[14:43] Good morning everyone. At this time, I'd like to call the board of education

[14:46] meeting to order. As you can see, we do have a quorum present today. Can I have

[14:50] a motion and a second to approve today's board meeting agenda?

[14:54] » Motion. >> Motion by Mr. Smack.

[14:56] » Second. >> A second by Mr. Gordy. All those in

[14:58] favor? I. >> Any opposed? Thank you very much. And

[15:02] now can I have a motion to enter session under provisions of article 3-35B of the

[15:07] annotated code of Maryland for the following reasons. To discuss personal

[15:11] personnel matters section 3-305B1 I

[15:16] and discuss legal matters section 30-305B7

[15:21] and to discuss school safety section 3-305B10.

[15:26] So I need a motion and a second to enter into session.

[15:30] » Motion >> motion by Miss Cutlip and a second by

[15:33] Miss Mccomomas. All those in favor? >> Any opposed? We are now in close

[15:38] session.

[2:14:38] Good afternoon everyone. >> Good afternoon.

[2:14:43] » What a full house we have today. It's nice to see everybody here today. Um at

[2:14:47] this time I'd like to reconvene the board of education meeting. Uh today we

[2:14:50] had a closed session meeting that was held pursuant to general provisions of

[2:14:53] article 3-305B of the annotated code of Maryland to

[2:14:57] discuss personnel matters to discuss school safety and to and to um consult

[2:15:03] with council. During the closed session the board unanimously approved a

[2:15:07] contract with Ark Systems in the amount of $398,874.

[2:15:13] This funding is for a contract through the Stronger Connections grant. Today,

[2:15:18] Pastor Ken Ellson is with us from the uh Spence Church in Snow Hill, and he will

[2:15:25] lead us in today's invocation. Please remain standing for the pledge of

[2:15:28] allegiance.

[2:15:36] Let's pray together. Father in heaven, how thankful we are

[2:15:41] for this board of education, for this school system, and we thank you that

[2:15:44] they still see the need to open their sessions with prayer. Lord, we come to

[2:15:49] you today asking for your wisdom, for your guidance, and for your direction.

[2:15:53] And I pray that uh things would be done according to your will, for the best

[2:15:56] interest of our kids, for the best interest of those who work with our

[2:16:00] kids, and for this county. And so, Lord, we commit this time to you now. We pray

[2:16:05] in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen.

[2:16:10] To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it

[2:16:16] stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[2:16:21] for all. >> If if everyone could remain standing.

[2:16:27] First of all, I'd like to thank Pastor Ellington for coming and giving that

[2:16:31] invocation today. But um may I have a moment of silence to honor Aaron Taylor?

[2:16:38] She was a educational assistant at Cedar Chapel Special School. So we'd like to

[2:16:42] have a moment of silence, please. Thank you.

[2:16:51] Thank you very much. And Pastor Ellison, thank you for coming back and uh giving

[2:16:56] that lovely invitation. And you're welcome back any

[2:17:01] we know you're retiring but we want to have you back anytime you want to come

[2:17:04] back and give an invocation.

[2:17:09] Okay. And now I'm going to turn it over to our superintendent for the

[2:17:14] superintendent's monthly report.

[2:17:19] » Thank you, Mr. Ferrante. It is hard to believe that we are a little more than

[2:17:24] two weeks into the school year, but what a great start to our school year it has

[2:17:29] been. We officially welcomed our students back on August 31st, and I am

[2:17:34] incredibly proud of the successful opening of our schools. There is an

[2:17:38] extraordinary amount of work that goes into preparing for that first bell to

[2:17:42] ring. from our teachers and our school leaders to transportation to food

[2:17:47] service to custodial teams and maintenance teams, our technology staff,

[2:17:51] our support staff, and so many others. Um, to everyone who helped us ensure

[2:17:56] that our students walked into a school that was ready for them, thank you. You

[2:18:00] might see a little addition. We've added some slides because our student reps

[2:18:04] have done a great job of submitting some slides and we have slides for them. But

[2:18:07] we'll also have slides to accompany my reports from here on out just so that

[2:18:10] you can get some visuals of the things that we're talking about. One of my

[2:18:15] favorite traditions is our first day of school tour when our board of education

[2:18:18] members, our executive leadership team uh join me in visiting all 14 of our

[2:18:23] schools in one day. From the early morning arrivals at Pocamok Elementary

[2:18:28] to waving goodbye to Ocean City Elementary students uh and everywhere in

[2:18:32] between, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome our students, to

[2:18:36] thank our staff, to greet our families, and see firsthand the excitement that

[2:18:40] comes with new beginnings. This year, we added a little more reading into the

[2:18:44] journey. Several board members and executive team members join me in giving

[2:18:48] out books from the back seat to students along the way.

[2:18:51] » [snorts] >> I love this initiative because it makes

[2:18:54] our commitment to literacy tangible. A simple interaction, a student receiving

[2:18:59] a book and knowing that an adult believes that reading matters can have

[2:19:04] an impact far beyond that moment. And literacy has given us something to

[2:19:08] celebrate already this year. On September 8th, in conjunction with

[2:19:12] National Literacy Day, we announced that Pocamok Elementary School, Ocean City

[2:19:17] Elementary School, and Snow Hill Elementary School were named Bright

[2:19:21] Spots top schools in literacy by the 74, a nationwide nonprofit educational news

[2:19:28] organization. The recognition identifies schools whose students were

[2:19:32] outperforming expectations in reading. The phrase outperforming expectations is

[2:19:37] important to me. Our goal is not simply to celebrate where our students are

[2:19:42] today. It is to know every student by name, strength, and need and then

[2:19:47] provide them with instruction, intervention, encouragement, and

[2:19:51] opportunities that move children forward. Congratulations to the

[2:19:55] students, to the families, to the educators, and the entire school

[2:19:59] communities at Pocamok Snow Hill and Ocean City Elementary School. This is a

[2:20:04] national recognition that is certainly welld deserved. We also began the school

[2:20:09] year with some wonderful statewide attention. On August 31st, Maryland

[2:20:13] Matters published an in-depth feature examining Worcester County's academic

[2:20:17] success and the culture behind it. And during my interview, it was interesting.

[2:20:22] Um, I was one of the folks that he interviewed and the author uh of the

[2:20:26] article shared that this is not the type of article he writes, but he was so

[2:20:31] fascinated by the performance and work of our school district that he had to

[2:20:35] write an article outside of his normal articles that were just about politics.

[2:20:39] So, that was exciting. The article highlighted our students leading

[2:20:43] performance in both English and mathematics, but more importantly what

[2:20:46] makes Worester County special, and that is individual attention to students,

[2:20:51] experienced and committed educators, strong relationships, and a culture in

[2:20:57] which everyone who works in our schools understands that they have a role in

[2:21:01] educating our children. I was particularly pleased that the story

[2:21:05] captured something I say often and that is we are all educators. Whether you

[2:21:11] stand in front of a classroom, drive a school bus, prepare a meal, maintain a

[2:21:15] building, answer a phone, coach a team, or lead a school, you contribute to the

[2:21:21] experiences of our students every single day. Our success is never the result of

[2:21:26] one person or one group of people. It is the result of a culture built over many

[2:21:31] years by people who care deeply about our children. And I I would be remiss if

[2:21:36] I didn't say most of the people sitting in this room today for our Hall of Fame

[2:21:40] recognition um are exactly those same people that I'm talking about who over

[2:21:45] the years have created that culture of excellence and that wonderful student

[2:21:50] experience that our students have. So, thank you for being here today and thank

[2:21:53] you for all your contributions to our school system. Speaking of our students,

[2:21:57] the start of the school year also means that activities, athletics, clubs,

[2:22:01] performing arts, and other extracurricular activities are underway.

[2:22:06] Our sports teams began competing last week, and students throughout Worcester

[2:22:10] are once again finding ways to pursue all of their interests, develop their

[2:22:14] talents, and represent their schools with pride. Balancing academics with

[2:22:18] these commitments takes discipline, responsibility, and hard work. And I

[2:22:22] wish all of our students, coaches, advisors, directors, and staff who

[2:22:27] support them a wonderful year. These experiences are an important part of a

[2:22:31] well-rounded education, and I know that our students will continue to make us

[2:22:35] proud both inside and outside of the classroom. Finally, Worester County's

[2:22:40] story is going to reach an even broader audience very soon. On September 22nd, I

[2:22:45] will have the opportunity to sit down with a better learning podcast to talk

[2:22:49] about Wester County Public Schools. what makes our school system successful and

[2:22:53] the people and the practices behind that success. I'm looking [snorts] forward to

[2:22:57] sharing our story because our story is a story worth telling. And more

[2:23:01] importantly, our story belongs to all of us. We will be sure to share the episode

[2:23:06] with our community once it becomes available. As we move further into this

[2:23:10] school year, I hope that we hold on to all of that energy that we felt on

[2:23:14] August 31st. We have so much to celebrate, but we also know there is

[2:23:19] important work ahead. Our challenge is to take the culture, relationships, and

[2:23:24] commitment that we have made that have made Wister County successful and

[2:23:28] continue to push ourselves to be even better for every student who walks

[2:23:31] through our doors because every story matters and every child belongs. Thank

[2:23:36] you. Back to you, Mr. Ferrante. >> Thank you, Dr. Wallace. And

[2:23:39] [clears throat] now I'd like to turn it over to our student representatives who

[2:23:42] are here to give us their monthly reports from their respective high

[2:23:45] schools. And we're starting this month with Savannah from Pocamok High School.

[2:23:49] » Thank you, Mr. Ferrante.

[2:24:06] Thank you for letting me stretch you and challenge you asking you to do slides.

[2:24:09] So, thank you for your patience because they're going to have to trade off their

[2:24:12] iPads. >> Thank you, Mr. Ferrante. It has been an

[2:24:15] exciting start to the school year here at Pokemok High School, and we were

[2:24:18] truly getting off on the perfect foot. Our students and staff have jumped right

[2:24:22] into learning creativity, connection, and building the kind of friendships and

[2:24:26] experiences that make high school memorable.

[2:24:29] In Miss Chose art class, students showcase their creativity by

[2:24:33] incorporating unique patterns, meaningful details, and even even Bible

[2:24:37] verses into their artwork. Meanwhile, in the library, under Miss McCormack's

[2:24:41] guidance, students engaged with resources and curated a book selection

[2:24:44] for the English 10 unit, including a book tasting event exploring themes of

[2:24:48] power and freedom. And learning isn't stopping when the bell rings. Our

[2:24:53] afterchool academy is officially taking off with 10 activities designed to help

[2:24:56] students discover new interests, build skills, and make connections. From

[2:25:01] academic support and math momentum to Hudson's FitFam, gardening, sign

[2:25:05] language, morning weightlifting, K-pop critics, cool Eats, basketball, mock

[2:25:09] trial, and esports. There is truly something for everyone. Sessions will

[2:25:14] run from September 29th to December 10th, with most activities seeing Monday

[2:25:19] through Thursday from 3:00 to 4:45 p.m. and weightlifting getting an early start

[2:25:23] from 7:15 to 7:48 in the morning. From September 18th to the 20th, 26 Pokemoke

[2:25:31] students will visit Smith Island with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to study

[2:25:34] the Chesapeake Bay's health and future of islands like Smith and Tangier,

[2:25:39] engaging in activities such as mushmarking,

[2:25:42] marshmucking, canoeing, and crabbing. The data collected will be used in

[2:25:47] various science courses at PHS. Additionally, from September 24th to the

[2:25:51] 26th, seven Poke seniors will visit seven college campuses in the greater

[2:25:55] Philadelphia area with Miss Matthews and Dr. Finch to learn about the college

[2:25:59] process, meet current students, and explore campus differences. Of course,

[2:26:04] being a Warrior is about more than academics. We closed out an amazing

[2:26:08] first week with our annual club rush on September 4th, where students had the

[2:26:12] opportunity to choose from more than 20 clubs and organizations. Our mission is

[2:26:16] simple. 100% of Pokémon warriors plugged into something positive. Find your

[2:26:20] tribe, try something new, discover what you're good at, make connections, get

[2:26:24] involved. Being a warrior isn't just about showing up, it's about being part

[2:26:28] of it. And speaking of tribes, our tribe inductions were amazing. Students were

[2:26:32] placed into one of four tribes: Elevar, Integras, Vinceri, and Fortis. And of

[2:26:38] course, I have to give a special shout out to Foris, the green tribe.

[2:26:40] Obviously, the best tribe. As we say, four tribes, one school. and all the

[2:26:45] tribes are bringing the energy, the pride, and the warrior spirit. Our

[2:26:49] Warriors are also making us proud on the athletic field. On September 8th,

[2:26:53] volleyball earned an impressive 3-0 victory over Wycom High School, while

[2:26:57] field hockey dominated St. Michaels 8 to zero with goals from Cameron Parker,

[2:27:01] Khloe Daniels, Khloe Holland, Olivia Scorbot, and Autumn Rian. At the cross

[2:27:05] country meet hosted by Parkside at Salsbury City Park, Ryland George won

[2:27:09] the race with a time of 16 minutes and 32 seconds. The entire golf team has

[2:27:14] improved and team members have improved by 10 strokes or more. Congratulations

[2:27:18] to all fall sports. We are also proud to welcome the state board of education

[2:27:23] member, Mr. Chesterfield, along with our board of education members on September

[2:27:27] 1st as they visited our schools to welcome new students and staff back for

[2:27:31] what we know will be an amazing school year. Next week is community schools

[2:27:35] week. Under the leadership of Mr. Carlton Cartwright. We forg partnerships

[2:27:39] between community members, families, and community resources to ensure all

[2:27:43] students have what they need in order to learn and grow. Strong schools equal

[2:27:47] strong communities. As we continue this journey, we are grateful for the people

[2:27:51] who make these opportunities possible. Thank you to our board of education for

[2:27:55] your continued support of Poke High School and our students. We also want to

[2:27:59] give a special shout out to Miss Lines, Miss A, and Miss Crease for the support

[2:28:02] they provide our school's counseling department. And most importantly, our

[2:28:06] students. And finally, thank you to Dr. Rain, Dr. Finch, and Mr. Pastel for your

[2:28:10] continued support, leadership, organization, and dedication you bring

[2:28:14] to our school. It is an exciting time to be a Pokémon Warrior. We are learning,

[2:28:18] competing, creating, connecting, and finding our tribes. And we are just

[2:28:22] getting started. Go Warriors. Now on to Elena from Snow Hill High School.

[2:28:30] » [applause]

[2:28:49] » Thank you for bearing with me. Thank you, Savannah. Snowhole High School has

[2:28:53] launched the 202627 school year with a tremendous energy and enthusiasm and a

[2:28:58] shared commitment to excellence. From meaningful professional learning for

[2:29:02] staff to outstanding student and community engagement opportunities, the

[2:29:06] opening weeks of school have highlighted the strength of our Eagle community for

[2:29:09] sure. The excitement through the building has been evident as students,

[2:29:12] staff, families, and community partners have come together to create a positive

[2:29:16] and successful start to the school year.

[2:29:22] There you go. We begin the school year by welcoming our faculty and staff back

[2:29:27] for a day of professional learning and collaboration. During our first teacher

[2:29:30] workday, staff focused on strengthening connections between school and county

[2:29:34] initiatives in the WCPS five dimensions of teaching and learning framework.

[2:29:39] These discussions reinforce our collective commitment to highquality

[2:29:42] instruction, meaningful student engagement, and continuous growth for

[2:29:45] both educators and students. Building on that momentum, we were thrilled to host

[2:29:50] our annual Big Batch, which once again drew an outstanding turnout from

[2:29:54] students and families. Students visited the school to pick up schedules and

[2:29:58] iPads, meet their teachers, learn about clubs and extracurricular opportunities,

[2:30:02] and connect with community organizations. Events like the Big Bash

[2:30:06] play an important role in creating a strong sense of belonging, ensuring

[2:30:09] students begin the school year informed, supported, and excited. I know me and my

[2:30:13] friend Maddie had a blast. Another special highlight during the

[2:30:17] opening weeks of school was rising Eagles Day where freshman focused

[2:30:20] mentors played a critical role in welcoming our new students. These

[2:30:24] student leaders helped incoming freshmen navigate the building, answering

[2:30:28] questions and becoming familiar with school routines and expectations. Their

[2:30:31] willingness to serve a role as role models demonstrated the very best of

[2:30:35] Snow Hill High School and provided our freshmen with a warm and supportive

[2:30:38] introduction to the Eagle family. We also celebrate an excitement

[2:30:42] achievement for our school community as Miss Kirsten Conway, Worcester County

[2:30:46] Public Schools 2026 teacher of the year [snorts] received a brand new vehicle

[2:30:51] through the incredible generosity of the Herrick family of automotive

[2:30:55] dealerships. We are grateful for Herrick's continued partnership and

[2:30:59] commitment to recognizing and supporting excellence in education. Their

[2:31:02] generosity reflects the strong community support that makes Worester County such

[2:31:06] a special place to teach and learn. That spirit of community partnership was

[2:31:10] evident once again when Delm Marva Shorebirds welcomed Superintendent Dr.

[2:31:14] Nette Wallace and Miss Kirsten Conway, WCPS teacher of the year to a recent

[2:31:18] game. We also extended our sincere appreciation to First Financial Federal

[2:31:23] Credit Union for its general donation to Worcester County Public Schools.

