Notes from Board of Education Work Session, 10/24/11

The Board Work Session on Monday, October 24 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 - 6 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum - no one present

Work session discussions - Goals
Each on of the bullet points listed below were discussed.  I did not record, in these notes, all of the discussion point but focused on the main points brought forward by each board member.

Pedersen

• local control, board should address local issues in tandem with state or federal issues, including conferring with state and federal leaders about use of resources - YES
•  recruit minority teachers, work with FEA and community minority organizations to encourage minority participation in educational careers - POOL IS LIMITED
• continue to encourage rigor & depth in learning - YES, SEE CURRENT BENCHMARK #1

Wade

• International Baccalaureate - FUNDING DIFFICULTIES, BACK BURNER
• Continue educational exchange program
• Joint Military Ball

Lukas

• Involve local civic organizations - ALREADY DISCUSSED
• Involve parents
• See greater student participation in SAT's

Bowie

• Disseminate information internally to Board Members in a more timely manner
• Be proactive in community involvement
• Keep communication open internally

Abell

• Continue current priorities, including current communication goals
• review and achieve list of benchmarks, including testing
• Active Board sub-committees

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 10/24/11

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, 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 stream live on the school system Web site at at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live
The agenda is as follows:
Call to order - 6 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum

Work session discussions

• Goals

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting on 10/11/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 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.

Executive session- 12 p.m.

Call to order- 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, La Plata High School's JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the Board- Read report. Click HERE.

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Abell - Student Transfer Sub-Committee has met and will be reporting its findings and presenting a recommendation at the November Work Session
• Pedersen - MABE Convention was a success.
• Wise - New Ethics forms are quite lengthy and comprehensive

Education Association of Charles County update - Read report, click HERE

Student Board member update - Read report. Click HERE

Bullying presentation - See Presentation. Click HERE

• Cook - Educating teachers and parents but the students still aren't reporting;
• Abell - Interested in our students' perspective;
• Leah (student) - Get to SGAs to present to students;
• Lukas - Read report stating it's not relative to any socioeconomic factors;
• Bowie - Article in somdnews.com on 10/7 regarding bullying;
• Taylor (student) - Look at it from the perspective of the one doing the bullying to see what the problem is that's causing them to do the bullying;
• Pedersen - Peer mediation in schools? Pamphlets in Spanish? On website?
• Wise - Upside Down Organization;
• Leah (student) - Not reported as much in high school because students are more mature and don't let it bother them as much.

CIP update - See report. Click HERE

• Abell - Commissioner Kelly referred to a "phase-in" opening of the new high school. Questions?
• Richmond - Planning on opening under capacity for 9, 10, & 11 with anticipation of the new home builds in the zone.
• Lukas - Projections for new high school enrollment based on core capacity. Now that it has changed to state rated capacity...will it change projections?
• Wineland - Rely on research and trends.
• Pedersen - Considering two family homes?
• Wineland - Transportation has software that pinpoints every child's address and name and it will be available to the redistricting committee. The name will become a number.

FY2012 independent financial audit - See report. Click HERE.

• Abell - Condensed lunches reason for loss in funds?
• Balides - Definitely. Doing time trials and trying different things at those schools to alleviate.
• Abell - Requests time trials also be done at the elementary schools based on parental complaints.
• Lukas - Ditto, Ms. Abell.

Budget update - September Financials, click HERE

STEM initiatives - See report. Click HERE

Academy of Health Professions: pharmacy technician program - See report. Click HERE

• Abell - How are the students chosen? Prerequisites? How is it advertised to the student population?
• Palko - All 10th grade classes were visited by counselor and given application. HSAs are a factor and strong Chemistry/Math background.
• Lukas - Transferable credits?
• Palko - In talks with colleges including CSM.
• Leah(Students) - Consider adding to all high schools?
• Richmond- Continue to develop in the current location at Stetham.
• Taylor - Limits on number of students per school?
• Richmond - New this year then evaluate the program and grow from there.

Recruitment and retention update - See Report. Click HERE

• Pedersen - Are we attending and trying to recruit at the black colleges?
• McDonald - Yes, we are.

Legislative update - See report. Click HERE

Unfinished business - None

New business -

• Pedersen - Everyone writing a letter to General Assembly relative to the pension?
• Consensus was to have staff write one letter for all of our signatures.

Future agenda items

• Abell - Student Transfer Subcommittee report at Work Session in November

Recognition- 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Kayla Nagle, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Gale-Bailey Elementary School; Michael Gill, 5th grade, Career Readiness, Mary H. Matula Elementary School; Thomas Carlyle Martin, Jr. (T.C.), 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Milton Somers Middle School; Courtney Jones, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, Maurice J. McDonough High School
• Staff - Nathan Mouli, social studies teacher, McDonough; Linda Forrest, reading resource teacher, Somers; Lauren Hoza, kindergarten teacher, Matula; Joan Matthews, media instructional assistant, Gale-Bailey
• Resolutions: American Education Week and American Freedom Week.

Public Forum- 6 p.m.

• Robin Tyler - High school drop out rate in the state of MD 3%. Invites everyone to come to a lunch at October 20, 2011, 11:30 -1:00pm at the Maryland National Guard Armory in LaPlata to discuss this issue.
• Robert Harlan - NCLB. Athletic Inelegibility. Last month's board discussions. Break down who the minorities are.

