>> LINED UP TO MY PHONE [INAUDIBLE].
[00:00:03]
>> GOOD TO GO. GREETINGS EVERYBODY.
[1. Opening Items]
WELCOME TO TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH, 2024S EDITION OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.WE WANT TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.
WELCOME ALL OF YOU AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU HERE, SO OFFICIALLY CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
WE HAVE THE ENTIRE BOARD HERE, WHICH IS TERRIFIC.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN A MEETING?
>> AYE. THERE WE GO. WE DID HAVE A CLOSED SESSION AT 5:00, NOW WE'RE OPEN AT 6:00, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY HERE TO LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THAT'S WONDERFUL.
>> YES, SIR. JEREMIAH, COULD YOU BEGIN THE LINE? PERFECT. RIGHT BEHIND?
>> YES, THEY ARE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST TO COMMENT BUT THANK YOU PRESIDENT BARTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. SIMMONS.
>> WELL, IF I MAY, I HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ABOUT OUR GENTLEMEN. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.
WE ARE IN THE GREENSBORO YOUNG GENTLEMEN'S CLUB, AND I'D LIKE EACH OF OUR GENTLEMEN TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES JUST THIS EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER BLAUMY.
MY NAME IS SIMON AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME PHINEAS STABLES.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CARL LIBBY.
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS JOSHUA JAMES.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DWAYNE TIFFANY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRADY TIFFANY.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SEAN EARL.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS ANDY WILKINS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BROWN SMIKLE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RYYAN COCKINGS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE].
>> WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF OUR COACHES THAT ARE HERE THIS EVENING.
PASTOR DOUG MORLEY, WHO IS THE PASTOR OF GREATER IMPACT CHURCH ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE SCHOOL.
WE HAVE MR. BLAKE WHO IS HERE.
HE IS ACTUALLY STUDENT TEACHING AT GREENSBORO CURRENTLY AND ASKED TO BE A PART OF OUR GROUP.
WE HAVE OFFICER DREW DURHAM, WHO IS THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER FOR GREENSBORO SCHOOL.
WE HAVE OTHER COACHES WHO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS AND INCLUDING MR. COLIN JOSEPH, WHO HAS BEEN WITH OUR GROUP SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
MR. NICK WAKE, WHO OWNS TENCHE RESTAURANT IN GREENSBORO.
I'M SURE I'M DOING THIS SOMEBODY.
DR. JOHN BARRY, WHO IS A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR AT GREENSBORO.
WE'RE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE COACHES THAT WE HAVE, AND OUR PARENTS ARE TREMENDOUSLY SUPPORTIVE, AND WOULD OUR PARENTS THAT ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF OUR GROUP, JUST WAVE YOUR HAND.
I DON'T HAVE ANY. [APPLAUSE] MRS. KERR IS HERE THIS EVENING.
ADMINISTRATIVELY, THE ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION IN GREENSBORO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE.
STARTING WITH MRS. SWAN WHO FIRST APPROVED THIS GROUP TO BEGIN IN 2019, WE DO FOCUS.
WE ALSO SUPPORTED MY FOOD SERVICE AND THE ASHLEY POWELL AND THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM HELPS US QUITE A BIT.
WE MEET ONCE A WEEK ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS AND WE FOCUS ON MANNERS, LIFE SKILLS.
WE HAVE A GUEST SPEAKER THIS AFTERNOON TALKING ABOUT GETTING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES.
[00:05:04]
BUT WE ALSO HAVE MR. LEE SUTTON WHO WAS OUR FIRST GUEST SPEAKER THIS YEAR AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GUESS WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT, LOOKING SHARP.I THINK YOU WILL HEAR AND HE ALWAYS DOES.
[LAUGHTER] CHERRY DEAR, TALKED TO US ABOUT WRITING. THANK YOU.
WE'VE HAD MR. MILK NEG TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY.
THEY ALSO HAVE A GENTLEMAN'S PLEDGE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECITE AT THIS TIME.
BRADLEY, I'D LIKE FOR YOU TO PREPARE THE GROUP AND LET'S SAY OUR [INAUDIBLE].
>> DR. ORA. PARENTS ARE TRYING TO VIDEOTAPE. CAN THEY FACE THE PARENTS?.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE PICTURES RIGHT NOW.
>> BUT THEY WOULD BE SAYING THAT THEY MAKE A VIDEO TOO.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO. [OVERLAPPING]
>> DO YOU GUYS NEED TO CHANGE ORDER TO DO SO?
>> WELL, YEAH, WE WOULD. IT WON'T TAKE BUT A MINUTE.
>> DR. ORA, WHENEVER THE GROUP'S PREPARED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.
>> YEAH. YOU GUYS, TURN AROUND.
>> YEAH. WE KNOW THE GENTLEMEN CAN BE LOUD AND PROUD, WHICH WAS WONDERFUL WITH THE PLEDGE.
>> I PLEDGE TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE.
TODAY, I PLEDGE TO BE HONEST WITH RESPECT AND COURTESY.
TODAY I PLEDGE TO BE HELPFUL TO OTHERS.
TODAY, I PLEDGE TO BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL.
TODAY, I WILL DEMONSTRATE I AM A GENTLEMAN. [APPLAUSE]..
WE DO WANT YOU TO KNOW WE HAVE THE LADY SIDE OF THIS.
THE SCHOOL MASCOT IS A HORNET SO WE HAVE THE HONEY BEES, WHICH IS THE LADY'S SIDE OF THIS.
THEY HAD A MEETING THIS EVENING.
THEY ARE COACHED BY MRS. BONNIE LIS, MRS. RACHEL GREETING, AND MRS. JOYCE MCHALL.
I'LL END WITH JUST A COUPLE COMMENTS AND SAY THERE IS EXPENSE ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING OUR CLUB TO GET TO POLOS AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS WE DO NOT HAVE TO FUND RAISE.
WE HAVE LOCAL DONORS AND PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GIVE TO THE GROUP SO WE ARE BLESSED IN THAT WAY.
ALL OUR COACHES AND THOSE THAT SUPPORT OUR GROUP ARE NOT PAID IN ANY WAY, AND WE'RE JUST SO BLESSED TO HAVE THEM AS COACHES.
>> VERY GOOD. [BACKGROUND] THANK YOU DR. ORA.
IT'S TREMENDOUS. THANK YOU YOUNG GENTLEMEN.
>> THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE RIGHT WAY TO BECOME POSITIVE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND YOU'RE OFF TO THE RIGHT START.
YOU'VE GOT REALLY GOOD ROLE MODELS ALL AROUND YOU AND BACK AT THE SCHOOL, AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE ROLE MODELS.
YOU ARE, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE THE ROLE MODELS FOR THE YOUNGER GENTLEMEN AS THEY COME UP, AND SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. [APPLAUSE] AS YOU MOVE THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN, I ALSO WANT TO GIVE AN ADDITIONAL THANKS TO THE COACHES.
>> I APPRECIATE SEEING POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS WORKING WITH OUR MALE STUDENTS AND GIVING SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME ON A REGULAR BASIS AND IT MEANS A LOT IN THE FACT THE PROGRAM HAS CONTINUED TO BUILD.
MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE IT STARTED AND YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK AND I THINK THAT'S IMPRESSIVE AND SAYS ALSO A LOT ABOUT THE GREENSBORO COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTING THIS, SO GENTLEMEN, YOU ALL ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE THE FOLKS IN YOUR LIVES, YOUR PARENTS AS WELL AS THE COACHES AS WELL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE AND A FANTASTIC JOB OF THE PLEDGE.
>> IF YOU COULD REMAIN STANDING, TURN AROUND AGAIN [BACKGROUND] AND SAY FOUR STEPS BACK, NOT BIG ONES. [LAUGHTER].
>> KEEP GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE STEP.
>> THERE YOU GO. [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING]
>> LINE UP THE WAY YOU DID FOR OUR PLEDGE.
>> THIS IS CURRENT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FUN PART.
WE MAKE SURE NOW LET PARENTS KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE.
I'LL MOVE IN A MINUTE THAT THEY WON'T MOVE SO [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU CAN SEE THE CAMERA, EVERYBODY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I SEE ALL FACES, AND 1, 2, 3.
[00:10:02]
I MAKE SURE.THOSE ARE PERFECT. JUST LET YOU KNOW.
>> FINALLY, WE GOT THERE. [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU'RE USED TO THIS GUIDANCE [INAUDIBLE]. [LAUGHTER].
>> AM I IN THE OTHER PICTURES? OKAY?
>> THERE'S STILL SOMETHING TO BE MENTIONED.
>> YES. MRS. KERR WILL GET SOME PARTS FOR ICE CREAM IN THE CAFETERIA TOMORROW.
>> I SAW HAPPY FACES. [LAUGHTER].
>> [INAUDIBLE] GET ICE CREAM [INAUDIBLE]. HAVE SOME ICE CREAM [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING] [BACKGROUND]
>> CERTAINLY. [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING]
>> [BACKGROUND] [OVERLAPPING] ALL RIGHT.
>> ISN'T THAT NICE. [APPLAUSE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. [INAUDIBLE].
>> GLAD TO HAVE YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THANK YOU FOR COMING. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR COMING.
>> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
>> THAT'S GOOD HAND SHAKING. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND].
>> [BACKGROUND] AS WE MOVE ALONG THE REMAINDER OF OUR OPENING ITEMS, WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE AN AGENDA AND NEXT WE HAVE A CUSTOMER OF READING THE MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH IS AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO REMIND US WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT WE DO.
SO OUR MISSION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, WE PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE, CAREER, AND LIFE READINESS FOR THE CHALLENGING AND PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU. SO THAT THE CHILDREN MOVE OUT AND A WHOLE NEW CAST OF CHARACTERS COME IN.
>> WE'RE NOW MOVING ON TO RECOGNITIONS,
[2. Recognitions]
AND WE HAVE THE ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATIONS.I SEE THEM LAID OUT IN FRONT OF US HERE.
>> YES. WE HAVE MR. BILL MANGLE, OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, WILL BE STARTING US OFF FOR RECOGNITIONS.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST WITH US THIS EVENING AS WELL AS MR. RYAN THAT'LL BE WORKING ON THE RECOGNITIONS AS WELL, MR. MENGEL.
>> GOOD EVENING PRESIDENT BARTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
VERY EXCITED AND THRILLED TO BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION TONIGHT FOR ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATIONS.
WE HAD 10 BUILDINGS THAT ARE RECENTLY AWARDED ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATIONS AND CCPS.
EIGHT OF THEM WERE SCHOOLS, TWO OF THEM WERE ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS.
I DO WANT TO SAY AND NOTE THE WHOLE THING, THAT TO GET 10 CERTIFICATIONS THE FIRST TIME THROUGH WITH ENERGY STAR IS VERY RARE.
SO I FEEL VERY HAPPY AND RELIEVED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET THIS MANY BUILDINGS DONE AT ONE TIME.
ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED BUILDING SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY,
[00:15:01]
AND HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY GENERATING FEWER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS THAN TYPICAL BUILDINGS.TO BE CERTIFIED AS ENERGY STAR, A BUILDING MUST MEET STRICT ENERGY FORM STANDARDS SET BY THE EPA.
DO YOU WANT TO PUT HATS OFF TO FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE, THE BUILDING STAFFS THEMSELVES, THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT, THE ENERGY SAVINGS DEPARTMENT, CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS SYNERGISTICS, WHO IS OUR ENERGY PROGRAM PARTNER IN THIS WHOLE THING.
THOSE FOUR GROUPS OF PEOPLE COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO GET US TO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS.
IT'S AWESOME TO HAVE 10 ENERGY CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE'RE AT.
I'M GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO THIS POINT TO ANGELA JEFFRIES, WHO IS OUR SYNERGISTIC CLIENT MANAGER.
ANGELA AND JOSH RYAN, OUR ENERGY SPECIALISTS, ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS OF WHICH IT TOOK TO GET THE ENERGY STAR SAVINGS AND GET TO THIS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
THEN AFTER THAT, I THINK WE'D LIKE TO GET A PICTURE OF EVERYBODY, HAND OUT SOME HARDWARE AND GO FROM THERE.
>> MR. BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
DR. SIMMONS. HELLO. HOW ARE YOU? I'M ANGELA JEFFRIES.
I'M THE CLIENT MANAGER FOR JOSH.
HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF YOUR BUILDINGS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS PARTNERED WITH SYNERGISTIC IN THE SUMMER OF 2022.
SINCE THEN, YOU'VE CUT EXPECTED ENERGY USE BY 35% REDUCING THE EXPECTED ENERGY COSTS SIGNIFICANTLY.
I THINK YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT OVER $500 MILLION RIGHT NOW WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A HEALTHY TEACHING AND LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
OUR CONSERVATION SUCCESS IS HELPING TO PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
ACCORDING TO THE EPA, YOU'VE REDUCED YOUR CO_2 EMISSIONS EQUAL TO OVER 6 MILLION MILES, NOT DRIVEN BY THE TYPICAL AVERAGE VEHICLE.
OR 44,000 TREE SEEDLINGS GROWN FOR 10 YEARS.
THIS HAS LED THE EPA TO CERTIFY 10 OF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BUILDINGS AS EARNING ENERGY STAR CERTIFICATION.
AS BILL SAID, IT'S RARE TO HAVE SO MANY SCHOOLS GET IT AT THE FIRST TIME ROUND.
IT'S USUALLY ONE OR TWO BUILDINGS, TO GET 10 BUILDINGS IS JUST AMAZING.
BUILDINGS RATE IN THE TOP 25% NATIONWIDE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND MEET OPERATIONAL STANDARDS FOR COMFORT AND VENTILATION.
THIS IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT AND VERY PRESTIGIOUS, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL.
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOUR ENERGY SPECIALIST, EXTRAORDINARY JOSHUA, WHO HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN INSTITUTING THE PROGRAM.
>> THANK YOU. I GUESS I WILL CALL YOU UP AND GIVE YOU WHATEVER REWARD IT IS, AND THEN IF YOU STAY UP HERE WILL BE A PICTURE AFTERWARDS. THAT'S WHAT I'M HOLDING.
FOR THE CENTRAL OFFICE ANNEX AND EVEN THE OLD BUILDING.
WELL SEASONED, NOT OLD. THE ADMIN BUILDING.
>> HE'S THE GUY LEAVES THE WINDOWS OPEN, ISN'T HE? [LAUGHTER]
>> CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL. NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, RECEIVING THE RATING OF 95.
HERMAN RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL MIDDLE SCHOOL.
HERMAN RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, MID SCHOOL RECEIVED A RATING OF 96 [LAUGHTER]
>> MIDDLE SCHOOL RECEIVES RATING OF 81.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE COMPARED TO OTHER BUILDINGS NATIONWIDE BASED OFF THE SIZE OF SEVERAL OTHER FACTORS AND AGE.
SO THIS IS ONE REASON WHY THIS BUILDINGS SO OLD, THAT BUILDING OLD, MOST PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT IT'S THE SAME ONE.
SAME WITH THIS BUILDING [INAUDIBLE] ELEMENTARY SCHOOL [INAUDIBLE] ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, RECEIVING THE SCORE OF 96.
[00:20:01]
PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED A RATING OF 77.
RIDGELEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RECEIVED A RATING OF 76.
AND GREENS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, GREENS ELEMENTARY RECEIVED A RATING OF 84 [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST KEEP ONE [INAUDIBLE] GET A 98 [LAUGHTER]
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'RE ON THE LEG BEHIND THEM.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IF YOU GUYS GO ALL THE WAY DOWN WAITING THIS WAY SO YOU'RE KEEPING BEHIND THERE [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU IN BETWEEN MR. SUTTON.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH [APPLAUSE]
>> ONE, TWO, THREE. SAY ENERGY.
>> WELL, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO BE VERY PROUD OF.
I HEARD HER SAY SIX MILLION MILES.
>> THAT'S INCREDIBLE. I THINK THE PER KILOWATT HOUR COST HAS BEEN GOING UP HERE RECENTLY, SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THAT DOES IN TERMS OF SAVINGS.
I KNOW HOMEOWNERS ARE ALL GRINDING THEIR TEETH, THINKING, WHAT HAVE WE DONE? TURN THE THERMOSTAT DOWN.
PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE BURNING ENERGY, BUT IT'S REALLY THE COST HAS GONE UP, SO GREAT TO HAVE A PROGRAM LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
IT ALREADY HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
>> THEY ALL GOT OUT OF HERE PRETTY DARN QUICK.
>> WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON NOW TO BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS OR REPORTS.
[3. Reports]
FIRST UP BOARD MEMBERS, AND I'LL CALL ON EACH BOARD MEMBER TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SHARE THAT'S OCCURRED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OR PAST MONTH.HONESTLY, WHEN I GO TO SCHOOLS I MISSED THE AUTONOMY THAT TEACHERS USED TO HAVE.
THEY JUST DON'T HAVE IT AND THERE'S NOT AS MUCH DIFFERENTIATION.
I KNOW WE KEEP USING BLUEPRINT AND EVERYTHING AS EXCUSES, BUT WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT, THE TEACHERS TEACH THAT MATCHES THEIR STYLE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, MATCHES THEIR STUDENTS AND THE STUDENTS' NEEDS.
IT'S ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.
TO SIT THERE AND SAY, YOU'VE GOT TO, I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S GOOD.
YOU GOT TO GIVE THEM MORE INSTRUCTIONS, NOT WORRY ABOUT MEETING SOME TIME LINE, AND AGAIN, LESS TESTING.
>> LAST MEETING I BROUGHT UP ABOUT COLONEL HAVING THE PLAY WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ON THAT.
[00:25:02]
I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THEY REMEMBER ALL OF THEIR LINES THE WAY THEY DID.IT WAS GOOD TO SEE. THE KIDS DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
[OVERLAPPING] IT'S DEFINITELY WORTH GOING IF YOU GUYS COULD GO TO ANOTHER ONE, IF YOU GET A CHANCE.
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. MICHELLE.
>> I THINK I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A BUSY MONTH.
I ENJOYED READING TO THREE CLASSES DURING THE NATIONAL READ ALOUD WEEK, OR I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, BUT READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK MAYBE, BUT I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO READ IN THREE CLASSES.
I ATTENDED A MABE EQUITY MEETING VIA ZOOM.
I WENT TO THE NORTH HIGH VERSUS KENT ISLAND GIRLS, I THINK IT WAS A PLAYOFF GAME.
I KNOW OUR GIRLS LOST THE GAME, BUT THEY PUT IN A REAL GOOD FIGHT, SO I WAS REALLY PROUD OF NORTH HIGH FOR THAT.
THEN I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND, IT WAS HELD AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE, BUT IT WAS PUT ON BY THE EASTERN SHORE LITERACY.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ORGANIZATION OR WHAT THEIR FINAL NAME IS CALLED, BUT I WAS HAPPY.
IT WAS ABOUT THE SCIENCE OF READING, WHICH WE USE HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND SOME OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE WERE JUST ABOUT TO GO INTO USING IT.
IT MADE ME FEEL REAL GOOD THAT MS. FISHER HAS US ALREADY ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH THE PROGRAM THAT HAS PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE SCIENCE OF READING.
>> OUTSTANDING. MARK, ANYTHING TO REPORT?
>> DO YOU HAVE THE PICTURE? I HAVE A PICTURE TO SHOW EVERYONE.
THURSDAY I WENT TO ANNAPOLIS WITH THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM FFA.
THERE ARE SOME OF THE OFFICERS FROM FFA AND MRS. NEIL.
IT WAS A LEGISLATIVE DAY IN ANNAPOLIS FOR FFA.
THERE WERE FFA'S FROM PROBABLY FIVE OR SIX COUNTIES IN THE UNITED IN MARYLAND, FROM GARRETT, AND [INAUDIBLE] OR WORCESTER, ONE OF THEM, AND SOME IN BETWEEN.
I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DAY, HOW THEIR DAY WENT.
