Link

Social

Embed

Disable autoplay on embedded content?

Download

Download
Download Transcript

[1. Opening Items]

[00:00:04]

WELL, GREETINGS, EVERYONE.

AT 6:00 DECEMBER SIX, 2002.

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.

OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING.

MY NAME IS RICK BARTON. I AM NOT THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

THAT WOULD BE JIM NEWCOMB, WHO IS NOW CYCLING OFF EFFECTIVE TONIGHT.

WE HONORED HIM LAST TIME IN OUR WORK SESSION.

JIM, IT WAS ALMOST 16 YEARS, I BELIEVE.

OF VALUABLE SERVICE.

AND SO AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY TO OPEN THE MEETING.

AND WE HAVE A NICE CROWD HERE TONIGHT.

WELCOME, EVERYBODY.

WE CONVENED AS A BOARD AT 4 P.M.

TODAY FOR A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION THAT WAS A PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION AND THE BOARD VOTED TO GO INTO OPEN SESSION, THEN CLOSED SESSION.

AND NOW I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.

WE NEED A MOTION FROM ONE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.

SO MOVED.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE .SO WE ARE NOW IN OPEN SESSION, WHICH MEANS WE NOW CAN START WITH SOME VERY EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING THIS EVENING.

I THINK OUR FIRST. ACTION IS TO SWEAR IN OUR NEW MEMBER.

[INAUDIBLE] IS HERE WITH US.

YOU DIDN'T GET TO VOTE BECAUSE HE'S NOT A MEMBER.

QUITE YET. BUT YOU WILL ALL BE ON.

CLERK OF THE COURT IS HERE.

TERRY, WELCOME.

[INAUDIBLE] . THAT'S FINE. IT'LL BE FINE.

OKAY, MR. PLUTSCHAK IF YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.

I, PATRICK TROY, PLUTSCHAK OF CAROLINE COUNTY.

STATE OF MARYLAND. STATE OF MARYLAND.

DO YOU PROMISE OR DECLARE THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES? CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THAT I WILL BE FAITHFUL AND BEAR TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND, THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTION AND LAWS THEREOF.

AND THAT I WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT, DILIGENTLY AND FAITHFULLY WITHOUT PARTIALITY OR PREJUDICE. EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF EXECUTE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THIS STATE.

VERY GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE].

[INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU . YES. [INAUDIBLE], [LAUGHTER] . YEAH. YEP. THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

OH, Y'ALL ARE PROFESSIONAL.

OH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DO ONE MORE JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT.

PERFECT. ALL RIGHT. AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.

ALL RIGHT. ONE MORE.

PERFECT.

WELL, BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, I JUST WANT TO THANK TERRY LORD, THE COURTS, FOR PRESIDING OVER GETTING OUR NEWEST MEMBER.

[00:05:02]

AND SHE'S BEEN DOING THAT ALL DAY, BUT SHE'S DONE A FLAWLESS JOB.

IT'S REALLY A CREDIT AND SHE DEFINITELY DESERVES OUR APPRECIATION AND OUR THANKS FOR THE GREAT JOB SHE DID ALL DAY.

ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO ESSENTIALLY REORGANIZE THE BOARD.

THAT MEANS WE NEED TO ELECT A PRESIDENT AND A VICE PRESIDENT OF THIS BOARD.

SO WE'LL START WITH NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

[INAUDIBLE], WELL, I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT THERE ARE OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT.

WELL, ONCE YOU ACCEPTED IT.

THANK YOU. SO NOW WE WILL VOTE ON A PAPER BALLOT AND TURN THEM INTO THE SUPERINTENDENT.

BY A VOTE OF FIVE OVER MR. BARTON. CONGRATULATIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I ACCEPT AND HONORED TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF CAROLINE COUNTY IN THIS CAPACITY.

I WILL DO MY BEST. I CAN'T DO MORE THAN [INAUDIBLE].

I PROMISE I WILL DO THAT.

THANK YOU. BOARD. APPRECIATE IT.

SO NOW, IF MY FIRST ACT IS OFFICIALLY PRESIDENT, I AM ASKING FOR NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

[INAUDIBLE]. DO YOU ACCEPT? YEAH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT? HEARING NONE.

THE VICE PRESIDENT NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED AND WE CAN VOTE AGAIN.

TAKE OUR SECRET BALLOT AND BE IN . FIVE ZERO VOTE. MR. JONES.

MR. PRESIDENT, CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE].

IF WE GOT ANY COMPLAINTS.

ANY ISSUES [LAUGHTER].

WITH THAT COMPLETED, WE NOW WILL GET INTO OUR AGENDA AND WE START WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

AND I DO BELIEVE, MR. SUTTON, YOU HAVE BROUGHT YOUR CREW TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE.

I GOT A CREW, [INAUDIBLE].

GOOD MORNING AND HAVE.

THANK YOU. TONIGHT IS REPRESENTED BY SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO ARE FIFTH GRADE COURSE MEMBERS.

SEVERAL STUDENTS WHO ARE IN OUR NEWEST CLUB THIS YEAR IS THE YEARBOOK.

COUPLE OF THEM ON BOTH OF THEM.

AND WE RECRUITED THEIR SIBLINGS.

MRS. SHIRKY IS THE YEARBOOK SPONSOR.

MS. WARE IS CHORUS, BAND ORCHESTRA.

AND I EVEN GOT THE SECRETARY TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE JOB.

WHAT IS YOUR NAME? MACY,[INAUDIBLE].

[00:10:06]

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

GREAT JOB, GUYS. AND, MARY, IF WE COULD GET A GROUP PICTURE OF EVERYBODY.

COME BACK UP HERE AND GET YOUR DIRTY DOZEN THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

MR. JONES, IF YOU COULD MOVE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER [LAUGHTER].

THERE YOU GO. PERFECT.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

WE'LL DO ONE MORE FOR GOOD MEASURE.

YOU GUYS ARE LIKE PROS.

EVERYBODY TONIGHT DOING A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. CHEERS.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR SUITCASE OUT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE GOT A LITTLE KICKING AROUND.

I GOT A NEW SEAT.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NAME'S ON THE. NO.

THANK YOU.

YES. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. YES.

JUST A MINUTE.

YOU WILL KEEP US STRAIGHT. RIGHT.

RIGHT. THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANY CHANGES TO THE AGENDA OR I'LL SEEK A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA, AND WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

SO THE SECOND ALL IN FAVOR AYE AND APPROVED.

THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS.

MEET OUR MISSION STATEMENT.

THANK YOU. AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE STARTED LAST YEAR, I BELIEVE.

AND IT'S REALLY JUST REMIND US AND EVERYBODY LISTENING OR PRESENT WHY WE EXIST AND WHAT OUR WORK.

SO THE MISSION, WHAT WE DO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, WE PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READINESS THROUGH A CHALLENGING AND PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.

[2. Recognitions]

SO NOW WE HAVE TWO RECOGNITIONS AND THE FIRST UP IS THE HOLIDAY ARTWORK.

WINNER YES.

SO THIS EVENING TONIGHT, OUR FIRST RECOGNITION WILL BE DONE BY MRS. RENEE HASSN. MS. HASSON. HELLO, I'M BACK RIGHT ON CUE FOR OUR HOLIDAY CARD GREETING CARD RECIPIENT PRESIDENT BARTON.

DR. SIMMONS, BOARD MEMBERS IS MY HONOR AND PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE.

YES, THIS YEAR SUPERINTENDENTS HOLIDAY CARD COVER ARTWORK.

WE ARE JOINED TODAY BY THE DESIGNER OF THIS ARTWORK AND HER NAME IS JULIANNE HOFFMAN.

COME ON UP. SHE IS AN 11TH GRADER FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.

GOOD FOR YOU. YOU'RE IN IT.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SHE IS JOINED TODAY BY HER ART ADVISOR, MR. TIM GUDGER, AS WELL AS PRINCIPAL SPIKER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME PICTURES UP FRONT AS WELL.

YES. SO BEFORE WE AS YOU'RE COMING IN FOR PICTURES, TOTALLY FINE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MICROPHONE RECORDS THIS BEFORE I MOVE AS WELL.

SO I HAVE THE LUXURY LITERALLY OF TRYING TO GO THROUGH AND DECIDE WHICH PIECE OF ARTWORK WILL GRACE, THE CARD THAT GOES OUT TO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND OTHER PLACES WE SEND OUR CARDS TO.

AND IT'S KIND OF A DAUNTING TASK.

AND YOU REALLY GO THROUGH THE CARDS.

OUR STUDENTS DO A GREAT JOB.

TO BE HONEST, YOURS LITERALLY FLIPPING THROUGH FIRST TIME, THROUGH LOOKING AT THE DIGITAL IMAGES.

IT'S LIKE, I THINK THAT'S IT.

I WAS LIKE, WOW, THAT'S AWESOME.

I LOVE THE MESSAGING.

I LOVE THE DESIGN.

I LOVE THE CONCEPT.

IT JUST TOOK A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN SOME OF THE OTHERS THAT CAME IN.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S BEAUTIFULLY DONE.

I AM THE PERSON WHO HAS PERFECTED A STICK FIGURE.

[00:15:01]

SO IT AMAZES ME WHAT OUR STUDENTS CAN DO.

BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEND IT OUT TO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS. MANY FOLKS AROUND THE STATE. IT'S A GREAT JOB.

YEAH.

[INAUDIBLE].

I THINK THEY LOOK BETTER WHEN YOU GUYS COME DOWN, BECAUSE THAT'S OKAY.

YOU WANT TO TAKE ONE, TOO? YEAH.

LET'S GET. SURE, MY FRIEND.

ALL RIGHT. READY? ALL RIGHT.

THEY'RE GOOD. AND THEN THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO JOIN YOU ALL.

PERFECT. ALL RIGHT.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

I'LL TRY ONE MORE FOR ONE.

HERE WE GO. PERFECT.

THANK YOU, GUYS. YOUR PICTURE IS BEAUTIFUL.

MORE. FOR MICHEL MARTIN. IT WILL BE WONDERFUL.

WHAT ELSE? ALL RIGHT, READY? AWESOME. THANK YOU.

AND ACTUALLY, WHILE MR. JACQUOT WAS ENJOYING TIME WITH THE YOUNG CHILD OF ONE OF OUR NEXT RECOGNITIONS, WE WILL AT THIS TIME CAN INVITE UP MRS. LYNDON MCCORMICK. SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.

DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I AM HERE TO RECOGNIZE A COUPLE OF TEACHERS.

HOWEVER, I DO WANT TO SAY THAT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF AMY TOWERS, SO SUPERVISOR OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH REPRESENTING HER THIS EVENING.

BUT I WANTED TO SHARE THAT SHAPE.

MARYLAND SHAPE, MEANING THE SOCIETY OF HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATORS OF AMERICA OF MARYLAND RECENTLY HELD A CONVENTION IN OCEAN CITY THAT ALLOWS PHYSICAL EDUCATORS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND SHARE IDEAS.

AND DURING THIS CONVENTION, TWO OF OUR CAROLINE COUNTY'S FINEST TEACHERS WERE RECOGNIZED.

SO I HAVE THE HONOR OF CONGRATULATING BECKY WILLOUGHBY AND BRYAN HALL.

GUYS CAN COME ON UP FOR THEIR HONORS.

BECKY AND BRYAN RECEIVED THE SIMON MCNEELY AWARD, WHICH RECOGNIZES TEACHERS WHO DEMONSTRATE OUTSTANDING INNOVATION IN TEACHING HEALTH, EDUCATION OR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ALONG WITH ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.

THE AWARD IS NAMED FOR SIMON MCNEILLY, WHO WAS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND LONG TIME MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS AND THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES.

SO CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH BECKY AND BRYAN.

THE REASON WHY THE CERTIFICATES ARE HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW SIGNATURES.

YOU A NEW PRESIDENT SO HOT OFF THE PRESS.

YEAH. VERY PROUD OF YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WANT TO FOR A NUMBER OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.

AND WHILE FAMILIES ARE COMING UP WITH LOTS OF CUTE KIDS OF FAMILIES, THANK YOU ALSO FOR SHARING YOUR SPOUSES WITH US AND WITH THE CHILDREN OF AIRLINE COUNTY IS A FAMILY AFFAIR COMPLETELY, QUITE LITERALLY.

YES, IT IS. AND YOU GUYS DO IT VERY WELL.

ALL RIGHT. LOOK HERE.

HEY. HI.

ALL RIGHT. I THINK I GOT IT.

[INAUDIBLE]

[00:20:08]

. ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, THREE.

ALL RIGHT. AWESOME.

CONGRATULATIONS. YEAH, I'M GOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. WE'RE DOING.

Q CAN I TALK ABOUT THIS? YES. SO THE NEXT RECOGNITION WE HAVE IS THE CC AEA LOGO CONTEST WINNER, AND I'LL LET DR.

SIMMONS TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

CERTAINLY. THANK YOU, MR. BARTON. WITH US THIS EVENING IS MS. AMY BAUMAN, PRESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION.

SO CAROLINE COUNTY EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION HELD A LOGO CONTEST TO DESIGN A NEW LOGO.

AND IT WAS INTERESTING AND REALLY IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY WORKED WITH OUR STUDENTS TO CREATE A NEW LOGO.

AND THIS EVENING, THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE AND WE AGREED TO DEFINITELY RECOGNIZE THE STUDENT FOR OUR HARD WORK TO CREATE A NEW LOGO FOR KIA.

SO THIS TIME, AMY, IF YOU WANT TO COME FORWARD, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT AS WELL, AND THEN WE'LL CALL THE STUDENT.

SO WE DID PUT THIS CONTEST OUT AND IT WAS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AND JUST LIKE YOUR CARD, IT WAS VERY HARD TO DECIDE.

AND CHARLIE BLUNT FROM COLONEL HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE IS THE WINNER.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY SHE'S VERY TALENTED.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COMMENTS WHEN WE'VE GONE TO DIFFERENT SEMINARS AND DIFFERENT CONFERENCES ABOUT HOW MUCH THEY LIKE THE LOGO.

SO IF CHARLIE WOULD LIKE TO COME UP, WE DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS FOR CHARLIE.

WE HAVE A HER VERY OWN SHIRT SO SHE CAN MATCH UP.

AND WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT HER ART CAREER.

SO THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION IN THIS LETTER.

BUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A WISH LIST OF ART SUPPLIES, WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE YOU SOME MORE ART SUPPLIES.

AND WE HAVE A LITTLE WORD THERE FOR YOU, BUT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND THEN I DO HAVE SOME LITTLE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE FOR US.

THANK YOU.

I KNOW.

COULD YOU. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE JOB THAT IS.

YOU VERY CREATIVE, CHARLIE.

GREAT JOB. YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IT, BUT SOME OF US HAVE BEEN ENJOYING YOUR ARTWORK ON YOUR MOM'S OFFICE DOOR OR AROUND THAT FOR MANY YEARS.

EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN TALKING TO HER ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, AROUND CHRISTMASTIME.

SO IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO SEE THE DESIGN TEAM CREATIVE WITH THIS.

I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND IT TELLS THE STORY I'VE SEEN.

I THINK I'VE SEEN HER WORK IN THE ART SHOW AS WELL.

YES. ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS MIGHT COME DOWN FOR A PICTURE NOW [INAUDIBLE] . ARE YOU READY? I'LL JUST STAY PUT.

PERFECT. AND THEN IF EVERYBODY BOARD WANTS TO JOIN IN AS WELL.

SURE. OH, IF EVERYBODY COULD JUST SHIFT SLIGHTLY.

