Maryland Ranks #1 in College Board’s AP Report

Conduit Street
by Robin Clark

Maryland is No. 1 in the nation in the percentage of graduates who have passed at least one Advanced Placement exam, according to a report released Tuesday by the College Board. As described by the College Board,

Since 2003, there has been a 7.9 point increase in the percentage of U.S. public high school graduates scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam, with 17 states exceeding the national average for this percentage change. Once again, Maryland led all other states in the percentage of its public high school graduates scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam.

The Baltimore Sun describes one possible reason for Maryland’s consistent success in this category,

Maryland’s No. 1 ranking comes in part because so many students take the courses and exams. Nearly half of all Maryland graduates are taking the exams — about 47 percent. Far more than half of graduates will have taken a class, though about 20 percent take the courses and never sit for the exams.

Charles County, Maryland showed a particularly steep increase in passing AP scores over the past five years, as reported in The Sun, 

To celebrate the news, Gov. Martin O’Malley held a video conference Tuesday with AP students from two Charles County high schools, a district that saw a 20 percent increase in scores of 3, which is passing, or higher since 2009.

Read more HERE

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 2/11/14

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, February 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 JROTC

Superintendent’s update - See report

Correspondence/Board Member updates

• Bowie - Westlake - Code.org Thank you for hosting and received certificate
• Cook - Code.org can be used with any subject
• Wise - Scholarship Committee - seniors deadline is March 1.  48 different scholarships with 70 available.
• Wise - EACC Legislative Breakfast
• Testify for stipend raise for board members

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

Student Board Member update - See report

New school discipline regulations - Addressed in Superintendent's comments

St. Charles High School

• Lockers, lights, doors, cabinets, gym paint and wood floors installed. 
• Interviews of staff transfers underway.

CIP update

• Public works appeal
• LaPlata HVAC approval
• St. Charles $6M approval
• John Hanson gym railing improvement welding done by students
• Abell - loves to see this opportunity for students --  It's a win/win situation -- and hopes to see more of this in the future
• Student shadow asked why students were doing it instead of professionals   :)

SMECO check presentation - rebate check for $286,075

Ninth grade Earth science textbooks - see report; available as e-book

Middle school health textbooks - Due to weather, will be available for another 30 days

High school government textbooks - Due to weather, will be available for another 30 days

Curriculum Repository

• One stop shop for lesson plans, development, videos, etc.; Share across counties and with other counties;  Make some self-help videos available to public for homework
• Abell - We do a subject?  Another county do a subject? etc.....   yes
• Pedersen - Announce when ready and ask for feedback from teachers?  Constantly ongoing and testing with a handful of teachers...should be ready to test drive in the fall

Budget update

Technology planning for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
(PARCC) assessments - see report;  COST $7,126,656

SY 2015-2016 calendar

• Abell - How will you get public input?
• Balides - Communications will put out a survey

Legislative update

• SB203/HB209 - Charles County board member salary
• SB332/HB297 - optional grant expand pre-K options to add students; no facilities
• HB117 - MSDE request waiver for state mandated testing
• SB779/1198 - school system burden of proof on special education
• SB232/HB727 - amend prevailing wage law 25% of state funding
• HB300 - alcohol beverage license in Charles County
• Baltimore - adopted new discipline practices, policies, rules, etc state-wide.  Staff has started making changes and will bring forward to Board as changes are made.

Unfinished business

• School APFO committee report - Kudos and thank you to staff;
• Wise - agree with report; concerned on public/private partnership
• consensus

New business

• Bowie - One room school house tours

Future agenda items

• Lukas - Leadership Council Task Force on Arts; concerned with losing the arts to other programs

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Reginald Alexander, 5^th grade, Career Readiness, Berry Elementary School; Laura Bond, 5^th grade, Academic Achievement, Eva Turner Elementary School; Madison Mote, 8^th grade, Academic Achievement, Piccowaxen Middle School; Kim Jacks, 11^th grade, Academic Achievement, Henry E. Lackey High School; Alec Hunsaker, 12^th grade, Personal Responsibility, La Plata High School
• Staff - Olivia Coffey, school counselor, Berry; Stephanie Boyer, music teacher, Turner; Sandra Chisolm, computer teacher, Piccowaxen; Chief Larry Adams, Air Force ROTC Instructor, Lackey; Vicki Kenworthy, instructional assistant, La Plata; Cynthia Fitzsimmons, special education teacher, F.B. Gwynn Center, Coordinator: Todd Wonderling
• Resolutions: Read Across Charles County; Women’s History Month; and Fine and Performing Arts Month

