Sep 22, 2026 Board of Education Work Session

[A. CLOSED SESSION]

[00:00:03]

GOOD AFTERNOON.

THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER.

I CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2026.

THIS EVENING'S BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST, AND ON BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 1 0 7 3, AND VERIZON FIOS, CHANNEL 34.

IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY CONDUCT THIS MEETING, ALL VOTING ITEMS THIS EVENING WILL BE DONE BY ROLL CALL VOTE.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION AS PERMITTED BY THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AS FOUND IN THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE THREE DASH 3 0 5 B ONE B SEVEN, AND B NINE 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.

CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE AND CONDUCT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OR CONSIDER MATTERS THAT RELATE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS.

SO MOVES LESKI.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND HAND.

THANK YOU.

MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

MS. FAL? YES.

THANK YOU.

MS. HEN? YES.

MR. YOUNG? YES.

MR. BCI? YES.

MS. DOKI? YES.

MS. DOKI? YES.

DR.

SAVOY? YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK? YES.

MS. POEY.

MS. THORNTON? YES.

MR. MCMILLION? YES.

MS. LICHTER? YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OH, ARE WE, ARE WE READY? READY.

WAIT, NOW.

GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS CHAIRWOMAN JANE LICHTER.

I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2026.

I INVITE

[B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT MEDITATION (6:30 p.m.) ]

WE'LL THEN HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND RECOGNITION OF THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

I, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND I JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU.

TONIGHT'S BOARD OF ED MEETING IS BEING BROADCAST THROUGH THE BCPS ONLINE LIVE MEETING BROADCAST AND ON BCPS TV, COMCAST, XFINITY, CHANNEL 1 0 7 3 AND VERIZON FIOS, 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.) ]

DR.

HEISER, ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA? I'M UNAWARE OF ANY ADDITIONS OR CHANGES TO TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

OKAY.

HEARING NONE.

THE AGENDA STANDS AS PRESENTED 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.

CONSULT WITH COUNSEL TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE AND CONDUCT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS OR CONSIDER MATTERS THAT RELATE TO THE NEGOTIATIONS.

THE CLOSED SESSION SUMMARY AND THE OPEN SESSION INFORMATION SUMMARY CAN BE FOUND ON DILIGENT COMMUNITY UNDER THIS BOARD MEETING AGENDA DATE.

[D. NEW BUSINESS - PERSONNEL MATTERS (Mr. McCall) (6:45 - 6:50 p.m.)]

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIR.

TER, VICE CHAIR, YOUNG SUPERINTENDENT, DR.

HEISER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'D LIKE THE BOARD'S CONSENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS.

TONIGHT WE HAVE RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS, LEAVES OF ABSENCE, AND EDUCATOR LICENSURE APPOINTMENT.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PERSONNEL MATTERS AS PRESENTED EXHIBITS D ONE THROUGH D FOUR? SO MOVE LESKY.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

YOUNG.

THANK.

SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

MS. FONG? YES.

MS. HE? YES.

MR. YOUNG? YES.

MR. BJI? YES.

MS. DOKI? YES.

MR. ALKI? YES.

DR.

SAVOY? YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK?

[00:05:01]

MS. THORNTON? YES.

MR. MCMILLION? YES.

MS. LTER? YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. MCCALL.

THANK YOU.

THE NEXT ITEM

[E. NEW BUSINESS - ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS (Dr. Heiser) (6:50 - 7:00 p.m.) ]

HEISER, MADAM CHAIR, LICHTER, VICE CHAIR YOUNG, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M BRINGING FORWARD THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS FOR YOUR APPROVAL.

ONE.

SENIOR BUSINESS SYSTEMS SOFTWARE ENGINEER.

TWO, SENIOR OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR, THIRD POSITION SPECIALIST, ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, ELEMENTARY INTERVENTION, AND FOUR, SPECIALIST BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST.

TWO POSITIONS.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS AS PRESENTED IN EXHIBITS E ONE? SO MOVED.

10.

THANK YOU.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND ESKIE.

THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

MS. FAL? YES.

MS. HEN? YES.

MR. YOUNG? YES.

MR. BJI? YES.

MS. DOKI? YES.

MS. DUSKY? YES.

DR.

SAVOY? YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK? YES.

MS. THORNTON? YES.

MR. MCMILLIAN? YES.

MS. LICHTER? YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DR.

HEISER.

THANK YOU.

MADAM CHAIR.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING NICOLE BURNS, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS SPECIALIST BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.

SHE'S HERE TODAY WITH A GUEST WITH MORE THAN EIGHT YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

NICOLE JOINS BCPS FROM VERBAL BEGINNINGS, WHERE SHE RECENTLY SERVED AS BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO BCPS.

NEXT, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING DAVID COLLUM, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS SENIOR OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITY OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS.

HE'S HERE TODAY WITH A GUEST WITH MORE THAN 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

DAVID RECENTLY SERVED AS A SUPERVISOR IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES OPERATION AND LOGISTICS.

CONGRATULATIONS, DAVID.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTIONS.

PLEASE JOIN ME AND CONGRAT, OH, SORRY.

OH, IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

GO AHEAD.

GOT A FEW MORE.

I THOUGHT SHE SAID YOU HAD TWO.

OKAY.

, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING HAN RAGU PATI, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS THE SENIOR BUSINESS SYSTEM SOFTWARE ENGINEER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

HE IS HERE TODAY WITH HIS WIFE WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHO RECENTLY SERVED AS BUSINESS SYSTEM SOFTWARE ENGINEER IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

WE'VE GOT TWO MORE.

OKAY.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ANA MIKEL, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS SPECIALIST ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELEMENTARY INTERVENTION IN A DEPARTMENT OF LITERACY AND HUMANITIES WITH MORE THAN 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

ELENA JOINS BCPS FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHERE SHE RECENTLY SERVED AS THE SPECIALIST COMPREHENSIVE COORDINATED EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO BCPS AND LAST, AND CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING ANDREW WRIGHT, WHO IS BEING APPOINTED AS SPECIALIST BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION WITH MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

ANDREW JOINS BCPS FROM THE GATEWAY SCHOOL, WHERE HE RECENTLY SERVED AS A LEAD BOARD CERTIFIED BEHAVIOR ANALYST.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO BCPS ANDREW.

OKAY.

CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

OUR

[F. PUBLIC COMMENT (7:00 - 7:30 p.m.) ]

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 AND THE BALTIMORE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S HOMELAND SECURITY UNIT AND OFFICE OF SCHOOL SAFETY HAVE RECOMMENDED SAFETY AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS, WHICH ARE POSTED IN THE BOARDROOM AND AVAILABLE IN DILIGENT COMMUNITY AND ON THE BOARD'S PARTICIPATION BY 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 BEHAVIORS 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.

OUR FIRST CATEGORY ARE SCHOOL SYSTEM AFFILIATED GROUPS,

[00:10:01]

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

BOARD PRESIDENT LICHTER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT DR.

HEISER.

MY NAME IS EDWIN PEREZ AND I'M THE CHAIR OF THE BALTIMORE COUNTY PTA COUNCIL MULTILINGUAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AND THE JUSTICE EQUITY DIVERSITY DIVERSITY INCLUSION COMMITTEE.

I'M ALSO A PROUD MEMBER OF THE GREATER BALTIMORE LATINO COMMUNITY.

AS WE CONTINUE CELEBRATING NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH, I WANNA BEGIN WITH GRATITUDE.

ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, WE SEE DEDICATED TEACHERS, STUDENTS, PARENTS, SCHOOL LEADERS, AND CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF, ACTIVELY BUILDING BRIDGES, EXPANDING, MULTILINGUAL FAMILY OUTREACH, HOSTING CULTURAL SHOWCASES, AND FOSTERING STUDENT LEADERSHIP IN OUR BUILDINGS.

THESE EFFORTS MATTER DEEPLY.

YET FROM THE CLASSROOM, WE KNOW THERE'S A VITAL ROOM FOR GROWTH.

EVERY DAY, OUR LATINO STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE REALITY OF DKI FROM HERE AND FROM THERE, LIVING BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, HONORING THEIR ROOTS, WHILE STRIVING TO BELONG RIGHT HERE.

FOR MANY, THIS BRINGS UNSPOKEN WEIGHTS.

ONE EXAMPLE, CARRYING THE ADULT BURDEN OF TRANSLATING MEDICAL FORMS, LEGAL NOTICES, AND SCHOOL PAPERWORK FOR THEIR PARENTS.

THEY CARRY THESE ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES QUIETLY INTO OUR CLASSROOMS WHEN THEY LOOK UP FROM THEIR DESKS, WHO IS THERE TO MIRROR THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE ACROSS BALTIMORE COUNTY, OUR STUDENT BODY HAS EVOLVED NEARLY ONE IN FIVE BCPS STUDENTS, ALMOST 20,000 YOUNG PEOPLE IDENTIFIES AS HISPANIC OR LATINO.

YET AMONG OUR APPROXIMATELY 7,500 CLASSROOM TEACHERS, BARELY ONE TO 2%, ROUGHLY 130 EDUCATORS SHARE THAT BACKGROUND.

I AM ONE OF THEM ACROSS MORE THAN 175 SCHOOLS, OUR LATINO PRINCIPALS AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS REMAIN IN THE SINGLE DIGITS.

WE ARE ASKING OUR CHILDREN TO ENVISION THEIR FUTURE IN SPACES WHERE THEY RARELY SEE THEMSELVES REFLECTED AT THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.

REPRESENTATION IS NOT SYMBOLIC.

IT DIRECTLY DRIVES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT, AND FAMILY TRUST.

IF THIS MONTH IS TO BE MORE THAN FOOD AND FLAGS, WE MUST CONFRONT THREE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS.

FIRST, HOW DO WE ACTIVELY RECRUIT, MENTOR, AND RETAIN LATINO TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS? SECOND, HOW DO WE ENSURE SCHOOLS ARE WELCOMING IN SAFE SPACES SO OUR CHILDREN NO LONGER HAVE TO CARRY ANY ADULT BURDENS? THIRD, HOW DO WE ENSURE THEIR HERITAGE IS VALUED ACROSS ALL 10 MONTHS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, NOT JUST 30 DAYS ON THE CALENDAR? LET THIS MONTH BE OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO A DISTRICT WHERE EVERY STUDENT AND EVERY FAMILY KNOWS THEY'RE HEARD, VALUED, AND BELONG EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY ARE UNIONS, AND OUR SPEAKER IS MS. KELLY OLDS FROM TAPCO.

OH, GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

CHAIR'S REALLY TALL TODAY, .

GOOD EVENING CHAIR.

LTER.

I'M GONNA START THAT OVER.

.

IT'S OKAY.

I WAS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LTER, VICE CHAIR YOUNG DR.

HEISER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.

UM, I'M EXCITED TO SHARE THAT OUR CONTRACT CAMPAIGN KICKOFF ON SEPTEMBER 17TH.

ALONG WITH THAT, AT OUR CONTRACT CAMPAIGN KICKOFF ON SEPTEMBER 17TH, ALONG WITH OUR MEMBERS, WE WERE HONORED TO HAVE 13 LABOR AND COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS IN ATTENDANCE.

THESE PARTNERS RANGED FROM STRONG SCHOOLS, MARYLAND, TO OUR SIBLING UNION IN THE CITY, BALTIMORE TEACHERS UNION.

THEY ALSO INCLUDED THE RANDALLSTOWN, N-A-A-C-P.

WE ARE, AND WE ARE CASA AND CRITICALLY, WE HAD REPRESENTATION FROM AFSCME LOCAL 4 34 OPI AND E-S-P-B-C.

WE ARE UNITED IN THE WORK OF MAKING B-C-P-S-A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, AND THEREFORE A WORLD CLASS PLACE TO LEARN.

OUR CAMPAIGN IS CENTERED ON TIME AND DIGNITY, AND ONE PLACE WE'VE MADE PROGRESS ON THIS ON BOTH OF THESE IS WITH OUR SECONDARY LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS.

UH, ALSO ON THURSDAY, WE MET WITH BCPS LEADERSHIP, ALONG WITH SECONDARY LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALIST MEMBERS, AND CAME TO AN AGREEMENT THAT ADDRESSES THE IMPACT OF THE ADDITIONAL CLASS LOAD AND RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL WORK THAT LIBRARY MEDIA SPECIALISTS DO FOR OUR SYSTEM.

WE APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND AGREEMENT AND HOPE THAT THIS IS A SIGN FOR THINGS TO COME.

MEANWHILE, WORKLOAD CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR MEMBERS, AS I HAVE RECEIVED A STEADY STREAM OF EMAILS FROM MEMBERS GAINING NEW TASKS WITHOUT OLD TASKS COMING OFF THEIR PLATES.