[2:31:27] Partnerships like these strengthen opportunities for students and staff

[2:31:30] alike and reinforce the value our community places on education. We would

[2:31:35] also like to recognize Worester Gold, a consistent and valued supporter of

[2:31:38] Wester County students. Through ongoing financial assist, Worester Gold has

[2:31:43] helped students and families overcome economic challenges that might otherwise

[2:31:47] create barriers to success. Most recently, the organiz the organization

[2:31:52] gener generously donated school supplies for both students and staff, helping

[2:31:56] ensure everyone began the school year equipped with the tools they needed for

[2:31:59] success. Their unwaving unwavering dedication and generosity continues to

[2:32:04] make a meaningful and lasting impact on our school community. Another point of

[2:32:08] pride for Snowhill High School is the recognition of Coach Chris Atkins who

[2:32:12] was named the 2026 best youth coach in Wester County by Coastal Style

[2:32:16] Magazines. Coach Atkins amplifies the qualities of

[2:32:20] leadership, dedication, and sportsmanship that inspire student

[2:32:23] athletes to reach their full potential. The lessons of grit, discipline,

[2:32:27] teamwork, and perseverance that he instills in his athletes extend far

[2:32:31] beyond the wrestling mat and contribute to the overall growth and success of our

[2:32:35] school.

[2:32:39] As we reflect on the first weeks of school, it is clear that Snowhole High

[2:32:43] School is off to an exceptional start. We extend our sincere gratitude to our

[2:32:47] students and staff for their hard work, flexibility, and commitment to making

[2:32:50] the opening of school a resounding success. We also thank the Wester County

[2:32:55] Board of Education and the executive team for their continued support and

[2:32:58] partnership. Together, we are building on a strong foundation and look forward

[2:33:02] to a year filled with achievement, growth, and opportunities for every

[2:33:05] eagle to soar. The dedication of our students, staff, and families and

[2:33:09] community partners continues to de demonstrate what is possible when we

[2:33:13] work together toward a shared vision of excellence. And now on to Jaden with the

[2:33:17] report of Steven Decar.

[2:33:46] days. Days may be getting shorter, but the

[2:33:50] list of activities and events is getting longer at Steven Decar High School. Even

[2:33:55] before the official first day of school, Seahawks have been busy. First, many of

[2:34:00] our students dedicated countless of hours to volunteering in the community

[2:34:03] over the summer. Next, members of our theater and band programs mentored

[2:34:08] rising seahawks and worked on their craft throughout the

[2:34:12] summer, while members of both the National Honor Society and the National

[2:34:16] English Honor Society were on hand for tours and kindness during our annual

[2:34:20] freshman Seahawk day. We also administered well over 100 SAT exams

[2:34:26] during our Saturday administration in August and we are poised for a hundred

[2:34:31] more throughout the various Saturday administrations this school year.

[2:34:35] Lastly, members of our wonderful class of the 2027

[2:34:39] launched their region at the top with the peaceful beach sunrise get together

[2:34:44] celebrating the start of their senior year with friendship, laughter, and

[2:34:49] beginning to their final chapter.

[2:34:54] To kick off the school year in an exciting fashion, we hosted our do what

[2:34:59] Decar does back to school community event where families met teachers,

[2:35:04] learned about Decatur clubs and extracurricular activities, talked with

[2:35:08] school counselors, and enjoyed some good old-fashioned community camoder. We also

[2:35:12] started the school year with students elections and now we have a new batch of

[2:35:16] wonderful leaders to promote Decatur spirit and work with our staff to build

[2:35:20] upon our positive school climate.

[2:35:25] Meanwhile, our 15 fall sports teams have been cruising through their seasons in a

[2:35:30] spectacular fashion. Our other clubs and extracurricular programs are off and

[2:35:35] running with the NJOTC program presenting the colors during our Friday

[2:35:39] night lights event. The Key Club, Fellow Fellowship of Christian Athletes,

[2:35:45] Morgan's Message, and the Surf Rider Club are all busy, and our National

[2:35:49] English Honor Society will host its induction ceremony on September 22nd.

[2:35:54] Last but not least, we are currently in the midst of ex of an exciting

[2:35:58] homecoming week, complete with the fun dress days, evening competitions, the

[2:36:03] pep rally on Friday, the football game Friday night, and the dance on Saturday.

[2:36:07] Other events on the horizon include the ROA Kappa Honor Society induction

[2:36:12] ceremony and the service awards ceremony on

[2:36:16] October 20th. In closing, thank you for everyone for making our school system so

[2:36:21] great and best wishes to everyone for a safe, productive, and happy school year.

[2:36:28] [applause]

[2:36:44] Greetings from Wester Tech. Here's a fact check. The Worcester Technical High

[2:36:48] School as we know it now was built in 2008, 18 years ago. There were 440

[2:36:54] students enrolled across a dozen or so programs. Today, there are currently 866

[2:37:00] students enrolled in over 222 programs with five more pathways in the pipeline.

[2:37:06] This is the highest enrollment Worcester Tech has had in its history. The start

[2:37:11] of the 202627 school year has been amazing. Within the first week of

[2:37:16] school, students and staff started building strong relationships through

[2:37:20] foundational rigorous hands-on learning. From building brick walls and masonry to

[2:37:26] wiring outlet boxes and electrical to baking biscuits and baking and pastry to

[2:37:31] securing a crime scene in criminal justice, our students have hit the

[2:37:35] ground running. As you can see in the images, even our school counselors got

[2:37:39] in on the action.

[2:37:44] Our administrative team visited all classes during the first week of school,

[2:37:48] greeting students and making them all feel welcomed. A Skills USA pep rally

[2:37:53] was held last Friday and students got to experience something completely

[2:37:57] different from a traditional pep rally. Between chanting skills or USA, students

[2:38:03] learned about what it means to be a career leader, participate in a career

[2:38:07] and technical student organization, and compete in local, state, and national

[2:38:12] competitions. Through the school's total participation

[2:38:16] program, all students are automatically members in the Skills USA and can take

[2:38:21] advantage of experiences, leadership opportunities, and resources. This

[2:38:26] month, Worcester Tech focuses on the theme of safety. In classrooms, teachers

[2:38:30] are discussing and demonstrating what it looks like to be safe in the workplace.

[2:38:35] Students are learning about proper personal protective equipment and

[2:38:38] workplace best practices. During this month, we will be conducting a battery

[2:38:44] of safety safety drills, including bus and safety drills to comp complement our

[2:38:51] safety theme. Finally, we kick off our weekly restorative circles with our

[2:38:55] skills USA lesson on safety in the workplace.

[2:38:59] Teachers have been busy teeing up their instructional focus for the year. During

[2:39:03] faculty meetings and PLC's, teachers are working on school improvement planning,

[2:39:09] students learning objectives, areas for instructional focus, and preparing our

[2:39:14] program advisory committee meetings. Worcester Tech SAC

[2:39:20] members will come together to discuss the state of the school on September

[2:39:25] 23rd at Snow Hill High School. Worcester Tech hosts parent teacher conferences on

[2:39:30] September 24th from 5:00 to 7:00. We look forward to seeing our parents there

[2:39:35] on this evening. On November 7th, Wester Tech holds its annual golf fundraiser at

[2:39:40] Ocean City Golf and Yacht Club. Proceeds go to support student travel to our

[2:39:45] state and national STSO competitions. Information is posted on our website and

[2:39:52] Facebook page. Worcester Tech thanks the board of education, Dr. Mr. Wallace and

[2:39:57] the executive team for their continued support of our students and staff.

[2:40:02] Now back to you, Mr. Ferrante. >> Thank you, Jaden,

[2:40:09] Jaden, Elena, and Savannah. I just want to thank you. I know we try to throw

[2:40:13] something new at you today with this new video and you guys seamlessly did a

[2:40:16] great job anyway. So, thank you for bringing your reports.

[2:40:20] [applause]

[2:40:22] And now I'll turn it over to Dr. record for our monthly school safety report.

[2:40:28] » Thank you, Mr. Fonte. As an information item for the month of September, the SA

[2:40:32] uh the safety report reflects a successful start to the school year. All

[2:40:38] schools are actively applying the tools, strategies, and practices reinforced

[2:40:42] through our summer training and the most notably safety conference. Across

[2:40:46] Worcester County Public Schools, uh we remain committed to fostering a culture

[2:40:51] of care for each student and staff member. This commitment is reflected

[2:40:55] both in the daily practices of our students and staff as well as the

[2:41:00] continued development and refinement of each of our school safety and emergency

[2:41:04] plan. One of the items in a school safety and emergency plan is the drills

[2:41:08] that were mentioned in the student report. So, good job. Uh these plans are

[2:41:13] currently being reviewed here at the central office prior to me uh signing

[2:41:17] off by the superintendent and then submitted to the Maryland Center for

[2:41:20] School Safety. And the purpose is to ensure accuracy and alignment with both

[2:41:25] state and our county safety protocols and procedures. Uh in addition, each

[2:41:30] school continues to work collaboratively with the assigned Worcester County

[2:41:33] Sheriff's Office school resource deputy and uh much like in the years past,

[2:41:39] every Worcester County Public School has an SRD assigned to each school each day

[2:41:44] and provided uh providing that layer of support, visibility, and partnership

[2:41:48] within our school. And finally, for the board's knowledge, several school safety

[2:41:53] grant opportunities are currently on the horizon, and Worcester County Public

[2:41:57] Schools is actively pursuing external funding opportunities to further

[2:42:01] strengthening and enhancing our school safety measures.

[2:42:05] This concludes the September safety report. Back to you, Mr. Fonte.

[2:42:08] » Thank you, Dr. Recorder. Board members have any questions for Dr. Record

[2:42:11] regarding the safety report? Okay, seeing none, we'll move forward

[2:42:15] and I'm going to move over to Mr. Tolbert for the monthly blue blueprint

[2:42:19] report. >> Thank you, Miss Fonte. Uh this week's

[2:42:23] blueprint update is primarily informational. Uh yesterday during the

[2:42:26] monthly meeting of blueprint implementation coordinators, the

[2:42:29] accountability and implementation board or AIB shared its draft 2027 2028 level

[2:42:35] four implementation pathway requirements and its 2027 2028 level 4 teacher leader

[2:42:40] pilot requirements. As a reminder, Worester County Public Schools opted to

[2:42:45] participate in the level four teacher leader pilot. This pilot allows local

[2:42:49] education agencies to implement their level four teacher leader career ladder

[2:42:54] plans while providing additional flexibility in the amount of time

[2:42:57] teacher leaders spend teaching in the classroom. The pilot is also designed to

[2:43:02] help identify promising practices, challenges, and lessons learned that can

[2:43:06] be shared statewide and used to strengthen the future implementation of

[2:43:10] level four teacher leader roles. Once final 2027 2028 level four teacher

[2:43:15] leader pilot requirements are released, Worer County Public Schools will begin

[2:43:19] reviewing the state's parameters and determining our next steps from for

[2:43:23] implementation. The AIB anticipates several opportunities to gather feedback

[2:43:27] from participating school systems throughout the pilot year, including

[2:43:31] site visits, uh, participant surveys, interviews, and end ofear district level

[2:43:36] reporting. In other blueprint news, the state has released version three of the

[2:43:40] comprehensive prek literacy policy, which is currently available for public

[2:43:44] comment. Individuals are encouraged to review the proposed updates and provide

[2:43:48] feedback to the state. That concludes my blueprint update. I'd be happy to answer

[2:43:52] any questions that the board may have. >> Board, have any questions for Mr.

[2:43:56] Tolbert regarding the blueprint update? >> Okay, seeing none, Mr. Tolbert, I'm

[2:44:00] gonna stick with you for the comprehensive independent financial

[2:44:03] examination. >> Uh, yes, Mr. Bronte. Uh, as you know,

[2:44:06] we're in the very preliminary stages of the uh financial audit. Um, just

[2:44:11] briefly, Kate and I did have a status update call with the auditors last

[2:44:15] Wednesday. Uh, the auditors are in the middle of conducting interviews with

[2:44:19] staff. They're interviewing all my finance staff as well as myself. Um they

[2:44:23] confirmed that they do have access to both our financial system system and our

[2:44:28] document imaging system so you can do their research and testing. Um they have

[2:44:32] received the initial information they had requested and they're reviewing that

[2:44:35] information. Um they will review they will use that information from this

[2:44:39] review to begin their testing. Uh to this point the orders have been working

[2:44:43] remotely but they may be on site in the future depending on what items they need

[2:44:47] to look at. If they're not available remotely, they may have to come on site.

[2:44:50] Uh we'll continue to provide board monthly updates. We have another update

[2:44:53] with auditors uh in two weeks and we'll provide you an update at the October

[2:44:57] meeting. Any questions on the audit? >> Thank you, Mr. Toart. Uh board members,

[2:45:00] any questions regarding the update, financial update? Okay. Thank you, Mr.

[2:45:05] Tolart. >> You're welcome, sir.

[2:45:06] » Okay. And now it's time for audience recogn recognition uh from the following

[2:45:11] groups in the audience. And I see one already standing out there from the

[2:45:15] Wester County Teachers Association.

[2:45:19] Good afternoon, Beth. How about the Wister County Education Support

[2:45:23] Professionals? Everybody's with us from there today.

[2:45:26] Wister County retired school personnel.

[2:45:36] » September 22nd.

[2:45:40] » Thank you for the invitation, Helen. We appreciate it.

[2:45:44] Worcester County uh bus contractors. Any out there with us today? How about

[2:45:48] representatives from various schools, PTA, Saks?

[2:45:52] Okay. Thank all of you for being here. We appreciate it. Um we have a couple of

[2:45:57] board proclamations today. Um the first one is for community school liaison

[2:46:02] appreciation week, which is September 13th and 19th. And I'm going to have Mr.

[2:46:07] Buchanan read that for us. >> Okay. [clears throat]

[2:46:12] Community school uh liaison's appreciation week September 13 through

[2:46:16] the 19th 2026. Whereas community schools provide

[2:46:21] integrated student support expanded learning opportunities, active family

[2:46:26] and community engagement, use collaborative leadership and strategic

[2:46:31] practices to improve outcomes for students, families, and the community.

[2:46:36] Whereas the community school liaison are the key to successful community schools,

[2:46:41] creating, strengthening and maintaining the bridge between the school and the

[2:46:45] community. And whereas the community school liaison

[2:46:49] facilitate and provide leadership for the collaborative process and

[2:46:53] development of a continuum of services for children, families, and community

[2:46:59] members within a school neighborhood. And whereas Worcester County Public

[2:47:04] Schools has six community school liaison who work diligently to create and manage

[2:47:10] the partnerships that allow all of our students to learn and communities to

[2:47:14] thrive. And whereas community school liaison through their role deliver a

[2:47:20] strong monetary return on investment for community schools and their communities

[2:47:25] with studies citing a return of $7 for every dollar invested in the salary of a

[2:47:30] community school liaison. And whereas Worester County Public

[2:47:35] Schools is joining a national community school coordinators appreciation week

[2:47:41] with the Institute for Educational Leadership Coalition for Community

[2:47:46] Schools to celebrate and lift up their work across the country. Now therefore,

[2:47:52] it be it resolved that the Worcester County Board of Education proclaims the

[2:47:56] week of September 13th through the 19th, 2026 as community school liaison's

[2:48:02] appreciation week. And to honor the community school liaison's diligent work

[2:48:08] to serve our students, families, and communities. It is signed by Todd A.

[2:48:14] Ferrante, president of the Worester County Board of Education, and Dr.

[2:48:18] Annette Wallace, superintendent of schools. Lauren,

[2:48:22] [applause]

[2:48:33] » thank you. >> Thank you, Lauren.

[2:48:37] [applause]

[2:48:39] » And next uh is National School Lunch Week, which is October 12th through the

[2:48:43] 16th. And um Mr. Gordy is going to read that for us.

[2:48:48] National School Lunch Week, October 12th through 16, 2026.

[2:48:53] Whereas the National School Lunch Program plays an important role in

[2:48:57] helping to ensure that every child in the nation is ready to learn because the

[2:49:02] hungry or undernourished child is less likely to be an eager and attentive

[2:49:07] student. And whereas the National School Lunch Program has a demonstrated

[2:49:11] commitment to our children's health and well-being, serving nutritious meals

[2:49:16] that are balanced for vitamins, calories, which support healthy eating

[2:49:20] patterns. And whereas in Worcester County, all 14 public schools

[2:49:25] participate in the National School Lunch Program directly supporting student

[2:49:30] success. [snorts] And whereas the success of this effort is due largely to

[2:49:35] resources and creative local food services administrators, managers, and

[2:49:40] staff working in cooperation with parents, teachers, community groups,

[2:49:45] government personnel, and students. Therefore, be it resolved that October

[2:49:50] 12th through 16, 2026 be proclaimed as National School Lunch Week, a time to

[2:49:57] celebrate the importance of a program that helps keep students nourished so

[2:50:02] they can learn. Be it further resolved that this proclamation be made part of

[2:50:06] the minutes of the board of education adopted this 15th day of September,

[2:50:10] 2026. This document is signed by our board president, Mr. Todd Ferrante, and

[2:50:15] our superintendent, Dr. net Wallace. >> Thank you.

[2:50:17] » Congratulations. >> Thank you. With us today is Otis Collins

[2:50:23] who does an outstanding job running that program. Thank you, Otis, and thank all

[2:50:26] of your staff.

[2:50:34] [snorts] >> Okay, [applause] thank you.

[2:50:39] And next on the agenda, um, we have, uh, some awards to give out, but we're going

[2:50:44] to be, I think, going outside for our Hall of Fame presentation. So,

[2:50:47] » we'll do it here. >> We want to do it in here. Okay, perfect.

[2:50:51] So, we'll be right down.

