>> WE'RE GOOD. ALL RIGHT MARK.
[00:00:01]
THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.[1. Opening Items]
CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.WE'RE RUNNING A FEW MORE MINUTES LATE.
IT'S A LITTLE CROWDED UP HERE, BUT WELCOME TO THE FULL BOARD AND MINUS ONE UP HERE ON THE PODIUM.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME MR. MARK JONES WHO IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET HIS PAPERWORK DONE.
BUT THANK YOU TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE WOMEN'S SECRETARY OFFICE WHO APPOINTED MR. JONES AS OUR NEXT BOARD MEMBER TO FILL UP CATHY DEALS ON C. WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HIM IN THE FUTURE.
THAT BEING SAID, BOARD MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY, THE JULY 6TH BOARD MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER AND OPEN SESSION AT 4:38 THIS AFTERNOON MOTION BY MR. DIGIACOMO, SECONDED BY MS. WAYMAN TO A 4-0 VOTE TO GO AND OPEN SESSION.
THEN A MINUTE LATER, MR. BARTON MADE A MOTION, AND MS. WAYMAN SECOND IT, IT WAS PROVED FORWARD TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
INVITE A GUEST NEW BOARD MEMBER, MR. MARK JONES WHO'S THERE, AND THE BOARD [NOISE] DISCUSSED PERSONNEL ITEMS ABOUT THE FUTURE PROCESS FOR HIRING THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT AND EVALUATING FUTURE SUPERINTENDENTS.
THAT BEING SAID, WE RECESSED TO COME BACK INTO OPEN SESSION BOARD DO HAVE A MOTION TO RECONVENE AND OPEN SESSION?
>> MOTION BY MS. WAYMAN, SECOND BY MR. DIGIACOMO, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE'LL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> AGAIN, IT'S NICE TO DO THIS WITH A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE AND NOT TO A BUNCH OF CAMERAS STARING AT YOU, BUT THEY'RE STILL THERE.
WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY OUT AT HOME WATCHING US.
MOVING ON THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.
BOARD MEMBERS HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO REVIEW THE AGENDA SEND OUT TO US, ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS.
HEARING NONE, I'LL SET THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, THE MINUTES WERE SENT OUT AS PART OF THE AGENDA.
HOPEFULLY, YOU HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THEM, DID ANYONE SEE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS? IT COVERED THE JUNE 8TH BOARD MEETING AND THE JUNE 22ND WORK SESSION.
[NOISE] BUT WE DID HAVE SOME ACTION ITEMS [NOISE].
HEARING NONE, I DO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
>> SECOND BY MR. DIGIACOMO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
MOVING ON, WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA WITH ONE ITEM ON IT,
[2. Consent Agenda]
PERSONNEL AND OUR HR PROFESSIONAL MS. [INAUDIBLE].>> GOOD EVENING, DR. SIMMONS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO PRESENT THE PERSONAL CONSENT AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND CONSENT.
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AHEAD OF TIME, BUT WITH THE ADDENDUM, WE HAVE FIVE RESIGNATIONS AND SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO REGULAR CONTRACT.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? [NOISE] WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE REGULAR CONTRACT? ARE ANY OF THEM RELATED TO ANYBODY IN THE COUNTY OR THEY DRAW NEW PEOPLE?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RELATED TO WHO, [LAUGHTER] I'M SORRY.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME LOCAL GRADUATES IN THERE.
>> IT'S A SHAME WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE LEAVING US UNLESS IT'S FOR RETIREMENT AND ENJOY THE NEXT STAGE OF LIFE.
BUT IT'S ALSO INTERESTING WHEN YOU SEE THE REGULAR CONTRACTS COME OUT AND IT'S SOMEONE WHO WASN'T LOCAL TO THE AREA FOR SOME REASON I CROSS PATHS WITH THEM AND FOUND OUT THEY WERE DESCRIBED AS HIRING AS THE DREAM JOB.
DREAM JOB, WHAT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN WANTING TO DO,
[00:05:02]
AND LOOK FORWARD TO AND IT'S JUST GREAT TO SEE A PERSON START A NEW CAREER WITH THOSE COMMENTS.>> WONDERFUL. ARE THERE ANY THAT CAME THROUGH THE SYSTEM TO NEW HIRES?
>> YES. DON'T QUOTE ME, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S TWO IN THERE.
AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUTS, BUT I BELIEVE THEY'RE TWO.
>> I DON'T REALLY NEED TO KNOW WHO, I JUST LIKE THE NOTION THAT I KNOW THAT SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY TRIES TO MAKE HAPPEN WE WANT PEOPLE TO COME BACK WHERE THEY GREW UP AND THE SYSTEM THEY WENT THROUGH, AND THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT.
>> IT'S VERY EXCITING WHEN I CAN OFFER FOLKS A CHANCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COME HOME.
IT'S ALSO REALLY EXCITING WHEN FOLKS DECIDE TO MOVE HERE TOO WHEN THEY'VE CHOSEN THE COME HERE.
>> I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE ELUSIVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THEY GET HERE. SO YEAH.
>> GREAT. BOARD MEMBERS, SEEING THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE PERSONNEL WITH ADDENDUM, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MOVING ON.
[3. Recognitions]
I KNOW IT'S SUMMERTIME, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT HAVE SOME RECOGNITIONS HERE FROM CONTRACTING FIELD. WHO DO WE HAVE HANDLING THAT?>> I WILL HANDLE THEM TONIGHT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ACTUALLY IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO BE RECOGNIZING AT LEAST ONE OF OUR STATE WINNERS.
IT HAD BEEN WELL OVER A YEAR SINCE THE LAST STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, BY THE TIME THEY EVEN COULD COMPETE AGAIN, WHICH WAS EXCITING TO SEE THAT HAPPEN THIS YEAR AND TONIGHT WE GET TO RECOGNIZE A SENIOR FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL WHO WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP AND 300-METER HURDLES, WHICH IS EXCITING WITH A TIME OF 46.61 SECONDS, CORRECT? I WANT TO MAKE SURE I HAD THAT RIGHT.
INCREDIBLY FAST, INCREDIBLY GREAT JOB AND THAT IS MRS. SAMANTHA CASH.
[APPLAUSE] SAMANTHA ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD I HAVE A CERTIFICATE HERE FOR YOU [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.
WE ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT DIRECTOR OF THE [INAUDIBLE] PRINCIPAL FOR MEETING AT HIS PLEASURE [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL AND COACHES.
MR. [INAUDIBLE] IS HERE AS WELL. [INAUDIBLE]
[NOISE] [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> SO SAMANTHA WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO?
>> AWESOME. [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]
>> ARE YOU PLANNING ON RUNNING TRACK IN COLLEGE?
WELL, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT, AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE OVER FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE. YOU GUYS ARE WELCOME TO HANG AROUND [LAUGHTER] WITH THIS FOR THE BUSINESS PORTION.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO, WE'RE HAPPY.
>> WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE PEOPLE SO YOU CAN STAY IF YOU WANT.
>> CONGRATULATIONS, [LAUGHTER] GOOD LUCK. [APPLAUSE]
>> I'M SURPRISED BECAUSE I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO BE OKAY.
>> WE PLAYED IT THROUGHOUT THE ROOM.
>> SORRY. OUR OTHER RECIPIENT WAS ELIJAH PALMER WHO'S A SENIOR AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH-SCHOOL.
HE WON THE TRIPLE JUMP WITH A LEAP OF 43 FEET AND A HALF INCH.
I WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM PROBABLY TO TRY TO RECREATE THAT.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ELIJAH COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT.
WE WERE HOPING HE'D BE HONORED TO BE HERE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE HE GETS A CERTIFICATE.
>> IT WAS GREAT TO SEE COMPETITION AND THE KIDS BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THEY LOVE, THAT'S PART OF THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER AND GET BACK OUT THERE. THAT'S AWESOME.
[4. Individual Action Items]
INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS, ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT IS UP, DR. SIMMONS.>> VERY GOOD. RACHEL, SHE'S NOT ON.
[BACKGROUND] OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
PRESIDENT NEWCOMB, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, I HAVE AN ACTION ITEM NAMING MRS. LISA ALFARO AS THE ACTING PRINCIPAL AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BE EFFECTIVE MONDAY.
THE PRINCIPALSHIP AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPENED UP AND BECAME VACANT.
[00:10:05]
MRS. ALFARO WAS INTERVIEWED THROUGH A POOL INTERVIEW PROCESS.VERY QUICKLY, SHE OBVIOUSLY WOWED THE INTERVIEW COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I HEARD FROM THE COMMITTEE ABOUT HOW GREAT OF A FIT SHE WOULD BE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY IF THE OPPORTUNITY [NOISE] EVER PRESENTED ITSELF.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH MRS. ALFARO AFTERWARDS AS WELL.
SHE COMES TO US WITH MANY YEARS EXPERIENCE IN DELAWARE AS A ELEMENTARY TEACHER AND AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT A SCHOOL VERY SIMILAR WITH FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I THINK SHE'LL BE A WONDERFUL FIT AND SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND LEADING THE FALCONS OF FEDERALSBURG.
>> GREAT. WE'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT RECOMMENDATION? JUST HEARING NONE.
WE'LL HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S?
>> SECOND BY MR. DIGIACOMO, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> CONGRATULATIONS MS. ALFARO, SHE'S NOT ON.
THE NAME HAD SOME CONNECTIVITY ISSUES, I THINK.
BUT JUST LET HER KNOW THAT A LOT OF GOOD KIDS, JUST LIKE ME, WENT TO THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM AND SCHOOL AND IF IT'S STILL STANDING AFTER ME AND MY FRIENDS, I'M SURE SHE'LL DO A GOOD JOB THERE.
[LAUGHTER] BUT ANYWAY, IT'S A GOOD SCHOOL.
>> [NOISE] LEGAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION INSURANCE.
LEGAL SERVICES. EXCUSE ME, [OVERLAPPING] LEGAL SERVICES.
>> THAT'LL BE OUR NEXT ONE. PRESIDENT NEWCOMB, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT THAT ARE COMING DUE, ONE OF WHICH IS THE ONE WE'RE ON NOW WITH THE LEGAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE DIRECTOR.
THE TWO PEOPLE WHO FILLED THOSE TWO POSITIONS, THE LAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS ARE NO LONGER IN THOSE POSITIONS IN THE SYSTEM, WAS VACATED BY MR. NAGEL AND MYSELF.
WE'LL BE LOOKING TO FILL THOSE POSITIONS.
NATURAL FIT FOR THE LOCAL SYSTEM DIRECTOR IS MRS. DEBBIE SIACHOS.
DEBBIE IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE MARYLAND NEGOTIATION SERVICES.
THERE'S A LOT OF OVERLAP BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES.
DEBBIE IS THE APPROPRIATE APPOINTMENT FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE ALTERNATE DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT, IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE MRS. ELIZABETH ANTHONY TWIGG IN THAT ROLE AS WELL.
AS THE STUDENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE LOOKING AT LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF POLICIES ASSOCIATED WITH THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THE STUDENT'S SIDE OF THE HOUSE.
IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE TWIGG AS THE STUDENT SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL.
LOOKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL FOR DEBBIE AS THE DIRECTOR AND TWIGG AS THE ALTERNATE DIRECTOR FOR THE MAB LEGAL SERVICES.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, LADIES FOR JUST ALLOWING YOUR NAME TO BE PUT ON THE LIST AS A RECOMMENDATION.
I KNOW IT'S ANOTHER HAT FOR YOU TO WEAR AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME GOING TO THESE MEETINGS.
BOARD MEMBERS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION FOR MS. SIACHOS AND MS. ANTHONY FOR LEGAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE DIRECTOR FOR MAB.
>> SECOND BY MR. BARTON. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
MOVING ON NOW WE'RE AT THE MAB WORKERS' COMP FUND REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT, DR. SIMMONS.
>> THANK YOU. BASICALLY AS A DITTO OF THE PREVIOUS WE'RE OPENING AS OUR WORKERS' COMP FUND REPRESENTATIVE WITH MILTON'S RETIREMENT.
IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT MRS. DEBBIE SIACHOS ATTEND THE MAB'S WORKER COMP FUND MEETINGS ON BEHALF OF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS THE SUPERVISOR OF HR.
>> ANOTHER HAT. CONGRATULATIONS. [LAUGHTER]
>> BUSY NIGHT FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS?
>> IS THIS GOOD TO HAVE ONE PERSON DOING SO MANY THINGS?
>> IN THESE ROLES, TYPICALLY, MOST OF THESE ARE HELD EITHER BY YOUR HR PERSON OR YOUR FISCAL PERSON OR TYPICALLY YOUR APPOINTMENTS AND SYSTEMS OF OUR SIZE.
THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ERIN, MRS. THORTON.
WE'RE SPLITTING THEM BETWEEN THE SAME TWO POSITIONS.
WE'RE JUST THROWING TWO TO DEBBIE AND THEN ONE TO ERIN, WITH ERIN TAKING OVER THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
>> THIS WILL BE YOUR LAST ONE?
>> YES. HERE WE'VE GOT ONE MORE TONIGHT, BUT NOT DAY.
>> NO YOU'RE 100 PERCENT RIGHT.
SOMETIMES WE HAVE ONE PERSON DOING TOO MUCH AND THAT'S NOT GOOD.
[00:15:02]
>> THAT'S GOOD. SOME OF THESE COMMITTEES, AND FROM MEMORY I COULD BE WRONG, BUT SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE MONTHLY BUT SOME OF THEM MIGHT BE QUARTERLY.
>> BUT LEGAL SUPPORT IS QUARTERLY.
>> YEAH LEGAL SERVICES IS QUARTERLY.
IF DEBBIE CAN'T ATTEND ONE, TWIGG CAN ATTEND IN HER PLACE.
THE LEGAL SERVICES TENDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED THAN THE WORKERS COMP FUND.
>> I'M GUESSING THAT MEANS SINCE EVEN MS. DIGIACOMO BROUGHT UP A GOOD QUESTION, I THINK IS I'M GUESSING ONE OF THE CRAZINESS OF THIS LAST YEAR, IT'S PROBABLY SOME OF THESE MEETINGS ARE ABLE TO BE MORE ZOOM CALLS AND CONFERENCE CALLS THAN TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH TO ANNAPOLIS.
>> IT'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT MAKING THAT OPTION AVAILABLE.
>> THAT FREES UP A LOT OF TIME.
>> [NOISE] LET US START WITH THE HR FUNCTION?
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION FOR MS. SIACHOS.
I'M SORRY. I'M GOING TO JUST DO IT IN PUBLIC.
BUT JUST TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, MS. SIACHOS FOR THE MAB WORKER'S COMP FUND REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR SYSTEM.
>> I MOVE WITH SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> MOTION BY MR. BARTON SECOND BY MS. WAYMAN. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU. FINALLY, WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION BY THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE MAB, OTHER POST EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS INVESTMENT TRUST REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT.
>> YES. I'LL LET THE CAT ON THE BAG ON THIS ONE.
[LAUGHTER] THE REPRESENTATIVE APPOINTMENT IS ERIN THORNTON.
