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IS CHAIRWOMAN JULIE HEN.I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2022.
[B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)]
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO BE LED BY MS. ROA HASSAN.WE WILL THEN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MEANING IS BEING HELD IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY AND BROADCAST ONLINE THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS. IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.
[C. AGENDA (6:35 p.m.)]
FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 13TH AGENDA.WILLIAMS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA HEARING NONE.
THE AGENDA STANDS AS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS EVENING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS TO, TO ONE, DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE, DEMOTION COMPENSATION, REMOVAL, RESIGNATION, OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF APPOINTEES EMPLOYEES, OR OFFICIALS OVER WHOM IT HAS JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AND SEVEN CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.
THE MINUTES OF THE CLOSED SESSION AND INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE.
[D. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Ms. Anderson) (6:45 - 6:50 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS.AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MS. ANDERSON.
CHAIRWOMAN HEN, VICE CHAIR, MCMILLAN, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS.
TERMINATIONS RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS LEAVES, AND CERTIFICATED APPOINTMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT D ONE? SO MOVED OFFERMAN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND DSKY ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE MS. ROWE? YES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT D TWO THROUGH FIVE? SO I MOVED OFFERMAN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND HASAN? ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE, MS. ROWE? YES.
[E. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Williams) (6:50 - 7:00 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.WILLIAMS, MADAME CHAIR, HEN VICE CHAIR, MCMILLAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM BRINGING FORWARD THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR APPROVAL EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
OFFICER OFFICE OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COORDINATOR, PROGRAM EVALUATOR, OFFICE OF RESEARCH DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE ABSENCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST.
SITE-BASED INFINITE TODDLERS OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.
THERE ARE FIVE POSITIONS, SUPERVISOR TRANSITION SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS, SENIOR SUPERVISOR PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION, OFFICE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY
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SCHOOL SUPERVISOR COMPLIANCE, OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE AND SUPERVISOR, DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMICS, UH, PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT E ONE? SO MOVE TOAN.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND OFFERMAN? ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE, MS. ROE? YES.
WE HAVE SEVERAL APPOINTEES PRESENT IN THE AUDIENCE.
OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT IS JENNIFER BROADER AS THE COORDINATOR OF PROGRAM EVALUATION OFFICE OF RESEARCH ATTENDING WITH HER AS HER SON, ETHAN, BROER A SENIOR AT TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE BRINGS TO US TWO YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
HER PREVIOUS POSITION WAS RESEARCH SPECIALIST IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENTS.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE JOHN'S HOPKINS UNIVERSITY THREE YEARS GREEN COUNCIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION, FOUR YEARS AND LAFAYETTE SCHOOL CORPORATION ONE YEAR.
CONGRATULATIONS, JENNIFER R BROER X APPOINTEE IS JAMES KIRBY, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF EMPLOYEE ABSENCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT, UH, ATTENDING WITH HIM.
IT'S HIS WIFE, KELLY, BEN GLENN, BEN GLENN.
IF I SAID THAT RIGHT PREVIOUSLY, HE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT FROM LAS VEGAS VALLEY WATER DISTRICT.
HE'S BRINGING EXPERIENCE IN THAT SYSTEM AND OFFICE.
HE'S ALSO SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION MANAGER OF INSURANCE AND CLAIMS AND RISK MANAGER, RISK MANAGEMENT MANAGER, OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT.
WELCOME TO BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NEXT WE HAVE TOBY P DE COCO AS SPECIALISTS SITE BASED INFANT AND TODDLERS IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES ATTENDING WITH HER AS HER HUSBAND, DAVID DE COCO, PLEASE STAND
SHE ALSO SERVED AS A RESOURCE TEACHER AND DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL ED SPECIAL ED INCLUSION TEACHER AND IN THE OFFICE OF CHILD FINE ASSESSMENT, AS WELL AS WESTTOWN ELEMENTARY.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS SPECIAL ED TEACHER, EARLY CHILDHOOD, AND SELF-CONTAINED ORS ELEMENTARY.
CONGRATULATIONS, TOBY P TO COACH.
NEXT, WE HAVE MONICA, A DILLARD SUPERVISOR, TRANSITION SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS JOINING HER.
IT'S HER SISTER, CAMILLA CLARK.
CURRENTLY SHE SERVED AS THE SPECIALIST IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENTS.
SHE BRINGS 18 YEARS OF SERVICE TO BALTIMORE COUNTY PRIOR TO THE SPECIALIST POSITION.
SHE SERVED AS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT PIKESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, OWINGS MILL HIGH SCHOOL.
PRIOR TO THAT, SHE SERVED AS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL.
STEMMERS RUN WINDSOR MILL, MIDDLE WOODLAWN, MIDDLE, AND SHE HAS HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE CITY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CONGRATULATIONS, MONICA, A DILLON.
NEXT WE HAVE THERESA ID SPECIALIST SITE BASED INFANT AND TODDLERS IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES ATTENDING WITH HER IS HER HUSBAND, UH, JEAN ID PLEASE.
SHE BRINGS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE.
BALTIMORE COUNTY PREVIOUS POSITION WAS AN INFANT AND TODDLERS TEAM LEADER.
PRIOR TO THAT, SHE SERVES AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION INCLUSION TEACHER IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.
PRIOR TO THAT, SHE SERVES AS A PRE-K TEACHER AT MIDDLEBOROUGH ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER AND READING TEACHER AT MIDDLE BARREL.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS AN ENGLISH TEACHER AT MIDDLE RIVER, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER AT HALLS HALLSTEAD ACADEMY.
CONGRATULATIONS, TERESA I EDDIE EDDIE CHANGE MY NOS.
ALL RIGHT,
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UH, SPECIALIST SITE BASED INFANT AND TODDLERS OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES ATTENDING WITH HER SUPERVISOR, TONY LYNN AROSE PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT, SHE SERVES AS A TEAM LEADER, INFANT AND TODDLER IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.SHE BRINGS 12 YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PRIOR TO THAT EXPERIENCE, SHE SERVED AS SPECIAL ED TEACHER.
SELF-CONTAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF, UH, SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AND SHE ALSO HAS HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA, A JEFF NEXT WE HAVE FELICIA SHRADER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SHE BRINGS OVER SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UM, CURRENTLY SHE SERVED AS A SCIENCE TEACHER AT TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL.
SHE ALSO SERVED, UM, PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ATTENDING WITH HER IS HER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, DR.
KIM COLSON, WHO WAS OUR MARYLAND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR IN 2022.
AND I BELIEVE PRINCIPAL CHARLENE DOMINO SNUCK IN, PLEASE STAND.
CONGRATULATIONS, FELICIA SHRADER.
NEXT WE HAVE ELIZABETH H. SMITH ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ATTENDING WITH HER IS HER HUSBAND TYLER SMITH, PLEASE STAY IN.
SHE BRINGS NINE YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UH, CURRENTLY SHE SERVED AS THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR AT MILLBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS A, UH, SCHOOL COUNSELOR AT PARKVILLE MIDDLE AND PERRY HALL MIDDLE.
SHE SERVED AS A GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, AN IMAGINE DISCOVERY PUBLIC CHARTER, AND SHE HAS PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE.
CONGRATULATIONS, ELIZABETH H. SMITH.
NEXT WE HAVE TSA WILLIAMS AS SUPERVISOR, DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS.
SHE BRINGS OVER TWO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY ATTENDING WITH HER IS HER SIGNIFICANT OTHER MAURICE GOLF.
PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT, SHE SERVED AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS AND OPTIONS.
AND PRIOR TO THAT, SHE SERVED AS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AT HEP ELEMENTARY AND HAS HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT GILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS.
CONGRATULATIONS, NEXT, WE HAVE REBECCA L WILFORD SPECIALIST SITE BASED, UM, INFANT AND TODDLERS OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.
SHE BRINGS OVER Y NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO BALTIMORE COUNTY ATTENDING WITH HERS, HER HUSBAND, KENNETH WILFORD, PRIOR TO THIS EXPERIENCE, UH, APPOINTMENTS.
SHE SERVED AS A TEAM LEADER, INFANTS AND TODDLERS.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS AN INFANT AND TODDLER TEACHER IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES, AS WELL AS A SPECIAL ED INCLUSION TEACHER IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.
CONGRATULATIONS, NEXT, WE HAVE REBECCA ZIMMERMAN SPECIALIST SITE BASED INFANT AND TODDLER'S OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES.
SHE BRINGS EIGHT YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
ATTENDING IS HER FRIEND AMY FOWLER.
HER PREVIOUS POSITIONS INCLUDE INFANT AND TODDLER TEACHER IN THE OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE.
SHE ALSO SERVES AS SPECIAL ED INCLUSION TEACHER IN OFFICE OF BIRTH TO FIVE SERVICES, AS WELL AS HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY.
SHE TOO BRING EXPERIENCES FROM KENNEDY CREEK INSTITUTE.
CONGRATULATIONS, NOT ATTENDING TONIGHT, BUT WATCHING VIRTUALLY WE HAVE STEWART D BECKHAM EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY OFFICE OFFICER IN THE OFFICE OF EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY.
HE BRINGS FIVE MONTHS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UH, PREVIOUSLY HE SERVED AS A HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST IN THE INVESTIGATIONS IN THE OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS AND RECORDS.
HE'S HOW HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOR HEALTH, AS WELL AS THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER FOR BALTIMORE CITY, WHERE HE HAS SERVED SEVERAL POSITIONS IN THE COMPTROLLER OFFICE OF BALTIMORE CITY.
CONGRATULATIONS, MR. STEWART, D BECKHAM.
WHO'S WATCHING VIRTUALLY AS THE SENIOR SUPERVISOR PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE OFFICE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES.
HE SERVES, UH, PREVIOUSLY AS THE SUPERVISOR IN FOOD SERVICES, FACILITIES, AND EQUIPMENT.
HE ALSO HAVE SERVED IN THE OFFICE OF FOOD AND NUTRITION AS
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THE ASSISTANT, UH, FIELD REPRESENTATIVE FIELD REPRESENTATIVE OP OPERATIONS, AND HE'S HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND SEVERAL COMPANIES CONGRATULATIONS, MR. JOHN P SONO.AND FINALLY, WE HAVE DANA F TOBIN AS THE SUPERVISOR OF COMPLIANCE IN THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE.
SHE BRINGS 13 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
SHE'S WATCHING VIRTUALLY, UH, PREVIOUSLY SHE SERVED AS A SPECIALIST OF COMPLIANCE IN THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE.
SHE SERVED AS A SPECIAL ED EDUCATION INCLUSION TEACHER AT SUD BROOK MAGNET, MIDDLE LYONS MILL ELEMENTARY RELAY ELEMENTARY, AND SHE SERVED AS SPECIAL EDUCATION SELF-CONTAINED TEACHER AT RELAY AND WINFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
CONGRATULATIONS, DANA F TOBIN.
WILLIAMS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.
[F. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:00 - 7:40 p.m.)]
NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT.THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THE BOARD PROVIDES TO HEAR THE VIEWS AND RECEIVE THE ADVICE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM INTERESTED CITIZENS AS APPROPRIATE.
WE WILL REFER YOUR CONCERNS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FOLLOW UP BY HIS STAFF.
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL CONDUCT THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING BY ALLOWING THOSE WHO REGISTERED TO SPEAK TO ATTEND IN PERSON REGISTRATION WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ONE WEEK PRIOR TO TONIGHT'S BOARD MEETING AND WAS CLOSED AT 3:00 PM YESTERDAY, FOR ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK AT THIS EVENING'S MEETING BOARD PRACTICE LIMITS TO 10, THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING SPEAKERS ARE SELECTED RANDOMLY USING AN ELECTRONIC SELECTION PROCESS FROM ALL REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIMEFRAME.
EACH SPEAKER IS ALLOWED THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
OF COURSE, IF FEWER THAN 10 REGISTRATIONS ARE RECEIVED, ALL WHO REGISTERED WILL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK.
HOWEVER, NO SPEAKER SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED WHILE WE ENCOURAGE PUBLIC INPUT ON POLICY PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS BOARD IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THIS IS NOT THE PROPER FORUM TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE MATTERS OR TO COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT DO NOT RELATE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO UTILIZE EXISTING DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESSES AS APPROPRIATE.
I REMIND EVERYONE THAT INAPPROPRIATE, PERSONAL REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS OR INTERFERES WITH THE CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING ARE OUT OF ORDER.
I ASK SPEAKERS TO OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE CLOCK, WHICH WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
WHEN YOU HEAR THE TONE OR SEE THE TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE END OF YOUR TIME.
IF A SPEAKER ADDRESSES SPECIFIC STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE MATTERS OR IS COMMENTING ON MATTERS, NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, IF NOT SELECTED, THE PUBLIC MAY SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL@BOEBCPS.ORG.
MORE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE BOARD'S WEBSITE@BCPS.ORG, UNDER BOARD OF EDUCATION PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC.
I NOW CALL ON OUR ADVISORY AND STAKEHOLDER GROUP LEADERS TO SPEAK.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BILLY BURKE WITH CASE TIM, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE THE PEOPLE THAT WERE APPOINTED THE ABILITY TO LEAVE? OF COURSE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
THEY DID LATER ALL COMING ABOUT THE SAME TIME.