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Ms. Marki - Berry Elementary - Scotland Heights approval, redistricting, overcrowding Berry, 900+ students, security of trailers, more teachers needed for specials
• Francesca Acheana(?) - Berry Elementary - Bad Table Cafeteria, Reflection Walk, 150+ more students
• Maresha Fieldo - Berry - more trailers, security, no window on door of two trailers, fence around school incomplete
• Ms. Campbell - Berry - Ditto - New traffic pattern dangerous....requires a U turn on Berry road, students not wanting to go to school
• Tony Johnson - Berry - Scotland Heights - redistricting - don't we talk to commissioners?

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=All; Absent=Wade

• Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Pedersen; Second by Lukas

Yes=All; Absent=Wade

• Superintendent’s proposed FY 2015 operating budget

Motion to accept the Superintendent's Proposed FY15 Operating Budget by Abell;

Second by Lukas

Yes=All; Absent=Wade

Adjournment

APFO Committee DRAFT Report

The below is a link to the DRAFT report proposed to be submitted to the Commissioners.  The committee has until Friday, February 14th to submit any final minor tweaks without another meeting.  Any major changes requested by any member of the committee at this point would require the committee to reconvene.

APFO Committee DRAFT Report

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 2/11/14

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 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 Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website at 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

Superintendent’s update

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/Board Member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board Member update
• New school discipline regulations
• School security initiatives
• CIP update
• SMECO check presentation
• Ninth grade Earth science textbooks
• Middle school health textbooks
• High school government textbooks
• Budget update
• Technology planning for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments
• SY 2015-2016 calendar
• Legislative update

Unfinished business

• School APFO committee report

New business and future agenda items

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

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

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Superintendent’s proposed FY 2015 operating budget

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 1/14/14 & FY15 Budget Hearing

 

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 14 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 JROTC

Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman

Motion by Cook to nominate Wise as Chair; Second by Abell

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



Motion by Cook to nominate Abell as Vice-Chair; Second by Wise

Motion by Bowie to nominate Lukas as Vice-Chair; Second by Pedersen

Those in favor of Abell = Abell, Cook, Wise

Those in favor Lukas = Bowie, Lukas, Pedersen

Vote continued for six rounds with the same results

 

Motion by Lukas to reconvene later in the meeting to continue the vote; Second by Abell

Recognized by Wise

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

 

Superintendents update - see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Bowie - Waldorf West Library has free classes; thank you to staff for coordination and collaboration
• Cook - MABE Budget Committee Meeting and budget was passed

Education Association of Charles County update - see report

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

Student Board member update - see report

Security update - verbal only for security reasons :)

• "A" phone (access) phone and doors will be complete at all schools by August 31st.
• Example lockdown plan - NP - instructions on inside of every door, universal for every class, every door remains locked, paper blinds for each window in every classroom, all teachers received training at the beginning of the year
• All schools have been given a timeline to come up with a plan.

CIP update - see report

• St. Charles High School pool -commissioners had additional questions, staff went to their meeting this morning and addressed; should hear something this afternoon.
• St. Charles High School Construction update - on target
• Brown - rooftop and boiler units are back on the table and will begin soon with local funding
• Gale-Bailey renovations going to bid soon
• Security initiative - $650,000 from the state, out to bid now, work complete by 8/31/14.
• FY15 IAC Appeal of $12K

School bell change - see report

• need 23 bus routes to accomodate new high school.    We originally only asked for 17 new contracts and new pieces of equipment.  Plan to use current equipment by changing bell times and use a tier system.
• Mattawoman Middle School has 25 buses that could be used and would have a 4 tier system.  
• Mattawoman, Davis and Berry affected by bell changes. 