PERFECT. YEP.

ALL RIGHT, READY? WHEN WE GET READY.

MAMA, I'M READY.

ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO. THIS IS A HARD JOB.

[00:25:02]

VERY GOOD JOB. THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. OH.

WELL, THAT IS SO HARD TO FOLLOW.

THOSE RECOGNITIONS, JUST INCREDIBLE.

REALLY NICE. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR REPORT, STARTING WITH THE BOARD MEMBER REPORTS.

[3. Reports]

DONNA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? WELL, THAT MONTH I TOOK OFF THIS SUMMER.

I MADE UP FOR IT LAST MONTH.

SO THERE WERE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON IN THE COUNTY.

AND I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN TO TRY TO NARROW THAT DOWN TO JUST ONE THING, IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.

EVERY TIME I GO TO AN EVENT, I'M LIKE, OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

AND THEN I GO TO ANOTHER EVENT.

I'M LIKE, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

SO I'VE DECIDED TO LEAVE IT UP FOR ONE YEAR.

I JUST SAID SO MANY THINGS.

ONE THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST PERSONAL TO ME WAS THE VETERANS DAY PRESENTATION.

I'VE BEEN TO A LOT AND THAT WAS THE MOST TOUCHING AND MOVING EXPERIENCE.

THE JOB THAT THEY PUT ON.

MRS. BAKER YOUR WAS RANDALL BUTLER WAY.

MARTIN AND MR. POTTER FROM LOCKERMAN.

THEY ALL WORKED TOGETHER AND THE CHORUS SANG, THE BAND PLAYS, AND VIETNAM VETERANS DID A PRESENTATION CALLED THE ROUNDTABLE, WHERE THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PEOPLE THAT NEVER CAME BACK AND YOU COULD HURT A PIN DROP.

AND THEN THEY AWARDED ALL OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS THAT HAD NEVER GOTTEN THEIR OFFICIAL THANK YOU FROM THE COUNTRY THEY GAVE THEM AND THEY GAVE YOU THE DOCUMENT.

AND IF YOU WERE THERE AND YOU COULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOK ON THEIR FACES, I MEAN, MS. WAYMAN, YOU WERE THERE, CORRECT? IT WAS MOVING, IT WAS TOUCHING.

AND I THINK PEOPLE GOT WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A VETERAN.

AND FOR SOME OF THESE VIETNAM VETERANS, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THIS COUNTRY OFFICIALLY SAID, THANK YOU.

AND IT JUST IT'S INCREDIBLE.

SO I GUESS MY TAKEAWAY IS I AM PROUD OF THIS COUNTY.

I AM PROUD OF THE TEACHERS, THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE THING I DID UP THERE, IT WAS WITH THE STUDENTS.

AND I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU GUYS THIS.

YOU'RE WHAT YOU TRULY ARE, WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

AND WHEN I MISS TEACHING, THAT'S WHAT I MISS.

IT'S THE STUDENTS, BECAUSE THEY MAKE IT ALL WORTHWHILE.

AND I JUST. I CAN'T GIVE YOU ENOUGH CREDIT AND THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR MAKING ME PROUD TO BE ON THIS BOARD AND TO WORK WITH THESE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

AND THEN NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM ADMINISTRATORS AND PARENTS.

IT'S JUST. YOU GUYS JUST MAKE THIS INCREDIBLE.

SO THANK YOU FOR TOUCHING MY LIFE.

GREAT COMMENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DONNA.

MARK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD, PLEASE? SURE. THIS PAST MONTH, THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HELD ITS FIRST MEETING.

THE MAIN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE HELD THEIR FIRST MEETING IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT BEGINS ON MAY 20.

ANYWHERE. TO KIND OF LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR FOR THE YEAR GOING FORWARD AND JUST TO GIVE A BRIEFING ON SOME OF THE BILLS THAT MAY OR MAY COME UP AND JUST SOME OF THE POSITIONS THAT MAY OR MAY TAKE OR WILL TAKE, AND THERE'LL BE MORE MEETINGS GOING FORWARD.

AND THEN IN JANUARY, THAT COMMITTEE WILL MEET TWICE A MONTH.

SO I KNOW WE'LL BE DOING SOME UPDATES ON THOSE AS THEY GO ALONG.

BUT I THINK I JUST CHOOSE TO JUST GET THAT INFORMATION OUT AS PART OF MY UPDATES ON A LOT OF THINGS AND A LOT OF THINGS LAST MONTH THAT WE DID AND LOOK FORWARD TO SOME CHRISTMAS CONCERTS COMING UP THIS MONTH IN DECEMBER.

SO THANK YOU.

MICHELLE, YOU'RE UP. I'M NOT.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING SEVERAL EVENTS, AND I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT THE VETERANS DAY PROGRAM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ANOTHER ANGLE OF IT.

AND THAT WAS THE COORDINATION BETWEEN LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOLS OF VOCAL MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAMS.

[00:30:09]

THE WORK THEY DID WITH ONE BIG PRACTICE WAS PHENOMENAL.

THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT AND I ENJOYED 100% ATTENDING THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION.

AND I REALLY WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR VERY OWN LESLIE FOR BEING INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

YES. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU.

TROY. NEXT TIME, WE'LL GET YOU.

AND SO FOR ME, MICHELLE, THAT WAS A GREAT COMMENT ABOUT THE BAND'S.

BY THE WAY. I SAW THEM IN A COUPLE OF THE PARADES AND I REALIZED THEY'D ONLY HAD ONE PRACTICE TOGETHER.

IT DID NOT SHOW THEY WERE TERRIFIC.

BUT IT WAS RIGHT BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE.

OH, EXCELLENT.

YES. SO THE THING I'LL HIGHLIGHT IS [INAUDIBLE], WHICH I'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

WEDNESDAY, EVERY WEDNESDAY, THEY OFFER MEALS THAT ARE JUST TERRIFIC.

BUT THAT IS JUST A SAMPLE AND AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT WORK THEY DO.

AND THAT IS SUCH A UNIQUE, I BELIEVE, UNIQUE.

I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERY COUNTY, BUT TO HAVE THEM IN A, IF YOU WILL, RECONSTRUCTED, REHABILITATED BUILDING, THAT'S A HISTORIC BUILDING AND A SCHOOL BUILDING.

THAT'S WHERE THEY ARE.

AND THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IS JUST TERRIFIC.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEIR MEALS, TRY IT.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY GOOD.

AND SO, AGAIN, JUST SHOUT OUT TO SHAWARMA.

FOR ONE THING, I'LL HIGHLIGHT FOR THIS EVENING.

AND NOW WE GET TO MOVE ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.

THANK YOU, MR. BARTON. IN MY REPORT THIS MONTH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

WE HAVE RETURNED FOUR SECONDARY STUDENTS TO REWARDING STUDENTS OR HONORING STUDENTS FOR THEIR ACADEMIC MERIT AND RECEIVING HONORABLE MERIT.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE DID THAT.

PRE-COVID, AT LEAST PRE-COVID, IF NOT FREE.

PRE-COVID AT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.

SO WE'VE WORKED HARD TO REINSTITUTE THAT THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING OUR STUDENTS FOR HARD WORK AND EFFORT WITH THEIR GRADES.

THIS REPRESENTS WHERE OUR STUDENTS FALL IN TERMS OF EACH ONE OF OUR SCHOOLS.

WE'RE ON A ROLL OF MERIT, AND ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD.

WE HAD SEVERAL STUDENTS THAT WERE VERY CLOSE TO MAKING THIS AS WELL, AN HONOR ROLL OF MERIT ROLL AND SOMETHING WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THIS YEAR.

STUDENTS, ONCE THEY ACHIEVE HONOR ROLL AND MERIT ROLL, THERE'S ANOTHER THING THAT SHOULD BE COMING IN THE MAIL AS WELL.

STUDENTS YOU MIGHT NOT CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT I KNOW AS A PARENT, I ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHEN I GET SOMETHING FROM THE SCHOOL ABOUT MY KID DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

IT FEELS KIND OF GOOD.

WE'RE SENDING OUT POSTCARDS FROM ME, FROM MY OFFICE, SIGNED TO EVERY KID IN RECOGNITION OF THE EFFORT THEY'RE DOING WITH HONOR ROLL AS WELL. AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR KIDS WHO ARE WORKING EVERY DAY AND RECOGNIZE THEM FOR THEIR EFFORT.

SO STUDENTS DID A GREAT JOB.

THE HOPE WILL BE THAT WE CONTINUE TO HOLD THIS NUMBER AND GROW IT AS WE GET INTO QUARTER TWO.

STUDENTS ARE JUST ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH QUARTER TWO.

THERE ARE THREE KIDS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR JUST ABOUT COMPLETE.

SO HOPEFULLY AS WE FINISH UP Q TWO, WE'LL SEE SOME MORE STUDENTS QUALIFYING FOR HONORABLE MERIT ROLL AND WE CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB ACADEMICALLY AS WELL.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

BUT IT WAS EXCITING, TOO EXCITING TO SEE.

I KNOW THAT SOME PRINCIPALS WITH SOME TIRED HANDS.

I UNDERSTAND.

I FEEL YOU AFTER THAT MANY SOME OF YOUR GREAT IDEA IN THE SUMMER.

IT'S STILL A GREAT IDEA OF THAT.

WHERE YOUR HAND OUT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

I JUST LIKE TO SAY I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT.

OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNICATION WITH HOME AND SCHOOL.

AND I THINK THAT I KNOW IF I WERE THE PARENT RECEIVING THAT, I WOULD JUST BE DELIGHTED TO GET THAT POSITIVE COMMUNICATION IN THE MAIL.

SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THAT STEP.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE HONEST, I GOT ALL TICKLED WHEN I GOT SOMETHING IN MY KIDS BOOK BAG.

HOLLOWAY THAT'S RIGHT. THEY TRIED TO WRITE IT, BUT I LOOKED IN THE BOOK BAG.

I WAS LIKE, HEY, COOL, LOOK, IT'S GOT TO GO UP ON THE FRIDGE.

AND YEAH, I MEAN, WE'RE ALL LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HONOR AND I WILL TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT IT IS.

I THINK MERIT IS THREE, FIVE OR HIGHER GPA AND HONORS THREE, RIGHT? YES. THANK YOU. THREE IS HONOR 3.5 AND HIGHERS MERIT.

GREAT ACHIEVEMENT, ESPECIALLY AT THOSE TWO LEVELS, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL.

I THINK IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

[00:35:02]

ANOTHER INDICATOR THAT SOME OF THE STRUGGLES OF THE PAST ARE IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND MOVING ON NOT BACK INTO NORMAL.

MOVING BEYOND THAT BETTER.

REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT. I APPRECIATE YOU HIGHLIGHTING THAT.

GOOD CHOICE. SO NOW WE CAN MOVE INTO THE DIRECTOR'S SNAPSHOT.

I SEE LINDSAY ON THE MOVE, SO I THINK SHE'S UP FIRST.

INSTRUCTION SEEMS TO GO FIRST EACH TIME.

SO AGAIN, GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, DR.

SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

SO FOR INSTRUCTION, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY STUDENTS BUT ALSO STAFF.

SO FOR INSTRUCTION, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT OUR AP PHYSICS STUDENTS DID A HANDS ON INVESTIGATION IN REGARDS TO SLIPPING ON A BANANA PEEL.

AND IF THEY EXPLORED THAT.

SO YOU CAN SEE IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER, THERE'S A LOT OF BANANA EATING HAPPENING.

SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE HEALTHY FOODS IN OUR SYSTEM, WE THEN USE THOSE PEELS TO INVESTIGATE AND THE MYTH WAS CONCLUDED TO BE PLAUSIBLE.

SO YES, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE ON BANANA PEELS.

I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAD 15 TEACHERS COMPLETE OUR LATEST COHORT FOR ASPIRING LEADERS.

THEY ARE. WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THEM SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR APPROVAL FOR SECOND SEMESTER PROJECTS.

SOME OF THE PROJECT IDEAS HAVE BEEN FAMILY RESOURCE NIGHTS, DIVERSITY FAIRS AND SCHOOL KINDNESS CREWS.

SO THE TEACHERS THAT COMPLETED THE ASPIRING LEADERS SESSIONS WILL NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPLETE A PROJECT IN SECOND SEMESTER. AGAIN, PLEASE CHECK OUT WHOVILLE IN GREENSBORO, WHERE THE CONSTRUCTION AND CAMP PROGRAMS CREATED MANY OF THE DISPLAYS AND THE COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM AT ETSY.

WE'LL BE DOING HAIR AND MAKEUP FOR THE EVENT.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST SHOW SOME OF OUR AND I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO ALL OF THESE, BUT JUST SHOW SOME OF OUR UPDATES TO OUR VENDORS, OUR PARTNER VENDORS THROUGH MARYLAND LEADS.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO TAKE A LOOK AT SCHOOL SCHEDULES ACROSS ALL LEVELS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR INDUCTION PROGRAM, WE'RE LOOKING AT OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMING, SUMMER SCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMING.

MANY OF THESE HAVE INVOLVED FOCUS GROUPS WITH STUDENTS, STAFF ADMINISTRATORS, AS WELL AS PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS SURVEYS.

SO I KNOW THAT SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE TAKEN STUDENTS HAVE DONE A SURVEY ON OUT OF SCHOOL TIME AND WHERE THEIR INTERESTS LIE.

AND FOR POINT WE'LL BE GATHERING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND PRESENTING US WITH PROPOSALS FOR HOW WE CAN BEST SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

SERVICES AND THAT.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.

I'VE GOT TO GET USED TO THAT ONE NOW.

PRESIDENT BARTON. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

DR. SIMMONS.

STUDENT SERVICES AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. WE'VE GOT A BIG SHOUT OUT TONIGHT.

AND THEN I HAVE SOME UPCOMING EVENTS AND SOME EVENTS THAT HAVE ALREADY TAKEN PLACE, TOO.

IN SPECIAL PROGRAMS, WE HAVE HAD SEVEN OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF MEMBERS COMPLETE 60 HOURS OF GILLINGHAM TRAINING.

THIS IS THE GILLINGHAM METHODOLOGY FOR TEACHING READING.

THIS IS THE EXPLICIT DIRECT TEACHING THROUGH A MULTISENSORY APPROACH.

WE'VE OPENED A LOT OF DOORS FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT HAVE STRUGGLED WITH READING.

SO KNOWING THAT WE'VE HAD SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS COMPLETE THIS TRAINING.

THE CREDIBILITY THAT GOES TO THEM WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS PROGRAM IS HUGE.

SO AND I DO WANT TO SAY THEIR NAMES.

IT'S JASMINE DELANO, ALICIA BALI, SUSAN ANGELO, SEAN CARVER, MICHELLE SWAN, BIANCO OR BIANCO CALENDAR AND CHRISTY SONGER.

SO IT'S ALL OVER THE COUNTY, WHICH IS ALSO NICE.

ALSO, OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A FIELD TRIP TO ATKINS ARBOR OR QUATRIEME, AND THEY GET TO DO A NATURE WALK, AND THEN THEY ALSO GET TO DO CRAFTS AND LEARN ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN NATURE.

SO THAT'S A BIG CROWD PLEASER.

EVERY FALL IN STUDENT SERVICES, WE HAVE AN EVENT THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 13TH AND 14TH, AND THIS IS OUR CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE JOURNEY. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR TRAINER COME BACK AND DO TRAINING ON BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN WHO RESIST CONNECTION AND EXHIBIT RAGE AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR. SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE GOING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT THE SURVIVAL STATE MEANS VERSUS BRIDGE SO THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME TO COME.