CHAIRWOMAN MRS. HAND VICE CHAIR, MR. MCIL SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU ON BEHALF OF CASE.
AS WE BEGIN THIS SCHOOL YEAR, I THOUGHT I'D USE MY TIME TONIGHT TO OUTLINE MY PRIORITIES AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CASE.
MY FIRST PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR A FAIR AND REASONABLE WORKLOAD.
THE CURRENT CASE MASTER AGREEMENT STATES, AND I QUOTE THE WORK HOURS OF CASE MEMBERS ARE THOSE HOURS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE DUTIES AS ESTABLISHED BY THE BOARD.
IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT THE JOB REQUIREMENTS OF PROFESSIONALS OF SUCH A NATURE, THAT THEY CANNOT ADEQUATELY BE MET WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIMEFRAME END QUOTE.
THIS LANGUAGE PROTECTS THE BOARD, BUT LEAVES CASE MEMBERS VULNERABLE TO EVENTS BEYOND THEIR CONTROL.
FOR INSTANCE, ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHANGES TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION.
ADMINISTRATORS ARE CHARGED WITH
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SUPERVISING STUDENTS WHEN AFTERNOON BUSES DON'T ARRIVE EXTENDING THEIR DAY BY 60 TO 90 MINUTES.ALMOST EVERY OTHER BARGAINING UNIT RECEIVES EXTRA COMPENSATION FOR WORKING BEYOND THE DUTY DAY CASE DOES NOT.
IT MAKES MEMBERS FEEL UNDERVALUED AND DISRESPECTED.
MY SECOND PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM PLANS FOR ADDRESSING THE STAFFING CRISIS, ASKING EMPLOYEES TO COVER CLASSROOMS. INSTEAD OF WORKING THE JOBS THEY WERE HIRED TO DO HAS BEEN A NECESSARY STRATEGY IN MANAGING THE STAFFING CRISIS.
BUT THIS SHORT TERM STRATEGY IS NOT SUSTAINABLE.
STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO RESIGN IF THEY ARE REASSIGNED TO OTHER WORK.
MY THIRD PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR APPROPRIATE SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING.
ADMINISTRATORS ARE BEING ASKED TO MANAGE THE CHALLENGES OF SERVING STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WITHOUT ENOUGH STAFF EXPERIENCE, TRAINING AND RESOURCES.
IT LEAVES STUDENTS UNDERSERVED AND STAFF DEFEATED BY UNREALISTIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
MY FOURTH AND FINAL PRIORITY IS TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS AND BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT AND UNDERSTAND SPENDING AFFORDABILITY LIMITS BUDGETS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED WITHIN THOSE LIMITS BARGAINING UNIT NEGOTIATION ITEMS SHOULD BE TRANSPARENT TO THE BOARD, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY COUNCIL, AND THE PUBLIC THERE SHOULD BE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETINGS BETWEEN BARGAINING UNIT NEGOTIATING TEAMS, THE BCPS NEGOTIATING TEAM, THE BOARD BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNCIL.
IT WAS A WASTE OF FIVE TO EIGHT MONTHS OF MEETINGS TO BARGAINING UNITS AND BCP TO REACH AN AGREEMENT THAT DEPENDED ON APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD AND THEN THE COUNTY COUNCIL.
IF WE DON'T COLLABORATE ALONG THE WAY I FEAR WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME BUDGET APPROVAL ISSUES.
MOST CASE MEMBERS ARE LONG TERM BCP EMPLOYEES THAT ARE EAGER TO LEAD.
WE NEED LEADERS LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS FOR CASE MEMBERS AND ALL BCP EMPLOYEES.
NEXT REPRESENTING THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WE HAVE THREE STUDENTS FAVOR YOU MOM, AJA BEER SING, AND MEAR WILSON, PLEASE.
CORRECT ME IF I'M MISPRONOUNCING YOUR NAMES AND WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS FAVOR ALO UMA.
I'M A SENIOR AT KANESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK MY SUPERVISORS FOR MAKING THIS EXPERIENCE A SUCCESS FOR ME DURING THE SUMMER, I WAS ABLE TO LEARN SOME NEW SKILLS EXAMPLE.
I WAS ABLE TO TRIAGE COMPUTERS.
I WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE ISSUES GOING ON WITH COMPUTERS.
I WAS ABLE TO FIX CHROMEBOOKS.
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO, UM, FIX BROKEN SCREENS.
YES, LASTLY, I WANNA THANK ALL BCPS MEMBERS, ALL BCPS BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERVISORS FOR MAKING ME GAIN THIS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE THAT I WILL USE LATER IN THE FUTURE.
MY NAME IS AJ SING AND I'M A SENIOR AT FAIRWELL HIGH SCHOOL ALONGSIDE GUAN.
UH, AND FIRSTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY SUPERVISORS FOR MAKING THIS SUMMER INTERNSHIP, UNLIKE ANY OTHER, UM, ON THE JOB WE DID COMPUTER, UM, BIAS UPDATE AND REPAIRING THE COMPUTERS, UM, IN ORDER TO HELP SUPPORT THE, UH, SUPPORT STAFF AND SCHOOLS TO, UH, REISSUE THE CHROMEBOOKS THAT WE HAVE NOW IN PLACE OF THE OLD COMPUTERS.
AND ALSO WE LEARNED ABOUT HOW, UM, UH, HOW DO WE LIKE, UH, FIGURE OUT THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND, UH, BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE USUALLY DON'T GET TO SEE THAT OFTEN? UM, IT WAS ALSO WORTH MY TIME BECAUSE WHO LIKES AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP DURING THE SENIOR YEAR.
UM, ALSO MEETING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE POSITION OF DIRECTORS AND ALSO, UH, WE MET MISS NANCY.
UM, SHE WAS, UH, THE DIRECTOR WHO TAKES CARE OF THE, ALL THE DATA THAT PROCESSES AND SHE GIVES, UH, US A 32ND SPEECH.
THAT WAS ALSO VERY HELPFUL, UM, IN DECIDING WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IN THE FUTURE.
ALSO MEETING A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REALLY HELP.
UH, I WANT ALSO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR YOUR TIME AND GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TODAY.
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NEXT.WE HAVE MISS CINDY SEXTON WITH TABCO AND SOME FRIENDS AND SOME FRIENDS IS WELCOME.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR, HAND VICE CHAIRMAN.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN JULY.
A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED BETWEEN TABCO AND BCP.
WE AGREED TO A FIVE YEAR SALARY COMPRESSION THAT WOULD BE HISTORIC IN MOVING OUR BC PS EDUCATORS TOWARDS GREATER CAREER EARNINGS, WHERE WE CURRENTLY RANK NINTH IN THE STATE.
SINCE THEN THE FINALIZATION OF THE PROCESS HAS STALLED.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS PROVIDED HISTORIC FUNDING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT COMPENSATION COSTS ARE THE BIGGEST PART OF THE BUDGET.
OUR EDUCATORS ARE ONCE AGAIN, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET NOT ONLY THE ACADEMIC NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS, BUT THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AS WELL.
WITH THE CURRENT VACANCIES, OUR EDUCATORS ARE BEING CALLED ON TO DO EXTRA WORK, PROVIDE MORE FOR STUDENTS AND WORK WITH THEIR PEERS, TO BE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT GETS WHAT THEY NEED, BUT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT OUR EDUCATORS NEED, WHAT THEY NEED TO DRAW THEM TO TEACH HERE AND WHAT WE NEED TO.
SO THEY DECIDE TO STAY IN THE SCHOOLS HERE.
IF WE CAN'T RECRUIT AND RETAIN EDUCATORS, OUR SYSTEM WILL WEAKEN.
AND WHEN OUR COUNTY'S EDUCATION SYSTEM WEAKENS, NOBODY WINS.
NOT THE CHILDREN, NOT THE EDUCATORS, NOT THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
WE MUST ADVANCE OUR EFFORTS TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.
WE NEED TO HAVE OUR NEGOTIATIONS FINALIZED VOTED ON BY MEMBERSHIP AND CODIFIED IN OUR MASTER AGREEMENT.
IN AUGUST, OUR BUILDING REPS PASSED A MOTION CALLING ON BCP, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND COUNTY COUNCIL TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A FIVE YEAR PLAN WITH TABCO TO SUSTAINABLY FUND THE AGREED ON SALARY SALE ADJUSTMENT.
NO LATER THAN TODAY AT THE BOARD OF ED MEETING, WE GATHERED OVER 5,000 SIGNATURES FROM OUR TABCO MEMBERS.
WHEN THIS PETITION, WE DIDN'T SEND YOU EMAILS, I'M SORRY.
OVER 3000, UH, ERICA, LENA, AND MY OTHER MEMBERS HERE ARE HOLDING THE SIGNATURES OF THOSE OVER 3000 AND THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS ALSO WORE RED TODAY IN SOLIDARITY.
WE NOW CALL ON THE LEADERS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO JOIN US AT THE TABLE, TO WORK WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
AND TABCO SO AWAY CAN BE FOUND.
EVERY COUNTY LEADER HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS COMPENSATION PACKAGE.
EVERY LEADER HAS SAID THEY WANT TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO, YES, OUR EDUCATORS HAVE WAITED LONG ENOUGH.
WHEN CAN WE SCHEDULE THIS MEETING SO WE CAN SHOW OUR EDUCATORS THAT BY THE ACTIONS YOU DO WANT THEM TO COME AND TO REMAIN IN B CPS THAT YOU BOTH NEED AND RESPECT US ONE WAY THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT IS BY APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION.
LET'S PLEASE SCHEDULE THIS MEETING.
LET'S FIND A WAY OUR KIDS CAN'T WAIT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARLENA PEREL WITH THE SOUTHWEST AREA ADVISORY COUNCIL.
EVERYONE CHAIR HAND VICE PRESIDENT CHAIR, DR.
WILLIAMS. MY NAME IS MARLENA PEREL FOR THE RECORD.
I'M SOUTHWEST CHAIR, THE, UM, EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND I JUST, UM, WANTED TO TAKE THE THREE MINUTES TONIGHT TO LET YOU KNOW A COUPLE OF THINGS.
DID YOU KNOW SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPARA, EXCUSE ME, NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH DISASTERS.
DON'T PLAN AHEAD, BUT WE CAN, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, YOU ARE A SUBJECT OF DISASTERS, NATURAL DISASTERS OR MANMADE DISASTERS.
THEY AFFECT EVERYONE AND HAVE SEVERE DAMAGE AND ENDANGERED LIVES, HURRICANES, TORNADOES, EARTHQUAKES, LANDSLIDES, ALL OF WHICH CAN, UM, BE DEADLY TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY MANMADE DISASTERS, SUCH AS TERRORISM, CRIME, POWER OUTAGES, ORLY IN THE WATER.
WELL, I'M HERE TO JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT WE SALUTE YOU.
WE ASK FOR COMMUNICATION AND YOU JUST DID JUST THAT.
BUT THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE PREPARED? WHAT DO WE STILL NEED TO DO FOR THE, WHAT IF ONE WEEK FROM TODAY WE RECEIVED, UH, UH, EIGHT MINUTES AFTER SEVEN, A EMAIL LISTING, ALL 33
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SOUTHWEST SCHOOLS, AND THEN LATER A REVISED EMAIL AT 30, UM, 10:34 AM.AND IT, IT UNTIL 11 SCHOOLS, IT INDICATED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT WILL ENSURE ADEQUATE BOTTLE WATERS, HAND SANITIZERS AVAILABLE FOR THE SOUTHWEST AREA.
SCHOOLS AND MILLS WILL BE PREPARED OFFSITE.
I KNOW THAT MANY PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND STAKEHOLDERS EXPRESS CONCERNS, BUT LET'S JUST CELEBRATE.
THE FACT IS WE RECEIVED THE EMAIL EARLY ON, NOT A DAY LATER, TWO DAYS LATER, LET'S CELEBRATE YOU.
THE FACT IS WE RECEIVED THE LETTER IN SPANISH AND WE ALSO RECEIVED A WEBSITE TO INCLUDE WHICH INCLUDED, UM, HOW WE CAN GO ABOUT FINDING IMPACT AREAS.
I SAY THIS BECAUSE ACTION IS BETTER THAN REACTING A FEW DAYS LATER.
SO ALLOW US THE MOMENT TO VENT THE PENDULUM, SWINGS BACK, GREAT JOB ON THE COMMUNICATION.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK STRONGER TO BE A TEAM BBC, UM, TEAM BCPS NEXT UP WITH 45 SECONDS LEFT WARNING.
THIS IS A SENSITIVE TOPIC, TRANSPORTATION FROM AN EQUITY LENS.
LET'S JUST SAY THE SAME BUSES ARE ARRIVING LATE, OR MAYBE NOT AT ALL.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THESE BUSES AND, AND IF THIS IS NOT TRUE, TAKE THE LAST TWO WEEKS AND TATE IT IN A SOUTHWEST AREA.
I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO LOOK AT OUR TIMESTAMPS OR EVEN THE VIDEOS OF US TAKING PICTURES OF HIGH SCHOOL BUSES, IDLING ON SITES.
WHILE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE STILL SITTING IN THE HALLWAYS.
I'D RATHER NOT GET INTO WHICH SCHOOLS, BUT I'D RATHER JUST SAY, LET US BE A PART OF YOUR SOLUTION.