Out-of-county transportation change

• 14% increase in Special Needs students in the past year. 
• Propose purchase of 4 Type 2 school buses, and hire drivers and attendants

Regionalized ELL program at Maurice J. McDonough High School - see report

• ELL  program at McDonough starting next year, don't know if it will be optional or mandatory
• Abell - how many students, optimum to start as freshman, continue throughout high school or go back to home school
• approximately 60 form all over the county, start at whatever level they are at and stay there for their entire high school tenure.
• Lukas - transportation
• similar to Stetham with a shuttle
• Bowie - a lot of different languages, hispanic is  large majority but will others be added.
• Support system is for English emersion; Title I will pay for interpreters
• Pedersen - Thank you

Middle school health textbooks - Available for review at Davis and Stoddert;

• The Glencoe TeenHealth text is a series of 8 texts that supplement the Maryland State Health Curriculum
• Wise - students take them home - NO
• Lukas - same process of review
• Pedersen - teacher review

High school government textbooks - Available at North Point, Westlake and McDonough

• United States Government – Principles and Practices, is
  proposed as an alternative and potential replacement for the current ninth grade
  government text.
• Wise - online texts vs. hardback
• Lukas - buy all at once or piece by piece
• discount provided when all at once

FY 2015 proposed operating budget - $342,695,000 (6.4% increase) see report

• enrollment decrease; expect decrease in state funding
• increase in Free and Reduced Priced Meal students (FARMS)
• health care cost $3.1M; teacher pensin $1.4M;
• St. Charles High School first year operating school whittled down to $7.7M
• Supplemental Budget Unfunded Request $19.1M
• Operating Cost per pupil - $12,453

Legislative update

• Thornton 2bills - education funding bill
• full day kindergarten bills

Vice-Chair Vote Reconvened
Those in favor of Abell = Abell, Cook, Wise

Those in favor Lukas = Bowie, Lukas, Pedersen

Vote continued for two rounds with the same results

 

Motion by Lukas to reconvene later in the meeting to continue the vote; Second by Abell

Recognized by Wise

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

Unfinished business - None

New business - None

Future agenda items

• Joint BOE/CSM Meeting Aenda Items - Abell requested adding Middle college; Cook requested Dual Enrollment

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students - Ajani Witherspoon, 5th grade, Career readiness, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary; Ryann Brown, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, T.C. Martin Elementary school; Alexandria Barrow, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School; Erik Wells, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, William B. Wade Elementary School; Jeniece Bailey, 8th grade, Personal Responsibility, Matthew Henson Middle School; Michael Fraley, 11th grade, Academic Achievement, Robert D. Stethem Educational Center
• Staff  - Tracy Cundiff, secretary, Jenifer; Carol Briscoe, kindergarten instructional assistant, Martin; Sharon Hawkins, food service worker, Mudd; Lisa Hasz, special education instructional assistant, Wade; Brenda Coombs, special education instructional assistant, Henson; Tony Chase, building service manager, Stethem
• 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.

• Derrick Terry - School closings weather delays.  Not happy with schools being open on frigid cold days, and then being closed on rain days.  What about our walkers? 

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the minutes Pedersen; Second Cook

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

• Personnel

Motion to accept  personnel Pedersen; Second Cook

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

• Superintendent’s transfer rule #5126

Motion to accept the minutes Cook; Second Pedersen

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

 

Vice-Chair Vote Reconvened
Those in favor of Abell = Abell, Cook, Wise

Those in favor Lukas = Bowie, Lukas, Pedersen

Lukas motion to open motion for accepting nominations; Second Pedersen
Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wise; Absent=Wade

Lukas nominated Cook for Vice Chair; Secon Pedersen
Yes=Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wise; Absent=Wade 



Adjournment

Public hearing on Superintendent’s proposed FY 2015 operating budget

• None

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, Rescheduled for 12/17/13

The Board of Education has rescheduled its monthly meeting to 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building. The meeting will begin with executive session at 4 p.m. The public portion of the meeting begins at 4:45 p.m. and public forum is scheduled 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.

The following is an updated meeting agenda:

Executive session – 4 p.m.

