[00:00:01]
[5. Call to Order - 7:00 p.m.]
I AM BRANDON JACKSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.TO HEAR THE MEETING INTERPRETED LIVE IN SPANISH, PLEASE CALL (508) 924-5155.
AGAIN, THE NUMBER TO CALL IS (508) 924-5155. PLEASE FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE SCREEN TO HEAR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IN SPANISH. OKAY, FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE UNABLE TO HEAR EXCUSE ME, OF US WHO ARE UNABLE TO OBSERVE. NOW THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND CAN BE ACCESSED ON GCPS YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR LATER VIEWING.
DOCTOR SANDOVAL, PLEASE LEAD US IN A BOARD PRAYER.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO WHICH IT STANDS. JUST AS.
MISS LOPEZ, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL. DOCTOR VANDERPOOL.
[6. Roll Call]
PRESENT. MISS STROTHER. MR. BRIGGS. PRESENT. MRS. BROWN. PRESENT. MISS MACKENZIE. PRESENT. MR..DJANGO. PRESENT. DOCTOR. MOSS. PRESENT. MISS WALKER.
PRESENT. MR. JACKSON. HERE FOR NINE BOARD MEMBERS.
[7. Adoption of Agenda]
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 MEETING AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.THERE BEING NO OBJECTION, THE FEBRUARY 27TH, 2025 MEETING AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
[8. Approval of Minutes]
JANUARY 23RD, 2025 BUDGET WORK SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES.FEBRUARY 6TH, 2025 BUDGET WORK SESSION AND PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES.
THERE BEING NO CORRECTIONS TO THE MEETING, MINUTES ARE APPROVED.
THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES SUPERINTENDENT. SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE FOR THE SPOTLIGHT.
[9. NewsBreak]
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND THANK YOU, BOARD, CHAIR AND THE REST OF THE BOARD AS WELL.I'D LIKE TO TURN EVERYONE'S ATTENTION TO TO THE SCREENS ON ON THE AVAILABLE WALLS IN AND AROUND THE THE ROOM STUFF, A TRUCK. IT'S AN EVENT THAT WE HELD FOR QUITE SOME TIME FOR OUR BRAND NEW TEACHERS IN GCPS.
[00:05:44]
THANK YOU.MOVING TO THE COMMUNITY. SHOUT OUT THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES BOARD MEMBER WALKER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SHOUT OUT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WELL, LUCKILY, I DON'T NEED SOUND BEYOND WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY TODAY. GOOD EVENING, COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
ARE WE ABLE TO GET THE POWERPOINT ON? TOUCH MY SCREEN.
OKAY. OKAY. I'M TOUCHING. YES. HERE WE ARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANKS SO MUCH. DISTRICT NINE COMMUNITY SHOUT OUT GOES TO FORT WASHINGTON FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND I'M SO EXCITED TO HAVE PRINCIPAL CORPREW MISS HOLMES, FIFTH GRADE TEACHER AND MISS NORMA. THIRD GRADE TEACHER HERE WITH US TODAY.
NEXT SLIDE. DID YOU KNOW THAT FORT WASHINGTON FORCE IS THE ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN PGCB ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN J-A BIZ TOWN PROGRAM, AND WE ARE SIMPLY EXCITED BECAUSE IT'S SEATED RIGHT HERE IN DISTRICT NINE.
NEXT SLIDE. THE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS THREE MAIN COMPONENTS FINANCIAL LITERACY, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND WORK READINESS. AND IT'S JUST LEARNING IN ACTION.
NEXT SLIDE FROM THE CLASSROOM TO SIMULATED TOWNS.
THESE ARE EXPERIENCES THAT GIVE YOU DECISION MAKING SKILLS THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME.
SLIDE SIX FORT WASHINGTON FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. NEXT SLIDE. SLIDE SEVEN IS PRINCIPAL CORPREW.
MISS HOLMES AND MISS NORMAN, PLEASE JOIN ME SO THAT YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED.
WE'RE SO EXCITED. CONGRATULATIONS. YES. IN THIS SERIES, THIS IS WORK.
AND THIS READS THE J. BIZTOWN CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED TO THE J.
BIZTOWN PROGRAM AT FORT WASHINGTON FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THIS THIS RECOGNITION CONGRATULATES AND SPOTLIGHTS FORT WASHINGTON FOREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, CORPORAL, STAFF, AND SCHOLARS FOR THEIR INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY.
LITERACY. OH MY GOSH, IT SHOULD SAY LITERACY.
AS THE ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN CPS THAT DOES JARVIS TOWN, WE CANNOT BE MORE PROUD.
AND OF COURSE, HASHTAG DISTRICT NINE. ROCK MIDDLE.
ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. KEEP THE. CHANGE.
[10. Report of the Chair]
SEVEN ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS, AND THE NEW HIRE REPORT.ON JANUARY 25TH, 2025, THE BOARD HELD ITS RETREAT.
DURING THE RETREAT, THE BOARD DEVELOPED GOALS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP. ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING AND CULTURE.
ACADEMIC INNOVATION. TRANSFORMATIONAL WORKFORCE.
[00:10:05]
SILVER WINNER IN THE OVER 20,000 ENROLLMENT CATEGORY FOR PROJECT CREATIVITY INITIATIVE.GOOD STUFF. THE DISTRICT, ALONG WITH OTHER MAGNA AWARD WINNERS, WILL BE FEATURED IN THE APRIL ISSUE OF THE AMERICAN SCHOOL BOARD JOURNAL AND HONORED AT THE BREAKFAST ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6TH, IN ATLANTA DURING AN SBA'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
AS WE CELEBRATE, AS WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, I WANT TO SAY IT GIVES ME GREAT PRIDE TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY IN BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AS A BLACK MAN CHAIRING ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE BOARDS OF EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THEY SAY WE ARE.
THEY SAY WE ARE OUR ANCESTORS WILDEST DREAMS. I BELIEVE THAT. BUT DREAMS FROM SLAVE QUARTERS HAVE TO BE SHORT SIGHTED.
ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLED A STITCH OF INDEPENDENCE CAN BE PERCEIVED AS FREEDOM.
BUT IT WAS THEIR TOILS THAT AFFORDED US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE FREEDOM IN ITS TRUENESS.
AND WE KNOW NOW THAT FREEDOM IS AS BINARY AS IT GETS.
YOU EITHER HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T. WE ARE NOT WHERE WE WANT TO BE, BUT WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND OUR LEG OF THIS FIGHT AS A BOARD OF EDUCATION, WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN EDUCATION, TO GIVE ALL CHILDREN IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO EDUCATION. AND TODAY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A GIANT IN THIS FIGHT FOR EQUALITY.
I WANT TO CALL UP MISTER MCKINLEY HAYES. YOU CAN COME TO THE PODIUM, SIR.
HE WAS ALSO A PART OF THE FIRST GROUP OF BLACK STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
HE LATER RETURNED TO SERVE AS VICE PRINCIPAL OF SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN. I WAS DETERMINED THAT I WAS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. AND I WASN'T GOING TO LET THE COLOR OF MY SKIN BE A FACTOR THAT I WOULD GO TO BREMEN HEIGHTS. I WANTED TO SAY THAT I WANT TO BE A PROUD GRADUATE OF SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CLASS OF 1968, AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THAT DECISION THAT I'M GOING TO STICK IT OUT, IN WHICH I DID.
SERIES OF LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN TORN APART.
AND DEBATE OVER THIS ISSUE BACK IN THE LATE 50S AND EARLY 60S.
I GREW UP IN THE SUITLAND COMMUNITY AND THE BLACKS DURING THAT TIME, WHICH WAS A TWO STREET COMMUNITY, ATTENDED BROOKS ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. HE COULD NOT ATTEND THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS.
RIVER HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. ONLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO GO TO BROOKS ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS 100% BLACK.
AS A YOUNG PERSON, THAT WAS SCARY BECAUSE OF NOT BEING IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF PEOPLE OTHER THAN THE AT THE TIME WE WERE CALLED NEGROES OR BLACKS OR WHAT WE CALLED NEGROES AND COLORED.
THEY COULDN'T RIDE A BUS. WE HAD TO WALK TO SCHOOL.
SO IT WOULD TAKE US ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO ACTUALLY GET TO THE SCHOOL.
I REMEMBER VIVIDLY MY FIRST FEW MONTHS THERE.
IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT EVEN TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL.
WHEN I SPEAK OF DIFFICULT TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL IS BECAUSE THERE'S A SET OF STEPS.
DID YOU ACTUALLY HAD TO WALK TO GET ONTO THE BLACKTOP AND IT WAS BLOCKED? IT WAS BLOCKED BY THE THE WHITE STUDENTS, SO WE COULDN'T GET THROUGH.
[00:15:18]
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT BECAUSE I HAD TO ADJUST TO BEING AROUND PEOPLE OTHER THAN BLACKS.THEY FINALLY GOT TO ACCEPT ME AS A PERSON, BUT IT WAS STILL DIFFICULT.
CASE IN POINT, WHEN I WOULD GO IN THE CLASSROOM, THE TEACHERS HAD ME PLACED IN THE BACK.
I HAD TO SIT IN THE BACK. AND ALSO, WHEN I WAS CALLED UPON, A QUESTION WAS ASKED, I WOULD RAISE MY HAND AND I WAS BASICALLY IGNORED. AND SO WHEN I GET HOME, I WOULD JUST TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
SO AFTER AN ADJUSTMENT PERIOD, THEY SAID I WAS ACCEPTED, SO THEY STARTED RECEIVING ME BETTER.
PREPARE ME WELL TO TO DEAL WITH LIFE. AND EVEN AS OF TODAY, WHEN I SPEAK TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, I ALWAYS SHARE MY EXPERIENCE COMING THROUGH BEING THE ONE WHO A MINORITY BEING BLACK AND WHAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH. AND SO WHEN I SIT DOWN AND TALK TO ADULTS AS WELL AS YOUNGER PEOPLE, I INDICATE TO THEM THAT THAT MADE ME A STRONGER AND BETTER PERSON, BECAUSE PRIOR I WAS JUST DEALING WITH BASICALLY A SOCIETY OR A GROUP OF JUST BLACKS.
