Meeting of the Baltimore County Board of Education - February 24, 2026

001I call to order the meeting of the board of education of Baltimore County for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. This evening's board of education meeting is being broadcast through the BCPS online live meeting broadcast and on BCPS TV, Comcast Exfinity channel 1073 and Verizon FiOS channel 34. In order to officially conduct this meeting, all voting items this evening will be done by roll call vote. May I have a motion to go into close session as permitted by the open meetings act as found in the annotated code of Maryland general provisions article 3-305 B1 and B7 to discuss the appointment employment assignment promotion discipline demotion compensation removal resignation or performance evaluation of appointees employees or officials over whom it has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals and consult with counsel

002to obtain legal advice. So move stles. Thank you. Is there a second? Second. Pumphrey. Thank you. May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Stleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy. Mr. McMillian. Yes. Miss Pumphrey? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Miss Hen, Miss Framp, Miss Harvey. Yes, Miss Aomebe. Miss Licter. Yes. Could you hold one second, Miss Le? I want to make sure that they can hear us. Miss Hen. Oh, shoot. Miss Hen. Yes. Yes, I can hear you, Miss Gober. Great. Thank you. Me. I know. Thank you. I can't get it off. Miss Fong. Yes. Are you just doing a sound check? We're doing roll call for a close. Okay. This is the first time I could hear anything. So, yes. Are present. Thank you. Likewise, kicked in. Present. Thank you. Okay.

003Just tell me when we can continue. for Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. I invite you to recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag to be led by me. We will then have a moment of silence and recognition of those who have served education in Baltimore County. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. And I forgot and a moment of silence for those who have served education in Baltimore County. Thank you. Tonight's board of education meeting is being broadcast through the BCPS online live meeting broadcast and on BCPS TV Xfinity channel 1073 and Verizon FiOS channel 34. In order to efficiently conduct this meeting, all voting items this evening will be done

004by roll call vote. Before we begin this evening's meeting, on behalf of the board, I'd like to congratulate Superintendent Rogers on her most recent honor of being selected superintendent of the 2026 AASA Women in School Leadership Award, which recognizes her dedication to student success. So, on behalf of the board, congratulations Dr. Rogers. And the first item on the agenda is the consideration of the February 24th agenda. Dr. Rogers, are there any additions or changes to tonight's agenda? I am unaware of any changes to this evening's agenda. Thank you. Hearing none, the agenda stands as presented. Earlier this evening, the board met in close session pursuant to the Open Meetings Act for the following reasons. to discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over

005whom it has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals and consult with council to obtain legal advice. The close session summary and the open session information summary can be found on board docs under this board meeting agenda. The next item on the agenda is personnel matters and for that I call on Mr. McCall. Good evening, Mr. McCall. All right. Good evening, Chair Linker, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Dr. Rogers, and members of the board. Like the board's consent for the following personnel matters. We have retirements, resignations, leaves, and educator lensure appointments. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the personnel matters as presented in exhibits D1 through D4? So move Pumprey. Thank you. Do I have a second? Second, Harvey. Thank you. Any discussion? May have a roll

006call vote, please. Mr. Mr. Yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Miss Pumphrey, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Fong, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Abe, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. McCall. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is administrative appointments. And for that, I call on Dr. Rogers. Good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, and members of the board. I bring forward the following administrative appointment for your approval. Engineer information security office of application and network sec or security security support and board certified behavior analyst department of special education. Do I have a motion to approve the administrative appointments as presented in exhibit E1? So move stles. Thank you. Do I have a second? Second. Young. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a

007roll call vote, please? Miss Dowski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumphrey? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fong? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Okambe? Yes. Miss Lter? Yes. Thank you, Dr. Rogers. Thank you. Our first appointment for the evening is Alexander Ferman. Please stand to be recognized. Alexander is attending this evening with his guest Nicholas Cado and is being appointed as the board certified behavior analyst in the department of special education with five years of service with Baltimore County Public Schools. His former BCPS experience includes special education self-contained teacher and social emotional learning teacher at Maiden Choice. Prior to that, Alexander served as a clinical supervisor at Verbal Beginnings and program coordinator with Shepard Pratt. Congratulations and welcome back to BCPS. Our second appointment this evening is

008not attending, Nathan Chapala. Nathan is being appointed as the engineer information security in the office of application and network security support with six years of service. Nathan's experiences include IAM specialist at data 1 and AM engineer at PNC financials. Congratulations and welcome to BCPS. So I had the privilege of watching Alex when he was a teacher at Maiden Choice and we truly are fortunate that you are back in BCPS. So congratulations. Our next item is public comment. This is one of the opportunities the board provides to hear the views and receive the advice of community members. If not selected to address the board, members of the public may submit their comments to the board members via email at boebcps.org. The Baltimore County Police Department's Homeland Security Unit and Office of School Safety has recommended safety

009and security protocols, which are posted in the boardroom and available in board docs and on the board's participation by the public website. While we encourage public input on policy, programs, and practices within the purview of this board in this school system, this is not the proper forum to address specific student or employee matters or to comment on matters that do not relate to public education in Baltimore County. Inappropriate personal remarks or other behavior, such as language that promotes violence against a BCPS employee or that disrupts or interferes with the conduct of this meeting, are out of order and will not be tolerated. Persons who otherwise disrupt or disturb this meeting will not be allowed to continue the remarks and will be escorted from the meeting. Please observe the three-minute clock which will let you know

010when your time is up. The microphone will be turned off at the end of your time or prior to that time at the discretion of the board chair. It is the practice of the board to allow elected officials to provide their comments to the board. And first to speak tonight, we have a couple extra people here for very good reason. First to speak tonight is Representative Miss Clayman, who is representing um Chris Van Holland, our United States Senator. Dr. Rogers will join her testing. Thank you. Um Dr. Dr. Rogers, I just want to say on a personal note what a privilege and honor it is for me to be here this evening. Um, I do bring you a citation from Senator Van Holland which I'll read in just a moment, but also I am a

011BCPS parent so this doesn't surprise me at all and it's an honor and a joy to be able to be here. So, thank you for educating my children. Um, and with that, a message from your United States Senator. This citation is presented to Dr. Miriam Rogers, Superintendent, Baltimore County Public Schools, in recognition of your receiving the American Association of School Administrators 2026 Women in School Leadership Award for your exemplary leadership and dedication to advancing educational excellence. And with appreciation for your continued commitment to supporting student success, strengthening schools, and serving the community. and with best wishes for your continued success. Chris Van Galand, United States Senator, the 24th of February, 2026. Thank you. Dr. Rogers, you stay right there. because our next person's got similar comments. So, next is Miss Paxton who is representing US

012Senator Also Brooks. Good evening everyone. It's actually my pleasure to present this citation to Dr. Rogers. As a former educator of 21 years, I definitely understand the sacrifice and the support that Dr. Rogers provides to the faculty and staff within Baltimore County Public Schools. So I will read the citation. This citation is presented to Dr. Miriam Rogers in recognition of being awarded the women in women in school leadership award by the school superintendent association. Whereas Dr. Miriam Rogers, superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, is a dedicated educational leader known for her commitment to student success, instructional quality, and teamwork. She recently received a national leadership award from the Superintendent Association for outstanding contributions to public education. Whereas through her service at the to the state of Maryland, Dr. Rogers has created transformative educational opportunities by

013supporting educators, encouraging innovative learning environments, and building systems that help both students and teachers reach their full potential. Whereas Dr. Rogers visionary leadership, strong commitment to educational equity, and lasting positive impact on students, families, and school communities show the highest standards of public service. Now, therefore, I, Senator Angela D. Also, Brooks along with the people of Maryland commend Dr. Miriam Rogers for her outstanding leadership. I offer sincere congratulations on this national honor and thank her for her dedication to Maryland students and educators presented on this 24th day of February, 2026. Thank you. And our next speaker is Miss Mandy Reml representing our congressman, Johnny Osheski. All right. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Mandy Reml and it is an honor to be here tonight on behalf of our congressman Johnny Oeski presenting this wonderful

014prestigious award to Dr. Miam Rogers. Um, the congressman is sorry that he could not personally attend tonight as he is at the state of the union with a lot of our uh senators and other congress members. Um, but we have this wonderful award that reads in honor of your continued leadership and dedication as superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools. I congratulate you on the winning winning the prestigious AASA women in school leadership award. Your vision and commitment to excellence are a true inspiration to the students and educators you serve. And so congratulations from Congressman Johnny Oeski, your United States representative for Maryland's second congressional district. Thank you. Can we do a group? Group photo. Okay, we'll let you go to your meeting. Dr. Rogers, you can come back. Come back. I know you love this

015stuff. So, I'm not going to read them, but we do have a bunch more um citations. So, we have a citation from Senate Chair Shelley Hedelman and the Baltimore County Senate delegation. Congratulations. We have one from House Chair Eric Eversol and the Baltimore County House delegation. Congratulations. Thank you. We have one from Council Chair Mike Gertell and the county council. Congratulations. And county executive Kathy Clauser. So, right. So, congratulations. It's all over. Okay. All right. Back to back to business. Our first category for public speakers are school system affiliated groups. And our first speaker is Leslie Weber, who I believe is virtual from the PTA Council of Baltimore County. Miss Weber, you might need to hit star six. Oh, there you are. Hi, I'm here. Can you hear me? Yep, we can hear you. Good

016evening. Great. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, Board of Education members, and Dr. Rogers. I'm Lesley Weber, president of the PTA Council of Baltimore County. We'd like to congratulate Dr. Rogers for winning the annual AASA Women in School Leadership Award, which recognizes exceptional leaders making a difference in students lives. We're proud to support Dr. Rogers and BCPS and their important work. PTA Council recently submitted testimony in support of House Bill 189 and Senate Bill 103, which require school districts in Maryland to implement health safe and healthy start times for middle and high schools, meaning not before 8 a.m. for middle schools and not before 8:30 a.m. for high schools. Maryland school districts are charged with providing students with the supports necessary to learn, achieve, and find find success in

017college and careers. None of that is possible if they're too tired to learn. March is almost here. On March 18th, we plan to take part in the BCPS Mind Over Matters event at the Franklin Square Conference Center. Thank you to our BCPS liaison, Office of Family and Community Engagement Supervisor, Su Han, for the invitation. On March 22nd, we'll hope host our annual reflection celebration to recognize students who took part in National PTA's arts education program. will soon be sending invitations to BCPS leadership and board of education members. On March 26th, we'll host our virtual general meeting, which always has a health and safety focus. At this meeting, our nominating committee will announce our slate of officers in advance of the elections to be held at our April general meeting. PTA Council has been intentional in

018partnering with BCPS on important initiatives. our responsible cell phone use campaign, our meet and greet for PTA leaders and community school facilitators, and our American education week here for attendance challenge. We hope to advance our partnership by having PTAs create service learning opportunities for students, including at the middle school level. This is important because MSDE requires that all students complete 75 service learning hours to graduate. I was happy to learn more about service learning at a recent parent university event led by face program specialist Stacy Wade. The chair of our family school and community partnerships committee Ramona Basilio is grateful for the time Miss Wade and Su Han have given to talk have given to talk through the ways that PTAs can possibly partner with BCPS to support service learning. We hope those we hope

019to keep those discussions going. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is from unions and that is Kelly Olds from Tapco. Good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, Dr. Rogers, and members of the board. Tonight is a major step in our budget process and a critical one. There are still questions to be asked and actions to take. In short, you schoolboard members can still reduce the 594 positions uh position cuts and better the future of Baltimore County students. Tabco has been busy. We have talked to almost the entire county council and the county executive. We've shared the proposed budget. We've asked for additional funding. We've discussed other ways to make this budget work. We've attended budget town hall meetings and raised our concerns. We've talked to community members. We've talked to our own members and

020to some of you everywhere. Our message is the same. These cuts would increase class size and class size increases are bad for our students. Many of you schoolboard members have jumped into the process and we applaud you. Your questions are probing. They show a deep passion for our students and a serious take on the proposed budget. Please keep this up. We understand the difficulties of the budget process, especially in light of reduced enrollment and fiscal constraints. The needs of the school, the needs of the schools and the children are greater than the financial resources available. And in many ways, the ask to you, the board, is to do more with less. This is the same request that is made to educators every day. Each year, we have seen less resources, which means less educators, less

021flexibility, less resources, and less of the things that make it possible to educate our children. But we keep on. It is becoming untenable. At what point do we recognize that there isn't more that educators can be asked to take on? The decisions are hard, but it is the work that we must do. Let's find a way to reduce these cuts, pro protect class sizes and staffing allocations. This helps to protect our students futures and makes it so educators will stay in the classroom. Thank you. Thank you. Our next category is nonprofit community groups. And our first speaker is Marietta from the Baltimore County NAACP. She's got flowers for you. Good evening. And good evening, Chairwoman Lecter, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Rogers, and members of the board. I am Maretta English, and I chair the AXO

022committee and the education committee for the NAACP, Baltimore County. I am here today as chair of the education committee to congratulate Dr. Rogers on receiving the award from AASA. Having worked with AASA when I was president of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, I know how hard it is to receive an award from them. So, I thank you for all the work you've done. I'm sure the vetting process was hard, but you made it through because of all the work you have done for Baltimore County. and the education committee would like to present this dozen of roses to you to show you how much we appreciate working with you, Dr. Rogers. Thank you again. Our next speaker is Deborah C. Cuffy from the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sarity Incorporated Epsilon Epsilon Omega chapter. Good evening,

023Dr. Rogers, members of the board, and all assembled. My name is Deborah Cuffy, and I am a 50-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, a higher education professional and a 30-year retiree from the Community College of Baltimore County. It is my honor to bring words of encouragement to our sister. Congratulations to her and the Baltimore County uh superintendent Dr. Rogers on behalf of Dr. Nikia Shouel Bart, president of the oopsilon epsilon Omega chapter of Baltimore County and its more than 200 members. As we close out Black History Month and look forward to celebrating Women's History Month, our timing to acknowledge the selection of Dr. Rogers as the recipient of the 2026 AASA Women in School Leadership Award in the Superintendent category is appropriate. Dr. Rogers executes with passion, strength, and dedication for BCPS staff

024and students. Her management style is open, honest, and engaging. Despite the financial challenging times we now are presented with, Dr. Rogers remains focused and transparent. Leadership is not easy. You often must make tough, unpopular choices. It can be increasingly difficult for women and honestly a lonely road. I salute Dr. Rogers for being steadfast on her journey and remind her that her sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority continue to pray for her strength, stand ready to support, and as in the past will partner with BCPS to uplift our community and empower our students. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Thank you. Our next speaker is Octavia Park Saunders from the Baltimore County Alumni Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta. Good evening. My support. Good evening, um, chairwoman, vice chair, and the superintendent. Good evening. My

025name is Octavia Park Saunders and I'm the social action co-chair of the Baltimore County Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated. Our chapter president is Lisa Dano and she regretfully was not able was unable to attend tonight. Um, our chapter service area is the entire Baltimore County area and we are 400 strong and have served the families and students in Baltimore County since 1984. So tonight, on behalf of my chapter, I want to honor and congratulate um Superintendent Dr. Miriam Rogers on being awarded the AASA 2026 women in leaders women in school leadership award in the superintendent category. Delta Sigma Theta has established a long and glorious history of service based on our fivepoint programmatic thrust with one of those thrust focusing on educational development. And similar to Dr. Rogers's mission to lead and

026empower others to remove barriers to student success. Our chapter is committed to student success and provides over provide scholarships to Baltimore County students having facilitated nearly a 100,000 in awards in the past year. I would like to take this moment just to inform that we also we have applications open for our three scholarships for the community that we support those attending H.B.CU CUS students attending four-year colleges programs or university and students attending the community college of Baltimore County seeking their associate degree. But just once again, we didn't want the moment to pass without s giving our support and our congratulations to Dr. Rogers for your commitment to service to the students in Baltimore County. We congratulate you and look forward to more partnership with you and supporting our students in the county. Congratulations. Thank you.