Action items

• Executive Session Minutes from 9/13/11
Motion to accept by Cook; Second by Abell
Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Wade, Wise; Absent = Pedersen
• Minutes from 9/13/11
Motion to accept by Abell; Second by Lukas
Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook Lukas, Wade; Absent = Pedersen
• Minutes from Commissioner Retreat 10/4/11
Motion to accept by Cook; Second by Abell
Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas Wise; Abstain = Wade; Absent = Pedersen
• Personnel
Motion to accept by Abell; Second by Cook
Yes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Wade, Wise; Absent = Pedersen
• FY2012 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Motion to accept by Cook; Second by Lukas

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

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 10/11/11

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, October 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. 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 Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live

Executive session- 12 p.m.
Call to order- 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, La Plata High School's JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the Board

Reports of officers/board/committees

• Correspondence/Board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board member update
• Bullying presentation
• CIP update
• FY2012 independent financial audit
• Budget update
• Stem initiatives
• Academy of Health Professions: pharmacy technician program
• Recruitment and retention update
• Legislative update

Unfinished business

New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Recognition- 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Staff

Public Forum- 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY2012 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
• Resolutions: American Education Week and American Freedom Week.

Adjournment

Teachers increasingly use home visits to connect with students’ families

Kevin Sieff

The Washington Post

October 9, 2011

The two high school teachers knocked at apartment 512 of a Crystal City high-rise and waited to see the inside of Alvaro Nunez Alvarez’s life.

Up to this point, the teachers knew this about 14-year-old Alvaro: He was quiet. He had recently arrived from somewhere in Latin America. He was smart and ambitious.

They were here to fill in the blanks — to conduct a kind of parent-teacher conference on the family’s turf. There’s no better way, many educators say, to turn distant or unresponsive parents into allies and communicators, actively involved in the education of their children.

But that means venturing far beyond the classroom, penetrating the private spaces that students disappear to when the afternoon school bell rings.

When the door to unit 512 opened, there were Alvaro and his sister, standing in their matching Wakefield High School T-shirts, blushing. There were his parents, well-dressed, deferential, letting out a stream of “thank you so much” and “it’s our pleasure to host you” in Spanish.

Debbie Polhemus and Yun-Chi Maggie Hsu, both Wakefield teachers, were reaching out to the Nunez Alvarez family in a manner once considered out of bounds but now increasingly common in the Washington area and across the country: sitting in a student’s living room, munching on homemade pupusas, talking about academic expectations far from school halls.

Read more HERE.

India’s students will be the first to get world’s smallest computer

Washintgon Post By Valerie Strauss

The big news in technology Wednesday was the announcement that India introduced a new tablet computer that is the world’s smallest and least expensive — costing $35. But just as important as the progress in small computer development is who the first beneficiaries will be.

The computer’s developer is is selling the Aakash, or “sky,” to the Indian government for about $45, and in turn the government will sell it to students for about $35, the Associated Press reported. The Aakash has a seven-inch color screen and provides word processing, Web browsing and video conferencing.

READ MORE HERE

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

Obama tells students: Discover new passions

Bill Turque
The Washington Post
September 28, 2011

For an incumbent president facing a tough reelection campaign, no public appearance is completely free of political content. But President Obama’s annual back-to-school speech to the nation’s students, delivered Wednesday at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Northwest Washington, was about as close as it gets.

In a 20-minute address to Banneker’s 415 students, streamed live to schools across the country by the White House, Obama urged students to take their work seriously but also to experiment.

“That’s what school’s for. Discovering new passions,” Obama said, speaking under the basketball backboard in a packed gym turned steamy from the extra lighting.

“That’s why one hour you can be an artist; the next, an author; the next, a scientist,” he said. “Or a historian. Or a carpenter. This is the time when you can try out new interests and test new ideas.”

Obama told students he didn’t want to be “another adult who stands up to lecture you like you’re just kids,” prefacing a series of fairly lecture-like remarks.

Read more HERE.

Banana Man Principal Resigns

PotomacLocal.com
September 27, 2011

Stafford, Va. – The principal at the center of the now infamous Banana Man controversy no longer has a job with Stafford County schools.

Dr. Karen Spillman, former Principal of Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, handed in her resignation to the Stafford County School Board on Tuesday night.

Spilllman came into the spotlight last week after she ordered a suspension for 14-year-old Bryan Thompson – a student at Colonial Forge who donned a banana costume and ran down the football field during halftime Sept. 16. After threatening to suspend Thompson for an entire year, the student was reinstated in his school after serving half of his 10 day suspension, and an apology was issued by the county school superintended [sic] after Spillman disciplined students who wore t-shirts that stated “free Banana Man” following Thompson’s suspension.

Read more HERE.

Victory: Indiana School Agrees to Cease Subjecting Students to Intrusive Mental Health Surveys Without Written Parental Consent

The Rutherford Institute News
Press Release
September 26, 2011

PORTAGE, Ind.— Officials with the Portage Township School Corporation have agreed to cease their practice of having students complete mental health and suicide surveys without their parents' written consent after being warned by attorneys for The Rutherford Institute that doing so places them in violation of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), a federal law which governs student surveys by educational agencies receiving federal funding.

"This is a huge victory for parental rights," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "Parents are the ones who should decide whether they want their children to be mined for information about their personal thoughts, beliefs or practices. We take it seriously when government officials try to short-circuit that essential parent-child relationship."

According to a parent who contacted The Rutherford Institute for help, on at least two occasions Portage Township School District sent home information addressed to parents concerning surveys to be administered to students in a quest for information about student drug use and depression or suicide risks. The surveys asked students to provide sensitive, personal information, including information about illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior and/or mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student. However, rather than requesting the parent's prior written consent, as required by federal and state law and its own district policy, the school had included an "opt-out" form, allowing the parent to opt his or her student out of participation. In the case of the survey concerning suicide risk, only one day was allotted for the parent to review the provided information, make a decision, sign the enclosed "opt-out" form, and return it to school officials.

Institute attorneys pointed out that the school district's practice of relying on passive consent for the surveys, by which parents are presumed to have consented if they do not return a particular form, constituted a violation of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), a federal law intended to protect the privacy of students and the rights of parents to control the circumstances under which their children are exploited for information-gathering. PPRA, which covers educational entities that receive federal funds, applies whenever students are asked to submit to any survey, analysis or evaluation that seeks private information about the student, such as political affiliations, sexual activity, illegal activities or religious beliefs.