IT MAKES ME FEEL PROUD. IT REALLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
IT'S AMAZING. IT'S PHENOMENAL. AND WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT I SEE THIS IS ONLY WHAT MCKINLEY HAYES SEES IS THAT THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IN TERMS OF EQUITY, QUALITY, DIVERSITY. WHEREAS BEFORE, BACK IN THE 60S, I DIDN'T SEE IT.
IT'S A PROUD MOMENT FOR ME JUST TO SIT IN THIS VERY ROOM, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND SEE BRANDON JACKSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, VICE CHAIR.
AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND LOOKING TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ENHANCE AND MAKE IT BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS MANY YEARS AGO.
ON BEHALF ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CPS, WE WANT TO PRESENT YOU WITH THIS AWARD.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, MR. HAYES.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE FOLLOWING PGK STAFF, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. EMMA BEATRICE EVANS GRANDMOTHER OF BOARD MEMBER LOLITA WALKER. JAMES PEARSON.
UNCLE OF BOARD MEMBER FELTON MOSS. KEON WILLIAMS. STUDENT. POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL. HENSY AGUILAR. STUDENT.
JAMES DUCKWORTH REGIONAL SCHOOL. ARIELLA BETHEA, STUDENT.
[00:20:01]
CMT SOUTH. ARIANA ROSAS CELIS, STUDENT.JAMES MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL. TYLER FLOOD, FORMER STUDENT.
CLASS OF 2024. LINDEN MICHAEL LUNDY, HUSBAND OF CARLOTTA LUNDY, CIVIC COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE, PARENT AND COMMUNITY ADVISORY COUNCIL.
TARIQ SNEED, SECURITY ASSISTANT, SAFETY AND SECURITY SERVICES.
SHIRLEY FORD, FOOD SERVICE ASSISTANCE, AKAKI ACADEMY.
RAYMOND CARTER, SENIOR PARAPROFESSIONAL, LAMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
EDDIE WONG, FORSAN, BUS DRIVER, BLADENSBURG BUS LINE.
MAURICE MARTY SALAS, THE THIRD BROTHER OF THERESA LONG, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF OF SCHOOL SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP DIVISION. DOCTOR MARINA COLEMAN, TEACHER, PARKDALE HIGH SCHOOL.
THANK YOU. MOVING TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. THE BOARD INFORMS THE PUBLIC OF THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING MEETINGS.
PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN OF THE LISTING OF THE MEETINGS.
PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK THE BOARD WEBPAGE FOR UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION.
[11. Public Comment]
NOW MOVING TO PUBLIC COMMENT. THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES THE REGISTERED SPEAKERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.THE BOARD WILL RECOGNIZE YOUR COMMENTS BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS THEM.
SPEAKERS MAY NOT ADDRESS INDIVIDUALS OR ISSUE PROFANITY OR DEROGATORY TERMS. YOU WILL BE WARNED ONCE IF YOU CONTINUE, YOUR COMMENTS WILL BE MUTED AND YOU MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE MEETING.
SPEAKERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE TITLES RATHER THAN NAMES, FOR EXAMPLE.
CHAIR, BOARD MEMBER, SUPERINTENDENT, PRINCIPAL, ETC..
THERE ARE TEN LIVE PUBLIC COMMENTERS TONIGHT.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS RYAN REED, STUDENT SPEAKING ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
IN MY SOPHOMORE YEAR, I TOOK MY FIRST AP CLASS AP GOVERNMENT.
THE CLASS HAD 32 STUDENTS. IN MY JUNIOR YEAR, I TOOK AP BIOLOGY AND THERE WERE ONLY TEN STUDENTS.
THIS YEAR, IN MY SENIOR YEAR IN MY AP STATISTICS CLASS, I HAVE FIVE STUDENTS, INCLUDING MYSELF.
ADDITIONALLY, AT MY SCHOOL, STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TAKE AP CLASSES UNTIL THEIR SOPHOMORE YEAR, IT'S CRUCIAL TO MAKE AP CLASSES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THE NINTH GRADE BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A CHALLENGING AND ENGAGEMENT ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE EARLY ON, AND SETS A PRECEDENT OF EXCELLENCE. AS A STUDENT WHO HAS TAKEN SEVEN OUT OF THE 11 AVAILABLE AP CLASSES AT MY SCHOOL, I CAN ATTEST TO THE POSITIVE IMPACT THESE CLASSES HAVE HAD ON ME.
EVEN DURING TIMES OF EXTREME CHAOS IN THE SCHOOL, I'VE HAD SOMETHING TO FOCUS ON AND STRIVE FOR.
IN OUR COUNTY, THERE ARE ONLY A FEW SCHOOLS THAT OFFER ALL AP, IB AND CTE PROGRAMS. MOST SCHOOLS OFFER A COMBINATION, BUT RARELY HAVE ALL THREE.
HOWEVER, HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED TO EXCUSE ME? HOWEVER, HAS ANYONE CONSIDERED WHY THESE STUDENTS BEHAVE THIS WAY? AS A CONCERNED STUDENT, I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO ASK SOME STUDENTS WHY THEY'D RATHER BE IN THE HALLWAYS THAN IN CLASS, AND MANY OF THEM EXPRESSED FEELING BORED, DISENGAGED, AND UNCHALLENGED.
THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE UNCERTIFIED AND THEREFORE UNQUALIFIED TO TEACH, WHICH HINDERS OUR THE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE OF OUR STUDENTS.
OUR SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE OUR STUDENTS.
[00:25:03]
IT PROMOTES ENGAGEMENT, POSITIVITY AND EXCELLENCE.MY SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A COLLEGE COACH FOR STUDENTS TO USE.
STUDENTS DEPEND ON OUR PEER SUPPORT, WHICH IS SIMPLY A CLUB EXCUSE ME, WHICH IS SIMPLY A CLUB THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO HELP STUDENTS AND THEIR COUNSELORS ARE SIMPLY OVERWORKED. IF WE WANT TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, WE NEED TO EQUIP THEM WITH THE CORRECT TOOLS TO DO SO.
THEY CANNOT JUST BEGIN TO LEARN ABOUT COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR SENIOR YEAR.
PROVIDING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL SCHOOLS IN OUR COUNTY.
SHOW STUDENTS THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. BUT BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT PUBLIC SPEAKER, I WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE DIRECTOR FRANK TURNER.
I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU DID LOSE YOUR FATHER, TOO.
SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TO FRANK TURNER, SENIOR.
THANK YOU. THE NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS EXCUSE ME IF I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME WRONG.
IT'S AINA ROSARIO. STUDENTS SPEAKING ON POLICY AND GOVERNANCE.
I CAN'T MOVE THIS NOW. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DOLORES MILLHOUSE.
SO MY CONCERN IS THIS. WE ALREADY KNOW WE HAVE A DEFICIT THAT WE HAD TO CLOSE.
WHAT YOU ALL THEN DID IS YOU ALL SUBMITTED AMENDMENTS THAT THEN INCREASED THE BUDGET AGAIN, WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT, I SHOULD SAY. SO YOU'RE ADVOCATING DOWN IN ANNAPOLIS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE UNFUNDED MANDATES.
SO WHAT DID YOU ALL DO? YOU PROVIDED UNFUNDED MANDATES TO THE BUDGET THAT HAVE BEEN CLOSED, AND NOW WE ARE BACK AT A DEFICIT. SO THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU ALL IS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR PROCESS WHEN YOU'RE INTRODUCING THESE AMENDMENTS, THERE'S NO PROCESS. AN AMENDMENT IS INTRODUCED WHEN THE BUDGET IS APPROVED.
SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW ARE WE CHAIR GOING TO ADDRESS THE $10 MILLION, THE $646,000 THAT WERE INTRODUCED TO THE BUDGET WITH THE DEFICIT, THAT WE HAVE TO INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL 20 MILLION THAT MAY COME DOWN. SO WHAT I'M ASKING YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO YOUR JOB, DO DUE DILIGENCE. SUPPORT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOUR ROLE IS TO PROVIDE GOVERNANCE, WHICH MEANS THAT WHEN YOU ARE INTRODUCING SOMETHING, IT NEEDS TO BE JUSTIFIED AND ALIGNED WITH THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS FOR THE STUDENTS, THE NEED OF THE CLASSROOM AND NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA, BUT IT WAS NOT VETTED.
IDENTIFY WAYS IF YOU NEED TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE TO HELP YOU ENGAGE WITH YOUR COMMUNITIES.
WORK WITH YOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU HAVE, LIKE YOUR PARENT LEADERSHIP.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE WILL NOT STAND BY AND ALLOW YOU TO MISUSE FUNDING.
WE WILL NOT STAND BY TO HAVE YOU IN A POSITION TO NOT GOVERN LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE FOR THE PEOPLE, AND OUR CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. FIRST ONE BUDGET REQUEST. NO COMMUNICATION CUTS.
WE NEED EVEN MORE COMMUNICATION LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
PROACTIVELY TELLING OUR STORY AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY BEING GCPS PROUD EVERY DAY.
THERE'S TOO MUCH AT STAKE AS WE CELEBRATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEK.
OUR GOVERNOR IS PUSHING SB 429, THE LARGEST MIDDLE CLASS AND LOWER INCOME TAX IN STATE HISTORY, A $6 BILLION TAX ON MARYLAND'S FUTURE. TAKING FROM OUR TEACHERS AND OUR MOST VULNERABLE, HIGHEST POVERTY STUDENTS.
[00:30:07]
THIS BLUEPRINT. BETRAYAL WOULD COST CPS MORE THAN $1 BILLION OVER EIGHT YEARS AND DESTROY MUCH OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE MAKING.WHAT WE KNOW THEY ARE WORTH. THIS IS THE FIGHT.
THE GOOD NEWS. OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND THIS BOARD ARE LEADING, SHOWING UP IN ANNAPOLIS, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TOGETHER AND FIGHTING TO SAVE EVERY DOLLAR. BUT HERE'S THE IMPACT BY LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT BY DISTRICT 47, 23 SCHOOLS FACE $22.2 MILLION IN LOST FUNDING OVER FIVE YEARS. DISTRICT 25, WHOSE SENATOR SPONSORED THESE MASSIVE CUTS? 15 SCHOOLS WITH $13.2 MILLION LOST. DISTRICT 2112 SCHOOLS, 8.1 MILLION LOST.