THESE WORKLOAD INCREASES COME FROM STAFFING REDUCTIONS THROUGHOUT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS NEW EXPECTATIONS FOR LESSON PLANNING IN MIDDLE SCHOOLS, AND CHANGES TO

[00:15:01]

THIS IS WHY TIME AND DIGNITY MUST BE OUR FOCUS AND WHY THIS IS, UM, AND WHY OUR BARGAINING PROPOSALS ARE PACKED WITH EFFORTS TO ADDRESS WORKLOAD.

I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN REALIZE THE BEST OUTCOMES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS OR STUDENTS, AND OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS GLENN GHAR.

GOOD EVENING.

UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, CHAIRWOMAN, UH, LICHTER, UH, SUPERINTENDENT HEISER.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW POSITION AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

SO, MY NAME'S GLENN GHAR.

I'M PARKVILLE RESIDENT CHILDREN ALL ATTENDED BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

I ATTENDED BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

UM, I'M ALSO ONE OF THE NOMINEES FOR THE MARYLAND HOUSE OF DELEGATES IN, UH, DISTRICT EIGHT.

SO, UH, I'LL BE ON THE BALLOT THIS COMING NOVEMBER 3RD.

UH, SO THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THAT I USUALLY HEAR WHEN I SPEAK TO REALTORS, THAT, THAT PROSPECTIVE HOME BUYERS, ASK THEM, WHAT SCHOOL, IF I BUY THIS HOUSE, WHAT SCHOOL ARE MY KIDS, UH, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE ATTENDING? SO I JUST WANTED TO COME BACK TODAY AND EXPRESS CONCERNS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I'VE READ RECENTLY THAT YOU'RE DOING SOME BOUNDARY STUDIES TO ADDRESS SCHOOL OVERCROWDING AND, UH, SPECIFICALLY ON OVERLY HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH IS IN DISTRICT EIGHT, WHICH IS WHERE I'M RUNNING TO REPRESENT.

UM, WHILE IT IS OVERCROWDED AND A BOUNDARY STUDY COULD ADDRESS THOSE OVERCROWDING NEEDS, IT IS VERY DISRUPTIVE TO THE, NOT ONLY THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BOUGHT THEIR HOUSE, MADE COMMITMENTS, UH, TO BUY THEIR HOUSE SO THEIR KIDS WOULD GO TO THE SCHOOL AND THEN TO FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE REZONED FOR ANOTHER SCHOOL.

UH, YOU KNOW, THAT WHOLE PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THE, THE RUG'S BEEN PULLED OUT FROM UNDER, UNDER THEM.

UM, I'M PROPOSING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO, UH, TO DOING A BOUNDARY, UH, REARRANGEMENT IS, UH, YOU HAVE AN EMPTY BUILDING ON PHILADELPHIA ROAD, WHICH WAS THE PREVIOUS GOLDEN RING MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS SCHOOL HAD, ACCORDING TO BOARD DOCKS THAT I'VE RESEARCHED IN THE PAST, HAD A RENOVATION AROUND 2006.

UH, ALSO IT HAD CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLED IN 2017.

SO IT'S, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUILDING THAT IS STILL RELATIVELY FUNCTIONAL.

UM, SO I WOULD PROPOSE, OR I WOULD SUGGEST IS OPENING THAT SCHOOL, WHICH I, LAST STATE RATED CAPACITY I SAW WAS BETWEEN 700 900 STUDENTS AS A MAGNET TRADE SCHOOL.

SO THIS IS A MAGNET TRADE SCHOOL WHERE YOU'D HAVE TO APPLY AND YOU WOULD GO THERE TO LEARN THINGS LIKE PLUMBING ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL, AND IT WOULD BE STRICTLY TRADES, AND IT WOULD PULL STUDENTS FROM OVERLY, WHICH WOULD HELP THEIR OVERCROWDING OR PERRY HALL OR EVEN PARKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.

BUT IT'S A, A WAY TO ADDRESS A NEED THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ARE REALLY CRYING FOR AS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TRADE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS WORLD THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, WHERE WE HAVE THIS, UH, UNCERTAINTY, UH, FUTURE UNCERTAIN, FUTURE FACING OUR STUDENTS WITH AI TAKING OVER A LOT OF OUR, OUR COLLEGE, UH, DEGREE TYPE JOBS, OR AT LEAST THE, THE, THE CLOUD, THE STORM CLOUD, THEY'RE BREWING.

A LOT OF THESE, UH, TRADES LIKE PLUMBING AND ELECTRICIANS ARE JOBS THAT ARE, UM, KIND OF AI PROOF.

SO I DO HOPE YOU CONSIDER MY SUGGESTION.

YOU GOT A BUILDING SITTING THERE.

LET'S MAKE IT A MAGNET TRADE SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS TIM ZEN BAKER.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM CHAIR.

UH, DR.

HEISER AND BOARD MEMBERS, UH, MY NAME IS TIM FAIS BAKER.

I LIVE IN THIS COUNTY.

I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN AND ALL GO THROUGH THESE SCHOOLS HERE.

I I ALSO WORK HERE.

I AM ALSO A CANDIDATE FOR COUNT COUNTY COUNCIL ON DISTRICT NINE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FREQUENTLY HEAR IS ABOUT BUS OVERCROWDING.

SO I AM ASKING, UH, THAT KNOWING THAT THE STATE LAW WAS CLEAR, EVERY CHILD ON A SCHOOL BUS MUST HAVE A SEAT, AND THAT LOAD CANNOT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S PLATES.

MOST OF OUR BUSES ARE RATED AT 64 OR 72 KIDS BECAUSE THE FACTORY COUNTED THREE KIDS ON A 39 INCH BENCH.

THE MATH WAS WRITTEN FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

IT, IT DOES NOT WORK FOR 17 YEAR OLDS WITH BACKPACKS, LACROSSE STICKS, AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT THEY CARRY.

SO WHEN THREE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE FORCED INTO ONE SEAT, THE FOURTH ENDS UP IN THE AISLE.

AND THIS IS NOT A ROUTING

[00:20:01]

THIS IS A SAFETY FAILURE ON COUNTY ROADS CURRENTLY.

HOWARD COUNTY ALREADY TREATS THIS AS A REAL NUMBER, NOT A SUGGESTION.

THEIR TRANSPORTATION OFFICE REVIEWS A HIGH SCHOOL ROUTE WHEN ASSIGNED RIDERSHIP HITS 50.

ELEMENTARY IS 54, MIDDLE IS 52.

THEY STILL STAY UNDER THE LEGAL PLATE RATING.

THEY JUST REFUSE TO PRETEND THREE LARGE TEENAGERS EQUAL THREE FIRST GRADERS.

