* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] GET STARTED. [A. CLOSED SESSION] GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN TIARA BOOKER DWYER. I CALLED TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2024. THIS EVENING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 73, VERIZON FILES CHANNEL 34. IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AS PERMITTED BY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AS FOUND IN THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE THREE DASH 3 0 5 B ONE AND B SEVEN TO 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 MATTERS THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. AND TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. SO, MS. LESKI, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE. DR. SAVOY PRESENT. MS. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HARVEY NAME? MS. HARVEY? YES. THANK YOU MR. YOUNG. YES. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. HEN. MS. FAL? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. MS. POEY? YES. MS. CHI KALU? YES. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. BOOKER DWYER. YES. MOTION CARRIES. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN TIARA BOOKER DWYER. I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2024. [B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)] I INVITE YOU TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG LED BY MS. CHICA KALU. WE WILL THEN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, I TO THE FACT OF OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND THE VISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 73 AND VERIZON FILES CHANNEL 34. IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS MUST BE DONE, WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE. THE FIRST ITEM [C. AGENDA (6:35 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE DECEMBER 3RD AGENDA. DR. ROGERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. HEARING NONE. THE AGENDA STANDS AS PRESENTED EARLIER THIS EVENING. THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS TO 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 TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. THE CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY AND THE OPEN SESSION INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE. THE [D. ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS (Dr. Rogers) (6:40 - 6:50 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE ELECTION OF BOARD OFFICERS. THE MOMENT WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN THE MEETING OVER TO DR. ROGERS. THANK YOU. AS REQUIRED BY SECTION THREE TWO B OH NINE OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND AND BOARD POLICY 82 10. THE FIRST MEETING IN DECEMBER IS DE DESIGNATED FOR ELECTION OF THE BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR. ACCORDING TO BOARD POLICY 82 10, THE SUPERINTENDENT PRESIDES OVER THE ELECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF CHAIR NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIR. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS NOMINATED? MS. LICHTER IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD CHAIR? HEARING NONE NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED. [00:05:03] IN THE ABSENCE OF ADDITIONAL NOMINATIONS, MS. LICHTER IS ELECTED AS CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY. THE EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY ACT REQUIRES THAT ANY ACTION OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BOARD BE RECORDED BY VOICE, VOTE OR ROLL CALL. VOTE. AS MANY AS ARE IN FAVOR. PLEASE SAY I OR YES. THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. MS. GROVER, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL FOR THOSE. VOTING FOR MS. LICHTER. HUH? DISREGARD THE ROLL CALL . OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. NOMINATIONS ARE NOW IN ORDER FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD VICE CHAIR. ARE THERE ANY NOMINATIONS? MS. LESKI? I NOMINATE MS. CHRISTINA PUMPHREY. THANK YOU. MS. CHRISTINA PUMPHREY IS NOMINATED. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD? VICE CHAIR MS. CHICA KALU. I NOMINATE ROBIN HARVEY OR SORRY, MS. HARVEY. HARVEY. THANK YOU. MS. HARVEY IS ALSO NOMINATED FOR THE POSITION OF VICE CHAIR. HMM. ARE THERE ANY FURTHER NOMINATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF BOARD, VICE CHAIR WITHOUT FURTHER NOMINATIONS? THE WITHOUT OBJECTION. NOMINATIONS ARE CLOSED. MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL THOUGH PLEASE? FOR VICE CHAIR FOR MS. HUMPHREY? DR. SAVOY? NO. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HARVEY? NO. MR. YOUNG? NO. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MS. FONG ABSTAIN. SORRY, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? AB ABSTAIN. THANK YOU. MS. LICHTER? NO. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MS. CHIKA. KLU? NO. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. BOOKER DWYER? NO. MS. GOBER. THAT WAS SIX. THAT WAS FIVE. THAT WAS FIVE. OKAY. AND WE ALSO ROLL CALL, VOTE NOW FOR MS. HARVEY AS VICE CHAIR. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLION? I'M SORRY. NO. MS. HARVEY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI? NO. MS. HEN? NO. MS. F? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. MS. EY? NO. MS. CHIKA KALU. YES. MS. LESKI? I'M SORRY. NO. MS. BOOKER DWYER. ABSOLUTELY. YES. MS. FAVOR IS SEVEN. SO MS. ROBIN HARVEY HAS RECEIVED SEVEN VOTES. SO I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MS. HARVEY HAS BEEN ELECTED AS VICE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR 2024. 2025. SEE YA. CAN I HAVE THE LITTLE FAN? WHOA, WHOA, . WE WILL GIVE THEM [00:10:01] A MINUTE TO CHANGE, UM, SEATS. AND AS THEY ARE, OUR NEXT AGENDA ITEM [E. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Mr. McCall) (6:50 - 6:55 p.m.)] IS PERSONNEL MATTERS. AND FOR THAT, I CALL 'EM MR. MCCALL, SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'D LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING, PERSONNEL MATTERS, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES, AND CERTIFICATED APPOINTMENTS. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBITS E ONE THROUGH E FOUR? SO, MOVE. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, STALOWSKI. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI ABSTAIN. MS. HEN? YES. MS. FAL. MS. FAL. MS. BOOKER DWYER. YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MS. CHICA KLU. YES. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM [F. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Rogers) (6:55 - 7:05 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR. ROGERS. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. I'M BRINGING FORWARD THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENT FOR YOUR APPROVAL MANAGER, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE OF FACILITY SUPPORT SERVICES. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT F1? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, SAVOY. ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLIAN? YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MS. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MS. FONG? YES. MS. BOOKER DWYER. YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MS. ULU? YES. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. DR. ROGERS? YES. FRANK SHANNON, PLEASE STAND. FRANK IS ATTENDING WITH HIS WIFE, GLORIA. PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE MANAGER ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITY SUPPORT SERVICES WITH NINE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. HIS PRIOR EXPERIENCES INCLUDE ANALYSTS, ENERGY MANAGEMENT, IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITY SUPPORT SERVICES. PRIOR TO THAT, HE SERVED AS A GENERAL ENGINEER FOR SIEMENS INDUSTRY INCORPORATED, AND A MILITARY MEMBER WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM [G. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:05 - 7:40 p.m.)] IS PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THE BOARD PROVIDES TO HEAR THE VIEWS AND RECEIVE THE ADVICE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IF NOT SELECTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL AT BOE@BOEBCPS.ORG. THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PULP POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY UNIT AND OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY HAS RECOMMENDED SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS, WHICH ARE POSTED IN THE BOARDROOM AND AVAILABLE IN BOARD DOCS AND ON THE BOARD'S PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC WEBSITE. 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 FORM TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE MATTERS OR TO COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT DO NOT RELATE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. INAPPROPRIATE PERSONAL REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIORS SUCH AS LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES VIOLENCE AGAINST A-B-C-P-S EMPLOYEE OR THAT DISRUPTS OR INTERFERES WITH THE CONTENT OF THIS MEETING ARE OUT OF ORDER AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. PERSONS WHO OTHERWISE DISRUPT OR DISTURB THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR REMARKS AND WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING. PLEASE OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE TIME CLOCK, WHICH WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP. THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE END OF YOUR BOARD TIME OR PRIOR TO THAT AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD CHAIR. I WILL NOW CALL ON. [00:15:01] OKAY. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFILIATED OR UNIONS, SO WE WILL MOVE TO OUR NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS. AND OUR SPEAKER IS MR. RALPH JOFFE. OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU, IF YOU WOULD SIT DOWN, THEN THE MICROPHONE WILL PICK YOUR, YOUR VOICE. YES, PLEASE. I HOPE YOU'RE NOT TELLING US IS QUARTER OF MY THREE MINUTES. NOPE, IT HASN'T STARTED YET. OKAY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? LEMME KNOW WHEN, WHEN, WHEN YOU WANT ME TO START. YOU CAN START NOW. ALRIGHT. I WANT TO FIRST, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE I DO APPRECIATE, UH, SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM, UH, THE COUNTY SYSTEM WHO'VE BEEN HELPFUL TO US WITH OUR PROGRAM. UH, SPECIFICALLY SUSAN HAHN, UH, TRACY GOVER AND JUDY CUMMINS. HOWEVER, I MUST ADMIT I'M NOT VERY PLEASED WITH SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE A PROGRAM THAT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL AND NOT DROP OUT AND COMMIT ALL KINDS OF HORRIBLE CRIMES. AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE, SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS BECAUSE I FIRST BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MRS. LECTER, AT LEAST THIS SEVEN OR EIGHT MONTHS AGO. AND WE'VE HAD MANY, MANY PEOPLE CALLED AND SAID THEY WANT THIS PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED. IT'S A PROGRAM THAT ISN'T GONNA COST THE TAXPAYERS ONE PENNY. AND YET ALL THE, ALL THE GRIEF I GET IS THAT WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH OUR MENTORING PROGRAM AND THEN WE WON'T MAKE ANY GUARANTEES TO YOU. AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I'VE BEEN MENTORING PEOPLE ALL MY, ALL MY LIFE. I'M VERY PROUD OF MY RECORDS AS A TEACHER. I TALKED ABOUT IT. THE, UH, THE FIRST TIME I WAS HERE, UM, WE GOT A A A BILL PASSED IN SIGNING LAW BY RICHARD NIXON, FIRST TEACHER TO EVER DO THAT. THEN WE, I TRANSFERRED TO PARKVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL. WE HAD TWO BILL INTRODUCED UNITED STATES SENATE. WE ALSO ORGANIZED AND DEVELOPED A WALK-IN COUNSELING CENTER FOR, FOR YOUNG TEENAGE ADDICTS THAT RECEIVED OVER $150,000 IN GOVERNING GRANTS. SO, I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT TEACHING. I THINK IT'S A DISGRACE, AND IT'S SHAMEFUL THAT YOU GOOD FOLKS HAVE THIS POWER AND YOU'RE NOT UTILIZING IT. THIS PRO GAME WOULD'VE HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED, WOULD'VE WOULD'VE KEPT A, THAT HORRIBLE CRIME THAT TOOK BASE OVER IN JOB OF TOWN. THAT STUDENT HAD, HE HAD A MENT TEAM CONNECTION. THAT CRIME WOULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED. SAME THING WITH THE STUDENTS IN GEORGIA. THAT STUDENT KILLED TWO PEOPLE, AND TWO TEACHERS AND TWO STUDENTS. HAD HE HAD A TRUE MENTOR TEAM CONNECTION, THOSE CRIMES WOULD'VE BEEN, UH, WOULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED. AND YET WE'RE GETTING, WE'RE GETTING ALL KINDS OF GRIEF. WHERE IS YOUR HEART? WHERE IS YOUR SOUL? AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE CITIZENS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. AND, UM, WE'RE MAKING PROJECTS ABOUT GETTING, GETTING THE MEDIA HERE ALSO, UM, UH, WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR US TO GET STARTED, I HAVE TALKED FURTHER WITH CHANNELS 13 AND CHANNEL TWO, AND WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. I WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT YOU GOOD FOLKS DO. I, I COMMEND YOU. I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE VOLUNTEERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO, DO NOTHING. IT'S BE A RUBBLE STAMP. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND YOU'RE NOT DOING IT. I'M FINISHED FOR RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OR STUDENTS. AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. SHARON SOFF. I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A LITTLE OUT OF SORTS TONIGHT. UM, AS I WAS WALKING OUT THE DOOR, I FOUND OUT THAT A VERY CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE PASSED AWAY, SO I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW WHERE I'M COMING FROM. UM, LAST NIGHT I CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF THE CAC MEETING WHEN DR. ROGERS WAS THERE THIS MORNING, I SPOKE AT PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE STATE LEVEL AFTER LISTENING TO SOME OF THE THINGS GOING ON IN OTHER COUNTIES, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MONTGOMERY [00:20:01] COUNTY. AND I AM APPALLED ABOUT THE STATE AND THE RUBBER STAMP THAT BALTIMORE COUNTY CONTINUES TO PUT ON A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT IS BROKEN. UM, I KNOW WHAT WE DISCUSSED LAST MONTH AT CCAC, A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY, A LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. SO I'M GONNA TAKE SOME TIME TO ONCE AGAIN DELIVER SOME SOLUTIONS. AND MAYBE THIS TIME THOSE SOLUTIONS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND PUT FORTH BECAUSE I'VE BEEN SAYING THEM FOR YEARS. ONE, COMMUNICATION IS PARAMOUNT. IF I'M A PARENT, I WANT TO KNOW WHO IN THE SCHOOL I NEED TO CONTACT FOR 5 0 4 FOR AN IEP, AND I CAN'T FIND THAT INFORMATION. AND NO, THAT SHOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT BY THE INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. THAT SHOULD BE A SYSTEM WIDE ITEM SO THAT I CAN GO TO THE SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER FOR ME, TIMBER GROVE ELEMENTARY, LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE, KNOW WHO THE PRINCIPAL IS, THE VICE PRINCIPAL, THE IEP CHAIR, THE PERSON WHO'S HANDLING THE FIVE OH FOURS. I DON'T KNOW THAT NONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTY HAVE THAT INFORMATION. READILY AVAILABLE. COMMUNICATION. AGAIN, PEOPLE IN THIS OFF IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION NEED TO RESPOND. IF A PARENT CALLS, IF AN ADVOCATE CALLS, IF A PARENT SENDS AN EMAIL, IF AN ADVOCATE SENDS AN EMAIL, HALF THE TIME, PARENTS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO TO SEND THE