DISTRICT 2222 SCHOOLS 22.5 MILLION LOST. DISTRICT 2416 SCHOOLS.
24.8 MILLION LOST. DISTRICT 26 6.8 MILLION. AND THAT IS ONLY THE LOST FUNDING FROM CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY GRANTS, WHICH IS LESS THAN 6% OF THE TOTAL COST TO CPS.
COUNTY OFFICIALS NEED TO STEP UP TO STOP TRYING TO AVOID THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS AND CALL THESE CUTS WHAT THEY ARE, A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE STUDENTS OF CPS. FUNDING EDUCATION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT THIS COUNTY OR STATE MAKES. IF IT TAKES MORE TAX REVENUE, HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THE EYE AND TELL THEM THAT OUR KIDS ARE WORTH IT. AND I'LL END BY SAYING WHAT I SAID TO ANNAPOLIS LAST WEEK.
FULLY FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS MUST RISE ABOVE POLITICS.
OUR LOYALTY NOT TO ANY PARTY OR GOVERNOR, ONLY TO MARYLAND STUDENTS.
WE ARE PGCC PROUD. NOW WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ALSO PGCC FULLY FUNDED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS MISS SHANNON RHEE.
INDIVIDUAL SPEAKING ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.
GOOD EVENING. THE NAME OF ONE OF MY STUDENTS WAS ONE OF THE STUDENTS WHO PASSED AWAY RECENTLY.
IT REMINDS ME OF WHY I CONTINUED TO FIGHT. I'M FIGHTING FOR STUDENTS TO PROSPER.
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WASTE THEIR TIME BECAUSE THEY DO NOT YET UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU WASTE YOUR TIME, YOU WASTE YOUR LIFE. AFTER LANGUISHING IN UNDERACHIEVEMENT FOR A LONG TIME, THESE STUDENTS MOVED TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL WITH TREMENDOUS NEEDS.
CARING FOR THE VULNERABLE AND COMPROMISED ALWAYS DEMANDS BEING CLOSE TO THEM.
THE LANGUAGE OF RESEARCH HAS DISTANCED PEOPLE FROM STUDENTS.
THE FAMILIARITY WITH THE SCIENCE OF READING AND SCARBOROUGH'S ROPE, THE VISUAL MODEL THAT ACCOMPANIES IT, GIVES TOO MANY PEOPLE FALSE IMPRESSIONS. THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY KNOW FAR MORE, FAR MORE ABOUT STUDENTS AND READING THAN THEY ACTUALLY DO.
KNOWLEDGE IS NOT SKILL, AND A TOOL IS NOT A TEACHER.
YET STUDENTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TOOLS WHEN THEY NEED TEACHERS.
INSTEAD, THEY'RE GIVEN TOOLS. I CANNOT BUILD ANYTHING WITH MY MITER SAW.
THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS COULD ONLY DO SO MUCH IN THE SAME WAY, PROVIDING STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TOOLS WITHOUT SUFFICIENT TIME, ADEQUATE TRAINING AND REALISTIC SUPPORT DISTORTS EXPECTATION.
IT ALSO WASTES THE FINITE TIME STUDENTS AND TEACHERS HAVE AVAILABLE.
DIRECTING TEACHERS TO USE ACHIEVE 3000 LESSONS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE UPCOMING SPRING 2025 CAP IS LIKE GIVING A STARVING PERSON A RECIPE. EVEN IF STUDENTS USED IT ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, IT WOULD NEVER MOVE THEM TO GRADE LEVEL READING.
NEVER. LOW LEVEL INPUT CREATES LOW LEVEL OUTPUT.
[00:35:06]
TEACHERS SEEM TO BE FIGHTING A BATTLE ALONE. WHEN I WATCH THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE MEET MEETING MEETING ON FEBRUARY 10TH, I SAW THAT THE FIGHT NEEDS TO INCLUDE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.THE 2425 DATA PRESENTED REVEALED SO MUCH ABOUT PGC THAT IS TROUBLING EVERY DAY.
IRONICALLY, THE STUDENTS WHO WORK THE HARDEST GET THE HIGHEST SCORES EVEN IN K THROUGH THREE.
BESIDES SHOWING ME WHY I HAVE TO WORK SO HARD AS A 10TH GRADE TEACHER, THE PRESENTATION SHOWED ME THAT REFUSING TO ENGAGE IN WORTHWHILE FIGHTS LEAVES EVERYONE STRUGGLING WITH BASIC LESSONS. PGC IS WILLINGNESS TO GET IN THE RING TO FIGHT FOR THESE CHILDREN WILL ABSOLUTELY SHOW STUDENTS HOW, WHEN, AND WHY TO FIGHT A WORTHWHILE FIGHT.
THANK YOU. NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER IS MISS TANYA WINGFIELD FROM CITIZENS OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
GOOD EVENING. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, MR. HAYES. I AM A PROUD 1979 GRADUATE OF SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THANK YOU FOR PAVING THE WAY FOR ME. NOW, ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, I URGE THIS BOARD TO UPHOLD THE HIGHEST STANDARDS AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN DEVELOPING THE SCHOOL BUDGET.
PUBLIC TRUST IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM DEPENDS ON OPENNESS, PUBLIC TRUST OF OUR AND OUR EDUCATION.
IT MUST HAVE INCLUSIVE AND INCLUSIVE PROCESS WHERE STAKEHOLDERS PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS HAVE A CLEAR VISION INTO DECISION MAKING. THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE WORST BUDGET SEASON I HAVE SEEN.
OMAR VIOLATIONS ALL OVER THE PLACE, NOT KNOWING WHEN A MEETING IS SUPPOSED TO START.
PARENTS AND EDUCATORS DESERVE A VOICE IN FUNDING DECISIONS.
SECRECY ERODES TRUST. BACKROOM DEALS LEAD TO INEQUITY AND CONFLICT.
TO HEAR CONVERSATIONS OF I'LL MEET WITH YOU, BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER, BOARD MEMBER, AND WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO THE PUBLIC IS UNACCEPTABLE. MARYLAND LAW MANDATES OPENNESS.
YOUR BUDGET PRIORITIES NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, EQUITY IN ACHIEVEMENT, WORKFORCE AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT STAFFING THE BOARD.
I'M TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THE RESOURCES ARE WHERE OUR OUR CLIENTS ARE.
AND THAT'S OUR STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS, NOT IN SASSER.
EVERY YEAR, MONEY, NEW MONEY THAT WE GET IS TAKEN UP BY THIS BOARD UNNECESSARILY.
IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT I SEE A $12 MILLION REQUEST TO RENAME SCHOOLS OVER EDUCATING KIDS, OR CLOSING THIS BUDGET GAP. THAT IS POOR LEADERSHIP.
IT MAKES NO SENSE TO COMPARE US WITH MIAMI DADE TO GET TO JUSTIFY ADDING STAFF TO THIS BOARD.
MIAMI DADE, THEIR ELEMENTARY ENROLLMENT IS MORE THAN OUR ENTIRE SCHOOL SYSTEM.
IT IS NOT A COMPARISON. YOU NEED TO HAVE AN OPEN PROCESS.
I DON'T. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO GET A CALL AT 5:00 IN THE EVENING WHEN I'M AT WORK.
YEAH. WE WORK. IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT US BEING INVOLVED, HAVE MEETINGS WHEN WE ARE NOT AT WORK.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE ARE HOME AFTER WORK, HAVE MEETINGS POSTED RIGHT? SO WE KNOW THE TIME AND THEN MAKE SOME SENSE.
WITH THESE REQUESTS, YOU HAVE BLURRED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OPERATIONS AND OVERSIGHT.
YOU ARE NOT OPERATIONS BOARD MEMBERS. YOU NEED TO GET IN LINE, TAKE SOME TIME, READ POLICIES.
IT'S GOOD TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT LEARN WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FIRST.
YOU HAVE A GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU. NEXT, PUBLIC SPEAKER, MISS LAVON REEDY.
THOMAS. INDIVIDUAL SPEAKING ON THE BUDGET. GOOD EVENING.
IS IT ON? GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I AM LAVON REEDY.
[00:40:02]
THOMAS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE GRADUATES OF SURRATTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL AND CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, RESPECTIVELY. OUR THREE CHILDREN ARE ALSO GRADUATES OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.SO TONIGHT I'M HERE AS AN INVESTED COMMUNITY MEMBER, ALUM, AND TAXPAYER.
RIGHT NOW, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY IS FACING A $37 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT.
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET TEAM WORKED TO CLOSE THE GAP THROUGH COST SAVING MEASURES.
BUT INSTEAD OF KEEPING THE BUDGET BALANCED, THIS BOARD IS PROPOSING NEARLY $10 MILLION IN UNNECESSARY AMENDMENTS, UNDOING THE PROCESS THAT WAS MADE. THIS RECKLESS APPROACH IS NOT JUST IRRESPONSIBLE.
IT IS ALSO ADDING MILLIONS IN AMENDMENTS WITH NO JUSTIFICATION.
FUNDING ADMINISTRATIVE ROLES INSTEAD OF SCHOOL NEEDS, PRIORITIZING PERSONAL CONVENIENCES OVER STUDENT SUCCESS, REFUSING TO MAKE HARD BUT NECESSARY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, AND ROBBING STUDENTS OF CRITICAL RESOURCES INSTEAD OF PROTECTING OUR BUDGET.
THIS BOARD CONTINUES TO MISMANAGE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, PRIORITIZING YOUR OWN AGENDAS OVER STUDENT NEEDS, EVEN THOUGH YOUR RHETORIC SAYS DIFFERENTLY. WE DO NOT SUPPORT.
WHAT I NOW KNOW IS $12 MILLION ON RENAMING SCHOOLS IF WE'RE GOING TO RENAME SCHOOLS OVER RACIAL ISSUES OF THE PAST, WHICH I KNOW WE STARTED DOING, WE JUST NEED TO RENAME PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND WHILE WE'RE AT IT.
WE ALSO DON'T SUPPORT SPENDING $475,000 AND I'M SORRY.
$475,029 ON DISTRICT LIAISONS. DIDN'T WE JUST GET RID OF OF SCHOOL BOARD LIAISONS SEVERAL YEARS AGO? I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING THE RECYCLING OF IDEAS.