INITIALLY, THEY TOWARD THE STATE HOUSE, ON THEIR OWN, JUST TO WALK AROUND, LOOK AT THINGS, WENT TO A TEN O'CLOCK SESSION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DURING THE SESSION, THERE WAS A REALLY FIERCE DEBATE OVER A BILL THAT HAD TO DO WITH EDUCATION AND DISCIPLINE, WHICH THAT BILL ACTUALLY, IT DID NOT MAKE ITS WAY OUT, BUT WALKING OUT OF THAT SESSION, THE GIRLS, BECAUSE IT WAS ALL GIRLS, THEY WERE LIKE, WOW, I COULD SIT THROUGH THIS ALL DAY, WHICH WAS REALLY NEAT TO HEAR A BUNCH OF STUDENTS HOW INTO THAT DEBATE AND THAT BACK AND FORTH THEY WERE WITH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THEY WENT TO LUNCH WHERE THEY HEARD A SPEECH FROM THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
HE BRIEFLY MENTIONED DUFF, FOR OUR AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND CAROLINE COUNTY, IN OUR RESIDENCE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH AND A LOT GOING ON WITH DUFF, WHICH, NOT TO GET INTO IT, BUT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SOMETHING THAT'S SPREAD ON FIELDS.
THAT'S VERY BASIC. AFTER LUNCH, THEY TOURED THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OFFICE BUILDING WHERE THEY MET SENATOR JAY JACOBS, GOT A PICTURE TAKEN WITH HIM.
HE SAID HE WAS GETTING READY TO GO INTO A TESTIMONY WHERE OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WERE ALREADY IN THE ROOM FOR A BILL THAT HAD TO DO WITH REGULATIONS ON DEATH.
HE INVITED THE GIRLS TO GO IN AND GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN AND SAID, YOU MAY WANT TO SIT AND WATCH.
THIS WAS A PICTURE OF ALL OF US PRIOR TO THAT SENATE TESTIMONY WHERE THEY SAT THROUGH AND LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY, WHICH FOR RIGHT NOW IN THIS TIME, IT'S A VERY BIG DEAL IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY AND JUST IN OUR COUNTY IN GENERAL.
OUR THREE COMMISSIONERS WERE THERE, WHICH IS VERY RARE TO HAVE THE WHOLE GROUP OF ANY COUNTY'S COMMISSIONERS IN A HEARING TO TESTIFY BEFORE A COMMITTEE.
THEN WHEN THEY LEFT, THEY GOT TO GET THEIR PICTURE TAKEN WITH THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND ACTUALLY TALKED TO HIM ONE ON ONE FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, AND THEY SAW THE GOVERNOR GIVING A PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER THAT, SO THEY REALLY DID HAVE A FULL DAY OF LEARNING ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
THEY REALLY ASKED A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS AND WHICH IS JUST REALLY GOOD THOUGHT OUT QUESTIONS.
WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO GOING OVER THERE, PROBABLY EVEN I DIDN'T THINK THAT.
I GOT TO TALK TO THE COMMISSIONERS AFTERWARDS, AND I SAID,
[00:30:02]
HOW SURPRISED WERE YOU TO SEE A GROUP OF CAROLINE COUNTY FFA STUDENTS WALK INTO YOUR DUFF COMMITTEE TESTIMONY AND THEY'RE ALL LIKE, WE REALLY WERE WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING ON.[LAUGHTER] WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW THAT COULD TAKE PLACE.
THANKS TO THEM FOR GIVING THE TIME AND EVERYBODY THEY GAVE THE TIME THAT DAY.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME A LITTLE BIT EXTRA TIME TO SHARE THEIR STORY.
>> THANK YOU. I WAS GOING TO ALSO COMMENT GREAT TO SEE ALL THREE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN THE PHOTO WITH THEM.
SHOW GREAT SUPPORT, ALONG WITH YOURSELF, OF COURSE.
GREAT. EXCELLENT. I'LL JUST COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE HAS TO DO WITH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WENT OVER TO ANNAPOLIS, IN FACT, WITH TWO OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ATTEND THE DISTRICT 36 LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION.
IT'S REALLY HOW A LOT OF THE WORK GETS DONE, THOSE KIND OF EVENTS, AND YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE FROM OUR AREA AND THE WHOLE DISTRICT, AND JUST THE INTERACTION OF THE TOWNS, MUNICIPALITIES, THE COUNTY, STATE GOVERNMENT, AND THEN A LOT OF PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN VARIOUS THINGS, AND SO BEING THERE TO REPRESENT CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THIS BOARD WAS REALLY A GOOD THING TO DO.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF THINGS ADVANCE BECAUSE OF THAT AND WHAT KIND OF THINGS GET STARTED BECAUSE OF THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THERE WERE TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT NIGHT THAT THE IGNITION WAS TURNED AND THERE'S FOLLOW UP ALREADY HAPPENING.
THAT'S A REAL PLUS. IT'S FAR AWAY FROM OUR SCHOOLS AND FAR AWAY FROM THE STUDENTS AND FAR AWAY FROM THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUB AND SO FORTH.
LIKE IN THIS CASE, THEY'RE FAR AWAY FROM HOME, 40 MILES OR SO AWAY, BUT REALLY, SOME GOOD THINGS CAN OCCUR.
THE SECOND THING IS I DID HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TRAVELING TO ALL THE SCHOOLS WITH DR. SIMMONS.
WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY TRAVEL TOGETHER, BUT I MET HIM THERE TO LISTEN TO HIS PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE FY '25 AND BEYOND BUDGET AND JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT A GREAT EXPERIENCE THAT WAS TO HAVE THE INTERACTION TO SHARE A FEW COMMENTS WITH THEM.
DR. SIMMONS WAS REMARKABLY CONSISTENT.
HE NEVER SOUNDED LIKE A RECORDING.
HE DID THE SAME PRESENTATION 10 TIMES, ADDED A LITTLE BIT OF LOCAL SENTIMENT TO IT, BUT HE TRIED TO STAY CONSISTENT SO THAT PEOPLE, THE STAFF AT EACH PLACE HEARD THE SAME MESSAGE AS LONG AS IT WAS STILL ACCURATE.
HE'D MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON CURRENT INFORMATION, BUT IT ALSO WAS TELLING THAT WE REALLY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHERE THE BUDGET FOR FY '25 IN DETAIL IS GOING TO BE UNTIL WE GET OUR FINAL NUMBERS.
HIS PRESENTATION WAS ABLE TO STAY PRETTY CONSISTENT, BUT IT WAS REALLY A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO WATCH THAT IN ACTION.
WHILE THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF QUESTIONS, THERE WERE DEFINITELY A LOT OF PEOPLE ENGAGED IN TAKING IT IN AND APPRECIATING HAVING THEIR SUPERINTENDENT IN THE ROOM WITH THEM.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR REPORTS. GOOD JOB.
THAT TAKES US TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> AS WE'RE PULLING THAT UP, MR. BARTON IS CORRECT, WE DID FINISH THE BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
GLAD I DIDN'T PUT YOU TO SLEEP OVER THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
I DID GET REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE ONE STAFF MEMBER WHO REACHED OUT AND SUGGESTED HAVING YOU THERE, BUT I THINK THAT WAS GREAT FOR PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO WITH THE BOARD REPRESENTED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALSO WENT WELL.
MY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT THIS MONTH IS REALLY WETTING THE APPETITE FOR THE CONVERSATION THAT THE BOARD WILL HAVE LATER THIS MONTH IN MARCH.
OUR MARCH WORK SESSION IS A DIVE INTO THE DATA OF WHERE WE ARE INSTRUCTIONALLY AS WE MOVE INTO THE MIDPOINT OF THE YEAR.
WE HAD SOME MID YEAR ASSESSMENTS THAT WERE DONE IN JANUARY, SOME DONE IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF THE ONE SNOW DAY WE HAD, DID HAVE AN IMPACT.
IT BLED A LITTLE BIT IN FEBRUARY, BUT WE'LL HAVE A DEEPER DIVE.
BUT IT'S BEEN REALLY SOME FASCINATING THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING AS WE'RE DIGGING THROUGH THE DATA.
SOME OF IT, TO BE HONEST, I DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT TO SHARE.
SOME OF IT I WANTED TO START GETTING OUT THERE JUST TO SEE SOME OF THE POSITIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR CLASSROOMS WITH OUR KIDS.
THIS YEAR, THE STATE OF MARYLAND IMPLEMENTED A NEW END OF COURSE EXAM IN HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY AND GOVERNMENT.
WENT INTO A STATUTE LAST YEAR THAT NINTH GRADERS STARTING THIS YEAR, THEIR FINAL EXAM MUST BE THE STATE END OF COURSE BIOLOGY EXAM.
IF YOU'RE IN BIOLOGY, IT'S A STATE-MANDATED FINAL.
THERE'S NOT A CAROLINE COUNTY FINAL EXAM ANYMORE, IT'S A STATE-MANDATED FINAL.
IT HAS TO BE 20% OF THE GRADE.
WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING IN GOVERNMENT.
FOR OUR KIDS, THEY TAKE GOVERNMENT IN TENTH GRADE,
[00:35:03]
SO THIS YEAR'S TENTH GRADERS DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE AND PASS IT.THAT EXAM DIDN'T HAVE TO COUNT FOR THEM.
THEY HAD TO TAKE THE EXAM BUT NOT COUNT TOWARDS THE GRADUATION CREDIT. NEXT YEAR, THEY WILL.
BUT THE INCREDIBLE THING WAS, WHICH IS GREAT TO SEE IN OUR BIOLOGY EXAM, OUR PASS RATES FOR KIDS TAKING THE END OF COURSE STATE EXAM, THE STATE ASSESSMENT THAT'S REQUIRED OF ALL KIDS IN BIOLOGY, WE HAD PASS RATES OF 91.6% IN ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, IT'S EVERY KID TAKING BIOLOGY, AND IN THE OTHER SCHOOL, 87.3%, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
THIS IS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
IN SOME WAYS YOU'RE LIKE, MAN, WE SET THE BAR REALLY HIGH FIRST YEAR, BUT IT'S FANTASTIC THAT WE DID.
THIS IS INDICATIVE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE PREPARING OUR KIDS BASED ON THE STANDARDS AND THE STUDENTS ARE PERFORMING ON THE ASSESSMENTS WHEN IT MATTERS.
WE SAW THE SAME THING IN GOVERNMENT.
WE HAD PASS RATES OF 85 AND 94% BETWEEN THE TWO SCHOOLS.
AGAIN, ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL AND THE INCREDIBLE THING ON THE GOVERNMENT, THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT YET, DON'T HAVE TO PASS IT, AS THAT REQUIREMENT IN THE SAME STRUCTURE AS OUR NINTH GRADERS DID AND WE STILL SAW AN 85 AND A 94 PERCENT PASS RATE ON THOSE STATE EXAMS. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL TO SEE THAT EFFORT.
THAT IS INDICATIVE, AGAIN, OF THE TEACHERS PREPARING THE KIDS, AND THE KIDS SHOWING WHAT THEY CAN DO WHEN IT'S ON THE LINE, AND THEY DID.
THAT WAS FANTASTIC. WE ARE GOING THROUGH OUR MID-YEAR I-READY AND DIBELS DATA, READING AND MATH DATA, WHICH THAT'S WHERE WE'LL DIVE DEEPER INTO WITH THE BOARD IN MARCH.
BUT WE'RE SEEING REALLY GOOD DATA AND GROWTH OF KIDS, [NOISE] PARTICULARLY SEEING A LOT OF MOVEMENT OF OUR KIDS WHO WERE THE FURTHEST BEHIND CLOSING THOSE GAPS AND BRINGING THEM FORWARD.
WE'VE TAKEN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT APPROACH THIS YEAR.
IT STARTED HONESTLY OUT OF ONE PERSON SENDING SOME EMAILS, AND THEN ALL OF US GOT EXCITED.
WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO MAKE SURE AS WE GO THROUGH THE DATA, INCLUDING MYSELF, WHEN WE'RE DIGGING THROUGH INDIVIDUAL TEACHER DATA AND WE'RE SEEING THOSE REALLY GREAT GAINS IN CLASSROOMS, TO EMAIL TEACHERS, POINT OUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING THAT'S AWESOME IN THE DATA IN ALL OF THE ASSESSMENTS, WHETHER IT'S I-READY READING, I-READY MATH, OR DIBELS.
MY LAST SCHOOL WILL SEND ME EMAILS TO YOU TOMORROW, BUT THEN I'LL HAVE GOTTEN TO EVERYBODY.
BUT WE'RE SEEING GREAT GROWTH IN OUR MOST STRUGGLING KIDS MOVING UP THE TIERS, BASICALLY, MEANING THE THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR INTERVENTION ARE CLOSING THE GAPS FOR KIDS.
THAT'S THE EXCITING PIECE TO SEE IN THAT DATA IN PARTICULAR.
WE ARE USING SOME UNIT EXAMS THIS YEAR, SOME CLASSROOM ASSESSMENTS, IN PARTICULAR, IN MATHEMATICS.
DR. VAN AVASH HAS BEEN PICKING UP THE WORK MRS. MULLIGAN STARTED, AND WE'RE SEEING REALLY GREAT FEEDBACK IN TERMS OF STUDENTS DOING WELL ON UNIT ASSESSMENTS AND IT'S ALSO GIVING TEACHERS THE ABILITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED ON THE DATA THAT THEY HAVE IF THEY'RE SEEING KIDS AREN'T PERFORMING WHERE THEY SHOULD.
IT'S INTERESTING, ONE OF THE SCHOOL VISITS I HAD, ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THIS HALF OF THE YEAR, IT FELT LIKE CONFESSIONAL FOR THE FIRST ALMOST HOUR WALKING AROUND THE BUILDING BECAUSE I HAD STAFF COMING UP TO ME GOING, DID YOU SEE MY SCORES? COME HERE, I WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW MY KIDS ARE DOING.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND IT'S BEEN A WHILE TO SEE FOLKS EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE HOW THEIR KIDS ARE PERFORMING TO THE STANDARD, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE MOMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO IT RIGHT AWAY.
FOR THOSE NOT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WE BASICALLY WENT BACK AND RETOOLED OUR DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM.
WE'VE REBUILT THE WAY THAT WE CAN GRAB OUR DATA AND TO MAKE IT MAKES SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO USE IT.
IF THE FOLKS ARE TELLING US, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S TELLING ME OR THIS ISN'T MAKING SENSE, WE HAVE OUR STAFF ARE BEING COGNIZANT OF THAT, FIGURING OUT HOW THEY NEED TO RETOOL IT TO MAKE IT MAKE SENSE TO THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO USE THE DATA.
THERE'S NO POINT IN HAVING DATA IF NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THE HECK IT MEANS AND THEY CAN'T USE IT.
WE HAVE FLIPPED THE SCRIPT ON THAT REALLY IN THE PAST YEAR, WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES AND IT'S BEEN NEAT TO SEE THE IMPACTS.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE AND EVERYTHING IS ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS AND WONDERFUL, NO, BUT IT MEANS WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH AND WE'RE SEEING SOME ALSO RESULTS WITH KIDS.
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP BUILDING ON THAT, BUT THAT'S JUST WET YOUR APPETITE FOR THE MARCH 17TH WORK SESSION.
THOSE WHO WEREN'T PLANNING ON BEING HERE IN MARCH 17TH, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME BACK, [LAUGHTER] WE'RE WATCHING FROM HOME.
WE CAN TALK NUMBERS TO SEE HOW THE KIDS ARE DOING, BUT THERE'S REALLY BEEN SOME GREAT STUFF.
IT'S BEEN EXCITING SEEING, IT'S BEEN FUN SENDING EMAILS TO TEACHERS.
ONE OF THE INTERESTING FEEDBACK, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK EVEN GOT TODAY, IT WAS THE SHOCK.
I THINK A LITTLE BIT THE SUPERINTENDENTS LOOKING AT CLASSROOM LEVEL DATA WITH KIDS.
OF COURSE WE ARE, BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT.
[00:40:01]
WE'VE NOT HAD A HISTORY OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IT BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE AWESOME THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.BECAUSE WHERE THE AWESOME THINGS ARE HAPPENING, THAT'S HOW WE LEARN BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING STUFF RIGHT.
IF WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHERE IT'S HAPPENING RIGHT AND REPLICATE IT AND HELP THOSE WHO MIGHT BE STRUGGLING, THAT'S HOW WE GET BETTER.
WE GET BETTER WITH HONEY, NOT WITH HAMMERS.
THAT THAT'S WHERE THE EFFORT IS AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
BUT IT'S BEEN SOME GREAT STUFF TO SEE.
I'M RAMBLING AT THIS POINT. I HOLD UNTIL MARCH. IT'S BEEN EXCITING.
>> THE ONLY QUESTION I'LL HAVE IS I THINK YOUR DATE MIGHT BE WRONG, THAT MARCH 17TH.
>> SEVENTEENTH IS A SUNDAY. YES, BECAUSE I HAVE A SOFTBALL MEETING THAT DAY.
>> IT'S MARCH 19TH. [LAUGHTER]
>> ALL THAT GREEN WAS IN HERE BEFORE.
>> YES, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S MARCH 19TH. YES.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TENTH GRADE GOVERNMENT CLASSES AND THEY DID VERY WELL AND PASSED THAT, THE PERCENTAGE, IS THAT PASSING GOING TO COUNT FOR THEIR GRADUATION? [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'LL COUNT FOR TOWARDS THEIR FINAL EXAM GRADE.
IT DID FACTOR IN, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT, BUT THEY'RE GOOD.
IT'S NEXT YEAR'S NINTH GRADERS GOING ON TO THE TENTH.
BUT WE ALSO KNOW, AND I'LL BE HONEST, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR YEARS, KIDS ARE SMART, YOU GUYS ARE VERY SMART.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY KIDS ANYMORE, YOU'RE ADULTS, ALMOST THERE.
IF SOMETHING DOESN'T COUNT, THEY ALL KNOW IT.
AND IF SOMETHING DOESN'T COUNT, WE DON'T ALWAYS GO, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT MY BEST EFFORT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THAT'S WHAT'S EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE WITH THE GOVERNMENT IS TO LIGHT IT UP THAT WELL WHEN IT REALLY WASN'T QUITE ON THE LINE FOR THEM YET, THAT WAS AWESOME.
AGAIN, HATS OFF TO THE TEACHERS FOR DOING A FANTASTIC JOB. BUT THANK YOU. GREAT QUESTION.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE ARE READY FOR THE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS.
I THINK ON OUR AGENDA, LESLIE, IS UP FIRST. DOES THAT WORK?
>> THANK YOU. IT'S SO NICE TO SEE EVERYBODY.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN YOUR FACES AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO START OFF WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OVER AT BENTON ELEMENTARY.
PRINCIPAL CREBS JUST WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT MARCH IS A REALLY BUSY MONTH OF TRANSITION WHERE THERE IS LINGERING DAYS OF WINTER GIVING AWAY TO THE PROMISE OF SPRING AND THAT BES IS CERTAINLY READY FOR THE SPRING.
THEY'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING AND GROWTH.
LAST MONTH, FEBRUARY, THEY DID CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACROSS THE BUILDING, WHERE STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT PIVOTAL AFRICAN AMERICANS.
THEY ALSO CELEBRATED THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SRO'S, AND ALSO THEIR WELLNESS CENTER.
THEN THEY KICKED OFF MARCH, I BELIEVE LAST WEEK, MARCH 1 WITH THEIR GRANDFRIENDS DAY.
I SAW SOME PHOTOS OF IT ON THEIR FACEBOOK.
IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE THE KIDS WERE HAVING SO MUCH FUN.
BUT THIS MONTH, MARCH WILL BEGIN A SEASON THAT NOT EVERYBODY LIKES BUT IS NECESSARY, TESTING SEASON FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS.
TOMORROW ACTUALLY THEY WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING THEIR HEAR THE CRUNCH DAYS, ALSO MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE MONTH, TO CELEBRATE THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK.
OVER AT RES, PRINCIPAL SUDSON WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT AS ALWAYS, RES IS WILD ABOUT LEARNING.
LAST MONTH THEY HOSTED A FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NIGHT WITH THEIR ARCTIC ADVENTURE STORY NIGHTS.
THIS WEEK ACTUALLY I BELIEVE, THEY'RE HAVING THEIR SPRING BOOK FAIR, THEN THEY'RE ALSO DOING THE MARYLAND CRUNCH DAY.
THEN ON THE 21ST, THEIR PRE-K CLASSES WILL BE TAKING A FIELD TRIP TO OUR LOCAL AND VERY BEAUTIFUL ADKINS ARBORETUM.
THEN OVER AT GREENSBORO LAST MONTH, THEY CELEBRATED THE DR. SU SPIRIT WEEK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY.
I SAW SOME OF THE SPIRIT DAYS ON FACEBOOK, SO AWESOME.
