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Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 9/14/21
The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 was streamed live on ccboe.com and aired live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOs Channel 12. The meeting will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs .
The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes. Individual names are spelled to the best of my ability.
Executive session – 11 a.m.
Call to order – 1 p.m.
Superintendent’s update to the Board - Report
Board Member updates- Lukas - Attending sporting events; Town hall by VanHollen; Loss of Joe Gressis and a scholarship will be set up in his name, more information forthcoming.
- Herd - Thank you teachers & Staff; safeguard athletic programs by everyone following protocals; disappointed students for cancelling homecoming, need an option; Eric Valentine appointed alternate student board member.
- Hancock - Attended Piccowaxen and Mitchell on opening day. Shout out to Margolis and Jackson. Middle School Redistricting Hearing; Joe Gressis will be missed.
- Battle-Lockhart - Welcome back; Visit Davis and JC Parks on opening day. Thank you to volunteers on Redistricting Committee. Attended Leadership Institute and board retreat.
- Brown - Leadership Institute; Redistricting Hearings and disappointed in lack of attendance; visited Mattawoman, Westlake, Berry & Somers.
- McGraw - Thank you to all staff for a smooth opening; visited Lackey, Indian Head and Hanson; thank you to all orgs that provided backpacks.
- Wilson - Librarians of the year recognition, congratulations; Open Meetings Act training
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) update - Report
Opening of schools - Report
- Abell
- Elementary students required to wear mask in gym? No, not when doing exercising
- COVID Dashboard, #'s by school? Working towards that goal but not yet. It doesn't reflect an actual picture because # of cases vs community spread is more actual.
- Case #'s go too high, shut down affected schools? Don't see that happening as of yet
- Quarantine students still attending after school functions, games, and practices? Quarantine is quarantine but CCPS cannot police all students at all games etc. We need the parents and community help.
- McGraw
- Transportation Issues? Short on drivers, still hiring, require CDL, background check, drug screening, 3 day new driver training, doesn't happen quickly. Long car rider lines contribute.
- Homecoming alternatives? They were discussed such as an outside dance but logistics of outside, unvaccinated, COVID positive attendees with dancing close together, etc. it's just not feasible.
- Lukas
- Layered defense, everyone needs to wash hands, get vaccinated, wear a mask, stay more than 3 feet apart
- Virtual Option similar to statewide? - some districts have increased spaces/seats. Difficulty in staffing additional seats. We are staying where we are now. Surprised by the number that applied and the number that turned it down when offered. Virtual options seats still are NOT full. Cost is around $1M
- Battle-Lockhart
- two kids, both vaccinated, one contracted COVID. What should happen? The one that contracted it is quarantined/isolated and the other one is not.
- Staff/teacher is not being notified of COVID positive but students are? Staff is always notified first before students, parents, community.
- Continuity, QR Codes being used in all schools? Will share with all.
- Student Services Measurement? Future agenda item
- Proximity Learning? Staff is supporting at this time until Proximity learning begins on the 20th.
- Herd
- Homecoming, the longer we wait the colder it will get and having it outside will not be an option. Students would rather have SOMETHING with rules and guidelines in place than nothing at all,
- Hancock
- Support for having some kind of homecoming even if it is postponed.
- Thank you for having kids in the classroom.
- Brown
- general public doesn't have a clue as to what all is involved with having students back in school, Don't get your information from social media, use a reliable source. Go to our website.
Mental health - Report
Compensation study for support staff - Report
Project status update - Report
FY 2022 comprehensive maintenance plan - Presentation & DRAFT Plan
Superintendent recommendation on middle school redistricting - Report
Board policy 8000 and 9000 series - 8000 Report & 9000 Report
Board goals - Report
Unfinished business
New businessMotion to accept the Suspension of Board Policies by McGraw; Second by Herd
Yes = Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson; No= Abell
- Herd - Athletics, protocols, field trips, etc.
- Battle-Lockhart - Continuity of Learning Plan and Proximity Learning
Public forum – 6 p.m. - Preregistered speakers only (names spelled to the best of my ability)
- Emma French - Student Laplata - wants homecoming; very upset it was cancelled. referenced petition with 724 petitions. Other counties get to have it.
- Rianna Alexander - Parent and employee; daughters entering kindergarten. Children are walking germ magnets and parents treat school as free daycare. I'm scared, for me and my children. Go hybrid. Go to A/B days. I shouldn't have to risk my life by going to work.
- Melissa Carpenter - employee; exhausted; planning, emails, rearranging rooms to accommodate social distancing. cannot imagine classrooms with 28, I only have 23. But after we comment tonight, we have to leave. Why cant spacing for the classrooms mirror the board room.
- Will Lewis - Teacher St. Charles; Thank you for keeping all the staff at CCPS safe. Admin at school stress the importance and thankfulness and all the staff. Why couldn't some of he COVID funds be set aside to provide COVID leave for staff. There is no code for COVID leave contracted at school. If we feel ill we are told to stay home, but that is our own leave. Staff has to use their leave when their own kids are quarantined and due to childcare issues. Implement a COVID leave policy for staff.
- Deron Tross - Thank you to Jason Stoddard and staff for their presentation and to teachers on the front line. Studied budget and there is a $20M surplus. Teachers are purchasing water bottles with their own money. That is shameful. Also, lack of security at Thomas Stone vs St. Charles football game last week. There was a hiccup that was taken care of but it is shameful CCSO was not there. Security MUST be at our afterschool events.
