Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 3/13/18

The Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, March 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 – 11:30 a.m.

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

Recognition of students for state accomplishments

Superintendent’s update - Report

Correspondence/Board Member updates

• will update

Education Association of Charles County update - Report

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees update - Report

Student Board Member update - Report

2019-20 calendar - Report

• Kelly - Feb 12th early dismissal could we do the 14th instead?  We have trouble with staff coverage when early dismissal days on Friday.

Eligibility - Report

• Kelly - 6th vs 9th grade - they are already adhering to eligibility in MS, why go back
• Abell - No maximum on absences
• Lukas - What is keeping kids ineligible; grades or absences
• Marshall - Can 9th graders start eligible?extracurricular activity introductions
• Kelly - lower GPA to 2.0 for middle school
• McGraw - interested in allowing 8th graders to start off in 9th grade and muddy waters by lowering grade
• Abell - staff provide information Mr. Lukas requested and come to work session prepared to make a decision in order to to implement for next school year.

Community outreach programs

• Reading Partner Program - Contact Kim Hudler to get involved.
• Alpha Phi Alpha-SAL William Franklin and Derrick Terry - encourage students to go to high school and go to college; meets monthly; Alpha Lights now implemented in middle school; $17k in scholarships; role models and mentors.
• Arline Arnold - Arnold House - Backpack Program.  Discreetly snack bags are placed in backpacks for smaller and lockers for HS.  Food enough for all of family.pay for field trips, caps and gown, loaded backpacks of school supplies.
• WatchDogs - "Dads of Great Students" - @ Mt. Hope Nanjemoy - provide male role models at school; dads volunteer, grandfathers, uncles, etc.   Over 130 showed up on first night.  Berry does as well.
• Dadvisory Council - Increase presence of male role models in Title 1 schools; soliciting barber shops

Project status update  - Report

Feasibility study on elementary enrollment - Report

• Kelly - what would the numbers be if we only stopped new construction students
• Lukas - cost vs relief for small number of students.  Possibly go ahead and redistrict those already slated to be redistricted EXCEPT those going to Billingsley 

Unpaid meal balance program - Report

• Kelly - doesnt affect free meals.
• McGraw - why a cheese sandwich?  Most economical.
• Abell - why full meals and not a la carte. (because we dont get any funding for a la carte)
• Application now online for free/reduced meals
• Donations should be made at individual schools to the principals to distribute.

Activity bus expenses 

• $138 per day per bus x 7 buses for every week of school year would be $36k; 4 days a week, 2 departure schedules, multiple buses $524k
• Audit previously identified it as not a good use of funds
• Palko - request principals comments

Legislative update - Report

• HB1815/SB1258 - put gambling money in trust fund and supplemental to education fund for safety + initiatives; MABE supports
• HB1697/SB ??? - Fix the Fund - supplement education funding
• HB1816/SB1257 - Safe Schools Act, take money from other bill and set aside for emergency safety plans and security support.
• HB1783 - 21st century school act - not commissioned recommendations and increases state funding for education
• Kelly - Sick Leave bill was passed in last session but vetoed by the governor and assembly override.  it's in effect.
• Lukas - HB1415 - Bridge to Kirwan; commission recommendations implementation.  not full funding but does increase funding.  alot of programs are grants.
• Lukas - SB1060 - Discrimination, private schools getting state funding cannot discriminate.
• Crawford - HB760 - Handgun school employees; MABE opposes; why if it allows local control.
• Crawford - HB 1461 - criminal immigration; MD sanctuary state.  

Unfinished business

• Appoint committee members for system goals
• Kelly, McGraw (chair) and Crawford
• Policy 4000 series committee update 
• Palko and McGraw met with staff and will hopefully present in April
• “Be the Difference” Award committee update
• Kelly - brief description; 5 award categories; deadline April 1st

New business 

• Lukas - Write letters/emails to legislators in support of specific bills (HB1697, HB1415, SB1060)

Future agenda items

• Marshall - Discipline and behavior in schools; restorative circles
• May Meeting
• Crawford - School Safety suggestions (visible police presence and volunteer presence, staff conceal carry, non-secretarian religious influence, name badges for students)
• Abell - Decoding Dyslexia/ASDEC; Teen Pregnancy Program TAPP; interested in name badges as well with barcodes for library, lunches, grades, attendance, bus, etc.
• Carter - Student ID Cards could be used by simply adding to a lanyard.

Recognition – 4:30 p.m.

