Oct 22, 2026 Board Business Meeting - 5:30 P.M.

[00:00:06]

GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. THE TIME IS NOW. 532 OR 533. MISS JOHNSON, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

DOCTOR. ANDREW, PRESENT. MISS STROTHER. PRESENT. MRS. BROWN HERE. MISS GOINS. MCCANTS. MRS. JACKSON. SAUNDERS. MR. MOSLEY. PRESENT. DOCTOR. MOSS. PRESENT. MRS. OLIVO, PRESENT. AND MR. JACKSON. HERE. THERE ARE SEVEN PRESENTS. THANK YOU. ALL PRESENT. THIS MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 22ND, 2026, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING. I AM BRANDON JACKSON, CHAIRMAN. THIS MEETING WILL NOW BE CLOSED TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING MATTERS AS PERMITTED UNDER GENERAL PROVISIONS ARTICLE 3-305B12357, EIGHT, 12, 13 AND 14 OF THE MARYLAND OPEN MEETINGS ACT. WE WILL DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT. DISCUSSING THESE ONGOING MATTERS PUBLICLY COULD COMPROMISE THE INVESTIGATIONS OR EXPOSE THE ORGANIZATION TO SECURITY OR LEGAL RISK. APPEALS NPIA PERSONNEL MATTERS. LEGAL RISKS. DISCUSSING THESE ONGOING MATTERS PUBLICLY COULD COMPROMISE INVESTIGATIONS OR EXPOSE THE ORGANIZATION TO SECURITY OR LEGAL RISK. BOARD CHAIR REPORT ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS AND BUS LOT. MODERNIZATION. FOCUSED WORK GROUP. BOARD OF EDUCATION. OFFICE. LEADERSHIP CHANGES. PUBLICLY DISCLOSING APPLICANTS. PERSONNEL INFORMATION. PERSONAL INFORMATION WOULD VIOLATE EMPLOYEES PRIVACY AND HR REGULATIONS. PUBLICLY DISCLOSING INFORMATION BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED COULD COMPROMISE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE, RECRUITMENT PROCESS, DISTRICT OPERATIONS, PGC SUPERINTENDENTS REPORT. THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN DISCUSSING ONGOING MATTERS PUBLICLY COULD COMPROMISE THE DISTRICT'S LEGAL OR NEGOTIATING POSITION. PERSONNEL MATTERS APPOINTMENTS, STAFFING, SUPERINTENDENT APPOINTMENTS, EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS, ACTING, ASSIGNMENT TRANSFERS, NEW HIRES AND SEPARATION REPORT PUBLIC DISCLOSING APPLICANTS PERSONNEL PERSONAL INFORMATION WOULD VIOLATE EMPLOYEE PRIVACY AND HR REGULATIONS. CHARTER SCHOOL CONTRACT UPDATES, PUBLICLY DISCLOSING INFORMATION BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED COULD COMPROMISE DISTRICT OPERATIONS. TRANSPORTATION UPDATES PUBLICLY DISCLOSING INFORMATION BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED COULD COMPROMISE THE DISTRICT'S OPERATION. THIS STATEMENT IS READ BY BRANDON JACKSON, CHAIRMAN. THE QUESTION IS, SHALL THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CLOSE THE OCTOBER 22ND BOARD MEETING? ANY DISCUSSION? MISS JOHNSON, PLEASE TAKE THE ROLE, DOCTOR. I MISS BOOZER STROTHER. I MRS. BROWN. I MISS GOINS MCCANTS.

MISSUS. JACKSON. SAUNDERS, I MR. MOSLEY. I DOCTOR. MOSS. I MRS. OLIVO I. AND MR. JACKSON I.

THERE ARE EIGHT. THERE ARE EIGHT IN AFFIRMATIVE. THE MOTION TO CLOSE. OCTOBER 22ND.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING IS ADOPTED. BOARD MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE A SHORT RECESS AND PROCEED TO THE EXECUTIVE ROOM FOR THE CLOSED SESSION. PLEASE PAUSE THE

[ 7. Call to Order]

TELEFONICA SIMULTANEA DISPONIBLE PARA LAS PERSONAS. DESEAN ESCUCHAR LA REUNION DE LA JUNTA EN ESPANOL SI DESEA ESCUCHAR LA REUNION EN ESPANOL. EL CINCO ZERO EIGHT 920. CUATRO CINCO CINCO CINCO. FOR ANYONE UNABLE TO JOIN US LIVE, THIS MEETING WILL BE RECORDED AND AVAILABLE FOR LATER VIEWING ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL. LASTLY, FOR RECORDING

[00:05:04]

PRESENT. MISSUS. JACKSON. SAUNDERS. PRESENT. MR. MOSLEY, PRESENT. DOCTOR MOSS, PRESENT.

MISSUS OLIVER. PRESENT. AND MR. JACKSON. HERE THERE ARE NINE PRESENT. THANK YOU. A QUORUM IS

[9.Adoption of Agenda ]

THERE BEING NO OBJECTION TO. OCTOBER 22ND, 2026 MEETING IS ADOPTED. ADOPTED? EXCUSE ME. OR

[10. Approval of Minutes ]

[11.NewsBreak]

WE SHOW CLOSE FAMILY TIES, COLLABORATION, ADAPTATION, AND ADVOCACY FOR OUR MULTILINGUAL LEARNERS. I WAS THERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. NOW I'M HERE IN USA. I'M TRYING MY BEST TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY, TO SHARE MY PASSION, TO SHARE MY VALUES THAT I'VE GOT FROM THERE, AND INFLUENCE THE STUDENTS THAT I HAVE TO MAKE THEM A BETTER CITIZEN OF USA. FOR MANY FILIPINO AMERICAN EDUCATORS, TEACHING IS MORE THAN A CAREER. IT IS A MISSION ROOTED IN CARE, STRONG COMMUNITY VALUES, AND A BELIEF IN EVERY CHILD'S POTENTIAL. I WOULD LOVE MY STUDENTS TO REALIZE THAT THEIR LANGUAGE AND CULTURES ARE THEIR STRENGTHS. I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT THEY HAVE TO BE PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHEREVER THEY ARE FROM. AND I'M SO PROUD THAT WE ARE SERVING AS TEACHERS HERE IN A FOREIGN LAND. AND I CARRIED WITH ME. ALL THESE QUALITIES ARE FILIPINO TEACHER, BUT I AM SO THRILLED THAT I AM A PRINCIPAL IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, WHERE THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES THAT ARE ALSO ASIAN AMERICANS.

AND I'M HERE AS TO SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE, AS A MODEL, BUT ALSO AS A MENTOR THROUGH PASSION, CONNECTION, AND DEDICATED SERVICE. FILIPINO AMERICAN EDUCATORS IN PGCS

[00:10:02]

WE CONGRATULATE YOU AS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS PGCS PRINCIPAL REEVES AND THE ENTIRE SUITLAND HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY ON THIS INCREDIBLE ACCOMPLISHMENT. AT THIS TIME, I INVITE MISS WILLIAMS AND I BELIEVE PRINCIPAL REEVES IS HERE. IS DOCTOR REEVES HERE WITH US? OKAY? SHE'S NOT HERE YET. MAYBE SHE'LL JOIN US, BUT WE ASK MISS WILLIAMS TO JOIN US AT THE DAIS FOR A COMMEMORATIVE PHOTOGRAPH WITH BOARD MEMBERS. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US HOW MUSIC CHANGES LIVES.

HER. FAMILY. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND JOIN FOR THIS PHOTO AS WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME.

[00:15:19]

[12.Report of the Chair]

GOOD EVENING. BOARD VICE CHAIR MOSS AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF ATTENDING THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. THE CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER EDUCATIONAL LEADERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, BOARD MEMBERS AND EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS COMMITTED TO ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND IMPROVING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR BLACK STUDENTS. THIS CONFERENCE PROVIDED A FORUM FOR PROFESSIONAL LEARNING, COLLABORATION AND THE EXCHANGE OF EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES AND ADDRESS PERSISTENT EDUCATIONAL DISPARITIES. ALSO, BOARD MEMBER AND BOWSER STROTHERS, OLIVO, MOSS, GOINS MCCANTS, JACKSON SAUNDERS AND STUDENT MEMBER MOSLEY AND DOCTOR JOSEPH JOINED ME AT THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 19TH AND OCTOBER 20TH. THIS CONFERENCE PROVIDED A PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS, SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, AND EDUCATIONAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS MARYLAND. THE CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON THE CURRENT ISSUE AFFECTING PUBLIC EDUCATION, EFFECTIVE SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP, AND THE RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA IS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23RD AT THE MGM GRAND BEGINNING AT 6 P.M. THE HALL OF FAME GALA IS A DISTINGUISHED ANNUAL EVENT THAT CELEBRATES EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT, LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE. THE GALA RECOGNIZES THE ACCOMPLISHED PGC ALUMS WHOSE CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE MADE MEANINGFUL IMPACTS IN EDUCATION. NOW, ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE, MOVING TO A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AS WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE FALLEN PGCC STAFF, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. DONNA BRISCO, SECURITY ASSISTANT AT SURRATTSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. ALBERT BARNES, TEACHER AT BENJAMIN STODDERT MIDDLE SCHOOL.

GEORGE ROBERTS, I.T. TECHNICIAN. FAITH JONES, FORMER PRESIDENT OF A C E LOCAL, 2250 LOCAL 2250.

THANK YOU. THE BOARD INFORMS THE PUBLIC OF THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING MEETINGS. PLEASE TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN FOR THE LIST OF MEETINGS. THE NEXT BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL BE HELD THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2026 AT THE SASS EXCUSE ME ADMINISTRATION BUILDING BEGINNING AT THE BEGINNING. CLOSED SESSION AT 530. PLEASE CONTINUE TO CHECK THE BOARD WEB PAGE FOR UPDATES AND MORE INFORMATION. NOW MOVING TO

[13. Public Comment ]

[00:20:03]

WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS BEING PROPERLY DONE. IF THERE ARE BOUNDARY CHANGES OR ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES ENROLLMENT WITH THE NEIGHBORING SCHOOLS, THAT THERE ARE STUDIES, PLANNINGS OR HEARINGS, OR ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION BEING SHARED TO THE SCHOOL IN LARGO, GREATER COMMUNITY, OR ANY COMMUNITY TO THAT MATTER. AND THE SECOND ISSUE THAT WE HAD WAS WITH THE SPACE AT LARGO HIGH SCHOOL. CURRENTLY, WE HAVE TWO SCHOOLS IN THE BUILDING INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AT LARGO AND LARGO HIGH SCHOOL. STATE RATED CAPACITY, I BELIEVE, FOR LARGO IS 1359 FOR THE. I THINK PARK AND PLANNING. WE CURRENTLY ARE ALMOST AT 1200 STUDENTS AT LARGO HIGH SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IS AT 385, WHICH PUTS US AT ABOUT 115% CAPACITY. WE JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY PLAN AS FAR AS WHAT WOULD BE DONE TO ALLEVIATE THE OVERCROWDING AT LARGO HIGH SCHOOL 2015 2016 SCHOOL YEAR, WE WERE AT 694 STUDENTS, A LITTLE LESS THAN HALF CAPACITY THAN INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AT LARGO WAS BROUGHT TO OUR SCHOOL. BECAUSE OF THAT, OUR PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL HAS STATED THAT IF OUR ENROLLMENT HAD INCREASED TO 1000, THAT THEY WOULD FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR THE OTHER SCHOOL TO TO MOVE TO. WE'RE UP 70% SINCE 2016, MAINLY DUE TO A LOT OF THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN OUR SCHOOL BY THE BOARD AND BY THE COUNTY.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT. WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS WE HAVE IN OUR BUILDING CAN CONTINUE. WE HAVE A BIOSCIENCE PROGRAM THAT SHOULD HAVE A LAB AND A CLASSROOM. THEY'RE DOING BOTH IN THE SAME SPACE, WHICH IS KIND OF CONTRARY TO WHAT THE PROGRAM IS FOR. HOPEFULLY, WE'RE ABLE TO MEET WITH SOMEONE IN THE ON THE BOARD OR IN THE COUNTY REGARDING THESE POPULATION AND SPACE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE AT LARGO. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, FOR HEARING US, HEARING ME OUT, AND TO SPEAK ON THESE ENROLLMENT ISSUES. THE SCHOOL BOARD FEELS DIFFERENT NOW. WE'RE GETTING RESPONSES WHEN WE NEED TO. PREVIOUSLY, I CAN'T SAY THAT INVOLVE IN LARGO HIGH SCHOOL, WE KIND OF FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN OVERLOOKED. WE JUST WANT CONSISTENCY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S OPINION IS HEARD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, COACH WARD. STEPHANIE POWELL.