Call to order – 4:45 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent’s update to the

Board Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Student board member’s update 
• Changes to superintendent’s rule #5126 – student transfers 
• Summer reading 
• Common Core curriculum 
• Legislative update 

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes 
• Personnel 

Adjournment

The Board canceled its regular monthly meeting set for Dec. 10 due to inclement weather. A link to BoardDocs, which contains meeting information, reports and Board policies, can be found on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com under Quick Links

Fairfax County schools seek power to tax

WTOP.com
Saturday - 10/26/2013, 1:53pm  ET
Dick Uliano

WASHINGTON - With a $140 million budget deficit, Fairfax County Public School leaders are hoping they'll be able to shake the money tree.
The Washington Post reports the school board has voted overwhelmingly to ask the General Assembly to give it and other school boards the power to tax residents.
The school board complains that the Board of Supervisors doesn't provide the money the schools need.
Earlier this week, School Superintendent Karen Garza presented School Board members with a budget outline that includes possible furloughs, increasing class sizes and eliminating popular programs.

*Note the issues driving the deficits in a related The Washington Post article:  Fairfax County school board faces tough choices in budget shortfall (T. Rees Shapiro, Antonio Olivo, 10/21/2013)

Carroll County school officials concerned about proposed state school discipline regulations

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED AS WELL?  DAMN STRAIGHT!

Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 12:00 am

By Alisha George Times Staff Writer, Carroll County Times

 

The Carroll County Board of Education is concerned that the Maryland State Board of Education’s proposed school discipline guidelines and regulations would take away local control of discipline and have negative educational impacts for students.

 

The Maryland State Board of Education is proposing new student discipline regulations that, if adopted, would apply to every public school system in Maryland. Student disciplinary policies and regulations currently fall under the sole authority of each county’s Board of Education.

 

Screen Name or EmailNow I remember!

The proposed discipline regulations and guidelines are out for public comment until Nov. 4. The state board is then scheduled to adopt the regulations and guidelines Dec. 10. If approved, they would likely go into effect next school year.

 

Its adoption would philosophically change how students are disciplined in Carroll County, according to Dana Falls, director of student services for Carroll County Public Schools.

READ MORE OF THIS ARTICLE HERE

HISTORY

This is the second time the state board has published such regulations. In 2011, the first set of regulations were published and saw much opposition.

 

The Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review got involved and postponed the vote on the first set of regulations. The state board then pulled the regulations. Afterward, the state established work groups to study the regulations, and now they are back for public comment and possible approval.

 

The new set of guidelines and regulations were published in the Maryland Register Oct. 4 and are out of a 30-day comment period. These regulations similar to the regulations seen in 2011.

Source: Jonathan O’Neal, Assistant Superintendent of Administration for CCPS

 

CARROLL COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION CONCERNS

• Disciplinary policy should remain under the total authority of the local Board of Education, not the State Board of Education.
• Under the draft Student Code of Conduct and the proposed student discipline regulations, our schools will be less orderly and less safe as repeated disruptive offenders will be more likely to remain in school. Examples include:
• Repeated and deliberate harassment of a peer – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, possible consequences could be that the offender writes an apology, is offered mediation with the victim, visits the school counselor, or in extreme cases receives in-school suspension up to 4 days.
• Second drug possession offense – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a recommendation to the superintendent for an extended suspension and is ineligible for extra-curricular activities. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, a second drug possession offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Repeated classroom disruption (harassment, class cutting, insubordination, classroom disruption) – Currently the student could receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Repeated verbal threats to staff – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).
• Weapon violations – Currently the student would receive a 10-day out-of-school suspension with a possible request to the superintendent for an extended suspension. Under the draft Student Code of Conduct, this offense could receive one of the following consequences: community service, in-school suspension, mentoring program referral, or short term in-school suspension (1-3 days).

The draft Student Code of Conduct is not yet publicly available, the proposed state school discipline guidelines and regulations can be viewed in the Maryland Register by visiting: www.carrollk12.org/Assets/file/CCPS%20News/MdRegisterDiscRegs.pdf

The Carroll County Board of Education’s letter to the Maryland State Board of Education can be viewed at www.carrollk12.org/Assets/file/CCPS%20News/StateBoardLetter-DisciplineRegs.pdf

Source: Carroll County Public Schools

HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK

 

To send comments to the State Board of Education, contact to Robert A. Murphy, Specialist, School Completion, Discipline, and Alternative Programs

By mail: Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Student, Family and School Support, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201
 

By email: rmurphy@msde.state.md.us
 

By phone: 410-767-0305.
 

