Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 3/12/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, March 12 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, Henry E. Lackey High School's JROTC unit

 

Superintendent's update Reports of officers/boards/committees - See Report

 

Correspondence/Board Member updates -(computer difficulties prevented me from getting all of this section)

 

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

 

Student Board Member update - See report

 

Student Services update - See report

 

CIP update - See report

 

Telepresence - Fabulous...see report

 

Policy #6000 - See report for suggested changes

 

Sadlier Grammar Workshop and SpringBoard reading and mathematics - See report

 

School year 2014-15 calendar - principal, teacher and parents surveyed wished to move the January semester break as suggested last month but moved to keep the in-service date February as is.

 

Legislative update

• HB229 - alter the formula for county wealth which would determine how much state funding we would receive
• HB103 - require design documents to include solar technology
• HB139 - each public body to have one member receive online training on open meetings act
• HB??? - increase penalty per person on open meetings act violations
• HB833/SB 740 - College Readiness and Completion Act; mandate a college prep class into the curriculum....national push.....major discussion and heartburn over this bill ensued

Revision of student transfer rule #5126 - see report

 

Unfinished business - None

 

New business - None

Future Agenda items

• Cell Phone Policy; staff has made revisions to the rules

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Keara Woodland, 5th grade Personal Responsibility, William Diggs Elementary School, Principal: Sandra Taylor; Kritchanan Yampai, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, JP Ryon Elementary School, Principal: Robert Opiekun; Cayla Riddick, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, General Smallwood Middle School, Principal: Kathy Perriello; Rickee White, 12th grade, Career Readiness, Thomas Stone High School, Principal: Michael Meiser
• Employee - Sarah Milman, kindergarten teacher, Diggs; Alexis Howell, teacher, Ryon; Van Conner, pupil personnel worker, Smallwood; Cynthia Harrison, pupil personnel worker, Stone
• Resolutions: Month of the Young Child and National Student Leadership Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Marshall Oliver - Consider allowing families that are slotted for redistricting be permitted to enroll in new school prior to Aug 2014
•  Ms. Marki  - Berry Elementary- scheduling of special classes; 6 day rotation of art, music, and gym, one teacher to 900 students; volunteering for unpaid position with 2 other parents
• Andrea Anderson - Berry Elementary - read goals of CCPS; wants an answer to petition sent.

Action items

• Minutes Executive Session 2/12/13

Motion to accept by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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



• Minutes Regular Session 2/12/13

Motion to accept by Pedersen; Second by Cook

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

• Minutes Joint Commissioner Meeting 3/5/13

Motion to accept by Pedersen; Second by Cook

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

• Personnel

Motion to accept by Pedersen; Second by Cook

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

Superintendent Search Narrowed

The Board of Education of Charles County has narrowed its field of superintendent candidates to three. Finalists are Kimberly Hill of Charles County Public Schools, Jeanice Swift of Colorado Springs School District 11, and Carey Wright of District of Columbia Public Schools.

The Board is selecting a new Superintendent of Schools to replace long-time Superintendent James E. Richmond, who has announced he is leaving at the end of the 2012-13 school year.

In August, the Board hired consultants from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) to assist with the search, which was advertised nationwide. The Board received 24 applicants for the position, screened all applications, held two separate interview sessions and selected three finalists. The finalists will now participate in a series of focus group interviews the week of March 18. The Board will select and announce Richmond's successor on April 9 at its regular monthly meeting.

The following is biographical information provided by each finalist.

KIMBERLY HILL

TITLE: Principal, Charles County Public Schools, North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry, Waldorf, Md.

EXPERIENCE: Principal, North Point High School for Science, Technology and Industry, Charles County Public Schools, Md., 2007-present; Vice Principal, North Point High School, 2005-2007; Coordinator, Charles County Career and Technology Center, Charles County Public Schools, 1998-2005; Vice Principal, Maurice J. McDonough High School, Charles County Public Schools, 1993-1998; Social Studies Teacher, Maurice J. McDonough High School, 1986-1993.

EDUCATION: Ms. Hill earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from High Point University in North Carolina, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is a doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership and Policy at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

JEANICE KERR SWIFT

TITLE: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Curriculum, and Student Services, Colorado Springs School District 11

EXPERIENCE: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Curriculum and Student Services, Colorado Springs School District 11, July 2011-present; Executive Director, K-12 Schools, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2009-2011; Principal, Charles M. Russell Middle School of the Performing Arts and Science, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2004-2009; Assistant Principal, Charles M. Russell Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2002-2004; Literacy Resource Teacher Coach, Jenkins Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 2001-2002; Middle School English Teacher, North Middle School and Jenkins Middle School, Colorado Springs School District 11, 1998-2001; High School and Junior High Teacher, English and Spanish, Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District, Bedford, Texas, 1984-1991, 1995-1998.

EDUCATION: Dr. Swift earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education, with a major in English and a minor in Spanish, at the University of Texas, Arlington. She earned a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Colorado and a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership at the University of Denver.

CAREY M. WRIGHT

TITLE: Chief Academic Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools

EXPERIENCE: Chief Academic Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools, 2010-present; Deputy Chief for the Office of Teaching and Learning, District of Columbia Public Schools, 2009-2010; Associate Superintendent for the Office of Special Education and Student Services, Montgomery County Public Schools, Md., 2003-2009; Director of Special Education and Student Services, Howard County Public Schools, Md.; Principal, Elkridge Elementary School, Bollman Bridge Elementary School, and Waverly Elementary School, Howard County Public Schools, Md.; Principal on Special Assignment to the Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Howard County Public Schools, Md., Teacher, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Md., 1972-1976.