Read more HERE.

Race to Top Winners Feel Heat on Teacher Evaluations

Federal-grant recipients must live up to promises made in winning awards

By Sean Cavanagh
Education Week

Winners of the federal Race to the Top competition are facing difficult questions about how to make good on their ambitious promises to link teacher evaluation with student performance, a task complicated in some cases by resistance from educators and practical questions about how to judge job performance fairly.


For some states, that means wrestling with how to evaluate teachers in subjects for which no statewide test now exists. Others face a tough task of setting specific evaluation requirements based on relatively broad laws that established those systems, which in some cases were designed to boost the states’ chances in the competition.

Eleven states and the District of Columbia split $4 billion in awards through the Race to the Top grant initiative, which was championed by the Obama administration and financed by the 2009 federal economic-stimulus package.

Read more HERE.

AP, SAT participation increases

Personally I don't mind the scores dropping as long as more students are taking the tests.

Charles County students increased participation in Advanced Placement (AP) and SAT assessment participation, according to data released this week by the College Board, which administers AP, SAT and other national programs.


Charles County Public Schools average score on AP exams rose slightly to 2.14 from 2.13 in 2010. Nearly 89 percent of all students taking the rigorous AP classes took at least one test in 2011. "Taking Advanced Placement classes in high school better prepares our students for future study and success," Superintendent James E. Richmond said.

While the number of students taking the SAT increased, average scores decreased. Scores for the class of 2011 were 1455, down from 1486 in 2010. National and state averages also declined. Average participation countywide is 39 percent, up from 35.7 percent in 2010.

Students average score on the critical reading section is 494; math scores are 488 and writing scores are 473. SAT tests are designed to demonstrate a student's mastery of certain subjects to colleges. Many colleges use the test as a part of the admissions process. Only scores for graduating seniors are included in the 2011 report. Students in the Class of 2011 were offered nearly $40 million in scholarships.

La Plata High School students averaged 1672, with 26.4 percent of graduates taking the SAT in 2011. Westlake High School students posted a 1492 average, with 18.5 percent participation. Both North Point High School and Henry E. Lackey High School students averaged 1445. North Point had 62.9 percent of its graduates taking the SAT and Lackey had 30 percent. Maurice J. McDonough High School%u219s average is 1415 with 34.8 percent participation and Thomas Stone High School students averaged 1377 with 47 percent participation.

Charles County Public Schools offers Kaplan Live Online, an interactive SAT preparation class in Saturday session in the spring and fall.

"Last year we saw an increase in our scores and felt the success of students taking online programs and preparation classes was moving us in the right direction. To see a decrease this year disturbs us, and we are looking to see how to encourage more students who want and need to take the SAT to take advantage of these classes and become better prepared to take this test," Richmond said.

A detailed chart of SAT results for 2010-11 college bound seniors is posted on the Charles County Public Schools Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/PDF/testscores/SAT-2011.pdf.

Charles County Public Schools provides 26,858 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.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 9/13/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, September 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.
Pledge of Allegiance – Thomas Stone High School's JROTC unit
Recognition of Project Graduation contributors

Superintendent's update to the board - Read Report

Correspondence/board member updates

• Wise - Dr. Smith from MABE will be here on November 8 at 10:00 a.m. for a one hour presentation on Superintendent Selection
• Wise - October 4 BOE meeting with commissioners
• Wise - spoke with Delegate Murphy & possibly have a lunch meeting

Education Association of Charles County update - Read report

Student board member's update - Read report

Opening of schools - everything ran smoothly; uneventful

Update on athletic program - See report

• Abell - Clarification on the transfers: Is it one full calendar year from date of transfer?
• Cornette - yes
• Lukas - Does this include those that moved into another zone and are attending another school?
• Cornette - No, they are eligible
• Cook - Looking at the reports, a greater number of minority students are ineligible for participation. Is this because we have a greater majority of minority participating and what are we doing to assist?
• Cornette - We do have a monitoring and mentoring program that assists these students
• Student - Are the numbers for freshmen first quarter taken at the beginning or end of the quarter because all freshmen are eligible?
• Cornette - Taken at the end of first quarter
• Pedersen - How many students are participating in our athletic programs?
• Cornette - Will get.
• Wise - Still need to know what we are doing to help those athletes that don't meet GPA
• Cornette - Considering making a GPA eligibility regulation for freshmen. Have meetings with parents and discuss options, and resources.
• Lukas - When are grades looked at during a quarter?
• Bursick - We send grade sheets out via students for teachers to sign off on a weekly basis.
• Brooks - Can you become ineligible at anytime during the quarter?
• Cornette - They are assisted but don't become ineligible until the official grades.
• Student - Has the use of Edline helped parents keep a closer eye on things and help with eligibility?
• Cornette - Yes

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update - See report

• no time was lost due to facilities
• transportation update

Report item: FY 2012 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan - See Report

Update on annual Bridge to Excellence; summer programs; Race to the Top - See report

• Wise - How many students didn't graduate because of HSAs?
• Jepsky - 0 for three years
• Really in depth presentation; highly recommend watching online.

Update on staffing

• Hired 151 new high quality teachers
• Tough time finding the Tech Ed teachers
• Comprehensive report next meeting

Report item: Ethics policy - See draft online; vote on next month

Unfinished business

• Bowie - Bullying issues and concerns from parents; forums for schools to address and parents can discuss
• Cunningham - Will have a report
• Pedersen - Transfers and possibly form a committee to look at how we are handling our transfers.
• Wise - Thinks a committee should be formed to look at how transfers are granted. Pedersen, Abell, Cook volunteered.

