Meeting of the Baltimore County Board of Education - May 6, 2025

001This is Chairwoman Jane Lter. I call to order the meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County for Tuesday, May 6, 2025. This evening's Board of Education meeting is being broadcast through the BCPS online live meeting broadcast and on BCPS TV Exfinity channel 73 and Verizon FiOS channel 34. In order to efficiently conduct this meeting, all voting items this evening will be done by roll call vote. May I have a motion to go into close session as permitted by the open meetings act as found in the annotated code of Maryland general provisions article sections 3-305 B1 and B7 to discuss the appointment employment assignment promotion disciplined 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

002individ individuals and consult with council to obtain legal advice. So move. Thank you. Is there a second? Second from Paul. Thank you. May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Goo, yes. Mr. Stleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young. Mr. Young, can you hear us? Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen. Miss Hen. Miss Frone. Yes, Miss Booker Dwire. Yes, Miss Harvey. Yes, Miss Licter. Yes. And I'll try and get the other two on uh so they can hear us. Okay. Do you want me to wait a minute before continuing? Uh I'm going to send them a text message. Okay. So, first Mr. Young, are you able to hear us? Miss Hen, are you able to hear us? with an I'm offline. Who's got to help me? I was too sick and I

003missed my Thank right now. Folks at home, can you hear me? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Young. Mr. McMillion, I think volume's [Music] okay. I'm so sorry. That umbrella. Okay. Thank you. Okay. The first item for close session is personnel matters and for that I call on Mr. McCall. the board of education of Baltimore County for Tuesday, May 6, 2025. I invite you to recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag to be led by Miss Chica Kaloo. We will then have a moment of silence in recognition of those who have served education in Baltimore County. I aliance 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. Thank you. Tonight's board of education meeting is being broadcast

004through the BCPS online live meeting broadcast and on BCPS TV, Comcast Exfinity channel 73 and Verizon Fios channel 34. In order to efficiently conduct this meeting, all voting items this evening will be done by roll call vote. The first item on the agenda is the consideration of the May 6th agenda. Dr. Rogers, are there any additions or changes to tonight's agenda? I'm unaware of any changes to this evening's agenda. Miss Hen. Yes. I move to postpone item N9 on the agenda, contract JH711-25, core curriculum enhancements, so that the contract exhibit can be updated to reflect that this contract proposes replacing MAP with the STAR product. Yes, Dr. Rogers had already intended to pull that contract. So that item has been removed from the agenda. Yes. Correct. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I withdraw my

005motion. Thank you, Miss Hen. Um hearing none. The agenda stands as presented. Whoops. Okay. May have a Wait a second. I'm sorry. I've lost myself. Right. Hearing none. The agenda stands as presented. I don't know why it's not coming up. Um, next on the agenda is Wait a second. Let me refresh this. Maybe that's what's wrong. Early this evening, the meeting 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 whom it has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals. Protect the privacy or reputation of an individual with respect to a matter that is not related to public business and consult with

006council 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 date. The next item on the agenda is personnel matters and for that I call on Mr. McCall. Good evening, Chair Licer, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Dr. Rogers, and members of the board. I'd like the board's consent for the following personnel matters. Tonight we have terminations, retirements, resignations, leaves, and certificated appointments. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the personnel matters as presented in exhibits D1 through D5? So moved from Paul. Thank you. May I have a second? Second. Ch Ku. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Chulu? Yes. Mr. Luski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. Mr. McMillian. Yes. Miss Licter. I'm

007sorry. Mr. Mr. Young. Yes. Miss Dominowski. Yes. Miss Ham. Yes. Miss Framp. Yes. Miss Booker Dryer. Yes. Miss Harvey. Yes. Miss Licter. Yes. Thank you. My computer. The next item on the agenda is administrative appointments. And for that I call on Dr. Rogers. Thank you, Madam Chair Licer, Vice Chair Harvey, and members of the board. I'm bringing forward the following administrative appointments for your approval. Principal Stoneley Elementary School, Cloud Solutions Engineer, Office of Application and Network Security Support, and ERP, Infrastructure Engineer, Office of Information Technology Operations. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the personnel matters as presented in exhibit E1? So move, Stleski. Thank you. Do I have a second? Second from Pong. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Chica Kaloo, yes. Miss Dleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy,

008yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Framp, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Dr. Rogers. Thank you. Our first appointment this evening is Diedra Lynch. Please stand and be recognized. Diedra Lynch is attending with her son Colin Knap, a former BCPS student. Please stand. And is being appointed as the principal of Stonley Elementary School with 24 years of BCPS experience. Her prior experiences include special education teacher at Oliver Beach, assistant principal at Relay Elementary in Honeygo and coordinator in the office of curriculum and instruction. Dedra's prior experience before that included clinical specialist at Kennedy Creger Institute and preschool teacher and elementary teacher at the Maryland School for the Blind. Congratulations. [Applause] Our next appointment for the evening is Earl Elias. Earl is being

009appointed as the ERP infrastructure engineer in the office of information technology operations with two years of prior BCPS experience. His prior experiences include ERP infrastructure engineer, geek squad agent at Best Buy, information technology administrator at Prince George's County Public Schools, information technology specialist at the Office of Inspector General, Systems Administrator at the University of Maryland, LAN administrator at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, and patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trade Trademark Office. So congratulations and welcome to BCPS. Final appointment of the evening. Sai Sandeep Revu is being appointed as the cloud solutions engineer in the office of application and network security support with 14 years of experience size experience include SQL server at technosol incorporated and approdat solutions LLC. Congratulations and welcome to BCPS. Thank you and congratulations to all. Our next

010item 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 and 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 and this school system, this is not the proper forum to address specific student or employee matters or to comment on matters that do not relate to public education in Baltimore County. Inappropriate personal remarks or other behavior

011such 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 their remarks and will be escorted from the meeting. Please observe the three-minute clock which will let you know when your time is up. The microphone will be turned off at the end of your time or prior to the time at the discretion of the board chair. It is the practice of this board to allow elected officials to provide their comments to the board. First to speak is Councilman Pat Young. Good evening, Councilman. Evening, Madam Chair, Madam Vice Chair, Superintendent, members of the board. For the record, I'm Councilman Pat Young, representing District

0121. And also, for the record, for those who don't know me, this eye patch is temporary. It won't be permanent. Uh, but I did want to take the opportunity to thank you all uh for the folks have reached out um since the hospitalization that then led to me having to wear an eye patch. Um, but also part part of the reason why I'm here. Uh the f I was out for two weeks and the first official thing that I did once I was cleared uh from my doctors to get back to work was attend your uh well the education foundation's gala last Friday. Um and one from the outreach from you all uh and from BCPS and an extended network of folks around Baltimore County that just showed concern. It was an opportunity to engage

013with you all, engage with teachers, engage with folks that recognize the importance of education in Baltimore County and see how we together have been actively engaging throughout the year um to move our county forward, move our schools forward, and work together in a collaborative environment that we don't always see from day to day, week to week, or month to month. Um the end goal here was just to congratulate you all and thank you for an opportunity to bring everyone together. Uh I know during the legislative session that serves for 90 days out of the year and then from the council that meets throughout the year, we don't collaborate nearly as much as I think we would like to. But the work we do is, as you know, inherently collaborative, inherently connected because of the impact

014that it has on the teachers, students, and parents around the entire county. Um, moving into this budget session, I wanted to take an opportunity to one just thank you for the collaboration throughout the last year. looking forward and open to the collaboration over the next year and finding ways that we can all work uh together to find ways to consistently recognize our teachers, recognize the administrators, and recognize the students that make Baltimore County Public Schools great. Um, and just wanted to recommit to that before we finalize the 2026 budget. And thank you for the work that you continue to do and look forward to seeing how we can collaborate in the next fiscal year. With that, uh, just wanted to say thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you, madam. Thank you, madam chair.

015Thank you. I now call on our school system affiliated groups to speak. And first we have Miss Leslie Weber from the PTA Council of Baltimore County. I believe she's virtual. Miss Weber. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay, great. 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. As part of our responsible cell phone use campaign in early April, we partnered with eight PTAs and schools to host showings of screen aers growing up in a digital world, an award-winning document documentary exploring complicated family and societal struggles over students social media use, video gaming, and internet addiction. We appreciate our partnership with the Delaney High School, PTSA, New Town

016High School, Owings Mills High School, Sparrows Point High School, Deer Park Middle Magnet, the Southwest Academy PTA, Honeygo Elementary, and Winfield Elementary. 717 students, parents, staff, and community members attended showings at these schools and participated in postscreening discussions which offered strategies to help parents and children manage screen time at home, reduce smartphone dependency, and increase responsible cell phone use. Another great partnership has been the series of BCPS PTA leadership roundt, chief of staff, Miss Charlie Green, PTA council, and PTA presidents. The last round table of the year took place on May 1st. At our many roundts since the fall, participants have asked great questions and raised important issues and have received honest answers. We look forward to continuing these sessions in the fall. Another partnership for which we're grateful has been the series of lunch

017and learn family engagement webinars for PTA leaders and BCPS administrators and staff called a seat at the table, family engagement for student success. This five-part series has been a partnership between PTA Council, the BCPS Office of Family and Community Engagement, and the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium. The last session focusing on school funding will take place on May 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The series is designed to create space for open open conversations on key issues impacting student impacting students, including school safety, discipline, and funding distribution. Other goals are to provide families with datadriven insights on critical topics s such as chronic absenteeism, student mental health and well-being and academic performance. To equip families with tools and strategies to advocate for their children and navigate the school system effectively and to strengthen collabor collaboration, excuse

018me, between schools and families to create a more supportive and well welcoming learning environment. Anyone can register to watch recordings of past sessions or to to attend the May the May 20th session. Please go to the news tab of our website www.bcptacsil.org to access the MEC flyer and registration information. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speakers are from the Baltimore County Student Council and that's Jordan Sulc and Foresight Unambi. [Music] Good evening and congratulations Miss Wami. Soon you'll be sitting on the other side of this desk. Good evening chair Miss Lter, vice chair Miss Harvey, Dr. Rogers, student member Miss G Koo, and other members of the board. I am Jordan Skeel, the BCSSE president, and I am Foresight Goombbe, the BCSSE vice president. Today we are here to update you for the final time

019on the current status of the Baltimore County Student Councils for the 2024 to 25 school year. We have been doing a ton of exciting things these past few months. Since our last update, it's been a meaningful and action-packed season for student leadership here in Baltimore County. We've hosted four executive board meetings, each one filled with intentional planning, discussion, and vision setting. These meetings have helped us focus on amplifying student voices, improving countywide communication, and ensuring that every student leader feels heard and supported. We have also hosted seven seminars throughout this year with central office members and BCPS students in attendance at each one. We have received amazing feedback and are so excited to continue these seminars next year. In addition to our executive board work, we've held two general assemblies since we last spoke. These

020events brought student leaders from all corners of the county together to collaborate, share ideas, and strengthen our network. At mo at at our most recent assembly, we especi we were especially excited to host our officer elections through a thoughtful election process. We welcomed our new president, Manri Anad, Vice President Sam Park, and community outreach director Hayel Fitsum, as well as our second vice president, Serena Bhara. We also facilitated the election of our next student member of the BCPS board, a key moment for student representation in BCPS. We're proud of every student who stepped up to run and we congratulate our newly elected SMOB Forset Goombbe who we know will continue to to advocate for meaningful change on behalf of all BCPS students. We are also proud to announce that students from all across BCPS have

021been making their mark everywhere. David Aro, a student from Eastern Technical High School, was elected president of the National Association of Student Councils. A remarkable accomplishment on the national level. Jordan Saleld from Talson High School was elected president of the Maryland Association of Student Councils. And Goodness Elafa from Eastern Tech was elected treasurer of the Maryland Association of Student Councils. These achievements are a powerful reflection of the leadership, dedication, and excellence that BCPS students bring to every space they enter. Whether it's a county boardroom like here tonight or a national stage like David, we're proud of the work our student leaders have done this year and we are grateful for your continued support as board members. Thank you all and thank you to you too for your leadership with the Baltimore County. Thank you student

022council. Next category are unions and our first speaker is Mr. Billy Burke who is virtual. Mr. Burke. Good evening. Good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Dr. Rogers, and members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of Case, the Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees. Case is the union that represents school administrators and central office leaders that have direct contact with and provide direct support to schools, students, and families. It is important that I tell you the board the concerns of case members as you work through the budget issues and provide governance to the superintendent and her staff. If you know case members stories, you are better prepared to fight for their needs. I know you know the county executive's decision to not fully fund the budget has caused

023the superintendent to renegotiate year two of the salary package. It is discouraging to case members that the salaries that we negotiated in earnest cannot be honored. It was an historic agreement that greatly benefited represented employees and the district alike. About three years ago, I spoke to this board about how the negotiations process and the budget process are broken. I say that now even louder during these times of fiscal strain. There must be a plan for when times are tight that doesn't damage employees and student resources. Renegotiating the salary package is one strategy for reacting to the budget strain. A second strategy is to reassign case members. Those reassignments usually result in a lateral job change based on systemic priorities. In some instances, a reassignment can lead to a case employee moving to a case represented

024position that is lower on the organizational structure and lower in salary. In the most extreme instances, the case employee is moved to the teacher transfer list. This results in a change of represented union and a significant loss in salary. I am deeply concerned that the majority of the 20 case members affected by reassignment will move from case and take significant pay cuts. The reassignment clause in our contract almost always benefits the system, not the employee. I've heard people say they should just be glad they have a job. Please stop saying that. It's damaging, uninformed, and uncaring. No one becomes a teacher or administrator to become rich. They do it because they truly care about students and families. And union representation makes working conditions balanced, safe, and stable. That stability is in question right now. Members

025have called me saying they won't be able to make their next mortgage payment or make their child's tuition payment and sometimes even take care of basic needs. I say all of this because you, the board, can monitor resources and opportunities and make corrections when the fiscal landscape improves. We are counting on you to make us whole. Thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of case. Thank you, Mr. Burke. Our next speaker is Cindy Ston representing Tabco. Good evening. Good evening, Chair Leter, Vice Chair Harvey, Dr. Rogers, and members of the board. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. I'd of course first like to begin by acknowledging that it is teacher appreciation week and thanking our educators every day and in every way. You show up for your students, doing so much

026more than simply delivering curriculum. You are the backbone of society and our students desperately need you. Our society needs you. So, thank you educators for all you do. So, I'm going to show my age and quote Walter Kankite. He said, "Whatever the cost of our libraries, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation." But I say we need to put the word education in place of libraries because whatever the cost of education, the price is cheap compared to that of an ignorant nation. The sentiment is spot on. And of course, I must also talk about the budget again. Dr. Rogers email of April 28 let the staff know that negotiations will be reopened. The email stated that BCPS is reversing a decade of academic decline and requires an unwavering commitment to student

027success and prioritizing resources closest to schools. The closest resource is, of course, our educators. So, at this time, we need to share what our peer counties are getting for their compensation for next year. While some are still in negotiations, their lowest offers from their school systems put them in a good place to recruit and retain educators. One of my favorite sayings, right? Montgomery County is getting 3.25% increase as well as a step. Prince George's a minimum of 2.5 and a step. They're still negotiating, but that's the lowest bar. Howard is getting 2.5 in a step and Rondell is getting 3% in a step. We know cuts have been made. We have been talking about them for months. Significant, substantial, and for some people creating a financial hardship and I simply cannot get into a how

028did we get here talk right now because what we need to do is say that of course our agreements were bargained in good faith. But it is disheartening to hear that the year two of our three-year agreement is not being fully funded. And that is an understatement that it is disheartening. members keep questioning me, many questions, but the ones I'm hearing most now is why is the school system approving new contracts while these negotiations are happening. They want to know how any new contract can be more important than to fund the contracts for our employees. I'm not on the school board, so I don't know the answers to those questions, but people are upset, angry, and deep in their feeling spaces for sure. We are in an uncertain time as a society and there is

029angst all around us, but our students need us. So, let's be sure we do all we can to be there for them. And just looping it back to teacher appreciation week. Thank you again, educators, for all you do. Thank you. Our next category are nonprofit community groups and our first speaker is Leslie Margolus from Disability Rights Maryland. [Music] Good evening. Good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Rogers, and members of the board. My name is Leslie Side Margolus. I am a managing attorney and policy council at Disability Rights Maryland. We are the designated protection and advocacy organization for the state and we work to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities and ensure that they have the supports and the services they need to live in their communities and be free from abuse,

030neglect, and other violations of their rights. As I think you know, we have a long history of representing children with disabilities in Baltimore County schools. When I last submitted testimony to you in January, the legislative session was underway. Now that the session has ended and the best that we can say about the final budget uh education funding allocation is that things could have been worse. Um, I'm here before you again to to thank Superintendent Rogers um for prioritizing special education um in the school system budget and to urge you to stay the course and ensure that expectations for students with disabilities remain high and that needed resources are allocated to enable them to reach the same opportunities that their non-disabled peers have to obtain a highquality education. Especially because the federal landscape is shifting so

031rapidly with potentially sweeping consequences for all students. This board must be thoughtful and responsible and m and must withstand the temptation to shift funds away from students with disabilities. Additionally, this is when it is most critical to work with families to obtain support for funding and for initiatives aimed at preparing students for college career and the community. If families of students with disabilities feel included and if they trust you, they will support you as you navigate these very deeply royal waters. Additionally, DRM supports you um and will provide assistance and support as you work to protect the rights of all students with disabilities without qualification. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Marietta English from Baltimore County branch of the NAACP. Good evening. Good evening. Here I am again. Yes, you are. Good evening.