EDUCATION: Dr. Wright obtained her Bachelor of Science, Master of Education and Doctor of Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.

School Adequate Public Facilities Program and Funding Review Committee

Is looking forward to beginning my work on this committee which will begin Wednesday evening, March 13th at 6:00 p.m. in the commissioners meeting room atthe Charles County Government Building and is open to the public.

Mission
The Committee shall evaluate the County’s approach to ensuring adequate public facilities for schools in the development approval process to determine if the current policy is achieving the stated goals. The Committee should also develop solutions for addressing the timing of providing adequate school facilities to match the planned growth in the County. The Committee should work with designated staff to explore the feasibility and make recommendations on the best method to work through the issues related to school redistricting, school capacity allocation, and the timing and methods of school funding and construction.

(Althought i have an issue with the redistricting statement in here)

Contact
Planning and Growth Management, Jason Groth 301-645-0689

Members (i guess Pam & I got stripped of our titles)

Jennifer Abell	Regular
Reuben Collins, II	County Commissioner
Rosemin Daya	Regular
Jason Groth	Charles County Government Staff
Glenda Harrison	Regular
John Hayes	Regular
Candice Kelly	County Commissioner
James Lorenzi	Regular
Doug Meeker	Regular
Pamela Pedersen	Regular
Sarah Sandy	Charles County Government Staff

Agenda for 3.13

Committee Member Introduction
Administrative
Bill 2011-08, Code of Ethics

• Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
• Brief Review

Resolution 2012-70, Code of Civility

• Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
• Brief Review

Oath of Office

• Copy to be provided to all Committee Members
• Oath Taking
• Certificate handout

Acknowledgement Form

• All members of the Committee must sign and return to Sarah by the end of the meeting.

Chairman and Vice Chair

• Nominations
• Voting

Meeting
Overview of the Purpose of the Committee
Review Meeting Dates and Frequency
Discuss/Establish Public Participation Policy
Review Draft Work Plan and refine
Brief Review of School Allocation Program and Policies
Brief Review of DRRA Mitigation Program and Policies
Status of 2014 School CIP for new School Capacity
School Redistricting Policy
Identification of Additional Issues

Board of Education & Commissioner APFO Joint Straetgy Session, 3/5/13

Here is a link to a video of the meeting that took place.


[10:30 a.m.] Joint Meeting with Charles County Board of Education - Winter 2013 School Allocation Cycle (Mr. Peter Aluotto, Director of Planning & Growth Management/Charles County Public Schools & Board of Education)

School Allocations Presentation

No action was taken pending further information requested by Abell on allocations awarded but yet to be developed.

[11:30 a.m.] Strategic Planning Session w/ Charles County Board of Education (Government Building Conference Room)

Letter from BOE Wise

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 3/12/13

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

Executive session – 12 p.m.  Call to order – 1 p.m.- Pledge of Allegiance, Henry E. Lackey High School's JROTC unit Superintendent's update Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/Board Member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board Member update
• Student Services update
• CIP update
• Telepresence
• Policy #6000
• Sadlier Grammar Workshop and SpringBoard reading and mathematics
• Budget update
• School year 2014-15 calendar
• Legislative update
• Revision of student transfer rule #5126

Unfinished business

New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Employees
• Resolutions: Month of the Young Child and National Student Leadership Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.
Action items 

• Minutes
• Personnel

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 2/12/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, February 12 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.

Executive session – 12 p.m. 

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

Superintendent's update - See Report

Correspondence/Board Member updates

• Bowie - Governor visit at library story time. 4 year old that could recite all the presidents and told him HE was going to be president.
• Bowie - Summer Reading List
• Pedersen - North Point Student to Student Program - work with military families to become aclimated to new school environment
• Lukas - County Chess Tournament; thanks to Mr. Cummings
• Lukas - Stone recognition for principals honors
• Wise - Annaplois to ask for $ for system

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

Student Board Member update - See report

CIP update - See report

Teacher Evaluation - See report; rejected by state with no explanantion; assume for state testing percentage.

SY 2014-2015 calendar - see proposed calendar

• Abell - 3 week cluster from MLK holiday to mid February has several days off.  Need to reevaluate?

Revisions of student transfer rule - See suggested changes on report

• Pedersen - suggests adding to student handbook

Homeless Population

• currently increased to 796 from 618 last year and still rising
• we're not unique in the numbers across the state
•  unique in 9 year wait for Section 8; no transitional housing
• we are providing everything we can to these students; confidentiality is at the highest
• last year we had a $35,000 grant; this year we have a $33,000 grant to help cover all misc costs for these students.
• Currently transporting 15 students from PG county (per law)

Legislative update

• numerous bills being submitted on school safety that we would oppose based on unfunded mandated
• also on Open Meetings Act with personal monetary violations to the perpetrator
• Special Education claims...whomever brings the claim has the burden of proof...new bill shifts the burden of proof to the Board of Education in all cases SB691
• Teacher Evaluations
• Representation fee by teachers who chose not to join the union
• March 5th, MABE Legislation Luncheon

