[00:00:05]
ALL RIGHT. SO TODAY IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2025.
[1. Opening Items]
WE ARE HERE FOR OUR REGULAR BOARD MEETING. THERE ARE FOUR OF US PRESENT SO IT'S A QUORUM.THEREFORE, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO GO INTO OPEN SESSION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE GO INTO OPEN SESSION. SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. NONE OPPOSED. SO ONE OF THE MOTION CARRIES.
WE ARE IN THE OPEN SESSION. STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE] ALL RIGHT, SO WE NEED A MOTION FOR AN APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
AND THEN IF WE GET THAT, I WILL READ THE MISSION STATEMENT.
I'LL MOTION THAT WE APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
MOTION BY MISS JOHNSON. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
SECOND. BY MR. PLUTSCHAK. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE.
OUR MISSION IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR TONIGHT? WE DO NOT.
SO THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY, I THINK THAT'S A PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE.
YES IT IS. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THAT. WHO DO WE HAVE PRESENTING? SO I WILL BE DOING THE PRESENTATION. SO WE STARTED A FEW YEARS BACK AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT IN HONOR OF ALL OF OUR RETIREES, IN EACH RETIREES NAME, WE DONATE $50 PER RETIREE TO THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH US TONIGHT, WE HAVE MRS. MINA PINCUS FROM THE CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY PROVIDES A FREE BOOK TO ALL CHILDREN.
COMES TO THEIR HOMES BETWEEN THE AGES OF BIRTH THROUGH FIVE, REALLY COOL PROGRAM.
AND IT'S THROUGH DONATIONS AND FUNDS THAT ARE RAISED THAT KEEPS THIS PROGRAM GOING.
I DID JUST SEE THAT 2025 WE'RE CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY.
THAT DOLLY HAS HAD THE PROGRAM GOING. WE'VE NOT HAD IT FOR 30, BUT DOLLY'S HAD IT GOING GONE, GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS. AND THIS YEAR WE WILL BE DONATING $1,450 TO THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY FUND HERE FOR CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.
SO YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE BIG CHECK TO PRESENT YOU WITH.
WE HAVE A REAL ONE, TOO. BUT WE'LL DO THE BIG CHECK TONIGHT.
AND ON BEHALF OF CCPS TO THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY.
THAT'S A BIG QUESTION. [LAUGHTER] IN MANY WAYS, WE CAME UP WITH THAT.
OH, GOOD. I'M GLAD YOU THINK SO. OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS.
DO YOU GUYS JUST WAIT? I'M SORRY, EXPLAINS THE I THINK WE WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM WORKS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YOU GUYS DO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT ON THE AGENDA WOULD
[3. Consent Agenda]
BE OUR CONSENT AGENDA, MISTER WILLOUGHBY.GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT JONES. DR. SIMMONS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT, THE THE AUGUST PERSONNEL AGENDA IS ALWAYS THE LENGTHY PERSONNEL AGENDA BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN BUSY. SO TONIGHT THE PERSONNEL AGENDA DOES INCLUDE TWO RESIGNATIONS, 13 APPOINTMENTS TO REGULAR CONTRACT, 1 APPOINTMENT TO PROVISIONAL, 4 TO SECOND PROVISIONAL, 11 TO THIRD PROVISIONAL, 2 TO FOURTH PROVISIONAL, 2 TO FIFTH PROVISIONAL, AND 3 TO SIXTH PROVISIONAL.
AND THEN THE ADDENDUM THAT WAS ADDED TODAY IS SIX MORE TO REGULAR.
[00:05:04]
THOSE PROVISIONALS THAT YOU SEE IN THE AGENDA ITSELF, YOU'LL SEE A NOTATION.WE TYPICALLY WOULD NOT SEE PROVISIONALS GOING OUT THAT LONG, BUT BECAUSE OF LICENSURE RENEWAL CHANGES DURING COVID, WE WERE ABLE TO EXTEND SOME OF OUR FOLKS FOR SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONAL CONTRACTS.
AND ALL THE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE ARE VERY CLOSE.
SO THAT IS FOR YOUR APPROVAL. ALL RIGHT. SO ALONG WITH PERSONNEL WE ALSO NEED TO APPROVE OUR MINUTES FROM JULY 1ST SO WE CAN DO THAT ALL WITH WITH A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS IT STANDS.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY MRS. JOHNSON. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. FOUR OUT, SO CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.
[4. Individual Action Items]
WE CAN MOVE ON TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT, WHICH IS FOR SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION.AND I BELIEVE THAT GENTLEMAN IS HERE TONIGHT, SO. [INAUDIBLE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. JONES. TONIGHT I HAVE COME BEFORE THE BOARD AN APPROVAL FOR MR. WILLIAM GRAY, WILL TO SERVE AS OUR SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SCIENCE.