THEY HAD, I BELIEVE, A WACKY SOCK DAY, AND A ONE FISH, TWO FISH, BLUE FISH DAY.
THEN THEIR SECOND GRADERS ALSO WENT ON A FIELD TRIP.
THIS MONTH, THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK AND OF COURSE, NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK.
ON THE 20TH, THEY'LL BE HAVING SCHOOL SPRING PICTURES.
ON THE 21ST, THEY'LL BE CELEBRATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY WITH A ROCK YOUR SOCK DAY.
I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY WILL BE WEARING.
THEN ALSO ON THE 21ST, THEY'LL BE HAVING THEIR ANNUAL TALENT SHOW.
THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY EXCITING TO SEE.
I FEEL LIKE PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE MAYBE NOT WEIRD BUT INTERESTING HITTING TALENTS.
[00:45:02]
OVER AT THE UPPER SCHOOLS WITH LOCKERMAN, PRINCIPAL NECESSARY WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT FEBRUARY REALLY PROVIDED MANY STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES LIKE ANOTHER ADVANCE FIELD TRIPS AND AN ANTI-VAPING ASSEMBLY, AND STUDENTS WERE LEARNING IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.LAST MONTH, LMS, THEY HAD REALLY SOME AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS GOING ON.
TWO STUDENTS MEDDLED IN THE BAND SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL, AND TWO STUDENTS EARNED A SPOT IN ALL SHORE HONORS BAND.
ALSO, YOU GUYS, HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN SOME STUDENT ARTWORK HAS PROBABLY BEEN ON DISPLAY HERE AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO MISS ELLIS AND OF COURSE THE STUDENTS WHO WERE REPRESENTING, JUST AMAZING SKILLS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON AT LOCKERMAN.
THIS MONTH, THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS WILL BE HARD AT WORK WITH TAKING THE MESA THIS WEEK.
I'M SURE THEY'LL HAVE SOME FUN WITH THAT.
IN NORTH CAROLINE, PRINCIPAL SPIKER WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT SPRING SPORTS HAVE JUST STARTED, THE SUN IS OUT LONGER, THE WEATHER IS WARMING UP.
WE REALLY JUST NEED TO KEEP WORKING HARD AS WE APPROACH THE END OF THE YEAR.
LAST MONTH WE HAD THE POLAR BEAR PLUNGE, WHICH IS ALWAYS SUCH AN AMAZING THING TO BE SUPPORTING.
I KNOW THAT NSHS, I THINK IT WAS MAYBE A BUS OR TWO THAT WE SENT OVER, THREE BUSES.
I KNOW THAT THE TEACHER ADVISORS WHO SUPPORT IT, THEY ALWAYS HAVE SO MUCH FUN SUPPORTING AND GETTING STUDENTS TO COME OUT THERE.
WE ALSO HAD THE DRAMA WINTER 1 ACTS. I SAW THOSE.
I'M JUST GOING TO SAY AS ALWAYS, THE THEATER, THEY DID AN AMAZING JOB, SO HILARIOUS, SO FUNNY.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR THE SPRING MUSICAL, AND THEN WE CELEBRATED OUR NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK AND THEN OUR BAR COMMUNITY NIGHTS.
THIS UPCOMING MONTH WE'RE CELEBRATING NATIONAL SCHOOL BREAKFAST WEEK AND THE HERE THE CRUNCH DAY ON THE 12TH, WHICH I BELIEVE IS NEXT WEEK WE'LL BE HAVING NTHS, NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTIONS OVER AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
ON THE 14TH, WE'LL BE HAVING WINTER SPORTS AWARD NIGHT ON THE 21ST CELEBRATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY, AND THEN ON THE 22ND, OUR JUNIORS WILL BE TAKING THE ASVAB TEST.
THEN FINALLY WITH CCTC, PRINCIPAL HANDTE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IN MARCH, NEW SEMESTER 2 STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BE WELL INTO THE SWING OF THEIR PROGRAMS, DIVING INTO LEARNING THE FIELD AND THE SIGN TASKS AND ACTIVITIES.
LAST MONTH IT WAS A REALLY BUSY MONTH FOR CCTC.
OVER 400 8TH GRADE STUDENTS TOWARDS CCTC FROM LMS AND COLONEL, I GOT TO SEE THEM ROAMING THE HALLWAYS.
IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I LOOKED THAT YOUNG AT SOME POINT.
IT WAS VERY WEIRD SEEING THEM AND THEN HIGH SCHOOL.
ALONG WITH THAT, THEY ALSO HAD A CTE INFORMATION NIGHT, WHICH HAD AN AMAZING TURNOUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENTS.
THEN THEY ALSO HAD A DOOR DECORATING CONTEST FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WHERE THEY WERE HIGHLIGHTING BLACK PROFESSIONALS WHO PAVED THE WAY AND EXPERIENCED GREAT SUCCESS IN CERTAIN PROFESSIONS.
ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH, THEY HAD DAILY QUOTES READ BY STUDENTS AND A BLACK HISTORY THEMED FOOD FROM THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
A LOT WAS GOING ON IN FEBRUARY, BUT I'M SURE MARCH WILL BE JUST AS BUSY. THANK YOU.
>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT DOES BARR STAND FOR? THE BARR COMMUNITY NIGHT.
>> I'M BLINKING ON THE EXACT ACRONYM BUT THEY'VE HAD A BUNCH OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS COME OUT AND SPEAK TO THE FAMILIES.
>> BARR IS, I FORGET THE NAME, IT'S A NAME OF A COMPANY.
BUT IT'S ONE THAT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL HAS PARTNERED WITH THROUGH THE MARYLAND LEEDS GRANT THAT THEY HAVE A MODEL FOR HOW TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THAT THEY'VE IMPLEMENTED WITH THEIR NINTH GRADE ACADEMY AND THE NINTH GRADE TEAM.
AND AS PART OF THAT, NOT ONLY IS IT HOW TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, BUT THERE'S A HUGE COMMUNITY PARENT CONNECTION PIECE THAT'S PART OF THAT, AND WE DO EXPECT THAT WORK TO CONTINUE.
THE MODEL IMPLEMENTATION WILL CONTINUE EVEN THOUGH POLICE FUNDING OBVIOUSLY WILL END.
BUT THE MODEL THEY'VE BEEN VERY WELL TRAINED ON WILL CONTINUE.
>> WE NOTICED THAT IT'S TWO R'S AND NOT ONE.
>> I GOT YOU. THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU, LESLIE. LEVI.
>> GOOD EVENING. EXCUSE MY ATTIRE,
[00:50:03]
SPORTS, RAN LATE TODAY.BUT WE'LL GO AHEAD AND START WITH THE PRESENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THE KIDS HEALTHY HEART CHALLENGE STARTED IN FEBRUARY FOR AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
WE THINK IT'S A $4,600 THAT WE'VE RAISED SO FAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO OUR $5,000 GOAL, WHICH IS AMAZING.
I REMEMBER BEING THERE AND RAISING MONEY.
I THINK WE WERE DOING JUMP FOR HEART AT THE TIME.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT IT IS.
IS IT STILL JUMP FOR HEART HEART? ARE THEY STILL DOING THE JUMP ROPES OR?
>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. I KNOW THEY DID.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL ARE OR NOT.
>> WHEN WE WERE DOING THE JUMP ROPES?
>> DR. WILLOUGHBY CONFIRMED, YES, THEY ARE STILL DOING THE JUMP ROPES.
>> WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO TO?
>> THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
>> THEN PES ALSO CELEBRATED THE 100TH AND 101ST DAY OF SCHOOL, WHICH IS A WEIRD EMAIL TO GET.
I THINK ALL OF OUR COUNSELORS EMAILED.
IT WAS SCARY, ONLY 100 DAYS [OVERLAPPING] AND IS SNEAKING UP ON US.
>> BUT PES SHOWED THE LOVE ON VALENTINE'S DAY WITH THE SPIRIT DAY AND GOODIES FOR ALL THE STAFF AND STUDENTS.
UPCOMING EVENTS, THE FIFTH GRADERS WERE GOING TO TAKE THE MISA SCIENCE TEST.
YOU HAVE FUN WITH THAT MARYLAND HERE, THE CRUNCH DAY, SO EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE EATING THEIR APPLES IN THE MORNING LIKE LESLIE SAID, IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME.
THEN SPRING PICTURE DAY ON MARCH 25TH.
WE'RE TRYING TO BE A LITTLE MORE RESPECTFUL THAN WHAT I WANT.
FES, NOT TOO MUCH GOING ON FES, THEY DID CELEBRATE THE 100TH DAY OF SCHOOL AND THEY CELEBRATED THEIR BUS DRIVERS, VERY KEY IMPORTANT PEOPLE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
OVER AT CRMS, THEY POWERED THROUGH THE PEP RALLY, POWERING THROUGH THE WINTER, PEP RALLY.
THEY ALSO HAD THE SEVENTH GRADE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT FIELD TROOP ON THE SIXTH GRADE ANTI VAPING ASSEMBLY.
I REMEMBER DOING THAT PERSONALLY, AND IT WAS VERY INSIGHTFUL TO SEE HOW HARMING THOSE ELECTRONICS ARE IN WHAT THEY DO TO YOUR BODY.
HOPEFULLY, IT SWAYS PEOPLE TO HAVE BETTER CHOICES BECAUSE IT'S VERY HARMFUL FOR THE BODY IN THE LONG RUN.
THEN ONCE AGAIN, MARCH 27, NO SCHOOL.
CRHS PROUDLY HOSTED THE VIEWING OF DOCUMENTARY OF PTSD IN 911 PRESENTED BY CAROLINE COUNTY FIRST RESPONDERS AND THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AND THE LUCAS NAGEL MEMORIAL FOUNDATION.
OUR SPRING SPORTS HAVE STARTED.
EVERYONE'S VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
OUR CRH BASKETBALL TEAM IS GOING FOR THE BANNER THIS YEAR, AND I THINK THEY HAVE THEIR GAME AGAINST PERRYVILLE TONIGHT.
>> I THINK WE HAD A COUPLE BUSES OF NOT ONLY OUR PLAYERS, BUT ALSO OUR STUDENTS TRAVEL WITH THEM.
WE SHOULD HOPEFULLY GET A WIN THERE TONIGHT.
>> I THINK 5:00. I THINK THEY HAD IT ON FACEBOOK. IT MIGHT BE OVER.
>> I WON'T I WON'T TEXT THE COACH, AT LEAST THAT.
>> I'LL IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THE PTSD-911 DOCUMENTARY UP THERE, CLOSELY INVOLVED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT.
I DON'T TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR WHAT'S IN IT OTHER THAN BEING AN ADVISOR TO THEM.
ANYBODY WHO HAS NOT SEEN THAT, IT IS WORTH SEEING.
THEY HAVE A GREAT WEBSITE, YOU CAN FIND PLACES WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO DO SCREENINGS AND I HAVE SEEN IT SEVEN TIMES AND I LEARN FROM IT EVERY TIME.
I LISTENED TO THE BUDGET PRESENTATION 10 TIMES, SEVEN TIMES WATCHING THAT WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY.
THAT'S EASY. SORRY ABOUT THAT DR. SIMMONS.
>> [LAUGHTER] IT'S FROM THE HEART.
>> HE'LL GET AN UPDATE ON THE SCORE.
HE'LL PROBABLY KNOW FIRSTHAND.
WE UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE ENTIRE BASEBALL SEASON, SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU, BOTH OF YOU GREAT REPORTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG. FINANCE REPORT ALWAYS HAS TO FOLLOW A TOUGH ACT.
HERE'S THE CRUNCH DAY IS VERY APPROPRIATE FOR BUDGETING AS WELL.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE FINANCE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING FEBRUARY 29TH.
WE ARE EIGHT MONTHS INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR AND WE SPENT OR ENCUMBERED APPROXIMATELY 82% OF OUR BUDGET.
OVERALL, WE ARE IN GREAT SHAPE AND WE ARE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHERE WE SHOULD BE AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.
THERE ARE NO NEW OVERAGES THIS MONTH THAT NEED TO BE EXPLAINED.
THERE AREN'T ANY ISSUES OR CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
[00:55:04]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE FIGURES?>> YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB KEEPING US POSTED AND PULLING US IN WHERE THERE'S LITTLE THINGS YOU NEED TO POINT OUT, WHETHER IT'S AN OVERAGE OR A SHORTFALL AND WHY THAT HAPPENS.
IT MAKES YOUR REPORT A LITTLE EASIER BECAUSE YOU'RE KEEPING US UP TO DATE. MUCH APPRECIATED.
>> NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[4. Consent Agenda]
PERSONNEL, ITS FIRST. DR. WILLOUGHBY.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE ON OUR HIRING SEASON, IT'S ONLY 5TH MARCH, BUT WE ARE ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING AND HIRING FOR NEXT YEAR.
SO FAR, WE HAVE OFFERED 19 TEACHING POSITIONS TO 19 FULLY CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, SEVEN OF THOSE HAVE ACCEPTED.
WE HAVE HIRED THREE FULLY CERTIFIED ELEMENTARY, A SPANISH TEACHER, A MATH TEACHER, A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, AND A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.
SOME OF THOSE ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND.
THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT THEM IN MARCH IS FANTASTIC.
THEN 12 PENDING JOB OFFERS, AGAIN, ALL CERTIFICATED.
SO FAR, TWO TEACHERS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT WITH CCPS ARE COMING BACK HOME, AND SIX OF THOSE 19 OFFERS ARE CCPS GRADUATES.
IT'S STILL EARLY BUT THAT'S WHERE WE STAND.
FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE HAVE TWO LEAVES OF ABSENCE, THREE, ONE PERSON TWICE FOR TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.
THREE LEASE OF ABSENCE, TWO INDIVIDUALS, TWO TEACHER APPOINTMENTS TO A REGULAR CONTRACT, AND ONE TEACHER APPOINTMENT FROM TWO PROVISIONAL FROM REGULAR. THANK YOU.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? YOU WELL DONE. THANK YOU.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 6TH AND FEBRUARY 20.
FEBRUARY 6TH WAS OUR REGULAR MEETING.
FEBRUARY 20 WAS THE WORK SESSION AND THAT IS THE ONE WHERE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS JOINED US AND STAFF.
IF THERE'S NOT ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO THOSE MINUTES, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I'LL MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY AND CITIZEN COMMENTS OR PUBLIC COMMENTS?
[5. Citizens/Public Comments]
>> GOOD EVENING. [LAUGHTER] I'D TO SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING US SPACE ON YOUR BOARD MEETING IN MARCH.
I'M THE PASTOR OF ABRAMS MEMORIAL CHURCH IN DENTON, AND I BELONG TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY CHRISTIAN CLERGY ASSOCIATION.
WE JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
MR. BARTON SAID TODAY IS MARCH 5TH, 2024 AND THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PEOPLE COME BEFORE YOU, BUT WE'RE A NEW ORGANIZATION.
SO THIS WILL BE A FIRST FOR US.
WE WOULD TO PARTNER WITH YOU AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
I WENT TO LOCKERMAN ELEMENTARY, I WENT TO BIRVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL, GRADUATED FROM NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE, CAME HOME MARRIED.
MY WIFE AND I DECIDED BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN CAROLINE COUNTY, WE WANTED TO STAY HERE.
WE STAYED HERE AND RAISED OUR CHILDREN.
NOW I'M IN THE MINISTRY AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN COMMON.
I DON'T KNOW WHO QUOTED THIS, BUT IT GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
A HABIT BECOMES YOUR CHARACTER, AND YOUR CHARACTER DETERMINES YOUR DESTINY.
WE HAVE A YOUNG MAN HERE THAT HAD A THOUGHT HE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SO PASTOR DOUG MORLEY AND MYSELF SAID, WE'LL HELP YOU.
I'D TO HAVE PASTOR PAUL MERRITT COME FORWARD AND HE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT HIS THOUGHT IS YOU WOULD RECEIVE HIM.
>> DR. BARTON. PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS, AND BOARD.
MY NAME IS PAUL MERRITT. I AM THE SENIOR PASTOR OF BENTON CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE.
ON BEHALF OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY CLERGY ASSOCIATION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, STAFF, AND ADMINISTRATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOOD.
THROUGHOUT MY MINISTRY, I'VE HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE CAREGIVERS,
[01:00:02]
EITHER BY VOCATIONAL PROFESSION OR THROUGH FAMILY ASSOCIATION.ALMOST ALWAYS, THE CORE PERSONALITIES WERE THE SAME.
THE MORE I UNDERSTAND ABOUT EDUCATORS, THE COMMON THREAD OF BEING A CARE PROVIDER SEEMED TO RISE TO THE TOP.
THERE'S A QUESTION I'VE MADE A PRACTICE TO ASK MYSELF, WHO CARES FOR THE CAREGIVERS? SO MANY TIMES CAREGIVERS ARE THE ONES WHO, IF THEIR HEAD WAS IN A BASKET, THEY WOULD ANSWER, I'M OKAY, L'M ALL RIGHT.
WITH THIS QUESTION, WHO CARES FOR THE CAREGIVER? I SHARED IT WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CAROLINE CLERGY ASSOCIATION AND WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN.
WE WILL LIKE TO PROVIDE AN APPRECIATION BANQUET FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION STAFF AND THE TOP TIER OF EACH SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE THE PRINCIPAL AND VICE PRINCIPAL.
THAT APPRECIATION BANQUET, WE WILL LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO SET A DATE AND A TIME.
WE WANT TO DO ALL THE HEAVY LIFTING.
WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER PLATE TO SPEND, ANOTHER THING TO DO.
BUT IT'S OUR WAY OF SHOWING AS THE CHURCHES IN CAROLINE COUNTY, OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.
MANY PEOPLE CAN SAY YOU'RE EDUCATORS, BUT IN MY BOOK, YOU'RE VERY MUCH CARE PROVIDERS.
WE THANK YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS EVENT TAKE PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> YOU MENTIONED THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION HAS CHANGED. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? CAN YOU TELL ME AGAIN THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION? BECAUSE YOU SAID THAT THE NAME HAD CHANGED.
>> IN THE PAST IT WAS NORTH CAROLINE COUNTY CLERGY ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE SINCE PARTNERED WITH ALL OF CAROLINE COUNTY, AND BECAUSE OF SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD, WE ARE NOW THE CAROLINE COUNTY CHRISTIAN CLERGY ASSOCIATION, SO 4C.
>> THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. PASTOR THOMAS FISHER WITH ME TONIGHT AND PASTOR DOUG MORLEY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE TIME AND FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO WITHIN OUR COUNTY.
>>THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> MUCH APPRECIATED. WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT MR. MENGEL REALLY HAS A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
[6. Individual Action Items]
OUR INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS AND BID APPROVAL FOR CHROMEBOOK LAPTOPS. THAT'S EXCITING.>> GOOD EVENING, ONCE AGAIN. I COME TO YOU WITH THREE ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING RESULTING FROM BIDS FROM THE LAST 30 DAYS.
THE FIRST ONE IS FOR THE BID APPROVAL FOR CHROMEBOOK LAPTOPS.
IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE SOARING COSTS TO STUDENT COMPUTER DEVICES.
STUDENT DEVICES ARE TRANSITIONING FROM MACBOOK LAPTOPS TO LENOVO CHROMEBOOK LAPTOPS.
THIS BUDGET FRIENDLY INITIATIVE IS BEING INSTITUTED IN GRADES 3, 6, 8.
ALL STUDENTS FROM THIRD TO EIGHTH GRADE WILL NOW HAVE CHROMEBOOK LAPTOPS, NO LONGER USING MACBOOKS.
THE COST DIFFERENTIAL OF A CHROMEBOOK LAPTOP VERSUS THE MAC LAPTOP IS 2.5:1 RATIO, WHICH DOES NOT SACRIFICE THE COMPUTER EFFICIENCIES OR THE EFFECTIVENESS.
THIS AWARD PROVIDES FOR 2,220 LAPTOPS, COMPLETE WITH EDU, GOOGLE CHROME MANAGEMENT, AND FOUR YEAR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE PROTECTION.
THE BID PROCESS AND PROCEDURES COMPLIED WITH BOARD POLICY, APPLICABLE STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
IF YOU LOOK ON PAGE 2 OF YOUR DOCUMENT, YOU'LL SEE THE BID SURVEY SHEET.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE WERE FOUR VENDORS THAT SUBMITTED BIDS.
THE LOWEST BID WAS FROM CDWG AT $970,000.90.