FOLLOWED BY NICOLE HALL, JEWEL SMITH, GOOD NIGHT. AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT. THE PRICE OF FAILURE IS HIGHER THAN THE PRICE OF SUCCESS. SO PREVENTING A MISTAKE IS ALWAYS IS ALWAYS CHEAPER THAN FIXING ONE. MY JAMAICAN GRANDMOTHER WOULD OFTEN SHARE THIS OLD PROVERB, PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH. WHEN WE INVEST EARLY IN QUALITY PLANNING AND DOING THINGS RIGHT AND EFFICIENTLY THE FIRST TIME AROUND, YOU CAN AVOID THE MASSIVE DEBACLE AND THE DIRE COST OF CLEANING UP THE DISASTER LATER. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I WILL SPEAK TO YOU JUST A FEW MOMENTS ON A FEW POINTS AND CONCERNS IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER. FUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, SCHOOL SAFETY, MILDEW AND MOLDY BUILDING TRANSPORTATION, OVERWORK. EDUCATOR. EXTREMELY LARGE CLASS SIZES. WE JUST HEARD THAT. AND THE NEED TO ENGAGE, COLLABORATE AND LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WHO ARE IN THE TRENCHES, TRENCHES DAILY. SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THERE WERE POSITIONS FOR READING RECOVERY EDUCATORS TO BE IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS, BUILDING TO SUPPORT OUR OVERWORKED CLASSROOM EDUCATORS, WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS STRUGGLING READERS. IT WAS NOTED THAT BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY ISSUES, YES, FUNDING THESE POSITIONS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.

REMEMBER I STATED OUT, I STARTED OUT EARLIER WITH THE FACT THAT FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE AND SUCCESS IS CHEAPER. FAST FORWARD TO 2026. IN A RECENT REPORT, OUR READING SCORES HAVE

[00:25:06]

LOOKS LIKE A. IT LOOKED LIKE A CASTLE AND HAD A STUDENT TEACHER RATIO OF 11 TO 1. WHAT WAS FASCINATING ABOUT THIS SCHOOL IS THAT IT BOASTS A MATH SCORE OF ALMOST 82%, PROFICIENT IN READING SCORE OF AROUND 9,092%, 92%, 92% PROFICIENT. NOW CAME BACK TO PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND WE HAVE WONDERFUL SCHOOLS. WE HAVE WONDERFUL EDUCATORS. WE HAVE WONDERFUL ADMINISTRATOR, HOWEVER, VISITED THAT SCHOOL AND OUTSIDE LOOKS LOOKED GREAT, BUT THE INSIDE WAS GLOOMY. IT WAS DULL. THAT'S AN EASY FIX. HOW CAN WE EXPECT THAT EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS ARE GOING TO THRIVE IN THIS BUILDING? I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE SCHOOL OUT, BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO COME AND TALK TO THE PERSON WHO IS OVER THAT, RIGHT? SO THAT YOU CAN GO IN AND ADDRESS THOSE TEACHERS. I PROMISE THOSE TEACHERS THAT I WAS GOING TO COME AND SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF. RIGHT. IT'S OVER THERE BY LANDOVER. ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S THE THING THAT I'M GOING TO I SAID THAT I WAS GOING TO DO THAT. ALL RIGHT. SO MY NEXT ISSUE IS TRANSPORTATION. I WAS HERE AND I'VE BEEN HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND I'VE LISTENED TO THE BUS DRIVERS, OUR DEDICATED BUS DRIVERS. I LISTENED TO OUR PARENTS AND THEY ARE TELLING YOU WHAT THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, LISTEN TO THEM, LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS, LISTEN TO YOUR EDUCATORS, LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS, LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY WORKERS AND ADVOCATES, AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE THE SOLUTION. JUST LISTEN.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NICOLE. GOOD EVENING, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, SUPERINTENDENT, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS NICOLE HALL, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT AS A PARENT WHO IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF CONSISTENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND STUDENT SAFETY WITHIN PGCC MY FAMILY, FOR MY FAMILY, THESE ISSUES ARE NOT STATISTICS.

THERE WAS AN ENTIRE WEEK WHERE MY SON'S MORNING BUS SIMPLY DID NOT SHOW UP TO TAKE HIM TO SCHOOL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, HIS AFTERNOON BUS DRIVER, UNFAMILIAR WITH THE ROUTE, TOOK MY SON AND SEVERAL OTHER STUDENTS BACK TO FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH RESULTED IN MY SON WALKING HOME. MY YOUNGER SON HAS ALSO HAD BUS ISSUES. NOT WHERE THEY DO NOT ARRIVE, HAVE BEEN 40 MINUTES LATE, OR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES EARLY. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, HE WAS DROPPED OFF BEFORE THE SCHOOL WAS OPEN AND BEFORE STAFF WAS THERE TO SUPERVISE HIM AND OTHER STUDENTS. HE WAS LEFT OUTSIDE IN THE DARK. THIS IS NOT A SCHEDULING PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY FAILURE. BUS TRANSPORTATION IS NOT THE ONLY PART OF WHAT MY FAMILY HAS EXPERIENCED. MY OLDEST SON WAS ALSO ASSAULTED WHILE ATTENDING GWYNN PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL LAST YEAR. THE ASSAULT WAS RECORDED AND REPEATEDLY SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA, EXTENDING THE HARM BEYOND THE INCIDENT ITSELF. THE SCHOOL DID NOT NOTIFY ME THAT MY CHILD HAD BEEN ASSAULTED AFTERWARDS. THE STUDENT INVOLVED CONTINUED TO BE IN THE SAME CLASSROOM WITH MY SON, EVEN AFTER A PROTECTIVE ORDER WAS GRANTED. DESPITE THE SERIOUSNESS, THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT OCCURRED, THE PRINCIPAL LATER WROTE A LETTER ON BEHALF OF THE STUDENT WHO ASSAULTED MY SON TO THE COURT. AND DESPITE THE SERIOUSNESS OF WHAT OCCURRED, I'M SORRY. FORGIVE ME AS A PARENT THAT RELATED, AS A PARENT THAT RAISED SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR ABOUT THE JUDGMENT, NEUTRALITY, AND WHETHER MY SON'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING WERE BEING TREATED AS SERIOUS AS THEY DESERVED. THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS. WHEN BUSSES DO NOT ARRIVE, WHEN DRIVERS DO NOT KNOW THEIR ROUTES, WHEN CHILDREN ARE LEFT UNSUPERVISED, WHEN PARENTS ARE NOT NOTIFIED, WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE ASSAULTED, AND WHEN SAFETIES ARE NOT FOLLOWED CONSISTENTLY, THERE IS A LARGER PROBLEM. THERE IS A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY. PARENTS ARE TOLD TO CALL TRANSPORTATION, CONTACT THE SCHOOL, SEND AN EMAIL, CHECK IN APP, SPEAK WITH AN ADMINISTRATOR, OR WAIT ON A RESPONSE. BUT WHEN EVERYONE IS RESPONSIBLE, SOMEHOW NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE. I'M ASKING THE BOARD TONIGHT WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN A BUS REPEATEDLY FAILS TO SHOW WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE. WHEN A CHILD IS LEFT UNSUPERVISED, WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN A PARENT IS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN ASSAULTED? WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THE ASSAULT IS RECORDED AND SHARED ONLINE? WHO?

[00:30:09]

THANK YOU. JILL SMITH. ANNETTE JONES. KENNETH NAVARRO. HI. GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD. MY NAME IS JULIE SMITH AND I AM A PROUD SCHOOL BUS MOM. TRUSTED. RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR THREE CHILDREN IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF THE COMPLEX PUZZLE THAT IS OUR FAMILY SCHEDULE.

WHEN OUR BUS DRIVERS CONSISTENTLY ARRIVE TO SAFELY TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL, THEY MAKE MORE POSSIBLE THAN THEY MAY REALIZE. THEIR RELIABILITY ALLOWS MY HUSBAND AND I TO HONOR OUR COMMITMENTS, SUPPORT OUR CHILDREN, AND CONTINUE OUR WORK HELPING COMMUNITIES IN NEED THROUGHOUT THE DMV. WHILE THIS PLATFORM OFTEN PROVIDES A SPACE TO SHARE COMPLAINTS AND CONCERNS, I WOULD LIKE TO USE TODAY TO PUBLICLY SAY THANK YOU.

I THINK YOU WANT TO TESTIFY TO. WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO DOCTOR FAWCETT, INTERIM TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, AND HIS TEAM OF DEDICATED ROOTERS, FOR LEADING THE RESTRUCTURING OF BUS ROUTES, SERVING THE COMBINED ROBERT GODDARD MONTESSORI SCHOOL AND DORA KENNEDY FRENCH IMMERSION CAMPUS. AFTER SEVERAL FRUSTRATING WEEKS EARLIER IN THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE PROSPECT OF ANOTHER CHANGE MADE ME UNDERSTANDABLY NERVOUS. DOCTOR FAWCETT ASSURED US THAT THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE MONITORING ROUTES AFTER THE CHANGES AND ADDRESS ISSUES TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, AND SINCE THEN, I HAVE SEEN THE ADJUSTMENTS AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE FOLLOWED. THE PROCESS IS WORKING AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THEIR FOLLOW THROUGH TO THE TEAM AT BUS LOT, MR. RUDDER, MISS BRISCOE, MISS STEWART ADAMS, THANK YOU FOR CONSISTENTLY RESPONDING TO OUR CONCERNS OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. YOUR WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN AND HELP HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE TO OUR FAMILY, TO OUR DRIVERS, MR. DARRELL AND MR. JOSEPH. THANK YOU. OUR CHILDREN KNOW YOU BY NAME AND OUR FAMILIES. CLOCKS ARE SET BY YOUR DEPENDABLE ON TIME ARRIVALS. THAT CONSISTENCY BRINGS PEACE OF MIND TO OUR MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS, TO THE SUBSTITUTE BUS DRIVERS WHO STEP IN DURING THEIR ABSENCE. PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOTICED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED TO DRIVING THE SPECIALTY SCHOOL ROUTE WITH AN ACTIVE AND AT TIMES VERY ANXIOUS PARENT GROUP TAKES A LEVEL OF PATIENCE THAT NO DRIVER TRAINING CAN PREPARE YOU FOR TO THE GODDARD, GREENBELT, MULLIKEN AND LAUREL BUS DRIVERS. THANK YOU FOR CONSISTENTLY SHOWING UP FOR THE G M, SDKI CO-LOCATION COMMUNITY. OUR SCHOOLS DATA SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 95% OF OUR SCHOOL BUSSES HAVE ARRIVED EARLY OR ON TIME. OVER THE PAST THREE AND A HALF WEEKS. EVERY SINGLE AFTERNOON, A PM BUS HAS ARRIVED TO BRING OUR CHILDREN HOME. BEHIND THOSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE PEOPLE WHO DAILY EFFORT DESERVE RECOGNITION. TO THE DISPATCH TEAM, THANK YOU FOR RISING EARLY TO ANSWER OUR CALLS AND WORKING LATE TO NAVIGATE CHALLENGES. FAMILIES MAY NOT ALWAYS SEE THE COORDINATION HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT WE BENEFIT FROM IT EVERY DAY TO THE BUS HELP EMAIL PERSONNEL. THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THE MANY, MANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS THAT PARENTS. IN YOUR WAY. EACH MESSAGE REPRESENTS A FAMILY SEEKING INFORMATION OR REASSURANCE, AND YOUR RESPONSIVENESS MATTERS. AND LASTLY, WHEN TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS ARRIVE, PARENTS ARE OFTEN QUICK TO SPEAK UP AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO. OUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL, BUT I ENCOURAGE PARENTS TO BE JUST AS INTENTIONAL ABOUT REACHING OUT WHEN THE STORM HAS PASSED AND THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED AND IMPROVEMENT IS EVIDENT, LET US REMEMBER TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANNETTE JONES, KENNETH NAVARRO AT EDWIN EWING. GOOD EVENING. THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING TEACHERS. ONE IS EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD AND THE MICROMANAGEMENT OF TEACHERS BY ADMINISTRATORS. YOU SEE, TEACHING IS ABOUT SHAPING MINDS AND PREPARING STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS. BUT EXCESSIVE DEMANDS, PAPERWORK, CONSTANT MONITORING TAKE TIME AWAY FROM INSTRUCTIONS. WE MUST ASK, ARE WE SUPPORTING TEACHERS OR OVERWHELMING THEM? ARE WE CREATING CONDITIONS FOR TEACHERS TO SUCCEED, OR ARE WE CREATING BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS? NOW TEACHERS ARE

[00:35:03]

JUST AS TEACHERS NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTIONS, LEADERSHIP SHOULD SHOW THEIR STAFF AND DIFFERENTIATE LEVELS OF DIRECTION. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE CONTROLLED TO BE EFFECTIVE.

WE NEED TO BE TRUSTED, SUPPORTED, RESPECTED AND EMPOWERED TO LEAD LEARNING. AND I THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. KENNETH NAVARRO AND EDWIN EWING, CASSANDRA DE LEON, GOOD EVENING, CHAIRMAN JACKSON, VICE CHAIRMAN MOSS AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS KENNETH NAVARRO, AND I AM A STUDENT IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE SECOND VICE PRESIDENT FOR THE PRINCE GEORGE'S REGIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND CURRENTLY ATTENDING DOCTOR ERNEST EVERETT JUST MIDDLE SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO OF. OF THE KEMP SCHMIDT REVITALIZATION PROJECT. KEMP SCHMIDT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH OUTDOOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, STUDENTS DEVELOP SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, TEAMWORK, AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD. MAINTAINING THIS CAMPUS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND IN THE FUTURE OF OUR STUDENTS.