WE KNOW THAT ADVERTISEMENTS ARE OUT THERE.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT BIDDING FOR THE JOBS, BUT LET'S USE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
WE HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS KENNETH.
I'VE GOT 11 YEARS OF TEACHING.
SHOUT MAR AS RTA, BEST PRINCIPAL AROUND, PLEASE DON'T TAKE HER FROM US.
UH, FIRST I NEED YOU TO FULLY FUND THE NEGOTIATED CONTRACT.
BCPS HAS HUNDREDS OF OPEN POSITIONS.
WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE FROM CENTRAL OFFICE.
WE'RE PULLING PEOPLE FROM OTHER POSITIONS TO FILL THESE POSITIONS AND THEY'RE STILL OPEN POSITIONS.
ALL OF THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES PAY BETTER.
THAT'S A FACT, WE GOTTA DO SOMETHING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME TO OUR COUNTY OR THIS PROBLEM'S GONNA GET WORSE.
UH, SECOND, WHEN IT COMES TO COVID, WE CANNOT IGNORE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT IT HAS ON OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN STUDENTS GET SICK, THEY LOSE OUT ON LEARNING.
AND WHEN TEACHERS ARE SICK, STUDENT LEARNING SUFFERS EVEN MORE.
WE CANNOT PRETEND LIKE COVID DOESN'T SPREAD IN OUR SCHOOLS.
SO I URGE THAT THE BOARD IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONSIDER EASY MITIGATION TACTICS LIKE HEPA AIR PURIFIERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, EVERY CLASSROOM, WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT CLEAN AIR IS A GOOD THING, AND THIS MEASURE WOULD HELP IMPROVE BOTH STAFF AND STUDENT ATTENDANCE.
WE DON'T WANT ALL THESE ABSENCES.
WE ALL KNOW THE NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH KELLY SUBSTITUTE STAFFING.
SO I URGE YOU TO TAKE MEASURES TO IMPROVE BOTH STUDENT AND STAFF ATTENDANCE, HEPA AIR PURIFIERS, CLEANER AIR, FEWER ABSENCES.
FARONE GOOD EVENING TO ALL THE CENTRAL AREAS HOLDING ON THE 21ST A PRESENTATION ABOUT HOW TO VOLUNTEER FOR BCP, BUT THE, HOW IS THE WRONG ONE.
IT SHOULD BE WHY THE PUBLIC SHOULD VOLUNTEER FOR BCP, EVERY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND THIS IS NOT EXEMPT, NOT EXEMPT IT'S AS STRONG AS THE ACTIVE MEMBERS OR SUPPORTERS.
IN THIS INSTANCE, IT IS THE PUBLIC I REPORTED TO YOU BY EMAIL.
ALL OF YOU THAT THE SCHOOL POLICE OFFICER HAS PUSHED ME WITHOUT.
FARONE THIS TIME IS NOT FOR SPECIFIC DISPUTES.
THERE IS A DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS.
SO I ASK THAT YOU USE THAT PROCESS VERSUS PUBLIC COMMENT.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO SPECIFIC DISPUTES.
YOU'RE WELCOME TO USE YOUR TIME FOR THAT.
[00:35:02]
UH, MADAM CHAIR, IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DISPUTE.THE DISPUTE IS ALREADY BY EMAIL AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY ANSWER.
SO THAT, THAT IS A SPECIFIC DISPUTE.
BUT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON SOMETHING, NOT RELATED TO THAT, PLEASE CONTINUE.
I REALLY ADMIRE YOU FOR SPEAKING UP TO THE PUBLIC ON FACEBOOK.
I HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE BOARD FOR 25 YEARS, AND I BELIEVE YOU ARE THE ONLY CHAIR SLASH PRESIDENT THAT COMMUNICATED WITH THE PUBLIC ON FACEBOOK.
HOWEVER, NO OTHER BOARD MEMBER, I BELIEVE DOES THAT.
WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY, THE STRENGTH OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS BY THE STRENGTH OF THE COMMUNICATION, BOTH WAYS, WE MAKE OUR EFFORT TO COME AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOU.
YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE BACK WITH US.
SO IF I SEND AN EMAIL OF A QUESTION OR A CONCERN OR A COMPLAINT, AT LEAST WRITE A WORD BACK, ACKNOWLEDGED, RECEIVED, I WILL ANSWER YOU IN TWO WEEKS OR IN TWO YEARS, AT LEAST I HEAR SOMETHING.
IT IS NOT HOW THE PUBLIC CAN VOLUNTEER FOR PCPS.
IT IS WHY THE PUBLIC SHOULD AND OUGHT TO VOLUNTEER FOR PCPS.
AND HONESTLY, WHEN I DON'T RECEIVE EMAIL BACK, WHY SHOULD I REALLY VOLUNTEER FOR PCPS? WHY SHOULD I DONATE MONEY OR TIME OR EFFORT? THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTINE PHILLIPS.
MY NAME IS CHRISTINE PHILLIPS.
I'M A FIFTH YEAR SPANISH TEACHER AT WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT STAFFING AND EDUCATOR WORKLOAD STAFFING, PRIMARILY IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT SERVE MAJORITY STUDENTS OF COLOR LIKE MY OWN, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD STAFFING ISSUES.
SOME OF MY SPANISH THREE STUDENTS IN THE 20 18, 20 19 SCHOOL YEAR HAD NEVER HAD A SPANISH TEACHER STAY A FULL YEAR BEFORE ME, THAT DRASTICALLY AFFECTED THEIR BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE IN MY CLASSROOM.
AND THEREFORE HOW AND WHAT I HAD TO DIFFERENTIATE OUR SCHOOLS THAT OUR MAJORITY STUDENTS OF COLOR OFTEN HAVE SOME OF THE HIGHEST TURNOVER RATES AND THE MOST INEXPERIENCED EDUCATORS, WHICH I FEAR WILL BE EXACERBATED BY THIS EDUCATOR SHORTAGE.
THIS STAFFING CRISIS IS ALSO INEXTRICABLY LINKED TO TEACHER WORKLOAD.
THIS IS MY FIFTH YEAR TEACHING AND MY DEPARTMENT HAS NEVER BEEN FULLY STAFFED AT THE START OF SCHOOL.
I'VE EXPERIENCED TWO SCHOOL YEARS WITH A LONG TERM SUB ON MY TEAM.
WE DON'T HAVE A VACANCY IN MY DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR, BUT WE DO HAVE SOMEONE OUT ON MATERNITY LEAVE.
EACH REMAINING PERSON IN MY DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN A SEVENTH CLASS, SO THAT 160 STUDENTS STILL GET TAUGHT SPANISH.
THAT MEANS THAT I HAVE 210 STUDENTS DURING A SCHOOL WEEK.
WE LOSE BETWEEN THREE AND FOUR AND A HALF HOURS OF DUTY DAY PLANNING.
IT IS WEEK THREE AND I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN 30 HOURS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL PLANNING AND GRADING.
THAT IS NOT A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION.
I AM BURNT OUT LESS THAN A MONTH IN.
I FEAR THAT EDUCATORS LIKE ME WILL BURN OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR RESIGN AND THEN LEAVE ME EVEN MORE VACANCIES BEHIND.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO LOVE STUDENTS AND LOVE EDUCATION, BUT CAN'T, OR WON'T WITHSTAND THE UNTENABLE WORKLOAD WE ARE FACING.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF I'M COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.
THE LEAST THIS BOARD, THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE CAN DO IS FUND OUR RAISES.
WE ARE UNDERPAID IN COMPARISON TO SURROUNDING DISTRICTS AND WE SIMPLY DESERVE MORE.
WE ARE PULLING THE WEIGHT OF HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES.
AND IF YOU DON'T COMPENSATE US, WE BELIEVE NEXT IS ANNA WEISBERG.
[00:40:06]
GOOD EVENING.I'M A READING RESOURCE TEACHER AT DEEP CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THE PAY SCALE AND TELL YOU THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GUYS FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS DONE.
PEOPLE IN MY BUILDING WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE START OF SCHOOL.
THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE RACE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SEE, AND THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE RECOGNITION OF THE WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT AND NURTURE STUDENTS THROUGH.
COVID THE WORK IS HARD AND OFTEN THANKLESS.
WE SPEND WAY MORE HOURS AS MY COLLEAGUE, CHRISTINE JUST SAID THAT ARE IN A SCHOOL DAY AND STILL OUR STUDENTS NEED MUCH MORE ALREADY.
RETENTION OF SCHOOL STAFF IS DIFFICULT.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE SCHOOL STAFF, ESPECIALLY ON THE LOWER END OF THE PAY SCALE IN ORDER TO KEEP AND ATTRACT ENOUGH STAFF.
OTHERWISE, WE ARE GOING TO END UP IN A DEATH SPIRAL THAT CHRISTINE JUST DESCRIBED, WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF, WHICH PROMOTES LOW MORALE, WHICH LEADS TO MORE STAFF LEAVING FOR THE SAKE OF OUR STUDENTS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WE NEED YOU TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THAT PAY SCALE THAT YOU AGREED TO A REALITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LENA AMIC.
SOME OF THE NAMES OF PETITION OUT HERE
CHAIRWOMAN HAND SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS LENA AMIC AND I'M HERE AS A HISTORY TEACHER AT PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS MY SIXTH YEAR OF TEACHING AND LIKE CHRISTINE, LAST YEAR, I WAS SERIOUSLY THINKING ABOUT QUITTING TONIGHT.
I COME TO YOU AS SOMEONE WHO STUCK IT OUT TO TALK ABOUT OUR STAFF IN CRISIS, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NEARLY 3000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION IN FAVOR OF OUR RAISES, WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE NEW SALARY SCALE THAT TABCO HAS NEGOTIATED WITH BCPS IS UNSUSTAINABLE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
AND I ASSUME THIS IS TRUE BECAUSE PEOPLE WITH BETTER BUDGET AND MATH MINDS THAN ME ARE SAYING THAT, BUT WHAT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU IS THAT OUR TEACHING CONDITIONS ARE UNSUSTAINABLE HAVING COVERAGE AND LOSING PLANNING IN THE VERY FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IS UNSUSTAINABLE NEEDING AND MISSING LONG TERM SUBS.
THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IS UNSUSTAINABLE PRESSURING TEACHERS TO GIVE UP THEIR PLANNING PERIOD AND TEACH A FOURTH CLASS OR TAKE ON EXTRA CASELOADS OR DONATE THEIR TIME TO PLAN EXTRA LESSONS FOR A LONG TERM.
HAVING NEW TEACHERS, EMAILING AND CALLING HR WITH NO RESPONSE ABOUT PAY AND CERTIFICATION IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
OF COURSE, OUR BUSING SYSTEM IS UNSUSTAINABLE NOT HAVING ENOUGH STAFF TO MEET IEP REQUIREMENTS IS UNSUSTAINABLE AND FRANKLY ILLEGAL.
AND WHEN THESE PROBLEMS KEEP HAPPENING, STAFF DO RESIGN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVEN HAVE FIVE YEARS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
THE RATES OF RESIGNATIONS, NOT RETIREMENTS, JUST RESIGNATIONS DOUBLED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BASED ON THE START OF THIS YEAR.
I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF IT'S THAT HIGH AGAIN.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WE ARE IN A SERIOUS CRISIS.
THERE'S A STAFFING SHORTAGE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE STAFF AVAILABLE WILL COME TO B CPS.
BY DOING THAT, WE NEED TO START BY FULLY FUNDING.
THE NEW SALARY SCALE, THE TEACHERS ARE BACK DOING THEIR JOB AND MORE.
WE NEED YOU THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO COME BACK TO THE TABLE AND FUND THIS PAY SCALE.
THERE'S A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN FUNDING AND RETAINING QUALIFIED, DEDICATED EDUCATORS AND PROFESSIONALS AS TEACHERS, WE WANNA BE THERE AND PRESENT AND SUPPORTIVE AND BE THAT PERSON IN YOUR CHILD'S LIFE.
IF WE'RE DOING SOMEONE ELSE'S JOB, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO OUR OWN JOB.
OUR STAFFING CRISIS IS ALSO AN EQUITY ISSUE AT THOSE AS THOSE BEFORE ME HAVE MENTIONED, WHERE ARE STAFFING ISSUES? THE WORST AT SCHOOLS THAT SERVE LOW INCOME FAMILIES, WHERE IMMIGRANT STUDENTS HAVE THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCES IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE OUR MAJORITY BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS COME TO LEARN AND GROW THIS STAFFING CRISIS.
AND THIS FUNDING LIMBO HITS THEM THE HARDEST AS THEY SEE TEACHERS LEAVE, WHO COULD HAVE WRITTEN THEM A COLLEGE RECOMMENDATION AS THEY SIT THROUGH TWO OR THREE CLASSES A DAY WITH SUBSTITUTES OR TEACHERS WHO ARE EXHAUSTED FROM GIVING UP THEIR PLANNING
[00:45:01]
PERIODS AS THEY STRUGGLE ALONE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO COUNSELOR THEY CAN TALK TO IN THEIR LANGUAGE WHEN THEY'RE DEPRESSED OR THINKING ABOUT HURTING THEMSELVES.AS THEY SEE ROLE MODELS WHO LOOK AND TALK LIKE THEM, LEAVE FOR OTHER JOBS WHERE THEY FEEL MORE APPRECIATED PLANS ARE DREAMS UNTIL THEY'RE FUNDED AND BUDGETS ARE ABOUT PRIORITIES.