[2:50:59] » Anyone who's on that committee,

[2:51:13] Oh, look. There was a note there that said, "Invite Dr. Andes and Miss Shaw to

[2:51:17] join you." We we we were on the same page, Mr. Fonte and I. Um,

[2:51:23] good afternoon everyone. Uh it's it's heartwarming for me to look

[2:51:30] across this room and see so many of my former um teachers. Miss Stewart, I want

[2:51:35] to let you know I don't have any gum in my mouth because Miss Stewart was my

[2:51:39] vice principal. She was always getting me on that gum check. Y'all that were

[2:51:43] there. Miss Stewart know. Um but so many people who have played a part um in in

[2:51:49] my success as a human uh and as a teacher and an educator in Worester

[2:51:53] County Public Schools. Um, and it's just a really nice full circle moment to look

[2:51:57] around this room and see so many of you that have influenced myself and others I

[2:52:02] know sitting up at this table and mentored us and gotten us here to this

[2:52:05] moment. There is there's so many of you in this room. So, I'm grateful to have

[2:52:09] this celebration today to honor two individuals um and their contributions,

[2:52:13] but also I'm grateful to have the celebration to bring us all together

[2:52:17] today. Uh, it's my pleasure to officially introduce everyone to our

[2:52:22] second class of inductees into the Wester County Public Schools Hall of

[2:52:25] Fame. The Hall of Fame recognition program is a partnership program between

[2:52:29] the school system and the Wester County Retired School Personnel Association of

[2:52:34] which both Dr. Andes and Miss Shaw are a part. This recognition program was

[2:52:39] kicked off in 2022 and accepts nominations on a rolling basis with a

[2:52:44] committee reviewing nominations each spring. This [snorts] year's class of

[2:52:47] inductees is a small group but a powerful one uh in which both I have

[2:52:52] connections with both of these individuals uh in two different ways. Um

[2:52:56] both members of this year's class have made remarkable contributions to our

[2:52:59] school system and we are proud to have one of them uh with us here today to

[2:53:04] celebrate. And I'm going to ask Miss Butler to join me up here.

[2:53:13] » [applause]

[2:53:24] » Come on up. Come on up here.

[2:53:29] » All right. While I have her here with me who got kept me straight at Snow Hill

[2:53:33] Elementary School and I appreciate that. Uh, Miss Barbara Butler devoted more

[2:53:37] than five decades to educating, mentoring, and advocating for the

[2:53:41] children and families of Wester County. I think that in itself deserves a round

[2:53:45] of applause.

[2:53:49] [applause]

[2:53:52] Her career included service as a teacher at Cedar Chapel, Snow Hill Elementary,

[2:53:56] and Snow Hill Middle Schools, as well as leadership and mentoring roles for many,

[2:54:02] many students and many, many educators, including I know myself and and Dr.

[2:54:06] Record as well. Following her classroom career, Miss

[2:54:11] Butler extended her impact through the creation of the Haven House Tutorial

[2:54:15] Program, which grew from a community-based effort into a thriving

[2:54:19] school partnership serving some of Snow Hill's most vulnerable students. She

[2:54:23] later helped Snow Hill Elementary School's 21st Century Community Learning

[2:54:27] Center, which earned state recognition for student achievement. Her lifelong

[2:54:31] commitment to educational opportunity, community service, and ensuring that

[2:54:36] every child had the support created a legacy that continues to benefit

[2:54:42] generations of Worcester County Public School students. Ladies and gentlemen,

[2:54:45] please join me in honoring Mrs. Barbara Butler.

[2:54:49] [applause]

[2:54:57] » [applause]

[2:55:03] » We're going to give her the floor. >> Thank you. I appreciate that.

[2:55:15] I thank you all for your presence here today. It is indeed an honor to be

[2:55:21] inducted into the Worcester County Retired Teachers Hall of Fame. My

[2:55:26] educational career began in 1964 upon graduating from Buoie State

[2:55:31] College, now Buouie State University. I was born and raised in Frederick,

[2:55:37] Maryland. And it was upon my graduation I became

[2:55:41] employed in the Worcester County Public Schools. I've served, as they stated,

[2:55:45] for 58 years in Worcester County. This is the only county I've ever worked in.

[2:55:52] And I'm so proud of that. I really am. [applause]

[2:56:02] And as Dr. Wallace stated, "My career began teaching split grades first and

[2:56:06] second at the Chapel Elementary School, which was located in Newark, Merlin,

[2:56:11] just below the Worcester County Board of Ed here, which was at that time um old

[2:56:17] Wister High. So I taught first grades for 30 21 years later moving into

[2:56:24] administrative positions and I was the first vice principal at

[2:56:29] Snow Hill Elementary School because the elementary schools did not have vice

[2:56:33] principles. Okay. So my 58 years in the county 25 of

[2:56:40] those years were spent with the Haven House afterchool program. And that

[2:56:44] program, I'm so proud to say, and I tell the story, originated under the

[2:56:49] direction of pastor Reverend George, was the the pastor of Ebenea Church, local

[2:56:56] clergy, the business community, and our past president, Dr. Superintendent, Dr.

[2:57:03] John Andes. And I tell that story everywhere I go because I'm proud of it.

[2:57:08] I really am. And as a result of that, um, I have to say that I've when Gary

[2:57:14] passed, he used to be president here of this board and he was the warden of the

[2:57:19] jail. So when he passed, we started a scholarship in his name. So we've given

[2:57:24] scholarships out for the last eight years. Many of which of you are donors

[2:57:29] to that scholarship every year. We have other fundraisers such as the daddy

[2:57:34] daughter dance, the mother u son spring fling, and I rock in a rocking chair for

[2:57:39] four hours at $25 an hour. But do you know that these last eight years we have

[2:57:46] given a total of $45,500

[2:57:52] to deserving students here in Worcester County.

[2:57:59] I would like to um extend a thank you to all my representatives here today. I

[2:58:05] have my nephew who is here unless he stepped out. Um my student Oh, he's here

[2:58:11] taking the picture. So that's William Delauer and and I'm so

[2:58:16] grateful to have him here with me because he just lost his wife about a

[2:58:20] month ago. But he's been very very supportive of me as the family has of

[2:58:24] him. And I would like the other colleagues, people who worked with me,

[2:58:28] whether it's the elementary school, the middle school, the Haven House program,

[2:58:32] please stand. Come on, Marin Lo. Get up off of it. Okay.

[2:58:37] So, it's a lot of you. And then all of my donors, whether it's Oasis Ministry,

[2:58:43] [applause] Gary Munford, please stand. Come on,

[2:58:47] Wanda. Get up. And there are a lot of you sitting in here who give every year

[2:58:51] for that scholarship. And it's because of you it is possible that we can do

[2:58:56] that. And I thank you all again for your presence. And let's continue to work

[2:59:01] together to make a difference.

[2:59:06] [applause]

[2:59:12] » Okay, I'll take that from you. I'm going to give you some in a minute. All all I

[2:59:16] can tell you is I never had a chance to work with Miss Butler, but I know that

[2:59:20] she's a legend and you're seeing a living legend here and what she's done

[2:59:23] in this county. Let's give her another round of applause.

[2:59:51] Okay. How about all my supporters here? Please.

[3:00:03] » This is great.

[3:00:17] This is

[3:00:25] » Oh my god.

[3:00:39] We're still moving.

[3:00:59] » [applause]

[3:01:13] » Where you at? >> Hold on. Dr. Anes,

[3:01:17] » I I just want to correct the record. I just want to correct the record with

[3:01:23] this fabulous young lady here. When Barbara Butler comes to you and tells

[3:01:28] you you're going to do something, you do it.

[3:01:34] So, I had absolutely no choice. She invited me to the house on Dyon

[3:01:40] Avenue, explained exactly what they needed, and then gave me a deadline to

[3:01:45] provide those services. >> [laughter]

[3:01:47] » I you cannot say no to this young lady. She does not accept no. And that's the

[3:01:53] reason the Haven House program was so successful in Dyton Avenue and so

[3:01:57] successful at Snow Hill Elementary School. The lives that she has impact is

[3:02:03] her legacy. And we're so fortunate and blessed when she left Buouie State

[3:02:08] College, she came here. In my opinion, Barbara Butler is the best comb here

[3:02:14] we've ever had. from West County. [applause]

[3:02:22] » Thank you.

[3:02:27] » Congratulations. >> That is so sweet.

[3:02:29] » I just had to say to Miss Butler, I said, "Is that Mr. Glendon Jones?"

[3:02:34] » That is my third grade math teacher. And I'm just going to say this to you

[3:02:38] because I was probably naughty, but teachers don't get to hear this enough

[3:02:43] often. and I became a math teacher and you were part of the reason for that.

[3:02:46] So, thank you, Mr. Jones. [applause]

[3:02:53] I'm sure he never thought that when I was in his classroom, but here I stand

[3:02:56] today. Nonetheless, uh we have a second inductee, and I'm

[3:03:01] not sure is any of uh Miss Lana Williams family here with us today. Her son, come

[3:03:06] on up, please. Sean, come on up. [applause]

[3:03:16] It's so interesting the connections that we build over the years because and I

[3:03:20] tried to find this photo, but when I was a student at Snow Hill Middle School,

[3:03:24] your mom was in charge of PR for the county and myself and Sarah Pewy, who's

[3:03:28] Marty Pusy's daughter, if anybody know Marty Pusy, won a poster contest and we

[3:03:32] got a billboard that was at Steven Decar High School. We won a I won a art

[3:03:36] contest. That's a surprise. It surprised me and Sarah, but your mom was the one

[3:03:41] who did it and we got to go up and honestly I think we got to like climb up

[3:03:45] and stand on the billboard and there's a photo of us with that billboard. So, I

[3:03:48] knew your mom so well from that experience and she was she was a lovely

[3:03:51] person. So, we're happy that you're here today when we can honor her. Miss uh

[3:03:55] Lana Ray Williams dedicated 35 years of her 38-year career in education to

[3:04:00] Worcester County Public Schools, serving first as an elementary and middle school

[3:04:05] teacher be before becoming a central office leader in professional

[3:04:08] development, public relations, and special projects. Among her most

[3:04:12] enduring contributions was helping to establish and coordinate the Worester

[3:04:16] County Teacher of the Year program beginning in 1988 with I believe our

[3:04:21] first teacher of the year, Miss Cecilia Dennis, who oddly enough was also my

[3:04:25] social studies teacher. So really weird connections, but but beautiful

[3:04:30] connections in our community, creating a tradition that continues to celebrate

[3:04:34] excellence in teaching today. She also developed and supported innovative

[3:04:39] opportunities for students and educators, including the summer

[3:04:43] enrichment and acceleration programs and the expansion of the children's theater

[3:04:48] experience across the county. Known for her warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, and

[3:04:53] ability to bring people together, Mrs. Williams was a tireless champion for

[3:04:57] Wester County Public Schools, who helped tell the school system story and turn

[3:05:01] new ideas into lasting programs for students and staff. Mrs. Williams passed

[3:05:06] away in 2004 and while uh and her son here is Shawn, right, is here with us

[3:05:11] today. So, please join us in honoring her with a round of applause.

[3:05:15] [applause]

[3:05:21] » Thank you. Uh those of you that that remember my mom know that she loved her

[3:05:26] job here almost as much as she loved fashion. Uh she changed her look a lot

[3:05:31] over the years, over the decades. Uh but she did. She loved her job. She loved

[3:05:35] Wester County and she would be very honored by this. So, thank you very

[3:05:38] much. [applause]

[3:05:43] » So, so I did know Miss Williams and I knew her more as Shaun's mom because we

[3:05:48] graduated together, but what I can tell you about her is not only was she a

[3:05:53] fashion statement, but when she smiled, she lit up the whole room. And she was

[3:05:58] nice to everybody, she'd walk down the hall and say hi to every student. She

[3:06:03] would say hi to every person. And she was just a very warm, welcoming person

[3:06:07] and she was a pleasure to be around and we were lucky to have her in our school

[3:06:11] system.

[3:06:14] [applause]

[3:06:38] We will take a brief intermission and um allow the um families and the honores um

[3:06:45] to exit and view the updated installation in the hallway and then

[3:06:49] we'll come back together in about 5 to seven minutes. So um if you go right out

[3:06:52] in the hallway, Mr. Bevel Aqua can lead the way maybe and show you. You can't

[3:06:56] miss it, but the new installation is there so you can see and maybe get some

[3:06:59] photos. Then we'll start in about 5 to 7 minutes.

[3:18:20] and our school community. Through its organization, they provide financial

[3:18:24] assistance to students and families who are experiencing financial hardship,

[3:18:28] helping to ensure that every student has access to the resources that they need

[3:18:32] to succeed. Most recently, Wister Gold generously donated school supplies for

[3:18:37] both students and staff in our Snow Hill schools. This thoughtful contribution

[3:18:41] helped our students and educators prepare for a successful school year and

[3:18:45] demonstrated the organization's genuine commitment to supporting our schools.

[3:18:49] Wister Gold exemplifies what it means to be a strong community partner. Their

[3:18:54] generosity, compassion, and commitment to meeting the needs of our students

[3:18:58] made an impact that will last forever. On behalf of Wester County Public

[3:19:03] Schools, thank you to Wister Gold for being a valued partner and

[3:19:06] congratulations. [applause]

[3:19:16] [clears throat]

[3:19:24] [applause]

[3:19:27] And now I'd like to ask the Pocamok City Charge, Mount Zion, and St. James United

[3:19:31] Methodist Church forward. Come on, whoever's a part of it. Come

[3:19:38] on. Come on up and stand with Mr. Ferrante.

[3:19:44] I think it's meaningful to note that to uh the importance of our faith-based

[3:19:49] partners and the work that we do as a school system. We have an organization

[3:19:52] being honored today and we also have individuals. So, our faith-based

[3:19:55] community is an important part of the success of our school system.

[3:19:59] It is my pleasure to recognize the Pocomoke City Charge, Mount Zion and St.

[3:20:03] James United Methodist Church. They have been a steadfast partner to the

[3:20:07] students, families, and educators of the Pocamote community, demonstrating an

[3:20:12] unwavering commitment to supporting our schools. Throughout the year, the church

[3:20:15] provides school supplies, resources, and supports school celebrations. One

[3:20:20] especially meaningful tradition is the church's back-toschool worship service

[3:20:24] which brings together students, families, educators, and community

[3:20:28] members to encourage and uplift them as they begin each school year. And every

[3:20:32] year I get an invite. And every year it's on the same day as my church's

[3:20:35] celebration for my preacher who's here. So maybe next year we need to have a

[3:20:39] joint celebration so that I can attend and all of our churches can get together

[3:20:43] and pray for the school year cuz it makes me sad every year to miss it.

[3:20:48] Through their generosity, service, encouragement, and genuine care, they

[3:20:51] exemplify what it means to be a true community champion. Their partnership

[3:20:56] strengthens our schools, and they help ensure that Pocomoke students and

[3:20:59] educators know they are valued, supported, and surrounded by a community

[3:21:03] and church family that believes in their success. Congratulations, and thank you

[3:21:08] all for all that you're doing. And please continue to keep us in your

[3:21:10] prayers.

[3:21:14] Honestly,

[3:21:31] [applause]

[3:21:41] this this next group is is one that has been also making an impact for years and

[3:21:46] years and years in our community and a major impact. If you are uh with Ry's

[3:21:50] crew, could you come forward? I know

[3:21:56] [applause]

[3:22:00] it's our pleasure to recognize Ry's crew for their meaningful investment in the

[3:22:04] students of Worester County. Ry's crew has demonstrated a genuine commitment to

[3:22:08] supporting young people by providing both financial resources and meaningful

[3:22:12] opportunities to help students feel supported, included, and connected in

[3:22:17] their own community. At BIS, Ry's crew generously funded essential toiletry

[3:22:22] items for students in need. They also support Pop Warner football players by

[3:22:27] providing pizza with an opportunity um for lunch and fellowship with high

[3:22:31] school football players. Through their generosity and continued support, they

[3:22:35] continue to strengthen the partnership between our schools and our community.

[3:22:39] Their investment helps provide students with the resources, experience, and

[3:22:42] encouragement they need to believe in themselves, imagine their future, and

[3:22:47] succeed. I got BIS's little motto in there. Congratulations to Ry's crew, and

[3:22:52] thank you for making a meaningful difference in the lives of Wester

[3:22:55] County's young people. We appreciate you.

[3:22:58] [applause]

[3:23:12] » [applause]

[3:23:19] » That's Todd's wife, just just in case you didn't know. [laughter]

[3:23:23] I feel like I should clarify that just in case. Just in case. Um, do we have a

[3:23:28] representative from Seaside Plumbing here? Oh, yeah. Okay. You're Come on up.

[3:23:34] You're not my normal two people and so I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[3:23:40] » Oh, we're happy to have you. We're happy to have you. Um I I have to say Seaside

[3:23:46] has just been and I'm just going off the record for this. Um they have just been

[3:23:51] when we think about connecting um our students with meaningful apprenticeship

[3:23:56] opportunities that has been a challenge in the state of Maryland. Um the

[3:24:01] apprenticeship program can be very challenging. Um, I honestly think like

[3:24:05] not only are they a bunch of super gracious, wonderful people, but I

[3:24:10] believe they're also an example of brilliant business people because if I

[3:24:14] was running a business, I would do exactly what they're doing, and that is

[3:24:18] investing in the next generation of students to come work for them. They

[3:24:22] were our first apprenticeship partners. And so, can you we just give them a

[3:24:26] round of applause for that? [applause]

[3:24:32] So today we're honoring Seaside Plumbing for their outstanding partnership with

[3:24:36] Wester Technical High School, preparing students for successful careers. Seaside

[3:24:40] Plumbing has opened doors for students by accepting Wester Techch graduates

[3:24:43] into their apprenticeship program and providing valuable opportunities for

[3:24:47] students to gain real world experience in the plumbing trade. And I'm going to

[3:24:51] tell you, that's one of the people that you really need to show up at your house

[3:24:53] when you have a problem. So each year the company also visits Wester Tech uh

[3:24:58] to conduct an assembly and introduce students to career opportunities to help

[3:25:02] them see the possibilities within the skilled trades. Their commitment extends

[3:25:06] beyond the classroom though. They are a participant in our stat camp and they

[3:25:10] run a summer program that transports students to the work site to get

[3:25:14] hands-on exposure to the plumbing profession. They've also partnered with

[3:25:19] our school's criminal justice program and helped created a realistic crime

[3:25:22] scene for students to investigate and learn from. Um, their mentorship, their

[3:25:27] hands-on experience, their career opportunities, and their willingness to

[3:25:31] help us and be our partners um is really second to none. And so, I just I just

[3:25:35] want to I'm so grateful to you guys. And it's nice to meet new people from

[3:25:38] Seaside.

