[00:00:01]
I INVITE 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 AND 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 FS CHANNEL 34.
IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONSIDERATION OF THE DECEMBER 6TH AGENDA.
WILLIAMS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? THERE ARE NO ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
THE AGENDA STANDS AS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS EVENING.
THE BOARD MET ENC CLOSED SESSION 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.
AND SEVEN, CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.
THE SUMMARY OF THE CLOSED SESSION, AN OPEN SESSION INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO DR.
AS REQUIRED BY SECTION THREE DASH TWO B DASH OH NINE OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE ON THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND BOARD POLICY 82 10.
THE FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER IS DESIGNATED FOR ELECTION OF THE BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR AS PROVIDED BY BOARD POLICY.
I AM THE PRESIDING OFFICER FOR THE ELECTION OF THE OFFICE OF CHAIR NOMINATIONS.
ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS AT THIS TIME? MR. OFFMAN? I NOMINATE MISS, UH, MISS LECTER.
ARE THERE OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIR? HEARING NONE NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED FOR BOARD CHAIR.
THE EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY ACT REQUIRES THAT ANY ACTION OF THE BOARD OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BOARD BE RECORDED BY VOICE, VOTE OR ROLE CALL, VOTE.
AS MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
MS. GOVER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE FOR THOSE VOTING FOR MS. LECHNER AS THE BOARD CHAIR.
DID I MISS, MISS MRS. SON? I'M SORRY.
[00:05:14]
AS, AS CHAIR NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE OFFICE.ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? I NOMINATE ROBIN HARVEY OR VICE CHAIR.
ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD? VICE CHAIR HEARING? NO FURTHER NOMINATIONS? THE NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED.
ALL THOSE WHO VOTE FOR MS. HAR HARVEY AS VICE CHAIR, PLEASE SAY YES OR I WHEN THE ROLE IS CALLED.
ALL THOSE WHO OPPOSE, PLEASE SAY NO.
MS. GOVER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
MS. HARVEY HAS RECEIVED 11 VOTES.
I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MS. HARVEY HAS BEEN ELECTED A VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR 2022.
YOU WILL GIVE MS. HARVEY A TURN TO CHANGE HER SEAT.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS, AND FOR THAT, I CALL HIM MR. MCCALL.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR LECTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY.
WILLIAMS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I AM HERE THIS EVENING WITH MR. HOMER MCCALL, SEEKING APPROVAL FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS.
AT THIS TIME, I TURN IT OVER TO MR. MCCALL.
UH, CHAIR LECTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY.
SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS AND OTHER BOARD MEMBERS.
I WOULD LIKE DIVORCE CONSENT OF FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS, TERMINATIONS, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES, AND CERTIFICATED APPOINTMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT E ONE? SO MOVED.
OMAN, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MS. MINOSKI? AYE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBITS E TWO THROUGH E FIVE? SO MOVE TOON.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, OFFERMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MS. DOKI.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THE BOARD PROVIDES TO HEAR THE VIEWS AND RECEIVE THE ADVICE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD APPRECIATE HEARING FROM INTERESTED CITIZENS AS APPROPRIATE.
[00:10:01]
WE'LL REFER YOUR CONCERNS TO THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR FOLLOW UP BY HIS STAFF.THE BOARD OF ED 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 REGISTER WILL BE PERMITTED TO SPEAK, HOWEVER, NO SUBSTITUTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED.
WHILE WE ENCOURAGE PUBLIC INPUT ON POLICY PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS BOARD AND THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THIS IS NOT THE PROPER FORUM TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC SCHOOL 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 PERSONNEL REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIOR THAT DISRUPTS OR INTERFERES WITH THE CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING, OUR 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 BOE BCPS.ORG.
MORE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED ON THE BOARD'S WEBSITE@BCPS.ORG UNDER BOARD OF EDUCATION PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC.
I WILL NOW CALL ON OUR ADVISORY AND STAKEHOLDER GROUP LEADERS TO SPEAK.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BRIAN S FROM THE AFSCME UNION.
GOOD EVENING, MADAME CHAIR LINK, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I ARRIVED TODAY TO GIVE YOU WARM WELCOMES TO OUR NEWLY ELECTED BOARD TO BOARD, TO THE BOARD OF BALTIMORE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF ASME, UH, LOCAL 4 34.
I REPRESENT OUR NON-CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES WHO ARE FIRST TO ARRIVE TO OUR CAMPUSES AND USUALLY THE LAST TO LEAVE, WHICH, WHICH CONSISTS OF TRANSPORTATION, OPERATIONS, FACILITIES, LOGISTICS, FOOD SERVICE, JUST THE NAME OF YOU TONIGHT, I'M HERE TO JUST SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BOARD AND WELCOME AND FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HERE.
OUR SECOND SPEAKER IS FRANK SODA FROM TAPCO ON BEHALF OF CINDY SEXTON.
GOOD EVENING CHAIR, LITTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M FRANK SODA, RESOURCE TEACHER IN THE PEER ASSISTANCE AND REVIEW PROGRAM AND TAPCO SECRETARY, I'M HERE TONIGHT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF TAPCO PRESIDENT CINDY SEXTON, WHO IS RECOVERING FROM SURGERY TO OUR NEW BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS.
THERE IS MUCH WORK TO BE DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF EDUCATORS IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL FOR TABCO.
WE KNOW WHAT THE RESEARCH AND STUDIES TELL US ABOUT THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF HAVING EDUCATORS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE STUDENT BODY.
WE MUST CONTINUE TAKING ACTIONS THAT REMOVE BARRIERS THAT ARE KEEPING EDUCATORS OF COLOR FROM APPLYING TO AND REMAINING IN BCPS.
IF WE ARE TRULY STRIVING TO HAVE QUALIFIED EDUCATORS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, SORRY, IN EVERY CLASSROOM, THEN I APOLOGIZE.
IF WE ARE TRULY STRIVING TO HAVE QUALIFIED EDUCATORS IN IN EVERY CLASSROOM, THEN WE NEED OUR CONDITIONALLY CERTIFIED STAFF TO HAVE THE RESOURCES AND COACHING SUPPORTS THEY NEED TO BECOME HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND WE NEED TO ENSURE EDUCATOR VOICES ARE HEARD SO THAT THEY STAY WITHIN OUR SYSTEM
[00:15:01]
AND STAY WITH OUR STUDENTS.ONE OF THE BARRIERS THE SYSTEM FACES IS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, AND THAT IS AROUND CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ITS EMPLOYEES.
YOU'LL BE HEARING THIS EVENING FROM MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCES, BE IT BENEFITS, PAYROLL CERTIFICATION, SALARY, LANE CHANGES, AND MORE.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THEM, TAKE IT TO HEART AND TAKE ACTION.
TAPCO UNDERSTANDS THAT THE STAFF AND HUMAN RESOURCE OFFICES ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THEY HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
THEY'RE ASKED TONIGHT IS FOR THE SYSTEMIC FIX TO THE CONCERNS.
THE LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION, ANGST, ANGER, IT'S ALL PAST THE, UH, TIPPING POINT.
AND THESE MEMBERS, YOUR EMPLOYEES NEED TO FEEL HEARD AND NEED IMMEDIATE ACTIONS TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT TO THE CONCERNS.
EDUCATORS TALK TO FRIENDS, THEY TALK TO COLLEAGUES, THEY TALK TO PEERS AND FUTURE GRADUATES.
WHEN BASIC FUNCTIONS SUCH AS PAYROLL CERTIFICATION, COURSE REIMBURSEMENT BENEFITS AND LEAVES DON'T RUN SMOOTHLY, AND WHEN ISSUES WITH THOSE PROCESSES TAKE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT AND TIME TO ADDRESS, THEY LEAD TO RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ISSUES.
OUR EDUCATORS SHOULD BE PROUD TO WORK FOR BCS AND SHOULD BE OUR GREATEST ASSET IN RECRUITMENT.
I ASK EACH OF YOU TO BE AN OPEN AND WILLING PARTNER WITH TABCO AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO ALL WE CAN DO TOGETHER FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR BCPS.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT BCS RELEASED A PLAN A FEW HOURS AGO REGARDING THEIR IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIVE ACTION TO RESOLVE ISSUES IN HUMAN RESOURCES.
THE DISTRICTS RECENTLY RELEASED PLAN TO HIRE 18 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES TO STAFF CALL CENTER FOR LESS THAN $15 AN HOUR IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION, AND THIS ALONE WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
WE NEED FULLY TRAINED STAFF WHO CAN ACTUALLY RESOLVE THE NUMEROUS COMPLICATED ISSUES THE EDUCATORS OF BCPS AND EMPLOYEES OF THESE OFFICES DESERVE BETTER.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEANETTE YOUNG FROM S PBC.
GOOD EVENING CHEER LIFT, VICE CHAIR HOBBY, AND DR.
WILLIAMS. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, ALSO KNOWN AS E S P B C E S P B C REPRESENT THE HEALTH ASSISTANCE PARA EDUCATORS, SIGN INTERPRETERS, TECHNICIANS AND OFFICER AND PROFESSIONALS EMPLOYED BY BCPS.
MANY OF THE VOICES YOU HEAR TODAY ARE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OFFICE PROFESSIONALS IN THE OFFICE OF BENEFITS, HUMAN RESOURCES AND CERTIFICATION.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT MUCH OF THOSE CONCERNS ARE NOT THE RESULTS OF ESP AND COMPETENCIES OR WORK ETHICS.
HOWEVER, I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT WE HAVE A PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD.
I APPRECIATE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND BRAINSTORM MEANINGFUL LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING IN THE MULTI-PRONG SOLUTION.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF A LONG-TERM MATIC RESOLUTION THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE CONTRACTING OF THE ESP POSITION, PROVIDING THE CURRENT ESP AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TEMPORARILY TO FIX THE SITUATION, AND WITH THE HOPE INCREASING HOPE THAT THE NUMBER OF FTES TO ADDRESS THE WORKLOAD IN MANY OF THE OFFICE IN THE DEPARTMENTS IN CENTRAL OFFICE.
TONIGHT, I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THIS IS THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION WHO HAS CONSIDERED THE VOICE OF ESP.
WHILE WE MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE, THANK YOU FOR AT LEAST CONSIDERING OUR INPUT NEW BOARD EDUCATION MEMBERS.
I LOOK FORWARD GROWING A MUTUAL COLLABORATIVE RELATION WITH RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH ONE OF YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICK ARIS FROM PB PS O P E.
GOOD EVENING, UM, MADAME CHAIR LINDNER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY AND SUPERINTENDENT DR.
I WELCOME THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND EXTEND MY HEARTFELT WISHES FOR SUCCESS IN THEIR NEW ROLES.
MY NAME IS NICK ARROS, PRESIDENT OF THE ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES OF BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS, WHICH COMPRISES OF 450 PROFESSIONAL NON CERTIFICATED EMPLOYEES.
OUR MEMBERS ARE MANAGERS, SUPERVISORS, AND SKILLED EMPLOYEES AND ACCOUNTING FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, HUMAN RESOURCES, LAW, NUTRITION SERVICES, RESEARCH, PAYROLL, PURCHASING AND TECHNOLOGY.
THESE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS ENSURE THAT THE BOARD ACHIEVES ITS VISION FOR STUDENT SUCCESS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE SUPPORT
[00:20:01]
THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO OUR PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES AND LOOK FORWARD TO A SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS WE HAVE SET FOR OUR STUDENTS.TO OUR BOARD MEMBERS, THE SUPERINTENDENT AND HIS STAFF, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR RECENT SUPPORT AND EFFORTS, WHICH LED TO A COMPENSATION PACKAGE THAT WILL MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT ALWAYS.
AND OUR LAST STAKEHOLDER GROUP IS RAMONA BAIO FROM PTA COUNCIL BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UM, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRPERSON LECTOR, VICE CHAIR HARVEY.
WILLIAMS, INCOMING MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND I HATE TO SAY OUTGOING, YOU'RE NOT GOING OUT ANYWHERE.
I'M SURE YOU'LL STILL BE INVOLVED.
UM, I RISE ON BEHALF OF THE PTA OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, THE PTA COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND OUR PRESIDENT, MS. LESLIE WEBER, WHO YOU MET LAST, UM, LAST MEETING.
WE WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY FIRST TO WELCOME YOU ALL WHO ARE NEW TO THANK YOU ALL, WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME AND EFFORT, UM, TO THE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITIES, FACULTY, STAFF, ET CETERA, BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WE ESPECIALLY WANTED TO THANK DR.
I KNOW I'M GONNA MISS SOMEBODY.
MISS CHARLIE GREEN, MR. ZIRKIN, UM, THE ENTIRE B PS CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF FOR THE BALTIMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL SAFETY CONVERSATION.
LAST WEEK, WE LEFT THAT MEETING FEELING A SENSE OF PARTNERSHIP.
THERE IS POWER IN PARTNERSHIP.
A CONSISTENT THEME IS LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. IF YOU HAVE READ THE WASHINGTON POST YESTERDAY, YOU WILL KNOW THAT NATIONWIDE THE PROBLEMS PERSIST, PARTICULARLY IN MENTAL HEALTH AREAS AND SAFETY AREAS FOR CHILDREN.
I WANNA GIVE A MAJOR SHOUT OUT TO CLAIRE CABAL.
I THINK THE STUDENT COUNCIL LEADER WHO ATTENDED THE SESSION, WHO SPOKE PASSIONATELY, ELOQUENTLY, AND VERY WELL-INFORMED ABOUT ISSUES THAT AFFECT MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
THAT KIND OF PARTNERSHIP WAS CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.
I CALLED MY SON, WHO HAS A CHILD OF HIS OWN NOW IN COLLEGE, AND I WENT, I CALLED HIM AND SAID, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT UNDERSTANDING.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THE PEER PRESSURE WAS TO HIM.
AND HE SAID, THANK YOU, SO I APPRECIATE YOU.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE PARTNERSHIP.
THE PTA IS THE OLDEST LARGEST ADVOCACY GROUP IN THE COUNTRY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE WHO DO NOT HAVE LOCAL CHAPTERS, PLEASE CONTACT THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL.
WE RISE TOGETHER, WE FALL TOGETHER.
NEXT IS GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS O'BRIEN.
WILLIAMS, CHAIR LECTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, AND THE REST OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW APPOINTMENTS.
UM, I'M READING FROM A, UM, A TESTIMONIAL FROM LAURA RED FERN WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND TONIGHT.
AND, UM, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT, UM, UM, THE, UM, UM, THAT, UM, HOW, UH, CERTIFICATION, THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE WORKING IN CERTIFICATION.
SO LET'S ASSUME, UM, THERE ARE 7,821 TEACHERS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
LET'S ASSUME FOR EASY MATH, EACH OF THEM SUBMITS ONLY ONE EMAIL PER YEAR TO THE OFFICE OF CERTIFICATION.
IN THE 180 DAYS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE OFFICE'S CERTIFICATION WILL PROCESS 44 INQUIRIES PER DAY, ASSUMING THAT TEAM IS NEVER OUT SICK.
ASSUMING EACH INQUIRY TAKES THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROCESS IN SEVEN WORKING HOURS, ASSUMING THE STAFF CAN ADOPTLY SWIFT SHIFTED GEARS 44 TIMES IN A ROW EACH DAY, THAT IS ABOUT 6.3 INQUIRIES TO PROCESS PER HOUR.
IN OTHER WORDS, EACH TEACHER WILL RECEIVE LESS THAN 10 MINUTES OF ATTENTION FROM THAT TEAM.
IN REALITY, THESE INQUIRIES NUMBER MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR AND REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION, COMMUNICATION,
[00:25:01]
UPDATING SYSTEMS, AND CONFIRMATION THROUGH SYNCHRONOUS INTER INTERRUPTED COMMUNICATION, TEACHERS ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THEIR CERTIFICATION THROUGH ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.YET BCPS FAILS TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY RECORD, PROCESS, AND COMPENSATE TEACHERS IN A TIMELY MANNER FOR THESE EFFORTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, A TEACHER RECEIVED THEIR MASTERS IN AUGUST OF 2021, CHANGING THEIR SALARY LANE.
THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY PAID AND REIMBURSED FOR RETROACTIVE PAY UNTIL FEBRUARY, 2022.
THIS WAS ONLY ACHIEVED AFTER HOURS OF EMAIL EXCHANGES COPYING VANESSA BLISS, M S E A AND INCORPORATING THE VARIOUS VERSIONS OF PAY SCALES THAT CHANGED IN THAT SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS IS A TEACHER WHOSE TIME SHOULD BE SPENT PLANNING QUALITY LESSONS, NOT CREATING SPREADSHEETS TO FIND ERRORS IN THEIR PAYCHECK.
THIS STRUCTURE IS UNFAIR TO TEACHERS WHO NEED TO SPEND EXCESSIVE TIME FOLLOWING UP, NOT HEARING BACK RECEIVING INCORRECT INFORMATION.
IT IS ALSO DETRIMENTAL TO THE MORALE OF THE HR TEAM.
I APPLAUD THEM FOR CONTINUING TO HELP TEACHERS GET WHAT THEY NEED DESPITE BEING PUT IN A POSITION TO HANDLE RIGHTFULLY FRUSTRATED TEACHERS DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN A SEA OF TOO MUCH WORK FOR TOO FEW PEOPLE.
BCPS IS PITTING THESE TWO POPULATIONS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, WHEN IN FACT BCPS HOLDS THE RESOURCES NEEDED SO THAT HR CAN APPROPRIATELY STAFFED AND SEEN AS AN ADVOCATE AND NOT AN ADVERSARY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KATHLEEN CAVE.
UH, I'M A BALTIMORE COUNTY TEACHER.
THE FIRST THING TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE OFFICE OF LEAVES BENEFITS AND RETIREMENTS IS NEVER ANSWERED AND IS SET UP SO THAT YOU CANNOT LEAVE A MESSAGE WHEN EMAILING THEM THE SAME OUT OF OFFICE.
REPLY COMES UP WITH DIRECTIONS TO GO TO THEIR WEBSITE OR CALL THE NUMBER, WHICH NOBODY ANSWERS.
AS A BALTIMORE COUNTY EMPLOYEE FOR 34 YEARS, 34 YEARS AND SEVEN MONTHS, I WAS THINKING ABOUT RETIRING WHEN I REACHED 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.
AS I WAS CONSIDERING THIS, MY ELDERLY MOTHER FELL ILL AND I HAD TO MOVE TO SOUTHERN MARYLAND FOR THE SUMMER TO HELP HER.
BY EARLY AUGUST, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO NEED TO TAKE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE TO ASSIST HER IN HER RECOVERY.
THIS MEANT THAT I WAS GOING TO BE OUT FOR 12 WEEKS, START IN MY SCHOOL AT THE END OF NOVEMBER AND PROBABLY RETIRE ON OR AROUND MARCH 1ST.
THIS DID NOT SEEM FAIR TO MY STUDENTS OR MY PRINCIPAL AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL.
I WAS HOPING TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT AN ALTERNATE PLACEMENT FOR ME SO THAT MY POSITION COULD BE RELEASED AND A DIFFERENT TEACHER HIRED TO TAKE THE POSITION AT MY SCHOOL.
ON AUGUST 8TH, I SENT MY FIRST MESSAGE ABOUT MY SITUATION AND ASKED FOR ADVICE AS TO HOW TO PROCEED.
ON AUGUST 18TH, I WROTE AGAIN ASKING FOR HELP.
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR WAS STARTING SOON ON THE 19TH, I WAS NOTIFIED THAT MY F M L A REQUEST WAS UNDER CONSIDERATION AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED SOON.
THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGAN AND MY LEAVE HAD NOT YET BEEN APPROVED, NOR HAD ANYONE CONTACTED ME ABOUT ALTERNATE PLACEMENT.
I TRIED TO CALL THE OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED AND I COULD NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE.
MY SCHOOL COULD NOT GET A LONG TERM SUB FOR ME UNTIL THE LEAVE WAS APPROVED, WHICH FINALLY OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 15TH, RETROACTIVE TO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
HOWEVER, BY THEN MORE PROBLEMS HAD ARISEN.
ALTHOUGH I HAD RECEIVED AN AUGUST PAY AND I'M A LONGTIME TABCO SICK LEAVE BANK MEMBER AND HAD APPLIED THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS, I RECEIVED NO PAY FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, WHICH HAS CAUSED GREAT HARDSHIP ON ME AND MY FAMILY.
THIS HAS ALSO LED TO DIFFICULTIES FOR PUTTING IN FOR RETIREMENT, AS THE STATE NOW SAYS THAT THEY CANNOT CALCULATE MY FINAL RETIREMENT AMOUNT AS THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH MY EMPLOYMENT THIS YEAR, FINALLY, AFTER SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT SOMEONE IN THE OFFICE OF BENEFITS, LEAVES AND RETIREMENTS, AND IN THE 11TH WEEK OF MY LEAVE, I REACHED OUT IN DESPERATION TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
I SENT A DETAILED LIST OF MY ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE OFFICE AND THE DATES I HAD DONE.
SO THE NEXT DAY I HEARD FROM SOMEONE IN THE RETIREMENT OFFICE WHO INFORMED ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MY QUESTION ABOUT ALTERNATE PLACEMENT UP WITH THE OFFICE OF ACCOMMODATIONS.
I GUESS THAT MAKES SENSE, BUT I CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK OF IT.
A SHORT PHONE CALL TO TELL ME THIS IN AUGUST WOULD'VE SAVED A LOT OF HEADACHE FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS.
THE OFFICE OF PAYROLL WAS CONTACTED TO HELP ME RECEIVE BACK PAY.
HOWEVER, IT WAS TOO LATE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO MY ASSIGNMENT, WHICH MEANT, WHICH MEANT THAT LAST WEEK I BEGAN MY WORK AT, AT MY SCHOOL, AND IN THREE MONTHS I HOPED TO RETIRE.
[00:30:01]
TIME IS UP, BUT PLEASE CONSIDER CHANGES.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA MARTIN.
UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TALK TONIGHT.
UM, SO I WAS HIRED IN 2015 AS A SCHOOL COUNSELOR FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY.
I'M A SINGLE PARENT OF THREE KIDS, ACTUALLY HAVE MY KIDS WAITING FOR ME OUTSIDE.
UM, I'VE BEEN A SINGLE PARENT SINCE 2017.
SO PRIOR TO THIS, I WAS SECONDARY MATH TEACHER AND WORKED NOT ONLY IN OTHER COUNTIES IN MARYLAND, BUT I ALSO WORKED FOR D O D E A IN GERMANY.
UM, BEFORE I STARTED MY FIRST PLACEMENT, I PROVIDED ALL THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO SUPPORT, UM, MY COURSEWORK, MY UNDERGRADUATES IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCE.
