>> MARK, ARE WE READY? ALL RIGHT.
[00:00:04]
WELCOME, EVERYONE. WHAT MONTH IS THIS?[1. Opening Items]
MAY? JUNE?>> MAY BOARD WORK SESSION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ALSO, WE HAVE SOME SPECIAL ACTIVITY RECOGNITIONS TODAY, BUT LET'S GET STARTED WITH THE NEED TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER. DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> SECONDED BY MS. DIGIACOMO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE IN OPEN SESSION.
LET'S PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
WE USUALLY HAVE JUST A SHORT WORK SESSION AGENDA, SOMETHING TO DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO OUTSIDE OF OUR NORMAL BOARD MEETING, AND TODAY THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ESMEC BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
BUT WITH THE TRANSITIONS OF GRADUATION, WE'VE BUMPED OUR JUNE BOARD MEETING BACK.
IT'S GOING TO BE AFTER GRADUATION FOR BOTH NORTH CAROLINE AND COLONEL.
WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE LIVE RECOGNITIONS IN OVER A YEAR LIKE WE SAID.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT VIRTUAL ONES, BUT THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.
WE'VE ADDED A RECOGNITION FOR ASPIRING TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP, WHICH IS A BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP TO AN INSPIRING TEACHER FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, TEACHERS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE'VE ADDED THAT TO THE AGENDA TONIGHT SO WE COULD GET IT TO THEM, MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN PUBLIC IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY BEFORE GRADUATION, AND TRY TO GIVE IT THE IMPORTANCE AND THE WEIGHT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT IT DESERVES.
WITH THAT, WE ADDED THAT TO THE AGENDA.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED?
>> SECONDED BY MS. WAYMAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[2. Recognitions]
>> NOW LET'S JUST MOVE ON TO THE RECOGNITION WHICH I JUST TALKED ABOUT A LITTLE BIT, [NOISE] MAYBE OUT OF TURN.
BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE SEEING PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
I THINK WE'VE ALL ENJOYED EACH OTHER'S COMPANY IN COMMUNITIES AS WE FELT COMFORTABLE.
BUT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A BOARD THAT'S TRYING TO DO BUSINESS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT'S STILL PEOPLE BUSINESS.
WE LIKE INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE, AND IT REALLY IS PEOPLE BUSINESS BECAUSE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE'RE GIVING SCHOLARSHIPS TO OUR YOUTH WHO ARE GRADUATING AND MOVING OUT OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL, WHO WANT TO COME BACK AND WORK FOR OUR SYSTEM.
I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD SINCE 2006 AND QUICKLY LEARNED THAT IT'S A PEOPLE BUSINESS.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR BUDGET GOES TO THE PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE, AND INSTRUCT OUR KIDS, AS WELL AS FEED THEM AND GET THEM BACK TO SCHOOL.
REGULARLY, EVERY YEAR, I KNOW JUST FROM TURNOVER, RETIREMENTS, AND PEOPLE MOVING TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE THEY MAYBE GREW UP OR GOT MARRIED AND MOVING, WE'D HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 20 TO 30 TO 60 TEACHER HIRINGS EVERY YEAR, PRETTY CONSISTENTLY IN THAT RANGE, ANYWHERE FROM 20-60, JUST DEPENDING ON THE RATE.
IT'S ALWAYS HARD. YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO START OVER.
I KNOW MANY OF OUR KIDS WENT THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE A TEACHER MIGHT EVEN LEAVE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR FOR SOME REASON, AND YOU HAVE TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
THOSE KIDS ARE THERE IN THE SCHOOLS TO BE EDUCATED.
I'LL HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT, I BELIEVE, BACK.
IT DID START FROM A PREVIOUS BOARD THAT MR. BOB OBER WAS PART OF, AND IT WAS ABOUT INVESTING IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THERE'S STUDENTS WHO WERE BORN AND RAISED IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHO MORE THAN LIKELY WANTED TO COME BACK TO CAROLINE COUNTY AND HAD A PASSION FOR TEACHING, AND KNEW THAT, WITH A LITTLE HELP, IF THAT HELPED THEM IN COLLEGE, THEY'D COME BACK AND BE A GREAT ASSET TO OUR SYSTEM.
WITH THAT, THE BOARD SCHOLARSHIP WAS CREATED, AND ONE WAS GIVEN EACH YEAR ANNUALLY TO COLONEL AND ONE EACH YEAR ANNUALLY TO NORTH CAROLINE.
JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE ADDED THE THIRD ONE TO MAKE SURE WE BETTER REPRESENTED ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
NOW I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE'VE GOT THREE GREAT APPLICANTS WHO WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO AWARD THIS YEAR.
WITH THAT LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR. SIMMONS.
THANK YOU, MR. NEWCOMB. IT REALLY DOES BRING ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TONIGHT WITH THREE AMAZING GRADUATING SENIORS WHO
[00:05:01]
HAVE FULFILLED NOT ONLY THEIR MISSION- OR WORKING THROUGH IT, I GUESS YOU HAVE A FEW MORE DAYS LEFT TO FINISH FULFILLING THAT MISSION OF YOUR WORK HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH HIGH AND COLONEL HIGH.BUT WHEN WE MET AS A SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE, AND MS. DIGIACOMO AND MS. WAYMAN WERE PART OF THAT AS WELL, WE HAD SOME REALLY STRONG, OUTSTANDING CANDIDATES, AND IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE NUMBER OF KIDS THAT WANT TO GET AN EDUCATION.
WE HAVE SOME OTHER EDUCATORS HERE AS WELL.
KNOW THE JOYS THAT COMES WITH BEING IN THE FIELD, ALSO KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST IN IT.
BUT IT TAKES DEDICATED, GREAT PEOPLE WITH A GOOD MORAL COMPASS, GOOD ETHICS, AND A STRONG DESIRE TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT THE THREE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT TRULY EXEMPLIFY THAT.
NOT ONLY HAVE YOU DONE WHAT YOU NEEDED TO IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU'VE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM AS WELL TO GIVE BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, NOT JUST WITHIN THE FOUR WALLS OF THE BUILDING, BUT ALL OVER THE COUNTY, THAT REALLY WAS EXCITING AND REALLY EXEMPLIFIES WHAT WE HOPE TO FIND IN TEACHING STAFF AS WE GO TO HIRE.
IT DOES BRING ME GREAT PLEASURE, THE BOARD DOES, TO PRESENT THIS YEAR $5,000 SCHOLARSHIPS, THE RENEWABLES, $5,000 A YEAR PER YEAR FOR FOUR YEARS, RENEWABLE UP TO THE FOUR YEARS, TO MADISON KNEPPER.
MADISON, YOU CAN STAND. [APPLAUSE] ZALIMA DELACRUZ MARTINEZ.
JUST SO THAT EVERYONE IS AWARE, THE BOARD IS AWARE, COVERING THE RANGE, MADISON IS LOOKING TO GET INTO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SPEECH PATHOLOGY, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE, AN AMAZING SHORTCOMING THERE WITH STAFFING COMING OUT OF COLLEGES, REALLY HIGH NEED FOR US.
ZALIMA, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AS WELL, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE AREA TO GET INTO, AND ETHAN AS WELL WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
AGAIN, MALES IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ARE VERY HARD TO FIND AS WELL.
ALL OF YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY CHOSEN VERY WISELY AND WE ARE THRILLED.
THE THREE OF YOU, IF YOU COULD JOIN US UP HERE AGAIN.
WE'RE GETTING OUR RHYTHM BACK FOR WHAT THIS IS LIKE.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE UP HERE FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, I'M CONFIDENT.
[OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND] IF EVERYBODY IS COMFORTABLE, I DON'T WANT TO FORCE ANYBODY TO DO WHAT THEY DON'T LIKE, BUT I'D LIKE A PICTURE WITHOUT MASKS.
WE'LL DO IT IN 30 SECONDS, UNLESS SOMEONE'S UNCOMFORTABLE.
[BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] BEFORE THE RECIPIENTS DO LEAVE, MS. RACHEL [INAUDIBLE] HAS AN ENVELOPE THAT HAS THE LETTER AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP IN IT.
SPEAKING TO THE PARENTS AT THIS POINT, AND OTHERS, THERE'S SHORT INFORMATION THERE FOR FILLING OUT, FOR ACCEPTING THE SCHOLARSHIP, AND HOW THE SCHOLARSHIP WOULD WORK.
THERE IS A MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITY IF [INAUDIBLE] NEED THAT WITH COLLEGE, WE DO WORK WITH TO TRY TO TRACK YOU ALONG THE PROCESS.
WE WANT TO SEE YOU [INAUDIBLE] TIME, WE WANT YOU TO APPLY HERE, AND IT'S MY DESIRE TO SEE YOU COME BACK AND, HOPEFULLY, ME BEING IN THE POSITION TO OFFER YOU THAT EMPLOYMENT FOUR YEARS FROM NOW.
COME BACK [INAUDIBLE] CAROLINE.
ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH.
[00:10:06]
>> DR. SIMMONS GAVE US A LITTLE HEADS UP, I GUESS, ABOUT YOUR AREAS OF STUDY.
I DON'T THINK WE SAID WHERE THEY WERE GOING, DID WE?
>> IF YOU KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING OR YOU'RE TORN BETWEEN TWO OR THREE OR 10 RIGHT NOW, [LAUGHTER] IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE WHERE YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING, AND AGAIN, MAYBE A LITTLE TIDBIT ABOUT WHY YOU WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
>> I'M GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] AND IT'S AFFORDABLE, INEXPENSIVE.
>> I'M GOING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND [INAUDIBLE].
>> I'M GOING TO [INAUDIBLE] COLLEGE TO PLAY FOOTBALL [INAUDIBLE].
>> IT GETS COMPLICATED AFTER THAT.
>> NO. THE KINDERGARTEN'S NOT COMPLICATED.
BUT IT'S JUST EVERY YEAR, I'M SURE [LAUGHTER] MORE THINGS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THREE OF YOU AND GOOD LUCK AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN.
WE GOT SPORTS HERE, JUST LIKE YOUR SCHOOLS DO, BECAUSE WE NEED GOOD PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND PARTICIPATE IN OUR SYSTEM AND OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THREE OF YOU WILL DO THAT.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU, GUYS VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY FOR THE REMAINING PRESENTATIONS AND WHAT HAVE NOT BEEN.
MOST PEOPLE HARDLY EVER TAKE US UP ON THAT ALL.
THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE LEAVING ALREADY. [LAUGHTER]
>> THEY'LL STILL GET THE SCHOLARSHIP.
>> THANK YOU. YES. THANK YOU. YEAH.
>> TELL BETH (PHONETIC) I SAID HELLO.
>> HELLO, THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND]
>> [INAUDIBLE] I'M GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN.
>> YEAH, RIGHT. GIVING AWAY MONEY.
>> RECOGNIZE THE KIDS. YEAH. GIVING AWAY MONEY AND YEAH.
THANK YOU ALL, FOR THOSE WHO HELP PULL THAT TOGETHER.
IT IS DIFFERENT, ARE ALL TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT WERE USED TO DO.
ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, I GUESS WE JUST GOT TO
[3. Report]
MARK PRESENTATION DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM.>> YEAH. MS. MCCORMICK WILL BE LEADING US THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
BUT JUST TO GIVE A VERY SHORT BACKSTORY SO I DON'T DIG INTO WHAT LINDSAY HAS PUT THERE.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE SAID NO ONE'S GOING TO COME, YOU WEREN'T ON THE BOARD AT THE TIME.
WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT LAST YEAR, TOWARDS THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OF 2020, THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND EDUCATIONAL CONSORTIUM, ASMAC, APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT FROM MSD, IS A $1 MILLION GRANT FOR THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND TO PILOT A VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS.
IT TRULY HAS TAKEN THIS LONG TO PARSE THROUGH ALL OF THE NUANCES AND COMPONENTS OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO LAUNCH A VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
MS. MCCORMICK IS HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE SOME OF THE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, AND WHERE WE'LL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS THAT AGAIN, THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE WE WORKING ON IS A PILOT.
MSDE WILL BE TRACKING HOW STUDENTS ARE DOING AND REALLY FOLLOWING THAT GRANT PIECE, TO SEE IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REPLICATED MORE IN THE FUTURE AS A WAY THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS, NOT ONLY US WORKING TOGETHER ON IT, BUT ALSO WHAT THAT BLENDED VIRTUAL MODEL COULD LOOK LIKE FOR SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE FUTURE.
WITH THAT, TRIED TO STEP ON WHAT YOU HAD THERE.
GOOD EVENING, PRESENT AND NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I DO FIRST WANT TO SAY, AS DR. SIMMONS SAID, THIS IS A NEW INITIATIVE AND WE ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT AND ESTABLISHING EVERY ASPECT OF IT.
SO IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS THIS EVENING, I MAY NOT HAVE EVERY SINGLE ANSWER AT THIS MOMENT, BUT IT WILL GUIDE ME IN WHAT I KNOW I NEED TO DO AND TO FIND OUT.
FIRST I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM, WHAT EXACTLY DOES BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM MEAN? BY MSDE, THEIR DEFINITION OF BLENDED MEANS THAT THERE IS A MINIMUM OF 20 PERCENT SYNCHRONOUS INSTRUCTION.
SO SYNCHRONOUS IS THAT LIVE INSTRUCTION WITH A TEACHER.
VIRTUAL IS THAT ALL COURSEWORK WILL BE ONLINE..
[00:15:01]
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE CALL THIS A PROGRAM AND NOT A SCHOOL.BECAUSE THROUGH MSDE, THERE ARE VERY DIFFERENT REGULATIONS AS IT RELATES TO OPENING A NEW SCHOOL.
SO THIS IS SIMPLY A PROGRAM WITHIN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NO DIFFERENT TRULY THAN A CAREER IN TECH EDUCATION PROGRAM.
PLEASE FEEL FREE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AS MS. MCCORMICK WAS EXPLAINING THE BLENDED PIECE.
THE 20 PERCENT WILL IN MSDE'S REGULATIONS THAT'S ESTABLISHED THROUGH CHROME ARE FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING.
IF IT'S LESS THAN 80 PERCENT ONLINE, THAT SYNCHRONOUS PIECE OF BEING AT LEAST 20 PERCENT IS HOW IT'S INCLUDED AS A BLENDED VIRTUAL OPTION, AS OPPOSED TO A TOTALLY ONLINE.
IF YOU GO TOTALLY ONLINE, NOT JUST THAT, THIS SCHOOL PIECE REQUIRE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL COMPONENTS.
IF IT IS GREATER THAN 80 PERCENT ONLINE WITHOUT THAT Y OF TEACHER INTERACTION, THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT LIFT YOU HAVE TO DO, TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE MEETING EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO.
SO THOSE TWO COMPONENTS COMBINED TOGETHER HELP US LEND TO A BLENDED VIRTUAL MODEL AS OPPOSED TO A STRAIGHT UP [BACKGROUND] GO ONLINE ON YOUR COMPUTER AND DO IT ALL THERE WITHOUT TEACHER INTERACTION.
>> THROUGHOUT TONIGHT I WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION AS THE SLIDES GO ON HAVING TO DO WITH TIMES AND SAMPLE SCHEDULES AND MORE SPECIFICS AROUND THAT AS WELL.
SO OBVIOUSLY, A PROGRAM PLAN, WE HAVE OUR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
THE EASTERN SHORE NINE COUNTIES CAME TOGETHER AND REALLY LOOKED AT VARIOUS PLATFORMS AND PROGRAMS FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE, AS WELL AS SIXTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
ASMAC, AS A CONSORTIUM GROUP, COULD NOT COME UP WITH A SINGLE SOUL, CARTER FIVE PLATFORM PROVIDER THAT WAS GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS.
AT THIS POINT, CAROLINE COUNTY IS TRULY GAUGING WHERE IS OUR INTEREST AND WE'RE DETERMINING, DO WE EVEN HAVE A NEED FOR A VIRTUAL PROGRAM IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.
>> KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.
I APOLOGIZE. SO DO WE REALLY NEED THAT? AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING, WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT WE WOULD BE GOING A 180 DAYS, FIVE DAYS A WEEK NEXT YEAR, A NEWS RELEASE WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING.
IN THAT NEWS RELEASE IT HAD INFORMATION SAYING, "IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE E-MAIL", AND IT WAS BVP@CCPSSTAFF.ORG.
TO DATE, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS ON MORE INFORMATION FROM ELEMENTARY.
WE HAVE RECEIVED REQUESTS FOR MORE INFORMATION ON SECONDARY.
BUT THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE'RE GAUGING, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE? I DO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING NEXT WEEK WITH ASMAC NINE, WHERE THE FOCUS WILL BE ELEMENTARY AND ACROSS THE EASTERN SHORE, COUNTIES ARE DOING VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.
SOME ARE LOOKING AT JUST THREE TO FIVE.
SOME ARE LOOKING AT K TO FIVE.
SOME HAVE SAID, "WE REALLY LIKE CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST GAUGING OUR INTEREST." SO TONIGHT IS PRIMARILY GOING TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE DO KNOW WRAPPED AROUND OUR SECONDARY SIXTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
THE ASMAC CONSORTIUM DID COME TOGETHER AND CHOSE APEX LEARNING AS THE PLATFORM FOR THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
WITH THAT, APEX WILL BE PROVIDING MARYLAND CERTIFIED TEACHERS FOR ALL OF THE COURSES BEING TAUGHT.
>> SO LINDSAY HELP IF YOU DON'T MIND?
>> I WAS OUR POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE ASMAC BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM WORK PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT, AND LINDSAY HAS PICKED UP UP FROM THERE.
MY ROLE LARGELY AT THAT POINT IN TIME I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS.
THE ASMAC CONSORTIUM DID PUT OUT TO BID AND SOUGHT PROPOSALS FOR K-12 OPTIONS, AS WELL AS IF ANYBODY DID JUST AN ELEMENTARY OR JUST A SECONDARY.
WE SOUGHT BIDS, WE WENT THROUGH THE BID PROCESS.
ALL NINE COUNTIES REVIEWED EVERY RFP.
EACH ONE WAS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 400 PAGES.
SCORED ALL THE RFPS, PROVIDED THE FEEDBACK.
WE HAD INTERVIEW SESSIONS WITH EACH PROVIDER WHERE THEY WALKED THROUGH ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE PROCESS.
APEX WAS THE SELECTION ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL NINE.
[00:20:04]
FOR THOSE WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE, APEX IS OUR PROVIDER FOR OUR CREDIT RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT WE UTILIZE AT HIGH SCHOOL, BUT IT'S NOT THE SAME PROGRAM.APEX CREDIT RECOVERY IS A PROGRAM THAT WE USE JUST FOR THAT, FOR CREDIT RECOVERY, IT DOES NOT HAVE A SYNCHRONOUS OPTION.
WE HAVE OUR TEACHERS WHO WORK WITH KIDS THAT HELP THEM ON THE CREDIT RECOVERY COMPONENT.
IT IS TRULY JUST A CREDIT RECOVERY OPTION.
APEX LEARNING, THIS PROGRAM IS FOR APEX VIRTUAL LEARNING PROGRAM, WHICH IS EXTREMELY ROBUST, MUCH MORE INTENSIVE PROGRAM THAT TRULY DOES HAVE MARYLAND CERTIFIED TEACHERS.
MULTIPLE LAYERS OF INTERACTION WITHIN THE CURRICULUM.
OUR CURRICULAR FOLKS REVIEWED SOME OF THE CURRICULUM OF IT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE IT WAS MEETING STATE STANDARDS.
THEIR HIGH SCHOOL COURSES HAVE ALL BEEN APPROVED THROUGH MSDE, WHICH WAS ALL SOMETHING THAT WAS APPEALING TO US BECAUSE THEY'VE DONE THE HOMEWORK TO GO THROUGH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE CREDIT BEARING COURSES APPROVED ALREADY, WHICH CAN BE A HASSLE WITH THE A VENDORS WHO DON'T.
THEN YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE EVERY INDIVIDUAL COURSE THROUGH THE PROCESS WITH MSDE TO GET IT DONE.
THEY HAD ALREADY MET THAT STANDARD AND IT WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THEM.
WHEN MSDE CHANGED A FEW STANDARDS, THEY HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS WITH MSDE FOR BRINGING THEIR WEBSITE UP TO ACCOUNTABLE OR ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES.
STAYING ON TOP OF ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
THEY'D BEEN A VERY RESPONSIVE VENDOR FOR DOING THAT, WHICH AGAIN HELPED WITH THAT APPEAL GOING WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN STAYING ON TOP OF THEIR GAME TO PROVIDE A REALLY GOOD PROGRAM.
>> ARE THEY NEW AT THIS POINT IN VIRTUAL PROGRAM?
>> NO. IT'S OVER 20 YEARS, I'D HAVE TO GO DIG IN FURTHER.
APEX HAD AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE DID TALK TO THEM AND SAID, "OKAY, YOU GOT SIX TO 12.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH ELEMENTARY?" THEIR EXPLANATION WAS, LOOK, OUR MODEL, AS A BUSINESS, WE DECIDED YEARS AGO, WE CAN EITHER PUT ALL OF HER EFFORTS INTO BEING A REALLY GREAT PROVIDERS SIX TO 12, AND PUT EVERYTHING INTO THAT BOAT OR WE CAN TRY TO COVER THE FULL GAME IN SIX TO 12.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE AND SOME OF YOU, TAUGHT HIGH SCHOOL, YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED ELEMENTARY AS WELL.
THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY IN TERMS OF SKILL SET, IN TERMS OF TEACHING STRATEGIES, IN TERMS OF ATTENTION SPANS AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND JUST NEED OF MATURITY OF STUDENTS.
THEY MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO STICK WITH A SIX TO 12 MODEL.
THE K TO FIVE MODEL, THAT WAS THE PROBLEM.
LOOKING AT SOME OF THE VENDORS IS HOW DO YOU KEEP A LITTLE GUY REALLY ATTENTIVE, STICKING TO A FULL DAY SCHEDULE WHICH IN A LENGTHY, WE'LL GET INTO, WHAT THE SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE, BUT IT HAS TO REPLICATE THE SCHOOL DAY.
TO BE PART OF THE VIRTUAL MODEL THE MSD WOULD APPROVE, IT'S GOT TO BE A SCHOOL DAY MODEL.
>> YOU PROBABLY NEED, AND I'M SAYING PROBABLY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, BUT PROBABLY WITH THE YOUNGER ONES, YOU NEED MORE PARENT ENGAGEMENT?
>> WE HAVE THOSE HOMESCHOOL PARAMETERS.
THE STATE AND COUNTY, WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOMESCHOOLING.
TO ANSWER DONALD'S QUESTION, HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THROUGH.
I MEAN, I'VE SAT THROUGH SOME APEX TRAINING.
I'VE BROUGHT SOME THINGS FROM MSBA.
