[1. Opening Items]
[00:00:02]
>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
WE'RE STARTING A LITTLE BIT LATE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WATCH AT HOME AND FROM ELSEWHERE, I APOLOGIZE FOR LATE START.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I KNOW WE'RE LATE, THAT'S OUR FAULT.
MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR EVERYBODY AND APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
THIS IS CALLING TO ORDER THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION, TUESDAY, MAY 7TH, HARD TO BELIEVE WE'RE IN MAY, ISN'T IT? 2024. WE DID HAVE OUR CLOSED SESSION AND NOW WE SEEK TO RECONVENE AN OPEN SESSION IF WE HAVE A MOTION TO OPEN A MEETING.
>> I SHALL MOVE THAT WE REOPEN THE MEETING.
>> AYE. EXCELLENT. WE ARE STARTED, AND NOW WE CAN MOVE TO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND WE HAVE PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
[BACKGROUND] [BACKGROUND] HELLO.
>> WHO DO WE HAVE WITH US TONIGHT?
>> I BRING TO YOU VARIOUS MEMBERS OF OUR LOCAL SCOUT SCOUT.
I HAVE MR. CHARLES HERE AND HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM AND SAY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM.
>> WE HAVE [INAUDIBLE]. HOLD IT. [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE GRAYSON.
THERE ARE TWO LIONS. WE HAVE NOAH, WHO'S A WOLF, WHICH IS A SECOND GRADE AND WE HAVE CHRISTINE AND REGAN THAT ARE WE BLOWS IN FOURTH GRADE.
>> WE BLOWS? WHAT ARE WE BLOWS? [LAUGHTER].
>> WE HAVE A LOT MORE MEMBERS BUT WITH SPORTS AND BASEBALL AND ALL THAT WE ONLY HAD TWO PEOPLE COMING ON OUT.
WE HAVE A REALLY LARGE SCOUT TROOP DOWN IN THE PRESTON AREA, WHICH IS GROWING.
>> NOVEMBER WAS OUR OFFICIAL START FROM REOPENING.
>> ALL FROM THE PRESTON FEDERALSBURG AREA WITH TWO OF THEM COMING FROM GREENSBORO.
>> THAT EXTRA GO TO SCHOOL IN PRESTON.
>> WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU GUYS HERE TONIGHT.
GOOD TO SEE YOU OUT HERE WITH THE SCOUTS AS WELL.
I DO HAVE TO ASK. I HAPPENED TO BE AT THE SHOREBIRDS GAME LAST WEEK.
I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK WHERE THEY HAD THE SCOUT NIGHT.
HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS GOT TO GO TO THE, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU LOOK LIKE I REMEMBER SEEING YOU THERE BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO KNOW THIS GUY FAIRLY WELL SO HE WAS EASY TO SEE.
>> I GOT TO JOIN BUT I DIDN'T GET TO GO [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S OKAY. I'M GLAD YOU WERE THERE.
YOU GUYS REPRESENTED VERY WELL.
WE HAD LOTS OF TROOPS ACROSS THE COUNTY THERE, WHICH WAS GREAT. FANTASTIC.
>> I THINK THREE OF THEM FROM THE LOCAL TROOP AS WELL.
>> AWESOME. IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY SO INVOLVED IN SCOUTING. ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR PICTURE?
>> VERY GOOD. [LAUGHTER] GREAT JOB WITH THE PLEDGE.
>> CLOSE TO TALK ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW. [LAUGHTER]
>> MR. CHARLES, [INAUDIBLE] AND I DO APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COME OUT.
PARENTS, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING YOUR KIDS.
[00:05:01]
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY NEEDED. MORE ENERGY, COOKIES, SUGAR. [OVERLAPPING] NICE JOB.
NEXT UP FOR US IS TO TAKE A LOOK ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH WE HAVE, COURSE, AND DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?
>> I BELIEVE WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
>> WE HAVE AN AGENDA AND CAN MOVE FORWARD.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO READ OUR MISSION.
WE ALWAYS READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT AT THE START OF THE MEETINGS, IT IS AN EXCELLENT REMINDER OF WHY WE'RE ALL HERE AND THE WORK WE DO.
OUR MISSION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, WE PREPARE ALL STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE COLLEGE CAREER AND LIFE READINESS THROUGH A CHALLENGING AND PROGRESSIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THIS MONTH IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH AND TODAY IS NATIONAL CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE SOME GREEN BEING SUPPORTED, WE SEE SOME GREEN T-SHIRTS.
I SEE A LOT OF GREEN IN THE ROOM, THANK YOU FOR THAT SUPPORT.
MENTAL HEALTH IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE ATTENTION THAT IT SHOULD AND SO WHAT A GREAT THING TO HAVE THE DAY RECOGNIZED, THE MONTH RECOGNIZED, AND PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN TODAY.
WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR RECOGNITIONS AND OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS
[2. Recognitions]
AND RECOGNITIONS IS CERTAINLY RELEVANT IN THAT AREA.WE HAVE FIRST, THE LUCAS NAGEL FOUNDATION PRESENTATION.
WELCOME, GREAT TO SEE YOU BACK WITH US.
>> PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS, GOOD EVENING.
MILT NAGEL, ON BEHALF OF LUCAS NAGEL FOUNDATION.
ALONG WITH ME, MY WIFE, TINA, AND SUSAN REYNOLDS ON BEHALF OF THE CAROLINE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.
AS YOU MENTIONED, RICK, MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
WE STARTED THE LUCAS NAGEL FUND AFTER WE LOST OUR SON TO MENTAL HEALTH WHEN HE TOOK HIS OWN LIFE 12/31/22 TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE ISSUE.
IT'S NOT LIMITED TO FIRST RESPONDERS BUT OUR PURPOSE IS DIRECTED AT FIRST RESPONDERS BECAUSE THEY [NOISE] PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY IN SOME CAPACITY OR ANOTHER AND ARE EXPOSED TO A LOT MORE TRAUMATIC EVENTS OVER THE COURSE OF THEIR CAREER THAN THE EVERYDAY CITIZEN AND THAT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS CAUSES THEM TO HAVE ISSUES THAT NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T HAVE.
IT IS A STIGMA THAT WE'VE GOT A BREAK AND THAT IS NOT DRAWING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH ASPECTS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY FIRST RESPONDERS.
OUR MISSION IS TO BREAK THAT STIGMA, NOT ONLY HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, BUT HOPEFULLY EXPANDED OVER TIME TO THE MID SHORE.
THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORTS GOING ON.
THERE IS NOW A RECENTLY FORMED MID SHORE COALITION FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUICIDE PREVENTION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHANNEL MARKER AND FOR ALL SEASONS.
OUR FOUNDATION IS ALSO A COMPONENT OF THAT.
BUT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL, SUSAN R REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, HEY, I'VE GOT SOME GRANT MONEY, I THINK THIS WILL BE A GREAT CAUSE TO PROMOTE NOT ONLY THE FOUNDATION BUT ALSO BRING INCREASED AWARENESS TO THE ISSUE.
WITH HER DAUGHTER, NANCY, WHO'S A RETIRED CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY, THEY VETTED A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOOKS.
EVERY FIRST RESPONDER IN CAROLINE COUNTY IS RECEIVING BOOKS ON BEHALF OF THE FOUNDATION AND HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.
YOU HAVE A LETTER THERE THAT IS ACCOMPANYING.
I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF PUTTING IT OUT THERE WHILE YOU GUYS WERE STILL IN CLOSED SESSION.
[LAUGHTER] ATTACHED TO THAT LETTER IS A STICKER THAT'S INSIDE EVERY BOOK.
IN ADDITION TO EVERY FIRST RESPONDER, THERE'S ALSO A SERIES OF BOOKS THAT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELORS IN EVERY SCHOOL.
THAT'S WHAT'S HERE IN THE BAG.
THEN THERE'S ALSO A BAG OF A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT MATERIALS FOR CALLOWAY AND HER ROLE IN OVERSEEING MENTAL HEALTH AND AS ONE OF HER MANY HATS THAT SHE WEARS HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE'RE BLESSED TO HAVE FOLKS LIKE SUSAN REYNOLDS HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY THAT'S SO FORWARD THINKING AND SEES THE NEED AS US AND TO LIVE IN CAROLINE COUNTY WHERE WE'RE CLOSE
[00:10:03]
ENOUGH THAT WE KNOW EACH OTHER AND SHE CAN REACH OUT AND WE CAN MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN.I APPRECIATE YOU LETTING US COME HERE TONIGHT AND PRESENT THESE BAGS AND WE KNOW THAT YOU'LL GET THEM OUT TO THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS.
>> WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE.
MUCH APPRECIATED THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS TREMENDOUS.
YOU KNOW THAT IT MEANS A LOT TO ME PERSONALLY, THE WORK I DO EVERYDAY WITH A NONPROFIT I MANAGE.
SUSAN, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING WITH THE COUNCIL, AND TINA, GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.
JUST THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS TERRIFIC.
>> I HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS HERE.
>> OH, THERE YOU ARE. AND DERRICK SIMMONS, DR. SIMMONS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM TOO.
>> YOU'RE TAKING IDEAS TO ACTION, AND THAT REALLY MEANS A LOT.
>> WELL, WE CERTAINLY TRY TO DO WHAT THE NEED IS IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> WHEN WE HAVE HAVE ANY MONEY AVAILABLE, WE WILL [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THERE'S NO QUESTION FOR MY MIND. [NOISE]
WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU LEMONS, WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> MILTON, TINA, AND SUSAN, THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR THE GENEROUS DONATION AND EVERYTHING YOU GUYS HAVE DONE.
WE WILL GLADLY MAKE SURE THEY GET TO ALL THE BUILDINGS TO ALL THE COUNSELORS AND KARA GET HER BAG.
I'M SURE THEY'LL BE PUT TO GREAT USE.
>> HERE'S THE ONE WITH THE DIFFERENT BOOKS IN IT SO IT SHOULDN'T BE ROCKET SCIENCE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S ONE OF THE ONES ON THE END.
>> CAN WE GET A PICTURE FOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA?
>> [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] I GOT HERE.
>> WONDERFUL, POWERFUL WAY TO START OUR MEETING TO SAY.
SO MOVING ALONG, WE NOW HAVE ANOTHER WONDERFUL RECOGNITION, THE MARYLAND SKILLS USA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL.
>> YES. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DOCTOR SIMMONS.
I COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WITH A VERY EXCITING RECOGNITION FOR MCKENNA PAW, A SENIOR AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER COME UP AS I READ A LITTLE BIT.
MCKENNA RECENTLY COMPETED IN THE MARYLAND STATE SKILLS USA CABINET MAKING COMPETITION.
STUDENTS IN THIS COMPETITION BUILD A SMALL CABINET OR A PIECE OF FURNITURE FROM SUPPLIED MATERIALS AND DRAWINGS.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO READ THE DRAWINGS, LAY OUT, CREATE A CUT LIST, AND CUT THE PARTS USING A VARIETY OF TOOLS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO TABLE SAW, MITER SAW DRILL, HINGE BORING MACHINE, AND VARIOUS HAND TOOLS.
THE PARTS MUST BE ACCURATELY ASSEMBLED, SANDED AND ADJUSTED TO TOLERANCES SPECIFIED BY THE JUDGES.
I'M PLEASED TO CONGRATULATE MCKENNA ON EARNING GOLD AT THE STATE COMPETITION, WHICH ALLOWS HER TO MOVE ON TO SKILLS USA CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH WILL BE HELD IN JUNE IN ATLANTA.
THE SKILLS USA CHAMPIONSHIP IS THE PREMIER SHOWCASE OF AMERICA'S MOST HIGHLY SKILLED CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION STUDENTS.
IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE LARGEST HANDS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EVENTS IN THE WORLD.
HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH SKILLS USA NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS CONFERENCE EACH JUNE.
[00:15:02]
THE ALL INSPIRING EVENT FEATURES MORE THAN 6,000 STATE CHAMPIONS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES COMPETING HEAD TO HEAD IN 115 SKILLED AND LEADERSHIP COMPETITIONS.SO WE ARE SO PLEASED THAT MCKENNA HAVE OPPORTUNITY HAS EARNED THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO.
I WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER TEACHER, DENNIS HALL, AND CCTC PRINCIPAL COURTNEY HANTY FOR THEIR EFFORTS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MCKENNA CONGRATULATIONS ON GOLD IN THE STATE AND BEST OF LUCK IN JUNE.
I DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS THE CABINET BUILDING EARLIER IN THE DAY AND THEN CAME BACK AT THE END, AND I WOULD I LITERALLY I MEAN, POOR THING.
I NEVER MET HER. I GAVE HER 50,000 HUGS.
I'M LIKE, I CANNOT BELIEVE WHAT YOU DID.
SO MCKENNA ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, CONGRATULATIONS.
WELCOME. [APPLAUSE] AND HER PARENTS HERE WITH HER TONIGHT.
SO THANK YOU TO YOU ALL AS WELL GRANDPARENTS.
>> A STATE GOAL IS HARD TO COME BY.
THAT'S AWESOME. I HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK FOR A NATIONAL GOAL.
THAT'S VERY GOOD.[BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE JUST GIVEN TO US OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE.
LINDSAY SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
LET'S SHARE IT WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE ASPIRING TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT, WE CELEBRATE FOR YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE GOING TO GO OFF AND BECOME EDUCATORS AND COME BACK AND TEACH WITH US HERE, CAROLINE COUNTY.
EACH YEAR, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES STUDENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERED TO BE HIGHLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES TO COME BACK AND TEACH IN OUR CLASSROOMS. THE SCHOLARSHIP IS TARGETED TOWARDS A DIVERSIFICATION IN THE INSTRUCT WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND FULFILLING NEEDS OF OUR TEACHERS IN DECLARED CRITICAL SHORTAGE AREAS, WHICH, AS OF RIGHT NOW IS EVERYTHING BUT ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
THE BOARD VOTED IN 2019 TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING THIS AWARD OF THREE TO NOW FOUR, SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW OUR OWN.
TONIGHT, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE FOLLOWING YOUNG ADULTS.
AND IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME.
GRAY WHEATLEY IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING.
HOWEVER, THE AWARD IS GOING TO GRAY WHO PLANS TO GO TO MCDANIEL AND IS AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL AND WANTS TO DO SECONDARY SPANISH.
QUINCY SIMMONS FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, EARLY EDUCATION, SALISBURY UNIVERSITY.
LINDSAY SULLIVAN, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, SALISBURY UNIVERSITY.
KAYLA WIL GOSH, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, ELEMENTARY EDUCATION.
AND THE SCHOLARSHIP IS A $5,000 YEAR SCHOLARSHIP RENEWABLE FOR FOUR YEARS, AND THE RECIPIENTS MUST AGREE TO COME BACK AND TEACH WITH US,
[00:20:02]
AND I THINK THAT YOU WILL.I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MR. DVORAK AND MR. VERDE, WHO ARE THEIR TM TEACHERS AT THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS. AND MR. SPIKER.
I GUESS YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT IN PLACE OF MR. SHERMAN, SO THE ADMINISTRATION AT COLON RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY ALL WORKED VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS RECEIVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND COME BACK AND TEACH WITH US AND MAKE IT ENTICING.
I ASSUME THAT FAMILY MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT.
IF I CAN HAVE YOU EACH COME UP INDIVIDUALLY, I'LL CALL YOUR NAME YOU GET PHOTOGRAPHS AND THEN SEND THEM BACK TO THAT WORK.
NEED SOME ADJUSTMENTS. CAN YOU GET THE SKILLS USA PERSON TO FIX IT?
>> ACTUALLY [LAUGHTER] CCDC IS WORKING ON MAKING A PODIUM.
>> SO YOU CAN START WORKING ON IT.
[INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND GET PICTURES? I'M TRYING TO THINK OF AN EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THAT.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> [BACKGROUND] COME ON. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE'S THE VILLAGE. CONGRATULATIONS KAYLA.
YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID IT YEARS FROM NOW.
[LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] AND LINDSAY SULLIVAN.
>> THANK YOU. [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER]
OUR CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL LOVES AND APPRECIATES YOU.
PLEASE COME BACK AND TEACH FOR US.
>> BETTER THAN PLEASE. I HOPE IN FOUR YEARS TO BE THE ONES HELPING SIGN YOUR CONTRACT AND WELCOME YOU BACK IN.
AND WE WILL BE KEEPING TABS ON YOU ALONG THE WAY TO HELP ANYWAY.
AWESOME. THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH.
>> THE NEXT IN RECOGNITION WE HAVE A COUPLE OF FAMILIAR FACES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THAT'S THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS.
>> LEVI MIGHT NOT BE GLAD FOR THE RAIN, BUT SOME OF US HERE ARE BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT IF THE WEATHER WAS NICER OUTSIDE, BUT WE'RE GLAD IT DID RAIN SO YOU COULD JOIN US TONIGHT.
LEVI HAD ANOTHER COMMITMENT, BAYSIDE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME FOR BASEBALL, SO THANKFULLY IT RAINS SO HE COULD BE HERE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] GAME TOMORROW NIGHT.
>> VERY GOOD. WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS WHO'VE BEEN WITH US OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, LESLIE AND LEVI.
WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU GUYS TONIGHT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM MY SEAT, IT'S BEEN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL HAVING YOU GUYS AS STUDENT BOARD REPS. YOU EACH BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THE SEAT IN YOUR OWN FLAVOR AND YOUR OWN APPROACH, WHICH HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.
IT'S BEEN GREAT TO SEE YOU GUYS NAVIGATE THROUGH YOUR SENIOR YEAR.
ALONG THE WAY, LESLIE, IT WAS A LOT OF FUN WATCHING YOU INTERACT AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO SEE YOU AT THE ONE HEARING AS WELL.
I KNOW THERE'S GREAT THINGS IN THE FUTURE FOR BOTH OF YOU GUYS.
[00:25:03]
YOU'VE REPRESENTED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WELL, AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.>> ALREADY GOT THEM. OKAY. THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.
>> YES. I WAS MAKING SURE I DIDN'T HAVE SOMETHING ELSE I WAS SUPPOSED TO.
BUT THEY'VE ALREADY GOT THOSE.
[LAUGHTER] SO WE ARE CURIOUS IF YOU CAN SHARE FOR EVERYBODY HERE WHAT THE PLANS ARE AFTER GRADUATION.
WHERE WILL YOU BE HEADING AND WHAT'S THE FUTURE LIKE?
>> I'LL GO FIRST. I'M GOING TO GO WORK AT AN ENGINEERING FIRM WITH MY UNCLE.
I'LL BE FLYING OUT JUNE 1ST RIGHT AFTER GRADUATION TO BEGIN MY INTERNSHIP, AND I'LL JUST BE DOING MOSTLY AUTOCAD DRAFTING, DESIGNING DIFFERENT OIL SITES, AND MECHANICAL FACTORIES.
WE JUST GOT A DEAL WITH TESLA, BASICALLY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO GO WORK FOR THEM AND JUST WORK OUT.
>> WHAT'S YOUR DESTINATION? WHERE ARE YOU FLYING TO?
>> DENVER, BUT I'M GOING TO LIVE IN LITTLETON.
>> VERY EXPENSIVE. RENT IS A LITTLE CRAZY.
>> THIS FALL, I WILL BE ATTENDING CORNELL UNIVERSITY WITH THE INTENTION TO MAJOR IN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY WITH A MINOR IN BIO ENGINEERING.
>> SOUNDS EASY. [LAUGHTER] THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
IT'S VERY CHALLENGING. GOOD FOR YOU.
>> SOMETHING TELLS ME WE WILL BE HEARING GREAT THINGS COMING OUT OF YOUR WORK THAT YOU'LL BE DOING THERE AS WELL.
>> YOU GUYS HAVE FANTASTIC PLANS.
>> THESE ARE GREAT PLANS, YEAH. GOOD JOB.
>> WELL, THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
AS PART OF OUR EXIT AS WELL, I KNOW MS. BARRY IS SCHEDULING MEETINGS FOR US TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBER EXPERIENCE AS WELL, MOVING FORWARD.
I JUST THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD SEATS TO FILL BECAUSE YOU BOTH HAVE YOUR OWN STYLE, YOU BRING A LOT OF ENERGY AND PERSONALITY, AND IT REALLY SPICES IT UP AND ALSO GIVES US YOUR FLAVOR AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE, AND HAS BEEN REALLY WONDERFUL.
WHOEVER'S NEXT IS GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH CHALLENGE TO LIVE UP TO.
THEY JUST HAVE TO BE THEMSELVES JUST LIKE YOU WERE BOTH YOURSELF.
>> I HAVE CERTIFICATES, I'LL COME DOWN.
[BACKGROUND] [APPLAUSE] [BACKGROUND]
[3. Reports]
NOW WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR REPORTS, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET TO HEAR FROM THEM AGAIN PRETTY SOON.OUR BOARD MEMBER REPORTS ARE FIRST.
ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO OFFER ON ACTIVITIES OR JUST COMMENTS. WHO'D LIKE TO GO FIRST? USUALLY I CALL ON SOMEBODY AND THEY'RE LIKE, "WHY ME FIRST?" LIKE YOU TWO BEFORE.
WHO GETS GO FIRST? TROY WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST.
>> YEAH, I'LL GO FIRST. [LAUGHTER] I JUST WANT TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS PRETTY MUCH TO ALL THE ATHLETIC TEAMS. [BACKGROUND] IT SEEMS LIKE YEAR AFTER YEAR, PRODUCING GREAT ATHLETES.
THEY'VE REPRESENTED CAROLINE COUNTY VERY WELL.
>> WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT COLONEL, BUT REALLY ALL THE SCHOOLS.
WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. MARK, YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?
>> SURE. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT TODAY.
JUST THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER MONTH SERVING THE PEOPLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
[00:30:01]
IT'S ALMOST TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE WE START COUNTING DOWN FROM WEEKS TO DAYS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, SO I THINK I'M THANKFUL FOR THAT AS A PARENT.>> WELL, IT'S BEEN A BUSY MONTH, I CAN SAY THAT.
I CAN'T REALLY SAY WHAT WAS MOST FAVORITE.
I ENJOYED THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR EVENT AND BEING OUT TO THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S BEEN BUSY, BUT IT'S BEEN GOOD BEING A PART OF SEEING THE STUDENTS AT WORK AND THE TEACHERS CELEBRATING TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND IT'S GOOD.
>> OUTSTANDING. IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY BUSY TIME COMING UP.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY NIGHT, THERE'S SOMETHING TONIGHT THAT WE CAN'T BE OUT.
IT'S WAY THAT COUPLE OF THINGS.