WE ALSO DON'T SUPPORT SPENDING $146,036 ON A BOARD BUDGET ANALYST WHEN THE BUDGET OFFICE ALREADY PERFORMS THIS WORK. YOUR CONSTITUENTS NEED YOU TO ACT DIFFERENTLY.
OUR STUDENTS NEED TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM, SAFE AND WELL STOCKED CLASSROOMS, RODENT FREE SCHOOLS, AND SUPPORT STAFF WITH RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THEIR OUTCOMES.
I ADMONISH YOU TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE DECISIONS.
THIS BOARD MUST NOT APPROVE ANY OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS THAT WERE INTRODUCED DURING THAT.
I'M SORRY. WAIT A MINUTE. THERE WILL BE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS REEDY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT SPEAKER, ANTHONY TILLMAN.
INDIVIDUALS SPEAKING ON THE BUDGET. MR. CHAIRMAN, I'VE GOT INSTRUCTIONS FROM IT FOR OUR PUBLIC SPEAKERS TO NOT LEAN SO CLOSE TO THE MIC BECAUSE IT'S CAUSING FEEDBACK ON OUR STREAM.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? ALL RIGHT.
I DON'T HEAR MYSELF. OKAY. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.
EDUCATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPON WHICH YOU CAN USE TO CHANGE THE WORLD NELSON MANDELA.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO APPLAUD OUR SUPERINTENDENT AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS FOR GOING TO ANNAPOLIS AND ADVOCATING FOR EDUCATION, WHICH IS THE PROPER THING TO DO. EDUCATION IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK OUR DISTRICT SEVEN BOARD MEMBER FOR SUCCESSFULLY PUSHING AN AMENDMENT TO LAUNCH THE LITERACY LAB AT DISTRICT HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY AND SEWELL ELEMENTARY. THIS IS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD BECAUSE WHEN WE INVEST IN LITERACY, WE INVEST IN THE TRUTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND OUR COMMUNITY.
LET'S BE CLEAR LITERACY ISN'T JUST ABOUT READING WORDS ON A PAGE.
STRONG LITERACY SKILLS MEANS BETTER JOBS, HIGHER EDUCATION, AND A STRONGER COMMUNITY FOR ALL OF US.
WHILE THIS INITIATIVE IS A VICTORY, IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
THAT'S WHY WE MUST CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR FULLY FUNDED EDUCATION.
SMALLER CLASS SIZES AND OF COURSE, TEACHERS PAY.
OUR CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST. OUR FAMILIES DESERVE THE BETTER SUPPORT.
LET'S INVEST IN EDUCATION, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, OUR FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
[00:45:04]
AND LASTLY, PLEASE ADD TIMESTAMPS TO THE YOUTUBE TIMESTAMPS TO THE YOUTUBE.AND OF COURSE, IN CASE WE MISSED IT TO THE MEETING RECAP THREE HOURS.
WATCHING THE MEETING WITHOUT SHORT CUTS IS JUST TOO LONG, SO LET'S GET SOME.
THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY! THANK YOU. OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS CANDACE PERKINS.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL, PTSO. GOOD EVENING.
BOARD. MY NAME IS CANDACE PERKINS. I'M A PROUD DISTRICT NINE RESIDENT.
BORN AND RAISED IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
AS THE PRESIDENT OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL, PTSO, I STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IN 2025 REQUESTING THAT THE FY 26 BUDGET AMENDMENTS EARNESTLY BE REEVALUATED BY REALISTICALLY REALIGNING WITH A FOCUS ON THE BASIC SCHOLARS NEEDS AT FREDERICK DOUGLASS AND OUR OTHER SISTER SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTY.
A TOTAL OF $1.4 MILLION, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND VALIDATED OVER THE BUDGET OFFICE.
THE BOARD OF ED AMENDS TOTAL AN AMOUNT OF OVER $9.9 MILLION.
THIS SHOWS HOW FAR APART THE BOARD OF ED ASSUMED EXPENSES WERE IN COMPARISON TO THE BUDGET OFFICE.
RENAMING SCHOOLS, WHICH YIELDS A COST OF IMPACT OF OVER $12 MILLION.
THIS IS MORE THAN 50% OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS FOR THE 26 BUDGET.
THIS IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AT ALL. HOW DOES THIS AMENDMENT SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL NEEDS FOR STUDENTS AT FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL AND SURROUNDING AREAS? GIVEN THE BUDGET DEFICIT, THIS IS A LOW PRIORITY.
IT LACKS FIDUCIARY OVERSIGHT. CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT THIS MONEY COULD BE BETTER SPENT ON STUDENT PROGRAMS. THE DISTRICT LIAISON AMENDMENT IS AN UNNECESSARY EXPENSE COSTING $475,000.
AGAIN AMID THE $37 MILLION DEFICIT. ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES, MAKING THESE POSITIONS REDUNDANT AND ADDING BUREAUCRACY.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING MORE ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES, CONSIDER REMOVING THE AMENDMENT, PRIORITIZE, DIRECTS, AND HIRING STUDENT SUPPORT. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS THE TRUTH THAT WE ARE HEARING TONIGHT EXPERIENCING AS CONSTITUENTS. THIS CAN'T BE TRUE IN 2025, RIGHT? WRONG. AS A PARENT OF MULTIPLE PGC SCHOLARS, IT SEEMS THAT MOST OF YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME NOW HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT YOUR PLATFORMS WERE RAN ON BASED ON INSTEAD OF, AND CREATED THIS DISCUSSION REGARDING AMENDMENTS THIS EVENING, WHICH IS OVER $7 MILLION. WE ARE WASTING OUR TIME, OUR ENERGY, OUR MONEY.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT YOU GUYS PRIORITIZE AMENDMENTS THAT ALIGN WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES WHILE CONSIDERING THE FISCAL, FISCAL REALITIES AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON EQUITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND EDUCATIONAL QUALITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO FURTHER FOLLOW UP CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS RONETTA PACE INDIVIDUAL SPEAKING ON BUDGET.
THIS FUNDING WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO AID THE DIVISION WITH COMPLIANCE AUDITS TO CREATE NEW PROCESSES, WHICH WILL CREATE TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS AND THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS COMMUNITIES THAT DEPEND ON THEIR INPUT AND APPROVALS FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO PLAY.
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HAS A LOT OF TALENT AND SOME OF THIS TALENT THAT HAS ACQUIRED SCHOLARSHIPS TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE ARE SITTING OUT A SEASON OR A QUARTER. THEY'RE MISSING PLAYING TIME, WHICH IS CAUSING THEM TO NOT HAVE END UP WITH THE SCHOLARSHIP BECAUSE THE COACHES CAN'T SEE THEM.
I'M LISTENING TO ALL THE OTHER REQUESTS ABOUT BUDGET.
THIS SEEMS LIKE A VERY SMALL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS A VERY LARGE PART BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE LACK OF OUR STUDENT ATHLETES BEING ABLE TO PLAY BECAUSE THE COMPLIANCE DIVISION HASN'T GRANTED THEM A FINAL APPROVAL CAUSES A LOT OF EMOTIONAL STRESS ON THE ON THE PLAYERS, OR THEY JUST KIND OF TAP OUT AND ARE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN THE SPORT.
[00:50:03]
SO IN ORDER TO PREVENT THAT, I THINK IF WE BECOME A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENT, WHERE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SCURRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SCHOLASTIC THE INTERSCHOLASTIC DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTING WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE PREPARED.MY GOAL IS TO GET THERE. THE INTERSCHOLASTIC DEPARTMENT AND THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY TO BE TOGETHER. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS A DIVISION, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THESE KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
PERSONALLY, I FELT THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR A PRIVATE EDUCATION.
MY SON HAS BEEN IN A PRIVATE SCHOOL SINCE HE WAS IN THE SIXTH GRADE.
EIGHTH GRADE, AND WE DECIDED TO LET HIM COME AND EXPERIENCE BEING IN A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IT JUST SEEMS THAT YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY TO GO TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION AND THEN STILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO COLLEGE FOR FREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NINE WRITTEN COMMENTS.
THE WRITTEN COMMENTS CAN BE FOUND ON BOARD DOCKS.
THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS. LEANNA ROSARIO, STUDENT WHO WROTE ON POLICY AND GOVERNANCE.
THERESA SMITH, INDIVIDUAL WHO WROTE ON POSTPONED BUDGET AMENDMENTS L L TOWNS INDIVIDUAL VISUAL WROTE ON MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS BY SEAN TOWNS. INDIVIDUAL WROTE ON MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS ERIC HAWTHORNE MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS DANIELLE DANNI HALL INDIVIDUAL WROTE ON MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS ANGELA KEITH MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS.
KRYSTAL SMITH MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS YAMANA'S, XI'AN, AK CHESAPEAKE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION WROTE ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET. WE RECEIVED NO PRERECORDED VIDEOS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS. NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
[12. Report of the Superintendent]
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE FOR HIS REPORT.THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR, AS I'LL START OUT SAYING, JUST AS WAS INDICATED EARLIER, I HAD THE CHANCE TO TO TESTIFY ON THE GOVERNOR'S BILL IN ANNAPOLIS JUST THIS PAST WEEK, ALONGSIDE A NUMBER OF MY SUPERINTENDENT COLLEAGUES AND SEVERAL OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, TO REALLY HELP PROTECT THE THE BLUEPRINT FUNDING THAT WE KNOW IS SO, SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOR STUDENTS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL STATE OFFICIALS.
WE'RE ALSO INVITING EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO TO WEIGH IN.
ADDITIONALLY, OUR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP TEAM, ALONG WITH THE OFFICE OF INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION, CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT AND REALLY PARTNERS TO HOLD INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES.
THIS WEEK CONCLUDED THE FIRST SERIES OF THREE DIFFERENT SESSIONS ON IMPORTANT TOPICS AFFECTING STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND STAFF. DUE TO THE FEDERAL CHANGES THAT WE'VE ALL HEARD, OVER 250 PARTICIPANTS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THESE SESSIONS AND PGK IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING OUR FAMILIES NOW.
PGK SAW A SIGNIFICANT LEAP IN GRADUATION RATES, SOLIDIFYING THAT THE DISTRICT'S COMMITMENT TO ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND STUDENT SUCCESS IS A-1. THE CLASS OF 2024 GRADUATION RATE JUMPED TO JUST OVER 80%, WHICH IS A 5.6 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR AND A RATE IMPROVEMENT MORE THAN THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE STATE'S OVERALL GROWTH.