I'VE SEEN THROUGH THINGS AND WHEN YOU GO TO THE NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND BESIDES GOING TO THE INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS, AND MISS BURY MIGHT'VE SEEN THEM THERE TOO, YOU CAN GO INTO THE VENDOR BOOTHS AND WALK AROUND AND SOME OF THEM HAVE LITTLE 10 MINUTE INTRODUCTIONS AND YOU CAN PICK UP SOME MATERIAL.
I THINK I'VE BROUGHT SOME BACK.
YOU COULD LOOK UP WHAT STATE YOU'RE FROM AND WHAT TOPICS THEY COVER.
I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO SEEING, OH WHAT'S THIS? BUT YOU SAID WE'VE BEEN USING THEM FOR-.
>> WE'VE BEEN USING THEM FOR CREDIT RECOVERY FOR PROBABLY AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY SIX YEARS.
>> WITHIN ONE OF MY FIRST YEARS IN STUDENT SERVICES, WE MADE THE SHIFT BECAUSE THE OTHER VENDOR WE WERE USING AT THE TIME JUST WASN'T CUTTING THE MUSTARD OF WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE AND APEX REALLY DID THAT.
OF COURSE, IT WAS ALIGNED TO STATE STANDARDS, WHICH WAS FANTASTIC FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE WERE DOING.
>> NOW, I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS YOU MAY ANSWER THEM.
LET ME ASK YOU SO I DON'T FORGET.
>> K THROUGH FIVE. DO WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW THAT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING INTO THAT THROUGH THIS.
BUT I WILL SAY WE HAVE HAD LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS AROUND K TO FIVE, AS WELL AS K TO TWO, AND THREE TO FIVE.
IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE,
[00:25:02]
YOU'RE TRULY TEACHING A CHILD TO READ.>> THAT IS CHALLENGING IN A VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, AND SOCIALIZATION AND ALL THOSE OTHER SKILLS THAT WE KNOW OF AS BEING SO IMPORTANT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD.
WE HAVE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AGAIN, I HAVE HAD NO INTEREST FROM FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.
THREE TO FIVE, ONCE A CHILD HAS LEARNED TO READ, HAS SOME OF THOSE SOCIALIZATION SKILLS ALREADY, WE SEE THAT THAT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
ALTHOUGH IT'S STILL CHALLENGING, AND AS MR. NEWCOMB SAID, STILL NEEDING VERY MUCH PARENT OR SOME ADULT SUPPORT IN THAT REALM.
>> YEAH. IT'S NOT OUR PREFERENCE TO OR NOT MY PREFERENCE TO.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MAGIC NUMBER IS, BUT IF WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARENTS GOING I'M NOT BRINGING MY KIDS BACK FOR WHATEVER REASON, AND WE START PEELING THE LAYERS BACK AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THEN WE START LOOKING AT IF WE HAVE THE OPTION.
WHAT WE'VE REALLY TRIED TO SAY IS, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO BUILDING A MODEL, [OVERLAPPING] THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO IMPLEMENT.
>> SOME OF THE OPTIONS THAT I WILL JUST SAY THAT ARE ON THE TABLE IS SOME OF THE OTHER [INAUDIBLE] HAVE CHOSEN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A K TO FIVE OR A THREE TO FIVE MODEL, HAVE SAID THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH THEM.
IF THEY HAVE ONE TEACHER TEACHING EACH GRADE, THAT IF WE HAD ONE OR TWO STUDENTS, WE COULD POTENTIALLY PURCHASE A SEAT THROUGH THEM AND PARTNER WITH THEM.
THAT IS AN OPTION THAT IS ON THE TABLE, IF WE DO HAVE A SELECT FEW.
AGAIN, I'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT NEXT WEEK.
>> OKAY, THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I CAN IMAGINE THAT THERE MAY BE THREE OR FOUR WHO ONCE THEY GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS, ARE GOING TO BE INTERESTED IN IT.
IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE NEED OF A FAMILY AND A FAMILY HAS CHILDREN AT VARIOUS LEVELS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
THEY MIGHT HAVE A 4TH GRADER AND A 7TH GRADER.
WELL, WE HAVE THAT 7TH GRADE OPTION.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER THERE.
>> THE OTHER COUNTIES HAD BEEN VERY HELPFUL AS WE'RE TRYING TO PARSE THE SENTENCE.
NOBODY'S SITTING ON LOTS OF STUFF SITTING OUT THERE.
>> THAT'S A VALID. THE REALITY IS, ONCE YOU GO TO THIS, I MEAN, YOU COULD HAVE A CLASS WITH ONE STUDENT IN EVERY COUNTY ON THE SHORE AND TOUCANS FROM EVERY COUNTY ON THE SHORE FOR ONE CLASS, WHETHER IT'S 3RD GRADE OR 12TH GRADE.
THAT'S THE DYNAMIC OF IT, THAT TEACHER IS THERE.
I DON'T KNOW, GO AHEAD DAN, I'LL HAVE TO SIDE TRACK FOR MORE QUESTION.
>> THE VENDOR OPTION GIVES US THAT THROUGH APEX, BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING THE BURDEN THEN PROVIDING THE STAFF, WHICH MAKES IT SO MUCH NICER AS OPPOSED TO US TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I ALLEVIATE TEACHER'S BURDEN IN ONE PLACE TO TRY TO PULL THEM TO PROVIDE FOR.
>> AGAIN, I DON'T WANT [INAUDIBLE] BUT THE OTHER DYNAMIC OF THAT IS TWO DOES WITH VIRTUAL AND 20 PERCENT BEING WITH THE TEACHER OR MORE-
>> IS ACCEPTABLE CLASS SIZE INCREASE?
>> I MEAN, BECAUSE THE TIME THE TEACHER HAS, THE PRESENTING TO THE GROUP AND THEN THEY GOT TO BREAK DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> AGAIN, WITH THAT, THERE ARE OPTIONS, IF IT'S 20 PERCENT SYNCHRONOUS, IS THERE ONE TEACHER THAT COULD DO MULTIPLE GRADE LEVELS AND THEIR WHOLE DAY IS 20, THIS GRADE LEVEL AND THEN THIS GRADE LEVEL? WE ARE CONSIDERING ALL OPTIONS THERE.
>> I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS TOO BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE ANSWERED THEM WHEN YOU GO THROUGH PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW.
>> ASK THEM, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ANSWER JUST STATE IT WILL BE THERE.
>> OKAY. LET'S SAY SOMEBODY'S VIRTUAL, AND THEY REALIZE, NO, WANT TO GO BACK IN SCHOOL, IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE?
>> IT'S IN HERE, BUT I WILL ANSWER IT.
THERE IS AN AGREEMENT THAT THE FAMILY WILL HAVE TO SIGN.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE MONITORING THOSE CHILDREN WEEKLY WITH GRADES AND ATTENDANCE.
IF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SEES THAT THERE IS A CONCERN, AND THAT THAT STUDENT IS NOT BEING SUCCESSFUL, WE ABSOLUTELY WILL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TO HAVE THAT CHILD COME BACK IN.
IF THE CHILD IS BEING SUCCESSFUL, AND WE REALLY DO WANT A YEAR COMMITMENT.
>> THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.
TWO MORE [LAUGHTER] ELECTIVES.
[00:30:03]
>> ACTUALLY, YOU'LL BE GOING OVER THE COURSE LISTING, CORRECT?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE GOT THEM ALL SPECIFICALLY IN HERE BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.
>> THAT'S FINE. THEN HOW DO YOU QUALIFY FOR THAT?
>> BUT I'M MAKING NOTE JUST SO I [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO MAKE SURE WE DO [LAUGHTER].
>> IF I'D ONLY ASKED IT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S RIGHT. NOW I HAVE IT ON MY NOTES.
>> YEAH. MINE CAN COME AT THE END.
>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] BUT ONE IMPORTANT THING, AND YOU CAN STAY ON THIS SLIDE, BUT ONE IMPORTANT THING IS IN ORDER TO BE A PART OF THIS BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM, YOU ARE AN ENROLLED CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
WITH THAT, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULARS IN SPORTS.
YOU WILL EARN A MARYLAND DIPLOMA AND BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN GRADUATION AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
A HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF THOSE SAME OPPORTUNITIES, BUT WITH BEING A BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM STUDENT, YOU ARE A CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT FIRST.
THIS JUST SIMPLY SHOWS THAT THE GOAL OF THE HAZMAT GROUP IS TO HAVE APPROXIMATELY 300 STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE NINE DISTRICTS.
IT WAS BROKEN OUT BY POPULATION AND HOW MANY SLOTS THAT EACH COUNTY WOULD BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE GRANT FROM MSDE FUNDING.
HOWEVER, COUNTIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN, SAY WE HAVE MORE THAN 13 OR 14 STUDENT ALLOTMENT, WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE MORE SEATS AT THE NEGOTIATED PRICE PER STUDENT.
>> NOW THAT PIECE, JUST TO DRAW THE LINE FOR BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THE UNDERSTANDING ONE THAT.
OUR FUNDING COMES FROM PER PUPIL ALLOTMENT.
SO THEY ARE ENROLLED CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT BEING IN THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM.
THEY ARE STILL INCLUDED IN OUR SEPTEMBER 30 CAMP.
>> IT'S LIKE YOU GET FULL CREDIT?
>> YES. THEY ARE FULLY ENROLLED STUDENT.
IT ALLOWS US TO MAINTAIN OUR ENROLLMENT FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED, WHO JUST CHOOSES OPTION FOR ANY STUDENTS WHO MAY BE ON A HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM WHO OPTS TO ENROLL IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENT.
THEY THEN BECOME A CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
SO THEY'RE ADDED INTO OUR SEPTEMBER 30 CAMP.
>> I SEE THAT AS POTENTIALLY AN ANSWER.
AGAIN, FOR THE OLDER KIDS WITH THE FAMILY AND THE PARENTS WERE VERY ADEPT.
AT THE YOUNGER AGE, LET THEM TOO, BESIDES THE EDUCATION, THEY ALSO WANT THE ACTIVITIES BECAUSE WE'VE HAD THESE REQUESTS A LOT.
>> ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE HOME SCHOOL.
>> HOMESCHOOL IS ONE OF THOSE THAT, CURRENT RULES IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH A HOMESCHOOL, YOU ACTUALLY CANNOT EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, YOU EARN A GED.
WHICH IS ALSO A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, IT'S A GRADUATION EQUIVALENCY.
BUT CURRENTLY YOU CAN ONLY EARN GED.
THIS WOULD ALLOW A HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS TO BURN AN ACTUAL HIGH-SCHOOL DIPLOMA AS OPPOSED TO THE GED OPTION AS WELL.
WE SEE THAT BEING A POINT THAT WILL PROBABLY BE APPEALING TO SOME OF OUR HOME SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, POTENTIALLY.
>> IT IS BUT WILL SEE IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH. IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, THEN WE HAVE THE OPTION.
AGAIN, IF APPROVED, THIS COULD BE AN OPTION FOR US INTO THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE BLENDING THE VIRTUAL WHERE THAT ALLOTMENT, THAT AGREED UPON PRICE WOULD BE THE PRICE THAT WE THEN WOULD PAY THE VENDOR OURSELVES TO MAINTAIN THE SEATS.
IF WE HAVE X NUMBER OF KIDS ENROLL, YOU PAY THAT TIMES THE NUMBER OF KIDS YOU HAVE FOR THE SEAT, WHICH IS PARTLY WHY AS A FORMER CHAIR, THE CONCEPT OF WE WANT THAT ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT.
