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THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JULIE HEN I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22ND, 2022.[B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)]
YOU TO RECITE 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 TONIGHT'S SPORT OF EDUCATION.
MEETING IS BEING HELD IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY AND BROADCAST ONLINE THROUGH MICROSOFT TEAMS AND THROUGH BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 73, VERIZON FIOS, CHANNEL 34.
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.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE NOVEMBER 22ND AGENDA.WILLIAMS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CHANGES.
THE AGENDA STANDS AS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS EVENING.
PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
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.
CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE AND NINE, CONDUCT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OR CONSIDER MATTERS THAT RELATE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS.
THE MINUTES OF THE CLOSED SESSION AND INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE.
EVERY YEAR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
[D. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS - RECOGNITION OF STUDENT ARTWORK (Mr. Hartlove) (6:40 - 6:50 p.m.)]
PUBLISHES THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND EACH YEAR, STUDENT ARTWORK IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLICATION.LATER THIS EVENING, THE A C F R WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE STUDENTS WHOSE ARTWORK IS INCLUDED.
EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT RECEIVES A GIFT CARD.
THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS ARTWORK WAS SELECTED.
LEAH ABRAMOFF, GRADE EIGHT, SUD BOOK MAGNET MIDDLE SCHOOL, CADEN BROWN, GRADE EIGHT, DEER PARK MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL, NADIA COFER, GRADE EIGHT LOCK, RAVEN TECHNICAL ACADEMY.
MADELINE HOYLE, GRADE SEVEN, MIDDLE RIVER MAGNET.
SYLVIA SCHMIDT, GRADE SIX LOCK, RAVEN TECHNICAL ACADEMY, AND ERICA TOSON.
LET'S GIVE THOSE STUDENTS AROUND THE, OKAY.
THE NEXT ITEM IS A SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS RECOGNITION OF OUR OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS.
[E. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS - RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS (Ms. Henn) (6:50 - 7:20 p.m.)]
DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF RECOGNIZING THE TREMENDOUS EFFORTS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WHOSE TERMS HAVE NOW COME TO AN END.IT IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO MOST OF THIS CURRENT BOARD, AND PREPARE TO WELCOME NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT WILL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR ELECT IN JANUARY.
IT TAKES THE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF A COMMITTED TEAM TO AFFECT CHANGE.
I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THESE INCREDIBLE BOARD MEMBERS, FOR THEIR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT AND TIRELESS EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN.
DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN PUBLIC EDUCATION, OUR BOARD
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MEMBERS HAVE APPROACHED EVERY DECISION WITH STUDENTS IN MIND AND ALWAYS ASKED HOW AN ACTION WILL HELP RAISE THE BAR CLOSE GAPS AND PREPARE EVERY STUDENT FOR THE FUTURE.THEIR STEADFAST ADVOCACY IS BEYOND MEASURE, AND I CAN'T BEGIN TO ADEQUATELY THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE AND FOR THE PERSONAL SACRIFICE THEY HAVE MADE ADVOCATING FOR THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE CHALLENGES OF THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS HAVE MADE THIS WORK INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, BUT THESE BOARD MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND GIVE GENEROUSLY OF THEIR TIME AND TALENTS.
WE FACED MANY OBSTACLES AS A TEAM, BUT I AM SO VERY PROUD OF ALL THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
THIS INCLUDES IMPROVED TRANSPARENCY AND OPEN DISCOURSE, PRIORITIZATION OF SCHOOL SYSTEM RESOURCES, IMPROVED COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, STRONG GOVERNANCE AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT, AND MUCH MORE.
WE WISH YOU THE VERY BEST IN YOUR FUTURE PURSUITS AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS WHEREVER YOU GO.
SO I ASK IF YOU COULD JOIN ME AND I CALL YOUR NAMES IN THE FRONT OF THE DAIS.
WILLIAMS, WILL YOU JOIN US AS WELL? OKAY.
FIRST, I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE DR.
THANK WHAT ABOUT YOU,
VIRTUALLY WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MS. MOLLY JOE'S, MS. KATHLEEN KAZI, AND ALSO NOT WITH US.
UM, IS MS. LISA MACK, FORMER BOARD MEMBER.
LET'S GIVE MS. MAC A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THANK YOU, MR. ALMAN, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
MS. CHERYL, PASTOR, DELEGATE A LECTURER.
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MR. RUSS.EVERYBODY GOOD? THANK YOU ALL.
AND I HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND HE WANTED ME TO SHARE A SPECIAL MESSAGE WITH ALL OF YOU THIS EVENING ON YOUR OCCASION.
GOVERNOR HOGAN WANTS TO DEEPLY THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THIS BOARD.
HE APPRECIATES YOUR TIME, YOUR EFFORT, AND HE RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IS A JOB THAT IS, UM, VERY TOUGH, BUT IS ALWAYS WORTH THE EFFORT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.
SO HE ASKED ME TO EXPRESS HIS APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SERVICE, TO THANK YOU FOR JOB WELL DONE.
AND YOU HAVE THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION OF BOTH HIM AND HIS OFFICE.
NEXT, BEFORE I INTRODUCE, UM, THE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE WITH US, I ALSO HAVE SPECIAL MESSAGES FROM SOME ELECTEDS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE WITH US, BEGINNING WITH DELEGATE BEN BROOKS, WHO HAS SOME SPECIAL GREETINGS FOR TWO OF OUR MEMBERS, BEGINNING WITH DELEGATE ELECT PASTURE.
COME FORWARD, MS. DELEGATE PASTURE THAT HAS SUCH A GREAT RING TO IT.
SO ON BEHALF OF DELEGATE BROOKS, UM, BE IT HERE.
BY KNOWN TO ALL THAT SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS ARE OFFERED TO CHERYL PASTURE IN RECOGNITION OF HER COMMITMENT, CONSISTENCY, AND DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.
SHE HAS SERVED THE STUDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY WITH FERVOR AS A TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, PRESENTED ON THIS SEC 22ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022 BY DELEGATE BENJAMIN BROOKS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 10.
AND MS. NIKITA SCOTT DELEGATE BROOKS.
ALSO BE IT HERE BY KNOWN TO ALL THAT SINCEREST CONGRATULATIONS ARE OFFERED TO MS. NIKITA SCOTT IN RECOGNITION OF HER LEADERSHIP SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD.
HER DEDICATION TO THE BOARD AND THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION IS LAUDABLE PRESENTED ON THIS 22ND DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2022 BY DELEGATE BENJAMIN BROOKS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT 10.
NEXT, I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM FORMER SENATOR JIM BROCHEN FOR MS. KATHLEEN CY AND MS. LIL ROE, IF YOU COULD TOO, COULD COME FORWARD.
IT ONLY SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY WHEN A COALITION LED BY KATHY FORBES, WHO'S WITH US, AND YARA SHEIK LOBBIED ME HEAVILY TO REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION FOR AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD THAT HAD CONTINUOUSLY FAILED OVER THE YEARS.
ONLY A YEAR EARLIER, SENATOR KINS BILL FAILED IN A FOUR TO THREE VOTE IN DELEGATION.
AND I WAS TOLD POINT BLANK NOT TO EVEN BOTHER PUTTING THE LEGISLATION IN BECAUSE THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO KILL IT.
BUT LO AND BEHOLD, EVERYONE FROM RANDALLSTOWN TO ESSEX GOT ON BOARD, AND THE EDUCATION ACTIVIST WHO CARED ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THEIR CHILDREN HELPED US CROSS THE FINISH LINE.
THE BEAUTY OF THIS LEGISLATION IS THAT I REALLY THINK IT WAS CARVED OUT FOR THE TWO OF YOU, LILY.
YOU HAVE BEEN A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR DOING WHAT YOU HAVE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT AND IN THE PROCESS, LEARNING HOW TO FORM COALITIONS TO GET THINGS DONE.
YOU HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
YOU HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS VOICE FOR NORTH COUNTY, AND WHILE EVERYONE ACROSS THE COUNTY MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS AGREED WITH YOU, NORTH COUNTY CERTAINLY HAS THE INDEPENDENCE AND THOUGHTFULNESS YOU'VE EXERTED ON THIS BOARD.
AND THE LEADERSHIP YOU'VE PROVIDED HAVE REALLY CHANGED THE WAY IN WHICH A BOARD SHOULD BE ACTING AGAINST A CHECK.
BUT THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART IS FOR SETTING THE STANDARD FOR WHAT TRUE ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD LOOK LIKE.
YOUR FORMER SENATOR AND FRIEND, SENATOR JIM BROSEN.
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YES.AND WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE WITH US THIS EVENING, BEGINNING WITH MR. COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO JOIN IN THE ACCOLADES FOR OUR OUTSTANDING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE RESIDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, THE STUDENTS AND UH, EDUCATORS ACROSS THIS GREAT JURISDICTION.
WE ARE BLESSED AND THANKFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
UH, I HAVE, UH, CITATIONS AS WELL TO JUST GIVE OUR THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE, UH, GROUNDBREAKING SERVICE IN MANY REGARDS FOR OUR FIRST, UH, ELECTED AND HYBRID BOARD.
AND, UH, AGAIN, JUST WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE PRIORITIZED OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR STUDENTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UH, BALTIMORE COUNTY IS BETTER BECAUSE OF EACH OF YOU.
UH, I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND AM HONORED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SERVED ALONGSIDE EACH OF YOU.
SO I'M GONNA LET PETE, CHRIS KUMUS, UH, ON MY TEAM, UH, READ OUT SOME OF OUR CITATIONS.
UH, THEY ARE SIMILARLY, UH, SITUATED FOR ALL OF OUR OUTGOING MEMBERS, BUT JUST PLEASE ACCEPT MY PROFOUND, UH, GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO BIG THINGS AHEAD FOR ALL OF YOU.
UM, AND, UH, JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE EXCELLENCE THAT YOU HAVE SET FORWARD THAT WE'RE GONNA PROCEED TOGETHER ON IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
SO I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND THANK YOU ALL.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR YOUR SERVICE.
PETE, YOU WANNA GIVE US OUR, UH, CITATIONS? THIS IS NOT HERE, BUT I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA JUST RECOGNIZE AND READ THIS ONE BECAUSE IT'S MY HOME DISTRICT.
SO, AND RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE FOR THE SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO THE BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD U FOUR EXCEEDED THE EXPECTATIONS SET BEFORE YOU IN YOUR DEDICATION, DILIGENCE, AND THOUGHTFUL CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE GREATLY MISSED ON BEHALF OF ALL OF ITS RESIDENTS, BALTIMORE COUNTY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD, GIVEN UNDER THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES, AND ON THIS DAY, 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS FOR THANK YOU.
HERE, HERE, HOW ABOUT THANK YOU.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DELEGATE KATHY FORBES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE.
WHEN THE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD BILL, A HYBRID BILL WAS PASSED, AND BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO ELECT THEIR SCHOOL BOARD, WE WERE HOPING FOR CANDIDATES LIKE YOU TO STEP FORWARD, WHO REALLY CARED, WHO CAME FROM YOUR COMMUNITY, AND CARED ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS, AND PUT OUR STUDENTS FIRST AND OUR TEACHERS FIRST.
AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS COMING IN 2020.
AND YOU'VE ENDURED BOTH THE PANDEMIC, WHICH WAS AN EASY, IN ANY, ANY SEAT REPRESENTING PEOPLE, UM, BUT PARTICULARLY IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND YOU DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK, BUT YOU WEATHERED IT ALL AND YOU MADE THE BEST DECISIONS WITH THE INFORMATION YOU WERE GIVEN, AND YOU ALWAYS PUT STUDENTS FIRST.
SO, I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE, AND I THANK YOU ALL, AND I WISH YOU ALL WELL.
NEXT, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME DELEGATE DANA STEIN.
UH, I WANNA ECHO THE THANKS OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND DELEGATE KATHY FORBES FOR, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO ALL THE OUTGOING MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
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UH, WE KNOW HOW TIME CONSUMING AND HOW MUCH OF A COMMITMENT IT MEANS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.AND, UH, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS.
AND, UH, I REMEMBER WORKING WITH ON, UH, IN THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES WITH DELEGATE STEVE LAVERTY BACK IN 2014, OR THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING THE HYBRID SCHOOL BOARD.
SO WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AMONG THE FIRST, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED UNDER, UNDER THAT, UH, LEGISLATION.
AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T GIVE A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO MY FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, UH, AND NOW DEL ELECT CHERYL PASTURE, AS YOU KNOW, I MEAN, CHERYL BRINGS AN UNMATCHED PASSION FOR QUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR ALL STUDENTS.
AND OVER THE YEARS THAT I'VE KNOWN, SHE, I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT, UH, ABOUT EDUCATION AND THE NEEDS OF, OF YOUNG, YOUNG PEOPLE.
AND, UH, UH, ONE OF HER MANY LEGACIES WILL BE THE CTE CENTER IN NORTHWEST BALTIMORE COUNTY.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S JUST ONE OF MANY LEGACIES.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER.
SHE BRINGS HER VOICE AND HER PASSION TO ANNAPOLIS.
AND IS THERE ANYONE I MISSED? NO.
DON'T GO TOO FAR, BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE TIME FOR COMMENTS FROM EACH OF YOU, SO, OKAY.
YOU, ME, OUT AND I OH, JUST ONE OF THEM, JUST PROBABLY YOU, YOU HAVE, YEAH.
I, I'M LIKE, YOU CAN PUT ANYTHING TO THE SIDE IF YOU WANT.
AND BOTH MEMBERS, IF YOU COULD STATE, WE HAVE ONE MORE, UM, SPECIAL GUEST, WELL CAST CHAIRMAN JONESES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
AND, UH, GUESTS WANTED TO STOP BY AND FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, AND ON BEHALF OF THE 850,000 CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, I WANTED TO GUESS THANK YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE TO BALTIMORE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY, UH, MAKING SURE OUR CHILDREN ARE EDUCATED TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
I KNOW THAT, UH, IT'S A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT JOB.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE COULD NEVER PAY YOU AS MUCH TIME YOU PUT INTO IT AND ALL THE HEARTACHE AND PAIN AND DISAGREEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH, BUT SOMEBODY HAD TO DO IT.
AND BY STEPPING UP, YOU MADE OUR COUNTY BETTER AND YOU HELPED OUR CHILDREN.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I GUESS WANTED TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND ON BEHALF OF ALL THE CITIZENS, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I NOW INVITE OUR HONORED BOARD MEMBERS TO
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SHARE THEIR PERSONAL COMMENT, UM, BEGINNING WITH DELEGATE ELECT.MS. PESTER, YOU'D LIKE TO, WOULD YOU SURE.
WHEREVER YOU LIKE, IT'S, IT'S YOUR DAY.
FOR 27 YEARS OF MY DECADES IN EDUCATION, I HAVE LOVED BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THIS IS A SEASON OF THANKSGIVING AND GRATEFULNESS, A TIME TO REFLECT, A TIME TO HEAL, A TIME TO DEMONSTRATE FAITH.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NEXT BOARD WILL COME TO THE TABLE FOR OUR CHILDREN, ALL OF THEM TO SPEAK TRUTHS WITH INTEGRITY AND RESPECT.
I HOPE THIS BOARD AND THE NEXT, ALONG WITH THE DECISION MAKERS IN THE SYSTEM, WILL SEE OUR CHILDREN THROUGH A HUMAN LENS BEFORE A FISCAL ONE, THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO OFFER A QUALITY EDUCATION, A STRONG CURRICULUM, FOOD SECURITY, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, EQUITY FOR ALL GROUPS REGARDLESS OF GENDER, GENDER PREFERENCES, ETHNICITY, RELIGION, RACE, ECONOMIC CONDITION.
I HOPE THAT THE STAFF MEMBERS WHO MAKE THESE HAP THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR CHILDREN ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN OR TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
I HOPE THAT THIS BOARD TO THE VERY END AND THE NEXT BOARD FROM ITS BEGINNING CARE MORE ABOUT CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO WORK WITH THEM EVERY DAY THAN PERSONAL POWER OR VOICE, OR PERSONAL AGENDAS.
I HOPE THAT MORE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STRONG SCHOOLS, MARYLAND BRIDGE, MARYLAND, THE HIGHLANDERS, THE BALTIMORE COUNTY CON CONTINENTALS PIKESVILLE SCHOOLS COALITION NAACP, STEP UP TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS.
I WILL REMAIN HOPEFUL, AS IT IS SAID IN ROMANS 1212, EVEN WHEN AFFLICTED OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THAT THEY ARE OUR HOPE AND OUR BLESSING.
I LOVE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I WILL ALWAYS SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY, THE CHILDREN AND THOSE WHO ALSO LOVE IT.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCEPTIONAL, UM, TIME IN MY LIFE TO SPEND SERVING THE STUDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY AND NOT AN EASY TIME.
AND I THINK THAT WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
AND AS WE REBUILD AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING ON AFTER US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO REPRESENT THOSE STUDENTS AND TO CONTINUE THE WORK AND TO CONTINUE IMPROVING OUR FACILITIES.
WE'VE MANAGED TO HAVE ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AIR CONDITIONED, AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE HAD WITHOUT THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND AN ELECTED BOARD.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH LIFE SAFETY ISSUES IN BUILDINGS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SOLVE THOSE.
AND WE HAVE VERY GOOD STAFF WHO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO, UM, THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE STUDENT SUPPORT NETWORK
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TO HELP TO PROVIDE, UH, RESOURCES TO CHILDREN WHO LACK RESOURCES.AND THAT THIS IS ONE OF A VERY IMPORTANT THING THAT I HOPE THAT THE NEXT BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO DO.
BUT THE THING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FOCUS ON MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS OUR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND LITERACY.
WE CANNOT HAVE A FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRACY IF WE DO NOT HAVE A FUNCTIONALLY LITERATE POPULATION.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SEE ALL AROUND US WHEN WE SEE PEOPLE WHO READ NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND COME TO VERY DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS BY THEM, AND BECOME MANIPULATED BY CONSPIRACY THEORISTS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT CONFUSE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEIR READING AND THEIR EDUCATION WAS NOT ADEQUATE TO COMBAT THEIR OWN CONFUSION.
AND I THINK THAT NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THE STUDENT CAN READ.
AND WE TEACH MANY OTHER THINGS BESIDES THAT, BUT A STUDENT WHO CAN READ, CAN TEACH THEMSELVES A LOT OF THINGS.
AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS.
AND I HOPE THAT THE NEXT BOARD WILL, UM, CONTINUE THAT.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR STAFF.
IT'S BEEN MY PLEASURE TO SERVE.
GOOD EVENING, UH, TO EVERYONE.
UM, IT IS, UH, A WONDERFUL EVENING.
UM, I HAVE MANY EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS AS, UH, THIS IS MY LAST BOARD MEETING.
I HAVE SERVED FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, UM, AND MY MISSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN FOCUSED ON IMPROVING STUDENTS' ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND SUCCESS.
I WILL TRY TO KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF, MISS HEN
UH, FOR FOLKS THAT WANNA HEAR MORE, UM, I WILL BE, UH, PLANNING A NEW DIGITAL PRESENCE WHERE WE CAN STAY CONNECTED AND WHERE I HOPE TO SHARE MORE REFLECTIONS, UH, APPRECIATIONS FOR THIS JOURNEY, AND AS WELL AS MY FUTURE ENDEAVORS SINCE, UM, MY PASSION FOR CHILDREN ACHIEVING THEIR POTENTIAL, MY PASSION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IS NOT GOING TO END TONIGHT.
UM, WE WERE TOLD WE COULD HAVE ONE GUEST, SO I CHOSE MY FATHER.
SO DAD, IF YOU COULD STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
SO, UM, MY FATHER, UH, REPRESENTS MY PAST, MY PRESENT, AND MY FUTURE, MY PAST THAT SHAPED AND FORMED ME TO APPRECIATE SERVICE, TO APPRECIATE THE AMAZING PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT I RECEIVED.
HE'S ALSO MY PRESENT IN THAT HE HAS BEEN MY ROCK DURING SO MANY CHALLENGES OF LIFE, AND HAS ALSO BEEN A, UH, CHEERLEADER AND A SUPPORTER AND SOMEONE TO, UH, LAUGH AND APPRECIATE, UH, MY JOYS AND TO CELEBRATE, UH, ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
HE ALSO REPRESENTS, UH, MY FUTURE BECAUSE I HOPE TO SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME WITH MY DAD, MY HUSBAND, OUR CHILDREN.
AND NOW WE HAVE TWO SON-IN-LAWS, EXTENDED FAMILY, MY FAITH, FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
UM, I COULD NOT HAVE MADE IT THROUGH THIS ROLLERCOASTER RIDE OF SERVICE TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE OF THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION WITHOUT ALL OF YOU.
SO YOU HAVE MY DEEPEST THANKS AND APPRECIATION AND THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ME OR GIVEN ME CRITICAL FEEDBACK, UH, WHO HAVE, UH, GIVEN ME INFORMATION.
I REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED ALL OF IT, UM, AND IT HAS HELPED ME.
I JUST WANNA TOUCH BRIEFLY ON, UH, THREE WOMEN WHO, UM, REALLY HAVE INSPIRED ME AND, UM, BEEN A FOUNDATION.
MY, UH, GRANDMOTHER, MY DAD'S MOM WAS A TEACHER IN THE EARLY NINETEENS, HUN HUNDREDS.
SHE WAS BORN WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT CALLED LEGALLY BLIND BACK THEN.
UH, BUT SHE WAS ASSISTED TO SEE WITH, UH, COKE BOTTLE EYEGLASSES.
UH, SHE BECAME A TEACHER AND SHE TAUGHT IN A ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE IN THE EARLY NINETEENS, HUN HUNDREDS IN RURAL AREA OF UPSTATE NEW YORK.
BEFORE AIRBNB, SHE WAS ABLE TO RENT A ROOM WITH A FAMILY IN THE SMALL VILLAGE SINCE SHE LIVED IN A CITY AND HAD NO TRANSPORTATION.
AND THIS IS A BOOK THAT MY DAD GAVE ME, THE ONE ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE, UH, WHICH IF YOU CAN FIND IT IN PRINT, IT'S REALLY VERY INTERESTING
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ABOUT THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA, WHICH HAS HAD, UM, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, BUT ALSO STAINS AND STRUGGLES, AND THE WORK CONTINUES.UM, MY MOTHER ALSO, UM, GREW UP IN A RURAL AREA WITH FOUR H FARMING, GARDENING.
SHE DID WELL IN SCHOOL, BUT THERE WERE BARRIERS TO HER GOING ON TO COLLEGE.
UH, SO SHE WENT TO SECRETARY SCHOOL, AND THEN WHEN SHE WAS, UH, GROWING UP OUR FAMILY AND BEING A STAY AT HOME MOM, UM, AND WE KNOW NONE OF THOSE MOMS EVER ACTUALLY STAY HOME BECAUSE THEY'RE BUSY VOLUNTEERING IN SCHOOL, CHURCH, UH, CARTING KIDS AROUND, INCLUDING OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN'S.
UH, SHE ALSO WAS ENGAGED IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
UH, AND I SEEM TO RECALL HER WORK WITH THE, UH, FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT.
SHE USED SECRETARIAL SKILLS FOR PROJECTS AND MEETINGS.
AND IT WAS AN EPIPHANY ONE TIME WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH MANY TO ADDRESS CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY AIR FOR OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND STAFF AND SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
AND WAS TALKING WITH ADVOCATES FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ABOUT DELANEY'S INFAMOUS BROWN WATER.
AND WE WERE ALL CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE.
AND I REALIZED THAT I WAS DOING SIMILAR WORK TO MY MOM 40 YEARS EARLIER.
AND THE IMPACTS THAT WE CAN MAKE TODAY ARE BASED ON THE IMPACTS THAT HAVE OTHERS HAVE MADE BEFORE US.
SO THAT WAS VERY, UH, SIGNIFICANT AND TOUCHING.
AND IN THIS TIME OF THANKSGIVING, I THINK WE ALL REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE COME BEFORE US THAT HAVE WORKED TO IMPROVE LIVE LIFE FOR OTHERS COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.
AND THEN LASTLY, UH, I WANNA THANK MY FRIEND, MY BFF.
SHE KNOWS WHO SHE IS, A RETIRED READING SPECIALIST.
SHE TAUGHT IN SEATTLE AND BECOME A WASHINGTON FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEN SEVERAL YEARS IN THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND, INTELLIGENT, PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING, STRUGGLING READERS.
SHE ONLY WANTED THE STRUGGLING READERS.
THOSE ARE THE ONES I NEED TO HAVE.
THOSE ARE THE STUDENTS I WANT THAT I CAN HELP.
AND SHE WAS JUST HARDWORKING, LIKE SO MANY OF OUR, UH, DEDICATED TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS.
SO WITH THAT, I AM JUST IMMENSELY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I'VE HAD.
WILLIAMS AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, UM, ON ALL OF OUR STAFF.
UH, I'VE LEARNED FROM YOU, I'VE GROWN, AND I JUST, I'M JUST REALLY VERY HUMBLED AND GRATEFUL.
UM, IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE HONOR, UM, TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, I WANNA THANK ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT, UM, PLACE THEIR FAITH IN ME AND, UM, YOU KNOW, ALLOWED ME TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I HOPE IS PLAY A ROLE IN MY SHORT SERVICE IN HELPING TO IMPROVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS BOTH A TEACHER.
AND DURING MY TIME ON THE BOARD.
MY PASSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE WELLBEING OF, OF CHILDREN, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY, ACADEMICALLY.
AND I CERTAINLY PLEDGE TO CONTINUE THAT PATH FOR ALL MY YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
AND, UM, I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY, UM, MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF MEMBERS FOR ALL THE COLLABORATION THAT WE DID TOGETHER.
UM, GREAT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES THAT HOPEFULLY HELPED TO BRING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I ALSO REALLY ADMIRE HOW WE FOCUSED ON ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AS WELL.
UM, I WISH EVERYBODY A PEACEFUL THANKSGIVING.
I HOPE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS.
AND, UM, I DO WANNA, UH, ECHO WHAT YOU SAID, MS. KASI ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING THE PAST AND HOW IMPORTANT THE PAST IS AND THE LEGACY OF THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US TO REALLY LAY A VALUE SYSTEM THAT WE ALL, UH, CAN LEARN FROM.
I WISH YOU ALL MANY BLESSINGS, AND THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN ME.
UM, I, I WANNA EXPRESS MY THANKS TO THE VERY WONDERFUL BCPS STAFF THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICAL, UH, TO EVERYTHING FROM KEEPING OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, WELCOMING, AND PROVIDING EXCELLENT EDUCATION WHILE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE.
WILLIAMS IN THE ENTIRE CABINET.
I WANNA THANK MS. GOBER FOR EVERYTHING SHE DOES TO KEEP THE BOARD FUNCTIONING.
MR. ART MCDANIEL, WHO I ENORMOUSLY ENJOY TALKING TO, AND WHO'S ALWAYS MADE SURE I HAD A HOT CUP OF TEA FOR THOSE MARATHON MEETINGS, UM, AT THE CORE OF EVERY
[00:40:01]
DECISION WE MAKE, IT HAS AN IMPACT ON ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.AND THAT HAS BEEN MY GUIDING PRINCIPLE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO LEARN, ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE, AND WE GET CLARITY WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE SILENCE OF OUR CHILDREN AND WHEN WE HEAR THE QUIET VOICES OVER THE NOISE OF THE LOUDEST.
SO, THANK YOU ALL, AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY.
SO, UM, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M HERE UNTIL JULY, BUT I DO WANNA TAKE THE TIME AND THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
YOU HAVE MADE THESE PAST FEW MONTHS A VERY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME.
UM, BUT YOU'VE ALSO SHOWN WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD.
YOU'VE SHOWN WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE, WHAT IT MEANS TO GROW AS HUMAN BEINGS, TO BE FIERCE AND PASSIONATE AND STRONG, AND TO NEVER, EVER STOP LEARNING.
SO THIS IS A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR ME BECAUSE I FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE JUST MET ALL OF YOU.
BUT YOU EACH HAVE SHOWN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LEADERS.
YOU EACH WILL CONTINUE TO CHATTER EVEN MORE GLASS CEILINGS.
YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE, CUZ I WILL KEEP SAYING THAT AND YOU WILL KEEP HEARING IT.
BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE ON THIS DAUS WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
SO THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A SWAB.
THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE STUDENTS UNCONDITIONALLY.
I SEE YOUR APPRECIATION FOR OUR STUDENTS AS A STUDENT.
I AM SO, SO BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE NEXT BOARD CAN FILL HALF OF YOUR SHOES.
UM, I WOULD, I THINK LIKE, TO SAY THAT I AM, IT'S, IT'S BEEN QUITE AN INTERESTING JOURNEY.
I'VE LEARNED A LOT AND I'VE, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.
MOST NOTABLY, UM, STARTING THE EQUITY COMMITTEE, UH, PRIOR TO COVID EQUITY LOOKED ONE WAY AFTER COVID.
I THINK IT SHOWED, UM, A LOT OF THE AREAS THAT WE CAN APPROVE UPON AND, UM, THE INEQUITIES IN OUR SYSTEM.
AND I FEEL VERY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE COMPARABLE STAFF IN THE, UM, EQUITY OFFICE WHO HAS, UM, ANSWERED EVERY, EVERY QUESTION.
WILLIAMS, WHO HAS, UH, TAKEN THE LEAD ON THIS AND ALSO THE, UM, EQUITY COUNCIL, WHICH IS MADE UP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO'VE ADDED THEIR INPUT, ALL OF WHICH I BELIEVE IS A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO MAKING A, UH, STRONGER SYSTEM AND ULTIMATELY HELPING TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
I CAME TO THE BOARD AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT I WANTED TO WORK ON.
I STARTED OUT FIRST WITH THE BASKETBALL HOOPS.
YOU MAY REMEMBER I TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY WERE UP AT SCHOOLS, UM, AT ALL OF THE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT, UM, UH, THE COUNTY, WHICH AS I UNDERSTAND, UM, I BELIEVE THEY ARE.
SO I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING IN IMPORTANT, AND IT'S A WAY THAT WE SHOW OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKING IN AND WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, UM, IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN.
SO I'VE JUST ENJOYED WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND, UM, I THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, UM, WHEN THE NEW BOARD COMES ON, THE DIRECTION THAT THEY WILL GO IN.
BUT I THINK THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE SPACE AND THE GUIDANCE OF THE, UH, OR THE PARTNERSHIP RATHER, WITH THE STAFF, WHICH WILL BE IMMEASURABLE BECAUSE WE HAVE, AS MS. JONES WAS SAYING, WE HAVE SOME WONDERFUL STAFF WHO ARE VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN WHAT THEY DO.
AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR, UM, ALL OF THE GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE THAT, THAT YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED.
UM, SO I DID NOT PREPARE REMARKS BECAUSE AS AN APPOINTED, UM, ME MEMBER, I WILL BE HOLDING OVER UNTIL OUR NEW MEMBERS ARE, UM, APPOINTED AFTER OUR NEW GOVERNOR IS SWORN IN.
SO, UM, THAT MEANS THAT SOME OF US WILL BE STAYING ON.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY AGAIN, HAVING NOT PREPARED ANYTHING, WHAT A JOY HAS BEEN TO SERVE WITH SO MANY, UH, WONDERFUL, DEDICATED, UH, SERVANTS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW FOLKS THAT, UM, I, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE ON THE BOARD BEFORE I JOINED, AND MANY OF THEM I DIDN'T GET TO SEE IN PERSON FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
AND SO FINALLY, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'VE, WE'VE BUILT A GREAT, UH, WORKING
[00:45:01]
RELATIONSHIP AND, UM, AND A FRIENDSHIP IN MANY CASES AS WELL.SO, UM, I KNOW I WILL MISS YOU AND I THINK THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, UH, WILL MISS YOU ALL AS WELL.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.
GOTTEN TO SERVE WITH FOUR DIFFERENT S MOBS, ALL OF WHOM HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.
UM, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW SCHOOL BOARD.
I HAVE, UM, SAID TO MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT THAT I, YOU KNOW, MY PLAN IS TO KIND OF TAKE A, TAKE A BACKSEAT AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL FIND THEIR WAY AND, AND MAYBE BE A RESOURCE IF POSSIBLE BECAUSE THIS WAS A LITTLE UNANTICIPATED.
UM, BUT, UH, BUT WE WILL, UH, I'LL BE AROUND, UM, BUT AGAIN, KIND OF ON THE SIDELINE TO, TO HOPEFULLY, UM, BE A RESOURCE IF NEEDED.
SO HOPE MAYBE I'LL HAVE SOME REMARKS, REMARKS IN MARCH PREPARED SO WHEN, WHEN THAT TIME FINALLY COMES AROUND.
BUT THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE HAVE A LONG AGENDA TONIGHT, SO I'M GONNA KEEP THIS BRIEF SINCE I DIDN'T PREPARE ANYTHING SINCE I TOO AM APPOINTED.
AND THIS WILL NOT BE MY LAST MEETING.
UM, I DO WANNA SAY HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE.
UM, I HOPE YOU TAKE TIME TO ENJOY THIS TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY.
UM, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL MY FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS FOR ALL THE TIME, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE AGREED.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALL HAVE OPINIONS AND, AND DEEP, UM, DEEP BELIEFS AND WE ALL, WERE HERE TO, TO HELP THE STUDENTS AND THE CHILDREN ACHIEVE.
UM, AND THIS ENTIRE ENTERPRISE, WHICH IS VERY, VERY LARGE, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC ADVANCEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT, AND I HOPE THAT THIS, THIS BODY, THIS GOVERNING BODY CAN HELP MOVE THE BAR, UM, FOR, FOR THE STUDENTS.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY FAMILY FOR ALL THEIR SUPPORT AND LOVE DURING THIS TIME.
UH, AND IT ACTUALLY IS LONGER THAN THAT NOW SINCE THEY'VE EXTENDED, UH, UH, THE APPOINTEES.
UM, SO YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME FOR A FEW MORE MEETINGS.
[F. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Ms. Anderson) (7:20 - 7:25 p.m.)]
THE NEXT ITEM, REGULAR ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. ANDERSON.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRWOMAN HEN, VICE CHAIR, MCMILLAN, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WOULD LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING, PERSONNEL MATTERS, DETERMINATIONS, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, DECEASED, RECOGNITION OF SERVICE, AND CERTIFICATED APPOINTMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT F1? SO MOVE STALOWSKI.
DO I HAVE A SECOND, SECOND ROW? ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MS. BROWN.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBITS F TWO THROUGH F FIVE? SO MOVE STALOWSKI.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND IS ON ANY DISCUSSION, MAY I HAVE ROYAL CALL VOTE MS. YES.
[G. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Williams) (7:25 - 7:35 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS.WILLIAMS. THANK YOU MADAME CHAIR HEN VICE CHAIR MCMILLAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I AM BRINGING FORTH THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR APPROVAL SPECIALIST COMPLIANCE, OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST PRESCHOOL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TO POSITIONS MANAGER, OPERATIONS OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION AND SUPERVISOR SCHOOL, SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, OFFICE OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT G ONE? SO MOVE TO SAN DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND Q.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
[00:50:01]
YES.OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT IS JESSICA M OCHE OPI PITS.
JESSICA OSHI POVI AS THE SPECIALIST IN COMPLIANCE IN THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE.
JESSICA BRINGS OVER 19 YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
PREVIOUSLY SHE SERVED AS AN IEP FACILITATOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SHE'S ALSO SERVED AS A TEACHER OF SPECIAL ED INCLUSION AT HONEY GO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
A STAT TEACHER, HONEY GO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, A TEACHER RESOURCE IN THE OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS, A STAT TEACHER AT VINCENTS FARM ELEMENTARY AND CLASSROOM TEACHER AT BOTH VINCENTS FARM ELEMENTARY AND RY WOOD ELEMENTARY.
NEXT APPOINTMENT WE HAVE JANET R.
TEETER MANAGER OPERATIONS OFFICE.
THERE SHE IS OF TRANSPORTATION.
JOINING HER IS HER HUSBAND GARY TEETER.
UH, SHE BRINGS OVER 41 YEARS OF SERVICE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE JUST THAT RIGHT THERE.
CURRENTLY SHE SERVES AS THIS, UH, SENIOR OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR IN THE OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION.
PRIOR TO THAT, SHE WAS A TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANT.
SHE WAS, UH, IN THE OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANT OF SPECIAL ED, A ROUTING ASSISTANT AND A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER IN THE OFFICE OF TRANSPORTATION.
NEXT WE HAVE NATHAN K YAMA AS THE SUPERVISOR OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES IN THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.
JOINING HIM, IT'S HIS WIFE, ASHLEY YAMADA, PLEASE.