EMAIL TO. COMMUNICATION MEANS TRANSPARENCY. I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY BEFORE THE TIMECLOCK SIX OUT, IF I ASK FOR DATA, I SHOULD HAVE IT IN MY HAND FIVE DAYS BEFORE THAT IEP MEETING. AND THAT'S NOT HAPPENING. THANK YOU. SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DR. FARONE, AND I REALLY CAN'T HEAR IN THE BACK. KINDLY PLEASE CONSIDER MY EMAILED POLICY OF SPEAKING UP. I EMAILED TO YOU, HOPEFULLY YOU READ IT. MY PROPOSAL TO YOU IS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, ABOUT INTEGRITY, ABOUT THE CULTURE OF BCPS. THE BOARD DOCS DON'T HAVE REALLY A CLEAR AND COHESIVE, UH, INTEGRATED POLICY ABOUT SPEAKING UP THE BOARD. DOCS HAS MANY POLICIES, BUT THEY DO NOT REALLY HAVE THE CULTURE OF PCPS. SO WHY THE CULTURE IS IMPORTANT, THE CULTURE IS WHAT MAKES A COMPANY OR ORGANIZATION SUCCEED. FOR EXAMPLE, APPLE AND GOOGLE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR CEO LEAVES OR THE FOUNDER LEAVES, THE CULTURE IS BUILT IN AND THE COMPANY CONTINUE TO FLOURISH. I BELIEVE THE BOARDS BEFORE YOU HAVE DONE MAINTENANCE OF EFFORTS AND TRY TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY ENOUGH. I THINK BUILDING A POLICY THAT IS CLEAR ABOUT WHAT IS THE CULTURE OF THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY, ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF AND EMPLOYEES SPEAKING UP WITHOUT RETRIBUTION AND WITHOUT REALLY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. AND IT'S ABOUT RESPECTING THE ORGANIZATION, TRUSTING THE ORGANIZATION, ABOUT FOSTERING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT PROMOTES ACCOUNTABILITY AND ABOUT THE REPUTATION OF THAT SCHOOL [00:25:01] SYSTEM. IN THAT THERE WOULD BE REPORT ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED, WHAT HAS BEEN A RESOLUTION ABOUT THOSE COMPLAINTS, WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THEM? IT WOULD BE QUARTERLY, YEARLY, AND IT WOULD BE RIGHT OPEN FOR ALL. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, IN MY OPINION, THAT THIS ORGANIZATION HAS AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT FOR HONEST SPEAKING UP BY EMPLOYEES AND BY PUBLIC WITHOUT BEING PUNISHED OR HUMILIATED OR IGNORED OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I DID BORROW THIS FROM A PRIVATE COMPANY, AND I REALLY THINK THAT YOU AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL COULD LEARN FROM PRIVATE COMPANIES WITH SOME MODIFICATION, WHICH WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR YOU BY THANK YOU. THE [H. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT (7:40 - 7:45 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR. ROGERS. THANK YOU. I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE DECEMBER REPORT, UH, TO BOARD CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. WE'LL BEGIN BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WE ARE IN THE SEASON OF GIVING FOR MEMBERS, UH, WHO ARE HERE WITH US PRESENT TODAY, AS WELL AS THOSE WATCHING. THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO WELL-DESERVING STUDENTS, UH, INCLUDING SUPPORTING OUR EXCHANGE, UH, FROM THE BALTIMORE COUNTY, UH, EDUCATION FOUNDATION, THE KIDS HELPING HOPKINS PROGRAM, BENEFITING THE JOHN HOPKINS CHILDREN'S CENTER AND THE GIVING TREE, UH, DONATIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR, UH, FAMILIES. AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE ARE, UH, IN THE MIDST OF BUDGET SEASON. UH, OUR BUDGET PROCESS IS A YEAR LONG PROCESS WHERE WE INVOLVE OFFICES, SCHOOLS, LEADERS AND STAKEHOLDERS. UM, COMING UP THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SHARED AT OUR, UH, FOUR COMMUNITY FORUMS, UM, AS WELL AS AT OUR MOST RECENT, UH, PRESS CONFERENCE AND, UH, DURING A, UH, RECENT BOARD MEETING THAT CHALLENGES ARE MOVING FORWARD FOR THE FY 26 BUDGET. SPECIFICALLY CHALLENGES AROUND THE BLUEPRINT FUNDING. WHILE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO HAVE GROWING NEEDS FOR OUR STUDENTS, UH, THERE CONTINUES TO BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED, UM, TO, UH, SHARE YOUR, UH, OPINIONS AND FEEDBACK ON WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, UH, FOR US TO PRIORITIZE AS WE MOVE INTO A TIGHT FISCAL SEASON. ANOTHER TIGHT FISCAL SEASON. UM, THE AREA COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE, UH, ONCE THE BUDGET IS, UH, THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET IS PROPOSED, THERE WILL BE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THE BUDGET 1 0 1 WEBSITE REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR ALL, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT DRIVES THE BCPS BUDGET, UM, OUR EXPENDITURES FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, UM, AS WELL AS OUR REVENUE SOURCES AND LOTS MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE THERE. WANT TO SHARE WITH THE COMMUNITY THIS EVENING. THE RESULTS FROM OUR BUDGET PRIORITY SURVEYS. UH, WE ADMINISTERED TWO SURVEYS. ONE WAS TO OUR PRINCIPALS SPECIFICALLY, AND THE SECOND ONE WAS TO OUR STAKEHOLDERS AT LARGE. UH, THE FIRST SET OF RESULTS WERE FROM OUR PRINCIPALS. 153 PRINCIPALS RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY. THEY IDENTIFIED THE MOST IMPORTANT, UH, PRIORITY TO THEM BEING, HIRING AND RETAINING HIGH QUALITY STAFF. THAT WAS, UH, FOLLOWED BY, UM, TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO. SO CLASS SIZES AND PROVIDING ACADEMIC SERVICES, UH, ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND NEEDS. THOSE WERE THE TOP THREE PRIORITIES OF OUR PRINCIPALS. WHEN WE ASKED THEM ABOUT THE LOCAL SCHOOL SYS, UH, THE LOCAL SCHOOL, UH, SYSTEM BUDGET FOR THEM TO PRIORITIZE AREAS, UH, AGAIN, THEY RAISED, UH, TEACHER TO STUDENT RATIO. UH, THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND, UH, NECK AND NECK WERE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. WHEN PRINCIPALS WERE ASKED TO PRIORITIZE THE FOUR MAIN PRIORITY AREAS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IT WAS ALMOST A TIE BETWEEN SAFETY AND CLIMATE AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. SLIGHTLY BEHIND THAT WAS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION, FOLLOWED BY INFRASTRUCTURE. PRINCIPALS ARE AWARE OF THE, UH, CHANGING, UH, FISCAL LANDSCAPE AND THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE AHEAD OF US. UH, THEY WERE ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT PRIORITIZING, UM, [00:30:01] THE FOCUS FOR THE BUDGET OVERALL. AND, UH, THEIR RESPONSE, OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, 67% OF THEM, UH, INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE US AS WE, UH, CREATED A BUDGET TO EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT WHILE, UH, FOCUSING ON RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AS THE GREATEST AREA OF NEED. WE ALSO ADMINISTERED A SURVEY, UH, IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS. WE HAD A FEW THOUSAND RESPONDENTS. UM, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE THE, UH, DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE RESPONDENTS. UH, WE ASKED SIMILAR QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES OVERWHELMINGLY FOR OUR STAKEHOLDERS, UH, WHICH INCLUDED OUR STAFF, STUDENTS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, GUARDIANS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WAS HIRING AND RETENTION OF STAFF. UM, THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY PROVIDING SUPPORT TO STRUGGLING STUDENTS AND, UH, KEEPING CLASS SIZES SMALL. WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET, UH, WHAT THE PRIORITIZATION SHOULD BE, UM, IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RESPONSES FROM THE PRINCIPALS. UH, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE INDICATED, UM, TEACHER STUDENT RATIO, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL BEHAVIOR, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS, FOLLOWED BY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AS