[00:00:01]
THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER.
I CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025.
THIS EVENING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV, 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.
[A. CLOSED SESSION]
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 SECTIONS THREE DASH 3 0 5, BE 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 AND HAS JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTER THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS.AND CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.
IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, ABE.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
THE NEXT ITEM FOR CLOSED SESSION IS PERSONNEL MATTERS.
THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER.
I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2025.
[B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)]
TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO BE LED BY MS. FORESIGHT UNBE.WE WILL THEN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
WE JUST TO APPLY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST FOR THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST IN BC PS TV, XFINITY CHANNEL 73, VERIZON CHANNEL 34.
IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.
[C. AGENDA (6:35 p.m.)]
THE FIRST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE SEPTEMBER 9TH AGENDA.DR. ROGERS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ADDITION OR CHANGES TO THIS EVENING'S AGENDA.
OKAY, MS. HEN? THANK YOU MADAM CHAIR.
I MOVE TO REMOVE ITEM P ONE CONSIDERATION OF COUNTY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 40 DASH 25.
I MOVE TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM TO ALLOW LEGAL BOARD COUNSEL, UM, TIME TO PREPARE EDITS TO THE RESOLUTION.
IS SO YOU MADE A MOTION, I'M SORRY.
I MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS AGENDA ITEM.
TO ALLOW TIME FOR BOARD COUNCIL TO PREPARE EDITS TO THE RESOLUTION.
UM, IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND HUMPHREY.
AND YOU JUST KIND OF SPOKE TO YOUR MOTION.
DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING FURTHER? NO, MA'AM.
UM, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION MS. HARVEY? YEAH.
I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, ARE THE EDITS RELATED TO THE LEGALITY OF IT? TO WHAT, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT? REVISED? THANK YOU.
MAY I RESPOND? MADAM CHAIR? YES.
UM, I'D LIKE TO ALLOW BOARD COUNSEL THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE RECOMMENDED, UM, CORRECTIONS OR, UM, SUGGESTIONS TO THE RESOLUTION AS FAR AS LEGALITY.
FURTHER DISCUSSION TEAMS. OKAY.
UM, MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL THOUGH, PLEASE? MS. HARVEY? YES.
OUR NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS, I'M SORRY, LEMME GET BACK TO, OOPS.
[00:05:01]
APPROVED AND THE AGENDA IS APPROVED EARLIER THIS EVENING.THE BOARD MET ENCLOSED 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 CAN CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE.
THE CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY AND THE OPEN SESSION INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE.
[D. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Mr. McCall) (6:45 - 6:50 p.m.)]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS, AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. MCCALL.CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR, HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT, DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'D LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS.
TONIGHT WE HAVE TERMINATIONS, RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES, AND DECEASED RECOGNITION OF SERVICE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT D ONE? SO MOVED.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, YOUNG.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL THOUGH, PLEASE? MS. HARVEY? YES.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO WAIT A SECOND MR. MCCALL? DO I HAVE A MO? IT'S OKAY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED EXHIBITS D TWO THROUGH D FIVE? SO MOVE LESKI.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND HAND.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
[E. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Rogers) (6:50 - 7:00 p.m.)]
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.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPORT AND ACHIEVEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOLS, SPECIALIST, HEALTH EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING AND MATH, AND SENIOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT E ONE? SO MOVE YOUNG.
ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.
OUR FIRST APPOINTEE IS MICHELLE ANDERSON.
PLEASE STAND TO BE RECOGNIZED.
MICHELLE ANDERSON IS ATTENDING THIS EVENING AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPORT AND ACHIEVEMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOLS WITH 13 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
HER PRIOR EXPERIENCES INCLUDE SCIENCE TEACHER AT SPARROWS POINT HIGH SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL AT EASTERN TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL.
MICHELLE'S PRIOR EXPERIENCE BE BEYOND BCPS INCLUDES SCIENCE TEACHER AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL IN HARTFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ACADEMY PRINCIPAL AT YORK COUNTY SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY.
NEXT APPOINTMENT IS NANCY BAUER.
RECOGNIZE NANCY IS ATTENDING THIS EVENING WITH HER HUSBAND ERIC.
YOU STAND AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE SPECIALIST OF HEALTH EDUCATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING OF AND MATH.
WITH 22 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
NANCY'S EXPERIENCE INCLUDE FAMILY AND COMMUN COMMUNITY CONSUMER SCIENCE TEACHER AT RANDALLSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT MIDDLE RIVER MIDDLE AND HEALTH EDUCATION TEACHER AT CATONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
PRIOR TO THAT, NANCY SERVED AS A HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER AT NORTHGATE JUNIOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
[00:10:01]
APPOINTMENT FOR THIS EVENING IS WHITNEY LEONARD.WHITNEY IS ATTENDING THIS EVENING WITH HER DAUGHTER NOAH AND IS BEING APPOINTED AS A SENIOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS WITH THREE YEARS OF SERVICE WITH BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHITNEY'S PRIOR EXPERIENCE INCLUDES COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR IN THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS.
PRIOR TO THAT, WHITNEY SERVED AS A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER IN RICHMOND CITY AND HOWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
THANK YOU, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.
[F. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:00 - 7:30 p.m.)]
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 THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY HAS RECOMMENDED SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS, WHICH ARE POSTED IN THE BOARDROOM AND AVAILABLE ON 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 FORUM 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 BEHAVIOR SUCH AS LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES VIOLENCE AGAINST A-B-C-P-S EMPLOYEE OR THAT DISRUPTS OR INTERFERES WITH THE CONDUCT OF THIS MEETING ARE OUT OF ORDER AND WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.
PERSONS WHO OTHERWISE DISRUPT OR DISTURB THIS MEETING WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THEIR REMARKS AND WILL BE ESCORTED FROM THE MEETING.
PLEASE OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE 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 START WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFILIATED GROUPS AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SAM PARK, AND I THINK IS SAM HERE? OKAY.
CAN YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME FOR ME? I KNOW I PROBABLY MESSED IT UP.
MS. LICHTER, VICE CHAIR, MS. HARVEY, DR. ROGERS, STUDENT MEMBER, MS. ABE, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM RIE ONAN, THE BCSE PRESIDENT.
TODAY WE ARE HERE TO UPDATE YOU ON THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENT COUNCILS OR BCSC.
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WE HAVE ELECTED OUR CURRENT BCSE OFFICER TEAM OPENED UP APPLICATIONS FOR OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD AND APPOINTED A TEAM OF OVER 50 MEMBERS, ONE OF THE BIGGEST EXECUTIVE BOARDS IN BCSE HISTORY ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST, BCSE.
IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY JUNIOR COUNCILS HOSTED OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD RETREAT AT THE EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT CENTER WHERE WE EDUCATED OUR MEMBERS ON THE FUNCTIONS OF BCSC AND BCJC ALONG WITH THEIR SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AS MEMBERS.
ADDITIONALLY, ALL EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICER TEAM MEMBERS WERE REQUIRED TO LAY OUT SPECIFIC GOALS THEY WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THEIR TERM.
THESE GOALS INCLUDED THREE ACTION STEPS PER GOAL, CHECK-IN DATES AND DEADLINES.
EACH EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER IS EXPECTED TO FULFILL ALL GOALS AND GO BEYOND THEIR POSITION DESCRIPTIONS.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE SUCH A DEDICATED TEAM AND WE KNOW WE WILL ACCOMPLISH MUCH THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR.
ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS OF BCSE THIS YEAR IS TO ESTABLISH A STRONG LEGISLATIVE PRESENCE.
THIS YEAR WE CREATED A LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WITHIN BCSC WITH STATE AND NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS COORDINATORS.
THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN MEETING WITH MULTIPLE SENATORS AND DELEGATES IN THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WILL BE WRITING BOTH STANCES AS WE APPROACH OUR ADVOCACY DAYS LATER ON THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR WE ARE FORTUNATE TO CONTINUE RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM BCPS THROUGH OUR MONTHLY SEMINARS.
THESE SEMINARS GIVE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES AND PERSPECTIVES ON TOPICS SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH AND SCHOOL SAFETY.
LAST YEAR WE SAW INCREDIBLE SUCCESS WITH BCPS CENTRAL OFFICE MEMBERS, ATTENDING EACH SEMINAR AND ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS.
WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND FURTHER UPLIFT STUDENT VOICES.
THIS PAST MONTH, BCSE WON THE BID TO HOST THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT COUNCIL'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN JANUARY AT LOCK RAVEN HIGH SCHOOL.
WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HOST STUDENT LEADERS FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE AS THEY VOTE FOR THE NEXT STATE STUDENT MEMBER ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRESENCE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
FINALLY, OUR APPLICATION FOR BOTH BCSE COMMITTEES AND THE BOARD OF SELECTED STUDENTS ARE OFFICIALLY OPEN.
THESE ARE AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED BEYOND THEIR SCHOOL BY PLANNING ACTIVITIES AND EVEN PROVIDING OUR AMAZING SM WITH INFORMATION, BOTH APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON SEPTEMBER 30TH.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK HERE AGAIN, AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR BCPS STUDENTS.
[00:15:01]
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN SOON.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARLENA COLTON PURCELL FROM THE SOUTHWEST AREA ADVISORY COUNCIL.
CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS, AND ALL ON ADEAS.
FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS MARLENA COLTON PURCELL AND THE SOUTHWEST AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND TONIGHT MY PRIMARY GOAL IS TO REINDUCE, REINTRODUCE, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS, UM, UNDERSTAND AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT THE ADVISORY COUNCIL PLAYS AND THE HUGE IMPACT.
UM, AND YOU CAN FIND THIS MISSION STATEMENT ON BCPS.ORG TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY, BETWEEN THE SCHOOL, UM, AND COMMUNITY BY SERVING AS INFORMED ADVISORS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT STUDENTS, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES, AND SCHOOLS.
TONIGHT I'M ASKING SUGGESTING, ENCOURAGING BEGGING
THERE'S FIVE AREAS AND I'M HOPING THAT TONIGHT, UM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO ON BCPS DOT ORG'S WEBSITE, DO THE SEARCH ENGINE AREA EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, AND YOU WILL SEE THE MEETINGS THAT HAS BEEN HELD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UM, IT IS A VERY, UM, IMPACTFUL, UM, VOLUNTEERS THAT WE, UM, GET TOGETHER MONTHLY AND WE ALSO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD.
SO I AM ENCOURAGING, UM, ALL TONIGHT TO, UM, CONSIDER AND BE A PART OF THIS GROUP.
THERE IS, UM, THERE ARE MEETINGS.
YOU CAN FIND THE MEETINGS ON THE WEBSITE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL ANY EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIR.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOODNIGHT.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE ADVISORY COUNCILS.
OUR NEXT GROUP ARE OUR UNIONS, AND OUR SPEAKER TONIGHT IS KELLY OLDS FROM TAPCO.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LECTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
UM, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
MY, UH, MY REMARKS ARE NOT AS TIMELY WITH THE CHANGE TO THE AGENDA, UM, HOWEVER, I KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA COME BACK UP, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT SUPPORTING THE RESOLUTION THAT IS GOING TO BE COMING BEFORE YOU AT SOME POINT REGARDING THE BALTIMORE COUNTY INSPECTOR GENERAL HAVING OVERSIGHT OVER THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND BCPS IN ADDITION TO THE OVERSIGHT THAT IS ALREADY IN THOSE PLACES.
PART OF THE PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL IS TO IDENTIFY WAYS TO PROMOTE EFFICIENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND INTEGRITY IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT COME TO MIND WITHIN BCPS THAT COULD BE SUPPORTED WITH THAT GOAL.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE I SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE WORK OF BCPS STAFF TO ADDRESS ISSUES AND CONCERNS AS THEY COME UP, TIME AND RESOURCES WOULD BE SAVED BY ADDRESSING THE CAUSE OF THESE ISSUES AND WHERE IT IS A PROCESS ISSUE ADDRESSING THAT RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL CASES THAT WOULD PROMOTE EFFICIENCY.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT COULD LEAD TO MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE BUDGET.
BCPS HAS AN INTERNAL AUDIT, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LITTLE OVERSIGHT WITH FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS WAS AS ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, AS I UNDERSTAND WAS THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE BE MAINTAINED BY THE BOARD FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS AND THAT COMMITTEE, AS I UNDERSTAND, HAS BEEN DISSOLVED.
I BELIEVE THAT TRANSPARENCY IN THESE PROCESSES IS IMPORTANT AND CONSTITUENTS TRUSTING THAT BCPS IS HANDLING THEIR MONEY WITH THIS LENS IS AS IMPORTANT WHEN WE DISCUSS TAXES, WHERE THEY'RE GOING AND WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE INCREASES.
THIS TRUST HAS AN IMPORTANT FUNDING IMPLICATION.
FURTHER IN ADDRESSING THE LEGAL CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP REGARDING THE BOARD TAKING A POSITION ON THIS ISSUE, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ASKING FOR YOU TO APPROVE IG HAVING AUTHORITY OVER BCPS, BUT RATHER TO SUPPORT THE ASK OF COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO TAKE THIS ISSUE UP FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE BOARD VOTING AGAINST THE CONSIDERATION OF ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THEIR OWN BODY AS THE FIDUCIARY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM CREATES A CONCERNING PERCEPTION.
IN CLOSING, I ASK THAT WHEN YOU TAKE THIS ISSUE INTO CONSIDERATION, YOU VOTE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND
[00:20:01]
STAND WITH THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY PUT THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND THIS.OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS FROM NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS, IS DR. DORSEY FROM THE RANDALLSTOWN NAACP.
GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
TEKIAH DORIS C AND I PROUDLY SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE RANDALLSTOWN NAACP BRANCH 70 32 BI THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT ON AN ISSUE CENTRAL TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS OF OUR CHILDREN.
OVERSIGHT OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL'S BUDGET BY THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE BALTIMORE COUNTY'S COUNCIL ADOPTION OF COUNCILMAN DAVID MARKS RESOLUTION, AND WE URGE THIS BOARD TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT WILL AUTHORIZE THE OIG TO INVESTIGATE AND PREVENT FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE WITHIN BCPS BUDGET AS ADVOCATES FOR EQUITY AND EDUCATION.
THE NAACP THAT BELIEVE BELIEVES HAS ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT TRANSPARENCY AND FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY ARE CIVIL RIGHT ISSUES.
THE MISUSE OF MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMS, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND STUDENTS WHO RELY ON FULLY FUNDED SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE THE QUALITY EDUCATION THEY ARE PROMISED.
EVERY DOLLAR LOST TO INEFFICIENCY OR MISCONDUCT IS A DOLLAR TAKEN FROM CLASSROOMS CRITICAL PROGRAMMING AND STUDENT SERVICES.
WE BELIEVE THE OIG IS WELL-POSITIONED TO PROVIDE THIS PROTECTION AND WE ARE NOT ASKING THAT BALTIMORE COUNTY TO TAKE AN UNTESTED STEP BECAUSE MONTGOMERY COUNTY ALREADY DO IT.
THEIR OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS OVERSIGHT OVER MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING AUDITS, BUDGETARY ANALYSIS, FINANCIAL REVIEWS AND MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE REVIEWS TO ASSESS AND IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY OF THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THIS INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT ENSURES THEIR SCHOOL SYSTEM OPERATES WITH FISCAL INTEGRITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY WOULD SIMPLY BE FOLLOWING SUIT.
CURRENTLY BCPS BUDGET PROCESS INVOLVED THE SCHOOL BOARD'S PROPOSAL REVIEWED BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND APPROVAL BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL, BUT THERE IS NO INDEPENDENT AGENCY EMPOWERED TO INVESTIGATE HOW THOSE FUNDS ARE IMPLEMENTED, MANAGED AND SAFEGUARDED.
THAT'S A GAP THAT MUST BE FILLED.
THIS PROPOSAL IS NOT ABOUT DIMINISH, DIMINISHING THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD.
IT IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING PUBLIC TRUST AND ENSURING THAT THE BALTIMORE COUNTY LARGEST INVESTMENT, OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS MANAGED RESPONSIBLY, TRANSPARENTLY AND ETHICALLY.
WE COMMEND COUNCILMAN MARKS FOR HIS LEADERSHIP AND THE COUNTY COUNCIL FOR ITS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.
NOW WE CALL ON THIS BOARD TO JOIN ITS EFFORT BECAUSE PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS, OUR TEACHERS, AND OUR IS NOT JUST A ISSUE, IT'S A MORAL OBLIGATION.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARIETTA ENGLISH FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY NAACP.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, ELECTED CHAIR HARVEY, BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS.
MY NAME IS MARIETTA ENGLISH AND I AM CHAIR OF AXO AND THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BRANCH OF THE NAACP.
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BRANCH OF THE NAACP REPRESENTS THE ENTIRE COUNTY.