WILL COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE POSITION.
HE WAS THE TOP CHOICE COMING OUT OF THAT THAT WORK WELL HAS BEEN DOING VERY SIMILAR WORK, ACTUALLY, THIS WORK, PLUS A FEW OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES IN ANOTHER COUNTY ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
SO HE'S NOT UNFAMILIAR WITH THE WORKLOAD THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING? HAS A GREAT REPUTATION AMONGST THE OTHER SUPERVISORS ON THE EASTERN SHORE.
AND I'M EXCITED TO BRING HIM TO YOU TONIGHT FOR RECOMMENDATION TO BE OUR NEW SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SCIENCE. IN CAROLINE COUNTY, K-12.
WITH THAT DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE, MR. [INAUDIBLE]? CORRECT. I'LL DO THAT. I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATION OF MR. WILLIAM GRAY TO SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SCIENCE.
I SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANK YOU. WELCOME. DO WE WANT TO DO A PICTURE? ABSOLUTELY. ALL RIGHT. WELCOME ABOARD. THANK YOU.
[LAUGHTER] JUST WANTED TO WEAR A SHIRT.
THAT WAS GOOD. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS.
THANKS. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS.
NEXT WE HAVE MR. MENGEL WITH THE FOOD SERVICE PRODUCTION BID.
GOOD EVENING, VICE PRESIDENT JONES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND DR. SIMMONS. I'VE LEARNED THAT I DON'T DO IT UNTIL MY NAME IS CALLED. THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I'VE ALWAYS GOT UP HERE BEFORE, SO I'M JUST GOING TO SIT BACK UNTIL I NEED TO BE UP HERE.
THIS BID WAS ISSUED BY CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAROLINE, CECIL, WICOMICO, AND WORCESTER. THREE BIDS WERE RECEIVED FROM REGIONAL PRODUCE COMPANIES.
TEDDY BEAR FRESH PRODUCE LLC. PJK FOOD SERVICE, DOING BUSINESS AS KEANY PRODUCE AND GOURMET.
SEASHORE FRUIT AND PRODUCE COMPANY. A TEAM OF FOUR FOOD SERVICE COUNTY SUPERVISORS SELECTED TEDDY BEAR FRESH, LLC AS THE PRIMARY VENDOR, AND KEANY PRODUCE AND GOURMET AS A SECONDARY.
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ALTHOUGH SEASHORE FRUIT AND PRODUCE COMPANY WITH LOW BID, THEY RATED LOWEST IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COULD NOT DEMONSTRATE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF LOCALIZED PRODUCE FROM THE EASTERN SHORE FARMS. SO IF WE CAN GO TO THE. YOU GOT THE EXCELLENT.GO TO THE BID RESULTS, YOU WILL SEE TEDDY BEAR FRESH IS A VERY LOCAL COMPANY 15 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IN EASTON, $2.8 MILLION. PJK, KEANY PRODUCE AND GOURMET OUT OF LANDOVER, MARYLAND, $2.8 MILLION.
AND SEASHORE FRUIT AND PRODUCE COMPANY OUT OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY AT $2.5 MILLION.
ANOTHER REASON WHY THEY DECIDED TO GO WITH THE TEDDY BEAR FRESH LLC WAS AT THE MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE, BASED AT LOCAL BUSINESS CREATOR ACCESS TO EASTERN SHORE PRODUCE GROWN HERE ON THE SHORE.
NOTICE THIS OPPORTUNITY WAS POSTED ON MARYLAND MARKETPLACE ADVANTAGE, AS WELL AS THE PURCHASING WEBSITE WITH DIRECT NOTIFICATIONS OUT TO FOUR CONTRACTORS AND ONE CONTRACTOR BEING NON-RESPONSIVE. FISCALLY, FINANCIALLY, THIS HAS NO EFFECT ON CAROLINE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS THIS IS A DIRECT EXPENDITURE OUT OF THE FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BUY LOCAL AND SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY. YES, IT COSTS A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT YOU'RE ALSO.
YOU'VE GOT FIVE REASONS FOR THAT. AND THE FACT THAT THAT MONEY IS GOING BACK INTO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
RIGHT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
YEP. SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION, BILL, JUST FOR THE $2.8 MILLION COST, IS THAT A DIVIDED COST BETWEEN ALL THE COUNTIES THAT ARE PARTICIPATING? YES, IT IS. SO FOR LAYMAN'S TERMS, IF YOU DIVIDE THAT BY FOUR.
OKAY. OKAY. SO WE'RE ROUGHLY $700,000 PER COUNTY.
OKAY. THANK YOU. APPROXIMATELY I MEAN, QUITE COMMON GOES THE BIGGEST ONE.
OKAY. WE'RE ACTUALLY THE SMALLEST. THANK YOU.