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL PRIORITIZE US AND OUR STUDENTS.
NEXT SPEAKER IS ERICA DEN, ERICA DEN ON HERE.
NEXT IS AMY ADAMS. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
UM, THE REASON I AND OTHERS COME HERE TO THE MEETINGS AND SPEAK TO YOU ALL IS BECAUSE WE CARE.
OUR KIDS ARE BCPS STUDENTS, AND WE WANT THE SYSTEM TO BE SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL.
I ECHO THE SENTIMENTS MADE BY ANOTHER PARENT AT THE LAST MEETING, LET'S MAKE BCP AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN MANY OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN OUR AREA.
BCPS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT OUR TEACHERS CHOOSE TO SEND THEIR KIDS HERE.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I KNOW MANY TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHOSE CHILDREN ATTEND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL PARENT.
HOW AM I TO RELY AND TRUST ON A SYSTEM THAT ITS OWN EMPLOYEES DON'T USE? I'VE NOTICED YOUR POSITIVE SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
I DO FIND VALUE IN ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE.
HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE BALANCED WITH THE TRUTH AND A COMMITMENT TO ADDRESS THE NEGATIVES INSTEAD OF PLATITUDES.
THAT SOUND GOOD BUT MEAN NOTHING.
FOR EXAMPLE, SEPTEMBER 8TH WAS ADVERTISED AS INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY ON BCPS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.
THE PRIORITIES LISTED ON THE POST WERE PROMOTING EQUITABLE AND INCLUSION, INCLUSIVE EDUCATION, EXPANDING CURRICULUM TEXTS WITH AUTHENTIC AND ENGAGING READING MATERIALS.
MY VIEW LITERACY PILOT IN 26 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, OFFICE OF ELA AND WORLD LANGUAGE, COLLABORATING TO BRING TWO DISCIPLINES TOGETHER, TO DEVELOP GRADE NINE, STUDENT WRITING IDENTITIES.
I TRULY DON'T KNOW WHAT ANY OF THIS MEANS.
WHAT DOES EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION LOOK LIKE? AND AREN'T WE ALREADY STRIVING AND DOING THAT? WHAT ARE GOOD? WHAT GOOD ARE AUTHENTIC AND ENGAGING READING MATERIALS.
IF ONLY A THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS ARE READING AT GRADE LEVEL TO DATE, MY VIEW PILOT HAS BEEN PERCEIVED BY THE PUBLIC AS STRICTLY PROCEDURAL TO GET IN, IN ORDER TO GET MONEY MORE MONEY FROM THE STATE.
THE CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.
THEY INTEND ON MOVING FORWARD WITH MY VIEW, DESPITE CONCRETE CRITICISM FROM TEACHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO USE THIS PROGRAM, SOME OF THE NEGATIVES INCLUDE READING MATERIALS THAT ARE WELL ABOVE ACTUAL STUDENT ABILITY LESSONS THAT TAKE MUCH LONGER, SOMETIMES DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE TEACHERS NEED TO SUPPLEMENT MATERIALS, GREATLY TAKING UP EXTRA TIME AND RESOURCES.
IF THE STUDENT CANNOT READ, THEY CANNOT SUCCEED IN ANY OTHER SUBJECT.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW OFTEN CURRENT PRACTICES ARE EVALUATED FOR EFFECTIVENESS? WHAT'S A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME TO EXPECT A MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN LITERACY FOR OUR SYSTEM.
IT'S STILL UNCLEAR TO MANY IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHY THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF URGENCY TO ADDRESS STUDENTS DECREASING ACADEMIC PROFICIENCIES.
THE EDUCATION CONSUMER FOUNDATION RELEASED A REPORT CALCULATING THE COST OF READING FAILURE.
IF STUDENTS FAIL TO REACH THE PROFICIENT READING LEVEL BY THIRD GRADE, THEY ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING THEM UNPREPARED FOR COLLEGE OR THE WORKPLACE BCPS US TENDS TO BLAME OUTSIDE CONDITIONS FOR INTERNAL FAILURES.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME SOMEONE WAS HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CONDITIONS OF BCPS, THE BOARD HAS THE ABILITY TO START THIS PROCESS.
AND I TRULY HOPE THAT YOU PLAN TO EXERCISE IT BEFORE THE END OF YOUR TERM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GLORIA MERO.
I AM A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE AND ORGANIZER.
I WAS RECENTLY INVITED AND ATTENDED THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BCPS COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FAIR.
DURING THAT TIME, A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS WERE SHARED WITH OTHER PARTNERS WHO ATTENDED SOME OF WHICH INCLUDED THE HIGHLANDERS PROFESSIONAL BLACK WOMEN INCORPORATED,
[00:50:01]
WHICH IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATION AND IS ALREADY ENGAGED TO HELP ITS ADOPTED SCHOOL VILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS REQUESTED SEVERAL, SEVERAL THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE SUCH AS ONE MEETING THE SCHOOL'S REQUEST FOR MASKS TO BE GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN FOR HEALTH SAFETY.DURING THE PANDEMIC TWO MEETING A REQUEST TO PROVIDE TOILETRIES FOR OUR STUDENTS, THREE BEING PHYSICALLY AVAILABLE TO ASSIST WHEN NEEDED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO PROVIDE PARKING DIRECTIONS AND HOLD SIGNS DURING THE SCHOOL SPRING SPRING FESTIVAL, AND FOUR PLAN ARE NOW BEING MADE TO MENTOR THE GIRLS IN THE MIDDLE GRADES AT WOODLAWN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AS A SUPPORT ARM, AND TO BE ABLE AND AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS OTHER NEEDS AS THE SCHOOL REQUESTS.
AS I CONCLUDE MY REMARKS RIGHT NOW, ALLOW ME TO SAY THAT I, AS A RETIRED EDUCATOR, MYSELF, BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE FOUR FACTORS WHICH COULD MAKE OUR BCPS SYSTEM SUCCESSFUL.
THEY ARE FIRST PLANNING IN COOPERATION MUST OCCUR BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE TEACHERS IN A SCHOOL.
SECONDLY, KEEPING AND MAINTAINING AN EFFECTIVE REGULAR MONITORING OF THE IMMEDIATE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ISSUES, WHICH MAY COME UP PERIODICALLY.
THIRDLY, WE MUST KEEP OUR SOCIAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY SAFE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT DEVELOPING YOUNG PEOPLE AND TO PROMOTE A VALUABLE ACADEMIC PLATFORM FOR THEM AND FOURTHLY BE POSITIVE IN COMMUNICATION AND DIALOGUE WITH THE PARENTS, THE TEACHERS, THE ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE STUDENTS.
IT MUST BE OPEN AND CONSISTENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE FAITH AND THE TRUST IN THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
WILLIAMS, AS HE CONTINUES TO PUSH OUR SYSTEM THROUGH SOME OF THE HARDEST AND MOST RESTRICTIVE TIMES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW IT IS MORE THAN EVER IMPORTANT TO WORK TOGETHER, TO MEET THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY IN GENERAL.
AND THOSE OF CHILDREN SPECIFICALLY.
MY NAME IS MONIQUE SIFA AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED AS BCAC THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE TO SHARE THE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, INITIATIVES THAT B CAC HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE LAST 38 YEARS TO STRENGTHEN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS' FIVE POINT PROGRAMMATIC THRUST BCAC PROVIDES PROGRAMS TO BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY GRADES THROUGH COLLEGE.
JEAN L. NOBLE DELTA GYMS FOCUSES ON STEM INITIATIVES FOR GIRLS AGES 14 TO 18 EMBODY AND ACRONYM FOR EMPOWERING MALES TO BUILD OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE IS DESIGNED TO HELP DEVELOP 14 TO 18 YEARS OLD, YOUNG MALES INTO RESPONSIBLE AND THRIVING CITIZENS THAT DR.
BETTY SHEBAZ DELTA ACADEMY PREPARES YOUNG WOMEN, 11 TO 14 YEARS OF AGE TO DEVELOP POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH CONSTRUCTING GOALS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
OUR SUPPORT ALSO INCLUDES THE DELTA STUDENT ENRICHMENT PROGRAM, WHERE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION AND WINFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SERVICES, THE NEEDS OF SCHOOL, AGE CHILDREN IN THE WOODLAWN, PIKESVILLE, RANDALLSTOWN, AND OWINGS MILLS COMMUNITIES AT THE WINFIELD P CENTER.
WE ALSO EXTENDED AN OUTREACH TO SUPPORT THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY CENTER BCAC SERVICES, THE ENTIRE BALTIMORE COUNTY AREA.
AND WE ARE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AFRICAN
[00:55:01]
AMERICAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL HELD ANNUALLY.THE THIRD SUN SATURDAY IN SEPTEMBER.
MY CHAPTER IS EXCITED TO CONTINUE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH BCPS THAT INITIALLY STARTED WITH A SATURDAY SCHOOL IN 1984.
MOST RECENTLY, WE DELIVERED BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO THE MARS ESTATES, ELEMENTARY COMMUNITY SCHOOL, AND HOSTED A BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES GIVEAWAY AT THE WINFIELD PAL CENTER, WHERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES WE PROVIDED ALL BACKPACKS AND SUPPLIES WE HAD ON SITE TO STUDENTS OVER SEVERAL YEARS, BCAC AWARDED $165,000 IN ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH BALTIMORE COUNTY.
AND WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS, STUDENTS AT CCBC, WE APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE WITH BCPS AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU, PLEASE CALL ON US.
IF THERE ARE NEEDS THAT YOU BELIEVE WE CAN FULFILL.
[Items G & H]
ON OUR AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, HEN VICE CHAIR, MCMILLION AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT MY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TO THE BOARD IN TEAM BCP.
MY REPORT INCLUDES CELEBRATIONS, UPDATES AND EVIDENCE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, THE COMPASS, OUR PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE IN ACTION.
THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING SINCE THE START OF THE 20 22 23 SCHOOL YEAR.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO RELIVE SOME OF THE FIRST DAY EXCITEMENT WITH A VIDEO FROM BCPS TV.
SO WE WANNA CONGRATULATE ALICIA AMERAL FREEMAN, OUR TEACHER OF ENGLISH LEARNERS AT FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN REISTERSTOWN AND BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
SHE WAS NAMED ONE OF SEVEN FINALISTS FOR THE 20 22, 20 23 MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR.
THE STATEWIDE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON OCTOBER 6TH ON MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
SO BEST OF LUCK TO MS. FREEMAN.
WE WANT TO THANK HER PRINCIPAL AND THE ESAU TEAM AT FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
CAN WE ACKNOWLEDGE MS. FREEMAN, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S BACK HERE.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR, UH, MAGNET EXPO STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ARE INVITED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAGNET PROGRAMS AS WELL AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM AT NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
IT LOOKED LIKE I'M DOING A VERBAL REPORT TODAY.
ALL RIGHT, ENDING, THE SILENCE IS AN ENGAGING VIRTUAL PRESENTATION DESIGNED TO RAISE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH RESOURCES TO TALK WITH CHILDREN ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH AND WORK WITH SCHOOL STAFF.
UH, THE PRESENTATION WAS DEVELOPED BY NAMI THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND IS BEING OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH BCPS PARENT UNIVERSITY FAMILIES.
PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE BY 6:00 PM.
[01:00:01]
TEAM BCPS IS COLLABORATIVELY WORKING TO ADDRESS THE EFFECTS OF THE NATIONWIDE STAFFING SHORTAGES.WE ARE STILL HIRING UPCOMING JOB FAIRS THIS MONTH, UM, ARE LISTED ON A SLIDE AND WE WILL INVITE OUR COMMUNITY TO JOIN TEAM BCP.
UH, WE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR CAFETERIA WORKERS, BUS DRIVERS, AND ATTENDANCE, GROUND WORKERS, BUILDING SERVICE WORKERS, COMMUNITY ASSISTANT NETWORK, UM, AT THE COMMUNITY ASSISTANT NETWORK.
AUTUM JOB FAIR, THE EAST POINT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, JOB FAIR.
AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO LOOK FOR TEACHERS AND SUPPORT STAFF.
AS WE SETTLE INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR, WE KNOW THAT OUR EFFORTS TO HEAL, REBUILD AND RECOVER MUST BE ONGOING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TEAM BCP.
THIS YEAR, WE REMAIN FOCUSED ON FOUR KEY GOALS, ACCELERATED LEARNING, PROMOTING SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL WELLNESS SETTING, AND UPHOLDING STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE AND INCREASING DATA LITERACY.
SO AS YOU KNOW, THE FY 23 BUDGET FOCUSES ON TWO KEY AREAS FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
PEOPLE IN PROGRESS, IT IS CENTERED ON OUR CORE PURPOSE OF INCREASING ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS IN A VARIETY OF PATHWAYS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS.
ONE OF OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES IS COMMITTED STAFF.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL OF THOSE WHO WERE HERE TODAY AND WEARING RED FOR EDUCATION, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF ALL OF OUR OTHER ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-REPRESENTED STAFF WHO CONTRIBUTE DAILY TO THE SUCCESS OF TEAM.
