[1. Opening Items]
[00:00:47]
>> [INAUDIBLE] ANY COMMENTS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE AGENDA? IF NOT, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE AGENDA.
>> MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE THE AGENDA. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
>> SECOND BY MR. JONES CONGRATULATIONS.
>> ALL RIGHT. MOVING FORWARD TO MINUTES.
WE'VE GOT MINUTES FROM THE JULY 6TH MEETING OR MEETING ON THE JULY 20TH WORK SESSION.
WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE BOARD MEMBERS, SO I GUESS IT'S NOTED THAT I WASN'T THERE.
BOARD MEMBERS SEE ANY CORRECTIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THOSE MINUTES.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION REFERRING TO 4.05.
IT'S SUBTITLE, "ASPIRING TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP POLICY REVISION," AND PLEASE CORRECT ME, I MAY HAVE THIS WRONG.
I THINK THAT WHAT WE IDENTIFIED IN THE MINUTES HERE IS REFERRING TO WHAT WE DID AS A BOARD FOR THE 2021 GRADUATION YEAR.
BUT WE DISCUSSED AND VOTED AND APPROVED CONTINUING A SCHOLARSHIP FOR TWO GRADUATING SENIORS WHO WERE MAJORING IN EDUCATION AND TWO MINORITY STUDENTS WHO WERE MAJORING IN EDUCATION.
ONE OF EACH CAME FROM EACH HIGH SCHOOL, AND I DON'T SEE THAT IN THE MINUTES.
>> MS. [INAUDIBLE] MEYERS I HAD THE BOARD REVIEW [INAUDIBLE].
THE CONVERSATION ABOUT ADDING THE FOUR SCHOLARSHIP IN THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN NOVEMBER, THE BOARD WAS DEFINITELY IN FAVOR OF CONSIDERING INCREASING TO FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS, AND WE WOULD REVISIT THAT AT THE TIME OF THE BUDGET.
RIGHT NOW, THE BUDGET INCLUDES THREE SCHOLARSHIPS, SO FOR 23 BUDGET WE WOULD NEED TO INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE FOURTH SCHOLARSHIP.
BUT THAT WE WOULD LIKELY BE REVISING OUR POLICY AT THAT POINT, IF THE BOARD ALLOCATES THE FUNDING, WE THEN WOULD BE REVISING THE POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MATCHES WHAT THE FUNDING LEVEL IS.
>> OKAY, SO WILL THAT BE [OVERLAPPING].
>> SORRY MISS WAYMAN THAT COULD BE NOTED IN THE MINUTES AND SHOULD BE SO WE HAVE THAT REFERENCE POINT TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND AT THAT DEVELOPMENT, SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE CLARIFICATION.
>> OKAY. BUT WE'RE GOING TO ADD THAT TO THE MINUTES.
>> OKAY. BECAUSE I REMEMBER HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND MY RECOLLECTION WAS SIMILAR TO DEREK'S IS THAT THE POLICY CORRECTION WAS TO UPDATE THE POLICY ON THE BUDGET PROCESS HAD TAKEN PLACE IN 1920 AND '21, THAT THE POLICY HAD NEVER BEEN UPDATED TO MATCH THAT.
THEN I THINK MS. WAYMAN, YOU BROUGHT UP ADDING IT, AND THEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE COMING BUDGET DISCUSSION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.
WE JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE WE PUT A PIN IN IT AS THEY SAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. NOW THAT EVERYBODY'S IN AGREEMENT AND ON THE SAME PAGE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES AS AMENDED?
[00:05:01]
SECOND BY MS. WAYMAN.[2. Consent Agenda]
MOVING ON WE HAVE MS. YAKUS COMING TO US TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL.>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT YUCAM, MEMBERS OF BOARD.
WELCOME MR. JONES, DR. SIMMONS.
I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO PRESENT PERSONAL AGENDA FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND CONSENT.
IT IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR [LAUGHTER].
THIS EVENING I TOTAL IT ALL UP WITH THE ADDENDUM.
TWO LEAVES OF ABSENCES, ONE RECENT RETIREMENT, SIX RESIGNATIONS, 11 APPOINTMENTS TO REGULAR CONTRACT, ONE APPOINTMENT TO PROVISIONAL CONTRACT, NINE APPOINTMENTS TO SECOND PROVISIONAL CONTRACT.
FIVE, APPOINTMENTS TO THIRD PROVISIONAL CONTRACT.
ONE APPOINTMENT TO A FOURTH PROVISIONAL CONTRACT, AND SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO A REGULAR CONTRACT FROM PROVISIONAL CONTRACT.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT? I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M GOING TO ASSUME WHEN YOU SAY FIRST PROVISIONAL CONTRACT, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE EVER DONE IT.
SECOND, MEANS WE'RE RENEWING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. SORRY. YES.
>> SO THIRD WOULD MEAN FOR THE SECOND TIME? [NOISE]
>> IS THERE A LIMIT AND WHY IS IT PROVISIONAL VERSUS REGULAR?
>> SURE. THE PROVISIONAL IS THE CONTRACT.
WHAT WE ALSO HAVE THAT IS THE CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATION.
THESE FOLKS ARE HIRED ON A CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATE.
CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATES ARE ONLY GOOD FOR TWO YEARS.
YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE TWO CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATES, SO FOUR PROVISIONAL CONTRACTS, AND IT TRULY IS A DIFFERENT COLOR CONTRACT.
THERE'S THE REGULAR BLUE TEACHER CONTRACT AND THIS IS A SHADE OF GRAY CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISIONALS.
>> MISS YAKUS, AND JUST TO CLARIFY IT AND I THINK WHAT MR. JOCKOMO WAS ASKING IF SOMEONE'S OFFERED A PROVISIONAL CONTRACT THEY'RE NOT CERTIFIED IN CONTENT AREA AND THEY'RE WORKING TOWARDS.
SO OUR FIRST PROVISIONAL THEORETICALLY WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO HAS A BACKGROUND IN PERHAPS A COLLEGE DEGREE AND NOT A TEACHING CERTIFICATE AND HAS AGREED TO WORK TOWARDS.
OUR SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH PROVISIONAL CONTRACTS WILL BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS THEIR CERTIFICATION AND ARE ALSO MEETING STANDARD FOR TEACHING AS WELL.
THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WHEN THEIR COLLEGE WORK TO BECOME CERTIFIED TEACHERS, REVOLVING ALONG THAT PROCESS.
OUR SEVEN APPOINTMENTS FROM PROVISIONALS ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE MOVED THROUGH THAT PROVISIONAL PROCESS THAT WE HIRED WHO HAD DEGREES BUT NOT AN EDUCATION THAT IF FINISHED EVERYTHING FOR THEIR TEACHING CERT, AND IT MOVES TO THAT PROCESS?
THE SEVEN APPOINTMENTS TO REGULAR CONTRACT IS EXCITING.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, POTENTIALLY.
SOME OF THEM COULD HAVE GONE FORTH BUT QUITE A LOT OF WORK.
>> WHILE LEARNING HOW TO BE A TEACHER DURING COVID. [LAUGHTER]
>> LEARNING SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS THERE, SURE.
>> MY QUESTION IS, SO HOW MUCH MORE YET TO GO?
>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT LEFT TO GO.
I HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE THAT I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE [OVERLAPPING] I'LL PRESENT TONIGHT JUST TO WHERE WE ARE, A LITTLE SNAPSHOT IN TIME, WHICH UNFORTUNATELY IS ALREADY [LAUGHTER] OUT OF DATE SINCE I DID THIS FOR THE BOARD MEETING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BUT THIS IS A LITTLE BIT FLUID, BUT LIKE I SAY, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TO GO.
I DID A QUICK LOOK BACK AT LAST AUGUST THIS TIME, AUGUST 5TH, AND WE LITERALLY HAD ONE RETIREMENT AND SIX RESIGNATIONS AT THIS TIME AS WELL. IT'S HARD TO EXPLAIN.
>> IS THAT A TYPE OF ONE RETIREMENT OR SEVEN RETIREMENTS? YOU SAID ONE.
>> I'M NOT FINISHING THE OTHER ONE. AT THIS MOMENT I LOOKED BACK BUT THAT'S JUST OUR BOARD MEETING.
THAT'S ALL LAST YEAR THIS TIME, IT'S CUMULATIVE.
AT THIS BOARD MEETING, I PRESENTED ONE RETIREMENT, AGAIN, A LATE RETIREMENT, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY, AND SIX RESIGNATIONS FROM OUR LAST BOARD MEETINGS.
SEVEN MOVEMENTS SINCE OUR LAST TIME WE GOT TOGETHER AND DID THE CONSENT AGENDA.
LIKE I SAID, THIS SLIDE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL WANT TO CONSENT OR YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
I'M NOT SURE I CAN DO BOTH. I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.
AGAIN, 8/5 WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE BOARD MEETING THIS TIME LAST YEAR TO 7/30, WHICH IS WHEN I DID THE SLIDES, WHICH AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, ALREADY A LITTLE OUTDATED THE SLIDE.
JUST A COMPARISON, JUST A QUICK LOOK.
AS WE COMPILE MORE DATA, WE'LL CHANGE THE GRAPH TO PROBABLY A LINE GRAPH AND SHOWING SOME TRENDS.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU ALL SOMETHING WHERE WE ARE, A SNAPSHOT ON TIME.
FORTY-ONE HIRE'S JUST MORE [LAUGHTER] FOR OUR OFFICE, IT'S A BUSY TIME.
SOME SCHOOLS, LIKE I SAID, THEY DIDN'T HAVE MANY, HAD SOME.
BUT COLONEL HIGH, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH SIX FROM TWO, THEY ALSO HAD THREE RETIREMENTS, A COUPLE OF RESIGNATIONS.
JUST IF WE ALL LOOK AT AND SEE SOME OF THE CHANGES.
[00:10:03]
>> IS LAST YEAR. FY20. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE DARK COLOR IS THIS YEAR?
>> HOW MANY POSITIONS AT THIS MOMENT DO YOU HAVE STILL OPEN?
>> IT'S STILL FLUID. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS MOMENT, WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT MORE TO GO.
>> HOW ARE WE DOING ON SPECIAL EDUCATION?
>> WE'RE DOING OKAY. OF THOSE EIGHT, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE MORE OF THOSE TO GO.
>> GOT INTERVIEWS TOMORROW, [OVERLAPPING] THE FOUR MORE OF THOSE.
>> SURE. I DON'T SIMPLY LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, BUT THAT'S OKAY. SURE. [LAUGHTER]
>> IF YOU'RE ON TRACK, YOU GET ALL THOSE DONE. YES.
>> WELL, I'M SUPREMELY OPTIMISTIC.
MY GOODNESS, THIS IS NOT PART OF THE DEAL.
I DON'T BE LIKE SIT HERE DOOM AND GLOOM LIKE WE'RE JUST NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT.
NO, I'M TRULY OPTIMISTIC AND I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WANTS TO BE FULLY STAFFED ON THE OPENING DAY.
>> SURE. WE'VE GOT A GOOD HISTORY OF THAT.
>> I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY REASONABLE UPDATE DATE, SO DON'T FEEL AT ALL PHONY OF IT.
HERE IT IS THE THIRD, WISER TO SAY THE THIRD.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY NICE. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, I WANT TO FEEL THE AS IN AND LOOK AT IT, BUT AGAIN, IT'S EVER MOVING ON.
WE'RE STILL USE THIS WEEK AND THERE'S OFFERS OUT.
>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HISTORY OF BEING FULLY STAFFED ON OPENING THE SCHOOL.
BUT IF YOU CAN'T CONTROL OTHER PEOPLE'S CHOICES ON WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND OTHER OFFERS, I KNOW IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT THAT WE HAVE MORE OPENINGS THIS YEAR THAN LAST YEAR, AFTER WHATEVER EVERYBODY'S GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST YEAR. THAT'S CRAZY.
>> I THINK HYBRID TEACHING WAS VERY REAL FOR EVERYBODY.
THE OTHER PART TOO IS THAT AND I JUST LITERALLY FORGOT MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT, BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF THE HIRES WE'VE MADE THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE CONDITIONALS, THE CONTENTS THERE.
I'M VERY EXCITED AND OUR STAFF ARE DOING REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THE PD AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORING TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE AND THEY'LL DO THE WORK TO GET FROM THIS PROVISIONAL PROGRESSION OF CONTRACTS AND CONDITIONAL CERTIFICATE.
OF THE PEOPLE WE'VE HIRED, I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THEM.
NOT THAT MY OPINION MATTERS, BUT AGAIN FROM THEIR CONTENT THEY'RE BRINGING.
>> I'M GOING TO HAVE A FULL IN SEPTEMBER, A FULL OF LOCAL HIRES, MINORITY HIRES.
I'LL HAVE EVERYTHING CALCULATED.
>> ARE WE AT LEAST GETTING SOME MINORITIES?
>> YEAH. I'LL SAY THAT WITH YES.
>> THAT'S BASICALLY, I GET IT.
>> GOOD INFORMATION. BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION OR TOPIC CONSENT AGENDA?
>> CAN I ASK WHAT? JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE RESIGNED OR WHATEVER, THEY'RE NOT RESIGNING FOR NEGATIVE REASONS.
LIKE IT WAS EITHER RESIGN OR YOU'RE FIRED?
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO ASK THAT.
>> YEAH. NO, THAT'S NOT THIS TIME A YEAR.
THAT'S A DIFFERENT YEAR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, MA'AM. HOPEFULLY WE WOULD LIKE TO WAIT TILL THIS TIME A YEAR TO TELL THEM.
IT IS SURPRISING WE'VE GOT 3, 4, 5, IN JULY, BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO PEOPLE'S PERSONAL PREFERENCES.
>> AGAIN, JULY 15TH IS THE LAST DAY TEACHERS WHO ARE ON CONTRACT RESIGNED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THEIR CONTRACT, WITHOUT POSSIBLE SUSPENSION TO THEIR CONTRACT.
IN MY EXPERIENCE IN DOING THIS, THERE'S ALWAYS ONE ON JULY 15TH, SO IT'S A MAD SCRAMBLE ON THE 15TH FOR A LOT OF COUNTIES.
>> BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE THAT DATES OF 13TH, 14TH, 15TH.
>> YEAH. THAT'S OTHER SYSTEMS WE'RE TRYING TO FILL THEIR POSITIONS THAT ARE OPENING UP THEIR INTERVIEWING AND MAKING OFFERS AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE IF THEY'RE IN MARYLAND, THEY'RE UP AGAINST THE SAME JULY 15TH DEADLINE.
THAT WE ALL, THAT WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING TO OUR COLLEAGUES, CALLING THEM AND [OVERLAPPING] REVIEWING THEIR PEOPLE AND SAYING, "HEY, COME TO US." YEAH.
SOME PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR SPOUSE WHO GOT A JOB ELSEWHERE.
>> OR SOME PEOPLE JUST LEAVE TEACHING.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE AT ALL, [OVERLAPPING] IT'S JUST A REALITY RIGHT NOW.
>> A LITTLE NOTE OF WHO WE HAVE HIRED, WE'RE FORTUNATE FOR EVERY ONE THAT COMES IN AND WE GET, BECAUSE EVERYBODY, EVERYWHERE YOU GO, AT ALL POINT AND CAN'T FIND PEOPLE, THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY'S SAYING,
[00:15:02]
SO EVERYBODY WHO GETS A GOOD JOB AND WE'RE FORTUNATE FOR THAT.WE'LL CLOSE THE GAP LITTLE MORE BETWEEN NOW AND THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DIDN'T ACCEPT THE AGENDA.
>> IS IT SEPTEMBER, I THINK YOU SAID OCTOBER, YOU'LL LET US KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW MANY WERE FROM THE AREA?
>> RIGHT, BECAUSE I ALWAYS FIND THAT FASCINATING.
I ACTUALLY ENJOY THE METRIC DATA AND THINGS, BUT IT'S JUST TIME RIGHT NOW IS TO GET THOSE EMPLOYMENTS.
>> FOCUS ON IT RIGHT NOW, YEAH.
>> [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. BARTON, SECOND BY MR. JONES TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> [OVERLAPPING] AYE. THANK YOU.
RECOGNITIONS, IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
[3. Recognitions]
WE HAVE MORE MONEY FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY.>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. REALLY A GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE MS. DEBBY BENNETT WITH US FROM CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THIS YEAR, IN RECOGNITION OF OUR RETIREES TO HONOR THEIR SERVICE, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DECIDED TO MAKE A DONATION AT EACH RETIREES NAMED IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
IMAGINATION LIBRARY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW, IT'S PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO KIDS FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 5, TO THEIR HOMES WITH A GOAL OF SORTED BY DOLLY PARTON, GOAL OF INCREASING LITERACY IN THE HOMES, WRITING ACCESS FOR KIDS TO HAVE AGE-APPROPRIATE MATERIALS THAT THEY MAY NOT NORMALLY HAVE ACCESS TO.