OUR MEMBERSHIP IS FAR AND WIDE.
I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE TO REPORT THAT THIS YEAR OUR AXO STUDENTS DID NOT PLACE NATIONALLY.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME IN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS, 20 YEARS MAYBE.
[00:25:01]
ALREADY BEGUN TO PREPARE FOR THIS COMING YEAR.I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND DR. ROGERS AND THE STAFF OF BCPS ON HAVING HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE TOP 50 IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND, INCLUDING PIKESVILLE HIGH, WHERE MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS, THE STUDENT AND THE TENS THERE.
AND WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN STUDENTS FROM PIKESVILLE TO ATTEND AXO, SO I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
THIS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR BCPS, BUT I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT HAS SURFACED THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BRAND TO THE NAACP UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF DR.
DANITA TOLSON AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE STRONGLY OPPOSE COUNCILMAN MARK'S RESOLUTION TO EXPAND THE AUTHORITY OF THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INCLUDE OVERSIGHT OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
WHY CREATE A LOCAL OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF EDUCATION? IT IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY.
WE ALREADY HAVE TWO STRONG OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS IN PLACE.
THE OFFICE IN OF INTERNAL AUDIT, WHICH REPORTS DIRECTLY TO THE BOARD AND THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF EDUCATION, WHICH WAS CREATED TO ENSURE THE INDEPENDENCE ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
WE KNOW THAT OVERSIGHT IS NECESSARY, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THE MEANS TO LOOK FOR FRAUD IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, ADDING ANOTHER LAYER WITH DIVERT RESOURCES AWAY FROM CLASSROOMS AND STUDENT SUPPORT.
THE REAL QUESTION BEFORE US IS NOT WHETHER BCPS NEEDS ANOTHER INSPECTOR GENERAL BECAUSE IT DOES NOT, BUT ARE WE ENSURING THAT THE ACADEMIC PROGRESS CONTINUES AND ACCELERATES? WE NEED TO REMAIN FOCUSED ON CLASSROOMS AND NOT BUREAUCRACY.
OUR STUDENTS DESERVE LEADERS WHO KEEP THEIR EYES ON TEACHING, LEARNING AND STUDENT SUCCESS, NOT REDUNDANT OVERSIGHT.
THE BALTIMORE COUNTY BRANCH STRONGLY ASKS THAT YOU REJECT COUNCILMAN MARK'S RESOLUTIONS.
AND I HAVE A COPY OF MY REMARKS, WHICH I'LL GIVE TO YOU.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS AARON BARNETT.
I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT CATEGORY, INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OR STUDENTS.
AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER VIRTUALLY IS RACHEL WALLACE.
MS. WALLACE, YOU MIGHT NEED TO UNMUTE.
MY NAME IS RACHEL WALLACE AND I'M A PARENT AT FRANKLIN MIDDLE.
AND, UM, I THINK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PROBABLY HEARD WE HAD AN INCIDENT ON AUGUST 26TH, UM, A SECURITY INCIDENT THAT A LOT OF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
WE HAD, UM, AN INITIAL MEETING WITH SOME MEMBERS FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE BOARD, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR SUPPORT AND ENGAGING WITH PARENTS AND THE SCHOOL.
BUT WE REALLY WANNA HAVE SOME FOLLOWING CONVERSATIONS, UM, ON HOW WE CAN IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY.
WE THINK THAT WHAT HAS BEEN PROPOSED RIGHT NOW BY THE SCHOOL IS VERY LIMITED IN SCOPE.
UM, AND IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE SPECIFIC, UM, CAUSES THAT LED TO THE INCIDENT OR PERMITTED THE INCIDENT.
SPECIFICALLY, WE REALLY WANNA HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN LOOK AT SCREENING FIREARMS AS THEY COME INTO OUR SCHOOL, DETECTING THEM AND PREVENTING FIREARMS FROM GETTING INTO OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, THE SCHOOL HAS MADE SOME CHANGES INITIALLY ON SAFETY PROCEDURES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED OR, UM, INITIATED A PLAN SPECIFIC TO DETECTING FIREARMS THAT COULD ENTER OUR SCHOOL.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE ASKED FOR A FOLLOW ON MEETING, UM, WITH THE SCHOOL AND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN REALLY MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ISSUE.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF REMAINING QUESTIONS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY AND, UM, JUST PARENT CONCERNS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
SO WE WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE MEETING, BUT, UM, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON SOFF.
HOPE I CAN SQUEEZE ALL OF THIS INTO
[00:30:01]
THREE MINUTES.AT LAST SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, DURING A PRESENTATION ABOUT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, THE PRESENTERS TALKED ABOUT PROVIDING DIFFERENT PATHWAYS OF LEARNING FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL STAFF.
THOSE PATHWAYS INCLUDED BOTH IN PERSON AND VIRTUAL.
WHY THEN DO WE NOT AFFORD THIS SAME COURTESY TO OUR STUDENTS? CURRENTLY, THE ONLY WAY TO DO CREDIT RECOVERY IN THE HIGH SCHOOL IS THROUGH A SO-CALLED SELF-PACED PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR FOUR WEEKS IN THE SUMMER OR IN THE EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE ARE SOME SCHOOLS THAT DO CR EDIT RECOVERY BY DOUBLING UP ONE CLASS, SUCH AS PLACING NINE, ENGLISH NINE AND 10 ON THE SAME SCHEDULE.
BUT THESE PATHWAYS DO NOT CONSIDER THE UNIQUE WAY STUDENTS LEARN WHEN THEY HAVE AN IEP OR THAT STUDENTS MAY NEED MORE THAN FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE THEIR PATHWAY.
WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT WE WANNA FOLLOW ON AN IEP AND WHAT WE DON'T.
AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM.
TEACHERS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE ALL THE ACCOMMODATIONS AND SUPPORTS A CHILD NEEDS.
WHY ARE WE RELUCTANT TO PLACE NECESSARY ACCOMMODATIONS AND SUPPORTS ON THE IEP? I WAS IN A MEETING LAST WEEK AND EVERY TIME THE PARENT AND I SUGGESTED SOMETHING WE WERE RES WE RECEIVED THE RESPONSE OF THE STUDENT HAS THIS SCORE OR THE STUDENT HAS THAT SCORE.
A CHILD IS NOT A SCORE ON A PIECE OF PAPER.
IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE.
I'D PROBABLY BE IN AN INSTITUTION BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE TOLD I WAS MENTALLY RETARDED WHEN I WAS A KID.
WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE STUDENT AND RECOGNIZE THAT SOME STUDENTS MAY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL PART-TIME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEIR DISABILITY REQUIRES, AND SOME CAN LEARN FULL-TIME, SOME CAN LEARN VIRTUAL AND SOME NEED TO BE IN PERSON.
WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL THAT EVERYONE LEARNS DIFFERENTLY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ANGELA FORD.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER ALSO VIRTUALLY IS DR.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIRWOMAN LEFT.
SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SAMIR SIMKINS AND I'M HERE TODAY AS A PARENT OF TWO BCPS STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN STRONG SUPPORT OF, UM, BALTIMORE COUNTY'S COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OVERSIGHT OVER BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
ACCORDING TO BCP S'S OWN WEBSITE THIS YEAR, THE SYSTEM OPERATES ON A $2.45 BILLION BUDGET.
NEARLY HALF OF IT COMES FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY.
41% COMES FROM THE STATE AND THE REST FROM OTHER SOURCES.
AS A PARENT AND A TAXPAYER, UM, I FULLY SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS AND I'M GLAD WE HAVE THIS MONEY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE BCPS ACCOUNTS WERE NEARLY HALF OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY'S BUDGET, WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPECT THESE DOLLARS TO BE MANAGED EFFICIENTLY AND RESPONSIBLY.
FOR PERSPECTIVE, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SERVE JUST OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND STUDENTS, WHILE BALTIMORE COUNTY AS A WHOLE SERVES OVER 850,000 RESIDENTS, NEARLY EIGHT TIMES MORE PEOPLE ON A ROUGHLY THE SAME SCALE OF FUNDING.
I APPRECIATE THE PLANNING, MONITORING, AND INTERNAL AUDIT THAT VCPS CONDUCTS AND I VALUES ENGAGEMENTS THAT YOU DO WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS, BUT RECENT AUDIT FINDINGS OF PAYROLL, FRAUD THEFT, AND OTHER FINANCIAL ABUSE ARE TROUBLING.
WHILE I'M RELIEVED THESE CASES WERE CAUGHT, THEY ALSO RAISED AN IMPORTANT QUESTION.
[00:35:01]
HOW MANY OF CASES LIKE THAT WENT UNDETECTED? I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED, UM, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET MEETINGS WHERE EVEN BOARD MEMBERS WERE NOT ALWAYS PROVIDED FULL BUDGET DETAILS AND SUCH SITUATIONS MAKE THE PROCESS FEEL LIKE A BLACK BOX, EVEN IF THERE IS A GOOD REASONING FOR NOT DISCLOSING ALL THE DETAILS.THAT IS WHY AN INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT IS SO CRITICAL.
EXTENDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INCLUDE BCPS WOULD GIVE TAXPAYERS AND STUDENTS' FAMILIES CONFIDENCE THAT EVEN WHEN DETAILS OF THE BUDGET AND FUNDING ARE NOT PUBLIC, AN INDEPENDENT WATCH DOC WILL ENSURE THAT OUR TAXES AND CHILDREN'S EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE PROTECTED FROM FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE.
INVESTING IN OVERSIGHT IS NOT A BURDEN.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT IN TRUST AND INTEGRITY AND SAFE OPERATION OF OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS JEFFREY KO, AND I APOLOGIZE IF I NO, YOU'RE PRETTY.
I'LL TAKE THAT YOU SAY IT SO I KNOW.
UH, SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS CHAIR LICHTER, UM, BOARD AND CABINET MEMBERS.
UM, CONGRATULATIONS FIRST OF ALL FOR IMPROVING MCAP SCORES FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING.
THE STAFF AND STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ALSO DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT.
AND IN ORDER TO ENGAGE, EMPOWER AND EXCEL, THERE'S MORE WORK TO BE DONE.
THAT'S WHY I AM ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMAN MARK'S RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT IG OVERSIGHT OVER THE BUDGETARY PROCESS.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE SICK OF HEARING ABOUT, UM, THE 2021 EFFICIENCY REVIEW BY PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, AND, UH, BBS HAS IMPLEMENTED MANY OF THE CHANGES SUGGESTED, BUT THEY STILL HAVE NOT.
WE STILL HAVE NOT COMPLETELY ADDRESSED THE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS WITH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, PURCHASING, UM, AND RISK MANAGEMENT.
UH, UM, AS STATED EARLIER BY OTHER PEOPLE, WE HAVE A $2.5 BILLION BUDGET THAT'S HALF OF OVER HALF THE COUNTY'S BUDGET.
LAST WEEK IN A CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAPPENS TO BE A MARYLAND DELEGATE, UM, MY PARTNER KELLY ASKED WHAT REASON WOULD BCPS GIVE FOR NOT WANTING IG OVERSIGHT OVER THE BUDGET? HE SAID, THEY WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT WITH BCPS.
WE ALREADY HAVE OUR OWN IN-HOUSE BUDGETARY OVERSIGHT, AND THAT THE OIGE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND HAS OVERSIGHT, UM, AND THAT IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY.
THAT WAS THE THIRD POINT THAT ON THE SURFACE THEY SOUND PLAUSIBLE.
HOWEVER, UM, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ALONE, CLEARLY OUR INTERNAL AUDITING ISN'T WORKING.
THE OIGE, RICHARD HENRY HAS 24 SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MANAGE AND NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES TO OVERSEE ALL OF THEM EFFECTIVELY.
AND IF WE FOLLOW THE SUCCESSFUL MODELS PUT FORTH BY PRINCE GEORGE'S AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, UM, IT WOULDN'T COST ANY MORE MONEY AND NOBODY WOULD LOSE THEIR JOB BECAUSE THEY ROLLED THEIR, UM, THEY ROLLED THEIR, UH, COUNTY AUDITORS UNDER THE IGA.
SO YOU'RE JUST MOVING A RESOURCE THAT ALREADY EXISTS.
THE BOE HAS A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT MONEY IS SPENT IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE WAY TO SUPPORT OUR MOST PRIZE ASSET ARE MORE THAN 110,000 STUDENTS.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS A 95 5 ISSUE.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL, THE BALL, UH, RANDALLSTOWN NAACP, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN'S VOTERS, THE B-C-P-S-A-S-C, TABCO DELEGATES, N IRAQI, SENATOR CARL JACKSON AND TAXPAYERS ALL SUPPORT THIS OVERSIGHT OVER THE BUDGET.
WE KNOW THAT OUR ACADEMIC DATA, WE KNOW WHAT OUR DATA SAYS IN ORDER TO FURTHER IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
BPS NEEDS TO MAXIMIZE EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE INCREASING ECONOMIC HARDSHIPS AND FINANCIAL DEMANDS OF THE MARYLAND BLUEPRINT OF EDUCATION.
HISTORICALLY, MORE MONEY HASN'T LED TO INCREASING STUDENT OUTCOMES.
IN FACT, THE OPPOSITE'S BEEN TRUE.
BETTER PLANNING, EXECUTION AND STEWARDSHIP WILL, I BELIEVE THAT BALTIMORE COUNTY LEADERSHIP WANTS TO IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES.
I BELIEVE BPS WANTS TO EARN PUBLIC TRUST VOTING FOR THE IG OVERSIGHT MATCHES THAT THE DISTRICT'S, UM, ACTIONS WITH THE WORDS.
IT OPENS A DIALOGUE AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER FROM THE WAIT LIST IS, UM, DR.
I HAVE A BIT OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH, SO I HOPE YOU BEAR WITH ME.
[00:40:01]
I REALLY LOVE ENGAGEMENT, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD LIKE TO STAND TONIGHT TO RECOGNIZE MS. MARLINA SOUTHWEST CHAIR WHO SPOKE TO YOU TODAY.AND I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CHAIR OF THE SOUTHEAST.
SOUTHEAST IS THE MOST, UH, ACTIVE, PROACTIVE, UH, POLITELY, VOCAL, ET CETERA.
I THINK SOUTHWEST IS SECOND CHOICE, SORRY.
UH, BUT THE REST OF THEM TO USE MEDICAL LANGUAGE ARE DEAD IN MY OPINION.
OR MAYBE IN AN ICU BED ON VENTILATOR.
AND I REALLY WONDER WHY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION NEVER REALLY LISTENED TO MY RED FLAG ABOUT THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL AREA COUNCILS.
THE SYSTEM IS INTENTION IS GOOD, BUT NEVER WORKED.
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SELECTED, THEY ARE SELECTED IN AN INDIRECT WAY TO BE AGREEABLE WITH THE CENTRAL OFFICE.
SO YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOICES THAT ARE CRITICAL OR TRULY INTERESTED.
AND THE PROOF OF THAT IS YOU'VE SEEN MARLE TODAY, BUT YOU DON'T SEE THE CENTRAL AREA CHAIR, YOU DON'T SEE THE OTHERS.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE MINUTES ON THE WEBSITE, THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THEM AND MANY OF THEM, THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THEIR PRESENTATION ALREADY ON THE WEBSITE.
FURTHERMORE, THE TOPICS ARE OFTEN THE SAME TOPICS THAT COMES TO THE BOARD.
SO WHAT'S THE SENSE? I THINK THIS SYSTEM REQUIRES A REVAMP.
AS YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A CHAIR OF THE CENTRAL AREA FIVE YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE MOST ACTIVE OF ALL OF THEM.
AND OBVIOUSLY I WAS PUSHED OUT.
UM, NOT INTERESTED IN GOING BACK, BUT DO YOU REALLY KNOW THE NAME OF THE CHAIR OF THE CENTRAL AREA? SHE NEVER CAME HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL CHAIR.
I REALLY ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THAT.
YOU SAY ENGAGEMENT EX NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED.
THEY TAKE FIVE SLOTS AND THAT FIVE SLOTS IS TOO MANY AND THEY TAKE TOO MUCH SPACE.
THEY CAUSE THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TO DO SOME WORK.
THEY, THEY COST US ELECTRICITY IN THEIR MEETING.
THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT WAS ON OUR RETREAT SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND WILL BE FOLLOWED UP.
[G. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT (7:30 - 7:35 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS A SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.AND FOR THAT I CALL HIM DR. ROGERS.
GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M PLEASED TO PROVIDE THE SEPTEMBER SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
IF WE CAN BEGIN WITH A WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL VIDEO, A SHORT, UH, CLIP FROM BCPS TV, UM, JUST TO SHARE HOW WE OPENED THE SCHOOL YEAR.
TEAM BCPS PROUDLY WELCOMED 110,000 STUDENTS BACK FOR A BRAND NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
MATTHEW, YOU'RE ACTIVELY LISTENING.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO EXCITING SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERYBODY BEING READY TO LEARN.