I'LL LIKE TO REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKING TOGETHER, TO REACH RESOLUTION ON EMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.
WE HAVE PROPOSED A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT PRIORITIZED NEW BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE FUNDING AND IDENTIFIES EXPENDITURE SAVINGS AND OUR BASE BUDGET.
WE'RE GRATEFUL TO OUR FUNDING PARTNERS AND COMMITTED TO COMING TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BOTH FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND FINANCIALLY MEANINGFUL TO OUR HARDWORKING EMPLOYEES.
OKAY, I'M GONNA KEEP GOING MEETING THE NEEDS OF TEAM BCP IN MAY BOARD MEMBERS SUPPORTED STAFF AND STUDENT WELLNESS BREAKS WITH THREE HOUR EARLY RELEASE DAYS SCHEDULED IN DECEMBER, MARCH AND MAY FOR BOARD'S CONSIDERATION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD NOVEMBER 23RD, 2022, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AS A THREE HOUR RELEASE DAY.
LAST YEAR'S STAFF AND STUDENTS EXPRESSED GREAT APPRECIATION FOR THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH FAMILIES AND FRIENDS, B VALUES, COMMUNITY INPUT.
SO THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS AGAIN PROVIDED LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE VIRTUAL INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE 20 22 23 SCHOOL CALENDAR INCLUDES FIVE SCHEDULE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS.
AS WE PLAN FOR WINTER WEATHER THIS YEAR, PLEASE CONSIDER SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US BY COMPLETING A SURVEY, THE SURVEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH THROUGH FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD INPUT GATHERED WILL BE USED TO INFORM OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THE BOARD, OUR COMMUNITY AND TEAMS BCPS DURING THESE DAYS AND TIMES, AND WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND I BELIEVE THE VIDEO IS READY TO GO.
EVERYONE'S GONNA BE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
THE 20 22 20 23 SCHOOL YEAR IS UPON US.
I AM SUPERINTENDENT DARRELL WILLIAMS, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO WELCOME YOU BACK FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
WHAT AN EXCITING TIME IT IS DR.
WILLIAMS. I AM JULIE HEN CHAIR OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ON BEHALF OF MY BOARD COLLEAGUES.
I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME OUR AMAZING STAFF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES BACK FOR WHAT I KNOW WILL BE AN INCREDIBLE SCHOOL YEAR.
OUR MISSION AND COMMITMENT REMAINS UNCHANGED TO RAISE THE BAR CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS AND PREPARE EVERY STUDENT FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THANKS TO THE FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE FEDERAL STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF TEAM BCPS STAFF AND THE VISION OF SCHOOL SYSTEM LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE READY TO WELCOME YOU BACK AND PREPARED TO ACHIEVE OUR MISSION.
WE'VE WEATHERED MANY STORMS AS A COMMUNITY, AND NOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD
[01:05:01]
TOGETHER AGAIN.ABSOLUTELY WE CAN AND WE'LL MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER AGAIN AND ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN 20,000 COMMITTED EDUCATORS, SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO WORK EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE A SAFE, WELCOMING, AND ENGAGING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.
STAFF HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED.
OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN PREPPED AND STOPPED WITH THE MATERIAL STUDENTS AND STAFF WILL NEED.
AND OUR SCHOOL BUSES ARE READY TO ROLL.
IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.
THE EXPERIENCES OF THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE TAUGHT US THAT WE CANNOT DO THIS ALONE, AND WE NEED ALL MEMBERS OF THE TEAM, B SPS COMMUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS WE START THE SCHOOL YEAR, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR PERSPECTIVES, IDEAS, AND FEEDBACK MATTER.
OUR SCHOOLS AND OFFICES WILL BE INTENTIONAL THIS YEAR ABOUT CREATING AUTHENTIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS OF THE TEAM BCPS COMMUNITY, TO GET CONNECTED, ENGAGED WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND STAFF AND PROVIDE ONGOING FEEDBACK TEAM BCP STAFF.
IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM, YOU ANSWER THE CALL AND HAVE TAKEN ON THE TREMENDOUS DUTY OF HELPING TO SHAPE THE NEXT GENERATION.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING YOU STUDENTS.
YOU HAVE A WEALTH OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU AT YOUR SCHOOL.
SO BE SURE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COACHES, CLUB, SPONSORS, COUNSELORS, AND FRIENDS TO ASSIST YOU, CHALLENGE YOURSELVES AND EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS AND PASSIONS THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, CLUBS, AND ATHLETICS PARENTS, OUR BUILDINGS ARE OPEN AND WE NEED YOU TO BE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS WORK.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO JOIN YOUR LOCAL PTA AND VOLUNTEER AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL.
YEAH, I DO WANT TO THANK, UH, BCPS TV FOR THEIR WORK AND, AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO PREPARE ALL OF OUR VIDEOS AND COMMUNICATIONS.
SO THANK YOU, TEAM BCP, BCP, UH, BCP PST.
WILLIAMS, AND IN THE SPIRIT OF MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER AGAIN, UM, THAT VIDEO WAS MY CHAIR'S REPORT AS WELL.
WILLIAMS. I HAD FUN, UM, COLLABORATING WITH YOU ON THAT AND THANK YOU ALSO TO BCP TV AND WELCOME BACK TEAM BCP.
UM, IT'S GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR.
I ENJOYED VISITING SCHOOLS AND THE ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT THAT I SAW OUT THERE WAS VERY GENUINE AND, UM, UNIVERSAL AT, AT EACH SCHOOL.
SO LOOKING FORWARD TO, TO A TERRIFIC YEAR, UM, OUR NEXT ITEM
[I. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER'S REPORT (7:50 - 7:55 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS' REPORT.AND FOR THAT, I TURN IT OVER TO MS. ROA HASSAN.
THANK YOU SO GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
AND BEFORE I GO INTO MYM REPORT, I JUST WANNA SHOUT OUT TO THE STUDENTS WHO CAME TODAY.
I KNOW EVERYONE SAW MY FACE, THE MOMENT THAT I SAW THEM, LIKE JAW DROPPED EVERYTHING.
SO THANK YOU TO THE STUDENTS WHO CAME, THANK YOU TO THE EDUCATORS WHO CAME AND TO EVERYONE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
SO JUST AS WITH ANY OTHER SMALL REPORT, I WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO THANK YOU TO THANK OUR WONDERFUL EDUCATORS, SUPPORT STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, AND THE MOST AMAZING STUDENTS I'D LIKE TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF WHO'VE WELCOMED ME AND SHOWN ME WHAT IT MEANS TO WORK COURAGEOUSLY, TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND TO THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES HERE ON THE BOARD FOR THESE PAST FEW MONTHS OF MY TENURE, FOR THESE MEETINGS AND FOR BEING THE GREATEST COLLEAGUES I COULD ASK FOR.
SO ON AUGUST 29TH, BCPS WELCOMED STUDENTS BACK TO THE BUILDING AND I'M BEYOND FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ONE OF OVER 111,000 STUDENTS RETURNING TO THE COUNTY AND SCHOOL SYSTEM, MICHAEL HOME, WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL, MY TEAM SENT OUT OVER 40 ACCEPTANCES FOR THE FIRST BCPS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD CABINET AND OPERATIONS TEAM STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTY WERE NOTIFIED OF THEIR ACCEPTANCE AND WELCOME TO THE TEAM.
AND I'M SO EXCITED TO GET TO WORK WITH SO MANY OUTSTANDING STUDENTS THIS YEAR.
WE'VE SHATTERED GLASS CEILINGS.
AS I FULFILL MY PROMISE TO SHARE MY SEAT AT THE TABLE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW OPERATIONS TEAM AND TO ANY STUDENT STILL INTERESTED APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN FOR THE REMAINING OF THE FIRST ACADEMIC QUARTER.
IN THE COMING WEEKS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO DRAFTING AND INTRODUCING A STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH RESOLUTION AND LOOKING TO CREATE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THE STATEMENTS OUTLINED IN SUCH A RESOLUTION.
WE MUST COLLECTIVELY WORK TO FOCUS OUR ENERGY, TO IMPROVE STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND CLIMATE.
I'M SURE I DON'T NEED TO REHASH THE STATISTICS AND ACCOUNTS WE'VE ENCOUNTERED OVER THESE PAST FEW YEARS.
[01:10:01]
INSTEAD I'M EXCITED TO SHIFT AWAY FROM SITTING AND LISTENING AND TOWARDS TRANSFORMING EMPATHY TO ACTION IN THAT SAME SPIRIT OF EMPATHY.I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE IMMENSE DIVERSITY OF OUR COUNTY.
BCPS HOME TO STUDENTS OF INCREDIBLY DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, AND EXPERIENCES.
OUR DIVERSITY IS WHAT BUILDS OUR CULTURE AS A COMMUNITY, OUR EMPATHY AND OUR CHARACTER AS INDIVIDUALS.
I'M A PROUD MUSLIM ARAB AMERICAN 17 YEAR OLD ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION.
MY EXPERIENCE AS A MUSLIM AMERICAN, HOWEVER, HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN A POSITIVE ONE IN THIS COUNTY.
I'M FORTUNATE TO HOLD THE SEAT AS YOUNG PERSON, AS A MUSLIM GIRL, AND AS THE DAUGHTER OF TWO EGYPTIAN IMMIGRANTS AND IN DOING SO, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE IMMENSE ADVERSITY, OUR STUDENTS OF COLOR ENDURE EVERY SINGLE DAY STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY EXPERIENCE, RACISM, DISCRIMINATION, AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.
WE ENDURE NAME CALLING STEREOTYPES AND EQUITY AND DIVISION.
WHILE I CAN SPEAK TO MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, I WOULD RATHER SPEAK TO US BOARD MEMBERS.
WE ARE THE PERPETUATORS OF THAT INEQUITY, AND UNLESS WE ARE TAKING EVERY ACTION WE CAN TO REVERSE THAT AND ENACT JUSTICE.
WE HAVE AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF WORK TO DO THREE YEARS AGO, OMAR RASHID INTRODUCED THE BLACK LIVES MATTER RESOLUTION.
AND I ASKED, WHAT HAVE WE DONE SINCE THEN AS A BOARD TO MAKE SYSTEMIC CHANGE OUTSIDE OF A STATEMENT OF SUPPORT.
I AM FORTUNATE THAT THE LINEAGE BEFORE ME CONSISTS OF A POWERFUL AND PASSIONATE STUDENT MEMBER AND STUDENT MEMBERS.
AND I KNOW ONLY, AND I NOT ONLY HOPE TO CONTINUE THAT, BUT TO EXTEND THE INVITATION OF PASSION AND EMPATHY AND EMPATHETIC ACTION TO ALL OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU, OMAR, AND EVERY STUDENT MEMBER BEFORE ME FOR YOUR UNWAVERING ADVOCACY TODAY, AND EVERY DAY THAT YOU SERVE, I ASK YOU TO SERVE IN THE INTEREST OF EVERY SINGLE STUDENT.
I ASK YOU TO SERVE IN THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS WHOSE ENGLISH IS NOT FLUENT, WHOSE SYSTEMIC DISADVANTAGES IMPACT THEIR SUCCESS, WHO EXPERIENCE RACISM SO OFTEN THAT THEY TURN AROUND AND JOKE ABOUT IT WITH THEIR FRIENDS TO COPE.
BUT THE JOKE HAS NEVER BEEN FUNNY.
I ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BECAUSE THEIR EXISTENCE IN OUR SYSTEM IS JUST AS VALUABLE AS ANYONE ELSE'S.
WHILE WE TEND TO LISTEN TO THE LOUD, THE LOUDEST VOICES IN THE ROOM.
IF WE ARE NOT ACTIVELY SEEKING OUT THE SILENT OR SILENCED VOICES IN THE ROOM, THOSE VOICES ARE PRESENT AND THEY'RE SEEN IN EVERY PART OF OUR COUNTY.
SO AS A LOVE LETTER TO THE STUDENTS, YOU ARE SEEN, HEARD, AND VALUED.
I VOW THAT YOU ARE THE CENTER OF THE SYSTEM, AND I WANNA ENSURE THAT YOU ARE HERE, WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PHYSICALLY PRESENT TO MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I WANT US TO THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS WHOSE SILENCE AND VOICES ALIKE, ECHO AROUND THIS BOARDROOM ON THIS DAIS AND WITHIN OUR DECISIONS.
SO TO THE STUDENTS OF BCP, YOU ARE POWER AND TO QUOTE MY FAVORITE ARABIC PROVERB, UNITY IS POWER.
[J. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Mr. Brousaides, Esq.) (7:55 - 8:00 p.m.)]
AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. MERCEDES.
EARLIER TONIGHT, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION AS YOU KNOW, TO, UH, RENDER DECISIONS IN APPEALS IN THE FOLLOWING CASES, H E 22 DASH 20 H E 22 DASH 35, H E 22 DASH 36, H E 23 1 H E 23 6 AND H E S D 2021 DASH 22 DASH FOUR.