EACH DONATION THAT WAS MADE COVERS THE COST PROVIDING TWO CHILDREN MONTHLY WITH BOOKS FOR ONE YEAR.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE EFFORTS OF LIBRARY IN SUPPORTING THAT.
TONIGHT, WE WILL BE PRESENTING DEBBY, MS. BENNETT, WITH THE HONORARY LARGE CHECK OF A DONATION TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY, $1,400, IN MEMORY OF ALL OF OUR RETIREES WHO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR WHOLE LIFE TO OBVIOUSLY GROWING OUR KIDS IN THIS COMMUNITY TO GIVE BACK AND HAVE BETTER LIVES.
THANK YOU. DEBBY, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD? [APPLAUSE]
>> BECAUSE THAT'LL SUPPORT HOW MANY STUDENTS?
>> [INAUDIBLE] BY 50. TWENTY FIVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> TWENTY FIVE. THAT'S EVEN DOUBLE LESS.
>> YES. TWO PER TEACHER. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL WAY TO HONOR YOUR RETIREES.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS BACK SO WE CAN DISPLAY THIS FOR A WHILE.
>> YES, PERFECT. NOT A PROBLEM.
>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT ONE'S TO A REAL BANK.
>> IT'S PRETTY HARD TO GET THE CAMERA LENS TO GET IT ON YOUR PHONE FOR YOUR BANKING APP.
>> I WANT TO SEE THAT THROUGH THAT TOO.
>> WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS OR CHILDREN IN CAROLINE COUNTY? IT'S PRETTY HIGH, ISN'T IT?
>> I THINK WITH RIGHT AWAY THAT TO PRETTY HIGH PERCENT.
THERE IS JUST A SMALL GROUP THAT INTEREST TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE SEE AND THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT I THINK THROUGH SCHOOLS AND [INAUDIBLE]
>> YES. PEDIATRICIAN'S OFFICE, [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY HEALTH.
>> YEAH, WE'VE CONNECTED EVERYWHERE.
WHEN I GO TO EVENTS AND ASK, MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE ALREADY SIGNED UP.
I THINK WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB, AND AT SOME POINT, I REALLY LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE CAN CORRELATE.
[INAUDIBLE] THAT MAYBE HARD TO DO OR IT MAYBE MORE [INAUDIBLE] KIDS KNOWS THE SAME BOOK AND SHARE EXPERIENCE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I'M GOING TO DEPART.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, DEBBY. HAVE A GOOD WEEK. THANK YOU.
[4. Individual Action Items]
WE HAVE A FEW INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS IN SUMMERTIME TRANSITIONS,[00:20:05]
RETIREMENTS, WE HAVE SOME ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.DR. SIMMONS, I'LL TURN THEM OVER TO YOU, ONE AT A TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MR. NEWCOMB. TONIGHT, OUR FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT MAY FEEL A LITTLE BIT LIKE DEJA VU BECAUSE WE APPOINTED THIS INDIVIDUAL LAST MONTH TO AN ACTING PRINCIPAL POSITION.
WE WERE WAITING ON THEIR ASSESSMENT RESULTS BACK FOR THEIR PRINCIPAL LICENSURE EXAM.
THEY LITERALLY CAME BACK DAYS AFTER THE BOARD MEETING AT THAT POINT, SO I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT MRS. LISA ALFARO WHO IS SERVING AS THE ACTING PRINCIPAL AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO BEING THE PRINCIPAL AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND REMOVING THE ACTING FROM HER TITLE AS SHE HAS CERTAINLY PASSED THE ASSESSMENT, AND MRS. ALFARO HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB ALREADY REALLY AT FEDERALSBURG IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SHE'S BEEN THERE.
>> OKAY. BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE THE ACTING PRINCIPAL TO PRINCIPAL OF FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, LISA ALFARO?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE ACTING TO PERMANENT, [OVERLAPPING] JUST PRINCIPAL.
>> MOTION BY MRS. DIGIACOMO, SECOND BY MR. BARTON.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? [OVERLAPPING] AYE.
>> SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT THIS INDIVIDUAL COULD BE HERE THIS EVENING.
I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR THE EVENING, AND THIS IS FOR THE POSITION OF COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
OUR COORDINATOR POSITION CAME OPEN THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS, THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, AND OUR TOP CANDIDATE RECOMMENDATION COMING BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS MRS. ELIZABETH SAILOR OR LIZ.
MRS. SAILOR HAS BEEN WITH CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SINCE AUGUST OF 2007.
MRS. SAILOR HAS BEEN A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SHE'S ALSO BEEN A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER SPECIALIST.
MOVED OUT OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION WORLD FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND SERVED AS OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER SPECIALIST REALLY HELPING TO STEP UP AND SOLIDIFY A LOT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING WORKING WITH MRS. ANGELA GIBER.
SHE'S REALLY DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB WITH THAT, AND WE'VE SEEN IT IN OUR KRA SCORES, AND THE MOVEMENT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR EARLIEST LEARNERS.
WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WITH RECOMMENDATION OF LIZ WISHING TO RETURN TO SPECIAL EDUCATION WORLD IN THE POSITION OF COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS IN THAT ROLE. WELCOME.
>> [LAUGHTER] WE'LL JUST WAIT A LITTLE BIT, MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT IT.
[LAUGHTER] MAKE SURE YOU KNOW.
NOW, BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MAKE MRS. SAILOR WAIT ANY LONGER? [LAUGHTER].
>> I MOVE WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE GOT A MOTION BY MR. BARTON.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT ON A NICE JULY EVENING.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK IN TIME, AUGUST EVENING.
>> OUR THIRD ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR THE EVENING COMING BEFORE THE BOARD.
OBVIOUSLY, AS THE BOARD IS AWARE IN OUR POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS BECAME AVAILABLE IN JULY.
WE WENT THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS.
WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS, OVER 11 APPLICANTS FOR THE POSITION.
WE INTERVIEWED SEVERAL APPLICANTS IN JULY.
GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, OUR TOP CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION WAS MR. BILL MANGLE, WILLIAM MANGLE.
BILL IS A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
BILL HAS HAD NUMEROUS EXPERIENCES IN THE OPERATION SIDE OF THINGS IN EDUCATION.
STARTED HIS CAREER IN TALBOT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A SCHOOL MANAGER, GAINING EXPERIENCE IN THE OPERATIONS AROUND FROM A SCHOOL LEVEL, SO HE'S HAD EXPERIENCES OVERSEEING MAINTENANCE FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD SERVICES, AMONG OTHER THINGS AT THE BUILDING LEVEL AS WELL AS FINANCE AT THAT POINT.
BILL THEN MOVED INTO A SUPERVISORY ROLE OVER FOOD SERVICES IN TALBOT COUNTY AND SERVED IN THAT POSITION UNTIL TALBOT COUNTY MADE THE MOVE TO OUTSOURCE, CONTRACT OUT THEIR FOOD SERVICES WORK, AND THEN BILL TOOK HIS EXPERIENCES TO SEAFORD WHERE HE CURRENTLY IS AND HAS SERVED AS THEIR SUPERVISOR OF NUTRITION SERVICES FOR FIVE YEARS, AND CURRENTLY, HE'S THERE.
[00:25:03]
BILL WILL DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB.HE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED WITH DEFINITELY STRONG EXPERIENCES IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND FACILITIES OPERATIONS, AND ALSO VERY STRONG EXPERIENCES IN WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS AS WELL.
STAFF VERY MUCH HAVE APPRECIATED HIS EFFORTS.
THAT CAME ACROSS VERY STRONGLY AS RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL, SO WE COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH RECOMMENDATION FOR BILL MANGLE TO SERVE AS OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> GOOD QUESTION. A COUPLE OF THINGS WITH BILL THAT STOOD OUT, OR MR. MANGLE, TO BE PROFESSIONAL.
MR. MANGLE, HE REALLY HAD A HANDLE IN OPERATIONS FROM A SCHOOL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE.
GREAT ATTENTION TO DETAIL, GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF THE FINANCE, THE DATA PIECE THAT NEEDS TO GO INTO THE OPERATIONS WORLD, AND UNDERSTANDS THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS.
HE HAS GREAT EXPERIENCES AS WELL WITH DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW IN SEAFORD.
HIS FOOD SERVICES OPERATION'S PIECE, SIMILAR TO MRS. BREWSTER'S, BUT HE'S ALSO OVERSEEING SOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS THERE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY WE HANDLE THINGS HERE, SO HE'S GOT THOSE EXPERIENCES.
HE'S FROM THE AREA, AND MR. MANGLE IS COMMITTED TO CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BEING HERE FOR THE LONG-TERM.
HE EXPRESSED THAT IN HIS INTERVIEW AND HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED THAT THIS IS HOME, THIS IS WHERE HE WANTS TO BE AND WANTS TO FINISH OUT HIS CAREER.
THEN WE HOPE THOSE THINGS MASH AND THAT'S WHERE HE DOES.
HE'S DEFINITELY LOOKING THE LONG-TERM, DECADE OR MORE, TIME IN CAROLINE COUNTY AND THAT STABILITY WILL BE WONDERFUL OVER THAT SHOT.
>> BOARD, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY MR. JONES TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF WILLIAM MANGLE AS THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS. DO I HAVE A SECOND?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELCOME, MR. MANGLE, IF YOU'RE LISTENING.
>> IF HE'S LISTENING, HE'S THE ONLY ONE, RIGHT? [LAUGHTER].
>> OH, WE'RE BACK. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW, WE'VE GOT TO WATCH [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL WE MISSED WAS THE PLEDGE.
>> MOVING ON TO BOARD REPORTS.
[5. Reports]
IT IS SUMMER, BUT WE HAVE SOME ACTIVITIES.MR. JONES, WELCOME TO THE BOARD.
>> SORRY, I MISSED YOUR SWEARING IN, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU UP HERE.
WHAT DID YOU GET INTO THIS LAST FEW WEEKS?
>> I GOT TO VISIT ALL THE NORTH COUNTY SCHOOLS AND DOWN ON HERE, I GOT TO VISIT COLONEL RICHARDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL YESTERDAY.
HAD A GOOD TIME MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPALS, SOME OF THE FACULTY MEMBERS.
I ALSO TOURED THE MAIN OFFICE HERE, THE CENTRAL ANNEX AND TRANSPORTATION, THAT HUB DOWN THERE. MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE.
A LOT OF NICE PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR JOBS. I HAD A GOOD TIME.
I GOT TO STOMP ON SOME OF THE OLD STOMPING GROUNDS, [LAUGHTER] I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY, SOME PLACES I HADN'T BEEN IN A LONG TIME.
THINGS HAVE CHANGED, SOME THINGS HAVEN'T, BUT IT WAS GOOD.
IT WAS GOOD TO MEET A LOT OF THE PEOPLE, A LOT OF THE LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE LEADING EVERYONE ELSE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
NEW DESKS IN A LOT OF THE PLACES AND EVERYTHING IS BEING CLEANED UP AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
ONE THING THAT I TOOK FROM IT THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE THAT ARE DOING IT, AND I FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE.
I DIDN'T MEET A BAD PERSON EVERYWHERE I WENT. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
>> [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD, CAPABLE PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT POSITION TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THAT MAKES ME VERY OPTIMISTIC GOING INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR JUST MEETING EVERYONE.
I THINK I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
DO YOU KNOW IF ANY OF YOUR OLD INSTRUCTORS ARE STILL THERE?
>> THAT IS ONE THING. [LAUGHTER] WHAT I DID SEE, I THINK I SAW THREE NAMES IN NORTH CAROLINA THAT ARE STILL THERE.
I THINK MY 5TH GRADE TEACHER RETIRED LAST YEAR FROM DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO I THINK THAT SCHOOL'S CLEAR.
[LAUGHTER] I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT SURE ABOUT ABOUT LOCKERMAN YET.
>> WE'LL WAIT FOR THE REST OF THE STORY.
>> IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE A FEW OTHER ONES
[00:30:02]
AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I WALK THROUGH THERE.I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT IT'LL BE INTERESTING AS THEY SAY.
[LAUGHTER] MR. HOLMES IS STILL THERE AS A [OVERLAPPING]
>> PERMANENT SUBSTITUTE, BUT I DIDN'T SEE HIM, BUT RYAN AND I HAD OUR CLASS TOGETHER, [LAUGHTER] SO I DID FIND THAT OUT WHILE I WAS THERE, SO I WAS LIKE, "HUH."
>> THEY'RE GOING TO WALK IN ONE DAY, AND HE'S GOING TO BE MUMMIFIED.
>> GOOD, GLAD YOU'RE GETTING AROUND.
THAT ALL GIVES YOU A GOOD FEELING ON HERE WHEN YOU GET AROUND THOSE SCHOOLS LIKE MR. BARTON.
>> I'D SAY THE HIGHLIGHT FOR ME IN THE MONTH WAS WELCOMING OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBER. GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
>> GREAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH SO MUCH COMMITMENT AND INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IN INTERESTS OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. THAT'S A HIGHLIGHT FOR ME.
BUT SINCE I'VE SET MY COMMENTS OR MY ACTIVITIES, I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHICH IS REALLY COOL.
BECAUSE ABOUT HALF OF THEM DON'T WANT SCHOOL TO START AGAIN BECAUSE THEY LOVE SUMMER VACATION AND THE OTHER HALF CAN'T WAIT FOR IT TO START BUT ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE.
ARE WE GOING TO BE WEARING MASK, IS GOING TO BE NORMAL, IS IT GOING TO BE ABNORMAL, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? THEY ASK THOSE QUESTIONS AND ARE ASKING, SURE AND MOST OF YOU THE SAME QUESTIONS.
THAT WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE LIKE AND I TOLD THEM IF I KNEW THE ANSWER THAT I WOULD, THAT MEANS I CAN SEE THE FUTURE AND I WOULD PLAY THE WINNING LOTTERY TICKET.
I'D PICK MY NUMBERS TO WIN THE LOTTERY.
BUT JUST REALLY A RECIPE TO INTERACT WITH THEM A LITTLE BIT AND HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS.
THOSE NIGHTS THAT I HAD AGE RANGE, THEIR KIDS JUST RANDOMLY KIDS THAT I SAW IN VARIOUS PLACES.
I ASK THEM QUESTION BUT SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING.
THERE WERE TWO FOOTBALL PLAYERS FROM NORTH HIGH THAT I MET.
I KNEW THEM ALREADY A LITTLE BIT BUT ASK THEM IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD DO IF THEY WERE IN CHARGE, IF YOU WERE KING FOR THE DAY, AND BOTH OF THEM DIDN'T HESITATE AND SAID, "WE WANT FOOTBALL TO BE A YEAR ROUND SPORT." [LAUGHTER] THEN I SAID, "YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO PLAY GAMES YEAR ROUND?" THEY SAID "NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN YEAR-ROUND.
WE WANT TO FOCUS ON FOOTBALL AND THAT'S ALL WE WANT TO FOCUS ON.
I DON'T WANT TO PLAY OTHER SPORTS.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN." I KNOW ONE OF THEM HAS COLLEGE ASPIRATIONS AS A FOOTBALL PLAYER SO I KNEW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM.
BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.
I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE.
I THINK A LOT OF KIDS ENJOY DIFFERENT SPORTS, BUT THEY WANTED TO PLAY ONLY FOOTBALL AND YOU CAN PASS IT ON.
>> NOT GIVING THE NAMES THOUGH.
>> I SPENT A LOT OF TIME MEETING WITH PEOPLE THIS MONTH TRYING TO I GUESS TO FIND MY ROLE AT THE BOARD BETTER THAN I HAD, RESPONSIBILITIES, HOW TO BE HEARD, GET THINGS DONE.
THAT WAS INTERESTING, STILL WORKING ON THAT.
I DID FINALLY GET TO VISIT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY AND IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE I GOT A PERSONALIZED STORY ALL ON THE BRICK.
BUT THE SCHOOL'S BEAUTIFUL AND THAT MEAN THE PRIDE COMING FROM THIS ONE IS GREAT, SO THAT WAS NICE.
THEN YESTERDAY I WENT TO A COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUP WITH RECREATION AND PARKS AND THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING TALKING ABOUT WHAT CAROLINE COUNTY HAS, WHAT WE NEED, AND I GUESS JUST AS A HEADS UP THEY'RE GOING TO BE CONTACTING THE SCHOOL AND TRY TO GET MORE INVOLVED AND USE SOME OF OUR SPACE, INDOOR, OUTDOOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I ENCOURAGE THAT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IN THIS COUNTY THERE'S REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT FOR TEENAGERS, WHICH WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL.
