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

[00:00:04]

GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. I'D LIKE TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION FOR TODAY IS MAY 13TH, 2026. AND THIS IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING FOR CECIL COUNTY.

WE DO HAVE FOUR BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT AND ONE ABSENT, AND WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.

I WILL BE PINCH-HITTING FOR OUR BOARD PRESIDENT TODAY.

NO PUN INTENDED. WHAT ACTUALLY PUN IS INTENDED IN THIS CASE.

BUT I WILL DO MY BEST TO KEEP THE MEETING ON TRACK AND KEEP THINGS GOING.

WE'LL START OFF WITH MISS METCALFE, CAN YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? ONE NATION [INAUDIBLE].

CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT TODAY'S AGENDA? OH.

I'M SORRY. BOARD REFLECTION. SORRY ABOUT THAT, MR. HAMPTON. THE MISSION OF THE CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TO SERVE EQUITABLY THROUGH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AS A SAFE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY. WE WILL ENSURE ALL LEARNERS ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND QUALITIES TO BE RESPONSIBLE, CARING AND ETHICAL CITIZENS. NOW, CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT TODAY'S AGENDA? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS PRESENTED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

SECOND. SECOND. I'LL SECOND. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

CONSENT AGENDA. BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. Consent Agenda ]

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO ITEMS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REMOVED FOR A SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND VOTE.

ANYONE HEARING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF.

I MOVE THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND I TURNED IT OVER TO DOCTOR LAWSON. AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MISS HAWLEY.

[5. New Business ]

WELL, HERE I AM. AT THIS TIME WE ARE GOING, WE STARTED THIS TRADITION A FEW YEARS AGO WITH, I BELIEVE, BOARD MEMBER ABBY CREECH FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE WE HONOR OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD WITH CORDS FOR, ONE CORD FOR GRADUATION. AND BEFORE I DO THAT, I JUST WANT TO SAY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT TO MISS METCALFE.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OF YOU. I SHOULD TALK TO YOU.

OR I COULD SAY HER. JUST NOT FOR JUST YOUR WORK, BUT FOR YOUR ENERGY THAT YOU BRING TO US AND YOUR ROLE, AND KIND OF ALSO REMINDING US ALL WHAT A FULL SCHEDULE REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

I THINK YOU HAVE ABOUT, HOW MANY APS? FOUR THIS YEAR? APS, AS WELL AS EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, REHEARSALS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO AMAZING WITH EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. JUST YOUR VOICE, YOUR CREATIVITY, YOUR INITIATIVE TO DO NEW THINGS AS A STUDENT, MEMBER OF THE BOARD, AND JUST YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK UP IS JUST TO BE COMMENDED.

SO YOU REALLY DO BRING LIKE A MIXTURE OF GRACE AND SPUNK TO US.

AND JUST AS A SMALL SYMBOL OF OUR APPRECIATION, WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CORD.

IT'S REALLY COOL CCPS COLORS TO REPRESENT EVERYTHING YOU'VE CONTRIBUTED THIS YEAR.

AND IT KIND OF SEEMS FITTING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE FLAIR TO YOUR CAP AND GOWN.

SO WITH THAT, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING A MEMBER OF OUR BOARD AND CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

[00:05:01]

OKAY.

NEXT ON THE AGENDA ARE BOARD REPORTS. WE'LL START WITH MR. BRIAN HAMPTON ON THE END THERE. GOOD EVENING.

THIS PAST MONTH, I ATTENDED BOTH BAINBRIDGE AND PERRYVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY SCHOOL ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

BOTH SCHOOLS ARE TACKLING SIMILAR CHALLENGES, AND THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THEM REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE TWO SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATIONS AND THE IDEAS FROM THE PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS.

I ATTENDED THE SCHOOL OF TECH'S SHOWCASE SPRING SHOWCASE ABOUT SEVERAL PLANTS AND STOPPED IN AT SEVERAL STUDENT BOOTHS.

I ATTENDED SEVERAL SPRING SPORTING EVENTS, INCLUDING LAST WEEK'S TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP.

THIS WILL BE MENTIONED LATER IN THE MEETING DURING UPCOMING EVENTS. BUT SINCE YOU ARE ALL HERE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR IS THE CAPSTONE GALLERY WALK, WHICH WILL BE TOMORROW AT ELKTON AT 5:00.

AND IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE, IT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY JUST TO SEE THE PASSION OUR STUDENTS HAVE FOR THEIR THEIR PROJECTS.

ONE OF MY MORE MEMORABLE INTERACTIONS WITH A STUDENT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THIS STUDENT WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT KIND OF WOOD MADE THE BEST BASEBALL BAT, AND HE HAD TAKEN MEASUREMENTS AND DID SOME STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, AND THEN TIED THAT OVER TO THE DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS OF WHAT MADE A GOOD BASEBALL BAT.

AND AFTER THE CONVERSATION, I ASKED HIM, WHAT KIND OF BAT DO YOU USE? AND HE SAID, ALUMINUM [LAUGHS]. THANK YOU. I REMEMBER THAT ONE.

THAT WAS THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE I UNDERSTOOD. OF ALL THE ONES THAT THEY WERE THERE. I UNDERSTOOD THAT ONE BECAUSE I WAS A BASEBALL PLAYER. SO THE REST OF IT WAS WAY OVER MY HEAD. ON HIS LIST WHILE WE'RE TALKING SPORTS, IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH, CLOSING OUT SPRING SPORTS.

I'VE BEEN A SOFTBALL COACH AND SOFTBALL DAD FOR YEARS, MY FIRST YEAR NOT BEING ON THE FIELD AND JUST WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES.

RIGHT NOW TONIGHT, THREE OF OUR TEAMS ARE PLAYING IN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

NORTHEAST AND RISING SUN ARE PLAYING EACH OTHER AND BO IS PLAYING RIGHT NOW. I UNDERSTAND NORTHEAST WAS UP LAST I HEARD AND BO IS STILL IN THE LEAD.

BO IS UP 2 TO 1 AFTER THE FIFTH. AFTER THE FIFTH.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE COULD HAVE HOPEFULLY. WELL, WE DEFINITELY HAVE ONE BECAUSE NORTHEASTERN RISINGS AREN'T PLAYING EACH OTHER, BUT WE COULD HAVE TWO REGIONAL CHAMPS BY THE END OF THE DAY.

AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT CECIL COLLEGE WON THE JUCO REGIONAL REGION CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN, I DON'T, IT'S BEEN OVER A DECADE AND THEY'RE GOING TO SOUTH CAROLINA TO PLAY IN THE JUCO WORLD SERIES NEXT WEEK.

AND WE HAVE FOUR FORMER CCPS STUDENTS, ONE BEING MY DAUGHTER AND ONE OTHER FROM RISING SUN AND TWO FROM BO THAT ARE ON THAT TEAM.

SO I'D LIKE TO WISH THEM GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT YEAR.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO SMOB STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS WHICH HAVE OVERALL BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND INSIGHTFUL.

IT'S GREAT TO TALK TO THAT GROUP OF STUDENTS.

THEY'RE ALL VERY ACTIVE AND WE HAVE PRETTY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS.

ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS THAT WE HAVE COVERED AT OUR MEETINGS HAVE BEEN STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.

SO I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS, SUCH AS THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, COUNSELORS, RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CCPS WEBSITE, AND STUDENT SUPPORT GROUPS SUCH AS CECIL ANCHOR.

MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING INCREDIBLY CRUCIAL FOR A STUDENT'S ABILITY TO BE PRODUCTIVE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, SO BRINGING AWARENESS TO THESE RESOURCES IS SOMETHING THAT THE SMOB ADVISORY COUNCIL AND I HAVE PUT A LOT OF FOCUS ON DURING OUR MEETINGS THIS PAST WEEKEND, I VOLUNTEERED AND WATCHED THE RISING SUN MIDDLE SCHOOL'S DRAMA CLUB PRODUCTION, WHICH WAS CALLED AN EVENING WITH DAD.

THE SHOW WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE PARENTS FROM THE SCHOOL, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY COOL. IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SHOW, AND YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY TELL HOW HARD THAT THESE KIDS WORKED.

IT WAS THE FIRST PRODUCTION FOR THE DRAMA CLUB, I BELIEVE, AND I HOPE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO PUT ON SHOWS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM HERE ON OUT BECAUSE IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. ONCE AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO MENTION ELECTIONS.

THE PRIMARY IS NEXT MONTH, AND IF YOU AREN'T ALREADY REGISTERED TO VOTE, YOU CAN ONLINE AT REMINDER IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY 17 BUT YOU'LL BE 18 BY THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, YOU CAN VOTE IN THE PRIMARY IN JUNE.

THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. MISS HAWLEY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

IT'S MAY. AS YOU'VE HEARD, THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN VERY PERFECTLY BUSY.

SHORTLY AFTER OUR APRIL MEETING, SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY HAD THEIR ABSOLUTELY AMAZING JOB FAIR.