027Okay, our next category are individual citizens or students and our first speaker is Sharon SHF. Good evening. There's been a lot of discussion recently concerning graduation rates in the state, particularly here in Baltimore County. So, this is the area that I'd like to talk about is credit recovery in relation to special education and basically all students. Our students are required to have four English credits, four specific math credits, three science, three social studies, one health, one tech, one personal finance/economics. And by the way, those requirements have changed seven times over the past seven years. In Baltimore County, there are two ways of recovering credits. If you don't pass a class to get the credit, one of those ways is you double up the following year on whatever class you missed. In other words, you take

028algebra 1 and algebra 2. Sounds a little strange to me. The other way is what's called spark. Sit me down in front of a computer. I watch uh videos and take a test until I pass. Basically, I'm teaching myself and I'm doing it at my own pace. Okay. The basic tenant of special education is a free and appropriate public education. If I need special education, if I require an IEP, I require specialized instruction. Are either of the two ways that we do credit recovery in Baltimore County meeting that requirement? I can definitely tell you no. I have clients who are taking six spark classes in one year. That's a problem. I have clients who are doubling up in more than one year. Didn't pass it the first time. You got to do something different. And

029what you're doing is not helping your graduation rates to go up. They're going down because of the way we are teaching our students, not because we have too many bodies, not because we don't have enough students. We can do better and I'd like to start seeing it. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Scott Rossi. Good evening, board members. Dr. Rogers. Um, initially I came here tonight to address school safety and climate, particularly student safety assistance. Um, in 2022, the student safety assistant program was brought on board by Baltimore County. Um, and we were fedally funded for two years under a grant. Um, in the beginning of August of 2024, um, we were brought to Kenwood High School for a meeting, told us that we are now in the budget, which I congratulate y'all

030for bringing us in. Um, but at that time, we're also told that we would not receive any kind of benefits or anything. We were strictly contractual. Um, that was a surprise to everyone being that we signed contracts in June and weren't told this until August. Um and then last year cuts were made throughout the student safety assistance throughout Baltimore County. Um my personally wasn't informed of this until July. Um so my question is to the board for the student safety assistant program. Do you guys see this growing? Um are there going to be more cuts this year? Um particularly a lot of us would like, you know, we don't get paid for holidays. We don't get paid for inclement weather days. So that's it's rough. It's been a rough winter for all of us. Um

031we want to ask if this position is going to be if if it's going to go move forward in Baltimore County, if we're going to receive benefits, um if we're going to receive cost of living, pay raises, all the above. Um cuz right now there's no clarity. And when we ask our administrators, nobody has an answer. So that's pretty much what I wanted to address to the board tonight. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dr. Fon. Did you have public comments? Okay. Good evening to all. Congratulation Dr. Rogers. She'll be right back. However, I'd like to ask you truly what is the value of this award to our superintendent for the quality and achievement of education? I have not really seen okay I have known many ordinary citizens including I who

032received similar awards from our senators and congressmen it's feels good but we are here for what feeling good or achievement performance I know the organization and it has standards and I thought to myself when I read what does that mean really to the students? Did the superintendent have a national reputation about education? I have not seen that. Did she author a book treaties? Is she known beyond Tabco Baltimore County? Not really. And you know the scores that have been presented as an improvement are really small elevations and are not really significant. So if you put all these together and you add to them that there are vacancies that are not fulfilled and I see tabco and case always come and complaining what does this award mean? It feels good. I felt good when Senator Van

033Holling gave me a similar recognition. It feels good. You as a board have the duty to respond to taxpayers, to respond to the students. You have that duty not to be affected by some sort of PR. Thank you. Our next speaker is Louise Baker. Good evening. Okay. I uh I don't have any flowers or awards or citations to give out tonight. My apologies. Um Baltimore County Public Schools employs 20,000 people and serves approximately 100 100 11,000 students. Yet fewer than half of those employees are classroom teachers, roughly 9 to 9,500. At the same time, academic outcomes remain deeply concerning. Grade 3 math profic proficiency is 39%. That means 60% of our third graders are not proficient in math. Grade 7 English language arts proficiency is 44%. That means 56% of our students are not proficient

034in reading, writing, speaking or listening. Those are not small gaps. Those are failures. Over the past decade, spending has increased and non-eing staffing has increased. Yet proficiency remains below state averages. As board members, your role is governance, not day-to-day personnel management. Discussions about individual resignations, hires, and internal staffing matters belong to the superintendent. Your responsibility is strategic oversight. If more than half of our students are not proficient, then focus should be clear. Prioritize the students. Reduce the number of non-eing positions. Tie budget decisions directly to measurable academic outcomes. If funding is tight, how does the budget contain a $24 million line item labeled confidential spending? Parents deserve transparency. Taxpayers deserve accountability. Most importantly, students deserve proficiency, not excuses. The trajectory we are on will define this board's legacy. I urge you to make student achievement

035the central metric of success. When a majority of students are not proficient, that is not a funding issue. That is a leadership issue. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Courtney Goldbeck. Good evening, Superintendent Rogers and members of the board. My name is Courtney Goldbeck. I'm the library media specialist at Middle River Middle School. I've been a professional librarian for 17 years and hold a masters in library and information science. I am here regarding the vital role of library media specialists in our secondary schools. A certified school library media specialist is not a minor support role on the margins of instruction. They are first and foremost teachers and leaders. According to the Maryland State Department of Education's 2023 24 annual library media report, library media specialists spend 45% of their time

036providing direct instruction, more than any other role that they serve. On average, they deliver 16 hours of direct instruction each week, teaching students in libraries and classrooms, often alongside content area teachers. This instruction is not incidental. It is targeted standards. standards aligned teaching that prepare students for colleges, careers, and civic life. Library media specialists are the primary instructors of information and digital literacy in our schools. Statewide data shows that more than twothirds of specialists frequently teach students to apply critical thinking skills, evaluate the credibility of sources, ethically use information, and work with a variety of formats and perspectives. In an era of misinformation and rapidly evolving technology, these are not optional skills. They are essential graduation competencies. Library media specialists also serve as instructional partners. While many secondary schedules have limited our flexibility, 23% of

037library media specialists frequently co-plan and co-e instructional units and 63% regularly facilitate collaborative learning experiences that support inquiry based learning. These partnerships strengthen classroom instruction and extend learning beyond a single subject area. Research consistently shows that students achieve at higher levels in schools with certified library media specialists. And Maryland's own data reinforces this reality. When we invest in library media specialists, we invest in teachers who teach students how to learn, how to question, analyze, create, and grow into informed citizens. Supporting and sustaining these positions as full-time is not an add-on. It is a commitment to student achievement and educational equity. Thank you for your time and support of libraries within BCPS. Thank you. Next are public comments on board policies. The first policy is 2361 and the first speaker is Scott Rossy. Did you want

038to speak on the policy or did you did it get okay? I wanted to check. And next speaker on policy 2361, which is distribution of non-school materials, is Louise Baker. Unless you've signed up twice by accident. Did you want to speak on the policy? No, I I fine. Just checking. Just checking. And our third speaker for policy 2361 is Dr. Ferrron. Good evening again. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity. Policy 2361 the first paragraph line 8 to 11 talks about students being informed parents etc etc and then in line 13 talks about dissemination of these material in order to provide a learning environment that is free from disruption. free from disruption. So as a critical person, I think the word free is unattainable practically. You cannot have a system that is free from disruption.

039I recommend that I would use the word minimize disruption or you might have some other choice similar to that. Then in the second paragraph talks about distribution of material announcements uh etc etc 17 to 23 and then the statement says Baltimore County Public School shall not shall not imply board or school system endorsement of the organization or the information it disseminates. So if you do not really recognize whatever you are disseminating for whatever reason then why disseminated? I don't get it. I think this policy lacks specifics, lacks examples and the definitions are not really clear. And in my 50 seconds or less, this is the same argument I come to you in the vast majority of policies that they are elastic. they can be interpreted in different ways by different people and I don't think

040that would lead to effective efficient system. Thank you. Do you want me to stay or I you may stay to speak about policy 5000 on students. Policy 5000 is really important one is about students. It talks about quality, developing content, knowledge, skill, attitude. I love to hear the superintendent talking about attitudes. And then it talks about standards. All students will reach high standards. That's lime 15 by PCPS. Really? I mean, we heard the superintendent talking about the needle moving a little bit up, but it's really not significant. We heard so many board members and interested citizens talking about the poor achievement in past many years. Then line 18 talks about all English language learners will become proficient in English and reach high academic standard. So and then it talks about students will be taught by

041highly qualified teachers. So the problem with these fancy PR exaggerated words that they really don't match the reality. All right. Uh here is my thing. I am an immigrant. No doubt. 52 years Baltimoreian. Still am an immigrant. But I don't see the people that uh this school defended learning English in the way I learned it. All right. And I fear one day we are going to be like Quebec in Canada, different than the rest. The high standards, obviously the school results don't show any high standards. They don't I mean it's horrible results and it didn't start in 2013 like some say. It started when I started being an advocate for students in 1995 when Dr. Burgerer was a superintendent and continued to slide slowly and gradually every year. Everybody, especially the people in this room,

042kicked the can down the road. Everybody. And the people who means well they get overvoted because others vote with the finger raised up in the air. I think this policy does not match the reality. Thank you. And our the third policy is 6800 field trips and foreign travel study programs. Dr. Fern. All right. So we talk about field trips. I say to you the word field is the wrong one because it tells me about a field of corn or plantation visiting a farm. Baltimore County is not really a farm or it might mean a field like basketball. I think it's better you label it as educational trip. Education is what count. And then in light 10 it talks about carefully plan the field etc including foreign travel and that it would be a logical growth

043of curricular activity. This phrase is just really as elastic as the rubber. It means different things to different people. It's very subjective. And my criticism about this policy is is that it is an extra expense and an extra responsibility. I'm not a lawyer, but doesn't really make sense. When you take kids out in the name of the school, you are exposed for liability for somebody get hurt, injured, raped, anything like that. I always told you madame chair, superintendent, board members, this school system is so much divided in giving perks to different political groups that cost money and take your attention away just like this policy does from education. You are the board of education. You have no business in sending people to a foreign country. Their parents can take them to Paris, can take them

044to Ukraine or China. You don't need to be involved with that. It's a big liability. I'd rather you put the money in hiring teachers, computers, better software, better books. I really don't agree with this policy. I think it's wrong. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is unfinished business, the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget. And for that, I call on Dr. Rogers. Thank you. Um, I would like to call for Mr. Tantliff and Dr. Grim to come forward, please. Based on some requests during the uh the last uh board of education meeting, we have prepared some slides uh to review for all board of education members as well as the public. Uh, but before we begin, I would be remissed um if I did not ask Mr. Tantliff if you could for the record

045speak to most recently there was a comment um that indicated there was a $24 million line item called confidential spending. Whether or not that is factually accurate, no, that is not accurate. We have nothing that's called confidential or anything of the sort. Thank you. As a reminder to our public, uh the Maryland State Department of Education requires all school systems to budget with required categories. The definition, both the names and the definition of those those categories can be found in our budget book. It can also be found on budget 101 or on the state of Maryland website. So with that, we'll go ahead and uh get started with this evening's presentation. We want to remind everyone uh next slide please. We want to remind everyone that uh we this is our third year of a

046challenging fiscal landscape. Um part of what is contributing to the fiscal landscape in addition to the reductions and the changes uh that we've seen at the federal uh local and uh state level is that increases are not keeping up um with the costs. Our enrollment like across the state of Maryland has decreased since COVID. Um but every formula that allocates funding to school systems is based on the number of students. Uh as everyone is aware of, we had a three-year compensation package and part of the feedback that we received loud and clear from our commit from our community this year was a commitment to honor both the second half of year two as well as the full year three compensation package. And so this slide is simply a reminder that if we look at the

047additional revenue that we are slated to receive from all funding sources, there is a funding gap that exists just for compensation alone. Next slide, please. We also spent several months trying to answer the question plainly for members of our community. uh particularly when we hear conversations about how much money Baltimore County Public Schools receives, want to remind everyone that BCPS is the third largest school system in the state of Maryland. The maintenance of effort law requires and governs the amount of funding that we receive. That is based on the number of students that are enrolled and the spending the previous year. 82 cents of every dollar that comes into Baltimore County Public Schools is spent on employee salaries and benefits. In the darker green depicted on this graphic are the divisions by union um associations

048as well as the non-represented staff and the other 18 cents is subdivided that is used to operate the full school system all schools and offices. Next slide please. So we have had two work sessions. We have posted um responses to all budget questions that we have received and engaged in um uh responding to questions during these uh work sessions in addition to all of the work that we did prior to the posting of the budget. want to share that during last meeting we were provided with a proposal that our team began to work diligently on to identify the responses and to provide some updates uh to team BCPS. Uh the first thing was there was a request for a quarterly budget line transfer reports uh to receive that quarterly. The first request was made since

0492024 came in as a part of this budget process. Um if you go to our budget 101 you will find that quarter 1 2 and three reports are posted and um as a result of receiving that request moving forward quarterly requests will be uh quarterly reports will be provided to the full board. um special revenue federal grants. Uh there were uh suggestions made regarding specifically IDEIDA which governs our uh students receiving special education services and title one uh which uh 72 of our schools 7172 of them receive title one funding um to meet the needs of our students uh and families experiencing um uh economic uh concerns. salary turnover uh was a was introduced during our last few work sessions. Uh want to just make it clear that when we talk about salary turnover savings

050and we're talking about fund balance, we're talking about one ultimate source of money. We're talking about the savings for the school system. And so as Mr. Tantlift gets into the details. Um, I want to make sure that we have elevated that and communicated it plainly to uh the members of team BCPS. Um, I also want to report as I did last time that I remain in close communication with our county executive. Our last communication was today. Um, she again reiterates her commitment to team BCPS. she desires to do more um than the uh request uh the target. And right now what we're working on is the timeline. And so um I wanted to make sure that everyone is clear that there is a commitment from our county executive. The timeline will dictate how much more

051um she is able to do as she works through her own county government uh budget process. Uh there was a request for a supplemental um uh asked to the county executive. As Mr. Tantliff goes through uh the additional uh slides, he will go through uh details and the timing of the supplemental uh request. And lastly, I want to share that one of the things that we did is we immediately consulted with fiscal experts. uh we consulted with economists as well as um certified public accountants, budget analysts who have been doing this work for decades. Important to uh note that Mr. Tantliff who sits here as our executive director for fiscal services has 30 years of finance experience um 17 years working on state and local government um and also a Navy veteran. Um he leads

052this work. uh in addition to his work uh Mr. Tantliff was very open and wanted to hear from additional perspectives about the guidance that we have been provided particularly since this is the third year of a tough fiscal landscape for BCPS. Next slide please. And so some of the people that we reached out to were retired chief financial officers of Maryland large school systems um as well as our own retired um acting chief financial officer Mr. Saras and retired um executive director of fiscal services a role that he held on to uh I believe for decades in BCPS. Um Mr. Uh Saras's quote is here. Uh what everyone was provided was access to our operating budget website, our budget 101, our uh FY27 proposed budget book, as well as uh the components of all of

053our work sessions and the components of uh the proposal that was shared during the last uh budget work session. Uh Mr. Sarah is shared when we are subject to the dual constraints of limited revenue and contractual commitments. Uh the school system has chosen the correct and only path of reducing expenditures. The public and taxpayers cannot have low growth and low taxes without a cost. School systems throughout the country routinely make these difficult decisions. continued support and professional development for teachers, not to mention significantly increase compensation should sustain the quality of instruction. Mr. Saras also analyzed uh fund balance and uh the decisions that were made uh to review whether or not the approach that was be being taken was financially prudent and was taking into consideration the outy years and the responsibility that we have

054for all of the students that remain in BCPS. Uh we also consulted with uh lead economist Dr. Bassu the chairman and CEO of the Sage Policy Group and his uh he conducted a review using the same materials and his comments are stated here. In short, what has been suggested are very bad ideas. Why? Because effectively they borrow from the future. There is no new money that has been found merely a reshuffleling. Funding from the blueprint is threatened by ongoing economic malaise, surging Medicaid expenditures, and push back from stakeholders in categories that have already been substantially cut, including higher education. In short, this is a time for BCPS to budget with extreme caution. This is not a time to toy with the fund balance or make rosy presumptions about future federal or state funding. Next slide,

055please. Um, as I indicated previously, we received a budget reports request. Um, there is no internal diversion of salary savings. That is not a practice in BCPS. Instructional instructional salaries are an MSDE category and therefore they require approval to request to transfer funds from instructional salaries to any other category by both the board of education and the county government through the annual BAT process. Um the qu the report uh that was requested was provided to the board of education from the period of November 21 to April 24. Um this is the first request and as I stated moving forward uh this report will indeed be provided to the four full board of education on a quarterly basis. At this point I turn it over to Mr. Tantliff to go through the remaining slides. Thank you.

056Um here's just a snapshot of the report. Uh obviously not going to go through it here but we can walk through it at a future board meeting. Um the first point brought up was about federal revenue reconciliation and should uh we add 10 million more to the budget for title one and IDA because of the um consolidate appropriation act of 2026. Uh title one and uh IDA pass through are both planned fairly conservatively. That plan gets put together in the fall when the rest of the proposed budget is put together. Um adding to title one now just in case anyone's wondering would absolutely not affect classroom ratios because of supplanting rules. Title one is above and beyond everything we do in the regular classroom. Now when we find out the final title one and IDA

057budgets later in the cycle and it's important to note even if the overall appropriation uh for the country is flat that this the state may be higher or lower and within the state any of the counties could be higher or lower than the prior year. So for instance this year um even though appropriations were flat BCPS received 2 million less than we did in the prior year. Um, and we've also dropped about $3.7 million over the last couple of years. The most important point though is once we get our final appropriation, we will budget to that level. If it's uh lower than what we've budgeted, we would reduce it. Uh, if it's higher than what we've budgeted, we will increase uh that budget. So, with grants, we're able to budget to exactly what our final

058award comes in at. And of course, it's impossible for any grant to know what that award is when we put the budget together because they all come out much later in the cycle. Normally after the budget is adopted, uh typically Mayish time time frame, could be a little earlier, could be a little later. Um, so that's really kind of the key takeaways here are uh the the the budget is sound the way it is and we will make any adjustments to match whatever the final award comes in at which is what we do every single year with every single grant. Thank you. Uh there was a point about vacancy rate realignment um increasing the request was to request the vacancy rate to 5.5%. Uh Mr. Saras and Dr. about Sue. You saw their comments on

059the last slide and we we've talked about this quite a bit over the last uh few sessions, but increasing our salary savings or salary turnover by $28 million is exactly the same as increasing our fund balance usage by $28 million. We are the we are increasing the amount we're going to spend in our base forever more by $28 million. So, not only does that increase our spending by 28 million, it also reduces the amount of fund balance that's available at year end. And I'll show you in a couple slides what that looks like. Um, it's really about the same. Uh, our proposed budget is a 32% increase over last year, 50 uh million over 37.8 million. If you think about the increased salary savings in addition to the fund balance, it'd be the equivalent of

060increasing our fund balance usage by 106%. So, so really not fiscally prudent in the big scheme of things. And um when you rely more on turnover, you're assuming you'll be keeping uh additional empty position or lower paid staff. Um fund balance is our savings account. It's a precious precious commodity and if it goes we end up being in a really bad fiscal position. So it is it is absolutely the definition of uh robbing Peter to pay Paul robbing from our future to solve a problem this year but creating a really large problem in the outy years. This is uh a chart you saw a couple of meetings ago, but the difference here is on the left, what we did was increase our expenditures by 28.1 million, keeping everything else constant. This is a really simple

061example, the sustainable uh example. We'll do a a blow up of these two charts uh in the upcoming slides, but on the right you can see the same sustainable chart that we've shown you uh recently where we uh intend to get to a $30 million glide path uh in the next several years. on the left. All other things are this held constant except that our um our salary valance, our salary savings, our expenses go up by $28 million. That's what's in the circle. Now, of course, we can't end up the year with a negative fund balance, but this is just a simple example so you can see what happens. So, in FY27, uh on the right side, we have 74.4 million at year end. on the left side it's 46 but then you can see

062it really snaps down rapidly and we're just about at zero fund balance by the uh end of FY2028 and it goes deeply negative to 123 million by the year by the end of FY 2032. Again, a very simple example. There's a million different things that can happen. It's just trying to show you what might occur. We can't end up with literally a negative fund balance. We'd have to resolve it. But it's just trying to give you a feel for for what would happen in the natural course of things. This is just a blowup of the example we just showed. Um impact of increasing turnover is the same as using more fund balance. It c it's going to cause a revenue gap in the near future. It's really not that far away. In this simple example,

063we've exhausted fund balance by the end of year 2028. That means to get into 2029 just to keep our fund balance flat to spend what we had the prior year, we're going to have a huge cliff uh to climb. Um and it's going to be very difficult. So the only way to solve it is to find a bunch of more revenue or to do a bunch of more reductions than we may already have to do depending on what happens in the whole financial situation. Um, so yeah, I think I covered all that. And again, you can't actually have a negative fund balance. I'm just trying to show a simple example there. Uh, this is sustainable. You've seen this before. And really, our priority is to be conservative, sustainable, but, uh, push as much money into

064the school system as we can and not put ourselves in jeopardy in any future year. Our fund balance gives us flexibility. We don't know what's going to happen. something unanticipated could happen with revenue. So, we need to keep some money in the bank. Um, and then the uh next point was on staffing ratio. Uh, and the request was to increase our county funding by 3.9 million to um it it was added to the prior slide. it would uh total to restore the funding ratio, but since the prior slide it hasn't actually happened, the 3.9 million is really just an amount of money that's sitting out there on its own. But as the superintendent mentioned, she's working very, very closely with the county executive. And you know, we're very hopeful that for the county executive's proposed

065budget, she's able to find funding to help close some of the gap and to uh restore as much of the ratio cuts as possible. Thank you for that. Okay. Um, so it was procedurally I was going to ask should I do questions first or do the motion first. I mean I can go either way. For the record, Darren Burns, board council. Yeah, I think there's some flexibility for board on this, but ultimately if you're going to have discussion among board members and any formal amendments possibly, then you want to have a a motion on the floor. Okay. So, let me start with the motion and the discussion would come with the questions. Okay. Um, may I have a motion to approve the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget? So, move, Celelesi. Thank you. Is there a

066second? Second, Harvey. Okay. What I was going to bring up now was the motion that Mr. McMillian made last time. So before we begin with discussion, the board approved a postponement of a motion from the February 10th meeting. The motion was made by Mr. McMillion and second by Miss Stleski to amend the budget by restoring secondary library media specialists to full-time positions for the fall of 2026 and going forward with no classroom or advisory responsibilities. Is there any discussion on this amendment? Comments or questions on this amendment? Miss Dominowski, we asked for the the financial data for that. Right. I believe it was in the um set of questions that were answered, but um can we Sure. It would require about the addition of 36 positions at a cost with benefits of around $3.6 million.