BUT THAT'S DECEMBER 13TH AND 14TH.

[00:40:01]

AND I WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SUPPORT CENTER.

AND THEN THE LAST EVENT, WHICH WE DO EVERY YEAR, AND THIS IS SPONSORED BY OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THIS IS OUR SENSORY FRIENDLY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION. AND WHAT THIS IS FOR IS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES THAT REALLY STRUGGLE WITH SENSORY MEANING, LARGE CROWDS, LOTS OF NOISE, LOTS OF COLORS AND LIGHTS.

SO WHAT WE DO IS WE TAKE THAT IN CONSIDERATION WHEN WE CREATE THIS EVENT SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN HAVE DURING THE HOLIDAYS.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT PRESIDENT BARTON PIECE, TOO.

IT SOUNDS FUNNY EVERY TIME I HEAR IT.

I THINK NOW THAT'S IT FOR RECORDS.

OKAY, SO WE'LL MOVE TO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS.

LET'S SEE WHO WANTS TO GO.

SHELBY, HOW ABOUT YOU GO? YEAH, I'LL GO FIRST.

DO THAT BACK. YEAH.

THANKS. SO, MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL ROWAN.

THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE SCHOOL.

FROM THE CUSTODIANS TO THE CAFETERIA.

LADIES. EVERYONE IS WILLING TO JUMP IN AND HELP OUT WITH WHATEVER IS NEEDED.

AND FOR US, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ACADEMICS, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY HERE.

I THINK THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT MESSAGE.

I ACTUALLY GOT TO SIT DOWN AND SPEAK WITH HER FOR EVERYTHING, AND I ASKED HER, SINCE IT'S HER FIRST YEAR, I WAS LIKE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REALLY UNIQUE ABOUT THIS? AND THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.

SO I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH ALL OF YOU.

LAST MONTH, ON NOVEMBER 30TH, THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL ACADEMIC MATH BINGO NIGHT.

THERE WERE 60 BOARD GAMES HANDED OUT AS PRIZES, AND EACH EVERY SINGLE PERSON RECEIVED A MEDIUM SIZED PIZZA, WHICH I THINK IS COOL.

I DON'T KNOW. I WAS THERE AND THERE WAS SO MANY PIZZAS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT MANY PIZZAS IN MY LIFE.

AND THEN AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, EACH FAMILY RECEIVED A PACKET WITH HOW YOU CAN USE BINGO TO TEACH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT MATH.

SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING.

SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS ARE A WINTER CONCERT.

STAFF AND STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE FEDERALSBURG PARADE, WINTER BALL DANCE AND HOLIDAY THEMED SPIRIT DAYS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AT PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THE PRINCIPAL SAID THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER WAS VERY EXCITING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

WE TOOK FIELD TRIPS, WELCOMED THE TRAVELING REPTILE SHOW, HAD OUR FIRST PEABODY'S STUDENT AWARDS ASSEMBLY AND SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO COVID AND SO MUCH MORE.

SOME OF THEIR EVENTS LAST MONTH WAS GRANDPARENT'S DAY, VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY, PBIS AWARDS, ASSEMBLY FOR STUDENTS, THEIR FULL BOOK FAIR AND THEIR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE DAY.

SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS ARE OF PTO MOVIE NIGHT WINTER CONCERT CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE, NIGHT HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEEK, PBS, KINDERGARTEN SAIL AND THEIR IDLEWILD ROTARY AND CLUB FOOD DRIVE.

AND THE PRINCIPAL WOULD ALSO LIKE ALL OF YOU TO DOWNLOAD THE APP SO YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MR. LAMBERT SAID CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT THAT INCLUDES THE FUN AND FESTIVITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SEASON, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING THE NEED TO PRACTICE GOODWILL TOWARDS ALL.

SO WE WILL BE CELEBRATING AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

SOME OF THEIR EVENTS LAST MONTH WERE THE CO CURRICULAR DAY FOR STUDENTS AS A PBIS INCENTIVE AND THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO EXPLORE TOPICS SUCH AS INTRODUCTION TO MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE, COOKIE DECORATING AND JUGGLING.

WISH WE HAD THAT. WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

I THINK I MISSED OUT ON THAT ONE.

THEY ALSO HAD A PIZZA PARTY TO CELEBRATE THEIR LEVEL 99 POWER PLAYERS, WHICH ARE THE STUDENTS WHO HAD EITHER PERFECT ATTENDANCE OR STRAIGHT A'S.

AND THE BAND ALSO PARTICIPATED AND THE VETERANS DAY PARADE AND SPURRED SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS.

OUR HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE AND DHS ARE SPONSORING CEREMONIES.

SPIRIT WEEKS. THE HOLIDAY CONCERT WILL BE DECEMBER 13 AT 630 IN THE S.R.

H. S AUDITORIUM AND THE DRAMA CLUB WILL BE PERFORMING.

ITS A WONDERFUL NEVERLAND ON DECEMBER 16 AT 6 P.M.

IN THE CAFETERIA. SO MAKE SURE YOU TRY TO COME TO ONE OF THOSE EVENTS.

I'M SURE IT'LL BE GREAT.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, A MESSAGE FROM DR.

VONDA BASH. SHE SAID.

THE SIERRA MUSIC DEPARTMENT IS PREPARING FOR MULTIPLE PARADES AND WINTER CONCERT DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER.

COME TO SYRIA JUST ON THE 16TH TO GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT.

SO ONCE AGAIN, JUST TRY TO COME OUT.

I'M SURE IT'LL BE AMAZING.

LAST MONTH, THE DELMARVA SPORTS NETWORK AWARDED COACH JAMES JACKSON, THE COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY PRESTON AUTOMOTIVE GROUP.

[00:45:02]

AND THE AWARD INCLUDED A $500 DONATION TO OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT.

MR. JACKSON DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE AWARD BEFOREHAND, SO WE SURPRISED HIM AND WE HAD ALREADY RECOGNIZED THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS BEFOREHAND.

SO HIS WHOLE TEAM WAS SURROUNDED BY HIM.

IT WAS JUST A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

HE WAS SURPRISED AND IT WAS JUST A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.

AND SOME OF OUR UPCOMING EVENTS ARE OUR HOLIDAY SPIRIT MONTH AND THE NEXT EVENT HAPPENED THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH, BUT IT WAS SUPER COOL.

MS. KATH COURT'S FINANCIAL LITERACY CLASS CREATED THEIR OWN FOOD TRUCKS FOR A MOCK SHARK TANK EXPERIENCE.

SO IT WAS BASICALLY THEY MADE THEIR OWN FOOD TRUCK AND THIS WAS THEIR BUSINESS AND THAT WE HAD LIKE PRETEND SHARKS THAT CAME IN AWARDED FOR TEN MONEY AND IT WAS SUPER COOL.

I ALSO WISH WE DID THAT LAST YEAR WHEN I TOOK FINANCIAL LITERACY, BUT I GUESS YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL.

THANK YOU, SHELBY. GREAT REPORT.

AND SO MANY COOL THINGS IN THERE.

AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE THE RECOGNITION OF COACH JACKSON.

THEY JUST HAD A TREMENDOUS SEASON AND THAT'S JUST WONDERFUL TO SEE.

BUT SO MANY GOOD THINGS THERE.

IT'S HARD TO SINGLE ANYTHING OUT.

I LIKE WHEN YOU INSERT THAT YOU HAD THAT WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

YEAH, THE JUGGLING.

GOTCHA. AND SHELBY, IT'S BEEN GOOD TO SEE YOU IN THE PAPER A COUPLE OF TIMES FOR ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

YEAH, I TRY MY BEST TO GET OUT.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

IT'S LESLIE'S TURN.

THANK YOU. SO, TO REALLY START US OFF, THE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS ARE ALL HAVING THEIR WINTER HOLIDAY CONCERTS THIS MONTH.

THESE WILL HAVE THEIRS ON THE 8TH RES ON THE 12TH [INAUDIBLE] THE 15TH.

THOSE ARE AT 6:30.

ALUMS WILL HAVE THEIRS ON THE 14TH AND NCHS ON THE 20TH.

THOSE ARE AT SIX.

ALL OF THOSE WILL BE IN THE NCHS AUDITORIUM.

SO I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THOSE CONCERTS.

AS SOMEONE WHO USED TO BE A CHOIR, IT REALLY DOES MEAN A LOT TO THOSE STUDENTS WHEN THEY SEE, YOU KNOW, JUST THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEIR PASSION FOR MUSIC.

THERE'S NOT MUCH GOING ON FOR VS THEY HAVE WINTER BREAK.

IS WINTER BREAK.

IS THIS MONTH, WHICH I'M SURE EVERYONE IS EXCITED FOR.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE ALL JUST HANGING ON REAL TIGHT UNTIL WINTER BREAK STARTS.

RES PRINCIPAL STETSON WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND PEACEFUL WINTER BREAK AND HOLIDAY SEASON.

THERE ARE. YES, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A REALLY FESTIVE MONTH.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE HAVING SPIRIT DAYS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, INCLUDING DRESS YOUR BEST DAY, CANDY CANE COLOR, THE PJ HOLIDAY HAT DAY AND HOLIDAY COLOR SPIRIT DAY, AND ALSO ON THE 16TH.

FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS WILL BE TRAVELING TO THE DOVER SKATING RINK TO LEARN ABOUT THE ENERGY TRANSFER AND DESIGNING A NEW FEATURE FOR ESCAPE USING THE SCIENTIFIC PROCESS.

MEANWHILE, I GUESS LAST MONTH, PARENTS CAME OUT FOR A PARENT VISITATION DAY AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THEIR STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND SEE WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON.

AND I DON'T KNOW.

I ALWAYS LOVED THAT CONCEPT WHEN I WAS IN MY ENTRY SCHOOL.

IT WAS JUST FUN.

THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT SEEING YOUR MOM AT SCHOOL THAN SEEING YOUR MOM AT HOME.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

STAFF, OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY ALSO CAME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF THE GREENSBORO JUDY CENTER, AND THEY ALSO CAME TOGETHER TO HAVE AN AWESOME MATH NIGHT WHERE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO LEARN MATH GAMES TO PRACTICE WITH THEIR FAMILY AT HOME.

OVER AT ELMS, THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS, AS I BELIEVE MS. DIGIACOMO SAID EARLIER, I'LL MENTION NEXT, COLLABORATED TO HAVE A VETERAN'S DAY CELEBRATION.

AND FROM EVERYTHING I HEARD, THE VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION IS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY ALWAYS ENJOYS DOING.

MR. POTTER.

MS. BUTLER, MR. MARTIN.

THEY ALL WORK IN THE CHORUS AND BAND.

THEY ALL WORK REALLY HARD TO JUST MAKE THIS A MEANINGFUL WAY TO HONOR OUR VETERANS.

STUDENTS HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED A PBIS GROUP TO SUPPORT PRIDE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEIR WANTS TO DO JUGGLING.

LIKE MAYBE I'LL CHECK IN AND SEE IF JUGGLING SOMETHING THEY WANT TO DO, BUT I DON'T KNOW.

I FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU'RE THAT AGE, EVERYTHING'S SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSING TO THEM.

BUT BEYOND THAT, THEY ENDED QUARTER ONE WITH AN OUTSTANDING AMOUNT OF HONOR, ROLL AND MERIT ROLL AND PRINCIPALS LIST RECIPIENTS, AND THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING MORE PBA SPIRIT INCENTIVES THIS UPCOMING MONTH.

AND JUST LAST MONTH, THE DRAMA CLUB HELD THEIR CELEBRATION, THEIR PERFORMANCE OF MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS.

[00:50:05]

I WENT TO GO SEE IT WITH A FRIEND, AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THE SIERRA DRAMA CLUB REALLY JUST THEY, LIKE, COMPLETELY BLEW MY STANDARDS.

THEY DID SUCH AN AMAZING JOB FROM THE SET DESIGN TO THE CHARACTER DESIGN AND ACTING.

IT WAS JUST AMAZING AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY DO FOR THE SPRING MUSICAL.

SOME OF MY FRIENDS KEEP TEASING ME.

THEY'RE LIKE, WE'VE CHOSEN A MUSICAL TODAY AND I'M LIKE, YOU NEED TO TELL ME.

AND THEN 400 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN THE PBS MOVIE INCENTIVE FOR EARNING BARKS.

I BELIEVE THEY WATCHED MINIONS RISE OF GRU.

SO I'M SURE THAT WAS INTERESTING THIS MONTH.

10TH GRADE IS DOING THE ENGLISH TESTING.

AND THEN OVER AT CCTV, MS. HANSIE WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THE CAREERS AND COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM WANTS TO EXTEND A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO CAME OUT FOR A SPA NIGHT LAST MONTH.

IT WAS AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS.

PATRONS ENJOYED SHAMPOO, BLOW, DRY STYLE HAIRCUTS, MANICURES, PEDICURES, FACIALS, HAIR REMOVAL AND WAXING.

THIS MONTH STARTED LOOKING THE PROGRAMS THAT ETSY ARE PREPARING FOR THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS ASSESSMENTS AND RECOGNIZE POST-SECONDARY CREDENTIALS.

SO LET'S WISH ALL OF THEM THE BEST OF LUCK AND HELP THE NERVES DON'T GET TO THEM.

AND THEN FOR GREENSBURG'S WHOVILLE CELEBRATION ON DECEMBER 2ND, THIRD, NINE, TEN, 16 AND 17TH, THE COSMETOLOGY PROGRAM WILL BE DOING HERBAL CHARACTERS, HAIR AND MAKEUP, AND THE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS ARE HELPING OUT CREATE SOME OF THE DISPLAYS FOR THE EVENTS.

SO THE SUMMER, IT'S A REALLY BUSY MONTH, AND I KNOW IT'S JUST CRAZY TO THINK THE NEXT BOARD MEETING WILL BE 2023, WHICH IS A LITTLE SCARY TO THINK ABOUT.

BUT I WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A VERY GOOD START INTO 2023.

THANK YOU. EXCELLENT REPORT.

WE A FEW OF US WERE AT THAT JUDY CENTER OPENING THAT YOU MENTIONED.

AND WHAT A TERRIFIC FACILITY, WHAT A GREAT JOB THEY DID IN BUILDING IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT ALONG WITH OTHER THINGS.

AND THE NOTION OF A PARENT AT SCHOOL LIKE YOUR MOM AT SCHOOL WAS LIKE, YOU DON'T BELONG HERE.

YOU'RE OUT OF PLAY. IT'S NOT EVEN YOUR REAL MOM, RIGHT? HERE'S SOMEBODY ELSE BECAUSE YOU GOT IT.

WHEN YOU GO TO THEIR WORK, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE SEEING THEM AS A DIFFERENT PERSON.

AND IT'S KIND OF THAT'S KIND OF ENRICHING, KIND OF FILLS YOU, BUT JUST DIFFERENT.

AND THE DRAMA CLUB I LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING A MUSICAL.

SO YEAH, PERFECT.

I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE THE PERFORMANCES ARE AMAZING.

JUST AMAZING. SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR THAT GREAT REPORT.

I THINK I CAN TELL YOU, ENJOY THEM.

YOU PUT A LOT OF PERSONALITY INTO IT.

WELL, THEY TALK ABOUT GOING FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME.

I THINK WE'RE GOING FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS.

BUT THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

THAT IS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.

I CAN'T MAKE TOO MANY JOKES ABOUT NUMBERS.

THEY'RE PRETTY CUT AND DRY.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. DR.

