[00:00:02]
[A. CLOSED SESSION]
AFTERNOON.THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER.
I CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
THIS EVENING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV V XFINITY, CHANNEL 73 AND VERIZON FIOS, CHANNEL 34.
IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING 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 MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS.
AND CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS THE APPROVAL OF CLOSE.
THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER AND I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, 2025.
[B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)]
RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO BE LED BY MS. CHICA KLU.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 OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
BEFORE WE START, I JUST WOULD LIKE TO, UM, THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR PATIENCE AND AN APOLOGIZE FOR THE DELAY.
WE REALLY TRULY TRY TO START ON TIME, BUT, UM, TONIGHT WE NEEDED A LONGER CLOSED SESSION, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENTS.
TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS, COMCAST XFINITY, CHANNEL 73, AND VERIZON FIOS, CHANNEL 34.
IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.
THE FIRST ITEM, I FOUND THIS ON THE WEB FOR COMCAST XFINITY, CHANNEL 70.
ARE YOU WATCHING AND LISTENING AT THE SAME TIME? THE FIRST
[C. AGENDA (6:35 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FEBRUARY 25TH 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.
I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD AN ITEM TO PROPOSE A RESOLUTION REGARDING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC.
MR. MCMILLION, MAY WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
TO FOR THE ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM.
WHAT SWEETHEART? SO WE CAN PLACE IT BEFORE, UM, INFORMATION BEFORE J AS NEW J
UM, I'M SORRY, WAS THERE ANY, WE DIDN'T DO A DISCUSSION ON THE ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEM.
NOW,
THE REVISED AGENDA IS APPROVED PERIOD.
[00:05:01]
OKAY.[D. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Mr. McCall) (6:45 - 6:50 p.m.)]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS.AND FOR THAT I CALL MR. MCCALL FOUR DOC SUPPORT.
DID I SKIP SOMETHING? GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR, HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS.
WE HAVE RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, AND CERTIFICATED APPOINTMENTS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBITS D ONE THROUGH D THREE? SO MOVED.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
I I GOING BACK ONE AGENDA ITEM FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING CLOSELY.
I SKIPPED, UM, CLOSED SESSION EARLIER THIS EVENING.
THE BOARD MET AND 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 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.
[E. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Rogers) (6:50 - 7:00 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 APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
PRINCIPAL MARS ESTATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND SPECIALIST RESEARCH, DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT E ONE? SO MOVE HUMPHREY.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM PAUL.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
OUR FIRST APPOINTMENT THIS EVENING IS SHELBY BARDO.
SHELBY POLICE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
SHELBY IS ATTENDING WITH HER FATHER SAM AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL, PLEASE.
AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE PRINCIPAL AT MARS STATE'S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH 20, WITH 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SHELBY'S PRIOR EXPERIENCES INCLUDE CLASSROOM TEACHER AT SCOTT'S BRANCH ELEMENTARY, GLEN MA ELEMENTARY AND DUN DUCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY AND SHADY SPRING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
AND SHE'S JOINED BY BOTH PRINCIPALS THIS EVENING.
SO SHELBY, OUR FINAL APPOINTMENT FOR THIS EVENING IS DR. BROCK BROCK COUCH, PLEASE STAND.
BROCK IS ATTENDING WITH HIS SIGNIFICANT OTHER CHRIS SCRIVENER AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE SPECIALIST RESEARCH IN THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT.
BROCK'S EXPERIENCES INCLUDE CENTER OF ACOUSTIC RESEARCH EDUCATION, STEM ASSESSMENT ADVISOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ASSISTANT TEACHING PROFESSOR AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO BCPS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF OUR APPOINTEES.
I DO HAVE A SPECIAL, UM, CONGRATULATIONS FOR SHELBY.
I WAS ABLE TO WATCH HER, UM, JOURNEY AS AN AP AND I'M THRILLED FOR YOU IN YOUR NEW ROLE AS PRINCIPAL OF MORRIS ESTATES.
[F. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:00 - 7:40 p.m.)]
ITEM 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@BOEATBCPS.ORG.
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY UNIT AND OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY
[00:10:01]
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 HAVE THE OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE CLOCK, WHICH WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR TIME IS UP.
THE MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED OFF AT THE END OF YOUR TIME OR PRIOR TO THAT TIME AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD CHAIR.
WE'LL BEGIN WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFILIATED GROUPS AND THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, VICTORIA RAM NAREEN.
UM, AND SHE IS WITH THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, CAN YOU JUST PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME? RAMINE.
MY NAME IS VICTORY AND I'M A CO-CHAIR OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY SPECIAL EDUCATION CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE MOM OF AN AN AUTISTIC 7-YEAR-OLD STUDENT WHO ATTENDS SCHOOL HERE IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
HE RECENTLY LEARNED ABOUT MY SON IN DECEMBER AS I SHARED HIS STORY OF PLAYING IN HIS FIRST PIANO RECITAL AND HOW HE STARTING TO HAVE HIS FIRST MINI CONVERSATIONS WITH ME, AND I SHARED HOW CRUCIAL HIS CURRENT SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM IS TO HIS PROGRESS AS A STUDENT HERE.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF AN UPDATE THIS PAST WEEKEND.
MY 7-YEAR-OLD INSISTED ON GIVING A CONGRATULATORY SPEECH AT MY NIECE'S SWEET 16 AND MY FACE STILL HURTS FROM LIKE SMILING SO HARD ABOUT IT.
MY SON WAS ALSO RECENTLY ACCEPTED FOR TWO PIANO PIECES AT HIS SCHOOL'S TALENT SHOW.
AND WHILE I CREDIT HIS PIANO LESSONS, I CREDIT HIS IEP REQUIRED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES AS WHERE THAT'S WHERE HE WORKS ON HIS FINE MOTOR SKILLS.
HE ALSO CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN HIS CONVERSATION ABILITY.
WHILE I CREDIT OUR WORK AT HOME, I'M QUITE CONFIDENT THAT HIS BCPS TEACHER CREATED WEEKLY LUNCH BUNCH GROUPS, HAVE HELPED HIM TO DEVELOP HIS CONVERSATION SKILLS AS WELL.
TONIGHT, THERE'LL BE A VOTE ON THE BUDGET, SO IT FEELS IMPERATIVE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET PRIORITIZES FUNDING FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHICH INCLUDES CRITICAL RELATED SERVICES SUCH AS SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AS WELL AS SPECIAL EDUCATORS.
BUT THE CONVERSATION DOESN'T END THERE.
WE NEED EXTRA TRAINING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO INTERACT WITH ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE NEED PROGRAMMING, BUT WE ALSO NEED ACCOUNTABILITY AND IEP FACILITATORS WHOSE ONLY JOB IS TO FACILITATE.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE, I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND A MONTHLY CCAC MEETING JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.
MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED AS SEVERELY AUTISTIC.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF HE'D EVER SPEAK.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE'D EVER ATTEND TYPICAL SCHOOL WITH TYPICAL PEERS, BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, HIS TEAM IS WORKING HARD TO INCLU TO ENSURE INCLUSION, CONFIDENCE DEVELOPMENT AND OVERALL SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS TRICKLE OVER AND HAVE AN EFFECT ON HIS DAILY LIFE.
VOTING FOR THE BUDGET ENSURES THAT KIDS LIKE MY SON HAVE A CHANCE TO NOT JUST SURVIVE, BUT ALSO TO THRIVE.
VOTING FOR THE BUDGET ENSURES THAT KIDS LIKE MY SON HAVE ACCESS TO ADULT PROFESSIONALS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, ADULT ASSISTANCE, AND SPECIAL EDUCATORS WHO CAN DRASTICALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
AND I KNOW THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN SPEND FUNDING ON, BUT WE CANNOT ALLOW SPECIAL EDUCATION TO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE.
WHILE I KNOW THAT OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCE IS NOT UNIVERSAL, I ALSO KNOW THAT EVERY STUDENT SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL REGARDLESS OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS OR ABILITIES.
AND THAT STARTS HERE WITH A FULLY FUNDED, FULLY SUPPORTED BCPS SPECIAL EDUCATION TEAM AND SCHOOL.
SO VOTE YES FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
VOTE YES FOR THESE LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES, AND PLEASE VOTE YES FOR MY SON.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS EDWIN PEREZ IN THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL.
GOOD EVENING, DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS EDWIN PEREZ AND I'M THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP, A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE FAMILY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS COMMITTEE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL.
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL HAS BEEN CLOSELY TRACKING RECENT POLICY CHANGES AND POTENTIAL LEGISLATION.
I'M HERE TO SHARE OUR POSITION ON TWO CONCERNS AFFECTING OUR BCPS, CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND STAFF.
FIRST, I'M PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON A NATIONAL PTA POSITION STATEMENT THAT ADDRESSES A CHANGE IN GUIDANCE AFFECTING IMMIGRATION ADVOCACY AND THE PROTECTION OF OUR STUDENTS' RIGHTS.
THE CHANGE IN GUIDANCE SPECIFICALLY
[00:15:01]
ADDRESSES MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.WHAT IS A MIXED STATUS FAMILY? ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER, A MIXED STATUS FAMILIES OF FAMILY WHOSE MEMBERS INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION STATUSES.
ONE EXAMPLE OF A MIXED STATUS FAMILY IS ONE IN WHICH THE PARENTS ARE UNDOCUMENTED AND THE CHILDREN ARE US-BORN CITIZENS.
THE PTA BELIEVES THAT ALL CHILDREN, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, HAS THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN FROM IMMIGRANT AND MIXED STATUS FAMILIES MAY THEMSELVES BE UNDOCUMENTED IN VARIOUS FORMS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS, LEGAL, PERMANENT RESIDENCE, OR US CITIZENS.
THEY MAY LIVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS WHO ARE ALSO VARYING TYPES OF IMMIGRATION STATUS POLICIES THAT CREATE ADDITIONAL BARRIERS TO ACCESSING FREE K THROUGH 12 PUBLIC EDUCATION PREMISE ON IMMIGRATION STATUS HARM.
NOT ONLY UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS, BUT ALSO STUDENTS WITH LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS AND US CITIZEN CHILDREN IN MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.
WE ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO CONTINUE TO WORK ALONGSIDE THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL AND MEMBERS OF THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY EDUCATOR UNIONS LIKE TABCO AND IMMIGRANT ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE CASA, TO SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND IMMIGRANT AND MIXED STATUS FAMILIES.
OUR SECOND CONCERN ADDRESSES OUR POSITION RELATED TO THE HEALTHY HEALTHY SCHOOLS STAR TIMES BILL.
A FEW YEARS AGO, THE PTA COUNCIL VOTING DELEGATES ADOPTED A POSITION ON SUPPORTING LATER SCHOOL START TIMES, BOTH THE FREE STATE PTA AND THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL SUPPORT THE HEALTHY SCHOOL START TIMES BILL, HOUSE BILL 1 0 1 5, WHICH HAD ITS HEARING YESTERDAY, AND SENATE BILL 4 6 8 HAS A HEARING ON MARCH 5TH IF PASSED.
THE COMBINED LEGISLATION REQUIRED THAT BEGINNING IN THE 20 27 20 28 SCHOOL YEAR, EACH PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL AND EACH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL BEGIN INSTRUCTION NOT EARLIER THAN 8:00 AM AND 8:30 AM RESPECTIVELY ACCORDING TO THE 20 22 20 23 MARYLAND YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY.
A MAJOR FACTOR IN CHRONIC CHRONIC SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS THE WELL-DOCUMENTED BIO BIOLOGICAL SHIFT IN ADOLESCENT SLEEP CYCLES RESULTING IN YOUTH FALLING ASLEEP LATER AND WAKING UP LATER THAN ADULTS.
DATA ALSO SHOW THAT TEENAGER SLEEP WAKE SCHEDULE ARE MISALIGNED WITH EARLY SCHOOL BELL TIMES, WHICH CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT STUDENT HEALTH, SAFETY, ATTENDANCE, PERFORMANCE, AND GRADUATION RATES.
IN 2022, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TRANSITION TO NEW SCHOOL START TIMES, INCLUDING LATER START TIMES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS NEW START TIME WERE INTENDED TO IMPROVE STUDENT AND STAFF HEALTH.
WE ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THE HEALTHY SCHOOL START TIME FIELD TO KEEP OUR BCS STUDENTS AND STAFF HEALTHY AND SAFE, AND TO IMPROVE STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND INCREASE STUDENT ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM OUR UNION GROUPS, AND THAT IS CINDY SEXTON FROM TAPCO.
CHAIR LTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CROSSWALK INFORMATION WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY.
AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD, THE TABCO REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY, OUR HIGHEST GOVERNING BODY, HELD AN EMERGENCY MEETING ON FEBRUARY 13TH AND PUT FORWARD THE DIRECTIVE TO ADVOCATE TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY TO ADOPT A SAFE SCHOOL SAFE ZONES RESOLUTION AND THE INCORPORATED POLICY TO PROTECT SCHOOLS AS SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS REGARDLESS OF NATIONAL ORIGIN OR PERCEIVED NATIONAL ORIGIN OF OUR STUDENTS.
THERE ARE TABCO MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF THIS REQUEST AND OF COURSE OF OUR STUDENTS.
WHILE THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CROSSWALK IS INVALUABLE, CODIFYING A POLICY SHOWS THE STRONGEST COMMITMENT BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS AFFIRMED ON THE BCPS WEBSITE.
A POLICY STATE IS A STATEMENT OF THE VISION GOALS AND PRINCIPLES OR POSITION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GUIDE AND DIRECT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE STAFF.
WE ASK YOU TO ADOPT A POLICY AS JUST ONE PART OF SHOWING YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
UH, AND I JUST WANNA BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YES, OUR COMPENSATION PACKAGE IS IMPORTANT.
WE ALL STOOD TOGETHER IN CELEBRATION SCHOOL SYSTEM LEADERSHIP, THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP, AND ALL FIVE UNIONS.
WE DID THE HARD WORK TO GET AN AGREEMENT AND WE WERE ARE RIGHTFULLY PROUD.
TABCO HAS HAD SPEAKERS AT ALL OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES BUDGET TOWN HALLS WITH A POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF ONE DUE TO ILLNESS.
BOARD MEMBERS ARE SHARING DURING THOSE MEETINGS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE COMPENSATION, BUT ALSO THE ONGOING NEED FOR SMALLER CLASS SIZES, MORE SUPPORT FOR OUR NEWEST EDUCATORS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CONDITIONALLY CERTIFIED AND SPECIAL EDUCATORS.
