001[Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good morning. Welcome to the Montgomery Board of Education meeting. This is today's date is July 29th and the time is now 10:00. This meeting is now being called to order. We have an establishment of a quorum. Well, no. Well, we do. We have establishment of a quorum. Is there a motion to approve the agenda? >> Madame President, I move that we approve the agenda. I second. It has been motioned and second. At this time, we are now at agenda item four, consider for approval. Dr. Bird President, superintendent recommends approval of the corrected job description from executive director of student wellness and culture. The director of student wellness and culture. >> The superintendent has made a recommendation. Is there a motion? Madame President, I move that we
002accept the U. Superintendent's um um recommendation uh to correct the job description from executive director of student wellness and culture to director of student wellness. >> I second. >> There's a motion and second. Any dis any discussion? Hearing none. At this time, all those in favor of approving the superintendence corrected job description for ex from executive director of student wellness and culture to director of student wellness and culture. Do so by showing of hands. It is unanimous. Dr. Bird. >> Thank you. Superintendent recommends approval of the personnel report certified personnel. >> The superintendent has made a recommendation. Is there a motion? Madame President, I recommend that we accept the superintendent's recommendation for personnel report certified personnel. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >> Has been moved and second. Is there any discussion?
003Hearing none. All those in favor do so by showing of hands. It is unanimous. Next agenda item. Dr. Bird. >> Thank you. Superintendent recommends approval of personnel report classified personnel. >> All right. The superintendent has made a recommendation. Is there a motion? >> Madam President, I move that we accept the superintendent's recommendation for classified person. >> Is there a second? >> I second it. >> Has been motioned and second. Any discussion? >> Madam President. Yes. >> And Dr. Keith. >> Yeah. Uh I just I should have said this under the personnel report certified personnel, but I really mean them for both. I had received calls from um disgruntled teachers and I just want to speak up for some teachers because I you know they asked do you know the students u the students first act
004and I know it in parts you know I don't know it you know you know like I'm a expert on it but I just think and and want to put it out there that the principles or you know whoever's doing the hiring at these schools under the students first act if you you know, if you quit or resign, you know, before, you know, 30 days before, then you we're in trouble. But here's here's the problem. You have principles or whoever it is that is responsible for these jobs, you know, leaving them in limbo of whether they have that same position the next year or not. And so they're like they and they feel like they're being demoted. And I do think and I want to get out there that whoever is hiring them that there
005should be a date, you know, mid July or by the end of July, you at least be don't say to that person, well, when school starts, we're going to let you know your position because we're losing people. We we lost somebody yesterday and he's got and and unfortunately, I mean, I think everybody's handled it well. the school handled it well, but these we're losing people because we're not some of us are not pointing out, hey, you do have the job, you don't have the job, and it's not really fair to those teachers, you know, that wait till that last minute. And it was it was come up twice. I didn't know that part of the students first. had heard it, but it really they they are afraid that they're going to get, you know, retaliation
006or something bad, some bad mark on their teacher certificate, and they shouldn't because, you know, when you don't tell them a job, you would probably want to go look for another job, too. And when you get it, all of a sudden, you can't go to it because you've got to go by the law. You know, I think sometimes we need to >> Well, I want to support Dr. Keith and what she said. I've had several teachers concerned. They're not even getting to go into their buildings to go to their room because they're being told, "Oh, I probably will move you." at this point in time for them to get prepared to meet our children on the first day of school. I'm real concerned that the building leader, the instructional leader has not already made those
007decisions instead of doing it at the 11th hour and getting there. It shouldn't be an overwhelming amount. they should be able to go into their schools, get to work in their classroom. If they're that dedicated without being paid, let's support them because I've had a lot of phone calls also. And I'm I'm just uh I'm concerned about our our teachers being retaliated against for whatever reason. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Cloud. Miss >> Yeah, I I support Dr. Keith, too. And I I went to Dr. Ber and had um great conversation with him about employment because building leaders can't tell people to report to work without HR. So maybe we need to put something out to remind them again. If you accept a position if it does not officially come from here, from HR,
