Please click below for a video message from the Superintendent.
http://www2.ccboe.com/superintendent/videos/
Welcome! A blog, run by Jennifer Abell, Vice Chair of the Charles County Board of Education, involving topics and issues on education and children. Comments are not official communications of the Charles County School Board but are a personal effort to be more transparent. Both complimentary comments and constructive criticism are not only appreciated but encouraged. Student participation is also encouraged and therefore the use of proper language and decorum is requested at all times.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Well-Connected Parents Take On School Board
By Michael Alison Chandler
Washington Post Staff Writer
For a new generation of well-wired activists in the Washington region, it's not enough to speak at Parent-Teacher Association or late-night school board meetings. They are going head-to-head with superintendents through e-mail blitzes, social networking Web sites, online petitions, partnerships with business and student groups, and research that mines a mountain of electronic data on school performance.
These parent insurgents are gaining influence -- and getting things changed. [Wash. Post]
Report gives Maryland teachers poor, but passing, grade
By Liz Bowie
A national report on teacher quality gave Maryland a barely passing grade Thursday, saying teachers are tenured too easily and dismissed with great difficulty.
Maryland is one of seven states that give tenure to teachers after only two years of teaching, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, Washington-based group is headed by Kate Walsh, who was appointed to the Maryland state Board of Education by Gov. Martin O'Malley in July. [Baltimore Sun]
Related: States get D-plus on teacher reviews
A national report on teacher quality gave Maryland a barely passing grade Thursday, saying teachers are tenured too easily and dismissed with great difficulty.
Maryland is one of seven states that give tenure to teachers after only two years of teaching, according to the National Council on Teacher Quality. The nonprofit, nonpartisan, Washington-based group is headed by Kate Walsh, who was appointed to the Maryland state Board of Education by Gov. Martin O'Malley in July. [Baltimore Sun]
Related: States get D-plus on teacher reviews
Thursday, January 29, 2009
States get D-plus on teacher reviews
By LIBBY QUAID, AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON – States are not doing what it takes to keep good teachers and remove bad ones, a national study found.
Only Iowa and New Mexico require any evidence that public school teachers are effective before granting them tenure, according to the review released Thursday by the National Council on Teacher Quality. [AP]
WASHINGTON – States are not doing what it takes to keep good teachers and remove bad ones, a national study found.
Only Iowa and New Mexico require any evidence that public school teachers are effective before granting them tenure, according to the review released Thursday by the National Council on Teacher Quality. [AP]
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
About that Budget Proposal for 2010
To all the teachers that are emailing and calling because the EACC told you to...
The board members did NOT remove step increases from the Superintendent's budget proposal. The Superintendent recommended the removal in order to present a balanced budget and I am confident it will be passed no matter how many emails we receive because there is no money.
For the teachers saying "ask for more and you will get more"...that doesn't work when there is nothing to get. In addition, if you inflate the budget or don't make the cuts yourself (all in good faith), they will do it for you from wherever they deem appropriate.
This is tough times for everyone involved and there are tough decisions to be made. Would you rather lose step increases or face possible furloughs and lay-offs?
The board members did NOT remove step increases from the Superintendent's budget proposal. The Superintendent recommended the removal in order to present a balanced budget and I am confident it will be passed no matter how many emails we receive because there is no money.
For the teachers saying "ask for more and you will get more"...that doesn't work when there is nothing to get. In addition, if you inflate the budget or don't make the cuts yourself (all in good faith), they will do it for you from wherever they deem appropriate.
This is tough times for everyone involved and there are tough decisions to be made. Would you rather lose step increases or face possible furloughs and lay-offs?
Virginia Parents Fight for Easier Grading Standards
By Laura Fitzpatrick
To the grade-grubbers go the spoils. And the grade-grubbers in this case are rabble-rousing parents in Virginia's Fairfax County. Residents of the high-powered Washington suburb have been battling the district's tough grading practices; chief among their complaints is that scoring a 93 gets recorded as a lowly B+. After forming an official protest group last year called Fairgrade and goading the school board into voting on whether to ease the standards, parents marshaled 10,000 signatures online and nearly 500 in-person supporters to help plead their case on Jan. 22. After two hours of debate, the resolution passed, a move critics consider a defeat in the war on grade inflation. [Time]
To the grade-grubbers go the spoils. And the grade-grubbers in this case are rabble-rousing parents in Virginia's Fairfax County. Residents of the high-powered Washington suburb have been battling the district's tough grading practices; chief among their complaints is that scoring a 93 gets recorded as a lowly B+. After forming an official protest group last year called Fairgrade and goading the school board into voting on whether to ease the standards, parents marshaled 10,000 signatures online and nearly 500 in-person supporters to help plead their case on Jan. 22. After two hours of debate, the resolution passed, a move critics consider a defeat in the war on grade inflation. [Time]
Loudoun County: School Board Approves Budget Plan That Freezes Teacher Pay
By Michael Birnbaum
The School Board in Loudoun County, where the recession might be having a greater effect on teachers' wallets than in any other Washington area jurisdiction, late last night approved a budget of $747. million that would freeze teacher salaries.