THIS ITEM, THIS PURCHASE, WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH ARP ESSER.
I DO WANT TO SAY FIRST, HAD WE STAYED WITH MACBOOKS, THIS PARTICULAR PURCHASE FOR THIS AMOUNT OF LAPTOPS THAT WE NEED TO PURCHASE WOULD BE 2.4 MILLION DOLLAR VERSUS 970,000.
APPROXIMATE SAVINGS OF 1.4 MILLION DOLLAR.
THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL SAVINGS AND THE FACT THAT NO ONE REALLY SEES UNTIL WE GET THERE, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THESE PRODUCTS AS THEY GET DAMAGED AND BROKEN ARE SO MUCH CHEAPER WITH CHROMEBOOKS THAN THEY ARE WITH MACBOOKS.
THE SAVINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS WE CONTINUE.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD IS TO APPROVE THE CDWG'S BID OF 2,220 LENOVO CHROMEBOOK LAPTOP COMPUTERS FOR $970,000.90. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
[01:05:01]
>> YEAH, I'VE ACTUALLY GOT A COUPLE OF THEM.
>> IT MIGHT NOT BE THE ONES THAT YOU CAN ANSWER.
>> I HAVE MR. [INAUDIBLE] BACK IN THERE.
THAT'S 2,000 LAPTOPS AND I ONLY HAVE A QUESTION.
I KNOW IT'S PROBABLY THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE SPENT THAT WAY.
NOW, THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING THAT IS, DO WE NEED TO GO BACK TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL HAVING LAPTOPS OR CAN WE GO BACK TO CLASSES HAVING LAPTOPS WITH [INAUDIBLE]?
>> THE STRUGGLE WE WOULD GET INTO IS MOVING BACK FROM THAT.
MOST OF OUR TEXTBOOKS ARE CONTRACT PURCHASES NOW, SO THEY'RE ELECTRONIC, PLUS A LOT OF THE WORK SUBMISSION IS DONE ELECTRONICALLY.
WE WOULD GET INTO THE CHALLENGE OF THAT.
THE QUANTITY IS A LITTLE HIGHER BECAUSE WE'RE USING UP THE GRANT MONEY TO GET AHEAD OF IT, SO IT'S NOT HITTING OUR LOCAL BUDGET AT THIS RATE.
BUT WE WERE ALREADY IN THE ONE TO ONE, PROBABLY THE NUMBER OF DEVICES.
COVID PUSHED US INTO THE ONE TO ONE IN KIDS HANDS.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE'RE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE THAT DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE.
>> I THINK MOST OF OUR PUBLISHERS HAVE GONE THAT WAY, AND IT'S UNDER CONTRACTED SERVICE.
MOST OF OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM DELIVERY IS CONNECTED TO IT SO MUCH THAT IT WOULD BE REALLY HARD TO PUT THE TOOTHPASTE BACK IN THE TUBE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
>> I WASN'T SURE IF WE WERE LOOKING TO GO BACK OR HOW IT WAS AND I JUST HAD OTHER QUESTIONS.
ARE REPLACING THE BAGS THAT GO WITH THEM, IS THAT IN THE FUTURE?
>> IT IS, YES. WE AVERAGE ABOUT 500 A YEAR BETWEEN DAMAGE AND REPLACE.
>> IF THEY GET DAMAGED OR LOST, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE? IF THE CHILD JUST LOSES IT AND BREAKS IT.
BUT BUT TYPICALLY, IF IT'S AN ACCIDENT OR LEGITIMATE LOSS OR THEFT, WE COVER, THE SCHOOL BOARD COVERS IT.
WE HAVE HAD SOME INCIDENTS WHERE KIDS HAVE BEEN MALICIOUS OR BEEN INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT IT COULD HAVE NOT HAD HIS LAPTOP, AND TYPICALLY THEY WOULD GO TO PERCENTAGE FOR HIS DIRECTION ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO FORWARD.
>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A STUDENT THAT CONSISTENTLY LOSES THEM?
>> WE DO. OUR RECOMMENDATION TO THE SCHOOL OR THE ADMINISTRATORS IS THAT THEY KEEP IT IN SCHOOL.
>> THEY GET IN SCHOOL ONLY, IT DOESN'T GET TO TRAVEL WITH THEM.
WE HAVE PART OF THE MOVE TO CHROMEBOOKS AS WELL.
THE REPAIR COSTS ON THE APPLE PRODUCT WAS EXTREMELY STEEP.
WHEN WE FIRST GOT INTO THIS REALM, WE TOOK THE APPROACH OF, WHAT IF A KID DAMAGES SOMETHING, PARENTS CAN GET A BILL FOR IT.
TO REPLACE SOMETHING ON AN APPLE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN $10,000 BILL FOR WHAT OUR FAMILIES CAN AFFORD.
I MEAN, REALISTICALLY WE LOOK WHERE WE ARE WITH FREE REDUCED MEALS.
SOME MAY LOOK AT IT AND GO, THE SCREEN IS 400 BUCKS, BUT TO MANY OF OUR FAMILIES, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE TEN GRAND.
WE COULD NOT CONTINUE DOWN THE PATH OF, THEY JUST DON'T GET A DEVICE UNTIL THEY PAY UP, SO WE CHANGED OUR MODEL.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAD TO CHANGE THE DEVICES BECAUSE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE REALLY HIGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF INCIDENTAL DAMAGE THAT WAS HAPPENING, JUST THEY JUST DO STUFF'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEN OF COURSE THE REPLACEMENT COSTS WHEN WE SAW THIS COMING DOWN THE PIPE, AND WE'RE TALKING WITH MR. WILDASH A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
WE KNEW THAT WHEN THE COVID MONEY LEFT, THE COST WAS GOING TO BE STEEP IF WE WERE GOING TO STICK WITH APPLE.
APPLE HAS TREATED US GREAT, MAC HAS TREATED US WONDERFUL, PRODUCTS HAVE BEEN GREAT.
WE'RE JUST IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
OUR USAGE IS IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND THE COSTS ARE IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
ANOTHER PIECE I DO WANT TO SHARE, WE TALKED ABOUT MOVING TO THE CHROMEBOOKS BECAUSE IT IS A SHIFT FOR US AND WE'RE NOT SOLELY CHROMEBOOKS, BUT WITH THE MOVE CHROMEBOOKS ARE NOT AS LABOR INTENSIVE TO GET SET UP AND UP AND GOING FOR STUDENTS WHEN THEY COME IN, AS EVERY INDIVIDUAL MACBOOK WAS.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF SAVINGS ON THE OTHER END AS WELL.
WHEN THE DEVICES COME IN TO GET THEM READY TO GET OUT THE DOOR TO STUDENTS, IT'S NOT AS LABOR INTENSIVE TO GET UP AND OUT, WHICH IS HELPING US ON ANOTHER END OF SOME THINGS THAT WERE FUNDED IN ART THAT WE PUT IN THERE TO HELP FOR GETTING DEVICES READY OVER THE SUMMER.
WE DON'T QUITE NEED THE LARGE NUMBER OF MINIONS.
AS THE DEVICES COME IN, MORE READY TO GO OUT THE DOOR, SO IT HELPS US ON THAT END AS WELL.
>> PEOPLE. SET LOTS OF PEOPLE.
[01:10:01]
WHEN WE WERE FIRST DOING LAPTOPS, TRYING TO GET THE LAPTOPS OUT, WE HAD 20 PEOPLE WE HIRED FOR SUMMERTIME WORK TO HELP CLONE AND GET THEM ALL OUT.I MEAN, AND THEY HOPED THEY WORKED ALL SUMMER.
>> I GUESS JUST THE WORD MINIONS OFFENDED ME.
>> I DIDN'T MEAN TO DEFEND YOU, L WAS THINK A MINIONS MOVIE.
>> A MINION IS A PERSON THAT DOES WHAT THEY WITHOUT THINKING.
THAT'S ALL. IT'S A DEROGATORY.
>> WASN'T MEANT TO BE OFFENSIVE, MRS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD BE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT.
BUT HOW LONG AVERAGE WISE DOES A LAPTOP LAST?
>> WE'RE HOPING TO GET FIVE YEARS.
THIS CHROMEBOOKS ARE NEW FOR US.
WE USUALLY GET ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS OUT OF MAC.
TO BE FAIR, APPLE REALLY HOLDS US AT THAT EIGHT YEAR MARKET IN THE PAST.
TURNED OFF SOFTWARE UPDATES AND WITH ALL THE SECURITY STUFF, WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD TO BE IN CIRCULATION.
WE'RE HOPING FIVE YEARS OUT OF CHROMEBOOK.
THE LOSS OF QUALITY AT ALL BETWEEN THE CHROMEBOOK AND THE MACBOOK, IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING THAT THE STUDENTS NEED THAT HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY?
>> I PERSONALLY DO NOT BELIEVE SO.
CHROMEBOOKS PROVIDE ALL THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR CURRICULUM, AND THE TESTING, AND THOSE THINGS.
OF COURSE, THE MACS THE CADILLAC, BUT THEY'RE BOTH CARS, THEY BOTH GIVE US WHERE WE NEED TO GO, AND WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT THE CHROMEBOOKS ARE JUST MORE DURABLE.
WE'RE DROPPING THEM, KIDS ARE BEATING THEM UP.
THEY DO GET DAMAGED, BUT NOT AT THE RATES WERE RECEIVING WITH THE MAC.
THE MACS ARE FOR YOU FOLKS WHO SIT AT DESK FOR THOSE HIGHER GRADE LEVELS TO TAKE, STUDY, WRITE, AND DO THINGS WITH.
>> MACHINES TEND TO GET DROPPED, RIGHT?
>> THEY DO. BOOK BAGS IS ANOTHER BIG ONE.
>> YEAH, YOU SLAMMED THE BOOK BAG DOWN OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME ONCE WHEN YOU BANG A COMPUTER, IT MIGHT NOT HAVE A PROBLEM.
BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE HITTING YOUR HEAD.
YOU DO IT OFTEN ENOUGH, YOU LOOSE DAMAGE.
[LAUGHTER] IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW.
DON'T DROP YOUR PHONE, AND DEFINITELY DON'T DROP THAT LAPTOP. I'M WITH YOU, LEVI.
I LOVE MACS, BUT I ALSO GET THIS.
THIS IS A WISE DECISION BECAUSE OF THE QUANTITY OF THAT.
>> THE TWO COMPANIES, CDW AND DSR.
CDW IS $9,000 LESS, WHICH IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS IS NOT MUCH.
THE COMPANY ITSELF AS OPPOSED TO DSR.
>> YES, MA'AM. WE DO A LOT OF BUSINESS CDWG, THEY'RE THE COMPANY.
THEY TYPICALLY COME IN RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS, BUT THEY'RE USER VERY RESPONSIVE.
THE OTHER COMPANY IS THE MARYLAND COMPANY, BUT THEY'RE SMALLER, AND WITH SMALLER COMPANIES YOU DON'T USE RESPONSES.
>> NO, GREAT. BUT YOU'VE WORKED WITH CDW, YOU KNOW THEM?
>> THANK YOU, AND THIS IS ALL GRANT FUND PAID, RIGHT?
LET'S HOPE IN FIVE YEARS THERE'S STILL SOME GRANT MONEY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'RE KIND OF GRILLING THESE GUYS? BUT THAT MEANS WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION, RIGHT?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS PURCHASE?
>> I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE 2,200 COMPUTERS FROM CDW COMPANY.
>> ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR?
>> CONTINUING ON. NUMBER 2, IS FOR A BID APPROVAL FOR THE PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT.
THE PES PROJECT IS A PARTIAL ROOF REPLACEMENT NOW ONLY ENCOMPASSING 25,700 SQUARE FEET OF ROOFING.
REPLACEMENT WOULD BEGIN IN EARLY JUNE AND IS ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETE BY AUGUST 17TH OF 2024, MINUS ANY KIND OF PUNCH LIST TASKS.
THIS IS A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED ROOFING PROJECT THAN WHAT WE'VE EVER DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.
THE REASON BEING IS THAT THERE'S 340 SOLAR PANELS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED PRIOR.
THESE PANELS WILL BE SECURELY STORED ON THE GROUND,
[01:15:01]
NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE ROOF REPLACEMENT.FOLLOWING THE ROOFS COMPLETION, THOSE SOLAR PANELS WILL BE REINSTALLED TO THEIR ORIGINAL ROOFTOP POSITIONS.
THIS AWARD PROVIDES FOR ALL LABOR, MATERIALS, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO COMPLETE TEAR OFF AND REPLACE THE EXISTING ROOF SYSTEM DESIGNATED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PARTIAL ROOF PROJECT, AND ALSO COMES WITH A 30-YEAR WARRANTY.
AS AN OMNIA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING MEMBER, GARLAND/DBS INCORPORATED, WILL SERVE AS THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE LOWEST BID ROOFING SUBCONTRACTOR IS JBK CONTRACTING, AND WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO GARLAND/DBS.
THE SOLAR PANELS ARE OWNED BY TESLA.
THEY WILL BE IN CHARGE OF ALL REQUIRED SOLAR PANEL DISCONNECTIONS, REMOVALS, REINSTALLATIONS, AND RECONNECTIONS ONCE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE.
IF YOU GO TO YOUR SECOND PAGE HERE, THE BID SUMMARY, YOU'LL SEE JBK CONTRACTING PUT A LOW BID OF $1.197 MILLION IN FOR IT.
I DO WANT TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IF WE GET GOING HERE.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED BY THE IAC'S HEALTHY SCHOOL FACILITY FUND AND LOCAL COUNTY.
THE FISCAL IMPACT WILL BE A 94-6 SPLIT BETWEEN THE STATE AND LOCAL.
THE STATE WOULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR US WITH $1.314 MILLION AND THE COUNTY WOULD BE ABOUT $83,000.
YOU NOTICE THAT THE TOTAL PROJECT IS A 1.3 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, BUDGET AT 1.4, WHY IS JBK PUTTING IN A BID FOR 1.1 THE REASON BEING IS THAT THERE'S ABOUT $200,000 DIFFERENTIAL THERE.
THAT'S THE COST THAT TESLA IS GOING TO CHARGE US TO TAKE CARE OF THE SOLAR PANELS.
GET THEM OFF THE ROOF, GET ALL THE OTHER EQUIPMENT OFF THE ROOF, AND GET IT BACK ON THE ROOF.
I GOT TO TELL YOU I WAS ON THE ROOF WITH THEM JUST THE OTHER DAY, AND I'VE BEEN ON THE ROOF SEVERAL TIMES, I NEVER THOUGHT OF IT THIS WAY.
IT'S NOT JUST TAKING THE PANELS OFF.
THERE ARE MASSIVE CONDUITS UP THERE WITH POWER WIRING THAT HAS TO BE TAKEN OFF, HAS TO BE CAPPED OFF AT CERTAIN PLACES ON THE REST OF THE ROOF, SO THE REST OF THE SOLAR PANELS COULD STILL WORK.
I REALLY KIND OF THOUGHT IT WAS JUST I COULD COME IN A WEEKEND, JUST TAKE THESE THINGS, UNPLUG THEM, AND PULL THEM DOWN.
THEY ONLY WEIGH THREE POUNDS EACH.
THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM, IT'S THE OTHER STUFF.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE JBK CONTRACTING AS A SUBCONTRACTOR IMPLEMENTING THE PES PARTIAL ROOF PROJECT FOR A TOTAL OF $1,397,929.
THIS REALLY LEADS TO JUST BASICALLY HAIRLINE SAVINGS OF ABOUT $2,000 IF WE STAY ON COURSE WITH THE BUDGET, AND STAY ON TRACK WITH THE EXPENSES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY TIGHT BUDGET TO ADHERE TO.
>> PRETTY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> WHEN YOU SAY LOCAL, IS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS OR THE COUNTY?
>> BUT NOT THE SCHOOL IS COSTING US ANYTHING?
>> FURTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT?
>> I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONTRACT.
>> THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE, I GUESS.
WE'LL CALL FOR VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MR. MENGEL, BEFORE YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT ONE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYBODY, AND I'M SURE THE BOARD IS AWARE.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THE ROOFING PROJECTS, THEY'VE HAVE ALREADY SUPPORTED THE ROOFING PROJECTS, AND THEY THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE ON THE HOOK FOR.
WE'RE NOT WRITING CHECKS FOR THEM TONIGHT.
THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE GRAND TOTAL COST IS ON THE ROOFING PROJECTS FOR EACH ESTIMATED COST. JUST SO WE'RE [OVERLAPPING].
>> FINAL, THIS FOR THE BID APPROVAL FOR NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL'S PHASE 2 ROOF REPLACEMENT.
THE NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL'S.
ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT IS A TWO PHASE PROJECT AS YOU KNOW.
PHASE 1 HAPPENED LAST SUMMER, PHASE 2 WILL FINISH THIS PROJECT.
APPROXIMATELY 75,000 SQUARE FEET REMAIN TO BE COMPLETED DURING THE 2024 SUMMER.
PHASE 2 WILL BEGIN EARLY JUNE AND ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST 17TH, 2024 MINUS ANY KIND OF PENDING PUNCH LIST ITEMS THAT ARE LEFT TO DO.
THIS AWARD PROVIDES FOR ALL LABOR, MATERIALS, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO COMPLETELY TEAR OFF AND REPLACE THE EXISTING ROOF SYSTEM DESIGNATED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PHASE 2, AND ALSO COMES WITH A 30-YEAR WARRANTY.
AS AN OMNIA COOPERATIVE PURCHASING MEMBER, GARLAND/DBS INCORPORATED, WILL SERVE AS THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR TO THE PROJECT.
THE LOWEST BIDDING ROOFING SUBCONTRACTOR IS JBK CONTRACTING,
[01:20:03]
THEY REPORT DIRECTLY TO GARLAND/DBS.IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR BID SPEC SHEET, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL OF THREE COMPANIES THAT BID ON THIS.
JBK WAS THE LOWEST BID AT JUST OVER $3 MILLION.
THIS BUDGET SOURCE IS GOING TO COME FROM THE IAC'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND THE LOCAL COUNTY.
AGAIN, AT A 94-6 SPLIT, THE STATE WOULD BE PAYING $2.8 MILLION, AND THE COUNTY WOULD BE AT ABOUT $183,000.
THE BUDGET AMOUNT FOR THIS WAS 3.2 MILLION DOLLAR, AND THE BIDS COMING IN AT JUST OVER 3.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT PHASE 1 CAME IN AT ABOUT $200,000 UNDER BUDGET, AND IF ALL GOES WELL, PROJECTED TO PHASE 2 WILL BE ABOUT $150,000 UNDER BUDGET, $350,000 ON $8 MILLION ROOF, IT'S ABOUT 4% SAVINGS.
THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH THAT.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO THE BOARD IS TO APPROVE THE JBK CONTRACTING AS A SUBCONTRACTOR, IMPLEMENTING PHASE 2 OF THE NCHS ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT FOR $3,048,183. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> NO. UNFORTUNATELY, APEX DID PHASE 1 AND THEY WERE THEY WERE SECOND PLACE, THEY LOST OUT.
I'VE HEARD REALLY GREAT COMMENTS ABOUT THIS COMPANY IS COMING IN.
I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT MYSELF.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS COMPANY.
>> COMPETING UP, DO THEY DO THE SAME WORK?
>> NORTH, THEIR SOLAR PANELS ARE ON TO THE SIDE.
> THERE'S A THERE'S A FEW UP THERE THAT ARE ON AREAS THAT WE'RE NOT TAKING.
THEY'RE ON A METAL ROOF, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING ANYTHING WITH THOSE.
BUT ALL THE OTHER PANELS ARE ON THE GROUND.
>> THIS IS THE SAME CONTRACTOR AS THE OTHER CONTRACT, CORRECT?
>> SAME GENERAL CONTRACTOR, DIFFERENT SUBCONTRACTOR.
APEX DID PHASE 1, THEY PLACED SECOND.
>> BUT THE TWO ROOFS OF THE ONE PRESTON, AND THIS ONE, BOTH JBK?
>> OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? > HAVE WE USED JBK BEFORE?
>> WE HAVE NOT, NO. WE'VE USED APEX.
HONESTLY, WHEN I GOT HERE, WE GOT TO THE ROOFING BUSINESS, SO THIS WILL BE THE SECOND COMPANY I'VE USED, BUT I'VE HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS COMPANY.