HE BRINGS OVER SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PRIOR TO THIS APPOINTMENT, HE SERVED AS A SOCIAL WORKER IN THE OFFICE OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.
HE WAS A SOCIAL WORKER AT PERRY HALL HIGH SCHOOL AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE HE WORKED AT SHEPHERD PRAC HEALTH SYSTEM AND PAUL ELANI DAY TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR OVER ONE YEAR.
CONGRATULATIONS MR. NATHAN KAY YAMA.
NEXT WE HAVE ERICA A, UH, SOLID DAY, UH, AS THE SPECIALIST OF PRESCHOOL SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SHE'S NOT ATTENDING TO THIS EVENING.
SHE BRINGS OVER 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PREVIOUSLY SHE SERVED AS A RESOURCE TEACHER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
PRIOR TO THAT, SHE WAS A SPECIAL ED TEACHER, UH, FOR EARLY CHILD SELF-CONTAINED AT KEARNEY ELEMENTARY.
SHE HAD PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT SHE PR HEALTH SYSTEM AND KENNEDY KRIEGER IN CONGRATULATIONS, ERICA.
A SO, AND NEXT WE HAVE KATHERINE IN WALTON.
UM, THIS APPOINTMENT IS FOR THE SPECIALIST OF PRESCHOOL SERVICES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SHE BRINGS SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PREVIOUSLY SHE SERVED AS A RESOURCE TEACHER, THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL ED.
SHE ALSO SERVED AS, UH, PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT, AT KENNEDY KRIEGER INSTITUTE FOR OVER 15 YEARS.
CONGRATULATIONS, CATHERINE AND WALTON.
WILLIAMS. LET'S GIVE EVERYBODY ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
[H. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:35 - 8:30 p.m.)]
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 REGISTER 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
[00:55:01]
PURVIEW OF THIS BOARD AND THE 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.
PERSONS USING LANGUAGE THAT IS THREATENING OR PROMOTES VIOLENCE AGAINST A BCPS EMPLOYEE ARE SUBJECT TO LEGAL PENALTIES.
PERSONS WHO OTHERWISE DISRUPT OR DISTURB THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR REMARKS AND WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING.
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 THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE END OF YOUR TIME AND IT COULD BE TURNED OFF 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 LESLIE WEBER WITH THE PTA COUNCIL.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRPERSON HEN VICE CHAIR MCMILLAN, BOARD OF ED MEMBERS AND DR.
WILLIAMS. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO MAKE MAKE A MEETING FOR A WHILE, SO I'D LIKE TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON WHAT PTA COUNCIL HAS BEEN UP TO.
WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY RESTARTING PTA UNITS AT THREE HIGH SCHOOLS, LANDS DOWN RANDALLSTOWN AND WOODLAWN, FOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS, DEEP CREEK LANDS, DOWN NORTHWEST ACADEMY AND PIKESVILLE.
AND A NUMBER OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS INCLUDING CEDAR MAYOR, CHURCH, LANE FEATHER, BED LANE, HEB BILL, JOHNNY CAKE, MILLBROOK, NORWOOD, SCOTTS BRANCH, SENECA WELLWOOD, WINAN AND WOOD AND WOOD HOME.
HUGE THANKS TO OUR VP FOR LEADERSHIP.
JANE LEE AND EXTENSION COMMITTEE CHAIR EMORY YOUNG FOR HANDLING SO MUCH OF THIS WORK.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN BUSY TRAINING LOCAL LEADERS.
FIRST AT OUR SEPTEMBER FALL WORKSHOPS AT LOCK RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL AND AT OUR NOVEMBER VIRTUAL TRAINING FOR PRESIDENTS AND TREASURES.
BOTH SESSIONS WERE VERY WELL RECEIVED.
I'D LIKE TO SHARE A STORY FROM OUR VIRTUAL TRAINING.
THE PRESIDENT OF ONE OF THE UNITS WERE HELPING TO RESTART ASKED ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE PARENTS AT HER SCHOOL TO RUN FOR BOARD POSITIONS.
SHE HAS GREAT PARENT PARTICIPATION BUT IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PARENTS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO, TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP TO SERVE AS PTA LEADERS.
A NUMBER OF UNIT LEADERS ASKED FOR ASKED HER TO POST HER CONTACT INFORMATION IN THE CHAT SO THEY COULD HELP HER IN SOME WAY.
THIS IS THE POWER OF PTA, A STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL NETWORK SERVING TO BETTER THE LIVES OF CHILDREN.
BACK TO WHAT PTA COUNCIL HAS BEEN DOING LATELY.
IN OCTOBER, WE PARTNERED WITH THE AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCILS TO HOST A VIRTUAL BOARD OF EDUCATION FORUM.
THANKS TO PTA COUNCIL ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATION COMMITTEE CHAIR BETH JARRET AND A E A C COORDINATOR DONNA SLY FOR PLANNING THIS INFORMATIVE EVENT.
IN OCTOBER NOVEMBER, PTA COUNCIL AND PTA PRESIDENTS TOOK PART IN VIRTUAL ROUND TABLES WITH DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT DR.
YARBOROUGH AND CHIEF OF STAFF MISS CHARLIE GREEN, TO DISCUSS A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATION ISSUES.
WILLIAMS FOR ATTENDING IN OCTOBER AND TO SUAH FROM THE BCPS OFFICE OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WHO SITS ON OUR BOARD FOR FACILITATING.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THESE MONTHLY VET EVENTS.
OUR BOARD IS CHANGING WE'LL GREATLY.
MS. CHRISTINA HUMPHREY, OUR CENTRAL AREA VICE PRESIDENT WHO, WHO WILL SOON JOIN YOU REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX.
THANKS TO CHRISTINA FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AS A PTA UNIT LEADER AND AS A COUNCIL BOARD MEMBER.
WE'LL ALSO MISS OUR LONGTIME TABCO REPRESENTATIVE MARCY COOK, WHO ALWAYS SHARED HER VALUABLE EDUCATORS PERSPECTIVE.
ON OUR, AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS, WE WELCOME TABCO VICE PRESIDENT KELLY OLDS AS OUR NEW TAB CO LIAISON.
WE'VE ALSO RECENTLY WELCOMED NEW COMMITTEE, NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO OUR FAMILY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS COMMITTEE AND OUR EXTENSION COMMITTEE.
THESE COMMITTEES HELP US BETTER SERVE THE UNIT'S.
THERE'S MORE, BUT THAT'S ENOUGH OF A RECAP.
OUR NEXT STAKEHOLDER GROUP SPEAKER IS DONNA SIDLEY WITH THE AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCILS.
UH, CHAIR HIM, UH, VICE CHAIR MILLION DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM THE COORDINATOR OF THE FIVE AREA EDUCATION ADVISOR COUNCILS THAT ARE FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY VCPS.
[01:00:01]
UM, I WANNA THANK ALL OF SO MANY OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN SO FAITHFUL TO COME TO THE QUARTERLY OR THE MONTHLY MEETINGS THAT, UM, ALL OF OUR COUNCILS HAVE HAD AND THE TWO YEARLY MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE WITH ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL OF THE BOARD.UM, IT IS REALLY, UH, HAS BEEN REALLY VERY NICE AND IT HAS BEEN.
THE MEMBERS HAVE REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR ATTENDANCE AND ALL YOUR ADVICE TO US AND ALL YOUR HELP.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE LEAVING ARE RETIRING, I WANNA WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK AND SO MANY OF YOU I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AND I DO THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO IN YOUR NEXT CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE, I WISH YOU LUCK.
UH, AS THE BOARD POLICY 1230 DOES INDICATE AND DOES SAY THE ADVISOR COUNCIL ARE TO BE ADVISORS TO THE BOARD REPRESENTING THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE FIVE AREAS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, UH, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN EACH OF THOSE AREAS AND TO BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY, UH, ACTIVELY REPRESENT THOSE STAKEHOLDERS.
I AND THE CHAIRS OF ALL THE COUNCILS ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES, IN THE SCHOOLS, IN THE CHURCHES, AND IN THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS.
WE ALSO SERVE ON MANY OF THE BCPS UH, COMMITTEES, REPRESENTING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS IN EACH OF OUR AREAS.
COMMITTEES LIKE MY IPAS, BCPS REOPENING COMMITTEE, CALENDAR COMMITTEE, EQUITY ADVISORY COUNCIL, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS STEERING COMMITTEE, THE BCPS BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
WE WOULD LOVE TO ALWAYS BE HERE AND WE DO APPRECIATE THE TIME WE GET.
HOWEVER, AS I'M SURE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND, WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS.
WE HAVE FAMILIES, MANY OF US HAVE ALSO HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS, SOME PART-TIME JOBS, AND OUR MOTHERS AND PARENTS RUNNING CHILDREN.
SO WE ALWAYS, I'M SURE YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND, WE ALWAYS DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA TIME TO GIVE, BUT WHENEVER SOMETHING IS CRITICAL, WE WILL BE HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE PLANS FOR YOUR NEXT CHAPTER, EACH OF YOU LIVE IN ONE OF THESE FIVE AREAS AND THE COUNCILS HAVE SPACE FOR YOU AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
OUR NEXT STAKEHOLDER SPEAKER IS CINDY SEXTON WITH TABCO.
CHAIR HAND, VICE CHAIR MCMILLAN, DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE ENDING THEIR TERMS. THE TRANSITION TO A HYBRID BOARD WAS NOT WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES, WHETHER AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED MEMBER AND THE PROCESS TO BECOME EITHER IS NOT QUICK, EASY FOR ANY OF THOSE.
AND EACH OF YOU PUT IN THE TIME, IN THE EFFORT.
WE KNOW THAT THE BOARDED IS A NONPARTISAN POSITION AND ALSO THAT EACH OF US HAS STRONG FEELINGS AND OPINIONS ABOUT HOW THINGS SHOULD BE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU SOUGHT OUT INPUT FROM TABCO OR LISTENED TO ME WHEN YOU DIDN'T SEEK OUT THE INPUT AND OTHER MEMBERS WITH CONCERNS AND IDEAS AS WELL.
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS AS WE TRANSITION TO THE NEW BOARD WITH SOME MEMBERS STARTING IN DECEMBER AND OTHERS NOT UNTIL AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S SWORN IN.
AS YOU KNOW, MY GOAL IS RECRUITING AND RETAINING EDUCATORS AND THERE IS MUCH TO BE DONE AROUND THIS.
AND WHILE COMPENSATION IS ONE PART, WE MUST ADDRESS WORKLOAD ISSUES AND WHAT THE EDUCATOR SHORTAGE IS DOING TO OUR STAFF COVERAGES, EXTRA PAPERWORK STUDENTS WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS, LARGE CLASS SIZES, THE LIST GOES ON.
I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT IS BEING DONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND ADDRESS DISCIPLINE CONCERNS TOO, BUT WE HAVE MUCH MORE TO DO THERE AS WELL.
I HEAR FROM MY COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER COUNTIES THE SAME TYPES OF CONCERNS AND WE'VE ASKED OUR STATE UNION TO WORK TO MAKE DISCIPLINE, WORKLOAD, AND SPECIAL ED SOME OF THE TOP PRIORITIES FOR THEM BOTH TO ASSIST US AT OUR LOCAL LEVEL, BUT ALSO TO TAKE IT TO THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO LEGISLATORS FOR OUR UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[01:05:01]
FINALLY, I APPRECIATE THE ITEM IN THE NEWS HUB ABOUT THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT'S CROSS DIVISIONAL PROJECT TO ADDRESS EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE CONCERNS RELATED TO BENEFITS AND LEAVES.THESE ISSUES FILL MY INBOX AND I KNOW THEY DO FOR HR STAFF AND MANY OTHERS AS WELL.
WE NEED TO GET THIS HANDLED AND RESOLVED.
THE HR OFFICE IS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THESE ISSUES AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THEY'RE DOING.
EVENINGS, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
WE GET INFORMATION FROM THEM ALL THE TIME AND I KNOW THAT THEY'RE WORKING, BUT THE LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION IS GROWING AND IT WILL TAKE US ACTING QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES FOR THE GOOD OF THE SYSTEM.
AND FINALLY, TO EVERYONE WHO IS CELEBRATING, I WISH YOU A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND AGAIN TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE AT THEIR LAST MEETING.
NEXT IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS RUSSELL HOPEWELL.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS VERNON FISHER.
FIRST, LET ME, UH, PAY HARMS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS OUTGOING AND, UH, I KNOW THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE DOING YOUR JOBS BECAUSE I SEE THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR BEING EDUCATORS AND SEEING THAT EDUCATION IS DONE HERE.
I'M WITH CAP ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.
I AM CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAPTER AT THOMPSON CATONSVILLE AND MY JOB AS THE CHAIRMAN OF GOD, RIGHT? THE 100 YEAR OLD MENTORING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE IS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
SO I WANNA GIVE A RECAP TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING HERE AT BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SPECIFICALLY AT, UH, WE'VE HAD SESSIONS, WHAT I CALL SESSIONS AND, UH, LAST YEAR, THE FIRST SESSION WAS ON PURPOSE.
AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE KIDS TO DEFINE PURPOSE AND TO GET THEM TO TELL US WHO THEY KNOW THAT HAS PURPOSE.
HOW DO YOU THINK THEY ARRIVED AT HAVING PURPOSE AND WHAT IS THEIR PURPOSE? AND CAN A PERSON'S PURPOSE CHANGE THE REACTIONS FROM THE KIDS? THEY FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PURPOSE AND HAD THAT GLARE ON THEIR EYE THAT YOU COULD SEE.
THEY WERE WONDERING WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO COMPLETE A VISION BOARD, WHICH WILL BE VISIBLE TO THEM DAILY AND ILLUSTRATE THEIR CURRENT AND FUTURE VISIONS.
IN OUR LAST SESSION, UM, THERE WAS AN EPISODE WITH SOME OF THE, UH, UH, FEMALE CLASSMATES.
SO WE, UH, TOOK THE TIME OUT TO DO A ETIQUETTE SESSION AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO TREAT FEMALE CLASSMATES.
UM, THE REACTIONS WERE ONE OF, WE, WE HAD TO DO BETTER, BUT THE FEMALES AS WELL MUST DO BETTER AND BE ACCOUNTABLE.
SO OUR NEXT STEPS WITH THAT IS TO REHASH PROPER ETIQUETTE, CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE, DINING ETIQUETTE, FAMILY DYNAMICS, AND BUSINESS ETIQUETTE.
LASTLY, WE HAD A SESSION ON BUDGET.
UM, I I, I HAD THIS WHITE HAIR AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT, UH, I DON'T RECALL LEARNING MUCH ABOUT BUDGETING IN SCHOOL.
SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO TALK ABOUT BUDGET, THE IMPORTANCE OF A BUDGET, THE COMPONENTS, THE EXAMPLES OF BUDGET, EVERYDAY BUDGET AND EMERGENCY, HAVING EMERGENCY MONEY PUT TO THE SIDE.
AND THE REACTIONS WERE WE CAME UP WITH.
UM, WE TALKED ABOUT MINIMUM WAGE, REAL EMPLOYMENT, EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, EXPENSES, FOOD AND TRAVEL AND SAVINGS AND NEXT STEPS WANTS VERSUS NEEDS SAVINGS VERSUS INVESTING, SPENDING DISCIPLINE, DISCUSS JOBS BASED ON EDUCATION.
SO OUR PLAN IS TO CONNECT WITH EVERY STUDENT ENCOUNTER TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT AND IMPLEMENT SUCH CONCEPT OF BEING THE BEST YOU, YOU CAN BE.
[01:10:01]
TO ALL.TODAY IS THE DAY OF CELEBRATION.
TRULY KUDOS TO ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD.
WHETHER YOU ARE LEAVING OR STAYING ON.
JULIE IN MY VIEW, HAS OUTPERFORMED HERSELF, DEDICATED, FOCUSED, COMMUNICATIVE, RESPECTFUL TO THE SYSTEM AND TO THE PUBLIC AND STERN.
WHEN IT COMES, THERE IS A NEED FOR THAT, USUALLY FOCUSED ON RIGHT BUDGET FOR ALL STUDENTS AND FOCUSED ON SCHOOL SAFETY.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW AS AN OBSERVANT OF THE BOARD FOR 25 PLUS YEARS, THAT THE SUCCESS OF A BOARD MEETING IS IN THE PREPARATION BEFORE.
AND I REALLY NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE.
A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HAND, MISS JULIEN, KATHLEEN COZY AND LILY ROME WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VERY SPECIAL CORNER IN MY EDUCATIONAL HEART.
KATHLEEN HAS BEEN ALWAYS PREPARED.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF BOARD MEMBERS.
KATHLEEN IS ALWAYS PREPARED, ALWAYS HAD AN EXTENSIVE RESEARCH.
KATHLEEN ALWAYS FOCUSED ON THE FACTS AND WHAT IS BEST FOR ALL STUDENTS.
KATHLEEN WORKED HARD FOR ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF WHOM WE ARE.
I BELIEVE YOU, KATHLEEN, CAN BE IN HIGHER PLACE AND I REALLY WISH YOU DO.
LILLY ROME IS SO, SO SPECIAL TO ME.
EARLY ON, SHE WAS LIKE ME, AN ADVOCATE, A SPEAKER, AND SHE TOOK CARE OF HER COMMUNITY IN HELENDALE LOCK, RAVEN AND BEYOND THAT SHE ADVOCATED FOR ALL STUDENTS.
YOU REMEMBER THE AIR CONDITIONERS AND SO FORTH.
AND I WANT TO REMEMBER ONE MOMENT THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME WITH LILY ROME.
SHE WAS ONE TIME FRUSTRATED WITH THE BOARDS, JUST REALLY STAMPING THE BUDGET AND WE HAD NO AIR CONDITIONERS.
SO SHE STOOD UP IN PUBLIC SESSION SPEAKING, HAD A LITTLE BIT KIND OF SLIVER OF TEMPER YOU PEOPLE, WHY DON'T YOU ASK FOR WHAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM NEEDS? AND I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THAT.
IT GAVE ME AN ENERGY TO CONTINUE UNTIL TODAY AND INTO THE FUTURE.
ALL OF YOU REALLY, ALL BOARD MEMBERS.
I KNOW THREE MINUTES IS REALLY UNFAIR.
I KNOW I LEFT MANY OTHERS UNLESS I'M STERN.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIETTA ENGLISH.
IS SHE HERE MS. ENGLISH? I DON'T SEE HER, NO.
UM, MICHELLE SMITH, MS. SMITH, GLORIA MERO.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
I HAVE COME THIS EVENING TO TALK ABOUT CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ARENA.
FIVE TO EIGHT, SIX TO EIGHT, OR SEVEN TO NINE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THEIR SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL GROWTH.
FIRST, THEY EXPERIENCE SELF-ESTEEM FACTORS WHEREBY ONCE COMPETENT IN THEMSELVES NOW TAKES A DEEP DIVE.
SECONDLY, ACADEMIC PRESSURE FORCES THEM TO DEAL WITH THE NEED TO EXCEL.
THIRDLY, THEY FACE DAILY BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SOCIAL ISSUES.
IN THE FOURTH PLACE, THEY BECOME VERY CURIOUS AND SOMETIMES ARE TEMPTED TO TRY NEW THINGS TO BE ACCEPTED.
AND IN THE FIFTH PLACE, THERE ARE HUMAN, BIOLOGICAL, AND HORMONAL FACTORS WHICH IMPACT THEIR BEHAVIOR.
AND MOST OF ALL, THEY FEAR, DISAPPOINTMENT OR
[01:15:01]
REJECTION.I FEEL WE CAN HELP THEM WITH THE TEAM APPROACH, PARENTS, TEACHERS, COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES.
PARENTS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE SCHOOLS MORE IN SCHOOL, REACH OUT.
CLUBS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON STUDENTS' INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS PEER ADVOCACY GROUPS, THE ADMINISTRATION AND SEVERAL COMMUNITY GROUPS SUCH AS THE D NINE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
PUBLIC SERVICE, PRIVATE GROUPS SUCH AS THE CONTINENTALS SOCIETIES, THE HIGHLANDERS INCORPORATED, JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA INCORPORATED.
THE LINKS INCORPORATED AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY CAN PARTNER TOGETHER TO CREATE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OUR PARTICULAR AGE GROUP.
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOL COUNSELORS CAN HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHY TO STUDY AND WHY STUDY IS SO IMPORTANT.
THE TEAM APPROACH IS NOT A GUARANTEE THAT THINGS WILL BE BETTER, BUT IN MY OPINION, IT IS AN APPROACH TO PREPARE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THEMSELVES, TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THEMSELVES APPROPRIATELY IN A SOCIO EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE NEXT PROGRESSIVE STEPS IN THE SOCIO EDUCATIONAL ARENA.
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN EDUCATION, AFTER ALL, IS TO HELP THEM TO BECOME CONTRIBUTING ADULTS AND EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CITIZENS IN THE LONG RUN.
AND I THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME.
PLEASE HAVE A VERY PLEASANT THANKSGIVING.
CHAIR HEN VICE CHAIR MCMILLAN, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.
I'M LLOYD ALLEN HEIM, SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN MATHEMATICS, SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL.
THANK YOU STUDENTS FOR COMING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY AND LEARNING YOU ARE WHY WE ARE HERE.
WHY EACH PERSON IS AT THIS MEETING.
YOU ARE WHY EACH ADULT IN YOUR SCHOOL BUILDING IS THERE AND YOU ARE.
WHY ALL OF THE INVISIBLE ADULTS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES DO WHAT THEY DO.
WHEN I SAY THANK YOU STUDENTS, I MEAN ALL STUDENTS.
IF WE SEE YOU AT SCHOOL, THEN YOU MADE A CHOICE THAT DAY TO COME.
I HOPE THAT YOU FEEL INCLUDED.
I HOPE THAT YOU HELP EACH OTHER STUDENT ALSO FEEL SAFE.
I HOPE THAT YOU KNOW MORE THINGS AT THE END OF THE DAY THAN YOU DID WHEN THE DAY STARTED.
I HOPE THAT YOU GET TO KNOW OTHER STUDENTS AND ADULTS IN THE SCHOOL.
I HOPE THAT EVERY WEEK YOU WANT TO LEARN HARDER THINGS.
I HOPE THAT YOU GET ALONG WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE LIKE YOU AND ALSO WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOU.
I HOPE THAT YOU LEARN FROM EACH OTHER, FROM YOUR FAMILY, FROM ADULTS, FROM BOOKS, FROM COMPUTERS, AND FROM YOURSELF.
I HOPE THAT YOU TELL YOUR FAMILY HOW YOU ARE DOING AT SCHOOL.
THANK YOU PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS FOR SENDING YOUR STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.
THANK YOU FOR BELIEVING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION.
I HOPE THAT YOUR CHILD FEELS INCLUDED.
I HOPE THAT YOUR CHILD FEELS SAFE.
I HOPE THAT YOUR CHILD HELPS OTHER STUDENTS FEEL SAFE.
I HOPE THAT YOU ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT YOUR CHILD.
I HOPE THAT YOU TOUCH BASE WITH THEIR TEACHERS BOTH WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL AND WHEN YOU HAVE CONCERNS.
I HOPE THAT YOU TALK TO OTHER PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND I HOPE THAT YOU SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THE FOLKS WORKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN.
SHORT WEEKS LIKE THIS ONE, SOMETIMES FEEL LONGER.
THANK YOU FOR LEARNING YOUR STUDENTS SO THAT YOU CAN TEACH THEM.
THERE'S A SANSKRIT WORD, UPAYA THAT IS OFTEN TRANSLATED AS SKILLFUL MEANS.
IT MEANS SAYING THE THING THAT EACH PERSON NEEDS TO HEAR IN ORDER TO LEARN THE THING.
RIGHT NOW, THE THING WITH UPAYA IS THAT SOMETIMES DIFFERENT PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE PROGRESS ON THEIR PATH.
THANK YOU EDUCATORS FOR STAYING IN THE FIGHT AND FOR TRYING TO FIND THE THING THAT EACH STUDENT NEEDS TO HEAR EACH MOMENT OF EACH DAY.
THANK YOU CENTRAL OFFICE AND ADMIN FOR SUPPORTING THE FRONT.
LINES, THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THE STUDENTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE GUIDANCE ON WHAT TO PRIORITIZE.
THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS WHEN WE HAVE THEM.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THE FRONT LINES.
THANK YOU FOR THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN SERVE THE STUDENTS.
EVEN WHEN MY WORDS ARE ADJACENT TO MY MEANING, THANK YOU FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE COMMUNITY
[01:20:01]
AND FOR RECOGNIZE THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDE THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.OUR NEXT AND FINAL SPEAKER FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT IS RAMONA BAIO.
NEXT IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON BOARD POLICIES AND OUR SPEAKER IS DR.
YOU WANT ME TO DO IT ONE AT A TIME OR ALL OF THEM? IT IS YOUR CHOICE.
3000 IS, FIRST, I THANK THE PRC FOR THEIR DUE DECISIONS IN WORDING THE POLICY.
I DO LOVE THE KEY WORD BCPS BEING A MODEL IN BUDGET PLANNING AND THE KEY WORD OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
I DO LOVE THE SEMI SENTENCE MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.
MY COMMENT ABOUT THIS, I WISH YOU CONSIDER TO ADD THE WORD TRANSPARENCY OR MAXIMUM TRANSPARENCY.
TRANSPARENCY IS REALLY LIKE SUNSHINE AND IT DOES KILL VIRUSES AND BACTERIA.
THIS IS THE END OF MY COMMENT ABOUT THIS POLICY.
31 26 EXPENSES AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT LINE SEVEN AND EIGHT APPROVED EXPENSES INCURRED BY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, ET CETERA.
MY COMMENT IS I SUGGEST THAT YOU WOULD INSTALL THE WORD REASONABLE BEFORE THE WORD EXPENSES REASONABLE.
OTHERWISE A PERSON MAY USE A LUXURY RENTAL CAR SHARE, ATON OR HEALTH ON ET CETERA.
THAT'S THE END OF MY COMMENT ABOUT THIS POLICY.
POLICY NUMBER 31 27, TRAVEL APPROVAL LINE NUMBER 12 AND IN 13 STATES THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE DECISIONS REGARDING TRAVEL SHOULD BE BASED ON NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
MY COMMENT ABOUT THAT IS AGAIN, TO INSTALL THE WORD REASONABLE BEFORE THE WORD NEEDS REASONABLE NEEDS.
ANOTHER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS POLICY LINE 16 AND 17 STATES EMPLOYEES MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO OVERNIGHT TRAVEL WHILE CONDUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS, ET CETERA.
MY COMMENT IS THAT I DO SUGGEST, AGAIN, THE INSTALLATION OF THE WORD REASONABLE BEFORE THE WORD EXPENSES AND I SINCERELY THANK THE PRC FOR THESE POLICIES.
THAT'S THE END OF MY COMMENT ABOUT THIS ONE.
THE FOURTH POLICY IS 73 30 FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
CAPITAL PROJECTED PROJECTS FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATION.
MY THOUGHT NUMBER ONE, IN LINE NUMBER NINE, BUSINESSES MAY WISH TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT, ET CETERA.
MY COMMENT IS I SUGGEST ADDING THE EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS TO THE GROUP.
MY SUGGESTION IS THAT YOU CONSIDER THE ADVISORY COUNCILS TO HAVE THAT ABILITY SO THEY WORK FOR YOU.
THEY WORK FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
NEXT THOUGHT IN LINE 14 AND 15, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO BETTER MEET
[01:25:01]
THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS.I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE WORD BETTER.
IT'S REALLY VERY VAGUE AND VERY KIND OF WEAK.
UH, WHAT I SUGGEST IS THAT WE USE THE WORD MAXIMUMLY, MEET OUR STUDENTS NEEDS.
LINE NUMBER 17, THE BOARD RESERVES THE RIGHT TO APPROVE OR REJECT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I SUGGEST THAT YOU MODIFY THIS AND ADD A THIRD WORD, WHICH IS TO MODIFY OR NEGOTIATE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE LOOKED UPON AS REJECT.
I THINK YOU NEED TO OFFER ALSO IN BETWEEN TO NEGOTIATE AND BE FLEXIBLE.
THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL MUST COMPLY WITH 24 WITH THE BOARD GOALS AND POLICIES AND THE SUPERINTENDENT.
MY THOUGHT IS THE WORLD MUST COMPLY IS REALLY A RIGID WARD AND IT WILL TURN AWAY DONOR TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WHAT I SUGGEST THAT YOU WOULD ADD THAT THE BOARD CAN OFFER VARIANCE OR EXCEPTION, VARIANCE OR EXCEPTION.
IT GIVES YOU FLEXIBILITY, GIVE AND TAKE.
THE NEXT ONE IS LINE NUMBER 31.
REQUEST FOR NAMING OF THE CAPITAL PROJECT MUST COMPLY WITH ALL BOARD, ET CETERA.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS IS REALLY RIGID.
SO MY I AM ALLOWED 18 MINUTES.
PLEASE FINISH YOUR COMMENTS WITH THE LAST POLICY.
SO THE IDEA IS TO AVOID THAT RIGIDITY AND TO GIVE YOU THE IDEA OF WORKING WITH DONORS TO KIND OF GAIN DONORS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO LIKE PUSH THEM AWAY.
AND AGAIN, I SUGGEST THAT YOU ADD THE EDUCATIONAL AREA COUNCILS TO WORK FOR YOU AS FAR AS DONATIONS.
THIS IS THE END OF MY COMMENTS ABOUT THIS POLICY.
THE NEXT POLICY IS 83 50 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, OPERATIONS, ET CETERA.
AND I HOPE THE LAWYERS DON'T KILL ME.
ITEM NUMBER ONE, LINE NUMBER EIGHT AND 10 IS AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED.
THAT'S THE BOARD AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF AN ATTORNEY.
I REALLY OBJECT TO THE WORD AND ATTORNEY.
WHAT I RECOMMEND FOR YOU IS TO INSTALL THE WORD'S BEFORE THE WORD ATTORNEY.
COMPETENT, TRUSTWORTHY, KNOWLEDGEABLE, LABLE AND EXPERIENCED IN PUBLIC SCHOOL MATTERS.
IF YOU LEAVE IT IN THE SAME WAY AN ATTORNEY, AN ATTORNEY IS, COULD BE A NEW GRADUATE, COULD BE SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT EXPERIENCED OR KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
SECOND POINT IN LINE NUMBER 13 AND 17 FUNDS FOR LEGAL SERVICES SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
AND IF THE BOARD ANNUAL, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION DOES NOT INCLUDE SUFFICIENT FUNDS FOR LEGAL SERVICES REQUIRED, THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL REALLOCATE AVAILABLE FUNDS FOR SUCH SERVICES.
MY THOUGHT, AND THIS IS NOTHING PERSONAL AT ALL, MY THOUGHT IS THE SUPERINTENDENT WORKS FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
SO IF THE SUPERINTENDENT IS GOING TO GIVE MONEY TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO ME THAT'S KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THE POWER IS IN THE MUD AND THE PURSE.
I SUGGEST THAT THE BOARD WOULD HAVE FUNDS, ADEQUATE FUNDS TO TAKE CARE OF AN ILLEGAL MATTERS.
THAT'S THE END OF THIS POLICY, THE NEXT POLICY AND THE LAST ONE.
AND I THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME.
NOW THIS IS REALLY A GOOD POLICY, BUT IN LINE 38 39 REVIEW
[01:30:01]
BY THE SUPERINTENDENT ON PERTINENT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES.WOULD I REALLY LIKE THAT? IT'S REALLY TRULY SPOT ON.
THERE HAVE BEEN DESCRIPTIONS ABOUT RETAINING RECORDS, ONE FOR 10 YEAR AND ANOTHER ONE FOR SEVEN YEARS, I BELIEVE.
AND IT'S REALLY NOT CLEAR WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT PAPER RECORDS OR ELECTRONIC RECORDS AS PDF OR OTHER SIMILAR SOFTWARES.
MY THOUGHT TO YOU IS TO CONSIDER TO KEEP THE RECORDS ELECTRONICALLY FOR A HUNDRED YEARS.
I KNOW I'M EXAGGERATING BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN 27 YEARS NOW WATCHING THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND I HAVE PLENTY OF MATERIAL ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED.
THERE WOULD BE HISTORIANS THAT NEED TO STUDY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IF YOU DESTROY THE RECORDS IN SEVEN YEARS OR 10 YEARS, YOU KNOW, 15, 20, 25 YEARS WHEN MY SON OR GRANDSON GROWS UP AND COMES TO DO HISTORICAL WORK, THAT WILL BE REALLY A DISSERVICE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THIS POLICY IS REALLY VERY EXTENSIVE AND I KNOW THE PRC HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON IT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERY OTHER SENTENCE THAT HAS BEEN, UH, STATED.
UM, MADAM CHAIR, HOW MANY MINUTES DID I TAKE? FOUR AND A HALF.
CAN I SAVE THE REST FOR NEXT MONTH? I MAY NOT BE IN THIS SEAT.
[I. NEW BUSINESS - BOARD POLICIES (First Reader) (Ms. Rowe) (8:30 - 8:45 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON BOARD POLICIES.THIS IS THE FIRST READER FOR THESE POLICIES AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MS. LILY RO CHAIR OF THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE ASKS THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THIS REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FOLLOWING BOARD POLICIES, BOARD POLICY 3000 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES BOARD POLICY 31 26, NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, EXPENSE AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT BOARD POLICY 31 27 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, TRAVEL APPROVAL BOARD POLICY 73 30 FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION FINANCING CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS, BOARD POLICY 83 50 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, OPERATIONS AND BOARD COUNSEL BOARD POLICY 83 64 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, ETHICS CODE, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
THESE POLICIES ARE PRESENTED TO YOU ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA EXHIBIT I.
AND I SEE THAT WE HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, MS. SCOTT, IS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO THE POLICIES? UM, YES.
I WANTED TO SEE IF WE COULD SEPARATE OUT.
AND THAT ACTUALLY IS ALREADY SEPARATED IN MY SCRIPT AS A MATTER OF FACT, SO, OKAY.
NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE.
IS THERE ANY HEARING? NONE MAY HAVE A CALL VOTE.
UM, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD'S POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR BOARD POLICY 83 64.
SO MOVE STALOWSKI, NO SECONDS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE CHANGE, UM, ON, I BELIEVE IT WAS ITEM SIX, PAGE FIVE, WHERE IT WAS CHANGED TO FROM FOUR YEARS TO 10.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE IT BACK TO FOUR YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE, UM, WHY IT WAS CHANGED TO 10 YEARS.
I, I GUESS I WOULD JUST BE CURIOUS BECAUSE AS I, I
[01:35:01]
LOOKED, I WANTED TO ASK DR.WILLIAMS, OR MAYBE IT WOULD BE MISS HOWIE.
UM, IF THERE'S, IF THAT'S THE NORM, IF THERE'S PRECEDENCE FOR OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE CHANGING TO FROM FOUR TO IRS'S FOUR YEARS? UM, OTHER BODIES OF GOVERNMENT, I BELIEVE ARE THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
SO, UM, I WASN'T SURE IF THERE WAS PRECEDENCE FOR THIS AND THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A CHANGE OR IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING AND, UM, IS THERE ANYTHING COMPARABLE OR IN ANOTHER SYSTEM? I WAS JUST WANTING TO GET SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THAT.
WILLIAMS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND? I WILL CALL ON MS. HOWIE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MS. HOWIE, WE'RE HAVING DIFFICULTY HEARING YOU, MA'AM.
UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MS. SCOTT, UH, THE REQUEST FOR 10 YEARS CAME FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THERE IS IN THE, UH, POLICY ANALYSIS A LIST OF THE RETENTION PERIODS FOR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FROM OTHER LEAS AND FROM COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
UH, 10 YEARS IS THE LONGEST BASED ON THE STAFF'S RESEARCH ON RETENTION PERIODS IN OTHER LEAS AND FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
THANK YOU MS. HOW I'M LOOKING? CUZ I, I'M, I SEE THAT, UM, ON WHICH PAGE DOES IT SAY 10? CUZ AS I'M LOOKING THROUGH, THE MAJORITY SAY FOUR.
AND AS I INDICATED 10 YEARS WAS WHAT THE COMMITTEE REQUESTED.
UH, THAT WAS, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK THE COMMITTEE TO SPEAK TO THE RATIONALE, UH, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE COMMITTEE'S REQUEST.
THAT WAS NOT STAFF'S REQUEST, NOR WAS IT BASED ON STAFF'S RESEARCH.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
CAUSE I DIDN'T SEE IT SUPPORTED HERE IN THE, IN THE INFORMATION.
I DIDN'T, WASN'T AWARE OF IT EITHER, SO I WAS WONDERING WHERE IT CAME FROM.
UH, HOW FOR CLEAR FIND THAT I'M LOOKING AT IT.