ALL THE ADULTS ARE READY FOR HIM.
JUST WHOEVER YOU, YOU HAVE YOU DOING A LINE DRAW? IS HE A FIVE MINUTE LINE DRAW? EVERYONE WAS ENGAGED AND READY TO GO.
EMBRACING A NEW YEAR, FRESH START, NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
I HAD A LOT FIGHTING THE CLIFF FANS THE FIRST DAY.
UM, I'VE BEEN LEARNING SOME STUFF AND IT'S REALLY GREAT.
IT KIND OF JUST SIGNIFIES THE END OF MY JOURNEY AT BCPS.
I SPENT THE LAST 12 YEARS AT BCPS GOING TO ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL AND JUST BEING HERE ON MY LAST FIRST DAY, IT'S VERY BITTERSWEET 'CAUSE I KIND OF HAVE THAT ENDING TO THE JOURNEY THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING WITH THE BCPS WHEN THE TEACHERS COME BACK AND THEN IT'S TIME FOR THE STUDENTS TO COME BACK.
ALL YOU WANT TO HEAR ARE THEIR, IS THEIR EXCITED CHATTER AND ALL THEY WANNA DO IS GO INTO THEIR CLASSROOMS AND MEET THEIR TEACHERS AND SEE THEIR FRIENDS.
[00:45:01]
PALPABLE, NOT JUST IN THE BUILDING.THE MOMENT YOU ENTER THE SCHOOL GROUNDS, TEACHERS, STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE READY TO PARTNER WITH STUDENTS TO MAKE THIS YEAR TRULY REMARKABLE.
GETTING EVERYBODY BACK INTO THIS COMMUNITY AND SEEING EVERYONE RETURN AND ALL THAT ENTHUSIASM AND ENERGY THAT THEY BRING WITH THEM, UH, IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME WITHOUT THEM.
I LOVE BEING HERE AND, UH, FEEDING INTO ALL OF THAT ENERGY.
I WOULD SAY MY FOCUS REALLY FOR THIS YEAR IS ALL ABOUT INCLUSIVITY.
UM, OUR DEMOGRAPHIC IS CHANGING AT OUR SCHOOL.
WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF POPULATIONS AT OUR SCHOOL AND MIXING TOGETHER.
SO DIVERSITY'S KIND OF ALWAYS BEEN AN AREA WHERE I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS.
UM, AND THIS YEAR I'M GONNA COMBINE THAT LOVE OF DIVERSITY AND THAT PASSION THAT I HAVE FOR CELEBRATING DIVERSITY, BUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED IN OUR SCHOOL FROM OUR LITTLEST LEARNERS TO SOON TO BE GRADUATES.
TEAM BCPS IS READY FOR A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR.
IF YOU GUYS CAN JOIN ME WITH GIVING, UH, TEAM, UH, B-C-P-S-B-C-P-S TV.
A ROUND OF APPLAUSE THANKING THEM FOR THAT.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO JOINED ME ON VISITS ALONG WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CABINET MEMBERS.
WE WENT TO 23 SCHOOLS AND EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO IS WHAT WE SAW.
THE STUDENTS WERE READY, THEY WERE ENGAGED, THE STAFF WAS READY, EVERYONE WAS FOCUSED.
AND WHAT WE SAW MOST IMPORTANTLY WAS EVERYONE, UH, STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR OFF IN CONTENT.
UM, AND YOU SAW SIMILARITIES ACROSS CLASSES.
AND SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR TO COME.
SEPTEMBER IS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH OR NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
AS THAT IS COMING, YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS ON REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND TEAM BCPS.
AND THAT IS BECAUSE WE KNOW STUDENTS NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL IN ORDER TO LEARN.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE GAINS THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE MADE, NOT ONLY TWO YEARS AGO, BUT ALSO THIS PAST YEAR WITH 120 SCHOOLS IMPROVING ATTENDANCE.
UM, FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE COUNTYWIDE SPIRIT DAYS AND, UM, WHEN THE SLIDE COMES UP, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THOSE DAYS ARE, UH, AT THE BEGINNING OR THE ENDS OF THE WEEKS.
UH, STARTING WITH, UH, SEPTEMBER 5TH.
UM, BUT WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL ATTENDANCE RESOLUTION AND TODAY WE ARE COMMITTING TO CONTINUING TO RAISE AWARENESS AROUND THE IMPORTANCE OF DAILY ON-TIME SCHOOL ATTENDANCE THROUGH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, THROUGH DISTRICT-WIDE ATTENDANCE CAMPAIGN, UM, WHERE WE ALL ARE ENVISIONING A FUTURE WHERE OUR STUDENT, EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IS ABLE TO THRIVE ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.
WE ALSO ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO SIGN THIS YEAR'S HERE FOR IT ATTENDANCE PLEDGE AND JOIN US IN CHAMPIONING DAILY ON TIME ATTENDANCE EACH AND EVERY DAY IN BCPS.
WANT ME TO KEEP GOING? KEEP GOING.
THERE CURRENTLY IS A POWER OUTAGE THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR ABILITY TO BROADCAST AND USE SOME PRESENTATION AND CAMERA ELEMENTS.
HOWEVER, THE LIVE FEED IS NOT AFFECTED AND THE MEETING WILL CONTINUE.
POWERPOINTS CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH PUBLIC CONTENT, UM, FROM HOME.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUR SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
AS I SHARED, UM, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF SEPTEMBER BEING ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE JUST ENCOURAGE ALL FAMILIES TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS COMING TO SCHOOL.
UH, THE LAST THING THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WAS AROUND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
UM, PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
OUR FIRST ONE IS NEXT THURSDAY AT WINDSOR MILL MIDDLE SCHOOL, UH, STARTING AT 6:00 PM AND PLEASE SAVE THE DATE AS WELL.
UM, WE WILL BE HOSTING A-B-C-P-S CURRICULUM NIGHT WITH MORE INFORMATION TO COME, UH, AT PIKESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
[H. CHAIR'S REPORT (7:35 - 7:40 p.m.)]
AGENDA IS CHAIR'S REPORT.SO OFFICIAL WELCOME BACK TO THE 25 26 SCHOOL YEAR.
I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND MANY OF THE FIRST WEEKS OPENING VISITS TO SCHOOLS.
AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT THE LAST EIGHT YEARS
[00:50:01]
OF HER CAREER IN BCPS VISITING SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS ON A DAILY BASIS, I WAS ENCOURAGED AND ENERGIZED BY WHAT I WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE.DURING OPENING WEEK, I SAW IMPROVEMENT.
I REALIZED IT WAS JUST THE FIRST WEEK, BUT TO BE ABLE TO SEE INSTRUCTIONAL SHIFTS WAS VERY EXCITING.
SO WHAT DID I SEE? I SAW THE USE OF CURRICULUM.
IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE IN A FIRST GRADE CLASS AT MARS STAGE AND WATCH FIRST GRADERS TRACKING AND READING FROM HMH TEXT, THE SELECTION CENTERED ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, MAKING THE TOPIC VERY RELEVANT FOR OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS.
STUDENTS WERE EAGER TO SHOW OFF THEIR EARLY READING SKILLS AND SO WAS THERE A PROUD TEACHER? I SAW TEACHERS USING OUR MATH CURRICULA IMMEDIATELY.
BOTH BRIDGES AND ILLUSTRATIVE MATH.
I SAW MEANINGFUL OBJECTIVE POSTED AND REFERRED TO STUDENTS WERE AWARE OF THE WHAT, WHY, AND HOW OF WHAT THEY WOULD BE LEARNING.
I SAW EVIDENCE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO TEACHING WITH INTENTIONALITY.
I OBSERVED EVEN ON DAY ONE, TEACHERS MAKING A STRATEGIC EFFORT TO CONNECT, FORMING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE CONTENT THEY WOULD BE TEACHING.
HIGH SCHOOLERS WERE OBSERVED BEING DIRECTED BY THEIR TEACHER TO THROW A BALL WHILE SAYING THEIR NAME.
I'VE SIMPLIFIED THE ACTIVITY, BUT HE GAVE VERY SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS AND ALSO REQUIRED STUDENTS TO PROJECT THEIR VOICES.
THERE IS SOMETHING FASCINATING ABOUT HOW THE SAME HIGH SCHOOLERS WHO ARE LOUD AND BOISTEROUS IN THE HALLWAYS COME IN AND TURN INTO QUIET AND MEEK WHEN THEIR TEACHERS CALL THEM.
BUT ANYWAY, AFTER A LITTLE WHILE OF THIS AND HIS ALTERING OF DIRECTIONS AND KIDS TRULY LEARNING EACH OTHER'S NAMES AND FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE ON THEIR FIRST DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL, HE MADE THE CONNECTION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROJECTING WHILE ON STAGE OF BEING ABLE TO FOLLOW THE MANY STAGE DIRECTIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED OF AN ACTOR, A SEEMINGLY GET TO KNOW YOU.
ACTIVITY INTENTIONALLY CONNECTED WITH THE CONTENT OF THE CLASS.
AT CATONSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, A TEACHER HAD OBJECTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH INSIGHT INTO HER AS A PERSON.
AS SHE PRESENTED THE OBJECTS, STUDENTS TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY SYMBOLIZED.
AFTER A FEW OBJECTS, THIS HISTORY TEACHER CONNECTED THE ACTIVITY TO THE IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIANS USING EVIDENCE TO DESCRIBE AND DOCUMENT IMPORTANT EVENTS.
AGAIN, ANOTHER INTENTIONAL CONNECTION BETWEEN BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE CONTENT OF THE CLASS.
I ALSO SAW FIRST YEAR PRINCIPLES, CONFIDENT, POISED, AND READY TO FOCUS ON TEACHING AND LEARNING.
AS SOMEONE WHO IS ONCE A FIRST YEAR PRINCIPAL, BELIEVE ME, IT IS A SCARY ROLE.
YOU ARE ENTRUSTED WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S KIDS, A WHOLE BUILDING OF THEM.
BUT IT IS A DAUNTING BUT THE MOST REWARDING.
REWARDING OF POSITIONS TO WATCH THE EXCITEMENT IN OUR FIRST YEAR PRINCIPAL'S VOICES TO SEE THE CONFIDENCE THEY EXHIBITED AND THEIR EARLY INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS.
I WAS REASSURED THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE IN VERY GOOD HANDS.
AND WHAT ABOUT WHAT I DIDN'T SEE? I DID NOT SEE STUDENTS WITH CELL PHONES.
I DID NOT SEE THEM IN ELEMENTARY.
I DIDN'T SEE 'EM IN MIDDLE AND I DIDN'T SEE 'EM IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I DIDN'T SEE OUR STUDENTS WITH CELL PHONES.
I DID SEE A LOT OF ADULTS, THE VISITORS WITH THEIR CELL PHONES.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I FELT AWKWARD HOLDING MY PHONE IN A SCHOOL.
AND AS THE WEEK WENT ON, I DID START TO LEAVE MY PHONE IN THE CAR HERE.
OUR STUDENTS WERE MODELING FOR THE ADULTS.
I KNOW IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND EVERYTHING IS BRIGHT AND SHINY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT JUST AS MULTIPLE BCPS DATA POINTS ARE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO IS THE EVIDENCE THAT CAN BE OBSERVED WHEN VISITING OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS. I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO GATHER FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURAL AND CURRICULAR EFFORTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS AND CENTERS.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR BCPS STAFF.
FROM THE CUSTODIAL STAFF WHO ENSURED THAT OUR BUILDINGS WERE READY AND SPARKLING FOR OUR STUDENTS TO OUR FOOD AND NUTRITION STAFF WHO REALLY NEVER STOPPED PREPARING MEALS BUT WHO WERE READY TO SERVE BREAKFAST ON DAY ONE, HOUR ONE TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, TO OUR BUS DRIVERS WHO HAD PRACTICED THEIR RUNS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH FIRST DAY.
I'M SURE THERE WERE ISSUES SOMEWHERE TO OUR BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS WHO WERE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER TO PREPARE FOR A SUCCESSFUL START TO THE SCHOOL YEAR TO OUR TEACHERS WHO PLANNED, PREPARED AND WELCOMED THEIR NEW STUDENTS WITH OPEN ARMS. AND TO EVERYONE ELSE I HAVEN'T MENTIONED ADDITIONAL ADULT PROVIDERS, PARAEDUCATORS CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO THE ENTIRE BCPS COMMUNITY.
THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL IS SHINY AND NEW.
BUT UNDER DR. ROGERS LEADERSHIP AND WITH THE HELP AND PASSION OF EVERYONE WHO IS A PART OF BCPS, I KNOW WE WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR OUR MOST IMPORTANT STAKEHOLDERS, OUR CHILDREN, OUR STUDENTS.
[I. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER'S REPORT (7:40 - 7:45 p.m.)]
MEMBER OF THE BOARD REPORT.GOOD EVENING BOARD CHAIR, MRS. LICHTER, VICE CHAIR MRS. HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT.
DR. ROGERS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, STAFF, FAMILIES, AND THE BCPS COMMUNITY.
THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS ALREADY BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF AMAZING FOR ME PERSONALLY.
IT HAS BEEN A GREAT MILESTONE AS I STEPPED INTO MY HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A SENIOR, I COULDN'T HELP BUT REFLECT ON THE JOURNEY THAT BROUGHT
[00:55:01]
ME HERE.FROM MY VERY, VERY FIRST DAY OF PRE-K TO NOW, BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS BEEN MY HOME.
IT'S THE CLASSROOMS WHERE I LEARNED TO READ THE, THE TEACHERS WHO PUSHED ME TO GROW THE ACTIVITIES THAT SHAPED MY LEADERSHIP AND THE PEERS WHO HAVE WALKED THIS PATH, THIS PATH WITH ME.
TO NOW STAND HERE AS A STUDENT MEMBER OF THE WORLD WHILE ALSO LIVING OUT MY FINAL YEAR AS A STUDENT IN BCPS.
IT'S AN HONOR THAT I DID NOT TAKE LIGHTLY.
THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEEN FILLED WITH MOMENTS THAT REMIND ME JUST HOW SPECIAL OUR COMMUNITY IS.
I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING ON SCHOOL VISITS ALONG SUPERINTENDENT DR. ROGERS, WALKING THROUGH HALLWAYS, STOPPING MY CLASSROOMS AND SEEING STUDENTS RECONNECT WITH THEIR FRIENDS WAS A REMINDER OF THE JOY AND POSSIBILITY THAT A NEW SCHOOL YEAR ALWAYS BRINGS.
I ALSO BEGAN WORKING ON A NEW SERIES ALONGSIDE BCPS TV, WHICH I'M INCREDIBLY EXCITED ABOUT.
THIS GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SHOWCASE STUDENT EXPERIENCES AND AMPLIFY STUDENT VOICES IN CREATIVE WAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
ALONGSIDE THIS, I WAS FORTUNATE TO TAKE PART IN A BACK TO SCHOOL KICKOFF VIDEO WHERE I WAS ABLE TO EXTEND MY BEST WISHES TO STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND STAFF ACROSS THE COUNTY.
IT WAS SUCH A SURREAL MOMENT TO STAND ON CAMERA, NOT JUST AS A REPRESENTATIVE, BUT AS A PEER.
WISHING EVERYONE AN AMAZING YEAR OF FLOW WITH GROWTH, LEARNING AND OPPORTUNITIES.
BEYOND THESE COUNTYWIDE EFFORTS, I'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH MY PEERS THROUGH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENT COUNCILS.
AS A MEMBER OF THE OFFICER TEAM, I'VE JOINED FORCES WITH OUR PRESIDENT MON ANAD OF EASTERN TECH VICE PRESIDENT, SAM PARK OF EASTERN TECH COMMUNITY OUTREACH DIRECTOR HIGH OUTFIT, SUM OF CARVER CENTER FOR THE ARTS.
AND SECOND VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT SERENA BAHARA OF PERRY HALL MIDDLE SCHOOL TO JUMPSTART WHAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST YEARS YET FOR STUDENT LEADERSHIP.
EACH OF THESE LEADERS BRING UNIQUE STRENGTHS TO THE TABLE.
AND TOGETHER WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING MOMENTUM FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR WAS OUR ANNUAL BCSC STAFF RETREAT WHERE WE GATHERED OUR NEWLY APPOINTED 50 MEMBER EXECUTIVE BOARD.
WE STARTED WITH ORIENTATION, HELPING OUR NEW LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENT COUNCILS ITS MISSIONS AND THE WAY THEY SERVE THEIR PEERS.
WE THEN TRANSITIONED INTO A TRAINING SESSION DESIGNED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE PRACTICAL SKILLS THEY'LL NEED.
SKILLS LIKE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, PLANNING EVENTS, AND LEADING WITH CONFIDENCE.
ANOTHER POWERFUL PART OF THE RETREAT WAS HAVING EACH MEMBER FILL OUT THEIR PERSONAL GOAL SHEETS.
