[00:00:04]
MEETING FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH, 2024.
[1. Opening Items]
WE DID HAVE A CLOSED SESSION STARTING AT 4:30, AND NOW WE'RE BACK ABOUT TO BECOME AN OPEN SESSION.SO WE'RE CALLING OUR MEETING TO ORDER.
WE HAVE ALL FIVE MEMBERS PRESENT TONIGHT AND I ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION.
I MOVE THAT WE RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION FOR OUR BOARD MEETING? I'LL SECOND. THANK YOU.
WE ARE IN OPEN SESSION, AND I DON'T SEE ANYBODY HERE TO HELP US WITH THE PLEDGE TONIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE OUR AGENDA TONIGHT WHICH HAS BEEN POSTED AND MADE PUBLIC.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
IS THERE SOMETHING WE DO AT EVERY MEETING EACH MONTH? WE READ OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
REMINDS US WHOLE SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHY WE'RE HERE AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO FOCUS ON THE MISSION.
SO 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.
ALL RIGHT. SO TONIGHT WE THEN WILL MOVE INTO OUR PUBLIC RECOGNITIONS AND COMMENT.
[2. Public Recognitions / Comment]
DO WE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YES. SO FIRST WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT EMAILED AND REQUESTED THIS A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.MR. KRAMER WITH THE DELMARVA COUNCIL OF THE SCOUTING AMERICA PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT MY I DON'T USUALLY DO THAT, SO I'M SORRY.
EACH PERSON ADDRESSING THE BOARD WILL HAVE A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
ONCE THE TIME LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED, THE SPEAKER WILL BE ASKED TO FINISH THEIR COMMENTS.
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 BOARD. RUDE, SLANDEROUS, OR THREATENING REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE OR INTERFERES WITH THE ORDER OF THE MEETING IS NOT PERMITTED, AND INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT GIVE THEIR TIME TO OTHERS ON THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TONIGHT.
I'VE GOT THIS TIMED AT FIVE MINUTES, SO I WILL DO MY BEST TO KEEP IT AT THAT FIVE MINUTE LIMIT.
ALTHOUGH I ONLY STARTED WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ARM OF THIS ORGANIZATION ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
I HAVE OVER 28 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE BOTH AS A YOUTH AND A VOLUNTEER WITH THIS PROGRAM.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE I WAS EIGHT.
SCOUTING IS NOT JUST ABOUT EARNING BADGES OR LEARNING HOW TO PITCH A TENT.
SCOUTING INSTILLS ESSENTIAL VALUES SUCH AS LEADERSHIP, TEAMWORK, AND RESILIENCE.
STUDENTS WHO ENGAGE IN SCOUTING PROGRAMS ARE OFTEN GIVEN LEADERSHIP ROLES.
THESE RESPONSIBILITIES HELP BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
SCOUTING EMPHASIZES TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION.
AS SCOUTS WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE COMMON GOALS, THIS SENSE OF CAMARADERIE AND SHARED PURPOSE FOSTERS LONG LASTING FRIENDSHIPS AND TEACHES STUDENTS HOW TO WORK EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHERS. A CRITICAL LIFETIME SKILL.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF SCOUTING IS THE EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER BUILDING.
SCOUTS ARE TAUGHT CORE PRINCIPLES SUCH AS HONESTY, RESPECT, AND RESPONSIBILITY.
THROUGH OUR SCOUT OATH AND OUR SCOUT LAW.
SCOUTING ENCOURAGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE INITIATIVE.
[00:05:01]
BEYOND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, SCOUTING ALSO PROVIDES PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS THAT ARE INVALUABLE IN TODAY'S WORLD.THIS IS THE STUFF THAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A SCOUT FIRST AID TRAINING, SURVIVAL SKILLS TO FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SCOUTING OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF HANDS ON ACTIVITIES TO FACILITATE THOSE GOALS AND AIMS. THESE SKILLS HELP STUDENTS BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT, RESOURCEFUL, AND ADAPTABLE.
FINALLY, SCOUTING OFFERS A UNIQUE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND BELONGING THROUGH CAMPS, TRIPS AND EVENTS.
STUDENTS OFTEN FIND A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK THAT ENCOURAGES THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
THIS SENSE OF BELONGING CAN BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DURING THESE FORMATIVE YEARS OF ADOLESCENCE, WHEN STUDENTS ARE NAVIGATING BOTH ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL CHALLENGES. MISS BERRY'S HELPED ME HAND YOU ALL THE VISUAL AID THAT I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY HIGHLY HIGHLIGHT SOME STATISTICS ON.
SCOUTS ARE 70% MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A-LEVEL GRADES THAN NON SCOUTS.
THE REASON I BROUGHT THESE POINTS UP TO THE BOARD IS SIMPLE.
SCOUTING IS FADING AWAY IN THIS COUNTY.
THESE 7 OR 8 UNITS ALL SHARE THE SAME ISSUE.
THEIR CURRENT ENROLLMENT IS DANGEROUSLY LOW AND UNSUSTAINABLE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
WE ATTEMPTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO PARTNER WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, IN PARTICULAR FOLLOWING THE CURRENT GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON US, AND HAVE HAD VERY LITTLE SUCCESS AT FINDING NEW SCOUTS TO JOIN OUR THREE CUB SCOUT PACKS.
WE EMPLOYED THE PEACH JAR SOFTWARE AS THE COUNTY'S PRIMARY MEANS OF FLIER DISTRIBUTION FOR THE EVENTS THAT WE DID SCHEDULE, AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED IS THAT APPROXIMATELY 1% OF FAMILIES VIEWED ANY OF THE FLIERS THAT WERE RELEASED, AND EVEN LESS ACTUALLY ENGAGED WITH THEM.
ALL FIVE OF THE EVENTS THAT WE SCHEDULED, WE HAD A COMBINED TEN FAMS. APPROXIMATELY TEN FAMILIES SHOW UP.
WE HAD NO ONE SHOW UP AT OUR EVENT AT PRESTON ELEMENTARY UNDER THE CURRENT POLICY.
UNDER THE CURRENT MODEL OF THE SCOUTING PROGRAM EMPLOYEES.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR A PHYSICAL FLIER AND A STUDENT AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS HAND.
NOR IS THERE ONE FOR FACE TO FACE ENGAGEMENT.
IT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT OUR PROGRAM CAN GET STUDENTS EXCITED ABOUT THE IDEA OF BEING A SCOUT.
KNOWING THIS, AND THE REASON THAT I'M HERE TONIGHT IS TO MAKE A PERSONAL PLEA TO THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THIS IS A PRIORITY THAT OUR PROGRAM SHARES.
SAFETY IS OUR ORGANIZATION'S TOP PRIORITY AS WELL.
WE SHARE THE SAME GOALS AND VISION FOR OUR YOUNG CITIZENS, AND I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO SEE IT IN YOUR HEARTS TO FORM A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH US AS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND SCOUTING HAS A PAYOFF THAT IS PRICELESS AND CANNOT BE MEASURED IN MONETARY VALUE.
