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>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THE MAY 6 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING.
[1. Opening Items]
WE'RE GLAD TO SEE EACH OF YOU HERE.AND I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY SAYING HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK, BECAUSE WE REALIZED WE COULDN'T MAKE IT WITHOUT YOU.
YOU DEFINITELY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN, AND ON BEHALF OF CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF ED, WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.
WE ARE WEARING GREEN RIBBONS IN HONOR OF THE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS.
>> CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS WEEK?
>> ON THURSDAY. WE'LL KEEP IT ON TILL THURSDAY [LAUGHTER].
BUT WELCOME TO OUR MEETING, AND WE WILL NEED TO GO INTO FROM CLOSED SESSION TO OPEN SESSION.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO INTO OPEN SESSION.
>> SO WE WILL BEGIN OUR OFFICIAL MEETING AT THIS TIME.
AND WE WILL START WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, RIDGELY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[BACKGROUND] WELCOME, RIDGELY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU CAN STAY RIGHT HERE FOR A SECOND, GUYS.
>> MR. EVANS, WHO DO WE HAVE WITH US THIS EVENING?
>> SO TODAY WE HAVE OUR RES STARS WARS STOCK TRADERS.
>> MISS MCCANAL IS OUR CLUB CHAIR.
[INAUDIBLE] FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> SO WE HAVE A CLUB OF 18 STUDENTS, VOLUNTARY FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADERS, AND WE MET THREE TIMES A WEEK.
WE MET ON MONDAY MORNINGS, THURSDAY MORNINGS, AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS AFTER SCHOOL.
WE HAD FOUR TEAMS, AND THROUGH THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC EDUCATION, WE WERE ABLE TO REGISTER ALL FOUR TEAMS. THERE'S A FEE, BUT IT WAS COVERED BY THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ED.
I REALLY WANT THESE GUYS TO TALK BECAUSE THEY DID THE WORK.
I JUST HANG OUT AND BROUGHT SNACKS.
SO I HAVE THE STAR WARS STOCK TRADERS.
THE BADDIES AREN'T HERE TONIGHT.
[LAUGHTER] WE HAVE TO STOCK CHRIS.
I'M SORRY. SO YOU GUYS JUST TELL SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT YOU DID.
>> COULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELVES AND WHAT YOU DID WITH THE STOCK MARKET GAME BECAUSE WE'LL BE TAKING NOTES BY THE WAY.
HELP OURSELVES TRY TO FIGURE THIS MESS OUT. PROBABLY JUST FOR US.
>> START WITH YOUR NAME. [BACKGROUND]
>> TAKE YOUR TIME. START OVER IF YOU LIKE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, OUR TRADING SESSION ENDED ON APRIL 11, WHICH IS WHEN THE STOCK MARKET WAS FULL OF 40,000.
IT WAS AROUND 30,000 AT THE TIME.
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THESE GUYS WELL, AND I DON'T HAVE LADIES.BUT MANY OF THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE TRADING THIS SUMMER.
I'VE SHARED THE INFORMATION WITH PARENTS SO THEY CAN DO SOME TRADES OVER THE SUMMER, BUT IT'S A GREAT INCENTIVE.
WE HAD A FABULOUS TIME. FRIDAY, WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO SALISBURY UNIVERSITY TO VISIT THEIR FINANCE LAB.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S ALL THROUGH THE MARYLAND COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC EDUCATION SALISBURY UNIVERSITY.
AND SO THEY'VE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THESE GUYS CONTINUING ON BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME GREAT INSIGHTS. SOME UNUSUAL ONES.
>> IS JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT INVOLVED IN THIS OR IS THAT SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT?
>> THIS IS TOTALLY TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
>> JUST A REGULAR CLUB THAT MEETS.
>> THAT'S GREAT. LOOK AT DATA.
>> THAT'S FANTASTIC. WE THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT.
AND WE THANK THE PARENTS FOR BRINGING YOU.
AND I'LL BE CURIOUS TO SEE HOW YOU GUYS HELP YOUR PARENTS PUT THAT INTO ACTION.
[LAUGHTER] I MAYBE HELP SOME OF US.
[LAUGHTER] BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AS WELL. MISS BARRY, PICTURE.
>> DON'T BUY 600 SHARES OF SNAPCHAT [INAUDIBLE].
>> HANDS DOWN, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH. [BACKGROUND]
>> AND WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO THE APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT THAT WE'LL READ ALOUD.
>> [BACKGROUND] 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.
AND OUR VISION FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS WE WANT EVERY CHILD TO BE PREPARED, EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED TOTHRIVE IN AN EVER CHANGING AND DIVERSE WORLD.
CAN WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF OUR AGENDA?
>> A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE OUR AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING'S MEETING?
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT OUR AGENDA BE ACCEPTED FOR TONIGHT'S MEETING. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> ANY OPPOSED? AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH PUBLIC RECOGNITION AND COMMENTS.
[2. Public Recognitions / Comment]
WE DO HAVE COMMENTS THIS EVENING.>> YES, WE DO. MISS CRYSTAL CEPHUS HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
READ THE STATEMENT REAL QUICKLY.
>> WE'LL HAVE A FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
ONCE THE TIME 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 OF EDUCATION 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,
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OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE OR INTERFERES WITH THE ORDER OF THE MEETING IS NOT PERMITTED.AND LASTLY, INDIVIDUALS MAY NOT GIVE THEIR TIME TO OTHERS ON THE LIST OF SPEAKERS.
AND AS I SAID, MISS CRYSTAL CEPHUS HAS SIGNED UP TO DISCUSS THE WELLNESS CENTER.
>> MISS MCCONNEL IS AFTER [INAUDIBLE].
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CRYSTAL CEPHUS, AND I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT.
I RECENTLY ALLOWED MY SON TO USE THE SCHOOL WELLNESS CENTER BECAUSE HE HAD A HEADACHE AND NEEDED TYLENOL.
TO MY SURPRISE, I LATER RECEIVED A BILL FOR $170.
AND WHILE SPEAKING WITH THE BILLING PERSON, OVER THE PHONE WAS TOLD, HE WENT ANOTHER TIME AS WELL.
SO I HAD TWO VISITS TOTALING $340.
OUT OF POCKET, HAD I NOT HAD INSURANCE.
HE WAS GIVEN A TOTAL OF FOUR TYLENOL PILLS BETWEEN INSURANCE PAYMENT AND MY CO-PAYS, THEY WERE PAID $525.12 FOR THOSE FOUR PILLS.
TO PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, I CAN PURCHASE 225 TYLENOL RAPID RELEASE FOR $20.34.
THIS IS ALARMING. FIRST, I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS GIVING TYLENOL WOULD BE BILLED LIKE A FULL MEDICAL VISIT.
SECONDLY, COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS LIKE CHOP TAN OFFER SLIDING FEE SCALES WHEN CARE IS PROVIDED IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THAT OPTION DOESN'T SEEM TO APPLY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
WHY NOT? ARE WE SAYING PARENTS WILL BE CHARGED THESE HIGH AMOUNTS EVERY TIME A CHILD GETS BASIC CARE AT SCHOOL? ESPECIALLY NOW THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE LOSING MEDICAID COVERAGE.
AND HERE'S MY BIGGER QUESTION.
IF THESE WELLNESS CENTERS ARE RECEIVING FUNDING FROM THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OR STATE AND/OR FEDERAL RENTS TO OPERATE IN OUR SCHOOLS, WHY ARE FAMILY STILL BEING HIT WITH BILLS LIKE THIS? SHOULDN'T THEY BE ACCEPTING WHAT THEY GET FROM INSURANCE AS FULL PAYMENT, ESPECIALLY FOR SOMETHING AS MINOR AS TO TYLENOL? THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MISS CEPHUS FOR BRINGING YOUR CONCERN TO OUR ATTENTION, AND YOU WILL GET A RESPONSE WITHIN 10 DAYS. THANK YOU.
>> SECOND SPEAKER. [INAUDIBLE]
>> HI. GOOD EVENING. MAY I APPROACH THE BOARD WITH A HANDOUT?
>> I'M HERE THIS EVENING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AS A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS COORDINATOR, BUT ALSO AS A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
SO GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYNE AND DR SIMMONS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PROGRAM AND THE FABULOUS COORDINATORS THAT ARE WORKING IN EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS.
[LAUGHTER] WHEN I FIRST BECAME A TEACHER, I SAID, I HAVE THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
I GET TO WORK WITH KIDS ALL DAY AND THEY WERE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
NONETHELESS. THEN WHEN I BECAME A PRINCIPAL, I SAID, I HAVE THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD. IN A MINUTE.
THEN I RETIRED, AND I DIDN'T HAVE THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD. I WAS BORED.
AND SO THEN I CAME BACK AS A SCHOOL COORDINATOR THIS YEAR, AND I HAVE THE GREATEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
AND THE REASON THAT I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE I GET TO DO ALL THE THINGS I COULDN'T DO AS A PRINCIPAL THAT I WANTED TO DO THAT I LOVED DOING, HELPING FAMILIES, REACHING OUT TO STUDENTS, HELPING THEM, COLLABORATING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON A WIDER LEVEL, BECAUSE I NEVER HAD TIME AS A PRINCIPAL, BUT NOW HAVE THE TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONVERSATION I HAD WITH DR SIMMONS, WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THIS POSITION, AND I SAID, "WHEN I FIRST BECAME A PRINCIPAL, THIS IS THE WAY SCHOOLS USED TO BE." I HAD A PARENT SERVICE PROVIDER AT RIDGELY ELEMENTARY, WHO WAS A GREAT ASSET.
AND SO I LOOK AT THIS EVOLUTION BACK TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AS THE PARENT SERVICE PROVIDER, BUT ON STEROIDS IN 2025 TWIST.
[00:15:02]
UNFORTUNATELY, THE PANDEMIC, THE STANDARDS MOVEMENT, OTHER SOCIETAL CHANGES HAVE IMPACTED THIS EARLY VISION OF PARENT SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND SO NOW HERE WE ARE.SO I'VE GIVEN YOU A GRAPHIC THAT HAS THE FOUR PILLARS OF A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY SCHOOL.
AND I WANT TO JUST BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THEM.
THE FOUR PILLARS ARE ACTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS, EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PRACTICE.
CAROLINE HAS LONG BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP.
DURING THE 1990S, CCPS ADOPTED SCHOOL BASED INSTRUCTIONAL DECISION MAKING ON THE PREMISES WHICH LED STAFF, STUDENT, AND PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS AT EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL.
WITH THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS MODEL, WE'RE MOVING BACK TO THAT.
I'M DOING SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE INTEGRAL TO THIS PROCESS.
I MEET WITH STUDENTS AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK, MET WITH PARENTS INDIVIDUALLY.
SO HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE HEARD LOCAL BUSINESSES SAY THEY WANT ELEMENT FROM OUR GRADUATES? WELL, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY, EVEN MORE OF A RICHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE BUSINESS LEADERS TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH US AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED IN CAROLINE.
THIS IS HOW WE MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT INTEGRATED STUDENT SUPPORTS, I'M FOLLOWING MISS CEPHAS, WHO'S TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND HAS LONG BEEN IN CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE HEALTH SUPPORTS.
WE HAVE CAROLINE CHOP TANK COMMUNITY HEALTH, CAROLINE MENTAL HEALTH, CHANNEL MARKERS.
WE NOW HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH MINARI STREAM ALLIANCE, WITH THE WHOLE IDEA THAT IF WE BRING HEALTH TO THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL AND TO THE STAFF, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO STAY AND IMPROVE THEIR ATTENDANCE.
WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN. WHEN I GO TO MEETINGS NOW AND I'M TALKING WITH PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE POND AND THEY'RE JUST STARTING THESE COLLABORATIVE THINGS.
I'M LIKE LOOKING AT THEM SAYING, WE'VE HAD THIS IN CAROLINE FOR OVER 25 YEARS.
AND AGAIN, CAROLINE COUNTY WAS ON THE FOREFRONT BACK IN THE 1990S AND SHOULD BE CELEBRATED TO THE HARD WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
>> IMAGINE YOU'RE A MIDDLE SCHOOLER, ONE OF THE MOST TRAUMATIC TIMES IN ANYONE'S LIFE, AND YOU'RE HAVING A BAD HERITAGE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN AT THE BASE IS THAT WE HAVE TO FEEL SECURE AND WE HAVE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.
IF YOU COME TO SCHOOL AND YOUR HAIR IS A HOT MESS AND YOU KNOW EVERYONE'S GOING TO MAKE FUN OF YOU, THAT'S WHERE YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AND MAYBE YOUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATOR STEPS IN AND SAYS, LET'S GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF SO YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHAT YOU NEED.
WE CANNOT GET TO BLOOM'S TAXONOMY WITHOUT MEETING MASLOW FIRST.
AGAIN, I JUMP INTO MY EDUCATION HEAD, I'M GOING TO TAKE IT OFF FROM MINUTE.
BRIEFLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT EXPANDED LEARNING TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES.
THAT CAME FROM THEM WANTING SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SOMETHING CHALLENGING TO DO AT SCHOOL.
ANYBODY FROM AGES FOURTH GRADE AND UP CAN PARTICIPATE.
NOW, DID RIDGELY ELEMENTARY STOCK MARKET GROUPS DID WE RANK IN THE STATE? NO. WE DIDN'T GET INTO BOND TRADING AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY.
PART OF THIS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS THAT WE USE OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND FEDERAL UTILIZE THE FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE.
WE WANT THE SCHOOL TO BE A LEARNING HUB FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
LASTLY, AGAIN, ACTIVE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
LIKE I SAID, WITH COVID, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENED, WE ALL HAD TO SEPARATE FOR A WHILE.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING THE COMMUNITY BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS, THE VOLUNTEERS BACK IN OUR SCHOOLS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS SO THAT WE CAN ALL PARTNER TOGETHER.