AND ALL OF THE COUNTY BOARDS OF EDUCATION, ST.
MARY'S, QUEENS, ALL OF MARYLAND, UM, HAVE FOUR YEARS.
IRS REQUIRES YOU TO KEEP YOUR, YOUR, UM, THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE ONLY REQUIRES YOU TO KEEP IT FOR THREE YEARS.
UM, AND MAYBE SIX THREE YEARS YOU AUDITED MAYBE SIX YEARS.
SO THIS TO ME SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF AN OVERKILL.
THIS IS THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE RECORDS THAT WOULD BE RETAINED FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS AND SOME CABINET STAFF.
UH, WE ARE NOT BIGGER THAN THE IRS AND WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS RECOMMENDATION CAME FROM, BUT I CAN SEE IT BEING MISUSED AND ABUSED TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE.
UM, I WOULD NOT BE SUPPORTING THE 10 YEARS, WHICH IS I THINK A BIT TOO MUCH.
UM, FOUR YEARS IS WHAT ALL OF THE JURISDICTIONS ARE DOING, AND I THINK WE NEED TO STICK TO THAT.
SO, UM, I SUPPORT MS. SCOTT'S MOTION TO STRIKE IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL FOUR YEARS.
AND THANK YOU, MS. HOWIE, YOU ARE THE LEGAL EXPERT IN HERE, UM, THAT WORKS IN POLICY.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE ANALYSIS.
MS. ROWE, IF YOU COULD SPEAK TO THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION.
SO THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT, UM, RECALL THAT THE, UH, Y AUDIT, UM, CAME UP WITH FINDINGS AND RESULTS BASED ON FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS. AND THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL YEARS THAT THEY COULD NOT COME UP WITH.
UM, THEY COULD NOT EXAMINE BECAUSE THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS HAD ALREADY BEEN DESTROYED FOR THOSE YEARS.
AND SINCE THE AUDIT WAS OVER A COURSE OF MORE THAN FOUR YEARS, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO HAVE, UM, THIS CHANGED TO 10 YEARS SO THAT IT COULD ENCOMPASS OTHER LEGISLATIVE AUDITS AND EXTERNAL AUDITS.
SO THAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND, UM, THE DECISION OF THE COMMITTEE.
UM, JUST BRIEFLY, I ALSO SUPPORT THIS MOTION AND, AND I AGREE THAT, UH, 10 YEARS IS OVERKILL AND I'M, I'M GRATEFUL TO THE, UM, WORK OF THE OFFICE TO, TO LOOK AT THE OTHER, UH, JURISDICTIONS AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
CUZ I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE IN LINE WITH, WITH WHAT THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE DOING.
YEAH, I JUST WANNA ABOUT THE UHY EXTERNAL AUDIT.
THAT WAS DONE SINCE I DO SERVE NOW CURRENTLY ON THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
UM, THAT WAS NOT THE REASONING FOR KEEPING RECORDS OF 10 YEARS.
WE DO KEEP RECORDS AS REQUIRED BY MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVES.
ANYTHING BEYOND THAT WAS DESTROYED.
[01:40:01]
THAT WAS NOT OUR PURVIEW TO GO DIG INTO THE PAST.AND, AND I'M GONNA GIVE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OUT HERE THAT BEFORE THE LATE MR. ROGER HAYDEN WAS DYING, UH, SOMEBODY DID PULL HIS FINANCIAL REC RECORDS TO INTIMIDATE HIM AND HE WAS VERY UPSET ABOUT IT.
AND THERE WAS A SHAMEFUL THING TO DO TO A MAN THAT WAS DYING.
UH, AND THAT THAT IS WHAT THIS THING IS GONNA BE USED TO, TO INTIMIDATE, UM, TO PULL RECORDS OF PEOPLE.
IF YOU HAVE A GRUDGE OR AN AX TO GRIND, I THINK YOU SHOULD AGREE WITH WHAT THE LAW STATES.
HECK, I WOULD EVEN SUPPORT SIX YEARS IF NEED BE.
BUT 10 YEARS IS AN OVERKILL AND I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THAT EXCESSIVE RETENTION.
UM, THIS, WE WE'RE NOT FEDERAL AGENTS OVER HERE.
UM, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT THE, UH, POLICY STAYING AS IT IS FOR 10 YEARS.
UM, LEGISLATIVE AUDITS, UM, OCCUR ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO SIX YEARS.
AND THEY HAVE A LOOK BACK OF FROM THE LAST TIME THEY DID AN AUDIT.
SO IF THEY DID AN AUDIT A LITTLE BIT EARLY AND THEN THEY DO ONE A LITTLE BIT LATE, THEY MAY BE LOOKING BACK AS FAR AS SIX, SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.
I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT, UH, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE FOR 12 YEARS.
UH, AND THERE ARE OTHER, UH, EMPLOYEES AND STAFF THAT HAVE UNLIMITED TENURE.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ARE REQUIRED OF BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF BECAUSE WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE EXPENDITURES OF UP TO 2 BILLION BUDGET PER YEAR.
UH, AND IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
UM, AND SO THAT IS WHY THE 10 YEAR, UH, TIMEFRAME, UM, WAS SELECTED.
UH, AND ALSO IN TERMS OF HOW OTHER DISTRICTS ARE DOING IT, UNFORTUNATELY, OUR DISTRICT HAS HAD A SPECIFIC, VERY NEGATIVE SITUATION INVOLVING, UH, ETHICS, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS WHERE WE HAVE, UH, AS A BOARD WORKED TO INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, UH, TO REBUILD TRUST WITH OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND, UH, THESE ISSUES OF, UH, USING EVERY DOLLAR FISCALLY RESPONSIBLY.
UM, SO I WOULD SUPPORT, UH, MAINTAINING THOSE RECORDS.
UH, I BELIEVE IT DOES NO HARM AND IT CERTAINLY CAN DO SOME GOOD.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS MOTION, UM, FROM A VERY PRACTICAL STANDPOINT.
UM, OUR CONTRACT FOR THE PROCUREMENT AUDIT, UM, BY THE TIME THAT WAS INITIATED, THE SCOPE OF THAT CONTRACT WAS FOR A FIVE YEAR TIME SPAN.
UM, PHASE ONE OF THAT CONTRACT.
THAT WORK DID NOT KICK OFF UNTIL ALMOST TWO YEARS AFTER.
UM, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FORMS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN RETAINED SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE FACT.
UM, ACCORDING TO A FOUR YEAR RETENTION POLICY, THOSE FORMS WOULD'VE BEEN DESTROYED BY THE TIME THAT AUDIT WOULD'VE STARTED.
UM, THE SCOPE OF THAT AUDIT WAS FROM 2012 THROUGH 2017, A FIVE YEAR SCOPE.
BY THE TIME THE WORK STARTED, THOSE FORMS WERE SEVEN YEARS OLD.
THE OLDEST FORMS THAT WAS PHASE ONE, PHASE TWO, WHICH WERE, WAS ACTUALLY TO LOOK AT THE MAJORITY OF THOSE FORMS. THOSE FORMS WOULD'VE THEN AGED AT LEAST 10 YEARS BY THE TIME PHASE TWO WOULD'VE, UM, BEEN STARTED.
SO BY THE TIME PHASE TWO STARTED, WITHOUT A 10 YEAR RETENTION POLICY IN PLACE, ACCORDING TO THIS CHANGE THAT'S BEING PROPOSED, THOSE FORMS WOULD'VE BEEN DESTROYED.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, THE RECOMMENDED SCOPE OF THIS AUDIT, WHICH WAS NOT INITIATED BY THIS BOARD, BUT RATHER BY THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT, WOULD'VE BEEN MOOT BECAUSE THE NECESSARY EVIDENCE TO PERFORM THIS AUDIT.
AND BY EVIDENCE, I'M NOT USING THAT IN ANY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OR NEFARIOUS SENSE.
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE AUDIT, I'M SORRY, MRS. HN, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD? POINT OF ORDER? THAT WAS ME SPEAKING.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADD IT NOW? OH, I HAVE THE FLOOR.
I'M HAPPY TO ADD IF YOU WOULD LIKE, THE AUDIT DOCUMENTS THAT WERE NEEDED FOR THE AUDIT WOULD'VE BEEN DESTROYED HAD WE HAD THIS POLICY IN PLACE.
A 10 YEAR SPAN IS NECESSARY, WHICH IS WHY THE POLICY COMMITTEE SUPPORTED IT.
SO I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE, UM, IT WOULD, WOULD NOT HAVE PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE NECESSARY, WHICH HAD BEEN DESTROYED, WHICH MADE THIS AUDIT MOVE TO BEGIN WITH.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I CALL A ROLL CALL VOTE.
SO I HAVE NO FEAR OF THESE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES BEING MISUSED.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME WE'RE ON THE BOARD AND BEYOND.
UM, THE REALITY IS, AND AND A MAIN DRIVER OF WHY I
[01:45:01]
EVEN JOINED THIS BOARD WAS WE HAD ETHICAL LAPSES AT THE VERY TOP.WE HAD A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WENT TO JAIL FOR LYING POINT OF WHAT? UNDER FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
I'M SORRY, I'M SPEAKING POINT OF ORDER.
WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF ORDER? MY POINT OF ORDER IS THAT THAT SLANDEROUS LANGUAGE ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT HAS NO PLACE IN WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING.
WE ARE DISCUSSING WHAT THE POLICY IS AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THE REFERRAL TO PREVIOUS EMPLOYEES IN EVERYTHING I THINK IS OUT OF LINE.
I'M SORRY OF, BUT HISTORY SHOWS POINT LYING ON THE FINANCIAL DISORDER POINT OF ORDER.
IT A POINT OF ORDER ALL NIGHT LAW POINT OF ORDER.
I CAN SPEAK WHEN IT'S MY ORDER.
MS. SCOTT, IT'S MR IS MY POINT OF ORDER HELD IS RECOGNIZED.
MR. Q IS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS AND THE CRIMINAL INDICTMENT OF THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT FOR PERJURY ON HIS FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS IS RELEVANT TO BORDER.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE SPEAKING TO.
SO I WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE MY POINT.
THANK YOU THAT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS ARE IMPORTANT.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME UP THIS VERY DAY AND TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY AND SUNLIGHT.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE DESTROYING FORMS AFTER FOUR YEARS MAKES ANY SENSE.
FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE SAVED SEVEN YEARS AT THE VERY LEAST.
AND 10 YEARS IS NOT A LONG TIME TO SAVE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS. SO IN THE ENVIRONMENT WE'RE IN AND THE ETHICAL LAPSES THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PAST, I FIND IT PRUDENT TO SIMPLY SAY, OKAY, 10 YEARS IS FINE AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS.
AND I SEE NO REASON WHY ANY BOARD MEMBER ON THIS BOARD WOULD SPEAK AGAINST IT.
IT, IT, IT, IT BOGGLES MY MIND.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
EXCUSE ME? I HAD A QUESTION IN THE CHAT.
I HAD A QUESTION IN THE CHAT THAT WAS RAISED BEFORE YOU, SCOTT, EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
YES, BUT I STILL HAVE TIME LEFT.
MY, IS MY TWO MINUTES IS NOT UP.
I'M CALLING THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
SO YOU'RE IGNORING THAT I HAD A QUESTION THAT I HAD THAT I'VE RAISED BEFORE THE TIME WAS UP.
MS. SCOTT, EVERYONE HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THIS MOTION, BUT I STILL MORE TIME.
AND I HAD A QUESTION AND I HAD A POINT TO RAISE AND I HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.
AND I ASKED BEFORE IT, UM, BEFORE YOU CALLED FOR THE ROLL CALL VOTE MCMILLAN.
YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO THE MOTION.
I DON'T HAVE A LOT AND WHAT I HAVE IS JUST NOT A LOT TO IT.
AND I FEEL THAT 10 YEARS IS TOO MUCH, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOTHING.
I THINK THAT IT GOES ALONG WITH THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS. IF I LOOKED AT THAT LIST AND EVERYONE I PULLED UP THAT I SAW SAID FOUR YEARS.
SO IF THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR 10 OR 12 OR 14 OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.
SO THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
HAS ANYONE WHO'S NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO THIS MOTION HAD A A CHANCE TO SPEAK TO MS. LOKI? UM, THE ONLY THING THAT I'M GONNA ADD, I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S POINTS, IS MAYBE WE PUT A MOTION IN FOR SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE AT SEVEN YEARS.
THAT'S SPLIT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
SO MS. SCOTT, THIS WAS YOUR MOTION.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RESTATE YOUR MOTION? I'D LIKE TO FINISH SPEAKING TO MY MOTION CAUSE I WAS NOT YET FINISHED SPEAKING TO MY MOTION.
WOULD YOU PLEASE RESTATE IT AND THEN YOU MAY, UM, SPEAK TO IT.
MY MOTION WAS THAT I WOULD, I MOVE THAT WE CHANGE ON, UM, IN SECTION SIX, 10 YEARS TO FOUR YEARS.
PLEASE FINISH SPEAKING TO YOUR MOTION ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO.
MY MOTION IS THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID THAT AREN'T RELATIVE AND AREN'T PERTINENT TO TODAY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE BRINGING ISSUES FROM THE PREVIOUS BOARD, PERSONAL ISSUES THAT THEY'VE HAD THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS CURRENT BOARD.
HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BOARD GOING FORWARD.
WE AS A SYSTEM, WE, THE STUDENTS, THE PARENTS ARE TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WHO SIT AROUND HERE AND HOLD US IN THE PAST ON THE STRANGLEHOLD OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THAT MOST OF US WEREN'T EVEN AROUND FOR BUT ARE TRYING TO MOVE PAST IS CATEGORICALLY UNFAIR AND IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE.
[01:50:01]
HAD A COMMENT? YES.I WANNA STATE THAT, UM, IN PRO IS HOWIE THAT THE OTHER LEAS, THEY GET THEIR FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES AUDITED, CORRECT? FOR THE FOUR YEARS.
UM, AND I LOOKED AT THE U Y REPORT EXTENSIVELY.
DAN'S FORMS WERE NOT DESTROYED.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTION GOING AROUND HERE.
IN FACT, THERE ARE BOARD MEMBERS HERE THAT HAD NOT SUBMITTED THEIR DISCLOSURES ON TIME.
UM, AND I AM A SALARIED PERSON.
I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST KEEPING MY FINANCIALS OUT THERE.
I DON'T HAVE MULTIPLE BUSINESSES.
UH, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
SO I DON'T SEE WHY FOR A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD, UM, I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE WHY YOU WOULD WANNA KEEP IT EXCESS OF WHAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.
WE CERTAINLY ARE NOT LAWYERS LIKE MS. HE REMINDED ME.
NEITHER OF YOU LEGISLATIVE LAWYERS.
UM, I THINK FOYERS IS WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE AND WE SHOULD BE SAFE WITH STICKING WITH.
UM, AND CLIFTON LARSON, OUR AUDITOR DOES AN AUDIT EVERY YEAR.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
THIS IS ON THE, THERE'S NO AMENDMENT.
THIS, THIS IS THE MOTION TO AMEND THE POLICY.
IT WAS A SUGGESTION FOR THE AMENDMENT, BUT THAT WASN'T ACTUALLY MADE MOTION.
THERE WAS A MOTION AND A SECOND MR. OH, GOT IT.
OH, MS. PELOSKI DID NOT AMEND THE MOTION.
WE, WE ARE VOTING ON MS. SCOTT'S MOTION.
THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE POLICY.
IN CASE NOW WE, UM, HAVE A, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE POLICY AS RECOMMENDED BY THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND THAT WAS MOVED BY WHOM? MR. LUKI.
AND SECOND, AND BY THERE WAS NO SECOND NEEDED BECAUSE IT WAS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE.
[J. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Mr. Brousaides, Esq.) (8:45 - 8:50 p.m.)]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.AND FOR THAT I CALL A MR. MERCEDES.
EARLIER THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION IN ITS QUAS JUDICIAL CAPACITY TO RENDER DECISIONS IN TWO CASES, HE E 22 DASH 18 AND HE 23 DASH 11.
THE BOARD RENDERED DECISION IN THOSE CASES IN CLOSED SESSION.
NOW WOULD BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE BOARD TO CONFIRM, UH, THE VOTE TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENC CLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER CASES H E 2218 AND 23 DASH 11 AND AUTHORIZED MS. GOVER TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT.
HASAN, ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLE CALL VOTE PLEASE.
[K. REPORT ON THE FY2022 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (Mr. Hartlove) (8:50 - 9:10 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. HARLO.
[01:55:03]
GOOD EVENING.UM, WE WERE BRINGING FORWARD THE ANNUAL, UH, FINANCIAL AUDIT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY, UH, MARYLAND STATE LAW.
UM, WE HAVE A CLEAN, UH, UH, AUDIT, AND WE HAVE, UH, MS. SHERRY AMOS FROM CLIFTON LARSON, ALLEN ON TEAMS. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
WE DID, UH, GO THROUGH THIS AT THE MOST RECENT AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING.
UH, WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS AND SOME GOOD FOLLOW UP.
AND, UM, AND, UH, SO WE HAVE, WE HAVE DISCUSSED IT AT, AT SOME, AT SOME LEVEL OF DETAIL.
ANY QUESTIONS? MR. Q? OH, THANK YOU.
UM, JUST A QUICK QUESTION THERE.
THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT MONEY OF FED, UM, AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY MOVING THROUGH THE ESER GRANTS, UM, TO OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO SPECIFICALLY AUDIT SOME OF THAT SPENDING? UM, IT'S, IT'S SO, IT'S SO LARGE.
IT'S JUST, IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY.
DO WE HAVE ANY PLANS TO DO THAT OR HAVE A THIRD PARTY DO THAT? UM, NO, NO DOUBT.
THAT'S NOT REALLY A DECISION THAT WE MAKE.
THAT IS A, UH, AND MS UH, MS. AMOS CAN PROBABLY, UH, CHIME IN HERE.
UM, BUT THERE WILL BE A RAMP UP IN THE, IN THE, UH, EXPOSURE.
SO I DON'T KNOW, UM, MS. AMOS, IF YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
I CAN DEFINITELY ADDRESS THAT.
SO THAT, UM, BUILD OUT ABILITY IN THE SPENDING OF THOSE FUNDS IS SPECIFICALLY COVERED UNDER THE SINGLE AUDIT, WHICH IS THE AUDIT OF THE FEDERAL GRANT EXPENDITURES.
UM, IT WAS AUDITED LAST YEAR FOR THE 6 30 21 AUDIT.
UM, AND IT WILL ALSO BE AUDITED AGAIN, UM, THIS YEAR FOR THE 6 3 22 AUDIT.
THAT AUDIT IS NOT DUE TO THE STATE UNTIL 12 31 22.
AND WE'RE CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS WITH THAT AUDIT.
SO IT IS NOT FINALIZED AND ISSUED AT THIS POINT, BUT IT, THE ESSO GRANTS ARE SUBJECT AND ARE PART OF THAT, THAT SINGLE AUDIT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IS IN PROGRESS.
UH, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
UM, SO MS. EMS, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND IT'S A COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL AUDIT THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.
FOR THOSE THAT MISUNDERSTOOD FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES OF PERSONALS, HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH AUDITING OF OUR SCHOOL PROCUREMENT AND OTHER THINGS THAT, UH, CLIFTON LARSON DOES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.
I READ THROUGH THE REPORT AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? BOARD MEMBERS HEARING THEN? THANK YOU, MR. HARLOW.
[L. REPORT ON THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDY (Dr. Williams and Mr. Dixit) (9:10 - 9:55 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES.SO, MADAME CHAIR HIN AND VICE CHAIR MCMILLAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TONIGHT, THE BOARD WILL BE RECEIVING THE REPORTS ON THE NORTHEAST AND SOUTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES.
WE HAVE MR. DAVID, WE HAVE MR. LEE, EXCUSE ME.
WE HAVE MR. DAVID RASHIA, VICE PRESIDENT OF JMT ARCHITECTS.
WE'LL PRESENT THE SOUTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDY, AND WE HAVE MR. LEE, PRINCIPAL OF SHAHA ASSOCIATES PC ARCHITECTS WHO WILL PRESENT THE NORTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDY.
AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE MR. PETE DIXON, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT OF WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY.
UH, IN 2020, AS YOU'LL RECOGNIZE, AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, UM, WE, WITH THE HELP OF BALTIMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENT CONDUCTED WHAT WE CALLED A MULTI-YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
THAT WAS TO PRIORITIZE NEEDS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
AS PART OF, UH, MY PAST, UH, ALL OF THE ELEMENTARY HIGH SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS WERE STUDIED AND THEIR PRIORITIES ESTABLISHED.
THERE WERE SOME PART OF THAT STUDY, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOLS AND NORTHEAST AREA HIGH SCHOOLS, WHERE THE CONSULTANT RECOMMENDED THAT WE TAKE A DEEPER DIVE AND LOOK INTO DIFFERENT OPTIONS, UH, BEFORE WE IMPLEMENT PROJECTS.
UH, ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE, THE SCHOOLS WERE KENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL LOCK, RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL, OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL, PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, AND PERRY HALL HIGH
[02:00:01]
SCHOOL.ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE, IT WAS DUN PATAPSCO AND SPARS POINT HIGH SCHOOL.
SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CONSULTANTS.
UH, ONE IS STUDYING THE SOUTHEAST PART AND THE OTHER NORTHEAST PART.
UM, BEFORE I GO INTO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO THANK DR.
ERIC WILSON, LARISA SANTOS, AND JENNIFER MULLINIX FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THE EDUCATIONAL SIDE, UH, LEADERSHIP OF DR.
WILLIAMS FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
AND MEMBERS OF MY TEAM, MERRILL PLAY, PAUL TAYLOR, MELISSA ALER, MIKE AL, KATIE ANGSTED, AND DOUG MULLINS.
THESE ARE THE TEAM MEMBERS THAT WERE INVOLVED.
SO I WANTED TO SHARE THOSE NAMES WITH YOU.
UM, BECAUSE OF SOME SITUATION WITH THE NORTHEAST AREA, WE ARE GOING TO BE PRESENTING SOUTHEAST AREA FIRST.
SO I HAVE DAVE REIA, WHO WILL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION.
DAVE, DO WE WANT TO PULL UP THE SOUTHEAST AREA STUDY? YEAH, IT'S BEEN, YEAH.
I'M VICE PRESIDENT WITH JMT ARCHITECTURE.
AND I, I HEAD UP OUR, UH, K THROUGH 12 EDUCATION STUDIO, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AND MY PASS STUDY IS MR. DIXON SAID, UH, IDENTIFIED THREE HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SOUTHEAST AREA, UM, TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING, EXCUSE ME, FACILITY CONDITIONS AND EDUCATIONAL ADEQUACY.
UH, THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO RELIEVE THESE ISSUES AND ENHANCE THE, UH, ENVIRONMENT FOR THE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND THE STAFF.
OUR SCOPE OF SERVICES, UH, AS, AS LISTED HERE, WE WERE TO EVALUATE UP TO SIX OPTIONS TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING AT SPARS POINT, MIDDLE, UH, AND, UH, MIDDLE POINT AND HIGH SCHOOL AND PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, WE WERE DETERMINED IF ANY OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURES WERE LISTED ON MHTS LIST OF HISTORIC STRUCTURES, OR IF THEY WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.
WE WERE DETERMINED TO DETERMINE THE IMPACT OF SITE CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING THE TOPOGRAPHY, SOILS, ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.
THEN WE WERE TO PREPARE CONCEPT SKETCHES FOR EACH OPTION.
WE WERE TO MEET WITH THE COMMUNITY TO REVIEW THESE OPTIONS AND PREPARE CONCEPTUAL COST ESTIMATES FOR EACH OF THESE OPTIONS.
AND THEN FINALLY, PREPARE REPORT WITH THE, WITH THE DESIGN TEAM'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
SO, AS YOU SEE HERE, THE SCHEDULE WAS, WAS PRETTY VOLUMINOUS.
WE STARTED, UH, WITH THE NOTES TO PROCEED ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
UM, WE HAD WORK SESSIONS, UH, THROUGH DECEMBER.
IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, WE HAD OUR FIRST COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING, WHICH WAS A VIRTUAL MEETING ON MAY ON MARCH 2ND.
AND WE FOLLOWED THAT UP TWO WEEKS LATER WITH A LIVE COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING, PRESENTING THE SAME INFORMATION, UH, TO THE, TO THE COMMUNITY.
AFTER THAT, WE HAD SOME MORE WORK SESSIONS, AND THEN WE HAD OUR, OUR THIRD COMMUNITY INPUT MEETING.
AGAIN, ANOTHER LIVE MEETING ON APRIL 21ST.
UH, DRAFT PROGRESS REPORTS IN MAY AND JULY.
DRAFT REPORTED SUBMITTED IN SEPTEMBER, UM, REVIEW MEETING IN OCTOBER, AND A FINAL REPORT AT THE END OF OCTOBER.
SO OUR STUDY OPTIONS, WE ORIGINALLY CONSIDERED SIX OPTIONS.
UH, WE PRESENTED THOSE AT THOSE FIRST TWO, UH, MEETING THE VIRTUAL AND THE LIVE MEETING.
UH, THE COMMUNITY BASICALLY ACCEPTED TWO AND SAID FOUR WERE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
UH, THE COMMUNITY THEN OFFERED, UH, AN ADDITIONAL SIX SITES FOR CONSIDERATION.
UM, OF THOSE SIX, ONLY THREE WERE POSSIBLE, UH, DUE TO, UH, COMMITMENTS ON THOSE SITES OR UNAVAILABILITY.
SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH, UH, THE OPTIONS THAT WERE CONSIDERED AFTER THAT, THAT FIRST LIVE MEETING.
UH, OPTION ONE IS SORT OF, OF A, UH, DOMINOES.
WE WERE LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTING A REPLACEMENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AT EDGEMERE, UH, FOR EDGEMERE AND CHESAPEAKE TERRACE.
AND AFTER THAT, THE, UH, THE, THE BUILDING AT CHESAPEAKE PAR TERRACE WOULD BE DEMOLISHED.
THEN A CONSTRUCT, A REPLACEMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR SPARROWS POINT AT CHESAPEAKE TERRACE.
[02:05:01]
AND ADD ON TO SPARROWS POINT HIGH SCHOOL, CREATING AN A LIKE NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR, FOR SPARROWS POINT.AND THEN CONSTRUCT ADDITIONS FOR PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
OPTION SIX, LIMITED THE SITE WORK TO THE EXISTING, UH, SPARS POINT SITE.
WE WOULD CONSTRUCT A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL ON THAT SITE, AND THEN ADD ON AND RENOVATE THE EXISTING BUILDING TO A, LIKE, NEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR SPARS POINT.
AND THEN CONSTRUCT ADDITIONS AGAIN AT PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
AND YOU'LL SEE THAT AS A, THAT IS A, UH, A COMMON THAT HAPPENS THROUGH ALL OF THESE.
SIX A IS THE SAME AS SIX OPTION SIX, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THERE'S A, A PIECE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY BALTIMORE COUNTY ADJACENT TO SPARS POINT.
AND THE IDEA THERE WAS THAT IF THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM COULD OBTAIN THAT, THAT PROPERTY, THE RECREATION SPACE, UH, AVAILABLE FOR THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THE EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL, COULD BE EXPANDED, UH, TO MEET THE PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS OF THOSE TWO FACILITIES.
UH, OPTION SEVEN WOULD BE, UH, CREATING A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON A SITE THAT WOULD BE DETERMINED FROM WHAT, WHAT WE SAW LEFT OF THE, OF THE SIX, THE ONE, THE ONE THROUGH THREE SITES.
SO THAT WOULD, YOU WOULD CONSTRUCT A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE THAT WOULD COM AGAIN, COMBINE, UH, THE EDGEMERE AND THE, UM, CHESAPEAKE TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
THEY WOULD THEN VACATE THE CHESAPEAKE TERRACE SITE.
A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL WOULD BE BUILT THERE FOR SPARS POINT.
AND THEN, UH, SPARS POINT WOULD BE RENOVATED, UH, INTO A, LIKE, NEW AND ADDED ONTO INTO A, LIKE, NEW, UH, HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN CONSTRUCT ADDITIONS AT, AT PATAPSCO.
OPTION EIGHT WOULD BE TO FIND A NEW SITE TO CONSTRUCT A MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR SPARS POINT, UH, THAT WOULD TAKE THE, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT OF THE EXISTING BUILDING, ALLOWING THAT BUILDING TO BE RENOVATED AND ADDED ONTO MAKING IT LIKE NEW, UH, HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN CONSTRUCT ADDITIONS AT PATAPSCO.
AND THEN OPTION, UH, NINE IS AGAIN, FIND A SITE BIG ENOUGH TO CONSTRUCT AN ALL NEW HIGH SCHOOL, UH, FOR SPARS POINT.
AND THEN, UH, RENOVATE THE EXISTING BUILDING, UH, INTO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I MEAN, THE BUILDING IS SIZABLE, UH, MUCH LARGER THAN IT'S NECESSARY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO THERE'D BE A LOT OF SUPPLEMENTAL, UH, SPACE IN THERE THAT WOULDN'T HAVE NECESSARILY HAVE A USE BY THE, BY THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND THEN, UH, CONSTRUCT, UM, UH, ADDITIONS AT, AT, AT, UH, PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THOSE WERE THE, THOSE WERE THE OPTIONS THAT, UH, CAME OUT OF THE, THE SECOND MEETING WE HAD WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS SORT OF A SUMMARY OF ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE SCHEMES THAT WE DID, THE INITIAL SIX PLUS, THE ONES THAT CAME OUT OF THE, THE COMMUNITY MEETING.
WE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WERE OWNED BY, UH, THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE AREA TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT COULD BE USED TO, TO RESOLVE THE OVERCROWDING AT, AT PATAPSCO AND AT AT SPARROW'S POINT.
AND THEN, UH, WE'VE, I, THROUGH THAT, THE SECOND COMMUNITY MEETING, UM, THE FIRST LIVE COMMUNITY MEETING, UH, IDENTIFIED BY THE, BY THE COMMUNITY, THE VARIOUS SITES OWNED BY DNR AND THE STATE AND PRIVATE OWNERSHIP THAT, UH, THEY WOULD, THEY WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT, UH, TO RELIEVE THE, THE OVERCROWDING DOWN THERE.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, THIS ALL CAME OUT OF THE, THE COMMUNITY MEETING.
BASICALLY, THE COMMUNITY MADE IT VERY CLEAR ON THE, UH, THE FIRST LIVE MEETING WE HAD THAT THE, UH, STUDENTS OF, UH, SPARS POINT, UH, SHOULD REMAIN ON, ON THE PENINSULA.
THEY SHOULD, THEY SHOULD STAY THERE.
UH, AND A SOLUTION NEEDED TO BE, NEEDS TO BE FOUND TO KEEP ALL THE STUDENTS THERE.
UH, AS A, AS A SIDE ISSUE FOR THAT, BECAUSE OF, UM, KEEPING THE STUDENTS ON THE PENINSULA, PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL, UH, SHOULD BE TREATED AS A SEPARATE PROJECT.
UH, THERE'S NO REAL HOLISTIC APPROACH THAT CAN BE USED TO, TO TRY TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING IN BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS IF THE STUDENTS, UH, NEED TO STAY ON THE, ON THE PENINSULA.
SO THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD STAY A SEPARATE PROJECT AND COULD START, UH, WHEN FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE.
SO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, WE BOIL DOWN TO, TO THREE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND, AND EACH ONE OF THESE, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THERE ARE CAVEATS TO EACH ONE OF THESE.
UM, SOME WITH THE EXISTING SITE, SOME TRYING TO FIND A NEW SITE TO MAKE THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
SO OPTION SIX AND SIX A, AGAIN, TO REVIEW THAT, THAT WOULD BE, UM, CONSTRUCT A
[02:10:01]
MIDDLE SCHOOL AT THE SPARROWS POINT SITE FOR SPARROWS POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOU WOULD RENOVATE AND ADD ON TO SPARROWS POINT HIGH SCHOOL TO MAKE IT A LIKE NEW HIGH SCHOOL.AND THEN IF THAT PROPERTY OWNED BY BALTIMORE COUNTY ADJACENT TO IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BRING THAT INTO THE, INTO THE PROGRAM SO THAT THE RECREATIONAL SPACES AND SITE AMENITY SPACES COULD BE, UH, EXPANDED.
THE CAVEAT TO THAT, IN RED, AS YOU SEE THERE, UH, MDE HAS, UH, CLASSIFIED THE LAND AS LDA AND LDA IS EXTREMELY LIMITING AS AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT.
IN FACT, UM, UNDER LDA, YOU CAN'T HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE THERE CURRENTLY.
THE, UM, THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND, AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHO, UH, CONSULTANT A SITE RESOURCES WHO WAS WORKING WITH US ON THE PROJECT, STATED THAT THEY FELT THAT LDA WAS A MISCLASSIFICATION, AND THAT REALLY IDA WAS THE CLASSIFICATION THAT SHOULD BE USED.
UM, AND AS SUCH, THEN THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WE PROPOSED, UH, COULD OCCUR.
UH, BUT THAT WOULD TAKE WORK WITH, UH, MDE TO, TO HAVE THAT, UH, HAVE THEM REVISE THE DESIGNATION OF THE, OF THE PROPERTY.
OPTION SEVEN WAS OUR SECOND RECOMMENDATION, UH, TO FIND A SITE FOR A NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, THAT COULD COMBINE EDGEMERE AND CHESAPEAKE TERRACE ONTO THAT PARCEL, THAT AGAIN, WOULD OPEN UP THE CHESAPEAKE TERRACE PARCEL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR SPARS POINT.
AND THEN WE WOULD RENOVATE THE EXISTING, UH, SPARS POINT BUILDING AND ADD ONTO IT TO MAKE IT LIKE NEW HIGH SCHOOL, UM, AND, UH, ADD ONTO, UH, PATAPSCO.
AGAIN, THAT BECOMES A SEPARATE, A SEPARATE PROJECT.
UH, BUT AGAIN, THE CAVEAT TO THERE IS REFIN FINDING A PARCEL SUITABLE, UH, TO SUPPORT THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND FINDING LAND THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR, UH, FOR PURCHASE.
AND THEN OPTION EIGHT, UH, FIND A SITE FOR A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR SPARS POINT IN AND OF ITSELF, UM, RENOVATE THE EXISTING BUILDING, UH, TO BECOME A NEW SPARS POINT, LIKE NEW SPARS POINT HIGH SCHOOL.
AND AGAIN, THAT REQUIRES FINDING A PARCEL THAT'S SUITABLE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.
ANY QUESTIONS? YES, MR. Q UH, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
I KNOW THERE'S SEVERE LIMITATIONS OF OPEN LAND, RIGHT? ALL THROUGH BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UM, FROM YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU KIND OF ANNOTATE CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE, ARE THOSE AREAS AVAILABLE CUZ YOU HIGHLIGHT LIKE A, A, A GOLF CLUB, YOU HIRE, LIKE HIGHLIGHT DNR? ARE THOSE SPACES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE? THESE, THESE WERE THE, THESE WERE THE SPACES THAT WERE SUGGESTED BY THE COMMUNITY IN OUR FIRST LIVE, UM, COMMUNITY MEETING.
UM, SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATED.
THERE WERE SIX THAT WERE, THAT WERE, UH, SHOWN.
UM, THREE WERE INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THEY WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
UH, THE OTHER THREE, UM, I THINK THERE'S SOME LIMITATIONS AS TO HOW ANYONE CAN, UH, APPROACH THEM TO DETERMINE THEIR AVAILABILITY.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE RECOMMENDED, UH, THREE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS AT THE END, BECAUSE THAT'S ALL GONNA TAKE, UH, A LOT OF ADDITIONAL WORK TO, TO FIGURE OUT IF ANY OF THOSE THREE PROPERTIES OR IF THERE'S OTHER PROPERTIES IN THE, IN THE PENINSULA THAT ARE AVAILABLE, UH, FOR BOTH, UH, PURCHASE OR, UH, UH, COMPATIBILITY WITH THE, THE USE AND THE SIZE REQUIRED FOR THESE NEW FACILITIES.
SO HAS YOUR TEAM, OR LET ME ASK, HAVE YOU BEEN TASKED WITH FINDING A LARGE ENOUGH PARCEL FOR A SCHOOL IN THE AREA? NO, WE HAVEN'T.
SO YOU JUST BASICALLY TOOK WHAT WAS THROWN OUT AT YOU IN PUBLIC MEETINGS, TOOK A LOOK AT IT, DETERMINED WHETHER IT'S POSSIBLE OR NOT.
AND, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT.
THE CIVIL ENGINEER LOOKED AT IT FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT AND A GRADING STANDPOINT, UM, TO SAY, YES, THEY, THEY, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOL, BUT WE MADE NO CONTACT WITH, WITH THE OWNERS OF THIS PROPERTIES.
