THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE".

COMING UP, A MARYLAND COMMUNITY DEALING WITH WELL CONTAMINATION AND FAST TIMES FOR A MARYLAND TRACK TEAM.

BUT WE BEGIN THIS WEEK WITH TURNING FEDS INTO EDS, LAID OFF FEDERAL WORKERS ARE BEING RECRUITED TO FILL CLASSROOM VACANCIES AS NEWLY TRAINED TEACHERS.

WE SPOKE WITH GLENDA HERNANDEZ TITTLE MONTGOMERY COLLEGE'S SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.

[♪♪] >> SO MONTGOMERY COLLEGE HAS ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE BUSINESS OF ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION WHICH IS A FASTER PACED PATHWAY TO TEACHING.

AND WHEN WE HEARD THE CALLS FROM GOVERNOR WES MOORE AND SAW THE OPPORTUNITY FROM MARYLAND HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION TO SUBMIT A GRANTS, WE DECIDED TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY PROVIDED THROUGH OUR ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, WHICH, AGAIN, IS A FAST-PACED WAY TO GET INTO THE CLASSROOM FOR CAREER CHANGERS.

IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD MATCH AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE TRADITIONAL PATH TO BEING AUTHORIZED TO TEACH IN A MARYLAND PUBLIC SCHOOL?

AND HOW DOES THIS ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM DIFFER?

>> THE TRADITIONAL PATH, THE MAJORITY WAS LIKE MYSELF GO THROUGH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE A FULL BACHELOR'S DEGREE IT INCLUDES TYPICALLY A ONE-YEAR OF STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE.

IN ADDITION TO A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE YOU HAVE TO MEET WHAT WE CALL STATE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS.

SO YOU CAN RECEIVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PASS ADDITIONAL TESTS ENSURE THAT YOU SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE YOUR STUDENT TEACHING ET CETERA.

ANOTHER MORE TRADITIONAL PATH IS A MASTERS PROGRAM.

IT'S SOMEONE, LET'S SAY, HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY.

AND THEY DECIDE TO BE A TEACHER THEY CAN GO THROUGH A FULL TRADITIONAL MASTERS PROGRAM.

IN AN ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SUCH AS ASAT, WE FAST PACE AND REALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EXPERIENCE THAT OUR APPLICANTINGS MAY HAVE.

AND SO THE COURSE WORK IS MUCH MORE ACCELERATED AS OPPOSED TO THREE YEARS OF COURSE WORK IT'S THREE TO SIX MONTHS OF COURSE WORK AS OPPOSED TO A YEAR OF STUDENT TEACHING, IT CAN BE AS FEW AS SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.

WE SUPPORT THEM WITH ANY ADDITIONAL LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS WITH THE STATE.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR CANDIDATES INTO THE CLASSROOM WITHIN THE NINE MONTHS OF STARTING PROGRAM, SOMETIMES EARLIER.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY IS COMING OUT OF FEDERAL SERVICE, MOST LIKELY NOT NECESSARILY HAD A BACHELOR'S DEGREE, PROBABLY AN UNRELATED FIELD DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT THE FIELD WAS?

>> IT DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT THE FIELD WAS.

HOWEVER, YOU DO HAVE TO MEET CONTENTS REQUIREMENTS BY PASSING AN EXAM.

AND IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND IT'S THE PROCESS EXAM EVERY CONTENTS AREA HAS A CORRESPONDING CONTENT EXAM.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE AN ENGLISH DEGREE BUT I WANT TO BE A MATH TEACHER YOU CAN TAKE THE PROCESS IN MATH TO SHOW YOUR CONTENTS EXPERTISE.

THERE IS A COUPLE OF OPTIONS IN SHOWING YOUR CONTENT EXPERTISE IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU ARE ARE UNDERGRADUATE YOUR MASTERS EVEN IF YOUR PH.D. IS NOT IN EDUCATION THAT IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH OUR FEDERAL CANDIDATES.

THEY ARE COMING IN WITH VERY JUST INCREDIBLE CREDENTIALS.

THE MAJORITY OF THOSE APPLICANTS ACTUALLY HAVE A PH.D.

SOMETIMES DOUBLE PH.D.'S.

SOME HAVE MEDICAL DEGREES.

ONCE AGAIN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE IN THE CORRESPONDING AREA YOU WANT TO TEACH IN.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER FOR A WHILE AND FIND OUT IF THEY LIKE IT IF THEY ARE GOOD AT IT YOU DON'T NEED MOST OF THIS STUFF, RIGHT?

>> WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU SUBSTITUTE TEACH.

WE THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT WAY FOR YOU TO REALLY FIND OUT IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO THIS FIELD.

TEACHING IS DEMANDING, I BELIEVE IN MY CORE IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT FIELD YOU CAN GO INTO.

BUT IT IS A DEMANDING FIELD.

WE DO HAVE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS WHO APPLY TO OUR PROGRAM BECAUSE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER ARE ACTUALLY DIFFERENT THAN TO BE A FULLY LICENSED TEACHER.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW INDIVIDUALS APPLICANTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND WANT TO GET THEIR FULL CREDENTIAL AND LICENSING THROUGH OUR PROGRAM.

>> Jeff: AND ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT TEACHING AND YOU WOULD KNOW THIS AS A FORMER CLASSROOM TEACHER IS THAT HOPEFULLY IT'S ONE OF THE FIELDS THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL HAVE THE HARDEST TIME PENETRATING.

THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR WHAT THE HUMAN TO HUMAN INTERACTION IN THE CLASSROOM.

IS THERE?

>> NO.

ABSOLUTELY NOT, JEFF, THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

AND YOU KNOW, TECHNOLOGY IS WONDERFUL IN A CLASSROOM.

A.I.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A USE FOR IT.

BUT WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN, IN ORDER FOR HUMANS TO LEARN, THERE HAS TO BE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE FEEL SAFE, WHERE WE FEEL INCLUDED, WHERE WE'RE ALLOWED TO FEEL VULNERABLE.

AND TEACHERS ARE INCREDIBLY POWERFUL.

IN BUILDING THOSE ENVIRONMENTS.

YES, WE WELCOME THE TECHNOLOGY, WE WELCOME THE A.I.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE TEACHERS WILL EVER GO AWAY BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES WHO MANAGE HOW ALL THAT WORKS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Jeff: SO MONTGOMERY COLLEGE HAS GOTTEN A GRANT TO HELP GET THIS PROGRAM UP TO SPEED, ACCELERATE IT.

IS THERE A COST TO THE STUDENT?

>> THERE IS.

AND THE COST REALLY VARIES.

BECAUSE SEVERAL OF OUR APPLICANTS ACTUALLY COME IN AS SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS THEY MAYBE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THEY MAYBE PARAEDUCATORS.

IF THEY ARE CURRENTLY IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BENEFIT IS TO SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

PART OF THE PROGRAM IS COVERED THROUGH MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.

FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT CURRENTLY MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A COST TO THEM.

WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MARYLAND HIGHER-ED COMMISSION TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.

BUT I DO ALWAYS EMPHASIZE, JEFF, THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A COST, IT'S STILL A LOT LESS TIME AND IT'S STILL A LOT MORE COST-EFFECTIVE GOING THROUGH SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS THAN THE OPTION OF A MASTERS DEGREE.

INDIVIDUALS NEED TO CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM.

BECAUSE SOME FOLKS DO WANT TO PURSUE A MASTERS DEGREE AND THERE'S PATHWAYS TO DO THAT.

>> Jeff: LET'S TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE TRANSITION FACING SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE IF THEY PUT IN A DECADE, THEY WERE PROBABLY MAKING YOU KNOW, DECENT MONEY.

AND THIS MEANS STARTING OVER.

ENTRY LEVEL TEACHERS SALARIES HAVE BEEN IMPROVED.

BUT YOU ARE NOT COMING IN AT THE TOP OF THE ASSERT LADDER AND IT'S ALSO A DIFFERENT JOB THAN TAKING THE METRO TO FEDERAL TRIANGLE, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ROOMFUL OF KIDS.

WHAT STANDS OUT FOR YOU ABOUT THE TRANSITION THAT A LOT OF OUR NEIGHBORS ARE MAKING?

>> YEAH, THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

AND SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW AS WE WE WERE REFLECTING HOW WE COULD EXPAND ASAT AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN THINKING ABOUT WE DEFINITELY WANT TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THOSE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO ARE TRANSITIONING.

BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY PROTECTIVE OF WHO GOES IN THE CLASSROOM AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT EXCELLENT TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO FOR OUR PROGRAM, JEFF, WE DO INTERVIEW AND WE DO WANT TO KNOW WHY INDIVIDUALS WANT TO BE TEACHERS.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE THAT INTEREST TO REALLY WANT TO WORK WITH STUDENTS.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS, CANDIDATES WHO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE EXPERTISE IN THEIR CONTENT AREA.