COLONEL CCPS HAS A MISSION STATEMENT OF ONE FAMILY, ONE VISION AND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS ARE ONE VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE OUR SCHOOLS MORE COLLABORATIVE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE AT RIDGELY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, NOT JUST AT RIDGELY, BUT FOR THE YEARS YOU PUT IN TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE FOR THE CHILDREN OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
[00:20:07]
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH.WE DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE IT IS NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WE THANK MISS MCCANDLESS AND MISS SIGLES FOR SHARING YOUR COMMENTS TONIGHT.
WE WILL MOVE ON WITH SOME RECOGNITIONS, BEGINNING WITH ALL STATE MUSICIANS.
>> PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME PRESENT TONIGHT.
I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING TWO STUDENTS FROM OUR COUNTY IN THE ALL STATE CHOIR AND BAND.
IT'S A TOUGH PROCESS TO GO THROUGH AND FOR US AS A SMALL COUNTY TO HAVE TWO REPRESENT, THERE'S MANY ON THE SHORE THAT DON'T HAVE ANYBODY THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE.
FOR US TO HAVE TWO, IT'S A GREAT HONOR.
FOR CHOIR, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP ALYSSA BRADLEY [APPLAUSE] FOR BAND, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE WILSON CLOUD [APPLAUSE] ALL OF THIS COULDN'T HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT THEIR TEACHER, THOMAS CHEZAM.
CHEZAM FROM [INAUDIBLE] HE'S DONE A LOT WITH THE BAND AND WITH CHOIR.
I ASSUME AS WELL, AND AARON BRADLEY AS WELL AT COL RICHMOND HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S BEEN AN HONOR OF WORKING WITH BOTH OF THEM, AND I'M GLAD THAT THEY HAD ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS IN BALTIMORE AT MORNING STATE IN MARCH SO GREAT.
>> MR. CHEZAM, DO YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A [INAUDIBLE] CONCERT DATES?
>> YES. JAZZ OF COURSE WOULD BE ON TUESDAY 7:00 P.M AT COLONEL RICHARDSON AUDITORIUM, AND BAND AND ORCHESTRA WILL BE ON THAT'S THE 13TH, I SHOULD SAY NOT TONIGHT.
ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT IS CHORUS AND JAZZ, AND THEN FRIDAY, THE 16TH WILL BE ORCHESTRA AND BAND.
JOIN US AT 7:00 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EVENT THAT NIGHT AS WELL ALL AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> YES. WE WILL MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO OUR ASPIRING TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS.
>> DR. DOWNS, WILL BE PRESENTING THIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS ESTABLISHED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ASSIST GRADUATES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OBTAINING A FOUR YEAR DEGREE IN THE FIELD OF TEACHER EDUCATION.
IT IS THE BLEAK OF THE BOARD THAT TALENT EXISTS WITHIN OUR GRADUATES.
THUS THE BOARD IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING THAT TALENT TO PROVIDE EDUCATORS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED AT EACH HIGH SCHOOL BE TARGETED FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND FULFILLING THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS IN DECLARED CRITICAL SHORTAGE AREAS.
A CRITICAL SHORTAGE AREA IS DEFINED AS AREAS OF TEACHER CERTIFICATION DEFINED BY MSDE, WITH THOSE AND GREATEST NEEDS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THE VERSIFICATION OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF IS DEFINED AS PROVIDING INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RACE GENDER AND ETHNICITY.
WE HAD A LOT OF APPLICANTS, AND IT WAS A TOUGH PROCESS BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO WONDERFUL.
I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO MISS VETERY AND MR. BARACK FOR BEING THE TAM TEACHERS IN BOTH OF OUR SCHOOLS AND ALL OF THE STAFF BECAUSE ALL STUDENTS ARE FUNNELED INTO THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO BECOME EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SO I WANT TO THANK BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS FOR DEFINING THE STUDENTS HAS FOR FUTURE.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND SHOUT OUT THE CANDIDATES THAT RECEIVED THIS SCHOLARSHIP.
IT'S $5,000 PER YEAR PER STUDENT.
FROM COLONEL RICHARDSON HIGH SCHOOL, WE HAVE HALEY HOFF AND TEKYLA RICH.
[00:25:08]
FROM NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, CAYLEE BARR AND LILLIAN ALTOS.[APPLAUSE] NOW, THESE YOUNG LADIES ALL HAVE ELEMENTARY EDUCATION, MUSIC EDUCATION, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND MATH EDUCATION AS THEIR DEFINED MAJORS.
HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT OVER THOSE FOUR YEARS IT MIGHT DRASTICALLY CHANGE SO PROBABLY PICKING SOMETHING OUT WOULD BE OPEN TO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE.
>> THE LADIES SAYS, WE'RE ALL ASSEMBLING.
I EXPECT THE APPLICATIONS IN IN.
>> BEFORE YOU LEAVE, NOT JUST CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, BUT TO MISS BARNETT, BEFORE YOU GET TO THE DOOR AND MISS VETERY FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND SHARING YOUR LOVE FOR TEACHING?
>> THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU GUYS DO FOR US.
>> THANK YOU, LADIES AND BEST WISHES.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE THE DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GREEN SCHOOL AWARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT WAYMAN AND DR. SIMMONS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I COME BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO PRESENT A PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS TO DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR GREEN SCHOOL AWARD.
THIS IS THEIR FIRST TIME WINNING THIS.
WE HAVE AN AMAZING LEAD TEAM WITH THE MRS. RACHEL MASONI, JULIA STRANGE, AND SHELLY WURTZ.
THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TWO YEAR PROCESS IT IS VERY RIGOROUS.
THEY'VE DONE EVERY AND ALL THING THEY CAN TO FIND OUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE SCHOOL AND IN CAROLINE COUNTY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS.
THE STATE MAY OR ACTUALLY HAS COME UP WITH THE AWARD.
THEY'LL BE AWARDED THURSDAY, MAY 28 AT [INAUDIBLE] WITH THEIR OFFICIAL AWARD, IF THEY'RE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT, IF NOT, I'LL BE ABLE TO GO AND ACCEPT [INAUDIBLE] THIS IS A FOUR YEAR AWARD, AND THEN IN FOUR YEARS, THEY'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT SAME PROCESS AGAIN.
A TWO YEAR APPLICATION PROCESS SO YOU HAVE ABOUT TWO YEARS OF REST TIME AND TWO YEARS OF WORK TIME SO BE READY FOR THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO AWARD YOU THIS HONOR IF YOU COULD COME UP PLEASE [APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU ALL. I KNOW THE PROCESS IS NOT FOR THE PAIN OF HEART [INAUDIBLE] MISS TOWERS, GOT THAT.
NO. IT'S AN INCREDIBLE HONOR AND YOU GUYS ARE OUR SECOND GREEN SCHOOL, WHICH IS EXCITING.
>> THE AWARDS LIKE THIS MAKE THE BOARD MEETINGS FUN.
YES. NEXT, WE HAVE A MAGNA SILVER AWARD. IT'S VERY SPECIAL.
>> I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TALKING ABOUT THE MAGNA AWARD
[00:30:02]
AND OUR BOARD WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE THE AWARD FOR CCPS AT THEIR NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE THE MAGNA AWARD IS AN INITIATIVE BY THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION TO RECOGNIZE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR BOARDS FOR THEIR INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING IN EDUCATION.THE AWARDS HIGHLIGHT DISTRICTS THAT HAVE TACKLED CHALLENGES WITH OUT OF THE BOX STRATEGIES AND DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING EDUCATION.
AT THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL CONFERENCE, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS AWARDED THE SILVER AWARD AT THEIR ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR THEIR FOOD CONNECTION PROJECT.
AS I READ THROUGH THE DESCRIPTION, I WILL PREFACE ALREADY AS BETH HAS WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BREWSTER AND I.
THIS IS AN AWARD FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
BUT IT TOOK THE LEADERSHIP VISION FROM FOOD SERVICES TO GET IT THERE.
WHILE IT IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IT TOOK THE LEADERSHIP FROM YOUR HOUSE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
TO READ THE DESCRIPTION IN 2020, DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC, CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAFF REALIZED HOW MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WERE EXPERIENCING HUNGER.
THE PANDEMIC COMPELLED THE DISTRICT TO CREATE SOLUTIONS THAT WOULD SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN POST PANDEMIC TIMES.
SOME OF THE COMPONENTS FOR THE FOOD CONNECTION PROJECT WERE IN PLACE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.
FOOD SERVICES STAFF PROVIDED HEALTHY OPTIONS IN THE CAFETERIA BY DEVELOPING A STRONG FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM TO BUY MEAT AND PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS.
THEY PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION FOR A BACKPACK PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED KIDS WITH WEEKEND MEALS.
THEN THE PANDEMIC CALLS FOOD SERVICES STAFF TO RETHINK HOW TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS WERE FED.
THE FIRST STEP WAS TO BUILD UPON EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE PACKAGED BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER TO STUDENTS AND OTHER RESIDENTS IN NEED.
FOOD SERVICES THEN BECAME A DELIVERY VAN AND A SECOND WAS ADDED.
VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH MEAL DELIVERY DIRECTLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND HOMES.
EMPLOYEES FROM THE TRANSPORTATION CUSTODIAL AND MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENTS BECAME PART OF THE FOOD SERVICES DIVISION.
STAFF LEANED INTO THE NOTION THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO JUST FEED KIDS AND FAMILIES.
THEY NEEDED THE TOOLS TO OBTAIN AND COOK NUTRITIOUS MEALS.
POST PANDEMIC, THEY BEGAN TO APPROACH THE SUMMER MEALS PROGRAM DIFFERENTLY.
A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY WITH SMALL, SPREAD OUT NEIGHBORHOODS AND NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MANY FAMILIES COULD NOT GET TO THE SCHOOLS FOR SUMMER MEALS.
BUSES BROUGHT ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN FOR CAMP, BUT THEY WERE LIMITED OPTIONS FOR YOUNGER OR OLDER CHILDREN.
ONCE THE US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LIFTED RESTRICTIONS AND ALLOWED FAMILIES TO TAKE THE MEALS OFF SITE, DELIVERY TRUCKS WENT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS ONCE AGAIN.
IN 2024, MORE THAN 115,000 MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS AND OVER 12,000 WERE SUPPLIED TO THE NEIGHBORING COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM GREW 400-500 SERVED PRE PANDEMIC TO OVER 900 SERVED THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPED DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC STILL EXISTS, SUSTAINED BY THE EFFORTS OF INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS.
IN 2022, THEY PARTNERED WITH LOCAL GROUPS TO LAUNCH SHOGO MOBILE, A FARMERS MARKET ON WHEELS PROVIDING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WITH ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE AND PREPARED MEALS AND GROCERIES.
A LONG TERM COMPONENT CAME TO FRUITION RECENTLY WHEN CHESAPEAKE BLUE CATFISH APPEARED ON THE LUNCH MENU IN ALL SCHOOLS.
THIS WAS THE START OF THE BAY TO TRAY PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES THE LOCALLY SOURCED FRESH FISH AND SEAFOOD AND CAFETERIAS.
THIS SUMMER, STAFF INVITED RESIDENTS TO A DINNER WITH HEART HEALTHY, DIABETIC FRIENDLY MENUS.
CHOP TANK COMMUNITY HEALTH TEAM OF MEDICAL PROVIDERS, A DIETICIAN, AND INTERPRETERS, PROVIDED SCREENING AND EDUCATION FOR PRE DIABETES, DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, HEART DISEASE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
THE DISTRICT EXPANDED THE DINNER FROM ONE SCHOOL TO TWO, GIVING STUDENT STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE AND EXECUTE AN EVENT.
PLAN A BALANCED AND NUTRITIONAL MENU AND SHOP FOR LOCAL FOODS.
THEY ALSO LEARNED ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOSPITALITY FIELD.
CAFETERIAS HAVE A PARTICIPATION RATE OF 68% FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSISTS OF 10 SCHOOLS, ROUGHLY 5,800 STUDENTS AND 1,100 STAFF.
ALL SCHOOLS QUALIFY FOR STATE COMMUNITY [INAUDIBLE] PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ALL STUDENTS.
AS YOU CAN TELL WITH A DESCRIPTION LIKE THAT, WE WERE THRILLED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, REALLY FOUND A WAY TO EXPAND DURING REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES.
THE BEAUTY THAT I LOVE IS, WE HAVEN'T MISSED A BEAT.
WE HAVE CONTINUED TO REFINE AND BUILD OUT AND CONTINUE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE NEEDS.
IT'S AN HONOR THAT WE WERE RECOGNIZED AND HATS OFF TO THE FOOD SERVICES DIVISION FOR THE LEADERSHIP EFFORT WITH ALL OF THIS.
WITH THIS, I HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR FOOD SERVICES.
>> AWARD CAN STAY. WE'LL FIND A PLACE HERE.
WE'VE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE THIS AWARD SHOULD LIVE.
WE WILL MAKE SURE IT'S UP FOR THIS PLATE.
HAVE SOMETHING FOR FOOD SERVICES AS WELL.
SO BE IF YOU AND ANY OF YOUR TEAM WANT TO COME FORWARD?
[00:35:19]
WE HAVE TWO YOUNG LADIES WHO HAVE BEEN OUT PRETTY MUCH EVERY MONTH TO REPRESENT OUR STUDENT BODY HERE IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE HAVE VANESSA AND [INAUDIBLE] YES.
SO BEFORE WE GET TO YOUR REPORTS, BECAUSE THIS IS USUALLY THE LAST MONTH THAT STUDENTS COME TO, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO GRADUATE, HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING YOU BACK IN JUNE.
[LAUGHTER] SO, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE DO WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE.
THANK YOU BOTH OF YOU FOR THE OUTSTANDING WORK THIS YEAR.
WE STILL IN THE YEAR WITH YOU, WHICH IS WONDERFUL.