SO I GOT A TEACHING CERTIFICATE ALONG WITH GETTING MY MASTER'S IN SCHOOL COUNSELING.
UM, SO HOLDING AN ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DUAL CERTIFICATION.
UM, I DECIDED TO, YOU KNOW, COME TO WORK FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY AND WHEN I DID THAT, I, I THOUGHT I HAD PROVIDED EVERYTHING TO HUMAN RESOURCES AT THAT TIME.
UM, THERE WAS NO FOLLOW THROUGH FROM ANYONE IN CENTRAL OFFICE IN 2015.
UM, AND WHEN I GOT RE-CERTIFIED IN 2020, I NEVER HAD ANYONE FOLLOW UP AND TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT MY PAY HAD BEEN CHANGED.
UM, IT WASN'T UNTIL LAST SEPTEMBER WHEN I, UH, HAD REACHED OUT TO HR CAUSE I WAS PLACED AT A DIFFERENT PLACE.
I WENT FROM ELEMENTARY TO SECONDARY AND, UH, HR HAD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY SET PLACEMENT HAD MISSED SIX TO SEVEN YEARS OF, UH, OF EXPERIENCE AND I WAS IN THE WRONG UM, GRADE.
SO I HAVE ASKED, UM, FOR NOW 15 MONTHS WITH A UNION REP.
I'VE GONE THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT UNION REPS, UM, TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE IN HR CERTIFICATION AND PAYROLL.
TO DATE, I'VE ONLY TALKED TO SOMEONE IN HR AND I REALLY CAN'T GET AN ANSWER ABOUT IF I'LL EVER GET PAID FOR THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT I HAVE.
UM, I'VE NEVER WORKED FOR A CORPORATION THAT I'M HELD A HUNDRED PERCENT RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOWING UP FOR DOCUMENTATION THAT I'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED.
I'VE NEVER WORKED FOR ANY PLACE THAT WILL ONLY COMPENSATE ME FOR 90 DAYS.
WHEN THE DISCREPANCY STARTED EIGHT YEARS AGO.
UM, I'VE BEEN UNDERPAID AND POURING FROM AN EMPTY FINANCIAL CUP AS A SINGLE MOTHER FOR YEARS AS AN EMPLOYEE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HAVE THIS CHANGED? LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC AND RECESSION WITHOUT BEING COMPENSATED ACCORDINGLY FOR MY EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE? I COULD NOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE RECOMMEND NOR ENCOURAGE ANY PEER OF MINE TO COME WORK FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY.
AS I HAVE BEEN LEFT FRUSTRATED AND DISADVANTAGED BY THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, I WORK TO THE TIRELESSLY FOR ALL I REALLY HAVE REQUESTED IS MY WORTH.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS STEPHANIE FOY.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT I'M STEPHANIE FOY AND I WAS A BCPS TEACHER FOR 31 YEARS, RETIRING IN 2014.
I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU IN MARCH, MAY AND OCTOBER ABOUT THE INCORRECT INSURANCE PREMIUMS BEING TAKEN FROM THE MARYLAND STATE PENSIONS OF BCPS RETIREES DUE TO THE NOVEMBER, 2020 RANSOMWARE ATTACK.
I PRESENTLY OWE B P S $930 AND 24 CENTS, AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHEN OR IF I NEED TO PAY THAT AMOUNT BECAUSE I AM A MEMBER OF TABCO ARE.
I KNOW THAT I DO NOT NEED TO PAY YET, BUT THE 9,000 RETIREES BESIDES ME DO NOT KNOW THAT.
AND SOME OF THEM HAVE ALREADY PAID IN FULL OR ARE MAKING MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO VOYA.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE DEBTS MAY BE FORGIVEN.
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PAYING? THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I SAID THAT THERE ARE ONLY A FEW HUMAN RESOURCES EMPLOYEES DOING ALL THE WORK BECAUSE OF SHORT STAFFING CAUSED BY YOUR LACK OF SUPPORT.
THEY CANNOT RESPOND TO RETIREE CONCERNS IN A TIMELY FASHION.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NOT THE ACTIVE EMPLOYEES EITHER.
UM, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T ANSWER AT ALL.
I TOLD YOU THAT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD GET THEM SOME HELP.
RUMOR HAS IT THAT SECRETARIES ARE GOING TO BE PULLED FROM HIGH SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EXTRA HR PERSONNEL.
I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD CAUSE A HARDSHIP FOR THOSE SCHOOLS AND SEEMS LIKE ANOTHER BANDAID INSTEAD OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION.
IN ADDITION, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT A
[00:35:01]
NEW JOB POSTING ON THE BCPS WEBSITE AS OF NOVEMBER 30TH IS CALLING FOR RETIREES TO APPLY TO BE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE CALLS FROM AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF RETIREES AND ACTIVE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE HR FRAMEWORK.THESE ARE TO BE HOURLY, CONTRACTUAL POSITIONS.
WHY CAN'T KELLY SERVICES PROVIDE THE SUPPORT SINCE YOU ARE ALREADY CONTRACTING WITH THEM FOR SUBSTITUTES ON OCTOBER 11TH, 2022 AFTER TABCO ARE SENT A LETTER ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS TO THE MARYLAND OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR EDUCATION, WE RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING RESPONSE.
IF YOU ARE AN ACTIVE EMPLOYEE OR RETIREE AND EXPERIENCING A PAYROLL OR BENEFITS ISSUE AND HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH BCPS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE, PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND I HAVE CONTACT INFORMATION AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 23RD.
TABCO ARE CONTACTED THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AN UPDATE ON THE INVESTIGATION.
A PORTION OF MICHAEL EISENBERG'S RESPONSE READS, DUE TO OUR INVESTIGATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WE CANNOT DIVULGE ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO THE INVESTIGATION AND ONE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS NICOLE GUTHRIE
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RAMONA BASILIO.
SO I'M BACK TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
OH, BY THE WAY, MY NAME IS RAMONA BASILIO.
THE HAT I'M WEARING NOW IS COMMUNITY MEMBER, GRANDPARENT AND ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
UM, I'M BACK AGAIN BECAUSE I WANTED TO THANK THIS BOARD FOR THE PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AT DEER PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL.
I PARTICULARLY WANNA THANK MR. PAUL TAYLOR, DR.
DIXON, THE STAFF OF STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES TO WORK WITH US ON THE BOUNDARY STUDY.
YOU READ IN THE WASHINGTON POST, ALTHOUGH YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO READ IT, YOU KNEW FOR YOURSELF THERE WAS SCREAMING AND YELLING AND MASHING OF THE TEETH AND PEOPLE WERE CRYING AND THEY WERE FIGHTING AND THAT WAS JUST THE BOARD.
UM, BUT IT'S GOOD TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.
WE WERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MIDDLE SCHOOLS IN THE AREA FOR THE BOUNDARY STUDY.
AGAIN, I'LL BE SAYING IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP WILL HELP TO FIX THE VILLAGE.
THIS ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T BREAK IT.
I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.
IF WE COME TOGETHER TO HELP SOLVE PROBLEMS, I THINK WE CAN MOVE FURTHER.
PLEASE, IF YOU GET A CHANCE, GO BACK TO THE WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE OF JANUARY 22 AND YOU COULD SEE WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY.
OR, UM, HATS OFF TO, UM, THE STAFF, PARTICULARLY OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR. MINORS, DR.
MINERS, UM, MS. CURE, JOSEPH, UM, AND THE STAFF, DR.
WILLIAMS AND STAFF WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THE COMMUNITY SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
WE HAD 1600 STUDENTS AND THE SAFETY ASSISTANT PROVIDED THE EXTRA EYES THAT WE NEEDED.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE DIFFERENCE THAT IT'S MADE.
OUR STUDENTS ARE SMILING AGAIN.
OUR STUDENTS FEEL SAFER AGAIN, OUR TEACHERS, THERE'S, THERE'S NO TEA IN PTA WITH OUR TEACHERS.
OUR TEACHERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER.
WE HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO COMMUNITY PROBLEM SOLVE.
THESE ISSUES ARE NOT TOO BIG FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PLEASE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR AND THE SPIRIT OF COLLABORATION.
[00:40:02]
THANK YOU.BEFORE I START MY REMARKS, I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE.
APOLOGIZE ON BEHALF OF TABCO FOR MISQUOTING THE RATE OF THE NEW POSITIONS.
IT IS ACTUALLY $28, UM, AND WE STAND BY THE REST OF OUR COMMENTS IN THAT STATEMENT EARLIER.
AS FOR WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHEN I TOOK MY CHILD REARING LEAVE, I WAS EXHAUSTED WITH TWO CHILDREN UNDER TWO AT HOME.
MY CERTIFICATION LAPSED AND I HADN'T NOTICED.
WHEN I CALLED MSD TO FIND OUT HOW TO REINSTATE IT, I WAS TOLD IT LAPSED BECAUSE THE $10 FEE WAS NOT SENT IN.
WHEN I CALLED BCPS TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I WAS ON CHILDREARING LEAVE, THEY HAD NO SALARY TO TAKE MY $10 FROM AND NO ONE THOUGHT TO CALL ME FOR $10.
WHEN HAD I DECIDED TO COME BACK TO THE CLASSROOM SEVEN YEARS AGO, I ADDED A ESL CERTIFICATION.
I APPLIED FOR A POSITION AND THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE THAT I NEVER GOT A CALL.
DAYS INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR, MY CHILDREN'S ESOL TEACHER ASKED WHILE I WAS THERE VOLUNTEERING INSTEAD OF TEACHING WHEN THERE ARE FIVE OPEN POSITIONS.
TURNS OUT MY RESUME WAS NEVER SENT TO ESOL, BUT THAT'S JUST MY STORY.
IN SEPTEMBER, 2021, AN EFFICIENCY STUDY WAS DUE.
IT WAS PAID FOR WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY AND COMPLETED BY PUBLIC WORKS LLC.
AND WHAT DID IT SAY THAT ONLY 6% OF THOSE SURVEY THOUGHT THAT THE HR DIVISION WAS OPERATIONALLY EFFICIENT AND THAT THE HR DIVISION IS DIFFICULT TO COMMUNICATE WITH AND UNRESPONSIVE AND LACKING IN ORIENTATION TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.
IT WASN'T FOR ME AND IT WASN'T FOR THE HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES ALL OVER BCPS.
THE DEFICIENCY STUDY EVEN NOTED THAT THIS WAS AN OUTSTANDING COMPLAINT FOR YEARS AND A YEAR.
IN EFFICIENCY STUDY LATER, WE STILL HAVE HUNDREDS WHO SAY THAT HR IS A PROBLEM TONIGHT YOU'RE HEARING STORIES OF DOZENS OF EMPLOYEES IN BCPS.
WHY DOZENS? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF STORIES THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED.
STORIES OF INSURANCE DISAPPEARING, HOUSES UNABLE TO BE CLOSED ON OUT OF POCKET MEDICAL PAYMENTS HAVING TO BE MADE YEARS OF BACK PAY OWED.
THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD REASON.
THIS IS CONTINUING AS LONG AS IT HAS THE EXCUSE OF THE PANDEMIC AND RANSOMWARE OF THE PAST.
TEACHERS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM TEACHING DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES.
YES, THERE'S A STAFFING SHORTAGE EVERYWHERE AND YOU DID YOUR BEST TO COVER CLASSROOMS, BUT WHERE WERE THE RESOURCES TO HELP HR? YOUR LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS TO HR NEEDS ACTUALLY IS CREATING MORE STAFF SHORTAGES.
A NUMBER OF TEACHERS ARE QUITTING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ONBOARDED AND GET PAID.
ONE TEACHER WORKED FOR EIGHT WEEKS UNTIL THEY WERE FINALLY PAID BY 12 WEEKS.
THEY STILL DID NOT HEALTH HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND THEY LEFT BECAUSE THEY COULD NO LONGER LIVE LIVES WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE AND RELIABLE PAY.
AND WHO COULD BLAME THEM? A CENTRAL AREA TEACHER DID NOT RECEIVE FROM MATERNITY LEAVE PAY, EVEN WHEN IT'S CONFIRMED BY BOTH THE LEAVES OFFICE AND PAYROLL.
SHE HAD TO SEND UPWARDS OF 20 EMAILS OVER TWO MONTHS DURING HER LEAVE TO RECEIVE HER DUE PAY.
A NORTHWEST AREA TEACHER HAS BEEN TRYING TO CONFIRM HER THEIR SALARY LANE AND 12 MISSING CREDITS RECORDED ON THEIR GROWTH CHART.
AN EMPLOYEE SINCE 2007 WAS TRYING TO BUY A HOUSE, BUT HR TOLD THEIR LENDER THAT THEY WERE NOT AN EMPLOYEE AND THERE WAS NO ONE TO TALK TO BECAUSE THE APPROPRIATE STAFF WAS OUT ON VACATION.
A SOUTHWEST AREA TEACHER SUBMITTED PAPERWORK IN 21 AND IS STILL WAITING FOR THIS CREDITS TO APPEAR AND STILL WAITING FOR THE CHANGE AND THE BACK PAY.
A NORTHWEST AREA TEACHER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR PRESCRIPTION, PUT OFF DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS DUE TO HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE.
AND I HAVE ABOUT 16 MORE PAGES OF THESE, BUT I'M OUTTA TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TYLER WILKINSON.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, TO THE BOARD FOR, UH, LETTING ME SPEAK TODAY.
UM, THERE ARE NUMEROUS, UM, NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS, UH, TEACHERS THAT HAVE COME, UH, TO ME, UM, TO HELP RESOLVE MANY, MANY DIFFICULT AND HARD ISSUES.
I'LL GIVE YOU ONE TESTIMONY TODAY.
UM, BUT WE HAVE, UM, DOZENS SCORES, HUNDREDS, UM, THAT ARE AS POWERFUL AS THIS.
UM, AND THIS IS A, A TESTIMONY FROM A TEACHER, ANDREA.
ON SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2022, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KAISER PERMANENTE STATING THAT MY ONE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD BEEN DROPPED FROM MY INSURANCE AS OF APRIL, 2022.
I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THEM AND WAS TOLD THAT BCPS HAD DROPPED HER AND THAT THEY, KAISER PERMANENTE HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION.
LATE AUGUST, THEY WERE TOLD THAT SHE WAS DROPPED IN APRIL.
I THEN RECEIVED A BILL OF OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR SHOTS THAT MY DAUGHTER HAD RECEIVED BACK IN JUNE THAT WERE COVERED BY MY INSURANCE.
HOWEVER, SINCE SHE WAS DROPPED POST DATED APRIL, I WAS NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE BILL.
I SENT AN EMAIL THAT DAY TO BCPS BENEFITS AND CALLED THE ONLY EMAIL RESPONSE I RECEIVED WAS THE INITIAL AUTOMATED RESPONSE STATING THAT BENEFITS HAD RECEIVED MY EMAIL.
THAT WAS THE ONLY RESPONSE I'VE HAD FROM B
[00:45:01]
PS BENEFIT EMAILS OF THE LAST THREE MONTHS.I TRIED CALLING BUT COULD NOT GET THROUGH TO ANYONE.
I CONTINUALLY CALLED AND RECEIVED THE VOICEMAIL STATING THAT NO ONE COULD ANSWER MY CALL.
IT DID NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO LEAVE A MESSAGE.
I FINALLY GOT THROUGH TO A KIND WOMAN WHO DID NOT WORK FOR BENEFITS BUT WAS UNANSWERED DUTY.
SHE TOOK A DETAILED MESSAGE AND TOLD ME BENEFITS WOULD RESPOND TO ME IN THE ORDER THEY RECEIVED THE MESSAGES.
I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK FOR AN EMAIL MESSAGE.
MY DAUGHTER IS STILL NOT COVERED.
I RE-ENROLLED HER THROUGH OPEN ENROLLMENT, WHICH I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.
HOWEVER, I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JANUARY ONE FOR HER TO HAVE COVERAGE.
I AM FORTUNATE SHE HAS NOT BECOME ILL.
HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT GO FOR HER TWO YEAR OLD WELLNESS SCREENING.
ALSO, I HAVE NOT PAID THE BILL AND CONTINUE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW BADLY THIS IS HURTING MY CREDIT SCORE.
UH, I AM AFRAID THAT IF I PAY IT, I WILL NEVER SEE THE REIMBURSEMENTS FROM BENEFITS.
UH, THESE ARE TWO WORRIES THAT ARE ON MY MIND EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS.
UH, YOU HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS LLOYD ALLEN.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY NEW MEMBERS.
HE, HIM SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN MATHEMATICS SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I AM NOT A PERSONAL FINANCE TEACHER.
MARILYN FILES PERSONAL FINANCE UNDER SOCIAL STUDIES AND I IDENTIFY AS MATH.
THAT SAID, DUE TO AN HR GLITCH, I DID SPEND A SEMESTER TEACHING PERSONAL FINANCE IN US HISTORY DURING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY I'M HERE TONIGHT.
TONIGHT'S WORD STEM FROM CONCERNS THAT A HIGHLY QUALIFIED PERSONAL FINANCE TEACHER SHARED WITH TABCO, YOU KNOW, OR WILL KNOW AS WE GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS THAT TABCO REPRESENTED EDUCATORS INCREASED THEIR SALARIES IN TWO WAYS.
WE MOVE DOWN A ROW TYPICALLY ON ON OUR ANNIVERSARY DATE OR OVER A COLUMN.
WE GET COLUMN RAISES BY EARNING A MASTER'S DEGREE, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CREDITS AFTER THE MASTER'S OR AN EARNED PHD.
MYSELF, I CHASED MY PLUS 60 AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I KNEW INTUITIVELY WHAT THIS PFE TEACHER LAID OUT EXPLICITLY.
IF YOU GET YOUR COLUMN RAISED EARLY, IT HAS A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON YOUR CAREER EARNINGS AS MUCH AS $2,500 A YEAR.
IF YOU WAIT A FEW YEARS TO GET YOUR PLUS 30, THEN YOU GO THAT MANY YEARS WITHOUT EARNING THAT HIGHER SALARY.
EARLY CAREER EDUCATORS, IT IS WELL WORTH GETTING YOUR COLUMN ADVANCES AS EARLY AS YOU.
YOU CAN WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A COLUMN RAISE.
THE AUTO RESPONSE INDICATES THAT YOU SHOULD EXPECT RESOLUTION WITHIN EIGHT WEEKS.
THAT SAID, 10% OF 450 PLUS RESPONDENTS INDICATE THAT AN ISSUE TOOK OVER 12 MONTHS FOR RESOLUTION.
LET'S SAY THAT THAT ISSUE IS A COLUMN RAISE.
WHAT IMPACTS COULD THIS HAVE? CONSIDER THE BREADWINNER EDUCATOR $2,500 A YEAR HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE.
IF YOU KNOW THAT THE COLUMN RAISES ON ITS WAY, THEN EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY BE COMPENSATED BACK TO THE DATE THAT YOU EARNED THAT LAST CREDIT, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY TO SPEND ON GROCERIES UNTIL THE COLUMN GETS PROCESSED.
YOU CAN'T SPEND HYPOTHETICAL BACK PAY.
CONSIDER THE FIRST CAREER YOUNG TEACHER.
YOU PLAN TO STAY THERE FOR HERE FOR A LONG TIME.
YOUR AFFORDABILITY IS BASED ON YOUR DEBT TO INCOME RATIO.
SO IF YOU HAVE THE BANK, DO THE MATH BEFORE YOUR COLUMN RAISE GOES THROUGH, THAT AFFECTS THE HOUSES THE REALTOR SHOWS YOU.
NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S EASIER TO PAY OFF THE DEBT SIDE OF THAT RATIO WITH MORE INCOME.
FINALLY, THE CONCEPTS OF COMPOUND INTEREST THAT WE TEACH IN ALL FLAVORS OF ALGEBRA AND OF DOLLAR COST AVERAGING THAT IS COVERED IN PFE T ARE PRACTICAL CONCEPTS THAT HAVE REAL APPLICATION.
WHEN THE MONEY IS LATE, YOU DON'T GET THE INTEREST AND YOU DON'T GET THE INTEREST ON THE INTEREST.
WHEN THE COLUMN IS LATE, YOU LOSE OUT ON ALL THE 4 0 3 B SHARES THAT YOU DIDN'T BUY WHEN YOU WERE WAITING FOR THE MONEY, AS WELL AS THE BENEFIT OF THE VOLATILITY OF THE MARKET.
YOUR CREDIT CARD SURE COMPOUNDS ITS INTEREST THOUGH.
PLEASE ADEQUATELY SUPPORT CERTIFICATION, PAYROLL BENEFITS, AND RELATED OFFICES SO THAT THEY CAN MEET THEIR STATED DEADLINES.
OUR LAST SPEAKER IS AMY ADAMS. GOOD EVENING.
WELCOME TO MS. MINOSKI, MS. PORE.
UM, MS. LTER, MS. HARVEY, UM, AND DR.
UH, THANK YOU MS. HEN AND MR. MCMILLAN FOR CONTINUING TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND TO OUR FOUR APPOINTED MEMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING ON DURING THE TRANSITION.
MY NAME IS AMY ADAMS AND I'M ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PARENT STUDENT COALITION.
WE ARE A GRASSROOTS GROUP OF 5,000 MEMBERS.
THAT INCLUDES PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ALL OVER BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WE'RE TWO YEARS OLD AND HAVE A MISSION TO LEARN ABOUT
[00:50:01]
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, TO EDUCATE PARENTS TO BE THEIR CHILD'S BEST ADVOCATE AND TO CONTINUE TO ASK FOR BETTER OUTCOMES FROM OUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS.WE ARE DEEPLY INVESTED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE ARE SUBSTITUTES VOLUNTEERS, GIRL AND BOY SCOUT LEADERS, ENGAGED ADULTS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS, BUT WE ARE EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH SOME AREAS WHERE THERE IS GREAT ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT, SPECIFICALLY SAFETY AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES.
WE KNOW YOU WILL BE JUMPING RIGHT IN WITH THE BUDGET SEASON AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
THE ONGOING ISSUES THAT YOU HEARD ABOUT TONIGHT RELATED TO BENEFIT CERTIFICATE CERTIFICATIONS, PAYROLL OF EMPLOYEES IS ALSO A VERY URGENT MATTER.
WE HOPE THAT YOU GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO BE COMFORTABLE MAKING VERY IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
IF WE COULD BE SO BOLD, IS TO MAKE A REQUEST TONIGHT.
CAN YOU CONSIDER MOTIONING TO OPEN THE BOARD OF ED MEETINGS AS THEY WERE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC? PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE TO REQUIRE ONLINE REGISTRATION TO ATTEND MEETINGS.
ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BE PRESENT AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED.
MR. MCMILLAN HAS EVEN HAD THE IDEA MULTIPLE TIMES ABOUT TAKING THE MEETINGS AROUND THE COUNTY TO DIFFERENT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS.
WHAT A BETTER WAY TO HAVE THE COMMUNITIES GET TO KNOW YOU AND YOU GET TO KNOW THE COMMUNITIES.
OUR DESIRE FOR YOU IS TO BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTING POLICIES, APPROVING CONTRACTS, CURRICULUMS, AND BUDGETS THAT WILL HAVE POSITIVE MEASURABLE OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS.
ASK FOR EVALUATIONS OF PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES TO MONITOR THEIR SUCCESS.
FOLLOW UP AND ASK FOR THE DATA.
MAKE SURE MONEY IS WELL SPENT AND REACHING THE EDUCATORS AND THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASSROOMS. WE ALL, EVERY LIVING AND WORKING ADULT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ENRICH THE LIVES OF THE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE READING PROFICIENTLY BY THIRD GRADE.
THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN SHOULD BE SCORING AT THE MET OR EXCEEDED PERFORMANCE LEVEL ON STATE ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, AND SOCIAL STUDY ASSESSMENTS.
EVERY CHILD SHOULD FEEL SAFE COMING TO SCHOOL.
THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY THE CASE, BUT WE HAVE HOPE AND WE'RE COUNTING ON ALL OF YOU TO LEAD THE WAY.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS A SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LITNER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT MY SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT TO THE BOARD IN TEAM BCP.
THE REPORT INCLUDES CELEBRATIONS, UPDATES, AND EVIDENCE OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT COMPASS OUR PATH PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE IN ACTION.
BUT BEFORE I ACTUALLY, UH, PRESENT MY REPORT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ADDRESS THE HUMAN RESOURCES CONCERN.
RAISE THIS EVENING AND DIRECT MESSAGES TO ME.
WE WILL AND WE MUST TAKE CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
87% OF OUR BUDGET RELIES ON PEOPLE.
THE PEOPLE MAKE THE THE TRAIN GO.
WE GONNA TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE LONGSTANDING ISSUES THAT EXISTED EVEN BEFORE I ARRIVE.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO EXCUSES.
WE WILL REIMAGINE HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE WILL RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN OUR PEOPLE AND ENSURE OUR EMPLOYEES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED TO BECOME WHOLE.
SO AS YOUR SUPERINTENDENT, I HAVE RELIED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO ME ABOUT THE BEST WAY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS, BUT I TOO HAVE QUESTIONS.
SO BASED ON WHAT I'M HEARING AND SEEING IN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS, WE WILL DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
AND I DON'T MEAN PEOPLE IN THE JOBS, CURRENT JOBS NEED TO WORK HARDER.
THE TEAM AND I WILL THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THIS WORK, ABOUT TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
SO I'VE ASKED OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT TO SHARE A CROSS-DIVISIONAL GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR PROJECT IS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
UH, SO LATER TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF THIS WORK, BUT I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES TO THE BOARD.
SO FOR THOSE WHO PRESENTED, I'M AN EDUCATOR.
IT'S GOTTEN EVEN HARDER IN THE CLASSROOM.
BUT WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE GONNA ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
I CANNOT CONTINUE TO HEAR THESE STORIES AND TO READ THESE MESSAGES THAT ARE HAPPENING TO OUR YOUNG TEACHERS, TO OUR VETERAN TEACHERS.
SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO DO THE WORK.
AND FOR THOSE WHO KNOW ME, I'M NOT AFRAID OF THE WORK OR A CHALLENGE.
SO OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE PROVIDING SOME UPDATES.
I DO WANNA CORRECT A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE THE MESSAGE, UH, THAT WE WENT OUT AND IT WAS CORRECTED, BUT I WANNA SAY IT THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT POSITIONS STARTING
[00:55:01]
AT $28 AN HOUR FOR RETIREES, $30 AN HOUR TO REALLY BUILD UP THIS CUSTOMER SERVICE APPROACH AND TO ADDRESS THESE ONGOING ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD.OUR PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD, WHAT I'M PUTTING FOR OUR STRUCTURES AND PROCESSES SINCE DAY ONE.
AND WE ARE GONNA ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND WE ARE GONNA RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
IS THAT RIGHT? TEAM CABINET? WE AGREE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
THAT'S NOT MY REPORT, BUT, OKAY.
IF WE CAN GO TO THE POWERPOINT.
BCPS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 6TH.
INTERESTED STUDENTS CAN LEARN MORE BY VISITING THE SMO SELECTION WEBSITE.
APPLICANTS MUST BE CURRENT SOPHOMORES OR JUNIORS AND WILL NEED TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THEIR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS, EACH HIGH SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE COUNTY IS ABLE TO NOMINATE UP TO TWO CANDIDATES TO APPLY FOR THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
WE VALUE STUDENT VOICE AND APPRECIATE THE WORK OF OUR STUDENT LEADERS, ROA AND OTHERS.
I ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO APPLY.
THE SIXTH ANNUAL BCPS, H B C U COLLEGE FAIR WILL BE HELD ON THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH AT NEWTOWN HIGH SCHOOL.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO EXPLORE POST-SECONDARY OPTIONS.
SO AT THE FAIR, STUDENTS CAN MEET COLLEGE ADMISSION REPRESENTATIVES FROM HBCUS AND PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS RELATED TO THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, FINANCIAL AID, AND COLLEGE LIFE DROP IN SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAY WRITING AND THE FASA.
THE FREE, UH, FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID COMPLETION WILL BE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
AND THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL RAFFLE $500 H B C U BOOK SCHOLARSHIPS ON SITE AT THE COLLEGE FAIR.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO CONTRIBUTE NEW AND UNUSED WINTER ACCESSORIES AND WELLNESS ITEMS TO SUPPORT BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF BCPS SHARE THE WARMTH CAMPAIGN ACCEPTS SUCH ITEMS YEAR ROUND, BUT FOCUSES ITS COLLECTION EFFORTS FROM THE FALL THROUGH JANUARY.
THE ITEMS MOST IN NEED ARE LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS.
SO I'M SO PROUD OF ALL OUR STUDENT ATHLETES WHO RETURN TO PLAY THIS YEAR.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PLAYERS, COACHES, STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION.
SOME OF OUR TEAMS COMPETED AT THE STATE LEVEL THIS SEASON, SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE FOLLOWING TEAMS FOR FOOTBALL.
MILFORD MILL ACADEMY TWO A DIVISION, CROSS COUNTRY TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL, BOYS AND GIRLS, THREE A DIVISION.
HEREFORD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TWO A DIVISION.
TYLER DALEY FOR A BOYS INDIVIDUAL FROM DELANEY HIGH SCHOOL AND ESTELLE SNYDER.
A GIRLS INDIVIDUAL FROM HEREFORD HIGH SCHOOL.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING THE FOLLOWING REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FOR CROSS COUNTRY.
WE HAD HERE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS TO A NORTH TOWSON, BOYS AND GIRLS, THREE NORTH AND DELANEY, BOYS AND GIRLS FOR A NORTH FULFILLED HOCKEY.
CARVER ONE A DIVISION HEREFORD TWO A DIVISION AND DELANEY FOUR A DIVISION FOR GIRLS SOCCER.
HEREFORD AND SPARROWS POINT TWO A DIVISION FRANKLIN AND TOWSON THREE A DIVISION AND CATONSVILLE FOUR A DIVISION BOYS SOCCER, LANSDALE AND SPARROWS 0.2 A DIVISION FRANKLIN AND TOWSON AND DELANEY FOR A DIVISION.
VOLLEYBALL HEIFER AND EASTERN TECH TWO A DIVISION AND DELANEY FORAY DIVISION.
AND FOR FOOTBALL, DUNDALK AND PERRY HALL.
FORAY SLASH THREE DIVISION, FRANKLIN THREE DIVISION, AND MILFORD MILL AND HEREFORD TWO A DIVISION.
WE KNOW THAT OUR EFFORTS TO HEAL, REBUILD, AND RECOVER MUST BE ONGOING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TEAM BCPS.
[01:00:01]
RENEWED FOCUS ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS IN VCPS.WE KNOW THAT WE CAN'T DO THIS WORK ALONE.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR A COMMUNITY THAT REMAIN, UH, ENGAGED AND COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF ALL STUDENTS.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.
WE KNOW THAT'S THAT THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO.
UPCOMING REPORTS INCLUDE QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE, EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, GRADUATION AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT.
THESE REPORTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE TOTALITY OF OUR WORK AROUND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
EVERY DAY TEACHERS ARE COLLECTING DATA FOR STUDENTS TO DRIVE DECISIONS ABOUT INSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT DAY, PRINCIPALS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS EXAMINE AND REFLECT ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE, LOOKING FOR TRENDS TO REPLICATE OR COURSE CORRECT.
CENTRAL OFFICE LEADERS COME TOGETHER TO LOOK AT SCHOOL DATA, SYSTEM DATA AND ZONE DATA TO IDENTIFY NEEDED SUPPORTS IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
AS APPLICABLE, ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH YOU THROUGH LETTERS, REPORTS FROM YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCE FROM THE SCHOOLS IN YOUR COMMUNITY AT THIS BOARD TABLE AND ADVISORIES.
AND AS A PART OF PUBLISHED REPORTS, REGARDLESS OF THE SOURCE, THE GOAL IS THE SAME.
WE WANT TO ENSURE OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING AT HIGH LEVELS ACROSS MULTIPLE MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE.
ON DECEMBER 2ND, WE HELD AN IN-PERSON COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON MIDDLE SCHOOL SAFETY.
PARENTS, STAFF, STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY LEARN ABOUT DCP S'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE STUDENT STAFF SAFETY.
KRISTA CULP, A, A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST AND CONSULTANT WITH THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL SAFETY, WHO SHARED INFORMATION ON STATEWIDE DATA TRENDS, ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORS AND TIPS FOR BUILDING POSITIVE PARTNERSHIPS FOR STUDENT SUPPORT IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
STAFF ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.
THE VI VIDEO IS AVAILABLE ON BCPS WEBPAGE.
THE COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WAS A PART OF OUR ONGOING EFFORTS TO ENGAGE TEAM BCPS.
IN CONVERSATIONS ON SCHOOL SAFETY, ATTENDEES WERE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAMS TO, TO COLLABORATE ON POSITIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
AT THIS TIME, I WILL INVITE OUR DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, DR.
YARBOROUGH, TO SHARE JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE CROSS-DIVISIONAL PROJECT TO SUPPORT HUMAN RESOURCES.
BOARD CHAIR LECTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY.
WILLIAMS INDICATED, I HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH CONVENING A CROSS-DIVISIONAL GROUP TO RESPOND TO HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDS IN TEAM BCPS.
TO BE CLEAR, WE WANNA ENSURE THAT EVERY STAFF MEMBER AND RETIREE RECEIVES PROMPT AND EFFICIENT SERVICES AS THEY ENGAGE IN BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS.
THERE WILL BE A CHANGE IN OUR SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL FOR HUMAN RESOURCES.
ALL OF THE DEDICATED, HARDWORKING STAFF MEMBERS IN IMPACTED DEPARTMENTS HAVE MET DIRECTLY WITH MYSELF AND OUR CHIEF OF STAFF TO SHARE BARRIERS, NEEDS AND SOLUTIONS.
EVEN IN THOSE SHORT CONVERSATIONS, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND SEE A PATH FORWARD TO BETTER PROVIDE SERVICES TO ALL BCPS STAFF MEMBERS TO A PERSON.
EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE MET WITH IS COMMITTED TO THE WORK AND SO ARE WE.
AND I WANNA BEGIN BY SHARING DETAILS REGARDING TWO SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
ON DECEMBER 1ST, MEETINGS WE'RE HELD WITH THE VISION LEADERSHIP TO DISCUSS NEEDS RELATED TO HUMAN RESOURCES CLERICAL SUPPORT.
AS A RESULT, 16 CLERICAL STAFF ACROSS TEAM BCPS HAVE BEEN TEMPORARILY REASSIGNED TO SEVERAL OFFICES WITHIN HUMAN RESOURCES.
TRAINING FOR THESE STAFF MEMBERS BEGINS TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH.
THIS REALLOCATION WILL PERMIT CURRENT HUMAN RESOURCES STAFF TO MAINTAIN PRIMARY FOCUS ON DAILY PROCESSES RELATED TO HIRING AND EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT.
SPECIFICALLY, CLERICAL SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED FROM DECEMBER, 2022 TO FEBRUARY, 2023.
TO THE FOLLOWING OFFICE IS AN HR TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG OF HUMAN RESOURCES, EMPLOYEE CONCERNS, H R I S, WHICH IS HUMAN RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEMS CERTIFICATION, LEAVES BENEFITS AND RETIREES.
THESE TEMPORARILY DEPLOYED STAFF MEMBERS WILL FOCUS ON ADDRESSING BENEFIT NEEDS, LEAVE REQUESTS, CERTIFICATION, GROWTH CHART, AND OTHER RECORD UPDATES.
STARTING NEXT WEEK, TEAM BCPS STAFF AND RETIREES CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE PHONE CALLS AND OR EMAIL RESPONSES TO THEIR INQUIRIES WITHIN 48 HOURS MAXIMUM.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO SAY THE OFFICE OF PAYROLL HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN EMPLOYEE CONCERNS.
[01:05:01]
TO NOTE THAT WE WORKED WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS LAST YEAR TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT ANY LINGERING PAYROLL CONCERNS.WHILE IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO EXPRESS RIGHTFULLY FRUSTRATION WITH PAY CONCERNS, THOSE PAY CONCERNS ARE ACTUALLY RELATED TO BACKLOGGED HUMAN RESOURCE REQUESTS.
EFFORTS TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN HR WILL RESULT IN APPROPRIATE REQUEST FOR PAYMENTS.
THE OFFICE OF PAYROLL DOES NOT HOLD ANY PAYMENT REQUEST BEYOND THOSE REQUIRING RESEARCH, RESEARCH AND DOES NOT HAVE A BACKLOG OF OUTSTANDING PAYMENT REQUESTS.
THEY HAVE INTERNAL PROCESSES AND CHECKLISTS FOR EVERY SCHOOL AND EVERY DEPARTMENT IN BCPS IN ORDER TO HELP SCHOOLS AND OFFICES MEET PUBLISHED DEADLINES.
WHEN THE OFFICE OF PAYROLL RECEIVES A LATE REQUEST, THEY WORK VERY HARD TO PROCESS IT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL PAYROLL SCHEDULE.
TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ON STAFF, WE KNOW THAT THE CLERICAL SUPPORT THAT WE ARE IMMEDIATELY PROVIDING TO HR WILL RESULT IN SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REQUESTS FOR PAYMENT TO PAYROLL.
AS A RESULT, WE ARE DEVELOPING A PLAN TO PROVIDE DIRECT SUPPORT TO PAYROLL TO ENSURE SEAMLESS PROCESSING WHEN THEY RECEIVE THESE REQUESTS FOR PAYMENTS.
WE WILL ALSO LAUNCH A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ON THE GREENWOOD CAMPUS TO RESPOND DAILY TO EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE NEEDS.
DEDICATED STAFF WILL PROVIDE WALK-IN EMAIL AND PHONE SUPPORT MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAYS WITH TWO EVENING EXTENDED HOURS PER WEEK.
NEW JOB POSTINGS WERE POSTED ON DECEMBER 1ST AND CLOSED DECEMBER 10TH.
WE'VE ADVERTISED FOR 12 FULL-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, FOUR TO SIX PART-TIME CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES, AND ONE SUPERVISOR TO RESPOND DIRECTLY TO EMPLOYEE AND RETIREE NEEDS.
THE RATE OF PAY ADVERTISED IS $28 AND $30 FOR RETIREES.
THIS IS A PRACTICE IN OTHER SIMILARLY SIZED SYSTEMS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING A CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER TO BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS AFTERNOON WE RECEIVE GREAT NEWS FROM THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE ABOUT RETIREES WITH REMAINING OUTSTANDING BENEFIT BALANCES.
WE HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY GOVERNMENT STAFF FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO RESOLVE THE REMAINING ISSUES IMPACTING RETIREES FROM THE CYBER ATTACK.
AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE REMAINING RETIREES WHO OWE A BALANCE OF AN UNPAID PREMIUM TO BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE FORGIVEN UP TO $2,000 OF THOSE REMAINING PREMIUMS. THIS RESOLUTION IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF COUNTY EXECUTIVE FULL SUPPORT OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS REMAINING RETIREE BENEFIT CONCERNS AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS SUPPORT.
SPECIAL THANKS TO CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STA ROGERS AND THE BUDGET TEAM FOR THEIR ONGOING COLLABORATION.
WE DO APPRECIATE OUR RETIREE SERVICE TO BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT THIS DEBT FORGIVENESS WILL BE HELPFUL.
DETAILED NOTICES WILL BE MAILED TO RETIREES THIS WEEK, TURNING IT BACK TO DR.
WILLIAMS. SO THANK YOU WARD AND CHAIN BCPS.
WILLIAMS. THE NEXT, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CHAIR'S REPORT.
WELL, THE CHAIR DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO PUT A REPORT TOGETHER, BUT I
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, FIRST THANK, UM, MS. HEN AND, UM, MR. MCMILLAN FOR THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR LEADERSHIP ON THE BOARD FOR THE PAST, UM, YEAR.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, LEADERSHIP.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR FOUR BOARD MEMBERS WHO, UM, ARE, HAVE DECIDED TO REMAIN WITH US UNTIL OUR NEW GOVERNOR ELECT HAS, UM, NOMINATED THE NEW FOUR PEOPLE.
YOUR, UM, COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTY WILL TO THE BOARD WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THE WORK IN A SEAMLESS FASHION WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THIS APPOINTMENT.
SO THANK YOU TO, UM, THERE ARE FOUR, BUT I ONLY SEE, UM, TWO RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN TO THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS WHO JUST FINISHED RUNNING FOR ELECTION, UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE AND RUN YOUR CAMPAIGNS.
I AM ONE OF YOU AND I KNOW HOW HARD THAT WAS.
AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN ME, UM, TO BE THE BOARD CHAIR.
AND I WANNA THANK IN ADVANCE MY NEW PARTNER, MS. HARVEY, UM, FOR WORKING WITH ME, UM, THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR.
SO THAT IS THE CHAIR'S FIRST REPORT.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS REPORT, AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. HAZAN.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH
[01:10:01]
ALL OF YOU, SOME OF YOU FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME SPEAKING.ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENTS OF BCPS, TO FORMALLY INTRODUCE MYSELF, MY NAME IS ROA HASSAN.
I'M A MUSLIM EGYPTIAN AMERICAN STUDENT, BORN AND RAISED RIGHT HERE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
I'M A SENIOR AT PERRY HALL HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IN THE PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR, I WAS ELECTED BY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO REPRESENT ALL 111,000 STUDENTS I SERVE TODAY AND EVERY DAY TO REPRESENT THE STUDENTS OF BCPS UNCONDITIONALLY, UNWAVERINGLY, AND DILIGENTLY.
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, UNTIL THE VERY 1ST OF JULY, I WILL DO MY PART IN SERVING TO FIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS, THOSE WE SEE AND THOSE WHO WE MAY NOT.
I HOPE THAT DURING THE ENTIRE DURATION OF YOUR TERM, YOU DO THE SAME AND YOU DO IT WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF LOVE FOR THE STUDENTS.
YOU ALL HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE BECAUSE OF ONE COMMON TRAIT WE ALL SHARE.
YOU HAVE THE STUDENTS BEST INTERESTS IN MIND, AND YOU HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED TO WORK UNCONDITIONALLY TO FIGHT FOR OUR SYSTEM, TO FIGHT FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THE STAFF THAT SUPPORT BCPS.
SO NEW BOARD MEMBERS, CONGRATULATIONS.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL WORKING ALONGSIDE YOU TO MAKE WAVES AND CREATE LONG-LASTING CHANGE.
I KNOW WHEN I FIRST SAT ON THIS DAIS, I REMEMBER THE POWER THAT I FELT, THE POWER OF THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME AND THOSE I WORKED TO REPRESENT.
NOW, THE FIRE THAT I HOPE TO BRING TO THIS BOARD IS THEIR FIRE, AND I HOPE YOU FEEL JUST AS EMPOWERED BY IT AS I DO.
I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU WHAT MY TEAM AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS IN HOPES THAT THE SAME ENERGY CONTINUES AND WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE EVEN MORE LONG LASTING CHANGE.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, I'VE VISITED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE SCHOOLS AND I'M PLANNING ON VISITING SO MUCH MORE IN THE NEXT MONTH OF DECEMBER AND JANUARY.
THREE OF WHICH SO FAR ARE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND TWO OF WHICH, OR ONE OF WHICH ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AFTER EVERY SCHOOL SCHOOL VISIT, I'VE MADE IT A HABIT TO WRITE, TO RUN INTO MY CAR AND WRITE DOWN ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING I CAN REMEMBER, ALL OF WHICH HAVE ENCOMPASSED ONE THING.
EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IN OUR SYSTEM IS INCREDIBLY UNIQUE AND ALL OF THEM ARE OUTSTANDING.
I'VE HEARD MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THE VIOLENCE AND TALK ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, AND ONE PARTICULAR MIDDLE SCHOOLER HAS RESONATED WITH WITH ME THE MOST.
AT THE VERY FIRST SCHOOL I VISITED, SHE TOLD ME THAT THE REASON STUDENTS ARE VIOLENT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW YET HOW TO HANDLE THEIR VERY BIG FEELINGS.
SHE'S A SIXTH GRADE STUDENT AND SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, MY TEAM AND I HELD A MEETING PRIOR TO THANKSGIVING CONSISTING OF THE VERY FIRST BCPS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD CABINET AND OPERATIONS TEAM.
WE HAD OVER 40 STUDENTS ATTEND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THESE STUDENTS INVOLVED AND TRULY SHARING MY SEAT AT THE TABLE.
MY TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING FORTH RESOLUTIONS, ACTIONS, AND EVENTS AROUND THE COMMUNITY AND TO YOU ALL IN A SIMILAR SPIRIT.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT BCPS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE OPEN FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS MAY APPLY TO BECOME THE NEXT BCPS STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
TWO STUDENTS PER HIGH SCHOOL ARE PERMITTED TO APPLY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING IN THE PROCESS TO SELECT OUR TWO FINALISTS FOR MY SUCCESSOR AND SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGNS OF OUR NEXT STUDENT MEMBER IN THE MONTHS TO COME.
SO TO ANY STU, ANY AND EVERY STUDENT INTERESTED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME AND ABSOLUTELY DO CONSIDER PURSUING IT.