Unfinished business

• Bowie - EReader devices in the classrooms
• Richmond - working on it

New business

Future agenda items

• Abell - Review Cell Phone Policy
• Lukas - regurgitated on the transfer policy

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students:  Jackson Tross, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Berry Elementary School, Principal: Marvin Jones; Jacob Waddell, 5th grade, Career Readiness, Eva Turner Elementary School, Principal: Stephanie Nottingham; Conner Smith, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Matthew Henson Middle School, Principal: Sonia Jones; Liam Vienneau, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Piccowaxen Middle School, Principal: Kenneth Schroeck; John (Jake) Bayer, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, La Plata High School, Principal: Evelyn Arnold
• Employees:  Lenora Green, special education teacher, Berry; Nicholas Adam, special education teacher, Turner; Caitlin Sinclair, mathematics teacher, Piccowaxen; Linda Adgate, job placement coordinator, La Plata; Lakeisha Webster, Stay Program instructional assistant, F.B. Gwynn Center, Principal: Thomas Weirich
• Resolutions:  Read Across Charles County; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• John Hayes - resident of the county for 23 years; redistricting; Davis students went to Henson; now Hensen is 56 students over capacity;  commissioners just approved 156 homes in Henson zone.....gave more numbers just approved by commissioners via DRRA.
• Roseman Diaz - redistricting.  Davis to Henson.  Amazing staff at Henson.  commissioners approved DRRA's today.  says BOE told government they have room
• Robert Harlan - watched school board for the last 7 years.  Impressed with student board member Ms. Adeleke.  St. Charles High School, doing it for the students.  kids are asking for the pool but upset that the parents, homeowners, developers, business owners, etc aren't asking for a pool.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

Motion to accept the minutes January 8th by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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



• Personnel

Motion to accept the personnel by Cook; Second by Wade

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

• Policy #3514 – green product cleaning supplies

Motion to accept the Policy #3514 by Lukas; Second by Wade

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

BUDGET WORK SESSION

See report

Motion to accept the Budget as presented by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

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

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 2/12/13

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

Executive session – 12 p.m.  Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Westlake High School's JROTC unit Superintendent's update Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Presentation by Wells Fargo on the Classified Retirement Plan
• Correspondence/Board Member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board Member update
• CIP update
• SY 2014-2015 calendar
• Revisions of student transfer rule
• Legislative update

Unfinished business

New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Employees
• Resolutions: Read Across Charles County; Women's History Month; and Fine and Performing Arts Month

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Policy #3514 – green product cleaning supplies

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 1/8/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 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, Thomas Stone High School JROTC

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman Reports of officers/board/committees

Nomination of  Roberta Wise for Chair by Cook; Second by Abell
Yes = Abell, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Absent  = Bowie
 
Nomination of Maura Cook for Vice-Chair by Wise; Second by Abell
Yes = Abell, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; Absent = Bowie

Superintendent Update - on safety; see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wise - read letter from Copiague Public School System thanking CCPS for our donation.
• Wise - March 5 is Legislative Day in Annapolis
• Redistricting Hearing - April 22 at North Point High School at 6:30 p.m.
• Redistricing Hearing - April 23 at LaPlata High SChool at 6:30 p.m.

Education Association of Charles County update - see report

Student Board member update - see report

Fall athletics - see report; discussion on grade point averages and football players

CIP update - see report

Special education: Unified Sports program - see report

FY 2014 proposed operating budget - SEE REPORT

• state wants counties to fully fund teacher pension by 2016
• school security upgrades $2.0M
• School resource officers $600,000

Teacher and principal evaluations

Legislative Update

• Policy #3514 – Green product cleaning supplies - See Report

Unfinished business - None

New business

• Land Transfer to Waldorf Volunteer Fire Dept. (revised) - mathematical error

Motion to accept the change in acreage Cook; Second by Lukas

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



Future agenda items - None

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Krisha Melchor, 5^th grade, Personal Responsibility, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, Principal: Linda Gill; Elizabeth Wash, 5^th grade, Academic Achievement, William B. Wade Elementary School, Principal: Virginia McGraw; Adriana Imes, 5^th grade, Career Readiness, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, Principal: Robert Opiekun; Connor Smith, 8^th grade, Academic Achievement, Matthew Henson Middle School, Principal: Sonia Jones; Jaden Rose, Adult Independence student, Academic Achievement, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, Principal: Thomas Weirich
• Staff - Dean Lawless, school counselor, Jenifer; Lisa Campbell, secretary, Mudd; Dawn Grenwaldt, kindergarten instructional assistant, Wade; Alfreda Johnson, secretary to the principal, Henson; Debra Koepper, secretary, Stethem
• Resolutions: African American History Month: Accepting: Thomas Stone's W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society: Pamela Jackson, School Counselor (Sponsor); Dale Lamberth, Job Placement Coordinator (Lead Sponsor); Kiana Pitts, W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society President, 12^th Grade; and Students Targeting Academic Success with Rigor (STARS) Program: Kathleen Jenkins, High School Research Teacher and STARS Advocate; Jae’la Reese, 9^th Grade STARS Student; Gifted and Talented Education Month: Accepting: Michael Gill, Grade 6, Milton Somers Middle School;Cayla Riddick, Grade 8, General Smallwood Middle School;James Wash, Grade 8, Theodore Davis Middle School;Eric Wood, Grade 5, J.C. Parks Elementary School; Career and Technical Education Month: Accepting: Jasper Wilson, Acting CTE Coordinator; National School Counseling Week:

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

• Victoria Kelly - Matula PTO President, school safety concerns; ideas to implement...magnetic-buzzer locks, drivers license checks for visitor checkins, locks on classroom doors, background checks for all volunteers.
• Chris Thompson - Matula concerned parent and member of PTO; trailers used as classrooms.  Contractor gained access to 4 schools unauthorized in the last week.  wants board to be pro-active in addressing security throughout the school system.  wants to know the outcome of the safety audit conducted at Matula.
• Steven Dye - same as previous speakers and addressed earlier this evening in the board meeting.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the minutes by Abell; Second by Wade

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



• Personnel

Motion to accept personnel by Wade; Second by Pedersen

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



 

Adjournment

Public hearing on proposed FY 2014 operating budget

• Liz Brown - Please approve the budget

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, January 8, 2013

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 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 student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/.

