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL. AND IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WE PUT TEN NINE YEAR OLDS OUT ON THE FLOOR WITH JERSEYS AND ROLL A BALL OUT AND JUST HOPE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN. BUT IT REALLY WAS, IT WENT WELL. AND SO IF YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY, WE WILL BE OUT THERE AGAIN. I BELIEVE IT'S MARCH 21ST. BASICALLY FROM 9 TO 1, ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE HOSTING A GAME OF SOME SORT. BUT ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS HAVE A BOYS TEAM AND A GIRLS TEAM, AND IT REALLY IS A GOOD TIME. SO WE'RE HAPPY TO GET THAT OFF THE GROUND. ANOTHER COMMENT IS, I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDENT ATHLETES IN THE AUDIENCE. AND REALLY THIS IS DIRECTED AT PARENTS AS MUCH AS ANYTHING. DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF WHAT YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT. YOU KNOW, BEING A COMMITTED STUDENT ATHLETE IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. IT'S MEANINGFUL. I KNOW THE, THE MORNING PRACTICES, TAKING THE KIDS BACK AND FORTH, ESPECIALLY BEFORE THEY TURN 16 TO GET THEIR LICENSE. IT'S A LOT OF WORK ON FAMILIES, THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES TO CARRY ACADEMICALLY TO CARRY THE PRACTICE. A LOT OF THEM WORK, HAVE SOME SORT OF A SOCIAL LIFE. THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, AND THESE KIDS DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT. AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE FUTURE. THEY ARE OUR LEADERS. YOU LOOK AROUND THIS COMMUNITY AT THE LEADERS AND THE HIGH PROFILE FOLKS MORE TIMES. OFTEN THAN NOT, THEY HAVE BEEN A STUDENT ATHLETE AT SOME POINT. I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO GUESS. BUT TO YOUR LEFT, THOSE FOLKS OVER THERE, I BELIEVE FOUR OF THEM WERE COLLEGE ATHLETES. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH ONES WERE. AND THEN THREE OF US UP HERE WERE. AND SO IT JUST, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, IT DID SO MUCH FOR ME AS A BASEBALL PLAYER AT WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY, JUST I LOOK BACK AT THE THINGS IT TAUGHT ME. AND SO YOU GUYS ARE LIKE KIND OF THROWING SHADE AT EACH OTHER, AREN'T YOU? [LAUGHS] YOU'RE LIKE, THERE IS NO WAY SHE PLAYED ANYTHING. EXCUSE ME, BUT SERIOUSLY, IT'S A VERY, VERY VALUABLE THING. AND STUDENTS DON'T LOSE. DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE FUN YOU'RE HAVING, THE FRIENDS YOU'RE MAKING. IT'S JUST GREAT LIFE EXPERIENCE. AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO TOUCH ON IS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT WAS JUST APPROVED BY OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE BOARD APPROVED THE RETIREMENT OF DOCTOR JOE BUCKLEY. AND, JOE, IF YOU COULD STAND FOR A MOMENT JUST TO BE RECOGNIZED [APPLAUSE]. [00:05:02] MUCH MORE TO COME BETWEEN NOW AND JUNE 30TH. BUT BUT JOE AND I HAVE BEEN ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM TOGETHER FOR 15 YEARS, AND I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M PERCEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY, BUT I CAN BE A PRETTY SERIOUS, YOU KNOW, PAIN IN THE BEHIND. AND NOBODY KNOWS IT BETTER THAN JOE, EXCEPT MAYBE MY WIFE. BUT JOE IS SMART. HE'S HARD WORKING, HE'S LOYAL, DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. AND IT IS A SERIOUS LOSS FOR US. AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND AND FOR THE BOARD TO UNDERSTAND AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THAT WE WILL NOT FILL HIS POSITION. WE WILL REORGANIZE THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MYSELF. WE WILL ALL PICK UP PIECES OF WORK HERE AND THERE. BUT THE VACANCY ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM WILL NOT BE FILLED. SO WE WILL MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE. THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS FAR AS MONEY GOES. BUT JOE, THE BEGINNING OF IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE MEANS A WORLD TO ME. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON. I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT ALONE BECAUSE I ALREADY SEE SOME TEARS AND SOME EYES. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO ANY FURTHER THAN THAT. SO I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MISS METCALFE IF SHE HAS A REPORT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THIS MONTH'S MEETING. LAST MONTH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS A SENATE PAGE FOR THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WHICH WAS LIKE, PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES I'VE EVER HAD. I GOT TO MEET A LOT OF DELEGATES AND SENATORS SPECIFICALLY FROM OUR DISTRICT, AND THERE WERE SOME EDUCATION BILLS AND BOARD OF EDUCATION BILLS THAT WERE ON THE FLOOR, WHICH WERE INTERESTING TO SIT AND WATCH IN SECOND OR THIRD READINGS. AND THEN WE ALSO GOT TO VISIT COMMITTEES AND THERE WAS SOME EDUCATION, THERE'S ONE CALLED EDUCATION ENERGY. AND THREE. THREE. YEAH. THAT ONE. I, THAT ONE WAS COOL TO VISIT AND IT WAS LIKE, IT WAS JUST REALLY COOL. AND AS I SAID LAST MONTH, MY SMOB ADVISORY COUNCIL, APPLICATIONS WERE CLOSED LAST MONTH, BUT I JUST FINALIZED THE GROUP OF STUDENTS. I THINK IT ENDED UP BEING 17. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 40 APPLICATIONS, WHICH WAS REALLY LIKE A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT. AND SO THE LIST IS FINALIZED AND OUR FIRST MEETING SHOULD BE NEXT WEEK OVER ZOOM. AND THEN IN TWO WEEKS, THE CECIL COUNTY COUNCIL OF STUDENT COUNCILS HAS THEIR MARCH MEETING WHERE WE'LL BE DOING INTERVIEWS FOR THE 26-27 SMOB, WHICH IS JUST CRAZY HOW FAST IT'S ALREADY COMING. YEAH, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. IT'S NICE TO HAVE SUCH A LARGE CROWD, AT LEAST FOR NOW. IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH WITH A LOT OF ATHLETIC TOURNAMENTS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS WILL SOON BE RECOGNIZED. I ATTENDED THE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY FESTIVAL AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AND THE MULTILINGUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FAIR AT GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. BOTH EVENTS WERE WELL ATTENDED AND SHOWCASED THE RICH BACKGROUND AND TALENT OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND OUR COUNTY. COMMUNITY CONNECTING US IN PORT DEPOSIT ORGANIZED A MID-YEAR SCHOOL DRIVE TO BENEFIT BAINBRIDGE AND PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND LIDL DISTRIBUTION CENTER CENTER DONATED TWO CAR LOADS OF SUPPLIES, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THAT. FOR READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK, I GOT TO VISIT BAINBRIDGE, CECIL MANOR, GILPIN MANOR, PERRYVILLE AND RISING SUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND READ TO ALL AGES FROM THE JUDY CENTER CHILDREN TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ONE OF THE CLASSES I VISITED HAD A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER AND THE SUBSTITUTE WAS DOING FINE. BUT ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO REGULARLY ASSISTS WITH THAT CLASS THROUGH THE STUDENT APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, MADE IT REAL EASY FOR THAT SUBSTITUTE BY KEEPING TRACK OF ALL THE STUDENTS, GETTING THE MORE THEY NEEDED TO BE, AND IT WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT SHE HAD A VERY GOOD RAPPORT WITH THE CLASS. I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GOOD WORK OUR CCPS STUDENTS DO ON A REGULAR BASIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HAMPTON. MISS HAWLEY. THANKS. AS MISS METCALFE MENTIONED, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONTINUES IN ANNAPOLIS UNTIL AROUND MID-APRIL. I WORK WITH MABE, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARD OF EDUCATION LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE MABE STAFF TRACKING JUST A FEW HUNDRED EDUCATION RELATED BILLS. AND WE PROVIDE TESTIMONY TO A NUMBER OF THOSE. I'VE ALSO ATTENDED AND PRESENTED AT THE FEBRUARY MARYLAND STATE BOARD OF ED MEETING ON BEHALF OF MABE AND THE STATE BOARD ALSO PROPOSES A LOT OF REGULATIONS AS WELL, AND I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM THROUGH MABE REGARDING THOSE PROPOSED LEGISLATIONS OR REGULATIONS. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A SECOND TO RECOGNIZE OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. [00:10:03] LAST WEEK, AS MR. HAMPTON MENTIONED, WAS READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK, AND I SPENT SOME TIME ZIPPING AROUND THE COUNTY PRE-K TO FIFTH GRADE CLASSROOMS IN ABOUT FIVE SCHOOLS. AND ONE THING I NOTICED WAS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS THERE AS WELL. FROM FOUNDATION MEMBERS TO COUNTY AND TOWN LEADERS TO POLICE OFFICERS, TO BUSINESS PARTNERS AND ALL OF THEM REALLY JUST GETTING INTO OUR SCHOOLS WITH OUR KIDS TO HELP SPREAD THE LOVE OF READING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY. AND THEN LAST NIGHT, AS MR. HAMPTON ALSO MENTIONED, THE MULTILINGUAL FAMILY AND COMMUNITY FAIR. THERE WERE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS THERE AS WELL WHO WERE SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT VARIOUS RESOURCES FOR OUR FAMILIES AND A NUMBER OF BUSINESS SPONSORS WHO DONATED FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS. SO I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S, IT'S SO GREAT TO SEE THAT OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS REALLY JUST SHOW UP AND SHOW UP IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES. AND THE LAST THING I WANT TO DO, SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IN HERE JUST TO ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS, IF YOU'RE 16 OR OLDER TO REGISTER TO VOTE IF YOU REGISTER WHEN YOU'RE 16 OR 17, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENROLLED AS A VOTER WHEN YOU'RE 18. AND ONE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW IF, IF YOU'RE 17 IN THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, BUT WILL BE 18 BY THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 3RD, YOU CAN STILL VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES. SO THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE JUNE 23RD, WHICH IS AN, EARLY VOTING STARTS JUNE 17TH. SO IF YOU'RE 17 FOR THAT, BUT YOU'LL BE 18 ON NOVEMBER 3RD, GO VOTE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. GREAT. MR. FERDINANDO. WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? YEAH, SURE. YEAH. THIS MONTH I HAD THE HONOR OF PARTICIPATING IN READ ACROSS AMERICA AT GILPIN MANOR. LEARNED A LOT ABOUT A BOOK ABOUT A LITTLE, LITTLE CAT CALLED PETE THE CAT. I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, BUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS LOVE PETE THE CAT FOR FOURTH GRADE KINDERGARTEN AND VISITED THE JUDY CENTER AND JUST HAD A GREAT TIME. THE TEACHERS WERE FANTASTIC. STUDENTS WERE AMAZING. I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO HAS A CHANCE TO DO IT, TO DO IT. THEY'LL GIVE YOU A NICE EASY BOOK IF YOU DON'T LIKE READING. THAT'S WHY I DO THAT. SO THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. MR. FERDINANDO. MR. DAVIS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING? I'M GOING TO YIELD MY TIME TODAY, MISS HEATH. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS. I ALSO WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AND READ ACROSS AMERICA MULTIPLE CLASSROOMS. ALWAYS ENJOY THAT. AND I ALSO WAS ABLE TO VOLUNTEER IN MY KINDERGARTEN CLASS AND MY FIRST GRADE CLASS MULTIPLE TIMES AND MENTOR A COUPLE OF SECOND GRADERS THAT I HAVE LUNCH WITH THEM ONCE A WEEK. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR WINTER ATHLETES THAT ARE HERE. AND WE ARE WELL INTO SPRING SPORTS NOW, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF YOU ARE ALSO PROBABLY PARTICIPATING IN A SPRING SPORT. SO GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. I HAVE BEEN EXCITED THE LAST FEW DAYS TO BE ON THE SOFTBALL FIELD BECAUSE I GET TO COACH AT BO MANOR, WHICH I LOVE, AND IT'S BEEN SO NICE TO ACTUALLY BE OUTSIDE IN THE SUNSHINE. I THINK THAT'S GOING TO, I THINK, GO AWAY, WHICH I'M NOT HAPPY. I THINK OUR FIRST SCRIMMAGE IS ON TUESDAY AND IT'S GOING TO BE 35 DEGREES, SO I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. BUT YEAH, I KNOW. I ALSO PARTICIPATE IN THE CECIL ELEMENTARY STEERING COMMITTEE. AND SO WE'VE HAD MEETINGS TRYING TO TO WORK WITH GETTING THE, THE SCHOOL WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AND ON TRACK FOR OUR STATE. AND OTHER THAN THAT, I'VE ALSO BEEN IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES FOR MABE BECAUSE I'M ON AS AN ALTERNATE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL. AND I THINK THAT'S IT. I'M GOING TO KEEP US MOVING. SO YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO SIT HERE FOR TOO LONG. NEXT IS WE HAVE OUR CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATION. ARE YOU HERE? OH, HERE SHE IS COMING FROM THE BACK. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT HEATH. DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MANY GUESTS. IT'S AMAZING. LIKE, I HAVEN'T SEEN THIS ROOM FILLED IN A LONG TIME, SO THAT'S FANTASTIC. SO BIG NEWS THERE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DOCTOR BUCKLEY AS FIRST A SCIENCE TEACHER AND THEN AS HE WAS A PRINCIPAL AND ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH HIS CURRENT JOB, WE'RE WORKING WITH UNION LEADERSHIP. HE'S HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY ON COUNTLESS ISSUES TO HELP MAKE THINGS EASIER AND HELP SUPPORT [00:15:08] STAFF THAT THEN LETS THEM BETTER HELP STUDENTS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, HE'S THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR. AND SO WE WORK TOGETHER ON THINGS THAT ARE IN THE CONTRACT, THE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT. BUT HE JUST HAS TRULY LIVED BEING ALL ABOUT PEOPLE AND MAKING THINGS RIGHT FOR KIDS AND MAKING THINGS RIGHT FOR STAFF THAT SUPPORT KIDS. SO YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE MISSED. ANOTHER NOT FUN TOPIC IS THE BUDGET. SO YOU'VE HEARD BEFORE AND YOU'VE. IF YOU'VE BEEN LISTENING IN AND THEY MENTIONED HERE THAT DOCTOR BUCKLEY'S POSITION WOULDN'T BE FILLED. AND SO THE TEACHERS I WORK WITH ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT STAFFING CUTS AND THE IMPACT THAT WILL HAVE ON OUR CLASSROOMS EVEN THROUGH ATTRITION. WE'RE NOT GETTING THOSE POSITIONS BACK. SO WHILE CURRENT PEOPLE MAY NOT LOSE THEIR JOB, HOPEFULLY, WE ARE STILL GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE MISSING THAT ARE CURRENTLY THE BODIES THERE IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR KIDS. AND SO NOT ONLY DOES THAT HAMPER OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE KIDS NEEDS AS WELL AS WE'RE DOING NOW BUT IT PUTS AN EXTRA WORKLOAD AND STRAIN ON FOLKS WHO OFTEN FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE KIDS THEY CURRENTLY HAVE. SO IT IS A VERY BIG CONCERN. AND I KNOW THAT YOU ON THE BOARD FEEL THAT AS WELL. SO I JUST WOULDN'T BE DOING JUSTICE IF I DIDN'T PUT THAT OUT THERE. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I DID WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS THAT ARE BEING SHOUTED OUT IN THAT AGENDA THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T READ OR TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK AT YET. AND SO FIRST IS FINE ARTS IN OUR SCHOOLS MONTH FOR MARCH. AND SO THAT RECOGNIZES OUR FOLKS IN MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE, AND VISUAL ARTS. AND A LOT OF YOU ARE IN HERE FOR SPORTS, WHICH IS AWESOME. A LOT OF YOU ARE CROSS CURRICULAR AND YOU DO MULTI AREAS. SO MANY OF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN SOME OF THOSE THINGS AS WELL. AND JUST LIKE SPORTS, THOSE FINE ARTS AREAS ARE WHAT BRING OUR KIDS IN SOME OF THEM TO SCHOOL AND WHAT KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL. SO THEY'LL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE CAREERS IN THOSE AREAS. AND EVEN IF THEY DON'T CHOOSE FUTURE CAREERS, IT'S ENRICHING YOUR LIFE, RIGHT? SO OFTEN WHEN YOU GO ON VACATION, YOU GO PLACES, YOU GO TO MUSEUMS, YOU GO TO PLACES, YOU HEAR CONCERTS, YOU GO SEE THEATER SHOWS. AND SO THOSE FOUNDATIONS FOR APPRECIATING FINE ART ARE BUILT IN OUR SCHOOLS NOW. AND SO WE DO HAVE REALLY WONDERFUL FINE ARTS PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE HAPPY ABOUT. IT'S ALSO SCHOOL LIBRARY AND MEDIA MONTH IN APRIL. AND SO IF YOU WERE MAYBE GOING TO SCHOOL WHEN I WAS, YOU JUST THOUGHT ABOUT THE LIBRARIAN OR THE MEDIA SPECIALIST AS THE NICE FOLKS THAT GAVE YOU YOUR BOOKS, BUT THEY ARE DOING THAT. BUT THEY DO SO MUCH MORE LOOKING AT RESEARCH AND MAKING SURE THAT KIDS ARE ANALYZING SOURCES AND BEING ABLE TO REALLY COMPARE. IS THAT A RELIABLE SOURCE ON THE INTERNET? IS THAT AI? SO THEY HAVE A HEAVY TASK OF MAKING SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE REALLY ABLE TO LOOK AND ANALYZE SOURCES AND INFORMATION THEY'RE GETTING. IT'S NOT VERY FEW ARE GOING TO THE ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA ANYMORE. SO THEY HAVE AN IMPORTANT JOB. ALSO PARAPROFESSIONAL DAY IS APRIL 1ST. OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS PROBABLY NEED TWO MONTHS, NOT JUST ONE DAY. SO OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS DO THE JOBS THAT WE CAN'T SO THAT WE CAN HELP MEET THE KIDS EDUCATIONAL NEEDS. THEY WORK NOT JUST EDUCATIONALLY, BUT THEY SUPPORT THEIR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS, AND EVEN PERSONAL CARE NEEDS SO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MEET THEIR EDUCATIONAL GOALS, AND THEY DO IT IN A WAY THAT THEY LOVE AND CARE FOR THE KIDS AND SUPPORT THEM IN THE CLASSROOM. IT'S ANOTHER ADULT THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO DEPEND ON, AND WE CAN'T DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT THEM. SO THANK YOU TO ALL OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS. AND THEN APRIL 6TH TO 10TH IS NATIONAL ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS WEEK. SO I HAVE BEEN VERY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE MANY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS THROUGH MY TIME AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THE PRINCIPALS, EVERYTHING TRICKLES UP TO THEM. BUT THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE WEARING OUT THE SHOE LEATHER IN THE HALLWAYS. THEY ARE UP AND DOWN IN THE CLASSROOMS, IN AND OUT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE KIDS AND HELPING US ALL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET THAT GOOD EDUCATION. AND SO THEY'RE OFTEN IF THE TEACHERS NEED SUPPORT, THEY'RE THE FIRST FOLKS THAT USUALLY ARE WORKING WITH THE KIDS. AND AGAIN, ANOTHER SET OF FOLKS THAT WE CAN DO OUR JOBS WITHOUT THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR THEIR HARD WORK. IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE CALENDAR, THIS FRIDAY IS MARCH, FRIDAY 13TH. A FEW YEARS AGO WE SHUT DOWN OUR SCHOOLS ON MARCH FRIDAY THE 13TH FOR COVID. WHAT WE THOUGHT WOULD BE A WEEK OR TWO AND WE DIDN'T COME BACK FOR LIKE ALMOST A FULL YEAR. SO JUST NOTING, YOU KNOW, THE HEAVINESS OF THAT AND WHERE WE ARE NOW AND I KIND OF WANTED TO CAPTURE THAT FEELING ABOUT THAT TIME WHERE WE SENT KIDS HOME AND THE PARENTS HAD THE CHILDREN AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, RIGHT WITH THEM. [00:20:03] EVERYBODY'S WORKING FROM HOME AND TRYING TO JUGGLE SOMETIMES MULTIPLE KIDS AT ONCE AND MULTIPLE THINGS AT ONCE, AND MAYBE HAD A COMPUTER OR A TABLET. AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THERE WERE MEMES ALL OVER THE PLACE. LIKE, HOW DO YOU GUYS DO THIS? YOU KNOW, AND SO THERE WAS JUST THIS BUOYING FEELING OF LIKE SUPPORT AND APPRECIATION FOR THE EDUCATORS AND FOLKS THAT ARE TEACHING OUR KIDS EVERY DAY. AND SO THE JOB THAT OUR FOLKS ARE DOING HASN'T CHANGED. I MEAN, IT'S INCREASED. BUT I THINK THAT SOMETIMES FEELING OF WHAT FOLKS ARE DOING FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS HAS SOMETIMES BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY OTHER THINGS. AND SO I KIND OF WANTED TO JUST PUT A HIGHLIGHT ON THAT. AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO THROW AROUND THE WORD HERO BECAUSE WE JUST DO WHAT WE DO, BUT SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING. LOOPING INTO IT ON YOUR AGENDA, YOU HAVE COMING UP A HERO AWARD FOR ONE OF OUR TEACHERS, RACHEL SHORT. AND SO SHE'S DONE SOMETHING REMARKABLE, REALLY HELPING SAVE A STUDENT. AND YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THAT LATER. BUT EVERYBODY'S DOING STUFF REMARKABLE IN THE CLASSROOM EVERY DAY. IF YOU THINK ABOUT I DON'T REMEMBER LEARNING TO READ, BUT I THINK IT'S KIND OF MAGICAL WHAT OUR, OUR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS DO TO TAKE A CHILD WHO JUST LOOKS AT SCRIBBLES ON THE BOOK, LIKE THEY JUST SEE SCRIBBLES AND TEACHES THEM TO IDENTIFY LETTERS, IDENTIFY SOUNDS WITH THAT MAKE WORDS ALL THE WAY TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE TEACHING THEM, LIKE THE HONORS AND THE AP TRIGONOMETRY, WHICH TO ME ALSO LOOKS LIKE SCRIBBLES. SO OUR FOLKS ARE DOING SOME REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS EVERY DAY IN THE CLASSROOM. AND JUST THANK YOU TO ALL. SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GOOD REST OF YOUR MONTH. AND IT'S, IT'S WARM OUT. THE KIDS ARE READY. WE'RE FEELING IT. SO WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO. IT'S WARM SO FAR. NEXT IS OUR CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. AS THE BOARD CAN SEE DOCTOR TED BOYER, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ADMIN SERVICES, IS PREPARED A CONSTRUCTION REPORT FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE. RIGHT THERE IS JUST A NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT'S HAPPENING UP ON IRISHTOWN ROAD. IT'S MOVING ALONG. I HAVE PICTURES IN A MOMENT. WE'RE GETTING READY TO START PARTIAL AIR CONDITIONING REPLACEMENT FOR THE GUIDANCE OFFICE COMPLEX AT ELKTON MIDDLE SCHOOL. SCROLLING UP FURTHER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES CENTER, WHICH IS THE OLD SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY UP BY CECIL COLLEGE THAT IS GETTING A NEW BOILER AND ACTUALLY A ROOF IS BEING PUT ON AS WE SPEAK. AND THEN CECIL MANOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GETTING A TOTAL REVAMP OF THEIR HVAC SYSTEM. IT'S MORE THAN A $4 MILLION PROJECT THAT IS GETTING READY TO START HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND THEN TO THE HIGHLIGHT EACH MEETING, WHICH ARE THE PICTURES THAT IS THE NEW SCHOOL. SO THERE IS THE FOOTBALL STADIUM RIGHT THERE. SO NORTHEAST HIGH IS RIGHT IN THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE NEW SCHOOL. THIS IS IRISHTOWN ROAD COMING AWAY FROM THE TOWN. HIGH SCHOOL WING, MIDDLE SCHOOL WING AUDITORIUM MEDIA CENTER, CAFETERIAS DOWN HERE GYMNASIUM THE AUDITORIUM IS GOING TO SEE A THOUSAND STUDENTS AND WE'LL HAVE A BALCONY. THIS E IS LIKE STUFF. EXCUSE ME? FINE ARTS. OF COURSE IT IS. THAT WAS MR. DOLLINGER, FOR THOSE OF YOU AT HOME LISTENING. SO YEAH, IT'S REALLY. SO THIS WILL BE THE BUS LOOP IN HERE, RIGHT? IT'S REALLY COOL STUFF. WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE OLD SCHOOL? IT'S GOING TO GET KNOCKED DOWN WHEN THIS OPENS. AND WE WILL PUT PRIMARILY A BASEBALL FIELD OUT THERE AND WITH SOME OTHER KIND OF ATHLETIC AREAS. SO IT'S REALLY EXCITING. KEEP GOING. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS REFERRED TO AS LIKE THE BOARDWALK, KIND OF THE MAIN HALLWAY THAT COMES THROUGH THE SCHOOL AS SOON AS YOU COME IN. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S THE MAIN ENTRANCE RIGHT THERE. YOU CAN LOOK OUT ONTO THE SPORTS FIELDS OF NORTH EAST. KEEP GOING. AND MORE. NOT EXACTLY SEXY PICTURES, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW YOU KNOW IT'S COMING ALONG. THE WALLS BEING BLOCKED UP. ALUMINUM STUDS. SO IT'S REALLY PROGRESSING WELL, THIS IS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND UP AND LOOK DOWN ON THE CAFETERIA, WHICH GIVES EVERY PRINCIPAL HEARTBURN, YOU KNOW, STUFF GETTING TOSSED DOWN. IT WILL HAPPEN AT SOME POINT. SO. RIGHT. MORE COOL STUFF YOU'VE GOT. OH, THAT'S THE THERE'S THE CATWALK FOR ABOVE THE AUDITORIUM. SO THAT'S KIND OF NEAT. KEEP GOING. THAT'S IT. SO HOLD ON THERE. SO THIS IS THE STAGE, RIGHT? SO YOU'RE LOOKING AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE UP HERE IS THE BALCONY. BUT YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ROOF. SO YOU WOULD BE SEATED DOWN HERE. IF YOU LOOKED UP YOU WOULD JUST SEE A ROOF. BUT UP THERE IS A BALCONY. THERE WOULD BE SEATING OFF ON THE SIDE UP HERE AND UP HERE. [00:25:02] SO THAT'S REALLY PRETTY COOL. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR BOYER FROM THE BOARD? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION REPORT. ARE YOU DOING THAT? MISS SHAW HAS PREPARED A REPORT FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FOR THE BOARD'S VIEW. AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. NO. AND NOW WE HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION. YES. AT THIS TIME, DOCTOR SHAWN JOHNSON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WILL COME FORWARD AND RECOGNIZE A SUPER TEACHER. YEAH. DOCTOR JOHNSON, GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT HEATH. DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. AS A AS OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND MISS HRINKO MENTIONED, WE'RE EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE A HERO TEACHER THIS EVENING. SO I AM GOING TO ASK MISS RACHEL SHORT IF SHE'D COME UP AND BE JOINED BY PRESIDENT HEATH AND DOCTOR LAWSON, AS WELL AS GILPIN MANOR'S PRINCIPAL, MR. GOODWIN, IF YOU JOIN HER. TONIGHT WE RECOGNIZE MISS SHORT FOR AN INCREDIBLE ACT IN JANUARY. LATE JANUARY, ON A WEDNESDAY MORNING, WHILE A STUDENT WAS HAVING BREAKFAST, HE BEGAN TO CHOKE ON A PIECE OF PINEAPPLE. IT WAS MISS SHORT WHO STAYED CALM, COMPASSIONATE AND CARING AND PERFORMED THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER ON THE STUDENT, DISLODGING THE PINEAPPLE AND SAVING THE CHILD'S LIFE. MISS SHORT WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND. HER WORK, AND HER COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS IS WELL KNOWN, AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT COMMITMENT. PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING MISS SHORT FOR HER EXCELLENT WORK AT GILPIN MANOR ELEMENTARY [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. OKAY. THAT IS AMAZING. IT REALLY IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO IN THIS SITUATION. I'M SURE EVERYONE THINKS THE SAME THING. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO, BUT THANK GOODNESS SHE WAS THERE AND WAS WILLING TO STEP UP, STEP OUT AND DO THAT. SO AMAZING. NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE WINNER 2026 ATHLETIC AWARDS. WHAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. YES. MISS SEXTON. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT HEATH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE. IT'S AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TONIGHT AS WE CELEBRATE OUR WINTER ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTY. WE HAD A FANTASTIC WINTER SEASON WITH SO MANY IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOW. WE HAD FIVE STATE CHAMPIONS, THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD IN ONE SEASON. 14 REGIONAL CHAMPIONS, EITHER BY TEAMS OR INDIVIDUALS. THREE BASKETBALL TEAMS. WRESTLING TEAM. INDIVIDUALS AT WRESTLING, INDOOR TRACK AND SWIMMING MEMBERS. ALL THESE REGIONAL CHAMPIONS, PLUS OTHER TOP INDIVIDUALS WENT ON TO COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL. WE HAD MULTIPLE ATHLETES PLACED IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS. WE HAD EIGHT SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD WINNERS AND WE HAD BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL WIN THE UNIFIED BUMPER AND NON BUMPER DIVISIONS AT THE UNIFIED BOWLING TOURNAMENT. WE ALSO HAD NORTH EAST HIGH SCHOOL C+HEER PLACED THIRD IN THE STATES. IT IS ALSO WORTH POINTING OUT THAT WE HAD 159 MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETES PLAYING GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL, AND 665 HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES PLAYING FIVE DIFFERENT SPORTS THIS WINTER. SOME IMPRESSIVE, IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE FOUR INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE AS STATE CHAMPIONS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE SPORTS. IF YOU WOULD WAIT UNTIL I RECOGNIZE YOU, I WILL CALL YOU UP TO RECEIVE YOUR CERTIFICATES. FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR BRYSON FOSTER, THE STATE 1A BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 55 METER HURDLES CHAMPION. BRYSON HIT A PERSONAL RECORD WHEN IT MATTERED MOST, WINNING THE FINALS IN 7.71 SECONDS AFTER POSTING A PRELIM TIME OF 7.77 SECONDS. BRYSON SHOWED UP ON THE BIGGEST STAGE AND DELIVERED A CHAMPIONSHIP PERFORMANCE FOR THE PANTHERS. [00:30:06] STATE CHAMPION AND PR IN THE FINALS IS INCREDIBLE. LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING HIM THIS SEASON AND OUTDOOR TRACK AND NEXT SEASON. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE BRYSON, COACH MOORE, COACH MORGAN, AD ROGER CLEMENTS AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR WILLIAMS TO COME FORWARD [APPLAUSE] THE CERTIFICATE IS A WELL DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 1A BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 55 METER HURDLES CHAMPION [APPLAUSE]. BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, KENAI BLACK, THE STATE 1A BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 1600 METER CHAMPION AND 3200 METER STATE CHAMPION. HIS SEASON WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS AND A STRING OF ELITE PERFORMANCES, INCLUDING A TIME OF FOUR MINUTES, 28.99 SECONDS IN THE 1600 METER AND NINE MINUTES, 56.6 SECONDS IN THE 3200 METER. WOW. WEEK AFTER WEEK, BLACK GAVE THE EAGLES A DEPENDABLE STAR WHO COULD DOMINATE MULTIPLE EVENTS AND FINISH HIS CAREER IN UNFORGETTABLE FASHION. BEST OF LUCK IN OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD, AND HE WILL CONTINUE HIS CAREER AT WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY NEXT YEAR. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK KENAI, COACH NICK HANNIFFY, AD JOE GRAF AND PRINCIPAL TONY EVANS TO COME FORWARD [APPLAUSE]. THE CERTIFICATE IS A WELL DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 1A BOYS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD, 1600 METER AND 3200 METER CHAMPION [APPLAUSE]. FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN BROOKLYNN SMITH, THE STATE 2A GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 55 METER CHAMPION. SMITH BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN HER FIRST HIGH SCHOOL SEASON AND IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED HERSELF AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STARS IN THE COUNTY. BROOKLYNN POSTED A TIME OF 7.27 SECONDS, WHICH IS A PERSONAL BEST IN THE 55, WHICH EARNED HER A STATE TITLE. THIS CAME AFTER A QUALIFYING TIME IN THE PRELIMS OF 7.37 SECONDS. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR BROOKLYN IN ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL AND LOOK FORWARD TO FOLLOWING HER THROUGH HER HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. GOOD LUCK WITH OUTDOOR SEASON. AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK BROOKLYN, COACH RYAN NORTH, AD MATT FEENEY, PRINCIPAL, DOCTOR LEITGEB, TO COME FORWARD. [APPLAUSE] THE CERTIFICATE IS A WELL DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 2A GIRLS INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD 55 METER [00:35:01] CHAMPION [APPLAUSE]. FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ZACH GARVIN, THE STATE 1A/2A WRESTLING 175 POUND WEIGHT CLASS CHAMPION. ZACH WINS HIS SECOND STATE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR. THE RISING SUN SENIOR REPEATED THE STATE CHAMPION AND BECAME THE FIFTH WRESTLER WRESTLER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO WIN MULTIPLE STATE CROWNS WITH A 7-0 DECISION OVER HIS OPPONENT IN THE 175 POUND WEIGHT CLASS. GARVIN WIN CAPPED OFF HIS HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING CAREER WITH 177 WINS, WHICH IS THE MOST BY ANY WRESTLER IN RISING SUN, CECIL COUNTY AND UPBACK HISTORY. [APPLAUSE] AFTER ALL. AFTER ALL THE SUCCESS ON THE MAT, GARVIN IS COMMITTED TO PLAY LACROSSE [LAUGHS] IN COLLEGE AT ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE IN PENNSYLVANIA. CONGRATULATIONS, ZACH. AT THIS TIME, I ASK ZACH COACH SETH GARVIN UNCLE, SO COACH LUKE GARVIN, DAD, MOM JAMIE GARVIN, COACH ANTHONY CIMOROSI , AD STEVE MARLIN AND PRINCIPAL JAMES MIRO TO COME FORWARD. THIS CERTIFICATE IS A WELL DESERVED HONOR. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU THE MARYLAND STATE CLASS 1A/2A WRESTLING 175 POUND STATE CHAMPION [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE 25/26 WINTER SPORTSMANSHIP WINNERS. THIS MARKS THE 22ND YEAR WE HAVE RECOGNIZED SPORTSMANSHIP AS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WITH HARFORD COUNTY. I'M HONORED HERE TONIGHT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO EIGHT TEAMS FROM OUR COUNTY AND RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT ATHLETES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES THIS SEASON. I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM WON THE SPORTSMANSHIP FOR THE STATE, FOR THE STATE DUALS, FOR THE STATE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM. FROM PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL UNIFIED BOWLING TEAM. [INAUDIBLE] J.C. MOORE'S, COACH BETH APARA, AD ROGERS CLEMENTS AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR KIM WILLIAMS [APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS. ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL BOYS, INDOOR TRACK TEAM PLAYERS ERIC RAND, ANTHONY HOWARD, JOSIAH BROWN, JEREMY LOPEZ, MARQUISE BROWN, COREY TRIBBLE AND AIDEN JACKSON. HEAD COACH RYAN NORTH, AD. MATT FEENEY AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR LEITGEB, PLEASE COME [00:40:03] FORWARD [APPLAUSE]. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. BO MANOR HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING TEAM. WE HAVE GAVIN MCHUGH, JASON LORR, LORENZO RAMIREZ, TREVOR COX, BRAYDEN BUTTON, ACE BADUR AND SAM LAGULLO. COACHES TYLER CASTLE, DUSTIN BABIN, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR JOE GRAF AND PRINCIPAL TONY EVANS. PLEASE COME FORWARD. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. GOOD JOB. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NORTH EAST HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM. YOU CAN COME UP AS I CALL YOUR NAME. KATHERINE MICLLIS, SHANNON BURNS, KIRSTEN LOGANO, RILEY BALESS, COACHES MATT HAACK, CHRIS HEDGES AND AMANDA PAYNE. ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MATT HAACK AND PRINCIPAL DAVE DOLLENGER [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OH, YES. OH. YES. [00:45:09] NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM PLAYERS CHASE CLARK AND REED HARBERT, COACHES SETH GRIMES, MIKE LECHNER, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR MATT HAACK AND PRINCIPAL DAVE DOLLENGER [APPLAUSE] GET OUT THERE. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THERE YOU ARE, SIR. CONGRATULATIONS, SIR. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SEE YOU. PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS SWIM TEAM. WE HAVE PLAYERS LOGAN ENFIELD, KASSIDY PULLUM AND GRACE SCOTT. HEAD COACH ROBERT ENFIELD, AD ROGERS CLEMENTS AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR KIM WILLIAMS [APPLAUSE] AND PERRYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INDOOR TRACK TEAM, WE HAVE AMAYA BANKS. LEXI HICKS AND AVA JACOBS. COACH MORGAN, COACH MOORE, ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ROGERS CLEMENTS AND PRINCIPAL DOCTOR KIM WILLIAMS [APPLAUSE]. REALLY? GOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY.[INAUDIBLE] YOU ARE HERE AND YOU ARE HERE. THANK YOU. OKAY, NEXT ON THE AGENDA. 5.08 IS OUR PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, WE ANTICIPATE RECEIVING AN APPLICATION FOR A CHARTER SCHOOL FROM A GROUP WITHIN THE [00:50:06] COMMUNITY. IT WOULD BE THE FIRST CHARTER SCHOOL IF IT WERE TO BE APPROVED IN CECIL COUNTY. THERE WAS A CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATION SUBMITTED, I BELIEVE, BACK IN 2006-7, MAYBE BEFORE MY TIME. SIX SEVEN, SIX, SEVEN. COULD BE AN INSTAGRAM POST. [LAUGHS] BUT AS IT BE THAT AS IT MAY I ASK DOCTOR HAMMER TO PUT TOGETHER A REAL QUICK SEGUE. SHE'S DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU'RE DOING ON THIS DOCTOR HAMMER. IN TERMS OF COORDINATING THE CHARTER SCHOOL REVIEW COMMITTEE AND SHE HAS REALLY DONE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH ACROSS THE STATE TO TAKE A LOOK AT BEST PRACTICE. WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT ONCE AN APPLICATION COMES IN, WE ARE WELL POISED TO REVIEW THE APPLICATION, JUDGE IT ON ITS MERITS. THE CAPACITY OF THOSE FOLKS SUBMITTING THE RUBRIC. AND SO WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT THE REVIEW COMMITTEE WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO ME, AND I WILL TURN AROUND AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. BUT WE FELT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR DOCTOR HAMMER TO LAY OUT FOR THE BOARD EXACTLY WHAT THE PROCESS ENTAILS AT THIS POINT. AND SO WITH THAT, DOCTOR HAMMER. THANK YOU PRESIDENT HEATH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE GUESTS WHO REMAIN. THANK YOU FOR STAYING HERE WITH US. THIS EVENING WE WOULD LIKE TO JUST SHARE WITH YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLICY AND REGULATIONS THAT GOVERN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CLARIFY THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES NOT ONLY OF YOU, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, BUT ALSO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. SO TO GET US STARTED, I WANTED TO SHARE, FIRST OF ALL WHERE COMAR CITES MARYLAND CHARTER PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL PROGRAM. IT IS ARTICLE NINE, SECTION 101 AND THE FOLLOWING. AND BASICALLY I'M GOING TO TAKE A QUOTE OUT OF IT. SO YOU HAVE A SOLID UNDERSTANDING. THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ESTABLISH AN ALTERNATE MEANS WITHIN THE EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN ORDER TO PROVIDE INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATIVE EDUCATIONAL APPROACHES TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS. IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE ESSENTIALLY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN THIS STATE. LET ME SEE IF I CAN GET THIS TO MOVE, THERE WE GO. LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATIONS, ACCORDING TO THE LAW, SERVE AS THE SOLE AUTHORIZERS OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS. THAT BASICALLY MEANS THAT IS YOUR ROLE AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE APPLICATION REVIEW, THE OVERSIGHT OF SAID CHARTER SCHOOLS, THE RENEWAL AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THOSE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HOLD THE EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU HAVE OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT. SECONDLY, THE LAW ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE CHARTER SCHOOL THAT WOULD COME FORWARD, HAS A GOVERNING GROUP OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY EFFECTIVELY, THEY CAN EFFECTIVELY EXECUTE THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MANAGE A PUBLIC SCHOOL. AND THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY, FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT THEY MAY HAVE, REALISTIC ENROLLMENT AND STAFFING PLANS FOR THE SCHOOL THAT THEY AIM TO OPEN. THE NEXT PIECE OF IT THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE LAW IS THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH ALL OF OUR ASSOCIATIONS NEED TO BE MET. IF THERE WERE CHANGES TO THAT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR CURRENT ASSOCIATIONS TO MAKE ANY OF THOSE CHANGES. BUT EMPLOYEES OF A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL ARE CPS EMPLOYEES, AND THOSE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS MUST BE MET. I'M GOING TO GO REALLY SLOW. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO TO ASK. A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE LAW. IT IS ALSO REQUIRED THAT THE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL DEMONSTRATES PROGRAM CAPACITIES THAT ARE ALIGNED TO THE MARYLAND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS AND THE BLUEPRINT PRIORITIES. SO YES, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TEACH THE MARYLAND THE MCCR STANDARDS. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO MEET ALL OF THE PILLARS OF BLUEPRINT. THAT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THEM. LIKEWISE, THEY NEED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH IDEA, AND SECTION 504, WHICH IS SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS FROM SPECIAL POPULATIONS. SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES, THE SAME AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WERE TO FOLLOW THOSE RULES. AND PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS FOR THEM TO DEVELOP OR TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPACITY TO DO SO. NEXT THEY NEED TO DEMONSTRATE A CAPACITY FOR OPERATIONAL READINESS THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO ALL CCPS SCHOOLS AND THAT INCLUDES FINANCE, SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SERVICES AND FACILITIES. THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO RUN A SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THE APPLICANTS NEED TO ALSO PROVIDE THAT SAME PROFICIENCY. CERTAINLY/ OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, WOULD THEY FALL UNDER THAT? [00:55:04] WOULD IT BE COMPLETELY SEPARATE AND THEY'D RUN THEIR OWN? SO WHAT THEY COULD DO IS THEY COULD BUY BACK SERVICES OR NEGOTIATE SERVICES WITH THE FOOD AND NUTRITION DEPARTMENT. OKAY. SO THE FINAL PIECE, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE, IS THAT THE THAT YOU AS A BOARD NEED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT SAID APPLICANT AND THIS SCHOOL WOULD PRESENT A PUBLIC BENEFIT THAT JUSTIFIES THE AUTHORIZATION THAT YOU WOULD MAKE TO WITHIN THE CURRENT SCHOOL SYSTEM. OKAY. THIS MAY BE A AN ODD QUESTION, BUT WHAT. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? THE CURRICULUM? AND IF THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE STANDARDS AND THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL OF THIS OTHER STUFF. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT SCHOOL AND ONE OF OUR NON-CHARTER SCHOOLS? IN MY RESEARCH ACROSS THE STATE, THERE ARE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO IT. SO SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS FOCUS ON A CERTAIN THING LIKE STEM. SOME CHARTER SCHOOLS FOCUS ON FINE ARTS, ALMOST LIKE A MAGNET KIND OF A SITUATION. THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE CURRICULUM. HOWEVER, THE STANDARDS ARE STILL THE STANDARDS AND THE STANDARDS NEED TO BE MET, AND THEY WILL BE MEASURED ON THOSE STANDARDS. SO THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE MCAT AND SHOW THAT PROFICIENCY WITHIN THOSE STANDARDS. GOOD QUESTION. AND WITH ENROLLMENT, THEY IT'S OPEN TO EVERY STUDENT AND OTHER THERE'S NO YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE. THAT WOULD BE A PART OF THEIR APPLICATION. THEY WOULD PRESENT A PLAN FOR ENROLLMENT AND HOW THEY CHOOSE. SO WE WOULD SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH YOU AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU WHETHER, SO YOU CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN YOUR DECISION MAKING. IT HAS TO BE EQUITABLE. THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE WOULD HOPE. HOWEVER, THAT WOULD BE THE PROPOSAL THAT THEY BRING FORWARD. SO I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF THESE NITTY GRITTY QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE NEED TO HOLD OFF ON UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GET THE APPLICATION. THAT'S CORRECT. SO I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH SOME NEXT STEPS HERE TOO. SO WE DO HAVE A POLICY WHICH IS POLICY BL, WE ALSO HAVE REGULATION BL-RA AND BL-EA IS AN EXHIBIT, WHICH IS A VERY EXTENSIVE EXHIBIT THAT IS ACTUALLY THE APPLICATION PROCESS. SO THIS IS THE INITIAL PROCESS THAT ANY APPLICANTS HAVE TO GO THROUGH. I WANT TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE TIMELINE RIGHT NOW FOR ANY INTERESTED PARTIES. SO IF THERE IS A PARTY THAT IS INTERESTED IN HOSTING A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL THAT THERE'S, FIRST OF ALL, A LETTER OF INTENTION THAT HAS TO BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 1ST OR JANUARY 1ST OF THE YEAR, PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL'S EXPECTED OPENING. SO THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE YEAR PRIOR TO THEIR EXPECTED OPENING. THE NEXT STEP AFTER THE INTENTION LETTER IS WE ARE REQUESTING A PROSPECTUS, AND THAT BASICALLY IS A 10,000 FOOT OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE PROSPECTIVE APPLICANT IS LOOKING TO INITIATE AS A PART OF THE FINAL APPLICATION. THAT IS DUE ON MARCH 15TH. SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE PROSPECTUS IS RECEIVED IS THAT DOCTOR BUCKLEY AND I WILL CONVENE A TEAM CALLED THE CHARTER SCHOOL REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND THAT TEAM WILL GO THROUGH THE PROSPECTUS AND PROVIDE SOME TECHNICAL FEEDBACK TO THE APPLICANT TO LET THEM KNOW IF EVERYTHING WAS INCLUDED IN IT OR NOT. THERE WILL BE LITTLE CONTENT FEEDBACK GIVEN IT'S MORE TECHNICAL IN NATURE. OKAY, WE OKAY SO FAR? OKAY, SO THE NEXT PIECE THAT WILL HAPPEN AS A PART OF THIS IS AN APPLICATION WILL BE SUBMITTED BY MAY 15TH. OKAY, SO THIS IS THE BIG THE BIG, MASSIVE DOCUMENT THAT I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT IN A MOMENT, A LITTLE MORE DETAILED ABOUT IT, BUT I WANT TO ALSO POINT OUT TO YOU, AS YOU CAN SEE OVER ON THE SIDE, WHAT THE LAW PRESCRIBES IS THAT FROM THE RECEIPT OF THE APPLICATION, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS TO RECOMMEND EITHER APPROVE OR DENY SAID APPLICATION WITHIN 120 DAYS. SO OUR AIM WOULD BE AS A CHARTER SCHOOL REVIEW COMMITTEE IS TO WITHIN THAT 120 DAYS, BREAK IT IN HALF. SO BY DAY 60, WE HOPE TO GIVE YOU A RECOMMENDATION OF WHETHER TO APPROVE OR DENY IT BASED ON A COUPLE OF THINGS. WE HAVE RUBRICS THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BASED ON THE APPLICATION COMPONENTS. AND THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE THAT'S CALLED A, A CAPACITY INTERVIEW THAT ALL OF THE APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO COME AND DEMONSTRATE CAPACITY FOR THEM TO RUN SAID CHARTER SCHOOL. OKAY. SO THAT WE WOULD HOPE OUR CSRC, NEW ACRONYM FOR YOU, WOULD GO THROUGH AND REVIEW THAT APPLICATION, SCORE IT WITH A RUBRIC AS WELL AS SCORE SCHEDULE AND SCORE CAPACITY INTERVIEWS. OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO HAND TO YOU THOSE SCORES. AND OUR INTENT ALSO IS TO FILM THE, IS IT FILM ANYMORE? IS IT RECORD? I THINK IT'S