IT IS ONE OF THE BEST DECISIONS I HAVE MADE, AND I CANNOT WAIT TO READ ALL OF YOUR APPLICATIONS THIS PAST WEEK.
I ALSO PRESENTED TO PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT STAFF OVER THE THREE DAY PERIOD REGARDING STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE.
I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK MR. HANDY AND MS. OJALA FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK AS BOTH A STUDENT AND AS A BOARD MEMBER TO SHARE MY VIEWS ON STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN BCPS.
THE SENTIMENTS I SHARED WITH STAFF MEMBERS ARE SENTIMENTS I BELIEVE, ARE ESSENTIAL FOR US TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS BOARD MEMBERS.
THOSE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM ACCOUNTABILITY TO COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS, INNOVATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING, EQUITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PARTNERSHIPS, AND ENSURING THAT OUR LEADERS HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF CORE VALUES GUIDING OUR WORK.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HOLD ON THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION.
WE DO NEED TO PRACTICE THAT COMMUNICATION, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND THAT ACCOUNTABILITY AS WE SERVE AS THE LEADERS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THE WORK THAT WE PUT IN MUST ABIDE BY THOSE STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE, NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE WRITTEN FOR ME TO READ, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY ARE WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS.
THAT COMMUNICATION, THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WE HOLD WITH THAT RESPECT, WE HOLD FOR ONE ANOTHER AND FOR THOSE IN OUR SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS WE HOLD ON THIS VERY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
IN MY PRESENTATION TO STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE,
[01:15:01]
I SHARED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON THAT I'VE LEARNED FROM BEING IN THIS POSITION IS THAT YOU LEARN TO ADAPT MUCH FASTER WHEN EVERYTHING MOVES IN CONSTANT FLUID, SOMETIMES MONSOON LIKE MOTION.BUT MY FAVORITE LESSON AND WHAT I HOPE TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU IS HOW TO BE HUMAN.
I WANT YOU ALL TO SEE THE HUMANITY BEHIND YOUR ACTIONS, BEHIND THE STUDENTS.
WE REPRESENT BEHIND THE SCHOOLS THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS TO SUPPORT AND TO LEAD WITH AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF EMPATHY AND LOVE, BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD.
AND THAT IS WHAT I HOPE YOU BRING TO THIS DAY, IS EVERY SINGLE DAY YOU ARE HERE, YOU'RE HERE FOR MUCH LONGER THAN I AM.
SO I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE MY LEGACY AND THE LEGACY OF MY PREDECESSORS AND MY SUCCESSOR AND BRING GOOD TROUBLE TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.
AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MR. MERCEDES.
THERE IS NOTHING TO REPORT OUT FROM CLOSED SESSION.
OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONTRACT AWARDS.
AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MISS JOE'S CHAIR OF THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD'S BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 5TH, 2022.
ITEMS K ONE THROUGH K 15 ARE BEING FORWARDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? I I HAVE A QUESTION IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION ABOUT ANY CHANGES TO ANY OF THOSE OR DO WE? NOPE, THAT'S CONTRACT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? K ONE THROUGH K 15.
NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE.
ANY DISCUSSION? MR. C**N? UH, THANK YOU.
WE HAD QUITE A FUN DISCUSSION LAST NIGHT GOING THROUGH JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE OF THESE, SO I VOTED TO APPROVE HIM.
UM, MY, MY ONLY COMMENT THAT I WANT TO SHARE, I, I MENTIONED LAST NIGHT AND YOU DID PROVIDE AN UPDATE WITH SOME INFORMATION.
UM, HAD TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENT, UH, COHORTS AND, UH, TEACHING PROGRAMS THAT WERE OFFER.
UM, AND MY REQUEST THAT, UH, AT SOME HOPEFULLY POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, UH, AN OVERALL PLAN FOR THIS IS BROUGHT TO THE ENTIRE BOARD SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE GOAL AND WHAT'S HAPPENING, UH, WITH ALL THESE FUNDS AND HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING OUR EMPLOYEES WITH THESE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. CUZ THERE'S HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON EDUCATION HERE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT MONEY TO SPEND AND I FULLY SUPPORT IT.
I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND IT.
UM, AND, AND THESE CONTINUE TO SHOW UP.
WILLIAMS, I, I HOPE, UH, CHAIR LITTER.
THAT, THAT WE ADD THIS TO A VERY, UM, TO AN AGENDA ITEM SOON.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MR. MINOSKI? HI, MS. PORE? YES.
OKAY, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONSIDERATION OF A SPECIAL PROJECT REQUEST.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, LECTOR, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT WILLIAMS, BOARD MEMBERS NEW AND RETURNING.
UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WE ARE PRESENTING A PROPOSAL FOR A PRIVATELY FUNDED CAPITAL
[01:20:01]
PROJECT AT PERRY HILL.THE DESIRED PROJECT IS FOR PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF TWO SCOREBOARDS, ONE FOR THE SOFTBALL FIELD AND ONE FOR THE BASEBALL FIELD.
PERRY HALL HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC BOOSTERS SERVE AS THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS PROJECT.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PRIVATELY FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECT REQUESTS FOR A SCOREBOARD AT PERRY HALL HIGH SCHOOL? SO MOVE TO, SO MOVE 10.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MS. DOKI.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS CONSIDERATION OF BOARD POLICIES.
SECOND READER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE ASKS THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FOLLOWING BOARD POLICIES.
POLICY 3000 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES IS NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES POLICY 31 26 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES, EXPENSE AND TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT POLICY 31 27 NON-INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES TRAVEL APPROVAL POLICY 73 30 FACILITIES AND CONSTRUCTION FINANCING CAPITAL PROJECTS FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS.
POLICY 83 50 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, OPERATIONS BOARD COUNCIL AND POLICY 83 64 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, ETHICS CODE, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
THIS RECOMMENDATION IS PRESENTED TO YOU ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS EXHIBIT M.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD'S POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE? SO MOVED.
NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SO MS. MS. LTER, MS. JOSEPH, WE COULD SEPARATE OUT THE LAST POLICY, UM, POLICY 83 64 FOR DISCUSSION.
SO WE'RE GONNA SEPARATE POLICY 83 64.
SO AT THIS POINT WE'LL BE VOTING ON POLICIES ON NUMBERS ONE THROUGH FIVE, CORRECT? YES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON ONE THROUGH FIVE? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE MS. DOKI? AYE.
MOTION CARRIES FOR ONE THROUGH FIVE.
NOW, NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERATION OF THE BOARD PROPOSED CHANGES TO POLICY 83 64 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES, ETHICS CODE, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SO I HAVE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF YEARS THAT THE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE FORMS ARE HELD FROM 10 TO FOUR.
HASSAN, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES.
CHAIR LECTER? YES, MS. HEN? THANK YOU.
UM, WE HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS MOTION AT THE LAST MEETING.
UM, SO I WOULD SEEK ADVICE OF BOARD COUNCIL IF THIS IS NOT REDUNDANT AND IF THIS IS PERTINENT AND CAN BE DISCUSSED AGAIN SINCE THE BOARD VOTED ON AN IDENTICAL MOTION AT THE LAST MEETING.
IT WAS BEING DISCUSSED ON FIRST READER.
I WOULD THEN ADD THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD VOTED AGAINST THIS MOTION AT THE LAST MEETING.
UM, SO FOR PURPOSES, FOR IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, RATHER THAN DEBATE THIS MOTION, AGAIN, THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD WAS AGAINST CHANGING THE, UM, NUMBER OF YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF A MAJORITY OF VOTED AGAINST IT OR NOT.
I BELIEVE IT WAS SIX SIX, BUT, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
[01:25:01]
SO I'LL, I'LL RE REITERATEUM, ALL OF THIS IS DOING IS PROVIDING THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS OF MARYLAND, THE ABILITY TO LOOK BACK INTO THE PAST TO FIND IMPROPER DOING.
NOW, THE REASON IT MATTERS MORE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, UM, IS BECAUSE WE HAD A SITUATION PREVIOUSLY WHERE THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO FALSIFIED AND ACTUALLY WENT TO JAIL FOR LYING ON A FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
UM, AND THAT PERSON HAPPENED TO BE OUR SUPERINTENDENT.
SO THAT WAS, THAT'S A PROBLEM.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULD WEAKEN OUR POLICY AROUND THAT.
WE SHOULD BE STRENGTHENING IT.
UM, AND GOING BACK TO FOUR YEARS AGAIN MAKES NO SENSE TO ME.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY COMMENT.
THIS REALLY ISN'T A MATTER OF, OH, WE DON'T HAVE THE SPACE FOR IT CUZ WE'RE JUST SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES HERE.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND AN ARGUMENT AGAINST THIS.
AT THE VERY LEAST, IT SHOULD BE SEVEN YEARS.
CAN THE BOARD MEMBER WHO IS, UH, WHO BROUGHT THIS MOTION, PLEASE, UH, SPEAK TO SOME HISTORY AND BACKGROUND.
THE MOTION ABOUT, I JUST DID IT FOR THE FOUR YEARS THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO, OR? YES.
OR WHY IT WAS FOR 10 YEARS TO CHANGE IT TO FOUR YEARS.
SO THE REASON CHANGE IT TO FOUR YEARS IS 10 YEARS SEEMS EXCESSIVE.
THAT USUALLY RECORDS ARE NOT KEPT FOR 10 YEARS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THE AMOUNT WITH STORING, UM, INFORMATION.
I THINK THAT WAS A PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING.
THEY DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR MORE WAREHOUSE SPACE, UM, TO GET THE BOXES THAT ARE OUT IN BUILDINGS OUT.
SO, UM, THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE MOTION FROM 10 BIG EXCESSIVE TO FOUR MS. UH, MS. VICTOR, I HAVE A COMMENT.
JUST TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO MS. HARVEY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE POLICY ANALYSIS, YOU WILL SEE SIMILAR POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE MARYLAND LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE RETENTION PERIOD IS ALLEGHENY, A ARUNDEL, BALTIMORE CITY, UM, CALVER COUNTY, ET CETERA.
IF YOU GO DOWN THE LIST FOR THE POLICY ANALYSIS, AND THEY ALL HAVE DISCLOSURES RETAINED FOR FOUR YEARS, IRS TYPICALLY REQUIRES THREE YEARS.
SO THE 10 YEARS IS A BIT OF AN OVERKILL.
UM, AND FINANCIAL RECORDS WILL BE STORED, BUT 10 SEEMS EXCESSIVE.
IT'S NOT FOR EVERYBODY, BUT JUST THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I, I DON'T IF YOU, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S NOT, UM, A REASONABLE TIME.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S AN EXCESSIVE AND OVERKILL OF KEEPING OUR FINANCIALS OUT THERE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME.
IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY LAW CHAIR LIQUOR.
UM, SO B BCPS CONTRACTED UNDER THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT TO DO A PROCUREMENT AUDIT FOLLOWING THE INDICTMENT OF OUR PRIOR SUPERINTENDENT, UM, WHAT MR. KEENAN MENTIONED.
AND THAT AUDIT WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO STAGES.
UM, THE AUDIT COULD NOT BE FULLY COMPLETED BECAUSE, UM, FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS WERE UNAVAILABLE.
BUT HAD IT BEEN COMPLETED, PHASE TWO, UM, WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN STARTED UNTIL YEAR THREE OR LATER.
UM, THE RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT FIVE YEARS OF FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS BE AUDITED BY THAT POINT.
UM, THIS STATEMENTS WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN RETAINED HAD WE REDUCED THE POLICY TO A RETENTION PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS.
SO THE, THE AUDITORS THAT HAD BEEN RETAINED BY THE SYSTEM RECOMMENDED A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
THE, THE WORK OF AN AUDIT, UM, WOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN MADE POSSIBLE HAD WE REDUCED OUR RETENTION PERIOD.
SO THIS AUDIT, AGAIN, WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT.
SHOULD THE BOARD WISH TO COMPLETE IT IN THE FUTURE, REDUCING THE RETENTION TIME WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO DO SO EITHER CURRENTLY OR IN THE FUTURE.
IT'S MY OPINION THAT THIS NEW BOARD, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE KEEP DRAGGING OUR FEET IN THE MUD AND, AND WE'RE HELD HOSTAGE BY A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT THAT GOT HIMSELF IN TROUBLE.
AND WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT LAST MEETING WE HAD DOCUMENTATION OF 10 OR 12 OR 14 SCHOOL SYSTEMS AROUND THIS STATE THAT USED FOUR YEARS.
AND WHY WE WE WANNA LAG ATTACHED TO 10 YEARS.
[01:30:01]
I DON'T HAVE A ISSUE WITH THIS.WITH, WITH THE FINANCIAL THINGS IN THE FOUR YEARS, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND NOT CONTINUE TO LAG AROUND.
WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING DONE.
AND, AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WITH 12 PEOPLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE AND STOP LAGGING BEHIND WITH THE NONSENSE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS BECAUSE PEOPLE SEEM TO THINK THAT THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SPACE, BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T.
UM, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED.
I'M ON THE CONTRACTS COMMITTEE, SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WOULD NOT IMPACT THAT IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM.
UH, AFTER LISTENING AND TALKING TO MR. DIXON AT LENGTH ABOUT THIS AND, UH, THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE WAREHOUSE SPACE.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT'S A CHALLENGE.
I I, I MEAN I, THERE'S NO PURPOSE TO CHANGE THIS FROM 10 TO FOUR.
AT THE VERY LEAST, FINANCIAL RECORDS SHOULD BE SAVED FOR SEVEN YEARS.
I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO GO AGAINST THE IRS WITH THREE YEARS WORTH OF DOCUMENTATION, GOOD LUCK TO YOU.
BUT IN REALITY, YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS OF DOCUMENTATION.
THIS PROTECTS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT'S ALL IT DOES, AND IT ALLOWS FOR TRANSPARENCY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NEW BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE OLD BOARD WOULD ARGUE AGAINST IT.
I DON'T, YOU CAN GO LOOK AT MY RECORDS IF YOU WANT, I PREFER YOU DON'T, BUT WHATEVER.
MAY I HAVE A ROLE CALL, VOTE ON THE AMENDED MOTION.
THE RESTATING FROM CHANGING THE 10 YEARS TO FOUR YEARS, MR. MCMILLAN.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE VOTING ON THE AMENDMENT OF CHANGING FROM 10 YEARS TO THE FOUR YEARS.
MAY HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE ORIGINAL POLICY.
83 64 INTERNAL BOARD POLICIES? UH, YES, HONEY.
ARE, ARE WE ABLE TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT? MM-HMM.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE MOTION TO CHANGE THE NUMBER OF IN TERMS. OKAY.
ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL SECOND THAT.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON.
CAN WE REPEAT THE AMENDMENT? WAS TO CHANGE IT FROM 10 YEARS TO SEVEN YEARS.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S CHAIR.
NOW WE, THAT WAS A MOTION TO AMEND.
SO NOW WE'RE GONNA DO THE MOTION ON, OKAY.
UH, TO APPROVE 83 64 AS AMENDED.
SO, UM, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON APPROVING POLICY? EIGHTY THREE SIXTY FOUR AS AMENDED.
DO I NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? UH, IT'S, IT'S ON THE FLOOR CAUSE IT CAME FROM POLICY.
SO MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE MS. DOKI.
[01:35:01]
AYE.NOW THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON BLUEPRINT FOR MARILYN'S FUTURE.
SO GOOD EVENING AND CONGRATULATIONS FOR, UM, CHAIR LECTOR AND VICE CHAIR, UH, HARVEY AND DR.
WILLIAMS. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MARY MCCOMAS, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, AND I'M JOINED THIS EVENING BY DR.
JEFFREY HOLMES, WHO IS OUR SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION.
WITTED, WHO IS OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR ACADEMIC SERVICES AND SERVES AS OUR SYSTEM WIDE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR.
NEXT, DO WE HAVE THE SLIDES UP? OKAY.
UM, OUR OBJECTIVE FOR THIS EVENING'S PRESENTATION IS TO PROVIDE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW SOME, UM, OVERVIEW INFORMATION RELATED TO THE BLUEPRINT, EXCUSE ME, BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CONTINUING WITH US AND UPDATE SPECIFICALLY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THE BLUEPRINT OVERALL THAT'S IMPACT ON BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, TIMELINES AND NEXT STEPS.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT IN 2026 TO 20 20 19, SORRY,
BRICK CURWIN WAS APPOINTED THE CHAIR OF A COMMISSION TO STUDY EDUCATION IN MARYLAND, AND SPECIFICALLY TO REVIEW AND RECOMMEND ANY NEEDED CHANGES TO UPDATE THE CURRENT EDUCATION FUNDING FORMULAS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENABLE MARYLAND'S PRE-K 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM TO PERFORM AT THE LEVELS OF THE BEST PERFORMING SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.
WE NOW HAVE THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IN-LAW.
AND THE BLUEPRINT HAS TWO PRIMARY GOALS.
FIRST IS TO GOAL IS TO TRANSFORM MARYLAND'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM, AGAIN, TO BE AT PERFORMING THE LEVELS OF THE HIGHEST PERFORMING SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND SECOND, TO ESTABLISH A CAREER LADDER SYSTEM FOR OUR EDUCATORS COMPOSED OF LEVELS THROUGH WHICH TEACHERS MAY PROGRESS AND GAIN AUTHORITY, STATUS AND COMPENSATION AS THEY GAIN EXPERTISE IN OUR FIELD.
THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, TYPICALLY REFERRED TO AS THE BLUEPRINT ESTABLISHES IN LAW THE POLICIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KWAN COMMISSION ON INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION.
THIS BILL DID TAKE EFFECT JULY 1ST, 2020, AND HAS FIVE MAJOR POLISHED POLICY AREAS YOU WILL HEAR US TALK ABOUT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
UH, ONE IS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
ANOTHER IS HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS AND LEADERS.
A THIRD IS COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS, INCLUDING CTE OR CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.
FOURTH, MORE RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
AND LASTLY, GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
ADDITIONALLY, ITEMS IN A BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE DO ALIGN WITH OUR BCPS STRATEGIC PLAN, THE COMPASS, OUR PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, UH, OUR COMPASS OR STRATEGIC PLAN, UH, PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE.
THE AREAS OF LEARNING, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESULTS CLEARLY ALIGN WITH THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAY SECTIONS OF THE BLUEPRINT.
OUR HIGH PERFORMING WORKFORCE, UM, SEGMENT OF OUR COMPASS ALIGNS WITH THE HUMAN CAPITAL, UM, AND HIGH QUALITY DIVERSE TEACHERS AND LEADER SECTION OF THE BLUEPRINT.
SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS ALIGN TO THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SUCCESSFUL.
PART OF THE BLUEPRINT AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN AIR COMPASS ALIGNS TO THE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY SECTION OF THE STATE BLUEPRINT.
YOU'LL SEND AN UPCOMING SLIDES, MORE SPECIFIC COMPONENTS OF THE BLUEPRINT AND THEIR ALIGNMENT TO EACH OF THESE FOUR FOCUS AREAS OF BCPS STRATEGIC PLAN, THE COMPASS.
AT THIS POINT, I WILL HAND THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE DR.
ON THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE WILL EXAMINE EACH OF THE FIVE PILLARS AND THE OBJECTIVES TO PROVIDE AN IDEA OF THE BREADTH OF THE BLUEPRINT LEGISLATION.
[01:40:01]
PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.MARY MCCOMAS, OUR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER, DR.
MELISSA WITTED, SUPPORTED BY MR. TONY BEMORE.
AND YOURS TRULY LEAD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT FROM MARYLAND FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL.
ADDITIONALLY, POINTS OF CONTACTS FROM VARIOUS DIVISIONS FROM ACROSS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO ENSURE THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND DEEP ENGAGEMENT FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE IT'S INCLUSIVE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATORS, OUR FINANCE TEAM, HUMAN RESOURCES, AND FACILITY PARTNERS SUPPORT ALL TEAMS. TO DATE EACH SMALLER TEAM HAVE ALREADY HAS ALREADY PROVIDED REPORTS ON FUNDING AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS TO MS D E AND TO THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD AS SHOWN ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE.
PILLAR ONE, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
THIS PILLAR AIMS TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXPAND PUBLIC FUNDED FULL DAY PRE-K FOR ALL FOUR YEAR OLDS AND LOW INCOME THREE YEAR OLDS THROUGH A PUBLIC PRIVATE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
INCREASED THE NUMBER OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROVIDERS AND EXPAND SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO FULLY FUND FULLY FUND MARYLAND INFANT AND TODDLER PROGRAM AND IMPROVE READINESS FOR KINDERGARTEN.
IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD POINTS OF CONTACT ARE DR.
MELISSA WIED AND MISS DINGLE BCPS HAS ROLLED OUT FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN IN THREE SCHOOLS THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND IT'S PLANNING TO ADD 18 SCHOOLS FOR THE 2324 SCHOOL YEAR WITH THE GOAL OF BY 25 26 OF WORKING TO ADDRESS THE ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS AND EXPAND PRIVATE PROVIDERS.
PILLAR TWO FOCUSES ON HIGH QUALITY AND DIVERSE TEACHERS AND LEADERS.
IT AIMS TO INCREASE THE RIGOR OF EDUCATOR LICENSURE AND PREP PROGRAMS. IT WILL ALSO IMPROVE EDUCATOR COMPENSATION AND WORKING CONDITIONS.
INSTITUTE NEW RECRUITMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TO CREATE A MORE DIVERSE EDUCATOR WORKFORCE.
ESTABLISH NEW STATEWIDE EDUCATOR CAREER LADDER TO CONTINUALLY IMPROVE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND STUDENT PERFORMANCE.
AND LASTLY, TO IMPLEMENT MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN-SERVICE EDUCATOR TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR POINTS OF CONTACT ARE LEADERS IN HUMAN RESOURCES, INCLUDING OUR MANAGER OF STAFF RELATIONS.
THE TEAM MEMBERS HAVE COMMUNICATED TO TEACHERS WHO ARE NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED ABOUT THE SALARY INCENTIVE, WHICH INCLUDES $10,000 INCREASE IF 60% OF THE TIME THEY'RE TEACHING IN THE CLASSROOM, AND AN ADDITIONAL $7,000 IF THEY TEACH IN LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS.
AS IDENTIFIED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO LEVERAGED MARYLAND LEADS GRANTS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN OBTAINING AND MAINTAINING NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED STATUS.
WE MUST ALSO, UNDER THIS PILLAR, NEGOTIATE A CAREER LADDER THAT ULTIMATELY HAS A STARTING SALARY OF $60,000 AND INCLUDES AN EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR INCREASES.