VANESSA, YOUR TIME IS COMING TO AN END.
SENIORS HAVE 14 DAYS LEFT, I THINK,.
>> TWELVE LEFT. NOT THAT YOU'RE COUNTING.
TWELVE DAYS LEFT, WHICH WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY VANESSA WITH YOU AS A SENIOR, A LOT OF OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLETE TO BE HERE.
SO WE DO HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR EACH OF YOU.
VANESSA, WE DO HAVE YOUR IPAD PARTING GIFT THAT YOU GET FOR BEING ON THE BOARD SERVING AS A STUDENT MEMBER, WE APPRECIATE THAT.
DO WE WANT TO DO THAT, SANDY BEFORE THEIR REPORTS, OR SHOULD WE MAKE THEM DO THE REPORTS FIRST? [LAUGHTER] WE DON'T WANT TO RUN TOO.
SO VANESSA, THE EXTRA PIECE THAT I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ADD TO YOUR REPORT AT THE END. WHAT'S THE NEXT FOR YOU?
>> WHAT'S THE NEXT FOR YOU? WHAT ARE YOUR PLAN?
>> SO WHO DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? [BACKGROUND].
>> JASON WALKED IN A PERFECT TIME FOR YOU TO SAY THAT.
>> SO STARTING WITH DENTON ELEMENTARY, DR KREB SAID APRIL WAS A CELEBRATION OF SPRING AND SO MANY IMPORTANT STAFF MEMBERS AT DES.
SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR ANNUAL CAREER DAY AT DES.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR PRE-K WALKING FIELD TRIP TO MARTIN LAKE STATE PARK.
DO THEY WALK ALL THE WAY TO MARTIN?
>> THE LITTLE LEGS GET IT. [LAUGHTER]
>> I CAN EVER. AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR CELEBRATE STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK, WHICH I'M PRETTY IS THIS WEEK.
AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR FIELD DAY.
THEN FOR RIDGELY ELEMENTARY, GRADES 3, 04, AND 5, STUDENTS CONTINUE MCAP ASSESSMENTS.
THEY CELEBRATE THEIR STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK AS WELL.
AND THEN MAY 8 AT 6:30 PM, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR SPRING CONCERT AT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS TOMORROW.
THEN FOR GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY, LAST MONTH, THEY HAD THEIR SPRING CHORUS CONCERT AND THEIR BAND CONCERT.
THE JUDY CENTER HAD THEIR EARLY LEARNING HUB AT GREENSBORO OPEN HOUSE, AND SECOND GRADE HAD A FIELD TRIP TO ATKINS.
SOME OF THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS IS ALSO THEIR STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK THIS WEEK.
THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR ITAV FAMILY LEARNING CAMP, WHICH WILL BE VIRTUAL.
THEN AGAIN, ON MAY 6, WHICH WAS TODAY, THEY HAVE THEIR GLEE SPRING CONCERT AT 6:00 PM.
I GUESS IT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN THE JUDY CENTER AT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY WILL HAVE A PETTING ZOO FOR PRE-K, THIRD AND FOURTH.
[00:40:03]
[LAUGHTER] AND THEN ON MAY 14, THE JUDY CENTER WILL HAVE A DISCOVERY DAY AT TUCKAHOE.ALSO ON MAY 14, JUDY CENTER WILL HAVE A PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING, MAY 15, THE JUDY CENTER HAS AN ITAV FAMILY LEARNING CAMP, WHICH IS ALSO VIRTUAL AGAIN.
ON MAY 15, LMS WILL THEIR FIFTH GRADE NIGHT.
ON MAY 16, JDS WILL HAVE A FIELD DAY.
MAY 19, FIFTH GRADE, WILL HAVE A SKATING FIELD TRIP.
MAY 20, GREENSVILLE ELEMENTARY AND THE JUDY CENTER WILL HAVE A FAMILY GAME NIGHT AND GALLERY WALK.
ON MAY 21, FOURTH GRADE, AND BAND SYMPHONY FIELD TRIP.
MAY 22, THE JUDY CENTER AND GREENSVILLE ELEMENTARY, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR ITAV MEETING AGAIN.
ON MAY 23, SECOND GRADE, WE'LL TAKE THE TRIP TO ATKINS AUDITORIUM.
THEN ON MAY 28, NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL, ALL THE SENIORS WILL WALK THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
LASTLY, ON MAY 30, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR GS BUDDY DAY.
SHE ALSO HAS A LOT, WHICH IS VERY GOOD.
[LAUGHTER] NOW FOR LOCKERMAN, LAST MONTH, SEVENTH GRADE FINISHED UP THEIR FIELD TRIPS TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT IN SALISBURY.
SEVERAL STUDENTS HAD ARTWORK ON DISPLAY AT THE ART COUNCIL, AND THEN ALL STUDENTS WORKED REALLY HARD TO COMPLETE MCAP TESTING. THE ELA 1.
MISS NECESSARY SAID WE TESTED THE WHOLE SCHOOL ONE AT A TIME, SO THIS WAS QUITE A FEAT.
AND THEN SIXTH GRADE COMPLETED MCAP MATH.
SOME OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS, THEY'LL HAVE SEVERAL FIELD TRIPS.
THEY'LL HAVE MORE MCAP MATH AND SOCIAL STUDIES THIS TIME.
THEY'LL HAVE THEIR BAND AND CHORUS CONCERTS, SEVENTH GRADE WILL HAVE A CAREER DAY AND SIXTH AND SEVENTH GRADE SPRING DANCE.
THEN MR. SPIKER, HE SAID, "I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE TEACHERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK.
THIS YEAR, OUR ENTIRE TEAM HAS COME TOGETHER WITH A SHARED PURPOSE TO MAKE THIS SCHOOL YEAR A SUCCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
YOUR JOB IS INCREDIBLY CHALLENGING AND THE DEMANDS OF THE YEAR CAN WEIGH HEAVILY.
BUT THROUGH IT ALL, YOU CONTINUE TO SHOW UP WITH HEART, STRENGTH, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK." LAST MONTH, WE HAD OUR UNITY FAIR AND BELOW THIS, YOU'LL SEE SOME PICTURES.
AND I SAW YOU WENT IN THE DUNK TANK AND WE GOT DOGGED.
>> THANK YOU FOR SPARING ME AND NOT GOING OVER DOING IT AT ALL.
>> THEN SOME OF THE UPCOMING EVENTS THIS WEEK IS ALSO OUR TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK.
MAY 7, THERE'S THE TAM DINNER AT CALBORN AT 6:00 PM.
MAY 15 AT 6:00 PM, THERE'S A BAND CONCERT.
MAY 16 AT 6:00 PM, SENIOR SUNSET.
I'M HOPING IT'S REALLY GOOD. IT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.
THEN MAY 19 AT 6:00 PM, WE'LL HAVE THE CHOIR SPRING CONCERT.
MAY 20 AT 6:00 PM, CLASS OF 2025, WE'LL HAVE THEIR SCHOLARSHIP NIGHT.
MAY 21 AT 6:00 PM, THERE WILL BE A SPORTS AWARDS CEREMONY FOR THE SENIORS.
AND THEN MAY 22 AT 6:00 PM, THE CLASS OF 2025 WILL HAVE THEIR NORMAL, SENIOR AWARDS NIGHT.
MAY 28, THE SENIORS WILL HAVE THEIR GRADUATION PRACTICE AND MAY 29, THEY'LL FINALLY GRADUATE AT 6:00 PM. THEY'RE LUCKY.
LAST MONTH, CCTC WAS EXCITED TO JOIN FORCES WITH NCHS AT THE UNITY FAIR, AND THERE WAS A LOT OF COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND DO.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE.
I WAS SURPRISED THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE.
ON MAY 9, FSA WILL HAVE THEIR ANNUAL BONQUET.
ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER DAYS HAVE BEGUN AND HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY, AND LASTLY, COLONEL RICHARDSON AND NCHS SENIOR AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIP NIGHTS.
AND THEN THERE'S PICTURES ON THE SLIDE.
THOSE ARE PICTURES FROM THE UNITY FAIR.
THERE'S MR. SPIKER IN THE CORNER.
THAT WAS A GREAT PICTURE, SO I HAD TO PUT IN THERE.
AND THEN SOME OF THE GIRLS THEY WORE THEIR QUINCEANERA DRESSES.
THEY LOOKED SO PRETTY. AND THEN THERE'S OTHER POSTERS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
I USED A TRINIDAD ONE BECAUSE MY MOM'S FROM TRINIDAD.
AND THEN THERE WERE SOME FOR PRIDE AND STUFF.
THERE'S A PICTURE OF ME AND MY FAVORITE TEACHER IN THE CORNER, AND I HAD ON [INAUDIBLE].
>> STARTING OFF WITH PRESTON ELEMENTARY, THEY HAD BREAKFAST WITH BUDDIES.
LAST MONTH THEY DID KINDERGARTEN THROUGH SECOND GRADE THIS MONTH, THEY DID THIRD GRADE THROUGH FIFTH GRADE.
THEY HAD A STEM ASSEMBLY WITH INTERACTIVE DEMONSTRATIONS AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES.
THEY HAD A FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK.
IT INCLUDED DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS, DISCUSSIONS, AND HANDS ON ACTIVITIES WHERE THEY COULD LEARN ABOUT HOW TO CONSERVE FOOD BETTER, HOW TO DISPOSE OF IT BETTER, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
[00:45:03]
THEY HAD A PETTING ZOO, TONS OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS, EARTH DAY CELEBRATION WITH THEIR SCHOOL BUDDIES, COMING UP NEXT MONTH.THE BOOK CLUB CROCHET AND SCIENCE CLUB WILL MEET.
MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU WAS MONDAY.
MAY 5TH-9TH, TEACHER AND STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
MAY 13, THE SHORE BIRDS FIELD TRIP.
MAY 14, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR SPRING CONCERT.
MAY 23, THEY'LL HAVE CAREER DAY.
MAY 27, COLONEL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WILL WALK THROUGH THE HALLWAY.
MAY 30, THEY'LL HAVE FIELD DAY, AND MAY 31ST, THEY'LL HAVE THEIR PTO PANTHER SPRING FEST.
AT FEDERALSBURG ELEMENTARY, MISS BROHAN SAYS SPRING HAS SPRUNG AND THE FALCONS ARE FLYING HIGH AT FES.
LAST MONTH, MCAP TESTING BEGAN.
STUDENTS WERE CONTINUING TO BECOME MATHLETES.
READERS EARN TO TOKENS FOR BOOK BENDING MACHINES, AND THEY HAD HIT THE BOOKS NIGHT AT SHOREBIRD STADIUM.
COMING UP NEXT MONTH, TESTING WILL CONTINUE.
THEY'RE CELEBRATING STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK.
THEY'LL HAVE DIFFERENT FIELD TRIPS.
THEY'LL HAVE CONCERTS FOR ORCHESTRA CHORUS AND BAND, AND THEY'LL HAVE THEIR SUMMER SAFETY EVENT.
DR. HOLLOWAY SAYS, "CRMS FINISHED STRONG AND IS GOING INTO MAY WITH LOTS OF EXCITEMENT.
WE'RE ASKING OUR STUDENTS IF THEY ARE UP TO THE 40 DAY CHALLENGE." I WAS REALLY EXCITED I ASKED HER FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
BUT STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE 94% ATTENDANCE FOR THE WHOLE YEAR TO GET THE 40 DAY CHALLENGE OR IN THE LAST 40 DAYS, THEY HAVE TO HAVE A 100% ATTENDANCE.
ON THE LAST DAY, THEY'LL EARN A CORNER ICE AND GAMING FUND.
LAST MONTH, THE STAFF WAS TREATED TO PETE'S PIZZA BY BRIDGE COMMUNITY CHURCH.
THEY KICKED OFF THE 40 DAY CHALLENGE.
COMING UP NEXT MONTH, MAY FIFTH AND SIXTH WILL BE MCAP TESTING FOR MATH.
MAY 15 IS THEIR BAND AND ORCHESTRA CONCERT.
MAY 23 IS THEIR FIELD DAY AND PARKING LOT PARTY, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE A FIELD TRIP TO DC.
FOR COLONEL, LAST MONTH, THEY HAD ASPAB TESTING.
MR. CHEZAM WAS TEACHER OF THE YEAR FINALIST AND MISS ENNIS WAS SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR FINALIST.
THEY HAD THEIR PRODUCTION OF JOSEPH AND THE M AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAM COAT.
THEY HAD THE FIRST CRHS EGG HUT.
WE HAD PROM AND THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE LUGAS NAGLE 5K COLOR RUN, BUT THAT WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SIGNED UP AND THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TEACHER HELP, BUT THEY'RE HOPING TO DO IT THIS MONTH.
HOPEFULLY, THERE'S MORE PEOPLE TO HELP.
COMING UP THIS MONTH, WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF AP TESTING.
MAY 9, THIS TRACTOR DAY, SENIOR AWARDS, ATHLETIC AWARDS, AND GRADUATION.
>> SOUNDS LIKE THE SCHOOLS ARE BUSY, AND ABOUT TO GET BUSIER.
>> SO I'M GOING TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY, AND I'M GOING TO MAJOR IN CHEMISTRY, AND I WANT TO BE ON THE PRE-MED PATH AND EVENTUALLY GO TO BOSTON'S MEDICAL SCHOOL TO BECOME A DOCTOR.
>> AWESOME. THAT IS FANTASTIC.
>> WE HAVE A [INAUDIBLE] CONNECTION.
>> SO WE'VE ALREADY COME FROM TEACHER AND YOU'RE FINDING A DOCTOR YOU CAN PICK UP AND IT GOT WORSE.
>> THAT WAS MORE EXCITING. THEY'RE IMPORTANT IN THE SHUFFLE BOARD COMMUNITY.
[00:50:01]
I HAVE A BUNCH OF AP STUDYING TO DO.
