REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, Rescheduled for 12/17/13

The Board of Education has rescheduled its monthly meeting to 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The meeting will begin with executive session at 4 p.m. The public portion of the meeting begins at 4:45 p.m. and public forum is scheduled at 6 p.m.

The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab.

The following is an updated meeting agenda:

Executive session – 4 p.m.

Call to order – 4:45 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent’s update to the

Board Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Student board member’s update 
• Changes to superintendent’s rule #5126 – student transfers 
• Summer reading 
• Common Core curriculum 
• Legislative update 

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes 
• Personnel 

Adjournment

The Board canceled its regular monthly meeting set for Dec. 10 due to inclement weather. A link to BoardDocs, which contains meeting information, reports and Board policies, can be found on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com under Quick Links

Fairfax County schools seek power to tax

WTOP.com
Saturday - 10/26/2013, 1:53pm  ET
Dick Uliano

WASHINGTON - With a $140 million budget deficit, Fairfax County Public School leaders are hoping they'll be able to shake the money tree.
The Washington Post reports the school board has voted overwhelmingly to ask the General Assembly to give it and other school boards the power to tax residents.
The school board complains that the Board of Supervisors doesn't provide the money the schools need.
Earlier this week, School Superintendent Karen Garza presented School Board members with a budget outline that includes possible furloughs, increasing class sizes and eliminating popular programs.

*Note the issues driving the deficits in a related The Washington Post article:  Fairfax County school board faces tough choices in budget shortfall (T. Rees Shapiro, Antonio Olivo, 10/21/2013)

Carroll County school officials concerned about proposed state school discipline regulations

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED AS WELL?  DAMN STRAIGHT!

Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 12:00 am

By Alisha George Times Staff Writer, Carroll County Times

 

The Carroll County Board of Education is concerned that the Maryland State Board of Education’s proposed school discipline guidelines and regulations would take away local control of discipline and have negative educational impacts for students.

 

The Maryland State Board of Education is proposing new student discipline regulations that, if adopted, would apply to every public school system in Maryland. Student disciplinary policies and regulations currently fall under the sole authority of each county’s Board of Education.

 

Screen Name or EmailNow I remember!

The proposed discipline regulations and guidelines are out for public comment until Nov. 4. The state board is then scheduled to adopt the regulations and guidelines Dec. 10. If approved, they would likely go into effect next school year.

 

Its adoption would philosophically change how students are disciplined in Carroll County, according to Dana Falls, director of student services for Carroll County Public Schools.

READ MORE OF THIS ARTICLE HERE

HISTORY

This is the second time the state board has published such regulations. In 2011, the first set of regulations were published and saw much opposition.

 

The Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review got involved and postponed the vote on the first set of regulations. The state board then pulled the regulations. Afterward, the state established work groups to study the regulations, and now they are back for public comment and possible approval.

 

The new set of guidelines and regulations were published in the Maryland Register Oct. 4 and are out of a 30-day comment period. These regulations similar to the regulations seen in 2011.

Source: Jonathan O’Neal, Assistant Superintendent of Administration for CCPS

 

CARROLL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CONCERNS

• Disciplinary policy should remain under the total authority of the local Board of Education, not the State Board of Education.
• Under the draft Student Code of Conduct and the proposed student discipline regulations, our schools will be less orderly and less safe as repeated disruptive offenders will be more likely to remain in school. Examples include:
• Repeated and deliberate harassment of a peer – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, possible consequences could be that the offender writes an apology, is offered mediation with the victim, visits the school counselor, or in extreme cases receives in-school suspension up to 4 days.
• Second drug possession offense – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a recommendation to the superintendent for an extended suspension and is ineligible for extra-curricular activities. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, a second drug possession offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Repeated classroom disruption (harassment, class cutting, insubordination, classroom disruption) – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Repeated verbal threats to staff – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Weapon violations – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

The draft Student Code of Conduct is not yet publicly available, the proposed state school discipline guidelines and regulations can be viewed in the Maryland Register by visiting: www.carrollk12.org/Assets/file/CCPS%20News/MdRegisterDiscRegs.pdf

The Carroll County Board of Education’s letter to the Maryland State Board of Education can be viewed at www.carrollk12.org/Assets/file/CCPS%20News/StateBoardLetter-DisciplineRegs.pdf

Source: Carroll County Public Schools

HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK

 

To send comments to the State Board of Education, contact to Robert A. Murphy, Specialist, School Completion, Discipline, and Alternative Programs

By mail: Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Student, Family and School Support, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
 

By email: rmurphy@msde.state.md.us
 

By phone: 410-767-0305.
 