WE'RE PAYING FOR THE SEAT AND THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IF YOU DON'T START THE YEAR IN, YOU CAN'T JUST TWO MONTHS IN AND GO, "I'M GOING ON VIRTUAL AT THIS POINT." WE DON'T HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO BOUNCE IN AND OUT BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN SEATS.
IT'S EASIER TO COME OUT OF THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING FOR IT.
BUT YOU CAN'T THROW SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE SPOT THERE BECAUSE THOSE TEACHERS, THAT PROGRAM, EVERYTHING IS ALREADY MOVING ALONG WITH THE PACING THEY NEED TO.
>> ARE THERE CHANCES FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THAT? THINKING OF A STUDENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE A MEDICAL ISSUE THAT OCCURS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AN INJURY OR SOMETHING ELSE BUT THEY REALLY CAN'T.
THEY GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME, THE ABILITY WISE GETTING TO SCHOOL.
>> WE HAVE A SEPARATE PROGRAM THROUGH STUDENT SERVICES, HOME HOSPITAL TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS THAT IF A STUDENT QUALIFIES, A MEDICAL DOCTOR OR A PSYCHIATRIST CAN SIGN OFF ON PAPERWORK AND THE STUDENT NEEDS TO BE HOME.
[00:35:04]
IT'S FOR UP TO 60 DAYS.IT'S RENEWABLE THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOW, AND A FEW YEARS AGO WE ADDED A FEW ROBOTS. IT'S PRETTY NEAT.
THROUGH OUR GRANT OPTION FOR STUDENTS WHO WERE ABLE TO STILL ACCESS.
WE HAVE BEEN SENDING TEACHERS INTO THEIR HOME, BUT TO BE HONEST MR. MARTIN, WITH TECHNOLOGY WHERE IT IS, AND OUR COMFORT WITH ZOOM AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
WE COULD OPEN UP OTHER OPTIONS.
>> BUT YOU COULD STILL TAKE CARE OF THEM, MAYBE NOT THROUGH THIS.
>> NOT THROUGH THIS BUT THROUGH THE REGULAR TEACHING BECAUSE ODDS ARE THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT FOR A DURATION AND THEN COME BACK.
BUT THERE'S OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN HAVE THOSE TOUCH POINTS AS WELL.
>> I KNEW YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ACCOMMODATE, BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE PLUG IT INTO THIS, BUT YOU KIND OF COMMITTING TO A CERTAIN NUMBER?
>> [OVERLAPPING] ADDING [INAUDIBLE] I LIKE THAT.
>> BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT SLIDE NUMBER 4.
>> YOUR GOAL IS 300 STUDENTS FOR THE TOTAL NINE COUNTIES, I THINK IT IS.
>> WHY DID WE HAVE 140-160 ON HERE FOR TOTAL?
>> THAT IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SLOTS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE GRANT.
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION, I APOLOGIZE.
THROUGH THE GRANT FUNDING, WE ARE A LOT OF THE 13 OR 14 SLOTS, SO THE TOTAL OF THE ALLOTTED SLOTS THAT ARE PREPAID FOR THROUGH THE GRANT WOULD BE THAT A 160.
THE GOAL IS THAT AS MARK WOULD BRING ON MORE AND PAY THAT NEGOTIATED PRICE TO HAVE A GOAL OF AROUND 300 STUDENTS.
>> A LITTLE BIT INTO THE SCHEDULES.
THERE WILL BE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE FOR BOTH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL COMING UP.
BUT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, IT HAS BEEN AGREED UPON THAT IT WILL BE THE TRADITIONAL CAROLINE COUNTIES TRADITIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE OF YEAR-LONG CLASSES.
JUST LIKE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF OUR ACCELERATED STUDENTS TO TAKE ALGEBRA 1 OR SPANISH 1 IN THEIR EIGHTH GRADE YEAR, THEY WILL STILL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THOSE HIGHER LEVEL CREDITS IF IF APPROVED, JUST LIKE WE WOULD WITHIN TRADITIONAL SCHOOL.
THE ELECTIVES ARE A PART OF IT AND WE'LL SEE A FEW OF THOSE WHEN WE GET INTO THE SAMPLE SCHEDULE.
MIDDLE HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE ON THE BLOCK SCHEDULE LIKE WE ALSO IN CAROLINE COUNTY HAVE.
THE FOUR PERIOD A DAY OPPORTUNITY FOR EIGHT CREDITS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS GOING TO BE THAT THROUGH BDP, AP COURSES ARE GOING TO BE A YEAR LONG.
AP TESTS ARE ALWAYS ADMINISTERED IN THE SPRING AND APEX LEARNING HAS SAID THAT THEY LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE AP COURSE TO BE THROUGH THE FULL SCHOOL YEAR.
THEY ARE ADJUSTING THE SCHEDULE SO THAT STUDENTS STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE EIGHT CLASSES IF THEY ARE TAKING AP.
>> THE JOY THAT YOU'LL COME ACROSS AS WE WORK THROUGH THIS IS WE HAVE NINE DIFFERENT SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH NINE DIFFERENT CALENDARS, PROBABLY FOUR DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULING AMONGST THE NINE SYSTEMS AT LEAST.
I THINK AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT WAYS OF DOING MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULING.
WE'VE HAD TO REACH SOME CONSENSUS ON SOME OF THESE THINGS WERE THE KIDS WILL BE OVERLAPPING TO REACH THOSE AGREEMENTS AND YOU'LL SEE THAT COME UP AGAIN WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THE CALENDAR AS WELL.
>> THIS WAS A SAMPLE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHEDULE.
WHAT YOU SEE IS IN THE MORNING AND ADVISORY TIME WITH A STUDENT'S SUCCESS COORDINATOR.
I'LL SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.
THEN YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION.
THEN YOU SEE IN BLUE SOME CORE CLASSES, ELA, SOCIAL STUDIES, ELECTIVE, MATH, OBVIOUSLY A LUNCH BREAK, AND THEN SOME IN THE EARLY AND AFTERNOON, SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS IN ORANGE.
EVERYTHING THAT IS IN BLUE IS SYNCHRONOUS OPPORTUNITIES WITH A LIVE INSTRUCTOR.
FOUR TO FIVE DAYS PER WEEK AND AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.
BUT 4-5 DAYS A WEEK, THE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE LIVE INSTRUCTION, WHICH WOULD GO THROUGH THAT 20 PERCENT SYNCHRONOUS TIME.
BUT MUCH OF THIS IS ALSO ASYNCHRONOUS WHERE YOU SEE THE ORANGE.
[00:40:06]
WITH BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM, IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO A NORMAL DAY WITH THE TIMING.STUDENTS WILL STILL HAVE ABOUT 6-7 HOURS A DAY OF COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS, WHETHER IT IS DURING THEIR LIVES, SYNCHRONOUS TIME, WHICH IS SHOWN IN BLUE, OR WHETHER IT IS WORKING INDEPENDENTLY ON ASSIGNMENT FOR THEIR ASYNCHRONOUS, WHICH IS SHOWN IN ORANGE.
THAT TIME WITH A STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATOR HAS OPPORTUNITY FOR EITHER WAY MIDDLE SCHOOL OR HIGH SCHOOL.
THAT TIME WITH A STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATOR IS REALLY A TIME FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH A STUDENT.
THEY WILL MEET WITH STUDENTS AT LEAST ONE TIME PER WEEK.
BUT CAN BE MORE OFTEN FOR STUDENTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL TIME WITH THEIR SUCCESS COORDINATOR, OR FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT ON TRACK.
THE STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATORS ROLE IS ALSO GOING TO BE OUTREACH.
SO COMMUNICATION WITH STUDENTS, WITH FAMILIES, AS WELL AS WITH CCPAS AND THE OTHER DISTRICTS, WHEN IT RELATES TO COMMUNICATION WITH TEACHERS, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND ADMINISTRATION.
THE STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATOR ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE BOTH ACADEMIC AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES, WHICH WOULD BE PART OF THE STUDENT'S SUCCESS COORDINATOR'S ROLE AS WELL IN THE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.
>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY VALUABLE THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TUTORING.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO GET TO THAT [OVERLAPPING].
ABSOLUTELY AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT FROM THERE, BUT THAT LIVE TUTORING IS AVAILABLE FROM 8:00 AM TO 8:00 PM, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
IF THEY ARE WORKING AT THEIR ASYNCHRONOUS TIMES IN ORANGE AND HAVE QUESTIONS, THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A LIVE TUTOR.
>> IT IS ALSO BASED ON THEIR MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS.
STUDENTS MUST TAKE PE, STUDENTS MUST HAVE HEALTH.
THOSE REQUIREMENTS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
SINCE THEY ARE CCPS STUDENTS, THOSE MSDE REQUIREMENTS ARE STILL IN PLACE.
THEY WOULD BE TAKING PE AND HEALTH AS WELL AS THE ART AND THE MUSIC, WHICH IS A PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> IN HIGH SCHOOL RIGHT NOW, YOU NEED 24 CREDITS TO GRADUATE?
>> WE'RE GETTING 32 OPPORTUNITIES, IS THAT BASICALLY GOING TO BE THE SAME THING?
>> THE GRADUATION CREDITS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.
LINDSAY, ARE YOU GOING INTO CTE AND THOSE THINGS? IS THAT PART OF [OVERLAPPING] [INAUDIBLE]
>> I DIDN'T THINK SO, [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.
IT WASN'T IN THE NOTES THAT GO INTO ELSEWHERE.
SOME OF OUR ELECTIVES WILL BE OFFERED THROUGH THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM OPTION AND SOME OF THAT IS TIED TO WHICH ELECTIVES MAKE SENSE TO OFFER THROUGH A BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM AND WHICH ONES IN OUR COURSE CATALOG.
AS SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE ON THE BOARD AND SOME OF YOU ARE AWARE THAT LIVING THROUGH IT IN EDUCATION.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS CAREER MAJORS, WHICH IS PATHWAYS THAT HELP PROVIDE SOME GUIDANCE TO OUR KIDS.
THE PATHWAY THAT IS ABLE TO BE COMPLETED THROUGH THIS PROGRAM IS OUR LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR OR NON-CTE IS BASICALLY THE BEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
IT'S MORE OF YOUR TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF A CAREER MAJOR IS WHAT CAN BE COMPLETED THROUGH THIS.
THERE'S NOT A CTE OFFERING AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FLIPPED BY SAYING IT THIS WAY.
BUT COSMETOLOGY BEING DONE THROUGH THE BLENDED VIRTUAL OR CARPENTRY OR THE AUTO TECH PROGRAM BEING DONE THROUGH, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE CREDENTIALING CRITERIA THOUGH.
I DON'T THINK I'D WANT TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S DONE IT ALL VIRTUALLY.
YEAH, IT NEEDS TO BE HANDS-ON.
THIS IS NOT FOR THE STUDENT WHO IS WANTING TO GO TO THE TECH CENTER OR WANTING TO BE IN PROJECT LEAD THE WAY BIO-MED OR PROJECT LEAD THE WAY ENGINEERING.
THIS IS A PROGRAM REALLY FOR OUR MORE TRADITIONAL OR LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR OR NON-CTE MAJOR COURSES.
>> WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL SCHEDULE, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE DAY.
THROUGH THE COURSES AND THESE ARE SOME EDUCATIONAL LINGO.