IT WAS A GOOD MONTH AND, LIKE MR. JONES SAID, WE DO HAVE GOOD PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY.
I'M VERY PROUD TO BE ON THIS BOARD.
>> MS. WAYMAN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO COMMENT ON?
>> WELL, ATTENDING THE BOARD MEETING AND THE WORK SESSION.
ALSO, RACHEL, MAKE COPIES FOR US OF MARYLAND'S INITIATIVE ON IMPROVING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF MINORITY BOYS.
I'VE BEEN READING THAT AND, AS I SHARED WITH BOARD MEMBERS, THERE'S A SPECIAL COMING ON MPT ON MONDAY EVENING.
I'LL BE TRYING TO WATCH THAT AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY POINTS THAT WE
[00:35:01]
CAN PICK UP TO PUT TO USE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.>> I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT.
I DIDN'T PUT THE NAIL ON AFTER THE JULY MEETING.
I WAS JUST ENJOYING SUMMER AND SO I MISSED THE WORK SESSION BETWEEN THE SWEARING IN OF MR. JONES AND THE TOPIC.
I DON'T USUALLY MISS ANYTHING BUT IT WAS, I DID GO TO FLORIDA.
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SEE MY SON IN FOUR MONTHS SO THAT WAS VERY BENEFICIAL AND NEEDED.
BUT GLAD THAT LEFT IT IN THE CAPABLE HANDS OF MRS. DIGIACOMO, NEW BOARD MEMBER JONES AND MS. WAYMAN AND MR. BARTON, AND ALL THE STAFF HERE, I KNOW YOU'RE SPENDING.
I TAKE SUMMER OFF, I CAN'T BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES IN THE SUMMERTIME FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND I DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU AS SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TAKE OFF, SO THAT'LL BE MY TAKEAWAY.
IS THAT, I HEAR THAT 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES CAN TAKE OFF ANY TIME OF THE YEAR THEY WANT.
THAT'S THE BEST TIME, TAKE OFF IN OCTOBER TO TAKE YOUR FAMILIES TO DISNEY WORLD BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN THE SUMMER WHEN ALL THE TEACHERS HAVE TO GO.
BUT THEN I HEAR FROM THE 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN TAKE THEIR OFF DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE IN SCHOOL AND THEN THERE'S TOO MUCH TO DO IN THE SUMMERTIME.
IT'S NOT EVEN THREE MONTHS ANYMORE, IT'S WHATEVER IT IS, TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.
I FEEL LUCKY THAT I CAN GET AWAY AND JUST NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO REPORT ON MY AUGUST BOARD MEETING REPORT.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING IN THE TIME THAT YOU ALL DO.
>> YOU SAW YOUR SON BECAUSE HE GRADUATED BOOT CAMP, CORRECT?
>> YES. YEP, HE FINISHED MAYBE BOOT CAMP EIGHT WEEKS OF BOOT CAMP'S NOW 12 WEEKS DUE TO COVID PROTOCOLS AND HE'S IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA.
THANK YOU. GOOD STUFF, SO MOVING ON TO SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> MY REPORT THIS MONTH, I REALLY COULDN'T GO WITHOUT SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE PULLED OFF.
PRETTY INCREDIBLE AND THANK YOU TO THE EFFORTS OF MS. MACOMRI, MS. ANTHONY, MS. BREWSTER, MS. MILLIGAN AND TRANSPORTATION, AND COUNTLESS OTHERS THAT I KNOW I'M FORGETTING, AS WELL AS OUR EFFORTS WITH RECREATION AND PARKS.
THIS SUMMER IS FIRST TIME THAT ANY OF US COULD RECALL THAT CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS REALLY TOOK THE LEAD AT SETTING UP A LARGE-SCALE SUMMER PROGRAM THAT WENT ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF ALL BUILDINGS.
THIS WAS A QUICK TURNAROUND ASSOCIATED WITH GRANT FUNDING.
THEY CAME DOWN AND IN SOME LEGISLATIVE PIECES THAT CAME OUT OF THE KERWIN BILL ACTUALLY, THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME REPROGRAMMING IN PLACE.
WE KNEW WE NEEDED TOO TO ADDRESS SOME ARE LEARNING AND WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO IT.
THANKFULLY, WE HAD AN INFLUX OF FUNDING TO HELP PULL IT OF BUT THE SCOPE AND SCALE WAS SIGNIFICANT AND THE TURNAROUND TIME WAS IMPRESSIVE.
WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 874 STUDENTS THIS SUMMER THROUGH SUMMER PROGRAMMING, TYPICAL SUMMER PROGRAMMING THROUGH RECREATION AND PARKS.
THEIR PARTNERSHIP IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAS BEEN ABOUT 400-450.
COUNTYWIDE, WE HAD 874 THIS YEAR, YOU SEE THE BREAKDOWN BY SCHOOL LEVELS.
EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE OR AS EQUALLY IMPRESSIVE WE HAD OVER 100 CCPS STAFF MEMBERS.
THEY'RE FOLKS WHO SURVIVED THROUGH THE COVID SCHOOL YEAR OF LAST YEAR, WHO JUMPED RIGHT BACK IN WITH A WEEK OFF, MAYBE NOT EVEN IF THEY NEEDED TRAINING, PRETTY MUCH STAYED ON ALMOST WITH NO BREAK TO DO ANOTHER SIX PLUS WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER WITH KIDS.
GET OVER 100 STAFF MEMBERS DO THAT, 68 TEACHERS AT ELEMENTARY, 11 MIDDLE SCHOOL, 24 FOR HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS, NUMEROUS IES, NURSES, AND TRANSLATORS, LITERALLY FOLKS STEP THE HECK UP THIS SUMMER AND GAVE, AND GAVE, AND GAVE, AND GAVE, AND GAVE WERE KIDS.
THAT IS JUST IMPRESSIVE AND I HOPE THOSE FOLKS FIND A WAY TO RELAX IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS BASICALLY BEFORE WE START SEEING TEACHERS COME IN THOUGH I ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THEM HAVEN'T THEY'RE ASKING WHEN THEY CAN GET IN THEIR BUILDINGS WITH CLASSROOM SETUP.
THROUGH THIS PROGRAMMING, WE KNOW OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE IN SOME HANDS-ON LEARNING.
ALSO HAD SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THROUGH EXACT HALF TUTORING, WHICH IS AN ONLINE TUTORING PLATFORM WE'VE BEEN UTILIZING IN READING MATH.
WE HAD NUMEROUS STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL RECOVER CREDITS THAT THEY WERE MISSING FROM THIS PAST YEAR.
WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME REAL GOOD CONNECTIONS WITH KIDS WHO WERE NOT AS ATTENTIVE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR OR ATTENDANTS WAS NOT REAL STRONG, ESPECIALLY THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
WE WERE TO CONNECT WITH SOME OF THOSE KIDS TO CLOSE SOME GAPS TO HELP GET THEM ON A BETTER FOOTING BEFORE WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR.
[00:40:04]
HATS OFF TO EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM WHO WAS PART OF THIS EFFORT.A BIG THANK YOU TO RECREATION AND PARKS, WHO WERE A GREAT PARTNER, ESPECIALLY WITH A LITTLE DIFFERENT ROLE, WAS FLIPPED ROLE FOR US.
USUALLY, THEY'VE TAKEN THE LEAD, WE'VE BEEN THE SUPPORT, THIS WAS DEFINITELY A FLIP FOR THAT PROCESS AND THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT REALLY GAVE EVERYTHING THEY HAD TO MAKE IT WORK.
THANKS TO THE PARENTS FOR TRUSTING THEIR KIDS WHILE THIS IS SUMMER.
REALLY WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
>> QUICK COMMENT. I KNOW SOME TEACHERS THAT WORKED AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL AND I'M SURE YOU KNOW A LOT OF THEM THAN THEY NORMALLY DO.
SOME OF THEM WOULD INTERACT WITH OR EARLY ON WHERE WHY AND I HAVE TO BE IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
[LAUGHTER] THEY DON'T SOUND LIKE THAT BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE BEEN IN MY USUAL SCHOOL, IT'S GOOD FOR THEM.
I'VE RAN INTO A COUPLE OF THOSE PEOPLE AGAIN LATER.
ONCE WE GOT THE BUGS WORKED OUT, THIS WAS GOOD FOR ME TO SEE THEIR PRINCIPAL WORKING IN A DIFFERENT PLACE, DIFFERENT CLIMATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS PLANNED.
PROBABLY WASN'T, SO MANY MOVING PARTS YOU JUST HAD TO DO WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.
BUT THAT'S A SIDE BENEFIT IF YOU USED TO WORK AT ONE SCHOOL AND NOW YOU EXPERIENCE A DIFFERENT ONE.
JUST THE GEOGRAPHY OF IT AND SO FORTH.
IT'S NOT THE NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR AND INTERACTING WITH SOME DIFFERENT STUDENTS, PROBABLY THE REALLY PLUS AND THAT'S WHAT I MIGHT TAKE AWAY FROM THE COMMENTS I GOT FROM PEOPLE.
ANYBODY WHO I SAW AGAIN, THAT WAS AGAIN NOT COMPLAINING BUT JUST, COULDN'T I HAVE BEEN IN THE USUAL SCHOOL I'M AT, NO COMFORT LEVEL SO WHAT.
THEY TURNED THERE WAS A 180 THAT THEY SAW BETTER FOR THEM, THEY APPRECIATED IT AND GOT SOMETHING OUT OF IT.
>> LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S ALMOST FIFTH OF THE STUDENTS.
THAT'S IMPRESSIVE, AND THEY WENT WILLINGLY, CORRECT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PARENTS MAY HAVE SAID TO GET IN THERE, BUT YES, THEY WILLINGLY SHOWED UP EACH DAY.
>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT A 100 STAFF MEMBERS, [OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS LIKE, WHAT, 20-25 PERCENT? KUDOS TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A SUMMER LAST YEAR EITHER BECAUSE ALL OF THE STRESS, THE UNKNOWNS, AND THIS AND THAT.
REALLY, THANK YOU TO THEM FOR DOING THIS FOR THE STUDENTS.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH THESE NUMBERS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE STUDENTS THAT WENT.
>> IT WAS DIFFERENT SEEING SCHOOL BUSES [NOISE] ON THE ROAD.
IT WASN'T JUST CAROLINE COUNTY, SINCE IT WAS FEDERAL MONEY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY COUNTY SAID, "NO, THANK YOU." I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN.
I WAS CRISSCROSSING DELMARVA AND I WAS LIKE, "THERE ARE SCHOOL BUSES EVERYWHERE, ALL SUMMER LONG." IT WAS INTERESTING.
>> THERE WAS ONE THAT WAS ALWAYS EVERY DAY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE, COMING.
IT TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO GET USED TO THAT, BECAUSE FIRST LIKE, WHAT? IT WAS PRETTY NEAT.
>> MAYBE WE WON'T HAVE AN INFLUX OF FIRST-WEEK REGISTRATIONS THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE SCHOOL BUSES HAVE BEEN OUT ALL SUMMER. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I THINK, THE PARENTS ARE READY FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO BACK.
[LAUGHTER] WHETHER THE KIDS ARE READY OR NOT, I THINK THE PARENTS ARE READY.
LET'S JUST SAY WHAT A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT TO HAVE GOTTEN DONE, A LOT OF MOVING PARTS AND A LOT OF LITTLE GLITCHES, EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
BUT NOW WHEN YOU LOOK BACK I'VE GOT AN AWFUL LOT OF PRIDE THAT WE PULLED OFF THESE NUMBERS BUT PULLED IT OFF SUCCESSFULLY, AND HAD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED, POSITIVE DIFFERENCE. ENOUGH SAID.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION.
ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.
[6. Reports and Presentations]
WE SHOULD HAVE A BUNCH OF SHORT NOTICE PLANS THAT ARE, WHAT WAS IT LAST SUMMER, THE RE-ENTRY PLAN?>> RECOVERY PLAN. THAT WAS SHORT NOTICE, BUILDING AS YOU GO.
THEN WE HAD THE SUMMER SCHOOL PLAN THAT WAS HERE, YOU HAD TO DO IT.
THIS CAME OUT WHEN, HOW MANY WEEKS AGO, MR. SIMMONS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS CAME OUT, I BELIEVE IT WAS EARLY JULY.
WE ACTUALLY GOT THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF IT FOR WHAT IT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE.
ACTUALLY, I THINK, IT WAS LAST WEEK.
[LAUGHTER] LAST WEEK WE GOT THE RUBRIC THAT WE NEED TO WRITE TOWARDS FOR HOW THEY'LL SCORE OUR PLAN.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH. GO AHEAD, DR. SIMMONS.
>> NO PROBLEM. THANK YOU, MR. NEWCOMB.
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT IT IS ONE AND IT'S JUST A FEW SLIDES, BUT THERE'LL BE HOPEFULLY A LOT OF DISCUSSION.
[00:45:03]
AND MS. BREWSTER WILL ALSO FILL IN AS WE TALK THROUGH.I WANT TO EXPLAIN TO THE BOARD PROCESS THAT WE'RE TAKING AND WHAT THE INTENT IS BEHIND THE REOPENING PLAN THE MSDE IS ASKING US TO PRODUCE.
WE DID INCLUDE, ON THE BOARD DOC SITE FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS PLUS FOR ANYBODY AT HOME WHO'S LOOKING, THERE IS THE 2020 RECOVERY PLAN, SO IT'S WHAT WE HAD TO DEVELOP LAST YEAR.
THE GENERAL FRAMEWORK THAT MSDE HAS ASKED US TO DO AND THEY GAVE US ORIGINALLY, A WALK-THROUGH TOOL, AND THEN MORE INFORMATION THIS PAST WEEK.
WE'RE IN ESSENCE DOING A SIMILAR PLAN TO LAST YEAR, BUT MODIFYING IT BASED ON A FEW DIFFERENT OR NEW PARAMETERS.
WE FIGURED IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL IF WE HAVE LAST YEAR'S PLAN FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES, STILL THE SAME FRUIT, JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT VARIATION.
LOOKING AT THE REOPENING PLAN, WE HAVE TO WRITE TOWARDS, RACHEL, IF YOU COULD OPEN? THERE WE GO, THANK YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO LIVE ON THE SECOND SLIDE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
THERE ARE 11 REQUIREMENTS THAT LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS MUST COMPLY TO WITH THEIR REOPENING PLAN.
THESE ARE THE 11, AND WE'RE GOING TO WALK THROUGH THEM A LITTLE BIT.
PART OF THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO OUR REOPENING PLAN IS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SOLICITING STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN, WHICH IS ALSO WHY THERE'S NOT A DRAFT OF THE PLAN FOR YOU TONIGHT.
BECAUSE WE NEED TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK TO HELP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAN, AS PART OF THE FIRST STEP OF GETTING THAT INFORMATION AND THAT FEEDBACK THAT IS STARTING IN THAT.
WE'VE GOT GENERAL IDEAS IN CONSENSUS WITH WHERE WE'RE HEADING.
WE'VE NOT FINALIZED ANY OF THOSE PLANS YET UNTIL WE NEED PERHAPS SOLICIT THAT FEEDBACK.
AGAIN, STARTING THAT TONIGHT, WE'LL TALK TIMELINE AND A LITTLE BIT OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT FEEDBACK TO GET THIS IN BY AUGUST 17TH.
KNOWING IT'S AN AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE, BUT WE HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE WE HAVE TO HIT.
FIRST REQUIREMENT THAT MSDE PUT OUT, REQUIREMENT NUMBER ONE IS THAT WE HAVE TO POST OUR PLAN ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE TO POST WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO.
ONCE WE GET OUR COMPLETED PLAN, IT'S GOT TO BE POSTED PUBLICLY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE.
PART OF THAT POSTING REQUIREMENT IS THAT IT HAS TO BE IN LANGUAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN UNDERSTAND.
WE WILL HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE REMISS OF ALL THE EDUCATION JARGON, ALL THE ACRONYMS THAT WE LOVE THE FILL AROUND AND MAKE IT SO IT'S SIMPLE FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND.
WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLAN IS DEVELOPED IN A WAY THAT THROUGH OUR WEBSITE IT CAN BE TRANSLATED.
EITHER WE HAVE TO SET UP A TRANSLATED VERSION OF FOR THE LANGUAGE THAT ARE PRIMARILY SPOKEN IN OUR FAMILY, OR IT'S TRANSLATABLE THROUGH THE WEBSITE ITSELF.
[NOISE] THAT'S OUR FIRST REQUIREMENT.
THOUGH REALLY IT'S THE REQUIREMENT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE ONCE YOU HAVE THE PLAN FINISHED.