THAT WOULD BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO CONFIRM THE VOTE TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINERS CASES? H E 22 20 22 35, 22 36 23 DASH 0 1 23 0 6 AND SD 20 21 22, 4 AND AUTHORIZED MS. GO TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND STALOWSKI ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE? MS. ROWE.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINERS CASES? H E 22 DASH ZERO EIGHT AND 22 DASH 31, IN WHICH ORAL ARGUMENT WAS
[01:15:01]
HELD PREVIOUSLY AND AUTHORIZED MS. GOVER TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT.SO MOVES DKI IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND OFFERMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE? MS. RO ABSTAIN, MR. STALOWSKI.
[K. NEW BUSINESS - CONTRACT AWARDS (Mr. Hartlove and Mr. Dixit) (8:00 - 8:15 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS CONTRACT AWARDS.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. JOE'S CHAIR OF THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU, MS. HE GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD'S BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2022 ITEMS. K ONE THROUGH K 24 ARE BEING FORWARDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
THANK YOU, MS. JOE, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? K ONE THROUGH K 24.
NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE? MS. ROE? YES.
[L. NEW BUSINESS - VOYA HEALTH INSURANCE CONCERNS (Ms. Anderson) (8:15 - 8:30 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS VOYA HEALTH CONCERNS, HEALTH INSURANCE CONCERNS.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. ANDERSON, MADAM CHAIR.
IN MY REPORT BOARD, I'VE SLIGHTLY REQUESTED A, A CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD TO HAVE A EARLY RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 23RD OF THIS YEAR.
AND SO I'M, I'M, I'M SEEKING A BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE A MOTION.
PARDON ME? UM, MS. BRO, WOULD YOU MAKE THAT MOTION IN FULL PLEASE? SO, AND TURN YOUR MICROPHONE.
SO REMOTE MEMBERS CAN HEAR, OH, I MOVED THAT THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING IS DR.
WILLIAMS IS IN A THREE HOUR, A THREE HOUR EARLY RELEASE DAY.
IS THERE A SECOND, SECOND THIS ON ANY DISCUSSION MRS. COY? THANK YOU.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE INTENT BEHIND THIS, AND I JUST WANTED TO, UM, UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT OTHER ITEMS THAT MAY ALREADY BE ON THE CALENDAR.
I KNOW THAT LAST YEAR, I THINK WE DID IT, UM, WITH A BIT OF SHORT NOTICE, UH, THIS YEAR, THIS WOULD BE A, A MUCH GREATER NOTICE, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT TYPICALLY THAT'S PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UM, ARE ISSUED IN THAT TIMEFRAME.
UM, AND THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE, THE TIMING RELATED TO THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE, UM, STAFFING, UM, FOLKS TABCO CASE, UH, WERE GIVEN INPUT AND THAT THERE'S UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS, UM, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE BEST OVERALL, UH, WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS FOR MRS. POYS DR.
WILLIAMS, ARE THERE ANY CONFLICTS ON THE CALENDAR? THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS.
THE TEAM HAD LOOKED AT THIS AND IT WAS BASED ON THE FEEDBACK FROM LAST YEAR, AND I BELIEVE FROM THE BOARD ABOUT HAVING PRIOR NOTIFICATIONS.
SO THERE COULD BE ARRANGEMENTS, BUT I WILL JUST PAUSE TO SEE IF DR.
YARBOROUGH OR MS. CHARLIE GREEN WANTS TO ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.
WILLIAMS. UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MADAM, UH, CHAIR HIN AND VICE CHAIR, MCMILLAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO NOVEMBER 23RD AS DR.
WILLIAMS INDICATED THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS.
WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS, AS WELL AS A E S A AND S S A A, THOSE ARE THE ADMINISTRATOR UNIONS, UM, TO SEEK THEIR INPUT.
WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT CALENDAR IMPLICATIONS AND AS HE SAID, PROVIDING THIS ADVANCED NOTICE TO FAMILIES ALLOWS US TO FLIP THE DAYS FOR BOTH ELEMENTARY CONFERENCES, AS WELL AS THE PRESCHOOL CONFERENCES.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
[01:20:01]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBERS BEFORE WE CALL THE VOTE HEARING? NONE MAY HAVE A VOCAL VOTE MS. ON THE MOTION TO MAKE NOVEMBER 23RD, A THREE HOUR EARLY RELEASE.THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERRUPT DR.
YOU MAY AS WELL STAY SEATED FOR THIS NEXT TOPIC.
AND THE NEXT ITEM IS VOYA HEALTH INSURANCE CONCERNS.
AND IS THERE A, UM, PRESENTATION? YES, THERE SHOULD BE A PRESENTATION.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE SLIDE TO, UM, POP UP ON THE SCREEN.
SO BASICALLY WE ARE HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE, UM, ON VOYA.
UM, BUT BEFORE I GET INTO VOYA BENEFIT STRATEGIES, I NEED TO PROVIDE SOME HISTORY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BCPS AS WELL AS VOYA SLASH BENEFIT STRATEGIES.
UM, AS A PART OF BCP S'S RECOVERY, DUE TO THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK, WE HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER OUR RETIREE DATA.
AND IN RECOVERING THAT RETIREE DATA, WE WERE REQUIRED TO CONDUCT WITH SOME RECONCILIATION.
DURING THE COURSE OF THAT RECONCILIATION, WE WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY RETIREES THAT HAD EITHER OVERPAID OR UNDERPAID, UM, INTO BCPS SYSTEM, THOSE RETIREES, THAT OVERPAID.
UM, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RETIREES WITH THE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT, AS WELL AS, UM, CHECKS FOR THOSE OVERPAYMENTS, FOR THOSE RETIREES, THAT UNDERPAID INTO THE BCPS SYSTEM, WHICH MEANS THAT THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY CONTINUING TO PAY THE SAME BENEFIT COST AMOUNT FROM DECEMBER 20 INTO THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THAT RESULTED INTO THE UNDER PAYMENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH VOYA SLASH BENEFIT STRATEGIES.
THEY FUNCTION AS BCP S'S ADMINISTRATOR ON COLLECTING COBRA PAYMENTS.
UM, THEY COLLECT COBRA PAYMENTS.
THEY ALSO CONDUCT COBRA INVOICING.
AND BASED ON THESE UNDER PAYMENTS, WE DO NOT HAVE A MECHANISM HERE AT BCPS TO COLLECT AND REMIT PAYMENTS.
UM, SO WE ARE USING VOYA SLASH BENEFIT STRATEGIES IN THIS PARTICULAR MANNER.
UM, WHAT OCCURRED ROUGHLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, VOYA DID SEND OUT INVOICING ON BEHALF OF BCPS TO THOSE RETIREES THAT OWED SOME FORM OF FASHION.
SOME OF OUR RE RETIREES MAY HAVE OWED $5 ON TWO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
UM, AND ON BEHALF OF BCPS VOYA DID SEND OUT THOSE INVOICING THAT PROVIDED OUR RETIREES WITH THE AGREED UPON TERMS. THOSE AGREED UPON PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, UM, ARE INTEREST FREE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS, NO PREPAYMENT PENALTIES, IF A RETIREE OWES $3,000 OR LESS, THEY ARE AFFORDED 24 MONTHS, UM, TO REPAY THAT AMOUNT $3,000 OR MORE, WE WILL PROVIDE THEM 48 MONTHS TO REPAY THAT AMOUNT.
THESE REPAYMENT TERMS WERE AGREED UPON, UM, IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS, ROUGHLY SINCE ABOUT FEBRUARY TO CURRENT, THROUGH REGULAR UPDATES, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE WOULD BE WORKING WITH VOYA BENEFIT FIT STRATEGIES TO COLLECT THESE MONIES.
IF YOU WILL ALSO RETIREES WHO OWE B, C P IN THE COMING DAYS, UM, THEY WILL BE RECEIVING A MAILING FROM THE OFFICE OF BENEFITS THAT MAILING OUTLINES, THE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN.
UM, IT ALSO OUTLINES IMPORTANTLY THAT NO RETIREES BENEFITS WILL BE CANCELED, UM, REGARDLESS OF PAYMENT UNDER PAYMENT OVER PAYMENT, IF YOU WILL, WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO CANCEL ANY RETIREES BENEFITS.
HOWEVER, THE GOAL ULTIMATELY IS TO RECOUP THE DOLLARS OF THE UNDER PAYMENT.
UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CONCERNS WITH THE RECONCILIATION OF THE DATA, AND WE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING THOSE RETIREES ON AN INDIVIDUALIZED BASIS AS THOSE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS HAVE COME INTO THE DIVISION OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
[01:25:01]
AS A PART OF OUR PLAN, UM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UPDATE THE DEDUCTIONS TO BOTH THE MARYLAND STATE RETIREMENT FUND, AS WELL AS THE BALTIMORE COUNTY RETIREMENT.UM, AND IF YOU WILL RECALL, THESE DEDUCTIONS HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED, UM, SINCE 2020.
AND SO WHEN UPDATING THOSE DEDUCTIONS RETIREES ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THE CORRECT DEDUCTED AMOUNT AS PER THEIR ELECTED BENEFITS FROM THEIR PENSION CHECKS.
UM, SO WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE REC RECONCILIATION OF THE RETIREE DATA, UM, ANALYZING THAT DATA AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF THE METHODOLOGY.
ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AS WE CONTINUE MOVING DOWN THIS PATH TO FULLY CORRECT.
QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS, MR. ALMAN.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
I WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND I, I BETTER UNDERSTANDING NOW THAN I DID WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER THAT I GOT.
UH, AND I GUESS MY QUESTION REALLY HAS TO GO TO VOYA OR WHOEVER HANDLES THIS MM-HMM
AND, UH, AS MY WIFE AND I BOTH, UH, RECEIVED THE PENSION THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE, UM, THROUGH THE, UH, THROUGH TEACHING THROUGH.
AND, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS WHEN WE RETIRED, WE WERE ABLE TO CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE IN MY CASE, MY WIFE'S IN ORDER TO, UH, HANDLE THE, UH, HANDLE THE HEALTH INSURANCE MM-HMM
AND YET I'VE RECEIVED THAT REQUEST FOR PAYMENT.
AND I'M A, AND I, AND PERHAPS, AND PERHAPS I WAS WRONG IN ACTUALLY, UH, ASSUMING THIS, BUT I WASN'T AWARE THAT THAT, THAT, THAT ANY OF HEALTH INSURANCE WAS, WAS BEING, WAS BEING, UH, DEDUCTED FROM ME SINCE MY WIFE WAS, UH, WAS ACTUALLY HANDLING THE INSURANCE.
SO, UH, I I'LL GO AHEAD AND, UH, AND, UH, UH, I WILL, UH, I WILL CONTACT THE PEOPLE FOR THAT.
UH, MR. OFFMAN AND THANK YOU THAT YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT AND THAT'S THE ANOMALY, WHENEVER YOU'RE RECOVERING THIS VOLUME OF DATA, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME ANOMALIES, UM, IN THE DATA BECAUSE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WAS CORRUPTED.
AND I DON'T WANNA CONSTANTLY SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE RANSOMWARE.
UM, BUT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF D O I T AS WELL AS HUMAN RESOURCES, WE HAVE BEEN RECOVERING THIS DATA, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU TODAY, THE STATEMENT THAT YOU DID RECEIVE FROM VOYA, PLEASE DISREGARD THAT STATEMENT.
UM, YOU AND YOUR WIFE WILL BE RECEIVING AN UPDATED COMMUNICATION FROM BCPS, UM, THAT BASICALLY TELLS YOU THAT INFORMATION, AND WE ARE CONTINUING TO REFINE OUR DOCUMENTATION, AND WE WE'LL BE SENDING UPDATED STATEMENTS.
SO I, I HAVE A QUESTION MS. ANDERSON, AND THAT IS IN REGARDS TO MR. OMAN'S QUESTION ABOUT COMMUNICATION MM-HMM
AND IF THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS, IT SEEMS AS IF THERE WAS A DISCONNECT AGAIN, UM, IN COMPREHENSION AND WHAT IS THIS ABOUT? AND, UM, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH SOMEONE WITHIN BCPS TO GET THIS RESOLVED.
ARE WE DIRECTING RETIREES TO VOYA? ARE WE DIRECTING THEM TO OUR OFFICES? HOW ARE WE COMMUNICATING THEM? SO ONE, THEY UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
AND TWO, THEY'RE GETTING THE HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE, THAT THEY DESERVE, AND THAT WE EXPECT OUR RETIREES TO RECEIVE.
ALL RETIREES CAN BE DIRECTED TO US AT BCP.
UM, DUE TO THE CALL VOLUME, THERE IS GOING TO BE A LAG TIME, AND I'M ASKING RETIREES TO GIVE US AT LEAST 72 TO 96 HOURS TO CIRCLE BACK TO THEM.
BUT ONCE THAT INFORMATION DOES COME IN, MY TEAM HAS BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH INDIVIDUALS DIRECTLY.
AND I THINK A FEW OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN WITH, UM, HUMAN RESOURCES, TEAM MEMBERS.
ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMUNICATION THAT I DID REFERENCE TO DISREGARD THE ROYAL COMMUNICATION WILL BE MAILED OUT TO OUR RETIREES TOMORROW SO THAT WE CAN DEFINITELY LEVEL SET EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE AND THEN PROVIDE THE REVISED UPDATED STATEMENTS.
SO I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE, THEY'RE RECEIVING VOYA'S INFORMATION, BUT MAYBE NOT BE RECEIVING OURS.
I ASSUME WE'RE WORKING OFF THE SAME CONTACT INFORMATION.