OUR STUDENTS NEED THEIR EDUCATORS.
WE MUST DO ALL WE CAN NOT ONLY TO HONOR THE NEGOTIATE AGREEMENTS, BUT TO BE SURE THE SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS SO THAT THE DATA CONTINUES TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION WE NEEDED TO GO.
TABCO MEMBERS ALSO WENT TO ANNAPOLIS LAST NIGHT, AND WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AROUND FUNDING ON THE STATE LEVEL.
WHILE THERE WERE EDUCATORS FROM ALL THE OTHER COUNTIES, TABCO BY FAR HAD THE MOST PEOPLE THERE, AND THEY SHARED STORIES WITH WHAT WE NEED FROM OUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
[00:20:01]
EDUCATORS, WE ARE IN CHALLENGING TIMES.WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS.
THERE IS A PROVERB THAT SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO GO FAST, GO ALONE.
IF YOU WANT TO GO FAR, GO TOGETHER.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER, GO FAR TOGETHER AND GET THROUGH THESE TIMES FOCUSED ON WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE AS ALWAYS, THEY NEED US AND THEY CAN'T WAIT.
OUR NEXT GROUP IS NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND THE FIRST SPEAKER IS ALI DE LOS SANTOS.
MY NAME IS
I AM HERE TO JOIN TODAY WITH PARENTS, EDUCATORS, OUR MEMBERS OF TAPCO AND MOST IMPORTANT STUDENTS FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY.
UM, JUST TO SAY THAT WE NEED YOU GUYS TO STEP UP, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT STUDENTS.
MOST OF YOU MIGHT ALREADY KNOW ABOUT CASA, BUT IF YOU DON'T, WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UM, NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH DEEP ROOTS HERE IN MARYLAND, SPECIFICALLY IN BALTIMORE CITY, BALTIMORE COUNTY, PG COUNTY, UM, AND OTHER COUNTIES IN THE AREA.
UM, AND WE WORK EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULFILL AND EMPOWER OUR IMMIGRANT AND WORKING CLASS FAMILIES, UM, TO BE THEIR OWN LEADERS OF THEIR LIBERATION.
UM, IMMIGRANT STUDENTS ALREADY FACE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WHEN IT COMES TO LANGUAGE BARRIERS, CULTURAL ADJUSTMENTS, AND NAVIGATING A SYSTEM THAT WAS NOT CREATED, THINKING ABOUT THEIR NEEDS.
UM, ON TOP OF THIS, THEY LIVE IN FEAR, CONSTANT FEAR THAT THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION MIGHT BE SHARED WITH ICE, WHICH COULD ENDANGER THEIR SAFETY AND THEIR FAMILY SAFETY.
THIS IS A BURDEN THAT NO STUDENTS OR FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE TO CARRY.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH A LOT OF EDUCATORS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, UM, AND ADMINISTRATORS, UM, ACROSS SEVERAL SCHOOLS PROVIDING KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, WORKSHOPS, RESOURCES, AND CREATING FAMILY SAFETY PLANS.
WHILE MANY SCHOOL STAFF AND MEMBERS ARE EAGER AND READY TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S A STRICT GUIDE GUIDANCE FOR ALL BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS HOW TO SUPPORT, UM, AND HOW TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE IN SCHOOL.
WE CAN'T BE IN EVERY SCHOOL, SO WE REALLY RELY ON YOUR LEADERSHIP TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
AND IT'S TIME FOR THE BOARD TO BE PROACTIVE AND NOT REACTIVE.
UM, FOR OUR STUDENTS WAITING FOR ANOTHER INCIDENT, IT'S NO LONGER AN OPTION.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE BOTH ACTIONS, ENSURING THAT THERE IS A RESOLUTION, BUT ALSO THINKING ABOUT A POLICY THAT REALLY IT'S BUILT UP INTO HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS.
HOW EVERY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM KNOWS HOW TO SUPPORT, HOW TO SHARE RESOURCES IF WITH FAMILY AND WHAT TO DO IN CASE ICE DOES SHOW UP IN A SCHOOL.
THIS IS NOT, UH, JUST ABOUT MAKING A CHOICE TONIGHT.
THIS IS ABOUT FULFILLING YOUR LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY AND PROTECTED OUR MOST VALUABLE, UM, UH, MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY, WHICH ARE OUR STUDENTS, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS AND FAMILY KNOW THAT THEY'RE SAFE, KNOWING WHAT ARE THE, UH, PROTECTIONS IN PLACE TO SUPPORT, UH, TO KEEP EYES OUT OF SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TODAY, AGAIN WITH MANY STUDENTS FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY AND I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS GET TO LISTEN DIRECTLY FOR THEM.
FOR ME, IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS ARE ALSO A VOICE IN THE TABLE.
UM, I'VE ASKED I IF THEY HAVE SCHOOL.
OUR NEXT CATEGORY, I MEAN, WE HAVE ONE, UM, PERSON THAT HAS SIGNED UP FOR NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUP ON THE WAIT LIST AND WE HAVE A SPACE.
SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS AHA DAHAN, PEACE OF
YES, MR. DON, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE BOTCHED UP NAME NECESSARY.
AND MADAM CHAIR, THANK YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES FOR THIS MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT OUR PART.
OUR PROGRAM, CITY RANCH IS A NONPROFIT PROGRAM
[00:25:01]
DIVIDING, USING THE EQUINE INDUSTRY TO BRING PROGRAMS OF STEM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE EXIST IN THE EQUINE WORLD.THE TRAUMATIC TR UH, ABILITY OF THE HORSES TO BRING ABOUT, HELP, BRING ABOUT CHANGES IN THE YOUTH AND ADULTS TOO, FOR THAT MATTER.
UM, AND WE FOUND OUT THAT LIVESTOCK ON THE CAMPUS CAMPUSES OF BALTIMORE COUNTY IS NOT PERMITTED.
AND WE WANT TO TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS KIND OF, UH, ACTIVITY IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY IN THE, SO WHERE WE HAVE THE TRAUMATIC SERVICES THROUGH THE HORSES.
THE STEM PROGRAM IS IN A FUNCTION OF, UH, HORSES.
THE THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPING THE EQUIPMENT, THE RESEARCH THAT IS DONE TO, FOR THE MEDICINE THAT THE HORSES HAVE TO TAKE FOR VARIOUS CONDITIONS.
MARYLAND IS THE SECOND OR THIRD LARGEST EQUINE PROGRAM HORSES IN THE COUNTRY, AND THE CHILDREN ARE NOT GETTING EXPOSED TO IT.
THIS IS A WAY TO GET 'EM EXPOSED.
WE BRING PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE LICENSE, WE HAVE INSURANCE, ALL OF THE NECESSARY PARAMETERS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE DOCTORS, HORSES ARE VETTED BY THE VET VETERINARIAN SO THAT THEY'RE SOUND AND SAFE.
THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN, UH, EVALUATED FOR THEIR SKILLSET AS WELL AS THE BEING, MEETING ALL OF THE NECESSARY, UH, POSITIONS THAT THEY, UH, HEALTH, THEY KNOW WHAT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, ET CETERA.
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE CHECKED OUT BEFORE THE PERSON CAN COME AND WORK ON THE B ON BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOL TO WORK WITH THE CHILDREN.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE IN, IN PROCESS.
THE, AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS START THE CONVERSATION OF HOW DO WE GET THE DOOR OPEN SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS SIGN OF SERVICE AVAILABLE FOR THE CHILDREN IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
NEXT ARE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND STUDENT GROUPS, AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MR. HOPEWELL, WHO IS ONLINE VIRTUALLY.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY AND BOARD OF MEMBERS.
I'M A FORMER TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
I'M HERE TODAY IN FULL SUPPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS FISCAL YEAR 26 OPERATING BUDGET.
THIS BUDGET SUPPORTS CRITICAL AREAS OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR, SUPPORTING, HIRING AND RETAINING OUR TEACHERS.
THIS BUDGET ALSO SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE A HUGE SUCCESS, INVEST IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, SPECIAL EDUCATION, AND ARE GROWING ESOL STUDENTS.
THIS BUDGET INVESTS IN OUR STUDENTS' FUTURE BY PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES NEEDING TO SUSTAIN RECENT ACADEMIC GAINS, AND WE'LL ENSURE THAT WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD, NOT BACKWARDS.
THE RECENT STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT CARD ON LOCAL SCHOOLS SAW BCPS MAKE CRITICAL GAINS IN OUR ACADEMICS BY CLOSING THE ACHIEVEMENT GAP, INCREASING OUR GRADUATION RATES, AND ALSO INCREASING OUR STAR RATING ACROSS THE BOARD AND LOWERING CHRONIC A A TISM IN BALDWIN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 66 BCPS SCHOOLS EARNED A FOUR OR FIVE STAR RATING.
A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS IS IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE FUND THIS FISCAL YEAR 26 OPERATING BUDGET, ESPECIALLY AFTER RECEIVING THOSE NOTEWORTHY MARYLAND STATE TEST RESULTS.
BCPS IS AT A CRITICAL POINT IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM HISTORY.
THE STATE HAS A $3 BILLION STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THAT MAKES IT EVEN MORE URGENT FOR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM TO BE FULLY FUNDED.
OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DO TODAY.
IN CLOSING, THANK YOU SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS.
THANK YOU SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF PCPS BY INVESTING IN OUR OWN PRECIOUS ASSETS, OUR CHILDREN HAVE A GOOD, HAVE A GOOD EVENING, DO THE RIGHT THING AND FULLY FUND THIS BUDGET.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MS. SHARON SOFF.
[00:30:02]
OKAY, GOOD EVENING.THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK TONIGHT.
I WANT TO GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF WHAT DEI IS IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE KIND OF INFORM YOU AND GIVE YOU FOOD.
YOUR THOUGHT I OFTEN HEAR IN MY PROFESSION FOLLOWING A 5 0 4 OR AN IEP IS UNFAIR TO THE REST OF THE CLASS.
WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT MINDSET.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT DEI IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE CLOSED CAPTIONS, FLEXIBLE CLASS SCHEDULE.
I NEED TO BE IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE HALF DAY OR PART IN THE MORNING AND PART IN THE AFTERNOON.
EXTENDED TIME USE OF DEVICES AND THAT INCLUDES CELL PHONES FOR THINGS LIKE TAKING PICTURES OF NOTES, TYPING INFORMATION, AUDIO BOOKS, MAGNIFYING PRINT, ORGANIZATION OF ASSIGNMENTS, COMMUNICATION.
WHEN I'M NOT VERBAL ACCESSIBLE BUILDINGS AND ENTRANCES, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'M LATE FOR AN IEP MEETING BECAUSE I HAVE TO CLIMB STAIRS FROM A HANDICAPPED PARKING SPACE, WHICH BY THE WAY IS ALSO DEI.
STAIR LIFTS SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION, DIVERSE INSTRUCTION AND PLACEMENT, ADDITIONAL ADULT SUPPORT.
MY FAVORITE, REALIZING THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE INDIVIDUALS FIRST AND NOT ON A DISABILITIES LIST.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I OFTEN HEAR.
THEY'RE NOT ON THE LIST, THEREFORE THEY CAN'T HAVE AN IEP.
DID YOU KNOW THAT GIFTED STUDENTS CAN ALSO HAVE DISABILITIES AND NEED AN IEP THAT'S DEI, LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SAY THAT 40 YEARS AFTER OR FIF ALMOST 50 NOW AFTER IDEA FIRST CAME INTO EFFECT, DEI IS SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE NEED TO BE WILLING TO COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS HOW TO FIND THAT EDUCATION FOR THEIR STUDENTS AND BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
SOMETHING THAT I WAS GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT WHEN I WASN'T ABLE TO GET ON PUBLIC COMMENT AND HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT IT NEXT MONTH WHEN I HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. RALPH JAFFE.
WHEN, LET ME KNOW WHEN TO START.
FIRST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I MENTION THE FILING.
THAT'S TRACY GOVER AND THAT'S ALSO BRENDA STIFFLER HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.
HOWEVER, FACT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PLEASE BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE MAKE NOTATION TO THIS.
[00:35:02]
DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WHO MADE A PHONE CALL TO EITHER, UH, THE BOARD OR TO DR. ROGERS SAYING ONE OF TWO THINGS.THEY WANT THIS PROGRAM ADOPTED OR THEY'RE SAYING THEY WANT DR. ROGERS TO MEET WITH ME.
THE LAST PERSON THAT CALLED I WAS THERE, A NEUROLOGIST CALLED UP ON SUNDAY NIGHT.
I WAS THERE WHEN HE MADE THE PHONE CALL.
SO YESTERDAY I GOT A CALL AT FOUR 30 FROM BRENDA, UH, STIFFLER SAYING, MR. JAFFE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET, UH, THE SUPERINTENDENT'S APPROVAL.
THERE'S A PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
I SAID, WHAT'S THE PROCESS? HE SAID, WELL, I, YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK, UH, THE PERSON THAT'S GOING TO CALL YOU TO TODAY.
AND I SPOKE TO SUSAN HIN FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF.
I SPENT TALKING TO HER AND SHE SAID TO ME, SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO GET MORE INFORMATION.
'CAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROCESS IS.
UH, WHAT I THINK IS, IT'S A FLAWED PROCESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
THIS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TAKE KIDS WHO NEED HELP AND MAKE THEM PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
SO THEY DON'T LIKE WIND UP BEING LIKE A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN MADISON, WISCONSIN THAT SHOT TWO STUDENTS AND TWO AND TWO, UH, THREE STUDENTS AND, AND, AND WOUNDED OTHERS.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THIS, YOU'VE GOTTA UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROGRAM IS.
IT'S DESIGNED TO TAKE THESE KIDS AND GIVE THEM SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE CURRICULUM, WE'RE CHANGE THEIR MINDSET, THEIR ATTITUDES.
SO THEY FEEL THAT I CAN BECOME A PRODUCTIVE PERSON AND THIS PROGRAM ISN'T GONNA CAUSE THE TAXPAYERS ONE PENNY.
AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR NOW MORE THAN OVER A YEAR NOW.
AND WE STILL, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
I, I'M GOING TO SAY THIS FOR THE LAST, PERHAPS THE LAST TIME TONIGHT, HEAVEN FORBID IF THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY, THERE'S A HORRIBLE SHOOTING IN ONE OF THE SCHOOLS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THIS, AND, AND, AND THIS BOARD HAS NOT DONE WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET THIS PROGRAM MOVING BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, ISN'T GONNA COST YOU ANY MONEY.
