Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 1/13/15

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 13 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

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

Executive session - 12 p.m.

Call to order - 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, North Point High School JROTC

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

Nomination Abell for Chair by Lukas; Second by Crawford

Yes = Abell, Crawford, Lukas

 

Nomination of McGraw for Chair by Marshall; Second by Palko

Yes = Kelly, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

 

Nomination of Lukas for Vice Chair by Abell; Second by Palko

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

 

Superintendent’s  Update - See report

 

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Palko - Thank you for support and training
• Marshall - Thank you for support and training; Thank you to chorus' band and culinary students

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

Student Board member update - See Report

 

School Administration - BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)

Supporting Services: CIP update - See Report

 

World History Textbook - See Report

 

2015 testing update - See Report

• Lengthy discussion on number of tests and timing and teacher evaluations

Proposed FY2016 operating budget - See report

Legislative update - wish  i could say see report but unfortunately after repeated request for a note sheet to be added to boarddocs monthly, one is still not available

 

Unfinished business

• Abell - Where are we losing teachers to? Surrounding Counties. - Provided in update
• Abell - Portable classroom update; condition

New business

 

 Motion to approve the location of Elementary School #3 by Abell; Second by Kelly
Yes = Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko



Future agenda items

• Palko - School Bus Cameras
• Hill - Advertising on school buses
• Lukas - Security issues with doors being blocked

Motion to move into Executive Session by Abell; Second by Kelly

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

 

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Manita Opoku, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School, Principal: Nancy Siefert; Kallyn Gold, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, William B. Wade Elementary School, Principal: Penny Nye; Andi Bailey, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School, Principal: Kimberly Hairston; Terrence Griffin, 8th grade, Career Readiness, Matthew Henson Middle School, Principal: Sonia Jones; Dejane Vera, 11th grade, Academic Achievement, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, Principal: Wayne Freeman
• Staff - Beth A. Sorsby, Reading Resource teacher, Jenifer; Nathaniel L. Yake, Technology Facilitator, Mudd; Steven J. Baldo, Special Education teacher, Wade; Stephen P. Fitzgerald, Media Specialist, Henson; Doreen E. White, Special Education Instructional Assistant, Stethem
• Resolutions: African-American History Month; Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; and Gifted and Talented Education Month
• Educator of the Year Award presented by the Arc of Southern Maryland, to Larry Johnson, instructional specialist at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

• Joseph Cormier - Middleton PTO Pres. Kid in Kindergarten. PARCC testing.  Students with disabilites, IEP's and testing.  Urge research on special needs community.
• Deb Vahle - bus driver. support for a raise but not part of the unionization.5 years since a raise.
• Margaret Martin - bus driver.  lack of increase in hourly wage. lack of support from CCPS when issues arise.  cost of living increase statistics

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Abell; Second by Lukas
Yes = Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Abell; Second by Kelly
Yes = Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

• New textbooks: Microsoft Office 2013

Motion to accept the New Textbooks by Abell; Second by Lukas
Yes = Abell, Crawford, Kelly, Lukas, Marshall, McGraw, Palko

Adjournment

Public hearing on proposed FY2016 operating budget

Board of Education elects chairman, vice chairman

The Board of Education of Charles County elected Virginia McGraw as chairman and Michael Lukas as vice chairman at its Jan. 13 meeting. The Board elects a chairman and vice chairman each January, and officers serve one-year terms.

McGraw, a former Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) principal, is a new Board member, elected to her first term in November. She retired from CCPS in June following a 25-year career as a teacher, vice principal and principal. McGraw was the 2009 CCPS Principal of the Year, and volunteers with Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church. She has served as past president and recording secretary of Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority, and is also a member of the Charles County Retired School Personnel Association. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary special education and her master’s degree in special education. McGraw is a resident of Waldorf.