IF OURS IS OUTDATED SINCE 2020, IS THERE A DISCONNECT WHERE THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING OURS AND THEY'RE RECEIVING VOYA'S AND HIS VOYA, SO VOYA IS DIRECTING THEM BACK TO US, BUT THEY'RE NOT RECEIVING OUR MESSAGING.
SO NO, MA'AM, THERE ARE ADDRESSING THAT DISCONNECT.
WE ARE WORKING OFF THE SAME COMMUNICATION.
VOYA SENT THE STATEMENTS OUT ON BEHALF OF BBCS BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT BCPS PROVIDED.
UM, WE WILL BE WORKING FROM THAT SAME LIST THAT WAS PROVIDED TO VOYA TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNICATION IS DISTRIBUTED TO RETIREES TIMELY AND EFFECTIVELY.
AND DOES VOYA OFFER A CUSTOMER SERVICE, UM, OPTION? DEFINITELY DO YES.
SUPPLEMENT OUR, OUR LIMITED STAFFING TO BE ABLE TO HELP.
THEY DEFINITELY DO OFFER CUSTOMER SERVICE OPTION.
HOWEVER, TO THE BEST, MOST UP TO DATE ACCURATE INFORMATION
[01:30:01]
IS ALWAYS GONNA COME FROM BCPS.UM, VOYA IS OPERATING ON BEHALF OF BCPS AND MANY TIMES OUR RETIREES ARE INTERESTED IN US CONDUCTING WHAT'S CALLED A CROSSWALK, AND THAT'S A REVIEW OF THEIR ENTIRE BENEFIT HISTORY FROM 2020 TO CURRENT AND VOYA DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THAT CROSSWALK INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE MOST UP TO DATE INFORMATION TO OUR RETIREES.
SO IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO REFER EM BACK TO BCPS AND WE WILL SPEAK WITH EVERY RETIREE THAT CALLS THAT EMAILS US OR THAT SOMEONE FORWARDS OVER.
I HAVE JUST TWO QUICK QUESTIONS.
UM, YOU, UH, EXPLAIN THE $3,000 SPLIT REALLY NICELY.
UM, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT ON KIND OF THE HIGHER END THOUGH? SO IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT'S PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, BUT HOW MUCH WERE PEOPLE OVERPAID IN THE MAXIMUM END ROUGHLY? UM, I WOULD SAY ROUGHLY ON A HIGHER END, WE DEFINITELY DO HAVE A RETIREE THAT'S UPWARDS OF ABOUT $20,000.
UM, AND THAT'S DUE TO THE VARIOUS PLAN ELECTIONS THAT THE RETIREE MADE.
UM, SOME OF OUR RETIREES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TOGGLE BETWEEN PLANS MID-YEAR AND SO A FEW OF OUR RETIREES HAVE SELECTED HIGHER END PLANS DURING THIS PERIOD, AND WE'RE UNFORTUNATELY NOT BEING CHARGED FOR HIM.
UM, AND, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT THE OVERPAYMENT.
WAS ANYONE UNDERPAID DURING THIS TIME AS WELL THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? YES.
THOSE, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT OWE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT DO WE NOT PAY PEOPLE OUT? OH, NO, THEY DESERVE, DEFINITELY DID.
NO, ANYONE AT OVERPAID, WE HAVE REMITTED THOSE CHECKS.
UM, AND SO THOSE CHECKS WENT OUT THE DOOR ROUGHLY ABOUT JULY 31ST TO AUGUST 1ST.
SO THERE WAS A PERIOD OF UNDERPAYMENT, BUT WE'VE ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF THAT.
AND MR. MCMILLION, ONE OF MY CONSTITUENTS RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FOYA AND IT STATED THAT THEY SHOULD PAY THIS BILL BY SEPTEMBER 16TH.
SO THEY WERE TORN BETWEEN WHETHER THEY, THEY NEED TO PAY THAT OR WHETHER THEY SHOULD WAIT AND HEAR FROM SOMEBODY FROM BCPS WHAT'S YOUR RECOMMENDATION ON PAYING THAT BILL? THEY CAN DISREGARD THAT BILL, MR. MCMILLAN, ANY RETIREE THAT RECEIVED THE BILL FROM VOYA BENEFIT STRATEGIES CAN DISREGARD THAT BILL.
THAT'S ALSO WHAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING IN A MAILING THAT'S GOING OUT TO OUR RETIREES TOMORROW.
AND THAT IS TO DISREGARD THE COMMUNICATION THAT YOU MAY HAVE RECEIVED DATED AUGUST THE 26TH FROM VOYA BENEFIT STRATEGIES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS MRS. CY THAT YOU HAVE ONE? NO.
I JUST WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FOR THIS WORK.
IT JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, COMING IN NOVEMBER, IT WILL BE OUR TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH THE CYBER ATTACK.
AND AS YOU HEARD FROM THE EXPERTS, IT WILL TAKE ALMOST TWO YEARS TO CORRECT EVERYTHING THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TOUCHED.
UM, SO I WANT TO THANK THIS TEAM.
UH, ONE, I WANNA THANK OUR RETIREES FOR HAVING THAT OPEN DIALOGUE AND SHARING AND WORKING WITH OUR UNIONS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION, BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO ARE SEATED HERE AND THEIR TEAM MEMBERS FOR RESPONDING AND CORRECTING AND WORKING WITH FOYA.
SO I JUST WANTED TO REMIND SEVERAL OF US WERE ON THAT RIDE ROLLERCOASTER RIDE TWO YEARS AGO, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT AGAIN, THE CLEANUP, UM, AS MR. AUGUSTA WILL RELATE TO, UH, TAKE SOME TIME AND THESE ARE SOME OF THE ANOMALIES THAT CAME ABOUT AND WE'RE QUICKLY TRYING TO CORRECT THEM.
AND IT WAS A REBUILD, JUST SO THAT WE'RE CLEAR.
SO, UH, MS. ANDERSON TALKED ABOUT RECONCILIATION, BUT WE HAD TO REBUILD ALL OF THE RECORDS, THE BENEFIT RECORDS FOR EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL RETIREES, THEN DO THE RECONCILIATION.
SO THAT'S WHERE THOSE ANOMALIES COME IN.
[M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - PROPOSED FY2024 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET (Mr. Hartlove and Mr. Dixit) (8:30 - 8:45 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2024 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST FOR THAT.I CALL ON MR. HARTLOVE AND MR. DIXIT AND BOARD MEMBERS.
THERE IS AN UPDATED EXHIBIT M WHICH YOU HAVE A HARD COPY OF, AND THAT HAS BEEN UPDATED IN BOARD DOCS.
AN UPDATE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO BOARD DOCS.
DO WE HAVE AN EXTRA HARD COPIES? SHE HAS.
[01:35:05]
THANK YOU.WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
AS YOU'LL RECALL, A STATE CAPITAL PROGRAM FOR FISCAL 24 WAS INCLUDED IN BOARD DOCS FOR THE AUGUST 9TH MEETING, WHICH WAS RESCHEDULED AND INTRODUCED, UH, TO THE BOARD ON AUGUST 18TH, UH, 2022 SUBSEQUENTLY A WORK SESSION WAS HELD IN THE BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 23.
RESPONSES WERE PROVIDED TO ALL THE QUESTIONS RAISED IN THAT MEETING.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED LATER ON RESPONSES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE BOARD.
WE ARE HERE TO REQUEST YOUR APPROVAL FOR THE STATE CAPITAL PROGRAM.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT OUR DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 4TH AND WE'LL NOW, AND THEN OUR TEAM STILL HAS TO PREPARE THAT LUMINOUS, UH, TELEPHONE BOOK SIZE DOCUMENT.
SO WE WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE, AND OUR DIALOGUE ON THE SUBJECT WILL CONTINUE IF THERE ARE ANY EMISSIONS, ADDITIONS, CHANGES, UH, NOTHING IS ETCHED IN STONE AT THIS POINT.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE CHANGES IF WE FIND ANYTHING OR IF YOU POINT THAT OUT TO US.
SO WITH THAT, UH, THAT YOU'D LIKE TO REQUEST HER APPROVAL, MR. DICK, WOULD YOU RECOGNIZE THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE PRESENT TONIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
SO THE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM WHO HAVE BURNED LOT OF MIDNIGHT OIL IN THE PAST AND TONIGHT, AND TODAY IS MR. MERRILL PLATE, WHO IN SPITE OF BEING, UH, ON MEDICAL HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS PLAN AND SUPPORTING US, SUPPORTING HIM IS MS. KAYLEY HOPPED MEMBER OF OUR CAPITAL AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM.
AND, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE.
UH, I'LL MENTION SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE NAMES, MIKE, UH, ARCHBOLD, UH, LESLIE ZIRI, KATIE ANGSTED, PAUL TAYLOR, UM, UH, MELISSA ATLER AND I CAN GO ON.
LOT OF THESE FOLKS HAVE WORKED VERY, VERY HARD, AND I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE SUPPORT FROM HARLOW AND HIS TEAM AND THE LEADERSHIP THAT WE GET FROM DR.
IT IS PRICELESS TO US, THE SUPPORT AND THE CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE IN US AND, AND ME AND MY TEAM.
WILLIAMS, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING SO RESPONSIVE TO THE BOARD'S QUESTIONS, UM, PROVIDING THE THOROUGH ANSWERS YOU'VE DONE AND TO ALL OF THE TEAM MEMBERS FOR, UM, THE LABOR, THE LABORIOUS EFFORTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO THIS, IT'S FAR MORE THAN WHAT THE BOARD SEES.
UM, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE DON'T RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS THAT THAT ARE INVOLVED.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT M? SO MOVERO SECOND OFFERMAN.
THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND, MR. OFFERMAN, ANY DISCUSSION MRS. C QUAY.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR UPDATING THE, UM, CAPITAL REQUEST TO INCLUDE THE STATE FUNDING SHARE THAT WAS REQUESTED, UH, PREVIOUSLY A YEAR AGO, ALMOST TODAY, UH, 73,122, EXCUSE ME, $73,122,000.
UM, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP, UH, IT CONSISTENT WITH THE BOARD'S PRIOR ACTIONS.
UM, I DID HAVE A QUICK QUESTION RELATED TO THE, UM, FORM FOR THE TYPE OF APPROVAL PLANNING AND FUNDING HAS BEEN MERGED FOR THE FIRST, UM, FIVE ITEMS. AND I'M WONDERING WHY THAT IS DONE AND CAN THAT BE SEPARATED OUT? SO IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, IT WAS MERGED AT THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD, BUT IF THE, IF THE BOARD WANTS TO CHANGE THEIR MIND AND WANT US TO HAVE SEPARATE LINE, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM IN DOING THAT IN FUTURE, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY, UH, DIFFERENCE IN OUR SUBMISSION AS YOU KNOW, THAT THERE ARE FORMS NEEDED FOR EACH AND EVERY ITEM HERE.
SO HOW THIS, UH, SPREADSHEET IS STRUCTURED, UH, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IN OUR SUBMITTAL.
UM, AND THEN FOUR OF THE, UH, PRIORITIES HAVE A FOOTNOTE OF FOUR.
[01:40:01]
NOT BE SUBMITTED IN OCTOBER AS THEY'RE EXPECTED TO BE FUNDED THROUGH, BUILT, TO LEARN AND WILL BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY.UM, SO WHAT IS IT, UH, THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED THAT, UH, SUPPORTS THAT EXPECTATION? AND, UM, IT WILL THAT, UH, FUNDING REQUEST IN OCTOBER ALSO COME TO THE BOARD.
SO THE, THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED TO YOU HERE IS TO INDICATE THAT THE TOP FOUR PROJECT WILL BE FUNDED UNDER BTL IS A DIFFERENT SUBMISSION PROCESS.
AND WE'LL MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENT.
IF ANYTHING, THAT PROCESS IS MORE FLEXIBLE.
UH, IT IS NOT AS, UH, TIME CONSUMING AND AS CONSTRAINED AS THE STATE PROCESSES.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
THERE'LL BE SUBMISSION FORMS THAT MAY BE DIFFERENT FOR THE BTL THAN, THAN THEN STATE.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD THAT INFORMATION, THANK YOU.
AND THEN IT, THE PREVIOUS MEETING, IT WAS RE ASKED ABOUT THE NORTHEAST AREA CAPACITY STUDY AND BOUNDARY STUDY, AND ALSO THE SOUTHWEST AREA CAPACITY AND BOUNDARY STUDY.
AND I WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN UPDATE.
AND WHEN IS THAT INFORMATION GONNA BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD? BECAUSE SEVERAL SCHOOLS ARE IN LIMBO WITH ADDITIONS, RENOVATIONS, OR REPLACEMENTS LIKE LOCK RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHERS.
SO THAT STUDY IS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETION.
UH, WE HOPE TO BRING MORE INFORMATION TO YOU WHEN WE COME BACK IN DECEMBER, JANUARY TIMEFRAME FROM OUR COUNTY BUDGET.
AND AS SOON AS WE GET THE FINAL VERSION OF, UH, THAT REPORT, WE'LL SHARE WITH DR.