Send comments to the Carroll County Board of Education by email at feedback@carrollk12.org

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, October 8, 2013

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, October 8 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 NJROTC Unit

Superintendent’s update - see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Pedersen - County fair exhibit was exceptional, thank you to staff; college fair was very well attended and thank you to parent volunteers; MABE conference, networking session was an excellent opportunity, other counties speak with their commissioners more than we are able to; school safety session was also excellent.
• Cook - MABE conference, parnterships with community college and school systems
• Wise - MABE conference, Students Leading Students program in Calvert County - we should look at, Superintendents Evaluation session by Anne Arundel County
• Abell - Requests board/staff meeting with CSM board/staff to discuss and see a presentation on a program called Middle College allowing students to graduate not only with a high school diploma but also an associates degree.

Education Association of Charles County (EACC) update - See report

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSME) update - See report

Student Board Member update - See report

School Administration update - See report

CIP update - See report; adding request for elementary and middle school property; condensing other CIP requests

• Abell & Pedersen concur based on APFO Committee meeting
• Abell - requests that CCBoE staff stop altering our plans and requests before the Commissioners can review them;  there have been instances where local government staff do a preliminary review, and direct CCBoE staff to remove items before the Commissioners' review.  The Commissioners never see the initial requests; we should submit as we see fit.

School bus red light camera program - See report

• American Traffic Solutions representative presented mind-blowing statistics of traffic violations involving motorists neglecting school bus lights and signs.

Bridge to Excellence/Race to the Top (RTTT); Principal and teacher evaluations - See report

FY2013 Independent financial audit - See report; Clean audit report

Human resources update - Employee Recruitment and Retention - See report

2014 Legislative positions - See report

Unfinished Business

• Abell - Update on progress of Health Curriculum Review; in progress of selecting members
• Pedersen - APFO Committee update, thanks to staff

New business - none

Future agenda items - none

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students:

Sahana Venkatesh, 5^th grade; Gale-Bailey Elementary School; Personal Responsibility; Principal: Toni Melton-Trainor

John (Jack) Glassman, 5^th grade; Mary H. Matula Elementary School; Academic Achievement; Principal: Carrie Richardson

Gregory Griffith, 5^th grade; Arthur Middleton Elementary School; Academic Achievement, Principal: Sabrina Robinson-Taylor

Theodore (Teddy) Hoxie, 8^th grade, Milton Somers Middle School; Career Readiness; Principal: Stephanie Wesolowski

Bridget Cunningham, 12^th grade, Maurice J. McDonough High School; Personal Responsibility; Principal: Bradley Snow

• Employees:

Patricia Graff, first grade teacher, Gale-Bailey
Stephanie Sullivan, first grade teacher, Matula
Sandra Peed, kindergarten teacher, Middleton
Ernestine Swann, guidance secretary, Somers
Vonda Hicks, math teacher, McDonough

Resolutions:

American Education; Accepting: Amit Patel, Student Member of the Board and student liaisons; Elizabeth Brown, EACC; William McLaughlin, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

American Freedom Week; Accepting: Gunnery Sergeant Clive Bailey, USMC, instructor, La Plata; Cadet Henry Giroux, senior, La Plata; Cadet Brandon Lee, junior, La Plata

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Yvonne Jones - Has a sophomore at Westlake - According to manager, CCPS did not provide Books A Million with a reading list this year.  As a member of the Westlake Advocates,  Commissoners discussed on 10/1 for new liquor store locations to contact Board of Education.
• Elton Stokes - grandchildren at JP Ryon and Gustavus Brown; community relations portion of the website, referred to Katie O'Malley Simpson

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes from 9/10/13 by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

• Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel by Abell; Second by Cook

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

• FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Motion to accept the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting & Agenda, October 8, 2013

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, October 8, 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 Public Forum is at 6 p.m. All Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and rebroadcast throughout the week. Viewing schedules are available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com.