Executive session - 12 p.m. Call to order - 1 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance, Thomas Stone High School JROTC Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman Reports of officers/board/committees

• Correspondence/Board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board member update
• Fall athletics
• CIP update
• Special education: Unified Sports program
• FY 2014 proposed operating budget
• Teacher and principal evaluations
• Policy #3514 – Green product cleaning supplies

Unfinished business
 New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Staff
• Resolutions: African-American History Month, Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; and Gifted and Talented Education Month

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Waldorf Fire Department land transfer

Adjournment

Public hearing on proposed FY 2014 operating budget

Notes from Board of Education Meeting 12/11/12

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, December 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, North Point High School's JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the Board - See Report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wade - 6th Annual Military Ball
• Bowie - New Library opening
• Bowie - possiblity of extending winter break to two full weeks.
• Pedersen - impressed with Senior Portfolio Interviews
• Wise - EACC Legislative Meeting
• Lukas - All County Band; It's Academic; Somers, Rachels Challenge

Education Association of Charles County update - see report

Student Board member update - See report

Student transfers - See statistics and reports.

• My personal assessment - seems as though new policy is working for general residents, but i still would like to see employees out-of-zone transfers reduced and out of county tuition paid. 
• Residency Investigation - at North Point and LaPlata, see report.

CIP update  - see report; received rebate check from SMECO

Transportation - Very in depth; detailed report.  Must Read.

Policy #3514 – Green product cleaning supplies - see recommendation

Unfinished business

• Wade - concerned with empty homes around the county

New business

• Pedersen - Get on the Commissioners agenda to discuss new schools at the elementary and middle school
• Azeezat - eReaders and tablets in the classroom

Future agenda items

Recognition- 4:30 p.m.

• Students  - Jamia Hicks, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, Principal: Amy Hollstein; Maurice Anderson, 5th grade, Career Readiness, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School, Principal: Kathleen Morgan; Elizabeth Daniel, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, T.C. Martin Elementary School, Principal: Gregory Miller; Gabriel Cleveland, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, John Hanson Middle School, Principal: Kathy-Lynn Kiessling; Adriana Freiling, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, Henry E. Lackey High School, Principal: James Short
• Staff - Valerie Austin, reading recovery teacher, Barnhart; Thomas Smallwood, building service assistant manager, Brown; Mollie McCauley, kindergarten teacher, Martin; Sandra Ginyard, secretary, Hanson; Juin Lai, media instructional assistant, Lackey

Public Forum- 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the  Minutes by Wade; Second by Pedersen

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



• Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel by Lukas; Second by Pedersen

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

 

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, December 11, 2012

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 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 student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/.

Executive session- 12 p.m.  Call to order- 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, North Point 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
• Fall athletics
• Student transfers
• CIP update
• Transportation
• Policy #3514 – Green product cleaning supplies

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

Adjournment

Asperger's: No longer a diagnosis

Asperger's dropped from revised diagnosis manual

Saturday - 12/1/2012, 6:52pm  ET

WTOP.com

By LINDSEY TANNER
AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) - The now familiar term "Asperger's disorder" is being dropped. And abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums will be given a scientific-sounding diagnosis called DMDD. But "dyslexia" and other learning disorders remain.
The revisions come in the first major rewrite in nearly 20 years of the diagnostic guide used by the nation's psychiatrists. Changes were approved Saturday.
Full details of all the revisions will come next May when the American Psychiatric Association's new diagnostic manual is published, but the impact will be huge, affecting millions of children and adults worldwide. The manual also is important for the insurance industry in deciding what treatment to pay for, and it helps schools decide how to allot special education.
Read more HERE.

Schools, county must find dollars to combat teen drug abuse

The Gazette
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Duchy Trachtenberg, Bethesda
The writer served as an a-large member of the Montgomery County Council from 2006-2010 and had maintained a private clinical practice specializing in dolescent addiction prior to her election.

Recently, there was an important dialogue that took place at the Montgomery County Council building. A joint Education and Health and Human Services work session addressed the current status of drug abuse in our schools, notably the epidemic of prescription drug abuse by middle and high school students. In attendance were MCPS officials who discussed data trends, administrative challenges and possible school service improvements.

This is a subject I have first-hand knowledge in. For many years I had worked in the community with both students and families touched by the challenge of alcohol and drug addiction. Of course, I brought these skills to the dais during my County Council term as budget decisions were made and the few times MCPS participated in council discussions on this urgent problem. And I must admit after hearing from countless clinicians, parents and students on this topic after this recent public conversation, I find myself frustrated once again by the all-too-familiar finger-pointing and unnecessary delays at swift and decisive action.

The solutions for this growing community crisis are clear.

First off, there needs to be an established protocol for screening, early intervention and responsive services at every school location. This requires a firm commitment from both the Board of Education and our superintendent. That means sufficient dollars to staff the guidance units appropriately. Plenty of other school districts across this country could serve as models for a school-based program.

Read more HERE.

PPLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AND GIVE ME YOUR FEEDBACK

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

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, November 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.

Not much extra I can offer this month by way of notes.  If you review the reports & presentations on BoardDocs, you're pretty much covered.

Executive session - 12 p.m.