The spending plan, which passed by an 8 to 1 vote, would omit cost-of-living and seniority raises to save $31. million. It would be the second straight year that Loudoun teachers have gone without a cost-of-living increase. [Loudoun Extra]
The School Board in Loudoun County, where the recession might be having a greater effect on teachers' wallets than in any other Washington area jurisdiction, late last night approved a budget of $747. million that would freeze teacher salaries.
The spending plan, which passed by an 8 to 1 vote, would omit cost-of-living and seniority raises to save $31. million. It would be the second straight year that Loudoun teachers have gone without a cost-of-living increase. [Loudoun Extra]
Market Losses Tighten Screws On Colleges
By Susan Kinzie
Washington Post Staff Writer
American colleges and universities lost an average of 23 percent on their endowment investments last semester, according to a national survey to be released today, a drop that is hurting the bottom line across the board, from major state institutions to the Ivy League.
Colleges are feeling financial pressure from all sides as the economic crisis deepens. State funding has dropped. Private donations are expected to decline. And with more families facing job losses and dwindling savings, some schools say they are reluctant to raise tuition or cut financial aid.
Instead, half of the private colleges taking part in a separate survey said they are freezing hiring, delaying building projects or restricting staff travel. [Wash. Post]
Washington Post Staff Writer
American colleges and universities lost an average of 23 percent on their endowment investments last semester, according to a national survey to be released today, a drop that is hurting the bottom line across the board, from major state institutions to the Ivy League.
Colleges are feeling financial pressure from all sides as the economic crisis deepens. State funding has dropped. Private donations are expected to decline. And with more families facing job losses and dwindling savings, some schools say they are reluctant to raise tuition or cut financial aid.
Instead, half of the private colleges taking part in a separate survey said they are freezing hiring, delaying building projects or restricting staff travel. [Wash. Post]
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
WANTED: Blog Assistant
WANTED: A blog assistant to help post pertinent state, national, and global items of interest, breaking news, reports, etc. Please apply within.
NOTES: Board Work Session, 1/26/09
The Board Work Session on Monday, January 26th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . 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.
Do you ever watch Charlie Brown? Have you ever heard his teacher? Well the public/open session of this meeting sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher...
WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,....
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.
Do you ever watch Charlie Brown? Have you ever heard his teacher? Well the public/open session of this meeting sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher...
WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,.... WA ,WA, WA, WA,....
Thursday, January 22, 2009
REMINDER: BOARD WORK SESSION 1/26/09
The Board of Education of Charles County will hold a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 26, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting will also be aired live on Comcast Channel 96. The agenda is as follows:
Call to order 6 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Call to order 6 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
Public Forum
Work session
Executive session
Adjournment
Friday, January 16, 2009
NOTES: Board Meeting, 1/13/09
The Board Meeting Tuesday, January 13th will be re-broadcast on Channel 96 on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . 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.
CHAIRMAN WADE WAS ABSENT FOR THIS MEETING. MS. WISE PRESIDED.
NOMINATIONS FOR CHAIR (WRITTEN)
Wade - 3
Wise - 3
VOTE FOR CHAIR (WRITTEN)
Wade - 3
Wise - 3
VOTE FOR CHAIR (WRITTEN)
Wade - 4
Wise - 2
VOTE FOR CHAIR (ORAL)
Wade - 5
Wise - 1 (Abell)
NOMINATIONS FOR VICE-CHAIR (WRITTEN)
Wise - 4
Pedersen - 2
VOTE FOR VICE-CHAIR (WRITTEN)
Wise - 6
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
- Incidents over past week
- FY10 Budget Proposal $304.6M; increase in funding of $5.1M (1.7%) over FY2009.
