Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 12/13/16

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, December 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 – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance – St. Charles High School

Recognition of state winners – La Plata High School marching band, Chisom Ojukwu, art contest winner, Maurice J. McDonough High School

Superintendent’s update to the Board - Superintendent's report 12.13.2016.pdf (175 KB)

Correspondence/board member updates

• Palko - attended a counselors session at Lackey HS; senior interviews
• Crawford - Archery Tournament at Somers; REL emails, webinar on closing the achievement gap; Jan 9, planning commission meeting, public hearing
• Kelly - Somers band concert and Mr. Hood, thank you.
• Lukas - It's Academic congrates to LaPlata HS; military ball; County First annual art show at Neal Elementary; legislative sub committee meeting
• McGraw - Judy Center train night; MABE committee on school funding need a representative; suspension data is on ccboe website under At A Glance

Education Association of Charles County update - 2016-12-13 BOE update.pdf (54 KB)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update

Student Board member’s update - student Board member update 121216.pdf (141 KB)

Elementary Reading: The Key to Academic Success

• ES_Reading_BoardPrsentation_12 13 16.pdf (678 KB)

Energy savings and rewards

• $108,990 cash back and $108,990 in credit.

Health insurance overview

• Final ChCPS Plan Overview Jan 2016-Oct 2016 - 12 13 16.pdf (1,739 KB)

Human Resources Update

• held a meet and greet for recent graduates

School Naming Committee report - elem school naming cmte report.docx.pdf (167 KB)

Legislative update

• teacher retirement gap - shortfall in budget

Unfinished business

• 2017-18 school calendar
• Draft201718CalendarOPTION1.pdf (234 KB)
• Draft1718LABORDAYSTARTOPTION2.pdf (427 KB)
• Lukas - proposes Option 1 but give Wednesday before Thanksgiving back as a day off.  Add it to the end of the calendar and build in only 5 inclement weather days.

Motion to approve Option 1 with Mr. Lukas' amendments by Abell; Second by Kelly

Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, McGraw, Palko; Abstain=Marshall

New business

• Teacher forums and support personnel - schedule? Consensus was yes

Future agenda items

• Palko - System goals update

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Robert Jonathon Moss, 11th grade, Academic Achievement, St. Charles High School, Principal: Richard Conley
• Taliya Ricks, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Principal: Kenneth Schroeck
• Niya Henderson, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Milton M. somers Middle School, Principal: Carrie Aikens
• Anna Martin, 5th grade, Career Readiness, J.C. Parks Elementary School, Principa: Gregory Miller
• Zoe Mudd, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Malcolm Elementary School, Principal: Wilhelmina Pugh
• Rachel Chernoff, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Principal: Michelle Beckwith
• Employees
• Susan R. Steinmetz, vocal music teacher, Craik
• Christine E. Chinault, art teacher, Malcolm
• Jennifer E. Fenton, teacher, Parks
• Valerie A. Amend, language arts teacher, Somers
• Subha B. Nathan, special education instructional assistant, Stoddert
• Autumn A. Britt, art teacher, St. Charles

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Calvin Compton - contractor.  responding to Keith McGirts allegations at the November board meeting.  Allegations of stealing money and not paying his drivers.  drivers turn in timesheets of routes after school starts.  insulted by lies about him and his company.
• Keith McGirt - bus drivers bring concerns to him.  bus drivers fear to speak for themselves.  bus accidents and fatalities are in the news lately but NOT in Charles County because our drivers are dedicated.  Case in court for drivers alleging contractors failed to pay drivers. I am not a liar.
• Deb Vahle - bus driver.  supposed union keeps information from her and makes allegations.  Vandalism happens to her bus and personal vehicle.  Soap was put into her windshield washer reservoir.
• Wade Compton - contractor.  42 years as a bus contractor.  dispelling comments made at the November meeting by Keith McGirt.  Time sheets are submitted by drivers and all buses have GPS.  Drivers are being harassed and bullied by fellow employees to join the union.  My son confronted one of the individuals and asked the driver to stop harassing.  Driver accused him of threats.  File Peace Order.  Bus tape does not show this is accurate.
• Mark Koch - comments made by some drivers are not accurate and is only furthering the divide.  come talk to our drivers, not the few that come to meetings and try to stir up trouble,
• David Jansher (?) - Led to believe it was my job to wash my own bus but believes the bus contractors get paid to wash the bus.  Over time accuses board of not getting paid the overtime.  Relayed lots of heresay.  Wants answers.
• Sam Graves - Driver.  Drivers are the first adult a child sees in the morning and the last one they see in the afternoon.  They have a chance to make a difference in a child's life.  I like my job.  I like my salary.  Supplement my retirement income.  Last December my children and their parents were scared they weren't going to have a ride home.  Another sick out is being planned, or so it is rumored.  I keep my bus at home and luckily don't have to put up with the driver drama. 

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to approve the minutes from 11/8/16 by Marshall; Second by Abell

Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

 

Motion to approve the minutes from the legislative breakfast by Marshall; Second by Abell

Yes=Abell, Crawford, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko; Abstain=Kelly

 

• Personnel

Motion to approve Personnel by Abell; Second by Palko

Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko



• Policy #5117 (Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation)

Motion to approve Policy #5117 by Abell; Second by Lukas

Yes=Abell; No= Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

 

Crawford Motioned to remove the list of  harassments and Abell seconded.

Yes=Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Marshall;  No=Lukas, McGraw, Palko

 

Will come back next month as a report item to vote again.

 

• Adjournment