BY PARTICIPATING IN SCOUTING, STUDENTS NOT ONLY PREPARE FOR ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUCCESS, BUT ALSO FOR A LIFETIME OF MAKING POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND TO THE WORLD. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD EVENING.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAD MR. CHAD CHARLES DEAN.
GOOD EVENING. MRS. BARTH, MR. JONES, ESPECIALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
ROCHELLE. ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO TESTIFY WITH YOU IN THE ROOM.
REGARDLESS THIS IS NOT MY FIRST TIME SPEAKING HERE, BUT A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND NONETHELESS.
I HAVE BEEN A TEACHER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, AND CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.
DECORATED, NATIONALLY RANKED IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY.
[00:10:05]
BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE.I ALSO RUN THE CITIZEN WATCHDOG GROUP CAROLINE, PAST AND PRESENT.
I HAVE BEEN HERE PREVIOUSLY TO DISCUSS TOPICS SUCH AS ESSENTIALS FOR LEARNING.
I WAS ONE OF 45 SPEAKERS TO SHOW UP SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO EXPLAIN WHY, FROM EXPERIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM IT DIDN'T WORK, WASN'T GOING TO WORK AND WELL, THAT SUPERINTENDENT WHO BROUGHT IT TO CAROLINE COUNTY IS NO LONGER HERE.
SO SCORE ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS.
MOST RECENTLY, I SPOKE BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROPOSED ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES, EXCUSE ME.
UNITED STATES HISTORY TEXTBOOK.
SO WHY AM I HERE? IT IS TO GIVE YOU A SHORT HISTORY LESSON.
THE FIRST TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR ELECTIONS NATIONALLY SINCE 1845.
LOOK AROUND YOU TONIGHT. THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE HERE.
I WOULD PROFFER TO YOU THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY ATTENDANCE IS POOR TONIGHT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE STANDING IN LINE TO VOTE, AS OPPOSED TO SITTING HERE. I HAVE VISITED ALL EIGHT POLLING PLACES TODAY.
THERE HAS BEEN A WOODSTOCK SIZED CROWD.
SO HERE'S MY ASK FOR 2026, WHICH WOULD BE THE NEXT ELECTION TUESDAY.
WITH THAT MUCH ADVANCE NOTICE, MY HOPE IS THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL RESCHEDULE SO THAT THIS MONTHLY MEETING IN NOVEMBER OF 2026 AND FOR THAT MATTER, DEPENDING ON WHEN THE PRIMARY ELECTION IS HELD THAT YEAR AS WELL, THAT YOU WOULD ALSO RESCHEDULE THE MEETING THAT MONTH.
SO THIS MEETING WOULD BE ON A DIFFERENT NIGHT THAN ELECTION DAY.
THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT. THANK YOU.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. WE ARE NOW TO OUR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORT AND YOU CAN LIKE DO ROCK PAPER, SCISSORS TO SEE WHO'S GOING TO GO FIRST. [INAUDIBLE], I THINK I ALWAYS GO FIRST.
THE WAY THE SLIDE. SO YOU'RE SAYING WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT UP SINCE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE YOU? VANESSA'S HOPING NOT.
SHE SHOOK HER HEAD VERY VIGOROUSLY TO BE LIKE, OH, WE'RE GOOD.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
SO TO START OFF WITH DENTON ELEMENTARY.
DOCTOR KREBS HAD TO SAY THAT WE ARE READY FOR FALL AND ALL THAT IT BRINGS.
LAST MONTH, DENTON ELEMENTARY WELCOMED PRE-K STUDENTS AND HAD AN AMAZING START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
OKAY. OCTOBER WAS A BUSY MONTH AT DENTON ELEMENTARY AND WE HAVE MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN NOVEMBER.
LAST MONTH THEY HAD FALL FIELD TRIPS, FALL PHOTOS.
MR. SUTTON HAD TO SAY THAT ADVENTURES AWAIT AT RES.
WE WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING BREAK ON NOVEMBER 5TH.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE, WHICH IS TODAY.
FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS WILL TAKE AN EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIP TO THE EASTON BOWLING ALLEY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S EDUCATIONAL, BUT SOUNDS FUN.
THEY DO. THEY DO A REALLY NEAT MATH THING, AND THEN THEY LOOK AT MACHINES BECAUSE IT'S COOL.
I NEVER GOT TO SEE IT IN HIGH SCHOOL DO THAT.
I THINK HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD DO IT.
IT WAS NEAT. HIGH SCHOOL SHOULD DO IT.
SOUNDS FUN. SOUNDS REALLY FUN.
THEN ON NOVEMBER 18TH THROUGH THE 22ND.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FALL BOOK FAIR, AND NOVEMBER 20TH IS ALSO PARENT VISITATION DAY.
LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NORTH CAROLINA.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR MULTILINGUAL LEARNER INFORMATION NIGHT OR THEY HAD IT.
THEY HAD THEIR COUNTY SPELLING BEE AND SABRINA FORMAN.
I THINK THAT'S HOW YOU SAY HER LAST NAME.
SHE WAS A SECOND PLACE WINNER, SO CONGRATS.
[00:15:02]
FIRST GRADE HAD A FIELD TRIP TO J-Z FARMS. THEY ALSO HAD A HALLOWEEN AND CHARACTER PARADE, AND THEY HAD THEIR FALL FUN AND HISPANIC HERITAGE EVENT ON NOVEMBER 1ST.IT WAS THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER AND STAFF PUMPKIN PALOOZA CONTEST.
TODAY THEY HAD THEIR PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES.
THEY HAD THEIR FIRST DANCE OF THE YEAR, AND MISS NECESSARY SAID THAT IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TURNOUT.
EIGHTH GRADERS AND MISS RUSSELL'S FLIGHT AND SPACE CLASS VISITED THE EASTERN AIRPORT.
SOUNDS COOL AND THEY'RE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH.
WERE TREATED TO ICE CREAM, AND THEY ALSO SAID SHOUT OUT TO BULLOCKS FOR SPONSORING THEM.
AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 7TH, THEY HAVE THEIR JOINT VETERANS PROGRAM WITH NORTH CAROLINA.
AND THAT'S ALWAYS REALLY GOOD AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FIRST QUARTERLY PBIS INCENTIVE.
LAST MONTH AT NORTHTOWN, WE HAD OUR HOMECOMING DANCE, WHICH WAS VERY BUSY BUT FUN AND THEN WE ALSO HAD OUR HAUNTED HALLWAYS, WHICH I DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BE THAT COOL AND IT ACTUALLY WAS REALLY, GREAT.
AND THEN WE HAD A HALF A DAY ON THE FIRST, ALWAYS FUN.