Mr. Lukas is serving his second term on the Board and first as vice chairman. He is an engineer and branch manager at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division. Mr. Lukas works with the Boy Scouts and enjoys playing and coaching soccer. He has volunteered with several community organizations, including the Greater Waldorf Jaycees, Waldorf Kiwanis, Christmas in April and Relay for Life. He earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and has completed graduate studies in systems engineering at George Mason University and the Naval Post Graduate School. Mr. Lukas lives in La Plata with his wife and son. First elected in 2010, he was re-elected to a second term in November 2014.

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 1/13/15

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 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 Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab. The following is a tentative meeting agenda.

Executive session - 12 p.m.

Call to order - 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, North Point High School JROTC

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

Superintendent’s update

Reports of officers/board/committees

·         Correspondence/Board member updates

·         Education Association of Charles County (EACC) update

·         American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) update

·         Student Board member update

·         CIP update

·         2015 testing update

·         Proposed FY2016 operating budget

·         Legislative update

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

·         Educator of the Year Award presented by the Arc of Southern Maryland, to Larry Johnson, instructional specialist at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building.

Public Forum - 6 p.m.

Action items

·         Minutes

·         Personnel

·         New textbooks: Microsoft Office 2013

Adjournment

Public hearing on proposed FY2016 operating budget

Scholarship opportunities available for county students

The Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc. is offering more than 50 scholarships to Charles County high school students. Applications for scholarships are available at all county high schools and must be submitted by Monday, March 2, to the student’s College & Career Advisor. Award notification will be announced at each high school’s senior awards ceremony later this spring.
Applications are also available on the school system website, www.ccboe.com, under the students/parents section. Click on the Scholarship & College information link. Students can contact the school counselor or college and career advisor at their school for more information.
Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria and information regarding eligibility is located on page three of the application. The following scholarships are available:

• Apartments of St. Charles Scholarship, $500;
• Ashley Jayne Younger Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Westlake High School students);
• Charles County Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, $1,000;
• Charles County Health Department and School Nurses’ Scholarship, $250;
• Charles County Retired School Personnel Association Scholarship, $500 (one for each Charles County public high school);
• Charles County Teacher Education Assistance Grant, $1,000 (renewable);
• Edward Rorer Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• Eric Sawchak Memorial Scholarship, $1,000;
• GFWC, Charles County Woman’s Club, $500;
• Grote Memorial Scholarship, $500 (for La Plata High School students);
• Harding Memorial Future Educator Scholarship, $1,000;
• Harold Allen Levy Scholarship, $1,000;
• Jeremiah and Elijah Borgnis Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• John H. Cox Memorial Scholarship, $1,000;
• John Howie Memorial Scholarship, $500 (two awards);
• Kate Donahue Scholarship, $400 (for Henry E. Lackey High School students);
• Katherine D. Racey Memorial Scholarship, $1,500 (for Lackey and Maurice J. McDonough high school students);
• Ken Stump Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• Kenneth Bernard Proctor, Sr. Scholarship, $500;
• La Plata Garden Club Scholarship, $1,000 (two awards);
• Lizbeth Frazer-Fatig Helping Hand Scholarship, $4,000 (for North Point High School students);
• Maria A. Torres Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Thomas Stone High School students);
• Mary H. Matula Scholarship, $500 (for La Plata students);
• Michael J. Anderson Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for La Plata students);
• Michael S. Tayman Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for McDonough students);
• Michael S. Tayman Memorial Music Scholarship, $1,000 (for McDonough students);
• Michael S. Tayman Memorial Nursing Scholarship, $1,000 (for McDonough students);
• Mildred Rice O’Callaghan Scholarship, $500 (for Lackey students, two awards);
• Nicole Pitonyak Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for North Point students);
• Parker Financial Literacy Scholarship, $250;
• Patricia Sugg Weiers Memorial Scholarship, $250;
• Professor V. Phillips Weaver Scholarship, $1,000;
• Rachel Myers Trade School Scholarship, $500;
• Richard J. Abela Scholarship, $2,000 (for North Point students);
• Robert Dean Stethem National Memorial Scholarship, $1,000;
• Robert Dean Stethem Thomas Stone Scholarship, $1,000 (for Thomas Stone students);
• Ronald G. Cunningham Scholarship, $2,500 (one for each Charles County public high school);
• Ronald G. Cunningham Nursing Scholarship, $500;
• St. Charles Community Scholarship, $500 (three awards);
• Starkey Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• Stephen E. Mitchell Educational Scholarship, $500;
• Thomas B.R. Mudd Nurse Scholarship, College of Southern Maryland, full two years;
• Thomas B.R. Mudd Teacher Scholarship, College of Southern Maryland, full two years;
• Thomas Kurtz Memorial Scholarship, $1,000 (for Lackey students);
• Thomas W. Weirich Scholar-Athlete Award, $1,000;
• Timothy Minor Criminal Justice Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• Timothy Minor Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• Tiny Hopes Scholarship, $1,000 (three awards);
• Unnae Pak-Borgnis Memorial Scholarship, $500;
• William and Vivian King Scholarship, $1,000 (one for each Charles County public high school); and
• Zonta of Charles County Scholarship, $1,000 (two awards).

The Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships to Charles County students. The Charles County Commissioners, Charles County Public Schools, the College of Southern Maryland and the Chamber of Commerce are always represented on the Scholarship Fund Board. All other community members are selected from the community at large.
Contact Alicia Jones, Charles County Scholarship Fund, Inc., at 301-934-7334 or aajones@ccboe.com, for more information.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 12/9/14

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, December 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 – Maurice J. McDonough High School

Superintendent’s update to the Board - See report

Correspondence/board member updates

• Bowie - comment from parent of a former North Point student praises Dr. Hill; another comment from a parent just transferred from Fairfax County says CCPS is better than FX
• Cook - Enjoyed It's Academic
• Pedersen - Enjoyed It's Academic; LPHS Senior Interviews; CCASC meeting to say thank you and good bye
• Lukas - All County Band enjoyable; Military Ball

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

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

Student Board member’s update - See report

Student Transfers - See Report

• Slightly up due to redistricting
• Wise - Appeals to the state level have all been upheld.  Our Policy is good.
• Abell - and it works

CIP update - See report

• Pool at St. Charles moving forward.  Enclosure this winter.  May 2015 Completion.
• FB Gwynn boiler & roof going to bid
• Dr. Brown - roof replacement; ordering eqipment for Spring
• CIP Submission to state; state made recommendations; we appealed
• St. Charles - requested balance
• Stoddert MS roof and  boiler
• Kindergarten additions at Jenifer and Matula
• Planning for elementary #3 and Mudd renovations
• Wise - PK legislation moving forward
• Hill - lot of talk but nothing yet

Maryland’s College and Career Ready Standards: The CCPS blueprint - See report

• This report was put together based on common, reoccurring concerns regarding the standards at the county level.  It addresses the instruction issues, not the political issues.  It will be shared with principals this week with hopes of sharing with parents through PTA etc at every school.
• Addresses myths vs facts at the local level.
• Abell - can students opt-out of HSA's or PARCC assessments?  NO.  State requirement
• Please, please, please provide feedback on this report.  Please keep comments constructive, give specifics, and let me know of any contradictions.

Unfinished business

• Abell - questions asked previously...when can we receive an update?  Where are we losing teachers to(surrounding counties?); Review of the World History Text Book; Portable classroom update including condition and ownership.

New business  - None

Presentation of plaques to outgoing Board

Board Farewell – 3:30 p.m.

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Paris Jones, 5th grade, Academic Achievement; C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School; Principal: Troy D. Barnes; Shana Cavanaugh, 5th grade; Academic Achievement; Dr. Brown Elementary School, Principal: Christienne Warren; Sarah Jones, 11th grade; Personal Responsibility; Henry E. Lackey High School; Principal: James Short; Roman Lakner, 5th grade; Academic Achievement; T. C. Martin Elementary School; Principal: Gregory Miller; Michael Petschk, 8th grade; Career Readiness; John Hanson Middle School; Principal: Kathy-Lynn Kiessling
• Employees - Timothy P. Remo, fifth grade teacher, Barnhart; Carrie J. Lamb, Reading Resource teacher, Brown; Bonnie D. Jenkins, third grade teacher, Martin; Patricia A. Hodson, Media Specialist, Hanson; Camille C. Calloway, Special Education teacher, Lackey

