Notes from Board Meeting, 2/13/07

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes. Please follow-up for official minutes upon approval. For copies of printed reports presented visit BoardDocs.

Public Forum

• Gentleman spoke about the Piscataway Indians; museum property on Bumpy Oak Road; frustrated over loss of property CCPS took and gave to Sheriff. Coffey stated he will not use it.
• Student spoke against summer required reading assignments. Summer is for free time, free reading, family and enjoyment.
• Woman spoke on the need for CCPS to have an open door policy for visitation. Statistics show majority of sexual offenses on students happen from staff NOT parents
• Gentleman spoke on the FASEB program offered at the college

Action - Approval of Minutes from 1/9/07

*Vote to approve minutes
Unanimous
PASSED

Correspondence/Board Member Updates

• None

Report – EACC – Bill Fisher

• Opposes the use of HSA as a graduation requirement. General Assembly will be addressing.
• Teacher workload; use creative talents vs. test preparation
• Read Across America on March 1st at Old Country Buffet
• FEA members attending annual conference in San Diego
• Discontinued resolutions in Sept. 2004 need to re-adopted
• MSTA Reading contests

Report - Student Board Member – Andrew VanWoerkem

• CCASC meeting – stuffed legislative folders for delegates
• MS meeting – reviewed parliamentary procedure
• Legislative session – two reps were chosen for state board. Workshops included choosing a SMOB and Constitution review. Numerous compliments from other counties regarding the conference and North Point
• Bills reviewed and supported include: Register to vote at 16, not to vote just register; Prohibit colleges from raising in-state tuition; Drug and alcohol tests on students only for reasonable suspicion; Elementary school students mandatory 150 minutes of Physical Education every week

Report – Superintendent – Ron Cunningham

• Visits schools weekly and gets most of his ideas there.
• New teacher breakfast once a month
• CISCO projects. Brainstorming session took place on new high schools. TelePresence conference 5/23
• Vital source – electronic curriculum filmed teachers for marketing
• Rotary Club donation to foundation will help with the My Library program
• New high school advisory group met.
• CIP appeal – complete fund Davis MS; increase funds for Neal
• CAC and PAC met 1/30. Report on meeting time survey will be presented at 2/26 work session
• Job Shadow Day success
• Tri-County Superintendent Meeting
• Spelling Bee, Science Fair, Mock Trials Destination Imagination, JROTC Drill Meet, band and choral festivals
• Matula 2007 MD Characters school in running for national
• $5,000 donation to Stoddert for Accelerated Reader
• McDonough Marching Band participated in the Governors inauguration
• American History Month

Report - CIP

• Hagis – Davis 81% complete; on schedule for August 2007 opening. No foreseen problems
• Hagis – Smallwood Boiler Project still underway
• Hagis – Gwynn Center new roof top units. Will complete before warm weather
• Barret – Elementary School site in Pinefield. They are wetlands. Plans have been redone to accommodate wetlands, school, and fields.. Emphasised renovation of existing schools.
• Wineland – Article 13-203 regarding the cross botony as an ornamental pole topper. Determined it is nor required byt MAY be used. CCPS is in compliance
• Bailey – Questions regarding IAC funding decisions worksheet

Report - Technology Update – Laura Bennet & Paul Balides

• Video conferencing – interactive communication; principals have cameras for video conference call.
• Middle and high schools have one unit; elementary have two units sytem wide for checkout
• Virtual field trips, meetings, training, and classes.
• Pedersen – Reassueance that we are not doing away with actual field trips.
• Bennett – Definitely not.
• Carrington – Unit costs?
• Balides - $6,500
• Richmond – Possibility of using this technology to offer AP courses system wide that would otherwise need to be cancelled due to low enrollment at a single high school

Report – Curriculum – Early Childhood (Birth – 5 years) – Judy Estep and panel

• Panel includes Southern Maryland Tri-County Action Committee, Charles County Judy Center, Title 1 Coordinator, Specialist in Early Childhood Education
• Review of programs available
  3’s Spring Forward
  Even Start
  Pre-kindergarten
  Kindergarten (Half day and full day)
  Judy Center
  Head Start
• Pedersen – Questions on enrollment and availability.
• Estep - If there is an opening, non-eligible parents/students cannot attend due to federal funding guidelines.
• Cook – PreK enrollment
• Estep – Based on need first (free and reduced lunch)
• Abell – Clarification on enrollment for Pre-K. Isn’t it based on medical need also.
• Estep – First financial need and secondly medical need.

Action – Personnel

* Vote to accept staff recommendations
Unanimous
PASSED

Action – Superintendent FY08 Proposed Budget

• Bailey – Is there enough money in the budget to perform the vision of the Board?
• Richmond – Yes
• Wise – Motion does not include supplemental budget, correct?
• Richmond – correct
• Cook – Date for meeting with Commissioners to discuss budget
• Balides – at the retreat in March
• Pedersen – Thanks to all. Request a cheat sheet for board members to use when discussion budget with commissioners.

* Vote to accept staff recommendations
Unanimous
PASSED

ADJOURNED – Due to inclement weather

• Abell - requested clarification as to when the remaining items would be addressed.
• Wade – Staff presentations/reports would be heard at the next Board meeting (March); all other items could be addressed at the board work session on 2/26.

REMAINING AGENDA ITEMS

Report – Budget – Paul Balides
Update

Report – Human Resources – Keith Hettel
Calendar for 08-09; Daycare

Report – Legislative – Eric Schwartz
Legislative; Policy Amendments

Unfinished Business

New Business & Future Agenda Items