I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IT. I DID ASK QUESTIONS BECAUSE OF THOSE [OVERLAPPING]
>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, LET'S SAY, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHO JBK IS, BUT IF THEY HAD THE LOWEST BID, BUT YOU HEARD BAD THINGS ABOUT, DO YOU HAVE TO GO WITH THE LOWEST BID?
>> I DO NOT. I CAN WRITE A LETTER OF JUSTIFICATION BASED ON HISTORICAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THEM BEFORE IN THE PAST OR HEARSAY FROM OTHER COUNTIES.
WE JUST HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT AND IT HAS TO BE AN HONORABLE JUSTIFICATION.
>> IT HAS TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE CONTRACT CAPABLE OF DOING THE WORK.
>> BASICALLY THE REASON THAT WE DID NOT GO CONTINUE WITH APEX IS BECAUSE WE GOT A LOWER BID.
THE DRAWINGS FOR THE ROOF ARE IDENTICAL FROM PHASE 2 AS THEY WERE FOR PHASE 1. IT'LL ALL BE THE SAME.
>> JUST DIFFERENT PEOPLE, YES.
>> WE HAVE LEGITIMATE COMPANY THAT CAN DO THE WORK.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BOARD? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE FOR JBK CONTRACTING [INAUDIBLE] PHASE 2.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU MR. [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT ENDS OUR ACTION ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
[7. Reports and Presentations]
AND WE'LL START OFF WITH THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSE REPORT.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU ONE OF OUR STEPS OF OUR MULTI STEP SUBMISSION TO THE BLUEPRINT WORK THIS YEAR.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD OUR SUBMISSION LAST YEAR AND THEY DID MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO HOW WE SUBMIT THE WORK THIS YEAR, WHICH HAS BECOME SUPER HELPFUL BECAUSE WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN STAGES.
THIS PIECE OF THE WORK IS ACTUALLY A SUMMARY, IT'S FIVE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD TO RESPOND TO, AND IT COULD BE NO MORE THAN 10 PAGES.
WHILE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, IT ACTUALLY IS DIFFICULT TO CONDENSE ALL THE AMAZING WORK THAT WE'RE DOING INTO 10 PAGES, BUT WE MANAGED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING THIS EVENING IS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE INTEREST THAT WE'RE
[01:25:02]
WORKING ON THAT RELATE TO THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION AND GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR SIDE OF THE THINGS ON WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH BLUEPRINT, AND TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.IF YOU CAN GO TO SLIDE 3, MS. BARRY.
THE BACKGROUND, THE IV IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS AND THE BLUEPRINT WORK.
WE RECEIVED OUR LATEST ITERATION OF THE TEMPLATE IN JANUARY.
WE RECEIVED SOME DRAFTS BEFOREHAND, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT THE MOST RECENT DOCUMENT SO THAT WE COULD WORK FROM THAT WITH AUTHENTICITY.
THIS PIECE RIGHT HERE IS THE SECOND STEP OF THE SUBMISSION.
THE FIRST THING WE HAD TO DO WAS DELIVER OUR COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY PLAN AND DRAFT.
WE DID DO THAT LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK.
WE'RE WAITING TO GET FEEDBACK FROM THAT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED AND IT'S ALREADY THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON NOW.
MS. WAYMAN, YOU DID SEE A PIECE OF THAT IN THE SCIENCE OF READING.
WE ARE VERY MUCH AHEAD ON THAT WORK AND WE'RE REALLY SUPER PROUD OF THAT.
THIS SUBMISSION, OUR RESPONSE TO THE FIVE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE, THE FIRST ONE IS HIGHLIGHTED HERE.
AS YOU CAN SEE REAL QUICK, IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK, WITH MAY 1, THAT IS WHEN YOU WILL RECEIVE IN APRIL.
WE'LL ALL COME BACK TOGETHER TO SUBMIT THIS FOR YOUR APPROVAL, THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ITSELF.
THIS IS THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THEN THE ACTUAL PLAN IS GOING TO BE BROUGHT TO YOU ON MAY 1ST.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS HOW OUR DISTRICTS VISION GOALS AND PLANS AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL ARE ALIGNED TO BLUEPRINT.
CONSIDERING THE CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE PILLARS AND HOW THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE BLUEPRINT INTERSECT AND ALIGN.
WELL, LUCKY FOR US, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THAT ALL LAST YEAR.
WE'VE BEEN STRATEGIC ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW IT CAN ALIGN TO BLUEPRINT, IT CAN ALIGN TO OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, OUR MISSION, OUR VISION, AND SO FAR AS EVEN OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STRUCTURE ON HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT ADDRESSING AND SUPERVISING ALL OF THESE AREAS.
OUR RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION.
REMEMBER THIS IS A 10-PAGE DOCUMENT, SO I'M GIVING YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM IT.
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL IS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON UPDATING OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
DR. SIMMONS WILL BE WORKING ON UPDATING THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND WE'RE GOING TO BE USING THE BLUEPRINT AS PART OF OUR LENS OF HOW WE ADDRESS THOSE THINGS.
WHEN WE INTEGRATE THE BLUEPRINT, WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT WITH SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, ENSURING THAT THE ALIGNMENT AND THE OWNERSHIP IS AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL.
BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE BLUEPRINT VISION OR THE CORE VALUE OF BLUEPRINT IS TO BRING EVERYTHING, ALL OF THE RESOURCES TO THE STUDENT.
WE'RE BEING VERY INNOVATIVE ABOUT HOW WE CAN INTEGRATE THE GOALS OF THE BLUEPRINT AND HAVE THE OWNERSHIP HAPPENING AT THE BUILDING LEVEL SO STUDENTS, TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS ARE ALL INTEGRATED IN THAT PROCESS OF IMPROVEMENT AND USING DATA TO INFORM INSTRUCTION.
WE'RE COORDINATING FUNDING AND RESOURCES THROUGH MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH THE GRANT MANAGERS.
WE STARTED WORKING ON THAT LAST YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY WAS WE HAVE A LOT OF GRANTS THAT WE WORK WITH AND GRANT MANAGERS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
WE STARTED HAVING MONTHLY GRANT MEETINGS LAST YEAR TO ALIGN THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING WITH FUNDING, BEING STRATEGIC, NOT OVERSTEPPING ON EACH OTHER, AND WORKING SMARTER, NOT HARDER IS THE WORD THAT I LIKE TO USE WHEN WE'RE HAVING THESE MONTHLY GRANT MEETINGS.
WE MANAGE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY THROUGH TITLE I, TITLE II, TITLE IV, TITLE III FINE ARTS GRANTS.
FORTUNATELY FOR US, WE WERE ABLE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A STRONGER CONNECTIONS GRANT WHICH YOU RECEIVED INFORMATION ON LAST YEAR.
DR. SIMMONS' VISION WAS TO HAVE THIS GRANT WORK FOR US TO BE ABLE TO INTEGRATE ALL OF THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE IN A THREE YEAR PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHAT'S EMERGED FROM THE GRANT FUNDING AND THE GRANT WORK, IS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE ALIGNMENT WITH THE BLUEPRINT.
THEN THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE HAVE IS PRETTY MUCH ONGOING.
ONE THING I'D LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT COMMUNICATION, IT'S GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP AGAIN LATER, NOT ONLY ARE WE DISCUSSING AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE LEVEL, AND WE'RE STILL DISCUSSING IT HERE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION LEVEL, WHEN WE ARE IN THE BUILDINGS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERVENTIONS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAMS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INSTRUCTION IN GENERAL, IT'S BECOME PART OF THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE.
WE MAY NOT HOLD STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS IN COMMUNITIES AND GO TO PUBLIC PLACES AND HAVE COMMUNITY NIGHTS BECAUSE IT'S INTEGRATED IN OUR LANGUAGE AND IT'S BECOME ORGANIC.
IF YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS AND YOU HEAR ABOUT SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, THEY ALL ARE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS SOMETHING WE'VE ADOPTED AS PART OF OUR WORK BECAUSE WE SEE THE VALUE IN IT AND WHEN WE BECOME INNOVATIVE AND WE OWN IT FIRST, THEN IT BECOMES VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE ABOUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T COMMUNICATE HERE.
WE COMMUNICATE WHEN SUPERVISORS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR DATA COACHES, WHEN SUPERVISORS AND PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS ARE MEETING WITH THEIR TEACHERS.
[01:30:02]
THIS HAS ALL BECOME PART OF OUR LANGUAGE THAT WE USE, AND WE ARE USING IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL.SO CREATING THE BLUEPRINT WORK ACTUALLY HAS BEEN VERY SEAMLESS BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY MAKING IT WORK AND ALIGN.
IT'S HOW WE COMMUNICATE, SOLICIT FEEDBACK, ADOPT THE TOOLS AND THE STRATEGIES.
IT'S ONGOING IN THE BUILDINGS WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS, OUR SUPERVISORS, WITH OUR TEACHERS, OUR COACHES.
WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK AS WE START TO BECOME INNOVATIVE WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, AND WE USE THAT INFORMATION TO GUIDE AND CREATE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.
DR. SIMMONS HAS BEEN WORKING ON SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT AND THROUGH THAT, HE'S BEEN GETTING FEEDBACK AND ADJUSTING AND ASSESSING AS WE GO, AND THE SAME IS HAPPENING ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL SIDE.
AS WE START TO SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND WE START GETTING IDEAS FROM OUR COACHES, FROM OUR TEACHERS, WE START USING THAT INFORMATION TO MAKE CHANGES.
I ALREADY SPOKE TO THE NEXT PIECE HERE, BUT YOU DO SEE IT'S CLEARLY OUTLINED HERE THAT WE HAVE OUR COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT COMMUNITY, WHICH IS OUR TEACHERS.
WE HAVE OUR CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE, AND OUR EQUITY COMMUNITY.
WE DO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE AT OUR FINGERTIPS TO ACCESS, BUT WE ALSO LIKE TO USE IT IN OUR LANGUAGE WHERE IT'S ORGANIC THROUGHOUT OUR PROCESS.
I FEEL LIKE I DON'T NEED TO ADD ANY MORE HERE ON THIS.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND OTHER FORMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH AT THE MSDE LEVEL AND ALSO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.
THAT HAS MORE TO DO WITH COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING AND THOSE PIECES OF THE BLUEPRINT WHICH IS IN PILLAR 3.
QUESTION 3 IS HOW YOUR DISTRICT IS MAKING SYSTEMIC CHANGES TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS IS WHERE I'M PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING BECAUSE WE STARTED MAKING SYSTEMIC CHANGES LAST YEAR.
WE STARTED DOING A DATA ANALYSIS AND INVENTORY LAST YEAR AND SEEING WHERE WE CAN BE INNOVATIVE.
THIS YEAR, THE WORK HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED WITH SUCH FIDELITY AND SUCH ENTHUSIASM AND AS DR. SIMMONS MENTIONED, SOME OF THE DATA THAT HE'S SHARING WITH THE TEACHERS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF CREATING A MULTI-TIER SYSTEM OF SUPPORTS THAT'S NOT ONLY ADDRESSING GAPS AND HELPING WITH STUDENTS MEETING THEIR NEEDS, BUT IT'S INTEGRATED.
WE'RE NOT WORKING IN SILOS ANYMORE.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A STUDENT WHO NEEDS INTERVENTION, WE'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT ACADEMICS, WE'RE LOOKING AT ATTENDANCE, WE'RE LOOKING AT BEHAVIOR, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL.
WE'RE INCORPORATING DIAGNOSTICS, WE'RE INCORPORATING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SCREENERS THAT HELP US GET A BIGGER PICTURE OF THE STUDENT AND CUSTOMIZE WHAT THE CHILD MIGHT NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AS A RESULT, DR. SIMMONS FINGERS ARE PROBABLY BURNING FROM HAVING TO WRITE ALL THESE EMAILS OF ALL THESE GAPS BEING CLOSED.
STUDENTS MOVING FROM TIER 3 SUPPORT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST NEED, TO A TIER 2 SUPPORT WHICH IS LESS OF A HIGH NEED.
WE'RE WATCHING THIS HAPPEN IN REAL TIME AND IT'S QUITE EXCITING.
OUR MTSS TEAM HAS INCORPORATED, WHICH I REALLY SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.
THE INSTRUCTIONAL MTSS TEAM IS WORKING WITH THE STUDENT SERVICE SUPERVISOR, WITH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPERVISOR, AND WITH THE MLL SUPERVISOR TO BRAINSTORM AND THINK OF WAYS TO HELP STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL.
AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE'VE SEEN SOME SIGNIFICANT GROWTH, AND SOME GREAT IDEAS HAVE EMERGED FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS, OUR TEACHERS, OUR COACHES, AND OUR SUPERVISORS.
I WENT A LITTLE OFF SCRIPT HERE, YOU HAD THIS TO REFERENCE IF YOU EVER WANT TO LOOK BACK AT IT, BUT YOU CAN TELL, YOU CAN HEAR THE ENTHUSIASM OF MY VOICE.
WHAT I FEEL SUPER PROUD ABOUT IS THAT WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE INTEGRATING PILLAR 1, 3, AND 4 ON A REGULAR BASIS.
OUR BI-WEEKLY MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CENTRAL OFFICE INCLUDE ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT TOUCH THOSE PILLARS, AND THEY SPEND TIME THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST HELP OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING OUR PARTNERSHIPS, WE DO WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE AND THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD.
THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN HAVING US WORK ON SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING WITH OUR STUDENTS.
WE'RE SEEING SOME GOOD INFORMATION AND SOME GOOD FEEDBACK COMING FROM SURVEY DATA THAT WE'RE GETTING FEEDBACK ON HOW COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING IS HELPING KIDS, PARTICULARLY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
OUR MLL WORK IS WORKING WONDERFULLY.
WE HAVE COORDINATORS NOW, WE HAVE SOME MORE OUTREACH AND SO THAT'S REALLY HAVING A GOOD IMPACT ON OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE NEED THEM TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN HELP BETTER.
THE NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, WE'VE SEEN A MASSIVE INCREASE, AS YOU'VE SEEN THE NUMBERS GROW ON TEACHERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING THEIR NBC.
AS WE WORK WITH CAREER LADDER DEVELOPMENT, THAT DR. WILLOUGHBY AND DR. SIMMONS AREA WHERE THEY WORK WITH THE ASSOCIATION TO TRY TO THINK OF A CREATIVE WAY OF IMPLEMENTING A CAREER LADDER THAT WE CAN MANAGE.
[01:35:03]
>> DR. JOHNS, I'LL HIGHLIGHT ONE JUST TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE I SENT THE BOARD INFORMATION OF PROGRAM AT UMS THAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE MOU PROCESS NOW TO PARTNER WITH THAT WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES, HOPEFULLY FOR US TO STRENGTHEN OUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR MORE DIVERSE TEACHER WORKFORCE AS WELL.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH DR. WARREN AND HIS TEAM AND WE THINK THAT'S GOING TO COME TOGETHER REALLY NICELY FOR US AS WELL UNDER THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS.
>> THAT REALLY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT DR. WILLOUGHBY HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY ON IS INCREASING OUR DIVERSITY AND INCREASING OUR STAFFING OVERALL, WHICH YOU HEARD THIS EVENING WAS SUPER EXCITING TO HEAR, AND AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, WILL BE USING THAT AS A LENS TO REFLECT ON.
AS WE GET THROUGH QUESTION FOUR.
THE THE QUESTION FOUR IS ASKING ABOUT OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES TO THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION INCLUDING THE RATIONALE FOR SELECTING THEM.
AS YOU CAN SEE WITH INSTRUCTION WITH MEETING KIDS NEEDS ON SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, PILLARS 1, 3, AND 4, WE FEEL EXTREMELY CONFIDENT AND CAPABLE OF MAKING THOSE INNOVATIVE CHANGES.
IN FACT, WE'VE BEEN CELEBRATED BY MSD AND AIB FOR BEING INNOVATIVE WITH THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
WHERE WE FIND THE CHALLENGES PARTICULARLY HAS TO DO WITH FUNDING, GUIDANCE, AND STAFFING.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE.
THE 24 LEAS HAVE THE SAME STRUGGLE ON DIFFERENT LEVELS OF STRUGGLE.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER, I KNOW DR. SIMMONS AND DR. WILLOUGHBY CAN PROBABLY SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FINDING, BUT WE'RE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THE FUNDING FOR THE ENROLLMENT.
THAT'S A BIG PIECE WHICH YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ABOUT.
NOT SURPRISING. DELAYED INFORMATION ON FINANCIAL REPORTING, WHICH YOU ARE FULLY AWARE OF.
THESE THINGS ARE CREATING SOME CHALLENGES FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING PROGRESS AND MOVING FORWARD.
ALL THESE CELEBRATIONS WE CAN HAVE ON PILLARS 1, 3, AND 4 WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT PILLAR 5 AND PILLAR 2, WE STILL HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR MSD AND AIB TO BE A LITTLE MORE PROACTIVE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE INVOLVED IN GIVING GUIDANCE.
WE'RE STILL WAITING ON SOME GUIDANCE ON CERTAIN PIECES OF PRE-K ENROLLMENT, CERTAIN PIECES OF PATHWAYS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING GUIDANCE ON, BUT WE'RE CREATING OUR OWN PLAN AND THEN HOPING THAT THEY CAN LET US KNOW IF THAT'S WORKING OR NOT.
THEN AS FAR AS THE FUNDING ISSUES FOR CCR AND NON-CCR.
WE FEEL LIKE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EQUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY AND WE HAVE ACCESS, THEY HAVE TO HELP US GET THERE.
REGARDING STAFFING, OF COURSE, DR. WILLOUGHBY JUST SHARED THIS GREAT NEWS.
WE STILL, THOUGH, STRUGGLE WITH FINDING PEOPLE TO FILL OUR POSITIONS AND THEN INCLUDING EQUITY AS A LENS THAT WE NEED TOO WHEN WE'RE FILLING THOSE POSITIONS.
THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE THAT'S OUTSIDE OF ANY GUIDANCE FROM AIB AND MSD.
THAT'S JUST A COMMUNITY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT ALONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND, AND THERE ARE CHALLENGES AS WELL.
ACTUALLY IT'S NATIONWIDE, THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING STAFFING AND FINDING PEOPLE TO EMPLOY.
ANYBODY WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS, DR. SIMMONS? DR. WILLOUGHBY?
THANK YOU. YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB HIGHLIGHTING AND SUMMARIZING.
SOME OF THE BIG PIECES WE FACE IN THE BOARD, HEARD IT FROM ME BEFORE, SO I WON'T GO AT [INAUDIBLE] AT THEIR EXPENSE.
I SAID IT WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR BUDGET TALKS, AT SOME POINT WE'LL STOP TALKING ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT AS SOMETHING LIKE WE STOPPED TALKING ABOUT THE BRIDGE TO EXCELLENCE FOR THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH.
AT SOME POINT, WE STOPPED TALKING ABOUT RACE TO THE TOP.
THE BLUEPRINT IS WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
FOR US HERE, PILLARS 1, 3, 4, I AGREE.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIM BY THE PILLAR AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HIM BY BLUEPRINT BECAUSE IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TO STRENGTHEN PRE-K. WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE PRE-K PROGRAM, AND WE'RE DOING GREAT WORK WITH OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS.
THAT'S PILLAR 1. BUT WE'RE NOT CALLING IT ALL BLUEPRINT, WE'RE NOT CALLING IT OUT BY NAME.
WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS IN PILLAR 3.
WE'RE STRENGTHENING READING, WE'RE STRENGTHENING MATHEMATICS.
WE'RE IMPLEMENTING SCIENCE OR READING EXTREMELY STRONG.
WE WERE DOING THAT FOR BLUEPRINT [INAUDIBLE] WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN A LOT OF PLACES.
WE HAVE INTEGRATED SUPPORT, TIERED SUPPORT SYSTEMS. WE'D HEARD THAT PRESENTATION FROM US LAST YEAR, TWO YEARS AGO, ACTUALLY, WE'RE STARTING IN THAT DIRECTION.
WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW IS REFINING THAT WORK AND WE'RE REALLY KNOCKING DOWN THE BARRIERS BECAUSE WE REALIZED IT WAS OUR DATA PLATFORM THAT WAS KEEPING US FROM BEING ABLE TO TALK THE DATA IN THE BEST WAY.
GET THE PILLARS OUT OR GET THE SILOS OUT OF THE WAY.