BUT KNOWLEDGE AND CONTENT AREA DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING.

BEING ABLE TO BE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT.

SO, I THINK, WE'VE HAD A REALLY EFFECTIVE WAY OF DISCUSSING THIS.

OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS, ASKING OUR CANDIDATES WHY THEY WANT TO DO THIS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM CANDIDATES IS YOU KNOW, THIS JUST HAPPENED TO ME.

IT'S NOT GREAT, HOWEVER I COME FROM A FAMILY OF TEACHERS.

AND I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO DO THIS NOW.

OR WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE JUST BEEN ENGAGED EITHER IN PTA AND TUTORING AND IN COACHING, AND IT'S BEEN A CALLING THAT HAS BEEN THERE AND THEY'VE DECIDED TO DO THIS.

SO WE HAVE REALLY TRIED TO IDENTIFY WHO WE THINK WOULD BE A GOOD FIT.

WE WANT THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THEY WILL BE SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHER IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

BUT THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE ARE ENGAGING IN IS ADDING ADDITIONAL COACHING TO FOR THESE CANDIDATES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHIFTED AND WE CHANGED.

WE DO KNOW THAT COACHING IS VERY EFFECTIVE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALREADY HAS A LOT OF SUPPORTS FOR THEIR BEGINNING TEACHERS.

BUT ADDITIONAL COACHING IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE TO SUPPORT THE SUCCESS OF THESE CANDIDATES.

>> Jeff: IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE SOMEONE SHOULD KNOW WHO IS CONSIDERING ENROLLING IN A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, EITHER MONTGOMERY COUNTY MONTGOMERY COLLEGE OR ANOTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGE AROUND THE STATE?

>> SURE.

WELL, ONCE AGAIN, I'M A TEACHER SO I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FIELDS YOU CAN GO INTO.

WE NEED GREAT TEACHERS.

EDUCATION IMPACTS ALL OF US, RIGHT?

WHETHER IT'S OUR CHILDREN, OUR GRANDS CHILDREN OUR NEIGHBORS.

YOU KNOW OUR OVERALL COMMUNITIES.

AND THERE ARE PATHWAYS OUT THERE AND IF THAT IS AN INTEREST OF YOURS, EXPLORE THE MANY DIFFERENT PATHWAYS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED DUE TO THIS CALL FROM THE GOVERNOR AND IMPACT AND IF THERE'S AN INTEREST, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A PATH FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO PURSUE EDUCATION AND BECOME TEACHERS.

>> Jeff: GLENDA HERNANDEZ TITTLE OF MONTGOMERY COLLEGE WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, JEFF.

>> Jeff: NOW TO A COMMUNITY DEALING WITH WELL CONTAMINATION, THE WATER IN HAMPSTEAD IN CARROLL COUNTY HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR PFAS CHEMICALS KNOWN AS FOREVER CHEMICALS.

WE SPOKE WITH THE TOWN MANAGER JIM ROARK AND PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR KEVIN HANN.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TELL US HOW THE WATER SYSTEM WORKS THIS IS ALL FROM WELLS?

>> IT IS.

WE ALL HAVE A GROUND WATER REUSE THAT'S PULLED FROM WELLS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.

RIGHT NOW, BASICALLY, THE WATER IS TREATED INDIVIDUALLY AT A PUMPHOUSE AT EACH WELL.

SINCE WE'VE HAD THIS ISSUE COME UP, WE'RE NOW GOING TO CONSOLIDATE OUR WATER SYSTEM.

AND BUILD LARGER WATER TREATMENT PLANTS THAT WILL TAKE THE RAW WATER FROM MANY WELLS AND TREAT IT ALL THERE.

>> Jeff: Mr. HANN, HOW DID THIS MATTER COME TO YOUR ATTENTION?

>> SO IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020 WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT TELLING US THEY WERE COMING OUT TO SAMPLE OUR PRODUCTION WELLS FOR EMERGING CONTAMINANT AND WE ARE GOING TO REFER TO IT AS THE PFAS FAMILY.

THEY CAME OUT AND THEY TOOK THE SAMPLES IN OCTOBER OF 2020.

WE HAD NEVER BEEN SAMPLED PRIOR TO THAT FOR ANY OF THE PFAS FAMILY OF CHEMICALS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.

I REACHED OUT TO COLLEAGUES IN THE INDUSTRY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD EXPECT.