SPECIFICALLY, HISPANIC STUDENTS SAW A NEARLY 12 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE IN GRADUATION RATES.
IT WENT FROM 59.7% TO 71.3%. THE IMPROVEMENT IS EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED GIVEN THE SMALLER HISPANIC HISPANIC COHORT, DROPPING FROM 4092 STUDENTS IN 23 TO 3476 STUDENTS IN 2024.
ENGLISH LEARNERS. THEY SAW A 14.6 PERCENTAGE POINT JUMP, CLIMBING FROM 52.3% TO 66.9%.
NOW, WHILE MARYLAND STATEWIDE GRADUATION RATES ROSE 1.8 PERCENTAGE POINTS TO 87.6, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST, I BELIEVE SINCE 2017, GCPS SAW A MUCH LARGER INCREASE, HIGHLIGHTING THE DISTRICT'S PROGRESS.
[00:55:01]
OF THE 759 ADDITIONAL GRADUATES STATEWIDE, 251 OF THEM CAME RIGHT HERE FROM GCPS, WHICH IS 33% OF THE OVERALL GROWTH FOR THE STATE. AMONG MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS, THE STATE SAW 499 MORE GRADUATES.153 OF THEM CAME RIGHT HERE FROM GCPS. NEARLY A THIRD OF THE STATE'S OVERALL GRADUATION INCREASE.
NOW, SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SOMETHING ELSE WE'RE VERY, VERY PROUD OF.
WE CELEBRATE KETTERING MIDDLE SCHOOL NURSE EGYPT MIDDLETON AS MARYLAND'S SCHOOL NURSE OF THE YEAR, SO WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF HER. SHE'S THE FIRST PGCC RECIPIENT AND THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO RECEIVE THIS HONOR.
NOW, I'D LIKE TO TO CLOSE AS AS WE CLOSE BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE REFLECT NOT ONLY ON THE PAST, BUT ALSO THE FUTURE AND SHAPING WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE NOW IN THE SPIRIT.
I'M PROUD TO SHARE THAT THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BEGIN A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS OF ENGAGING AND SELECTING SCHOOL COMMUNITIES TO DISCUSS THE RENAMING OF SEVERAL SCHOOLS. THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THE INSTITUTIONS REFLECT AND CELEBRATE THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALL THE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL. NOW IN 2020, CPS ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A SCHOOL NAMING COMMISSION TO EVALUATE WHETHER NAMES OF SCHOOLS ALIGN WITH OUR CORE VALUES. NOW, THE COMMISSION HAS CAREFULLY CONSIDERED WHETHER SCHOOL NAMES HONOR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE LEGACIES UPLIFT PRINCIPLES OR, CONVERSELY, REFLECT HISTORICAL SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION.
RENAMING OF THESE SCHOOLS IS MORE THAN JUST A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
NOW, MOVING FORWARD, WE INVITE YOU ALL TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS AGAIN, A MULTIYEAR PROCESS THAT QUITE FRANKLY, WON'T WON'T, WON'T. AND I WANT TO BE CAREFUL IN REFERENCE TO WHAT I SAY IN REFERENCE TO BUDGET, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S AN AMENDMENT IN THE BUDGET, BUT WE BELIEVE THAT THIS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT WITHOUT THAT AMENDMENT.
TO BE A PART OF WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT. SUPERINTENDENT.
HOUSE. IT WAS QUITE A LOSS. HOW MUCH DID OUR GRADUATION RATE GO UP AS A WHOLE? ABOUT SIX. ABOUT 6%. 6%. I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, PEOPLE.
IT'S AMAZING. AMAZING. I SEE YOU DOING IT. DOING THE HARD WORK.
[13. Reports of the Committees]
AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT COMMITTEE BOARD MEMBER JANGO.THANK YOU. BOARD CHAIR. GOOD EVENING. I AM JAMAL J.
OUR COMMITTEE REMAINS DEDICATED TO OVERSEEING THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, STUDENT AFFAIRS, OPERATIONS, AND INITIATIVES THAT ENHANCE PARENT AND STUDENT PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
OUR PRIMARY OUR PRIMARY IDEAS ARE TO FOCUS ON OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE CLOSING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE GAPS, SUPPORTING LOW PERFORMING SCHOOLS, ADVANCING HIGH ACHIEVING STUDENTS, AND ENSURING ADEQUATE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY ACROSS THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE 2024 TO 2025 SCHOOL YEAR. WE BEGAN OUR MEETINGS ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2024 AND HAVE REMAINED ON SCHEDULE.
EQUITY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION ON SEPTEMBER 16TH AND THE INFORMATION SHARED AT THE JANUARY 27TH, 2025, 2025 MEETING. COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT AND IMPROVEMENT.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE CSI SCHOOLS. PRESENTED ON OCTOBER 21ST, 2024 AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEBRUARY 10TH, 2024, 2025 MEETING. THE MULTILINGUAL ENGAGEMENT PRESENTED ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2024, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPLEMENTATION IS FORTHCOMING. THE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DATA REVIEW, PRESENTED ON FEBRUARY 10TH FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER, AND ANOTHER DATA REVIEW WILL BE PRESENTED AT THE SECOND SEMESTER IN APRIL OF 20, 2025. OUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ONGOING.
MONITORING TO CONTINUE TRACKING CSI SCHOOL PROGRESS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TARGETED INTERVENTIONS.
[01:00:06]
STRENGTH FAMILY ENGAGEMENT. ENHANCING OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FOR MULTILINGUAL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION FAMILIES TO BREAK DOWN THE LEARNING BARRIERS AND IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES. DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS MAINTAIN REGULAR VIEWS OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE DATA TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TARGETS TO IMPLEMENT TARGETED STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.WE APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ADMINISTRATION, FAMILIES AND STAKEHOLDERS IN SUPPORTING THIS MISSION FOR PRESENTATION MATERIALS, MEETING DATES AND ACCESS TO THE WORK PLAN, PLEASE REFER TO PROJECTS.
THANK YOU. THIS IS THE CONCLUSION OF MY REPORT.
THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER JANGO. THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES DOCTOR MOSS FROM POLICY AND GOVERNANCE.
FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANT TO IT'S BEEN COMMENTED A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE HAS SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF THE CHILDREN HERE IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY SCHOOLS. SO I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUES. ALL THE MEMBERS ON THIS DAIS HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN ANNAPOLIS FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE DOLLARS AND CENTS ARE BROUGHT TO OUR SCHOOL. THAT IS THE WORK OF THE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. A COUPLE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE TRULY BEEN ON THE FRONT LINE OF THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO REALLY THANK THEM FOR THEIR TIME.
AND THAT'S THE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THAT'S BOARD MEMBER LOLITA WALKER, THAT'S BOARD MEMBER PAMELA BOOZER, AND THAT'S BOARD MEMBER BRANT. JONATHAN BRIGGS, WHO ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE POLICY AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, WHILE ALL OF OUR OTHER COLLEAGUES HAVE SPENT TIME IN ANNAPOLIS, THESE MEMBERS HAVE SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. I BELIEVE BOARD MEMBER WALKER WAS JUST THERE ALL DAY YESTERDAY WITH THE LADIES OF PINK AND GREEN STILL FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY SCHOOLS, BUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BOARD POLICY 9340 POLICY DEVELOPMENT.
THE FOLLOWING POLICIES ARE FOR BOARD CONSIDERATION.
THERE ARE 21 OF THEM TONIGHT. POLICIES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT CONSIDERATION.
POLICY 4113. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND PRINCIPAL SELECTION PROCESS.
POLICY 5111. LEGAL AGE OF ADMISSION POLICY 3100.
INVESTMENTS POLICY 31. 60. TRANSFER OF FUNDS.
POLICY 5206. YEARBOOKS AND PHOTOGRAPHS. THAT POLICY IS BEING RESCINDED.
RECOMMENDED FOR RETENTION POLICY 9366. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES. THAT POLICY IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RETENTION.
OUR POLICIES FOR FIRST CONSIDERATION TONIGHT, WHICH IS BEING A NEW POLICY.
POSSESSION AND USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
POLICY 1113. INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
POLICY 5168. AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS POLICY 8265.
EVALUATING THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS POLICY, 5204.
BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR CHEERLEADERS, MAJORETTES, ETC.
THAT POLICY IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR RETENTION TONIGHT.
POLICY 5205 PROMS. THAT POLICY IS AVAILABLE FOR RETENTION NUMBER.
POLICY 9110 NUMBER OF MEMBERS IN TERMS OF OFFICE POLICIES AVAILABLE FOR RETENTION POLICY 9310.
ADOPTION OF POLICIES. RECEPTION. POLICY 9330.
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR RECEPTION AS WELL.
WE HAVE SIX POLICIES TONIGHT THAT ARE FOR SECOND CONSIDERATION.
EVALUATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS POLICY 2566. STUDENT IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
POLICY 5113. ATTENDANCE, ABSENCE AND TRUANCY POLICY 5143.
BULLYING, HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION POLICY 6153.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN. THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER DOCTOR MOSS.
[14. Presentations]
MOVING ON TO THE PRESENTATIONS. CAM SCHMIDT, THE HIDDEN GEM OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE FOR THE CAM SCHMIDT. THANK YOU CHAIR.THANK YOU CHAIR. AND I SEE MR. JAMES ROBERTSON COMING TO THE PODIUM TO TO JOIN US.
HE'S THE INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST IN LORI ARMFIELD COORDINATING SUPERVISOR OF A SPECIALTY AS WELL.
YOU GUYS HAVE THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. DOCTOR HOUSE.
I'LL ADD THAT I'VE BEEN WITH PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY FOR 15 YEARS AND AT THE SCHMIDT CENTER FOR 14.
BOARD MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT, I APPRECIATE IT.
IS THE PRESENTATION AVAILABLE? OKAY. FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, THE SCHMIDT CENTER, AKA CAM SCHMIDT, ALSO THE WILLIAM ESSER SCHMIDT OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTER.
WE'RE LOCATED IN BRANDYWINE, MARYLAND. WE'RE ON 450 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL TREES.
[01:05:05]
SO IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE. THANK YOU.NEXT SLIDE. SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE SCHMIDT CENTER.