THIS EXERCISE WAS ABOUT REFLECTION.
EACH LEADER HAD THE CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY PERSONALLY WANT TO ACHIEVE THIS YEAR AND HOW THEY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE LARGER VISION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY.
READING THROUGH THEIR IDEAS AND LISTENING TO THEIR ASPIRATIONS, I FELT BOTH HOPEFUL AND CONFIDENT.
OUR STUDENTS ARE READY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGES AHEAD AND THEY'RE BRINGING WITH THEM CREATIVITY, DETERMINATION, AND PASSION.
LATER THIS MONTH, WE WILL HOLD OUR VERY FIRST EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING OF THE YEAR.
I CANNOT EMPHASIZE, EMPHASIZE HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS MOMENT.
ALL OF OUR BCSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN MAKING SURE BCSE REMAINS A STRONG VOICE FOR ALL BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENTS.
I'M EAGER TO SEE HOW OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS STEP INTO THEIR ROLES AND BEGIN SHAPING INITIATIVES THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THEIR.
I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR BOTH THE THE BOARD OF SELECTED STUDENTS AND BCSE COMMITTEES.
THIS IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY TO ENGAGE IN COUNTYWIDE LEADERSHIP AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD ON ISSUES THAT MATTER TO THEM.
THIS YEAR OUR FOUR COMMITTEES INCLUDE THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, THE STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD OUTREACH COMMITTEE, THE STUDENT RESOURCES AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE, AND THE CULTURE AND CLIMATE COMMITTEE.
EACH OF THESE GROUPS WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A CHANCE TO COLLABORATE LEAD PROJECTS AND INFLUENCE CHANGE IN SPECIFIC AREAS OF STUDENT LIFE.
AS FOR OUR BOARD OF SELECTED STUDENTS, BCSE SELECTS TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM EACH SECONDARY SCHOOL AND SGA ADVISORS ARE ALLOWED TO SELECT AN ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.
APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH AND WE ARE EAGER TO SEE STUDENTS FROM EVERY CORNER OF BCPS GET INVOLVED.
AS I REFLECT ON THESE FIRST TWO, TWO WEEKS, I'M STRUCK BY BOTH THE PROGRESS WE HAVE ALREADY MADE AND THE POTENTIAL THAT LIES AHEAD.
WE'VE TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS TO SET THE TONE FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR FROM AMPLIFYING STUDENT VOICES IN BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS TO PREPARING A NEW GENERATION OF STUDENT LEADERS THROUGH BCSE.
THE WORK AHEAD WILL CONTINUE, WILL CONTINUE AND IT WILL REQUIRE CONSISTENCY, COLLABORATION, AND CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO CENTER.
[J. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED FY2027 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST (Dr. Grim) (7:45 - 8:00 p.m.)]
NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED FY 2027 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST.GRIM FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
OKAY, SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION, WE'RE JUST ASKING QUESTIONS, CORRECT? NO MA'AM.
AND WE'RE JUST HERE FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL THIS EVENING.
SO BEFORE, UM, OKAY, WELL WE CAN DO IT THAT WAY.
SO MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FY 2027 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT J.
MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND SAVOY THANK YOU.
[01:00:01]
BOARD MEMBERS? HMM.MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE THEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THOSE ANSWERS.
UM, THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA'S ACTUALLY TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAD ANY ACTION IN CLOSED SESSION.
[L. NEW BUSINESS - CONTRACT AWARDS (Dr. Grim) (8:05 - 8:20 p.m.)]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS CONTRACT AWARDS.AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MR. YOUNG CHAIR OF THE BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD'S BUILDING AND CONTRACTS COMMITTEE MET ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2025.
ITEMS L ONE THROUGH L SIX WERE FORWARDED TO THE BOARD FULL BOARD FOR APPROVAL.
ITEM L SEVEN WAS FORWARDED TO THE FULL BOARD WITHOUT A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU MR. YOUNG BOARD MEMBERS.
WE WILL SEPARATE ITEM L SEVEN FOR THE VOTE.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SEPARATIONS? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS L ONE THROUGH L SIX? NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE THE WHOOPS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS L ONE THROUGH L SIX.
NO SECOND IS NEEDED SINCE A RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE COMMITTEE.
MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM L SEVEN.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM L SEVEN? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE.
OKAY, LET ME GET TO THE NEXT THING.
[M. REPORT - OPENING OF SCHOOLS (Dr. Jones, Dr. Grim, Dr. Mullenax, and Ms. Charley-Greene) (8:20 - 8:40 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS.AND FOR THAT I CALL MS. CHARLIE GREEN, DR. JONES, DR.
DR. ROGERS WILL GET YOU STARTED.
BOARD CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
ANNUALLY WE PROVIDE AN OPENING OF SCHOOLS REPORT TO THE BOARD AND TO THE PUBLIC.
THE TEAM IS HERE TO PROVIDE AN A REPORT ON OUR WORK OVER THE SUMMER AND OUR, UH, PLANS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR REGARDING THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS' VISION OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UH, OH.
JANE LICHTER
AND FOR THAT I CALL MS. CHARLIE GREEN, DR. JONES, DR.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY AND DR. ROGERS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT WITH MY COLLEAGUES THE WORK THAT THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS HAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS, AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, IS MADE UP OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOLS, STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, SCHOOL SAFETY, ATHLETICS, AND HEALTH SERVICES.
TOGETHER, WE FORM THIS OVERARCHING SUPPORT TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
OUR GOAL IS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SUPPORT.
AND WE START THAT LITERALLY AFTER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE SAFETY WORK WE'VE DONE OVER THE SUMMER.
WE PROVIDED HEALTH, UH, MOBILE HEALTH CLINIC THROUGH HEALTH SERVICES.
ATHLETICS WENT ON THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND SO MUCH MORE IN OUR SCHOOLS.
AS DR. ROGERS HAS SAID, UM, AND SHARED IN HER REPORT, WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK OF OUR SCHOOLS.
[01:05:02]
YES.WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, OUR, THESE DEPARTMENTS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO REALLY CREATE HIGH QUALITY SUPPORT FOR THE SCHOOLS.
UM, IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT A LOT OF OUR WORK DURING THE SUMMER REALLY DEALS WITH EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES, WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOLS IN THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAMS, AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT AND REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN STRATEGICALLY ALIGN OUR WORK WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS FOR PRIORITIES.
WE ANALYZE AND OUR DATA AND COME TOGETHER AROUND OUR SCHOOL PROGRESS PLANS.
AND THEN WE CREATE GOALS THAT WE ACTUALLY SEE KIND OF MATERIALIZE OVER THE SUMMER, WHICH AGAIN, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SYNERGY THROUGHOUT OUR TEAM AND REALLY COMING UP WITH THIS NOTION OF AMPLIFIED IMPACT.
MANY TIMES THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE COMPLEX PROBLEMS, TO COLLABORATE AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS, AGAIN, RECEIVE THAT HIGH QUALITY SERVICE.
WE HAVE A SENSE OF SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO DO, AS YOU ALL HAVE SEEN THROUGHOUT OUR DATA POINTS, IS WE'RE NORMALIZING PROGRESS.
WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SCHOOL MAKES PROGRESS IN SERVICE OF EVERY STUDENT.
I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DR.
MONIK, YOU CAN DO THE OPERATION SLIDES.
UM, YOU CAN SEE HERE THE SEVEN DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LISTED ARE ALL UNDER OPERATIONS, AND THE HONEYCOMBS IN THE CENTER JUST HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DID OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER.
UH, WE HAVE A MORE EXTENSIVE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES PRESENTATION FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT LATER THIS EVENING, SO I DON'T WANT TO SPOIL ALL THE FUN THERE.
UM, BUT TAKE A LOOK PLEASE AT SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN.
UM, YOU COULD SEE THE HARD WORK OF OUR STAFF, WHETHER IT WAS CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, MAINTENANCE, UH, AND TRANSPORTATION.
UM, THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS, UM, SOME WORK THAT YOU SEE HAPPENING IN SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS OVER THE SUMMER.
THAT CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN, WHEN STUDENTS ARE NOT PRESENT.
UM, INCLUDED, WE, WE TALKED, UH, LAST MEETING OR THE MEETING BEFORE ABOUT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.
UM, AND THE PICTURE PICTURES ON THE LEFT REALLY HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR OUTDOOR, UM, MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.
ON THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE HAVE NOT ONLY SOME BEFORE AND AFTER WORK OF SOME COURTS THAT WE DID THIS SUMMER, BUT IT'S A TIME FOR US TO DO THINGS LIKE PARKING LOTS THAT WE CAN'T TYPICALLY DO WHEN STUDENTS ARE IN SESSION BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE MULTI-DAY.
UM, YOU OBSERVED AND YOUR VISITS TO SCHOOLS.
OUR WORK OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES AND THEIR, UH, THEIR SERVICES TO OUR, OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF.
UM, BUT INSET YOU ALSO SEE TRANSPORTATION.
UH, SOME OF THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, WE HAD TO GET THINGS READY AND THE WORK OF, UM, THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR STAFF.
AND THEN IN THIS LAST SLIDE, SOME ADDITIONAL PICTURES.
BUT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THE SMALLER ONE IN THE CENTER WITH THE BLUE LADDER AND THE BLUE LOCKERS.
TWO DAYS BEFORE TEACHERS CAME BACK, YOU SEE BARE DRYWALL.
THAT ROW OF LOCKERS WAS ACTUALLY MOVED TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION IN THE BUILDING TO JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE TEACHERS CAME BACK.
AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE IT, IT'S THE WORK THAT WE HAVE LIMITED TIMELINE TO DO OVER THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER, BUT THAT WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN IN GETTING, UH, ACCOMPLISHED.
UM, OTHER PROJECTS, YOU CAN SEE AGAIN THAT THAT ONLY CAN HAPPEN THIS TIME OF YEAR.
UH, THE LOWER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS, UH, OWINGS MILLS HIGH SCHOOL.
SOME DESPERATELY NEEDED SIDEWALK WORK THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN THERE, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR, OUR HALLWAYS AND OTHER BEAUTIFICATION WORK.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OPERATIONS.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THE THINGS THAT YOU COULDN'T SEE PICTURED IN THE SLIDES.
WE HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL, UH, ORACLE IMPLEMENTATION FOR HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, OUR FIRST PART OF THAT IN, IN CONJUNCTION WITH HUMAN RESOURCES.
THAT STARTED IN JULY FOR OUR 12 MONTH EMPLOYEES.
BUT WE HAD OUR FIRST SUCCESSFUL PAY FOR OUR 10 MONTH EMPLOYEES JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE HAPPY AND PROUD OF ALL THE WORK TO GET SCHOOLS STARTED THAT WE DO IN OPERATIONS.
UM, THE DIVISION OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION SUPPORTS SCHOOLS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT SELECTION, IMPLEMENTATION OF CURRICULUM, UH, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
I'M EXCITED TO SHARE, UM, THIS LIST OF OPERA, UM, OBVIOUSLY SUCCESSES THAT WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
UM, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE THROUGHOUT HERE.
YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY READ THE REST FOR YOUR OWN, BUT WE, UM, PREPARED TO LAUNCH MY PERSPECTIVES FOR OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS THIS SUMMER.
UH, OUR MATH OFFICE IS WORKING HARD TO REFINE THE CURRICULUM, UH, RESOURCES AND ASSESSMENTS TO POISE US NICELY FOR THE RELEASE OF MDKA OR MSDS MATH POLICY 2.5.
WE OPENED UP SEVEN MORE PRESCHOOLS, UM, UM, I'M SORRY, PRE-K, FULL DAY PRE-K.
AND I'M EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEY ACTUALLY WENT OUT AND
[01:10:01]
SET UP THE CLASSROOMS FOR THE TEACHERS.SO WHEN TEACHERS RETURNED, THEY WERE ABLE TO JUST JUMP IN AND GET STARTED.
WE HAD 11,000 K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN OUR SUMMER PROGRAM.
AND I REALLY WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THROUGH K THROUGH EIGHT, OUR STUDENTS DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF NUMBER OF STUDENTS SCORING PROFICIENCY, UM, IN THEIR PRE-TEST AND POST-TEST FOR ELA AND MATH.
TITLE ONE HAD DONE A WONDERFUL JOB WITH ESTABLISHING AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH OUR STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE VARIOUS CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, OFFICE IS OPENING UP ANOTHER 20 COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, WHICH WILL BRING US TO 110 FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AS WE MOVE INTO THIS YEAR, OUR FOCUSES REALLY ARE GOING TO BE VERY ALIGNED WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN OUR DATA.
WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MUCH NEEDED TIME ON CURRICULUM, AND WE ARE NOW GOING TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT THAT CURRICULUM IS BEING DELIVERED WITH NOT ONLY FIDELITY, BUT WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE MEETING THE NEEDS OF ALL OUR STUDENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, MATH ADVISORY TEAM HAS ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY'RE ALREADY STARTING TO DO.
UM, THEY WILL BE CREATING A PLAN FOR K THROUGH 12, HOWEVER, THIS YEAR OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON ALGEBRA ONE.
UM, WITH THE RELEASE OF MY PERSPECTIVES, UM, SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE REALLY RECEIVING SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT MODELS WHAT WAS DONE AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
SO WE WILL PARTNER WITH OUR VENDOR TO PROVIDE COACHING, UM, AND JUST IN TIME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO OUR TEACHERS TO HELP THEM BUILD A REPERTOIRE OF SKILLS.
AND LASTLY, UM, SPECIAL EDUCATION.
WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY TO DEVELOP COMPLIANCE, UM, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPLIANT WITH REGARDS TO DEVELOPMENT OF IPS EVALUATIONS.
THE OTHER THING I WANNA HIGHLIGHT IS OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, UM, DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR ELA MATH OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PART OF THE INSTRUCTION RATHER THAN HAVING SEPARATE.
THANK YOU AND GOOD EVENING BOARD CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, DR. ROGERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M EXCITED TO JOIN MY COLLEAGUES TONIGHT TO TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAS OCCURRED IN THE DIVISION OF THE CHIEF OF STAFF.
UH, TONIGHT I'M GOING TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE WORK, UM, FROM FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FACE, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.
BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE SOME OF THE GREAT FOLKS WHO ARE PART OF THE DIVISION WHO ARE DOING AWESOME WORK TO GET US READY FOR SCHOOL.
AND CERTAINLY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD A SMOOTH, UH, OPENING.
I WANNA HIGHLIGHT MR. TONY BAYSMORE, WHO IS ONE OF OUR LIAISONS TO OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
HE'S MADE CERTAIN THAT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE START OF SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER IS COMMUNICATED WITH OUR PARTNERS IN LAW, UM, IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND REALLY ATTENDING COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER AND THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR, SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TEAM BCPS.
SO WANNA RECOGNIZE HIS EFFORTS AS WELL AS THE WORK OF MS. JOEL BISKY, UH, WHO IS OUR MANAGER OF STAFF RELATIONS, WHO DID A LOT OF GREAT WORK WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS AND OUR VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS, ENSURING THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF WHAT THEY COULD EXPECT AS THEY CAME BACK TO THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND PROBLEM SOLVING ANY PARTICULAR ISSUES THAT THEY MAY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD A SMOOTH START AND COULD REALLY FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT OUR STUDENTS WERE ENGAGED AND READY TO LEARN.
AND THEN CERTAINLY, I ALSO WANNA HIGHLIGHT AND LIFT UP THE WORK OF MS. HEATHER LOGMAN, WHO WORKS ON OUR GRANTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
UM, ALREADY SHE HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE SUPERCHARGING OUR PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING AND GENERATING OTHER SOURCES OF REVENUE TO FUND SOME OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR STUDENTS AND TEAM BCPS DESPITE WHATEVER FISCAL CHALLENGES WE FACE.
THE BACK TO COMMUNITY, UH, COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH.
WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SLIDE IS ALL OF THE WORK THAT OCCURRED REALLY AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR LAST YEAR, TO COMMUNICATE THE WORK THAT HAD HAPPENED THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
OFTENTIMES, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AHEAD AS EDUCATORS TO WHAT NEXT YEAR WILL BRING.
AND SO WE NEED TO STOP AND TAKE STOCK OF WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID LAST YEAR.
AND SO WE KICKED OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR, OR KICKED OFF THE END, END OF LAST YEAR, AND THEN WENT RIGHT INTO SUMMER WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT'S END OF THE YEAR REPORT WHERE SHE REALLY CHRONICLED ALL THE WORK THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND FORECAST WHAT SOME OF OUR GOALS WERE MOVING FORWARD.
WE QUICKLY THEN STARTED COMMUNICATING TO FAMILIES ALL THAT THEY COULD EXPECT OVER THE SUMMER TO STAY ENGAGED.