I WANT TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES AND JUST TALK ABOUT THE BOARD.
LAST MEETING, WE NOTED THAT WE HAD A VACANT SEAT.
WE HAD SOMEONE RESIGN UNEXPECTEDLY.
I JUST WANT TO PUT OUT THERE FOR EVERYBODY HERE AND ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING THAT THERE'S SOME MISUNDERSTANDING WITH WHAT THE BOARD IS ABOUT AND WHAT THE BOARD'S ROLE IS.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WITH THIS VACANCY, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE RELEVANT STATUTE, THE LAW, ON HOW TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
IT'S SOMETHING WE COULD PERHAPS LEAVE VACANT UNTIL THE ELECTION, BUT THAT'S MULTIPLE MONTHS AWAY.
THAT'S WHY THE LAW IS IN PLACE.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE MAKING UP.
IT'S A PROCESS THAT'S ESTABLISHED IN LAW.
WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR A QUALIFIED PERSON IN DISTRICT 1.
THEY HAVE TO BE PART OF DISTRICT 1, THEY HAVE TO RESIDE IN DISTRICT 1, WHICH IS EASILY IDENTIFIED ON A MAP OF THE COUNTY.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS TO FILL THAT VACANCY.
ONCE WE HAVE OUR APPLICATIONS, APPLICATION CALL FOR APPLICATION PERIOD ENDS MAY 17TH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WHERE WE INTERVIEW AND DECIDE WHO SHOULD BE THE NEXT PERSON THAT FILLS OUT THAT BOARD VACANCY FOR THE REST OF THE TERM.
AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE REGULAR PROCESS, TO HAVE THE VOTERS SELECT SOMEBODY FOR THAT DISTRICT.
IT'S ALSO APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME, AND CONSIDERING THE CHANGE THAT'S OCCURRED, JUST TO PUT OUT THERE FOR ANYBODY WHO'S INTERESTED OR ANYBODY WHO FOLLOWS WHAT WE DO, THAT THE ROLE OF THIS BOARD IS OFTENTIMES MISUNDERSTOOD.
IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO RUN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS.
THAT'S A SUPERINTENDENT'S JOB.
THIS BOARD SELECTS THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT WE BELIEVE IS COMPETENT AND CONFIDENT AND CAPABLE OF DOING THAT WORK WHICH THIS BOARD DID, AND THEN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH THAT SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE LET THEM MANAGE THE SYSTEM.
WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND REVIEW AND EVALUATIONS.
OUR JOB, TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT AND GIVE THEM GUIDANCE.
OF COURSE, THEN WE REVIEW POLICIES WHICH WE'LL DISCUSS SOME OF THAT TONIGHT.
WE HAVE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO AS PART OF THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD, BUT PRIMARILY THE SUPERINTENDENT RUNS A SYSTEM AND WE PROVIDE GUIDANCE.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD IS DISSATISFIED WITH SOMETHING THE SUPERINTENDENT DOES, SAYS, THEIR PERFORMANCE, ANYTHING IN THAT REGARD, THE APPROPRIATE WAY FOR THE BOARD TO HANDLE THAT IS TO CONVENE AS A BOARD IN CLOSED SESSION, CONSIDERING A PERSONNEL MATTER AND DISCUSS AND LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT PLUS MINUS PRO NEGATIVE, WHAT HAVE YOU.
IT'S NOT OUR PLACE TO CRITICIZE THE SUPERINTENDENT IN PUBLIC OR ANY OTHER ANY OTHER FORM OTHER THAN TO HANDLE IT AS APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL MATTER.
IF WE DIDN'T AGREE WITH THAT INDIVIDUALLY, WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AS DOES EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
EVERY SUPERINTENDENT, EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE, THEY HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR SUPERINTENDENT.
OTHERWISE, IT'S CHAOS AND I DON'T THINK CHAOS SERVES ANYBODY.
EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD IS AWARE OF THAT? IF ANYBODY ACTS LIKE THEY DIDN'T KNOW, THEN THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. WE ALL KNOW THAT.
ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO MENTION, AND JUST TO EMPHASIZE ABOUT THE BOARD BECAUSE THIS IS ALSO MISUNDERSTOOD.
I BELIEVE EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD UNDERSTANDS WHAT OUR DUTY IS AND THAT IT'S OUR JOB TO CARRY OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE AND TO DIRECT WHAT WE BELIEVE IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS, AND YET IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR US TO EMPHASIZE AND TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, BECAUSE EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BOARD WAS EITHER APPOINTED OR ELECTED TO REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY AND THE INTERESTS OF THIS COMMUNITY IN ITS PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.
[00:35:02]
OFTENTIMES, I'D SAY ALMOST ALWAYS, WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STUDENTS TURNS OUT TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE, THAT'S THE WORK WE DO.
THERE'S SOME INFORMATION PUT OUT THERE THAT'S NOT ACCURATE, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THE AIR ON THAT.
AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, WELL, MAYBE NEXT MONTH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS WE DID IN MAY BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY ACTIVE AND REALLY EXCITING.
AGAIN, THAT'S REALLY A SERIOUS CONVERSATION THERE, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT OUT THERE WHAT I BELIEVE IS THE ROLE OF THE BOARD AND WHERE THAT COMES FROM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ON THAT.
NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> THANK YOU, MR. BARTON. FOR MY REPORT THIS MONTH, I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK WHICH IS LITERALLY GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
TODAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE COMMISSIONERS' MEETING ALONG WITH MRS. AMY BAUMAN, A DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER AND PRESIDENT OF OUR EDUCATORS' ASSOCIATION.
AS THE COMMISSIONERS GAVE US A PROCLAMATION FOR TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK, AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMISSIONERS DOING IT SEPARATELY AS TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK AND RECOGNIZING THE HARD WORK OF EVERYBODY WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON THAT, FOLKS.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF.
WE INCLUDE ALL STAFF PART TIME, HALF TIME, FULL TIME TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF, SO OVER 1,100 EMPLOYEES.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS SIZE. IT TRULY TAKES ALL 1,100 PLUS TO DO WHAT WE DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.
SYSTEM CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT EVERYBODY WORKING TOGETHER AND EVERYBODY ROWING TOGETHER TO DO WHAT WE DO FOR KIDS.
WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR THIS YEAR SOME AMAZING GAINS WITH SOME OF OUR STUDENTS.
SOME OF THOSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PUBLICLY AT OUR WORK SESSIONS, REVIEWING DATA.
SOME OF THOSE WE WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IN FURTHER DETAIL WITHIN THE COMING MONTHS AS STATE DATA GETS RELEASED.
THERE'S AN INTERESTING PROCESS THAT DATA GOES THROUGH AT THE STATE LEVEL.
WHEN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT DATA IS FIRST RELEASED, IT'S EMBARGOED UNTIL IT'S BASICALLY THOROUGHLY REVIEWED AND VETTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S ACCURATE AND THOSE THINGS, THEN IT GETS RELEASED OUT TO THE PUBLIC.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE SEEN SOME EARLY RETURNS.
SOME OF US HAVE ON SOME OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DATA.
IT'S NOT READY FOR RELEASE FULLY, SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THE HARD WORK THAT OUR STAFF ARE PUTTING IN EVERY DAY TRULY IS SHOWING DIVIDENDS, AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT AND REALLY WALK THROUGH THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
SEEING STUDENT GROUP POPULATIONS HAVE MORE GAINS THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE SEEN EVEN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. FOR THAT, I'M PROUD.
I'M NOT PROUD OF WHAT I'M DOING, PROUD OF WHAT OUR STAFF ARE DOING.
OUR STAFF ARE MEETING THE KIDS WHERE THEY ARE.
OUR STAFF ARE SEEING WHAT OUR KIDS NEED.
THEY'RE OVERCOMING OBSTACLES, THEY'RE OVERCOMING BARRIERS, AND OUR STAFF HAVE MOVED BEYOND THE EXCUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
IT HAPPENED. WE HAD ACCEPTED IT HAPPENED.
WE ACCEPTED ALL THE PIECES THAT CAME WITH IT.
BUT IT FEELS LIKE THIS YEAR, WE HAVE FINALLY TAKEN THAT VERY STRONG STEP FORWARD IN ALL OF OUR CONTENT AREAS, IN THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WE PROVIDE FOR SO MANY OF OUR KIDS, WHETHER IT'S OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE LEARNING ENGLISH FOR THE FIRST TIME, TO OUR STUDENTS IN OUR ADVANCED CLASSES.
WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT GAINS THIS YEAR THAT MAKES ME PROUD OF THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY'S PUTTING IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.
BUT I WANT TO REITERATE, IT CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT EVERYBODY.
OUR TEACHERS ARE DOING THE BIG LIFT IN THE CLASSROOM AND ALONG WITH THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.
BUT IF THE KIDS AREN'T FED, THE KIDS AREN'T READY TO LEARN WHEN THEY WALK IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BUS DRIVERS, WHICH TRULY IS THE FIRST PERSON TO SEE OVER 3,000 OF OUR KIDS EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY SET THE TONE FOR OVER 3,000 OF OUR KIDS BEFORE THEY EVEN SET FOOT IN OUR BUILDING, WITHOUT THEM, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN.
WITHOUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING, AND WHAT THEY PUT IN, THE LEADERSHIP AROUND INSTRUCTION, WHETHER IT'S THE INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM, WHETHER IT'S THE WORK OF OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, OUR HR DEPARTMENT, IT TRULY TAKES EVERYONE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS AS IT SHOULD AND AT TOP PERFORMANCE.
ARE WE AT THE TOP AND AT THE PINNACLE YET? NO. WILL WE EVER BE? IN MY EYES, NO. BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO LEARN, THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM TO GROW.
BUT BY GOD, THIS YEAR, WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT MOVES AND IT FEELS GREAT TO LITERALLY SEE THE KIDS MAKING GREAT GAINS, TO SEE THE SMILES ON OUR STAFF,
[00:40:01]
TO SEE OUR STAFF FEELING LIKE THEY'RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE, TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE FINALLY MAKING SOME REALLY STRONG BREAKTHROUGHS TO BRING US BACK FROM WHERE WE WERE.I'M PROUD OF EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS.
I HOPE THE SMALL TOKENS OF APPRECIATION WE'RE DOING THIS WEEK HELP.
OUR PRINCIPALS ARE DOING A FANTASTIC JOB IN THEIR BUILDINGS WITH RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT ALL WEEK LONG AS WELL.
BUT I AM ABSOLUTELY PROUD TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO SPEND MY ENTIRE CAREER HERE AND SEE WHERE WE ARE HEADING.
I THINK THE FUTURE LOOKS REALLY GREAT FOR CCPS, LOOKS REALLY GREAT FOR OUR KIDS, AND LOOKS FANTASTIC FOR STAFF.
WE ARE DEFINITELY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND I'M THRILLED AND CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE CAN ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE EARLY RETURNS.
JUST REALLY GREAT TO SEE. THAT'S MY REPORT.
I DON'T WANT TO RAMBLE TOO MUCH.
I FEEL LIKE I ALREADY STARTED TO A LITTLE BIT, BUT JUST A LOT OF GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.
IT'S A GOOD TIME HERE TO RECOGNIZE THAT BECAUSE MR. JONES, AS YOU SAID, PARENTS COUNT DOWN, WE DO TOO.
WE LOVE THE KIDS. I'D LIKE TO SAY WE ALL COUNT DOWN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO MISS THEM AND WE WILL.
>> BUT THERE IS ALSO THAT NICE BREAKTHROUGH THAT LOOKS FORWARD TO A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.
ABSENCE DOES MAKE THE HEART OF A FOUNDER.
SUMMERTIME IS ALWAYS NICE FOR FOLKS AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT TOO, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME GREAT STUFF, SO THANK YOU.
>> I HAD TO STEP OUT FROM IT, BUT I NOTICED THAT ONE PHOTO.
IS THAT THE ICE CREAM THAT I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT?
>> YES. THAT IS ONE OF OUR ICE CREAM TRUCKS.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE ICE CREAM VENDORS WHO ARE HELPING US PROVIDE ICE CREAM SOCIALS AT ALL OF OUR BUILDINGS FOR OUR STAFF THIS WEEK.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO TO GIVE BACK.
WE'VE TRIED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE USING LOCAL LOCAL VENDORS, LOCAL COMPANIES TO HELP PROVIDE THAT FOR OUR TEACHERS, AND THEY'VE BEEN WONDERFUL.
THE ONE DOWN BOTTOM IS THE HIGHLIGHT, IS NICE FARMS OUT OF THE PRESTON AREA AROUND AMERICAN CORNER AREA.
THEY'RE JUST FANTASTIC PEOPLE.
THEY'RE ONE OF THOSE COMPANIES LIKE [INAUDIBLE] AS WELL.
COULD GO ON WITH THE LIST, BUT WHENEVER WE CALL AND NEED SOMETHING, WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN, WE CAN BE THERE.
REALLY, OUR COMMUNITIES ALSO BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR STAFF, WHICH IS GREAT.
>> AGAIN, THAT CONNECTION WITH THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, IT'S ALL ALL PART OF THE SAME OBJECTIVE, IF YOU WILL.
>> OUTSTANDING. THANK YOU. WELL, NOW ON TO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS.
I GAVE YOU A LOT TO LIVE UP TO A LITTLE WHILE AGO.
WHO'D LIKE TO GO FIRST? YOU CAN.
>> I'LL GO. IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYONE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALREADY MAY.
I'M ALREADY COUNTING ON THE DAYS TO MY GRADUATION.
ACTUALLY, I'M COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS TO MY LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.
IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HERE AGAIN.
STARTING OFF WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ON THE NORTHERN END OF THE COUNTY FOR DENTON ELEMENTARY, PRINCIPAL CREBS JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THE DES WAS VERY, VERY BUSY THROUGHOUT APRIL AND WILL BE DURING MAY.
THEY'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FOR THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT THEY'RE HOPING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FINAL DAYS OF SCHOOL, TEACHERS REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT.
LAST MONTH IN APRIL, THEY WERE ABLE TO KICK OFF THEIR ONE SCHOOL ONE BOOK PROGRAM FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, READING HUMPHREY'S CREEPY-CRAWLY CAMPING ADVENTURES BY BETTY G. BIRNEY.
SO GLAD TO SEE HUMPHREY THE HAMSTER MAKES A RETURN.
ALONG WITH THAT, FOURTH GRADERS TOOK THEIR SULTANA FIELD TRIPS, AND THE PRE-K'S WERE ABLE TO ATTEND MARTINAK AND ADKINS ARBORETUM TO HAVE SOME GREAT ADVENTURES.
I'M SURE THEY HAD A LOT OF FUN JUST EXPLORING THE GREAT OUTDOORS AS THEY SAY.
THEN FINALLY, THE CHORUS STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE SPRING CONCERT AND SHOWCASE ALL THE MUSICAL TALENTS THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ENTIRE YEAR.
THEY JUST WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE MUSIC TEACHER AND BAND DIRECTOR, MRS. OESTERLE.
THIS WEEK, THEY'LL BE HAVING THEIR SPRING ACADEMIC NIGHT, AND THEN THEY'LL BE ENDING OFF THE YEAR WITH THE TWO MOST EXCITING EVENTS FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS, CAREER DAY AND FIELD DAY.
OVER AT RIDGELY, PRINCIPAL SUTTON WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT RES JUST WANTS TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL THE TEACHERS AND STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THERE'S THIS TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
LAST MONTH, STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, EVERYONE REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD TO COMPLETE THE MCAP ASSESSMENT, WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND.
I HAVEN'T TAKEN A STANDARDIZED TEST IN A WHILE,
[00:45:02]
BUT I REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE NOT VERY FUN.THEY WERE ALSO ABLE TO DO THEIR CAREER DAY.
THIS MONTH, THEIR SPRING CONCERT WILL BE ON THE 16TH OVER AT NORTH CAROLINE.
THEY'LL ALSO BE ENDING WITH A FIELD DAY, AND A VERY, VERY EXCITING BOOK FAIR, WHICH IS ALWAYS FUN TO LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLERS.
THEN OVER AT GREENSBORO, LAST MONTH, THEY BEGAN THEIR PLAY SOCCER PROGRAM SPONSORED BY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
TWENTY SECOND GRADE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE, AND IT WAS JUST A HUGE SUCCESS.
THEY ALSO HAD A SCHOOL WIDE BMX ANTI BULLYING PROGRAM EVENTS.
I'VE SEEN CLIPS OF THIS EVENT.
IT'S ALMOST CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS.
I THOUGHT THE BMX WOULD BE, NOT AN ACTUAL BMX, BUT IT IS.
I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE.
THEN THEY ALSO HAD AN EARTH DAY WITH A LOT OF SPECIAL EVENTS, SPEAKERS, GREAT, APPROPRIATE ACTIVITIES, AND THE FISH MOBILE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.
THEN FOR THIS MONTH, THEY'LL BE CELEBRATING STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
THEY'LL ALSO BE HAVING THEIR SPRING CHORUS AND BAND CONCERTS, CAREER DAY.
SECOND GRADERS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE A TRIP OUT TO ADKINS ARBORETUM.
FIFTH GRADERS WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST EXCITING TRIP OF ALL THE HISTORY MUSEUM TRIP IN WASHINGTON DC, WHICH I KNOW SOMEWHERE THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO.
THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FIELD DAY, A WALK-A-THON, AND THEN THE GRADUATION WALK FOR THE GRADUATING SENIORS.
THEN TO END OFF THE MONTH, PRE-KS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO ATTEND ADKINS ARBORETUM.
OVER AT THE UPPER SCHOOLS, AT LOCKERMAN, LAST MONTH OR REALLY LAST WEEK WITH MRS. ECHTERNACH SUPPORT, SEVERAL STUDENTS COMPETED IN THE MARYLAND STATE HISTORY DAY COMPETITION AT UMBC.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A TEAM THAT PLACED FIRST.
LUCY HOWARD AND ARIANA ALVAREZ LARIOS PRESENTED HOW THE BICYCLE FUELED THE WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENTS, AND THEY'LL BE ATTENDING THE NATIONAL COMPETITION IN JUNE.
I FEEL LIKE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AROUND HERE, SO JUST A HUGE KUDOS TO THEM AND THEIR PROJECTS.
I WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE THE BOARD THAT THEY MADE, AND I LEARNED SO MUCH.
I FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT UNTIL YOU READ ABOUT IT.
THEN ADVANCED CHORUS STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO PERFORM AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER AT THE COURTHOUSE GREEN IN DENTON.
SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS ENJOYED THEIR FINAL ADVANCE OF THE YEAR.
THIS MONTH, WE HAVE A LOT OF STANDARDIZED TESTING HAPPENING FOR SOCIAL STUDIES AND MCAP.
EIGHTH GRADERS ALSO GET TO MAKE A TRIP OUT TO DC.
SEVENTH GRADERS WILL BE ATTENDING THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT CAREER EXPO, AND WE'LL BE HAVING THEIR BAND AND CHORUS EVENTS TOO ALONG WITH A FIELD DAY TO END OFF IN JUNE.
THEN OVER AT NORTH CAROLINE, MR. SPIKER JUST WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT SENIORS ONLY HAVE 18 DAYS.
>> I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S 13 NOW.
I KEEP TRACK. [LAUGHTER] UNDERCLASSMEN ARE DOWN TO 30 STARTING NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS HAPPENING THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE A LOT OF STATE AND AP TESTING HAPPENING.
IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS FINISH THIS YEAR OFF STRONG.
LAST MONTH, WE HAD THE BLOOD DRIVE.
SO MANY PEOPLE DONATED, INCLUDING MYSELF.
IT'S LIKE THEY SAY, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY SAVE A LIFE IN A SMALL WAY.
WE ALSO HAD THE SPRING PLAY, WHICH I ALSO GOT TO SEE.
I THINK EVERY YEAR, THE DRAMA CLUB JUST OUTDOES THEMSELVES.
IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO NEXT YEAR.
THEN WE CELEBRATED OUR HIDDEN HEROES WITHIN THE SCHOOL, OUR LUNCH STAFF, OUR CAFETERIA STAFF, AND ALL THAT THEY DO FOR US AND THE SCHOOL.
THIS MONTH, WE'RE CELEBRATING STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CLUBS, LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS CELEBRATING THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AT NORTH CAROLINE.
WE WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING OUR SCHOOL NURSES.
ON THE 15TH, WE'LL BE HAVING OUR SPRING CONCERT AND THEN ON THE 18TH, THE JUNIOR CLASS IS REALLY PROUD TO PRESENT THE HOLLYWOOD PROM AT GOLDSBORO FIRE HALL.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO GET IT SET UP TOGETHER, AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO END OFF AP EXAM SEASON.
[00:50:03]
WE'LL BE ALSO HAVING OUR SPRING CHOIR CONCERT, OUR THESPIAN INDUCTION CEREMONY.THEN THIS LAST THIRD WEEK OF MAY, WE'LL BE VERY, VERY BUSY WITH A LOT OF SENIOR EVENTS, WE'LL BE HAVING SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT, AWARDS NIGHT.
THEN WE'LL BE HAVING OUR SENIOR TRIP AT HERSHEY PARK.
THEN FINALLY, GRADUATION, THE 29TH AT 6:30.
THEN FINALLY, CCTC WITH MISS HANSEN.
LAST MONTH, CTE STUDENTS HAD THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT AT ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS FOR CAREER DAYS TO SHOW OFF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE.
I KNOW FOR BIOMED, THEY LOVE TO TAKE IN THE FETAL PIG AND SHOW OFF TO THE KIDS, WHICH THEY JUST GET SO MUCH FUN OUT OF IT.
THEN CTE STAFF ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A MID-SHORE PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE.
THEY COLLABORATED WITH A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS FIRMS TALBOT, CAROLINE, QUEEN ANNE'S, KENT, AND DORCHESTER.
A LOT OF FUN HAPPENED THIS MONTH. THANK YOU.
>> I ALWAYS LIKE SEEING THE CAREER DAY IS IN THERE BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT ABOUT THAT OR WHAT INDIVIDUAL IS GOING TO BE IMPRESSED BY SOMETHING.
I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE AND I'M SURE SOME OF YOU HAVE TOO, THAT SOMEBODY WHO MANY YEARS LATER AND THEY'RE IN THEIR CHOSEN CAREER OF WORK.
I'VE HAD PEOPLE COMMENT TO ME THAT A SCHOOL CAREER DAY IS WHERE THEY WERE INSPIRED TO PURSUE THAT.
SOMETIMES IT'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAREER DAY THAT ENCOURAGES THEM TO GO AFTER THAT PARTICULAR FIELD OF WORK.
>> THEY MAKE SUCH A BIG IMPRESSION.