PHASE ONE REPRESENTS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS MODERNIZING THE CAMPUS, INCLUDING NEW CABINS AND A NEW DINING HALL. HOWEVER, PHASE ONE ALONE WILL LEAVE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE CAMPUS OUTDATED WITHOUT HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING. WITHOUT FURTHER INVESTMENT, STUDENTS WILL CONTINUE TO USE FACILITIES WITH SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MODERNIZATION, COMFORT AND FUNCTIONALITY. THIS FUNDAMENTALLY, THIS IS FUNDAMENTALLY FUNDAMENTAL, FUNDAMENTALLY. SO I'M SORRY, FUN. FUNDAMENTALLY AN ISSUE OF EDUCATIONAL EQUITY. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES ACCESS TO A HIGH QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT CAMP SCHMIDT, REGARDLESS OF WHICH FACILITIES THEY USE. COMPLETING PHASE TWO WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM MODERN FACILITIES THAT SUPPORT THEIR LEARNING, HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE THROUGH PHASE ONE SHOULD BE THE BEGINNING OF A FULLY, FULLY REVITALIZED CAMPUS, NOT THE LIMIT OF WHAT WE ACHIEVE.

ACCESSIBILITY IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES MUST BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE FULLY ALONGSIDE THEIR PEERS. WHEN PHYSICAL BARRIERS PREVENT A STUDENT FROM ACCESSING ESSENTIAL FACILITIES, SUCH AS THE MAIN DINING HALL, THAT STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IS LIMITED. PHASE TWO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THESE

[00:40:07]

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I RESPECTFULLY URGE YOU TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR PHASE TWO OF THE CAMP SCHMIDT REVITALIZE REVITALIZATION PROJECT IN THE COMING YEARS.

COMPLETING THIS PROJECT WOULD BUILD ON THE PROGRESS OF PHASE ONE, ADVANCE EDUCATIONAL EQUITY, IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, AND HELP ENSURE THAT ALL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN A SAFE, FUNCTIONAL AND WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT. OUR STUDENTS DESERVE FACILITIES THAT REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR EDUCATION AND THE STANDARDS OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM STRIVES TO UPHOLD.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS OF PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. GOOD JOB, YOUNG MAN. EDWIN EWING. CASSANDRA DE LEON.

SARAH CAMPOS. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY. I BROUGHT MY LITTLE BUS HERE. THIS REPRESENTS ALL THE BUS DRIVERS, ALL MY SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO'S AFFECTED BY THESE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, INCLUDING MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. I PUT THE STOP SIGN OUT BECAUSE IT'S TIME TO MAKE A STOP AND FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT WE CAN IMPROVE.

QUICK QUESTION, EVERYBODY IN FRONT OF THIS WALL. IF YOU CAN DRIVE A SCHOOL BUS, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. OKAY, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN, BUT IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, Y'ALL COULD HELP PITCH IN AND COVER SOME OF THESE RUNS, GET THESE KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME, GET THEM THERE FOR BREAKFAST, AND GET THEM FROM OTHER ACTIVITIES. IT'S AN EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. HEAR IT ON THE RADIO. WE NEED THIS ROUTE COVERED. WE NEED THIS ROUTE COVERED. LAST YEAR. IN PREVIOUS YEARS, PEOPLE WOULD JUMP ON THEM TO HELP. NOW WE'RE BEING EXPECTED TO COVER ALL THESE RUNS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BENEFIT OTHER THAN GOOD JOB. OKAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS IN REGARDS TO TRANSPORTATION. SO THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SUPERVISORS AND THE STAFF FROM ABOVE, THE FOREMAN'S STANDPOINT. MY FOREMAN AND DOWN. EXCELLENT.

I'VE TRIED COMMUNICATING WITH MY SUPERVISORS ABOVE TO TRY TO PITCH IDEAS, MAYBE SUGGEST SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP. I SENT AN EMAIL ON SEPTEMBER 27TH AND NO RESPONSE. IF THE DRIVERS ARE FALLING ON DEAF EARS, THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS ARE ALL FALLING ON DEAF EARS TOO. WE NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE. I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE 10,000 KIDS IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO ROUTE THEM. DID WE ROUTE THEM? YES. CORRECTLY? NO. MY CHILD WAS ONE OF THEM. MY THREE YEAR OLD WAS ROUTED TO A BUS THAT DOESN'T EVEN COME ON MY SIDE OF MY TOWN. ACCORDING TO THE LOVELY CHIPMUNK, HE WAS PICKED UP AT 5:45 A.M. AND DROPPED OFF AT 9:30 A.M. AT HIS SCHOOL. HE'S THREE. HE WASN'T EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE ON THAT BUS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT SAFETY RESTRAINTS FOR HIS AGE. DID WE ROUTE HIM? YES.

IS IT CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY NOT. SO, DO I BELIEVE ALL THE KIDS WERE ROUTED? YES. WERE THEY RIGHT? NO. I KNOW FIRST HAND OF A PERSON INSIDE MY SHOP, IN MY OFFICE WHO'S TRAINED TO BE A ROUTER AND EVERYTHING. WE HIRED FOUR NEW ROUTERS. THEY TOOK ALL OF HIS STUFF AWAY FROM HIM. HE CAN'T ROUTE ANYMORE. WHY DO WE TRAIN HIM? PUT ALL THAT INVESTMENT. IT COULD BE A HELPFUL HAND. DO WE JUST THROW ALL OF OUR MONEY AWAY? IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE LOOK FOR ALL OF US PARKING AT THE BUS. LOTS. TERRIBLE. NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, PULL YOUR BUS OUT, PARK YOUR CAR THERE. HOPE YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR DOESN'T BACK INTO YOUR CAR. ALL RIGHT, WHAT ELSE ARE WE AT HERE? DRIVERS ARE WILLING TO DO THE WORK, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DOING IT FOR FREE. I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT, RIGHT? I LOOK AT IT THIS WAY. IT'S MY CDL. IF I WRECK THE BUS AND I'M GOING TO HAVE POTENTIAL CPS GATES AND OTHER RAMIFICATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO DIRECTLY AFFECT MY FAMILY, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT RISK WITHOUT BEING REWARDED FOR IT MONETARILY. I'VE ALREADY LOST HALF OF MY PAYCHECK BASED ON SIMPLE CUTS THAT WE'VE MADE. IN REGARDS TO THE PLUS END SYSTEM. I'VE OFFERED IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS, OTHER WAYS TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. DEAF EARS. I'D HATE TO SAY THAT I WILL FORWARD AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. I DO HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS. OBVIOUSLY TIME CONSTRAINTS TAKE CARE OF YOUR DRIVERS. THE EXTRA WORK THEY DO, PAY THEM FOR IT. OKAY. MY LAST THING TO SAY TO YOU GUYS, I'M GOING TO QUOTE ONE OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE I KNOW PERFECTION IS NOT ATTAINABLE. BUT IF WE CHASE PERFECTION, WE CAN CATCH EXCELLENCE. VINCE LOMBARDI EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO THAT IS. THE GREATEST FOOTBALL COACH EVER. WE ALL CAN WORK TOGETHER.

WE MIGHT NOT GET PERFECTION, BUT I BET YOU WE CAN CHASE AND ATTAIN EXCELLENCE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I APPRECIATE IT. SEE THAT? THANK YOU. CASSANDRA DE LEON, SARAH CAMPOS, ELIZABETH RAMIREZ.

[00:45:16]

JOSE CANALES. FORGIVE ME IF I PRONOUNCE THAT WRONG. GOOD EVENING. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. ESTUDIANTES DEL CONDADO DE PRINCE GEORGE, MARYLAND. MY NAME IS SARAH CAMPOS. I AM THE MOTHER OF TWO STUDENTS IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AND A VOLUNTEER WITH CHISPA, MARYLAND. ACTIVIDADES DE VOLUNTARIADO CON EL FIN DE AYUDA A MI COMUNIDAD Y SIEMPRE ESTAR CONSTANTEMENTE APRENDIENDO DE NUESTRO CONDADO. AS A MOTHER, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES TO HELP MY COMMUNITY AND TO CONTINUALLY LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND COUNTY. ATRAVIESAN MUCHAS FAMILIAS LATINAS ES EL ALTO NIVEL DE PARTE DE ASTHMA AND SUS HIJOS. IT IS OFTEN SAID THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING MANY LATINO FAMILIES IS THE HIGH RATE OF ASTHMA AMONG THEIR CHILDREN. ASTHMA. DE CONTAMINATION DEL AIRE. COMO PUEDO EVITAR PASAR POR SITUACIONES COMPROMETIDOS, ESPECIALMENTE CON LA SALUD DE MIS HIJOS PREFIERO EVITAR LOS.

PAGO CONTRA RESTAR. ESTE PROBLEMA ES FACIL SOLO TENEMOS LA ACCION DE COMO COMO LO PODEMOS HACER, POR FAVOR. RECOMENDACIONES EL GRUPO DE TRABAJO REALIZA. CONSIDERANDO LAS MAS COMUNES DE LA COMUNIDAD. FORTUNATELY, NEITHER OF MY CHILDREN SUFFER FROM ASTHMA, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT AIR POLLUTION. AS A MOTHER, WHENEVER I CAN AVOID SITUATIONS THAT COULD PUT MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH AT RISK, I PREFER TO DO SO. ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM IS POSSIBLE AND WE SIMPLY NEED TO TAKE ACTION TODAY. HOW CAN WE DO THAT? I ASK YOU TO PLEASE SUPPORT THE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED BY THE WORKING GROUP, WHICH TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONCERNS AND COMMON CHALLENGES FACING OUR COMMUNITY. THE RECOMMENDATIONS. PENSANDO EN EL COMUN DE LA COMUNIDAD DE PICO, ESPECIALMENTE DE NUESTROS ESTUDIANTES CU DIA A DIA DE DIÉSEL PARA LLEGAR A LA ESCUELA. THE WORKING GROUP FOCUSED ON IMPLEMENTING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS WHO USE DIESEL SCHOOL BUSSES EVERY DAY TO GET TO SCHOOL. POR SU TRABAJO COMO JUNTA DE EDUCACION COMO POR EL COMUN DE NUESTROS ESTUDIANTES

[00:50:02]

SARA CAMPOS, ELIZABETH RAMIREZ. JOSE CANALES. GOOD EVENING. GOOD. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS JOSUE CANALES. I'M 13 YEARS OLD. I LIVE IN UPPER MARLBORO AND I AM A STUDENT OF. I'M A. I AM A STUDENT AT JAMES MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL. I'M A VOLUNTEER WITH CHISPA, MARYLAND, AND I HAVE ATTENDED COMMUNITY EVENTS WITH MY MOTHER FOR MANY YEARS.

THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, I HAVE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF SPEAKING UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY, PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ADVOCATING FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE THROUGH CHISPA. I HAVE LEARNED THAT PRINCE GEORGE, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS 21 ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES TRANSPORTING 20. I MEAN TRANSPORTING STUDENTS. WHILE THIS IS. WOW, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR. WE MUST CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS TO ENSURE THAT MORE STUDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM CLEANER AIR WITH HEALTHIER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS. THIS IS. THIS IS. THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO ME. MY SIBLINGS AND I ALL HAVE ASTHMA, AND WE RELY ON SCHOOL BUSSES TO GET TO AND FROM SCHOOL. DIESEL POWERED BUSSES. SCHOOL BUSSES CONTRIBUTE TO AIR POLLUTION, WHICH CAN WORSEN RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS AND AFFECT STUDENTS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. FOR MY FAMILY. FOR MY FAMILY, ASTHMA IS NOT JUST A MEDICAL CONDITION. IT CAN ALSO AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN SCHOOL AND ENJOY OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO TRAVEL AND. TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER THE AIR THEY BREATHE WILL MAKE IT HARDER TO LEARN, PARTICIPATE IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, OR ENJOY LIFE. THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS DEVELOPED BY THE GROUP. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS REPRESENT AN IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY THROUGHOUT PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. PROTECT STUDENTS HEALTH AND BUILD HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES FOR EVERYONE. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, I RESPECTFULLY, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS. AS A LEADER OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MEANINGFUL ACTION THAT WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. I MAY I MAY BE ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, BUT I KNOW THAT OUR OUR VOICES MATTER, THAT THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TODAY CAN SHAPE OUR FUTURE. PLEASE HELP US MOVE TOWARDS CLEANER AIR HEALTH, HEALTHIER SCHOOL, AND STRONGER COMMITMENT TO ELECTRIC BUSSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB MAN. CYNTHIA ESCOBAR.