Call to order - 1 p.m.Pledge of Allegiance, Maurice J. McDonough High School JROTC unit

Superintendent's update to the Board  - See Report

Correspondence/Board member updates - none

Education Association of Charles County update - See Report

Student Board member update - See Report

CIP update - See report
  
One-room school house - see powerpoint

Mock trial - see report

Recruitment and retention - See Report; lots of statistics and loads of information

Legislative update - See Report.  State legislation on discipline, keep students in schools as opposed to suspension.  Proposed state changes are in report.  [ ] indicate wording to be removed, italics is proposed wording to be inserted.  Recommendation is to oppose these regulation changes

Unfinished business - None

New business

• Wineland - land transfer (.68 acres) to volunteer fire department to extend parking lot near Smallwood Shopping Center.  Land behind Stoddert.  No vertical construction except a fence.
• Pedersen - Other uses for property, selling, surplus
• Wineland - Other schools too close, can't sell
• Abell - wasn't there a request from Smallwood Association for a park
• Wineland - never a formal request, some interest, they looked at it & not conducive to  their project
• Lukas - 40 acres minus the .68 acres...does that make the remaining land unuseable for anything else for us
• Wineland - No

Motion by Wade to approve the transfer; Second by Pedersen

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

• NSBA Resolution on Federal Funding

Motion by Cook to accept the resolution; Second by Pedersen

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

Future agenda items

• Lukas - Requests a report on the transfers now that the policy has been implemented

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Orianna Eldridge, 5^th grade, Academic Achievement, Dr. James Craik Elementary School; Natalie Chirinos-Deleon, 5^th grade, Career Readiness, Dr. Thomas Higdon Elementary School; Addison Kindrick, 5^th grade, Personal Responsibility, Malcolm Elementary School; Eric Wood, 5^th grade, Career Readiness, J.C. Parks Elementary School; Lauren Holmes, 8^th grade, Academic Achievement, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

• Staff - Kathleen Reamy, school counselor, Craik; Mary Bailey, reading recovery teacher, Higdon; Jennifer Walsh, speech therapist, Parks; Michele Brucculeiri, first grade teacher, Malcolm; Kevin Wassie, language arts teacher, Stoddert

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

• Latrina Carr - son at J.P. Ryon and one at Stone.  JP. Ryon, Title 1 school, applaud curriculum and teachers.  Effectiveness with 30 students in class at various levels.

Action items

• Redistricting Hearing Minutes 11/5/12

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Cook

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

• Executive Minutes  10/9/12

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Cook

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

• Minutes 10/9/12

Motion by Cook; Second by Lukas

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

• Personnel

Motion by Abell; Second by Cook

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

• Gifted and Talented Education Month resolution

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

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

• Policy #5171.1 - Epi-pens

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

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

• 2013 Legislative positions

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

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

Adjournment

Pennsylvania high school hockey league bans national anthem to save money on ice time

Comments on this, anyone?

Yahoo! Sports
By Cameron Smith
Prep Rally Blog
November 13, 2012

Veterans Day is usually reserved for honoring the American flag and those who fought to preserve the values it stands for. In Pennsylvania on Monday, it also oversaw ferocious debate over one of the least patriotic things possible: eliminating the playing of the national anthem from all high school hockey games.
As first reported by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Hockey League has issued a directive to 183 high school squads in central and western Pennsylvania banning the national anthem from being performed.
"The national anthem should not be played only because of time constrains," PIHL commissioner Ed Sam told KDKA. "It's not that we're not patriotic, that's the furthest from the truth."
While Sam's words might sound like bizarre lip service, there actually is some logic to the PIHL's decision to kick the national anthem out of high school hockey. Sam notes that ice time in western Pennsylvania is quite expensive, making every minute of rented time sacred in an era of cutbacks throughout interscholastic athletics.
Read more HERE.

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 11/13/12

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 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 student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/.

Executive session - 12 p.m.  Call to order - 1 p.m.Pledge of Allegiance, Maurice J. McDonough High School 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
• CIP update
• One-room school house
• Mock trial
• Recruitment and retention
• 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
• Gifted and Talented Education Month resolution
• Policy #5171.1 - Epi-pens
• 2013 Legislative positions

Adjournment

Superintendent Search Officially Begins

The Board of Education of Charles County is advertising for candidates to apply to be the next superintendent of Charles County Public Schools.

Ads have been placed nationally and locally, and the application, qualifications and minimum salary can be found on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com on the “Superintendent Search” link. The Board, after reviewing public input provided at seven community forums, developed a set of six statements defining the qualifications and characteristics they want in a superintendent. The statements include qualities such as an innovative, energetic visionary; a passionate advocate for children; consensus builder; experienced instructional leader; and an experienced, decisive administrator. More details are included in the brochure posted on the website.

“The Board is pleased with the completion of the community input phase that culminated in the development of the characteristics being sought in the new superintendent. The Board is now moving to the application process, which begins the search to replace Superintendent James Richmond, who is retiring June 30 after 44 years of service to Charles County Public Schools, with the last 17 years being served as Superintendent of Schools,” Board Chairman Roberta Wise said.

Qualifications for preferred candidates include: Maryland certification required; doctorate preferred; and at least five years administrative/executive level experience in public education. Minimum salary is $200,000. The amount of the offer will depend on the qualifications of the selected applicant.

The Charles County Board hired the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) as a consultant for the superintendent search process. MABE is accepting all applications and questions from applicants about the position. Prospective applicants may call MABE at 410-841-5414. The Board of Education will not be accepting applications or contacts directly; all applications and questions must be submitted to MABE. Applications for the position are on the Charles County Public Schools website and MABE’s website at www.mabe.org.