I REMEMBER MY OWN CAREER DAY BACK WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH CTE, THE BIOMED PROGRAM SPECIALIST.
>> THERE YOU GO. GOOD EXAMPLE OF IT.
>> STARTING OVER AT PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DR. SIMMONS HAD HIS FULL DAY VISIT AT PES, AND HE TREATED EVERYONE TO A MISSION BARBECUE LUNCH.
MY ENGINEERING CLASS, THIRD PERIOD.
IF YOU EVER WANT TO MAKE THAT VISIT.
>> I'VE GOT LIKE 13 DAYS, RIGHT?
>> YEAH. LET US KNOW WE CAN ARRANGE IT.
PES ALSO CELEBRATED THE TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
THEY'LL BE GETTING LITTLE GOODIES AND SURPRISES THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK.
MAY 23RD IS CAREER DAY, AND LIKE YOU GUYS WERE MENTIONING, IS A VERY IMPRESSIONABLE DAY.
IT'S ALSO A VERY FUN DAY FOR THE KIDS GETTING TO SEE AND THERE'S A LOT OF HANDS ON STUFF.
I REMEMBER DOING OUT THE ENGINEERING WITH THE ROBOTICS BACK IN I THINK I WANT TO SAY MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THAT WAS THE BIG IMPRESSION THAT MADE ME WANT TO GO INTO THE ENGINEERING PROGRAM.
I BELIEVE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE THESE CAREER DAYS AND THEN MAY 31ST, FIELD DAY, VERY ELECTRIC DAY.
THEY HAD FUN AT THE PETTING ZOO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE JUDY CENTER.
CELEBRATED NURSE KALI TILEY AND THE FINALISTS FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR.
WE ALSO CELEBRATED MS. AMY AND MS. KIM FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL DAY.
WE STARTED STATE TESTING, IT'S UNFORTUNATE FOR VERY SMALL KIDS.
[LAUGHTER] RECREATION AND PARKS COMMUNITY DINNER AND THEN THE TALENT SHOW FEATURING THE CHORUS, BAND, STRINGS, AND TALENT SHOW.
MAKE SURE TO COME OUT TO THOSE, ITS A GOOD NIGHT.
UPCOMING EVENTS INCLUDE HOLLYWOOD THEMED TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, FIELD TRIPS TO ADKINS ARBORETUM AND WASHINGTON D. C. CAREER DAY, FIELD DAY, SOME SAFETY EVENT PARTNERED WITH THE JUDY CENTER AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
OVER AT COLONEL RICHARDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE STUDENTS ENJOYED THEIR SPRING FLING AT THE SCHOOL WIDE DANCE OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY.
CRMS WORE GREEN TODAY, LIKE YOU SAID, FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.
MAY 16TH, THERE'S A SPRING CONCERT.
GET TO GO SEE MY SISTER PERFORM, SO THAT WOULD BE NICE.
MAY 22ND, SCHOOL-WIDE MCAP TESTING ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE FOR A FIELD TRIP TO THE STATE BOWIE BAYSOX.
THE DRAMA CLUB PRESENTS AT CRMS AT 6:00 P.M. THEN JUNE 10TH FIELD DAY AND JUNE 11TH, 8TH GRADE SEMI FORMAL DANCE.
OVER AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAD OUR TEACHER, MS. DENNIS, WHO HAS TAUGHT ME THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EVEN HIGH SCHOOL WIN THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD.
[00:55:04]
IT'S PRETTY AWESOME. SHE DEFINITELY DESERVING OF IT, AND I'M GLAD SHE WON IT.WE ALSO HOSTED A SUCCESSFUL PROM THAT I GOT TO ATTEND AND THE AFTER PROM WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
WE HAD A I THINK IT WAS A HYPNOST OUT AND PUT SOME PEOPLE TO SLEEP.
THAT WAS ALSO A PRETTY GOOD TIME.
[LAUGHTER] UPCOMING EVENTS, SPRING SPORTS ARE WINDING DOWN AND I GUESS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE GAME TONIGHT, BUT WEATHER'S BEEN TRICKY.
BUT HOPEFULLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD SEASON.
TO TACK ON TO MR. PLUCHEK'S TALKING ABOUT THE DEDICATION OF THE PLAYERS.
I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE DEDICATION OF THE PARENTS.
EVEN FROM A VERY YOUNG AGE TO PUSH THEIR KIDS AND JUST THE AMOUNT OF DRIVES THAT THEY HAVE TO ENDURE AND MONEY FOR EQUIPMENT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT OUR PARENTS DO THAT FOR US.
IF THERE'S ANY PARENTS WATCHING, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THAT'S ALL.
>> IT'S REALLY NICE THAT YOU RECOGNIZE THE PARENTS.
MAYBE YOUR TURN WILL COME AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE IN THE FUTURE.
>> FOR THE OTHER PLAYERS, THAT YOU CONTINUE THAT AND IN YOUR REFERENCE TO THE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WHEN SHE GOT THAT AWARD, SHE COMMENTED ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ACTUALLY IN THAT ROOM, BUT SHE'D COME UP THROUGH THE SYSTEM HERE AND THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM WHO HAD TAUGHT HER.
LOOK AT THAT CONNECTION THAT SHE WAS A STUDENT.
PEOPLE WERE THERE WHO TAUGHT HER, NOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU WERE IN HER CLASSES.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF THAT, BUT IT'S JUST HAS A GOOD FEELING AND SO GREAT THAT YOU POINTED THAT OUT, APPRECIATE IT.
THE BOARD MEMBERS HERE WILL SEE BOTH OF YOU AT YOUR GRADUATION AND WE'RE SURE GOING TO MISS YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING.
YOU CAN COME BACK TO THAT MEETING.
>> BUT YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE MISSED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES?
>> THIS PAST YEAR, I HAD THE REALLY AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE MARYLAND YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH ACTS AS A VERY I GUESS, A FORMAL ADVISOR TO GOVERNOR WESTMORE ON ALL MATTERS RELATED TO YOUTH ISSUES, WHICH THE STATE CLASSIFIES AS ANYTHING LIKE DEALING WITH SOMEONE WHO'S 14, I BELIEVE IT'S LIKE 22 YEARS OLD.
ME AND THE COUNCIL, WE'RE MADE UP OF AROUND 20 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
THIS YEAR, I JUST I HAD SO MANY AMAZING EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.
I REALLY LEARNED WHAT IT MEANT TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, BOTH OF STUDENTS AND A YOUNG PERSON IN MY LOCAL COMMUNITY AND AT THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT WE HAVE A REALLY BIG ISSUE WHEN IT COMES TO REPRESENTATION FROM MEMBERS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
CURRENTLY, ONLY TWO MEMBERS ON THE WHOLE COUNCIL COME FROM THE EASTERN SHORE, ME FROM CAROLINE COUNTY, AND THEN A MEMBER FROM TALBOT COUNTY WHO ATTENDS EASTERN HIGH.
IT REALLY IS A LITTLE SAD TO SEE CONSIDERING.
IT'S MEANT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WHOLE STATE REALLY, BUT ONLY TWO OUT OF MAYBE LIKE 20 MEMBERS HAPPEN TO BE FROM THE EASTERN SHORE.
OUR APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN THIS YEAR, AND ANYONE WHO'S FROM THE AGES OF 14-22 CAN APPLY TO SERVE A TWO YEAR TERM ON THE COUNCIL.
I'LL BE SERVING MY SECOND TERM NEXT YEAR.
IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN SUCH AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR ME.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MEET MY REPRESENTATIVES.
I'VE MET SENATOR HERSHEY, DELEGATE GRIEES, DELEGATE J.J KAPES, DELEGATE EARNS.
I REALLY LEARNED MORE ABOUT ISSUES THAT I NEVER REALLY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TIME ABOUT OTHERWISE.
WE DO A LOT OF WORK FOR ADVOCATING FOR A LOT OF ISSUES RELATING TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
JUST THIS YEAR, WE WROTE TESTIMONY FOR THE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEAL BILL THAT WENT THROUGH THE HOUSE AND SENATE, WE WROTE TESTIMONY FOR WHITE USE A BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE LEGACY ADMISSIONS AND COLLEGES AND THE STATE.
WE WROTE A LOT OF TESTIMONY AND WE ATTEND A LOT OF HEARINGS OVER AT THE STATE HOUSE THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED TODAY AND TO LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CIVICALLY ENGAGED YOUNG PERSON.
I FEEL LIKE IT DEFINITELY CHANGES FROM BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED WHEN YOU'RE A LITTLE YOUNGER TO WHEN YOU'RE FINALLY AN ADULT AND YOU CAN VOTE.
IF I JUST REALLY WANTED TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE.
[01:00:03]
THE APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN.YOU'RE APPOINTED THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOARDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MY APPLICATION WAS LOOKED AT BY THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD, AND I WAS APPOINTED BY LOCAL MANAGEMENT BOARD.
THAT'S HOW I SERVE ON MY POSITION, BUT SOME MEMBERS THAT ARE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE PRESIDENT, A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOARDS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO REALLY GET TO SERVE ON THE MARYLAND YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL THIS YEAR.
IT ALSO REALLY GAVE ME MORE INSIGHT ON WHAT I WANTED TO DO PERSONALLY IN COLLEGE AND IN MY CAREER FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
I THOUGHT I WANTED TO GO AND SEE THE MEDICAL FIELD AS A DOCTOR.
BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I WAS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT MEDICAL EQUITY AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND FOR ME THAT JUST TRANSLATED INTO BECOMING A DOCTOR.
I WASN'T REALLY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MARYLAND ADVISORY COUNCIL AND OTHER STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITIC OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNSELS, THAT I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THAT I WANTED TO GO INTO PUBLIC POLICY ACTUALLY.
THAT'S HOW I WANTED TO RELAY MY PASSIONS.
THAT'S BEEN JUST A REALLY GOOD INSIGHT TO WHAT I BELIEVE IN AS A PERSON AND WHAT MATTERS TO ME.
BIG KUDOS TO THE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND I ENCOURAGE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY TO APPLY THIS YEAR.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING. REALLY THANK YOU FOR [INAUDIBLE] THAT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.
BUT GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU'VE HAD HERE, BUT THOSE EXPERIENCE CERTAINLY, THEY'RE GOING TO SERVE YOU IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
FOR BOTH OF YOU JUST DRAWING UPON SITTING HERE AS PART OF THIS GROUP AND DOING YOUR REPORTS, ALL OF THIS, ALL THOSE EXPERIENCES WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR YOU.
IF THOSE CONFIDENCE AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH OTHER CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIVES.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. IT WAS GREAT.
>> NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE FINANCE REPORT.
THAT'S A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW AGAIN.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T THINK NUMBERS ARE ANYWHERE NEAR AS COMICAL.
>> BUT IT IS THE FUEL THAT RUNS THIS MACHINE.
PRESIDENT BARTON MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
YOU HAD BEFORE YOU THE FINANCE REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING APRIL 30TH.
WE ARE TEN MONTHS INTO OUR FISCAL YEAR, AND WE SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 87% OF OUR BUDGET.
TO GIVE YOU A COMPARISON AT THIS POINT, LAST YEAR, WE HAD SPENT OR ENCUMBERED 88%.
WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH WHERE WE'VE BEEN IN THE PAST.
WE ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE A COUPLE OF MORE OVERAGES ON THIS REPORT, NEW THIS MONTH, WE HAVE AN OVERAGE IN THE TRANSPORTATION LINE ITEM FOR SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE CHARGE OUR GAS AND OUR VEHICLE REPAIRS.
IF YOU RECALL ON PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY, I'VE ADJUSTED THAT LINE ITEM SO THAT NEXT YEAR, IT'S TRUED UP AND HOPEFULLY WE WON'T HAVE AN OVERAGE AT THIS POINT IN THE YEAR.
THERE'S ALSO AN OVERAGE AND OPERATION OF PLANT FOR SALARIES AND WAGES, AND THAT IS THE LINE ITEM WHERE OUR CUSTODIANS ARE CHARGED TO.
IT'S NOT A LARGE OVERAGE, BUT THE MAIN REASON FOR THAT OVERAGE IS THE SUBSTITUTES.
IT'S THE SUBSTITUTE LINE ITEMS FOR OUR CUSTODIANS.
BUT THERE ARE SAVINGS AND OTHER LINE ITEMS TO COVER ALL OF THESE OVERAGES THAT YOU DO SEE ON THIS REPORT.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THERE ARE NO ISSUES OR CONCERNS FOR ME TO REPORT.
IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
>> WELL DONE. YOU SAID 88% LAST?
>> LAST YEAR AND WE'RE 87. [OVERLAPPING]
YES. AS YOU KNOW, WE ARE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AROUND HERE, AND WE WILL BE COMING TO THE BOARD NEXT MONTH.
WITH SOME ONE TIME YEAR END PURCHASES.
THESE ARE PURCHASES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF LINE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY LIKE OUR CAPITAL LINE ITEM.
THERE'S NOT MUCH MONEY BUDGETED THERE BECAUSE THAT'S FOR EMERGENCIES AND ONE TIME COSTS.
WE TRY TO USE YEAR END MONEY TO COVER WHAT IS NEEDED BY THE SYSTEM.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY A FUN THING, ISN'T IT?
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT'S WHEN NUMBERS ARE FUN. [LAUGHTER].
>> A BIRTHDAY OR MAYBE A HOLIDAY.
[01:05:01]
>> TAKES A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THAT POINT. THANK YOU. WELL DONE.
>> NOW WE ARE MOVING TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE START WITH PERSONNEL.
[4. Consent Agenda]
>> MR. DARLTON, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT'S PERSONNEL AGENDA INCLUDES, TWO LEAVES OF ABSENCE, FOUR RESIGNATIONS, THREE RETIREMENTS, AND AN ADDENDUM THAT INCLUDES TWO ADDITIONAL RESIGNATIONS AND ONE ADDITIONAL RETIREMENT.
WE HAVE MINUTES FROM APRIL 2ND, AND ALSO APRIL 16TH, FOR OUR BOARD MEETING THOSE DAYS.
ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONS, SUBTRACTIONS, COMMENTS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? HEARING NONE, IF THERE'S TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AND SUBMIT IT
>> AGENDA PASSES. THAT TAKES US TO CITIZEN COMMENT.
[5. Citizens/Public Comments]
I DO THINK WE HAVE SOME TONIGHT.MS. BARRY, YOU CAN HELP US THERE.
>> YES, SIR. WE HAVE FOUR FOLKS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CALL THEM IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY SIGNED UP.
BUT FIRST, I'D LIKE TO READ FROM THE POLICY.
WE NEED TO ADVISE INDIVIDUALS THAT EACH PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARD WILL HAVE A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
ONCE THE LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO FINISH THEIR COMMENTS.
SPECIFIC AND PERSONAL REFERENCES TO STUDENTS, EMPLOYEES, OR OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BOARD WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
SHOULD SOMEONE WISH TO BRING SOMETHING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE BOARD ABOUT A SPECIFIC PERSON OR STUDENT, THEY MAY DO SO IN WRITING, TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE BOARD.
RUDE, SLANDEROUS, OR THREATENING REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE, OR INTERFERES WITH THE ORDER OF THE MEETING IS NOT PERMITTED.
INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT GIVE THEIR TIME TO OTHERS ON THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
>> OUR FIRST PERSON MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT IS MS. CRYSTAL HAGEN. I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
>> MS. BARRY, DO YOU MIND GETTING THAT STATEMENT?
>> IF I MAY. I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A LOT OF OVERWHELMING INFORMATION, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE FOR YOU ALL TO LOOK AT YOUR DISPOSAL AT YOUR DISCRETION. ONCE I'M FINISHED.
>> IT'S A LOT OF OVERWHELMING INFORMATION FIRST [LAUGHTER].
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M EXTREMELY ANXIOUS. I'M AN ANXIOUS HUMAN.
IN THOSE BINDERS, YOU'LL FIND A REPORT BY THE GOVERNMENT OFFICE ON ACCOUNTABILITY CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S NEED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON EQUITY AND SAFETY AND THE SCHOOL DRESS CODES.
EQUALITY FLORIDA, GAVE THE BEST PRACTICES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EQUITABLE DRESS CODES FOR STUDENTS.
THERE ARE TWO SAMPLE DRESS CODES FROM OREGON AND WASHINGTON STATE.
AN ARTICLE OR TWO IN THERE AS TO HOW DRESS CODES, ALTHOUGH WORDED EQUITABLY TARGET FEMALES, THERE'S A CIRCULAR CRITIQUE OF THE SCHOOL DRESS CODES BY THE CLEARINGHOUSE AND NATIONAL WOMEN'S LAW CENTER.
IT'S A STUDY CALLED DRESS CODE, BLACK GIRLS BODIES AND BIAS IN DC SCHOOLS.
SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS BY THE EDUCATION TRUST AND A GIRL'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS AND EQUAL PROTECTION ANALYSIS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DRESS CODES BY THE BOSTON COLLEGE LAW REVIEW, AND LASTLY, A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL DRESS CODES ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR STUDENTS.
MY NAME IS CRYSTAL HAGEN. I'M A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
I'M A STUDENT OF SALISBURY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
I'M ALSO A WIFE, A DAUGHTER, A SISTER, FRIEND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THAN THAT, I'M A MOTHER TO THREE WONDERFUL GIRLS.
MY CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR EIGHT YEARS.
I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS CURRENTLY AT LOCKERMAN AND ONE AT NORTH CAROLINA.
EACH OF MY THREE DAUGHTERS HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION BASED ON THEIR CLOTHING.
WHETHER THAT MEANS HOLES IN THEIR JEANS, SHORTS ARE TOO SHORT, OR SHIRTS THAT SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF THE MIDRIFF, EACH OF THEM HAVE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THEIR ATTIRE.
THE RESULT OF THESE VIOLATIONS HAVE INCLUDED EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES BY SENDING THEM TO SCHOOL OR IN SCHOOL SUSPENSION OR TAP.
SENDING THEM HOME, AS WELL AS MANDATING THEM TO WEAR GYM CLOTHES THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL, OR HAVING MYSELF OR MY MOTHER BRING CLOTHING TO THEM.
SOUNDS LIKE THEY GET DRESS CODED EVERY DAY. I SWEAR THEY DON'T.
[01:10:01]
THE LAST INTERACTION BETWEEN MY MIDDLE DAUGHTER AND ADMINISTRATION OCCURRED A FEW WEEKS AGO, BECAUSE OF A PAIR OF SHORTS THAT SHE WAS WEARING.SHE WAS PULLED FROM THE HALLWAY, AS SHE WAS ACTUALLY HAVING A DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WEARING THE EXACT SAME SHORTS AS HER.
WHEN SHE BROUGHT THAT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR, THE ADMINISTRATOR WENT DOWN THE HALLWAY FURTHER, BECAUSE THE OTHER GIRL WAS ALLOWED TO WALK TOWARDS HER CLASSROOM, AND BROUGHT THEM INTO THE OFFICE AS WELL.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY DAUGHTER AND THIS OTHER YOUNG LADY IS THAT MY DAUGHTER IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DEVELOPED, THAN THE OTHER YOUNG LADY WAS.
MY AGGRAVATION AND FRUSTRATION OVER THE DRESS CODE POLICY ENFORCEMENT LED ME TO CREATE A PUBLIC SURVEY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE STUDENT BODY, INCLUDING SENDING AN EMAIL TO EVERY SINGLE ADMINISTRATOR, EDUCATOR, NURSE, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST THAT I COULD FIND ON THE FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WEBSITES.
WE'VE HAD ALMOST 200 RESPONSES AND THREE QUARTERS OF THOSE RESPONSES CAME FROM FEMALES.
THEY WERE ASKED IF THEY HAD EVER BEEN DRESS CODED, AND/OR KNEW SOMEBODY WHO HAD, AND ONLY 11 OF THE STUDENTS OUT OF THE ALMOST 200 SAID NO, THAT THEY HAD HAD NO INTERACTION WITH THIS DRESS CODE OR ADMINISTRATION BASED ON THE DRESS CODE.
THE ONES THAT HAD, THEY WERE ASKED HOW DID THEY FEEL.
WHEN THEY WERE ASKED ABOUT HOW THEY FELT ABOUT BEING DRESS CODED, THEY CAME BACK WITH WORDS LIKE EMBARRASSED, BAD, ANXIOUS, LIKE AN OUTCAST, SELF CONSCIOUS, TARGETED, SEXUALIZED.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY BODY? THEY WERE ANGRY.
THEY FELT CENSORED, UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MALE STAFF.
FELT THE STAFF WAS LOOKING AT THEM INAPPROPRIATELY.
WHY WERE THEY FOCUSED ON THEIR BODY AND THEIR CLOTHES MORE THAN THEIR FACE AND THEIR MIND? THEY FELT THEY COULDN'T TRUST THE STAFF.
THEY LOST RESPECT FOR THE STAFF.
THEY FELT THE STAFF HAD CROSSED BOUNDARIES IN CERTAIN INSTANCES WHEN THEY WERE TOLD TO BEND OVER, SO THAT THE STAFF COULD SEE IF THEIR BUTT, OR OTHER PARTS OF THEIR BODY WERE EXPOSED WHEN BENDING OVER.
TOLD TO BEND OVER, WELL THE STAFF STOOD IN FRONT OF THEM TO SEE IF THEIR CLEAVAGE WAS TOO EXPOSED, OR IF THERE WOULD BE AN ISSUE WHERE THEY WOULD FALL OUT OF THEIR SHIRT.
SEVENTY OF THE STUDENTS HAD TO CHANGE CLOTHES INTO SCHOOL SUPPLIED CLOTHING, 20 OF THEM WERE REMOVED FROM THE EDUCATION SETTING BY BEING SENT TO TAP ISS OR SENT HOME.
WE ARE TITLE 1 SCHOOL. THREE OF THEM WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAD THE OPTION TO PURCHASE SCHOOL CLOTHING, OR BE SENT HOME, WHICH CREATED FINANCIAL BURDENS ON THE STUDENTS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT OUT OF ALL OF THESE STUDENTS, OVER 100 OF THEIR GUARDIANS APPROVED OF WHAT THEIR CHILD WORE WHEN THEY LEFT THE HOUSE THAT MORNING, OR HAD TO COME PICK THEM UP? ONLY 10 ANSWERED THAT THEIR GUARDIAN DID NOT APPROVE OF THEIR CLOTHING.
PART OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION STRESSES, PART OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION DRESS CODE POLICY STATES THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THE STUDENTS HAD.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN DISTRACTED BY CLOTHING OF OTHER STUDENTS? OF THE 107 THAT RESPONDED, ONLY 17 RESPONDED THEY HAD BEEN DISTRACTED, BECAUSE THEY LIKED THEIR FIT.
THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE THEY GOT THE HOODIE.
EXCUSE ME. I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK, BUT WE ARE AT THE TIME LIMIT OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES BY TAKING OUR CHILDREN OUT OF THE EDUCATION SETTING IN ORDER TO ADDRESS WHAT THEY'RE WEARING, DEVALUES THEIR EDUCATION.
THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE DRESS CODED ARE FEMALE AND A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THESE FEMALES ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF OUR COUNTY SHOWS THAT THE BIASNESS OF THE ADMINISTRATION WHEN IT COMES TO ENFORCEMENT OF THE DRESS CODE, SHOWS THE BIASNESS OF THE DRESS CODE.
VERBIAGE LIKE CREATING A DISTRACTION-FREE ENVIRONMENT PLACED UPON THE SHOULDERS OF OUR FEMALE STUDENTS TEACHES THEM THAT THEIR EDUCATION IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, AND FOCUSING ON OUR FEMALE STUDENTS BODY INSTEAD OF THEIR BRAINS IS DEVALUING THEM AS HUMANS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK YOU'VE DONE, PUTTING THE BOOK TOGETHER.
WITHOUT EVEN LOOKING AT IT YET, IT'S A LOT OF WORK WE CAN TELL.
>> THE SURVEY, THE RESEARCH, AND IT IS A POLICY THAT THIS BOARD WANTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'VE DONE WILL HELP WHEN WE HEAR YOU.
>> FOLKS, GENERALLY, WE DO NOT HAVE QUESTION ANSWER INTERCHANGE WITH PEOPLE WHO DO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO HEAR AS MS. BARRY WAS DESCRIBING.
WE LOOK TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS AND NOT TO GET INTO AN EXCHANGE, BECAUSE THAT COULD GO ON AND ON.
IT BECOMES STRESSFUL AND DIFFICULT. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU.
[01:15:03]
>> PRESIDENT BARTON AND DR. SIMMONS AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I WILL ADMIT IT'S BEEN A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE FOR ME THIS EVENING.
MY WIFE, KELLY, AND I'VE LIVED IN CAROLINE COUNTY FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS NOW.
OUR GIRLS, AS YOU'LL CALL THEM OUR GIRLS, ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CAROLINE BEGINNING IN GREENSBORO AND THEN BY WAY OF RIDGELY, BY WAY OF RIVERVIEW FOR ONE AND LOCKERMAN FOR THE OTHER, GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF A HISTORY LESSON THERE WITH THE NAMING, AND THEN BOTH GRADUATED FROM NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE THIS EVENING.
MY NAME FOR THE RECORD IS JOHN ALLEN III.
MY WIFE KELLY AND I LIVE OUT AT 24331 ASBURY DRIVE, DENTON.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO COMPLIMENT THE BOARD AND COMPLIMENT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, BOTH OF OUR GIRLS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND I ATTRIBUTE THAT, MY WIFE ATTRIBUTES THAT CLEARLY TO THE EDUCATION IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
BACK THEN, I THINK WE WERE 23RD OR 22ND OUT OF 23 OR 24 SUBDIVISIONS IN PER PUPIL SPENDING YET, OUR OLDEST DAUGHTER WENT TO ST. MARY'S COLLEGE AND GRADUATED A SEMESTER AHEAD OF TIME AND WAS VALEDICTORIAN.
THESE THINGS WORK, DON'T THEY? I WAS INTERESTED TO LISTEN TO YOUR FINANCIAL REPORT ALONG THOSE LINES.
I WAS HERE LAST NOVEMBER COMPLIMENTING THE BOARD ON THE ACTIVITY THAT TOOK PLACE AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL ON VETERANS' DAY CELEBRATION WHEN THE STUDENTS DID AN AWESOME JOB.
IT WAS JUST A REALLY GREAT FEELING OF THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY IN THAT ROOM ON THAT EVENING.
I WAS SITTING HERE TONIGHT WHIMSICALLY THINKING TO MYSELF, IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF WE HAD FIVE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO ADULT BOARD MEMBERS JUST TO SEE HOW THINGS WERE GOING.
I DO COMPLIMENT THE STUDENTS FOR THAT.
FOR THE COMMENT FROM LEVI, I DO BELIEVE IT WAS ABOUT THANKING PARENTS AND SO FORTH.
I'M HERE TO COMPLIMENT THE LOCKERMAN SCHOOL ADVANCED CHOIR ON THEIR ATTENDANCE AT THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER EVENT THAT WAS HELD ON MAY 2ND ON THURSDAY, BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 12:00 AND ONE O'CLOCK.
THE STUDENTS CAME OVER AND TOOK PART IN THAT.
I BELIEVE IT IS IT, MR. POTTER? IS THE INSTRUCTOR.
THEY WERE ALL ABOUT THE EVENT.
IT WAS JUST SUCH AN AWESOME INSPIRATION TO ME AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT THOSE STUDENTS GATHER IN THOSE VOICES THAT WERE SUNG IN OPENING THAT EVENT AND CLOSING THAT EVENT.
IT'S NOT HAPPENING IN A LOT OF AREAS ACROSS THIS STATE OR THIS GREAT NATION ANYMORE.
WE NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE CONTINUE WHAT I FEEL HAS BEEN IN CAROLINE AND CONTINUES TO BE IN CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHICH IS AN EDUCATION WITH SOME VALUES ASSIGNED TO IT JUST BY WHAT I SEE IN THE SCHOOL'S OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THAT, I JUST REFLECTED ON THE COMMENT BY PRESIDENT BARTON TONIGHT.
THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STUDENTS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
I SEE AN AWFUL LOT OF THAT, AND I GIVE THE EDUCATORS THAT ARE HERE TONIGHT, THE BOARD MEMBERS AN AWFUL LOT OF CREDIT FOR THAT.
PLEASE KEEP UP THAT WORK. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND SHARING THOSE WONDERFUL COMMENTS.
IT'S NICE TO KNOW PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND TAKING NOTE OF THE GOOD WORK OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
>> I'M NOT ALLOWING THIS COMMENT [INAUDIBLE].
>> NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. FRANK PRETTYMAN.
>> THANK YOU. I'M NOT A STRANGER TO MOST OF YOU.
BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE SEEN MR. BARTON.
IN FACT, IT'S BEEN JUST OVER 25 YEARS WHEN I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF ESTIMATES FOR CAROLINE COUNTY
[01:20:03]
DETERMINING HOW MUCH MONEY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM GOT TO SPENT, SO I IMPORTANT BACK THEN. [LAUGHTER]>> I WAS NOT YOUR ENEMY BACK THEN, BELIEVE ME, I WAS YOUR FRIEND.
I'M HERE BASICALLY JUST TO GIVE SOME INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AS TO WHAT I'M ATTEMPTING TO DO.
I KNOW I'VE GOT ABOUT 4 AND 1/2 MINUTES LEFT.
I TURNED 60 ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I BECAME ACCOUNTING COMMISSIONER BACK IN 1998, SO THOSE OF YOU ARE MATH SPECIALISTS CAN FIGURE OUT I'M NOT EXACTLY THE KID HERE IN THE ROOM.
I TALKED TO THIS BROTHER I THINK YESTERDAY, WASN'T IT? I BRIEFED IN ON WHAT I WAS HOPING TO DO IN HIS NECK OF THE WOODS, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE.
FRANKLY, I DECIDED TO COME HERE AND SPEAK FOR MY MINUTES THIS MORNING.
I APPRECIATE BEING ABLE TO COME IN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT TIME.
QUICKLY, WHAT I'M DOING FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, I STARTED WORKING ON AN OBSERVATORY FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NOW, MY BABY TURNED 50, AND DR. SIMMONS' TWO DAUGHTERS ARE IN OUR SWIMMING POOL BACKYARD WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER SO HE KNOWS WHERE I COME FROM.
MR. BARTON, FIRST OF ALL, I SHOULD HAVE THANKED YOU ALL FOR LISTENING TO ME FOR THE NEXT ABOUT THREE MINUTES NOW, I KEEP TRACK OF TIME.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED.
I HAVE FUNDING ALREADY IN PLACE, SO YOU ALL CAN BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF.
I AM ASKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND TWO YEARS AGO, I HAD AN ACRE AND QUARTER CONTIGUOUS TO THE PRESTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SURVEY BY MR. GENERES AND I HELPED HIM.
THAT IS ALREADY PUT IN PLACE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
BUT SADLY, THERE'S TOO MUCH LIGHT POLLUTION ON THAT PROPERTY, AND SO I WENT OUT TO COLONEL ACTUALLY YESTERDAY AND I TOOK 15 MINUTES OUT OF THE SYSTEM PRINCIPAL'S TIME.
I THINK THERE'S A FAVORABLE PROPERTY CONTIGUOUS, PROBABLY TO THE BACK OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM.
WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH THERE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK INSIGHT TO THIS PROJECT.
NOW, BACK IN 1989, MY TWO YOUNGER CHILDREN WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL AT COLONEL.
THEY HAD A PLANETARIUM THERE THAT WAS BEING USED FOR BAND UNIFORM STORAGE.
I WAS PERTURBED AT THE WASTE OF MONEY, [LAUGHTER] HAVING THAT PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY STORE BEING USED AS STORAGE FOR BAND UNIFORMS. NOW, BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WERE IN ADVANCE, SO I COULDN'T BEAT UP ON THEM.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WHAT I DID DO IS I TOOK OFF MY TIME, WENT TO THE SPITZ CORPORATION IN WESTCHESTER PENNSYLVANIA, TO LEARNED ABOUT THAT EQUIPMENT ON MY OWN NICKEL UNTIL MORTON HAD ACTUALLY LEFT.
I CAME BACK, THEY WERE QUOTED $1,400 TO REPAIR THIS PLANETARY.
I WAS ABLE FROM MY SCHOOLING TO DO IT FOR $900.
I TOOK IT OUT OF MY POCKET, PUT IT IN PLACE.
I HAD TO CAPACITY THE TEACH ASTRONOMY, BUT I COULDN'T DO IT AS A CLASS.
THE POINT IS I WAS MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT WE WOULD GIVE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M STILL DOING.
IF YOU'LL JOT DOWN THIS WORD AND DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN, YOU'LL FIND SOME STUFF THAT'S EVEN BETTER TO LOOK AT THAN SOME OF THE TV PROGRAMS. IT'S CALLED PLANE WAVE, P-L-A-N-E W-A-V-E.
[01:25:04]
IT IS A COMPANY THAT'S ONLY BEEN IN BUSINESS JUST OVER 10 YEARS.THEY ARE ALL OVER THE WORLD SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE WITH THEIR TECHNOLOGY IN COLLEGES AND IN ALL INSTITUTIONS.
THEY SPENT 10-15 MINUTES THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT ON YOUR COMPUTER WITH THE INSTALLS.
THERE'S ABOUT 250 DEEP SCOTT PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CREATION.
I DO USE THOSE TERMS BECAUSE I'M A PROFESSING CHRISTIAN.
I HAPPEN TO BE THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE DEL MARTIC STATES OF [INAUDIBLE] INTERNATIONAL, AND I ALSO VALIDATED THAT IT'S LEGAL TO PRAY AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS.
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE], I DON'T WANT TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT THANK YOU.
>> WE GET IT AND THAT'S THE WORD.
>> I DO HAVE MY BUSINESS CARD WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME.
I AM GOING TO NEED SOME APPROVALS TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPERTY AT COLONEL RICHARDSON.
YOU CAN CERTAINLY GO TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
HE'S GOT MY BUSINESS CARD TOO.
>> THE LAST PERSON SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS MR. JIM BAKER.
>> PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS, AND THE BOARD, I COME TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEMORIAL DAY.
WE'RE THE AMERICAN LEGION IN CAROLINE COUNTY HERE, IS SPONSORING A PARADE FOR MEMORIAL DAY.
WE'VE GOT A FEW PEOPLE THAT WILL PARTICIPATE.
MR. BERNIE LIZWELL, I'M SURE, QUITE A FEW OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH HIM, HAS WORKED VERY HARD IN CONTACTING THE SCHOOLS FOR BANDS.
FIRE COMPANY DON'T HAVE A BAND ANYMORE.
WHEN ME AND HARRY HUGHES WERE GROWING UP, WE MARCHED IN A FIRE COMPANY BAND AT ALL OCCASIONS.
BUT THE MAIN REASON I CAME IS WE NEED TO RE-EMPHASIZE WHAT MEMORIAL DAY IS. I'M A VETERAN.
MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT A VETERANS DAY.
MEMORIAL DAY IS A DAY TO HONOR PEOPLE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL.
EVEN FIRST RESPONDERS CAN BE HONORED AT MEMORIAL DAY.
WE CAN EXPAND IT TO WHAT WE WANT, BUT WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO DO THIS.
I HAD A CHOICE TONIGHT TO COME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TO GO TALK ABOUT LANDFILL OR TO SIT IN LANDFILLS.
I CHOSE TO COME HERE BECAUSE I'M A CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENT.
I WAS BORN HERE LITTLE OVER 92 YEARS AGO.
I DID SERVE MY COUNTRY, BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE VETERANS.
IT'S ABOUT OUR FALLEN HEROES WHO ARE BOTH INTERRED IN ARLINGTON IN BEULAH CEMETERY AND IN FLANDERS FIELDS IN OTHER AREAS.
I JUST WANT YOUR SUPPORT FROM THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO TRY TO GET SCHOOLS.
I'D LIKE TO MENTION ONE OTHER THING.
THE AMERICAN LEGION HERE HAS MADE QUITE A FEW DONATIONS TO SCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS, BANDS, CLUBS, ATHLETIC TEAMS. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE AMERICAN LEGION PARTICULARLY, BUT MOST OF THE VETERANS THERE ARE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING THIS COUNTY AND THIS COMMUNITY.
I THINK IF WE COULD JUST GET A LITTLE HELP AND GET SOME PEOPLE.
I COME UP HERE ON A CHRISTMAS PARADE AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO RIDE ON A FLOAT.
I GOT UP THERE AND THE PEOPLE SAID THAT SOMEBODY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO WALK DIDN'T WALK OR COULDN'T WALK, DIDN'T SHOW UP.
INSTEAD OF RIDE TO FLOAT, I WALKED A MILE OR A MILE, WHATEVER IT WAS.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I DON'T PLAN TO WALK IN THIS PARADE, BUT I DO PLAN TO BE IN IT AND NOT TO CELEBRATE ME BUT TO CELEBRATE A LOT OF MY COMRADES WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO COME CELEBRATE THIS COUNTRY.
[01:30:01]
I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.>> I WOULD APPRECIATE SUPPORT OF ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS. THANK YOU MR. BAKER.
>> WHAT IS THE DATE OF THE PARADE [INAUDIBLE]?
THE ASSEMBLY AREA IS IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT UP HERE.
THE PARADE ROUTE GOES FROM FIFTH ONTO MARKET STREET DOWN TO FIRST STREET. IT'S SHORT.
WE DO HAVE ONE CUB SCOUT TALK.
THE CUB SCOUT HERE A WHILE AGO.
WE DO HAVE ONE CUB SCOUT TROOP THAT'S GOING TO PARTICIPATE.
DIDN'T HAPPEN TO BE THAT ONE, BUT THEY WERE INVITED BY ME.
WE'LL TAKE ANY HELP WE CAN GET.
>> THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY ON MEMORIAL DAY BUT IT'S MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND?
WE NEED LIKE I SAID, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO EMPHASIZE THAT MEMORIAL DAY IS NOT REALLY VETERANS DAY.
IT'S A DAY THAT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT OUR FALLEN HEROES.
>> RESPECT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY FOR GENERATIONS.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S SOMETHING DR. SIMMONS MAKE NOTES.
>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THE BAND.
I JUST WANT TO COMMENT TO THAT.
AGAIN, WE DON'T GET IN AN EXCHANGE, BUT I SAW YOU THE EVENING AFTER THE PARADE AND I WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSED THAT AT 91 YOU MADE THAT WALK, ALMOST 92.
[LAUGHTER] I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT MY AGE THAT NIGHT AND I WAS PRETTY ASHAMED AFTER HEARING WHAT YOU DID.
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT THE LEGION DOES ON REGULAR BASIS.
[LAUGHTER] I'M SITTING NEXT TO THIS OLD GUY.
[LAUGHTER] I STILL DO ONLINE PUSH UPS. [LAUGHTER].
>> I THINK HE'S CHECKING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE NO OTHER [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT WASN'T ME. IT'S GOING TO BE YOU. [LAUGHTER].
>> SO TALKING ABOUT TOUGH ACTION TO FOLLOW, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE MOVING TO INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS AND WE HAVE AN ADOPTION OF AN ALGEBRA TEXTBOOK.
[6. Individual Action Items]
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO INVITE MRS. FRANCE UP HERE WITH ME.
SHE'S OUR MATH SPECIALIST AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE HAS SOME ITEMS THAT SHE CAN HAND OUT TO YOU BECAUSE THE TEXTBOOK THAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS ACTUALLY AN ONLINE TEXTBOOK.
BUT WE'VE PRINTED SOME OF THAT SO THAT YOU CAN PERUSE THAT AS YOU WILL.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, OUR ADVANCED ALGEBRA COURSE IS ONE OF THE COURSES THAT STUDENTS CAN TAKE IN HIGH SCHOOL TO FULFILL THEIR FULL CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR MATH COURSES.
MSDE HAS DISCONTINUED THE BRIDGE PROJECT, WHICH WAS THE CURRICULUM FOR ADVANCED ALGEBRA, SO THAT WAS LEAVING US WITHOUT A CORE OR TIER 1 CURRICULUM.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THE HELP OF MATH SPECIALISTS, MRS. FRANCE HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK AND MRS. ELLIOTT AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL, HELPING THE TEACHERS TO CREATE CURRICULUM, BUT WE KNEW THAT WE WERE REALLY LACKING A CORE RESOURCE.
THE PROPOSED ONLINE TEXT, IT'S CALLED OPENSTAX, IS ALIGNED TO OUR COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS AND INCLUDES ALL OF THE CONTENT THAT WE WOULD NEED IN THE ADVANCED ALGEBRA.
THE TWO LINKS ON THE NEXT SLIDE WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ONLINE TEXT.
THEN MS. BARRY, IF YOU JUST WANT TO CLICK THE SECOND LINK, IT'LL TELL US A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
MRS. FRANCE, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN BECAUSE SHE'S DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH MRS. ELLIOTT VETTING THIS TEXT WITH THE COMMITTEE.
STUDENTS HAVE LITTLE PREREQUISITE SKILLS THAT THEY CAN PRACTICE TO MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW AND NEW LEARNING.
WE HAVE LEARNING TARGETS TO SUPPORT THE WORK.
STUDENTS CAN TRY PROBLEMS AND THERE'S SOME SELF-CHECKING IN THERE.
IF YOU SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT, THERE'S ALSO VIDEO TUTORIALS.
IF STUDENTS GET HOME AND ARE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETHING, THEY CAN HOP ON THE OPENSTAX RESOURCE AND WATCH VIDEOS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO KHAN ACADEMY VIDEOS IF THE STUDENTS HAVE EVER USED THOSE.
THERE'S TONS OF PRACTICE PROBLEMS, WRITING EXERCISES, AND OF COURSE,
[01:35:02]
THE STUDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS CURRICULUM ONLINE FOR THEIR SCHOOLOGY OR GO RIGHT TO THE WEBSITE.THEY WOULD HAVE SOME PRINT RESOURCES IN THE CLASSROOM AND THEN ALSO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THINGS VIRTUALLY.
IT CAN BE PUSHED OUT THROUGH SCHOOLOGY SO KIDS WILL HAVE ACCESS 24/7.
THEY CAN'T LEAVE THEIR BOOK IN SCHOOL ANYMORE.
THEY CAN'T FORGET IT ON THE BUS.
ONE OF THE BOOKLETS I GAVE YOU UP THERE HAS THE MEDIA LINK WITH THE STICKY NOTE ON IT.
THAT WILL PROVIDE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN WHAT THEY GOT IN THE CLASSROOM.
IF THEY'RE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE TEACHER OR THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEIR CLASSMATES, THEY HAVE THE MEDIA TO GO TO.
THIS BOOK PROVIDES A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE CAN TRADITIONALLY OFFER IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> OUR MATH COACHES HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD TO TAKE THIS MATERIAL AND CREATE PACING GUIDES.
OUR PACING GUIDES FOR ALL OF OUR CONTENT HELP GIVE OUR TEACHERS THE STRUCTURE, THE SCOPE, AND SEQUENCE, WHAT UNITS NEED TO BE TAUGHT, AND WHAT TIME FRAME HELPING US MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE READY FOR STATE ASSESSMENTS.
THIS WOULD ALSO INCLUDE COMMON END-OF-CHAPTER ASSESSMENTS.
THE WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL YEAR WITH PERFORMANCE MATTERS THAT WE'VE SHARED WITH THE BOARD, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS AND HAVE THAT DATA ON OUR SCHOOL PLATFORM SO THAT WE CAN ACCESS THAT.
THEN WE HAVE TWO TEACHERS THAT ARE GOING TO WORK OVER THE SUMMER IF THIS IS ADOPTED, IF THIS IS APPROVED, TO DEVELOP THE ACTUAL LESSON PLANS SO THAT WHEN TEACHERS COME IN SEPTEMBER IT'S READY TO GO.
WE DID GATHER SOME INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS ON THE COMMITTEE.
MRS. FRANCE AND I JUST TOOK SOME OF THE QUESTIONS OUT THAT WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN.
BUT OVERWHELMINGLY, WHEN STUDENTS AND PARENTS WERE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE ONLINE TEXT, THEY WERE SUPER SUPPORTIVE AND LIKED THE FACT THAT THERE WAS MEDIA THROUGH VIDEOS AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT AT ANY TIME.
THERE IS A LINK ON THE SLIDE SHOW TO THE WEBSITE.
AGAIN, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, MRS. FRANCE AND MRS. ELLIOTT ARE VERY WELL-VERSED IN THIS.
THE BEST PART IS IT DOESN'T COST ANY MONEY BECAUSE IT'S AN OPEN RESOURCE.
SO THIS WILL NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.
>> THAT PART THERE IS VERY POWERFUL, AN OPEN RESOURCE.
>> JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM OPENSTAX, I BELIEVE, SUPPORT OUR CURRICULUM?
JUST TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THE SEQUENCE OF MATH COURSES, NOT EVERY STUDENT TAKES ADVANCED ALGEBRA.
ADVANCED ALGEBRA WAS A COURSE PUT IN PLACE YEARS AGO FOR STUDENTS THAT DID NOT PASS ALGEBRA 1 MCAP.