Send comments to the Carroll County Board of Education by email at feedback@carrollk12.org

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, October 8, 2013

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, October 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 – Westlake High School’s NJROTC Unit

Superintendent’s update - see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Pedersen - County fair exhibit was exceptional, thank you to staff; college fair was very well attended and thank you to parent volunteers; MABE conference, networking session was an excellent opportunity, other counties speak with their commissioners more than we are able to; school safety session was also excellent.
• Cook - MABE conference, parnterships with community college and school systems
• Wise - MABE conference, Students Leading Students program in Calvert County - we should look at, Superintendents Evaluation session by Anne Arundel County
• Abell - Requests board/staff meeting with CSM board/staff to discuss and see a presentation on a program called Middle College allowing students to graduate not only with a high school diploma but also an associates degree.

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

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

Student Board Member update - See report

School Administration update - See report

CIP update - See report; adding request for elementary and middle school property; condensing other CIP requests

• Abell & Pedersen concur based on APFO Committee meeting
• Abell - requests that CCBoE staff stop altering our plans and requests before the Commissioners can review them;  there have been instances where local government staff do a preliminary review, and direct CCBoE staff to remove items before the Commissioners' review.  The Commissioners never see the initial requests; we should submit as we see fit.

School bus red light camera program - See report

• American Traffic Solutions representative presented mind-blowing statistics of traffic violations involving motorists neglecting school bus lights and signs.

Bridge to Excellence/Race to the Top (RTTT); Principal and teacher evaluations - See report

FY2013 Independent financial audit - See report; Clean audit report

Human resources update - Employee Recruitment and Retention - See report

2014 Legislative positions - See report

Unfinished Business

• Abell - Update on progress of Health Curriculum Review; in progress of selecting members
• Pedersen - APFO Committee update, thanks to staff

New business - none

Future agenda items - none

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Students:

Sahana Venkatesh, 5^th grade; Gale-Bailey Elementary School; Personal Responsibility; Principal: Toni Melton-Trainor

John (Jack) Glassman, 5^th grade; Mary H. Matula Elementary School; Academic Achievement; Principal: Carrie Richardson

Gregory Griffith, 5^th grade; Arthur Middleton Elementary School; Academic Achievement, Principal: Sabrina Robinson-Taylor

Theodore (Teddy) Hoxie, 8^th grade, Milton Somers Middle School; Career Readiness; Principal: Stephanie Wesolowski

Bridget Cunningham, 12^th grade, Maurice J. McDonough High School; Personal Responsibility; Principal: Bradley Snow

• Employees:

Patricia Graff, first grade teacher, Gale-Bailey
Stephanie Sullivan, first grade teacher, Matula
Sandra Peed, kindergarten teacher, Middleton
Ernestine Swann, guidance secretary, Somers
Vonda Hicks, math teacher, McDonough

Resolutions:

American Education; Accepting: Amit Patel, Student Member of the Board and student liaisons; Elizabeth Brown, EACC; William McLaughlin, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

American Freedom Week; Accepting: Gunnery Sergeant Clive Bailey, USMC, instructor, La Plata; Cadet Henry Giroux, senior, La Plata; Cadet Brandon Lee, junior, La Plata

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Yvonne Jones - Has a sophomore at Westlake - According to manager, CCPS did not provide Books A Million with a reading list this year.  As a member of the Westlake Advocates,  Commissoners discussed on 10/1 for new liquor store locations to contact Board of Education.
• Elton Stokes - grandchildren at JP Ryon and Gustavus Brown; community relations portion of the website, referred to Katie O'Malley Simpson

Action items

• Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes from 9/10/13 by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

• Personnel

Motion to accept Personnel by Abell; Second by Cook

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

• FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

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

Yes= Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wise

Absent=Bowie, Lukas, Wade

Adjournment

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting & Agenda, October 8, 2013

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, October 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 Public Forum is at 6 p.m. All Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and rebroadcast throughout the week. Viewing schedules are available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com.