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Andrew Williams - CCASC - student liasions - speaking on students behalf to reinstate after school activity buses.  Understand may not be possible due to budetary concerns.  Ask the board to consider allowing each individual school to explore options to fund their own activity buses.  After school buses are a necessity for students to participate in athletics, clubs, organizations and tutoring.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the minutes by Abell; Second by Cook

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

• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

• Pension policy #3920

Motion to accept the Pension Policy by Lukas; Second by Abell

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

• Extra-curricular and athletic eligibility requirements policy #6431

Motion to accept the Policy #6431 by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

Adjournment

New Student Assessments Are Accompanied by Bigger Questions

As reported in the Baltimore Sun, just as public school systems in Maryland and other states prepare to give longer and more challenging standardized tests this spring, a national debate has erupted over just how many hours students should be tested in a year.  As reported in the article,

“I think what you are seeing across the country is this backlash against state testing,” said Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance, who believes there may be moves in coming years to reduce federally mandated testing.
This year, an eighth-grader in the Baltimore area will spend from 14 to 46 hours taking tests, depending on which school district he or she is in. And that doesn’t include the tests teachers write and grade themselves — that pop quiz on “The Scarlet Letter” in English or fractions in an elementary school math class.

A recent study by The Center for American Progress, Testing Overload in America’s Schools, found the following:

• Despite the perception that federally mandated state testing is the root of the issue, districts require more tests than states.
• Students are tested as frequently as twice per month and an average of once per month.
• Actual test administration takes up a small fraction of learning time.
• There is a culture of testing and test preparation in schools that does not put students first.
• District-level testing occurs more frequently and takes up more learning time in urban districts than in suburban districts.
• Districts are not transparent about testing practices or purposes.

For more information, see the full story from the Sun and The Center for American Progress.

Wilson honored by Omega Psi Phi for community service

Monique Wilson, director of the James E. Richmond Science Center at St. Charles High School, was recently honored by the Tau Lambda Lambda chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity with a 2014 Outstanding Citizen of the Year award. The award honors community members who demonstrate exemplary leadership and service to the community on the local and state levels that helps improve the quality of life for others.

Wilson has volunteered with the fraternity’s Purple Boot Mentoring Program for the past three years, and was recognized for helping to tutor middle school minority students in topics such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and robotics. The mission of the program is to educate and empower adolescent males in the Southern Maryland region, with an emphasis on mentoring minorities, to serve as role models within their communities.

Program activities focus on several areas of learning for young men that range from how to be engaged in their education and learning about personal responsibility to working with mentors on positive-relationship building. Wilson said she is honored to be recognized for doing something that she thoroughly enjoys.

“It was a surprise to me that I received this honor because educating, giving of my time and helping young people is second nature for me, so to be recognized for doing what I truly enjoy has reaffirmed why I became an educator and shows that the community does value education and it is watching the example we set” Wilson said.

The Purple Boot Mentoring Program was launched in 2009 to provide adolescent males in the Southern Maryland community with opportunities to learn from and work with positive role models.  The Citizen of the Year award was given to three honorees from the Tri-county area for their notable achievements and service to Southern Maryland.

Wilson was honored with her award during the Tau Lambda Lambda’s 10^th annual Achievement Week Founders’ Day awards banquet held Nov. 15 at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Hall in Waldorf. She also received a citation from the Charles County Board of Commissioners.

For more information on the Purple Boot Mentoring Program, visit http://www.southernmdques.org.

Agenda for Board of Education Meeting, 12/9/14

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

Executive session – 12 p.m.

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

Superintendent’s update to the Board

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update
• Student Board member’s update
• CIP update
• Maryland’s College and Career Ready Standards: The CCPS blueprint
• Budget update
• Legislative update

Unfinished business

New business

Presentation of plaques to outgoing Board

Board Farewell – 3:30 p.m.