PRIORITIES. THE STAKEHOLDERS AT LARGE, UH, HAD THE SAME RESPONSE AS PRINCIPALS THAT, UH, THEIR BELIEF WAS THAT WE SHOULD PRIORITIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE, UM, ACADEMICS AS WELL AS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION FOR THE OVERALL, UH, FOCUS OF THE FY 26 BUDGET. AND WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO PRIORITIZE OUR FOUR, UH, TOP PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THEIR FIRST AREA WAS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE STAFF, UM, FOLLOWED BY SAFETY IN CLIMATE AND THEN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT. ALL STAKEHOLDERS SHARED WITH US THAT THEIR OVERALL PRIORITY WAS TO HIRE AND RETAIN HIGH QUALITY STAFF MEMBERS THAT OUR BUDGET SHOULD BE DEVELOPED. UH, LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO IMPROVE AND THAT WE IN THE TOP TWO FOR BOTH SETS OF SURVEYS WAS TO PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN NEED. AND SO WE ARE GOING TO, UH, SHIFT OUR ATTENTION A BIT TO WHY THE BUDGET IS, UH, SO IMPORTANT, WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE REALLY EXAMINE, UM, OUR, UH, STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK AS WELL AS OUR STUDENT DATA, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE. TODAY, THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MET AND THEY RELEASED THE, UM, STAR RATINGS FOR ALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND. RIGHT. BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT, WE WANT TO, UH, CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO A, UH, SLIDE THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH. UH, WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ABOUT THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. UM, IN ORDER TO MAKE SYSTEMIC AND SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, THERE ARE THREE, UM, UH, MAIN COMPONENTS THAT WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO. THE FIRST ONE BEING CURRICULUM. ENSURING THAT WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM THAT IS ALIGNED TO STATE STANDARDS, THAT OUR CURRICULUM IS EVIDENCE-BASED. AND NOT ONLY DO WE NEED TO PROCURE THAT CURRICULUM, WHICH WE HAVE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS FIDELITY OF IMPLEMENTATION. THAT WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING ON A DAILY BASIS IN CLASS IS ALIGNED WITH THE CURRICULUM AS INTENDED. IN ORDER FOR TEACHERS AND ALL PROFESSIONALS, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WORK, THERE NEEDS TO BE A HIGH LEVEL OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THAT OCCURS AS, UH, OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS. UH, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS LAST YEAR, UM, KICKSTARTED OUR EFFORTS ON PROVIDING ROBUST PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO OUR STAFF. WE PROVIDED OVER 30 DAYS OF PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO STAFF OVER THE SUMMER, REALLY FOCUSED ON HIGH QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD A, UH, COMMON DEFINITION OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS AT HIGH LEVELS AND TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME. UH, WE BROUGHT IN OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS FOR THAT TRAINING AND BASED ON THE FEED FROM OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR LEADERS PROVIDED BOTH ONBOARDING AND TRAINING, UM, TO OUR ADULT ASSISTANTS. UM, SO PART OF OUR WORK AND OUR ONGOING WORK THAT WE MEET MONTHLY WITH OUR LEADERS IN CENTRAL OFFICE, AND WE PROVIDE, UH, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO OUR TEACHERS. BUT IN ORDER FOR THIS TO WORK, UH, THERE HAS TO BE A MECHANISM, A SYSTEM FOR, UH, PEOPLE TO, IN REAL TIME TAKE A LOOK AT HOW STUDENTS ARE DOING. SO WE CALL THOSE PLCS, WHICH ARE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES. THEY EXIST IN SCHOOLS. THOSE ARE GROUPS OF TEACHERS, [00:35:01] EITHER BY GRADE LEVEL OR CONTENT WHO COME TOGETHER TO REVIEW AND PLAN FOR STUDENTS, BUT ALSO TO LOOK AT THEIR PROGRESS AND MAKE CHANGES IN REAL TIME. AND AT CENTRAL OFFICE, WE DO THE SAME THING, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE COLLABORATIVE CYCLES OF INQUIRY WHERE WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, WE'RE LOOKING AT PATTERNS. UH, WE ARE DEEP, WE ARE DEPLOYING RESOURCES, AND, UH, WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH ACTION ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS. AND SO TO TODAY, WE WERE VERY PLEASED, UM, WHEN THE STATE ANNOUNCED THE MARYLAND REPORTS CAR STAR RATINGS FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AS YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, WE HAVE MADE GROWTH IN EVERY AREA. UM, WE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO THAT ONE OF OUR GOALS WAS TO, UH, RETURN BACK, UM, TO, UH, PLACE IN GOOD STANDING IN THE STATE. WE CERTAINLY HAVE MUCH MORE WORK TO DO, UH, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND CELEBRATE THE HARD WORK OF THE 20,000 EMPLOYEES, THE 111,000 STUDENTS, UM, THAT HAD US IMPROVE FROM 3.1, UM, AS OUR AVERAGE STAR RATING, UH, LAST YEAR TO, UH, EXCUSE ME, TWO YEARS AGO TO LAST YEAR BEING 3.3, UM, WHICH IS THE SAME AVERAGE FOR THE STATE. AND WHILE WE USUALLY DON'T GO OUT, UM, DECIMAL POINTS, UH, WE MADE AN EXCEPTION THIS TIME. SO EVERYONE COULD SEE WHERE THE STATE IS AT A 3.3006 BALTIMORE COUNTY. OUR AVERAGE IS 3.3067 INDICATING THE AMOUNT OF HARD WORK THAT IS BEING DONE, UH, ACROSS SCHOOLS. UH, IN BCPS WHEN YOU COMPARE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, UM, THERE IS AN INCREASE OF, UH, TWO TENTHS OF A PERCENT, UH, THE SAME LEVEL OF INCREASE FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AS WELL AS OUR HIGH SCHOOLS. UM, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, THE STAR RATING FOR ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LOOKS AT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ACADEMIC PROGRESS, AND PROGRESS IN ACHIEVING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY, UH, WITH SOME ADDITIONAL MARKERS. IF YOU, UH, LOOK AT THE ORANGE, UH, TABLE THAT IS THERE, THERE IS THE SUMMARY OF OUR STAR RATINGS. WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL THAT IS A ONE STAR SCHOOL. THANK YOU. BLESS YOU. UM, WE HAVE 32 SCHOOLS THAT ARE TWO STAR SCHOOLS. AND SO WHAT YOU'LL NOTE FOR ONE, TWO, AND THREE STAR SCHOOLS THAT FOR THIS YEAR, WE DECREASED IN THAT. AND YOU'LL NOTE A COMMENSURATE INCREASE IN FOUR STAR AND FIVE STAR SCHOOLS. SO WE MOVED FROM 28 4 STAR SCHOOLS TO 48 4, AND WE MOVED FROM, UH, 19 FIVE STAR SCHOOLS TO 20. WELL, THANK YOU . THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UM, THIS IS DEFINITELY GOOD NEWS. UH, WHEN WE, UH, LOOK AT HOW WE CONTINUE TO COMPARE TO THE STATE. BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS THE GREATEST NUMBER OF FIVE STAR SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, CONFIRMED BY MSDE TODAY. WE CONGRATULATE ALL 20 OF THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE LISTED ON THEIR ON THE SLIDE. WE CONGRATULATE THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP, ALL OF THE STUDENTS, THE STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITIES, AND, UM, ASK THEM TO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. UH, OF PARTICULAR NOTE, 38 SCHOOLS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IMPROVE THEIR STAR RATINGS. UH, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU SEE THAT 28 OF THEM ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. 