>> WE HAD A FULL NIGHT OF PRESENTATIONS THAT WERE ALL IN RECOGNITION THAT WERE ALL WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.
AS WE MOVE INTO OUR NEXT SECTION CONSENT AGENDA, WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] WE'LL PRESENT EACH [INAUDIBLE] ONCE WE GO THROUGH ALL THE RECORDS.
>> PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT'S PERSONNEL AGENDA INCLUDES FOUR RESIGNATIONS.
THEN THE ADDENDUM, WHICH WAS ADDED, INCLUDES TWO MORE RESIGNATIONS AND ONE LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
>> [INAUDIBLE] HAS THE NEXT ITEM.
>> PRESIDENT WAYMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
[3. Consent Agenda]
FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA, A PIGGYBACK CONTRACT IS BEFORE YOU FROM THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR HILLIARD BUSINESS SOLUTION, 25-003, RETRO BACK TO AUGUST 21 OF 2024.THE SERVICE COST OF THIS CONTRACT IS $369,153 THROUGH AUGUST OF 2029.
INITIALLY, THIS CONTRACT WAS DESIGNED TO CONSOLIDATE ESSENTIALLY THREE CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS OVER A SPAN OF TIME OF THREE YEARS, TRYING TO CONSOLIDATE DOWN TO ONE FOR BETTER EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THE OPERATION DIVISION WHILE MINIMIZING PAYMENT BILLINGS FROM THE FINANCE DIVISION.
INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CONTRACT HAD BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.
THE FISCAL IMPACT IS $6,152.55 PER MONTH.
PAST STAFF MEMBERS, CURRENT [INAUDIBLE] AGENT, AND THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS CONTRACT CONSOLIDATION TASK. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU. WE NOW NEED APPROVAL FOR OUR APRIL 1ST AND APRIL 15TH MEETINGS, APPROVAL OF MINUTES.
>> I MAKE A MOTION WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
>> WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE INDIVIDUAL ACTION ITEMS.
[4. Individual Action Items]
BEGIN WITH DR. SIMMONS WITH TWO ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.>> CERTAINLY. THANK YOU, MS. WAYMAN.
I'M GOING TO PASS THE FIRST ONE TO MR. WALDASH [PHONETIC], WHO WAS EXCITED TO BE HERE THIS EVENING FOR AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR OUR COORDINATOR OF NETWORK SERVICES.
>> PRESIDENT WAYMAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. SIMMONS.
I'M SORRY. I MESS IT UP EVERY TIME I COME TO THIS PODIUM. I CAN'T GET IT RIGHT.
THIS EVENING I'M SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW COORDINATOR NETWORK SERVICES.
AS MANY OF YOU GUYS KNOW, MARK HOFFMAN [PHONETIC], WHO SERVED IN THE ROLE FOR 31 YEARS.
MARK HAS BEEN HERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT, REALLY BUILDING THOSE SYSTEMS FROM THE FOUNDATION.
IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOUND SOMEONE TO FILL THOSE SHOES.
STARTING IN APRIL, WE PUT TOGETHER A COMMITTEE AND INTERVIEW CANDIDATES.
DURING THIS CANDIDATE INTERVIEW PROCESS, ONE PERSON REALLY STOOD OUT, AND THAT IS NICHOLAS LYLES, ALSO KNOWN AS NICK.
HE SAID, DON'T CALL HIM NICHOLAS BECAUSE HIS MOM DOES.
WHAT REALLY DREW THE COMMITTEE TO NICK WAS HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE, OPEN-ENDED CONVERSATIONS ON THE INTERVIEW, VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COMMUNITY, AND THEN THE TECH PIECE, WHICH IS CRITICAL FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE IN A CRITICAL JUNCTION.
WE THOUGHT HE WOULD BE EXCEPTIONAL IN MARK'S POSITION AND REALLY HELP MOVE US FORWARD.
NICK IS CURRENTLY IT MANAGER AT SISK FULFILLMENT, FREDERICKSBURG.
HE'S BEEN THERE ABOUT 15 YEARS.
THIS IS REALLY WHERE HE'S INVOLVED IN IT LEVEL SYSTEMS, ENTERPRISE, LIKE PHONE SYSTEMS, WIFI, WAN NETWORKS, ALL VERY TECHNICAL TERMS, BUT THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO MOVE CAROLINE COUNTY ALONG, AND CYBERSECURITY.
NICK HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT.
ONE INTERESTING THING DURING THE INTERVIEW, HE NOTED THAT SAVING MONEY WAS A MAIN OBJECTIVE FOR HIM.
OUR PHILOSOPHY IN THE TECH DEPARTMENT IS HOW CAN WE GET THE SAME THINGS
[00:55:02]
DONE BY SAVING MONEY AND LOOKING AT IT FROM A VALUE PERSPECTIVE? IT CLICKED.NICK ALSO GRADUATED FROM SHORT LEADERSHIP AND SHORT LEADERSHIP 2.0.
HE ALSO SERVES AS THE BOARD PRESIDENT FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PARKS AND RECS CITIZEN ADVISORY BOARD.
HE'S ALSO A RESIDENT OF CAROLINE COUNTY WITH KIDS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND A WIFE THAT WORKS IN GREENSBORO, STEPHANIE AND BOTH NICK ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
JUST ALL THAT TOGETHER, THE TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE, THE DRIVE, THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT MADE NICK A GOOD CHOICE TO FILL THE SHOES OF MARK HOFFMAN.
WITH THAT SAID, BASED ON THOSE ITEMS, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE NICHOLAS LYLES AS OUR NEW NETWORK SERVICE COORDINATOR.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? SOUNDS LIKE MR. LYLES IS ANXIOUS TO GET STARTED HERE.
HE HAS A LOT THAT HE HAS TO BRING TO US AS CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE ASK FOR A MOTION THAT MR. LYLES BE ACCEPTED AS THE COORDINATOR OF NETWORK SERVICES.
>> SURE. I CAN DO THAT. I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MR. NICK LYLES AS THE NEW COORDINATOR OF NETWORK SERVICES.
>> CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE] NICK, THE BOARD WAS NICE, I'VE SEEN BEFORE, WHERE THE BOARD WILL SIT HERE FOR A WHILE.
[INAUDIBLE] LOOK AROUND LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO TO MAKE THEM SWEAT.
>> I KNOW. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH HIM, SO I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I NEEDED TO MAKE THEM SWEAT.
IF I DID [INAUDIBLE]. NICE TO SEE YOU. WELCOME.
>> WELCOME ABOARD. GLAD TO HAVE YOU.
>> FOR OUR NEXT ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT, MRS. ERICA MCDONALD, WILL BE COMING FORWARD FOR THE COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION APPOINTMENT THIS EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING. PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO BRING MS. PEGGY WHITMAN TO RESPECTFULLY RECOMMEND THAT SHE IS OUR SECOND COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, BUT I WANT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT HER AND ALSO ABOUT THE POSITION BECAUSE WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE TWO BUDGETED COORDINATOR POSITIONS.
LAST SPRING AROUND THIS TIME, WE DID OPEN UP APPLICATIONS AND WE DID SOME INTERVIEWS, BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE RIGHT FIT TO FILL THAT.
AS YOU KNOW, SPECIAL ED HAS MANY HATS, AND YOU CAN'T PUT SOMEONE IN THAT SEAT IF YOU'RE NOT 100% SURE, AND AT THE TIME, MS. WHITMAN APPLIED, BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE HER ADMIN YET, SO WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD, SO WE KEPT IT OPEN FOR A YEAR.
IF YOU SEE SOME BAGS UNDER MY EYES.
WE'VE BEEN RUNNING ONE SHORT, BUT IT'S OKAY.
LUCKY FOR US, THIS SCHOOL YEAR SHE DID COMPLETE HER POST GRADUATE COURSEWORK, SO SHE DOES HAVE HER ADMIN 1 CERTIFICATION.
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO OPEN THE POSITION AGAIN, SHE APPLIED AND SHE INTERVIEWED AND SO OUR COMMITTEE SELECTED HER AS THE CANDIDATE WHO WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR THE POSITION.
[01:00:01]
IF YOU DON'T KNOW MS. WHITMAN, SHE'S BEEN WITH CCPS SINCE 2009.SHE'S BEEN IN OUR SYSTEM FOR A WHILE, AND SHE PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT IN TALBOT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PRIOR TO [INAUDIBLE].
FROM 2009-2021, SHE SERVED AS A TEACHER HERE.
MOST RECENTLY, SINCE 2021, SHE HAS BEEN OUR TEACHER SPECIALIST SPECIFICALLY FOR SECONDARY TRANSITION.
SHE HAS SERVED ON A VARIETY OF COMMITTEES FOR MSDE, SUCH AS, THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR SECONDARY TRANSITION.
SHE WORKS AS A DIRECT LIAISON SPECIFICALLY TO THIS AREA.
ALSO, ON THE CTE COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE.
SHE HAS SERVED ON ESMEC AS A TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF OUR CCEA.
SHE HAS BEEN ON THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF CCEA.
SHE'S BEEN THE NEGOTIATIONS CO-CHAIR.
I'M REALLY TRYING TO TOOT YOUR HORN OVER THERE TO ARGUE CASE, BUT SHE'S WELL-KNOWN TO OUR STAFF AND OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS.
SHE'S INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING POST SECONDARY OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
I COME FROM MORE OF AN ELEMENTARY EARLY CHILDHOOD BACKGROUND WITH A LITTLE SPRINKLE OF SECONDARY.
IF I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT JOB OUT RATES, GRADUATION, COMPLIANCE WHEN IT COMES TO SECONDARY TRANSITION, PEGGY IS MY PERSON THAT I GO TO.
SHE DOES A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING FOR OUR STAFF.
SHE WORKS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
SHE HELPS WITH AGENCY LANGUAGES JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE SET UP FOR SUCCESS WHEN THEY GRADUATE, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO COLLEGE OR SETTING THEM UP FOR EMPLOYMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK IF YOU WOULD APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT TO THIS POSITION FOR HER.
THIS WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS? NO QUESTIONS. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE HAD A WHOLE LOT OF EXPERIENCE.
IT WILL BE GOOD FOR US TO HAVE YOU MOVE UP TO THIS POSITION AND COMPLIMENT THE ELEMENTARY WITH THE SECONDARY.
I THINK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD WE CAN SAY WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU.
>> I'LL MOTION THAT WE APPROVE PEGGY WHITMAN AS COORDINATOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
>> BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT PEGGY WHITMAN BE MOVED INTO THE POSITION OF COORDINATOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AS OF JULY 1, 2025. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> I [INAUDIBLE] FOR OUR STAFF APPRECIATION CELEBRATION NEXT WEEK.
IT'S NEXT THURSDAY AND ON CAROLINE AT SIX O'CLOCK. [INAUDIBLE]
>> PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TONIGHT I BRING TO YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL
[01:05:03]
THE FY26 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE ADMINISTRATORS AND SUPERVISORS ASSOCIATION OF CAROLINE COUNTY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ASACC.THE ASSOCIATION AND THE BOARD ENTER INTO A MEETING CONFER PROCESS EACH YEAR TO UPDATE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
THIS YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND COME TO A TABLE AGREEMENT LAST MONTH.
IT WAS PUT OUT TO THE MEMBERS OF ASACC FOR RATIFICATION AND IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY RATIFIED.
THE AGREEMENT INCLUDES A NEW PAY SCALE, AND THEN LANGUAGE THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS THUS FAR ABOUT RETIREE HEALTH BENEFITS.
I BRING THAT TO YOUR APPROVAL TONIGHT.
MS. CANTY [PHONETIC], WHO IS THE PRESIDENT OF ASACC IS HERE FOR SIGNATURE.
>> BOARD MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASACC, I'M SORRY.
ANY QUESTIONS? THEN LET'S HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE TO ACCEPT THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
>> SURE. I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ASACC 2025?
>> THERE YOU GO. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
>> ANY OPPOSED? SO CARRY LET'S GET ALL SIGNED.
[BACKGROUND] IT'S OKAY. GOT IT APPROVES, SO WE'RE GOOD. [BACKGROUND]
>> [BACKGROUND] GOOD EVENING AGAIN, BOARD MEMBERS.
I COME TO YOU SEEKING BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE PURCHASE OF 180 NETWORK-BASED ACCESS SECURITY CAMERAS FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT.
I'M ALWAYS A LITTLE NERVOUS WHEN I DO THIS FOR JASON BECAUSE THE STUFF IS VERY DETAILED.
TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW, BUT IT CAN GO VERY, VERY [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW. IT'S VERY DETAILED, SO HE'S MY WINGMAN.
THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A THREE-YEAR INITIATIVE TO REPLACE OUR AGING ANALOG AND EARLY DIGITAL SECURITY CAMERAS.
THESE NEW CAMERAS WOULD PROVIDE A HIGHER RESOLUTION AND CLEARER VIDEO FOOTAGE, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS TO IMAGE QUALITY, FIELD OF VIEW, LOW-LIGHT PERFORMANCE, AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION.
THESE CLUSTER CAMERAS WOULD CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE ACCESS CAMERA STATION PRO SERVERS PRESENT WITHIN THE SCHOOL BUILDING, ALLOWING FOR ENHANCED MONITORING, ROBUST FEATURE SUPPORT BY ADDING UPDATED MODERN FEATURES, AND ACCESS TO CCPS CAMERA SYSTEM.
IN-HOUSE INSTALLATION WOULD TAKE PLACE DURING A SUMMER TO AVOID DISRUPTION OF ANY INSTRUCTIONAL TIME.
THE COST OF THIS CAMERA PACKAGE IS $161,660.
THERE IS NO IMPACT TO THE CCPS BUDGET, AS THIS GRANT IS PROVIDED BY THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY AND IS FULLY FUNDED BY THAT GRANT. YOU GOT THAT UP THERE GOOD.