008from the superintendent, you don't have a job. That's why we try to get people not to move until it's official. So maybe going back to reiterate to the staff that the process and I know we can tell by the report we're a little behind. So um I think putting it out there is a good thing. I I think letting teachers know uh and letting building leaders know we have new building leaders. Maybe they're missing a step. So I I think that's that's a great thing to and we don't we don't need anybody growing. You're absolutely right. So maybe putting out um let's review it again, Dr. Bird, and get them out what they need. >> Uh I was talking about tenure teachers. >> Uh let me get to Miss Mitchell and then I'll come back
009to >> you know I I agree with uh Miss Portoris. It's very important that everyone understands what the rule is. You know, they understand what student first says. And this is a a a time of of chaos and it hadn't just started. You know, I remember being a teacher and I had to move five times in one year and I was not happy. But I knew it was for the benefit of the children. We have people who are resigning at the last minute. We must look at the positions that we can fill and fill those positions that are needed first. And it takes time. So what we're asking from everybody, please have patience with us so that we can do the best job that we can do. It's not always retaliation. Let's look at this
010from a positive point of view. Let's try to do what's best for the students saying yes, we will have to sacrifice and let's try to do that with a good attitude because the children are going to have to go through some things. They're going to have to move from here from there, you know, because we're going to have to balance and rebalance because of the numbers. But let's try to do it with a positive attitude. And I think that's the most important thing for this school year. >> All right, Miss Cloud. >> I think this goes back to the trust level. What is what is a building the instructional leader, the trust of those instructional leaders. These are tenure teachers I'm speaking of, not not new hires. I know we we're entitled to position, but
011not a location. But with that said, it is now right before school. These dedicated teachers that are tenured that have been doing a good job, for whatever reason, they're not being treated with respect enough by the building leader that has had past situations that have come up just like that. So, let's call the elephant in the room what it is. And I just don't >> we have to be very careful as we call the elephant in the room to not go into good names. Well, I realize that I didn't call an elephant, but I said the reason behind it. Thank you. >> You're welcome, >> Dr. B. And thank you all so much, board members, for your concerns. And I realize, of course, what in that that And I realize, of course, what and that
012this is a time, this is a stressful time for all of our employees. Uh again, and we are starting school uh in less than two weeks. Uh and because of that uh I have had to initiate uh what the state superintendent allows uh and we call it in common term common terms we call it a a blackout period uh and it's the period that 30 days before uh school start uh teachers are not able to resign from their current positions uh unless a suitable replacement has been found. We know of course that even at this time that we have vacancies in our district. Uh and so I've actually asked the human resource department uh to implement the blackout period uh to make sure that we're not allowing teachers to resign unless we actually have suitable
013replacements in place. And I like to say that the human resource department that they have been working extremely hard while severely underst staff uh they've been working extremely hard along with our principles uh to recruit the best uh teachers that we possibly can so that we can allow those teachers that wish to resign that we allow them to leave but at the same time making sure that we're fully staffed and we have the best teachers to put in front of our children. Uh I have spoken with several uh teachers individually. I I understand their concerns. I've even spoken with some superintendents and so we've had some tradeoffs uh in some things to where I'm holding some people, he's holding some people uh and different things like that and this is multiple superintendents but we are
014working through uh those issues uh and I promise our staff members that for those that wish to resign that uh we are going to work with you so that you can actually go where you please but please bear with us uh so that we can actually allow for a super replacement at this time. >> Thank you Dr. Bird. That's very fair. Um, all right. That was discussion. Has been motioned and second that we accept uh uh on the recommendation of the superintendent for personnel report classified personnel. All those in favor do so by a showing of hands. It is unanimous. On Tuesday, August 12th, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., the Montgomery County Board of Education will hold its regular schedule board meeting. This meeting is now adjourned. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]