[1. Opening Items] [00:00:04] TUESDAY, MAY 9TH, 2023. I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING. IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT. WE WENT INTO OPEN AND THEN IN A CLOSED SESSION AT I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT TIME. 5:17. 5:17? 5:17 P.M. FOR THE PURPOSE OF PERSONNEL MATTERS AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL FOR LEGAL ADVICE. WE'RE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION AND I NEED A MOTION TO RECONVENE IN AN OPEN SESSION. I SO MOVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WE HAVE MR. SUTTON AND MR. EVANS. MR. EVANS FROM RIDGELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE HAVE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. SO, MR. SUTTON, WHO DO WE HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING? GOOD EVENING, DR. SIMMONS AND BOARD MEMBERS AND EVERYONE ELSE. SPRING SPORTS LIMITS OUR ACCESSIBILITY TO STUDENTS. SO WE HAVE SOME WHO ARE GOING TO THEIR GAMES, SOME WHO ARE GOING TO CHANGE AND GO TO PRACTICE. BUT TONIGHT WE HAVE MRS. BUFFENMEYER AND SOME OF HER MEMBERS OF SGA AND BE KIND. SO I'LL LET HER KIND OF EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU. AND THEN. GOOD EVENING. SO SGA IS OUR FIFTH GRADE STUDENT GOVERNMENT THAT I JUST TOOK OVER THIS YEAR AND HAVE BEEN KIND OF ON A HIATUS FOR A FEW YEARS. SO WE ARE DOING SOME SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS. AND WITH ME FROM SGA TONIGHT, I HAVE EVIE, ONE OF OUR FIFTH GRADERS. WE HAVE JUST PLANTED SOME FLOWERS IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WE ARE WRAPPING UP OUR FOOD DRIVE TO GOING TO CAROLINE HELPING HANDS AND ASSIST WITH THE WEEKEND BACKPACK BAGS. AND THEN OUR BE KIND TO OUR MIND CLUB IS A CLUB THAT FOCUSES ON KIND ACTS FOR OUR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY AS WELL AS FOCUSING ON SOME MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES. SO OUR MOST RECENT MEETING, THE STUDENTS MADE STRESS BALLS OUT OF BALLOONS AND FLOUR. AND WITH ME FROM THAT, I HAVE GRACE AND HER BROTHER RAYMOND, AS WELL AS CARSON. AND WE ALSO HAVE TWO GUEST APPEARANCES. WE HAVE GO AHEAD. AND THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF RIDGELY MR. [INAUDIBLE]. AND THIS FINE YOUNG LADY HERE, WHO IS ELENA SAFFORD, AND SHE'S OUR STUDENT INTERN FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, AND SHE'S GETTING READY TO GRADUATE. BUT I THOUGHT SHE WOULD BE FUN TO HAVE UP HERE. SO SHE'S LOVING IT. AND THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU GUYS, VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU FOR COMING OUT. THE CHANGE MEETING. APPRECIATE YOU BEING FLEXIBLE WITH THAT. AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING OUT, EVEN WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GOING ON WITH SPRING SPORTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. SO WE'RE GLAD YOU GUYS ARE HERE. THANK YOU PARENTS FOR BRINGING THEM OUT TONIGHT AND FOR HAVING KIDS THAT ARE SO INVOLVED, WHICH IS AWESOME AND WE'RE GLAD YOU ARE HERE. SO PLEASE MAKE SURE MISS BARRY HAS SOME ICE CREAM TICKETS FOR OUR STUDENTS. THERE ARE DELICIOUS COOKIES OVER BY MR. BUFFENMEYER. THEY ARE REALLY GOOD COOKIES, SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A FEW OF THOSE BEFORE YOU HEAD UP TO PRACTICE. BUT WE'RE REALLY GLAD YOU GUYS CAME OUT TONIGHT TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE AND BEFORE THEY LEAVE. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. MS. BARRY WE'LL NEED A PICTURE. MIC]. THANK YOU. THE NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA. WE WILL NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE TODAY'S AGENDA. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AS PART OF THIS, WE'D LIKE TO READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND THE MISSION OF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY. [00:05:01] WE PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE, CAREER AND LIFE READINESS THROUGH A CHALLENGING AND PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. NEXT UP, WE. WE NEED TO VOTE ON THE BOARD ATTORNEY. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION TO RETAIN COUNSEL FROM MICHELE EISENBERG AND WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND THAT. SO WE HAVE A SECOND. [INAUDIBLE]. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO THANK SANDY MCALLISTER FOR HIS YEARS OF SERVICE TO CAROLINE COUNTY, AND WE ARE EXCITED FOR WORKING WITH MS. ISENBERG IN THE FUTURE. SO FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT AWARE, THAT IS WHO THE LOVELY INDIVIDUAL IS SITTING WITH MISS BARRY AT THE TABLE HERE AND WE'RE EXCITED TO WORK WITH MS. EISENBERG. I'VE HAD LOTS OF EXPERIENCE WITH HER OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S BEEN ALL VERY PLEASANT AND WONDERFUL. SO WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. THANK YOU. PLEASED TO BE HERE. WITH THAT BEING DONE, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE ASPIRING TEACHERS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS. [2. Recognitions] DR. DOWNS, I BELIEVE, WILL BE PRESENTING. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON VIRTUALLY MR. JONES, DR. SIMMONS AND THE REMAINDER OF THE BOARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT WE HAVE MADE OUR NOMINATIONS AND RECIPIENTS OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS. CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECOGNIZES THE VALUE OF HAVING HIGHLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN OUR CLASSROOMS IN ORDER TO ATTRACT SUCH CANDIDATES. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS ESTABLISHED A SCHOLARSHIP THAT ASSISTS GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, OBTAINING A FOUR YEAR DEGREE IN THE FIELD OF TEACHER EDUCATION, INCLUDING ELIGIBILITY FOR TEACHING CERTIFICATES AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FOUR YEARS. AND IT IS A BELIEF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT TALENT EXISTS WITHIN OUR GRADUATES. THUS, THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THAT TALENT TO PROVIDE EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE TARGETED TOWARDS DIVERSIFICATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS IN DECLARED CRITICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. THAT CRITICAL AREA HAS WIDENED OVER THE YEARS, SO WE NOW HAVE A MUCH LARGER SWATH OF CRITICAL AREAS. SO THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL ARE ELENA STAFFORD AND ALICIA SMITH. ELENA PLANS TO MAJOR IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, AND ALICIA PLANS TO STUDY SCIENCE EDUCATION AT FROSTBURG. CONGRATULATIONS, LADIES. FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON, THE RECIPIENTS ARE JAYLA HOLLIDAY AND WADE THOMAS JR. JAYLA PLANS TO MAJOR IN SECONDARY EDUCATION ENGLISH AT SALISBURY UNIVERSITY AND WADE PLANS TO STUDY MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AT SALISBURY UNIVERSITY. AT THIS TIME. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE YOU COME TO MAKE A PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITY? AND CONGRATULATIONS, THE BOARD MEMBERS. SO AS YOU GUYS ARE COMING FORWARD, WE HAVE PRINCIPALS HERE, I BELIEVE, FROM BOTH SCHOOLS AS WELL, REPRESENTING WE HAVE MR. SCHLEICHER FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, DR. VANDEN BOSCH FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL. WE ALSO HAVE HOPEFULLY VERY HAPPY AND PROUD PARENTS LITTLE SUPPORT THERE ON THE COLLEGE BILL, WHICH IS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH YOUR KIDS TO GET THEM TO THIS POINT. OBVIOUSLY, WE DO BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY IN GROWING OUR OWN AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL MAKE WONDERFUL TEACHERS. I HOPE TO BE THE PERSON SITTING HERE OFFERING THEM A JOB IN FOUR YEARS, WALKING THEM BACK TO THE COUNTY THAT THEY CONTINUE TO CHOOSE. CAROLINE BUT I'M GLAD I WASN'T ON THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE. MR. GIACOMO WAS, SEVERAL OTHERS. I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH CHOICE. WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GREAT STUDENTS, BUT THESE GUYS REALLY DID SHINE, WHICH IS AWESOME. SO THANK YOU. OKAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO. YEAH, IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF YOU GUYS ARE OUT RUNNING AND THEY'RE GOING TO SKID ON THE STEP BEHIND YOU. SO IF YOU COULD JUST STEP FORWARD ONE. TERRIFIC. JUST THINK PRETTY SOON YOU'LL BE SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE WAITING FOR AN ITEM. OKAY. I'VE GOT EVERYBODY. WAYMAN, IF YOU COULD STEP JUST A LITTLE BIT THAT WAY. THERE YOU GO. PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO, PARENTS, YOUR STUDENTS WILL GET A CERTIFICATE AND OTHER PIECES TO GO ALONG WITH IT AT THEIR AWARDS NIGHT AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS. THEY'RE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR. LAST YEAR WE GAVE IT HERE AND THEN THE AWARDS NIGHT WAS A LITTLE AWKWARD TO CALL THEM UP ON STAGE WITH NOTHING TO GIVE THEM. SO WE'RE GOING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR, BUT WE ARE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU BROUGHT THEM OUT TONIGHT AND AGAIN, CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM COMING BACK TO CAROLINE COUNTY, AND [00:10:10] WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE IN TOUCH, OBVIOUSLY, WITH YOUR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEARS TO KEEP THEM AS OURS, WHICH WILL BE GREAT. BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NEXT UP IS RECOGNITION FOR CARSON SCHOLARS. THAT'S MRS. MCCORMICK. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, DR. SIMMONS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS TO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT. FIRST, I HAVE CHRISTIAN [INAUDIBLE]. SO IF YOU CAN COME FORWARD AND WE HAVE ABBY BUSHMAN. IF YOU COULD COME FORWARD. I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT. THE CARSON SCHOLARS FUND AWARDS $1,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS IN GRADES FOUR THROUGH 11 WHO EXCEL ACADEMICALLY AND ARE DEDICATED TO SERVING THEIR COMMUNITIES. SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS RECEIVE THE HONOR OF BEING NAMED CARSON SCHOLARS AND ARE AWARDED AN OLYMPIC SIZED MEDAL AND A TROPHY FOR THEIR SCHOOL TO CELEBRATE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. STUDENTS MUST ATTEND AN ACCREDITED K-12 SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES. MUST BE NOMINATED BY AN EDUCATOR FROM HIS OR HER SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR A CARSON SCHOLARSHIP. ONLY ONE STUDENT FROM EACH SCHOOL IS ABLE TO APPLY ENSURING THAT EACH NOMINEE EPITOMIZES ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. CARSON SCHOLARS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM GPA OF A 3.75 AND DISPLAY HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND THESE HUMAN HUMANITARIAN QUALITIES. SO I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE TONIGHT TWO OF CAROLINE COUNTY'S FINEST. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT CHRISTIAN IS A NINTH GRADE STUDENT AT NORTH CAROLINE AND HAS WON CARSON SCHOLARS FOUR TIMES IN A ROW. WOW. I KNOW. AMAZING. AND ABBY, WHO IS IN SIXTH GRADE AT LOCKERMAN, SHE'S ON HER WAY TO THAT. THIS IS ABBY'S SECOND YEAR WINNING CARSON SCHOLARS. SO AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE BOTH OF THEM FOR THEIR TRUE HONOR OF BEING CARSON SCHOLARS. SO WE DO HAVE YOUR CERTIFICATES HERE THIS EVENING. SO, CHRISTIAN, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU. AND PRINCIPALS. MR. BROUGH, MR. SPEICHER OKAY. MIC]. CHRISTIAN KEEPS GETTING TALLER EVERY YEAR. LET'S SEE. MR. GIACOMO, IF YOU AND MR. PLUTARCH COULD JUST STEP ONE THAT WAY. THERE WE GO. THANK YOU. WE HAD TOO MANY. AND WE USUALLY DO DO THAT. WE JUST HAD SIX KIDS ON THE LAST BUNCH AND THAT WAS LIKE, YEAH, I DON'T, I CAN'T BACK UP TO GREENSBORO. OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS AS THIS IS THEIR THIS IS SHELBY'S LAST MEETING AND LESLIE'S LAST MEETING UNTIL NEXT YEAR. DR. SIMMONS. CERTAINLY. SO BEFORE I FULLY PUT THEM ON THE SPOT, IT DOES BRING GREAT HONOR. I CAN'T SAY PLEASURE BECAUSE I REALLY DON'T WANT TO SEE SHELBY GO. AND LESLIE'S BEEN SUCH A GREAT ADDITION IN HER TIME, AND WE KNOW WE HAVE LESLIE FOR ANOTHER YEAR. [00:15:02] BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO HAVE ON THE BOARD AS STUDENT BOARD REPS. I THINK YOU SET A VERY GOOD BAR. SHELBY AS YOU LEAVE TO GO ON TO COLLEGE, YOU SET A VERY NICE BAR FOR THE NEXT REPRESENTATIVE FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND YOU AND LESLIE HAVE BEEN A TREAT TO HAVE EVERY MONTH. AND JUST AS AS YOU LEAVE YOUR LEGACY, IT'S BEEN REALLY IMPRESSIVE TO SEE THAT YOU'VE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING STUDENT AT COLONEL OVER THE YEARS. IT'S BEEN NEAT TO GET TO WATCH IT FROM AFAR AND SEE THAT. AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT SUCCESS IN YOUR FUTURE. I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME. SO, SHELBY, CAN YOU SHARE WITH THE BOARD AND WITH EVERYBODY ELSE WHAT THE PLANS ARE AFTER GRADUATION? SO IN THE FALL, I'M GOING TO VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY AND I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO DOUBLE MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND MINOR IN BUSINESS. AWESOME. WONDERFUL. GREAT. VERY GOOD. SO SHELBY GETS TO LEAVE US TONIGHT. AS YOU SAID, THIS IS LESLIE'S LAST, LAST OFFICIAL MEETING FOR RIGHT NOW. SHE GETS A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK OVER THE SUMMER AND THEN GETS TO COME BACK REFRESHED. SO WE DO HAVE CERTIFICATES FOR YOU TONIGHT. AND SHELBY, ALSO I HAVE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH TONIGHT YOUR IPAD, YOUR PARTING IPAD AS YOU'RE LEAVING AS WELL. WE LEARNED LAST YEAR IT'S EASIER TO JUST GIVE YOU A NEW DEVICE THAT HASN'T BEEN LOCKED DOWN BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO THEN TRY TO UNLOCK IT AND THEN GIVE IT BACK. SO WE'LL START WITH A FRESH DEVICE FOR YOU AS YOU LEAVE, BUT REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE AS A STUDENT BOARD REP. I KNOW NOT ONLY DR. VANDERBOSCH, BUT EVERY ADMINISTRATOR ON THE SOUTHERN END HAS BEEN REALLY PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND REALLY HOW RIDGELY YOU AND LESLIE BOTH HAVE BECOME SO INVOLVED IN THE FEEDER SCHOOLS AS WELL. AND IT'S NOT WE'VE NOT REALLY SEEN THAT BEFORE AND IT'S BEEN GREAT AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING THAT CARRIES FORWARD. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WE'LL COME DOWN AND GIVE YOU YOUR ITEMS. I'M SURE MS. BARRY WILL WANT ANOTHER PICTURE GOES BACK UP AGAIN AND THEN AFTER THAT, CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO MUCH TO DO AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO TONIGHT, I'M ACTUALLY ONE STEP BACK. THERE WE GO. AND PARENTS. BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE I'VE YOURSELF. SO UNLIKE OTHER RECOGNITIONS, YOU GUYS DON'T. YES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, BUT THERE ARE COOKIES. THERE ARE COOKIES IF YOU WANT THEM. JUST. MOVING ON TO MY FAVORITE PART OF THE NIGHT, BOARD MEMBER REPORTS. [3. Reports] IN CONSERVATION OF TIME, WE REMIND BOARD MEMBERS TO HIGHLIGHT ONE ITEM FROM THEIR MONTH. MRS. DI GIACOMO, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FIRST? I MEAN, I SAID IT'S HARD TO JUST HIGHLIGHT ONE THING. I MEAN, ALL I CAN SAY IS WE'VE GOT I TRULY BELIEVE WE HAVE THE BEST STUDENTS. WE HAVE THE BEST TEACHERS. IT'S JUST AWESOME TO SEE WHAT THE TEACHERS DO TO HELP THE STUDENTS. AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH THE STUDENTS LEARNING AND GROWING. SO I JUST FEEL VERY BLESSED TO WORK IN THIS COUNTY. THANK YOU, TROY? I'M JUST GOING TO HIT ON THE NSBA CONFERENCE DOWN IN ORLANDO. I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND. THAT WAS MY FIRST YEAR. A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION. I ACTUALLY ATTENDED A LOT OF SCHOOL SAFETY EVENTS DOWN THERE, A LOT OF VERY GOOD CLASSES, A LOT OF INFORMATION I WAS ABLE TO BRING BACK. I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE WITH SOME INFORMATION TO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOME MORE GRANTS AND STUFF LIKE THAT FOR SCHOOL SAFETY. THANK YOU. MS. WAYMA?. I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT READING ALOUD TO KINDERGARTEN AT PRESTON ELEMENTARY WAS LOADS OF FUN AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE MOST EXCITING PART WAS THAT THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER WAS HAD BEEN A STUDENT OF MINE WHEN SHE WAS AT LOCKERMAN, SO IT WAS JUST GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE CONTINUING IN THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE FACT THAT WHEN WHEN WE GO TO THESE EVENTS, THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF WORK BY EMPLOYEES, BY VOLUNTEERS TO [00:20:07] PUT ALL THESE EVENTS TOGETHER. WE SEE A LOT OF NICE PICTURES FROM FROM TO REALLY PROMS THAT REALLY TRANSFORM SCHOOLS INTO SOMETHING THAT DID NOT LOOK LIKE SCHOOLS. AND IT TAKES IT TAKES HARD WORK FROM FROM EVERYONE TO MAKE ALL THESE EVENTS POSSIBLE. I KNOW THE OTHER NIGHT THERE WERE THREE EVENTS GOING ON AT ONE SCHOOL AT ONE TIME. IT TAKES A LOT TO TO MAKE ALL OF THESE RUN SMOOTHLY. AND I THINK THE BOARD REALLY APPRECIATES THAT. AND WE ALL APPRECIATE IT. WE APPRECIATE IT WITH THE SMILES ON THE FACES OF THE STUDENTS. SO THANK YOU ALL. ON TO DR. SIMMONS'S REPORT. THANK YOU. SO BEFORE I DIVE INTO MY REPORT, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WILL NOT BE LONG WINDED AND BE TOLD TO SMOOTH IT ALONG. I AM VERY THANKFUL. THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS SAYING YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY, BUT IF SOMEONE IS WAITING FOR A BREAK, WE REALLY DON'T KIND OF HAVE ONE. SO IT IS OKAY IF ANYBODY WHO IS HERE FOR RECOGNITION IS LIKE KIND OF WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT, LIKE IT'S OKAY. WE TEND TO SAY THAT WE DON'T. YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY. BY ALL MEANS, PLEASE HANG OUT WITH US. NOBODY TYPICALLY DOES. BUT IF SOMEBODY'S WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT TO BE LIKE, WHEN'S THE BEST TIME TO KIND OF GO? LIKE WHENEVER YOU WANT TO, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND ANYBODY UP HERE. SO AND IF YOU LEAVE WHEN I START TALKING, I'M USED TO THAT. SO FOR MY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT, I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST THREE PIECES OF LEGISLATION, BASICALLY FROM JANUARY TO APRIL. IT FEELS LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE MONTH ARE BILLS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND OUR BOARD TRIES TO TAKE A VERY ACTIVE APPROACH IN MONITORING THOSE. I DO AS WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT. WE TRY TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS THAT COULD IMPACT US AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF BILLS THAT ARE LIKELY TO PASS, SOME THAT ARE NOT LIKELY TO PASS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE PULSE ON IT. AND THERE ARE THREE BILLS THAT DID PASS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON FUTURE EITHER BUDGETING, FUTURE HIRING PRACTICES OR JUST ON FUTURE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES FOR CAROLINE COUNTY. SO I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE JUST VERY BRIEFLY. ONE OF THOSE WE TALKED ABOUT WAS SENATE BILL 828, WHICH IS A FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM. A BILL WAS PASSED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR THAT WOULD PROVIDE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE, INSURANCE TO ALL MARYLANDERS. THIS BILL, IN ESSENCE, DELAYS THE TIMELINE FOR THAT THE START DATE. SO FROM A FROM A BOARD'S PERSPECTIVE, A BOARD OF EDUCATION PIECE, IT GIVES US MORE TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUDGET FOR IT AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT IT. SO FOR THAT PIECE, THIS WAS IN OUR MIND LEGISLATION THAT HELPED DELAY WHAT IS COMING. SO WE CAN MAKE SURE WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES IN PLACE TO PUT THE STRUCTURE IN PLACE TO MEET THE CONFINES OF THE LAW. THE SECOND BILL IS PRETTY INTERESTING, AND THIS IS THE MARYLAND EDUCATOR SHORTAGE REDUCTION ACT OF 2023. THIS STARTED OUT AS A VERY LARGE BILL TO PROVIDE A LOT OF THINGS TO GET MORE PEOPLE INTO EDUCATION, TO BUILD ON SOME OF THE GROW YOUR OWN ACTIVITIES THAT SYSTEMS LIKE WE'RE DOING OR THAT OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE DOING THROUGH THEIR MARYLAND LEADS GRANT. WHEN IT ALL CAME DOWN TO IT, IT ACTUALLY IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, BUT THERE'S STILL SOME REALLY INTERESTING THINGS IN HERE THAT WE ARE ALL STILL WORKING TO DIGEST THROUGH. BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THROUGH THE LEGISLATION THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS SO WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN STUDENT TEACHING. SO FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW, THEY'RE DOING THAT WITH NO MONEY COMING IN. IT'S SETTING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR PAID INTERNSHIPS. SO WHILE YOU GUYS, THE FOUR WHO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS COMING, THIS SHOULD BE THE PLACE WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY BEING PAID DURING YOUR INTERNSHIP, WHICH RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO MONEY COMING IN. SO THERE'S SORT OF SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE PUTTING IN THERE. THEY'RE PUTTING SOME THINGS AT MSD TO HELP RECRUIT MORE TEACHERS AND TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT OF COLLEGES BETTER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN. SO IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING BILL WAS BIG. IT SHRUNK A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE THE PRICE TAG. BUT THERE'S STILL SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS IN HERE THAT SHOULD HELP GET MORE TEACHERS IN EDUCATION. AND THE LAST ONE, WHICH IS REALLY THE DEREK DOWNER MOMENT OF THE NIGHT, IS THE VIRTUAL EDUCATION BILL THAT PASSED SENATE BILL 610. SO THIS ONE REMINDS ME OF ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A GENERATOR BECAUSE A HURRICANE WAS GOING TO COME TO THE EASTERN SHORE AND EVERYBODY WAS GOING TO LOSE POWER FOR A WEEK. AND I HAVEN'T LOST POWER SINCE, BUT I HAVE A GENERATOR IF WE EVER DO. THAT'S THIS BILL FOR ME. PRIOR TO THIS BILL BEING PASSED, WE WERE ALLOWED TO COME UP WITH AN INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN THAT IF THE WEATHER WAS GOING TO BE BAD, WE'D HAVE THE BLIZZARD COMING. WE COULD USE VIRTUAL EDUCATION DAYS AND HAVE KIDS WORK FROM HOME ASYNCHRONOUSLY, MEANING WE COULD SEND WORK HOME, PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER, THEY COULD WORK ON IT AT LEISURE, COME BACK IN, NOT LOSE A DAY ON THE CALENDAR. IT WAS GREAT FOR THIS YEAR, BUT WE HAD NOT EVEN A DUSTING OF SNOW. THAT WAS OUR ONLY CHANCE TO USE IT WAS THIS YEAR. THIS BILL GOT RID OF THAT. SO GOING FORWARD, THERE IS NO MORE INSTRUCTIONAL OR SORRY, ASYNCHRONOUS LEARNING DAYS GOING FORWARD. THE DAYS WILL HAVE