032Um, Chair Lectctor, Vice Chair Harvey, and Dr. Rogers and members of the school board. I am Maretta English and I chair the education committee and AXO for the NAACP Baltimore County branch. I want to begin by thanking you for your support of the AXO program and I would like to thank those teachers because it is teacher appreciation week who who work with our students at the AXO program. We had our competition on Saturday, April the 27th at New Town High School and our awards program on Friday, May 2nd at Union Bethl AM Church in Randlestown. We had and I'd like to announce that we had five bronze medal winners, seven silver medal winners, and eight gold medal winners. And I have with me one of our gold medal winners, Miss Jordan Wright, who is a

03310th grader from Harvard. She will be going with us to Charlotte. She's in the 10th grade, so we have two more years. Thank you. And uh we're hoping that you will support our golf tournament, which we had to change a date. And I thought I'd had some flyers, but I don't have them. I thank you again for your support. And you see how important this program is to our children and the community. We are producing the next generation of leaders. I just want to say we had gold in original essay a student from Pikesville. Gold and poetry written another student a student from Pikesville. Short story Karen Branch. And I want to just tell you a little about Karen Branch. Karen Branch participated in the ninth grade. She was our student who won a full

034ride at Carver at uh what's her name? I can't even think. Oh my gosh. Coppen. Thank you. The president when he heard her poem gave her a full ride to Coppen State University. She also run won gold for her playwriting. She's been winning gold for the last four years. I hate to see her leave because this is her last year, but she's come back for four years. We had a sculpture, Monae Trent from Carver, a gold painting from Karen Word. She's from a student at Randlestown. Um, gold from Nicholas Roberts. He is also a student who came to to us in the ninth grade. He is now a senior. He has not this is his first time winning gold. So, we are very proud of him. And of course, our dancer Jordan Wright. Let's give

035them another round of applause. And we are already planning for our next year competition which so you will see me again and thank you very much. Thank you. Our next speaker um virtual is Mr. Vernon Fischer from the Kappa Alphasai fraternity. Mr. Fiser, good evening everyone. I'm so grateful to be standing here today to speak about the incredible partnership we have with the Baltimore County Public Schools and the Education Foundation, especially through our mentoring and reading programs at Dumbartan Middle School and Western School of Technology and Environmental Science. With the education foundation and the TCA Kappa Charitable Foundation support, we're able to deliver books to children across the district, helping spark their love for reading. What's truly inspiring is how our mentees, the young men we mentor, put their best effort into storytelling for younger

036students, showing their appreciation for reading and working to inspire those younger students to love books, too. Through this, they're not just readers, they're role models, helping pass on the gift of literacy. Our program leaders work tirelessly to motivate these young men to be the best version of themselves. Through CAP Alphasai's carefully designed curriculum of positive messaging and mentorship, we're deeply committed to the to building stronger children, children with character, leadership, integrity, and purpose. We do this because we know that investing in them today shapes the strong adults of tomorrow. We all know that during these very tough and challenging economic times when education budgets are squeezed, stretched, and cut, it's crit critically important that we stay focused on educating children. Please, let's not ignore the let's ignore the distractions and remember what we are here

037to do. I want to give a special thank you to Superintendent Dr. Marian Rogers and BCPS school board for your leadership and stewardship, especially during these challenging times. Thank you for standing firm and ensuring that our children remain the priority. It's critical that you hear about the positive things happening in BCPS as well, not just the negative. The MCAP test scores are trending upward, graduation rates are increasing, and chronic absenteeism declining. This progress is a result of the dedication of Dr. Rogers, the school board, our teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and volunteer programs like ours that make BCPS a shining light on the hill. In closing, again, thank you Dr. Rogers and school board for your steadfast leadership. And thank you for listening and supporting this shared mission. Together, we're making a difference. And together,

038we will keep lifting up every child every day. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Fischer. Our next speaker is Lynn Lawings from the Baltimore County Chapter of the Continentals Incorporated. Good evening. Good evening, Dr. Rogers, Madame Chair, Vice Chair, and board members. Lynn Loins, the president of Baltimore County Continental Societies, most importantly a voice for our children. The Continental Societies was a 5013 inter 5013C international nonprofit founded by energetic women composed of educators, administrators, business leaders, parents, community advocates, women who dedicated their lives and resources to support children, family, and communities. We have 50 chapters throughout the United States, Washington DC and Bermuda. In 1952, our national first president, Marie Poston of the Virgin Islands, here's a picture of her. She made jet 1954 15 cent. But anyway, she made the news for serving children and

039she was our first president. 2025, we continue that commitment. The Continentals have collectively spent decades working to improve our programs in health, education, employment, recreation, and arts and humanities, serving over 415,000 children and youth. Baltimore County had a honeydew list. All boxes were checked. Over 95 coats were given, winter coats, free books given to youth and parents, games provided, food baskets, family donation, and scholarships. It is extremely difficult and economically challenging times. It is critical that we stay laser focused on our children. Their access to quality education should never be compromised. regardless of the community they come from, the zip code they live in, it is missionritical that the organizations like ours stay engaged. We must continue to provide academic support, promote social and emotional well-being, raise mental health awareness, and uplift both the parents

040and the educators. By the way, congratulation teachers. In closing, thank you Dr. Rogers. And thank you to the entire school board for your continued leadership and unwavering commitment to educate all students regardless of race, income, or neighborhood. It still takes a village to raise a child. Let's stay united. Let's block out the noise and distraction. Let's keep our eyes and our hearts on the future. Our children, our commitment, our concern, and they must always remain our main focus. Thank you. Thank you. Next are individual citizens and student groups. And our first speaker is Dr. Pamela Rorble. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening, Madam Chair, vice chair, and Dr. Rogers, and all board members. I'm Dr. Pamela Rubble and I'm here tonight to speak as a parent with the goal of making the board aware of

041the lack of social emotional learning services at Chesapeake Terrace Elementary School. I have two children that attend the school that were adopted through foster care. Um I'm also uh speaking as a professional with a PhD in special education and extensive experience as a special education advocate. This year, the number of parents at our school that have contacted me for support with their children that have behav that have disabilities and behavioral and emotional disabilities has increased by 300%. All of the people that contact me are because of behavioral and social issues. I've been requesting a meeting with central office administration and unfort to discuss the needs of additional seal supports and unfortunately have been denied that and was also told by the executive director that the matter is closed. Um this prompted me to submit a

042complaint to MSDE who advised me to come and raise the issue with all of you. So that's why I'm here tonight. Um, and what I'd like to do is explain to you that the school receives an itinerant social worker as the only means of SEAL. And um, that person comes to the school two Fridays a month for up an hour to two hours to service two children with IEPs. Now, as of last week, my child is one of them. However, I had to fight for over a year to get her services. The first time that we requested it, she was denied direct services without an evaluation, without an observation, or even meeting my child. Um, and basically, I'm going to share some incidents that are happening at the school that I hope make it evident

043what is needed. during a three-hour visit to the school that I was in IEP meetings um the meetings were interrupted at least eight times to respond to three children in crisis and it was very loud lots of screaming in the hallway. Prior to this, my daughter had asked me to bring a safety box to school because she wants to sit in it because she feels scared that she's going to get hurt. I didn't understand why until after that three-hour experience. Um, I've seen children with bruises on their wrists, saying that they're being pulled on by staff. I've seen the principal attempt to pull a first grader out from under a table by their waist. Um, this event, another parent was there and actually pulled their child from the school because of what they saw. I

044have lots of other examples, but I'm running out of time. Um, and basically, I'm not trying to report this to attack administration. I'm trying to make it evident the support that is needed for our kids down the road they get a lot more services a mile down the road and they're saying there's not a need but the kids aren't being evaluated appropriately um and I'm asking you all to work with the super Thank you. Our next speaker is Brian Tallton. Our next speaker is Lucas Hike. Good evening. Did I pronounce your last name right? Yes, you did. Okay, thank you. Welcome. Good evening, Dr. Rogers and members of the board of education. My name is Lucas Hike. I'm 14 years old and an eighth grader at Dumbardon Middle School. It's an honor to be here

045tonight as the student government president. Before I share what's on my mind, I want to highlight what makes Dumbartan a great school. Our principal, Miss Shanks, was just named middle school principal of the year, and she truly deserves it. She's created a place where students feel supported and encouraged to grow. The teachers, staff, and assistant principles care about us. They go out of their way to help us succeed. Whenever I've needed support, someone has been there for me. I've learned a lot at Dumbardon. While I'm excited to start at Talson High School next year in the law and public policy program, I'll definitely miss this school. Now, here's a concern I want to share, one that many students feel. This time of the year brings something we all dread, statemandated testing. We just finished the

046ELA MCAP. Now, we're starting history and math with MISA still ahead. These tests begin right after spring break, a time where many of us are already juggling sports, concerts, and other activities. We're tired. We're stressed and we're still expected to keep up with our regular classwork. After hours of testing, we sit silently. No talking, no phones, just reading or drawing. Most of us put our heads down because we're drained. Then we're expected to jump into our next class and keep learning like nothing happened. It's hard. Imagine a lawyer finishing a 2-day trial, then immediately starting another one. They need time to recover. So do we. On top of that, we're doing test prep assignments, sometimes 20 or more, while still trying to learn new material. After school, we go to practice or rehearsals or we

047help out at home. It's exhausting. It's not just academic pressure. It's taking a toll on our mental health. We hear a lot about supporting student well-being. But right now, the system doesn't feel like it's supporting us. A single test score shouldn't decide our future or make us feel stressed about things like class placements or recommendations. I know you may not be able to control these state tests, but I'm asking you to speak up. Advocate for students, teachers, and families. Let the state leaders know what this system is really doing to us. We need a system that focuses on real learning, not just one test. As student government president, and a future public and policy student, I believe in standing up for what's right. If there's a way I can help make sure student voices are

048heard, I'm ready to do my part. Thank you for listening. I hope I appreciate your time. Thank you. Our next speaker is Kikiu and Nufo. And please correct my pronunciation. It's Kiko Anufo. Thank you. Good evening, Superintendent Rogers, board members, and guests. My name is Kiki Ano Nufo and I'm an eighth grade student and a proud president of the student council at Lraven Tech Academy. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak here tonight. As a student leader, I can I can I care deeply about the success of all the students in Baltimore County public schools, not just in the classrooms, but the way we experience our school communities every day. One of the most important things we can do is to encourage more involvement from families, organizations, and community members across BCPS. When

049schools and communities work together, we build stronger, safer, and more supportive environments for everyone. Many schools in BCPS are now recognized as community schools. And I'm excited to share that 19 more schools will receive this distinction from the 2025 to 2026 school year. That's a big step forward. Community schools are great because they bring in extra resources, offer after-school programs, and provide more ways for families to be involved. But there's more we can do, like hosting neighborhood events, offering studentled community service projects, and creating more opportunities for students to connect with mentors and local leaders. Another issue I want to speak to you about is the cleanliness of our schools, especially the bathrooms. This is something I've talked about directly with my principal and I know it's something many students care about. We do have

050custodial workers working on a regular schedule to clean the restrooms and we appreciate everything they do. But keeping our school clean is not just their job, it's everyone's responsibility. As students, we need to understand that when we damage school property or leave a mess behind, we're not just making things harder for the custodians. We're also disrespecting our peers and school community. Being a part of a school of a good school community member is taking care of the spaces we all share. In student council, we've talked about ways to lead by example, reminding our classmates to clean up after themselves to promote respect for our school environment. I am proud to be a part of the school system that listens to students and values our voices. I know we can create cleaner, stronger, and more connected

051schools if we work together with students, staff, families, and community partners all playing a role. Thank you for your time in supporting our schools. Thank you. Our next speaker is um Bash Feron. Good evening. Good evening. last month meeting um couple of speakers several speakers reported one of them said that BCPS has shown strong academic performance and improvement in absenteeism and it ranks in the top three systems in the nation. Um, another person reported um, another similar statement. Maryland report cards actually does not really show PCPS not even in the top 15 schools out of 24 jurisdictions in the state of Maryland. Another person said in last meeting, BCPS has most of the five star schools in Maryland. However, 13 out of 20 of BCPS schools did not even have 75% of their students proficient

052in math. Four out of 20 schools almost had 75% of their students unable to be proficient in math. What I am saying is BCPS is now a mirror image of Baltimore City public schools. So, do I have a solution for you? I do. Here is my recommendation. I'm not just going to criticize. I'll give you my recommendation. So Dr. Bash recommendation is number one, you need to demonstrate truly and actually transparency. You need to give teachers autonomy to grade and to keep students in their grade if they are not really proficient. Otherwise, we are graduating students that don't know how to read or write or meet the world. Number three, I really recommend that the central office be located in the school system. They need to be there in the classroom and around it. You

053need to scrutinize every item in the curriculum for effectiveness and of course total cost. Effectiveness is the goal. Don't buy a curriculum because the students or teachers like it. You got to buy a curriculum that has been objectively proven to be effective in jacking up the grades, making students able to meet the world. And last but not really least, I really recommend for you not to renew the superintendent's contract. Thank you. Thank you. Um, next speaker, I'll try again. Brian Tallton. Since our speaker space is available, we'll now call from the wait list. We have one space available. Um the first speaker signed up is Miss Sharon Shoff. Good evening. Good evening. It is how many weeks to the end of school? I believe it's five, maybe four. I have students looking at next year

054with failing grades. I have students who are going into high school reading at the third grade level, writing at the fourth grade level, and somehow doing math at the grade level, and we're graduating them into high school. What's wrong with that picture? I have students who are repeating the same curriculum over and over again and we know it doesn't work. Special education is not onesizefits all. We should not have a curriculum given over and over again to a child if the child isn't making progress or if the child is making progress from the third grade to the 3.5 grade in three years. And that's the only curriculum that's available. I know we have budget problems, but we have to look at what we are doing to teach these kids. We cannot keep graduating them to

055the next grade if they're not making progress. Why do I have students who are going into high school who are three and four grades behind? Why do I have students that I'm placing right now in the correct placement? I have students that have been in the wrong school, wrong placement all school year long, not making any progress. And we're still talking about, well, where would we do they need to go? I know Kanye is back there. She and I have had a conversation today about some of these things. We need to help her. We need to give her the tools. We need to give her that communication and we need to make sure that we stay on top of every single school in this county to provide transparency. Who are the people do I contact

056if I have a problem on the school level? Because all I know if I look at the website is the principal. I need to know who's my IEP chair, who's my special education director, who is my psychologist, etc. Thank you. Next is public comment on board policies. As a reminder to speakers, comments should be related and limited to the policy. I also know that sometimes people sign up for the policies that meant to sign up for the public comment. So if I call your name and you don't want to talk about the policy, no worries. Just say no. So first up for policy 1240 is Marietta English. Nope. Okay. Second up for the same policy is Vernon Fiser. Mr. Fischer, are you there? Yes, I am. Did you want to speak on policy 201240? No,

057I do not care at this time. Thank you. Next sign up is Brian Toltonone. I don't think the next speaker and I think she left so I think these were all in error. Um Miss Anufo I think she left. Um next speaker for policy 1240 is William Havla Dude. Is that speaker online? Okay. And next speaker for policy 1240 is Dr. Feron. Madam Chair, I need more time and there are so many people. So M. Dr. Fon, it's three minutes for each of the policies that you signed up for. No negotiations allowed. I can't speak fast. I was born in Texas. So, all right, I'll do my best. I believe it is 12:40. Am I correct? Yes. Okay. visitors to school. Line 710 states, "The board encourages the participation of families, community, and then at

058the same time, the board recognizes its primary responsibility of safe and secure teaching. This is mixing negative with the positive. Negative eats up the positive." Um example is the ugly sign that I told you many times before. I don't think this statement would be applicable and I ask you to revise it. Line 14 and 15. Visitor is a person who is not a member of the board, employee, volunteer or a student. Well, this item basically neglect the public speakers, people like me and other groups that came in. We're not really included because we are not in those categories. Line 19 to 20 superintendent shall shall establish procedure governing school and office visitor. Again, if I give a pill, I'm supposed to show progress. So, I transfer this policy to reality to the sign on the

059wall and it basically it contradicts. It's not appropriate at all in that regard. Line 22 states that accordance with state law any employee may demand identification of visitors etc. Of course, it's no-brainer, right? You know, security person if wants to check an identity. Yeah, it's a common sense and it basically reflects many of what I asked you before. Why do you include things that are common sense? I think you need here to put a sentence that if the security agent ask a visitor like myself for identification that the security agent would do it without prejudice as I have experienced last year on July 9. Line 2527. Any school office visitor who refuses to follow procedures or refuses to leave will be denied access to buildings and grounds. Doesn't say really for how long. I think

060this paragraph is truly Thank you, Dr. from but you may stay there for board policy 402. Policy 40002 obligation of employee. Why do you have to include such common sense thing? It's supposed to be in the contract, right? the obligation and if it is in the contract, why do we need it in the policy? Line number seven and 10. The board of education expects employees to uphold standard of ethical conduct, maintain confidentiality, exhibit strong work ethics, exhibit professional and courteous attitude towards students and others. Elastic words. I like to use the medical part of my career. Um, apply this policy to real life. When I was ejected last year just because I was taking a video of you in a hot discussion, especially with Mr. McMillion initiating it, I was ejected out. Is that courteous?