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Employees

Public Forum – 6 p.m.
Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• New textbooks: Microsoft Office 2013
• Pension policy #3920
• Extra-curricular and athletic eligibility requirements policy #6431

Adjournment

Northrop Grumman executive challenges Maryland businesses to support education

Baltimore Business Journal
Nov 20, 2014
Rick Seltzer


The head of Northrop Grumman's $7 billion Electronic Systems sector called on local business leaders Thursday to back education.

"I challenge us as a community to make sure that we're supporting education here in Maryland," said Gloria A. Flach, president of the defense contractor's Electronic Systems operating unit, which is based in Linthicum near Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Flach was the keynote speaker at the BWI Business Partnership's November breakfast.

Northrop Grumman employs about 10,000 people in Maryland, making it one of the state's largest employers.
For the Electronic Systems sector, education in the STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — is a foundation for business success, Flach said. It prepares students to succeed in the workplace.

The country needs more employees with technical skills, Flach said. And Northrop Grumman promotes STEM education through awareness, mentoring and financial support. But that doesn't mean there's a lack of talent in Maryland.
"I can tell you, ladies and gentleman, that the talent coming out of our education system is eye-watering," Flach said. "Think of the opportunity for our young people in terms of careers."

Read more HERE

REMINDER: Board of Education Work Session Tonight, 11/24/14

The Board of Education will hold a work seesion on Monday, Nov. 24, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 6 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab.


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

Public Forum 

GWWO School Facilities hearings results 

 Report - Academic Eligibility Proposal #6431

Adjournment 

Satanic worship group seeks to hand out coloring books to high school students prompting Florida school board to consider banning distribution of all religious materials

• The Satanic Temple, a worship group, has asked to distribute a coloring book to Florida high schoolers
• Florida allows religious groups to distribute bibles and other materials in schools
• The board is thinking of changing the policy so that no one may hand out any religious material   

By Alexandra Klausner for MailOnline

Published: 17:50 EST, 15 November 2014 | Updated: 17:50 EST, 15 November 2014

 A Florida school board may change a policy allowing groups to distribute religious materials in high schools after a satanic worship group has asked to distribute coloring books about their faith.

The board discussed changing their current policy during a workshop on Thursday but the earliest it could vote to change would be late January or early February, said officials.

A spokesperson for The Satanic Temple says that they should be able to hand out coloring books that feature children performing satanic rituals and drawing pentagrams just like any other religious group.

'It strongly implies they never intended to have a plurality of voices,' said Doug Mesner, co-founder and spokesman for The Satanic Temple, who also goes by the name Lucien Greaves.

The content in the coloring books are puzzles that ask children to search for words like, empathy, love, care, and friendship.

Another typical page of the coloring book shows a young girl named Annabel who is 'spreading knowledge and helping to dispel fear and ignorance by demonstrating her satanic ritual for her class.'

The satanic group is not the only one that hands out materials, either. 

An evangelical group called World Changers of Florida has given out Bibles in Orange schools three times, reports WPTV.

District counsel Woody Rodriguez said that the satanic group is the only one that submitted a request but that the evangelical group said they will hand out their material as well.

'They seem to be moving against the interests of a large part of the community,' said World Changers of Florida Greg Harper of the Static Temple's Desire to hand out material.

'The Bible will open somebody's heart, somebody's mind, and cause them to pursue answers.'

Board Member Christine Moore said that people are having trouble with a policy change on Christian groups.

'Everyone's upset about the Satanists and the atheists coming,' she said.

An atheist groups saw the upside of the potential policy change and has given out atheist materials in the past in opposition to Bible distributions.

'It's a bit of a relief,' said David Williamson of the Central Florida Freethought Community.

'Given that there's a potential change in the policy, we won't be allowing distribution,' Rodriguez said. 

'We're going to wait.'

Read the original article HERE.