UM, IS CHESAPEAKE TERRACE ON THE SPURS POINT PENINSULA, SO WOULD THAT PROPERTY BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR A MIDDLE OR HIGH SCHOOL? YES.
AND THEN DOES THE COMMUNITY THEN REQUEST THAT THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALSO BE IN THE SAME VICINITY ON THE PENINSULA? IT ALL, THE, THE, THE SABAN WAS MADE THAT THE STUDENTS OF SPAR OF THE SPARS POINT PENINSULA SHOULD STAY ON THE SPARS POINT PENINSULA ALL AROUND.
SO ONE OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE THAT I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BRING UP, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, YOU GUYS CAN EVEN ANSWER OR NOT, BUT, SO THE SPARS POINT PENINSULA, IF THE STUDENTS FOR THE PENINSULA ARE STAYING ON
[02:15:01]
THE PENINSULA, UM, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEAL WITH THE EXTRA STUDENTS, UM, WHO WILL COME TO THE, COME TO THOSE SCHOOLS AS A RESULT OF HOUSING PROJECTS AND RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION BEING APPROVED BASED ON THE CAPACITY AT CHESAPEAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A BODY OF WATER? AND SO WE HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO OCCUPY THOSE BRAND NEW HOUSES AND MORE DEVELOPMENTS BEING APPROVED, BUT THOSE CHILDREN HAVE TO STAY ON THE PENINSULA.SO ARE THESE EXPANSIONS GOING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR THE PENINSULA? BECAUSE THE MEETINGS THAT I'VE SEEN, THE APPROVALS ARE BASED ON CAPACITY AT CHESAPEAKE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS ACROSS AN ENTIRE BODY OF WATER WITH NO BRIDGES AND DON'T BELIEVE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM OWNS FAIR.
SO HOW ARE WE ACCOMMODATING THAT? I, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT DIRECTLY OTHER THAN, OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT THE, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDED US WITH, UM, SRCS IN TERMS OF, UH, THE SIZES OF THE SCHOOLS THAT WOULD NEED TO MEET.
UM, AND, AND HOW THAT WOULD, HOW THAT WOULD RELIEVE THE OVERCROWDING AND I BELIEVE CREATE, UM, UH, SPACE IN THERE FOR, FOR SOME NEW STUDENTS.
BEYOND THAT, I, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANNING HAS BEEN DONE, UH, TO, TO ADDRESS THOSE, THOSE NEW HOUSES THAT ARE, ARE GOING IN THERE.
SO I'LL TRY TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO THAT INFORMATION.
THE PROJECTIONS, UH, THE, THE IZATION AND PROJECTION INDICATE THAT THERE ARE THREE SCHOOLS THAT HAVE THE ISSUE AT THE DUN DOG PATAPSCO AND THIS PARIS POINT.
AND, UM, WE ARE BUILDING AN ADDITION AT DDA TO RELIEVE THAT.
THERE'S, UH, THIS STUDY RECOMMENDS ANOTHER ADDITION AT PATAPSCO, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ANOTHER SITUATION THERE.
SO THIS SITU, THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS IS HANDLING THIS SPARROWS POINT.
SO AT THIS POINT, THAT'S OUR FOCUS.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, SO IN UNDERSTANDING THAT THE SCHOOL WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN ON THE PENINSULA, I'M LOOKING AT THE MAP AND IS IT THAT THE PENINSULA SORT OF SPLITS INTO TWO AND THE, THE WEST SIDE OR THE LEFT SIDE IS SPARS POINT IS LABELED SPARS POINT AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS LABELED EDGEMERE.
BUT THOSE WOULD BOTH BE CONSIDERED THE PENINSULA? THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT THEY'RE STILL PART OF THE SAME PENINSULA.
AND THEN WITH THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE EAST SIDE OR THE RIGHT SIDE HAS, IS, IS THE ONLY SIDE THAT WOULD HAVE THE AVAILABLE GREEN SPACE? WELL, THAT, IS THAT OUR UNDERSTANDING THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEAN ON THE MAP TO BE CLEARED OR AVAILABLE FOR A NEW SCHOOL TO BE BUILT? OR IS THAT INCORRECT? SO AVAILABLE SPACE IS WHAT WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, IN 2018, WE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL CAPACITY STUDY DONE, AND WE WERE TOLD BY STAFF AT THAT POINT, UH, AND THIS IS FOUR YEARS AGO, THAT WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION FOR THE SOUTHEAST AREA BECAUSE IF WE DIDN'T, IN 10 YEARS, WE WOULD BE INTENSE.
THE SCHOOLS WOULD BE, SO WERE CROWDED.
WE'VE HEARD ALL THIS BEFORE, AND THIS BOARD DID FAIL TO MAKE A DECISION.
UM, IT'S FOUR YEARS LATER AND WE ARE HERE, WE ARE, BUT AT LEAST WE'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS.
UM, YOU MENTIONED OPTION SIX AND SIX A AND YOU SAID IT REQUIRES FURTHER INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE INTENSELY DEVELOPED AND LIMITED DEVELOPMENT.
ARE THOSE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREAS? UM, DESIGNATIONS, BECAUSE IF THAT'S, THOSE ARE JUST CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREAS, THOSE ARE REALLY HARD TO, TO, UH, REMOVE.
UM, AS GENERALLY AS A CIVIL ENGINEER, WE AVOID ANY DEVELOPMENT ON ANY CHESAPEAKE BAY CRITICAL AREAS.
SO COULD YOU CLARIFY, UM, YOUR SIX OPTION SIX A LDA WAS HIS IDA OPTION THAT YOU WERE CONSIDERING FOR THE INVESTIGATION? YES.
THE, THE, THE CIVIL ENGINEER DID THE RESEARCH ON THE, ON THE PROPERTY AND, UH, AND IDENTIFIED THE, THE IDA LDA, UM, ISSUE.
UH, IN, IN, IN DISCUSSING IT WITH THEM.
UM, THEY, THEY FEEL THAT IT IS, IF THEY CAN GET THE DESIGNATION CHANGED, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO PROCEED WITH THAT DEVELOPMENT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A CAVEAT
[02:20:01]
THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, NEEDS TO BE, UH, VETTED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT, THAT IT IS GONNA WORK.SO YOU WOULD BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD FURTHER REFINING THESE THREE OPTIONS THAT YOU'VE NOT CONSIDERED TO KIND OF ZERO IN ON ONE FINAL RECOMMENDATION? I, I BELIEVE THAT, THAT OUR, THAT OUR WORK ON THIS, UNLESS, UNLESS DIRECTED OTHERWISE, OUR WORK ON THIS IS, IS PRETTY WELL COMPLETE.
SO THAT IT'S UP TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE BOARD TO MAKE THE DECISION IF IT TO PURSUE, TO PURSUE ADDITIONAL STUDY.
MR. DIXON, DID YOU ADD ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT? SO WE, THESE ARE THE OPTIONS THAT CONSULTANT HAS RECOMMENDED.
UH, WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR FISCAL PARTNERS, UH, UH, THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, AND WE'LL BE LOOKING AT ALL THE POTENTIAL SITES AND THEN WHAT OUR DECISION IS MADE, WE'LL COME BACK TO BOARD, UH, AS A PROJECT WITHIN OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, UH, FIRST POINT.
MRS. CY, COULD YOU TURN YOUR MIC ON PLEASE? THANK YOU.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, WE HAVE BEEN HEARING ABOUT SPARS POINT, PATAPSCO, UH, DUN DOG, UH, FOR SOME TIME.
WE ALSO WITH THE BOARD, UH, HAD, AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT HAD A JOINT TASK FORCE, UH, ON ADDRESSING THE, UH, ADEQUATE FACILITIES AND HOW THE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS, UH, THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNTY IMPACT AND AL AND ALMOST MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE POPULATIONS, UH, IN CERTAIN AREAS.
UM, AND THAT IS BECAUSE THE COUNTY COUNCIL, UH, HAS NOT TAKEN THAT UP AS AN ISSUE.
UM, WHAT IS NECESSARY TO HAVE STAFF IMMEDIATELY PURSUE THE AVAILABILITY OF THESE ADDITIONAL SITES, BECAUSE I KNOW, UH, BOARD MEMBER MCMILLAN HAS SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT CERTAIN SITES, UH, A LONG TIME AGO IN TERMS OF THEIR AVAILABILITY, UM, TO BE A PART OF THE FEASIBLE SOLUTION.
SO, LIKE I INDICATED BEFORE THIS, THIS SOLUTION IS FOR THREE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS NOW.
SO PART OF THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED BY, UH, CONSTRUCTING AN ADDITION AT DDA HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS BEING DESIGNED RIGHT NOW.
THE SECOND PIECE COULD BE, AS WE SEE FROM THE CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATION, IS IN ADDITION, UH, AT PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THAT IN OUR MIND WILL TAKE CARE OF, UH, MORE THAN HALF OF THE CAPACITY NEEDS.
SO THE FINAL PIECE HAS TO BE AT THIS PARISH POINT, AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR, UH, PARTNERS IN TRYING TO IDENTIFY A SITE OR IN TRYING TO BE ABLE TO GET ONE OF THESE, UM, LAND DESIGNATION CHANGE.
SO THAT IS STILL WORK IN PROGRESS.
SO WHEN YOU SAY WORKING WITH FUNDING PARTNERS, UH, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE BOARD OF ED NEEDS SOMEONE ELSE TO GIVE US PERMISSION TO SEE IF A SITE'S AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE? SO WHEN, WHENEVER WE ARE LOOKING FOR A SITE, WE WORK WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY TO, UH, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO PAY FOR SITE AND WE WORK WITH THEM.
SO OUR PLANNING AND THEIR PLANNING, THEY, WE WORK TOGETHER TO IDENTIFY A SITE, AND THAT WORK IS VERY MUCH IN PROGRESS.
SO, UH, WHAT'S THE ESTIMATED TIME OF WHEN YOU'LL HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BRING TO THE BOARD? WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS TIME AS TO WHEN WE ARE GOING TO BE FINDING A SIGHT.
AND THEN MR. MCMILLAN'S BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY, BUT, UM, MR. DIXON, YOU SAID THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS MEET THE CURRENT KNOWN CAPACITY NEEDS.
THOSE ARE BASED ON CURRENT ENROLLMENT PRODUCTIONS, CORRECT, BUT NOT, WHICH ARE FORECASTS BASED ON THE PREVIOUS PUPIL YIELDS AND NOT THE NEW PUPIL YIELDS THAT WERE JUST RELEASED AND IN FACT HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED PUBLICLY.
IS THAT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT? SO AS YOU KNOW, WE PREPARE ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS EVERY YEAR, AND WHEN WE PREPARE ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS, IT'S FOR ONE YEAR THROUGH 7, 8, 10 YEARS.
SO THIS IS ALL OF THE PROJECTIONS THAT WE HAVE BASED ON THAT, THIS IS THE MAJOR CHUNK OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE, THESE THREE SCHOOLS.
NOW, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MINOR FLUCTUATIONS IN ALL SCHOOLS, BUT THIS IS THE MAJOR
[02:25:01]
PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.BUT WE DON'T ADJUST THE PUPIL YIELDS ANNUALLY.
SO PUPIL, BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT, BE PART OF METHODOLOGY THAT IS USED FOR ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS AND, AND WE HAVE JUST COMPLETED PUPIL YIELD STUDY, SO THAT'LL BE APPLIED.
SO EVERY YEAR WE UPDATE PROJECTIONS BASED ON THE LATEST INFORMATION THAT WE DO, BUT WE DON'T DO THE UPDATE.
WE DON'T DO AN ANNUAL PUPIL YIELD STUDY THAT'S ONLY UPDATED EVERY FOUR YEARS.
IS THAT PERIODICALLY THE BEST I CAN TELL YOU NOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT DONE FOR FIVE YEARS.
SO WE HAVE NEW PUPIL YIELD INFORMATION THAT, THAT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN FOUR OR SO YEARS.
I, I DON'T RECALL THE FREQUENCY AND THAT COULD INFORM THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT DID, DID NOT INFORM THOSE THAT COULD INFORM THE BOARD THAT THERE THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY NEEDS.
AND I'M SPEAKING GENERALLY TOWARDS BOTH STUDIES NOW.
SO ENROLLMENT PROJECTION CAN CHANGE BOTH WAYS, PLUS AND MINUS.
THERE'LL BE FLUCTUATION AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE DONE EVERY YEAR.
AND WHAT'S THE REASON I ASK IN THIS TOUCHES ON WHAT, UM, MRS. KAZI SAID, AND I BELIEVE SHE SPOKE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE TASK FORCE IS PART OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, UM, DIRECTLY AFFECTS HOW WE CALCULATE, UM, OR THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HOW PUPIL YIELDS ARE CALCULATED.
SO THERE ARE MULTIPLE THINGS AT PLAY HERE.
ONE IS WE'VE IMPROVED OUR METHODOLOGY FOR PUPIL YIELD.
THE TASK FORCE MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE, UM, THE PUPIL YIELD DETERMINATION.
ALL OF THAT GOES INTO PLAY WITH HOW, UM, OUR ACCURATE, OUR ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
AND YES, IT'S, IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT THAT CAN AFFECT THINGS BOTH WAYS.
HOWEVER, WHEN WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAY THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE GOING TO MEET OUR, UM, CAPACITY NEEDS, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE LATEST DATA IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR PUPIL YIELDS MAY LOOK LIKE.
SO I'M TAKING THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT IN TERMS OF HOW MANY SEATS WE'RE GOING TO NEED IN BOTH OF THESE STUDIES.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCMILLAN.
IT SEEMS LIKE I'M OUT OF TIME.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS I DON'T WANNA RUN OUT OF TIME.
MR.
SO YOU JUST WENT THROUGH, YOU AND I UNDERSTAND YOU SAVED TIME AND YOU PICKED AND CHOSE WHAT YOU SHARED WITH US THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT, A SUMMARY OF, OF WHAT WE DID.
FORD, HOWARD, WHAT DID YOU COME UP, DID YOU ANALYZE FORD HOWARD? WE, WE LOOKED AT IT, WE LOOKED AT IT FROM A, UH, ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT AND I BELIEVE WE LOOKED AT IT FROM A, UH, UH, AVAILABILITY AND IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
UH, TRADE POINT ATLANTIC, ANYTHING THERE? UM, TRADE POINT ATLANTIC, WE, WE LOOKED AT IT AGAIN, FROM AN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDPOINT, I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT, OF THAT WAS.
UH, MR. DIXON, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THESE STUDIES TOGETHER COST $500,000, OR EACH ONE COSTS $500,000.
I DON'T HAVE THE COST, BUT I CAN SHARE THAT WITH YOU LATER ON.
SO YOU CAN'T TELL ME RIGHT NOW.
WITH THE ACTUAL, WE HAD BUDGETED, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, $500,000 AND I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S A SPLIT.
MR. PLAT MIGHT KNOW HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD IN BACK.
DO YOU HAVE THE NUMBER MR? NO, I, NO.
SO WE CAN GET THAT THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE TWO, OR IT WAS $500,000 A PIECE FOR BOTH.
THAT'S ALLOTTED FOR THEM, BUT I DUNNO WHAT THE EXACT, THE ALLO WAS 500 FOR EACH.
MR. PLATE IS SAYING, AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE SPENT.
SO IF THERE'S ANY MONEY LEFT OVER, CAN WE DIRECT IT, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO ANALYZE THESE OTHER YEAH.
THESE OTHER PROPERTIES? UH, UH, ABSOLUTELY.
IS IT ACCURATE THAT ARCHITECTS HAVE WALKED CAPCO HIGH SCHOOL RECENTLY TO LOOK AT DESIGN ISSUES? I DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW PATAPSCO WAS RENOVATED NOT TOO LONG AGO.
BUT I, I WAS TOLD BY TEACHERS THERE THAT JUST HERE I WAS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING LAST WEEK.
THEY TOLD ME THAT ARCHITECTS HAD WALKED THE SCHOOL BUILDING.
SO IN ANTICIPATION OF THE, OF THE, UH, ADDITION, I, I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU, BUT TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS, UH, FOR OUR SOUTHEAST AREA IN GENERAL, NOT FOR ANY SPECIFIC SCORE.
UH, SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO OUT ON THE LIMB AND GIVE US ANY SORT OF TIMELINE.
[02:30:01]
THE NEXT STEP ON WHERE WE, WHERE WE ARE IN PURCHASING THESE PROPERTIES.WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE PROPERTIES ARE AVAILABLE OR NOT.
IF WE KNEW, WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
SO I DO WANT TO, UH, TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD.
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITHOUT BOARD'S APPROVAL AND BOARD WILL BE INFORMED AS SOON AS WE KNOW ABOUT IT.
IF WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROPERTY THAT WE ARE BUYING, BOARD WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.
IF IT'S GONNA BE INCLUDED IN CAPITAL PROGRAM, BOARD WILL KNOW ABOUT IT.
SO THERE IS NOTHING THERE THAT ANYBODY CAN HIDE.
AND LET'S SHIFT TO DONDA REAL QUICK.
DON HIGH SCHOOL WE APPROVED, WAS IT A 40 OR 50 MILLION RENOVATION ADDITION TO DONDA? SO THE AMOUNT WE HAVE IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAM THAT WE, YOU APPROVED LAST YEAR, SO WE, WE CAN GET THOSE NUMBERS.
TODAY'S FOCUS IS ON THESE PRESENTATIONS.
WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU IN VERY SHORT TIME WHEN WE'LL PRESENT TO YOU COUNTY CAPITAL PROGRAM.
AND YOU'LL GET TO SEE NUMBERS AGAIN, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WE WERE TOLD THAT DONDA WOULD BE 650 STUDENTS OVER BY 25 26.
SO IS IT, WHAT'S THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE, UM, THAT NEW SOUTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT CAPITAL PROPOSAL THAT YOU PRESENT TO THE BOARD? THAT'S, WELL, BASED ON WHATEVER WE HAVE, IT APPEARS THAT CAPCO HIGH SCHOOL EDITION IS BEING RECOMMENDED HERE IN ALL OPTIONS.
SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH OUR FUNDING PARTNERS SUBJECT TO THEIR APPROVAL.
WE'LL COME TO YOU AND WE'LL SHARE THAT PROGRAM WITH YOU FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
WE WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE IN ADDITION TO PATAPSCO, BUT THE SPARES POINT, BECAUSE WE NEED PROPERTY COULD BE TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
AND AGAIN, YOU SAID NEXT FALL YOU'LL SEE THE ADDITION FOR, UH, PATAPSCO.
SO THIS IS, IT'S, IT'S A DESIGN PROCESS AND IT'S BIDDING PROCESS.
SO RIGHT NOW, WHEN BOARD APPROVED DDA HIGH SCHOOL EDITION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE ARE IN THE DESIGN PROCESS.
AND THEN IT TAKES ANOTHER YEAR OR SO, UH, 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT NEXT FALL THERE'LL BE AN ADDITION IN CASH.
NO, NO, THAT MEANT, I MEANT THE BALL.
WILL, THE BALL WILL BEGIN TO START ROLLING AT LEAST ON THAT BY NEXT FALL.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION THAT THE BOARD APPROVE SEARCHING FOR A SITE FOR, UH, SPARROW'S POINT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND, UH, THAT MR. MCMILLAN WOULD BE ON A, UH, COMMITTEE TO DO THAT WORK ON SECOND THERE, SECOND ROW.
SO THERE'S A SECOND BY MR. MCMILLAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION? UH, YES.
SO THIS BOARD, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS BOARD IN THAT WE HAVE, UH, IN MOVED AWAY FROM WHAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO GIVE US TO ASKING FOR WHAT WE NEED FOR EVERY COMMUNITY, FOR EVERY STUDENT.
THERE'S BEEN STUDIES, THERE'S BEEN CONVERSATION.
AND WHEN I HEAR A COLLEAGUE, BOARD MEMBER ASK A YEAR AGO ABOUT A CERTAIN SITE BEING AVAILABLE, AND THEN THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S VERY CONCERNING MOVING FORWARD.
SO I, I THINK, UH, AND I, I DO KNOW THERE'S PRECEDENTS FOR OTHER, UH, COLLEAGUES AND BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN ENGAGED IN LOOKING AT PROPERTIES AND SITES FOR DIFFERENT SCHOOL PROGRAMS. UM, AND THAT'S PART OF THE, UM, BENEFIT OF HAVING ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FROM YOUR DISTRICT.
THEY'RE EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO I, I DON'T RECALL IF IT'S THE FIRST TIME I MET MR. MCMILLAN, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES I MET MR. MCMILLAN WAS AT A MAGISTRATE HEARING IN WHICH, UM, THE FORT HOWARD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPPOSE A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT, UM, WAS GOING TO OVERCROWD SPARS POINT HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR BUILDING THAT DEVELOPMENT, EVEN THOUGH THAT SCHOOL AND PATAPSCO WERE OVERCROWDED, WAS THAT CHESAPEAKE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF A BODY OF WATER WAS AN ADJACENT SCHOOL ZONE.
OUT OF THAT CAME OUT, UM, A STUDY THAT
[02:35:01]
THE COUNTY COUNCIL DID TO REVIEW THEIR LAWS THAT THEY HAVE NOT EVEN PRESENTED TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL SESSION.AND SO MR. MCMILLAN HAS BEEN IN A POSITION TO BE LISTENING TO HIS COMMUNITY TALK ABOUT THESE SCHOOLS AND TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND LOOK AT THIS OVERCROWDING SITUATION FOR SOME TIME NOW.
AND I FEEL LIKE THAT CONTINUING THAT WORK WITH A SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO ACTUALLY GET SOME ANSWERS FOR THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
MS. IS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I'M SORRY, MS. JONES, IS YOUR QUESTION RELATED TO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? YES.
UM, MR. DIX SAID, IS THE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE'S OFFICE WORKING ON THIS AS WELL? IS THERE SOMETHING, UM, BECAUSE WE DO NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH THEM TO LOOK INTO BUYING PROPERTY OR, UM, SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT? SO WE ALWAYS, SUPERINTENDENTS TEAM AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TEAMS WORK CONTINUOUSLY TOGETHER, UH, TO LOOK AT THE SITE, TO LOOK AT THE FUNDS FOR PROJECTS.
SO IS THIS THEN A DUPLICATIVE, UM, EFFORT IF THE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE OFFICE IS ALSO LOOKING, UM, AT LANDS AND LOOKING AND TALKING TO OWNERS? I'M JUST TRYING TO SEE WHERE, BECAUSE MR. MCMILLAN HAS ADVOCATED FOR THIS SINCE DAY ONE.
HE SAT NEXT TO ME ON THE BOARD, AND, UM, I GOT TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT IT.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, PROVE THE, MY PASS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DO BELIEVE HE NEEDS TO BE INVOLVED, BUT I'M TRYING TO SEE IF IT'S A DUPLICATIVE EFFORT OR IF IT MAKES SENSE FOR HIM TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOU, YOU GUYS AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL TO, TO GET WHAT'S BEST FOR THE SOUTHEAST AREA.
I DON'T THINK I RESPOND TO THAT.
WILLIAMS, DO YOU WANNA RESPOND? I DON'T KNOW IF MR. DIXON CAN RESPOND TO THAT QUESTION, MS. JONES, BUT I WILL JUST REMIND THE BOARD.
I WANT TO THANK JMT YOU DID WHAT THE WORK WAS REQUIRED AND YOU CAME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION.
THE RECOMMENDATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
WE DON'T OWN ANY LAND, OF COURSE, WE WILL HAVE TO DO MORE WORK WITH THOSE WHO OWN LAND AND WITH OUR PARTNERS, OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
SO I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL, YOU WE AGREE, AND I SUPPORT THAT THE TWO SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE TOGETHER.
WE JUST HAVE TO FIND THE APPROPRIATE SPACE.
AND SINCE WE DON'T OWN ANY LAND, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THOSE WHO DO.
AND WE HAVE ALWAYS WORKED WITH THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE, UM, AS WE LOOK AT OUR PLANS.
SO, UM, HENCE WHY WE BROUGHT FORTH THIS PRESENTATION WITH RECOMMENDATIONS TO CONSIDER.
UM, I'M, I'M LOOKING AT THE, THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PLAN.
IT'S LIKE THE COUNTS FOR 21, AND IT HAS PROJECTIONS AND COLORS AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
AND ONE OF MY QUESTIONS IS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL AND AN ADDITION BEING ADDED TO THAT.
I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE SPARROWS POINT HIGH HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NEED THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE AT PRIORITY.
LIKE, I, I DON'T, HOW DO WE ADDRESS SPARROWS POINT IMMEDIATELY, IS MY QUESTION.
AND, AND MR. DIXIE, IS IT BEING ADDRESSED WITH THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THE COUNTY AND I GUESS YOUR TEAM TO TRY AND FIND LOCATIONS? OR IS THAT WORK THAT WE NEED TO, TO, TO, TO DIRECT YOU TO DO? OR IS IT ALREADY HAPPENING? SO WE ARE LOOKING FOR SITES.
IF THERE IS ANYBODY WHO HAS SUGGESTIONS, WE WILL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT THOSE SITES.
BUT PENINSULA, AS YOU KNOW, UH, MR. MCMILLAN IS AWARE OF THIS, UH, IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND LAND THERE.
SO IT IS NOT ONLY ONE ISSUE IN THE SOUTHEAST, WHAT WE ARE SAYING, WHAT THE CONSULTANT IS RECOMMENDING, THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE HANDLED.
SO IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF DDA, FOR EXAMPLE, WE SHOULD PROCEED WITH THAT.
IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF PATAPSCO, WE SHOULD, UH, COMMUNITY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE STUDENT WITHIN THE PENINSULA, THEY WANT TO REMAIN THERE.
[02:40:01]
SO THEIR ISSUE WILL BE RESOLVED WHEN EITHER WE FIND A SITE OR WE USE ONE OF OUR SITE AND COMBINE TWO SCHOOLS LIKE HE'S RECOMMENDING IN ONE OF, OF THE OPTIONS.AND OUR WORK IS CONTINUING IN ALL OF THAT.
BUT WE, TONIGHT'S PURPOSE WAS TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT, BUT THERE'S NO GO FORWARD HERE.
ALL, ALL WE HEAR IS WE NEED MORE STUDY.
SO I GUESS MY POINT IS HOW DO WE HELP, HELP TO GO FORWARD? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? WE, WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, AND THERE'S BEEN A SECOND WE'VE HAD DEBATE.
UM, MS. KAZI, IS YOUR COMMENT NECESSARY TO, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO END DEBATE IN THE INTEREST OF TIME AND CALL THE, CALL THE VOTE ON THIS.
I HAVE A POINT OF INFORMATION ABOUT POLICY AND, UH, I WANT, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO CLARIFY A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER.
UH, POLICY 81 20, UH, WHICH IS THE INTERNAL BOARD POLICY AND ORGANIZATION PURPOSE, RULE AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ON PAGE THREE, ITEM, UH, ON PAGE THREE, UH, ITEM 19, THE BOARD IS EMPOWERED BY STATE LAW TO BUY OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE LAND SCHOOL SITES OR BUILDINGS, UM, RENT, REPAIR, IMPROVE AND BUILD SCHOOL BUILDINGS OR IMPROVE CONTRACTS FOR DOING SO.
UH, DECLARE A LAND SCHOOL SITE OR BUILDING A SURPLUS.
UH, AND WHEN I MADE MY, UM, MOTION, IT IS NOT PRECLUDING, UH, WORK WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS AND CERTAINLY, UH, THEY ARE INVOLVED.
AND SO IT WOULD JUST BE HAVING MR. MCMILLAN BE A PART OF THAT WORK.
SO THE BOARD IS, UH, SUPPOSED TO STAY AT OUR LEVEL AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATION, UH, WITH DR.
WILLIAMS AND THE STAFF WILL DEVELOP THE PROCESSES AND SO FORTH.
SO IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, UH, THEN MR. MCMILLAN WILL BE A PART OF THAT.
UM, AND WE CAN MOVE THIS FORWARD.
AND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT REFERENCE, MRS. COZY.
I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT MYSELF.
THAT THAT IS WELL WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE BOARD.
AND THIS DOES, I AGREE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE A PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH THE COUNTY, WITH STAFF, AND MR. MCMILLAN'S AREA OR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE CAN CERTAINLY ONLY HELP THE CASE HERE.
SO WITH THAT, UM, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
OKAY, WE HAVE THE NORTHEAST AREA, MR. DIXON.
SO THE NEXT IS NORTHEAST AREA, AND WE HAVE MR. TOM LEE FROM SOME ASSOCIATES.
SO IT'S YOUR PRESENTATION NOW.
AND I MIGHT SWITCH SEATS WITH ABSOLUTELY.
I VA THANK YOU FOR HAPPILY ADJUSTING YOUR SCHEDULE A LITTLE BIT TO ACCOMMODATE.
I HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE WAY HERE,
WE AM A PRINCIPAL WITH SOHA, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY TO, UH, STUDY THE NORTHEAST AREA IN RESPONSE TO THE MY PASS, UM, TO LOOK AT INCREASING CAPACITY BY 638 SEATS.
AND WE CAN ADVANCE THE SLIDES AS WE GO.
UM, SO WE LOOKED AT A FEW OPTIONS, UM, IN THE NORTHEAST DISTRICT AREA, AND WE INCLUDED LOOKING AT HIGH SCHOOLS AT KENWOOD LOCK, RAVEN, OVERLY PARKVILLE, AND PERRY HIGH.
UM, AND I'LL JUST MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I THINK WE CAN REACH THIS, UH, INFORMATION THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROCESS.
SO IN THE GOALS OF THE STUDY, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO EVALUATE ALL THESE SITES AND OPTIONS AND WEIGH THE OPTIONS, UM, INCLUDING, UM, WHAT THE EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATION BE ACCOMMODATED ON WHICH SITES, WHICH ONES HAVE PLUSES AND MINUSES FOR EVERYTHING FROM CONSTRUCTION TO COST TO DEVELOPMENT, UH, WILL KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
THERE WERE FIVE DISTINCT OPTIONS THAT WERE STUDIED.
THE FIRST TWO, OPTION ONE AND TWO WERE BUILDING NEW SMALL 1000 STATE RATED CAPACITY HIGH SCHOOLS ON NEW SITES IN THE NORTH, UM, EAST PLANNING AREA.
OPTIONS THREE AND FOUR WERE BUILDING ADDITIONS TO HIGH SCHOOLS.
UM, THE OPTION THREE WAS BUILDING ADDITIONS AT PERRY HALL, OVERLY IN KENWOOD, WHERE OPTION FOUR WAS LIMITING THE ADDITIONS TO JUST LOCK RAVEN AND OVERLY.
AND THEN THE FIFTH OPTION WAS BUILDING A NEWER
[02:45:01]
MEDIUM CAPACITY HIGH SCHOOL ON THE LOCK RAVEN SITE AND REPLACING THE EXISTING SCHOOL.SO TO RUN THROUGH THOSE, THE FIRST SITE IS THE HIS AVENUE SITE.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, UM, IT'S AN EXISTING AREA CURRENTLY JUST OUTSIDE OF THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, NEAR THE 6 95 AND ROUTE ONE AREA.
UM, THERE'S NO ACCESS TO ROUTE ONE, AND ONE OF THE MAIN HURDLES HERE WOULD BE IT'D BE DIRECTING ALL THE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD ON HIS AVENUE.
YOU CAN NOTICE IN RED, THOSE ARE LARGE, UM, STREAM BUFFER SETBACKS.
SO WHILE THE SITE IS ALMOST 54 ACRES, IT IS, UM, PINNED IN A LITTLE BIT BY ITS TOPOGRAPHY AND THE STEEPNESS OF THE SLIGHT, AND THE CONDITION OF THE SOILS IN THE SITE WOULD REQUIRE FAIRLY EXTENSIVE, UM, EARTHWORK AND GRADING, AS WELL AS RETAINING WELLS AROUND THE SITE.
HOWEVER, WE ARE ABLE TO FIT THE FULL, UM, EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS ON THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
IT IS FAIRLY CENTRALLY LOCATED.
UM, SO THE BOUNDARY CHANGES WOULD BE MINIMIZED BY USING, UM, THIS SITE IN THE, IN THIS AREA, ALTHOUGH REALLY THE ACCESS WAS ONE OF THE PRIME, UM, NEGATIVES ON THE SITE, AND KNOWING THAT THERE WOULD BE A POTENTIAL OUTDOOR PATHWAY AND RECREATION RESOURCE THAT WOULD BE THEN, UM, TAKEN OVER WITH THE NEW SCHOOL.
SO MOVING TO THE PROS AND CONS, WHICH IS THE NEXT SLIDE, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED MOST OF THESE.
UM, AND AS A THOUSAND STUDENT SCHOOL, IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE SMALLER HIGH SCHOOLS.
SO THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHTLY HIGHER OPERATING COST TO OPERATING A SMALL SCHOOL AS OPPOSED TO A MEDIUM OR LARGER SCHOOL.
AND THEN IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT STATE FUNDING MAY ONLY BE APPLICABLE TO THE NEED FOR THE 638 SEATS AND NOT THE FULL THOUSAND SEAT SCHOOL.
AND THE NEXT SITE IS AT THE BELMONT PARK SITE.
WE COULD JUST HAVE THAT SLIDE.
UM, IT'S A SIMILAR CONDITION, ALTHOUGH IT'S EVEN SLIGHTLY STEEPER WITH MORE STREAM BUFFER SETBACKS.
AND YOU CAN SEE TO THE EAST THERE'S A LARGE POWER EASEMENT, SO THERE'S NO ACCESS TO THE EAST, BUT THE WE BOULEVARD IS A BETTER ACCESS FOR THE SITE.
HOWEVER, GIVEN THE TOPOGRAPHY, UM, WE'RE REALLY NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FULL HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO YOU'LL NOTICE IT'S SHORT A SOFTBALL FIELD, IT SHORT SOME BASKETBALL COURTS AND ANOTHER PLAY FIELD, AND IT'S REALLY LIMITED TO WHERE THERE WOULD BE NO OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION IF NEEDED.
SO IN, UM, AS STUDENT, UH, CAPACITY NEEDS MIGHT GROW.
SO THE PROS AND CONS ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THIS PROJECT AS THE OTHER, IT'S JUST A EVEN TIGHTER SPACE.
AND IN THIS CASE, THE BELMONT PARK SITE IS PREVIOUSLY A, A PARK, SO IT WOULD BE MORE OF AN AMENITY THAT WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE NEW SCHOOL.
SO STARTING NEXT WITH OPTION THREE, I'LL MENTION THAT WE WERE ADDING CAPACITY FOR 638 STUDENTS.
SO THAT'S ADDING CLASSROOMS TO EACH OF THESE SCHOOLS.
BUT A MAJOR PART OF THESE STRATEGIES IS ALSO INCREASING THE CORE AREAS TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE INCREASE IN STUDENT CAPACITY.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT ADDING CLASSROOMS, WE MAY HAVE TO EXPAND A CAFETERIA OR A GYMNASIUM OR EVEN SITE AMENITIES LIKE PARKING.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL GO RIGHT TO PERRY AVENUE.
IT'S ALREADY, UM, A STATE RATED CAPACITY OF 2100 STUDENTS.
WE'D BE LOOKING AT ADDING 10 CLASSROOMS TO THAT SPACE.
AND IN DOING SO, WE WOULD NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKING.
WE'D NEED TO, UM, INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE LEARNING COMMONS, THE CAFETERIA, AND THE GYM.
IN MANY CASES, THESE CORE EXPANSIONS, UM, ARE GREATER IN COST THAN SOME OF THE CLASSROOM ADDITIONS AS PART OF THIS WORK.
IN ALL OF THESE, WE'RE ONLY LOOKING AT THE CLASSROOM ADDITIONS AND THE CORE SPACE, BUT WE'RE NOT RENOVATING OR INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL COST OF RENOVATING THE ENTIRE SCHOOL LIKE THE OTHER CLASSROOMS OR OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUITES AND SO ON.
SO THE NEXT SCHOOL IS OVERLY SIMILARLY, WE'RE ADDING 13 CLASSROOMS AND NEEDING TO EXPAND THE LEARNING COMMENTS TO THE CAFETERIA, THE GYM, GYM AND THE AUDITORIUM IN THIS CASE.
AND THEN THE THIRD SCHOOL IN THIS STRATEGY IS KENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL.
AND HERE WE'RE ONLY ADDING THREE CLASSROOMS, BUT THE CORE SPACE NEEDS ARE GREATER, UM, WITH ADDITIONS TO THE LEARNING COMMONS, THE KITCHEN AND THE GYM, UM, TO ACCOMMODATE JUST THOSE THREE CLASSROOMS. AND THEN THE FOURTH OPTION, I CAN, WE CAN SKIP OVER THIS.