Application reviews will begin Dec. 17 with interviews for invited candidates taking place in February and March. “The Board plans to name a successor in April so the transition in leadership can move forward smoothly,” Wise said.

“Mr. Richmond is leaving the school system in excellent condition. His is a leader in the state,” Wise said. “Through the public forums, we learned our stakeholders –our students, staff, parents, and community – want us to find someone who can implement strategies to promote continued academic growth.  We want a leader who will continue the tradition of personal leadership by measuring success one student at a time,” Wise said.

 

Board to hold redistricting information meeting

The Board of Education is holding its first high school redistricting meeting on Monday, Nov. 5 to provide information about the process to develop new high school attendance zones. Staff members will explain the redistricting timeline, committee selection process, how alternatives will be developed and opportunities for community input. The meeting is at 7 p.m., Nov. 5 at Westlake High School in Waldorf. A question/answer period will follow the presentation.


The committee has not yet developed alternatives or proposals. Committee work begins following the Nov. 5 public meeting.

The redistricting committee's purpose is to develop and evaluate potential high school attendance zones for consideration by the Superintendent of Schools and the Board of Education. The high school redistricting committee, which was selected at the Board's Oct. 9 meeting, may take as long as five months to develop proposals. The Board of Education, through policy, requires the committee to submit two different proposals. Public hearings on the committee's proposals will be held in the spring.

High school redistricting will create an attendance zone for the new St. Charles High School scheduled to open in August 2014 and balance the student enrollment at the six existing high schools. The plan, once complete, will shift students entering grades 9, 10 and 11 in August 2014 and will impact students across the county. Staff regularly posts information about the redistricting on the school system's website, www.ccboe.com.

Tentative redistricting timeline

• Starting in November, the redistricting committee meets weekly at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata for as long as it takes to develop two different proposals for the high school redistricting. Dates and times will be determined after the Nov. 5 public information meeting.
• The tentative recommendations for 2014 redistricting will be presented to the community at two public meetings. The meetings will be scheduled in the spring and after the recommendations are complete. Tentatively, the committee will present its proposal to the Superintendent at the April 9 Board of Education meeting. A public hearing on both proposals will be held shortly after that presentation.
• The Superintendent's recommendation will be presented to the Board of Education the following month, on May 14. The Board will schedule a public hearing prior to approval of the boundary changes and following the Superintendent's recommendation to the Board.
• The Board will approve the school attendance areas for the 2014-2015 school year at its June meeting. The redistricting decision occurs one year prior to the opening of St. Charles High School in August 2014. Students affected by the redistricting change schools in August 2014.
• This schedule may change depending on the length of time it takes the committee to develop its alternatives.

Throughout the process, information will be provided through telephone calls and e-mails, mailings/backpack fliers, Charles County Public Schools television stations Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12, and the CCPS website at www.ccboe.com. The Board is also accepting written comments. Send comments or questions to redistrict@ccboe.com or Charles County Public Schools, Redistricting, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 10/9/12

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

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

Sheriff's update – Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey

• 11-12 school year - 8,039 Juvenile contacts; 382 Criminal Incident Reports; 299 Juvenile Offense Reports; 21 Physical arrests; 1,963 6th Graders in the DARE Program; 2,456 9th graders Truth & Consequences Program
• Crime Solvers - 349 Tips; 97 cases solved; $3,230 Payout
• Teen Court - 199 cases
• Drug Court - 14 juveniles assigned
• $10,000 grant from Cal Ripkin Association for special events and summer programs
• Sheriff Coffey doesn't see a need to bring the drug dogs through the schools

Superintendent's update to the Board  - see report

• Selection of redistricting committee members - see report
• The following members were selected:
• Betty Tayman, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School;
• LaCharles Earle, Eva Turner Elementary School;
• Karen Haskins, Mattawoman Middle School;
• Kristopher Foote, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
• Joanna Wilson, community member;
• David Cooksey, community member; and
• James Hooper, community member.

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Pedersen - attendance at MABE conference; telepresence
• Bowie - Waldorf West library to open in November; science projects, please let the students do their own projects
• Lukas - college fair, very impressed and and excellent opportunity
• Wade - Dr. Carl Smith, Executive Director of MABE is retiring on December 30th.
• Wise - Attended Reading Partners Luncheon

Education Association of Charles County update - no one in attendance

Student Board member update - see report

FY2012 Independent financial audit - annual financial report - see report

• Page highlights 1, 3, 13, 15, 20, 50, 61, 62,
• highest ratings throughout the report in all areas
• major impact on budget forcast - pension planning

Budget update - see report

Middle School Program  - see report for more information on the programs at the individual schools

• my opinion - organized, guided, fancy study hall
• I personally have received praise and complaints from various parents throughout the community.

School Audit Update

• North Point - 37 students identified in violation and withdrawn; 19 out-of-county; 10 additional siblings in other schools identifed
• LaPlata - 21 ongoing investigations; 5 out-of-zone, out-of-county, or out-of-state
• All have been sent letters with tuition owed

CIP update - see report

Annual Bridge to Excellence - see report

Gifted and Talented Education Month resolution - see report

Human Resources Update - In need of Math, Science, Special Ed, English

Policy #5171.1 – Epi-pens - demonstration

Unfinished Business - none

New business - none

Future agenda items - Schedule for first redistricting meeting; date set November 5th.