067Can you break that down? How the how you came to that? uh basically uh the librarians are co or the media LMS's are covering two periods. So it will require about.7 FTEES to fill in for each of the positions that are covering two positions. Now when you multiply it by the number of secondary schools in the budget next year, you come up with 36 teachers or 36 librarian specialists. Well, it' be 36 teachers because then the librarians would be staying just doing librarian work. But that full-time, but they're just covering one class. They're covering two. So, the so the way that the the proposal for this year reads is that they would be assigned to two uh two teaching sections, two classes. Um, however that fits in their schedule. our our secondary library media specialists

068have different schedules at both the middle school and the high school level. So we worked with human resources to determine what the formula would be. And as Mr. Tantliff, that resulted in a full number of FTEEs of 36 and then um doing the math on salaries, average salaries and benefits, uh the total cost is $3.6 million. I still don't understand how two classes is a full-time teacher. It's not um it's not a full-time teacher. What they did was take the total number of positions over is it 52 or 54 secondary schools and that equals 36 full-time equivalencies. So point so two classes is 7 teachers. Is that what you're saying? It it is not. So the the question was for us to fully restore them so they would have no teaching responsibilities. that was the

069task that we were provided. So in looking at at um if if each one at the 52 each of the 52 taught two classes based on the varying schedules at the secondary level that would equal.7 restoration and it comes out to 36 teaching positions. So right so it will be 36 if they were teaching library and the two classes. No it's if they were assigned two classes as a library media specialist. So two classes is is considered a 7 under the under the schedules the various schedules at the secondary level. All secondary schools don't have the same schedule. They're not all on a four period day. They're not all on the same schedule. So they have less than four periods. No, some have more. So two would be less than.7, right? So two would be

070where the gap is with the number that we have. Okay. Okay. Miss Dleski, thank you and thank you uh for providing that number and thank you for your service to our country as well. Um, how would the cost of restoring the library media specialist to full-time and not teaching two periods compare to the cost that was proposed in the budget that if they were teaching two periods per day, they then would be provided um some kind of support power educator or some other support that would then allow circulation in the library. So then like what would the cost of paying that salary? Mr. Tusky, I'll answer that one. Um we're talking about providing that part-time media support that is budget neutral that I shared before. Um I just for the good of the public when

071we looked at our um formulas for uh support personnel, we do have some spaces where there is flexibility. So, human resources has been working um on making sure that we shift some of the internal resources as I believe Miss Charlie Green has shared a few times. Um staff members who are covered by negotiated agreements, even if we reduce uh formulas, they're still entitled to a position. And so, in short, the answer is we're able to do that within the resources that we have for no additional cost. No, thank you. That's great. And I appreciate you um sharing that information, but I guess um what whatever they're I I guess they're they're being shifted away from and maybe I'm confused, but to serve in the library for those two periods. They're taking they're being taken away

072from another area where they assist the school. So the people that would shift are the people that are over formula. So one of the um concerns that our uh union partners and others have brought forward uh were around the formulas. We we've talked um in small group and large group about making sure that we rightsize formulas. We do have some uh clerical uh personnel who are over formula in school buildings that would not be losing a position. Their responsibility would be shifted to make sure that students were fully covered. Okay. Thank you for that clarification. Thank you. Further discussion on the motion that Mr. Amillion brought up last time. Mr. Amillion. Uh gentlemen, on the question that Mr. Young asked and it was answered one, it's number 128 on page 13. And Mr. Young asked,

073"What would be needed to achieve parody between elementary and secondary media specialists?" And then the answer was given an additional 171.5 teachers at a cost of $10.75 million. That I'm concerned that people might think if they put that 10.75 together with the 3.6 now we're looking at $14 million. And and I don't to me that's like comparing apples and oranges or I'm going to say Fuji apples with Granny Smith apples. uh an elementary school library specialist is in that library all day long teaching her classes and to take them out of that realm. It's it's it's a to me having taught a special a physical education in an elementary school for over 10 years. It it's it's misleading to me because it's not they are in their teaching. You're not going to remove them. and

074they're not going outside the building some or outside their medium to teach English or to teach social studies or teach something else. So I'm concerned that the two comparisons might confuse some people about the total cost of that is my concern. Thank you. But I I think they were just answering the question that was posed from Mr. Young. But Right. Okay. But they're not being taken out of there. They were just answering the question. That's why I don't think they're giving you a response. Right. Question was generated by Mr. Young. Other questions about the motion? Miss Harvey. Thank you, Madam Chair. I just um has the system considered where the funding would be taken from should this motion pass? We all understand that it's a tight budget. We all understand that we want every single

075initiative position funded. So what has been the consideration in terms of where this money would come from to uh relieve the specialists from teaching for two periods? Um we have not looked at that specifically but we would need to tackle it like any other unanticipated expenditure. Uh, so we would just have to look at what we might need be able to reduce to cover that expense, making a tradeoff really the the best of a difficult situation because anything else we cut is probably going to cause more challenges than what we're restoring in that case. Thank you, Miss Framp. Thank you. Um just so um clear um can I have the numbers? So it's the three different situations we would have the library specialist being full-time not teaching um outside of the library or not doing

076the not teaching classes. Um, and then the second would be our full-time library specialist but teaching classes. And then the last is the part-time. So, can we just have like those three numbers for those three scenarios, please? So, Miss Primong, $3.6 $6 million was the um amount for restoring the secondary media specialist uh to have no classes. Uh Mr. Young asked a separate question about achieving parody for elementary school media specialist and what the cost of that would be. I believe that was 10.7 75 million. And the third part that you uh added, Miss uh Frenong, I believe it was what is the cost uh with the media specialist teaching um two sections and that would come at no additional cost to the school system. Believe those are the three parts. That's what we've budgeted

077benefits, right? So what I'm asking for are just those three numbers just outright, not what was the increase, etc. So from the answer I heard 10.75 for the second. So then for the first and the third, can I have the exact numbers please? 3.6 million for the first. That's in addition though, right? Oh, you're saying how much do media specialists cost? Correct. I'm asking for the exact amount for those three different scenarios. Just full cost, not in relationship to each other, etc. I don't think the team has We would need to get back to you on that. Other questions or comments regarding this motion? So, at this point, we would need a roll call vote on the motion that's on the floor, Mr. my millions which I will read again to amend the budget by

078restoring secondary library media specialists to full-time positions for the fall of 2026 and going forward with no classroom or advisory responsibilities. We have a roll call vote please. Miss Gver, this is board member from Pong. Yes, Miss Fung. So what is the exact number then as far as total cost for this motion? The three 3.6 mil 3.6 million extra. What is the actual amount for them to be full-time positions with no with no classroom responsibilities? The additional is 3.6 million. Miss Fong, are you asking the average cost of a library media specialist which it's the same miss? It's about a h 100,000. Um, so let me give an example cuz maybe I'm just not asking my question well. So I'm looking for option one is 100,000, option two is 150, option three is 125. I

079just wanted succinctly with all the scenarios. What are the numbers? So we have 50 how many secondary? 52 54 How many secondary schools? 52 it's 52 library media specialists because there are some some of our other schools Dr. Rogers are not do not they serve secondary students that do not have a full-time LMS but the 3.6 million is not for library media specialists 3.6 million is to cover those two classes that they're currently so it's not that is correct at 36 teachers right you're adding 36 teachers to cover those classes that are now being that is correct there's a difference between 5.2 million and 9.2 to 12156.2 million. That's the difference. Although why does that look like So Mr. Fang, you're asking how much library media specialist costs or how much 8.8 roughly 8.8 million

080based on if you add the 3.6 million to the 5.2 2 million using the 100,000 figure um estimate from Mr. Tantliff, it becomes a total cost of 8.8 million. Correct me if my math isn't correct. No, that sounds about right. But but it's the motion is not relevant to that. The only thing relevant to the motion is adding 36 teachers. That's what the motion is, I believe. Okay, Miss Framp. No, it's okay. Thank you. And I think it's wrong because I'd like to understand what the total cost is when I make my motion or when I make my vote. So, thank you. Thank you. I believe we were doing a roll call vote on the motion. Miss Gover or starting the roll call vote. Miss Dowleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumphrey,

081yes. Mr. Young, no. Miss Demanowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Fong, yes. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Agome, no. Miss Lter, no. Favor is seven. The motion passes. Okay. Further discussion. Miss Hen. Thank you. I have a few questions. I'll be be brief. Um Mr. Tantliff, you discussed the um offset or balancing the budget with the expected federal revenues that were reduced by 10 million. When those are Oh, say that again. I don't think that's what I said. The fed the federal revenues in this version of the budget were reduced by 10 million 7.6 million title one 2.8 million idea. Yes. Um when those are added when the bal when the budget is balanced does that reflect 10 million in new expenditures or will those expenditures be transferred from another funding source when that funding when

082those revenues are added? Um we for special revenue only we carry a balance that's undesated so that we can cover any unanticipated grants or changes in grant expenditures as the year goes on so it doesn't cause a problem if in a year like uh if you think about when ESSER came through the numbers were so big we needed to come to the board and the council to get a supplemental to um cover those expenditures but normally anything within reason. Um, we have un undesated special revenue. It can't be spent in any other way. And of course, we can only spend special revenue with a grant award that's approved by the grtor. So, what is so then what is the net effect of the 10 million assuming we that revenues remain flat on the budget? Um,

083I I'd have to look and it would matter what it came in at. And like I said, if it exceeded what we had, um, then we would need to come to the board for uh, a supplemental appropriation. But we can also look at that as we go into the county executive's budget. And if uh staff feels like it with the information we have it can be increased, then we would ask the county executive to do that. Now, for transparency purposes, is there any harm in the board adjusting the budget now to reflect what we expect to receive in federal revenue since that the current budget um is is not quite accurate since it shows a $10 million reduction? That's not insignificant. Um it is not insignificant. Uh and again when it was set we had

084to be conservative. We didn't know what would happen with federal revenue. The budget certainly still could be below a year ago. Might not be 10 million. Might be 2 or 3 million. It's hard to say what that is right now. Um but to answer your question, if you change the budget, there would be no practical impact. We wouldn't increase our spending on Title One. Um the staff would be preparing with the information they have based on but it wouldn't be finalized till we actually get our award. So we wouldn't increase spending. So we would see a $10 million fund balance in special revenue funds. If if you increased the budget as proposed, we would increase the special revenue budget by those amounts that equal about $10 million. So, what you're saying is then if we

085don't plan to increase spending, we would have a $10 million special revenue fund balance. I I don't I'm not sure what that means. I don't know what a what you mean by we'd have a special revenue funding. Re rephrase my question. If we're not talking about spending more when we realize the federal revenue we expect to receive because we would spend more on those grants. We're going to be spending more once we receive our federal grants. will spend exactly what the final award is. So when we get our final award, if it's more whatever it is, regardless of what we have planned, uh the team will submit an application that exactly equals that award amount and that's what we will spend. So the the current budget then does not reflect our spending plan or revenue

086plan for our title one or idea funds. Yeah, it reflects the amount that we have budgeted. Sure. Yes, if I could interrupt. Thank you. Yes, the current budget reflects the amount that is budgeted based on our title one director, uh, Miss Stanberry, who's been, uh, doing this work for significant amount of time. What I want to make sure that we're just clear, um, for our entire community to understand is increasing particularly title one numbers. um increasing those title one one numbers have no impact on the gap that we're trying to fill in terms of classroom teacher and classroom ratios. There are supplanting rules that do not allow us to simply substitute general um positions in title one schools with this funding. The other piece for IDA, if we go back and look at that slide,

087you'll see a slide that uh I presented on behalf of PASAM to the Ways and Means and the budget appropriations committee at the state level that shows that across the state of Maryland, there is more than $1 billion worth of uh funding and spending to um meet the needs of students receiving special education services that is unfunded. The amount for Baltimore County public schools is uh also uh showcased on that uh slide. I believe we're more than $150 million of additional spending. And so certainly um it certainly there there can uh you know be this exchange but I just want to be clear on what the impact is on our students and the problem uh that we are trying to solve in terms of saving classroom positions. these uh the law does not allow for

088title one uh funding to be used in this manner and IDA the $2.8 million. Um whatever the additional amount is if there's an additional amount um as Mr. Tantliff and team have indicated BCPS will plan and spend at that full amount as we never leave any additional uh dollars on the table. But there is caution in simply um increasing the amount in the budget at this stage when we do not have numbers. Last year there was flat funding the current year that we're in and BCPS lost $2 million. We've lost $4 million over the last few years. And there is uh reasonable um data to suggest uh that we do not know where Maryland is going to end up in comparisons to all states and where Baltimore County Public Schools is going to end up

089in comparison to the 23 other school systems. Thank you, Dr. Rogers. If I may respond, Madam Chair. So, the intent, and I will be breaking my motion into four parts, but the intent of this part of the motion was not to reallocate these funds for any purpose. it was simply to ask for an accurate budget and when these numbers are reduced by 10 million um to zero that that was a flag that we are not um planning to receive any federal funding in these two categories. So I'm simply asking the board to consider an adjustment that would um more accurately reflect reality and if these funds aren't available then we certainly have the option to not spend them. Um, my second question, I believe that was time for the for two minutes. We didn't. Miss

090Stleski. Um, I would like to make a motion to extend board member times to four minutes. Please. Second. Is there consensus? Is anyone object to the additional minute? The additional two minutes. This is board member from Pang. I like to make an amendment to six minutes. To a total of six minutes, you're saying? Yes. So, you're asking for four minutes extra. Yes. Is there a second to miss? I'll I'll second that. Thank you. Okay. I think we better Okay. So, can we have a roll call vote on Miss Fang's amendment? Correct. Mr. Burns, you're looking at Yes, that's correct. But may I ask for clarification from Miss Franong um and and Miss Stski? The understanding is it's six six minutes if this passes for each board member to ask questions andor make motions or anything

091else related to the proposed budget. Correct. Correct. Okay. So making a motion doesn't convert that item into another six minutes per person. It's the intent is six minutes for the budget. Thank you. Correct. I think it came up because Miss Hen's time just of clarification. Miss point of clarification. The time limit time limit never applied to making a motion previously. Well, you haven't made a motion yet, correct? Correct. But Mr. Burns advised that this would apply to making the motion, which it never has. I actually asked the question applied before. I asked the question. What is the intent? So, can we confirm that this does not apply to reading a motion? So, Miss Fong made the amendment. So, Miss Fong, what were you referring to? What was your intent? This would apply to reading motions.

092I mean, this is our total time. That's what I'm looking at. Okay. Thank you for the clarification. We choose to use that time. Thank you. Okay. Okay. Um, discussion on the amendment. Mr. Dominowski, did you have a question discussion? So, any questions we asked regarding that motion gets included in our total bud like our total time. anytime I call on anybody until we're on to to during item G, including right now. No. Okay, just kidding. Thank you. Thank you for that. I'm out of time then. Finished. Okay. Um, sorry, we had a moment of levity, Miss Sleski. Sorry. Yes. Just um a point of clarification because I know some motions in terms of reading them and then clarifying them that can take several minutes, you know, if it's a like if it's a long motion.