JOSEPH JAKUTA AND CHRISTELLA A AND CINDY. SO SORRY IF I MESSED THAT UP. THANK YOU. CAN I START? OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA ESCOBAR. I AM A SENIOR AT FAIRMONT HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL AND A MEMBER OF MARYLAND YOUNG ACADEMY. I ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS AND BUS LOT MOTORIZATION WORK GROUP. THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE, I LEARNED HOW TRANSITIONING TO DIESEL ELECTRIC. I'M SORRY. I LEARNED HOW TRANSITIONING FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES CAN REDUCE AIR POLLUTION AND PROTECT STUDENTS HEALTH. DIESEL EXHAUST CONTAINS HARMFUL POLLUTANTS THAT CAN IRRITATE OUR LUNGS, WORSEN ASTHMA, AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR STUDENTS TO BREATHE. EVERY STUDENT DESERVES TO TRAVEL TO SUPPORT AND SPEND THEIR DAY LEARNING IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT SUPPORTS THEIR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. I WAS PROUD TO SHARE MY IDEAS AND WORK WITH OTHERS TO FIND WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY. THIS EXPERIENCE TAUGHT ME THAT STUDENTS VOICES MATTER AND THAT WE CAN HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER FUTURE. I URGE THE BOARD TO VOTE YES ON ALL SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS BY SUPPORTING THEM. YOU CAN HELP REDUCE HARM, HARMFUL POLLUTION, PROTECT STUDENTS HEALTH AND MOVE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY TOWARD CLEANER AIR AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES. OUR

[00:55:04]

BUS AND BUS LOT MODERNIZATION WORK GROUP AND FOR THE PROGRESS PARTY CPS IS MAKING ON CLIMATE.

THE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLAN PG. CPS CONTINUES TO SHOW THAT IT'S FORWARD THINKING AND PROBLEM SOLVING WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE ACTION. I KNOW THE BUSSES HAVE BEEN MORE OF A CHALLENGE COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER ACTIONS PG CPS HAS TAKEN, BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL TOO WITH ELECTRIFICATION. TO THAT END, IT'S IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKGROUP. LET ME START WITH OUR CHILDREN'S HEALTH. AS PARENTS, WE KNOW OUR CHILDREN SHOULDN'T BE BREATHING DIESEL EXHAUST AT THE BUS STOP, ON THE BUS, OR AT THE SCHOOL DOOR. PEER REVIEWED STUDIES LINKED THIS POLLUTION TO ASTHMA, WHEEZING, REDUCED LUNG FUNCTION, AND THAT LEADS TO MISSED SCHOOL DAYS AND LOST LEARNING. AND WE CAN SEE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO THE CHILDREN TOO. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF HERE TONIGHT, THESE ARMS DON'T FALL EVENLY, 61% OF CPS STUDENTS RECEIVED FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS, AND MANY LIVE IN COMMUNITIES ALREADY OVERBURDENED BY POLLUTION, HEAT AND FLOODING. THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PUT HEALTH FIRST. OF COURSE, PROPANE IS ALSO NOT THE ANSWER. RAISES CARBON MONOXIDE BY OVER 450% COMPARED TO DIESEL. OUR CHILDREN DO NOT DESERVE. TRADING ONE POLLUTANT FOR ANOTHER. ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES CAN ALSO BE GOOD BUDGETING. THE REPORT FINDS THAT DIESEL IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE OPTION OVER BUSSES LIFETIME, AND YOU CAN COUNT ON FUEL, PRICE SWINGS, MAINTENANCE AND HEALTH COSTS. JUST LOOK AT THESE DIESEL BILLS WE'RE PAYING NOW. IT'S CRAZY. AND WE SHOULDN'T BE REDUCING THEM.

ELECTRIC BUSSES COST MORE UPFRONT, BUT THEY ARE FAR LESS. THEY USE FAR LESS FUEL AND NEED FAR LESS MAINTENANCE. AND THERE'S ALSO MONEY AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE AND EVEN POSSIBLY FROM THE FEDS AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW. CPS HAS NO PERMANENT DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, THOUGH WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE ACTING DIRECTOR FOSSETT. WE. WE SEE THAT BOTH THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY. ELECTRIFYING A FLEET THIS SIZE TAKES REAL EXPERIENCE WITH FLEETS, ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY, AND A COMMITMENT TO WORK OPENLY WITH PARENTS, DRIVERS, AND MECHANICS. WE ALSO SUPPORT MODERNIZING THE BUS LOTS. MECHANICS ARE REPAIRING BUSSES OUTDOORS IN ALL WEATHER, WORKING ON FAILING TRAILERS. OUR DRIVERS AND MECHANICS DESERVE BETTER. TO BE CLEAR, WE ASK FOR FOUR THINGS. ADOPT ALL SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKGROUP. FILL THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION POSITION QUICKLY WITH A STRONG LEADER ON ELECTRIFICATION. SET CLEAR YEARLY MILESTONES SO TARGETS DON'T SLIP FURTHER. AND PUBLISH THE ANNUAL PROGRESS IN THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. OUR CHILDREN ARE COUNTING ON YOU TO.

AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK MAKING OUR SCHOOLS CLIMATE RESILIENT. ALSO ON A SIDE NOTE, JULE SMITH, WHO SPOKE EARLIER, IS ONE OF THE MOMS OF MY KIDS BUS ROUTE. AND I'M THANKFUL TO HER. AND I ALSO WANT TO ECHO EVERYTHING SHE SAID. CHRIS. STELLA. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. MY NAME IS CHRIS STELLA AND I ATTEND BLADENSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, AND I'M A MEMBER OF CHISPA MARYLAND YOUNG ACADEMY. I AM HERE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF STUDENTS IN THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY.

ALTHOUGH I DO NOT HAVE ASTHMA, MY YOUNGER BROTHER AND I RIDE THE SCHOOL BUS AND I WORRY ABOUT THE HARMFUL POLLUTION THAT MAY. WE MAY BREATHE EVERY DAY. STUDENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK JUST TO GET TO SCHOOL. WE DESERVE CLEAN AIR AND HAVE A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN LEARN AND THRIVE. TRANSITIONING FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES CAN HELP REDUCE HARMFUL EMISSIONS AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES. I STRONGLY SUPPORT ALL SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS. I URGE THE BOARD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF AVAILABLE FUNDING AND PRIORITIZING STUDENTS HEALTH. OUR HEALTH MATTERS, OUR VOICES MATTER, AND OUR FUTURE MATTERS. WE DESERVE CLEANER AND HEALTHIER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU. GOOD JOB. ANGELA DIAZ. ANGELA DIAZ

[01:00:05]

EVERY STUDENT DESERVES CLEAN AIR AND A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE OR GO TO SCHOOL. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE AIR WE BREATHE ON OUR WAY TO CLASS OR WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIVITIES WE LOVE. I FULLY SUPPORT ALL SEVEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO ACCELERATE THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUSSES IN PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO PROTECT STUDENTS HEALTH, EXPAND THE ELECTRIC BUS FLEET, SECURE FUNDING AND ESTABLISH A CLEAR PATH FOR CLEANER FUTURE.

I URGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE BOARD TO SUPPORT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND VOTE IN FAVOR OF THEM. I SINCERELY HOPE WE RECEIVE A FAVORABLE VOTE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH MEANINGFUL ACTION. OUR HEALTH AND OUR FUTURE DEPEND ON THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND LISTENING TO STUDENT VOICES. THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I NOTE THAT THE ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS WILL BE AN AGENDA ITEM FOR

[14. Report of the Superintendent]

AS DOCTOR JOSEPH MENTIONED, THE PRE-K THROUGH THREE COMPREHENSIVE LITERACY POLICY AND THE COMPREHENSIVE COMPREHENSIVE MATHEMATICS POLICY, THERE ARE FOUR COMPONENTS OF THE PRE-K THROUGH THREE LITERACY POLICY. ONE IS STRENGTHENING TEACHER CAPACITY IN TERMS OF REQUIRED TRAININGS FOR TEACHERS. TWO, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT FOR UNIVERSAL SCREENING OF STUDENTS. THREE THERE'S A REQUIREMENT OF STUDENT READING IMPROVEMENT PLANS AND FOUR, IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT. IN TERMS OF STRENGTHENING TEACHER CAPACITY, THE PRIMARY DRIVER IS TEACHERS BEING TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING. AND CURRENTLY WHAT'S GOING ON IS WE HAVE A DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN MAKING SURE THAT THE TEACHERS KNOW OF THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND ALSO KEEPING TRACK OF ALL OF THE TEACHERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY TAKING THOSE COURSES AND MEETING THAT REQUIREMENT. IN TERMS OF THE UNIVERSAL SCREENING, WE'RE ADMINISTERING, THE DIBELS EIGHTH EDITION SCREENING, WHICH IS CONDUCTED THREE TIMES PER YEAR, WITH THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION BEING RECENTLY CONCLUDED. AND AS YOU MOVE TO ITEM THREE BASED ON THAT DATA, FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE FALLING BEHIND OR BELOW THE BENCHMARK, THERE'S A REQUIREMENT THAT A STUDENT READING IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS CREATED FOR THOSE STUDENTS WITHIN 30 DAYS, AND THAT WORK IS CURRENTLY BEING INITIATED. AND LASTLY, IN TERMS OF THE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT, IT PROVIDES

[01:05:03]

PRIORITY TWO PROFESSIONAL LEARNING THROUGH ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COACHING SUPPORT LEARNING LAB EXPERIENCES, WE ARE FOCUSING ON STRENGTHENING TEACHERS AND MATH LEADERS INSTRUCTIONAL CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT THE REVISED MATHEMATICS STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONAL. WHILE BUILDING ADMINISTRATORS CAPACITY TO MONITOR INSTRUCTION. PRIORITY THREE MULTI-TIERED SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT THROUGH CROSS-DEPARTMENTAL COLLABORATION, WE CREATED AND SHARED GUIDANCE FOR TIER ONE CORE INSTRUCTION, TIER TWO INTERVENTION, AND TIER THREE INTENSIVE SUPPORT. THIS GUIDANCE IS DESIGNED TO HELP SCHOOLS USE STUDENT DATA TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND PROVIDE TARGETED SUPPORT TO ACCELERATE MATH LEARNING. PRIORITY. PRIORITY FOR COMMUNITY FAMILY COMMUNICATION. WE ARE ENGAGED WITH OUR FAMILIES THROUGH OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH COMPETITION, OUR BEAM EVENTS UNIT, FAMILY LETTERS, AND OTHER RESOURCES TO BUILD NUMERACY KNOWLEDGE AND INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MATHEMATICS, PRIORITY GOALS, POLICY GOALS. WHILE PRE-K THROUGH EIGHT MATHEMATICS FOCUSES ON A STRONG FOUNDATION IN NUMERACY FOR EVERY STUDENT HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS HAS BEGUN IMPLEMENTING KEY SUPPORTS AND STRUCTURES TO PREPARE FOR THE LAUNCH OF THE TWO YEAR INTEGRATED ALGEBRA AND SECONDARY MATHEMATICS PATHWAYS BY 2029. I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT HIGH SCHOOL IS IN PREPARATION AND AWARENESS PHASE. FIRST, WE ARE BUILDING AWARENESS AND PREPARING STAKEHOLDERS FOR CHANGES TO COURSE SEQUENCING SEQUENCES.

I'M SORRY, GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS. SECOND, WE ARE INVESTING INVESTIGATING. I'M SORRY. WE ARE INVESTING IN PROFESSIONAL LEARNING. NOT ONLY ARE WE PREPARING TEACHERS, MATH LEADERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS TO UNDERSTAND THE REVISED STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONAL SHIFTS, OUR WORK ALSO INCLUDES PREPARING SCHOOL COUNSELORS, SCHEDULERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO UNDERSTAND CORE SEQUENCE AND STUDENT READINESS EXPECTATIONS. WE ARE STRENGTHENING STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH DISTRICT SPONSORED EVENTS. WE ARE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND BUILD AWARENESS OF MATHEMATICS, PATHWAYS AND FUTURE ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES. LASTLY, WE ARE BUILDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MATHEMATICS, COLLEGE AND CAREER BY COLLABORATING WITH OUR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION TEAM, LOCAL COLLEGES AND

[01:10:08]

SO I'D LOVE FOR US TO TALK. LOOKS LIKE WE GOT 954 PRINCIPLES THAT WE KNOW ARE TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING, AND ABOUT 1200 TEACHERS THAT WE KNOW WHO ARE TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING. HERE'S WHERE I'M GOING TO GET IN TROUBLE ON BOTH SIDES.

HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO. AND FOLKS DON'T LIKE THIS WORD, BUT I LOVE IT. GIVEN MY EARLY WORK IN MISSISSIPPI, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO MANDATING THAT EVERY PRINCIPAL AND A K3 SCHOOL AND EVERY TEACHER IS TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE OF READING, AND WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO GET US THERE? BECAUSE WE KNOW THE SCIENCE WORKS. GOOD EVENING. I'M SIMONE MUKWEGE, ELEMENTARY READING SUPERVISOR. THE INFORMATION THAT WE SHARED, THE 900 NUMBER THAT YOU SHARED WAS FOR K THREE TEACHERS. THAT WAS THE REQUIREMENT PER THE STATE. WITHIN OUR REPORTS, WE IN THE DISTRICT HAVE INFORMATION ON TEACHERS IN OTHER GRADES THAT ARE ALSO PARTICIPATING TO COMPLETE THEIR SCIENCE READING COURSEWORK, THAT THOSE TEACHERS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE NUMBERS. WE'RE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO OFFER TO CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR TEACHERS ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TRAINING, RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS ALSO A CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENT BEFORE THEIR CERTIFICATION IS UP, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE ONE OF THE SCIENCE OF READING COURSES. THE POLICY. THE STATE POLICY ALSO STATES THAT LEAS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO TEACHERS THAT MAY NOT. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES. AND SO WE'RE. THAT 1200 NUMBER THAT YOU SEE RECORDED THERE INCLUDES ALL OF OUR TEACHERS, K THROUGH FIVE, THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THAT TRAINING. WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY IN BOTH SECTIONS FOR THE STATE TRAINING, AS WELL AS THE TRAININGS THAT WE ARE PROVIDING TO TRY TO GET 100% OF OUR TEACHERS TRAINED. OUR ADMINISTRATORS ARE CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING IN AIMS TRAINING THAT IS ALSO OFFERED BY THE STATE. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE HAD TWO COHORTS ENCOURAGING NOT ONLY OUR PRINCIPALS BUT CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL. SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS NOT WORK FOR JUST ONE BODY. IT'S A COLLECTIVE WORK IN THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO GET EVERYONE TRAINED WITHIN THE SCIENCE OF READING. THANK YOU. BOARD

[01:15:01]

THANK YOU. I THINK I THINK ALL OF THE EDUCATORS AND THE MATHEMATICS TEAM AND EVEN SYSTEMICALLY, WITH THE EMPHASIS FROM OUR STRATEGIC PLAN, WE'RE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE DATA AND THE INPUTS THAT ARE NEEDED IN ORDER FOR US TO MAKE THE TYPES OF CHANGES AND GROWTH THAT WE NEED TO OUR STUDENTS. AND THERE ARE MANY INITIATIVES, YOU KNOW, IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE HAD HERE TO ELABORATE AND PROVIDE AN UPDATE THAT ARE CURRENTLY GOING ON TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, WITH THE EMPHASIS BEING STRENGTHENING TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, WHICH IS THE INSTRUCTION THAT EVERY STUDENT IS GOING TO RECEIVE DEFINING IT.

WE JUST HAD A SYSTEMIC PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AROUND MTSS THAT WAS SYSTEMIC.

EVERYONE IN THE DISTRICT PARTICIPATED, HONING PEOPLE IN ON THE VERY THING THAT'S NEEDED, WHICH IS GETTING THE MOST OUT OF OUR HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE BEING IMPLEMENTED WITH FIDELITY, MAKING SURE THAT TEACHERS THAT NEED COACHING ARE BEING COACHED EFFECTIVELY TO IMPROVE THEIR PRACTICE, TO IMPACT STUDENT OUTCOMES, AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE ALIGNED TO THE VERY OUTCOMES THAT YOU'RE MENTIONING. YOU KNOW, MATHEMATICS IS A IS A CHALLENGE ACROSS THE STATE THAT THAT'S NOT A, AN EXCUSE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT'S A REALITY AND IT'S A REALITY ALSO THAT WE HAVE MANY SYSTEMIC INPUTS AND PROGRAMS RELATED TO MAKING AN IMPACT ON ALL OF THOSE OUTCOMES. AND MISS BROWN, IF I JUST MAY ADD, JUST, JUST REALLY QUICKLY AND THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THAT, DOCTOR CARTER. BUT BUT I'D ALSO ADD SOME CONCRETE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR. WE BROUGHT IN A NORM REFERENCED MATHEMATICS TEST. SO WE'RE ABLE TO SEE WHERE OUR KIDS ARE IN RELATION TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT THAT DATA TO THE BOARD VERY SOON BECAUSE THAT'S A STEP ONE PARENTS NEED TO UNDERSTAND. IS MY KID DOING MATH BECAUSE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PROFICIENCY IN THE STATE, YOU CAN NOT BE PROFICIENT IN BE ON GRADE LEVEL BECAUSE OUR STANDARDS ARE EXTREMELY HIGH IN MATHEMATICS. WHEN WE WERE AT THE MARYLAND SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, THEY COMMUNICATED THAT OUR MATHEMATICS ASSESSMENT IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IS THE SECOND MOST RIGOROUS MATHEMATICS TEST IN THE COUNTRY. MANY OF OUR FAMILIES DON'T DON'T KNOW THAT.

SO IT'LL SAY YOU'RE NOT PROFICIENT, BUT IN FACT, YOU'RE PROBABLY BETTER THAN MOST KIDS IN THE NATION. THIS NORM TEST WILL GIVE US THAT DATA TO, TO, TO GROUND SET AND HELP PARENTS UNDERSTAND. WE'RE ALSO PUT IN PLACE SOME MATHEMATICS LABS SO WE CAN ACTUALLY GO IN AND, AND STUDY WHAT'S WORKING WITH EXCELLENT MATH TEACHERS. WE HAVE TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF OUR TEACHERS. THAT IS A TREMENDOUS CHALLENGE FOR US. AND IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WE DID PUT IN PLACE SOME MATHEMATICS COACHES TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE JOB EMBEDDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WE'RE WORKING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SCALE THAT RIGHT NOW. AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE CHARGED THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT OFFICE WITH IS WORKING BETTER WITH FAMILIES, BECAUSE THIS MATH THAT WE'RE DOING IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE MATH WE GREW UP IN. AND SO WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE VIDEOS AND, AND BETTER TRAINING REAL TIME FOR FAMILIES TO BE

[01:20:05]

AND THERE ARE MANY PARENTS WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE PROCESS. THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW. AND SO TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THAT AND HELP PARENTS BE ABLE TO EXTEND THAT LEARNING IS EXTREMELY POSSIBLE. I'M ANXIOUS TO HEAR ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT ON, AND THEN HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THOSE RESULTS HAPPEN.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST ADD THAT WE ARE ALSO WORKING WITH A CONSULTANT, IS WORKING WITH OUR TEAM, AND OUR TEAM IS ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN. MSD CREATED NUMERACY DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORKS.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY AMAZING, BUT THEY'RE VERY, VERY DENSE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO BREAK THAT DOWN INTO QUICK SEGMENTS FOR FAMILIES. SO WE'RE BUILDING A WHOLE PARENT HUB. AND WE'LL WE'LL HAVE PD WITH IT WHERE THEY CAN ENGAGE WITH IT. BUT IT'S ALSO RESOURCES THAT ARE THERE FOR THEM TO ASSIST THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME AND TO UNDERSTAND FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN ASSIST. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ANDOVER. THANK YOU. SO SOME OF MY QUESTIONS WERE ALSO ADDRESSED. BUT INSTEAD WHAT I WILL SAY. SO I THINK MOST KNOW THAT I'M A PARENT OF A FIFTH GRADER IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM. WHAT I'VE SEEN MY SON BRING HOME AS IT RELATES TO MATH, I'VE SEEN NEWSLETTERS THAT HIS TEACHERS ARE SENDING OUT. AND IN THOSE NEWSLETTERS, I'M SEEING ACTUAL EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEMS. THIS NEW MATH RIGHT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL. WHILE I DON'T UTILIZE IT, I PUT THE MATH ON MY HUSBAND. HE'S A MATH PERSON. IT'S EXTREMELY HELPFUL. MY QUESTION IS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE SEEING CONSISTENTLY ACROSS SCHOOLS? MY MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT HIS TEACHERS ARE TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S MANDATED, I THINK, TO SOME OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED HERE IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE THE WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT PARENTS, THIS SEEMS LIKE ONE, BUT CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS CONSISTENT? AND IF THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE CONSISTENTLY HAPPENING AS WELL.

GOOD EVENING. I'M JENNY DEGENERES, ELEMENTARY SUPERVISOR. WE DO HAVE FAMILY LETTERS ACROSS K TO FIVE, OUR OFFICE AND OUR COACHES ENCOURAGE OUR TEACHERS TO SEND THOSE OUT. THEY'RE ALSO ATTACHED TO OUR SYLLABI. WE ARE PUTTING IN PLACE THINGS TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS ARE DOING THAT CONSISTENTLY. SO THAT'S A THAT'S AN ONGOING TASK TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS CONSISTENT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE POCKETS OF VARIANCE WHERE SOME SCHOOLS ARE RECEIVING THOSE LETTERS, BUT NOT ALL. THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT ALSO APPEARS AND HAPPENS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AS WELL. SO WE HAVE UNIT FAMILY LETTERS AS WELL. AND THEY NOT ONLY WILL NOT, NOT ONLY WILL IT BE LEFT UP TO SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS RECEIVE THEM. ON OUR PARENT HOOD WE JUST TALKED ABOUT PARENTS WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE UNIT FAMILY LETTERS AS WELL. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER LEBEAU. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. THANK YOU ALSO FOR THIS INFORMATION. AND IT'S MY HOPE THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT MATH AND READING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS AS THEY ARE TWO OF OUR FOUR TOP POLICIES. I WANTED TO ASK QUICKLY ABOUT IF YOU COULD JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT ON THE, THE POLICY ROADMAP, THE EQUITABLE SCHEDULING PRACTICES, AND ELIMINATING EXCLUSIONARY TRACKING FOR MATH, WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED PER THIS CHART THIS SCHOOL YEAR. COULD YOU JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS? EXACTLY? ABSOLUTELY. SO LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE PUT INTO PLACE AND STARTED TO WORK WITH OUR SCHEDULERS AND OUR SCHOOL

[01:25:03]

THIS IS A LOT. SO WHAT ARE WE DOING FROM THE CENTRAL LEVEL TO SUPPORT THAT? AND THEN THE OTHER HALF OF THAT QUESTION IS, I'VE HEARD MTS A LOT FOR BOTH LITERACY AND MATH, WHICH I'M EXCITED TO HEAR. BUT WHERE ARE WE AT AS A DISTRICT IN TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING THAT, BEYOND JUST TRAINING EVERYONE ON WHAT MTS IS? YES. SO I'LL JUMP IN HERE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS SAY, LIKE THE STATE WILL HAVE US CREATE PLANS. WE HAVE A STRATEGIC PLAN, PLANS, PLANS, PLANS. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS ENSURE THAT WHAT WE PUT BEFORE TEACHERS AUTOMATICALLY INTEGRATES WHAT THEY NEED. SO WE DON'T TRY TO TAKE THE PLANS. WE'RE GOING TO DUMP THEM ON SCHOOLS AND ASK THEM, WE'RE GOING TO CREATE WHAT'S NATURALLY GOING TO GO BEFORE TEACHER. A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE COMING OUT OF BLUEPRINT AND THEY'RE NEW. AND SO WE HAVE TO FIND AS A SYSTEM THE TIME TO DEVELOP OUR LEADERS AND TO DEVELOP OUR TEACHERS IN A VERY STREAMLINED WAY. I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE REALLY PARTNERING WITH OUR UNION TO HELP FIGURE THIS OUT. WE HAVE OUR ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TEAM AS WELL, BECAUSE IF WE FOLLOW M.C.P.S. AND WE HEARD THEM SAY, NATURALLY, KIDS ARE GOING TO TEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. WE'RE GOING TO GET DATA. AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO GO INTO INTERVENTION.