Recognition- 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Khloe Sedlack, 5th grade, Career Readiness, Gale-Bailey Elementary School, Principal: Carolyn Richardson; Meybel Alvarado-Huezo, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Mary H. Matula Elementary School, Principal: Timothy Rosin; Casey Nottingham, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Arthur Middleton Elementary School, Principal: Sabrina Robinson-Taylor; Sarah Chen, 8th grade, Personal Responsibility, Milton M. Somers Middle School, Principal: Stephanie Wesolowski; Jenette Phillips, 12th grade, Academic Achievement, Maurice J. McDonough High School, Principal: Bradley Snow
• Staff - Nina Ogasaware, school counselor, Gale-Bailey; Tracy Bell, third grade teacher, Matula; Shirley Turner, first grader teacher, Middleton; Crystal Holm, mathematics teacher, Somers; Jason Bursick, athletic director, McDonough
• Resolutions – American Education Week and American Freedom Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.  - none

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by Bowie

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

Motion to accept the Work Session Minutes by Cook; Second by Bowie

Yes = All

Motion to accept the Executive Session Minutes by Cook; Second by Wade

Yes = All



• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Cook; Second by Wade

Yes = All

• FY2013 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

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

Yes = All

• Gifted and talented education policy

Motion to accept the Gifted and talented education policy by Pedersen; Second by Cook

Yes = All

Adjournment

Redistricting Committee Selected

Members of the Charles County Public Schools high school redistricting committee were selected today by the Charles County Board of Education. Seven committee members were chosen in a random drawing that included names from each middle and elementary school, as well as community members who applied to serve. Today's drawing selected two representatives at the elementary school level, two representatives at the middle school level and three representatives from the Charles County community. The following members were selected:

• Betty Tayman, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School;
• LaCharles Earle, Eva Turner Elementary School;
• Karen Haskins, Mattawoman Middle School;
• Kristopher Foote, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
• Joanna Wilson, community member;
• David Cooksey, community member; and
• James Hooper, community member.

Those committee members selected today will work with a representative from each of the county's six high schools, as well as school system and county staff, on the high school redistricting committee. Each high school advertised the opportunity to represent the school as part of the redistricting committee, and each high school principal held a public drawing to randomly select their representative. The following members were selected at the high school level:

• Tawanda Rooney, Henry E. Lackey High School;
• Cindy Arnone, La Plata High School;
• Suzanne McCarthy, North Point High School;
• Suzann Martin, Thomas Stone High School; and
• Christina Adeboyejo, Westlake High School.

McDonough's rep will be selected at a public meeting tonight.

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting 10/9/12

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website 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

Sheriff's update – Charles County Sheriff Rex Coffey

Superintendent's update to the Board

• Selection of redistricting committee members

Correspondence/Board member updates

Education Association of Charles County update

Student Board member update

CIP update

FY2012 Independent financial audit

Budget update

Annual Bridge to Excellence

Gifted and Talented Education Month resolution

Policy #5171.1 – Epi-pens

Legislative positions 2013

Unfinished Business

New business

Future agenda items

Recognition- 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Staff
• Resolutions – American Education Week and American Freedom Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY2013 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
• Gifted and talented education policy

Adjournment

North Point student attendance zone audit continues; investigation expands to La Plata

Thirty-five students have either been denied enrollment or withdrawn from North Point High School during the past month as a result of a crackdown on out-of-zone students at the school.


The school system has expanded its audit to include La Plata High School, where students and parents were notified today of a residency audit of students enrolled there. Superintendent James E. Richmond sent a letter informing La Plata parents and students of the audit, asking for their cooperation and providing an Oct. 12 deadline for voluntary withdraw of a student attending under false information.

The student attendance audit at North Point, which began in mid-September, has already led to 35 students being stopped from enrolling or withdrawn from Charles County's largest high school. According to Richmond, the 35 students include seven who were prohibited from enrolling with false information, two students who voluntarily withdrew after receiving a letter and 26 students who were asked to leave the school.

Of the 28 students who have withdrawn from North Point, 17 were out-of-county residents. Additionally, seven siblings of out-of-zone students attending North Point were also withdrawn from other Charles County schools.

The school system is still investigating the residency of about 250 North Point students, including those with more than one family using the same address. The formal audits supplement daily efforts by schools and the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) student services department to monitor enrollment numbers and to ensure children are enrolled at the schools they are zoned to attend. The school system's audit to confirm students' residency status includes, but is not limited to:

• A complete review of all residency documents, including lease agreements and statements of residency;
• Unscheduled home visits to confirm the accuracy of residency documents; and
• A review of publicly available information regarding property ownership.

Parents of students enrolled at La Plata under false information can withdraw their child by Oct. 12 with no questions asked. "I hope parents will respond before we need to take action," Richmond said in the letter sent home today through e-mail and with students. Students found to be fraudulently attending a school will be sent to their zoned school or removed from the school system if they are not a resident. Nonresidents will be charged tuition, retroactively, for the time they attended school here. County students attending a school under false information will be ineligible to participate in athletics. Richmond asks anyone with knowledge of a family that is attending school who does not reside in the school's attendance zone to contact the school or anonymously call the school system's fraud hotline at 301-302-8305.

Views: World's Greatest Teacher

Brad Meltzer
Published September 30, 2012
The Parade Magazine:Views

A best-selling author goes back to his high school to thank the person who first encouraged him to write.

The teacher who changed my life didn’t do it by encouraging her students to stand on their desks, like John Keating in Dead Poets Society. Or by toting a baseball bat through the halls, like Principal Clark in Lean on Me. She did it in a much simpler way: by telling me I was good at something.