BUT THEIR FIRST REQUIREMENT IS THAT WE HAVE THAT THERE.
WE WILL OBVIOUSLY MAKE SURE WE HIT THAT.
SECOND REQUIREMENT IS THAT WE HAVE TO REFLECT OUR EQUITY PLAN THROUGHOUT THE REOPENING PLAN.
WE WILL USE THE BOARD'S EQUITY POLICY THAT THE BOARD APPROVED IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR I BELIEVE IT WAS, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO NEEDS OF THE VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS.
LOOKING AT THE TYPICAL DISAGGREGATED DATA SUBGROUPS, WHETHER IT'S RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER, AGE, SPECIAL EDUCATION STATUS, [INAUDIBLE] MEAL STATUS FOR ALL OF THOSE SUBGROUPS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADDRESSED AND THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT IT IN TERMS OF EQUITY ACROSS SCHOOLS.
ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IS THAT WE DID A GOOD JOB OF THIS LAST YEAR, I THINK, HAVING A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AT ALL THREE LEVELS; ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH.
MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE REFLECTING THAT AGAIN THROUGHOUT OUR PLAN.
THIRD ITEM IS THAT WE CONSULT WITH A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS ONE HAS A COUPLE OF TENTACLES TO IT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR'S PLAN.
THIS YEAR FOR ONE, WE'RE TAKING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT APPROACH TO DISCUSSING THE PLAN WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
WE WILL BE HOSTING A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH OUR EQUITY COMMITTEE TEAM.
THERE'S A ESTABLISHED TEAM OF OVER 40 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED FOR OVER A YEAR IN A COMMUNITY EQUITY GROUP LED BY [INAUDIBLE] ON A MONDAY, 6:00 PM.
WE WILL BE GOING OVER BROAD STROKES OR WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO FOR OUR RECOVERY PLAN AND GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BROAD STROKES WE'RE DOING.
WE ARE ADDING OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUP FOR THE EVENING, TO ENSURE THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM OUR EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS.
THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE, WHO ARE IN OUR ASSOCIATIONS, BUT WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP INVOLVED.
[00:50:04]
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE REACHED OUT AND THAT WE'VE OFFERED INVOLVEMENT TO RECREATION PARKS, WHO WAS A PARTNER, DEPARTMENT SOCIAL SERVICES, OUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS [INAUDIBLE] COMMUNITY [NOISE] HEALTH, THAT THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE CONVERSATION AT THE TABLE AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THIS TOGETHER.AS PART OF THAT STAKEHOLDER PIECE, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS, [NOISE] WE REVISIT THIS PLAN WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP, TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS STILL APPROPRIATE FOR US.
ACTUALLY, WITH THAT REQUIREMENT, IF MSDE HOLDS THAT REQUIREMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE BOARD WORK SESSION, THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN FUNDING, [NOISE] THIS REOPENING PLAN COULD POTENTIALLY BE LOOKED AT AND BE REVISED OVER A PERIOD OF 2-3 YEARS.
JUST DEPENDS ON HOW LONG WE FEEL WE NEED TO KEEP LOOKING AT STRATEGIES THAT ARE IN HERE BEFORE WE RETURN TO NORMAL OR WHATEVER NORMAL MAY BECOME.
THIS MAY BECOME THE NEW NORMAL.
BUT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT, AT LEAST FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE REVISIT THE PLAN A MINIMUM OF EVERY SIX MONTHS WITH OUR COMMUNITY GROUP, WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP TO SEE HOW ARE WE DOING, WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE, WHAT NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD THAT IN, AS WELL.
>> SIX MONTHS FOR ME, YOU'RE LOOKING AT MARCH, FEBRUARY, PERHAPS, SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LONG TIME AND I DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THRUST MORE ON YOUR BACK THAN YOU ALREADY HAVE.
BUT I WOULD THINK YOU'D WANT FEEDBACK ON YOUR STAKEHOLDERS SOONER THAN SIX MONTHS.
WHEREVER THAT RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME IT IS.
BUT BY THEN, ANYTHING THAT'S NOT RIGHT IN THEIR MINDS, [INAUDIBLE] FOR MONTHS, YOU WOULD HEAR FROM THEM, I'M SURE.
BUT I JUST URGE YOU TO TRY TO DO IT SOONER OR WHATEVER THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME IS.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK.
SIX MONTHS DOES STRETCH IT OUT TOO FAR.
WE HAD A GREAT MEETING THIS MORNING WITH ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS, LOOKING AT SOME THINGS FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL, TALKING ABOUT SOME THINGS ON THEIR FRONT THAT THEY WERE ASKING ABOUT.
ONE OF THE BENEFITS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT USING OUR EQUITY COMMITTEE, AS A GROUP TO BE ABLE TO REVIEW WITH ONE, IT'S A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF STAKEHOLDERS WITH REPRESENTATION.
BUT THEY ARE ALSO A GROUP THAT MEETS REGULARLY.
THEY MEET, I BELIEVE MRS. FISHER'S BEEN HAVING THEM MEET MONTHLY, IF NOT MONTHLY, IT'S EVERY TWO MONTHS.
SO THERE'S A VEHICLE IN PLACE.
THIS CAN BECOME A PART OF THEIR ROTATION.
>> DO THEY MEET MORE OFTEN THAN THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE?
>> SET BY STATUTE OR BY DESIGN?
>> BY DESIGN. THEY TEND TO HAVE A BROADER SCOPE AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS RELATED TO EQUITY IN THE WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM, MORE THAN JUST THIS PIECE, BUT THEY ARE [INAUDIBLE] CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL CAN BE A VEHICLE THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
THEY START MEETING IN OCTOBER.
THAT CAN BE A VEHICLE AS WELL THAT WE CAN LOOK TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK THROUGH BECAUSE THEY RUN IN ESSENCE OCTOBER THROUGH APRIL. SO IT DEFINITELY COULD BE.
WE HAVE THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL AS WELL.
THEY BOTH MEET ON THE SAME NIGHT.
THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL, HAS NOT.
[INAUDIBLE] YOU'RE AWARE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS?
>> IT'S A COMMITTEE THAT'S SETUP PARTLY THROUGH MEMBERS THAT ARE NOMINATED BY THE BOARD, AND OTHER PART IS NOMINATED BY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
ONE-YEAR BOARD MEMBERS APPOINT THE NEXT YEAR BUILDING PRINCIPALS APPOINT CAN BE A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK WHEN THINGS ARE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD, BOARD POLICIES, CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT, BUDGET, THOSE THINGS.
THAT PROCESS STARTS IN OCTOBER, COMING BEFORE THE BOARD AT THE OCTOBER MEETING.
THIS YEAR I BELIEVE IT'S THE PRINCIPALS NOMINATION, LAST YEAR IT WAS THE BOARD'S NOMINATION.
THE PRINCIPLES WILL BE NOMINATING ONE INDIVIDUAL PER SCHOOL, THAT WILL COME BEFORE THE BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL ON OCTOBER, AND THEN THAT GROUP STARTS MEETING IN OCTOBER.
THEN THAT BECOMES A VEHICLE THAT ALSO COULD BE REVIEWING THIS AS WELL.
>> CAN PEOPLE EVER GET TO SERVE MORE THAN ONE YEAR? CAN THEY NOMINATE THE SAME PERSON?
>> IT'S A TWO-YEAR APPOINTMENT.
WE DO HAVE SOME FOLKS THAT ARE LONG-TERM COMMITMENTS, WHICH IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE THEY KNOW PROCESS AT THAT POINT.
WE DO HAVE FOLKS WHO DO STAY LONGER, AND TYPICALLY WHAT HAS HAPPENED, WHAT I'VE SEEN, ESPECIALLY FROM THE BOARD'S STANDPOINT, SOMETIMES WITH THE SCHOOL IS APPARENT AGENT, THERE'S ANY AGE UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH SCHOOL.
PRINCIPAL MAY PICK SOMEONE ELSE FOR AN INEQUITY, HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE IN MIND FROM THE BOARD SIDE,
[00:55:02]
SOMETIMES IF IT'S SOMEBODY THAT YOU'VE APPOINTED, THEY'VE SERVED WELL, AND THEY WANT TO STICK AROUND, AND USUALLY, "HEY, DO YOU WANT TO STAY AWHILE?" YEAH, GREAT. THEN YOU JUST NOMINATE THE SAME PERSON, AND THEY CAN STAY IN THERE.THAT CONSISTENCY CAN REALLY HELP, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE GETTING SOME THINGS OVER, AND OVER CALENDAR DEVELOPMENT, BUDGET.
THAT CONSISTENCY REALLY HELPS WITH THAT PIECE.
>> THE CONSISTENCY, AND I DON'T KNOW THE CITIZENS ADVISORY BECAUSE, IT WAS PRINCIPLES NOMINATIONS OF ONE YEAR, AND BOARD MEMBERS NOMINATIONS THE OTHER YEAR FOR A TOTAL OF TWO YEARS.
PEOPLE EVEN WHO ARE ENGAGED, THEY GET THERE, AND I'M NOT ENGAGED IN THAT.
I WANT TO BE PART OF IT, BUT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SIT THROUGH THESE MEETINGS OR THEN.
THAT SOME OF THE ZOOM STUFF HAS HELPED.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE, CAN ALL MAKE, THEY CAN BE IN THE BALLPARK, AND THEY'RE IN THEIR CAR OR THEIR CELL PHONE FOR A HALF AN HOUR, AND PARTICIPATE.
SOME OF THAT'S HOW, BUT WHAT I'M ALSO SEEING, AND I WILL JUST ASK IF THE BOARD CAN BE OF ANY HELP WITH SOME OF THESE ARE BY STATUTE AND REQUIREMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS CITIZENS ADVISORY, AND YOU HAVE THE SPECIAL HEAD COMMITTEE WE TALKED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
>> THEN WE HAVE EQUITY, AND THEN WE HAVE CREATING A REOPENING STAKEHOLDERS.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THE SAME PEOPLE.
NOW THIS SOUNDS OBVIOUS THING.
WE HAVEN'T GOT UP A PLAN, AND GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
I'VE ALWAYS JUST GO BACK TO SCHOOL, HOPEFULLY FINGERS CROSSED.
BUT NOW WE'VE GOT A MONITOR AT EVERY SIX MONTHS FOR TWO YEARS.
AGAIN, IT'S ANOTHER WORKLOAD, IT'S NOT HARD. SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO IT.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT SINCE THAT YOU, WHAT'S NOT, AND CAN WE BLEND SOME OF THESE? IF PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE, THESE DAYS, THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.
LET'S JUST NOT [NOISE] RECREATE THE WHEEL.
>> THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE REASON WE WERE LOOKING AT THE EQUITY COMMITTEE, OF HAVING THAT DIVERSE GROUP, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF THE STAKEHOLDERS.
I WILL SAY LAST YEAR WE HAD GREAT REPRESENTATION THAT MOST OF THE MEETINGS, AND THIS HAS HELPED.
FROM THE PERSON WHO'S CHAIR AT SSIC, AND CAC THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE HAD SOME OF OUR BEST ENGAGEMENT LAST YEAR [NOISE] BECAUSE OF THIS.
WE HAD MORE PARENTS FAITHFULLY SHOW UP TO CAC, BECAUSE WE HAD THIS OPTION AVAILABLE, WAS INCREDIBLE. THEY WERE ENGAGED.
IT WASN'T LIKE THEY WERE THERE, BUT THE CAMERA OFF, NO, IT WAS [BACKGROUND] EXTREMELY HELPFUL, AND I HOPE WITH THAT, WE CONTINUE TO FIND A WAY TO BUILD THAT IN GOING FORWARD.
OF COURSE, ALL FOR THE IN-PERSON, BUT HAVING THAT VIRTUAL REALLY HELP [INAUDIBLE].
WE WILL HAVE TO BE BUILDING INTO A PLAN OF CONSULTING AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND ROUTINELY DO THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK ABOUT THE TIMELINESS OF THAT.
LOOKING AT AN OPPORTUNITY OF CAC, AND SSIC BEING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT COULD POSSIBLY LOOK AT THAT PROCESS.
FOR THE NEXT ITEM, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO ASK THIS [INAUDIBLE] TO SPEAK ONE WHICH IS ESTABLISHING A PROCESS TO DETERMINE STUDENT INSTRUCTIONAL READINESS EARLY IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND A PLAN FOR STUDENTS SUCCESS, AND THEN LINDSEY HAS BEEN WORKING ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, AND WHAT IT MEANS.
IF YOU WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT SOME, AND WE'LL GET SOME.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SUPERVISORS OF INSTRUCTION, AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE USING? WHAT ARE TEACHERS GOING TO BE USING IN THE CLASSROOMS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, TO ASSESS WHERE ARE OUR STUDENTS COMING IN NOW? THEN WHERE ARE THE GAPS? WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP FILL THOSE GAPS FOR NEW LEARNING? SOME OF THESE THINGS I MENTIONED WHEN IT CAME TO SOME OF THE RPE FUNDING.
BUT KINDERGARTEN THROUGH FIFTH GRADE WILL BE USING TABLES 8, AND I-READY DIAGNOSTIC, AND BOTH READING, AND MATH.
SIXTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE WILL ALSO BE USING I-READY READING THROUGH MATH.
IN HIGH SCHOOL, OUR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS.
THEIR CURRENT TEXTBOOK THAT YOU ALL HAD APPROVED OR PRIOR BOARD BUT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED [NOISE] ACTUALLY HAS UNIT ASSESSMENTS, AND DIAGNOSTICS WITH IT, AND HIGH SCHOOL MATH, WE'LL BE USING A BURYING COMBINATION DEPENDING ON WHICH MATH COURSE YOU'RE TAKING.
IT MAY BE A DISTRICT CREATED ASSESSMENT.
IT MAY BE AN AGILE MIND ASSESSMENT.
SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND CAREER IN TECH WILL BE LOOKING AT DISTRICT CREATED ASSESSMENTS, AND THEN THE OVERARCHING WILL BE THAT PER MPSSAA, WE WILL BE GIVING THE M CAP EARLY FALL ASSESSMENT, FOR ANY STUDENT WHO WOULD'VE BEEN ASSESSED LAST SPRING IN THIRD GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, FOR STATE TESTING WILL BE TESTED IN THIS FALL IN, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A PRIOR A SHORTENED ASSESSMENT WITH A QUICKER TURNAROUND OF THOSE RESULTS.
[01:00:05]
THE COMBINATION OF ALL OF THAT DATA, WILL BE ABLE TO BE USED BY CLASSROOM TEACHERS, BY STUDENTS SUPPORT TEAMS, BY SCHOOL-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL TEAMS TO REALLY CREATE A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHERE EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT IS, AND THEN BE ABLE TO MAKE A PATH FOR WHERE THEY NEED TO GO NEXT IN THERE, LEARNING.>> DID WE EVER FIND OUT A QUICK TURN AROUND? ARE THERE GOING TO BE?
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE SO. I THINK THEY ARE ALL GOING TO BE SELECTED RESPONSE.
>> I REMEMBER POSSIBLY LAST FEBRUARY OR MARCH, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS THAT HAD BEEN DEVELOPED TO HELP MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS IN THEIR VIRTUAL LEARNING SETTINGS AND I WAS WONDERING, HAVE THOSE MATERIALS BEEN BANKED OR ARE THEY AVAILABLE? BECAUSE SURELY THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME GAPS BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT OUR CHILDREN WERE IN.
SOME HAVING THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED AND SOME DOING THEIR VERY BEST ON THEIR OWN AND SOME WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS IN AND OUT OR WHATEVER.
I REMEMBER MAKING A STATEMENT AT THAT MEETING SAYING HOLD ONTO THOSE BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE GAPS WHEN THE STUDENTS COME BACK.
DO YOU KNOW BY CHANCE, CAN THEY BE BANKED FOR ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OR ALL OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO HAVE ACCESS TO? DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?
>> I DO, AND GOOGLE DRIVE IS AMAZING BECAUSE IT HAS UNLIMITED STORAGE, SO ANYTHING THAT TEACHERS HAVE WITHIN GOOGLE DRIVE AND ALL OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISORS HAVE ALL OF THEIR SCOPE AND SEQUENCE ALL WITHIN A GOOGLE SITE.
THEY HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE ALL OF THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO ALL GRADE LEVELS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALL TEACHERS HAVE ACCESS TO THAT WEBSITE.
>> THAT'S ALL GRADE LEVELS, AM I CORRECT?
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME, AND SO WITH THE NEXT BULLET, I'LL JUST GO INTO THAT YET.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ACRONYM, IT WAS JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT SHORTER.
MARYLAND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STATE STANDARDS IS M-C-C-R-S.