TODAY WE HAD NO SCHOOL, WHICH WAS AMAZING AND THEN WASTED A GOOD FOG DELAY AND THEN ON THE SEVENTH WE'LL HAVE THE VETERANS PROGRAM WITH MS. WE GOT A REPORT CARDS ON FRIDAY.
THAT'S FUN AND THEN NOVEMBER 15TH, WE'RE HAVING A BLOOD DRIVE THAT STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE PARTICIPATING IN AND NOVEMBER 15TH THROUGH THE 16TH, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR DRAMA ONE ACT FOR THEATER.
MISS PANTY, YES, THEY HAD THEIR SPOOKTACULAR HALL FESTIVAL, WHICH WAS ALSO KIND OF WITH NHS.
THEY ALL DRESSED UP REALLY CRAZY AND THEN THEY HAD AN ACADEMY OF HEALTH, PROFESSION, STUDENTS, AND THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AND DEVELOPING THEIR NURSING SKILLS DURING CLINICAL ROTATIONS AND FFA WENT TO THE NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION IN INDIANAPOLIS AND THEN ON NOVEMBER 7TH, THEY'LL HAVE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.
THANK YOU AND THEN THOSE ARE PICTURES FROM THE HALLWAYS.
IT WAS CUTE. YEAH, THAT WAS AN INCREDIBLE TURNOUT.
REALLY GOOD. IT WAS LOTS OF FUN.
YOUR TURN. PRESTON ELEMENTARY.
LAST MONTH, THEY CONTINUED WITH THEIR EDUCATOR SPOTLIGHT SERIES.
THEY, LIKE, SHOW THE EDUCATION OF THEIR TEACHERS.
SOME FUN STUFF, FUN FACTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY RECOGNIZE MRS. ELLEN, MRS. BROWN, MR. AND MRS. IRELAND.
THEY CELEBRATED RED RIBBON WEEK WITH SPIRIT DAYS AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES.
THEY WALKED FROM PRESTON ELEMENTARY TO THE JAMES WRIGHT PARK RIGHT UP THE STREET.
THEY CELEBRATED HALLOWEEN WITH PARTIES, PARADES, COSTUMES, AWARDS AND CANDY BAGS.
NEXT MONTH ON NOVEMBER 8TH, THEY'LL HAVE GRANDPARENTS AND VETERANS DAY ALL IN ONE.
MISS BROGAN SAYS, WE HAD A FANTASTIC OCTOBER FILLED WITH ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEMORABLE MOMENTS.
WE'RE EXCITED TO LAUNCH INTO NOVEMBER WITH THE SAME ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON GREAT ACADEMICS AND ENGAGE IN FUN, REWARDING ACTIVITIES TOGETHER.
LAST MONTH, CARSON LESLIE WENT ON TO THE COUNTYWIDE SPELLING BEE AND WON THIRD PLACE.
THIS FRIDAY, ACTUALLY, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FIRST PEP RALLY, AND I'M GOING TO GO.
NOVEMBER 18TH THROUGH 22ND IS AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK.
DOCTOR HOLLOWAY SAYS THAT CRS HAD A GREAT FIRST QUARTER.
THEY'RE SIXTH GRADERS HAVE COME IN AND TRANSITIONED SMOOTHLY TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE ESPECIALLY LOVED THE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE LUNCH OUTSIDE IN THE COURTYARD.
[00:20:02]
SO FAR, SO GOOD.LAST MONTH, THEY CELEBRATED THEIR WALK TO SCHOOL DAY WITH 30 MINUTES ON THE TRACK.
THEY HAD THEIR FARM TO TABLE EVENT.
THEY HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE OUT THERE.
THERE'S A COUPLE PICTURES ON THE LAST SLIDE, BUT CHOPTANK WAS WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME.
THERE ARE NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY SPONSORED A FOOD DRIVE TO SUPPORT HURRICANE HELEN AND MILTON VICTIMS. THE GREAT SHAKEOUT NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE DRILL THE FIRST YEAR, A STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND MISS LONG AND INTENSIVE SUPPORT IA RETIRED.
COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY HAD A SUCCESSFUL HOMECOMING WEEKEND DANCE.
THEY HAD. THEY HELD THE TOURNAMENT OF THE BANDS.
THEY HAD THEIR MUSIC PROGRAM, FALL FEST, AND IT WAS REALLY COOL.
THE ART HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTION TOOK PLACE.
FOOTBALL IS ALSO GETTING READY FOR THEIR PLAYOFF GAME NEXT MONTH ON NOVEMBER 15TH.
WINTER SPORTS TRYOUTS BEGIN NOVEMBER 12TH.
WOW. AMAZING. WINTER SPORTS ALREADY STARTED.
RACHEL, DO YOU MIND ON THE NEXT SLIDE WITH THE PICTURES? THERE'S SOME PICTURES FROM THEIR STAKEHOLDERS.
COMMITTEE MEETING STUDENTS HIDING UNDER TABLES AND DESKS FOR THE GREAT SHAKEOUT STUDENTS.
LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE LEAVING THE TRACK.
REALLY? YES WE DID, RIGHT AFTER COLONEL GOT RENOVATED.
REALLY? AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS LITERALLY AT THAT MOMENT OF LIKE, IS THERE A BULLDOZER DRIVING BY OUTSIDE? AND IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BECAUSE IT HAD JUST GOTTEN DONE AND IT LEGIT.
BUT NO, WE ACTUALLY HAD AN EARTHQUAKE.
IT WAS IN LIKE AUGUST OF 2011, RIGHT? AUGUST OF 11. NO, YOU GUYS WERE YOU WERE REALLY YOUNG.
YEAH. IT WAS THE WILDEST THING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT USED TO THAT HERE AND IT LITERALLY WAS.
WHAT IN THE HECK IS THAT? THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
BUT YOU DEFINITELY HAD THAT WEIRD FEELING.
THANK YOU. WAY TO PLAY THE CROWD.
IT WAS A REALLY WAS A GREAT EVENT THAT OUR FOOD SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS PUT ON.
THE FOOD WAS AMAZING AND THE COLONEL MIDDLE STUDENTS WERE.
JACK AND I WERE THERE, COLONEL MIDDLE STUDENTS WERE AWESOME AND, MAN, THEY TRIED EVERYTHING.
DIDN'T MATTER WHAT IT WAS, THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY WILLING TO TRY IT AND IT WAS GOOD.
[INAUDIBLE]. IS THIS HOW THEY REALLY ARE? YEAH. YES.
THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING THAT.
THANK YOU AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T FEEL OBLIGED TO STAY IF YOU NEED TO GO.
THIS WAS A DAY OFF FROM SCHOOL.
MY GOODNESS. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE THERE WILL BE FOG IN THE MORNING THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO SLEEP.
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT. I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED A FOG DAY.
TRUST ME. I HEARD THAT IN MY HOUSEHOLD, A LOT OF PEOPLE WELCOME TO STAY.