[3:25:53] » [applause]

[3:26:00] [laughter]

[3:26:03] » before they leave. Uh, okay. And now to our individual awards. Uh, the first

[3:26:08] people I'm going to invite up are no stranger to me. However, I did tell them

[3:26:11] that I was not responsible for their nomination. And I don't know, Mr. Green,

[3:26:15] was it who who was our snowhole person responsible? It was Mr. Green. So, you

[3:26:19] two actually have to come forward because they they don't like to do that,

[3:26:22] but they have to come up. So, Pastor Ken and Mary Ellson, um, come on up.

[3:26:32] It is my pleasure to recognize them as community champions for their years of

[3:26:36] dedicated support of our school community. And their support goes all

[3:26:40] the way back to when I was a student at Snow Hill Middle School and they ran

[3:26:44] like an afterchool thing and they would come pick us up. And the coolest thing

[3:26:47] was that Miss Mary had a station wagon that had a seat that faced backwards.

[3:26:54] And when they would pick us up to take us to our youth group stuff after school

[3:26:57] from the middle school and that was really the first of its time because no

[3:26:59] churches around here were really doing that at the time. Um I got to ride in

[3:27:04] the back seat. I felt special. So they started that was one of the the first um

[3:27:08] connections I think that they made with our schools. But um they have uh the two

[3:27:13] of them alongside with some church staff have demonstrated a commitment every

[3:27:17] year by visiting each of our school campuses to pray um over the building

[3:27:22] student staff and school community each year before the school system starts.

[3:27:26] They also graciously host Snow Hill High School's balarat ceremony each year um

[3:27:31] on the eve of graduation. Their ongoing service to students and families reflect

[3:27:35] tremendous compassion, faith, and dedication. And their willingness to

[3:27:39] consistently support and uplift our school community and myself uh has had

[3:27:43] such a meaningful and positive impact on every single student and family and

[3:27:47] staff member. So, congratulations to Pastor Ken and Miss Mary. We wish you

[3:27:51] well in your retirement, although I wish you weren't retiring still. So, I'm just

[3:27:54] going to say that one more time, but I know you're not going to be strangers.

[3:27:57] So, thank you for all of all you've done.

[3:28:29] He said, "Oh Lord," that was a prayer. [laughter]

[3:28:31] started. >> We've been here 37 years and we've been

[3:28:36] involved with the schools because our children were in the elementary and the

[3:28:42] middle school when we came here and then in 1998

[3:28:46] I was uh asked to come and be an educational assistant at the middle

[3:28:52] school. It was the 10 happiest years of my life and I loved the children and

[3:28:59] then because for whatever reason my sight was taken away and I became blind

[3:29:07] [snorts] but a few years after I became blind and

[3:29:12] this year I'm volunteering at the middle school to be with the children again

[3:29:19] [applause] and I love [cheering] that Hi. And I'm

[3:29:23] looking forward to being there this year with the kids. And um we used to take

[3:29:29] kids to youth groups, our youth group to Christian com

[3:29:36] conferences and stuff. And if you're a Christian, you'll understand me when I

[3:29:42] say there's really no greater joy than to see a youth give their life to

[3:29:48] Christ. And I have really enjoyed that. I don't guess Miss Butler's here. Is

[3:29:53] she? >> Miss Butler just left.

[3:29:55] » Oh, well, >> but we can't send it to her to show you

[3:29:58] here. >> No. Okay. Well, all I was going to say

[3:30:00] was somebody said that she was a come here. Well, we were come hearers, too.

[3:30:08] And one day, Kim bought me a little magnet to put on my refrigerator that

[3:30:15] said, "I wasn't born in Snow Hill, but I got here as quick as I could."

[3:30:20] [laughter]

[3:30:23] » Thank you, Miss Harris. [applause]

[3:30:30] We are also thrilled to recognize Miss Dawn Richardson. So, if you can come on

[3:30:34] up. >> [applause]

[3:30:41] » Thank you. Thank you.

[3:30:47] » We are thrilled to recognize her um from the Wester County Health Department as a

[3:30:51] community champion for her exceptional commitment to students and families in

[3:30:54] the Pocamo community. Dawn is a trusted and valuable partner for our schools,

[3:31:00] providing programs such as girls growing gracefully and just for guys, which give

[3:31:04] students safe and supportive opportunities to build confidence,

[3:31:07] develop social emotional skills, navigate challenges, and form positive

[3:31:11] relationships. Through her genuine connection with young people, Dawn has

[3:31:15] become a trusted mentor and caring adult for many of the students that she

[3:31:19] serves. Her dedication extends beyond students to the families in our

[3:31:23] community. She helps connect families with really important resources. She

[3:31:27] provides education and support for them and serves as a vital bridge between our

[3:31:32] schools and the Wester County Health Department. Dawn's compassion,

[3:31:35] consistency, and willingness to help whenever she is needed truly embody the

[3:31:39] spirit of a community champion. Again, congratulations, Dawn.

[3:32:26] done.

[3:32:30] Okay. um all individuals who've now we're at public comment. Um I did want

[3:32:35] to point one thing out. I want to thank um Harford County for not hiring Dr.

[3:32:40] Andes because he was a come here too. Okay. [laughter]

[3:32:45] All individuals who sign up to address the Wester County uh Board of Education

[3:32:48] may do so for one or two minutes regarding information, accommodations,

[3:32:52] or concerns which may need future board attention. Concerns that are specific to

[3:32:56] an individual will not be discussed in open session should be directed to

[3:32:59] appropriate district personnel for investigation. I know we don't have

[3:33:02] anyone on the record, but I always ask, is there anyone that is wishing to speak

[3:33:06] today? Okay, seeing none, it's time for our

[3:33:11] meeting reports and we'll begin. Uh, excuse me, it's time for our consent

[3:33:15] agenda. Um, and

[3:33:21] » let me use the other mic. It always happens. So, um, does any

[3:33:27] board member have anything they wish to be pulled from the consent agenda today?

[3:33:31] Miss Scotland, >> I just had some questions on 73 and 74.

[3:33:36] » Okay. So, 73 and 74 before we approve um we will

[3:33:45] the one is the contract award for Maryland Maryland Coalition for

[3:33:48] Inclusive Education. Um

[3:33:52] this is um I don't know if uh who wants to address this either Dr. Wallace or

[3:33:59] » Yes.

[3:34:05] » Dr. Wendy, you can come on or Brian. >> Brian, you want to go ahead and you can

[3:34:09] uh turn the mic on, please.

[3:34:13] » Are you talking about the time clocks, Brian?

[3:34:15] » No, this is the first one is the contract award for the Maryland

[3:34:18] Coalition for Inclusive Education. Okay. >> Test. Yes, that's working. Thank you.

[3:34:23] » Your question for Mr. for Dr. >> How are you? Um, some of this might be

[3:34:27] redundant. And again, I'm new. I think it's on. I'll just pull it closer. Um,

[3:34:32] just a couple of questions. I I read through the packet. I printed it out and

[3:34:36] you know, I I see the numbers and I see what it says, but I guess more on just

[3:34:41] where it says policy facts. I was just kind of curious why it was worded as

[3:34:45] like procured through a legally awarded piggyback contract. if you could just

[3:34:49] explain that and then just overall in general, apologies if I missed it. Was

[3:34:54] this in the budget that we approved prior somewhere in a line item or is

[3:34:58] this something new? >> So if am I on?

[3:35:00] » Yes, you're on. >> Um so this is a part of our title one

[3:35:03] part A school improvement plan. Um it's an annual grant process through the ESSA

[3:35:07] consolidated plan. Um the process in our procurement and our policy is if we

[3:35:12] would like to use a legally binding contract that another LEA or local

[3:35:16] education association has used so we can get similar pricing uh we have that

[3:35:20] opportunity to utilize it. So that's why we've gone through that piggyback

[3:35:24] contract process. >> Okay. Okay. Yeah. I just I was looking I

[3:35:27] was confused because when I saw the list of schools I didn't see us on there. So

[3:35:30] it just kind of >> Yeah. It's it's it's just a I guess a

[3:35:33] formality process just to make sure that you actually have a copy of the

[3:35:36] contract. >> Okay. And then the second part, this was

[3:35:39] in the prior budget that we voted on already.

[3:35:42] » Yes. This I I think this is part of a title one money.

[3:35:45] » So this would be a part of our um the this will be a part of our title one

[3:35:49] part a school improvement grant which is a part of our ESS consolidated plan that

[3:35:53] comes out every fall which we submitted July late Julyish early August give or

[3:35:59] take. >> So a grant. Yes.

[3:36:01] » Okay. Okay. That's all. >> So that's all for now. Do you have a

[3:36:05] question on 7.4 for the time clock. >> Yeah, for the

[3:36:08] » That's for Mr. Tolbert. >> The time clock.

[3:36:10] » Thank you, M. Thank you, Dr. Thank you. >> Um, similar question about the budget.

[3:36:15] Was that in there? And then I guess a crossover question when it said, you

[3:36:20] know, like clocking the employees and stuff and is that going to transfer over

[3:36:24] to the substitute part for like when we need bus substitutes as well or is No,

[3:36:28] because they're contracted and this is just the employee side of it.

[3:36:32] » It's not for the contractors, it's for the employees.

[3:36:35] Okay. >> And and and it was it was it was asked

[3:36:38] for a small increase was asked for in the budget for uh time and attendance

[3:36:41] software and also we um had a fixed asset management system that we had been

[3:36:46] paying for for the past couple years. Uh we did not renew that contract this

[3:36:50] year. We're using the power school product which has a fixed asset module

[3:36:54] that's already included in our package. So we saved some money there. And also

[3:36:58] part of the time clock plus is smart find. It's going to replace absent

[3:37:02] management uh substitute calling system that we currently have at about a third

[3:37:06] of the cost. Those states combined are helping us fund this time clock plus.

[3:37:10] » Okay. When you say included that this was kept with like the breakdown paper

[3:37:14] when we went with the colored part. This part was in there at the end.

[3:37:19] » It was included within the line items in the big budget that you got.

[3:37:22] » Okay. In your big budget book. >> But it it stayed when that was approved.

[3:37:26] This >> was a small increase. What we asked for

[3:37:29] for timekeeping. Yes. software. Yes. >> Okay, that's it.

[3:37:32] » Okay, >> thank you. And also, we anticipate that

[3:37:35] this would be um having a software system for our hourly employees is

[3:37:40] something we're um >> as a as a organization, we're trying to

[3:37:44] anticipate things that will be weaknesses um in our audit and we know

[3:37:49] that I don't know that if this has been talked about before or if we're just

[3:37:53] anticipating. >> We're just anticipating.

[3:37:55] » Okay. Yeah, we anticipate that this is going to be a requirement that comes out

[3:37:58] of our audit and so we're getting things straight

[3:38:00] » before ahead of time. [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you.

[3:38:02] » Okay. Uh board members, any other questions uh regarding the consent

[3:38:06] agenda? >> Okay. Uh if not, I need a motion to

[3:38:09] approve the consent agenda items. >> So moved.

[3:38:12] » Motion by Miss Mccomomas. >> Second.

[3:38:15] » A second by Dr. Annies. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. Thank you very much.

[3:38:20] Now I'm going to turn it over to Miss Sills for the curriculum and instruction

[3:38:23] report. Thank you. It is my pleasure to

[3:38:27] introduce our Worester County Judy Center early learning team. Um I learned

[3:38:31] from Dr. Welch re recently that um this year will mark a special milestone.

[3:38:35] We'll celebrate 25 years since Worester County Public Schools received its first

[3:38:40] Judy Center grant for Snow Hill Elementary School. And over those 25

[3:38:44] years, the Judy Center program has transformed significantly, growing into

[3:38:48] three comprehensive early learning hubs serving children and families across the

[3:38:51] Buckingham, Pocamok, and Snow Hill communities through our early learning

[3:38:55] opportunities, family support, community partnerships, and connections to

[3:38:59] essential resources. The Judy Centers play a very important role in helping

[3:39:04] shape our youngest learners and help them be in ready to uh enter school um

[3:39:09] successfully and ready to thrive. So, we're very proud of the team and how

[3:39:14] this program has evolved and I'm excited about the direction that they're

[3:39:17] continuing to take this work. I was uh talking to Latoya in the hallway when we

[3:39:21] took our break. Um, and we were talking about how it was kind of serendipitous

[3:39:25] that the team is presenting today. It was just by chance that they happened to

[3:39:30] be here on the same day we were doing all of these community recognitions and

[3:39:33] our hall of fame and [music] this team has so many strong connections with so

[3:39:38] many of our honores. So it it worked out so well that you guys are here today. I

[3:39:42] was so excited for that. Um Dr. Welch leads the team as our coordinator and

[3:39:46] multicight director and

[3:39:52] » excellent leader >> fan club

[3:39:54] » little fan club. Um and she is going to introduce the team um and they're going

[3:39:59] to share highlights of their work, the growth of their program um and all the

[3:40:02] initiatives they're excited to take on this year.

[3:40:05] » Dr. Welch, before you do that, I want to give a special thank you before they

[3:40:08] start their presentation. As part of our literacy initiative, um, one of the

[3:40:12] things that we've spent a lot of time this first year doing is making

[3:40:16] connections that are intentional with all of the, um, supports that we have in

[3:40:20] our school system. The Judy Center is one of those supports when we talk about

[3:40:24] early childhood, our title one, and our community schools. And they have done an

[3:40:28] excellent job making connections with one another. And I also want to thank

[3:40:31] them from the bottom of my heart because they are stretching and growing

[3:40:34] themselves professionally in order to meet the needs of our students and our

[3:40:38] families. And so these these folks right here are doing magical things um with

[3:40:42] our earliest learners and they are a huge part of the success in grade three

[3:40:47] where we are and all the celebrations we have around literacy. So thank you all

[3:40:50] before you present for all that you're doing and for all the learning that

[3:40:54] you're doing and stretching and growing yourself. And thank you Dr. Welch for

[3:40:57] your leadership. Well, we're excited to be here this afternoon. Um, I have the

[3:41:02] pleasure of working with the ladies sitting in front of you. Um, we're going

[3:41:07] to share information today on the Worcester County Early Childhood

[3:41:12] Learning Hub. Um, we're really excited about this work we're doing. We're also

[3:41:18] going to be going through our all of our um component standards. Our Judy centers

[3:41:24] are located in our three title one schools. Pocamok, Buckingham, and Snow

[3:41:29] Hill. And the work they do aligns, like Dr. Wallace said, perfectly with her

[3:41:36] vision for all children reading on grade level by grade three. I think one of the

[3:41:41] things that's important to note is that we're completely funded by the Maryland

[3:41:46] State Department of Education through a grant, which is just under a million

[3:41:49] dollars. And what we've been able to do this year, which we're so proud of, is

[3:41:55] expand services through acquiring local grants. And I'm proud to say that we're

[3:42:02] in the numbers of over 50,000 in grant funds for that the team has written for

[3:42:08] um programs and resources for our families. [applause]

[3:42:12] So, it's my pleasure to introduce my team. Um, look, I'm getting tearary. Dr.

[3:42:18] It's been such an emotional afternoon because all those people were in my life

[3:42:22] too, Dr. Wallace. Um, I am so excited to introduce them. They worked so hard

[3:42:27] every day. And I'm going to start down on this end. I've And they're going to

[3:42:31] stand and wave. Um, I've got Miss Latoya Pernell. Latoya is the site facilitator

[3:42:36] at Pocomoke Elementary School. Next, I've got Miss Natasha Johnson. Natasha

[3:42:42] is also um at Pokamok Elementary uh family service coordinator. I've got

[3:42:47] Tanya um Davis. Tanya is um the site facilitator at Buckingham Elementary

[3:42:53] School. I've got Jesse Talls uh site facilitator at Snow Hill Elementary

[3:42:58] School. Blair I'm sorry, let me get it right because she got married on

[3:43:02] Saturday. [snorts] Meredith Lynch Blair Meredith

[3:43:07] [applause] Blair is the family service coordinator at Buckingham Elementary

[3:43:12] School. And last but not least, the wonderful Ashley Fitham, who is the

[3:43:16] family service coordinator at Snow Hill Elementary School. So, we have a really

[3:43:21] great presentation to share with you today. The work is exciting. I mean, my

[3:43:25] job now is holding babies. I held two yesterday and had the best little play

[3:43:29] group in the whole world at Pocamok Elementary and Snow Hill Elementary

[3:43:32] School. So, I'm going to turn the microphone over to Miss Tanya Davis and

[3:43:36] she's gonna share. >> Thank you, Chris.

[3:43:42] The mission of the Judy Center is to support children ages birth to five and

[3:43:47] their families. Through early learning programs, we prepare the children for

[3:43:51] school readiness and help them build a strong foundation for success in school

[3:43:55] and life.

[3:44:02] Next, we will have our five components by Miss Victoria.

[3:44:07] » All right. Thank you, Miss Davis. So first component is full day full year.

[3:44:12] Second component is our family support. Third component is our family

[3:44:17] engagement. Fourth is our um early identification and outreach. And our

[3:44:22] fifth one is partnership. Don't worry, we're going to explain each and every

[3:44:26] one of them.

[3:44:30] Thank you, Miss Pernell. All right. First component, full year, full day.

[3:44:34] Pretty much explains what it is. Um there's a Judy Center. We're consistent

[3:44:37] year round. services providing for 12 months meaning we are here all through

[3:44:42] the summer providing services for our families um and also in our catchment

[3:44:48] area. So Pocamok, Snow Hill, Buckingham um we're just here. We're here for

[3:44:54] everybody for our communities. Um our family support um pretty much we help

[3:44:59] get our families. We are a resource hub. So whatever you know they might need

[3:45:05] Hello. Oh, okay. um goal setting, case management, which is what I do, Miss

[3:45:10] Blair, Miss Ashley. Um family education, home visiting, um food support, that's

[3:45:16] what we do. Um and with the education, I have been

[3:45:21] working with a Turkish family. Come on up, Miss Pernell.