Executive session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance – Westlake High School’s NJROTC Unit

Superintendent’s update

Correspondence/Board member updates

Education Association of Charles County (EACC) update

Student Board Member update

School Administration update

CIP update

School bus red light camera program

Instruction update

FY2013 Independent financial audit

Budget update

Human resources update

2014 Legislative positions

Unfinished business

New business

Future agenda items

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Resolutions – American Education Week; and American Freedom Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Adjournment

Commissioner July School Allocation Meeting, 9/10/13

The county once again came before the commissioners for their regularly scheduled school allocation cycle.  The Board of Education, including myself, vehemently opposed allocating additional seats until the APFO Subcommittee completes its work.  In addition, there is currently over 3,000 allocations currently actively being built which equates to over 1,500 potential students (.5 students per household) an additional 3,000+ that have been granted but have not yet begun.  However they have been granted and therefore can begin whenever they so desire.  So using the formula above, that is a potential of 3,000+ students hitting our school system.

The commissioners voted to grant these allocations anyway AGAINST the Board of Educations protest.  Commissioner Kelly was the only descending vote.

View the report and allocations awarded HERE. 

Is YOUR school going to be the next one REDISTRICTED? 

And when it is, you will know why!  Please don't wait to come complain at the Board of Education public forums when it happens.  Go to your COMMISSIONER public forums NOW.  Let your voice be heard NOW!

Notes from Joint Board of Education Commissioner Meeting, 9/10/13

Sorry this has been delayed and it will be brief.

The meeting began by Chairwoman Wise reading a statement addressing Dr. Lever's (IAC) letter and request for the facilities survey and funding the survey.  After a brief discussion the commissioners agreed and voted to fund the survey using DRRA funds.

Mr. Conley (Principal for St. Charles High School) then presented on the new high school.  Several questions were asked and answered.  Some key points were teacher collaboration areas, and it's a zoned school.  Mr. Wade brought up his disappointment in the fact the pool had been cut from the plan design for budgetary reasons, stating that "we know...that Afro-Americans cannot swim" and that the enrollment at St. Charles High will be a "minority majority."   The commissioners agreed to look into funding and see what could be done.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting 9/10/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, September 10 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 – JROTC unit from Thomas Stone High School

Superintendent’s update to the Board - See report

Correspondence/board member updates

• Bowie - Summer Reading Program - 1,175 children enrolled
• Pedersen - APFO meetings ongoing; biweekly meetings; slowly making progress
• Wade - Review of flags at each school and how they're posted and protocol
• Lukas - attended Inaugural 5k Race at Stone on Stone; well organized; about 100 people

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

• Abell - requested AFSME be added to the Board Agenda

Student board member’s update - See report

Opening of schools - See report

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update - See report

FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan - See report

Update on school improvement plans - See report

Proposed legislation

• salary & expenses of board members & student member scholarship - proposed bill for submission
• MABE legislation requiring parents to sign affidavits of residency for attendance

Unfinished business

• Personal Electronic Devices Committee - will meet on the 17th; Abell & Lukas

New business - None

Future agenda items

• Abell - Request committee to review the Health Education curriculum especially pertaining to sexuality pieces. Been 4-5 years at least since last reviewed.