WILLIAMS, UH, FOR, FOR THE GUIDANCE AND THAT BE BEFORE THE DECEMBER TIMEFRAME, WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU, THANK YOU, MS. ROWE, MR. DIXON, YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE READING THE GIGANTIC PHONE BOOK, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU'LL BE SUPPLYING THE BOARD WITH THE BILL TO LEARN SUBMISSION DOCUMENTS AS WELL.
UH, THEY DO NOT REQUIRE, UM, UH, AS DETAILED INFORMATION.
LET ME ASK MY TEAM MEMBERS, DO WE NEED MR. PLATE? CAN YOU COME HERE AND JOIN ME? SO THE QUESTION, AS I UNDERSTAND IS THAT BTL SUBMISSIONS ARE THERE GOING TO BE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A STATE SUBMISSION AND WOULD BOARD GET A COPY OF THAT? UM, WITH BTL, THEY PERMIT US, EXCUSE ME, MY NAME IS MERRILL PLATE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES, CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENT.
UM, THE STATE ALLOWS US TO, TO SUBMIT THAT 20, UH, THROUGHOUT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR.
SO WE, WE'RE NOT REQUIRED FOR BTL TO SUBMIT ONLY ON OCTOBER 4TH, LIKE IT IS THIS YEAR WITH THE REST OF THE CIP P SO AS WE REACH CERTAIN DEADLINES, WE WILL SUBMIT THOSE DOCUMENTS.
UM, IT, IT DOES NOT REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL FROM THE STATE'S END.
SO WE HAD SUBMITTED THEM HERE SO THAT YOU COULD SEE THAT WE WILL BE SUBMITTING THEM TO THE STATE.
IF YOU WANT COPIES OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE STATE.
I THINK THOSE CAN BE PROVIDED.
THEY'LL JUST BE PROVIDED AT DIFFERENT TIMES.
SO YOU MAY ONLY GET ONE OF THE PROJECTS AS WE'RE SUBMITTING 'EM TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL.
IF THEY COULD BE SUPPLIED AS INFORMATION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THAT OKAY.
THANK TEAM WILL HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REQUEST FROM MS. ROE.
THANK YOU, MR. ROE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BOARD MEMBERS HEARING NONE.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE, MS. GO MS. ROW.
[N. INFORMATION (8:45 p.m.)]
AGENDA IS INFORMATION ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE REVISED SUPERINTENDENT'S RULES, 12 70 35, 40 41 0 3 54, 70 55 61 55 62 AND 72 50, THE COMPASS YEAR END REPORT, AND THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON APPEALS AND HEARINGS HANDBOOK.[O. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING (8:45 - 9:00 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING.UM, I ALSO WANNA WELCOME BACK EVERYONE TO THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN VERY CHALLENGING, UM, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, EVERYTHING NORMALIZING.
[01:45:01]
UNDERSTAND THE STAFFING SHORTAGES WILL HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT, UM, ON THOSE DEDICATED EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT STAFF THAT HAVE ALREADY JOINED OUR TEAM THIS YEAR.UM, AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND IT COULD BE A, ALSO AN AGENDA ITEM IN THE FUTURE IS TO REALLY EVALUATE THOSE INITIATIVES THAT HAVE INCREASED TEACHING WORKLOAD.
UH, IN 2014, THE PRIOR SUPERINTENDENT CHANGED THE HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SCHEDULES IN, UH, TAKING AWAY SEMESTER SCHEDULES FROM FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND IN TAKING AWAY THE SEVENTH PERIOD DAY FROM 11 OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH INCREASED TEACHER WORKLOAD, UH, GOING FROM SEVEN PERIOD TO EIGHT PERIOD, THERE WERE ALSO PRIOR TO THAT, A REDUCTION OF 200 HIGH SCHOOL, UH, TEACHERS WAY BACK, LIKE IN 2010, LET'S SAY OF WHICH NOT ALL OF THOSE POSITIONS WERE, UH, WERE OPENED UP AGAIN.
SO THERE ARE SOME REAL SYSTEMIC THINGS THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT OF WHY THE TEACHER WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED IN ADDITION TO THE COMPENSATION, WHICH IS CRITICAL.
AND I STAND WITH EVERYONE THAT MADE REMARKS, THE 5,000 PEOPLE THAT SIGNED SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO INCREASE THE COMPENSATION.
THEY WANT THAT THE DOOR CLOSED ON THAT THE BOARD, THIS BOARD HAS STOOD IN SOLIDARITY WITH THAT IN THE VOTES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TO SUPPORT COMPENSATION FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
UM, SO I WOULD CALL ON THE OTHERS THAT NEED TO TAKE THEIR STEPS, WHICH IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND SCHEDULE THAT MEETING AS, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF TABCO SAID AND GET THE FUNDING FINALIZED.
WILLIAMS SEND ADDITIONAL LETTERS WITH PLANNING AND, AND, AND OPTIONS OF HOW TO DO THAT.
IT'S SEPTEMBER 13TH AND OTHER COUNTIES AND DISTRICTS HAVE GOTTEN THIS DONE.
AND, UH, IF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S UNSUSTAINABLE, IT'S NOT SUPPORTING OUR STAFF WITH WHAT THEY'RE WORTH.
UM, WHEN A POSITIVE NOTE FROM MANY STAKEHOLDERS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO THIS YEAR HAS REALLY STARTED, UM, MUCH BETTER THAN LAST, AND THAT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED, AND EVERYBODY IS PLAYING A PART IN THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THAT WAS DONE WAS, UM, ASKING DIFFERENT PROFESSIONALS.
WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT HELPS YOU, THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO? AND WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS STRESSFUL FOR YOU RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN TAKE OFF YOUR PLATE? UM, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FEEDBACK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT ARE THE PRACTICES THAT ARE CONTINUING, BECAUSE THEY'RE BENEFITING THE EMPLOYEES AND WHAT ARE SOME DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY BECAUSE, UM, THEY WERE CAUSING EMPLOYEES, UNDUE STRESS, UM, JUST SOME FEEDBACK ON THAT WOULD, WOULD BE GREAT, BUT THAT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT IN PRACTICE BEFORE THE START OF THE YEAR.
UM, FOR THE AGENDA ITEM, MS. UM, HE, I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING AN UPDATE ON THE CROSSING GUARDS AND TRANSPORTATION.
THANK YOU, MR. MCIL, UH, APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, I TALKED ABOUT, UM, THAT WE WERE IN A, IN A RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CRISIS.
UM, I STILL BELIEVE THAT, AND I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS, UM, AND THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE.
UM, AND IT STARTS BY LISTENING TO THEM.
WE'VE GOTTA SINCERELY OPEN UP AND LISTEN TO WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TELLING US AND, AND, AND TRY TO DEAL WITH THOSE WORKLOADS.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN KEEP, AND, AND I REALLY THINK THAT WE HAVEN'T BOTTOMED OUT.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A QUICK FIX.
AND AS A RESULT, IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO KEEP WHO WE HAVE.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY THEY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY CHOOSE TO ADVANCE IN THE LEADERSHIP, THEY ADVANCE OF THE LEADERSHIP, BUT WE'VE GOTTA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE.
NOW, WE'VE RAISED THE SALARIES, BUT WE'VE GOTTA WORK ON THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND, AND THOSE CLASSROOMS AND ON THOSE BUSES AND, AND THOSE NURSING SUITES, WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND WE HAVE TO DO, WE JUST, WE HAVE TO DO MORE THAN JUST LISTEN TO 'EM.
WE'VE GOTTA LISTEN TO THEM AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THEIR STRATEGIES ON HOW TO IMPROVE THESE SITUATIONS.
SO I'M NOT, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT TO ADD.
UM, AFTER MY SMALL REPORT, I FEEL LIKE, I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS, IT WAS GOOD ANYWAYS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE FOR, FOR MAKING THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THEY ARE WHAT MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SO ENTICING FOR ME, THEY, THEY MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH LEARNING AND ADVOCATING
[01:50:01]
AND EDUCATION.SO A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO SOME OF MY FAVORITE EDUCATORS AND EDUCATORS I HAVEN'T YET MET.
UM, AND I GUESS JUST THE BIGGEST THING IS, IS TO CONTINUE TO LISTEN AND ACT.
WE, WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT LISTENING AND HOW WE WANNA CONTINUE TO BE EMPATHETIC AND, AND LISTEN TO OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES, BUT THAT, THAT OPEN EAR AND OPEN MIND HAS TO COME WITH ACTION.
SO I'M HOPING THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WEEKS, I TURN THAT LISTENING AND THOSE WORDS INTO ACTION.
AND I I'M HOPEFUL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH ALL OF YOU GUYS.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE HAVE AN AMAZING NIGHT AND I WILL SEE YOU GUYS NEXT BOARD MEETING.
I HOPE THE PRESENTATION ON THE VOYA, UH, SITUATION TONIGHT WILL EASE THE FEARS AND ANXIETY OF A WHOLE LOT OF, OF OUR, UH, OF OUR RETIRED STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD AND, UH, WERE SORT OF SHOCKED BY, UH, BY WHAT THEY RECEIVED.
AND I WISH YOU A GOOD NIGHT, MS. SCOTT.
UM, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND UPDATE, UM, WE WILL SOON, UM, IN THE EQUITY COMMITTEE BE HAVING A, A NEW EQUITY AUDIT.
THE LAST ONE WAS DONE ABOUT, UM, THREE YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS PRE COVID.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT COME TO THE BOARD TO SHOW WHERE WE ARE, UM, IN REGARDS TO ADDRESSING ISSUES OF INEQUITY AS IT RELATES TO A MYRIAD OF FACTORS.
I ALSO WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE BACK.
UM, THE ENERGY THAT I'VE SEEN AND WITNESSED IN SCHOOLS EVEN, AND BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITING THIS YEAR.
YOU TELL PEOPLE ARE REALLY, UM, REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS SOMEWHAT NORMAL YEAR WHERE WE HOPE TO HAVE.
UM, AND I DEFINITELY WANNA THANK THOSE WHO SPOKE TONIGHT ABOUT THE BUDGET REQUESTS, WHICH OUR SCHOOL BOARD VOTED FOR UNANIMOUSLY.
AND I, I KNOW I, AND I'M SURE MANY OTHERS CERTAINLY STAND WITH YOU IN, IN YOUR CONCERNS.
AND I WANT TO ECHO THE, UM, SOMEHOW ADDRESSING THE WORKLOAD CONCERNS THAT MR. MCMILLAN MENTIONED.
I THINK THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART.
UM, AND THEN FINALLY, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN A BIG, BIG, BIG FOCUS.
UM, SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE CAN SHARE MORE SPECIFICALLY ABOUT, UM, HOW IT'S GOING AND, AND PLANS TO IMPROVE THAT MOVING FORWARD, THAT'D BE GREAT.
UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING ON WEDNESDAY THE 21ST.
THANK YOU AND LESS, BUT NOT LEAST MY, MY OWN.
AND THANK YOU FOR THAT SEGUE, MR. K, BECAUSE, UM, MY COMMENTS HAVE TO DO WITH OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE AND THAT IS, UM, THE LATEST NEGOTIATIONS AND, AND THIS, THE STRUGGLE TO MEET, UM, OUR AGREEMENTS AND OUR FISCAL COMMITMENT, UM, REALLY SHOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT WE COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER, NOT JUST WITHIN BCPS, BUT WITH OUR FUNDING PARTNERS.
AND, UM, MR. BURKE SPOKE TO THIS TONIGHT.
WE NEED TO REIMAGINE BCPS FROM THE, THE TOP DOWN, AND IT STARTS WITH THE BUDGET.
IT STARTS WITH QUESTIONING OUR PRIORITIES AND WITHIN EVERY DEPARTMENT, UM, THE BOARD HAS SAID THAT PEOPLE AND POSITIONS ARE OUR PRIORITIES.
IT'S TIME TO ALIGN OUR RESOURCES WITH THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND IT STARTS IT'S EVERY DOLLAR AND IT STARTS WITH QUESTIONING ARE THESE OUR PRIORITIES AND DOES OUR BUDGET ALIGN WITH THOSE PRIORITIES? SO I WILL BE CHALLENGING OUR, OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH STAFF, TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE COUNTY, EXECUTIVE AND SUPERINTENDENT.
AND AT EVERY LEVEL WE NEED TO WORK TO PUT IN THE HARD WORK.
THIS IS NOT A SYSTEM THAT SHYS AWAY FROM HARD WORK AND CHALLENGES.
AND THIS IS THE CHALLENGE WE NEED TO TAKE ON.
I DO NOT WANNA BE IN THIS POSITION NEXT YEAR.
I'M RETURNING TO THIS BOARD AND WE DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE.
UM, PART OF MY GOAL IN ESTABLISHING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WAS SO THAT THE BOARD COULD WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH STAFF, AND I APPRECIATE MR. HARLOW'S COMMITMENT.
AND MR. TIFF, UM, THAT COMMITTEE HAS WORKED, HAS JUST DONE FANTASTIC WORK ALONGSIDE THEM, AND I TRULY APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT.
UM, WE NEED TO START, I'M AN ADVOCATE FOR ZERO BASED BUDGETING AND STARTING FROM THAT FROM ZERO AND SAYING, WE NEED TO PUT OUR PRIORITIES FIRST.
SO WITH THAT, UM, THANK YOU ALL.
[P. ANNOUNCEMENTS (9:00 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2022 AT 6:30 PM.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.