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED ALL THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.
THE FOURTH OPTION IS LIMITING THOSE, UM, ADDITIONS TO BOTH LOCK RAVEN AND OVERLY.
AND AT THE LOCK RAVEN SITE, THIS IS AN EXISTING FOUR STORY HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, I CAN HAVE THE NEXT SLIDE THAT'S LARGELY BEEN UN RENOVATED.
WE COULD ADD A 13 CLASSROOM EDITION.
IT WOULD REQUIRE US INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE CAFETERIA AT THE KITCHEN AND THE GYM.
WE DO KNOW THERE'S SOME BAD SOILS ON THE SITE,
[02:50:01]
AND, UM, THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL WOULD BE UN RENOVATED IN THIS OPTION BEYOND THE CORE SPACE.AND THEN IT OVERLY, WHICH WAS ALSO AN OPTION THREE HERE, WE'D BE ADDING THE 13 CLASSROOMS AND RENOVATING THOSE SAME CORE SPACES.
AND THE FIFTH OPTION WAS REALLY AN OPPORTUNISTIC ONE.
WE LOOKED AT THIS SITE OF LOCK RAVEN, AND KNOWING THAT THERE'S ALREADY A FOUR STORY HIGH SCHOOL THERE, AND IT'S A SMALL THOUSAND 49 STATE RATED CAPACITY SCHOOL, WE FOUND THAT GIVEN THE, UH, CROWELL BRIDGE ROAD AND THE OTHER SITE ACCESS POINT, IT ALLOWED A STRATEGY WHERE WE COULD POTENTIALLY BUILD AN ENTIRELY NEW HIGH SCHOOL ON THE SAME SITE AND HAVE ONLY THE SITE OCCUPIED, BUT NOT AN OCCUPIED PHASED RENOVATION OR ADDITION TO A SCHOOL BUILDING.
BUT JUST RATHER ON THE SITE, WE'D BE EASILY ABLE TO SEPARATE THE CONSTRUCTION FROM THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
UM, BY DOING THIS, WE GAIN THE 638 SEATS, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO RETAIN THINGS LIKE THE EXISTING STADIUM, THE EXISTING BALL FIELDS.
UM, WE'LL HAVE PLENTY OF SPACE TO DO SO.
AND THEN AT THE END OF THE PROJECT, THE EXISTING SCHOOL COULD BE REMOVED.
UM, SO WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE FULL ED SPEC PROGRAM THIS WAY, UM, ACCOMMODATE FUTURE EXPANSION.
AND THEN MAYBE ONE OF THE GREATEST, UM, BENEFITS HERE TOO IS THAT IT TAKES THE FUTURE RENOVATION NEEDS OF LOCK RAVEN, UM, OUT OF THE QUEUE.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY, UH, WOULD NOT, WE NEEDED TO BE CONDUCTED.
AND WITH THAT, I CAN GO TO THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES HERE.
UM, THERE STILL MAY BE A CONCERN THAT THE, THE STATE FUNDING WOULD BE LIMITED TO THE 638, BUT THIS DOES PROVIDE THE GREATEST ECONOMY OF SCALE FOR CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE IT ELIMINATES THAT OCCUPIED PHASE BUILDING RENOVATION THAT'S APPARENT IN OPTIONS THREE AND FOUR, BUT IT ELIMINATES THE NEED TO BUILD THE, THE SMALL SCHOOLS IN, UH, KIND OF DIFFICULT CIVIL SITE WORK SETTINGS FOR OPTIONS ONE AND TWO.
SO WE SEE THIS AS BEING THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE LEAST COST PER STUDENT, UM, AND SOLVE KIND OF A FEW PROBLEMS WITH, WITH ONE SCHOOL PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I'LL JUST GO TO THE CONCLUSIONS.
UM, SO WE DID PRESENT THIS THROUGH THE, UM, BCPS WEBSITE.
WE HAD SOME, UH, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, UM, HELD DIGITALLY THAT WAY.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS WERE, UM, OBVIOUSLY OVERCROWDING THAT WERE NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED THROUGH THIS STUDY.
UM, THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT PERRY HALL WAS ALREADY A LARGE SCHOOL AND HAD A PREFERENCE NOT TO INCREASE IT FURTHER.
UM, THERE WAS A GENERAL PREFERENCE THAT NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION WAS BENEFICIAL OVER ADDITIONS TO EXISTING SCHOOLS WHERE POSSIBLE THEY DID HAVE A PREFERENCE TO AVOID THE LARGER SCHOOLS AND MAYBE FOCUS ON SMALLER SCHOOL CAPACITIES WHERE POSSIBLE FOR EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
AND, UH, WE WERE ASKED TO, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER OTHER, UM, SITES AND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE WAY.
AND, UM, THAT LOCK RAVEN OPPORTUNITY WAS ONE THAT WE ADDED TO THE STUDY TO ACCOMMODATE KIND OF ANOTHER OPTION, UM, WITHIN THIS GROUP.
SO THE, ULTIMATELY WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LOCK RAVEN SITE AS SO THAT ALREADY ACCOMMODATES AN EXISTING HIGH SCHOOL.
IT'S ALREADY A FOUR STORY HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, SO IT WOULD NOT, UH, BASICALLY TAKE AWAY ANY GREEN SPACE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AS WE SITES TO THE BUILDING.
THE ROADWAY AND SUPPORT, UM, FOR TRANSIT IS, IS STRONG AT THE LOCK RAVEN SITE FOR ACCOMMODATING THE NEW SCHOOL.
UM, AND WE CAN ACCOMMODATE THE FULL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS AND IT MEETS ALL THE PSYCH REQUIREMENTS.
UM, SO THE REPLACEMENT ISN'T JUST ADDING CAPACITY OR ADDING CLASSROOMS OR INCREASING THE CORE SPACE.
IT'S PROVIDING A COMPLETELY NEW SCHOOL, UM, MAYBE BE COMPLIANT WITH THE COMPLETE EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
AND WE WOULD INTEND ON REPLACING THE FOUR STORY SCHOOL WITH ANOTHER FOUR STORY HIGH SCHOOL, UM, WITH A SIMILAR LIMITED DEVELOPMENTAL FOOTPRINT THAT COMMUNITY HAD NOTED THAT THEY WERE INTERESTED IN, UM, NOT INCREASING CAPACITIES AT THE LARGER SCHOOLS LIKE PERRY HALL OR KENWOOD.
AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOL KIND OF FITS THE BILL OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S INTERESTS WERE AT THE OTHER SMALL SCHOOL SITES, WHETHER IT'S EITHER THE RESIDENTIAL ROAD NETWORKS BEING OVERLOADED OR, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, UH, SITES BEING DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP.
UM, WE FELT LIKE THIS NEW SCHOOL COULD PROVIDE CAPACITY RELIEF IN THE FUTURE FOR THE CENTRAL PLANNING AREA DUE TO ITS ADJACENCY ON THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST AREA BOUNDARY.
UM, FROM A COST STANDPOINT, WE REALLY HAVE THE GREATEST LONGEVITY BY BUILDING NEW CONSTRUCTION AND WE ELIMINATE THE NEED TO RENOVATE THE EXISTING LOCK.
RAVEN, I MENTIONED THE MEDIUM SCHOOL BEING, UM, POTENTIALLY BETTER TO OPERATE FROM AN OPERATING COST STANDPOINT THAN THE SMALL SCHOOLS.
AND, UM, WE FIND THAT THE LOWEST COST PER STUDENT BEING A COST FACTOR HERE.
SO THIS UNIQUE CONFLUENCE REALLY MAKES US HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR OPTION FIVE, THE LOCK RAVEN REPLACEMENT.
UM, IT'S NICE WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO DO A STUDY LIKE THIS AND
[02:55:01]
A LOT OF FACTORS POINT TO THE SAME, SAME DECISION.UM, IT WAS ONE THAT WE FELT WAS A, A STRONG, UM, SOLUTION.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS REALLY BEST FOR BOTH THE SITE, ITS READILY CONSTRUCTABLE ECONOMY AND WHAT IT GIVES THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY MOVING FORWARD FOR THE LONG TERM.
SO WE RECOMMEND THIS, UH, OPTION WITHOUT HESITATION AND APPRECIATE ANY COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, A COMMENT AND A QUESTION AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE BOARD MEMBERS FOR DISCUSSION.
UM, WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOCK RAVEN, UM, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS THAT THE STATE WOULD NOT FUND A REPLACEMENT GIVEN THE CURRENT FACILITY CONDITION OF, OF LOCK RAVEN OVER A RENOVATION? AND SECONDLY, UM, WITH THE LOCATION OF THIS VERSUS THE LOCATION OF THE NEEDED SEATS? UM, ONE OF THE, UM, PROS I NOTICED OF THE BELMONT PARK SITE IS THAT IT'S OPTIMALLY LOCATED, UM, FOR WHERE THE SEATING IS, IS NEEDED.
UM, UNDER BOUNDARY, IT STATES MINIMUM IMPACT FOR BOUNDARY CHANGES REQUIRED TO UTILIZE CAPACITY OF THE NEW SCHOOL AND BEING FAMILIAR WITH IT, THAT AREA IT IS CENTRALLY LOCATED BETWEEN PARKVILLE AND PERRY HALL.
IT'S, IT, IT REALLY IS IDEAL IN TERMS OF, UM, IF I WERE TO PICK A, A SITE, UM, WE CENTRALLY LOCATED TO WHERE THOSE SEATS ARE NEEDED BETWEEN OUR CURRENT HIGH SCHOOLS.
SO CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT? I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY QUESTIONS IN ONE.
I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THE BELMONT PARK SITE WAS STUDIED BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, UM, TO KEEP IN MIND THAT EITHER THE OPTION ONE OR TWO WOULD STILL REQUIRE A BOUNDARY CHANGE BECAUSE YOU, YOU'RE ADDING A WHOLE NEW SCHOOL TO THE GROUPING.
SO THERE WOULD BE STUDENTS FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THAT NEW SPACE.
UM, I DO THINK UNFORTUNATELY THAT SITE WAS JUST FOUND TO BE EXTENSIVELY DIFFICULT TO DEVELOP, UM, GIVEN THE PROGRAM.
AND THE MAIN, UM, REASON THAT WE WEREN'T RECOMMENDING THAT OPTION WAS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ABLE TO MEET THE CURRENT EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS.
SO THERE'D BE COMPROMISES TO THE STUDENTS AND FACULTY THAT WOULD BE OPERATING OUT OF THAT.
UM, IT IS TRUE THAT LOCK RAVEN IS CLOSER TO THE CENTRAL BOUNDARY, UM, BUT IT'S STILL WITHIN THE AREA OF THE FIVE SCHOOLS THAT WE WERE STUDYING.
SO WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY, UM, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THOSE OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO SOLVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH ONE, WITH ONE PROJECT.
WAS THAT A CONCERN RAISED BY THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT IS WITHIN THE CENTRAL BOUNDARY, AND DID YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON, ON STUDENTS, UM, IN TERMS OF TRAVEL? YEAH.
IN, IN OUR EXPERIENCE, THE COMMUNITY REALLY DIDN'T FOCUS ON PLANNING AREAS.
THEY'RE KIND OF ALMOST, UH, THEY'RE NOT REALLY PRESENT, UM, IN THEIR THINKING ABOUT IT.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DISTANCES AND, AND ALL OF THESE SCHOOLS ARE STILL FAIRLY TIGHTLY GROUPED.
UM, IT'S NOT A VERY SPREAD OUT, UM, AREA TO BEGIN WITH.
SO WE'RE TALKING A MATTER OF A FEW MILES, UM, BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, UM, TO BEGIN WITH.
SO WE DIDN'T HEAR ANY ISSUES WITH COMMUNITY ABOUT IT BEING AN ISSUE BEING CLOSE TO CENTRAL, UH, PLANNING DISTRICT OR PLANNING AREAS.
THE ONLY TWO THINGS I HEARD FROM COMMUNITY IS NEW SCHOOL, NO ADDITIONS.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE UH, UH, REOCCURRING CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH COMMUNITY AND, AND NO CONCERNS ABOUT THE, UM, USE OF THE, OR REPLACEMENT OF THE CURRENT LOCK RAVEN FACILITY OR REPLACEMENT OF THAT.
I MEAN, ARCHITECTURALLY WE REPLACEMENT LOCK RAVEN AND WE SAW THE SCHOOL HAD, HADN'T BEEN UNDERGONE ANY LARGE RENOVATION EFFORTS.
IT'S A PRIMARILY WINDOWLESS SCHOOL.
IT SEEMED LIKE A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO DELIVER SOMETHING FOR THAT COMMUNITY THAT WAS, UM, AN IMPROVEMENT AND STILL MEET THE CAPACITY INCREASE.
DID YOU LOOK AT THE LAFARGE PROPERTY BY CHANCE? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DID.
DO YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS AND THE WHITE MARSH AREA.
UH, LET'S SEE HERE NEXT, MR. Q UH, THANK YOU.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, I, YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, SHIFT BOUNDARIES AND, AND MOVE KIDS AROUND, BUT WE TRY AND LIMIT THAT WHENEVER WE CAN.
UH, AND, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE CURRENT AND PROJECTED UTILIZATION IN THE NORTHEAST PLANNING AREA, AND I SEE THAT OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL AND PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PROJECTED TO BE AT NEARLY 120% AND 130% OVERUTILIZED.
[03:00:01]
ON THESE PROJECTIONS, WHICH IS ALL I HAVE, UM, LOCK RAVENS, UNDERUTILIZED, KEN WADE'S, UNDERUTILIZED PERRY HALL'S JUST OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT.SO I THINK PART OF YOUR APPROACH OF LIKE DROPPING A SCHOOL IN NEAR PARKVILLE AND OVERLY ESPECIALLY IS REALLY MEETING A NEED.
AND IT MAY NOT BE, YOU KNOW, A MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOL LIKE YOU SAID, BUT IT MIGHT BE WHAT EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED, I GUESS IS MY POINT.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HITTING THE 6 83, BUT YOU'RE HITTING IT WITH A THOUSAND, RIGHT? SO THERE'S SOME ROOM TO GROW AND MOVE THINGS AROUND AND IT TAKES PRESSURE OFF THESE SCHOOLS IF, IF IT'S CLOSE ENOUGH, I GUESS IS MY POINT.
SO, I MEAN, I FULLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU SAID WITH LOCK RAVEN.
I MEAN, IT IS WINDOWLESS, IT'S KIND OF SAD.
UM, I WISH IT HAD MORE WINDOWS.
I JUST DRIVE BY IT ALL THE TIME TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
UM, BUT IT IS IN THE CENTER CENTRAL AREA.
I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE KIND OF CLOSE CLOSE AND THERE'S LOTS OF OVERLAP AND FEEDERS.
SO I, I DO SEE HOW YOU ENDED UP HERE.
UM, I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE A WHOLE WHOLESALE DOMINO EFFECT OF MASSIVE SHIFTS OF CHILDREN AND STUDENTS BASED ON INCREASING LOCK RAVEN THAT WE COULD AVOID BY PUTTING A SMALLER HIGH SCHOOL IN THE RIGHT LOCATION WHERE THE POPULATION IS, IS IS REALLY GROWING.
IS THAT, IS THAT HOW YOU TARGETED THE BELMONT AND HIS LOCATIONS? THE, THE BELMONT AND HIS SITES WERE PRIMARILY SELECTED FOR THEIR LOCATION ORIGINALLY.
UM, BUT OBVIOUSLY COMING UP WITH A PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE THING I DIDN'T MENTION IS THERE'S ALSO SITE ACQUISITION COSTS OR, YOU KNOW, TRADING SITES WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL, UM, INTERESTS IN THE COUNTY.
WHEREAS ON OPTIONS THREE, FOUR, AND FIVE, THEY'RE ALREADY ALL SCHOOL PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONING AS SUCH.
UM, THAT REALLY THE, HIS AVENUE SITE WAS THE TRAFFIC GETTING INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD I THINK, YOU KNOW, MAY RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUSHBACK BECAUSE THE ROAD CAPACITY JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ADEQUATE TO HOLD, UM, A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AT THAT LOCATION.
AND THEN THE BELMONT PARK SITE, WHILE IT HAD BETTER ROAD ACCESS WAS, UM, NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROGRAM.
SO WE SAW THOSE AS SOMEWHAT, UH, LIMITING FACTORS FOR RECOMMENDING THOSE SITES.
I THINK IF THERE WAS A LARGER COMPLETE SITE, UM, IN THAT LOCATION, THEY WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL.
BUT WE'D HAVEN'T COME ACROSS ANY.
SO I HAVE TO SAY, I REALLY LIKE THIS IDEA OF DOING A NEW SCHOOL AT THE LOCK, RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL, AND I LIVE IN THE HILLDALE COMMUNITY AND I THINK THEY'D LIKE IT.
AND I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT NO ONE'S GONNA LIKE, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT ANYWAY.
THE HILLDALE COMMUNITY AND THIS WHOLE, THERE'S A WHOLE SECTION THAT IS ZONE TO CENTRAL AREA, MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND THEN THOSE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL ONLY ARE SHIFTED OVER TO THE NORTHEAST.
AND THAT WAS MOSTLY DONE IN THE SEVENTIES OR SO AROUND WHEN HALSTEAD ACADEMY WAS BUILT IN A SUBSIDIZED HOUSING COMMUNITY, MAINLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHILDREN IN THAT SUBSIDIZED HOUSING COMMUNITY WOULD ALWAYS BE WALKERS TO THAT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS TAKEN THAT ENTIRE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SHIFTED THE ENTIRE THING BY THE WHOLE POPULATION TO ANY SCHOOL AS FAR AWAY FROM TOWSON AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY GET IT TO BE.
AND I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S RIGHT THAT SO MANY OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE THEIR FRIENDS ATTENDING, UH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE CENTRAL AREA, AND THEN IN MATH THEY'RE SHIFTED OVER TO PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND SO IN MY MIND, YOU COULD ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE OVERCROWDING IN THE NORTHEAST AREA IF YOU KEPT THE CHILDREN WHO ARE ZONED FOR THE CENTRAL AREA FOR MIDDLE AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE CENTRAL AREA FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE HEARD THE COMMUNITY SAY A LOT ABOUT LOCK OR EVEN HIGH SCHOOL IS SMALL, HIGH SCHOOLS ARE GREAT FOR SOME THINGS, BUT SMALL HIGH SCHOOLS ARE NOT GREAT FOR THINGS LIKE HAVING ENOUGH KIDS IN THE SCHOOL TO HAVE A MARCHING BAND OR TO HAVE SOME OF THESE OTHER SPORTS THAT OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE.
BECAUSE TO HAVE A SIZABLE ENOUGH, UM, GROUP TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH KIDS IN THE SCHOOL TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND SO I THINK THAT, UM, THIS IS A GOOD PLAN FOR MORE REASONS THAN ONE.
AND THEN, I'M SORRY, MS. DO, DID YOU HAVE YOUR I'M GOING OFF THE CHAT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I CAN CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND IF TRULY
[03:05:01]
THESE WERE THE ONLY FIVE OPTIONS, UM, IT'S REASONABLE WITH THE REASONS THAT YOU GAVE THAT, UM, LOCK RAVEN WOULD BE THE MOST VIABLE OPTION.I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF THE COUNTY, NORTH OF PARKVILLE AND OVERLY, BUT I WOULD THINK AS YOU GET FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CITY, IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE MORE OPEN SPACE, UM, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT OTHER POSSIBILITIES.
SO I THINK MS. HEN ASKED ABOUT THE WHITE MARSH AREA.
SO I WOULD ALSO ASK ABOUT NORTH OF PARKVILLE AND OVERLY, UM, WERE AREAS, UM, IN THAT AREA LOOKED AT, BECAUSE THE LOCK RAVEN OPTION IS GREAT, BUT AS I LOOK AT THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN NEED, REALLY THE ONLY ONE THAT'S WITHIN A FEW MILES I THINK IS PARKVILLE, UM, PERRY HALL OVERLY, AND KENWOOD, YOU REALLY HAVE TO JUMP ON THE BELTWAY AND GO A A SOLID WAYS TO GET THERE.
HAGER, UM, THANK YOU, UH, ALSO FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, I WAS GRATEFUL THAT MR. KE NEVER BRINGS HIS BOOKS HOME FROM THE BOARD CUZ WE HAVE THIS HANDY NANNY BOOK HERE WE WERE LOOKING AT WITH, UM, WITH ALL OF THE FEEDER SCHOOL INFORMATION AND THE NUMBERS.
AND SO WE WERE GOING THROUGH IT OVER HERE AND I DID, UM, MY, I I HAD, I PAUSED WHEN YOU SAID LOCK RAVEN BECAUSE IT'S IN THE CENTRAL AREA AND IT SEEMED LIKE AN ODD SUGGESTION AND THEN WE MAPPED IT ON THE GOOGLE MAPS AND DID ALL THESE THINGS TO SEE KIND OF THE DISTANCES.
AND ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME WAS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY JOINT FEEDER SCHOOLS, UM, BETWEEN LOCK RAVEN AND PERRY HALL AND PARKVILLE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
AND I RECALL THAT BEING ONE OF THE, MY RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO STOP SPLITTING UP MIDDLE SCHOOLS INTO TWO DIFFERENT HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND SO, UM, JUST ANOTHER REASON WHY I THINK THIS COULD BE A SOLUTION THAT'S, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU THOUGHT OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO COME UP WITH THIS.
UM, ONE SPECIFIC QUESTION AND ONE GENERAL QUESTION.
SO THE PROPOSAL SAYS TO INCREASE LOCK RAVE INTO 1,687 STUDENTS, UM, LOOKING AT THIS GREAT BOOK HERE, UM, THERE ARE MANY HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAVE 1900 STUDENTS IN IT, IN THEM IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
SO WHY STOP AT 1687? SO THE EXISTING LOCK RAVEN STATE RATE CAPACITY IS 1049.
AND WE WERE LOOKING JUST SIMPLY TO ADD THE 638 SEATS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE CAPACITY STUDY.
THERE WOULD BE NO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO LIMIT IT TO THAT NUMBER.
YOU CERTAINLY COULD BUILD A LARGER HIGH SCHOOL THERE IF DESIRED.
UM, AND THAT MAY BE ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO AT THE TIME OF TAKING ON THAT CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
I WOULD, YEAH, I WOULD THINK SO AS WELL.
I DO YOU AGREE MR. MR. DIXON? YES.
YEAH, THE REASON WE REALLY KEPT IT TO THE 6 38 WAS TO MAKE IT AS MUCH OF AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON AS POSSIBLE OKAY.
COMPARED TO THE ADDITION PROJECTS.
AND I NOTICED IN THE PROPOSAL, AND, AND I THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CASE WITH THE OTHER PROPOSAL AS WELL, IT TALKS A LOT ABOUT NUMBER OF FIELDS AND NUMBER OF THINGS THAT YOU COULD ADD.
UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT CTE PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN HIGH SCHOOLS WITH THESE ADDITIONS AND NEW, UM, OR NEW BUILDINGS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO OFFER ALL THE NEW PROGRAMMING THAT WE'RE HOPING TO OFFER MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
IS THAT A CONSIDERATION OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN REGARDLESS, MR. DIXON? SO THAT THE ANSWER IS YES AND YES.
SO MORE THAN LIKELY THIS WILL BE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
AND JUST THINKING THOSE PROGRAMS OFTEN TAKES A LOT OF SPACE.
THAT MAY BE EVEN MORE OF A REASON TO LOOK AT SCHOOLS THAT DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BREATHING ROOM TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE FLEXIBILITY FOR, UH, OTHER PROGRAMS YOU MAY WANT INCLUDE.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UM, I, UM, REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I ALSO APPRECIATE YOUR, UM, EXPLANATION OF IT, UM, IN A VERY QUICK TIMEFRAME.
UM, THAT'S VERY HELPFUL FOR US IN THE STUDIES THAT WERE DONE.
AND I WAS TRYING TO LOOK THROUGH AND SEE, UM, WERE, WAS THERE A TRAVEL TIME STUDY DONE OR OR TRANSPORTATION TIME DONE WITH ANY OF THESE OPTIONS? WE DID NOT GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DOING LIKE A TRIBUTARY STUDY OR A TRAVEL DISTANCE TO THE AREAS THAT ARE SERVED BY DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
WE LOOK GENERALLY AT THE MAPS TO TRY TO, UM, LOCATE THEM AND, UM, AND DETERMINE IT THAT WAY.
I THINK THAT MAY BE THE NEXT STEP WHEN WE LOOK AT THE BOUNDARY RELATED ISSUES FOR EACH OPTION OR, OR THE
[03:10:01]
SELECTED OPTION.UM, AND I, I DO HAVE TO SAY THAT I DO, UH, LIKE A LOT OF THE POINTS THAT YOU'VE MADE ABOUT LOCK RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL WITH PUTTING A REPLACEMENT SCHOOL, UM, ON THE SAME SITE, UM, AND YOUR, YOUR POINTS ABOUT IT'S THE GREATEST LONGEVITY.
IT'S THE, UM, IT'S UH, VERY COST EFFICIENT BECAUSE IF YOU BUILD THE BRAND NEW SCHOOL AND THEN IT LASTS FOR 50 YEARS OR 40 YEARS RATHER THAN RENOVATE SOMETHING THAT'S VERY OLD.
AND, UM, AND WAS THERE ANY LOOK AT THE STUDENT POPULATIONS, WE KNOW THAT, UH, IN OUR POLICY THAT WE TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE REFLECTIVE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, UM, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WAS THERE ANY LOOK AT MAINTAINING DIVERSITY, UH, AS YOU WERE, UM, LOOKING AT THESE SOLUTIONS? I CAN'T SAY THAT WE TRIED TO, UM, DETERMINE ANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON DIVERSITY.
WE DID NOT SAY THAT, UM, ONE SCHOOL VERSUS ANOTHER BASED ON THE MAKEUP OF THAT TRIBUTARY AREA OF STUDENTS, UM, INFLUENCED THE DECISION.
I WILL SAY THAT WE DID LOOK AT POTENTIALLY ADDING VALUE TO OPTIONS THAT, UM, HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF BOUNDARY CHANGES AND THINKING THAT THAT WOULD KEEP, UM, INDIVIDUALS STAY ABLE TO STAY CLOSEST TO THE SCHOOLS THEY'RE MOST ACCUSTOMED TO.
UM, BUT IT WAS NOT, IT WAS NOT A STUDY DONE, UM, DEMOGRAPHICALLY OF ANY OTHER GROUPS.
AND, UM, IN TERMS OF THE SMALLER SCHOOLS, YOUR POINT ABOUT, UM, CHALLENGES OF OPERATING SMALLER SCHOOLS AND, UM, IT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT, UH, SPORTS AND, AND OTHER, UM, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND, UH, DR.
HAGER BROUGHT UP CTE, UH, BUT ALSO WE KNOW THAT, UH, IF YOU HAVE A LARGER STUDENT POPULATION, THEN THEY'LL BE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF STUDENTS INTERESTED IN A CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND THEN THOSE STUDENTS CAN, THAT CLASS CAN BE OFFERED OR COMPUTER SCIENCE OR THE HIGHER LEVEL ADVANCED PLACEMENTS.
SO IN TERMS OF STAFFING AND BEING ABLE TO, UM, FISCALLY, UH, USE YOUR STAFFING BUT ALSO PROVIDE THOSE, UH, ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS CAN BE HELPFUL WITH THE MEDIUM SIZED SCHOOL.
DO I HAVE TIME LEFT SECONDS? MAKE THIS QUICK.
UM, SO DELANEY, WHICH IS ADJACENT TO LOCK, RAVEN, WHICH IS NOT INCLUDED, UM, AND PARKVILLE COMBINED NEEDS 700 SEATS BY 2030.
UM, ADJACENCY MATTERS BECAUSE OF THE ADEQUATE PUBLIC FACILITIES ORDINANCE AND THE ROLE ABOUT ADJACENT SCHOOLS.
SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THE RECOMMENDED SOLUTION, UM, MEET, DOES THAT MEET OUR CAPACITY NEEDS BY THE TIME IT'S BUILT, AND ARE WE CONSIDERING ADJACENT SCHOOLS THAT WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS STUDY? SO WHILE IT, IT MAY MEET THE CENTRAL AREA NEEDS, ARE WE SOLVING ONE PROBLEM BUT NOT SOLVING ANOTHER? AND DID YOU CONSIDER THE CENTRAL AREA CORRIDOR NEEDS? WE DID START BY CONSIDERING THE NORTHEAST AREA FOR THOSE 638 SEATS, BUT THEN WE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT THE OPPORTUNITY OF LOCK RAVEN MAY ALSO EASE, UM, POTENTIAL CAPACITY NEEDS THERE.
SO, UM, AS ONE OF YOUR MEMBERS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF LOCK RAVEN GREATER ABOVE THE 638 SEATS AND RELIEVE SOME OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT AS AN, AN ADDED BENEFIT TO THAT OPTION.
SO WE WERE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE NORTHEAST AREA AS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY, BUT WE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE'S A BENEFIT TO THE CENTRAL AREA, UH, POTENTIALLY BY THIS OPTION.
THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
AND, UH, AS SOMEBODY WHO'S LIVED IN THE PERRY HALL AREA OF WHITE MARSH AREA FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, I KNOW IT'S A VERY CROWDED AND BUILT OUT AREA.
YOU KNOW, IT'S IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, IT'S, IT'S BEEN COMPLETELY, ALMOST BUILT OUT.
SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND, UM, A PROPERTY TO BUILD A LARGE HIGH SCHOOL.
SO I, I DO, UM, KIND OF AGREE WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
MY CONCERN IS THAT THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THAT ARE GONNA BE IMPACTED, UM, BY THESE DECISIONS.
AND YOU HAVE TWO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS.
DO YOU KNOW, OR HAVE AT THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE ME IN THE, UH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FORUMS? I DON'T KNOW THOSE NUMBERS, UM, OFF THE TOP, BUT SINCE THEY WERE VIRTUALLY AND HELD AND RECORDED AND POSTED TO YOUTUBE, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY TRY TO FIND OUT THE GENERAL LEVEL OF, UH, PARTICIPATION IN THOSE.
IT DID SEEM THAT THE COMMENTS WERE FAIRLY, UM, TYPICAL ACROSS THE COMMENTS WE RECEIVED THAT THEY WERE SIMILAR.
THERE WASN'T A LOT OF OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS IN THOSE COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT WE HAD.
LIKE, UM, MR. DIXON HAD MENTIONED THE INTEREST
[03:15:01]
FOR SPENDING CAPITAL DOLLARS FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS A PRIMARY, UM, INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.AND I DO THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTE AND THE COURT AND THE SYSTEM TO LOOK AT, UH, BOUNDARIES.
THEY ARE SET IN STONE, UH, AND OUR SCHOOLS ARE, UH, OUR POPULATION IS PRETTY DIVERSE.
UM, THERE IS STILL SEGREGATION.
SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SYSTEM BCPS TO UH, LOOK AT THOSE BOUNDARIES AND UM, YOU KNOW, TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN YOU, UM, COME UP WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
SO WHEN WE SPOKE BEFORE ABOUT THE SOUTHEAST, UH, WE OWN PATAPSCO, WE TALKED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEING THAT, UM, RENOVATION BEING IN THE NEXT CAPITAL BUDGET.
DOES THAT MEAN THAT SINCE THIS IS THE MAIN RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'LL SEE THAT POTENTIALLY OUTLINED IN THE NEXT CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST? SO WE WERE WAITING FOR THIS DISCUSSION AND ONCE THIS DISCUSSION IS OVER AND IT APPEARS THERE'S A CONSENSUS, THEN SUPERINTENDENT'S TEAM AND, AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE TEAMS WILL GET TOGETHER AND CHART THE FUTURE COURSE.
WE'RE JUST HAVING THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, BOARD MEMBERS COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION? HEARING, THEN THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT
[M. REPORT ON SUSPENSIONS, CLIMATE, AND CULTURE (Ms. Charley-Greene, Dr. Zarchin, and Ms. Lewis) (9:55 - 10:40 p.m.)]
ON SUSPENSIONS, CLIMATE AND CULTURE.FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. CHARLIE GREEN, DR.
UM, I MUST HAVE SAID THIS THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, MCNE AND BOARD MEMBERS.
TONIGHT WE'RE PRESENTING AN UPDATE ON SUSPENSION, CLIMATE AND CULTURE.
TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION INCLUDE OUR DATA AND SPECIFIC ACTIONS WE'RE TAKING TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
AS YOU CAN SEE WHO'S MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE MISS CHARLIE, UH, MISS MILD, CHARLIE GREEN, CHIEF OF STAFF, DR.
MICHAEL SARIN, CHIEF OF SCHOOLS, MISS APRIL LEWIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY, AND DR.
KIM FERGUSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UH, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND CO-LEAD OF A SUSPENSION SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM.
FERGUSON DEFENDED HER DISSERTATION ON MONDAY.
SO THE COMPASS, OUR PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE IDENTIFIES FIVE FOCUS AREAS OF OUR WORK.
IF YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, FOCUS AREA TWO.
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT IS VITAL.
WE KNOW THAT A COORDINATED RESPONSE THAT ADDRESSES ALL ASPECTS OF SCHOOL CLIMATE WILL CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE REMAINING FOCUS AREAS TO BE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.
BCPS EDUCATORS WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS CAN LEARN IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE THE BAR CLOSE GAPS AND PREPARE OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE.
AND THE COMPASS, OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, SERVES AS OUR GUIDE.
SO THIS TIME I TURN IT OVER TO MISS CHARLIE GREEN.
WILLIAMS. OUR SCHOOLS ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A PHYSICALLY AND SOCIALLY EMOTIONALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF.
LAST SPRING, WE PRESENTED OUR COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PLAN FOR THE 20 22 23 SCHOOL YEAR.
THIS SLIDE, IF YOU CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE DEPICTS THOSE ACTIONS AS WELL AS OUR CURRENT CURRENT STATUS.
TO DATE, WE HAVE IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IN ORDER TO CREATE AN OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR TEACHING AND FOR LEARNING.
I'D LIKE TO ELEVATE JUST A COUPLE OF ITEMS ON THIS SLIDE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE GRANT FUNDED STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE, A PROGRAM THAT WE PILOTED LAST SPRING.
AND WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE IN ALL OF OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO ELEVATE OUR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM.
UH, THANKS TO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO ADD ADDITIONAL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND WE DEFINITELY VALUE THAT PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH OUR SROS.
WE ALSO SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME MAKING SURE THAT THERE WAS CLEAR COMMUNICATION OF STUDENT EXPECTATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM LAST YEAR'S TOWN HALLS WAS THAT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT CAME TO WHAT WE EXPECTED FROM STUDENTS AND WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE.
AND PERHAPS THOSE BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS WENT UNMET.
WE TRAINED OUR STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD HOW TO RESPOND TO STUDENT BEHAVIORS, AND WE ALSO MADE SURE THAT IN STUDENT CLASS MEETINGS AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE AS WELL.
WE HAVE SINCE THE SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN ENGAGED
[03:20:01]
IN CONSISTENT REVIEW OF OUR SCHOOL LEVEL DATA AND THAT INFORMATION IS USED BY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS TO RESPOND TO SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SCHOOL TEAMS. AND LASTLY, UH, THE WORK BEGAN LAST YEAR AND WE'RE PLEASED TO SEE THAT IT IS MOVING FORWARD TO REIMAGINE OUR ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS TO OPEN UP MORE SEATS AND TO CREATIVELY USE OUR VLP PROGRAM TO WOR TO ENSURE THAT ALTERNATIVE ENVIRONMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS WHEN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS NOT THE PLACE FOR THEM TO BE.SO IF WE COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO I SPOKE OF THE WORK THIS SPRING.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE WORK WE DID OVER THE SUMMER.
UM, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WAS ON THE SAME PAGE.
SO WE FOCUSED ON COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION.
TEAM BCPS WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND UNION PARTNERS TO UPDATE OUR GUIDANCE FOR FAMILIES AND STUDENTS.
THE OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS CREATED THE BACK TO BCPS CAMPAIGN TO KEEP TEAM BCPS INFORMED ABOUT OUR PROGRESS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR ENSURING A SAFE AND POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL.
THE GOAL WAS FOR EVERYONE AGAIN TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE.
THESE MESSAGES WERE REITERATED BY SCHOOL TEAMS AND CLASS MEETINGS AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BCPS COMMUNITY, ENHANCE OUR RESOURCES AND RESPONSES TO SCHOOL CLIMATE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UPDATES TO OUR WEBSITES WILL INCLUDE SCHOOL POSITIVE BEHAVIOR PLANS, RESOURCES, AND SOON TO BE REVEALED DISCIPLINE DATA ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
IN MARCH, WE SHARE THAT BCPS SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TO VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
TO DATE SCHOOLS HAVE IDENTIFIED MORE THAN 650 PARTNERSHIPS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE HEARD SOME OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS MENTION TONIGHT IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THE OFFICE OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ALONG WITH SCHOOL LEADERS CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE VISIBILITY OF TOOL, TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS AND TO BUILD NEW ONES.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS HELP TO STRENGTHEN AND TRANSFORM THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS.