[3:45:26] Um these translator earbuds, they work. Um, so while we're waiting for her to

[3:45:32] get um what she needs for her English as a second language with the adult ed, um

[3:45:37] she has been using these. She used them yesterday for the first time during our

[3:45:41] little learners try playgroup and they worked. She was so excited. She

[3:45:47] was able to participate. Her kids were able to participate. So they work

[3:45:51] wonders. They work wonders. So um $99 on Amazon.

[3:45:59] All right. Hello everybody. I'm going to go over component standard number three

[3:46:02] which is family engagement. And there's two main pieces to this um component

[3:46:07] that when we look to start talking about it which is little learners for little

[3:46:11] learners is our play group and that we for that we follow the MSE early

[3:46:14] learning standards which cover covers children birth to just under four.

[3:46:19] Beyond that it is the college and career readiness standards. So, in our little

[3:46:23] learners classrooms, it might look like we're having fun and singing and

[3:46:26] dancing, which we are. But there is a reason behind every single thing that

[3:46:30] we're doing. We follow those standards to make sure that we're working on early

[3:46:33] literacy, early math, maybe uh fine motor development. Um, it's a really

[3:46:39] important thing for us to integrate into our playrs and also teach the parents

[3:46:43] why we're doing what we're doing so that they can go home and and practice those

[3:46:48] skills there as well. The second part to that is the um family engagement events

[3:46:53] themselves and we are um asked by the state to do 12 of those at least 12 of

[3:46:59] those per site per year. So some of them are whole group in conjunction with our

[3:47:04] title one and our community schools. Whether it's a literacy night, a math

[3:47:08] night, our whole school is there and it's a great opportunity for our

[3:47:12] families to meet um the admin team, the school counselor who they're going to go

[3:47:16] and register with um in the spring to see the teachers interacting with their

[3:47:21] students. It's a great opportunity for their families to feel like they're a

[3:47:24] part of our bigger school community right from the very beginning. And so

[3:47:28] many of our families, this is the first experience they have with our school

[3:47:31] system. So, we want to make sure it's a really positive one right from the very

[3:47:34] beginning. The only exception to the rule when it comes to following the

[3:47:38] early learning standards is we have three family engagement events a year

[3:47:42] that are just for fun. We're celebrating our families for them coming out and

[3:47:46] dedicating all their time getting their little ones ready for school. That's our

[3:47:50] prom, our preschool prom, our spring celebration, and then we have an

[3:47:54] endofear field trip to um Frontier Town. And that's really again just to build

[3:47:59] our Judy Center community and celebrate those parents and all the time and

[3:48:03] dedication they have put into their kiddo. So um the number component number

[3:48:08] four is early identification and outreach. And really that just talks

[3:48:11] about wants to know how are we um working with families who have a child

[3:48:15] with a disability or a suspected disability. The easy answer to that is

[3:48:19] that we our doors are open to everybody. We we try to accommodate anyone who can

[3:48:23] come in the door. If you can get there, we're going to work with you. We also um

[3:48:27] work closely with our infants and toddlers families, our team to make sure

[3:48:30] that those families who have a kiddo that might have a concern, if there's

[3:48:34] something that pops up on an ASQ or a family notices something or we notice

[3:48:38] something, our family service coordinators can make a referral to our

[3:48:41] infants and toddlers team to get the ball rolling on getting that family some

[3:48:44] extra support. Um the outreach piece, we're we're supposed to do two formal

[3:48:50] outreach um events a month. If you know any of us, the outreach does not stop.

[3:48:55] If there is a baby around us, we're going to find you and ask you where that

[3:48:58] baby is during the day. We send people to other counties and talk about their

[3:49:02] Judy Center if they're not one of us. So, it's an ongoing process. If you know

[3:49:06] anybody that has a baby, send them our way. We will put them in the cor the

[3:49:11] correct um school and get them some help. Okay. Thank you. I'm gonna pass it

[3:49:15] on to Yes. >> All right. First of all, Dr. Wallace,

[3:49:21] open your bag real quick. Okay. >> All right. First of all, hold your bag

[3:49:26] up. Hold your bag up there. The other way. There's a QR code. So, if you scan

[3:49:33] that QR code, it goes straight to our interest um form. Now, Dr. Wallace, open

[3:49:38] your bag. >> Yep.

[3:49:42] Pull out your t-shirt. >> Okay.

[3:49:44] » Yeah. That >> Yeah, girl. Yeah.

[3:49:49] Yeah. Go ahead and put it on. Go ahead. Go ahead.

[3:49:54] We got something special on that t-shirt, too.

[3:49:56] » Huh? Y'all are now a part of the outreach team. So, when you walk around

[3:50:03] with your t-shirt, there is a QR code that goes straight to our interest form.

[3:50:09] So, if you don't know a lot about the Judy Center, you ain't got to even talk

[3:50:13] to them. Just tell them scan it. So, our um partnerships, these are just a few of

[3:50:20] the partners. Our partners are growing every day because they're hearing the

[3:50:24] wonderful work that the Judy Center is providing. So, just to name a few, we

[3:50:28] already mentioned our infants and toddlers, of course, Worester County

[3:50:32] Public Schools. Give y'all hand give yel a round of applause. our people's

[3:50:36] services, our adult education, we have Wister Gold, we have um the library, we

[3:50:43] have the Rotary Club, we have we got better no that is now first waves, we

[3:50:50] have first waves, we have our bundles of joy, we have our um daycarees, we have a

[3:50:56] lot of partnerships that we are connected to and we have um a steering

[3:51:00] committee where we meet with all of them throughout the year. I think I got the

[3:51:04] next slide, too. I just heard, "How can we help?" Is that

[3:51:10] what I just heard? That's what I just heard. I think I JUST HEARD HOW CAN WE

[3:51:13] HELP. [laughter and screaming] I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. SO, here's our

[3:51:17] calendar of events for October. You have all of the calendar events for each site

[3:51:24] on here. If you are able and you are free, come and join us to our events.

[3:51:31] Now, I just want to say one thing. October 22nd. So we have a trunk or

[3:51:35] treat every single year. Okay. Chunk or treat is kind of fun. Da da da da da.

[3:51:39] Okay. This year because our wonderful superintendent gave us a brilliant idea.

[3:51:46] So our theme is going to be there is a story in every trunk.

[3:51:52] All right. So if you can come on out. We're going to encourage our partners

[3:51:57] for each of their trunk to be some type of story. whether it be elementary

[3:52:01] school level, middle school level, or high school level. Dr. Rain, Mr.

[3:52:05] Stigler, I'm sorry I ruined the surprise. I didn't tell y'all yet, but

[3:52:09] that's what it's going to be. So, we're excited about that and we're excited to

[3:52:13] get our community a part of it. But like I said, every single site has something

[3:52:19] interesting going on every single month. So, if you are available, please come

[3:52:23] out and join us. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

[3:52:32] We're so happy with the work that we're doing. Um I you can tell some of us love

[3:52:36] the microphone, others like to control the computer over here. I tried to get

[3:52:41] them all to stand up and talk today, but um we're giving them technical jobs

[3:52:46] here. And that's I want to just um let you know that they're being very modest

[3:52:52] about the work they do. We have to give an MSDE survey twice a year that uh

[3:52:58] surveys parents on school readiness and child development. This team got a 98%

[3:53:03] satisfaction rate from their parents around the work that they're doing and

[3:53:09] extremely positive comments. In fact, last week I got a an email from one of

[3:53:13] Tanya's parents just saying how this program is accessible to her because

[3:53:19] it's free. She's a stay-at-home mom and we just don't have those opportunities

[3:53:25] in our rural communities. So, the things that we're doing, the services we're

[3:53:30] providing, the home visiting, we're transitioning to a brand new program. I

[3:53:34] know you all are surprised, but we've worked together to make a lot of

[3:53:37] positive change this year. And we're so excited to start on year two of just

[3:53:43] drudging forward and making sure all kids are ready for school. Um, do you

[3:53:47] have any questions before we move on? And the ladies can answer anything that

[3:53:50] you want them to. >> Board members, Dr. Andy's,

[3:53:54] » I don't I don't have a question. I just want to thank you for all the work that

[3:53:59] you do. Dr. Welsh, thank you for your leadership. Uh, this is exciting. I'm

[3:54:04] hope I'm able to attend these events. If you ever need a therapy dog,

[3:54:10] » uh, let me know and I'll bring a woolly rough coat collie to an event and, uh,

[3:54:17] as a therapy dog. And uh I also want to point out that Judy Centers, they got

[3:54:22] their name from the fact that Congressman Stanny Hoyer, who's retiring

[3:54:28] this year, and he's been in the House of Representatives since 1981,

[3:54:33] his wife Judy >> Judith Hoyer, right, was an element was

[3:54:38] an early childhood education teacher in Prince George's County. Then she oversaw

[3:54:43] u the uh early childhood education program in Prince George's County and

[3:54:48] unfortunately she passed due to cancer. And so consequently the Judy Centers

[3:54:53] throughout Maryland are named after a phenomenal early childhood education

[3:54:59] teacher and leader. So I I thank you for everything you do. Uh contact me if you

[3:55:05] need a fluffy therapy dog to come to any event. Thank you.

[3:55:10] » Thank you, Dr. Any other any other board members?

[3:55:17] Um Chris, I just want to again I echo some of what Dr. Annie said, but thank

[3:55:21] you for your leadership and just sitting here, I want to start standing up and

[3:55:25] jumping around because these ladies are so enthusiastic. I mean, they they have

[3:55:28] so much enthusiasm. I can only imagine how much fun you have.

[3:55:31] » Come to a playgroup sometime. It would blow you away to see babies. Just

[3:55:36] yesterday, there were three brand new within the last four months babies at

[3:55:42] Jesse's site. Latoya had one up front that's pretty new at one year. And we,

[3:55:48] this is the crazy part, there are three pregnant moms at Snow Hill site

[3:55:52] yesterday. Wow. >> So, we've got job security at least for

[3:55:55] now. But Dr. Andy's failed to mention that 25 years ago in February, he pulled

[3:56:01] me out of my first grade classroom and I started that first Judy Center in at

[3:56:06] Snow Hill Elementary School and it was uh quite the roller coaster ride at

[3:56:10] first because we really didn't know what we were doing and then we figured it out

[3:56:13] really quickly. Dr. Walker was uh very um important in that uh journey and it

[3:56:19] was a great opportunity for our community and now three communities. So,

[3:56:24] thank you for having us this afternoon. We really appreciate

[3:56:27] » Oh, they have a video. >> Let's see. Let's see the video.

[3:56:30] » Oh, you want to see it? It's babies. It was 7 minutes and we had to tailor it

[3:56:34] down cuz Natasha got a little excited with the pictures. Thank you everyone.

[3:56:38] » Thank you.

[3:56:55] Up

[3:57:04] first

[3:57:13] time.

[3:57:24] » [panting]

[3:57:27] » Down every day

[3:57:35] down.

[3:57:45] Heat.

[3:58:05] Heat.

[3:58:41] Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

[3:58:46] [applause]

[3:58:49] » Okay, Miss SS, we're still with you and you're

[3:58:53] going to bring up Tamara, right? >> So, our first presentation focused on

[3:58:59] our littlest learners um and starting out. Our second presentation is going to

[3:59:04] take us into our extended um day learning and summer programs. We're

[3:59:09] going to highlight our summermies and the wide range of summer learning

[3:59:13] opportunities that are available to students in Worcester County Public

[3:59:15] Schools. Uh we have a long-standing commitment to providing free highquality

[3:59:19] summer learning. This year, more than a thousand students participated in

[3:59:23] programs designed to strengthen academic skills while also providing engaging

[3:59:27] enrichment, relationship building, and new experiences. Um, additionally they

[3:59:32] participated in targeted reading and mathematics instruction, STEM, arts,

[3:59:36] health and wellness, other enrichment opportunities that included stat camp,

[3:59:41] um, focusing on career exploration, and then Crescendo Camp, which expanded

[3:59:45] access to music education for students across our county. We are excited to

[3:59:50] take a closer look at the students we served this summer and what their

[3:59:53] experience was. And uh, Tamara has some excellent data to share as well. It's my

[3:59:57] pleasure to turn the presentation over to Miss Tamara Mills and find out more.

[4:00:02] Thank you. >> Thank you so much. Thank you for that

[4:00:04] lovely introduction. I don't have gifts and I don't have a cheering section. I'm

[4:00:08] sorry. Oh, [applause]

[4:00:12] thank you so much. I love that. Thank you. Thank you. Um, so I'm just going to

[4:00:16] talk a little bit about summer today and all the wonderful things that happened.

[4:00:19] Um it there is a lot of data in these slides. So I encourage so I'm going to

[4:00:23] go quickly but I encourage you if you want to really dive into it. We will

[4:00:27] have this posted on our website after the meeting and I think you all have it.

[4:00:30] Um board members you have it in case there are any additional questions. So

[4:00:35] just a couple of things our summer academy at a glance I have the dates

[4:00:38] here. Um we'll talk just a bit about demographics and what we really try to

[4:00:42] focus on is that whole child growth. So, as Miss Sil's um mentioned, there's a

[4:00:48] lot of opportunities for students in the summer. We try to keep it very student

[4:00:51] centered. And after our traditional program that I'll talk about, we'll talk

[4:00:55] about the Crescendo Camp and the Stack Camp. So, as you mentioned, over a

[4:00:58] thousand students this year, you'll see that we definitely have higher

[4:01:01] participation at our elementary and uh intermediate levels, which is great. We

[4:01:06] saw a little bit of a decrease in the middle school this year. So, that's

[4:01:08] where we're going to focus some efforts next year in trying to get more of those

[4:01:13] students in. Um, and you'll see that over almost half of the program is free

[4:01:18] and reduced meal students, which is really important. They get those summer

[4:01:21] meals and then they get the education part and the enrichment piece. about 27%

[4:01:26] of the summer program was our was special needs students and then um

[4:01:30] almost 10% and our of our ML population which is great because summer is a

[4:01:34] wonderful opportunity for them to be getting that additional support and

[4:01:39] intervention. Um participation by site tech had the largest program but that is

[4:01:45] mainly because they have our stat program which we'll talk about later.

[4:01:48] Um, but then just under that is Buckingham Elementary and Snow Hill

[4:01:53] Elementary, which are title one schools. So, that's really important to get those

[4:01:56] title one students in. And then you'll see Pommo Kai and Snow Hill Middle just

[4:02:00] after that. For our early learn learning kiddos, the

[4:02:04] the classes really focus on learning routines, language, play, and

[4:02:08] interaction. At the elementary level, we're focusing on foundational literacy,

[4:02:14] numeracy, and the hands-on practice that sometimes um the that additional

[4:02:18] hands-on practice that's needed beyond just a regular school year. And then for

[4:02:22] our secondary kiddos, um and I still call them kiddos even though high

[4:02:26] schoolers, sorry ladies don't want to be called kiddos, but um it's really more

[4:02:31] about targeted academic support and skill building. So really taking a look

[4:02:35] at what skills they need to then be successful after traditional high

[4:02:40] school. So we again we try to focus on small groupoup interventions. So as

[4:02:45] you're if you're going through a summer academy class you'll see they are

[4:02:48] smaller typically than a traditional class. Um we love the fact that it

[4:02:53] allows the teachers to really model and practice skills um again more so than

[4:02:59] during the regular year. We also focus a lot on the the fact that it's summertime

[4:03:04] and really having uh a lot of fun. So, you know, yes, it's learning and yes,

[4:03:09] sometimes it's tutoring and interventions, but it's also a fun place

[4:03:13] for our kids to be. They play games. We have outdoor experiences.

[4:03:17] Um and then relationships are really important. It again gives our teachers

[4:03:22] that opportunity to expand upon relationships, maybe get to know the

[4:03:26] parents even better than they normally would. um and it allows for us to check

[4:03:31] in a lot of times with our social emotional um needs for some students.

[4:03:36] We started last year, not not 26 but 25. Um what I really loved about the kind of

[4:03:43] transition of the exec team is they really wanted to start focus on what's

[4:03:46] really happening in summer, right? We hear about it, we see pictures, but it's

[4:03:52] really nice. They started doing leadership walks. Some of you guys have

[4:03:55] joined them over the last two years. Um but really kind of walking in looking at

[4:03:59] the engagement um is you know noticing is the instruction really targeted, is

[4:04:05] it responsive? So we really appreciated those visits from our executive team to

[4:04:10] really kind of guide us and improve the program over the years. Um we did have

[4:04:14] over 600 students, parents and staff complete a survey this year um

[4:04:19] voluntary. We sent it out at the end of summer academy and said give us your

[4:04:23] feedback. Um we were really really pleased on a scale of one to five for

[4:04:28] several different indicators. Um overwhelmingly anywhere from 73 to 92%

[4:04:33] is scoring our program at a four or five. And for kids to do that you know

[4:04:38] number one a lot of people think kids don't want to be at school in the

[4:04:41] summer. The fact is yes they're learning but it's a lot of fun. So for them to

[4:04:45] say that their overall experience was nearly at a 90 90% of those students are

[4:04:51] saying a four or a five was very exciting. And then our staff voice

[4:04:57] really great numbers. We were really happy to see that our staff was happy.

[4:05:01] They enjoyed the opportunity and they're scoring at a four or five overwhelmingly

[4:05:05] high. And then our family students as well. So we can see here one one area we

[4:05:10] want to work on is our communication. Um the extended school administrators did a

[4:05:14] really great job this year and it was fairly new of sending home a meet your

[4:05:19] teacher um sheet because typically you know you get that during the school year

[4:05:24] but then here comes summer you have them for 19 days or so and you don't know who

[4:05:29] is teaching your child necessarily unless you make it a point to ask. So,

[4:05:34] um, a lot of the extended school administrators sent home those, um,

[4:05:38] those meet your teachers, and I think it really did improve the communication

[4:05:42] between the schools, but we still have a little ways to go on that.