New business

• Inter-category budget change FY 2011
Motion to accept Inter-category budget change by Abell; Second by Cook
Yes = Unanimous
• Emergency closing days - October 21st & Nov. 2; see report - Abell - Affect on teacher contract?; Hettel- They will still owe us 2 days
Motion to delay vote on Emergency Closing Days until after Public Forum by Abell; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous

Future agenda items

• Cook - Report on substitutes
• Bowie - At first day of school noticed a higher number of Hispanic population and teachers concerned about lack of translators.
• Lukas - Relayed public confusion of how the redistricting committee is going to be formed

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• L. Ramsey - Minister. Westlake graduate. For the use of standard gym uniforms but there needs to be a policy or rules in writing of the process for the students who cannot afford to pay for these uniforms.

Action items

• Minutes
Motion to accept Minutes from August 9 by Abell; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Abell, Bowie, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Abstain = Cook
Motion to accept Minutes from August 22 by Abell; Second by Cook
Yes = Unanimous
Motion to accept Minutes from September 11 Conference Call by Cook; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous
• Personnel
Motion to accept Personnel by Abell; Second by Lukas
Yes = Unanimous
• New Office 2010 textbooks
Motion to accept New Office 2010 Textbooks by Abell; Second by Cook
Yes = Unanimous
• FY 2013 CIP state and local CIP program
Motion to accept FY 2013 CIP by Cook; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technical 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 accept Resolutions by Pedersen; Second by Cook
Yes = Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Abstain = Abell
• Emergency Closing Days
Motion to accept recommendation by Cook; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 9/13/11

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 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. 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 Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/.

Executive session – 11 a.m.


Call to order – 1 p.m.


Pledge of Allegiance – Thomas Stone High School's JROTC unit


Recognition of Project Graduation contributors


Superintendent's update to the board  


Correspondence/board member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

Student board member's update

Opening of schools

Update on athletic program

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update

Report item: FY 2012 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Update on annual Bridge to Excellence; summer programs; Race to the Top

Update on staffing

Report item: Ethics policy

Unfinished business

New business

• Intercategory budget change FY 2011
• Emergency closing days

Future agenda items

Public Forum – 6 p.m.


Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• New Office 2010 textbooks
• FY 2013 CIP state and local CIP program
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technical 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

Officials Look Overseas for Models to Pay for School Construction

NOTE:  You have got to be kidding me? And this is like a new revelation? I said this back in 2004 when I first was appointed to the board...and in 2005, and in 2006, and in 2007. Way to keep up 'officials'. (shaking head)



Lease payments to contractors among options
by ANDREW UJIFUSA, Staff writer
 
When the Canadian province of Nova Scotia wanted to build dozens of schools in the late 1990s, education officials turned to an unusual source of cash — private developers.

The developers contracted with local school systems to design and build 31 schools, and to provide maintenance and operations for the schools, in exchange for lease payments by the province. The contracts obligated Nova Scotia to pay $830 million during the 20-year life of the contracts.

Now, Maryland is beginning to explore whether similar arrangements, also used in Great Britain, could work for state school construction at a time when dollars for new schools and building upgrades are scarce.

Public officials from state and local governments and school systems are scheduled to gather at a Sept. 19 seminar in Annapolis to hear presentations on alternative school financing, as well as alternative funding and energy performance contracting.

David Lever, executive director of the Interagency Committee on School Construction, said the key to such a public-private partnership is the creation of a strong contract that covers a variety of issues, from relationships with unionized maintenance workers to community use of the privately financed facilities.

“I haven’t made up my mind one way or the other, quite frankly. But I think it’s very interesting,” Lever said of whether the arrangement could work broadly in Maryland.

READ MORE HERE

Notes from the Board of Education Work Session, 8/22/11

The Board Work Session on Monday, August 22 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.

The agenda is as follows:
Executive session

Call to order – 6 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum  - None present

Funding formula - Paul Balides presented report.  See report.

Redistricting  - Timeline presentation.  See report.

Meeting with delegation - Wise will set-up with the tri-county BOE's and the delegation

Superintendent search

• Schwartz read, 4-201 Education Article regarding Superintendent appointment. 
• Wise contacted MABE for their process.  MABE will come out and explain the process as a training
• Abell - believe we should take advantage of what MABE is offering and the sooner the better
• Lukas - How did Montgomery County conduct theirs?

Maryland Association of Boards of Education committees - everyone chose a committee

Retreat with Commissioners - October 4, 11:15 - 2:00 p.m.

Discussion of goals

• Pedersen - Her idea; need to review
• Abell - Previous goals?  cannot find online.  Long tedious process. Recommend postponing until homework is done and time allotted.
• Bowie - MABE training talked about where we are going; vision
• Richmond - requested we review the Master Plan
• Abell - Requested Ms. Stubblefield to forward the previous goals to all board members.

New business

• Construction manager at-risk contract - See report.  Award to Hess Contruction

Motion to accept recommedation by Abell; Second by Pedersen

Yes = Unanimous

• Personnel

Motion to accept recommedation by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

Yes = Unanimous

Attendance at MABE conference

Attendance at NSBA conference
Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Work Session, 8/22/11

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 22, 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/. The agenda is as follows:
Executive session

Call to order – 6 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum

Funding formula

Redistricting

Meeting with delegation

Superintendent search

Maryland Association of Boards of Education committees

Retreat with Commissioners

Discussion of goals

New business

Construction manager at-risk contract

Adjournment

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 8/9/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, August 9 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 – 10:00 a.m.