WE KNOW THAT STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL WHEN SCHOOLS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES WORK TOGETHER IN PARTNERSHIP TO MAXIMIZE THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
THIS SUMMER, WE WERE PLEASED TO HOLD OUR INAUGURAL PARTNERSHIP FAIR WHERE STAKEHOLDERS CAME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS HOW THEY COULD SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES.
LAST WEEK, WE WELCOMED HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES BACK TO SCHOOL.
DURING AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK, FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND THE WELCOMING AND ENGAGING ENVIRONMENT WE PROVIDE FOR STUDENTS EVERY DAY TO OUR FAMILIES.
WE HOPE THAT'S NOT YOUR LAST VISIT.
IN FACT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL BY VOLUNTEERING, MENTORING, OR PROVIDING IN KIND DONATIONS.
AGAIN, IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN OUR STUDENTS SEE PARENTS AND COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER AND INVESTED IN STUDENT SUCCESS.
WE'LL CONTINUE WITH REGULAR AND DELIBERATE OUTREACH TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND MENTORS INTO THE BUILDINGS WE VALUE OUR FAMILIES AND LOOK FORWARD TO STRONG PARTNERSHIP.
SO AT THIS TIME, I TURN IT OVER TO DR.
I'LL WORK TO PROVIDE PREVENTATIVE SUPPORTS.
RESTORATIVE LEARNING AND LOGICAL CONSEQUENCES ARE CRITICAL TO GROWTH IN THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.
THE RESOURCES, SUPPORTS, AND INTERVENTIONS AVAILABLE FOR BCPS ARE TIERED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF ALL STUDENTS, SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS AND INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.
TIER ONE SUPPORTS ARE DESIGNED FOR ALL STUDENTS AND ARE OFTEN PREVENTATIVE AND PROACTIVE IN NATURE.
SOME EXAMPLES OF TIER ONE SUPPORTS INCLUDE LESSON PLANNING, RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNITY BUILDING POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, AND TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES.
TIER TWO SUPPORTS ADDRESS SMALL GROUPS OF STUDENTS AND INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED SMALL GROUPS FOR STUDENTS, SMALL GROUP COUNSELING, RESTORATIVE JUST AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACTIVITIES.
AND TIER THREE SUPPORTS ARE BASED ON INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS AND INCLUDE EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS, PROGRESS MONITORING, BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT PLANNING, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ACROSS SUPPORTS AND PRACTICES.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE STRIVE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS WHILE PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORTS TO BUILD RESILIENCE, RESILIENCE AND SKILLS TO NAVIGATE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES.
ALTHOUGH SUSPENSIONS DO NOT PROVIDE A A TOTAL PICTURE OF A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, THEY DO PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO BEHAVIORS THAT MAY IMPACT POSITIVE CLIMATE.
SUSPENSIONS PROVIDE A TEMPORARY SEPARATION FROM THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT TO PROTECT TEACHING AND LEARNING.
THE CODE OF CONDUCT OUTLINES SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS THAT MAY LEAD TO SUSPENSIONS.
PRINCIPALS HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT THE CODE
[03:25:01]
OF CONDUCT BASED ON UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES WITHIN THEIR SCHOOLS RELATED TO DISCIPLINARY INFRACTIONS.THE FIRST MARKING PERIOD SUSPENSION RATE FOR BCPS WAS 2.01%.
ALL GRADE SPANS SUSPENSION RATES REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH LAST YEAR'S TRENDS.
FOR THIS FIRST MARKING PERIOD, THE HIGHEST RATE IS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, WHERE IT IS 4.34%, FOLLOWED BY HIGH SCHOOLS AT 2.58%.
AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WITH THE LOWEST RATE AT FOUR 6% SYSTEM WIDE.
THE SUSPENSION RATE FOR ALL STUDENTS, AS I MENTIONED IT, PERIOD ONE IS 2.01%.
THE CHART SHOWS THAT STUDENT SUSPENSION RATES BY GRADE LEVEL FOR MARKET PERIOD, ONE OF THE CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR AS DISPLAYED STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE TWO HAVE A VERY LOW SUSPENSION RATE.
THE SUSPENSION RATE GENERALLY INCREASES AS STUDENTS TRANSITION FROM GRADE THREE TO GRADE FIVE.
THE TRANSITION YEAR BETWEEN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL REPRESENTS THE GREATEST INCREASED IN STUDENT SUSPENSION RATE INCREASING BY ALMOST 3.4%.
THAT'S BY THE END OF GRADE SIX.
THIS INCREASED RATE OF SUSPENSION CONTINUES THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GRADE NINE BEFORE GRADUALLY DECREASING FROM GRADE 10 TO GRADE 12.
WHILE DISCIPLINARY INCIDENTS AS EVIDENCED BY EARLS AND INCIDENTS HAVE DECREASED THIS YEAR, THE SUSPENSION RATES IN SOME GRADE LEVELS HAVE INCREASED WHEN COMPARED TO MARKING PERIOD ONE LAST SCHOOL YEAR.
SPECIFICALLY TRANSITION YEAR GRADES SIX AND NINE ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASES THAT WE'RE SEEING.
OVERALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO HAVE AN INCREASED SUSPENSION RATE IN COMPARISON TO THE PRE PANDEMIC RATES.
TRENDS IN SUSPENSION RATES SHOW THAT THE TRANSITION YEARS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL THROUGH GRADE NINE HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF SUSPENSION.
BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS INCLUDE ONGOING ANALYSES OF STUDENT BEHAVIORS AND EFFORTS TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE.
REFERRALS ARE ENTERED ELECTRONICALLY AND FOCUS INCLUDING BUS REFERRALS.
REFERRALS INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE REPORTED BEHAVIOR, LOCATION, TIME, AND DESCRIPTION.
ADMINISTRATOR ACTIONS ARE CAPTURED IN THE SYSTEM AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE REFERRING STAFF MEMBER TO SEE THEY BECOME A PART OF THE STUDENT RECORD.
AS PART OF STAFF TRAINING, CERTAIN BEHAVIORS ARE FIRST MANAGED BY STAFF IN CLASSROOMS, HALLWAYS, AND ON BUSES.
SOME OF THESE BEHAVIORS INCLUDE EXCESSIVE TALKING OR DEFIANCE.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ILLUSTRATION, IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO CATEGORIZE BEHAVIORAL INFRACTIONS AS DISCRETIONARY AND NON-DISCRETIONARY.
DISCRETIONARY INFRACTIONS ARE USUALLY STAFF MEMBER MANAGED BEHAVIORS, AS I HAVE DESCRIBED AND AS PICTURED IN THIS SLIDE.
IN THE INSTANCE WHEN DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIORS ARE EITHER REPEATED OR ACUTE, STAFF MAY ESCALATE THE CONCERN TO ADMINISTRATORS THROUGH THE REFERRAL PROCESS.
ONCE AN ELECTRONIC REFERRAL HAS BEEN SUBMITTED, ADMINISTRATORS RECEIVE AN ALERT AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.
THE CONSEQUENCE IS RECORDED IN THE SYSTEM AND REPORTED TO THE REFERRING STAFF MEMBER.
OUR STAFF HAVE AN INTEREST IN ACCURATELY REPORTING BEHAVIORS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
NON-DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIORS POSE IMMINENT THREATS TO PHYSICAL AND OR PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY REFERRED TO ADMINISTRATION.
IN MANY CASES, ADMINISTRATORS RESPOND TO THESE BEHAVIORS DIRECTLY AND DOCUMENT THE BEHAVIOR AND CONSEQUENCE THROUGH THE REFERRAL PROCESS.
OUR STAFF HAVE AN INTEREST IN REPORTING BEHAVIORS BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND HOW SAFE, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
THE ELECTRONIC REFERRAL ENSURES MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR REPORTING AND RESPONDING TO BEHAVIORS.
IN ADDITION TO ADMINISTRATORS AND SCHOOL STAFF, STUDENTS AND FAMILIES MAY ALSO REPORT SAFETY VIOLATIONS TO ADMINISTRATORS DIRECTLY OR TO THE MARYLAND SAFE SCHOOL'S HOTLINE.
TIPS FROM THE SAFE SCHOOL'S HOTLINE ARE COMMUNICATED TO BCPS AND ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
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ALL TIPS SUBMITTED THROUGH THE MARYLAND SAFE SCHOOL'S HOTLINE ARE REVIEWED BY SCHOOL SAFETY MANAGERS.SCHOOL SAFETY MANAGERS CONTACT THE PRINCIPALS OF THE INVOLVED SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THE SITUATION IS HANDLED AND TO ASSIST AS NECESSARY.
DISCIPLINE DATA IS ANALYZED WEEKLY FOR CONSISTENCY BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF SCHOOLS.
NOT ONLY DOES THIS DATA PROVIDE IN INSIGHT, EXCUSE ME, INTO STUDENT BEHAVIOR TRENDS.
IT IS ALSO USED TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO STUDENTS AND SCHOOL TEAMS. MS. CHARLIE GREEN.
WHILE OUR EFFORTS INDICATE PROGRESS, WE KNOW THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH UNTIL EVERY SINGLE STUDENT FEELS PROTECTED AND HEARD.
UPCOMING EFFORTS TO CONTINUE OUR WORK INCLUDE CONTINUED DIRECT SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS ADVISORY GROUP COMPRISED OF BCPS STAFF AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY ON SCHOOL INCIDENTS AND BCPS RESPONSE AND TO PROMOTE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH DATA ANALYSIS AND MULTI-STAKEHOLDER DIALOGUE.
THIS ADVISORY GROUP IS TASKED WITH REVIEWING DATA, PROVIDING FEEDBACK, AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
ALSO, OUR NEXT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS WILL FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
PARTICIPANTS WILL HEAR FROM A MARYLAND SAFE SCHOOL'S EXPERT, PSYCHOLOGIST ON NORMATIVE ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORS, AND WE WILL DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDE STUDENT SUPPORT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
OUR DATA SHOWS THAT THIS IS AN AREA OF INTENSE NEED COMING SOON, BCPS WILL DEBUT QUARTERLY, A QUARTERLY SCHOOL SAFETY SNAPSHOT, WHICH IS A FRONT FACING DATA REPORT, WHICH WHICH WILL PROVIDE SCHOOL SPECIFIC POSITIVE BEHAVIOR PLANS, SPECIAL PROGRAMS, RESOURCES, AND DISCIPLINE DATA.
OUR CONTINUED WORK WITH A STUDENT'S FIRST APPROACH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS MUCH MORE WORK TO DO AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ACROSS DIVISIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS TO SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE ASKED THAT OUR SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO UTILIZE MULTIPLE DATA POINTS TO INFORM DECISIONS ABOUT STUDENT CONSEQUENCES AND PROMOTE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR COUNTY AND STATE PARTNERS.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT ISLANDS, BUT ARE PART OF LARGER COMMUNITIES.
WE BELIEVE THAT ENSURING STUDENT SAFETY REQUIRES PARENTS, GUARDIANS, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY STEPPING UP AND COMING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE SAFE PLACES FOR ALL.
WE CALL IN OUR PARENTS TO LIMIT OR MONITOR STUDENT, UH, STUDENT SOCIAL MEDIA, JOIN WITH THE SCHOOL PERU COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE A POSITIVE PRESENCE AND TO SHARE SAFETY CONCERNS DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL LEADERS AND OR THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, WHO WILL ENSURE, AS MS. LEWIS DESCRIBED, THAT ISSUES ARE RESOLVED AND ADDRESSED SWIFTLY.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE THANK YOU, UH, FOR TAKING TIME TO HEAR OUR PRESENTATION.
WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND CERTAINLY ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
MRS. COZY, YOU HAD A QUESTION.
AND I JUST, EXCUSE ME, GOT OUT OF THAT WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN, UM, WE STUDENTS CAME BACK IN PERSON AND ADULTS CAME BACK IN PERSON THAT THERE WERE, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES FROM, FROM BEING A PART.
UM, I WANTED TO ASK THE QUESTION ABOUT, UM, THE ONE, THE DISCRETIONARY VERSUS NON-DISCRETIONARY AND WHAT WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR, UM, TEACHERS TAB COS PBC, BUT ALSO, UM, OUR PARENTS IS, UH, THE DISRUPTION TO, UH, THE, THE LEARNING, THE TEACHING, AND THE LEARNING.
SO EVEN, UH, THINGS LIKE TARDINESS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, NOT NECESSARILY DISCIPLINARIAN, BUT AGAIN, AN INTERRUPTION TO THE TEACHER AND THEIR, THE FLOW OF THEIR CLASS.
I DON'T SEE THAT AS DISCRETIONARY, UH, IN TERMS OF SOMEHOW BEING ADDRESSED.
UM, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF, UH, BEHAVIORS AREN'T ADDRESSED AT SMALLER POINTS IN TIME, THEY DO ESCALATE.
SO, UM, HAVING FEWER REFERRALS TO ME IS A QUESTION.
UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT REALLY SHOULD BE MORE CONSIDERED AND EVEN, UM, IN TERMS OF GETTING MORE INPUT FROM THE TEACHERS AND THE EDUCATIONAL
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SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE SEEING AND, AND HOW BEST TO ADDRESS IT TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS. MM-HMM.SO, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
I WANNA JUST BE CLEAR THAT OUR REFERRALS HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED.
SO WE HAVE NOT HAD FEWER REFERRALS.
IN FACT, WE, THEY'VE INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY FOR ONE REASON.
WE'VE, UM, MANDATED THIS YEAR THAT ALL REFERRALS ARE PUT IN FOCUS, WHEREAS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, UH, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN A COMBINATION OF PRACTICES.
SOME SCHOOLS WERE STILL USING THE PAPER REFERRAL PROCESS.
AND SO WHAT WE FOUND BY, UM, MAKING SURE THAT ALL SCHOOLS WERE TRAINED AND THAT EVERYONE WAS PUTTING REFERRALS AND FOCUS THIS YEAR, THAT WE'RE BE BETTER ABLE TO DOCUMENT NOT ONLY THE BEHAVIORS, BUT THEIR RESPONSES.
IT ALSO ALLOWS US TO TRACK THE CONSISTENCY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WE PUT.
UM, TO YOUR POINT, CERTAINLY THERE ARE SOME LEVELS OF CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR THAT REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
AND SO, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MS. LEWIS OUTLINED WAS IF BEHAVIORS ARE REPEATED OR ACUTE, UH, THEN, THEN CERTAINLY, UH, WE HAVE EMPOWERED SCHOOL STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY REFER THAT BEHAVIOR.
PART OF THE TRAINING WITH TEACHERS.
AND PART OF THE PEDAGOGY OF BEING A CLASSROOM TEACHER IS HOW DO YOU MANAGE BEHAVIORS THAT ARE DISRUPTIVE WHILE MAINTAINING THE ORDER IN THE CLASSROOM AND, AND MAINTAINING YOUR POSITION AS A LEADER IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND SO WE DO COUNT ON OUR TEACHERS AS PROFESSIONALS TO HAVE TO USE THAT JUDGMENT, BUT WE ARE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM.
WHEN THAT BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED AND IT IS ACUTE, THEN THEY CERTAINLY MAY REFER THAT BEHAVIOR IMMEDIATELY.
MS. LEWIS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THAT.
NO, AND I THINK, AS YOU WERE SAYING, MS. CAUSEY STARTING AT THE LOWEST, LOWEST LEVEL POSSIBLE.
THAT PREVENTION PIECE IS VERY MUCH TIED TO INSTRUCTION TO CLASSICAL MANAGEMENT.
AND SO WE CAN DO IT AT THAT LEVEL, THEN WE'RE ALLEVIATING OR ADDRESSING THESE BEHAVIORS EARLY ON.
AGAIN, IF THEY ARE ACUTE OR THEY CONTINUE, THEN THE REFERRAL PROCESS IS THERE TO MOVE THEM TO ADMINISTRATORS.
AND I LIKE THAT CONSISTENT PROCESS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO FIND OUT IS WHY IS A STUDENT STRUGGLING TO DIVE DEEP AND NOT JUST, OH, HE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOME ISSUE WITH THIS TEACHER ON THIS DAY, AND THEN HE HAD A DIFFERENT ISSUE WITH A DIFFERENT TEACHER ON THAT DAY.
BUT TO UNDERSTAND THE PICTURE, WHAT IS THAT STUDENT DEALING WITH? HOW CAN, HOW CAN SOME PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL HELP IT'S TIME.
CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ON YOUR PHD.
UM, I, WHAT I, I'VE REALLY ENJOYED HEARING DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT ALL THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT.
I THINK THAT'S A FANTASTIC EFFORT THAT I KNOW THAT DR.
WILLIAMS HAS CHAMPIONED AND A LOT OF FOLKS AROUND THE TABLE HAVE, HAVE REALLY, UH, PROMOTED.
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL THING.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FIRST.
UM, SECOND, AND, UM, THIS IS A VERY BASIC QUESTION, BUT WE TALK ABOUT SUSPENSIONS, UM, AND THEN WE'RE HEARING ABOUT DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, NON-DISCRETIONARY ACTIONS LIKE BRINGING WEAPONS TO SCHOOL.
SO IS THE SUSPENSION IS THE SAME THING AS EXPULSION THESE DAYS? ARE WE DEFINING THEM ALL IN UNDER ONE BUBBLE, IN SUSPENSIONS, OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS, GOING TO AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL? LIKE ALL THOSE THINGS ARE, IS THAT ALL SUSPENSIONS? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE? THEY ARE ALL SUSPENSIONS.
SO WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUSPENSIONS, WE ARE TALKING, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THIS IS ALL OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE INCLUDING IN SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS IN THESE NUMBERS.
UM, BUT THEY ARE SHORT TERM SUSPENSIONS.
THERE ARE LONGER TERM SUSPENSIONS.
AND I'LL ALLOW MS, UH, FERGUSON TO SHARE THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO.
SO THERE ARE SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE BETWEEN ONE IN THREE DAYS, THEN FOUR IN 10 DAYS, AND THEN THERE ARE EXPULSIONS THAT ARE BEYOND 45 DAYS.
SO, UM, IT DEPENDS UPON THE OFFENSE, UM, AND THE VIOLATION TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
SO ALL THE DATA WE SEE HERE IS ALL OUT OF SCHOOL, OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS.
AND HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE DATA DISAGGREGATED BY DISCRETIONARY AND NON-DISCRETIONARY REASONS FOR SUSPENSIONS? AND HAS THAT CHANGED OVER TIME? SO WE DO ENCOURAGE OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, UM, I WAS ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THAT TODAY TO LOOK AT THOSE DISCRETIONARY, UM, BEHAVIORS, DISRESPECT, DEFIANCE AS OPPOSED TO THE, THE NON-DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIORS.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT I THINK MS. CHARLIE GREEN TALKED ABOUT, THE FACT THAT THE D O S DDS ON A WEEKLY BASIS, THEY LOOK AT THOSE TYPE OF, UM, SUSPENSIONS AND WHAT ARE STUDENTS BEING SUSPENDED FOR.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN YOU, WHEN THIS REFERRAL IS MADE, WHERE IS THAT REFERRAL? WHERE IS IT TAKING PLACE? IS IT IN THE CAFETERIA? IS IT IN THE CLASSROOM? IS IT IN THE HALLWAY? UM, SO WE WOULD ENCOURAGE OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO NOT ONLY LOOK AT THE ACTUAL, THE BEHAVIOR, BUT WHERE IS IT OCCURRING? BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU FIND THAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE C CAFETERIA, BUT THEY'RE NOT HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM, OR THEY'RE HAPPENING IN THE HALLWAY OR IN THE RESTROOMS. SO, UM, THAT REQUIRES US TO LOOK AT WHAT DO WE HAVE IN PLACE AS FAR AS TIER ONE INTERVENTIONS? HOW ARE WE USING OUR SAFETY, SAFETY ASSISTANCE, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE THEY IN THE HALLWAY FLOWING WITH TRAFFIC? SO
[03:40:01]
WE, WE, UM, ENCOURAGE OUR ADMINISTRATORS TO ACTUALLY DIVE DEEP INTO THE, NOT ONLY THE CAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR, NOT THE CAUSE, BUT THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR THAT THEY'RE BEING REFERRED FOR.AND THEN WHERE THAT IS OCCURRING, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GONNA TRY TO REMEDIATE SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING.
WE GOTTA REALLY ANALYZE THAT DATA TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, IN THE CLASSROOMS AND IN THE HALLWAYS.
SO THAT'S THE ADMINISTRATOR'S RESPONSIBILITY THAT ADMINISTRA AND THE SCHOOL CLIMATE TEAM.
SO WITH THE SUPPORT OF THEIR, UM, THEIR, THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT OF MY OFFICE.
SO WE SUPPORT OUR, UM, OUR ADMINISTRATORS IN LOOKING AT THEIR DATA AS WELL.
AND YOU MENTIONED, UH, YOU CAN USE THE VLP FOR SUSPENSIONS.
WE HAVE, UM, THE, THE LAST NUMBER I HEARD, WE HAVE ROUGHLY 300 SLOTS IN THE VLP FOR STUDENTS FOR, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHO NEEDED ANOTHER PLACEMENT BASED ON BEHAVIORAL INFRACTIONS.
IS THAT BECAUSE THEY, THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE SEATS OR IS THEY WOULD NORMALLY IT'S JUST A THREE DAY SUSPENSION AND THEY DON'T FALL BEHIND? IN SOME CASES IT'S COMPLICATED IN THEIR UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT I COULD COME UP WITH A GENERAL OVERALL REASON, BUT THEIR FIRST TIME THAT, YOU KNOW, TRANSFERRING TO AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM IS NOT APPROPRIATE, UH, BUT REMOVAL FROM THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT, UH, IS, AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO, TO UTILIZE THAT PROGRAM IN THAT WAY.
AND WE DO APPRECIATE THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE VLP.
AND WE ARE ALSO ABLE TO GUARANTEE THAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING, YOU KNOW, HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION DURING THE TIME PERIOD THAT THEY'RE SEPARATED AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL.
SO WE'RE PLEASED THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE, IF THEY'RE IN THE VLP, DO THEY GET THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES THEY WOULD GET IN AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL? YES, WE DO HAVE COUNSELORS AND, UM, PEOPLE, PERSONNEL WORKERS ASSIGNED TO THE VLP AS WELL AS SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND SCHOOL SAFETY AND CLIMATE.
I KNOW PERSONALLY, AS SOMEONE WHO IS IN A SCHOOL BUILDING DAY IN, DAY OUT, I DO SEE THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THAT.
UM, ESPECIALLY MENTIONING THE STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
I KNOW PERRY HALL HIGH SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE THAT, UM, AND THEY ARE WORKING.
WE ARE SEEING POSITIVE IMPROVEMENTS, AND I THINK THAT IS SO ESSENTIAL TO NOTE.
UM, JUST SORT OF SHARING SOME OF THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE WITH ALL OF YOU.
UM, SO I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT, I BELIEVE THREE MIDDLE SCHOOLS THUS FAR.
UM, AND I ALWAYS, I ALWAYS WALK INTO MIDDLE SCHOOLS ASKING AND HIGH SCHOOLS AS WELL, ASKING WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE PART OF YOUR SCHOOL? UM, AND EVERY SINGLE TIME I WALK INTO A MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE LEAST FAVORITE PART IS ALWAYS THE VIOLENCE.
AND SO I ASKED A MIDDLE SCHOOLER, UM, THINKING, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GONNA RESPOND WITH IN THE BEST MANNER THEY CAN.
I ASKED A MIDDLE, MIDDLE SCHOOLER, WHY DO YOU THINK STUDENTS, UM, GET INTO PHYSICAL FIGHTS, PHYSICAL ENCOUNTERS? WHY DO YOU THINK VIOLENCE HAPPENS? AND SHE RESPONDED WITH THE MOST INTELLIGENT THING EVER.
AND I TOLD HER, YOU SHOULD TAKE MY JOB ONE DAY.
UM, AND I TOLD HER THAT, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT, UM, SHE THINKS THE REASON PEOPLE GET INTO FIGHTS ARE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO COMMUNICATE THEIR FEELINGS AND THAT THEIR FEELINGS ARE TOO BIG FOR THEM.
SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL SUSPENSION RATES, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN HIGH SCHOOL AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUSPENSION RATES.
WE'RE ALSO REALIZING THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GROWING INTO A SPACE THAT THEY ARE NOT YET FULLY EQUIPPED FOR.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL.
BUT IT IS, IT IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE CAN MITIGATE.
UM, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT I DO SEE YOU GUYS ACTIVELY MITIGATING, AND I APPRECIATE YOU FOR THAT.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE WORK WITH THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.
UM, BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE CONSISTENTLY DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, BECAUSE IT IS ADDRESSING IT FROM THE ROOT.
WE CANNOT LEARN IN OUR SCHOOLS IF OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE DISCRETIONARY ONES WHERE IT SAYS LIKE, DISRESPECT, DEFIANCE, UM, THAT'S DISCRETIONARY IS, IS IT'S UP TO THE DISCRETION OF THE TEACHER.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WHERE IT HAPPENS IS IT EXPLAINED TO THE STUDENT, I'M ASSUMING IN LIKE THE, LIKE THE STUDENT HANDBOOK OR SOMETHING AT THE BEGINNING, WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE DISRESPECTFUL OR DEFIANT? UM, BECAUSE IT COULD BE SOMETIMES A, A DISCONNECT THERE.
SO, UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENT AND THE TEACHER TO GO OVER THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND, AND GO TALK THROUGH SOME OF THESE, UM, THESE DISCRETIONARY AND NON-DISCRETIONARY.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? UM, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT EVERY SCHOOL DOES HAVE A SCHOOLWIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR PLAN.
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SCHOOLWIDE, BUT THEN IT'S ALSO IN THE CLASSROOM.SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM, WE, THE, THE TEACHERS SET UP RULES FOR A BA LACK OF A BETTER WORD.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WE RESPECT ONE ANOTHER, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT SOUND LIKE IN THIS CLASSROOM? IN THE HALLWAY, IN THE CAFETERIA? SO THAT'S PART OF, UM, EXAMINING THOSE SCHOOLWIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID THIS SUMMER.
UM, WHEN WE MET WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS, WE TALKED ABOUT LEVEL SETTING.
WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT, WHAT DOES STUDENT BEHAVE? WHAT SHOULD WE BE EXPECTING FROM STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM IN THE HALLWAY? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? AND THEN THAT, THAT IN TURN ENDED UP IN OUR LESSONS RELATED TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
UM, SO THAT HAPPENS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT SHOULD BE REINFORCED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND, UM, WHAT HAPPENS THEN IF A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS DISCRETIONARY, LIKE TALKING WHERE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT IT WAS PERCEIVED AS TALKING AND THIS STUDENT WAS SUSPENDED.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN, UM, I GUESS SORT OF MAYBE OVERLY EXPEND, OVERLY SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED? SO, ONCE AGAIN, YOU WANT, DID YOU WANNA START? I, I CAN START.
AND SO TO BE CLEAR, OUR SUSPENSIONS, REALLY, WE DON'T, WE DON'T SEE THAT VERY FREQUENTLY.
WE DO LOOK AT THE DATA, UH, WEEKLY.
A TEACHER CAN REFER, UM, LET'S SAY THAT THAT'S A TEACHER MANAGED BEHAVIOR, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A TEACHER.
IT COULD BE ANY OTHER STAFF MEMBER.
THERE'S BEHAVIOR THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE CLASSROOM, AND THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY SPOKEN TO THE STUDENT, AND THEY MAY NEED SOME ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
IT WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A STUDENT WOULD RECEIVE A SUSPENSION FOR THAT BEHAVIOR.
THERE COULD BE ADDITIONAL INTERVENTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE, UH, IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THAT STUDENT.
BUT A SUSPENSION WOULD BE HIGHLY UNLIKELY IF WE SEE AS WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT DATA.
AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S WORK THAT IS DONE BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOLS.
THAT'S WORK THAT'S DONE BY THE ADMINISTRATORS, BUT IT'S ALSO DONE AT THE CABINET LEVEL WHERE WE LOOK AT THAT.
AND IT WILL BE ALSO WORK THAT'S DONE AS PART OF THE ADVISORY GROUP THAT WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO CREATING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHERE ARE PEOPLE SUSPENDING, AND IF WE'RE SEEING SUSPENSIONS FOR THINGS THAT FRANKLY, PERHAPS COULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED EARLIER, WHAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DOES THAT SCHOOL NEED SO THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO BETTER MANAGE THOSE BEHAVIORS BEFORE THEY BECOME, UM, BEHAVIORS THAT PERHAPS DO REQUIRE SUSPENSION.
SO WE REALLY ARE LOOKING AT THAT EARLIEST POINT OF CONTACT AND WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY SO THAT THEY DON'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF SUSPENSION.
UM, WE CAN PROVIDE YOU BETTER DATA AFTER THE ADVISORY GROUP MEETS ABOUT WHAT THAT BREAKDOWN IS.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR SUSPENSIONS, THEY REALLY ARE FOR THE MORE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, I DON'T WANNA USE THE WORD INTENSE, BUT
AND THE DATA WOULD BE GOOD FOR THAT.
AND THEN JUST MY LAST QUESTION IS, WHEN A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED OR EXPELLED OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL, WHAT SUPPORT ARE THEY GETTING? WHEN ARE THEY JUST SUSPENDED, UM, FOR SEVERAL DAYS? OR, OR, OR LIKE YOU ALL HAD SAID A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME AND THEY'RE NOT GETTING ANY SUPPORT, THEY'RE JUST SITTING AT HOME.
OR ARE WE STILL PROVIDING SOME SORT OF SUPPORT TO THAT STUDENT? WE, WE ARE STILL REQUIRED TO, UM, GIVE STUDENTS EDUCATION ONCE THEY'RE OUT.
UM, WELL, NOT JUST EDUCATION, BUT LIKE SUPPORT AS FAR AS WHAT CAUSED THE INFRACTION, RIGHT? SO, UM, IF A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THEY USUALLY ARE REFERRED TO THE STUDENT CONDUCT HEARING OFFICER.
AND THAT PERSON IS A POINT OF CONDUCT WITH THE, A POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE STUDENT AND WITH THE FAMILY.
SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT ONCE, IF THAT STUDENT NEEDS TO BE WORKING ON CERTAIN BEHAVIORS, UM, ESPECIALLY DEPENDING UPON IF THE STUDENT IS, LET'S SAY IF THE STUDENT IS SUSPENDED FOR DRUGS, UM, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THE STUDENT GET ENGAGED IN, UM, SOME TYPE OF REHAB AND BEFORE THE STUDENT COMES BACK TO SCHOOL, IT'S NOT MANDATORY THAT THEY DO SO.
BUT WE DO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AND EVERY TIME A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED, THAT THE PARENTS RECEIVE A LIST OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, UM, SO THAT THEY KNOW THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY CAN DO ON THE OUTSIDE.
WE DON'T LOSE TOUCH WITH KIDS ONCE THEY GET SUSPENDED.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENS.
YOU DON'T GO HOME AND THEN WE JUST FORGET ABOUT YOU FOR A WHILE.
THERE'S, THERE'S CONTACT WITH THAT STUDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.
THEY'RE COMPLETING THEIR ASSIGNMENTS, THAT THEY'RE ON TRACK, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE IN HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WANT 'EM TO EARN THEIR CREDITS.
UM, SO WE DON'T LOSE TOUCH WITH KIDS BECAUSE THEY STILL BELONG TO US.
UM, AND WE STILL WANNA, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RESTORE THEM BACK INTO THEIR ENVIRONMENT ONCE THEY'VE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE COMPLETED THEIR, UH, CONSEQUENCE, WHATEVER THAT IS.
WHETHER IT'S FIVE DAYS, 10 DAYS, 45 DAYS, BUT WE DON'T LOSE TOUCH WITH KIDS.
THAT'S, IT'S PART OF OUR JOB TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE BRING THEM BACK INTO, UM, INTO THE
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BUILDING AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THEIR EDUCATION, THEY FINISH THINGS OUT.THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, MANY OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ASKED, BUT I'M GONNA, UM, REPEAT THAT YOU SAID ABOUT DISCRETIONARY INFRACTIONS STARTING AS SOMEBODY SKIPPING SCHOOL OR BEING DISRESPECTFUL.
DOES THAT WARRANT A 10 DAY SUSPENSION? I WOULD SAY NO BEHAVIOR.
I WOULD, I WOULD SAY ON ITS FACE, NO.
UM, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT, UM, THERE ARE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY INVITE, UH, DR.
ARCHEN AND HIS WORK WITH SCHOOLS TO TALK ABOUT THE DECISION MAKING THAT OCCURS AROUND A SUSPENSION.
I WILL SHARE THAT WE, UM, WHILE WE DEFINITELY EMPOWER OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT BEST SUPPORT THEIR SCHOOL NEEDS, WE ALSO INVITE THEM TO TAKE PART IN WHAT WE LOOSELY CALL A HUDDLE.
YOU KNOW, NOT MAKING DECISIONS ALONE.
IF THEY ARE GRAPPLING WITH A DECISION ABOUT WHAT APPROPRIATE, UH, CONSEQUENCES ARE TO CONNECT WITH THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER STUDENTS WHO'VE ENGAGED IN SIMILAR BEHAVIOR, WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN, SO THAT WE ARE HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING DECISIONS THAT ARE SOUND AND THAT ARE GROUNDED IN WHAT OUR BEST PRACTICES AND WHAT OUR REGULAR PRACTICES ARE.
I'LL ALLOW YOU TO EXPAND IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
SO, NO, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A 10 DAY SUSPENSION FOR SOMEBODY CUTTING SCHOOL.
IN FACT, FACT, WE WANT THEM IN SCHOOL.
WE, AS, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REVIEW SUSPENSIONS.
THEY'RE REVIEWING BUS REFERRALS.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE FIRST THAT THESE RED FLAGS BEHAVIOR CAN BE ADDRESSED.
IDEALLY, TIER ONE SUPPORTS IT'S DONE FOR EVERYONE.
IF CONT CONTINUED BEHAVIOR IS EVIDENT, THEN WE'VE GOTTA DO SOME DIFFERENT THINGS.
WHEN IT INVOLVES SAFETY, WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO A SUSPENSION.
WE KNOW WE CANNOT TOLERATE SAFETY INFRACTIONS, SO THERE'S NO LEVERAGE THERE.
UM, WITH, WITH PHYSICAL ALTERCATIONS, WE'VE GOTTA ADDRESS IT.
WE KNOW THAT WE REVIEW THE DATA, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SUPPORTS THERE, NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE SCHOOLS, STAFF MEMBERS AND SCHOOLS, TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE EQUIPPED WITH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TO KEEP ORDER IN THE CLASSROOM HALLWAY SUPERVISION, IF SOMETHING'S HAPPEN IN A CERTAIN SECTION OF THE BUILDING, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THAT AND, AND KIND OF HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THERE TO, TO, TO MONITOR.
SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND EXAMINE AND GIVE FEEDBACK TO SCHOOL PRINCIPALS THAT THEY CAN SHARE WITH THEIR STAFF.
SO WE TALK A LOT ABOUT SUSPENSIONS, BUT IT'S, IT'S REFERRALS AS WELL, SO WE CAN LEARN AND BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO, TO HELP STUDENTS, BUT ALSO ADDRESS CLIMATE IN THE BUILDING.
SO ALL THAT SOUNDS REALLY GOOD IN PAPER, BUT I'VE HEARD A LOT OF, UM, INSTANCES OF WHERE STUDENTS HAPPEN, BEEN SUSPENDED, UM, WHERE I LIVE FOR DISCRETIONARY BEHAVIOR, AND, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH ME.
SO TALKING AND PAPER HAPPENING IN, IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE, WHEN YOU HAVE A SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHIC WITH, UM, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION OF JUST 25%, BUT 90% OF THAT POPULATION IS SUSPENDED, AND THOSE ARE NOT RAISING RED FLAGS DOWN IN CENTRAL OFFICE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YES, WE HAVE STRATEGY, WE HAVE SCHOOL HEALTH SUPPORT, BUT WHERE IS THE ACTION? AND WHO IS REALLY DIVING INTO THIS EVERY DAY? IS THIS SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING IN EVERY DAY, EVERY SUSPENSION THAT COMES ON YOUR DESK? UM, ARE YOU GOING IN THERE TO TALK TO THESE CHILDREN? AND, UM, I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE GETTING WRAPAROUND SERVICES, BUT IS THERE FOLLOW UP WHO IS KEEPING, UH, TABS ON THIS ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE CHILDREN THAT WE ARE FAILING, THAT ARE FALLING BETWEEN THE CRACKS? AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE, OR THOSE ARE, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE IN, YOU KNOW, THE DISCRETIONARY, UM, INFRACTION THAT HAPPENS THAT TEACHERS GET IRRITATED BECAUSE OF BIASES OR GET ANNOYED OR, UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IT, IT DOES COME IN BIASES DO PLAY INTO IT.