OUR SUMMER CONNECT, MADE SURE THAT PARENTS WERE AWARE OF CAMPS, PROGRAMS, SUMMER SCHOOL, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE AVAILABLE SO THAT PARENTS STAYED ENGAGED.
WE DIDN'T WANNA SEPARATE FROM OUR FAMILIES.
WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE IN THE KNOW WE BE BEGAN COMMUNICATING EARLY AND OFTEN WHEN IT WAS TIME TO ENROLL STUDENTS, WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS WERE, WHAT STUDENTS NEEDED.
SO FAMILIES WERE ARMED WITH INFORMATION AND READY TO GO.
WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED, WE CERTAINLY WERE EXCITED TO LAUNCH OUR BACK TO SCHOOL CAMPAIGN, WHICH ACTUALLY OCCURRED, IT FELT LIKE A LOT SOONER THAN IT DID IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
BUT IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, WE WERE ALREADY REMINDING PEOPLE THAT IT WAS TIME TO COME BACK, MAKING SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS WERE.
ONE OF THE ONES WE'RE MOST PROUD OF IS OUR OFF AND AWAY.
[01:15:01]
PHONE PROGRAM.UH, WE'RE EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S NOT A NEW PROGRAM.
IT'S ACTUALLY PART OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING FROM PEOPLE ALL ALONG.
WE ARE JUST DOING IT CONSISTENTLY AND WITH FIDELITY AND WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT GOES OUT TO FAMILIES, IT GOES OUT TO PRINCIPALS, IT GOES OUT TO TEACHERS.
AND AS DR. ROGERS INDICATED EARLIER, AS WE GO AROUND TEAM BCPS, WE ARE SEEING PHONES OFF AND AWAY.
AND JUST LIKE, UH, CHAIR LICHTER SAID, SOME OF US ADULTS IN THE BUILDING WHO ARE USED TO CARRYING OUR PHONES, WE'RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT SELF-CONSCIOUS.
SO WE WALKED BY MANY STUDENTS WHO WERE LOOKING AT US, GIVING US THAT LOOK.
THEY ARE REALLY ENJOYING THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
AND IT'S A REMINDER TO ALL OF US THAT WHEN WE UNPLUG AND ENGAGE, WE ARE ABLE TO SEE AND DO MANY THINGS THAT PERHAPS WE WERE DISTRACTED FROM DOING BEFORE.
UH, COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I WANNA JUST POINT OUT AS WELL.
THE HERE FOR IT CAMPAIGN, WE ARE EXCITED COMING SOON, WE MANAGED TO GET A NUMBER OF FOLKS WHO PERHAPS DON'T ALWAYS AGREE AND DON'T ALWAYS SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIDEO, TO ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO ATTEND SCHOOL FREQUENTLY ON TIME.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT TO MEMBERS OF TEAM BCPS AND ASKING THEM TO RECORD VIDEOS AS WELL, BECAUSE OUR STUDENTS NEED TO HEAR FROM MULTIPLE VOICES HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR THEM TO BE IN SCHOOL ON TIME EVERY DAY SO THAT THEY CAN ENGAGE IN LEARNING.
SO WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO LAUNCH THAT EFFORT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE SOME OF OUR FOLKS, UH, REALLY ENCOURAGING OUR FAMILIES TO TAKE PART IN ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
AND THEN LASTLY, OUR LARGEST EVER BCPS FEST OCCURRED.
UH, IT WAS EXCITING TO SEE SO MANY FAMILIES GEARED UP AND READY TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.
UM, I WANNA REALLY CONGRATULATE MISS SONIA JALA AND HER TEAM FOR DOING A FABULOUS JOB EVERY YEAR, CREATING A REALLY FESTIVE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR WHERE FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH ALL OF OUR CENTRAL OFFICE AS WELL AS SCHOOL-BASED STAFF, MAKE SURE THAT THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE RESOURCES, BUT ALSO TO SEE SOME OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT ARE OFFERED TO OUR STUDENTS.
SO THAT WAS A SUCCESS, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO OFFER MANY, MANY MORE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK PREVIEW OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT, OUR SUPERINTENDENT, DR. ROGERS, YOU ALREADY WENT OVER VERY QUICKLY THAT UPCOMING, UH, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
UH, WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF MEETINGS COMING UP AND WE ENCOURAGE FAMILIES TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS POSTING AND IDENTIFY THE LOCATION NEAREST TO YOUR HOME AND LEND YOUR VOICE TO OUR STRATEGIC EFFORTS TO IMPROVE, UH, STUDENT LEARNING.
IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN TERMS OF STUDENT GAINS, BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY MUCH AWARE THAT WE'RE NOT QUITE WHERE WE WANNA BE YET.
AND SO WE NEED ALL VOICES AT THE TABLE SHARING YOUR IDEAS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH IN TEAM BCPS AND CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARD REVERSING A DECADE OF ACADEMIC DECLINE WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE SEEING.
AND THEN LASTLY, I WILL END WITH UPCOMING CURRICULUM NIGHTS THAT ARE COMING YOUR WAY SOON.
UH, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE CURRICULUM AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THEIR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH, WE WILL BE HOLDING OUR FIRST CURRICULUM NIGHT.
AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE FAMILIES THERE.
AGAIN, DR. ROGERS HIGHLIGHTED THIS, BUT I JUST WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF THAT.
AND IT'S ALSO MY OPPORTUNITY TO ONCE AGAIN, SHARE THE WORK OF THE COMMUNICATION TEAM WHO WORKS TIRELESSLY TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES WHERE THERE IS A MIX OF SMALL GROUP CONVERSATION, PRESENTATION, DIRECT ENGAGEMENT, AND THEN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED.
SO WE DO TRY TO LAYER THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE ENGAGE WITH FAMILIES.
THAT LAST VERY TINY LITTLE PICTURE THAT YOU SEE, THERE ARE THE MANY, MANY WAYS TO STAY CONNECTED WITH TEAM BCPS.
AND SO WE INVITE FOLKS TO JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, TO CERTAINLY CHECK THE WEBSITE, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMUNITY MESSAGES THAT GO DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES THAT ARE IN YOUR INBOX.
ALSO, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT WE HAVE A CONTACT US BOX WHERE YOU CAN DROP ANY MESSAGES ABOUT THINGS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT OR THINGS YOU WANNA MAKE US AWARE OF.
ALL OF THAT IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, UH, BENEFIT TO FAMILIES, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE TWO-WAY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SYSTEM.
SO WITH THAT, AT WE THANK YOU AND ARE CERTAINLY OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE TO GET OUR SCHOOLS UP AND RUNNING AND STARTING SO SMOOTHLY.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[N. REPORT - FOOD AND NUTRITION (Dr. Grim and Ms. Hetzler) (8:40 - 9:00 p.m.)]
ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON FOOD AND NUTRITION.GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, SUPERINTENDENT, DR. ROGERS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE, UH, THIS EVENING WITH MS. JAMIE HETZLER, OUR DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, TO PROVIDE A REPORT ON THE AMAZING WORK OF HER TEAM.
[01:20:01]
SO WE ALL KNOW THAT, UH, STUDENTS NEED TO BE WELL-NOURISHED TO LEARN.THEY NEED TO HAVE THAT FULL BELLY TO BE AVAILABLE TO LEARN.
AND SO THIS SLIDE SPEAKS ABOUT THE NUMBERS OF MEALS THAT WERE SERVED BY BCPS LAST YEAR, SO OVER 17.9 MILLION.
BUT I ALSO WANNA FOCUS ON WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER.
SO OVER 400,000 MEALS WERE SERVED THIS SUMMER, BUT IT WASN'T JUST IN OUR SCHOOLS.
IT WAS AT OUR CHURCHES AT REC AND PARKS, UM, DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT THEY HELD.
IT WAS THROUGH SUMMER CAMPS, THROUGH THE EXTENDED YEAR LEARNING PROGRAM.
UM, WE HAD THREE WILDLY SUCCESSFUL, UH, RURAL TO GO SITES, UM, THAT WE HAD AS WELL AS 17 LIBRARY SITES.
BUT THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY OF THESE NUMBERS, AND WHAT WE DON'T OFTEN HEAR IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY IN BCPS.
AND I'M HERE TO ASSURE YOU THAT WHEN THOSE EMERGENCIES DO HAPPEN, WHEN SCHOOLS NEED TO CLOSE EARLY, WHEN SCHOOLS OPEN LATE, WHEN WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES THAT DISRUPT OUR NORMAL OPERATIONS, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES ENSURES THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE FED, THAT THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE FED.
AND, UH, JAMIE AND HER STAFF GO THROUGH GREAT LENGTHS TO, AGAIN, MAKE THIS A SEAMLESS AND INTEGRATED PART OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE AND SCHOOL DAY.
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GONNA TRANSITION AND JAMIE WILL GO THROUGH THE NEXT SLIDES.
I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT THE, THE POWERPOINT IS BACK UP AND WORKING BECAUSE SOME OF THIS FOOD JUST LOOKS INCREDIBLE.
YOU HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT.
UH, THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GRANT PROGRAM IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROGRAMS OF ALL TIME.
UM, STUDENTS RECEIVE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE SAMPLES TWICE A WEEK IN THE CLASSROOM, UM, OUTSIDE OF REGULAR MEAL PERIODS.
THESE SNACKS COME WITH A QUICK EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT AND OFTEN FEATURE UNIQUE ITEMS LIKE PURPLE CAULIFLOWER.
UM, INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO PRODUCE THAT THEY MAY NOT TYPICALLY SEE AT HOME.
THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE EXPOSURE TO FRESH PRODUCE, ENCOURAGE HEALTHY CHOICES, AND SUPPORT NUTRITION EDUCATION.
WHEN OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS ARE EXPOSED TO SO MANY FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT A YOUNG AGE, THEY'RE MORE COMFORTABLE ACTUALLY CHOOSING THESE ITEMS AS THEY GROW OLDER.
THIS YEAR, 51 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE PARTICIPATING, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR STUDENTS TO FOCUS AND LEARN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
UM, YET WE FOUND THAT MANY STUDENTS WERE SKIPPING BREAKFAST DUE TO TIME CONSTRAINTS, CAFETERIA LOCATIONS, OR LIMITED OPTIONS.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, NO KID HUNGRY AND MARYLAND HUNGER SOLUTIONS, WE ADVOCATED FOR THE MARYLAND MEALS FOR ACHIEVEMENT FLEXIBILITY ACT, WHICH PASSED LAST YEAR WITH FULL SUPPORT OF STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS.
THE LEGISLATION ALLOWED BREAKFAST TO BE SERVED IN ALL SCHOOL ENTRANCES, MAKING IT EASY FOR STUDENTS TO GRAB A MEAL UPON ARRIVAL ON THEIR WAY TO THE CLASSROOM.
THANKS TO GENEROUS GRANTS FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE DAIRY ASSOCIATION, WE PURCHASE, GRAB, AND GO-KARTS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.
AS A RESULT, ACCESS HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED.
STUDENTS HAVE MORE CHOICES, INCLUDING HOT ENTREE SERVED DAILY.
THEY CAN ALSO SELECT TWO DIFFERENT FRUIT, JUICE, OR MILK.
UM, MY TEAM IS NOW SERVING 7 MILLION BREAKFASTS PER YEAR, UM, WHICH IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE.
WHEN THEY'RE FUELED WITH A NUTRITION NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST UPON ARRIVAL, THEY'RE BETTER EQUIPPED TO LEARN.
HERE'S WHAT A MEAL ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.
UM, EVERY LUNCH INCLUDES FIVE KEY COMPONENTS, PROTEIN, WHOLE GRAINS, FRESH FRUIT, FRESH VEGETABLES, AND MILK.
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE A MINIMUM NUMBER OF ITEMS FOR IT TO BE CONSIDERED COMPLETE.
ACCORDING TO USDA STANDARDS, A YOUNG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT MIGHT ONLY CHOOSE TO TAKE A CHICKEN SANDWICH WITH SOME GRAPES LIKE IN THE TOP CENTER OF THE SLIDE.
OF COURSE, THAT WOULD NOT CUT IT FOR A SENIOR FOOTBALL PLAYER WHO MIGHT CHOOSE A HARDY MEAL LIKE ORANGE CHICKEN, WHOLE GRAIN RICE, TWO SERVINGS OF FRESH FRUITS, TWO FRESH VEGETABLES, AND A MILK.
IF THEY'RE STILL HUNGRY, THERE'S ALWAYS THE SHARE TABLE OUT INSIDE.
ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, YOU'LL SEE THIS EXAMPLE OF A TYPICAL BREAKFAST.
EVERY YEAR WE CONTINUE TO INTRODUCE NEW THINGS TO KEEP THE MENU FRESH AND EXCITING.
UM, OUR TEAM HAS BEEN HIGHLY FOCUSED ON SERVING QUALITY MEALS EVERY DAY.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE IS THAT IF WE WOULDN'T SERVE IT TO OUR KIDS AT HOME, WE CAN'T SERVE IT AT SCHOOL EITHER.
THE GOAL IS TO COM PRETTY CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE MENU WHILE KEEPING THE FAVORITES YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHILE SERVING QUALITY FOOD IS AT THE FOREFRONT EVERY DAY.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT MIGHT FALL SHORT.
STUDENTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THE KITCHEN STAFF SO THEY CAN RESOLVE ANY ISSUES RIGHT AWAY.
WE'VE DEVELOPED A FUN AND INTERACTIVE PROCESS TO ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE A VOICE IN SELECTING NEW MENU ITEMS. IT ALL STARTS WITH GATHERING ONGOING FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WHEN A POTENTIAL NEW ITEM IS IDENTIFIED, WE BEGIN WITH A SMALL TASTING SESSION, INCLUDING KITCHEN STAFF AND LEADERSHIP.
[01:25:01]
THAT GETS THE THUMBS UP, WE MOVED ON TO STUDENT TESTING.THIS COULD BE A STUDENT COUNCIL GROUP OR A RANDOM SELECTION OF 20 STUDENTS.
THEY SAMPLE THE ITEM AND SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK.
IF IT PASSES THEIR TEST, IT GOES TO THE NEXT LEVEL, WHICH IS A LARGE CAFETERIA EVENT TASTING.
THESE ARE ALWAYS A TON OF FUN.
UH, DURING LUNCH SERVICE, MY TEAM VISITS A CAFETERIA, HANDS OUT SAMPLES AND VOTING TICKETS.
THEY DROP THEIR TICKETS INTO RED AND GREEN BUCKETS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT OR NOT.
IF IT MAKES IT, IF IT, IF THE VOTES ARE ON THE GREEN BUCKET, IT MAKES IT TO THE MENU.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT OUT IN THAT LA IN THAT SECOND TO LAST SLIDE THAT YOU SAW, THAT IS OUR FORMER STUDENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD, MS. CHIKE KALU AT OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL LAST YEAR, WHERE SHE PARTICIPATED IN, IN ONE OF THE STUDENT TESTING.
UM, AS MS. HETZLER SAID, UH, LITERALLY HER STAFF WALKS AROUND WITH RED AND GREEN BUCKETS, AND THE KIDS ARE EXCITED, UM, WHETHER IT WAS MIDDLE SCHOOLS OR, OR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE WENT TO, OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE, HAVE SOME CHOICE.
UM, AND IT WAS SIMPLY WONDERFUL TO LISTEN TO STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT MEAL CHOICES AND WHY THEY WERE CHOOSING TO PUT THEIR TICKET IN EITHER A RED OR THE RED OR THE GREEN BUCKET.
UM, AND THE STAFF ALSO WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON THINGS THAT THEY LIKED OR DIDN'T LIKE.
FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFTEN, UM, HEAR THAT MS. HITLER'S STAFF OFTEN HEARS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING NEEDED MORE SALT AND PEPPER.
AND SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR, FOR HER STAFF TO EDUCATE, UM, THE STUDENTS ON WHAT IS PART OF THE NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND WHAT IS NOT.
AND TO OFFER, ALSO OFFER SOME ALTERNATIVES.
THERE'S A VARIETY OF SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AS WELL TO, UH, ENHANCE THEIR MEALS.
SO WITH THAT, WE THANK YOU AND INVITE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION FOR THE WORK YOU DO WITH OUR STUDENTS.
DR. GRAHAM, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU THAT EXCITED ABOUT MOST OF THE PRESENTATION, SO
UM, WE SEE, AND, AND I THINK TOO, COMING, COMING FROM THE SCHOOL SIDE.
COMING FROM THE SCHOOL SIDE, UH, SEEING HOW FOOD IMPACTS LEARNING RIGHT, IS, IS CRITICAL.
AND THE WORK THAT THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TEAM HAS, HAS DONE TO REALLY OUTREACH AND JUST IMPROVE SO THAT, SO THAT STUDENTS FEEL, UM, LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD AND THAT THEY LIKE THE QUALITY OF WHAT'S BEING PROVIDED TO THEM AND WITH THEM IS JUST SO IMPORTANT.