WHILE WE CAN'T GET THIS DONE, SO I'M ASKING YOU AGAIN, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I I WANNA COMMEND, UH, MS. HARVEY, SHE ASKED ME A QUESTION, THE LAST LAST THING I ATTENDED.
SO WHAT ARE THE ROADBLOCKS? THANK YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS HEIDI OWENS.
I'M VIRTUAL BECAUSE I'M AT HOME WITH MY PRE-K KINDERGARTNER.
I'M A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE IT KNOWN THAT THIS IS HEIDI OWEN SPEAKING.
I'M NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY EMPLOYER.
LIKE THIS IS JUST ME SPEAKING.
SO I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO BASICALLY ALMOST EVERY SCHOOL IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, ALL THE DIFFERENT ZONES.
AND I'M AN, I'M AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN.
AND WHAT I SEE WITH THESE CLASSROOMS, IF YOU WANNA GET DOWN TO THE BASICS, THE CLASSROOMS NEED LED LIGHTS.
I AM ABSOLUTELY MORTIFIED AT THE FACT THAT SO MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE THE OUTDATED FLUORESCENT LIGHTS THAT HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS OFFICES DON'T EVEN PUT UP ANYMORE.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S LED LIGHT BULBS.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, A LOT OF THESE SCHOOLS, THEY, IT'S, I MEAN THIS AN ENDEARING WAY, BUT THEY'RE LIKE A LITTLE GINGERBREAD HOUSE.
THE WINDOWS ARE NOT VERY BIG AND A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS NATURAL LIGHT IS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST FOR THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
OKAY? AND THE TEACHERS ALSO NEED TO ADOPT OPENING THEIR BLINDS.
I'VE HAD TEACHERS KEEP THEIR BLINDS CLOSED 'CAUSE THEY DON'T WANT THE STUDENTS TO BE DISTRACTED, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE, UM, SENSE TO ME BECAUSE NATURAL LIGHT IS VERY HEALTHY.
OKAY? SO INFRASTRUCTURE, DEFINITELY LIGHTS.
AND I KNOW THAT BALTIMORE DOES ITS BEST TO GIVE SNACKS, BUT NOT ALL GRADES ARE GETTING THESE SNACKS, LIKE THE PRE-K AND THE KINDERGARTEN, GET THE SNACKS.
UHUH, HIGH SCHOOLERS, EVERY SINGLE KID NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A SNACK TIME, NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE LITTLE.
UM, AND I KNOW BECAUSE I SEE THESE KIDS, THEY START
[00:40:01]
GETTING IRRITATED BY LIKE, LIKE TWO HOURS BEFORE THIS DISMISSAL IS, I LIKE TO CALL THE CHAOS HOUR.AND I'M TELLING YOU, THE KIDS ARE HUNGRY.
AND THEN THE LAST THING I REALLY WANNA GET ON, ON BOARD WITH EVERYBODY CHANGING THE MINDSET.
SO I AM BECOMING A GRADUATED SILVA METHOD MEDITATION, UM, INSTRUCTOR.
OKAY? SO BASICALLY THE SILVA METHOD IS A VERY SIMPLE TECHNIQUE THAT TEACHES KIDS AS EARLY AS PRESCHOOL, HOW TO CLOSE THEIR EYES, COUNT BACKWARDS, AND ASSOCIATE SOMETHING IN THEIR BRAIN THAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.
ACTUALLY, THE EAGLES WHO WON THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR, THEY, THEY ACTUALLY THANK YOU.
AND I KNOW YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT A LOT OF OUR AUDIENCE CLOSE THEIR EYES WHEN YOU SAID, CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT BACKWARDS.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, THAT HINT.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. LLOYD ALLEN
CHAIR TER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M LLOYD ALLEN, HE, HIM SPECIAL EDUCATOR IN MATHEMATICS.
SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL, I BEGAN MY CAREER AT A COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL THAT HAD PROGRAMS TO SERVE SEVERAL DISTINCT POPULATIONS.
ONE OF THOSE POPULATIONS WAS STUDENTS WHO ARE NOW REFERRED TO AS MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.
AS AN ALGEBRA TEACHER, I WAS OFTEN A STUDENT'S FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE MATH TEACHER.
SOME STUDENTS ALREADY KNEW THE MATH, BUT LEARNED CLASSROOM ENGLISH AND BCPS ROUTINES THROUGH MY ALGEBRA AS THE SYMBOLS AND CONTENT WERE ALREADY FAMILIAR TO THEM.
THE ESOL CHAIR HELPED ME TO LEARN TO SLOW DOWN MY SENTENCES, TO SEPARATE MY WORDS.
THIS ALSO HELPED STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT IDENTIFIED AS MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, BUT WHO FOUND MY LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS TO BE NOVEL AND DIFFICULT.
OUR STUDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY ARE THE FUTURE STRENGTH OF BALTIMORE COUNTY.
ALL OF THEM, MY STUDENTS NOW ARE COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS OFFICERS, MATH TEACHERS, MILITARY, POLICE, PRE-K TEACHERS, BANKERS, LAWYERS, THE PERSONS WHO HAD BEEN MY STUDENTS SLICE MEAT AT THE DELI COUNTER HELP CUSTOMERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS AT THE DRUGSTORE, COUNTER CREATE AND CRACK CODES TO KEEP OUR COUNTRY SAFE AND OWN BUSINESSES THAT KEEP THE ECONOMY MOVING.
IN ORDER FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS TO BECOME TOMORROW'S SOCIETY, THEY NEED TO FEEL SAFE WHILE THEY LEARN.
THIS APPLIES TO EACH STUDENT WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOORS OF EACH AND EVERY CLASSROOM.
THANK YOU DR. ROGERS IN ADMINISTRATION FOR PROVIDING GUIDANCE OVER THE COURSE OVER THE LAST MONTH, AFFIRMING THAT PLYLER VIDO APPLIES AND THAT STUDENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEARN.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING AND UPDATING GUIDANCE ABOUT WHAT ACTION STAFF MEMBERS SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT TAKE.
THESE EMAILS AND PROCEDURES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT EMAILS SENT NOW WILL NOT HELP STAFF HIRED IN AUGUST.
OUR STUDENTS NEED A RESOLUTION THAT THEY'RE VALUED AND OUR FUTURE STAFF NEED POLICIES AND RULES SO THAT WE KNOW THE ACTIONS THAT WE TAKE ARE BACKED BY YOU, OUR EMPLOYER, OUR BOARD, THANK YOU FOR POSTING ELECTRONIC RESOURCES SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A PLACE TO POINT STUDENTS WITH QUESTIONS.
PLEASE REQUIRE THESE RESOURCES IN THE POLICY.
THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF THE PROCEDURES FOR PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH SAFE HANDLING OF APPROPRIATE INFORMATION.
THANK YOU FOR DIRECTING THE LEADERS AT OUR WORK SITES TO GIVE US THE PROCEDURES THAT WE NEED TO FOLLOW.
IF THERE IS AN INCIDENT AND IN PARTICULAR, WHICH PERSONNEL ARE AND ARE NOT INVOLVED IN SUCH INCIDENTS, I HOPE THAT WE NEVER NEED TO IMPLEMENT THESE PROCEDURES.
BUT I WOULD NOTE THAT MODEL POLICIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AROUND THE NATION SINCE AT LEAST 2017.
THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE, IT'S JUST SOMETHING FOR WHICH WE'RE NOW FEELING THE URGENCY BOARD.
I, AGAIN, AS AN INDIVIDUAL, LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CODIFIED GUIDANCE AND WE'LL APPRECIATE YOUR LEGACY ON SETTING AN APPROPRIATE RESOLUTION, WHICH IS BELIEF AND POLICY.
NEXT ARE OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON BOARD POLICY 31 60 REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES.
AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS MS. HEIDI OWENS.
I THINK SHE MAY HAVE SIGNED UP OUR NEXT SPEAKER FOR POLICY 31 60 IS, UM,
[00:45:01]
BS FARONE.I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME.
UM, POLICY 31 60 SPEAKS ABOUT, UM, THE BOARD PROHIBITS ACTIVITIES IDENTIFIED AS HIGH RISK.
SO MADAME CHAIR, PRC, I'M JUST REALLY ASKING MY THOUGHT IS THE POLICY BASICALLY SPECIFICALLY SAYS ABOUT HIGH RISK.
HOW ABOUT MEDIUM RISK? RIGHT? UM, DOES THAT MEAN MEDIUM RISK DOESN'T REALLY COUNT.
SO FOR ME AS A PHYSICIAN, OBVIOUSLY THE HIGHEST RISK ACTIVITIES OR THE ACTIVITIES THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE, THAT'S REALLY HIGH.
ALRIGHT? UM, MEDIUM ACTIVITY MAY BE INJURY FOR A HAND OR LOSS OF A FINGER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THE POLICY DOES NOT REALLY SPECIFY ANYTHING IN RELATION TO THAT.
AND IT DOES EXCLUDE MEDIUM RISK AND LOWER RISK.
UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS COVERED FOR, UH, THE AMOUNT OF RISK BEING HIGH OR MEDIUM OR LOW.
I WOULD ASSUME SO, BUT I REALLY HOPE SOMEBODY CAN, UH, SHED THEIR LIGHT ON THAT.
AND IF YOU, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAVE AN ACTIVITY THAT OBVIOUSLY COULD INVOLVE PARENTS AND OUTSIDE, UH, PERSONS.
MY QUESTION TO YOU, DO YOU THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, FOOT THE WHOLE BILL, OR IS IT THE PEOPLE OR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HOLDS THE ACTIVITY, UH, WOULD PAY SOME OF THE COST IN RELATION TO THE RISKS? SO, UM, I WONDER IF YOU CAN REALLY OPINE ON ON THAT.
UH, AGAIN, MADAME CHAIR, I HONESTLY DON'T MEAN TO CRITICIZE ANYTHING.
I AM, UM, JUST READING IT AS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT BASICALLY THINKS OUTSIDE THE BOX THAT IS VERY SHORT.
AND, UM, I HOPE YOU WOULD ANSWER ME.
GUESS WHAT? YOU GET TO STAY RIGHT THERE AND COMMENT ON OUR NEXT POLICY.
72 40 SCHOOL SITE SELECTION AND ACQUISITION.
SO NEXT, POLICY 72 40 TALKS ABOUT ESTABLISHED PROCEDURES AND THE PROCEDURES MUST COMPLY WITH THE STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
SO MADAME CHAIR, I ASK YOU THIS MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE, AND I'VE NEVER REALLY RECEIVED ANY ANSWER.
ACTUALLY, I DON'T REALLY RECEIVE ANY ANSWER TO ANY OF MY EMAILS AND I DON'T KNOW TRULY WHY.
UM, SO THE QUESTION IS, THERE IS NO FEDERAL WRITTEN HERE, SO I'M ASKING YOU AS A
I'M NOT REALLY A LAWYER, BUT I AM PLAYING THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE.
UH, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT OR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ALLOWED TO VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY MENTIONED THERE.
IT'S MENTIONED LOCAL, WHICH IS THE COUNTY AND STATE, WHICH IS THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
AND OF COURSE, MY PREVIOUS QUESTION IS ABOUT WHY THE STATE, THE OBVIOUS, UM, THEN YOU SAY IN LINE 24 SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOMMENDING THE SITE OF ACQUISITION.
UM, I I HONESTLY DON'T LIKE THIS LANGUAGE AND I'M, I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
UM, YOU HAVE TWO RESPONSIBILITIES THAT MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS CHOOSING THE SUPERINTENDENT AND ONE IS THE BUDGET, THE REST IS KIND OF HERE AND THERE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY SAY THAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT IN A POLICY THAT IS COMMON SENSE? YOU KNOW, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SAY THE OBVIOUS? UM,
[00:50:01]
IT'S ALMOST LIKE, UM, IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING ON 6 95 AND IT SAYS, PUT YOUR WIPERS ON WHEN IT IS RAINING.ALRIGHT? DOES THAT REALLY MAKE SENSE? IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT IS FOOLISH ENOUGH THAT IT'S RAINING AND THEY DON'T PUT THE WIPERS ON? I GUESS MAYBE THERE IS, BUT WE HAVE A VERY GOOD AND EDUCATED AND CAPABLE SUPERINTENDENT.
AND THE POLICY, I THINK STATING SOMETHING THAT IS TRIVIAL IN MY OPINION, AS A CITIZEN LOOKING FROM THIS SIDE TOWARDS YOU.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU DO THAT.
AND I'M WORRIED THAT THERE IS NO WORD FEDERAL THERE.
I THINK, UH, YOU SHOULD HAVE FEDERAL, IF YOU HAVE STATES AND YOU HAVE LOCAL, YOU SHOULD HAVE FEDERAL.
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW.
AND THE THIRD POLICY FOR COMMON IS 73 10 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS POLICY 73 10 SAYS LINE 15 SHALL ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING THE COST OF INDIVIDUAL CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND AGAIN, IT'S SIMILAR TO MY CRITIQUE BEFORE, I MEAN, DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO SPECIFY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT HE OR SHE HAVE TO ESTABLISH THE GUIDELINES, YOU KNOW, FOR ESTIMATING THE COST? AND IT RAISES ANOTHER QUESTION IS IF YOU SPECIFY SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT IS SO COMMON SENSE, THEN WHY DON'T YOU SPECIFY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COMMON SENSE? ALRIGHT, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE JOB OF SUPERINTENDENT IN RELATION TO FINANCING, ACQUISITION, ET CETERA, IS NOT REALLY JUST MAKING GUIDELINES.
IT'S, IT'S MUCH MORE, UH, TOO, ESPECIALLY WE ARE A BIG SYSTEM.
WE ARE THE 25TH OR 26TH LARGEST SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES, UH, THE SECOND OR MAYBE THE THIRD IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
SO, UM, IN MY LESS THAN A MINUTE LEFT, UH, MADAME CHAIR, IF YOU ACCEPT MY CRITICISM, I ASK LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND I REALLY DON'T GET ANY ANSWERS.
AND OF COURSE, I COME HERE AND I TAKE THREE MINUTES TIME, THREE, THAT'S NINE MINUTES.
IF YOU ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, WHETHER BY PHONE OR TEXT OR EMAIL OR IN PERSON, HOPEFULLY WITH A HANDSHAKE, NOT WITH A SECURITY GETTING ME OUT LIKE LAST YEAR, UM, THEN IT'S SOLVED.
YOU KNOW, THERE IS NO NEED TO KEEP PRAISING THE SAME ISSUE.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO AND, AND HAVE A HAIRCUT, I GIVE $5 A TIP AND THE PERSON WHO DID MY HAIRCUT IS REALLY SO HAPPY WITH THE $5 I'M GIVING YOU $16,000 OF COUNTY TAXES, UM, THREE THOUSANDS OF STATE.