061Really if that really courteous then we need a prayer. Line number 13 16. Responsibility of each board employee. This is a funny one. Really truly a funny one. Listen to this. Each board employee to be familiar with and abide by federal, state and local laws. Do you know if you bring all federal and state and local laws from 1780, you know, don't mind me, I forgot the year all the way around it will fill a football field. How can any employee really be familiar with all those laws, you know, like this familiar, you know, makes no sense. Superintendent rule county producers impose duties from the employees. Okay. Line 1920. Board employee shall comply with lawful direction of the supervisor. You directed the the superintendent to be residing in Baltimore County and then you let it

062go. Why do you put a policy and then agree to violate it? Doesn't make sense. Line 22 23 who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up and including termination. Really big words. Okay. Again the exact Thank you. Next policy that you may comment on is 4010. Policy 4010 line 7 to 9 encourage the promotion and retention of qualified individuals and promote high standard of ethical behavior in employment. So the key words here qualified, high standards, they are elastic words. What do they mean? You can interpret them in different ways. If you ask five lawyers, you will get probably 15 opinions. Line 13 14 should be based on qualifications for position, performance, and ability. The board recognize its responsibility to establish the standards. I really like that. I really like that you pay

063teachers and superintendent by effectiveness. You know, they ask you for raise each time. 2% 3%. Okay. Everybody gets 3%. Okay. The person who does a better job in the school system gets paid the same as the person who does less than a better job. If you apply the way you function to Boeing to any other company, we would not have even computers and microphones. You can't do that. You really need to think that part dearly. Line number 20. Affinity is a relationship by marriage. Actually as a physician I believe affinity is more than that. You can have affinity to a girlfriend, boyfriend, uh you know you name it. Your imagination is endless. Okay, I think you need to revise this. You can have affinity for people for religious reasons or ethnic reasons or anything else

064and give them preferential treatment and it's not included here because affinity is about marriage. It's not about something else. Lion page two states board prohibits employees to demonstrating favoritism. I recommend that you change the word demonstrating into acting into favoritism. What counts in that is the action not the demonstration. You know I can demonstrate favoritism likeness to someone. Thank you. Next policy is 6304. Um Dr. Fon, I hope you are bearing with me. 6304 commemoration observances special days events shall be arranged. So observ observation of these occasions enriches enriches instructional program enriching instructional program is an elastic and subjective word. It can be stretched or not stretched in so many ways. It's really immaterial to me. I think that you need to change it into should objectively further the educational knowledge of students. If it

065does not objectively further the knowledge of the student then it's really a waste of time. Line 15 to 28. school shall devote part of school day by conducting appropriate commemoration and or observance and at list so many of them. So my thought is conducting appropriate exercises very subjective word actually watching the board of education for more than 25 years. The board of education grants holidays and observances and half days as appeasement for political groups, ethnic groups, whatever it is, just to appease. It really has no value in my opinion and I've seen it in my three sons who went to the same school system I am talking to you now. It has really no significant effect on them. appreciating it. I think it is wrong for us as a nation to take off one way

066or the other and think that that will further the patriotism or the knowledge of the students. I think that's really wrong. Line 3031. Superintendent shall determine which additional dates shall be designated for observances. The board must not ste seed its authority to the superintendent. You have done it multiple time. This is one of them. I think that's wrong for you to see that authority. You should be able if the superintendent decides on an item like this to approve it just like they do in Congress etc. Line number 37. Well, time is finished. And then the last policy is 6307. Dr. Fern. All right. So, I really peg the audience to bear with me with this. I told you I was born in Texas. So, you know, just take that in consideration. Line number seven says,

067"Committed to honoring the flag of the United States of America." All right. So, I have been here for a long time. I stand up and I pledge allegiance and I actually I have a soft voice by nature. I actually really recited louder but many people around me sometime they don't stand and if they stand they stay quiet and if they stayed quiet and stood they didn't put their hand on their heart so what does that mean really right you know I think you should really consider instead of honoring the flag by the way so many Americans and non-American Americans burn the flags right you know it's a piece of clo I think we should really discuss and initiate in this policy that we are honoring the values of the United States because in reality especially

068in the past few years the values of the United States are the ones that have been destroyed year after year after year after here and I can't tell you more than that. You probably will cut me off. Our values around the world and our respect our around the world has been tarnished. It's not too late. You know what's our values? Our values is freedom, right? So what did we do? We invaded Vietnam and we lost. We invaded Afghanistan and we lost. We invaded Iraq and killed a million innocent civilians and we lost. And we are going to take over Greenland. I like ask Iceland. Iceland is green. Greenland is ice. Dr. Forn the policy please. All right. Thank you. I thought you would do I do apologize but I think you get the gest of

069what I am saying. Just standing up and pledging allegiance does not mean a person is patriot and does not mean we are teaching students patriotism. I think you should go deeper than that. You should attack the values. You should focus on the values of Thank you. Our next speaker for policy 6307 virtually is Iam Kuraja. He's another one. Okay. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the superintendence report and for that I call on Dr. Rogers. Thank you board chair Lar, Vice Chair Harvey, and members of the board. I'm pleased to provide the May superintendence report. We have a PowerPoint. Put the slides up, please. What's top of mind to everyone is the FY26 budget. But before we begin with that, please allow me to join in our appreciation for our teachers during

070teacher appreciation work. We know the hard work that they do on a regular basis. want to provide an update on the FY26 budget, where we are, discuss next steps, and address some of the questions that have been shared in the public to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the steps that we have taken and what they can expect as we move forward. Next slide, please. So, as we shared with members of team BCPS, we work closely with the county executive and her budget team, our budget team as well, um, to uh, prepare for the release of her budget. When the budget was released on April 11th, we sent a short communication to team BCPS um, summarizing the results of the proposed budget. proposed budget included a three and a half percent above maintenance

071of effort. As a reminder, maintenance of effort is the required minimum amount that a county has to fund a school system. And so her budget included a percentage above that, but there still it still was less than what we requested. When we came back from spring break, we did share an additional um update with members of team BCPS to make sure that there was clarity around what the numbers meant. What you see on this slide is uh one page of the two-page document that we shared. Column one showed what was proposed in the budget uh from Baltimore County Public Schools. Column two detailed what was in the county executive's budget and if there was any variance whether it was positive or negative that was detailed in column 3. We also shared in that same communication

072our commitment to continuing to reverse the trajectory of academic decline that has been a part of Baltimore County public schools for more than a decade. Um we shared uh factual reliability and validity tested data and information on our students and um their forward progress while acknowledging that there is a lot more work to do as we continue to build the infrastructure for student success and that work requires resources. Um, we also shared some steps that we were taking um as we worked on a contingency plan to address the shortfall and that a public hearing was being held um on April 29th by the county council on the budget. want to bring everybody's attention back to a document that we included in the original presentation of the budget um which was specific in our budget book

073to what were our additional um needs and then the next page behind this had our reductions. So if you look at the blackboard, there is a summary there for our viewing public in terms of what were the needs when all divisions and departments went through um requirements for blueprint went through uh the new expenses in terms of um rising costs that we were receiving from um our vendors, utilities, etc. Uh the total amount was 134 million. Um we identified $26 million worth of internal reductions and that is why we put forward a request ofund and uh $1.3 uh million. What you see next is the amount of uh additional funding that our county executive funded 28.9 um and then the gap between what our request was and what was funded excluding the one times which

074um don't count against the bottom line are listed for here uh listed right here on this slide at 71.3 million. This information is important for us to share because um as people are reacting to uh the steps that we have to take in terms of uh reductions that we have to make um bringing unions back to the table to engage in conversations around negotiations. It's very important to us that all of our public have access to accurate information around our budget numbers. Um, as a reminder, all of our information is also posted on uh budget 101 when people want to take a deeper dive into those numbers. um as we try to respond to some of the questions. One of the questions that were posed uh was in reference to uh the um report posted

075on the county site and um the difference between that report and what that reporting looks like and uh BCPS numbers. And so in the midst of preparing to um meet with county council and uh respond to uh their request as they contemplate the final decisions on the budget, our budget team uh paused to create uh this document which was a reconciliation uh between what's on the county site um comparing the county executive budget to the board uh budget and what funds are available. If you take a look at um this, there's two parts. The top part speaks to the county education uh funding. The budget team went to um the third column speaks to exactly what um county funds uh BCPS can expect to receive. That is subject to county uh council approval. And they

076identified at the top um the funding the difference that was below the request. And when we look at the uh bottom half of the chart that speaks directly to or maintenance of effort, um what was uh what we have this current fiscal year, what was proposed for FY26 in by Baltimore County Public Schools compared to what was proposed by the county executive and um highlighted the difference there in terms of identifying the amount of additional funding that we can expect to receive based on the county executive proposal. And again, um taking this time this evening to ensure that members of our community have access to the numbers. Um I don't believe that there is anyone in um uh team BCPS or anyone who is sitting um in team BCPS leadership or anyone sitting on this

077uh board that does not want to fund year 2 in full of the compensation package. Um however, as a direct result of the uh fiscal crisis that we find ourselves in, um it's important for us for everyone to know where where the funding is going, what the numbers are. Our team taking extra time to reconcile different sources of information so they can be clarity around uh the number. the team called um uh the county government to walk through numbers to make sure that we were on the same page and that we were providing to team BCPS all the numbers. Um this slide speaks to what has changed over the last few years that is having a fiscal impact on our ability um to fund year two of the compensation package. And here you'll note some

078increased costs, increase compensation as proposed, but increased utility costs where there is that is not something that is um negotiable. Increase non-public placement costs. Um as legislation came out to provide um non-public schools with parody with public schools in terms of what teachers how teachers are compensated in those spaces. increased health care and benefit costs nearly $13 million increased uh oped contribution to the county at 14 million at the same time while we are losing um esser funds that we all expected but what's important to note in the loss of esser funds were all esser funds were not invested in one-time expenditures um there were a series a significant amount of funds that were dedicated to things that were ongoing and recurring. And we spoke about that as part of the FY25 budget process. But

079here on this slide, you'll see um 57.8 million of recurring costs that were transferred to the operating budget, including the additional 15 minutes of class time for our students. Um, we were as a school system two years ahead of the schedule for the blueprint requirement for teachers starting salary of $60,000. As we heard loud and clear from our union partners the importance of recruitment and retention of staff members. Um, we were a few years ago uh at the middle or lower than the middle in terms of where our starting salary was. So that helped us to move to the top. That came at a cost of $30.3 million. And then the increased use of fund balance in FY26. Uh we're going to move from $18 million based on the savings that we're able to incur

080this fiscal year to $30 million. And there is a chart that's inlaid here that speaks to uh specifics about the ongoing ESSER expenses absorbed by the general fund bad budget. As um as I indicated, this is information that I shared um last year as we were preparing for this fiscal year's budget, but want to bring it back to everyone's awareness about the expenditures of the school system. different steps that we've taken to address some of the cost reductions, the budget shortfall, um non-school-based position reductions, um recognizing that everyone plays an important role, but when there is a significant shortfall of uh funds, we have to make difficult decisions. Um we continue to extend our hiring freeze for all central office and non-school-based positions. And I'd like to pause and address um some of the questions

081that we've received about positions being posted um in the midst of our freeze as we reduce particularly non um school-based position reductions. Um if you have multiple positions and that is being reduced by a certain number, there has to be a uh fair process where all staff members who are part of uh that position get to express their interest and go through the interview process. And so um you will note positions being posted where there are reductions being made. So internal staff members have an opportunity to express their interest in being considered for those positions. Um we have uh many if not all of our positions um with few exception uh being posted internally for our internal staff members. Uh we want to give them priority particularly priority to any displaced uh staff member. We

082have new postings on uh our website. Uh 19 new or maybe it's 20 new um uh uh school facilitator positions uh for community schools. That's due to the funding that we receive from the state in their budget. Those are 12-month positions that give our displaced staff members an opportunity to um apply and interview for those positions. And so wanted to clarify that um for the public at large in terms of why there are postings from human resources on our website. Um that is part of the reduction process. Um uh we have reduced funding for supplies and materials by 24%. um implemented additional cuts to divisions and department budgets as I shared during our last meeting and uh reopen those uh negotiations to work uh with our unions to provide them with as much of an

083increase as possible while making sure that we deliver a uh balanced and fiscally sound um budget. Some of the additional questions that we've received have been around um the capital budget. Uh it is known that we have uh the bond passed uh which infuses funds to team BCPS and why can't we take some of those funds in the capital budget and use them for the year 2 compensation package for our staff? um particularly since the bonds are over uh $200 million and the compensation package is uh $56 million and that is because capital and operating funds are different revenue sources. Uh we do not have the ability nor the flexibility to uh simply take a decision that voters went and um affirmed their support for capital projects specifically around Delaney and Talsson and design projects

084and uh use those funds, redirect those funds um in the way that we want to in the operating budget. And so wanted to answer that for the uh public as well. Our next step is really working uh with the county council with the uh budget teams to provide any and all information that they request. Um I will uh go and present to the county council. Um I have a meeting scheduled with them uh I believe in a week and a half um to answer any and all questions that they have before they make a final decision on the budget and share that with uh all members of Baltimore County on May 30th. As a reminder, the uh county council has the ability to make additional cuts um not to add additional um uh funding. And

085so it's uh extremely important that we spend the next uh few weeks uh speaking to the impact and the importance of all funding that is currently proposed in uh the county executive's uh budget to them. And the last thing that I wanted to share is updated information, pardon me, updated information is available on our website. If you go to budget 101, uh the address is listed here or just go to uh bcps.org or and plug in budget 101. You will have access to all of our budget information um videos regarding all of our community conversations regarding budgets, all of our responses to budget uh questions to date, as well as any uh comparative charts that our budget team creates. Uh that is the official source of information. our award-winning budget team. Um, while they are

086kneedeep in trying to make sure that we maintain compliance and that we follow through on a balanced budget that is fiscally sound that we can sustain over time. Um, they have stopped to take the time to call our partners to make sure that they have accurate information. So team BCPS has accurate information around um the available funding and the uh next steps for our budget. So thank you. Thank you Dr. Rogers. Next on the agenda is the chair's report and I want to begin by acknowledging the email writing campaigns that the board has received representing various positions within the system. This includes the emails we have received from our school counselors, school school psychologists, library media specialists, and teachers of the arts. These messages are both from staff as well as stakeholders praising the work

087being accomplished. All of these emails reinforce the value of the work taking place in BCPS. Please know we please know we very much appreciate and acknowledge your passion, your advocacy, and the hard work you do each and every day. Some of these messages also refer to the importance of the work of central office. Again, we value and appreciate the work of our central office. Personally, I understand the importance and value central office staff brings to BCPS. I was part of BCPS's central office for a large portion of my tenure with the county, and I was proud of the work that my colleagues and I accomplished. Now, however, as we finalize the FY26 budget, we are faced with budgetary constraints, making this budget the most challenging one in distant memory. The compounding effect of changes at

088all levels of government adds additional strain on funding, and we must balance the budget. As a direct result of limited funding, our school system must prioritize resources closest to schools and reduce non-school-based positions across all divisions. Again, we are not saying that central office did not affect schools. Central office absolutely affects the curriculum instruction and an assessment taking place in our schools. Curricular consistency across schools, supporting administrators, building capacity of our workforce, meeting the needs of the whole child through mental health, food, and transportation to mention a few are the work of central office that absolutely affects the daily workings of schools. We also know the tremendous and invaluable impact the individual teacher in the classroom working with their students every day, every moment makes. Student improvement does not happen in isolation. Collectively, everyone has

089a role in creating the conditions for success. It takes every staff member to make a difference in the lives of our students, bus drivers, office professionals, par educators, cafeteria workers, building services, and so many more. and that work is beginning to improve the achievement decline that has taken place over the last decade. Student learning is the heart of our work and we must remain the top priority even in this challenging fiscal landscape. I want to thank Dr. Rogers and her staff for the work they have done during this complex budget season to keep the public informed. This has not been easy as financial implications from the county, state, and feds changed frequently. Communication about this budget with team BCPS began in October 2024 and remains ongoing. As Dr. Rogers mentioned, archive materials regarding the FY26

090budget can be found on budget 101. None of these additional steps or tough decisions are what we're hoping for, but the reality of the situation necessitates it. At this time, the budget again is in the hands of the county council. Again, we have to remember that they cannot add to the county executive's budget, but they can only ask for additional cut cuts, something we are working on to ensure does not take place. The superintendent will continue to update the community as further information is available. And in conclusion, it is teacher appreciation week and a huge shout out to our teachers. Thank you. Thank you for everything that you do for our students. And now it is our student member of the board's report. So I'll call on Miss Chica Koo if she wants to still

091try. Yes, I will. Oh, wow. Okay, let me go for Okay. Okay. Well, good evening, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Rogers, board members, our dedicated staff, esteemed community members, and of course, the brilliant scholars of Baltimore County. Firstly, I hope everyone had a refreshing and restful spring break. And as we step into May, I am honored to share recent updates and student achievements with you all. So, on the National Student Board Member Association front, this last month, I've had the opportunity to work closely with the National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors to help lay the groundwork for stronger collaboration among student board members across the country. With the LA Unified School District in California, we're making great strides towards our goal to establish networks for policy advocacy and leadership development. And with

092most Maryland elections now complete, I'm collaborating with peers and directors across the DMV to build a DC and Maryland regional student board member network. Our focus is to support incoming SMOBS through onboarding, mentorship, and resource sharing, ensuring that all student board members are not just prepared, but empowered to do their work. And in partnership in partnership with students engaged at the table, I'm working to co-author a student bill of rights that centers equity, inclusion, and student voice. And just this past Sunday, the national student board member executive board hosted a successful national webinar led by and for student board members. We discussed how to sustain an impact, market ourselves, and strengthen our networks. And on a local note, I would love to congratulate Foresight Aumbbe, an Eastern Tech Allied Health Magnet Jr. on being elected

093as the 45th student member of the board. But I must also commend both candidates, Foresight and Sophie, for a phenomenal campaign. And while we all know there's only one seat behind this DAS, there are countless tables waiting for students in Baltimore County. And this is seen in just how many of our Baltimore County students are stepping into leadership. Like we've heard earlier today, Jordan Sulkid, David Ao Aolo, Goodness, Alaf are 16 Carson scholars from elementary to high school and countless Baltimore County students. They are a glimpse into the shining potential of BCPS youth, each representing the brilliance that defines our student body. And that brings me to something near and dear to my heart, the leading lights of Baltimore County. This month, I'd like to inu introduce you to Daphne Pakauqua, a graduating senior at

094Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Through Carver's cosmetology program, she earned her license and has already begun her professional journey as a licensed cosmetologist while also working towards becoming an aesthetic or OBGYn nurse. As a first generation Liberian American and the eldest in her family, she has often navigated her path without a blueprint. Yet, she has built one for others to follow. From winning the cosmetology Grinch hair competition to earning a spot in both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, Daphne has truly transformed her high school experience. And despite facing moments where she feel like she didn't belong, she carved out spaces of belonging for others. She led Carver's Black Awareness Club and feminist club, shining on the announcements and stepping into fashion shows and athletics. As a track and field athlete,

095she embodies hard work, resourcefulness, and joy. And in her own words, she said, "I'm proud of myself for turning a rock into a gem." Daphne's story reminds us why our school that our schools are full of students who are already changing the world, sometimes quietly, but always powerfully. And it is my honor to spotlight Crystal Anoro, a senior from Randletown High School whose commitment to serve, lead, and her academic excellence, which is what sets her apart as a true light in our community. She's a scholar in the Academy of Health Professions magnet and currently holds an astounding 5.09 09 weighted GPA and her sights are set on a career in medicine where she actively pursues it through her role as vice president of HOSA, her internship in the emergency department at Northwest Hospital, and her

096clinical experiences in pediatrics. But outside of the classroom, she is involved. She is a treasurer for the class of 2025, founder and secretary of the student success club, and the youth leader and media manager for her church. She's also a proud member of National Honor Society, African Student Association, Student Government, and Modern UN. And she still finds time to compete in indoor and outdoor track and field and two different events. And her leadership was recognized in the Talson out outstanding women's leadership cohort where she represented Randletown High School with distinction. And Crystal also peers her academic and leadership talents for service. She volunteers through initiatives like Project Sunshine, Ronald McDonald Marathon, and various clothing and shoe drives. She truly exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose. And this just goes to show how often

097times our students do not wait for permission to be great. They often become great and often do so in silence without the applause. And recognizing them is a celebration of the hope that we're building one student at a time. And so as we close this bless I'm sorry and as we close the school year let us keep lifting those stories into the light. And for a school shout out I would love to recognize Scotts Branch and Milford Mill Academy slammed the exam pep rally to encourage students. High schoolers from both schools, girls and boys varsity teams visited the elementary schools to hype them up for the MCAP testing. So, if a student answered an MCAP question correctly, they got the chance to take a shot with the basketball. But beyond the games, the high schoolers

098shared tips on overcoming test anxiety, staying motivated, and the importance of sticking with school. And as a student, we often know that testing is to mutilist and stressful. But I was happy to see their efforts to not just prepare for an exam, but to but to also show that younger students that they have a team cheering their own, cheering them on within their community. And so with just two months left as the 44th student member of the board, it's surreal to see how quickly this chapter has flown by. And while my term is ending, there is a new beginning. And I'm confident that foresight will lead with passion and continue to elevate the standard of student leadership. And I will continue advocating for students nationwide through NSBMA because my commitment to educational equity will not

099end on July 4 first. And as this year winds down, please know how far we've come. But there's also still work to be done. Seniors, decision day just passed, but please finish strong. I am not immune to senior writers. But for the rest of us, continue to support each other through the finish line. And to our educators, happy teacher appreciation week. Because of you, you continue to shape the lights of tomorrow. So again, I just want to say thank you and it has been a privilege to serve these past few months. Thank you. Next on the agenda is unfinished business. the Arbutus and Caitensville Middle School boundary recommendation. And for that, I call on Dr. Grim and Mr. Taylor. Good evening, board chair Lar, Vice Chair Harvey, Superintendent Dr. Rogers, and members of the board.