[4:05:46] And again, this is just a summary slide of a lot of the information from the

[4:05:50] surveys that you're welcome to dig into. I did choose two schools to kind of look

[4:05:54] at some data um, or to share with you rather, some data or some highlights.

[4:05:59] Um, so this is Pokemok Elementary School. We pulled together some pre and

[4:06:03] post data on school readiness, literacy, and math. Um, just a couple of things

[4:06:08] that I want to point out. Their attendance was fantastic at 87%.

[4:06:12] Anything over 80% in the summer, it it's really good. Um, SKBs, which are their

[4:06:18] early childhood skills, knowledge, and behavior scores went up 26 points from

[4:06:23] the beginning of summer program to the end. And then in their grade one math,

[4:06:28] um, they had a 4.4% four% incre or 4.4 point increase of their average scores

[4:06:36] from their pre- to their post test. So that was very exciting.

[4:06:39] And then I took Pokug Middle School and Snow Hill Middle School and just kind of

[4:06:44] looked at again a couple of the math pieces of math data. And the reason I

[4:06:48] chose math is that our coordinator for math, Sarah Blackburn, this year she

[4:06:53] revamped the curriculum for the summer program um because we got some feedback

[4:06:58] in past years that yes, it was good, but they didn't know if it really addressed

[4:07:02] some of the um significant learning deficits. And so she took data to took a

[4:07:09] look at what students are really needing. And so at Pokemok Middle, they

[4:07:13] had an 18% increase in the average score from pre-to post test in their skills.

[4:07:18] And then at Snow Hill Middle, a 24% increase in that average math skill. So

[4:07:24] really good numbers and really um showing us that the changes Blackburn

[4:07:28] made did make an impact. Sorry, I'm talking very quickly.

[4:07:36] [laughter] >> I did. Thank you. This is probably our

[4:07:41] mo most in-depth summer academy report. Well, it definitely is the most we've

[4:07:44] ever done, but I think it's important to really focus more on it. Um, and Dr.

[4:07:48] Wallace, you've pointed out just really making sure that this opportunity is is

[4:07:53] used and used well. So, we had a crescendo camp also thanks to our

[4:08:00] funders, our Worester County Education Foundation and Chamber of Music by the

[4:08:03] Sea um for a couple of reasons. one, expanding our current strings program is

[4:08:10] very important to all of us. It really it's it's an art form that a lot of

[4:08:14] students don't necessarily have access to and and then just overall providing

[4:08:18] more access to students in the area of music. So, we started a program um we

[4:08:26] this year we took one full week um 22 rising fifth and sixth graders from

[4:08:32] across the county and we decided to we we worked with Daniel Bowen from

[4:08:36] Symphony 21 who is actually a Decar grad and an amazing musician. He's done work

[4:08:42] all over the world and he brings in musicians from all over the country and

[4:08:47] sometimes from other countries and we wanted them to have this experience

[4:08:52] » [clears throat] >> excuse me, an experience where they

[4:08:54] could try something new and they could really kind of find what they loved. I

[4:08:59] mean, we were really surprised. I was really surprised. Maybe you won't be Dr.

[4:09:02] Andy's. I was surprised at how many students had never picked up a violin

[4:09:07] and by the end of that fourth day was like, I want to play the violin. So, it

[4:09:12] was really overwhelmingly positive. It wasn't just like, oh, this was fun. It

[4:09:16] was like, this is what I want to do. Um, so that was wonderful.

[4:09:22] So here were some of the concepts that we focused on. Um again string

[4:09:26] instruments, ensemble performance, so performing with a group of students, not

[4:09:31] just by yourself, producing sound, stage lighting and how the lighting can impact

[4:09:37] the mood of the music and how people experience it. And then creativity

[4:09:44] and just a couple of demographics pieces. Um 68% of our participants were

[4:09:49] farm students. So again, that population of students who may not be able to go

[4:09:53] out and get lessons or go out and buy a violin. 14% were special needs students.

[4:09:59] So again, giving them an opportunity that they might not have or see or

[4:10:06] really be exposed to um during the regular day. And I do have a short

[4:10:11] video, but I'm I'm gonna hold and see if we just have a couple seconds at the

[4:10:14] end. Um, our next program that we that I wanted to highlight is our stack camp.

[4:10:20] Many of you have seen our stack camp before and you've visited and I thank

[4:10:23] you for that. I do want to point out that we have Miss Nancy Schwenderman in

[4:10:26] the audience and she's here to support us. Um, this funding for this program

[4:10:31] comes from Rural Maryland Council and our local county commissioners. So, she

[4:10:36] works in our economic development office and really the point of this program is

[4:10:41] to work with students on kind of two, well, I'd say three-fold, right? One is

[4:10:46] to on her end to really start developing internships and apprenticeships. For us,

[4:10:51] it's about career exploration and really having students experience the tech high

[4:10:55] school before they go to the tech high school. and um and also just again

[4:11:01] getting kids that um may not be doing anything in the summer to now try

[4:11:06] something new and and experience the tech high school. So at a glance we had

[4:11:10] 118 registered um 70 of those registered for both sessions. It's two two-week

[4:11:16] camps.

[4:11:20] Um by grade level we're finding we extended it to eighth grade a couple of

[4:11:24] years ago. We started at just n to 12th graders. we extended it and uh eth and

[4:11:29] ninth graders overwhelmingly make up um the majority of our students

[4:11:34] for countywide participation. Obviously with having a larger population at the

[4:11:38] north end, Decatur uh middle and high tend to have the most um but it's also

[4:11:42] great to see that there are quite a few of our Pamok and Snow Hill students

[4:11:46] because we want all students to be able to experience this.

[4:11:50] And then of the pathways that seemed to be the most popular, um we had laser

[4:11:55] cutting, cosmetology, audio and video production, biomed, and carpentry.

[4:11:59] Rounded out the first or the top five. And we took a look at some growth. So is

[4:12:06] Tony Bevakqua still here? Oh no, he had to dig uh do pop out. But he provided he

[4:12:12] helped us provide some of the pre and post data. So, with each pathway, a

[4:12:16] student will take a skills assessment at the beginning and then they'll take an

[4:12:21] assessment at the end. Um, and you'll see that from session one to session

[4:12:25] two, um, they had great growth in the the actual skill or skills that they

[4:12:30] were working with. And this is 16 pathways, but the reason it's different

[4:12:34] on here is because there were 14 pathways, but two of them, a lot of them

[4:12:39] duplicated. Two of them were only in one session. And so the 14 plus the two

[4:12:43] extra. And that is a wrapup essentially of all

[4:12:49] the wonderful things happening during the summer months in Worcester County

[4:12:53] Public Schools. >> You have Okay. I just

[4:12:57] » Go ahead and play the video. >> Okay. I loaded up the video and it's

[4:12:59] just going to be a second like there's it's like a 10-minute video, but what I

[4:13:02] did was just let me see. Not sure if our sound will

[4:13:08] cooperate. Heat.

[4:13:25] [music]

[4:13:31] Heat. [music]

[4:13:38] » [music]

[4:13:46] [music]

[4:14:22] » And those students had not ever picked up a violin four days prior to this. So,

[4:14:27] it was very exciting. >> Any questions? Okay, board members, any

[4:14:33] questions? >> Yes, Miss Mcomeus.

[4:14:35] » I I managed to get to the crescendo. >> Yes.

[4:14:38] » Oh my gosh. They were so excited about playing violins and and talking with

[4:14:43] them to realize they'd never picked one up before.

[4:14:47] » I I was in awe over how excited they were. Um and I also had the privilege of

[4:14:53] being able to visit stat camp and between the two, thank you. I mean, our

[4:14:59] kids are so unbelievably blessed to have this in the summer and to be able to

[4:15:05] maintain both their skills, reading, math, whatever, as well as

[4:15:14] exploration of what they want to do. Thank you.

[4:15:17] » Thank you. And thanks so much to our funders. We could not do this without

[4:15:21] the multiple grants and the generous community members and our county

[4:15:25] commissioners. and um we couldn't do it alone. So, it's it's really been great

[4:15:29] over the last several years really expanding these opportunities.

[4:15:33] » Any other board members? Dr. Andy's um I just wanted to thank Miss Mills Tamara

[4:15:39] for your outstanding leadership of this program. I think this is one of those

[4:15:43] other duties as assigned. I I believe that's correct in my assumption and you

[4:15:48] do an absolutely phenomenal job. Uh the crescendo camp was your idea.

[4:15:54] It just say no, >> it was a collaborative idea, but yes.

[4:15:58] » No, it was your idea. You made it happen. You pulled it off and you built

[4:16:04] confidence in those 22 students because the violin is one of the most difficult

[4:16:10] instruments to play, very difficult instrument to play. And if a student can

[4:16:15] play the violin, they can do anything in their lives. So, thank you.

[4:16:20] » Thank you. I appreciate it. And I do I want to also thank Dr. Wallace for sort

[4:16:24] of having first of all for supporting the arts the way she does because as I

[4:16:28] go to state meetings I don't always find that other coordinators in my shoes feel

[4:16:33] that kind of support. Um and and then she has lots of crazy ideas too and and

[4:16:39] she's like can we make this happen? Of course we can make it happen.

[4:16:42] » Cameron never tells me >> yes

[4:16:45] » but I have an idea that we'll talk about.

[4:16:46] » Oh boy. Oh boy. [laughter] See what I mean?

[4:16:49] » Any other um any other board members have any comments?

[4:16:52] » Yeah. I'll just say as a former violin player from fourth to seventh grade that

[4:16:56] it's not always the most soughta instrument. It's lumpy on the bus and at

[4:17:01] the bus stop, but they probably wouldn't have picked that. But that was a pretty

[4:17:05] cool upbeat thing. And then hearing you say like the top um categories in my

[4:17:09] brain as a mom, I'm just like, "Oh, they're all the hands-on categories

[4:17:12] because these kids like to be busy and they like to be doing things and this is

[4:17:16] giving them an opportunity to try something that they may never do."

[4:17:19] » Absolutely. >> So, I think that that's awesome.

[4:17:21] » Thank you. Thank you. And we really are in this rural area a daycare desert as

[4:17:25] many people know. So the summertimes they're hard on parents and families. Um

[4:17:30] and while daycare is not the purpose of summer academy, it certainly provides

[4:17:34] that place where our kids can do things that parents might not otherwise have

[4:17:39] the opportunity to to provide for them. >> Any other board members? U Tamara, I

[4:17:43] just want to first thank you for your leadership.

[4:17:46] » Whatever you take on, you do an outstanding job with. you've you've done

[4:17:50] so many different programs and you always do the best for us and we

[4:17:53] certainly appreciate it. But more than anything else, the opportunities that

[4:17:56] these these young uh students get to participate in. I went to stack camp as

[4:18:02] well. Um it was it was outstanding, you know, from from going to different

[4:18:07] rooms, being outside with the goats, um all different um experiences that we

[4:18:12] had. >> Everybody loves the baby goat.

[4:18:13] » Yeah, the baby goats were great. and then and then just all all the different

[4:18:18] programs that we're able to offer the students in the summertime. It's it's an

[4:18:22] incredible opportunity for them. So, I just want to thank you and your staff

[4:18:26] for what you do. Um it's really great and we we look forward to continuing it

[4:18:30] and I want to hear about this idea that Dr. Wallace has. So,

[4:18:33] » thank you. I guess I guess I do too. [laughter]

[4:18:37] » Thank you. >> Thank you all very much.

[4:18:40] » Thank you. [applause]

[4:18:46] Okay, now I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Record. We have um Miss Phillips

[4:18:50] coming up for a special education staffing plan. Thank you, Mr. Fonte. It

[4:18:54] is my pleasure to introduce uh Miss Wendy Phillips and Miss Best Cropper who

[4:19:01] will be coming forward to discuss the staffing plan in different phases. Uh

[4:19:06] Mr. Fronte, the discussion and presentation should [snorts] follow with

[4:19:11] a recommendation for approval as an action item if that's okay.

[4:19:15] » Yes, I see it here and I I'm I'm assuming Dr. Recorder that the

[4:19:19] superintendent approves >> that that is the plan. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

[4:19:25] » So, um without further ado, we'd like to u direct your attention.

[4:19:30] » Welcome Phillips. >> Thank you.

[4:19:34] » I think I just push it up. It's on. There you go. You're on now.

[4:19:39] » Okay. Gosh, I following that. I don't know

[4:19:44] about you guys, but I think we need this every week and I need it on Tuesday

[4:19:47] afternoons and I'm going to come to every single one because I walking out

[4:19:50] of here with pom poms in my hand for Worcester County Public Schools and our

[4:19:54] powerful community. Hearing about our community that supports our our families

[4:19:58] is just um absolutely amazing. So, I'm going to talk to you today. Let me

[4:20:03] present her view. Sorry. Okay, I'm going to talk to you today

[4:20:07] about the staffing plan. You have the staffing plan in front of you, but I'm

[4:20:10] going to give you some information to help you understand some of the um the

[4:20:14] data around everything that we do uh with our students in Worcester County

[4:20:18] Public Schools. So, here is our part C and part B numbers right now. Um in part

[4:20:23] C, that is birth to age five. Um those students have an individual family

[4:20:29] service plan different than the IEP. It's an IFSP. Um and it uh we have 201

[4:20:38] last year, children last year. It is our highest number yet. Um we were at 88 in

[4:20:45] 23 24 that is basically the majority of that is because of the outreach that

[4:20:51] we've done with our communities and we've started a literacy program back in

[4:20:55] 22 23. We started a lit literacy program called Mother Goose on the Loose where

[4:21:00] our teachers are and service providers actually go to the libraries and they uh

[4:21:05] teach lessons and then give out our information. So, hey, by the way, we're

[4:21:09] the we're the infants and toddlers and I think the Judy Center is actually uh

[4:21:13] doing that program now too. But originally, it started in special ed

[4:21:17] through a collaboration with Somerset back in 2223. So it is um really helped

[4:21:22] us get children from there, get that out there and then of course our outreach

[4:21:26] with um the pediatricians and other other services that we

[4:21:30] » Can you also talk about your new referral to qualify?

[4:21:34] » Oh yes. when um kids well we have a universal referral form um that's on the

[4:21:39] website and that um when uh thanks to best crap for setting that up um what uh

[4:21:45] parents can go on there uh ask for resources a request for resources and it

[4:21:50] goes out to all of the early childhood partners um and then um Bass also has a

[4:21:56] card uh a um what is it >> a QR code um and you can scan that and

[4:22:02] you can get that and that's something that they've had for years within the

[4:22:05] infants and toddlers program. Uh a a card that they leave um everywhere. So

[4:22:09] you can find those um and that outreach has really helped us get our babies. Um

[4:22:16] you can see that uh we serve the least amount in zero to one and that's because

[4:22:21] they might not be referred yet. The developmental disabilities might not be

[4:22:25] there yet um and they might not see them. Um and then our majority are in

[4:22:30] that two to three category because pediatricians everybody starts to

[4:22:33] realize when students are you know maybe struggling meeting in uh in one of those

[4:22:37] five domains meeting expectations um and we look for them there. So part B we

[4:22:43] actually have the highest number here we have 839.

[4:22:47] Um this has not raised the percentage of students with disabilities in Worcester

[4:22:53] County. We've raised, we're still at 12% of students with disabilities, but our

[4:22:58] population in Worcester County has increased. So, and then of course I'll

[4:23:02] show a little bit on the next slide. Can we go back to your part C and just make

[4:23:06] the I just want the board to know that we intentionally with the help of Bess

[4:23:10] and Wendy and Chris Welch um intentionally made that connection with

[4:23:15] that referral form of when kids don't qualify for birth to three because one

[4:23:20] of the things we know is we can identify our struggling readers as early as 18

[4:23:24] months. And so what happens is is kids are referred and then they don't

[4:23:28] necessarily qualify for the part C. And what we're what we have then is that

[4:23:34] automatic connection that goes to the Judy Center. So the Judy Center connects

[4:23:38] with them even if they don't qualify for the part C. So that was something that

[4:23:41] was is an intentional something that we've done as a team um to to help meet

[4:23:46] our reading initiative because we know if we can get them early that's where we

[4:23:49] see the most traction. So that that was something and thank you for making that

[4:23:54] accessible so that it shares out to everybody now because that's a really

[4:23:57] big deal. It seems like something small, but the problem was is when kids aren't

[4:24:01] qualifying for part C, we were missing them in our district. And so that's

[4:24:05] allowed for us not to miss any kids. And our and going from 88 to 201 um we are

[4:24:11] really Yes, we are really uh capturing our our students um and get their

[4:24:17] children babies um at that time. Okay. Um in this is uh what the disabilities

[4:24:24] within Worester County Public Schools. Um you can see that the greatest number

[4:24:28] of students with disabilities or the greatest percentage is SLD. That's our

[4:24:32] students with dyslexia, disgraphia, um those types of disabilities and

[4:24:37] that's our greatest number of students at 27 uh.4%. Maryland is at 25%. So

[4:24:43] we're right in line with Maryland. Our second is OI, other health impaired.

[4:24:47] That might be a student with ADHD. That might be a student with um diabetes that

[4:24:52] impacts their education. um it's a health related uh disability and that's

[4:24:57] at 22.4% and Maryland is at 16%. Um and autism is

[4:25:04] our third at 17.4%. Where and autism in the state is at 19%.

[4:25:10] So we're close to the state on all of those and those are our top three. I'm

[4:25:14] going to the next thing I'm going to show you is going to blow your minds

[4:25:16] though. Just look at this. our developmental delay, which is not

[4:25:22] one of the 13 IDA categories. It's actually a uh eligibility that you can

[4:25:26] identify kids from birth um not yeah birth and infants and toddlers until age

[4:25:31] eight and then they have to transfer over into one of the other 13 IDA

[4:25:35] categories. With our increased identification for students, children in

[4:25:41] part C, our developmental delay has gone up 131%. because we're we're getting the

[4:25:47] children younger and this has happened um since we've had 131% increase since

[4:25:53] 2015. Um and mainly since the 22 23 school year we've ended up you can see

[4:25:59] with the infants and toddlers how much we have uh increased [music] our

[4:26:02] outreach and our autism growth is at 70.5%. Which is huge.