AND OF COURSE YOU DON'T GET MUCH OF FEDERAL, BUT I PAY SO MUCH FEDERAL TAXES.
AND I REALLY DON'T GET ANY ANSWER TO ANY OF THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
I THINK IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.
UM, COUNCILMEN THE ANSWER, UH, UM, DELEGATES THE ANSWER, THE PRESIDENT ANSWER.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY ANSWER SCHOOL BOARD DON'T.
[G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY2026 OPERATING BUDGET (Dr. Rogers) (7:40 - 8:10 p.m.)]
NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS.THE SUPERINTENDENTS PROPOSED FY 2026 OPERATING BUDGET.
AND FOR THAT I CALL ON DR. ROGERS.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
WE CAN MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
ALRIGHT, IT'S WORKING THIS EVENING.
WANT TO REVIEW SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 OPERATING BUDGET WITH, UM, EVERYONE WHO IS HERE AND WATCHING FROM HOME.
THIS SLIDE AGAIN, DETAILS THE REQUEST TO THE BUDGET, THE GENERAL FUND, AS WELL AS THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, UM, ACCOUNT FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET
[00:55:01]
SUBTOTAL.YOU ALSO SEE OTHER REPORTING CATEGORIES, INCLUDING THE INTERNAL SER SERVICE FUND, CAPITAL PROJECTS, DEBT SERVICE, AND ENTERPRISE FUND.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND, AS WE'VE MENTIONED, UH, BEFORE, IS, UH, LARGE DUE TO SEVERAL UPCOMING MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UH, SEVERAL OF THOSE PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS ARE DEPICTED ON THIS SLIDE, INCLUDING THREE HIGH SCHOOLS, WHICH THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN BCPS HISTORY THAT WE HAVE BUILT THREE HIGH SCHOOLS AT ONE TIME, LANSDOWN HIGH SCHOOL, TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND DELANEY HIGH SCHOOL, TOWSON HIGH SCHOOL, AND DELANEY HIGH SCHOOL, UM, HAVE A PRICE TAG OF MORE THAN $250 MILLION, FOLLOWED BY LANSDOWN HIGH SCHOOL FOR $204.7 MILLION AND TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, SCOTTS BRANCH AND DEER PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND NEXT STEPS, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO GROUND OURSELVES IN WHY WE ARE MAKING THIS REQUEST ON BEHALF OF THE 111,000 STUDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
UM, THIS SLIDE DEPICTS DIFFERENT EXTERNAL MARKERS THAT ACCOUNT FOR OUR PROGRESS AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM.
YOU HAVE SEEN THESE MEASURES BEFORE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GRADUATION RATE THAT WAS RELEASED TODAY BY THE MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR STUDENTS AS WELL AS ALL OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD TO ENSURE THAT FOR A SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS MADE PROGRESS IN GRADUATION RATE.
BUT THIS YEAR OUR PROGRESS ALMOST DOUBLED THE RATE OF LAST YEAR WITH SPECIFIC INFORMATION THAT WE SHARED WITH OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND THE SCHOOLS.
AND THEIR, UM, PROGRESS IN GRADUATION RATE WOULD WANT TO CALL TO EVERYONE'S ATTENTION.
SOME SPECIFIC SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS.
OUR TOP, UM, HIGH GRADUATION RATES FOR THE CLASS OF 2024 WERE WESTERN SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY, FOLLOWED BY EASTERN TECH AND GEORGE GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER.
UH, 12 HIGH SCHOOLS SAW AN INCREASE IN THEIR GRADUATION RATE.
FIVE HIGH SCHOOLS SAW AN INCREASE IN THEIR GRADUATION RATE FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW, INCLUDING OWINGS MILLS HIGH SCHOOL, PATAPSCO HIGH SCHOOL, SPARROWS POINTS HIGH SCHOOL, WESTERN TECH, AND WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL, PARKVILLE, OWINGS MILL, AND WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL.
THE THREE OF THEM REPRESENTED THE GREATEST ONE YEAR DECREASES IN FOUR YEAR DROPOUT RATES.
AND FOR STUDENT GROUPS RECEIVING SPECIAL SERVICES, OUR FOUR YEAR GRADUATION RATE IMPROVED FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS.
UM, OUR HISPANIC STUDENTS, UH, HISPANIC LATINO STUDENTS REPORTED THE LARGEST INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATE, UM, WITH OUR MULTILINGUAL AT 6.69 PERCENTAGE POINT AND 8.31, UM, RESPECTIVELY.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE TOP THREE INCREASES WERE AT PARKSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL WERE NUMBER ONE MORE THAN 9%, FOLLOWED BY OWENS MILLS.
FIVE, UH, 0.13%, FOLLOWED BY WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL, WHO MADE SIGNIFICANT GAINS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
THEIR GRADUATION RATE INCREASED BY MORE THAN FIVE PERCENTAGE POINTS AS WELL.
AND SO WE ABSOLUTELY CONGRATULATE, UM, OUR HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE SCHOOLS THAT WE MENTIONED FOR THIS, UH, INCREASE, UH, ACROSS TEAM BCPS.
BUT I THINK SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO THE BUDGET, UM, THIS IS WHY WE ARE MAKING THE REQUEST ON BEHALF OF OUR 111,000 STUDENTS.
WE ARE SEEING MOMENTUM, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT, UH, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, MAKING SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE COMING TO SCHOOL ALL THE WAY TO WHEN STUDENTS LEAVE US TO, UM, PURSUE THEIR, UH, POST-SECONDARY CAREERS.
UM, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IN BETWEEN.
WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON BEHALF OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE COUNTING ON US.
THIS PROPOSED BUDGET PRIORITIZES TWO MAIN THINGS.
IT PRIORITIZES RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION BY HONORING YEAR TWO OF A THREE YEAR COMPENSATION PACKAGE FOR EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF TEAM BCPS.
THAT'S ALL 20,000 EMPLOYEES HERE.
UM, WE SHARED THE SURVEY RESULTS THAT, UH, MORE THAN, UH, APPROXIMATELY 3000 STAKEHOLDERS RESPONDED TO AROUND THE BUDGET.
AND WHETHER YOU WERE A STAFF MEMBER, WHETHER YOU WERE A PARENT, YOU WERE A STUDENT, UM, EVERYONE SAID RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND PART OF THAT IS, UH, COMPENSATION
[01:00:01]
FOR STAFF MEMBERS THAT WE WANNA BRING ON BOARD AS WELL AS STAFF MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE MAKING SURE THAT THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO OUR STUDENTS.AND OUR INVESTMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING ACROSS THE SYSTEM ARE PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
UH, WE HAVE HEARD, UM, ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND THAT CLASS SIZES HAVE INCREASED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
IN OUR PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET, WE PRESERVE AND PROTECT OUR CURRENT STAFFING ALLOCATION FORMULAS FOR ALL STUDENTS FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I STARTED SHARING WITH MEMBERS OF TEAM BCPS IN, UM, OCTOBER WAS AROUND THE CHALLENGING FISCAL LANDSCAPE.
WHEN WE STARTED TO HEAR INFORMATION REGARDING, UH, THE GOVERNOR AND COMMENTS AROUND BLUEPRINT, I'VE PROVIDED UPDATES TO BOARD OF EDUCATION, PROVIDED UPDATES AT OUR PRESS CONFERENCES, AND MEM UH, MESSAGES DIRECTLY TO MEMBERS OF TEAM BCPS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT TO SAY THAT THERE IS UNCERTAINTY IN TERMS OF THE FISCAL LANDSCAPE.
UH, EVERYONE HERE KNOWS THAT I HAVE SPENT THE GREATER PART OF THE LAST FOUR WEEKS, UM, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF TEAM BCPS LOCALLY AS WELL AS AT THE STATE LEVEL, INCLUDING TESTIFYING TWICE TO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES ON BILLS THAT WOULD IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE FROM THE STATE.
UM, THAT WORK CONTINUES, UH, THAT ADV ADVOCACY CONTINUES.
UH, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE, UM, LIKELY CHANGES FROM OUR, UH, COUNTY IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY CAN AFFORD, AS WELL AS, UH, PERHAPS THE STATE AND THERE IS UNCERTAINTY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UM, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A PROCESS.
THIS IS STEP ONE OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, AS, UH, LAST WEEK I MET WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
UM, AND THIS WEEK ON THURSDAY WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, UM, SCHEDULED WITH OUR BUDGET TEAMS. WE HAVE MET, UH, JUST ABOUT WEEKLY, UM, SINCE THE PROPOSAL OF THE BUDGET, UH, JANUARY 14TH.
AND IT IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS WHERE WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET AND, UH, GO BACK AND FORTH.
I WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS, I WILL TESTIFY, UM, IN FRONT OF HER.
I WILL, UH, MAKE A PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF HER TEAM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE, UH, THEY COME UP WITH A NUMBER.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE AS, UM, WE HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE RECEIVE LESS MONEY THAN WHAT WE PROPOSE IS THAT THAT IS NOT A TYPICAL FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
UH, THIS SLIDE RIGHT HERE SHOWS YOU OUR FISCAL YEAR, UM, PROPOSED BUDGETS FROM, UH, SUPERINTENDENTS COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM THE COUNTY.
YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WE REQUESTED VERSUS WHAT WE'VE RECEIVED.
AND NINE OUT OF THE 11 FISCAL YEARS, UM, DEPICTED ON THIS SLIDE, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS RECEIVED LESS FUNDING THAN WHAT WAS REQUESTED FROM THE COUNTY.
UM, THOSE NUMBERS RANGE ANYTHING FROM, UH, IF WE'RE GOING 1% OR ABOVE, UH, $15 MILLION TO $121 MILLION LESS THAN WHAT WE'VE REQUESTED.
UM, THIS IS NOT UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR US.
UM, YOU'LL NOTE ALSO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND BLUE CATEGORY, UM, THAT WE HAVE ASKED FOR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE, UH, IN THE RECENT HISTORY, STARTING WITH OR NEAR A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS, STARTING WITH FISCAL YEAR 20 20, 20 21, UH, FOLLOWED BY A REQUEST OF 149, UH, $0.7 MILLION IN 2023.
AND THEN THIS YEAR THE REQUEST, UH, FOR A HUNDRED $0.3 MILLION.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE IN RED IN THE GREEN SECTIONS ARE THOSE YEARS THAT WE RECEIVED, UH, MORE THAN 5% LESS THAN WHAT WAS REQUESTED.
IN TERMS OF HOW WE GO ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
UM, JUST AS A REMINDER TO EVERYONE, WE RECEIVE MOST OF OUR BUDGET, A MAJORITY FROM OUR BALTIMORE COUNTY, THE LOCAL PARTNERS FOLLOWED BY THE STATE BUDGET AND A SMALLER PERCENTAGE BY FEDERAL AND OTHER SOURCES.
UM, 83% OF OUR BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON SALARIES, WAGES, AND BENEFITS FOR ALL OF OUR 20,000 EMPLOYEES.
IT IS A MATHEMATICAL PROBLEM DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS AT
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THE NEXT STEP.WHEN WE RECEIVE AN ACTUAL NUMBER FROM OUR FUNDING PARTNERS, THAT'S WHAT DICTATES OUR NEXT STEPS.
IF THE NUMBER IS SMALLER, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY, UM, INDICATE A NEED TO, UH, ADDRESS COMPENSATION AND WAGES.
HOWEVER, IF IT IS A LARGER NUMBER, BECAUSE 83% OF THE BUDGET IS FOCUSED ON SALARIES, WAGES, AND BENEFITS, WE WILL EMPLOY THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE HAVE EMPLOYED FOR THE LAST NINE OUT OF 11 FISCAL YEARS, WHICH INCLUDE, OKAY, NOT WORKING.
CAN YOU ADVANCE THE SLIDE PLEASE? WHICH INCLUDE PROPOSING A BUDGET, A FORMAL REQUEST TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN ALL FIVE OF OUR MASTER AGREEMENTS, IT REQUIRES US, UM, WE HAVE AGREEMENT.
IT REQUIRES US TO SUBMIT A FULL COMPENSATION REQUEST TO OUR FUNDING PARTNERS.
UM, AND SO THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO DO THAT, WE WOULD HAVE THAT ITERATIVE PROCESS WITH THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND HER TEAM.
UM, FOLLOWING THAT, THE COUNTY COUNCIL WOULD REVIEW THE BUDGET REQUEST AND THERE WOULD BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS WITH THEM AS WELL, WHERE THEY WORK WITH OUR BUDGET TEAM AS WELL AS MEET WITH MYSELF.
AND, UM, I ANSWER ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE.
ANY ITEM REGARDING NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS OR COMPENSATION, UH, WOULD COME BACK THROUGH OUR ESTABLISHED PROCESSES.
OUR ESTABLISHED PROCESSES REGARDING NEGOTIATION ALWAYS INCLUDE UPDATES TO OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, ENCLOSED SESSIONS, BOARD OF EDUCATION, UM, PROVIDES FEEDBACK.
WE TAKE THAT BACK, OUR CHIEF NEGOTIATOR TAKES THAT BACK TO WORK WITH THE UNIONS.
ANY DECISIONS THAT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAKES IN CLOSE, UH, SESSION, THOSE ACTIONS ARE THEN AFFIRMED AND OPEN SESSION.
AND AFTER THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS UH, FOLLOWED, AND WE HAVE FINAL NUMBERS FROM OUR FUNDING PARTNERS, THEN ALL, UM, UH, NUMBERS AND INFORMATION ARE A PART OF OUR ADOPTED BUDGET AND A PART OF THE, UH, BOOK, THE BUDGET BOOK THAT WE POST FOR EVERYONE.
AND SO WANTED TO SPEND SOME TIME GOING THROUGH THAT, UH, PROCESS SO EVERYONE WOULD UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE, MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS FACTUAL INFORMATION AROUND WHAT OUR OBLIGATIONS ARE AS A SCHOOL SYSTEM, WHAT WE'VE COMMITTED TO, TO ALL FIVE OF OUR UNIONS IN TERMS OF FULL COMPENSATION.
AND, UM, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY 2026 OPERATING BUDGET? SO MOVED.
DISCUSSION, MS. EY, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT? I DUNNO IF YOU CAN GO BACK TO THAT LAST SLIDE.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
SO YOU TALKED ABOUT THE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENTS, OTHER CHANGES IN THE BUDGET THAT HAVE TO BE MADE.