• Resolutions
• Month of the Young Child;  Accepting: Diana Laco, kindergarten teacher, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School; Izaiah Simon, Christian Newton and Samantha D'Ambrosio, kindergarten students, Jenifer
• National Student Leadership Week;
  Accepting: Student Leaders:  
  Drew Carter, student Board member; St. Charles High School; Katie Willett, alternate student Board member, Henry E. Lackey High School; Jordyn Best, student liaison, North Point; Elizabeth Braziel, student liaison, Thomas Stone High School; Joyah Magee, student liaison, Maurice J. McDonough High School; Thomas Rahill, student liaison, Westlake High School; Shaun Burroughs, student liaison, La Plata High School
• Students
• Nicholas Kootsikas, III, twelfth grade; Academic Achievement; Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, Principal: Lynn Arnold, Ed.D.
• Tahirah Turnage, eighth grade; Academic Achievement; Matthew Henson Middle School; Principal: Christina Caballero
• Ava Rowledge, fifth grade; (Rescheduled from January); Academic Achievement; Dr. James Craik Elementary School; Principal: Michelle Beckwith
• Michaela Anderson, fifth grade; Personal Responsibility; Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School; Principal: Nancy Seifert
• Melanie Urrego, fifth grade; Career Readiness; Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School; Principal: Orlena Whatley
• Julie Perriello, fifth grade; Academic Achievement; William B. Wade Elementary School; Principal: Kevin Jackson, Sr.

• Employees
• Marilin Musser, Spanish teacher, Stethem
• Brian Palko, Gateway teacher, Henson
• Hope Warren, special education instructional assistant, Craik
• Elaine Coombs, special education teacher, Jenifer
• Deepa Patel, secretary to the principal, Mudd
• Laura Curry, instructional resource teacher, Wade
• Brandon Simpson, food service manager, St. Charles High School, Principal: Richard Conley

Public Forum – 6 p.m.

• Sylvia Green - daughter has tried talking to admin and principal; issue of bullying. Some get in trouble and some do not. Standards Should be across the board. Somers.
• Bill Dotson - LPHS - walk out planned for tomorrow.  Initial letter on 3/7 sounded like system was condoning. Should not be gathering outside.  Not an organic movement in Charles County.
• Chris Cherest - Concern about giving children 'rights'.  Children need guidance.  Relationships not being built.  No moral fiber.  Disrespect for life.  Violent video games.  Killing babies.  His gun has not loaded itself or tried to shoot him.  Kids should not run the asylum.
• Doug Sayers - 4 children in CCPS.  Walk-Out.  Who knew what when?  Walk out is a political organized event.  Letter from Supt went out before elected members were told.  Supt. approved and didnt get guidance.  Already have a class action law suit.  what is your safety plan.   who signed off on safety plan.  Congressman invited to speak to students.
• Ed Erslev - lived in CC for 43 years.  Walk out.  was the board consulted or did the Superintendent act on her own.  Board is not acting as Board.  Very Dangerous.
• Sasha Barnes - Student - Called names on bus, some racial.  was humiliated.  no other sudents stepped in and intervened.  made fun of for her hair.  happens to friends as well.  Toxic environment in school and most people don't know what happens.  Need more cultural education in school at a young age. 
• Tak Matto - 5th grade band at Higdon Mitchell Craik - conflict with band GTT program at some middle schools.  Students are opting out of band to fit the requirement.
• Latrina Carr - volunteer in CCPS for 17 years.  Dance coach at TS for last 6 years.  They practice hard.  Fundraising during games only for certain sports?   Principal asked for performance during the game and fundraise.  Then later was told by the AD that they couldnt perform or fundraise.  Stuck with additional product and loss.  
• Marisa Johnson - TS Dance Team member.  AD doesnt show respect to team or recognize them as a sport.  Student was told they were not allowed to be recognized.  Wants recognition and respect.
• Jasmine Jones - TS Dance team member - dance team is mistreated, unfunded, not in yearbook, and labeled as a club not a sport.  The team has been discouraged. Not allowed to stay after performance.  wants to be treated equally and with respect.
• Carl Grevey - 6th grade at Milton Somers; asked the supt for a camera on the bus.  it happened for about 2 weeks and then the camera was gone.  Driver is very nice.  Son asked for help on the bus today because he is being bullied and driver refused.  Has also talked to Palko and Lukas.  wants camera on bus so son can feel safe.  Please.
• Tracey Wolfe - Decoding Dylexia - it's imperative we learn how to identify these struggling readers early.  Been advocating for daughter for over a year to no avail.  If the teacher doesnt havent the training she cant help.  Frederick County just signed a contract with ASDEC to train over 100 teachers.  Husband went through CCPS with un-diagnosed dyslexia.  Please.

Action items

• Minutes
• Support Staff Forum
• Board Meeting 2/13/18

Motion to approve the minutes by Abell; Second by McGraw

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

• Personnel

Motion to approve personnel by Abell; Second by Kelly

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

Adjournment