[3. Consent Agenda]
AND NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.DOCTOR WILLOUGHBY HAS COME TO THE PODIUM.
PRESIDENT BARTON. DOCTOR SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. I DO, WE ALSO HAVE OUR MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 1ST AND OCTOBER 15TH.
UNLESS THERE IS ADJUSTMENTS OR REQUESTED CHANGES TO THE MINUTES BY ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PASS THE CONSENT AGENDA TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT STANDS.
WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA IS PASSED.
[00:25:01]
AND NOW ON TO INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS.[4. Individual Action Items]
WE HAVE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND AUDIT REPORTS.SO FIRST UP THIS EVENING AND HOW DO YOU WANT TO HANDLE THIS AUDIT REPORTS FIRST OR.
OKAY. SO WE WILL DO OUR AUDIT REPORTS FIRST AND THEN JILL WILL COME TO YOU WITH THE BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT OCCUR AFTER THE AUDIT REPORT AFTER THE INFORMATION BACK FROM THERE TO KIND OF CLOSE OUT OUR BOOKS.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL TURN TO AUDREY, WHO WILL WALK US THROUGH AUDIT REPORT.
EVERY PAGE AS YOU'RE TRYING TO GO TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT, WRITE OUT MORE THAN ONCE.
YEAH, WE DO HAVE ADDITIONAL PAPER COPIES AS THE BOARD NEEDS IT.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP THIS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
SO YOU I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A FINANCIAL REPORT AND AN AUDIT COMMUNICATION.
IF YOU HAVE BOTH OF THOSE. THE AUDIT REPORT IS THE LARGER OF THE TWO PACKETS AND I WILL TAKE YOU IMMEDIATELY IN THAT TO THE PAGE LABELED PAGE ONE, WHICH IS THE REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND I WILL DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION ON THAT PAGE TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH UNDER OPINIONS WHERE IT STATES. IN OUR OPINION, THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REFERRED TO ABOVE PRESENT FAIRLY IN ALL MATERIAL RESPECTS, THE RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES, THE BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES, EACH MAJOR FUND AND THE AGGREGATE REMAINING FUND.
INFORMATION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY AS OF JUNE 30TH, 2024, AND THE RESPECTIVE CHANGES IN FINANCIAL POSITION AND WHERE APPLICABLE, CASH FLOWS THEREFOR FOR THE YEAR THEN ENDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH IN THIS.
IT MEANS IT'S A CLEAN, UNMODIFIED OPINION.
NO ISSUES TO REPORT, NOTHING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
YES. THE REPORT AFTER THAT IS ON INTERNAL CONTROL AND COMPLIANCE.
YOUR AUDIT IS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS.
NOTHING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.
THE NEXT SECTION OF THE AUDIT REPORT STARTING ON ABOUT PAGE SEVEN IS YOUR MANAGEMENT DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS AND THAT IS PREPARED BY MANAGEMENT AND IT JUST TRIES TO GIVE A USER FRIENDLY FORMAT TO KIND OF SHOW COMPARISONS BETWEEN PRIOR YEAR AND CURRENT YEAR, AND THEN TALK ABOUT PROBABLY FUTURE IMPACTS THAT MAY HAPPEN WITH THE BOARD.
THE NEXT PAGE I WILL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO, IF YOU TURN TO PAGE 19/ 20, THAT IS THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET AND SO THAT INCLUDES ALL YOUR GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS AND I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT A COUPLE KEY ITEMS FROM THIS UNDER ASSETS CURRENTLY FOR TOTAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS, TOTAL CASH IS SITTING AT 24 MILLION.
THAT'S UP ABOUT 8 MILLION FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
TOTAL REVENUES FOR THE YEAR ON PAGE 21 ARE AT 119 MILLION.
A LOT RELATED TO BLUEPRINT AND THEN SOME CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING THAT CAME FROM THE STATE AS WELL AND THEN YOUR TOTAL EXPENSES DOWN AT THE BOTTOM WERE ABOUT 112.8 MILLION, WHICH EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR WERE UP ABOUT 8.5.
ON PAGE 23 IS YOUR STATEMENT OF FUND NET POSITION FOR YOUR PROPRIETARY FUND.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS RELATIVELY CONSISTENT.
YOUR TOTAL NET POSITION IN THAT FUND DROPPED ABOUT 200,000.
THERE WAS A SHIFT KIND OF BETWEEN INVESTMENT AND CAPITAL ASSETS AND UNRESTRICTED AND ACTUALLY YOU WANT TO SEE THAT MSD DOES NOT LIKE TO SEE THAT UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION GO UP REALLY HIGH IN THAT FOOD SERVICE FUND.
SO IT'S GOOD TO BE USING THAT.
AND IT'S SHIFTING BETWEEN CAPITAL ASSETS AND UNRESTRICTED YOUR REVENUE AND EXPENSE FOR THE YEAR.
ON PAGE 24 FOR THAT FOOD SERVICE FUND FAIRLY COMPARABLE TO THE PRIOR YEAR AND THEN I WILL TAKE YOU TO YOUR NEXT SET OF STATEMENTS I THINK PAGE 26, GO TO PAGE 26.
THANK YOU. THIS IS YOUR STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET POSITION.
[00:30:03]
SO THIS IS YOUR OPEB TRUST FUND AND YOUR CUSTODIAL FUNDS.THE MARKET IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN JULY OF 2023 AND JUNE OF 2024.
YOU'LL SEE A BIG DECREASE IF YOU LOOKED AT THIS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, DECREASES IN THOSE CUSTODIAL FUNDS AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE HEAD START PROGRAM IS NO LONGER BEING RUN BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS CUSTODIAL FUNDS MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT MEANING LIKE CUSTODIANS.
IT COULD IN THE ACCOUNTING WORLD IT'S CUSTODIAL FIDUCIARY IN THAT RESPECT.
CORRECT AND SO ON PAGE 27 YOU CAN SEE UNDER YOUR OPEB RETIREE BENEFIT TRUST FUND, YOU CAN SEE THAT INVESTMENT INCOME, WHICH WAS DUE TO MARKET FLUCTUATION, AND THEN THE REVENUE AND EXPENSE YOU DID SEE IN THOSE CUSTODIAL FUNDS.
THE NEXT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 PAGES ARE THE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THOSE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
SO I AM GOING TO DIRECT YOU IF WE'LL TURN TO PAGE 56, WHICH ON THE PDF.
SO YOU WILL SEE ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY THROUGH THE PAGE TOTAL UNRESTRICTED REVENUES.
YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU BUDGETED TOTAL UNRESTRICTED REVENUES FOR ABOUT 90.5 MILLION, AND YOU ACTUALLY HAVE ABOUT 91.3 MILLION IN ACTUAL REVENUES, AND THAT IS ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE BLUEPRINT WAS RECEIVED AND THEN A LOT MORE INTEREST INCOME THAN WHAT WAS BUDGETED FOR THE YEAR AND THAT'S YOU HAVE FUNDING WITH THE MARYLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL THAT HAS BEEN DOING REALLY WELL WITH THOSE INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES AND THEN IF YOU FLIP ABOUT THREE PAGES TO PAGE 59 RIGHT THERE. PERFECT.