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Georgeann Carter - Bus stop locations, Hawkins Gate and Highlands Farm Court; dangerous situation for all the 25+ children; handouts with pictures and plats.
• Ivan Cherad (sp?) - Dorchester; Westlake Advocates; liquor store near Westlake; not angry parents, do fact checking, hold officials accountable; transparent government; submitting study on alcohol dense communities affects the community; what is the position of the school board.
• Iyana Moore (sp?) - Westlake Advocates - liquor store proximity; BOE mission states environment safe and conducive to learning...a liquor store is not.
• Robert Harlan - Just discovered not doing Quarterly Assessments.  Parents should be notified and not have to wait until the end of the year.  BOE should speak boldly to oppose the liquor store next to Westlake

Action Items

• Minutes

Motion to approve the Minutes from August Board meeting by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

Motion to approve the Minutes from August Work Session by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Abstain=Bowie

• Personnel

Motion to approve the Personnel by Wade; Second by Abell

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program

Motion to approve the FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program by Lukas; Second by Cook

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

Amendment 1 to the motion to include the renovation survey funded by the DRRA funds by Lukas; Second by Cook

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

Amendment 2 to the motion to include HVAC installation at LaPlata HS Gym by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8

Motion to approve the Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8 by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• FY2013 operating budget amendment

Motion to approve the FY13 Operating Budget Amendment by Lukas; Second by Cook

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technology Education Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women’s History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees Retirement; and Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Motion to approve the Recurring Resolutions by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes= Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Abstain = Abell

Adjournment

Board of Education Meeting Agenda, September 10, 2013

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 10, 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. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab.

Executive session – 12 p.m.
Call to order – 1 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance – JROTC unit from Thomas Stone High School
Superintendent’s update to the Board
Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student board member’s update
• Opening of schools
• Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update
• Report item: FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
• Update on school improvement plans
• Proposed legislation

Unfinished business
New business and Future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Public Forum – 6 p.m.
Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program
• Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8
• FY2013 operating budget amendment
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technology Education Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women’s History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees Retirement; and Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, August 13, 2013

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, August 13 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 – 11 a.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update  - see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wise - Wade receiving MABE Willis award
• Abell - MABE Budget Committee; requesting one time fee adjustment of $1,000 - $5,000 based on size of school system to be voted on at conference.

Education Association of Charles County update - see report

 

Student Board Member update - see report

 

School Administration - Athletics update - baseline & impact  testing; concussion reduction; parent meetings synonmous; handbook updated; athletic trainers at each high school; awards reports and same thing done at all schools (see report)

• Wise - soccer not considered an impact sport?
• Abell - soccer players are tested too even not classified.....yes

School Administration - Opening of schools - Leadership Institute this week; break out sessions; school visits;

 

State of evaluations - see report - ongoing process; subcommittee

 

CIP update  - new high school; digital classroom; Mitchell renovations; Gale-Bailey kitchen; Hanson Nurses Suite;

 

FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program - see report

 

Office of Instruction - Assessments - see report

 

Staffing udpate  - 128 new hires, still need 9 special ed; 5 elementary; 16 high school; 21 resignations since July; needed special ed math, science, tech ed, library media; minority hiring has increased.

 

New website - see report; Launch August 19th

 

Recurring resolutions - American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; Charles County Teacher of the Year; and Employees' Retirement

Unfinished business

• Cell phones - Current Rules in report; Abell requested a subcommittee to review this and BYOD for the next school year.  Discussion and concern over "the end of the school day" and consistency across the schools.
• Board members pay/reimbursement - see report analysis of other counties; discussion; Pedersen supports increase; Wise should be comparable to surrounding counties; Abell ditto; Bowie and Lukas against.

Motion to raise board member salary to $7,000/$6,000, Chair/Members respectively and add a $1,000 scholarship for the student board member and leave the stipend as is by Cook; Second by Pedersen

FURTHER DISCUSSION

 

Amendment to Original Motion to Change stipend to $800 and add members serving on committees outside of the county are entitled upto $2,000 in expense reimbursements per year by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; No=Bowie, Lukas

 

Vote on Original Motion

Yes=Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; No=Bowie, Lukas

 

New business

• Future School Renovations - Discuss a recent letter from David Lever, executive director of the Interagency Committee on School Construction, concerning future renovation of schools and take action on recommendations.  Discussion on APFO subcommittee.