[00:45:07]
BUT SCAFFOLDING FOR STUDENTS WHERE THEY HAVE SMALL INSTRUCTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, SMALL GROUP OPPORTUNITIES, THEY'LL STILL HAVE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS.THEY WILL HAVE ENHANCED SUPPORT SUCH AS TEXT TO SPEECH, STUDY GUIDES, TEXT TRANSLATIONS, CLOSED CAPTIONING, SUPPORT CARDS AND THEN THEY WILL INCORPORATE INTERACTIVE TOOLS, A GRAPHING TOOL, WRITING GENERATORS, ONLINE MANIPULATIVES, SIMULATIONS FOR LABS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AS DR. SIMMONS WAS SAYING, SOME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL ELECTIVES THAT ARE BEING OFFERED, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SPANISH 1, 2, 3, FRENCH, 1, 2, 3, SEVERAL AP COURSES.
BUT AGAIN, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY NEED TO TAKE AS WELL AS IT RELATES TO PE AND HEALTH.
THEY ARE IN THEIR ELECTIVES SUCH AS ART APPRECIATION, MUSIC APPRECIATION.
>> THEY'RE ABLE TO MEET OUR LOCAL REQUIREMENT THAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS FOR FINANCE.
WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT THROUGH THE PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> DO STUDENTS HAVE TO TAKE A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?
>> [NOISE] I'M GOING TO LOOK TO DEREK, BUT I'M GOING TO ANSWER IT. [LAUGHTER].
>> WITHIN OUR GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.
IF YOU ARE NOT A CTE MAJOR, YOU DO NEED TO TAKE.
>> TAKE THREE YEARS OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
>> SO IF YOU'RE IN CTE, WE RECOMMEND [OVERLAPPING], BUT THE STATE DOES NOT REQUIRE IT IF YOUR CTE COMPLETER, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE MORE OF THE TECH ELECTIVES, WHICH WILL MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
>> WILL YOU ADDRESS THIS FURTHER DOWN? IN THE TYPICAL SCHOOL, THERE'S REPORT CARDS FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
WHAT KIND OF ASSESSING FOR ACADEMICS?
>> YEAH. I ABSOLUTELY WILL BE GETTING TO THAT.
>> GREAT QUESTION. THE NEXT THING I WANTED TO SHARE WAS THE APEX CALENDAR AND AS DR. SIMMONS ALLUDED TO EARLIER, NINE DISTRICTS, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE WE HAD TO COME TOGETHER AND AGREE ON A DIFFERENT CALENDAR THAN WHAT OUR DISTRICT CALENDAR IS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER REASON WHY IT'S NOT ABLE TO HAVE STUDENTS GO IN AND OUT OF BECAUSE THE CALENDAR IS DIFFERENT.
THE APEX CALENDAR SCHOOL WOULD START FOR THE FIRST DAY FOR STUDENTS ON SEPTEMBER 7TH.
THEY STILL DO HAVE A 180-DAY REQUIREMENT [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT'S NOTED IN THE CALENDAR.
I'M JUST MOVING FORWARD ABOVE.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE OF THAT, AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THAT ONE-YEAR COMMITMENT.
YOU DO SEE IN HERE THAT THERE IS THE END OF EACH QUARTER AND WE WILL HAVE REPORTING, BUT I WILL GO INTO THAT.
IT IS FOR THE APEX TEACHERS, BUT THERE IS GOING TO BE STILL COLLABORATION WITH THE APEX TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RELATES TO OUR SPECIAL POPULATIONS.
THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS DON'T NECESSARILY MATCH UP WITH OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAYS.
BUT IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO MEET ON THOSE DAYS AS WELL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YES. WE'VE GOT THIS INFORMATION IN HERE ABOUT THAT AS WELL.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE YOU JUST SAID THAT ON SPECIAL POPULATION.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THE NEXT IS AROUND ATTENDANCE, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT AS EASTERN SHORE NINE HAVE TO CHANGE BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWING KUMAR'S ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
A FULL DAY OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE IF A STUDENT IS PRESENT FOR GREATER THAN HALF OF THE SCHOOL DAY AND A PARTIAL DAY OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE IF THE STUDENT IS PRESENT FOR 10-50 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOL DAY, THIS ATTENDANCE WILL BE KEPT THROUGH APEX AND WILL BE SHARED WITH, AGAIN FROM THE STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATOR AND APEX
[00:50:02]
THEMSELVES ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AS WELL AS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.>> IS THERE A WAY FOR STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF STUDENTS LIVE ON.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING YEAR ON ABOUT 6000 FRONTS FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY COMPONENT OF THE ATTENDANCE AND I'LL BE VERY THANKFUL AND NEXT YEAR.
>> BUT FOR THIS PIECE ON THEIR END, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT FOR WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITHIN FOLLOW UP WHEN THE STUDENTS AREN'T LOGGING IN, AREN'T PARTICIPATING WITH WHAT THEY HAVE IN PLACE FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THEIR STUDENTS SUCCESS COORDINATOR AND OTHER AVENUES AND THE OTHER OPTION IS IF A STUDENT TRULY IS NOT DOING AS THEY NEED, THEY'LL BE RETURNING TO US DAILY IN-PERSON.
WITH THIS NO LONGER BEING AN OPTION.
>> SO THERE IS MORE ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> YES AND [OVERLAPPING] WE HAVE SOME FOLLOW WHEN LINDSAY DESCRIBES THE QUALIFIERS AS WE'RE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS, YOU'LL SEE WHERE WE'RE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION SOME OF THOSE FACTORS OF THIS MAY BE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR.
>> SO THE NEXT IS IN REGARDS TO GRADING.
THE GRADING SCALE, YOU CAN SEE TO THE RIGHT IS A THROUGH E, 90-100, 80-89, 70-79, AND SO FORTH.
GRADES WILL BE QUARTERLY AND THE WAY THAT CAROLINE COUNTY WILL BE TAKING CARE OF THIS, IS THEY WILL BE ENTERED INTO POWERSCHOOL BY COUNSELORS AT THE END OF THE QUARTER, JUST LIKE WE DO RIGHT NOW FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT OR FOR STUDENT INTERNSHIP GRADING OR EVEN THE MARYLAND FIRE AND RESCUE INSTITUTE.
SO WE ARE GOING TO DO THE GRADING IN THAT SAME RESPECT.
HOWEVER, WEEKLY PROGRESS REPORTS OF STUDENT GRADES AND PROGRESS WILL BE SENT VIA E-MAIL TO FAMILIES, AS WELL AS TO THOSE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES THAT I JUST MENTIONED, THE COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATION ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
>> THEY SAID THEY ALSO WILL HAVE A DASHBOARD, SO WE WILL BE GETTING WEEKLY EMAILS WITH STUDENT PROGRESS.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN THE DISTRICT AT EACH SCHOOL AND MYSELF THAT CAN GO INTO THE DASHBOARD AND PULL REPORTS ON STUDENTS AT ANY TIME.
>> THERE'S A REALLY NEAT PARENT DASHBOARD.
THEY HAVE SET UP AN APPARENT TUTORIAL THAT THEY GO THROUGH WHEN A STUDENT SIGNS UP FOR THIS, THAT THE PARENTS WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DATA THAT THEY CAN PULL ON HOW WELL THEIR STUDENT IS DOING REALLY EASILY WITHOUT A LOT OF CLICKS AND STEPS.
THAT'S A REALLY GREAT DASHBOARD FOR THEM AS WELL.
>> SO FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS, STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, STUDENTS WITH 504 ACCOMMODATION PLANS, AND STUDENTS WHO ARE ENGLISH LEARNERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL ASSIGN THE STUDENT A SPECIAL EDUCATION CASE MANAGER, AN APPROPRIATE CASE MANAGER IF IT'S SPECIAL EDUCATION OR EL [OVERLAPPING] FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, EXACTLY.
>> WE'RE STILL LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE IEPS AND PROVIDING SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION FOR A SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT AND IT'S ALSO FOR MEETING THE NEEDS FOR EL STUDENTS.
IN ADDITION, APEX DOES HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH IEPS AND WITH THE EL PLANS TO HELP MAKE SURE THE ACCOMMODATIONS ARE BEING MET THROUGH THE INSTRUCTIONAL MODEL FOR THEM AS WELL.
SO THEY'VE GOT SOME SUPPORT BUILT-IN, BUT WE ARE STILL THE CASE MANAGER RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE KIDS.
>> THAT'S WHERE THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CASE MANAGER OR EL TEACHER WITH THE APEX TEACHER WILL COME INTO PLAY.
>> SO THE CASE MANAGER IS GOING TO GET SPECIAL TRAINING?
>> ABSOLUTELY. OUR SPECIAL TEACHERS WOULD HAVE THE TRAINING THEY NEED TO KNOW HOW TO COLLABORATE WITH THE APEX LEARNING TEACHERS AND THE APEX TEACHERS WILL BE A PART OF THE STUDENT'S IEP MEETINGS, 504 ACCOMMODATION PLANNING MEETINGS, EL MEETINGS AS WELL.
THEN WE GET INTO STATE AND LOCAL ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM STUDENTS ARE STILL CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS, THEY STILL NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL MSD STATE TESTING.
SO YOU CAN SEE HERE THE GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT, ENGLISH AND MATH, GRADE EIGHT SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES, ALGEBRA ONE,
[00:55:03]
ENGLISH TEN, GOVERNMENT AND THE MARYLAND INTEGRATED SCIENCE ASSESSMENT, AS WELL AS WIDA THEY ARE AN EL STUDENT AND AP EXAMS. STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COME IN PERSON TO CAROLINE'S SCHOOLS FOR TAKING THESE ASSESSMENTS AND THAT WILL BE VERY CLEAR TO FAMILIES IN THE BEGINNING AS WELL.SO WE HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS.
THE ESMEC WEBSITE, WHICH IS LISTED HERE, DOES HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
THERE ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, INFORMATION IN THERE.
THE SAMPLE SCHEDULES ARE ON THIS WEBSITE, BUT THERE'S ALSO AN APPLY BUTTON.
SO THE APPLICATION WENT LIVE JUST YESTERDAY AND WILL BE OPEN THROUGH JUNE 17TH.
WHEN A FAMILY APPLIES FOR THEIR STUDENT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE PROGRAM.
I RECEIVE THE EMAIL WITH THEIR INFORMATION.
ALL THE SPECIFICS ARE STILL BEING ESTABLISHED.
HOWEVER, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE CRITERIA THAT WE WILL USE TO DECIDE IF THE STUDENT WOULD BE A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE LEARNER.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT PAST AND CURRENT GRADING.
WHAT DOES THEIR ATTENDANCE LOOK LIKE AND LOOKING FOR SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL? WITHIN THE APPLICATION ITSELF, FAMILIES HAVE TO RANK OR GIVE A NUMBER, A RATING, I SHOULD SAY, TO THEIR STUDENTS ON VARYING CONCEPTS AS WELL.
HOW ARE THEY WOULD COMMUNICATION SKILLS? WHAT IS THEIR TECHNICAL SKILL LEVEL? SO WE WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE TRULY KNOW THAT A SUCCESSFUL ONLINE STUDENT TRULY NEEDS TO BE A SELF-MOTIVATED LEARNER, A GOAL-ORIENTED LEARNER, SOMEONE WITH STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND TRULY TIME MANAGEMENT.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ONLY 20 PERCENT ASYNCHRONOUS LIVE TIME, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SCHEDULE THERE THAT SAYS WHEN YOU SHOULD DO YOUR ASYNCHRONOUS TIME, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE YOUR TIME AND COMPLETE YOUR SIX TO SEVEN HOURS OF SCHOOLWORK EACH DAY AS WELL AS BEING TECH-SAVVY FOR THINGS LIKE REACHING OUT AND COMMUNICATING.