LET'S REVIEW, GO TO THE RESULTS PAGE.
THE BID PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURES
[01:10:03]
COMPLIED WITH THE BOARD POLICY IN APPLICABLE MARYLAND STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.AS YOU SEE UP THERE, THERE WERE THREE FORMALIZED BIDS THAT WERE SUBMITTED TO US.
WE ARE GOING TO TAKE DSR FOR THE LOWEST BID.
AGAIN, I SEEK THE BOARD'S APPROVAL TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO DSR FOR 180 CAMERAS FOR $161,660.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS BEFOREHAND?
>> DID DSR DO CAMERAS PREVIOUSLY?
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, CAN WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE [INAUDIBLE] FROM THE VENDOR OF DSR FOR $161,660.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE ACCEPT THE PROPOSAL FOR 180 CAMERAS FROM DSR. ALL IN FAVOR?
>> OPPOSED? THANK YOU, MR. MEL.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE [OVERLAPPING]
>> DR. WILBY WILL BE UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> KEEPING YOU BUSY, DR. WILBY.
>> YES, MA'AM. PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, TONIGHT, FOR POLICY WORK, WE BRING TO YOU SOME POLICIES HAVING TO DO WITH OUR FINANCE OFFICE, TWO FOR UPDATE, AND TWO RECOMMENDED FOR RETIREMENT.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE'LL TALK DRESS CODE AT THE END OF THAT.
TO START, WE HAVE TWO POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN REVISED IN FORMAT TO BRING THEM UP TO DATE.
YOU HAVE THE RED LINE VERSIONS IN FRONT OF YOU AND ALSO PROVIDED ON THE SCREEN.
THE FIRST IS A POLICY ON THE INVESTMENT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDS THAT TALKS ABOUT THE SCRUTINY THAT SHOULD BE MADE WHEN WE ARE INVESTING SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDS AND WHAT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WE ARE ALLOWED TO BE INVOLVED IN.
FOR THIS ONE, LARGELY, THE CHANGES WERE TAKEN COMPTROLLER AND TURNING IT INTO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, BECAUSE THAT IS THE POSITION THAT WILL BE OVERSEEING THIS AT THIS TIME, UPDATING THE ETHICS PIECE OF THIS POLICY TO SAY THAT ANYONE INVOLVED IS SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR ETHICS POLICY AS WELL AS THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AROUND ETHICS, AND REALLY JUST BRINGING IT UP TO DATE.
WHAT WE DO HAVE AT THE VERY, VERY END IS SOME CHANGES IN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WAS FROM 1995, LIKE IT REFERENCED SUBMITTING THINGS TO THE COUNTY TREASURER.
CAROLINE COUNTY NO LONGER HAS A COUNTY TREASURER.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT POSITION ANYMORE, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
JUST A GENERAL STATEMENT OF REPORTS WOULD BE CREATED, MADE AVAILABLE, AND THEN WOULD BE SUBMITTED AS NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH COUNTY AND STATE LAWS.
JUST TO BRING THAT AGAIN UP TO PAR.
MS. HIGNOT DID THE REVISIONS TO THIS POLICY, AND IT DOES MATCH OUR CURRENT PRACTICE.
ALL OF OUR INVESTMENTS ARE WITH THE MARYLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT POOL, WHICH IS THE PRODUCT THAT WE THAT WE USE THAT THEY HAVE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT MEETS ALL OF THIS AS WELL.
>> YES, MA'AM. BIDDING AUDITING SERVICES? ABSOLUTELY. THIS IS AGAIN A POLICY THAT WAS WRITTEN IN 1989.
IT TALKS ABOUT BIDDING AUDITING SERVICES AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS.
WHAT WE DID TO BRING THIS UP TO DATE IS IT TALKED ABOUT AUDITING FIRMS THAT MAINTAIN A PLACE OF BUSINESS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
WE'VE CHANGED THAT ON THE EASTERN SHORE; FRANKLY, THERE ARE NONE IN CAROLINE COUNTY ANYMORE.
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED SINCE 1989, AND WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT BIDDING GUIDELINES THAT THE BOARD MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COOPERATIVE OF PIGGYBACK BIDS AS APPROPRIATE, AND BID APPROVAL IS, OF COURSE, ALWAYS SUBJECT TO YOUR PURCHASING POLICY, AS WITH ANY OTHER PURCHASE THAT WOULD BE DONE.
JUST TO BRING THAT UP, THE ONLY AUDITING FIRM ON THE EASTERN SHORE ONLY OR ONE OF THE ONLY, I CAN'T REMEMBER.
>> FOR BOARDS OF EDUCATION IS OUR CURRENT AUDITING FIRM IN SALISBURY.
WE CERTAINLY WOULD GIVE THEM NOTICE OF BID, BUT WE COULD ALSO OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT WE WOULD DO THAT ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS. QUESTIONS ON THAT?
[01:15:12]
>> [INAUDIBLE] BIDDING SCHOOL, SYSTEM AUDITIN, G SERVICES AND INVESTMENTS.
>> I MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE REVISIONS TO BOTH OF THESE POLICIES, THE INVESTMENT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDS, AND BIDDING SCHOOL SYSTEM AUDITING SERVICES.
>> ANY OPPOSE? THANK YOU, DR. WILBY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. I GOT A COUPLE WARS.
HE WANT ME TO ROLL. YOU WANT ME TO KEEP GOING?
>> HE'S GOT RETIREMENT POLICIES OF BANKING SERVICES.
>> TWO FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FOR RETIREMENT, AND WE'D LIKE TO EXPLAIN THE REASON WHY THEY ARE BIDDING SCHOOL SYSTEM BANKING SERVICES AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING FIRST, IF I CAN.
DESPITE BEING CALLED THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING POLICY, IT REALLY IS A POLICY THAT TALKS ABOUT SCHOOL FUNDS AND THE ACCOUNTING OF SCHOOL FUNDS.
THIS WAS WRITTEN, I BELIEVE, WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, I THINK IT WAS BACK IN THE '80S.
I DON'T HAVE THE DATE WRITTEN DOWN.
THIS WAS BEFORE WE HAD PROBABLY EVEN A FULL-FLEDGED FINANCE OFFICE, LET ALONE A POSITION THAT DOES INTERNAL AUDITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE DO NOW.
THIS TALKS ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH AN AUDITING FIRM. WE ARE NOT DOING THAT.
OUR AUDITOR, THAT WE ENGAGE WITH EACH YEAR DOES SELECT SCHOOL FUND ACCOUNTS AT RANDOM TO SPOT AUDIT, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER HANDLE ON ALL OF THAT THROUGH OUR NORMAL FINANCIAL OFFICE'S POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
THIS POLICY IS ONE OF THOSE THAT WAS ON THE BOOKS, BUT IT'S NOT OUR CURRENT PRACTICE, AND IT REALLY ISN'T FEASIBLE AT THIS POINT TO CONTINUE.
I KNOW IT SOUNDS FUNNY TO SAY LET'S RETIRE THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING POLICY, BUT IT REALLY HAD VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING AND MORE OF SCHOOL SYSTEM FUNDS THAT ARE HELD AT THE SCHOOL AND THEIR AUDITING, WHICH IS PART OF OUR LARGER AUDITING PRACTICE.
THE SECOND ONE HAS TO DO WITH BIDDING OF SCHOOL SYSTEM BANKING SERVICES.
WELL, YOU JUST SAID WE'RE GOING TO BID AUDITING SERVICES EVERY BY, WHY ARE WE HIRING THE BANKING SERVICES PIECE? BANKING IS DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS WHEN THIS POLICY WAS WRITTEN.
IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THIS SECOND, WERE TO DECIDE TO CHANGE ITS BANK, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIND A BANK THAT IS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS BUDGET AND THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AT ANY GIVEN TIME WE MIGHT HAVE ON DEPOSIT.
THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS A LITTLE BIT OF A FEE.
SECONDLY, BECAUSE OF THE ADVENT OF ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE YOU OR I CHANGING OUR HOUSEHOLD CHECKING ACCOUNT.
THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE TO COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT COULD, FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME, CAUSE DISRUPTION TO THE FINANCIAL OFFICE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE REALITY OF IT IS OUR CURRENT VENDOR CHARGES NO FEES AT ALL FOR BANKING.
IF WE TOOK AT THE AUDIT, WE'D BE LOOKING FOR AND SOMEONE MATCH FREE.
I'M SORRY, I TOOK AT THE BID, AND IF THEY WERE TO EVER SAY TO US, WE NOW ARE GOING TO START CHARGING, THEN WE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY WANT TO GO BACK AND GO TO BID AND LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A CHANGE OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
BUT THE REQUIREMENT TO PUT IT TO BID EVERY FIVE YEARS, SIMPLY TO PUT IT TO BID, IS NOT FEASIBLE ANY LONGER.
THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE RECOMMENDATION FOR RETIRING THAT POLICY.
LIKE I SAID, IF YOU OR I CHANGE OUR HOUSEHOLD CHECKING ACCOUNT, WE JUST MAKE SURE WE DON'T WRITE CHECKS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS OUT OF THIS ACCOUNT, AND THEN WE CHANGE OUR ROUTING NUMBERS, BUT EVEN THAT RIGHT NOW WITH THE ADVENT OF ONLINE BILL PAY AND THINGS IS MORE THAN A NOTION.
RUNNING $105 MILLION SCHOOL SYSTEM BUDGET AND MAKING THAT CHANGE IS PROBABLY WEEKS, IF NOT MONTHS INTERRUPTION IN HOW WE DO THINGS.
THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, WE'D BE DOING IT JUST TO DO IT IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT? THEN YOU NEED A MOTION FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BANKING SERVICES AND THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING, AS EXPLAINED BY DR. WILBY.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RETIRE,
[01:20:03]
LET'S SAY 110-20 AND 120-30.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DR. WILBY.
>> THANK YOU AGAIN TO MS. HIGNOT FOR WORKING THROUGH THE REVISIONS.
ANYTIME WE HAVE A POLICY THAT IS A SUBJECT AREA THAT ISN'T MINE, THAT OFFICE TAKES THAT.
THANK YOU FOR WORKING THROUGH THAT AND GOING FROM THERE.
SPEAKING OF, WHEN THERE'S A POLICY WITH AN OFFICE THAT ISN'T MINE.
MR. HOWE HAS COME BACK TO THE PODIUM BECAUSE WE HAVE OUR FOURTH READING TONIGHT OF THE DRESS CODE POLICY.
AS YOU KNOW, LAST MONTH, WE DID PUT THE REVISED POLICY OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
MR. HOWE HAS RECEIVED THOSE COMMENTS AND FORWARDED THEM.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM, BUT AT THIS POINT, IT IS INTRODUCED FOR FOURTH READING AND POTENTIAL APPROVAL.
>> HE CAME UP PRETTY HAPPY, SO I GUESS HE'S REALLY GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AS DOCTOR WILBY STATED, THIS HAS BEEN PUT OUT FOR FOURTH READING, WHICH I THINK SHOWS THE EFFORTS WE MADE TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS AWARE AND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON ALL OF THE COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED, SHARED WITH PK LAWS.
THEY DID A REVISION TO SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF THE POLICY TO MAKE SURE WE WERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH ALL STATE FEDERAL LAWS.
WE WERE ABLE TO DISCERN THAT ALL OF THE CONCERNS WERE ADDRESSED APPROPRIATELY WITH THE POLICY AS WRITTEN.
WE'RE RESPECTFULLY ASKING THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH ADDRESS CODE POLICY, THAT IT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FULLY FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
>> LET ME THANK YOU, DR. HOWARD, BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A PROCESS.
BUT I THINK WHEN YOU GET THE END RESULT, AND THE PARENTS ARE HAPPY AND STUDENTS ARE HAPPY, AND YOU'RE ALL HAPPY.
>> IT WAS REALLY A LABOR OF GETTING AS MUCH INPUT AS WE CAN.
I THINK IT REALLY SHOWED A VERY FAIR AND IMPARTIAL PROCESS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS HEARD.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? CAN WE HAVE A MOTION, PLEASE, TO ACCEPT OUR DRESS CODE POLICY AS PRESENTED?
>> I MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE DRESS CODE POLICY AS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
>> IT'S BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT OUR DRESS CODE POLICY, THE FOURTH READING, ALL BE ACCEPTED.
>> IT REALLY MEAN I CAN'T WEAR BEDROOM FLIPPERS TO THE BOARD ROOM.
>> ANY OPPOSED? [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NOW, WE HAVE AN OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIP BEFORE US.
>> DR. DANIELS HAS TAKEN A LEAVE IN THIS ONE.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, BOARD MEMBERS.
THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA REQUEST APPROVAL TO ATTEND THE STATE FFA CONVENTION IN MCHENRY, MARYLAND.
THAT IS MORE FAMILIARITY THE WISP RESORT, WHICH IS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE GOING.
THEY'RE ATTENDING THE CONVENTION OF PARTICIPATING IN WORKSHOPS RELATED TO THEIR INDUSTRY, AND THEY'RE AIM OF DEVELOPING THE STUDENTS' LEADERSHIP SKILLS THAT ARE CRUCIAL TO THEIR SUCCESSES DOWN THE ROAD.
SOME STUDENTS WILL ALSO RECEIVE AWARDS WHILE THEY'RE THERE.
THEY'RE ASKING FOR PERMISSION TO ATTEND AT THE WISP RESORT THE CONVENTION ON JUNE 22 TO THE 26.
>> ANY QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS?
>> NO QUESTIONS. THEY'VE GONE BEFORE.
THE FFA HELPS RAISE FUNDS THROUGH THEIR [INAUDIBLE] HELP DEFER COSTS AS WELL.
BECAUSE THE TRIP EXCEEDS THE NUMBER OF DAYS, IT GOES TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL, AND I SUPPORTED THEIR REQUESTS. THEY DO A GREAT JOB.