WE'RE AT PILLAR THREE, COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
THIS PILLAR FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTING A PRE-K TO 12 CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
BY THE END OF 10TH GRADE, THE DISTRICTS MUST DEVELOP AND ALIGN INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEM WITH RESOURCES AND SUPPORTS NECESSARY TO KEEP STUDENTS ON TRACK TO BE COLLEGE AND CAREER READY.
WE'RE ALSO OBLIGATED TO CREATE A STATEWIDE FRAMEWORK FOR RIGOROUS CTE PROGRAMS. THAT'S OUR CAREER IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SKILLS AND STANDARDS AND ESTABLISHED PATHWAYS FOR OUR CCR AND NON CCR STUDENTS IN 11TH AND 12TH GRADE.
IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THIS SECTION IS LED BY DR.
MICHAEL GRUBBS, MS. SHERRY FISHER, MS. MEGAN SHEA, AND DR.
[01:45:01]
IN THIS PARTICULAR SECTION, I LIKE TO SAY WE WANNA PAUSE FOR A CAUSE TO CELEBRATE.SO WHILE ATTENDING BIWEEKLY MEETINGS WITH IMPLEMENTATION COORDINATORS FROM AROUND THE STATE INCLUSIVE OF MARYLAND NEGOTIATION SERVICE CONVENIENCE, WE WERE PROUD TO REALIZE AND SHARE THAT BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS A LEADER IN THE STATE.
WITH PILLAR THREE, BCPS HAS PAID FOR THE FIRST AP EXAMS FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO HAVE REGISTERED, OPENED UP ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO MEET THE CCBC REQUIREMENTS TO TAKE ANY COURSE IN ANY SEMESTER, INCLUDING BOOKS AND FEES, AND ARE OFFERING SALARIES OR COMPENSATION FOR TRANSPORTATION TO REIMBURSE STUDENTS FOR COURSE, INCURRED FOR BUS PASSES AND OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, AS WELL AS IN YOUTH APPRENTICESHIPS PROGRAMS AS NEEDED.
THE ONLY REGRET IS THAT MY STUDENTS, MY CHILDREN HAVE GRADUATED ALREADY.
IN PILLAR FOUR MORE REASONS, MORE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS PILLAR.
THE LAW AIMS TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS WHO NEED IT, MOST SPECIFICALLY, ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS FOR OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS.
LOW INCOME AND SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS PROVIDE NEW CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY GRANTS DIRECTLY TO ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND ENHANCE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
THIS PILLAR ALSO AIMS TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS TO MEET THE STUDENTS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THE POINTS OF CONTACT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOL PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR PILLAR FOUR WOULD BE MS. MICHELLE STANBURY STANSBERRY, EXCUSE ME, DR.
AARON SULLIVAN, AND MS. JENNIFER HERNANDEZ.
IN THIS SECTION, BCPS CONTINUES TO SUPPORT AND EXPLORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL EXPANSION.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE 39 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY WHO LEVERAGE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FUNDS TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO COORDINATE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS TO MEET STUDENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE SPECIFIC FUNDING FORMULAS APPLIED TO STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS ENGLISH LEARNERS.
IN PILLAR FIVE, GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, THE LEGISLATION REQUIRES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD TO OVERSEE AND MONITOR STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING BLUEPRINT POLICIES, DEVELOP STATE AND LOCAL BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, CREATE EXPERT REVIEW TEAMS TO VISIT SCHOOLS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
REQUIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT AT LEAST 75% PER STUDENT FORMULA FUND FUNDING FOLLOWS STUDENTS TO THEIR SCHOOLS.
FINALLY, IN THE SECTION OF GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY UNDER PILLAR FIVE, THE AIB HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND COMPOSED THE EXPERT REVIEW TEAMS, WHICH WILL BE VISITING SCHOOLS IN THE SPRING OF 2023, TO ENSURE THAT THE BLUEPRINT FROM MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS BEING I IMPLEMENTED AS DICTATED BY THE LEGISLATION.
THEY WILL ALSO BE MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, BUT REQUIRING MS D E TO REVIEW EACH LOCAL EDUCATION'S AGENCY'S PLAN, AS WELL AS ENSURING THAT 75% OF THE FUNDING FORMULAS PROVIDE STUDENTS AT THEIR, THAT ARE, THAT'S PROVIDED TO STUDENTS AT THEIR SPECIFIC SCHOOLS.
IN BCPS, WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WITTED AND I HAVE PRESENTED TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS IN SMALL AND LARGE SETTINGS, MANY OF WHICH DR.
WITTED WILL SHARE AT THIS TIME.
I TURNED THE PRESENTATION OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, DR.
UM, THERE'S MANY REPORTS AND, AND TIMELINES AND DEADLINES FOR THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, STARTING IN JULY ONE, WE WERE REQUIRED TO USE A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE, 30% OF OUR SLOTS
[01:50:01]
WITH OUR PRIVATE PROVIDERS FOR PRE-KINDERGARTEN.ALSO, WE NEEDED TO START OPENING UP ACCESS FOR OUR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLD STUDENTS THAT WERE PART OF TIER ONE.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MAY NOT MUST DO.
WE ALSO HAD A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER WITH THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS.
WE STARTED PAYING OUR TEACHERS THE EXTRA $10,000 OR $17,000 IF THEY WERE NATIONALLY BOARD CERTIFIED.
AND WE ALSO HAD TO SUBMIT A HIRING REPORT IN SEPTEMBER.
WE NEEDED TO SUBMIT THE NINTH GRADE TRACKER REPORT, UH, TO SHOW STUDENTS PROGRESS TOWARDS GRADUATING ON TIME.
AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, WE HAD TO, UM, ENSURE THAT ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TOOK THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT.
AND ON NOVEMBER 1ST, WE SUBMITTED A REPORT, UH, TO TALK ABOUT OUR PLANS TO EXPAND THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF STUDENTS.
ON THE 15TH, WE SUBMITTED A REPORT FOR OUR TECHNOLOGY SPENDING, AND WE HAD TO SHARE THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENT STAFF THAT HAD ACCESSIBILITY, UM, TO THE DEVICES OR CONNECTIVITY.
ON DECEMBER 1ST, UH, THE AIB PUT TOGETHER THEIR FINAL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND PUT TOGETHER THE TEMPLATE THAT WE'LL BE SUBMITTING FOR EVERYONE.
WE HAVE A REPORT THAT GOT POSTPONED FROM DECEMBER 1ST TO DECEMBER 22ND, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE DISAGGREGATED NUMBERS OF, UH, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROVIDERS THAT WE WILL HAVE FOR OUR PRE-K STUDENTS.
WE ALSO, UM, HAD TO ENSURE BY DECEMBER 1ST THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF ENGAGING WITH STUDENTS COMPLETED AN ANNUAL BEHAVIORAL AND, UH, TRAUMA TRAINING, AND WE HAD TO SUBMIT A REPORT ON OUR FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE ARE THE FUTURE REPORTS.
ON JANUARY 1ST, WE WILL NEED TO SUBMIT THE SUMMER PLANNING REPORT, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED, AND WE ALSO MUST SUBMIT THE CODE FUNDING, SPENDING REPORTS FOR TRAUMA AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES IN EARLY 2023.
WE'LL BE ENGAGING WITH YOU AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ENSURING THAT WE ARE FINALIZING, UM, OUR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN THAT MUST BE SUBMITTED, AND THEN WE WILL BE SUBMITTING THAT ON MARCH 15TH TO THE AIB AND THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IS A TEMPLATE THAT WAS PROVIDED BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE AIB, AND IT'S REQUIRING ALL THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES TO COMPLETE IT.
A SMALLER IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED SO THAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER THE DOCUMENTS THAT NEED TO BE SUBMITTED.
A LARGER STAKEHOLDER GROUP'S BEEN MEETING SINCE THE SPRING, UM, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SOLICITING FEEDBACK ON THE DIFFERENT PILLARS AND THE PLAN, THE PLANNING ACTIVITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE WRITING DOWN FOR THE MARCH 15TH SUBMISSION.
AND WE REALLY WANNA TALK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS COMING TO LIFE FOR OUR, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR FAMILIES.
SO WE'VE HAD SMALLER GROUP SESSIONS, AS DR.
HOLMES TALKED ABOUT WITH BOI BOE ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
WE HAVE, UM, A RE-ENGAGEMENT PLANNING COMMITTEE SUBGROUP PLANNED FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE MET WITH THAT LARGER STAKEHOLDER GROUP, A NUM, UH, TWO TIMES SO FAR.
ALL THE SESSIONS WILL FORM THE RESPONSES THAT WE'RE GONNA BE PUTTING TOGETHER ON THE TEMPLATE, AND THAT'S NARRATIVE RESPONSES.
IT'S DATA TABLES THAT WE HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UPLOAD SOME ARTIFACTS, UM, AFTER WE PRESENT IT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THEN AGAIN, TO YOU OVERCOMING BACK ON FEBRUARY 28TH, WE WILL BE SUBMITTING IT TO THE AIB AND THE S D E FOR ITS APPROVAL, AND THEY'LL POST IT PUBLICLY.
UM, AND THEY'RE ALSO GONNA BE TRANSLATING IT FOR US.
FINALLY, IT'S GONNA BE GRADED AND, UM, EACH PILLAR ACTIVITY WILL HAVE A CRITERIA.
SO WE'LL EITHER BE MEETING THE CRITERIA, WE'LL BE, UM, PARTIALLY MEETING THE CRITERIA, OR THEY WILL TELL US WE DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA.
I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT, UM, ONE MORE SLIDE.
I WANT YOU TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE, LIKE A TRUE BLUEPRINT, UM, AS IF YOU'RE BUILDING A HOUSE.
THE LEGISLATION OFFERS US THE PILLARS, WHICH ARE LIKE THE PILINGS OF THE HOUSE, AND IT'S A FOUNDATION.
UM, AND THEN EACH LEA HAD TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE DETAILS, RIGHT? HOW ARE WE FILLING EACH OF THE ROOMS OF THE HOUSE AND THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARDS LIKE THE INSPECTOR OF THE HOUSE, AND ENSURING THAT IT'S STRONG AND THAT IT CAN SUSTAIN THE WEIGHT.
IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD A SOLID HOUSE FILL.
IT WAS STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT A HOME, THERE'LL BE TWO PLANS THAT'LL BE SUBMITTED.
WE'RE SUBMITTING THE ONE MARCH 15TH IN 2023, AND THEY WANT US TO, UM, ILLUSTRATE WHAT WE DID LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WHAT
[01:55:01]
WE'RE DOING THIS SCHOOL YEAR, AND WHAT WE'LL BE DOING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.AND THEN A SECOND PLAN WILL COME BACK MARCH 15TH, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, 2024, WHERE WE'LL BE, UM, DETAILING OUT THE PLANS FROM THE 2024 SCHOOL YEAR THROUGH 2027.
AND THAT WILL BE OUR COMPLETED HOUSE.
SINCE THE DESIGNATION FROM DR.
WILLIAMS, UM, TO ME AS THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATOR, I'VE ATTENDED MANY MEETINGS WITH BCPS STAFF WHO ARE WORKING ON THE INDIVIDUAL PILLARS.
WE MEET WITH THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS FROM ALL THE OTHER LEAS.
WE HAVE SESSIONS WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION BOARD, AND WE HAVE MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
IT'S BEEN A PART OF MY DAILY WORK SINCE THE APPOINTMENT IN JULY OF 2021.
THE MEETINGS AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN MAKING THE BLUEPRINT FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE COME TO LIFE FOR STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND THE STAFF IN BCPS.
THE NEXT STEPS, THE NEXT STEPS IN DRAFTING THE PLAN, UM, IS FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE AIB AND THE S D E.
SO YOU SEE ILLUSTRATED ON THE SLIDE THAT, UM, THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE DID HAVE A STAKEHOLDER MEETING.
ON NOVEMBER 3RD, WE'RE GONNA BE MEETING WITH THE REOPENING GROUP.
TOMORROW WE WILL BE HOLDING ANOTHER STAKEHOLDER MEETING ON FEBRUARY 2ND, AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD ON FEBRUARY 28TH AND FINALLY SUBMITTING THE PLAN ON MARCH 15TH.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE OPEN HAVING A DISCUSSION AND OFFERING POINTS OF CLARIFICATION FOR THE INFORMATION WHICH WAS MADE AVAILABLE TONIGHT IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE BLUEPRINT COORDINATORS OF ALL THE OTHER LEAS, THE INTERNAL STAFF OF BCPS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN, THE STAKEHOLDERS, SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PASSING OF THIS LEGISLATION, THE BLUEPRINT, UH, FOR MARYLAND'S FUTURE IS A PART OF ALL OF OUR DAILY WORK.
AND WE'LL BE RETURNING IN FEBRUARY WITH A SUMMARY OF THE FINAL PLAN FOR YOUR REVIEW, AND THEN WE WILL BE SUBMITTING IN MARCH 15TH.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? MR. THANK YOU.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU GOING TO ALL SORTS OF MEETINGS.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WAS PRE-K.
I KNOW THAT, UM, IT CHANGES OVER TIME.
I GUESS THE PLAN CHANGES OVER TIME, BUT I JUST WANTED TO ASK SOME BASIC QUESTIONS.
THERE IS NO LAW FORCING THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS TO GO TO SCHOOL, CORRECT? CORRECT.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR.
AND RIGHT NOW IT'S A MIX OF PRIVATE AND, AND, AND THEN SOME INTERNAL PRE-K THAT WE HAVE.
UM, HOW ARE WE EXPECTING TO SEE THAT GROW? ARE WE EXPECTING PRE-KS IN ALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM? SO WHAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO FROM THE BLUEPRINT IS OFFER, UM, FOR THREE AND FOUR YEAR OLDS THAT ARE UP TO 300% POVERTY, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED A FREE OF CHARGE, FULL DAY PROGRAM.
THAT COULD BE WITHIN THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY, OR IT COULD BE WITHIN BCPS.
WE ALSO HAVE TO OPEN UP ACCESS FOR FAMILIES BETWEEN 300 AND 600% POVERTY, AGAIN, EITHER AT THE PRIVATE PROVIDER OR WITHIN BCPS ON A SLIDING SCALE WHERE WE WOULD POTENTIALLY CHARGE THEM FOR A PORTION OF IT.
AND THEN ANY FAMILY OVER 600% POVERTY WOULD PAY THE FULL AMOUNT EITHER AGAIN, AT THE PRIVATE OR PUBLIC PROVIDER.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE LAW SAYS, STARTING IN SCHOOL YEAR 25, 26.
AND JUST, JUST A FOLLOW ON, I KNOW I'VE HAD KIDS THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH PRE-K, UM, AND USUALLY IT'S LIKE THREE DAY THREES AND FOUR DAY FOURS, AND THEY'RE PARTIAL DAYS.
IS THAT AVAILABLE LIKE A PARTIAL PRESCHOOL DAY OR IS THIS JUST IT'S FULL DAY? THIS IS WHAT WE OFFER.
THIS IS THIS, IS IT THE, THE LAW IS REQUIRING THAT IT BE A FULL DAY AND THAT'S, THAT'S EIGHT HOURS? NO, THAT'S, UM, SIX HOURS, 45 MINUTES THE FULL DAY.
THAT LIKE KINDERGARTEN OR, YES.
BUT AGAIN, AS YOU SAID, IT'S THE PARENT'S OPTION.
THANK LANDS AND REPORTS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, WHERE ARE THEY AVAILABLE THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CREATED? ALL THE PRESENTATIONS ARE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THERE WAS A VISUAL ON THERE, BUT IF YOU GO TO THE, UH, BCPS WEBSITE, THERE'S A LINK FOR BLUEPRINT FOR MARILYN'S FUTURE, AND, AND THESE ARE ALL BEING SUBMITTED TO MS. D E.
THE REPORT FOR, UM, THAT'S DUE ON MARCH 15TH IS SUBMITTED TO MSD.
ALL THOSE REPORTS THAT I TALKED ABOUT, RIGHT, WERE SUBMITTED, UM, TO MS. D E.
SOME OF THEM, UH, GET POSTED PUBLICLY, SOME OF THEM DO NOT.
[02:00:01]
WEBSITE THAT LINKS YOU TO WHEREVER THE PUBLICLY POSTED REPORTS ARE.MR. ERMAN? YEAH, I JUST, UH, WANNA POINT OUT THAT ONE OF THE GREAT CHALLENGES WILL BE FINDING BUILDING SPACE FOR ALL THESE PROGRAMS. UH, I AM A BIG SUPPORTER OF THIS, OF THE, OF THE, UH, OF THE PRE-K PROGRAMS. BUT, UH, I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS, THAT HAS REALLY STOOD IN THE WAY IS WITH, UH, ALREADY SO MANY BUILDINGS, OVERCROWDED AND TRAILERS AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF ISSUES GOING ON.
I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT POLITICALLY CORRECT IF I CAN.
UH, I THINK THE BOAR AS IT GOES FORWARD HAS TO REALIZE THIS, THIS MAY, UH, REALLY HAVE SOME IMPACT IN TERMS OF NEEDS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROVIDE TO VARIOUS SCHOOLS, AREAS THAT DON'T HAVE THE ROOM AND, AND WILL NOT HAVE THE ROOM.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT, BY THE WAY, IS VERY, VERY GOOD.
AND JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT MR. ALMAN SAID, THE ROOMS, IT'S NOT JUST SPACE, CORRECT? THERE'S CERTAIN SPECIFICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE TO MEET THE PRE-K CLASSROOM.
ANY, UM, MAGGIE, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE SUMMER, UM, SCHOOL IMPLEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
HAVING HAD A CHILD THAT WAS OFFERED IT LAST SUMMER, UM, I THINK IT WAS GIVEN TO THE SCHOOLS TO DECIDE WHEN THEY WOULD OFFER IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, DURING THE SUMMER, LIKE THEY COULD DECIDE IF IT WAS GONNA BE, YOU KNOW, WHAT WEEKS IT WAS GONNA BE FOR HOW MANY HOURS.
UM, IS THERE A WAY TO IT? JUST THE OFFER THAT I WAS GIVEN WAS NOT GOOD FOR US.
IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY PRIME TIME GOING ON VACATION TIME FOR ONE HOUR A DAY FOR FOUR WEEKS, AND I HAD TO GET HIM THERE AND BRING HIM HOME.
AND IF I WASN'T ON VACATION, I WOULD BE WORKING.
SO I THINK, UM, IS THERE A BETTER WAY OF, UM, I JUST, IS THERE ANOTHER PLAN FOR THAT OR IS THAT, IS THAT GOING FORWARD GONNA BE THE SAME PLAN? SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE, UM, ROLLOUT FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAMS HASN'T HAPPENED YET, BUT I BELIEVE THEY'RE PLANNING FOR IT TO BE WITHIN THE FOUR WEEK WINDOW THAT IS POSTED ON THE CALENDAR NOW.
I WILL JUST ADD, UM, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, UH, COMMENT.
WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND TRY TO ENRICH AND, UM, OFFER MORE SUMMER PROGRAMMING YEAR UPON YEAR.
AND IF WE WERE TO LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, I COULD SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW EVERY YEAR WE'RE PUSHING THAT BOUNDARY TO DO MORE AND BETTER FOR OUR STUDENTS.
BECAUSE, UM, IN MOST INSTANCES, IF STUDENTS AREN'T IN SCHOOL, THEY'RE IN, UH, PERHAPS IN DAY CAMP PROGRAMS, WHICH IS A FORM OF SCHOOLING, RIGHT? SO, UM, AND AS A, AS A WORKING MOTHER, I UNDERSTAND, UH, LOGISTICS ARE A VERY REAL FACTOR IN SUMMER PROGRAMMING.
SO I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WE CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT YEAR UPON YEAR, UH, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SO I, I HEAR YOUR, UM, YOUR POINT VERY CLEARLY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS IS SON.
SO I DO, I DO WANNA GIVE YOU GUYS A SHOUT OUT.
I KNOW, UM, THE WORK ON, ON DECIDING THE DETAILS FOR WHAT THE BLUEPRINT LOOKS LIKE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY IS ESSENTIAL.
UM, I THINK A FEW WEEKS AGO, UM, THE SMOS, THE STUDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD IN MARYLAND MET WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DISCUSS THIS.
SO IF ANYONE WANTS TO CHECK THAT OUT, IT IS ON YOUTUBE, MS. D E TV.
BUT, UM, I, SO THE STUDENT MEMBERS TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT MATTERED TO US AND WHAT WE THINK IS ESSENTIAL IN DISCUSSING THE BLUEPRINT.
SO PRE-K IS SO, SO IMPORTANT, AND WE DID MENTION THAT, BUT I ALSO DO WANNA SHIFT GEARS AND TALK ABOUT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS, UM, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE STUDENT MEMBERS SHARED, UM, CONCERNS ABOUT.
AND IT'S REALLY JUST ENSURING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING THAT ACCESS NOT ONLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL WITH TEST PREP AND, UM, BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE TESTS, BUT ALSO EXPANDING COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL.
MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS CAN PURSUE, CAN BEGIN TO PURSUE, UM, THAT, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
SO I'D LOVE TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE HOW YOU WOULD ENCOUNTER THAT SO I CAN ADDRESS THAT.
JUST LAST WEEK, UM, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT, UM, OR THE CEO OF THE COLLEGE BOARD.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS THAT COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS DOES NOT START IN NINTH GRADE.
IT REALLY STARTS MUCH EARLIER.
AND IN PARTICULAR, STUDENTS IN GRADE SEVEN TO 10, THEY ARE AT CRUCIAL YEARS IN TERMS OF STUDENTS EITHER PICKING UP STEAM AND REACHING THAT COLLEGE READINESS ON SCHEDULE OR, UH, METAPHORICALLY HAVING THEIR TRAIN COME OFF THE TRACK.
UH, WE TALKED WITH THE COLLEGE OF BOARD ABOUT, UM, SOME IDEAS THAT THEY HAVE, AND WE OFFERED SOME
[02:05:01]
IDEAS FOR THEM TO CONSIDER AROUND HOW DO WE AS A NATION AND BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS, UH, ONE SCHOOL SYSTEM WITHIN THE NATION, UH, STRENGTHENING THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, YEARS AROUND READINESS FOR RIGOR AND RELEVANCY, UH, IN THEIR EDUCATION, TO BE PREPARED TO HIT THAT CCR MARKER IN 10TH GRADE SO THAT THOSE 11TH AND 12TH GRADE YEARS OPEN UP, UH, FOR THINGS LIKE AMER MARYLAND APPRENTICESHIPS, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BUILD A LONGER RUNWAY, UM, TO GET TO THAT POINT, UH, WITH, WITH, UM, EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.AND THEN ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD WAS, WAS REALLY ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH AS A PART OF THE BLUEPRINT.