THE SHORT ABBREVIATED TERM OF THIS AS OPEB, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE BOARD THAT HAS SOME COMPLIANCE PIECES ASSOCIATED WITH IT THAT ARE TYPICALLY OUT OF THE FISCAL OFFICE THAT ERIN ALREADY HANDLES.
IT MAKES SENSE THAT SHE WOULD BE OUR APPOINTMENT TO THE OPEB TRUST.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY QUESTIONS?
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THAT RECOMMENDATION?
>> MOTION BY MS. WAYMAN. SECOND BY MR. GIACOMO.
MOVING UP TO A POLICY REVISION, ASPIRING TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP POLICY REVISION. DR. SIMONS.
>> TO GIVE A SHORT BRIEF RATIONALE, AND ALSO IS EXPLAINED IN THE ACTION ITEM, THE BOARD PASSED.
ACTUALLY, PRIOR TO THE BOARD POLICY, THE BOARD INITIATED A PROCEDURE FOR GROW YOUR OWN PROGRAM PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS GRADUATING FROM OUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
IT PREDATES THE POLICY, THE POLICY IS IN 2015.
THE POLICY WAS WRITTEN IN 2015 TO PROVIDE A BOARD STATUTE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP.
SCHOLARSHIP WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY DONE WAS DONE OUT OF HR.
THE BOARD AT THE TIME WANTED A POLICY THAT MET THEIR NEEDS SO IT WAS CODIFIED FOR WHAT WAS TO GO INTO THE SCHOLARSHIP COMPONENTS.
WHAT THE QUALIFICATIONS WOULD BE, WHAT THE GOALS ARE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP.
IN 2019 DURING THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS OF I THINK WAS FY '19 BUDGET, THE BOARD MADE A DECISION THAT POINT IN TIME TO INCREASE THE LINE ALLOCATION FOR THE BOARD SCHOLARSHIP TO GO FROM TWO RECIPIENTS A YEAR TO THREE RECIPIENTS A YEAR.
THIS POLICY HAD NEVER BEEN BROUGHT WITH THE SPEED TO INCLUDE THAT IT WAS THREE SCHOLARSHIPS, THANK YOU TO MR. NEWTON FOR REMEMBERING THAT, WHEN WE CAME UP THIS YEAR FOR HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS CAN WE GIVE OUT.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR POLICY MATCH WHAT THE INTENT OF THE BOARD IS.
THE INTENT IN BOARD IN FY '19 WAS TO INCREASE THE [INAUDIBLE].
YOU GUYS HAVE MAINTAINED THAT.
FISCAL ONE ITEM AND THE SAME FOR THREE SCHOLARSHIPS SO IT'S IMPORTANT THE POLICY ACCURATELY REFLECT THAT.
THE CHANGE IN THE POLICY IS AT THE VERY TOP OF THE SCREEN.
IT'S UP THERE IF YOU HAVE THE PRINT VERSION ON YOUR LAPTOP OR IN YOUR PACKET, IT'S PAGE 2 OR ITEM NUMBER 1 UNDER IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES.
THE LAST SENTENCE WAS CHANGED TO REFLECT WHAT THE BOARD'S INTENT WAS, THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS, AND THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS WE DETERMINED BASED ON THE LOCAL BUDGET TO PROVIDE ONE SCHOLARSHIP PER YEAR TO A GRADUATE FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL AND ONE ADDITIONAL GRADUATE FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO MEETS THE QUALIFICATION OF DIVERSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.
WHEN THE BOARD DID ADD THAT EXTRA SCHOLARSHIP, IT WAS SPECIFICALLY FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR SCHOOL STAFF AND IT WAS NOT TIED TO EITHER HIGH SCHOOL.
>> BOARD MEMBERS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS
[00:20:04]
BRIEFLY BECAUSE I THINK SOMEBODY PARTICIPATED AND I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO [OVERLAPPING] IN THE COMMITTEE THAT LISTENED TO AN INTERVIEW TO SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS.I KNOW DR. SIMONS SAID WE HISTORICALLY HAD TO, I DID RECALL, I THOUGHT WE HAD ADDED A THIRD ONE TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY.
NOT THAT THE FIRST TWO CANDIDATES COULDN'T QUALIFY IN LINE OF A MINORITY OR DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR SYSTEM.
BUT WE ALWAYS HEARD ABOUT HOW THEY JUST WISH THAT THERE WAS A NEXT PERSON RIGHT THERE WAS SO QUALIFIED.
IT WAS SUCH A HARD DECISION AND THE BOARD WANTED TO MAKE SURE AT THAT TIME, THEY WERE PUTTING THE MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH WAS AND SAYING TRYING TO PROMOTE DIVERSITY IN THIS COUNTY AND WE DID IT.
IF THESE WORDS ARE ADEQUATE IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT THIRD SCHOLARSHIP IS CONTINUED INTO THE FUTURE I SUPPORT IT.
IF THE WORDS MAKE MEET WITH THIS BOARD FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS TO SAY.
>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING BECAUSE THE FIRST TWO BASICALLY ARE PRIMARILY FOR WHERE THERE'S NEEDS LIKE WHERE THERE'LL BE SPECIAL EDUCATION, MATH, OR WHATEVER, AND I LIKE THE FACT THAT THIS ONE IS FOR DIVERSITY.
YOU'RE GETTING MORE WELL-ROUNDED AND SO I THINK IT'S EXCELLENT.
>> MR. NEWTON, JUST FOR A POINT OF [INAUDIBLE].
[NOISE] THIS YOUR FIRST POLICY YOU GUYS HAVE DEALT WITH.
>> THANK YOU FOR POINTING TO THIS BECAUSE YEAH.
>> THE BOARD HAS A POLICY ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH SOUNDS REALLY REDUNDANT AND IT IS [LAUGHTER] BUT THERE IS A POLICY ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND THE BOARD'S WISHES A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN WE LOOKED AT POLICY TO REVISE IT.
IF IT'S A REVISION OF AN EXISTING POLICY IT CAN BE DONE IN A ONE READ.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH A MULTIPLE MONTH.
WHAT'S ALSO IN YOUR POLICY ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT IS IF IT IS A LEGISLATIVE OR STATE MANDATE, THAT IS ALSO CAN BE DONE IN A ONE READING.
IF THE STATE SAYS, "HERE'S YOUR MODEL POLICY 1X,." [NOISE] THE BOARD CAN, IF IT WISHES, SAY, "OKAY, WE ARE ACCEPTING THE MODEL POLICY AS THAT." IF IT'S A POLICY THAT THE BOARD IS ASKING TO BE DEVELOPED THAT IS SEPARATE, THAT'S NOT A MANDATE, OR IT'S NOT A REVISION.
THE FIRST MONTH IS THE INTRODUCTION, THE SECOND MONTH IS THE VOTING ONE.
HOWEVER, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, THE BOARD DOES HAVE THE PREROGATIVE TO EXTEND THAT.
IN ANY POLICY YOU'RE DEALING WITH, IF YOU FEEL IT NEEDS A THIRD MONTH OR ANOTHER REVISION, YOU HAVE THAT ABILITY TOO.
WE JUST [OVERLAPPING] DON'T SHORTEN IT.
>> IT USED TO ALWAYS BE THREE.
EVERYTHING GOT READ THREE MONTHS IN A ROW.
IN SOME OF THEM WHEN THEY WERE MANDATED BY THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENT, IT WAS VERY REDUNDANT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T EVEN CHANGE IT IF WE WANTED TO.
OTHERS WITH A SIMPLE ADDITION, IT SEEMED LIKE WE WERE TAKING UP EVERYBODY'S TIME.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE READ IT ONCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR EVEN READ IT A SECOND TIME FOR THE ONES WE HAVE READ SECOND TIME.
IF WE HEAR IN A PUBLIC, SOMEBODY WAS HERE IN THE ROOM, OR SAW IT ONLINE, AND SAID, "HEY WHAT ABOUT THIS SITUATION?" WE SHOULD ALSO GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT A HEADS UP, "HEY, HOW DOES THIS FACTOR INTO IT?" THEN WE MIGHT READ IT AGAIN.
WE MIGHT TWEAK IT AND SUGGEST IT FOR SOMETHING THIS SIMPLE.
I THINK ITSELF, IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS BUT IF ANYBODY SAID, "WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT ABOUT?" I WOULDN'T THINK OF WHAT ANYBODY ELSE WAS THINKING BUT IF SOMEBODY SAID, "WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS?" WE COULD OFFER AN ADDITION RIGHT NOW IF WE WANTED AND VOTE ON IT RIGHT THEN.
OR IN THIS CASE, WE COULD SAY, "HEY LET'S ADD THESE SETTINGS AND VOTE ON IT NEXT MONTH BUT THIS IS PRETTY SIMPLE, BUT I APPRECIATE THEIR CALL INTO THAT SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST REAL POLICY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION AND I KNOW I SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE BUT WHAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE?
>> TWENTY THOUSAND. [OVERLAPPING].
>> TWENTY THOUSAND IN DOLLARS FOUR YEARS.
>> FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS SCHOLARSHIP.
[OVERLAPPING] WE CHECK THEIR PROGRESS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MAINTAINING THEIR AVERAGE OR STAYING IN THE MAJOR THEY DECLARED.
>> BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE WITH THIS REVISION BUT WITH A PLAN TO HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON DIVERSIFICATION.
WE ARE DEALING WITH A SITUATION OF HAVING NOT ENOUGH MONARCHY TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS.
[00:25:05]
IF WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM WITHIN THE COUNTY THAT ARE INTERESTED IN TEACHING AND WE CAN HELP THEM COME BACK TO THE COUNTY THEN I WOULD SAY LET'S SEE IF WE ARE ABLE TO DO TOO.BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE HAVE TWO MINORITY STUDENTS WHO ARE COMMITTING TO COME BACK TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
IF WE CAN BUILD THAT POPULATION BY DOING THAT, I'D SAY LET'S LOOK AT CHANGING THAT NUMBER FROM ONE ADDITIONAL TO TWO.
>> WOULD YOU KEEP IT THAT IT'S LIKE THE TWO CAN COME FROM ANY SCHOOL OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO TWO AT EACH SCHOOL?
>> I WOULD PREFER TWO AT EACH SCHOOL BUT IT POSSIBLY COULD NOT BE A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE [OVERLAPPING] SENIOR THAT'S INTERESTED IN TEACHING.
>> THIS YEAR THERE WAS ONLY ONE FROM CAROLINE.
>> IF THERE ARE TWO, THEN I WOULD SAY YEAH.
[OVERLAPPING] ONE FROM EACH SCHOOL AND IF NOT, THEN TWO FROM WHICHEVER SCHOOL HAS CANDIDATES.
>> I LOVE THAT IDEA BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DIVERSE AND THEN A LOT OF TIMES WE THINK OF DIVERSITY AS BLACK AND WHITE AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE.
[OVERLAPPING] LOOK, THAT'S ALL YOU SEE RIGHT NOW.
WELL OKAY, GOOD SIMPLY BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THERE BUT WE NEED THAT, IT NEEDS TO BE THE NORM.
>> BUT IF WE DON'T CHANGE IT NOW, THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE THAT? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WOULD WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FINANCES?
>> I REALIZED THAT. [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'RE LOOKING TO BE ON THE FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> THAT WAS MY ONLY CLARIFYING QUESTION.
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT IN THE BUDGET [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHICH WE HAVE TIME EVEN TO READJUST THIS AT THAT POINT.
WE CAN MAKE NOTE TO MAKE SURE THAT IN BUDGET DEVELOPMENT THAT WE LOOK TO INCREASE THE LINE ITEM FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP BY ADDITIONAL 5,000 IF THAT'S THE PRIORITY OF THE BOARD TO DO SO.
THEN AT THAT POINT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJUST THE POLICY THEN WE GO TO FOUR BECAUSE IT'S A ONE READ.
>> THAT CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY SAME TIME YOU APPROVE THE BUDGET OR THEREABOUTS IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, WE CAN STILL KNOW IT IN TIME.
LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS NEXT YEAR.
[OVERLAPPING] WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TIME THAT JUST RIGHT BECAUSE WE'LL START WORKING ON BUDGET DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN [OVERLAPPING] MYSELF AND THE BOARD, WE'LL START SETTING PRIORITIES NOVEMBER, DECEMBER.
YOU GUYS WILL START SEEING DRAFTS OF BUDGETS IN JANUARY AND [NOISE] WE'LL START PLAYING A LOT WITH NUMBERS.
I THINK FEBRUARY'S WHEN I HAVE TO PRESENT IT TO YOU AND THEN BECOMES THE BOARD'S BUDGET.
[NOISE] THEN AT THAT POINT YOU KNOW FAIRLY WELL, ONCE WE GET OUR STATE NUMBERS IF WE EASILY HAVE THAT FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION DERICK, [OVERLAPPING] FOR BOARD, I'M SORRY.
I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THE DIVERSIFIED CANDIDATES ARE ALSO MEETING THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS OTHERS.
>> WE WANT TO SUPPORT AND SO THE 2.75 COB OF REQUIREMENT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVERYTHING UNDER NUMBER 3 SHOULD STILL BE PART OF THE QUALIFICATION PROCESS.
>> WOULD WE NEED SOMEWHERE TO DEFINE DIVERSITY, WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING DIVERSITY?
>> WE'VE DEFINED IT UNDER DEFINITIONS OF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF.
WE'VE DEFINED IT AS A FLEX OF DIVERSITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RACE, GENDER, AND ETHNICITY.
>> IT'S A BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SO IT CAN BE OTHERS.
>> THERE ARE SOME, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF ASKING.
>> WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO ASK STUDENTS SEXUAL ORIENTATION, BUT WE WANT TO REFLECT DIVERSITY.
>> BUT ARE WE GOING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT, THAT IS A MINORITY AND THAT WE ARE NOT?
>> A HUNDRED PERCENT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT SAYS NOT LIMITED TO, SO THAT SHOULD BE INCLUSIVE FOR ALL BECAUSE THERE'S ALL THESE MOVEMENTS.
>> WE CAN'T MAKE POLICY FOR AN EVER-CHANGING, I WOULDN'T THINK.
>> BUT I THINK THE FACT THAT IT SAYS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TAKES CARE OF THE REALM OF IDENTIFICATIONS.
[00:30:04]
>> MAYBE COULD WE HIGHLIGHT THE NOT LIMITED TO, SO PEOPLE REALLY SEE THAT? BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE REAL SMALL.
>> THIS IS GOING TO SOUND LIKE A CRAZY QUESTION.
BUT WHEN THEY'RE FILLING OUT THE APPLICATION, HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT THE DIVERSITY IS?
>> BUT WHERE THIS POLICY IS GOING IN MY MIND TOO AND AGAIN, SHUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE HERE, OUR SYSTEM AND PLEASE STAFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M GETTING OFF BASE OR WRONG BUT JUST A REMINDER, IF WE ALL JUST HIRED THE PEOPLE THAT WE COULD DO AND TREAT THE PEOPLE LIKE WE WANT TO BE TREATED, IT'D BE ONE THING.
BUT WE ARE BY REGULATION, TRAPPED ON OUR DIVERSITY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN FEDERALLY TRACT CATEGORIES IN [OVERLAPPING] STATES, EXCUSE ME, THAT WERE RATED ON AND OUR FUNDING IS TIED TO.