093So, I'm thinking maybe it's um more prudent if it just refers to discussion and not the words of a motion. Thank you. Are you making an amendment to the amendment? Sure. You can't do that. Okay. Sorry. We need to vote on Miss Framps and then we can go from there. Go ahead, Miss Gover. I I don't I'm going to jump in. Board council, you all have a standing rule that you're now potentially changing. That's two minutes per agenda item for all discussion by each board member. Okay. If you start breaking this into amendments, motions, I'm sorry, versus discussion time, it is almost going to be impossible to keep track of time individually because once someone makes a motion and people start talking to the motion and asking questions about the motion, there aren't enough clocks

094in here to keep track of all that. Th this is a this is a discussion topic in which you could read this as requiring a twothirds vote to change a rule. But you all have always taken the approach that you are liberal with changing your time that you restrict yourselves with. But you've got to be clear I think if you're going to change from two minutes per agenda topic per board member exactly what you're agreeing with each other to do and that should be the motion you vote on. Well, I think Miss Fmpung made it clear that she was talking six minutes total for whatever anybody has to say during this agenda item. So, that's what we're voting on. And are there any amendments to that that we have to track? Has anybody proposed an

095amendment to Miss Fong's suggestion? Oh, we started and I thought you said I had to stop because we trying to figure out where you are. That's where I am right now. Sure. I'll make a My comment is six minutes is a lot of extra time. So I would keep it to anything motions. Miss Hen, I I move to amend the motion on the floor to exclude the reading of motions from the time limit. Is there a second to Miss Hen's amendment? Second. Still, Miss Pumprey, did you have your hand up? Partially. So I'll go ahead since you called on me. Um, I'm just trying to clarify here. So first of all, legal advice for Mr. Burns. This isn't changing a standing rule if we do this right now. Correct. And secondly, just to clarify, it's

096only the actual reading of the motion and not the discussion afterwards. May I respond, Madam Chair? Yes. To the second question. Yes. Mr. Burns, did you I didn't hear a response from you. You're not changing in perpetuity. I think the motion was to change it for the purpose of this budget discussion agenda. Okay. Just based upon your pri prior comment. I wanted to make sure I was clear. Thank you. Any further discussion? Okay. U Miss Fmpong lost her connection. It was just restored. Miss Fmpong, there was an amendment to your motion by Miss Hen, which was still six minutes, but excluding the reading of any motions. Correct, Miss Hen? Correct. All right. So, we are voting on Miss Hen's amendment at this point. May I have a roll call vote, please, on six minutes minus

097time for motions? Motion reading. Mr. Dleski. Yes, Dr. Seavoy. Yes, Mr. McMillian. Yes, Miss Pumphrey. Yes, Mr. Young. No, Miss Damonowski. Yes, Miss Hen. Yes, Miss Faul. No. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Aomebe, no. Miss Leicter, no. So, that did not I'm sorry. Favor is six. Okay. So we are back to Miss Frmpang's motion which was six minutes total for any comments or motions made. Any further discussion on Miss Frmpang? May I have a roll call vote on that motion? Miss Tilleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumphrey? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fmpong, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Aumbbe, yes. Miss Leicter, yes. Thank you. Okay, so we're now at six minutes for any comments. So, Madam Chair, may I ask one more question for us who

098are going to do this? Um, for those who have used some time, it's my understanding that that we are netting that from the six minutes. We're continuing to track time. Correct. Thank you. Approve it as amended. Okay. Approve what? As amended. They just the original motion. That was Miss Silleski's original motion, correct? To extend the time. As amended. So, do we have a roll call vote on the motion to extend the time as amended? Miss Tleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumprey? Yes, Mr. Young. Yes, Miss Dominowski. Yes, Miss Hen. Yes, Miss Fong. Yes, Miss Harvey. Yes, Miss Aumbbe. Yes, Miss Licar. Yes. Thank you. Okay, so I think this all happened when Miss Hen ran out of time. Two minutes. So, you're still on the floor. Thank you. Um, so I

099move to increase the special revenue fund by $9,938,69 to reconcile with the consolidated appropriations act. Is there a second? Second, Stellleski. Um, discussion speak to my motion. Um, it's for budget accuracy and as Mr. Mr. Chantliff indicated there's no um harm in adjusting the budget for accuracy and to reflect our spending plan. So I ask for your support. Thank you. Further discussion, Mr. Young, Mr. Tantler, you've there's been the discussion of adding it for accuracy sake. Do we know that those numbers are actually accurate? We do not know what our allocations are at the LEA level and probably won't for a couple of months. Thank you. Miss Pumprey, did you have a question comment? No. Okay. Sorry, Miss Dominowski. I mean, please don't take this the wrong way, but do we know what our actual

100numbers are for any of our funding really until we get it passed by the um county executive? Uh the difference with the grants is we literally have not received our award yet. That's different than our general fund appropriation which uh we've put we we know what our state revenue is. We got our preliminary state aid and the county executive is committed to giving us 2% above prior year which is what's in the budget and hopefully you'll be able to find more revenue but the grants uh the awards levels have not come out yet. So at this point all you can do is use the information you have to estimate how much will uh come out and obviously information now is it different than it was a month ago or three months ago? It's a pretty

101dynamic thing. Just quickly follow up. Thank you. Uh are all the other grants do we have those applications in and have they been accepted? Um, most of our grants are continuing awards from year to year. And I don't think that any of those awards for next year have come out yet. They're all projections in the budget book. Would also be a projection. Correct. Correct. based on the information we had when we put the budget together. Miss Pumprey, I think my question was just answered, but so we're estimating either way. Whether whether a board member's motion passes or whether we stick with what's in the budget currently, we're still estimating either way. Is that correct? Um well, the bud acting, estimating Well, the budget was put together as um Dr. Rogers mentioned Miss Stanbury who's been

102in charge of Title One for a long time put her best projection of what the budget would be. That's what's in the book and right now she has a budget that totals that amount. If the uh award changes then she'll change the amount in our application and the same thing will go for IDA special ed. Miss Pumprey, you finished for now? I think so. Yes. Okay. Miss Hen, but Mr. Tail, if all indications indicate that this will be flat, which means that these numbers are the best we have at this point as of February 3rd. Correct. Um, if the even if the aggregate award is flat, as we mentioned, this year the aggregate award was flat and we were 2 million below a year ago. There's a number of different factors that go into the

103award and your relative um measures of poverty compared to the other ELEAS, Maryland compared to other states. All of those factors uh go into it and it's a completely different measure of poverty than for instance that we use for free and reduced meals, compensatory eds, um etc. They're using surveys of geographic areas there. the fed the federal government does not use uh student by student counts like we do for instance in comped. So um how much that award uh will be is unknown at this time. It certainly could be below year ago. It certainly may be above what we have planned. Miss Harvey, what was our award last year? What what was a previous award in comparison to what we're asking to add, what Miss Hen is is asking. I'm just trying to understand the

104context. Right. Right now, it's about $7.5 million below prior year, which is what Miss Hen's um proposal would make it flat to prior year. And I I'll just add for clarity because of all the uncertainty around the federal budget in the fall and as we came into November and December, uh the estimate needed to be very conservative because we didn't know where those grants would land. Um what passed looks to be flat. That doesn't mean that we'll be flat. We certainly could be several million below prior year. It seems like we're likely to be above what we have budgeted at this moment. So, in the previous budget year, did we do anything different? Did we I'm trying to understand is this a a a change in our practice from the previous budget years with regard

105to this particular funding stream. I I think the only difference was there was so much uncertainty with what's going on in the federal government and were grants going to be withheld or cut. A conservative estimate was used to put the budget together. So that because it'd be what you don't want to do is be overbudgeted and have too much staff and then need to reduce. So I believe we just took a very conservative approach with the information we had at that time. Is there a consequence if we overbudget or underbudget? because it's all based on whether we get this grant, how much money the grant award is. So whether we underbudget or overbudget we're are we actually going to spend to the amount of money we have in the grant, we will spend to what

106the final award comes in at. So we'll have to adjust our plan to take that into account once the final award comes in. So if the award is higher then uh the title one team, IDA team whichever or any other grant would then increase expenditures, staff, programs um to match the grant and if it was too high uh or if it came in lower then they would need to reduce staffing to match what the award came in at. So if we underbudget and we get more we can do more. If we overbudget and get less, we have to change some things. Yes. Before uh the grant award year begins, in that case, we would need to reduce positions. Okay. Or programs. Thank you, Miss Hen. I think that's where there's confusion though because I specifically

107asked about the expenditures and how they would be affected at more than what is budgeted because I wanted to know whether this these grants were additive purely additive in the budget in terms of expenditures or whether we would be transferring those um expenditures to grant funding from say the general um fund. If if the title one award, let's say, increased by $6 million, then we our expenditures on title one and our revenue for title one would both increase by $6 million. That answers my question and and you see why there's confusion and the purpose of my motion is for transparency. It's for the public to and and for our stakeholders so that there's a plan in place because the reality is that the consolidated act um does um state Congress did approve flat funding and

108these amounts the 7.6 is title one 2.8 is idea to Miss Harvey's question. So the numbers were based on this current year. So, if I have a question um if we put it in based on Miss Hen's um motion and we don't get it, would we have already told staff about allocations through title one that they can use these funds and then have to kind of take it back? Um, I think if you're just talking title one, I believe Miss Stanbury, uh, in conjunction with the chief academic officer and the superintendent would with the information they have plan to what they think is going to come in, but they would be very careful to not over plan or overstaff based on the best information we have based on their contacts at MSD, any information they

109could glean. But as soon as you tell a principal you may have it, they start to plan for it. So, we would not withhold staffing until May. We would not uh for the record, I stated we would not withhold staffing until May, which is when we're going to get the final numbers. Okay. Thank you. Other questions, comments about the motion that's on the floor? Okay. So, I think we need to repeat the motion. Sure. Would you repeat it, Madam Chair? Sure. Is it in the chat? It's in the document that I share, but I'll I'll I'll read it quickly. Um, the special revenue fund shall be increased by 9,938,69 to reconcile with the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Thank you. I have a roll call vote, please. Mr. Yes, Mr. McMillian. Yes, Miss Pumphrey. Yes, Mr. Young.

110No, Miss Dominowski. Yes, Miss Hen. Yes, Miss Fong. Yes. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Abe, no. Miss Lter, no. And Miss um Dr. Sway is still standing here. Oh, Miss I'm sorry. I thought she had left. Dr. Seavoy. Yeah. Thank you. What was the number? Six. Okay. Six. Six. Favor. Six. Motion does not pass. If there's I I know you have a couple. Is there anybody else that has something before I give Miss Hen the floor again? Okay. Miss Hen. Sorry. Whoops. Miss Pumprey was out of hand. Can I ask a quick question? It's not really a motion. That's okay. Right. Okay. So, um I just have a question based on and I'm not sure if this is going to be on the public speaker that we had tonight in the safety assistance. Do if you

111recall his request, do you have any additional information you can provide regarding that as as it you know relates to the budget? Miss Pumprey, I'm not sure what his request was as I was not in the room. What I can tell you about safety assistance are safety assistants are um we've made no recommended changes to them in the FY27 proposed budget. Okay. Thank you. Miss Dleski. Yes. Um just a followup to Miss Pumphrey. Um the uh the questions that were asked about the student safety assistance were regarding um uh the the push for them to receive benefits and um in corresponding fashion to the other bargaining units. Uh the cost of living increases in salary. So certainly um you know I shared what's included in the FY27 budget uh with you know any process would

112have to go through negotiations with our chief negotiator uh regarding next steps Miss Pumprey. I do believe one of the questions was about cuts also and you just said there were no changes so that clarifies that. Thank you. Mr. Do you have a question Mr. Mcmillian? Yeah, I want to bring up something on uh question 125 on page 12. You know, I asked a question about the athletic trainers. They were approved in the 26 budget and were not hired. And I asked several different questions. You know, if they were funded, why weren't they hired was one question. I asked several questions, but the answer was final salary negotiations with the union groups occurred after the budget was adopted. in addition to the reduction by the county executive. Now, I understand that the county executive can

113add or subtract and the county council can subtract, but it's a hypothetical question. What are we even doing here? If, and I'm going to repeat that, final salary negotiations with the union groups occurred after the budget was adopted in addition to the reductions from the county executive. So we we talk all this stuff. We vote this. We think we've got this and then there's negotiations with the union afterwards to to eliminate. So those three trainers were in the budget last year and then they were eliminated and they weren't they weren't hired and they were negotiated after the budget was passed and moved on. So I I don't understand now I understand the county executive's role. I understand the county council's role, but how the negotiations with the with Now I'll read it one more time

114and then I'm done. Final salary negotiations with the union groups occurred after the budget was adopted in addition to the reductions from the county executive. So there's negotiations going on with the unions after we pass the budget and moves on or we don't pass the budget. So that's what I wanted to say. I can I can clarify that. uh we went into impass if you recall last year and as a result of the impass that's what's being referred to we were uh we agreed to uh go to year two on January 1st which wasn't originally in the budget and then we also agreed to give the bargaining units a 1% cost of living increase from about September 20th through December 31st. Um, so the sum of all that needed to be funded. So, uh, we

115got some extra state revenue to true up to state revenue. We agreed to use some more fund balance and then we needed to do additional reductions. And one of the things, uh, we reduced to b but balance the budget was to not add those three trainers. Thank you. Other questions or comments? Okay, Miss Hen. Thank you. This question is for Dr. Rogers. Um Dr. Rogers, of the experts that you consulted about um the proposal, did you um consult with the office of the county auditor? Actually, uh Mr. Tantliff, if you could speak to the uh communications that we had, I neglected to mention the communications that we had with the uh count. Um yeah, so we we talked closely with the the uh county government with our county parts over there. We did not specifically

116recently talk to the county auditors. Um but I believe we have full uh alignment with county staff with the finance staff that um the our approach is prudent and makes sense and relative to their fund balance um is a reasonable approach. Uh their fund balance actually runs close to 20%. Uh that's their forecast for this year. I think it's 18.6%. They'll probably be in the same ballpark next year. Not exactly apples to apples. Absolutely. Because they have variations in the revenue, but we did not uh talk to the county auditors. And I will mention uh the county auditors do a very good job. They do a very nice job with that report, but that's not to say everything they put in there makes sense. As an auditor, they're trying to find nuggets. They're trying to

117find things they can recommend. some of the things may not really make sense when it comes under pressure and deep scrutiny because they're doing analysis. They do ask us questions along the way, but in the end uh they go off and put in a recommendation that if we uh you know sat across a table for them, we could probably uh make them see that pro that might not be a reasonable recommendation. So that's something to keep in mind. So thank you for that. Um so in several of their reports um in subsequent years they point out that the um system has a history of conservatively estimating the turnover savings and they point out the actual versus the budgeted and um have figures about the um the potential savings and that it affords the school system

118considerable operational flexibility. So my question is if we're relying on that um say 28 million for operational expenses um for the BAT for instance, why aren't those expenditures budgeted upfront if we know that we're going to rely on them rather than overestimating our turnover? I don't know if if I could start. Um, so the first uh thing I wanted to address, a comment was made previously about why don't we budget to every single amount. Um, and I just want to call everyone's attention to what we use um these transfers for for the contingencies and emergencies. So for example, uh, the snow that we just recently had another incident of, um, the team does a good job of budgeting to actuals, which is our process now. And so they've used the actual expenditures for the last

119three years with the first um and we haven't had a lot of snowstorms uh for the last three years. With the first snowstorm that we had, the first weather event um that has uh taken into account the amount of money that was budgeted. Um any additional snowstorm is going to uh be an emergency that you can't uh plan for. Another area that um has taken considerable amount of funding in BCPS brings me back to our advocacy at the state level is around special education. Um the cost for special education students. I think one of the budget questions we received is the amount that's budgeted uh which is closer to actuals now than it's ever been. How many students does it cover? And it's approximately 700 students. Um, just because we budget for approximately 700 students

120doesn't mean that we're only going to receive 700 students. And federal law requires us to provide the funding that is necessary for any and all students um receiving special education services. These are two of the areas. Plant maintenance overall having the third oldest set of buildings in the state of Maryland. Um the level of mechanical failures and emergencies that o occur that the team is unable to budget for um is something that our community needs to be made aware of. You can go back on um budget on board docs to see the um supplementals um to see the itemized list. I think it's also important that at this point uh we provide some clarification around uh comments uh regarding the county auditor um some years ago it absolutely is true that the report um stated

121what the percent was I believe in fiscal year 2024 as we indicated over the last two um budget work sessions we have changed uh the number BCPS no longer budgets for 2% salary turnover over which was a part of the efficiency review uh finding our number was changed to 3.6% almost double uh that amount for the next uh few years. Last year uh there was some pretty spirited uh communication when we went to the county council um uh uh to provide testimony in that part of the budget process. We had some council members um that were urging BCPS to increase the use of the fund balance spending. The numbers that they were talking about were $10 million and $15 million. It's also important to note that in this budget, we followed their advice. We move

122from $37.8 million of fund balance use to $50 million is recommended. And so I think these are some um specifics uh regarding our communication with county government, with economists, with uh fiscal experts and the steps that we're taking uh to make sure that we provide recommendations that don't only allow for temporary relief in terms of meeting the compensation ask. but also think about all of the other students that are in our schools that we need to not be in a position at the end of uh the next fiscal year or two where we have depleted our reserves especially with the uncertainty that is going on. Uh Mr. Tantliff, I invite you to add some more. Uh the only thing I'd add is we're only talking about 1 to 2% of the budget of the general

123fund budget. So that's really pretty tight in the big scheme of things. So I think we are planning pretty conservatively as we've said in the presentation superintendent just mentioned we have certainly tightened it up with the amount of vacant positions that we've had to abolish the last couple years in in conjunction with increasing uh our planned turnover rate. Uh we think it's a com it's very reasonable and conservative um place that we are right now. So Mr. Tiff, when you say it's a a small percentage, when I mentioned 28 million and and allocating that from fund balance to um preserve positions, that's that's a small percentage. That's the amount we're talking about. But you're more than you're wiping out our what I'm saying is if our year-end variance is 25 or $30 million, that's about

1241 one half% of the budget. You're proposing to double that. So, I showed you in the example what the potential impacts that are. You just can't plan to the dollar in a budget our size. Having a one to two% um variance at the end of the year is doing pretty darn good in spending all the money that you set out to spend. Understood. So, my my question remains though and and the issue is that our plan doesn't match the reality. And on one hand, I hear you say it's a small amount. on the other, when I'm proposing that it be used to um avoid cutting positions that are are greatly needed for our our students, it it then becomes insurmountable. So, that's that's the the conflict that we're up against that we're trying to solve.

