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