I'M GOING TO START WITH WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY LOOKS LIKE IN GCPS.
GIVE AN UPDATE ON CONSTRUCTION AT THE SCHMIDT CENTER.
AN UPDATE ON OUR MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOL INITIATIVE.
AND TALK ABOUT THE CCP, THE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN.
NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT DRIVES OUR WORK IS COMES FROM EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT ACROSS THE STATE HAS TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY PLAN WHERE STUDENTS GRADUATE ENVIRONMENTALLY LITERATE.
AND THAT'S IN K. THEY'RE GOING THROUGH PROGRAMING K TO 12 ACROSS THE CONTENT AREAS.
SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR STUDENTS? THAT LOOKS LIKE A STUDENT THAT HAS THE KNOWLEDGE, THE SKILLS AND THE EXPERIENCES WITHIN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. SO BESIDES COMMERCIAL DRIVING WHAT WE DO.
I ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ALIGN DIRECTLY WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN.
SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A SCHOOL CLIMATE, WE WANT KIDS TO LOVE TO COME TO SCHOOL.
WE'RE PART OF THAT. WE ALSO WANT STUDENTS. WE WORK ON SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING.
AND THROUGH THAT WE ARE IN OUR PROGRAMING. WE'RE WORKING ON EMPATHY.
WE'RE WORKING ON KINDNESS. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? WELL, I'M GOING TO SHARE OUR PROGRAMS WITH YOU.
SO STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN WE HAVE GROWING UP GREEN.
THAT'S WITH ARTS INTEGRATION. SOME OF OUR STUDENTS ARE GOING OUTSIDE.
THEY'RE LEARNING ABOUT PLANTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS.
THAT'S ALSO HAPPENING IN SECOND GRADE TO SOME DEGREE AND FIRST GRADE.
THEY'RE GOING TO OUR LOCAL PARKS AND ENGAGING WITH NATURE.
THEY ARE TAKING WATER QUALITY MEASUREMENTS. THEY'RE CARING FOR THOSE SUNFISH.
NEXT, WE GO TO OUR LEGACY PROGRAM, WHICH IS OUR FIFTH GRADE TRIP.
WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 1971. STUDENTS COME OUT TO US.
THEY'RE ENGAGED IN A MACROINVERTEBRATE STUDY LOOKING AT WATER QUALITY ON OUR CAMPUS.
THEY'RE PROBABLY THEY'RE DOING A DEER SURVEY.
SEE HOW MANY DEER LIVE ON OUR PROPERTY? IN THE EVENINGS, THEY HAVE A CAMPFIRE AND WAGON RIDE.
IT IS AN EXPERIENCE THAT ALL STUDENTS GO THROUGH AND THAT THEY NEVER FORGET.
NEXT SLIDE. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WE HAVE OUR FOG UNIT, WHICH IS FATS, OILS AND GREASE.
WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT SEWER OVERFLOWS. WHAT ARE THE PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS THERE? WHAT ARE THE WATER QUALITY RISKS THERE. AND SEVENTH GRADE WE HAVE OUR WILD RICE PROGRAM.
STUDENTS ARE GROWING WILD RICE IN THE CLASSROOM DURING THE WINTER.
IN EIGHTH GRADE, WE HAVE THE TERRAPIN PROGRAM.
STUDENTS ARE RAISING TERPS IN THEIR CLASSROOM FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH JUNE.
THEY'RE COLLECTING HEALTH DATA, THEY'RE COLLECTING GROWTH DATA, AND THEN THEY'RE THEY'RE RETURNING THOSE TERRAPINS BACK TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THROUGH THIS HEAD STARTING PROGRAM. NEXT SLIDE. IN HIGH SCHOOL, WE ARE WE HAVE THE MUSSEL PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE TARP PROGRAM.
WE'RE REMOVING MUSSELS FROM THE ANACOSTIA RIVER.
WE ALSO HAVE THE ENVIROTHON, WHERE STUDENTS ARE ENGAGED IN A COMPETITION AROUND FORESTRY, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, AQUATICS AND SOIL CONSERVATION. NEXT SLIDE. OUR MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOL PROGRAM, SOMETHING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE.
WE HAVE 149 MARYLAND GREEN SCHOOLS. AND FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A GREEN SCHOOL IS, IT'S AN AWARD THAT A NONPROFIT KNOWN AS MAYO AWARDS TO SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. YOU'LL NOTICE WE HAVE THE MOST IN THE STATE.
YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS BELOW.
NEXT SLIDE. AND GREAT NEWS TO SHARE. I'LL DROP WITH THIS.
[01:10:05]
BERWYN HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY WAS NOMINATED TO BE A U.S.GREEN RIBBON SCHOOL. THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST SCHOOL HERE IN CPS.
THERE'S ONLY 22 IN THE STATE. THAT APPLICATION IS PENDING BECAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTIES THAT THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF. ED, THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
JUST A MINOR HOUSEKEEPING NOTE. THERE WAS OVERSIGHT.
OKAY. SEEING NO OBJECTIONS, THEY ARE APPROVED.
MOVING ON TO 14.2. TWO. THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES BOARD MEMBER JOHN GO FOR THE PRINCE GEORGE'S REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT GOVERNMENTS.
OKAY, OKAY. SO FIRST I WANT TO GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO JERRY DANIEL, OUR GRASS LOBBYIST.
SGA'S THAT ARE ALL AROUND THE COUNTY, AND WE HAVE AN EXEC BOARD OF OVER 50 MEMBERS THAT FOCUS ON THE GOALS THAT OUR STUDENTS TRULY NEED. AND, OF COURSE, JEWISH IS HERE WITH OUR REPORT.
GOOD EVENING, ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
I'M HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS OUR KEEN INTEREST IN MEANINGFUL COLLABORATION FOR THE STUDENTS BENEFIT.
THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE EVERY DAY AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE MUST LEARN AND ADAPT.
MY NAME IS DREW DANIEL, A SENIOR AT LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WILL BE REPRESENTING MY PEERS AT THIS TIME AS MY OTHER LOBBYISTS COULD NOT ATTEND TODAY'S MEETING. HOWEVER, ON BEHALF OF ALL CPS STUDENTS, WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE PUT IN AND WE ARE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR ACTIONS THUS FAR. HOWEVER, WE RECOGNIZE THE CRUCIAL TASK BEFORE US AS OUR PRIORITIES ARE COMPREHENSIVE AND REFLECT THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
TODAY, WE BRING ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING KEY AREAS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS SUPPORT, INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. FIRSTLY, WE CAN'T EXPECT OUR STUDENTS TO SUCCESSFULLY ASSIMILATE INTO THEIR SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WITHOUT PROVIDING QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS RESOURCES. ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES, 1 IN 5 TEENAGERS STRUGGLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND ALARMINGLY, NEARLY 60% OF TEENS WITH DEPRESSION RECEIVE NO TREATMENT AT ALL.
THIS REALITY IS UNTENABLE, PARTICULARLY IN CPS, WHERE THE PRESSURES OF ACADEMICS, SOCIAL LIFE AND COMMUNITY CHALLENGES WEIGH HEAVILY ON OUR PEERS. THE INCREASE IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE FURTHER EXACERBATES THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
THE MARYLAND YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEY REPORTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS, OVER 12% OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CPS HAVE TRIED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION. SUBSTANCE MISUSE, OFTEN DRIVEN BY STRESS AND UNTREATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, IS AN URGENT PROBLEM IN OUR SCHOOLS THAT DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH ACCESSIBLE, CONFIDENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND EDUCATION ON THE DANGERS OF DRUG MISUSE WOULD GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO MANAGE THESE PRESSURES HEALTHILY. EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH STAFF ACROSS ALL SCHOOLS, WITH COUNSELORS TRAINED IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PREVENTION, WOULD ENSURE STUDENTS HAVE TRUSTED ADULTS TO TURN TO DURING TIMES OF CRISIS.
REGULAR CHECK INS WITH COUNSELORS CAN ALSO HELP TO CATCH EARLY WARNING SIGNS BEFORE THEY ESCALATE.
ESCALATE. NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO INTERNET ACCESSIBILITY.
THE FOLLOWING WORDS ARE FROM MY FRIEND AND FUTURE STATE SMOB OMARI BARNES.
AS A LOBBYIST, HIS FOCUS WAS ENSURING THAT INTERNET ACCESS IS A TOP PRIORITY.
HIS WORDS ARE AS FOLLOWS. WE MUST ENSURE THAT HIGH SPEED INTERNET IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY STUDENT, ESPECIALLY IN A HIGHLY DIGITALIZED WORLD. PICTURE THIS INSTRUCTION HALTED FOR THREE HOURS.
THIS WAS THE REALITY AT CROFTON HIGH SCHOOL A FEW SHORT MONTHS AGO AND IT IS BLATANTLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE EVER INCREASING RELIANCE ON DIGITAL PORTALS REQUIRES A FOCUS ON EFFICIENCY AND CONNECTIVITY.
NEXT, I WOULD LIKE TO SHIFT OUR ATTENTION TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.
EXECUTIVE BOARD. I'M AWARE THAT I AM NOT THE BEST PERSON TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF HER PASSIONS AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCES, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHARE. HER WORDS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
[01:15:01]
FOR ME, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ISN'T JUST A SUBJECT WE COVER IN CLASS.IT'S A PASSION THAT'S INTERTWINED WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCES AS A STUDENT IN CPS, IN A COUNTY WHERE OVER 60% OF STUDENTS COME FROM ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW LIMITED CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CAN STIFLE VOICES, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR.
SO I SET OUT TO CHANGE THAT IN MY OWN WAY, STARTING BY ADVOCATING FOR OUR VOICES WITHIN MY SCHOOL.
MY INVOLVEMENT IN CIVICS CLUB AND A FEW CODING PROJECTS HAS HELPED ME BRIDGE THIS GAP.
WHEN WE SHARE IT AT SCHOOL EVENTS, STUDENTS WERE SURPRISED AT HOW EASY IT WAS TO REGISTER TO VOTE.
THEY JUST HADN'T BEEN TAUGHT THIS ESSENTIAL SKILL.
BUT EVEN WITH THESE EFFORTS, I REALIZED CODING ALONE WOULDN'T SOLVE EVERYTHING.