>> THEY REALLY TIE TOGETHER BECAUSE EVERYTHING WE ARE TEACHING GOES ALONG WITH THOSE STANDARDS.
WE ARE ASSESSING AS TO WHERE THEY ARE IN THE PROGRESSION OF THE STANDARDS, TO THEN ADDRESS THE GAPS IN ORDER TO HELP STUDENTS BE ON GRADE-LEVEL STANDARDS WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.
>> WHAT THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR, AND LINDSEY, THANK YOU FOR DISCUSSING THAT, IS WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE GAPS, ARE YOU TAKING THE EFFORT TO SEE WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE AND THEN DO YOUR BEST TO ELEVATE THEM TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE? ARE YOU BRINGING THEM IN AT 4TH GRADE AND SPENDING THE WHOLE YEAR TEACHING 2ND OR 3RD GRADE STANDARDS AND NOT EVER TRYING TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE IN THE 4TH GRADE STANDARDS?
>> OUR TEACHERS LOVE TO SEE THAT PROGRESS THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE MAKING.
THEY REALLY TRULY DO THOSE DEEP DATA DIVES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH COLLEAGUES AND REALLY WATCH THE PROGRESS OF THEIR STUDENTS.
THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE DATA THAT THEIR STUDENTS WILL COME IN WITH.
THEY WILL TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT PATH THAT IS CORRECT FOR THAT CHILD TO SEE THAT PROGRESS.
>> BY THE WAY, AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE BULLETS, ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME TO GO BACK TO, SO PLEASE FEEL FREE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY LOVE IT, BUT THEY APPRECIATE THE DATA AND SEEING THEIR KIDS.
>> BUT I MEAN, IT'S HARD ENOUGH BEFORE ON A NORMAL GENERATION IN A NORMAL YEAR AND YOU HEAR ABOUT KIDS GETTING PUSHED ALONG AND NOT HAVING THE SKILL SETS THEY HAVE.
AFTER A YEAR LIKE THIS PAST YEAR, I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO FOR THE KIDS WHO, THEY'RE IN 4TH GRADE AND THEY'RE REALLY A YEAR BEHIND AND THEIR LEARNING ACUMEN ISN'T GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO CATCH UP.
[01:05:04]
>> WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION TODAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THAT WE KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN IN A PANDEMIC FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, IT'S NOT GOING TO ONLY TAKE A YEAR AND A HALF TO GET OUR STUDENTS BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE OR SHOULD BE.
IT IS GOING TO TAKE THE 2-3 YEARS, WHICH IS WHY I BELIEVE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS ASKING US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THIS REOPENING PLAN FOR THAT DURATION BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO TAKE THAT LONG AT A MINIMUM TO GET OUR STUDENTS TO WHERE THEY ARE.
WHAT DO WE DO, MR. NEWCOMB, WE CONTINUE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE EACH STUDENT IS, WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS? WE USE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT WE KNOW ARE EVIDENCE RESEARCH-BASED, WE ENROLL THEM IN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, WE OFFER ADDITIONAL TUTORING AND SUPPORT, WE TAKE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS THROUGH THE SST PROCESS.
WE TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY ARE GETTING ON EACH OF THEIR TIER 1, DO THEY NEED TIER 2 ASSISTANCE, AND THEN DO THEY NEED TIER 3 ASSISTANCE WITH TRUE RESEARCH-BASED INTERVENTIONS?
>> HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT'LL TAKE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO START HAVING PATHS FOR THESE STUDENTS TO GO DOWN IF YOU WANT? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]?
>> I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO BRING OUR KIDS IN AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
BUT WE FEEL SURE THAT WITHIN THE SECOND WEEK OF SCHOOL, WE WILL BE STARTING TO ASSESS OUR STUDENTS AND THE DATA IS INSTANTANEOUS.
THE DATA FROM, I-READY OR EXACT PATH OR THOSE WE CAN GATHER THAT DATA INSTANTLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE PRIDED OURSELVES ON OUR CIT MEETINGS WHERE TEACHERS ARE TRULY IN A COLLABORATIVE GROUP AND THAT WILL BE WITH THE READING COACH AND THE MATH COACH TO GUIDE THOSE DATA DISCUSSIONS AROUND THEIR CLASS AND THEN BREAK THAT DOWN INTO THEIR INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.
>> I THINK SAYING 2-3 YEARS IS HOPEFULLY REALISTIC. WHAT ABOUT OUR SENIORS? WHAT ABOUT OUR JUNIORS? DO WE HAVE ANYTHING TO ACCELERATE THAT FOR THEM OR TO HELP THEM GET TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY?
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
>> BUT WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWER, DO WE? [NOISE]
>> WELL, YES AND [LAUGHTER] I WOULD SAY, TRULY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READY, THEY WANT US TO HAVE STUDENTS COLLEGE AND CAREER READY BY THE END OF 10TH GRADE.
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT REALISTIC. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BEFORE IT WAS 11, NOW LET'S MOVE IT TO 10.
>> I WANT TO WIN THE LOTTERY, I'M SORRY MAYBE I SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, BUT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, IT IS PLAYING THE GAME.
>> I WOULD SAY WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT PLAN THAT I JUST SAID AND CONCENTRATE ON THOSE STUDENTS THAT, NOT CONCENTRATE ON BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT BUT TAKE A LOOK AND FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN, TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU'VE GOT TO IDENTIFY THE GAPS AND THEN LOOK AT WHAT SUPPORTS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE TO CLOSE THE GAPS BECAUSE PART OF IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SOUND PESSIMISTIC ON THIS I DON'T WANT AT ALL.
>> THE REALISTIC SIDE OF IT, KIDS HAVE HAD SEMI-INTERRUPTED INSTRUCTION, A NOT NORMAL INSTRUCTION SINCE MARCH OF 2019, 2020, SORRY, I LOST A YEAR.
>> DON'T MAKE IT WORSE. [LAUGHTER]
>> IT DOES FEEL LIKE '19 THOUGH.
>> BUT OVER A YEAR PLUS OF INTERRUPTED INSTRUCTION.
>> SOME OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL KIDS DID DO FAIRLY WELL.
>> SOME DID NOT, AND SOME IN THE MIDDLE STRUGGLED.
PART OF IT, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS FORCE WE CAN IN TO TRY TO CLOSE THAT GAP AS BEST WE CAN IN THE TIME WE HAVE WITH THE KIDS.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE AN UPHILL CLIMB SIGNIFICANTLY, AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT AND THIS IS JUST MY PREDICTION.
COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES AND THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE ADJUSTED BASED ON THE APPLICANTS COMING IN.
>> YEAH. THEY'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT SAT ISSUES AND WHATNOT IN TAKING TESLA ALONE PERFORMING WELL ON THEM.
[01:10:01]
I KNOW MY DAUGHTER, SHE'S A JUNIOR LAST YEAR, SENIOR THIS YEAR.SHE'S GOING THROUGH THAT WITH THE SATS.
BUT THE REALITY, AND I'LL JUST SAY IT AS A PARENT OR SOMEBODY WITHIN, AND IT'S SAD.
BUT I THINK THE REALITY IS, LAST YEAR SENIORS, IT WAS DEVASTATING SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY IN THE SPORTS AND THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR THINGS, THEIR CONCERTS, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GO TO.
IT'S A TRAGEDY FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS.
YOU HEAR ABOUT THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS, THEY SAYING ABOUT THE YOUNGER KIDS, I CAN'T TEACH A STUDENT TO READ ON ZOOM AND THAT KIND OF THING, AND THEN IT'S RIGHT.
BUT THAT'S SECOND OR THIRD GRADER, THEY'VE GOT SO MANY YEARS AHEAD OF THEM.
JUST LIKE WE'VE REALIZED THREE AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS JUST LIKE A SPONGE AND THEY CAN'T LEARN, WHAT THEY DO IF YOU PUT IT IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY LEARN IT SO THAT SIX AND EIGHT-YEAR-OLD, AS YOU PUT THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF THEM, THE PROTECTIONS IN THE NEXT TWO YEAR, I THINK THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY IN MY MIND, I SAY IT'S THE SOPHOMORES AND THE JUNIORS.
BECAUSE TO YOUR POINT, WHAT ARE WE DOING? HOW ARE WE GIVE THEM AS SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS? BUT IT'S NOT NEW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM COLLEGES FOR YEARS THAT WERE NOT JUST CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AREN'T SENDING COLLEGES OR THE CAREER, THE JOB MARKET, WHAT THEY NEED.
THIS PAST YEAR DIDN'T HELP THOSE SOPHOMORES OR JUNIORS.
>> RIGHT. I THINK WE WERE ALSO TAKING A LOOK AT TWO THINGS.
ONE, YOU BROUGHT UP THE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING AS A NEW COMING, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WAS THINKING.
WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THAT AS WELL.
BECAUSE WHEN WE SEE THAT SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL IS MET, STUDENTS ARE MORE UP TO ENGAGE IN THEIR INSTRUCTION OF LEARNING.
MANY STUDENTS FROM NIKKI FISHER, MANY STUDENTS WHO HAD NOT PASSED A HIGH SCHOOL CLASS THAT WE'RE IN THAT NUMBER OF 200 FOR CREDIT RECOVERY WERE STUDENTS WHO DID NOT PASS THE CLASS DURING THE YEAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PARTICIPATE AND THEY DIDN'T DO.
BUT WHEN THEY GOT TO CREDIT RECOVERY, THEY ACTUALLY DID HAVE SOME KNOWLEDGE THAT IT DIDN'T TAKE THEM THE TYPICAL LENGTH OF TIME TO COMPLETE CREDIT RECOVERY BECAUSE THEY HAD MORE KNOWLEDGE THAN THEY WERE PUTTING FORTH.
THE DATA THAT WE LOOK AT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, IF STUDENTS TAKE THE ASSESSMENT TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, WILL GIVE US THE TRUE DATA TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE, OR ARE THERE SIGNIFICANT GAPS, AND WE WILL SEE BOTH.
WERE ALSO, THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISORS, HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT THINGS LIKE THE SCOPE AND SEQUENCE.
ARE THERE THINGS THAT IN THE PAST WE HAVE FOCUSED ON FOR FIVE DAYS WHERE WE KNOW THAT, YES, WE NEED TO TEACH IT? IT IS A STANDARD, WE MAY BE ABLE TO TOUCH ON IT FOR ONE DAY, BUT NOT PUT THE FOCUS ON THAT PARTICULAR CONTENT TOPIC AND PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE THAT WOULD GIVE US MORE BANG FOR OUR BUCK.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THAT AS WELL.
>> THANKS. THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WAS MY PATH.
ARE WE GOING TO GO BACK TO USING THAT?
>> EXACT PATH IS PART OF A TUTORING PROGRAM OR AN ONLINE THAT WE USED LAST SPRING AND THIS SUMMER WITH TUTORING STUDENTS.
IT ASSESSES WHERE THE STUDENT IS, AND THEN SETS THEIR PATH SAME WITH AN AI READY INSTRUCTION AND SETS THEIR PATH TO THEIR LEVEL.
WITH THAT, DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION THERE?
>> ARE WE USING IT OR DO WE PLAN ON USING IT IN THE FUTURE?
>> IT'LL BE ONE OF THE RESOURCES WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO TRY TO HELP CLOSE THOSE LEARNING GAPS.
THE NICE THING WITH EXACT PATH IS WHETHER BEING A TUTORING PROGRAM, IT'S AVAILABLE 24/7, RIGHT?
>> THE TUTORING PIECE THAT GOES WITH IT. SORRY, GO AHEAD. YOU GOT IT.
>> THERE'S A TUTORING COMPONENT, WOULD IT DO FOR THE FEV TUTORING, WHICH THERE'S AN ONLINE TUTORING PIECE THAT A FAMILY CAN GET HELP, OR A STUDENT CAN GET HELP ON CONCEPTS THAT ARE WORKING TO WHEN THEY'RE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN AT HOME? THAT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL AS WELL IF STUDENTS' TRYING TO WORK ON CLOSING THOSE GAPS ON THAT PIECE.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF [OVERLAPPING] YES. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THAT COMPONENT IS UP TO.
>> GOOD JOB. BECAUSE I THOUGHT OF MYPATH ALSO.
>> THERE IS ANOTHER PATH FROM TRYING TO THINK A LITTLE BIT.
>> THERE'S ALSO MYPATH, I'LL JUST REMEMBER, IT MIGHT BE A CAREER [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM I THINK.
>> IT'S SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT THE STUDENT TAKES THE ASSESSMENT, IT GIVES THEM THEIR INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION, THE PROGRAM ITSELF DOES IT.
[01:15:02]
>> I MEAN, AI READY INSTRUCTION HAS THAT PIECE TO IT.
I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY CALLED MYPATH.
>> BUT THAT'S PART OF AI READING.
>> THAT IS PART OF AI READY, AND THAT IS PART OF EXACT PATH ALSO.
>> IT WILL BE UTILIZED, CORRECT. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE USED IT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR OUR TUTORING PROGRAM IN THE EVENINGS, AND GREENSBORO WAS OUR SHINING STAR.
WE HAD A 100 STUDENTS ON IT, AND OUR EL TEACHERS AT GREENSBORO GRABBED A HOLD OF THIS AND PUT ADDITIONAL INCENTIVES IN PLACE THAT ACTUALLY PULLED THE KIDS EVEN MORE TO WANT TO DO IT MORE IN AND RECEIVED THE ACHIEVEMENTS.
THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON THAT WE CHOSE IT FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM TO USE AS AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LINDSEY HAS SAID, WE HAVE REALLY STRONGLY WORKED HARD TO BE BOUGHT THOSE TIER 2 AND TIER 3 SUPPORTS FOR THE STUDENTS THAT WE ARE TARGETING BECAUSE THEY ARE BELOW LEVEL.
THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE OF THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO TRY DIFFERENT RESOURCES AND FIND OUT REALLY WHAT RESOURCES WORK.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A COMPLETE BANK RIGHT NOW THAT FITS RIGHT INTO OUR MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE TEACHERS.
BACK TO THE QUESTION THAT YOU'VE HAD ON 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS, THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.
I MEAN, I LOOK AT A FEW OF OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE THESE CHILDREN ARE ON PATH TO GRADUATE IN FOUR YEARS AND THIS COULD PUSH THEM INTO THE FIFTH YEAR OR THE SIX-YEAR.
IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'S A CONVERSATION WITH THE FAMILIES.
I MEAN, WE'VE NEVER EVER HAD ANY PUSHBACK BECAUSE IT'S WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CHILD.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW THAT AS A STUDENT WHEN I WANT TO GRADUATE WITH MY CLASS, AND WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, THEN WHAT WE DO IS THROUGH OUR TRANSITION PLAN, WE PUT IN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES TO HELP SUPPORT THE CHILDREN IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE'D BE FELT THAT TRANSITION PLAN TO ENSURE THAT WHEN THEY DO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION THAT THERE IS A PLAN FOR THEM AFTER THEY LEAVE US, WHETHER IT'S COLLEGE OR CAREER OR SOME TYPE OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY STUDENT INVOLVED [OVERLAPPING] IS BEING LOOKED AT.
>> DEFINITELY IN THE FOREFRONT LINERS.
>> IT WOULD BE SAFE TO ASSUME THAT THE AI READY, MYPATH THING WILL BE FOR ALL STUDENTS, ALL GRADES.
>> HOW COME? I'M NOT SURE IF I READY TRULY HAS A HIGH-SCHOOL VERSION, I'M NOT SURE.
IT HAS NOT BEEN A RESOURCE THAT CURRICULUM HAS CHOSEN TO USE FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
>> EXACT PATH FIRST, WE WERE PURCHASING IT UP TO EIGHTH GRADE.
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WE HAVE THE READING INTERVENTIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE, THE SYSTEMS 24 AND THE READ 180, AND THEN WE ALSO CAN OFFER WILSON AT THE HIGH SCHOOL TOO FOR READING.
ONE OF THEM FOR THE MOST PART, SO THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HIGH SCHOOL, I'LL SAY SOPHOMORE AND ABOVE.
I KNOW THAT SOME STRUGGLE MORE WITH ZOOM AND THEN THE VIRTUAL LEARNING THAT OTHERS, THE ACHIEVERS, I WOULDN'T THINK, HANDLED IT PRETTY WELL, AND THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR LEARNING AT A LEVEL THAT YOU'LL FIND OUT WHO THE ASSESSMENTS JUST HOW WELL THEY DID.
I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS AND YOU ANSWERED THAT, THAT IT'S NOT QUITE AS EASY FOR THEM.
THEY WERE DENIED THEIR USUAL WAY OF LEARNING BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE IN SCHOOL ALL OF THEM ALL THE TIME.
GOING BACK TO YOU SAID 2019, BUT I KNOW [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS 2020.