Future agenda items

• Cook - College prep report

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• None

Action items  - Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Pedersen; second by Lukas

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

 

Action Item - Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Cook; second by Lukas

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

 

Action Item - Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish textbooks

Motion to accept the AP Spanish Textbooks by Cook; second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

Adjournment

Board of Education Meeting Agenda for August 13, 2013

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, August 13, 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 Public Forum is at 6 p.m. All Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and rebroadcast throughout the week. Viewing schedules are available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com.

Executive Session – 11 a.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m.  - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/Board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board Member update
• Opening of schools, athletics update
• State of evaluations
• CIP update
• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program
• School improvement
• Staffing udpate
• New website
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; Charles County Teacher of the Year; and Employees' Retirement

Unfinished business

• Cell phones
• Board members pay/reimbursement

New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish textbooks

Adjournment

Clarksville, Arkansas School District Opts For Armed Teachers, Staff

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. -- As Cheyne Dougan rounded the corner at Clarksville High School, he saw three students on the floor moaning and crying. In a split-second, two more ran out of a nearby classroom.

"He's got a gun," one of them shouted as Dougan approached with his pistol drawn. Inside, he found one student holding another at gunpoint. Dougan aimed and fired three rounds at the gunman.
Preparing for such scenarios has become common for police after a school shooting in Connecticut last December left 20 children and six teachers dead. But Dougan is no policeman. He's the assistant principal of this school in Arkansas, and when classes resume in August, he will walk the halls with a 9 mm handgun.

Dougan is among more than 20 teachers, administrators and other school employees in this town who will carry concealed weapons throughout the school day, making use of a little-known Arkansas law that allows licensed, armed security guards on campus. After undergoing 53 hours of training, Dougan and other teachers at the school will be considered guards.

"The plan we've been given in the past is `Well, lock your doors, turn off your lights and hope for the best,'" Superintendent David Hopkins said. But as deadly incidents continued to happen in schools, he explained, the district decided, "That's not a plan."

Read more HERE

Draft Issue Papers #4 and #5

Issue Paper #4 Alternate Funding

Issue Paper #5 DRRA Program

REMINDER: School Adequate Public Facilities Comittee Meeting, 7/31/13

AGENDA

Meeting #10

July 31, 2013

6:00 pm

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes of July 17th

Action on Draft Issue Paper #2:"Treatment of Minor Subdivisions"

Action on Draft Issue Paper #4 "School Construction Funding - County Funding Resources"

Introduce Issue Paper #3 "School Capacity Measurement"

Introduce Issue Paper #5 "DRRA School Allocations"

Inreoduce Issue Paper #6 "School Construction Program"

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the County Government Conference Room

*This agenda is tentative and is subject to adjustment atthe discretion of the committee

REMINDER: School Adequate Public Facilities Committee Meeting, 7/17/13

AGENDA

Meeting #9

July 17, 2013

6:00 pm

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes of June 26th

Briefing br Dr. David Lever, State Public School Construction Program

• Maximizing State School funding - County Performance Measures
• State School Funding Forecasts
• Public-Private Partnership School Delivery Options - Baltimore City Project
• Committee Questions

Discuss Draft Issue Paper #2:"Treatment of Minor Subdivisions"

Introduce Issue Paper #3 "School Capacity Measurement"

Introduce Paper #4 "School Construction Funding - County Funding Resources"

Introduce Issue Paper #5 "DRRA School Allocations"

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 31st at 6:00 p.m. in the County Government Conference Room

*This agenda is tentative and is subject to adjustment atthe discretion of the committee

REMINDER: School Adequate Public Facilities Committee Meeting, 6/26/13

AGENDA

Meeting #8

June 26, 2013

6:00 pm

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes of June 5th

• Review revised meeting schedule

Identification of Potential Alternative Revenue Sources to Fund School Construction

• Brief Review of Existing Sources
• Review Potential Alternative Sources 
• Provide direction to staff for further research on specific revenue sources

Public-Private Partnership School Delivery Option

• Provide direction to staff if additional research is warranted on this approach

Discuss Draft Issue Paper #1:"Timing of providing adequate school facilities to match the planned growth in the County."