IT IS RIGHT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND OUR SYSTEM TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S HERITAGE, IT'S COLOR, IT'S GENDER, IT'S AGE, AND ALL THOSE OTHER PARAMETERS.
BUT THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE TRAPPED.
WE ARE TRYING TO INITIATE A POLICY OF [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU AND YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE, WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSIFYING OUR SYSTEM EVERY YEAR, MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR IN RECRUITING, AT COLLEGE EVENTS, AT HIRING, AT RETAINING, AND ALL THESE THINGS.
I THINK AS MS. [INAUDIBLE] POINTED OUT AND OTHERS, WELL, ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS I THINK IS TO GROW YOUR OWN AND TO MAINTAIN THOSE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HOPEFULLY THEY HAD A GOOD CHILDHOOD, HOPEFULLY THEY WANT TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL ADULT LIFE AND LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY SET IN.
IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THOSE KIDS WHO WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, MEET THE STANDARDS AND WILL STAY AND DIVERSIFY, GROW AT THE DIVERSIFY THAT WE'RE TRACKED ON, THAT'S THE GOAL OF THIS POLICY.
AS WE'RE ALL SEEING, THE WORLD IS AN EVER-CHANGING PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT SOME OF THOSE ITEMS MIGHT BE ADDED, BUT I DON'T SEE THIS POLICY AT THIS TIME BEING ABLE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS IS MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT.
NOT THAT WE DON'T NEED TO ASK THE QUESTIONS OR HAVE CONVERSATIONS, BUT I PERSONALLY DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING IN A POLICY THAT MAKES OUR JOB AND OUR STAFF'S JOB AS DIFFICULT AS IT DOES ANYWAY, MORE DIFFICULT WHEN WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD WE HAVE TO.
>> I'M NOT REALLY NECESSARILY SAYING ADD SOMETHING TO THIS.
I'M JUST SAYING HOW WILL WE IDENTIFY WHAT THE MINORITY IS OR WHAT THE DIVERSIFICATION IS? BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S OBVIOUS, OTHER TIMES IT'S NOT OBVIOUS.
>> WELL, NUMBER 4, UNDER OUR LISTING INCLUDES THE PRINCIPAL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OR WHATEVER.
THE STUDENTS WILL BE COMING FROM THOSE SCHOOLS.
>> YOU MEAN NUMBER 5? WHAT NUMBER? [OVERLAPPING]
>> NUMBER 4 ON THE DIVERSIFICATION GUIDELINES.
>> NUMBER 4, LIKE 4F IS HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WHO IS PROBABLY CLOSEST TO WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
FOR THE APPLICATION, I DON'T KNOW, MAY ASK [OVERLAPPING] THAT I READ THIS TO YOU. I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THOSE SOURCES WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE OUT THAT INFORMATION.
ON STUDENT RECORDS, THERE IS INFORMATION AS FAR AS YOUR ETHNICITY, YOUR RACE, YOUR GENDER.
>> GOOD QUESTION, [INAUDIBLE]. I APPRECIATE THAT THE CHALLENGES TO ME IS TO TRY TO WRAP MY MIND AROUND IT TOO.
OBVIOUSLY, A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>> COMMON TOO. WE'RE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUDGETING FOR AND MAKING THOSE BUDGET DECISIONS AND HAPPY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUDGET MONEY.
PEOPLE HERE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE INCLUDING EVEN TONIGHT, LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY BEING SPENT ON SOME THINGS.
SOMEBODY, ANYBODY WHO WATCHES AT HOME OR THAT FOLLOWS IT AT ALL OR JUST HEARS IT CASUALLY, WELL,
[00:35:04]
HOW COME THEY CAN SPEND A HUGE CHUNK OF MONEY DOING WORK ON THE HVAC SYSTEM BUT THEY CAN'T DO 10 ELITE SCHOLARSHIPS AND HELP KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT? THE ANSWER TO THAT, WHICH I THINK PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS IT BUT MAYBE PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE THIS IS THAT THERE ARE POOLS OF MONEY AND THE CARES ACT MONEY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND CAPITAL MONEY AND CAPITAL BUDGET MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT THAT WAY.IT'S NOT ONE BIG POT OF MONEY THAT YOU CAN DECIDE HOW YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND IT.
IF IT WAS, THAT WOULD SOUND GREAT AND THEY WILL PROBABLY BE NOT HERE IN CAROLINA, BUT THERE WOULD BE ABUSERS.
YOU GET THE WRONG PERSON IN POWER AND THEY COULD SPEND THAT MONEY ON THINGS THAT ARE APPROPRIATE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CONTROL.
AGAIN, IT'S WIDELY KNOWN, PEOPLE KNOW THIS BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND, THAT DON'T KNOW.
DR. SIMMONS CAN'T JUST SAY, "OH, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE THIS MONEY.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO A LITTLE LESS WORK ON THE TILE OR THE AIR CONDITIONING."
>> BUT IF THEY DID, IF HE CHOSE TO DO THAT, [NOISE] I WANT TO DO 10 OF THESE SCHOLARSHIPS.
[INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING] THOSE MONIES CAN'T BE INTERCHANGED.
>> I WONT BE HERE NEXT MONTH IF WE DECIDE THAT. [LAUGHTER].
>> YOU CAN'T INTERCHANGE MONEY LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR OWN CHECKING ACCOUNT.
ENOUGH SAID, I JUST WANTED TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION.
DEREK, I WOULD JUST SAY ASK IF WE CAN MAKE A NOTE TOO AND I THINK WITH THIS BOARD AND THIS CONVERSATION, IT'LL OBVIOUSLY COME UP AGAIN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BUDGET PRIORITIES IN A FEW MONTHS.
IT'S REALLY NOT THAT FAR AWAY ABOUT WHAT DOES FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS LOOK LIKE? WE ALL ARE AGREEING TO WHAT MR. BARTON POINTED OUT TOO, THE AMOUNT OF TRULY MONEY THAT'S REALLY FLEXIBLE, IS WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF.
WHETHER IT'S TWO, IF WE TALK ABOUT FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AND WE GET?
>> RIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE IN DIFFERENT YEARS, THE STUDENT IN YEAR ONE, THE STUDENT IN YEAR TWO, YEAR THREE, YEAR FOUR.
>> I THINK IT'S $20,000 A YEAR, CORRECT?
>>NO, NEVER MIND THAT. THAT'S IT.
>> PREVIOUSLY WHEN WE HAD TWO, YOU'VE GOT FIRST YEAR.
YOU HAD TWO AND THEN YOU HAD EIGHT OR FOUR, AND THEN YOU HAD SIX AND YOU HAD EIGHT.
WE HAVE EIGHT STUDENTS AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHEN IT WAS JUST TWO.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'RE PUTTING MONEY TOWARDS, IT COMPOUNDS [OVERLAPPING] OBVIOUSLY.
>> THEY ARE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
>> I AGREE BUT WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A BUDGET ALIGNED THAT IS APPROPRIATE AND AFFORDABLE.
BOARD, AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE A SUGGESTED RECOMMENDED POLICY REVISION IN PLACE JUST TO CODIFY WHAT WAS ACTUALLY VOTED ON TWO YEARS AGO.
IT ACTUALLY DID TAKE PLACE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH REMINDERS.
IT'S WHAT'S CURRENTLY BUDGETED.
AFTER THIS CONVERSATION, I THINK NOBODY'S GOING TO FORGET IT THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AT THIS POINT AND REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION UNDER BUDGET PRIORITIES IN A FEW MONTHS.
BOARD, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY DISAGREEMENT WITH THAT OR CONCERN, OR WANT TO TABLE THIS OR HOW WOULD WE MOVE FORWARD? OTHERWISE, I'LL ASK FOR A MOTION TO ACCEPT.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO SET THIS REVISION AS PRESENTED?
ANY ADDITIONAL CONVERSATION, QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS?
>> ONLY CONVERSATION. I'VE ALREADY SAID IT, BUT I'LL JUST SAY IT AGAIN FOR EMPHASIS THAT WE NEED TO REVISIT BASED ON MICHELLE'S COMMENT AND WELL STATED THAT LOOKING TO EXPAND THIS WHEN WE HAVE OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS.
>> I CONCUR. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU. INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS, THE GREENSBORO JUDY CENTER BID, DR. SIMMONS.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING AGAIN PRESIDENT NEWCOMB, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT YOU HAVE AN ACTION ITEM BEFORE YOU CONCERNING THE GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JUDY CENTER PROJECT.
AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE GREENSBORO JUDY CENTER PROJECT HAS BEEN LONG IN THE MAKING.
IT WAS A PLAN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO DEVELOP THE JUDY CENTER ON THE GROUNDS OF THE OLD SCHOOL.
[00:40:03]
WE ORIGINALLY STARTED WITH THE CONCEPT DESIGN OF TRYING TO USE PART OF THE OLD BUILDING, CAP THE ENDS OF IT, KEEP A SECTION STILL SALVAGEABLE TO USE AS THE JUDY CENTER.IT WASN'T FEASIBLE FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
AS WE MOVED FORWARD WITH THE RENOVATION OF, OR THE NEW BILL OF GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF WORKING THE JUDY CENTER PROJECT INTO IT AS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECT TO START SOME OF THAT WORK, WHICH ALLOWED US TO SAVE SIGNIFICANT FUNDING AS IT RELATES TO WAGES ON THE BUILDING PROJECT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
TO BE HONEST, THE SAVINGS THAT WE SAW ENDED UP OVER, I BELIEVE, WAS OVER $3 MILLION SAVINGS IN WAGES DUE TO WAGE RATES, WHICH REALLY IS WHAT HELPED US AFFORD TO BUILD THAT NEW SCHOOL, WHICH WAS VERY THANKFUL THAT IT HAPPENED.
THE PLAN ALL ALONG HAS BEEN TO BID OUT THE GREENSBORO JUDY CENTER PROJECT AS GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS COMING TO A CLOSE, WE DID THAT.
WHEN WE OPENED THE BIDS, THE BIDS CAME IN SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT THE BUDGET ESTIMATE WAS.
BUDGET ESTIMATE WAS IN THE BALLPARK OF 1.9, BASICALLY A $2 MILLION PROJECT.
WITH THE BIDS THAT CAME IN, AND GIVEN THE IMPACT OF COVID ON SUPPLY CHAINS AND COST OF MATERIALS, THE OVERALL TOTAL COST NOT TO EXCEED RIGHT NOW, AND THE PACKAGE THAT'S BEFORE YOU IS A $3.7 MILLION PROJECT.
WE'VE SPENT THE LAST MONTH SINCE THE BID CAME IN, WORKING WITH WHITING-TURNER, COMBING THROUGH THE BUDGET, TRYING TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN VALUE ENGINEER, AND WHAT YOU CAN LOWER SOME COST ON.
IT'S LARGELY ALMOST SIGNIFICANTLY BEING DRIVEN BY THE IMPACTS OF COVID ON SUPPLY CHAIN AND ON MATERIAL COSTS, AND ON THE FACT THAT EVERYBODY'S BUILDING RIGHT NOW, SO LABOR COSTS ARE GETTING FOLKS TO BID MORE.
IT CAN BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS AN OPTION SIT IN BEFORE OF WHERE TO GO WITH THE JUDY CENTER PROJECT.
THE JUDY CENTER PROJECT, AGAIN, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WAS BUILT USING THE FEDERAL DAVIS'S BACON WAGES.
WE DID NOT HAVE TO USE THE STATE WAGE RATES.
WITH SOME OF THAT, WE DID COME IN UNDER BUDGET.
WE DID SAVE FUNDING OVERALL ON THAT LARGER PROJECT.
THE RECOMMENDATION THAT I HAVE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING ON THE GREENSBORO JUDY CENTER IS THAT WE ACCEPT, AS OF THIS TIME, WHITING-TURNER'S GMP, THEIR OVERALL SCOPE OF THE PROJECT NOT TO EXCEED 3.7 MILLION.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE SECURED 2 MILLION IN FUNDING THAT WE KNOW OF FOR SURE.
THE COUNTY HAS GONE INTO BOND ON AS WELL.
WE HAVE THE APPROPRIATE FILINGS OUT LOOKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL MILLION DOLLARS OF FUNDING FROM THE FEDS THAT WE WERE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED TO REQUEST DUE TO THE IMPACT OF COVID ON SUPPLY CHAINS AND WE'RE VERY HOPEFUL OF THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A REQUEST THAT WE PLAN TO GO FORWARD WITH ANOTHER STATE BOND APPROPRIATION OF 500,000 WHICH THEN WOULD LEAVE THE SHORTFALL BEING ROUGHLY $300,000 THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SPLIT WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND US WOULD BE LOOKING TO SPLIT THE ADDITIONAL $300,000 DEFICIT THAT'S THERE.
THE APPROVAL TONIGHT BY THE BOARD, IF THE BOARD APPROVES, WILL ALLOW US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND WILL ALLOW US TO START THAT PROCESS MOVING FORWARD.
WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IF WE END UP NOT GETTING THAT $1 MILLION ADDITIONAL ASKED FOR COVID MONEY PRIOR TO GROUNDBREAKING, SO THERE'S STILL TIME TO PIVOT IF WE NEED TO.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE'VE TALKED TO ALL CONTRACTORS, THEY'VE AGREED TO HOLD THE PRICES THAT WE WERE QUOTED IN THE BIDS, WHICH WAS BEYOND EVEN WHAT THEIR TIMELINE WAS ON IT.
IN TALKING WITH WHITING-TURNER AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE INDUSTRIES, WHAT WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW IS EXPECT PRICES TO REMAIN UP ON A LOT OF THE MATERIALS WE NEED, PROBABLY INTO EARLY NEXT YEAR.
WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE PRICES ON BUILDING MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES REMAIN HIGH THROUGH THE WINTER, IS WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM FOLKS.
THAT'S THE RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU, IS THAT WE DO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
MRS. FRENCH HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT FINDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
SHE'S BEAT DOWN EVERY PATH SO FAR, SHE'S SAVED FUNDING AS WELL TO UTILIZE.
GREENSBORO COMMUNITY WILL BE VERY WELL-SERVED BY THE JUDY CENTER, BY ONE HOUSE THERE ON THEIR FACILITY, AND THEY ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.
[00:45:06]
>> BASICALLY THIS LOCKS IN THAT THEY CA NOT GO, AND IF THE PRICES GO UP,
>> IT LOCKS IN THE PRICES NOT TO EXCEED THIS.
>> JUST [INAUDIBLE] WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET THE MILLION DOLLARS?
>> WE CAN, AT THAT POINT, WE MAY HAVE TO RE-SCALE, CHANGE.
>> NOT MUCH YOU CAN CHANGE IN THE BUILDING.
WE MIGHT CHANGE THE PROJECT IN THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO DOING IT.
>> WHAT'S OUR PENALTY A LONG THAT, MR. JOCKMAN'S (PHONETIC) QUESTION? WHAT WOULD OUR PENALTY BE IF FOR SOME REASON IT HAD TO BE CANCELED AFTER WE COMMIT?
>> THAT, JIM, I'LL BE HONEST, I'M NOT SURE, BUT I CAN FIND OUT.
>> BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU SAID, IT SAVED US CLOSE TO $3 MILLION IN THE GREENSBORO SCHOOL PROJECT?
>> WE CAME IN UNDER BUDGET AS WE PROMOTED AT THE RIBBON CUTTING?
>> FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT BE LISTENING OR JUST ABOUT, BECAUSE FEDERAL FUNDS WERE LEVERAGED, FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE [OVERLAPPING] FOR THE JUDY CENTER THAT WE PART TO TIE INTO IT, ALLOWED US TO USE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE STANDARDS, OR MINIMAL PAYMENT STANDARDS.
[OVERLAPPING] CONTRACTUAL STATEMENT, AS OPPOSED TO MARYLAND, WHICH ARE HIGHER,
>> AND WOULD HAVE COST US HIGHER IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
SO WE COMMITTED TO THAT, WE BUILT THE SCHOOL, WE'RE MOVING FURNITURE INTO THE SCHOOL.
>> NOW, AFTER COVID HIT, AND I'M JUST SUMMARIZE IT FROM MY LAYMAN AS MINE TOO.
BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, IF WE WANT TO GO BUILD A PICNIC TABLE, OR BUY A SHEET OF PLYWOOD OR SOMETHING, LUMBER, SUPPLY COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
SO OUR PROJECTED BUDGET FROM WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, IS NOW UP TO 3.7.
>> YOU FEEL, AND WE'VE COMMITTED THROUGH USDA AND OTHER SOURCES, YOU SAID ABOUT 2 MILLION?
>> YEAH. WE HAVE 2 MILLION SECURED.
>> SECURED. IF NOTHING ELSE CAME THROUGH, WITH ALL THESE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE HOPEFUL OF, WE BEING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE'RE ON THE HOOK FOR A MILLION SEVEN?
>> WE WILL HAVE OTHER OPTIONS TO PIVOT FROM SO WE DON'T GET STUCK WITH THE FULL ONE SEVEN.
[OVERLAPPING] AT THAT POINT IT MIGHT MEAN REBIDDING.
>> WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS OF WHEN PRICES FALL? WHAT HAPPENS IF WE WERE TO WAIT A YEAR AND SEE HOW PRICES FALL? DO WE HAVE A TIMETABLE WHERE WE HAVE TO FINISH THIS PROJECT?
>> TO FINISH, NO. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE EXACT TIMELINE IS.
WE HAVE A TIMELINE TO START THE PROJECT, OR COMMIT TO THE PROJECT, OR WE THEN HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRUE UP ALL THE WAGES WITH OUR CONTRACTORS.
>> THEY'LL ALL GUARANTEE THE PRICES WILL NOT GOING UP. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE GUARANTEEING THOSE PRICES.
[OVERLAPPING] BUT IF WE DON'T MAKE EFFORT TO START THE PROJECT UNDER THE RULES THAT WE WERE GIVEN FOR THE DAVIS BACON, WE THEN HAVE TO GO BACK AND TRUE UP WITH CONTRACTORS WITH THE STATE WAGE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT THEY HAD TO BID FOR UNDER THE FEDERAL WAGE.
THAT BECOMES THE REAL PIVOT POINT AND PAPERWORK NIGHTMARE THAT I COULD NOT IMAGINE.
>> WHICH IS GOING TO TAKE IT UP ANOTHER COUPLE OF MILLION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ON THE G. BECAUSE THAT'S NOT, IS NOT GOING DOWN.
>> BECAUSE THEN WE'RE STUCK WITH STATE RATES ON THAT PROJECT TOO.
>> I THINK IF THE PROJECT IS GOING TO BE A REALITY, WHICH IS GOING TO BE WHETHER IT'S AT THREE MILLION, OR AT SIX MILLION, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO IT AT THE THREE MILLION, WE'RE TAKING THE CHANCES ON MORE MONEY TO BE PUT OUT.
I THINK I SAID THE LAST TIME, I'LL STILL SAY THIS TIME, I THINK WE NEED TO GO WITH THE AMOUNT THAT'S BEEN PROJECTED HERE TO US FOR THE $3.7 MILLION.
>> BOARD MEMBERS ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, CONVERSATIONS? [NOISE] WELL, IT DOES SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE A PLAN OF A GROUP ADVOCATING AND CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND THE FEDS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH HOW COVID HAS IMPACTED THE SUPPLY CHAIN, THE EDUCATION SYSTEMS, AND EVERYTHING, AND HOPEFUL SOME OF THOSE GRANTS WOULD COME THROUGH AND MINIMIZE THIS DEFICIT.
>> THIS CHANGE. BOARD MEMBERS DO I HEAR A MOTION TO
[00:50:01]
APPROVE THIS BID FROM WILLIAM TURNER TO COMMIT TO THE COMPLETION OF THE GREENSBORO DUTY CENTER AS PLANNED ORIGINALLY AS PART OF GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY?>> MOTION BY THIS MRS. GIACOMO, SECOND BY MRS. WAYNE, AND ANY FINAL CONVERSATION, DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU, BOARD. NEXT INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEM WE HAVE SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING PLAN.
WE'VE GOT A VERY GOOD WORK SESSION ON IT A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND NOW WE HAVE IT UP HERE FOR APPROVAL AND I THINK, MRS. ANTHONY.
>> YES, GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT AND EQUAL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I COME TO YOU TONIGHT ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE FY 22 STAFFING PLAN FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
ON JUNE 22ND AT THE BOARD WORK SESSION, MRS. HOLLANDER AND MYSELF SHARED A PRESENTATION TITLED "A ROAD MAP FOR ACCESS TO NARROW THE GAP." THIS PRESENTATION INCLUDED AN OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AT CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LOCAL, AND STATE DATA, WHICH SOME OF IT WE WERE OBVIOUSLY VERY PROUD OF BECAUSE WE WENT INTO QUITE DEPTH OVER THE DATA.
A REVIEW OF THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR WITH A LOT OF HIGHLIGHTS, FOR BEING A CHALLENGING YEAR, A LOT OF GOOD THINGS DID COME OUT OF THIS YEAR.
THEN WE ALSO SHARE WITH YOU OUR PLANS FOR '21-'22 SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING TO US.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE SHARED OUR PROPOSED STAFFING PLAN WHICH LOOKED VERY SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT OF STAFF RATHER THAN ADDING PHYSICIANS.
DO ANY OF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
>> WELL, AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN ANSWER.
>> THERE'S A SPECIAL EDUCATION SHORTAGE STAFF NOT JUST IN CAROLINE COUNTY, NOT JUST IN MARYLAND.
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? [LAUGHTER]
>> [OVERLAPPING] ACTUALLY ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME, KNOWS THAT I'VE GOT SOMETHING I'M THINKING ALL THE TIME.
BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT OUR CHILDREN AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE VOTES IN FRONT OF OUR CHILDREN.
CLARISSA HAS SPENT ENDLESS NIGHTS THINKING OF IDEAS, WE HAVE WORK WITH MRS. SIAKOS, ENDLESS HOURS TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
YES, IT IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
RIGHT NOW ON THE SHORE, WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 30 SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS.
>> EIGHT. WE CURRENTLY HAVE EIGHT POSITIONS OPEN.
>> [OVERLAPPING] OPEN CURRENTLY.
>> CORRECT. [INAUDIBLE] ONE SCHOOL BOARDS.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER.
>> PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, I WOULD COME IN FRONT OF YOU AND I WOULD TALK ABOUT OUR SHORTAGE OF SPEECH PATHS AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL SITES.
DO WE SAW THE SHORTAGE? YES. HAS IT IMPROVED? YES. WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, IS WE'RE WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY WANT TO BECOME TEACHERS BUT THEY AREN'T CERTIFIED AND FINDING WAYS TO GET THEM CERTIFIED ALONG WITH FOLKS THAT AREN'T CERTIFIED OR NOT ANYWHERE EVEN IN THE EDUCATIONAL FIELD BUT HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
THAT'S SOME OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL AID STAFF.
WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT IDEAS.
WE'RE WORKING NONSTOP AND TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE SHORE BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THE SAME SITUATION.
I AM AT THE CONSORTIUM RETREAT FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS AND THAT'S QUEEN ANNE, TOLBERT, CAROLINE, DORCHESTER, AND OURSELVES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT STAFFING.
WE WERE HERE FIVE YEARS AGO WITH OTS, PTS, AUDIOLOGISTS, SAME THING.
WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH IT AND YOU HAVE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR FOLKS CERTIFIED, AND WE'RE DOING IT.
>> IS THERE ANYTHING THE BOARD CAN DO TO HELP?
>> RECRUIT AND TALK TO PEOPLE.
IF YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE VERY INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, SEND THEM OUR WAY.
>> WELL, AND I'LL JUST SAY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK I COMMENTED ON IT AT THE WORK SESSION IS, BUT I'M A KISS PERSON, KEEP IT SIMPLE.
ANYBODY IN SPECIAL ED THAT I'VE HEARD WHO ARE LEAVING AND NOT FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSES, ISN'T LEAVING BECAUSE OF THE CHILDREN.
[00:55:01]
THEY LOVE THEIR JOB.THEY WOULD LOVE TO KEEP DOING IT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER BAGGAGE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND I'LL JUST SAY, WE ALL HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
THINGS HAVE SLIPPED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AT DIFFERENT TIMES ANY CAREER.
BUT THE CHECKS AND THE BALANCES AND THE INVENTORIES AND THE MEETINGS WITH LAWYERS, WITH THE PARENT'S LAWYERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR AN EDGE AND JUST LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND ALL THE BAGGAGE, IT'S MADE THE JOB VERY TOP AND I APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE WHEN YOU SHARE THE SUPPORTS WE'VE GIVEN THEIR STAFF SECRETARIES AND SPECIAL ED SECRETARIES AND WE'RE IN A LOT BETTER SITUATION THAN OTHER COUNTIES BUT; THAT BEING SAID, I MEAN, TO ME AND I'LL JUST SAY IT HERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, WE CAN'T CONTROL THAT PER SAY BUT I THINK BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT WHO WERE IN, SAY, IN SPECIAL ED COORDINATORS WHO ARE AT STATE MEETINGS GOT TO CONTINUE TO SAY THESE PEOPLE WEREN'T LEAVING THE JOB BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE JOB.
>> THAT'S WHAT I HEAR, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING TOO?
>> I GENUINELY BELIEVE THAT OUR STAFF ARE THERE FOR THE CHILDREN.
>> I DO. IT'S A DIFFERENT BEAST AND I'M CALLING IT THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE FUN PART OF BEING IN FRONT OF THE CHILD AND EDUCATING A CHILD.
BECAUSE THAT IS THE BEST PART. IT TRULY IS.
IT'S THE PAPERWORK THAT IS ATTACHED THAT GOES ALONG WITH THIS.
THIS IS WHAT OUR TEACHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
I FEEL STRONGLY THAT IN CAROLINE, WE HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO REDUCE THAT LOAD ON OUR FOLKS BY REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF THE CASE LOAD ALONG WITH PROVIDING THE TEACHER SPECIALISTS TO HELP SUPPORT, AND WE'VE HAD SOME OTHER IDEAS ON HOW WE WERE GOING TO USE OUR TEACHER SPECIALISTS THIS YEAR TOO ALONG WITH OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SECRETARIES.
I MEAN, THAT WAS THE DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH WAS THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECRETARIES. IT REALLY WAS.
>> WELL, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO SEND THIS RETREAT I GUESS FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS AND I JUST QUESTION WHAT MR. GIACOMO SAID.
I MEAN, BOARDS CAN PROPOSE LEGISLATION, BOARDS, SMEC AND MABE AND SUPERINTENDENT, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT, EVEN IF IT'S A LITTLE BIT, IS THERE SOMETHING WE COULD TAKE OUT? WE HAVE TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
BUT WE'VE SEEN IN EDUCATION MORE THAN I HAVE, BUT IT'S A CHECK AND A BALANCE ON TOP OF A CHECK AND BALANCE ON TOP OF A CHECK AND A BALANCE.
>> THEY NEVER RELEASED THE FIRST CHECK AND A BALANCE.
>> IT JUST BUILDS. YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR BUT BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU OPEN LEGISLATION, YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU OPEN IT.
BUT I JUST SAY TO ASK TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SO BOARDS CAN BE ENGAGED BECAUSE AGAIN, HERE WE ARE WITH 30.
LET'S SAY, LISTEN, WE WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE BUT LET'S DO IT THIS WAY.
I MEAN, IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT?
>> I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROCESS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S BROKEN, I THINK IT IS A VERY EFFECTIVE PROCESS THAT IDENTIFIES STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
MY CONCERN IS EXACTLY HOW YOU DESCRIBED IT.
IT'S ACCOUNTABLE ON TOP OF ACCOUNTABLE, ON TOP OF ACCOUNTABLE.
IT'S ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPERWORK.
IF WE COULD LEARN TO STREAMLINE SOME OF THESE PIECES OF PAPERWORK TO MAKE THINGS A LITTLE BIT MORE CONDENSED, I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE SEEN QUITE AS OVERWHELMING.
I LOOK AT THE TEACHERS COMING OUT OF SCHOOL TODAY AND THEY'RE SO EXCITED AND THEY SEE A 30-PAGE IEP.
[LAUGHTER] I MEAN, IT'S LIKE GOING TO SETTLEMENT.
>> ACTUALLY, IT'S WORSE BECAUSE OF THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS IF YOU GOOF.
BECAUSE I HAD THOUGHT ABOUT GOING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THEN I SAW THE PAPERWORK, I'M LIKE, WHOOP
>> IT'S VERY CHALLENGING, BUT IT IS LIKE GOING TO SETTLEMENT.
>> ONCE A YEAR ON EVERY CHILD.
>> BUT THE ONE THING THAT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER TOO, AND I HAVE TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE FOR EVERYBODY.
THAT IS THAT DOCUMENT PROTECTS THAT CHILD AT THE SAME TIME, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY THAT DOCUMENT IS LENGTHY.
BUT THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY THAT WE CAN STREAMLINE.
THAT'S SOMETHING, THAT AND RECRUITMENT.
>> THIS IS JUST TALKING OFF THE TOP MY HEAD.
WOULD MORE SECRETARIES HELP WITH THE PAPERWORK?
>> WELL, THE SECRETARIES, THEIR JOBS ARE MORE CLERICAL.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CALL PARENT'S, SCHEDULE IEP MEETINGS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WRITE MEETING NOTES BUT WHEN YOU GET DOWN INTO THE PAPERWORK WITH THE STUDENT'S INFORMATION ON THERE, IT HAS TO COME FROM A CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE.
I MEAN, IT HAS TO BE THE TEACHER.
ASSESSMENTS, WE CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT POSSIBLY OUR TEACHER SPECIALISTS WHO POSSIBLY HELP OUT TO SUPPORT THE ASSESSMENTS, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE RAN INTO THIS YEAR.
I MEAN, WE HAD TO DO PROBABLY TWICE THE AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENTS THIS YEAR AND FORMAL ASSESSMENTS ARE LENGTHY.
>> YOU'RE LOOKING AT 4-6 HOURS WHEN YOU TEST A CHILD.
[01:00:02]
NOT AT ALL AT ONE TIME BUT OVER A PERIOD OF DAYS.I MEAN, YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I'VE GOT TO BE IN CLASS TO TEACH MY STUDENTS, I HAVE AN IEP MEETING DAY, AND THEN WHEN I HAVE A BREAK I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO GET THAT CHILD AND I'M GOING TO PERFORM WHATEVER ASSESSMENT IT IS.