SIMMONS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE FINANCE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING NOVEMBER 30TH.

WE ARE FIVE MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR AND WE SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 73% OF OUR BUDGET.

SO WE ARE OVERALL, WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT THIS POINT IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

AND I DO NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES OR CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS TIME.

OKAY, SO THAT'S KIND OF LIKE JUGGLING, RIGHT? THANK YOU. WE MOVE NOW TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.

[4. Consent Agenda]

PERSONNEL ACTIONS.

WHAT ABOUT BABY? SHE'S BACK.

PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

DR. SIMMONS, TONIGHT'S PERSONNEL AGENDA INCLUDES ONE RESIGNATION AND ONE RETIREMENT THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE PLAN.

VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. AND THEN WE HAVE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 1ST BOARD MEETING AND THEN MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 15TH WORK SESSION BOARD MEMBERS.

ARE THERE ANY ADJUSTMENTS, CHANGES, ADDITIONS? TROY, DO YOU HAVE ANY. SO.

ALL RIGHT, IF THERE'S NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? 32ND. THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR? ASSETS.

SO THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED.

AND I THINK WE DO HAVE SOMEONE HERE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

[5. Citizens/Public Comments]

[00:55:03]

PUBLIC COMMENT? PORTION FOR THE MEETING.

RIGHT? YES. WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT'S MR. ALLEN.

WELCOME. WELCOME.

BOARD MEMBERS AND PRESIDENT BARTON, DR.

SIMMONS, SCHOOL STAFF AND CERTAINLY THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BID YOU A GOOD EVENING, HAVE A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

I'M PARTICULARLY GLAD TO HEAR YOU SAY THE WORD COOL.

SO I STILL FEEL LIKE I'M OKAY.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD THIS EVENING, JUST AS A QUALIFIER, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

MY WIFE, KELLY AND I HAVE LIVED IN CAROLINE COUNTY SINCE THE LATE 1970S.

WE CURRENTLY RESIDE OUT IN THE TUCKAHOE NECK AREA OF THE COUNTY OFF OF ROUTE 328.

BOTH OF OUR CHILDREN, RACHEL AND EMILY, WERE EDUCATED IN THE CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THEY BOTH BEGAN AT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY WHEN DR.

AND I'M NOT EVEN SURE HE WAS DOCTOR BACK THEN, BUT WHEN HE WAS THE PRINCIPAL OF GREENSBORO, BOTH GRADUATING FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL DID OUR TWO DAUGHTERS.

AND AS A RESULT OF THEIR QUALITY EDUCATION, THEY'VE GONE ON TO BE REMARKABLY GOOD, IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF AS A DAD CONTRIBUTORS TO SOCIETY. WE'RE NOW BLESSED THAT TWO OF OUR GRANDCHILDREN ATTEND CAROLINE, SCHOOL SYSTEMS, MAGGIE AND DAWSON, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL RESPECTIVE.

I WAS INSPIRED TO COME HERE THE EVENING AND TIMING IS OFTEN SAID IS EVERYTHING AS A RESULT OF A RECENT EVENT THAT WAS HELD AT AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 10TH.

AND THAT EVENT WAS THAT PROGRAM HONORING THE NATION'S MILITARY VETERANS.

AND WHAT I WITNESSED, MY FAMILY AND I WAS A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY IN THAT ROOM, AND IT WAS BEING ENJOYED BY EVERYONE THAT WAS THERE. IT WAS REFRESHING.

WHAT I WITNESSED WAS UNMISTAKABLE PRIDE IN EACH OF THE STUDENTS SUCH AS THESE.

HERE. YOU CAN JUST SEE IT HERE IN THEIR VOICES AND YOU COULD SEE IT THERE THAT EVENING.

AND JUST SEEING FOLKS IN THAT ENTIRE AUDITORIUM ENJOYING THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE.

YOU KNOW, JUST IN A PHRASE.

AND AS A PARENT AND A GRANDPARENT AND A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY, 25 YEARS AGO, I SERVED ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, BACK THEN, AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER, SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.

BUT I COME HERE TRULY AS A PARENT AND A CITIZEN AND A GRANDPARENT TO JUST EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR WHAT THIS BOARD DOES WITH THE STAFF IN THIS COUNTY DOES.

AND YEAH, THE KIDS IN THIS COUNTY AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM.

AND I ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO CONTINUE INSTILLING AND INSPIRING THE VALUES OF THE WAY THINGS SHOULD BE THROUGH WHAT YOU DO IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

AMEN. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME.

THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND COMING TO THE END OF THE YEAR, I DIDN'T MEAN TO RUSH, BUT I READ THAT YOU NORMALLY DON'T COMMENT BUT HAVE ADDED, YOU KNOW, HEARING YOUR COMMENTS HERE AT A TIME OF CONCLUSION AND AT THE BEGINNING.

A NEW BOARD MEMBER IN A NEW BOARD, IF YOU WILL.

THAT'S THE BEGINNING PART, CONCLUDING A YEAR AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE COME OFF IN THE LAST YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE SO APPRECIATED AND YOU'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF EVERYBODY, THE STAFF, TEACHERS, THE SUPPORT STAFF, THE LEADERS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

MUCH APPRECIATED. WELL, THEY COME FROM THE HEART.

AND I'D LIKE TO THINK SOME EXPERIENCE OVER TIME AND JUST SEEING WHERE THE WORLD IS TODAY AND WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

AND JUST THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE ARE MOVING ON NOW TO INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS, POLICY, RETIREMENTS.

[6. Individual Action Items]

PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

DR. SIMMONS EACH YEAR WE HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND TO LOOK AT A CERTAIN SEGMENT OF OUR POLICIES EACH YEAR TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD, THEY ARE IN LINE WITH THE POLICIES THAT ARE BEING REVIEWED THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN SENT OUT.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW ON REVISION AND THEY'LL BE COMING FOR YOU IN THE SPRING.

BUT THERE ARE TWO POLICIES THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS YEAR'S BATCH THAT WHEN YOU REALLY LOOK AT THEM, THEY IT'S TIME TO RETIRE THEM AND I HAVE THEM

[01:00:09]

BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.

THE FIRST IS POLICY TO 2020, WHICH IS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN CHAPTER ONE PROGRAMS. CHAPTER ONE WAS A FEDERAL FUNDING FORMULA IN 1983, AND THIS POLICY WAS WRITTEN IN 1987.

IT DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED.

WE DO HAVE TWO POLICIES THAT SPEAK TO THE SPIRIT OF THIS POLICY.

ONE IS PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT, PERIOD, NOT JUST IN A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM OR IN CHAPTER ONE.

AND THE OTHER IS A SPECIFIC POLICY THAT RELATES TO COMPLAINTS INVOLVING FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF THE FACT THAT THIS FUNDING FORMULA IS NO LONGER THERE, CHAPTER ONE DOESN'T EXIST.

WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR AGREEMENT TO RETIRE THAT OUT OF OUR POLICY MANUAL.

THE SECOND IS POLICY 33 TEN WHICH IS CERTIFICATES FOR PROGRAM ACHIEVEMENT, WHICH OUTLINED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CERTIFICATES THAT WOULD BE GIVEN UPON GRADUATION, TECHNICAL EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL COLLEGE, PREPARATORY, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

THIS POLICY GOES BACK TO 1989 WITH ONE REVISION IN 1993, AND WE AS WE SORT OF STARTED THIS PROCESS, WE HAVE TWO PLACES WHERE POLICY IS HELD.

AND SO I'LL JUST BE VERY TRANSPARENT.

THIS APPEARS IN ONE AND NOT IN THE OTHER.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY HAVE BEEN MAYBE UNOFFICIALLY RETIRED AT SOME POINT.

BUT JUST TO CLEAN IT UP, IF WE CAN TAKE THE ACTION TONIGHT TO OFFICIALLY RETIRE IT AND REMOVE IT AND RE DESIGNATE.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY RETIREMENTS.

THANK YOU FOR THAT. I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO VOTE ON EACH SEPARATELY.

CORRECT. BOARD MEMBERS.

ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? CAN WE HEAR A MOTION TO RETIRE THE FIRST POLICY, WHICH IS I CAN'T READ IT.

THANK YOU. TWO 2220 SO MOVE THAT POLICY 2020 BE RETIRED, SECONDED AS WELL AND COMMENTS ALL IN FAVOR.

ALL RIGHT. IT'S RETIRED.

AND I FOUND MY SHEET.

THANK YOU. AND THE SECOND POLICY, WHICH IS ONE 1020.

NO, IT'S 333 TEN.

I'M SORRY, BECAUSE I'M A ROOKIE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. 3310 I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

RETIRE POLICY 3310 WE HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND. ALL RIGHT.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RETIREMENT? AYE. OF THE RETIRED.

I'D LIKE THAT COMMENT.

UNOFFICIALLY RETIRED.

I'VE EXPERIENCED THAT MYSELF A FEW TIMES AND SAID NEXT MONTH YOU'LL HAVE SOME POLICIES THAT DON'T REQUIRE REVISION BEFORE YOU.

THAT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE CONTINUE THEM ON AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE TO YOU IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT MONTH.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.

OKAY. MOVING ON TO REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, NEXT GENERATION SCHOLAR'S UPDATE.

[7. Reports and Presentations]

SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT WITH US, WHICH IS EXCITING.

THIS IS OUR FIFTH YEAR IN REVIEW TO HAVE BEEN HERE ACTUALLY FOR ALL FIVE.

TONIGHT WE HAVE MORGAN COX AND ABBY TRICE WITH US TO GIVE A REVIEW FOR OUR NEXT GENERATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM WITH MARYLAND BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE AND WHERE WE'RE GOING INTO YEAR SIX, WHICH IS EXCITING BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED ON THIS ROAD, IT WAS A THREE YEAR GRANT, AND THEN WHERE WAS IT GOING TO END UP? AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO GROW TO HARNESS.

SO MORGAN AND ABBY, YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY HAPPY TO GRADUATE FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.

SO. MORGAN SO WHAT YEAR DID YOU 2018 SEE YOU BACK IN ONE YEAR? DID YOU GRADUATE? WHO MADE YOU DO THAT TONIGHT? WELL, GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.

DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM EXCITED TO BE BACK HERE AGAIN THIS YEAR TO SHARE AN UPDATE ON THE NEXT GENERATION SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROGRAM, WE WORK WITH 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS AT BOTH COLONEL RICHARDSON AND NORTH CAROLINA FOCUSING ON OUR PROGRAMS ROOTED IN CAREER AND COLLEGE READINESS.

SO VERY BRIEF BACKGROUND.

THIS PROGRAM WAS SUPPORTED AND HELPING TO TRY TO GET THEM CLOSER TO STUDENTS, CLOSER TO GETTING MONEY FOR COLLEGE, SPECIFICALLY THE GUARANTEED ACCESS GRANT, WHICH IS GOING TO ANY STUDENT OR GOING TO A STUDENT WHO GOES TO ANY SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

THEY CAN RECEIVE UP TO A FULL RIDE THROUGH THIS GRANT.

SO SOME OF THE NUMBERS WE HAVE UP ON THE BOARD, THIS IS FROM LAST YEAR FROM A CLASS OF 2022, FROM ALL FIVE DISTRICTS.

[01:05:09]

SO THIS IS NOT JUST CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT 200 POINTS OR $2.6 MILLION WENT TO GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM TO GO TO SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND LAST YEAR, WHICH IS JUST PHENOMENAL.

ON A SIDE NOTE, I'M PRETTY SURE THERE WAS MORE.

WE RELY ON STUDENTS SELF REPORTING FOR THAT.

SO THERE IS PROBABLY SOME THAT WENT UNREPORTED, BUT SO EXCITED TO SEE HOW MANY STUDENTS LAST YEAR WERE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS.

IT WAS OUR SECOND GRADUATING CLASS, BUT IT WAS THE FIRST ONE THAT WE WERE BACK IN THE BUILDING.

THE FIRST CLASS THAT WE GRADUATED WAS 2021, SO THAT WAS STILL KIND OF AN IN-BETWEEN YEAR, AS I LIKE TO CALL IT.

WE CAN GO ON FOR THE NEXT.

BUT YEAR FIVE, WE HAD A LOT OF, LIKE I JUST NOTED, WE HAD A LOT OF BACK TO NORMAL TYPE ACTIVITIES.

WE DID VISIT SEVERAL COLLEGES WHERE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO TOUR THE CAMPUS, MEET WITH CURRENT STUDENTS, EAT IN THE DINING HALL, WHICH IS ALWAYS A BIG THING THAT THE KIDS LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE HAD CAREER TOURS LAST YEAR WHERE 10TH GRADERS WENT TO VISIT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HOSTED SEVERAL DIFFERENT WORKSHOPS TO HELP STUDENTS GET CLOSER TO FILLING OUT THE FAST FOR AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, WORKING WITH THE STUDENTS ONE ON ONE TO GET THEM READY FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER.

WE HAD STUDENTS THAT CAME FOR RESUME HELP TO GET THEIR RESUMES DESIGNED, SET UP, READY TO GO PRACTICE INTERVIEWING THROUGH OUR MOCK INTERVIEW EVENT, AND THEN OF COURSE, GETTING WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THIS COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND FINANCIAL AID PAPERWORK, WHICH IS ITS OWN PROCESS INSIDE.

SO WE REALLY FOCUSED LAST YEAR COMING BACK INTO THE BUILDING WITH WORKING ON THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO GROW OVER THE IN THE FUTURE.

THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT ARE ON THE BOARD NOW ARE ONES THAT WE ALL PARTNERED WITH IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER LAST YEAR, WHETHER IT BE DURING OUR CAREER TOURS EVENTS, SOME OF THE BUSINESSES HOSTED STUDENTS AND BROUGHT THEM IN SPECIFICALLY CHOP TANK ELECTRIC DURING ENGINEER'S WEEK.

SO I TOOK A GROUP OF STUDENTS TO CHOP TANK ELECTRIC TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO SHOWCASE THAT PARTICULAR FIELD.

WE HAD DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COME IN AND VOLUNTEER FOR MOCK INTERVIEWS.

SOME MEMBERS ALSO CAME AND SPOKE IN CLASSES WE VISIT ALL 10TH, 11TH AND 12TH GRADE ENGLISH CLASSES TO TOUCH ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SUBJECTS, AND WE BROUGHT IN SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP REINFORCE SOME OF THOSE MESSAGING.

SO I WAS JUST REALLY EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE A PART OF GROWING THIS PROGRAM AND GROWING OUR MESSAGING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY. AND THEN ONE LAST LOOK AT LAST YEAR AND WE CAN MOVE ON INTO NEXT YEAR OR THIS CURRENT YEAR.

SO THE CLASS OF 2022, LIKE I SAID, THEY GRADUATED BACK IN EARLY JUNE AND WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GREAT STUDENTS THAT WERE IN THAT THOSE THAT CLASS, I GUESS ABOUT 50% HAD INDICATED AT THE END OF LAST YEAR FOR THEIR EXIT SURVEY WITH THE NEXT GEN PROGRAM THAT THEY WERE INTENDING TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

THIS AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR, 34% WERE PLANNING TO PURSUE THEIR CAREER.

4% WERE GOING TO GO TO A TRADE SCHOOL AND GET SOME SORT OF CERTIFICATION TO THEN JUMPSTART THEIR CAREER.

AND THEN 5% OF STUDENTS WERE PLANNING TO JOIN THE ARMED FORCES.

SO IT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THOSE STUDENTS WORK REALLY HARD LAST YEAR, EVEN THE ONES THAT WERE UNDECIDED.