JUST HATS OFF TO DOCTOR PARR, MISS BIRD AND HER CREW FOR ORGANIZING.

I THINK THERE WERE ABOUT 100 EMPLOYERS THERE WHO WERE ONCE AGAIN SO IMPRESSED WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF FROM CCST WHO WORK WITH THEIR STUDENTS, NOT JUST IN CONTENT AREAS,

[00:10:02]

BUT THEY REALLY HELPED THEM PREP FOR SPEAKING TO EMPLOYERS, LIKE WORKING ON THEIR RESUMES, HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS, LIKE THE LITTLE THINGS, RIGHT? COMMUNICATION SKILLS, HOW TO TIE A TIE, HOW TO SHAKE A HAND.

LOOK SOMEBODY IN THE EYE. ALL OF THESE THINGS THESE STUDENTS DID AMAZINGLY.

AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS MATTER. SO JUST HATS OFF TO YOU GUYS.

THERE WAS ALSO THE SPRING SHOWCASE AT CCST AS WE HEARD TALENT SHOWS, END OF THE YEAR SPORTS.

AS WE'VE HEARD, PLAYOFFS CELEBRATIONS FOR SENIORS STARTED AND ARE CONTINUING.

WE'VE HAD SOME SENIOR NIGHTS, DRUG FREE CECIL HONORED THEIR GRADUATES APPRENTICESHIP MARYLAND GRADUATES.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS HERE TODAY. OUR SKILLSUSA FFA, I THINK A CARSON SCHOLAR AS WELL, OUR SMOB AND IT'S CRAZY BECAUSE IT'S HERE GUYS.

IT'S THE IT'S THE FINAL STRETCH. AND BY OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, HIGH SCHOOL IS, IS TOTALLY GOING TO BE BEHIND YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS TALKING ABOUT POLICIES AND TALKING ABOUT NUMBERS WE DO IT ALL BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS AND THE STUDENTS ARE REALLY, TRULY THE HEART OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.

EVERYTHING OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM DOES, EVERYTHING OUR STAFF DOES.

YOU'RE THE WHY, YOU'RE THE WHY. AND TO SEE ALL OF OUR SENIORS REACH THIS MILESTONE IS LITERALLY HANDS DOWN THE BEST PART OF THIS JOB.

AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF OUR SENIORS WHO ARE GETTING READY TO START THEIR NEXT JOURNEY EITHER COLLEGE, WORK, MILITARY, OR EVEN IF YOU'RE JUST FIGURING IT OUT.

JUST KNOW THAT ALL OF US ARE ROOTING FOR YOU, AND THE WORLD REALLY JUST NEEDS YOUR ENERGY RIGHT NOW.

IT NEEDS YOUR IDEAS, IT NEEDS YOUR LEADERSHIP.

AND I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT KIND OF MARK YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE.

AND THAT FINALLY BRINGS ME TO THE LAST THING OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR KIND OF TIES IN.

WELL, WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NONE OF OUR SENIORS WALK ACROSS THAT STAGE BY THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE NOT ALONE. THEY HAVE A VILLAGE AND THE COMMUNITY, YOUR PEOPLE.

AND A HUGE PART OF THAT VILLAGE IS OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF AND IN OUR CLASSROOMS. AND I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE NICOLE WALKER FROM ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, WHO IS OUR 2026 TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

SHE REPRESENTS SO WELL ALL OF OUR AMAZING, AMAZING EDUCATORS IN OUR DISTRICT.

AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK MISS WALKER AGAIN FOR HER WORK AND DEDICATION AND BEING THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENCE THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED.

THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HAWLEY.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT.

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO JUST PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MISS HAWLEY SAID IN REFERENCE TO THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND MISS NICOLE WALKER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HER AND GOOD LUCK IN OCTOBER AT THE MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR EVENT.

LAST MONTH, I HAD THE HONOR OF ATTENDING THE JUNIOR ROTC GALA, RECOGNIZING OUR STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS HIGH SCHOOL MILITARY PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON BUILDING STUDENT LEADERSHIP, DISCIPLINE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN TO EACH OF THE STUDENTS, AS WELL AS ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL DOCTOR JAMES LEITGEB AND DOCTOR HEATHER HANDLER, THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND SPEARHEADING THIS INITIATIVE.

LAST WEEK, I, ALONG WITH SOME OF MY BOARD MEMBERS, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE CCPS BUDGET PRESENTATION TO COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

I MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIASED, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GREAT JOB DONE BY OUR CFO, MISS DENISE SOPA, AND DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM IN BREAKING DOWN COMPLEX FINANCIAL DATA INTO BITE SIZED PIECES FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND EFFORT ON THOSE PROJECTS.

LASTLY, AS WE WOUND DOWN TOWARDS THE END OF THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR, I LOOK FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN GRADUATION CEREMONIES IN A FEW WEEKS AT OUR FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY. BEING INVOLVED IN THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE OF GRADUATION IS ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TIME HONORED TRADITION OF WATCHING OUR STUDENTS TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THEIR LIFE.

AND IT IS TRULY AN HONOR. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OVER TO YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON.

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. JUST A COUPLE THINGS TODAY.

BOHEMIA MANOR MIDDLE SCHOOL HOSTED DOCTOR CARRIE WRIGHT, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.

DOCTOR WRIGHT CAME BY FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AND JUST WALKED AROUND THE SCHOOL, SAT IN ON SOME LESSONS.

MISS ZIMMER, SIXTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS. MISS MABREY, SIXTH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS AND MISTER TRIANTAFILLOS.

YEAH, IN SEVENTH GRADE MATH. AND JUST REALLY, REALLY GOOD STUFF.

[00:15:03]

YOU KNOW? SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THE SCHOOL. IT WAS A GREAT TURNOUT.

DOCTOR. RIGHT. I MEAN, I'M SURE YOU DON'T KNOW HER.

VERY GRACIOUS WOMAN. SHE'S A PROFESSIONAL FOR SURE.

SHE'S BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. LED THE QUOTE UNQUOTE, MISSISSIPPI MIRACLE IN TERMS OF READING ACHIEVEMENT A FEW YEARS BACK.

SO IT WAS JUST NICE TO HAVE HER AND SEE HER IN THAT CONTEXT.

SO ONE THING I WOULD GUESS MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW IS THAT IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE HAVE FOR A LONG TIME, WE PROVIDE ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BASED EMPLOYEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A SURVEY ON ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S NOT MEANT NECESSARILY TO BE ABOUT AN ADMINISTRATOR, JUST GENERALLY.

HOW DOES THE SCHOOL'S ADMINISTRATION WORK? IT FOCUSES ON THEIR PERFORMANCE.

IT'S NOT SPECIFIC TO A SINGLE PERSON. WE DISCOURAGE THE USE OF NAMING A PERSON ON THIS.

THERE ARE 31 QUESTIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE CALL THE PSEL STANDARDS, THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP.

WE GET THE RESULTS IMMEDIATELY. WE LOOK AT THEM CLOSELY, THE ADMINISTRATORS LOOK AT THEM CLOSELY HISTORICALLY, A HIGH RESPONSE RATE, ALWAYS KEEPING IN MIND WE HAVE ABOUT 2000 EMPLOYEES.

I'M GOING TO SAY 1600 OR SO ARE BASED IN SCHOOLS.

SO THEY ALL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR ADMINISTRATION.

AND IT IS IT IS ANONYMOUS. WHEN I WAS A BUILDING PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, WE HAD THIS AND I FOUND IT HELPFUL.

YOU QUICKLY REALIZE AS A LEADER, YOU WILL NOT MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY ALL THE TIME.

SO YOU COME TO HAVE TO COME TO TERMS WITH THAT AND JUST MOVE ON AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

SO THERE'S 31 QUESTIONS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER THE 31 QUESTIONS.

DON'T WORRY. BUT THERE ARE A HANDFUL THAT ARE KIND OF SPECIAL TO ME, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHAT I VALUE AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS BUILD AND MAINTAIN A SAFE AND CARING AND HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

AND WHAT I DO HERE IS I CLUSTER. IT'S CALLED A FOUR POINT LIKERT SCALE.

AND IT'S A IT'S AGREE, STRONGLY AGREE DISAGREE STRONGLY DISAGREE.

SO WE DON'T ALLOW FOR LIKE A MIDDLE ANSWER. WE FORCE YOU TO COME DOWN ON ONE SIDE OF THE FENCE OR THE OTHER.

AND YOU COULD SEE ON THIS, THIS IS 82% OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN A SCHOOL.

SO THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND RESPONSES HERE. 82% BELIEVE THAT THEIR ADMINISTRATORS BUILD AND MAINTAIN A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT.

SO FOR ME, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S FOUR OUT OF FIVE.

AND SO I'LL CERTAINLY TAKE THAT KIND OF NUMBER.

ADMINISTRATORS COMMUNICATE CLEARLY WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS HERE.