Executive session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance – Westlake High School’s NJROTC Unit

Superintendent’s update

Correspondence/Board member updates

Education Association of Charles County (EACC) update

Student Board Member update

School Administration update

CIP update

School bus red light camera program

Instruction update

FY2013 Independent financial audit

Budget update

Human resources update

2014 Legislative positions

Unfinished business

New business

Future agenda items

Recognition - 4:30 p.m.

• Resolutions – American Education Week; and American Freedom Week

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan

Adjournment

Commissioner July School Allocation Meeting, 9/10/13

The county once again came before the commissioners for their regularly scheduled school allocation cycle.  The Board of Education, including myself, vehemently opposed allocating additional seats until the APFO Subcommittee completes its work.  In addition, there is currently over 3,000 allocations currently actively being built which equates to over 1,500 potential students (.5 students per household) an additional 3,000+ that have been granted but have not yet begun.  However they have been granted and therefore can begin whenever they so desire.  So using the formula above, that is a potential of 3,000+ students hitting our school system.

The commissioners voted to grant these allocations anyway AGAINST the Board of Educations protest.  Commissioner Kelly was the only descending vote.

View the report and allocations awarded HERE. 

Is YOUR school going to be the next one REDISTRICTED? 

And when it is, you will know why!  Please don't wait to come complain at the Board of Education public forums when it happens.  Go to your COMMISSIONER public forums NOW.  Let your voice be heard NOW!

Notes from Joint Board of Education Commissioner Meeting, 9/10/13

Sorry this has been delayed and it will be brief.

The meeting began by Chairwoman Wise reading a statement addressing Dr. Lever's (IAC) letter and request for the facilities survey and funding the survey.  After a brief discussion the commissioners agreed and voted to fund the survey using DRRA funds.

Mr. Conley (Principal for St. Charles High School) then presented on the new high school.  Several questions were asked and answered.  Some key points were teacher collaboration areas, and it's a zoned school.  Mr. Wade brought up his disappointment in the fact the pool had been cut from the plan design for budgetary reasons, stating that "we know...that Afro-Americans cannot swim" and that the enrollment at St. Charles High will be a "minority majority."   The commissioners agreed to look into funding and see what could be done.

Notes from Board of Education Meeting 9/10/13

The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, September 10 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

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

Executive session – 12 p.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance – JROTC unit from Thomas Stone High School

Superintendent’s update to the Board - See report

Correspondence/board member updates

• Bowie - Summer Reading Program - 1,175 children enrolled
• Pedersen - APFO meetings ongoing; biweekly meetings; slowly making progress
• Wade - Review of flags at each school and how they're posted and protocol
• Lukas - attended Inaugural 5k Race at Stone on Stone; well organized; about 100 people

Education Association of Charles County update - See report

• Abell - requested AFSME be added to the Board Agenda

Student board member’s update - See report

Opening of schools - See report

Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update - See report

FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan - See report

Update on school improvement plans - See report

Proposed legislation

• salary & expenses of board members & student member scholarship - proposed bill for submission
• MABE legislation requiring parents to sign affidavits of residency for attendance

Unfinished business

• Personal Electronic Devices Committee - will meet on the 17th; Abell & Lukas

New business - None

Future agenda items

• Abell - Request committee to review the Health Education curriculum especially pertaining to sexuality pieces. Been 4-5 years at least since last reviewed.

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Georgeann Carter - Bus stop locations, Hawkins Gate and Highlands Farm Court; dangerous situation for all the 25+ children; handouts with pictures and plats.
• Ivan Cherad (sp?) - Dorchester; Westlake Advocates; liquor store near Westlake; not angry parents, do fact checking, hold officials accountable; transparent government; submitting study on alcohol dense communities affects the community; what is the position of the school board.
• Iyana Moore (sp?) - Westlake Advocates - liquor store proximity; BOE mission states environment safe and conducive to learning...a liquor store is not.
• Robert Harlan - Just discovered not doing Quarterly Assessments.  Parents should be notified and not have to wait until the end of the year.  BOE should speak boldly to oppose the liquor store next to Westlake

Action Items

• Minutes

Motion to approve the Minutes from August Board meeting by Cook; Second by Lukas

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

Motion to approve the Minutes from August Work Session by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