AGAIN, THE BUDGET WAS 90.5 MILLION AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURES WERE ABOUT 5 MILLION UNDER THAT, AT ABOUT 85.4 MILLION AND THAT WAS DUE TO INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES COMING IN UNDER BUDGET FOR THE YEAR.
I CAN GO THROUGH THOSE IF YOU LIKE OR IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FINANCIALS.
NOTHING TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, NO FINDINGS.
WE HAD SOME COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN THERE ARE SOME NEW GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUT IN PLACE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE'VE OUTLINED THOSE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MISS HIGNETT.
BUT HER GROUP DID AN AMAZING JOB PULLING ALL OF THIS TOGETHER.
SO I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND AUDREY.
I WANT TO SAY AS WELL THE BOARD HEARS AS WELL THAT AUDREY AND HER TEAM WERE ABSOLUTELY A VITAL HELP WITH THE TRANSITION THAT WE WENT THROUGH IN JUNE INTO JULY AND OVER THE SUMMER, THEY WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE, ALWAYS HELPFUL AS WE WERE WORKING TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT.
STILL CONTINUE TO BE HELPFUL AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO FIGURE SOME THINGS OUT, BUT THE SUMMER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS SMOOTH AS IT WAS IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE HELP YOU GUYS PROVIDED AND YOU PROVIDED, AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT AS WELL.
THE AUDITS PEOPLE TEND TO TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED AND IF YOUR FIRST STATEMENTS WERE DIFFERENT THAN THAT, THEN WE HAD PROBLEMS. THINGS WEREN'T CLEAN, RIGHT? THEN THE BOARD WOULD HAVE BIG CONCERNS, AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM WOULD.
SO IT'S IT'S NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE FOR GRANTED.
IT'S ALSO SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT COLLABORATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE THEN YOU'LL POINT OUT THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, COULD BE DIFFERENT OR CHANGED AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND I WILL SAY EVERYBODY ON THE FINANCE TEAM IS VERY RECEPTIVE TO SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS ON HOW THINGS
[00:35:03]
CAN BE CHANGED OR DONE DIFFERENTLY.WONDERFUL. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN AWESOME TEAM WHO'S WORKING HARD.
AUDREY. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT BARTON.
DOCTOR SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
OUR PROCEDURE AT YEAR END AFTER OUR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND OUR AUDIT IS COMPLETE, IS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO OUR BUDGET TO ACCOUNT FOR ANY OVERAGES THAT WE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE GO THROUGH OUR BUDGET BY CATEGORY.
SO ALTHOUGH AUDREY SAID THAT OUR EXCESS OR.
YEAH, EXCESS REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES WAS DUE TO THE SALARIES AND FIXED CHARGES.
IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT BY CATEGORY.
SO I'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.
BUT STARTING WITH THE REVENUES, WE HAD HIGHER REVENUES THAN BUDGETED FROM THE STATE OF MARYLAND DUE TO CHANGE IN LEGISLATION. WE ENDED UP RECEIVING MORE MONEY FOR OUR BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR THAN WE HAD INITIALLY ANTICIPATED AND AS AUDREY STATED, WE ALSO HAD HIGHER LEVELS OF INCOME DUE TO OTHER SOURCES, DUE TO THE HIGH INTEREST RATES ON OUR INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS, AND WE HAD TO DECREASE OUR RESTRICTED REVENUE BECAUSE THE WAY THAT WE RECEIVE REVENUE FROM THE STATE, WE REPORT OUR EXPENDITURES.
SO IF WE DO NOT SPEND THE FULL RESTRICTED AMOUNT, WE DO NOT RECEIVE THAT REVENUE, SO WE MAY HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR IT IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BUT NOT RECEIVED IT AND THAT CAN CARRY FORWARD TO A FOLLOWING YEAR.
SO OUR REVENUES MUST BE DECREASED TO MATCH THE EXPENDITURES WE ACTUALLY HAD FOR THOSE RESTRICTED PROGRAMS. MOVING DOWN TO THE EXPENDITURES, YOU'LL SEE PUPIL TRANSPORTATION WAS OVER EXPENDED $39,416.
THIS IS DUE TO HIGHER GAS PRICES AND BUS DRIVER SALARIES THAN WE HAD BUDGETED FOR AND OUR CAPITAL OUTLAY WAS OVER $236,432 AND THIS WAS DUE TO YEAR END PURCHASES THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
WE RENOVATED THE TECH ED CLASSROOM AT NORTH CAROLINE AND CONVERTED IT TO TWO CLASSROOMS. THERE WAS REPAVING AND FLOORING RENOVATIONS AT MULTIPLE SCHOOLS, SO THAT EXPENSE WAS NOT INITIALLY BUDGETED FOR.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO ADJUST THE BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AND THEN COMING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, THERE IS AN EXCESS OF REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES OF 5,782,498.
THAT WAS ADDED TO OUR FUND BALANCE.
THE MONEY JUST DIDN'T SIT IN THE RIGHT CATEGORY.
SO THIS IS OUR THROWING UP OF THAT PIECE.
THE BOARD HAS TO TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE TRUING UP OF THE CATEGORIES FOR US TO OFFICIALLY MAKE THOSE MOVES ON OUR BUDGETING DOCUMENTS THAT THEN GO TO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
[INAUDIBLE]. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. ALRIGHT.
THANK YOU. MISS MCNUTT AND AS JILL IS HEADING BACK SHE AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
AS AUDREY POINTED OUT, WITH THE TRANSITION IN THE FINANCE OFFICE AND HAVE JUST REALLY BROUGHT A GREAT PERSPECTIVE TO LOOKING AT THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING THINGS AND TO SEE IF THERE ARE STRONGER OR BETTER WAYS WE CAN MOVING FORWARD AND THEY HAVE PARTNERED VERY WELL WITH AUDREY'S OFFICE WITH MSD, WITH OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO FIND WAYS THAT WE CAN STRENGTHEN OUR PRACTICES AND FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCIES.
IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
AND IT'S BEEN AWESOME TO SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE SO FAR AND I KNOW IT WILL CONTINUE.
SO THE ACTION THE ACTION NEEDED, MR. BARTON, WOULD BE ON THE BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENTS WE HAVE TO APPROVE, BUT YOU HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENTS.
SO THEN WE NEED TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION BY JILL.
[00:40:03]
VERY GOOD FOR THE BUDGETARY ADJUSTMENT.OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH NO PROBLEM.
SO, MICHELLE, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DID, BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS ASKED.