YOU'RE LOOKING AT 77%, AGAIN CLOSE TO FOUR OUT OF FIVE.

THIS ONE'S A CHALLENGE. AND HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE THERE'S AN ISSUE OF COMMUNICATING, TELLING PEOPLE RIGHT THINGS.

AND THEN THERE'S THE ISSUE OF DO PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY'RE HEARING? SOMETIMES YOU CAN COMMUNICATE REALLY, REALLY WELL AND PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE THE MESSAGE.

AND I THINK THAT'S THAT KIND OF JADES THIS ANSWER SOMETIMES, BUT NONETHELESS, 77% IS HEALTHY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE LEADERSHIP TEAM CAN ATTEST, AND I WOULD IMAGINE THE BOARD TO THIS IS PROBABLY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS COMMUNICATION. I'M SO REALLY ANOTHER IMPORTANT ONE HERE.

I'M GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH BEING AN EMPLOYEE AT THIS SCHOOL.

SO 89%, THAT'S NINE OUT OF TEN OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE SATISFIED WITH WHERE THEY WORK.

CECIL COUNTY FOR AS MUCH AS IT PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING A RURAL KIND OF AGRICULTURE, COUNTY HAS NEWCASTLE TO ITS EAST, HARTFORD TO ITS WEST AND CHESTER TO THE NORTH.

THESE ARE VERY COMPETITIVE SCHOOL SYSTEMS NEARBY THAT ARE LOOKING FOR EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE JOBS OUT THERE TO BE HAD THESE DAYS FOR TEACHERS, FOR PRINCIPALS, THE WHOLE THING, SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET.

WE WORK TO COMPETE IN TERMS OF SALARY AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, CULTURE.

WE WANT THIS TO BE A GOOD PLACE TO WORK FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND, YOU KNOW, NINE OUT OF TEN, THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT PLEASES ME AS WELL. SO ADMINISTRATORS ENSURED THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND RESPECTFULLY.

THAT'S ANOTHER BIG THING FOR ME. THERE'S ONLY FIVE. DON'T WORRY. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, IN MY YEARS OF DOING THIS, 42 OF THEM YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN INTERACTION WITH A PERSON AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THEM, IS THAT EVERY TIME A PERSON WALKS AWAY FROM THEIR CONVERSATION WITH YOU, THEY SHOULD FEEL DIGNITY, THAT THEY'VE BEEN HEARD. THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE WHAT THEY HEAR, THAT THEY'VE BEEN TREATED RESPECTFULLY, KINDLY, PROFESSIONALLY. NO SARCASM AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND SO I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT AND THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S YOUR NIGHTTIME CUSTODIAN OR YOUR HONORS ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEACHER.

THEY ALL DESERVE TO BE TREATED THE SAME WAY, AND IT'S SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS STRIVED TO DO. I KNOW THE LEADERSHIP TEAM KNOWS THAT, AND IT'S GOOD TO SEE OUR BUILDING PRINCIPALS ARE DOING THE SAME.

AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATORS MODEL INTEGRITY. ARE YOU A STAND UP PERSON? ARE YOU HONEST? DO YOU TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING EVERY DAY FOR KIDS, FOR TEACHERS, FOR PARENTS, THE WHOLE THING. AND I THINK IF YOU DO THOSE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS, SHOW UP, BE NICE AND WORK HARD.

I MEAN, IF I WERE TO GIVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES ADVICE, SHOW UP, BE NICE, WORK HARD.

EVEN AT MY LEVEL, YOU DO THAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

[00:20:03]

MORE TIMES THAN NOT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. IT WAS FIVE MINUTES EXACTLY, BY THE WAY.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR LAWSON. NEXT ON THE AGENDA 5.04 CCPS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS, CECIL COUNTY CLASSROOM TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

MISS LORI HRINKO, PRESIDENT.

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

I WANT TO ADD MY CONGRATULATIONS TO ADDISON FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AS A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER.

AND AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR SENIORS THAT ARE GETTING READY FOR GRADUATION.

I HAVE SOME IN MY FAMILY AND THEY ARE JUST BURSTING AT THE SEAMS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.

SO VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATING ALL OF THEM AND THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AMAZING YOUTH IN THIS BUILDING.

SO DESPITE THE RHETORIC IN SOME PUBLIC VENUES, OUR STUDENTS REALLY ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS.

WE'VE GOT CARSON SCHOLAR RECOGNITIONS, FOLKS THAT ARE NOT ONLY RECEIVING AWARDS FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, BUT COMMUNITY SERVICE AND SUPPORT WINNERS FOR THE MARYLAND LITERACY YOUNG AUTHORS CONTEST, OUR SKILLS USA AND FFA COMPETITION WINNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL IN SO MANY AREAS, OUR KIDS ARE DOING AMAZING THINGS, AND I WANT TO THANK OUR TEACHERS FOR INSTRUCTING THEM AND OUR PARENTS FOR SUPPORTING THEM.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE TEAMWORK, RIGHT? SO WE CAN'T DO THESE THINGS ALONE.

AND SO THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES IN THIS ROOM ARE A TESTAMENT TO WHO OUR COUNTY IS AND WHAT WE DO.

AND JUST THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU KIDS, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.

YOUNG ADULTS, FOR ALL THE HARD WORK. AND THANK YOU FOR JUST SHOWING UP FOR, FOR US AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.

TEACHING TODAY IS ESPECIALLY HARD. AND SO THAT TEAM EFFORT REALLY DOES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

LAST WEEK WAS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO DID, DID A LITTLE SOMETHING SPECIAL. AND WE DON'T JUST SAY TEACHERS APPRECIATION WEEK ANYMORE.

IT'S EDUCATION APPRECIATION WEEK. EDUCATOR APPRECIATION WEEK, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE TEACHING CERTIFICATES.

IT'S OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS, OUR NURSES, OUR SECRETARIES, OUR SUPPORT STAFF, OUR ADMIN, EVERYBODY THAT IS COMING TOGETHER AS THIS SCHOOL FAMILY TO MAKE THIS THING THAT WE DO WORK. AND SO THE, YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE SNACKS AND TREATS WERE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THE COFFEE, IT'S ALWAYS APPRECIATED.

BUT WHAT REALLY MAKES THAT WHAT REALLY STICKS WITH YOU IS THOSE NOTES FROM THE KIDS, THE ONES FROM THE LITTLE ONES WHERE, YOU KNOW, THEIR LETTERS ARE WRITTEN BACKWARDS AND SOME CREATIVE SPELLING.

THE LETTERS FROM THOSE OLDER STUDENTS WHO WERE REALLY JUST SO ELOQUENT AND HEARTFELT AND JUST FROM THE PARENTS.

AND SO THANK YOU FOR ANY, ANYBODY WHO'S, WHO SHARED THOSE TOUCHING MEMORIES.

TRIPLE A WAS ALSO ABLE TO RECOGNIZE OUR MEMBERS LAST WEEK WHO HAD 20, 25, 30, 35 AND 40 AND 40 PLUS YEARS OF SERVICE AT THE CHESAPEAKE IN IT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS FOR THE YEAR.

AND I DO WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL RECOGNITION AND SHOUT OUT TO MISS BARBARA WALKER, WHO HAS BEEN TEACHING THIS YEAR FOR 47 YEARS WITH THE SMALL CHILDREN AND SHE'S NOT STOPPING. SHE DOES AN AMAZING, AMAZING JOB DOWN AT ELK NECK, AS MANY OF OUR TEACHERS DO.

BUT 47 YEARS OF TEACHING IS MORE SERVICE THAN MANY OF OUR NEW TEACHERS HAVE BEEN ALIVE SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND HER AND THOSE FOLKS. ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE, WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF CONCERNS FROM OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE WORRIED ABOUT THAT FY 27 BUDGET SHOWING REDUCTIONS IN STAFF AND RESOURCES.

WE KNOW THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS PROPOSED MORE FUNDING AND YOU'VE BEEN SHARING THROUGH THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.

YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE IN THE STATE WE'RE IN WITH OUR OPERATING COSTS INCREASING, BUT THE STATE LEVEL NOT REALLY MATCHING UP TO THOSE INCREASES.

AND SO FOLKS DO APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU'RE ALL DOING GOING TO THE SCHOOLS.

BUT THAT CONCERN IS THERE. OUR NEW TEACHERS WHO'VE, WHO'VE, YOU KNOW, JUST COME OUT OF SCHOOL OR JUST BEEN HIRED AND THEY'VE WORKED THIS WHOLE YEAR, YOU KNOW, JUST DOING THEIR BEST FOR THEIR KIDS.

THEY'RE WORRIED IF THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY HAVE A JOB NEXT YEAR. OUR FOLKS THAT ARE MORE SEASONED, EVERYBODY, OUR ADMIN, EVERYBODY'S WORRIED ABOUT CLASS SIZES GOING UP.