WE STILL, OF COURSE, ALWAYS HAVE SOME, BUT GETTING THEM CLOSER TO FIGURING OUT WHAT IT IS THEY WANT TO DO.

THOSE STUDENTS I HAD BEEN WITH SINCE THEY WERE IN EIGHTH GRADE, SO IT WAS PRETTY INCREDIBLE TO SEE THEM GROW FROM THOSE SCHOOL STUDENTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH GRADUATION.

AND THEN THE STUDENTS THAT I INCLUDED, THE PICTURE OF THEIR.

ONE THING THAT WE DO EACH YEAR IS RECOGNIZE STUDENTS THAT MEET OUR ABC GOALS.

SO THAT'S AN ATTENDANCE RELATED GOAL, A BEHAVIOR RELATED GOAL AND A COURSE WORK RELATED GOAL.

AND THE STUDENTS IN THAT PHOTO ARE JUST A HANDFUL OF MY SENIORS LAST YEAR THAT HAD MET THAT ALL YEARS.

THEY WERE IN THERE FOR THIS PROGRAM.

THERE WERE MORE THAN THAT PICTURED.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, THAT'S AT COL AT NORTH CAROLINA.

WE HAD A GOOD NUMBER AS WELL.

SO OUR EXCITED TO RECOGNIZE THIS YEAR SENIORS AS THEY GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THEIR GRADUATION.

SO LOOKING AT YEAR SIX, THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A TRANSITION HAPPENING WITH THE NEXGEN PROGRAM HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH IS

[01:10:05]

WHY ABBIE IS HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.

SO AS OF NOVEMBER 1ST, SHE IS THE NEXT GENERATION SCHOLAR COORDINATOR FOR CAROLINE COUNTY, WHICH I AM SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.

SHE'S DONE FABULOUS FOR BEING ONLY HERE FOR FOUR WEEKS SO FAR, BUT SHE IS TAKING OVER THIS PROGRAM.

I AM STILL AROUND.

I AM NOW THE EVENT AND COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST WITH MARYLAND BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE.

SO BE.

WHAT I LOVE IS THAT I AM ACTUALLY ABLE TO BE IN THE BUILDING WITH ABBY AND HELP HER SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK SO SHE CAN SOLELY FOCUS ON STUDENTS WITH, AS YOU CAN SEE, SUCH A LARGE COHORT THAT WE DO HAVE HERE IN CAROLINE.

AND I CAN START FOCUSING MORE ON THE EVENT SIDE OF IT.

SO PLANNING OUR DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON, WORKING ON THIS COMMUNITY BUILDING AND HELPING ABBY AS MUCH AS I CAN.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE SHE'S FOCUSING ON THE STUDENTS AND I'M GOING TO TAG TEAM THE REST OF THE PROJECTS.

SO IT'S WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

WE'VE HAD FOUR ABBY COMING IN LAST MONTH.

WE'VE MET WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS FOR OUR FIRST MEETING THIS YEAR.

WE ARE MOVING INTO THE SECOND MEETING ROUND OF MEETINGS NOW AND WE ARE PREPARING FOR A CAREER TOURS EVENT WHICH IS GOING TO BE IN JANUARY FOR OUR 10TH GRADE STUDENTS AS WELL AS WE HAVE BEEN BRAINSTORMING SOME WAYS TO HELP OUR SENIORS COMPLETE THEIR FAST FOR US, WORK ON APPLICATIONS AND TRY TO GET AHEAD OF ALL THE DEADLINES.

SO WE'RE NOT CRAMMING AT THE LAST MINUTE IN LATE FEBRUARY.

AND THEN WE ALSO PLAN TO VISIT BOWIE STATE IS OUR BIG COLLEGE VISIT THAT WE'LL HAVE THIS SPRING.

WE HAVE ALSO STARTED TWO NEW PROGRAMS WITHIN THE NEXT GEN WORLD.

ONE IS NGS LEADERS, WHICH WILL BE STUDENT LEADERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HELP THAT ARE IN NEXT GEN NOW.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO KIND OF LEAD THEIR PEERS WORK ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF THEIR OWN AND HELP KIND OF IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT WE HOPE THAT WE CAN HAVE IN THE COUNTY.

AND THEN THE ALUMNI PROGRAM IS AN MBA WIDE PROGRAM.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO PULL IN SOME OF OUR ALUMS THAT HAVE GRADUATED AND GONE ON TO COLLEGE.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST EVENT WITH THOSE STUDENTS AT TOWSON NEXT WEEK, SO WE'RE HOPING TO GRAB SOME OF OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE DURING FINALS AND THEN TRYING TO MAINTAIN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE THE WORK DOESN'T JUST END WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN HANG ON TO SOME OF THEM AS THEY ENTER THE REAL WORLD.

AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

SO THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO INCLUDE IS THAT IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ABBY WILL BE DOING WITH THE STUDENTS, WE DO A FACEBOOK PAGE SO YOU CAN FOLLOW IT AND SEE THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AND JUST HEAR FROM THE STUDENTS AS WELL.

AND ABBY HAS.

THESE ARE THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF LAST YEAR, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.

AND IT BREAKS DOWN THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE DO AND IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL AS WELL AS SOME QUOTES AND FUN IMAGES.

THANK YOU. FIRST THING I WANTED TO.

QUESTION. I KNOW YOU'RE BOTH, I THINK.

OR BOTH. HOW IS IT, NORTH CAROLINA? WE SPLIT OUR TIME BETWEEN NORTH CAROLINA.

AND WHAT I WAS WONDERING.

YES. SO YOU'RE AT BOTH HIGH SCHOOLS.

YES. AND THAT'S FULL TIME.

FULL TIME POSITION. THAT'S WHY THERE'S TWO OF US NOW.

I DID? YES.

I'LL TEXT YOU. THIS IS GREAT.

NO, THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH. JUST A COMMENT AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO FLIP TO THE BACK OF THE SHEET OF PAPER TO THANK YOU AND JUST TO LOOK AT YOUR FIVE STATISTICS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE COUNTIES THAT ARE REPRESENTED, OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STUDENT INTERACTIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT.

THAT'S RIGHT. HERE HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO WE HAVE IN THE PROGRAM, BUT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM.

DIDN'T HAVE THE LEADERSHIP OUT PROMOTING AND PUSHING THE PROGRAM AND MAKING IT MEANINGFUL FOR OUR KIDS.

WE DIDN'T HAVE LEADERSHIP IN THE BUILDING SUPPORTING IT AS WELL.

OUR BUILDINGS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF SUPPORTING IT AND I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ALREADY IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME YOU'VE BEEN HERE.

MORGAN HAS LAID A VERY GREAT FOUNDATION WITH SCHOOL COUNSELORS, WITH BUILDING ADMINISTRATION, WITH PARENTS, WITH STUDENTS, WITH TEACHERS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.

AND WE KNOW THE IMPACT THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE MORE OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE COLLEGE AS AN OPTION.

WE'VE SEEN MORE OF OUR STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SCHOLARSHIPS THAT EXIST IN EVERY YEAR.

I HEAR IN THIS POSITION, I HEARD IT IN THE PREVIOUS ROLES ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THE STATE OF MARYLAND LEAVES ON THE TABLE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS THAT ARE THERE, AND IT'S LEFT ON THE

[01:15:07]

TABLE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T APPLY.

IT'S THE SOLE REASON. SO IT'S THERE FOR THE TAKING.

THE STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT IT AND THEY'RE ENCOURAGED AND PUSHED.

ESPECIALLY FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE KIDS.

IF THEY GET THAT EXTRA PUSH AND SEE THAT THEY CAN DO IT AND THEY CAN GET THERE BY WAY OF NOT HAVING TO TAKE OUT LOANS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST PART OF IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS REALLY OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

AND WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO IS EXCITING AND IT'S NICE TO SEE CAROLINE STILL KIND OF LEADING THE PATH WITH THAT, EVEN AS A SMALLER SYSTEM COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHERS.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAR SIX COHORT GREW UP TO 679 STUDENTS.

THAT'S AN ALL TIME HIGH. AND ABOUT THERE.

YES, IT'S A BIG INCREASE FROM THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF.

RIGHT. WELL, DR.

SIMMONS COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WELL IT'S DONE AND THE NUMBER THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE WORK YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT ABBY'S GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE UP TO YOUR HEALTH. MORGAN GREAT REPORT.

YEAH, IT'S I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME THIS BOARD HAS SEEN YOU IN PERSON, MAYBE BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS LIKE THIS LITTLE FACE UP ON A SCREEN.

THAT'S TRUE. IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THE SCHOOL FOR KEEPING US INFORMED DURING COVID AND WORKING THROUGH THAT.

YOU DID A GREAT JOB WORKING FOR THAT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE.

WE KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING AWAY ENTIRELY.

TAKE IT EASY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.

I KNOW YOU'VE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND YOU'VE GOT A GOOD MENTOR OR HELPER THERE.

AND MORGAN, THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THAT GREAT WORK.

ABSOLUTELY EXCITED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

THEY RAISED THE HEAT. WE SHALL SEE.

SO THE NEXT PRESENTATION, THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA WERE HERE A WHILE AGO TALKING ABOUT A TRIP THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE.

AND WE ASKED THAT THEY LET US KNOW HOW IT WENT.

SO THE FFA IS BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION AND TELL US HOW IT WENT.

AND YOU'VE SAT HERE VERY PATIENTLY.

THANK YOU. ONE SEEMED TO SEE IT.

WELL, THEY ALL LOOK GREAT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THE FIRST TIME.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK.

YES. IT'S A GOOD FOLLOW UP FOR US TO KNOW THAT HERE THIS IS THREE QUARTERS OF THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAD, A COUPLE HAVE SOME SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.

SO YOU DIDN'T LEAVE ANY BEHIND? NO. THEY'RE ALL THE SAME 11 THAT WE TOOK.

THAT'S EXCELLENT. YEAH.

SO DO YOU WANT THEM TO.

CERTAINLY. OKAY.

MACKENZIE, GO AHEAD. I'M CARLY.

I'M KESSLER. I'M SKYLER.

I'M TUCKER. I'M DARREN.

I'M MISS KATHLEEN.

I'M SHELLEY. EVEN AS A CHAPERONE, I'M FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO IT WAS VERY NICE TO HAVE A MALE CHAPERON WHEN YOU HAVE GENTLEMAN TRAVEL.

AND JUST IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, THE MOM IN ME FELT A LOT BETTER.

IF YOU CAN FLIP THROUGH OUR SLIDES.

SO WE STARTED OUT OUR MORNING AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, AND WE PICKED UP THREE OTHER CHAPTERS IN THE STATE TO TRAVEL OUT TO INDY. DOES ANYBODY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ZOO AND THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THE ZOO? SO WE TRY TO DO CAREERS THERE ALL TIME.

SO WE TRY TO TIE IN A COUPLE OF CAREER TOURS FOR THEM.

SO THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE THE INDIANAPOLIS ZOO.

AND SO WE SAW ANYTHING FROM MARINE BIOLOGY ALL THE WAY UP TO GOT TO PLAY WITH KANGAROOS.

AND IT WAS ACTUALLY COOL BECAUSE I'VE BEEN FIVE OR SIX TIMES AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD THAT EXHIBIT OPEN AND THEY WERE JUMPING RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

SO IT'S COOL. THEY MAY WANT TO SAY THEIR FAVORITE PART OF THE ZOO.

HELP ME OUT HERE. I LIKE THE YEAH, YOU LIKE OH, THEY THEY ACTUALLY THEY DID A DOLPHIN SHOW.

WHAT? PETTING THE SHORE.

OH, I'M PETTING THE SHARKS.

LET'S SEE. CAN WE SHIFT THAT WAY SO THAT CAN.

YOU CAN JUST START WALKING EVERYTHING? YEAH. OKAY, GO AHEAD.

[01:20:01]

SORRY. AND THEN THEIR FIRST GENERAL SESSION, LIKE DR.

SIMMONS SAID, IT IS DEFINITELY A SEA OF BLUE.

THIS YEAR WAS RECORD BREAKING REGISTRATION.

THERE WERE OVER 69,000 FFA MEMBERS, GUESTS, ALUMNI SUPPORTER THAT WERE ALL REGISTERED.

SO IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT.

I HAVE, I BELIEVE, BLUE AND GOLD.

MY PARENTS WERE FFA OFFICERS TOGETHER AND SO I WAS BORN IN FFA.

SO I'VE BEEN TO NATIONAL CONVENTION.

I THINK THIS IS MY 12TH TIME.

BUT AS A STUDENT THERE WAS ONLY ALLOWED 25,000.

BACK IN 2004.

SO TO SEE IT GROW THIS MUCH IS PRETTY AWESOME TO SEE.

SO AND I THINK WE JUST KIND OF SAT BACK AND WE WALKED IN AND I WAS LIKE, JUST WATCH THEIR FACES AND THEY LIKE THEY SAID, WE ALL LOOK ALIKE. THEY'RE ALL DRESSED, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM, YOU KNOW, AT SCHOOL, SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO WEAR THE OFFICIAL DRESS BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE TOO PROFESSIONAL FOR TEENAGERS.

BUT THEN OUT THERE, IT WAS LIKE IF YOU WEREN'T WEARING OFFICIAL DRESS, YOU WERE OUT OF PLACE.

SO IT WAS REALLY COOL FOR THEM TO SEE THAT.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT AND THEY TRY TO GET THEM PUMPED.

AND I THINK THAT WAS AT A CONCERT, ACTUALLY.

BUT TO SEE 69,000 PEOPLE JUST ALL IN ONE AREA AND MOSTLY TEENAGERS, ALL THERE FOR THE COMMON GOAL TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES MORE ABOUT THE EGG INDUSTRY AND WHAT IT HAS TO OFFER THEM.

SO THE COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPO, DO YOU GUYS WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFIC? AND THEN RACHEL, I THINK THERE'S LIKE FOUR OR FIVE SLIDES OF THIS, SO YOU CAN KIND OF FLIP THROUGH THEM AS THEY TALK.

BUT CAN YOU GUYS SHARE WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE COLLEGE AND CAREER? LIKE WHAT WAS THE COOLEST THING TO SEE OR.

LETS NOT ALL SPEAK AT ONCE.

IF I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE AND WHY, YOU NEEDED, THE PICTURES OF THEM.

REALLY? [INAUDIBLE].

GO AHEAD AND START. SO THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS LIKE TWO LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS PRETTY MUCH THAT WERE THERE.

AND YOU GOT, LIKE, FREE PACKS AND STUFF IN THIS LONG LINES.

AND THEN THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE IS JUST EVERYONE IN THEIR JACKETS.

AND THEN THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS DALE, PRETTY FAMOUS GUY.

WHO IS DALE BROS.

HE HAS A SHOW.

IT'S CALLED RODEO TIME.

HE'S PRETTY FUNNY, BUT VERY CLEAN.

BUT HE HE ACTUALLY TRAINS RODEO COWBOYS.

AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A PAST GRADUATE OF MY PROGRAM WHO IS HAS APPLIED THE LAST THREE YEARS TO GET INTO HIS PROGRAM.

AND HE'S ONE OF THE FINALISTS.

HE'S LIKE WAITING TO SEE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS KNOW NOAH JEFFERS, BUT ANYWAY, HE GRADUATED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

I FEEL REALLY OLD SAYING THAT.

BUT HE'S OUT IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW TO BE A RODEO COWBOY AND HE'S DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB, BUT HE'S LIKE APPLIED TO BE PART OF HIS.