>> WE DO HAVE 20 STUDENTS GOING.
THE PERKINS GRANT WILL ALSO BE SUPPORTING THIS AS WELL.
>> GREAT. CAN WE GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIELD TRIP FOR JUNE 22 THROUGH 26 FOR FFA STUDENTS?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE [INAUDIBLE]
>> OPPOSED? SO CARRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR REPORTS,
[5. Reports and Presentations]
BEGINNING WITH PRE-K UPDATE.>> MISS SAYLOR WILL BE BRINGING THIS UPDATE TONIGHT BECAUSE IT IS PRE-K ENROLLMENT SEASON, AND THERE'S A LITTLE CHANGE TO PRE-K FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THAT'LL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO INFORM THE BOARD OF WHAT'S CHANGED FROM THE STATE FRONT.
THAT WILL BRING SOME CHANGES TO CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT ENROLLMENT, BUT ALSO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN PRE-K,
[01:25:03]
OR SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WE JUST WENT THROUGH.HOPEFULLY, YOU'LL ENJOY SOME OF THE SNEAK PEAKS OF THINGS THAT YOU'LL GET TO SEE.
JUST TO RECAP WHERE WE ARE THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
WE HAVE 25 PRE-K TEACHERS THAT SUPPORT 23 CLASSROOMS AND TWO MULTILINGUAL ML TEACHERS AT GREENSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE HAVE 31 INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS, EIGHT TUTORS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER SPECIALIST, AND MYSELF AS THE SUPERVISOR.
>> WE ARE SERVING IN PRE-K3, 76 STUDENTS OUT OF OUR 80 SLOTS THAT WE HAVE, AND THAT'S OVER FOUR CLASSROOMS. THEN IN PRE-K4, WE HAVE 244 STUDENTS OUT OF OUR 340 SLOTS AND 19 CLASSROOMS. ONE OF THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS THAT WE HAVE ON THAT IS JUST PICTURES FROM OUR WEEK OF THE CHILD CELEBRATION THAT WE DID APRIL 5 THROUGH 11TH.
EVERY DAY, WE HAD A SPECIAL EVENT GOING ON.
MONDAY WAS MASKED MONDAY, SO YOU CAN SEE THE KIDS IN THE CORNER WITH THEIR MASK ON.
WE'VE GOT PRE-K3 CLASS IN THE MIDDLE.
SOMEONE'S TRYING ON A FAMILY MEMBERS FIRE HELMET, AND THEN WORK OUT WEDNESDAY, YOU'LL SEE WE GET TO TAKE OUR OBSTACLE COURSE OUTSIDE.
THEN WE ALSO HAD ARTS THURSDAY, SO THE KIDS GOT TO MAKE A CRAFT, SOME WITH HANDS, SOME WITH JUST USING THEIR IMAGINATION, WHATEVER THEY CHOSE TO DO.
THEN FINALLY ON FRIDAY, WE HAD FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY.
THE CLASS IN THE MIDDLE ARE PRE-K3 AT THE TOP THERE MADE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS.
THAT WAS A POPULAR THEME IN ALL OF OUR CLASSES.
>> MISS JOHNSON SAID THEY DID NEED PEACE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'D BE AMAZED AT SOME OF THOSE THREE YEAR OLDS AND THE SKILLS THEY HAVE.
ALL GOOD NEWS, AND SAFETY WAS THERE, TOO.
WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS SHOW YOU WHERE WE ARE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND THEN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.
FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE ARE FUNDED THROUGH BLUEPRINT FUNDING.
JUST TO KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL OF OUR FUNDING IS BASED ON THE 930 COUNT THE YEAR BEFORE.
WE ALSO FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON TIER I FAMILIES THIS YEAR, SO THAT'S FAMILIES THAT FALL IN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL UP TO 300%.
WE ALSO WROTE FOR THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT, WHICH INCLUDED ADDING 37 SLOTS OR SEATS.
THEN WITH BLUEPRINT IN THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT, WE ALSO LOOK AT SERVING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, AND STUDENTS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
YOU'LL SEE THAT MOST OF THE INFORMATION FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 IS THE SAME, EXCEPT WE DO HAVE SOMETHING HIGHLIGHTED THERE THAT IS DIFFERENT AND THAT IS TIER II.
NEXT YEAR, WE WILL BE GOING THROUGH WITH TIER II, WHICH MEANS THAT WE SERVE FAMILIES WITH A FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL THAT FALLS IN THE 301-360%.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, WHAT WE'LL LOOK AT AND I BELIEVE IT'S ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
WE WANT TO SWITCH OVER A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH TIER II.
THROUGH BLUEPRINT, ONCE WE START IMPLEMENTING TIER II, SCHOOL SYSTEMS CAN MAKE THE DECISION TO CHARGE FAMILIES A SLIDING SCALE TO COME TO PRE-K. WHAT WE DID THIS YEAR IS WE HAD A WORK GROUP THAT CONSISTED OF PRINCIPALS, ADMINISTRATORS, FRIENDS FROM THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND SO FORTH, AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE CAME TOGETHER TO REALLY LOOK AT WHAT THAT MEANT IF WE CHOSE TO IMPLEMENT TIER II.
BASED ON THAT, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE NOT TO COLLECT THE SLIDING SCALE NEXT YEAR.
MEANING FAMILIES THAT WOULD FALL INTO THAT TIER II CATEGORY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME TO PRE-K IF THEY'RE SPACE.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WE WOULD FILL PRE-K SLOTS WITH TIER I FAMILIES AND THEN ANY REMAINING SLOTS WOULD BE OPENED UP TO TIER II FAMILIES.
>> AS THE BOARD MAY RECALL WITH BLUEPRINT.
THE STATE IS SLOWLY RAMPING UP TIER II.
THIS IS THEIR FIRST KIND OF DIP IN THE TOE IN THE WATER.
THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF TIER II COMING IN, AND AS MISS SAYLOR MENTIONED WHEN WE LOOKED AT IT, THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS THAT YOU COULD REQUEST TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN STATE FUNDING FOR BLUEPRINT AND THE TIER II FAMILY SMALL.
JUICEE ISN'T WORK THE SQUEEZE OR THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT WOULD PUT ON THE FINANCE OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THE BILLING.
IF THE STATE MOVES FORWARD WITH TIER II FOR A FULL TIER II IMPLEMENTATION, WHICH IS A MUCH WIDER.
AT THAT POINT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD REALLY NEED TO DIG INTO TO TRY TO LOOK AT AS WE EXPAND, BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT GOING TO TIER II JUST THIS INCREASE AND MISS SAYLOR TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, ROUGHLY THE INCOME LEVEL THAT FALLS FAMILY TWO KIDS?
>> YOU REALLY ARE PUTTING THE OPPOSITE.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T WANT TO MISSPEAK THAT I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FOR YOU.
>> IT DEFINITELY OPENS UP A WIDER SWAP FOR FAMILIES IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
[01:30:01]
JUST THAT INCREASE IN TIER II REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT WOULD QUALIFY TO GIVE US THE 70 STUDENTS TO PRE-K HERE WITH THE SPOTS BEING AVAILABLE SO SHOULD BE HELPFUL FOR SOME FAMILIES AS WELL, A FAMILY.>> IF THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS THAT APPLY FOR TIER II SPOTS, THAN THERE ARE SPOTS, HOW WILL THE STUDENTS BE SELECTED?
>> WE WILL GO ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
WHOEVER'S APPLICATIONS GET IN FIRST AND GO THAT WAY, RESPONSE AVAILABLE.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO SWAP SPACES FOR TIER I, TIER II OR THAT DESIGNATED TIER I HAS TO BE THAT TIER?
>> CORRECT. TIER I IS THE TOP PRIORITY.
>> WE'LL HAVE TO SELECT THE DATE BY WHICH THE LINE IS DRAWN FOR TIER I AND WE WELCOME THEN TIER II.
THEN AT THAT POINT, WE START WORKING DOWN THE LIST?
>> BUT AS PART OF IT WITH PRE-K AS WE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUSLY, THE N WILL BECOME FULL.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MUCH SPACE THAT WE CAN CONVERT TO PRE-K CLASSROOMS. I KNOW MISS SAYLOR CAN TALK ABOUT THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT AND WHERE WE ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR.
BUT WE ARE JUST ABOUT OUT OF SPACE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL PRE-K CLASSROOMS THEMSELVES, BUT WE DO HAVE ROOM IN THE CLASSROOM THIS YEAR THAT THE TIER II WILL HELP US FILL.
>> THEN WE WILL GO TO A WAITING LIST AS WELL IF THERE ARE KIDS THAT HAVE TO REFILL ALL THE SPOTS.
>> OUR CAT IS BASED ON OUR SPACE.
>> IT'S BASED ON THE GRANT RULES OR THE STATE RULE, WHICH IS NO MORE THAN 20 TIMES A ROOM.
TEN THE NUMBER OF ROOMS WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
>> DR. SIMMONS, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I COULD PULL IT UP REALLY QUICKLY.
>> FOR A FAMILY OF TWO OF THE 300% POVERTY LEVEL MARK IS AROUND $63,000 ANNUALLY, 360 IS PROBABLY AROUND 75 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IT'S 96 AND PROBABLY CAPS OUT SOMEWHERE AROUND 100 OR 105.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. IT OPENS THE DOOR.
IT OPENS THE DOOR A LOT FOR FAMILIES IN NEW CAROLINE THAT WOULD QUALIFY FOR YEAR 2.
IN A WAY THAT VERY HELPFUL PROVIDED WE HAVE SPACE, BUT IT WILL DEFINITELY FILL THE ROOMS.
>> IS THERE A PRIORITY LIST BASED ON THE HOMELESS, MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND ENTRY?
>> THEY ALL FALL INTO THAT TIER I CATEGORY.
>> THEN IT BECOMES FIRST COME FIRST SERVE.
>> I THINK I KNOW THIS, BUT JUST TO POINT IT OUT AGAIN.
THERE WAS STILL SOME ROOM FOR TIER I THIS YEAR.
>> THE ONLY PRE-K3, WE HAD TO DO A WAIT LIST JUST BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE LIMITED SPOTS WITH ONLY ONE CLASSROOM.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, EVERYONE GOT INTO THOSE TIER I.
>> THERE FOUR YEARS IN SCHOOL.
>> THE OTHER BIG PIECE IS THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT.
OUR HOPE, I WROTE THE GRANT, WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR APPROVAL OF THE GRANT, BUT WE'RE FEELING CONFIDENT JUST BECAUSE THE GOAL OF THE PRE-K EXPANSION GRANT IS TO EXPAND PRE-K. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TO EXPAND PRE-K3.
FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE'VE HAD PRE-K3 IN EVERY BUILDING EXCEPT DENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, BUT I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT WE ARE SHIFTING AND ADDING A CLASSROOM IN DENTON.
WE'LL BE ABLE INSTEAD OF OUR KIDS GOING FROM PRESTON OR ORIGINALLY BASED ON WHERE THEY LIVE IN OPEN SPACE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO BE SERVED IN THEIR HOME SCHOOL.
THEN WE ARE BRANCHING INTO A SECOND PRE-K3 CLASSROOM AT FEDERALSBURG.
THEN JUST SO YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, OUR PRE-K3 PROGRAM AT GREENSBORO AND AT FEDERAL HOSBURG, BOTH OF THEM ARE HOUSED AT THE JD CENTER EARLY LEARNING HUBS.
WE HAVE SOME SPACE THERE THAT WE CAN EXPAND CLASSROOMS. WITH ADDING THOSE TWO CLASSROOMS, WE WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE TWO CLASSROOM TEACHERS AND FOUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.
PRE-K3 ROOMS HAVE THE TEACHER AND THEN TWO FULL TIME INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS.
ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GRANT IS THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO ADULTS.
IF THERE'S 20 KIDS, WE NEED TWO ADULTS, AND IT'S JUST EASIER WITH THE LITTLE GUYS SO WE HAVE THAT EXTRA PERSON IN THEIR FULL TIME.
SOME OF THE OTHER HIGHLIGHTS REAL QUICK, JUST FOR ENROLLMENT.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR IS WE WERE ABLE TO OPEN EARLIER.
TYPICALLY, WE FALL THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF APRIL, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH IT TO MARCH.
THIS WAY, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROCESSING TIME FOR OUR ENROLLMENT SECRETARIES.
SECRETARIES ARE CURRENTLY PROCESSING APPLICATIONS.
THEN BEGINNING IN JUNE, FAMILIES WILL BE NOTIFIED IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PRE-K, IF THEY'RE ON THE WAIT LIST, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THOSE TWO- TIER II FAMILIES OR IF THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PRE-K.
[01:35:04]
>> WHAT DOES THE DEADLINE TAKING APPLICATIONS UNTIL?
>> IT'S JUST GOING TO BE THAT FIRST COME AND THE WAY THAT AN APPLICATION GETS PROCESSED IS ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS ARE THERE.
THAT MEANS EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PRESENT TO GO.
>> DO YOU ALL ASSIST WITH THEM GETTING DOCUMENTS IF NEEDED?
>> WE DO. IF THEY'RE A FAMILY THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY A JD CENTER, THAT'S A RESOURCE AS WELL.
>> WHEN SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT THE GRANT RELEASING?
>> I WAS IN A STATE MEETING LAST WEEK AND THEY SAID BY THE 15TH, HOPEFULLY.
>> WE HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS HAVE ENCOURAGED THE STATE TO CONSIDER A FASTER TURNAROUND.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE UNDER.
IT'S THEIR FUNDING THAT THEY GET TO SUPPORT THE PRE-K EXPANSION.
IF THEY COULD GET THEIR ANSWER SOONER, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE US THEIRS SOONER.
BUT THEY HAVE SAID, NO, WE COMPLETELY HEAR YOUR PAIN POINT, AND WE WILL PROCESS IT AS FAST AS WE CAN.