WE NEEDED REAL ENGAGEMENT FROM TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PROVIDE CIVIC EDUCATION.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADDRESS THESE CRUCIAL ISSUES TO PROVIDE SAFE, NURTURING, AND EFFECTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW MOVING ON TO 14.3. THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE FOR THE OVERVIEW OF THE BUDGET.
THANK YOU, CHAIR JACKSON. AND I'D LIKE TO INVITE OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, LISA HOWELL, TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW ON THE CHANGE IN REVENUES, THE PLAN TO TO ACTUALLY CLOSE OUR DEFICIT.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. IF WE CAN GET TO THE THIRD SLIDE, PLEASE.
SO THIS HERE PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON OUR REVENUE.
THE PRIMARY CHANGE THAT YOU SEE, THERE IS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF AROUND $19 MILLION THAT IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY THE CHANGE IN OUR STUDENT COUNTS THAT WE CAPTURED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET VERSUS WHAT'S BEEN CERTIFIED FOR WHICH WE'RE BEING FUNDED FOR.
BUT OVERALL, AN INCREASE OF $19 MILLION RELATIVE TO WHAT WE EXPECTED.
SO HALF OF THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED NOW WITH THE INCREASE IN OUR REVENUE.
OUT OF THAT GAP THAT YOU SEE OF $23 MILLION, FIVE OF THAT WE'VE ALREADY IDENTIFIED, AND THAT WAS ALREADY REFLECTED IN THE SUPERINTENDENT'S PROPOSED BUDGET. SO WE HAVE REMAINING $18.3 MILLION THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
THIS IS A PART OF OUR NORMAL BUDGETING PROCESS.
SO OVERALL, AS WE'RE DEVELOPING THE BUDGET DURING THE FALL TIME FRAME, AS WE GET CLOSER THROUGHOUT THE BUDGETING PROCESS, AND WE'RE FINE TUNING SOME OF THOSE ASSUMPTIONS.
WE REALIZE THE ESTIMATES THAT WE HAVE INITIALLY ARE BEING FINE TUNED.
SO THAT'S BRINGING DOWN SOME OF THOSE, BRINGING DOWN THAT BUDGET ASSUMPTION.
IN ADDITION, WE ARE STARTING OUR WHERE WE START OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PLANNING PROCESS IN THE FALL, AND IT'S CONTINUING ON EVEN NOW AS WE SPEAK, AS WE'RE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH THAT PROCESS.
WHEN WE BEGAN THE BUDGETING PROCESS IN THE FALL, WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED TO EXPAND THE COVERAGE FOR NURSES, AS WELL AS SECURITY FOR OUR SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. AS WE GOT THROUGH THE PLANNING FURTHER INTO THE PLANNING PROCESS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, THE ESTIMATE TO HAVE THAT EXPANDED COVERAGE WAS HIGHER THAN IT NEEDED TO BE.
SO THERE WERE SOME SAVINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GAIN THERE AS WELL.
AND THEN FINALLY, RELATING TO BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS.
WE HAVE AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL EMPLOYEES AS THEY LEAVE THE DISTRICT.
WE PAY OUT THEIR ACCRUED LEAVE WHEN THEY UPON DEPARTURE.
THAT'S A VERY DIFFICULT ITEM TO ESTIMATE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, WE DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHO'S GOING TO LEAVE AND HOW MUCH LEAVE IS GOING TO BE PAID OUT WHEN THEY DO DECIDE TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT. SO WE LOOKED AT OUR HISTORICAL AVERAGES OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, BUT THERE WAS A HUGE INCREASE IN OUR LEAVE PAYOUT IN 23 THAT KIND OF REALLY SKEWED THE AVERAGE.
[01:20:05]
SO IN ORDER TO SMOOTH THAT OUT CONSIDERING THAT ONE YEAR JUMP THAT HAS RESULTED IN A LOWER ESTIMATE FOR OUR TERMINAL LEAVE FOR 2026.WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR DURING THE BUDGETING PROCESS FROM THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT PERCENTAGE CONTRIBUTION THAT WILL BE REQUIRED FROM FROM STATE EMPLOYERS. SO FOR PCBS, OBVIOUSLY OUR BUDGETING PROCESS STARTS IN THE FALL.
SO WE MAKE AN ASSUMPTION ABOUT WHAT THAT CONTRIBUTION RATE WILL NEED TO BE WELL.
WHEN IT WAS RELEASED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE RATE WAS LOWER THAN WHAT WE ASSUMED, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS GO IN THAT DIRECTION. SO THAT RESULTED IN A $7 MILLION SAVINGS THERE. SO THOSE TWO ITEMS ALONE IS, YOU KNOW, HELPING TO CLOSE THE GAP TREMENDOUSLY.
AND THEN THE NEXT ITEM IS REALLY RELATING TO REALLY THE NEXT TWO ITEMS RELATES TO JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR WHAT WE REFER TO AS OUR DISCRETIONARY SPEND, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY YOUR NON PERSONNEL SERVICES COSTS.
SO WE'VE MADE SOME REVISED ASSUMPTIONS AROUND SOME OF OUR CONTRACTS AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR OTHER COST SAVINGS, OTHER LINE ITEMS AS WELL. SO OVERALL THAT IS RESULTING IN A SAVINGS OF ABOUT $2.3 MILLION.
WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF REFINING OUR GRANT ASSUMPTIONS.
IT'S STILL VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS. GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BEGIN TO ROLL OUT.
WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THAT FUNDING WILL LOOK LIKE.
FINALIZING OUR STAFFING ASSUMPTIONS. WE'RE STILL IN ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THREE OF OUR LABOR UNIONS, SO WE'LL CERTAINLY BE FINALIZING THAT OVER THE UPCOMING MONTHS.
BUT THE NEXT THREE ITEMS ARE REALLY OUTSIDE OF THE CONTROL OF CPS.
WE'VE GOT WHATEVER LEGISLATIVE OUTCOMES MAY COME FROM THIS CURRENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS.
THE COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET APPROVAL PROCESS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, ANY OF THOSE THREE ITEMS WILL CERTAINLY HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT TO OUR REVENUE.
MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY AND DELIVER A BALANCED BUDGET.
AND THEN FINALLY, JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A VISUAL OVERVIEW OF OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT IN THREE BROAD CATEGORIES.
THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 67% OF OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
WE THEN HAVE OUR SCHOOL BASED COSTS THAT'S MANAGED CENTRALLY.
AND THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT 20% OF THE BUDGET. AND SO EVEN THOUGH THOSE COSTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE MANAGED WITHIN CENTRAL OFFICE FUNCTIONS AND COST CENTERS, IT'S DIRECTLY SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS. THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE NURSES, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS, TEXTBOOKS, TRANSPORTATION, MAINTAINING OUR BUILDINGS, ALL THE DIFFERENT TOUCH POINTS THAT YOU WOULD IMAGINE RELATING TO SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS AND SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOLS. SO COMBINED, THAT REPRESENTS 87% OF OUR UNRESTRICTED BUDGET.
AND THEN WE'VE GOT 13%, WHICH IS CENTRAL OFFICE SERVICES.
SO AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP, CLOSE OUR BUDGET GAP, WE'RE BEING VERY TARGETED IN OUR FOCUS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT JUST MAKING BLANKET ADJUSTMENTS ACROSS ALL CENTRAL OFFICE COST CENTERS, BECAUSE THAT WILL HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON SCHOOLS.
SO WE ARE BEING VERY TARGETED AND FOCUSED IN OUR EFFORTS.
SO SPOKE VERY QUICKLY. I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON TIME.
THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU.
APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE, FOR YOUR REPORT.
DOES THAT CONCLUDE YOUR REPORT? IT DOES. OKAY.
THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBERS, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? SO I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT IS THAT DOCTOR MOSS? YUP. DOCTOR MOSS, YOU RECOGNIZED. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER AND AND WORKING THROUGH OUR ONCE WHAT WAS ONCE $37 MILLION DEFICIT.
AND WHAT I BELIEVE WOULD BE COST SAVINGS IN TERMS OF AMENDMENTS.
[01:25:03]
I KNOW YOU HEARD A LOT ABOUT AMENDMENTS TODAY AND THAT THIS BOARD ONLY PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE BUDGET.WELL, WE ACTUALLY PROPOSED ALMOST 3 MILLION IN CUTS TO THE BUDGET.
THERE WERE TWO THAT I PROPOSED, ONE THAT WOULD MERGE TWO OFFICES TOGETHER TO DO THAT WORK.
I BELIEVE THE ADMINISTRATION IS STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THAT.
AND SO GIVEN THAT UNDERSTANDING AND THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF THE LEADERSHIP OF OF MISS HOWELL AND HER TEAM, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE NECESSARY.
BUT I WANT TO SAY TO THE PUBLIC, AGAIN, YOU CAN CHECK THE TRACKER.
WE HAD OVER $3 MILLION IN CUTS TO THIS BUDGET.
THIS TEAM WENT FORWARD AND MADE THOSE CUTS WITHOUT WITHOUT US.
SO I WANT TO PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS PROCESS. WE'VE CONSISTENTLY ASKED OF YOU TO DO MORE, AND YOU'VE CONSISTENTLY DONE MORE. AND THAT'S REFLECTED IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK AND GIVING THAT UNDERSTANDING. MR. CHAIRMAN, I WITHDRAW BOTH OF MY AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD REFLECT OVER $1.3 MILLION IN CUTS TO THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR JACKSON. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE KEY PRIORITIES THAT THE COMMUNITY DID STATE.
OF COURSE, HIRING MORE TEACHERS, SMALLER CLASSROOM SIZES, HIRING MORE EDUCATION SUPPORT STAFF, MAINTENANCE SITES, SITE IMPROVEMENTS, EXPAND, IMPROVED CURRICULUM, SCHOOL SAFETY UPGRADE TECHNOLOGY, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, SPECIAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING, AND COVID RELATED ON SITE SAFETY. SO OF COURSE, WHEN BALANCING THE BUDGET, I KNOW YOU'VE BALANCED IT A MILLION TIMES.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER BROWN.
AND SO FOR THAT, ALL OF MY AMENDMENTS WERE REALLY CUTS.
AND WITH THAT, I DID HAVE ONE THAT WAS TO REDUCE THE DISCRETIONARY CENTRALLY BY 10%.
WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SOME LEGISLATION THAT COMES DOWN.
I'M GOING TO RESCIND THAT. I THINK IT'S CALLED WITHDRAWAL.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT AS WELL.
AND THAT WAS THE AMENDMENT ABOUT THE 10% DISCRETIONARY. SO THANKS.
AND THE OTHER THING, WHILE I DO HAVE TIME THAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS THAT I THINK THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU HELP TO EDUCATE US SO THAT WE CAN ADVOCATE AND ACT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. SO I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
I KNOW I'M NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST PERSON TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND I DO ASK A LOT.
AND YOU REALLY DID THAT. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. BOARD MEMBER WALKER. SO I DID WANT TO COMMENT BRIEFLY.
I THINK THAT THIS SHOWS THE NEW LIFE AND THE NEW ENERGY AND DIRECTION THAT THIS BOARD HAS.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK ACROSS WITH SUPERINTENDENT HOUSE AND HIS TEAM AND TALK THROUGH OUR BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND TALK THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHAT AREAS HAVE THEY FOCUSED ON THIS YEAR? AND I THINK IT'S REFLECTIVE IN US REMOVING BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND WORKING THROUGH OUR PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DUPLICATE WORK AND SUPPORTING THEM IN AREAS THAT THEY NEED SUPPORT IN AS WELL. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AND THANK YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF FOR WORKING WITH US DURING THIS BUDGET SEASON.
SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, ALL POSTPONED AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. I WILL SAY. I'M SORRY. OH, I SEE WE DIDN'T.
[01:30:03]
DID YOU ALREADY HIT THAT ONE? NO. SO THE OIC HASN'T BEEN WITHDRAWN? WELL, I DON'T I DIDN'T HEAR BOARD MEMBER PAMELA AND I DIDN'T, BUT I CAN TALK ON MINE NOW.I HAD. SURE. ABSOLUTELY. CHAIR RECOGNIZES BOARD MEMBER.
WALKER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING ME. I HAD AN AMENDMENT IN THAT.
THERE IS A REQUEST FROM OUR OFFICE OF INTEGRITY AND COMPLIANCE.
I THINK IT WAS $204,000. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS 204, 240,000 $204,000, AND I WE ASKED LEGAL IF THAT WAS LEGAL TO ACTUALLY WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS POSTPONE THAT FOR THIS YEAR AND LOOK AT IT POTENTIALLY NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIT THAT WE DID HAVE AND THE GUIDANCE THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM OUR LEGAL COUNSEL.
I'M GOING TO JUST SAY IT IN OPEN WORDS. IT'S NOT EXACTLY HOW HE SAID IT, BUT SUMMARIZE WAS THAT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME WITH THE LAW, WE HAVE AN OPEN CHECKBOOK TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT TO THE OIC, WHATEVER STAFFING THEY FEEL IS NECESSARY.
AND WHILE I DON'T AGREE. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THE LAW.
SO THAT ONE THERE IT WILL BE WITHDRAWN BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S LEGAL AND HAS TO BE ACCEPTED FOR THAT.
SO THANK YOU. YES. APOLOGIES FOR THE OVERSIGHT.
I DIDN'T I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE. RECOGNIZE BOARD MEMBER STRUTHERS? YEAH. THANK. THANK YOU SO MUCH. LINE 22, A FOR THE SAME REASONS OUTLINED BY BOARD MEMBER WALKER AND THE LEGALITY THAT AMENDMENT IS WITHDRAWN BY ME, THE MAKER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER STRUTHERS.
SPREAD OUT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. AND I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND START THE PROCESS AND TALK THROUGH WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE AS A COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT BUDGET AMENDMENT HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AS WELL, BUT WE'LL STILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK. THANK YOU.
[15. Consent Agenda]
THANK YOU. BOARD. BOARD. CHAIR. ITEMS 15.1, AS YOU INDICATED THROUGH 15.12 DO REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL.EACH PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING DIFFERENT THINGS 15.1 FOR READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY.
15.2 FOR NATIONAL WORLD LANGUAGES WEEK. 15.3 FOR WOMEN'S CONSTRUCTION WEEK.
15.4 FOR THE OBSERVATION OF PI DAY. 15.5 FOR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY HISTORY DAY.
15.6 FOR TUSKEGEE AIRMAN COMMEMORATION DAY. 15.7 FOR THE OBSERVATION OF ART IN OUR SCHOOLS.
MONTH 15.8 FOR IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
15.9 FOR NATIONAL WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH 15.10.
MULTIYEAR CONTRACT FOR E-RATE PROVIDING MANAGED INTERNET ACCESS SERVICES 15.11.
FISCAL YEAR 2025. FINANCIAL REVIEW AND ALL CATEGORICAL CHANGES IN 15.12 ADOPTION OF THE FY 26 BOARD OF EDUCATION REQUESTED OPERATING BUDGET. THANK YOU. SUPERINTENDENT.
HOUSE BOARD MEMBERS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO PULL ANY OF THE ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION UNDER GENERAL ORDERS? PULLING AN ITEM DOES NOT DENOTE A NO. IT INDICATES A DESIRE TO DISCUSS FURTHER.
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 15.1 THROUGH 15.12 WILL BE ADOPTED.
[16. Unfinished Business]
THERE IS NO UNFINISHED BUSINESS. MOVING ON TO GENERAL ORDER 17.1.[17. General Order]
THERE'S NONE. AND THEN MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.[18. New Business]
IS THERE ANY NEW BUSINESS? I SEE FOUR MEMBERS.ZAKIA GOINS, MCKENZIE. FOLLOWED BY BOARD MEMBER LOLITA WALKER. THANK YOU. CHAIR JACKSON. I MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION ONE 2520 4-07 BY STRIKING MARCH 27TH, 2025 AND APRIL 24TH, 2025.
[01:35:14]
SECOND, I QUIT THE SECOND. COULD YOU READ THAT MOTION AGAIN? AGAIN? THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU READ THAT MOTION? DID YOU CAPTURE THAT MOTION IN ITS TOTALITY? CAN YOU CAN YOU REPEAT THAT MOTION? I MOVED TO AMEND RESOLUTION ONE 2520 4-07 BY STRIKING MARCH 27TH, 2025 AND APRIL 24TH, 2025. OKAY.IS THERE THERE IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHTY.
MISS LOPEZ, CAN WE TAKE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON THAT MOTION.
DOCTOR. WONDERFUL. HI, MISS STRUTHERS. HI, MR. BRIGGS. HI, MRS. BROWN. I MISS GWEN MCKENZIE.
I MR. YOU KNOW,. HI, DOCTOR. MOSS. HI, MISS WALKER.
HI, MR.. JACKSON. HI. THIRD NIGHT IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
THEY'RE NOT IN AFFIRMATIVE. THE MOTION IS ADOPTED.
YEP. SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT MEANS THAT OUR NEXT MEETING WILL BE AT THE SASSER BUILDING.
SO PLEASE DON'T SHOW UP TO THE WAYNE CURRY BUILDING.
ALL RIGHT. BOARD MEMBER WALKER, DID YOU KNOW THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY MOTION? THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHTY. THAT'S IT.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WHAT WAS THAT THERE? OH, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T SEE YOUR HAND.
SORRY. I GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO EXCITED.
OKAY. THANK YOU. BOARD CHAIR. MY REQUEST IS FAIRLY SIMPLE.
I MOVED AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, REQUEST THE SUPERINTENDENT'S TEAM TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH ANALYSIS ON THE DISTRICT SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY EVALUATING THE PROBABILITY OF THE THE CURRENT DETECTION SYSTEMS, IDENTIFYING PROHIBITED ITEMS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS, OR HAVE A MEETING WITH ME AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.
OH, YEAH. SO THE QUESTION WOULD BE WHY? ALL RIGHT. BUT THAT'S THAT WAS A IT'S A MOTION. YOU KNOW THE QUESTION THE QUESTION IS CAN YOU REPEAT YOUR MOTION? OH I WAS MY MOTION IS TO REQUEST THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS TEAM TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH ANALYSIS ON THE DISTRICT'S SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY EVALUATING THE PROBABILITY OF CURRENT DETECTION SYSTEMS, IDENTIFYING PROHIBITED ITEMS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS EITHER IN A PRIVATE MEETING WITH ME OR AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. THANK YOU. AND WHEN YOU PASS THAT DOWN TO ME IN WRITING.
BUT YEAH. GO AHEAD, DOCTOR MOSS. I'M CURIOUS.
I APPRECIATE THIS THIS MOTION, I WOULD ASK IF YOU.
I WONDERED IF YOU MIGHT ACCEPT A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT.
I WOULD NOT WANT TO RELEASE ANY NOTIONS OF OUR SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC.
SO WILL YOU ONLY TAKE THIS MEETING AND IN PRIVACY? YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. I CAN AMEND TO THAT.
I APPRECIATE YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME SEE IF WE CAN PASS THIS WITHOUT OBJECTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I GOT TO GET OUR PARLIAMENTARIAN.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON IT.
WHAT'S THE GAP WE'RE SOLVING? IS IT THAT WE WANT MORE? OR WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO? YES. IT IS TO TRULY SEE HOW EFFECTIVE THEY ARE.
[01:40:04]
SO IF THEY WORK. I RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS MAINLY FROM STUDENTS, SOME FROM PARENTS.BASICALLY NOT BELIEVING THAT THE SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS ARE AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
SO THAT'S WHY MY MOTION, OKAY, THAT THEY'RE GETTING THROUGH THINGS MIGHT BE GETTING THROUGH.
GOT IT. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION IS THE.
BOARD OF EDUCATION REQUESTS THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT TEAM CONDUCT A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRICT'S SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS, SPECIFICALLY EVALUATING THE PROBABILITY OF CURRENT DETECTION SYSTEMS, IDENTIFYING WEAPONS AND OTHER PROHIBITED ITEMS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
THERE IS NO OBJECTION. THERE IS NO OBJECTION.
OBJECTION. MR. CHAIR, MAY I REPEAT THAT? JUST TO CAPTURE ON THE MIC.
I JUST RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR MIC WAS NOT ON. OH.
OH. THE MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS,
THE TIME IS NOW 852, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. GOOD. GOOD NIGHT,
GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.