WE'RE MAKING GREAT GROWTH THERE.
PILLAR 4, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENT GROUPS, OUR POPULATION GROUPS, HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR ML KIDS.
MISS ARKLEWOOD AND HER TEAM ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
[01:40:02]
WE HAVE A STRONG HISTORY OF DOING REALLY WELL WITH OUR ML KIDS.PRE-BLUEPRINT. WE'RE STRENGTHENING IT.
WE HAVE A STRONG HISTORY OF DOING REALLY WELL, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR OUR KIDS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND TRYING TO FIND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
WE ALREADY HAD STRONG SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH MOST OF THE STATE DONE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THESE THINGS.
IT'S NOT CALLED BLUEPRINT, IT'S CALLED WHAT WE DO.
BUT THE STRUGGLE THAT WE'RE HIDDEN REALLY HARD.
I'LL SAY IT THEN I'LL BE QUIET.
IT'S JUST GETTING TOUGH WHEN THE RESPONSES WE'RE GETTING FROM THE TWO STATE ENTITIES THAT ARE OVERSEEING THE IMPLEMENTATION, THE REPEATED PIECE OF IN ESSENCE, IT'S ALL THERE.
YOU ALL JUST HAVE TO TRY HARDER.
IF YOU JUST THINK OUT OF THE BOX MORE, YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
WE HAVE 24 SUPERINTENDENTS, 24 CEOS, NOT QUITE 24 BECAUSE QUITE A FEW HAVE SAID THIS IS CRAZY AND HAVE LEFT, RETIRED.
BUT IN ESSENCE, 24 CFOS, EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS EXTREMELY SMART PEOPLE, AND ALL OF US ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT WORK.
WE ARE ALL INNOVATING IN PILLARS 1, 3, 4.
I THINK WE'RE DOING BETTER THAN SEVERAL.
>> WE HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED FOR THAT.
>> WE'VE BEEN MAKING GREAT STRIDES, BUT THE DOLLARS DON'T WORK.
I'M NOT A MATH PERSON, I'M A HISTORY PERSON.
WE LIKE ROUNDER NUMBERS AND EVEN THE ROUND NUMBERS DON'T WORK.
THAT'S THE STRUGGLE AND NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR IT, AND THAT'S THE HARD PART.
OUR KIDS AREN'T GOING TO SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT.
BUT BEFORE THEY DRIVE THE VAN OFF THE CLIFF IN '27, THEY HAVE GOT TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
BECAUSE TELLING ALL OF US WHO WERE CHARGED WITH DOING THIS TO JUST THINK HARDER, TO JUST BE MORE CREATIVE.
SIT DOWN, NEED TO MEET WITH US, OPEN THE BOOKS, SHOW ME HOW IT WORKS ON PAPER.
BECAUSE PEOPLE SMARTER THAN ME IN FINANCE, NOT JUST AARON BUT ACROSS THE STATE ARE SITTING DOWN AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND THEY'RE STRUGGLING DOING IT.
>> THAT TELLS YOU THAT THEY DON'T GOT A NEED TO DO IT AND HOW TO DO IT, SO THAT TELLS YOU THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT EITHER.
>> WE'RE SEEING THAT WHEN THERE'S A PAUSE AFTER A QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED AND THEY SAY, WELL, WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT, AND SOMETIMES THEY DO AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, AND SOMETIMES IT'S HELPFUL AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS I WOULD HOPE, AND I WOULD WISH THAT THEY WOULD PICK A PIECE OUT OF WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE 1, 3, AND 4 BECAUSE LIKE DR. SIMMONS SAID, WE ALREADY HAD STRONG PEOPLE AND WE ALREADY HAD STRONG SYSTEMS THAT WERE WORKING INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER.
AND WHEN WE BROUGHT EVERYBODY TOGETHER AND WE STARTED CONNECTING EVERYONE AND BRAIDING THEM ALL TOGETHER, THAT THREAD BECAME STRONG AND EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO SIFT THROUGH THAT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT WORK, BUT NOW THEY'RE MOVING QUICKLY.
THE DATA IS MOVING QUICKLY, OUR KIDS ARE GROWING, AND IT'S NOT TAKING A LOT OF EXTRA GUIDANCE.
WE JUST NEEDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE COULD BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDING PART, NO ONE'S REALLY INTERESTED IN COMING TOGETHER AND WEAVING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT STRONGER ON THE AIB AND MSD LEVEL.
>> AND THE SUPERINTENDENTS, YEAH.
>> THEY GOT TO WAKE UP. WHEN ARE THEY GOING TO WAKE UP?
>> OUR KIDS WILL NOT SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> AND THAT IS WORKING. THEY'RE SEEING THAT.
>> THEY'RE MOVING THERE. IT'S JUST THE FUNDING PIECE.
AT SOME POINT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SQUEEZE THE NICKEL ANY HARDER.
WE'LL KEEP SQUEEZING, BUT AT SOME POINT.
>> IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A PENNY.
>> ON THE LAST MEETING WITH THE COMMISSIONER A GOOD POINT WAS BROUGHT UP.
HOW MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT INTRODUCED BLUEPRINT AND STARTED IT ARE STILL THERE OR STILL INVOLVED? A LOT OF THEM THEY DON'T KNOW.
THEY WEREN'T PART OF THE PLAN.
>> OR HOW CONNECTED ARE THEY TO THE ACTUAL FUNDAMENTAL PROCESS THAT WE USE.
>> HOW FAR ARE THEY INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WE HAVE TO KNOW? WHAT WAS THAT QUOTE, DR. SIMMONS, I SENT YOU A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO? KNOWLEDGE ISN'T UNDERSTANDING.
>> AND I THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND SUPPORT AIB AND MSDE ON UNDERSTANDING.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE, YOU MAY NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND.
>> RIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
[01:45:03]
>> ALTHOUGH THAT SOUNDS GOOD IN THEORY.
AND I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO BE RIGHT AND COME BACK AND SAY YOU WERE WRONG.
>> WELL, I'M THE ETERNAL OPTIMIST, MR. GIACOMO.
SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT WE ARE DOING, AND OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN MAYBE SEE DOWN THE ROAD IF WE HELP. [LAUGHTER]
>> AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE, AGAIN, IT'S OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE LOSING.
>> THAT GOES BACK TO WHEN BLUEPRINT WAS JUST REALLY, REALLY BEING DISCUSSED AT.
I REMEMBER ATTENDING THAT SESSION WITH YOU AT CHESAPEAKE AND WE SAW THE MAPS.
>> AND THE FUNDING, ACCORDING TO THE MAP, SHOWED THAT CAROLINE COUNTY WAS REALLY A VERY NEEDY COUNTY, AND STOOD OUT REALLY FROM ALL THE OTHERS ON THE EASTERN SHORE BASICALLY BECAUSE WE'RE LANDLOCKED AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FROM WATERFRONT PROPERTIES, AND ALL THAT SHOWED UP FOR TALBOT AND QUEEN ANNE'S AND SO FORTH.
HAS THAT THOUGHT, THAT PICTURE OF CAROLINE COUNTY RECEIVING EXTRA FUNDING, DISAPPEARED AT THE STATE LEVEL NOW?
>> IT DISAPPEARED WHEN THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT LEFT.
>> OKAY. SO WE'RE BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
>> WE'RE STILL USING THE SAME EXISTING MODEL OF FUNDING, THE MODEL HE WAS PROPOSING, AND IT WAS CONNECTED TO BLUEPRINT.
>> A PART OF BLUEPRINT REQUIRED MSDE TO EVALUATE HOW POVERTY FUNDING IS DONE.
RIGHT NOW POVERTY FUNDING IS DONE BASED OFF OF [INAUDIBLE] APPLICATIONS IN ESSENCE, OR DIRECT CERTIFICATIONS.
THE PROPOSAL THAT THE FORMER STATE SUPERINTENDENT PUT OUT WAS ONE THAT THEY HAD USED THAT HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH IN TEXAS, THAT LOOKS AT THE LEVEL OF POVERTY BY CENSUS TRACK BECAUSE ONE WEALTHY FAMILY IN A REALLY POOR AREA IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE INVERSE, ONE REALLY POOR FAMILY IN A VERY WEALTHY AREA, AND SAYING FUNDING SHOULD FOLLOW BASED OFF THE CENSUS TRACK.
AND IF THEY LOOKED AT IT BY CENSUS TRACK ALONE, CAROLINE COUNTY, FOR THE TWO DIFFERENT YEARS THEY SHOWED, WE WERE THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE THAT HAD NO CENSUS BLOCKS IN THE UPPER TWO TIERS OF WEALTH.
BY UPPER TWO TIERS OF WEALTH, THE AVERAGE INCOME, I THINK ONE OF THEM WAS, IN THAT BLOCK, COMBINED FAMILY INCOME OF LIKE $90,000 OR HIGHER.
AND AGAIN, WE WERE THE ONLY ONE.
WORCESTER WAS CLOSE TO US, BUT THEY DID HAVE ONE BLOCK OF WEALTH, BUT WE WERE THE ONLY ONES, SO THAT MODEL DID NOT GET PICKED UP.
AND IT PROBABLY HAD TO DO WITH THE PRICE TAG OF IMPLEMENTATION.
THE PRICE TAG WAS TOO GREAT TO MOVE IT.
AND WE WILL BE SITTING IN THE CATBIRD SEAT, SO OF COURSE PEOPLE WOULD EXPECT ME TO SAY, OF COURSE THAT'S LOGICAL BECAUSE WE WOULD GET MORE FUNDING.
BUT IN REALITY, IF YOU'RE LOOKING WHERE POVERTY IS, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO ATTACK HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY, THAT IS HOW YOU DO IT.
MAYBE IT'S NOT ALL TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND PART OF THAT IS WHAT GOVERNOR MOORE IS TRYING TO PUT OUT THROUGH THE ENOUGH ACT, JUST IN A DIFFERENT VARIETY.
BUT THERE IS THAT PIECE OF THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INJECTION IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY WHERE YOU HAVE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF POVERTY IN A LOT OF AREAS TO HELP ELEVATE THEM.
BECAUSE MOST OF THE HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY ARE GENERATIONAL.
TYPICALLY IT'S BEEN FOR GENERATIONS IN AREAS ACROSS THE STATE.
BUT YEAH, IT'S A PHENOMENAL IDEA.
>> IT DID. IT GAVE US A LITTLE HOPE.
>> REAL HOPE, AND THEN TO HAVE IT SNATCHED AWAY.
>> IT'S CALLED A FALSE SUMMIT, MRS. WAYMAN.
>> SO IF I FOLLOW THIS RIGHT, THEY'RE TELLING US WE JUST NEED TO THINK HARDER, THINK BETTER?
>> YES. AND THEN THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER PART OF, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU. AS THE DUE DATE STILL CONTINUES TO STAY STATIC, THE GUIDANCE IS STILL COMING.
>> SO IT'S LIKE IF YOUR CAR BREAKS DOWN, IF YOU THINK HARD ENOUGH IT'LL START.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] OR YOU COULD JUST TURN INTO THE HULK AND YOU COULD MOVE IT.
THOSE ARE THE TWO OPTIONS WE HAVE. [LAUGHTER]
>> NO, YOU'RE FINE. WE DO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME BREVITY TO THESE CHALLENGES BECAUSE WE REALLY FEEL VERY PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING MOVING FORWARD.
I ACTUALLY HAVE EMPATHY FOR DR.
WILLOUGHBY AND DR. SIMMONS BECAUSE THEIR PILLARS ARE A BIG STRUGGLE BUS,
[01:50:04]
AND I EMPATHIZE WITH THEM ON THAT.>> AS WE GO INTO THE RESPONSE FOR QUESTION 5, WHAT OUR CHALLENGES AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR PROGRESS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR AIB AND MSDE ON THE GUIDANCE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GIVING.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TRACK ALL THAT ATTENDING ALL THE TA SESSIONS, WHICH IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS.
THEY PROVIDE OPEN OFFICE HOURS.
THEY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO PROVIDE INPUT.
AND DR. WILLOUGHBY, DR. SIMMONS, MY TEAM AS WELL, WE ALL POP IN ON THESE AND TRY TO GET WHAT WE CAN, AND TRY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PROBLEM SOLVE.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TRACK THE FUNDING, THE SOURCES, THE EXPENDITURES AND ALLOCATIONS, WHICH MAY HELP GIVE THEM A PICTURE OF WHERE WE REALLY ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUNDING.
AND CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THE FINANCIAL DATA WHICH IS MISS THORNTON'S AS SHE WATCHES THAT DUMPSTER FIRE HAPPEN.
AS FAR AS GUIDANCE CHALLENGES, AS I SHARED, WE GET TWO DIFFERENT SESSIONS AND WE HEAR DIFFERENT INFORMATION.
I ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED THAT YESTERDAY.
I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP AND I HOPE THAT RESONATES, AND THEY REMEMBER THAT.
CONTINUING TO BE PROBLEM SOLVERS AND CONTINUING TO BE PROACTIVE AND ATTEND SESSIONS AND BE PRESENT, ASK QUESTIONS, AND CONTINUE TO HOPE FOR GUIDANCE AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE MAYBE INPUT THAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO TAKE ON.
AGAIN, THE STAFFING CHALLENGES, WE'RE JUST GOING TO SEND DR. WILLOUGHBY TO GO MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN EVERYWHERE WE GO, HE GOES, BECAUSE HE SEEMS TO BE MAKING THAT WORK.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO ALL THE INNOVATIVE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING IN HR TO TRY TO GET STAFFING AND GET OUR PEOPLE ON BOARD WITH US IN A TIMELY FASHION.
THAT'S A LITTLE DOWN AND DIRTY.
ON THE 10 PAGE DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED, YOU'LL GET TO HEAR MORE WITH THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR DATA.
THERE'S GOING TO BE GOOD INFORMATION FOR YOU ABOUT THE INTERVENTION WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AND SOME DATA ABOUT HOW THAT'S MOVING KIDS.
THEN IN APRIL, YOU'LL GET ALL OF US TOGETHER TO SHARE WITH YOU THE RESPONSES TO ALL THE PILLAR WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN THAT LARGER DOCUMENT AND LARGER SUBMISSION.
>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU DID AN AMAZING JOB GETTING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION INTO 10 PAGES.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PAGES, BUT REALLY THAT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF [OVERLAPPING] ORGANIZATION.
>> NO LINKS AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE WE HAD FUN WITH IT.
THAT ONE TO ME IS JUST, WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW MORE.
IT'S A SINK BECAUSE WE'LL GIVE THE BIGGER [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT I LIKE IS TO SAY, IF YOU WANT MORE, JUST ASK US.
WE'LL PROVIDE WHATEVER YOU NEED.
THAT'S OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> YEAH, NOT A QUESTION, A COMMENT.
I THINK THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF POSITIVE WITH THE COMMUNICATION THAT'S GOING ON BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT FOLKS HERE AT THE BOARD LEVEL, THE DIFFERENT SUPERVISORS WHO ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
I THINK THAT IS WORKING SMARTER.
I THINK THAT PAYS OFF BECAUSE IT'S FILTERING FROM DR. SIMMONS LOOKING AT TEST SCORES FOR A THIRD GRADE CLASS HERE AND A FIFTH GRADE CLASS THERE AND ALL.
THE TEACHERS WILL BE FEELING THE FACT THAT SOMEONE'S PAYING ATTENTION AND IS FILTERING DOWN.
YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT COMMUNITY MEETINGS.
I CAN'T RECALL EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID THERE, BUT THAT IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT THAT SOMEHOW MAYBE EARLY IN THE YEAR THAT WE MIGHT CONSIDER SOME KIND OF COMMUNITY.
IT COULD BE VIRTUAL, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT TWICE AT THE NORTHERN END AND THE SOUTHERN END.
BUT SOME VIRTUAL MEETING THAT INVITES PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THIS ONE TO GET A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS NOT DETAILED, BUT WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING.
[OVERLAPPING] WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR MATH.
BECAUSE I THINK COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PARENTS DO WANT A CLEAR PICTURE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THE BLUEPRINT SPILL, THAT'S TOO MUCH, BUT I'D LIKE TO JUST STIR THAT IDEA OUT.
>> THAT'LL BE GREAT. YEAH, I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC.
I THINK THAT IF WE WORK ON THAT FOR THE FALL, WE'LL HAVE MEASURABLE DATA TO PROVIDE TO SHOW HOW IT'S WORKING AND THAT IT'S WORKING.
PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHARE WITH THEM THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THE SCHOOLS AS WELL, AND HOW THEY'RE FEELING.
[01:55:01]
I WANT TO SHARE THAT I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH, THE TEAM THAT'S HERE, THE TALENT EXISTS, THE WORK IS JUST PHENOMENAL WHEN IT COMES TO EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BREAK DOWN THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INNOVATION AND THINKING.IT'S REALLY PERMEATING THROUGH THE SUPERVISORS AND THE PRINCIPALS, AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND THE COACHES AND THAT ENTHUSIASM.
A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HAS BEEN A RESULT OF ENGAGEMENT SURVEY FEEDBACK AS WELL.
TEACHERS ARE SEEING THAT WHEN THEY SHARE THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND THEN IT STARTS TO HAPPEN THEIR VOICE MATTERS A LOT.
PART OF THE WORK ON THE PERFORMANCE MATTERS, THE DASHBOARD THAT DR. SIMMONS IS REFERRING TO IS TEACHERS JOBS.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THEM THAT THEY CAN ACCESS QUICKLY AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS QUICKLY IN INSTRUCTION.
NOT HAVE TO GO TO SOMETHING THAT'S STATIC OR I WOULD CALL LIKE ANALOG OR DOSE OR EVEN INACCURATE.
THERE HAS BEEN A BIG PUSH WHICH YOU HEARD ABOUT LAST YEAR WHEN WE ASKED FOR THAT DASHBOARD, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
ONE THING I BELIEVE ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IS IT SHOULDN'T JUST BE A ONE AND DONE, IT SHOULD BE ONGOING.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT I BELIEVE WE IN EDUCATION SOMETIMES GRAB ONTO SOMETHING.
LET'S PROVIDE PD FOR THIS, AND THEN WE WALK AWAY.
EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING, WE'VE PAIRED DOWN OUR INITIATIVES TO JUST A HANDFUL OF HIGH LEVERAGE INITIATIVES.
WE'RE GIVING ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT THEY NEED.
THAT'S REALLY PROVIDING A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS TO BUILD THEIR CAPACITY, FEEL CONFIDENT IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND FEEL EMPOWERED. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> THIS COUNTY I THINK HAS DONE INCREDIBLE THINGS GIVEN WHAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN.
>> I THINK I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MOST OF US.
WHEN WE GET FRUSTRATED IT'S NOT AT YOU AND IT'S NOT AT THIS COUNTY BECAUSE IT IS AMAZING.
>> EIGHTY SEVEN PERCENT OF OUR BUDGET IS STAFFING.
>> WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE HAS TAPPED INTO THE MOST LEVERAGED AND MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE, AND THOSE ARE OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STAFF.
>> IT'S TRUE. I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET CAUGHT IN THE NEGATIVE.
IN THAT I'LL GIVE YOU WHAT WE'VE DONE IS AWESOME.
>> YOU JUST LOOK MY WAY, I'LL PROVIDE YOU SOMETHING POSITIVE ANYTIME. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WANT TO BE POSITIVE, BUT I ALSO LIKE TO BE REALISTIC AT THE SAME TIME.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THIS COUNTY IS DOING AWESOME WITH WHAT WE HAVE.
>> WHEN I SHOW FRUSTRATION, IT'S NOT TOWARDS YOU DR. SIMMONS AND DEFINITELY NOT TOWARDS THE TEACHERS, IT'S THIS SYSTEM ABOVE US.
>> WELL, YOU HAVE A LOT OF REALLY EXCITED, POSITIVE PEOPLE WORKING TO HELP KIDS.
IT'S SHOWING IN THE STUDENT DATA AND IT'S SHOWING IN THE STUDENT.
WE'RE PILOTING A SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SCREENER.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ACCESSING IT TO BE ABLE TO SEE HOW KIDS ARE FEELING ABOUT JUST STUDYING AND SCHOOL IN GENERAL AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THEMSELVES AS FAR AS GROWTH MINDSET AND WORKING THROUGH PROBLEMS. I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE CAN IMPROVE ON THAT AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GRIT IS REALLY WHAT HELPS KIDS BE SUCCESSFUL AND KNOWING THEY CAN DO.