ALL OF THAT IS MTS AT ITS BEST. BUT HOW DO YOU HELP EVERYONE UNDERSTAND WHERE IT FITS IN A VERY SEAMLESS WAY. SO OUR CHARGE IS CENTRAL OFFICE IS TO REALLY HELP TEACHERS. NO, WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO DO SOMETHING MORE. WE NEED TO WE NEED TO CREATE THE CONDITIONS TO MAKE IT SEAMLESS AND THEN TO WORK WITH OUR LEADERS. SO IT HAPPENS AND SHOWS UP WITH THE TIME. AND THE SPACE IS USED TO LOOK AT DATA RIGHT AFTER THEY TAKE ASSESSMENTS, BUILD IT INTO THEIR CURRICULUM. SO IT'S NOT ALL OF THESE EXTRA BUCKETS. THAT IS A LIFT FOR US, BUT IT'S A IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE CHARGED TO DO. IT'S SOMETHING THAT DOCTOR JOSEPH EXPECTS THAT WE DO AS WE LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN ABANDON FOR TEACHERS AND HOW WE CAN WORK SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS SCALE TO, YOU KNOW, WE WE LOOK AT OUR FIRST PRINCIPALS MEETING, WE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME GETTING IN DEPTH FOR THE PRINCIPALS THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT I BUT I DON'T YOU KNOW, WE DON'T I CAN'T SAY THAT PRINCIPALS TOOK THAT DIRECTLY INTO THE SCHOOLS. AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO THINK THROUGH WORKING WITH OUR OFFICE OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, HOW WE CREATE TURNKEY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT CAN BE DRIVEN IN AND THEN FIGURE OUT THE SUPPORT CAPACITIES. WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT. I WOULDN'T WE WOULDN'T BE TRUTHFUL IF WE SAID WE HAD IT. AND WE HAVE A STRATEGY TO EXECUTE RIGHT NOW. WE'RE WORKING THAT THROUGH AS WE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER MOSLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH, CHAIR JACKSON, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE THE ROLES? WHAT ARE THE ROLES OF MATH BENCHMARKS AND HOW DO THEY CORRELATE WITH THE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS STANDARDS? AND THEN ALSO HOW ARE TEACHERS USING THESE? HOW ARE TEACHERS USING THESE THIS DATA TO CORRELATE WITH LIKE JUST STUDENTS IN GENERAL GOING TO COLLEGE? THE BENCHMARKS THAT TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS ARE USING, THE BENCHMARKS, FIRST OF ALL, THE BENCHMARKS ARE ASSESSMENT IN A PERIOD OF TIME AFTER THEY'VE TAUGHT A PARTICULAR UNIT OF INSTRUCTION, IT IS A CHECKPOINT. AND WITH THAT CHECKPOINT, WE'RE MEASURING TO SEE HOW STUDENTS ARE PROGRESSING TOWARDS THOSE MILESTONE MILESTONE STANDARDS. THE WAY WE USE THE DATA IS AFTER WE ADMINISTER THE TEST, THEY THEN PUT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT IT BACK IN FRONT OF STUDENTS TO GIVE STUDENTS SOME FEEDBACK AND SOME FEEDBACK AROUND WHERE THEY ARE MAKING

[01:30:04]

[01:35:05]

TALKING TO DOCTOR, DOCTOR, MERRILL SIDE OF THE HOUSE IN TERMS OF PRINCIPALS MAKING THESE DECISIONS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THESE KINDS OF THINGS, IT'S TO BOARD MEMBER OLIVO'S POINT AROUND SCHEDULING. WE REALLY HAVE TO GET THAT RIGHT. I CAN'T IMAGINE A WORLD HAVING BEEN A FORMER MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. I DON'T THINK MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS SHOULD GO A DAY WITHOUT LITERACY INSTRUCTION, NO MATTER HOW PROFICIENT THEY ARE. BUT IF WE HAVE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S POINT, YOU KNOW, THE ENEMY OF OF EXCELLENCE AROUND HERE IS VARIANCE. AND SO I WANT US TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR AROUND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH MINUTES OF INSTRUCTION, HOW THAT IS PLAYED OUT AT THE BENCHMARK LEVEL AT THE END OF YEAR LEVEL, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF SOME FOLKS SHOULD HAVE THE AUTONOMY TO DECIDE IF KIDS SHOULD BE GETTING 90 MINUTES OF READING INSTRUCTION EVERY DAY OR NOT. THAT'S HARSH TO SAY, BUT WE HAVE TO BE DRIVEN BY WHAT THE DATA IS AND ISN'T TELLING US ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE.

SO I WANT TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE GRANULAR AROUND THESE LEADERSHIP DECISIONS THAT ARE IMPACTING ACADEMIC OUTCOMES. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. DOCTOR BOWERS, I KNOW IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB AND WE'LL PARTNER WITH HER. I JUST WANTED TO BE CLEAR TO THIS BOARD THAT OUR EXPECTATION FOR READING AND MATHEMATICS IS THAT IT HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO WE WILL BE LOOKING INTO, YOU KNOW, DOING THE WORK TO FIGURE OUT THOSE SCHOOLS THAT ARE HAVING CHALLENGES, HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEIR SCHEDULE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SCHEDULED CORRECTLY, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR EXPECTATION. AND JUST ONE OF OUR FOCUS WITH OUR SCHOOL LEADERS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, ACTUALLY, DOCTOR MIDAS IS WORKING WITH A GROUP TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL REFORM AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO ENSURE THAT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUCTION IS STRENGTHENED AND ENSURING THAT EVERYTHING IS FOLLOWING WHAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW. BOARD MEMBER MOSLEY. THANK YOU, CHAIR JACKSON. MY QUESTION IS SURROUNDING HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE COUNTIES, DOCTOR JOSEPH, EARLIER MENTIONED ABOUT HOW RIGOROUS ARE OUR MATHEMATICS AND LITERACY ARE IN THE IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND? AND IF WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THEY CATCH UP TO WHERE WE ARE WITH OUR STANDARDS? ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY'RE HERE, THEY'RE OURS, RIGHT? AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT'S HERE, EVEN IF IT'S A STUDENT THAT'S WITH US IN UNDERPERFORMING OR BEHIND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEING IN PLACE, NUMBER ONE, FOCUSING ON STRONG TIER ONE INSTRUCTION, WHICH IS MEANING WHAT WHAT EVERYONE GETS EVERY DAY HAS TO BE THE ABSOLUTE BEST THAT IT CAN BE.

AND THEN USING OUR DATA AND TEACHERS USING DATA ALONG THE WAY TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT THOSE STUDENTS NEED, AND THEN MAKING ADJUSTMENTS, AND THEN US USING OUR MTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT LAYERS FOR STUDENTS WHERE THEY MAY NEED REMEDIATION. SO IT'S ABOUT THE REGULAR PROCESS. WHAT DO THEY KNOW HOW TO DO? WE ASSESS THEM. WE DIAGNOSE, WE INSTRUCT, WE FIND OUT WHERE THEY MAY BE SHORT OR WHERE THEY NEED ASSISTANCE, AND WE GO BACK AT IT AND GET BACK INTO THE WORKSHOP TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SKILLS AND ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION IN THOSE AREAS UNTIL WE GET IT RIGHT, UNTIL WE SEE GROWTH. AND THOSE THINGS ARE ALL WITHIN THE PROCESS. AND THAT SAME PROCESS STANDS FOR EVERY STUDENT, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING THE STUDENTS THAT ARE HIGH FLIERS THAT ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. AND HOW DO WE MEET THEIR NEEDS THROUGH THE DATA THAT WE KNOW, AND HOW DO WE ACCELERATE STUDENTS AS WE KEEP TALKING AND MENTIONING USING THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND TO CATCH UP AT ALL PHASES OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE? THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE THERE WILL BE NO. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. OKAY. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES. THERE WOULD BE NO POLICY AND GOVERNANCE UPDATE TODAY. MOVING ON TO THE DOCTOR.

THE CHAIRMAN RECOGNIZES DOCTOR JOSEPH FOR THE TRANSPORTATION UPDATE. THANK YOU, BOARD CHAIR

[01:40:03]

THANK YOU, DOCTOR JOSEPH. AND AGAIN, GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHAIR. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. AGAIN, MY NAME IS COLEMAN. I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING AS THE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. I'M JOINED TONIGHT BY DOCTOR MARK FAWCETT, ACTING TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR. MISS DOMINIQUE HAYNES, ACTING ASSISTANT TRANSPORTATION DIRECTOR, AND ACTOR LEE, TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANT. TOGETHER, WE WILL WALK DATE OF TRANSPORTATION AS WE MOVE FROM WHAT WAS A VERY CHALLENGING SCHOOL OPENING TO A MORE STABLE SYSTEM THAT IS SHOWING EVIDENCE OF PROGRESS OVER THE COURSE OF THIS FIRST QUARTER. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL ADDRESS WHAT IS WORKING WELL, WHERE CHALLENGES REMAIN AND THE SPECIFIC ACTIONS WE ARE TAKING TO ADDRESS THEM. HERE IS AN OVERVIEW OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION. WE WILL PREVIEW OUR FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE DATA, EXAMINE OUR MEASURABLE PROGRESS ALONGSIDE REMAINING OPERATIONAL HURDLES. FROM THERE, WE WILL REVISIT KEY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE 2024 FORMATIVE AUDIT, THE FRAMEWORK THAT GUIDES OUR IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY OVERALL, AND DISCUSS OUR APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE TRACKING AND DASHBOARD AND DASHBOARD METRICS. NEXT, WE WILL SHARE UPDATES ON OUR MODAL MIX, ROUTING, PLATFORM IMPROVEMENTS, AND STAFF RECRUITMENT EFFORTS. WE KNOW THAT EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS CENTRAL TO A STRONG TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, SO WE WILL COVER PARENT CONCERN, RESPONSIVENESS, AND TICKET RESOLUTION EFFORTS. AND FINALLY, WE WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON OUTREACH EFFORTS TO TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO GATHER DIRECT FEEDBACK TO INFORM OUR FUTURE WORK. AND DOCTOR JOSEPH PREVIEWED THAT JUST A MOMENT AGO. I WILL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO DOCTOR FAWCETT. THANK YOU, DOCTOR COLEMAN, AND GOOD EVENING. TO BEGIN WITH OUR PROGRESS, OUR ACTIVE FLEET HAS EXPANDED TO 982 VEHICLES THIS QUARTER. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF 71 VEHICLES SINCE JUNE. AND THIS IS CRUCIAL AS OUR VEHICLE EXPANSION OUTPACED OUR ROUTE GROWTH OF 66 ROUTES. THIS REPRESENTS MEANINGFUL PROGRESS AS IT HELPS NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN OPERATING ROUTES AND AVAILABLE VEHICLES ACROSS OUR NETWORK. OUR SEAT UTILIZATION REACHED 66.8%, WHICH IS OUR HIGHEST MARK IN FIVE QUARTERS. NOW, THIS GROWTH WAS LED BY OUR TIER ONE ROUTES THAT SERVICE OUR 7:30 A.M. SCHOOLS, AND THAT GROWTH WAS 74% ON THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE, FRONT TRIPS OR RUNS EXCEEDED 90 THAT EXCEED 90 MINUTES DROPPED TO 16.4% OF OUR TOTAL TRIPS. THAT'S DOWN FROM 18.6% IN JUNE OF 2026, WHICH IS LAST YEAR'S FOURTH QUARTER.

THIS REFLECTS STEADY PROGRESS IN REDUCING OVERALL STUDENT TRAVEL TIME. NOW, TURNING TO TECHNOLOGY, STAFFING AND TRANSPARENCY. OUR GPS CAPTURE RATE MEASURED MEASURING TRACK

[01:45:10]

AND ON THE STAFFING FRONT, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 979 ACTIVE DRIVERS. THIS IS 56 MORE THAN WE HAD AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR, AND THAT'S DUE TO A CONTINUOUS HARD WORK OF OUR HR TEAM, WHICH IS LED BY DOCTOR EDWARDS. ON THE STAFFING FRONT. I'M SORRY. ADDITIONALLY. I'M SORRY ON THE STAFFING FRONT, WE CURRENTLY. I ALREADY SAID THAT. TO BE CLEAR, SOME OF THE TRIPS RUNS WILL BE UNASSIGNED BECAUSE THEY ARE MIDDAY TRIPS. I APOLOGIZE, I MISSED A WHOLE SENTENCE.

ADDITIONALLY, OUR UNASSIGNED TRIPS AND RUNS FELL SHARPLY FROM A PEAK OF 358 DOWN TO 123 BY MONTH'S END. TO BE CLEAR, SOME OF OUR TRIPS WILL ALWAYS REMAIN UNASSIGNED BECAUSE THEY ARE MIDDAY RUNS AND THEY ARE ASSIGNED OR BIDDED OUT DAILY TO OUR DRIVERS. A PUBLIC ON TIME PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD IS IN DEVELOPMENT AND ONCE ACTIVE AND ONCE ACTIVE, FAMILIES WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO OUR ARRIVAL DATA. WE RECOGNIZE THAT INITIAL PROGRESS DOES NOT MEAN OUR WORK IS FINISHED, AND I WANT TO OUTLINE OUTLINE WHERE SOME CHALLENGES REMAIN ON TIME.

PERFORMANCE DECLINED TO 79.5% THIS QUARTER, AND THAT'S DOWN FROM 4.3 PERCENTAGE POINTS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. VEHICLE UTILIZATION STANDS AT 5.3 TRIPS PER VEHICLE. AND THAT REPRESENTS 88% OF OUR SIX TRIP DAILY TARGET, WHICH IS OUR 100% TARGET. WE WANT ALL OF OUR VEHICLES TO HAVE SIX TRIPS AT LEAST DAILY. GPS COVERAGE, WHILE IMPROVING, STILL LEAVES 41.4% OF OUR OF OUR OF OUR ARRIVALS UNTRACKED. NOW, THESE METRICS HIGHLIGHT THE PRECISE AREAS REQUIRING OUR SUSTAINED FOCUS. UNDERPINNING THE INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL SHARE IN THE FOLLOWING SLIDE. DOCTOR COLEMAN. THANK YOU, DOCTOR FAWCETT. SO I WANT TO JUST REVISIT AND GROUND US IN OUR FORMATIVE AUDIT. THAT WAS DONE IN 2024. THIS IS THE OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT HAS GUIDED MUCH OF OUR IMPROVEMENT WORK OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.