125And the auditor stated last this was last year's report that the funding source um for the FY2026 budget um is anticipated to total at least 26.6 million. And and if we need those funds, we need those funds. But then my question is, why aren't we including that as a contingency upfront if we if we need those? We do on capital projects. Why isn't that cooked in to the operating budget upfront if those aren't available? I'm not exactly following your question. I we've shown many examples of why we don't think it's prudent to do what you're proposing. I mean, I'm I'm keep I can't keep saying the same thing. We're we're having the same discussion. We're getting to the same place. We've planned very conservatively. A lot of our upside in salary savings has gone away

126because we've increased our turnover rate as well as abolishing hundreds of vacant positions that would have contributed to positive salary variance. Um and and uh it's hard to know exactly where things will turn out when you make changes that big, but we think it's a completely reasonable and prudent approach that uh we will not overspend our budget, which I believe uh your proposal would put us at high risk of doing and would certainly burn through our fund balance in the next few years. Mr. Deonowski, just as a a followup to that, so if we aren't planning to spend all of what we're budgeting for, why do we budget to spend all of why why does the budget that way? Like we budget our funds, we budget to expend all of them, but when it comes

127to the actualization, we have 50 to 60 million left over, which is roughly 2%. Um, why don't we do like a contingency? Call it that. call it what it is instead of, you know, it kind of feels like we're hiding the money somewhere that we're trying to save at the end, but we don't know where it's going to be coming from. Why won't why don't we have a contingency line on each department so we understand where that that money is coming at the end? Well, you'd have to cut something to do that, but we we don't know where those upsides will be. We plan the salaries reasonably but conservatively. Um, we expect that we'll come in somewhat under budget. We don't know exactly where. And just to run the bat, we need 15 to 20

128million dollars just to move have enough money to move between activities because we're doing it in March. And so we have to do it based uh partially on a forecast. Um and we have to come in under budget or else we'd have to come and ask for a supplemental appropriation. So there's a little money here, a little money there. We just know in aggregate we uh are pretty confident that our salaries will come in moderately under budget. I don't know on every line item what that'll be um because we don't know who will be vacant, when they'll be vacant. We don't know what our vacancy rate will actually be or where it will be. So, uh we do our best to plan a reasonable budget. And on the non-s salary items, we plan it uh

129probably more precisely than we do in salaries. Um but we have to be able to come in somewhat under budget. What you're proposing is, well, let's come in let's expect a $5 million variance or a $3 million variance, a fraction of a percent in our variance by year end. It's just it's not it's impossible to do that. You need to leave yourself some uh cushion for all the things that could happen. And again, we're talking about 1 one and a half 2% of the budget in aggregate. Then again, back to Mr. McMillian's point, why are we passing this budget then? I mean, you've you're clearly having to find 2% at the end of every year and we don't know where it's going to come from. Is that what you're saying? No, I'm not sure what

130you mean by finding 2% at the end of the year. Well, you you said you we come we come in under budget about 2% every year. We we we plan for that to try to have that kind of money 1 to 2%. For the last 5 years, it's been closer to 2% or or more. Um so if how do you plan for that if you don't know where it's coming from? In aggregate, we have a lot of employees and we know based on historical purposes, our aggregate salary budget that we will underspend somewhat. That amount has been tightening and we've shown you in the slides the amount of variance has dropped year over year over year and there's going to be another big drop this year because we're planning a higher amount and we've gotten

131rid of a lot. Not gotten rid of, we've abolished a number of vacant positions. some fill positions too certainly especially in the central office but primarily uh we've reduced our number of vacancies. So over time that's going to reduce the amount of salary variance that we have at year end. We don't know where those will be. It's the law of big numbers. I I can't plan precisely. I don't know exactly where that variance will be and that's really what you're asking. That's all I have for right now. Thank you. Thank you. Other questions or comments? Let me just see if Miss Funk, Miss Harvey, do you have a question? Yes. Um, thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mr. Tantler, for uh explaining this um repeatedly and I'm I'm going to ask a similar question

132so I can understand it in the way I need to understand it. What is the current fund balance? Um, is it? I know it's on a slide. because I don't have so our projection at the end of uh 20 2026 is 96.9 million. So if we use 28 million this year in the funds, you're the man. We're already using 50. Remember 50 of the 96. Yeah. 50 is in the budget, right? And so that takes our fund balance down to 46 thereabouts plus any positive varian. But we don't know that yet. So we're working with 46. ish. So now we're It'll be more than that, but yes. So now if we take the 28 million off of that, we're now looking at a remaining fund balance of $18 million plus whatever additional variance may come

133as we move forward. I'm just I'm trying to make this real simple. It is. So you're spending so you're using 28 million more which reduces your balance by the same amount. So it's almost a double whammy. So that's why within a few years our fund balance again a lot of assumptions but our fund balance could be close to zero at the end of 2028 under that scenario. And so the remaining fund balance would be what we would need to use for any emergencies for any uh increases in services particularly special education services all of that un unexpected expenditure would come from have to come from the fund balance. Well uh fund balance is a in the end the way we use it it's a source of revenue. So if that source of revenue is not

134available, then when we're planning the next year's budget, we need to fill in that gap by either cutting expenditures or finding revenue. We can't really find revenue, but county or state revenue would need to fill in that blank. If something extraordinary happened during the year, we could come to the board, request a supplemental. A supplemental is usually uh as a source fund balance. Okay. And and what percentage of the total budget is the fund balance? Uh roughly 5%. Roughly 5%. Okay. All right. Thank you. Can you just clarify the double whammy? So when when Miss Harvey said if we minus a 28 from the 46 that's left, you said it would be like a double whammy. What did that mean? Well, what I was saying is our expendit what we're do our expenditures would rise

135by 28 million and then our fund balance would be if you just keep it really simple whatever our fund balance would be at year end it'll be 28 million less. So when we go into the next year we need to find 28 million more just to be flat to prior year right in the fund balance. Yeah. However we we would do it, our expenses are 28 million more, but our fund balance is 28 million less. And so then the next year we're going to spend 28 million more than we would have. So that then it's compounding. So at the end of that year, now we've lost 28 million plus. So now we've lost 56 million uh versus what it would have been under the other scenario. Okay. Thank you. Other questions or comments? Miss Hen.

136Yes, Mr. Burns. Time check for Miss Hen. Yes. 1:30. 1 minute 30 seconds. Thank you. Um, so thank you, Mr. Tantliff, for for that explanation. Um it's it's concerning that the county auditor was not consulted because I do find that their information very helpful and that they have recommended a um more realistic budgeting of the fund balance um or I'm sorry of turnover savings to more accurately reflect um reality which is what my my motion is going to um ask for. And and again you'll notice that theme in my motions. I'm I'm looking for a plan that that more accurately reflects our reality and and the fact that we are um cutting positions. So, I will um offer the following motion that we the budgeted vacancy turnover rate shall be increased to 5 a.5% identifying

13728,112,000 in existing general fund revenue. These funds shall be reallocated to restore classroom teaching positions previously identified for reduction. Second, Dominowski. Okay. Did you want to speak to your motion, Miss Hen? You already have. I I think we've spoken to it to death. Thank you. Any Could you write that in the chat or I don't want to ask you to use Madam Chair? I will. Thank Thank you. I'm going to give Miss Hen a minute to put that in the chat. It just sounds like your next emergency comes. Okay, Miss um Hen put the her motion in the chat. I will read it. The budgeted vacancy turnover rate shall be increased to 5.5% identifying 28,112,000 in existing general fund revenue. These funds shall be reallocated to restore classroom teaching positions previously identified for reduction. So

138I have a question. If if we do this and the 5.5%'s not accurate, then what happens? Um, in a simple sense, 2027 um would end up the year would end up in a much less favorable situation than we would like. And so going into two 2028, we would likely um have to find money at that point. So we wouldn't essentially go into a a crisis during 27. we would be able to finish FY20. Well, actually, we might uh we'd probably have such small variance, we we might need to come to the board and do a supplemental appropriation just to get through the year because our variance for the year might be very very close to zero or even negative. Then we'd have to get a supplemental. So, we'd have flexibility in the bat and just

139to make sure we wouldn't uh go over budget. So, actually that would be a very likely scenario. Thank you, Mr. Young. So, when you said you would have to come to the board, potentially come to the board, get a supplemental, um, that basically means you're going to be tapping into more of the fund balance, which then becomes adds onto our maintenance of effort for the next year and you'll have to find even more money. Uh, yes, that's right. So, essentially, our use of fund balance is increasing in our base when we do that. So we would need to find that much more the next year. So it kind of has a snowball effect depending on how things shake out. Thank you. Miss Pumprey, did you have your hand up? Yes. Historically that you're aware of

140we ever done something like this before we've where we've increased the um budgeted vacancy turnover rate. Uh at least to something similar to this amount. Not uh no, I don't I don't think it's uh happened in the past. Thank you. If we do do this, is there a chance that we'll be sitting here next year the same time cutting positions because we don't have the funds? Are we just putting this off another year if we make these changes? Yes, that would certainly be a possibility. Um, let me Oh, Miss Hen, what were the actual budgeted turnover rates for 25 and 24? Do you have those off hand, Mr. Taylor? Uh, 25 was 3.6% 6% and 24 was 2.5%. Those were the budgeted. Do you have the actuals? The actual in 24 was 8.8, 25 was

1417.0 and the projection for 26 is 6.1. So this is still below the projected actual for the current year. Yes. Thank you. Mr. Manowski, do you have your hand? I just wanted to because I did this research on my own um for the for historical reference. Um in 21 we had 60 million left over between um expenditures and fund balance. So it's 3.1%. In 22 we had uh uh 88 left over from you know for funding into expenditures it's about 4.3%. Uh in 23 it was 63 million 2.6%. Um in 24 it was 56 so 2.2 to 25 was the probably the least amount at you know 52 million and and 2%. So it's not like we haven't over like we we put in a lot of funds. Those large numbers were from the COVID

142years when we were uh we were remote and then uh when we came back we spent a lot less than normal. We had trouble hiring. So our vacancy vacancy rate was historically high. Even see FY21 we were remote. FY22 we came back but we weren't traveling much. Things were still you know people were holding back and we had a problem hiring people. I think that was just a national phenomena. It was hard to hire people. Um I think if you went back like to FY1 1918 you're going to find much more moderate variances at year end. And even now we still there was still a lot of incumbrances. We're just about done with that now. But an incumbrance in other words an old PO um they had been sitting out there because they just didn't

143get spent and that had kind of a hangover for a few years. So I think we're you know we're approaching our historic norms now and as you mentioned our variance was was much more moderate last year. So at at 2% it would be you're expecting about 50 million again for this budget. Uh well 2% would be 40 million. We're we're projecting to be a little under 30 million this year. Thanks. Variance overall variance, Miss Dleski. Yes, thank you and thank you for answering all of our questions. Um I I just want to thank Miss Hen. you know, the the the most important thing is is reducing class sizes. And I know that we are in a third year of fiscal challenges and um there's a lot more that it takes to running schools in terms

144of central office and buses and and so many different services. But it is it is the the teachers that are are just so important to students. And you know, we've heard from various public stakeholders about that is such an essential thing to preserve. And I just want to thank Miss Hen for really thinking proactively and creatively to uh try to accomplish that for us. Thank you. Other comments, questions? Miss Pumprey? I'm just going to make a comment following up following up on Miss Slesky's statement. I don't think any any of us here, board and staff members alike, want to increase class sizes at all. Um, I'm grateful that as a board, we've asked all of these numerous questions. We've had a lengthy discussion. I came in today really not knowing what my vote was going

145to be. I still I'm not sure I know what my vote's going to be, but um just over the past few meetings and so grateful for staff for answering our questions over and over sometime repeatedly that we're hearing the same answers to the same questions just so that we all understand. And so I think it's clear that as a board we are doing our best and even with as staff we're doing our best to do whatever we can to not increase class sizes. Um so I don't want that to be looked over as far as the board any board member or as far as our staff. So I just wanted to make that clear. I think we all are on the same page there. How we come about that is where we differ. Um, so

146I am grateful for any idea that's brought up because I think they all need to be heard and discussed so that we can make a, you know, a good decision as far as how we're going to move forward and hopefully without too much increase in class sizes for our students. Thank you both of you for those comments. Okay, so we have a motion. Um, I'll read it again. It is in the chat. The board hereby directs the superintendent to preserve all existing FY2026 instructional staffing ratios. What? That's not the motion. Oh, sorry about that. Okay. No, we got another one coming. The budgeted vacancy turnover rate shall be increased to 5.5% identifying 28,112,000 in existing general fund revenue. These funds shall be reallocated to restore classroom teaching positions previously identified for reduction. May I have

147a roll call vote, please? Miss Dleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, Mr. McMillian, yes. Miss Pumphrey, yes. Mr. Young, no. Miss Tominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Fong, no. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Agumbbe, no. Miss Licter, no. Favoris five. Okay, that motion does not pass. There is another motion on the board. Um, I will read it. So, did you want to read it? I'd like to modify it slightly, madam. Okay, then go ahead. I was just trying to save you some minutes given the outcome of the last motion. Can I ask question? M doi. Um, how much time does Mr. Demanowki have? Oh, sorry. Okay. I didn't hear that. Sorry. I'm referring to page 16 of the questions. Um and it's well question 139. I had asked uh specifically which departments I hadn't I wasn't just special

148occasion uh special education it was uh people p people p people p people p people p people p people pup people personnel as well um I just could you that part was added to my question that at board meeting was special education cut I didn't actually say that I'm sorry I missed the question say the question again it wasn't answered my um I I asked about the which position which central office positions were eliminated from which departments. Okay. Did you want So the team would have to take a look at that in terms of the special education part. Um I believe that was a question that was asked directly to Dr. Mullenax during the last budget work session. It was captured by staff and so the response was provided. I had just asked which positions

149from special education had been eliminated since 2025. not uh for this budget, but I also asked about pupil personnel and the the total 66 or now you're saying 99.5 have been eliminated which departments they came from. So for clarity and I asked that in the in the question I'm sorry but I I just had asked that in the in there and it wasn't answered. for clarity uh for the community. I'm not um saying 99.5 staff members provided a response to the question as they read it. If there is uh some confusion, they can certainly take it back and provide that response. So you're right. It does say in 56 that 99.5 were reduct and then I guess there was some were filled and so it was 36 was the total that were reduced positions reduced.

150Which which departments were those from? But I I I put it in the question like on February 12th. I will repeat um staff received those questions. If uh there was a problem with how they response responded to those questions, certainly take it back and they can provide a update in writing. Okay. Lastly, um we talked about um confidential. There isn't a confidential object name, but there's a classified object name. Can you explain what that means on a budget line transfer? Uh I'm not familiar with something called classified object. Um on the budget line transfer that was given to us in response to questions from board members questions too. Um there's several classified object name. Oh well classified just means hourly employees. Why would that be classified? They're just called classified employees. So, does that go

151into the in not classified like secret? It's just a they're just called classified. So, wouldn't it just be in like why wouldn't it be instructional staff or not instructional staff but like staff um salaries and wages? Does it go does it get added to salary and wages at the end of the day? So, yeah. Go ahead. Sorry. Um, so position for the record, please state your name and position for the record with one. All right. Sure. My name is Kelly Wyn. I'm the director of the office of budget and reporting. Um, so yeah. So, um, in that report, the BLT report that I think that was referring to, um, what you're seeing is an account string structure, a detailed account string structure. And that object code uh that you were uh looking at called classified

152is just the name of that particular um salary. So sometimes a position um or the description of a position has uh a name like um professional or classified. Um it's an old sort of terminology that we used. If you look in the budget book today, you'll see the FTEES are um uh called uh professional and support. M um in the past if you look in old budget books you'll see that they were professional and classified. Um so it's just an old term that is still in our in our structure and our account string structure. But when it comes to the budget book would those classified numbers be added to the support and and professional part of they're part of the support? They're part of the So wouldn't it be like in the other category? No.

153They're part of the support. Yeah. They're they're synonymous with the support staff. Okay. Mhm. Thank you. You're welcome. Okay. So, no, I didn't mean no. I was answering Miss Harvey. That's okay. All right. So, u Miss Hen has put an another motion, correct? The last one there. Another motion in the chat. And the motion reads, "The board hereby directs the superintendent to preserve all current instructional staffing ratios grades K to 12. To bridge the remaining gap, the board formally requests that the county executive provide supplemental funding in that amount. Would you like to speak to your motion?" Just briefly, um, my motion doesn't specify a source of funding, but rather asks the county executive to bridge the gap between the current I'm sorry, I forgot to ask for a second. Is there a second to

154Miss Hen's motion? I'm sorry. Second, Dominowski. Thank you. Thank you. My My motion doesn't specify a source of funding, but rather asks the county executive to provide the supplemental funding needed to preserve the current staffing ratios. My Do you want to respond? I mean, my question would be, isn't I think we already did did that. How's that different than what's already taken place? My my motion asks for the budget requests to be updated to reflect the board's wishes that our current staffing ratios. So, we would ask for more than the maintenance of effort amount that she's already identified that she's willing to give us. The motion asks that the budget be updated to reflect the board's um request. Okay. Other discussion, questions, Dr. Mr. Young to Dr. Rogers. I think you mentioned that the in

155the beginning of the presentation that the county executive um is willing to do more. We just don't know how much more. So if they are able to provide more funding to us um you will go back and update the budget book and that will change the basically what the instructional staff ratios look like. So uh thank you for that question. Uh what I specifically asked the county executive for um that every uh board of education member received a copy of the letter was to restore as much funding as possible to maintain the ratios. Um it is broken down grade level the number of positions and the cost. Um you are correct in that she has stated uh desire to do more has to follow the process to be able to identify how much more. And

156I also think it worth uh it it is uh worth noting uh that currently with the proposed budget that is at the state level there are more requirements being placed on local government. Um and so we are uh fortunate to be in a situation um unlike others that is above maintenance of effort. The amount uh the initial target represents uh almost $30 million, $29.7 million. And um again, the committed desire to do more above and uh beyond that. And so that is already in motion. Uh we are meeting on a regular basis. Our last communication was today. Um, and so that is the plan to uh we have slowed some things down with staffing so that we are not disrupting schools and school communities. And there's our our plan to um uh restore as many

157positions as possible working closely with our funding partner. Miss Hen, thank you. Um the budget that we approved today becomes our budget. It's our request to the county executive. Currently, it's the superintendent's proposed budget, and I appreciate all the work that's gone into it, but at this stage, it becomes ours. We need to ask for what our students need, and this motion asks for what we need. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Harvey. Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Donowski. I was just going to to follow up along um you were talking about the county auditor's recommendations, and you said that some of the things they put in there, they're, you know, hardline. and they're not really feasible when you sit down across the table. Which recommendations are you referring to? I was just talking in general. I

158I mentioned I think they do a very good job with their analysis, but if you went through every recommendation they've done over the course of the years um and if we were actually if if they all easily made sense, then the county council would have adopted them. The county council has never adopted any of the recommendations. And here we are in a fiscal crisis. What I know these are hard decisions and these are people's jobs and these are people's livelihoods, but we're also here to educate our students. So sometimes we have to make those hard decisions and I'm just trying to understand why we didn't consider them more. So which ones were to like are they all off the table or which ones were like completely non you know we just can't even talk about

159it because it just wouldn't work. I I can't respond to that. I I didn't study we didn't study the county auditor's report as the basis for our budget. There was one recommendation from the county auditors that Mr. Miss Hen has brought up and we've discussed and and that's what we're addressing. My point was simply every recommendation that an auditor make is not necessarily executable. Okay. Thank you. Miss Harvey. Uh thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Miss Pumphrey, for acknowledging, I think, the position of every board member here. Uh that we want to uh preserve classroom sizes as much as we can amidst these challenges and the the issue is how do we do that and stay fiscally responsible. Um, my concern with this motion is is that we are directing the superintendent to keep

160current instructional staffing based on a request to the county that may or may not be approved. But once we do that, then what happens if we don't get the supplemental funding from the county? Uh well, the county council will approve the budget. In in that example, they would strip that money. This this county executive would not propo put that in her proposed budget. The budget would get adopted without those positions and we'd end up where Dr. Rogers has proposed in her budget today. Okay. Okay. I I'm just concerned about the fiscal soundness of directing spending money we don't have that we aren't projected to have. Um the superintendent, we are all aware, has made requests and reached out to our county partners. We're hoping that something can come through so that we can allocate more

161funds to the priorities that we have identified. I I'm just concerned that we are going to put ourselves in a position that we just experienced in terms of allocating money based on what's in the budget and then when it didn't come into the budget having to try and figure out how we as many folks out there have said keep our word and so uh this this motion is concerning to me. Thank you. Other comments or questions? Check the Okay. Then may I have a roll call vote on Miss Hen's motion that is in the chat, which directs the superintendent to preserve all current instructional staffing ratios grades K to 12 to bridge the remaining gap. The board formally requests that the county executive provide supplemental funding in that amount. Miss Dleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Mr.

162McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumprey? No. Mr. Young? No. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fong? No. I'm sorry. Could you Thank you. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Abe, no. Miss Lter, no. Favors four. Okay, Miss Donowski. I have a motion. Go ahead. I have a motion to postpone adopting the superintendent's proposed budget until staff can fully review, study, and consider the county auditor's budget recommendations and provide the board with a report on the effects of those recommendations. Is there a second to Mr. Manowski's motion? Miss, are you seconding it? I can second it. I also like to offer an amendment. Okay. What? Okay. I just put in the chat. All right. The um motion is in the chat. There's been a second, but there's also now coming an amendment. Go ahead, Miss Hen. I move to

163amend the motion on the floor to add um until the county executive responds to the superintendent's budget request. Is there a second to Miss Hen's amendment? Second. Thank you. discussion on the amendment, Miss Dominowski, or to the original. I just want to speak to it. Um, since Mr. Tant said that he didn't fully study that, I think it's would be, you know, we would be missing something if we didn't fully consider all those recommendations and how they would affect our budget. If we could find, you know, more money to put more teachers in our school buildings and reduce our class sizes, I think that we would um we would benefit from that. Thank you, Mr. Young. When is the budget normally due to the county executive? Uh, by statute, it has to be delivered to

164them by March 1st. Okay. in in past we normally approve approve it end of February. So I'm assuming that between now and March 1st there is still some additional work that needs to be done on it to present it to the county executive. uh if if the board well we already one amendment was passed so we'll uh incorporate any changes the board make tonight into what the superintendent proposed and then we will give that to the county executive uh in a summary format. It's not a full budget book. We just have to have a summary format that equals the totals by March 1st, but it does have to be the adopted budget. the board adopted budget to the county executive by statute by March 1st. Correct. Okay. Thank you, Miss Pumprey. What happens if we

165don't send it by March 1st? Uh I would need to uh find out the answer to that question. That's not happened, but it would from a practical standpoint. um the county executive, we're the biggest portion of that budget and so they need our numbers to put their budget together. So they're rapidly um over the next month. March is their heavy month and they need to get the budget finalized by the end of the month so the county executives they put their budget together and the county executive can present um in April. what a practical like legal ramification of not delivering by the first. Uh I would need to find out the answer to that question. And so when we talk about as a discussion as a super as a superintendent and staff ne talking with

166the county executive and our relationship that we've built, you know, through that um it's sort of like she's waiting on us and we're waiting on her. is that so so like we're we're trying to make a decision without knowing fully if she's going to increase what she's offering us. But yet technically we need to have that budget to her in anticipate in anticipation that hopefully she will um at least give us part of our ask. Uh yeah, as the superintendent mentioned, she's been working closely and we're hopeful. So any money they can find that they're willing to add to the budget, they will do that in the county executive's proposed budget, which will then be adopted by the county council. Thank you, Miss Dominowski. Can we ask for an extension and file an extension like

167we do for, you know, most reports that are due? Uh, well, this is a little different than just a report because there's a whole uh chain of events as I mentioned. uh they need to know what our final budget is. Uh I I I can't answer that question. It would be a legal question that we would need to research the uh implications of that. How long do you would you think you would need to review the county auditor's recommendations? Uh the I can't say that. And the report is fairly extensive and exhaustive. There's usually dozens of recommendations in there. Uh so but again you it wouldn't be by Friday. I'd like to also point out we've worked very closely with the county office of budget and finance to make sure that we're in lock step

168with our budget proposal. Um they agree with the recommendations that we've have to date. Miss Harvey. Uh thank you Madam Chair. I I just want to be clear that our budget is a huge budget and the largest part of the county budget, but there are budget other budget priorities that the county has to attend to. And so a late submission of our budget does not necessarily guarantee that the county won't move forward other ask or other requests for other parts of the budget. um because they don't have the information from our budget to move forward and and move all the pieces around if we're hoping for them to move pieces around in favor of BCPS. So, the lack of submission on time of our budget doesn't necessarily increase the chances that we would get additional

169funds. and may decrease it because those those allocations they may not wait to do other parts of their budget. You are correct. Thank you, Miss Pumphrey. Following up on that, I just feel like we we've Dr. Ro Ro Rogers has been amazing with building of relationships with our um government officials. Um I think that's something that we talked about at the beginning of her tenure that we wanted and she has um she has done that. Um, I think it's I'm worried that we're going to make it difficult on the county executive when we if we don't submit a budget and she's already thinking about hopefully providing us with more funds and then we're going to say, "Okay, well, we're not giving this to you." It puts her in a precarious position, I think. Um, and

170so that's my concern here. Um, I also do want to mention aside from that that uh we talked about last meeting about the format of our budget and I do think that's definitely something that we need to address based on all of our questions here. Um, and also the numerous questions and um clarity that we've asked for in the in the format of the budget as well as looking at other LEAs and that are similar to us and we did talk about that last time. Um whether that's something if we bring the budget committee back that they do or that we do collaboratively as a board. I think this whole entire discussion here and even on prior years shows that we definitely need to make some changes in that realm. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

171Manowski. I just wanted to clarify that my delay would not be that we would need to be asking for more money. I would be to be looking at the county auditor's report and seeing where we could make some additional cuts that would not affect our classrooms. Mr. McMillian, Miss Pumprey touched upon something with the budget committee. I think it's critical we're doing all this last minute kind of stuff. If we reinstate the budget committee with direct objectives that we can take care of a lot of this, be proactive with it and take care of it weeks and maybe even months in advance and so we don't come down to this situation that we're currently in. Thank you. And the budget ad hoc committee has met three times and we will hopefully be bringing something forward

172soon. So it it we Oh, you're on it, Mr. Million. So, it is it is active. Okay. May I have a roll call vote on the amended motion? Miss Dowleski, the amended motion is what Miss Hen has the last comment in the chat to postpone adopting the superintendent's proposed budget until staff can fully review, study, and consider the county auditor's budget recommendations along with the county executive's response to the superintendent supplemental budget request and provide the board with a report on the effects of those recommendations and input. Takes a lot of seconds away. Okay. I just have a question and I'm sorry. Go ahead. Okay. In light of all the comments, um I don't know if Miss Hen if you have any comments in response in terms of the deadlines we're facing your suggestion. So

173just before we vote, I don't know if you have anything you want to say. Do I have time? I don't know. What's your time left? 29. There's 29 seconds. But you have you have restated the motion. and ask for a roll call. Right. I I don't know if that's that's a point of order. I think at this point in time the discussion's over pending the outcome of the roll call. Okay. So, can I have a roll call vote, please, on the motion that's written in the chat that I just read. So, the motion is to amend until the CE response to the superintendent's report. That's what I had budget request. No, I thought it's what's in the chat. The amendment was Oh, motion. Okay, this is for Miss Hen's, right? We're voting. We're voting on

174Miss Hens. Correct. Correct. Yes. Which is which is in the chat. That is the whole motion though. The the original amendment was to until the county executive responds to the superintendent's budget request to add that to Miss Dominowski's motion. Okay, everybody. Okay, go ahead. Roll call vote. Miss Stleski abstain. Dr. Seavoy. Mr. McMillian. Yes. Miss Pumphrey. No. Mr. Young, no. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fong? No. Miss Harvey? No. Miss Abe? No. Miss Leicter? No favor is three. Okay. So now we are voting on Miss Domenowsk's motion. Correct. Okay. And Miss Dominowski's motion is what was written at 9:14. Correct. Okay. So, if you look on the chat at 9:14, that is what you are voting on to postpone adopting the superintendent's proposed budget until staff can fully review, study, and consider the

175county auditor's budget recommendations and provide the board with a report on the effects of those recommendations. Roll call vote, please. Mleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? No. Mr. McM Pumprey? No Mr. Young. No, Miss Dominowski. Yes, Miss Hen. Yes, Miss Fong. No, Miss Harvey. No. Miss Aomebe? No. Miss Leicter? No. Favor is four. May I have a motion to approve the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget as amended? And the amendment was what was passed. Mr. McMillians. So move still. Thank you. May we have a roll call vote, please? Second. Need a second. Oh, I need a second, please. I thought we already did that in the beginning, though. Not as not as amended. Okay. May I have a second, please? Missky gave it a first. Second, Pumprey. Thank you. Roll call vote, please. Musleski. No. Chair point

176of order. Do you are we done with discussion on the budget? I thought so. Did you have a question? I do. I had a couple of things. But there's a motion on the floor already. I didn't I kept checking your hand. I didn't see it. Um are you hearing Well, I didn't know we were moving to the motion to finalize the budget. So, sorry. Procedurally, what? Well, first of all, over here, we're not hearing Miss Ron Pollins when she votes. And I just was pointing out that hoping that we're capturing our votes. Okay. Secondly is you have a motion on the floor, which means unless that motion is withdrawn by either by consensus or because it's now a board motion, you're past the discussion, right? I mean, that's where you are. And the same thing

177I think happened earlier tonight uh with someone else. But did we have discussion on this amended budget with his amendment that and that's what the next point is this has now been amended. So you have a new primary motion as amended. So you don't go straight to roll call you have that last round of discussion on the primary motion. So if that's where you are not on roll call then you can proceed with more discussion. Okay. So how right and that's where I thought we were was the discussion. So So how do I backpedal the roll call? You weren't you you just as presiding officer you weren't at roll call place yet. You were at entertaining any discussion. Okay. On the pending motion. Okay. Amended. Mr. Pong your question please. Okay. Um so I have

178a a general question but it is it's connecting to the budget based on the answer. Um so we had previously heard from during public comment we had heard from a teacher about the change in salary due to school closing boundary study. I believe this was Golden Ring Middle School Noddingham Middle. And because the status of the schools changed some of the money that was given to the teachers changed. So, we have boundary studies for this upcoming year. Are there going to be schools affected by that? And is that in the budget? Miss Fong, I think um the uh public comment that you're referring to. The staff member spoke to two components. One was the community schools um status and the other was low performing school status that was designated by the state. Uh Mr. Tantliff.

179Um please, I do know that MSDE identifies the schools according to their rules um that qualify for low performing um status. Please share if they if they also provide the uh budgetary um if it's a budget neutral um designation in terms of impact on our operating budget. That part I don't know. It's budget neutral unless they're NBC qualified. If you're an NBC qualified teacher, you normally get 10,000 and if it's low performing schools designated by MSD, you get an extra $7,000. And they split that cost with us basically. I'd also like to clarify the uh changes were not as a result of a of a boundary study or a boundary change. It was due to the fact that Nottingham Middle was a newly designated facility without two years of performance results. Okay, I thought this

180was for the boundary study that we had when the children went to Nottingham Middle and it was effect of the Golden Ring Middle Golden Golden Ring Middle School close golden ring middle school closing. Is that not correct? It it is correct that it was the result of the new Nottingham Middle School. was not directly related to the boundary change. Um, when a new when a new school is designated, when there's a news newly designated school or program, MSDE requires 2 years of um performance results as their normal process in order to um designate a school in a number of their categories. So in this case what happens with golden ring it uh in this case golden ring closed meaning the program closed meaning the school number is closed out with MSDE a new number is

181created with Nottingham as a new facility and again there are new boundaries but it wasn't directly resultant of the boundary change that this occurred. Okay thank you for giving that additional detail to explain. So, and it is budget neutral. And so, it sounds like also we would have to wait for the second year, I guess, to look at whether or not that money comes back. Is that a question? I don't think we lost any money that I'm aware of. Well, the teacher had spoke about the money not going to the teachers. That's why I was just trying. And I didn't know if this was another issue we would have again in the upcoming budget with existing boundary studies or even whether it's school closing another school opening etc. So MSDE uh from year to year

182the designation of schools can change um whether they are designated as low performing as community schools based on whatever the current criteria is as part of the process and as Mr. Tantliff said, uh, teachers do get a a stipen, a general stipen for being nationally board certified. If they are in a low performing school, there's an additional stipen that's a part of that. Um, if that changes uh at the same school, even from year to year, that stipen eligibility would also change. Okay. Thank you. And then I'd like to go back to um from the operating questions. This is page 140, page 18, question number 142. I had asked about the transfer of funds and staff from the department of equity. Um it's not its own separate department. It's going under another department. I had

183asked about the staffing and the new funding and staffing. So how much is going to be spent on the equity work that has been done before? Uh so Mr. Primong as um as stated in in that response uh equity work is is integrated into the department of employee training and development. It is not allocated in terms of funding or staffing as a separate department in and of itself. It is folded into a larger department. Again, the department of employee training and development and equity work is uh integrated or in infused in the training and the supports that they provide our schools and school staff. So then we do not have an answer to that question. What do you mean, Mr. Pong? I he just answered it. What was the what? He gave me a response

184that I'd asked specifically about the equity. So now we're it's we're not you're not able to tell me how much money that we're looking at spending on equity. In previous budgets, I believe from FY2026, yes, it was changed, but it had said it was a budget of 7003, I think 700 some thousand plus. So, Miss Fong, that's why I had asked. I'm sorry. I didn't I didn't mean to to interject. So, in FY26, uh you are correct. There was a separate um there was a separate line item because there was a separate department of equity. The allocation was I believe $73,000 roughly. um the staffing this the salaries and wages um comprised of approximately um 680,000 maybe a little bit less of those $700,000 in funds. Um that money has moved over in in salary

185and wages to the department of employee training and development. Um it is important to note however that the overall department of employee training and development has had cuts in um in the last two fiscal years that would impact them overall. So the majority of those funds that you're looking at in terms of devoted specifically to any one bit of work over another were tied up in um salary and wage dollars. I'm just making sure Miss Funkong's finished. Mr. Funkong, are you finished? I wasn't. I tried to mute and I have to go back to unmute. Um, so I'd like to make a motion to move that department back as a separate department with the full funding. Is there a second to Miss There's There's a current motion on the floor. you there's a current motion

186on the floor which you all are discussing now that's that's where you are so if there's a motion brand new motion that would be out of order if it's some sort of amendment oh can I make an amendment to the amended motion if it's germanine to the pending motion you could you could at least motion is the approval of the budget with Mr. Mr. McMillian's already approved motion amendment. So what is what are you trying to make a motion or amendment for miss from punk to pull out that equity department and keep it separate with the full funding. Um I Okay, Mr. Burns, is that Germaine? Well, as stated, I'm not sure it is, but I'm not. It has to be stated as an amendment to what's pending before the body right now. So, first

187it has to be formed as a proper amendment to the pending motion. Okay, Miss Fang, did you hear Mr. Burns? Yes. And what does that mean for him? There's a proper amendment to the So the the motion on the floor is um to approve the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget as amended. is Mr. Fmpong. I'm trying to go back through the chat now to see where Mr. Well, Mr. um You mean Mr. Miller's motion? It's not in the chat. His motion was to restore the secondary library media specialist to full-time positions for the fall 2026 and going forward with no classroom advisory responsibilities. Okay. So he was saying to restore library specialist. Okay. So my motion will be to restore the department of equity as a separate department with the full funding. Okay. Madam Chair,

188you would you would first have to ask if there's a second. Is there a second to your to Miss Fmpong's motion? Second, Stellleski. Okay. Now, discussion. So, Miss Fong, do you feel that there's a reduction in funds for the people who are in that office that represent the previous equity office? So, I was asking about this before in the last meeting because I had asked about the staff. I had asked about the funding and then we're not given clear-cut answers on what's happening with the funding because it's now been incorporated into another department. I've also spoke about from last time I believe it's important because we have an equity policy 0100 is our very first policy. It's the buttress of all policies that we build from. We have an equity committee. That's what we have.