States Listen as Parents Give Rampant Testing an F

New York Times
By LIZETTE ALVAREZ
NOV. 9, 2014

ROYAL PALM BEACH, Fla. — Florida embraced the school accountability movement early and enthusiastically, but that was hard to remember at a parent meeting in a high school auditorium here not long ago.

 

Parents railed at a system that they said was overrun by new tests coming from all levels — district, state and federal. Some wept as they described teenagers who take Xanax to cope with test stress, children who refuse to go to school and teachers who retire rather than promote a culture that seems to value testing over learning.

 

“My third grader loves school, but I can’t get her out of the car this year,” Dawn LaBorde, who has three children in Palm Beach County schools, told the gathering, through tears. Her son, a junior, is so shaken, she said, “I have had to take him to his doctor.” She added: “He can’t sleep, but he’s tired. He can’t eat, but he’s hungry.”

 

One father broke down as he said he planned to pull his second grader from school. “Teaching to a test is destroying our society,” he said.

 

Where once these frustrations were voiced in murmurs, this year not only parents but also educators across Florida are rebelling. They have joined a national protest in which states have repealed their graduation test requirements, postponed the consequences of testing for the Common Core — national standards in more than 40 states — and rolled back the number of required exams.

 

In August, Education Secretary Arne Duncan added to the chorus when he wrote in a blog post that “testing issues today are sucking the oxygen out of the room in a lot of schools,” and that teachers needed more time to adapt to new standards and tests.

 

Read more HERE.

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

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, November 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

Superintendent’s update to the Board - Report

Correspondence/board member updates

• Lukas - fantastic job to chess tournament
• Wise - Kudos to McDonough Football
• Cook - Kudos to LaPlata Volleyball
• Abell - Kudos to McDonough Volleyball
• Pedersen - Congratulations to newly elected board members 

Education Association of Charles County update - Report

 

Student Board member’s update - Report

 

Academic eligibility proposal update - Report

• Change from semester to quarter
• Pedersen - Ensure the policy is adhered to across the board.  Feedback from students and coaches. 

CIP update - Report

• Enrollment Numbers
• Abell - requested review and verification on totals; errors on spreadsheet.

Technology through the eyes of students - Oral Report

       (CSM Access pilot telepresence program at LaPlata High School)

• Daja Lewis - Access CSM; Class helped her be more responsible; counts towards college GPA; Pop Culture class; wouldn't have taken AP course because they are so intimidating but tried this and found out college courses arent so scary.
• Kayla Gretgen - Collaboration amongst other students; professor sometimescomes to the school and telepresence back to the college; sometimes technical difficulties but nothing not able to oversome.  still feel apart of your home high school
• Trevor Abell - earn 12 credits before entering college.should be offered to all of Charles County students.  intro to college classes....only one class no pressure.  saves on gas money
• Hill - interaction with CSM Students; any feedback or suggestions before rolling it out to other schools.
• Students - Pop Culture first class; second class, technology; interesting topics.
• Lukas - would you consider doing it after school
• Students - more difficult due to other activities, jobs, etc.

      North Point Technology Classes (DTS & CSB)

• Students - affected future by opening doors to technology and how they can related to current studies such as medical (medical + technology); need more women in technology.
• How to encourage more females?
• Students - not sure; started a club Women in Computer Sciences to entice and gain interest.
• Pedersen - if you were given a chance to talk to elementary age girls what would you say?
• Students - Equal Rights in jobs and salaries; opportunities.
• Joe Greenwalt - STI program in Charles County is the only one that has achieved enrollment in program similar to demographics in entire system.  We are a model across the nation.
• Lukas - offer more certificated programs

        PARCC Requirements

• Students will need to pass HSA's
• Fall of 16-17 PARCC will become part of the graduation requirements (Algebra & English scores will be combined in some fashion for requirement but we dont have full information as of yet.)
• Pedersen - Affect on the bridge plan, # of students involved
• Amy Hollstein - there will be changes but not known right now.  Will get numbers

Microsoft Office 2013 Textbook- Report

Pension policy #3920 - Report

 

Legislative update - Report

• New Govenor - unknown policies and direction; change coming
• PARCC assessments delayed as graduation requirements by the state
• Abell - Requested Mr. Schwartz report be placed on BoardDocs

Unfinished business

• Abell - Where are we losing teachers to? Asked at last board meeting.
• Abell - Board Goals review

New business
 

Future agenda items

• Abell - Update on Out-of Zone Transfers
• Abell - World History Textbook Review
• Pedersen - Portable classrooms review, condition, etc.