IS THAT BROUGHT FORWARD TO THE BOARD OR HOW DOES THE BOARD FIND ABOUT, FIND OUT ABOUT THOSE CHANGES IF, UM, WE DON'T GET THE FUNDS ASKED FROM THE COUNTY? SO IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT, UM, SOMETIMES THE COUNTY WILL IDENTIFY, UH, THE SPECIFIC, UH, REDUCTIONS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT HAS HAPPENED IN RECENT YEARS.
AND SO WE, WE ALL RECEIVE THE INFORMATION AT THE SAME TIME FROM THEM.
UM, AND I, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME TIMES WHERE THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND IF THERE ARE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS, WE WOULD BE HAVING UPDATES AND CLOSED SESSION.
OTHER QUESTIONS, MS. LESKI? THANK YOU.
JUST A FOLLOW UP QUESTION TO THAT.
SO IF, UM, THE FUNDING FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, THE COUNTY CHANGES, WOULD WE THEN COME BACK TO, UM, YEAH.
UM, WOULD WE THEN COME BACK TO APPROVE BASED ON AMENDMENTS THAT NEED TO BE MADE BECAUSE OF THE FISCAL CHANGES? OR WOULD THAT JUST BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN YOUR BUDGET TEAM AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THEN WE WOULD JUST BE, UM, KEPT INFORMED BUT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE TO APPROVE.
UM, AND IT, IT'S, IT'S A MATHEMATICAL, UH, FORMULA, SO IT'S BASED ON THE NUMBER, UH, OF THE REDUCTION.
SO ANY LARGE NUMBER IS GOING TO, UH, REQUIRE US TO LOOK AT THE LARGEST PART OF OUR BUDGET AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH OUR ESTABLISHED PROCESSES FOR THAT.
SO WE WOULD, SO WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN? YES.
SO WHERE, UM, MS. BIELSKI ALWAYS COMES IN CLOSE, SHE PROVIDES AN UPDATE, UM, GIVES YOU
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A STATUS UNION BY UNION, UH, MR. CS WOULD COME FORWARD ALONG WITH MR. TANIFF COSTS THINGS OUT, UM, YOU WOULD PROVIDE REACTION AND FEEDBACK TO THAT.IT WOULD BE AN ITERATIVE PROCESS ENCLOSED, UH, YOU WOULD, UH, TAKE A POSITION AND WHATEVER THAT POSITION IS, WOULD BE AFFIRMED AND OPEN.
UM, DOES THE CURRENT BUDGET INCLUDE ANY REDUCTIONS IN SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS FROM 12 MONTHS TO 11 OR 10 MONTHS? AND IF SO, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US WHICH ONES AND THE COST SAVINGS OF EACH? SO I WOULDN'T BE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT, UM, CLASSIFICATIONS.
ARE YOU SPEAKING ABOUT RECLASSIFICATIONS RECLASSIFICATIONS? AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT'S IN DISPUTE AND IF, CAN YOU SPEAK TO THAT? NO, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO, UM, SPEAK TO THAT.
OUTSIDE OF, UH, NEGOTIATIONS AROUND RECLASSIFICATION, CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S, UM, UNDER NEGOTIATIONS, JUST TO CONFIRM OR OR DENY THAT THAT IS, SINCE I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC INFORMATION TO WHAT YOU'RE SPEAKING TO, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT AT THIS TIME.
ARE THERE ANY RECLASSIFICATION INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO VOTE ON OF SCHOOL-BASED POSITIONS? WHAT WE HEAR? OKAY, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A PAUSE.
SO AT THIS POINT, THAT MAY BE A STRATEGY CONSIDERED, BUT GIVEN THAT WE HAVE NOT NOTIFIED ANY STAFF, UM, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION GIVEN, DEPENDING ON WHERE WE LAND WITH NUMBERS, THAT MIGHT BE A STRATEGY THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
SO AT THIS POINT, THE CURRENT BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY RECLASSIFICATION OF SCHOOL-BASED EMPLOYEES AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
THAT MAY BE A STRATEGY WE WOULD HAVE TO CONSIDER.
AND MY FOLLOW UP, AND YOU MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS AS WELL, BUT ARE THERE ANY POSITIONS BEING ELIMINATED THAT SUPPORT NEW TEACHERS AND OR CONDITIONAL TEACHERS? AND IF SO, CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHICH POSITIONS AND HOW MANY ARE BEING ELIMINATED? NO, THERE ARE, UH, NO POSITIONS BEING ELIMINATED THAT SUPPORT NEW TEACHERS OR, UH, CONDITIONALLY SUPPORTED TEACHERS.
UH, WE ARE LIKELY GOING TO RESTRUCTURE HOW WE PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT, MAXIMIZING GRANT FUNDING.
UH, BUT THE STATEMENT ABOUT PROVIDING LESS, UH, SUPPORT IS NOT AN ACCURATE ONE.
AND I HAVE ONE LAST QUESTION, MADAM CHAIR, IF I MAY.
UM, WHEN YOU MENTIONED TO THE BOARD THAT YOU MET WITH THE PRINCIPALS TO DISCUSS THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEIR BUDGETS BASED ON THE 10% REDUCTION IN PER PUPIL ALLOCATIONS, UM, AND THEY MENTIONED THAT POTENTIAL AREAS FOR SAVINGS, UM, I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU COULD SHARE ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT.
AND TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, ONE HIGH SCHOOL REPORTED A REDUCTION IN ITS BUDGET FOR EXTRA DUTY ACTIVITIES OF 35,000.
CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT AMOUNT IS AVERAGE FOR A HIGH SCHOOL AND HOW MANY STUDENT ACTIVITIES WOULD BE DISCONTINUED AS A RESULT OF THAT REDUCTION? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO, AGAIN, SHARE ON THE, THAT WE HAVE MADE NO REDUCTIONS TO BUDGETS FOR EXTRA DUTY ACTIVITIES.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE SHARED, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE THIS POSTED ON BUDGET 1 0 1 AS PART OF THE BUDGET, UH, QUESTIONS, IS, UH, YOU HAD A PAST PRACTICE WHERE, UH, SOME PEOPLE WOULD OVERSPEND THEIR BUDGET ALLOCATION AND PEOPLE WERE ASKED TO MAINTAIN THEIR BUDGET ALLOCATION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES A LINE ITEM, I BELIEVE IT'S $1.06 MILLION, WHICH IS A REPEAT FROM LAST YEAR FOR MANDATORY EDS.
SO, UM, SCHOOLS, ALL SCHOOLS, ALL 176 SCHOOLS RECEIVE, UH, FUNDING FOR THREE MANDATORY EDS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF THEIR SCHOOL SPECIFIC ALLOCATION.
UM, THAT IS ADDITIONAL IN THE BUDGET
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FOR FY 26.UM, AND, AND THERE WERE NO CUTS MADE TO THE FORMULAS LAST YEAR OR PROPOSED IN THE FY 26 BUDGET.
UM, PEOPLE, SCHOOLS WERE ASKED TO ADHERE TO THE BUDGET AND NOT OVERSPEND BY, UM, I I THINK YOU MENTIONED $35,000, UM, AS THAT HAS AN AGGREGATE IMPACT.
SO NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO, UH, CUT, UM, IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, REMAINING WITHIN, UM, THE BUDGET.
THE EXTRA DUTIES ALLOCATION HAS A HANDBOOK THAT PROVIDES SOME GUIDANCE IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, IN TERMS OF, UM, STUDENT PARTICIPATION MEETINGS, ET CETERA.
ALL OF THAT WAS, UH, RESHARED, UH, I BELIEVE LATE SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE FALL WITH ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
SO JUST FOR THE VIEWING PUBLIC, UH, THERE WERE NO CUTS MADE TO EDA BUDGETS.
THERE WERE ADDITIONAL FUNDS, UH, PROVIDED THIS FISCAL YEAR, AS WELL AS THERE'S A LINE ITEM FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
AND, AND UNDERSTANDABLY THAT'S UP TO THE PRINCIPAL, UM, IN TERMS OF THEIR OVERALL FUND TO ELECT TO FUND ADDITIONAL EDS ABOVE THE THREE THAT ARE CENTRALLY FUNDED AND MANDATED, AS YOU SAID.
SO ANYTHING ABOVE THE THREE ARE ELECTIVE FOR THAT PRINCIPAL TO FUND.
WHAT WAS CUT WAS THE OVERALL POT OF FUNDING AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS WAS REDUCED BY 10%.
SO IT'S UP TO PRINCIPALS TO DETERMINE WHERE THOSE CUTS ARE MADE.
SO I'M, WHAT I'M ASKING IS, OF THAT 35,000 THAT WAS CUT BY ONE SCHOOL FOR EXTRA DUTY ACTIVITIES, WHAT WOULD THAT EQUATE TO 10 11? DOES THAT SOUND, IS THAT AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE BASED ON 3500, 3300 PER ACTIVITY? NO, I WOULD DISAGREE.
TERMS STAFF, I WOULD DISAGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT BUDGET LINE ITEMS. EDS ARE ONE BUDGET LINE ITEM, WHICH THERE'S AN ESTABLISHED BUDGET FOR THAT.
AND THEN THEY GET ON TOP OF THEIR BUDGET, WHICH IS BASED ON ENROLLMENT AND LEVEL.
THEY RECEIVE THREE FUNDING FOR THREE ADDITIONAL EDS.
AND, AND, UM, WE'VE POSTED THAT RESPONSE AS WELL TO THE 10% NON SALARY REDUCTION.
UM, THE PROCESS THAT I'LL SHARE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT WE FOLLOWED WAS MEETING WITH ALL OF OUR PRINCIPAL GROUPS AS A PART OF PLD, UM, TO SHARE WITH THEM THAT WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS.
WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO BRING IN SOME SAVINGS AS WE MOVED INTO THE FY 26 BUDGET.
UM, THEY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT, UM, CHANGES THAT THEY FELT WERE REASONABLE THAT WOULD NOT IMPACT THEIR PROGRAMS. UM, AND THEN WE HAD A WHOLE GROUP DISCUSSION.
WE DID THIS BY LEVEL AND, UH, BY ZONE IN ELEMENTARY WHERE THE 10% CAME FROM.
SO THE 10%, UM, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EDS.
THE 10% GOES TOWARDS BUYING ADDITIONAL, UM, THINGS.
UH, IN SOME SCHOOLS, THEY, THEY TALK ABOUT THEY RECEIVED THE MESSAGE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THE FOURTH QUARTER THAT SAYS YOU HAVE TO SPEND ALL OF YOUR FUNDING AND THEY JUST BUY, BUY, BUY.
UM, AND SO THAT'S HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THE, UH, 10%.
IT COULD BE, UM, I DON'T KNOW, STICKERS.
IT COULD BE ADDITIONAL, UM, CUPS, ADDITIONAL PRINTING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT ONE OF THE DATA POINTS THAT WE USED WAS THE QUARTERLY SPENDING FOR THE LAST THREE FISCAL YEARS, THE BUDGET COMPARED TO THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
AND SO THOSE TWO ARE VERY SEPARATE.
EDS IS A VERY SEPARATE LINE ITEM, UM, COMPARED TO THE NON-SALARY, UM, SCHOOL BUDGETS THAT, UH, PRINCIPALS RECEIVED.
AND THEY WERE A PART INTEGRAL PART OF THIS PROCESS.
AND YOU ANSWERED THE SECOND PART OF MY QUESTION, WHICH WAS, THANK YOU.
THAT WAS THE SECOND PART OF MY QUESTION WAS WHAT AREAS WERE THEY, UM, DID THEY SEEM REALISTIC TO CUT? AND YOU MENTIONED SOME SPECIFIC SUPPLIES.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER AREAS THAT THEY MENTIONED THAT THEY WOULD CUT OUT OF THE 10%? NONE THAT COME TO MIND.
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, MR. ROMANOWSKI? YES.
UM, FIRST, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU, UM, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION I INCORRECTLY PHRASED AT ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS IN REGARDS TO COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS.
THE BUDGET LINE ITEM FOUND ON PAGE 1 44, WHILE IT LOOKS LIKE A CUT IN BUDGET WHEN COMPARED TO THE 2025 BUDGET LINE ITEM FROM 2.6, WHICH IS FOUND ON 2 68 OF 2025 TO 1.2 IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
IN FACT, IT'S NOT A CUT, BUT A TRANSFER OF CHARGES TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND WILL NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS PROGRAMS THAT BCPS HAS TO OFFER OUR STUDENTS.
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THAT IS CORRECT.I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO, TO, TO CLARIFY.
THE AP EXAMS WERE MOVED OVER TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT ADMINISTERS THE AP EXAMS FOR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
UM, AND THEN IF WE COULD GO TO SLIDE NUMBER FOUR, UM, WHAT ARE THE SAFEGUARDS, IF ANY, IN THIS BUDGET THAT WE ARE MAKING TO, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO ENSURE THAT THESE STAFFING ALLOCATIONS ARE ADHERED TO? I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM A TEACHER AND FROM MY OWN TWO STUDENTS, UM, WHO ARE IN TWO SEPARATE CLASSES IN THE SAME SCHOOL BUILDING.
THEIR SECOND, UH, FIRST GRADERS AND THIRD GRADERS, ALL THEIR CLASSES ARE 26 OR 27 STUDENTS.
AND, AND SO, UM, WE HAVE ASKED PRINCIPALS TO NOT ONLY ENGAGE WITH, UH, CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS ABOUT PRIORITIES THAT IF THERE'S AN INTERNAL DECISION THAT'S MADE TO, UM, BECAUSE THEY ALL RECEIVE ONE SET OF, UH, ALLOCATIONS, IF THERE'S AN INTERNAL DECISION THAT'S MADE TO MAYBE INCREASE THE SIZES SOMEWHERE ELSE AND LOWER THE SIZES SOMEWHERE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION PROACTIVELY WITH PTA AS WELL AS STAFF.
SO THERE CAN BE, UM, UNDERSTANDING AND MUTUAL AGREEMENT ABOUT THOSE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE.
IN TERMS OF HOW WE SAFEGUARDING, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WE HAVE CREATED A STAFFING ALLOCATION MEMO.
UM, WE HAVE OUR EXPECTATIONS VERY, VERY CLEARLY DEFINED IN THAT MEMO.
WE HAVE, UM, REPORTING DATES THAT START IN JUNE AND GO THROUGH TO AUGUST WHERE WE ARE GOING TO PULL CENTRAL, UM, REPORTS TO, UH, CHECK FOR ADHERENCE.
PRINCIPALS ALSO HAVE THE TOOLS WHERE THEY CAN PULL THOSE REPORTS, UH, INTERNALLY.