Call to order – 11 a.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update - Read Report

Delegate Peter Murphy - presented a General Assembly citation to Mr. Richmond recognizing him for receiving the 2011 Alan Shepard Award

Education Association of Charles County update - No report today

Student Board Member update

• 19 students attended Leadership Work Shop


• August 18th is first CCASC meeting

Oral update on preparations for opening of schools; student transfers

• Cunningham - administrative appointments; school preparation; programs happening prior to school; new teacher orientation; student transfers


• Wise - Large influx of new students we didn't expect
  


• Cunningham - student transfer information; see report;


• Dr. Patricia Vaira (Director Student Services) - Brief overview of process


• Abell - numbers are high, all schools are already over crowded & don't have openings so how can a transfer be awarded? High number of student transfers for employees.


• Vaira - medical and criminal aspects do exist


• Wise - concerned about transfers for programs; concerned about misuse


• Cunningham - Dr. Vaira has added fresh ideas to the whole process


• Taylor - annual approval?


• Vaira - you do not have to refile every year unless by principal request


• Abell - still concerned about the high number of students of employees, especially ones where parents work in different buildings; is this in the teacher contract?


• Hettel - no, it is not in their contract or guaranteed.


• Bowie - do these figures include Barnhart transfers regarding AYP


• Vaira - no, these figures are from 2010


• Pedersen - concern about consistency between the schools; supports employee student transfers to make family life more normal for our teachers but hopes staff understands that they will not always be approved.


• Cornette - presenting on fall sports season; all schools will hold a pre-season meeting; all athletic trainers will be certified by October 1 per legislation;


• Pedersen - team becoming ineligible because a student/player was ineligible due to residency; students practice on their own in school neighborhood communities; Are we liable


• Cunningham - working on having legal consequences for parents that falsify information


• Schwartz - Yes, we would be sued but it would be doubtful if we would lose. Coaches need to make sure that it is understood by players that practice is NOT approved.


• Student - Eligibility for sports if students transfer?


• Abell - they are ineligible for one full calendar year from the date of transfer.


• Bowie - In the handbook does it state GPA is a requirement.


• Cornette - yes; 2.0 but no more than one F


• Taylor - transfers in sports; does it apply for incoming freshmen?


• Cunningham - yes.

CIP Update - see report
Report item: State FY2013 CIP State and Local CIP Program - see report
College prep English; Study Island - see report (partnership with CSM)
Report item: new Office 2010 textbooks - see report
Oral update on staffing

• a number of possible employees have declined offers due to housing issues because the banks are withholding mortgages. Rentals are extremely higher. Apartments are not giving teacher discounts anymore.


• Schools should be completely staffed by opening of schools.


• Superintendent choosing to close the entire school system for the week between Christmas and New Year 2012.

New ethics policy - see report

Communications update - see report

Resolutions – American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African American History Month; Career and Technical 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; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Unfinished business

• Wade - concerned about the number of athletes, mainly minorities, that are ineligible for sports due to academics.


• Wise - Report from Cornette forthcoming on how they are addressing this issue.


• Richmond - concerned with the STUDENTS in general, not just athletes and it is being discussed and it is a focal point for staff.

New business


Future agenda items


Public Forum – 3:30 p.m. - None

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept Executive Session Minutes from June by Abell; Second by Pedersen

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent) No Vote = Lukas

• Minutes

Motion to accept Minutes from June by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent)

• Minutes

Motion to accept June Work Session Minutes by Abell; Second by Lukas

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent)

• Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent)

• Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel Termination by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent) Recused = Abell

• New policy #5118 Elementary and Secondary: gang activity

Motion to accept Policy by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Cook absent)

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 8/9/11

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, August 9, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting will begin at 11 a.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Program schedules for Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 are available on the Charles County Public Schools Web site at www2.ccboe.com/publicinfo/channel96/schedule.cfm.

Executive session – 9:30 a.m.

Call to order – 11 a.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update

Correspondence/Board member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

Student Board Member update

Oral update on preparations for opening of schools; student transfers

CIP Update

Report item: State FY2013 CIP State and Local CIP Program

College prep English; Study Island

Report item: new office 2010 textbooks

Oral update on staffing

New ethics policy

Communications update

Resolutions – American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African American History Month; Career and Technical 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; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Unfinished business
New business

Future agenda items

Public Forum – 3:30 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• New policy #5118 Elementary and Secondary: gang activity

Adjournment

New book takes on zero tolerance fervor in schools

Tuesday - 7/19/2011

Leanne Italie

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) - High-tech surveillance. Metal detectors. Zero tolerance for, well, just about any bad behavior, real or overblown.

Welcome to "Lockdown High," the title of a sweeping new book by journalist Annette Fuentes, describing how the schoolhouse has become a jailhouse and fear prevails.

Dating to Ronald Reagan's war on drugs launched nearly three decades ago, fueled by campus shootings and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, "preoccupation with security and violence are particularly acute when it comes to children and teenagers," she writes.

But a paradox exists, Fuentes argues, and it goes like this: "Children are considered both potential victims, vulnerable to dangers from every corner, and perpetrators of great violence and mayhem, demanding strict, preventive discipline."

Read more HERE.

Study exposes some some myths about school discipline

Donna St. George
The Washington Post
July 19, 2011

Here’s one myth of school debunked: Harsh discipline is not always a reflection of the students in a particular school. It can be driven by those in charge.

In a study of nearly a million Texas children described as an unprecedented look at discipline, researchers found that nearly identical schools suspended and expelled students at very different rates.

The report, released Tuesday, challenges a common misperception that the only way schools can manage behavior is through suspension, says Michael D. Thompson, a co-author of the report, done by the Council of State Governments Justice Center and Texas A&M University’s Public Policy Research Institute.

“The bottom line is that schools can get different outcomes with very similar student bodies,” he said. “School administrators and school superintendents and teachers can have a dramatic impact.”