YES. ANYBODY ELSE? I'LL JUST COMMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT DONE THROUGH FOOD SERVICES AS WELL, TO WORK WITH OTHER DISTRICTS TO GET A BETTER PRICE.
BY PULLING IN MULTIPLE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO DO THIS.
IT GIVES US PURCHASING POWER. YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.
I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE TEDDY BEAR FRESH PRODUCE AND KENAY PRODUCE AND GOURMET AS OUR PRODUCE VENDORS FOR THE PROPOSAL NUMBER 25-021. I'LL SECOND. YEAH. ALL RIGHT.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT. YEAH. NEXT UP IS OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL SITE APPROVAL.
SO. ALL RIGHT. VERY GOOD. SO THIS ONE'S RELATIVELY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
I COME TO YOU AGAIN SEEKING BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL BUILD SITE.
DAVID LIEBER AND HIS TEAM OF EDUCATIONAL FACILITY PLANNING, LLC.
FOLLOWING THAT, THE BOARD WAS THEN PRESENTED WITH THE CONCLUDED FEASIBILITY STUDY BY ROBIN TOTH AND HER TEAM, TCA ARCHITECTS. BOTH STUDIES WERE DETAILED, EXTENSIVE, AND THOROUGH, WITH ACTIVE STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION FROM CURRENT STAFF, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS, AS WELL AS LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE RESULTS OF THIS DECISION WILL BE REFLECTED WITHIN THE FY27 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, WHICH KNOWN AS THE CIP, WHERE APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE REQUESTED FROM THE STATE TO BEGIN FUNDING THE BUILD PROJECT.
THE FY27 CIP WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD IN SEPTEMBER.
ALSO KNOW THAT YOUR DECISION TONIGHT HAS NO FINANCIAL BEARING ON CCPS, IS STRICTLY YOUR DECISION.
BEFORE YOU GUYS MAKE THAT DECISION, I JUST KIND OF WANT TO JUST REVIEW A LITTLE BIT.
KIND OF BETWEEN THE TWO SITES AND WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE NOW.
SO OPTION A IS THE NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL SITE.
DISCUSSION OF THE SITE INCLUDES THE ASSUMPTION THAT SOME OUTDOOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES WOULD BE SHARED BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THE COMMUNITY RECREATIONAL USERS TO HELP MITIGATE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.
[00:15:03]
OPTION B IS THE DOUBLE HILL SITE, WHICH IS NEAR THE SOUTH END OF THE COUNTY AND IS BORDERED BY THE INDUSTRIAL PARK TO THE NORTH, AGRICULTURAL PROPERTIES TO THE EAST AND SOUTH, AND SMALL CIVIC AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES ALONG DOUBLE HILLS ROAD TO THE WEST.STATE HIGHWAY 313 AND 404, WHICH IS A FOUR-LANE DIVIDED ROAD AROUND DENTON, ALSO KNOWN AS SHAW HIGHWAY, PASSES BY THE SITE BEYOND DOUBLE HILLS ROAD, CONVEYING TOURIST TRAFFIC TO THE EASTERN SHORE BEACHES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IF YOU NOTICE THE RED BUILDING THAT IS MERELY JUST A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT, HOW, YOU KNOW, FOR CONCEPT THAT IS NOT THE ACTUAL DESIGN OF THE BUILDING.
THE CAROLINE, NORTH CAROLINE SITE HAS 15.5 ACRES.
HOWEVER, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE THAT THAT FACILITY WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY, FOR THEIR PURPOSES. THE PROPOSAL OF THE SCHOOL DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT'S AT.
IT'S GOING TO BE 140,000FT². AND SO THAT'S THE DRIVER FOR THE COSTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE THAT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I GUESS BEFORE A QUESTION, MR. MENGEL, CLARIFIER DECISION BY THE BOARD TONIGHT IS FOR THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS PER SE, THE SITE LOCATION, NOT THE SITING OF THE BUILDING ITSELF ON THE GROUNDS.
BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION, THERE HAS BEEN, THE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE NORTH CAROLINE HIGH SCHOOL SITE. THAT RED BOX CAN MOVE WHEREVER, AND ANYTHING IN THAT BOX CAN MOVE WHEREVER.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS TO CONSIDER, BUT IT IS ON THE PHYSICAL ADDRESS OF BASICALLY WHICH LOCATION.
WHERE THE NEW LOCKERMAN SHOULD RESIDE. YEAH. AND I ALSO THINK THAT THE FACT THAT IT SAYS THAT THE LARGE FIELD WITH THE SOLAR PANELS HAS BEEN DEEMED TOO EXPENSIVE BY THE COUNTY TO RELOCATE, BUT THE DECISION BY THE BOARD HAS NOT BEEN.
THIS BOARD HAS. WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS THE DESIGN OR WHERE THE LAYOUT IS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL DECISION BY THIS BOARD ABOUT WHAT TO DO OR WHAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE OR.
AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH TESLA.
SIGN UP. WE'RE GOING TO PURCHASE THAT OR NOT.
AND IF WE DON'T PURCHASE IT, WHAT WOULD TESLA DO TO HELP US MOVE AND MITIGATE THAT TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION ALTOGETHER? I JUST DON'T WANT TO BE MISLEADING IF THAT'S THE SITE THAT ENDS UP BEING CHOSEN, THE NORTH CAROLINE SITE AND SOMETHING DOES END UP, AND THE SOLAR FIELD ENDS UP NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT BEING THERE.
I WOULDN'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO SAY, OH, WELL, YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE PANELS WERE DEEMED THAT THEY BASICALLY THAT SOMEBODY WOULD TAKE THAT AND INFER THAT WE SAID WE WEREN'T GOING TO MOVE THEM AND NOW WE DID THAT.
I MEAN, ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE FOR WHICHEVER SITE WE CHOOSE.
WELL, YOU SAY THE MAIN THING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWO SITES AND TALKING ABOUT LOCATION OF BUILDINGS AND THAT SORT OF THING, THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE FLEXIBILITY WITH OPTION A THAN OPTION B.
OPTION B, IT'S PRETTY WELL SET WHERE THE BUILDING IS GOING TO BE AND WHAT'S AROUND IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE. YEAH, I DEFINITELY AGREE.
WE'VE SEEN WHAT A CAMPUS WILL DO DOWN SOUTH, AND I THINK IT WILL DO A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AS WELL TO WITH FAMILIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT THERE BEING. YOU MEAN AS FAR AS THERE BEING A MORE OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL COMBINED AND MORE LIKE THE COLONEL RICHARDSON MODEL AND HOW THAT WORKS.
SO I MEAN, I AGREE WITH YOU THERE TOO. YEAH. I, YOU KNOW, I HAD A VOTING, I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRAFFIC SITUATION AT DOUBLE HILLS. THE, YOU KNOW, INCREASED FLOW OF BUS TRAFFIC AND, YOU KNOW, OTHER TRAFFIC IN AND OUT OF THAT REALLY TIGHT INTERSECTION IS WORRISOME. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT AT THE NORTH HIGH SITE, THERE COULD BE SOME MORE CONSIDERATION AND FLEXIBILITY, YOU KNOW, IN CONVERSATION WITH THE COUNTY AND THEIR ROADS TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT.
YOU KNOW WHAT MAY BE SOME MORE TRAFFIC THERE OR AND THEY'VE ALREADY WORKED HARD TO, YOU KNOW, INCREASE THE PATTERNS OF TRAFFIC OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, SO.
BUT THERE'S MORE LENGTH TO GET OUT TO THE RED LIGHT THAN THERE IS.
SO THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE OF A LINE OF TRAFFIC VERSUS WHERE WILL EVERYBODY BE, AND THAT ALL THOSE CARS IN THAT SMALL AREA, IT DOES EXPAND THAT AREA. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THAT'S A GOOD POINT THAT THAT'S THAT'S AN ADVANTAGE TO THAT.
[00:20:02]
SO. ANY ANY MORE QUESTIONS. IF NOT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO.I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE GO WITH OPTION A FOR THE NEW SITE OF LOCKERMAN.
ALL RIGHT. MR. PLUTSCHAK. SECOND, MR. JOHNSON HAS SECONDED.
SO FOR THAT. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S YOUR SPOT, BILL.
IT'S A MARATHON. WE'RE JUST SEEING A LOT OF. AT MILE THREE.
[5. Reports and Presentations]
OUR FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE A FUN ONE. OUR TEACHER OF THE YEAR WRAP-UP.YES. EXCITED TO HAVE ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS AND DR.
WILLOUGHBY'S FORMER STUDENTS. AND THEN SHE SAID, OLD GUY. THANK YOU. HERE TONIGHT DANIELLE HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB SERVING AND REPRESENTING US AS CAROLINE COUNTY TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF GOING ON SOME OF THE THINGS SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT, WHICH. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME ALONG, IT WAS WONDERFUL. AND GLAD YOU ARE HERE TO PRESENT TONIGHT. AND YOU HAVE YOUR FAN CLUB WITH YOU, WHICH IS EXCITING. OH, YEAH.
THEY LOOK EXCITED. SO SIDE NOTE REAL QUICK, EVERY TIME WE PULLED UP TO THE SCHOOL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I SPEND ALL MY HOURS THERE AT THE SPORTING EVENTS AND EVERYTHING WHEN THEY'RE WITH ME, EVERY TIME WE PULL AWAY, MY SON WOULD SEE THE GIANTS AND GO, OH, I'M JUST SO PROUD OF YOU.
OH, OH, OH. PROUD OF YOUR MAMA. SO, YEAH, THEY THEY WERE EXCITED TO COME ALONG.
