Wednesday, April 27, 2011

State board considers changing school discipline rules

A suspended student could not be kept out of school during an appeal of the disciplinary action


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Board of Education hosts joint meeting with Commissioners

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a joint strategic planning meeting with the Charles County Commissioners at 12 p.m., Wednesday, May 4, in the Boardroom at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata.

The meeting will be aired live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and streamed on the school system Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/.


I. Lunch – 11-11:45 a.m.

II. Call to Order – 12 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Strategic Planning Work Session

  • Overview of county public schools in general, with emphasis on special assets or areas of importance for individual schools. (It would be nice to hear about what is noteworthy about our current schools and student populations.)
  • Budget, Maintenance of Effort discussion
  • Information on programs that support low income students (Title I and Judy Centers)
  • After school programs - homework and tutoring programs
  • Parent Outreach - various initiatives that BOE has to communicate with and involve parents.
  • Security and overall safety of our schools.
  • State Quality Indicators - how we rank.
  • Communications Protocol - Board President to Board President; staff-to-staff.
  • Two meetings per year - next meeting will be hosted by Commissioners.
IV. Adjournment

Friday, April 22, 2011

Regional Conference Focuses on Food Security

By Marty Madden
The Baynet
4/21/11


Southern Maryland community leaders and volunteers gathered Wednesday, April 20 at the Calvert County Fairgrounds for the region's third annual Hunger Conference.

Over 80 people attended the five-and-a-half hour event presented by the Southern Maryland Food Bank. Several of the conference's speakers indicated the eradication of hunger was a security issue.

"Food security is having access to enough food for an active, healthy life," said Cassandra Kaiser, a nutrition associate with Maryland Hunger Solutions. At particular risk are people who do not live in proximity to a grocery store and children from low-income families. While there are government-supported nutrition programs designed to aid the latter group, several speakers indicated they are not being embraced by the entire community.

Maryland Hunger Solutions' Director Cathy A. Demeroto noted Calvert and Charles counties "rank at the bottom in participation of the school breakfast program."

Read more HERE.

Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 4/5/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 5th 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.

Executive session - 12 p.m.



Call to order - 1 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School's JROTC unit


Recognition - La Plata High School, 3A/4A state wrestling champions, and Unified Sports Bocce ball champions; North Point High School, 4A state boys' basketball champions

Superintendent's update - Read report


Correspondence/Board Member updates

  • Cook - attended Blue Ribbon Committee on Diversity
  • Wade - Kudos to the atheletes that came before us today
  • Wise - MABE is looking for people to run for Board of Directors
  • Pedersen - Educational Showcase - kudos to Westlake HS presentation
  • Bowie - thank you to Ms. Estep and the schools, staff and students for an excellent educational showcase
  • Pedersen - EXTRA article on Algebra II
  • Richmond - students art projects to be placed on the shuttle
Education Association of Charles County update - Read report


Student Board Member update - Read report

Deputy Superintendent - Discipline procedures report will be coming next month

Concussion procedures - Phylis Reinard

  • CDC guidelines have been updated.; see report for procedures
CIP update - see report

Students Targeting Academic Rigor with Success (STARS) program
  • See report
  • Discussion
SpringBoard English language arts -See report

School calendar 2012-2013 - See report

Budget update
  • retirement system not passed down yet
  • waiver for maintenance of effort not filed by county
  • See report
Legislative update - See report

Unfinished business
  • Pedersen - Goals meeting
  • Wise - after budget
New business - None
Future agenda items
  • Abell - report on students attending schools out of zone; especially those that receive legitimate waivers.
Recognition - 4:30 p.m
  • Students - Brianna Morris Indian Head Elementary; Hayley Tanner, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary; Emma Morgan, JC Parks Elementary; Mary Kate Cooper, Wade Elementary, Kathryn Newsome, Davis Elementary
  • Employees - Diane Laco, pre-kindergarten teacher, William B. Wade Elementary School; Kathleen Adkisson, instructional specialist, Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School; Deanna Wheeler, science teacher, J. C. Parks Elementary School; Patricia Gray, mathematics teacher, Theodore G. Davis Middle School; Randell Braithwaite, mathematics teacher, Westlake High School; Jaime Wright, physical education teacher, Indian Head Elementary School
  • Resolutions: Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sports Week; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; and Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader Award
Public Forum - 6 p.m.

Action items

  • Minutes
  • Motion to accept the board minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen
    Yes = Unanimous
    Motion to accept executive minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen
    Yes = Unanimous
Adjournment

Saturday, April 02, 2011

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 4/5/11

The Board of Educations next monthly meeting is Tuesday, April 5, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. The meeting is also streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools Web site. Visit http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/ to watch the meeting.

Executive session - 12 p.m.


Call to order - 1 p.m.


Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School's JROTC unit


Recognition - La Plata High School, 3A/4A state wrestling champions, and Unified Sports Bocce ball champions ; North Point High School, 4A state boys' basketball champions


Superintendent's update
Correspondence/Board Member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

Student Board Member update

Concussion procedures

CIP update

Students Targeting Academic Rigor with Success (STARS) program

SpringBoard English language arts

School calendar 2012-2013

Budget update

Legislative update

Unfinished business

New business

Future agenda items

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

  • Students
  • Employees
  • Resolutions: Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sports Week; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; and Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader Award
Public Forum - 6 p.m.

Action items
  • Minutes
  • Personnel
Adjournment