100Good evening. In accordance with superintendent rule 1280 on March 25th, 2025, the board received for consideration and approval an administrative review boundary change request for the boundaries of our butus and Caitensville middle schools. The board's public hearing on the recommended boundary change was held on April 2nd, 2025. This evening, we are requesting the board vote on the recommended boundary changes. May I have a motion to approve the Arbutus and Caitensville Middle School boundary as recommended in exhibit J1? So moved, Harvey. Thank you. May I have a second? Second from Palm. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Dleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Faw? Yes. Miss Booker Dwire? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Lter? Yes. Thank you.

101Thank you. passes. Um, don't go anywhere because the next one is unfinished business, Holly Manor community boundary recommendation. And for that, I call on these two. And good evening again. Thank you. Thank you. In accordance with superintendence rule 1280 on March 25th, 2025, the board received for consideration and approval report from the Holly Manor boundary study committee recommending boundary changes at the deadend section of Bumont Avenue. The recommendation affects the boundaries of Hillrest and Westchester elementary schools. The board's public hearing on the recommended boundary change was held on April 9th, 2025. This evening, we are requesting the board vote on the recommended boundary changes. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the Holly Manor community boundary as recommended in exhibit K1? So move Stleski. Thank you. May I have a second? Second. Seavoy.

102Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Stleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Framp? Yes. Miss Booker Dwire? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Lar. Yes. Thank you. And thank you, Dr. Grim, to you and your staff for all the work on the many boundaries we've had this year. Thank you for your support. Thanks. The next item on the agenda is action taken in close session. And for that, I call on Mr. Burns. Good evening, Chair Leter, Vice Chair Harvey, Dr. Rogers, members of the board, uh this evening in closed session, you considered uh legal matters including an appeal HA2-018. Now is an appropriate time for the board to affirm the action that it took in close session. Thank

103you. May I have a motion to approve the action taken in close session on hearing examiner's case HA25-08 and authorize Miss Gowbert to sign for those board members not physically present. So move 10. Thank you. May I have a second? Ch Ku. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Chica Kulu, yes. Miss Dleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Frampong, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you, Mr. Burns. The next item on the agenda is new business report on board policies. This is the first reader for this policy and for that I call on Miss Robin Harvey, vice chair of the policy review committee. Uh thank you, Madame Chair. On behalf of

104Chair Pumprey, members of the board, the policy review committee asks that the board accept this report of the committee's recommendation of proposed changes to the following board policies. Board policy 1240, visitors to schools and office buildings. Board policy 402, obligations of employees of the board of education of Baltimore County. Board policy 4010, nepotism. Board policy 6304, commemorations and observances. Board policy 6307, patriotic exercises. These policies are presented to you on tonight's agenda as exhibits M1 through M5. Thank you, Miss Harvey. We may have a motion to accept the recommendation of the board's policy review committee for board policies 1240, 402, 4010, 6304, and 6307. So moved. Thank you, Miss Hen. No second is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Is there any discussion? Miss Booker Dwire, I just have one question with board

105policy 6304. So, I know that we're required to have certain um that we have to observe certain days. I'm wondering, is this an opportunity to survey students to see what other days they may value as our school system is becoming more diverse? Is it worth getting some input from students on this policy to see if we should include any other if we should call out any other day? Any comment to Miss Booker Dwire's suggestion, Miss Hen? Yes, I think it's a great idea. Um, the policy gives the superintendent the discretion to add days as um she deems fit. So, I think um she has the latitude to add days based on the student survey. So, if the board does approve this polit policy as is, that certainly allows her the latitude to add days based

106on student feedback. Thank you, Miss Hen. Any other comments? Miss Booker Dwer, did you want to say something else? No, I just wanted to say, you know, just for consideration and um you know, however it the feedback is gathered from the students, it doesn't necessarily have to be a survey, but just however it's gathered um just to inform uh future revisions to this policy because I know it comes around every so many years. Yes. Thank you. And to Miss Hen's point, it can be added even before that um review. Miss Stleski, thank you. Just a quick comment. I also think it's a terrific idea and I um just want to quickly thank Dr. Ferrron for his advocacy for um instilling patriotism and I know many of the days also relate to um patriotic holidays. So

107in addition to surveying students it's an excellent opportunity to um you know instill way uh you know use different methods to um instill values and patriotism. Thank you. Thank you. Any other further discussion? May I have a roll call vote please? Miss TK Ku. Yes. Miss Dleski. Yes. Dr. Seavoy. Yes. Mr. McMillian. Yes. Mr. Young. Yes. Miss Dominowski. Yes. Miss Hen. Yes. Miss FPMPong. Yes. Miss Booker Dwire. Yes. Miss Harvey. Yes. Miss Lictor. Yes. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is contract awards. And that for that I call Mr. Young. Members of the board, the board's building and contracts committee met on Monday, May 5th, 2025. Items N1 through N16 were forwarded to the full board for approval. Thank you. As mentioned earlier in the meeting, um contract N14 has been removed um

108for this evening. I'm sorry. Oh, nine. I'm sorry. Nine. You know why? Um are there any um separations requested? Miss Dominowski. 14 and one. Okay. 14 and one. And um Mr. Young, you said 10. Miss Hen, eight, please. Eight. Any further separations? I have 1 8 10 14. Okay. This is the part I love, right? Okay. Do I have a motion to approve items two through seven? Nine. Not nine. Someone said separate nine. That Oh, nine's gone. Oh, big X. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve items 1 through 7? 2 through 7. Okay. Somebody tell me what to say and I'll say it. 2 through 7. 113. 11 Well, see, you can't do it either. 2 through 7. 11 through 13. 15 through 16. And 15- 16. 2 through 7. 11 through 13

109and 15- 16. Do I have a motion to approve those items? So move, Chica Ku. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation cames from the committee. Any discussion on those named contracts? Miss Framp, I'm sorry. I'm trying to match up my questions with That's okay. So, one has been pulled out. Okay. Number three is included in this. Okay. So, um my question as far as the instructional materials for these, are these physical items, digital items, or both? You're referring to number three, Miss Pong. Okay, Dr. Craft, yes, you want to go forward, please. So, this will be an option for both print and digital materials. Um, and in terms of the digital, we will be getting the print, of course, will have those yeartoear because they'll be textbooks. Um, the digital we are

110actually um only purchasing for a year. Um, again in regards to being fiscally responsible, we're going to take feedback from both students and teachers in terms of how that supports the learning and the teaching. So, what happens to um any like old or no longer used supplies and materials? So, level five is actually new. So, we h uh historically have gone from level four straight into AP. And what we have noticed um not only in our AP scores but from teachers is there is um there are students that are just not ready um to be successful in AP. And what we really want is we want people being successful in AP. Sometimes that's their seal of biiteracy completer but also for college credits which helps financially for students as they enter college. And so we

111are developing uh these courses in response to the fact that there were students that weren't ready for AP and we really want them to be. Um and so the courses so we don't have any old materials because we literally have just created the courses. Um and we're really excited. We've gotten good feedback to we have so many teachers signed up to come to the June training because they are excited to have these materials to use with their students. Wonderful. Thank you. Um the next one is the number um for CWA. So that's contract number five that's in this batch. Okay. Um there is mentoring included in this contract. Can someone speak just a little bit more to that? We've been hearing um you know from the public about wanting more mentoring. We actually heard about

112um public comment. Um, there was a gentleman on behalf of CAPAP Alphasai speaking about mentoring in their program and then it sounds like there's mentoring in in this contract too. So, can you speak to that? I can speak to it a bit from this is part of the community schools program and one of the um survey results as the schools surveyed their communities to find out the needs of that specific community in many cases mentoring was identified as a need. So we are putting contracts in place that enable the schools to the community schools to obtain this mentoring for their students. Whether they choose to provide it for individual select groups of students or on a more broad base is up to the individual school. That was all. Thank you. Sure. Thank you. Thank you

113Miss Hen. Thank you. Um, good evening. I have a follow-up question for that same contract. Um, and that has to do with I understand this is grant funded for these um, services. The maximum contract spending authority is 750,000, but the anticipated spend is 15,000 on a 5-year contract. And I'm wondering which if there's a typo in the those numbers or if the estimated is 75,000 or if the um anticipated yearly spend is 150,000. The anticipated yearly sp the anticipated spend of 15,000 is for the remaining month and a half of fiscal year 25. Okay. So the grant is for how much? For the grant is significantly larger than this. the grant covers. So this is the blueprint funds for um concentration of poverty which provides um between both the personnel grant and the per pupil

114allocation with our 119 community schools um upwards of uh 47,000 47 million um which goes to both staff positions at the schools like community school facilitators, health assistance at those schools um additional special area teachers. um it could be social workers, MTSS teachers. So there's a list of additional positions that are approved through the blueprint um that can be added to those schools um based on their needs assessment. So they do a comprehensive needs assessment that includes community stakeholders um families, community members, um the school staff, and they then develop a plan of what their how their funds would be spent. So in the first year that a school is identified as a community school they get um the personnel they get the personnel uh funding um it's not till year two or three of

115the community school or they have a well-developed plan do they get the per pupil allocation and the funding to the schools for the per pupil allocation is based on calculations provided by MSD. Okay. So, how did can you explain how you arrived at the 750,000 spending authority and we're looking at I'm doing mental math just under um 200,000 per year then is what would be the approximate per pupil allocation then on this contract if you know offhand that was not how this contract spending authority was calculated. The contract spending authority looked at how much we had spent over the last two years for similar services that were not yet under systemwide contract. They were being used peacemeal by a variety of schools. So we looked at how much was actually spent, multiplied it out, and

116added on more because we knew the number of schools was increasing. Okay. I asked because if we're funding it with concentration of poverty grant funding which follows the student, it would follow my logic anyway that we would calculate the anticipated need based on um the number of students we anticipate using these services and products. So, so this allows any community. So, so it's not this is not just um allowable spending for just a group of community schools. it their spending can fluctuate based on different programs and services that they implement at their school. So I think it's it the number is a holistic number to try to capture um you know there's some schools that might receive a per pupil allocation of $38,000. There's others that might receive $200,000. So those schools would spend more

117but that might not be just on these services. This was a contract to help wrap the services together so that it would be easier for schools to acquire them versus having to do individual consultant agreements for every single service that they were trying to acquire. So this was really trying to simplify the process for schools. So looking at those vendors and services that are providing ongoing things to a variety of schools and trying to package them together as well as additional um providers because there were some cases where a company that might have been previously approved to do tutoring they run out of tutors if seven schools are all contracted with them. So this allowed it to open up to bring in even a greater number of organizations. And what I'm thinking about is the

118overall need, not on a per school basis, but if we look at all of our students that are in need of these services and schools that could possibly use this contract to acquire those services, are we looking holistically at that overall need with the understanding that this funding is available? And that's a much larger number than the con than the spending authority I'm seeing here. So that's why I'm asking for for that number. Absolutely. An estimate. Yeah. And we may come back and say we need more spending authority right now. It's our best guess estimate. Okay. Thank you, man. So, isn't this in essence a approved list of vendors that our community schools can use when they're looking at the funds they have and the needs of their community? Absolutely. So, right. So because there

119it look feels different than some of the other contracts that we look at but it's an approved list and then they can determine so even though central office is presenting it it is really you're doing that so that the schools can then use any one of those on there. So right now we don't know some of them may not be used at all some of them may be used more than others. Correct. Okay Mr. All right, million. Miss Webster, I had three people complain to me about the the timeliness of paying these particular vendors and they were saying that it's a long time and the people wait for the money and some some vendors say we don't want we don't want to provide this service because we know BCPS is going to delay and the

120payment. Is there a reason for that delay? Is that accurate? is I can't speak to the accounting team. Uh clearly I somebody can Yeah, I would imagine Mr. Mcmillian that you've heard from the same type of vendors that I speak with who are quite often solo practitioners, small self-employed, you know, performers or other service providers and sometimes the documentation is difficult for them to fill out. Sometimes we don't if we don't get an invoice with a signed approval, we can't pay it. We have to send it back to the vendor. Uh and it also has to go through the school for their approval. So it can uh be a difficult road for them to hoe. And when I get a complaint like that, I try to get involved and resolve it as quickly as possible

121because most of these folks are, you know, self-employed and and it's a struggle to enter our bureaucracy. It's a big school system and we try to make it work when there's a problem and some of them are living on the edge with these businesses. Yes. Yeah. Thank Can we appreciate that and try to get So I get plenty of calls and I think we get them resolved eventually. But thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Young. Did do you have your hand up? Mr. Sus, if everything is done properly, what is the average time that it takes to pay a vendor? Uh, I would say within we we try to pay everybody within 30 days. That's our goal and we we achieve that in most instances. Um and uh we're hoping that that can speed

122up considerably once we have a fully automated system next by next March. And do any of our contracts have like a net 30 net 60? We have a discount, right? and we try to take advantage of all those discounts so we have an incentive to pay and the the small self-employed vendors aren't going to offer that. Um but we definitely take advantage of 95% of the discounts we get. Okay. Thank you. Sure. So, we are voting on just to refresh 2 to 7, 11 to 13, and 15- 16. Miss Gover, can I have a roll call vote, please? Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Oh, you weren't Oh, Miss Framp. The next one was um item number six for the financing resolution. Um, and this talks about the vehicles that are going to be purchased through the

123resolution. There are buses being purchased through this resolution which I'm assuming are gas and sometimes we get um emails about electric and and being more environmentally friendly. So I guess I just wanted to have the opportunity to hear um as we purchase these new set of vehicles, why is it that we're going with gas and not electric? Uh well, most of them are diesel. Oh, for starters. Um I think that one of these uh these three type A's might be gasoline. I'm not sure. Yeah, they're they're a mix they're a mix of diesel powered and gasoline powered. They are all fossil fuel powered vehicles. Um right now the uh the electric vehicles that we've purchased uh that we've that we've leased through uh previous contracts that which are school buses. Um we're continuing to engage

124in that work. Um our partner in that has had some difficulty fulfilling the orders um in part and secondly some of the grant funding has been in jeopardy um that we've had as a result of those. Um right now we do not have the infrastructure to purchase non uh fossil fuel vehicles as some of our some of our standard vehicles and some of our lease vehicles. And the cost is also prohibitive. A school bus, an electric powered school bus is roughly three times the cost of a conventional school bus. And it costs the same overtime to operate. Um, which was one of the selling points that they were that it would be a reduced cost. But our counterparts that have more of those and in the small number that we currently have, it is more

125expensive for us to operate those vehicles at this time. Good. Thank you for the explanation. And then um in the resolution itself for section 4, it speaks to the chair, the secretary/treasurer who is our superintendent and then the controller who is the controller. Uh currently that position is vacant and I'm serving in that capacity until we can make either an acting or a regular appointment. Okay. Thank you. All right. and 11. Okay. And next, my questions are for a number 11 with the W2 processing. So, is this W2 process inhouse now or outsource? Because this speaks to we have to outsource for the W2s even though we have the ERP. It's currently inhouse and uh because the ERP the Oracle platform um can be accommodated to provide this service and uh relieve us of equipment

126maintenance and uh also uh provide us with the ability to because for the next uh for this calendar year we're going to have 6 months of records on the legacy system and 6 months on the incoming system which you know takes effect July 1. uh this will better allow us to combine the data and issue uh that combined W2 at the end of the f uh calendar year. So then that cost so we already have the cost for the ERP now we're looking for this contractor for the W2 process. Is that still I guess cheaper um as far as the cost compared to what we had been doing before? Hi, how are you? Good. How are you? Um so um when we uh entered into the process to redo our ERP system as part of