THEY'RE EXCITED. I THINK THAT THEY'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH ME AND WITHOUT TRAVELING.
BUT JUST OVERALL. SO THAT IS A HEADSHOT THAT MSDE PROVIDED US WHEN WE WENT FOR THE BOARD MEETING BACK LAST MAY, WHEN THEY APPROVED US ALL AS THE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR FOR 24-25.
SO THAT WAS THE FIRST EVENT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE EVENTS THAT DR.
SIMMONS GOT TO GO WITH ME ON. AND WE GOT TO GO BEFORE THE BOARD.
AND ON THE SCREEN, EVERY TIME A TEACHER OF THE YEAR WALKED UP, THE WORD PRINCIPAL WAS SPELLED INCORRECTLY FOR THE OCCASION AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. AND THEY REALIZED IT PRETTY QUICKLY, AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO AT THAT POINT.
NOP, BECAUSE IT WAS ON EVERY SINGLE SLIDE. 24 PPTS AT LEAST. [LAUGHTER] SO THAT WAS A FINE MOMENT.
THAT IS THE MOMENT THAT I GOT MY TEACHER OF THE YEAR VEHICLE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND.
AND THEN FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, I ENDED MY TRIP WITH THAT CAR A LITTLE EARLY ONE MORNING ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL WITH THEM, AND THREE DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME, IN TRUE CAROLINE COUNTY FASHION, AND WITH THE PRICES OF THINGS MY ENJOYMENT OF THAT RIDE HAD TO END A LITTLE EARLY. OH, NO. AND IT WASN'T. I APPARENTLY WASN'T THE ONLY TEACHER WHO HAD A DEER THAT MORNING.
ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AT NORTH CAROLINE AT ONE THE SAME MORNING.
SO. WOW. THIS IS THE MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR GALA.
I GOT TO INVITE, THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, QUITE A FEW FORMER COWORKERS, CURRENT COWORKERS. SO WE KIND OF HAD A GREAT GROUP OF MY COLONEL MIDDLE CREW.
AND THEN THE FORMER TEACHERS OF THE YEAR. NICE MATH DEPARTMENT PICTURE DOWN THERE WITH DR.
VON BOSCH. AND THEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE TRIPS WAS THE SMITH ISLAND RETREAT THAT WE GOT TO DO, THANKS TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION AND NORTHROP GRUMMAN, THEY SPONSORED THAT, AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN.
WE GOT TO GO MUDLARKING. SO IN THE BOTTOM PICTURE, I AM COVERED IN MUD, HEAD TO TOE.
I TOOK MY MUCK BOOTS. I GREW UP IN CAROLINE COUNTY HUNTING AND FISHING.
WE GOT TO DREDGE AND FIND ALL SORTS OF FUN STUFF.
WE GOT A FLOUNDER IN THE TOP, AND THEN EVERY TRIP TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION HOUSES THAT THEY HAVE, YOU GET TO DECORATE A PAGE IN THE BOOK. WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ART TEACHERS IN OUR TEACHER THAT YEAR GROUP, SO I GOT TO DECORATE AND DRAW THE PICTURE. I DON'T KNOW HOW, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE ELEMENTARY TEACHERS DEFINITELY HAVE THAT CREATIVE SIDE TO THEM.
[00:25:07]
THAT THEY HAD EVER HAD. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF SMITH ISLAND CAKES, AND THEY DEFINITELY LOVE THAT.I'VE BEEN ASKED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET SOME MORE CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER. WE'LL SEE.
SO IN DECEMBER, WE ACTUALLY GOT TO TOUR THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE WE WERE SUPPOSED TO TOUR THE WHITE HOUSE, AND DR. WILLOUGHBY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPANY ME ON THAT TRIP.
AND THEN THEY, THE WHITE HOUSE HAD TO RESCHEDULE, SO THEY WERE GENEROUS ENOUGH TO INVITE US TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE DAY, JUST FOR A LITTLE TOUR AROUND THE BUILDING. AND IN THE CENTER THERE IS OUR CAROLINE COUNTIES, I THINK IT'S THE GARDEN CLUB'S TREE THAT THEY DECORATED THAT WAS ON DISPLAY.
IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. MOST OF THE COUNTIES DID HAVE ONE, NOT ALL OF THEM.
AND OURS LOOKED GREAT. AND THEN THEY RESCHEDULED US FOR JANUARY.
SO DR. SIMMONS GOT TO GO ALONG. HAS EVERYBODY GOT TO BRING SOMEONE FROM A SCHOOL SYSTEM FIRST? I HAD ASKED DR. WILLOUGHBY. I WAS LIKE, WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO GO FROM OUR BOARD LEVEL, THAT WOULD LOVE TO GO AND HAS A SOCIAL STUDIES BACKGROUND.