When I met Ms. Shelia Spicer, I was in the ninth grade and had just moved to Florida from Brooklyn. Most of my teachers at Highland Oaks Junior High seemed to look past me; I was one more student among hundreds. Ms. Spicer, however, took a special interest.

“You can write,” she said, explaining that she wanted to move me into the honors English class. But because of scheduling conflicts, transferring wasn’t an option. So instead, Ms. Spicer told me to ignore everything she wrote on the blackboard for the rest of the year. “Ignore the discussions. Ignore the assignments. You’re going to sit here and do the honors work.”

A decade later, when my first novel was published, I went back to Ms. Spicer’s classroom and knocked on the door. “Can I help you?” she asked, trying to place me. I’d had a lot more hair the last time we saw each other. “My name is Brad Meltzer,” I said, handing her a copy of my book. “And I wrote this for you.”



Read more HERE.

Chicago teachers strike underscores shift among Democrats

The Washington Post
Opinions
By Michelle Rhee, Published: September 27, 2012

 

Michelle Rhee was chancellor of the D.C. public schools from 2007 to 2010. She is founder and chief executive of StudentsFirst, a national nonprofit education advocacy group based in Sacramento.
 

I'm a Democrat because I believe in the party’s basic principles, particularly the idea that we have to look after one another and stand up for those who need help. I believe in fighting for the civil rights of all Americans, especially children and those facing injustices. That’s why I was heartened to see Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel advocating for the rights of kids in his standoff with the Chicago Teachers Union. Although his stance made perfect sense to me, it surprised many political observers. After all, Emanuel is a favorite within the Democratic Party, and teachers unions have long been allied with the party.
Emanuel went head to head with the union to get a better contract for the city’s schoolchildren. In the process, he underscored a transformation in the Democratic Party. Increasingly, those who staunchly side with unions at any cost appear to be in the minority, while more Democrats are saying we have to look at education differently.
...
It’s no longer acceptable to ignore the inequities and overall shortcomings of our public education system. Consider that only about half of black and Hispanic students earn high school diplomas with their peers, compared with three-fourths of whites, and that the academic achievement gap between poor students and their wealthier peers is widening. When kids do make it to college, roughly a third need remedial work because they weren’t adequately prepared by the K-12 system. The United States is also falling far behind our global competitors in math and science.
...
At the heart of the debate was a focus on teacher quality. We know that great teachers can have a tremendous impact. Yet we don’t have policies in place to ensure that all children are taught by great teachers. That’s why the mayor pushed for an evaluation system that would help determine who is excelling, who needs help and who may be better off in another profession. I’m so glad that, for the first time in Chicago, teacher evaluations will at least consider whether students are learning over the course of the year. But I do wish the union hadn’t won some key concessions.

Read more HERE.

AP scores increase; SAT scores dip in 2012

Charles County's students' scores increased slightly on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, but the average SAT score for the Class of 2012 decreased, 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 2.22 from 2.14 in 2011. Nearly 90 percent of all students taking the rigorous AP classes took at least one test in 2012. "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 2012 were 1447, down from 1455 in 2010. National and state averages also declined. Average participation countywide is 39 percent.

Students average score on the critical reading section is 486; the average math score is 490 and the average writing score is 471.

The SAT is used by many colleges as part of an admission process and designed to demonstrate a student's mastery of certain subjects. Only scores for graduating seniors are included in the 2012 report. Students in the Class of 2012 were offered nearly $52 million in scholarships.

La Plata High School students averaged 1611, with 28.3 percent of graduates taking the SAT in 2011. North Point High School students posted a 1450 average, with 60 percent of seniors taking the test. Henry E. Lackey High School students averaged 1430, with 30.6 percent participation. Westlake High School students averaged 1423, with 20.6 percent participation. Thomas Stone High School students averaged 1398, with 42.7 percent participation and Maurice J. McDonough High School students averaged 1392 with 38.1 percent participation.

A detailed chart of SAT results for 2011-12 college bound seniors is posted on the Charles County Public Schools website at http://www2.ccboe.com/PDF/testscores/SAT-2012.pdf.

Notes from Board of Education, 9/24/12

The Board of Education Meeting on Monday, September 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

Work Session

Opening of St. Charles High School - See report for additional development figures
According to officials from the developers of St. Charles:

--Sheffield is built out and includes about 1,300 housing units (apartments, townhomes, and single family.)
--Gleneagles North and South will have about 1,700 housing units.
--Fieldside will include just under 500 housing units.

Gleneagles North is largely complete. The first unit in Fieldside settled this month. St. Charles is still finishing lot development in Gleneagles South, but expect the first homeowner early next year.

This illustrates St. Charles' immediate plans around St. Charles High School. Of course, there are future neighborhoods that are still in planning and are not depicted on the map. After these units, the development agreement calls for approximately 10,000 more housing units, in the area between St. Charles High School and Radio Station Road/La Plata High School. At 300 units a year, those units would be built over 33 years.

The following is the link to the four options for opening St. Charles High School:
http://www2.ccboe.com/parentscomm/stcharleshsopeningoptions.cfm

• Wade - requests Richmonds opinion
• Richmond - doesn't recommend moving seniors

Motion to accept Option 2 for opening the St. Charles High School with grades 9,10,& 11;

Second by Bowie

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

Bowie - Costs involved

Balides/Richmond - $18M to run a new high school....no seniors would be less; based on our decision tonight they will produce a more detailed number.

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 9/24/12

The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, September 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 streamed on the school system website 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

• Opening of St. Charles High School

Adjournment