IT'S PRETTY COOL. SO.

NICK. BOYS, BOYS, GO AHEAD.

TELL THEM YOU GUYS ARE.

I TOOK A PICTURE ON THE LEFT OF TUCKER.

THEY'RE SLEEPING ON THE BUS.

PROBABLY 90% OF THE RIDE.

[INAUDIBLE], [LAUGHTER].

THE PEOPLE IN THE CENTER. WALKER FARMS. THERE'S ANOTHER YOUTUBE CHANNEL, MONTANA.

SO THEY GOT A MONSTER FARM IN MONTANA.

THERE'S A LOT OF WHAT THEY CALL INFLUENCERS OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

INSTAGRAM HAS QUITE A FEW, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF FARMERS OUT THERE MAKING YOUTUBE FOR ME ALL THE TIME.

MILLENNIAL FARMER IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THESE GUYS SPEND THEIR FREE TIME ON SOCIAL MEDIA LEARNING ABOUT HOW THESE BIG FARMERS ARE MAKING IT HAPPEN. I MEAN, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS JUST THE WEATHER IS CRAZY OUT IN MINNESOTA AND WHATEVER, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY USE, THERE'S JUST A LOT THAT THEY CAN LEARN FROM THESE PEOPLE ON YOUTUBE THAT I CAN'T PHYSICALLY GET IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE TEACHING ME THINGS AND THEN WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH TOGETHER, LIKE WHAT'S OUT THERE.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM ACTUALLY TAKE INTEREST IN SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT'S PURPOSEFUL FOR THEIR FUTURE.

NICKS. SO YEAH, THERE WAS A VENDOR OUT THERE THAT IS A SHE'S A WOMAN IN AGRICULTURE, AND SHE

[01:25:03]

STARTED A T-SHIRT COMPANY OUT OF HER BASEMENT AND NOW IT HAS BLOWN WAY OUT OF PROPORTION.

SHE TRAVELS ALL AROUND, BUT SHE HAS THESE REALLY COOL SIGNS THAT AND THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THEM.

THE AGRICULTURE IS THE BACKBONE OF AMERICA.

AND IT HAD EVERY SINGLE STATE HAD THEIR TOP FIVE EGG PRODUCTS.

SO THE KIDS COULD JUST VISUALLY SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE, WHAT HOW ARE WE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STATES? AND THEN THE PICTURE IN THE CENTER IS WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF A PLANTER THAT, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS VERY SMALL, BUT THERE WAS ALL THESE LITTLE FLASHING LIGHTS AND SENSORS ALL OVER IT.

AND SO THAT VENDOR WAS THERE TO TALK ABOUT PRECISION AGRICULTURE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAREERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE JUST BECAUSE OF THE FAST TECHNOLOGY.

YES. AND THIS IS WHERE WE CONTACTED BETH BREWSTER.

AND WE WERE LIKE, WE REALLY NEED YOU TO CALL THESE PEOPLE.

SO THEY HAVE SOME REALLY COOL GROWERS.

SO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE YOUR TOWER GARDENS, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME NEW LIKE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE ARE CONSIDERED REALLY OLD FASHION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE ONLY LIKE TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD.

BUT THEY'RE TAKING THE OLD ONES THAT THEY CALL THE BOX TRAILERS AND CREATING GROW LIGHTS LIKE A WHOLE GREENHOUSE INSIDE.

AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY HOUSED AT SCHOOLS AND THEY GROW THEIR OWN VEGETABLES ALL YEAR LONG FOR THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND SO WHAT WE THINK WE'RE DOING, WE'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S REALLY COOL.

THEY LIKE THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEMS OUT THERE THAT THEY GROW ALL THE LETTUCE THAT IS USED IN EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL.

SO IT WAS REALLY COOL.

SO WE PUT HER IN CONTACT WITH SOME PEOPLE.

THEY ACTUALLY AT THEIR BOOTH, THEY HAVE A LOT OF GRANT INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN PICK UP AND SEND.

SO IT'S REALLY COOL.

AND THEN THAT WAS OUR ADVISOR ALUMNI.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY DID THIS REALLY BIG DISPLAY.

OF COURSE, WE HAVEN'T HAD AN IN-PERSON CONVENTION.

THEY HAD IT LAST YEAR, BUT IT WAS VERY DOWNSIZED.

THEY ACTUALLY TOOK THE FFA EMBLEM AND THE PIECES FOR THE KIDS TO SEE WHICH EACH WHAT EACH SECTION OF OUR EMBLEM STANDS FOR.

BUT THEY DID IT IN LIKE THREE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, SO THEY HAD IT IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND FRENCH.

BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT THEY ARE REALLY STRONGLY TRYING TO INCLUDE EVERYONE.

IT JUST IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THAT INCLUSION.

INDY HAD A REALLY COOL DOWNTOWN SHOW THAT WE COULD GO AND WATCH.

THEY PLAYED A MOVIE UP ON THE SIDES OF THESE BUILDINGS AND WE WERE.

THEY CALL IT A WAR MEMORIAL, BUT THEY HAD A DJ COME AND THERE WAS WHAT, 3000 KIDS JUST LIKE DANCING ON THESE STEPS AND STUFF.

AND IT WAS REALLY COOL.

AND THEN THEY STOPPED THE MUSIC AND THEN PLAYED THIS MOVIE AND THE KIDS WERE LIKE, OH, WE KNOW THEM.

IT WAS A MOVIE WITH THE NATIONAL OFFICERS IN IT.

AND THEN THE CITY OF INDY WELCOMED FFA OFFICIALLY THERE.

SO JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK PICTURES AROUND THE TOWN.

WE TOOK A CARRIAGE RIDE AND THESE LITTLE SCOOTERS, THEY WANT TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH SCOOTERS FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

I WOULD NOT LET THEM DO IT UNTIL THE LAST DAY BECAUSE I JUST WAS DETERMINED SOMEONE WAS GOING TO END UP WITH A BROKEN LEG.

BUT SOMEONE TOLD THEM, DON'T WORRY, THEY'LL BE FINE.

AND SO I TOLD THEM IF THEY COULD GO OUT TO THIS BIG EMPTY PARKING LOT ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE HOTEL, THEY COULD USE THEM.

SO THEY DIDN'T RUN INTO ANYTHING.

AND I THINK THERE WAS ONE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS A COP.

SO HE ACTUALLY WAS JUST WATCHING THEM BE ENTERTAINED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE THE KIDS OUT OF THE COUNTRY AND PUT THEM IN THE CITY.

I HAD NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE.

APPARENTLY THEY'RE ALL OVER BALTIMORE.

SO I'D SAY THERE'S ONE CAR PARK TONIGHT.

WE MADE IT HERE AND THEN WE ENJOYED A VERY NICE DINNER.

I THINK THE LAST PICTURE IS, OH, WE DID A CARRIAGE RIDE, INDY 500.

WE TOOK THEM ON THE CAREER TOUR TO SEE LIKE THE TECH SIDE OF THAT.

IT WAS REALLY COOL. I'VE BEEN THERE MANY TIMES, BUT IT'S SO COOL TO SEE THE KIDS FACES AS THEY GO THROUGH THINGS.

THEY DID THE KISS THE BOOK TOUR, SO THAT'S THEM ALL.

I STOOD BACK, TOOK A PICTURE, THEY'RE ALL FALLING DOWN, KISSING THE BRICKS.

BUT SO THE INDY 500, WHOEVER THE WINNER IS, IT'S LIKE AS SOON AS THEY GET THE TROPHY, THEY KNEEL DOWN AND THEY KISS THESE BRICKS. SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MANY BILLIONS OF PEOPLE'S MOUTHS HAVE BEEN ON THERE.

SO I JUST TAKE THE PICTURE YOU DON'T WANT.

YEAH, BUT SO YEAH, IT WAS REALLY COOL.

AND ACTUALLY WHILE THEY'RE AT THE INDY 500, INDY 500, THE WHOLE PLACE IS SHUT DOWN.

[01:30:06]

IT'S ONLY OPEN TO NATIONAL FFA THAT WEEK.

SO WHEN THEY WALK IN, IT'S A BUFFET MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SO FOR THEM, YOU KNOW, THEY GOT TO WALK AROUND AND SEE PEOPLE AND MEET DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

BUT IT WAS COOL, JUST LIKE THE RACE CAR SIMULATOR DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.

IT WAS VERY WHAT I'D ASSUME IT FEELS LIKE TO BE INSIDE THE RACE CAR IF YOU HIT THE SLIGHTEST LITTLE BUMP.

IT WAS WEIRD AND YOU STARTED GOING FAST.

IT STARTED SHAKING, BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL.

AND IT WAS COOL BECAUSE YOU COULD RACE EACH OTHER SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

THAT'S HERSCHEL RACING.

SO AND YOU ACTUALLY THEY HAVE A SCOREBOARD.

SO LIKE THEY WERE RACING TIMES, SO THEY WERE SAYING WHO HAD THE FASTEST TIME OF THE DAY.

SO THAT WAS KIND OF COOL BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL BEING COMPETITIVE.

OKAY. AND THEN THAT'S US AT THE VERY LAST CEREMONY.

THAT'S WHY THEY ALL LOOK SO TIRED AND JUST BIG SMILE.

AND THEN WE WERE ABLE TO WATCH ONE OF THE NATIONAL OFFICERS.

HE'S FROM DELAWARE.

HE ACTUALLY WAS A FOR WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER.

HE WAS MY CLOVER BUD.

AND SO HE'S NOW 21 AND WAS SERVING AS A NATIONAL OFFICER THIS PAST YEAR.

SO WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE HIM RETIRE.

AND I SHED A LOT OF TEARS.

BUT IT'S REALLY COOL TO SEE THEM.

AND THESE GUYS WERE NOT PREPARED FOR THE EMOTION BEHIND WATCHING NATIONAL OFFICERS WHO HAVE SERVED YOUR NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

THEY UNZIPPED THAT JACKET FOR THE LAST TIME.

THEY HANG IT UP.

THERE'S A WHOLE CEREMONY AND THEN THEY INDUCT THE NEW OFFICERS.

SO IT WAS COOL FOR THEM TO SEE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WE DO AT A BANQUET.

SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TO OUR PROGRAM AND TO OUR FFA AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP TAKING KIDS OUT THERE BECAUSE.

THAT'S IT'S REALLY COOL.

I MEAN, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE I CAN INTRODUCE THEM TO 1200 DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS ALL AT ONE TIME.

SO COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

SO IT WAS WELL WORTH ALL THE FUNDRAISING FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.

QUICKLY. WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART? IT WAS.

ALL I EXPECTED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE I WAS NOT EXPECTING, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING.

SO MY FAVORITE PART.

BUT I REALLY LIKE. I WANT ALL THE KIDS COME TOGETHER.

I LIKE HOW YOU, LIKE, MEET, LIKE, FAMOUS PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE ONLINE AND STUFF, AND THEN YOU'RE, LIKE, TAKING PICTURES WITH THEM.

WHAT I LIKED WHEN WE SAT AT THE VERY TOP SECTION AND WE COULD LOOK AROUND AND SEE EVERYBODY AND REALIZE THAT THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE. BECAUSE YOU HEAR ALL THESE STORIES ABOUT, WELL, MY FAMILY'S SELLING THE FARM, MY FAMILY'S DOING THIS, WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THE COMMUNITY.

YOU GO THERE AND YOU SEE EVERYBODY'S THERE AND THERE WILL BE A FUTURE IN AGRICULTURE.

IT'S AWESOME. MY FAVORITE PART WAS PROBABLY MEETING KIDS FROM DIFFERENT STATES.

WE HAD A PAPER AND WE HAD TO GET EVERYONE FROM A DIFFERENT STATE OR IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SIGN IT.

AND IT WAS HILARIOUS SITTING IN THE HALLWAY.

AND WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE WALK BY AND WE'LL LOOK AT OUR LIST AND WE WON'T HAVE THEM ON THERE AND WE'LL BE CHASING THEM DOWN THE HALLWAY.

AT ONE POINT, WE CHASE NEBRASKA DOWN THE HALLWAY AND SHE LOST HER SHOES.

YES. OH, YES, WE DID GET THEM.

WE HAD THAT GAME WE WERE PLAYING.

SO WE STOPPED AT THIS RANDOM GAME STORE IN THE MALL AND WE PICKED UP A GAME.

IT'S CALLED WHAT'S YOURS LIKE? AND YOU GET THIS CARD THAT HAS LIKE IT'LL SAY LIKE YOU'RE STEALING.

AND PEOPLE IN THE GROUP HAVE TO DESCRIBE WHAT THEIRS IS LIKE.

SO AS PEOPLE WERE WALKING THROUGH THE HALLWAY, WE HAD DIFFERENT STATES EXPLAIN WHAT THEIRS WAS LIKE, AND THEN WE'D ASK THEM TO SIGN THE PAPER.

THAT WAS MY FAVORITE PART.

IT WAS ASKING DIFFERENT STATES, LIKE PLAYING THE GAME AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

MINE WAS THE EVENT CENTER.

PERSONALLY, I'M A BIG JOHN DEERE GUY, SO I WENT TO THAT BOOTH FIRST.

SO. I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT HE WON'T LIKE.

I LIKE THE CASE.

I WENT TO THE CASE AND SEEN WHAT THEY HAD OFFERED FOR SO PRICE.

THEY CAN SAY YOU WERE THERE THREE AND A HALF HOURS WAITING FOR OUR FOOD.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD TEST TO SEE IF WE CAN IT.

[01:35:02]

NO, NO. MY FAVORITE PART I KNOW THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE PERSONAL, BUT MY DAUGHTER IS A SENIOR AND I DIDN'T LET HER GO TO NATIONALS HER FRESHMAN YEAR AND THEN COVID HIT AND SHE WAS LIKE THE LAST THREE YEARS, I GUESS I'LL NEVER GET TO EXPERIENCE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

SO SEEING NATIONAL CONVENTION THROUGH MY DAUGHTER'S EYES AS A TEACHER AND AS A PARENT JUST MELTED MY HEART.

AND TO KNOW THAT SHE WANTS TO STILL STAY IN AGRICULTURE AND HOPEFULLY RUNNING FOR STATE OFFICE THIS YEAR.

SO LOOKING AT COLLEGES OUT THERE WITH HER WAS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING, BUT IT WAS REALLY COOL.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPERIENCE.

MY FAVORITE PART WAS KEEPING TRACK OF 11 KIDS, MOSTLY ALL TALLER THAN ME, COUNTING EVERYWHERE WE WENT, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF LUCAS OIL STADIUM.

I MEAN, WHEN THEY ALL HIT THAT PARKING LOT, IT'S LIKE THEY'RE ALL BLUE, IF YOU LIKE.

YEAH, YEAH, I LIKE TO HAVE OUT IN THE DESERT, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING IT.

YOU PUT A LOT OF YOUR OWN TIME INTO THIS, AND I KNOW THEY APPRECIATE IT.

THEY LOVE YOU AND DO APPRECIATE WITH ME.

AND WE'RE GLAD YOU GUYS GOT TOGETHER.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING. YES, THANK YOU.

YOU TALKED ABOUT 24,000.

YEAH, WE WERE ALLOWED TO HAVE 25,000, I THINK, OUT THERE WHEN MY SENIOR YEAR.

NICE TO SEE THAT ALIVE AND WELL.

YEAH. AND THAT 4:30 A.M.

STARTING TO NOTED THAT AND THAT'S AN AGRICULTURE THAT'S NO BIG DEAL RIGHT.