FORMATIVE, AS WE REMEMBER, IS A TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY FIRM THAT HAS LED SYSTEM TRANSFORMATIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN JANUARY OF 2024, FORMATIVE DELIVERED A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION AUDIT AND OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS FOR CPS CONTAINING 12 FORMAL RECOMMENDATIONS SPANNING SIX AREAS THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE.

LANDSCAPE SERVICE. CONFIGURATION SUPPLY, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES, SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, AND RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP. WE HAVE USED THESE RECOMMENDATIONS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS TO GUIDE OUR IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE KNOW WE HAD A CHALLENGING OPENING, BUT WE ARE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE KNOW WILL LEAD US TO SYSTEMATIZE THE IMPROVEMENT. AND SO WE'RE COMMITTED TO STAYING IN THAT SPACE. TONIGHT, WE'RE TRACKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS MOST RELEVANT TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, STARTING WITH PERFORMANCE TRACKING. SO WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE NEXT SLIDE IS KIND OF AND IN THE SUBSEQUENT SLIDES, YOU'LL SEE THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION FROM FORMATIVE. AND THEN DIRECTLY BEHIND THAT, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING THAT'S ALIGNED TO THAT WORK. SO THIS IS THE FIRST EXAMPLE. THE AUDIT WAS CLEAR ON THIS POINT.

PGC REQUIRES SYSTEMATIC METHODS FOR REVIEWING PERFORMANCE DATA AGAINST DEFINED KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OR KPIS. WE ARE RESPONDING STRATEGICALLY ACROSS TWO MAIN FRONTS. FIRST, WE ARE ESTABLISHING CORE KPIS DIRECTLY ALIGNED WITH THE DAILY EXPERIENCES OF OUR SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES. SECOND, WE ARE STRENGTHENING INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION. TRANSPORTATION RELIES ON CROSS-FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT, AND WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE DATA LAGS THAT IMPACT SCHEDULING DOWNSTREAM. SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING A PUBLIC FACING DATA DASHBOARD THAT TRACKS THE PROGRESS OF KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR TRANSPORTATION. THE DASHBOARD WILL TRACK THREE CORE MEASURES ON TIME BUS ARRIVALS, GPS CAPTURE RATE PER ROUTE, AND GPS CAPTURE RATE PER

[01:50:02]

OUR THEORY OF ACTION HOLDS THAT AS WE MAKE PROGRESS ACROSS THESE LEADING INDICATOR AREAS, WE WILL THEN MAKE PROGRESS WITH THE KPIS ON THE DASHBOARD. SO WE'LL BE WORKING TO IMPROVE IN THESE SPECIFIC AREAS TO LIFT UP OUR ENTIRE SYSTEM. I WILL NOW TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER TO THE CHIEF OF MONITORING AND ACCOUNTABILITY, DOCTOR BOWERS, TO WALK THROUGH THE DASHBOARD.

SO AT OUR NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING, WE WILL HAVE OUR UPDATED DASHBOARD TO SHOW YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING US COME UP WITH OUR FOUR PROMISES. TRANSPORTATION BEING ONE OF THOSE FOUR PROMISES. SO IN OUR NEW DASHBOARD TILE, WE WILL FOCUS ON THOSE THREE METRICS THAT DOCTOR COLEMAN SHARED. WE WILL BE SHOWING ON TIME BUS ARRIVALS AND GPS CAPTURE RATE.

FOR WEEKLY BUS TRANSPORTATION, WE WILL ALSO BE SHOWING THE CAPTURE RATE PER VEHICLE IN A NEW ENHANCED MEASURE ON THE DASHBOARD AND MONTHLY. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A DISTRICT PRIORITY SCORECARD IN WHICH ALL OF THE THEORY OF ACTION MEASURES THAT YOU SEE THERE. WE WILL BE SHOWING AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE MEASURES. HOPEFULLY, WE WILL SHOW MULTIPLE OF THOSE MEASURES MONTHLY. SO WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF HOW WE ARE DOING AT WORKING TOWARDS GOAL ATTAINMENT AND THAT PUBLIC PROMISE FOR BOTH THE DISTRICT AND THE BOARD. AND NOVEMBER, WE WILL HAVE A VIDEO AND A RELEASE OF OUR DASHBOARD FOR YOU TO SEE. THANK YOU, DOCTOR BOWERS. WE'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MISS HAYNES AUDIT RECOMMENDATION MODAL MICS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR COLEMAN.

CHIEF BOWERS. GOOD EVENING BOARD. REGARDING MODAL MIX, THE AUDIT RECOMMENDED DIVERSIFYING OUR FLEET BY UTILIZING SMALLER VEHICLES FOR LOWER DENSITY ROUTES TO OPTIMIZE CDL DRIVER DEPLOYMENT, ALIGNING VEHICLE SIZE WITH ROUTE DEMAND ALLEVIATES PRESSURE FROM OUR CDL DRIVER POOL, WHILE INCREASING OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY FOR SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION. THIS STRATEGY IS PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL FOR OUR MCKINNEY VENTO POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 750 STUDENTS, WHERE WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR NEARLY 1440 STUDENTS, INCLUDING 785 TRAVELING OUTSIDE OF THEIR ATTENDANCE BOUNDARY, WITH 39 ACTIVE DRIVERS SUPPORTING THE POPULATION AGAINST 11 VACANCIES. EXPANDING OUR MODAL MIX SERVES A VITAL OPERATIONAL TOOL. AUDIT, RECOMMENDATION, DATA AND RECRUITMENT OPERATIONS. TURNING TO DATA AND RECRUITMENT OPERATIONS, THE AUDIT EMPHASIZED ENHANCING ANALYTICAL CAPACITY THROUGH STRUCTURED TRAINING FOR ROUTING PERSONNEL, DEDICATED DATA ROLES, AND AN EXPEDITED DRIVER ONBOARDING PROCESS TO CONVERT APPLICANTS INTO ACTIVE DRIVERS EFFICIENTLY.

WE ARE ADVANCING BOTH PRIORITIES SIMULTANEOUSLY, STRENGTHENING ANALYTICAL SUPPORT FOR ROUTING WHILE STREAMLINING ADMINISTRATIVE STEPS IN THE RECRUITMENT PIPELINE TO ENSURE CANDIDATES TRANSITION SMOOTHLY TO ACTIVE SERVICE. DOCTOR LEE. GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU, MISS HAYNES. GOOD EVENING TO THE BOARD, CHAIR, VICE CHAIR AND OTHER DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. OUR ROUTING PLATFORM, AS WE THINK ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IS WE HAVE A CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAM THAT IS DEDICATED, AND THIS TEAM IS COMPRISED OF OUR SCHEDULERS, OUR ROUTERS, OUR LOT FOREMEN, SUPERVISORS AND DRIVERS, AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. THIS TEAM IS MEETING ON A WEEKLY BASIS, TRYING TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE OPTIMIZING AND IMPROVING OUR ROUTING PLATFORM FOR THE DISTRICT. AND THIS QUARTER, WE HAVE COMPLETED BUS PLANNER TRAINING FOR OUR BUS LOT PERSONNELS. WE'VE TRAINED FOR NEW ROUTERS TO EXPAND OUR ROUTING TEAM TO 12, AND WE CONTINUE TO CONTINUE STREAMLINING OUR DATA ALONGSIDE OUR IT TEAM AND OUR SCHEDULING TEAM. DOCTOR EDWARDS. THANK YOU DOCTOR. THANK YOU, DOCTOR LEE. GOOD EVENING BOARD CHAIR AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.

I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE AROUND OUR STAFFING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

[01:55:04]

OUR RECRUITMENT STRATEGY IS THREE PRONGED. ONE, WE MUST CONTINUE TO REACH UNTAPPED TALENT TO INCREASE QUALIFIED APPLICANTS FOR PERMANENT DRIVERS. WE DO THIS THROUGH A DEDICATED RECRUITER FOR TRANSPORTATION AND A DEDICATED HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF MEMBER, WHO ARE ATTENTIVE SPECIFICALLY TO THE DRIVERS AND ATTENDANCE. WE. ON OCTOBER 27TH, WE WILL CONDUCT AN IN-PERSON RETIREE HIRE INFORMATION SESSION WITH FORMER DRIVERS AS WELL AS FORMER EDUCATORS, AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO TAKE THE WHEEL. WE ALSO HAVE ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH OUR PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROMOTING OUR OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, AND WE ALSO ENGAGE WITH OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES HERE IN IN THE DISTRICT, A VERY NEW GROUP THAT WE WILL BE ENGAGING WITH. WE HAVE ALL OF THE CONTACT INFORMATION THROUGH OUR COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH BARBERS, COSMETOLOGISTS, NAIL TECHNICIANS AND HAIR BRAIDERS AS WELL. WE DO ACKNOWLEDGE. OUR SECOND PRONG IS THAT WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOOD PEOPLE KNOW GOOD PEOPLE, AND OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF ARE GOOD PEOPLE. DOCTOR JOSEPH HAS SHARED AROUND THE $1,000 INCENTIVE THAT WE CONTINUE TO THANK OUR LOCAL 2250 PARTNERS IN BRINGING THAT FORWARD. AND FINALLY, PROFESSIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR TRANSPORTATION STAFF TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN CAPACITY AND CREATE A TRAJECTORY FOR SUCCESS. THANK YOU, DOCTOR EDWARDS. AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE BRING OUR FOCUS TO THE AFFIRMATIVE, AUDIT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS. ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WAS CUSTOMER CENTRIC DESIGN.

BASICALLY IT SAID THAT THE DISTRICT SHOULD DESIGN THE SYSTEMS, TOOLS AND PROCESSES THAT ARE BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES. AND THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN IN PRACTICE, BASICALLY, THIS ENCOMPASSES THREE PILLARS. ONE IS RESPONSIVE COMMUNICATIONS AND TIMELY INQUIRY. INQUIRY RESOLUTIONS, RELIABLE TRANSPORT, TRANSPORTATION, FAMILY ALERTS, AND ROUTING DECISIONS THAT ARE CENTERED ON SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY. THIS CUSTOMER FOCUSED STRUCTURE IS FUNDAMENTAL IN US MAINTAINING THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY.

I'LL ASK DOCTOR WILSON. GOOD EVENING, BOARD MEMBERS. CONTINUING IN THAT SAME VEIN, THANK YOU, DOCTOR LEE. AS THE LEAD IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR IMPROVING CUSTOMER SERVICE

[02:00:03]

HOWEVER, THE GREAT NEWS IS THE DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIRST RESPONSE SPEED SINCE AUGUST, THE MONTH TO DATE, AVERAGE FIRST RESPONSE TIME HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM 80 HOURS DOWN TO JUST 48 MINUTES, AND FULL RESOLUTION TIMES HAVE PLUMMETED FROM 90 HOURS TO 2.4 HOURS. IN FACT, ON OCTOBER 13TH ALONE, THE CALL CENTER HIT A REMARKABLE 30 MINUTE FIRST RESPONSE AND A 36 MINUTE FULL RESOLUTION TIME TO SUSTAIN THIS MOMENTUM AND BETTER ENGAGE OUR FAMILIES, WE ARE EVALUATING NEW COMMUNICATION TOOLS, INCLUDING ON FLOW AND EMBEDDED ROUTING SOFTWARE FEATURES, TO DELIVER MORE DEPENDABLE ALERTS, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO MAKE A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION FOR THESE TOOLS TO THE BOARD BY MID-NOVEMBER. THANK YOU. AND NOW DOCTOR LEE WILL CONTINUE. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DOCTOR COLEMAN AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. IN ADDITION, WE ARE EVALUATING A POSSIBLE TRANSITION FROM OUR CURRENT COMMUNICATION TOOL PARENT APP TO A DIFFERENT PLATFORM TO KEEP FAMILIES INFORMED OF DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. OUR GOAL IS TO DELIVER MORE DEPENDABLE DAILY TRANSPORTATION UPDATES AND ALERTS. SO FINALLY I'LL CONCLUDE WITH DOCTOR JOSEPH SAID THAT. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PRIORITIZE DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR FRONT LINE TRANSPORTATION STAFF BECAUSE IT'S CRITICAL FOR STAFF TO FEEL HEARD. THIS FALL, THE SUPERINTENDENT, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND LOCAL 2250 UNION PRESIDENT ARE VISITING ALL 12 BUS LOTS TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH DRIVERS, ATTENDANTS AND LOT LEADERSHIP TO FOSTER OPEN COMMUNICATION ACROSS OUR OPERATION. IN TANDEM WITH THESE VISITS, A MONTHLY TRANSPORTATION WORK GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED THAT CONSISTS OF BUS DRIVERS, ATTENDANTS, UNION LEADERSHIP AND BUS LOT FOREMEN TO SERVE AS A STANDING COLLABORATIVE BODY FOR DISCUSSING AND RESOLVING OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES. THE GOAL IS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM STAFF AND INCORPORATE THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES INTO DECISION MAKING AND ONGOING IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. WITH THAT, I THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO QUESTIONS. FIRST, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REPORT. MISS HAYNES, DOCTOR LEE, THANK

[15.Reports of the Committees]

[02:05:01]

THANK YOU, DOCTOR MOSS. YEAH, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO WANT TO USE THIS TIME TO OFFER MY THANKS, MY GRATITUDE AND CELEBRATION FOR WHERE WE ARE. SOUTHLAND'S FINEST. DOCTOR FOSSETT, WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND MISS HAYNES, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOU YOUR LONG JOURNEY WITH THE SYSTEM, BUT I. I WANT TO SAY SOMETHING HERE ABOUT THE GREAT DOCTOR WHO'S HERE WITH US, WHO IS OUR CONSULTANT. HE'S LOOKING AROUND LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I JUST WANT TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT FOR BRINGING YOU INTO OUR SYSTEM. AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU MENTIONED YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB, SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CLAP AND THANK YOU FOR COMING IN TO HELP US. AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE IN FRONT OF ME, I'VE YET TO GO AND YOU KNOW, I MAY GET IN TROUBLE. BOARD MEMBER JACKSON SAUNDERS IS BEATING ME OUT ON THIS BECAUSE SHE'S SHE'S THERE ALMOST EVERY DAY. BUT I'VE YET TO GO TO A BUS STOP, BUT I'M GOING TO THE FORESTVILLE ONE. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I STAY AS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. BUT I'VE HEARD SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS TALK ABOUT YOUR VISITS ON BUS STOPS AND YOU SHOWING UP. I HEARD SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT MR. SMITH HAS MET HIM A COUPLE OF TIMES. AND TO HEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE TRAVELING TO THESE DIFFERENT PLACES WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR FOSSETT, MISS HAYNES, TO SOLVE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT OUR BUS DRIVERS ARE EXPERIENCING EVERY DAY AROUND CULTURE HELPS ME KNOW THAT WE ARE GETTING TO THE ROOT OF OUR PROBLEM, AND NOT JUST TRYING TO PUT A BAND-AID ON SOMETHING. SO I UNDERSTAND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME TO DO.