AND SO WHAT WILL THAT WILL DO TO THE IMPACT OF OUR STUDENTS? AND I KNOW I'M NOT TELLING YOU ANYTHING NEW, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, THE SERIOUSNESS THAT THAT BRINGS WITH IT. AND SO AS MISS METCALFE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SLIDING INTO THIS SEASON OF ELECTIONS AND OUR KIDS EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE JUST A POLITICAL TALKING POINT.

AND FOR SOME FOLKS, IF EDUCATION WERE REALLY A PRIORITY, THEN MORE OF THOSE FOLKS WOULD BE DISCUSSING IT ALL YEAR LONG,

[00:25:05]

NOT JUST AT ELECTION TIME. AND THEY'D BE VOLUNTEERING IN OUR SCHOOLS.

AND SO I KNOW THAT, THAT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER IN OUR SCHOOLS WE'LL TRAIN YOU.

THERE ARE, FROM THE LITTLES UP TO THE BIGS, YOU CAN WORK WITH ANY GROUP OF STUDENTS.

EVERY SCHOOL IN CECIL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS NEEDS VOLUNTEERS IN MANY, MANY AREAS.

SO WE WILL WELCOME YOU WITH OPEN ARMS. SO THAT ELECTION IS ON JUNE 23RD WITH EARLY VOTING FROM JUNE 11TH TO JUNE 18TH. SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING A VACATION, A MUCH DESERVED VACATION WITH YOUR FAMILY, PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE VOTING AHEAD OF TIME.

THE DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING THIS YEAR AT THE BALLOT BOX ARE GOING TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON CECIL COUNTY AND OUR SCHOOLS LONG AFTER ALL THOSE ROAD SIGNS ARE PICKED UP.

AND SO PLEASE JUST REALLY LOOK SERIOUSLY AT THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE GOING TO BEST SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS HRINKO. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, CONSTRUCTION REPORT, DOCTOR LAWSON.

OKAY. IT IS TIME FOR PICTURES. IF YOU LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT ON THE SCREEN, YOU'LL SEE WE ONLY HAVE TWO RIGHT NOW, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. BUT THE BIG THE BIG DEAL IS RIGHT THERE.

THAT IS THE NEW NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL SET TO OPEN JULY 1ST OF 27.

YOU CAN SEE THE FOOTBALL STADIUM IN THE BACK AND THEN OFF TO THE LEFT.

BEHIND THE STADIUM IS THE CURRENT HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH WILL BE DEMOED ONCE WE OPEN UP THE NEW SCHOOL.

IF YOU LOOK AT A ON THE GRAPHIC THAT IS THE GYM, B IS THE IT'S THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WING KIND OF ITS C, THE B C AREA. THAT LITTLE LOOKING LIKE PENTHOUSE KIND OF AREA.

THAT'S FOR SOME OF THE HVAC EQUIPMENT AND THE STRUCTURAL STUFF.

D IS THE AUDITORIUM AND THAT'LL BE 1000 SEATS, INCLUDING BALCONIES.

E AND G GOES TO THE HIGH SCHOOL WING AND THEN F WILL BE THE MEDIA CENTER CAFETERIA.

THE BUILDING ITSELF IS REALLY FOUR STORIES HIGH.

IF YOU TAKE THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ACROSS TO THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT'S FOUR STORIES BECAUSE OF THE HILL AND THEN IN BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL WING, THAT WILL BE A KIND OF A LANDSCAPED STUDENT AREA, BUS LOOP KIND OF THING, WHERE THE KIDS WILL COME IN, GET A DROP OFF, AND THEN LOOP RIGHT BACK OUT AND GO UP TO IRISHTOWN ROAD.

AND WHERE THE PICTURE WAS TAKEN FROM WOULD BE A DRONE SHOT THAT'S OVER THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS FIELDS.

OKAY, SO AGAIN, 185 $190 MILLION PROJECT. WE ARE WAITING FOR THE FINAL APPROVALS FROM THE STATE TO START WIDENING IRISHTOWN ROAD. WE HOPE THAT WILL BEGIN SOMETIME THIS SUMMER, LATE THIS SUMMER.

AND SO JUST REALLY, REALLY EXCITING STUFF. SO IF YOU HAVE A SEVENTH GRADER AT NORTHEAST MIDDLE OR I GUESS SOME OF CHERRY HILL THEY WILL ATTEND HERE AS NINTH GRADERS. AND IF YOU HAVE A FOURTH GRADER AT BAYVIEW NORTHEAST ELK NECK, MAYBE A PIECE OF LEEDS THEY WILL GO HERE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO REALLY, REALLY EXCITING STUFF. GO AHEAD, MISS OLSON.

AND THEN MORE OF THE RUDIMENTARY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WALLS, FLOORS, CINDERBLOCK, ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

YEAH. IT'S GOING TO BE THE MEDIA CENTER IF YOU HOLD. I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING OUT THERE TO THE COURTYARD.

DOCTOR, RIGHT? THANKS, JOE. DOCTOR BUCKLEY. YEAH, IT'S SET UP SO THAT LIKE THERE'S A WALKWAY ABOVE THE MEDIA CENTER.

SO KIDS WILL BE ABLE TO WALK UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND LOOK DOWN AT THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN THE MEDIA CENTER.

IT'S PRETTY COOL. TWO CAFETERIAS, ONE KITCHEN.

SO THE SCHOOLS WILL SHARE A KITCHEN, BUT THE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND HIGH SCHOOLERS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT CAFETERIAS.

THIS IS JUST AN OFFICE INSTRUCTIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL WING COLLABORATIVE AREA.

SO THE MAIN CORRIDOR IN THE BUILDING, WHEN YOU COME IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE, YOU COME INTO WHAT'S GOING TO BE CALLED MAIN STREET.

AND THIS IS REALLY LIKE SO IF YOU WERE TO GO STRAIGHT OUT THAT DOOR, YOU WOULD WALK STRAIGHT OUT TO THE FOOTBALL STADIUM PRACTICE FIELD AREA FROM THE FROM THE OLD SCHOOL. GO AHEAD. AND THEY ARE PUTTING THE FINAL TOUCHES ON A NEW ROOF AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING.

THIS EXCITES NOBODY [LAUGHS] EXCEPT PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES BUILDING.

RIGHT. YOU CAN SEE THERE IT IS. IT'S NOT VERY SEXY, BUT MAN, IT'S NEEDED AND IT'S AND IT'S EXPENSIVE.

GO AHEAD. I THINK THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE. ONE MORE.

THAT'S ALL. THAT'S IT. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOCTOR BUCKLEY? DOCTOR BOYER? ABOUT ANY OF THE CONSTRUCTION. OKAY.

THANK YOU. OKAY. MOVING ON. NEXT UP ON THE AGENDA IS CARSON SCHOLARS SENIOR RECOGNITION.

DOCTOR LAWSON. AT THIS TIME, DOCTOR SEAN JOHNSON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION,

[00:30:02]

WILL LEAD THIS PART OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA. DOCTOR JOHNSON.

GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT DAVIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON, LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS. I'M EXCITED TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE A CARSON SCHOLAR IN FRONT OF OUR GROUP. I WOULD SAY THAT WE HAVE A RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF CARSON SCHOLARS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE NOT GOING TO FIT THEM ALL IN THIS ROOM THIS EVENING.

SO THE BOARD WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL RECOGNITIONS FOR CARSON SCHOLARS IN SEPTEMBER.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THEM WILL NOT BE A STUDENT ANY LONGER BECAUSE THEY WILL GRADUATE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK AT THIS TIME THAT AVA BAGINSKI COME FORWARD.

SHE IS A SENIOR AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL. WHILE SHE'S COMING, LET ME JUST SAY, AVA HAS BEEN A SHE'S AN EIGHT TIME RECIPIENT OF THE CARSON SCHOLARSHIP, TO BE NAMED AS A CARSON SCHOLAR.

ONE TIME IS INCREDIBLE. EIGHT TIMES IS JUST REMARKABLE.

AND SO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CARSON SCHOLARSHIP, IT REQUIRES A MINIMUM OF A 3.75 GPA DEMONSTRATING HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES MANY OF THESE STUDENTS SERVE ON STUDENT COUNCILS AND SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE STARTED THEIR OWN NONPROFITS, THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

JUST AN INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT. AND IF YOU COME TO MANY BOARD MEETINGS, YOU'VE SEEN AVA.

SHE'S HERE OFTEN BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THAT SHE'S DOING.

SO PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING AN EIGHT TIME RENEWED CARSON SCHOLAR, A SENIOR AT ELKTON HIGH, AVA BAGINSKI [APPLAUSE].

OKAY, NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS STATE OF MARYLAND LITERACY ASSOCIATION, YOUNG AUTHORS CONTEST DOCTOR LAWSON AND DOCTOR JENNI HAMMER, OUR ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION SERVICES, WILL LEAD THIS PORTION OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

DOCTOR HAMMER. THANK YOU, VICE PRESIDENT DAVIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND ALL OF OUR GUESTS HERE THIS EVENING. WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THREE OF OUR STUDENTS WHO PLACED IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND LITERACY ASSOCIATION'S YOUNG AUTHOR CONTEST.

SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE CONTEST COORDINATORS MISS CATHERINE LIVELY AND KELLY RYAN, WHO ARE BOTH RISING SUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EDUCATORS, TO PLEASE COME FORWARD, AS WELL AS LESLIE SUTHERLAND, WHO'S THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THE CECIL COUNTY LITERACY CHAPTER.

IF SHE IS HERE, THERE SHE IS. THREE STUDENTS.

SO STARTING WITH A STUDENT FROM RISING SUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RACHEL VON STEUBEN, CAN YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD? [APPLAUSE] RACHEL PLAYS SECOND PLACE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR HER POEM ENTITLED LIGHTNING BUGS.

SHE'S A PRO.

AT THIS TIME, I'D ALSO LIKE A STUDENT NAMED CHLOE KLEIN FROM RISING SUN HIGH SCHOOL TO PLEASE COME FORWARD.

[APPLAUSE] CHLOE PLAYS SECOND PLACE FOR HER POEM ENTITLED DANDELION PRISON.

AND FINALLY, MR. MARCUS HERNANDEZ FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL.

PLEASE COME FORWARD [APPLAUSE]. MARCUS IS FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND FOR HIS SHORT STORY CALLED BROTHERS IN ARMS. CONGRATULATIONS [APPLAUSE].

[00:35:08]

NEXT ON THE AGENDA SKILLS USA AND FFA AWARDS.

DOCTOR LAWSON AND NOW WILL BE DOCTOR DAVID FOYE, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, TO TAKE THIS PART OF THE AGENDA. DOCTOR FOYE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT, MR. DAVIS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR LAWSON LEADERSHIP TEAM AND GUESTS SKILLS USA, FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FFA RECOGNITION AND AWARDS.

TO HELP WITH THIS RECOGNITION, I WOULD LIKE DOCTOR PARR, PRINCIPAL OF CCST, DOCTOR HEATHER HANDLER, PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR CTE. MISS ALEXANDER SKILLS USA ADVISOR TO JOIN UPFRONT.

STUDENTS, WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME TO THE FRONT FOR YOUR RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE AND GROUP PICTURE.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO PLACED IN THE SKILLSUSA COMPETITION DIESEL EQUIPMENT TECHNOLOGY.

CALEB MURDOUGH THIRD PLACE REGIONAL COMPETITION [APPLAUSE].

DARREN HUGO SECOND PLACE IN REGIONAL COMPETITION [APPLAUSE].

GABRIEL STERLING FIRST PLACE IN REGIONAL AND STATE COMPETITIONS [APPLAUSE].

GABRIEL WILL BE COMPETING AT NATIONALS IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR TEACHER, MR. SHUCKEROW [APPLAUSE].

MR. SHUCKEROW, COME ON DOWN.

OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE A STUDENT WHO PLACED IN SKILLSUSA STATE COMPETITION FOR INTERNET OF THINGS.

DRAVEN HENLEY, SECOND PLACE IN SMART HOME. COME ON DOWN [APPLAUSE].

WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE A STUDENT WHO PLACED IN SKILLSUSA REGIONAL COMPETITION FOR ADVERTISING DESIGN.

KYLIE AMIN FIRST PLACE IN ADVERTISING DESIGN.

AT THIS TIME, WE WILL RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO PLACED IN FFA STATE COMPETITIONS.

[00:40:02]

AND I'M GOING TO NOTE THE COOLEST LOOKING JACKETS WE'VE EVER SEEN.

MAN [LAUGHS]. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL OF THESE STUDENTS WILL COMPETE IN THE BIG E IN MASSACHUSETTS IN SEPTEMBER.

TO HELP WITH THESE RECOGNITIONS, I WOULD LIKE FOR MRS. COFFEY TO COME DOWN TO THE FRONT, PLEASE. THE NURSERY LANDSCAPING TEAM, WHICH EARNS SECOND PLACE.

CASSIDY PULLAM [APPLAUSE]. OWEN PLAGER [APPLAUSE].

MADISON CLAVINSKI [APPLAUSE] . SETH DAVIS [APPLAUSE].

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO PLACED IN FFA STATE COMPETITIONS FOR AGRO SCIENCE. KATRINA HUGHES, THIRD PLACE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES [APPLAUSE].

ELENA NESS, SECOND PLACE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES [APPLAUSE].

REAGAN BROWN, FIRST PLACE IN ENVIRONMENTAL NATIONAL RESOURCES [APPLAUSE].

AARON SORENSEN FIRST PLACE IN FOOD SYSTEMS [APPLAUSE].

CONGRATULATIONS. WE WILL NOW RECOGNIZE STUDENTS WHO PLACED IN THE SPRING REGIONAL PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE STUDENTS WILL COMPETE AT THE STATE LEVEL AT THE END OF JUNE.

JACKSON HORNING, THIRD PLACE IN PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING [APPLAUSE].

TYLER WALKER FIRST PLACE IN EXTEMPORANEOUS PUBLIC SPEAKING [APPLAUSE].

AGAIN, PLEASE GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE [APPLAUSE].

THANK YOU. [INAUDIBLE] YES, YES, YES. SO, REAL QUICKLY, IF I MAY. WHERE'S MISS RACHEL?

[00:45:08]

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT WITH NOTHING.

MISS COFFEY HAS BEEN, WELL, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

MISS COFFEY, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, SHE HAS BEEN A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. SHE JUST SERVED IN MULTIPLE ROLES.

EVERYWHERE SHE GOES, EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHES. IT'S JUST EXCELLENT.

AND YOU WILL BE MISSED. AND THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON BEHALF OF THE KIDS MATTERS.

AND I AM JEALOUS OF YOUR CAREER. THANK YOU, RACHEL, SO MUCH [APPLAUSE].

NEXT ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL RFP 25-11 THERAPY, NURSING AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

DOCTOR LAWSON. DON'T LET THEM LEAVE [LAUGHS].

YEAH. GO, WE WON'T BE OFFENDED IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE.

GO AHEAD. THANKS FOR COMING OUT, EVERYBODY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. YOU'RE LEAVING TOO? YEAH. YOU JUST SAID IT WAS OKAY.

YOU GOT TO STAY [LAUGHS]. I'M SORRY.

YEAH. THEY WENT, THEY WENT. YEAH. BO LOST IN THE NINTH.

OH, THEY DID? BO LOST IN THE NINTH. THEY WENT TO ITV.

SO IT'S JUST RISING OR JUST NORTHEAST NOW. GOOD FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW THEY'VE BEEN KIND TO THEM IT MAKES ME.

ONCE AGAIN, DOCTOR LAWSON CONTINUES 5.09 SUPPLEMENTAL RP 25-11 THERAPY, NURSING AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, DOCTOR LAWSON. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH E&E EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS WITH AYA HEALTHCARE INCORPORATED AS ADDITIONAL CONTRACTORS UNDER CCPS RFP 25-11 FOR THERAPY, NURSING AND OTHER SCHOOL BASED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

YOU'VE HEARD DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. SECOND. ANY OPPOSED? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.

AYE. MOTION. MOTION CARRIES. 5.10 EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN, FISCAL YEAR 2027, DOCTOR LAWSON. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. AT THIS POINT, DOCTOR TED BOYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FACILITIES, IS GOING TO COME FORWARD AND PRESENT TO YOU THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.

AND JUST KNOW THAT HE IS SHARING THIS AND IT WILL HOLD OVER FOR A MONTH.

AND SO THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR NEXT MONTH'S BOARD MEETING, YOU COULD CERTAINLY ASK. AND THAT'S WHEN WE WILL ASK FOR A VOTE.

DOCTOR BOYER. ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT DAVIS.

DOCTOR LAWSON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE BRAVE GUESTS WHO STAYED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE BOARD MEETING.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.

THIS IS A YEARLY PLAN THAT GETS PRESENTED AND IT GETS HELD OVER, LIKE I SAID, LIKE DOCTOR LAWSON SAID, FOR THE BOARD TO REVIEW. AND THEN NEXT MONTH WE WILL BE ASKING FOR A VOTE.

ALL RIGHT. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE MASTER PLAN? YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE I CALL IT KIND OF LIKE THE GO TO BOOK FOR FACILITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT EXPLAINS HOW WE USE OUR FACILITIES.

IT CONTAINS DATA ABOUT CCPS AND CECIL COUNTY, EVALUATES OUR FACILITIES AND IDENTIFIES AND JUSTIFIES NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM IN TERMS OF WHAT SCHOOLS NEED TO BE RENOVATED, WHAT SCHOOLS NEED TO BE, YOU KNOW,

[00:50:04]

BUILT, YOU KNOW, A NEW SCHOOL. SO IT'S A COMPLEX DOCUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT HELPS US PREPARE OUR CAPITAL, YOU KNOW, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE YEAR.