BUT FOR HIGH SCHOOLERS IT IS A LITTLE BIT YOU WANT TO THIS IS THIS WHERE YOU HAVE 69,000.

THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO LEAVE LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD IT.

WELL, IT STARTED OUT IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, WHEN MY PARENTS WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THEN THEY OUTGREW KANSAS CITY.

THEY HAD TO GO TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AND THEN I THINK MY THIRD YEAR TEACHING, WE MOVED FROM LOUISVILLE TO INDY.

AND INDY HAS GROWN RIGHT WITH US.

WE USED TO HAVE MOST OF OUR SESSIONS IN THE BASKETBALL STATE OR NOT, BUT THE BASKETBALL STADIUM WE HAVE NOW OUTGROWN THAT.

SO EVERYTHING HAD TO BE AT LUCAS OIL.

SO IT'S IT'S PRETTY COOL TO SEE, LIKE THE SEA OF BLUE HAS JUST CONTINUED TO GROW.

SO YOUR FUTURE LEADERS, I JUST WANT TO I'M GLAD YOU GUYS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO.

AND I WANT TO SPEAK FOR MR. DANIELS.

I THINK WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE OF THE JACKETS BACK FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD? MY DAD HAD A JACKET.

I DON'T THINK I EVER. I DON'T THINK I ACTUALLY GOT A JACKET.

BUT MY DAD HAD A JACKET.

SO GROWING UP AS A LITTLE KID, I WOULD WEAR MY DAD'S JACKET IT OUT OF HIS CLOSET WHEN HE DIDN'T KNOW AND WEAR HIS JACKET.

FROM THE EARLY SEVENTIES.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S AT NOW, BUT I USED TO WEAR HIS JACKET.

I WAS A MEMBER OF FFA, BUT I DO NOT.

I DON'T THINK I EVER ACTUALLY GOT.

SO YOUR DAUGHTER IS NOW A MEMBER AND LET'S WORK ON GETTING HER IN FOR A JACKET VISIT.

THAT IS ONE THING.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S LIKE MRS. KELLY AND WHO'S INVOLVED, YOU ALL HAVE JACKETS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING, AND YOU ALL GOT TO GO ON A TRIP.

THANKS TO HER, THANKS TO OTHERS.

BUT YOU GUYS GOT TO EXPERIENCE THIS TRIP BECAUSE IT DOESN'T THE ADULTS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE AND THEN REPRESENTED OUR COUNTY WELL WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

EVERYTHING'S IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

MARK, I SAW SOMEBODY WHO SAW SOMETHING.

SEE IF WE CAN. THAT. YEAH.

YEAH. I STILL HAVE MY HOME.

IT'S STILL. I WISH MINE LOOKED AS CRISP AS YOU GUYS DO, BUT QUITE A BIT.

PROBABLY A LITTLE NICER.

MINE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE VINTAGE THAN THIS GAL.

AND SHE MOVES, AND SHE'S YOUNG, AND WE KEEP THE MALL OFF MINE.

BUT NO, EVERYTHING'S SUCH A PHENOMENAL PROGRAM, SUCH LONGEVITY.

GETTING GOOD NATIONALS IS HUGE.

IT'S A BIG DEAL GETTING OFF OF THE EAST COAST FOR OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO HAVE THAT AND EXPERIENCE.

THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT, THAT LEVEL OF OPPORTUNITY, I THINK, IS EYE OPENING.

I'M REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET THERE.

AND FOR ONE REASON THAT YOU GUYS DID AS WELL, THROW AT THE COMMITMENT LEVEL THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER AS WELL FOR HARNESSING THIS POWER TO GET THE STUDENTS THERE AND JUST IN SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I'M REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT REAL.

YOU CAME BACK TO TALK ABOUT IT FULL SCALE, DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT.

AND FINALLY, TO GET YOU GUYS WARMED UP A LITTLE BIT TO HEAR HOW IT WENT.

BUT THANK YOU ANTICIPATE AND WE DID IT JUST AND WE HOPEFULLY ARE GOING TO HAVE A FEW MEMBERS ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

[01:40:02]

THE ORIGINAL LIONS CLUB HAS EMAILED AND ASKED US TO SEND A COUPLE OF VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT WITH THE WINTER FEST THIS WEEKEND.

SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL DO THAT AFTER THE GREENSBORO PARADE.

AND THEN WE HAVE FEDERALSBURG PARADE MONDAY NIGHT.

YES. AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED FUNDRAISING SEVERAL TIMES.

IT GIVES ME GOOSEBUMPS, BUT OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL POURING DONATIONS INTO OUR PROGRAM.

WE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS SAW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT OUR THE TANK TRANSPORT, THEY HAD A GOLF TOURNAMENT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BRAD PLACEK SET ME UP WITH LIKE A YEAR AGO, AND I KIND OF FORGOT ABOUT IT.

WELL, THEIR FUNDRAISER WAS IN SEPTEMBER AND I GOT A PHONE CALL.

HEY, WE HAVE A 20 $500 CHECK FOR YOU.

WE NEED TO MEET WITH YOU.

OH, OK. AND SO IT'S REALLY COOL.

WE REACHED OUT TO MOUNT AIR FARMS. WE DIDN'T REALLY THINK WE'D HEAR BACK FROM THEM.

THEY TOLD US IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH OR WHATEVER.

THEY CALLED AND SAID, WE HAVE A $2,000 CHECK FOR YOU.

AND SO THEY ACTUALLY ASKED IF THEY COULD HELP SPONSOR OUR BARN PROJECT AND HELP US BUY LIVESTOCK FOR NEXT YEAR'S PROJECT.

SO NOT ONLY ARE THESE KIDS GETTING DONATIONS INTO THE FFA, BUT THEY'RE SUPPORTING OUR SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTUALLY OUR WHOLE.

SCHOOL SYSTEM WANTS.

AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR HE'S GOING TO DO IT.

YEAH. WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS.

MAYBE STILL FIT IN MY SMOKE? MR. JONES ASKED DR.

SIMMONS. WELL, DOES THAT JACKET STUFF? MINE DOES. IT MIGHT BE A CHALLENGE I MADE WHEN I GO HOME TONIGHT, I'LL FIND OUT.

THANKS AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, GUYS. THANK YOU.

OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE THESE WONDERFUL PREPARATIONS YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW.

[8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action]

YEAH. LET'S KEEP FOLLOWING THESE GREAT FACTS.

OKAY. HOW DO YOU COMPETE WITH THAT? YOU TELL ME THAT WE FOUND.

YES. GOOD.

WE LOVE YOU THERE. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BART AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

DR. SIMMONS AND I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT TO SHARE OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET PRIORITIES FOR THE FY 24 OPERATING BUDGET.

THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WOULD TAKE EFFECT JULY 1ST OF 2023.

THE BUDGET PROCESS, IT'S A LENGTHY PROCESS.

SO WE ARE STILL VERY EARLY ON IN THIS PROCESS.

YOU CAN SEE THE TIMELINE ON THE SLIDE.

IT STARTED IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE RECEIVED THE VARIOUS BUDGET REQUESTS FROM OUR DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS.

THESE REQUESTS WERE SUBMITTED TO THE BUDGET TEAM.

JUST LAST WEEK WE HAD A ROUNDTABLE AT OUR MONTHLY MEETING.

THIS IS WHERE WE GO AROUND AND EVERY MEMBER SHARES THEIR NUMBER ONE BUDGET PRIORITY.

AND THEN WE GO BACK AROUND THE ROOM AND EVERYBODY SHARES WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THE SYSTEM.

AND SO BASICALLY, WE'RE TRYING TO PRIORITIZE WHERE THE NEEDS ARE AND SEE WHAT EVERYBODY THINKS IS THE PRIORITY OVERALL IN JANUARY. THAT'S WHERE WE SEEK INPUT FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

THE SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO GO TO STAFF MEETINGS AT EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS, AND THEN I WILL BE MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL TO SEEK THEIR INPUT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

YOU AS A BOARD WILL ALSO BE HAVING A BUDGET WORK SESSION WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

WE HAVE THAT EVERY JANUARY SO THAT WE CAN MEET WITH THEM AND DISCUSS PRIORITIES AS A COUNTY.

IN FEBRUARY, THAT'S WHERE THE SUPERINTENDENT BRINGS HIS PROPOSED BUDGET TO YOU FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL.

THIS IS THE SUPERINTENDENTS BUDGET WITH HIS PRIORITIES AND PRIORITY ORDER, AND THEN IT BECOMES YOUR BUDGET FOR YOU TO IF YOU DECIDE YOU NEED TO CHANGE ANY OF THE PRIORITIES AS WE GO ALONG IN THIS PROCESS, IT BECOMES THE BOARD'S BUDGET.

SO THE BUDGET WILL BE A STANDING ITEM ON THE AGENDA FOR THE MARCH THROUGH MAY BOARD MEETINGS.

SO FEEL FREE AT ANY POINT IN TIME TO BRING WHAT YOU FEEL ARE YOUR PRIORITIES AS A BOARD.

AND THEN IN JUNE, WE END THE BUDGET PROCESS WITH A FINAL APPROVAL AND WE SUBMIT IT TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

[01:45:09]

JUST TO TOUCH ON THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES ARE UNRESTRICTED OPERATING BUDGET.

MOST OF OUR REVENUE SINCE WE ARE A POOR JURISDICTION, OBVIOUSLY COMES FROM THE STATES.

APPROXIMATELY 79% OF OUR REVENUE COMES IN FROM STATE FUNDING.

AND THE AMOUNT OF STATE AID THAT WE GET IS BASED ON A FORMULA.

IT'S BASED ON ENROLLMENT FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS NUMBERS, AS WELL AS WEALTH DATA FOR OUR COUNTY.

APPROXIMATELY 20% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION.

NOW, THE COUNTY APPROPRIATION USED TO BE EASY TO FIGURE OUT.

IT WAS A STRAIGHTFORWARD CALCULATION MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT, CALCULATION.

YOU PLUG IN THE NUMBERS, IT SPITS OUT OK.

THIS IS WHAT THEY PAY THE BOARD OF ED FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET.

HOWEVER, NOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE LEGISLATION, WHICH SAYS THAT OUR LOCAL COUNTY FUND, COUNTY APPROPRIATION WILL BE THE HIGHER OF THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT CALCULATION OR THE LOCAL SHARE.

AND IF YOU RECALL, LAST YEAR, WE THOUGHT OUR LOCAL SHARE THE FORMULAS, THE PROJECTIONS LOOK LIKE WE WERE GOING TO GET A WINDFALL OF MONEY, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN.

AND WE ENDED UP OUR HIGHEST ALLOTMENT WAS THE MAINTENANCE OF OUR CALCULATION.

SO WE WERE ONE OF A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES THAT ACTUALLY WENT WITH A MAINTENANCE EFFORT CALCULATION.

MOST OF THE JURISDICTIONS IN THE STATE, THE LOCAL SHARE TURNED OUT TO BE MORE MONEY.

AND THEN. MM HMM.

THEY'RE TELLING OUR COUNTY WHAT TO GIVE US.

YES. YEAH.

IT'S STATE LAW SETS THE FLOOR SO A COUNTY CAN'T.

UNDER STATE LAW, IT'S NOT.

CORRECT. YEAH, RIGHT, RIGHT.

IT'S THE STATE. NO, IT'S NOT.

YES, IT'S COMING FROM ANNAPOLIS OR IT'S IN.

YEAH, THEY SAID YES.

AND OF COURSE THE COUNTY CAN ALWAYS GIVE US ABOVE THAT.

BUT BEING FROM A POOR DISTRICT, THAT DOESN'T USUALLY HAPPEN.

BUT I MEAN, YOU CAN ONLY TAX PEOPLE SO MUCH AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU.

YES, I DO.

AND WE'RE LANDLOCKED HERE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE COMING IN FROM AND WE DON'T HAVE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE WORCESTER COUNTY AND THEN A VERY SMALL PORTION OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE SOURCES, SUCH AS INTEREST INCOME.

FOR NEXT YEAR, WE ARE ALREADY JUST A TOUCH ON WHAT WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT.

AS FAR AS PROJECTED INCREASES.

WE JUST AGREED TO A MID-YEAR INCREASE WITH THE UNION.

SO THIS MID-YEAR INCREASE TOOK EFFECT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE EFFECT MID-YEAR.

SO THIS YEAR WE ONLY HAD TO FUND HALF OF THAT.

BUT NEXT YEAR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FUND THE FULL FOUR TEACHERS.

THAT'S FOUR AND ONE HALF PERCENT COLA.

AND THEN SUPPORT STAFF HAS THE PLUS 1%.

SO FOR THEM, THE FULL FIVE AND ONE HALF PERCENT COLA.

SO WE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT WELL OVER $1,000,000 JUST TO FUND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE THE NUMBER ONE LINE ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE REQUIRED TO ALSO PUT US AT THAT.

YES, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE.

YES, WE ARE.

WITH THAT AGREEMENT, WE ARE NOW AT THE TEMP.

WE'VE MET THE 10% REQUIREMENT.

AS FAR AS THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE LEGISLATION IS CONCERNED.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PLAN AHEAD BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE TO GET TO THE 60,000 STARTING SALARY BY JULY ONE OF 2026. AND WITH WE WITH THE FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT INCREASE THAT WE'VE ALREADY AGREED TO, THE STARTING TEACHER SALARY IS GOING TO BE $50,635. SO WE STILL HAVE 18%, 18% ON TOP OF THAT TO GET TO THE 60.

SO WE STILL HAVE THREE.

SO I TRY TO WIN THAT $2 BILLION LOTTERY.

AND PROBLEMS RESOLVED.

AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, WE ALSO KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL HEALTH INSURANCE RATE INCREASES THE CURRENT YEAR THAT WE'RE IN.

WE HAD TO ACCOUNT FOR AN 8% INCREASE IN THAT LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET WAS A $720,000 LINE ITEM.

WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR CONSULTANTS THAT NEXT YEAR IT'S GOING TO POTENTIALLY HIT DOUBLE DIGITS, BE A 10% INCREASE.

[01:50:03]

SO AND OUR THAT INCREASE IS DRIVEN BY OUR USAGE.

IT'S OUR MEDICAL AND DRUG UTILIZATION.

SO. AND FINALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH COST OF DOING BUSINESS INCREASES.

THESE ARE ITEMS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY FUNDED IN OUR BUDGET, BUT THE COSTS KEEP GOING UP.

FOR EXAMPLE, ELECTRICITY HAS GONE UP 53%.

WE HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS CONTRACTS.

EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND THOSE CONTRACTS, THE COST OF THEM IS INCREASING AS WELL AS SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT INCREASES AND ALL OF THAT.

SO ON THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS SHOWS THE FY 24 BUDGET REQUEST THAT CAME IN FROM OUR VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, MOST OF THE REQUESTS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE ARE OUR POSITIONS.

EVERYBODY NEEDS WE NEED MORE TEACHERS IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ALSO HAVE A REQUEST FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO CONVERT PRE-K TUTORS.

OUR PRE-K PROGRAM IN THE CLASSROOM, WE HAVE ONE PRE-K TEACHER, ONE PRE-K AND ONE PRE-K TUTOR.

AND THE REQUEST FROM THOSE SCHOOLS IS TO CONVERT THE TUTORS INTO INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.

SO THAT THERE'S MORE COVERAGE THERE.

THE TUTORS, THERE ARE OCCASIONAL TEMPORARY POSITIONS, SO THEY'RE HARD TO FILL AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY SIT VACANT.

AND IN THE PRE-K PROGRAM, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO ADULTS IN THE CLASSROOM AT ALL TIMES.