AND I WAS HEARING FROM EVERYBODY YOU SHOULD BE FINE YOU DON'T HAVE A FIREFIGHTING ACADEMY, YOU DONTS A HAVE AN AIRPORT OR MILITARY BASE.

SO THEY CAME OUT AND GOT THE SAMPLES IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM MDE SAYING WE NEEDED TO SHUTOFF TWO OF OUR PRODUCTION WELLS BECAUSE THEY WERE OVER THE HEALTH ACTION LIMIT AT THAT TIME.

AND WE DID THAT ON THAT VERY DAY.

AND THEN IN LATER NOVEMBER WE RECEIVED CONFIRMATION OF OUR WORST FEARS THAT BASICALLY, PFAS WAS DETECTED IN A MAJORITY OF OUR PRODUCTION WELLS.

SO WE IMMEDIATELY SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND STARTED TO DEVELOP THE PLAN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON TODAY.

>> Jeff: WAS THERE A MANUFACTURER OR SOME COMPANY NEARBY THAT THIS COULD HAVE COME FROM?

>> SO THE PFAS FAMILY OF CHEMICALS IS SO PREVALENT IN SO MANY ASPECTS OF CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND ACROSS MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

AT THIS TIME WE DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA OF ONE SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTOR TO THE CONTAMINATION.

BUT MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT IS ALWAYS LOOKING AND WORKING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE POSSIBLE SOURCE WAS.

>> Jeff: Mr. ROURKE WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE LEVEL OF CONCERN AMONG RESIDENTS?

>> THERE WAS SOME CONCERN AT THE BEGINNING.

IT WASN'T OVERWHELMING.

BUT THE WAY WE'VE JUMPED RIGHT ON THIS AND THE LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY, WE HAVE BEEN WITH IT, AND NOW THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND NEXT MONTH PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

AND WE'RE NOT WAITING AROUND WE'RE GETTING RIGHT INTO ALLEVIATING THE PFAS ISSUE AND PROVIDING CLEANER WATER TO OUR RESIDENTS.

>> Jeff: WELL, TELL US WHAT YOU'RE BREAKING GROUND ON I UNDERSTAND IT IS A $30 MILLION PROJECT TWO-THIRDS COMING FROM THE STATE?

>> $30 MILLION.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, HAMPSTEAD HAS 6400 RESIDENTS SO THAT IS QUITE THE BIG HIT.

LUCKILY WE HAVE RECEIVED ALMOST $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY.

WE APPLIED FOR IT BACK IN JANUARY OF 2023.

AND WE'RE NOTIFIED IN NOVEMBER.

SO THAT'S GOOD.

SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THE ENGINEERING.

THERE'S BASICALLY TWO SIDES TO THIS PRONG.

THERE IS A -- PROJECT.

THERE IS A PIPELINE PROJECT WHICH WILL TAKE THE RAW WATER TO THE NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND THEN WE'RE BUILDING THREE NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANTS AND WE'RE EXPANDING ONE WATER TREATMENT PLANT WHICH IS ACTUALLY THE PLANT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW, THE NORTH CARROLL FARMS PLANT.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW THE AWARD THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED FOR THE PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION.

THEY ANTICIPATE BREAKING GROUND PROBABLY WE'RE HOPING IN THE FIRST OR SECOND WEEK IN AUGUST.

AND THAT'S GOT A TOTAL CONSTRUCTION TIME LIMIT OF ONE YEAR.

IT'S FIVE DIFFERENT PIPELINES THROUGHOUT THE TOWN RUNNING TO THE FOUR NEW FACILITIES.

>> Jeff: I HAVE NOT ASKED BUT I IMAGINE YOU GENTLEMEN LIVE CLOSE BY.

HAVE YOU MADE ANY CHANGES IN YOUR LIVES DURING THE PERIOD THAT YOU'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE?

IN EVERYTHING.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT WE BOTH VERY CLOSE WE BOTH LIVE IN TOWN.

WE BOTH ARE ON THE TOWN WATER SYSTEM.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING.

>> I HAVEN'T EITHER.

BUT MOST HOUSES THAT HAVE ANY KIND OF FILTRATION ON THEIR REFRIGERATOR FOR THEIR DRINKING WATER OR ICE MAKER MOST OF THAT COMMERCIALLY WILL REMOVE PFAS.

IT'S JUST WE'RE BUILDING FACILITIES ON A LARGER SCALE TO ACCOMMODATE THE GRANULATED ACTIVATED CARBON FILTRATION THAT WILL BE NEEDED TO REMOVE IT FROM OUR DRINKING WATER.