AND WITH BOTH OF THEM WORKING AT COLONEL HIGH WHEN I WAS A STUDENT DR.
ALL THE FUN FACTS. SO MAYBE, I DON'T KNOW, WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET SOME OTHER TEACHERS HERE TOO.
I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO. THEN WE GOT TO GO TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN FOR A STEM DAY.
BUT IT WAS SO COOL AND IMPRESSIVE, ESPECIALLY BEING A MATHEMATICS TEACHER, TO SEE THAT SIDE OF THINGS AND BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO MY CLASSROOM AND TELL MY KIDS, LIKE, YOU COULD GO WORK HERE. AND WE GOT TO SEE THE AIRPLANES, THAT THEY ACTUALLY CHANGED THE ATTACHMENTS TO TRY OUT ALL OF THE SATELLITES THAT THEY MAKE FOR THE AIR FORCE, AND WHERE THEY TAKE THEM OUT AND GIVE THEM A TRY, AND SO MANY COOL THINGS.
WE GOT TO DO SOME STEM ACTIVITIES. IT WAS REALLY FUN.
SO I REACHED OUT AND JOINED WITH A PRETTY LARGE GROUP OF THE OTHER TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, AND THEN THOSE THAT ARE NOT THAT WERE NOT CURRENT TEACHERS OF THE YEAR WERE ABLE TO ENTER THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS TO BE APPROVED.
SO MIRTA BRADNER WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL. SO WE'RE BOTH ON THAT COMMITTEE TOGETHER.
SO THAT WAS FUN TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE, BOTH OF US REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, BECAUSE NOT EVERY COUNTY WAS REPRESENTED ON THAT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, SO IT WAS NICE TO HAVE THAT INFLUENCE. AND THEN WE DID GO BACK TO THE STATE HOUSE FOR SOME RECOGNITION.
WE GOT TO GO ON THE FLOOR AND OUR STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR, CAT, GAVE A REALLY NICE PRESENTATION ABOUT TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL AND A STUDENT BRINGING A KITTEN TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, AND IT WAS A GREAT MOVING STORY.
IF YOU EVER GET TO SEE ANY OF HER SPEECHES SHE'S DELIVERED, SHE'S AMAZING.
SHE HAS MADE MY JOB SO MUCH EASIER THESE PAST TWO YEARS BEING IN MY CLASS.
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ABLE TO WALK THROUGH MY CLASS WHEN SHE'S WITH ME, SHE'S AMAZING. THE TEACHERS OF PROMISE INSTITUTE.
SOME OF THEM ARE MORE LOCAL. THERE AREN'T AS MANY GRADS ON THE EASTERN SHORE, SO MY MENTEE IS IN THE BALTIMORE AREA, BUT ALL THE PREVIOUS TEACHERS OF THE YEAR ARE INVITED AS WELL.
SO MIRTA BRADNER WAS WITH ME THAT DAY AS WELL.
AND THEN THE WESTERN MARYLAND RETREAT PROBABLY WAS MY FAVORITE EXPERIENCE, OUT TO DEEP CREEK.
IT WAS FULL OF SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THROUGHOUT THE DAYS.
WE GOT TO GO HIKING AND SEE SOME WATERFALLS. WE GOT TO GO TO THE HICKORY ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER THAT IS OWNED BY GARRETT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SEE THE PLANETARIUM. I HAD NEVER SEEN ONE BEFORE, IT WAS SO COOL.
AND IF YOU CAN SEE, LIKE THE LITTLE LEGO LOOKING THING, THEIR FIRST LEGO LEAGUE AND THE HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS TEAM DOES PRESENTATIONS AT THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS FOCUSING ON STEM SKILLS AND LIKE THE KIND OF QUICK MATH.
AND THEY HAVE LOTS OF LITTLE DEVICES THAT THEY USE.
THERE WAS A DUNCE HAT IN THERE. IT WAS NOT AN ORIGINAL.
IT WAS RECREATED JUST FOR FUN. AND THEN WE GOT TO SEE IN THE TOP RIGHT.
[00:30:01]
IT WAS REALLY COOL. BUT IN THE BOTTOM LEFT, I WILL SHARE WITH YOU.I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE, BUT FREDERICK COUNTY'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WE DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL THE VERY END OF HER BATTLE WITH CANCER THAT SHE WAS BATTLING CANCER AND KNEW WHEN SHE WAS ANNOUNCED AS TEACHER OF THE YEAR LAST YEAR.
AND SHE PASSED AWAY THAT WEEK THAT WE WENT OUT TO DEEP CREEK, SO WE HAD A LITTLE CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR HER. SHE WAS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU'D EVER MEET AND WOULD DO ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD FOR ANYONE.
AND THEN THE STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR REACHED OUT TO THE OTHER STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR, INVITED THEM TO HER SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE CITY FOR A VISIT, AND INVITED ALL OF US AS WELL.