>> IT'D BE NICE IF IT WAS MID APRIL.
>> I WILL SAY THAT THEY DID PUT THE APPLICATION OUT SOONER THIS YEAR.
TYPICALLY, THEY HOLD OFF A WHILE, BUT IT DID GET OUT SOONER.
HOPEFULLY, FINGERS CROSSED WE'LL HEAR SOON.
THEN WITH THE CHANGES WITH ENROLLMENT WITH TIER II, SOME OF THE UPDATES THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE WITH THE REGULATION IS JUST ALIGNING THE LANGUAGE TO BLUEPRINT AND PRE-K EXPANSION GRANTS.
REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT TIER I, TIER II, TIER III.
THEN UPDATING THE NOTIFICATION PROCESS, SPECIFICALLY THAT IT'S GOING TO BEGIN IN JUNE AND THAT FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL WITH A LETTER.
THE LETTER IS PART OF THE PROCESS BECAUSE THE FAMILIES ARE REQUIRED TO ACCEPT THE SPOT, SO WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE GOING TO FULFILL THAT AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE WILL ENFORCE THAT WE HAVE TWO WEEKS AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER FOR PARENTS TO DECIDE IF THEY'RE GOING TO ACCEPT THE SPOT OR NOT.
THIS WAY, IF WE DO HAVE THAT WAITING LIST, WE CAN PROCESS THROUGH.
THEN FINALLY, THE TIER II STUDENTS WILL BE ON THE WAITING LIST UNTIL TIER I SLOTS ARE FILLED.
WE'LL ALSO BE PART OF THOSE DATES.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PRE-K OR ENROLLMENT BEFORE I GET TO SHOUT OUT THE OTHER PICTURES ON THE SLIDE? [LAUGHTER] WE MIGHT HAVE HAD A LAST MINUTE IN ADDITION TODAY.
BUT PRE-K, WERE ABLE TO BRING A PETTING ZOO TO EACH OF THE SCHOOLS.
TOMORROW IS GREENSBORO AND THAT WILL COMPLETE OUR PETTING ZOO TOUR, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PICTURES OF THE ANIMAL AND SOME OF THE KIDS ENJOYING THEM. IT'S GOOD FUN TIME.
>> THAT GOAT WAS PRETTY COOL. LOLLIPOP.
>> THE PICTURE WAS A GREAT SHOT BECAUSE LITERALLY, LIKE, AFTER THAT WAS TAKEN, LOLLIPOP WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO LICKING THAT GIRL'S HEAD.
[LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] LOLLIPOP ALMOST GOT ME BEFORE THAT.
THAT'S WHY I WAS STANDING BACK. SHE GOT RIGHT UP THERE.
SHE WAS LIKE BABY YOU'LL LEAK ME.
>> THOSE ANIMALS GOT DECORATED WITH BOWS AND BRUSHED AND FED.
THEY LEFT WITH FULL STOMACHS [LAUGHTER] IN THE TIMES THAT WE'VE HAD THEM.
>> THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT THEM WAS WONDERFUL.
THE ANIMALS WERE FANTASTIC AND WAS GREAT LEARNING. IT WAS AWESOME.
>> I TOLD HER TODAY HER DUCKS HAD MADE IT FROM THE NO TOUCH CAGE TO THE ACTUAL TOUCH CAGE.
I SAID, I'VE BEEN AT FOUR PETTING ZOOS AND I'VE SEEN THEM GROW UP, AND SHE SAID, YES, THOSE ARE THE RIGHT DUCKS.
I'M LIKE, DID YOU SWITCH THEM OUT AND GIVE ME DIFFERENT ONES AND SHE WAS LIKE, NO, BUZZ FOR THEM.
I'M LIKE, OKAY, THEY'RE GROWING JUST AS FAST AS THOSE THREE-YEAR OLDS AND FOUR-YEAR OLDS.
IT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS.
>> NO PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE TIME TOMORROW, THE PETTING ZOO IS AT GREENSBORO, FROM 9:00 -12:30. IF YOU WANT TO STOP BY.
>> WE'LL HAVE A BUDGET UPDATE.
>> JILL AND I HAVE THE NEXT VERSION OF THE FY26 DRAFT BUDGET SUMMARY THAT WE WERE WORKING THROUGH.
JILL TO HIGHLIGHT THERE'S ONLY ONE DIFFERENCE.
GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WAYMAN, DR. SIMMONS, MEMBER TO THE BOARD.
THERE'S A FEW UPDATES TO OUR DRAFT BUDGET SUMMARY.
WE'VE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL REDUCTION AND IN SCHOOL PICTURE SUPPORT.
[01:40:06]
A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THAT.WE BEGAN PAYING SCHOOL PICTURE ALLOTMENTS TO THE SCHOOLS BACK IN FISCAL YEAR '18.
WE HAD NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT WITH OUR SCHOOL PICTURE VENDOR TO NO LONGER PAY THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION AND THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED IN THE PAST.
THE BOARD TOOK ON THAT RESPONSIBILITY SO THE SCHOOLS WERE NOT GOING WITHOUT THAT ADDITIONAL FUNDS THAT THEY WERE USING.
BUT THIS YEAR THEY ARE NOW IN A CONTRACT WITH VENDOR THAT IS PAYING THEM COMMISSION.
WE FELT THAT WOULD BE A SAVINGS TO THE BOARD.
WE COULD ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO OUR GROWING LIST OF COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS.
THE ADDITION TO THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IS AN INCREASE TO THE MID SHORE SPECIAL ED CONSORTIUM FEE WE HAVE TO PAY EVERY YEAR.
THIS COST FOR THE CONSORTIUM SPLIT AMONG THE COUNTIES THAT ARE PART OF THE CONSORTIUM, AND WE ARE NOTIFIED THAT PAYMENT WE MAKE IS GOING TO BE GOING UP NEXT YEAR.
>> THE MID SHORE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM CONSISTS OF FIRST TALBOT COUNTY, DORCHESTER COUNTY AND QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY.
THE FOUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS FOR RESOURCES FOR THINGS LIKE AUDIOLOGISTS, OTPT SERVICES.
IT REALLY IS A COST OF DOING BUSINESS AND SERVICES IT'S CHEAPER TO GO THIS ROUTE WITH A COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
IT IS ONE THAT THE MID SHORE SPECIAL EDUCATION CONSORTIUM RIGHT NOW IS PROPOSING TO UTILIZE PART OF THEIR OWN FUND BALANCE TO LIMIT THE COST INCREASE.
THE COST INCREASE SHOULD BE ABOUT 48,000 PER DISTRICT FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT RECOGNIZING THE CHALLENGES THAT SOME OF THE DISTRICTS ARE FACING OF THOSE I MENTIONED, THEY ARE PROPOSING USING PART OF THEIR FUND BALANCE TO COVER A LITTLE BIT OF THE INCREASE.
THERE IS CONTINUED CONVERSATION GOING ON WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVE TO THE CONSORTIUM, MISSES MCDONALD AND THE OTHER MEMBERS AS WELL.
TALBOT COUNTIES VERSUS THE FISCAL AGENT FOR THE CONSORTIUM, AND THEIR CFO AS WELL AS FURTHER EXAMINING EXPENSES TO SEE IF THEY CAN BRING THAT DOWN A LITTLE MORE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE FEEL THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST ACCURATE NUMBER FOR WHAT THAT INCREASE WOULD BE THIS YEAR.
THAT INCREASE FOR THEM IN THE CONSORTIUM IS LARGELY THE INCREASE ASSOCIATED WITH SALARY AND BENEFITS.
THERE'S NOT EXTRA THINGS THEY'RE ADDING INTO THE BUDGET THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.
IT'S JUST THE SALARY AND BENEFIT COSTS GOING UP FOR THE INDIVIDUALS OF THE EMPLOYEE.
WITH THEM BEING TALBOT COUNTY EMPLOYEES, THEY ARE CONNECTED TO WHATEVER SALARY INCREASES AND BENEFIT INCREASE COSTS THAT HAPPEN IN TALBOT, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO US.
WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT AT THE COST INCREASES, BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT INCREASE IS COMING FROM.
IF IT DECREASES AT ALL, WE WILL MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS IN OUR OWN BUDGET.
I DO APPRECIATE THE CONSORTIUMS EFFORT TO UTILIZE SOME FUND BALANCE RIGHT NOW TO LIMIT THE COSTS, NOT JUST FOR CAROLINE, BUT FOR THE OTHER DISTRICTS AS WELL.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THAT INCREASES.
WHAT IS THE CCTC INCREASE GRID?
>> THAT'S THE RENT INCREASE THAT WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORK SESSION LAST MONTH, WHERE CCTC PAYS TO USE THE KITCHEN AT THE CULINARY CENTER.
THE RENT HAS NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE WE STARTED USING IT.
>> WE'RE STILL WAITING ON FINAL NUMBERS FROM THE STATE.
THEY'RE WAITING UNTIL THEY GET THE CHAPTER VERSION OF THE BILL.
ONCE THEY RECEIVE THAT, THEN WE WILL GET THE FINAL VERSION, AND THAT SHOULD BE COMING SOON BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR SIGNED HOUSE BILL 504 TODAY.
HOPEFULLY WE HAVE THE CHAPTER VERSION QUICKLY.
>> HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE THOSE FIGURES SOON.
IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> WITH THE SCHOOL PICTURES THE SCHOOLS ACTUALLY WITH THE CONTRACTOR ABOUT THE SAME?
>> IT SHOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME.
THE COMMISSIONS DEPEND ON THE SALES OF THE PICTURES, BUT HIGH SCHOOLS ARE GETTING COMMISSIONS BASED ON SENIOR PICTURES AND ALL THE YEAR BOOK PICTURES.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE DOING THEIR FALL YEAR BOOK PICTURES.
I'M NOT SURE, I THINK BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOLS DID SPRING PICTURES TOO THAT THEY GOT COMMISSIONS OFF OF.
THEN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE GETTING COMMISSIONS BASED ON FALL PICTURES, SPRING PICTURES, AND EVEN GRANDPARENTS DAY PICTURES.
LIFE TOUCH VENDOR HAS BEEN SENDING MULTIPLE COMMISSION CHECKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO THE SCHOOLS.
WE THOUGHT IF THEY WERE GETTING THAT SUPPORT FROM THE VENDOR, WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO SUPPORT OTHER COSTS THAT WE HAVE.
>> THE TIME WHEN WE PULL IT TOGETHER AS A DISTRICT, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY,
[01:45:02]
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS HAD DIFFERENT VENDORS AND DIFFERENT CONTRACTS THAT WERE SIGNED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND YOU COULD HAVE ONE COST OF PICTURES FOR A CHILD AT ONE SCHOOL AND A DIFFERENT COST AT ANOTHER SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFERENT VENDORS.AT THIS, IT'S THE SAME VENDOR ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THEY'RE JUST GIVING THE COMMISSION DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOLS AS OPPOSED TO COMING HERE. [INAUDIBLE]
>> THEY'RE HAVING A CERTAIN AMOUNT EACH YEAR AND THEY'RE LOSING 05,000 THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
>> THEY'RE ALL EARNING THE SAME RATE OF COMMISSION BASED ON THE SALES OF SCHOOL PICTURES.
THE LAST VENDOR THAT WE WENT WITH AFTER DR.
SIMMONS IS TALKING ABOUT WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT VENDORS.
WE CONSOLIDATED ALL OF THE SCHOOLS INTO ONE CONTRACT, I BELIEVE IT WAS IN 2018, 2019, AND THAT VENDOR DIDN'T OFFER COMMISSIONS.
WE'VE BEEN PAYING THE SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT THE FUNDS THAT THEY WERE USED TO GETTING FROM THAT, BUT NOW THAT THE VENDOR IS OFFERING THAT, THE NEW VENDOR THAT THEY'RE CONTRACTED WITH THIS YEAR.
IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF THE CALLS OFF THE SCHOOL.
>> WE CHANGED THE VENDOR CONTRACT BECAUSE THE SCHOOL HAS SOME CONCERNS WITH PREVIOUS VENDOR?
>> THERE ARE TWO OTHER CHANGES ON HERE, JUST IN AMOUNTS, SALARY LAPS AND NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT AMOUNTS HAVE CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.
NEGOTIATED AGREEMENT AMOUNT HAS GONE UP ABOUT $125,000 JUST BASED ON ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS, WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT THE COSTS WILL END UP BEING.
WE'VE NOT FINALIZED THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE TEACHERS YET, BUT SHOULD BE COMING SOON.
AS OF TONIGHT, WE HAD THE ASAC AGREEMENT FINALIZED AND THEN SALARY LAPS, JUST BASED ON ESTIMATES OF ATTRITION.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I CAN GO INTO THE FINANCE REPORT.
THIS IS THE FINANCE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING APRIL 30, 2025.
ABOUT 88% OF OUR OPERATING BUDGET HAS BEEN SPENT OR ENCUMBERED.
THERE'S NO NEW OVERAGES THIS MONTH.
WE'RE OUT IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE ARE AROUND THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.
IN THE NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON FINALIZING PROJECTIONS FOR YEAR END AND SEEING WHERE WE COULD UTILIZE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE BUDGET TO DO THIS ONE TIME YEAR END PURCHASES, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THOSE TO THE BOARD NEXT MONTH FOR APPROVAL.
>> THOSE YEAR ENDS THAT'LL BE COMING TO THE BOARD FOR APPROVAL NEXT MONTH, JUST TO PRESS THE BOARD.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO LEAP IN FRONT OF AND I'VE TALKED TO MR. MENGEL ABOUT THIS.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF BIG PROJECTS THIS SUMMER HAPPENING THAT WE ARE THE ONES DOING THE WORK ON.
COLONEL BILLS THAT ROOF COMING, BUT THAT'S TO THE GRANT SUPPORTED FUNDS.