THIS QUESTION MAY HAVE BEEN ANSWERED, BUT WHERE DOES THE FIVE IT'S 5,000,700 AND SOME THOUSAND.
SO IT GOES INTO THE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FUND BALANCE.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS A FUND BALANCE POLICY THAT GUIDES THE FUND BALANCE.
SO WE WILL HAVE EXCEEDED OUR POLICY ALLOWING ALLOWANCE FOR THE FUND BALANCE.
SO IN THE COMING MONTHS I WILL BE PRESENTING TO THE BOARD A PLAN TO SPEND DOWN A LITTLE BIT AS PER OUR POLICY A PLAN TO SPEND DOWN THE FUND BALANCE TO 10% OF THE UNENCUMBERED.
NO, NOT UNENCUMBERED. UNRESTRICTED.
THANK YOU. 10% OF THE UNRESTRICTED OPERATING BUDGET.
TO GET THAT DOWN AND THERE IS NO CLEAR TIMELINE FOR HOW LONG, BUT I'LL COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT LOOKS AT ONE TIME EXPENSES IN WAYS THAT WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST, SOME MARKET FLUCTUATIONS THAT WE EXPECT TO SEE WITH THINGS LIKE HEALTH INSURANCE.
FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER PROBABLY TAKE US ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
THAT THEN WILL BRING OUR FUND BALANCE IN ALIGNMENT, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S SUPPORT IN REBUILDING THE FUND BALANCE.
THEY JUST THEY HAVE WE HAVE NOT WE PUT OURSELVES IN A GOOD FINANCIAL POSITION THROUGH MAKING SOME SMART DECISIONS AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE INTEREST REVENUE REALLY HELPED.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY THAT CAME IN AT THE TIME WE DID WE WERE NOT HAPPY IN THE HR WORLD.
WE HAD POSITIONS WE COULDN'T FILL.
BUT WHEN YOU CAN'T FILL THEM A COUPLE, TWO, THREE YEARS AGO, THAT MONEY DIDN'T DISAPPEAR.
SO WE PUT OURSELVES IN A GOOD POSITION.
BUT YEAH, MR. JONES, THAT'S WHERE IT IS.
IT'S IN OUR FUND BALANCE AT THIS POINT.
I DID HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I DID HAVE A COMMENT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN THE CHANGE HAPPENS SO FAST AND BASICALLY UNEXPECTED, JUST COMMENDING YOU ALL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO GET US UP TO WHERE WE ARE.
YEAH AND THAT'S A THE FUND BALANCE EXPONENTIAL IS HELPFUL AND A GREAT QUESTION.
IT'S SURE A LOT BETTER THAN HAVING THAT BE A NEGATIVE AND THAT KIND OF THING CAN HAPPEN.
YEAH, IT'LL BE A TEAM OF US WORKING ON IT TO BRING SUGGESTIONS TO THE BOARD TO DO IT IN A SMART WAY.
ALRIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS, WE DO NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AS PRESENTED.
WHAT IS THIS, EXISTS THE FY 2024 FY 24.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
[00:45:02]
PRESIDENT BARTON, DOCTOR SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD GOT A PRETTY EASY POLICY AGENDA FOR YOU TONIGHT.THREE POLICIES THAT ALL DEAL WITH TRANSPORTATION AND ALL DEAL WITH SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS.
SO THE FIRST ACTION ITEM IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO RETIRE TWO OF OUR POLICIES.
THESE ARE FAIRLY OLD POLICIES.
ONE DOES NOT HAVE A DATE, AND ONE IS FROM 1989 AND THE REASON THAT WE WANT TO RETIRE THEM IS THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT AND DO NOT REPRESENT OUR CURRENT PRACTICE.
THIS TALKS ABOUT HOW WE WOULD CHARGE IF THERE IS A SCHOOL TRIP, BUT IT IS REALLY A ONE LINE POLICY, AND IT SAYS THAT WE WOULD CHARGE BASED ON WHAT WE PAY OUR SCHOOL BUS CONTRACTORS.
WELL, WE ARE NO LONGER A FULLY CONTRACTED SITUATION, AND MR. MINGLE OVERSEES THE NEGOTIATION WITH THE CONTRACTORS, THE LLC, OF A CONTRACT THAT GOVERNS OUR RELATIONSHIP.
BUT THAT IS AN INTERNAL CALCULATION THAT WE DO TO COVER THOSE COSTS.
SO THAT POLICY IS NO LONGER RELEVANT.
THE SECOND ONE TALKS ABOUT SCHOOL TRIPS, AND THIS IS FROM 1989, AND IT TALKS ABOUT THE PROCESS FOR FIELD TRIPS, TIMELINES FOR FIELD TRIPS, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND AGAIN, IT HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT SINCE 89.
WE HAVE A FIELD TRIP APPROVAL PROCESS THAT IS IN PLACE.
IT REQUIRES APPROVAL FROM THE PRINCIPAL.
SO THAT'S NOT SO MUCH THE POLICY FOCUS OF IT.
IT'S MORE OF THE LOGISTICS FOCUS OF IT, AND IT TOUCHES MORE THAN JUST TRANSPORTATION.
SO FOR THAT REASON, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO RETIRE THESE TWO POLICIES.
ONE, BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A FULLY CONTRACTED BUS SERVICE ANYMORE AND THE SECOND, BECAUSE WE HAVE A IN HOUSE PROCESS FOR FIELD TRIP APPROVAL THAT IS MORE HOLISTIC THAN THIS POLICY AND THIS POLICY DOESN'T REPRESENT CURRENT PRACTICE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY VOTE TO SUPPORT THE ACTION ON BOTH OF THESE POLICIES AT THE SAME TIME.
SO ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICIES? ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO THE RIGHT WORD TO RETIRE THE TWO POLICIES? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE RETIRE POLICY 6110 AND 6130.
THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. APOLOGIES ARE RETIRED.
ALL RIGHT, SO IF YOU RETIRE 6110 AND 6130, THE QUESTION IS WHERE? 6120. WELL, HERE IT IS.
6120 IS OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPS.
THIS POLICY IS WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO.
EVERY YEAR YOU GET A COUPLE OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPS.
I THINK YOU HAD ONE LAST MONTH THAT YOU APPROVED FOR FFA, I BELIEVE, OR SKILLSUSA.
YEAH AND THIS TALKS ABOUT THE IDEA THAT IF IT'S BEYOND SO MANY NIGHTS, IT HAS TO COME TO THE BOARD, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, WHO YOUR CHAPERONS ARE, HOW IT RELATES TO CURRICULUM.
THIS POLICY IS OUR CURRENT PRACTICE AND IT WORKS GREAT AND SO IT HAS BEEN REVIEWED.
THAT IS OUR PROCESS. WE WANT TO WE REVIEW EVERY POLICY THAT'S UP FOR REVIEW.
BUT IF THERE'S NO CHANGES NEEDED WE DON'T TAKE IT THROUGH REVISION.