I AM ASKING THE BOARD TO DO THE SAME THING IN WRITING.

ADOPT THOSE REVIEW, ADOPT THOSE REVIEW THRESHOLDS.

PLAN HIGH SCHOOL REGULAR EDUCATION ROUTES.

SO ASSIGN LOADS.

DO NOT SIT ABOVE 50 EXCEPT INDOCUMENTED EMERGENCIES THAT YOU CAN QUICKLY FIX THE WAY COMAR ALREADY REQUIRES.

STOP TREATING STANDING AS A NORMAL OPERATING PRACTICE AND TWICE A YEAR.

OCTOBER 15TH AND MARCH 1ST, PUBLISH A SIMPLE PUBLIC LIST, WHICH ROUTES WENT OVER THE LINE, WHAT THE PEAK LOAD WAS, WHAT THAT BUS WAS RATED FOR, AND WHAT YOU DID ABOUT IT.

SEND THE CHRONIC ONES TO THE PU UH, PUPIL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY, SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THE STATE HAS ALREADY CREATED FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY.

WHEN I TAKE MY SEAT ON THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I'LL INTRODUCE A RESOLUTION ASKING YOU TO ADOPT THIS POLICY AND A BILL THAT MAKES THE RE REPORT PUBLIC AND GIVES THAT COMMITTEE A REAL JOB.

I CANNOT ORDER YOU ORDER YOUR BUSES, BUT I CAN INSIST THAT THE PUBLIC SEE THE NUMBERS THAT, UH, OVERCROWDING IS NO LONGER AN OPEN SECRET.

OUR DRIVERS DID NOT CREATE THIS.

OUR KIDS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT.

50 ON THE HIGH SCHOOL BUS IS NOT RADICAL.

IT'S WHAT THE COUNT COUNTY NEXT DOOR ALREADY DOES.

SO LET'S MATCH IT.

IF ANYONE'S INTERESTED, I WILL SEND YOU THE RESOLUTION THAT I HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED, AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS SHARON SOFF.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

BEFORE I START BY PUBLIC COMMENT, THERE'S A PERSON IN THE AUDIENCE WHO I WANT TO GIVE A POSITIVE SHOUT OUT TO BECAUSE SHE AND I ARE COLLABORATING THROUGH THE, UH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S OFFICE TO ADDRESS, UM, SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I'M MY CLIENTS ARE EXPERIENCING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO I WANT THE BOARD TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT COLLABORATION MATTERS AND THIS IS WHERE IT'S SUCCESSFUL.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT I'VE RAISED BEFORE, AND I HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL ADDRESS IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

AND I SPEAK ABOUT THE, UH, PROGRAM OF HOME AND HOSPITAL.

UM, STUDENTS WHO ARE ON HOME AND HOSPITAL ARE OUR MOST FRAGILE STUDENTS.

THESE ARE NOT STUDENTS THAT, NOT ONLY STUDENTS THAT MAY BREAK A LEG, IT HAVE TO BE OUT FOR, FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, THEY ARE ALSO STUDENTS WHO HAVE SOME VERY RARE DISORDERS, MULTIPLE CONCERNS.

UM, I HAVE A CLIENT RIGHT NOW WHO'S IN THE HOSPITAL, UM, HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWO MONTHS.

OKAY? THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HOME AND HOSPITAL ADDRESSES.

UM, THE REASON THAT I'M RAISING IT AS A CONCERN IS BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, THE RULES OF BEING ELIGIBLE FOR HOME AND HOSPITAL KEEP CHANGING, EVEN THOUGH THE LAW HAS NOT CHANGED IN A LONG TIME.

UM, LAST YEAR, SOME OF MY CLIENT PARENTS WERE TOLD THE LAW HAD CHANGED.

THAT'S WHY THEY WERE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

LAW HASN'T CHANGED.

DON'T LET EVERYBODY EVER TELL YOU THAT.

UM, SECOND OF ALL, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND TEACHERS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

YOU'RE ONLY ALLOWED 60 DAYS PER PERIOD.

THEN YOU HAVE TO RE-UP IT, WHETHER YOU'RE A MEDICAL OR, UH, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

THAT IS ALSO DIFFICULT.

AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS DAY AND AGE, WE ARE SEEING A SPECIALIST.

GETTING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A SPECIALIST IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DO WITHIN A MONTH'S PERIOD OF TIME.

UM, AND LAST I WANNA NOTE, FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM, WHEN YOU ARE ON IT, YOU DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE GENERAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM OF YOUR CLASSROOM.

IMMEDIATELY, YOUR SCHOOLOGY IS TURNED OFF YOUR ACCESS.

THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE BECAUSE WHEN THESE KIDS GET BACK INTO THEIR CLASSROOM, THEY'RE LOST, AND

[00:25:01]

THE, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS ON THE SECONDARY LEVEL AS THEIR THEIR PEERS, BECAUSE CAN'T MAKE THEM.

I HAD KIDS TAKING TWO, TWO ENGLISH CLASSES IN ONE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RETTA.

WINKIE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS SIDA WINKIE.

UM, I AM THE PARENT OF JAMIAH WINKIE, MY SON.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO NAVIGATE THE MAGNET PROCESS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY MOVEMENT, AND I AM HERE TO, UH, ADDRESS THE ISSUE AND TO FIND OUT WHY THERE HAVEN'T BEEN, HASN'T BEEN ANY MOVEMENT.

UM, RIGHT NOW HE'S CURRENTLY NUMBER FOUR ON THE WAIT LIST FOR CARVER, UM, AT CARVER FOR VISUAL ARTS.

AND I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE SCHOOLS AND SPOKE TO SOME PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I FOUND THAT THEY HAD, THEY PULLED 13 KIDS FROM THE WAIT LIST FOR 10TH GRADE THREE YEARS AGO, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ANY MOVEMENT SINCE.

AND I'M AWARE THAT FOR 10TH GRADERS OR UPPER GRADES, UM, IT'S BASED OFF OF IF A STUDENT, UM, GIVES UP A SEAT DUE TO LEAVING, TRANSFERRING, MOVING, ET CETERA.

UM, HOWEVER, I'VE ALSO, UH, DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT CARVER WILL SOMETIMES, UM, ACCEPT ADDITIONAL STUDENTS FOR THEIR, UH, VISUAL ARTS PRIME BECAUSE IT'S THE LARGEST PRIME OF THEIR SCHOOL.

UM, EVEN IF A STUDENT DOES NOT GIVE UP A SEAT.

UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO JUST EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS AND ASK THE BOARD IF THEY COULD LOOK, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE FURTHER INTO, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY HAS THE MOVEMENT PAUSED? UM, ALSO, WHY AREN'T WE ABLE TO, UH, NO LONGER SEE THE FINALIZED, UH, WAIT LIST WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT THEY PULLED, UM, FOR EACH MAGNET AND FOR EACH GRADE.

UM, WE CAN NO LONGER SEE THAT.

WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN ANY MOVEMENT? UM, WHY DID YOU, UH, USED TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL SEATS FOR NOW THAT HAS STOPPED TOO.

UM, I'M JUST CONCERNED MY, YOU KNOW, I'M SURE JUST LIKE MY SON, OTHER PEOPLE THAT TRIED OUT FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PART OF THEIR LIFE AND JUST, JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

.

OKAY.

THAT'S OKAY.

OKAY, .

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND, YEP, THAT'S IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING.

YES, MA'AM.

OKAY.

UM, OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS YAHOO BLACKWELL.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

HOW YOU DOING, MADAM CHAIR? OKAY.

UH, THE STAFF AND THE REST OF THE BOARD.

UH, I CAME HERE TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF, UH, WHAT MY PARTNER GLENN GHAR WAS, UH, SPEAKING ON.

BUT, UH, UH, MY NAME IS YAHOO BLACKWELL.

I'M THE STATE SENATE NOMINEE FOR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AID.

I AM A MASSIVE ADVOCATE FOR TRADES.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS THAT LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL, THEY GO TO COLLEGE, BUT THEN THERE'S THIS LARGE PROPORTION OF CHILDREN THAT LEAVE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY HAVE NO DIRECTION FROM THERE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD START FOCUSING A LOT OF OUR CURRICULUM TOWARDS TRADES EDUCATION, UM, STARTING ON A MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL, GOING ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

ALSO, I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF WHAT GLEN WAS SAYING ABOUT THE OVERCROWDING, UM, GOLDEN RING, UH, MIDDLE SCHOOL, ABOUT TRANSFORMING THAT MIDDLE SCHOOL INTO A, UH, TRADES SLASH HIGH SCHOOL.

I BELIEVE THIS IS, UH, A MAJOR CURE TO A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS. UM, I WAS HERE SPEAKING BEFORE, AND I WAS SAYING THAT, UH, UNLESS CHILDREN CAN CONNECT MONEY AND SCHOOL, UM, THAT, THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE, UH, DEVELOPS A GREAT DISINTEREST IN, IN, IN SCHOOL.

SO, TREY'S EDUCATION, IN MY OPINION, IS THE WAY, ESPECIALLY WITH AI COMING, THAT'S GOING TO, UH, TAKE A LOT OF JOBS.

BUT WHEN CHILDREN LEARN TO WORK WITH THEIR HANDS, THEY HAVE A SKILL THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THEM.

THEY CAN EARN FOR THEMSELVES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

UM, I ALSO, UM, WANT TO FOCUS, UH, A LOT ON, UH, THE FINANCIAL LITERACY ASPECT OF, OF, OF SCHOOL, UH, BRINGING BUSINESS STARTUP TO THE CURRICULUM,

[00:30:01]

I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD, UH, BE FOCUSED ON IN BALTIMORE COUNTY, AND I THINK THAT IT'LL CHANGE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I THINK THAT IT'LL LOWER THE JUVENILE CRIME RATE TREMENDOUSLY, AND IT'LL JUST ALL IN ALL, UH, BETTER BETTER OUR OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR FAMILIES WITHIN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

SO, UM, THAT'S, THAT'S MY, MY CONTRIBUTION, UH, FOR HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE

[G. NEW BUSINESS - ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION (Board Counsel) (7:30 - 7:35 p.m.)]

HEISER, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ENCLOS SESSION.

THE BOARD, UH, REVIEWED AND ACTED UPON FOUR CASES, 26 DASH 0 26, 26 DASH 0 3 8 26 DASH 0 4 5 AND 26 DASH 0 4 6.

NOW BE AT APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE BOARD TO AFFIRM ITS ACTIONS.

THANK YOU, MR. BURNS.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION ON HEARING EXAMINER CASES HEA 26 DASH 0 26 HEA 26 DASH 0 3 8 HEA 26 DASH 0 4 5, AND HEA 26 DASH FOUR SIX, AND AUTHORIZED MS. GOR TO SIGN FOR THOSE BOARD MEMBERS NOT PHYSICALLY PRESENT.

SO MOVE YOUNG.

THANK YOU.

MAY I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND .

THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION? MAY I HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

MS. FPO? YES.

MS. HEN? YES.

MR. YOUNG? YES.

MR. JAB BJI? YES.

MR. MANSKY? YES.

MS. DOKI? YES.

DR.

SAVOY? YES.

MR. FITZPATRICK? YES.

MS. THORNTON? YES.

MR. MCMILLION? YES.

MS. LICHTER? YES.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU MR. BURNS.

THE

[H. REPORT - PROPOSED 2027-2028 SCHOOL CALENDAR (Ms. Cuches and Ms. Bielski) (7:35 - 8:00 p.m.) ]

AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON MS. CHES AND MS. KY.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING, MS. LICHTER, UM, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR, YOUNG DR.

HEISER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'M JESSICA TS CHIEF OF STAFF, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH MS. JOEL BIELSKI, DIRECTOR OF STAFF RELATIONS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT.

AND, UH, MS. BIELSKI IS GONNA WALK YOU THROUGH THE PROPOSED 27 28 SCHOOL CALENDAR AT THIS TIME.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING, CHAIR LICHTER, VICE CHAIR YOUNG DR.

HEISER AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY AND SUPERINTENDENTS RULE 63 0 1, THE SUPERINTENDENT IS CHARGED WITH CONVENING A COMMITTEE TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL CALENDAR.

THE COMMITTEE MET ON MAY 20TH, 2026 AND MAY 27TH, 2026 TO DEVELOP A CALENDAR FOR THE 20 27 20 28 SCHOOL YEAR.

AT THE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2020 FIFTH BOARD MEETING, THE BOARD APPROVED A MOTION TO PRESENT A PRE AND POST LABOR DAY SCHEDULE FOR THE 20 27 20 28 SCHOOL YEAR.

TONIGHT, I BRING FORWARD A POST LABOR DAY START CALENDAR AND PRE-LABOR DAY START CALENDAR PER THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION.

THE POST LABOR DAY START CALENDAR SHOWS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH, AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH.