BUT I HAD ONE CONVERSATION WITH YOU, WENT TO A COMMUNITY MEETING WITH YOU, AND JUST THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT OUR OPPORTUNITIES AS A SYSTEM AND TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE. I'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T THANK YOU FOR PACKING UP YOUR BAGS AND RUSHING HERE TO HELP US. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT. I KNOW THIS IS HARD WORK, BUT OUR PARENTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT ENGAGING WITH YOU. OUR BUS DRIVERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT ENGAGING WITH YOU. WE HEARD THEM TALK ABOUT DOCTOR FOSSETT AND HIS WORK EARLIER, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THIS. I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE SUPERINTENDENT. AND THANK YOU FOR COMING HERE. I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK, AND WE HOPE YOU'LL HANG OUT WITH US UNTIL WE GET THIS PLACE WHERE EVERY KID GETS TO SCHOOL ON TIME EVERY DAY. SO THAT MEANS YOU MIGHT NEVER GET TO LEAVE US BECAUSE, YOU KNOW. BUT WE HOPE YOU'LL HANG OUT WITH US FOR A LONG TIME, SO I

[16.Presentation]

[02:10:03]

I ACTUALLY WROTE DOWN ALL OF THE BUS ROUTE, THE BUS NUMBERS. SO I HAVE THE SPECIFIC BUS NUMBERS THAT WERE CALLED OUT OVER THE PA SYSTEM TO INDICATE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO SHOW UP TODAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER JACKSON SAUNDERS. MOVING ON TO BOARD MEMBER OLIVO. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. AND I WANT TO ECHO THE KUDOS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. AND ALSO A SPECIAL SHOUT OUT AND THANK YOU TO OUR CUSTOMER SUPPORT TEAM WHO ARE RESPONDING TO THE BUS HELP@CPS.ORG EMAILS. THEY HAVE BEEN RESOLVING ISSUES, RESPONDING QUICKLY. AND IT'S IT'S BEEN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. SO I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF I IMAGINE THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE BEHIND THAT. AND SO JUST WANT TO PASS MY. THANK YOU TO THAT AS WELL. ONE MORE COMMENT I WANT TO MAKE. SINCE WE ARE IN SPECIALTY SCHOOL KIND OF INFO GATHERING AND APPLICATION TIME, I DO THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FAMILIES THAT OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE CONSIDERING ENROLLING IN A SPECIALTY PROGRAM UNDERSTAND THAT THEY'RE LIKELY BUS ROUTE TIME ONE WAY IS 90 MINUTES. AND THAT, YOU KNOW, IS, IS, IS WHAT WE'RE SHOOTING FOR. THAT IS WHAT MOST OF OUR SPECIALTY PROGRAM STUDENTS ARE EXPERIENCING. AND I THINK THAT ALL PARENTS WHO ARE CONSIDERING A SPECIALTY PROGRAM SHOULD BE,

[02:15:03]

IF PARENTS KNOW THAT THEIR BUS HAS A SUBSTITUTE OR IS DOUBLING A ROUTE IN ADVANCE, EVEN HOPEFULLY MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, BUT THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO PLAN VERSUS WAITING AT A BUS STOP. I'M STILL GETTING MESSAGES FROM FAMILIES WHO SAY CHIPMUNK IS NOT WORKING, WHEN REALLY IT IS THAT THEIR BUS IS NOT BEING TRACKED BY THE GPS. AND SO THE I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT LEVEL OF THAT COMMUNICATION HAS TO BE A PRIORITY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBER. IF I COULD RESPOND TO THAT SECOND PIECE. AGAIN, WE SHARE THE COMMITMENT TO EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE COMMUNICATION WITH FAMILIES. WHAT WE'RE QUESTIONING IS THE PLATFORM TO COMMUNICATE UNDER. RIGHT. AND SO WE HAVE WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE JUST TOO MANY INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE CURRENT PLATFORM APP, NOT DUE TO THE APP ITSELF, BUT IT IT COULD BE THE SUBSTITUTION COMPONENT THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND IT'S JUST THE WEIGHT OF THE NUMBER OF STEPS AND POTENTIAL FAILURE POINTS IS JUST CAUSING US TOO MUCH ANGST. AND SO WE ARE WORKING AS AN INTERNAL TEAM TO LOOK AT OPTIONALITY THERE.

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO THE BOARD AROUND DIFFERENT POTENTIAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS. BUT THE COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATE IS THERE. I ALSO WANT TO JUST ADD, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTNERING WITH US AND SHARING ABOUT RIDE TIME. WE HAVE COMMUNICATED TO ALL OF OUR SUPERVISORS OF PROGRAMS TO BEGIN NORMALIZING THAT WITH FAMILIES. IN THE LETTER THAT WILL GO HOME SHOULD STUDENTS BE ACCEPTED, THAT LANGUAGE WILL ALSO BE IN THAT LETTER. AND WE'RE ALSO ADDING THAT TO THE FAQS SO THAT WE'RE BEING VERY TRANSPARENT FROM THE BEGINNING. SO THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT INFORMATION WITH US. I'M SO THRILLED TO HEAR THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NO PROBLEM. BOARD MEMBER MOSLEY. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH. I JUST KIND OF WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID UP HERE, SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE BUSSES. I REMEMBER THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL WITH DOCTOR JOSEPH GOING AROUND TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS AND GETTING A WHOLE BUNCH OF EMAILS ABOUT TRANSPORTATION SPECIFICALLY, AND NOW I'M GETTING EMAILS ABOUT WHY OUR SCHOOL LUNCH, ABOUT SCHOOL LUNCH. SO I'M GLAD TO SEE A BIG CHANGE IN IN WHAT I'M GETTING AT. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT TOO ON INSTAGRAM, I THINK. THANK YOU. BUT AGAIN, AS OF AS OF RIGHT NOW, I SEE THE IMPROVEMENT. DEFINITELY TOMORROW I WILL BE GETTING ON GETTING UP FOR SCHOOL AT 5 A.M.

AND GETTING ON MY BUS AT 6:23 A.M. HOPEFULLY. I LOVE MY BUS DRIVER, BUT I THINK A BIG THING IS THE COMMUNICATION THAT I'VE SEEN THE BIGGEST LIKE IMPROVEMENT IN. THERE'S THERE'S NO MORE BACKLOG. WE'RE COMMUNICATING WITH THE STUDENTS, WITH THE PARENTS. AND, AND I THINK THAT EVERYTHING IS JUST MOVING MUCH SMOOTHER. SO THANK YOU GUYS. DOCTOR SANDOVAL YES.

THANK YOU. LUCKILY, SOME OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SHARE WAS ALSO ALREADY MENTIONED BY BOARD MEMBER OLIVO. SO I WILL NOT REPEAT IT. BUT INSTEAD TO BUILD ON ON THAT PIECE AROUND COMMUNICATION. I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ALL ARE EVALUATING OPTIONS. I KNOW THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE BROUGHT FORWARD PREVIOUSLY, AND SO REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT PARENTS ARE GETTING INFORMED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN BUSSES ARE LATE OR WHAT HAVE YOU. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THOUGH, ONE THING YOU SAID, DOCTOR COLEMAN, WHEN IT CAME TO THE SITUATION WITH THE BUSSES NOT ARRIVING, YOU SAID, THAT'S NOT OUR PRACTICE. RIGHT. SO IT MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE CAN ENSURE IS PUT IN PLACE, RIGHT? IN ADDITION TO OR IN THE INTERIM, WHEN WE DO NOT HAVE SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION TOOL. SO FOR EXAMPLE, WITH WITH MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL, I AM I GET COMMUNICATION IN CLASS DOJO, RIGHT? WHEN MY CHILD'S BUS IS LATE OR WHEN MY CHILD'S BUS IS GOING TO BE COMBINED WITH ANOTHER BUS. AGAIN, WHAT I DON'T KNOW IS WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE BOARD, OR IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT JUST THAT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION IS DOING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS A WAY THAT WE CAN PUT THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT INTO PLACE, I MEAN, LET'S JUST GO BACK TO, I MEAN, I'M SAYING OLD SCHOOL, BUT CLASS DOJO IS NOT OLD SCHOOL. BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE PUT SOME SIMPLE THINGS IN PLACE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS? SO THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS ABOUT GPS. SO I LOVE THAT WE'RE TALKING

[02:20:05]

I SEE THAT WE HAVE ONE AROUND GPS. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT WE SAID THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BUSSES THAT DO NOT HAVE GPS. AND SO I'M WONDERING IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF ENSURING THAT OUR BUSSES HAVE GPS. AND IF NOT, IF YOU CAN COME BACK AND SHARE WITH US THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO FIRST, ON THE COMMUNICATION FRONT, WE CERTAINLY ARE OPEN TO CONSIDERING HOW WE CAN INCORPORATE OUR SCHOOL TEAMS INTO THE COMMUNICATION TO FAMILIES, BUT I'M SENSITIVE TO WHAT WE KIND OF SUPPORT IN OPERATIONS AND NOT NECESSARILY PUTTING IT ON THE SCHOOLS TEAM TO HELP MANAGE ONE OF THE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN OUR REGION ACTUALLY HAS IT SET UP WHERE THE TRANSPORTATION TEAM PROVIDES THE UPDATE TO THE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL THEN SENDS OUT THE NOTICE TO THE FAMILIES. AND SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING WE CAN EXPLORE. BUT AGAIN, I'M SENSITIVE TO THE WORK THAT'S ALREADY ON THE BACKS OF OUR SCHOOLS AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT IN HOUSE IF WE CAN. THE SECOND QUESTION WAS AROUND THE GPS CAPTURE AND SO ON THE DATA DASHBOARD. THAT THIRD KPI IS AROUND THE GPS PERCENTAGES FOR BUSSES, SO THAT WE ARE TRACKING THE NUMBER OF BUSSES THAT HAVE GPS, AS WELL AS THAT SECOND KPI THAT IS TRACKING THE PERCENTAGE OF ROUTES THAT HAVE GPS. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE TRACKING THEM BOTH. THANK YOU, DOCTOR ANDOVER. I DO WANT TO CONCLUDE SAYING THANK YOU DOCTOR JOSEPH AND DOCTOR COLEMAN AS WELL FOR FOR YOUR SWIFT ACTIONS. LIKE AND I CAN SPEAK FOR A LOT OF THE BOARD MEMBERS UP HERE. WE ARE PARENTS TOO. SO THE SAME LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION YOU'VE EXPERIENCED. WE PROBABLY EXPERIENCED IT TOO. AND SO I THINK THAT GIVES US A POSITION OF EMPATHY TO UNDERSTAND THE CONSTITUENTS AS WELL AS WE DIALOG WITH THE ADMINISTRATION, SO WE UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE TOO. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE'RE FIGHTING ON YOUR BEHALF. WE'RE YOUR ADVOCATES. SO JUST WANT TO JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD. SO AND ALSO THANK YOU, DOCTOR FOSTER, FOR COMING OFF THE BENCH OUT OF RETIREMENT, MAN, AND, AND HOLDING US DOWN, MAN. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DOCTOR JOSEPH FOR

[17. Consent Agenda]