BOARD MEMBERS
- Pedersen - Scrabble tournament cancelled
- Pedersen - Diversity Forum 2/28
- Pedersen - Possible legislation's
STUDENT BOARD MEMBER
Student Health Curriculum Review
EACC
Read report
CIP UPDATE
- Barnhart - Addition complete
- Gale - Bailey - Just started
- TC Martin - to be completed by the 09/10 SY
- Housekeeping & Technology Presentation
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
- Bailey - financial literacy
- Abell - dual enrollment - (will get back to me)
- Abell - Life Skills Curriculum - (will get back to me)
HEALTH CURRICULUM
Report item; action next month
BUDGET UPDATE
Read report
COMMUNICATION UPDATE
- quarterly report sent via mailer through private company free of charge to system with advertisement fliers
- Pederson - concerned about ads included (no controversial ads will be included)
- Abell - Fast Facts button added to website (will check into it)
- Abell - Possibility of adding an incident "ticker" on our web-site (future agenda item)
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
- Pedersen - letters Col Wade writes included in mailer
- Cook - wants to change board times
- Abell - incident ticker on web-site
- Abell - Student Code of Conduct - consequences changed for sexual assault
- Abell - Board notification of Incidents
- Bailey - Financial Literacy
PUBLIC FORUM
No one
ACTION
- Minutes - Cook Abstained. Abell, Bailey, Carrington, Pedersen, Wise APPROVED
- Policy 8000 & 9000 Changes - Unanimously APPROVED
- Personnel - Unanimously APPROVED
BUDGET HEARING
No one
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Good....
Good administrators, assistant superintendents, superintendents, or any CCPS employee should NEVER BE
- manipulative
- deceptive
- disrespectful
- condescending
- threatening
- accusatory
- or anything but transparent and honest
to parents, staff, and the public, much less a board member.
Not only is it infuriating but it's disheartening.
Friday, January 09, 2009
REMINDER: Board Meeting, 1/13/09
Reminder... there is a Board Meeting Tuesday, January 13th. Can't attend...you can watch it live on Channel 96. It will also be re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; Fridays at 9 a.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.
Items that may be of interest:
Items that may be of interest:
- Election of Chair & Vice Chair
- Health Curriculum
- Program of Studies
**Please see the link to the agenda above. I will no longer be rewriting the full agenda on this blog due to time constraints on my part. If any reader really uses my agenda postings, please contact me and we can see what I can work out. Otherwise, click on the link above for the complete agenda and review my items of interest.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Abell to Hold Q & A
Charles County Board of Education member Jennifer Abell will hold a question & answer session for interested residents the second Thursday of every month from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Unique Sports Academy, 109 Post Office Road, Waldorf. The next scheduled meeting is January 8th.
Call Jennifer Abell 301-659-4112 or e-mail abell4edu@verizon.net .
Call Jennifer Abell 301-659-4112 or e-mail abell4edu@verizon.net .
Monday, January 05, 2009
Stabbing at McDonough
Below is a letter going home with McDonough students today...what are these kids thinking?
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I want to make you aware of a serious incident that occurred late this morning in the school hallway. A student attacked another student with a knife and stabbed her. A third student was able to intervene and our administrators as well as community police officer went immediately to the area and got the situation under control.
The student who was stabbed was flown to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries. Our initial information is that the injuries are serious, but not life threatening. The student with the knife was taken to Civista Medical Center in the custody of police for treatment of a wound sustained in this incident. The school nurse treated the third student who intervened.
The administrators and I are continuing our investigation into this situation. We take the possession of weapons and attacks on students seriously, and in addition to possible criminal charges placed by police, any student in possession of a weapon on school grounds is subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.
I ask you to again review the school system’s Code of Conduct and talk to your children about the seriousness of bringing weapons to school and the severe consequences of disregarding the rules. Please also remind your students that if they have any information about any illegal, threatening or dangerous activity, they should immediately contact a staff member at the school.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office or e-mail me at jpetty@ccboe.com.
Sincerely,
Jervie Petty
Principal
Maurice J. McDonough High School(301)934-2944
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I want to make you aware of a serious incident that occurred late this morning in the school hallway. A student attacked another student with a knife and stabbed her. A third student was able to intervene and our administrators as well as community police officer went immediately to the area and got the situation under control.
The student who was stabbed was flown to an area hospital for treatment of her injuries. Our initial information is that the injuries are serious, but not life threatening. The student with the knife was taken to Civista Medical Center in the custody of police for treatment of a wound sustained in this incident. The school nurse treated the third student who intervened.
The administrators and I are continuing our investigation into this situation. We take the possession of weapons and attacks on students seriously, and in addition to possible criminal charges placed by police, any student in possession of a weapon on school grounds is subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.
I ask you to again review the school system’s Code of Conduct and talk to your children about the seriousness of bringing weapons to school and the severe consequences of disregarding the rules. Please also remind your students that if they have any information about any illegal, threatening or dangerous activity, they should immediately contact a staff member at the school.
Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office or e-mail me at jpetty@ccboe.com.
Sincerely,
Jervie Petty
Principal
Maurice J. McDonough High School(301)934-2944