* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:04] AUGUST 25TH. [A. CLOSED SESSION] 2026. THIS EVENING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 1 0 7 3. VERIZON FILES CHANNEL 34. IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AS PERMITTED BY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AS FOUND IN THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE THREE DASH 3 0 5 B ONE AND B SEVEN TO ONE, DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE, DEMOTION, COMPENSATION, REMOVAL, RESIGNATION OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS OVER WHOM IT HAS JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTERS THAT MAY THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. AND SEVEN, CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. SO MOVE KY. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND HEN MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE. MS. THORNTON? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MS. GIBA? YES. MS. KY? YES. MR. FITZPATRICK? YES. MS. PUMPHREY? YES. MS. PUMPHREY. SORRY. . MR. YOUNG? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS VICE [B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.)] CHAIR EMERY YOUNG PRESIDING ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIR. I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2026. I INVITE YOU TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG TO BE LED BY MS. CLAIRE JI. WE WILL THEN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. BUDGET ALLEGIANCE TO FIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHO IS DISMISS OF ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. ALL THANK YOU. TONIGHT'S BOARD OF EDUCATING EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETINGS, BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 1 0 7 3 VERIZON FILES CHANNEL 34. IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE. THE FIRST [C. AGENDA (6:35 p.m.)] ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE AUGUST 25TH AGENDA BOARD MEMBERS, MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO REMOVE AGENDA ITEM E, NEW BUSINESS ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINT APPOINTMENTS SINCE THERE ARE NO APPOINTMENTS BEING BROUGHT FORWARD THIS EVENING, SO MOVE HUMPHREY. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND DOKI, ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. MS. THORNTON? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MR. BJI? YES. MR. MINSKI? YES. MS. KY. DR. VOY? YES. MR. FITZPATRICK? YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES AND THE AGENDA ITEM WILL BE REMOVED. DR. HEISER, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL CHANGES, ANY OTHER ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA. THANK YOU. HEARING NONE. THE AGENDA STANDS AS AMENDED. THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONAL. SCROLL DOWN. DID I MISS IT? OH, I MISSED IT. OKAY. EARLIER THIS EVENING, THE BOARD MET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS, TO ONE, DISCUSS THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, DISCIPLINE, DEMOTION, COMPENSATION, REMOVAL, RESIGNATION OR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF EMPLOYEES OF APPOINTEES, EMPLOYEES OR OFFICIALS OVER WHOM IT HAS JURISDICTION OR ANY OTHER PERSONNEL MATTERS THAT AFFECTS ONE OR MORE SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. AND CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. THE CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY AND THE OPEN SESSION INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCS UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE. [00:05:01] NOW THE [D. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Mr. McCall) (6:45 - 6:50 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS PERSONNEL MATTERS, AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. MCCALL. I. GOOD EVENING, VICE CHAIR, YOUNG SUPERINTENDENT, DR. HEISER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS. TONIGHT WE HAVE RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES, AND DECEASED RECOGNITION OF SERVICE. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBIT D ONE THROUGH D FOUR? SO MOVED. DOKI. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND, GI, ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE PLEASE. MS. THORNTON? YES. MR. MCMILLION? YES. MS. HEN? YES. MR. BJI? YES. MS. MINOSKI? YES. MR. LUKI? YES. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. FITZPATRICK? YES. MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. MCCALL. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT [F. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:00 - 7:30 p.m.)] ITEM IS PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS IS ONE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THE BOARD PROVIDES TO HEAR THE VIEWS AND RECEIVE THE ADVICE OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS. IF NOT SELECTED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY SUBMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD MEMBERS VIA EMAIL@BOEATBCPS.ORG. THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY UNIT AND OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY HAS RECOMMENDED SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS, WHICH ARE POSTED IN THE BOARDROOM AND AVAILABLE IN BOARD DOCS AND ON THE BOARD'S PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC WEBSITE. WHILE WE ENCOURAGE PUBLIC INPUT ON POLICY PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THIS BOARD AND THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM, THIS IS NOT THE PROPER FORM TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC STUDENT OR EMPLOYEE MATTERS OR TO COMMENT ON MATTERS THAT DO NOT RELATE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. INAPPROPRIATE PERSONAL REMARKS OR OTHER BEHAVIOR SUCH AS LANGUAGE THAT PROMOTES VIOLENCE AGAINST BCPS EMPLOYEES OR THAT DISRUPT 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 AT THE DISCRETION OF THE BOARD CHAIR. I NOW CALL ON SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFILIATED GROUPS TO SPEAK. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS LESLIE WEBER WITH PTA COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE COUNTY. THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, VICE CHAIR, YOUNG BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS AND DR. HEISER. FIRST, DR. HEISER, WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU AND YOUR CHIEF OF STAFF WILL CONTINUE THE LONGSTANDING PRACTICE OF ATTENDING MONTHLY LEADERSHIP ROUND TABLES WITH PTA PRESIDENTS AND PTA COUNCIL. PA COUNCIL HAS BEEN WORKING ALL SUMMER LONG, STARTING RESTARTING, SUPPORTING AND STRENGTHENING PTA AND PTSA UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTY NORTHWEST AREA VICE PRESIDENT ERICA WILLIAMS LED A VERY SUCCESSFUL TEAM AT WHICH AREA LEADERS COULD NETWORK AND SHARE IDEAS. WE ATTENDED THE PARTNERSHIP THERE, WHICH GAVE US THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH SYSTEM PARTNERS AND MANY COMMUNITY SCHOOL FACILITATORS. COUNCIL VICE PRESIDENT RAMONA BASILIO AND I ATTENDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY MEETING LAST WEEK. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU, DR. HEISER, AND YOUR VISION FOR BCPS. AT BCPS FEST, WE MET HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE ASKED PEOPLE TO COMPLETE A FAMILY SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SURVEY AND WE'RE ABLE TO TALK UP PTA ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO JOIN VOLUNTEER LEAD OR RESTART UNITS. WE EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PTAS AND UNAFFILIATED PARENT GROUPS AND PROMOTED NATIONAL PTAS ANNUAL REFLECTIONS ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM. ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA IS REVISED SUPERINTENDENT'S RULE 1210 COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT RELATIONSHIP WITH PTAS AND PSAS. I TESTIFIED FOR THE RELATED POLICY IN JUNE. POLICY AND RULE 1210 OUTLINED THE OUTLINED THE BOARD'S COMMITMENT TO PTA COUNCIL AND PTAS AND PSAS ACROSS THE COUNTY AS BEING THE OFFICIAL PARENT GROUP PARTNERS OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. RULE 1210 AFFIRMS THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A PTA OR PTSA AND ITS SCHOOL AND PRINCIPAL. WE HOPE PTA COUNCIL CAN MEET WITH ALL PRINCIPALS SO THEY CAN BETTER UNDERSTAND PTA AND ITS BENEFITS AND HOW PTAS DIFFER FROM UNAFFILIATED PARENT GROUPS. IT'S CRITICAL FOR PRINCIPALS TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE PARENT GROUPS AT THEIR, AT THEIR SCHOOLS OPERATE A KEY, A KEY POINT OF RULE 1210 CONCERNS ESTABLISHING A PTA OR PTSA IN A NEW SCHOOL WITH PTA COUNCIL'S ASSISTANCE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS RARELY HAPPENS, AND WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS. FINALLY, WE'RE [00:10:01] PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE EASTERN TECH PTSA WAS AWARDED NATIONAL PTA'S SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION FOR 2025 TO 2027. THIS IS RECOGNITION FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT PTSA INVESTED IN DEVELOPING STRONG FAMILY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPROVING THEIR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. PTA COUNCIL HAS AN ACTION PLAN TO SHARE SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE INFORMATION WITH ALL UNITS AND TO, AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE THE STEPS TO EARN THIS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION FOR THEMSELVES. THE SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE DESIGNATION IS BASED ON NATIONAL PTA'S, WELL-REGARDED AND WELL-RESEARCHED NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR FAMILY SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH ARE WELCOMING ALL FAMILIES, COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY, SUPPORTING STUDENT SUCCESS, SPEAKING UP FOR EVERY CHILD, SHARING POWER, AND COLLABORATING WITH COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. WEBER. NEXT ARE OUR UNIONS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS BRAD DESANTOS FROM TABCO. GOOD EVENING VICE CHAIR YOUNG DR. HEISER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS BRAD DESANTOS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M A TEACHER AT CATONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. I'M ALSO ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR DISTRICT ONE AND THE CORE NEGOTIATIONS TEAM. UM, I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF TAPCO AND PRESIDENT KELLY OLDS. MS. OLDS ATTENDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY KICKOFF CELEBRATION AT THE NEW LANSDOWN HIGH SCHOOL LAST WEEK, AND SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SHARED THAT IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND THAT SHE'S OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BASED ON THE POSITIVE ENERGY THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THERE AND ON THAT POSITIVE ENERGY WE ARE MOVING FORWARD INTO IN SEPTEMBER TO NEGOTIATE OUR NEXT THREE YEAR AGREEMENTS, I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU TAPCO SIX PRIORITIES IN THESE CRITICAL NEGOTIATIONS. FIVE PLANKS IN OUR PLATFORM PLUS PAY. OUR CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES REVOLVE AROUND THE THEME OF TIME AND DIGNITY. FIRST IS PAY. WE NEED TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER COUNTIES, AND WE NEED TO KEEP OUR VETERAN EDUCATORS IN THE SYSTEM. THAT