[4:26:08] » I I see. >> Can I ask a question real quick?

[4:26:15] I'm sorry the the mic. It's my fault. What age? What's the earliest age they

[4:26:21] can diagnosed autism? Just asking because I had an autistic son. So,

[4:26:27] » well, the medical and the educational um there's a medical diagnosis or an

[4:26:31] educational eligibility. There's two. There's two different. So, we are

[4:26:35] education educational eligibility under IDA. Sometimes kids come with us with

[4:26:40] that autism diagnosis in in preK3, pre-K4 or they get it within infants and

[4:26:46] toddlers. Most of the time they do not that medical diagnosis, but

[4:26:49] educationally we can actually do all the assessments here and say they make the

[4:26:53] they are eligible under autism one of the those 13.

[4:26:57] » They had the educational characteristics of a child with

[4:27:00] » Right. And and when when do you see those? Well, we in like she said earlier

[4:27:05] with infants and toddlers, we we are looking for a developmental delay.

[4:27:10] » Okay. >> Um substance of those eight babies that

[4:27:13] you saw up there um those normally are come to us from the NICU and they're

[4:27:17] substance exposed newborns or a child with a medical

[4:27:23] » need or a genetic disorder. >> I'm sorry.

[4:27:26] » No, no, no. I I love the questions and we love talking about it. We could talk

[4:27:29] about it every day all day. Um, okay. So, we um we have seen a significant

[4:27:35] increase, but Maryland itself, we've seen a 70% increase since uh 2015 in

[4:27:40] autism. Maryland itself has seen a 123% increase. So, although we've seen a

[4:27:45] large increase here in Worcester, Maryland is is much um much larger than

[4:27:51] what we have seen here in Worester. >> Okay.

[4:27:55] » And it's not advancing. It's not your hair. Click here.

[4:28:00] I'll just click it. Oh, there we go. Okay. Um here is our uh heat map for our

[4:28:05] students. Um where they are placed. Uh preK 3 and four are lumped together

[4:28:10] because in our data system uh the IEP system doesn't see them as separate. So

[4:28:14] that um although they look like there's a lot there that if you divide that by

[4:28:18] two, you have about the same as everyone else. So it's about we normally sit

[4:28:23] about 50 to 60 across the 15 grades that we we service in Worcester County. Um

[4:28:28] you can see that our highest are sixth and tth grade. Well, they were the

[4:28:32] highest last year in fifth and ninth grade when I presented with you. Um our

[4:28:36] 12th grade population is one of our lowest. Um and what's great is that's

[4:28:42] because the kids have been exited along the way, which is fantastic because

[4:28:46] we're seeing more students uh be exited within Worcester County, which is

[4:28:49] fantastic because an IEP isn't a lifetime sentence. It's to help you uh

[4:28:53] get back to grade level. 68% of kids that participate in infants and toddlers

[4:28:58] in part C by grade three they will be exited with from their IEP if we get

[4:29:02] them early which is amazing. Um and then in the 12th grade it's um it's great to

[4:29:08] note that 11 of those students are our students on our 18 to 21 program which

[4:29:13] are at uh Wurwick uh community college and our project search program another

[4:29:19] uh community outreach that our community does such a wonderful job with. So, we

[4:29:24] do have a continuum of services in Worcester County Public Schools. It

[4:29:27] you're required to have one uh with um under IDA. Our students start in the

[4:29:33] regular education uh classroom. They can actually be many people, it's a myth

[4:29:38] that a special educator has to be in the classroom because the starting of the

[4:29:42] continuum is they can be in a classroom with just a general educator and they

[4:29:46] can provide services to them and the special educator can consult. we move to

[4:29:50] the next step of our continuum and that is full inclusion with special education

[4:29:55] teachers in their co-eing in and out. Um and then uh within that full inclusion

[4:30:00] classroom, the special educator, the general educator and or instructional

[4:30:03] assistant can provide those special education services um on the majority of

[4:30:07] IEPs that is on there. Um these services can also be provided outside of the

[4:30:12] classroom and you're supposed to be able to have you're supposed to have special

[4:30:15] classrooms which we do here in Worcester County Public Schools. We have our rise

[4:30:18] classrooms and then we have our Cedar Chapel Special School which is a school

[4:30:22] made up of self-contained classrooms. Um and then of course our highest uh level

[4:30:29] um or the most restrictive LRE is uh special schools, public separate day

[4:30:33] schools, homeschool homebound um and residential programs. Within all of

[4:30:39] those programs, our students are entitled to related services. Speech,

[4:30:44] OT, PT, orientation and mobility, travel training, recreational training, all of

[4:30:50] that. So, okay.

[4:30:56] Oh, there we go. Um, our le least

[4:31:00] restrictive environment is the highest uh inclusive environment in the state of

[4:31:04] Maryland. And we also have the highest um achievement in the state of Maryland.

[4:31:08] So we include our students the most and our students achieve the highest which

[4:31:12] is pretty amazing. >> That's awesome.

[4:31:14] » Yes, it's fantastic. Um and then of course we also have the least

[4:31:18] restrictive environment for preschools because why would we uh exclude them at

[4:31:21] such a young age? We need they need language and they need to be with their

[4:31:25] peers. >> Okay. Part B, some some uh data for the

[4:31:29] hardest working people in Worcester County Public Schools, which is the

[4:31:32] special education department um across the county. Um 8,794

[4:31:38] uh hours of special education uh instruction occurred weekly by all of

[4:31:43] our special education providers. 9,197 hours with the related services if you

[4:31:49] add all those related services on top. We had a 163 students attend extended

[4:31:55] school year regularly which is phenomenal when we only have 839

[4:31:59] students with disabilities. 163 of them attended extended school year which was

[4:32:03] absolutely phenomenal. and we had 60 students, which is an amazing program

[4:32:08] that participated in our work program over the summer, which is not part of

[4:32:11] the um IEP. It's part of a um collaboration that we have with Doors,

[4:32:16] the Department of Rehabilitation Services, another community outreach

[4:32:19] program. Um and all of our students go with a job coach. Uh many of our

[4:32:23] teachers uh like the rest the um the release of duties uh as of teaching

[4:32:32] and actually just going and being with a child at a job site and they love it.

[4:32:35] And we get the teachers and they work with the students and help them uh

[4:32:38] develop and develop resumeums and work and have those skills, those soft skills

[4:32:43] that are not taught in school. Um and we had 60 students and it was amazing. So,

[4:32:48] if you see any of these businesses, the Commander Hotel, Frontier Town, every

[4:32:52] all you guys can just take a little vacation there. Uh, Frontier Town, I

[4:32:55] know you want to go to some Western Park, uh, Flagship Cinemas, go to a

[4:32:59] movie, Atlantic Hotel, Jolly Rogers, and I go on and on. So, try to support these

[4:33:05] businesses that support us. But, do you have any questions,

[4:33:11] » board members? Miss Kell,

[4:33:15] » I do. Um, so if I'm understanding this correctly, part C goes from 0 to 5, but

[4:33:20] part B overlaps from 3 to 21. >> Yes.

[4:33:22] » Yeah. So, um, part C, Maryland is one of the only states that offers an extended

[4:33:27] IFSP. [music] Um, and a little bit more about the extended IFSP. An IFSP is an

[4:33:31] individualized family service plan. So, we write outcomes for the family, not

[4:33:35] for the child. So, um, it's a coaching model. So those service providers

[4:33:41] provide coaching to the caretakers that are caring for that child in their

[4:33:44] natural environment. So that would be daycarees um where uh wherever that

[4:33:49] child is during the day. We don't remove them from that environment to have them

[4:33:53] come get it services at a school. We would provide them in the in their

[4:33:56] natural environment and the caretaker is the best caretaker of the child because

[4:34:01] they know the child. So then we coach that parent to provide those or the

[4:34:05] daycare provider or the child care center. um uh we we go everywhere. Um we

[4:34:13] provide them to provide the service to the provide coaching to them to provide

[4:34:16] the service to the child. So then it happens when we're not there and that

[4:34:21] happens um birth to three and then that extended IFSP if the parent has a couple

[4:34:26] choices if the child still qualifies in part. So you get extended.

[4:34:33] So you have a a meeting with both part C and part B. So you have the whole

[4:34:37] infants and toddlers team comes. There's about nine of them. And then you have

[4:34:41] that school team, another probably about nine people come together and they

[4:34:45] decide what's best for the child. Whether that child um chooses itinerate

[4:34:49] within part B services in a school um that child goes to a prek3 classroom,

[4:34:54] that child continues in an extended IFSP and they can do that up to age five. Um

[4:35:02] many parents because we have preK3 um choose preK3.

[4:35:07] Many parents, some parents don't choose preK3. Um we find that our outcomes are

[4:35:13] greater for those families that do choose preK3 and have their kids come to

[4:35:19] us all day and then we we can intervene all day long and then hopefully to to

[4:35:23] release them from that IEP by grade uh three.

[4:35:27] » Okay, perfect. And then so so C was essentially like more encompassing of

[4:35:32] everybody involved and when they're in B it's more student related.

[4:35:37] » So part yes. So um I think you're asking yes part C is family centered and then

[4:35:42] part B is um school age. >> And then for the referral thing that you

[4:35:46] said I think that's great. The Judy Center had their QR code. You have one

[4:35:49] because somebody reached out to me a while ago that was new to the area and I

[4:35:52] reached out to somebody. I wasn't really sure where to send them. So this is

[4:35:56] great. What would you say is it's actually I'm sorry I didn't cut you off.

[4:36:00] It's actually a resource inquiry. It's not a referral because if it's a

[4:36:03] referral then it would start Judy Center's timeline. It would start our

[4:36:06] timeline. It would start start everybody. So it's a referral and then I

[4:36:10] um triage those with my um secretary and we send them out to each of the agencies

[4:36:15] that we um partner with. >> Okay. What would you say is the main

[4:36:20] difference in when you when you say qualify? Like some of them don't qualify

[4:36:23] for this. What is the main criteria differences there between C and B?

[4:36:28] » Yeah, so that's a great question. So we're not look, we are looking for a

[4:36:32] developmental delay >> in part C. So you have to have a 25%

[4:36:36] delay in one or more of the areas. So it's you know they're babies and um the

[4:36:43] milestones are much different and as they get older that it grows bigger. So,

[4:36:49] Judy Center has always come to um our meetings and then uh last year it kind

[4:36:54] of stopped a little bit with staffing and then they started to come again this

[4:36:57] year. Um so, there's been we only receive about uh half of a percentage

[4:37:03] point of referrals from the Judy Center, but we do have a great relationship with

[4:37:07] this Judy Center. Um, we receive uh I think it's it's 10% from parents and uh

[4:37:15] I want to say 80 something% from pediatricians because we have a great

[4:37:19] relationship with our pediatricians. So that QR code, you'll find the postcards.

[4:37:23] I actually saw one at the car car wash the other day. I was so happy.

[4:37:26] » Um and I took a picture of it on the floor um and then picked [laughter] it

[4:37:30] up. But um those we we cover the county in those um postcards. And once we did

[4:37:36] that and I think we did that in like 23 24 we started to see an increase um once

[4:37:41] we started to do that PR. Okay. Yeah. >> Yeah.

[4:37:46] » Any other board members? Dr. Andy's >> I just wanted to thank you for your

[4:37:51] leadership and uh I especially want to thank all of the teachers.

[4:37:55] » Yes. in the area of special education and our general education teachers who

[4:38:00] work so hard to create the data that you just shared which is significant

[4:38:05] improvements every year with a child making growth every year. So thank you.

[4:38:11] So, and I just want to say first of all, um, we have a very successful program.

[4:38:17] Um, and that's with no in no part not not due to the two of you who have

[4:38:21] worked very very diligently and hard on it and the staff that's behind you. But

[4:38:26] I wanted to say that one of the things that I think obviously it seems like the

[4:38:31] key to our success is identifying early and then getting them back into the the

[4:38:36] mainstream which which is is seems to be what we're doing and it seems to be

[4:38:41] working. >> So

[4:38:43] » locate, identify, and evaluate. That's our

[4:38:45] » identify and evaluate. Yeah, >> but I want to thank you for what you do

[4:38:50] and thank your staff and and I know it's a lot of work and you guys do a great

[4:38:53] job at it. So, thank you. We love what we do every single day.

[4:38:56] » Yes. >> And like I said, I mean, after attending

[4:38:58] this, I I do think we should do this every week. [laughter]

[4:39:04] » Okay. >> Today has really gone fit it fit well

[4:39:07] together. And just to sort of close out our academic um presentations for today,

[4:39:12] um having the Judy Center partnering with our special ed report that we will

[4:39:16] have to Mr. Fonte will ask for approval for in just a minute. um really has been

[4:39:21] has hopefully given our community and our board a full circle vision into what

[4:39:26] we're doing. And what I was speaking to earlier that I think Miss Cutlip was

[4:39:30] asking about was I had a personal experience where we actually had a had a

[4:39:34] child who got tested for speech and didn't qualify. And so what happened was

[4:39:40] is like no one told us, hey, there's a Judy Center. And so that's something

[4:39:43] that we've been very intentional about. we had and talked about of making sure

[4:39:48] because like I wish we had known that there was and I'm in education and I I

[4:39:52] like it's new it's it was new to me at the time because I wasn't I was in a

[4:39:56] different role. Um, and so making sure like all of our things are connected

[4:40:00] together and we've been looking at our data very closely and our growth data

[4:40:04] very closely over the past year and I will tell you between the Judy Center

[4:40:10] and these ladies and their teams at up to first grade that's where we're moving

[4:40:14] kids and so like our third grade scores are in great part to the work that we do

[4:40:21] before our students even get to us. And the data tells us that like if we don't

[4:40:26] solve it by then, we in general don't solve it and no school system solves it.

[4:40:31] So the we're going to be spending lots of intentional time continuing to make

[4:40:36] like 1% adjustments to our programs that support our earliest learners. Um

[4:40:42] because that is where we see and like when we get them in preK3, we see the

[4:40:46] most definitely bang for our buck there. um because we had them all day and

[4:40:50] they're in they're in the setting that we want for them to get because at that

[4:40:53] age there's it's so much social like all of those things are like learn through

[4:40:57] social and play and so they're so so important. So truly thank you to the two

[4:41:02] of you for your leadership because you change kids lives every day.

[4:41:06] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[4:41:08] » So board the superintendent recommends this. Thank you. Sorry,

[4:41:13] » the superintendent recommends this and I'm going to ask for a motion and a

[4:41:16] second to approve the 2026 2027 special education staffing plan as presented.

[4:41:21] » Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Cuddlip.

[4:41:24] » A second by Mr. Gordy. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Thank you so much. And now

[4:41:29] I'm going to turn it back over to Dr. Record to begin the administrative and

[4:41:32] physical operations portion of our agenda.

[4:41:37] » Thank you, Mr. Fonte. Um, in the personnel exhibit as presented, uh, we

[4:41:43] have new hires. Linda Garcia, educational assistant,

[4:41:49] Berlin Intermediate School, Deutborn, educational assistant, Ocean

[4:41:55] City Elementary School. Nicole Nelson, cafeteria manager, Ocean City Elementary

[4:42:01] School. The superintendent would recommend the

[4:42:05] personnel exhibit as presented and discussed in close session.

[4:42:10] » Okay. Can I have a motion to approve the personnel exhibit as presented and

[4:42:16] discussed today in close session? >> So moved.

[4:42:18] » Motion by Mrs. Mccomomas. >> Second.

[4:42:20] » A second by Miss Scotip. All in favor? I.

[4:42:23] » Any opposed? Thank you very much, Dr. Record.

[4:42:26] » Okay. And now um going to turn it back over to you for policy revisions because

[4:42:31] we have quite a few of them. >> Yes. If you would find it appropriate,

[4:42:36] can I move to the >> Yes. Absolutely.

[4:42:40] » Board, in your packet, you have the policy revisions that you can follow

[4:42:44] along.

[4:43:02] Mr. Fante, if the board finds it acceptable, uh, if you'd like me, I can

[4:43:07] go over each of these now and then if you would and you can vote on them and

[4:43:11] if you want me to pull any of specific policies, I can do so.

[4:43:14] » Yeah. What we'll do is you'll start with the grading policy and we'll work our

[4:43:18] way down. If there's any questions board members can ask, uh, then we'll just

[4:43:22] approve them all at one time unless there's any changes. Okay.

[4:43:25] » All right. Thank you. So, going in the order that I believe it is in your

[4:43:29] packet, u policy 2B8

[4:43:34] is the uh markup copy, excuse me, grading policy. Uh that policy uh notes

[4:43:41] changes at minor language changes. It also aligns with our current practice in

[4:43:46] the area of section B. If you look in section B, it adds the preK component.

[4:43:52] And additionally in section B the changes align to our current practice in

[4:43:56] the dual enrollment program uh which is currently u uh allows us to meet the

[4:44:02] requirements of the blueprint. The second the last in this policy is the

[4:44:07] language change in section F which is a uh very minor language change in the

[4:44:14] change of the um person that oversees that department an area of digital

[4:44:20] learning.

[4:44:24] » Dr. Andy's >> um I just have one suggestion and that

[4:44:29] is F2. Um I really like Diane Stoultz. She does a fabulous job, but I don't

[4:44:35] think we should specifically name the individual in a policy

[4:44:39] » that uh Dr. Andy is that her name is in there because that is required by law

[4:44:43] now for the name of the person to be in that policy.