THE NEW STAFFING ALLOCATION, UH, TOOL THAT WE CREATED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, THERE WAS, UH, THAT WE WERE ALLOCATING ACCORDING TO THE FORMULA IN SCHOOLS, PROVIDES A SNAPSHOT FOR EVERY SCHOOL TO SEE AND ENSURE THAT THEY RECEIVE, UH, THE STAFFING THAT THEY SHOULD.
BUT THE GUIDELINES THAT WE'VE PROVIDED, AS WELL AS MONITORING AND FOLLOW UP FROM, UH, THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS, AND IF IT'S AN ALLOCATION THAT COMES FROM CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, AS THERE ARE MANY STAFF MEMBERS, UM, THAT ARE ALLOCATED FROM, UH, CENTRAL OFFICE, UH, THESE ARE THE TWO GROUPS THAT WE'LL MONITOR THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO MAKE SURE, UH, THAT WE'RE IMPLEMENTING WITH FIDELITY.
AND IF THERE'S A CHANGE, THAT THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT HAPPENS, UM, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND THE STAKEHOLDERS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE SAME THING, BUT JUST AS A FOLLOW UP, IF A, IF A SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDS LIKE A, A SPECIAL EDUCATOR OR A ANY SPECIAL EDUCATOR, IS THAT GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THEIR SCHOOL ALLOCATIONS AS, AS FAR AS THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM? NO.
UM, AND THEN I THINK I ONLY HAVE ONE.
UM, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED, OH, NO, THAT'S IT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ALL THOSE SALARIES.
UH, THE INCREASES, ARE THESE, ALL THE SALARY INCREASES AT ALL LEVELS THAT BCPS WILL BE CREATING ANY, IF YOU HAVE THE COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS YEAR TWO? YEAH.
SO THAT THERE ARE ANY OTHER POSITIONS, UM, THAT WILL BE RECEIVING INCREASES, WHETHER IT'S CENTRAL OFFICE OR IN THE SCHOOLHOUSE.
SO THE COMPENSATION AGREEMENTS SPEAK TO MEMBERS OF BARGAINING UNITS.
AND SO, UM, THAT COVERS INCLUDING NON-REPRESENTED THAT GO WITH CASE.
SO IT COVERS ALL 20,000, UH, EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT'S THE, THE, THE UNION, THE, AND NON-REPRESENTED, THEY FOLLOW CASE, BUT THERE WAS LIKE THE SUPERINTENDENTS WAS POSTED AND THE CHIEF OPERATING OFF OR CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS OTHER SECOND IF THERE WERE OTHER RECEIVING, UM, INCREASES AS WELL.
SO ANYONE WHO'S NON-REPRESENTED WOULD BE IN, UM, THERE'S A LINE ITEM THAT SAYS NON-REPRESENTED AND THEY FOLLOW THE CASE AGREEMENT.
UM, I JUST MEANT IN CENTRAL OFFICE.
IN CENTRAL OFFICE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE, IN CASE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TAB CODE, YOU HAVE AS WELL.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING, ALL 20,000 EMPLOYEES.
I, I'M LOOKING AT THE CHART ON PAGE SIX, THE OPERATING TIMELINE BUDGET TIMELINE.
I PLEASE, I TRY TO HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS.
WE'RE BEING ASKED TONIGHT TO VOTE ON A $3 BILLION BUDGET.
AND, AND THE PIECE THAT I, I, I FIND A HARD TIME PUTTING TOGETHER IS ONCE THIS BELIEVES US, IT GOES TO THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.
AND THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS ALREADY COME OUT IN THE PAPER A WEEK AND A HALF AGO AND SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S NOT GOING TO HONOR X NUMBER OF DOLLARS.
AT WHAT POINT IN TIME DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE DIFFERENCE? UH, YOU KNOW, AND I I'VE SEEN IT IN PAST YEARS THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE, NOW YOU MENTIONED THAT THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MIGHT, YOU
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KNOW, CUT SOMETHING OR THE COUNTY COUNCIL MIGHT CUT SOMETHING, OR YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AT TIMES TO NEGOTIATE THINGS.WHERE ARE WE IN THE, THAT NEGOTIATION PROCESS? SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I, UH, POINTED TO EARLIER, UM, THAT WE BRING THAT BACK THROUGH CLOSED SESSION.
MS. BIELSKI GIVES THE UPDATES AS SHE'S DONE IN THE, IN THE PAST.
AND SO ANYTIME IT'S A LARGE NUMBER, IT'S GOING TO, UM, LIKELY IMPACT COMPENSATION.
AND THAT'S WHERE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENS.
SO WE VOTE ON IT TONIGHT, AND THEN LATER AT SOME POINT, THOSE NUMBERS WILL BE PRESENTED TO US, BUT WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY ENGAGE ON, ON THOSE TOPICS.
THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT WE CAN DO AT THAT POINT, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE, WE NEVER DO.
AND IT, TAKING A LOOK AT THE LAST 11 FISCAL YEARS, NINE OUT OF THE 11 FISCAL YEARS, WE RECEIVE LESS THAN WE, THAN WE REQUESTED.
UM, AND AT LEAST FOUR OF THOSE 11 YEARS, FOUR OF THOSE NINE YEARS ARE, UH, BY SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A YEAR THAT WE RECEIVED $121 MILLION LESS THAN WE REQUESTED.
WE DIDN'T EVEN REQUEST $121 MILLION, UH, FROM OUR FUNDING PARTNERS THIS YEAR.
SO I'M ASSUMING THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE A PLAN ON IF THE MONEY'S LESS ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADJUST IT.
I WOULDN'T SAY THAT I, UH, HAVE A PLAN.
I WOULD SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S PRUDENT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF NUMBERS WOULD REQUIRE US, UH, TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, COMPENSATION AND THAT THOSE, WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH ALL OF OUR UNION PARTNERS.
UM, SO IT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER.
ONCE THEY PROVIDE A NUMBER, THEN, THEN I'LL HAVE AN IDEA OF, UM, WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS ARE.
UH, JUST SO I'M CLEAR, BECAUSE I, I, I UNDERSTAND OUR OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR THE BUDGET.
WE ARE SUBMITTING THIS BUDGET BASED ON THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE MADE TO OUR STAFF AND OUR LEADERS, UH, OUR STUDENTS, UH, AND OUR FAMILIES.
AND SHOULD THE COUNTY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FULLY FUND IT, THEN THE PROCESS IS THAT WHATEVER THE DIFFERENCE IS, WHATEVER THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE, THEY WILL COME BACK TO THIS BOARD, AND THIS BOARD WOULD THEN HAVE TO APPROVE IT AS THE REVISED BUDGET OR THE UPDATED BUDGET.
SO THERE IS NO POINT IN TIME WHERE WE WOULD GET, WE WOULD SUBMIT THE BUDGET, THE COUNTY WOULD SAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU THIS MUCH, NOT WHAT YOU ASKED.
AND, AND THEN YOU SUBMIT A REVISED BUDGET WITHOUT THE ADVICE, THE APPROVAL, UH, THE, THE FEEDBACK FROM THIS BOARD.
OKAY, MS. FONG, I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UM, ALLOCATIONS.
SO, UM, ON SLIDE FOUR, WHERE IT TALKS ABOUT THOSE STAFFING ALLOCATIONS, UM, IT IS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM MS, UM, MINOSKI, BUT IT DOES STILL DEAL WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION, SO NOT NECESSARILY SPECIAL EDUCATORS, BUT DO THESE NUMBERS CHANGE AT ALL IF THERE ARE, UM, FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS WHO ARE IN THESE CLASSES, BUT ARE STILL, LIKE, THEY'RE NOT SEPARATED OR SELF-CONTAINED, THEY'RE, IT'S INCLUSIVE.
SO, UM, THEY'RE IN THESE CLASSES AS WELL.
DO THESE NUMBERS CHANGE AT ALL? YEAH.
SO, UM, THE WAY THAT STAFFING ALLOCATIONS WORK, UM, WE COUNT FOR EVERY SINGLE STUDENT THAT'S ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL, WHETHER YOU ARE, UM, UH, MULTILINGUAL LEARNER, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE SPECIALIZED CLASSES, ELD CLASSES, OR YOU ARE A STUDENT RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, UM, IN OUR DASHBOARD THAT WE PROVIDED, UH, A SNAPSHOT OF IT EVEN FURTHER DELINEATES OUR SPECIAL EDU, OUR STUDENTS RECEIVING SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES TO STUDENTS THAT ARE IN THE CONTINUUM OF SERVICES WHO ARE, UM, INCLUDED, UH, COMPARED TO OUR STUDENTS THAT ARE IN REGIONAL PROGRAMS. AND, UH, UM, I'M LOOKING OUT THERE TO, UH, ALLISON, TO CONFIRM MANY OF THE TIME OUR, THOSE STUDENTS ARE IN SELF-CONTAINED PROGRAMS. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR, UH, STAFFING ALLOCATION DASHBOARD, WHAT EVERY PRINCIPAL RECEIVED, IT GIVES THEM THE NUMBERS ON ONE SIDE, THE ENROLLMENT, AND THEN ON THE SECOND SIDE IS THE ALLOCATION.
AND FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION, IT BREAKS DOWN EVERY SINGLE POSITION.
UH, THE POSITIONS THAT ARE FOR INCLUSION, THE POSITIONS THAT ARE FOR REGIONALIZED PROGRAMS, UM, IF THERE ARE POSITIONS FOR BEHAVIOR SUPPORT, PARAEDUCATORS, ALL OF THAT IS BROKEN OUT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT ARE ENROLLED.
AND WE ACCOUNT FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE INCLUDED IN, UM, UH, PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASS OR IN
[01:30:01]
ART CLASS.AND SO THEY, THEY ARE ACCOUNTED FOR IN OUR GENERAL CLASSROOM ALLOCATION AS WELL.
SAVOY, THE MOST RECENT DATA REVEALS THAT BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND IT UNDERSCORES THE NEED TO FULLY SUPPORT THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE.
AND EVEN DEALING WITH, UH, THE GRADUATION RATES, THEY'RE ON THE RISE.
AND I WANNA SPECIFICALLY SPEAK TO WOODLAWN HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THEY HAD THE PROBLEM.
THEY HAD A BIG INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATES THIS YEAR.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
SO TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED FY 2026 MOTION TO AMEND, OKAY.
UM, I AMEND THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET TO INCLUDE A PAUSE ON ALL NON-REPRESENTED, NON-INSTRUCTIONAL OR SCHOOL BUILDING RELATED SALARIES UNTIL WE RECEIVE A FULL FISCAL IMPACT OF THOSE SCHEDULED SALARY INCREASES.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT? DO YOU WANT ME TO TYPE IT IN THE CHAT? UM, PLEASE.
IS THERE A SECOND MOTION TO THE MOTION FROM MS. DOKI, WHICH IS, UM, WRITTEN IN THE CHAT? MOTION TO AMEND THE PROPOSED FY 2026 BUDGET TO INCLUDE A PAUSE ON ALL NON-REPRESENTED, NON-INSTRUCTIONAL OR SCHOOLHOUSE RELATED SALARIES UNTIL FULL FISCAL IMPACT OF THOSE SCHEDULED SALARY INCREASES CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE FULL BOARD.
MS. DO ROMANOWSKI, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHO YOU'RE REFERRING TO WHEN YOU SAY SCHOOL HOUSE RELATED SALARIES? SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE GIVEN, UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU GIVE US THE BUDGET BOOK, YOU, WE HAD THE INSTRUCTIONAL SALARIES, WE HAD THE SCHOOL ALLOCATIONS.
BUT WHEN YOU GO THROUGH, UM, EACH DEPARTMENT LEVEL AND, UH, BOARD OF EDUCATION, SUPERINTENDENT, CHIEF OF STAFF, CHIEF OF ALL THE OTHER ONES, ALL THE OTHER NON-SCHOOL, NON-SCHOOL RELATED INSTRUCTIONAL THAT WE'RE NOT GIVEN THE BREAKDOWN.
SO I JUST WANNA KNOW, I DON'T NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT IS OF THOSE, UM, FTES THAT WE ARE NOT GIVEN THE ACTUAL NUMBERS OF.
DID YOU MEAN, OR NON-SCHOOL HOUSE? BECAUSE YOU HAVE IT AS SCHOOL HOUSE.
DID I NOT PUT NON IN FRONT OF THAT? YEAH.
I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN, SO, SO BASICALLY EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF APPENDIX.
SO WOULD YOU CONSIDER BUS DRIVERS NON-SCHOOL, HOUSE AND NON-INSTRUCTIONAL? 'CAUSE THEY ARE, WELL, THEY'RE SCHOOLHOUSE RELATED.
THEY DRIVE THE STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.
ARE YOU, WHERE WOULD YOU PUT PARAEDUCATORS, SECRETARIES, SCHOOLHOUSE SECRETARIES? THEY'RE INSIDE OF A, IF THEY'RE INSIDE OF A SCHOOL BUILDING, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS, THEY'RE SCHOOLHOUSE RELATED EMPLOYEE, AN INSTRUCTIONAL EMPLOYEE.
THEY DRIVE THE STUDENTS TO SCHOOL.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF, CAN I ASK? IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT, BUT IT, SOME OF THOSE SALARIES ARE QUITE LARGE AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE FISCAL IMPACT IS OF THAT.
CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION? UM, YES.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
SO WOULD THIS BE ALL OF THE, UM, EMPLOYEES FOR THE SYSTEM THAT ARE NOT PART OF A UNION? YES.
IS THAT THEY'RE NOT PART OF A UNION? THAT WE ARE NOT PART OF THE, WE'RE COMMITTED TO AS FAR AS TABCO CASE, UM, OKAY.
ALL THE UNION, NONE OF THE, IT'S THE NON-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
MS. BOOKER DWYER, COULD YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF A SPECIFIC POSITION THAT
[01:35:01]
YOU ARE SPEAKING OF THAT YOU WOULD NOT WANT A SALARY INCREASE TO GO TO BECAUSE THEY ARE NON-INSTRUCTIONAL OR NOT SCHOOLHOUSE RELATED? I DIDN'T SAY I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO GET ONE.I SAID I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FISCAL IMPACT OF IT FOR THAT QUESTION.
SO COULD YOU GIMME A SPECIFIC POSITION? EVERY POSITION THAT DOES NOT IS NOT REPRESENTED BY TAB BY THE FIVE MAIN UNIONS.
DR. ROGERS IS READY TO RESPOND.