THE REQUIRED THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS ARE APRIL 10TH AND APRIL 11TH, WHICH ARE THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF SPRING BREAK AND MAY 5TH, A PLANNED SYSTEM-WIDE PD DAY.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START CALENDAR SHOWS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON AUGUST 30TH AND THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH.

THE REQUIRED THREE INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS ARE JUNE 12TH THROUGH JUNE 14TH.

IF NO INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS ARE USED, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL WILL BE FRIDAY, JUNE 9TH.

AT BOTH CALENDAR MEETINGS, THE COMMITTEE VOTED ON THEIR PREFERENCE FOR A PRE-LABOR DAY START.

THE SAME TOPICS CONTINUE TO SURFACE EACH YEAR AS TO WHY A PRE-LABOR DAY START IS MORE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR STUDENTS.

THE KINDERGARTEN READINESS ASSESSMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE K-R-A-M-S-D-E, REQUIRES THE CENSUS ADMINISTRATION OF THE KRA.

THIS, THIS ASSESSMENT INCLUDES BOTH INDIVIDUAL DIRECT PERFORMANCE TASKS AND OBSERVATIONAL COMPONENTS.

THE NON-NEGOTIABLE MSDE DEADLINE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION IS OCTOBER 11TH.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START PROVIDES KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS TO ADMINISTER THIS COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT.

M CAPS, P-S-A-T-S-A-T AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT OR AP EXAMS. THE PRE-LABOR DAY START PROVIDES ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS AN ADDITIONAL FIVE DAYS OF INSTRUCTION AND PREPARATION FOR VARIOUS ASSESSMENTS THAT BEGIN IN EARLY

[00:35:01]

THE GRADUATION DATE FOR SENIORS DOES NOT CHANGE.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START PROVIDES SENIORS WITH FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS, WHICH THEY WOULD LOSE WITH THE POST LABOR DAY START.

SOME SUMMER CAMPS STOP IN MID-AUGUST.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START ALLOWS STUDENTS TO RETURN ONE WEEK EARLIER.

SO WORKING PARENTS WILL NOT HAVE TO LOOK FOR CHILDCARE WHEN CAMPS END AND STUDENTS WILL NOT BE HOME UNSUPERVISED.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT DATA IS REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED TO THE STATE BY SEPTEMBER 30TH.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START PROVIDES FIVE ADDITIONAL DAYS TO GET STUDENTS ENROLLED.

IF STUDENTS ARE NOT ENROLLED BY NOT THE NON-NEGOTIABLE SEPTEMBER 30TH DEADLINE FUNDING IS COMPROMISED.

THE COMMITTEE DISCUSSED THE BENEFITS OF SIXTH AND NINTH GRADE STUDENTS RECEIVING A FULL DAY OF ORIENTATION RATHER THAN COMING IN FOR A BRIEF FEW HOURS THE WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS.

THIS ALLOWS SIXTH AND NINTH GRADERS TO RIDE THE BUS AND HAVE MORE TIME TO WALK THROUGH THEIR SCHEDULE, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THEIR SCHOOL, AND TO NAVIGATE THE BUILDING AND LOCATE THEIR CLASSES.

STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE AN ACTUAL SAMPLE SCHEDULE, PRACTICE CHANGING CLASSES USING LOCKERS AND LEARNING LUNCH PROCEDURES.

THE GOAL IS MAKING THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL LESS STRESSFUL WHEN ALL SECONDARY STUDENTS REPORT IN 2021, THE BOARD MOTIONED THAT ALI LUNAR NEW YEAR EAT ALL FITTER AND EAT ALL AHA, BE RECOGNIZED AS PD DAYS ALONG WITH ROSH HASHANAH AND YOM KIPPUR.

STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF COME FROM DIVERSE RELIGIOUS BACKGROUNDS.

WITH THE NOTATION OF ALL OF THESE VARIOUS HOLIDAYS ON THE CALENDAR, THE COMMITTEE FELT IT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE OTHER MAJOR OBSERVANCES REPRESENTED IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING CHRISTMAS, EASTER, HANUKKAH, AND PASSOVER.

I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS.

OKAY.

UH, MS. LESKI, THANK YOU.

YEAH, I JUST DIDN'T CATCH IT.

CAN YOU RESTATE THE START AND END DATES WITH THE TWO OPTIONS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OF COURSE.

THE POST LABOR DAY STAR CALENDAR SHOWS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH.

THE PRE-LABOR DAY START CALENDAR SHOWS THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON AUGUST 30TH.

DO YOU WANT THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AS WELL? I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU.

UM, SO FOR THE POST LABOR DAY, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL WOULD BE FRIDAY, JUNE 16TH, AND FOR THE PRE-LABOR DAY START, THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL WOULD BE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14TH.

THANK YOU.

OF COURSE.

OTHER QUESTIONS? CAN YOU JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, THERE'S A DISCREPANT LARGE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN OPENING PRE AND POST, BUT THEN CLOSING ONLY FEELS LIKE IT'S A TWO DAY DIFFERENCE.

SO WHAT ELSE IS DIFFERENT IN THE CALENDAR? THAT THERE'S ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A WEEK, A WEEK PRE START OF SCHOOL AND ONLY TWO DAYS DIFFERENCE.

END OF SCHOOL.

SORRY ABOUT THAT.

UM, I'M WONDERING IF IT'S THE, UH, SPRING BREAK IS, IS SHORTENED IN THE, OKAY.

RIGHT.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT.

SO SPRING BREAK IS SHORTENED IN THE POST LABOR DAY, POST LABOR DAY.

SO INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL SIX DAYS, IT'S FOUR FOUR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO AC UM, ACCOMMODATE FOR THE INCLEMENT WEATHER.

AND WE ALSO COULDN'T GO TOO FAR INTO JUNE IF WE HAD USED ALL OF OUR INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS.

SO WE HAD TO CUT BACK SPRING BREAK.

OKAY.

AND IS THERE ANY WAY WHEN YOU COME BACK TO GIVE US DATA ON REGISTRATIONS STARTING LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ON? 'CAUSE THE, THE POINT ABOUT PEOPLE REGISTERING LATE 'CAUSE OF THE OPENING OF SCHOOL AND THEN THE SEPTEMBER 30TH ENROLLMENT NUMBERS AFFECTING OUR BUDGET IS PRETTY BIG.

ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS.

OTHER QUESTIONS, MR. ? OKAY, THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED 20 27 20 28 SCHOOL CALENDAR WILL BE HELD DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT.

AGENDA ITEM ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2026.

THE SECOND READING AND VOTE ON THE SCHOOL CALENDAR IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH, 2026.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO SINCE YOU'RE STILL SITTING THERE, I GUESS YOU'RE PRIOR TO THE NEXT ONE.