[4:44:46] » It's required by law. >> That's why it's not new. See how it's in

[4:44:49] the black because it's already there. >> But what if the I'll ask the

[4:44:53] » You have to change your Yeah, >> you have to change it on

[4:44:55] » You have to change the policy. >> I'm I'm change the person

[4:44:58] » because I was the originator of the policy changing to have Diane Sultz in

[4:45:02] black. noticed that the change in the policy is not Diane's name. It is just

[4:45:06] the title there. >> Okay. So Diane, I love Diane Stall.

[4:45:11] She's fabulous. There's nothing against Diane.

[4:45:14] » Correct. >> So that name stays there or that name.

[4:45:17] » Can we just change it to current? Add the word current. Would that help or no

[4:45:21] what he's saying?

[4:45:24] » This is last year's policy. The only change

[4:45:28] was I don't know why the state with a new policy a couple of years ago. So the

[4:45:35] change to the policy I'm sorry I I never forget that the change I'm getting tired

[4:45:40] the change to the policy is just the title there her name is already in that

[4:45:45] because that was required and we had to send that to the state that way.

[4:45:49] » I know it is seems very >> odd

[4:45:53] » odd. I'll let you say it. >> Yeah. Okay. Well, we understand we have

[4:45:58] to follow what the state's regulation is. Any other board members have any

[4:46:01] other um questions or changes to this policy? Okay, Dr. Recker, you go. We'll

[4:46:07] move to the next one. >> All right. Hazardous walk-in conditions

[4:46:10] policy 6A6. You'll note that it's a simple language

[4:46:14] change moving from supervisor to manager. [snorts]

[4:46:20] » Any questions, board? It's very simple, just supervisor to manager. Okay, Dr.

[4:46:26] Record, good. Absence of bus contractors policy 6B4.

[4:46:30] You'll notice two areas, excuse me, three areas of a language change,

[4:46:34] changing supervisor to manager. >> Okay.

[4:46:39] Board members, any questions? Okay, Dr. Re, move forward.

[4:46:45] » And school safety and security and school closure policy 7004.

[4:46:51] There's a minor language change in supervisor to manager.

[4:46:57] Okay, board members, any questions? >> The superintendent

[4:47:03] seeks approval for the policy changes as presented.

[4:47:06] » Okay, board members, if there's no other questions, can I have a motion and a

[4:47:10] second to approve the revised policy uh as presented today?

[4:47:15] » So, move. >> Motion by Miss Mccomomas.

[4:47:18] » Second by Mr. Buchanan. All those in favor? I.

[4:47:20] » Any opposed? Thank you, Dr. Appreciate that. Um, also you're the presenter, so

[4:47:27] when you get back up to the podium, we'll go through the negotiating teams.

[4:47:47] Thank you, Mr. Fonte. As an information item, there are negotiated team members

[4:47:51] that have been submitted and uh each year the board um meets and meets

[4:47:58] confers and negotiates uh with both uh collective bargaining units, unit one

[4:48:04] and unit three. Uh unit one being the Worcester County Teachers Association.

[4:48:08] The following members are listed for the board side of the negotiation team.

[4:48:18] » [snorts] >> Uh, Jennifer Sills, Vince Tolbert,

[4:48:21] Carrie Steers, Dr. Michael Brown, and Teresa Torpey.

[4:48:27] » And don't forget yourself >> and and myself. Yep. Sorry. Uh um,

[4:48:31] additionally, the Worcester County Educational Support and Professional

[4:48:34] Association also negotiates with the board and uh, that is unit three and

[4:48:40] those negotiated negotiation teams are presented. myself, Jennifer Sills, Vince

[4:48:45] Tolbert, Carrie Steers, Mr. Ois Collins, Mr. Sam Sleikum, and Dr. Jennifer Rain.

[4:48:54] » Okay. And we have a excellent working

[4:48:57] relationship with uh both of our associations. Uh I know Dr. Wallace um

[4:49:02] meets and discusses in um but when it comes time for contract negotiations

[4:49:07] each year, it is a requirement. The negotiation teams will submit their uh

[4:49:13] teams to us in the future months and then with your uh permission under the

[4:49:18] guise and direction of the superintendent we will begin the

[4:49:21] negotiating process. >> Yes, this is updated annually in

[4:49:24] September board. So we always see these come before us just to let us know who

[4:49:28] is on the negotiation teams. >> Okay.

[4:49:31] » I just my only question is who decided these teams?

[4:49:34] » Uh the the superintendent appoints these.

[4:49:37] » Okay. Yes, >> I will tell you we decide on these teams

[4:49:41] yearly. We meet as an executive team is a decision we make. In the past, um

[4:49:46] historically in our historically, um the same people served on the negotiating

[4:49:52] teams for lots of times. And so since I become the

[4:49:57] superintendent, I have made sure on a rotating basis that every single

[4:50:00] principal is getting an opportunity to serve on the negotiating team. So you

[4:50:05] will see different names here than you saw last year and you will see different

[4:50:08] names next year because I believe it's important for everyone to be a part of

[4:50:11] the process. Not for example Annette Wallace to serve on the negotiating team

[4:50:15] seven times because we you know we only have those two slots. So we're rotating

[4:50:19] and we've made sure I believe we're down to one principal who has not served yet

[4:50:26] these people of these principles have ever served.

[4:50:33] Any other questions, board members? Okay, moving forward. Um, we have the

[4:50:38] FY28 capital improvement program and um Dr. Cook will be up here to educate us

[4:50:45] on that.

[4:50:50] Welcome back.

[4:50:55] All right. Thank you, Mr. Ferrante and fellow board members.

[4:50:59] Each year the local every local education agency is required to submit a

[4:51:03] capital improvement program or CIP to the inter agency commission on school

[4:51:08] construction. This year's submission format may look slightly different um

[4:51:12] from previous years as the IA has recently as September 1st launched its

[4:51:18] new business management system process for collecting CIP requests. So if

[4:51:22] anybody has seen one in the past it looks slightly different. Um, as

[4:51:27] reflected in your board packet, the IST is still working through some technical

[4:51:30] issues within the new platform. However, our staff has been working closely with

[4:51:34] the IA to ensure our submission is completed accurately and that any system

[4:51:40] generated errors are addressed promptly. Turning now to the FY28 capital

[4:51:45] improvement program. This year's request includes several key projects that align

[4:51:49] with the memorandum of of understanding previously approved by the Worcester

[4:51:53] County Board of Education, Worcester County government, and the IAC. These

[4:51:58] requests include construction funding for Buckingham Elementary School

[4:52:01] replacement project, construction funding for the Berlin intermediate

[4:52:06] school replacement project. Also, the CIP includes construction funding for

[4:52:10] Worcester Technical High School roof replacement project. In addition, the

[4:52:14] CIP identifies future capital priorities along with the projected timelines and

[4:52:19] estimated costs, including a roof replacement project at Steven Kater High

[4:52:24] School, a roof replacement project at Ocean City Elementary School. This

[4:52:30] afternoon, the superintendent recommends board approval of the fiscy year FY28

[4:52:35] capital improvement program and authorization to submit the plan to the

[4:52:38] inter agency commission on school construction for state review and

[4:52:42] consideration. Okay, everybody had an opportunity to

[4:52:46] read their 42 pages the capital improvement program. Dr. Annies, I know

[4:52:51] you did. So, you have a comment, sir? >> Yes. I I just wanted to thank Brian, Dr.

[4:52:57] Cook, for the excellent job that he's doing uh in preparing this report as

[4:53:03] well as the other areas of school construction, renovation, those type

[4:53:07] things. In my conversation with Dr. Cook, I just want to reiterate what he

[4:53:12] just said. On September 1st, the IA changed the forms

[4:53:17] and expected uh everyone to be able to complete those

[4:53:21] forms. However, in changing those forms, they did not take in consideration all

[4:53:27] the different nuances of the 24 different school systems in the state of

[4:53:32] Maryland, such as, as an example, we have anou. So when you put theou numbers

[4:53:38] into that magic form that they have, all of a sudden it doesn't work quite right.

[4:53:42] So if you when you look at the um RCIP, you'll notice that Dr. Cook put a

[4:53:48] footnote in there to help everyone understand that the numbers that they

[4:53:52] see don't necessarily adhere to the numbers they may be expecting because

[4:53:59] the numbers simply don't click because that form from the IA when you put in a

[4:54:04] number it populates other places. So consequently,

[4:54:09] I'm hoping uh by the time we present the CIP to our county government because

[4:54:14] that's the next step after our board approves it, that will be fixed by the

[4:54:19] uh inter agency commission on school construction and we'll be able to be

[4:54:23] able to provide them with what I refer to as a clean form. I hope what I just

[4:54:30] said makes sense to everyone. >> Yes. Um September 1st is a very odd time

[4:54:34] to to enroll roll out a form that's statewide and not really test piloted.

[4:54:41] Um we got to see it in um versions in the summer, but we didn't actually get

[4:54:45] to touch it until September 1st when it became live. So not not really the

[4:54:50] timing I would have preferred. However, um we've worked with our local contact

[4:54:56] person and every time we find errors, which we have found errors that we've

[4:55:00] made sure that we've communicated them. So our piece on their side is accurate.

[4:55:05] » And just one question, when does the inter agency commission on

[4:55:09] school construction want this one our CIP submitted?

[4:55:13] » Um it will be submitted on October 5th. Um just for those of you guys watching a

[4:55:18] timeline that is the day before our next commissioner meeting, we've we've gone

[4:55:22] and communicated that their timeline no longer works with our timeline as well

[4:55:26] as multiple agencies for the state. So, they will allow us to once we go to

[4:55:31] Worcester County Commissioners, we'll get that hopefully get our acceptance

[4:55:34] letters and we'll be able to add that as an addendum onto our application.

[4:55:39] » So, just to clarify so everyone in the community understands, we get a new form

[4:55:42] on September 1 and they expect everything to be submitted to them by

[4:55:46] October >> 5th.

[4:55:47] » 5th. So, I I thank you for your work. I thank

[4:55:51] you for working through it. I thank you for working with the staff at the IA uh

[4:55:56] to get through these what I call hiccups.

[4:56:00] » There have been some technical challenges on their side. Yes.

[4:56:03] » Thank you. Any other board members? Dr. Cook, thanks for all your hard work on

[4:56:08] this project. It's appreciated, especially with the changes coming

[4:56:12] before you. So, um it's not sometimes they don't make it easy, but uh we

[4:56:18] appreciate it. And um without any other um questions, can I have a motion and a

[4:56:23] second to approve the FY2028 capital improvement program and the

[4:56:28] authorization to submit the approved CIP to the inter agency commission on school

[4:56:33] construction as presented? >> So moved.

[4:56:35] » Motion by Dr. Andes. >> Second.

[4:56:37] » Second by Miss Mccomomas. All in favor? >> I.

[4:56:40] » Any opposed? Thank you, Dr. Cook. >> Thank you.

[4:56:44] » And now I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Wallace for our next agenda item. Yes,

[4:56:48] thank you, Mr. Fonte. Uh, just to give the board and community a little bit of

[4:56:51] background, and Mr. Tolburn might have to help me with this number. The county

[4:56:55] commissioners uh, in either 2004 or 2009, do you remember which year it was?

[4:57:00] » 2009. >> 2009. Yes. So, they set up the trust and

[4:57:04] um, signed a document that said there would be an OPED investment committee to

[4:57:09] our knowledge and the OPED investment committee and Mr. Tolbert since he's

[4:57:14] been here and I don't know what year he started but I would guess he was here in

[4:57:17] 2009 um has not met and we're fairly

[4:57:21] confident that perhaps they have not met because the board has a member that is

[4:57:25] appointed that the board of appoints uh I'll bring you I'm bringing you a

[4:57:28] recommendation to appoint um nonetheless we got Mr. Mr. Tolbert was notified that

[4:57:33] they would be beginning this uh to meet again or meet start meeting I don't know

[4:57:38] either uh and that the board I asked for the documents uh supporting that we were

[4:57:43] sent those from the county um and it does state that I uh that the board will

[4:57:48] actually has to actually appoint someone to this committee. So um it is my

[4:57:52] recommendation that our board appoint Mr. Tolbert who was our chief financial

[4:57:57] officer as our representative to serve on the OPED um investment committee for

[4:58:01] Worester County. >> Okay board I think um it was

[4:58:04] Commissioner Gulius >> who was instrumental in in starting uh

[4:58:08] this committee um at that time and uh with that I'll call for a motion and a

[4:58:13] second to appoint Vince Tolbert to serve as the board of education's

[4:58:17] representative on the uh county's OPED committee.

[4:58:21] » Motion by Mr. Buchanan. >> Second

[4:58:23] » a second by Miss Mccomomas. All those in favor?

[4:58:26] » I >> Okay. Any opposed? Great. Vince, you got

[4:58:28] a new job. >> Thank you. [laughter]

[4:58:33] » Thank you, Vince. Appreciate it. >> Okay. Now, it's time for me to open up

[4:58:39] the floor to our fellow board members for any comments they may have uh

[4:58:43] regarding school system or anything they'd like to discuss.

[4:58:48] Mrs. Cutlet. >> Um, first I would like to say that you

[4:58:52] guys do a great job. Good job on the slides. It was nice to see all the

[4:58:56] excitement at like the first week back to school, first week or two. So, kudos

[4:59:00] on that. Um, safe homecoming [clears throat] to Decatur for Hokco

[4:59:04] weekend for all the kids. I know they're super excited about that. Um, the next

[4:59:09] thing I would like to say, I hate to do it, but it has to be said, especially on

[4:59:13] a day where it was so exciting and like a positive, uplifting, everything kind

[4:59:16] of went to another, but somebody a staff member reached out a few days ago. So,

[4:59:20] I'm going to um just kind of comment on that, but it was already something that

[4:59:24] was on my own personal radar. I did have a staff member reach out um and express

[4:59:29] some sincere disappointment, which I do wholeheartedly share to be honest, about

[4:59:35] the lack of public

[4:59:39] remembrance of 911. It was also the 25th year anniversary of this attack by

[4:59:45] terrorists on our country. We lost nearly 3,000 people that day.

[4:59:50] I don't have a problem seeing that morning. I woke up personally and I put

[4:59:53] something on my page. I put something on my business page and um all I saw that

[4:59:59] day was something saying happy Russia Shana which is totally fine. I have no

[5:00:03] problem with that. However, I do think that considering

[5:00:08] the significance of that day that we should have done something um first

[5:00:12] responders, the aftermath, the unity also of America. I mean, we have

[5:00:18] students of all different backgrounds, all different races, all different

[5:00:20] religions. I do think that this was a missed opportunity and I do share the

[5:00:25] disappointment from that person that reached out. So, I I just have to say

[5:00:28] it. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, any other board

[5:00:33] members? Dr. Andy's. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Fronti. I wanted to

[5:00:37] express my sincere thanks and appreciation to, as our superintendent

[5:00:42] said in her report, everyone who worked hard this summer to get our schools

[5:00:45] ready. uh board of education members. We were at every single school on the first

[5:00:51] day and it's just absolutely incredible to see the cleanliness of the building,

[5:00:58] the teacher engagement into the classrooms, seeing the classrooms

[5:01:02] prepared all for our students to welcome them back. The smiles on their faces,

[5:01:07] everybody was happy. The weather was perfect. It was a grand and glorious

[5:01:12] day. And I just want to thank everyone who works so hard to make sure that the

[5:01:17] first day of school, which in many ways is probably the one of the most

[5:01:21] important days of the school school year successful. And I also want to do a

[5:01:26] shout out to the early childhood three four kindergarten. I don't know how they

[5:01:32] get all the kids on the right buses. I don't know how they do it. and to our

[5:01:36] bus contractors who in their big yellow stretch limousines successfully get

[5:01:42] those three and four year olds and five year olds to the right houses at the end

[5:01:46] of the day. I I don't know how they do it, but I want just want to thank them.

[5:01:51] And finally, I want to shout out and thank our faith community.

[5:01:56] our our faith community stood up for us and as you saw recognized today, they do

[5:02:03] so many things for us in helping support our students in in just providing

[5:02:09] supplies and materials and encouragement and all of those kinds of things each

[5:02:15] and every day. So, I want to thank our faith community. And when I was a high

[5:02:19] school teacher, assistant principal and principal, I could walk down the hall or

[5:02:25] had kids in the class and I knew who which kids were part of a faith

[5:02:29] community. I could tell it right away. So, thank

[5:02:35] you faith community. Thank you Sunday school teachers. Thank you pastors.

[5:02:40] Thank you lay leaders. Thank you for everything you do to help our students

[5:02:45] live, learn, and grow in faith. Thank you.

[5:02:51] » Thank you. Any other board members? Okay, seeing none, um I'm going to turn

[5:02:57] it over to Dr. Wallace because she has some um announcements and important

[5:03:01] dates to share with us. >> Just a couple. Thank you, Mr. Fonte. Um

[5:03:05] on October 7th, our elementary and high schools are closed for students. Um and

[5:03:09] we will have professional development um on the for those uh grade bands and our

[5:03:16] middle schools will be open on that day. On October 16th, schools and offices are

[5:03:22] closed for the MSEA uh convention. That is the education and support staff

[5:03:26] convention in Ocean City. Um and then on October 21st is our next regularly

[5:03:31] scheduled board meeting. But remember, I think on the 22nd maybe you have to

[5:03:35] decorate your trunk like a story. So, don't don't forget about that, too.

[5:03:39] Maybe. Yeah, the 22nd. >> Yeah. And I think Yeah, I I I was just

[5:03:45] getting ready to I was on top of it, Don. I was just getting to remind

[5:03:48] everyone that our next board meeting because of uh we have some meetings in

[5:03:52] Annapolis will be on a Wednesday. So, that'll be on October 21st, which is a

[5:03:57] Wednesday. And with that board, I'll ask for a motion and a second to adjourn

[5:04:02] today's open session meeting. A motion by Miss Conlet and a second by Miss

[5:04:07] Mccomomas. All those in favor? Any oppos?

[5:04:11] » We are ajourned.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Education - Sep 15 2026

Transcript