>> WELL YOU SAID DURING YOUR PRESENTATION IT SEEMS LIKE A THEME, HOW WE CAN BEST HELP OUR STUDENTS.
>> IT'S NOT, HOW WE CAN MAKE THE STATE SHUT UP AND GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE AFTER.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE THEM WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, OF COURSE.
BUT WITH THAT FOCUS, HOW WE CAN BEST HELP OUR STUDENTS.
>> WHEN YOU DO THE RIGHT THING, EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO FALL IN PLACE.
>> THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
>> THANK YOU. OKAY. NOW, ON TO OUR NEXT REPORT WHICH IS THE LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.
>> YEAH, MR. BARTON WAS EXCITED WHEN IT WASN'T ON THE AGENDA AT FIRST.
HE WAS LIKE, NO UPDATE THIS MONTH.
NOW WE JUST NEED TO PUT IT ON THERE. YOU GOT A LITTLE HOPEFUL.
A COUPLE BILLS I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT JUST FOR US AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE SESSION.
AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR THINGS TO FIND OUT IF SOMETHING'S LIKELY TO PASS OR NOT SEE THEY WERE SO EXCITED ABOUT LEGISLATION THIS MONTH.
[LAUGHTER] MARCH 18 IS CROSSOVER DAY, SO ANY BILL THAT'S LIKELY TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK HAS TO CLEAR THE FIRST HOUSE, AT LEAST ONE OF THE HOUSES BY MARCH 18TH.
ON OUR LEGISLATIVE CALL THIS MORNING BASICALLY, WHAT THAT MEANS IS BETWEEN NOW AND MARCH 18TH, IT'S DEFINITELY GO TIME LIKE NOW IS
[02:00:02]
THE TIME WHERE YOU'RE REALLY WATCHING ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.FIRST READS IN THE COMMITTEE ARE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF HORSE TREATING THAT GOES ON AFTER THINGS ARE INTRODUCED AS MR. JONES GOT TO SEE WITH THE KIDS THERE.
IF YOU HAVE A EVENT NOW IS COMING BUSY TIME.
THERE ARE A COUPLE BILLS THAT ARE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT FOR THE BOARD JUST TO BE AWARE OF THAT ARE WORKING THROUGH THE ONES THAT COULD HAVE REAL LEGS THAT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON US.
I TRY NOT TO SAY THAT WE'RE OUT TONIGHT, AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL IMPACT.
FIRST BILL, ONE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, BUT IT IS MOVING THIS YEAR RIGHT NOW AND THERE IS A FEELING IT MIGHT ACTUALLY GET THROUGH WHICH MEANS THERE JUST A FISCAL IMPACT FOR US, FOR FUTURE THINGS.
THAT IS, THERE'S A BILL ADDING SEAT BELTS TO SCHOOL BUSES.
THE FIRST READ OF THE BILL THAT WENT THROUGH WAS THAT ALL NEW BUSES THAT ARE ORDERED AFTER OCTOBER 1 OF 2026, BUT IT ALSO HAD A CLAUSE IN THAT WE WOULD HAVE THREE YEARS TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT EVERY EXISTING BUS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OWNS.
WHAT WE'RE HEARING, IT IS LIKELY THAT I DID NOT SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN AMENDED, BUT WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS LIKELY TO BE AN AMENDMENT TO TAKE THE RETROFIT OUT.
AT THAT POINT, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE AGAINST THE BILL PUT IN SEAT BELTS AND BUSES.
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION BOARD CHANGED THEIR STANCE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
THEIR STANCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN SCHOOL BUSES ARE BUILT LIKE TANKS.
WE DON'T NEED SEAT BELTS. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THEY CHANGED THEIR STANCE.
I THINK IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY THIS WILL GET THROUGH THAT IT WILL PASS.
I'M NOT AGAINST SEAT BELTS AND BUSES.
FROM A FISCAL IMPACT, IT MEANS THAT WHEN MR. MEN COMES BEFORE YOU FOR A BUS, IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT A $10,000 INCREASE ON SCHOOL BUSES FOR SEAT BELTS.
THERE'S SOME LEGAL COMPONENTS THAT HAVE TO BE FIGURED OUT THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE FIGURED OUT IN THE LEGISLATION.
IF ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A SEAT BELT ON A BUS, DOES THE BUS MOVE IF A KID DOESN'T WEAR A SEAT BELT? IF THE KID TAKES THE SEAT BELT OFF WHILE THE BUS IS GOING DOWN THE ROAD, WHO'S LIABLE? IS THE DRIVER TO STOP? THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS WORRY ABOUT.
THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY THINGS THAT THOSE WRITING LEGISLATION DO.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HOPING TO GET A LITTLE BIT OF CLARITY OF THOSE KINDS OF PIECES BECAUSE OUR INSURANCE PROVIDER WILL BE REALLY CURIOUS ON THE LIABILITY ASPECT OF IT.
WE'RE SELF INSURED THROUGH MAY.
WHEN WE'RE SELF INSURED, WHAT THAT MEANS, ANY ANSWER THAT DOES COME COULD MEAN OUR INSURANCE BILL GOES UP.
ONE OF THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THE SCHOOL BUS PIECE.
LAST UPDATE I GOT, IT MAY BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN YOU PUT SEAT BELT ON SCHOOL BUSES, YOUR SEATS CAN THEN ONLY HOLD TWO KIDS.
WE SPEC OUT OUR SCHOOL BUSES FOR ELEMENTARY KIDS AT THREE TO SIX.
WE'VE NOT DONE THE DEEP DIVE TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANS IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL BUSES YET AT THIS POINT.
BUT AT SOME POINT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW DO WE ROUTE OUR BUSES AND DO WE NEED TO EITHER.
>> INCREASE NUMBER OF BUSES OR CAN WE DO IT EXISTING ROUTES AND REDO THEM.
THOSE ARE THE PIECES THAT IT'S NOT WHETHER WE'RE IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE AGAINST SEAT BELTS, NOT AT ALL.
IT'S JUST THE FISCAL REALITY PIECE THAT WHAT TO FIGURE OUT IF IT PASSES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. THINK HARD. YOU'RE RIGHT.
ABSOLUTELY. YOU THINK CREATIVE ON IT. [OVERLAPPING] YES.
>> THIS IS ONE THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
>> I'M ACTUALLY SURPRISED THE STATE [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT IS THE MONEY WOULD BE WELL SPENT.
YEAH. MUCH MORE WELL SPENT WITH THIS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] SOME OTHER THINGS. YES.
>> ISSUES INVOLVED. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS ARGUMENT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, OF THE BUS.
HOW DO YOU GET THESE LITTLE KIDS OFF THE BUS? WHO'S GOING TO CHECK TO SEE THAT THE KIDS ARE BELTED IN?
>> YEAH. THE HARD PART IS, AND WE'VE HEARD THE FIRE EXAMPLE, BECAUSE HOW CAN ONE DRIVERS GET.
ASSUMING THE DRIVER CAN GET OUT OF THEIR SEAT TO DO IT IF YOU'VE GOT LITTLE KIDS BUCKLED IN, WE'RE HAULING PRE THREE AND PK THREE NOW.
>> THEN YOU'VE GOT THE MATTER OF BOOK BAGS.
IT'S A VERY PROBLEMATIC ISSUE TO MANDATE SEAT BELTS ON BUSES.
>> YEAH. WE'RE PREPPING FOR IT DEPEND IT POTENTIALLY DEFINITELY MAKE IT FOR THE CROSSOVER AND THEN POTENTIALLY TO GET THROUGH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR FEEDBACK AS WELL AS WE'RE WORKING THROUGH IT.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF THE TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISORS IN THE STATE ARE TAKING A STAND ON THIS?
>> TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISORS HAVE TALKED, BUT AS AN ENTITY THEY HAVE NOT.
THEY PROVIDED INFORMATION TO DLS AND INFORMATION ON THE WRITING.
[02:05:04]
>> MAYBE TAKING A STANCE ON IT.
>> I THINK MAYBE WAS A SUPPORT WITH AMENDMENTS.
THEY WERE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT OF WHAT'S THERE BECAUSE THERE'S A REAL STRONG FEELING IT'S GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE PROCESS, MAKE IT THROUGH THE SAUSAGE, MAKING THE ISSUE.
THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER.
>> THE ISSUE OF GETTING THE KIDS OUT THERE.
JUST THE OTHER DAY, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ACTUALLY IN HOWARD COUNTY, A BUS FLIPPED.
>> YOU PROBABLY SAW THAT. HOW WOULD YOU GET THOSE KIDS OUT ON A FLIP BUS? THE SEAT BELTED IN AND THEN THEY GET TWISTED UP IN THE SEAT BELTS, AND THEY'RE LITTLE KIDS.
>> THEY DIDN'T HAVE SEAT BELTS AND IT FLIPPED.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY LONG LASTING INJURIES THERE.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT ROUTE BECAUSE MY KIDS ALWAYS TOOK THAT ROUTE.
>> I THINK WHEN YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THE NTSB TRANSPORTATION BOARD THAT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY THEY FLIPPED THEIR STANCE.
>> YEAH, THEY FLIP THEIR STANCE.
>> BECAUSE OF THE FACT OF SAFETY THAT'S REALLY PART OF THE DRIVING FACTOR THAT'S GIVEN THE STEAM.
BUT IT'S ALSO THE FACT THAT WHAT DID THEY FIND THAT CAUSED THEM TO TO FLIP THEIR STANCE? I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT EITHER.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT WAS THE SURPRISING PIECE.
YEAH, THAT WAS THE SURPRISING PIECE.
BUT YEAH, I MEAN, ALL FOR ALL THOSE YEARS, BUT THERE ARE SOME REALLY, I THINK, REALLY TOUGH QUESTIONS WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU DO SAY PLUS FLIPS ON ITS SIDE AND CATCHES ON FIRE.
>> THE FIRE IS WHAT? [INAUDIBLE].
>> ON OUR CALL, THEY SAID A BUS CAN FILLED WITH SMOKE WITHIN LIKE A MINUTE OR A MINUTE.
IT'S DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR EVEN A DRIVER IN AID TO BE ABLE TO GET EVERY KID OFF THE BUS.
>> ESPECIALLY IF [OVERLAPPING] UPSIDE DOWN.
>> HAVE TO CUT EVERYBODY OFF THEIR SEAT BELT.
>> WE'RE NOT THERE YET, WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING.
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME IT TAKES TO PUT YOUR LITTLE KIDS INTO A CAR SEAT AND THEN TRY TO GET THEM OUT.
>> WELL, THAT'S AN ISSUE FOR THE REALLY YOUNG ONES, THE SEATBELTS.
>> THINK THE PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES THERE'S REALLY NO [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU CAN'T SEATBELT A FOUR YEAR OLD OR THREE YEAR OLD.
>> SOMETIMES THERE'S NOT A RIGHT TO ANSWER.
>> IT'S A REAL ALTERNATIVE. THERE'S MANY ISSUES HERE OTHER THAN COMPLICATED THE KNEE JERK REACTION, THAT SEAT BELT.
WE ALL WEAR SEAT BELTS TO GET INTO A CAR WITHOUT ONE.
BUT ON A BUS, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT, BUT JUST A LITTLE BIT, THE LEGAL LIABILITY THERE RIGHT, IS TREMENDOUS.
>> BECAUSE ON THE SET. BUT ARE THERE YOU'RE NOT REQUIRING THEM TO PREPARE THEM.
>> IT'S REALLY THE SHOULDER HARNESS. VERY CHALLENGING.
>> IT IS. MR. MENGEL DOES THAT CHANGE ANY OF THE BLACK LINE RULES WITH THE AD? YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, FOR THE WINDOW, THE LINE FOR THE WINDOWS AND THE LINE.
THE SEATS ARE HIGHER. [INAUDIBLE]
>> NOW IT'S SET TO ANOTHER HOLE.
>> BECAUSE SHOULDER STRAP HEIGHT FOR HIGH-SCHOOL-AGE KIDS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] IT'S NOT A ONE HOLE?
>> SOME STATES HAVE SEAT BELT HOLES, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE NOT.
>> IS THERE ANY PRECEDENCE FOR THE STATES THAT HAVE IT?
>> THAT I DON'T KNOW. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN LISTEN TO SOME OF THAT.
>> THERE'S PROS AND CONS ON BOTH SIDES.
>> THIS HAS COME UP AT LEAST THREE YEARS, IF NOT MORE. THAT KEEPS COMING UP.
>> I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT FOR AT LEAST 20 OR 30 YEARS.
>> BUT IT HASN'T BEEN COMING UP.
>> THAT'S ONE WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH AND MONITOR.
>> THE OTHER TWO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, THIS ONE'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, IT'S A BILL THAT'S LOOKING TO MAKE, I WOULDN'T SAY SIGNIFICANT, BUT IT'S LOOKING TO MAKE CHANGES WITHIN THE BLUEPRINT LAW IN MULTIPLE PLACES.
WE'RE THINKING THIS BILL COULD SEE SOME AMENDMENTS THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME CHANGES WITH BLUEPRINT, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE THAT CAN BE BENEFICIAL.
THIS BILL TALKS ABOUT SOME CHANGES TO DUAL ENROLLMENT, ALLOWING COUNTY SCHOOL BOARDS TO LIMIT WHICH DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES WOULD QUALIFY, FOR SCHOOL BOARDS OR SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO LIMIT WHICH QUALIFY THE AMOUNT OF COURSES A KID CAN TAKE.
IT TOOK SOME OF THE THINGS THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH, WITH THE CURRENT FUNDING THAT'S IN BLUEPRINT FOR DUAL ENROLLMENT, AND LEGISLATIVELY PROVIDING WHAT SOME SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE ASKING FOR FOR SUPPORT.
EITHER GIVE US MORE MONEY OR GIVE US WAYS TO CONTROL THE BOX A LITTLE BIT.
[02:10:02]
THERE'S SOME OTHER CHANGES IN HERE THAT'S LOOKING AT CHANGES, SOME AUTHORITIES AWAY FROM THE AIB TO THE STATE BOARD, AND SOME FROM THE STATE BOARD TO THE AIB.THIS ONE ACTUALLY GETS HEARD, I THINK, TOMORROW, I THINK THE FIRST HEARING IS.
IT'S SOMETIME THIS WEEK. THIS ONE WILL BE INTERESTING TO JUST WATCH TO SEE HOW IT CHANGES.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHANGE WITHIN BLUEPRINT, THIS COULD BE THE VEHICLE THAT ENDS UP GETTING USED TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES.
I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT DUAL ENROLLMENT SUPPORT BECAUSE THE MONEYS DON'T ALIGN, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT ONE TAKES US.
THE LAST ONE I WANTED TO SHARE, IT'S INTERESTING BILL.
WE WERE CONTACTED ABOUT IT IN OUR OFFICE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.
WE REACHED OUT TO THE SPONSOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY SPONSORED BY SOMEBODY FROM OUR COUNTY ON THE HOUSE SIDE, AND THE SENATE SIDE WAS WESTERN COUNTY.
I ENDED UP SPEAKING WITH THE SPONSORS.
IT'S A BILL LOOKING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT SCHOOL SYSTEMS GET FOR SCHOOL SAFETY EXPENDITURES.
THERE'S A GRANT LINE ITEM THAT THE STATE PUT OUT YEARS AGO.
IT'S A $10 MILLION FLAT FOR A COUNTY, ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE.
IT HAS NOT INCREASED, THOUGH THE COST TO PROVIDE THEM HAS.
CASE IN POINT FOR US, AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PERCENTAGE, BUT STARTING SALARY FOR A DEPUTY, PROBABLY WHEN WE STARTED SROS, WAS PROBABLY AROUND 40 OR BELOW 40S.
THE AVERAGE STARTING SALARY FOR A DEPUTY NOW IS IN THE 60S.
IT'S STILL THE SAME, $10 MILLION ALLOTMENT, SO THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INCREASE IF WE'RE USING THAT TO HELP FUND OUR SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS.
THE REQUEST IS THERE'S NO FISCAL IMPACT THIS YEAR, BUT THEY WOULD ADD MORE MONEY INTO IT THE YEAR AFTER AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT.
IT'D BE FIVE MILLION EACH YEAR TO GET IT UP TO 20 MILLION BY '27.
IT'S A GOOD BILL. [NOISE] THERE'S ONE CHANGE THAT WE DID OFFICIALLY ASKED FOR AN AMENDMENT TO.
THEY WERE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE WAY SCHOOL SYSTEMS WERE FUNDED FOR THE MONEY.
IT'S 10 MILLION, IT'S DIVIDED UP RIGHT NOW BY THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS YOU HAVE IN YOUR COUNTY.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY DO IT. THEY PROPOSED TURNING IT INTO A PER PUPIL ALLOTMENT, NUMBER OF STUDENTS.
WHEN THEY BROKE IT DOWN BY NUMBER OF STUDENTS, EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE EASTERN SHORE WOULD LOSE MONEY.
ACTUALLY ALL, BUT EIGHT SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE WOULD LOSE FUNDING UNDER THAT MODEL.
THEY WERE WILLING TO AMEND THE BILL TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL FUNDING PIECE, WHICH WOULD STILL BE BY A PER SCHOOL.
OUR ARGUMENT WAS WE ASSIGNED SCHOOL SAFETY STAFF BASED OFF OF THE BUILDING, NOT ON A PER PUPIL.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LOOK AT A SCHOOL THAT'S A SMALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SAY, WELL, YOU'RE TINY SO YOU GET TWO-FIFTHS OF AN OFFICER AND WE'LL SEND THE REST OVER HERE TO THIS BUILDING.
IT'S A PERSON, SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF A STRUCTURE, AND WE BELIEVE THAT AMENDMENT IS GOING TO HOLD AS IT GOES.
I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'LL PASS, BUT AT LEAST THERE'S GOOD SUPPORT IN KEEPING IT WHERE IT IS.
THERE'S NO FISCAL NOTE FOR THIS YEAR, IT'S ONLY IN FUTURE YEARS, SO WE'RE THINKING IT'LL HOPEFULLY GET THROUGH AND DO SOME GOOD THINGS.
I KNOW I'VE TALKED TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS BILL WHICH EVERYBODY LOVED AND SUPPORTED WHEN IT WENT THROUGH ITS COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
BUT I RECEIVED AN UPDATE TODAY THAT THERE'S SOME NERVOUSNESS BEHIND THE SCENES, NOT SO MUCH WITH HELPING EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT A COUPLE OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS, A COUPLE AREAS THAT HAVE MORE THAN 40 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, IT WILL ALTER THE WAY THAT THEY GET FUNDED.
THERE'S SOME RAMBLINGS IN THOSE AREAS OF THEY MIGHT NOT LIKE WHERE THE BILL IS GOING UNLESS THERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAKE SURE THEY DON'T LOSE AND EVERYBODY ELSE GETS.
I'VE OFFERED TO PROVIDE ANY SUPPORT TESTIMONY, WHATEVER IS NEEDED FOR SMALL COUNTIES BECAUSE IT WOULD GREATLY HELP US.
THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO DO IT, TO HELP EVERYBODY.
AGAIN, THERE'S ZERO FISCAL NOTE THAT COSTS THE STATE NOTHING, SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY TALK LANGUAGE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT EVERYBODY CAN BE HELPED WITHOUT SOMEBODY LOSING, AND STILL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT ALL WORK.
BUT WE'LL KEEP WORKING THROUGH AND I'LL LET YOU GUYS KNOW HOW THAT PROGRESS GOES AS WELL.
ESPECIALLY LEGISLATION, IT IS ABSOLUTE BUSY TIME.
THERE IS ONE BILL I DIDN'T HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN IMPACT ON CAROLINE COUNTY, AND OUR COMMISSIONERS ARE NOT A BIG PART OF IT.
BUT THERE WAS A BILL THAT'S BEEN SPONSORED BY MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES TO INCREASE
[02:15:02]
TRANSPARENCY IN SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGETS WITH THEIR LOCAL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, AND WE [INAUDIBLE] A BROKEN RECORD ON THAT.
WE HAVE NO ISSUE WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THEY HAVE NO ISSUE WITH US ON THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE OUR RESOURCES AND AS COMMUNICATIVE AS WE ARE WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S ISSUES IN OTHER COUNTIES THAT'S DRIVING IT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
I THINK THAT HEARING IS LATER THIS WEEK, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE IT ENDS UP.