I'M NOT STATING ROCKET SCIENCE HERE.
UM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THAT? I'M NOT TALKING, AGAIN, DO NOT CONFLATE THAT WITH NON-DISCRETIONARY, THAT THAT IS SERIOUS.
AND I DON'T, UH, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE DISCRETIONARY.
AND, UH, I WOULD, AFTER THIS THING CIRCLE BACK WITH, WITH STAFF NOT IN OPEN SESSION, UH, ABOUT SOME OF THE STORIES THAT I HAVE HEARD.
SO I REALLY WANNA SEE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU LOOKING AT THIS DATA EVERY DAY? AND WHO IS DOING IT? WHO IS, IS IT COMING UP TO DR.
WILLIAMS LEVEL OR IS IT JUST STAYING AT A CABINET LEVEL? THANK YOU.
SO I, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT WE DON'T HAVE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE THAT ARE BASED ON BIAS.
THAT'S WHY WE REVIEW THE DATA EACH WEEK.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL
[03:55:01]
FOR MR. MUSTER TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THOSE WEEKLY REVIEWS.BUT AGAIN, IT'S LEARNING NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS, BUT FOR THE ADULTS.
SO WE CAN MAKE GOOD DECISIONS.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS HAVE A STUDENT OUT OF SCHOOL.
UM, BUT WHEN WE REVIEW THE DATA, IF THINGS COME UP THAT ARE CONCERNING, WE DO ADDRESS THEM FROM THE ED TO THE PRINCIPAL, WRITE DOWN TO OTHER STAFF MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHY WE CREATED THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAM.
THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS TO LOOK AT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY, OUR PRINCIPLES ARE LOOKING AT THIS DATA, DATA, AND IF THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA AND THEY'RE MAKING SOME DECISIONS AND SUPPORTING THE TEACHER, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ARE GOING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND I MUST SAY TO THE BOARD, YOU HEAR THINGS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT, THAT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE PICTURE OR THERE'S MULTIPLE INFRACTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.
SO, SO YOUR PARTICULAR CASE, WE'RE HAPPY TO DISCUSS OFFLINE IF YOU HAVE SOME SPECIFIC INFORMATION, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS THE WORK OF YOUR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS EVERY DAY.
THEIR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THEIR, THE SCHOOL HAS A WORKING ENVIRONMENT, A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
ARE WE THERE 100% EVERY DAY? NO.
CAUSE WE SEEN EXAMPLES RIGHT HERE IN THIS BOARDROOM.
SO, SO THE POINT IS THAT THIS IS, WE CAN'T HAVE LEARNING IF THERE'S NOT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE CAN'T HAVE SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEARN.
AND REMEMBER, OUR STUDENTS ARE COMING BACK FROM A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE OF BEING ONLINE.
AND SO OUR TEACHERS HAD TO ADJUST OUR, OUR STUDENTS HAVE TO ADJUST.
SO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THAT IS WHY WE CREATED A SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAM TO LOOK AT THIS VERY PARTICULAR AREA, UM, AROUND SUSPENSION.
WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
THERE IS DISCRETIONARY, BUT THE PRINCIPLES AS PROFESSIONALS ARE WORKING WITH OUR STAFF TO DETERMINE WHETHER THIS IS SUSPENDABLE OR NOT.
THERE MAY BE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT IF THERE IS A SPECIFIC CASE, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THAT LATER.
BUT I WILL SAY JUST TODAY, I'VE WATCHED OUR PRINCIPALS, OUR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, TALKED ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING AND PROVIDING A WORK, A POSITIVE WORK EXPERIENCE, AND SHARING RELEVANT PRACTICES.
THAT'S THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAM.
AND MR. MUSTER, MS. JOSEPH, JOSEPH, IN TERMS OF THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGH SCHOOLS, ALL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS LOOK AT THIS DATA EVERY WEEK, DISAGGREGATED HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS ARE QUESTIONING, PARTICULARLY ARE, ARE WE MEETING THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS? I'M GONNA GO BACK TO WHAT DR.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE ROOT CAUSE SOMETHING IS CAUSING THESE BEHAVIORS TO HAPPEN.
WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE PARENT AND THE EXPERTS AT THE SCHOOL TO, TO MAKE THAT SUPPORT? BUT MR. MUSTER, WOULD YOU SHARE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS EVERY WEEK AT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LEVEL? YES, SIR.
WILLIAMS PUT IT, PUT IT SO ELOQUENTLY, UM, HE SAID A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
JARAN TALKED ABOUT, WE LOOK AT NOT ONLY, UH, BUS REFERRAL DATA, WE ALSO LOOK AT, UM, REFERRALS WRITTEN BY OUR TEACHERS.
AND WE LOOK AT THAT DATA AND IT'S DISAGGREGATED.
SO WE KNOW DISAGGREGATED BY RACE, BY GRADE LEVEL, WE LOOK AT AREAS OF THE COUNTY, WE LOOK AT TIME OF DAY INCIDENTS HAPPEN.
AND ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT EVERY REFERRAL WRITTEN BY A TEACHER, THAT THERE IS AN ACTION BY THE ADMINISTRATORS.
SO THAT ONE, THE TEACHERS FEEL SUPPORTED.
AND ALSO WE DO THE SAME THING FOR BUS REFERRALS, SO THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS AND OUR BUS AT ATTENDANTS FEEL, UH, SUPPORTED.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO EACH WEEK, ALL 10 OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS.
AND WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DISCRETIONARY VERSUS NON DISCRETIONARY THINGS, UH, IF A STUDENT IS TALKING FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTTA TURN IN, IN, OR IN A DISRESPECTFUL MANNER, OF COURSE WE WOULDN'T WANT ONE OF OUR ADMINISTRATORS, UH, TO SUSPEND A STUDENT FOR 10 DAYS.
UM, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT REPEATED ACTIONS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT NON-DISCRETIONARY THINGS.
WE'RE IN THE SERVICE INDUSTRY.
KIDS ARE, WE KNOW THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, THEIR, THEIR BRAINS AREN'T DEVELOPED FULLY, SO THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE MISTAKES.
SO WHEN WE SAY NON-DISCRETIONARY, IT, IT IS THE, THE TEACHERS HAVE THE DISCRETION.
AND IF THE TEACHERS DECIDE TO WRITE A REFERRAL, THEN THEY'RE TURNING OVER THAT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ACTION TO THE ADMINISTRATOR.
AND THEN THE ADMINISTRATORS HAVE THE DISCRETION ON WHAT THOSE CONSEQUENCES OR DISCIPLINARY
[04:00:01]
ACTIONS, UH, WILL BE.WILLIAMS SAID, THE PRINCIPALS MUST WORK WITH THEIR TEAMS TO LOOK AT THE DATA.
WHAT, WHAT IS HAPPENING? IS IT AROUND THE DEPARTMENT? IS IT YOUR FIRST YEAR TEACHERS? IS YOUR, YOUR EXPERIENCED TEACHERS? IS YOUR, YOUR TEACHERS WHO ARE AT THE END OF THEIR CAREERS AND ARE FEELING BURNT OUT, AND WHAT COULD WE DO TO SUPPORT THEM? SO THAT'S WHY YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA TO SEE HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE STUDENTS, BUT ALSO HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT, UM, THE STAFF.
AND WE KNOW WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR ADMINISTRATORS.
SO WE WE'RE REVIEWING THIS DATA EACH AND EVERY WEEK, MISS, UH, DR.
FERGUSON AND I ARE, UH, CO-CHAIRS OF THE SU, UH, SUSPENSION TEAM THAT DR.
AND SO, WITHIN OUR GROUP, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE DATA DISTRICTWIDE, WE'RE LOOKING AT TRENDS AND PATTERNS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BEST PRACTICES.
WE BROUGHT IN SOME PRINCIPLES AND THEIR TEAMS TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH US.
ONE PRINCIPAL THAT I CAN IDENTIFY, UH, IS APRIL FRANKLIN AT SOUTHWEST ACADEMY, BECAUSE HER AND HER TEAM WERE DOING SOME WONDERFUL THINGS, NOT ONLY WITH THEIR OVERALL SUSPENSION RATE, BUT WITH ALSO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT DISAGGREGATING THE DATA AND DISPROPORTIONALITY, THEY WERE ALSO DOING VERY GOOD WORK, UH, THERE AS WELL.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT NOT ONLY SCHOOLS WHERE MAYBE THE SUSPENSION RATE OR THE REFERRALS ARE HIGH, BUT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE LOW, UM, IN, IN THE SURROUNDING SCHOOLS.
THEY'RE HIGH TO SEE WHAT THAT PRINCIPAL AND THEIR TEAMS ARE DOING IN ORDER TO BETTER SUPPORT AND, AND WORK, UH, WITH, WITH THE SCHOOL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES AND DR.
WILLIAMS, UH, PREVIOUSLY STATED.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO HONOR THAT, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR IN TERMS OF SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE AND DISCIPLINE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
UM, I APPLAUD SOME OF THE NEW INITIATIVES THAT YOU'VE CREATED, THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UM, SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS, TOWN HALL, THE ADVISORY GROUP AS WELL.
UM, THE PARTNERSHIPS SEEMED TO BE INCREASING, AND I LOVED, UM, THE STORY OF MS. FISHER WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THE MENTORSHIP WITH THE CONCEPT OF PURPOSE AND HOW STUDENTS HAVE TO HAVE PURPOSE.
AND THERE'S SO MANY LITTLE TEACHABLE MOMENTS THAT ARE GONNA CONTINUE TO COME ABOUT WITH THE MENTORSHIPS.
SO THE FIRST ONE WITH, UM, LIKE THE STUDENTS THAT DO THE CHRONIC TALKING, AND I FIRMLY BELIEVE TEACHERS HAVE TO HAVE AUTONOMY IN THEIR OWN CLASSROOM TO MANAGE AND TO GAIN THE RESPECT OF THEIR STUDENTS.
UM, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT WHEN THERE IS CHRONIC TALKING, AND I HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ARE THERE TO LEARN.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO THEM WHEN 30 MINUTES IN A 50 MINUTE CLASS ARE SPENT WITH THE TEACHER PLAYING, YOU KNOW, GUACAMOLE OR WHATEVER WITH CLASSROOM DISRUPTION.
SO HOW IS THAT BALANCED SO THAT, UM, THE DISCRETIONARY, UM, ISSUE OF TALKING, WHICH CAN BE DISRUPTIVE, IS MANAGED IN A WAY SO THAT IT'S GUARANTEED THAT FOR THE OTHER STUDENTS IN THE CLASS, THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO LEARN.
SO HOW, HOW THAT'S HANDLED, UM, MULTIPLE WAYS.
ONE IS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR, UH, THE TEACHERS, BECAUSE YOU, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THAT IN A MANNER.
AND EACH OF YOU WOULD HANDLE KIDS DIFFERENTLY.
SOME CLASSROOMS YOU GO IN, THERE'S A LOT OF TALKING, A LOT OF ACTIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THE TEACHERS WANT.
SOME CLASSES YOU GO IN, SOME TEACHERS ARE MORE STRICT, UM, MORE STRUCTURED AROUND WHAT THEY WANT KIDS TO BE DOING AND, AND DISCUSSING.
SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT, UH, AS WELL.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A, A STUDENT WHO MAY HAVING SOME DISCIPLINARY ISSUES, AND ONCE IT BECOMES CONSTANT AND THE TEACHERS ARE, ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THAT KID, THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER RESOURCES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE SUPPORT.
UM, IS THIS, UH, TEACHER UTILIZING THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR? HAS THE TEACHER CALLED HOME? I, IS THIS, UH, THE, DOES THIS STUDENT NEED TO RE-REFERRED TO THE, UH, STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT? DOES THE STUDENT ALREADY HAVE AN IEP? AND THEN THOUGH THE IEP, UH, SERVICES THAT ARE ON, UH, THE DOCUMENT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN A DIFFERENT WAY? SO, SO EACH CASE IS, IS VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE TEACHERS ARE DIFFERENT AND THE STUDENTS ARE DIFFERENT.
[04:05:01]
THIS TO THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TODAY, UM, THAT HE DOESN'T WANT ANY STUDENT TO BE DISRUPTIVE IN ANY CLASSROOM OR ANY SCHOOL TO WHERE IT'S NEGATIVELY IMPACTING, UH, OTHER STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS OR IN THE SCHOOL IN ITS ENTIRETY.SO THE PRINCIPALS UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHY WE GOT INTO THIS BUSINESS, AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH KIDS THAT WILL CAUSE SOME DISRUPTIONS, AND IT'S HOW WE REACT TO THEM THAT WILL HELP THE STUDENTS TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS.
THERE MAY BE 1% OF STUDENTS THAT WE JUST DO NOT GET THROUGH AFTER TRYING EVERY STRATEGY THAT WE CAN, EVERY SUPPORT THAT WE CAN, EVERY, UH, ADULT IN THAT BUILDING, WORKING WITH THAT STUDENT.
AND THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER RESOURCES AND OPTIONS.
FERGUSON HAS ALREADY, UH, BROUGHT UP, UM, THE VLP PROGRAM.
SO SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO REMOVE A STUDENT FROM BRICK AND MORTAR AND PUT THEM IN THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THEMSELVES AND THE REST OF THE STUDENTS AND ADULTS, UH, IN THE SCHOOL.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT, UH, WE HAVE BEEN DOING.
THAT'S WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO.
AND WE'RE MAKING THE V L P PROGRAM MORE ROBUST TO PROVIDE THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AS YOU ALL PREVIOUSLY, UH, DISCUSSED, I WANNA JUST GIVE KUDOS TO DR.
ELDOR, UH, AND HIS TEAM, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VLP PROGRAM IS EQUIVALENT TO AN A, A BRICK AND MORTAR, UH, ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL, SO THAT ALL THOSE SERVICES ARE THERE.
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE THE FOUR WALLS.
UM, SECOND, I WANNA HONOR WHAT MS. HASSAN SAID ABOUT HER INTERVIEW WITH THE STUDENT WHO STATED THAT THE REASON WHY THERE'S SO MUCH AGGRESSION IS THAT STUDENTS DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANNEL THEIR, UM, THEIR EMOTIONS AND THEIR, UH, SOCIAL SKILLS.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S THAT SEL PROGRAM, AND I HAVE HEARD JUST TALKING WITH TEACHERS AND, AND EVEN SOME PARENTS, THAT MANY STUDENTS DON'T FIND IT MEANINGFUL.
SO I WAS GONNA JUST SUGGEST IF YOU GUYS COULD CREATE SOME KIND OF SURVEY OR, OR SOME KIND OF TOOL TO, TO GAIN SOME FEEDBACK ON IT, BECAUSE IT HAS A LOT OF PROMISE AS WELL OF, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING RIGHT WITH THE SEL PROGRAM, BUT WHAT THE STUDENTS REALLY WANT AND NEED FROM IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD SPECIFICALLY IS THAT THE GROUPS ARE SO LARGE AND THE STUDENTS FEEL SO DISCONNECTED TO THE STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THEIR GROUPS THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM TO BE HONEST AND TO BE OPEN.
UM, MY MY NEXT QUESTION, UM, AGAIN, GIVING TEACHERS AUTONOMY.
I I JUST WANT TO COMMENT THAT THE TEACHERS, THEY ARE THE LEADER OF THOSE CLASSROOMS. THEY GOING TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE TEACHING AND LEARNING.
AND IF THEY, THE LAST THING THEY WANNA DO IS USURP THEIR AUTHORITY TO SOMEONE ELSE.
THEY'RE GOING TO USE EVERY, REMEMBER ALL OF US WHO'VE BEEN TEACHERS, YOU, WE HAD TO GO THROUGH CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, WE HAD TO DO STUDENT TEACHING.
WE HAD TO PROVIDE THAT FEEDBACK.
SO THE TEACHERS ARE GONNA OWN THEIR STUDENTS.
THEY'RE GONNA OWN THEIR STUDENTS AND REALLY SUPPORT, BUT THEIR TIMES WHERE THEY'VE DONE EVERYTHING MR. LUKI, THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY DO, AND THEY HAVE TO THEN TURN TO THAT ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, THAT COUNSELOR, MOST OF 'EM WILL, WILL GO TO THEIR COUNSELOR.
IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M STRUGGLING WITH LITTLE DARL.
HE IS TALKING NONSTOP IN MY CLASSROOM.
HE CAN'T KEEP STILL, AH, THAT'S A SIGNAL SOMETHING MIGHT BE GOING ON WITH LITTLE DAR.
IT MIGHT NOT JUST BE HE'S BEING DEF DEFIANT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE START TALKING.
WHAT'S GOING ON? THE, THE TEACHERS HERE, THE LAST THING THEY WANT TO DO IS KIND OF TURN SOMETHING OVER THAT'S NON-DISCRETIONARY TO AN ADMINISTRATOR.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE TIMES WHERE BEHAVIORS CONTINUE AND THEY'RE GONNA NEED THAT SUPPORT.
WE HAVE COUNSELORS, WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKERS, WE HAVE PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATORS.
UM, AND THAT'S WHERE IT GETS INTO THAT REFERRAL.
WHEN THE TEACHER'S AT, YOU KNOW, I HAD ENOUGH, I NEED SOME SUPPORT, BUT THEY'RE GONNA DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM IN THE CLASSROOM.
AND THEN I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, THERE ARE OTHER STUDENTS WHO MAY STEP UP AS WELL TO SAY TO LITTLE DARRELL, I'M TIRED OF YOU TALKING, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO LEARN.
I'VE SEEN THAT IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHERE FOLKS CAN SELF-ADVOCATE.
SO I JUST WANNA REMIND OUR STAFF, OUR TRAINED PROFESSIONALS, THEY HAD TO BE CERTIFIED.
THE LAST THING THEY WANNA DO IS KIND OF TURN SOMETHING OVER.
BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THEY GOING TO NEED THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
AND THE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT HAPPENS IN THAT BUILDING EXISTS IN THAT BUILDING.
AND THE MORE IMPORTANT PART IS WHEN WE HAVE TO COLLABORATE AS A GROUP, OUR STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM AT THE BUILDING WITH OUR PARENTS TO SAY WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH
[04:10:01]
LITTLE DARL AND LITTLE DARL.IF YOU'RE WATCHING, I'M NOT REFERRING TO YOU, MY SON, CUZ HE ALWAYS GETS MAD WHEN I DO THAT.
UM, SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS, SO IT'S NOT ABOUT LIKE WHAT PARENTS CAN SEE ABOUT OTHER STUDENTS, BUT LIKE, SO IF, IF MY KID GETS A REFERRAL, CAN I SEE THAT IN FOCUS? SO WHEN I LOG IN AND LOOK AT MY KIDS STUFF, CAN I SEE IF MY KID DID SOMETHING THAT GOT A REFERRAL AND MAYBE I DIDN'T GET A PHONE CALL OR I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT? UM, LIKE AS A PARENT, CAN I SEE THE DISCIPLINE REFERRALS FOR MY OWN CHILDREN IN FOCUS? NO.
UM, THE, THE EASY ANSWER IS NO.
UM, THE WAY PARENTS ARE COMMUNICATED WITH IS EITHER BY THE TEACHER.
UH, USUALLY ADMINISTRATORS ALWAYS TELL TEACHERS IF IF STUDENTS DO SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY THE NONDISCRETIONARY, UH, I'M SORRY, THE DISCRETIONARY CONFLICTS OR WHATEVER THE SITUATION IS, WE ALWAYS WANT THEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR PARENT FIRST.
THAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT THEY NEED TO DO PRIOR TO WRITING A REFERRAL, BECAUSE YOU WANT THE INFORMATION COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE TEACHER TO THE PARENT SO THAT THERE IS NO MIDDLEMAN THAT ALLOWS THE PARENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT ALLOWS THE TEACHERS TO GIVE A, UH, VERY ROBUST EXPLANATION OF EXACTLY, UH, WHAT TOOK PLACE.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT ALLOWS THE TEACHER AND THE PARENT TO BUILD A QUALITY RELATIONSHIP.
BUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS NO PARENTS CANNOT SEE, UH, REFERRALS.
MY OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT PROBLEMS CAUSED BY CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS, AND THE BOARD HAS A CELL PHONE POLICY, AND SO I'M WONDERING WHY THERE SEEMS TO BE VARIABILITY IN HOW THE CELL PHONE POLICY IS BEING APPLIED ONE SCHOOL TO THE NEXT.
WITH, WITH REGARDS TO THAT, UM, THE BOARD DOES HAVE A CELL PHONE POLICY.
WILLIAMS TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT.
WE, THAT'S WHERE WE NEED STRONG SUPPORT FROM, UH, THE PARENTS.
UM, AND SOME SCHOOLS GET IT BETTER THAN, THAN OTHER SCHOOLS.
THERE IS A, A MIDDLE SCHOOL UNDER DR.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME WORK WITH THE CELL PHONES.
THE PARENTS HAVE BEEN SO COOPERATIVE, AND WE'RE SEEING AN IMPROVEMENT IN NOT ONLY GRADES, BUT ALSO OVERALL GRADE POINT AVERAGES, UH, IN THAT SCHOOL.
BUT THERE ARE SOME, UM, SITUATIONS, SOME COMMUNITIES WHERE THE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IS, UM, VERY, VERY GOOD.
AND THERE'S SOME WHERE THE PRINCIPALS ARE WORKING HARD TO INCREASE, UH, PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.
BUT IN, IN, IN SOME INSTANCES, AND I JUST HAVE TO SAY THIS, KIDS, KIDS' BEHAVIOR MAR UM, MIRRORED THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR PARENTS.
UM, SO, SO WE'VE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASE IN OVERALL NEGATIVE, UH, PARENTAL BEHAVIOR IN, IN SOME INSTANCES.
UH, SO, AND WE DISCUSSED THAT NOT ONLY, UH, WITH, UH, DR.
ARCHEN, BUT WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED THAT WITH, UH, DR.
BOROUGH IN OUR WEEKLY, UH, MEETINGS WITH HER.
SO WE'RE WORKING, UH, THROUGH THAT TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO INCREASE THAT PARENTAL SUPPORT, UH, AROUND THAT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU DON'T WANNA START JUST THROWING OUT SUSPENSIONS, PUTTING KIDS OUTTA SCHOOL OVER OVER CELL PHONES, BUT IT, IT IS A, THERE IS A NEGATIVE IMPACT WITH THE INCREASE, UH, IN CELL PHONE OVER THE LAST, UH, DECADE, UH, OR SO.
BUT SOME SCHOOLS ARE DOING IT A LOT BETTER THAN OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE PARENTAL SUPPORT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK AT TO ENSURE THAT, UH, ALL OF THE SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTED IMPLEMENT THE POLICY AS ROBUSTLY AS EXPECTED.
AND THAT'S AN AREA THIS SUMMER WE REALLY FOCUSED ON BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE POLICY WAS.
SO WE'VE ENCOURAGED AND REALLY PUSHED PRINCIPALS TO DISCUSS THAT AT, AT THE STUDENT LEVEL AND THE TEACHER LEVEL SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ONE CLASS IS BEING SUPPORTED IN ANOTHER.
I THINK THAT'S AN AREA WE HAVE SEEN STRIDES WITH THIS YEAR.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WHAT WE NEED IS TO BE COMMUNICATING MORE WITH PARENTS.
I THINK IT'S COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO COMMUNICATING FROM, FROM IN WITHIN THE SCHOOLS AS WELL.
SO STUDENTS KNOW WHAT'S EXPECTED, TEACHERS KNOW WHAT'S EXPECTED.
AND THAT HAS BEEN AN AREA OF FOCUS IN OUR WORK WITH TABCO TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THAT INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED.
STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN ENOUGH INDICATIONS IN RESEARCH IN DIFFERENT THINGS IS THAT WHEN SOMETIMES WHEN THESE FIGHTS BREAK OUT IN SCHOOLS, THE THINGS THAT TEACHERS WOULD'VE SEEN, LIKE BACK IN OUR DAY WHEN WE PASSED NOTES OR GOT
[04:15:01]
INTO AN ARGUMENT ARE HAPPENING IN TEXT MESSAGE AND THEY'RE HAPPENING ON THE PHONE.SO THE SCHOOL STAFF DOESN'T SEE THE TRIGGERS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, TWO KIDS JUST GET UP AND START POUNDING ON EACH OTHER.
WELL, WHAT, HOW DO YOU GET FROM SITTING IN CHAIRS TO, AND IT'S HAPPENING ON THE CELL PHONES.
SO IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IMPLEMENTING THAT CELL PHONE POLICY COULD REDUCE THE VIOLENCE A LOT.
I, WELL, IT'S ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA, MISS MS. ROWE.
SO CELL, IT'S CELL PHONE, SOCIAL MEDIA, BLOGS, THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE HAPPENING ONE PLACE AND IT TRICKLES TO ANOTHER LOCATION.
IT'S ALL ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATION.
AND TO FOLLOW UP ON MR. O'S QUESTION, AND MR. MUSTER, YOU MAY HAVE ANSWERED THIS PARTIALLY, IS WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT ENTIRE SCHOOLS ARE TEACHERS, ENTIRE SCHOOLS ARE BEING TOLD, DON'T PUT THOSE REFERRALS IN AT THAT FIRST CONTACT.
DON'T WRITE THOSE REFERRALS, DON'T ENTER THEM IN FOCUS VERSUS CONTACT THE PARENT FIRST.
YOUR FIRST STEP IS TO CONTACT THE PARENT.
I HAD NOT HEARD THAT UNTIL YOU JUST SAID THAT RIGHT NOW.
INSTEAD, IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ADVISING TEACHERS TO DO INSTEAD OF PUTTING THE REFERRALS IN IN CONJUNCTION.
SO WHEN A, WHEN A TEACHER WRITES A REFERRAL OR WHEN THE TEACHER'S DEALING WITH THE DISCIPLINARY ISSUE THEMSELVES, YOU WANT THEM TO CONTACT THE PARENTS TO PREVENT REPEATED THINGS, UH, FROM HAPPENING.
SO THERE SHOULD BE COMMUNICATION IF THERE, IF THERE'S A FIGHT IN A CLASSROOM, FOR INSTANCE, THAT THAT SHOULD REFERRAL, THAT'S GOING RIGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATOR.
THE ADMINISTRATOR IS DEALING WITH IT.
BUT IT, BUT IF YOU'RE HAVING, UH, ISSUES WITH STUDENTS IN CLASSES, UM, THAT WE WOULD CALL MINOR INFRACTIONS, THE TEACHER SHOULD BE THE, THE PERSON THAT COMMUNICATES WITH THE PARENT, EVEN IF THEY THEN FOLLOW THAT UP, UH, WITH THE REFERRAL.
BECAUSE THE, THE STUDENTS THAT DO THE BEST HAVE THE TEACHERS AND THE PARENTS WHO HAVE A QUALITY RELATIONSHIP.
AND SO WE NEED THE TEACHERS TO DEVELOP THOSE, UH, RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PARENTS.
BUT, BUT WE ALSO NEED THE TEACHERS TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE KIDS.
BUT THERE WILL BE SOME ACTIONS THAT, THAT STUDENTS WILL GET INVOLVED IN THAT THE REFERRALS HAVE TO GO RIGHT TO THE ADMINISTRATORS.
AND, AND, AND WE DO NOT EXPECT THE TEACHERS, UH, TO BE IN CONTACT WITH THE PARENTS, UH, LIKE FIGHTING LIKE A WEAPON, UM, LIKE CONTRABAND.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT HAVE TO GO RIGHT TO, UH, THE ADMINISTRATORS.
SO HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE REFERRALS AREN'T BEING ENTERED WHEN THOSE MINOR INFRACTIONS HAVE ADDED UP, AND LET'S SAY THEY BECOME CHRONIC AND LITTLE DARYL'S RUNNING WILD AND, AND IN, IN EVERY CLASS HE'S ON THE RADAR.
IN MS. D LUKI AND MS. CAI'S CLASS AND MS. ROSE'S CLASS, THOSE, THOSE HAVE REPEATED AND HE'S A DISRUPTION NOW TO THE ENTIRE THIRD GRADE.
AND HE'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE.
AND, AND, AND IF IT'S NOT BEING ENTERED, HOW IS THAT? YES, MA'AM.
AND, AND, AND MS. MUSTER, YOU CAN CERTAINLY ADD, BUT I WANTED TO JUST BRING EVERYONE'S ATTENTION BACK TO MS. LEWIS'S REMARKS WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT THE REFERRAL PROCESS AND THAT WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO ENGAGE IN TEACHER MANAGE BEHAVIORS AND STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER HAPPENS IN A CLASSROOM THAT MAY BE MINOR.
AGAIN, THAT IS A STUDENT WHO IS TALKING PERHAPS THE FIRST TIME YOU TRY TO CORRECT THAT STUDENT, YOU REACH OUT TO THE PARENT, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY THIS CHILD IS SPEAKING IN CLASS, OUT OF TURN IS DISRUPTING THE OTHER STUDENTS.
THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ADDRESS.
BUT WHAT MISS, I HEARD MS. LEWIS SAY, AND I WANNA REPEAT JUST FOR THE GOOD OF THE GROUP, IS THAT IF THAT BEHAVIOR IS REPEATED OR IT IS ACUTE, AND SO I WANNA JUST SHARE THAT DISTINCTION.
IF IT'S CHRONIC AND IT CONTINUES TO DISRUPT AND IT'S HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON THE, UH, ON THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT, WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE TEACHERS TO WRITE THAT REFERRAL.
IF IT IS ACUTE, MEANING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS DEMONSTRABLY DISRUPTIVE, THAT HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE, THERE'S NO NEED TO GO THROUGH THAT.
YOU IMMEDIATELY REFER TO, YOU REFER THAT TO THE, UH, TO THE ADMINISTRATION.
SO I WANNA MAKE THAT DISTINCTION BECAUSE WE HEAR STORIES AND, AND WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS WHOLE SCHOOLS ARE BEING TOLD NOT TO WRITE A REFERRAL.
WHEN I BELIEVE WHAT I HEAR MR. MUSTER SAYING, WHAT I KNOW THAT I HEARD MS. LEWIS SAY IS THAT TEACHERS, BECAUSE IT IS DISCRETIONARY, TEACHERS ARE ASKED TO INTERVENE IF IT IS MINOR, AND TO ADDRESS IT FIRST, IF IT IS REPEATED TO REFER.
AND IF IT IS ACUTE AND THAT IS THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT, WHICH WE RESPECT GREATLY, THEN THEY MAY REFER.
AND SO I THINK WE JUST NEED TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NO BAR ON A TEACHER REFERRING, BUT I DO THINK THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT TEACHERS WILL MANAGE THEIR CLASSROOMS FOR SOME OF THESE LOW LEVEL BEHAVIORS.
[04:20:01]
I WILL TELL YOU, THE TEACHERS ARE INDEED REFERRING BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN BALLOONING REFERRALS.I MEAN, I CAN AS ONE WHO REVIEWS THEM WEEKLY.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF REFERRALS, BUT WE DO EXPECT TEACHERS TO MANAGE LOW LEVEL BEHAVIORS FIRST AND TO USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT IF IT IS REPEATED OR IF IT IS ACUTE.
AND WE CAN CERTAINLY HAVE CONVERSATIONS IF NEED BE.
IF TEACHERS ARE BEING DIRECTED REGARDLESS OF THAT TO NOT REFER, THEN I DO THINK THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO INTERVENE AND SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THOSE SCHOOLS AND INSTANCES.
I KNOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS WOULD NOT HESITATE TO GO IN AND CORRECT THAT.
UM, MR. MUST, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD.
EVERYTHING YOU SAID WAS WONDERFUL.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE LOOK AT BOTH ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM MM-HMM.
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A RED FLAG IN EITHER DIRECTION, RIGHT? THAT SOMETHING IS A MESS.
SO I WILL JUST SHARE, THANK YOU FOR THAT, MS. AND I WILL JUST SHARE THAT THE REFERRAL DATA IS FOR, YOU KNOW, AND, AND I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAM AS WELL AS THE ADVISORY GROUP TO LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES TELL A STORY.
AND I THINK THAT COMPLETE DATA SET WHERE WE'RE SAYING THAT ANY BEHAVIORAL INFRACTIONS NEED TO BE ENTERED INTO FOCUS, WE CAN LOOK TO SEE WHAT, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM, HOW MANY INSTANCES OF THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR ARE WE SEEING, HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT BY GRADE LEVEL? HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT BY TIME OF DAY? HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT BY SUBJECT MATTER, I MEAN, ALL OF THIS PAINTS A PICTURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A SCHOOL BUILDING AND ALLOWS A SCHOOL LEADER AND SCHOOL TEAMS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT.
DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF OUR, YOU KNOW, SCHEDULE, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT? DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF OUR DEPLOYMENT OF OUR SAFETY ASSISTANCE, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THESE ARE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS THAT THE DATA PROMPTS US TO ASK.
AND SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO EXPLORE THAT.
UH, CERTAINLY TO YOUR POINT ON THAT OPPOSITE END, IF WE'RE SEEING A GREAT DEAL OF REFERRALS AROUND WHAT MAY BE LOW LEVEL BEHAVIORS, PERHAPS THAT SIGNALS THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
IF WE'RE SEEING A LACK OF REFERRALS, BUT WE KNOW THAT THE BEHAVIOR IS PROBLEMATIC, THEN PERHAPS WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT TEACHERS ARE RETICENT TO, TO PUT THOSE REFERRALS IN.
BUT THAT IS, THAT IS EXACTLY THE CONVERSATION I HEAR WHEN I SIT DOWN ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND WHAT I'M HOPING TO HEAR.
WE INVITE SOME OF OUR, UH, MULTI-STAKEHOLDER GROUPS TO COME TOGETHER AS PART OF THE ADVISORY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE TOGETHER.
AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE SUPPORTS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S WONDERFUL TO ENCOURAGE THAT CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND TO PROVIDE OUR TEACHERS WITH THOSE SUPPORTS TO HANDLE A LITTLE ON THEIR OWN.
BUT WHEN THEY CAN'T, ABSOLUTELY.
THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED THOSE SUPPORTS.
AND WE CAN'T POSITION IT TO BE PUNITIVE TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED THE HELP, YOU'RE GONNA GET IT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA PUNISH YOU FOR ASKING FOR IT, AND WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT AVAILABLE, AND WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE YOU JUMP THROUGH 500 HOOPS TO GET IT.
UM, I'VE TALKED TO COUNSELORS THAT HAVE SAID, LITTLE DARRELL NEEDS AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT, AND I'M SORRY, I'M NOT HOOK ON YOU OR YOUR SON.
I PROMISE THAT'S TOO TEMPTING.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, WE, AND WE HAVE TO DO IT WHEN, WHEN THEY NEED IT.
SO I JUST WANNA REMIND THE BOARD, THIS IS THE WORK THAT HAPPENS IN EVERY SCHOOL WHEN WE GET A DATA POINT.
YOU ALL ARE ASSIMILATING THE CONVERSATIONS AT EVERY SCHOOL TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE STAFF, HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THE TEACHER, HOW WE INVOLVE THE, THE, THE FAMILY.
ARE THERE OUTLIERS? ARE WE SEEING A LOW LEVEL, NOT ENOUGH REFERRALS ARE RECEIVING TOO MANY.
ARE WE SEEING A PARTICULAR BEHAVIOR? THAT IS WHAT I LOVE IT WHEN YOU ALL DO THIS, I SAID THIS BEFORE, YOU ARE ASSIMILATING THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE CABINET LEVEL.
YOU'RE SIMULATING THE WORK THAT HAPPENS IN EVERY SCHOOL.
THIS IS WHAT OUR PRINCIPALS AND THEIR SUPPORT TEAMS DO TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROVIDE THAT POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
THEY HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO ONCE AGAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, WE CAN BE HERE FOR HOURS LOOKING AT THIS, BUT, BUT, BUT I JUST WANNA REFERENCE, I CAN'T NOT SAY THIS IS THE WORK OF THE SCHOOLS.
IT'S ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING.
BUT THEY, THEY ALSO SPEND THE TIME ABOUT LOOKING AT THAT CLIMATE AND CULTURE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS, IS SAFE AND SECURE.