[I. REPORT - OPENING OF SCHOOLS 2026 (Dr. Jones and Dr. Mullenax) (8:00 - 8:20 p.m.) ]

AND FOR THAT, I CALL ON DR.

LOTS OF PEOPLE, DR. JONES, DR.

MULEX, MR. MCGUIRE, AND MS. CHES.

I CAN, OH, AND DR.

HEISER WILL START, I'LL, I'LL JUST KICK IT OFF.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM, AND I'M EXCITED FOR THIS, UH, REPORT ON THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS, UM, SO THAT WE GET A REALLY CLEAR PICTURE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

AND THANK YOU

[00:40:01]

UM, WE, AS WE KNOW, WE'VE SET THE STAGE FOR, UH, THE PRIORITIES, UM, AS I CAME ON BOARD HERE IN BCPS, AND WE HAVE FOUR PRIORITIES THAT ARE VERY CLEAR, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, OPERATIONAL READINESS, AND FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY, TALENT IDENTIFICATION, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND THOSE PRIORITIES ARE, UM, SUPPORTED BY FOUR VERY CLEAR PILLARS, INVESTING IN TEAM BCPS, ACHIEVING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE, AND ENGAGING AND COLLABORATING AND PARTNERING WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WITH THAT AS THE FOUNDATION, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.

MULLINAX FOR THE NEXT SLIDE.

THANK YOU, DR.

HEISER.

UM, THIS SLIDE BRINGS TOGETHER OUR WORK IN FOUR CONSISTENT PILLARS AND ONE FOCUS.

FIRST, WE INVEST IN TEAM BCPS BY BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF OUR LEADERS AND STAFF THROUGH MEANINGFUL PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, CLEAR EXPECTATIONS, COLLABORATION, AND ONGOING COACHING.

OH, SORRY.

THANK YOU.

UM, SECOND, WE STRENGTHEN ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT BY ALIGNING OUR INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES, HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING TO ENSURE THAT TIER ONE INSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM.

OUR THIRD PILLAR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE ENSURES THAT OUR INITIATIVES ARE IMPLEMENTED WITH CONSISTENCY, MONITORED THROUGH RELIABLE DATA, AND SUPPORTED BY CLEAR SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY.

FINALLY, WE ENGAGE, COLLABORATE, AND PARTNER WITH STAFF, FAMILIES, STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS TO PROVIDE DIFFERENTIATED SUPPORT AND CELEBRATE PROGRESS.

TOGETHER, THESE FOUR PILLARS CREATE THE CLARITY, CONSISTENCY, AND COHERENCE NEEDED TO ADVANCE ACADEMICS AND EXCELLENCE ACROSS TEAM BCPS.

OUR FOCUS THIS YEAR IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY STUDENT IN EVERY SCHOOL RECEIVES HIGH QUALITY TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, TIER ONE INSTRUCTION.

WHEN WE SAY, WHEN WE SAY TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, WE ARE REFERRING TO INSTRUCTION THAT IS HIGH QUALITY STANDARDS ALIGNED CORE INSTRUCTION THAT EVERY STUDENT RECEIVES IN EVERY DAY, EVERY DAY IN GENERAL EDUCATION CLASSROOMS. WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, MULTIPLE INITIATIVES.

SO THIS YEAR, OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PULL EACH OF THESE INITIATIVES TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING.

FIRST, OUR TEACHER PROFESSIONAL GROWTH SYSTEM OR OUR TEACHER EVALUATION.

THIS IS OUR, WHAT, WHAT DO WE EXPECT GOOD INSTRUCTION TO LOOK LIKE IN EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM? THEN RESEARCH FOR BETTER TEACHING IS THE HOW, HOW DO EDUCATORS MAKE THIS COME ALIVE IN THE CLASSROOM? EXCUSE ME.

WHAT? AND THIS PROVIDES SPECIFIC RESEARCH-BASED PRACTICES TO ENSURE THAT THOSE PRACTICES ARE BEING HELD, UM, TEACHERS ARE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR, IT PROVIDES SPECIFIC RESEARCH BASED INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES THAT TEACHERS CAN USE IN EACH OF THE CLASSROOMS. AND FINALLY, THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING OUR WHY.

WHY DO THESE PRACTICES WORK? IT EXPLAINS HOW STUDENTS LEARN, PROCESS, RETAIN, AND RETRIEVE INFORMATION, AND GIVES THE RESEARCH BASE BEHIND INSTRUCTIONAL DECISIONS.

THESE THREE INITIATIVES ESTABLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION.

WE'VE CONTINUED THIS WORK THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OVER THE SUMMER JUNE.

ON JUNE 17TH, WE HOSTED OVER 7,000 TEACHERS AND PAIR OF EDUCATORS AND FOCUSED ON CLARITY, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, STRUCTURES FOR LEARNING, BELONGING, RIGOR, AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES THAT SHAPE STUDENT EXPERIENCES.

ON JUNE 18TH, WE, EXCUSE ME, WE HOSTED NEARLY 7,500 TEACHERS, A PARAEDUCATORS TO EXPLORE TEACHING AND LEARNING EXPECTATIONS THROUGH THE LENS OF THEIR SPECIFIC CONTENT AREAS.

ON JUNE 22ND, WE HOSTED 7 473 TEACHER LEADERS, INCLUDING DEPARTMENT CHAIRS, STAFF DEVELOPMENT TEACHERS, CONSULTING TEACHERS AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE TEACHERS TO DEEPEN THEIR LEARNING IN COACHING TEACHER PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, CLARITY, AND THE SCIENCE OF LEARNING.

WE ALSO HOSTED TWO SUMMITS THIS YEAR AROUND ELA AND MATHEMATICS.

WE'RE NEARLY 200 EDUCATORS WERE FOCUSED ON STRENGTHENING THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, SUPPORTING EFFECTIVE IN CURRICULUM, INSTRUC, IMPLEMENT, IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT, ACCESS AND OUTCOMES FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS, AND IDENTIFYING AND APPLYING INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THE RESEARCH FOR BETTER TEACHING.

WE ALSO WELCOMED OVER 500 NEW EDUCATORS AND BROUGHT THEM UP TO SPEED ON THESE INITIATIVES AND HOW THEY'RE INTERTWINED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CAUGHT UP AND ONBOARD WITH THE REST OF OUR STAFF.

THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING.

OUR COMMITMENTS FOR THE 26 27 SCHOOL YEAR CAN BE CAPTURED IN THESE THREE WORDS, CLARITY, CONSISTENCY, AND COHERENCE.