>> YOU LOOK AT THAT DISRUPTION JUST THERE.
JUST WHAT HAPPENED IN SPRING 2020 WAS VERY AGGRESSIVELY BAD FOR THEM.
THE STUDENTS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY HIGHER-ACHIEVING GREAT GRADES AND SO FORTH, IF THEY DIDN'T DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO THE WAY LEARNING WAS THIS HYBRID OR THIS REMOTE LEARNING THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR, THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE HARSH, SHAME ON THEM.
THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY KNEW HOW TO DO IT.
THEN I HEARD IT HAPPENING IN MY OWN HOME.
KIDS WEREN'T LOGGING ON AND THE TEACHER IS CALLING THE KID'S NAME AND THEY DON'T ANSWER.
WHERE IS THAT GUY OR GIRL? JUST PUT IT OUT THERE THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT ARE GREATER DISADVANTAGED WHEN OTHERS DO THIS.
[01:20:03]
I'M GLAD YOU'RE ASSESSING IT AND YOU HAVE IT HANDLED ON.THE OTHER THOUGHT IS THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS IN THAT CLASSROOM.
YOU SAID THAT BY THE SECOND WEEK, THE ASSESSMENTS WILL BE GOING ON.
THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT'LL BE HAPPENING BECAUSE THE FIRST DAY THOSE TEACHERS ARE GOING TO KNOW.
THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW, MAYBE NOT FIRST BUT SECOND, OR THIRD DAY, THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS.
THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW WHICH STUDENTS HAVE BIGGER GAPS THAN OTHERS AND THEN THE THINGS YOU'RE DESCRIBING, THAT WILL GIVE THEM THE DATA THAT SUPPORT WITHIN, PROBABLY INTUITIVELY [INAUDIBLE].
JUST GET YOU AHEAD OF THE GAME.
LET'S HOPE IT'S NOT A COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE THOSE HIGH-SCHOOL SOFTWARE IN YOUR PHONE, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE COUPLE OF YEARS.
BUT FOR THE YOUNGER KIDS, THEY DO.
THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY ABOUT IT.
THEY REALLY STILL HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HIGH SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT.
[INAUDIBLE] IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THE NEXT BULLET, WHICH IS FOLLOW IDEA, SECTION 504 AND TITLE II.
[LAUGHTER] THEY NEVER STOPPED.
AS YOU KNOW, ALL THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC THERE WERE NO WAIVERS.
THE EXPECTATION WAS WE WERE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT, SECTION 504 AND TITLE II OF ADA.
THE ONE BIG DIFFERENCE THAT WE HAVE FACED IS COMPENSATORY SERVICES.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TRAINED ALL OF OUR STAFF ONE, TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE, WHEN WE HAVE ASSESSED THEM, WHERE THEY WERE.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCES AS THE GAP GROWN, IS IT THE SAME? IS THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY? WE'VE GONE TO [INAUDIBLE] MEETINGS AND DETERMINED WHAT STUDENTS WOULD REQUIRE COMPENSATORY SERVICES BECAUSE OF NOT RECEIVING [INAUDIBLE], WHICH IS YOUR FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION WITH YOUR SPECIALLY DESIGNED INSTRUCTION [NOISE] AND YOUR RELATED SERVICES.
IN THIS CASE, AND WE'VE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR TO OUR SPECIAL ED-TEACHERS.
WHEN YOU HEAR DENY, IT'S SUCH A NEGATIVE WORD AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU TOOK SOMETHING AWAY.
NO. IT'S THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT BECAME A BARRIER.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE, AND YOU ACTUALLY SAID IT, MR. BARTON THE RIGHT WAY IS, THEY DIDN'T GET IT THE WAY THEY NORMALLY WOULD GET IT.
OUR STUDENTS NEED THAT FACE-TO-FACE.
THEY NEED THE ABILITY TO HAVE HANDS ON MULTISENSORY ACTIVITIES.
THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO HAVE ALL OF THAT.
IN TURN, WE DID PROVIDE A LOT OF COMPENSATORY OVER THE SUMMER.
WELL, WE WILL GO TO [INAUDIBLE] MEETINGS AND WE WILL DISCUSS THE PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE WITH THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED.
THEN AT THAT POINT THROUGH ASSESSMENT WE'LL DETERMINE WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT SET OF NEEDS.
IT'S ONGOING PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I'D REALLY STRONGLY BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE IN A GOOD PLACE.
IS IT GOING TO TAKE TWO OR THREE YEARS? ABSOLUTELY. SOMETHING TO THIS EXTENT CAN'T CHANGE OVERNIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE ON A VERY POSITIVE PATH.
>> NEXT ITEM, AND I'LL START A PIECE OF AS IT DEALS MORE WITH THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS, THE CURRENT GUIDANCE FROM CDC FROM THE HEALTH SERVICES PERSPECTIVE SIDE, AND THEN PASS IT TO BETH TO TALK ABOUT IT FROM THE FACILITY SIDE OF WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT PLANNING AROUND.
THE FIRST PIECE, REALLY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT GUIDANCE.
IT'S OUT THERE FROM MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELATED TO SAFELY REOPENING SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS REVISED AND DISTRIBUTED JULY 23RD, 2021.
THAT IS THE CURRENT GUIDANCE THAT MARYLAND SCHOOLS ARE UNDER.
THAT CURRENTLY IS WHERE WE FEEL IN CONVERSATION WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, EVEN AS FREQUENTLY AS TODAY, THAT AGAIN, ANYTHING CAN CHANGE.
[NOISE] BUT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW OR WHERE MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE YOU RIGHT NOW OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT IS FOLLOWING THEIR GUIDANCE OF STRONGLY RECOMMENDING BUT NOT REQUIRING ALL INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED TO WEAR FACE COVERINGS IN SCHOOLS.
I DON'T FEEL WE'RE AT A POSITION OF TALKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS THINGS STAND RIGHT NOW AND UNDERCURRENT [INAUDIBLE] GUIDANCE THAT WE'RE NOT FEELING THAT THE [INAUDIBLE] NEEDS TO IMPLEMENT A MASK MANDATE FOR ALL FOLKS IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CURRENT GUIDANCE FROM [INAUDIBLE], AGAIN, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND [INAUDIBLE] THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT FOLKS WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED DO WEAR A MASK.
IN THE BUILDINGS THEY DO NOT REQUIRE IT FOR VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS FOR INDOORS.
[01:25:03]
AS OF TODAY WITH WHERE THINGS SIT, WITH OUR HEALTH METRICS, WITH CDC METRICS THAT ARE OUT THERE, WE FEEL RIGHT NOW THAT THIS IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.IF NUMBERS CHANGE, IF PERSPECTIVES CHANGE, MEANING, IF ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE A HOTSPOT FOR A COVID OUTBREAK, WHICH BY CDC DEFINITION WOULD END UP BEING MEAN, WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL OR HIGH SPREAD, WHICH RIGHT NOW CAROLINE COUNTY HAS A MODERATE, MOST OF MARYLAND HAS A MODERATE SPREAD.
IF WE WERE TO REACH TO A SUBSTANTIAL OR A HIGH LEVEL, THEN I THINK IT CHANGES PERSPECTIVE AT THAT POINT.
WE WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONVERSATION PROBABLY WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THAT WE WOULDN'T NEED TO RECONSIDER THAT GUIDANCE.
BUT AS OF TODAY WITH WHERE THINGS SIT, WE FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT IF WE IMPLEMENT OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES AS WELL AND BETH TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THOSE RELATED TO FACILITIES.
THAT WE DO NOT FEEL THIS POINT IN TIME WE NEED TO GO TO A FULL MASK MANDATE IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS ACROSS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND WE WERE NOT FEELING IT.
I'M DEFINITELY OPEN FOR BOARD ROOM.
CONVERSATION COMMENT BY ALL MEANS.
>> HERE'S ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I'VE BEEN ASKING CLEARLY IF EVERY TIME THEY SAY IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED [NOISE] HOW DO WE KNOW? THAT RECOMMENDATION IS A POINT, A JOKE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
>> LIKE I HATE WEARING A MASK.
BUT I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HATE TO HAVE COVID MORE THAN I HATE TO WEAR A MASK.
I FEEL LIKE [NOISE] TO SAY, ''OKAY, WE RECOMMEND,'' THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
BECAUSE FOR THE MOST PART, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T GET THE SHOT DON'T BELIEVE IN THE SHOT OR DON'T BELIEVE IT'S REAL OR THEY'RE THE ONES THAT FOUGHT THE MASKS THE MOST.
>> HAVE CHILDREN UNDER 12 BEEN VACCINATED?
>> THEY DIDN'T MAKE A CHOICE TO NOT BE VACCINATED.
>> NO, RIGHT, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOUR STRONGER RECOMMENDATION IS, EVERY CHILD OF THAT AGE BELOW, SHOULD BE WEARING A MASK.
>> THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WELL, WE WOULD NOT BE REQUIRING.
>> THAT'S REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED.
>> BUT STRONG RECOMMENDATION TO PARENTS WILL BE THE CHILD SHOULD.
THE ONLY CAVEAT TO THAT IS, FEDERAL GUIDANCE IS VERY CLEAR THAT ON ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THIS COUNTRY, STUDENTS HAVE TO WEAR A MASK.
THERE WAS SOME, I'LL CALL IT CONFUSION.
WHEN GOVERNOR HOGAN LIFTED THE MASS MANDATE AS OF JULY 1, US AND OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR HOGAN'S LIFTING OF THE MASK MANDATE AND WE HAD MASK OFF PARTIES IN THE BUSES.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WEAR IT. JOKINGLY SAYING THAT, BUT WE AS IN JULY 1, NO MASK ON BUSES, NO MASK ANYWHERE.
THAT HAS BEEN FULLY CLARIFIED IN [INAUDIBLE] NEW GUIDANCE THAT CAME OUT THAT, THAT WAS NOT THE INTENTION OF THE LIFTING OF THE MASK MANDATE.
THAT IT IS A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT WHEN ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, INCLUDING SCHOOL BUSES, ALL PUBLIC CONVEYANCES, ACTUALLY WORKING THEY USE, INCLUDING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL BUSES, THAT EVERYONE HAS TO BE MASKED.
SO WE WOULD HAVE THE MANDATE ON THE BUS.
>> THEY'LL BE MASKED ON THE BUS.
THEN I WOULD ASSUME THOSE YOUNGER CHILDREN IN PARTICULAR, MASKED IN THE BUS.
THEY'RE GOING TO WEAR THE MASK WHEN THEY WALK INTO THAT SCHOOL.
MAYBE THEY WON'T AND TO ME THE BIGGER, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE BIGGER QUESTION OR NOT.
BUT FOR THE CHILDREN, THEY'RE HOPEFULLY GOING TO DO WHAT THE ADULTS ARE TELLING THEM TO DO, PARENTS AND BRING HER TO STAFF AND SO FORTH.
THE ADULTS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED, NOW THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION.
THEY MADE THAT CHOICE FOR WHATEVER REASON COULD BE VERY LEGITIMATE.
I ASSUME IS VERY LEGITIMATE, SO STRONGLY URGE TO WEAR MASKS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ADULTS BASED ON THE SCIENCE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A ROUGHER TIME WITH COVID THAN THE CHILDREN ARE GENERALLY AND THAT'S THE SCIENCE THAT'S SHOWING.
I AGREE WITH THE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS POINT.
AGAIN, I AGREE. THEY'RE GOING TO BE WEARING IT ON THE BUS IF THEY'RE TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, SO ONE'S GOING TO LEAVE IT ON WHEN YOU WALKING TO SCHOOL? YOU'RE AT LEAST GOING TO HAVE IT WITH YOU, I DON'T KNOW.
>> DOES HIT YOUNGER PEOPLE WORSE THAN THE NORMAL COVID DAY.
[01:30:03]
THEY'RE SEEING WORSE CASES.>> THERE'S A THREE WEEK OLD IN ICU.
>> RIGHT. THAT'S NOT JUST, PROACTIVE, REACTIVE.
>> THERE'S PART OF IT MRS. DIGIACOMO.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FORTUNE TELLING ABILITY.
>> MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE IT EITHER?
>> IT IS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AND OTHERS THAT MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MAY MAKE A CHANGE TO THEIR GUIDANCE.
THE CDC UPDATED THEIR GUIDANCE THE SAME DAY MDH RELEASED THEIRS.
FROM A SCHOOL SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE RIGHT NOW AND AGAIN, TYPICALLY WE FOLLOW WITH MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH GUIDANCE, WE WORK WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WHERE OUR METRICS ARE RIGHT NOW, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FEELS COMFORTABLE WITH THIS BEING THE POSITION FOR STARTING THE YEAR.
IF METRICS CHANGE, WE MAY HAVE TO REVISIT.
>> BUT THE OTHER PART IS IF THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES COME OUT AND CHANGE THEIR GUIDANCE AND SAY, ALL SCHOOLS WILL, THEN IT IS NO LONGER A LOCAL DECISION, AND THAT WOULD CHANGE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE'S FOUR LEVELS, CORRECT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THAT'S COVERED.
>>YES. CDC HAS FOUR LEVELS. WE'RE TWO [OVERLAPPING].
>> IF A CHILD TRIES TO GET ON THE BUS WITHOUT A MASK?
>> WE HAVE MASKS. WE WERE INTO THIS LAST YEAR.
BUSES WILL HAVE MASKS, HERE WE GO, AND WE WORK THAT PROCESS.
SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, THE ISSUE WAS NOT AS PREVALENT. FORGETTING A MASK? YES. BUT THE ISSUE OF REFUSING TO WEAR WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN EVERYBODY, I THINK, ANTICIPATED.
WE'LL SEE, WE'RE OPENING DOORS TO ALL KIDS, OUR PRIORITY IS EVERY KID IN.
>> THE STATE HAS SAID THAT, IT'S BEEN OUR GOAL AS WELL, WE NEED ALL OF OUR KIDS BACK IN THE BUILDING AND WE NEED THEM ALL BACK IN SCHOOL.
WE NEED TO DO IT SAFELY, BUT WE NEED THEM ALL BACK IN SCHOOL.
>> THAT MEANS WEARING A MASK TO ACHIEVE THAT? THAT'S MORE OF A PRIORITY GETTING THEM INTO SCHOOL AS WELL.
>> I DON'T DISAGREE BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT MORE OF OUR KIDS ARE SO FAR BEHIND FROM GOING TO SCHOOL LIKE THEY WENT TO SCHOOL LAST YEAR VERSUS THE NUMBER OF ONES WHO ACTUALLY GOT SICK.
EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE OUT ON THE WEEKENDS AT THE PLAYGROUND PLAYING TRAVEL BALL OR IN THE RIVER [LAUGHTER] OR WHEREVER ELSE.
BUT AS A LOCAL LEVEL FOR US UNTIL THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TAKES IT OUT OF OUR HANDS.
I THINK PARENTS AND KIDS' HOME DECISIONS, RIGHT OR WRONG, IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM'S PLACE TO SAY IT PRIOR TO THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR THE FEDERAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT WE CAN ENCOURAGE IT.
I LIKE THAT WORD, ENCOURAGE IT FOR [BACKGROUND] NON-VACCINATED PEOPLE, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S VACCINATED OR NOT VACCINATED.
I'M WONDERING ABOUT YOU DONALD BUT ANYWAY [LAUGHTER].
>> NO, BUT I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I FELT UNCOMFORTABLE.
IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PUT A MASK ON IT.
>> IT'S JUST LIKE I'VE BEEN ASKING THAT QUESTION ALL ALONG.
LIKE HOW YOU KNOW WHO HAD IT? IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHY BOTHER SAYING IT BECAUSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE BOTTOM LINE BASICALLY IS WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS OF THE STATE AND/OR THE CDC, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WE KNOW THAT THE YOUNGER CHILDREN.
>> THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THEIR PARENTS.
>> WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED.
PEOPLE ABOVE THAT AGE, ESPECIALLY THE ADULTS, LET'S HAVE, HOW ABOUT AN HONOR SYSTEM? MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG THING TO SAY IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THE WAY PEOPLE BEHAVE.
BUT IF MARK IS SAYING HE'S VACCINATED, I BELIEVE HIM.
IF HE SAYS HE'S NOT, THEN I'LL BELIEVE HIM; AND WITH OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF AND THE PARENTS, I GUESS WE'RE JUST GOING HAVE TO BELIEVE THEM. [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING].
>> WE KNOW THE YOUNGER ONES HAVEN'T BEEN VACCINATED.
>> YOU KNOW MY WHOLE GOAL IS JUST TO PROTECT [OVERLAPPING] THE STUDENTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S THAT'S IT AND IN A NUTSHELL.