WE JUST SAY LET'S CONTINUE WITH IT AND WE'LL UPDATE THE REVIEW DATE TO 2024.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUATION OF POLICY 6120? SURE, I CAN DO THAT. I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE POLICY.
SIX 6120 AND DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT. OKAY.
ALL IN FAVOR OF CONTINUING THE POLICY IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION? AYE. ALL RIGHT.
IT IS DONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL TRY TO HAVE NEXT MONTH'S BE JUST AS QUICK AND EASY.
[00:50:02]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.NOW WE ARE AT THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF NOMINEES.
YES WE DO. SO WE HAVE TWO POSITIONS ON THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT HAVE BECOME VACANT AND HAVE OPENED UP AND THEY ARE THE POSITIONS FILLED BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL AND LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE FORMER PARENTS WERE NOT ABLE TO CONTINUE, SO THE PRINCIPALS HAVE NOMINATED.
THEY DID ASK THE PEOPLE. THEY DID AGREE TO IT.
SO WE HAVE TWO PARENTS WHO WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR PRINCIPALS FOR THE BOARD'S CONSIDERATION FOR THEIR FILLING OUT THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM ON THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD CARRY THEM THROUGH SEPTEMBER OF 2025 AT LOCKERMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL WITH MISS CAMILLE BLAKE AND AT COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, IT'S MISS NANCY DOWNEY.
BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT YOU SUPPORT THE NOMINEES FOR THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU. SECOND? SECOND. OKAY.
VERY GOOD. NOW WE MOVE TO REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, AND WE START WITH SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[5. Reports and Presentations]
BECAUSE RACHEL'S PULLING IT UP.IT'S ELECTION NIGHT, SO I FIGURE WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING.
WELL AS MR. MENGEL HAS SHARED, AND MR. HOWIE HAS IN THEIR PRESENTATIONS IN PREVIOUS MONTHS WE CHALLENGED THE STAFF IN AUGUST TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING WELL AND TRY TO FOCUS IN ON THAT.
SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THINGS DON'T NEED TO IMPROVE.
THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS TO IMPROVE.
SO QUARTER TWO STARTED ON MONDAY.
SO WE GOT 45 STUDENT, 46 STUDENT DAYS UNDER OUR BELT.
SO ONE THING THAT'S GOING WELL, WE WILL HAVE ABOUT PROBABLY CLOSE TO 2000 OR MORE POSTCARDS GOING OUT BY PROBABLY THE END OF THIS WEEK TO STUDENTS WHO EARNED HONOR ROLL OR MERIT ROLL IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
I KID YOU NOT. I WAS STRETCHING EARLIER TO TRY TO LOOSEN IT UP BECAUSE I SIGNED EVERY ONE OF THEM.
BUT WE WILL HAVE THOSE GO OUT, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE.
THAT'S PROBABLY OVER A THIRD OR MORE OF OUR ELIGIBLE STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE LETTER GRADES FOR THAT TO OCCUR, WHICH IS AWESOME. WE'VE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPENING WITH OUR STUDENTS, WHICH WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE THINGS AND SOME OF THE PICTURES AND I THANK THE SCHOOLS FOR MAKING SURE THEY SEND PHOTOS WHEN WE DO THESE THINGS.
YOU SEE PICTURES OF SOME WORK HAPPENING AND IT'S FUNNY, WE WERE LOOKING AT THE SCIENCE PICTURE.
I WAS LIKE, OH, I KNOW THOSE LIGHTS.
THAT'S COLONEL MIDDLE AND COLONEL RICHARDSON MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SOME REALLY INTERESTING FIELD TRIPS.
IT'S WHY YOU SEE SEA PLANE THERE WHICH IS AWESOME.
THE PICTURE NEXT TO IT IS ONE OF THE TRIPS THAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT AT LOCKERMAN THAT [INAUDIBLE] WAS MISS [INAUDIBLE] CLASS WENT TO THE EASTON AIRPORT, AND THAT'S THE MSP CHOPPER YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND, I BELIEVE.
OF COURSE, THE PICTURE FROM THE SPELLING BEE HAD LOTS OF AWESOME THINGS HAPPENING.
WANTED TO INCLUDE A COUPLE OTHER.
SO WHY WE HAVE THE LOGOS IN THE TOP CORNER.
WE HAD A FANTASTIC MEETING WITH CHESAPEAKE COLLEGE LAST WEEK.
SO WE TALK ABOUT THE COST OF DUAL ENROLLMENT, BUT THE KIDS ARE DOING IT.
IT'S A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR KIDS AND THEY'RE PERFORMING.
NOT TO GET LOST IN THE SPECIFICS, BUT MANY SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAD TO REVISE THEIR RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM TO SHOW THE MONEY FOLLOWING THE KID. AND OUR, REVISION SHOULD BE IN BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, AND WE BELIEVE IT WILL MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS AND THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO PUT THERE, BECAUSE I TO BE HONEST, I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COUNTY.
[00:55:02]
I WAS ASKED, ALONG WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM HARFORD COUNTY, TO BE ON A PANEL FOR MACOS WINTER CONFERENCE.IN OUR COUNTY. SO I'M ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
SO IT'LL BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO TELL OUR STORY, TO SHARE WHAT'S WORKING, AND SHARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE US JUST A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, PERPLEXED OF TRYING TO TRYING TO WORK THROUGH. BUT IT'LL BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS GOING WELL AND EXCITED FOR WHERE WE ARE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.
VERY NICE. GOOD REPORT, GREAT PICTURES.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE FIELD TRIP TO EASTON AIRPORT.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THE PRESIDENT'S PLANE LANDED THERE.
OH, YEAH. THAT WAS THE THE DOVER AIR BASE, BUT.
YES. WOULDN'T THAT BE SOMETHING? THE RUNWAY IS NOT QUITE BIG ENOUGH YET.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.
ALRIGHT, SO WE ARE AT BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS.
ANYBODY WANT TO GO FIRST? IT TENDS TO SURPRISE YOU WHEN I CALL ON YOU, YEAH.
IT'S A BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR US, BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE.
YEAH, THERE'S A REAL CELEBRATION.
CHRISSY? WELL, WE'LL TAKE THE WEATHER WE HAD FOR HOMECOMING EVERY YEAR.
IT WAS LOVELY WEEKEND AND MY DAUGHTER, WHO'S A JUNIOR WE'RE THREE YEARS STRONG IN THE NORTH CAROLINA HOMECOMING.
FLOAT BILL. SO THAT WAS EXCITING.
THEY PUT A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY INTO THE DECORATIONS AND THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY HAD PLANNED.
WE HAD A GOOD TIME THAT NIGHT, SO I WAS EXCITED.
I GOT TO STOP IN AND THAT WAS MY, EXCUSE ME, MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING THE HAUNTED HALLWAYS AND IT WAS REALLY A LOT OF FUN. I ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT.