TO BE SYNCHRONOUS IF WE SO CHOOSE. AND THOSE SYNCHRONOUS DAYS MUST BE I THINK IT'S THREE HOURS, 3 OR 4 HOURS OF SYNCHRONOUS LEARNING AT HOME FOR IT TO COUNT AS A DAY. [00:25:08] SO THAT PROBABLY CHANGED THE WHOLE LANDSCAPE OF THE ASYNCHRONOUS INCLEMENT WEATHER DAY. SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO BE ENJOYING SNOW DAYS PROBABLY IN CAROLINE COUNTY. IF IT SNOWS THAT KIND OF KILLED THAT THAT THAT CONCEPT A LITTLE BIT. THE OTHER IMPACT NOT SO MUCH RIGHT NOW BUT WE ARE PART OF A BLENDED VIRTUAL PROGRAM. MRS MCCORMICK IS OVERSEEING THAT FOR US. WE'RE PART OF A CONSORTIUM THAT INCLUDES THAT THIS BILL ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE. YOU TO BE PART OF THAT FOR TWO YEARS. BUT WITHIN TWO MORE YEARS, THAT PROGRAM WILL BE GONE BECAUSE WE DO WORK WITH A PRIVATE COMPANY TO HELP PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES. AND THE BILL DOES SAY THAT IN THE FUTURE, AFTER THOSE TWO YEARS, WE CAN NO LONGER WORK WITH A PRIVATE VENDOR. SO WE'LL HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT WORK. BUT WE DO HAVE IT FOR TWO MORE YEARS. SO THOSE ARE THE KIND OF THE BIG ONES TO PASS EDUCATION WISE THAT WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT POTENTIAL IMPACTS MOVING FORWARD. AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT AT LEAST WE KIND OF BROUGHT THAT TO A CLOSE AND DIDN'T LEAVE FOLKS HANGING WITH WHAT DID HAPPEN IN ANNAPOLIS. SO THAT IS IT. MOVING ON TO DIRECTORS SNAPSHOT, WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST TONIGHT? MR. MANGAL? GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. SIMMONS. ON AUGUST OR I'M SORRY, APRIL 27TH, I HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN ATTEND THE FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS COMMUNITY DINNER. IT'S AN AWESOME EVENT. I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM. IF YOU'VE NOT GONE, YOU NEED TO GO. AND IT'S A REALLY GREAT, GREAT EVENT. BETH BREWSTER AND HER FOOD SERVICE STAFF DID A WONDERFUL JOB SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY DINNER, LARGELY PUT ON BY FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS. A LONG STANDING TRADITION THAT BEGAN 18 YEARS AGO AT FES, 15 STUDENTS LEARNED HOSPITALITY BASED SKILLS, RANGING FROM PREPARING FOODS FROM RECIPES, SETTING THE TABLE AND SERVING PREPARED MEALS TO OTHERS. ENTERTAINMENT WAS ALSO PROVIDED THAT INCLUDED LIVE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, SCHOOL CHEERLEADING AND THE FES AFTER SCHOOL DRUMMERS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM MY WHOLE THING, WAS WATCHING THEM BANG ON THE FLOOR. IT WAS REALLY COOL. SO WHAT WAS FOR DINNER? THE MENU CONSISTED OF CAESAR SALAD, DINNER ROLLS, MASHED POTATOES, SAUTEED GREEN BEANS AND YELLOW SQUASH, ROASTED CHICKEN, BAKED BLUE CATFISH, AND EVERY FIFTH GRADERS FAVORITE DESSERT COOKIES AND CAKE. FOLLOWING DINNER AT CCPS SHOGO MOBILE WAS ALSO ON SITE WITH STAPLE FOOD PRODUCTS, PACKAGED MEALS AND SOLID FOOD ITEMS. FREE COUPONS VALUED AT $20 EACH WERE HANDED OUT TO ATTENDING FAMILIES TO TAKE HOME SOME OF THESE FOODS. FOLLOWING DINNER, ALONG WITH BOARD PRESIDENT MR BARTON, VICE PRESIDENT MR JONES AND COUNTY COMMISSIONER MR PORTER BEING IN ATTENDANCE. OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDED THE MARYLAND SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, KEN ADDIX, MSTE FOOD AND NUTRITION SUPERVISOR JULIE FLETCHER FROM NO KID HUNGRY, KARA PINOWITZ AND SAMANTHA KING AND REPRESENTING GOVERNOR MOORE'S OFFICE, MADISON BRICE. SO YOU'RE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY WAS THERE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT THIS EVENT? IT WAS TO HELP PROMOTE THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION ON FIGHTING INVASIVE SPECIES IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, IN PARTICULAR THE BLUE CATFISH. SORRY, YEAH, THE BLUE CATFISH. THUS IT WAS ON THE MENU TO HELP PROMOTE THAT. WHILE MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THIS, PEOPLE ARE LINING UP TO TAKE CREDIT FOR BRINGING THE INVASIVE BLUE FISH BLUE CATFISH CRISIS TO LIGHT. IT WAS A VERY OWN FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISOR, BETH BREWSTER, WHO BROUGHT FORTH THIS GRASSROOTS INITIATIVE TO THE EASTERN SHORE. SHE HAS TEAMED UP WITH LOCAL SPONSORS TO BRING ABOUT POPULAR BLUE FISH, CATFISH, BLUE CATFISH FISHING TOURNAMENTS IN THE REGION. SHE ALSO PARTNERED WITH LOCAL BLUE CATFISH PROCESSING PLANTS THAT CAN CLEAN UP TO 20,000 POUNDS OF CATFISH A DAY. AS A RESULT OF THESE GRASSROOTS INITIATIVES, BETH AND HER STAFF ARE ALSO DEVELOPING A BLUE CATFISH RECIPE FOR ALL SCHOOL BASED FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE USED IN THE COUNTRY. CURRENTLY, THE RECIPE IS ADVANCING THROUGH THE USDA FOR APPROVAL AND CERTIFICATION. SO AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER WONDERFUL NIGHT PUT ON BY THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE. THE FIRST ONE WAS, I THINK A MONTH EARLIER, HELD AT GREENSBORO. AND LIKE I SAID, ANYBODY IN THE ROOM, IF YOU HAVE NOT ATTENDED, PLEASE CHECK IT OUT NEXT YEAR. IT'S REALLY A FUN, FUN EVENT. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, MR. NAGEL. THE FOOD REALLY WAS GOOD. YEAH, REALLY GOOD. BLUE CATFISH ACTUALLY IS TASTY. I'M SHOCKED SHE GOT ME TO EAT IT. YEAH. NEXT UP, WHO IS NEXT? SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. MRS. ANTHONY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS. AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE GREAT THINGS THAT COME OUT OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND STUDENT SERVICES. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THROUGH OUR PNC GROW UP GRANT. THE MARYLAND ZOO PROVIDED EACH OF OUR PRE-K CLASSROOMS WITH A FREE ANIMAL DISCOVERY CLASSROOM KIT. [00:30:03] THIS WAS OVER $200 WORTH OF MATERIALS FOR EACH CLASSROOM. AND YOU CAN SEE IN MY SNAPSHOT, BUGS WERE THE THING. WE HAD A BUG HUNT. WE CHECKED OUT BUGS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE AND WE HAD A BUG LAB. SO PRETTY EXCITING IN THE PRE-K CLASSROOMS RIGHT NOW. ALSO, I DID WANT TO SAY THAT MAY 8TH THROUGH THE 12TH IS OUR PUPIL PERSONNEL WEEK. OUR. SO PLEASE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THEY PROVIDE OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES BECAUSE WE NEED THEM. THEY DO A LOT WITH OUR FAMILIES AND PROVIDING CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES. AND THEN LASTLY, I DON'T HAVE IT UP HERE BECAUSE IT WAS LATE IN THE WEEK LAST WEEK AND THANK YOU, MR. JONES, FOR ATTENDING, BUT WE HAD OUR SIXTH ANNUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF APPRECIATION EVENT. THIS WAS A TRUE SUCCESS. WE HAD 75 OF OUR FAMILIES THAT CAME TO THE EVENT. WE HAD A FULL DINNER. WE GAVE OUT OVER 30 AWARDS TO OUR STAFF AND THOSE ARE OUR CHAMPIONS. AND ALSO MRS. HOLLINGER AND HER STAFF HAD AN AWARD FOR EACH OF YOU. NOW, MR. JONES ALREADY GOT HIS AWARD, BUT I SAID THAT I WOULD SHARE EACH OF THESE WITH YOU TONIGHT. EACH OF OUR STAFF RECEIVED A MUG, AND INSIDE THE MUG THERE WAS A GOLDEN TICKET. AND IN THE GOLDEN TICKET THEY GAVE OUT AWARDS. AND SOME OF THESE WERE GIFT CERTIFICATES TO RESTAURANTS. THANK YOU. RESTAURANTS. THERE WAS A COOLER. IT WAS AN EMPTY COOLER, BUT IT WAS A COOLER. A REALLY NICE COOLER. ALSO, THERE WAS ALL KINDS OF LIKE, DOMINOES. YOU NAME IT. I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF ALL OF THEM BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY ON THE TABLE. BUT EVERYBODY GOT TO TAKE HOME A GIFT ALONG WITH THEIR MUG AND THEN A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EACH OF YOU GOT A BIG THANK YOU, TOO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE OUR NAMES ON IT. THEY DO. IT'S VERY NICE. MRS. MCCORMICK? GOOD EVENING AGAIN, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, DOCTOR SIMMONS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I DO NOT COME BEARING GIFTS. I DO APOLOGIZE. THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON THIS SLIDE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL TONIGHT ABOUT BECAUSE THERE WILL BE RECOGNITIONS FOR THEM IN JUNE. BUT BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED, I DID WANT TO AT LEAST MAKE MENTION OF IT THAT ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MEDIA SPECIALISTS HAVE RECEIVED THE CS 100 AWARD. I'M GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT. IT'S CS IS COMPUTER SCIENCE 100 AWARD AND YOU'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE JUNE MEETING. AND THEN ALSO IN ADDITION, GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HAS RE CERTIFIED AS A MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOL. BOTH OF THOSE WILL HAVE RECOGNITIONS IN JUNE, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH FOR REAL WORLD LEARNING AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN BUSY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD TRIPS TO ADKINS ARBORETUM AND TO THE SULTANA, AND THEN THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MARYLAND STATE ARTS COUNCIL AND STORY TAPESTRY ENSEMBLE, FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS AT RIDGELY HAD A THREE DAY DANCE RESIDENCY WHERE KELLY KING, A DANCE INSTRUCTOR, PRESENTED INFORMATION FOCUSED ON WELLNESS, INCLUDING THE DANCING. AND THEN LASTLY, AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, WE HAVE HAD 19 STUDENTS TAKE AN ASSESSMENT FOR THEIR SEAL OF BILITERACY, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY ARE LITERATE IN TWO LANGUAGES. WE HAD 16 STUDENTS ASSESSED FOR SPANISH AND THREE STUDENTS ASSESSED FOR FRENCH, AND THEY ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THEIR RESULTS TO SEE IF THEY HAVE PASSED TO EARN THEIR SEAL OF BILITERACY. BUT JUST THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE REACHED THE ACADEMIC LEVEL IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SIT FOR THE ASSESSMENT IS WORTHY OF NOTING IN AND OF ITSELF. OBVIOUSLY, ONCE WE RECEIVE THE RESULTS, WE WILL RECOGNIZE ANY STUDENT WHO HAS EARNED THAT SEAL OF BILITERACY. AWESOME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND I THINK NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS. SHELBY? WE'RE GOING IN OPPOSITE ORDER. ONLY BECAUSE IT'S YOUR LAST NIGHT. OKAY, SO LAST MONTH WAS A GREAT TIME ON THE SOUTHERN END OF THE COUNTY. SO FROM THE PRINCIPAL, HE SAID, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MONTH OF MAY AT PES. [00:35:01] OUR STUDENTS WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN OUR SPRING CONCERT, CAREER DAY AND MORE. IT'S BEEN A FANTASTIC YEAR AND OUR PANTHERS HAVE GROWN SO MUCH THANKS TO OUR FAMILY, STUDENTS AND AMAZING STAFF FOR SUCH A FANTASTIC SCHOOL YEAR. SO LAST MONTH THEY HAD THEIR QUARTER THREE PBIS AWARD ASSEMBLIES FOR ALL GRADES, AND THEY ALSO CELEBRATED AUTISM AWARENESS WITH A WEEK OF SPIRIT DAYS. AND THE PRE-K TOOK FIELD TRIPS TO THE ZOO AND THE ADKINS ARBORETUM. YES, THAT'S IT. AND BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL. SPIRIT DAY AND MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU, SPIRIT DAY. SO THEY HAD LOTS AND LOTS OF SPIRIT IN THE MONTH OF APRIL. THIS MONTH THEY HAVE THEIR STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH IS THIS WEEK. AND ON MAY 9TH THAT WAS TODAY. THEY HAVE THEIR SPRING CONCERT AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND ON THE 26TH THEY HAVE CAREER DAY. I REMEMBER BEING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. CAREER DAY WAS PROBABLY THE BEST PART OF THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR, SO THAT'S SUPER EXCITING. AND LAST MONTH THEY HAD THEIR QUARTER THREE HOUSE PEP RALLY AND ISABENDY WAS THE WINNER. I'M NOT SURE WHICH COLOR HOUSE THAT