STUDENTS THAT DID PASS ALGEBRA 1 MCAP WOULD MOVE ON TO ALGEBRA 2.
THIS IS WHAT I'D ACTUALLY PROBABLY BE COMING BACK TO YOU TO CHANGE THE NAME OF IT.
THIS SHOULD BE AN INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA, WHICH IS WHAT THE TEXT IS CALLED AS WELL.
IT IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN ALGEBRA 1 AND ALGEBRA 2.
WE SOMETIMES CALL IT ALGEBRA 1.5 [LAUGHTER] IT IS BUILDING UPON ALGEBRA 1 SKILLS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR ALGEBRA 2 AND THEN ALSO GIVE STUDENTS BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT COMPLICATED TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY STUDENTS PASS ALGEBRA 1 BUT ARE ALSO DEEMED COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
THAT DISTINCTION HAS CHANGED THE SCHOOL YEAR.
NOT ONLY DO STUDENTS EITHER HAVE TO PASS MCAP.
ANOTHER WAY THAT THEY CAN GET COLLEGE AND CAREER-READY DESIGNATION IS THEY CAN HAVE A 3.0, BUT THEY ALSO NEED A C OR BETTER IN ALGEBRA 1.
ANY STUDENT THAT STRUGGLED WITH ALGEBRA 1, GOT A C OR GOT A D ENDS UP IN ADVANCED ALGEBRA SO WE CAN GIVE THEM THE SUPPORT.
WE CAN ALSO REASSESS THEM ON MCAP ALGEBRA 1 IF THEY NEED
[01:40:04]
THAT FOR THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DESIGNATION. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?>> THIS WOULD BE THE CORE CURRICULUM.
IT'S LIKE A TRADITIONAL TEXTBOOK, BUT IT'S ONLINE.
IT DOES ALIGN TO THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS.
>> OUR STUDENTS, WE THINK ALL OF THEM HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO AT-HOME ACQUISITION TO THE ONLINE.
>> ALL STUDENTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS THROUGH THEIR LAPTOP AND THROUGH SCHOOLOGY.
WE WOULDN'T EVER ASSIGN WORK TO STUDENTS UNLESS WE WERE IN A CRISIS, I DARE SAY, AGAIN, WHERE WE HAD TO DO THAT.
THEN IF WE NEEDED STUDENTS TO HAVE ACCESS ONLINE, THEY WOULD BE GIVEN INTERNET ACCESS.
>> JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW COVID WAS A STRUGGLE FOR SOME OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> PART OF THE TEACHER RESOURCES THAT ARE GOING TO BE DEVELOPED THIS SUMMER ARE PAPER-BASED SO THAT TEACHERS CAN PRINT THEM FOR KIDS.
GOD FORBID, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED AND WE ALL HAD TO GO HOME AGAIN, WE COULD EASILY, WELL, NOT YET, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO AFTER THE SUMMER, EASILY PRINT NOTE PAGES, PRACTICE PAGES, THAT WILL ALL BE DEVELOPED.
>> I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK ALSO THAT KIDS ARE STUCK IN FRONT OF A COMPUTER DOING MATH.
THE BENEFIT OF THIS ONLINE RESOURCE IS THAT IT'S FREE.
>> IT'S UNIFORM. IT MAKES NORTH CAROLINE AND COLONEL HAVE THE SAME UNIFORM COURSE, THE SAME UNIFORM MATERIAL, THE SAME ASSESSMENTS, THE SAME REASSESSMENTS.
IT'S ALL EQUITABLE ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> IF I MAY, I THINK SOME OF THESE RESOURCES THAT ARE ACCESSED ELECTRONICALLY PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IF THEY'RE DOING SOME TYPE OF SMALL GROUP OR IF THEY'RE STRUGGLING WITH SOMETHING.
THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE INDIVIDUAL VIDEOS ON THEIR OWN HEADPHONES DURING CLASS TIME WHEN THERE'S DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROFICIENCY HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THAT'S WHAT MULTIMEDIA RESOURCES ARE BEING UTILIZED FOR IF THAT HELPS.
>> SOUNDS LIKE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LEARNING METHODS THERE WHICH CAN HELP.
DIFFERENT STUDENTS LEARN IN THEIR OWN WAY.
I CERTAINLY CAN PERSONALLY RELATE TO ALGEBRA.
I LIKED IT SO MUCH I TOOK IT TWICE.
[LAUGHTER] WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT PROGRAM BACK THEN.
>> HOW DID YOU DO MR. BARTON? [LAUGHTER]
>> I SAID, NO, I NEED TO WORK ON THIS A LITTLE MORE.
THIS IS NICE TO SEE A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE, BUT CERTAINLY I CAN LOOK AT IT IN A BIGGER BROADER PICTURE HERE.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> BEING AN ACTION ITEM, WE DO NEED TO VOTE TO APPROVE THIS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT WORK.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT.
IT'S EXCITING. WE MOVE ON TO SPANISH AND FRENCH TEXTBOOKS.
>> PRESIDENT BARTON, DR. SIMMONS AND THE REST OF THE BOARD OF ED, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.
WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS INTRODUCE YOU TO A SPANISH BOOK AND A FRENCH BOOK TO SEE IF YOU APPROVE. THESE ARE THE BOOKS.
>> EACH OF THEM TEACH SPANISH CLASSES AND FRENCH CLASSES AT NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL AND HAVE BEEN MAKING THIS PROCESS WORK.
OUR TEXTBOOK RIGHT NOW, IVAN SAMOS AND [INAUDIBLE] HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS, IVAN SAMOS, AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS YEAR, THE ONLINE RESOURCES NO LONGER WORK. THEY'RE GONE.
THE DAYS OF THE CD ROM AND THE CASSETTE TAPES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.
WE BEGAN THE PROCESS IN THE FALL AND STARTED WITH SOME BOOK COMPANIES TO SEE WHICH MIGHT BE BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS.
AS A RESULT THEN, WE HAVE CHOSEN THE BOOK, REPORTEROS AND FRANCOPHONES FOR FRENCH AND SPANISH,
[01:45:02]
FROM [INAUDIBLE] AND WORLD LANGUAGE.WHAT IS NICE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT IT IS A PROJECT-BASED BOOK THAT HITS ALL FOUR STANDARDS OF READING, WRITING, LISTENING AND SPEAKING.
WE WE FOUND THAT IT'S VERY AMAZING.
>> ONE OF THE VERY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS TEXTBOOK IS THAT CULTURE IS EMBEDDED IN EACH UNIT.
THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A KID, A TEENAGER FROM A DIFFERENT FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRY OR SPANISH SPEAKING COUNTRY INTRODUCING NOT JUST THE VOCABULARY, THE GRAMMAR, THE TOPIC, BUT ALSO THE CULTURE.
NOWADAYS, SOMETIMES WE DO CULTURE AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND WE LEAVE THAT TO THE SIDE.
THIS WAY, THE KIDS WILL HAVE THE CULTURE EMBEDDED DIRECTLY WITHIN EACH UNIT.
REPORTEROS AND FRANCOPHONES, WHAT IT MEANS IS A SMALL JOURNAL BY YOUNG JOURNALISTS.
THEY'RE REALLY VISITING EACH COUNTRY AS WE GO THROUGH.
IT ALSO BRINGS A LOT OF THE SDGS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS TO GLOBAL INFORMATION INTO OUR CLASSROOMS. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE STUDENTS TO SEE WHAT THE WORLD IS OUT THERE, WHAT CONNECTIONS WE CAN MAKE, THINK GLOBALLY, BUT ACT LOCALLY, WHICH IS WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO BRING INTO OUR CLASSROOMS. ALSO, IT JUST PROVIDES A VERTICAL TEAMING WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING COMMUNICATE SKILLS FROM EARLY ON TO THEN BE ABLE TO APPLY AS THEY MOVE ON ALL THE WAY TO HOPEFULLY TAKING AN AP LANGUAGE, OF COURSE, LATER ON.
>> YES. IT REALLY ALIGNS WITH THE ACTUAL STANDARDS WHERE YOU LOOK AT BEING PROFICIENT IN THE LANGUAGE.
CAN YOU GET YOUR POINT ACROSS? AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD TEXTBOOK, 100% GRAMMATICAL ACCURACY.
EVEN IF YOU MAKE A FEW MISTAKES, YOU CAN STILL COMMUNICATE AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT NOWADAYS IN WORLD LANGUAGE, AND THAT BOOK DOES JUST THAT.
>> WE'RE SEEING A HUGE INFLUX IN STUDENTS WHO WANT TO TAKE THE CL BY LITERACY TEST THAT GOES TOWARDS OUR MARYLAND STATE REPORT CARD.
THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE WE HAD 69 STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN IT AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD STUDENTS AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL TAKE IT, AND WE BELIEVE THIS WILL HELP ADD TO THOSE NUMBERS AND BUILD THOSE PROGRAMS, BECAUSE IT IS.
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE IMMERSIVE IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNICATION AND ENCOURAGE THE SPEAKING AND LISTENING OF THAT.
>> ALSO, [INAUDIBLE] ACTIVE FOR [INAUDIBLE] LEARNERS.
WE HAVE SO MANY HERITAGE FIGURE STUDENTS IN OUR SPANISH CLASSES, BUT THERE ARE DIFFERENT FACES OR DIFFERENT STEPS OF THEIR LANGUAGE LEARNING THAT MIGHT SPEAK IT AT HOME BUT NOT READING AND WRITING.
THIS REPORTEROS FOR SPANISH, ACTUALLY HAS EMBEDED DIFFERENTIATION FOR US TO WORK IN SMALL GROUPS WITH THEM AND BE ABLE TO DO ALSO ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR DIFFERENT OF OUR STUDENTS.
>> AS WE SAID, IT WILL ACCOMPLISH ALL THE WORLD LANGUAGE STANDARDS OF ACTUAL STANDARDS THROUGH ACTIVE COMMUNICATION, LISTENING, READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND LISTENING.
WHAT DO THE STUDENTS GET? WELL, STUDENTS WILL GET TEXTBOOKS, EVERY STUDENT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS WILL ALSO GET A WORKBOOK.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS NICE WITH THIS BOOK AND EVERYTHING IT INCLUDES.
IT IS A 10-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY.
IT'S BASED A LOT ON PROJECTS, AND ONE OF THE PROJECTS IS CREATE YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE, WHICH WILL BE MORE RELEVANT TO OUR STUDENTS.
WE THINK THAT'S THE BIG THING, IS THAT THE RELEVANCY OF THIS BOOK, IT'S GREAT.
IT'LL KEEP STUDENTS' ATTENTION TO MORE AND THE PROJECTS WILL BE MORE REAL LIFE FOR THEM.
TEACHERS GET ONLINE RESOURCES.
TEACHERS WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE UP TO DATE READINGS AND UP TO DATE SPEAKING.
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE THERE, THERE'S PRE-MADE TESTS AND QUIZZES, WHICH WILL ALSO HELP WITH THE COMMON ASSESSMENT PUSH DOWN THE ROAD.
AS MENTIONED BEFORE, HERITAGE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE THERE FOR EACH TEACHER, AND THE RUBRICS ARE THERE AS WELL.
DO IN MINE. BASICALLY, ONE OF OUR PARENTS THAT CAME IN THE PROGRAM, "A NEW PROGRAM WOULD BE GREAT.
I AM FROM GUATEMALA AND IT'S HARD TRYING TO CORRECT OUR STUDENT BETWEEN HOW WE SAY THINGS AND WHAT HE IS LEARNING AT SCHOOL.
SAME LIKE WE HAVE HERE IN ENGLISH." WE KNOW WE GO TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF AMERICA, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SLANG WORDS, SAME THING AS WE LOOK INTO SPANISH.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND WITH THIS BOOK AS IT DOES BRING IN A LOT OF THE OTHER COUNTRIES INTO IT, NOT JUST FORMAL SPANISH.
SOME OF THE WORDING IN THE TEXTBOOK IS CONFUSING BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW WE SPEAK.
THE SPANISH HE IS LEARNING IS MORE FORMAL AND HIS TEACHER IS DOING AN AMAZING JOB.
BUT AS A PARENT, IT WOULD HELP IF HE WOULD LEARN HOW SPANISH IS SPOKEN IN DIFFERENT LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES.
A MORE UP TO DATE CURRICULUM WILL HELP OVERALL TO KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGES AROUND THE WORLD AND LEARN THROUGH PROJECTS FROM REAL LIFE SCENARIOS.
IT SEEMS LIKE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE FUN LEARNING AND TEACHING, AS WOULD HAVE MORE MATERIALS TO WORK WITH.
THE WORLD LANGUAGE CURRICULUM LOOKS AMAZING.
I LOVE HOW MODERN, ENGAGING, AND INCLUSIVE IT IS, AND I FEEL STUDENTS WILL TRULY BENEFIT FROM IT." OUR BOOK REVIEW COMMITTEE THERE.
[01:50:02]
IT WAS ON DISPLAY FOR THREE WEEKS IN THE LOBBY AND HAD STATEMENTS AVAILABLE.AS YOU MENTIONED, SHOWN A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TODAY.
WE JUST ASK FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THE NEW TEXTBOOK.
THERE'S A VIDEO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT YOUR OWN LEISURE, THAT EXPLAINS [INAUDIBLE].
A NICE THING ABOUT IT, IT'S MADE BY TEACHERS AND IT PROVIDES WHAT THEIR TEACHERS NEED.
IT'S NOT JUST A BOOK COMPANY MAKING A RESOURCE THAT THEY THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL.
IT'S ACTUALLY MADE BY TEACHERS IN A CLASSROOM WHO ACTUALLY WOULD USE IT THEMSELVES.
>> AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR THE BOARD, MR. MARKETO AND THE FOLKS ARE SEEKING THE APPROVAL FOR THE TEXTBOOK TONIGHT.
THE PURCHASE OF THE TEXTBOOK WOULD BE ON THE END OF YEAR PURCHASE THAT MS. THORTON MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, TO COME FORWARD AS A PURCHASE NEXT MONTH, TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, BUT WE NEED TO SEEK THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TONIGHT TO ADD IT TO THE LIST TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.
>> APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK AND, I KNOW THEY HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT, AND I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO IT AS WELL.
WE NEED THE VOICE OF OUR TEACHERS WHO ARE WORKING AND USING THE RESOURCE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR WORLD LANGUAGES.
BECAUSE YOUR LENS ON THE TOOL WILL BE MUCH GREATER THAN THOSE WHO ARE NOT HAVING TO USE IT ON A REGULAR BASIS.
I REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK AND YOU GUYS BEING HERE TONIGHT AS WELL FOR THIS.
I'M ONLY ASKING THIS BECAUSE I KNOW BOTH OF YOU FROM NORTH HIGH.
BUT COLONEL IS USING THE SAME MATERIALS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH SCHOOLS.
>> IT WOULD ALSO GO TO LOCKERMAN AND COLONEL MIDDLE, THEIR CLASSROOMS.
>> IT WOULD COVER SPANISH 1-4 AND FRENCH 1-3. YEAH.
>> JUST TO READ COMMENTS, I HAVE A COLLEGE SPANISH TEXTBOOK ON MY DESK AT HOME RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT A DIFFERENCE.
[LAUGHTER] OH MY GOSH, THAT THING IS TRASH.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS WONDERFUL. [LAUGHTER]
>> WE'LL SEND HIM HOME WITH A SAMPLE.
>> I CAN GET YOU SOME WORKBOOKS TOO.
>> THE WORK I DO IN MY DAY JOB, WE WORK WITH A LOT OF OTHER NATIONS.
PEOPLE SOMETIMES DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE SAME LANGUAGE AS THAT PARENT'S COMMENT WAS, THAT IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE. WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHAT I'VE DONE WITH FOLKS IS TRY TO RELATE THAT FOR THEM IN ENGLISH.
THE ENGLISH THAT'S SPOKEN IN THE UK, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, AND VARIOUS PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES, IT'S NOT THE SAME.
THE WORK WE DO IS MOSTLY IN AMERICAN ENGLISH, AND PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA, FOR EXAMPLE, WILL SAY, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WORD FOR THAT HERE.
THAT'S NOT THEIR WORD FOR IT, AND THERE'S MANY OTHER THINGS.
EVEN WHAT WE THINK IS SUCH A SIMPLE LANGUAGE, IT'S NOT SIMPLE AT ALL, AND IT JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE HOME.
I TOTALLY RELATE TO THAT COMMENT FOR THAT REASON AND UNDERSTAND WORLD LANGUAGES, ABSOLUTELY, AND OUR WORLD ISN'T SHRINKING, IT'S THE SAME SIZE, BUT THERE'S AN AWFUL LOT OF INTERACTION.
THIS IS SUCH A GREAT APPROACH.
YOU CERTAINLY KNOW. YOU'RE THE EXPERTS.
FOR ME AS A LAYPERSON AND THE WORK I DO WITH PEOPLE WHO SPEAK VARIOUS LANGUAGES AND VARIOUS TYPES OF THAT LANGUAGE, IT'S JUST AWESOME.
THIS IS JUST SUCH AN AWESOME APPROACH.
AS SOON AS YOU WERE SAYING USING THE STUDENTS, I WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT THAT PAGE WHEN YOU SAID IT. THANK YOU.
>> THE CULTURE IS INTERTWINED.
>> THAT'S A BIG THING WHEN YOU GET TO AP.
>> I THINK IT BRINGS IT TO LIFE, AND PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO IT BETTER.
UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, [OVERLAPPING] WE HEAD TO MOTION.
>> THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY IS JUST I CAN'T AGREE MORE ON WHAT YOU'RE SAYING TO DIFFERENT DIALECTS THAT I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND.
AT 911, SOMEBODY WAS CALLING, AND WE USE THE LANGUAGE LINE, AND I'VE HAD THE LANGUAGE LINE GIVEN TO ME.
HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING.
MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO MAYBE GET THAT SAMPLE [LAUGHTER] TO BRUSH UP ON SOME THINGS.
>> THAT'S WHY IN OUR WORK, WE CAN'T TRANSLATE OUR MATERIALS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE LANGUAGES, AND IT JUST [NOISE] DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT WHEN YOU ARE.
WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO TRANSLATE OUR MATERIALS WHERE THEY LIVE.
THAT'S WHAT IS JUST SO BEAUTIFUL, SO POWERFUL.
>> SO MOVED. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
[01:55:01]
>> WE CAN ADD IT TO THE LIST THAT KAREN IS BUSY DEVELOPING.
>> YOU REALLY DIDN'T GET THE KEEP IT.
>> PLEASE DON'T CARRY IT IN THE SPECIAL COPY.
>> I'LL KEEP LOOKING UP MY DAUGHTER. [LAUGHTER]
>> GET YOU A DESK COPY. THANK YOU, GUYS.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE-
>> -LAPTOPS. [BACKGROUND] MR. MENGEL IS IN THE GREEN SPIRIT.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND DR. SIMMONS.
I DO WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THAT THE GREEN HAS LEFT THE ROOM, BUT IT WAS NICE TO SEE EARLY ON.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT I FEEL A LITTLE NAKED UP HERE BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY OXFORD OR MY COAT, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY STUFF.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING IN THE GREEN THOUGH.
>> I'M GOING TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. I COME TO YOU WITH A MYRIAD OF BOARD ACTION ITEMS THIS EVENING, FIVE TO BE EXACT, BROKEN INTO TWO CATEGORIES, LAPTOPS AND BUSES.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE BOARD APPROVAL FOR STAFF APPLE LAPTOPS.
THIS PURCHASE REQUEST IS IN RESPONSE TO THE SIX-YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE FOR LAPTOPS ISSUED TO THE STAFF.
BEFORE THE ONE-TO-ONE LAPTOP INITIATIVE, THE TRADITIONAL LIFESPAN FOR THESE DEVICES WAS FOUR YEARS.
THESE LAPTOPS WILL REPLACE STAFF CURRENTLY ISSUED 2017 MACBOOK LAPTOPS, WHICH ARE NEARING THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE.
THIS AWARD PROVIDES FOR 275 APPLE LAPTOPS FOR CCPS STAFF.
THIS PURCHASE IS CONSIDERED A SINGLE-SOURCE PROCUREMENT AS APPLE DOES NOT ALLOW LAPTOPS TO BE PURCHASED FROM ANYBODY ELSE WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS NO BID PROCEDURE.
I DO WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FISCAL IMPACT ON US. YES, THERE WOULD BE.
THEY'D BE FUNDED BY CPS LOCAL FUNDS.
I DO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 275 APPLE LAPTOPS TO CCPS STAFF FOR A TOTAL OF $336,241.50.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I BROUGHT MR. [INAUDIBLE] TO ALSO HELP ME OUT WITH SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS.
>> MR. THORNTON DIDN'T SWALLOW ON THE DOLLAR AMOUNT. [LAUGHTER].
>> I CAN SAY THE MONEY IS IN OUR CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE.
WONDERFUL. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS? MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> NO, WE GOT ONE MORE LAPTOP.
>> ONE MORE SET OF LAPTOPS. [LAUGHTER].
>> MR. [INAUDIBLE] ISN'T QUITE READY TO LEAVE YET. [LAUGHTER]
>> THIS IS FOR THE APPROVAL FOR STUDENT APPLE LAPTOPS.
THESE LAPTOPS WILL REPLACE CURRENT 2017 STUDENT MACBOOK LAPTOPS NEAR THE END OF THEIR LIFE.
AS YOU RECALL, CCPS RECENTLY PURCHASED CHROMEBOOK LAPTOPS FOR LESSER GRADES.
STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 ARE THE ONLY STUDENT GROUPS ISSUED MACBOOK AIR LAPTOPS.
ISSUING STUDENT MACBOOK LAPTOPS INTO HIGHER GRADES BETTER PREPARES THEM FOR REAL-WORLD COMPUTING SUCH AS IN COLLEGE AND IN THE WORKFORCE.
THIS AWARD PROVIDES 520 APPLE LAPTOPS FOR CCPS STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THIS PURCHASE IS CONSIDERED A SINGLE-SOURCE PROCUREMENT AS APPLE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR LAPTOPS TO BE PURCHASED ELSEWHERE.
AS A RESULT, THERE IS NO BID PROCEDURE.
THE FISCAL IMPACT ON THIS TO CCPS IS NOTHING IS FUNDED BY ARP ESSER.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD IS TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF 520 APPLE LAPTOPS FOR CCPS STUDENTS FOR THE TOTAL OF $623,417.60.
>> SAY THAT ABOUT THE FUNDING AGAIN.
>> THERE'S ZERO FISCAL IMPACT.
>> TO THE LOCAL BUDGET. IT'S FUNDED THROUGH ARP ESSER.
>> THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDING WE STILL HAVE THAT [OVERLAPPING] UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
>> THIS IS A PURCHASE THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE REPEATED-
>> -YEAR AFTER YEAR. WONDERFUL.
>> WONDERFUL. WE'RE ALL JEALOUS UP HERE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. NOW WE CAN MOVE.
>> THANK YOU. NOW WE WILL SWITCH OVER TO BUSSING.
I OVERSEE MANY DEPARTMENTS, AND I'M BRINGING TO A TOTAL OF THREE DEPARTMENTS WORTH OF REQUESTS HERE THIS EVENING.
WE'RE GOING TO START OFF WITH TRANSPORTATION FIRST.
SCHOOL BUSES HAVE A LIFESPAN OF 15 YEARS BEFORE THEY AGE OUT.
[02:00:04]
BUS 111 AGED OUT IN MARCH OF 2024, AND WE HAD TO TAKE IT OFF THE ROAD.THE PURCHASE OF THIS NEW SCHOOL BUS WOULD REPLACE BUS 111 AS OUTLINED IN A PURCHASING LETTER OF JUSTIFICATION THAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS PACKET.
THOMAS BRAND SCHOOL BUS IS $3,095 HIGHER THAN THE BLUE BIRD, OR IT COMES OUT TO ABOUT $206 PER YEAR OVER THE 15-YEAR LIFESPAN.
THE COST SAVINGS VALUES LIES WITHIN THE NUMBER OF REPAIRS IN THE BLUE BIRD VERSUS THOMAS.
BLUE BIRD BUSES ARE IN NEED OF REPAIR NEARLY THREE TIMES MORE THAN A THOMAS.
BLUE BIRDS MUST BE TAKEN OUT OF STATE FOR REPAIRS, AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE DRIVEN BY OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF FROM THE BUS YARD TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEN BACK TO THE BUS YARD.
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TWICE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DROP THE BUS OFF AND THEN FOUR DAYS LATER TO GO BACK AND DO THE SAME RING ROLL AND DO IT AGAIN.
THAT COSTS A LOT OF INTANGIBLE IN DIRECT COSTS THAT DOESN'T EVER GET REPORTED OUT.
THOMAS BUSES ARE REPAIRED IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
PLUS THE REPAIR TEAM WILL COME AND PICK THE BUS UP FROM OUR BUS YARD AND THEY WILL ACTUALLY DELIVER IT BACK TO THE BUS YARD FREE OF CHARGE.
THE AVERAGE SCHOOL BUS REPAIR COSTS ARE NEARLY $700 PER.
THOMAS BRAND IS A HIGHER QUALITY SCHOOL BUS THAT WILL MORE THAN MAKE UP THE $3,095 DIFFERENCE IN THE INITIAL COST OVER ITS 15-YEAR LIFESPAN.
IF IT COMES OUT TO ABOUT AN EXTRA TWO $200 PER YEAR AND A BLUE BIRD GOES INTO THE SHOP FOR $700, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD RIGHT AWAY RIGHT THERE.
IT STARTS PAYING FOR ITSELF IMMEDIATELY.
I DO WANT TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PURCHASING GRID.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE WERE THREE VENDORS THAT DID PUT IN BIDS FOR IT.
WE HAD TO ADD SOME THINGS FROM THE INITIAL QUOTE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T MEET OUR STANDARDS FOR THE BUS NEEDS THAT THE WAY WE BUILD OUR BUSES.
WE ALSO HAD TO REMOVE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE DID NOT NEED.
WE DON'T NEED THE TOW PACKAGE ON A BUS.
[LAUGHTER] WE DON'T NEED A CHROME PACKAGE ON A BUS.
WE HAD SOME OF THOSE THINGS TAKEN OFF, WHICH BROUGHT THE TOTALS A LITTLE BIT MORE IN ALIGNMENT WITH EACH OTHER.
THE FISCAL IMPACT ON THIS IS THAT, YES, THIS BUS THAT I'M ASKING FOR WOULD BE $3,095 OVER THE LOWEST BID, WHICH IS THE BLUE BIRD.
IT COMES OUT OF THE LOCAL. IT IS BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR.
I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION PURCHASE OF A THOMAS SAF-T-LINER C2, 72-PASSENGER SCHOOL BUS FOR $129,070 FROM AMERICAN BUS SALES AND SERVICES OVER THE LOWER QUOTED BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUS OF $125,975.
>> IT WILL BE HERE BEFORE AUGUST.
I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND FOR A LONGEST TIME WHY THOMAS WAS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN BLUE BIRDS.
WE ENDED UP FINDING OUT THAT, A DEALERSHIP WERE PROBABLY NOT A HOT TOPIC TO TALK ABOUT.
BUT THE WHERE THE CARS DROPPED OFF IN BALTIMORE AT THE AT THE PORT.
YOU CAN GO PURCHASE A BUS AT THOSE LOTS FOR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ORDERING THEM STRAIGHT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND THAT'S US WHY IT TAKES 10, 12,14 MONTHS TO GET THEM.
BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THEM HOT OFF THE PRESS.
WELL, THEY GOT PERFECTLY GOOD BRAND NEW BUSES JUST SITTING IN PARKING LOTS.
ONCE WE LEARNED THAT WITH THIS PARTICULAR RESEARCH, THEY'RE LIKE, THAT BRINGS EVERYTHING INTO PLACE SO MUCH EASIER.
THEN IT GETS A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR ME TO JUSTIFY WHY WE MIGHT GO AFTER SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IN COST.
BEFORE IT WAS $12,000 DIFFERENTIAL, AND I HAD A HARD TIME COME TO YOU GUYS REQUESTING A JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT TYPE OF PRICE DIFFERENCE.
BUT WE GOT IT DOWN TO 3,000, I THOUGHT.
I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.
THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I'VE COME TO YOU FOR THE SECOND HIGHEST, WE'RE NEXT TO THE MIDDLE, THE SECOND LOWEST BID.
IT'S A BETTER BUS, IT'S A HIGHER QUALITY, AND IT JUST STARTS PAYING US BACK RIGHT AFTER THE GET GO WITH THE BLUE BIRD GOING TO REPAIR SHOP.
>> IT MAKES SENSE. ARE THERE QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
>> I'LL MOVE WE APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE THOMAS SAFETY LINE.
>> I DO MISS THAT CROWN. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER].
>> I KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT THAT. CROWN WOULD BE NICE.
>> WE'RE ON TO, ANOTHER, THIS IS THE CURBSIDE MARKET.
>> NOW WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH GEARS WITH BUSING AND GO INTO THE FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE WE COME BACK TO TRANSPORTATION.
AGAIN, THIS IS FOR FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S SO FAR THE RETROFIT THEIR EXISTING 14 PASSENGER BUSES THEY PURCHASED LAST SUMMER.
[02:05:05]
THE USDA RECENTLY REVISED SUMMER MEAL FEEDING REGULATIONS FOR ALL CHILDREN.THIS CHANGE OF THE USDA'S NON-CONGREGATE MEAL POLICY ALLOWS MORE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FREE SUMMER MEALS IN RURAL AMERICA.
LAST SUMMER, THE FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOUBLED THEIR MEAL DISTRIBUTION TO 42,000 MEALS.
12,000 OF THOSE MEALS CAME DIRECTLY FROM OUR SHOGO MOBILE, OUR EXISTING FOOD BUS THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE THAT'S CONVERTED.
THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER ENHANCE THE SUMMER EFFICIENCIES AS THEY AIM FOR THEIR GOAL OF 100,000 STUDENT SUMMER MEALS.
TWO 14 PASSENGER BUSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED.
THEY'RE IN OUR YARD. WE'RE JUST WAITING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THIS RETROFITTING PROJECT FOR THESE TWO VEHICLES, IS THAT A TOTAL COST OF $183,000.
THEIR FIRST BUS WOULD BE CONVERTED INTO BASICALLY A SECOND SHOGO WOULD BE A SECOND CURBSIDE MARKET BUS COMPLETE WITH PROPER FOOD STORAGE, FOOD HANDLING AND DISPLAYS, AND RICH IN REFRIGERATION.
IT WOULD BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE NO KID HUNGRY, RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL.
THE FIRST CURBSIDE MARKET BUS, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I GET THEM OFFLY FIXED. THE SECOND BUS WOULD BE CONVERTED AS A SUMMER FEEDING CAFE BUS.
COMPLETE WITH A SIT DOWN EATING AREA, TABLES AND SEATS WITHIN AN AIR CONDITIONING ENVIRONMENT.
CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO BOARD THE BUS, SELECT THEIR MEAL, AND CONSUME EITHER ONBOARD OR TAKE IT OFF PREMISES TO CONSUME.
THAT'S GOING BACK TO THAT NON-CONGREGATE MEAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT.
BEFORE THEY HAD TO EAT THE MEAL RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE FOOD SERVICE PEOPLE, NOW THEY CAN TAKE IT AND GO.
FUNDING FOR THE SECOND BUS WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE FOOD SERVICES BUDGET.
BOTH BUSES WILL HAVE SOLAR PANELS TO POWER ELECTRICAL NEEDS FOR THE OPERATION.
ALSO, BOTH BUSES WILL HAVE SATELLITE DISHES FOR WIFI CONNECTIONS AND CAPABILITIES.
DO WE QUICKLY DISCUSS THE GRID.
WE DID HAVE SOME PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PARTICULAR BID.
I'M SORRY. I'M GETTING AHEAD OF MYSELF, I THINK. NO, WE DIDN'T. WE ASKED.
WE GOT TWO NO RESPONSES, BUT US FOOD TRUCK FACTORY WAS ABLE TO COME THROUGH FOR US.
THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR THIS PARTICULAR FIRST VAN IS ZERO WITH THE NO KID HUNGRY RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL.
THE SECOND WOULD COME OUT OF THE FOOD SERVICES CASH RESERVE THAT THEY DO HAVE THE FUNDS FOR.
I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TO PROCEED FORWARD WITH THESE TWO NEW MOBILE STUDENT FEEDING INITIATIVES FOR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT BY AWARDING CONTRACT 24009 TO THE US FOOD TRUCK FACTORY FOR THE REMODELING AND RETROFITTING OF TWO CCPS 14 PASSENGER VANS.
>> THEY DON'T NEED A TOW PACKAGE EITHER.
[OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER] BUT THE AIR CONDITIONING WILL BE NICE.
I MIGHT SNEAK OUT AND GET A LUNCH OUT THERE REAL QUICK THIS SUMMER.
>> I'M GOING TO KEEP MY EYE NOT HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT I'M GOING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT WHEN I SEE SCHOOL BUSES, IF I EVER SEE ONE WITH A TOW PACKAGE.
[LAUGHTER] I'LL UNDERSTAND BECAUSE SOMEBODY MIGHT INCLUDE IT FOR NO COST.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PURCHASE? SEEMS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD, GOOD WORK?
>> THEY'LL BE DONE BEFORE SUMMER.
THEY WANT TO GET THESE THESE GONE.
IN FACT, SHE TOLD ME SHE GOES, THE SOON AS YOU FIND OUT TONIGHT TEXT ME SO I CAN MOBILIZE THE PEOPLE TO GET THEM GOING.
YEAH, QUICKLY. WE WANT TO GET THESE TWO BUSES IN OPERATION FOR THE SUMMER.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> MOTION IN A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR.
>> MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MOVING ON TO THE LAST AND FINAL.
I GET MY PAPER CLIPS IN ORDER.
I FEEL LIKE I'M CARRYING A BOOK.
THE LAST ONE IS FOR A U66 PASSENGER BUS.
OCTOBER OF 2023, BUS 112 WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TOTALING ITS VALUE.
MAY BECAME IMMEDIATELY INVOLVED IN OUR CLAIM LOSS AND SENT CCPS A REIMBURSEMENT CHECK FOR $64,492.
THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A VERY WELL MAINTAINED USED SCHOOL BUS FOR $58,916 TO REPLACE BUS 112.
THE BUS FOR PURCHASE IS A THOMAS SAFETY LINER C2 66 PASSENGER BUS, 2019 MODEL WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES ON IT.
THE BUS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR BUS YARD FOR VISUAL, AS WELL AS BASIC MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.
ALL SERVICE RECORDS WERE PRESENTED TO THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW.
PREVIOUSLY, THIS BUS WAS A RETIRED BUS DRIVER FROM CARFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[02:10:05]
THIS SIX-YEAR-OLD BUS HAS NINE FULL YEARS OF SERVICE REMAINING AND HAS AN AVERAGE OF JUST OVER 9,800 MILES ON ANNUALLY, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED VERY LOW MILES FOR A SCHOOL BUS.I'LL DISCUSS BRIEFLY THE RESULTS GRID ON THIS.
WE CAN'T COMPARE, UNFORTUNATELY, APPLES APPLES WHEN WE BUY A USED VEHICLE.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO DO IS, IT'S BASED ON THE SAME GRID THAT WE USED FOR THE NEW BUS.
I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU THE COMPARISON OF WHAT THOSE BUSES WERE COSTING, NEW VERSUS WHAT WE'RE GETTING FROM A USED BUS.
THEN WHAT I ACTUALLY DID TO REALLY DRILL DOWN EVEN DEEPER.
I WANT TO SEE WHAT THE YEARLY COST WAS FOR EACH YEAR GOING FORWARD FOR THE USED BUS OF NINE YEARS REMAINING AS WELL AS A 15 YEAR REMAINING BUS.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THE USED BUS COMES TO ABOUT $8,400 TO RUN ANNUALLY FOR THE REMAINING OF ITS LIFE.
NOW, YOU GOT TO TAKE CONSIDERATION.
I THINK ARE PRETTY CLOSE, BUT THEN THEY TAKE CONSIDERATION, THE USED BUS IS SMALLER.
THAT MAKES SENSE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE CHEAPER THAN THE NEW.
I THINK THEY'RE REALLY RIGHT ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF VALUE.
I JUST I FOUND THAT TO BE INTERESTING.
I SAY IT'S TOUGH FOR USED VEHICLES IS TOUGH TO COMPARE APPLES APPLES.
THIS BUS SHOULD BE 100% FUNDED FROM THE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT.
I'M REQUESTING THE BOARD'S APPROVAL FOR THE RECOMMENDED PURCHASE OF THE USED THOMAS SAFETY LINERS C2 62 PASSENGER SCHOOL BUS, AS THE BUS 122'S REPLACEMENT FOR AMERICAN BUS SALES AND SERVICE.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING FUNDING-WISE, WHAT WERE WE LOOKING AT, WOULD IT BE BETTER TO BUY THEM? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WHAT DO WE GET FROM THE INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT?
>> INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT WE GOT 64,000.
I CAN GET THIS BUS HERE TOMORROW.
THE NEW BUS COULD TAKE 12-14 MONTHS.
I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU TALK ABOUT TIMELINES.
>> YOU CAN'T FIND ANOTHER ONE LIKE THE FIRST ONE.
>> THE NEW? YEAH, WE CAN GO BACK AND WE CAN DO A SECOND BUS, IF THAT WAS THE OPTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE BUDGETED THAT WAY.
WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THIS BUS, BECAUSE OF THE [INAUDIBLE] INSURANCE THAT WE RECEIVED [OVERLAPPING]. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
YOU'RE ONLY USING LESS THAN 70,000 TO BUY A NEW BUS WITH THAT INSURANCE MONEY WHEN YOU GET 15 YEARS.
THIS, YOU ONLY GET NINE YEARS AND WE'RE USING 58,000. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
>> PER YEAR, THIS BUS IS CHEAPER THAN A NEW BUS.
>> PER YEAR, THIS BUS IS ABOUT APPROXIMATELY $170 CHEAPER THAN A NEW BUS.
I DIDN'T COMPARE SEAT TO SEAT, 66 SEATS VERSUS 72 SEATS, BUT I'M SURE ONCE YOU'VE PACKED IT INTO, I'M WILLING TO BET, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH ALMOST EQUAL.
>> IF YOU GET THIS BUS, HOW QUICK WILL YOU BEGIN USING IT?
>> WE CAN START USING IT RIGHT AWAY.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THE REPLACEMENT IS ONE OF OUR SUBSTITUTE BUSES.
YOU'D LIKE TO GET THAT BUS BACK TO YOUR YARD.
>> THERE'S SOMEWHAT OF A NEED FOR THIS BUS?
IT'S LIKE A FORK IN THE ROAD, NO PUN INTENDED.
TWO OPTIONS THERE. OF COURSE, YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE ADDITIONAL MONEY.
WHAT ELSE WOULD THOSE YEAR END PURCHASES BE USED FOR? THAT'S RHETORICAL.
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AT A FUTURE MEETING, BUT, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT A TEXTBOOK.
THAT WOULD BE ON THE TEXTBOOK? YES. IT'S ON THE LIST.
>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE ALSO TARGETING A PARAMOUNT OF YEAR END AROUND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEFERRING.
I KNOW MR. MENGEL IS WORKING ON SEVERAL OF THOSE BIDS.
BUT I ANTICIPATE OUR YEAR END LIST THAT WILL COME WITH A LOT OF MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ON THE IMMEDIATE TERM.
>> WHEN WE GET TO THAT 9TH YEAR, WE'LL SAY, " GOSH, WHY DIDN'T WE BUY THAT NEW BUS BACK THEN?"
>> I THINK SOMETHING THE BOARD MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER ALSO IS WE TRY.
I'M NOT SAYING WE DO A GOOD JOB AT IT, BUT WE REALLY TRY TO PURCHASE BUSES SO THAT WHEN THEY AGE OUT, WE DON'T GET STUCK WITH ONE YEAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I GOT TO GO TO MS. THORTON AND SAY, "I NEED SEVEN BUSES THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THEY'RE AGING OUT." SO WE TRY AND STAGGER THEM A LITTLE BIT.
I HAVEN'T DONE THE MATRIX, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF WE BOUGHT A SECOND BUS TO REPLACE BUS 112 TO GO OUT OF SERVICE IN 15 YEARS FROM NOW.
[02:15:04]
WHAT STRAIN DOES THAT PUT ON THE BUDGET TO HAVE TO BUY THAT.YEAH, I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT IN SEVEN YEARS, WE MIGHT HAVE TO BUY ONE OR TWO BUSES. IT COULD BE OFF.
IT COULD BE FIVE OR SIX, I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
BUT IT COULD ALSO BE JUST LIKE ONE OR TWO.
WELL, THEN THAT MAKES SENSE THAT WE SLOT THAT BUS IN THERE FOR A NEW BUS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO 15 YEARS BEYOND THAT.
THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
UNFORTUNATELY, A BUS AGES OUT.
THE STATE DOESN'T GIVE US ANY LEEWAY, DOESN'T SAY, WE'LL GIVE YOU [INAUDIBLE] 12 MONTHS.
>> [INAUDIBLE]. YEAH, I AGREE.
>> OTHER COMMENTS? CONSIDERING THE OPTION WE HAVE THERE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF THE USED BUS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE APPROVED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB ON THAT.
>> GREAT SUGGESTION AND ALTERNATIVES.
DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
IT'S A LOT OF WORK. YOU MAKE IT SOUND SIMPLE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. YOU SEE THESE FOLKS THAT ARE GOING, THEY WERE WAITING TO HEAR THAT.
>> THEY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BUS.
>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT RETIREMENT OF POLICIES.
>> APPARENTLY POLICY IS NOT A REALLY POPULAR TOPIC. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
I COME TO YOU TONIGHT, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS, WITH THREE ACTION ITEMS RIGHT NOW AND THEN ONE ITEM A LITTLE BIT LATER FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION.
FIRST ONE, AS WE CONTINUE OUR REVIEW OF OUR POLICIES THAT ARE UP FOR REVIEW THIS YEAR, OUR VARIOUS OFFICES AND DIVISIONS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
THERE ARE THREE ADDITIONAL POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR RETIREMENT.
THEY NO LONGER REPRESENT OUR PRACTICE AND NEED TO BE RETIRED FROM OUR POLICY BOOK.
THE FIRST ONE IS SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THIS POLICY IS A FOUR-PART POLICY.
THE FIRST PART SAYS THAT TEACHERS THAT TEACH IN SUMMER SCHOOL WILL BE PAID AN HOURLY WAGE.
WELL, THAT'S A NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT.
SECOND PART SAYS THAT WE WILL ALLOW KIDS TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER SCHOOL AFTER THEY PAY A FEE.
WELL, WE HAVEN'T CHARGED FEES IN YEARS.
THEN THE LAST TWO PARTS TALK ABOUT HOW MANY HOURS ARE NEEDED TO MAKE UP CREDIT.
I THINK THAT WAS BACK, AS YOU CAN SEE, 1990 WHEN THIS WAS WRITTEN.
THAT WAS BACK WHEN SUMMER SCHOOL WAS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE UP CREDIT, AND NOW WE HAVE EVENING SCHOOL OPTIONS AND EVEN DURING THE DAY OPTIONS FOR MAKEUP CREDIT.
THAT POLICY FOR SUMMER SCHOOL IS NO LONGER ACCURATE OR NEEDED.
THE SECOND POLICY FOR RETIREMENT IS STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.
THIS WAS A POLICY THAT WAS WRITTEN BEFORE TWO MAJOR CHANGES OCCURRED THAT IMPACTED.
IT SAYS THAT BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION, A STUDENT CAN MISS FRIDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY TO GO WORK IN A CAMPAIGN.
ALL THE ABSENCES WILL BE EXCUSED IF THEY WRITE AN ESSAY AND SUBMIT IT TO THE PRINCIPAL, AND IT LAYS ALL OF THAT AT THE PRINCIPAL'S DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO GRANT THAT OR NOT.
TWO MAJOR CHANGES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IS NUMBER 1, THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE ANY EARLY VOTING, SO ELECTION DAY IS VERY DIFFERENT NOW THAN WHAT ELECTION DAY WAS BACK THEN BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY WOULDN'T ALLOW ABSENCES FOR ALL PARTS OF EARLY VOTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NUMBER 2, WE KNOW THAT ATTENDANCE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SCHOOL'S REPORT CARD AND THERE IS AN ABSENCES AND ABSENCES AND ABSENCE.
THERE IS NO CERTIFIED ABSENCE FROM THE PRINCIPAL ANYMORE THAT THIS POLICY TALKS ABOUT.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT RELEVANT AND HAS NOT BEEN USED IN A VERY LONG TIME.
THEN POLICY 332-60 IS OUR THIRD POLICY FOR RETIREMENT.
THIS IS EARLY ADMISSION TO PRE-K AND IT SAYS THAT A THREE-YEAR-OLD CAN GET INTO PRE-K. WELL, WE NOW HAVE PRE-K 3.