>> THEY ARE ADULTS, THEY CAN MAKE MORE DECISIONS THAN THE STUDENTS CAN, AND I DON'T MEAN THAT DISRESPECTFULLY.
>> IF WE'RE IN THE STATE WHERE AND I'M LOOKING, CAROLINE COUNTY IS 44 PERCENT VACCINATED.
MARYLAND HAS MORE OF A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION.
THE ONLY ONES THAT ARE LESS ARE ON THE SHORE ARE WICOMICO AND SOMERSET.
BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THESE ELEVATED LEVEL OF CONCERN, MAYBE THE NEXT TEAM OF PEOPLE WILL GO OUT AND GET VACCINATED AND PROTECT
[01:35:03]
THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE BETTER SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH MASKS ON.BUT SAY, WE'RE ON THIS EDGE, WE DON'T GET ANY WORSE, WE'RE BOPPING AND WE'RE TREADING WATER HERE, IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM ARE OTHER SIMILAR SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVING SIMILAR CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU HEAR OF?
>> SPECIAL NEEDS FROM [INAUDIBLE] EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE ON THE SAME BOAT [OVERLAPPING].
>> RECOMMENDING BUT NOT REQUIRING.
TO RICK'S POINT, WE KNOW KIDS UNDER [NOISE] 12 ARE NOT VACCINATED.
NOT JUST GETTING ON THE BUS, THAT'S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT, BUT WE'RE RECOMMENDING NOT ENCOURAGING, SO I GUESS IF A 10-YEAR-OLD SAYS, "HECK NO," IT'S NOT AN ISSUE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
JUST MAKE THEM AWARE OF IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> UNLESS THEY TRY TO GET ON THE BUS WITHOUT IT.
>> BUT THE BUS IS A REQUIREMENT [OVERLAPPING].
>> BUT IN SCHOOL WE'RE JUST SAYING "OKAY, WE MADE YOU AWARE.".
>> SAYING THAT THAT MAKES ME THINK OF A QUESTION.
LET'S SAY A LITTLE KID DOESN'T WANT TO WEAR IT AND ANOTHER STUDENT IS WEARING IT, AND THEY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SITTING NEXT TO A STUDENT WITHOUT A MASK, HOW ARE WE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT?
>> YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT. YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> FOR ONE, I FEEL COMFORTABLE OUR TEACHERS WOULD MANEUVER SEATING AND HOWEVER THEY NEED TO TO MAKE FOLKS FEEL COMFORTABLE LIKE [OVERLAPPING].
>> NO, YOU'RE RIGHT. NO. I FEEL THAT OUR TEACHERS HAVE BEEN THERE.
YOU MAKE THE MOVES IN YOUR CLASSROOM TO ACCOMMODATE AND DO THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU HAVE.
>> RIGHT.[BACKGROUND] WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT THE BUS AND THE MASK.
>> THIS HAS BEEN CLARIFIED RECENTLY, WHICH HAS BEEN HELPFUL.
>> BUT NO, WE WILL, AS WE WORK THROUGH THE PLAN, WE WILL DEFINITELY PUSH OUT OUR INFORMATION OF WHAT OUR PLAN IS LOOKING AT SPECIFICALLY AROUND RETURNING TO SCHOOL.
INFORMATION AROUND MASKS. NOT ONLY MASKS BUT INFORMATION AROUND PROPER HEALTH PROTOCOLS FOR FOLKS.
AGAIN, REMINDING PEOPLE THAT IF YOU'RE SICK, STAY HOME.
WE STILL HAVE QUARANTINE GUIDANCE WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
IT'S STILL BASICALLY THE SAME QUARANTINE GUIDANCE FROM BEFORE.
IF IT'S A SORE THROAT, THAT COULD BE COVID.
IF IT'S A LOSS OF TASTE OR SMELL THAT CAN BE COVID.
IF IT IS A SUDDEN COUGH, THAT CAN BE COVID.
WE STILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS AS BEFORE.
WE STILL HAVE THAT GUIDANCE TO FOLLOW SO WE'LL BE PUSHING OUT THAT TO PARENTS AS WELL.
IF YOUR KID'S SICK, PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME.
>> WELL, THAT'S THE AGE-OLD ISSUE.
DON'T SEND YOUR PRE-COVID, DON'T SEND YOUR SICK CHILD TO SCHOOL, BUT THEN THE PARENT HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR JOB.
>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE EMPLOYERS WHO THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM, BUT PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVE THAT CHALLENGE AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL SICK AND THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM [LAUGHTER].
>> NO WAY BECAUSE TEN, FIVE MINUTES INTO THE SCHOOL DAY, A KID WOULD COME UP, COUGH ALL OVER ME.
>> AND SAY, "I NEED TO GO TO THE NURSE," AND I'D BE LIKE, "COULD YOU GO ACROSS THE ROOM AND I WILL SEND YOU THE PASS." [INAUDIBLE] I WAS MAD AT HIM BUT IT WAS LIKE I'M THINKING, WHY ARE YOU HERE?
>> WE'VE SEEN THAT. TAKE COVID OUT OF THE PICTURE, AS WE MENTIONED, WE'VE SEEN IT BEFORE, WE'VE SEEN IT [OVERLAPPING] AT HIGH-SCHOOL LEVEL, WE'D SEE IT IN ELEMENTARY AND WE DO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPTICK BECAUSE WE DO HAVE [INAUDIBLE] CENTERS IN ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS.
>> WE HAVE DOCTORS OR PHYSICIANS, ASSISTANTS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS IN OUR BUILDINGS.
EASIEST WAY TO GET AN APPOINTMENT.
IT'S SOMEONE IN SCHOOL, THEY GET SEEN WHICH IS GOOD.
WE CAN ALSO SEE THEM WITHOUT, THEY'LL STILL CONTINUE THEIR TELEHEALTH, WHICH IS GREAT.
>> COVID, [OVERLAPPING] IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL AND SOME ILLNESSES ARE [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU'RE REALLY SICK.
BUT IF WE WERE ALL SICK TOGETHER IN SCHOOL, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WE HAVE.
I'M JUST POINTING IT OUT. IT'S A JOKE.
IT'S ABOUT THE PETRI DISH OF SCHOOLS, BUT I MEAN, I'M NOT MAKING A JOKE OF COVID [OVERLAPPING].
>> NOW, EVEN IF YOU'VE GOT THE SNIFFLES, WE'RE QUARANTINING WHAT'S IN THERE.
NOW, IF WE DON'T EASE THROUGH THIS CAREFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITHOUT IMMUNITIES TO THE NORMAL STUFF.
>> WE NEED THOSE LITTLE [INAUDIBLE] FACTORIES.
>>IF WE'RE NOT MANDATED TO PUT THEM ON, IT SHOULD BE THE CHOICE OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
>> THAT'S JUST IT [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH. I THINK THERE IS VALUE TO THAT INDIVIDUAL DECISION-MAKING AND JUST THE FACT OF BEING ABLE FOR PEOPLE TO SEE FACES.
[OVERLAPPING] FOR THE TEACHERS TO SEE THE FACE AND THE CHILD TO BE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER'S FACES.
THEY'VE MISSED THAT FOR TOO LONG AND WE'VE GOTTEN THAT FREEDOM BACK.
PERSONALLY, I WOULD JUST HATE TO SEE IT REVERT TO THAT.
NO. I MEAN, THERE COULD BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THAT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS.
[01:40:03]
IF IT IS OUT OF OUR HANDS AND THEN IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S DECISION, [BACKGROUND] NOT OURS.>> BETH, DID YOU WANT TO TALK ON FACILITIES AND PROTOCOLS, PROCEDURES OR AT LEAST WHAT BRETT'S WORKING THROUGH RELATED TOO?
>> THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE [INAUDIBLE] TO CHILDREN.
>> PART OF THE CARE, [OVERLAPPING] ISN'T IT?
>> [INAUDIBLE] IS WORKING ON REOPENING, HE'S WRITTEN OUT HIS IDEAS, GIVEN WHAT CDC HAS SUGGESTED AND WHAT SOME OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING AS WELL, AND HE NEEDS TO GET WITH GENIUS TO COMBINE THE TWO TOGETHER, LIKE IS IT THREE FEET OR SIX FEET? WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? WITH AIR QUALITY AS WELL, JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ON TOP OF THAT, HE HAS CLEANING PROCEDURES DOWN.
HE'S GOT A LITTLE BOOKLET GOING HERE, SO WE'LL GET WITH JANE TO FINALIZE THAT ON THE TRANSPORTATION, HE ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE MASK-WEARING IS MANDATED.
THERE'S GOING TO BE ASSIGNED SEATING EVERYWHERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT FOR TRACING PURPOSES ON THE BUS AND IN THE CAFETERIA, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ASSIGNED SEATING SO THAT WE CAN TRACE BACK. UNFORTUNATELY.
>> JUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE PEP FOR THE STAFF, HAND SANITIZER.
WE'RE LOOKING FOOD IN THAT RUBRIC, WHICH I'M REALLY SURPRISED ABOUT AND WE'VE GOT NO GUIDANCE FROM THAT.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT INTO PLACE IS WE'RE BASICALLY GOING TO GO BACK TO NORMAL FEEDING KIDS, BUT HAVE THE HAND SANITIZER AT THE BEGINNING CHANGED OUT OR UTENSILS BETWEEN THE LUNCH SHIFTS AND MAKE SURE THE TABLES ARE SANITIZED.
WE'VE BEEN DILIGENT ABOUT THAT ALWAYS, NORMALLY, BUT WE'RE REALLY DILIGENT ABOUT IT NOW.
I'M TALKING ABOUT BACK TO THE TRANSPORTATION, I KNOW I KEEP JUMPING, I'M SORRY, I'M REALLY TIRED I FELT ALL THE SUDDEN, I'M LIKE, OH MY GOSH, IT'S BEDTIME [LAUGHTER].
TALKED ABOUT KEEPING THE SEAT OPEN BEHIND THE BUS DRIVER, SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BUS DRIVER [LAUGHTER] TO TAKE THE REST OF THE KIDS.
THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT PUTTING FAMILY MEMBERS TOGETHER ON THE BUS, SO LOOKING AT THE SEATING CHART AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO REGULAR BUSES?
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO OR THESE KIDS [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
>> YEAH, WITH US DOING A FULL COMPLEMENT OF GETTING OUR BODY IN, WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SPACE ONE PER SEAT OR THOSE THINGS.
>> THEY HAVE CLEANING IN BETWEEN THE SHIFTS AFTER THEY HAVE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE PROCEDURE OF DISINFECTING.
>> THEY PROBABLY DON'T LIKE IT [LAUGHTER].
>> BUT I ANTICIPATE, IF THEY'RE REALLY CONCERNED, ARE GOING PROBABLY DRIVE THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL.
>> LAST FEW ITEMS AND WE'LL MOVE.
>> THIS WAS FROM, I THINK THE LETTERS WE GOT FROM STUDENTS.
WHAT'S THE MENU GOING TO BE [LAUGHTER] THE LUNCH MENU?
>> YEAH. WE'LL GO BACK TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
>> BUT THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE THE PRODUCT, IS BEING ABLE TO GET THE PRODUCT IN.
I HAD TO ORDER MY THANKSGIVING TURKEY TODAY, THANKSGIVING BECAUSE OF FEAR OF NOT HAVING THE SUPPLY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF MENU CHANGES JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE.
WE WERE SMART LAST YEAR AND THAT 24 BY 40 FREEZER, THAT'S AWESOME.
HAS A LOT OF PROTEIN IN IT RIGHT NOW, SO WE WERE VERY SMART IN THAT PURCHASING SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH.
>> THE SPAM IT'S ABSOLUTELY NOT.
SORRY [LAUGHTER], THE SODIUM LEVEL IS A LITTLE TOO HIGH, I THINK 1200, IT'S JUST A LITTLE TOO HIGH.
[01:45:01]
>> IF YOU BOIL IT. [LAUGHTER] DID THAT, APPLY WITH DISINTEGRATE AND JUST SAYING.
>> I THINK EVEN SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE, GOING BACK TO THE REGULAR MENU IS GOING TO MEAN A LOT TO THE STUDENTS.
>> BECAUSE WE HAD STUDENTS WRITE IN ABOUT THE MENU.
>> I THINK YOU GUYS PROBABLY GOT THE REPLIES I SENT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING THEM.
>> CAN I BE SHAMELESS FOR ONE MINUTE ABOUT MY BOT CENTER EARLIER.
>> BUT YOU CAN SHARE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE MOBILE PANTRY IS ON THE ROAD [LAUGHTER] I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT, I WON'T BREATHE THERE.
TWO DAYS IT'S BEEN THE ROADS, THE NORTH COUNTY, SOUTH COUNTY.
I WELCOME YOU GUYS, LOOK AT IT, IT HAS FRESH PRODUCE ON IT.
IT HAS THE FROZEN MEALS ON IT.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE PURCHASED THE MEALS AND FRESH PRODUCE AND KIDS ARE GETTING FREE MEALS OFF OF IT AS WELL.
BUT IT WILL BE AT THE COUNTY FAIR ON THE FIFTH FOR THE CHILD'S FAIR DAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH 4H, WHERE THE STUDENTS CAN GO ON AND GET IT UP, THEY CAN WIN A PRIZE AND GO ON TO THE BUS AND GET FRESH FRUIT AS THEIR PRIZE. WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> IT WILL BE THERE ALL DAY SATURDAY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FLYERS ABOUT THE MOBILE, WHERE THEY CAN FIND THE INFORMATION FOR THE SCHEDULE, AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT FOR 21, 22 WE HAVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH AND ALL THE SCHOOLS NO MATTER WHAT YOUR STATUSES UNDER THE USDA GUIDELINES.
YEAH. ANYBODY WHAT'S THE APPLE [INAUDIBLE] FOR HOURS [LAUGHTER].
>> WHAT I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT IN THE SUMMERTIME VEGETABLES FREEZE THEM, BRING THEM BACK OUT IN THE WINTER FOR PURSUITS IN THE MAKING THE WATCHES, THEY WERE CUTTING 40 BOXES TOMATOES UP AND I WAS UNWELCOME IN THAT DAY.
THEY DID BROCCOLI THE WEEK BEFORE HIM.
PROBABLY DON'T SLEEP ON THIS WEEKNIGHT.
>> YEAH, WE DO LOCAL 20,000 ROUNDS OF LOCAL PROCESS FOOD.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ASKING US TO FARM TO SCHOOL, BUT FARMERS AREN'T GROWING.
WE WERE IN SCHOOL, SO HOW DO WE EXTEND THAT GROWING PERIOD? ACTUALLY WE ARE WORKING ON A PROJECT TAKE THAT JUST NOT IN CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT REGIONALLY, SO OTHER DISTRICTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT AS WELL.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY NEAT.
>>IT'S OUR FOURTH, FIFTH YEAR, I THINK
>> I WENT HOME AND MY DAD WAS LIKE, OH, THEY DID THAT. WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL.
YEAH, BUT I REMEMBER HIM DOING THAT WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, [LAUGHTER].
>> THAT WAS REALLY NEAT TO SEE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] 24 BY 45 FREEZER I UNDERSTOOD. [LAUGHTER].
>> I MADE THEM GO LOOK AT THE FREEZER [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING]
>>THAT WAS THE DAY AFTER I SAW THE FREEZER, I UNDERSTOOD EXACTLY WHERE [INAUDIBLE] FREEZER ISN'T.
>> VISIT ONE OF THE SCHOOLS ON WEDNESDAY, LUNCHTIME?
>> I WAS TOLD CRAB SOUP AT SOME POINT.
>> BUT WILL TAKE THOSE FREEZERS AND SELL THEM ON THE MOBILE UNIT AS WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO SMALL FREEZER BAGS SO THAT WE CAN PUT FRESHER INGREDIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY.
>> OKAY, HOW WAS YOUR STEPHEN? ARE YOU GOOD?
>> WELL, I'M CLOSING IN THE GAP, I HAVE SEVEN SPOTS RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST DID A ROUND OF INTERVIEWS, WE'RE GETTING CLOSER, I HOPE.
WE DIDN'T HIRE THROUGH COVID BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE TO LAY OFF MY PEOPLE.
WE DIDN'T FILL AS PHYSICIANS CAME OPEN AND THEN I DIDN'T HIRE PEOPLE IN JULY AND SAY, "WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR AUGUST TO GET A JOB." [OVERLAPPING] ANYWAY YEAH.
>> IT'S EASY TO FIND HIRING SIGNS.
>> IT'S EASIER TO GO TO DUNKIN' DONUTS, MAKE $17 AN HOUR.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT TODAY AGAIN, MAKE $17 PLACES ARE OFFERING BONUSES.