• Personnel

Motion to approve the Personnel by Wade; Second by Abell

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

• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program

Motion to approve the FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program by Lukas; Second by Cook

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

Amendment 1 to the motion to include the renovation survey funded by the DRRA funds by Lukas; Second by Cook

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

Amendment 2 to the motion to include HVAC installation at LaPlata HS Gym by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

• Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8

Motion to approve the Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8 by Cook; Second by Pedersen

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

• FY2013 operating budget amendment

Motion to approve the FY13 Operating Budget Amendment by Lukas; Second by Cook

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

• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technology Education Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women’s History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees Retirement; and Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Motion to approve the Recurring Resolutions by Cook; Second by Lukas

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

Adjournment

Board of Education Meeting Agenda, September 10, 2013

The Board of Education’s next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and is rebroadcast throughout the week. Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system website www.ccboe.com. Select CCPS TV and then choose the Live Broadcast tab.

Executive session – 12 p.m.
Call to order – 1 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance – JROTC unit from Thomas Stone High School
Superintendent’s update to the Board
Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student board member’s update
• Opening of schools
• Capital Improvement Program (CIP) update
• Report item: FY 2014 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan
• Update on school improvement plans
• Proposed legislation

Unfinished business
New business and Future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Public Forum – 6 p.m.
Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program
• Policies 6411.7 and 6411.8
• FY2013 operating budget amendment
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Career and Technology Education Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women’s History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Charles County Teacher of the Year; Employees Retirement; and Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award.

Adjournment

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, August 13, 2013

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

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

Executive Session – 11 a.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update  - see report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Wise - Wade receiving MABE Willis award
• Abell - MABE Budget Committee; requesting one time fee adjustment of $1,000 - $5,000 based on size of school system to be voted on at conference.

Education Association of Charles County update - see report

 

Student Board Member update - see report

 

School Administration - Athletics update - baseline & impact  testing; concussion reduction; parent meetings synonmous; handbook updated; athletic trainers at each high school; awards reports and same thing done at all schools (see report)

• Wise - soccer not considered an impact sport?
• Abell - soccer players are tested too even not classified.....yes

School Administration - Opening of schools - Leadership Institute this week; break out sessions; school visits;

 

State of evaluations - see report - ongoing process; subcommittee

 

CIP update  - new high school; digital classroom; Mitchell renovations; Gale-Bailey kitchen; Hanson Nurses Suite;

 

FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program - see report

 

Office of Instruction - Assessments - see report

 

Staffing udpate  - 128 new hires, still need 9 special ed; 5 elementary; 16 high school; 21 resignations since July; needed special ed math, science, tech ed, library media; minority hiring has increased.

 

New website - see report; Launch August 19th

 

Recurring resolutions - American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; Charles County Teacher of the Year; and Employees' Retirement

Unfinished business

• Cell phones - Current Rules in report; Abell requested a subcommittee to review this and BYOD for the next school year.  Discussion and concern over "the end of the school day" and consistency across the schools.
• Board members pay/reimbursement - see report analysis of other counties; discussion; Pedersen supports increase; Wise should be comparable to surrounding counties; Abell ditto; Bowie and Lukas against.

Motion to raise board member salary to $7,000/$6,000, Chair/Members respectively and add a $1,000 scholarship for the student board member and leave the stipend as is by Cook; Second by Pedersen

FURTHER DISCUSSION

 

Amendment to Original Motion to Change stipend to $800 and add members serving on committees outside of the county are entitled upto $2,000 in expense reimbursements per year by Cook; Second by Pedersen

Yes=Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; No=Bowie, Lukas

 

Vote on Original Motion

Yes=Abell, Cook, Pedersen, Wade, Wise; No=Bowie, Lukas

 

New business

• Future School Renovations - Discuss a recent letter from David Lever, executive director of the Interagency Committee on School Construction, concerning future renovation of schools and take action on recommendations.  Discussion on APFO subcommittee.