THREE-YEAR-OLDS HAVE THEIR OWN PRE-K PROGRAM TO GET INTO.
THEY DON'T NEED EARLY ADMISSION INTO PRE-K 4.
FOR THOSE REASONS, I'D RECOMMEND THAT THESE THREE POLICIES BE RETIRED AND REMOVED FROM OUR POLICY BOOK.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICIES FOR RETIREMENT? COMMENTS? HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION?
>> I MOVE THAT THESE POLICIES BE RETIRED.
[02:20:01]
>> ALL RIGHT. THEY ARE RETIRED.
>> OKAY. OUR NEXT SET OF POLICIES ARE ONES THAT CAN BE INTRODUCED TONIGHT FOR FIRST READING BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE CHANGES TO THEM, BUT THE CHANGES ARE NOT SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES AND ARE REQUIRED BY LEGISLATIVE MANDATE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE AND BY YOUR POLICY ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT, WHEN YOU HAVE CHANGES OF THAT NATURE, YOU CAN APPROVE THAT IN A SINGLE READING SO WE'LL WALK THROUGH THOSE.
THEY BOTH DEAL WITH TRANSPORTATION, BOTH HAVE BEEN REVIEWED BY THE TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR AND THE TRANSPORTATION SPECIALIST.
THE FIRST ONE, ONE OF THE CHANGES IS JUST RENAMING IT TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION BECAUSE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY CALLED SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION.
WE TRANSPORT STUDENTS AND MORE THAN JUST BUSES NOW SO MAKING THAT NAME CHANGE AND REALLY, WHAT THE CHANGES ARE IN THIS IS IN THE POLICY UNDER SECTION 4 IMPLEMENTATION.
IN SECTION A, IT TALKS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ROOTS.
THERE WAS A PART IN THERE WHERE ROOTS WOULD BE AWARDED ANNUALLY TO CONTRACTORS, WE AWARD ROOTS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE OR AS A CONTRACTOR NEEDS THEM SO IT'S NOT AN ANNUAL PROCESS ANY LONGER.
DESIGNATION OF ROOTS IN B IS THAT THE RIDGE WILL BE NUMBERED AND REALLY, IT'S SAFETY THAT GOES INTO PLAY FOR THAT.
THERE WERE SOME CHANGES IN PART D TO CERTIFICATION OF DRIVERS.
THERE WAS A LAUNDRY LIST OF WHAT DRIVERS HAD TO KIND OF TICK OFF THAT THEY NEEDED TRAINING IN AND MVA HAS REMOVED THAT LIST, AND WE'VE CHANGED THAT AND TAKEN THAT OUT OF OUR POLICY.
THEN THROUGHOUT THE POLICY, IT REFERENCED THAT A BUS HAD A USEFUL LIFE OF 12 YEARS AND AS WE'VE JUST HEARD, BECAUSE OF LEGISLATIVE CHANGES A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, A BUS HAS A USEFUL LIFE OF 15 YEARS SO WE'VE CHANGED THAT IN THE POLICY AS WELL.
LIKE I SAID, THOSE ARE JUST NON SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES THAT REALLY REFLECT CHANGES IN LAW AND CHANGES IN MVA REGULATION PRACTICE BUT THE POLICY OTHER THAN THAT, IS LARGELY UNCHANGED AND WHAT IT DOES AND DOES REPRESENT CURRENT PRACTICE OF OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT.
I'LL STOP THERE. QUESTIONS ABOUT STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS [OVERLAPPING] LOOK AT
>> IT'S ACTUALLY UNDER THE PROCEDURE FOR COUNTY, STAY.
>> THE FIRST ONE FOR PROCEDURE FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS.
PRINCIPAL SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR [LAUGHTER] ADMINISTERING SAFE BUS LOADING AND DISCHARGING PROCEDURES LIKE WHERE IS IT AT THE SCHOOL I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO, I GUESS MORE CLARIFICATION.
>> SORRY GREG, BUT WE CAN ADD AT SCHOOL SITES.
>> WHATEVER YOU THINK. I JUST THINK WE JUST NEED TO CLARIFY THAT WAY, THEY'RE NOT THINKING THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT AT SOMEBODY'S HOUSE.
>> THEN ON NUMBER 2, THE CHECK FOR ACCURACY BY I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE OUT THE HIM THEN PUT IN THERE, SUPERVISOR TRANSPORTATION AND THEN SUBMITTED TO THE COUNTY OFFICE.
>> TO THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE?
>> THOSE ARE JUST THE TWO THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN.
>> WE WOULD JUST TAKE OUT THEN CHECK FOR ACCURACY BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED, I WOULD JUST TAKE BY HIM OUT.
>> THEN THE ONLY OTHER THING I'VE SEEN THAT KIND OF JUST STUCK OUT, BUT IT COULD BE I'M JUST READING IT WRONG WAS DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
WHERE WAS B AND F HAD KIND OF THE SAME LANGUAGE.
IT SAID SCHOOL VEHICLE DRIVER CERTIFICATION STATUS WILL NOT BE OFFERED TO AND WILL BE PERMANENTLY SUSPENDED FROM ANY TRAINEE OR DRIVER WHO TEST POSITIVE FOR PRESCRIBED SUBSTANCES UNDER THIS POLICY, AND THEN F IS KIND OF THE SAME THING AND MAYBE I'M READING IT WRONG ON WHY IT'S THERE LIKE THAT IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES.
>> THAT'S ACTUALLY UNDER THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL.
>> [INAUDIBLE] TOO FAR, THEY'RE RUNNING TOGETHER [LAUGHTER].
>> AGAIN, THOSE CHANGES WOULD BE CHANGES THAT DON'T CHANGE THE POLICY OVERALL, SO WE COULD MAKE THOSE CHANGES IF THERE'S NOT OBJECTION.
[02:25:01]
>> COULD CATCH THERE? OTHER COMMENTS.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE ONE AT A TIME OR WE CAN VOTE ON THAT?
>> IT MIGHT BE BEST TO CONSIDER THEM INDIVIDUALLY.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND WITH TROY SUGGESTIONS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION IN THAT REGARD, TROY, DO YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT MOTION?
>>I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO CONTINUE WITH THE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT.
>> MOTION CARRIES. ONTO DRUGS.
>> DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING FOR BUS AND ALTERNATE VEHICLE DRIVERS AGAIN, THAT IS A NAME CHANGE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST FOR BUS DRIVERS, AND WE DO TRANSPORT STUDENTS VIA VANS AND CARS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S ANYONE TRANSPORTING A STUDENT.
REALLY, THIS POLICY LOOKS DIFFERENT COSMETICALLY.
THIS POLICY, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT CURRENTLY WAS OUT THERE, DID NOT HAVE A PURPOSE AND A POLICY STATEMENT AND A RATIONALE, AND THIS THAT AND THE OTHER SO WE'VE MADE SORT OF IN LINE, YOU CAN SEE IT WAS ADOPTED IN 1993.
BUT AS FAR AS THE FACT THAT WE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEST OUR DRIVERS PRE SERVICE AFTER ANY SORT OF VIOLATION OR ACCIDENT RANDOMLY, AND OUR PROCESS FOR WHAT WE DO IF WE DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS AN ISSUE IS REALLY UNCHANGED SO THIS WAS A REVIEW OF THE POLICY, A REFORMATTING OF THE POLICY TO MAKE IT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAVE, AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THE SCOPE WAS APPROPRIATE WITH THE FACT THAT MORE THAN JUST SCHOOL BUSES ARE USED NOW AND WE HAVE DRIVERS DRIVING OTHER VEHICLES.
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A POLICY WRITTEN IN THE '90S WE'RE DRUG TESTING IN THE '90S WE'RE DRUG TESTING TODAY.
IT'S THE SAME SORT OF THING, BUT WE NEED TO PUT OUR EYES ON IT EVERY SO OFTEN.
JUST AS A REMINDER, EVEN THOUGH THERE SEEM LAST WEEK, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOME POSSIBLE RECLASSIFICATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE UNDER US DOT RESTRICTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, SO THAT DOES INCLUDE CANNABIS AND MARIJUANA, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S LEGALIZED AT THE STATE LEVEL THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW US DOT FOR THAT.
>> IT ISN'T ABOUT WHAT SUBSTANCES ARE ILLEGAL FOR YOU TO CONSUME, SUCH AS ALCOHOL, IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT'S IN THEIR SYSTEM, WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE THAT INCLUDES STUDENTS IN [INAUDIBLE] SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S DIFFERENCE, BUT CERTAINLY IS.
>> TROY, YOU WERE LOOKING AT F YOU SAID?
>> IT WAS B AND F. KIND OF HAD, LIKE, THE SAME LANGUAGE, BUT IT MIGHT BE JUST HOW IT'S LAID OUT.
>> I THINK IT IS HOW IT'S LAID OUT A LITTLE BIT
>> BUT ONE DEALS WITH SUSPENSION AND ONE DEALS WITH NOT BEING OFFERED?
>> THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT KIND OF CAUGHT MY EYE.
>> I THINK AND WE CAN PROBABLY PUT THOSE EVEN TOGETHER [OVERLAPPING].
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS [INAUDIBLE]
>> SO WE CAN MAKE THAT IT AS WELL.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS.
HEARING NONE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE MOVING FORWARD WITH A SUGGESTION THAT THE CHANGE THAT TROY POINTED OUT? YOU CAN MAKE THAT [LAUGHTER]
>> I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO GO WITH THE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING FOR BUS AND ALTERNATE VEHICLE DRIVERS WITH THE CHANGES THAT WE DISCUSSED, POSSIBLY COMBINING THOSE TWO. DO WE HAVE A SECOND?
>> THEN THE THIRD ACTION ITEM IS FOR POLICIES THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE WITHOUT CHANGES THEY DO STILL REPRESENT WHAT WE DO AND THERE ARE NOT CHANGES NECESSARY BUT AGAIN, ON A FOUR YEAR CYCLE, WE DO WANT TO REVIEW EVERYTHING AND WE'LL UPDATE DATES THAT IT WAS REVIEWED SO THAT IT CAN BE SEEN.
THE FIRST IS PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS AND ACTUALLY, AS FAR AS RELEVANCY GOES, JUST YESTERDAY, WE ATTENDED A VIRTUAL WEBINAR ON THE NEW TITLE 9 REGULATIONS, MARYLAND HAS HAD A REQUIREMENT,
[02:30:03]
THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE POLICIES FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS.THE NEW TITLE 9 REGULATIONS THAT WERE JUST RELEASED LAST MONTH, I BELIEVE NOW THAT'S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE THIS POLICY IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY SATISFY THAT AND IT DOES REPRESENT OUR CURRENT PRACTICE AND IT IS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE DO SO NO CHANGES NEEDED THERE.
THEN COUNTY OWNED MOTOR VEHICLES, JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WOULD BE WHEN YOU'RE USING A COUNTY OWNED MOTOR VEHICLE, YOU'RE USING IT FOR WORK RELATED PURPOSES AND DE MINIMIS PERSONAL AND AGAIN,THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
AN OLDIE AND A GOODIE FROM 1989, THAT WILL JUST UPDATE THE DATE ON, BUT THAT IS STILL THE PRACTICE.
>> EXACTLY. DON'T DON'T USE IT FOR JOY RIDING SO THOSE ARE THOSE TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> LESSON HAS CHROME. [LAUGHTER]
>> WELL LESSON HAS CHROME, BUT WE'RE NOT SPRINGING FOR CHROME ANYMORE SO TAKE THAT AWAY.
>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF THESE POLICIES THAT DON'T NEED TO BE CHANGED?
>> I MOVE WE ACCEPT THE POLICIES ON PREGNANT AND PARENTING STUDENTS AND COUNTY OWNED VEHICLES.
>> GOOD WORK ON THAT. I KNOW IT CAN BE TEDIOUS.
BUT IT'S IMPORTANT IT KEEPS DEFINITELY KEEPS THINGS ON TRACK AND MAKING ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED.
NOW I LIKE THE WORDING OF THIS PROLONGED STATE OF EMERGENCY VIRTUAL EDUCATION PLAN.
>> PRESIDENT BARTON DOCTOR SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THIS IS OUR PROLONGED STATE OF EMERGENCY PLAN THAT SENATE BILL 16 HAS REQUIRED US TO CREATE AND GENERATE.
WHAT WE DID WAS WE UTILIZED OUR EXPERIENCE FROM WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OF INTERRUPTED INSTRUCTION AS OUR BENCHMARK.
WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT ANOTHER EMERGENCY MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
MSTE DID RECOMMEND THAT WE LOOK AT OUR PREVIOUS CONTINUITY OF LEARNING PLAN THAT WE HAD TO CREATE DURING THE PANDEMIC AND USE THAT AS OUR REFERENCE, AND IT ALSO PROVIDED A RUBRIC THAT WE USED TO MEASURE OUR RESPONSES OVER.
THE OTHER THING THAT WE DID THAT WAS, I THINK, REALLY INTERESTING AND FUN IS THAT I CREATED A WORK SESSION FOR THIS TO BE DONE HERE IN THE OFFICE AND THE BOARD ROOM, AND I INVITED ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT WOULD BE PUTTING IN INFORMATION IN THIS PLAN.
WE HAD FOOD SERVICES, WE HAD TRANSPORTATION, WE HAD MR. GOSH.
WE HAD BETH BREWSTER, WE HAD GARRETT AND JIM BOB COME AND WE WERE ABLE TO ALL MOVE AROUND AND PLAN TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THIS COLLABORATIVELY, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY QUITE FUN BECAUSE WE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT THIS WOULD LOOK LIKE.
WHAT DID WE LEARNED LAST TIME THAT WE COULD PROBABLY APPLY TO THIS TIME? WE REALLY ACCESSED ALL OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND OUR CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO BE ABLE TO CREATE THIS PLAN.
WHILE WE CAN'T PREDICT WHAT TYPE OF TRAGEDY OR REASON FOR PROLONGED SEA OF EMERGENCY.
ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS IF WE HAVE A SINGLE BUILDING WITHIN THE 10 THAT HAVE INTERRUPTION BECAUSE OF SOME TYPE OF LACK OF RESOURCE OR A BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUE, WE CAN IMPLEMENT THIS.
WE'VE LOOKED AT OTHER OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IT AND IT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE ANOTHER PANDEMIC, SO TO SPEAK.
THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, IT WAS A GOOD PRACTICE FOR US.
WE REALLY ENJOYED THE COLLABORATION, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT HAPPENED ALONG THE WAY, AND SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME FROM IT.
THAT IS WHAT I'M PRESENTING TO YOU THIS EVENING FOR YOUR APPROVAL. IT'S LENGTHY.
IT DOES INCLUDE ALL ASPECTS OF WHAT WE DO AS FAR AS A BOARD OR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS INSTRUCTION MODEL.
>> DOCTOR DOWNS COMMITTEE ALSO REVIEWED THIS BASED OFF OF WHAT THE STATE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT FOR APPROVAL.
AS YOU MENTIONED, SENATE BILL 16 REQUIRES EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM TO DO THIS.
WE HAVE TO SUBMIT BY JUNE 1, THEN WE GET THE FUN OF REVIEWING EVERY TWO YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT.
THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY THE PANDEMIC ON THE SHELF PLAN.
BUT REALISTICALLY, FOR US, IT'S THE AS DOCTOR DOWNS MENTIONED, IT'S THE IF THERE'S A EMERGENCY CRISIS THAT STRIKES A BUILDING AND WE'VE DONE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILLS,
[02:35:01]
AND COUNTY OVER THE YEARS WITH ANS FOLKS, AND ONE THAT ALWAYS POPS UP THAT WE TRY TO CONSIDER IS THE TORNADO.IF YOU HAVE A TORNADO HIT A BUILDING, BUILDINGS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR COULD BE A MONTH OR SO, BUT THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS NOT DOWN.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND WHEN YOU HAVE A SCHOOL YOU CAN'T USE FOR A MONTH? IF FEELSBURG'S WATER ISSUE HAD NOT BEEN A ONE DAY ISSUE TO RESOLVE AND THAT ISSUE ENDED UP BEING A WEEKS LONG ISSUE, WHAT DO YOU DO? I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT WENT INTO THIS.
I UNDERSTAND WHERE THE SENATE BILL WAS COMING FROM.
GET IT AND PUT SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN A POSITION TO BE PREPARED FOR NEXT TIME SO I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK EVERYBODY'S PUT INTO IT.
>> IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE FUN AND INTERESTING TO DO. I MADE IT FUN.
I BROUGHT FOOD. I BROUGHT SUBSTANCE SO THAT EVERYBODY MAINTAIN AN INTEREST IN IT.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO POINT OUT IS THAT WE DID ACCESS A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE REMEMBER FROM THE PANDEMIC, SUCH AS SOME SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS, EQUITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACCESS, AND THEN EVEN RE ENTRY PLAN, SINCE WE HAD ONE FROM A REFERENCE POINT, WE TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT THAT WE FELT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT WE WOULD DO IF WE HAD TO RE ENTRY A PLAN OR RE ENTRY OUR KIDS INTO INSTRUCTION.
ALL MEMBERS THAT ARE EMPLOYED WITH THE COUNTY THROUGH INSTRUCTION, THROUGH FOOD SERVICES THROUGH TRANSFORMATION, THEY HAVE A ROLE AND THEY WERE CONSIDERED IN THIS PLAN.
>> ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS?
>> MY COMMENT WOULD BE TO SAY, IT WOULD BE TO SIT ON MY GLASS IF YOU READ IT.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING HERE IS THIS IS A REQUIRED THING AND YET YOU TURNED IT INTO A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT THAT'S ESSENTIALLY A TEAM BUILDING?
>> IT WAS. YOU HAD TO DO WITH GROUPS OF DIFFERENT ROOMS.
>> BUT IT ALSO HAS EMERGENCY PLANNING, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR REAL LIFE APPLICATION AND SO THAT WHOLE NOTION OF PREDICTABLE IS PREVENTABLE.
COULD A BUILDING BE KNOCKED OUT OUT OF SERVICE OR THAT SORT OF THING, AND YOU CAN THINK OF ALL SCENARIOS.
EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T GRAB THE PLAN AND LOOK AT IT, IF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN THIS, THEY DON'T KNOW THINKING.
THEY'LL KNOW THE MINDSET AND THE CHECKLIST THINGS.
WE EVEN YOU SAID SOME OF THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT EMOTIONAL AND THE EFFECTS OF THAT ON PEOPLE.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM PANDEMIC.
WHILE THESE EXERCISES SOMETIMES IT COULD FEEL BUREAUCRATIC IT'S MAKING FUN OF THE NAME, THE SENATE SAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS.
WELL, YOU TURNED IT INTO SOME OF THE WORK OF BLUEPRINT AS WELL.
YOU'RE MADE TO DO THIS SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THE BEST WE CAN AND MAKE IT USEFUL.
MY COMPLIMENTS ON DOING THAT AND MORE THAN ONE OF US UP HERE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN EMERGENCY PLANNING.
WE GET THAT BUT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT PROJECT AND WILL HAVE VALUE.
WHILE YOU HAVE A SPARE TIRE IN YOUR CAR, SAME REASON.
>> IT REALY DOES. ONE THING THAT I THINK WAS IMPORTANT WAS HAVING EVERYBODY COME TOGETHER AND INSTEAD OF SENDING OUT A DOCUMENT THAT WAS OPEN, TO BE ABLE TO ENTER IN, WE ALL WERE IN THE ROOMS TOGETHER TALKING AND COLLABORATING AND SHARING OUT.
THAT CREATED AN IN PERSON EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN BUILD ON.
>> A FRINGE BENEFIT THERE. VERY GOOD.
>> ONE QUICK QUESTION, IS THIS BEING DISSEMINATED DOWN TO THE TEACHERS?
>> IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
>> AFTER IT'S APPROVED IN EVERYTHING.
>> IT WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
WELL ONCE IT'S APPROVED, IT WILL BE HERE IN THE BOARD.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD SHARE WITH THE TEACHERS, OTHER THAN TO LET THEM KNOW, WE HAVE A PLAN BECAUSE IT WILL REALLY DEPEND ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WILL DEPEND ON THE TYPE OF INTERRUPTION.
WE'LL HAVE TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY FROM THAT BUT IT WILL BE IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE FOR FAMILIES AND EVERYONE.
>> HEATHER THOMAS? HEARING NONE.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THIS?
>> WE SUPPORT THE PROLONG STATE OF EMERGENCY VIRTUAL EDUCATION PLAN.
>> NOW WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT.
>> DOCTOR DOWNS WILL HAVE THIS AS WELL.
>> MR. BARTON IS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND SUPERVISOR FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
MISS ERICA MCDONALD HAS BEEN WORKING AS THE INTERIM FOR QUITE SOME TIME.
IN FACT, BEFORE SHE WAS EVEN NAMED INTERIM, SHE WAS VERY INSTRUMENTAL IN A LOT OF THE WORK THAT WE WERE DOING AROUND SUPPORTING OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, BOTH FROM ELEMENTARY TO MIDDLE TO HIGH.
THROUGH THE INTERVIEW PROCESS, SHE WAS SELECTED.
[02:40:01]
SHE IS, I BELIEVE, THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE POSITION.SHE'S NOT HERE THIS EVENING BECAUSE SHE IS AT A SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW CONFERENCE ALONG WITH OUR ATTORNEY, OUR BOARD ATTORNEY MISS RUSHEL AND MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, AS YOU KNOW THE TEAM WORKS TOGETHER, THE ML SUPERVISOR, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SUPERVISOR, OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.
THEY'RE ALL THERE GETTING SOME REALLY GREAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW.
IN FACT, I WENT FOR A FEW DAYS AND GAINED A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
WE DID SOME COLLABORATIVE WORK TOGETHER WE HAD CONVERSATIONS AND TALKED AND REALLY THIS CONFERENCE WAS A LITTLE PLUG FOR THE CONFERENCE BECAUSE I LEARNED SOME THINGS ABOUT EMERGENCY DISCIPLINE BEHAVIOR AROUND 504 SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS AND ALSO INTERRUPTIONS IN INSTRUCTION, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL TRAGEDY.
IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE STILL THERE.
I THINK THEY'RE THERE THROUGH WEDNESDAY, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE COMING BACK WITH A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION.
ONE THING THAT MISS MCDONALD HAS DONE, IS SHE'S BEEN WORKING WITH THE INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL HELP OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS SO THAT WE'RE COMBINING OUR INSTRUCTION AND OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND OUR ML TEAMS TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED SUPPORTS INSTEAD OF WORKING INDEPENDENTLY AND SO I BELIEVE HER ONE OF HER STRENGTHS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS.