Read more HERE

MD Becomes First State to Require Environmental Literacy

Baynet.com

June 21, 2011

In an historic vote today, the Maryland State Board of Education provided specific guidance to all public schools to require that each student be environmentally literate before he or she graduates from high school. The vote cements Maryland as the first state in the country to approve a graduation requirement in environmental literacy, a credit to Governor O’Malley, to board members, and to Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools.

“This is a momentous day not only for Maryland but for educators across the country who are watching what Maryland does, and hoping to increase outdoor learning in their states, “said Don Baugh, director of the No Child Left Inside Coalition (NCLI). “ Governor O’Malley and Dr. Grasmick deserve our profound gratitude. For years they have put Maryland at the forefront of the environmental education movement.”

The state school board vote clarifies for schools that each child must receive a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary environmental education that meets the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools. Regulations given final approval by the board provide critical flexibility and oversight for school systems as they develop effective environmental literacy programs aligned with the Maryland State Environmental Literacy Standards.

While many exemplary environmental education programs already exist in some Maryland schools not all students have access to these programs. That can occur when schools feel compelled to emphasize math and reading instruction over science and other subjects because of the 2002 federal No Child Left Behind law.

With today’s vote school districts must now move beyond standard science courses that provide minimal focus on the environment. The Maryland State Department of Education has established two workgroups to begin revising and aligning Maryland environmental literacy standards, and developing guidelines to provide school systems with guidance and support for implementation.

Read more HERE.

Maryland officials scrap new sunscreen restrictions

Marc Fisher
Washington Post
July 2, 2011

Less than a day after dermatologists and parents said Maryland’s new policy on sunscreen at summer camps would make it far more likely that children would suffer skin damage, the state health department Saturday scrapped all of the restrictions it had imposed just three weeks ago.

The new policy, announced in a statement that noted in bold capital letters that it “supersedes all previous interpretive memoranda regarding sunscreen,” will no longer direct camps to steer counselors away from helping children apply sunscreen. It also removes any mention of the previous ban on children assisting each other in putting on sunscreen.

The health department’s reversal came about 22 hours after a report on washingtonpost.com cited the American Academy of Dermatology, local skin doctors and parents warning that Maryland’s limits on who could apply sunscreen at summer camps would result in a surge of children going unprotected against the sun’s harmful rays.

The new policy specifically permits camps to provide sunscreen to children, something that the previous policy had banned.

The turnabout, which the health department said Friday night would be coming soon, resulted from what the agency’s assistant director, Clifford Mitchell, called “confusion caused” by the June policy. Mitchell said that policy was intended to keep children safe from inappropriate touching by counselors or other children but was not meant to deter the use of sunscreen.

But camp operators and parents sided with dermatologists, arguing that it was far more important to defend children against the daily danger of sunburn than to add another layer of protection against abuse.

The health department conceded that it had no information to indicate that inappropriate touching was a problem at Maryland summer camps.

Under the latest policy, parents will still have to sign permission forms allowing their children to use sunscreen, a policy that exists in a few other states. But the state now says that it “encourages the appropriate use of sunscreen during summer activities.”

Maryland school systems have a hodgepodge of regulations governing sunscreen use: some require parental permission, some make no restrictions and Montgomery County requires a physician’s note before children may use sunscreen.

State releases Maryland School Assessment (MSA) data

Elementary and middle school students at Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) continue to work toward 2014 goals on the reading and mathematics Maryland School Assessment (MSA). In elementary schools, 86.5 percent of students scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 84.1 percent on the mathematics test. In middle schools, 82.8 percent scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 79.5 percent on the mathematics test.

 

"Thanks to the hard work of our outstanding staff and students, Charles County is making progress, especially in the areas of special education and free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroups," said Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond. "We still have a lot of work to do, and the improvement targets continue to get harder to meet as schools reach the 80 and 90 percent levels."

 

The MSA reading composite score at the elementary level has risen 22 percentage points since 2003, when the tests first started. Elementary mathematics proficiency has increased by 19.9 points. Middle school reading proficiency has increased 16.6 percentage points since 2003, while middle school math proficiency has risen 33.4 points.

 

The MSA scores were released as part of the Maryland 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report, which uses the assessment data to determine if schools have met federal testing targets. The tests are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that charts the progress of the overall student population in the grades tested as well as for students receiving special services and by racial subgroups. Scores are reported for a total of 12 tests, six reading and six math, taken in March by students in grades three through eight. Scores are expressed as the percentage of students who scored at or above the proficiency levels, which were set in 2003. The annual measurable objective (AMO) is the yearly benchmark established by the state for school systems to meet their goals by 2014. If one subgroup in a school does not meet the goal, the entire school does not make AYP.

 

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS

 

• Overall, 13 of Charles County Public Schools 29 elementary and middle schools met all testing targets and made AYP.
• Schools that did not meet every one of the overall or subgroup targets in mathematics or reading for two or more consecutive years are identified for School Improvement. Schools exit School Improvement if they meet every one of the area and subgroup targets for two consecutive years. Four of 29 CCPS schools have been identified as schools in improvement.
• In CCPS schools, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, which is a Title I school, entered school in improvement status and is required to offer school choice to parents. Letters to all Barnhart parents will be sent by July 6 outlining their options for the next school year. Only Title I schools in school improvement are required to offer school choice. There are no CCPS schools in the "priority" stage, which is the most severe level of School Improvement. For more information about Maryland's AYP process, visit http://mdk12.org/assessments/ayp/index.html.
• The targets that all students and subgroups had to meet went up this year, causing more CCPS schools to miss making AYP. Five of the schools that did not make AYP missed making it in only one subgroup.

"Schools face much greater challenges with meeting AYP as targets grow higher. Schools that did not meet AYP are not failing schools, but simply have areas where the teachers, staff and students must put more of a focused effort," said Richmond. "We will work closely and collaboratively with these schools to address these areas in the coming year."