Future agenda items

• Cook - College prep report

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• None

Action items  - Minutes

Motion to accept the Minutes by Pedersen; second by Lukas

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

 

Action Item - Personnel

Motion to accept the Personnel by Cook; second by Lukas

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

 

Action Item - Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish textbooks

Motion to accept the AP Spanish Textbooks by Cook; second by Pedersen

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

Adjournment

Board of Education Meeting Agenda for August 13, 2013

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, August 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 Public Forum is at 6 p.m. All Board meetings are televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and rebroadcast throughout the week. Viewing schedules are available on the Charles County Public Schools website at www.ccboe.com.

Executive Session – 11 a.m.

Call to order – 1 p.m.  - Pledge of Allegiance

Superintendent's update

Reports of officers/boards/committees

• Correspondence/Board member updates
• Education Association of Charles County update
• Student Board Member update
• Opening of schools, athletics update
• State of evaluations
• CIP update
• FY 2015 CIP state and local CIP program
• School improvement
• Staffing udpate
• New website
• Recurring resolutions: American Education Week; American Freedom Week; African-American History Month; Gifted and Talented Education Month; Career and Technology Education Month; National School Counseling Week; Read Across America; Women's History Month; Fine and Performing Arts Month; Month of the Young Child; National Student Leadership Week; Teacher Appreciation Week; Administrative Professionals Week; Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week; National Physical Education and Sport Week; Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leader; Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award; Charles County Teacher of the Year; and Employees' Retirement

Unfinished business

• Cell phones
• Board members pay/reimbursement

New business and future agenda items

• New business
• Future agenda items

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish textbooks

Adjournment

Clarksville, Arkansas School District Opts For Armed Teachers, Staff

CLARKSVILLE, Ark. -- As Cheyne Dougan rounded the corner at Clarksville High School, he saw three students on the floor moaning and crying. In a split-second, two more ran out of a nearby classroom.

"He's got a gun," one of them shouted as Dougan approached with his pistol drawn. Inside, he found one student holding another at gunpoint. Dougan aimed and fired three rounds at the gunman.
Preparing for such scenarios has become common for police after a school shooting in Connecticut last December left 20 children and six teachers dead. But Dougan is no policeman. He's the assistant principal of this school in Arkansas, and when classes resume in August, he will walk the halls with a 9 mm handgun.

Dougan is among more than 20 teachers, administrators and other school employees in this town who will carry concealed weapons throughout the school day, making use of a little-known Arkansas law that allows licensed, armed security guards on campus. After undergoing 53 hours of training, Dougan and other teachers at the school will be considered guards.

"The plan we've been given in the past is `Well, lock your doors, turn off your lights and hope for the best,'" Superintendent David Hopkins said. But as deadly incidents continued to happen in schools, he explained, the district decided, "That's not a plan."

Read more HERE

Draft Issue Papers #4 and #5

Issue Paper #4 Alternate Funding

Issue Paper #5 DRRA Program

REMINDER: School Adequate Public Facilities Comittee Meeting, 7/31/13

AGENDA

Meeting #10

July 31, 2013

6:00 pm

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes of July 17th

Action on Draft Issue Paper #2:"Treatment of Minor Subdivisions"

Action on Draft Issue Paper #4 "School Construction Funding - County Funding Resources"

Introduce Issue Paper #3 "School Capacity Measurement"

Introduce Issue Paper #5 "DRRA School Allocations"

Inreoduce Issue Paper #6 "School Construction Program"

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for August 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the County Government Conference Room

*This agenda is tentative and is subject to adjustment atthe discretion of the committee

REMINDER: School Adequate Public Facilities Committee Meeting, 7/17/13

AGENDA

Meeting #9

July 17, 2013

6:00 pm

Review and Approval of the Meeting Minutes of June 26th

Briefing br Dr. David Lever, State Public School Construction Program

• Maximizing State School funding - County Performance Measures
• State School Funding Forecasts
• Public-Private Partnership School Delivery Options - Baltimore City Project
• Committee Questions

Discuss Draft Issue Paper #2:"Treatment of Minor Subdivisions"

Introduce Issue Paper #3 "School Capacity Measurement"

Introduce Paper #4 "School Construction Funding - County Funding Resources"

Introduce Issue Paper #5 "DRRA School Allocations"

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for July 31st at 6:00 p.m. in the County Government Conference Room

*This agenda is tentative and is subject to adjustment atthe discretion of the committee