127the bid spec that we put out and the Oracle response that we got through as it was identified at that point that Oracle does not generate W2s in and of itself. So we knew from the beginning that this contract would be needed. So we did not need it until this point. So we've now issued it. The money that you are seeing in the spending authority is the and I'll I don't want to say the worst case scenario, but uh it's the scenario in which every staff member would opt to have a printed and mailed um uh paper uh W2 uh which is not the case currently. So this is our largest amount that we would need to spend per year, but we're actually projecting a much lower actual dollar figure uh for the uh W2

128generation. Uh this contract is with ADP, which handles uh McGomery County, Charles County, and uh Fairfax County as well. Uh so they've got a strong record in it, but we knew going into the ERP implementation we would need this service. Thank you, Miss Hen. Thank you. Um Mr. Mr. Korns, will there be an integration between ADP and Oracle? And is that a native integration? Yes. And will we be taking advantage of that? Absolutely. Okay. From our go live with Oracle? Yep. Okay. Yeah. It's it's actually already in the works. They're they're currently building it and it's u I think it's just about done. I think we've tested it twice now. So, if employees were to use um their own tax preparation services, just file mine. Like for instance, Turboax, will they be able to download

129their W2s using ADP and take advantage of convenient features such as that? That's using ADP. Yep. That would be exactly how it would work. Yep. Thank you, Mr. Young. Mr. KS, you said that Oracle does not have a native W2 feature. So, this contract is a one-year contract with no extensions. it ends um next year. So what are we doing after that for W2 processing? So uh Mr. Young. Uh I'm uh waiting for Miss Webster to uh fill in with. Uh so we um we went with a cooperative contract on this and so uh the term of that cooperative contract was for a one-year and so we have to get we had to get this in place. So we found the one that was readily available and then we will go back to work to

130to get the next contract in. We will probably see you again next year. But we will continue to be using ADP for our W2s. Large cooperatives like Omnia rebid their solicitations um dependably. So we would anticipate having a new contract through Omnia to bring back in the future. It is if we may make a decision to issue a solicitation on our own um based on specifications we develop um but that decision has not been made yet. Okay. Thank you. Mhm. Okay. Miss Rampang. One last one from dispatch and that is um number 13 with the AHA inspection services. So this is relating to asbestous and so my question is is this for school buildings andor facilities? I'm sorry I'll let you guys get settled. So Mr. Bong if I heard you correctly this the question

131was is this for school buildings and or other or other facilities? Is that cor is that correct? Correct. That's the first question. Okay. So it is it is for any facility that that falls under the scope and the guidelines that we would have to inspect. I do believe we have we have a mix of our facilities and uh office facilities I'll say or other other properties and school buildings that are required to be inspected on that triannual schedule. Okay. And then so for the the school buildings or the facilities that still go through this inspection because that means they have it. Is there a plan like a comprehensive plan at some point that we are removing this and getting rid of that material? So it that that's an excellent question and it all depends on

132uh how the the material is integrated into the facility. Um whenever we make a repair now we have if we know that there's something there or or the the age of the facility the type of facility we're bound to test. So, so often even when we break glass, for example, in some of our older buildings, um the glazing contains asbestous and we have to get that remediated especially at night and um or when students aren't there and before we can replace it. So, we we already have those procedures in place to address that. Did that answer your question? It sounds like you have something in place to uh replace it, but I mean I guess is there an overhaul? Like typic typically not not unless not unless we are replacing a fixture or renovating or

133we're um or we're or we're demolishing. Yeah. There's no there's there would be it would be cost prohibitive for us to go through and replace everything that needed. And quite frankly, if it's undisturbed, it's not in any kind of a of a concern anyway. Yeah. That's why the inspection process is so important, the compliance measures, right? Because it's only when you're kind of disturbing it and kicking out that material. That is correct. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I'm done, Madam Chair. Okay, Mong. All right. So, back to the We're going to take a roll call vote on items 2 through 7, 11 through 13, and 15 through 16. May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Chula, yes. Musleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen,

134yes. Miss Frampong, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve item one? So moved, Dominowski. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Any discussion? Mr. McMillian. I'm just curious what Dr. Donado, is this what was referred to previously as illustrative math? Yes, it is. So, it's referred to as mathematics grade 6 through algebra 2 program. Is there a reason it's no longer called illustrative math? It's still called illustrative math. That's just I'm sorry. No, no, no. you're it's the name of the contract versus the name of the product that is used. So, illustrative of math illustrative math is the math program. Um, it's just the contract isn't titled with the program name. Okay. So, previously we've used

135this and we're continue to use it, but for some reason the name wasn't included in the description of the contract in the title of the contract. As far as in the description, um, do you describe the contract? Thank you, Mr. McMillion. We try not to use product names in the titles of our contract as that presents a um non-competitive view to our vendors. Is this a new strategy? No. Okay. because somebody said to me they I had a a constituent reach out to me that saw that and and described what it is and said there's some reason they're not using that in the title. We have tried not to use the product name or a vendor name in the titles of our contracts for many years now. Okay. This individual just described how difficult it

136would be to research this program by not using that title. Oh, it is it it is challenging to determine which contract is talking about which product that's in the contract database. Yes. But when you're talking about a procurement and particularly government procurement and you want to have an open playing field for all vendors, you don't want to use the product name in the title of the contract. Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Harvey. I I just wanted to confirm that this contract because it involves curriculum was approved and reviewed by the curriculum committee prior to its presentation. Here it was. And this is actually um a to your extension of the contract. So this was um illustrative math which we currently use. This is a request to defer to your extension

137increase spending authority to go with that. And so it was reviewed through contract committee previously um in 2021. Um in 2023, I was not here, but that's the middle dates. So I'm assuming we might have come back for some sort of modification with it. Um and then and right now we're doing uh the two-year extension request. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome, Miss Hen. Thank you. Um so Miss Webster, I have a followup to Mr. McMillian's question. I do find it difficult to locate um contract exhibits in board docs when the product name is not in the contract exhibit. So I want to differentiate between what I hear you saying the contracts database and the contract exhibit that's prepared for um board members and the public that's stored in board docs which is what we receive

138um and review and have to go from. So, there's a contract description that's that's on that which may be pulled from the contracts database. I don't know. I can't speak to what's in the database. And I understand what you're saying why we don't want the product name in that database. But is there something precluding um staff from including the product name in the contract description in the exhibit that we receive? We try not to include the product name in the title. Um we have tried to include it in the description. It is not you are correct. It is does not appear in this description but we have tried to include it in the description. So you can locate it in that field on the contract database. Okay. Because I too have noticed and what Mr.

139McMillian has heard is that the product names have not been and this is seems to be the case more lately than be previously the product names have not appeared in the description. We can take we can I'm sharing some feedback that it would be very helpful. Sure. If those were in there um and especially when the title is more generic then it it just helps us understand what is being recommended. Absolutely. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Evan Ker. Did you have a question? Okay. All right. May I have a roll call vote on contract one? Miss Chica Koopo? Yes. Miss Stleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillan? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Romanowski? No. Miss Hen? No. Miss FPA? Yes. Miss Booker Dwire? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Lter? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Do

140I have a motion to approve contract 8? So moved. Should get clear. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Any discussion on contract 8? Oh, Miss Hen, sorry. Yes, thank you. I have questions for staff on this um contract. Is this an existing um software package or is this a new software application for professional development tracking? Good evening, Dr. Grim. Good evening. Uh so we have an existing product. Um this is this is a different product. Okay. So this is for a new product because the board received information a couple years ago, maybe three years ago, um that a product had been purchased and was being implemented. And this exhibit includes prior year um spending on that. Is that for the current product? I'd have to check. I believe

141it would be right, Miss Webster. Um I can tell you that the existing product and the new product have the same exact price tag. Um there is there is no difference in price tag. I believe it's $150,000 a year is the is the price tag for the current product that we use and that will be the price tag for this new product as well. Okay. Perhaps I'm looking at the wrong exhibit. Bear with me one one second. It's two years. It's a two-year and fivemonth contract. And I believe the spend authority was for $390,000. 390,000. The prior fiscal year contract spend is 1.1 million. Yes. So it was combined as part of a package of other of other products with a with a vendor that we have. This particular module is $150,000 of that contract

142per year with the same vendor with with a vendor that provides us a suite of other products. Currently this is a this is a different vendor. This contract represents a different vendor in a new product. Okay, m Miss Webster, perhaps you can shed some light on the procurement. Sorry, I'm trying to pick up the question that I missed. I'm trying to understand the the contract exhibit as it's outlined here in in terms of this is a new contract recommendation for us with the same vendor. We have prior year spending authority with the same vendor for I'm sorry. Excuse me. I'm sorry. It's a different It's a different vendor. It is not the same vendor. We used the vendor on the on the prior contract for a number of other products and that's why you're seeing

143the over a million dollar price tag. That's where we have we have I think we have almost a dozen seven products with the other with the other vendor. This is one within that suite we are we are pulling out and we'd like to go with this with a new vendor. Um what the this new product will offer us is better reporting. It'll allow our staff to track their their own professional development better. Uh it's more compliant with some of the blueprint requirements. And so it it's a better offering. It's a better value for what we're what we're already contributing within this other suite. Okay. Does does this system integrate with Oracle since we're implementing that? Uh so it it it will work with data from Oracle. Um I don't know that it that it will

144that it will need to specifically integrate with um with the Oracle product. Okay. Right now it it right now our registration system um integrates with with other schools within it integrates with schooly. Um it also has some integrations with with focus. Okay. And I had some more technical questions but they may be for Mr. Korns. I don't know if he's still um perhaps here perhaps. So, new system, new vendor, um existing authority. Um Mr. Korns is is here. Mr. Kins, did you um want to speak or were you able to speak to the integration with Oracle on this system if it uses it has the same integration HR data or single sign on? It it is uh uh we only bring in single sign on software at this point. Um we are bringing uh data

145out of the Oracle platform. It will come into this system seamlessly um with uh an automation that the team's working on. Um we have to with the Oracle implementation we have to redo all of our integrations and so uh at this point in time uh any change in software is actually the ideal time to do it because we wouldn't integrate the old system and then do a new one. So it's a the same level of effort that we would have to put in but data would be coming straight out of Oracle into into this system. Was that one reason for the move? Because it was just a couple of years ago that the board was asked to approve purchasing of the current system. So I'm trying to understand the justification given that that was 2022

146I believe maybe late 2021 that a professional development tracking system was chosen and implemented. So it hasn't been too long. What one of the main reasons is that the the current system that we have does not have reporting features and the vendor is uh uninterested in creating those reporting features to help us to report back when we're when we're asked how many of our teachers have had X training or Y or Y training or have engaged in this. Um the the new software uh appears to do that with all the the trials and the the tests that we've run on it so far. And and quite honestly, Miss Hen, when we in as you uh specified the date, it was in May of 22. Um that was in response to um uh the homegrown system

147that we had had being decimated by the cyber attack. That system needed to be implemented immediately so that we could uh start offering professional development. So the package that was chosen was chosen. We uh worked with it for three years in order to make it meet our needs. and uh the professional development team has uh come to the conclusion that the level of effort is taking to create the things that are needed are are more work than it would be to forklift out and replace with something that actually does it natively. So that that's the the real rationale behind this implementation. Thank you for that background Mr. Korns and and everyone. I appreciate it. My last question is this. Did we explore Thank you. Do we explore other partnerships um such as with CCBC or

148county government to um make use of their systems? Um I'm always looking for opportunities to save costs especially this year and were there any opportunities there and did we look into that? So so the the registration system as we as we are using it uh does not directly align with the methodology that CCBC does that they are using a true registration system. This is a um a little bit of an amalgam between that as well as self- selection as well as uh teachers going in and being able to interact with their own professional development at an ad hoc level. So it the use case doesn't uh engage as as heavily. Um we are currently working very uh diligently with those two partners as well over data sharing and that is a very entangling uh problem

149when we get to shared resources of that nature. Uh so uh to answer your question uh Miss Hen we we looked at several product we did not directly go to CCBC and county government saying what are you using but given what we know about the system as we've been using it what the teachers have given us feedback on and what uh superintendent and blueprint have asked for this system meets all of those needs um and have has kind of basically checked all of our boxes without a lot of developmental effort. Great. Well thank you for considering those opportunities as as they arise. Appreciate it. Minowski, I just I just have one quick follow-up question. Since this is coming from you're taking it off of another contract, will that contract be adjusted? Yes. Yes. So, um,

150our team has worked diligently with Miss Webster and this one module, if you will, will be taken out. That's why I said the the cost is it's a wash. It is it there is no cost difference. Just want to make sure that spending authority will be taken away from the other contract. Well, the spending authority actually doesn't get adjusted, but we have reached out to the prior vendor and told them that we will not be renewing that specific module. So, we will not be paying for that specific module for this coming year. But though, so if it's a wash and we're not taking away the spending author, I know it's you don't have to, but still like you could if it's there. We already voted. You know what I Like then is it really a

151wash if we can spend that still keep spending that money on the other contracts with other vendors? We don't have the money. The office regardless of the spending authority there has to be the budget available and they're going to be using the budget on the new software. Okay. That's right. It's we're we're down to the the the penny on this. Okay. Yep. Thank you. You're welcome. Miss Booker Dwire. And so if this system, so it's it's just for registration and reporting, will teachers be able to to track the professional development that they have and keep track of the credits that they earned? Okay. Yes. I'm sorry if I failed to mention that. They Yes, they will. And that and that's a big draw to it as well. Um as we as we align with Blueprint

152and we make sure that they're following their professional learning plans. May I have a roll call vote on contract 8? Mr. TK Ko. Yes. Miss Stleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Fong, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve contract 10, Telecommunications Master Service Agreement? So move still. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation came from the committee. Are there any questions or discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? MK Ku, yes. Miss Dleski, yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, recuse. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss FPO? Recuse. Miss Booker Dwire? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Licter? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Do

153I have a motion to approve contract number 14? So move Dominowski. Thank you. No second is needed since the recommendation comes from the committee. Any discussion on item 14, contract 14, Miss Dominowski? Yes, thank you. Um I just do we have um or do we know how many relocatables we are currently leasing and our own right now? I I can get that number. I I don't have it prepared this evening, but I can get that number for you. Um that number is also fluid because we intend I believe and I think Mr. Taylor's left. I believe we we are removing somewhere around 25 this year completely. So we'll have 25 fewer than we have this current year. But I can get you that number. And and just in that same light, if I could um

154see the numbers of how many schools are utilizing these year after year and how many they're using is that I'm not sure that I understand your question. So like if basically what I want to know is are schools continually using these re relocatables year after year after year and do we need to consider these schools actually need an addition and not a relo because they're meant they're not meant to be a permanent structure. Correct. You are correct. Um they they are not meant to be a a permanent structure. We do have uh we do have a number of school facilities that have had relocatables um in some cases for over a decade or more. Um that can be because of of a specific program, because of the the capital dollars. Um because we we had

155looked at the addition of a single uh classroom. You a a single drop on classroom, even if it's possible um at at one of our newer schools. And it's over a million dollars for one for one single room to design to plan, design, and and build. Um, and recently, Carol County had had done just that as part of their prek expansion. Um, for for that amount of money, we can provide several relocatables and expand a number of other classrooms. So, while not optimal, it is a it is a strategy that we have. So, yes, it's not long-term. Um, but it is something that we've engaged in to to address immediate problems and sometimes they become longer term problems. But I can get you those numbers. That would be great. I mean, I know in some

156of our schools are are historic and it's almost impossible to add on to them because of that reason. But I'm just wondering if costefficient down the line. Okay. Yeah, it might be a million dollars upfront, but in 10 years, if you're still having this re relocatable, how much did that cost us over 10 years? It might equal close. Yeah. And and again, it depends on uh it depends on whether we leased or purchased the unit. Um it depends on how long it's there. It depends on if there's been any damage to the unit. Um there's a considerable cost to move relocatables when we do that from one place to another. There's a considerable cost sometimes to run um electric to it. Some of our relocatables have water hookup as well. Um, so again, it all

157depends on the size and the and the shape of those units and where they're and where they're located in conjunction to this to the schoolhouse. I'm sorry, just that I think that's kind of the point I was making that like all these extra accommodations you have to make for these relocatables, if we have to move them, if we have to add electric, if we have to add water. I I just want to make sure we're being cost and and if there's a place where a school can do this, we're looking at that at least down the line. But thank you. I appreciate it. You're welcome. Okay, Dr. Civo. Yes, thank you. Um, modules verse um relocatables. Do you know how many modules you have? Uh, I can get you that number as well. Um, I

158I can think of I can think of at least three or four schools that have modules off the top off the top of my head, but I don't have a I I can't give you a solid list in terms of cost. Ma mod modu modular classrooms are um they are also over a million dollars um a piece. Uh but remember they can range in size from um 8 to 12 to sometimes two together or 16 classrooms. Modulars typically include uh lavatories as as well and and they are meant to be longer term uh structures longer longer longer term use projects. Okay. Thank you very much. You're welcome, Miss Hen. Thank you. Um, so according to the state's 90-day DLS report, BCPS is um receiving 6.5 million in state capital aid for relocatables um this coming

159fiscal year. So, I'm curious to know what our strategy is towards leasing and purchasing relocatables given the fact that that funding could be volatile in in future years and how that's affecting our strategy towards purchasing and leasing. So, typically uh the the money that comes from that funding are set aside for our capital projects. So, for example, we just placed a a modular unit over at at Talson High School for the for the project that's happening there. That modular replaced uh several singular relocatable uh relocatable units that we had on on the property and we anticipate that that modular will be there um for the next 5 years for the duration of the project. Um, some of the other modulars that we've had that are that are paid through that grant funding are also part

160of those are part of those capital projects. So, we are able to use some of that funding in anticipation for how they're going to play into larger projects. Okay. So, the 71% um capital funding source that's been identified, that's all associated with um school construction projects. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Miss Fang. Um, so I think some of the things I was going to ask have been covered. Um, just as far as how many relocatables are being purchased and how many are being leased is that information actually I think that was for this particular that was the question that uh that Miss Dominowski had and I will provide that number to I'll get that information and provide it in a in a board update. Okay, great. And then with the previous contract, so