• Provide direction to Staff regarding the draft recommendations

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 17th at 6:00 PM in the County Government Conference Room.

*This agenda is tentative and is subject to adjustment at the discretion of the Committee.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 6/11/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, June 11 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.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance – North Point High School's JROTC Unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member – Amit Patel, Maurice J. McDonough High School

Recognition of high school athletes

Superintendent's updat - See Report

Recognition

• Pat Foerster, Maryland State Governor's office
• James E. Richmond Leadership Award
• LifeStyles – Bill McLaughlin, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Bowie - Thank you to Mr. Richmond
• Pedersen - Thank you to Mr. Richmond
• Wade - Thank you to Mr. Richmond

EACC Update - See Report; Crab feast August 16th

CIP update - See update

Credit Recovery Program - see update

• Grade Recovery program for those students not performing adequately in their first semester. Its purpose is to demonstrate the various steps the schools have taken to help students obtain success in a subject to help keep them on track for graduation, in the same time, providing remediation for HSA exams.
• Success - LP = 92%; McD = 59%; TS = 61%; WS = 33%

 AP Spanish Textbooks - see report; needed for coordination with syllabus & curriculum

 

Budget update

• looking to spend $1M in wireless upgrade & new computers to help with testing issues
• $300,000 on school security to match govenor's funds
• digital radio conversion from analog with GPS and intercom for transportation $600,000
• paving projects
• North Point culinary arts projects
• Lighting retrofit for energy efficiency $676,000

Unfinished business

• Pedersen - quoted documents presented to APFO Subcommittee by The St. Charles Companies regarding Docket 90.  300 homes a year are allowed to be a built a year.
• APFO Subcommittee work review and discussion

New business

• FY 2014 tuition rates - See report- increase in rates

Motion to approve tuition rates by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen,Wade, Wise

Future agenda items

• Cook - Cell Phone Policy
• Pedersen - Board Member Salary compared to other counties
• Abell - Explore BYOD (Bring your own device)

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Outstanding vice principal award
• Outstanding support staff awards
• Resolution – Charles County Teacher of the Year– Mary Bailey, Reading Recovery teacher, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
• Resolution – Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award – Crystal Harney, mathematics teacher, Westlake High School
• Employee retirement resolution

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Bernard Cundiff - Berry Road.  Son at North Point.  Redistricting will make him move his junior year.  Grandfather him in.  don't know why juniors can't have an exception if transportation is provided.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Wade; Second by Cook

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• Educational facilities master plan

Motion to accept the Educational Facilities Master Plan by Lukas; Second by Cook

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• High school redistricting
• Wise - every board member has children in the school system or has graduated from the school system and every high school in the system is represented by the seven board members.
• Cook - concerned about juniors being moved but doesn't see a way around it
• Weslowski - leaving juniors in would open the new high school with 600+ students and not relieve the overcrowding at North Point.
• Lukas - quotes numbers for leaving juniors at schools and grandfather them in with their own transportation.
• Pedersen - concern with staff adjusting to new curriculum, new evaluation, moves and maintaining the teaching
• Bowie - parents concerns about driving st
• Abell - same concerns as Pedersen about staffing programs and not knowing

Motion to accept the Superintentdents Recommendation, Proposal B by Wade; Second by Pedersen

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; No = Lukas

• FY 2014 budget

Motion to accept the FY 2014 Budget by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• Common Core curriculum

Motion to accept the Common Core Curriculum by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• EACC Contract

Motion to accept the EACC Contract by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

• AFSME Contract

Motion to accept the AFSME Contract by Lukas; Second by Pedersen

Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise

Adjournment

APFO Subcommittee Meeting Schedule

The next meeting of the School Adequate Public Facilities and Funding Review Committee will be on June 26, 2013 at 6:00 P.M. in the Government Building Conference Room.

 

We will not be holding another meeting until July 17, 2013 where we will resume the normal meeting schedule.