189We even have an equity advisory council. So that's what we have at the board level to show that this is our commitment and our support to it. So I think it's in congruent then that we are not having the separate equity department that we previously had and then it sounds like there's some defunding happening because we're being reduced as far as staff. I believe I heard last time at first it was said it wasn't and then there was going to be another reduction and can't we're not being told how the money is being spent and so this is something that affects all the the students staff of BCPS and this is in alignment with our commitment to equity that we as a board have have made. Thank you. Further discussion Miss Alleski. Thank you. I

190just have um one question. Can the fiscal or any other changes between the realignment be described? So, you know, if if all of the services and all of the important work is continuing exactly the same, you know, that's certainly helpful to know. Thank you. You go ahead. You or Jess, whatever you want. All right. Thank you um for uh the discussion and the question. And I think it's important for us to note um we have had uh significant central office reductions uh for the last um uh now proposed three fiscal years uh in central office. We have reduced uh positions across teams and increased efficiencies. I believe um last year the reduction was to a specialist position on the team. All of workforce development for the entire school system is now h housed under one

191umbrella under the leadership of Dr. uh Burrquist. But the staffing so I I don't recall if the team used to be uh I think the team used to be five and went to uh four. So all of the salaries and wages for the members of the team still exist with them. In terms of work, which I think we spoke to last time, um uh the work continues across our system. The uh climate and culture coaches provide, the professional development that uh our educators receive. If there are any concerns at a building level, they are deployed to respond to um those concerns. and we also have equity specialists in every one of our schools. So in terms of the work continuing um that is our ongoing uh commitment but we have uh reduced positions across the

192board in uh Baltimore County Public Schools in central office to um address the ongoing budget shortfalls. So, uh, Miss Friong, I'm not sure if your, uh, previous questions was whether or not the salary and the wages for the individuals still exist. I believe the reduction is by one that has previously happened and there might be one more in this fiscal year, but the wages and uh, salaries um, and and priorities of the team are underneath the employee uh, workforce and development umbrella. Miss Pumphrey, do we know what the fiscal impact will be if we approve this amendment? So I think I heard the amendment is to go back to the previous uh structure and so um I don't know if uh there is an ability to see that now but I know it's at least

193adding one position from last year and if there's one more proposed it would be the equivalent of adding two more positions. the fiscal note associated with adding two more positions. Those are two more positions that are um I guess the cost is higher than our classroom positions. In other words, how will this affect class size or will it affect class size? Um uh specialist positions uh Mr. Tantliff, can you speak to the cost of specialists compared to um class? Specialist probably equivalent to a a very senior teacher. Further discussion. So this is Miss Rimpong. I just wanted to correct because I believe I heard Miss or Dr. Rogers say that we had equity specialists at every school. That would be our equity leaison that we have at every school and that person is a teacher

194or a staff member. I believe that's chosen by the principal. Um, and we do not have equity specialists as it's laid out. Just like you said, we have climate and culture cultures. So, it would be going back to having our equity specialists along with our equity liaison at the schools doing the work in in conjunction in tandem together. Thank you. Any further discussion? May I have a I'm sorry to Dr. Cavoy. The difference I just wanted to know the difference between an equity equity specialist and a consulting teacher. You mean leaz equity liaison? Equity leazison. Uhhuh. Do you want Yes. Um in the past we had uh equity specialist. Um we have climate and culture specialists now. The specialists were assigned to zone. We had uh we actually had four. We had one for each

195zone and one for a central office. They primarily provided the training. They also responded to any um incidents where a uh teacher or an office head needed support to be brought in. Uh equity liaison is as Miss uh Frim Pong indicated. They are uh typically a teacher, a staff member at the school. Um they receive training from uh the office of culture and climate. Uh they participate in professional development. Um and they work on the equity uh plan at the school uh which looks at you know um not only uh climate but it also looks at how students are performing. Okay. Miss Harvey. Uh thank you madam chair. I um I get the importance of the positions. Um resto res restoring two positions is probably a drop in the bucket in this budget. Although we

196are saying every penny counts, but we just added 3 million plus to the budget. So I'm not sure that two positions is going to impact us one way or the other. Um, I'm not sure I understand the need to uh pull the department out if we're trying to integrate um the work based on our our uh dedication to 0 throughout the system. Thank you. Any further Mr. Young? Just to clarify, the work is being done by everyone within the department of training and workforce development. Uh so it's that's a great question. It's not uh everyone in the department because there are some folks that have uh specialized training technical training skills for example some are are um clerical or accounting support but we do have uh staff who are in addition to our climate and

197culture coach in addition to our director of workforce development and culture who are supporting our equity work through employee training and development. So yes sir, there are additional staff members um because the work has has broadened out as it's been integrated into our other training and development and the climate and cultural specialist. Climate and culture coach. Yes sir. Climate and cultural coach they are in that department. Yes sir. Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? So the a the motion earlier the amendment for the library M specialist was adding approximately 36 more staff members would be needed since they're not going to be teaching two classes. Correct? Was that and then this would be adding two more positions that would be needed if this passes. But none of these would be helping with this the class ratios.

198Correct. That is correct. Thank you. Um, Miss and I, I see it. We'll get to there. Okay. Miss um, Dominowski, just to clarify, the 36 would be librarians in the school buildings. So, correct. They they would be teachers to take uh, the classes that the uh, library media specialists had been assigned to. So, they would be teachers. They would be teachers in the classroom. Okay. Thank you, Miss Pumphrey. So while I I view these positions as very important, I also feel that as a board our first priority was as much as possible and our request was as much as possible to cut central office staff and not direct classroom as much as possible. So although it's only two positions, that's my concern here. I I 0100, you know, we need to all this is very

199important and those positions are important and equity is important, but I feel like based on what the superintendent said that the these position positions and the work of these positions are still being covered and um based upon the board's request to cut central office as much as possible. Um that's why I'm I'm a little I'm not in in support of this amendment based on on that reasoning. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Young. based on what Miss Funrey said or going off of what she said um is it really two positions because if you pull the department out will you not need um a director or because when they were folded together that offered some synergy or position other position cuts. So pulling that back out, what would the real and and going back to its

200previous staffing, what would it actually look like more than just the two that were cut? So the um the the clear net impact to um to separate a distinct department of equity to what it was prior to FY26 would would result in in the creation of two positions because as Dr. Rogers indicated there have been two positions cut in terms of the the work that would change and be missed throughout the employee uh department of employee training and development. Um we I I couldn't comment on that impact right now. It would be there would be lost work. there would be more um other other resources and roles would have to be defined and there may be some uh some some training and some support that we presently offer to staff that we would no longer

201be able to offer to them. So um the the the raw request I'm going to call it would be would be two positions to restore the the the separate uh department. Uh but as you indicated, there would be um work that I couldn't calculate sitting here right now that we wouldn't be able to do as those positions aren't integrated with the larger Department of Employee Training and Development. So, thank you for that question. Mr. Young, do you have a follow-up? You look like you're still thinking. still processing. But thank you that you've answered my question. Okay, Miss Harvey, is your hand up? Yes. Go ahead. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, uh, I'd like to offer an amendment to restore the equity positions, the two equity positions. Uh, period. I think that directing where they land

202in the organization is more operational than governance. But I do think um if we're talking about something that impacts the entirety of our system, something that we say we believe in, then it would be important to restore those two positions. And as as as I stated earlier in comparison to three million to add teachers to take to um restore the librarians uh from taking two classes in the day. I think this is a drop in the bucket. So the motion was I mean the amendment was to restore the two equity positions. Is there a second to Miss Harvey's amendment? Second. Any further discussion? And Miss Licer, this is to amend the amendment that was on the floor. This is an amendment to a pending motion. The amendment to Miss Funkong's That's exactly right. Right. So,

203I'm sorry. I'll be uh clear. I I move uh to strike the part of the motion that refers to pulling the equity department out of its current um assignment. Okay, say that again. To pull them out of their current assignment. So mo the motion on the floor was to restore the positions and create a separate department. I'm moving to strike the part of the motion that creates the separate department or restores the separate department. Right. And and while I would like to restore those positions, I'd also like to restore the math specialists that got cut and the ALA specialists that cut, too. So, it's it's my worry is the domino effect of bringing back the central office specialists that we so begrudgingly had to cut. So, I just it's not that I don't want them.

204I want all of them. So I'm not sure how to vote based on that priority. Miss Fong. Thank you. So as long as I'm in agreement with Miss um Harvey Harvey's uh amended motion as long as again the work continues and then as we talk about the two that are coming back again as we talk about the work it's across the system. So this is not it's students but it's students and staff for the work that they cover and the work that they do. It's not just a single classroom teacher as far as the effect on those direct children. This has a larger impact. Okay. So, may we have a roll call vote on the amendment, which Miss Harvey stated was to restore the two equity positions. Period. Correct. Okay. Roll call vote. Miss Gover,

205Miss Gilleski. Tough fiscal times, but I agree with what Miss Licter said in terms of lots of positions to be restored. No. Dr. Mr. Seavoy. Yes. Mr. McMillian. No. Mr. Young, Miss Pumprey, do I get a vote? I'm sorry, Miss Humphrey. I'm sorry. No. Send this one out. No. Sorry. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, no. Miss Hen, no. Miss Framp, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Aomebe, no. Miss Lictor, no favors for Okay, so now you're back. Right, I'm back to the Oh, back to Miss Fong's motion, which was to restore the two positions and move the office out of workforce development into a separate office. Correct. Correct. Okay. May I have a roll call vote on Miss Fang's amendment? Miss Dleski? No. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? No. Miss Pumphrey? No. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss

206Dominowski? No. Miss Hen? No. Miss Fong? Yes. Miss Harvey? No. Miss Aumpe, no. Miss Lter, no. Favor is three. Okay, now I am back to the big one, right? Okay, Matt, Miss Stleski, this is before the big vote, right? Well, try. Okay, go ahead. All right. So, I just want to thank everyone for all of your hard work in a tough fiscal budget cycle. In the board set of questions, I expressed how important it was to have evidence in the central office departmental details to feel confident that all non-essential expenses and/or positions were cut. The increase in class sizes are concerning and especially alarming for grades 1 to three given the recent prior prioritization of giving every student the best opportunity to be reading on grade level excuse me on grade level by grade three.

207My struggle with approving this budget centers around these class size increases especially the impact on elementary students reading on grade level by grade three. I'm gravely concerned about the setbacks in what has been a priority area for our shel system where we were making substantial gains. While many central office positions are essential, I have not seen the necessary evidence to ensure that the zerobased budgeting process led to the elimination of all extraneous positions. I truly needed more evidence. There of course has to be bureaucracy in our school system, but raising class sizes must be an absolute last resort. I did not see here evidence to support that. My vote is nothing personal to anyone and I am not making taking it lightly. I have voted for all proposed budgets in the past and um Thank

208you. Thank you. Okay. M okay we already have the motions right do I need to the motion discussion why you had amendments right so now we're ready for roll call vote on the motion to approve the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget as amended roll call vote please no Dr. Seavoy yes Mr. Mr. McMillion. No. Miss Pumphrey. Yes. Mr. Young. No. Miss Dominowski? No. Miss Hen? No. Miss Fong? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Aomebe? Yes. Miss Leicter? Yes. Favor is six. There's nothing in my script for this. What Mr. Burns happens next? Well, you certainly as as chair have the right to uh solicit any additional um motions they might have regarding the topic at hand, which is the agenda, which is the budget. Um but beyond that, if the board doesn't adopt the budget, it

209doesn't adopt it tonight. You bring it back at a future meeting. Okay. Thank you. Any further amendments, motions? Okay, let me just Mr. Young. Um, Mr. Question for Mr. Burns. Go ahead. Um, is reconsideration an option? What does that mean? Go ahead, Mr. Yes. join us, Mr. Burns. I think these gentlemen would be glad to have a visitor. I don't know if I cover enough. All right. So, as we've talked about before in the past, uh Mr. Young, um reconsideration is sort of a two two-part answer because the general topic of reconsideration of a board action is broken into are you doing it at the meeting, the same meeting at which you took the action or in this case didn't take the action or at a future meeting. We often call that a recision of

210a past action. Since you're still in your meeting, right, and you took no action, reconsideration isn't what you'd be doing because there's no action to reconsider, no action to resend. You are simply at a place where you did not pass a motion to adopt the budget. That's where you are. And and when Miss Lar as chair solicited addition additional motions, she she said amendments, but I think she meant motions regarding the budget, that opens the floor to any additional motions. If no other motions are made, you move on to your next agenda item. So, could we seek a revote? That's not a that's not a term under the parliamentary procedures that I would advise you to make a motion that terms it as a revote. Uh if you think you could make a motion that

211would persuade a majority of your members to adopt your motion, you could form that motion and make it while you're still in this agenda topic. So I could make a motion that we vote again on the adoption of the superintendent's proposed budget as amended. you you could and subject to the will of the board and your chair as a presiding officer after one or two of those tries and you've had this happen before. You have not passed or not done things and taken multiple attempts. At some point in time for the the good of the body you would draw the topic to a close but it's not there's nothing impermissible about you making such a motion. Okay, that doesn't, by the way, it doesn't exclude other members from having a point of order concern or

212anything else they want to raise with the chair. Miss Madam Chair, I have a question for council. It's my understanding that the same motion can't be introduced twice um once the board has voted on it. You can move You can you voted you didn't do anything. I I can't explain any better. You took no action. So therefore, you could theoretically move again, but you can't keep moving again and again as a board and getting the same answer and not be subject to the chair saying we're moving on to the next topic or for a point of order from other board members to move on to table or whatever. So there's all that in play, but that doesn't mean that the motion can't be made. We've been advised previously that the same motion can't be introduced

213once the board has taken a vote unless it's reintroduced by the opposing side and then a a vote can be taken on it. I I understand that. I haven't heard I haven't heard the motion so I can't say that the same motion is being made twice. Nobody there's no motion on the floor right now. Right. Correct. I'm confirming that the same motion can't be introduced twice. Okay, Miss Harvey. Right. I need clarity cuz I just heard two different things. I heard that there's nothing that prevents a motion from being made again because we took no action. And then Miss Hen is confirming that the same motion can't be made twice. So, can you help me understand what's happening here? There are rules about who can make motions under Robert's rules. who can make motions in

214the face of a motion that failed has to do with who were the proponents and who wasn't right. Trying to remember now the primary motion to adopt the mo the budget as amended was made by whom? Oh, it feels like it happened days ago. It it was um miss who made who made who made the motion? I made the motion, but who made who second it? I have a motion. Someone just that included the amendment from uh Mr. McMillian. The motion was made by Mleski, seconded by Miss So another member could make my advice is another another member, not Miss Tleski, could make the motion. Miss Harvey, I move to adopt the FY the superintendent's FY proposed FY27 operating budget as amended. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Miss Sleski. Thank you. Um,

215was there any difference in this motion than the original motion? So, no, no technical technicality or Miss Harvey, you made the same motion again. The exact same wording according to council. They're just not required. So, it's I'm just checking for I read. May I have a motion? I'm just checking for understanding. Not judging. Motion to approve the superintendent's proposed FY27 operating budget as amended. Madam Chair, point of parliamentary procedure. Yes. The the person who makes the duplicate motion has to be the individual who voted against it in the first in the first time and I believe um madame vice chair voted for it. Okay. The first time. Okay. Then we'll take that all back. Can we just take it all back? Well, again, again, if if if a board me if a board member is

216presenting to you different advice than council, okay, you you have a couple options. You can go with what the board member recommends. You may also entertain a motion to go into close session to receive legal advice. Okay? Or you can withdraw yours and I can call on him because Okay. Can I move to go into close session for legal advice? Is there a second? Second. Still, may I have a roll call vote, please, on the motion to go into close session for legal advice? That's on the floor. What happened to the You have no idea. What about the amended? So, if if Miss Pumprey had said she wants to go in close session to discuss the motion on the floor, would that make this better? That's I think that's but that's a prim. You're asking

217for legal advice about a pending motion over a point of order that's been raised by a board member in the middle of consideration. I think you can go into close session to consider advice on that topic. Okay. May I have a roll call vote, please? Can we discuss that? Discuss going into close session? Yes. Go ahead, Mr. McMillian. Had a second. Oh, may I have a second? What did you just say? Why do that if there's going to be another motion on the floor? There's not. Miss Harvey is not taking back her motion. Wait a minute. Oh, you're okay. Go ahead, everybody. Okay. I got too too many motions on the floor right now. So, you have a mo you have a motion. I have hers. Another motion regarding passing the budget as amended. Okay.

218You had a point of and it was seconded. Okay. You had a point of order that was raised concerning the motion maker being able to make such motion. Okay. There appears to be a desire to have advice of council on topic which I think it's important to do that in closed session because it allows you to speak freely and allows me to advise you in a privileged setting and you had a board member ask for that. Okay. Did you have a second yet? I was. Okay. Motion. Is there a second? Yes. There's a second. So now we're doing discussion. I have Miss Hen. I will um withdraw my point of order if Mr. Young makes the motion instead of Miss Harvey because he voted no on the original motion and that's allowed per Robert's rules.