161it's JBO71619, it was saying that there's the 12 relocatables that are being removed actually this month. So for May 2025, so you actually mentioned about um 25 that were being removed alto together. Um but my question for those 12 is that are we going to re reuse those relocatables and if so like where are they going? So, I I I don't want to tie specific relocatables to a contract. This con this contract and the contract uh this contract that we're bringing tonight and the contract that the board approved last month supersede two contracts that we brought actually for extension back in January. And so, Miss Fong, it was the one it was the one that you just mentioned along with um with JBO 71719 lease uh relocatable classrooms. So, it was 71619 and 71719. One

162was uh 716 was for the purchase, 717 was for the lease of relocatables. What I don't have for you is the breakdown um some of the relocatables that that were that were moving. As I said, it's it's somewhere around two dozen. Some are are ones that we're turning back in that are leased. Some are in no longer um they're no longer in good condition and we're removing them completely from the inventory. And so those may be ones that we leased or purchased. I do not have the breakdown of of which is which. I can get you the number of what we have leased versus what we have purchased. Okay. So then in I guess a previous answer with the 25 um that are being completely removed that that's just because we don't need them anymore

163or because of functionality. That is that is because we have been actively trying to reduce the number of of relocatables that we need in this in the system. Okay. And that's been a goal um that the county has has asked us to work toward. Um we have worked very hard to do that. Last year, we did utilize um some uh some classrooms, some relocatables that we were in intending to put out because they could aid us in in preK expansion. Okay. Um so again, those are those are variables we have to look at from year to year. Okay. And so we see plans like for the capital projects coming and which schools are going to be updated, replaced, etc. Are we able to see like in conjunction the relocatables with this? And again, it's that

164same idea that as we spend more money for the capital projects, in my mind, I would think that we're spending less on the relocatables. So, that that's an excellent question. It it depends on the type of project and um and and and why or what we're what we're doing at the particular school. So, I'll give you an example. Um, for a few of the elementary schools that we just completed, Summit Park and Bedford, we uh greatly increased the state rated capacity at those at those schools. Um, relocatables were were on site, I believe, at at Bedford, I can't remember. Summit, they were Yes, Miss Leer's shaking her head. Yes, we were we were able to remove them obviously through the through the capital project. Um, we have others where we know we're going to need

165uh relocatables on site to complete the capital project. So, I just mentioned Talson. Um, we're looking ahead. Um, the the board had prioritized a replacement at Overly. That's several years out, but we know because of their anticipated enrollment, we will need relocatables at at that site over the next couple of years. Every year, we look at our inventory. We look at our needs. We look at any adjustments that were made. Sometimes um the the enrollment figures, enrollment projections are variable, and then we make a decision about where the relocatables are. To Miss Dominowski's earlier point, sometimes we have a school that has it now a program shifts, we see their enrollment is about to go up in a year. It's actually um more cost effective for us to leave a relocatable in place for one

166year if we anticipate they're going to use it again the following year because of the cost of removal or replacement or just even hooking up the electric to it. Thank you. Okay. You're welcome. Thank you. Okay. Okay. May I have a roll call vote on contract number 14? Miss Chica Ku. Yes. Miss Dleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy, yes. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hem, yes. Miss Faul, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Thank you for answering all of our questions on the contracts. Okay. All right, Dr. Mara, we're ready for you. The next It's actually me. It's just you. Okay. Got her name on there, too. The next item on the agenda is a dedication of the Bedford Elementary School Courtyard. And for that,

167I call Dr. Grim. So, good evening again. Uh Dr. Jones could not be present and she asked me to um to sit in this evening. I'm here representing the Department of Schools to ask for the board's approval in accordance with board policy and superintendence rule 7530, naming or renaming an area of a school or its grounds to name the Bedford Elementary School Courtyard Conny's Courtyard in recognition of former principal Miss Christina A. Connelly based on her outstanding contribution to teaching and learning in service of the Baltimore County public schools. A plaque welcoming visitors to Connellyy's courtyard will be installed in her honor upon board approval. So I had the privilege of working with Miss Connelly as principal at Bedford. So it's a tremendous loss and this is a wonderful way to honor her memory with

168the Bedford community. Do I have a motion to Do I have a motion to approve the dedication of the Bedford Elementary School Courtyard to former principal Christina A. Connelly by naming it Conny's Courtyard. So move Sti. May I have a second? Second. Chu. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss Gulu? Yes. Miss Tleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young, yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hem, yes. Miss Framp, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes. Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Thank you. You The next item on the agenda is consideration of the 2025 2026 organization chart. And for that, I call on Dr. Rogers. Thank you, Chair Licter, Vice Chair Harvey, members of the board. I'm pleased to present the proposed FY26 organizational chart. Um, as

169I indicated in the superintendence report, I wholeheartedly understand um that as a school system, we are in a tight fiscal situation. I understand the frustration of our staff. No one wanted to be in this place and truly everywhere across the organization is impacted. In the proposed organizational chart, I will highlight the changes. a reduction of one executive director uh under chief of staff in chief operating officer. a reduction of one um executive uh director as well as a new position executive director of fiscal services to replace the chief financial officer with a dotted reporting line and chief of schools reduction of executive directors of schools by one in elementary and one in secondary. Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve the proposed 2025 2026 organization chart as presented in exhibit P? So moved.

170Thank you. Do I have a second? Second, Harvey. Thank you. Any discussion? Miss Hen, I move to amend the organization chart to elevate the position of executive director of fiscal services to chief financial officer. Is there a second to Miss Hen's motion? Second. Stellowski. May I speak to my motion? Yes. Um 16 out of 24 LEAs in Maryland, including the largest LEAs in the state, um have chief financial officers. The difference between the chief position and the executive director position is that the chief carries um with the role a strategic role um in addition to serving on the cabinet. And this year of any year shows us how important that strategic position is. And while I certainly appreciate Superintendent Rogers concern and fiscal responsibility here, this is an investment we can't afford not to make.

171So I thank you board members for your support. Miss Harvey, just a question. When you say elevate, are you are you saying in terms of title or in terms of title and compensation? May I respond, Madam Chair? Um, thank you for the question, Vice Chair Harvey. Um, I am suggesting in terms of title and responsibilities and the, um, compensation would be determined by Superintendent Rogers and staff. Further discussion? Miss Harvey, follow up. So, we've had lots of conversation about uh central office and this role and I believe that the superintendent and her team have or the superintendent has determined that this uh position um will meet the needs of the system and that this position is not excluded from the cabinet. So I am I'm a little um conflicted about the cost. If we are

172on one hand saying we need to reduce central office, we need to save funds where we can and then we want to increase those costs for a position that uh where the duties and the functions are still are still getting um completed. Uh and we've just changed the uh the title and the level of supervision. I'm not sure um if that's necessary. So I I I'd like the superintendent to kind of speak to her thinking and Miss Hen of course you can respond if the chair allows. It's up to you. Um go ahead Miss Hen and then Dr. Rogers will respond. Very briefly. I believe a position of this caliber um carries with it a fiscal responsibility then that brings with it a fiscal discipline that would more than make up for the difference in

173salary and the fiscal discipline they bring to the position. In other words, I believe we will realize the savings in the difference in salary by having someone of this caliber in this level of position that brings the strategic vision and direction that the school system needs, especially with the implementation of the blueprint requirements. We need someone at this level um and with the strategic responsibilities that the chief position carries with it. Again, if we look at 16 of the 24 LEAs, the including Montgomery, including Prince George's, including Anna Rundle, including Howard, each of those um has the CFO role in addition to the others. If you look at by size, they all have CFO positions. So, um again, I I hear you with the fiscal discipline. I'd be the first to make a recommendation that

174I thought was fiscally sound. I believe this position um would make up for the that in savings in other areas. So, thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Dr. Rogers. Yes, thank you uh for the opportunity to speak to this. Um as we have gone through this process, we have analyzed every single position um to determine uh what was feasible, what was not feasible, how we could streamline and reduce positions without impacting services. Uh what's probably different between Baltimore County Public Schools and the other systems that are mentioned is for the last uh 20 years, it wasn't until two or three years ago uh that we had a chief financial officer. The very person that is walking us through this tough financial situation is our former executive director of fiscal services, Mr. SAS. um who uh

175no uh disrespect to any other chief financial officer in any other district, but I would put up Mr. Saras and his dedication, his level of respect, his um knowledge um of financial procedures and relationships with partners um against any chief uh chief financial officer in any other district. And what I believe is we have a history of making uh this work as there is no incumbent in this position. This is an opportunity um to continue some of the strong work that has been done in uh finances as well as show to our 20,000 employees that this impact of um these tight financial times uh we are not immune to that at the chief executive level and that is why I made um the recommendation uh in a way that will not impact resources in a

176way um that we will continue to move the budget forward, the office of procurement, the support that we provide to our schools in terms of all of the financial work that they do. Um, this is, you know, the division of fiscal services is how we pay bills and how we pay our employees, which is of utmost important importance. And so this recommended change allows us to keep all of those services in the same way while actualizing realizing a savings uh to the system. And um it is already our current practice that uh has executive directors um as part of our cabinet meetings providing regular ongoing input and so nothing would be different. Thank you Dr. Rogers. Miss Harvey. So just so I'm clear, prior to the last few years, the system has functioned with an

177executive director of fiscal services rather than a chief financial officer. And those plans, those org charts were approved by the previous boards. And we to anyone's knowledge did not have any serious uh fiscal tragedies I'll say uh based on that position and its execution. You are correct. Mr. Sarah served in that capacity. Thank you. Further discussion. Mr. McMillian. Dr. Rogers. Approximately how much money would be the difference between the executive director and the chief? Are we talking $50,000 a year? What are we talking about? I would have to look and uh ask the team the exact amount of um funding, but we are as we look at the reorganization, it wouldn't just be the difference in title for compensation as we're looking at all of the different uh positions where we can eliminate redundancies. It

178allows us to actualize a larger savings. And I think the savings that we have slated is um well over $200,000. Mr. Sus will come forward and share that. Yeah. For the moves in the division, it's about 275,000. Uh yeah. And so would that individual would that contract be for two years or four years? Ongoing. Uh it's ongoing non-represented staff. Um so certainly um and every year non-represented staff um you know uh they have to sign a contract again annually. Um certainly when we're in a better fiscal position I I think um you know there are a few uh things we would want to do but given the current situation that's why this recommendation was moved forward to the board for consideration. Thank you Mr. Young. Just to clarify, that's only 275,000 in salary. That's not

179including any additional benefits on top of that. Well, just to be clear, the chief financial officer does not earn 275,000 or the or the active one. the the division 275,000 in savings. This is the combination of of eliminating an executive director and uh reclassifying the chief financial officer um to put together that total package of of efficiencies. And that number you've come up with is 275. But that and it's two affecting two positions plus one other minor adjustment. Right. But that's just salary. That doesn't include any other um benefits that would be due to them based upon you know that salary or just Okay. Thank you. Just just salary. Yeah. Mowski. I I I I just remembered asking this question during the budget session meetings. there was actually an increase in the CFO line from

180um if you looked at the CFO for 2025 it was uh 375,000 and this year it was 597,000 for the TW so I believe um and Mr. Saras, you can correct me if I'm wrong. I believe uh that accounted for the transfer of the um consulting administration o consulting administrator over school operations uh uh position that was moved into that department. Right? So it was reduced in one uh department as the primary role was in finances and it was moved over. So, it was reduced in I think the department of schools and increased in the department of finances. And our director of budget is shaking his head in the affirmative. But it's still I I guess it's just kind of it's still increased to where where was the cost saving at the CFO level. So

181that's what's being proposed now. The cost saving at the CFO level as part of the reign. This is going to be reduced. The 597,000 that's been proposed in the 26 budget's going to be reduced by this action that we're doing today. I think that's built. Yeah. All the changes that'll be in the council's budget are not reflected yet. So, as a difference between what the superintendent proposed and the county executive, these are the changes that she's been talking about tonight. So the CFO reduction is not in the proposed budget book. The uh elimination of the consulting director is not in the budget book. So there's a a a whole slew of changes to make to hit the C's target. That was from the proposed book which will eventually get into the adopted book. Okay. Ju

182just want just so I'm clear. So the 200 plus thousand that we're going to save is going to come out of that 597 line like that that's going to be adjusted in the ne like so the 70 roughly $72 million in reductions from the board proposed budget to the county executive budget includes those savings that we're talking about. I'm just talking about this one right now. This yes it will reduce it will when you get a final book it will that 597 will reflect the 200,000 correct sorry it'll offset you know the increase you saw last year it will go down again which I think is what you're expecting okay thank you miss thank you madam chair so it was inferred that um in some way my motion slight Mr. Saras, I want to be

183crystal clear that in no way does my motion do that. Um, this is purely in the best interest of the school system moving forward. Um, this this motion elevates the the position in charge of the finances, the fiscal responsibility of the of the system which we delegate as a board to an individual. Mr. Sus has done a fine job. I've worked with him on this board for nine years and if if anything it gives him him or whoever is in this role a seat at the table and 275,000 any CFO worth their salt can make that up in a year in terms of the value that they bring and the cost savings that they bring simply in their experience that they bring to the table in their input and the decisions that are made each

184and every day on the cabinet. So, um I I don't want to be um penny foolish when we make this decision as a board. We need to be thinking in the long-term best interest of the school system. What's going to benefit children long term? And that's the the compounded um fiscal what makes sense over the long term. So, and I think elevating this position to look out for um the fiscal best sense of the system is what makes sense long beyond what what we need to do in one year. Um if we bring do bring in an external candidate, they're going to need to come up to speed. They're going to need to be in the room when decisions are being made. So, thank you. Um Miss Booker Dyer. And so when I look at

185this org chart, I see the dot dotted line going straight up to the superintendent, which says that it's going to be a part, it's going to be have a seat at the table. Um, and if we really want to talk about like what's in the best interest of the school system, we look at Baltimore County central office. It is the smallest central office compared to any school district our size. And so I would love to bring back an, you know, some of the executive director positions. I would love a deputy superintendent. I would love some more Chiefs. We can't afford it. And and if we're, you know, a lot of people want to go back. They want to go back to a time when they felt like Baltimore County was in its glory days and

186that we had an executive director of there was an executive director then. And so, um, so I hear what Miss Hen is saying and and I would love to have a chief financial officer, but we given the time that we have right now and the tough fiscal um, times that we are in um, and and recognizing that this executive director is going to have a seat at the table with the chiefs, um, I I I don't see how we can if we're if we're going to try to make the argument to be like a Montgomery County or to like Anaundle County with their chiefs and we need to add a lot more positions back into central office. We're doing the best that we can. I feel like right now given the fiscal climate that we

187are in. Um I would love to honor the the agreement that we had with the the teachers. Um I would love to do all of those things, but we just don't have the money in Baltimore County right now. And so we have to make these tough decisions. And this is a tough decision to make. But um but I I totally understand why the superintendent has recommended this. Um I don't have a question. I do have a comment. I'm more concerned about the who than the title. So to me it's making sure that HR does their due diligence that the superintendent does that whomever we pick whether the title was going to be executive director or chief financial officer that this person can do the work that we need to. reducing her cabinet is re is

188going to most detriment to the superintendent. These are her right hands who she's doing for cabinet. For her to reduce it, then she has faith that she can accomplish what she needs to accomplish, pick the right people to do the work that needs to be done. But to me, we can call them chief financial officer, but if they're not the right person, it's not going to matter. So whether they're an executive director or they're a CFO, I think it's the quality and the competency of who is selected. So if the superintendent is saying that she can do the work, that she can use them strategically um then I think the executive director role has worked in the past as we see right here um and can continue to work in the future. Any fin? Thank

189you. I just have a question of clarification. So, um, if we stick with the if if the motion is made for the CFO, it was it was stated, I just want to make sure that it's correct, that it may or may not influence a change in dollar amount depending on the candidate and and in terms of the the amount of salary. May I respond, Madam Chair? I I is that a question for staff or what are your so I believe somebody asked about the difference between the positions and would the difference you mean the 275,000 they were discussing well the the difference in the salaries between the executive director position versus so it was stated that it may or may not involve a salary difference. I just want to make sure that that's correct. No,

190the positions uh different positions carry different salaries. So, there is a salary reduction, but what uh Mr. Sus and myself uh were explaining is that this is a uh package. This is part of the reduction in the uh division of finance. And so, that's where the $275,000 item came from. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So, we have had a second on the motion and discussion. So, may I have a roll call vote on Miss Hen's motion to um Miss Gber, do you have the wording of the of her motion? I mean, amendment to the motion. You want to repeat it, Miss Hen? I believe I'm out of time according to Mr. Burns. So, I believe her amendment You can repeat a motion. Okay, you may repeat your amendment. My my motion was to amend the organization

191chart to elevate the position of executive director fiscal services to chief financial officer. We have a roll call vote on her amended motion, please. Miss Challo, no. Miss Dilleski, no. Dr. Seavoy, no. Mr. McMillian, yes. Mr. Young, no. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, yes. Miss Fong, no. Miss Boker Dwire, no. Miss Harvey, no. Miss Leicter, no. Favor is three. Do I have a motion to approve the We already did that. We already have the motion and the second for the original motion. Correct. Okay. So, may I have a roll call vote on the motion to approve the proposed 2025 2026 organization chart as presented in exhibit P. Miss Chica Ku? Yes. Musleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski, yes. Miss Hen, no. Miss Faw, yes. Miss Booker Dwire, yes.