I'M RECOMMENDING ERICA MCDONALD FOR OUR SUPERVISORS.
>> SOME OF OUR WORK SESSIONS, WE'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO AND RECEIVED INFORMATION OR PRESENTATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK SHE'S DOING AND CERTAINLY SHE IS.
>> SHE'S REALLY IS A TEAM PLAYER.
SHE'S WILLING TO ROLL HER ELBOWS, ROLLER SLEEVES UP TO HER ELBOWS AND GET IN THERE AND DO THE WORK AND SHE'S IN BUILDINGS A LOT.
>> THAT'S GREAT. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR HER? IF NOT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE?
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS, ERICA.
SHE RIGHT NOW SAYS THERE'S NOT A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE.
SHE'S FEELING POSITIVE ENERGY.
>> SHE IS AND SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO COME ON LIVE, AND I SAID, DO NOT.
YOU CAN ALWAYS WATCH IT LATER.
>> THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> SHE'S A GREAT JOB IN A SHORT TIME AND REALLY I THINK THERE'S SOME GREAT THINGS COMING IN HER FUTURE WITH WHAT SHE'S DOING HERE.
>> WHICH IS GREAT FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
>> POLICY REVISIONS RESPECT TO IN FACT.
[8. Discussion of Items for Future Board Action]
>> NOT AGAIN IF I GOT UP, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. THESE TWO POLICIES THROUGH OUR REVISION PROCESS DO HAVE REVISIONS THAT ARE SUBSTANTIVE.
BECAUSE OF THAT, ACCORDING TO THE POLICY ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT, THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH TWO READINGS AT TWO MEETINGS, AND ALSO HAVE A PERIOD OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
BOTH POLICIES VERY MUCH NEEDED SOME REVISION, AND YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TONIGHT SO THAT YOU CAN READ AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
NOT ONLY THE POLICY PROPOSAL, BUT THE REGULATION PROPOSAL AS WELL, JUST TO HELP INFORM THAT.
YOU'RE ONLY APPROVING THE POLICY, BUT JUST SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AS WE GO FORWARD.
THE FIRST ONE IS PRE-KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT.
IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO FIRST?
>> THAT IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO. I HAVE THEM IN THE OPPOSITE WAY. HERE WE ARE.
THIS POLICY REALLY IS BEING REWRITTEN TO BRING PRE-K ENROLLMENT IN LINE WITH BLUEPRINT EXPECTATIONS.
THE POLICY ITSELF IS JUST A SINGLE PAGE.
IT REALLY JUST SAYS THAT WE WILL BRING IT IN LINE WITH THOSE EXPECTATIONS AND HAVE A TIERED SYSTEM OF ENROLLMENT FOR OUR PRE-K PROGRAMS. OF COURSE, IT SAYS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WILL DEVELOP GUIDELINES FOR HOW WE DO THAT.
THE REGULATION BEHIND THAT IS THE GUIDELINES FOR HOW WE DO THAT.
PART OF THE REASON WHY THE REGULATION IS MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN THE POLICY AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF PAGES IN THIS SET AND THE OTHER, IS BECAUSE OF THE THREE TIERS OF PRE-KINDERGARTEN ENROLLMENT, SO FAR THE STATE HAS REALLY ONLY ROLLED OUT TIER 1, AND SO THE REGULATION IS WRITTEN TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ENROLL KIDS WHO QUALIFY FOR TIER 1? AS WE GET GUIDANCE AND SLIDING SCALES AND THINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ABOUT, MOVING FORWARD, THE REGULATION WILL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE TIER 2 AND THEN EVENTUALLY TIER 3, WHICH WILL ROUND IT OUT.
LIKE I SAID, THE POLICY ITSELF IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, POLICY SHOULD BE.
[02:45:05]
HERE'S THE RULES, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.HERE'S WHY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT.
THE SPECIFICS ARE IN THE REGULATION ITSELF.
WE WILL, AS WE SAID, PUT THAT OUT FOR REVIEW, COMMUNITY INPUT BETWEEN THIS MEETING AND THE JUNE MEETING.
THIS POLICY WAS LAST LOOKED AT IN 2007.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE IS WE HAD STUDENTS WHO QUALIFIED BECAUSE THEY EITHER WERE FREE AND REDUCED MEALS, IEP STUDENTS, SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS, 504 STUDENTS, AND THEN WE HAD A LOCAL OPTION OF QUALIFICATION.
WELL, THAT LOCAL OPTION FOR QUALIFICATION THAT WE'VE BEEN USING, GETS RECLASSIFIED INTO A LATTER TIER.
THAT LOCAL OPTION GETS REMOVED FROM THE POLICY, AND THEN AS THE STATE CONTINUES TO ROLL OUT TIER 2 AND TIER 3, I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT WILL REAPPEAR, BUT THE MECHANISM FOR ENROLLING STUDENTS WHO WOULD QUALIFY UNDER LOCAL OPTION WILL SHOW UP IN THOSE LATER TIERS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD BE IF THERE WAS A TIERED SYSTEM BACK THEN.
THAT'S REALLY THE GIST OF PRE-KINDERGARTEN.
NO ACTION REQUIRED TONIGHT UNLESS YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'LL GO OUT, IT'LL SIT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK IN JUNE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON PRE-K ENROLLMENT?
>> THEN WE'LL MOVE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER.
THIS POLICY, IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT IT IN OUR POLICY BOOK AS WHAT IT CURRENTLY IS, I BELIEVE IS A ONE LINE POLICY THAT SAYS SUPERINTENDENT WILL MAKE DECISIONS ON INCLEMENT WEATHER CLOSING AND DELAYS AND WE'LL COMMUNICATE THEM BY LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS.
WE RESTRUCTURED A LITTLE BIT SO IT LOOKS LIKE OUR POLICIES LOOK NOW.
LAST TOUCHED IN 1988, SO IT WAS TIME FOR JUST A NICE LITTLE REFRESH.
BUT THEN WE'VE ALSO BEEN PUBLISHING ON OUR WEBSITE, HOW WE COME TO THE DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A DELAY OR A CLOSING, AND WHAT WE DO AND WHAT OUR STEPS ARE.
WELL, WHAT WE DO AND WHAT OUR STEPS ARE, ARE REGULATIONS.
THAT PIECE FROM THE WEBSITE HAS BECOME A NEW SET OF REGULATIONS THAT TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR PROCESS IS EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THAT WAS THE BIG PART WHEN I WAS TYPING THIS UP AND GETTING THE INPUT FROM CARMEN AND THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE.
SHE EVEN CORRECTED ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THE WEBSITE, SAYS, WHEN THERE IS WEATHER, MAYBE THIS IS WHAT WE DO AND SHE SAID, NO, WE DO THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE FOR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
AGAIN, JUST MAKING OUR POLICY STATEMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE ROBUST, BUT THEN ALSO TAKING WHAT IS OUR CURRENT PRACTICE, AND MAKING IT AN ACCOMPANYING REGULATION TO GO WITH THE POLICY.
BUT GOING FROM ONE LINE TO A TRUE FULL BLOWN POLICY AND REGULATION IS MORE THAN JUST A COSMETIC CHANGE, AND THAT'S WHY IT NEEDS TO HAVE THAT SECOND READING IN JUNE.
>> I HAVE JUST SOME VERBIAGE EXCHANGES.
>> I'M SORRY, WHERE ARE [OVERLAPPING]
>> IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES, REGULATION ONES.
>> AND THE REGULATION FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER?
>> JUST AS A SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION CONTACT, THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE, AND CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
YOU COULD PROBABLY ACTUALLY JUST GET AWAY WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION CONTACTS, CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, AND YOU CAN TAKE OUT THE CAROLINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
[OVERLAPPING] TECHNICALLY, WHEN THEY CALL IN, THEY'RE TALKING TO US AT THE 911 CENTER AND WE JUST ASKED THEM ROAD CONDITIONS.
I WOULD DEFINITELY STILL LEAVE MSP BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A DIFFERENT FOR ROAD CONDITIONS AS WELL.
>> THAT'S THE CAROLINE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNICATIONS CENTER?
>> YOU WOULD HAVE CONTACT WITH PUBLIC WORKS AS WELL, RIGHT?
>> YES. WE CAN CONTACT PUBLIC WORKS.
>> THEY'RE DOING SOME OF THE SAME THINGS.
>> REAL QUICK. THAT PROCESS, TIME-WISE, HOW LONG DID YOU CONTACTED [INAUDIBLE].
>> YOU STAY ON THE PHONE WITH ME AND I KEY UP LIKE THIS AND SAY, CAROLINE, WHATEVER [INAUDIBLE] ROAD CONDITIONS AND ONCE THEY'RE ARE OUT ON THE ROAD, THEY CAN GIVE IT TO ME, JUST LIKE THAT.
>> THERE'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO HANG UP.
>> WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER TONIGHT'S MEETING?
[02:50:03]
TOMORROW I'LL WORK WITH MS. BARRY.WE'LL PUT OUT A NEWS RELEASE THAT JUST SAYS THE BOARD IS CONSIDERING POLICIES.
WE'LL HAVE A GOOGLE FORM TO COLLECT FEEDBACK IF THERE IS ANY FEEDBACK.
WE'LL HAVE SUMMARIZED THAT FEEDBACK, MADE ANY REVISIONS, OR SUGGESTED ANY REVISIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY.
THEN IN JUNE, YOU'LL HAVE THE OPTION TO FULLY APPROVE IF YOU SO CHOOSE.
>> YEAH, UNDER BUDGET SUMMARY.
>> I THOUGHT YOU SAID FUTURE MEETING.
GOT A LITTLE EXCITED. [OVERLAPPING]
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU THE LATEST VERSION OF THE BUDGET SUMMARY.
DR. SIMMONS, FEEL FREE TO JUMP IN AS I GO DOWN THIS IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON OR SHARE.
WE RECEIVED THE REVISED, UPDATED, WHAT THEY CALL THE FINAL FORMULA CALCULATIONS LAST FRIDAY, MAY 3RD, AND WE'VE ALREADY FOUND. [LAUGHTER]
>> THERE WILL BE A FINAL. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REISSUE THEM.
THE AMOUNTS THAT YOU SEE LISTED HERE FOR BOTH LOCAL REVENUE AND STATE REVENUE CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR VERSION THAT YOU SAW, AND THERE ARE TWO REASONS FOR THESE CHANGES.
THE FIRST IS AT THE VERY END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, THEY MADE CHANGES TO THE PRE-K CALCULATION, AND THEY JUST KEPT SAYING YOUR NUMBER IS GOING TO FLUCTUATE BASED ON THE PRE-K CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, BUT THEY COULDN'T TELL US WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THEN ALSO AS PART OF THAT, WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD INCLUDED THE PRIVATE PROVIDER PRE-K ENROLLMENT IN OUR NUMBERS, SO IT WAS SHOWING AS ACTUAL REVENUE TO CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHEN REALLY, MSD IS GOING TO BACK OUT THAT REVENUE AND DISTRIBUTE IT TO THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS DIRECTLY.
THAT'S WHY THE STATE AID AMOUNT WENT DOWN AS THAT PRIVATE PROVIDER AMOUNT.
I'LL TELL YOU THE CFOS HAVE JUMPED ALL OVER IT.
THEY SAID, YOU CANNOT BE SHARING NUMBERS THAT INCLUDE THE PRIVATE PROVIDER PRE-K, MONEY THAT WE'RE NEVER EVEN GOING TO SEE.
HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR, THEY'LL MAKE SOME CHANGES TO WHAT THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING.
WHAT WE ALSO FOUND WAS THAT, AND DR. SIMMONS PICKED UP ON THIS RIGHT AWAY, THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR FUNDING WAS INCORRECT.
THERE WAS A BILL INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT SPELLED OUT WHAT THE STATE SHARE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
THEN WHEN WE GOT THE FINAL NUMBERS, OUR STATE SHARE DID NOT MATCH THAT BILL.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THEM, THEY SAID YES, YOU ARE GOING TO BE RECEIVING UPDATED NUMBERS, SO I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO GET FINAL NUMBERS SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
HOPEFULLY, IT'LL GO UP SLIGHTLY DUE TO THE BLUEPRINT FUNDING THAT WE ARE DUE THAT THEY MISCALCULATED. LINE ITEM NUMBER 3 ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S HIGHLIGHTED IN THE PEACH COLOR.
I TOOK A LOOK AT OUR REVENUE LINE ITEMS, AND THESE LINE ITEMS NEED TO BE TRUED UP WITH THE ACTUAL REVENUE THAT WE ARE RECEIVING.
WE'RE RECEIVING MORE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE, MORE INTEREST REVENUE, AND MORE NON-RESIDENT TUITION REVENUE THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY BUDGETED.
WE CAN INCREASE THESE REVENUE LINE ITEMS, WHICH WILL GIVE US AN ADDITIONAL $185,000 WORTH OF INCOME.
THE NEXT NEW LINE ITEM THAT YOU SEE IS UNDER THE PART 3 REDUCTIONS, AND THAT IS SALARY LAPSE.
BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, OUR REVENUE NUMBERS WENT DOWN, WE HAVE TO TAP INTO SALARY LAPSE.
NOW, WHAT IS SALARY LAPSE? IT'S THE AMOUNT NOT EXPENDED FOR SALARY DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH A POSITION IS VACANT.
WE KNOW ON ANY GIVEN YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VACANCIES.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME AND GO, SO THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE VACANT POSITIONS.
WE TRY NOT TO TAP INTO SALARY LAPSE AND EAT UP THAT MONEY BECAUSE WE'RE VERY CONSERVATIVE, BUT WE DO ALWAYS HAVE VACANCIES. IT'S REALITY.
ALSO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SALARY LAPSE DUE TO RETIREMENTS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE RETIRING THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NEW FOLKS COMING IN THAT ARE ON THE LOWER END OF THE SCALE.
PEOPLE THAT ARE RETIRING ARE ON THE HIGH END.
I FEEL COMFORTABLE IN EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T NORMALLY HIT SALARY LAPSE, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN DO THAT AT THIS POINT IN
[02:55:02]
TIME TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.THANK GOODNESS, OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATE, IT WENT FROM 6.5% DOWN TO 5%.
I WILL SAY THE ACTUARIES CALCULATE EACH COUNTY INDEPENDENTLY, AND WE WERE ONE OF THE BETTER, WE CAME IN AT THE LOW END.
THANK GOODNESS. IT'S STRICTLY BASED ON USAGE FOR YOUR COUNTY.
IT'S THE MEDICAL AND DRUG CLAIMS FOR YOUR COUNTY.
THANK GOODNESS, WE'VE HAD A GOOD YEAR.
HOPEFULLY, WE CAN KEEP UP CERTAIN PROGRAMS LIKE THE WELLNESS INCENTIVE STIPEND AS WELL AS THE YMCA.
I THINK HOPEFULLY IN MY MIND, THAT'S HELPED OUR STAFF TO BE HEALTHIER.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET WHAT YOU SEE IN GREEN.
WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL 3,988,000 AND SOME CHANGE IN REVENUE.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE THAT AMOUNT FOR THE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AS WELL AS THE PROPOSED ADDITIONS.
THERE AREN'T ANY CHANGES TO THE ADDITIONS OR UNLESS IT'S IMPEACHED, IT HASN'T CHANGED SINCE THE LAST VERSION THAT YOU SAW.
GETTING VERY CLOSE. I HOPE WE ARE.
I THINK US BEING ABLE TO HAVE A TRUE FINAL HOPE BETWEEN US AND THE BOARD COLLECTIVELY, US HAVING A FINAL BUDGET REALLY COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED AT THE JUNE BOARD MEETING.
OUR ONLY HOLD UP RIGHT NOW IS THE FINAL FINAL.
IT'S TRULY ENOUGH TO BE REDUNDANT WITH THAT, BUT REALLY THE HOLD UP NOW IS JUST REALLY SOLIDIFYING THOSE REVENUE NUMBERS.
GETTING THAT CLARITY FROM THE STATE ON A FEW THINGS WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ON AND THEN THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, WHICH IS GOOD.
I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH DANNY FOX AT THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. IT'S HOLDING THEM UP.
THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR TRULY WHAT TO BUDGET THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY US FOR THE COUNTY LOCAL SHARE.
IT'S CRAZY THAT IT IS NOW MAY SEVENTH, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE TRUE FINAL FINAL NUMBERS, AND SO AS A RESULT, THEIR BUDGET IS IN LIMBO, AND SO IS OURS.
THE CLOCK TICKING AND THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AS TO WHEN, [OVERLAPPING] IN THAT CASE WHEN THEIR BUDGET IS COMPLETELY THE SAME HERE, BUT THEY ARE HELPLESS AND WAITING.
IT SEEMS TO KEEP GETTING LATER AND LATER.
IT DOES. IN STATE GOVERNMENT PARLANCE, THEY REFER TO THAT SALARY LAPSE AS TURNOVER.
IF YOU'RE RUNNING A STATE AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, THEY USED TO CALL THEM SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT DEPARTMENT OF BM THEY WILL ARBITRARILY INCREASE YOUR TURNOVER AMOUNT.
THEY WOULD TELL YOU YOUR SALARY LAPSE IS, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A 10% TURNOVER INSTEAD OF FIVE AND THEY'LL CUT YOUR BUDGET.
THEY'LL SAY HERE'S YOUR MONEY FOR SALARIES, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A 10% OR 20% TURNOVER RATE, AND THEREFORE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO NEED THAT MONEY.
BUT IN TRUTH, YOU HAVE A 5% TURNOVER RATE.
IT'S JUST A SNEAKY BUDGET CUT.
IT'S GOOD TO MANAGE IT THE WAY YOU DO AND TO LOOK AT THAT SALARY LAPSE, BUT THERE IS "SAVINGS" THERE BECAUSE POSITIONS BECOME VACANT, YET THEY'RE STILL FUNDED FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.
THANK GOODNESS, YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO COMES IN AND JUST TAKES IT AWAY LIKE THE STATE DOES.
BUT IT'S ALWAYS JUST THE VOODOO GOVERNMENT.
VOODOO OUR ECONOMICS IS EXPOSED.
AS MISS THORTON MENTIONED, THE SALARY LAPSE, WE DON'T TYPICALLY DO TOUCH IT.
WE ARE WORKING THROUGH OUR FINAL LEGS OF NEGOTIATIONS.
SALARY LAPSE IS WHAT'S HELPING US MEET THAT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I KNOW MR. BARTON, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE WENT OUT AND TALK TO STAFF.
THE FY '26 STATE FORMULA FOR WHAT IS COMING IN BLUEPRINT.
FY '26 IS LOOKING AT A NICE INCREASE.
I DO FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE FY '26 AMOUNT.
IT IS BLUEPRINTS FUNDED THROUGH FY '27, BUT I FEEL REALLY CONFIDENT IN FY '26.
MAYBE AFTER '26, I'LL FEEL MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT '27, BUT I DO FEEL CONFIDENT THAT '26 IS GOING TO.
I FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING THE BUDGET BEFORE ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE KNOW '26 IS GOING TO BE A SOUND YEAR THAT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE ANY TIGHTNESS WE FEEL TO MAKE '25 HAPPEN.
'26 IS GOING TO GIVE US THAT GAP AGAIN,
[03:00:01]
WHICH WILL HELP US BREATHE A LITTLE BIT.WELL, THERE ARE EMPLOYEES THAT DOUBT THAT.
THEY DON'T DOUBT YOU, THEY DOUBT THE STATE WILL ACTUALLY FUND IT, AND THERE ARE CITIZENS THAT DOUBT IT.
IT WOULD REQUIRE A STATUTORY CHANGE.
THAT WOULD BE REMARKABLY CONTROVERSIAL FOR THE STATE TO BACK OUT OF SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE SO POWERFULLY IN SUPPORT OF.
THEY THEY OVERRODE A GOVERNOR VETO TO HAVE THIS PROGRAM GO FORWARD.
FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE THAT, IT WOULD REQUIRE SOME MASSIVE PROBLEM.
NOW, WILL THE STRUCTURAL DEFICIT BE THAT PROBLEM? THEORETICALLY, YES.
BUT MY GOSH, THIS WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTROVERSIAL FOR THEM TO CHANGE THIS LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THAT LAW.
WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. TIME WILL TELL.
I UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE WOULD BE SKEPTICS, BECAUSE THE STATE HAS DONE THINGS LIKE THAT BEFORE.
YOU CAN'T TOUCH THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND MONEY. WELL, THEY HAVE.
YOU CAN'T TOUCH PROGRAM OPEN SPACE. WELL THEY HAVE.
WILL THEY GO AFTER THE GUARANTEED BLUEPRINT MONEY? THEY COULD.
IF THEY DO, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EMBARRASSED PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP.
BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THERE, AND THEY'LL FIND THE MONEY ELSEWHERE.
MAYBE THEY'LL BUILD ANOTHER CASINO, I DON'T KNOW. THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST EXPERIENCE TALKING, JUST WATCHING OVER THE YEARS WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO BALANCE THEIR BUDGET.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE REALLY CLOSE AND IT'S LOOKING GREAT.
EVEN THOUGH I KNOW YOU HAVE THE UNKNOWNS, REALLY CLOSE AND THAT HEALTH INSURANCE RATE.
WOW. WELL, LET'S HOPE THAT'S A TREND.
I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
TIME WILL TELL ON THAT ALSO, BUT THAT'S A WONDERFUL TREND TO HAVE. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU.
NO MORE QUESTION? WE'RE GOOD? THANK YOU. I LOST TRACK OF MY AGENDA.
[OVERLAPPING] UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
[10. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
WE HAVE A WHOLE LONG LIST.UPDATE THE MONTHLY PLUG, UPDATE THE GOOGLE FORM.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE EVENTS ON MULTIPLE NIGHTS, AND WE CAN ALL BE THE SAME, SO FEEL FREE TO DIVIDE AND CONQUER WHEN YOU CAN.
YEAH. THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF THINGS COMING UP.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT THAT, FOLKS? HEARING NONE. THE NEXT BOARD MEETING IS THE BOARD? MAY 21ST, WORK SESSION.
YEAH. WORK SESSION FOR THE NEXT MAIN PRIMARY MEETING FOR BOARD, BUT WORK SESSION IN TWO WEEKS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I DO NOT FORESEE THE WORK SESSION.
I PROMISE THE BOARD WE WILL DO OUR PART.
I DO NOT SEE THE WORK SESSION BEING A THREE HOUR IN 10 MINUTE SESSION. [LAUGHTER].
WE'RE AT THE END OF OUR AGENDA IF WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? MOTION TO ADJOURN.
NO HESITATION ON THAT. ALL IN FAVOR.
THANK YOU, MARK.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.