THAT'S IT FOR ME ON LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NOW WE ARE DISCUSSING ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION,
[8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action]
AND THAT WOULD BE THE BUDGET.OKAY, ERIC WAS IN THE BEGINNING, AND THEN HAD TO SIT THROUGH ALL THIS NOW AT THE END.
WHEN THERE'S A STAFF MEMBER THAT HAS TO DO MORE THAN ONE, CAN'T WE PUT THEM?
>> IT WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD TO DECIDE TO CHANGE THE WAY THAT WE DO THE AGENDA.
[OVERLAPPING] WE CAN CONSIDER AN ITEM, BUT THE BOARD WOULD NEED TO CONSIDER DOING THAT.
>> MAKES SENSE. I MEAN, I CAN TALK ABOUT IT MAYBE NEXT TIME OR SOMETHING.
>> IT'S LIKE WHEN WE HAD THE PEOPLE FROM NEXT GENERATION OR WHATEVER, YOU HAD TO SIT THROUGH THE WHOLE.
>> I'M OKAY WITH THAT FOR OUTSIDE.
YES, I WOULD JUST CAUTION US FOR GOING IN ON INTERNAL BECAUSE SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET THE SHORT STRAW.
>> SOMEBODY [OVERLAPPING] IS GOING TO END UP BEING THE LAST PERSON [OVERLAPPING].
>> POINT OF ORDER. WE'RE OFF TOPIC. POINT OF ORDER.
[OVERLAPPING] WE'VE GONE OVER THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
>> RIGHT. IT'S NOT IN OUR AGENDA.
LET'S GO AHEAD WITH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.
>> OKAY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT HART AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE FIRST VERSION OF OUR DRAFT BUDGET SUMMARY FOR FY 25, AND DR. SIMMONS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AS I GO THROUGH THIS.
>> ERIN, I'LL JUST DO ONE TO START.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE OUR REVENUE NUMBER YET, WHICH IS WHY THAT'S MISSING FROM THIS AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER, SUBSET.
WE'VE BEEN IN ACTUALLY GOOD CONTACT WITH MSDE AND WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY THROUGH.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE ERROR AND WE'RE WORKING THROUGH HOW TO HAVE IT CORRECTED AND IF THERE IS A CORRECTION TRULY WHERE IT IS.
BUT WE'RE WORKING VERY WELL WITH MSDE AND HOPEFULLY HAVE A REVENUE NUMBER IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
>> WE WERE HOPING THAT THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE THE STRAP BUDGET SUMMARY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE REVENUE FIGURES AT THE TOP LIKE YOU'RE USED TO SEEING.
>> BUT BY ALL ACCOUNTS, FROM WHAT WE'RE SEEING, REVENUE WISE, NEXT YEAR IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A LEAN BUDGET YEAR.
AS YOU HEARD BEFORE, THE BLUEPRINT FOUNDATION FUNDING JUST DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RATE OF INFLATION.
THE FOUNDATION FUNDING, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST BUCKET, THAT'S ONLY INCREASING BY 1.7%.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN BEGIN TO COVER OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS INCREASES.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE ARE OUR COST OF DOING BUSINESS INCREASES AND ALSO OUR BUDGET TO ACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE TO BE ABLE TO BRING CERTAIN LINE ITEMS INTO LINE WITH WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.
LINES NUMBER 1 AND 2, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT THERE ARE NO COSTS THERE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE SUBJECT TO NEGOTIATIONS.
WE HAVE THREE EMPLOYEE GROUPS.
WE HAVE OUR TEACHERS' GROUP THAT WE'VE AGREED TO NEGOTIATE A RESTRUCTURED SCALE THIS CURRENT YEAR THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR.
WE HAVE AGREED TO DO THAT WITH OUR SUPPORT UNION.
THAT IS A CLOSED CONTRACT, AND THE LANGUAGE IN THAT CLOSED CONTRACT IS THAT THEY WILL GET AN INCREMENT AND THEY WILL AT LEAST GET A 1% COLA.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR ASAC GROUP WHICH IS THE ADMINISTRATOR AND SUPERVISOR GROUP.
HOPEFULLY. ONCE WE GET REVENUE NUMBERS AND WE GET FURTHER INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND THEY'VE RESTRUCTURED SALARY SCALE, WE WILL BE ABLE TO PUT FIGURES AS TO THE COSTS FOR THOSE FIRST TWO LINE ITEMS. THE THIRD LINE ITEM IS OUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
OUR ACTUARIES ARE CURRENTLY PROJECTING A 5-7% RATE INCREASE.
WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS WORST CASE SCENARIO, A 7% RATE INCREASE.
WE DO HAVE A MEETING LATER THIS MONTH, MARCH 27TH,
[02:20:02]
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO NAIL DOWN A FIGURE AT THAT POINT IN TIME, AND I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE TO BUDGET $740,000 FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.I'M HOPING THAT THAT'LL COME IN A LITTLE BIT LOWER.
THE NEXT LINE ITEM. LINE ITEM NUMBER 4, THAT'S WHAT DR. DOWNES WAS ALLUDING TO EARLIER.
THE SIGNIFICANT COSTS OF DUAL ENROLLMENT THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR BY BLUEPRINT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DUAL ENROLLMENT COSTS AND THE AP EXAMS, AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, $150,000 MAY NOT COVER.
I HAD TO PUT A PLACEHOLDER THERE, AND I'M GOING TO BE HONEST, I THINK WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, THAT LINE ITEM MIGHT ACTUALLY HAVE TO INCREASE.
WE'LL SEE WHAT THE DUAL ENROLLMENT COSTS COME IN FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER, AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO ADJUST THIS ACCORDINGLY.
>> WE'RE HOPING FOR THAT FOR SOME LEGISLATIVE REPRIEVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF COUNTIES TALKING ABOUT OPTIONS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO WHETHER LEGISLATION PASSES OR NOT.
IT'S NOTHING AGAINST TAKING THINGS FROM THE KIDS, BUT THE DOLLARS AREN'T THERE.
>> WELL, IF YOU'VE GOT HEALTH INSURANCE DOWN 2% THAT GIVE US ABOUT 200,000, SO THAT'S WHERE WE CAN KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED.
>> IS THAT POSITIVE? [LAUGHTER].
>> WE KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN INCREASE IN PSSAM DUES, $5,775.
THERE'S ALSO AN INCREASE TO THE MID-SHORE SPECIAL ED CONSORTIUM THAT WE'RE PART OF, DUES INCREASE THERE.
>> I'M SORRY, WHAT DO THEY DO WITH THAT MONEY?
>> MID-SHORE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM? THAT'S WHERE OUR OT'S OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, SPEECH AND LANGUAGE, NOT SPEECH, THEY'RE STILL WITH US.
OT'S, PHYSICAL THERAPISTS, HEARING AND VISION TEACHERS ARE ALL PROVIDED THROUGH THEM.
YEAH, AND WE ALSO USE THEM TO HELP DEFRAY COSTS WHEN IT COMES TO SPECIALTY TYPE THINGS WE NEED AS WELL FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
>> AS FAR AS THE MABE INSURANCE, THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT YEAR TO NEXT YEAR.
I HAD TO BRING THE BUDGET IN LINE WITH WHAT THE ACTUAL COSTS ARE.
IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCREASED ALL ALONG THE LINE.
ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
THEN WE HAVE OUR TYPICAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS INCREASES, THE FINANCE AND HR SOFTWARE ON THE ANNUAL UPLIFT THERE.
TRANSPORTATION, WE NEED TO INCREASE THAT LINE ITEM TO COVER BUS CONTRACTORS, BUS INSPECTIONS, FUEL.
NOW YOU MIGHT LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, MY GOODNESS, THAT'S A LARGE NUMBER.
SINCE WE STARTED THE SR PROGRAM, THAT LINE ITEM HAS NEVER BEEN INCREASED TO ACCOUNT FOR THEIR PAY RAISES AND THE EQUIPMENT, THAT THING.
THAT LINE ITEM HAS NEVER BEEN INCREASED SO WE NEED TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.
THEN WE HAVE OUR OPERATIONS, COST OF DOING BUSINESS INCREASES FOR CUSTODY OF SUPPLIES, GROUNDS CARE, AND TRASH REMOVAL.
THE ENTERPRISE VEHICLE LEASES, THE MAINTENANCE, BUILDING REPAIRS AND SERVICE CONTRACTS, AND FINALLY TEACHER PENSION AND EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT.
THOSE COSTS NEVER GO DOWN, THEY ALWAYS GO UP.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE A GRAND TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION, WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG PRICE TAG, AND THAT'S BEFORE YOU EVEN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF OUR NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS AND SALARY ENHANCEMENTS FOR NEXT YEAR.
I DON'T WANT TO BE THE NEGATIVE NANCY, WHEN DR. DOWNES WAS MS. POSITIVITY EARLIER, BUT [LAUGHTER] IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I AM CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH OUR BUDGET WITH A FINE TOOTHCOMB, TRYING TO SEE IF WE CAN UNCOVER ANY SAVINGS AND REDUCE ANY LINE ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY THERE WHICH WILL HELP US GET TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE SO THAT WE CAN PUMP AS MUCH MONEY AS CAN BE INTO OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY WHICH IS SALARY ENHANCEMENTS FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
>> WE DO NOT HAVE ADDITIONS UP HERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE ARE STILL FINALIZING GOING THROUGH OUR RS AGREEMENTS FOR POSITIONS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE THERE, AND EVALUATING NOT ONLY WHICH, BUT ALSO IF, THEN HOW.
THE POSITIONS WE ARE LOOKING TO RETAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE NECESSARY GOING FORWARD, ARE THEY ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO FIT INTO THE LOCAL OR ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES AND
[02:25:01]
GRANTS TO SUPPORT THOSE POSITIONS GOING FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT WAY? THAT'S NOT HERE YET.WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH OUR INTENT PROCESS AS WELL, WHICH IS ALL PART OF THIS.
THE ADDITIONAL POSITION PIECES WILL SHOW UP AT THE APRIL BUDGET EDITION.
WE'RE HOPING BY THE MARCH WORK SESSION WE HAVE REVENUE NUMBERS.
THEN AT THE APRIL BOARD MEETING, WE WOULD HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL POSITIONS LISTED OUT THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO ADD IN IF THEY NEED TO COME OUT OF IT.
>> 911? REALLY? IS THAT ENOUGH? THAT LOOKS A LITTLE SLIM.
>> IT MIGHT NOT BE. THE GOOD POINT.
>> A LOT OF THESE ARE JUST PLACEHOLDERS.
IT'S TOUGH TO TELL BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY EIGHT MONTHS INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
>> FOR 10 SCHOOLS THAT LOOKS LIKE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THIS IS JUST THE INCREASE THOUGH.
>> RIGHT. [OVERLAPPING] YES, IT'S TRUE.
>> THAT WAS ME UNTIL I GOT THAT.
>> WAS LIKE, THEY NEED TO INCREASE THE [OVERLAPPING].
>> THE REASON WHY I SAY IT MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH, WHAT'S CATCHING ME FOR A LOOP IS THE CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES, BECAUSE CURRENTLY A LOT OF OUR CUSTODIAL SUPPLIES ARE BEING PAID FOR OUT OF THE COVID MONEY.
IT HAS BEEN PAID FOR OUT OF THE COVID MONEY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
ALL OF THE SANITIZING WIPES, I MEAN WE BUY THOSE IN BULK.
ALL OF THAT HAS TO GET FUNNELED.
ALL OF THOSE ITEMS THAT WERE DISINFECTANT-RELATED WERE BEING PURCHASED OUT OF IT AND NOW THEY'VE GOT TO MOVE BACK INTO THE LOCAL BUDGET.
THAT'S WHY THAT FIGURE MIGHT NEED TO BE BUMPED UP AS WELL.
>> WE WILL MAXIMIZE THAT SR WHILE WE CAN.
>> WE WILL MAXIMIZE IT [OVERLAPPING] SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
>> AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WILL BE HONEST WITH THE BOARD, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE TIGHT. BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IT'S ONE TOUGH YEAR TO GET THROUGH.
WE CAN RIDE IT OUT, WE ABSOLUTELY CAN.
WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THAN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.
I'M REALLY NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT FOR ONE YEAR.
IF WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TWO OR THREE LIKE THIS, [NOISE] I'D BE BEING TALKED OFF THE LEDGE AS WELL AS WE ALL PROBABLY WOULD BE.
THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD BY ANY MEANS.
IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING.
AND ERIN HAS BEEN AWESOME WITH HELPING US THINK THROUGH THIS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THERE.
>> THERE'S THE SPIRIT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M NOT GOING TO WORRY UNTIL YOU WORRY.
>> YOU'RE NOT ALONE. UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
>> UPCOMING MEETINGS [OVERLAPPING] AND EVENTS. THAT'S OKAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE ARE GETTING TO THAT TIME.
>> YOU GOT ABOUT MID-JANUARY AND MID-FEBRUARY REPRIEVE A LITTLE BIT, AND NOW IT IS PICKING BACK UP.
>> A LARGER LIST IS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AWAY.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] AS THE APRIL AND MAY GET FILLED IN EVEN MORE, I ENCOURAGE YOU STILL USE THE GOOGLE SHEET TO MARK SO WE KNOW WHO'S THERE.
WE DO TRY TO GIVE THE PRINCIPALS A HEADS UP.
WE SEE WHO'S GOING TO BE THERE BOARD MEMBER WISE, AND THEY LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING SO THEY CAN RECOGNIZE YOU.
AND UNDERSTANDING, I KNOW YOU GUYS AREN'T ASKING FOR THE RECOGNITION, BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY RECOGNIZE YOU'RE COMING BECAUSE TO THEM IT'S SPECIAL WHEN BOARD MEMBERS COME.
SO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THAT AS WELL, AND A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.
>> WE HAD AN EMAIL FOR MARCH 12TH AT 7:00 PM AND MR. BARTON SAID HE COULD NOT ATTEND.
IT WAS FOR NATIONAL TECHNICAL HONOR SOCIETY AT COLONEL RICHARDSON.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WILL BE ABLE.
THERE WAS LIKE A FINAL CALL THIS AFTERNOON.
I FIGURED I'D WAIT UNTIL THE MEETING TO FIND OUT IF ANYBODY FELT THEY COULD ATTEND [OVERLAPPING] OR NOT.
>> ANYBODY HERE? I HAVE SOMETHING [OVERLAPPING] THAT I COULD GET OUT OF IF I HAD TO.
>> I'M NOT GUARANTEED. I'LL BE DONE IN TIME [INAUDIBLE] [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK? > IT'S WHEN I'LL COME BACK IN TUESDAY.
[02:30:01]
>> WHAT TIME IS ITS CALL TIME?
>> I HAVE TO CHECK. I TOLD HER I'LL CHECK WHEN I GOT HOME.
>> SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST EMAIL EACH OTHER BECAUSE SOMEBODY SHOULD BE [OVERLAPPING] THERE.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE BETWEEN THE THREE OF YOU, ONE OF YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO [OVERLAPPING] EMAIL, AND JUST LET MS. FRANTZ KNOW.
AND DR. DOWNES WILL BE THERE FOR ME THAT NIGHT.
IT'S THE COUNTY BUDGET HEARING.
>> RACHEL, CAN YOU ADD THAT TO OUR SPREADSHEET?
>> WELL THEN NOTE RICK AND TROY CANNOT.
SO BETWEEN THE THREE OF US, IF NO ONE CAN, I WILL.
BUT IF ONE OF YOU TWO CAN, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE EASIER FOR ME.
SO CAN WE FIGURE THAT OUT BETWEEN THE THREE OF US?
>> BUT I THINK, ISN'T IT BOTH SCHOOLS?
>> IT'S BOTH SCHOOLS. IT'S THE NTHS FOR THEIR OWN AT COLONEL [OVERLAPPING] RICHARDSON.
>> I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT OUT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S LIKE LAST YEAR. IT'S REALLY GOOD.
>> I HOPE THAT. I COULD, I NOT CANNOT.
>> IN FACT, I CAN JUST SAY I'LL DO THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] AS YOU SAID, YOU'D HAVE TO TAKE SOMETHING OFF.
>> I WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE SOMETHING, BUT I COULD IF I HAD TO.
>> WE CAN DO IT OKAY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL SAY I'LL DO IT, BUT IF SOMETHING COMES UP FOR ME AND I CAN'T, I'LL CALL YOU PERSONALLY AND SEE IF YOU CAN.
BUT I THINK I'LL JUST TRY TO MAKE SURE OF IT.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT ANY EVENTS?
>> COLONEL'S SCHOLARSHIP SENIOR AWARD NIGHT IS MAY 15, CORRECT? SO ONE ON THE 23RD, THAT'S IN NORTH CAROLINE'S?
>> CORRECT. THE 22ND IS NORTH CAROLINE.
>> SO SCHOLARSHIP IS 22ND, NEXT ONE IS 23RD. RIGHT?
>> THE SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT IS 23RD, THE SCHOLARSHIP IS 22ND.
>> RIGHT. SO IT'S ALL BACK TO BACK?
>> AND COLONEL DOES IT ALL AT ONCE.
>> ON MAY 29TH AND 30TH IS THEIR GRADUATIONS.
>> IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO COMPLETE.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF BLOOD THOUGH.
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS ON THAT. I DON'T HAPPEN TO HAVE DETAILS.
>> I THINK IT'S PLACE IN DENTON, I THINK.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY AN INTERESTING PLACE. YOU GUYS EVER [OVERLAPPING] BEEN THERE?
>> AT COLONEL ABOUT ONCE, OR BOTH OF THEM ONE NIGHT? AND ALSO ALL THE CONCERTS AND CHORUS.
AS DR. SIMMONS SAID, TRY TO KEEP THE SPREADSHEET UP TO DATE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
I WENT TO LOOK AT IT TODAY AND GOOGLE SHUT DOWN FOR WHATEVER REASON.
I HEARD THAT IT WAS AN ATTACK FROM A FOREIGN COUNTRY. I DON'T KNOW.
OUR IT PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY KNOW BETTER, JUST GOOGLE UPDATING IN THEIR SECURITY.
>> IT WAS MR. WEILGOSZ MESSING WITH YOU.
>> AND SO FURTHER, OUR NEXT MEETING IS A WORK SESSION ON MARCH 19TH.
[10. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
AND THEN OUR NEXT MEETING OF THE BOARD IS APRIL 2ND.AND I HAVE THE GREAT HONOR OF BEING CALLED THE JURY DUTY FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS AN APRIL FOOLS' JOKE, IT'S NOT.
[LAUGHTER] SO I HAVE ASKED TO BE EXCUSED FROM DUTY ON APRIL 2ND BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MURDER TRIAL OR WHATEVER THEY HAVE ME AND WOULD BE OVER BY FIVE O'CLOCK.
>> DID YOU WRITE YOUR LETTER, MR. BARTON?
>> I ALREADY SUBMITTED MY REQUEST BUT [LAUGHTER] I ONLY ASKED FOR APRIL 1ST AND 2ND TO BE EXCUSED BECAUSE APRIL 1ST, I'M FLYING BACK FROM DENVER.
SO I DON'T THINK I'LL GET BACK IN TIME TO BE IN THE COURT ROOM.
AND I GOT IT ON GOOD AUTHORITY, THEY'RE ONLY HAVING ABOUT TWO JURY TRIALS A MONTH SO I THINK MY CHANCES OF BEING ABLE TO BE HERE FOR APRIL 2ND MEETING LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT IN CASE I NEED TO BOW OUT AND HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE BE HERE.
AND EVEN THEN, EVEN IF I WAS THERE THAT DAY, THERE WAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE THAT I COULD BE HERE IN TIME FOR OUR MEETING.
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW. COURT DOES.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. AND I REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH BEING CALLED A JURY DUTY, BUT I KNOW HOW TO SAY GUILTY.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT MAKES YOU GET ME OUT OF IT RIGHT THERE.
[OVERLAPPING] I HAVE NO PROBLEM SAYING NOT GUILTY.
>> BUT THAT WILL GET YOU OUT. I KNEW THE JUDGE, AND BOTH ATTORNEYS, THE PROSECUTOR, AND THAT DIDN'T GET ME OUT OF IT. I'M LIKE, "SERIOUSLY?"
>> ALL RIGHT. WE'RE AT THE END, AND I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> AND YOU WANT TO SECOND. [OVERLAPPING]
[02:35:02]
>> NONE OPPOSE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, MARK. [LAUGHTER]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.