>> HAVING ROBUST INTERNET AT HOME OR BANDWIDTH AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
>> SO AND THAT BRINGS OUT A QUESTION [INAUDIBLE].
SO THERE IS A SCHEDULE AND THERE IS LIVE-TIME WITH THE INSTRUCTOR?
>> THIS OTHER TIMES THAT AREN'T LIVE.
I MEAN, IS IT THE FLEXIBILITY.
I MEAN, WE WANT THEM ATTENDING. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE THERE AND THEY'RE GETTING THE WORK DONE.
BUT FOR THE STUDENT WHO HAS MAYBE A DIFFERENT VARIETY OF INTEREST AND IS MOTIVATED, DO THEY HAVE TO DO IT AT THAT TIME OR CAN THEY GO DO SOMETHING ELSE AND IF THEY'LL PREFER GOING TO THAT 8-10 IN SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, BUT THEY'RE TURNING IN THE WORK, THEY'RE PASSING THE TEST OR IS THE LOGINS BEING TRACKED, SO THEY HAVE TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME?
>> I LOOKED AT DR. SIMMONS [LAUGHTER].
SO THE LIVE TUTORING IS ONLY AVAILABLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
>> THE SYNCHRONOUS TIME WITH THE TEACHER IS GOING TO BE SET BY APEX.
>> WHAT WOULD BE MONITORED WOULD BE THE SYNCHRONOUS TIME WITH THE TEACHER INTENDING THAT.
ARE THEY COMPLETING ALL OF THEIR ASYNCHRONOUS WORK, AND GETTING IT SUBMITTED ON TIME?
>> OF COURSE, IN PASSING SAID WORK IN MEETING RECORD OF SUCCESS COORDINATOR AT THE APPOINTED THEIR AGREED-UPON TIME.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF FLEXIBILITY THERE.
>> THERE COULD BE IF YOU MANAGE YOUR TIME AMAZINGLY WELL.
>> THE ONLY THING WITH THAT ALSO IS WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT SYNCHRONOUS TIME IS AT THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] SAY 10 TO 11 O'CLOCK TIME.
SO IF SOMEONE IS THINKING, I CAN BE FROM 12:00 TO 5:00, I CAN GO DO ACTS AND COME BACK AT 5:00.
THEIR SYNCHRONOUS TIME MIGHT BE 1: 30 BASED ON THE COURSES THAT THEY ARE ENROLLED IN.
>> IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CHANGE.
>> ONCE A SCHEDULE SET IT SET BUT YOUR SYNCHRONOUS TIME FOR THIS COURSE IS GOING TO BE THIS TIME, FOR THIS COURSE COULD BE A DIFFERENT TIME.
THIS COURSE COULD BE A DIFFERENT TIME BASED ON THE DAY AND WHEN THAT SCHEDULE LOCKS IN, THERE IS FLEXIBILITY BUT AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO GOT TO BE A REALLY GOOD TIME MANAGER.
DISCIPLINED, I WOULD SAY YOU GOT TO BE DISCIPLINED TO BE ABLE TO JUGGLE THAT PIECE BUT IT COULD BE.
>> THIS IS THE BEGINNING, EXCUSE ME.
[01:00:01]
>> THIS IS THE PRIORITY IF THEY ENROLL ROLE FOR THIS?
>> YES. STATE LAW SAYS EVERY KID SHOULD BE ENROLLED IN SCHOOL FULL-TIME AND THROUGH AGE 18 AT THIS POINT.
THIS IS AN OPTION TO ALLOW THEM TO REMAIN ENROLLED IN SCHOOL THROUGH AGE 18, EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WITHOUT HAVING TO BE IN BRICK-AND-MORTAR FOR SEVEN AND A QUARTER-HOUR A DAY.
IF THEY ARE A MOTIVATED LEARNER, STRONG TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS, IT PROVIDES AN OPTION FOR STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT BUT THIS DOES NOT DIMINISH OR ALLEVIATE THE [INAUDIBLE] REQUIREMENT THAT EVERYBODY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL UNTIL AGE 18 WITH ONLY A FEW MINOR EXCEPTIONS.
>> THEY COULD GO TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, HAVE THEIR SYNCHRONOUS PARTS IN THE MORNING AND THE AFTERNOON TO WORK, AND IN THE EVENING MAYBE COME BACK AND DO SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL THINGS.
>> IF THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE SCHEDULED.
>> ONCE THEY HAVE THAT SCHEDULE, THEN THEY'LL KNOW THAT.
>> THE PIECE THAT I WOULD WANT THE HOPEFULLY HUNDREDS WHO ARE TUNING IN FROM HOME AND COMING TO UNDERSTAND IS THE PIECES.
IF A FAMILY IS MAKING A DECISION ABOUT ENROLLING IN THIS PROGRAM BASED OFF OF THIS YEAR'S SCHEDULE ON HOW THEIR CHILD IS DONE.
IF THEY'RE LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A PIECE OF CAKE.
>> THIS IS NOT. WE UNDERSTAND WHERE WE ARE IN THE DECISIONS WE MADE TO MAKE THIS YEAR AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE COULD.
THIS TRULY IS SIX-PLUS HOURS OF WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
YOU GOT TO BE ABLE TO BE DEDICATED AND I'LL PUT MYSELF.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD DO IT AT MY AGE TODAY.
>> WE'VE GOT DEDICATED TO SOMETHING.
>> IF THEY WANT A PART-TIME JOB, IT WOULD BE MORE [OVERLAPPING] LIKELY THAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY'RE IN THE BRICK-AND-MORTAR SCHOOL?
>> DURING THE SCHOOL DAY THEY GO OFF, MAYBE THEY GO OFF TO THE PART-TIME JOB AND THEN AFTER THAT DO THEIR HOMEWORK, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL AFTERNOON, YOU GO WORK SOMEWHERE NOT LIKELY.
>> NO. IT'LL CATCH THEM QUICK.
>> THEY DON'T FEEL GET IT DONE.
>> BECAUSE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, WE SAID THERE WAS THIS SCHEDULE TO FOLLOW, [OVERLAPPING] JUST LIKE THE NORMAL SCHOOL DAY.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT EVEN GET INTO WORKING TO 6:00.
>> BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DAY [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S SIX TO SEVEN HOURS OF SCHOOLWORK EACH DAY.
>> THEY NEED TO COMMIT BETWEEN 8:30 TO 3:15.
>> AT THE END OF THAT DAY, IF THEY ARE PLAYING SPORTS, SCHOOL ACTIVITY, THEY MIGHT GO TO THE SCHOOL WHERE THEY PRACTICE OR FOR [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] THEY'LL HAVE THAT TIME.
>> OR GO TO THEIR PART-TIME JOB?
>> HOW ABOUT FIELD TRIPS? CAN THEY PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS?
>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ENROLL.
THEY'RE ENROLLED, BUT THEY'RE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM SO THEY WOULDN'T BE IN SCHOOL LEVEL FIELD TRIPS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WORKFORCE.
>> IF IT'S A COURSE-RELATED FIELD TRIP, I GUESS THAT'S THE CAVEAT.
IF WE'RE TALKING A SENIOR AND WE HAVE A SENIOR CLASS TRIP,[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S DIFFERENT.
BUT IF IT'S SAY WE'RE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IS GOING TO DO SOME IN PICKERING CREEK, WORKING WITH SHORT RIVERS AND DOING SOME WORK THERE.
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PART OF THAT COURSE WHICH WOULD BE TAKEN.
>> THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW THE STUDENTS [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE AND I HAVE MADE NOTE, JUST DO NOT SHARE IT WAS SERVICE LEARNING.
STUDENTS STILL DO HAVE THE 75-HOUR REQUIREMENT FOR STEPS FOR OUR SERVICE LEARNING, AND WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS WITHIN BRICK-AND-MORTAR, SOME OF THOSE SERVICE LEARNING HOURS ARE INCORPORATED INTO COURSES AND CLASSES.
THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE WITH APEX.
THEY ARE NOT INCORPORATING SERVICE LEARNING.
STUDENTS WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THEIR 75 HOURS FOR GRADUATION.
THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOLLOWING UP, THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOLLOWING UP AND ENSURING THAT THE STUDENT IS FULFILLING THAT REQUIREMENT AS WELL.
>> IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME OF A COURSE UNTIL ENROLLMENT.
>> BUT IT IS PERMISSIBLE BECAUSE THEY'RE ALLOWED.
THEY'LL HAVE EIGHT CREDITS IN THEIR SCHEDULES.
[01:05:03]
IT IS PERMISSIBLE AS AN OPTION FOR US TO CONSIDER FOR A KID WHO IS LOOKING AT THAT OPTION.>> THERE ARE MANY AP OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I KNOW THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN THERE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'M JUST THINKING TO SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS LIKE THAT AP.
>> SHE IS ALREADY JUST TALKING ABOUT.
>> DOOR-TO-DOOR ENROLLMENT. I MEAN, THIS IS A GRANT. THIS IS A PILOT?
>> A LOT OF US THINK AND FIELD TRIPS BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE DONE IT LIKE THIS IN MARYLAND.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW IT WORKS BUT IT'S GROWING TOO, BECAUSE I DO REMEMBER, WELL, JUST LIKE HOMESCHOOL, GROUPS TAKE FIELD TRIPS [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT'S HOMESCHOOL.
I REMEMBER, I DON'T KNOW THOSE APEX, BUT AGAIN, GOING BACK TO OUR NSBA MEETING WHERE WE TOURED A FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL, AND THOSE STUDENTS DID FIELD TRIPS.
IT WAS SCIENCE AND THEY DIDN'T GO TO PICKERING CREEK WITH THE KIDS AT NORTH CAROLINE OR COLONEL, BUT THE KIDS AT THE VIRTUAL CLASSES SAYS, "WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PICKERING GREEK THIS DAY." THEN IF THEY CAN MAKE IT, THEY MAKE IT.
>> THESE STUDENTS ARE ALL ON THE EASTERN SHORE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GROW AT.
>> WHAT IT MOVES INTO [OVERLAPPING]
>> WORK SOME OF THESE DETAILS OUT, I SEE IT WORKING OUT WITH THE THINGS.
>> IT'S A GOOD CONCEPT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GOES BECAUSE THIS IS A FULL-TIME SCHOOL SCHEDULE, BUT I'VE BEEN SEEING AND I THINK OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PREVIOUSLY SAY SO AT WHAT POINT, IS IT APEX OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSEWHERE YOU HAVE A STUDENT IN THE BRICKS-AND-MORTAR, IN THE COLONEL IN NORTH CAROLINE, AND THEY HAVE THREE CLASSES AND INSTEAD OF GOING HOME FOR THE DAY OR WHATEVER, THEY GO TO THE LIBRARY AND GET MANDARIN CHINESE.
A CLASS-SPECIFIC OR SOMETHING INSTEAD OF A FULL SCHEDULE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO FALL ON ADD OR IF THIS COULD BE AN OPENING TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
>> I THINK AT SOME POINT IF IT GETS US TOWARDS THAT, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
BUT I THINK IT COULD GET US THERE.
I THINK IF THE PILOT GOES WELL, I THINK IT PROVIDES MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
I THINK THE PANDEMIC AND WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH IS OPEN MORE DOORS, OR I WOULD SAY OPEN YOUR EYES TO REALIZE THE POTENTIAL THAT EXISTS.
THERE'S SOME IN THE WEED SIDE THINGS THAT GET IN THE WAY, BUT THOSE ARE JUST THINGS TO KIND OF PULL WORK FOR HIM.