I MEAN, IT IS A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE.
>> I GET. I MEAN, YOU'VE FIGURE A LITTLE BIT.
>> YES. ABSOLUTELY [OVERLAPPING]
I GET IT, AND I JUST WISH I COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO HELP FIX IT.
>> I WANT TO JUST TO BRING UP A COUPLE OF THINGS, POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD HELP IN SOME WAY.
ONE, HIRING SUBSTITUTES AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MARKING TERM OR TWICE TO ALLOW YOUR TEACHERS THE TIME TO DO THE PAPERWORK.
>> RIGHT, AND NO MEETINGS. NO MEETINGS, PAPERWORK.
I THINK I ALLUDED TO THAT THE LAST TIME THAT WE MET, WE TOOK MONEY AND FUNDING FROM OUR EEP GRANTS AND OFFERED EVERY SPECIAL ED TEACHER A OPPORTUNITY TO SELECT A DAY, ALL 54 OF OUR TEACHERS, AND CAPITALIZE IN USING THAT TO DO PAPERWORK, TO WORK ON SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION, TO PLAN, DO WHATEVER THEY NEEDED TO DO TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT'S NEEDS.
WE HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE AND THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER DOING IN THE FUTURE.
OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ARE SO HEART-DRIVEN AND THEY WORK SO HARD WITH THE SHORTAGE OF SUBSTITUTES THIS YEAR.
A LOT OF THEM SAID, "I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THAT SUBSTITUTE BECAUSE IT LEAVES MY KIDS WITHOUT," AND WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THEM IN THAT SITUATION.
OF THE 54, 22 TEACHERS ACTUALLY CAPITALIZED ON THAT OPPORTUNITY THIS SPRING, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WE CAN CONSIDER DOING MOVING FORWARD.
>> MY SECOND THOUGHT IS TO CONNECT IN SOME WAY, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE USE OF HR WITH A COLLEGE OR TO ENCOURAGE THEIR SPECIAL ED STUDENTS TO DO THEIR STUDENT TEACHING IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND KEEP THAT AS A POSSIBILITY TO PULL THEM IN AS EMPLOYEES.
I ACTUALLY WORKED AT UMES [OVERLAPPING] WITH DR. PAT GOSLEE, WHO'S THE HEAD OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND THIS YEAR WAS A DIFFERENT YEAR.
>> IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE OF THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT TO LOOK FORWARD AND FOCUS ON THE FUTURE.
>> YEAH. BECAUSE EVEN BEFORE THE COLLEGE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT.
>> ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I CAN SPEAK TO SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT AND TALKING ABOUT BEING HOMEGROWN AND INVESTING IN OUR OWN, I KNOW THAT SPECIFICALLY AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I DON'T KNOW, MR. [INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS IS THAT WE'VE DONE SOME BUDDYING SYSTEMS WITH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS IN THE TEACHER ACADEMY WORKING WITH SOME OF OUR MORE SIGNIFICANT STUDENTS IN PAIRING THROUGH ADAPTIVE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET STUDENTS INTERESTED IN AND THINKING ABOUT OUR CAREER PATH THAT MIGHT BE IN SPECIAL ED.
WE DO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME OPPORTUNITIES.
QUESTION. YOU SAID THAT SOME OF THE TEACHERS DIDN'T DO IT BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THEIR STUDENTS TO BE WITHOUT A SUBSTITUTE?
>> THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE THEM WITH A SUBSTITUTE.
>> LEAVE THEM WITH A SUBSTITUTE?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WITHOUT A SUBSTITUTE.
>> WITHOUT, RIGHT. I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED HERE.
THEY'LL HAVE THE GENERAL ED TEACHER.
>> I HAD SOME TEACHERS SAY THAT THEY WERE TOLD IF THEY COULDN'T GET A SUBSTITUTE THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCES, IT WAS UP TO THEM TO FIND ONE.
>> WHEN IT WAS COMMUNICATED TO THE TEACHERS, THE TEACHERS WERE TOLD IF A SUBSTITUTE WAS UNABLE TO FILL THE REQUEST, IT WAS THE TEACHERS' COLLABORATIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE WITH A GEN ED TEACHER OR AN INSTRUCTIONAL AID THAT THAT STUDENT'S INDIVIDUAL SERVICES WERE BEING MET FOR THE DAY, NOT THAT THEY HAD TO SECURE THEIR OWN SUBSTITUTE.
AS PART OF THE IEP, THERE'S MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS.
SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN BE A GEN HEADTEACHER, THEY CAN BE AN INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, AND SO WE COLLABORATIVELY WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS ON A DAILY BASIS, PARTICULARLY LIKE TWIGG WAS SAYING, SOMETIMES OUR SPECIAL ED TEACHERS HAVE TO STEP OUT OF THE CLASSROOM TO DO ASSESSMENTS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY TIME THEY HAVE AVAILABLE TO WORK WITH SOME OF THE STUDENTS.
IT'S REALLY A TEAM EFFORT TO WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE STUDENTS' NEEDS ARE BEING MET.
>> WOULD IT HELP IF WE MADE IT A PRIORITY ABOUT GETTING THE SUBSTITUTE?
[01:05:05]
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE PUT IN AND MADE SURE THAT WE REQUESTED THOSE.
UNFORTUNATELY SPECIFICALLY THIS YEAR, IT WAS RATHER DIFFICULT TO GET SUBSTITUTES. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IF WE STARTED PLANNING NOW, LIKE WAY IN ADVANCE LIKE THESE DATES AND THESE DATES, AND THESE DATES, WOULD THAT HELP?
>> IT MAY HELP AND GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS WITH SUBSTITUTES, BUT DEFINITELY, PREPARATION AND PLANNING IS KEY FOR US.
WE'RE CONTINUOUSLY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING PROACTIVE AND GIVING MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES, FAR IN ADVANCE FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO BE ABLE TO PLAN EFFECTIVELY.
>> I KNOW THAT WE HAVE LONG-TERM OR WHAT THEY CALL PERMANENT SUBSTITUTES.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE A PERMANENT SUB FOR SPECIAL ED? THAT PERMANENT SUB IF IT'S NOT NEEDED AS A TEACHER OR TO SUBSTITUTE FOR SOMEONE, THEN THEY CAN USE THAT.
>> EXCEPT THIS WAY IT'S COSTING US MONEY DOWN HERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THEY COULD BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM IF THERE'S NOT A NEED FOR A TEACHER THAT DAY TO SUBSTITUTE. THAT'S IT.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY A GREAT THOUGHT, AND AS WE STARTED TO UNFOLD THE ARP AND THE ANSWERS TO/EFFORTS TO LOOK AT IDEAS LIKE THAT BECAUSE IT IS A FUNDING ISSUE.
THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT, BUT IT COULD BE VERY WORTHWHILE.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE HAVE RECALL PERMITS?
>> SHE ASKED FOR ONE ADDITIONAL PERMANENT SUB.
>> THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY FORCED [OVERLAPPING] AND THE ONLY TIME TO PUT SOMEWHERE ELSE IS THE SPECIAL IDEA.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, THEY WOULDN'T BE. IF THERE WAS NOT A NEED FOR SPECIAL ED TEACHER OR IF A TEACHER WASN'T OUT TO GO IN THE CLASSROOM THAT DAY, THEN THEY WOULD BE UTILIZED AS AN IA POSSIBLY OR WHEREVER NEED MIGHT BE.
>> I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MR. BARTON SAID, AND IT'S ABOUT FUNDING.
IF THIS WOULD BE FUNDED BY SPECIAL EDUCATION, THAT MONEY FOLLOWS SPECIAL EDUCATION. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF WE WOULD PUT A PERMANENT SUB IN EACH SCHOOL.
IT CAN ONLY BE UTILIZED INSIDE SPECIAL EDUCATION.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING, I LIKE THE BEAUTY OF THAT.
>> YOU AND ME BOTH. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> BUT THAT WOULD REALLY HELP A LOT, WOULDN'T IT?
>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THAT.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA, AND I THINK AT THE SAME TIME THAT, AND THIS IS WHERE A PERSON I COME FROM, IS WE NEED TO TRACK IT.
WE NEED TO TRACK HOW IT'S USED PER YEAR IN ORDER TO DETERMINE, IS THIS A RESOURCE THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS? BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE THING I FELT LIKE WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD WITH OUR RESOURCES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST CONTINUING SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'VE CONTINUED IT EVERY YEAR.
WE MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE AND IT'S BEING UTILIZED.
>> WE HAVE THE DATA TO BACK IT UP TO SHOW IT'S EFFECTIVE.
>> I KNOW WHAT I NEED TO TALK ABOUT IN EXECUTIVE.
>> NO, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING NEXT WEEK.
>> IN THE PERFECT WORLD, EVERY SCHOOL WOULD GET ONE.
BUT MAYBE EVEN IF YOU STARTED, I SAID PERFECT ONE, [LAUGHTER] THEORETICALLY CLEAN.
EVEN IF YOU STARTED WITH LET'S SAY ONE FOR BOTH KERNELS, DO THE PROXIMITY THING.
>> COULD BE ARE VERY MUCH LIKE OUR SPECIAL ED SECRETARY DOES.
>> EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING.
>> RIGHT. BECAUSE, AND I'M SURE IT'S JUST GOTTEN FROM EVERYTHING YOU'VE SAID WORSE, NOT WORSE, BUT [OVERLAPPING] MORE DEMANDING FROM WHEN I RETIRED.
THE NEED WAS THERE A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.
NOW IT'S MORE DEMANDING, AND IT WAS LIKE ALMOST EVERY DAY, THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT PERSON COULD BE DOING FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN AND DEPARTMENT.
>> I ALWAYS LOOK AT HOW YOU CAN GET THE BEST OUT OF SOMETHING LIKE THE MOST OUT OF IT, AND IF YOU DID ESTABLISH A POSITION LIKE THAT, THAT COULD ALSO GIVE THAT PERSON AN OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS SOMETHING I WANT TO GO INTO.
BECAUSE THEN WE CAN TALK TO MRS. [INAUDIBLE] OVER THERE, AND ENJOY [LAUGHTER] ABOUT HOW WE CAN POSSIBLY KEEP [OVERLAPPING] THIS PERSON ON TRACK TO BECOME CERTIFIED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
>> THE PERFECT WORLD WOULD BE ALL THOSE VACANCIES.
THEY HAVE THREE PEOPLE FOR EVERY VACANCY KNOCKING ON
[01:10:01]
THE DOORS AND WE REALLY WANT TO BE IN SPECIAL ED.YOU'VE DEFINITELY JUST SAID WHEN YOU DID YOUR PRESENTATION, IT WAS EXCELLENT, BY THE WAY. IT WAS EXCELLENT.
WE'VE COME A LONG WAY, AND I BELIEVE YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK BACK IN A MONTH TO SEE HOW FAR YOU'VE COME, BUT YOU ALSO ARE NOT DEFENSIVE OR SHYING AWAY FROM THE CHALLENGES, AND PROBLEMS AND ISSUES THAT WE FACE.
YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THEM, YOU'RE RECOGNIZING, YOU'RE OPEN TO IDEAS, AND THAT'S ALL GREAT.
THIS PAST YEAR, IT WAS JUST CRAZY, AND HAS TO ESPECIALLY BEEN DIFFICULT TO SPECIAL ED.
THEN I'LL TELL YOU IF YOU DON'T KNOW.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO PLAN GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THIS YEAR GOING FORWARD, NOW YOU CAN PICK UP MAYBE WHERE YOU LEFT OFF IN MARCH OF 2020, I THINK THAT'S THE INTENT AND DESIRE.
BUT THE PROBLEMS AREN'T GOING TO GO AWAY BY THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT ALONE HERE AND IT'S NOT ALONE ON THE EASTERN SHORE, AND MY UNDERSTANDING PRETTY MUCH A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
ONE OF THE WAYS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, THESE ARE REALLY GREAT CREATIVE IDEAS, AND OUR EDUCATORS HERE KNOW AND THEY'VE COME UP WITH REALLY GOOD BASIS.
I ALSO THINK, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, ANY KIND OF PARTNERSHIPS THAT YOU CAN FORM FOR THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR WITH OTHER, AND WE JUST BEING CREATIVE.
THEY TALK ABOUT THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AND SUCH A CLIFF'S EDGE.
BUT WHAT IS OUT THERE? WHAT KIND OF CREATIVITY? WE ALL HAVE THOSE ANSWERS, BUT THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO EXPLORE THIS.
EVERY PARENT, EVERY TEACHER, EVERY ADMINISTRATOR.
WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE? WHO WANTS TO HELP WITH THIS? IT WILL HAVE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO.
MAYBE SOME OF THEIR FOCUS ON WHEREVER THEY'RE DOING SOMEWHERE ELSE, A POTENTIAL PARTNER ORGANIZATION.
MAYBE THEY SHOULD BE HELPING WITH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHER CANDIDATES.
WHATEVER IT TAKES, GAME PLAN STRATEGIES TO GET MORE CANDIDATES THAT WANT TO BE SPECIAL ED TEACHERS AND MORE WAYS TO KILL THAT BUREAUCRACY.
YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT PLAN PROTECTS THE KID.
>> PROTECTS THE STUDENT, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S THERE FOR AND REALLY MATTER.
BUT, MY GOSH, NOT JUST A SECRETARY AND MAYBE YOU NEED TO HAVE A LAWYER, REALLY IT'S COOL TOO, WHO GOING TO INTERPRET THAT DOCUMENT [LAUGHTER].
SOMEONE HELP US WITH THAT ONE [LAUGHTER] HAVING NO OFFENSE ATTORNEYS.
I DON'T KNOW OFFENSE TO THEIR WORK, BUT IT'S CHALLENGING AND COMPLICATED.
I'VE LOOKED AT THOSE PLANS AND GOOD GRIEF.
YOU'VE SAID IT'S LIKE A MORTGAGE THING.
WELL, THE THING WHEN YOU GO TO SETTLEMENT FOR A MORTGAGE IS SIGN HERE, SIGN HERE 50 TIMES, 60 TIMES AND SIGN YOUR NAME.
>> NOBODY [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO EVER DEAL WITH THAT THING, HOPEFULLY [LAUGHTER] WELL, BUT THAT'S A DOCUMENT THAT NOT ONLY YOU HAVE TO READ IT, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT AND LIVE IT.
>> NOBODY READS IT BUT I THINK PEOPLE HAVE TO LIVE BY IT.
>> ONE OTHER THING AND WE'RE ALLUDED TO THIS.
WE'RE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX FROM WE'RE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY WE DON'T HAVE.
WHILE WE'RE DOING THAT, LIKE YOU'RE SAYING, LET'S IDENTIFY PEOPLE THAT MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO IT.
WELL, WE HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS.
MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR THE ADULTS THAT ARE GOING INTO SPEC AD WITH THE BOOM, YOU HAVE TO WORK HERE.
>> VERY GOOD IDEA. WHEN YOU'RE BRAINSTORMING ALL THESE IDEAS.
>> IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. [LAUGHTER]
>> YEAH. ONE THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS COSTLY IS TO THINK ABOUT YOU'RE RETIRED SPECIAL ED TEACHERS WHO ARE GOING TO COST YOU BENEFITS PROBABLY.