219Okay, Miss Harvey, are you okay with that? That's fine. Okay, try. So, you resend your motion. I rescend my motion. Thank you. Do you rescend your motion? Yes, I resend my motion. Okay. Anybody have Mr. Young? I make the motion that He tried. Yeah, you did. I'm trying to I move that we adopt the superintendent's fiscal year 27 budget as amended. Thank you. Is there a second? Second, Harvey. Thank you. Further discussion. Roll call vote, please. Oh, you have further discussion, Miss Celeleski. I just don't know what has changed. Nothing. Nothing has changed except somebody is asking for us to have a revote just like we did that for board chair. Are we going around and around and around? Okay, thank you. Um, okay. Roll call vote, please. We are voting on the motion to

220approve the superintendent's proposed FY2027 operating budget as amended. Roll call vote. Miss Dleski, no. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, no. Miss Pumphrey, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, no. Miss Hen, no. Miss Fong, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Aumbbe, yes. Miss Leicter, yes. Two, three, four, five, six, seven. Favor is seven. Favor is seven. Okay. All right, everybody take a deep breath. We have another It has nothing to do with that. We have another motion, but it's not. Um, Miss Hen, can you please read I have to get back to teams. Sure. Can you please read your motion? I move to postpone agenda items J and K to the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Is there a second? Second, Pumprey. Any discussion? We have a roll call vote on Miss Hen's motion to postpone agenda

221items J and K to the next regularly scheduled board meeting. Miss Dleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Miss Pumprey, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss FP. Yes. Miss Harvey. Yes. Mumbbe. Yes. Miss Lter. Yes. Thank you. Okay. We're not finished yet, but thank you, Miss Hen. Okay, we are on agenda item H. Oh, thank you every Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. Number letter H. The next item on the agenda is action is action taken in close session. And for that I call Mr. Burns. Madam Chair, there were no actions in close session requiring affirmation in open session. No, there weren't. Thank you. Next. Okay. The next item on the agenda is new business report on board policies. This is the first reader for these policies. And for that

222I call Miss Christina Pumphrey, chair of the policy review committee. Thank you. Members of the board, the policy review committee asks that the board accept this report of the committee's recommendation of the proposed changes to the following board policies. Board policy 2361, distribution of non-school material, board policy 6800, field trips and foreign travel study programs, and the proposed readoption of board policy 5000 students. These policies are presented to you on tonight's agenda as exhibits I1 through I3. Thank you, Miss Pumphrey. Board members, are there any separations? Madam Chair, this is board member Fong. I'd like to separate uh policy 5000. Okay. Thank you. Um Okay. So then, may I have a motion to accept the recommendation of the board's policy review committee for board policies 2361 and 6800? So moved, Harvey. Thank you. No second

223is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Any discussion on those two policies, 2361 and 6800? May I have a roll call vote, please? Mleski. Yes. Dr. Mr. Seavoy. Yes. Mr. McMillian. Yes. Mr. Pumprey. Yes. Mr. Young. Yes. Miss Dominowski. Yes. Miss Hen. Yes. Miss Rampong. Yes. Miss Harvey. Yes. Mumbbe. Yes. Miss Lictor. Yes. Thank you. May I have a motion to accept the recommendation of the board's policy review committee for board policy 5000? So move young. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Is there any discussion on policy 5000? Miss Fang. Um so I just wanted to speak to this. This was an interesting discussion in um the PRC and I actually think it was kind of important that it came to the board to discuss at

224a high level but then I do think it should go back to the um committee for refinement because this policy was originally deleted. it came back at the request of a board member and then after like a robust discussion. Um I do think it's important that we have a policy for students and that we identify the philosophy and the standards. I just think that the language in it is antiquated. Um and I think it needs to be updated. Um so that's why I wanted to make a comment in particular about this one. Um I guess just to get the feedback or comments of the the full board, but I do believe it should go back um for revision. Thank you. Any further discussion, Miss Hen? Thank you. Um this reintroducing this policy does not preclude

225it from coming back to the committee for revision. I believe that once it's in place, um it is subject to the same revision cycle that other policies are and the committee can certainly recommend adding it to the schedule for revision. I think that we did have a robust discussion and I thank Miss Fong um for her participation in that and if if we support the passage of this motion then it will um make this policy available to the committee for um discussion and revision. So this is the first step that will enable that. Thank you. Missowski, do you have your hand up? Nope. That Okay. Miss Pumphrey, because we had such a robust discussion um during PRC and I if I remember correctly, it was quite a lengthy discussion. I would um just ask for

226more specific information as to what staff should look at before they bring us this back to us again with policy analysis because typically when we have such a robust discussion, they are taking that before they present us with this first reader of this policy. So just to send it back without more specific instructions I think um is not helpful to staff as far as what do we want them to look at closer? What language they we want them to look that at so that they can provide an additional policy analysis if it does go back to um committee. Thank you. Further discussion, Miss Hen, um just to clarify that this is the first step of reinstatement. So once a policy has been removed, it no longer exists as a policy. So reinstating it is reinstating

227it in its last um form when it did exist. So what we are being asked to consider tonight is do we want to reinstate it in its last good form. Once we reinstate it, then we can take step two, which is to ask staff to look at the language and bring a recommendation back to committee. Thank you for that clarification. Other discussion? This is board member from Palm. Go ahead, Miss I apologize because that wasn't clear. I mean, again, even back in the committee, I spoke about the antiquated language and I was for bringing it forward so that we could talk about the best way. The problem is is that the language as it's written, the staff members have already determined and you see it in the analysis that we don't need it because of

228the language. it says that, you know, the language that's included in this is already included in other policies. And so I guess to Miss Pumphrey's point, um I guess if we need additional information, I'd like to just have um it be updated to reflect what are the current board uh philosophies or the board standards that are not represented in other um policies. But if we can't make I guess the changes, we have to reinstate it as is and it's already been determined that it's not needed. That's that's something different then. So I'm not Yeah, that I'm I misunderstood. So I'm not in agreement then I guess with the with this policy as it is because it's the information is already reflected in the other policies. We need to have this updated to reflect what our

229current philosophy and what our current standards are for our students. Miss Hen, I think the importance of reinstating this um can't be overstated. it, you know, this discusses our standards in broad statements. All students will reach high standards. Um, all students will graduate from high school. This this describes our our vision and mission as a school system. And when I looked at this and looked through other policies, we don't make these statements in in any of our other policies, which is why um I feel so strongly that we need to reinstate it because they don't exist elsewhere. So we can revisit the language, we can add specificity, but these are highlevel um statements in in regards to what we expect for all students. All English language learners will become proficient in English and reach high

230academic standards. I mean, these are things that we don't state in any of our other policies that that need to be in our policy. So, um, once we reinstate this, sure, if we feel like we need to add specificity to it, that's fine. But to exclude this entirely, which is as it stands now, we're we're not stating that this is part of our vision or mission as a as a board anywhere within our policy. So, I believe the the priority um that we need is to reinstate it and then work with the committee can work with staff and bring recommendations for language updates to the board as necessary. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Deoski. Just had a question for Miss Fom. You said that this policy is already covered in other policies. Could

231you do you know any of those policies offhand? Mr. Rampang, do you have a response or I do. I was talking and I was muted, so I apologize. That's okay. Okay, let me start from the top. Um, it I it does there's in the analysis of it, it talks about where that language can already be found. So even if you go back to our basic board commitments uh policy 0200, it talks about um providing for every student the highest quality 21st century education in a safe, secure and positive environment etc. So it's laid out in points 1 through nine of the analysis and this um this policy was actually already it's been deleted. So, it's already not in existence since 2023. Um, and that's why the um and it was previously wrote it like to

232delete it because the consensus or the thought was that this information that's contained in this is already contained in other policies. So, I hope that helps to answer the questions. I I I I I thank you for pointing that out. I'm looking at it now. I I I see that it it says that, but it's not necessarily the exact same language. Um, so I I I can see where this could be reinstated and then improved. Oh, sorry. Um, other comments, Miss Hen, one um last brief comment. the the difference between the language and the other policies and 5000 is that the other policies have goals or um aspirations. 5000 has standards and there's a big difference between standards and goals. Um for instance, all students will have access to and be educated in school environments

233that are equitable, safe, conducive to learning. That's great. Um that's that's a goal or set high performance standards. That's different than all students will achieve, all students will um perform. So standards set, we need to set standards and that's what policy 5000 does. It's not just a goal, it's a standard. this is what we expect and that's the difference and and as Miss Pumprey and Miss Frenong said, we had a robust discussion with this in committee and and that's the difference in the language um behind what what we are setting standards for versus what our goals are. Thank you, Mr. Young. Is your hand up? No. Okay, maybe. Okay, you're going to pass. All right, let me just make sure Miss Frenong's hand's not up. Okay, so the motion was No, we separated 5,000. We

234just had a discussion. Okay. May I have a roll call vote on policy 5000? No. So vote in support of right whether you want to pass it. We just we passed the first two. We separated this had discussion. Now we're voting if you want this one to pass. Go ahead. Thank you. And then we would have the opportunity to revise it if it's passed once it gets reinstated. Okay. I just wanted to make sure. No. Then there's no there's no 5,000. There's nothing to revise. Okay. Okay. Roll call vote, please. Oh, Mr. Young just a clarification on the process. We vote yes. It basically comes back goes through first reader, second reader. So during that time frame is when it can be revised. Not it has to make it all the way to the end

235um and then get put on the schedule to be revised. Miss Pumprey, I'll defer to you with that one. This is first reader. So we'll can go back to the committee for further revisions. Okay. Say it again. I'm sorry. Could was that can or cannot what Miss Pumprey said? Miss Pumprey, can you repeat your statement? This is first reader, so it can go back for revisions as a request. I think that's what you were requesting, Miss Fong. But I I do think we need clarification as far as what we're going to what we want staff to refine. But I with our discussion I think we may have clarified that here. But if we don't vote that's if we vote yes. If we vote no um trace miss what are you saying? We can either pass

236it and it goes to second reader or we commit it back to committee. Is that what you said? So that's different than saying yes or no. So when if I ask for a roll call vote. So I'd like to make an amendment that this go back to the committee for revision. Okay. Is there a second to Miss Fang's motion for it to go back to committee? I'm chair. We have a motion on the floor, I believe, for this motion for for policy 5000. So we need to process that. Thank you for that. Okay. But the only problem is are we voting yes or no? Those are the only two options, not the recommit that Miss Gver. The motion on the floor is to pass um the reoption of 5,000, right? 5,000 at first reader. Recommended.

237So, what I'm understanding is if we pass it and it goes on to second reader, but if we fail it or do not pass it, then we can then make a motion for it to go back to committee. Okay? So, if you say yes, it stays. If you say no, then we could move it on. Miss Stleski, just a question. Thank you. So, if it passes, then it can be revised. Well, I'm hearing two different things. It goes to second reader. It goes to the second reader. Okay. So, once it goes to second reader, it cannot be revised. If you wanted to revise, then we need to say no for roll call vote. Correct. Okay. But if we want to revise in the board meeting, that'll be right now. No, it's second. for a second

238a second. Okay. There's lots of options here. In both situations, it can be revised. Yes. But I I if if the vote is no, it will go back to committee to be revised. Otherwise, it's going to go to second reader and we would revise and say that again. If we vote yes, it comes to second reader and then we all work on it. If we say no, we can then after that it doesn't automatically go back. and we can refer it back to committee. Okay, Mr. Doowski, I'm just this under my this is my understanding of it. This is not actually a working policy right now. It's not we're not it's not in circulation. We're not active. It's not active. So, I think don't we need to activate it before we can actually revise it?

239I guess that's where my confusion comes in because this is all on this as for first reader on this agenda. If we wouldn't have separated it, we would have been approving all three policies. That make sense? Mr. Burns, do you have any clarification for us? That that that last part made a lot of sense. Whoever just said, I mean, if it if it doesn't exist, it's not before you for revision right now, right? You have to make some decisions about its posture, I guess, is the right way to say it. Yeah. Okay. So, I think if we vote yes, we're bringing it back to life and then we can which is what Miss Hen said earlier, right? And then we can decide what to do with it. Mr. Young, if we vote yes, as part

240of the process, it would go to second reader. So, isn't that really And after second reader, isn't that really the time where it's actually back to life and we can make the revisions? Miss Hen, I I would recommend we we see it through, we bring it back, and then um Miss Pumprey could schedule it if she's willing to not wait, but to put it immediately on PRC schedule to then make revisions. I think that would be the cleanest that once it's back, it's actually a policy again and then we can um put it through committee and then put it back through the reader pro multi-reader process to make changes in committee, get staff's recommendations, bring it back to the board. But first, we need to bring it back, which is what we're we're doing now.

241This is a um report on the proposed readoption. So, I think to separate them would be cleanest for all of us. First, we need to act on bringing it back. Miss Harvey, is that an amendment to the motion? So, we're making a motion to move this forward and then there would need to be a secondary motion to send it back to I think as chair I can just agree to add it to the agenda. Is that your agreement? Yes, that is my agreement. Thank you. Okay. I have a roll call vote on passing or not passing policy 5000. Correct. Yes or no answers. Go ahead, Miss Gver. Go ahead. Roll call vote, please. The adoption of policy 5000. Mr. Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Miss Pumprey? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes.

242Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fong? No. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Aumbbe? Yes, Miss Lter. Yes. Thank you. Okay, so we passed it. It goes back to committee and Miss Pumprey will take it from there. Okay. All right. We are skipping agenda items. Yes, I had something to add for PRC. I almost forgot. Thank you. This is regarding um policy review committee. At the end of our last board meeting, I mentioned that the policy review committee would again be reviewing a policy regarding immigration enforcement in our schools. In March of 2025, the board adopted a resolution affirming the rights of immigrant students, indicating, among other things, that we welcome and support all students and that we are committed to fostering the success of every student in every school to due to increased concerns regarding the success of

243our students, including gradu graduation rates and absenteeism rates. and in an in in an effort to support our students and their families. This policy has been added to the agenda for the policy review committee meeting on Monday, March 16th, with the hope of bringing a policy forward to the full board for approval in an expedited manner. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pumprey, for your leadership with that. The next item on the agenda is information which includes the financial report for the month ending December 2025, revised superintendence rule 4102, student count 2025, and an update on key school legislation. Almost there, everybody. Um, okay. The last part is board committee updates and agenda setting. Um, audit committee, Miss Harvey. Thank you, Madam Chair. The next audit committee meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 17th

244at 4:30. We invite the public to attend and learn more. Thank you. Thank you. Building and contracts, Mr. Young. The next building and contracts committee meeting will be held Monday, March 9th at 5:00 p.m. Thank you. Curriculum committee, Miss Stleski. Thank you. Our next curriculum meeting will be uh tomorrow, Wednesday, February 25th at 4 p.m. Um, one of the topics for those interested will be the implementation of Ready to Read and Maryland literacy policy. Please join us. Thank you. Thank you. Legislative and governmental relations. I'm looking for my next meeting. It's March 18th. But I also encourage everyone to look on board docs for the updates on key school legislation. Um it's very comprehensive and we'll give you information about um what is taking place right now in Annapolis. I think Miss Pumprey just gave

245a policy review committee update. Um the date to the next meeting, Miss Pumprey, is March 16th. Thank you. Miss Fmpong, the equity committee. You may be on mute, Miss Funkong. Oh, hello. Thank you. I'm here. Um so the um equity committee last met on February 19th. We had a discussion on disproportionality and discipline across elementary, middle, high school as well as uh racial economic disadvantage in special education. Um, our next equity committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 400 p.m. And then the next equity committee meeting with the equity council is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. And then, madam chair, is this where I can make bring forth the motion? Okay. So, at our um January equity committee meeting, the um committee voted to unanimously move forward with

246um restoring or um our equity audit. Um originally we had an equity audit in 2020 and that was our baseline framework for ongoing equity analysis, reporting and decision-m and so I'd like to bring that motion forward to the entire board. So, can you restate the motion, please? The motion is to restore the equity metrics and indicators um that were established and used in the original 2020 equity audit. Um do I need to go ahead and use the wording exactly as was used in the committee meeting? Um well, whatever your exact motion is, you need to state it. Is that Did you just state it or is there a different way to state it? I'll just I'll go with that. That's fine. Okay. Can you put it in the chat for Miss Gover? Um, is there

247a second on Miss Fmpong's motion to second Pumprey? Thank you. Is there any Thank you. It was coming out of committee, so I didn't know that there was an additional second motion needed, but thank you, Miss Pumphrey. Okay. Is there any discussion, Miss Dominowski? Is is there a report of that that we can look at to see what those what that would look like? I just don't We just don't know what it is. Um, Miss Funkong, do you have ready access to the 2020 report that you're referring to? Um, it was done multiple times as the 2020 was the original one and then it was done for multiple years afterwards. Um there is I believe if you Google key reports it might be the keyword um on BCPS there's a section under DRAA where you're

248able to pull the report um for the original and it shows the audit the original equity audit and what the findings were different tables and charts laying things out as well as what the plan was to attack and address those um discrepancies. So what would we be be implementing? What what would be the plan of attack? Well, it's done every year. It had been done every year and it hasn't been done. So we're looking to bring that report back to be done at an annual basis so that we can see where we are with the data and that way it's also like a cohesive place to find all that information and then also see what the strategic plan is for addressing those issues and those disparities. So you're just asking to bring back doing an

249annual equity audit. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Miss do you have a question? I I was going to ask um if Miss Fmpong would be willing to do a written committee update, including the proposal that she's um seeking board support for. It would be I I think a more efficient use of the board's time and cleaner if we could review the materials in advance and if she'd be willing to make her motion at the next meeting. That way, we would be able to review the report and be more prepared to vote on on the motion. Miss Funkong, do you have a response to Miss Hen? Um, Miss Hen was on previous boards as well when this was in place. So, it's nothing that's different. We're just bringing something back. We also cut the information in a

250in presentations and bits and pieces here and there again. So, this is a comprehensive document then that can be referred to. Miss Funkong, why can't the committee just ask for that of staff? Why does it need a motion? ask the question again. I'm just wondering why this needs a motion and it's not something that as um chair that you would ask the staff to generate for the committee. So if that's all that needs to be done, then I'll ask that of the staff and that we'll bring it we'll bring the report back that way. Um is that fine? Yeah, that Dr. Roger says that's fine. I just know with other committees we request information from from staff. Okay, that's fine. Okay, Miss just want to make a quick comment. I think because I was present

251in this equity meeting, I think part of the reasoning was because we were being provided with the information in bits and pieces. We wanted to have one comprehensive yearly report. So, I think that was the reasoning for the motion itself. Um, and I don't recall if staff said we needed to make a motion or not, but that's the reasoning behind it. So, if we can have that same result without a motion, I agree that that's okay. Okay. Dr. Rogers says that's fine. Okay. So, will you resend your motion, Miss Fang? Yes, I'm happy to resend the motion and I'll just request it. Um, do we just request that of our staff on for that information? Yes. And Dr. Rogers is now aware of it, too. And then So, you're rescending your amendment to the motion.

252I need one, but Okay, sounds good. Okay. Sorry. All right, we're good. Okay. The last item on the agenda is announcements. Reminder that the board's public hearing on the Southeast Area Elementary School boundary study is tomorrow evening, February 25th, at Stemer's Run Middle School in the auditorium beginning at 6:30. Speaker sign up is in person beginning at 5:30 through 6:25. Again, for those who are listening still and want to sign up, it's in person steers run. Sign up begins at 5:30 and will close at 6:25. The board's next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. Thank you to everyone on staff who helped and participated tonight. And thank you to board members. And the meeting is now adjourned.