THIS SUMMER, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AHEAD ON SOME PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE, THINGS THAT NEED TO BE DONE COUNTY WIDE.
MR. MENGEL IS WORKING WITH HIS TEAM TO PUT TOGETHER SOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE THIS SUMMER.
YOU'LL SEE SOME OF THOSE COMING LIKELY FOR YEAR END FUNDS, AND IF THEY EXCEED YEAR END FUNDS, THEIR REQUEST THEN POTENTIALLY USE FUND BALANCE IF WE NEED TO COVER SOME OF THOSE GAPS.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF SOME OF THOSE BECAUSE WE'RE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE FISCAL PICTURE LOOKS LIKE IN '27 AND '28.
IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME OF THE PREVENTATIVE THINGS DONE NOW, ALSO IN THE MAINTENANCE WORLD, AS I'M SURE, YOU ARE AWARE, IF THERE'S NOT A CRISIS IN FRONT OF YOU, USE THE TIME TO TRY TO AVOID ONE THAT MAY COME IN THE FUTURE.
WE WANT TO TRY TO USE THAT TIME THIS SUMMER TO GET AHEAD OF SOME THINGS.
>> DO I HAVE OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
>> MY REPORT IS GOING TO CONNECT A LITTLE BIT WITH [INAUDIBLE], AND REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SHOUT OUT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS RIGHT AND HER TEAM THAT HELPED PUT TOGETHER THE UNITY FAIR THAT THEY DID.
MRS. LUNA, MRS. ENGLE, MRS. WILKINS, AND MRS. SULLIVAN.
I'LL BE HONEST, I WASN'T QUITE SURE WHAT TO EXPECT WITH THE UNITY FAIR AT NORTH HIGH, SOMETHING WE'VE DONE BEFORE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
FIRST TIME THEY DECIDED TO DO A EVENING EVENT.
IN THE WAY I DESCRIBED IT TO PEOPLE THAT NIGHT AFTERWARDS,
[01:50:01]
AND EVEN THE NEXT DAY HERE, IT WAS THAT EVENT THAT IF YOU SHOWED UP TO IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU WOULD SHOW UP AND GO, I WANT MY KIDS TO GO THERE.IF YOU SHOWED UP ANYBODY, YOU GO THAT LOOKS LIKE GREAT FAMILY FUN.
I WANT TO GO HANG OUT OVER THERE AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENED.
IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST PUT TOGETHER EVENTS, I THINK, I'VE PROBABLY HAVE EVER SEEN OF A COMMUNITY EVENT PUT TOGETHER AT A SCHOOL LARGE SCALE.
IT'S THEIR FIRST FOUR A INTO THAT, AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN A COMMUNITY SCHOOL YET. THEY NAILED IT.
THEY HAD A TREMENDOUS TURNOUT FROM STUDENTS AT THE SCHOOL, TREMENDOUS TURNOUT FROM STAFF, GREAT COMMUNITY VENDORS.
THE FOOD TRUCK VENDORS WERE AWESOME.
THE FUN THAT WAS THERE AT LOW COST OR NO COST FOR FAMILIES, WHAT STUDENTS PUT TOGETHER SHOWCASING WHO THEY ARE, AND THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR BACKGROUNDS WAS BEAUTIFUL.
IT WAS I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW AMAZING IT WAS.
IT WAS 1:00, IT ENDED AT 8:00.
FOOD VENDORS ASKING AT, LIKE, FIVE MINUTES AFTER 8:00, I WAS OVER AT ONE OF THEM.
WE'RE GOING TO SHUT DOWN? PRINCIPAL STILL IN THE DUNK TANK, KEEP IT GOING.
THEY DID. THEY STAYED IN THE LINES.
AT 8:15, THEY STARTED WINDING SOME THINGS DOWN TO CLOSE DOWN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A SCHOOL NIGHT, IF THEY WENT UNTIL 9:00, THEY'D HAVE BEEN CHASING PEOPLE WAY AT NINE.
I BELIEVE IF THEY WENT TILL 10:00, THEY JUST MIGHT HAVE BEEN CHASING PEOPLE AWAY FROM 10:00.
FAMILIES SHOWING UP AND IT WAS LARGELY HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS THAT WERE THERE, BY THE WAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN I GOT THERE.
AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSED, YOU STARTED TO SEE PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN THEIR LITTLE AGUE UNIFORMS WITH THEIR FAMILIES COMING OUT TO THE FOOD VENDORS AND COMING OUT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AND ENGAGING AND HAVING FUN.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS AMAZING.
MRS. WRIGHT DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF PULLING THIS TOGETHER, AND AGAIN, I CAN'T SHARE THAT ENOUGH.
THEN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL WHO WAS ALSO TESTING COORDINATOR AND HANDLING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES ON AT THE HIGH SCHOOL IN THE MONTH OF APRIL AND MAY.
THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS A PASSION PROJECT WITH HER AND HER TEAM TO PUT IT ON.
LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED.
BUT IF YOU SAY SOMETHING TO MR. SPIKER ABOUT IT BEING A GREAT JOB, HE'S GOING TO PUSH IT RIGHT TO THE CHASTITY OF THE WORK THAT SHE DID AND HER TEAM DID TO PUT IT TOGETHER.
AGAIN, HANDS DOWN, AMAZING, THE KIDS WERE AWESOME.
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
MCCOOK COMMUNITY SCHOOLS EARLIER, THIS IS IT.
THIS IS THE THING THAT MAKES CAROLINE SPECIAL AND IT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY SPECIAL, AND IT WAS AWESOME.
JUST WANTED TO SHOUT IT OUT. TO BE HONEST I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING INTO WITH A DUNK TANK.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT ENDED UP BEING SO MUCH FUN.
>> I TOOK A PICTURE AND DIDN'T THROW A BALL JUST TO KNOW.
>> PUTTING ME RIGHT BEFORE MR. SPIKER, WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME NOT TO GET AS DUNK AS MANY TIMES AS I THOUGHT BECAUSE KIDS WERE CLEARLY SAVING THEIR DOLLARS [OVERLAPPING] WERE HIM.
THEY REALLY WERE. [OVERLAPPING] IT WAS 10 MINUTES PER PERSON IN THERE.
RIGHT BEFORE HE GOT IN, SOMEBODY MAY HAVE TAKEN A COOLER FULL OF ICE AND DUMPED IT IN THE WATER.
HE WAS A GOOD TROOPER HE GOT UP THERE AND DEALT WITH IT, BUT IT WAS A REALLY AWESOME EVENT. THANK YOU.
>> SOUNDS WONDERFUL. THAT'S GREAT.
WE'LL HAVE OUR BOARD MEMBERS REPORTS.
WHICH END DO WE WANT TO START?
LIKE DR. SIMMONS MENTIONED, THE UNITY EVENT IT WAS FUN. IT WAS AMAZING.
I GOT TO GO OUT WITH MY DAUGHTER WHO'S A JUNIOR, NOT THROUGH A BALL WIN [OVERLAPPING]
>> I APPRECIATE. NO BOARD MEMBERS TRIED TO. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> BUT IT WAS FUN AND I CAN'T ECHO ENOUGH.
THIS IS THE SECOND COMMUNITY EVENT THAT NORTH CAROLINA HIGH SCHOOL HAS PUT ON THAT'S BEEN OF THIS SIZE THIS YEAR, AND BOTH OF THEM WERE FANTASTIC.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY DO WHEN THEY REALLY EMBRACE THEIR COMMUNITY SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK.
I ALSO GOT TO SNEAK UP TO GREENSBORO SCHOOL AND SIT IN ON ONE OF THE COURSE AND BAND CONCERTS.
IT WAS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, AND SO ALSO GOT TO CHAT WITH SOME OF THE TEACHERS LAST WEEK.
I DID MENTION, ACTUALLY MICHELLE MENTIONED, PRESIDENT WAYMAN MENTIONED, IT IS CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS WEEK, AND I WANT TO JUST SHOUT OUT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS ACROSS OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ALL OF THE SCHOOLS, ALL OF THE PARTNERS THAT ARE REALLY IN THE SCHOOLS EVERY DAY, ALONG WITH OUR GUIDANCE DEPARTMENTS, REALLY CELEBRATE THIS WEEK AS A WEEK OF SUPPORT AND AWARENESS TO DECREASE STIGMA, TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
I DID MENTION THURSDAY, IN CCPS, YOU WILL PROBABLY SEE A LOT OF GREEN SHIRTS, CCPS GREEN OR OTHERWISE,
[01:55:02]
JUST TO BRING SOME AWARENESS ON THURSDAY.THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING WITH ME.
MR. LUCHEK, OVER AT CCTC, ALSO HAD SOME REALLY COOL BRACELETS, SO IF YOU'RE OUT THAT WAY, JUST SUPPORTING SOME OTHER MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
I DID GET TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP EVENT, WEARING A DIFFERENT HAT, BUT IT WAS NICE TO BE THERE WITH DR. SIMMONS AND A LARGE NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO WERE ALSO REALLY INVESTED AND EXCITED ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL WORK, AND I WAS GLAD THAT MS. [INAUDIBLE] WAS ABLE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT WITH THE BOARD TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS HAPPENING AND THERE'S LOTS MORE COMING.
I'M EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT THAT WORK.
WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON THIS MONTH.
NORTH CAROLINE'S PROMS IN A COUPLE WEEKS BECAUSE A PARENT OF A JUNIOR.
I APPARENTLY WILL BE THERE TILL ABOUT 4:00 IN THE MORNING SETTING UP.
IF YOU MEET ME THAT FRIDAY NIGHT, THAT'S WHERE I'LL BE.
BUT LOTS OF REALLY FUN STUFF HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.
>> NEXT TIME CRISTIE I'LL MAKE HER [LAUGHTER] LAST HARD TO GO.
I GUESS MORE OR LESS SPRING SPORTS IS COMING TO A PLAYOFF TIME.
I JUST WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS ON THAT.
I ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SEVENTH GRADER WE INDUCTED HERE IN [INAUDIBLE].
DAUGHTER SHE'S IN EIGHTH GRADE, SO SHE WAS GOT THE SPEECH AT THE WINTER SPEECH.
THAT WAS A GOOD TIME. JUST SAY GOOD LUCK TO THE SPORTS TEAM.
>> I GOT TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR BANQUET.
MY DAUGHTER WAS PARTICULARLY HAPPY BECAUSE SHE LOVES MR. BUFFY.
SHE WAS VERY EXCITED FOR THAT.
IT WAS A G GREAT TO GO AROUND THE SCHOOLS AND BE A PART OF THEIR NOMINATION SURPRISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I GOT TO TOUR FEDERAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THIS MONTH AS WELL, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH JUST THAT WHOLE SETUP OF THAT SCHOOL, THE RON CLARK PHILOSOPHY AND HOW THEY DO THE HOUSES, AND IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN THERE.
THAT WAS COOL TO SEE. MY DAUGHTER PLAYS HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL, SO THAT'S WHERE I'VE BEEN.
THAT'S WHY I MISSED THE UNITY FAIR.
I WAS HOPING WE GET BACK IN TIME, BUT WE'VE HEARD FAR OUT THERE.
BUT THAT'S BEEN AN EXPERIENCE WATCHING HER DO WHAT SHE'S BEEN PRACTICING FOR SOME TIME. THAT WAS COOL.
THEN I GOT TO SEE THE COLONEL PLAY THAT THEY PUT ON JOSEPH IN THE TECH COLOR DREAM COATS.
THAT WAS FUN. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, PLAYOFFS ARE COME IN SO LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
>> I GOT ICE CREAM FROM THE NCHS FUNDRAISER, AND IT IS DELICIOUS, BY THE WAY.
I'M EATING IT ALL BY MYSELF TONIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TV. [LAUGHTER].
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FUTURE GRADUATES, 2025.
BEST LUCK TO THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING. GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN.
>> THANKS, MR. JONES. [LAUGHTER]
>> I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR BANQUET ALSO.
IT WAS REALLY, REALLY NICE AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THOSE WHO HAD RECEIVED THAT AWARD EARLIER TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT THE CURRENT TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND TO SEE THE LINING UP FOR PICTURES AND JUST RECALLING WHEN THEY HAD THAT SAME HONOR.
ATTENDED THE ABANDON COURSE CONCERT LAST WEEK, WAS HELD AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT IT WAS REALLY GOOD.
I'VE SEEN SEVERAL, LIKE ON THE TODAY SHOW, THEY'RE HONORING TEACHERS ALL WEEK.
IT WAS ONE OF THE OTHER SHOWS THAT IS HONORED TEACHERS ALL WEEK.
I JUST THINK IT'S SO DESERVING TO SEE THAT OUR PROFESSION THAT REALLY GETS PICKED ON SOMETIMES.
BUT TO BE HONORED FOR THE HARD WORK THAT GOES INTO THE PREPARATIONS AND OFFERING FOR TEACHING EVERY DAY.
YOU CAN PLAN FOR THE WEEK IF YOU WANT TO, BUT IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS FOR SHARING.
WE HAVE OUR UPCOMING POLICIES AND WE CAN SEE THEM UP THERE.
ANY UNFINISHED BUSINESS? NONE?
[02:00:05]
WE HAVE OUR LIST [LAUGHTER] OF EVENTS,[8. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
AND OF COURSE, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO GRADUATION AND WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR YOU.>> THAT'S MY BEST. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING, OUR NEXT WORK SESSION, OF COURSE, IS TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY, 08:30 THAT MORNING, AND BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE PLAN TO SAVE AS WELL IF YOU POSSIBLY CAN THAT DAY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
AT THIS TIME, WE NEED A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> THAT DIDN'T TAKE LONG. [LAUGHTER]
>> MRS. JOHNSON GOT ICE CREAM DEAL.
>> IT'S IN THE FREEZER. IT'S OKAY.
>> ANY OPPOSITION? NONE AT ALL. SO CARRIES.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.