- Dottery Butler Washington - not against anyone that wants to send their students to school but extend the same courtesy to those who want to stay home and virtual learn. Teacher shortage, bus driver storage, loss children, etc. Home school staff is overwhelmed and the program is lacking. Teachers dying from COVID. Putting kids back in unsafe classrooms. Commend decision to keep schools closed last year. Go back to virtual learning.
- Brenda Dozier - concerned about granddaughter. If she is sent home due to COVID will she have the opportunity to go back to virtual learning. I have medical conditions, i have anxiety, i have stress, i'm confused why students were forced back into in person learning before they have the option to get the vaccine.
- Ms. Small - parent, we will not be gracious and be kind if CCPS is not working with us. Virtual learning is low quality. Teachers are dying. Children are getting lost. Board member who said the public is clueless is dead wrong, and why ask about homecoming when COVID numbers are rising. Virtual learning application and process is lacking. What happened to Phase 1 COVID funds and what is planned for Phase 2. Disturbed from meeting today.
- Sylvia Asameda - teacher at Jenifer Elementary and i want to talk about school bus safety. went through bus safety rules and then repeated in Spanish.
- Zachary Montanero - Primary Care provider at Naval Base. When are we going to draw the line in the sand and go back to distance learning . The chunk that was offered virtual learning is pathetic. I've been treating COVID positive patients since the beginning of this pandemic. Asked for protocols. What happens when kids get runny nose, Only test or quarantine one symptoms are apparent. Reconsider distance learning and offer to everyone.
- Shauna Marks - Dr. Navarro and board members are out of touch, no support from CCPS for homeschoolers. CCPS has access to resources and funds and needs to distribute them to homeschoolers. Be more attentive to families temporarily home schooling. We need to do better.
- Jacquita Taylor - lives in Hughesville, 3 kids at Laplata HS and special needs. They struggled with in person learning but excelled at virtual learning. Cited # of students vaccinated. Expand and modify virtual learning to include the entire curriculum. Have all classes recorded and uploaded to Synergy. Now homeschooling all of them. They were infected already when they toured the school. Hire a consultant to advise and implement technology in classrooms with air purifiers. Wants a formal response via formal communication.
- Candace Ladd - CCPS can not safely implement the safety of our students. Minimal parent involvement with reopening. As of today, CCPS continues to provide inadequate transportation. and we are still in a pandemic. The lack of support is very frustrating and communication is non existent. 4 year old left on school bus and almost forgotten. The stress and fear for a parent. Request inclusion of parent in decisions.
- Ashanae Tavia - 504 student and immuno compromised and forced to go back to school causing high stress and anxiety. 504 plan not being followed. Forced to choose between health and academics. Need to be in extracurricular activities. students arent scanning QR codes like they are suppose to. CCPS is not doing anything to help me.
- Adawei? - Need more online classes for higher level learners, currently only offering on grade level classes. quoted COVID stats from CCHD. Open online learning to advanced population.
- Leisha Dennis - parent of Middle schooler. CCPS require vaccinations or weekly testing to all staffs. Biden initiated a plan for all businesses over 100 employees. PG, Howard, and Montgomery already require it. Should also be required for all athletics. More than reasonable ask.
Action items
- Minutes
Motion to accept the Minutes from Executive Session on 5/24/21 by McGraw; Second by Brown
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson
Motion to accept the Minutes from Executive Session on 6/10/21 by Brown; Second by Hancock
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson
Motion to accept the Minutes from Executive Session on 6/15/21 by Brown; Second by Hancock
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson
Motion to accept the Minutes from Meeting 8/10/21 by Hancock; Second by Brown
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd
Motion to accept the Minutes from Board Retreat 8/16/21 by Abell; Second by Brown
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd
Motion to accept the Minutes from Redistricting Hearing 8/23/21 by Lukas; Second by Hancock
Yes = Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd; Abstain = Abell
Motion to accept the Minutes from Redistricting Hearing 8/24/21 by Brown; Second by Hancock
Yes = Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd; Abstain = Abell
Motion to accept the Minutes from Redistricting Hearing 9/7/21 by Brown; Second by Abell
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd
- Personnel
Motion to accept Personnel by Abell; Second by Hancock
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson
Motion to accept the the FY2023 CIP by Lukas; Second by McGraw
Yes = Abell, Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson
- Recurring resolutions
Motion to accept Hispanic Heritage Month by Lukas;
Second by Brown
Yes = Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson ; Abstain = Abell- American Education Week
- American Freedom Week
- Inclusion and Diversity Resolutio
- Black History Month
- Gifted and Talented Education Month
- Career and Technology Education Month
- National School Counseling Week
- Read Across America
- Women’s History Month;
- Fine and Performing Arts Month
- Month of the Young Child
- National Student Leadership Week
- Teacher Appreciation Week
- Administrative Professionals Week
- Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week
- National Physical Education and Sport Week
- Washington Post Principal of the Year Awards Program
- Washington Post Teacher of the Year Awards Program
- Maryland Teacher of the Year (MTOY): Charles County nominee
- Be the Difference Award
- Retirement Resolution
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Library week
Motion to accept the recurring resolutions by Hancock; Second by Brown
Yes = Battle-Lockhart, Brown, Hancock, Lukas, McGraw, Wilson, Herd; Abstain = Abell
Adjournment