SO AND YOU CAN'T FUND YOU CAN'T JUST TRANSFER TUTORS TO INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS AT ONE SCHOOL.

YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT ALL THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE BOARD.

SO THAT'S ELIMINATING THE TUTOR POSITION AND UPGRADING THEM INTO.

RIGHT. LEGALLY REPLACING THEM WILL BE, WHICH WOULD BE A PERMANENT POSITION AS OPPOSED TO THE OCCASIONAL TEMPORARY, WHICH WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULDN'T WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THEM AND NOT HAVE THE VACANCIES AND THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE ISSUES.

THESE AND THIS IS AND AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, JUST THE BOARD KNOWS, THESE ARE NOT THE PRIORITY ORDER AT THIS TIME.

THESE TRULY ARE A SUMMARY OF THE REQUESTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH FROM OUR ADMINISTRATORS.

AND I'LL BE ON EVERY GOOD RATIONALE AND REASONING BEHIND EVERY SINGLE REQUEST.

THEY'RE ALL LEGITIMATE REQUESTS.

JUST I'M SURE, THE 12 CLASS OF TEACHERS DO.

WE HAVE. IN SOME YES, SOME NO.

NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL WITH THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY HAVE WITH A FOUR BLOCK DAY, WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE FOR EVERY TEACHER TO HAVE THEIR OWN SPACE, THERE WOULD LIKELY BE SOME FLOAT.

BUT NORTH CAROLINA HAS SEEN INCREASED CLOSE TO 1300 KIDS.

BY THEIR GROWTH. THEY NEED STAFF AGAIN.

LOCKERMAN HAS.

THEY'RE SORT OF WANING A LITTLE BIT.

NOT AS FAST AS WHAT HELPED.

COLONEL HIGH HAS SEEN AN INCREASE A LITTLE FASTER THAN ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS.

THEY'RE SITTING AT A LITTLE OVER 550, I BELIEVE.

BUT LOOK, THE OTHER DAY OF WHICH IS GETTING BACK UP THERE FOR THEM.

SO THEY'VE GOT SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE REALLY HITTING HIGH NUMBERS IN THEIR CLASSES, THEIR NEEDS THERE.

WE ARE SEEING. HAS TO SAY IT BECAUSE NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT THE REVENUE COLLECTION IS VERY CONVOLUTED.

AND SO I DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO GET EXCITED IN TERMS OF WHAT IT COULD TRANSLATE INTO FOR REVENUE WISE UNTIL WE SEE FORMULA WISE.

BUT WE ARE UP TO 8100 STUDENTS OVER LAST YEAR'S ENROLLMENT, WHICH IS GREAT.

ENROLLMENT BEING UP TRANSLATES INTO MORE FUNDING.

BUT ENROLLMENT IS UP.

AND THAT DOES YIELD A NEED FOR MORE SAVING, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING ON WHERE IT FALLS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. YES.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT SIDE, YOU SEE SOME OF THE OTHER REQUESTS THAT CAME IN.

THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT NEEDS TWO BUSSES.

THEY HAVE BUSSES THAT ARE AGING OUT.

BY LAW, WE CAN ONLY OPERATE A BUS FOR I BELIEVE IT'S 12 YEARS.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T REALLY AVOID.

WE HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS IN THE AREA OF SOFTWARE.

TECHNOLOGY WOULD LIKE THE POWER SCHOOL E-SIGNATURE PRODUCT.

THIS WOULD JUST HELP TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS.

THE SCHOOL DUDE IS A MAINTENANCE SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND THE HR DEPARTMENT NEEDS A NEW FINGERPRINT SOFTWARE.

APPARENTLY IT'S PRETTY OUTDATED WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY USING.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL REQUESTS TO COME IN ON THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

AS FAR AS REFINISHING THE GYM FLOORS, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE CONDITION OF THE GYM FLOORS WHEN YOU'VE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.

[01:55:01]

AND THEN SOME PAINTING AND CARPET REMOVAL AND JUST VARIOUS RENOVATION PRODUCTS PROJECTS.

GYM FLOORS TOOK A BEATING DURING COVID, NOT BECAUSE OF KIDS IN THERE DURING COVID, BUT SETTING UP THE LAB SPACE IN THERE AND TAPING ALL THE ELECTRICAL WIRES DOWN.

EVEN THOUGH WE USED TAPE THAT SHOULD COME BACK UP, TAPE IT SHOULD COME BACK UP ISN'T DESIGNED TO BE DOWN FOR LIKE SIX MONTHS NOW.

AND IT REALLY TOOK A TOOK A BEATING ON THE FLOOR TO FINISH.

WE FIXED SOME OF THE FLOORS THIS PAST SUMMER, BUT.

AND THERE'S A COUPLE THAT NEED TO REALLY BE TAKEN DOWN.

JUST ANOTHER COAT OF ARMS OR WATER BASED VARNISH THAT ISN'T GOING TO REALLY TAKE THEM DOWN TO GET THEM BACK TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

AND SINCE JIM FLOORS, THAT'S NOT AN ANNUAL EXPENSE.

IT WOULD BE A ONE TIME COST FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WE WOULD LOOK TO IF WE HAD YEAR END MONEY, LIKE YOU RECALL, EVERY YEAR TYPICALLY IN MAY WE COME TO YOU. IF WE SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY MONEY LEFT, WE COME TO YOU WITH ONE TIME COSTS LIKE THE JIM FLAWS AND ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO GO AHEAD AND ALLOCATE MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THE SUPERINTENDENT OR I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT YOU SEE AS THE PRIORITIES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I HAVE IS THE PRIORITY, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE.

THEY'RE ALL LEGITIMATE THINGS AND I KNOW YOU HAVE A PROCESS TO WORK THROUGH THERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO BACK TO IT.

YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY 20% COMING FROM THE CAROLINE COUNTY GOVERNMENT, CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

IT IS, UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN, IT'S THEIR LARGEST IT IS SINGLE BUDGET.

GOOD POINT. SO THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN.

AND WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMISSIONERS.

TWO NEW COMMISSIONERS THAT WERE SWORN IN TODAY.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT BOARD.

I KNOW THEY WANT TO MAINTAIN A GREAT RELATIONSHIP.

SO JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON THAT.

I KNOW YOU KNOW THAT AND AGREE WITH THAT.

AND THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU CAN PUT ALL KINDS OF ANALYSIS ON THIS.

AND THE PUSH IN OUR SOCIETY, IN SOME PLACES MORE THAN OTHERS TOWARD WELLNESS MIGHT BE HAVING AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE.

AND THAT IS IF THERE'S A GREATER EMPHASIS ON WELLNESS, YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER, SO THEY'LL NEED LESS MEDICAL CARE.

BUT MAYBE THE PUSH TOWARD WELLNESS IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO SEEK MEDICAL CARE.

AND GET MORE. GO TO THE DOCTOR MORE OFTEN OR GET MORE CHECKUPS OR TAKE CARE OF THEIR BODIES BETTER AND MIGHT RESULT IN MORE COSTS.

IT'S JUST A FASCINATING THOUGHT, AND I'VE HEARD THAT TALKED ABOUT ELSEWHERE AND READ SOME ARTICLES ABOUT THAT.

THE DRIFT TOWARD WELLNESS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING OVERALL, MIGHT BE HAVING THAT EFFECT ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE OR SUPPORT HEALTH INSURANCE. SO IN THE LONG RUN, YOU'D HOPE THAT MAYBE THAT'LL REVERSE A LITTLE BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE HEALTHIER AND THEY WON'T NEED AS MUCH MEDICAL CARE.

BUT. IT'S JUST THE WAY OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT. I ALSO WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE REPORT AS DEFINITELY BEGIN TO SHOW YOUR STAMP AND THE WAY YOU DO THINGS.

IT'S VERY CLEAR.

THANK YOU. ANSWER OUR QUESTIONS BEFORE WE ASK THEM.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOARD MEMBERS OTHER.

COME. IF SOME OF THE INCREASE IN THE COST.

THINK OF IT, PERHAPS.

LIKE NOW THAT IT'S GETTING A LITTLE MORE MANAGEABLE.

THEY WERE. I ASKED THE CONSULTANT THAT AND THEY.

A YEAR AGO. IT WAS A RESULT OF COVID, EVERYTHING THAT HAD GOTTEN BACKLOGGED AND EVERYBODY THAT HAD PUT OFF CERTAIN PROCEDURES.

BUT THEY SAID, NOW WE'RE PAST THAT.

NOW IT'S JUST THE AND OUR CONSULTANT PUT OUT A WORK PAPER SOMETIME IN OCTOBER OR WHATEVER THAT WE RECEIVED A COPY OF.

AND PART OF IT IS DRIVING SOME OF THE COSTS ARE AS HOSPITALS.

AND WE JUST WENT THROUGH THIS BECAUSE WE'RE AN AIR FORCE ENTITY.

HOPKINS HAVE JUST RENEGOTIATED THEIR CONTRACT WITH CAREFIRST.

SO AS HOSPITALS RENEGOTIATE THEIR CONTRACTS WITH THEIR INSURANCE PROVIDERS.

THEY'RE GOING UP BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING ON FIVE YEAR OLD CONTRACTS OR WHATEVER, AND THE COST OF LABOR IS HIGHER, THE COST OF BUILDING UP IS HIGHER.

SO THERE THOSE NEW CONTRACTS ARE CATCHING UP, WHICH IS DRIVING THE HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS AS WELL.

THAT COULD AND THEY SAID WE COULD BE SEEING THAT TRICKLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THEN THE CONTRACTS COME IN, ESPECIALLY AS THERE'S A LABOR SHORTAGE FOR NURSES AND AS THERE'S.

INFLATION WE'RE DEALING WITH AND THE HOSPITALS ARE AS WELL THAT WE CAN BE GETTING SOME OF THAT PINCH AS WELL AS THEY RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACTS.

MAKE SENSE. IT'S ALSO THE COST OF THE DRUGS GOING UP.

YEAH. IT'S ALL THE NEW.

[02:00:05]

YES, THAT DRESS CODES.

IS. WELL, WE ALWAYS KIND OF FEEL A PINCH OF IT, BUT IT'S ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT PLACE TO PUT YOUR BUDGET.

CONCLUSIONS. SO JUST THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION.

YOU HAVE TO UNFORTUNATELY, LIVE WITH REALITY FREQUENTLY, DON'T YOU? YES. SO YOU'LL SEE.

A LITTLE BIT MORE NARRATIVE APPROACH IN JANUARY.

JANUARY WOULD BE MY FIRST STAFF MEETING, I THINK IS JANUARY.

THIRD, ACTUALLY BEFORE THE WORK SESSION.

WE'RE BEING WITH OUR FIRST SCHOOL STAFF AND THEN MOST OF THEM ARE HAPPENING IN JANUARY WHILE I'M MEETING AFTER BUDGET PROCESS AND BUDGET PRIORITIES TO GET FEEDBACK THERE AS WELL. SO HOPEFULLY HELP NARROW.

SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOPEFULLY.

BY LATER IN JANUARY IF THE GOVERNOR RELEASES HIS BUDGET.

WE CAN START IN.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER PICTURE OF SOME REVENUE PROJECTIONS BEFORE WE HAND OUR BUDGET OVER TO THE BOARD IN FEBRUARY.

WHY IS THAT A. THE NEW GOVERNOR GETS ONE IN JANUARY 21ST 1808 SO WE'LL. SO WHO OWNS GOVERNOR'S BUDGET? YES, THE GOVERNOR.

SO THE GOVERNOR HAS TO SUBMIT THEIR BUDGET WITHIN X NUMBER OF DAYS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION OPENING.

SO WHO THEN HAS TO PRESENT A BUDGET? SO WHEN THE NEW GOVERNOR COMES IN, HE CAN THEN.

MASSAGE, THE FORMER GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND PRIORITIES AND WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE AT THAT POINT.

YOU CAN REST ASSURED HOGAN HAS TO SUBMIT A BUDGET AND THEN.

SOON TO BE GOVERNOR. MORE THAN.

MOVER COULD MOVE. AND YOU CAN REST ASSURED THE GOVERNOR ELECT IS PREPARING A BUDGET AS WE SPEAK.

TRANSITION USUALLY IS USUALLY COOPERATIVE EFFORT.

OKAY. THEY'RE DOING THAT.

OKAY. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS ON OUR AGENDA.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS, LIST OF THOSE.

[10. Upcoming Meetings and Events]

ANYTHING WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN PARTICULAR THERE.

I WOULD STRESS THAT YOU FILL OUT THE GOOGLE SHEET, IF YOU DON'T MIND, TROY.

THAT IS THAT IS YOUR NAME TO IT.

WE'LL ADD YOUR EMAIL TO IT SO YOU'LL HAVE THE LINK.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF CHRISTMAS CONCERTS, PRETTY MUCH CHRISTMAS CONCERTS AND PLAYS PRETTY MUCH STARTING TOMORROW NIGHT THROUGH THE START OF THE WINTER HOLIDAY FOR OUR BRIEF.

SO, YEAH, FEEL FREE TO ATTEND AS MANY AS YOU WOULD LIKE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE GREAT AND THEY WILL BE.

BUT FEEL FREE TO MAKE SURE YOU SIGN OFF ON THEIR GOOGLE SHEET JUST HELPS TRACK SO WE KNOW IF THE BOARD IS TRYING TO DIVIDE THEIR TIME TO COVER ALL JUST HELPS MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL FIVE AT ONE AND ZERO AT ANOTHER JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THINGS WORK OUT.

THEY'RE TERRIFIC. IT'S HARD TO MAKE ALL OF THEM, BUT SOME OF THEM ANYWAY, THAT SHE DOES HELP BECAUSE I LOOK AT IT AND I'M CALLING IT A SHEEP, AND IT'S A DOCUMENT, THAT DIGITAL DOCUMENT, THAT'S WHAT THEY CALL IT.

SO IT IS HELPFUL AND THANK YOU FOR MAINTAINING THAT.

ALL RIGHT. NEXT BOARD MEETING IS A YEAR FROM NOW.

WELL, JANUARY 3RD, I THINK.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND NO WORK SESSION IN DECEMBER.

SO I THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO JOINING THE MEETING.

I JUST WANT TO SAY HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO EVERYBODY.

AND I THINK THE BREAK STARTS FOR YOU.

DECEMBER 20, 20/21.

I'M SURE YOU HAVE THAT DATE LOCKED IN AND ALL THE STAFF.

THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY. SO I ASK I ASKED THEM TO LET YOU ALL GO OUT EARLY, CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY PARTY AT DONNA'S HOUSE, YOU KNOW, IN GERMANY.

I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, BUT GO AHEAD.

IT'S THE PERFECT BIRTHDAY.

THIS PACE FOR THE DINNER.

LIKE YOU TAKE YOUR FRIENDS OUT AND YOU PAY FOR DINNER.

THEY ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE WISHED HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEFORE THE DAY.

WELL, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO BETTY WHITE.

OH, SHE WAS ON PEOPLE MAGAZINE.

BETTY WHITE TURNS 100 AND THEN BOOM.

AND SHE'S NOT EVEN GERMAN.

SHE HAS A GERMAN NATIONAL.

THAT WORKED FOR ME. SO, YEAH, YOU NEVER YOU NEVER, DO IT UNTIL OK.

SO I THINK WE'RE AT ENTERTAINING A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SO MOVE. DO WE HAVE A SECOND TO ADJOURN THE MEETING? SECOND. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYBODY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. HAPPY HANUKKAH, WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE IN.

HAVE A GREAT NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.