AND WHEN THEY'RE NOT, BELIEVE YOU, ME, THEY'RE ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE ASKING THE QUESTIONS OF DR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA AND WE'RE PROBLEM SOLVING, AND WE HAVE SOME GOOD NEXT STEPS TO REALLY HAVE OUR STAKEHOLDERS INVOLVED TO LOOK AT JUST WHAT YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
IF IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT BEING, AGAIN, I THINK ALL STAFF MEMBERS, AGAIN, THEY HAVE TO BE CERTIFIED.
THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THEY HAVE TO TAKE, BUT IF THERE'S NOT THERE, THEY'RE NOT HAVING THOSE, THOSE STRATEGIES, THEY GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT.
SOMETIMES THE RELUCTANCE MAY BE NOT WANTING TO SHARE THAT.
I THINK I MIGHT NOT BE DOING SOMETHING SUCCESSFUL IN MY CLASSROOM.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE PUTTING THOSE SUPPORTS IN PLACE TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT.
[04:25:02]
IT'S GETTING LATE, SO I'M GONNA BE VERY SHORT AND TO THE POINT.UM, THIS HAS BEEN FANTASTIC INFORMATION.
UH, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
THE, THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA, SOCIAL MEDIA FIGHTS, BALTIMORE COUNTY, UH, ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE IMPRESSION.
BUT MY QUESTION IS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE DATA EVERY DAY.
ARE YOU SEEING TRENDS OF THIS? IS IT GROWING? IS IT GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION? IS IS THIS, IS IT TRUE? ARE THERE MORE AND MORE FIGHTS ACROSS, UH, VARIOUS SCHOOLS OR IN SPECIFIC SCHOOLS? ARE ARE WE SEEING THIS? OR WHAT, WHAT IS THE REAL EXPERIENCE? SO, TO, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, IT, IT, IT VARIES HONESTLY.
UH, IT, THAT, THAT IS THE HONEST ANSWER.
WE, WE CAN HAVE, UM, A SCHOOL WHERE THEY, IT CAN, A MONTH CAN GO BY AND THERE ARE NO ISSUES.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE WEEK HAPPENS AND YOU CAN HAVE MULTIPLE INCIDENTS, UH, UH, DURING, DURING THAT WEEK.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE MONITORING THE DATA CLOSELY.
UM, AS MS. CHARLIE GREEN DISCUSSED, WE KNOW THE REFERRALS, THERE IS A UPTICK IN REFERRALS.
TWO THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE.
THERE'S AN UPTICK IN REFERRALS.
THERE'S BEEN AN UPTICK IN THE BEHAVIORS OF, OF PARENTS, UH, THAT WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH.
UM, SOME OF THE STUDENTS IN THE CELL PHONES, UH, AS MS. ROW TALKED ABOUT, UH, THERE, THERE'VE BEEN FIGHTING IN SCHOOL SINCE I WAS IN SCHOOL.
NOW THE, THE STUDENTS ARE VIDEOTAPING THOSE INCIDENTS AND SOMETIMES THEY POST THEM INSTANTLY.
BUT WHAT WE'VE ALSO REALIZED IS THAT SOMETIMES YOU SEE FIGHTS THAT HAPPEN IN SCHOOL AND THEY HAPPEN HAPPENED YEARS AGO.
SO WE ALSO ARE MANAGING THAT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO A AS OUR PARENTS ARE SEEING THESE FIGHTS AND WE'RE, WHEN WE'RE GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THEM, THOSE THINGS HAPPEN IN, IN, IN 2018.
NO, I, I I DON'T WANT TO, I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER, BUT I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT SHORT AND KEEP MY QUESTIONS SHORT.
SO ARE YOU SEEING AN UPTICK IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS ACROSS THE ORGANIZA, ACROSS PCPS? YEAH.
WE'RE, WE'RE SEEING A, WE'RE SEEING A UPTICK IN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING A, A UPTICK IN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT THAT IS NEEDED BY STUDENTS AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE REAL.
UH, THE PANDEMIC DID SOME DAMAGE TO SOME STUDENTS, AND WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORTS, UH, THAT THEY NEED.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS TO ENSURE.
SO THE, THE WONDERFUL THING THAT YOU ALL DID AS A BOARD, YOU GAVE US, GAVE US ACCESS TO MORE SCHOOL COUNSELORS.
WE NOW HAVE MORE P PWS WE'RE UTILIZING OUR SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS THAT SOME OF OUR STUDENTS CAME BACK TO SCHOOL WITH HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THAN THINGS THAT WE'VE EVER DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, RIGHT NOW.
SO WE ARE ALL, ALL OF THE ADULTS, UH, WE HAVE TO ADJUST THE WAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING SCHOOL OVER THE YEARS TO MEET THEIR CURRENT NEEDS.
UM, SO, SO THAT'S HOW I, I WOULD ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, IN OUR SCHOOLS.
DO WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN, IN FIGHTING? UH, WE, WE, WE CAN'T.
WE ARE SAYING WE DO, WE HAVE FIGHTING IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES.
BUT NOW THE FIGHTING GOES ON VIDEOTAPE WHERE IT DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS, UH, IN A SCHOOL, WE HAVE FIGHTS AT THAT TIME, UH, AS WELL.
BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH, THE INCREASES IN THE STUDENTS WHO NEED MENTAL HEALTH, WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE DEMANDS ON THE ADULTS IN THE SCHOOLS, HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED TO SUPPORT THOSE STUDENTS.
AND, AND I'D LIKE TO JUST ADD SOMETHING, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, MR. MUSTER AND I WILL JUST SHARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING, UM, IN, IN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF REGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS WE'VE SEEN ARE DOWN.
THEY'RE NOT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
UM, IT'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
IT'S STILL CONCERNING BECAUSE BY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, WE MEAN THE FIGHTS, WE MEAN WHAT WE TERM PHYSICAL ASSAULTS.
AND SO IT IS CONCERNING BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S STILL TOO MUCH.
AND SO I, UH, ON OCTOBER 25TH, DR.
WILLIAMS SENT A LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE HE REFERENCED THAT DATA.
AND I KNOW FOR SOME THAT DATA WAS NOT SATISFYING BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD A 10 OR 11% DECREASE DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FIGHTS.
AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
AND SO TO POINT TO WHAT, UH, MR. MUSTER WAS
[04:30:01]
TALKING ABOUT, THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, WE'VE CORRESPONDINGLY SEEN THAT RISE AS WELL.BUT WE DO BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND WE DO BELIEVE WITH A CONCERTED ATTENTION OF ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE IMPLEMENTATION.
WE'RE EDUCATING OUR PARENTS, WE'RE INCLUDING OUR PARTNERS.
AND THEN AS A COLLECTIVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT DATA AND SAYING, MM, THAT'S NOT WORKING.
SO, SHORT ANSWER TO YOU, THE BEHAVIORS ARE DOWN FROM LAST YEAR.
UM, THEY ARE TOO HIGH AND THE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS ARE CONCERNING.
I HOPE THAT IS SOMEWHAT AN ANSWER.
I KNOW IT'S GETTING LATE, MR. K, BUT KEEP IN MIND OUR SCHOOLS ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THE THE ONE THING I WILL SAY, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY EXECUTIVE AS WE HAVE OUR BALTIMORE COUNTY STAT, AND WE LOOK AT DATA, WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN A PARTICULAR AREA, NOT ONLY IN THE SCHOOL, BUT ALSO THAT COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE, WE KNOW THE SCHOOL IS JUST NOT AN ISLAND TO ITSELF.
AND SO THAT COLLABORATION IS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND IT GETS TO THOSE RESOURCES, UH, FOR STUDENTS, FOR FAMILIES.
IT GETS TO WHAT'S, WHAT'S LACKING IN THIS PARTICULAR COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF FOOD AND ACCESS.
IT'S ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
SO WE JUST DON'T DO THIS BY OURSELVES.
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE FOLKS TO COME IN, BUT WE ALSO GO OUT TO THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SAY, WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IS THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THAT COMMUNITY.
SO THEY ANSWERED THE QUESTION, BUT I JUST COULD NOT LET THAT GO.
THAT HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH THE FOLKS IN THE, IN, IN BALTIMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING AT THEIR DATA AS A COUNTY, TO REALLY HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND TO STRATEGIZE WHAT WE MAY DO DIFFERENTLY, WHAT RESOURCES MAY WE NEED.
THOSE ARE OUR MONTHLY OR QUARTERLY SESSIONS.
WE HAVE WITH WHAT, WHAT'S CALLED A BC STAT.
I DO HAVE TO ADD, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE SCHOOLS, THERE'S A POSITIVITY THIS SCHOOL YEAR THAT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
EVERY TIME WE DEAL WITH A FIGHT OR A SERIOUS INCIDENT, IT, IT'S A BLOW TO THAT.
BUT THE STUDENTS RETURNING THIS YEAR, IT WAS TRULY SPECIAL.
AND, AND WE ARE, WE ARE IN A TRAJECTORY WHERE THINGS ARE IMPROVING.
THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE REAL.
FOLKS ARE SAYING IT'S GONNA BE YEARS BEFORE WE GET BACK TO WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
BUT I DON'T WANT THAT LOST BECAUSE I THINK IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
THE STUDENTS, THE RETURN TO SCHOOL THIS YEAR, THE ENERGY WAS INCREDIBLY POSITIVE.
WE'RE TALKING A LOT ABOUT THE EXTREMES, THE SITUATIONS WE DON'T WANT, WE'RE NOT TALKING ENOUGH ABOUT THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND I, I, I'M FALLING INTO THAT TRAP TOO.
WE'VE GOTTA GET BACK TO WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU ALL SAW THE EQUITY, UH, COMMITTEES REPORT THAT CAME OUT AND IT, IT HAD THE SUSPENSION RATES IN THERE, AND IT SHOWED THAT BLACK ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HAD LIKE A SUSPENSION RATE 1.9% HIGHER THAN THEIR PEERS.
THAT GAP INCREASED TO 10.8% AND 6.9 PERCENTAGE POINTS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL RESPECTIVELY.
AND IT WAS SAYING THAT THE CHILDREN WHO WERE MOST IMPACTED WERE LIKE AFRICAN AMERICAN, BLACK, HISPANIC, LATINO, AMERICAN INDIAN, WHO MAKE UP LIKE 54% OF THE, OF THE, UM, COUNTY STUDENTS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHEN THESE SUSPENSIONS HAPPEN AND CONSIDERING THAT THEY'RE BEING FELT, OR, OR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO ARE BEING IMPACTED ARE, UM, FROM, UM, VARIOUS INDIGENOUS MINORITY OR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BEFORE, IF, IF, IF WE KNOW THIS IS A TREND BECAUSE WE KNOW THIS IS WHAT THE DATA HAS SHOWN US BEFORE A SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY LIKE A LONG TERM SUSPENSION HAPPENS, DO THOSE GO LIKE TO DR.
WILLIAMS OR TO SOMEBODY IN THE ADMINISTRATION TO REVIEW BEFORE THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUSPENDED? THANK YOU.
SO IF IT'S A LONG TERM SUSPENSION, UM, IF A STUDENT IS SUSPENDED TO THE STUDENT CONDUCT HEARING OFFICER, THEN YES, THAT GOES, THAT'S LIKE A BOARD SUSPENSION.
SO THAT'S REVIEWED AHEAD OF TIME.
UM, BUT I WANNA GO BACK TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DR.
[04:35:01]
SAID, PART OF THE, THE SIT COMMITTEE, SIT SUSPENSION COMMITTEE'S WORK IS ACTUALLY TO LOOK AT DISPROPORTIONALITY IN, IN STUDENT DISCIPLINE.SO THAT'S PART OF OUR CHARGE IS TO DISRUPT THAT, WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT OUR MARGINALIZED STUDENTS BEING SUSPENDED MORE THAN, UM, THEIR, THEIR, UM, THEIR WHITE PEERS, BASICALLY.
SO THAT'S PART OF OUR WORK IS TO LOOK AT THAT AS WELL AND TO, AND TO, AND TO DISRUPT IT.
SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH ADMINISTRATORS TO SAY, OKAY, SO LET'S LOOK AT YOUR DATA.
UM, WE'RE SEEING THAT YOU'RE SUSPENDING MORE BLACK AND BROWN STUDENTS AS OPPOSED TO YOUR WHITE STUDENTS.
LET'S LOOK AT WHY YOU'RE SUSPENDING YOUR STUDENTS AND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHERE IT'S HAPPENING AND WHO'S WRITING THE REFERRALS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET UNDERNEATH THAT TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING BEHIND THAT.
UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ALL OF US HAVE BIAS, ALL OF US HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES, BUT WHAT WE WANNA DO IS GET BEHIND THAT, GET UNDERNEATH THAT, WHAT'S CAUSING THAT? IS THERE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THAT CLASSROOM FOR THOSE BLACK AND BROWN BOYS? AND, AND IT'S NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
SO THAT'S PART OF THE WORK OF THE SIT COMMITTEE AS WELL.
WE HAVE MR. HANDY ON OUR COMMITTEE.
WE HAD MS. MYERS ON OUR COMMITTEE TO, TO KIND OF, UM, IN SPECIAL EDUCATION TO TALK ABOUT, CUZ THAT'S ALSO SPECIAL SERVICES IS ANOTHER GROUP WHERE WE WE'RE SEEING THOSE SUSPENSIONS.
SO WE WE'RE HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISRUPT THAT.
HOW CAN WE WORK WITH OUR ADULTS TO DISRUPT THAT TYPE OF, UM, THOSE SUSPENSIONS.
REAL QUICK, I WANNA MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS, BRIEF QUESTIONS.
IN MY 25 YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I WROTE VERY FEW REFERRALS.
SO IT WAS, IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WAS OVERLOOKING BEHAVIOR.
I WAS EVER TRYING TO EXPAND MY, WHAT I CALL BAG OF TRICKS, MY STUDENT MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP.
I HAD MORE ISSUES WITH KIDS IN THE HALLWAY THAN I DID IN MY CLASSROOM BECAUSE I WAS BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.
AND IT WAS A WHOLE LOT BETTER THE LAST FIVE YEARS OF MY CAREER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAN I WAS THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
AND, BUT WHEN, WHEN I WROTE SOMETHING AND I SENT IT TO THE OFFICE, I EXPECTED SOMETHING DONE BECAUSE I'D TAKEN CARE OF ALL THESE OTHERS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I NEED SOME HELP WITH SOMETHING MAJOR, I, I EXPECT, I EXPECT SOMEBODY TO STEP UP AND HELP ME.
I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, HOW MANY ARE IN A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HOW MANY ARE IN A HIGH SCHOOL? SO IT'S BASED ON ENROLLMENT.
AND SO THE SMALLER SCHOOLS WOULD HAVE TWO AND IT GOES UP TO FIVE WITH OUR LARGER SCHOOLS.
AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THE BASE ALLOCATION WHERE THERE WERE SITUATIONS WHERE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT WAS NEEDED, ADDITIONAL SAFETY ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN PROVIDED THERE.
THIS MORNING AT APPROXIMATELY NINE 30, I GOT A REPORT, UH, FROM A PERSON IN THE BUILDING THAT SAID THAT THE NUMBER OF STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANTS AT, AT GENERAL JOHN STRICKER, UH, DRASTICALLY DECREASED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT SEVERAL LEFT, JUST WALKED OUT FOR WHATEVER REASONS? AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE NO DOWN, ARE NOW DOWN LOWER AFTER THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, INCREASED TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE BEHAVIOR IN THE SCHOOL.
SO STRICKER WAS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED, I BELIEVE, ALLOCATED TWO, AND THEN THAT WAS INCREASED TO THREE.
I BELIEVE THEY JUST BROUGHT ON THEIR THIRD PERSON.
IF A THIRD PERSON HAS COME ON, I THINK WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT WAS PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL IN THE SHORT TERM TO HELP THEM ADDRESS SOME OF THE ISSUES IN THE SCHOOL.
THAT WAS NOT OUR STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
THAT WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SUPPORT THAT WAS BROUGHT IN.
SO THAT SUPPORT IS NO LONGER AT STRICKER.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WAS REFERENCED IN WHAT YOU HEARD.
VERY, THEY NOT LOST THEIR STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR MEMBERS? NO.
WELL, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[N. INFORMATION (10:40 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS INFORMATION ITEMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER, 2022 AND THE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAM'S UPDATE.[O. BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES (10:40 - 10:55 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES.WE'LL START WITH THE AUDIT COMMITTEE.
MR. MCMILLAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THE BOARD'S AUDIT COMMITTEE MET ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2022.
AT THAT TIME, THE COMMU COMMITTEE ACCEPTED THE AUDIT OFFICES' FY 2022 RECORDS MANAGEMENT AUDIT REPORT.
THE REPORT RECOMMENDED THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF THE 2018 RECORDS DESTRUCTION BAND.
THIS RECOMMENDATION IS BEING FORWARDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
I MOVE THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
[04:40:01]
AND IMMEDIATELY LIFT THE RECORDS DESTRUCTION BAND.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION MRS. KAZI? THAT MR. K? MR. K, THANK YOU.
UM, I, I, I KIND OF QUESTION AND, AND MAYBE YOU CAN SPEAK TO IT, UM, MR. MCMILLAN, BUT WHAT, WHAT ARE THE MAIN CONCERNS AND WHAT DOES, WHAT DOES THE BAND ENCOMPASS? IS IT THAT, THAT WE'RE LIFTING? ARE WE KEEPING SOME OF IT IN PLACE, OR IS IT ALL JUST LIFTED AND, AND WE'RE MOVING TO SOME OTHER PROGRAM? OR, UM, I WANNA KNOW WHAT IT'S REPLACED WITH, IF ANYTHING.
I'M CURIOUS IF MS. BARR IS AN ATTENDANCE ON THIS MEETING.
AT THE LAST BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE, THERE WAS A, A CONTRACT FOR EXPANDING THE, THE WAREHOUSE SPACE.
AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT REVOLVED AROUND SPACE FOR RECORDS.
AND IT WAS, I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT NUMBER, THE EXACT PRICE OF IT, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST EVER ACCUMULATING BOXES OF WHATEVER.
AND SOMETIMES, IN FACT, THE, THE DISCUSSION CAME UP BUILDING A CONTRACTS THAT, UH, WE WERE RUNNING OUTTA SPACE SO MUCH THAT A LOT OF THE RECORDS WERE IN THE HALLWAYS AT SCHOOLS AND JUST TYING UP SPACE THERE.
SO IF IT'S A SPACE ISSUE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT THAT'S AT STAKE.
I WAS IN THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I RECALL VERY SPECIFICALLY THE DISCUSSION THAT 80% OF THE RECORDS THAT ARE IN THE WAREHOUSE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY LIFTING ANY BAN.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 20% OF THE RECORDS IN THE WAREHOUSE.
SO I GUESS MY, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS, BUT I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF US UNDERSTANDING IT BETTER AND, AND MAYBE SHARE, YOU KNOW, REVIEWING THE REPORT OR HAVING A FULL DISCUSSION, UH, ABOUT THIS PROBLEM OR PERCEIVED PROBLEM.
BECAUSE I, I DON'T AGREE THAT IT IS A PROBLEM.
UM, AND THAT SPECIFIC CONTRACT WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, WAS FOR MANY, MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO BE STORED THERE, NOT JUST RECORDS.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I DON'T KNOW CUZ THAT WAS JUST THROWN OUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT PERHAPS WAS IN THE AUDIT REPORT THAT LED TO THIS, THIS, THIS, UH, MOTION.
SO, UH, UM, THAT'S WHY I WAS ASKING THE QUESTION.
IF I MAY ADD SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
MR. K, THAT THE BAND REQUIRES US TO KEEP EVERYTHING.
THE TEAM STARTED WITH THE LAW OFFICE AND THEN WE HIRED MR. O GUSTO.
WE LOOKED AT A SCHEDULE OF ROTATING THINGS DIGITALLY AND THINGS THAT COULD BE, UH, DISCARDED.
THE BAND THAT WAS PLACED, I WANT TO SAY JANUARY OF 2019 PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL, UH, REQUIRED MANY OFFICES TO JUST KEEP EVERYTHING AND IN KEEPING EVERYTHING THAT HAS CAUSED THIS ACCUMULATION OF DOCUMENTS.
SO IT'S NOT THAT TOMORROW WE GONNA JUST START GETTING RID OF THINGS.
EVERY EVERY OFFICE HAS A SCHEDULE.
SCHOOLS HAVE A SCHEDULE IN WHICH THINGS ARE CATEGORIZED, THINGS ARE HELD, UH, FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
UM, SOME CAN BE BOXED AND SOME CAN BE DIGITIZED.
UM, AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING LOOKING AT THAT REPORT FROM THE INTERNAL AUDIT RIGHT NOW.
UH, IF I REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO, WE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD JUST WHAT WE WERE LOOKING LIKE AND KEEPING EVERYTHING.
AND AT SOME POINT THE QUESTION IS, DO WE CONTINUE TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE FOR A PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT HAPPENED IN 2018? NOW THAT WE HAVE A SCHEDULE, IT WAS APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND ARCHIVIST.
UM, IT'S BEEN VETTED THROUGH LAW.
WE HAVE A SCHEDULE TO THEN START BACK IF WE NEED TO, UM, UH, DISCARD ITEMS. UM, THERE'S A PROPER WAY AND A TIMELY WAY OF DOING THAT.
THAT'S WHAT THE TEAM, THAT'S WHAT YOU CHARGED US TO LOOK AT.
WE HAD INTERNAL AUDIT TO LOOK AT OUR PROCESS AND LOOKING AT THAT REPORT, THEY
[04:45:01]
MADE THE RECOMMENDATION AT SOME POINT.AND I THINK IT CAME UP AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT A CONTRACT.
YOU KNOW, MY RECOMMENDATION WAS TO THE BOARD.
WE HAVE PUT THINGS IN PLACE, UH, AS A SAFEGUARD, BUT RIGHT NOW TO HAVE THE BAN, IT LITERALLY MEANS WE'RE KEEPING EVERYTHING.
AND THERE'S SOME CASES WE JUST DON'T NEED TO KEEP EVERY LITTLE PIECE OF PAPER.
WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU, I'M SORRY.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE CONTEXT THAT WAS EXPLAINED AND THAT WHAT I'VE READ AND WHAT I'VE SO HEARD, UH, FROM THE INTERNAL AUDIT THAT IT WAS A LEGITIMATE, I THINK IT'S A LEGITIMATE RECOMMENDATION.
I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK IT'S JUST LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE, THE CHANGE IS GONNA NECESSITATE AND FULLY UNDERSTANDING THE SCHEDULE.
SO AT THIS MOMENT, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT DEMOTION.
I DEFINITELY COULD SUPPORT IT IN THE FUTURE.
I'M NOT AGAINST GETTING RID OF STUFF WE DON'T NEED.
UM, BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK REVIEWING AND UNDERSTANDING THE SCHEDULE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THE WHOLE BOARD.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYONE HAS DONE THAT.
AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THIS AS WELL.
UM, I WOULD SUPPORT CLARIFYING THE CURRENT MOTION OR THE CURRENT DIRECTIVE THAT'S IN PLACE TO, YOU KNOW, SUPPORT, DIG, DIGITIZING, WHAT WE CAN.
THAT'S A TOUGH THING TO SAY AND IT'S LATE.
UM, BUT TO SUPPORT DIGITAL COPIES OF, OF WHATEVER CAN BE DIGITIZED.
AND AS A STAKEHOLDER SHARED TONIGHT, WE SHOULD BE PRESERVING THAT HISTORY WHERE IT MAKES SENSE SO THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED A HARD COPY THAT TAKES UP SPACE, UM, WHERE WE CAN PRESERVE A DIGITAL COPY OF IT.
SO IF THE CURRENT DIRECTIVE DOES NOT ALLOW THAT, AND, AND I WAS PART OF THE BOARD THAT ORIGINALLY PUT THIS IN PLACE AND SAID, HEY, DIGITAL COPY IS FINE.
WE DON'T NEED TO INCUR THE COSTS OF THE PHYSICAL SPACE TO STORE THESE DOCUMENTS IF WE'RE STORING THEM DIGITALLY.
UM, AND THERE WAS SOME ARGUING BACK AND FORTH.
IT'S LIKE, NO, YOU SAID PHYSICAL, IT HAS TO BE PHYSICAL.
THE INTENT WAS TO PRESERVE THE CONTENT.
THAT, THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
I WOULD SUPPORT THAT AMENDMENT TO THE DIRECT, TO THE DIRECTIVE THAT'S IN PLACE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS MOTION DOES.
I WOULD OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO THAT, BUT AT THIS LATE OF AN HOUR, I WON'T BE SUPPORTING THIS FOR THAT REASON.
HOWEVER, I AM, I WOULD SUPPORT, UM, AGAIN, MODIFYING IT TO ALLOW THE PHYSICAL COPIES TO BE DISCARDED IF THERE IS A DIGITAL, UM, EQUIVALENT, EQUIVALENT STORED.
SO IF I MAY, UM, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THIS IS MARGARET ANN HOWIE.
UH, JUST TO CLARIFY, THE, UH, THE BAND THAT IS IN PLACE APPLIES NOT ONLY TO RECORDS, BUT TO NON RECORDS.
SO IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A DOCUMENT AND A COPY, BOTH OF THOSE DOCUMENTS HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE RECORD ITSELF.
YOUR BAN ENCOMPASSES NON RECORDS.
THE OTHER TOUCH POINT IS THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY, IF YOU GO TO OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT WEBSITE, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 SCHEDULES, UH, RECORDS, RETENTION SCHEDULES THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE MARYLAND STATE ARCHIVIST.
YOU NOW HAVE YOUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND IT, SO IN TERMS OF LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE AS THE EMERGE REPORT DID, IT IS POSSIBLE AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE TO DIGITIZE.
BUT THE EMERGE REPORT DID NOTE THAT THERE ARE STILL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIG DIGITIZATION OF RECORDS AND THE STORAGE OF DIGITAL RECORDS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, UM, IN TERMS OF RESPONDING TO SOME OF THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CURRENT SCHEDULES, ALL OF THEM ARE POSTED.
ALL OF THEM ARE ON THE WEBSITE.
UH, ALL OF THEM HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
SO EVERY SINGLE RECORD IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ON A SCHEDULE, BUT NOT RECORDS CANNOT BE DISPOSED OF UNDER YOUR BAND AND NON RECORDS CANNOT BE DISPOSED OF UNDER YOUR BAND.
SO EVERYTHING IS BEING MAINTAINED.
SO I'LL GET BACK TO THE AUTO REPORT.
I'M NOT SUPPORTING YOUR MICROPHONE, PLEASE.
UM, THANK YOU MR. MCMILLAN FOR, UM, BRINGING UP THIS ISSUE.
UM, I AM NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS.
UM, BEING ON THE BOARD FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
I FIND IT, UM, UH, I FIND IT RUSHED TO DO IT IN THIS MANNER.
[04:50:01]
THE AUDIT REPORT, IT SAYS THAT, UM, THERE'S NO MENTION OF POLICY 2380 AND HOW THAT'S BEING IMPLEMENTED.THERE'S, UM, MENTIONED ABOVE THE I MERGE REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED.
AND IF THAT IS A HOLD BACK TO RETENTION AND IT'S CAUSING A LOG JAM, THEN THAT'S A BUDGET ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE IN THE BUDGET, UH, COMING UP.
UM, ALSO THERE IS A, UH, OFFICE OF INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT, UM, THAT IN FACT, THERE WERE BOXES THAT WERE MISSING OF DATA THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE WAREHOUSE, UM, INCLUDING SOME RELATED TO HUMAN RE HUMAN RESOURCE RECORDS.
UM, SO IF WE'RE STILL, UH, SAYING THAT WE HAVE DATA LOSS FROM THE RANSOMWARE ATTACK, THEN WHY WOULD WE LIFT A DESTRUCTION BAN WHEN WHAT WE NEED IS WHAT WAS SAID AT THE MEETING.
USE THE WAREHOUSE SPACE TO ORDERLY, MANAGE THE DOCUMENTS, SCAN IF THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND FISCALLY, UH, AVAILABLE, UH, OR FIND OUT IF THERE'S SOME REPORTS THERE THAT ARE LOST THAT CAN BE RECOVERED AND USEFUL TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, THE OTHER ISSUE IS JULY OF 2022, THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT WAS JUST TRANSITIONED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OUT OF THE OFFICE OF LAW.
SO WHY ARE WE GONNA BURDEN THEM WITH A WHOLE, UH, NEW THING WITH A BAN? AND I DID HAVE UP THE EXACT WORDING OF THE BOARD'S DIRECTIVE, AND IT DID NOT SAY THANK YOU NON RECORDS.
AND, AND I WAS IN THE BOARD WHEN THIS RECORD BAND WAS PUT INTO MOTION.
UM, AND THANK YOU MS. H FOR EXPLAINING IT SO SUCCINCTLY AND CLEARLY, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING ON, UH, RECORDS MANAGEMENT.
SO YOU JUST DO A BLANKET INFORMATION IS NOT ALWAYS WISDOM OR KNOWLEDGE.
AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE IS THOROUGHLY BETTER AT THIS.
IR DOES RECORD RETENTION AND ARCHIVE, UH, HOW TO ARCHIVE RECORDS FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
SO TO JUST FEAR AND JUST PUT IN A BLANKET VAN AND BURDEN THE SYSTEM BOTTLENECK IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU'VE EXPLAINED IT MULTIPLE TIMES, AS HAS THE CHIEF AUDITOR AND THE EXTERNAL REPORT, UM, THAT CAME THROUGH.
BUT IF YOU LACK UNDERSTANDING OR YOU DON'T WANT TO, IS THERE COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND YOU DON'T WANNA UNDERSTAND OR YOU, YOU FAIL TO UNDERSTAND YOU, YOU DON'T WANNA UNDERSTAND.
THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, UH, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I SUPPORT THIS, THE COMMITTEE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED IT, ALL FOUR MEMBERS.
UM, SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
I'M, I ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR QUESTION IN THE CHAT.
HAS ANYONE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THIS MOTION? I'VE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
I SAID CAUSE I COULDN'T TELL IF YOU SAW MY QUESTION OR NOT.
UM, MY QUESTION OR MY STATEMENT IS, UM, AGAIN, UH, FOR CLARIFICATION, I REMEMBER WHEN THIS CONTRACT CAME UP, WE DID TALK ABOUT IT.
AND IT WAS THE MILLION, IT WAS A, AN ADDITION A MILLION DOLLARS IN STORAGE BECAUSE OF THIS RECORD VAN.
IT WAS CAUSING US TO HAVE TO PURCHASE MORE STORAGE.
WE NEEDED TO PURCHASE MORE STORAGE ANYWAYS, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS, WE, WE WERE HAVING TO PURCHASE A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STORAGE.
THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBERED FROM THE LAST CONVERSATION.
UM, AND I HAD ASKED ABOUT IT BEING PUT LIKE IN A CLOUD OR, OR, OR SOME OTHER FORMAT.
UM, I GUESS THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS, IS, UM, THE CHAIR OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS MADE THIS RECOMMENDATION.
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THIS AND LOOKED AT IT, AND I THINK THAT, UM, WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE, UM, MOTION AND TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION AND, AND MOVE FORWARD AND NOT BE STUCK IN THE PAST.
SO THERE'S A MOTION THERE WAS NO SECOND NEEDED AS THE RECOMMENDATION CAME FROM THE COMMITTEE.
MS. GOBER, MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
MS. ULAS? YES, MS. JOE, CAN YOU COME BACK TO ME? MISS GO.
[04:55:01]
NO.THE NEXT COMMITTEE UPDATE IS THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
ON NOVEMBER THE 16TH, WE HELD THE LAST BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING.
UM, THE INFORMATION THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE, UH, IS AVAILABLE, UH, ON BOARD DOCS.
UH, IT HAS THE FY 2020 AND THE FY 2021.
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT, UH, DATA BROKEN DOWN BY SCHOOL PER PUPIL THAT SHOWS THE FUNDING OF EVERY SCHOOL ACROSS THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION FOR 20 AND 21.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT RESOURCING AND LACK OF RESOURCING IN SCHOOLS.
UH, SO I, THE PURPOSE OF PUTTING IT HERE, UH, WAS TO MAKE THIS DATA AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE, TO THE PUBLIC, TO EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD.
UM, IT ALSO HAS PER PUPIL, UH, AS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, THE F Y 22 PER PUPIL ON TITLE ONE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS BY SCHOOL.
SO ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND I WOULD SUGGEST ANYONE WITH ANY INTEREST TO UNDERSTAND HOW ARE SCHOOLS RESOURCED TO REVIEW THIS DATA? UH, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO IT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND, UM, UH, AND MR. TANIFF AND MR. HARLO DONE A, A GOOD JOB.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY NOW COMPILED BY LAW, UH, AND NEEDS TO BE PRESENTED IN PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC IN THIS FORMAT.
SO, UM, IT'S GREAT INFORMATION.
BUILDING IN CONTRACTS, MS. JOE'S.
THE NEXT BUILDING IN CONTRACTS COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING WILL BE HELD DECEMBER 6TH, MONDAY AT 5:00 PM THANK YOU.
MS. LESKI? FOR MR. OFFERMAN? I DON'T HAVE A WRITTEN, HE DIDN'T NO UPDATE.
SO I DON'T HAVE, I CAN LOOK UP THE NEXT MEETING IF YOU WANT ME TO LOOK IT UP.
SO WE HAVE THE EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING.
IT WAS NOVEMBER 17TH, AND WE DISCUSSED SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TEAMS REVIEW OF RECRUITING AND RETENTION OF A HIGHLY QUALIFIED, DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
AND WE WENT OVER THE STAFFING AND SUMMER RECRUITMENT AND WE TALKED ABOUT, UM, HOW THEY WERE, UM, THE SYSTEM WAS ABLE TO MEET THE TEACHER WORKFORCE DIVERSITY GOAL AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED IN THE COMPASS.
WE VISITED AND REVISED THE H B C U RECRUITMENT PLAN.
AND, UM, WE LEARNED ABOUT, UH, FEEDBACK FROM DIFFERENT SCHOOLS, HOW DIFFERENT JOB FAIRS WENT, AND ALSO PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES TO HOST STUDENT INTERNS.
AND WE ALSO, UM, DISCUSSED WITH LOCAL, UM, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW OUT, UM, HUMAN RESOURCES CONNECTED WITH LOCAL HBCUS TO INITIATE DISCUSSIONS ON BUILDING OR EXPANDING PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS AND FORMALLY IDENTIFIED ROSSVILLE ELEMENTARY AS A PARTNER SCHOOL WITH MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT, UM, BCPS IS GROWING AND WORKING TOGETHER.
AND OUR NEXT MEETING FOR THE EQUITY COMMITTEE WILL BE THURSDAY, JANUARY 19TH AT 4:00 PM AND THE NEXT EQUITY COMMITTEE WITH THE COUNCIL WILL BE JANUARY 5TH AT 5:30 PM THANK YOU.
POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE, MS. ROWE? YES.
THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MET ON, UM, NOVEMBER 14TH, AND THE NEXT POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE IS, UM, NOT UNTIL MARCH.
SO THERE'S SOME TIME BETWEEN THAT.
UM, I THINK TRACY, IS THAT WRONG? IT'S FEBRUARY.
IT'S SOME SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME FROM NOW, AND I THINK THAT JUST WILL ALLOW THE NEW BOARD TO SIT AND ASSIGN COMMITTEE CHAIRS AND WHATNOT.
SO, UM, WE'VE REVIEWED A LOT OF POLICIES AND WE'VE MOVED THEM THROUGH, UM, THE BOARD AND HAVE CAUGHT UP ON A LOT OF WORK.
THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO GO.
[05:00:01]
WORK CONTINUES.WERE YOU ABLE TO FIND, UM, SO I DO HAVE ONE UPDATE FROM THE CURRICULUM.
WE DID HAVE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED READING CURRICULUM, WHICH I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO LOOK AT ON BOARD DOCS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE VOTE.
UM, IT WAS AN EXCEPTIONAL AND VERY CLARIFYING PRESENTATION.
I DO NOT HAVE THE DATE ON MY CALENDAR.
AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRS FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK THIS YEAR.
UM, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, MOST, A LOT OF OUR WORK DOES GET, UM, DONE IN COMMITTEE.
SO WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK OUT THOSE MEETINGS AND, AND THE HARD WORK OF THESE GROUPS.
THEY REALLY DO CONTRIBUTE A LOT.
AND, UM, THROUGH BOTH PREPARATION AND WORK IN THE MEETINGS THEMSELVES AND SOME AMAZING DISCUSSIONS AND WORK WITH STAFF AND THANK YOU, UM, TO OUR STAFF, TO OUR STAFF LIAISONS THAT SUPPORT THE WORK OF THESE COMMITTEES.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT WITH YOUR COMMITTEES.
THANK YOU WITH THAT, THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6TH, 2022 AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
HAVE A WARM AND WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING, THE MEETING, SOME OF YOU.