I THINK THIS BLENDS ITSELF TO THAT EVENTUALLY, AND HOPEFULLY, THAT'S WHERE WE COME BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY SO MANY COURSE OFFERINGS THAT WE CAN OFFER.
IT'S ONLY SO MANY THINGS WE CAN STAFF, AND IF WE ARE WAITING AND I'LL TAKE YOUR EXAMPLE, MANDARIN CHINESE THAT WE'RE WAITING TO WILL BE ABLE TO ADD A MANDARIN CHINESE TEACHER AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS, [LAUGHTER] PROVIDE THE SPACE FOR THEM AND HAVE THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> YES. THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS AND LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT LIKELY.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT IF THERE'S AN OPTION THROUGH A VIRTUAL PROVIDER, A REALISTIC OPTION, A MODEL THAT COULD BE A REALLY INTERESTING EXTENSION THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE AS WAYS TO MEET OTHER NEEDS.
NOW, IT'S A NEAT CONCEPT THAT I HOPEFULLY BUILDS OFF OF THIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'VE LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC.
>> WE HAVE TO ADMIT, IT'S A LEARNING PATH [OVERLAPPING]
>> OH YEAH. VERY MUCH SO [LAUGHTER]
>> ONE OF MY QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THAT I WAS HOLDING ONTO, AND YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED IT, IS THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION.
THIS IS GOING TO REQUIRE ADVANCED DECISION-MAKING.
THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION BY JUNE 17 FOR THE FALL SCHOOL YEAR AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGE.
PEOPLE LIKE TO PROCRASTINATE DECISIONS, NOT EVERYBODY, THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WILL SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO AND THEY'RE GOING TO APPLY BUT THERE'S GOING BE A LOT OF PEOPLE [OVERLAPPING] WHO ARE GOING TO BE LIKE, "OH, WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THAT.
WE DIDN'T, WE MISSED THE DEADLINE." [OVERLAPPING]
>> I CAN EXPLAIN TO YOU THE REASON WHY THE DEADLINE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S GOT TO BE THE PLANNING DONE [OVERLAPPING]
>> CORRECT [OVERLAPPING] ONCE JUNE 17TH COMES, THEN WE CAN TAKE A LOOK, WE CAN ACCEPT OR DENY EACH APPLICATION BASED ON THAT CRITERIA.
THEN OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS WILL NEED TO MEET WITH THE STUDENT AND FAMILY IN ORDER TO SCHEDULE THE STUDENT FOR THE COURSES THAT ARE APPROVED AND ARE GOING TO BE TAUGHT THROUGH APEX.
THEN APEX NEEDS TO THEN TAKE THOSE COURSE REQUESTS, WHICH WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SINCE FEBRUARY FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, RIGHT DAWN? WE START OUR PROCESS IN FEBRUARY FOR STUDENTS CHOOSING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY'LL HAVE FROM APPROXIMATELY THE MIDDLE OF JULY TO THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST TO SCHEDULE.
>> TRADITIONALLY, THE STUDENT OR PARENT CAN MAKE THAT DECISION ABOUT ENROLLING THEM IN SCHOOL A LOT LATER THAN THAT.
>> YEAH. YELLOW BUS SYNDROME IS VERY REAL.
>> THEY'VE GOT TO GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER HERE AND DECIDE.
[01:10:01]
INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU'RE GETTING NO INQUIRIES ABOUT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.>> YOU HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DO THAT, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, THEY'VE GOT A MONTH TO GO.
>> I HAVE HAD INQUIRIES FROM SECONDARY AND WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE, AS I SAID, THE APPLICATION WENT LIVE YESTERDAY.
WE DO HAVE APPLICATIONS ALREADY.
>> THE FIRST FIVE APPLICATIONS WE RECEIVED ACROSS THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE WERE ALL FROM CAROLINE COUNTY.
THANK YOU, MS. MCCORMICK, FOR GETTING THAT OUT THERE [LAUGHTER]
>> SO THE WORD IS OUT ABOUT THIS?
>> WE HAD THE FIRST FIVE APPLICATIONS FROM ANYBODY ACROSS THE SHORE WHEN IT WENT LIVE.
SO FOLKS ARE GETTING SOME INFORMATION.
>> I DON'T WANT TO BE GLIB, BUT I THINK THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARENTS ARE LIKE, "WHEN CAN I GET MY KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL?".
>> THEY CAN BE IN FOUR DAYS A WEEK RIGHT NOW.
>> RIGHT [LAUGHTER] BUT AS WE HEARD AS MUCH CHALLENGING AS IT WAS THROUGH COVID, THERE WERE KIDS WHO WERE THRIVING, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF KIDS STRUGGLING, BUT THERE WAS A FEW THRIVING AND IT'S PROBABLY THE FEW THEY KNOW, THE PARENTS KNOW AND THEN THE KIDS KNOW.
HEY, LISTEN, THIS IS MY LANE, AND WHAT'S EVEN NICER IS THAT THEY CAN BE IN THEIR LANE AND THEY CAN GET DROPPED OFF LATER, IN EARLY AFTERNOON, AND GO PLAY A SPORT, OR BE IN A BAND OR CHORUS, OR WHATEVER AND STILL DO THOSE THINGS.
I THINK THE PEOPLE WILL AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SOW BUT IT IS A PILOT.
I THINK IT WILL GROW, BUT I THINK AS OF NOW AFTER THIS LAST YEAR, PEOPLE PROBABLY KNOW ONE'S A ONE.
>> I THINK THOSE PEOPLE KNOW WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO GO ALREADY.
>> LINDSAY'S ARRANGED SOME MEETINGS WITH OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND ADMINISTRATORS SO THEY'RE AWARE OF QUESTIONS COME IN, SO THEY CAN HELP THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WELL, WHICH HAS BEEN NICE.
IT IS ONE OF THOSE AND WE DON'T NEED TO SCROLL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EARLIER PICTURE, BUT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS 13 TO 14 SEATS PROVIDED THROUGH THE GRANT AND THEY'RE TARGETING 300 STUDENTS ACROSS THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE BEING IN THIS PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE GOAL.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT NUMBER A LOT EARLIER WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE R AND P PROCESS AND EVEN TALKING TO THE VENDOR.
SO WHAT IS A REALISTIC NUMBER? BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE, HOW BIG WILL THE GROUNDSWELL BE? THROUGH THOSE FOLKS WHO'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A WHILE SAID, YEAH, I GET HOW MANY, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS YOU HAVE ACROSS THE ENTIRE EASTERN SHORE BUT WHEN FOLKS SEE WHAT'S THERE, CAN YOU REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE ASK IS, WE ARE TALKING THE PILOT TALKING THE VERY FIRST TIME.
SO, AS WHEN YOU LOOK AT A PILOT, TRADITIONALLY, YOUR SELECTION CRITERIA MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE STRICT BECAUSE YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE IF THIS WORKS AND YOU NEED PEOPLE WHO ARE 100 PERCENT COMMITTED TO SEEING IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A VIABLE OPTION FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD.
HAVING FIVE ALREADY SEEMS THE PACE ACTUALLY AT FIRST WAS LIKE, "WOW, IT'S QUICK." WE KEEP GROWING BY FIVE EVERY DAY WE'LL BE A LOT." WE HAVEN'T, BUT I THINK WHERE IT'S GOING TO LAND IN TALKING WITH SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO LAND.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A HUGE GROUNDSWELL, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY IN THAT 13 TO 14 BALLPARK, IT COULD BE A LITTLE HIGHER UPWARDS TO 20 ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE SOME HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS DECIDE TO TAKE THIS OPTION.
SPOKEN TO A FEW PARENTS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE HAD KIDS WHO FINISHED SCHOOLING THROUGH THE HOMESCHOOL PROCESS AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, "MAN, I WISH WE HAD THIS THEN BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT BENEFIT FOR MY KIDS AND MY KIDS DID GREAT.
THEY'VE DONE WELL. THEY'VE GONE TO COLLEGE." BUT IT WAS A GED WHICH THEY WENT TO CHESAPEAKE, NOTHING WRONG, CHESAPEAKE, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM.
BUT IF THEY WERE HOPING TO GO WITH THE GED TO A FOUR-YEAR FLAGSHIP SCHOOL.
A LITTLE HARDER REACH TO GET THERE OUT OF A HOME SCHOOL PROGRAM.
>> WELL, I KNOW SCHOOL SPORTS OR THE OTHER ACTIVITIES [OVERLAPPING] GET MOVING, THEY HAVE TO FIND THEIR OWN AFTERNOONS FOR THAT?
>> HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE HOMESCHOOLING IN CAROLINE RIGHT NOW?
YEAH. USUALLY, WE'RE IN THE 150S TO 200.
YEAH. USUALLY, WE'RE IN THE 150S TO 200 ACROSS THE BOARD.
WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS OF THE HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM, THERE ARE UMBRELLA HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM, SO YOU CAN OPERATE UNDER A PROVIDER THAT IT'S NOT APPROVED BY MS-D, BUT THEY'RE CONSIDERED AN UMBRELLA PROVIDER.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MONITORED LOCALLY, AND THEN WE HAVE STUDENTS MONITORED LOCALLY.
THE MAJORITY OF OURS IN CAROLINE COUNTY ARE MONITORED LOCALLY.
SOME OF YOUR UMBRELLA PROGRAMS HAVE COST ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, NOT ALL OF THEM DO. SOME, DO.
WE'VE HAD SOME PARENTS ABSOLUTELY ROCK THE HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM, THEIR KIDS DO FANTASTIC JOBS WITH IT.
[01:15:03]
THERE ARE SOME VERY QUALITY PROGRAMS AND IT'S A VERY PERSONAL DECISION FOR A FAMILY TO CHOOSE HOMESCHOOL.I UNDERSTAND AND 100 PERCENT RESPECT THAT.
THERE ARE SOME FOLKS THAT SOMETIMES TAKE HOME SCHOOL AS AN OPTION.
IT'S NOT THE BEST OPTION FOR THEM AND THEIR KIDS, BUT THEY'RE JUST NOT SURE WHAT THE OPTION IS.
THEY JUST KNOW THAT IT'S NOT WORKING FOR THEM RIGHT NOW, WITH SCHOOL THE WAY IT IS, FOR WHATEVER IT IS.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE PARENTS THAT, HOPEFULLY, THIS MAY BE APPEALING FOR SOME OF OUR KIDS, WE TRY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS BUT, TYPICALLY, DONNA, WE END UP IN ABOUT THE 150 RANGE WITH HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS, IT HAS INCREASED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE YEARS, THIS YEAR.
>> YES, WITH THIS YEAR [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH. THIS YEAR ELEMENTARY BLEW IT UP.
I'LL BE HONEST, WHERE OUR ELEMENTARY NUMBERS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY.
INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY, STARTED INITIALLY WHEN WE STARTED WITH A PHASE TWO OPENING, WHERE JUST SELECT STUDENTS AND ELEMENTARY KIDS WERE STILL HOME.
WE HAD PEOPLE COME BACK OUT OF HOMESCHOOL WHEN WE OPENED UP THE DOORS IN ELEMENTARY AND THEN AFTER THANKSGIVING WHEN THE NUMBER SHOT UP AGAIN, THE APPLICATIONS JUST PICKED UP STEAM.
THEN THEY STARTED COMING BACK WHEN THE DOORS REOPENED AGAIN, WHICH I TOTALLY GET.
IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR ELEMENTARY PARENTS IN PARTICULAR.