ONE THING THAT I WANT TO REALLY SHARE ABOUT IT, AND I WANT TO STRESS TO THE BOARD THIS, THIS DOCUMENT IS KIND OF LIKE A GO TO IN TERMS OF IF YOU ALWAYS HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ANYTHING IN TERMS OF FACILITIES, IN TERMS OF LIKE CAPACITY YOU KNOW, WHEN THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT, SOMETIMES WE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO IT, BUT IT HAS EVERYTHING.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED TO THE FULLEST.

AND I THINK IT'LL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HOW IS IT ORGANIZED? AS YOU CAN SEE UP ON, ON, ON THE WALL.

YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT IS IN THE DOCUMENT BECAUSE WE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE.

SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE SUBMITTED. I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT, BECAUSE THIS DOCUMENT IS DONE BY THE CAPITAL DEPARTMENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF THREE PEOPLE.

MR., SIMPERS, MISS PRESTON AND MR. OLSON. AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'LL COME UP HERE AND WE'LL SPEAK ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT.

BUT THE YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT THOSE PEOPLE DO TO GET IT DONE.

THIS IS ALMOST 200 PAGES IN TERMS OF THOSE THREE INDIVIDUALS GETTING IT DONE.

AND I BROUGHT A COPY OF IT. THIS IS HOW BIG THIS BOOK IS THAT THESE THREE INDIVIDUALS DO FOR US.

AND SO I WANT TO GO ON RECORD AS THANKING THEM BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SUBMITTED AND IT'S DONE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THEIR HARD WORK.

SO I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT ALSO TOO, IN TERMS OF WHEN THE BOARD REVIEWS THIS DOCUMENT, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LOOK AT PAGE 52. THAT'S LIKE A ONE SHEET THAT GIVES YOU INFORMATION ABOUT PRETTY MUCH ALL THE SCHOOLS.

SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GO FROM THERE. AND BASICALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, WE TRY TO PROVIDE SAFE AND SECURE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS. ANY QUESTIONS? AGAIN, TO REMIND THE BOARD THAT IF AS YOU'RE LOOKING THROUGH THIS THROUGHOUT THE NEXT MONTH, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CERTAINLY SEND ME AN EMAIL. PROBABLY THE QUICKEST WAY TO GET IT FINISHED, AND THEN WE WILL BE PREPARED TO ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS BEFORE ASKING FOR A VOTE NEXT MONTH. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU DOCTOR. NEXT ON THE AGENDA.,CONTRACT AWARD FOR NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT 07A, ROOFING CHANGE ORDER. YEAH. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.

BEFORE I ASK FOR THIS, I MEAN, THIS IS THIS ONE HERE IS A LITTLE CONFUSING.

IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS BEFORE I READ MY RECOMMENDATION AT THIS TIME.

DOCTOR BOYER, MRS SOPA, DOCTOR BUCKLEY ARE PREPARED TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

YEAH, THIS ISN'T REALLY AN ADDITIONAL SERVICE, BUT PART OF THE FINAL DESIGN THAT WASN'T IN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

RIGHT? CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE DESIGN OF THE ROOF AND HOW THEY THEY COME TOGETHER IN CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL SECTION OF THE BUILDING. SO IT'S WE'RE NOT REALLY, CCSP ISN'T ASKING FOR ANY, THIS THIS WAS INTENDED TO BE PART OF THE FINAL DESIGN ALL ALONG.

IT'S JUST A RECONCILING AND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND THE FINAL STRUCTURAL DESIGN.

RIGHT. CORRECT. THANK YOU. CORRECT. ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY AMEND RFP 24-15 FOR THE NORTHEAST MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL REPLACEMENT PROJECT 07A ROOFING TO INCLUDE THE PRESENTED CHANGE ORDER FOR A TOTAL OF $135,787.27.

YOU'VE HEARD THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION. IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED.

SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT ON THE AGENDA, FISCAL YEAR 2026.

BUDGET UPDATE MAY 2026. DOCTOR LAWSON. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS. MISS SOPA WILL COME FORWARD WITH THIS MONTH'S BUDGET UPDATE, AND I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION UPON HER CONCLUSION AS SOPA.

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

THIS IS OUR BUDGET AMENDMENT FROM THE MONTH OF APRIL.

AGAIN, SHOWING THE TOTAL INCREASE IN REVENUE OF A LITTLE OVER $1.6 MILLION AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN EXPENDITURES.

THE NEXT PAGE IS REALLY WHAT SUMS UP WHERE THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS COMING FROM.

SO THIS FIRST SECTION, RESTRICTED REVENUE IS A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PROVIDED GRANTS TO DIFFERENT PROGRAMS OR

[00:55:05]

OR SCHOOLS IN A TOTAL OF $31,350. WE HAVE ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED STATE REVENUE.

THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY. THIS IS PART OF AN FY 26 GRANT, AND IT'S TO PURCHASE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AT CHERRY HILL MIDDLE.

THAT'S $25,000. SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTED FEDERAL REVENUE.

THIS IS MCKINNEY-VENTO HOMELESS SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT TO SUPPORT STUDENT TUTORING AND TRANSPORTATION.

AND WE USUALLY DO RECEIVE THESE MCKINNEY-VENTO GRANTS, BUT WE'RE NEVER REALLY SURE WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE.

AND THERE'S ALSO USUALLY A TRANSPORTATION GRANT, BUT THIS IS A SUPPLEMENTAL GRANT.

DOWN UNDER UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE, YOU SEE SEVERAL DONATIONS SO THESE ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOLS USING THEIR STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUNDS FOR PURCHASES.

SO WHEN YOU SEE ALL OF THE PURCHASE MEDIA BOOKS, MORE THAN LIKELY THEY'VE HAD A BOOK FAIR AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THE BOOK FAIR, THEY THEN USE TO PURCHASE BOOKS FOR THE LIBRARY.

SO YOU CAN SEE SEVERAL SCHOOLS DOING THIS. THIS LINE HERE IS THE ONE I'D LIKE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS GASB 87 LEASE AND SUBSCRIPTION IMPLEMENTATION FOR ONE POINT A LITTLE OVER $1.4 MILLION. YOU'LL RECALL EVERY YEAR WE COME TO YOU ABOUT THE END OF THE YEAR TO DO, AND IT'S BEEN PROBABLY THE PAST TWO YEARS SINCE THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED, WHERE WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF A LEASE OR A SUBSCRIPTION AT THE BEGINNING OF ITS TERM. AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS INCLUDED BY THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD.

AND SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS A LEASE OR SUBSCRIPTION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LIFE, WE OWN THE ENTIRE ASSET AT THAT TIME. AND THEY'RE ASKING TO RECOGNIZE US, TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN OUR BOOKS.

AND SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THE REVENUE AND THE EXPENSE.

SO THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE GOT $1.4 MILLION.

IT MEANS WE HAVE $1.4 MILLION OF THE RIGHT TO USE THESE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND THESE LEASES.

AND SO IT'S A TECHNICAL ENTRY. YOU'LL SEE THE SAME THING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.

WHEN THEY DO THEIR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, THEY HAVE TO DO THE SAME. AND SO WE'VE DONE IT A LITTLE EARLIER THIS YEAR TO PREPARE FOR END OF YEAR REPORTING.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY GENERATE REVENUE.

AND THIS IS US RECOGNIZING THE REVENUE FOR THEM TO USE.

SO ALL COUNTY CHORUS AND BAND UCSCA FOR THE SUMMER CAMP.

OUR STEP PROGRAM GENERATES REVENUE. THEY'RE SELF-SUSTAINING.

SO THEY USE THAT REVENUE FOR SUPPLIES AND THEN COLLEGE AND CAREER PROGRAM.

SO THE TOTAL HERE IN UNRESTRICTED OTHER REVENUE IS $1.5 MILLION.

SO THE TOTALS HERE ON THIS PAGE WILL ALL ADD UP TO THAT 1.6 MILLION ON THE FIRST PAGE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND EXPENSE.

THE NEXT PAGES ARE THE TYPICAL REPORTS. UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY.

MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD, THE GASB 87 AND 96. THAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE LEASE FOR A PROJECTED PERIOD OF TIME, AND IT'S BEING REPORTED AS AN ASSET OR AN INCOME.

AND THEN OVER TIME, THAT 1.4 MILLION WILL BE EXPENDED AT A MONTHLY OR WHATEVER THE PERIOD IS UNTIL IT'S ALL EXPENSED.

AND NEW ONES MAY COME IN, RIGHT? SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE THIS YEAR WE TRADED OUT SOME OF OUR CARS FOR MAINTENANCE.

SO WE HAVE THEM ON A LEASE PROGRAM. SO WHEN YOU TRADE OUT CARS AND THEN YOU GET NEW CARS.