PAGE NINE OF THE FEBRUARY 11TH RESPONSES TO BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AT THE TOP OF PAGE NINE, WE HAVE A, UM, CHART THAT DETAILS BY UNION, THE FY 26 PROJECTED INCREASES IN MILLIONS.
THE FOURTH ITEM DOWN IS NON-REPRESENTED STAFF.
THEY FOLLOW THE CASE AGREEMENTS.
THESE ARE ALL SALARIES THAT ARE INSIDE THIS BUILDING.
LIKE INSIDE GREENWOOD, INSIDE ALL OUTSIDE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
ALL CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF OR IS IT JUST, WHAT, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT INCLUDE? SO, NON-REPRESENTED STAFF.
UM, THEY MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF, UM, A SCHOOL BUILDING IN TERMS OF THEIR LOCATION, BUT DEPENDING ON THEIR JOB.
UH, AND I THINK WE PROVIDED SOME REPORTS WHERE YOU HAVE, UH, 60 TO 80% OF THEIR TIME ARE SPENT IN SCHOOLS.
UM, AND WE HAVE SHARED WITH THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC OUR, UH, MONITORING TOOL FOR ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND, UM, I, I THINK THE, UH, PRINCIPALS COULD SPEAK TO HELP, UH, THAT THEY'RE RECEIVING IN ORDER FOR THEM TO, UH, DO THEIR WORK IN THE SCHOOL IN ORDER TO ENSURE FIDELITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR INVESTMENTS AROUND CURRICULUM, AROUND, UM, QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING.
UH, THAT'S THE WORK, UH, THAT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE DO.
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE, UH, PEOPLE ON THE OPERATIONS SIDE.
YOU HAVE, UM, SUPERVISORS WHO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSES SHOW UP TO THE RIGHT, UH, DEPOT.
YOU HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, ROUTING SUPERVISORS WHO DO THAT WORK.
AND SOMETIMES THEY MAY GET ON A BUS, BUT IF THEY ARE IN, UM, AND, AND THOSE MIGHT BE THE WRONG POSITIONS TO NAME, BUT IF THEY ARE IN NON-REPRESENTED, THE FISCAL IMPACT IS $700,000.
AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE SAY YOUR SALARY OR ANYONE ELSE IS IN THIS ROOM.
IT'S ONLY 700,000 FOR ALL THOSE POSITIONS.
FOR EVERY SINGLE NON-REPRESENTED POSITION.
I'M NOT SURE THAT I'M GETTING THE, IT'S RAISE, NOT THE BASE.
THAT'S HOW MUCH THE INCREASE IS.
SO YOU ASKED FOR THE FISCAL IMPACT FOR FY 26 BUDGET, IT'S $700,000.
SO IT INCLUDES CHIEFS, IT INCLUDE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS, IT INCLUDES DIRECTORS, IT INCLUDES, UM, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS, UM, ANYONE WHO'S ON THE NON-REPRESENTED LIST.
SO THEREFORE, YOUR MOTION, DO YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER? SO DO YOU WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT? OKAY.
SO I THINK, OOPS, WE WERE AT THE ROLL CALL.
FOR WE HAD, DO WE ALREADY HAVE A MOTION AND A YES, MS. HEN? I HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND MADAM CHAIR.
I MOVE TO AMEND THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY RESTORING THE REDUCTION IN PER PUPIL ALLOCATIONS TO BE OFFSET BY AN EQUIVALENT REDUCTION IN NON-SCHOOL BUDGET EXPENDITURES TO BETER DE TO BE DETERMINED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
CAN YOU PLEASE PUT THAT IN THE CHAT? SURE.
YOU DON'T CUT THE SCHOOLS AND CUT SOMETHING OFF.
[01:40:01]
HM.SO IT, IT'S LIKE THE EXTRA MONEY WE'RE GIVEN BY LITTLE STUFF WITH, OKAY.
MS. HEN'S MOTION IS IN THE CHAT.
SHE MOVES TO AMEND THE FY 2026 BUDGET BY RESTORING THE REDUCTION IN PER PUPIL ALLOCATIONS TO BE OFFSET BY AN EQUIVALENT REDUCTION IN NON-SCHOOL BUDGET EXPENDITURES TO BE DETERMINED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT AND TO BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND FROM MS. DOKI DISCUSSION? MS. HAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO YOUR AMENDMENT? I THINK MY AMENDMENT IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
UM, IT'S TO RESTORE SCHOOL-BASED DISCRETIONARY SPENDING SO THAT PRINCIPALS CAN USE IT FOR THEIR HIGHEST PRIORITY STUDENT NEEDS AND GIVES THE SUPERINTENDENT DISCRETION TO REDUCE, UM, CENTRAL OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE SPENDING TO OFFSET THE REDUCTION.
UM, IT ALSO PRESERVES APPROVAL, UM, BY THE BOARD SO THAT WE CAN HAVE OVERSIGHT INTO, UM, AND FINAL APPROVAL OVER WHERE THAT REDUCTION ENDS UP BEING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MS. BOOKER DWYER? WAS THAT A HAND? OKAY.
SO WE'VE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PRINCIPALS, UM, TO FULLY FUND THE BUDGET AS IS.
UM, THERE WAS A WHOLE VIDEO PUT OUT, UH, STATING TO FULLY FUND THE BUDGET AS IS.
SO, UM, SO I'M IN SUPPORT OF WHAT WE HAVE HEARD, UM, TO FULLY FUND THE BUDGET AS IS, UH, WITHOUT ANY AMENDMENTS.
SO ROLL CALL, VOTE ON MS. HEN'S AMENDED MOTION AMENDMENT.
MS. HARVEY? I BELIEVE IT PREMATURE TO AMEND THE BUDGET PRIOR TO GETTING OFFICIAL FEEDBACK FROM OUR COUNTY PARTNERS.
SO THAT AMENDMENT DOESN'T PASS.
SO WE ARE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL.
DID I HAVE A FIRST AND SECOND ON THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FFY 2020? I DID.
ON APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED FY 2026 OPERATING BUDGET.
THE PROPOSED FY 2026 BUDGET IS PASSED.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY FOR THEIR WORK ON THAT.
[H. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Board Counsel) (8:10 - 8:15 p.m.)]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION.AND FOR THAT I CALL MR. BURNS.
MAD VICE CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. ROGERS? ENCLOSED SESSION.
THE BOARD ACTED ON TWO, UH, APPEAL TOOK ACTION ON TWO APPEALS.
ONE, UH, WAS NUMBER, UM, UH, 25 DASH 10.
I THINK YOU SHOULD DO THESE SEPARATELY BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE ACTIONS.
MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER'S CASE, HEA 25 DASH OH ONE OH.
EVERYBODY'S PRESENT, SO THANK YOU.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
[01:45:01]
FONG? YES.MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION? TAKE AN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER'S CASE, HEA 25 DASH OH OH SEVEN.
AND ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS NEW
[I. NEW BUSINESS - BOARD POLICIES (8:15 - 8:30 p.m.)]
BUSINESS REPORT ON BOARD POLICIES.THIS IS THE FIRST READER FOR THESE POLICIES, AND FOR THAT I CALL MS. CHRISTINA PUMPHREY, CHAIR OF THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE ASKS THAT THE BOARD ACCEPT THIS REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE FOLLOWING BOARD POLICIES, BOARD POLICY 31 60 REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF SCHOOL-SPONSORED ACTIVITIES, BOARD POLICY 72 40 SCHOOL SITE SELECTION AND ACQUISITION BOARD POLICY 73 10 DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.
THESE POLICIES ARE PRESENTED TO YOU ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS EXHIBITS I ONE THROUGH I THREE.
BOARD MEMBERS, ARE THERE ANY SEPARATIONS REQUESTED? MAY I HAVE A MOTION? MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD'S POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR BOARD POLICIES? 31 60, 72 40 AND 73.
SINCE THE RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
[J. ADDED - PROPOSED RESOLUTION ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN BCPS (Ms. Pumphrey)]
THE AGENDA EARLIER THIS EVENING IS A PROPOSED RESOLUTION ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.UM, I EMAILED, EXCUSE ME ONE SECOND.
BOARD MEMBERS, YOU MAY HAVE TO REFRESH YOUR, UM, YOUR BOARD DOCS 'CAUSE THIS, THIS INFORMATION WAS ADDED TO IT DURING THE MEETING AFTER THE REQUEST WAS MADE.
I JUST WANTED THEM TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE DOCUMENT.
I WAS ABOUT TO SAY I EMAILED IT, SO I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS INCLUDED IN IT'S ATTACHED, BUT YOU HAVE TO REFRESH.
SO THIS RESOLUTION WAS, WAS ADOPTED WITH INPUT FROM BOTH CASA AND TABCO.
UM, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT HA HAD, HAS FOLLOWED AND THAT HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATED TO OUR SCHOOLS.
MANY OF THE ITEMS YOU'LL SEE IN THE RESOLUTION ARE THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR TO THOSE GUIDELINES.
HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT AS A BOARD WE NEED TO TAKE A STAND SHOWING SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS, ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, UM, DURING SCHOOL VISITS.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, I'VE BEEN TOLD MORE THAN ONCE THAT THERE'S AN INCREASE IN ABSENTEEISM OF, OF OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS.
STUDENTS ARE SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOL, AND FAMILIES ARE WORRIED ABOUT SENDING THEM TO SCHOOL.
WE KNOW THAT WE NEED OUR STUDENTS PRESENT IN CL PRESENT IN CLASS IN ORDER FOR THEM TO LEARN EDUCATING EACH AND EVERY STUDENT AS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
I HAVE REQUESTED THAT OUR POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE DISCUSS A POSSIBLE POLICY.
HOWEVER, I DO RESPECT OUR PROCESS FOR ADOPTING POLICY, WHICH IS WHY I DID NOT BRING FORWARD A POLICY THIS EVENING.
I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADOPT THIS RESOLUTION WHILE WE ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS, THROUGH THE POLICY PROCESS.
AND WHEN AND SHALL WE DISCUSS THAT AS A, AS A COMMITTEE? THANK YOU.
LET'S TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO ALLOW YOU ALL TO READ IT.
MR. BURNS, WOULD YOU MIND JOINING US? I KNOW THAT YOU ALSO HAVE NOT HAD, UH, MUCH TIME TO, UM, LOOK AT THIS RESOLUTION, BUT CAN YOU JUST GIVE US YOUR EARLY, UM, THOUGHTS AND COM THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS CONCERNING THE RESOLUTION AS STATED? UH, YES.
MADAM CHAIR, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DR. ROGERS? UH, CORRECT.
I I, I SAW THIS, UH, WITHIN THE LA WITHIN THE LAST HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF.
AND JUST BASED ON THE BOARD MEETING, HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO DO ANY SORT OF LEGAL SCRUBBING.
I WILL SAY AT FIRST GLANCE, I'M JUST, I'D BE CONCERNED THAT THERE
[01:50:01]
ARE SOME NON MARYLAND STANDARD TERMS AND VERBIAGE IN HERE THAT YOU CERTAINLY WOULD NOT WANT TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION THAT WAS NOT CONSISTENT IN VERBIAGE WITH MARYLAND LAW.THAT'S NOT TO SAY IT'S ILLEGAL, PER SE, JUST THAT, THAT IT'S NOT STANDARD VERBIAGE.
I, I DO THINK THERE'S A COUPLE PROVISIONS, INCLUDING THE FERPA OR, UH, STUDENT RECORDS RELATED PROVISIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH MARYLAND LAW AND OR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S POLICIES, UH, OR STATE BOARD BYLAWS.
SO OF COURSE, WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
UM, I AM CONCERNED THAT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO PROVISIONS HERE COULD OPEN THE DOOR TO IMPERMISSIBLE POLITICAL SPEECH TO CAPTIVE MINORS IN THE CLASSROOM.
UM, AND THERE'S A FEW OTHERS, BUT I, I DON'T, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO SYNOPSIZE IT, 'CAUSE OTHERWISE I'M DOING WHAT I SHOULDN'T DO, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, SHOOTING FROM THE HIP, IS TO SIMPLY SAY, WITHOUT ADEQUATE TIME TO BOTH MYSELF AND, AND, AND GENERAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW THIS.
AND THAT WOULD BE THE TIMER GOING OFF.
I DON'T THINK I CAN GIVE AN OPINION THAT WOULD DO JUSTICE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO THE ISSUES THAT IT RAISES.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A SUBSTANTIVE YAY OR NAY.
IT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S MY OPINION RIGHT NOW.
UM, DR. ROGERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE ANY COMMENTS BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR BOARD DISCUSSION AFTERWARDS? OKAY.
SO THERE'S NO, DO WE NEED A MOTION FIRST BEFORE WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION? OKAY, I WILL.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION PRESENTED IN TONIGHT'S AGENDA REGARDING IMMIGRATION POLICY.
NOW FURTHER DISCUSSION MS. HEN.
UM, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SUPPORTING THIS FOR THE REASONS MR. BURNS STATED.
UM, I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO REVIEW IT.
AND, UM, AS MR. BURNS STATED, HE HAS NOT EITHER, NOR HAS GENERAL COUNSEL.
AGAIN, I'VE HAD FIVE MINUTES TO REVIEW IT, BUT THAT, UM, CONCERNS ME AS WELL IN REGARDS TO ONE, ONE CLAUSE, SPECIFICALLY OUR REQUIREMENTS OF OUR VENDORS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT CONTRACTUALLY WE CAN BIND THEM, UM, TO THAT LANGUAGE.
THAT WAS JUST ONE THAT JUMPED OUT AT ME, AGAIN IN A VERY, UM, BRIEF SCAN OF THE LANGUAGE.
SO I, I KNOW I CAN'T AMEND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IT WOULD BE A DIFFERENT MOTION TO POSTPONE, UM, OR TO TABLE THIS, THIS DISCUSSION UNTIL COUNSEL HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY, UM, REVIEW IT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS IN TERMS OF MODIFICATIONS.
BUT THAT WOULD BE MY CONCERN THAT UNTIL WE'VE HAD A FULL LEGAL REVIEW.
SO DID YOU JUST MAKE A MOTION? I DID NOT, BECAUSE I CAN'T.
I CAN'T AMEND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, BUT IF THE MOTION WERE WITHDRAWN, UM, I WOULD SUPPORT A MOTION TO, UM, POSTPONE.
DID YOU, MR. YOUNG? YEAH, I, I I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT MS. HE SAID BECAUSE I WANTED TO, UH, AND MR. BURNS WILL, UH, CORRECT ME, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE THIS UNTIL IT'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REVIEWED BY BOTH BOARD AND SCHOOL SYSTEM COUNCIL.