MSA PERFORMANCE

 

Students in the special education subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 special education reading went from 57.6 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 70.3 percent in 2011.
• Grade 4 special education math went from 59.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 65.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 special education reading went from 53.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 61.4 percent in 2011
• Grade 6 special education math went from 44.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 58.8 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education reading went from 43.9 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 57.4 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education math went from 29.5 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 43.2 percent in 2011.

Students in the free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 FARMS reading went from 76.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 81.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 FARMS math went from 68 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 74.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 7 FARMS math went from 54.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 68.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS reading went from 66.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 71.9 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS math went from 50.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 60.2 percent in 2011.

State, system and local school data are now available on the Maryland State Department of Education's report card, www.mdreportcard.org. Charles County Public Schools results can also be found at http://www2.ccboe.com/msa/msa.cfm.

In the coming months, the Maryland State Department of Education will release algebra and English II data, High School Assessments, system AYP, attendance and graduation numbers.

 

Notes from the Board of Education Work Sesson, 6/27/11

The Board Work Session on Monday, June 27th 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

• Executive session is closed as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act of the State Government Article to discuss personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent's recommendations on certificated positions.

Call to order - 6 p.m.

Pledge of Allegiance

Public Forum

• No one present

FY 2012 Budget Amendment - F.B. Gwynn Educational Center

• Richmond - spoke regarding transfer of $1.3M transfer from fund balance to renovations at the Gwynn Center. Needs additional funds to complete the renovation properly.
• Balides - explained financial aspect
• Bowie - what if we approve & commissioners deny?
• Richmond - can't imagine them doing so, but we will continue to strive to make the changes
• Cook - pool? Fully operational

Motion to accept Budget Amendment by Abell; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous (Pedersen absent)

Personnel

Motion to accept Personnell by Cook; Second by Lukas

Yes = Unanimous (Pedersen absent)

Wise - August 22, will be a work session for the Board of Education to discuss vision and goals
Lukas - Any rescheduling of the meeting with the commissioners
Wise - Not at this time.

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board Work Session, 06/27/11

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, June 27, 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/. The agenda is as follows:
Call to order - 6 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Forum

Work session

• FY 2012 Budget Amendment - F.B. Gwynn Educational Center

Executive session
Executive session is closed as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act of the State Government Article to discuss personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent's recommendations on certificated positions.

Supreme Court backs Miranda warning when questioning juveniles

Los Angeles Times
David G. Savage, Washington Bureau
June 16, 201

The Supreme Court expanded the rights of juveniles Thursday, deciding by a 5-4 vote that police officers who remove a student from a class to question him about a crime usually must warn him of his right to remain silent.

"It is beyond dispute that children will often feel bound to submit to police questioning when an adult in the same circumstance would feel free to leave," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor for the court.

The decision does not set a strict rule for all cases involving young people, but instead says their age calls for giving them special protection...

...Sotomayor said age is a crucial factor, and it suggests the student would feel he is in the control of the police. Officers and judges "simply need the common sense to know that a 7-year-old is not a 13-year old and neither is an adult," she wrote. "To hold, as the state requests, that a child's age is never relevant to whether a suspect has been taken into custody — and thus to ignore the very real differences between children and adults — would be to deny children the full scope of the procedural safeguards that Miranda guarantees to adults."

Read more HERE.

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 6/14/11

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, June 14th 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 - Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member - Taylor Brooks, Westlake High School

Contract signing

Motion to accept EACC contract by Abell; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous

Motion to accept AFSME contract by Pedersen; Second by Wade

Yes = Unanimous

Superintendent's update - Read report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wise - Graduations went well. Poor behavior by attendees in audience has to be stopped.
• Pedersen - Thank you to...Reading Partners Luncheon, Adult Independence Graduations, Title 1 Picnic, Juvenile Drug Court

Education Association of Charles County update - Read Report (Crab Feast 10/7)

Risk assessment and internal audit plan - PLEASE Read through report for good information

Student Board Member update - Read report

Deputy Superintendent Update -

• Graduations - statistics already reported in Supt. Report. 67% attended Project Graduation.
• Regency Stadium incident - Thursday, June 9th approx. 1,000 students attended baseball game from the tri-county area. Heat related issues & medical problems caused the event to be cancelled early and approx. 80 students were treated and sent to hospitals. CCPS immediately sent buses to transport students. Reviewing the entire incident with all involved (stadium, EMS, etc) to gain perspective and conclusions.
• Abell- Relay public concerns as well as my own to be considered during this review process, including being told that water was not available to students who did not have money to purchase it prior to awareness of medical issues. Why did we not cancel the event since we were aware of the temperatures and alerts at least 3-days prior? Reported, students were complaining of heat related issues prior to EMS being called, but they were instructed to sit down and behave. Wants the completed review/conclusion made available to the public.
• Cunningham - Same trip occurred the day before for other students without incident. Students arrived about 10:30...EMS called at noon.
• Cook - Her child was there and stated that water was offered to the students prior to the illnesses.
• Richmond - Cancel future trips of this nature and make an evening event. Takes full responsibility.
• Abell - Thank you to all responders in the tri-county area.

CIP update - See report

• Gwynn Center Renovations - reviewing all programs contained therein to modify/upgrade renovations ongoing as needed.
• Navy Housing Site - will soon be ours. Asbestos review needed. We will be responsible for tear down of existing structures. Will help aid LaPlata High School flow of traffic during renovations.

Lifelong Learning Center - See report (power point presentation to be added to Board Docs for pubic)

New Office 2010 textbooks - See report; to be placed at several high schools for public review

New policy 5118 elementary and secondary: gang activity - see new policy

Unfinished business - none

New business - none

Future agenda items - Student transfers review added to August meeting

Recognition - 4:15 p.m.