AND I BELIEVE THIS YEAR SO FAR, I BELIEVE WE'VE RECEIVED THREE.

SO WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE ENTIRE VALUE OF THAT CAR, THAT RIGHT TO USE THAT CAR.

IT DEPRECIATES OVER TIME. THE SAME THING WOULD BE WHEN WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT, WHEN WE SAY A SUBSCRIPTION.

SO SOME TYPE OF SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION WHERE WE ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WHERE WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR RIGHT TO USE IT, WHATEVER THAT FIVE YEAR COST IS, IS WHAT WE'RE IS WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING, WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO RECOGNIZE.

MR. HAMPTON. SO MISS SOPA, GASB, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD, RIGHT.

I'VE GOT SOME ACCOUNTING IN MY BACKGROUND. THIS TO ME IS A HEAD SCRATCHER.

AND IT'S NEW. I REALLY HAVE A HARD TIME. IT'S ONLY LIKE THE THIRD YEAR FOR THIS.

I ASKED HER THE VERY SAME QUESTION LAST YEAR WHEN I SAW THIS.

IT'S JUST IT'S KIND OF COUNTERINTUITIVE, YOU KNOW? AND SO, BUT YEAH, SHE'S EXPLAINING IT AS I UNDERSTAND IT AS WELL.

I MEAN, GIVE IT TO YOU OFFLINE, I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S JUST THAT I'M KIND OF LIKE YOU SAID, SCRATCH MY HEAD IS HOW DOES THAT INCOME EQUAL EXPENSES FOR THIS PERIOD WHEN THAT 1.4 MILLION WILL BE EXPENSED OVER THE DURATION OF THE LEASE? BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LEASE, YOU OWN THE ENTIRE RIGHT, THE WHOLE VALUE OF IT.

SO EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE USING IT FOR FIVE YEARS, AT THE BEGINNING, THAT WHOLE VALUE IS YOURS THAT YOU'RE RECEIVING ALL AT ONE TIME.

CONCEPTUALLY, IT'S ALMOST A DEPRECIATION. SORT OF.

NOTION. YEAH. IT'S A DEPRECIATION. BUT I MEAN IN THIS IN THIS PERIOD THOUGH INCOME EQUALS EXPENSES.

I'LL JUST HAVE TO LOOK CLOSELY. GOOD LUCK. I STRUGGLE.

I STRUGGLE WITH IT. I'M SORRY. AND WE CAN SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU OFFLINE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

DEFINITELY. IN GENERAL, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I'LL GO TO THE RIGHT COLUMNS AND MAKE SURE I'M TRACKING THE NUMBERS.

[01:00:08]

ANYTHING ELSE FROM US? I'M SORRY. YOU'RE NOT FINISHED, ARE YOU? YEAH. NO, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHER REPORTS THAT ARE THE STANDARD. JUST LIKE I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THIS TO SEE IF OUR PERCENTAGES WERE, YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO TO THAT ONE? I TOLD THE LEADERSHIP TEAM YESTERDAY MORNING YOU LOOKED AT THAT. SO I'M GLAD YOU AFFIRMED THAT. DID YOU REALLY? YES I DID. GREAT. YOU DID. SO THE QUESTION IS, WITH THE INCREASED COST OF FUEL, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'VE BUDGETED KIND OF APPROPRIATELY BECAUSE OUR PERCENTAGES AREN'T LIKE JUMPING OUT.

WE DID BUDGET FOR AN INCREASE. YEAH. SO JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT AND TO VALIDATE THAT I ACTUALLY LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S WHY. WE KNOW OUR BOARD. YOU WERE LOOKING HERE ON THIS PAGE WHEN YOU WENT TO UTILITIES.

YEAH. OKAY. WHICH IS RIGHT UP HERE. SEVEN. PAGE SEVEN.

DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY.

I RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CECIL COUNTY APPROVE THE OPERATING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR $1,604,400, AS PRESENTED. YOU'VE HEARD DOCTOR LAWSON'S RECOMMENDATION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

NEXT, WE HAVE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. MISS OLSON.

[6. Public Participation ]

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M GOING TO JUST READ A FEW OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES.

THE PURPOSE FOR 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 CONSIDERS ALL EMAILS AND FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC, EVEN IF REMARKS ARE NOT PRESENTED OR READ ALOUD AT THE MEETING.

A TIMELINE FOR COMMENTS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD PRESIDENT.

IN GENERAL, THREE MINUTES WILL BE ALLOTTED TO INDIVIDUALS.

WHEN THE ALLOTTED TIME EXPIRES, THE SPEAKERS 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 INDIVIDUAL.

RUDE, SLANDEROUS OR THREATENING REMARKS ARE CONSIDERED OUT OF ORDER.

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

THE BOARD ALSO ENCOURAGES SPEAKERS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN COPY OF THEIR REMARKS.

COPIES MAY BE PLACED IN THE BOX ON THE TABLE.

TODAY WE HAD FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP. ONE PERSON DID CONTACT ME TO SAY HE WAS UNABLE TO COME.

SO WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE PREPARED TO MOVE UP ONCE THE OTHER PERSON HAS FINISHED.

THE FIRST SPEAKER ON MY LIST IS SHERRY MORGAN MORAN.

MORAN. I'M SORRY. EXCUSE ME. AND I DON'T SEE HER PRESENT.

SO THE SECOND SPEAKER I HAVE REGISTERED IS MICHELLE MARKS.

AND YOU MAY COME ON UP. AFTER MICHELLE WILL BE MISS CARRIE.

OKAY. SHOULD I JUST START? OKAY. AWESOME. THANK YOU.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS MICHELLE MARKS, AND AS A PARENT OF ELEMENTARY CHILDREN IN CECIL COUNTY, I SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. OUR COUNTY NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MAINLY ONE THAT ENCOURAGES CURRICULAR EXPLORATION IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE COUNTYWIDE. CECIL PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT IS QUITE HIGH AND GROWING, AS INDICATED BY BY SWELLING CLASS SIZES.

I'VE SEEN THIS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, FOR EXAMPLE, WHICH ADDED 30 HOUSES LAST YEAR AND IS A MILE AWAY FROM CONSTRUCTION ON A NEW DEVELOPMENT.

OUR BUS STOP HAS SEEMED TO DOUBLE SINCE LAST YEAR AND IS JUST ONE OF THREE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT IS CLEAR THAT MORE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR COUNTY, AND THE PROPOSED CECIL CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL AIMS TO FILL THAT VOID.

THE EXISTENCE OF THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL WILL PROVIDE NOT ONLY SMALL CLASSES AT THE CHARTER SCHOOL ITSELF, BUT ALLOW CLASS SIZES AT EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ALSO SHRINK AS IT ADDS MORE PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SEATS TO OUR COUNTY.

IN GENERAL, SMALL CLASS SIZES ALL AROUND IS NOT A BAD THING.

[01:05:05]

WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY ALLOWING SMALLER CLASS SIZES ACROSS PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, THE CHARTER SCHOOLS TAILORED CURRICULUM WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL IDEAS. THANKS TO THE CHARTER GRANTED AUTONOMY, EDUCATORS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES TO DO THE BEST THEY POSSIBLY CAN FOR STUDENTS, AND THEY WILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO DO SO.

THAT FLEXIBILITY DOES NOT MEAN LOWERED STANDARDS OR EXPECTATIONS.

ON THE CONTRARY, THE CHARTER SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS ROOTED IN THE CLASSICS, WHICH IS A RESULTS PROVEN METHOD USED TO TEACH STUDENTS LIFETIME SKILLS THAT LAST A LIFETIME. ADD TO THIS CLASSICAL CURRICULUM EDUCATORS WHO MEET THE SAME CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS AS ALL CECIL PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS, AND THE STAGE IS SET FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

THE BENEFITS THAT COME FROM A SEPARATE CURRICULUM WITHIN THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL NOT STOP AT JUST THE CHARTER SCHOOL.

SINCE ITS TEACHERS ARE CCPS EMPLOYEES, ANY KNOWLEDGE GAINED THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE WILL BE EASILY SHARED FROM EDUCATOR TO EDUCATOR.

THIS ULTIMATELY ALLOWS FOR AN OVERALL POSITIVE IMPACT ACROSS ALL LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR ALL CECIL STUDENTS.

THERE IS A CONCERN THAT A CHARTER SCHOOL TAKES FUNDING AWAY FROM OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

HOWEVER, THE GREATER CONCERN IS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE TO LOSE FUNDING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS, HOMESCHOOLING OR OTHER COUNTIES. IF WE DON'T OFFER ANOTHER PUBLIC EDUCATION CHOICE AND REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL.

DO I STOP? OH, SORRY. AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE CHARTER SCHOOL CREATES MORE ELEMENTARY SPOTS AND KEEPS THOSE SPOTS PUBLICLY FUNDED VERSUS SEEING PARENTS PULL THEIR STUDENTS AND CONSEQUENTLY, THE FUNDING ALLOCATED TO THEIR STUDENTS.