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

Students
• Nicholas Long, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Dr. James Craik Elementary School, Principal: Debra Calvert
• Amir Moore, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Malcolm Elementary School, Principal: Wilhelmina Pugh
• Morgan Martin, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, J.C. Parks Elementary School, Principal: Thadine Wright
• Devyn Thompson, 8th grade, Career Readiness, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School, Principal: Kenneth Schroeck
• Jeanne Franchesca Dela Cruz, 11th grade, Career Readiness, St. Charles High School, Principal: Richard Conley

          Employees

• Jane K. Pilkerton, reading resource teacher, Craik
• Melissa F. Gross, secretary to the Principal, Parks
• Erin L. Berfield, music teacher, Malcolm
• Danielle M. Carpenter, social studies teacher, Stoddert
• Latisha S. Chase, instructional assistant, St. Charles

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Margaret Martin - school bus driver; no salary increase unless mandated by the county budget, haven't received a raise since 2009, all the other duties related to job other than driving a bus.
• Debbie Vahle - school bus driver; no bus aide on normal bus runs, always on call, no pay on days off. (gave a hard copy report/presentation to all board members)
• Dominique Mars - member of community, support school bus drivers, 2 children in school, bus drivers put up with alot.  Support all employees for a system that works.
• David Leach - School bus driver; wants a union to represent all of Charles County bus drivers, mutual respect from the contractors.
• Sue Manning - Adoption of Common Core standards has affected her child.  Age 9 but  developmentally on age 5. Suffered anxiety, and a former teacher stated to not to bring him back. Withdrew him and now homeschools.  High standards need to be realistic and for HIM.  These standards actually hurt him. 
• Tony Piacente - CCBOE website states beliefs (cites), not working for us, LPHS incident, hundreds of emails of concerns went unanswered, violates a parents rights of religions. 
• Male ????(didn't hear name) - Bus driver, 18 different contractors, who to answer to?  All here together for fairness and equality.
• Christine Pate(?) - Pres. of the NAACP Youth Council, student - requests return of activity buses.  More students could stay after for extra curricular activites, sports, clubs, and tutoring.  2008 they were implemented.  Budget has increased, can they reinstate. Maybe not 430 and 600 but just 6:00 p.m.
• Melissa Queen (?) - Student at Thomas Stone High School, reinstate activity buses.  Ensured all students equal opportunity for participation.  Has been stopped twice by strange men in cars in her walk home from school at night.
• Kyle Smith - NAACP Youth Council, Student at Thomas Stone, activity buses reinstate, wants to start a petition among all students.
• Faye Weekly(?) - two children in middle school - we are the parents not you.  letters from schools about what to feed our children and nutrition content, and now an administartor assuming the content of a class being taught.  parentsshould be allowed to opt their child out.  not the schols job to judge a parent.  Parents responsible for their child.  Not schools job to protect a child from their parent.  Schools undermine a parents authority.  Reminder and cautioned not to cross the line.  Parents are protective of their children.

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by Abell

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

• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Abell; Second by Lukas

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

• 2015 Legislative positions

Motion to accept the 2015 Legislative Positions by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

Adjournment
 

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

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 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 website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab.

Executive session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m.- Pledge of Allegiance – La Plata High School

Superintendent’s update to the Board

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County updat
• American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update
• Student Board member’s update
• Academic eligibility proposal update
• CIP update
• Technology through the eyes of students
• Microsoft Office 2013
• Pension policy #3920
• Legislative update

Unfinished business

New business and Future agenda items

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Employees

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• 2015 Legislative positions

Adjournment