MOST HOMEOWNERS HAVE A DEVICE ON THE REFRIGERATOR THAT REMOVES IT.

I HAVE NOT MADE CHANGES IN MY HOUSE, EITHER.

>> Jeff: YOU ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY MEDICAL ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE TRACED TO THIS, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS HAPPENS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

MAYBE AT HIGHER LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS ABOUT SOME ILLNESSES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE LINKED TO THE WATER?

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY.

AND HONESTLY THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE REACTED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE BEGINNING AND WE WERE LIKE WELL IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO OUR RESIDENTS WE HAVE GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: I KNOW LOCAL OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE TALK TO OTHER LOCAL OFFICIALS AROUND THE STATE.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS, I GUESS.

>> NO, WE'RE NOT.

AS I SAID EARLIER, WE ARE IN THE FOREFRONT WE ARE LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGES NOW THAT ARE ABOUT A YEAR BEHIND US AND SOONER OR LATER THEY WILL BE HAVING TO DO TREAT THEIR WATER.

THERE'S EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES IN CARROLL COUNTY AND IF KEVIN I THINK SIX AT LEAST SIX HAD SOME PFAS DETECTION IN THEIR WATER SYSTEMS.

>> Jeff: THANKS TO JIM ROARK AND KEVIN HANN.

THE TRACK TEAM HAS BEEN ON A ROLL THEIR STAR RUNNER MADE THE U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM AND SNAGGED A GOLD MEDAL IN PARIS.

CHARLES ROBINSON VISITED A SCHOOL THAT CONTINUES TO TURNOUT THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRACK STARS.

>> TRIBUTE A LOT OF THE SUCCESS TO COACH LEE AND THE COACHES THAT ARE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

THEY SET THE FOUNDATION AND SET THE EXPECTATIONS.

I THINK COACH LEE HAS BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE MORE THAN 10 YEARS THOUSAND.

AND I GUESS SINCE HE STARTED HE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTING NEW SAME PROGRAM BUT NEW PROGRAMS AND BUILDING ON TOP OF WHAT HE ALREADY KNEW.

>> IT'S BEEN AMAZING JUST TO SEE THE REWARDS OF HARD WORK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING SINCE SEPTEMBER.

WE CAME LATE IN THE SEASON AND WORKING HARD THE AWARDS ARE AMAZING.

>> FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, JOE LEE HAS GUIDED THE BOYS AND GIRLS AT BULL LESS.

>> WE HAD A DREAM WE COULD CONTINUE TO HELP ATHLETES WITH GREAT GRADES ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS ON THE TRACK.

IT'S FUN AND THE SAME PRINCIPLE AS PLY HAVING FUN AND MAKING SURE WE KEEP THE MAIN THINGS WHICH OUR GRADES AND CHARACTER.

AND JUST ENJOYING THE SPORT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR ATHLETES ARE ALWAYS PUT IN PLACES WHERE THEY CAN EXEMPLIFY THEIR TALENTS AND HELP OTHERS DO THEIR BEST AS WELL.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT MEET AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE CROWN TO THE TOP.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE SCHOOL IS ON EVERYBODY'S TRACK MAP IS BECAUSE OF QUINCY WILSON.

>> WE CAME OUT HERE AND GET THE NATIONAL RECORD AND WE DID THAT.

WE MAY NOT GET THE EXPECTATION THAT EVERYBODY WANTED BUT WE DO ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO CHECK OFF OUR BOX.

WE LEARNED LESSONS.

I SEE HARD WORK PUT OUT AND SEEING ALL THE SACRIFICES WE PUT IN COME TO SCHOOL AND SEEING ALL THE SACRIFICES AND OUR PARENTS' SACRIFICES WE RUN FOR EACH OTHER LIKE BROTHERS.

>> MARYLAND HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS AND IMG GOT A CHANCE TO MEASURE THEMSELVES AGAINST THE TEAMS FROM JAMAICA.

PULLING OFF THE EAST COAST INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE EVENT.

FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS HE'S MADE THIS MEET A PRIORITY.

>> AS A FORMER OLYMPIAN FOR THE JAMAICAN NATIONAL TEAM WE HAD MANY RIVALS WITH THE UNITED STATES.