RECORD. IT'S RECORD. [01:00:03] OKAY. WE WOULD RECORD THE CAPACITY INTERVIEWS SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE THEM AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO REVIEW, AS WELL AS ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY GIVE TO US, SO THAT WITHIN THE SECOND 50 DAYS OR 60 DAYS THAT FALL WITHIN THAT 120 DAYS, YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND EITHER APPROVE OR DENY IT. SO DOWN AT THE BOTTOM, ONCE YOU SEE, IF YOU CHOOSE TO DENY IT, A CHARTER SCHOOL HAS THE RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL THAT CHARTER, THAT THAT DECISION, IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO APPROVE IT. WHAT TENDS TO HAPPEN AT THAT POINT IS THAT WE WOULD NEGOTIATE AN AGREEMENT, ALMOST LIKE AN MOU WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL, TO MOVE THAT PLAN THAT THEY CREATED IN THE APPLICATION INTO ACTION. OKAY. I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, DOCTOR HAMMER OR A CLARIFICATION. I UNDERSTAND IT NOW, BUT I GOT HUNG UP ON A LITTLE BIT ON THE TIMING. SO AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUBMITS AN APPLICATION BY MAY 15TH, LET'S SAY OF 2026, IS SEEKING APPROVAL TO OPEN A CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE FALL OF 2027. THAT'S CORRECT. CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ONCE AN ORGANIZATION SUBMITS AN APPLICATION, IT WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD FOR A VOTE UNLESS THAT ORGANIZATION WITHDRAWS THEIR APPLICATION. THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. AND IF THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT MEET ANY OF THE TIMELINES, THEY HAVE TO START THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. OKAY. THE GOAL IS THAT THE THE PROCESS IS EXTREMELY TRANSPARENT FOR YOU AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT. THAT'S OUR GOAL. I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE APPLICATION ITSELF. IT'S BROKEN INTO THREE PARTS. THE FIRST PART IS THE OVERVIEW, AND YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THAT OVERVIEW VIEW THAT ARE VERY ORGANIZATIONALLY VISION BASED. WHAT IS YOUR GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE? WHAT IS YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE LOOK LIKE? WHAT STUDENT POPULATION ARE YOU TARGETING? WHAT IS YOUR SCHOOL CALENDAR LOOK LIKE? HOW ARE YOU RECRUITING AND MARKETING YOUR SCHOOL? WHAT IS YOUR TIMELINE, ETC., ETC.. YOU'LL SEE NUMBER NINE IS THAT PRIVATE SCHOOL CONVERSION. THERE ARE CASES IN THE STATE WHERE CERTAIN PRIVATE SCHOOLS CONVERTED INTO A PUBLIC SCHOOL, SO WE NEED TO MAKE ALLOWANCES FOR THAT. OKAY. PART B IS THE EDUCATIONAL PORTION. THIS IS REALLY WHERE THE EDUCATIONAL PLAN IS. WHAT CURRICULUM ARE YOU CHOOSING TO USE? WHAT HOW ARE YOU ALIGNING THAT YOUR CURRICULUM TO THE STANDARDS THAT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO TEACH? WHAT IS YOUR STUDENT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM LOOK LIKE? STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, ETC.? AND THE FINAL PIECE IS REALLY THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SCHOOL. TELL US ABOUT ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT ALIGN TO PERSONNEL, HUMAN RESOURCES, FACILITIES, ETC. AND HOW YOU PLAN TO RUN YOUR SCHOOL. OKAY. NO. I'M GOOD. OKAY. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK THE QUESTION, SO THANK YOU. SO GO AHEAD. JUST A QUESTION ON THE COMMITTEE THAT WE HAVE. DO WE HAVE ANYONE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT'S ON THE COMMITTEE AS WELL? OR IS IT, IS IT ALL JUST, IS IT ALL INTERNAL? AND WHO AND HOW DO WE CHOOSE OUR COMMITTEE? SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THE COMMITTEE CURRENTLY IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S CABINET. SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT LEADERSHIP TEAM AND DIRECTOR LEVEL POSITIONS ACROSS THE DISTRICT THAT THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THESE AREAS. WE DO HAVE AN OPTION IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO. WE DO HAVE AN OPTION TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT ANYONE FROM OUTSIDE TO COME IN AND SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL. SO IF THAT IS IN YOUR INTEREST, JUST CERTAINLY LET US KNOW AND WE WILL MAKE THAT HAPPEN. IS IT IS IT A IS IT TECHNICALLY A SUPERINTENDENT COMMITTEE? SO IF IT'S A SUPERINTENDENT COMMITTEE, THAT'S REALLY NOT A BOARD. WE COULD LOOK THROUGH AND GET SOME GUIDANCE. FRANKLY, MY POSITION ON THE CONSTRUCT OF THE COMMITTEE IS, IS THE COMMITTEE ABLE TO ASSESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH A POTENTIAL CHARTER SCHOOL HAS ASSEMBLED A SCHOOL THAT WE BELIEVE CAN FUNCTION TO A LEVEL OF OUR EXPECTATIONS. AND I WILL SUGGEST TO YOU THAT THE CABINET IS THE IDEAL. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW THE CABINET, REALLY, DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION, STUDENT SERVICES, SPECIAL EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, HUMAN RESOURCES, TWICE, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SERVICES. SO THESE ARE SENIOR LEVEL PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE EXTREMELY INTIMATE WITH AND KNOW THE FUNCTION OF ALL OPERATIONS OF OUR, OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO I THINK THEY WOULD BE BEST. I WOULD ARGUE IF THERE IS A VOICE FOR COMMUNITY, IT WOULD BE IN THE ACTUAL ASSEMBLY OF A CHARTER SCHOOL WHEREAS THIS GROUP IS REALLY MORE INTERESTED IN THE JUDGMENT OF AN APPLICATION. YEAH. I MEAN, THAT'S THAT MAKES SENSE. SO OUR NEXT STEPS THIS WE ANTICIPATE [01:05:05] RECEIVING A PROSPECTUS THIS WEEK AND WE ARE CONVENING THE, THE CSRC NEXT WEEK AND WE WILL BE REVIEWING AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL FEEDBACK. WE'LL CONDUCT AN APPLICATION REVIEW AND SCHEDULE CAPACITY INTERVIEWS SO THAT WE HOPEFULLY BY THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU, AND THEN YOU IN TURN CAN REVIEW THE DOCUMENTATION THAT WE WILL PROVIDE TO YOU, AND HOPEFULLY BY SEPTEMBER YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TO RENDER A DECISION. ANY QUESTIONS? WILL THEIR COMMITTEE HAVE TO PRESENT US AT ALL? OR LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE. OR IS THAT. NO, I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS WITHIN THE BOARD'S PURVIEW. IF YOU WOULD, YOU KNOW, AND PARTICULARLY IF AN UNFAVORABLE DECISION COMES FROM THE REVIEW COMMITTEE THROUGH MYSELF TO YOU AND THEY WANT A VOICE. I MEAN, I BELIEVE IT IS IN THE STATUTE THAT THEY CAN COME SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. I THINK IF THERE'S AN APPETITE OR AN INTEREST ON THE PART OF THE BOARD TO HAVE ANYBODY COME IN FRONT OF YOU AND DESCRIBE A PROGRAM OR A POTENTIAL PROGRAM THAT'S CERTAINLY WITHIN YOUR PURVIEW. IF YOU FEEL AS THOUGH THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN. I, I WOULD SUGGEST TO YOU IS THAT MAYBE WE HOLD OFF AND SEE THE POSITION OF THE REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND OBVIOUSLY THEY WILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO ME. I, IN TURN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO YOU. AND YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. BUT I THINK YOU KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN. AND THEN I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE QUESTION. DURING THE PROCESS, IF WE GET THAT FAR, I DON'T KNOW. IS THERE? I'M ASSUMING THERE'S LIKE BACKGROUND CHECKS AND VETTING OF THEIR GOVERNANCE BODY, CORRECT? YES. THERE IS A PART OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE BACKGROUND CHECKS. THEIR NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS. THERE'S ALSO CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTS, ETC.. THEY'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO DO ALL OF THAT. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT BL-EA, WHICH IS THAT WHICH IS THE APPLICATION. AND I ALSO WILL FORWARD TO YOU COMAR SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THAT. WE DID UPDATE ALL OF OUR REGS RECENTLY, SO IT REFLECTS WHAT'S CURRENT WITH COMAR AND PRACTICE, AND PRACTICE ACROSS THE STATE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU. I GOT IT. 5.09. OKAY. SUPPLEMENTAL CCOS RFP 25-11 11 THERAPY, NURSING AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. THANK YOU, MISS HEATH. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH CARE STAFF PARTNERS AS AN ADDITIONAL CONTRACTOR UNDER CCPS RFP 25-11 THERAPY, NURSING AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? WHO WAS THAT? THAT WAS TIERNEY TIERNEY. OKAY, MR. DAVIS. YEAH. JUST AGAIN, CLARIFICATION. WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT CARE STAFF PARTNERS IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT PROVIDE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE CONTRACT, THERE IS NO EXCHANGE OF FUNDS UNTIL THEY RENDER THOSE SERVICES. RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET UPDATE. IT'S THE TIME WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR MISS SOPA WITH HER MONTHLY BUDGET UPDATE. AFTER WHICH I WILL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION. MISS SOPA. GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT HEATH. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM MEMBERS AND GUESTS. SO WE HAVE HERE OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, AND THIS IS ANOTHER SHORT ONE AS WE HAD LAST MONTH. SO YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITIONS TO REVENUE AND EXPENSE $36,445. AND THAT ENCOMPASSES JUST A FEW THINGS. WE HAVE FOUNDATION GRANTS FOR MULTIPLE SCHOOLS FOR VARIOUS CLASSROOM AND STEM ACTIVITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,768. WE HAVE SOME FEDERAL PASS THROUGH GRANTS. SO THIS IS FEDERAL MONEY THAT PASSES THROUGH THE STATE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THROUGH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,252 AND THEN UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE. WE HAVE SCHOOLS USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS TO PURCHASE CLASSROOM BOOKS AND MEDIA BOOKS, [01:10:01] IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,425. OTHER THAN THAT, THE REPORTS THAT FOLLOW ARE THE STANDARD REPORTS FOR EVERY MONTH. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE. QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? DOCTOR LAWSON, DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION? I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $36,445 AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. NONE. ANY DISCUSSION? THEY WERE BOTH ON. OKAY. MOTION CARRIES. AND NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS OUR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. [6. Public Participation] I THINK WE HAVE TWO TODAY. MISS OLSEN, CAN YOU TAKE IT AWAY? THANK YOU. PRESIDENT HEATH. THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD WITH CONCERNS RELATED TO AGENDA ITEMS OR MATTERS WITHIN THE BOARD'S AUTHORITY. THE BOARD PRESIDENT HAS ESTABLISHED A TIMELINE FOR COMMENTS. IN GENERAL, THREE MINUTES WILL BE ALLOTTED TO INDIVIDUALS WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE PERMITTED SPEAKER WILL BE PERMITTED TO COMPLETE A SENTENCE. NOTICE WILL BE PROVIDED WHEN 30S REMAIN AND YOU WILL HEAR THIS BELL. SPEAKERS MAY NOT YIELD THEIR TIME TO SOMEONE ELSE OR SPEAK ON BEHALF OF AN ANONYMOUS OF AN ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUAL. RUDE, SLANDEROUS OR THREATENING REMARKS ARE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER, AND THE BOARD ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS. COMMENTS MAY BE PLACED IN THE BOX THAT IS ON YOUR TABLE. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP THIS EVENING. THE FIRST IS MARY ANDREWS. IS MARY? OKAY, SO THEN WE HAVE ONE SPEAKER THIS EVENING AND THAT WILL BE SEAN BRIM. THE COST OF THIS COMPUTER HARD DRIVE WAS $10,000. I'M SEAN BRIM OF NORTHEAST, AND I'VE BEEN A COMPUTER PRO FOR NEARLY 27 YEARS. WELL OVER A DECADE AGO, A CLIENT OF MINE ASKED FOR ME TO CONSULT ON AN EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT. THIS HARD DRIVE FAILED AND TOOK VITAL COMPANY DATA WITH IT. THE CLIENT GLADLY PAID A HIGH END DATA RECOVERY FIRM TO RETRIEVE THESE DATA, AND ASKED ME TO BE A HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING ALL THE TECHNICAL INFO THAT WENT INTO THIS EFFORT. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING AND ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCES OF MY CAREER, AND I GOT TO KEEP THE HARD DRIVE AS A SOUVENIR. FAST FORWARD TO THE PRESENT. BEFORE THE STATE ASSEMBLY IS HB154 FOR THE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY ACT. IT WOULD REQUIRE STANDARDIZING LIVE STREAMING OF OPEN BOARD OF ED MEETINGS, AS WELL AS DATA RETENTION, DATA RETENTION REQUIREMENT OF AT LEAST FIVE YEARS OF ARCHIVED MEETINGS RECORDINGS. WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE HERE IS THAT DATA RETENTION REQUIREMENT. OVER TWO YEARS AGO, YOUR SERVER FOR CCPS MEETING RECORDINGS GAVE UP THE GHOST BEFORE IT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPLACED. I PRESUME THAT THE RECORDINGS PRIOR TO THAT TIME HAVE ALSO BEEN LOST AS A RESULT. WHILE THERE IS NO PRESENT REQUIREMENT FOR RETENTION OF THESE RECORDINGS, SO LONG AS MEETING MINUTES ALSO EXIST AS AN IT PERSON, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT A POLICY IDENTICAL TO HB-154 WHETHER IT PASSES THIS YEAR OR NOT, AND IT IS UP CONSIDERABLY ALONG THE WAY. THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL STATED IN PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT IT DOES NOT IMPACT THE BUDGET. I DISAGREE. WHILE THERE ARE AT PRESENT NO DATA RETENTION LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET, THIS HARD DRIVE I'VE SHOWN YOU TODAY PROVES THAT DATA RETENTION MAY HAVE NO COST, THAT IS, UNTIL IT DOES. DATA RETENTION REQUIRES UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE BY HUMAN BEINGS AND THEREFORE DOES INCUR SOME TIME, SOME COST IN TIME AND TIME IS MONEY. DO NOT KEEP ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET IS ONE OF MY CARDINAL COMPUTER RULES PROTECTING DATA FROM FIRE, FLOOD OR THEFT BY HAVING MULTIPLE BACKUPS ON OTHER PC'S EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES AND OFF SITE STORAGE IS A MUST FOR LONG TERM ARCHIVAL STORAGE USE. USING PHYSICAL MEDIA SUCH AS DVD R'S, I HAVE BEEN RUNNING AN ONGOING EXPERIMENT OVER MY ENTIRE CAREER AND. AND I HAVE DVD BACKUPS OF OLD DATA THAT CAN STILL BE READ AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS. DOING SUCH METHODS OF BACKING UP VIDEO RECORDINGS IS WELL WORTH THE EFFORT. IT IS A LOT EASIER TO RESTORE ARCHIVAL COPIES OF DATA THAN TO SPEND MONEY ON DATA RECOVERY AFTER A CATASTROPHIC COMPUTER FAILURE. BE LIKE THE BATMAN. ALWAYS HAVE A BACKUP PLAN. [01:15:02] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. BRAM. I HAVE NOTHING. OKAY. NEXT IS OUR UPCOMING EVENTS. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A SLIDE. [8. Upcoming Events] SO HOW ABOUT THAT? A COUPLE WEEKS OUT FROM THE FOURTH MARKING PERIOD ALREADY THAT QUICK? TIME FLIES. WE HAVE A FOUR DAY WEEKEND FOR SPRING BREAK. IF WE CAN AVOID SNOW PALOOZA NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE A FULL WEEK FOR SPRING BREAK. THAT'S SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THAT'S NEXT YEAR. NOT THIS YEAR. APRIL 11TH IS THE ALL COUNTY EVENT AT ELKTON HIGH FOR BOTH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL. APRIL 11TH IS. I'M SHOWING THAT AS A SATURDAY. THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS. AND THEN WE ARE BACK HERE NEXT MONTH, APRIL 15TH. AND IF YOU WERE PLANNING ON ATTENDING THE MARCH 25TH WORKSHOP, IT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. SO THERE WILL BE NO BOARD WORKSHOP HERE IN TWO WEEKS. AND WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. WITH THAT, MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.