I KNOW WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STUDENT RESOURCES AND RESOURCES WE CAN OFFER TO STUDENTS.
SO HOW ARE SOME WAYS THAT WITHIN THE BLUE BLUEPRINT WE'RE EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS AND REALLY ENSURING THAT THAT IS A PART OF THE BLUEPRINT THAT IS BEING MET? YEAH.
SO, UM, OUR, UH, TEAM THAT WORKS WITH, SO SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, UM, THERE'S BEEN DIFFERENT GRANTS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH WHERE THEY HAVE WORKED TO HAVE STAFF WITHIN THE BUILDING SUPPORTING STUDENTS.
I KNOW PART OF THE SUMMER PROGRAM WAS ALSO BRINGING, UM, I FORGET THE TITLE OF THE PERSON THAT WORKED AT THE SUMMER PROGRAMS TO CONNECT WITH STUDENTS FOR THEIR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
AND THEN A BIG PART OF IT IS ENSURING THAT EVERY STAFF IS TRAINED.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE TO TURN IN, YOU KNOW, DOCUMENTATION THAT EVERY STAFF GOT TRAINED IN EITHER TRAUMA OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AS WELL.
UM, YOU KNOW, SO, SO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
IT LOOKS DIFFERENT AT EVERY SCHOOL, BUT CENTRALLY, CERTAIN RESOURCES AND INFORMATION'S PUSHED OUT, AND THEN EVERY SCHOOL DOES THAT MAYBE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY, UM, IN THEIR BUILDINGS.
SO LET ME ALSO ADD, AND I'M SORRY, DR.
WASA, I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
HOMES, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS? SO WE, I WANTED TO ADD THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS USING THE CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY GRANT, UH, WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO THOSE SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY TO HAVE, UH, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR THE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
AND SO THEY, UH, THE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WILL DO A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND AFTER THEY ASSESS THOSE NEEDS, THEY CONNECT FAMILIES TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
AND I DO HAVE ONE FINAL QUESTION.
UM, I ACTUALLY KNOW I LIED TOO, UM,
SO I GUESS THAT'S NOT A QUESTION, BUT JUST A THOUGHT FOR YOU TO HAVE.
UM, AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS ABOUT THAT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND REACHING OUT TO THOSE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
SO ARE WE MAKING AN EFFORT TO, UM, INCLUDE THE STUDENTS IN THOSE STAKEHOLDER AND, AND REALLY, UM, NOT LIKE REALLY IDENTIFY SOME STUDENTS WHO COULD PART, PARTICIPATE IN A STAKEHOLDER GROUP? AND I AM OUT OF TIME AND CAN'T EVEN FORM A QUESTION
WE CAN ABSOLUTELY, UM, REACH OUT THROUGH MS. GOVER TO FIND NAMES OF CONTACTS, UM, TO, TO HAVE THAT PERSON INCLUDED.
THAT'S KIND OF HOW OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP GOT ESTABLISHED INITIALLY.
WE, UM, WENT WITH THE, THE TYPICAL BOARD CONTACTS OF ALL THE STAKEHOLDER GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND THEN EACH ONE WAS ASKED IF THEY WANTED TO PARTICIPATE OR SEND A NAME OF SOMEBODY ELSE.
UM, SO WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE ADDED TO IT.
AND I, I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT IN OUR, UH, COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS, A LOT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES HAVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING.
SO STUDENTS ARE PROVIDING INPUT, UM, DURING THOSE TIMES WHEN WE PRESENT THE BLUEPRINT IMPLEMENTATION PLAN IN THOSE VARIOUS SETTINGS.
ANY OTHER LAST QUESTIONS? MR. K? RIGHT.
JUST REAL QUICK, CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY FUNDING.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY COMING IN, RIGHT? I THINK IT'S LIKE 30 MILLION THIS YEAR.
DO WE, ARE WE SPENDING THAT THIS YEAR, OR IS THAT FUNDING BEING SHARED? IS IT JUST THIS YEAR SPENDING, OR IS IT BEING, SO THERE'S, IT'S ANNUAL SPENDING AND IT GETS, UM, PUSHED TO THE SCHOOLS DIRECTLY.
SO SOME OF THAT IS WITH STAFF.
SO, UH, AS AN EXAMPLE, EVERY COMMUNITY SCHOOL HAS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL LIAISON.
SO THAT'S A PORTION OF THE FUNDING.
ALL 38 SCHOOLS HAVE THIS POSITION, SO THAT'S A PART OF THE FUNDING.
UH, THEN EACH COMMUNITY SCHOOL DEVELOPS A
[02:10:01]
NEED, A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, AND THEN THEY SPEND THEIR DOLLARS ON THAT AND THEY HAVE TO SPEND IT ANNUALLY, LIKE WHATEVER IS DESIGNATED TO THAT SCHOOL.UM, WE'RE CALLING IT A CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY GRANT, BUT IT IS REALLY, IT TURNS INTO OPERATING DOLLARS.
SO IT HAS TO BE USED BY THE YEAR END, THE FISCAL YEAR END, OR IT GOES BACK TO THE STATE.
I, I DON'T THINK WE EVER SEND MONEY BACK, BUT
SPEND ALL THE MONEY ON OUR CHILDREN.
I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW A WRENCH IN IT, AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK ON THOSE DETAILS, BUT WE'RE OBVIOUSLY, UM, WE'RE GONNA DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO UTILIZE ALL THOSE DOLLARS AND NOT SEND ANY, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'LL EVER BE THE OUTCOME, THAT THE DOLLARS WILL GO BACK TO THE STATE, BUT IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.
IT'S MORE CHALLENGING WHEN YOU GET DOLLARS THAT HAVE TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC THINGS.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE, THE FLEXIBILITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT VERY COMPREHENSIVE, UM, PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL YOUR WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING ON IMPLEMENTING IT FOR THE COUNTY.
LOOK, IF I MAKE COMMENT, I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM.
THEY JUST SHARED JUST A FRACTION OF THE ARDUOUS WORK THEY DO TO PREPARE THIS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
WIT SAID, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU IN YOUR LEADERSHIP, DR.
BOSWELL MCCOMAS, BECAUSE THEY WORK COL, THEY WORK ACROSS THE STATE.
ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU'RE ASKING, THEY'RE HAPPENING IN EVERY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO, WE ALL ARE TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.
AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE MONEY, DR.
UH, MR. K AS WELL, BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE'S THE WORK OF THE, THE BUDGET OFFICE TO HOLD ALL OF THAT ACCOUNTABLE.
MY WHOLE POINT OF MAKING A COMMENT, THIS IS NOT EASY WORK IN ADDITION TO THE ALREADY REQUIREMENTS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN THEIR RESPECTIVE JOBS.
BUT I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THIS TEAM AND THOSE THAT WERE MENTIONED IN THE PRESENTATION FOR GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND, TRYING TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT FIRST SUBMISSION OF OUR PLAN.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON NO WASTE.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. AND FOR THAT I CALL DR.
BOARD CHAIR LTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR.
WILLIAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM'S UPDATE TO THE BOARD AND TEAM BCPS.
TONIGHT'S UPDATE WILL PROVIDE A CLEAR DEFINITION OF THE PURPOSE OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION, REVIEW THE PLACEMENT PROCESS, SHARE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT NEEDS ACROSS BALTIMORE COUNTY.
THE PURPOSE OF ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION IS A SCHOOL OR PROGRAM THAT IS OFFERED TO STUDENTS IN A SMALLER EDUCATIONAL SETTING AND ADDRESSES THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND ACADEMIC NEEDS.
AS INDICATED ON THIS SLIDE, THERE ARE THREE WAYS THAT STUDENTS ENTER ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. FIRST DISCIPLINARY REMOVALS, WHICH ARE INVOLUNTARY.
THESE ARE AS A RESULT OF EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
IN THIS CASE, STUDENTS ARE ISSUED EXTENDED SUSPENSIONS OR EXPULSIONS, SECOND SAFETY PLACEMENTS.
THESE ARE BASED ON REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF ALL STUDENTS CONCERNS.
WHEN CONCERNS EXIST RELATED TO THE STUDENTS CONTINUED ENROLLMENT IN THE HOME SCHOOL, THEY MAY BE PLACED IN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS. AND FINALLY, PROGRAM REVIEWS IN COLLABORATION WITH FAMILIES.
THESE VOLUNTARY ENROLLMENTS INTO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS ARE USED TO PROMOTE STUDENT ACADEMIC SUCCESS AND OR SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING.
RIGHT? THE PLACEMENT PROCESS BEGINS WITH A FORMAL REQUEST FOR CHANGE IN PLACEMENT FROM THE PRINCIPAL TO A SCHOOL CONDUCT HEARING OFFICER.
NEXT, THE HEARING OFFICER CONVENES A MEETING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO DISCUSS THE REQUEST EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE REQUEST IS PRESENTED AND THE SCHOOL CONDUCT HEARING OFFICER RENDERS THE DECISION.
THE LAST STEP, IF APPROVED, IS PLACEMENT INTO AN ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM.
THE LENGTH OF STAY IS DEPENDENT UPON THE REASON FOR THE PLACEMENT.
[02:15:04]
THE OFFICE OF RESPONSIVE STUDENT PROGRAMMING AND STUDENT CONDUCT HEARING OFFICERS ARE HERE TO SUPPORT PRINCIPALS WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION FOR STUDENTS LONG-TERM REMOVAL FROM SCHOOL FOR EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT.WHEN A STUDENT IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR A LONG-TERM REMOVAL, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION PROVIDE A PACKET TO THE HEARING OFFICER.
A REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION AND MEETING DISCUSSION ALLOWS THE HEARING OFFICER TO MAKE INFORMED DECISION AFTER REVIEWING THE STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL PROFILE STATEMENT, WITNESS STATEMENT, THE CHARGES AGAINST THE STUDENT, THE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE REMOVAL AND GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL, INCLUDING CHRONIC EXTREME DISRUPTION AND OR IMMINENT THREAT OF SERIOUS HARM.
AT THIS TIME, I INVITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CARRIE JOSEPH TO TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.
UH, WE HAVE FOUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS WHERE OUR STAFF WORK TIRELESSLY TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, UH, WHEN WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE.
STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
ROSEDALE CENTER OFFICE OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN THE EAST AND CENTRAL ZONE.
CATONSVILLE CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDIES OFFERS HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN THE WEST AND CENTRAL ZONE.
CROSSROADS OFFERS MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN, IN THE EAST AND CENTRAL ZONE, AND METALWOOD OFFERS MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUCTION FOR STUDENTS IN THE WEST AND CENTRAL ZONES.
REDESIGNING THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL MODEL ALLOWED FOR ADDITIONAL SEATS TO BE OFFERED IN THE EAST AND CENTRAL ZONE TO BE MORE ALIGNED TO ACCESS IN THE WEST ZONE.
WE ALSO HAVE A PILOT THROUGH THE ME LEADS GRANTS ON DISTANCE LEARNING AT CATONSVILLE CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDIES TO ADDRESS EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE STUDENTS NEED TO ACCESS LEARNING REMOTELY.
AND NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE, MS. LEANN SCHUBERT.
SO ANOTHER PLACEMENT OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS OUR E-LEARNING PROGRAM.
SO CURRENTLY, E-LEARNING IS AN OPTION THAT MEETS A VARIETY OF STUDENT AND FAMILY NEEDS, INCLUDING PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK, ACCOMMODATING A TEMPORARY TIME AWAY FROM THE ZONE SCHOOL, AND OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.
E-LEARNING IS AVAILABLE TO OUR CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND WE'RE STAFFED WITH ONE SUPERVISOR, MR. JAMES FINO, A 12 MONTH RESOURCE TEACHER, TWO SCHOOL COUNSELORS, 16 BCPS TEACHERS, AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY.
WE DO HIRE CONTRACTUAL STAFF, OUR BCPS TEACHERS BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY TO ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL COURSEWORK TO OUR STUDENTS AT E-LEARNING.
STUDENTS IN E-LEARNING CLASSES MEET WITH TEACHERS DURING THE REGULAR SCHEDULED DAY, UM, OR BEYOND THE DAY USING SYNCHRONOUSLY SCHEDULED, UH, SESSIONS ON GOOGLE MEETS.
THEY COMPLETE INDEPENDENT CLASSWORK AND ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDE DIRECT INSTRUCTION FROM OUR TEACHERS DURING THOSE SCHEDULED CLASS, UH, SESSIONS.
AND, UH, WORK THROUGH SCHOOLOGY, AS DO MANY OF OUR STUDENTS DURING THE DAY.
THIS DISTANCE PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR E-LEARNING TEACHERS TO FULLY CUSTOMIZE LEARNING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND ENSURE MASS ASIDE FROM THE VLP THAT JUST BEGAN ALLOWING STUDENTS ENROLLMENT FOR DISCIPLINARY REASONS.
E-LEARNING IS THE ONLY FULLY VIRTUAL OPTION FOR OUR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
PUBLIC SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE PLACEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO E-LEARNING BY A STUDENT, CONDUCT HEARING OFFICER AS A RESULT OF A SCHOOL BEHAVIOR, OR AS THE RESULT OF A STUDENT HAVING, UM, A CRO.
CURRENTLY, E-LEARNING IS NOT STAFFED WITH A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER AND COMER DOES NOT ALLOW FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE PLA.
SO, ANOTHER PLACEMENT OPTION IS OUR EXTENDED DAY LEARNING PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS THE ED L P.
THE EDLP IS AVAILABLE TO EVERY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, WHETHER FOR ORIGINAL CREDIT OR CREDIT RECOVERY.
STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY OPTING INTO THE EDLP COME TO THE PROGRAM FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.
THEY MAY BE LOOKING TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL EARLY, THEY MAY HAVE FAILED A CLASS.
UH, THE PART-TIME PROGRAM IS FULLY INCLUSIVE AND SERVES STUDENTS IN NEED OF, AND WITH AN INTEREST IN THIS CREDIT ACCELERATION AND CREDIT RECOVERY.
IT OFFERS A SELF-PACED BLENDED LEARNING TOGETHER WITH A VARIETY OF SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SUPPORTS.
AND WHILE IT'S NOT A COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL, IT DOES PROVIDE SERVICES IN LINE WITH A MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT.
WHAT IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION AND PLACEMENT FOR SUCH STUDENTS IS THAT THE EDLP IS PART-TIME.
IT MEETS IN THE EVENING AFTER SCHOOL.
UM, STUDENTS ARE REASSIGNED TO THIS OPTION, HAVE ACCESS TO ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE COURSES FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SENT TO THE EDLP FOLLOWING A DISCIPLINARY REMOVAL.
[02:20:01]
THE STAFF IN THE EDLP CONSIDERS THE STUDENT HOW THE STUDENT WAS MEETING WITH ACADEMIC SUCCESS AT THE, AT THE TIME OF REASSIGNMENT AND ADJUST PROGRAMMING ACCORDINGLY.THE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, MISS STACY BRYAN, OFTEN, OFTEN CREATES UNIQUE COLLABORATIONS, ALLOWING STAFF AT THE ZONE SCHOOL AND THE EDLP TO SUPPORT THE STUDENT.
THE STUDENT MIGHT ATTEND THE ROSEDALE CENTER AND THE EDLP AT NIGHT MIGHT ATTEND E-LEARNING AND AN EDLP CLASS IN THE EVENING.
UM, BANK MAKING USE OF, UM, AND LEVERAGING ALL OF OUR, UM, PROGRAM RESOURCES.
THE PRINCIPLES OF THE COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS AT PARKVILLE, DUN DOCK, MILFORD MILL ACADEMY, WOODLAWN AND LOCK, RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL ARE GRACIOUS HOSTS TO OUR EXTENDED DAY LEARNING PROGRAM.
THESE LOCATIONS ARE STRATEGICALLY SELECTED BASED ON PROVEN NEEDS OF THE HOSTING SCHOOLS, THE NEEDS OF THE SCHOOLS, AND PROXIMITY TO THE HOSTING SCHOOLS AND OR ACCESSIBILITY TO AN MTA LINE.
SO, FINALLY, WHEN ALL OF THOSE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED, AND NONE OF THEM WORK FOR A PLACEMENT OPTION FOR OUR STUDENT, WE DO LOOK AT A HOME TUTOR.
THIS HOME TUTOR PLACEMENT IS FACILITATED BY MS. DENISE SALISBURY, WHO RUNS OUR HOME AND HOSPITAL PROGRAM, BUT IT IS NOT A HOME AND HOSPITAL TUTOR.
WE ARE SIMPLY ASSIGNING A HOME TUTOR TO WORK WITH A STUDENT WHO HAS BEEN PLACED OR IS IN NEED OF A PLACEMENT OUTSIDE OF HIS OR HER SCHOOL.
UM, TUTORING SERVICES ARE TYPICALLY PROVIDED, UM, EITHER VIRTUALLY, UM, OR IN A PUBLIC LOCATION SUCH AS A BALTIMORE COUNTY LIBRARY.
UM, THE TUTOR MIGHT BE A BCS TEACHER IF THE TUTORING HAPPENS, HAPPENS BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY.
MANY OF OUR TUTORS ARE RETIRED TEACHERS, UM, AND SOME OF OUR TUTORS, UM, ARE, ARE CERTAINLY JUST SERVING AS, UH, TUTORS AND MAY NOT BE A CERTIFIED TEACHER.
AND AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, COMER DOES NOT ALLOW STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES TO BE PLACED AT ACTION.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON BCPS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AND OPEN IT UP IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, MR. ALMAN? YES.
IF WE COULD, UH, SEE THE, THE, THE, THE SLIDES BACK TO THE, UH, TO THE ACTUAL, UH, ENROLLMENT FIGURES.
IS THAT POSSIBLE? WE DO THAT COURSE.
UH, WE'LL GET BACK FOR, YEAH, THAT'S, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MUCH.
UM, I WAS JUST REALLY SURPRISED AT, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF CROSSROADS, HOW ABSOLUTELY SMALL THE, THE, UH, FEE OF ENROLLMENT IS IN SEPTEMBER, BUT I SEE AS GROWN TO 65.
UH, THIS MAY BE A QUESTION THAT PERHAPS YOU CAN'T ANSWER.
UH, DO WE HAVE STAFF AT THOSE SCHOOL TO HANDLE, TO HANDLE THE 120 SEATS, OR IS THAT DONE AS WE NEED THEM? IN OTHER WORDS, THERE ACTIVE STAFF, YOU KNOW, AT, AT THOSE SCHOOLS NOW? OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE DO AS NEEDED? NO, WE ACT, WE HAVE ACTIVE STAFF AT THE SCHOOL RIGHT NOW THAT CAN HANDLE, UH, THE SEATS.
UM, AND FOR THE, YOU'LL SEE THE ENROLLMENT INCREASE BECAUSE IT'S ON A ROLLING BASIS BASED OFF OF TIME.
SO AT THE BEGINNING, UM, YOU'LL SEE WE WERE AT 21, BUT WE'RE ALREADY AT 65, AND THEN WE EXPECT TO INCREASE.
AND, AND WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO THE NUMBERS WHERE IT MAY EXCEED, THAT'S WHEN AS A TEAM, WE DO A HUDDLE AND WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT WHAT OTHER OPTIONS CAN WE BEGIN TO OFFER FOR OUR STUDENTS.
WHEN A STUDENT GOES TO THE CENTER, IS THERE A FIXED PERIOD OF TIME THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO STAY THERE OR, OR, OR DOES IT DEPEND CASE BY CASE? IT'S A, IT IS VERY CASE BY CASE.
AND, AND OFTENTIMES, UM, WHEN THEY'RE DOING WELL, SOME PARENTS ASK FOR THEM TO STAY LONGER SO THAT THEY CAN EARN THE CREDIT.
SO WE TAKE ALL OF THOSE CONSIDERATIONS YEAH.
UM, INTO PLACE TO THAT THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT.
I, I ACTUALLY VISITED, UH, UH, PRIOR TO COVID AND, UH, THERE WERE A LOT OF, AT THAT TIME, SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS WHO WERE, WHO WERE, WHO WERE CROSSROADS.
AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS WAS, I WAS HEARING WAS THEY WERE ABLE TO, THEY WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN MISSING CREDITS RIGHT.
OVER, UH, OVER, OVER, YOU KNOW, A REASONABLE TIME YES.
WHICH ALLOWED 'EM TO GRADUATE WITH, WITH THEIR CLASSMATES OR CERTAINLY EAR EARLIER THAN THEY WOULD'VE.
SO I'M, UH, I'M VERY BIG IN THAT PROGRAM.
AND I ASSUME THEY STILL HAVE, I ASSUME THEY STILL HAVE THAT OPTION AT ROSEDALE, ALTHOUGH, UH, CROSSROADS DOESN'T HAVE ANY NINE TO 12 STUDENTS, IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.
SO THE ROSEDALE NOW HANDLES ALL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SAME AS ON THE WEST SIDE.
AND SO IT DIDN'T USED TO HAVE THESE AMOUNT OF SEATS.
IF YOU LOOK IN 2021, IT ONLY HAD 85 SEATS.
BUT MOVING TO THIS MODEL NOW WE'RE ABLE TO OFFER 120 SEATS, SO WE HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO EARN THE CREDITS.
UH, FIRST I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMITMENT TO MAKING SURE CHILDREN, WHATEVER SITUATION THEY'RE IN, CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A EDUCATION.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
[02:25:01]
YOU TELL ME, UH, WHAT THE PERCENTAGES AROUND STUDENTS WHO ARE PLACED FOR THE VARIOUS REASONS, THE THREE REASONS THAT YOU MENTIONED IN, IN THE BEGINNING, DISCIPLINARY REMOVALS, SAFETY PLACEMENTS, AND PROGRAM REVIEWS? SO I HAVE TO GET BACK ON ACTUAL PERCENTAGES, BUT THE, THE, UM, ISSUES COULD RANGE ANYWHERE.WE HAVE TITLE NINE, UM, ISSUES THAT DEAL WITH ANYTHING FROM, UM, DIFFERENT SEXUAL ASSAULTS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PLACE.
WE USE THE WORD CRO, THAT'S A CRIMINAL REPORTABLE OFFENSE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY PLACE.
THEN YOU HAVE, UM, LESSER OFFENSES THAT ARE DISCIPLINARY REMOVALS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAM REVIEWS WHERE WE WORK WITH FAMILIES WHO THINK THAT A SMALLER SETTING, UM, WOULD, WOULD BE IN PLACE.