IF ENROLLMENT ACROSS ALL CECIL PUBLIC SCHOOLS DROPS DUE TO CLASS SIZE CONCERNS OR LACK OF ACADEMIC CHOICE, SO DOES THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING. I AM STRONGLY SUGGESTING THE APPROVAL OF THE CECIL CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL.

WE CAN SHOW THAT CECIL COUNTY IS A FORWARD THINKING AREA THAT ENCOURAGES ACADEMIC EXPLORATION BY ALLOWING DIFFERENT CURRICULUMS. THAT ENSURES AS MUCH FUNDING AS POSSIBLE, IS MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND THAT ALLOWS NOTHING TO COME BETWEEN DECISION MAKERS AND FINDING THE BEST EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS CARRIE AND SHE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY OUR FINAL SPEAKER, MISS ROSENBERG.

HI THERE. MY NAME IS NORMA CARRIE, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT IS REALLY GOOD TO SEE ALL YOU GUYS.

I AM ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CECIL CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL, AND OUR BOARD HAS MET EVERY SINGLE THURSDAY NIGHT SINCE MARCH 2025. THAT'S 14 MONTHS WE HAVE BEEN MEETING EVERY SINGLE THURSDAY NIGHT.

AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL OF OUR INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS HELD AT LIBRARIES, CHURCHES, BUSINESSES, ALL OUR VISITS AROUND THE COUNTY TO EXPLAIN THE PROPOSED CHARTER SCHOOL OR OUR VISITS TO SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS ALL AROUND THE STATE OF MARYLAND. IT AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL OF OUR TIME SPENT LEARNING THE ENTIRE PROCESS.

WE HAVE ENJOYED TALKING TO THE COMMUNITY AT EVENTS LIKE ELKTON FALL FEST, NORTHEAST GARDEN MARKET AND FUTURE EVENTS LIKE THE RISING SUN FEST AND THE SALUTE TO VETERANS. WE HAVE WORKED TIRELESSLY, TIRELESSLY AND DILIGENTLY, AND WE HAVE EXPENDED OUR GIFTS, OUR TIME AND OUR TREASURE FOR THIS VENTURE. WE HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE.

AND WE WILL SEE THIS THROUGH TO COMPLETION. WE HAVE COMMITTEES MADE UP OF NUMEROUS TEACHERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS HELPING US BEHIND THE SCENES, FILLING IN WHERE WE'RE LACKING. AND THIS IS NOT A FLY BY NIGHT IDEA.

WE ARE DETERMINED TO BRING THIS SCHOOL CHOICE TO THIS COUNTY THAT WE LIVE IN AND LOVE.

WE HAVE THE BACKING OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, TEACHERS.

IT SEEMS LIKE ALL WHO HEAR ABOUT THIS PROPOSED SCHOOL, THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND WE HAVE HEARD THEM.

I TELL YOU WHAT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT EASIER TO JUST START A NEW PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT THAT WOULD HAVE LEFT A BIG SECTION OF OUR COUNTY, THE SINGLE MOMS, THE STRUGGLING YOUNG FAMILIES THAT CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL, THE PARENTS WHO CAN AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL ARE ALREADY DOING THAT.

WE WANT THIS PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL.

WE ARE DILIGENTLY WORKING ON TRANSPORTATION WITH DEEP ROOTS COMMUNITY.

[01:10:02]

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THEY ARE A TRANSITIONAL HOMELESS COMMUNITY FOR FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT THIS OPTION TO BE AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE.

SO TODAY IS A HUGE DAY FOR US. THIS AFTERNOON WE DELIVERED TO YOU A 250 PAGE APPLICATION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND FOR YOUR APPROVAL. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US IN BRINGING A UNIQUE PUBLIC SCHOOL OPTION TO A HANDFUL OF STUDENTS.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER ARM OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IT'S A FIRST FOR YOU. IT'S A FIRST FOR US. WE WELCOME YOUR STRICT EYE AND ATTENTION.

WE WELCOME YOUR EXPERTISE AND YOUR AND YOUR ADVICE.

WE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN TO JOIN HANDS WITH YOU AND WORK FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR CHILDREN.

THANKS. THANK YOU. AND, MISS ROSENBERG.

YES, MY NAME IS SHARON ROSENBERG. I LIVE IN NORTHEAST AND I GRADUATED FROM NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL A FEW YEARS AGO.

MY HUSBAND AND I CURRENTLY MENTOR AT NORTHEAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO A BOARD MEETING BEFORE, SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, DOCTOR LAWSON, AND THE BOARD FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO ALL THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF CECIL COUNTY, ESPECIALLY THESE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.

YOU'VE DONE WONDERFUL WORK. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN ONE OF THE REASONS I AM OPPOSED TO THE PROPOSED CLASSICAL CHARTER SCHOOL.

NEAR THE END OF THE LONG APPLICATION REQUIRED IN CECIL COUNTY FOR SUCH A PROPOSAL IS A, A PHRASE, NOT EVEN A SENTENCE, WHICH SUMMARIZES, I THINK, WHAT VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND BOARDS MUST CONSIDER IN THEIR DETERMINATION.

AND. THAT SENTENCE IS A PHRASE IS. THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL ON EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST BE A CONSIDERATION. I SEE THE CHARTER AS HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON EXISTING SCHOOLS FOR A HANDFUL OF REASONS.

ONE IS THAT WHEN A SCHOOL SYSTEM IS LOSING ENROLLMENT, IT'S NOT A TIME TO ADD ANOTHER SCHOOL.

IN FACT, CECIL COUNTY SAW THE LARGEST DROP IN ENROLLMENT IN 2025-26 AMONG ALL THE COUNTIES IN MARYLAND, A DROP OF 2.7%. BASED ON OUR APPROXIMATELY 14,400 STUDENTS, THAT IS 380 STUDENTS. ACTUALLY, WHEN I DID THE MATH, I HAD 3080, WHICH IS WHY I TAUGHT ENGLISH AND NOT MATH.

BUT 380 IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

FOR COMPARISON, THAT IS THE NUMBER ALMOST IDENTICAL TO THE ENROLLMENT RIGHT NOW OF CHERRY HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE NEW YORK TIMES HAD AN ARTICLE EARLIER THIS WEEK DISCUSSING THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HAVING TO DETERMINE WHICH SCHOOLS THEY MAY NEED TO CLOSE.

CECIL COUNTY DOESN'T SEEM AT ALL TO BE IN THAT POSITION, THANK GOODNESS.

BUT IT IS, IT DEFINITELY DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN A PLACE BASED ON ENROLLMENT TO BE ADDING.

THAT DIDN'T COME OUT RIGHT. CECIL COUNTY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE IN THE POSITION.

THANK GOODNESS THAT IT NEEDS TO ADD ANOTHER SCHOOL BASED ON THEIR ENROLLMENT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA.

SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTS. I HAVE NONE. YOU HAVE NONE.

OKAY. UPCOMING EVENTS TOMORROW NIGHT, ARGUABLY THE BEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR AND MAYBE GRADUATIONS,

[8. Upcoming Events ]

BUT TOMORROW NIGHT'S REALLY NICE. IT'S AT ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL, 05:00.

IT'S VERY MUCH AN OPEN HOUSE KIND OF FORUM. COME BY, HANG OUT FOR A HALF HOUR, AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF, WHATEVER. WE'LL HAVE UPWARDS OF 100 JUNIORS AND SENIORS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL WITH THEIR RESEARCH PROJECTS ON DISPLAY.

YOU CANNOT HELP BUT WALK AROUND THAT EVENING AND COME OUT INSPIRED.

THERE'S SO MANY GOOD THINGS HAPPENING WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEN WE HAVE OUR BUDGET HEARING FOR CAPITAL BUDGET NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT AT THE COUNTY BUILDING.

A LONG WEEKEND IS COMING. MUCH NEEDED. AND WE HAVE OUR MUCH DISCUSSED GRADUATIONS COMING AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER.

THE FIRST ONE IS MAY 29TH SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY GRADUATION.

AND THEN ON MAY 30TH, BOHEMIA MANOR WILL BE AT BOHEMIA MANOR IN THE MORNING.

AND THEN STARTING AT 12:30, WE WILL HAVE THREE IN A ROW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE, NORTHEAST RISING SUN, PERRYVILLE IN THAT ORDER. IT WILL BE A LONG DAY FOR US.

AND THEN ON JUNE 1ST, WHICH I BELIEVE IT'S THE MONDAY, RIGHT? ELKTON HIGH SCHOOL'S GRADUATION AT THE BOB CARPENTER CENTER AS WELL.

AND THEN JUNE 10TH, RIGHT BACK HERE FOR ANOTHER BOARD OF ED MEETING.

[01:15:01]

AND THAT, MR. DAVIS, IS ALL I HAVE. OKAY. SEEING THAT WE'RE AT THE END OF THE AGENDA, WE WILL ADJOURN THE MEETING.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.