AND THANK YOU FOR GETTING THE STUDENT VOICE AS PART OF IT.
MR. MCMILLION, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I DON'T EAT A LOT OF MEAT AND I'LL GO THROUGH PROTOCOL, BUT I WANNA TRY THE SHAVE BARBECUE.
MS. HUMPHREY, HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS.
UM, REFERRING, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, REFERRING TO THE SECOND SLIDE, YOU NOTED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN, UM, MEALS.
I, I BELIEVE THAT WAS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
SO MY QUESTION IS, DO YOU ALSO KNOW IF THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN MEALS PROVIDED OVER THE SUMMER? DID MORE STUDENTS, UM, AND FAMILIES COME FIRST? SUMMER MEALS, TOTAL MEALS FOR THE SUMMER INCREASED, UM, AS A WHOLE? UM, THE RURAL PROGRAM IS REALLY WHAT SKYROCKETED QUITE A BIT.
UM, THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE THE SUMMER PROGRAM WAS, WAS A LOT SMALLER RIGHT THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SO MEALS IN THAT AREA HAS SHIFTED.
UM, SO FOR US, WE SAW A VERY, VERY, VERY LARGE INCREASE IN THE RURAL PROGRAM.
AND THAT WAS GONNA BE PART OF MY NEXT QUESTION.
SO IS THERE A REASON, UM, IS IT FUNDING THAT WE ONLY HAVE THREE TO GO SITES? UM, IS IT JUST OPERATIONS? IS IT FUNDING? IS IT JUST YOU DON'T THINK, WE DON'T THINK IT'S NEEDED? OR IS THERE MAYBE, MAYBE AN OPPORTUNITY IN FUTURE SUMMERS TO ADD ADDITIONAL TO, TO GO SITES? BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS IF IT'S NOT A TO GO SITE, THE STUDENTS HAVE TO CONSUME THE MEAL ON SITE, THE FULL MEAL BEFORE THEY LEAVE, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO THE RURAL PROGRAM IS DESIGNATED LOCATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
SO THE SPECIFIC LOCATION HAS TO QUALIFY AS A RURAL AREA, DEMOGRAPHICALLY TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THAT PROGRAM.
UM, IT WOULD BE OUR GOAL TO OPERATE THAT IN 150 LOCATIONS, 100%.
SO, UM, THIS YEAR WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE BY ONE.
WE'LL SEE WHERE THE LINES ARE DRAWN FOR NEXT YEAR, AND IF THEY'RE IN OUR FAVOR, WE WILL ADD AS MANY AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
AND, UM, AND MS. PUFFERY, JUST TO ADD ON TO THAT, THE, THE FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GRANT PROGRAM THAT MS. HETZLER SPOKE ABOUT.
WE HAVE 51 SCHOOLS FOR THAT, THAT THOSE ARE DECIDED.
WE PUT IN FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.
WE PUT IN FOR ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS
[01:30:01]
TO HAVE THAT BENEFIT, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM QUALIFY.SO THAT THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE SELECTED FOR US.
AND, UM, IS ANY OF THIS PROVIDED BY FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE MAY LOSE AND, WELL, I CAN'T PREDICT THE FUTURE
UM, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOCKED IN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER FOUR YEARS FOR FREE MEALS FOR CEP.
AND ONE MORE THING, UM, REGARDING THE GRAB AND GO BREAKFASTS PROVIDED THROUGH, I BELIEVE, THE MARYLAND MEALS FOR ACHIEVEMENT MM-HMM
UM, DOES THAT IF STUDENTS ARE LATE, ARE THEY STILL ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE BREAKFASTS? OH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF THE PROGRAM IS BREAKFAST AFTER THE BELL.
UM, ANY STUDENT THAT COMES LATE, NO MATTER WHAT TIME I BELIEVE THE RESTRICTION IS WHEN LUNCH HAS STARTED
BUT ABSOLUTELY, UH, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE LATE DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT STILL HUNGRY, SO.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, DO YOU SERVE MEALS FOR VEGETARIAN FOR CHILDREN OUTTA VEGETARIANS AND PESCATARIANS, OR, WE DO HAVE VEGETARIAN SELECTION.
SO EVERY DAY THERE'S AT LEAST ONE.
UM, AND THEN THERE'S TYPICALLY SEVERAL DIFFERENT HOT OPTIONS THAT OPTIONS EVERY WEEK THAT ARE ON THE MENU.
AND THEN THERE'S ADDITIONAL OPTIONS WHERE THE PRIMARY MENUS CAN BE MODIFIED TO BE VEGETARIAN.
FOR EXAMPLE, A TACO SALAD MIGHT USE BEANS INSTEAD OF THE BEEF.
AND, UM, DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO ONLY EAT SEAFOOD? PESCATARIANS? WE DON'T SERVE VERY MUCH SEAFOOD ANYWAY.
UM, WE HAVE A TUNA SALAD, SO IT REALLY FALLS INTO THE VEGETARIAN SECTION.
MS. ESKI, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION SO MUCH FOR THIS PRESENTATION? SURE.
THIS IS SO UPLIFTING AND SEEING ALL THE HEALTHY OPTIONS IS JUST TERRIFIC FOR KIDS.
WHEN THEY EAT BETTER, THEY FEEL BETTER, THEY'RE HAPPIER.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.
UM, IF YOU CAN JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SHARE TABLE, UM, INITIATIVE, WHICH I THINK IS GREAT, AND, UM, LIKE HOW MANY SCHOOLS OUT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER IT'S BEING USED AND HOW IT'S ADVERTISED SO THAT PARENTS KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT IN TERMS OF THE WASTE OF, OF THE FOOD.
I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE THEY CAN'T SHARE WHAT THEY BRING FROM HOME, SO, CORRECT.
FROM A FOOD SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, THERE ARE CERTAIN LIMITATIONS.
UM, BUT THE IDEA OF THE SHARE TABLE IS THAT ANY UNWANTED WRAPPED FOOD, UM, THAT ONE STUDENT MIGHT TAKE OUT OF THE LINE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY PUT ON THE TABLE AND THEN ANOTHER STUDENT CAN TAKE IT FREE OF CHARGE.
UM, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, SERVES THE PURPOSE OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT JUST HAVE A, A STRONGER APPETITE, UM, BUT ALSO DECREASES WASTE INTO THE LANDFILL.
SO IT'S, IT'S A WIN-WIN ALL AROUND.
UM, IT'S A GREAT SOLUTION, BUT IT'S IN ALL SCHOOLS.
AND DO MOST OF THE STUDENTS KNOW ABOUT IT? LIKE IS IT PRETTY, IT'S A THING.
UM, I CAN SAY THERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE PARTICIPATION PERHAPS IN SOME SCHOOLS MORE SO THAN OTHERS.
UM, BUT IT, YEAH, IT, IT'S BRIGHTEST DAY GIANT SIGNAGE, UM, IN EVERY CAFETERIA THAT'S OUT THERE.
MS. HARVEY, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UH, ACTUALLY, UH, YES.
UM, MS. LESKI ASKED MY QUESTION ABOUT THE SHARE TABLE, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
AND I ALSO, UH, AND, AND THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING HOW MUCH AGENCY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE OVER THEIR FOOD CHOICES.
IT'S GOOD TO TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING IN WHAT THEY WILL EVENTUALLY EAT IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. SO THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS THE GRAB AND GO.
ARE THEY IN ALL THE SCHOOLS? THE BREAKFAST? YES.
I BELIEVE THERE'S TWO, MAYBE THREE, UM, THAT DON'T NECESSARILY USE THE CARTS AND CHOOSE TO, TO USE THE SERVING LINE.
UM, IN THOSE SCHOOLS, THE SERVING LINE IS LOCATED EXTREMELY CLOSE TO THE FRONT DOOR.
UM, AND THEY MIGHT TYPICALLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY NARROW PASSAGEWAYS WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WOULD CAUSE A BOTTLENECK OF, OF PEOPLE IN A, IN A TIGHT SPACE.
SO THEY CHOOSE TO, TO KIND OF MOVE IT TO THE SIDE A BIT, BUT THEY STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO GRAB AND GO.
THEY STILL HAVE THE OPTION TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE CLASSROOM.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, MY QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH, UM, BOARD MEMBERS STALOWSKI, AND THAT'S REGARDING, UM, THE SHARE TABLE.
I DO HEAR CONCERNS FROM TIME TO TIME REGARDING FOOD WASTE MM-HMM
AND I'M CURIOUS IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER, UM, EFFORTS OR INITIATIVES TO PREVENT OR REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE.
AND ONE SPECIFIC, UM, QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT IS IF PARENTS CAN SOMEHOW OPT OUT OF THE, THE NU REQUIRED NUMBER OF ITEMS THAT THEIR CHILD MUST TAKE IF THEY KNOW THEY HAVE, UM, A CHILD WITH A SMALLER APPETITE OR THEIR SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT THEY WANT THEM TO HAVE.
BUT, BUT NOT, I'D RATHER SEE A CHILD GET SOME OF THEIR PREFERENCES RATHER THAN BE FORCED TO, TO TAKE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF, OF ITEMS AND THEN FOR THOSE ITEMS TO GO TO WASTE OR THERE ANY OTHER EFFORTS TO, TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE THAT YOU CAN SPEAK TO GO WELL.
SO I'LL START WITH THE FIRST PART.
[01:35:01]
SECOND PART.SO OUR, UM, OUR ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE WITHIN THE, THE DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES, UH, WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES TO, UH, TO EDUCATE BOTH SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS REGARDING FOOD WASTE, COMPOSTING, AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
UM, IN FACT, IT IS FOOD WASTE AWARENESS MONTH, AND WE ADVERTISE THAT TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, MANY SCHOOLS ENGAGE IN THE GREEN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE.
UM, SO PARTNERING TOGETHER, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF, OF ROBUST WAYS THAT, THAT SCHOOLS CAN EDUCATE NOT ONLY THEIR STUDENTS, BUT THEIR STAFF REGARDING FOOD WASTE AND THE STEPS THEY CAN TAKE TO REDUCE IT.
UM, WE ALSO PROVIDE POSTERS AND OTHER SIGNAGE AROUND THE SCHOOLS, AGAIN, TO HELP EDUCATE THOSE PIECES.
AND I THINK MS. HETZLER CAN TALK ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ITEMS. SURE.
UM, THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF ITEMS ARE REQUIRED BY THE USDA.
UM, IN FACT, IF A STUDENT TAKES LESS THAN THOSE REQUIRED ITEMS, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO PAY.
UM, SO WHAT THAT DOES IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S KIND OF A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD MAYBE FOR THE OF POTENTIAL WASTE THAT COULD COME.
THERE ARE MINIMUM AMOUNTS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE FOLKS, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE ENCOURAGE THE SHARE TABLE.
UM, SO IF STUDENTS TAKE, SAY A MILK OR TAKE SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT, THEY CAN PUT THAT ITEM RIGHT ON THE SHARE TABLE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
SO I, AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THE CONCERN THAT I'VE HEARD RAISED IS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE IT.
AND I UNDERSTAND, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION, THAT IT IS A-A-U-S-D-A REQUIREMENT.
SO THERE IS NO PROCESS BY WHICH PARENTS CAN UNFORTUNATELY OPT OUT, SO.
SO WITH THIS SHARE TABLE, UM, AFTER LUNCH IS OVER, THINGS HAVE BEEN ADDED AT THE SHARE TABLE.
ANYTHING THAT'S STILL LEFT WITHIN THE BIN, WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? IS THAT THROWN AWAY? IS THAT SO IT, SO IT DEPENDS BY SCHOOL.
THERE ARE, UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS.
I CAN TELL YOU AT MY OLD SCHOOL, UH, WE USED TO GATHER THOSE ITEMS. WE HAD, WE HAD STAFF THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD TAKE THEM AND HAVE THAT OF, THAT, HAVE THAT AVAILABLE PERHAPS FOR THE STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL.
UH, MS. HETZLER AND HER STAFF CANNOT, UM, TAKE THEM BACK INTO THE, THE CAFETERIA, BUT SOMETIMES, UH, THE SCHOOL STAFF MAKE DECISIONS IN WHICH TO HELP STUDENTS THAT COME IN LATE.
A A QUESTION EARLIER WAS, UM, IS BREAKFAST AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS THAT COME IN LATE? AS MR. MS. MS. HETZLER SAID, IT IS A, IT IS AVAILABLE UNTIL THEY SERVE LUNCH.
HOW THAT IS MANAGED AT EACH SCHOOL IS DEPENDENT ON THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND THE CAFETERIA STAFF.
SO THE, THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH THE SHARED TABLE.
UM, I'VE SEEN SCHOOLS WHERE THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATOR MAY TAKE THOSE ITEMS BACK.
THEY ARE, AS MS. HETLER SAID, PREPACKAGED, UM, ITEMS, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS THAT COME IN LATE OR TO TAKE SOMETHING WITH THEM LATER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE ANSWERS TO ALL THE QUESTIONS.
[O. REPORT - SAFETY AND CLIMATE (Dr. Jones, Mr. Knox, Ms. Mustipher, and Major Glen Wiedeck) (9:00 - 9:20 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS THE REPORT ON SAFETY AND CLIMATE.AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR. JONES, MR. KNOX, AND MS. MUSTER AND, AND MAJOR GLENN.
AND YOU MUST BE MAJOR GLENN ECK.
DR. ROGERS WILL GET YOU STARTED.
UM, CHAIR LICHTER, UH, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT THIS REPORT ON SAFETY AND CLIMATE.
AS EVERYONE KNOWS, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR PRIORITY AREAS.
WE ARE ESPECIALLY PROUD OF OUR LAYERED APPROACH AND OUR PARTNERSHIP, NOT ONLY WITH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT, LED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHIEF MCCULLOUGH, WHO IS AVAILABLE 24 7.
AND WE HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS TO HIM AND THE TEAM, BUT ALSO OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES AND STAKEHOLDERS.
UM, GIVEN THE CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN IN SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION, UH, HAVING THIS REPORT, SHARING THIS REPORT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO REINFORCE OUR CONSISTENT MESSAGE, UM, THAT IT IS, SAFETY IS A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY.
IT TAKES ALL OF US, UM, REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SHARING INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER TO ENSURE THAT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS ARE SAFE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO THE TEAM, UM, TO TALK THROUGH SPECIFICALLY WHAT OUR PLAN IS.
BOARD CHAIR, TER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, AND DR. ROGERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
AS DR. ROGERS SAID, WE ARE VERY, UM, PROUD OF THE WORK
[01:40:01]
THAT WE DO DAILY TO KEEP OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF SAFE.UM, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE ARE CONSTANTLY MEETING AND, AND MOVING INTO SWIFT ACTION, AS DR. ROGERS HAS STATED, UM, THROUGH HER PRIORITY AREA.
AND I WILL READ THIS SCREEN FOR YOU.
IT IS ABOUT CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, CONSISTENT RESPONSES, AND A SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY THAT WE PROTECT AND PRESERVE SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST NOT THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR STAFF ACTUALLY LEARN AND GROW AND, AND TEACH AND WORK WITH OTHER STUDENTS AND STAFF.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO, UM, THE TEAM HERE.
I'M VERY PROUD TO WORK WITH MR. ERIC KNOX AND MS. MUSTER, AND THEY'LL SHARE MORE ABOUT HOW SAFETY AND CLIMATE CONVERGE, NOT ONLY JUST, UM, THROUGH OUR PRESENTATIONS, BUT IT IS MATERIALIZED ON A DAILY BASIS.
DR. ROGERS BOARD MEMBERS, UH, APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADDED TO ITS MULTI-LAYERED APPROACH TO SCHOOL SAFETY, WHICH, AS DR. JONES INDICATED, GIVES US CLEAR AND CONSISTENT EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS.
THIS ALIGNS US WITH COMAR POLICY AND RULE, AND KEEPS US ALIGNED WITH OUR STUDENT HANDBOOK, WHICH WE UPDATED FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.
WITH THAT, OUR STUDENTS ARE GIVEN CLEAR PRESENTATIONS ON THE STUDENT HANDBOOK, AND THEY'RE ALSO GONE OVER WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT'S EXPECTED OF 'EM EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WITHIN THAT, OUR SCHOOL STAFF ENCOMPASSES OUR EVERYONE, AND THAT INCLUDES TEACHERS, SUPPORT STAFF, AS WELL AS SROS AND SSAS.
SO BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, AND STUDENT SAFETY ASSISTANCE.
WITH OUR MULTI-TIERED APPROACH, WE'VE UP, UP UPGRADED OUR SCHOOL DIGITAL CAMERAS, AND THAT'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR FACILITIES AND OUR VISITOR SCREENING SYSTEM AS WELL, AT OUR AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, WE UTILIZE THE OPEN GATE SYSTEM, OUR METAL DETECTORS FOR OUR PERSONS THAT VISIT OUR SCHOOL GAMES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S SAFE.