WHO MAY STILL HAVE A DESIRE TO WORK WITH HELP KIDS AND I MEAN, THEY HAVE SOME SPECIAL ED KNOWLEDGE ALREADY, SOME DO'S AND NOT TO DO. JUST A THOUGHT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION, THAT'S NICE GUYS THANK YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S CONVERSATIONABLE. BUT WHEN YOU GET BACK TO BACK MEETINGS WITH THE GOOD WORK SESSION IN A GOOD PROPOSAL, YOU CAN GET PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THE TOPIC AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, AND [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] NO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK WE CAME UP WITH SOME GREAT OBJECTS.
WE JUST CAN'T COME UP WITH MONEY [LAUGHTER].
>> KEEP IT SIMPLE AND SAVE THE MONEY, BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN EITHER.
BUT [BACKGROUND] BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, COME, AN ANSWER OR QUESTIONS FOR MS. ANTHONY?
>> HEARING NONE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING PLAN THAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED AND BRAINSTORMED.
[01:15:01]
>> SECOND. BY MRS. GIACOMO, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONVERSATION.
[5. Reports]
MOVING ON TO REPORTS.WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING SOME INFORMATION INTO MS. BARRY AND SHE COULDN'T APPEAR FROM SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES NOW IT IS SUMMERTIME, BUT WERE STILL HAVE ACTIVITIES TO GO TO.
MR. BARTON, WOULD YOUR MONTH CONSIST OF AND DO HAVE ANY TAKEAWAYS FOR THE MONTH?
>> NO I DIDN'T. I GOT TO REMEMBER.
THERE ARE TWO THINGS IN PARTICULAR THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT? I WOULD KEEP IT SIMPLE GUY TOO.
BUT, THE GRADUATIONS ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN JUNE BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT IT IN THE LAST MEETING.
THE THING THAT HAPPENED WELL AROUND THAT TIME.
BUT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO HAVE FORMALLY WITHOUT LIKE OFFICIALLY SAYING I'M HERE.
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS ON THE LAST DAY AT SCHOOL AND MY ENTIRE LIFE THAT I CAN REMEMBER ANYWAY, THE LAST DAY AT SCHOOL IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DAYS OF YEAR [LAUGHTER].
I STILL GOT A FUNNY FEELING IN MY STOMACH ON THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.
JUST AS A SPECIAL TIME BECAUSE, THE SENIORS HAVE GONE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE, EVERY OTHER STUDENT, AND PARENT AND STAFF MEMBER AND EVERYBODY, IT'S JUST A PRETTY COOL DAY, LIKE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, NOT FINISHED BUT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AT THAT POINT.
I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO NORTH CAROLINA QUITE A BIT BECAUSE MY STEP DAUGHTER ATTENDS THERE AND SHE'D NEVER LICENSED YET AND I'M AVAILABLE TO BE THE DESIGNATED DRIVER, SO TO SPEAK.
I GET TO VISIT THERE AND KNOW AROUND, WATCH WHAT'S GOING ON, AND VISIT WITH THEIR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AT TIMES AND SOME OTHER FOLKS.
THAT PARTICULAR DAY, THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THEY WERE ALL THERE.
THERE WERE SO MANY STUDENTS THAT DID IT JUST MORE THAN I'D SEEN ANY OTHER DAY.
IT'S JUST AGAIN, IT'S A SPECIAL DAY.
I JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY LITTLE EDITORIAL ABOUT THAT.
OF COURSE, WE ALL COULD TALK ABOUT WHETHER IT'S [INAUDIBLE] TO TALKED ABOUT THAT. THE RIBBON CUTTING.
I HEARD A CRITICISM. OH MY GOSH.
HOW MUCH MONEY WAS SPENT ON THAT SCHOOL? CAN'T MONEY TO BE SPENT FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
PART OF MY MOTIVATION EARLIER WAS SAYING, CAN JUST SPEND THAT MONEY AND GIVE TEACHERS A RAISE.
WHY DO YOU HAVE TO PUT SO MUCH MONEY UNDER THAT CAN'T YOU GET A PREFAB BUILDING?
>> [LAUGHTER]. FOLKS IT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR DECADES.
IT'S SUPER NICE. IT'S EXCITING, LOOKING AT THOSE CLASSROOMS. I MEAN, I THINK THAT THE PRINCIPLE SHOULD GO ON THE SECOND FLOOR IN THAT ROOM THAT HAS WINDOWS ON TWO SIDES.
BECAUSE A TWO ARE ALMOST LIKE FOUR SIDE.
NOW THAT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR ME WHEN I WAS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BECAUSE I WOULD NEVER BE LOOKING IN THE ROOM, I'D BE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW, BUT IT IS JUST BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED.
THE CONSTRUCTION IS AWESOME AND THE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT THAT DAY WAS TREMENDOUS.
AGAIN, I'M GOING ON AND ON, BUT IN MY PROFESSIONAL CAREER I'VE BEEN AROUND A LOT OF BUILDING DEDICATIONS.
YOU COULD GO THROUGH THERE AND FIND LITTLE FLAWS HERE AND THERE THAT APPLY ON THE PUNCH LIST.
WELL, MOST OF THE THINGS I'D GO TO, YOU'D SEE WHERE HERE'S A MAJOR FLAW ON THE PAVEMENT.
BUT, I CAN SEE WHERE THIS CORNER HERE, IT'S NOT LEVEL ARE NOT STRAIGHT OR WHY IS THIS WINDOW OVER HERE LEAKING WATER? THIS SCHOOL DOESN'T HAVE THOSE.
THE QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE THIS.
ENOUGH THAT'S MUCH TO ME, I'LL GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
>> GOOD STUFF. MEN, IT WAS A GREAT DAY. MS. WAYMAN
>> I ENJOYED THE RETIREMENT SOCIAL JUST TO SEE THE FOLKS IN THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER CELEBRATING.
OF COURSE, THE RIBBON CUTTING, WHICH WAS VERY SPECIAL.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY THAT ATTENDING THE MAIN SESSIONS HAS BEEN VERY ENLIGHTENING TO ME OVER THE YEAR.
PROBABLY DONE AT LEAST FIVE OR [BACKGROUND] SO OF THEM.
I THINK I MAY HAVE MISSED ONE, BUT I'VE TRIED TO DO MOST OF THEM.
THEY ARE VERY ENLIGHTENING AND HELPS ME TO REALIZE WE'RE LUCKY IN SO MANY WAYS.
BECAUSE A BOARD OF 40 AND 50 PEOPLE, [LAUGHTER] I MEAN, WE HAD SOME TEN O'CLOCK MEETINGS,
[01:20:03]
BUT THERE'S SOME THAT HAVE ONE, TWO O'CLOCK MEETINGS.MARK, I'D SAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MAIN SESSIONS.
HONESTLY, THEY'RE ON THURSDAYS, WHICH IS WORKDAY FOR ME.
A COUPLE OF THEM I'VE TAKEN LIKE A HALF-DAY WORK SO I CAN DO THIS SESSIONS, BUT IT'S BEEN WORTH IT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS POSITION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN.
>> I, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS NOT ABLE TO GO TO THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY BECAUSE I WAS ON VACATION THAT HAD BEEN PLANNED BEFORE I EVEN BECAME A BOARD MEMBER.
YOU KNOW I LOVE TO SEE THAT STUFF.
I WAS UPSET ABOUT IT, BUT VACATION WAS NICE AND THE BAD WEATHER HIT LITERALLY THE DAY WE LEFT.
LIFE WAS GOOD. MICHELLE, THAT WAS ONE MAYBE I MISSED ACTUALLY.
THAT WAS BECAUSE OF PLANNING FOR THE VACATION, BUT SHE'S RIGHT.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD. JUST DON'T SIT IN A COMFORTABLE SEAT.
[LAUGHTER] FROM WHEN I'M ON ZOOM, NO, I CANNOT DO THAT.
I'VE GOT TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
BUT I THINK SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, SO ACTUALLY, TEACHERS WERE CALLING ME SAYING, "DO YOU WANT TO GET TOGETHER?" I'M LIKE, "HEY, THAT'S COOL," SO WE HAD LUNCH, SO I DID A LOT OF THAT.
I THINK MY TAKEAWAY THIS MONTH WAS INTERESTING, IN THAT IT MADE ME LOOK BACK AT MYSELF AND WHY I RUN FOR BOARD OF ED, AND HOW IMPORTANT I TAKE THIS POSITION, AND HOW IMPORTANT THE STUDENTS ARE TO ME AND EVERYTHING WE DO.
IT WAS A GOOD CALL FOR ME, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF POSITIVE THINGS IN THIS COUNTY.
YOU ALL KNOW I LOVE CAROLINE COUNTY AND IT'S LIKE I LIKE TO KID AROUND.
I'M NOT HOMEGROWN, BUT I CHOSE TO LIVE HERE.
I'M NOT HERE BY AN ACCIDENT OR BIRTH.
I'VE TRAVELED AROUND THE WORLD.
THIS IS MY COMMUNITY, THIS IS MY FAMILY.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD HERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS STILL SO MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
I THINK MOST OF THE PEOPLE HERE SEE THAT.
WE ALL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS PUT STUDENTS FIRST, EGOS LAST, AND KEEP THAT FRONT AND CENTER THAT THIS IS ABOUT THE STUDENTS.
THAT WAS MY TAKEAWAY THIS MONTH.
I JUST DID A FEW THINGS AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE SPORTS TEAM BEING RECOGNIZED DAY BECAUSE IT WAS.
I GOT TO SEE SOME GAMES AND IT WAS JUST ENJOYABLE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY OUT WATCHING HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES HAPPEN.
I WANT TO COMMENT TO ALONG WHAT MR. JACKMAN WAS SAYING A LITTLE BIT, BUT I WENT THROUGH A COUPLE OF RETIREMENT THINGS AND I THANK THE STAFF THAT WERE RETIRING, BUT I ALSO MADE A COMMENT AND I REALIZED I NEGLECTED A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
I THANK THE STAFF THAT WERE THERE WHO RETIRED TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO WHO WERE STILL THERE, SOME OF THEM STILL HAD NAME TAGS ON, SOME OF THEM STILL VOLUNTEER, WORK CONTRACTUALLY, DO THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TRANSITION AND WE'VE HAD SOME RETIREES IN THE FUTURE, BUT I AM CONFIDENT IN CAROLINE COUNTY'S PATH AND OUR FUTURE.
WHAT I NEGLECTED TO THOSE PEOPLE RETIRING, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE A GOOD NUMBER OF THEM RE-INVESTING BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
WHAT I NEGLECTED TOO WAS TO SAY WE HAVE TWO RIGHT HERE WITH MS. WAYMAN AND MS. DIGIACOMO WHO HAVE RETIRED AND DIDN'T JUST WALK AWAY AND GO TO THE CARIBBEAN.
[LAUGHTER] THEY CAME BACK AND ARE PARTICIPATING IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND I APPRECIATE IT.
THAT BEING SAID, IT'S INTERESTING JUST AS A POINT OF ORDER NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE GREENSBORO EVENT OF THAT, BUT THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND I DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.
BUT THAT SCHOOL CLASSROOM, WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SECOND FLOOR, CORNER CLASSROOMS, THE SECOND FLOOR OVERLOOKING A THOUSAND-ACRE CORNFIELD.
JUST KNOW KIDS AND THEN WHEN THE KIDS WE WERE, HOW THEY PARTICIPATE.
WE'RE ALL STANDING UP, THEY'RE TAKING A TOUR.
I JUST COMMENTED ON THAT, WALKING OUT AFTERWARD, AFTER THEY ALL LEAVE.
A CONSULTANT LATER PUT SOMEBODY INVOLVED IN A PROJECT AND THE SYSTEM'S NOT THE CONSULTANT AND NOT THE GENERAL TRACKER, BUT SOMEONE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO IS POINTED OUT BUT YOU KNOW.
THERE IS A THOUGHT THERE. WE WERE STANDING UP, WALKING AROUND WHEN THE FOURTH OR FIFTH GRADE, WHATEVER GRADE IT IS, WHEN THEY SIT DOWN AT THEIR DESK, THE WINDOW SEALS UP HERE AND THE WINDOWS GO UP HIGH TO THE CEILING.
IT IS STILL A BIG WINDOW AND IT'S JUST, THERE ARE LITTLE DETAILS THAT SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE PUT INTO THE DESIGN OF A BUILDING THAT COST X.
[01:25:05]
YOU STILL GOT A LOT OF GREAT LIGHT, BUT HOPEFULLY, THEY'RE SITTING AT THEIR DESK AND THEY SEE THE BLUE SKY, BUT THEY'RE NOT SEEING THE CROP DUSTER FLYING [LAUGHTER] OVER THE CORNFIELD, BUT SO MANY DETAILS IN THE BUILDING OF OUR SYSTEM.BUT THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO SPENT THOSE YEARS WORKING FOR US AND RETIRING.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK.
>> WHAT ABOUT THE WINDOWS? MY FIRST JOB WAS AT LOCKERMAN.
THERE WERE NO WINDOWS, IT WAS LITERALLY IN THIS BOX.
WHEN IT WAS SNOWING, I'D HAVE TO SEND THE STUDENT OUT EVERY 10 OR 15 MINUTES CHECK IT, COME REPORT TO US BECAUSE WE WERE ALL LIKE, WHAT'S IT DOING? THESE STUDENTS CAN ACTUALLY NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, THAT WE WERE ALL GOING TO ANNOUNCE IT FOR YOU?
>> I LOVE SNOW. [LAUGHTER] THEN YOU GET ALL COMFORTABLE, AM JUST LIKE A BIG KID, NOT GET ALL EXCITED.
BUT I'D LET THE ONE KID RUN OUT FOR A MINUTE, AND THEN WE WOULD CONCENTRATE FOR 15 MINUTES.
WHERE IF I DIDN'T DO THAT, WE WOULDN'T EVEN GET THAT IN THERE BECAUSE LIKE, MS. DI, THEY'RE GOING TO LET US GO? I DON'T KNOW. THIS WAY, IT WORKED OUT WELL.
>> THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE BOARD REPORT.
WE HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT, DR. SIMMONS.
>> A COUPLE OF ITEMS. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO BRIEF THE BOARD ON AND BRING HERE OTHER PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AS WELL.
THIS SUMMER, AS I'M PRETTY SURE THE BOARD IS AWARE AND OTHERS ARE.
THIS YEAR, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS LAUNCHED SUMMER SCHOOL, AND REALLY BEEN MORE OF A LEAD ROLE IN SUMMER SCHOOL IN THE PAST.
WE'VE DONE A PARTNER ROLE WITH RECREATION AND PARKS AND THE ROLES HAVE REVERSED; THANKS TO SOME FUNDING STREAMS THAT HAVE COME DOWN.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE A QUICK SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OF THE WORK BEING DONE BY LINDSEY MCCORMICK, BY TWIGG ANTHONY AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS.
THIS IS A HUGE LIFT THAT LITERALLY, THE FUNDING CAME DOWN.
BETH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING WITH HELPING TO FEED OUR KIDS; CARMEN, WITH TRANSPORTATION.
THIS WAS A HUGE LIFT THE FUNDING CAME IN LATER.
USUALLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A RECREATION AND PARKS LEAVE WE PARTNER WITH THAT FLIP OF FUNDING.
IT FLIPPED THE SCRIPT TOTALLY FOR THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT AND WE'RE SERVING MORE STUDENTS THAN WE'VE EVER SERVED BEFORE.
USUALLY, WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 400-425.
WE'RE SERVING 750 KIDS, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH THIS YEAR, AND IT'S WORKING.
WAS IT PERFECT ON DAY 1? NO, WAS IT PERFECT ON DAY 2? NO. BUT IT GOT BETTER EVERY DAY AND IT'S WORKING.
THE KIDS ARE EXCITED TO BE THERE.
GOT TO BE AT ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TODAY WITH ALL THE KIDS JUST HAVING A GREAT TIME THEMSELVES.
EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS ARE DEFINITELY BUILT-IN AND HAPPENING.
WE'VE STILL GOT SUMMER CAMP COMPONENTS AS WELL, BUT IT REALLY HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THIS PULL OFF AT THIS LARGE OF A SCALE ON SUCH A SHORT TIME FRAME.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT NEXT YEAR WILL BRING WITH HAVING THAT MORE TIME TO PLAN THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT'S BEEN AWESOME.
ALL OF OUR SUMMER PROJECTS ARE ON SCHEDULE, WHICH IS EXCITING, AS ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT THE GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WORK.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE EVERYTHING OVER INTO THE NEW GREENSBORO SCHOOL, SO WE WILL START THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THERE.
I'M SURE WHEN WE GET AROUND TO IT IN AUGUST TALKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING WHERE ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, I THINK THAT'LL BE THE PLACE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO BE TO SEE THE KIDS' FACES AS THEY GO IN TO SEE THE NEW BUILDING, BUT IT'S MOVING ALONG VERY WELL.
THE HVAC CONTROLS UPGRADES WE DISCUSSED TWO MONTHS AGO THAT WERE BEING COVERED THROUGH CAROL'S FUNDING IS STILL GOING IN DEBT IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ORIGINALLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON LOCKERMAN.
PROJECTS ARE MOVING ALONG VERY WELL.
WILL BE EXCITING TO GET THOSE OLD PNEUMATIC CONTROLS OUT OF THERE AND GET SOME 21ST-CENTURY TECHNOLOGY, AND THAT WILL HELP US BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CLIMATE BETTER IN THOSE BUILDINGS.
OUR FLOOR REPLACEMENT AT ORIGINALLY, LOCKERMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE HAVE SOME CARPETED AREAS THAT WE ARE REPLACING WITH THE LVT, THAT LUXURY VINYL TILE, WHICH IS BETTER OF IN THE LONG RUN.
OF COURSE, IT IS EASIER TO CLEAN.
ALL OF THOSE PROJECTS WILL BE DONE BEFORE SCHOOL BEGINS.
THEN JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON, I DIDN'T PUT THE NUMBER OF DAYS, BUT WE ARE SIX WEEKS FROM NEW TEACHERS COMING IN.
WE ARE SEVEN WEEKS FROM ALL STAFF RETURNING AND EIGHT WEEKS AWAY FROM KIDS COMING BACK.
THERE'S YOUR SUMMER BUZZKILL. [LAUGHTER]
>> WAIT, NEW TEACHERS ARE WHAT? [BACKGROUND] AUGUST 19TH?
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, DEREK.
[01:30:01]
>> ONE COMMENT, I HAD SEEN THOSE SCHOOL BUSES GOING BY A COUPLE OF KIDS WHERE I LIVE ARE GETTING ON THE BUSES, I SEE THEM.
WHAT ARE THE HOURS FOR SUMMER SCHOOL?
>> MIDDLE AND HIGH START AT 8:00, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO DROP AND RUN AND GO PICK BACK UP, SO ELEMENTARY IS 9:00.
>> OKAY. THAT'S WHAT, ABOUT ONE OR TWO?
>> IT'S A FULL DAY FOR ELEMENTARY.
>> MIDDLE AND HIGH ARE HALF DAYS, BUT ELEMENTARY IS GETTING A FULL DAY EXPERIENCE.
>> HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE ONLINE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR?
>> I BELIEVE THE LAST CHECK WE HAD WAS 14. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT HAS INCREASED BECAUSE IT WAS NINE, BUT 14 NOW?
>> FOURTEEN, AND THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
DID YOU GUYS FINALIZE THE APPLICATIONS? I KNOW YOU AND LINDSAY AND BILL WERE MEETING TO DO THAT.
>> WE EACH DID OUR PART TODAY.
>> TODAY? VERY GOOD. I'M OFF THE PRESSES.
>> EVERY SCHOOL HAS SUMMER SCHOOL.
GREENSBORO IS HAVING THEIRS BACK.
>> HAVE WE HIT THAT LIST DATE TO SIGN UP?
>> IT WAS ORIGINALLY JUNE 13TH, THEY EXTENDED TO JUNE 30.
>> RIGHT. THEN WE'RE GOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE 15 SLOTS LEFT.
>> WE'RE GOOD. NOW IS THAT TIME WE WILL START REALLY PUSHING AND CONTINUING TO MONITOR RE-ENROLLMENTS, THOUGH IN ALL REALITY, WE'LL START SEEING RE-ENROLLMENT HAPPEN FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS PROBABLY MID-AUGUST.
NO MATTER OUR BEST MARKETING, IT'LL STILL TAKE THE BUS DRIVING AROUND BEFORE PEOPLE STARTED GOING, "OH, SCHOOL IS ABOUT TO START.
NEED TO GET THEM ENROLLED." BUT WE ARE ANTICIPATING A LOT OF STUDENTS RETURNING BACK TOO, SO THAT WOULD BE GOOD.
>> WILL WALMART AND TARGET HAVE ALL OUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES?
>> [LAUGHTER] IT WAS LIKE, "OH".
>> WE JOKE BEFORE ABOUT THEY JUST FUND SOMEONE TO DRIVE THE SCHOOL BUS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOODS [INAUDIBLE] BUT YOU'RE PICKING PEOPLE UP.
>> YES. THERE ARE SOME FAMILIES THAT ARE DEAD SERIOUS.
>> ARE THEY GOING TO SEE THEM ALL SUMMER NOW?
>> BOTH THERE'S A SCHOOL BUS. [INAUDIBLE] THEM IN.
>> GOOD STUFF. MOVING ON THE REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.
[6. Reports and Presentations]
WE HAVE A REPORT ON CONTRACT FOR FOOD RELATED CAFETERIA PRODUCTS AND INFORMATIONAL ITEM.>> WE'LL DO THESE TWO TOGETHER AND DISTRIBUTE THEM IF THAT'S OKAY, [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS THE NEXT ONE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE MS. BETH BREWSTER WITH US THIS EVENING.
BEFORE I FILL UP TO BETH AND BOTH ARE FOOD SERVICES ITEMS, THIS IS THE FIRST ONE OF THESE IT'S COME TO THE BOARD THAT I'M AWARE OF IN AT LEAST IN MY TIME.
THE BOARD HAS A POLICY ON PURCHASING.
IN THE PURCHASING POLICY, IT STATES THAT IF WE USE A PIGGYBACK BID, WHICH IS A BID THAT'S COMPETITIVELY AWARDED THROUGH ALL PROCEDURES TO ANOTHER SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND ALLOWS US TO USE THEIR BID PROCEDURES, WE CAN USE THEIR PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO GET THE BEST PRICE ON ITEMS. ONE OF THESE IS A PIGGYBACK BID.
THE OTHER ONE IS A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE BID, WHICH IS SOMEBODY LIKE SMAC OR THE ASBO ASSOCIATION FOR SCHOOL BOARDS.
IF THEY HAVE COMPETITIVELY PRICED AND BIDDING ON THROUGH THEIR PROCEDURES, WE CAN ACCESS THEIR PRICING AS WELL TO PURCHASE ITEMS, AND THEN THOSE ITEMS NEED TO GO BEFORE THE BOARD AS INFORMATIONAL ITEMS BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE CONTRACT.
THEY DO NOT REQUIRE BOARD ACTION AS LONG AS THEY'RE A PIGGYBACK OR A PURCHASING COOPERATIVE.
BETH IS HERE AND SHE CAN EXPLAIN WHAT THE PURCHASES ARE JUST SO YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATIONAL ITEM, BUT DUE TO THE SIZE OF IT, THE BOARD NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE PURCHASES THAT THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS MAKING THROUGH THESE PROCESSES. BETH.
>> MARK, WE NEED YOU TO MOVE TO THE PODIUM SO HE CAN PICK YOU UP FOR THE PEOPLE AT HOME.
>> WE HAVE LAPEL LIKES NEXT TIME.
>> EVERYONE OF THEM. I CAN'T SEE THAT.
>> THE FIRST ONE IS FOOD RELATED PRODUCTS.
>> THAT'S OUR PAPER PRODUCTS AND CECIL COUNTY HAS BID THAT OUT AND WE PIGGYBACKED WITH THEM LAST YEAR, AND WE DID AGAIN THIS YEAR.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO DO DUE DILIGENCE WITH THE PROCUREMENT.
SUSAN PHILLIPS IS WORTH EVERY PENNY, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS THAT AS FAR AS PROCUREMENT GOES FOR CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE ALSO ROLLED OVER OUR BREAD BID AS WELL.
ALL OF THE EASTERN SHORE GOES WITH CECIL COUNTY, THEY BID IT FOR US.
THERE'S ONE BREAD COMPANY ON THE EASTERN SHORE, IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, [LAUGHTER] SO THERE'S NOT MUCH TO BID.
[LAUGHTER] THE MILK IS THROUGH CECIL COUNTY, WE ROLLED OVER WITH THAT AS WELL.
NEXT YEAR WILL BE OUR BIG BID WITH CISCO.
[01:35:02]
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WHOLE EASTERN SHORE DOING A CO-OP TO BE ABLE TO BID THAT.WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'LL SAVE US A LOT OF MONEY.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET BETTER BUYING POWER BECAUSE PRODUCTS IS VERY HARD TO GET RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU COME OUT TO LOOK AT THE FREEZER, IT'S WELL STOCKED WITH PROTEIN ITEMS, I CAN TELL YOU.
IT CAME JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME, THE BIG FREEZER.
I'M JUST PROUD OF IT AS YOU ARE [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE FREEZER LADIES, PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE FREEZER.
THE NEXT BID IS WITH THE DISHWASHERS.
WE HAVE FOUR DISHWASHERS THAT ARE PROBABLY 30 YEARS OLD, IF NOT OVER.
THESE ARE THE LAST FOUR TO BE REPLACED IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE DID GET A GRANT, I APPLY FOR GRANT THROUGH MSD, THE EQUIPMENT GRANT.
I GOT $50,000, SO IT'S ONLY GOING TO COST US $60,000 TO INSTALL.
BUT NOTHING IS EASY, THE MACHINES WE HAVE IN ARE 54 INCHES, AND NOW THEY ONLY MAKE 44 INCHES OR 64 INCHES.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE EITHER SMALLER OR BIGGER, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MOVE ALL THE TABLES NOW.
I UNDERESTIMATED IT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE INSTALLATION, BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO GET THIS DONE.
ALTO HARTLEY DID CECIL COUNTY, SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THEIRS RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE HAD A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.
NOT A LOT OF BELLS AND WHISTLES ON THESE, WHICH WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE MORE BELLS AND WHISTLES, AND MORE THINGS CAN GO WRONG.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE REALLY DOING WELL WITH OUR EQUIPMENT.
THAT FREEZER THAT WAS OUT AT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WENT OUTSIDE, WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT BACK TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND PUT ON THE PATIO BEHIND WHERE THE FREEZER IS, SO WE'LL HAVE EXTRA STORAGE.
THE STATE HAD $30,000 EXTRA FOR FRESH FRUIT AND PRODUCE, AND THEY CALLED ME ON THE 24TH AND TOLD ME HOW TO SPEND IT BY THE 30TH, OR IT HAD ARRIVED AS 30TH.
WE ACTUALLY GOT $3,000 WORTH OF PRODUCE AT LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IF YOU WANTED TO SEE A SIGHT, [LAUGHTER] BECAUSE THE LADIES ARE OVER THERE PROCESSING, SO IT'S GOING VERY WELL.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE REALLY GOOD ON OUR EQUIPMENT, WE'RE DOING REAL WELL WITH GETTING THINGS.
ONE, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE THROUGH COVID FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT JUST OUR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO CAROLINE COUNTY COMMUNITY.
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON THE RECOGNITION YOU'VE RECEIVED.
IT TAKES A COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE, ANY QUESTION?
>> ALSO FOR TAKING ON THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT. NO, WE REALLY DO.
>> YOU LIKE THAT AND WE WANT TO [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER]
>> SHE'S LIKE, "I'LL GET YOU LATER." [LAUGHTER]
>> THAT'S MY PLEASURE, WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
>> ROOM MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, CAN WE LOOK AT THE, THIS IS INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
[7. Public Comment]
NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.>> [INAUDIBLE] THERE'S ONE OUT SENDING A PUBLIC COMMENT, THEY WERE JUST SENDING IT TO THE BOARD.
>> WELL, UNDER PUBLIC COMMENT JUST SO WE DID GET A COUPLE OF STUDENT LETTERS AND I'LL JUST TAKE POINT OF ORDER FOR A SECOND FOR THE BOARD, LET STUDENTS KNOW WE DID RECEIVE SOME STUDENT LETTERS.
[INAUDIBLE] AND BETH HAPPENS TO BE HERE AND I THINK SHE'S RESPONDING ABOUT SOME OF THE FOOD IN THE PAST YEAR OR THE FOOD WE'RE PROVIDING.
BUT I'LL JUST CAVEAT IT WITHIN THE PAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS REFERENCED IN THE LAST YEAR AND I THINK WE ALL ACKNOWLEDGED THE FOOD DELIVERY PROCESS AND IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS PAST YEAR THAN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY.
ASK THESE STUDENTS TO LET THEM KNOW.
ONE, WE'VE RECEIVED YOUR LETTERS, WE'VE READ THEM, WE HEAR YOU AND I KNOW. JUST BEAR WITH US.
IT'LL GET BETTER THEN IT WAS, DON'T JUDGE US ON LAST YEAR, EVEN THOUGH WE DID A GREAT JOB.
PEOPLE GOT FOOD AND MORE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE FOOD IN CAROLINE COUNTY AS WE'VE HEARD IN A LOT OF PEOPLE, IN A LOT OF SIMILAR COUNTIES.
THANK YOU AND ALL OF THE STAFF AND
[01:40:02]
ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SHOWED UP AND DID ALL THAT WORK.JUST TO THOSE STUDENTS, WE DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.
YOU SHOULD'VE SEEN WHEN I WAS IN ELEMENTARY.
>> YEAH, THEY DON'T HAVE GOOD THEY HAVE IT.
>> BUT AS ALWAYS, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.
I KNOW YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO DO NEW THINGS, SO THANK YOU.
>> WELL, IF I CAN COMMENT TOO.
I KNOW WHERE YOUR HEART IS AND YOUR INTENTION.
YOU APPRECIATE WHAT THE STUDENTS WROTE.
WE DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO THINK THAT WE DON'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.