27 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IMPROVED BY ONE STAR AND ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WENT FROM A TWO STAR SCHOOL TO A FOUR STAR SCHOOL. THAT IS MCCORMICK ELEMENTARY. UH, YOU WILL NOTE THAT WE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED MCCORMICK AT THE, UH, END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR THEIR DRASTIC REDUCTION IN CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. FURTHER PROVING THE POINT THAT WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL, GOOD THINGS CAN HAPPEN FOR THEM. UM, WE ALSO WANT TO CONGRATULATE OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS. WE HAVE SIX MIDDLE SCHOOLS THAT IMPROVE BY ONE STAR, AND WE HAVE FOUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT IMPROVE BY ONE STAR. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 38 OF THESE SCHOOLS. WITH THAT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DR. ROGERS. UM, NEXT ON [I. CHAIR'S REPORT (7:45 - 7:50 p.m.)] THE AGENDA IS THE, UM, BOARD CHAIR REPORT. THIS WILL BE VERY BRIEF. UM, I JUST WANNA REALLY THANK, UM, MS. UM, BOOKER DWYER AND MS. CHRISTINA PUMPHREY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP. OVER THE PAST YEAR. YOU BOTH WORKED VERY HARD AS BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, AND YOU LED US WITH STRENGTH AND CONVICTION, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I ALSO JUST WANNA THANK, UM, EVERY MEMBER OF BCPS. THE WONDERFUL NEWS THAT DR. ROGERS [00:40:01] JUST SHARED WITH US IS DUE TO THE HARD WORK OF EVERYBODY, WHETHER YOU'RE SCHOOL-BASED, WHETHER YOU'RE CENTRAL OFFICE-BASED, WHETHER YOU WORK DIRECTLY WITH KIDS, OR WHETHER YOU MAKE SURE THAT OUR KIDS ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY FEEDING THEM, DRIVING THEM TO SCHOOL, MAKING OUR BUILDINGS FUNCTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL, EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR TEAM CONTRIBUTED TO WHAT DR. ROGERS JUST SHARED WITH US. SO, UM, WE ARE HERE ALL ABOUT STUDENTS AND SEEING OUR STUDENTS MOVE AND GROW. AND THAT WAS JUST, UM, WONDERFUL. AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. AND WE ARE DEFINITELY TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT WE ALSO KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK, HARD WORK TO DO, BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER. SO, UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU AND TO OUR FORMER BOARD CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, AND TO DR. ROGERS AND YOUR ENTIRE STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING TO MOVE US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. AND AT [J. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER'S REPORT (7:50 - 7:55 p.m.)] THIS TIME, IT'S OUR STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT. SO MS. CHI KALU, I'LL GIVE IT TO YOU. OKAY, WELL, GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS BOARD MEMBERS, BCPS, STAFF, STUDENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. I'M THRILLED TO SHARE THE LATEST UPDATES AND INITIATIVES THAT HAVE BEEN KEEPING ME BUSY OVER THE PAST MONTH. SO JUST LAST WEEKEND, I HAD THE AMAZING TIME PRESENTING AT THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT CO COUNCIL'S FALL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ALONGSIDE OUR STATE MOB. AND TOGETHER WE FACILITATED A WORKSHOP TITLED TEENS VERSUS TITANS, WORKING WITH ADULTS AS A STUDENT LEADER. SO THIS SESSION EXPLORE STRATEGIES FOR NAVIGATING INTERGEN INTERGENERATIONAL DYNAMICS IN LEADERSHIP. AND WE EQUIPPED OVER 40 STUDENT LEADERS WITH ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES TO OVERCOME POWER IMBALANCES AND EFFECTIVELY COLLABORATE WITH THEIR STAKEHOLDERS. AND IN TOMORROW EVENING, WE'LL BE HOSTING THE MUCH ANTICIPATED BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENT COUNCIL SCHOOL, SCHOOL SCHOOL SAFETY SEMINAR TOMORROW AT 6:30 PM VIA GOOGLE MEETS. SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND BRAINSTORM ALONGSIDE THEIR ADULT STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE SAFETY ACROSS OUR SCHOOLS. YOUR INPUT IS VITAL, AND I HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU THERE TOMORROW EVENING. AND THEN WE ALSO RECENTLY HELD OUR BOARD OF SELECTED STUDENTS MEETING. AND ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF THAT, I GUESS, COUNCIL, IS THAT I GET TO HEAR STUDENT VOICES DIRECTLY. AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, WE ARE TRANSITIONING INTO A MORE ACTION ORIENTED STUDENT SUPPORT NETWORK. AND THIS SECOND MEETING OF THE YEAR FOCUSED ON MENTAL HEALTH. AND SO STUDENTS CANDIDLY SHARED ABOUT THEIR CHALLENGES, INCLUDING STRESS, ANXIETY, BULLYING, AND THE PRESSURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS. THEY EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR MORE APPROACHABLE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, REGULAR COUNSELOR VISITS TO CLASSROOMS AND ACTIVITIES TO BREAK THE MONOTONY OF DAILY SCHOOL LIFE. WE ALSO DISCUSSED BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND RESOURCES LIKE THE FEAR OF CONFIDENTIALITY BREACHES AND THE STIGMA AROUND SEEKING HOPE. DESPITE THESE OBSTACLES, STUDENTS ALSO HIGHLIGHTED CREATIVE SOLUTIONS SUCH AS INCREASING MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATIONS IN ADVISORY AND AVID CLASSES, AND BUILDING ON SUCCESSFUL INITIATIVES SEEN IN OUR VERY CLASSROOMS LIKE NATURE WALKS FOR STRESS RELIEF. NOW, IT'S ALSO SURREAL TO ANNOUNCE THAT STUDENT BOARD MEMBER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN. AND THIS IS A MOMENT THAT TRULY BRINGS ME FULL CIRCLE TO WHEN I FIRST BEGAN ABOUT A YEAR AGO. AND JUST THESE PAST FEW MONTHS HAS BEEN A PROFOUND EXPERIENCE AND REFLECTING ON IT, I ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY SO CURRENT SOPHOMORES OR JUNIORS. WITH THE PASSION FOR SERVICE, ADVOCACY AND LEADERSHIP, I, ALONGSIDE THE SMALL OUTREACH COMMITTEE, WILL BE HOSTING INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS LEADING UP TO THE DEADLINE IN JANUARY. SO THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME TO PREPARE FOR ALL MY STUDENTS. THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE AN IMPACT AND REPRESENT YOUR PEERS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. AND TO ALL MY SECONDARY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, PLEASE NOMINATE TWO STUDENTS FROM EVERY SINGLE HIGH SCHOOL. AND THEN I WILL SOON BE ATTENDING THE BROADENING PERSPECTIVES FROM NEW YORK CONVENING FOR THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE. AND THIS EVENT WILL BRING TOGETHER THOUGHT LEADERS AND ADVOCATES WORKING TO REIMAGINE ACCOUNTABILITY AND EDUCATION POLICY THROUGH A MORE COMMUNITY-CENTERED LENS. AND THEN LATER, LATER IN THE COMING MONTHS AS A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NATIONAL STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ASSOCIATION AS THEIR POLICY DIRECTOR, I'LL BE PRESENTING A BREAKOUT SESSION ALONGSIDE A NEW YORK STATE, A NEW YORK'S MOB AT THE NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION INSTITUTE ADVOCACY AND EQUITY INSTITUTE. AND THIS IS JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF STUDENTS AND DISCUSS STAKEHOLDER INPUT NATIONALLY . AND THEN AS A PART OF THE NATIONAL STUDENT BOARD MEMBER ORGANIZATION, I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON SEVERAL PROJECTS. SO NEXT WEEK I'LL BE CO-HOSTING A WEBINAR ON COMMUNICATION AND STAKEHOLDER INPUT. ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE DEFINITELY BEEN ONBOARDING A NEW WAVE OF LEADERS. SO AS THEIR NATIONAL POLICY DIRECTOR, I'VE DIRECTLY ONBOARDED MORE THAN 62 STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS NATIONALLY, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO LEAD AND MENTORSHIP AND POLICY DI POLICY CREATION AND RESOLUTIONS. AND THEN THESE STUDENTS WILL NOW CARRY FORWARD THE LESSONS I'VE LEARNED HERE IN BCPS TO EXTEND OUR INFLUENCE FAR BEYOND COUNTY LINES. AND THEN THROUGH [00:45:01] OUR S TAKE A SEAT COALITION EXPANSION PLAN, WE'VE DRIVEN CHANGES THAT ARE REDEFINING THE ROLES OF SMOG IN KENTUCKY AND IN NEW YORK. THESE EFFORTS HAVE, ARE WORKING TO SECURE VOTING RIGHTS AND SUBSTANTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES DURING, WITH THEIR UPCOMING, UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS FOR STUDENT BOARD MEMBERS AND STUDENT COUNCILS, ENSURING THAT THEIR VOICES ARE NOT SYMBOLIC BUT IMPACTFUL. AND ALONGSIDE MY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WE'VE LAUNCHED A STUDENT BOARD MEMBER OF THE MONTH RECOGNITION PROGRAM, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP ACROSS THE NATION AND INTRODUCED A NATIONAL BULLETIN BOARD TO STREAMLINE COMMUNICATION AND UPDATES AMONG STUDENT LEADERS AND ANYONE INTERESTED. AND I ALSO WANNA CONGRATULATE THE NINE BCPS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE SELECTED AS PAGES FOR THE MED MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. . OKAY. AND THEN, OKAY, . AND THEN I'M ALSO EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE MY ROLE AS A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ACCOUNTABILITY YOUTH ADVISORY TEAM, WHERE WE ARE ASSESSING HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO EDUCATION, ASSESSMENT, AND COMMUNITY CENTERED WAYS TO QUALIFY STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND MEASURE STUDENT PROGRESS. AND LOOKING FORWARD, I'M ENERGIZED BY THE WORK AHEAD. CURRENTLY I'M COLLABORATING WITH FIVE DIFFERENT MOPS ACROSS THREE MARYLAND COUNTIES TO EXPAND VOTING RIGHTS AND STUDENT PRIVILEGES, WHICH ARE VASTLY INCONSISTENT WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY. AND I AM ALSO DRIVING ACCOUNTABILITY REFORMS THROUGH THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AND CONTINUING TO LEAD N-S-B-A-N-S-B-M-A INITIATIVES TO ELEVATE THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION ON THE ROLE OF STUDENT LEADERS. AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. AND IN CLOSING, I DO WANT TO JUST SAY I TRULY HOPE TO SEE STUDENTS CONTINUE TO LEAD THE CHARGE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE CONVERSATIONS. THE EVIDENCE WE'VE GATHERED THROUGH FEEDBACK AND INITIATIVES, ESPECIALLY JUST WITH SEEING THE RECENT REPORT CARDS, IT'S COMPELLING AND STUDENTS DESERVE TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE IN SHAPING THOSE SOLUTIONS. SO I'M JUST VERY EXCITED FOR THE WORK THAT'S CONTINUING TO COME, AND I JUST WANT US TO ALWAYS BE KEEN AND CONSCIENTIOUS OF KEEPING STUDENTS AT THE CENTER OF EVERY CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. OKAY. WOW. I'M NOT SURE , HOW YOU DO IT ALL, BUT THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING. THE NEXT ITEM [K. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - BOARD POLICIES (7:55 - 8:10 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS, UM, REPORT ON BOARD POLICIES. THIS IS THE SECOND READER FOR THESE POLICIES, AND FOR THAT I CALL MS. CHRISTINA HUMPHREY, CHAIR OF THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE ASKS THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND THE FOLLOWING BOARD POLICIES BOARD POLICY 6 63 0 1 SCHOOL CALENDAR BOARD POLICY 82 80 MEMBERSHIPS, BOARD POLICY 85 0 1 SUPERINTENDENT'S EVALUATION. THESE POLICIES ARE PRESENTED TO YOU ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS EXHIBITS K ONE THROUGH K THREE. THANK YOU, MS. EY, BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY SEPARATIONS REQUESTED? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD'S POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR BOARD POLICY 63 0 1, 82 80 AND 85 0 1. SO MOVED. HARVEY. THANK YOU. NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. GO? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MS. MCMILLIAN? YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MS. FONG? YES. MS. BOOKER DRYER? YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MS. CHICA? YES. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION. AND FOR THAT I CALL HIM MR. BURNS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR. MADAM VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. ROGERS FOR THE RECORD. DARREN BURNS, BOARD OF ATTORNEY, UH, THIS EVENING ENCLOSED SESSION. THE BOARD TOOK ACTION ON TWO APPEALS. ONE WAS HEARING EXAMINER CASE, UH, HEA 25 DASH 0 0 8, AND THE OTHER WAS HEARING EXAMINER CASE E 24 DASH 23. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER'S CASE HEA 25 DASH 0 0 8 AND AUTHORIZE MS. GOR TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. CHIKE KLU. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLIAN? YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI ABSTAIN. THANK YOU. MS. HEN ABSTAIN. [00:50:01] MS. FONG. MS. FONG. MS. BOOKER DWYER. YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MS. ULU? YES. MS. LESKI? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONTRACT AWARDS. AND FOR THAT I CALL MR. YOUNG CHAIR OF THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE. OH, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE. WE HAVE TO DO THE SESSION. 24 DASH 23 OH, I'M SORRY. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO [L. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Board Counsel) (8:10 - 8:15 p.m.)] APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER'S CASE E 24 DASH 23 IN WHICH ORAL ARGUMENT WAS HELD? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. CHIKE KLU. THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. EY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI ABSTAIN. MS. HEN ABSTAIN. MS. FAL? YES. MS. REYER? YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MS. CHIKO KALU? YES. MS. KY? YES. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. BURNS. THE NEXT ITEM [M. NEW BUSINESS - CONTRACT AWARDS (Mr. Hartlove and Dr. Grim) (8:15 - 8:30 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS CONTRACT AWARDS. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. YOUNG CHAIR OF THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD'S BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, 2024. ITEMS M1 THROUGH M 27 ARE BEING FORWARDED TO THE FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL. THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG. BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY SEPARATIONS REQUESTED? OKAY. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH M1 THROUGH M 27? SO MOVE PUMPHREY. THANK YOU. NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE. ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MS. FONG? YES. MS. BOOKER DWYER? YES. MS. HARVEY? YES. MS. CHICA? YES. MS. DOKI. MS. LICHTER? YES. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM [N. REPORT - PROPOSED FY2026 COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET (Dr. Grim) (8:30 - 8:50 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON THE PROPOSED FY 2026 COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR. GRIM. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. BOARD CHAIR, TER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROGERS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, YOU'RE HERE THIS EVENING, PRESENT THE FY 2026 CAPITAL COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST. THIS SLIDE PROVIDES THE SCHEDULE FOR THE FY 2026 COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST. AFTER TONIGHT'S INTRODUCTION, THERE WILL BE A BOARD WORK SESSION ON DECEMBER 17TH, FOLLOWED BY YOUR VOTE ON JANUARY 14TH, 2026. 2025. EXCUSE ME. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE PRIORITY ORDER FOR THE COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN JANUARY 20, 24. I'M SORRY, THAT'S NOT CORRECT. THE NEXT SLIDE SHOWS THE FY 2026 COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST. THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE BUDGET SCHEDULE. THIS SLIDE, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE REQUEST. THIS SLIDE SHOWS, JUST AS A REMINDER, THE FY 2026 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST THAT YOU PREVIOUSLY SAW AND YOU APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER, UH, 10TH, 2024. ANY ANY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS, MS. DOKI? YEAH. UM, IF YOU GO BACK TO, UM, YEAH, I'M LOOKING ANYWAY, THE SLIDE THREE, WHERE IT GOES, IT SAYS, UM, HIGHER STATE, ANYTHING THAT'S LIKE STATE FUNDING APPROPRIATION OR COUNTY FUNDING APPROPRIATION. IT'S YOUR MIC. YOUR MICROPHONE. I THOUGHT I TURNED IT ON. I PROBABLY TURNED IT OFF. SORRY. . UM, SO WHEN YOU GO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT SLIDE THREE, ANYTHING THAT SAYS FUNDING APPROPRIATION, DOES THAT MEAN THE MONEY IS ALREADY IN THAT SCHOOL FOR THAT OR FOR THAT PROJECT? IT, IT'S ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED. AND ON WHICH [00:55:01] FOR THE, THAT'S ALREADY APPROPRIATED? YES. YES. SO ALL OF THE, FOR PRIOR, PRIOR, PRIOR STATE FUNDING APPROPRIATION, PRIOR COUNTY FUNDING APPROPRIATION, THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS ARE INVESTED IN THIS. THEY'VE FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. SO A LOT OF THE, THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY YOU DID EVERY YEAR, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. SO THEY'VE BEEN, I MEAN, THAT'S, WE HAVEN'T SPENT IT YET. UM, BUT THERE IS THAT POT OF MONEY FOR THAT SCHOOL OR THAT PROJECT. CORRECT. AND I'M NOT SURE THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT, BUT THE LAST TIME, THIS LAST TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DELANEY HIGH SCHOOLS BREAKING GROUND, THEY WERE, UM, EXPECTED TO START THAT, UH, SUMMER, THIS COMING SUMMER 2025. DOES THAT STILL LOOK LIKE IN THE WORKS OR IS THERE ANY UPDATE THERE? UH, WE DON'T HAVE AN UPDATE AT THIS TIME. AND THAT'S DEPENDENT ON FUNDING? IT'S DEPENDENT ON FUNDING, YES. HOW MUCH MORE FUNDING? UH, THAT PROJECT HASN'T BEEN FULLY FUNDED YET. SO YOU COULD SEE THE FUNDING AMOUNTS THAT WE'VE PROVIDED ON THE CAPITAL REQUEST. SO IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY FUNDED BEFORE WE CAN BREAK ROUNDS. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO, TYPICALLY SPEAKING, WE FULLY PROJECTS ARE FULLY FUNDED OR, OR WE KNOW THE DEDICATED FUNDS ARE THERE BEFORE WE DO THAT. SO WITH THE REQUESTED AMOUNT, NOT BEING STATE FUNDING REQUESTED. SO, SO IF WE GET APPROVED, SO THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED. CORRECT. SO, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ALLOCATED YET FOR SLIDE FIVE DELANEY HIGH SCHOOL RENT REPLACEMENT, THE FUNDING SHARE 107 MILLION, THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL 98, WE, WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR COUNTY. UM, SINCE THE PROJECT HAS STAYED IN COUNTY FUNDING THAT WE NEED TO DO, THE COUNTY SOMETIMES HAS ENOUGH TO COVER. IF THE STATE'S GIVING US SO MUCH A YEAR FOR A WHILE, THE COUNTY CAN STEP UP AND, AND, YOU KNOW, ALLOW US, GIVE US IN ENOUGH MONEY THAT WE CAN GET OUR, THE PURCHASE ORDERS TO THE CONTRACTORS. UM, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST IS. OKAY. SO WE HAVE TO WAIT TO GET A, THE REQUEST APPROVED BY THE COUNTY AND THE STATE, JUST BECAUSE WE APPROVED IT, WE HAVE TO GET THE YES. THE MONEY FROM. SO IT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON WHAT HAPPENS. BUT THEY, WE, THEY, WE'VE SHARED THIS AND WE'VE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE NUMBERS THAT, THAT NONE OF THIS IS GONNA BE A SHOCK TO THEM. UM, AND THAT THEIR REFERENDUM, UM, WAS PASSED, UM, THIS PAST YEAR. SO, UM, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, WE'RE CONFIDENT, UM, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T SAY YES ON THIS DATE. WE'RE DOING IT, BUT WE'RE CONFIDENT THAT IT'LL BE GOOD. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NO PROBLEM. OTHER QUESTIONS, MS. BO DWYER? YES. UH, SO DR. GRIM, UM, JUST TO CLARIFY, BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SOME QUESTIONS FROM THOSE IN THE OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY, OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE REPLACED, LIKE TORN DOWN AND REPLACED? OR IS IT GOING TO HAVE ADDITIONS ADDED TO IT? SO THE, THE PROPOSAL THAT WE PROVIDED TO THE BOARD AND THAT THE BOARD ACCEPTED WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD BE A REPLACEMENT SCHOOL. UM, AGAIN, ANY PROJECT IS DEPENDENT ON FUNDING AVAILABILITY. UM, THAT, THAT PROJECT IS STILL IN THE VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY EARLY PLANNING STAGES. UM, BUT THE PLAN IS FOR A REPLACEMENT FACILITY AT, AT OVERLY, SO IT WOULD NOT BE, IN ADDITION, IT WOULD BE AN ENTIRELY, ENTIRELY NEW SCHOOL, NEW AND SEPARATE SCHOOL. AND GROUND IS NOT ABOUT TO BE BROKEN ANYTIME SOON. WE'RE STILL VERY EARLY. SEVERAL. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO IF YOU DO BOARD MEMBERS HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE SUBMIT ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON THE PROPOSED FY 2026 COUNTY CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST TO DR. ROGERS BY MONDAY, THIS MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2024, SO THAT THEY CAN PREPARE FOR OUR DISCUSSION AT THE DECEMBER 17TH BOARD WORK SESSION. AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM TO DR. ROGERS BY MONDAY SO STAFF CAN PREPARE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NEXT ITEM [O. REPORT - BUDGET (Dr. Rogers and Mr. Hartlove) (8:50 - 9:10 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON THE FY 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR. ROGERS AND MR. HARTLOVE AND MR. JONES. GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UM, WE ARE HERE TO, UH, PRESENT, UH, FOR OUR BUDGET REPORT, A REPORT ON THE, OR AN UPDATE ON THE FY 23 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT. YOU WILL RECALL THAT THIS WAS, UH, ON THE AGENDA DURING OUR LAST MEETING. [01:00:01] IT WAS ADDED AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS MEETING. IF WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK RECAP FOR, UH, ALL PARTIES, UH, AT THE NOVEMBER 12TH AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING, CLIFTON LARSON ALLEN, THE PARTNER, UH, MS. AMOS VERBALLY PROVIDED THE MANAGEMENT LETTER TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE. UM, ON THIS SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE DIFFERENT TIMES AND IN BOARD DOCS FOR EVERYONE. IT IS AVAILABLE, UM, STARTING AT MINUTE FIVE 30, ENDING AT MINUTE 1530, UH, WHERE THE AUDITORS REVIEW, UH, THEIR FINDINGS FOR THE FY 23, UH, AUDIT. UM, ADDITIONALLY, THE FULL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT IS POSTED IN BOARD DOCS. IT IS ALSO ON THE BCPS WEBSITE, ON OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING PAGE. UM, YOU SEE THERE A CALL OUT FROM THE FINANCIAL REPORTING PAGE AND THE ARROWS POINT TO NOT ONLY THIS YEAR'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, BUT, UM, THE REPORTS FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND SO, UH, WITH THAT, UH, MR. HARTLOVE, UM, OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER IS HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. UH, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OUR NEW CONTROLLER WHO IS HERE. UM, I WANT TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU, UH, FOR COMING IN, IN THE MIDST OF A SWITCH, UM, AND, UH, JUMPING RIGHT ON BOARD, FINDING YOUR WAY THROUGH ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, UH, TO MAKE THIS AUDIT POSSIBLE. UM, WHERE THE AUDITORS IDENTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A, UH, CLEAN AUDIT, UH, THERE WERE SOME, UM, UH, CORRECTIONS THAT WERE MADE, UH, AND, UH, CORRECTIONS, UH, NOT MADE THAT THEY, UH, HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REPORT. AND AGAIN, THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE PUBLIC TO VIEW, UM, ON, UH, BOARD DOCS. THE WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING IS THERE FROM FIVE 30 TO 1530, BUT, UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU IF YOU HAVE, UH, FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT YOU WANT FROM THE TEAM. THANK YOU, DR. ROGERS. ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS, MS. DOKI? YES. UM, SO WHY WOULDN'T WE CORRECT A MISSTATEMENT? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. UM, AND THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED MR. MR. JONES. THAT WAS, WHY DIDN'T WE CORRECT THIS? SO, UH, THERE'S A TIMING ISSUE. WE, SO WE, BASICALLY, WHAT HAPPENED IS, IS WE, ONCE WE COMPLETED OUR, UH, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND WE CLOSED OUR BOOKS, UM, THE AUDITORS, UH, CAME IN. THEY REQUEST, THEY, AS PART OF THEIR AUDIT, THEY LOOK AT, UH, UH, LITIGATION, UH, FOR, FOR, UH, INCLUSION IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS A LIABILITY, IF IT'S, THERE'S LITIGATION, A PENDING LITIGATION. UH, WE, THEY HAD ALREADY DONE THAT, BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK TOWARDS THE END OF THE AUDIT, THEY ASKED FOR A REFRESH FROM OUR LEGAL OFFICE, AND THERE WAS ONE ADDITIONAL LITIGATION THAT WAS ADDED. AT THAT POINT, WE HAD ALREADY CLOSED OUR BOOKS. THE LITIGATION THAT WAS ADDED, UM, WAS NOT, UM, COMPLETED YET. SO IT WAS JUST AN ESTIMATE OF, IT COULD BE AS MUCH AS $542,000, BUT IT ACTUALLY COULD BE LESS, THE LITIGATION COULD END UP COSTING LESS. THAT WAS WHY WE CHOSE NOT TO PUT, UH, UH, NOT TO PUT IT IN OUR, UM, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, NOT TO OPEN THE BOOKS BACK UP AGAIN AND RE REDO EVERYTHING, UH, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BELIEVE WE HAD ENOUGH, UH, INFORMATION, UM, TO POST THAT, THAT TRANSACTION. AND WE HAD ALREADY CLOSED THE BOOKS. UM, AND ALSO, UM, FROM THE AUDITOR'S PERSPECTIVE, IT WASN'T A MATERIAL AMOUNT. E EVEN THOUGH THEY LISTED IT HERE, UH, IT WA THE MET THE AMOUNT THEY DID NOT, UH, DEEM TO BE MATERIAL. SO, UM, WE DID, WE DETERMINED THAT WE WERE JUST GONNA GO FORWARD WITH OUR BOOKS AS AS, AS THEY SET. SO WOULD IT POTENTIALLY BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT AUDIT? UM, YES. IT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR NEXT FINANCIALS, BECAUSE WE WERE, WE ARE GOING, ONCE WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT LITIGATION, WE WILL POST. UM, IF THERE'S A LIABILITY, WE WILL POST THAT AMOUNT. UH, OR ONCE WE HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THAT AMOUNT IS, WE'LL POST IT. OKAY. THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. [P. INFORMATION (9:10 p.m.)] THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS INFORMATION, WHICH ARE THE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 16TH AND OCTOBER 21ST, 2024 SOUTHEAST AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND THE SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL BOUNDARY CHANGE PROCESS. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, OOPS, IS, OOPS, I SKIPPED ONE. I'M [01:05:01] SORRY. THE [Q. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING (9:10 - 9:20 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING. AND I'LL START WITH DR. SAVOY, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR AGENDA ITEMS? NO, NOT AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MCMILLION. UH, NO COMMENTS, BUT I HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM. I'D LIKE TO, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, DISCUSS THE COMMITTEE START DATES. AND I, UH, GAVE A HEADS UP SEVERAL WEEKS AGO THAT I WAS GONNA CHALLENGE THIS OR DISCUSS IT. UH, THE HANDBOOK SAYS JULY 1ST. THE POLICY SAYS ANNUALLY THE NEW CHAIRS TOOK PLACE TODAY. UH, IF WE GO BY THE HANDBOOK, THEN YOU DON'T CHANGE THE COMMITTEES UNTIL JULY 1ST. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ELECTIONS IN 26 AND 28, AND PEOPLE WILL BE ELECTED AND SWORN IN IN EARLY DECEMBER. UH, AND THEY WON'T BE, IF WE GO BY THE HANDBOOK DATE, THEY WON'T BE PLACED ON A COMMITTEE UNTIL JULY 1ST. UH, SO I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THAT AT LENGTH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HARVEY. THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I'M HONORED TO BE ELECTED AS VICE CHAIR OF THIS BODY. UH, I RESPECT EACH AND EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED WORK IN SERVING EACH AND EVERY STUDENT AND FAMILY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I BELIEVE THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR SCHOOLS. I'M, I'M VERY EXCITED ON THE PROGRESS THAT WE'VE MADE THUS FAR. AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN ENSURING THAT EVERY, EVERY, EACH AND EVERY STUDENT HAS THE TOOLS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO, TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG. THANK YOU, MS. DOKI. YES. UM, I'M JUST GONNA FOLLOW UP ON SOMETHING THAT ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WE HAD TONIGHT AND SOME OTHER SPEAKERS WE'VE HEARD IN THE PAST. UM, ARE WE UTILIZING AND REACHING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN A WAY THAT HELPS OUR STUDENTS OR HELPS US HELP OUR STUDENTS, UM, WHETHER IT BE TUTORING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES, SCHOOL SAFETY. ANYWAY, WE HAVE SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT HAVE MONEY THAT THEY WANT TO INVEST. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE OPEN IT UP TO THEM COMING IN HERE AND PRESENTING IT TO US. UM, I'D LIKE TO SEE US REACHING OUT MORE INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, RELYING ON COUNTY GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDING OR GRANTS. UM, WE HAVE SUCH A STRONG COMMUNITY THAT I, I, I REALLY THINK WE COULD BE DOING MORE FOR OUR STUDENTS IN THAT RESPECT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. HEN. THANK YOU. NO COMMENT. MS. FONG? NO COMMENT. MS. EY, NO COMMENTS. THANK YOU, MS. BOOKER DWYER, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT IT WAS AN HONOR SERVING AS BOARD CHAIR, AND I AM SO EXCITED TO SUPPORT OUR NEW BOARD LEADERS, UM, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THIS PROGRESS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HA WE ARE NOW CHANGING THE TRAJECTORY FOR OUR STUDENTS AND REVERSING OVER A DECADE OF POOR STUDENT PERFORMANCE. SO I AM VERY EXCITED WITH THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING IN AS A BOARD. AND, UM, I, I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUED PROGRESS. SO WELCOME BACK. I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ALL IN THOSE SEATS. AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, MISS CHICK KALU. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO TELL US? ? UM, I WOULD JUST SAY, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE IN MY REPORT, TO STAY GROUNDED IN OUR ORIGINAL TENSIONS OF WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHY WE SERVE. BECAUSE OUR DECISIONS AND OUR ACTIONS SHOULD ALWAYS REFLECT THE COMMITMENT THAT WE'VE MADE TO OUR STUDENTS. SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, I JUST IMPLORE US TO ALWAYS MODEL THE VERY BEHAVIOR WE WANT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR SCHOOLS TO DISPLAY, AND TO JUST ENSURE THAT OUR WORK IS NOT JUST ABOUT SETTING EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS, BUT BEING THAT VERY STUDENT AND EMBODYING THOSE VALUES AND TO MY STUDENTS. AGAIN, APPLY FOR THE SMALL POSITION IF YOU WANT IT. THANK YOU, MS. LESKI. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANTED TO JUST, UM, EXTENUATE, UM, MS. CHICA KALUS COMMENT ABOUT NATURE WALKS FOR, UM, STRESS RELIEF FOR STUDENTS WAS JUST A TRULY WONDERFUL IDEA. AND, UM, I HAD ASKED FOR IT BEFORE BECAUSE, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND A PARENT ASKED, UM, AT ONE OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS FOR AN UPDATE ON HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING STUDENTS GETTING, UM, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH BREAKS, PHYSICAL BREAKS DURING THE ACADEMIC DAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM [R. ANNOUNCEMENTS (9:20 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17TH, 2024 AT 6:30 PM [01:10:01] THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING. THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.