I ALSO WENT TO GREENSBORO PARADE DRESSED UP THERE.
YEAH. I DIDN'T SEE THOSE PICTURES.
IT WAS A APPLE DIP THAT WAS MADE WITH DATES.
OH, YES, IT WAS DELICIOUS AND I WAS I KIND OF HESITATED BECAUSE I'M NOT A FAN OF DATES.
I GOT THE RECIPE, SO I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT RECIPE MIGHT BE COMING TO A MAILBOX NEAR YOU SOON.
EVERYTHING I WENT TO WAS I ENJOYED IT.
MARK. MINE IS ACTUALLY A THANK YOU TO YOU, RICK AND WHEN YOU STARTED YOUR ROLE AS PRESIDENT HERE, YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO YOU WERE GOING TO DO YOUR BEST, AND YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT AS A BOARD, WE ALL FELT LIKE WE WERE HEARD AND THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENED AND YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB LEADING THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS WHICH, CAN BE SEEN BUT WHAT HASN'T BEEN SEEN IS WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN CLOSED SESSION.
WE HAVE HAD SOME VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS, DECISIONS, THINGS THAT HAVE HAD TO BEEN DONE THROUGH CLOSED SESSION OR THROUGH EMAILS, DIFFERENT THINGS, YOU KNOW, IN A LEGAL FASHION.
BUT THERE HAVE BEEN THINGS LIKE THAT YOU HAVE HAD TO DO AND TAKE ON AND LEAD US THROUGH THAT.
HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR SOMEONE WITH THE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE, COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS SO MUCH BETTER BECAUSE WE'VE HAD YOUR LEADERSHIP, YOUR GUIDANCE THROUGH IT AND IT'S A THANK YOU TO YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE HERE AND BE PART OF THIS.
IT'S ONLY BEEN FOUR YEARS, BUT, MY GOSH, THE THINGS WE'VE NAVIGATED THROUGH CRAZY WITH MASK MANDATES AND ALL OF THE LEARNING LOSS BECAUSE OF COVID AND SO FORTH BUT I WAS LOOKING TO TALK ABOUT I WAS GOING TO MENTION HOMECOMING BECAUSE I GOT TO BE A JUDGE OF THE FLOATS, AND I'VE DONE IT EVERY YEAR, AND IT'S THE FIRST TIME I EVER PICKED THE WINNING FLOAT, AND THE OTHER TIME I PICKED ONE, AND I THINK THEY'RE GREAT AND [INAUDIBLE] LOSER, YOU KNOW?
[01:00:06]
BUT I THINK IT WAS A JUNIOR ONE THIS YEAR AND THEY WERE AMAZING JOB THEY DID.AND I'M ALSO GOING TO MENTION, YOU KNOW, I GOT TWO STICKERS HERE THAT I VOTED TWICE AND THAT'S NOT A STATEMENT ABOUT OUR ELECTION, FOLKS, BECAUSE I VOTED IN THE TOWN OF DENTON AS WELL AS THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I HEARD WHAT OUR SPEAKER SAID, BUT I THINK THAT WE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HERE IF IT WAS AN ELECTION NIGHT AND THEY DON'T COME OUT AND APPRECIATE THE TWO OF YOU STAYING HERE THROUGH THE MEETING.
YES. THE PEOPLE WHO COME ARE USUALLY STAFF, AND IF WE HAVE A ROOM FULL AT THE BEGINNING, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S KIDS HERE DOING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE OR SOME OTHER THING. SO IT'S NOT UNIQUE TO US TO NOT HAVE CITIZENS HERE.
OTHER PLACES HAVE THE SAME SITUATION.
PEOPLE CAN WATCH IT FROM HOME AT THEIR CONVENIENCE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE PEOPLE HERE.
SO IT'S REALLY IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE ELECTION.
IT'S WE'RE SEEING DEMOCRACY AT WORK HERE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE CANDIDATE SITTING RIGHT HERE.
CHRISTY IS SITTING HERE WHOSE NAME IS ON THE BALLOT.
SHE'S BEING VOTED FOR AS WE SPEAK, AND SHE DOESN'T SEEM NERVOUS.
[INAUDIBLE] DEREK SAID HE WOULD STAY UP ALL NIGHT WATCHING THE RESULTS.
SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THIS IT WAS NORTHERN CAROLINE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, RESULTS COME IN, AND STEPHANIE JOHNSON IS RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT THAT I'M IN AND SO, YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY NICE SMOOTH TRANSITION.
WE'LL HAVE TWO SORT OF TWO KIND OF TWO NEW MEMBERS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY WITH US HERE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THEY GET ELECTED TONIGHT AND THAT'S JUST REALLY A VERY POSITIVE FEELING.
SO AGAIN, MARK, THANK YOU AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU TO DOCTOR SIMMONS AND HIS STAFF.
ALRIGHT. SO DISCUSSIONS FOR ITEMS OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION.
NONE. UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS.
[8. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
AS TROY SAID, WE HAVE A LOT OF THEM.I DID NOT PUT THE WINTER CONCERTS ON HERE.
SO YOU COULD STILL VERIFY THAT ALL THE DATES IS STILL THE SAME [INAUDIBLE].
YES, AND I THINK ONE OF THE STUDENTS MENTIONED ONE ACT PLAYS.
IT'S TWO DIFFERENT WEEKS IN A ROW.
SO NOVEMBER 12TH AT [INAUDIBLE].
YOU'RE EXPECTING TO BE THERE? YES. ATTENDANCE WAS REQUESTED.
[INAUDIBLE]. AND THE MONTHLY PLUG TO CHECK THE GOOGLE SHEET.
ABSOLUTELY. SO THANK YOU GUYS [INAUDIBLE] YES AND VICE VERSA.
AND OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS THE WORK SESSION IN TWO WEEKS.
I APPRECIATE YOU ACCOMMODATING ME ON THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING IS DECEMBER 3RD, AND THAT IS THE NIGHT THAT WE WILL INSTALL OUR TWO NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS AND NEW OFFICERS, AND WE WILL HAVE AN ELECTION FOR NEW OFFICERS, PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.
SO THOSE OF YOU WHO WILL STILL BE ON THE BOARD AND THE PERSON OTHER MEMBER WHO IS LIKELY TO BE ELECTED TONIGHT I HOPE YOU WILL COME TO A GAME PLAN OF WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT NEXT TIME, BECAUSE ON DECEMBER 3RD, [INAUDIBLE] BE AN AWKWARD MOMENT WHEN WE'RE ALL SITTING HERE GOING, YEAH, WE CAN'T EVEN CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.
THAT'S RIGHT AND I MAY COME TO THAT MEETING TO THEM ACTUALLY ON THE BOARD UNTIL A NEW PERSON.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO I'LL PROBABLY BE HERE THAT NIGHT, AND THEN STEPHANIE CAN KICK ME OFF.
YEAH. SO WITH NOTHING ELSE I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.