BUT IS THAT PERMISSIBLE AT THIS JUNCTION? YES.
IN, IN FACT THAT, THAT COULD SUPERSEDE THE PRIMARY MOTION.
SO ARE YOU MAKING A MOTION TO I'M MAKING A MOTION.
SO YOUR MOTION IS TO TABLE POSTPONE, POSTPONE, POSTPONE, POSTPONE.
ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION UNTIL IT'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE REVIEWED BY BOARD AND SCHOOL SYSTEM LEGAL COUNSEL.
JUST QUICK, UM, DID YOU MEAN ADOPTION OR CONSIDERATION? POSTPONED CONSIDERATION OR ADOPTION? I'M JUST WANT TO GUARD AGAINST A FOREGONE CONCLUSION BEING CONTAINED IN.
WE HAVE AN ADOPTED RIGHT CONSIDERATION.
MS. UM, MS. GOR, CAN YOU READ THE MOTION? MR. YOUNG, CAN YOU RESTATE THE MOTION
AND WE ALREADY HAD THIS SECOND NOW DISCUSSION.
UM, MS. DOKI, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANTED TO THANK MS. HUMPHREY FOR GOING TO THIS TROUBLE, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO NEED TO DISCUSS FOR SURE.
AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY PUT INTO THIS AND ALL THE INPUT THAT YOU TOOK.
I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS FURTHER.
AND I, IT'S NOT THAT I'M AGAINST IT, I JUST WOULD LIKE MORE TIME.
AND I WANNA JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR DOING ALL THAT FOR US, MS. FONG.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO ASK, SO WITHIN THE RESOLUTION, DID IT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OF THE EXISTING POLICIES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE?
[01:55:01]
SO FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE WITH THE STUDENT RECORDS AND, UM, BULLYING.SO WE DO HAVE POLICIES SPECIFICALLY FOR THAT.
SO HAS THE RESOLUTION ALREADY ACCOUNTED FOR THAT? I DON'T MIND ANSWERING QUESTION, HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE IT'S APPROPRIATE BASED UPON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR, JUST TO POSTPONE AND NOT TO DISCUSS THE ACTUAL RESOLUTION.
ALTHOUGH I DO NOT MIND ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS.
MS. HEN, UM, I WANTED TO CONFIRM WITH MR. YOUNG, AND IF I NEED TO AMEND, UM, HIS MOTION, I WILL, THAT WHAT WILL BE CONSIDERED WILL BE AN AMENDED VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION.
IF COUNSEL RECOMMENDS AMENDMENTS TO THAT, UM, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASSUMING.
BUT IF MR. YOUNG HAS A DIFFERENT INTENT, THEN I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND HIS MOTION TO POSTPONE MY INTENT.
SUPPORTING WHAT MS. HUMPHREY HAS DONE IS TO ENSURE THAT COUNSEL, UM, IS LETTING US KNOW THAT WHAT IS THERE IS, UM, LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE TO BRING THAT BACK TO US.
THAT THIS IS A, A MORE LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR.
MAY I, MADAM CHAIR, 'CAUSE THIS WILL HELP THE BOARD WITH PROBABLY SIMILAR QUESTIONS.
IF THE BOARD PASSES A MOTION TO POSTPONE, YOU WILL NOT TAKEN ANY ACTION.
AND THAT WILL NOT STOP SOMEONE, THE PROPONENT OR ANYONE ELSE FROM BRINGING BACK A, YOU KNOW, THIS RESOLUTION, ANOTHER VERSION OF THE RESOLUTION OR A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ONE AT A FUTURE DATE AS AN AGENDA ITEM, YOU PUT OFF CONSIDERATION OF THIS ONE.
SO ARE WE GOOD WITH THE, THE AMENDMENT THAT'S ON THE FLOOR OR WERE YOU AMENDING THE AMENDMENT? I'M GOOD.
MS. HUMPHREY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? YES.
I'M JUST GONNA ADD THAT I, I JUST THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.
I KNOW THAT NO ONE HAS A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT, BUT I WANTED TO STATE THAT FOR THE PUBLIC THAT I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT WE SHOULD MAKE A DECISION ON IT THIS EVENING.
AND YES, THANK YOU MS. PUMPHREY FOR INITIATING THIS.
I JUST WANNA TAKE THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT HAVE EMAILED US WITH SUPPORT FOR OUR IMMIGRATION POPULATION AND TO CASA AS WELL FOR YOUR OUTREACH.
UH, ALONG WITH OTHERS, I WANNA SINCERELY EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR MS. HUMPHREY'S ADVOCACY, UH, IN MAKING SURE THAT WE AS A BOARD EXPRESS OUR, UM, OUR AGREEMENT WITH PROTECTING ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, UH, WHILE THEY'RE IN THE SCHOOL AND MAKING SURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE SECURE AND SAFE AND FREE FROM DISRUPTION.
I ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOLUTION HAS TEETH, AND IF THERE ARE PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION THAT ARE, UH, NOT LEGAL THAT WE CANNOT ENFORCE, THEN IT BECOMES A, A LESSER DOCUMENT.
AND I DON'T THINK, WELL, I'LL SPEAK FOR MYSELF.
I DON'T WANT, UM, US TO PASS A RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN'T ENFORCE IN ANY WAY THAT WILL LIKELY NOT KEEP CHILDREN PROTECTED, BUT LEAD THE COMMUNITY TO BELIEVE SO.
SO I, I AGREE THIS, THERE'S A SENSE OF URGENCY.
I APPRECIATE, UM, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
IF WE COULD JUST GET THAT LEGAL OPINION AND ADJUST THE RESOLUTION.
IF THERE ARE PARTS OF IT THAT DON'T MEET LEGAL SUFFICIENCY, THEN I, I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT.
IT IS IMPORTANT AND WE DO NEED TO ADDRESS IT.
AND, AND I AGREE WITH MS. HARVEY.
I DON'T WANNA RUSH SOMETHING THAT HAS NO TEETH.
I AM ALL FOR BEING VERY CLEAR HOW THIS BOARD FEELS AND ENSURING THAT OUR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED.
AND I'M ALSO ALL FOR ADDRESSING THIS ON A MUCH LARGER LEVEL.
WHILE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS SHEET OF PAPER, UM, THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT THE ENERGY NEEDS TO BE PUT INTO BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS, THEY CROSS DIFFERENT LINES.
UM, THEY'RE NOT JUST BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENTS.
THEY CROSS OVER INTO OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS, OTHER STATES.
THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE THAT WE ARE DEALING WITH.
AND, UM, AND THAT IS WHAT I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO, TO LOOK AT.
UM, BUT REALLY THERE'S A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE HERE, UM, BECAUSE IT IS IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE FAMILY IN OTHER PLACES.
THAT IS, IT'S IMPACTING THEIR LEARNING IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS SO THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.
SO, UM, THIS HAS TO BE DONE THE RIGHT WAY SO THAT IT'S NOT IMPACTING OUR STUDENTS' LEARNING AND IT'S NOT IMPACTING OUR TEACHERS' ABILITY TO, TO HAVE THEIR
[02:00:01]
FULL ATTENTION AND TO DO THEIR BEST TEACHING.I ALSO, YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE IS TREMENDOUS URGENCY FOR THIS, I DO WANT US TO REALLY GET IT RIGHT.
UM, SO WHILE I AGREE MS. HUMPHREY, THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE QUICKLY, I, I AGREE WITH GETTING THE TEETH, GETTING IT RIGHT AND MAKING IT SO IT CAN, IT CAN STICK.
UM, BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE ONGOING COMMUNICATION THAT'S COMING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
IT'S COMING FAST, IT'S COMING CONSTANT.
SO I DO, AND I'VE HEARD FROM OUR STAFF THAT THEY DO APPRECIATE THE MESSAGES AND THE GUIDANCE, ESPECIALLY THE CROSSWALK THAT WAS MOST RECENTLY PUT TOGETHER.
UM, SO I KNOW WE'RE GONNA GET MORE GUIDANCE.
THINGS WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE, BUT I THINK THE PRECEDENT THAT YOU STARTED WITH, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE INFORMING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS, IS HELPING.
UM, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO ADD ANYTHING.
I THINK THIS WOULD JUST BE THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO REAFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO ALL STUDENTS IN BCPS, UH, REGARDLESS OF IMMIGRATION STATUS.
WE HAVE SAID THAT, UH, BEFORE WE WILL CONTINUE TO SAY IT.
UM, AS YOU'VE ALLUDED TO, WE HAVE PROVIDED, UH, ONGOING GUIDANCE TO OUR STAFF MEMBERS ONGOING, UH, INFORMATION TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE CREATED A WEBPAGE WITH ALL OF THE, UH, RESOURCES AND DIRECTIONS.
UM, SO EVERYONE WOULD KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS WERE TO HAPPEN.
WE HAVE ALREADY TRAINED ALL OF OUR PRINCIPALS AND HAVE A COORDINATED SUPPORT TEAM FOR OUR STUDENTS WITH THE HOPE THAT WE NEVER HAVE TO IMPLEMENT SUCH A TEAM INTO ACTION.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING, AND PARTICULARLY EVERYONE WHO HAS, UM, TAKEN TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO, UM, SIT HERE AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF OUR STUDENTS TO KNOW, UM, THAT WE'RE ALL ADVOCATING ON THEIR BEHALF.
WE TAKE THIS MATTER VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE'VE ALREADY PUT IN, UH, PLACE STEPS THAT WERE, UM, GUIDANCE PROVIDED AS SUGGESTIONS.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY ACTUALIZED ON BEHALF OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK, UM, ACROSS CENTRAL OFFICE AND ACROSS SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
AND I AM ONE OF THE, UH, FEW SUPERINTENDENTS WHO SITS ON THE STATE, UM, LEVEL, UH, UH, COMMITTEE TASK FORCE THAT WAS JUST, UM, EMERGED A FEW WEEKS AGO BASED ON THIS ISSUE TO LEND MY VOICE, UM, TO WHAT OUR STUDENTS ARE NEEDING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF ATTENDANCE, WHAT OUR FAMILIES ARE TELLING US.
AND SO THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR US.
SO, UM, ABSOLUTELY WE WILL, UH, SUPPORT MAKING SURE THAT WE COMPLY, UH, WITH LAWS AND, UH, REAFFIRMING OUR COMMITMENT, BUT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
IF I AM STRAIGHT, WE NOW NEED A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THE AMENDED MOTION.
DO I HAVE THAT RIGHT ON THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? THE MOTION TO POSTPONE? OKAY.
[K. INFORMATION (8:30 p.m.)]
AGENDA IS INFORMATION, AND THAT IS THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE MONTH ENDING DECEMBER, 2024.THE REPORT ON STUDENTS COUNT 2024 AND UPDATE ON KEY SCHOOL LEGISLATION.
[L. AGENDA SETTING (8:30 - 8:40 p.m.)]
ON THE AGENDA IS AGENDA ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION.BEFORE WE DO THAT, I JUST WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE TO PREVIOUS REQUESTS.
MR. LESKI REQUESTED INFORMATION RELATED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION, WHICH WILL BE PROVIDED IN A MARCH REPORT.
UM, ALL THE OTHER REQUESTS ARE STILL UNDER REVIEW AND AT THIS TIME, BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS.
MS. DOKI? UM, YES, JUST, UM, MOVING FORWARD I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT ALL BUDGET RELATED ITEMS, WHETHER IT'S THE BAT, THIS, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL REPORT, ANY AUDITS THAT WOULD HAVE A FISCAL IMPACT, UM, BE CATEGORIZED OR LISTED AS AN AGENDA ITEM FOR DISCUSSION FOR THE FULL BOARD SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS AND NOT BE JUST AN INFORMATION ITEM.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS? MR. MCMILLIAN? MR. BURNS, PLEASE START MY CLOCK.
UM, THIS IS MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO GET THE SINGLE AUDIT YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH, 2024 ON THE OPEN AGENDA.
THAT HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN A MARCH UPDATE TOO.
I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT ALONG WITH MS. TOKIS.
DO YOU, DO YOU WANT YOUR MINUTE? 40 A WEEK? ARE WE OKAY? OKAY.
[02:05:01]
UM, I DIDN'T SEE ANY OTHER HANDS.MS. FONG? UM, FOR AGENDA ITEM, YES.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S, UM, TECHNICALLY LIKE A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM, BUT I THINK SOMETHING TO LOOK AT IS, UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT OUT IN CORPORATE AMERICA, AFTER THERE'S BEEN A BIG PROJECT THAT'S BEEN DONE, YOU HAVE LIKE A, A LESSONS LEARNED TYPE OF THING.
AND SO, UM, AS WE CONTINUE TO DO THE BUDGET PROCESS, UM, 'CAUSE I DO THINK THAT, UM, DR. ROGERS HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT LEAD UP AND GETTING ALL OF THE INPUT AND FEEDBACK, UM, LEADING UP TO IT, BUT JUST CONTINUE TO HAVE, UM, I GUESS DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WAYS THAT WE CAN, UM, IMPROVE THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR EVERYBODY.
AND THANK YOU TO MS. FONG, UM, FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
AND WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THAT REQUEST AS WELL AS TO INVITE, UM, OUR PEERS FROM OTHER BOARDS THAT HAVE INNOVATIVE BUDGET PROCESSES.
UM, UM, MENTIONED ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, BUT THERE ARE OTHERS AS WELL THAT HAVE, UM, QUITE THE ROBUST BUDGET PROCESSES THAT RUN THROUGH THEIR BUDGET COMMITTEES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE THEIR PROCESSES WITH US ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THEIR PROCESS OR THROUGH THEIR BUDGET SEASON AND THINGS QUIET DOWN FOR, FOR US AND THEM, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO SHARE THEIR PROCESSES WITH US.
SO AS MS. FONG SAID, I THINK THAT'S A TREMENDOUS LEARNING OPPORTUNITY IF THEY'RE WILLING TO SHARE.
[M. ANNOUNCEMENTS (8:40 p.m.)]
WILL HOLD.THE NEXT ITEM IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
THE BOARD WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE NORTHWEST AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOUNDARY.
WHOOPS, BOUNDARY RECOMMENDATION TO TOMORROW FEBRUARY 26TH, 2025.
SO I'LL SEE EVERYBODY AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.
6:30 PM AT MILFORD MILL ACADEMY AUDITORIUM.
SPEAKER SIGN UP BEGINS AT FIVE 30 THROUGH 6 25, SO THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT, SPEAKERS SIGN UP AGAINST FIVE 30 AND WE'LL END AT 6 25.
OUR NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MARCH 11TH, 2025 AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT, AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.