MEANS IN ADDITION TO STEPS, WE MUST MAKE SURE THERE IS MEANINGFUL RAISES FOR ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF THE BARGAINING UNIT. WORKLOAD AND TIME IS ONE OF OUR FIRST PLANKS. TIME IS A LIMITED RESOURCE, AND AS AN EDUCATOR, I MYSELF HAVE SEEN MANY DUTIES PILE UP OVER THE YEARS AND NOT NEARLY AS MANY THINGS COME OFF THE PLATE. SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S SOMETIMES THE WELLBEING OF OUR EDUCATORS, SAFE AND RESPECTFUL SCHOOLS OR ANOTHER PLANK. THIS SPEAKS TO ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR STUDENT CONDUCT ISSUES CENTRALLY AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE THEM EACH IN OUR INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS. LEAVES IS ANOTHER PLANK. THIS CENTERS ON REMOVING BARRIERS TO USING THE TIME WE HAVE EARNED WITHOUT BEING OVERLY MONITORED OR MADE TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CARE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES. DIGNITY AT WORK IS OUR NEXT PLANK, AND THIS FOCUSES ON THE FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY RELATED TO EDUCATORS FACING INVOLUNTARY TRANSFERS. AND THE FINAL PLANK IS FOR OUR SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. THAT'S OUR PSYCHOLOGISTS, SLPS, OTS, PTS COUNSELORS, NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS. THESE CRITICAL STAFF DESERVE WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENTS AND ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING PROGRESS IN ALL THESE CRITICAL ISSUES TOGETHER AND WE KNOW WE ALL SHARE THE SAME DESIRE, AND THAT'S TO SERVE THE STUDENTS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARLENE BINKY FROM CASE. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHARLENE VANKE AND I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF CASE. I WANNA TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND SHARE SOME OF THE FEEDBACK WE'RE HEARING FROM OUR SCHOOL LEADERS AND SUPERVISORS REGARDING OUR RECENT ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY MEETING, WHICH HAS AFFECTIONATELY AND QUITE SUCCESSFULLY BECOME KNOWN AS OUR KICKOFF CELEBRATION. WE'VE RECEIVED POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM OUR MEMBERS ACROSS THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY REGARDING THE CORE VALUES AND LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY THAT WERE SHARED AT THE EVENT. IN PARTICULAR, OUR LEADERS RESONATED WITH THIS KEY TAKEAWAY, INTEGRITY AND EXCELLENCE ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. TRUE EXCELLENCE ACROSS BCPS IS GROUNDED IN UNWAVERING ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AT ALL LEVELS. ANYONE WHO HAS EVER TAKEN EVEN A SINGLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CLASS IS FAMILIAR WITH THE CLASSIC PHRASE, DOING WHAT IS BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF STUDENTS. THAT IS THE COMPASS OF OUR CASE MEMBERS. FOLLOW EVERY SINGLE DAY. MAKING THOSE KINDS OF COMPLEX, IMPACTFUL DECISIONS AT EVERY LEVEL OF BCPS REQUIRES COMPASSIONATE HUMAN BEINGS WHO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT CHILDREN. IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY HAVE HIRED A SUPERINTENDENT WHO CARES [00:15:01] DEEPLY ABOUT HIS EMPLOYEES TOO. THAT IS A REFRESHING PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW A FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH. WE HAVE TO NURTURE AND CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NURTURE AND CARE FOR OUR TEACHERS AND OUR CHILDREN. ON THAT NOTE, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE DR. ER'S WILLINGNESS TO STEP UP AND INVESTIGATE SITUATIONS THAT SIMPLY AREN'T OKAY OR IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING OUR CASE MEMBERS. THIS INCLUDES ACTIVELY SEEKING REAL SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS THAT ARE BROUGHT BEFORE HIM AND HIS TEAM, WHICH HAS BOTH FAMILIAR AND NEW FACES. SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE BEING SOLVED. THEY HAVE EXISTED FOR OVER A YEAR, BUT IS IS CLEAR THAT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP THERE IS A COMMITMENT TO FINDING SOLUTIONS. THIS TYPE OF COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH DR. HEISER AND HIS TEAMS IS GOING TO SERVE US WELL AS WE MOVE INTO NEGOTIATIONS THIS FALL. BUILDING TRUST IS LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE. IT HAS TO START WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION LAYING BRICK BY BRICK. DR. HEISER IS CERTAINLY OFF TO A GOOD START, AND IT IS HONESTLY REFRESHING TO KNOW THAT THIS BRICK LAYER IS ALSO A MASTER DOUBLE DUTCH JUMP ROPER, READY TO NAVIGATE COMPLEX CHALLENGES WITH REAL RHYTHM, TIMING, AND AGILITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP, AND YOUR CONTINUED DEDICATION TO DOING WHAT IS RIGHT BY OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF. THANK YOU MS. M. OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS NONPROFIT COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND FROM THE WAIT LIST WE HAVE ZAB CHANDRY FROM CARE. AND FORGIVE ME IF I MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. NO PROBLEM AT ALL. IT'S NOT THE MOST COMMON NAME IN THE BOOK. . GOOD EVENING CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, SUPERINTENDENT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS A CHORI. I'M THE DIRECTOR FOR KIRA'S OFFICE IN MARYLAND. HERE IS A COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS. WE ARE THE NATION'S LARGEST MUSLIM CIVIL RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION. RECENTLY, BOARD MEMBER MAGGIE LETZ DOKI SHARED A SOCIAL MEDIA MEME INVOKING SHAAH TO PROMOTE A FALSE AND INFLAMMATORY NARRATIVE ABOUT ISLAM AND MUSLIMS. MS. MINOSKI HAS SINCE REMOVED THE POST AND WE WELCOME THAT STEP. HOWEVER, HER, HER