Maryland endorses core standards for public schools

By Michael Birnbaum
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Maryland on Tuesday became one of the first states to endorse academic standards that are part of a movement to unify reading and math instruction across the nation, a move that would affect every public school student in the state and require new teacher training and standardized tests.

The new common standards for math and reading, developed by a state-led coalition with encouragement from President Obama, are part of national efforts to improve public education. Current standards and tests are a patchwork of varying quality.

The reforms mean that Maryland's 844,000 students would study the same topics in the same year as peers in other states that sign on to the standards. The changes come alongside others that will tie student performance to teacher evaluations and toughen graduation requirements in math and science -- all part of Maryland's effort to win as much as $250 million in federal Race to the Top education grants.

Read more HERE.

Executive Session Meeting, May 24, 2010

The Board of Education will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. tonight, May 24, 2010 to perform the superintendents annual evaluation.

Notes from the Board of Education Meeting, 5/11/10

The Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 11th will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.

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

Executive session 12 p.m.

Call to order 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Thomas Stone High School's JROTC unit

Reports of officers boards/committees

Superintendent's update

• Read report

Correspondence/Board member updates

• Pedersen - mentioned various system-wide events
• Carrington - Gale-Bailey's spring concert
• Wade - kudos to Richmond on forging forward and swaying state officials to approve the high school at 1600 student capacity.
• Wise - North Point High School Engineering Projects

Education Association of Charles County update

• Read Report

Student Board member update

• Read report
• Thank you to all board members and staff

CIP update

• Read Report
• Lights at North Point complete and adjusted
• Gwynn Center Renovation
• All Day Kindergarten renovations

Educational Facilities Master Plan

• Read report

Instruction Update - Title I Parent Involvement Update

• Read report and power point presentation

FY 2011 Budget

• Read report

Out-of-County Tuition Fees

• See report

Policy: 3910 (debt management); 4740 (severance); 3320 (Expenditure: Purchasing Procedures); 4820 (General Policies and Procedures: Duties and Responsibilities) and Policy Series 6000

• Bailey - proposed change to Policy 3320. "THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL OBTAIN BOARD APPROVAL PRIOR TO EXECUTION OF ALL CONTRACTS SUBJECT TO THE PROCUREMENT LAWS OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE."

Motion by Bailey; Second by Pedersen
(yes) Abell, Bailey (no) Carrington, Cook, Wise, Wade, Pedersen

Unfinished business

• Pedersen - What Counts in Education Committee is working on consolidating responses before publishing on the web-site. Proposes all responses go out to those invited to attend the event, a letter to the editor, and the possibility of encouraging PTO and PTSO Presidents to hold similar meetings.

New business and future agenda items

• Wise - Pedersen reappointed to Blue Ribbon Commission
• Bailey - Staff provide list of requirements for different recognitions given at graduation.

Recognition 4:30 p.m.

• Students
• Employees
• Ruth Ann Hall Awards

Public Forum 6 p.m.

• None

Action items

• Minutes

Motion by Carrington; Second by Pedersen
(yes) Abell, Carrington, Cook, Bailey, Wise, Wade, Pedersen


• Personnel

Motion by Pedersen; Second by Carrington

(yes) Abell, Carrington, Cook, Bailey, Wise, Wade, Pedersen

• Policy #6411.21 Physical Education and Athletic Programs for Students with Disabilities

Motion by Abell; Second by Pedersen

(yes) Abell, Carrington, Cook, Bailey, Wise, Wade, Pedersen

Adjournment

Police Tasers and their use ...on our students, our BABIES?

This is a topic that was recently brought to my attention by a parent. Does CCPS have a policy on the use of Tasers on students (by law enforcement, of course). My answer, "No, we do not." Next question was whether CCSO has a policy on the use of Tasers on students? Answer...no, it does not. Here is the statement I received from CCSO:

"To date there have been no Taser deployments in the schools against students. The Use of Force Continuum is the same for all persons. The only variances for the Taser are for age, weight and known medical conditions. Please remember that the Taser is an intermediate weapon that has through study been proven to reduce injury to both the officer and violator in a physical confrontation as well as avoiding the use of deadly force where if the Taser was not available the officer would have been forced to fire their pistol. The use of the properly deployed Taser has been proven to bring an immediate resolution to dangerous confrontations. As an entity we conduct an extensive basic Taser User Course, as well as a mandatory yearly re-certification, with the system to include practical exercises, legal updates, manufacturer updates and following a policy review a written test. I would invite any interested party upon completion of a written waiver to attend the course and experience an exposure. The exposure breaks no bones, leaves no scars and knowledge of the Tasers presence and existence deters resistance. Please let me know if there is any other questions."

With that being said....how do you feel? Give me your opinions. Do we need a policy? If so, provide me with wording so we can discuss the pros and cons.

As with all policy, I believe in doing my homework thoroughly; therefore, I will, in the near future, allow CCSO to Taser ME. Why, you might ask? Because I want to see how bad it really is BEFORE one of our students is hit with it.

REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting 5/11/10

The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, May 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 recognition begins 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. Program schedules are available at www2.ccboe.com/publicinfo/channel96/schedule.cfm.

Executive session 12 p.m.

Call to order 1 p.m.

• Pledge of Allegiance, Thomas Stone High School's JROTC unit

Reports of officers/boards/committees

Superintendent's update
Correspondence/Board member updates
Education Association of Charles County update
Student Board member update
CIP update
Educational Facilities Master Plan Update
Title I parent progress update
FY 2011 budget update
Out-of-county tuition fees
Policy Updates 3910 (debt management); 4740 (severance); 3320 (expenditure: purchasing procedures); 4820 (general policies and procedures: duties and responsibilities); and series 6000

Unfinished Business

New business and future agenda items

Recognition 4:30 p.m.

• Ruth Ann Hall award winners, presented by EACC
• Students
• Employees

Public Forum 6 p.m.

Action items

• Minutes
• Personnel
• Policy 6411.21: Physical education and athletic programs for students with disabilities

Adjournment