>> YOU SEE YOU DO SHE'S NOT KIDDING [LAUGHTER] LET'S GO.
>> THANK YOU, [OVERLAPPING] EVERYBODY.
>> WITH MY LITTLE ONE SAYING, LIKE.
>> LINDSEY, ATTENDANCE FOR VIRTUAL OR FOR DISTANCE LEARNING, WHICH REALLY APPLIES TO THE BLENDED VIRTUAL.
>> CORRECT. OBVIOUSLY AS THAT PERCENTAGE SAID EARLIER, WE ARE NOT DOING A HYBRID OR VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.
WE HAVE SHARED WITH YOU THE BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM OPTION THROUGH THE EASTERN SHORE CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS ONLY FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS THROUGH SIX THROUGH 12TH GRADE.
WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN UP THE WEIGHT LIST FOR
[01:50:04]
THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAD REACHED OUT AFTER THE DEADLINE.WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN THAT, SO WE'VE HAD APPROXIMATELY 30 STUDENTS APPLY.
ONCE APPROVED, THERE'LL BE SCHEDULED AND ALL OF THAT.
BUT FOR THE ATTENDANCE PIECE, APEX WILL BE SENDING US WEEKLY REPORTS AS TO THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENT'S ATTENDANCE AND THAT WILL BE PUT INTO POWERSCHOOL.
PARENTS NOT ONLY WILL HAVE A REPORT OF GRADES, THEY'LL ALSO HAVE ATTENDANCE ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE WILL BE PUTTING IN ATTENDANCE INTO POWERSCHOOL AND THEN GRADES WILL BE GOING IN QUARTERLY FOR THOSE VIRTUAL STUDENTS.
>> DO WE KNOW HOW MANY I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED?
>> WE'RE STILL WAITING ON WE HAD 12 APPLY BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TODAY THAT WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT.
THOSE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD CONTACTED ME AFTER THE DEADLINE.
>> OTHER THAN THAT, I BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT 14 THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
>> MS. BARRY, COMMUNICATION PLAN.
>> COMMUNICATION PLAN. IN LAST YEAR'S RECOVERY DOCUMENT REQUIRED TO HAVE THE PATIENT PLAN BETTER THAN THAT I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE STRATEGIES THAT WE COULDN'T REPLACE OR ENHANCE LAST YEAR STOOD THE TEST OF TIME AND CONTINUE WITH THE MULTIPLE CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION FROM THE DISTRICT OR COMMON SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE INCREASED EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE CONTACT INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND STARTED OUR SCHOOL HERE.
LAST WEEK, WHICH YOU HAVE UPDATE YOUR CHILD OR VERIFY AND UPDATE A CHILD'S INFORMATION ONLINE.
EVERY AS OF LAST WEEK, EVERY WEBSITE HAS AT THAT SCHOOL PAGE ON IT.
THE SCHOOLS OBVIOUSLY YOUR SCHOOL CENTER AND THE DISTRICT IS THE BIG PICTURE AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE THAT TO BE UPDATED AS THE GUIDANCE CHANGES AND WE ADD MORE INFORMATION TRANSLATION, WE'VE REALLY COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF COVID, [BACKGROUND] PARTICULARLY THE GREAT INFORMATION AND SO IT'S PRETTY STANDARD NOW THAT TRANSLATE OFFERING INTO SPANISH AND HAITIAN CREOLE.
WE'VE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS AND THEIR [NOISE] NETWORKS, AS YOU KNOW, IS BECAUSE YOU GET ALL OF THEM I'M SURE.
WE'LL JUST CONTINUE ON THAT SAME PATH OF THOSE SAME STRATEGIES AND TO KEEP THAT FOUNDATION STRONG?
>> THE LAST ITEM THAT MSD REQUIRES WITHIN THERE, WHICH ACTUALLY IS PRETTY SIMPLE, PROBABLY WILL BE THE SHORTEST PART OF THE PLAN IS WE ARE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE MPSS ATHLETIC PROGRAM, WHICH IN ESSENCE MEANS ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD.
WE WILL PLAN TO HAVE HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS AS WE NORMALLY WOULD.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST START DATE FOR SPORTS IS AUGUST 12TH.
>> ELEVENTH POWER BY DAY. THANK YOU. IT'S COMING UP SOON.
>> THAT'S FIRST PRACTICE DAY IS AUGUST 11. SPORTS WILL PICK UP AND THERE'LL BE NORMAL SCHEDULES AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO AGAIN, FOR GUIDES OUT THERE.
WITH SPECTATORS ALL THAT STUFF AS OF RIGHT NOW, EVERYTHING IS A GO FOR EVENTS WHICH WILL BE NICE TO GET SOME NORMALCY BACK FOR KIDS ENGAGING IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND THE INTENTION BUT STILL BE IS TO EXPAND THIS NOT JUST TO IMPLEMENT MPSA ATHLETICS IMPLEMENTED EXTRACURRICULARS, NOT JUST ATHLETICS ALL EXTRACURRICULARS.
NORMAL VIA NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR, BAND, CHESS CLUB, YOU NAME IT.
IT SHOULD BE HAPPENING AND WE'LL BE READY TO GO WITH IT.
>> SAYS A LOT. THAT THEY DIDN'T BRING THAT UP.
I MEAN, TO ME, THEY SHOULD HAVE SAID THEY SAID ALL PROBLEMS NOT JUST SPORTS.
>> THEY HAVE AUTHORITY OVER SPORTS PER SE.
MSDE DOES, WHICH IS WHY THEY WOULD CALL IT OUT SPECIFICALLY.
>> LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT UPROAR AROUND ATHLETICS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT CONTINUED AND THEY CAME UP WITH SEVERAL ITERATIONS OF WHEN THE START AND NOT THE START AND THIS YEAR THEY'VE JUST FLAT OUT SAID NO, WE'RE BASICALLY WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THAT OF MODIFYING SCHEDULES, EVERYTHING ELSE.
NO. SIMPLY YOU'RE GOING DO IT OR YOU'RE NOT AND WE'RE ACQUIRING, YOUR WAY TO DO IT.
THESE ARE THE BROAD STROKES AND WE WANTED TO TRY TO GIVE THE BOARD WHERE OUR FEELINGS AND THINKING ARE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND OBVIOUSLY GET SOME FEEDBACK APPRECIATED THAT AND THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.
[01:55:02]
THAT WILL HELP US WORK ON STARTING TO FRAME OUT WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE THAT THEN WE ALSO WILL BRING TO THE STAKEHOLDER GROUP, WHICH IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, RACHEL, WE TALKED ABOUT, WE'LL HAVE AUGUST 9TH.IT'S WITH A COMMUNITY EQUITY GROUP WILL BE PRESENTING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THIS INFORMATION.
IT'LL BE MORE THAN JUST THE BULLET POINTS AS LISTED OF THE REQUIREMENTS.
IT WILL START TO FRAME THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE OF OUR THINKING FOR THE COMMUNITY GROUP.
VERY QUICK TURNAROUND TIME TO FRAME OUT WHAT A DRAFT VERSION OF THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE AND THE HOPES IS TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP A COMMUNITY SURVEY BY MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THAT COMMUNITY MEETING, TO THEN A BROADER COMMUNITY SURVEY THAT WOULD GO OUT LITERALLY CAROLINE COUNTY TO OUR THROUGH OUR NETWORKS TO GET FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES REGARDING INPUT OR WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING WITHIN THE PLAN.
WE'RE TRYING TO GIVE OURSELVES A CUSHION OF TWO DAYS SURVEY, THAT LITTLE 15TH.
MINOR CUSHION BUT WE NEED TO GIVE TIME FOR SURVEY TO GET RESULTS AND THEN I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET COMMUNITY FEEDBACK FROM A BROADER SCALE, A SLIGHT CUSHION TO MAKE ANY MODIFICATIONS THAT WE MAY NEED TO DO THE PLAN BASED ON FEEDBACK SO WE CAN GET IT SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED TO MSDE BY THE END OF THE DAY, AUGUST 17TH.
THEY GAVE US A VERY LITTLE SMALL WINDOW TO SHOOT IT THROUGH AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE THE DAYS TO GET FEET TO GET MEANINGFUL FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT IN INTO THE PLAN.
>> SIR, I ENCOURAGE YOU THEN IN THE COMMUNITY SURVEY AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS TIMELINE IS NOT YOUR FAULT.
[NOISE] BUT ACCUSE BUT VERY EASILY, PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW.
THAT BIGGER PICTURE, COULD SAY.
HOW INCOMPETENT ARE THESE PEOPLE THAT MAKE US HAVE TO COMMENT SO QUICKLY WHAT COULDN'T YOU HAVE HAD 30 DAYS?
>> I THINK SURVEY NOT OUR FAULT.
>> DOING THE BEST WE CAN WITH IT.
>> THEY PROBABLY ARE TOO. I GET THAT.
>> THEY'VE HAD SOME LEADERSHIP CHANGES THAT HAVE LED TO SOME [NOISE] DELAYS OR HOLDING OFF BECAUSE NEW FOLKS COMING IN.
WHAT DIRECTION YOU WANT TO GO, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BEING FURTHER DOWN THE HILL, WHEN IT ROLLS DOWNHILL, IT'S NOT FUN, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT DOES HAPPEN, AND WE JUST HOPE THAT IT IS NOT GOING TO BECOME THE PATTERN OF THE FUTURE FOR MSCE. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WORD, YEAH. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? I APPRECIATE THE CONVERSATION, AND IT WILL COME TOGETHER.
IT WILL BE WHAT IT WILL BE. HOPEFULLY, IT'S IN OUR HANDS AS SEVERAL OF US SAID AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE A GREAT EFFORT.
>> I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING KIDS BACK.
LET'S JUST REPORT IT IN A PRESENTATION THAT INFORMATION.
[7. Public Comments]
MS. BARRY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING?>> REPRESENT HERE OR WHICH ONE WILL BE BETTER?
>> MARK, IT DOESN'T MATTER. PODIUM.
>> HE'S GOT A PRESLUG FOR THERE.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO GET SOMETHING BESIDES THE EMAIL WE HAVE?
>> ACCORDING TO OUR CURRENT PROCEDURES, WE'RE STILL WAITING.
>> THIS COMES FROM THERESA HELLWIG.
DEAR CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, I AM ENTERING MY 10TH YEAR AS A CAROLINE COUNTY INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT.
AS YOU KNOW, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG MINDS AND ASSISTING TEACHERS IN INSTITUTING EDUCATIONAL CURRICULAR.
OUR VALUE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FAR GREATER THAN OUR COMPENSATION SUGGESTS, AND SO I MUST SPEAK UP REGARDING THE LOW SALARIES AND LACK OF BENEFITS GIVEN TO OUR COUNTY'S SUPPORT STAFF.
MY SALARY IS NOT ENOUGH TO COVER THE NECESSARY EXPENSES OF HOUSING, UTILITIES, A CAR PAYMENT, GROCERIES, ETC, AND I AM CERTAIN THIS IS THE CASE FOR MANY OTHERS.
THIS SITUATION HAS LED MANY EXPERIENCED AND HIGHLY TRAINED STAFF MEMBERS TO RESIGN FROM THEIR POSITION IN ORDER TO SEEK BETTER-PAYING JOBS WHILE SACRIFICING THE JOB TO WHICH THEY ARE DEDICATED.
WE ARE NOT PAID ENOUGH TO CONTINUE OUR POSITIONS AND TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD A MINIMUM LIFESTYLE.
I, LIKE MANY OTHER SUPPORT STAFF WHO WORK TWO OR MORE JOBS TO SUPPORT OURSELVES AND FAMILIES.
PIECING TOGETHER A FULL 40-HOUR WORKWEEK WITH MULTIPLE JOBS IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL AND COULD BE SOLVED IF WE WERE ABLE TO WORK A FULL 40-HOUR WEEK AS CAROLINE COUNTY EMPLOYEES.
[02:00:03]
THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES SUCH AS KENT, TALBOT, ANNE ARUNDEL, AND QUEEN ANNE, ALL OFFER REASONABLE BENEFITS TO THEIR SUPPORT STAFF ALONG WITH HIGHER SALARIES.I APPRECIATE YOU CONSIDERING INCREASING OUR COMMITMENT TO 40 HOURS A WEEK, AS WELL AS INCREASING OUR HOURLY WAGE, REFLECTING OUR VALUE TO THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS.
MS. HELLWIG, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN OUR SYSTEM AND YOUR COMMENTS.
I'M SURE WE'LL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE BUDGET SEASON STARTS UP HERE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING BASICALLY BETH JUST BROUGHT UP A LITTLE BIT AGO.
YOU'VE ALLUDED TO WHAT YOUR STAFF ARE PAID, WHICH IS FITTING INTO THIS LETTER. THANK YOU.
>> DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO LOOK AT DURING THE BUDGET TIME. I CAN IMAGINE.
[8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action]
DISCUSSION ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS, WE'VE HAD THAT, AND WE'VE BEEN TAKING THROUGH IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.WE HAVE A COUPLE, AND WE'LL PROBABLY BE ADDING A COUPLE MORE AS WE MOVE THROUGH OUR BOARD RETREAT DISCUSSION ITEMS THE BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INFORMATION ON.
NOTHING LISTED UNDER UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
[10. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.WE HAVE A BOARD RETREAT NEXT WEEK AFTER THIS MEETING, AND THEN WE DO HAVE A BOARD WORK SESSION LISTED ON THE 17TH, BUT WITH STAFF AND EVERYBODY GETTING READY FOR THE YEAR AND THAT'D BE IN A THIRD MEETING IN THE MONTH, I WANTED TO ASK IF WE WANTED TO CONSIDER JUST CANCELING THE WORK SESSION, SO WE JUST STICK TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH, OR IF THERE'S TOPICS OF SPECIAL CONCERN WE REALLY NEEDED, WE'LL HANDLE AT THAT TIME.
>> WOULD IT BE ENOUGH TIME IF WE DECIDED AT THE RETREAT IF WE FELT LIKE WE GOT EVERYTHING DONE, WE CAN SAY FAIR TO INCOME?
>> THAT'S FAIR. YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF STAFF TIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT CROSSED MY MIND, I MENTIONED IT TO DEREK AND HE SAID, JUST LET THEM KNOW, SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
LET'S THINK ABOUT IT, AND TALK ABOUT IT, AND MAKE A DECISION NEXT WEEK.
>> MAYBE EVEN IF THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE EXCUSED, MAYBE IF THE BOARD WOULD MEET FOR AN HOUR OR SO, MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
WE DO HAVE A LOT TO WORK THROUGH, AND IT'S EASIER TO STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE THAN GET BEHIND, RIGHT?
>> FIRST DAY FOR NEW TEACHERS, WHAT TIME IS THAT BREAKFAST?
>> NEW TEACHER BREAKFAST 8:30 ON THE 19TH.
>> PROGRAM IN ESSENCE, THE WELCOME AND ALL THAT'S STUFF DONE BY 10:00 AM, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LOOK AND BLOCK OUT YOUR TIME BETWEEN EATING.
>> PROGRAM BEGINS AT 9:00, CORRECT?
>> OH MY, AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS ARE ON HERE.
>> INTERESTING THING, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A REPORTING, I GUESS.
>> I'M SORRY. BUT AT THE LAST MEETING, DR. SIMMONS HAD SAID YOU WOULD LIKE US TO COME UP WITH THE PLAN TO WHO IS GOING TO WHAT SCHOOLS.
>> FOR THE FIRST DAY, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AT THE RETREAT.
IF YOU'D LIKE, I'LL ADD IT IN MY NOTES.
>> DIVIDE AND CONQUER, KIND OF THING.
>> YEAH. DIVIDE AND CONQUER, AND MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE THERE ALL FIVE.
>> GREENSBORO'S GOING TO BE THE PLACE EVERYBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO GO.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GO WHEN THEY HAVE THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT AND SEE THE KIDS REALLY SEE IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO. DONNA GOT IT.
>> YOU CAN. WE CAN BOTH DO IT, [LAUGHTER] BUT SOMEBODY STILL HAS TO SHOW UP THE FIRST DAY IN SCHOOL.
>> BUT IT WORKS OUT WELL, THOUGH.
FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, FIVE SECONDARY.
>> IF YOU TIME IT RIGHT, YOU HIT YOUR SECONDARY.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, WE'VE GOT THE LIST STARTING HERE, AND UNLESS SOMEBODY WANTS TO TALK FOR SIX MINUTES TO GET OVER FOR 9:30.
>> 8:30. EXCUSE ME. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION [LAUGHTER] TO ADJOURN.
>> I MAKE THE MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[02:05:01]
>> MOTION TO ADJOURN BY MS. WAYMAN, SECOND BY MS. DIGIACOMO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
>> SEE YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.