WE'VE UPGRADED AND PARTNERED WITH THE MARYLAND EXPECTATION FOR DIGITAL MAPPING, AND THAT BEGAN WITH OUR SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS AS WELL.
AND WE STILL ENCOMPASS AND UTILIZE OMNI ALERT WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS AND OVER 7,000 CAMERAS THAT WE OPERATE EACH AND EVERY DAY, 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
WE'VE ALSO CONTINUED IN OUR APPROACH TO SEEK GRANT FUNDING FOR SECURED VESTIBULES AT SCHOOLS, AND HAVE NETTED ANOTHER $900,000 IN FUNDS THIS YEAR FOR ADDED SECURE VESTIBULE.
TO CONTINUE THAT GRANT, WE HAVE PARTNERED AND BEEN TRAINED BY THE I LOVE YOU GUYS FOUNDATION.
THAT'S OUR NEW STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL.
AND WE ARE, HAVE ENCOMPASSED A TRAIN THE TRAINER MODEL.
DR. ROGERS WANTED US TO TRAIN EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THE VIRTUAL ASPECT OF TRAINING.
SO ALL OF OUR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, ALL OF THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT STAFF, INCLUDING MYSELF, OUR TRAINERS, AND WE ARE ON A MISSION TO TRAIN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
WE TRAIN CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TODAY, AND WE WILL CONTINUE ON UNTIL EVERY STAFF MEMBER IS TRAINED.
AND I LOVE YOU GUYS AND THAT PARTICULAR PROTOCOL.
UH, WITH THAT, I WILL LET THE, UH, MAJOR SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, BALTIMORE COUNTY INFO CENTERS, THEIR NEW ROLLOUT THAT SUPPORTS US 24 HOURS A DAY WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP AND HOW IT ENCOMPASSES, AND IT PARTNERS AND ALIGNS WITH OMNI ALERT MAJOR.
YEAH, CHIEF MCCALL'S, UH, VISION FOR THE, UH, INFO CENTER IS, UH, MULTIFACETED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, BUT ONE OF THE KEY ELEMENTS IS GONNA BE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, WHEN AN OMNI ALERT GOES OFF, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SCHOOL DAY, I WANT THE SROS TO DIRECTLY BE GOING TO WHATEVER THE THREAT IS IN ENGAGING THAT THREAT.
I DON'T WANT THEM WORRYING ABOUT LOOKING AT CAMERAS.
SO WHEN THE OMNI ALERT SYSTEM COMES OUT, THAT'S GONNA BE TRANSFERRED TO THE INFO CENTER WHO WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE 7,000 CAMERAS, AND THEY CAN FOCUS IN ON WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE TIME.
AND AS THE OTHER OFFICERS ARE COMING IN, THEY CAN DIRECT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN LOOK AT CHANGES OF BEHAVIOR, WE CAN SEE IF ANYTHING'S DROPPED, IF ANYTHING'S PLACED.
UM, THE SROS THAT ARE THERE WILL JUST WORRY ABOUT ENGAGING THAT SUBJECT AND TAKING WHATEVER ACTION IS NECESSARY.
AND ALL THIS OTHER INFORMATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE OFFICERS COMING IN.
UM, IF NOTHING'S GOING ON, WE CAN KIND OF STOP 500 ARMED POLICE FROM COMING INTO THE BUILDING, UH, QUICKLY, AS YOU KNOW, IF WE DETERMINE IT TO BE A FALSE CALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
[01:45:01]
ASPECTS NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION IS, THAT THAT'S KI THAT'S WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE LOOKING TO GO, AND IT SHOULD KEEP BUILDING IS SCHOOL SYSTEM.AND, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT KEEPS INTEGRATING OUR SYSTEMS. I SEE THAT THIS IS A VERY, VERY POSITIVE, UH, APPROACH.
WITH THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, WE JUST HIGHLIGHTED CONTINUED SAFETY PROCEDURES AND SPONSORED EVENTS, UH, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND FACILITIES FOR THIS FOR SCHOOL YEAR INTO THIS CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR, WE HAVE APPLIED FOR AND BEEN GRANTED OVER $2 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDS TO CONTINUE SUPPORT SUCH AS SCHOOL SAFETY ASSISTANCE AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO WORK ATHLETIC EVENTS AFTER SCHOOL AND SECURE VESTIBULE.
AS STATED IN THE EARLIER SLIDE, WE UPDATED THE SYSTEM-WIDE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN, AND THAT WAS ALL EIGHT VOLUMES, WHICH VOLUMES ONE, TWO, AND THREE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THE REMAINING VOLUMES ARE FOR INTERNAL STAFF ONLY.
WE REVISED THE MOU MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE TO AGAIN, ALIGN AND SHOW OUR STRENGTH AND PARTNERSHIP WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND TO CONTINUE THIS WORK INTO MANY SCHOOL YEARS TO COME.
WE PROVIDED THREE ADDITIONAL LOCKDOWN DRILLS IN ALIGNMENT WITH HOUSE BILL FOUR 16 FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY AND TRAINED AND DRILLING EACH OTHER TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE READY IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.
AND AGAIN, AYA, I LOVE YOU GUYS.
PROTOCOL WAS STARTED ON AUGUST 23RD, AND ALL SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING UNDER THAT PROTOCOL.
AND THIS YEAR WE DID HOLD THE 28TH ANNUAL SAFE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE THAT SUPPORTS OVER 574 STAFF MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND SUPPORT STAFF, AND OR ONE ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER THAT ARE TRAINED IN EMERGENCY PROTOCOL RESPONSE AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS.
WITH THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE, WE JUST HIGHLIGHT, UH, TOTAL NUMBER IN SCHOOL YEAR 24 25 OF 41,828, OFFICE REFERRALS, WHICH MEANS WE ARE, AGAIN, ALIGNING OURSELVES WITH THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
AND THE SUSPENSION RATE IS 7.46% FOR THAT SCHOOL YEAR.
UM, GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR HARVEY, AND SUPERINTENDENT ROGERS AND BOARD MEMBERS.
UM, THE SLIDE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, UM, REPRESENTS THE TIERED APPROACH, UM, THAT WE TAKE TO STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES.
IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR ALL STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSAL TIER ONE LEVEL, RIGHT ON INTO TIER THREE, WHICH IS OUR MOST INTENSIVE LEVEL OF SUPPORT.
UM, AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS REALLY SCALING OUR SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES TO MEET THE VARYING NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS BCPS.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A REMINDER OF HOW WE LOOK AT, UM, PROVIDING SUPPORTS TO OUR STUDENTS.
UM, WHERE WE'RE GONNA START THIS EVENING IS JUST TAKE A LOOK ON THE RIGHT.
THERE ARE KEY SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE ACROSS BCPS AND ACROSS SCHOOLS.
THE THE OTHER PART IS THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORT THAT WE UTILIZE IN THE PROCESS WE USE THROUGH STUDENT SUPPORT TEAMING THAT IS A PROBLEM SOLVING TEAM, UM, FOR OUR STUDENTS, UM, AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE.
SO I'M GONNA START WITH TIER ONE.
WHAT ARE WE DOING UNIVERSALLY? WELL, THE REASON THAT I BRING UP THE ATTENDANCE CAMPAIGN, WE NEED STUDENTS TO BE IN SCHOOL.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS ABOUT, UM, SUPPORT TO OUR STUDENTS IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE PRESENT.
THERE'S TWO REASONS I BRING THIS UP WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SAFETY AND SUPPORT.
THE FIRST ONE IS THEY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL TO LEARN.
BUT THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS THEY ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT WE EXPECT, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, AT HOME, BUT IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITIES, ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.
THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE.
SO AS ATTENDANCE IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, AND WE'VE TREATED IT IN THAT WAY OVER MANY YEARS, BUT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO SEE THE GROWTH, WE'RE CONTINUING TO SEE OUR STUDENTS MORE CONSISTENTLY ATTEND AND DECREASING THAT CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID TO KIND OF COMBINE SAFETY EFFORTS LAST YEAR WAS WE TOOK THE ATTENDANCE TRACKER THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.
WE PUT THAT INTO THE STUDENT HANDBOOK.
AND THE PURPOSE WAS TO REALLY PROMOTE POSITIVE ATTENDANCE, BUT ALSO TO HELP OUR STUDENTS TO TRACK THEIR ATTENDANCE.
TAKE A LOOK AT WHEN YOU ARE IN SCHOOL.
ARE YOU HERE FOR HANDBOOK DAYS? ARE YOU HERE FOR CONVERSATIONS, SKILL TRAINING, DEVELOPMENT? AND OF COURSE, ALWAYS INSTRUCTION.
THE OTHER, UM, ANOTHER COMPONENT OF WHAT WE DID ON A TIER
[01:50:01]
ONE UNIVERSAL LEVEL IS WE REALLY TOOK A CLOSE LOOK AT OUR, UM, COUNSELING LESSONS.WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE CONFIDENT AND THEY HAVE THE SKILLS WHEN NAVIGATING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW HOW WE'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO EXPECTATIONS.
AND THAT WE HAVE THE SKILLS TO PROBLEM SOLVE.
IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE WANNA KNOW HOW TO SOLVE IT.
BUT THAT ALSO APPLIES TO ALL LEARNING SPACES, UM, AND, AND JUST CREATING THAT ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE.
SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN FRONT OF YOU IS KIND OF A CHART THAT JUST SIMPLY OUTLINES FROM PEAK PRE-K TO 12 WHAT, UM, WHAT STUDENTS ARE RECEIVING AT PRE-K TO FOUR.
IT'S A LOT OF FOUNDATIONAL, REALLY HELPING OUR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY INTERACT WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT, GROWING THEIR SENSE OF SELF-AWARENESS.
UM, AND ONE THING I WILL, UM, STRESS IS ALL OF THE LESSONS ARE ALIGNED TO THE, UM, CASTLE FRAMEWORK, WHICH IS THE COLLABORATIVE FOR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING.
FIFTH GRADE, WE'RE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT MORE AT TRANSITION.
HOW DO WE GET OURSELVES READY TO UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS OF MIDDLE, UM, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS, UM, THAT OCCUR.
AND THEN SIX THROUGH EIGHT IS BALANCING THAT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLNESS AND, AND, UH, OUR COMMUNITY READINESS.
WE START TO EXPLORE WHO WE WANT TO BE.
UM, WE START MAKING SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO PURSUE, OR THIS IS WHAT I DON'T WANT TO PURSUE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, NINTH THROUGH 12TH GRADE, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT OUR STUDENTS BEING COMMUNITY READY, BUT THEN PURSUING THAT COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAY.
BUT ALSO THAT COMES WITH UNDERSTANDING HOW WE ENGAGE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HOW WE PROBLEM SOLVE, BUT ALSO HOW DO WE CELEBRATE THE GREAT MOMENTS THAT OCCUR, UM, IN OUR LIVES.
ONE, UM, THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS, BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF WHERE WE ARE GOING.
SO, IN 2024, UM, THE CONSORTIUM, WHICH IS AN OUTGROWTH OF BLUEPRINT, UM, WENT, WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS IN BCPS TO IDENTIFY FOLKS, SPOKES, SPOKES OR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
UM, SO THEY ARE PROVIDERS OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES.
UM, AND WE WENT THROUGH A PROCESS OF LOOKING AT SPOKES AND LOOKING AT NEEDS.
WE WORK DIRECTLY AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BALTIMORE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THE BUREAU OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, UM, AND PARTNERING WITH THEM TO REALLY DRILL DOWN ON THE NEEDS ACROSS BALTIMORE COUNTY.
SO LAST YEAR WE HAD EIGHT SPOKES, UM, SERVICE PROVIDERS.
WE HAD 111 SCHOOLS THAT WERE IMPACTED.
UM, AND THEN THIS YEAR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS WE HAVE 10 FOLKS.
OUR HUB HAS BEEN MOVED INTO A COORDINATING, UM, SERVICE PARTNER.
SO THEY'RE COORDINATING MANY THINGS.
UM, AND THAT WILL SERVE AS 127 SCHOOLS.
UM, SO WE'RE ALREADY IN THE THROES OF THAT AND HAVE THOSE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS UNDERWAY.
UM, I DO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FUNDING AT THE BOTTOM.
I THINK THAT IS A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THE INVESTMENT UNDER BLUEPRINT IN THE WELLNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS, THOSE FUNDS DO NOT COME TO BALTIMORE COUNTY, PER SE, IN OUR BUDGET OFFICE.
ALL OF THOSE FUNDS GO THROUGH THE CONSORTIUM AND ARE ALSO ALIGNED TO, UM, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, OUR HUB.
SO THOSE FUND, JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A CLEAR DIFFERENTIATION OF WHERE THOSE FUNDS, UM, ARE ALIGNED TO THIS, UM, SLIDE, REALLY SPEAKS TO THE SUPPORT BY SCHOOL LEVEL.
IT ALLOWS YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT 2024 AND 2025.
WE'VE MADE REMAINED FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN OUR PROVISION OF SERVICES BY THE SPOKES OR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
UM, AND WE'VE HAD A SLIGHT INCREASE FOR OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, UM, REALLY TRYING TO LOOK AT STRATEGICALLY SERVICES IN THAT AREA.
UM, AGAIN, TO SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, THE DATA THAT WE DO HEAR ABOUT STUDENTS NEEDING TO CONNECT, UM, THINKING ABOUT OUR YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEYS AND OR, UH, SURVEY DATA FROM THE, UM, GOVERNMENT AND THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND BUILDING OUT THOSE SUPPORTS.
LASTLY, I ALLUDED TO THE STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, UM, PLANNING.
UM, THIS IS FOR ALL SCHOOLS AND STUDENT, UM, SUPPORT TEAMS ARE AT EVERY SCHOOL.
THIS IS A MECHANISM FOR, UM, GENERAL EDUCATION, REALLY BUILDING UPON THAT PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY, UM, TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME COMPLEX ISSUES.
IT'S A, IT IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM THAT'S COMPOSED OF MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS YOU SAW ON THAT TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT TO REALLY INTERVENE EARLY.
UH, ONE THING THAT WE WANNA DO IS IDENTIFY THOSE SUPPORTS AND PROVIDE THEM JUST IN TIME.
WE WANT TO GET THOSE SERVICES TO OUR STUDENTS OR GET
[01:55:01]
THOSE SUPPORTS, UM, AND, AND, UH, RESOURCES TO OUR TEACHERS AND SO THAT THEY CAN CARRY THEM FORWARD IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT.OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE, UM, HAD HIGH LEVEL FOCUS ON SST AND HOW WE ARE ADDRESSING STUDENT NEEDS.
AND WE HAVE SEEN GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE GROWTH IN THAT AREA.
SO WE DO HAVE A TEAM THAT IS FOCUSED ON THAT COACHING AND SUPPORTING SCHOOLS, GOING OUT, MEETING WITH TEACHERS, COACHING TEACHERS.
SO WE ARE CONTINUED TO SEE THAT AS A PATHWAY.
UM, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PLANNING FOR ALL STUDENTS, UM, AT VARIED LEVELS, UM, AND NOT JUST, UM, GOING TO TIER THREE AT AN IEP LEVEL.
SO WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION TODAY.
I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO DR. JONES.
UM, AND AT THIS TIME WE'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTION, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT INFORMATION.
AND ARE THERE QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS, MS. PUMPHREY? I DON'T IF YOU HAVE AN ANSWER TO THIS AND THAT'S FINE.
I KNOW IT'S ALWAYS A FUNDING ISSUE, BUT DO WE HAVE A APPROXIMATE NUMBER? AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, YOU CAN.
I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW FOR THE FUTURE IF POSSIBLE.
SO, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING.
AGAIN,
UM, AND REGARDING THE I LOVE YOU GUYS PROTOCOL, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CHANGES THE DRILLS FOR OUR STUDENTS? AND IF SO, UH, ARE, IS THERE A CERTAIN TRAINING OR LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT OUR STUDENT MIGHT CHANGE FOR OUR STUDENTS? AS FAR AS THE PROTOCOL ONE CHANGE, THE WORD LOCK OUT IS NO LONGER USED.
UH, THE DRILLS ARE MANDATED BY THE FIRE MARSHAL IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
SO THE NUMBER OF DRILLS IS, IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT THE PROTOCOL REQUIRES.
AND THE PROTOCOL, ALL PARENTS WERE SENT INFORMATION EXPLAINING HOW THE PROTOCOLS WOULD BE USED.
THEY WOULD BE USED, ANNOUNCED, AND REPEATED TWICE.
SO IT'S VERY CLEAR, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GIVEN WITH INSTRUCTIONS OF WHAT TO DO, NOT JUST THE, UH, ACTION.
SO THEY'RE VERY CLEAR AND VERY EASY FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS GIVEN DIRECTION AND THE STAFF MEMBER IS ALWAYS, UH, THE LEADER OF THAT PARTICULAR ACTION.