AND THEY DO A LOT WITH THE PEER TO PEER MENTORING.
THEY THEIR DISCIPLINE NUMBERS ARE SUPER LOW. THE WAY THAT THE KIDS COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER AND ABOUT THEIR EMOTIONS AND NEEDS, IT WAS SO INCREDIBLE TO SEE. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO LOOK UP THEIR SCHOOL AND KIND OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY USE, I TOOK A LOT OF NOTES AND RESOURCES. THEY SHARED LOTS OF PRINTOUTS AND RESOURCES THAT THEY USE IN THEIR SCHOOL, BUT IT'S INCREDIBLE. AND THEN OUR LAST EVENT WAS THE ORIOLES GAME, WHICH THEY GOT TO ENJOY AND LOVE A LITTLE BIT, RIGHT? I'VE TAKEN THEM TO A FEW ORIOLES GAMES PREVIOUSLY, BUT WHEN WE GOT THERE THAT DAY, IT WAS IN A SUITE AND THERE'S FOOD THERE. MY SON GOES, WAIT, IS ALL OF THIS FOOD FREE? YUP, AS MUCH AS YOU WANT. THERE'S LOTS OF HOTDOGS.
GO FOR IT. AND THEY HAD AN ABSOLUTE GREAT TIME.
THEY LOVED IT SO MUCH. AND IT WAS A SUPER INCREDIBLE NIGHT BECAUSE CEDRIC MULLINS GOT HIS 100TH HOME RUN, MADE AN AMAZING DIVING CATCH IN CENTER FIELD, AND OUR SWEET WAS RIGHT THERE.
SO WE GOT TO WATCH IT HAPPEN. AND IT WAS THE LARGEST SHUTOUT WIN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.
SO IT WAS COOL TO BE A PART OF THAT HISTORY. AND SO AWESOME.
WE DID GET YELLED AT IF WE STEPPED ON THE GRASS, BY THE WAY.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT WAS A GREAT YEAR.
I LOVE REPRESENTING THE COUNTY THAT I'M SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT I GREW UP IN.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SEEMS LIKE PROBABLY A QUICK YEAR IN RETROSPECT, BUT A LOT GOING ON. OH YEAH. WHEN I WAS LOOKING BACK, I REALIZED I WAS MAKING SLIDES.
I WAS LIKE, OH, I MISSED AN ENTIRE EVENT. I NEED TO GO BACK AND ADD MORE.
BUT IT WAS COINCIDING WITH OTHER THINGS BECAUSE I COACHED TRACK.
SO THAT WAS GOING ON IN THERE. SO A MILLION TRACK PICTURES AND I WAS A SENIOR CLASS ADVISOR.
SO WE HAD ALL MY GRADUATION PICTURES AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I WILL SAY, AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS FOR NEXT YEAR, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE, OFFERS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES. AFTER THE SMITH ISLAND TRIP, THEY SAID REACH OUT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THIS NETWORK THAT WE HAVE.
SO I SENT THEM A MESSAGE. I'M THE ONLY ONE FROM THE COHORT THAT JOINED IT.
THEY TOOK ME TO THE KAREN NOONAN CENTER FOR A WEEKEND DOWN IN DORCHESTER COUNTY.
AND ACTUALLY TOMORROW I'M LEAVING TO GO TO TANGIER ISLAND WITH THEM, THEY SAID.
IT'S PAID FOR YOU. WE FEED YOU, WE TAKE CARE OF YOU.
SO I'LL LEAVE TOMORROW. AND THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT OPPORTUNITY THAT WASN'T PART OF THAT.
BUT THROUGH THAT NETWORK, THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION HAS BEEN AMAZING.
SO THAT'S AWESOME. YOU WERE ALSO THE BEST DRESSED, I WILL SAY.
I GREW UP WITH THREE OLDER BROTHERS FOR BEING AWARE OF THAT.
SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A TOMBOY GROWING UP.
THEY CAN PROBABLY BOTH ATTEST TO HOW I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO I TRIED TO STEP OUT A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, YOU REPRESENTED US WELL, SO. YEAH. CONGRATULATIONS.
ENJOY YOUR TRIP TO TANGIER. YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, DANIELLE. PICTURE REAL QUICK.
SANDY, DO WE DO PICTURE? PICTURE. PICTURE. WE'RE GOOD.
OKAY. WE'RE GOOD. YEAH. WE GOT ALL OF YOU CRAZY.
YEAH, WE MAY HAVE SAW THAT. SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT.
SO JUST WANTED TO UPDATE THE BOARD LAST MONTH AT THE JULY MEETING.
THE BOARD APPROVED THE CHANGES TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 25-30.