I KNEW HOW TO BUILD THE RIVALRY CONCEPT BETWEEN BOTH COUNTRIES.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EAST COAST INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE BE PROVIDED FOR ALL ATHLETES BUT WE HAVE PREMIER IN TERMS OF THE CALIBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE CALIBER ATHLETES THAT ARE COMPETING.

>> THERE ARE FEW VENUES WHERE LOCAL RUNNERS FROM MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL GET TO COMPETE CAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS FROM THE CARRIBBEAN EXCEPT DURING THE RELAYS.

FOR WILSON AND FELLOW COMPETITORS THEY GOT TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD INDIVIDUALLY.

>> HOW DID THE JUNIOR DO?

WELL HE CAME IN SECOND LOSING BY A .22 SECONDS.

AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY I'M CHARLES ROBINSON.

>> Jeff: THE U.S.A. STAR SHATTERED HIS WORLD RECORD IN THE 400 METERS WITH A TIME OF 44.10.

NOW WITH OUR SALUTE TO VETERANS HERE IS NANCY AMATA.

>> IF YOU SAW BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES OF ME MY FACE WAS HUGE MY ANKLES WERE SWOLLEN.

I FELT SLUGGISH.

I HAD A BELLY.

I HAD NO ONE TO BE MAD AT BUT MYSELF.

>> NOT ANYMORE.

NAVY VETERAN JOHN STANDS 63 POUNDS LIGHTER THANKS TO DISCIPLINE, HARD WORK AND A TEAM OF DOCTORS AND MEDICAL PERSONNEL AT THE V.A.

MEDICAL CENTER?

BALTIMORE.

HIS WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY BEGAN LAST YEAR AFTER A SCHEDULED KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY WAS CANCELED.

>> I WAS OVERWEIGHT AND MY A1C WAS WAY OUT OF CONTROL.

THAT WAS A RISK FOR INFECTION AND NOT HEALING PROPERLY.

>> HE WEIGHED WOULD 55 POUNDS WHICH PUT -- 255 POUNDS, DETERMINED TO LOSE WEIGHT HE CONNECTED WITH A NUTRITIONIST AT THE V.A.

WHO PUT TOGETHER A PERSONALIZED EATING PLAN.

>> AFTER TWO WEEKS, A POUND CAME OFF, TWO POUNDS AND I HAD TO ALTER THE FOOD IN MY HOUSE.

>> HE WAS CLOSELY MONITORED THROUGH THE V.A.

TELEHEALTH PROGRAM WHERE HE WOULD CONNECT AND GET FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE COORDINATOR EVERYDAY.

>> WE SEND TECHNOLOGY TO THE HOME.

AND IN HIS CASE IT WAS BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF AND DEVICE TO RECEIVE HIS BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS.

AND WE WOULD LOOK AT IT EVERYDAY.

AND IF I NEEDED TO, I WOULD CALL HIM AND GO OVER HIS READINGS WITH HIM.

>> ONE YEAR LATER THE MIDDLE RIVER MAN LOST 60 POUNDS.

HIS KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY WAS A SUCCESS AND HIS A1C IS NOW WITHIN THE NORMAL RANGE.

>> TODAY, I FEEL GREAT.

MY ANKLES AREN'T SWOLLEN MY CLOTHES FIT BETTER I'VE HAD TO BUY NEW CLOTHES.

>> HE CREDITS THE SUCCESS TO THE TEAM AT THE V.A.

MEDICAL CENTER INCLUDING HIS ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON.

>> HE IS DOING BEAUTIFULLY HE IS ENJOYING HIS KNEE.

AS I TOLD HIM, I CAN TELL YOU ARE IN THE SERVICE.

YOU ARE A VERY STRONG PERSON, VERY DETERMINED.

YOU DID EVERYTHING THAT WE ASKED OF YOU BEFORE THE SURGERY AND DURING THE POST-OPERATIVE REHABILITATION.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST PRIVILEGES OF MY CAREER TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE CARE OF VETERANS.

>> HE HOPES HIS JOURNEY WILL INSPIRE OTHER VETERANS TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR HEALTH.

>> YOU HAVE TO GET A PLAN AND WORK THE PLAN AND THE PLAN WILL WORK.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

ADJUST YOUR DIET.

STOP EATING THAT SUGAR.

STOP EATING THAT WHITE BREAD AND CANDY BARS THINGS THAT ARE HORRIBLE FOR YOU.

YOU CAN DO IT I PROMISE YOU YOU CAN DO IT.

I'M LIVING PROOF.

>> I'M NANCY AMATA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

[♪♪]