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, June 11, 2013

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, June 11, 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 recognition begins 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. Schedules for Channel 96 are available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www2.ccboe.com/publicinfo/channel96/schedule.cfm.

Executive Session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance – North Point High School's JROTC Unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member – Amit Patel, Maurice J. McDonough High School

Recognition of high school athletes

Superintendent's update

Recognition

• Pat Foerster, Maryland State Governor's office
• James E. Richmond Leadership Award
• LifeStyles – Bill McLaughlin, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/Board member updates
• Student Board Member update
• CIP update
• Credit recovery
• Budget update

Unfinished business

New business and future agenda items

• New business

- FY 2014 tuition rates

• Future agenda items

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Outstanding vice principal award
• Outstanding support staff awards
• Resolution – Charles County Teacher of the Year – Mary Bailey, Reading Recovery teacher, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School
• Resolution – Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award – Crystal Harney, mathematics teacher, Westlake High School
• Employee retirement resolution

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Educational facilities master plan
• High school redistricting
• FY 2014 budget
• Common Core curriculum
• Education Association of Charles County/AFSCME contract signing

Adjournment

Northern High School principal to head school administration

Kimberly Hill, Charles County Public Schools next Superintendent, announced her first administrative appointment today, naming Northern High School Principal Sylvia Lawson, Ph.D., as assistant superintendent of school administration. Additionally, Hill said Keith Hettel, assistant superintendent of human resources, is moving to the position of assistant superintendent for supporting services.

Later this month, Hill plans to announce other changes to the administrative team, which she is reorganizing under four assistant superintendents. Assistant superintendent positions include instruction, school administration, supporting services and finance, with different departments placed under the appropriate leadership, Hill said. A number of top-level positions are open due to the retirements of key leaders.

The Board of Education approved the appointment of Lawson, Calvert County's 2011-12 Principal of the Year and a former Charles County Public Schools principal. Lawson served as a principal, vice principal and teacher in Charles County before moving to Calvert County Public Schools in 2007.

"I am thrilled to have Dr. Lawson as a member of our leadership team. She is an enthusiastic, student-centered leader who will have an immediate and positive impact on our school district. Her responsibilities will include working with our principals and vice principals as they carry out the vital day-to-day work of leading our schools. I am confident that under her guidance our school leaders will thrive and our students will reach even higher levels of achievement," Hill said.

Lawson started her career in education in 1981 as a health and physical education teacher at McColl High School in South Carolina before relocating to Charles County as a health and physical education teacher at Maurice J. McDonough High School, where she also served as a head women's basketball and softball coach.

Lawson's experience includes serving 11 years as a middle school principal, at Southern Middle School in Calvert County and Benjamin Stoddert Middle School in Charles County. She also worked as a vice principal from 1993 to 2000 at John Hanson Middle School, McDonough and Thomas Stone High School.

Lawson has a Doctorate of Philosophy in Instructional Leadership for Changing Populations from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. Additionally, she earned a certificate of advanced studies in education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, a Master of Administration from Western Maryland College, a Master of Education from East Carolina University in North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science from Pfeiffer College in North Carolina.

Hill replaces James E. Richmond, who is retiring at the end of June after 17 years of service as superintendent. Lawson and Hettel begin their new positions on July 1, and Paul Balides, assistant superintendent of finance, remains in his current position. Connie Armstead, executive director of human resources, will manage human resources, which moves under the direction of the assistant superintendent of finance. The school system is advertising for an assistant superintendent of instruction.

Hill said the organizational structure is strategically designed to optimize the efficiency of operations and to fully engage the talents of central office personnel. "Aligning human resources with the finance department provides for an effective exchange of information between human resources, budget and finance and payroll. As the executive director of human resources, Connie Armstead's experience has given her the background and skills needed to lead this department. Keith Hettel's new role as assistant superintendent for supporting services will leverage his ability to build relationships and will serve us well as we continue to maintain and update our facilities. I appreciate the support and expertise that all of our executive staff members have provided to ensure a smooth transition," Hill said. Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.