[00:35:03]
THE UPDATED STRATEGIC PLAN IS ON LINE, IS LINKED THERE WITH THE INFORMATION, AND WE ARE FINISHING PUBLICATION IN THE PAPER VERSIONS OF IT THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE OUT TO STAFF AND OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AS WE BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR.WE WILL BE SPEAKING AROUND THIS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE FALL AND HIGHLIGHTING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND HOW EVERYTHING IS RELATING BACK TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. WE HOPE WE HAVE A UPCOMING SESSION REVIEWING OUR BLUEPRINT WORK WITH THE AIB, AND WE'LL BE CONNECTING THAT ALSO TO THE 25 TO 30 STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS.
MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING CONTINUES TO BE INTERWOVEN AND ALIGNED AS WE CONTINUE THAT WORK FORWARD.
SO APPRECIATE THE BOARD'S EFFORT IN THIS LAST MONTH.
WE DO HAVE THE PUBLIC FACING WEBSITE PAGE OPEN AT THIS POINT, AND WE WILL HAVE THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT COMING SHORTLY TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT THE FOLKS AND HAVE IT AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AS WELL. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN THIS, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO GUIDE OUR EFFORTS MOVING FORWARD AT LEAST THROUGH 2030. IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT.
SORRY. SORRY. BOARD MEMBER REPORT. WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST ON THAT? ANYBODY? OKAY, TROY. I JUST WANT TO SAY SUMMER IS KIND OF GOING BY FAST, AND BEFORE WE KNOW IT KIDS ARE GONNA BE BACK.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED AND TO GET ROLLING.
AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH MR. MENGEL ON THE ON THE NEW BUILD.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A BUNCH OF THINGS COMING DOWN THE PIKE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY YEAR AGAIN, I THINK SO. YES, SIR. I'LL JUST SAY I'M EXCITED TO GET TO DO THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THINGS, BECAUSE THIS WILL BE MY FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING IN ALL OF THAT. SO I'M EXCITED TO DO THE NEW TEACHERS BREAKFAST AND ALL THE FUN STUFF THAT'S COMING UP.
SO EXCITED FOR THE NEW YEAR. YEAH. FOR ANY OF YOU WHO'VE NOT PARTICIPATED IN A WILLY WOO WOO PARTY THAT IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING AT THE FEDERALSBURG CENTER'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THE WILLIE WOO WOO PARTY OUTSIDE FOR THE FAMILIES AND PARENTS AND KIDS.
AND. YEAH, IT'LL BE EXCITING. GOOD STUFF. THAT'S FANTASTIC.
I TRIED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DID THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THE SUMMER WENT BY SO FAST. I'M NOT. I DON'T EVEN SURE. I'M NOT SURE I CAN RECAP MUCH OF WHAT'S HAPPENED, BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO ECHO WHAT TROY SAID ABOUT BEING EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW YEAR, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT ALL OF CAROLINE COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.
AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THAT PRESENTS FOR US, FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR STUDENTS.
AND THEN JUST WE WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FOLKS AND NEW FOLKS AND NEW POSITIONS.
AND SO I'M EXCITED FOR THEM AND, YOU KNOW, EXCITED FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND SUPPORT THEM AND SAY HELLO AND YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THEY'RE SETTLED AND FEELING WELCOME, SO.
HOW MANY DAYS? I HAVEN'T STARTED COUNTING YET, BUT I DID REALIZE NEW TEACHERS START NEXT WEEK.
YEAH, SECOND HALF OF NEXT WEEK. YEAH. IT'S MOVING.
YEAH. SAME SENTIMENTS. I MEAN, I WOULD SAY ENJOY THE LAST LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND LIKE YOU SAY NEXT WEEK THERE'S IT'S KIND OF GOING TO START THERE FOR YOU BILL.
THE WORK'S NEVER, NEVER REALLY STOPPED. BUT YOU'LL BE READY, THE TEACHERS, EVERYBODY WILL BE READY.
SO WE'LL GET OFF TO A GOOD START AND FINISH STRONG.
SO WITH THAT, SEEKING UNFINISHED BUSINESS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
DISCUSSIONS FOR FUTURE BOARD ACTION. NOTHING.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS. THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT. BUT JUDY CENTER,
[8. Upcoming Meetings and Events]
NEW BREAKFAST, TEACHER BREAKFAST BOARD RETREAT, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.SEPTEMBER 2ND, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. ANYTHING ELSE? NEXT BOARD MEETING IS. WHEN IS OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING? SEPTEMBER 7TH. DAY OF SCHOOL. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
OH, FUN. WOW. SO. WELL, WE'RE GONNA NEED COFFEE THAT NIGHT.
I THINK IT IS. I REMEMBER THAT. I THINK IT WAS FIRST WE STARTED A TREND.
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. I NEED A MEETING TO CLOSE IF EVERYBODY'S DONE.
MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION TO CLOSE. THAT'S IT.
ONE SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT. AYE.
WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.