192Miss Harvey, yes. Miss Lter, yes. Thank you. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the consideration of the proposed FY2025 bubbbit, sorry, budget appropriation transfer. And that we're going to call Mr. Sarah. Bless you. Bless you. So, good evening. And because we haven't talked enough about fiscal services, we're uh here to present the annual budget appropriation transfer as well as the supplemental appropriation. And this is uh very comparable to the FY24 budget appropriation transfer. and supplemental appropriations. And I will give you over to uh Mr. Tantliff, our director of budget and reporting, who will uh provide the details. Uh good even good evening, board chair, vice chair Harvey, Dr. Rogers, and board members. Uh BCPS tonight is requesting approval of a general fund budget appropriation transfer or a BAT as it's commonly called

193totaling 17.3 million and a supplemental appropriation of 35.04 million. The BCPS budget consists of 13 separate appropriations by activities prescribed by the Maryland State Department of Education. transfers of funds between activities requires approval from the board of ed and the county council. This annual budget appropriation transfer will realign funds by category with planned and projected year-end expenses. Funds are available due to savings in salary expenditures from higher thanex expected turnover reorganizations and use of grant funding. The proposed transfers are necessary to implement the FY25 operating plan. implement the teacher substitute contract, provide uh for the private blueprint private provider prek program, provide for student transportation, utilities, and maintenance of plan. Because BCPS contains no contingency budget, the only way to manage unanticipated expenses during the year is via amendments to the budget. A supplemental appropriation

194is required to realign budget to actual expenditures in FY25. Of the 35.04 million requested, 10.5 million is for year two of the Oracle ERP implementation with the remainder of funds to provide flexibility for the BAT support shortfalls and special education and repairs and maintenance and maintain the targeted fund balance at year end. We're now happy to take any questions you may have. Before we do the questions, may I have a motion to approve the proposed FY2025 budget appropriation transfer as presented in exhibit Q1? So move. Thank you. Do I have a second? Second, Stellleski. Okay. Any discussion, Miss Dominowski? Yeah. us. Um, not on on the bat it says there's a 7 million decrease to the instructional salaries. Are these just positions that we didn't fill or are these um decreases in salaries of of

195instructional staff? It's just a normal turnover in vacancies that occur during the budget. It's a very small percent of the total um activity. So, it's not any positions that, you know, we needed to eliminate or they're just they No, those are all school-based positions and none of them have been frozen. We fill them as fast as we can. Okay. Thank you. Other discussion questions? Miss Hen, thank you. Um, the transfer of 4.5 million from CNI that was used to forward purchase materials using Maryland leads funds. Can you speak to what those um materials were that were forward purchased? Um maybe Dr. Donado. I think it's the science of reading that was funded. I'm going to just let Mr. Saras keep going. Keep going. You're on a roll there. Look, I came up and you got

196it. Um Maryland leads um had several strands in it. One of them being the science of reading. So we were able to pre purchase um for FY25 um using Maryland lead funds like our open court materials. So the money that was allocated for like our textbook open court materials for example we were able to hold that money not spend it use the Maryland leads to purchase those materials likewise we were able to purchase some of our HTML materials from our reading series using Maryland leads because again it's aligned with the science of reading so it was an approved expenditure so we were optimizing grant funds and then that money was able to be held um instead of using it from our textbook fund which then could be returned back. Thank you. You're welcome. Any other

197questions? May I have a roll call vote on the proposed FY2025 budget appropriation transfer? Miss Chica Kaloo? Yes. Miss Dleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Fong? Yes. Miss Booker Dryer? Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Lar? Yes. Thank you. Thank you. And you may already have talked about this, but I'll read my script. The next item on the agenda is the consideration of the proposed FY2025 supplemental budget appropriation. And again, I call on Mr. Sarah. And I'll let uh Mr. Tantliff review this as well. It's uh a lot of the same items from last year. Thank you. Uh and as I mentioned the supplementals required to realign budget to actual expenditures in FY25. It ties very closely to the BAT as a package. Um

198and as I mentioned the 35 million requested 10 and a half is for year two of Oracle. If you recall last year, we came and did a supplemental for year one of the Oracle ERP implementation and the remainder of the funds to provide flexibility for the uh BAT, support shortfalls and special ed and repairs and maintenance and maintain our targeted fund balance at year end. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the proposed FY2025 supplemental budget appropriation as presented exhibit Q2? So move Stleski. Thank you, Miss Stleski. Do I have a second? Second, Harvey. Thank you. Any discussion? May I have a roll call vote, please? Miss GKU? Yes. Miss Dleski? Yes. Dr. Seavoy? Yes. Mr. McMillian? Yes. Mr. Young? Yes. Miss Dominowski? Yes. Miss Hen? Yes. Miss Framp? Yes. Miss Booker Dwire?

199Yes. Miss Harvey? Yes. Miss Lter? Yes. Thank you. Continuing with the Mr. Sarah agenda item. Mr. Saras, don't go anywhere. The next item on the agenda is the report on the financial reports for the months ending January, February, and March 2025. And you're up again. Thanks. So, uh, good evening again. And, uh, this is a new item for our board agenda. Um in April I believe we had uh January and February to present and uh another month has elaped since then. So I now am presenting a full quarter of financial data and I'm going to start at the end here with March because that represents basically three quarters of the fiscal year and then if we have any questions about January and February I'm happy to take those. So in summary uh as I said

200uh we have our revenue uh collections through the first three quarters of the year are at 74.6%. So that is uh a uh on track. Most of the revenue comes from the state and in uh and the county. The state pays us every two months. The county uh we typically draw against our general fund appropriation on a bi-weekly basis. And so uh those revenues are recorded as they're received and it's fairly consistent with the calendar year because payroll drives the whole thing and every two weeks we pay. Um in terms of expenditures and incumbrances uh we are uh at 73.8% of the budget and so that again aligns uh you know maybe should I be reading from the PowerPoint go ahead okay sorry I guess I missed something there. Um yeah I'm doing this from

201the full report. Sorry. uh for confusing everybody. Um so again, revenues expenses are uh in alignment with the um percent of the year that's elapsed uh by expenditure categories. I wanted to go through each of those. You'll note uh that administrative non-s salary costs are approximately um 131% uh over spent and that is due to the ERP project which is a nonbudgeted project and uh county government and we agreed last year for the first part of the project that we would um appropriate a portion of fund balance to pay those fees. And so that's why uh you see the budget overspent and is the the foundation for both the BAT and the supplemental appropriation to uh bring that into alignment. [Music] Um instructional salaries again are perfectly in line with the percent of the year

202elapsed and that is also true for in instructional textbooks and supplies and other instructional costs. Special education you'll also note is uh the non salary portion 107.5% over budget and that is um the biggest single item on either the BAT or the supplemental appropriation. It's very similar to uh prior years in which uh we have uh increased the salaries for additional assistance uh related services uh are expanding. Um and the tuition increases for non-public schools are driving all of this. And again, it's been addressed in the uh in both the BAT and the U supplemental appropriation that we've considered tonight. Uh transportation non salary expenses are at 105.4% over budget um due to the increased need for contractors and the variable cost of fuel. that is also an item addressed in the BAT and supplement.

203Uh maintenance of plant and capital outlay uh are at 119% of budget and those are really due to uh not just routine maintenance but unexpected repairs and as Mr. Tantliff said we don't budget for contingents. So um that is something that we've addressed in the BAT and the supplement as well. And um I we also have a summary of grants uh every 3 months. And I think the most important uh item in that part of the report is that we have fully expended all of our COVID relief esser uh federal funds uh well within the uh uh most recent announcement from the department of education. So, uh, while the state of Maryland has accumulated $233 million of unspent requests, we have fully spent that money. And I really think that was an outstanding effort on

204the part of the board and the superintendent and the school system to make really good use of that. And I'll just remind everybody, most of it did go in the form of teacher compensation and employee compensation overall. Um, and I am really sorry for totally missing the boat on the accompanying slide presentation. That's just how out ofd I am. Uh, but I'm happy to take any questions. You the right. You did not miss the boat. The slides were okay. All right. There's one. Okay. Thank you. It is 10:21. So, um Okay. Okay. Any discussion or questions for Mr. Saras on the financial reports for January, February or March, Miss Dominowski? Yes. Um the so the the second largest piece of the pie is the the fixed charges and then about 80% of that comes from

205FICA and health insurance employer. And just to so I'm sure that all we don't really have anything say in that as far as the county government does all of that. That's correct. We I mean our the healthc care is is huge and that fluctuates with both the enrollment the choice of plans that people make not the enrollment the census of of employees and um rate adjustments every year. And so, uh, we work together with the county. They manage. It's their contract with the provider, in this case, Sigma, Blue Cross, and Kaiser. And so, we just work with them to we provide them the census data and and the selections made by the employees, family, individual, etc. And yes, that's pretty much a done deal. Uh we expected a 5% premium rate this year. We got

206over eight. So that is provided by the county's actuary Bolton Partners. So yeah, they pretty much uh take our data and give us a budget figure. So what does that mean as far like you were expecting a 5% but you got 8%. Is that good or bad? Uh well it costs another $3 million. So it didn't help uh when we were looking for dollars. Yeah. Thank you. Okay. Further discussion. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sris. Certainly. The next item on the agenda is the report on the 2020 office of legislative audit update. And for that I call Miss S, Mr. Saras. Okay. Mr. McCall and Mr. Korns. You at least get some friends this time. Yeah. But I think and there is a PowerPoint too. I think I'm in the right seat and I do have

207that. So, we're going to and I get to start. Um, so I wanted to uh thank everyone again for being so patient. Um, page one. How about maybe page two? Thank you. Um so BCPS worked with the office of legislative audits uh last uh in the period from July of 2015 to November of 2020 and that's November 19th of 2020 is when the full report was released and uh that report is available online and in that report in the appendix of that report are our initial responses. Um these uh audits rotate through the state not just school systems but uh state colleges and state agencies are all subject to a periodic review. Ours school systems traditionally take place on a six five to six year five to six year cycle. Um and it it does

208take an extraordinary amount of time and resources uh as we assist the auditors in providing data to meet their needs. Uh so the original audit cycle for us came up again in March of this year and as we are heavily uh involved in the Oracle project uh and migrating all of our data and reporting resources uh for a July 1 go live date in human resources and payroll which uh is I think maybe the most critical portion of this project to pay people correctly. And because it won't be complete till March of next year, um, and based on prior experience, we felt that it was uh worth considering a request uh for a one-year delay in the project just based on uh what we know our huge uh focus on on Department of IT and

209fiscal services. Um and so that request was made uh and granted so that uh we can finish this project and actually have a full set of data to provide the legislative auditors. uh and in part of doing that was to um demonstrate that we had fully addressed the issues and the findings that were uh produced in in the last audit report in 2020. So I just want to go through these quickly. Uh finding number one, procurements were not always made in accordance with established policies, in this case BCPS policies or applicable state law, and that was completed October 31 of 2021. Uh the second finding, BCPS written policy did not define criteria for what constitutes a contract modification and did not require a signed contract modification to support changes to terms and conditions and we

210completed that March 30 of 2022. Uh finding number three, BCPS did not use an ICPA uh which is a term for inter agency cooperative purchasing agreement uh recognized by uh the state for purchasing school buses and limited competition for those procurements and that BCPS also did not maintain documentation uh surrounding our decision to explain it. Um, we addressed that and completed that issue in September of 2020. Uh, finding number four, BCPS did not have a written policy requiring the documentation of the receipt of goods and services prior to making the related payment. Um, and we permitted the prepayment of vendors for services without a formal BCPS policy to that effect. and BCPS did not ensure that contracts were properly executed prior to payment. That was uh completed the bulk of that was completed by April

21115th of 2022 and we um will have incorporated that in the design of our Oracle financial services package and so that will be completed March of 2026. And Mr. McCall has the next item. Thank you, George. Uh, excuse me. As you notice here, we have an asterk next to finding five. What does the asterk mean? That means that was a repeat. And of course, I'm saying that to tell you that before any of you were here on the deis and before any of us were here in these seats here, uh, this finding uh, was was discovered. And of course what are we doing to correct it? Of course at the time there was an independent uh review and approval were not being conducted at the time uh when uh payroll transactions or certain personnel transactions

212were taking place and that resulted in overpayment of six individuals that uh resulted in a total of $70,000 uh a little over $70,000. Since then that has been completed September 15th of 2020. And of course you hear the recurring theme about the ERP system that of course uh is uh with the anticipation of the automation uh processes will take place uh with the implementation particularly for HR on July 1st of 2025. Uh so findings uh six through nine that were documented in um the appendix of our 2020 Oh yeah, I'm good. Um our our 2020 uh audit report um were all based on um our um technology infrastructure uh through the recovery from the cyber attack that occurred um about 5 days after that report was released. Uh we were able to address um by

213predominantly removing all of the aspects of the findings that were present um in our recovery efforts. Um we have um since that time engaged in um frequent rigorous penetration testings um about every 3 months we do a new penetration testing and um we've also engaged in um our cyber insurance um through MAB. The reertification of that actually required MAB to come and uh place devices on our network to do thorough um uh reporting on our um uh infrastructure. And uh and when they came back with their findings, we only had uh one that was um about a piece of documentation needed to be added, but that was the only substantive finding they had uh during that. our penetration testings that we've been running have not come back with any substantive finding over the last three.

214So those all added to the um the documentation we provided to the office of legislative audit uh to allow them to understand our movements. Um because of Baltimore County's ransomware incident uh cyber attack incident um the office of legislative audit has now started to redact all IT findings and all subsequent audits. So if for example you look at the most recent one they've done in a school system you may find the number of findings that a school system has in their IT department but you will not see details of it because uh there was a uh concern by OA that uh the findings as advertised were a roadmap that would allow for bad actors um uh compromise systems. So as a result of our incident uh subsequent um reports will not have detail of that

215effect. Um the responses that we did provide back uh fell under the same category of uh privileged information about cyber security presence. So that's why we have not provided directly what they were. Um and but in a very high level I can say that based on the report that we we did uh back in um in December of 20 one and um the data we were provided uh OA was satisfied with our responses to those. Uh and so with that um Dr. Dr. Gibble elected to have me also present that uh there's a transportation finding uh that we completed in on September 15th that was based on um uh the way that we were doing routing and the way that we were doing routing software and uh in our recovery from our uh cyber attack.

216Uh that was something that we stood back up in a way that addressed this cons this concern. And Mr. service. Yes. Uh the last finding 11 uh related to uh health care claims and as you may or may not know uh we and county government are self-insured for health care, which means that we pay the bills and we have a third party administrator that processes the claims. And um the uh of course the annual claims in this year of 2019 were $152.2 million. They're up to about $200 million for next year. And uh they asked us to ensure uh that these claims had been reviewed by a third party. And um in this intervening period uh the county government has undertaken that effort at least for prescription claims that it's really not something we can

217audit because we're sort of a subsidiary of the county government that that manages the whole process and vendor relationship. uh and so uh I have asked them to let us know when uh they plan to audit the medical claims portion of the program and we'll provide that information to the legislative auditor uh as soon as we have it. Um and the final page here is that um as I've said the auditor received this our information in March and granted uh that delay. Uh the next audit that begins in March of 26 uh will pick up from November of 20 through March of 26. And based on our experience, they'll be here till 2027. And hopefully most of us will be here to read that report when it comes out. Um, and as I said, it's

218it's it's meant to be aligned with the ERP project, which is really the source data that the auditors will need to work from. Thank you, gentlemen. Any questions or discussion from board members? Miss Dominowski. Yes. Um I think you know what I'm going to ask, but uh I think this is where my concern comes in with the government taking over our alignment as far as health insurance is that now we don't know how to check this because we have to rely on the county government to to be that third proprietor. Do what I mean. Why can't we have access to that so that we can look over it too? Well, um I have asked and uh it will cost us the money. In other words, you have to hire a third party auditor, a claims

219auditor, and I'm sure that's how the county approached this with their prescription claims audit. Um, if that's something that we wish to undertake as a system, uh, we would need to identify the funds and and possibly use the county's vendor, um, and make sure that they're willing to share that data with us. They, you know, to county government, we are the department of education. We and and uh we would need to work cooperatively, but I'm sure the cost would be ours, right? I mean, it is ours. We still have to we pay the bills, but we essentially don't really see line by line what we're paying for at the moment. No, we don't. The county has that data. They hire uh Bolton Partners uh and Bolton Partners recommends additional contractors to do the audits. Um

220so uh if if the board wishes to pursue that, they can work with the superintendent and then we in turn can work with the county benefits office to see if that could be accomplished. Um I'm sure it will be many hundreds of thousands of dollars, but um if they're, you know, if you're willing to fund it and the county's willing to cooperate, it can be done. I mean, I'm not trying to make light of this situation. There's a lot of money in healthcare. It costs a lot of money and when we don't get to see the competing bids, we don't actually know if we're saving or not. So, that's why I brought it up. But, thank you very much. the county the county's procurement office does the bid and and they bring us in as

221participants. Okay, Miss Hen, thank you. U Mr. Sus, had we proceeded with the audit in March as scheduled, would we have been provided the audit providing the auditors with data from one system rather than two given that we are going to um Oracle in July? Well, everything currently is in the legacy system and it all gets moved over July one. And so we would then be running uh reports out of two different systems that had not been combined yet. and and that is really one of the major impediments to having starting this project as as it was scheduled. But either way and um earlier we discussed when we discussed the contract that we will continue to move forward with data for calendar I believe calendar year 25 in two systems. So whether we did the

222audit in March of this year as scheduled or whether we got the year extension, which we know we did, we would still be running reports for calendar year 25 out of two systems. Correct. Is that an accurate statement? Yes. And and uh while we the other so the other in addition to the data, we also have an entirely new chart of accounts in Oracle. So, we'd be using different account numbers for the same activities. Um, and uh, a lot of the reports that are in Oracle are still being constructed on the financial services piece. The payroll and human resource reports are in place. So, some of the reports won't even aren't even available yet until 26. So between March and June 30th, I guess we would not have been able to provide the auditors everything

223they need because it's a nine-month process, right? At least. Yes. And Mrs. Hen, to to tack on to that, um the level of effort that comes with this, uh we're currently occupying um some of our key staff members in both of these offices up to 60% of their current day. Uh and that's for the implementation. Um and what uh Mr. Sarah and I and and Mr. McCall can all speak to is the level of effort that it takes to uh also entertain the audit. Uh so we're talking about uh setting aside office space with they have full-time dedicated staff that come on site. Um when presented to the office of legislative audit what we were doing there was a mutual agreement that the level of effort would extend the audit beyond even where they wanted

224to be based on the amount of work we were currently undertaking with the transition and the work that the audit would add to us. So um this was uh us asking but them also agreeing that they didn't want to and and I don't want to use a lower level term to it but waste their time by waiting for us to generate reports as we were focusing on a $26 million project. They didn't feel that it would be fiscally responsible of us to undertake that level of effort and also try to bring them on board. Um so u the added benefit as Mr. Sarah was speaking about with the transition to this data. Um, auditing is inherently expensive when you undertake it of yourself. Um, we will gain the benefit of having transition to the new

