Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Notes from Board of Education & Commissioner Retreat, October 4, 2011

The Board Retreat on Tuesday, October 4 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

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

Introductions

  • Wise - Requests the Board of Ed be placed on the Commissioners' agenda on a bi-monthly basis for updates.
  • Kelly - Yes, and they can reciprocate.
Funding Formula
  • Wise - BOE would like to review funding formula
  • Kelly - Commissioners are opposed to the set formula; just a good faith.
  • Collins - Origin of formula?
  • Wise - 10 years ago, as county grows the system grows, de-politicize funding decisions, etc.
  • Kelly - Maintenance of Effort would be minimum and then add as needed.
  • Cook - Legislation regarding MOE could change everything.
  • Richmond - Relationship of everyone involved, trust, respect, in support of MOE.
School Allocation Methodology
  • Kelly - Halfway to state-rated capacity vs core capacity; two years to go.
  • Abell - The sooner we can get to state-rated capacity the better; Expedite.
  • Pedersen - Ditto
  • Robinson - Agreed
  • Collins - Should review what the committee came up with a few years ago, market analysis.
  • Cook - Brief review from committee, phased in because it would affect the building & real estate industry and therefore affect the county's income.
  • Kelly - Residential development does not provide income to the county, but actually costs us.
  • Andritz - Current economy has made this more do-able. Changes made already helped tremendously. Shouldn't be as problematic as originally anticipated.
  • Davis - Would like committee formed again to re-look at the situation.
Motion to accept move to State Rated Capacity by Robinson; Second by Rucci
  • Kelly - Explanation of Docket 90 - Only pertains to Fairway Village.
  • Davis - Wants to delay vote.
Yes = Kelly, Robinson, Rucci; No = Collins, Davis
County Growth/Redistricting
  • Wise - Growth anticipation for our future planning?
  • Kelly - Transportation issues, light rail from SMECO in White Plains up through Waldorf.
  • Robinson - Bus rapid transit vs light rail vs commuter rail
  • Collins - Recommends someone from BOE staff sit on the Planning and Growth committee so we know of forthcoming growth and plans.
  • Wise - Enrollment at all levels of schools will be reviewed.
Open Discussion
  • Cook - What do you want to see from your school system?
  • Davis - We're doing awesome with state standards and being involved in the community. Number of trailers is bad. Need to have an open door policy.
  • Richmond - Disruptions during class. SAT parent participation.
  • Cunningham - EdLine
  • Collins - Opening ceremony at Eva Turner pre-k was one of his proudest events ever.
  • Robinson - Applause to creativity. North Point graduation was the best and we need to give the other schools the same focus that North Point gets.
  • Wise- Other schools did not want their graduations at North Point, and the Arena tends to bring out the worst behavior in some.
  • Robinson - Local venue?
  • Rucci - Officers in school a plus.
  • Lukas - Lines of communication always open. Maybe even smaller groups if everyone can't get together.
  • Pedersen - Digital text books?
  • Bowie - Thank you.
  • Wise - Next meeting in February.
Adjournment

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jennifer, CCBOE should stop allowing high schools to have graduations outside of the county. Graduations could easily be held on site at high schools. Don't allow the weather argument to deter you. If it rains, then the ticket count is reduced to the appropriate number for an indoor event. This is what they do in many school systems around MD; and weather is not usually an issue.

Jennifer Abell said...

Newcomer,
Thanks for your input but as much as I dislike trekking up to Show Place Arena, I don't believe moving the graduations to an outdoor event is the answer. With that being said, I am open to suggestions.

Anonymous said...

I understand the potential problem with weather, so there would have to be some sort of back up plan, but what about out doors at the Blue Crabs stadium?