FAMILIES WHO MAY HAVE GONE TO VLP, THEY'RE NOT READY TO GO TO A LARGE SCHOOL, THEY MAY WANNA START IN A SMALLER SETTING TO GO.
SO IT, IT REALLY IS A MODEL WHERE WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE IT FOR EVERY PARTICULAR CHILD, DEPENDING ON, ON THE SITUATION.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS, UM, SOMETHING THAT IS THE MOST DIRE SAFETY ISSUE.
WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENT IN EVERY POSSIBLE EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE THAT WE CAN THINK OF OR THAT THEY BRING TO US.
AND, AND JUST TO ADD ON TO MR. OMAN'S QUESTION, UH, I APPRECIATE THAT IT'S A CASE BY CASE BASIS FOR STUDENTS.
STUDENTS HAVE VERY INDIVIDUAL AND UNIQUE NEEDS.
CAN YOU GIVE US A RANGE OF TIME THAT A STUDENT MIGHT, FROM THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME TO THE LONGEST AMOUNT OF TIME A STUDENT MIGHT BE IN AN ALTERNATIVE SETTING? SURE.
SO FOR HIGH SCHOOL, WE NORMALLY WOULD DO 45 DAYS BECAUSE WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO DO CREDIT TO EARN A CREDIT.
SO WE, WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT THAT ANYTHING LESS THAN THAT WOULD HELP.
UM, AND THEN SOMETIMES IT'S TEMPORARY.
IT'S TEMPORARY PLACEMENTS UNTIL ANOTHER PLACEMENT, BUT TYPICALLY, UM, IT CAN BE ABOUT 45 DAYS.
SO WE TRY TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT THEY'RE EARNING THE CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL, BUT ALSO FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, IF THEY'RE LEAVING IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEMESTER AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE CONTINUING THEIR LESSON.
UM, AND SO USUALLY 45 DAYS WOULD BE THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME, BUT WE HAVE HAD LONGER, UM, BASED OFF OF ADVOCACY FROM, FROM STUDENTS AND FOR THEIR PARENTS, UM, WE HAVE LEARNED OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAVE, HAVE, HAVE OCCURRED.
AND WE FOUND THAT THAT'S A BETTER PLACEMENT AS WE GO.
AND, UM, LIKE MS. SCHER SAID, WE ALSO HAVE MODELS WHERE WE HAVE THEM CONNECTED TO E D L P, WHICH IS EXTENDED DAY LEARNING PROGRAM, AND IT'S ALL IN THIS MODEL OF EARNING CREDITS.
HOW DO WE GET THEM TO ACCESS AS MUCH CREDITS AS POSSIBLE, UM, SO THAT THEY WOULD, UH, GRADUATE ON TIME.
HOW ABOUT TRANSITION PLANS? SO YOU SAID IT'S ROLLING ENROLLMENT, SO THEY'RE GONNA ROLL BACK INTO THEIR HOME SCHOOLS.
HOW DO WE TRANSITION TO ENSURE THAT THE SUCCESS CONTINUES? SO WE'RE WORKING, UM, OUR PRINCIPALS AT THE FOUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.
UM, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A MODEL NOW WHERE SCHOOLS, THE HOME SCHOOLS SHOULD BE HAVING STAFF VISIT.
AND WE USE OUR PWS, THAT'S OUR PUPIL PERSONNEL WORKERS TO GO VISIT SCHOOL, UH, TO GO VISIT THE STUDENTS SO THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE JUST OFF AND, AND NOT THERE.
AND SO THAT IS WHERE THAT TRANSITION PLAN CONTINUES.
UM, BECAUSE WE ARE OFFERING SO MANY, UM, KIND OF THIS PERSONAL LIVES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE COUNSELORS FROM EACH SCHOOL AND THE HOME SCHOOL WORKING TOGETHER SO THAT THEY DON'T FEEL, UH, LOST OR THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT A, A GOOD PLAN.
AND IT, AND IT ALSO HELPS US WHEN WE GO BACK TO SEE WHAT ADJUSTMENTS WE NEED TO MAKE, UM, FOR THE STUDENTS.
SO IT'S ONGOING, IT'S EVERY WEEK SOMETIMES FOR CERTAIN STUDENTS, IT'S EVERY FEW DAYS AS WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MEETING, UM, THEIR NEEDS, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF THE, UM, THE STUDENT, UM, CASES THAT WE'VE HAD.
IS THERE ANY DATA ON THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS THAT THEN RETURN TO AN ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENT AFTER TRANSITIONING BACK INTO THEIR HOME SCHOOL? UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DATA, BUT WE TYPICALLY DON'T TRY TO HAVE THEM GO BACK TO THAT SAME ALTERNATIVE BECAUSE TYPICALLY WE'RE SAYING THAT THAT DIDN'T WORK.
SO WE MEET AS A HUDDLE TO SAY WHAT CAN WORK DIFFERENTLY.
AND NOW THAT WE HAVE MORE OPTIONS, UM, WE ARE BETTER EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THAT, UM, IF WE HAVE A CASE WHERE WE, THEY WOULD NEED TO HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES.
OTHER QUESTIONS? CHAIR, LECTOR? OH, YES, MS. HEN.
UM, SO I HAVE A QUESTION AND IT'S A SPECIFIC SCENARIO.
UM, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION BY THE WAY.
UM, SO IN THE SITUATION WHERE A COUNSELOR MIGHT RECOMMEND A PLACEMENT FOR A COMBINATION OF, OF THE REASON, THE THREE REASONS YOU'VE OUTLINED AND, UM, BE DENIED THAT PLACEMENT FOR A PARTICULAR STUDENT, COULD YOU SPEAK TO THAT AND HOW THEY MIGHT GO ABOUT, UM, FACILITATING THAT PLACEMENT IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT THEY RECOMMEND FOR A STUDENT
[02:30:01]
THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH? YEAH.SO WHAT MIGHT BE THE RATIONALE AND HOW COULD THEY ESCALATE THAT? SURE.
SO THE COUNSELOR WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATOR.
IT, IT SHOULD NOT BE A COUNSELOR ALONE DURING THIS PROCESS.
IT HAS TO BE AN ADMINISTRATOR.
AND FOR CERTAIN CASES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UM, WHICH IS MY LEVEL, UM, WOULD, WOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED.
AND WHAT WE DO IS WE, WE SOMETIMES CALL WHAT WE CALL HUDDLES A HUDDLE IS WHERE WE COME TOGETHER WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE.
SO IT WOULD BE A COUNSELOR, A PEOPLE PERSONNEL WORKER, OUR SAFETY MANAGERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
AND SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT COUNSELOR WORK WITH THEIR PRINCIPAL TO REALLY OUTLINE WHAT, WHAT ARE THE REASONS.
AND, UM, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE ADMINISTRATOR MAY HAVE OTHER, UM, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AS TO WHY THERE MAY BE A HOLD.
UM, A LOT OF TIMES THERE, THERE MAY BE, UM, CERTAIN STUDENTS IN THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL THAT WE CAN'T MATCH THEM WITH.
AND SO THAT MAY BE A REASON WHY.
SO THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATORS.
IT CAN'T JUST BE A ISOLATED ONE PERSON MAKING THE, MAKING A DECISION LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE, WE HAVE THE SEATS TO, TO MR. FERMAN'S QUESTIONS.
EVEN LAST YEAR THERE WAS, UM, CAPACITY MM-HMM.
SO THAT, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE, THE ISSUE.
SOME, AM I UNDERSTANDING CORRECTLY? UM, YES.
BUT SOME OF THE CASES, UM, TITLE NINE AND, AND SOME OF SOME OF THE CASES WE, THERE ARE CERTAIN BARRIERS THAT WE CAN'T PLACE THEM.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WORKING WITH THEIR ADMINISTRATOR, UM, AND AGAIN, SOMETIMES IT, IT DEPENDS ON THE SAFETY MANAGER.
SO THERE'S NO ONE, THERE'S NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL.
THERE'S NO ONE SCENARIO THAT I CAN PROVIDE FOR YOU BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY, UH, DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AS OUR LAWS HAVE CHANGED, UM, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DEALS WITH SOME OF OUR TITLE IX SEXUAL ASSAULT LAWS.
SOMETIMES THERE'S SAFETY THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT, WHERE WE KNOW THAT THERE'S ANOTHER SITUATION IN THAT BUILDING THAT WE CAN'T HAVE TO PEERS, UM, UM, TOGETHER IN THAT SPACE.
AND SO THOSE ARE CERTAIN SCENARIOS WHILE THOSE SEATS ARE THERE.
AND THAT'S WHY AS A TEAM, WE REALLY WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE EXPANDED THE OPTIONS SO THAT WE HAVE, UM, A FLUID PROCESS SO THAT WE CAN NAVIGATE AND MOVE QUICKLY, UM, AS WE ARE ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS.
AND THESE, AND I'VE BEEN USING THE WORD EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE THEY ARE, AND THEY'RE EVER EVOLVING, UM, AS WE, AS WE ARE KIND OF MANEUVERING THROUGH SOME OF OUR NEW DYNAMICS.
AND, AND ARE YOU ABLE TO ELABORATE IF YOU CAN, I UNDERSTAND, BUT ARE YOU ABLE TO ELABORATE ON YOUR LIMITATIONS AS FAR AS PEERS BEING IN THE SAME SPACE OR PROVIDE US SOME EXAMPLES? SURE.
SO IF WE HAVE STUDENTS, UM, THAT HAVE A COMMUNITY CONFLICT, A A MAJOR FIGHT, UM, WE WOULD NOT SAY, OH, WE KNOW THAT THEY BOTH, UM, DID THE FIGHT, BUT WE WOULDN'T PLACE THEM AT ROSEDALE.
UH, WE WOULDN'T PLACE THEM TOGETHER AT ROSEDALE.
THAT WOULD NOT BE, UM, A, A, A GOOD PROCESS TO DO IF WE'RE TRYING TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MEETING THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
SO THAT WOULD BE, THAT'S PROBABLY A A AN EXAMPLE THAT WE ENCOUNTER A LOT OF TIMES.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE, UM, AND I KEEP USING COMMUNITY FIGHTS CUZ A LOT OF TIMES IT HAPPENS IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY, AND THEY'RE BROUGHT IN, IF WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE STUDENTS ARE BULLYING OR HARASSING, UM, AND IT'S A GROUP OF STUDENTS, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO COME TOGETHER, UM, AND THEN START THAT BEHAVIOR BEFORE THEY HAVE A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE REPORT.
SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE IN KIND OF SEPARATE, UM, PLACEMENTS.
AND THOSE WOULD BE SOME VERY SPECIFIC EXAMPLES, UM, THAT WE DEAL WITH.
SOMETIMES, UM, CERTAIN FAMILIES WANT A DIFFERENT OPTION FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
AND SO WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LISTEN, UM, TO THOSE REASONS AS WELL.
AND SOME STUDENTS WANT IT, WANT AN OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE AWAY FROM THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY JUST NEED A FRESH START.
AND SO WE WORK THROUGH THOSE, UM, THROUGH THOSE ISSUES AS WELL TO, UM, PROVIDE A SUPPORT FOR THEM AND SURE THAT THAT'S THE IDEAL.
UM, BUT WE HAVE PLENTY OF STUDENTS THAT CAN'T GET ALONG FOR WHATEVER REASONS THAT ARE TOGETHER IN OUR, UM, IN OUR OTHER SCHOOLS.
ARE WE SAYING WE'RE LIMITED BY OUR LAWS OR BY POLICY THAT THIS IS AN ARRANGEMENT WE, WE HAVE IN OUR ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENTS? BECAUSE PLENTY OF STUDENTS GET IN FIGHTS AND THEY'RE BACK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS THE NEXT DAY.
AND I HEAR FROM FAMILIES ALL THE TIME THAT WANT THEIR STUDENTS TO BE REMOVED FROM STUDENTS THAT BULLY THEM, THAT ASSAULT THEM, AND THEY'RE TOLD BY THEIR PRINCIPALS, I CAN'T SEPARATE THEM.
OR IF, IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, A SCHEDULE CHANGE, YOU CAN REQUEST THAT.
[02:35:01]
TO TO REMOVE THE STUDENT WHO ASSAULTED THEM.AND, AND WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS THAT, OH NO, WE CAN'T REMOVE THIS STUDENT, OR WE CAN'T PLACE THEM TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE'S A CONFLICT OR THERE WAS A FIGHT.
SO I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS, IS IT BECAUSE OF OUR LAWS OR OUR POLICIES, OR WHY ARE, WHY ARE WE HANDLING THESE STUDENTS DIFFERENTLY THAN, THAN THE STUDENTS IN OUR OTHER, UM, SCHOOLS? I'LL SPEAK TO THAT MS. HEN, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.
AND SO SPECIFICALLY I THINK WHAT MS. JOSEPH IS TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, UM, WHILE WE DO NOT CONDONE ANY TYPE OF VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS, BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCHOOL FIGHT WHERE A STUDENT HAS A SHORT TERM SUSPENSION AND A LONG TERM SUSPENSION FOR AN EGREGIOUS INCIDENT AND EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF THE STUDENT CONDUCT IS WE CONSIDER ALL FACTORS.
AND SO WHEN WE HAVE SEVERAL STUDENTS INVOLVED IN, IN A SPECIFIC ACTION, IT IS NOT OUR PRACTICE TO PLACE BOTH OF THOSE STUDENTS WHO MIGHT HAVE SOME, UH, LINGERING ISSUES IN THE SAME ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.
UM, IF THEY ARE STUDENTS, PERHAPS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THAT CONFLICT, THEY WOULD GO TO THAT SCHOOL.
BUT WHEN WE HAVE OPTIONS, AND THE REASON WE WORKED IN THE SPRING TO PROVIDE MORE OPTIONS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOT ONLY OUR COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOLS ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO ARE WORKING AT OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS ARE SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND THEY CAN DELIVER THOSE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY AROUND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND WRAPAROUND SERVICES THAT OUR STUDENTS NEED.
SO THERE IS NOT A STATE LAW THAT, UH, PROHIBITS US FROM PUTTING THEM IN THE SAME SCHOOL, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEST PRACTICES TO SET UP THE STUDENTS AND STAFF FOR SUCCESS THAT WE TRY TO EMPLOY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AND I AGREE THEY ARE BEST PRACTICES.
I I WISH WE HAD, WE THAT WAS TIME MS IN OUR OTHER SCHOOLS AS WELL BECAUSE ALL STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE SAFE.
I DO WANNA ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS AND TO WHICH, AT WHAT POINT DO WE DECIDE, UM, WHEN A STUDENT SHOULD BE PLACED IN AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL? CUZ I KNOW THERE ARE SO MANY, MANY OTHER, UM, OPTIONS TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, AS A TEAM, UM, DURING THE HEARING PROCESS.
SO AT WHAT POINT DO WE DECIDE THAT AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL MAY BE BEST FOR A STUDENT OR THE E D L P OR ANOTHER, UM, OUT OF CAMPUS OPPORTUNITY? OKAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S A HEARING THAT WOULD TAKE PLACE FOR THE DISCIPLINARY PROCESS AND THE ADMINISTRATOR, UM, WOULD LAY OUT, UM, THEIR PARTICULAR PART AND THEN THE STUDENT HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AND THEIR PARENT, WHOEVER ELSE, AND THAT STUDENT HEARING OFFICER REALLY LISTENS TO ALL SIDES, CONSIDERS ALL FACTORS, AND THEN WOULD BEGIN TO DO THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A PLACEMENT.
AND SO THAT'S A, UM, KIND OF A SHORT PROCESS OF WHAT WHAT WOULD OCCUR DURING THAT TIME.
I MAY ADD FOR YOU, UH, MISS HASSAN, THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS THE PRO, UH, PROGRAM REVIEWS.
AND THAT CAN BE INITIATED FROM THE FAMILY, IT CAN BE RECOMMENDED FROM THE COUNSELOR.
UM, AND I THINK, UH, WE SPOKE TO EARLIER, PARTICULARLY AROUND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL ISSUES, STUDENTS MAYBE WITH, UM, SCHOOL ANXIETY, UM, ATTENDANCE ISSUES WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SMALLER SETTING OR A TRANSITION, UM, FROM A DIFFERENT SETTING, WHETHER THAT BE, YOU KNOW, IN THE, UM, SCHOOL SYSTEM OR OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THAT'S AN OPTION THAT WE MAKE AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AS WELL.
AND THAT'S MORE OF A COLLABORATIVE CONVERSATION WITH ALL OF THE DATA PIECES THAT MS. JOSEPH REFERRED TO.
UM, I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT, UM, THE INCREASE OF STUDENT ENROLLMENT, UM, IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.
SO I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE FROM SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER IN OUR ENROLLMENT.
UM, SO ARE WE ANTICIPATING AN INCREASE IN THOSE AMOUNT OF ENROLLMENTS? UM, DO WE ANTICIPATE THEM TO STAY THE SAME, UM, A POSSIBLE DECREASE? AND IF SO, HOW DO WE SUPPORT THOSE POSSIBLE TRENDS? SO WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO WILL BE RETURNING BACK TO THEIR, UM, HOMESCHOOL, SO IT'S NOT THE SAME STUDENTS AS IN THE ORIGINAL SEPTEMBER, THEN DECEMBER.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A ROLLING, UM, ENROLLMENT THAT WOULD OCCUR.
SO RIGHT NOW WE BELIEVE WE HAVE THE SEASON OF CAPACITY TO HANDLE IT BECAUSE THOSE STUDENTS WILL BE GOING BACK.
AND THEN IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL SEATS, IF WE HAVE PROGRAM REVIEWS, SOME STUDENTS, UM, MAY NEED, UM, SOME DIFFERENT SUPPORTS.
WE WILL, UM, HAVE THE CAPACITY NOW TO HANDLE THAT ON A ROTATING BASIS.
AND THEN, UM, I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ED L P.
SO IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A STUDENT TO GRADUATE WITH COURSES FROM THE EDLP ALONE OR DO THEY NEED SOMETHING ELSE TO SUPPLEMENT THAT JUST TO GET THEIR COURSE REQUIREMENTS? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND THANK YOU.
UM, SO CURRENTLY ED L P, UM, HAS ALL BUT THE FINE ARTS CREDIT AVAILABLE, UM, FOR A STUDENT.
THE LIMITING FACTOR THERE, MISS HASSAN, WOULD BE TIME.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR TRADITIONAL, UM, SCHOOL DAY, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, SIX HOURS AND 45
[02:40:01]
MINUTES, UM, TO EARN THOSE CREDITS AND OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN EARN CREDITS WELL BEYOND THOSE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.UM, SO EDLP HAS EVERYTHING EXCEPT THAT FINE ARTS CREDIT.
HOWEVER, THE LIMITATION IS OUR EDLP SITES ARE MEETING FOUR HOURS IN EVENING.
SO IF YOU WERE TO ATTEND, UM, LET'S SEE, IT'S, UM, TUESDAY NIGHT.
SO WE HAVE OUR, UH, WOODLAWN EDLP MEETING THIS EVENING IN DUN DOCK, GO TEAM EDLP.
UM, OUR STUDENTS ARE THERE FOR FOUR HOURS A NIGHT AND THEY ARE PUSHING THROUGH THAT CONTENT, SO, UM, CLOSE, BUT, UM, THE LIMITATION OF TIME AND THAT FINE ARTS CREDIT, WHICH WE'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW.
AND MY FINAL QUESTION, UM, SO I KNOW THAT SOME STUDENTS SEEK OUT THE EC A PROGRAM AT CC BBC.
UM, IS IT, SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE SEEKING AN A ALTERNATIVE OPTION TO SEEK, UM, THOSE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AT CC BBC AS WELL AS NIGHT SCHOOL AND, AND BE ABLE TO EXPAND HOW WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS INTO ALSO LOOKING AT GETTING POSSIBLE COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS OUTTA THE WAY? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, OUR STUDENTS ARE REQUIRING US TO REIMAGINE HIGH SCHOOL.
UM, AND SO THEY HAVE ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM, SO THEY CAN DO THAT.
UM, THEY CAN DO ED L P BLP, THEY HAVE ALL OF THAT.
AND SO WE ARE CHANGING OUR MODEL OF THIS, UH, JUST EVERYTHING IN A BRICK, BRICK AND MORTAR, UM, HIGH SCHOOL TIME AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TIME AND REALLY ADAPTING, UM, TO THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND REALLY BEING, OFFERING THESE FLEXIBLE OPTIONS.
THEY HAVE ALSO CHALLENGED US TO DO SOME THINGS DIFFERENTLY THIS SUMMER THAT WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU FOR.
SO WE'LL BE DOING, EXPANDING SOME TIME THIS SUMMER.
SO WE ARE LISTENING, UM, TO OUR STUDENTS, UM, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE FLEXIBLE WITH HOW WE'RE OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO LEARNING.
MR. MCMILLAN, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? YES, PLEASE.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, BACK IN THE DAY, CROSSROADS HAD A YEAR REQUIREMENT.
SO IF YOU SIGN UP FOR CROSSROADS, YOU STAYED THEIR YEAR, THE PARENTS SIGNED OFF, THE KIDS SIGNED OFF, EVERYBODY KNEW THAT THE CHILD WAS THERE FOR A YEAR.
HAS THAT REQUIREMENT GONE SOUTH? SO WE, UH, WHEN WE REIMAGINED THE MODEL, CROSSROADS IS NOW MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND THEN ROSEDALE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT MODEL DID IS IT LIMITED THE, IT LIMITED THE SEATS.
AND SO THE STUDENTS WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE YEAR, YOU ONLY HAD THAT AMOUNT AND WE COULD NOT OFFER ANY OF THE ACCESS TO ANY OF THE OTHER MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.
WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE, UM, STAKEHOLDERS ON THE WEST SIDE, THOUGH, WE HAD ALL OF THE SEATS.
WE HAD THE OPEN MODEL WHERE THEY COULD GO IN DURING THAT TIME.
SO NOW, UM, FOR THE REIMAGINING AND WHAT WE REDESIGNED IT CROSSROADS, UM, SERVICES, MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ROSEDALE WOULD HAVE IT.
AND SO IF THERE IS A STUDENT THAT DOES HAVE TO STAY A YEAR, IT'S NOT ANYTHING MANDATORY.
WE HAVE THIS SEATS AND THE FLEXIBILITY AND THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY STAY THE ENTIRE YEAR.
IT'S AS NEEDED, UM, DURING THAT TIME.
BUT IN THAT, IN THAT OLDER MODEL, IT WAS LIMITING ACCESS.
UM, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME ACCESS OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AS WE HAD ON THE WEST SIDE AND OTHER OTHER ZONES.
AND, AND THE NEXT COMMENT I WANNA MAKE, I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL, SO I'M, I JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO GATHER INFORMATION.