I'M ANTICIPATING QUITE A FEW OF THEM TO RETURN WHEN WE GO FIVE DAYS A WEEK NEXT YEAR, NORMAL SCHOOL DAY, NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR, I EXPECT A LOT TO RETURN BUT WE'LL PROBABLY BE SITTING IN THE 150 RANGE AGAIN, WITH HOMESCHOOLING, I WOULD EXPECT.
>> HOW IS THE WORD GETTING OUT TO THE HOMESCHOOL PARENTS AND EVERYBODY, ALL THE PARENTS, ABOUT THIS DEADLINE ABOUT THE PROGRAM, HOW ARE WE TELLING THEM?
>> THE HOMESCHOOL PIECE, AND I WAS WAITING AFTER TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION, MAKE SURE THINGS WENT WELL.
I'VE TALKED WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER DISTRICTS AND PLANNING AND TARGETED NOTIFICATION, THE HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE AWARE WHO ARE IN THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL AGE, THAT THIS IS AN OPTION.
WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH THE WORDING OF IT, AND WE WILL BECAUSE THEY ARE 100 PERCENT ENTITLED TO HOMESCHOOL.
WE'RE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO BY ANY MEANS. IT'S JUST, HERE'S AN OPTION.
>> HERE'S A PILOT. HERE YOU GO.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A TARGETED APPROACH TO THE HOME-SCHOOL FAMILIES.
WE'VE PUT INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE BBP THROUGH A NEWS RELEASE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT COMING BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT YEAR, AND WE CAN ASK OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THEY PUT SOME INFORMATION IN THEIR NEWSLETTERS THAT GO OUT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT INFORMATION'S OUT THERE BUT I ALSO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THEM, BUT ALSO AN EDUCATED DECISION.
>> HOPEFULLY, THEY READ THE NEWSLETTERS AND WORD WILL GET AROUND.
>> GETTING THE INFORMATION TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
I'VE HAD COUNSELORS REACH OUT TO ME AND SAY, "I CAN THINK OF A SPECIFIC STUDENT WHO THIS WOULD REALLY BE A BENEFIT TO.
MAY I REACH OUT TO?" ABSOLUTELY. A LITTLE BIT OF TARGETED COMMUNICATION AS WELL.
>> YEAH. THEY CAN BE A REAL GODSEND WITH HELPING WITH THAT PROCESS.
THEY KNOW THEIR KIDS WELL, AND THEY'VE SEEN THOSE WHO'VE WORKED WELL THIS YEAR AND KNOW THE STRUGGLES THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD, SO THAT CAN HELP.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> IS THERE A ACTION PLAN IN PLACE WITHIN THE NINE COUNTIES LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR? BECAUSE ONCE THIS IS OUT AS A PILOT THIS YEAR, I CAN SEE MORE PEOPLE WANTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT NEXT YEAR.
ARE WE TALKING CONTINUING AS A UNIT OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT EACH COUNTY IS GOING TO LOOK AT.
>> WE WILL HAVE TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM MSDE WHEN THEY SEE RESULTS OF HOW IT'S GOING.
THE HOPES WOULD BE IN SETTING UP THROUGH ESMEC, IS THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IT THROUGH ESMEC.
ESMEC DID HIRE SOMEONE TO OVERSEE THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM AND THEY'RE ONBOARD.
THE HOPES WOULD BE THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT BEING ACCEPTED, REALLY HOPING IT'S SUCCESSFUL.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN OPTION THAT OUR FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FOR A WHILE.
I THINK IT BENEFITS ALL THE WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE TOUGH PART, NOT THE TOUGH PART, BUT THE PROOF WILL COME INTO PLAY IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE RESPONSE FROM MSDE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT THAT IT'S REALITY, STUFF CHANGES.
DR. SALMAN WAS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THIS, ESPECIALLY IN IT STARTING ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
[01:20:03]
UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS OF A SMALL AREA LIKE THIS AND WESTERN MARYLAND.THE WAY TO PROVIDE THESE IS BY ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.
I APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO LET US TRY IT.
I WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SHOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS.
RIGHT NOW NO ONE KNOWS WHO REPLACEMENT IS GOING TO BE, THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESSES AS IT SHOULD BE.
BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S SOMEONE WHO ALSO UNDERSTANDS NOT ONLY THE POTENTIAL VALUE, BUT ALSO THE BENEFIT THAT COMES FROM SCHOOL SYSTEMS WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT NONE OF US CAN AFFORD ON OUR OWN.
>> JUST THE LAST SLIDE HAS TRULY THE CONTACT INFORMATION FOR MYSELF AND FOR THE COORDINATOR THAT WAS HIRED.
IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, EITHER LINDSAY MCCORMICK@CCPSSTAFF, BUT IF IT IS RELATED TO BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM, BVP@CCPSSTAFF.ORG.
>> THAT GIVES YOU ANOTHER E-MAIL TO CHECK?
>> I THINK ESMEC IS A GOOD PLACE FOR IT TOO JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY SPREAD IT ACROSS THE SHORE AND WHETHER WE END UP WITH 10 PARTICIPANTS THIS YEAR OR 50 IN A YEAR OR FIVE.
AGAIN, WITH MULTIPLE DISTRICTS COMING TOGETHER AND FILLING THAT CLASS AND FILLING THAT HOPEFULLY FUTURE.
LIKE THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING.
>> WE WOULD NEVER HAVE THE PURCHASING POWER TO DO IT ON OUR OWN.
NO WAY WOULD IT BE, NOT ONLY ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE OR VIABLE, BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE VENDOR WOULD EVEN LOOK AT A REALISTIC.
I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS BEFORE WHERE WE HAVE A KID COMING IN WHO NEEDS ONE COURSE FOR GRADUATION, WE'RE NOT OFFERING IT, THEY'RE A TRANSFER AND WE TRY TO LOOK AT A ONE LINE VENDOR AND TRY TO PROVIDE IT.
THEY MAKE GOOD MONEY OFF OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO PROVIDE A ONETIME COURSE.
IT'S JUST, BUT AGAIN, WHEN YOU'RE SMALL AND BUYING BY ONE OR BUYING ANOTHER WAY, IT'S A CHALLENGE TO WORK THROUGH.
AGAIN, ESMEC BEATS THE PURCHASING POWER OF NINE SYSTEMS, AND WE'RE NOT ONE OF THE LARGE ONES.
IT BENEFITS WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOMEBODY THE SIZE OF SEESAW AND WACOMICO AS PART OF THAT AS WELL.
WITH WACOMICO WE'VE LIKE 15,000 KIDS, BEING IN THE MIX DEFINITELY HELPS WITH THAT BURDEN.
>> THIS WOULD BASICALLY GET RID OF HYBRID.
>> THE HYBRID, WITH THE TEACHERS THAT ARE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT TO DO HYBRID TEACHING NEXT YEAR?
>> THIS WASN'T COMING OR NOT, HYBRID WOULD BE GONE.
>> NOW, I THINK I HAVE SAID BEFORE THERE ARE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE COULD BE EXCEPTIONS TO WHEN HYBRID IS A STRATEGY THAT IS BENEFICIAL TO THE STUDENTS.
A CHILD HAS AN IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION, AND INSTEAD OF HAVING A PAPER PACKET TO GO ALONG WITH THEIR WORK, IT COULD BE THAT THEY ZOOM IN.
STUDENTS ON HOME HOSPITAL [OVERLAPPING] THAT COULD ZOOM IN.
BUT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, WE WILL NOT BE CONTINUING WITH HYBRID INSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR.
IT IS A 180 DAYS, FIVE DAYS A WEEK, IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.
>> IF LET'S SAY THERE IS SOMEBODY IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION.
THE CHILD WAS HOME ON ZOOM, BUT THE TEACHER'S FOCUS WOULD BE ON THOSE 29 STUDENTS.
>> IT PROVIDES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL INTERVENTION, WHICH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENT TO STILL ACCESS THEIR INSTRUCTION FROM WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
THE GOAL FOR US WILL BE ACCESSING THEIR INSTRUCTION.
WE HOPE THAT THE TEACHERS CAN PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT TO THE KID WHO'S ONLINE ZOOM, BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE 29 FOLKS WHO HAVE A PROBLEM AS WELL.
>> THE STUDENT WHO WOULD BE IN THAT SITUATION [OVERLAPPING] DOES ALSO HAVE AN ADULT MONITOR [OVERLAPPING] IN THE ROOM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXCEPTIONS FOR WHEN WE WOULD BE USING IT VERSUS THE RULE.
YOU COULD HAVE JUST MADE 500 AND SOMETHING.
>> I'M GLAD ALL 500 WERE WATCHING HOPEFULLY.
>> BUT THAT'S A GOOD INCENTIVE OR DETERRENT TOO FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE ACTING OUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE FUTURE GOES BUT YOU SEE, WE'VE HAD HER TEACHERS FRUSTRATED WITH MANAGING A CLASSROOM AND HAVING A DISRUPTIVE STUDENT WHO'S HABITUALLY DISRUPTING.
NOW, KEEP THEM OUT, PUT THEM IN THE ROOM WITH THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER OR A PROPERLY TRAINED PERSON AND IT'S NOT FUN SITTING IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER FOR FOUR HOURS A DAY.
[01:25:01]
WHEN THEY REALIZE, WELL, IF THEY BEHAVE THEMSELVES, THEY CAN GO SIT WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND HAVE A LITTLE MORE, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN.>> IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO TRY.
>> THIS IS A GOOD PRESENTATION.
>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD DECISION.
YOU'VE WORKED HARD ON THIS AND IT SHOWS.
IT'S NOT JUST HARD WORK, IT'S GOOD WORK.
>> WELL MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
[4. Upcoming Meetings/Events]
WE'VE GOT SOME EVENTS ACTUALLY HAPPENING.WE'RE STARTING TO SEE E-MAILS, THINGS HAPPENING.
WE CAN'T MAKE EVERYTHING BUT IF YOU CAN MAKE THEM, PLEASE DO.
AS CURRENT AS WE HAD, BUT I WILL TELL YOU I'VE SINCE RECEIVED AN UPDATE.
FRIDAY, MAY 21ST, ABOUT SAME TIME THE NCHS AUDITORIUM THESPIAN INDUCTION CEREMONY WILL BE HAPPENING.
[INAUDIBLE] HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE HOSTING AN OUTDOOR BAND CONCERT ON THE FRONT LAWN.
>> THEN A FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY.
>> YEAH. FRENCH HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION CAME IN THIS AFTERNOON, WHICH IS GREAT.
OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE HAVE MORE TIME TO PLAN, WE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT, MAKE SURE WISE GOT IT.
THEY'RE COMING FAST AND FURIOUS WITH PEOPLE GETTING EVENTS IN WHICH IS AWESOME THAT, IF WE FIND THE WAYS TO DO IT.
BUT I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS AND THEY'RE JUST HAPPY TO GET OUT AND SEE THEIR KIDS GET RECOGNITION WITH THEIR PEERS FROM THE INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF.
>> THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON TONIGHT, ISN'T THERE?
>> MOVING ON. NOTHING ELSE WE DO I THINK SOME DISCUSSION OF NEGOTIATIONS, NEW INFORMATION'S COME FORWARD THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US, AND THAT WILL MEAN WE NEED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
BOARD MEMBERS, IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO MOVE INTO THIS CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS AND NEGOTIATIONS.
MOVED BY MR. [INAUDIBLE] SECOND BY MS. WAYMAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE ADJOURNING TO CLOSED SESSION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR WHO ARE HERE TO SEE ME. THANK YOU ALL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.