IS, BUT I KNOW THEY TAKE THE HOUSE STUFF VERY SERIOUSLY AND THE HOUSE HAD POPCORN AND A PLAYTIME PARTY. THE FOURTH GRADERS HAD FUN ON THEIR SULTANA FIELD TRIP AND I REMEMBER GOING IN FOURTH GRADE AND I ALREADY KNEW THAT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF FUN. I WISH I KNEW WHO, LIKE WHICH FOURTH GRADERS KISS THE FISH AND WHICH ONES DIDN'T, BECAUSE THAT IS A TRADITION. PRE-K AND SECOND GRADERS ENJOYED THEIR TRIP TO THE ARBORETUM AS WELL, AND THE FIFTH GRADERS SERVED FOOD AT THE COMMUNITY DINNER, WHICH WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT TONIGHT. I ACTUALLY LEARNED MY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CLASS JUST A FEW HOURS AGO ABOUT THE INVASIVE BLUE CATFISH. SO THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING. AND IN MY CLASS, WE LEARNED THAT LIKE, BLUE CRABS ARE AT A RECORD LOW. AND A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INVASIVE SPECIES. SO IT'S REALLY GOOD THAT WE'RE LIMITING THE INVASIVE SPECIES AND GIVING THE FOOD BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT'S A REALLY GREAT THING AND IT'S AWESOME THAT FHS IS DOING THAT AND IS ALSO CELEBRATING STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK. UPCOMING EVENTS. THEIR SPRING CONCERT WAS LAST NIGHT. THEY ALSO HAVE A CAREER FAIR ON THE 16TH MULTICULTURAL NIGHT ON THE 18TH AND THE FIFTH GRADE TRANSITION MEETINGS WITH MS. SO MULTICULTURAL NIGHT IS A REALLY FUN TIME FOR US AND SOMETHING THAT'S NEWER THERE, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT AND I HOPE ALL THOSE FIFTH GRADERS ARE EXCITED, BUT I'M SURE A LOT OF THEM ARE ALSO NERVOUS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. DR. HOLLOWAY WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT IN MAY WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR MAY 26TH FIELD DAY PARKING LOT PARTY CELEBRATION. THAT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN FOR THEM, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE TESTING THAT HAPPENS IN APRIL. SO I KNOW ALL THE STUDENTS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. AND LAST MONTH, MR. ROB HONER WAS NAMED AS THE CCPS TEACHER OF THE YEAR. THAT'S VERY EXCITING. HE'S A GREAT TEACHER. I LOVE SCIENCE. SO I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS. BUT HE REALLY IS AN AMAZING TEACHER AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE THAT. AND THEY ALSO HAVE THE NEW NJHS MEMBERS INDUCTED AND ON THE 26TH THEY HAVE THEIR FIELD DAY PARKING LOT. AND LAST MONTH AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL WE HAD TRACTOR DAY ON APRIL 29TH AND I THINK IT WAS OUR BIGGEST TRACTOR DAY SO FAR. WE HAD A LOT OF TRACTORS, A LOT OF CORNHOLE, A LOT GOING ON. OH, YEAH. AND MR. WILLIAMS KISSED A PIG. SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT, BUT IT WAS A FUN TIME. LAST YEAR, THE PIG WASN'T SO WILLING, BUT THIS YEAR THE PIG WAS. THE PIG WAS A GOOD TEAM PLAYER, YOU KNOW? SO THAT WAS GOOD. AND WE ALSO RAISED OVER $700 FOR THE LUCAS NAGEL MEMORIAL FUND. AND OUR PROM WAS BEAUTIFUL. WE HAD THAT TWO WEEKS AGO. IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. THE JUNIORS DID A GREAT JOB AND OUR DRAMA CLUB ALSO DID THEIR XANADU, WHICH WAS SUPER FUNNY. I HEAR I DIDN'T GET TO GO, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I HEARD IT WAS SUPER FUNNY. SO ON THE 31ST, WE HAVE GRADUATION AND THEN LAST WEEKEND WE HELD A COLOR RUN. SO. YEAH. DO YOU ALL HAVE YOU COME TO OUR GRADUATION? WELL, THEN I WILL SEE YOU THEN. YEAH. I'M GIVING A SPEECH, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING. I'M DONE. OKAY. I JUST WANT TO START WITH SAYING IT'S VERY DIFFICULT AND INSANE TO BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY MAY. [00:40:05] I FEEL LIKE LAST MONTH IT WAS ALREADY THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT'S INSANE TO THINK IT'S COMING TO AN END VERY SHORTLY. SO REALLY, ALL SCHOOLS HAVE JUST BEEN BUSY WRAPPING THINGS UP FOR THE YEAR. STARTING OFF AT DENTON ELEMENTARY, PRINCIPAL KREBS WANTS US TO KNOW THAT APRIL WAS A VERY BUSY MONTH AT DES AND THEY ANTICIPATE THAT MAY WILL BE AS WELL. AND THEY ENJOY THEIR SPRING BREAK FOR SURE. LAST MONTH THEY CELEBRATED THEIR LIBRARY SLASH MEDIA MONTH AND DAY AND THE VERY MUCH AWAITED SULTANA FIELD TRIPS FOR FOURTH GRADERS. THEY ALSO HAD THEIR DES MORNING WHILE FAMILIES AND STUDENTS FOR GRADES 3 TO 5 AND THEIR SPRING FLING HOSTED BY THE PTA, WAS INCREDIBLY POPULAR AMONGST STUDENTS. THIS UPCOMING MONTH, THEY CELEBRATED THEIR STAFF AND TEACHERS WITH STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK. NATIONAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTS WEEK AND THEIR SCHOOL LUNCH HERE TODAY. TOMORROW THEY'LL BE CELEBRATING SCHOOL NURSES DAY, AND ON THE 25TH THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING CAREER DAY, WHICH I KNOW THE CTCC STUDENTS AND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO DOING. AND THEN THE NEXT DAY ON THE 26TH, THEY WILL HAVE GRANDPARENTS DAY, SO I'M SURE THEY'LL BE. I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS LIKE AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE. IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU SEE A TEACHER AT LIKE WALMART, LIKE, THAT'S JUST WEIRD. AND THEN YOU'RE SEEING YOUR GRANDPARENT AT SCHOOL. THAT'S ALSO REALLY, I DON'T KNOW, OVER RES LAST MONTH, THEY ALSO CELEBRATED TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND RECOGNIZED THEIR CAFETERIA STAFF FOR FOOD SERVICE. THIS UPCOMING MONTH, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEIR SPRING CONCERT AT NORTH CAROLINE, THEIR FIELD DAY ON THE 25TH AND ON THE 31ST. AND DHS GRADUATES ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR WALK THROUGH CELEBRATION, TOO, TO JUST LIKE REALLY CELEBRATE. AND I ALWAYS THINK THAT'S ALWAYS A VERY SWEET NOTION. EVER SINCE I MOVED HERE, I THOUGHT, LIKE, I FEEL LIKE IT'S VERY UNIQUE TO CAROLINE COUNTY. I FEEL LIKE I'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN IT ANYWHERE ELSE. OVER AT GREENSBORO, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS, THEY HAD THEIR TRADITIONAL GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY EARTH DAY WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TOGETHER TO PRESENT AND HAVE ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS. UM, SOME OF THESE INCLUDED THE FISH MOBILE FROM PHILLIPS WHARF WHERE THEY HAD FISH AND EXHIBITS THAT SHOWED STUDENTS THE HISTORY OF THE CHESAPEAKE REGION. UM, JUST ANDREWS AND FAIR AND THE FISH HELP SHOW STUDENTS WHAT POLLUTION DOES TO THE CHESAPEAKE WATERWAYS AND THEN GIANNA HUTCHINSON AND HER DAUGHTERS FROM THE OAKLAND VIEW FARMS BROUGHT THEIR GOATS AND COWS THAT THEY USE FOR LOCAL DAIRY PRODUCTION. AND THEN THE GSA'S OWN ENVIRONMENTAL CLUB HAD RECYCLING BINGO FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY. AND AFTER TWO YEARS, GHS IS OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED AS A GREEN SCHOOL AGAIN. IT'S VERY EXCITING TO SEE SCHOOLS MAKING THAT MOVE TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OVER AT THE UPPER LEVEL SCHOOLS AT LOCKERMAN, THE SPRING FLING DANCE WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, ACCORDING FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM MY YOUNGER SISTER, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE HAD LOADS OF FUN AND DR. SIMMONS ACTUALLY SPENT A DAY WITH THE WILDCAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THIS UPCOMING MONTH. LOCKERMAN HAS A COUPLE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO, INCLUDING FINALLY FINISHING WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING. I KNOW EVERYBODY IS SO EXCITED FOR THAT. PTA AND PBIS INCENTIVES, THEIR SPRING CONCERT AND FIELD DAY. IF GRADERS ARE ALSO GOING TO BE CELEBRATING THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREERS WITH A BARBECUE AND A DANCE, WHICH I'M SURE THEY'LL BE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE, I THINK I NEVER GOT ONE BECAUSE OF COVID. SO I WILL LIVE I WILL LIVE THROUGH THOSE EIGHTH GRADERS THAT DAY OVER IN NORTH CAROLINA. PRINCIPAL SPIKER WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE AND IT IS A VERY BUSY TIME OF THE YEAR AS EVERYTHING GETS WRAPPED UP. WE HAVE CELEBRATED TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, FOOD SERVICES, HEROES AND SCHOOL NURSES WHO ARE ALL INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR SCHOOLS. LAST MONTH, SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED WERE THE SENIOR BREAKFAST EDUCATORS RISING INTERNSHIP DINNER, THE STAFF APPRECIATION RATE LUNCH EVERY DAY AND PROM, WHICH WAS THIS PAST SATURDAY. I THINK IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, VERY WELL PLANNED OUT. BUT I ALSO MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIASED SINCE I HELPED PLAN IT, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. I'M NOT WILLING TO HEAR ANYTHING ELSE. UPCOMING AT THIS MOMENT. TOMORROW WE'RE CELEBRATING SCHOOL NURSE APPRECIATION DAY. THE NEXT TWO WEEKENDS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE ADDAMS FAMILY MUSICAL ON THE 22ND. THE CHORUS RHYTHM OF THE BRIDGE WILL HAVE THEIR SPRING CONCERT ON THE 24TH. [00:45:05] THEY WILL HAVE THE BAND SPRING CONCERT. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO ATTEND THESE EVENTS. THE ARTS ARE REALLY SOMETIMES UNDERAPPRECIATED AT TIMES, AND SO MUCH EFFORT GETS PUT INTO THESE PRODUCTIONS, ESPECIALLY THAT MUSICAL LIKE I'VE SEEN. SOMETIMES THEY STAY FOR LIKE UP TO LIKE 10 P.M. AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET THIS DOWN. SO REALLY, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AT THE SCHOOL ON THE 26TH, THE SENIOR TRIP, WHICH I BELIEVE IS AT KINGS DOMINION THIS YEAR, AND THEN JUNE 1ST IS GRADUATION. OVER AT CCTC LAST MONTH, STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS TOOK THEIR GNA EXAMS FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY WERE ALL VERY WELL PREPARED, AND THEY HAD 100% PASS RATE FOR THE CLASS, WHICH IS INSANE. ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THAT. CAROLINE COUNTY PARTNERED WITH THE CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, DORCHESTER, KENT TALBOT AND QUEEN ANNE COUNTIES FOR A COMBINED PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. AND THAT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. AND THEN UPCOMING THIS MONTH, THEY WILL HAVE THE CAREER DAYS AT THE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS. STUDENTS FROM CTE CLASSES AT CCTC, CRMS AND CHS WILL BE SHARING WITH MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THE THINGS THAT CCPS AND CTE PROGRAMS HAVE TO OFFER. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY MONTH AS THINGS GET WRAPPED UP FOR THE SUMMER. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, LESLIE. THANK YOU, SHELBY. ANY COMMENTS? UM. MOVING ON TO FINANCE REPORT WITH MRS. THORNTON. IT'S YOUR LAST MONTH HAVING TO FOLLOW THEM FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. YES, I GET THE SUMMER OFF. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I APOLOGIZE. I'M LOSING MY VOICE TONIGHT. SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE FINANCE REPORT. OR MAYBE YOU CAN PULL IT UP. OUR WI-FI MUST NOT BE. THERE WE GO. FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30TH. WE ARE TEN MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR, SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE SOME NEGATIVES AND SOME OF THE LINE ITEMS. BUT AS I'VE MENTIONED IN PRIOR MEETINGS, WE HAVE SAVINGS AND OTHER LINE ITEMS TO COVER THESE OVERAGES. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN I START TO DO SOME YEAR END PROJECTIONS WITH AN $80 MILLION OPERATING BUDGET. IT'S DIFFICULT. WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSPEND, BUT THEN WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT WE COULD HAVE USED FOR SOME OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS. SO I'M GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME DOING SOME PROJECTIONS. AND IF WE DO HAVE YEAR END MONEY THAT WE CAN USE FOR ONE TIME PURCHASES, I WILL BE COMING TO YOU NEXT MONTH WITH A LIST OF PURCHASES FOR BOARD APPROVAL. OVERALL, WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHERE WE WERE AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR LAST YEAR. THIS YEAR WE SPENT OUR ENCUMBERED 89% OF OUR BUDGET AT THIS POINT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR WHERE WE SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 90%. SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH LAST YEAR. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCE REPORT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. [4. Consent Agenda] FIRST UP WOULD BE PERSONNEL WITH MR. WILLOUGHBY. DR. WILLOUGHBY. PRESIDENT BARTON VICE PRESIDENT JONES, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT FOR THE PERSONNEL BOARD. THAT ONE LEAVE OF ABSENCE, THREE RESIGNATIONS AND ONE TEACHER APPOINTMENT, TWO REGULAR CONTRACT. THERE IS AN ADDENDUM THAT INCLUDES TWO RESIGNATIONS AND ONE RESIGNATION RECENSION, WHICH YOU DON'T SEE OFTEN, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT FOR YOUR APPROVAL. THANK YOU. WE ALSO HAVE MINUTES TO APPROVE FROM OUR APRIL 4TH REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND OUR WORK SESSION ON APRIL 18TH. GOOD. SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND THE MINUTES FROM 4/18 AND 4/4. DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE BOTH SET OF MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 4TH AND APRIL 8TH. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. FOR THOSE WATCHING AT HOME OR WATCHING IN THE AUDIENCE, MR. BARTON HAS DROPPED OFF THE MEETING. SO IT IS THE FOUR OF US WHO ARE GOING TO STAY ON. [00:50:04] OH, WAS HE? OH, HE IS OKAY FOR A LITTLE LONGER. MR. BARTON, YOU'RE STILL THERE. SORRY ABOUT THAT. GLAD YOU'RE STILL HOLDING ON A LITTLE BIT. GOTCHA. NEXT UP, PUBLIC COMMENT. MRS. BIERI, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS THIS EVENING? NO EMAILS AND NO ONE SIGNED UP, SO WE DO NOT. MOVING ON, INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS. [6. Individual Action Items] FIRST UP IS DR. SIMMONS. GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. IT BRINGS ME GREAT PLEASURE TO COME TO YOU THIS EVENING WITH FIRST ACTION ITEM 601, WHICH IS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL POSITION AT DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO WE WENT THROUGH A RIGOROUS PROCESS AS WE DO THROUGH HR, INTERVIEWS, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATES. THANKFULLY, I WASN'T SITTING ON THE INITIAL POOL THAT CAME THROUGH. MS. KREBS AND HER TEAM WERE PART OF THAT AS WELL AND OTHERS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE DISTRICT. AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS WE HAVE KIND OF COME TO A CONCLUSION. MISS KREBS DEFINITELY DID. AND THE RECOMMENDED CANDIDATE FOR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS MRS. LINDSEY GROE. SO MRS. GROE IS A LONG TIME EDUCATOR, LONGER TIME THAN WHAT WE'D LIKE TO ADMIT. RIGHT? MRS GROVE'S EDUCATOR AND ELEMENTARY EDUCATOR IN TALBOT COUNTY. WE STOLE HER AWAY FROM THERE A FEW YEARS FEW YEARS AGO. BROUGHT HER OVER HERE. SHE'S BEEN OUR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY TEACHER SPECIALIST. SHE HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN WORKING IN OUR BUILDINGS THIS YEAR AS WELL, HELPING FILL IN WHEN WE'VE BEEN SHORT STAFFED WITH ADMIN. SHE HAS COMPLETED HER ADMIN PROGRAM AND LINDSEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB AT DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, FILLING IN WITH MR. BREEDLOVE LEAVING US AND SHE WILL BE AN EXCELLENT COMPLEMENT TO MRS. KREBS AND I KNOW BOTH ARE ALREADY EAGER TO GET STARTED WITH GOING, SO I SEEK YOUR APPROVAL TO APPOINT LINDSEY AS THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE PICTURES? IF WE COULD JUST DO ONE AT A TIME. SO GO AHEAD. NOW, IS THAT ALL RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S FINE. DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU? SURE. OKAY. OKAY. JUST TELL US WHAT TO DO ON THE PICTURES. SO, LINDSAY, MRS. KREBS. ANYBODY ELSE FROM THAT. MRS. GROE IN THE PICTURE, BUT THAT WOULD BE CONFUSING. DON'T WANT TO RUIN IT IS WHAT? YES, AND I THINK YOU WILL. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. MIC]. THANK YOU FOR STAYING TO SUPPORT YOUR WIFE. NO, SHE APPRECIATED IT. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, CONGRATULATIONS. YES. CONGRATULATIONS. OUR NEXT ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT. DR. SIMMONS, CERTAINLY. I GET TO DO THIS AGAIN, WHICH IS ALSO EXCITING. SO TONIGHT, BEFORE YOU BOARD, WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR OUR SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION POSITION THAT IS OPEN AS WELL. WE WENT THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS WITH THE INTERVIEW COMMITTEE, HAD INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL CANDIDATES, AND AFTER HOLDING A SECOND ROUND OF INTERVIEWS OR SORRY, A SECOND INTERVIEW WITH DR. DOWNES AND MYSELF WITH THE TOP CANDIDATES, WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE BEST FIT FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OUR SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION IS MRS. LIZ TUTTLE, WHO IS WITH US THIS EVENING AS WELL. MS. TUTTLE COMES TO US WITH EXPERIENCE IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM LEADER, SPECIAL EDUCATION LEARNING CENTER COORDINATOR, PROGRAM SPECIALIST. SHE HAS EXPERIENCE WITH PARAEDUCATOR TRAINING, COMPENSATORY AND RECOVERY SERVICES SUPPORT AS WELL FOR TEACHERS AND TUTORS. ESY SORRY, EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR SUPPORT AS WELL, AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION ARENA. [00:55:01] YOU'RE WELCOME, MR. PLUTCHIK AND INTERESTINGLY, ANOTHER INTERESTING PIECE ACTUALLY HAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE WITH CERTIFICATIONS CERTIFIED IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, ESOL AND FRENCH, WHICH IS PRETTY EXCITING. SO I SAID, MS.. TUTTLE COMES TO US BY WAY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, CURRENTLY SERVING AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN DORCHESTER COUNTY, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO STEAL HER AWAY AND BRING HER TO CAROLINE COUNTY TO SERVE AS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPERVISOR FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SO I ASK FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL AND APPOINTING LIZ TUTTLE AS OUR SUPERVISOR. SPECIAL EDUCATION. I MAKE A MOTION. TO ACCEPT ELIZABETH TUTTLE AS OUR SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MRS. WAYMAN SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. 4-0 VOTE. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME. YEAH. SO YOU SOLVED THE SAME THING THAT WE JUST DID WITH LINDSAY. CONGRATULATIONS. OH, YEAH. WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR. THANKS. WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. UP NEXT, COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION. MR. MENGEL. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. IF YOU ALL RECALL BACK IN APRIL, WE HAD THE WORKING SESSION WHERE MS. BREWSTER DID A VERY DETAILED PRESENTATION ON COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION KNOWN AS CEP, HOW IT AFFECTS STUDENTS, HOW IT AFFECTS THE SCHOOLS, HOW IT AFFECTS FAMILIES. THE CEP HAS AUTHORIZED BY THE RICHARD B RUSSELL NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACT OF 1946 ALLOWS PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO OFFER HEALTHY FREE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES TO ALL STUDENTS WITHOUT REQUIRING FAMILIES TO COMPLETE INDIVIDUAL APPLICATIONS. UNDER THE CEP, CCPS FAMILIES WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR SCHOOL'S MEALS. CEP IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE STUDENT MEAL PARTICIPATION. WE ARE ALREADY THE HIGHEST PARTICIPATING SCHOOL, COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND, SO IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER. UNIVERSAL MEALS WILL BE SERVED TO ALL PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12 STUDENTS. IDENTIFYING STUDENTS AS FREE, REDUCED OR PAID WOULD NO LONGER EXIST. STUDENT MEAL DEBTS WILL BE ELIMINATED IN THE FUTURE. THIS PROVISION WOULD BEGIN JULY 1ST OF 2023 AND WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR FOUR YEARS, WHICH THEN AFTER THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO RE ENROLL AND RE-UP AGAIN. THE CEP IS FULLY FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, THE USDA. SO WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION, I'M ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION FOR ALL SCHOOLS WITHIN THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM. AND THIS WAS THE TOPIC OF THE WORK SESSION. YES, IT WAS LAST TIME. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT? I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM JUST TO KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WILL HAVE THREE MEALS A DAY. YES. AND THERE ARE LOTS OF, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO NEED THAT. AND SO WE ARE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE A PART OF THAT PROGRAM. AND WHAT'S NICE ABOUT IT ALSO IS THAT MS. BREWSTER AND HER TEAM CAN GO TO ANY LOCATION WITHIN THE COUNTY AND SET UP A DISTRIBUTION, BASICALLY A STOP. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING THAT TOWN IS NOT ELIGIBLE OR THIS TOWN IS ELIGIBLE. THE ENTIRE COUNTY IS. EXCELLENT. WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION PROGRAM. SOUNDS LIKE TO ME. YEAH. WE NEED PERMISSION FROM THE BOARD TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE APPLICATION. OKAY. SO WE NEED A MOTION FOR. I JUST MOVED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. FOR THE RECORD, MR. MARTIN. OKAY. MR. MARTIN OFFICIALLY LEFT THE BUILDING. OKAY. NEXT UP, MRS. SAILOR. GOOD EVENING. SO, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, BOARD MEMBERS, DR. [01:00:01] SIMMONS, I COME TO YOU TONIGHT ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THE UPDATES NEEDED FOR THE FROG STREET CURRICULUM FOR OUR PRE K FOUR PROGRAM. THE TOTAL COST IS $78,342.29, WHICH EXCEEDS THE $50,000 THRESHOLD THAT REQUIRES BOARD APPROVAL. SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION, SO WE ARE CONTINUING WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAME CURRICULUM, FROG STREET PRE K CURRICULUM PUBLISHERS ARE REQUIRED TO UPDATE AND REVISE THEIR CURRICULUM EVERY SO MANY YEARS. THIS PURCHASE WILL ENABLE OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO HAVE THE LATEST CURRICULUM RELEASED. FROG STREET HAS A CORRELATION TO THE MARYLAND EARLY LEARNING STANDARDS. WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED INCREASING SUCCESS SUCCESS WITH READINESS FOR KINDERGARTEN SINCE IMPLEMENTING THE CURRICULUM AND DURING THE 20 1819 SCHOOL YEAR FROG STREET PRESS LLC PUBLISHED AN UPDATED CURRICULUM IN 2020. SO DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2013 CURRICULUM, PRE K TEACHERS HAVE ADDED ADDITIONAL LITERATURE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK IN MATH ACTIVITIES. TEACHERS HAVE FELT THAT MATH WAS AN AREA OF NEED. PART OF THE REVISIONS THAT FROG STREET HAS COMPLETED INCLUDES ENHANCEMENTS WITH MATH. LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE OF READING, EMERGENT WRITING, CULTURAL RESPONSIVENESS, ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, STEAM PROJECTS, INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT FOR PARENTS, AND IMPROVED ORGANIZATION OF TEACHER GUIDES, MATERIALS AND THE ONLINE PORTAL AND CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE IS NOW INCLUDED THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE AND ACTION. AND THE OTHER THING TO NOTE IS THAT THIS CURRICULUM BETTER ALIGNS WITH THE THREE YEAR OLD CURRICULUM THAT WE USE AS WELL. AND IN THE FUTURE THAT WILL BE UPDATED IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. SO DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO THIS IS FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS. FOR FOUR YEARS? YES. SO AS MS. TAYLOR MENTIONED, BECAUSE THE PURCHASE IS OVER $50,000, IT DOES REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL. AND WE'RE CURRENTLY USING THE 2013 VERSION OF THE CURRICULUM. HAVING SUCCESS WITH IT, BUT. IT'S GOT SOME. I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE FROG STREET FOR OUR FOUR YEAR OLD PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FALL OF 23. YES, WE HAVE TRAINING AT THE END OF MAY, SO WE'LL BE READY FOR IT. SO A MOTION BY MRS. WAYMAN. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY. YEAH. BY MRS. DI GIACOMO. YEAH, IT JUST. WE TAKE TURNS. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. I LIKE THAT. IT INCLUDES THE 4-0. OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. I LIKE THAT. IT INCLUDES THE SCIENCE OF READING. THAT'S A BIG FOCUS ON IT. YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MOVING ON. MR. MENGEL? FEDERALSBURG ROOF REPLACEMENT. GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. I HEARD MISS PLUTCHIK SAY ABOUT THE CEP. THAT'S A NO BRAINER. I HOPE THE NEXT TWO PASSAGES ARE THE SAME. SO THIS IS FOR THE FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT. AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, I RECOMMEND FOR ACCEPTANCE THE BIDS AS SHOWN IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT AND THE AWARD TO CONTRACT EXCUSE ME CONTRACT APEX CONSTRUCTION, LLC AND THE ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $2,290,821 FOR A FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THIS AWARD PROVIDES ALL LABOR MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES NECESSARY FOR THE COMPLETION OF WORK, INCLUDING A COMPLETE ROOF TEAR OFF AND REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING ROOF SYSTEM PER WRITTEN SPECIFICATIONS WRITTEN WITH THE ROOF PLANTS. THIS ROOF COMES WITH A 30 YEAR WARRANTY, BARRING ANY PROHIBITING WEATHER. THIS PROJECT SHOULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH, JUNE 13TH, AND BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 15TH OF 2023. THE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT ARE BUDGETED THROUGH THE FY 24 CIP, WHICH IS 88% FUNDED BY THE STATE, 4% FUNDED BY LOCAL FUNDS. THE BID PROCESS AND PROCEDURES COMPLIED WITH BOARD, WITH BOARD POLICY AND APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE BID EXHIBIT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE ARE SIX SIX COMPANIES THAT WALK THE ROOF WITH US. A COUPLE MONTHS BACK AND THEN SUBMITTED BIDS. IF APEX CONSTRUCTION IS STRIKING A TONE WITH YOU, IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EXACT SAME COMPANY THAT DID THE RIDGELY ROOF LAST SUMMER. SO I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE WORK THEY DO, AND I WAS HAPPY WITH THE WORK THAT THEY DID THERE. SO I'M NOT TOO SURPRISED THAT I'M HAPPY THAT THEY HAD WON IT AGAIN. THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU. IF THEY WERE GOOD. IF THEY WERE, YES, IF YOU'RE HAPPY. ORIGINALLY I WAS. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT. LOIS ISN'T ALWAYS BEST. IT IS WHAT I WAS THINKING, TOO. EQUALITY NORTH CAROLINA DID NOT HAVE. THEY HAD THE ROOF DONE REALLY NOT THAT LONG AGO. WAS THAT JUST A PORTION. FOR WHAT? NORTH CAROLINA. YOU MAY NOT BE NORTH HIGH WILL BE OUR NEXT THAT'S NEXT. [01:05:03] OUR NEXT ACTION ITEM. YEAH. OH, I'M SORRY. NO, THIS IS FEDERALSBURG. YEAH, THIS IS FEDERALSBURG. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S FINE. AND YOU'RE HAPPY? YEAH. AND JUST TO POINT OUT, FOR THE BOARD'S EDIFICATION, AS YOU PROBABLY RECALL, MR. MENGEL BROUGHT THE REVISED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN LAST MONTH AT 12% LOCAL, FUNDED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, NOT BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND THEY HAVE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PROJECTS. YES, BECAUSE THEY THEY NEED A ROOF. YEAH, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FEDERALSBURG ROOF REPLACEMENT? SO MOVE. MRS WAYMAN. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. MR. PLUCHEK. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. FOUR ZERO MR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THE NEXT ROOF PROJECT IS FOR NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL'S FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT PHASE ONE. THIS IS GOING TO BE A TWO PHASE PROJECT. MEANING TWO SUMMERS. I COME TO YOU WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATION TO FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ACCEPT THE BIDS AS SHOWN IN THE ATTACHED EXHIBIT AND THE AWARD TO CONTRACT APEX CONSTRUCTION LLC, AND THE ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT OF $4,598,491 FOR PHASE ONE OF THE FULL ROOF REPLACEMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL. THE AWARD PROVIDES ALL LABOR MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT SERVICES NECESSARY FOR THE COMPLETION OF PHASE ONE WORKING WORK TO COMPLETE TO SORRY, INCLUDING THE COMPLETE TEAR OFF AND REPLACEMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 110,000FT² OF THAT ROOF PER THE ROOF SPECIFICATIONS WRITTEN THE ROOF PLANS. THIS ROOF COMES WITH A 30 YEAR WARRANTY. AND AGAIN, BARRING ANY PROHIBITING WEATHER, PHASE, ONE OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE LOOKING TO BEGIN AGAIN IN A MONTH, JUNE 13TH, AND BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 15TH OF 2023. THE FUNDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT ARE LARGELY FUNDED THROUGH THE INTER AGENCY COMMISSION FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS THE IAC. DO YOU HEAR ME TALK ABOUT EVERY NOW AND THEN THEY HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED THE BUILT TO LEARN PROGRAM, AND THE STATE PUTS SUBSTANTIAL MONEY INTO THAT PROGRAM AND WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT. PHASE TWO OF THE ROOF PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT SUMMER, THE SUMMER OF 2024, AND THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE FY 25 CIP. AND AGAIN, THE BID PROCESS AND PROCEDURES COMPLIED WITH BOARD POLICY AND ACCEPTABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS. SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE ONLY FOUR COMPANIES WALKED THAT ROOF AND BID AND APEX AGAIN CAME IN WITH THE LOW BID ON THAT. AND LIKE I SAY, I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH RIDGELY PROJECT. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE AND DO THE SAME JOB AT BOTH ROOFS. SO I SEEK YOUR APPROVAL. YES. THIS JUNE 13TH FOR SOMETHING MILLION. THAT'S JUST FOR PART ONE. YES. AND IT'S THE SAME COMPANY DOING TWO SCHOOLS AT ONCE. YES. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY. THEY DO. THEY DO. AND IT'S A PRETTY NEAT PROCESS TO SEE. I'VE NEVER SEEN A COMMERCIAL SCALE ROOF GO ON. YEAH, IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING. I MEAN, I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE, YEAH. YEAH. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE, AYE. AYE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. NAGEL. IT'S TIME TO GET THEM ROOFS. MOVING ON TO REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. [7. Reports and Presentations] WE WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME MR. MARK BERRY, AND I BELIEVE IS MRS FISHER MRS NICOLE FISHER TO DISCUSS THE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO INTRODUCE THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY THAT'S COMING TO CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND SO I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DOCTOR SIMMONS. SO WE DO HAVE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION TONIGHT BY MR. MARK BIERI. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM. AND I'D BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE OUR DIRECTOR OF TRIO PROGRAMS AT CHESAPEAKE, MS.. CRYSTAL FOSTER. SHE'S HERE TONIGHT TO OFFER SUPPORT. ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HE'LL BE SHARING IS THE FACT THAT WE ARE ONE OF THREE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO ARE GOING TO BE PARTNERING WITH UPWARD BOUND, AND HE'S GOING TO BE IN THIS PRESENTATION SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES THAT STUDENTS AT BOTH OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO PARTAKE IN. SO, MR. BERRY, THANK YOU. SO GOOD EVENING, DOCTOR SIMMONS, VICE PRESIDENT JONES AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. AGAIN, MY NAME IS MARK BERRY AND I AM THE DIRECTOR OF THE TRIO UPWARD BOUND PROGRAM. AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT SLIDE. SO UPPER BOUND, WHAT WE DO IN THE PROGRAM IS, ONE, WE HELP HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO COMPLETE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN TO ENROLL AND PREPARE FOR FOR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND THEN BE SUCCESSFUL. AND WE DO THAT THROUGH FOUR MAJOR AVENUES, ONE BEING ACADEMIC TUTORING. TWO BEING OUR SUMMER PROGRAM, WHICH WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SUMMER PROGRAMS. [01:10:03] WE HAVE A PRE COLLEGE ACADEMY AND A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM, WHICH WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION, SOME INDIVIDUALIZED ADVISING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SOME CULTURAL ENRICHMENT. SO OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE. THEY ARE MATRICULATING EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS THAT ARE ENTERING NINTH GRADE THE NEXT FALL AND THEN, OF COURSE, CURRENT NINTH, 10TH AND 11TH AND 12TH GRADE STUDENTS. AS MRS FISHER MENTIONED, WE ARE IN BOTH SCHOOLS IN CAROLINE COUNTY AT COLONEL RICHARDSON AND NORTH CAROLINE. ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ALSO IN KING COUNTY AT KING COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE ARE ALSO IN EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL IN TALBOT COUNTY. WE DO HAVE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, AS WITH ANYTHING FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BECAUSE THAT IS WHO WE ARE FUNDED BY. STUDENTS NEED TO BE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PER THE FEDERAL TRIO GUIDELINES. THEY ALSO NEED TO BE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS, MEANING NONE OF THEIR PARENTS HAVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND DEMONSTRATE SOME SORT OF ACADEMIC NEED FOR SUPPORT. WHETHER THAT IS, THEY MIGHT NOT BE PERFORMING WELL ON THE ON OR ON ON TESTING. THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE DONE WELL ON THE SATS. THEY MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL HELP IN STUDYING FOR THE SATS. THEY MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO ACCESS COLLEGE AT ALL OR WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES FOR THEM MIGHT BE. SO THAT NEED FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT CAN BE WIDENED. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE NEED A COMPLETED APPLICATION. THERE IS AN APPLICATION PROCESS THAT IS A PART OF THIS. CAN I ASK A QUICK QUESTION? SURE. I UNDERSTAND THE PART THAT YOUR PARENTS NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE. WHAT ABOUT SIBLINGS? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT ABOUT THEY HAD SIBLINGS THAT WENT TO COLLEGE OR GOING TO COLLEGE? NO, JUST THE. JUST THE PARENTS. JUST THE PARENTS? YES. AND SO UPPER BOUND IS COMPLETELY FREE TO ALL OF ITS PARTICIPANTS. AND JUST TO GIVE YOU A NATION OR A NATIONWIDE SCOPE OF OUR PROGRAM, WE HAVE NINE THERE ARE 966 UPPER BOUND PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE SERVING A TOTAL OF 70,744 STUDENTS. OUR UPPER BOUND PROGRAM CAN SERVE UP TO 180 STUDENTS FROM ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS IN TOTAL. BUT FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, WE ARE SERVING 60 STUDENTS FROM NORTH CAROLINE AND 30 STUDENTS FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON. SO SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT UPPER BOUND DOES PROVIDE, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE DO HAVE SOME AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING. SO WE HAVE ORGANIZED A CLASSROOM SPACE AND ALL OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR STARTING IN THE FALL FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMING, WHERE THEY WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH AN ONLINE TUTORING PLATFORM THAT WE PARTNERED WITH TUTOR.COM AND THEY CAN RECEIVE TUTORING 24 OVER SEVEN 365. THEY CAN MEET. THEY CAN SELECT A TUTOR. IF THEY LIKE THAT TUTOR, THEY CAN CONSISTENTLY MEET WITH THEM THERE. DRY ERASE BOARDS ONLINE. THEY CAN USE CHALKBOARDS, GRAPHING PAPER, GRAPHING CALCULATOR, YOU NAME IT. THE PLATFORM DOES PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THEY CAN COPY AND PASTE QUESTIONS, ASSIGNMENTS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE AND GET REAL, REAL TIME ANSWERS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THERE IS A PRE COLLEGE ACADEMY AND THERE'S A SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM. SO BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAPPEN OVER THE SUMMER. THE PRE COLLEGE ACADEMY IS FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE IN HIGH SCHOOL THE NEXT YEAR. THEY'LL BE TRANSPORTED TO CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THEY WILL BE EXPOSED TO THE RIGOR OF OUR COLLEGE COURSE. SO THEY'LL TAKE A MATH, THEY'LL TAKE A MATH CLASS, THEY'LL TAKE A SCIENCE CLASS, COMPUTER SCIENCE, A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, AND AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS READING COURSE, ALL TAUGHT BY SOME RETIRED TEACHERS AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. AND WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL COME THERE FOR THE MORNING AND THEY WILL TAKE THOSE COURSES AND THEN IN THE AFTERNOON THEY'LL BE EXPOSED TO THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PIECE. SO WE'LL DO SOME COLLEGE EXPLORATION, WE'LL DO SOME CAREER EXPLORATION. THEY'LL GET TO MEET SOME FORMER UPPER BOUND STUDENTS THAT ARE STILL IN THE AREA IN VARIOUS FIELDS AND KIND OF GET SOME HANDS ON ADVICE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS. THE SUMMER BRIDGE ACADEMY IS FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND HEADING ON TO COLLEGE NEXT FALL, THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE TWO DUAL OR DUAL ENROLLMENT TYPE CLASSES AT CHESAPEAKE FOR FREE. THE WE WILL PAY FOR THEIR COURSES AS WELL AS THEIR TEXTBOOKS. SO ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS COME TO CAMPUS AND BE SUCCESSFUL. WE ARE ALSO, OF COURSE, AS A PART OF OUR PROGRAM, GOING TO DO SOME COLLEGE PREPARATION, AS I MENTIONED, AND THAT WILL TAKE STUDENTS ON SOME COLLEGE TOURS AND SOME COLLEGES IN MARYLAND. SO THEY'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THOSE AS WELL. WE'LL BE MAKING SURE THAT THEY WILL BE IN RIGOROUS PROGRAMS OF STUDY. SO BALANCING HELPING THEM TO BALANCE THEIR COURSE SCHEDULES, TAKING AP CLASSES AND DUAL ENROLLMENT CLASSES SO THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT IS GOING TO BE LIKE TO GO TO COLLEGE. OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO BE TRAVELING, SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, YOU KNOW, TAKING STUDENTS TO THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM OR TAKING THEM TO IFLY, WHERE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO ENDURE SKYDIVE AND STILL LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT PHYSICS. BUT THERE'S THAT THAT FUN COMPONENT INTO IT. AND WE ARE PAYING STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE. SO WE'RE OFFERING STIPENDS EVERY MONTH ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. [01:15:02] SO AS THEY COMPLETE THE MILESTONES AND THEY ARE THEY ARE ATTENDING THEIR TUTORING SESSIONS AND THEY ARE PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A MONTHLY STIPEND. SO WHO ARE WE? OF COURSE I AM THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR. AND WE HAVE TWO ACADEMIC COORDINATORS, ONE AT COLONEL RICHARDSON AND ONE AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSOCIATE IN OUR OFFICE THAT IS ASSISTING US IN RUNNING THIS PROGRAM FOR THE STUDENTS IN CAROLINE COUNTY. SO WITH THE ACADEMIC COORDINATORS DO, AS I MENTIONED, WE ARE FUNDED TO SERVE A MINIMUM OF 90 STUDENTS FROM CAROLINE COUNTY. SO THE ACADEMIC COORDINATORS ARE RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, HEAVILY RECRUITING STUDENTS PRIOR TO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. AND PRETTY MUCH WHAT THEY DO IS THEY ASSESS THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC NEEDS BASED UPON THEIR CURRENT COURSE SCHEDULE, LOOKING AT THEIR MCAT SCORES AND THE REST OF THEIR ACADEMIC RECORD IN ITS ENTIRETY. WE ALSO WORK TO SET UP INDIVIDUALIZED PLANS, WHICH WE CALL ICAPS, WHICH ARE THE INDIVIDUALIZED CAREER AND ACADEMIC PLANS. SO WE WORK TO SET GOALS, WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT NOW, CURRENTLY ACADEMICALLY OR EVEN LOOKING BEYOND THAT, FIGURING OUT WHAT COLLEGE THEY WANT TO GO TO, WHAT THEIR INTERESTS MIGHT BE, WHAT MAJORS THEY MIGHT WANT TO TO, TO EXPLORE. AND WE KIND OF SET THEM UP ON TRACK, LOOKING AT POTENTIAL SCHOLARSHIPS THAT THEY COULD APPLY FOR HELPING THEM WITH THE FAFSA AND UNDERSTANDING FINANCIAL AID. ALL OF THAT IS A PART OF THAT INDIVIDUALIZED ICAP PLAN. SO WE KNOW HOW TO PROGRAM AND PLAN FOR THOSE PARTICULAR STUDENTS. OF COURSE, WE'RE ALSO COUNSELING STUDENTS AND MONITORING AND TRACKING THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRESS. SO STUDENTS WERE MEETING, GOING TO BE MEETING WITH STUDENTS ON A BI WEEKLY BASIS, SOMETIMES MONTHLY, DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE STUDENT NEEDS ARE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE STAYING ON TRACK WITH THEIR COURSEWORK, THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE PROGRAM CAN DO TO TO HELP THEM ADDITIONALLY WITH WHATEVER THEY MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH. OF COURSE, THEY ARE CURRENTLY NOW WORKING CLOSELY WITH SCHOOL STAFF AND THEN THEY ARE A PART OF THIS THE SUMMER PROGRAM WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ON CAMPUS, ACTIVELY WORKING WITH STUDENTS TO GET THEM WHERE THEY NEED TO BE OVER THE SUMMER. SO OF COURSE WE HAVE OBJECTIVES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO MEET. ONE BEING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. SO MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR UPPER BOUND STUDENTS HAVE A GPA OF A 2.5 OR HIGHER. MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE PROFICIENT ON THEIR STANDARDIZED TESTING, WHETHER THAT IS THE MCAT OR THE SATS. ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE RETAINED AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL. ONE OF OUR OBJECTIVES IS ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE ENROLLED IN RIGOROUS PROGRAMS OF STUDY. SO MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE THAT BALANCE OF AP COURSES AS WELL AS DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES. MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS ENROLL IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN ALSO WE FOLLOW THEM UP UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE. SO WE KEEP IN CONTACT, IN CONTACT WITH THEM JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS STILL GOING WELL AND THAT THEY DON'T NEED THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT. A PART OF THAT IS ALSO THERE ARE OTHER TRIO PROGRAMS. ONE OF THEM BEING STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE. AND WHAT WE DO IS WE ALSO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE IS A STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND AN EXTENSION OF TRIO, THERE'S ONE AT THEIR NEXT SCHOOL. WE KIND OF WE CONNECT THEM TO THAT. OR WE ALSO WORK TO CONNECT THEM TO ANY OTHER STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE AT THE SCHOOL. SO WE WANT THEM TO KIND OF COURSE, USE US IF THEY NEED TO, BUT ALSO CONNECT THEM TO THOSE RESOURCES AT THEIR NEW INSTITUTION. EXCUSE ME, IS THAT THE OBJECTIVES, WHAT YOU WANT TO REACH OR IS THAT THOSE ARE THE OBJECTIVES AS PER THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE TO REACH. OKAY. I WAS JUST LOOKING AHEAD. OH, YEAH. HOW COME HOW COME THE DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES? SO THE THE HIGH SCHOOLS ARE IN TWO SEPARATE GRANTS, ACTUALLY. SO THEY'RE NOT ON ONE GRANT TOGETHER. THEY'RE ON TWO SEPARATE GRANTS. SO THE COLONEL COLONEL RICHARDSON IS ON A GRANT WITH KENT COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEIR OBJECTIVES ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE NORTH CAROLINA WHO'S ON WHO'S ON A GRANT BY ITSELF? SURE. THE REASON WHY THE OBJECTIVES ARE DIFFERENT FOR EACH BECAUSE EACH ONE WAS BASED UPON THE MARYLAND REPORT CARD. WHEN WE DID THE GRANT ASSESSMENT FOR THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WHEN THE GRANT WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN ACCORDING TO THE RFP FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ED. SO THAT'S WHY THE THE OBJECTIVES ARE DIFFERENT FOR EACH ONE, BECAUSE IT'S BASED UPON HOW EACH SCHOOL IS PERFORMING. AT THE TIME THAT THE GRANT WAS WRITTEN. AND THIS FUNDING WILL LIST THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE COLLEGE. SO THE US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION GAVE THE COLLEGE A GRANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. SO CURRENTLY TO DATE, WE HAVE FIVE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN TOTALLY ADMITTED AND COMPLETED OUR PROCESS AND WE HAVE 52 OUTSTANDING APPLICATIONS RIGHT NOW FOR COLONEL RICHARDSON. SO THE ACADEMIC COORDINATORS ARE CONSTANTLY WORKING TO CALL STUDENTS, WORK WITH THEM VIA TEXT, PHONE CALLS, ZOOM VIDEO, HOWEVER THE STUDENTS DEEMS NECESSARY. [01:20:02] WE ARE DOING COMMUNITY VISITS WITH STUDENTS WHERE WE'RE MEETING IN LIBRARIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO TRY TO GET STUDENTS TO COMPLETE APPLICATIONS. AND THEN WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH STUDENTS IN PERSON AT THE SCHOOLS TO WORK THEM THROUGH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE OBJECTIVES THERE FOR NORTH CAROLINA. SAME TYPE OF OBJECTIVES, JUST THAT THE PERCENTAGES ARE DIFFERENT. AND WE HAVE FIVE STUDENTS TO DATE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND WE HAVE 115 OUTSTANDING APPLICATIONS. AND I DO JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT OUR ACADEMIC COORDINATOR FOR NORTH CAROLINA JUST STARTED A MONTH AGO, AND WE ALREADY HAVE 115 APPLICATIONS THAT SHE'S ACTIVELY WORKING WITH STUDENTS TO TO GO THROUGH IN IN THE SAME METHOD. SO WE'RE WORKING TO CLOSE THOSE THOSE GAPS. SO WE HAVE WE ARE, LIKE I MENTIONED, TEXTS AND PHONE CALLS ZOOMING, HOWEVER, THE STUDENT FEELS COMFORTABLE IN GETTING THIS PROCESS COMPLETED. SO OUR PLANS ARE, OF COURSE, TO CONTINUE TO RECRUIT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. WE HAVE TWO INFORMATION SESSIONS COMING UP, ONE ON MAY 10TH AND ONE ON MAY 16TH. THE INFORMATION SESSION ON MAY 10TH IS IN THE COLONEL RICHARDSON CAFETERIA, AND THE ONE ON MAY 16TH IS IN THE NORTH CAROLINA CAFETERIA. AND THEN THE ACADEMIC COORDINATORS, AS I MENTIONED, ARE ACTIVELY TABLING DURING LUNCHES. THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT FACULTY MEETINGS. THEY ARE GOING DOING CLASSROOM VISITS. AND THEN WE PLAN TO BE AT SUMMERFEST AUGUST 18TH AND 19TH HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY TO RECRUIT AS WELL. THE INFORMATION SESSIONS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC? YES, THEY ARE. AND WHAT TIME? SO THE INFORMATION SESSIONS ARE FROM 6 P.M. TO 8 P.M.. BOTH OF THEM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME, MARTY. THINKING AHEAD TO MS.. BIERI, A NOTE THAT I'M GOING TO SUMMERFEST. OUR TABLES NEED TO BE ANY BIERI NEW YEAR. SAME THING RIGHT HERE. MAKE SURE WE'RE WE'RE SYNCED UP WITH THAT AS WELL. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF NEXT GENERATION? YES. DO YOU GUYS WORK TOGETHER? WE DO. YES. WE HAD A MEETING BACK IN DECEMBER OVER IN EASTON BECAUSE WE WE MET WITH BOTH NEXT GENERATION ADVISORS, ONE IN KENT COUNTY, AND THEN THE ONE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY. SO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR AND WE ARE WORKING TO TO SHARE STUDENTS AND BOUNCE IDEAS OFF EACH OTHER SO THAT WE CAN PARTNER. I MEAN, YOU HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME INTERESTS AND GOALS. MOST DEFINITELY. AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR COMING AND PRESENTING. AND I'M A FORMER COWORKER WITH MARK AND CRYSTAL, AND I KNOW THEIR DEDICATION TO STUDENT SUCCESS. SO WELCOME TO CAROLINE. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING CAROLINE AND THE GRANT PROCESS. LINDSEY WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH YOU GUYS ON THE GRANT AS WELL. WE'RE THRILLED THAT THIS IS COMING TO CAROLINE. A LOT OF OUR KIDS ARE VERY SO MANY OF OUR KIDS HAVE OPPORTUNITY, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE. AND IF FAMILIES HAVEN'T HAD THOSE EXPERIENCES, MANY OF US SITTING HERE PROBABLY IN THE SAME BOAT. RIGHT. AND WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT BETTER OFF SMARTER HAD WE HAD SOMEONE TO HELP US NAVIGATE THE PROCESS AND FIND OPPORTUNITIES TO TO GET US THERE. SO I'M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED TO SEE THIS PROGRAM COME TO CAROLINE FOR US TO BE PART OF IT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A LONG PARTNERSHIP THAT WORKS REALLY WELL. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE. AND I KNOW THAT THIS SUGGESTION IS LATE FOR MAY 10TH BECAUSE THAT'S TOMORROW, I BELIEVE. BUT IF WE CAN REALLY PUSH THE MAY 16TH, POSSIBLY THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER OR SOME WAY TO GET IT OUT TO OUR PUBLIC, AND YOU'RE ANNOUNCING IT IN THE SCHOOLS, I'M ASSUMING? OH, MOST DEFINITELY. MOST DEFINITELY. THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. THIS IS A PROGRAM, REALLY, THAT HAS A THAT CAN CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF PEOPLE'S PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THEIR FUTURES. IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY GOOD TO TO SEE IT IN OUR SCHOOLS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action] MOVING ON, OUR NEXT ITEM OF DISCUSSION IS ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION. I BELIEVE IT'S OUR FY 24 BUDGET SUMMARY MRS. GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT JONES. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR SIMMONS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, I ACTUALLY HAVE SOME POSITIVE NEWS TO SHARE. THE NUMBERS HAVE SWUNG IN OUR FAVOR, UNLIKE PAST, WHERE THEY TEND TO DECREASE. SO AS USUAL, ALL OF THE CHANGES SINCE THE LAST VERSION THAT YOU SAW ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW. THE FIRST CHANGE THAT YOU'LL SEE IS THE LOCAL COUNTY APPROPRIATION. [01:25:01] WE WERE ANTICIPATING THAT WE WOULD GET THE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT FROM OUR COUNTY, WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN REVENUE COMPARED TO WHAT WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING. IT WAS GOING TO BE A DECREASE OF AROUND $160,000, BUT THANKFULLY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE AGREED TO HOLD US AT THE SAME LEVEL OF FUNDING AS WE ARE CURRENTLY GETTING. THEY ARE NOT GOING TO DECREASE OUR FUNDING. SO THAT'S THE FIRST POSITIVE CHANGE. SO ERIN, IF I CAN. SURE. GO AHEAD. ONE PIECE. JUST SO THE BOARD DOES UNDERSTAND THAT CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DEFINITELY DESERVE A THANK YOU. IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY WILL HAVE FUNDED CPS OVER MAINTENANCE OF EFFORT IN PROBABLY ONLY ONE OF THE TIME I CAN THINK OF IN MY CAREER AND THEY WERE ADAMANT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE FLAT FUNDED AT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, NOT AT THE PER PUPIL. SO IT'S AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $30 PER PER PUPIL ON THE OVERALL, WHICH IS HUGE FOR A DISTRICT OF OUR SIZE AND HUGE HISTORICALLY FOR OUR COUNTY. SO I DON'T WANT TO LET THAT SLIDE THROUGH. THAT'S SIGNIFICANT WITH THEM WITH THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF LOOKING AT THE BUDGET. SO. MOVING ALONG. THE NEXT POSITIVE CHANGE IN THE REVENUE SECTION IS WE'VE INCREASED THE INTEREST REVENUE. WHEN WE STARTED THE FISCAL YEAR, WE WERE BACK IN JULY, WE WERE EARNING AN INTEREST RATE OF 1.3%. WE ARE NOW CURRENTLY EARNING AN INTEREST RATE OF 4.8%. SO WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM BECAUSE WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT NEXT YEAR INTEREST RATES WILL REMAIN AT THE HIGHER LEVEL. NEXT, UNDER THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES, WE GOT OUR FINAL. IT ACTUALLY SAYS PROJECTED RATE INCREASE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY OUR FINAL RATE INCREASE THAT CAME IN IS 4%, WHICH IS MUCH LOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL ANTICIPATED 8%. I WILL SAY THAT THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE IS MAINLY BECAUSE OF SOME CHANGES THAT WERE MADE TO OUR CO-PAYS AND OUR PRESCRIPTION PLAN. WE ARE PART OF THE HEALTH ALLIANCE, SO THE MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH ALLIANCE ARE ALL TRUSTEES FROM SIX OF ITS SIX COUNTIES, AND THE TRUSTEES VOTED TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. CAROLINE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE ONE SINGLE VOICE. I MEAN, IT'S WE'RE A GROUP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE PURCHASING POWER TO HAVE BETTER HEALTH INSURANCE RATES. AND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR COMPETITIVE PRESCRIPTION PLANS AND THAT SORT OF THING JUST TO KEEP THE RATES AS LOW AS WE CAN. AND WE ALSO HAVE I'M A TRUSTEE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY. WE ALSO HAVE A TRUSTEE, PEGGY WHITMAN, WHO IS FROM CCI. SO WE HAVE TWO TWO VOTES AT THE TABLE. SO LIKE I SAID, THERE WERE SOME SLIGHT CHANGES TO THE CO-PAYS. WE ALSO CHANGED THE PRESCRIPTION PLAN FROM EXPRESS SCRIPTS BACK TO CAREFIRST AND CVS. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DISRUPTION IN CHANGING THE PROVIDERS. SO THERE'S NO CHANGE THERE. THERE IS ONE SLIGHT ADVANTAGE SINCE IT'S CAREFIRST NOW, EVERYBODY WILL ONLY HAVE TO CARRY ONE CARD AS OPPOSED TO CARRYING TWO DIFFERENT CARDS. THE ONLY DISADVANTAGE IS THE CHANGE IN THE MAIL ORDER FROM EXPRESS SCRIPTS TO CVS MAIL ORDER. SO I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT, HOWEVER. IN MAKING THAT CHANGE. IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE RENEWAL COST AND IT DECREASED OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL BY ALMOST 2% JUST BY MAKING THAT ONE SWITCH. AND LIKE I SAID, THERE SHOULD BE NO DISRUPTION IN SERVICE. IT'S JUST THE MAIL ORDER IS CHANGING AND THAT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1ST. SO THAT WAS A SAVINGS IN THAT LINE ITEM. WE WERE ABLE TO CUT THAT LINE ITEM IN HALF. IT WAS ORIGINALLY A $750,000 LINE ITEM FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, AND WE'RE NOW AT A COST OF 375,000. ALSO UNDER THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND BUDGET TO ACTUAL WE WILL WE WERE ABLE TO DECREASE THE SALARY LINE ITEM BECAUSE WE'VE HAD SEVERAL RETIREMENTS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'VE ALSO REDESIGNED SOME POSITIONS AT A LOWER COST. SO THIS RESULTED IN LOWER A LOWER AMOUNT BEING NEEDED TO COVER THE SALARIES. SO WE HAD SOME SAVINGS THERE. NOW WITH THAT BEING SAID, WITH ALL THOSE CHANGES, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE BOARD'S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, WHICH IS THE SALARY AND BENEFIT ENHANCEMENTS. WE STILL HAVEN'T FINALIZED NEGOTIATIONS, BUT THAT LINE ITEM WAS ABLE TO INCREASE BY ALMOST $1 MILLION WITH ALL OF THE SAVINGS AND ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE THAT I JUST DISCUSSED. SO THAT WAS A BIG WINNER TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM BY ALMOST $1 MILLION AND HAVE IT GO TO OUR [01:30:09] EMPLOYEES FOR SALARIES AND BENEFITS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY OR HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE BEFORE A FINAL BUDGET ADOPTION OR. THINGS THAT YOU NEED ME TO RESEARCH OR LOOK INTO. DO YOU WANT US TO CONTINUE? I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. YOU HAVE A GOOD HEALTH PLAN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK. AND I THINK WE REALLY THANK THE COMMISSIONERS FOR THAT. INCREASED INVESTMENT REALLY SHOWS THEIR CONFIDENCE AND THEIR TRUST IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO INVEST THEIR MONEY INTO US, TO THEN INVEST THAT INTO OUR FUTURE, WHICH IS OUR STUDENTS. SO IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED, I KNOW, BY ALL OF US. AND AND WE'RE GOING TO PUT THAT MONEY TO GOOD USE. SO THEIR INCREASE IS GOING DIRECTLY TO SALARY. IT MOVES STRAIGHT DOWN TO FILL THAT LINE ITEM, WHICH PUTS THEIR SUPPORT AT OUR STAFF LEVEL, WHICH IS WHICH IS AWESOME. NO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AS ERIN SAID BACK, I REALLY WANT TO THANK ERIN FOR HER HARD WORK. YES. TO FINE TUNE THE BUDGET TO FIND AS MUCH SAVINGS AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. HER HARD WORK MRS WHITMAN'S HARD WORK WITH HEALTH INSURANCE AS WELL. AND HOPEFULLY THIS PUTS US IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION WHERE WE ACTUALLY CAN APPROVE A BUDGET AT THE JUNE BOARD MEETING. HOPEFULLY A MONTH FROM NOW WE'LL BE APPROVING THE BUDGET. UNFINISHED BUSINESS. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS. [10. Upcoming Meetings and Events] WE HAVE A WORK SESSION NEXT TUESDAY. REMIND THE BOARD MEMBERS TO USE THE GOOGLE SHEET. THIS IS A BUSY TIME OF YEAR WITH ALL THE EVENTS. IF YOU COULD PUT YOUR MARK WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE, IT'S GREATLY APPRECIATED. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NO MORE BUSINESS. FOR THE GOOD OF THE CALLS. I NEED A MOTION TO ADJOURN. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.