HAVE EITHER THE THREE OF YOU BEEN AN ALTERNATIVE PRINCIPAL? SO I HAVE BEEN A, I I WAS A PRINCIPAL OF A HIGH SCHOOL WHERE WE HAD THE ALTERNATIVE MODEL FOR THE E ED L P.
UM, AND SO YES, SO, UH, YES, I HAVE BEEN, UM, VERY CLOSELY AND SO I HAD, UM, ED L P IN MY BUILDING ALL FIVE YEARS.
I WAS, UM, THERE EACH EVENING AND NOW AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OVER THE, UM, OVER THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL THAT IS MY SCHOOL THAT I, I SUPPORT DIRECTLY.
I WAS ALSO A MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, PRINCIPAL IN WHICH WE USED TO HAVE EVENING SCHOOL FOR ANOTHER MODEL YEARS AGO.
SO YOU WERE AT MILFORD MILL FOR YES, SIR.
AND THEN IN MIDDLE SCHOOL? YES, SIR.
THE, THE FORMER O COURT
I I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT MECHANICS.
IF, IF A STUDENT ISN'T, GETS INTO SOME TROUBLE, SAY THEY'RE GONNA BE SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS, BUT MAYBE IT WAS PRETTY BAD OR WHATEVER, WHEN IS THE DECISION MADE AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE IT, TO, TO SEND A CHILD OR STUDENT TO AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL? LIKE THERE WOULDN'T BE A SITUATION WHERE THEY'D BE SUSPENDED FOR 10 DAYS AND GO BACK TO THEIR OWN SCHOOL AND THEN GO TO A CENTER, AN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL WOULD THERE, RIGHT? NO.
SO THAT'S A, THAT NINE 10 DAY WOULD BE JUST A, WHAT WE CALL A LOCAL SUSPENSION.
ANYTHING OVER THAT, THAT'S WHEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE HEARING OFFICER.
AND IT WOULDN'T BE THE PRINCIPAL MAKING A DECISION, IT WOULD BE THE, UH, THE STUDENT HEARING OFFICER MAKING THAT
[02:45:01]
DECISION.AND SO THE PRINCIPAL WOULD MAKE THE DECISION ON IF THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THEM TO THAT.
TYPICALLY, UM, WITHIN A FEW, WITHIN A FEW DAYS, YOU TRY TO GATHER THE, GATHER THE INFORMATION AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WOULD MAKE THAT.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE, YOU'RE WAITING 10 DAYS TO KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE BOARD HEARING.
SO THERE'S JUST LIKE A BRIGHT LINE DELINEATION, 10 AND UNDER, AND THEN, YEAH.
AND THEN EVERYTHING OVERS I'LL ALTERNATIVE FOR CORRECT.
IT GOES TO THE HEARING OFFICER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, UM, AND YOUR ANSWERING OF ALL THE QUESTIONS.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS INFORMATION ITEMS, WHICH INCLUDE THE OFFICIAL SEPTEMBER 30TH ENROLLMENT AND THE OCTOBER MINUTES OF THE SOUTHEAST AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING.
AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MS. DOKI POINT OF INQUIRY.
UM, DO WE HAVE TWO MINUTES OR A LITTLE LONGER SINCE IT'S OUR FIRST TIME? TWO MINUTES.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO START BY, UM, THANKING EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND PAYING AND LISTENING TODAY FOR THE FIRST, UM, BOARD MEMBER MEETING WITH THESE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UM, IT WAS A LONG PROCESS TO GET HERE AND I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW, UM, INSIDE THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT I AM HERE TO WORK FOR ALL OF YOU, FOR ALL STUDENTS, ALL TEACHERS, ALL PARENTS, ALL EDUCATORS, EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE, UM, THE BEST CHOICES FOR INSIDE OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO ADD, UH, ONE SECOND HERE.
UM, I MOVE THAT WE ADD REVIEW OF THE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, 2022.
I'M NOT SURE YOU MAKE A MOTION.
I THINK WE JUST GATHER THE AGENDA, THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AGENDA ITEMS. RIGHT.
CAN YOU PUT THAT IN THE CHAT? SO I CUZ IT WAS VERY SPECIFIC SO WE GET THE RIGHT.
HAGER, ARE YOU STILL ON THE LINE? OKAY, I'LL SECOND THAT MOTION IF IT'S, UM, BEING CONSIDERED AS A FORMAL MOTION.
WE DON'T NEED A MOTION MS. HAND, WE'RE JUST COLLECTING AGENDA ITEMS. I UNDERSTAND, BUT I BELIEVE MS. DOKI IS MAKING A MOTION.
WE DIDN'T, WE WEREN'T, UM, USUALLY DURING THE, THE, THE CHAIR COMMENTS, I GUESS WE WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE MOTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS ASKED IF WE WERE, THAT'S WHY I WAS, UM, TRYING TO MAKE IT.
NOW I KNOW IT'S OUR FIRST TIME DOING THIS TOGETHER, SO THAT'S FINE.
SO I CAN, SHE CAN MAKE THE MOTION.
SO WOULD YOU STATE, DID, CAN YOU WRITE YOUR MOTION IN THE CHAT? IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? SECOND HEN.
ANY DISCUSSION? WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOUR MOTION, MS. DOKI? UM, SO, UM, THE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES, UM, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 WAS IN RESPONSE TO THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF THE COVID 19 VIRUS.
OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS HAVE BEEN BACK IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS STANDS ANY COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS BOARD OF EDUCATION SHOULD ALSO OPERATE WITHOUT PREVIOUSLY ENACTED COVID 19 RESTRICTIONS, GUIDELINES, OR PROCEDURES.
ON A FURTHER NOTE, I BELIEVE IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED PERMISSION TO GIVE A PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 22ND OF THE 10 ALLOTTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, ONLY EIGHT NAMES WERE CALLED AND FOUR FAILED TO SHOW.
UM, YOU GET SICK, YOU CAN'T SHOW UP, BUT, UM, IT NOW ONE PERSON THAT ONE PERSON'S SPOT WAS NOT USED.
SO I JUST, I THINK THAT THIS POLICY NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? LIQUOR MS. LIQUOR? I HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR MR. MERCEDES.
I'M NOT SURE AS TO WHAT THE MOTION IS BEING MADE.
IS THAT A MOTION TO ADD AN AGENDA ITEM OR IS THAT A POLICY? UH, AMENDMENT? I'M NOT CLEAR.
I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE CHAT, BUT IF THE CHAIR COULD STATE THE MOTION, UM, WE IT'S STILL BEING TYPED
[02:50:02]
I MOVE THAT WE ADD THE REVIEW OF THE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH OF THIS YEAR.SO,
AND IF I MAY SPEAK TO MY MOTION TO AMEND YES.
UM, SIMPLY BASED ON THE TIMING, UM, THAT'S FIVE DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
I THINK SOMETIMES BOARD MEMBERS HAVE OTHER COMMITMENTS AND, UM, I BELIEVE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS MAYBE MAY ALLOW FOR GREATER PREPARATION AND A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION.
AND GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TOPIC, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION IF WE CONSIDER IT AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
SO IS THERE A SECOND ON A SECOND? YES, I AGREE OR NO, I JUST ACCEPTED OR
UM, SO THERE IS A SECOND ON MS. HENS, UM, AMENDMENT.
ANY, ANY DISCUSSION, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT THAT MS. HEN MADE MR. POINT'S ORDER? MISS LIQUOR? UH, WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS AND PEOPLE SKIP MEETINGS.
YOU KNOW, JUST CAUSE IT'S A HOLIDAY DOESN'T MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE GOT A RESPONSIBILITY.
PEOPLE VOTED US IN HERE, WE WERE APPOINTED, YOU KNOW, IF THIS IS A, A CRITICAL ISSUE, WHY WAIT, LET'S TALK ABOUT IT ON THE, THE NEXT MEETING AND MAKE A DECISION.
ANY OTHER FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, ON THE AMENDMENT? MS. UH, LITTER? IF YOU COULD PUT THE MOTION ON, ON THE CHECK AND, UM, POINT OF ROBERT'S RULES THAT MR. MERCEDES COULD CLARIFY UNTIL THE CHAIR STATES THE MOTION.
IT'S NOT ON THE FLOOR, SO YOU HAVE TO STATE THE MOTION AND IT HAS TO THEN BE SECONDED.
OKAY, SO LET ME GIVE HER A MINUTE TO TYPE THE MOTION IN THE CHAT.
MR. I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR MR. MERCEDES, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
WHEN MS. HEN MADE HER, UH, UH, ADDENDUM OR ADDITION, THE PERSON THAT ORIGINALLY CAME ACROSS WITH THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT OR AGREE WITH THAT.
CORRECT? I UNDERSTAND THAT MS. SHE DID, BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO.
SO JUST, JUST A LITTLE INFORMATION THERE.
AND WHILE SHE'S TYPING THAT, SO ONCE SHE TYPES THAT, I WILL READ IT AND THEN I WILL CALL FOR A VOTE ON THAT CALL FOR DISCUSSION.
CALL FOR DISCUSSION AND THEN CALL FOR THE VOTE.
SO ON THE AMENDMENT, ON THE AMENDMENT THAT SHE IS MS. HEN PROPOSING, SO MS. HEN PROPOSED AMENDMENT, SO MS. HEN, CAN YOU RESTATE YOUR AMENDMENT? SURE.
MY AMENDMENT WAS TO CHANGE THE DATE IN MS. DO MINSKY'S MOTION TO THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
AND IF MS. GOVER COULD PROVIDE THAT DATE, I COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON MS. HEN'S AMENDMENT TO MOVE THE MEETING, THE DISCUSSION TO THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY.
OKAY, SO AT THE END THE SLICK HER POINT OF ORDER, YOU HAVE NOT STATED THE MOTION SO IT'S NOT ON THE FLOOR.
HER AMENDMENT UNTIL THE CHAIR I KNOW STATES THE MOTION.
UM, SO MS. HEN IS OUT OF ORDER WITH HER AMENDMENT.
SO THE MOTION ROMANOWSKI STATED THE MOTION AND IT WAS SECONDED.
THE MOTION WAS ON THE FLOOR FOR ROBERT'S RULES.
THE CHAIR HAS TO STATE THE MOTION FOR IT TO BE ACCEPTED IT ON THE FLOOR.
I'M GONNA STATE THE MOTION CUZ IT'S NOW IN THE CHAT.
SO I MOVE THAT WE ADD REVIEW THE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ON DECEMBER 20TH, 2022.
OKAY, MS. HEN JUST SECOND AND MOVE TO AMEND AND MOVES TO AMEND AND THE AMENDMENT WOULD READ.
I MOVE THAT WE ADD REVIEW OF THE AUGUST 10TH, 2020 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES TO THE AGENDA FOR
[02:55:01]
THE NEXT, FOR THE BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 10TH, 2023, CORRECT? YES.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THE AMENDMENT THAT MS. HEN HAS MADE? CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDMENT THAT MS. HEN MADE? MS. GOBER MINOSKI? NO.
MS. LTER NO FAVOR IS SEVEN TO THE, THE AMENDMENT PASSES.
NOW WE CAN RETURN TO THE MAIN MOTION.
NOW WE CAN RETURN TO THE MAIN MOTION WITH THE AMENDED LANGUAGE.
SO THE, THE NEW LANGUAGE IS THAT WE'LL VOTE ON AS I MOVE THAT WE ADD REVIEW OF THE AUGUST 10TH, 2021 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC COMMENT AND ATTENDANCE ALLIANCE AND PROCEDURES TO THE AGENDA FOR THE BOARD MEETING ON JANUARY 10TH, 2023.
ANY DISCUSSION? CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
WHAT? YES, MS. JONES? THANK YOU MS. LTER.
UH, I WAS WONDERING IF THIS MOTION COULD JUST NOT BE A REQUEST TO DR.
WILLIAMS, UM, SINCE IT'S AN OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE, IF YOU COULD JUST ASK AND DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A MOTION? AND IF STAFF OR IT'S ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED AND IT'S ON THE FLOOR, THEY'RE READY TO BE VOTED UPON.
SO WE ARE NOW STILL ON BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING, CORRECT? CORRECT.
UM, AND MS. HARVEY? THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
UH, FIRST I WOULD WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY NEW COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD AND TO ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IN ATTENDANCE AND DOING THIS HARD WORK EVERY DAY.
I CAN'T UNDERSTATE ENOUGH OR OVERSTATE ENOUGH HOW COMPLICATED AND COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT THIS WORK IS.
AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PROCESS.
AT THIS TIME, I DO NOT HAVE AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE HERE AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO, UM, TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN HERE AND IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE, UM, THE BCPS BOARD OF EDUCATION.
THE WORK THAT YOU DO IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL AND I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH.
UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
I HAVE NO CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS TO ADD.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO WANNA END MY COMMENT THE WAY I'VE ENDED EVERY COMMENT THAT I'VE GIVEN.
UM, AND THAT IS TO GET IN GOOD TROUBLE.
FIRST I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE CHAIR LIQUOR VICE CHAIR HARVEY ON YOUR ELECTION AS OFFICERS.
UM, AND WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
I TOO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE.
UM, I WAS ASKED WHAT ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO THE INCOMING LEADERSHIP, AND I'M GOING TO OFFER JUST A FEW WORDS TO ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS BECAUSE EVERY PERSON IN THIS BOAT NEEDS TO ROW.
UM, NUMBER ONE, THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM IS IN THE CLASSROOM.
WE NEED TO LISTEN, LEARN FROM THOSE IN THE CLASSROOM.
NUMBER TWO, DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK.
CONSIDER THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION.
AND THE FARTHER IT IS FROM THE CLASSROOM, THE MORE QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK.
TIME IS MORE LIMITED THAN YOU REALIZE AND WILL BE FILLED WITH BY OTHERS FOR THEIR PURPOSES.
FIGHT FOR TIME TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR OWN GOALS.
LEARN HOW TO ADVANCE THEM EFFICIENTLY AND PREPARE IN ADVANCE.
NUMBER FOUR, NEWTON'S FIRST LAW OF MOTION SAYS A BODY AT REST REMAINS AT REST AND A BODY IN MOTION REMAINS IN MOTION UNLESS
[03:00:01]
ACTED UPON BY AN EXTERNAL FORCE.YOU ARE THAT FORCE, BUT YOU HAVE TO ACT.
AND I KNOW, UM, THAT EACH OF YOU WILL.
NUMBER FIVE, LET'S USE EVERYONE'S STRENGTHS AND DIVIDE AND CONQUER.
WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE AND WE CAN'T DO IT ALL.
LET'S BUILD STRONG BALANCE COMMITTEES, WILLING TO DO THE WORK AND TRUST AND EMPOWER OUR COMMITTEES.
DELEGATE TO THEM, HAVE THEM DO THE LEG WORK.
ASK COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO WORK WITH STAFF LIAISONS TO GET INFORMATION TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AND BRING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTIONS TO THE FULL BOARD AND MOVE THE WORK THERE.
LET'S ELIMINATE POLITICS, BICKERING, PETTINESS, AND BULLYING.
THEY HAVE NO PLACE ON OUR BOARD AND ONLY DISTRACT US FROM DOING THE WORK.
LET'S BE KIND TO EACH OTHER AND KNOW THAT WE ARE ALL HERE FOR STUDENTS.
SEVEN, THE WORK WE NEED TO DO NEEDS TO BE THE FOCUS.
ULTIMATELY, WE, THE BOARD, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR 111,000 STUDENTS.
IF SOMETHING ISN'T WORKING, WE HAVE TO ASK WHY.
IT'S OUR JOB TO ENSURE IT GETS FIXED.
AND THAT MEANS ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MS. HE THANK, THANK YOU MS. JO.
I WANNA CONGRATULATE ALL OF THE NEWLY, NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS.
UH, BUT I WANNA ESPECIALLY COMMEND YOU, MISS, UH, LTER ON HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING AND TAKING ON THE CHALLENGING, UH, BOARD LEADERSHIP ROLE.
AND I HOPE THAT WITH YOU AS THE BOARD CHAIR, WE CAN MOVE THIS BOARD FORWARD TO A NEW AND BETTER, UM, DIRECTION FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.
SO THANK YOU, UH, FOR STEPPING UP AND, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU.
UH, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT PEOPLE WANT TO DRIVE THIS BOARD FORWARD.
IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS AND I THOUGHT I WOULD NOT BE HERE AT THIS MOMENT.
UH, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN YET.
UM, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE NOW, UH, FOR A WHILE.
AND WE DO NOT HAVE A MEETING SET IN DECEMBER.
THERE'S A LOT OF BUDGET ACTIVITY GOING ON.
UM, AND THE LAST THING THAT WE COVERED, I'LL JUST TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT AGAIN, SO THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S AVAILABLE CUZ THE MEETING'S AVAILABLE ALONG WITH THE, UM, THE MATERIALS ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
ONE, ONE THING THAT'S TALKED ABOUT HERE AT LENGTH RIGHT, IS RESOURCING.
UM, AND THE FINAL B P S E S S A SCHOOL LEVEL PER PUPIL REPORT, WHICH TELLS YOU HOW MANY DOLLARS PER PUPIL GO TO EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL ACROSS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS AVAILABLE ONLINE.
IT'S THERE, IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT, UH, WE WERE TALKING TODAY ABOUT GAINESVILLE CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE STUDIES AND THIS IS BASED ON, UH, 2021 DATA.
AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THERE WERE ONLY 20, 31 STUDENTS THERE AND IT WAS A $73,000 PER STUDENT, YOU KNOW, AMOUNT OF MONEY BEING SPENT THERE.
NOW, AS WE SAW TONIGHT, THAT THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY BLOWN OUT OF THE WATER AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THE FLUCTUATION IN STUDENTS.
BUT I, I SHARE THIS SO THAT YOU JUST GET A SENSE BECAUSE A LOT OF, UM, A LOT OF OUR ACTIVIT IS FOCUSED ON HOW WE'RE RESOURCING SCHOOLS.
AND IT IS, IS IT FAIR AND ARE WE, ARE WE GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED? AND I FIND IT, YOU KNOW, EXTREMELY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NUMBERS.
SO YOU CAN, YOU CAN AT LEAST REFERENCE THEM AND UNDERSTAND, ESPECIALLY CUZ YOU'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR SCHOOLS AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THE MONEY THAT'S GOING TO THEM.
SO, HEY, WELCOME AND, AND BEST OF LUCK.
MS. HUMPHREYS, OR YOU, MR. MCMILLAN.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS, EVERYBODY SEATED.
AT THIS DAY, UH, I'M EXCITED TO RETURN.
IF I HAD NOT HAVE RETURNED, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD'VE WASTED FOUR YEARS OF MY LIFE AND I'M TOO OLD TO WASTE ANY TIME.
UM, INTERESTING MISS HEN AND I DIDN'T SPEAK ABOUT THIS, BUT I'VE GOT SOME ADVICE, I HAVE SOME BRIEF ADVICE TO EVERYONE SEATED AT THIS DAES.
AND THAT INCLUDES MYSELF AND I NUMBERED THEM TWO, BUT I DON'T HAVE SEVEN.
NUMBER ONE, MAINTAIN AN OPEN MIND, WHICH INCLUDES BEING AN ENGAGED LISTENER.
GATHER INFORMATION AND THINK CRITICALLY.
NUMBER TWO, ATTEMPT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH EVERYONE YOU MEET.
NUMBER THREE, CHALLENGE THE SYSTEM TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
NUMBER FOUR, MAINTAIN YOUR INDEPENDENCE.
PEOPLE WILL TRY TO INFLUENCE YOU TO THINK THE WAY THEY DO, INCLUDING ME WITH THOSE
[03:05:01]
PEOPLE.BE POLITE, LISTEN, THINK AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
NOW LET'S WORK TOGETHER AND GET SOMETHING DONE.
WELL, I HAVE NO, UH, TOPICS FOR, UH, FOR, FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE FOR CONSIDERATION.
I DO WANT TO THANK AND, UH, EVERYONE, UH, ON THE STAFF WHO'S WORKED SO HARD, AND PARTICULARLY THE VERY ENCOURAGED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN TRYING TO DEAL WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ISSUES.
UH, I WAS PLEASED TO HEAR ABOUT THE, UH, DEBT FORGIVENESS TODAY THAT WE HEARD ABOUT.
AND I HOPE THAT ALSO SOMEHOW APPLIES TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY PAID BECAUSE THEY'RE THE FOLKS WHO PUT THE MONEY UP FRONT AND I HATE TO SEE THEM PENALIZED.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO SAY IS TO ALL THE MEMBERS, I THINK THIS COULD BE A REALLY GREAT FOUR YEARS FOR, FOR THIS BOARD.
AND, UH, I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE ALL THE CHANGE.
I ONLY WISH THE FOUR NEW APPOINTING MEMBERS WERE HERE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AS A GROUP, AS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
AND I A PLEASURE TO DO WHAT I CAN DO TO TRY TO HELP.
AND I'M SURE THAT'S TRUE OF THE OTHER THREE APPOINTING MEMBERS.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE, UM, TO SUPPORT THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS.
I PERSONALLY APPRECIATE THE PATIENCE THAT YOU HAVE HAD WITH US, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN THE MANY DETAILS OF THIS PROCESS.
UM, AND THANK YOU TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CABINET AND STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT AS WELL.
I FEEL CONFIDENT AND HOPEFUL THAT ALL OF US ARE HERE FOR THE SAME REASON, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE STUDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY.
AND THAT'S A GREAT FEELING TO HAVE, TO FEEL THAT WE HAVE A HOPE, A HOPEFUL ATMOSPHERE WITH THE NEW NEW BOARD.
UM, I MAY SEE IT SEEM A LITTLE BIT QUIET AND NERVOUS AT FIRST, BUT DON'T LET THAT, DON'T LET THAT, UM, MISLEAD YOU.
I DO INTEND ON BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE BOARD, BOARD AND PUSHING TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
SEVO, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S HELPING ME.
UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW LEADERSHIP AND I THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR HELPING ME ADJUST TO THIS NEW ROLE.
I ENJOYED LISTENING TO ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS TONIGHT FROM THE PRE-K ALL THE WAY UP TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND HOW THEY WORK IN OUR DISTRICT.
AND I'M INTERESTED IN TAKING A BIG, WELL, NOT THE BIGGEST LEADERSHIP ROLE, BUT SOME LEADERSHIP ROLE ON THIS, THIS BOARD.
AND MY ONLY COMMENT IS THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS I TRIED TO NAVIGATE, UM, THIS, UM, AT THE LAST MINUTE.
NO, WE JUST DID THAT, RIGHT? THE LAST ITEM ON AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA'S ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, 2022 AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.
AND THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 9 38.