CLARITY MEANS LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND STAFF UNDERSTAND WHAT MATTERS MOST, WHAT IS EXPECTED, AND WHAT HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION LOOKS LIKE.

CONSISTENCY MEANS STUDENTS HAVE DEPENDABLE ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION AND A HIGH QUALITY CURRICULUM, EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES, AND APPROPRIATE SUPPORTS ACROSS SCHOOLS.

COHERENCE SIMPLY

[00:45:01]

THIS IS NOT ABOUT ADDING MORE INITIATIVES, IT IS ABOUT ALIGNING THE WORK WE ALREADY DO AROUND STRONG INSTRUCTION.

WHEN WE CREATE CLARITY, CONSISTENCY, AND COHERENCE, WE CREATE THE CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS IN EVERY CLASSROOM ACROSS THE SUMMER.

THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS STARTED OFF THE VERY DAY BUSINESS DAY, OR INSTRUCTIONAL DAY AFTER SCHOOL CLOSED FOR STUDENTS.

WE KICKED OFF THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH OUR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES, HEALTH SERVICES, SCHOOL SAFETY, AND YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, DOS AND ATHLETICS COMING TOGETHER.

AS BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OPEN THIS YEAR, THE DIVISION OF SCHOOLS REMAIN FOCUSED ON FOUR PRIORITIES, READINESS, COMPLIANCE, RESPONSIVE SUPPORT, AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT.

AGAIN, THAT WORK BEGAN THE VERY FIRST BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, THE DIVISION OF LEADERSHIP AND DEPARTMENTS WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, CENTRAL OFFICE TEAMS AND DEPARTMENTS TO BRING ABOUT SAFE COMPLIANCE, STAFF SUPPORTED AND PRE PREPARED SCHOOLS.

ALIGNMENT AND ACTION BASED ON THESE SLIDES LOOKED VERY DIFFERENT, BUT ALL WERE INTERTWINED.

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOCUSED, AS YOU CAN SEE ON ENROLLMENT AND REGISTRATION.

DURING THAT TIME, THE, UM, SUPPORTS WERE PROVIDED AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL AND ALSO, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

WE PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORTS TO SCHOOLS OVER 630 DIRECT SUPPORTS TO SCHOOLS.

AND THEN WE ALSO FACILITATED SUMMER GRADUATION.

PEOPLE PERSONNEL SERVICES WERE EMPLOYED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STUDENTS, UM, RECEIVED THE SUPPORTS THAT THEY NEED.

AND THEN A MULTI-TIERED LEVEL OF SUPPORT CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WHICH INCLUDED OUR 26 COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERS.

UM, 80% OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR PARTNERSHIPS.

TO BEGIN, AT THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WE CONDUCTED THREAT ASSESSMENT TRAINING, AND STRENGTHENED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL WORK CONSULTATION, AND SUPPORTED OVER 3,211 NEW STUDENT ENROLLMENTS, PROCESSED 1,974 SPECIAL ENROLLMENT APPROVALS AND RENEWALS.

WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 1500 BCPS CARE BAGS AND PROVIDED ONSITE STUDENT AND FAMILY SUPPORT AT BCPS FEST.

OUR STUDENT, UM, SERVICES AS THEY RELATED TO OUR HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT, FOCUSED ON MANY THINGS, BUT PRIMARILY ON IMMUNIZATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL LEARNING.

WE WORKED WITH, UH, 21 NURSES TO COMPLETE ORIENTATION.

268 NURSES AND HEALTH ASSISTANTS PARTICIPATED IN CLINICAL UPDATES, AND OVER 250 NURSES AND HEALTH ASSISTANTS RECEIVE CPR CERTIFICATION THROUGH SUMMER TRAINING.

TO DATE, WE HAVE ACHIEVED 98 POINT 52% IMMUNIZATION COMPLIANCE.

ACTUALLY, THAT WAS AS OF SEPTEMBER 18TH, AHEAD OF THE SEPTEMBER 22ND INCLU EXCLUSION DATE.

AND WE WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR BALTIMORE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

OUR SCHOOL SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IS SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BE ONGOING.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SECURED A $1.25 MILLION GRANT THROUGH OUR FY 2027 SRO ADEQUATE COVERAGE GRANT, AND STRENGTHENED SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCES THROUGH THAT FUNDING SOURCE.

WE'VE ALSO ALLOCATED 130 PLUS STUDENTS SAFETY ASSISTANCE TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS WITH ROTATING SUPPORT FOR ELEMENTARIES.

WE DEVELOPED AND BEGAN IMPLEMENTING AND SSA TRAINING PLAN AND COLLABORATION WITH SAFETY AND DOS EDS IN COLLABORATION WITH EMPLOYEE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT.

WE'VE ACHIEVED 100% COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE BILL FOUR 16 REQUIREMENTS AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE CONTINUING TO INTEGRATE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS INTO OUR SCHOOL SAFETY PLANS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOLS WORK INVOLVES THE PRINCIPAL SUPERVISORS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT SCHOOLS, AND THE WORK IS CONSTANTLY VISIBLE.

EVEN THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, WE HAVE NAMED AND LIST A FEW THINGS ON THE SCREEN THAT YOU SEE THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

WE'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO ENSURE THAT MASTER SCHEDULING AND SCHOOL PROGRESS PLAN SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO SCHOOLS.

WE HELPED SCHOOLS WITH STRATEGIC STAFFING AND MAKING SURE THAT STAFFING WAS ALIGNED TO THE GUIDANCE THAT WAS PROVIDED.

AND WE ALSO WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH EMPLOYEE TRAINING DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR PRINCIPALS AND APS CONTINUE TO BE THOSE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS THAT WE CAN CON WE CAN COUNT ON.

ATHLETICS IS ALSO AN AREA THAT WE TAKE.

UM, WE TAKE PRIDE IN.

ATHLETICS HAS ITS OWN SET OF GUIDELINES, AND WE PREPARED SCHOOLS AND ATHLETIC ATHLETIC DIRECTORS, MOSTLY SECONDARY COACHES AND STUDENT ATHLETES FOR A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL FALL SEASON.

WE MET WITH 24 ATHLETIC DIRECTORS TO REVIEW AND UPDATE THE ATHLETICS MANUAL.

WE HELD ATHLETIC CAMPS AT 24

[00:50:01]

WE ALSO PREPARED FOR PARTICIPATION OF OVER 6,000 HIGH SCHOOL AND 2,500 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT ATHLETES.