225ERP system by the time this office audit starts and the state of Maryland will then audit the data within that. So, we'll actually be gaining the benefit of basically a free audit of how our data moved in. So there is a an underlying inherent benefit to BCPS for a free audit of how our data was transferred. No, it it makes perfect sense and I appreciate you answering my questions. Um as a board member, I would have appreciated a heads up before we sought the extension just from um a communications perspective. But I really appreciate your time here tonight and thank you for answering my questions. You're welcome. We would have appreciated a heads up. We just got a letter, you know, March 1st saying we'll be there in 3 weeks. So, it that is a

226true statement. It was a bit uh of a surprise. Okay. Thank you. On a I'm sorry, Miss J. Hello. I just have one quick question. So, could you explain? So when a process is marked complete but like automation isn't done, are there any like routine checks to make sure those fixes were still working as the ERP was rolling out or was the audit just or once it was fixed in 2021 or 2022? Was that it? So the the referenced automation that is to go live on March of 26. Um so there is something we've put in place that was uh effective and I I apologize I don't have the date right in front of me. uh but uh Mr. Saras uh spoke to we have included that requirement in the requirements we've given to our

227ERP vendor so that they know how to build the system appropriately and it will go live in March of 26. So um with all of our uh ERP implementations we always do enduser acceptance testing so that the end users sit down to make sure that the workflows that were documented over to our vendor are appropriate and are working. So in that way that's how we will verify that that automation is completed within the specification that we want. Yeah. The the feature that we are looking to implement is a three-way match between an invoice and re uh a receipt of goods and an authorization to pay. We currently do that manually with lots of uh scanned and email documents and live signatures and that's the part that we will automate um connecting you know the warehouse

228the schools uh the accounts payable and the uh uh cashier dispersement process so that everything is documented and is will be much easier to audit and all of those documents will be electronic whereas now we've got boxes full of paper and people at a scanning machine and it's very difficult. Thank you. So the next item on the agenda is the report on the progress of the enterprise resource planning system and for that I call on Mr. Saras, Mr. McCall I think and Mr. Korn. So gentlemen, proceed. We can change seats if you'd like. No, no, just go. Okay. Um, so um so uh this this initiative to uh put in place the enterprise resource planning or henceforth known as ERP. Um we are uh underneath of the superintendent's um um uh pillars of infrastructure and

229we're we're looking to build efficiency, effective and uh responsive systems that are reliable um for the smooth operations of BCPS. Uh this is all underpinned by um our 2020 event that caused our our current ERP system to really experience some some massive impact. And so we are looking to rebuild that efficiency that we have with this new system. Um uh on the next slide we'll see that um we've reframed and this was the slide lifted from the last presentation that was done to the board about the ERP just basically what an ERP system encompasses. Uh and so basically we're using the Oracle platform. It is uh for um the business processes that we use. you'll see that it deals with all of our human capital management, our fiscal, our procurement, and our budgeting. So, those

230are our three big um uh or excuse me, four big areas that we would uh talk about. There are some smaller subpoints um that I I won't read through for you, but they're they're listed here, and it's basically everything to do with our finances, the the way that we hire people, the way that we we procure things, the way that we inventory things. That's our ERP system. Okay. Our overall status, we are in multiple phases. Um, and so as we were speaking about uh with the time and intention of the work, we started with the uh phase one and two, which was the HR and payroll system. In many systems, HR and payroll are tied together. Uh, in our system, they are in two different divisions, but it works seamlessly together. And as Mr. Sarah

231alluded to as well. We also redid our chart of accounts which is the foundation of what we did. These are on time and to be completed. Um that July 1 go live date is when the vast majority of all of BCPS will see uh the ability to say log into employee self-service and things of that nature. Uh we have a soft go live for the uh HR team and the payroll team a little bit earlier in in mid June so that they can get prepped for that first payroll. Um we have started phase three which is our finance aspect. We started that uh this month. Uh and so what that basically I'm sorry started that last month and uh forgot it rolled into May. Uh we started in April and we've moved in. Um and

232so currently um the uh HR team is seeking to wrap up. The uh finance team is uh spinning up and the IT team is now double encumbered but we have bandwidth to support that. those activities began on time and we are projecting to go live of March of 26. Um so here's our implementation timelines. July 1, we are h uh we have in place our HR chart of accounts, our staff selfservice, uh the benefits packages, payroll, recruiting, onboarding, the ADP uh W2 tax uh pieces, our um absence management, time and labor. Uh this also includes employee selfservice. Um and so the go live of April 1st or the end of March um as the final implementation we're looking to get our general ledger done our accounts payable accounts receivable fixed assets cash management expenses purchasing

233uh budgeting um supply our supplier portals uh self-service for purchasing uh and our planning and budgeting and our narrative reporting. Um all of those things are what we're putting in place. Those are the workflows that are encompassed by both our our finance group and our HR group. Um in addition to that, we are working with uh our implementation vendor AS which was was approved by the board um to have postgo live supports as uh this is a new system to BCPS. So as we come up to speed, there's a lot of work that that needs to be undertaken. So we're working with the vendor to do some intensive vendor support for 3 months after each go live. So uh we will go live July 1. We will have all of the month of July, all

234the month of August and all the month of September where the vendor team that was working with us is here to support us. The reason why that is so important is because we actually have two payrolls that we have to start. The 12-month employees start in July and the 10-month employees start in September, August, September time frame. So, we wanted that vendor support during critical points. One of the most important things that we can do is make sure that our staff is paid appropriately. Okay. Um, we're then engaging our vendor in managed services which will be about a two-year um service package that they'll have afterwards where they will give us um some elevated uh ability to call help desks and get support on the on the processes that's working. Um we have um Oracle

235training that we are continuing with all of our internal staff and uh we're also engaging our vendor in something called um testing as a service. Uh Oracle comes out with quarterly patches. Those quarterly patches uh sometimes will run the risk of breaking our automations or breaking our integrations or whatever they might be. So, um, for a very reasonable fee, uh, our vendor, our implementation vendor, um, will take our build and run the patches against that build to verify and provide us with reports of anything that needs to be addressed. So, um, on the next slide, this is, um, a little bit of our qualitative, um, data. Nope. Yep. Sorry, I'm one ahead. Um, so, um, Mr. McCall and, uh, Mr. Saras are going to break my stride a little bit and, uh, speak to their

236two boxes. I can mop up. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. Uh, first of all, I just want to say thank you to the board for actually, um, approving the funds to move forward with this Oracle project and also thank Dr. Rogers publicly as well for actually saying, "Okay, we really need to fix HR." And we started with HR where typically we would probably would have started with finance first but then going with HR was something that was proven to be um impactful. And of course the last thing I want to say before I'd be remiss without saying it, thank you to not only the team but particularly HR for the work that they've been doing uh day in and day out the countless hours that they've been doing to uh to move this

237project forward. So as we see here the u process for with uh applying into HR or even applying for positions which you're currently in the system uh will be done through Oracle. Um it is also we have through onboarding and offboarding will also be a process that will that's been will be implemented through Oracle as well with automations and workflows. We also will be able to uh do things more seamlessly and efficiently with the integrations with Oracle uh so that we can avoid the overpayment of employees. Uh as far as payroll goes, the the biggest advantage for us will be electronic timekeeping. Last year we went live with UKG for the ASME employees, the hourly employees who are not office-based but access modernized time clocks uh stationed throughout the system. And so for uh this

238year, July 1 and forward, we'll have a web-based time clock for the salaried uh and professional teachers and uh the office-based clericals. Um, so that will complete the transition for timekeeping. And you may remember uh when we discussed the single audit, a number of those findings were missing time sheets because they're on paper in boxes and they couldn't be located. So, this is going to address a number of issues, uh, including hopefully making it easier for employees. Um, and moving the entire system to a rears is also part of the scheduling, which will mean that when you get your check, you're not really getting paid in advance. You're getting paid for the work you've actually completed. and your leave uh usage and acral records will be up to date when you get that payroll. Uh

239you know when people separate it takes uh two to four weeks before we can close out their and pay out their leave balances. Um and so we think uh that this is going to address a number of of issues that we've dealt with, modernize us, move us into uh sort of the industry standard of pay in the rears and um better recordkeeping and and so finally over overarching um that uh impact all of our staff. Uh so we will still uh utilize an employee self-service. uh we are adding a benefit that uh uh BCPS has done single sign on in in a way that will allow us when an employee separates to provide us with a personal email address that they will then be able to tether to their employee um record. So they will

240be able to self-service even after separation to uh get things like previous um payubs or previous W2s. Um in addition uh we are spinning up um the Oracle HR help desk which we have been using uh a help desk system for our um retirees and for folks in benefits so they can submit tickets to get um to get help which will allow individuals to self-service and request things in a in a ticketed documented system so that uh they can be routed to the correct place. So uh ne on the next slide uh this is our qualitative uh stance of um what the staff has been doing. Um I cannot stress how labor intensive this has been. Um HR and payroll have gone through this the first uh in the first pass and they have worked

241diligently and tirelessly. These are some of the u documentations of things that they've done. They've got a countdown board. They've had a um a um kind of a encouragement board to keep everybody moving. So that we we kept moving in a in in mass. Um you can see there are several pictures of the the team uh right across the hall here collaborating to do endtoend testing. Um we've been utilizing um the uh employee development center, the EDC to bring people on staff so they can do endtoend testing from department to department, office to office. And so it has been a huge effort and a huge collaboration. Um on this final slide, these are some examples of communications that have been sent out frequently to staff so that people know what's coming. Um a lot of

242communications around pay and a rears options for receiving pay advances to get over that first arars for the salaried employees. Um there has been um an an abundance of communication in multiple facets. We've used school messenger to send messages out. We've posted in our newsshub. We've placed every message we could in any way possible. Worked with our associations to make sure that they're messaging out. So with all of that, I want to stress we are on time to deliver the HR system on July 1 with that soft go live in June for internal staff and we have started on time and are projected to finish on time for the the finance package that will go live April 1st concluding in the end of March with all of that. So, first thank you for that very

243detailed presentation and all the work that you're doing to put this huge um system, this huge undertaking in effect. So, we appreciate all of that work. Are there any questions or comments? Mr. McMillan, Mr. Saras, the payment and a rears piece. back in the day when we when we offered 10-month employees the 12-month pay and there was an issue when they were getting paid and it it appeared it was a delay there. Does that take care of that? Well, uh I I hope so. Um so this year um the last paycheck for 10-month teachers is going to be issued on June 20th. and um excuse me 26 and then the three weeks will pass. uh one week uh two two of those weeks will be to put them in a rears and then in the

244third week they'll get a paycheck for 5 days and then they will get an advance for uh to make up the additional 5 days and then they'll be uh to make them whole for that transition period and then they'll continue to be paid every two weeks but it'll be two weeks uh in for for time worked previously two weeks previously. So, but I'm not sure if I know are we talking about what happened two years ago when we first shifted to there was a there was a lag there and people that made that switch over didn't get paid in a timely manner. Well, I um I worked on that system, but when it went live, I wasn't still here. So, I'm just not able to answer that specific question. But I can do some I

245was just curious research because that was a concern. People weren't willing to go, you know, they wanted to go 12 months, but then again, when they when they looked at the time lag on when they were going to get paid, they went, "Wait a minute, I can't do this." Oh well the way I was just kid this year we're offering in advance because of the aarage but when we initially did the system uh the reserve pay would be taken out of every check starting in se September and then that would accumulate until June 26 of the following year and then two weeks later you'd start to collect that reserve. So, and that's the way we've set it up in Oracle for the new system. So, if there was a delay of some sort, I'm I

246just am not it's not in the design of the system. It may have been a an error at the time and I'll see what I can find out. You know much more than I do about this. Thank you. Okay. You're welcome, Miss Fong. Let's do this. Okay. So, for the support um that we're going to have post, right? Is there going to be any type of vendor support though kind of as a pre since we are doing some internal um rollouts? So, will we have some vendor support during that time as well to maybe address any issues before we get to the go live? M I I want to make sure you said pre-supports, right? Yeah. Okay. like pre right before it's so if it's the April 1st I'll go with this July 1st so

247July 1st 2025 are we going to have something prior to that for vendor support so yeah so the that that support that we're we're um we're going to utilize uh right now we the vendors are are meeting with our staff every day we have imple implementers every day they're working through um so we've we've done um end toend testing to make sure that the workflows go we've done uh user acceptance testing which is our staff making the the the thing do go through its paces while the vendor was there then our staff was feeding back to the vendor this worked this and I'll use the term that they use it this failed then the vendor would go back and correct it then we would rerun the process so that support that we're getting currently with

248this implementation which is very intensive very uh proactive and and consistent the thing that we're utilizing here is we're taking the same team that our staff has been used to working with and we're keeping them on instead of releasing them back to A to go to work on other projects. They'll stay with us for three additional months. So the faces and the talent that we've grown accustomed to will be with us as we transition. So to your to your point, we we have huge vendor support during implementation. The same folks will be there the minute we flip the switch and will stay with us stay with us to solve anything that may come up. Is that that's a great plan. Thank you. Thank you. And in fact, today we actually had an an HR staffing

249training at EDC and there were AS folks there to uh to support us doing that training so that uh we once we like Jim said once this flip is the uh switch is flipped, we're ready to roll out and they've been there pretty much every day. And and to to add one point to what Mr. McCall just added, "It's important to note that the vendor was there to support us today, but his staff were providing training." So, his staff were able to not only know what to do, but a able to redeliver for others to to learn. So, that's that's the level of of intention we've brought forward uh with internal staff to make sure that they are ready for this. Okay. Thank you very much. Oh, Miss Booker Dwire. Um, just two questions. So

250when I look at the um April 1st 2026 the under the planning and budgeting under the financials is there a school facing like will principles be able to do their budget here in this system and it'll roll up to central office so m Miss Barder the the budget planning uh will be very similar to what we're doing what we have now where there is an interface where end users so I manage a budget uh as well as some of my staff have and so they will go in, they will do their their appropriations, their allocations, they will adjust their numbers. Um, and so that budgeting will be accessible to anyone who controls a central office level budget. And I and I say that because uh school activity funds are something different, right? But if if

251you are allocated funding from uh the central, you would have uh the interface into this to to do budget. So speaking specifically to whether or not a school facing or not it it just if if they have a budget they would go into the budgeting tool. Okay. Okay. And would uh at the school level would they be able to go in and see you know the number of times their a teacher was absent in the building and all. So one of the one of the big changes that Mr. Sarah spoke about is and I I want to be clear um Montgomery County in their implementation they also moved past paper time sheets as well just recently. So it wasn't like we were so so far out of that. But the paper time sheet basically um

252and we've used the term paper process so that we can get people down to what the process looks like. So when I fill out my time sheet, however I do it electronically or not, my supervisor has to approve that that time is accurately input. So that's where the supervisor at the school level like say the principal would go in and make sure that you know time was submitted appropriately for our salaried staff. the time and attendance web clock is basically going to look like I need to have a day off. So, I'm going to go in and request a day off and then then that will be approved through workflows. Whereas with our ESPC staff that are hourly, they will have hourly input that they will take care of. Um, and our apps me staff,

253just so I can circle it all the way out, are still remaining in our UKG ready Kronos uh time clock. They have very complicated rules that needed to have a little more robust. Thanks. Sure. So we look forward to the next update whenever that may Did somebody miss J? Hello go ahead. All right. So just to make sure the ERP data can monitor trends like staffing overtime absences and vacancies. So that way we can use that for further staffing decisions from the top bottom approach. That is correct. Okay. And then that means like principles won't ne you were talking about central office funding. So like you were talking about specific school funding. So central office staff will be able to track their budgets and their requisitions in real time but it won't happen at like

254a administration level. No it will happen. It will sorry that specification was very very narrow. Um uh many schools have school activity funds. So for example if you buy a uniform or if you you know there is funding that the schools manage in and of themselves and there's a separate process by which they do that. When I say central office funds, what I mean is there is Baltimore County public schools assigned to Baltimore County public schools account strings that are assigned to different groups and so that anyone who has one of those assigned to them would be able to monitor their spending, their incumbrances, their um allocations in real time. Okay. Thank you. Sure. So again, thank you for all this information. We look forward to the next one. Mr. Korns, I don't think I've

255ever seen you so excited about something. So, so I know your enthusiasm, passion truly um are obvious. The next item on the agenda is information which includes the final update on school legislative key school legislation. The next part is um do any board members I'm not going to go around. If you have a comment or consideration for agenda item, please raise your hand. Miss Booker Dwire. So, the Baltimore County Education Justice Table uh shared a resolution that they wanted the board to consider, and so at some point, could we um put that on the agenda for the board to see and weigh in on? Yes. And I had shared that with um the superintendent recently. Thank you, Miss Dominowski. I just wanted to um also say um happy educators appreciation day. We appreciate all of

256our educators out there and everything that you do for our students in our classrooms and in our school buildings. And also happy Mother's Day. Oh yeah, Miss Stleski, thank you. Um just a quick um thank you and shout out to I believe it was Dr. Pamela Rubble from uh Ches a parent from Chespake Terrace Elementary School for expressing her concerns um about emotional uh supports for the school and I'm sure BCPS staff members will follow up with you and follow up with the school and your concerns and to Dumbart and student Lucas Hike for speaking on behalf of so many students regarding stress levels during um this um test intensive time of the year. And again, thank you to Dr. Ferrron for advocating for um incorporating more values and patriotism in uh school instruction. Thank

257you, Mr. McMillian. Can at some point we talk about later school starts. I mean, that's been out there a little bit. There was some legislation through the state uh this year. I just like to hear an update on what the state's talking about and you know if that's something that we would consider you know maybe a uh an investigative kind of group looking at for the future down the road you know couple years. Okay. Thank you. Okay. The next is announcements. Um the the last item on the agenda is announcements. The board will hold a public hearing on the FY2027 capital budget virtually on Wednesday, May 14th. That's next week, at 6:30 p.m. Sign up will be through the online registration. Again, that's a virtual meeting on the FY27 capital budget. Our board's next meeting

258will be held on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. I want to thank staff for all their presentations. I know this is a late evening and you have work tomorrow morning. So, thank you for joining us tonight. The meeting is now adjourned.