[OVERLAPPING] ON WHAT SHE SAID, BUT THE POINTS ARE WELL TAKEN, WE ALL HEAR IT.
>> THEY GAVE REASONS AND IT WAS WELL-WRITTEN.
AT THE END, THEY BOTH EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS AFTER COVID.
>> I THINK THEY KNOW, BUT I LOVED THE FACT THAT STUDENTS STOOD UP FOR WHAT THEY THINK.
>> THAT'S NICE THAT THEY NOTICED, THAT IT WASN'T.
>> ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, ANY HARDSHIP, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WHO HAS IT WORSE.
MY DAD GREW UP IN UPSTATE NEW YORK AND IT DIDN'T MATTER HOW MUCH IT SNOWED, FOR HIM, HE ALWAYS HAD TO WALK TO SCHOOL FROM DEEPER SNOW.
[LAUGHTER] HAD TO GO BOTH WAYS.
[LAUGHTER] YOU KNOW THAT CLICHE, BUT HE USED TO SAY THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF WE COMPLAINED ABOUT FOOD, HE WAS IN WORLD WAR II.
HE WAS IN VERY BAD PLACES IN WORLD WAR II AND THE ONLY TIME HE EVER TALKED ABOUT THAT WAR IS IF WE COMPLAINED ABOUT OUR FOOD.
[LAUGHTER] HE'D TELL US WHERE HE HAD TO EAT AND THEN WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO HIM ANYWAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT MICHELLE, YOU OUGHT TO SAY LOUDER.
>> I WAS JUST SAYING THAT IF AUSTIN AND JADEN WERE LISTENING, THIS IS JUST A GOOD SIGN OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP BEING ABLE TO SPEAK UP.
>> MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM.
>> IF THEY EVER WANT SOMETHING READ OUT LOUD, THERE IS A PROCEDURE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEND IT IN AND IT WILL GET READ OUT LOUD.
I ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO DO THAT.
>> NO. [LAUGHTER] I HAVE A STUDENT THAT DID EMAIL ME PERSONALLY THAT WE DON'T TEACH SCRIPT IN SCHOOL AND HE'S A SENIOR AND HE'S STARTING TO FILL OUT ALL THESE APPLICATIONS AND HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DO A SIGNATURE.
THAT IS A VERY REAL POINT THAT AT SOME POINT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD THAT A STUDENT DID THAT.
>> GOOD STUFF. YES. THANK YOU.
MOVING ON TO DISCUSSION OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD DISCUSSION.
[8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action]
DR. SYMONS, YOU'VE PUT ON HERE SOUNDING BOARD SESSION POLICY.>> YEAH. MR. GIACOMO IS A GREAT SEGUE INTO THAT ABOUT OUR SOUNDING BOARD POLICY.
AS WE'VE COME BACK TO A LIVE IN-PERSON MEETING, WHICH IS GREAT AND WE STILL HAVE THE VIRTUAL OPTION THAT HOPEFULLY WE HAVE PEOPLE TUNING IN.
OUR SOUNDING BOARD SESSION POLICY IS OUT OF DATE.
THE BOARD HAD MENTIONED IN A BOARD MEETING OF PROBABLY GOT FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS AGO THAT IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT WE DO TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE IF ANY REVISIONS ARE MADE.
I'M NOT ASKING THAT WE SIT HERE WITH A PENCIL TONIGHT AND GO THROUGH REVISIONS, BUT I'M CURIOUS, WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD OF WHAT ARE SOME PARAMETERS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A SOUNDING BOARD POLICY? WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO WITH THAT? OUR POLICY AS WRITTEN NOW DOES NOT ALLOW FOR OUR COVID RULES THAT WE PUT IN PLACE TO HAVE THE IN-PERSON OR THE COMMENTS SENT IN BY EMAIL.
DOES THE BOARD STILL WANT TO ALLOW ONLINE SUBMISSIONS? IF SO, SINCE WE'RE NO LONGER IN A PANDEMIC, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE PROCEDURES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ALIGN THE POLICY AND I CAN WORK ONE WITH THE TEAM GETTING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE AND THEN THERE'S OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT TIME LIMITS.
OUR POLICY DOESN'T REFERENCE TIME LIMITS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH OF THE MEETING TIME.
OTHER SYSTEMS HAVE POLICIES THAT PUT A LIMIT OR PUT IN WARM DISCRETION, THEY CAN LIMIT IT TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME OR ALLOW IT TO GO LONGER, BUT THEY GIVE THEMSELVES THAT ONE RAMP OR OFF RAMP WHEN IT COMES TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IF THE BOARD WANTS TO RECONSIDER ANY OF THAT NOW WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO START THAT PROCESS THAT WE'RE COMING BACK TO HAVING PEOPLE IN FRONT OF US AND STILL KEEP THE ONLINE PIECE AVAILABLE FOR WELL WISHES.
[01:45:05]
>> I THINK MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THE BETTER.
>> THERE ARE FOLKS WITH WORK SCHEDULES THAT DON'T ALLOW THEM TO COME SO THIS WILL GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT THEIR OPINIONS OR DESIRES OR WHATEVER.
WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A TIME LIMIT, YOU MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, 20 MINUTE TIME PERIOD OUT OF THE WHOLE-
>> OUT OF THE OVERALL MEETING.
OF COURSE SOME ASSUMING THAT RANGING ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES, THAT THERE WOULD BE NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES OF A MEETING TIME WOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT UNLESS THE BOARD WISHES TO GO LONGER OR 45 MINUTES UNLESS THE BOARD WISHES TO GO LONGER.
SOME WERE HARD SET AND JUST TO STOP AT 30.
ONCE WE REACH 30 MINUTES, PUBLIC COMMENT IS OVER FOR THE NIGHT.
YOU GOT TO SET UP FOR THE NEXT ONE.
[OVERLAPPING] OUR POLICY GIVES EACH PERSON FIVE MINUTES.
>> WE'VE NEVER USUALLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THAT.
IF YOU START TAKING UP 30 TO 60 MINUTES OF A MEETING WHERE YOU HAVE A PLANNED AGENDA FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, ULTIMATELY THAT'S PROBABLY TELLING YOU GOT OTHER ISSUES.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU DISCOUNT THAT, BUT YOU SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S TIME.
>> HAVE WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH GOING LONGER THAN, I MEAN?
>> WE CAME CLOSE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND THEN, OH, I THINK I WAS IN THE CLASSROOM THE LAST TIME AND I FORGET WHAT THE ISSUE WAS THEN BUT TWICE I CAN RECALL IN MY CAREER THAT WE'VE HAD-
>> A MULTIPLE MEETING STRETCH OVER TOO LONG.
>> BUT THAT'S USUALLY AFTER SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS.
>> TYPICALLY OR PROCEED WITH THE [INAUDIBLE].
ACTUALLY, IT WAS AP. WE NEED TO BE ART.
WE MAY OR MAY NOT DO ANYTHING ON THE TIME FRAME, IT'S JUST WE DO NEED TO TOUCH IT FOR ONLINE AND EMAIL BUT IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE IN HERE-
>> IS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE FROM HERE THE BOARD DOES NOT.
PERSONALLY, THERE'S ONE I WOULD RECOMMEND. IT EDITS.
WHEN IT COME BACK TO YOU WITH CLEANED UP LANGUAGE OF A SMALL BELL DEVICE WILL RING.
THERE'S A BETTER WAY THAT WE CAN- [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE'S JUST SOME- [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE ARE SOME OTHER WAYS THAT WE CAN SET ASIDE A TIMER FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS OPPOSED TO [NOISE] YEAH
>> YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE SOMETHING CALLED EGG TIMER.
>> YEAH. THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO MODERNIZE AND WE CAN'T FIND OURSELVES-
>> A BELL DEVICE WILL RING, I MEAN, I GUESS WE'RE AGAINST OUR POLICY AND SOMEONE CAN HOLD US ACCOUNT.
>> GO BACK TO THE COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES UPON-
>> HONESTLY, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THE 30-SECOND WARNING.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I LIKE THE FIVE MINUTES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I PUT A TIMER UP THERE, THAT WAS THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT.
>> WELL, THERE YOU GO [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE IT FROM THERE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] TO MAKE JUST A COUPLE QUICK COMMENTS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY APPROPRIATE TO REVIEW THIS AS YOU SAID, IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED, NEEDS TO BE SOME UPDATE.
I APPLAUD THAT AND EVERY PUBLIC BODY, COMMITTEES, TOWN COUNCILS, COUNTY COUNCILS, COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAS THE SAME ISSUE AND YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR MEETING HIJACKED BY SOMEONE WHO COMES IN AND WANTS TO PRESENT SOMETHING, IT CREATES A LOT OF DEBATE.
ON ONE HAND, YOU CAN'T HAVE AN UNPLANNED FOR AGENDA ITEM THAT TAKES OVER AND YOU COULD HAVE EVERY SEAT IN THE ROOM PRACTICALLY FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT ISSUE.
THEIR REPRESENTATIVE GETS UP THERE, PRESENTS THEIR FIVE MINUTES AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR MEETING PRETTY EASILY THAT WAY.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS YOU HAVE TO HAVE A POLICY LIKE THIS.
A CONCERN I HAVE, THE FLIP OF THAT IS WHEN THEY PRESENT WHAT'S TROUBLING THEM AND THEN THIS BOARD SITS HERE WITH STONE FACES.
YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN RESPONSE, SOMETHING.
YOU CAN SAY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, WE WILL TAKE THAT WITH INTEREST AND WE WILL TALK IT OVER IN THE INTERIM.
WE CAN'T RESPOND RIGHT NOW BUT IF THEY REPORTED
[01:50:03]
SOMETHING THAT IS RIDICULOUSLY TIMELY AND A BIG PROBLEM, THAT'S WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT CERTAINLY CAN SAY, "I'VE GOT IT, WE'LL BE ON TOP OF THAT.WE'LL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH THAT." BUT SILENCE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
>> WE NEED TO REVISIT A LITTLE [OVERLAPPING] BUT YOU CAN'T GET IN THIS THING WHERE YOU ANSWER THEM, "WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT," AND THEN THEY WANT TO ANSWER YOU BACK AND YOU'LL LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR MEETING THAT WAY, I GET IT.
THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING TO HAVE.
IT NEEDS REVISITING, IT NEEDS MODERNIZATION.
ALL THESE THINGS I AGREE WITH.
WE HAVE TO THINK OF A WAY TO RESPOND TO THEM TOO AND MAKE OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANSWERING THEIR QUESTION EVEN IF IT'S A SILLY QUESTION OR THEIR POINT, WE MIGHT NOT THINK IT'S VALID BUT THEY DESERVE AN ANSWER.
>> MR. MARTIN, SOME OF THE POLICIES I'VE REVIEWED WHERE OUR STATE SAID COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO WANT A RESPONSE MAY SUBMIT THIS REQUEST IN WRITING TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
THERE ARE OTHER POLICIES THAT IT'S IMPLIED THAT IF YOU DO SPEAK A PUBLIC COMMENT THAT THE BOARD OR THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL PROVIDE A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO YOUR [OVERLAPPING] PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEY JUST LEAVE THAT GENERIC BUT THAT EVERYBODY GETS A RESPONSE, NOT THAT NIGHT BECAUSE WE WANT TO AVOID THE ENGAGEMENT BACK AND FORTH BUT THEN EVERYBODY WHO DOES SPEAK WILL GET A RESPONSE BACK WRITTEN EITHER FROM THE BOARD OR FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OR BOTH, DEPENDING.
>> YEAH. THAT'S GOOD AND IT JUST NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED [OVERLAPPING] AND ESPECIALLY WITH WHATEVER NUMBER OF AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARE WATCHING AND WE DON'T EVEN NECESSARILY KNOW HOW MANY IT IS.
>> PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
>> THEN IN SOME CASES, IT MIGHT BE A TOPIC THAT NEEDS TO BE MAYBE ADDRESSED AT THE FOLLOWING WORK SESSION.
>> IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING, SAY IT IN THE MEETING.
IT'S NOT JUST TO THE ONE PERSON THAT BROUGHT IT UP.
>> WELL, LET'S CONTINUE TO TAKE THIS UNDER CONSIDERATION.
BOARD, I WOULD SUGGEST LET'S LEAVE THIS ON THE SAME AREA OF THE AGENDA DISCUSSION FOR ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION.
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, GO HOME, PRINT IT OUT, TAKE SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES OF THOUGHTS WE CAN ADD WE'D SEND THROUGH E-MAIL TO DR. SIMMONS AHEAD OF TIME AND LET'S UPDATE THIS.
ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE RIGHT HERE BEFORE I FORGET, I GUESS, FOR E-MAIL SUBMISSIONS, I WOULD JUST ASK FOR STAFF INPUT ON WHAT THE APPROPRIATE TIME WOULD BE FOR A DEADLINE.
I MEAN, WALKING IN HERE AND SIGNING YOUR NAME IS RIGHT BEFORE THE MEETING OR UP TILL THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF WE'RE GOING TO DO E-MAIL, IS IT 4 O'CLOCK THE DAY OF THE MEETING, IS IT NOON THE DAY OF THE MEETING? I DON'T KNOW. I'LL DEFER TO STAFF AND ASK.
>> WE'LL LOOK AT WHAT SOME OTHER POLICIES ARE.
A LOT OF SYSTEMS ARE WRESTLING WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.
>> TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME TO ORGANIZE THEM TO MAKE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH READ AND PROOFREAD AND MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING INFLAMMATORY OR INAPPROPRIATE IN THEM AND GET THEM POSTED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE APPROPRIATE TIMETABLE IS.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THAT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? THANK YOU.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS, ONE TIME WE HAD DISCUSSED PUBLIC COMMENT VERSUS EMPLOYEE COMMENT.
DO WE NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN THE TWO OR WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONSIDER ANYBODY PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I GOT TO DISCUSS.
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. CAN I LOOK INTO THAT FOR [INAUDIBLE]? THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER POLICIES I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT BEFORE I SPEAK.
>> [OVERLAPPING] BECAUSE EMPLOYEES OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK TOO BUT IN A DIFFERENT AVENUE, SAME AVENUE BUT JUST MAKE IT CLEAR.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
>> MOVING ON, UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
[9. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE GOT A WORK SESSION ON JULY 20TH.I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN AND I DON'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO BE AT THE [INAUDIBLE] I'VE ASKED HER TO BE IN CHARGE.
I DON'T BELIEVE I'LL BE CALLING IN AUGUST 3RD OR NORMAL BOARD MEETING FOR AUGUST OR RETREAT ON THE 11TH, WORK SESSION ON THE 17TH, AND AS WE HEAR, THINGS START ROLLING 19TH, 25TH, AND SEPTEMBER 1ST.
>> I'LL BE ABSENT ON THE 17TH BOARD SESSION.
>> HOW LONG IS THAT? NOT THAT, I MEAN, THE BOARD RETREAT, IS THAT A HALF-DAY OR FULL DAY?
>> WE CAN PRE-PLAN FOR A FULL DAY.
[01:55:05]
>> ANY OTHER THINGS FOR THE GOOD [INAUDIBLE]? HEARING NONE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DISMISS?
>> PERMISSION BY MRS. GIACOMO.
>> SECOND BY MR. BART, AND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TONIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.