• Ruth Ann Hall awards
• Outstanding vice principal award
• Outstanding support staff awards
• Resolution - Charles County Teacher of the Year - Stephanie Fara Harris-Walent, language arts teacher, Milton M. Somers Middle School
• Employees retirement resolution

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

• Ryan Shauf - follow-up on his wife's statements from last month regarding bullying at their children's schools. Please continue to work with schools and staff because not all issues are being addressed properly.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen
Yes = Unanimous

• Personnel

Motion to accept personnel by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

• Handwriting

Motion to accept the handwriting curriculum by Wade; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

• Educational Facilities Master Plan

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

Yes = Unanimous

• FY 2011 inter category budget change

Motion to accept the FY 2011 inter category budget change by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = Unanimous

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 6/14/11

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, June 14, 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 4:15 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Program schedules for Channel 96 are available on the Charles County Public Schools Web site at www2.ccboe.com/publicinfo/channel96/schedule.cfm.
Executive session - 12 p.m.
Call to order - 1 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance - Maurice J. McDonough High School's JROTC unit

Swearing-in of new Student Board member
Contract signing


Superintendent's update


Reports of officers/boards/committees


Correspondence/Board member updates


Education Association of Charles County update


Risk assessment and internal audit plan


Student Board Member update


Graduation update


CIP update


Lifelong Learning Center and new Office 2010 textbooks


New policy 5118 elementary and secondary: gang activity


Unfinished business
New business


Future agenda items


Recognition - 4:15 p.m.


Ruth Ann Hall awards


Outstanding vice principal award


Outstanding support staff awards


Resolution - Charles County Teacher of the Year - Stephanie Fara Harris-Walent, language arts teacher, Milton M. Somers Middle School


Employees retirement resolution


Public Forum - 6 p.m.


Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Handwriting changes
• Educational facilities master plan
• FY 2011 intercategory budget change

Adjournment

Measuring Teacher Effectiveness: Are We Creating an Education Nightmare?

Patricia Deubel
thejournal.com
June 8, 2011

We seem to be setting ourselves up for disaster education. Efforts are underway not only to adopt value-added models to rate the effectiveness of individual teachers, but to use these models to identify those at the very bottom who might later lose their positions and those at the very top who might then be eligible for merit pay. Yet in all the policy discussions and public commentary, there's been little focus on learners and on how, precisely, we define the qualities of a good teacher.

The movement to revise methods for teacher evaluation to include such models came about in an effort to undermine current evaluation systems that tend to rate most teachers as satisfactory (Hull, 2011).

Educators are concerned because their evaluations will be tied to results of their students’ standardized testing, which are used in value-added calculations, while other factors, such as experience and training, are diminished. There's concern that the increase in testing that will be required to use those models to rate all teachers might come at the expense of learners, taking the joy out of learning and making it boring, as President Obama pointed out ("Remarks," 2011). And there's concern about our lack of agreement on what it means to be an effective educator.

The need for highly effective teachers is a given. But when, as part of the discussion, I heard policy makers and business leaders proclaim that experience and advanced degrees do not necessarily matter in teaching (Strauss, 2010), I took a look at my own career--which began about four decades ago--and concluded that I do not agree. Questions came to mind regarding the nature of teaching and to what degree value-added models could really help school districts identify teacher effectiveness to merit changing existing compensation systems that have traditionally been based on experience and degrees.

Read more HERE.

Md. teacher evaluation redesign bogs down

Michael Alison Chandler
The Washington Post
June 4, 2011

Last summer, Maryland won a $250 million federal grant with a promise to build a model to evaluate teachers and principals that would be “transparent and fair” and tie their success for the first time to student test scores and learning.

Now, the state that prides itself on cutting-edge practices and top-in-the-nation schools is struggling — along with every state or school system that has ever tried — to come up with a reliable formula for improving the teacher workforce and rooting out the lowest performers.

Bogged down by political infighting, large gaps in technical know-how and regulatory hurdles, Maryland recently applied for a year’s extension to fully execute the evaluation system it has yet to develop.

“We knew this was going to be very difficult,” said state Superintendent of Schools Nancy S. Grasmick, who is requesting that the evaluations not carry consequences for teachers and principals until 2013-14, so schools will have more time to train and experiment. “If it rolls out too soon, it won’t be done well, and there will be reactions from teachers that this is a half-baked idea.”

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Dozens of Md. children treated after heat exposure

Darci Marchese contributed to this report.
WTOP.com
June 9, 2011

WALDORF, Md. - Several dozen elementary and middle school students in southern Maryland have been taken to hospitals after they reported feeling ill because of the heat.

William Stephens, director of emergency services for Charles County, says the students were overcome by heat Thursday morning while attending an event at a semi-pro baseball stadium.

The students were on a field trip at the Regency Stadium in Waldorf, Md. for a "baseball and education day," said Keith Lupton, stadium general manager.

County spokeswoman Crystal Hunt says a total of 72 children were taken to area hospitals and 10 were treated at the scene. All of the students have since been released, Hunt says.

Stephens says he can't remember an event of a similar magnitude in his 25 years on the job.

Former Charles County school employee pleads guilty

Barnes-Thomas admits to purchasing electronics through Title I funds

SoMdNews.com
Tuesday, June 7, 2001
Gretchen Phillips, Staff Writer

The former Charles County public school employee who was charged for illegally using thousands of federal education funds to purchase electronics for her personal use pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Rhayda Barnes-Thomas, 41, of Accokeek pleaded guilty to theft involving a federal government program, in connection with a scheme to use federal funds received by Charles County Public Schools to purchase technology items such as iPods, computers and televisions for herself, friends and family, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

According to the release, Barnes-Thomas admitted to stealing more than $5,000 worth of property purchased using federal funds between 2009 and January 2011.

Read more HERE.