SUBSEQUENT STATEMENT WAS NOT AN APOLOGY AND IT DID NOT, UH, FULLY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HARM THAT WAS CAUSED. HER LENGTHY COMMENTARY ABOUT THE TALIBAN, ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS ALSO DOES NOT ADDRESS WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. THE RIGHTS AND EDUCATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ALWAYS MUST BE PROTECTED, BUT CRITICIZING PARTICULAR GOVERNMENTS OR CULTURAL PRACTICES IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM CIRCULATING A POLITICAL MEME. PORTRAYING SHARIA ITSELF AS A THREAT TO OUR COUNTRY, LIKE KHA IN JUDAISM AND CANNON LAW AND CATHOLICISM. SHADIA IS A BROAD RELIGIOUS AND MORAL FRAMEWORK. IT GUIDES MUSLIMS IN PRAYER, FASTING, CHARITY, FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES, HONESTY, AND CARE FOR ONE'S NEIGHBORS. SHADIA REQUIRES MUSLIMS TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF THE LAND IN WHICH WE RESIDE AND AS AMERICANS, THAT LAW IS OUR CONSTITUTION, WHICH ALSO PROTECTS OUR RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH. SAME AS OTHER FAITH COMMUNITIES. PRIVATE RELIGIOUS PRINCIPLES DO NOT SUPERSEDE AMERICAN LAW, AND AMERICAN MUSLIMS ARE NOT SEEKING TO IMPOSE OUR FAITH ON OTHERS. CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, TURNING SHADIA INTO A POLITICAL SCARE TACTIC IS NOT EDUCATION. IT IS DISINFORMATION. AND WHEN THAT DISINFORMATION IS AMPLIFIED BY SOMEONE WHO IS ENTRUSTED WITH GOVERNING A PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY ONE AS DIVERSE AS BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IT SENDS A PAINFUL MESSAGE TO MUSLIM STUDENTS THAT YOUR FAITH IS SUSPICIOUS, THAT YOUR IDENTITY IS THREATENING AND THAT YOU DO NOT FULLY BELONG. IMAGINE ENTERING A BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOOL SYSTEM CLASSROOM KNOWING THAT A MEMBER OF THE BOARD RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY AND EDUCATION, CIRCULATED CONTENT, PORTRAYING YOUR FAITH AS A DANGER. HOW IS THAT CHILD SUPPOSED TO TRUST OUR BOARD? PUBLIC OFFICIALS RETAIN THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH, BUT PUBLIC OFFICE CARRIES RESPONSIBILITY. BOARD MEMBERS HELP SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN. YOUR CONDUCT MUST DEMONSTRATE THAT EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF THEIR FAITH, WILL BE TREATED WITH EQUAL DIGNITY. WE THEREFORE ASK THIS BOARD TO TAKE ACTION FIRST, MS. DOKI MUST ISSUE A DIRECT APOLOGY TO THE MUSLIM STUDENTS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS HARMED BY YOUR POST SAYING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN INTERPRETED INACCURATELY SHIFTS RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THOSE WHO WERE HARMED. A GENUINE APOLOGY ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT WAS WRONG AND COMMITS TO DOING BETTER. SECOND, WE ASK YOU TO REAFFIRM YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING MUSLIM STUDENTS AND DEMONSTRATE IT THROUGH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT ONE OF THE MANY MOSQUES THAT ARE IN BALTIMORE [00:20:01] COUNTY AND MEET WITH YOUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS AND CHILDREN TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS RHETORIC HARMS THEM. IF YOU REFUSE, THEN THERE SHOULD BE CONSEQUENCES. SIMILAR FOR ANY OTHER FAITH COMMUNITY WHO MAY BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED BY THIS KIND OF RHETORIC. WE ASK WHEN THE BOARD TO CONDEMN ANTI-MUSLIM BIGOTRY, SAME AS WE CONDEMN ANTISEMITISM, RIGHTFULLY SO, AND ALL ANTI-BLACK RACISM AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF HATRED. WE ASK YOU TO STRENGTHEN PROTECTIONS AGAINST FAITH-BASED BULLYING AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL RELIGIOUS LITERACY AND BIAS EDUCATION. MUSLIM CHILDREN ARE NOT OUTSIDERS. THEY ARE BALTIMORE COUNTY STUDENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS THE PRACTICE OF THIS BOARD TO ALLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE THEIR COMMENTS TO THE BOARD DELEGATES. SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO BACK? YOU CAN GO BACK IF, IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO BOP UM, BOE@BCPS.ORG. I WILL DO THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. DELEGATE STINT. THANK YOU CHAIR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. UH, FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS DESHAW A ETT, AND I'M ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE MUSLIM CAUCUS. ON BEHALF OF THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE MUSLIM CAUCUS, WE RESPECTIVELY BUT FIRMLY ASKED BALTIMORE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER MAGGIE DUBINSKI TO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE FOR SHARING AND AMPLIFYING REMARKS THAT WERE ANTI-MUSLIM AND OFFENSIVE TO, UH, MEMBERS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. WORDS MATTER, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY COME FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HOLD POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE AND PUBLIC TRUST. REMARKS THAT STEREOTYPE DEMEAN OR CAST SUSPICION UPON MUSLIMS BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH CONTRIBUTE TO DIVISION AND INTOLERANCE. THEY ALSO MAKE MUSLIM AMERICANS UNSAFE. SERVING AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBER COMES WITH A RESPONSIBILITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHEN STATEMENTS OR CONTENT CAUSE HARM. A PUBLIC APOLOGY WOULD DEMONSTRATE ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT ANY WILLINGNESS TO HELP REPAIR THE HARM CAUSED BY THESE REMARKS. AS AS SUCH, WE RESPECTFULLY AS THAT MAGGIE DEBOWSKI PUBLIC APOLOGIZED PUBLIC, ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF WHAT HAD, WHAT WAS SHARED, APOLOGIZED TO THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY AND OTHERS WHO WERE OFFENDED OR HURT, AND MAKE CLEAR THAT RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION AND HATRED HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR PUBLIC DISCOURSE. I CLOSED THIS TO ACKNOWLEDGE MYSELF AGAIN AS DELEGATE SEAN ANET, THE CHAIR OF THE MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE MUSLIM CAUCUS IN ANNAPOLIS. THANK YOU. NEXT ARE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND STUDENT GROUPS. OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS SHARON SOFF. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND, UH, DR. HEISER. I'D ACTUALLY PLANNED TO RAISE MORE AWARENESS TONIGHT ABOUT PARENT CONCERNS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION. I HAD HOPED TO NOT HAVE TO RAISE THIS ISSUE, BUT IS A BIG REASON WHY SPECIAL EDUCATION FAMILIES DO NOT RAISE CONCERNS AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS. IT IS CALLED HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION. I WISH IT DIDN'T EXIST, BUT I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED IT AS BOTH, BOTH A PARENT AND AS AN ADVOCATE. I KNOW OF MANY STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IT AND SPOKEN THE WORDS, WAREHOUSED AND SPECIAL EDUCATION JAIL. YOU HAVE HEARD ME RAISE ISSUES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, SAFETY, HOME AND HOSPITAL, AND LACK OF IEP IMPLEMENTATION. YOU'VE ALSO HEARD ME RAISE CONCERNS OF ADMINISTRATORS AND CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL NOT DOING THEIR JOBS. WHEN I LISTED CONCERNS TO BE ADDRESSED, COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT WERE TWO OF THE ISSUES. MY FAVORITE PHRASE, UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN, I HEAR MORE CRICKETS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION THAN I DO WHEN I GO CAMPING. I WILL NOT DENY THAT I CONTINUE TO WORK WITH SOME REALLY WONDERFUL AND AMAZING CARING IEP TEAMS, INDIVIDUALS WHO THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR STUDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE THE SAME TEAMS THAT OFTEN NOTE TO THE WORDS SPECIAL EDUCATION [00:25:01] JAIL WHEN ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS IN THEIR BUILDING. WHY SHOULD TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS FEEL THREATENED WHEN THEY ADVOCATE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES? ARE THEY NOT ENTITLED TO THE SAME LEVEL OF EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE AS THEIR NON-DISABLED PEERS? WHY DO WE ALLOW CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF TO STAY IN THEIR LANE FROM A SEPARATE LANE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION? WHY ARE THERE LANES AT ALL? WHERE IS THE COLLABORATION THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE SITUATION? THAT KIND OF RESPONSE MAKES ME WONDER HOW TRULY COMMITTED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS TO THE WELFARE AND EDUCATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES OF ALL STUDENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS BOSCH. PERONE. GOOD EVENING TO ALL. UM, LAST BOARD MEETING. I REALLY HAD A GREAT FEELING OF HOPE WHEN MR. MCMILLIAN, UH, INDICATED, UH, UM, MY SPEAKING ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MODERNIZATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND I REALLY TRULY APPRECIATE THAT. IT GIVES ME HOPE ON TOP OF THE HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU, EXCEPT ONE, UH, NO. ALL OF YOU HAVE VOTED FOR A NEW MODERN SUPERINTENDENT WITH ENERGIES AND I REALLY WISH YOU, UH, A GREAT DEAL OF LUCK, UH, DR. HEISER. BUT WHEN I LEFT THE ROOM, I ASKED MYSELF, WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE A NEW CHANGE FORWARD IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION? I HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS AND MY SPEECH, SHARON'S SPEECH, TAPCO SPEECH, K SPEECH ARE ALL THE SAME. SO HERE ARE THE SIGNS. THE BOOKCASE IN THE OUTSIDE IS SUCH REALLY ARCHAIC AND BELONGS INTO THE SMITHIAN AND NOT IN INDICATIVE OF A FUTURISTIC BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE WAY YOU CONDUCT BUSINESS IS EXACTLY THE SAME. THE FURNITURE THE SAME. UM, THIS UGLY SIGN IS THE SAME. NOBODY DARES TAKING IT DOWN EVEN THOUGH IT IS INTIMIDATING, IT'S UNFAIR, IT'S SILLY. IT DOESN'T PROTECT YOU. EVERYTHING IS THE SAME. SO WHERE IS THE IMPROVEMENT GOING TO BE? YOU GET ALMOST $3 BILLION OF OUR TAX MONEY EVERY YEAR AND YOU HAVE POOR RESULTS AND YOU GET 1.1 IMPROVEMENT IN ACHIEVEMENT AND HOOPLA. IT'S REALLY A GREAT PROGRESS. IT'S NOTHING. SO THIS WORLD IS WORLD ABOUT ADVANCEMENT AND I DON'T SEE IT REALLY IN THE BOARD OF LITIGATION. I SEE PEOPLE VOTING BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOR OF SKIN POLITICAL PARTY. I SEE PEOPLE VOTING BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND I SEE FEW PEOPLE WHO TRY THEIR BEST TOO. GIVES ME HOPE. YEAH, BUT THE OUTCOME IS THE SAME. SO WHY DID WE LOSE THE WAR IN IRAN AND AFGHANISTAN AND EVERYTHING? 'CAUSE WE HAVE BEEN EDUCATING PEOPLE POORLY AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY MAKE STUPID AND CRAZY THINGS AND THEY SPEND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND WASTE OUR BLOOD AND LIVES. THAT'S MY TAKE. THANK YOU. SINCE THERE ARE SPEAKER SPACES AVAILABLE, WE WILL NOW CALL FROM THE WAIT LIST FOR THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND STUDENT CATEGORY. THE FIRST WAIT LIST SPEAKER IS REUBEN AMAYA. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MR. SUPERINTENDENT. UM, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A BOARD MEMBER WHO RECENTLY POSTED RHETORIC ABOUT THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY THAT MANY MEMBERS OF OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOUND OFFENSIVE AND DISCRIMINATORY. AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT I BELIEVE DEEPLY IN THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND IN EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT [00:30:01] TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS, EVEN IF THOSE OPINIONS ARE OTHERS STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH. BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SERVICE COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY. AS YOU ALL KNOW, OUR WORDS CAN INFLUENCE HOW PEOPLE SEE THEIR GOVERNMENT, THEIR COMMUNITY, AND EVEN ONE ANOTHER. SEVEN YEARS AGO, I SERVED ON THE SCHOOL BOARD NOMINATING COMMISSION, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I TOLD ONE OF OUR MEMBERS THEN VERY MUCH APPLIES NOW, AND THAT IS THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING US. THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THE ADULTS SERVING ON THIS BOARD AND SEE PEOPLE WHO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT WITHOUT DEMEANING ONE ANOTHER. THEY SHOULD SEE US TAKE RESPONSIBILITY WHEN WE GET SOMETHING WRONG. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE EVERY CHILD, WHETHER MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, JEWISH, HINDU, ATHEIST, OR OTHERWISE KNOWS THAT THEY BELONG AND THAT THEY ARE VALUED. WE'RE NOT HERE TO ENGAGE IN MEMES OR INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC ON FACEBOOK. WE'RE HERE TO SERVE OUR CHILDREN. SO RESPECTFULLY, I DO HOPE, UH, BOARD MEMBER DANOWSKI, THAT YOU RECON RECONSIDER THOSE COMMENTS AND I HOPE THAT YOU APOLOGIZE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO WERE HURT BY THEM. AND I HOPE YOU LEARN FROM THIS MOMENT BECAUSE I DO WANT US TO ALL REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE NOT TO WIN ARGUMENTS ON FACEBOOK, NOT TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS, AND CERTAINLY NOT TO TEAR OUR CHILDREN DOWN. WE'RE HERE TO UPLIFT THEM. WE HAVE FOLKS IN THIS SCHOOL SYSTEM WHO WANT TO DO GOOD, HONEST WORK. AND I'VE SEEN THAT SINCE I WAS A STUDENT HERE WHEN I GRADUATED FROM FRANKLIN IN 2019. AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE THOUSANDS OF KIDS WHO WANT TO HONEST GOOD WORK IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND SO I HOPE THIS BOARD, UM, UPLIFTS THOSE IDEALS AND WE GET THINGS WRONG AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT OUR WORDS MATTER AND OUR CHILDREN ARE WATCHING US. I KNOW BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM. AND SO THANK YOU FOR THE TESTIMONY. UM, AND I HOPE YOU RECONSIDER YOUR COMMENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHAYA SHAW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SHAHA AND I'M A ELECTED, UH, CENTER COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY. I AM A BALTIMORE COUNTY RESIDENT WHO HAPPENED TO BE A MUSLIM. YOU MR. BROSKI ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT. YOU ARE MEANT TO SERVE US. HOW DARE YOU THINK IT'S OKAY TO POST SOMETHING SO DISCRIMINATORY AND MISINFORMED. HAVE YOU, HAVE YOU READ SHARIA? HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO YOUR PEERS, YOUR STUDENTS, WHO GAVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE TO SLANDER AN ENTIRE GROUP? A MAJORITY OF THE MUSLIM POPULATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY ARE DEMOCRATS. YOU COMPARED US TO MEGA. DO YOU THINK WE SEE YOU AS SEPARATE FROM MEGA NOW AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE? I HAVE BEEN A MOTHER OF FOR 26 YEARS NOW. WITH THAT TERRITORY COMES AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF ANXIETY AND WORRY FOR THE WELLBEING OF MY CHILDREN. THE TYPICAL STUFF THEY'RE STUDYING, THEIR SAFETY, THEIR EATING, IF THEY'RE EATING HEALTHY, MAKING SURE THEY'RE STUDYING AND LEARNING, LEARNING IN SCHOOL. THE LAST THING I SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT AS A MOTHER IS IF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THEIR EDUCATION IS PREJUDICE OR BIGOTED AGAINST THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. I UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT. WE COME FROM UNIQUE BACKGROUNDS AND CULTURES THAT SOME MAY SEEM SCARY TO OTHERS, BUT AS AN EDUCATOR, SOMEONE WHO IS EXPECTED TO REPRESENT THE CHILDREN OF YOUR COUNTY, HOW COULD YOU ADHERE TO PLACE OF TO A PLACE OF IGNORANCE? I RAISED FOUR CHILDREN IN AMERICAN SCHOOL SYSTEM. ALL OF THEM PROSPERED IN ENVIRONMENT THAT ACCEPTED AND SUPPORT WERE SUPPORTED NOT FROM A SYSTEM THAT FUNDAMENTALLY FROM ITS STAFF MADE CRUDE DOG WHISTLES. I CANNOT ALLOW FELLOW MOTHERS TO WORRY IF THEIR CHILDREN WILL BE JUDGED BASED ON THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS NOT ONLY FREEDOM OF SPEECH, BUT ALSO FREEDOM OF RELIGION. SO WE AS A COMMUNITY CANNOT ABIDE BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WHO WOULD IMPEDE THAT FREEDOM. AS A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY THAT REPRESENT 48,000 MUSLIMS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. DELANSKY TO EITHER PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE OR RESIGN. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS CAMDENS LOGAN WASHINGTON. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATIONAL BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND WELCOME BACK DR. HEISER AS A MOM, COMMUNITY MEMBER, NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, [00:35:01] AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, AN EDUCATOR. I'M DEEPLY DISTURBED BY THE ANTI-MUSLIM AND DIVISIVE RHETORIC SHARED BY A BOARD MEMBER. OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE ENTRUSTED TO SERVE EVERY STUDENT, EVERY FAMILY, AND EVERY COMMUNITY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY. THAT RESPONSIBILITY DEMANDS LEADERSHIP GROUNDED IN DIGNITY, RESPECT, EQUITY, AND GOOD JUDGMENT, FEAR-BASED RHETORIC THAT STEREOTYPES OR MARGINALIZES PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH, HAS NO PLACE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND IS UNBECOMING OF ANYONE ENTRUSTED WITH REPRESENTING OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR STUDENTS, AS RUBEN MENTIONED, ARE WATCHING US. WE CANNOT ASK THEM TO DEMONSTRATE RESPECT, KINDNESS, GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP AND ACCEPTANCE WHILE THE ADULTS THAT SUPPORT THEM MODEL, DIVISION, AND INTOLERANCE. BALTIMORE COUNTY IS A BEAUTIFULLY DIVERSE COUNTY. I WOULD KNOW BECAUSE I'M A GRADUATE OF LANSDOWN HIGH SCHOOL. OUR MUSLIM STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER STUDENT AND FAMILY, DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE VALUED, RESPECTED, AND FULLY WELCOME IN OUR SCHOOLS. WE MAY COME FROM DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, CULTURES, FAITHS, BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES, BUT OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO OUR CHILDREN MUST ALWAYS BE GREATER THAN THE THINGS THAT DIVIDE US. AS A CITIZEN OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND FOR LEADERSHIP THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, TREATS EVERY FAMILY WITH DIGNITY, AND KEEPS OUR FOCUS WHERE IT BELONGS. CREATING SAFE, WELCOMING HIGH QUALITY SCHOOLS WHERE EVERY STUDENT CAN THRIVE. WE ARE ALWAYS BETTER TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - RECONSIDERATION OF BOARD ACTION - PUZZLE PIECES (Ms. Lichter) (7:30 - 7:45 p.m.)] THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS RECONSIDERATION OF BOARD ACTION PUZZLE PIECES. AT THE AUGUST 11TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD CONSIDERED TO POSTPONE A MOTION MADE BY MR. FITZPATRICK AND SECONDED BY MS. HUMPHREY THAT THE BOARD REVOKED THE CHARTER OF PUZZLE PIECES LEARNING ACADEMY BASED ON SECTION 16.6 OF THE CHARTER AGREEMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE STAFF. MR. FITZPATRICK, UH, MR. CHAIR, AT THIS TIME, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION, I'D ASK, UH, PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW THE MOTION AS APPROVED. IS THERE ANY OBJECTION? THE MOTION IS WITHDRAWN IF I MAY. MR. FITZPATRICK. UM, I WOULD ALSO ASK THE, UH, THE, THE SUPERINTENDENT KEEP THE BOARD APPRAISED AS THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE BEEN RAISED REGARDING P'S UH, CHARTER APPLICATION AND ITS PROGRESS TOWARDS MEETING AND CONTRACTUAL MILESTONES. DR. HEISER, THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE, UM, CONCERNS RAISED BY, UH, THE BOARD AND, UH, REGARDING PUZZLE PIECES. AND OUR TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND ASSESS THIS SITUATION. WE'LL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CHARTER SCHOOL AND, UH, PROVIDE UPDATES TO THE BOARD AS APPROPRIATE. THANK YOU, DR. HEISER. THE [H. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Board Counsel) (7:45 - 7:50 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS ACTION TAKEN, ENCLOSED SESSION. AND FOR THAT I CALL ON MR. BURNS. I, GOOD EVENING, VICE CHAIR, YOUNG DR. HEISER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. FIRST OF ALL, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING MY JACKET. AS I MENTIONED, I'M LEFT AT FOUR HOURS AWAY IN ANOTHER PART OF THE STATE, SO I'M A LITTLE INFORMAL RIGHT NOW. UH, EARLIER TONIGHT IN CLOSED SESSION, THE BOARD, UH, REVIEWED AND TOOK ACTION ON FOUR APPEALS. UH, THEY WERE SDA, UM, 26 DASH 15 HEA 26 DASH 0 2 6. UM, I'M SORRY, YEAH, 0 2 6 0 3 6 AND 0 4 2. NOW IT'D BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION ON THOSE ITEMS. THANK YOU MR. BURNS. MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN ENCLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER'S CASES SDA 26 DASH 12 HEA 26 DASH ZERO 15 HEA, 26 DASH THREE SIX, AND HEA 26 DASH 0 4 2 AND AUTHORIZE MS. GROVER TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT. SO MOVE EY. MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ESKI, ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE. MS. THORNTON? YES. MR. MCMILLIAN? YES. MS. HEM? YES. MR. BJI? YES. MS. DOKI? YES. MS. DUSKY? YES. DR. SAVOY? YES. MR. FITZPATRICK? YES. [00:40:01] MS. HUMPHREY? YES. MR. YOUNG? YES. THANK YOU. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU MR. BURNS. THANK YOU. THE [I. WORK SESSION - PROPOSED FY 2028 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET (Mr. McGuire and Mr. Taylor) (7:50 - 8:30 p.m.)] NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS THE WORK SESSION ON THE PROPOSED FY 2028 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST. AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MR. MCGUIRE. GOOD EVENING. UH, VICE CHAIR YOUNG DR. HEISER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AT THE AUGUST 11TH MEETING, THE PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE FY 28, UH, CAPITAL BUDGET. UM, AND SOME QUESTIONS WERE SUBMITTED TO US THAT WE PROVIDED RESPONSES TO. AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CLARIFICATION REGARDING THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO US BOARD MEMBERS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. UM, THANK YOU MR. MCGUIRE. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THE FY 2028 STATE CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST, PLEASE SUBMIT THEM TO DR. HEISER BY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2026 FOR DISCUSSION AND VOTE AT THE SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU. THE NEXT ITEM [J. INFORMATION (8:30 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS INFORMATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE 20 26, 20 27 SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING PLAN AND REVISED SUPERINTENDENT RULES, 1210 AND 4,008. THE NEXT ITEM [K. BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES AND AGENDA SETTING (8:30 - 8:40 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS BOARD COMMITTEE UPDATES AND AGENDA SETTING. UH, I'M GONNA START WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH MS. HEN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR YOUNG, THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MET ON AUGUST 19TH. OUR NEXT MEETING IS SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 4:30 PM BUILDING AND CONTRACT WITH MR. MCMILLION. UH, PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD. WE NORMALLY GO ON MONDAYS, BUT BECAUSE OF LABOR DAY, WE'RE GONNA GO THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING. THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE EIGHTH. AND THAT, UH, LET ME DOUBLE CHECK THE TIME, BUT I'M THINKING IT IS 4 35 O'CLOCK. FIVE O'CLOCK. FIVE O'CLOCK ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD THANK YOU CURRICULUM WITH MS. STALOWSKI. THANK YOU. UM, AT OUR LAST CURRICULUM MEETING, WE APPROVED, UM, WHAT SEEMS LIKE ABSOLUTELY AMAZING EARTH SCIENCE TEXTBOOKS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. OUR NEXT CURRICULUM MEETING WILL BE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD AT 4:00 PM PLEASE JOIN US POLICY REVIEW WITH MS. PUMPHREY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NOT HAD, UH, AN ADDITIONAL MEETING SINCE MY LAST UPDATE FOR POLICY REVIEW, BUT OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 14TH AT FOUR 30. THE NEXT AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 4:30 PM AND OUR LAST, YOU WANT EQUITY ONE IS EQUITY COMMITTEE MS. AND THE NEXT EQUITY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH AT 5:30 PM THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, IF YOU HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. MS. DOKI, UH, I, I DON'T HAVE ANY UPDATE, UH, AGENDA ITEMS, BUT I WANNA ADDRESS, UM, THIS TO PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT CAME TO SPEAK TONIGHT. AND FIRST SAY THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TELLING ME HOW, UM, THAT MADE YOU FEEL. THE POST MADE YOU FEEL, UM, HEARING IT FROM YOUR VOICES AND SEEING YOUR FACES. I UNDERSTAND NOW, AND I AM TRULY SORRY. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN DOWN AND I WOULD LIKE TO ACCEPT, UM, MS. SHARI'S INVITATION TO COME VISIT A MOSQUE AND OR ANY, I WOULD JUST, I WOULD, I WELCOME THAT INVITATION AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO UNDERSTANDING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY MORE THAN JUST SHAIRA LAW. UM, AND THAT'S IT. I'M TRULY SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MR. LUKI? OKAY. I HAVE A LITTLE LIST. I'M SORRY. OKAY. UM, THE FIRST ITEM THAT I THINK WOULD BE GREAT TO DISCUSS IS, UM, UH, IN INCORPORATING STUDENT MEMBER COMMENTS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, I KNOW THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY RAISED. I JUST WANNA FOLLOW UP ON THAT. I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS. UM, IN THE FUTURE, IT WOULD BE AMAZING TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT IS BEING DONE, UH, CONCRETELY TO REDUCE, UM, THE WORKLOAD OF LIBRARY MEDIA [00:45:01] SPECIALISTS. SO I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. AND, UM, I KNOW AT THE LAST MEETING WE HAD SOME AMAZING SPEAKERS REGARDING TECHNOLOGY. UH, JAMES FRANK PRESENTED, UM, SOME INFORMATION, UH, ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY USE FOR HIS CHILD. AND THEN, UM, I THOUGHT MS. DEIDRA WIMAN MADE HAD JUST AN AMAZING QUOTE THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO HOW WE CAN EVALUATE SCREEN USE BY OUR STUDENTS. AND THE QUOTE WAS, SCREENS SHOULD BE CLOSED BY DEFAULT AND OPENED WITH PURPOSE. AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR, UM, UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OUR TECHNOLOGY USE IS BEING EVALUATED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR STUDENT USE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE LAST ITEM ON AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENT. I'M SORRY, UH, MR. FITZPATRICK. SORRY. UH, JUST LIKE TO, UM, REITERATE, UH, MEMBERS, UH, SLOS, UM, REMARKS ABOUT THE, UH, REDUCING THE WORKLOAD REPORT ON REDUCING THE WORKLOAD FOR THE LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS. UH, AND I'D ALSO, UH, LIKE TO ASK THE SUPERINTENDENT, UH, FOR SOME FOLLOW UP ON THE REPORT ON THE IMPACTS OF, UH, CHANGING THE PSYCHOLOGIST TO 10 MONTH EMPLOYEES THAT I ASKED FOR A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO. I CAN SEND YOU THAT LIST AGAIN FOR YOU. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. YOU GET A RESPONSE. THANKS, MS. POEY. I JUST WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, THE REQUEST FOR STUDENT, UM, ADDITIONAL OR SEPARATE INDIVIDUALIZED STUDENT COMMENT AT, UM, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE ON AN PART OF OUR DISCUSSION AT AN UPCOMING, UM, POLICY REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING WHEN WE DISCUSS THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCEDURES IN MORE DETAIL. ANYONE ELSE? THE LAST ITEM [L. ANNOUNCEMENTS (8:40 p.m.)] ON THE AGENDA IS ANNOUNCEMENT. AS A REMINDER, PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON OUR NEW BOARD MEETING PLATFORM DILIGENT COMMUNITY. THIS BOARD MEETING WILL BE THE LAST AGENDA IN BOARD DOCS BEFORE IT IS SWITCHED OVER TO THE NEW PLATFORM. THE BOARD'S NEXT MEETING WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 AT 6:30 PM THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.