UM, ON SLIDE NINE, WE TALKED, IT WAS MENTIONED AT 127 SCHOOLS.
UM, DOES IT HAVE ACCESS TO THE SPOKES? YES.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT THE REMAINING THE STUDENTS IN THE REMAINING SCHOOLS? ARE THERE A WAY THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE YES.
UM, TO PROVIDERS AS WELL? SO SOMETIMES WITHIN THAT PROCESS, WHAT WE, UM, HAVE FOUND IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HAVE FURTHER CONVERSATIONS IF A SCHOOL ISN'T IDENTIFIED.
SO WE DO WORK THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND EXPAND THAT COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IF IT'S APPROPRIATE AND IF THERE IS A NEED IN THOSE SCHOOLS.
BUT KEEP, I WANT YOU TO KEEP IN MIND WE ALSO HAVE A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES WHERE WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS THAT ARE SERVING.
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF SIGNING 225 AGREEMENTS WITH SCHOOLS, UM, TO ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS AS WELL TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
ONE IS, CAN YOU EXPLAIN DIGITAL MAPPING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS PART OF YOUR SAFETY AND SECURITY APPROACH? DIGITAL MAPPING IS A WAY TO DIGITIZE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF A SCHOOL.
SO FOR ELEMENTARY, UH, ONE LEVEL IN HIGH SCHOOLS, SOME MIDDLE SCHOOLS, MULTI-LEVEL, SECOND AND THIRD FLOOR, IT ALLOWS US TO BUILD INTO THE CAD SYSTEM FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN A CALL COMES OUT IN A ROOM 2 0 5, THE DISPATCHER WOULD GET A MAP OF THE SCHOOL AND IT WOULD GIVE THEM ACTUAL DIRECTIONS OF THE OFFICERS TO FOLLOW, TO GET INTO THE BUILDINGS.
AND THEY WERE SELECTED WHEN STARTED WITHIN THE HIGH SCHOOLS, THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND IT IS, WILL BE A STATE REQUIREMENT, UH, IN THE, IN THE UPCOMING FUTURE.
AND, UM, MY NEXT QUESTION IS ABOUT THE I LOVE YOU GUYS PROTOCOL.
HOW IS THAT ADJUSTED, UH, FOR THE EVENTUALITY THAT SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN IN ONE OF OUR, OUR SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL, LIKE MADE CHOICE AGAIN? SO AT OUR SPECIAL SCHOOLS, AND YOU INDICATE MAIDEN CHOICE, THEY ALWAYS HAVE STAFF MEMBERS AVAILABLE.
SO THE STAFF MEMBERS ARE TRAINED IN THE PROTOCOL, AND WE HAVE GUIDELINES THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW FOR THOSE SCHOOLS TO NAVIGATE EVACUATION PROCESSES WHERE THEY GO TO SAFE LOCATIONS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO, AND WITHIN OUR SITE-BASED EMERGENCY
[02:00:01]
PLANS, IT IS OUTLINED OF WHAT THE DIRECTIONS WOULD BE FOR SCHOOLS THAT QUALIFY UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.AND MY LAST QUESTION IS AROUND THE, UH, CONSORTIUM AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS IN, I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SLIDE NUMBER IS, BUT IT SHOWS THE PERCENTAGES, UM, OF SUPPORT LEVELS ACROSS THE SCHOOLS.
AND I SEE THAT, UH, MOST OF THE SUPPORT IS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
UM, PRETTY LEVEL AROUND MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL.
AND THEN WE HAVE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AT 2% MM-HMM
SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S DRIVING THAT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCE TO OUR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS WHERE KIDS HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES, UM, IN THEIR HOMESCHOOL AND PARTICULARLY, UH, HOW ARE WE APPLYING THOSE RESOURCES? I THINK PARTICULARLY TRANSITIONING BACK MM-HMM
AND WHAT SUPPORTS ARE WE PROVIDING IN THAT ASPECT? YEAH.
SO WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSORTIUM, UM, WHERE WE STARTED WAS REALLY TAKING A LOOK AND PEOPLE WERE APPLYING FOR LETTERS OF SUPPORT.
THAT WAS THE INITIAL PART OF, OF HOW THIS WENT.
SO WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS, AND THEN THE NEXT ROUND WAS THE HUB APPLYING, UM, TO BE A PILOT HUB.
AND IN THAT THEY, LAST YEAR, IN THE MIDST OF THE YEAR, THEY COMPLETED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND LOOKED AT THE SERVICES THAT WE NEEDED.
UM, AND THEN TRYING TO WORK WITH VARIOUS VENDORS TO IDENTIFY THE AREAS WHERE WE NEED SUPPORT.
AND OUR STUDENTS, UM, AT OUR ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS NEED THE LEVELS OF SUPPORT, WHAT WE DO IN THOSE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE TIED, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ANCHORED INTO A HOMESCHOOL.
WE'RE STILL WORKING WITH THOSE SUPPORTS TO TRANSVERSE ACROSS.
SO EVEN, UM, AND I GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF A, UM, A THRIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
THEY WILL SERVE A STUDENT IN THEIR HOMESCHOOL, AND IF THAT STUDENT WOULD GO TO THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL, THEY WOULD ALSO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THERE.
AND SOME OF THE SERVICES WE THINK ABOUT ARE MENTAL HEALTH.
THAT'S JUST DIRECT, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE.
SOME OF THE SERVICES ARE VERY DIFFERENT.
THEY'RE CONNECTING WITH THE STUDENT IN SCHOOL.
THEY MAY EXTEND TO OUT OF SCHOOL TIME, THEY MAY FOCUS ON ATTENDANCE, AND THAT CONNECTS TO WHEREVER THE STUDENT GOES TO.
UM, SO THERE'S, THERE'S, UM, THEY CAN GO BETWEEN BUILDINGS.
UM, I'M SURE IT'S NOT ALWAYS PREFERRED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE MOVING AROUND A LOT.
BUT WE DO WORK WITH SCHOOLS BECAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS.
AND BECAUSE THERE'S A CHANGE, WE DON'T WANT A BARRIER TO, TO A STUDENT ACCESSING SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.
SO WE DO PROMOTE FOLKS, UM, RECEIVING THAT SERVICE AT THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.
AND THEN WHEN THEY TRANSITION BACK TO, THANK YOU.
SO JUST SO I MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING, THE 2% IN THE CHART IS SER SUPPORT SERVICES THAT ARE DEDICATED IN-HOUSE IN THE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL.
HOWEVER, SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED TO STUDENTS IN ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE PERCENTAGES IN, I'M GONNA SAY HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL, BECAUSE THOSE SERVICES ARE FOLLOWING YES.
GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
MY QUESTION IS RELATED TO BOARD MEMBER PUMPHREY AND HAS TO DO WITH FUNDING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY RELATED CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I KNOW THE STATE PROVIDES LIMITED GRANTS FOR, UM, SAFE SCHOOL PROJECTS FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION.
AND I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHETHER THERE ARE OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDS FOR CAPITAL OR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FOR SCHOOLS THAT NEED, UM, LARGER PROJECTS FOR THEIR, THEIR SAFETY NEEDS.
AND ARE THOSE, UM, GRANTS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY EXPLORING? WE'RE GONNA LET DR. ROGERS RESPOND.
UM, THIS TEAM IS, UH, VERY WELL VERSED, BUT I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE ONES SITTING UP HERE HAVE THE INFORMATION REGARDING GRANTS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UH, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE BACK, UH, TO OUR OPERATIONS TEAM TO FIND OUT, UM, TO CONFIRM WHICH GRANTS WE'VE APPLIED FOR AND IF THERE ARE ANY AVAILABLE GRANTS THAT WE HAVE NOT APPLIED FOR.
ANY OTHER QUE, MR. LESKI? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I REALLY LIKE ALL THE GRANTS THAT YOU'RE USING TO IMPROVE SAFE.
UM, SO MY QUESTION IS ABOUT THE OMNI ALERT.
UM, SOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE ASKED ABOUT ITS DETECTION.
DOES IT DETECT WHEN IT, WHEN A GUN OR, OR A WEAPON IS OUT IN THE OPEN? OR IF SOMETHING IS ENCLOSED IN A BACKPACK, WOULD THAT BE DETECTABLE.
UH, ONLY WHEN IT'S OUT IN THE OPEN IT, IT WORKS OFF OF AI AND DESCRIPTIVE, UH, SHAPES AND SIZES OF THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.
AND THEN FOR THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE USING THE, LIKE CLEAR BACKPACKS,
[02:05:01]
WOULD THE AI DETECTION DETECT IT IN THOSE KINDS OF BACKPACKS OR STILL? NO.I WILL BE HESITANT TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION 'CAUSE IT DEPENDS, DEPENDS ON A LOT OF VARIABLES, LIGHTING, UM, BLADING OF THE BODY.
MR. KNOX, DO WE HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF SCHOOL SAFETY ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR AS WE DID LAST YEAR? NO, SIR, WE DO NOT.
CAN YOU, DO YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MANY WE LOST? NO, SIR.
UH, MAJOR, THIS MIGHT BE FOR YOU.
AND, UH, I TAUGHT SCHOOL FOR 35 YEARS AND MY EXPERIENCE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS ARE VERY, VERY VISIBLE IN THE WHOLE DISMISSAL PROCESS.
BUT WHERE YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE THEM IS IN THE MORNINGS DURING THE ARRIVAL PROCESS, ESPECIALLY IN THE ELEMENTARY AND THE MIDDLE SCHOOLS.
UH, I'VE OBSERVED THEM COME IN AS EVERYBODY ELSE IS COMING IN, PARK THE CARS AND GO IN THE BUILDING.
IT JUST SEEMS TO ME IF THEY WERE VISIBLE IN THE MORNING, THAT THAT WOULD POSSIBLY ELIMINATE A LOT OF THE CONFUSION THAT WE SEE AS OUR STUDENTS ARE ARRIVING ON THE BUSES AND CARS WALKERS.
HAS ANY THOUGHT BEEN GIVEN TO THAT? THANK YOU.
I CAN TELL YOU THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL I WAS PERSONALLY OUT FOR OF THE FIVE DAYS.
UM, I WAS AT HOBERG MIDDLE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
UM, BOTH SROS WERE OUT ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DIRECTING TRAFFIC.
UM, I WENT TO, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF EVERY, EVERY SCHOOL I'VE BEEN TO, THE SRO HAS BEEN OUT DIRECTING TRAFFIC.
I WAS AT KENWOOD OR OUT IN THE PARKING LOT READING THE STUDENTS, SO I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT.
UM, I'LL SHARE WITH YOU, I WAS AT A SCHOOL OFF THE PROPERTY YESTERDAY AND THE, I'VE WATCHED THE SCHOOL RESOURCE WALK IN THE BUILDING.
UH, I WAS AT THE SAME SCHOOL TWO WEEKS AGO AND OBSERVED THE SAME BEHAVIOR.
UH, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS WHY THAT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, UNIFORM ACROSS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, IT, IT, IT IS, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING WAS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL, MAYBE THE TEACHER ASKED HIM TO CHECK ON SOMETHING.
MAYBE THERE WAS A THREAT THAT DAY.
UM, I, I COULDN'T ANSWER WITHOUT MORE DETAIL AND RESEARCH.
BUT, UM, LIKE I SAID, I CAN TELL YOU THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL, THAT'S WHAT I OBSERVED.
I'M CURIOUS, DO THEY WORK A SET NUMBER OF HOURS? ARE THE HOURS DETERMINED BY THE PRECINCT OR ARE THEY DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL? THE HOURS THAT THE SROS WORK, THEY'RE WORK BY CONTRACT.
IT WOULD BE EIGHT HOURS BY UNION CONTRACT, JUST LIKE THE SCHOOL UNION.
SO IF A SCHOOL STARTS AT EIGHT 15, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL, WOULD THEY, YOU KNOW, CLOCK IN AT THE PRECINCT AT SIX 30 OR SEVEN OR, OR DOES THEIR TIME, THEIR TIME WOULD START WHERE THEY WOULD GET TO THE PRECINCT AND PICK UP THEIR EQUIPMENT.
AND THEN EVERY, THERE'S NOT A SRO FOR EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SO WE'RE, WE'RE SHARING AT THIS POINT.
UM, ARE METAL DETECTORS COMPLETELY OUT OF THE QUESTION? I WAS AT A SCHOOL AND PARENTS SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR ONE AT THAT AT THEIR PARTICULAR SCHOOL.
ARE THEY OUT OF THE QUESTION OR WHAT'S THE DEAL? I CAN RESPOND.
SAVOY, WE HAVE OPEN GATE IN OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND OUR HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WE USE FOR THE ATHLETIC EVENTS.
UM, UH, CHIEF MCCULLOUGH AS WELL AS ANOTHER, UM, UH, ONE OF HIS OFFICERS HAVE BEEN AT OUR COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS FOR SAFETY AND CLIMATE TO EXPLAIN TO FAMILIES WHY IT'S NOT A RECOMMENDED, UM, PROCESS FOR US TO MOVE TO HAVING, UH, METAL DETECTORS IN OUR SCHOOLS.
UM, I WOULD DO A DISSERVICE TO, YOU KNOW, REPEATING THE EXPLANATION, BUT I'M SURE WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND ASK THEM, UM, TO EITHER SEND US SOMETHING OR INVITE THEM TO AN UPCOMING MEETING TO EXPLAIN THE PROCESS TO ALL OF US AND THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
I KNOW THAT THEY DO WORK WELL.
I WORKED WITH METAL DETECTIVES BEFORE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT TONIGHT.
[Q. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND AGENDA SETTING (9:35 - 9:45 p.m.)]
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND ANY AGENDA SETTING ITEMS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED.SO, UM, IF YOU HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM OR A COMMENT, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
[02:10:01]
THANK YOU.UM, SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS, UM, ACCOMPANIED, UH, THE PTA MEETING YESTERDAY AT FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL.
IT WAS A VERY POWERFUL MEETING.
UM, THE PRINCIPAL WELCOMED, UH, WITH OPEN ARMS, UH, THE COMMENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND IT WAS A GREAT LISTENING SESSION.
ONE OF, UM, THE REQUESTS FROM MEMBERS OF THAT C COMMUNITY IS CLARIFICATION ON THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED, UM, I GUESS NOW SEVERAL WEEKS AGO REGARDING THE, UM, THE HANDGUN THAT WAS DETECTED, UM, THROUGH THE WONDERFUL WORK OF THE PERSONNEL AT THE SCHOOL, UM, THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHETHER THE GUN WAS LOADED OR NOT LOADED.
THERE WAS A BALTIMORE SUN ARTICLE THAT DECLARED THAT IT WAS A LOADED GUN, AND THE COMMUNITY HAS JUST REQUESTED THAT THERE IS A CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU.
AND WHETHER THAT'S TONIGHT OR AT SOME POINT, LIKE I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
LET ME CLARIFY FOR THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE.
UM, IT HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY POLICE THAT THERE WAS NOT A LOADED GUN.
OTHER COMMENTS OR AGENDA ITEMS? YOU CAN ALSO SEND AGENDA ITEMS TO ME THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.
UM, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF VISITING, UH, VILLA CRESTA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UM, THE LUMA PROJECT, WHO WAS, WHO WAS, UM, THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT IS ROBIN ARI FROM EASTERN TECH.
HE'S EASTERN TECH SENIOR, AND HE DISTRIBUTED BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY BAGS TO MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS.
UM, AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO OBSERVE HIM AND HIS BOARD MEMBERS WHO WERE ALSO ALL EASTERN TECH STUDENTS.
UM, JUST THE, THEY WERE SO ENGAGED WITH THE STUDENTS AND THEY WERE JUST EXCITED TO GIVE BACK TO, TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO IT WAS JUST SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT OUR BCPS STUDENTS THAT I WANTED TO, UM, BRING A LIGHT ON.
YOU MADE SOMEONE DOWN HERE SMILE
I WANTED TO THANK THE, UH, CONTINENTAL SOCIETY.
UM, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM WHEN THEY WERE AT THE HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT GIVING OUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR, SO I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT, UM, OR WERE VIRTUALLY AND SPEAKING TOWARD OIG RESOLUTION.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO REVISITING THAT FOR DISCUSSION AMONGST MY COLLEAGUES AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REQUEST THAT AN AGENDA ITEM BE ADDED ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE DATA.
UM, WE HAVE THAT SLIDE IN THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT ON SAFETY AND CLIMATE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE ADDITIONAL DATA AND IF STAFF COULD SPEAK TO HOW THAT ALIGNS WITH OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, UM, BASED ON THE REFERRAL TYPES AND INCIDENTS FOR THE 24 25 SCHOOL YEAR, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
[R. ANNOUNCEMENTS (9:45 p.m.)]
THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, SO IT IS A CHANGE FROM OUR USUAL ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2025 AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TONIGHT AND YOUR PATIENCE WITH OUR TECH.
UM, THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.