Board of Education Meeting: July 27, 2009

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Approval of the Agenda

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Consent Items

Paint Branch HS—Acquisition of Airy Hill Local Park and Memorandum of Understanding : The Board of Education authorized the Board president and secretary to accept a deed for the purchase of the Airy Hill Local Park in the amount of $1.1 million and to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Interagency Coordinating Board that assures adequate community uses of the recreation facilities on the school property.

The undeveloped 11.32-acre property will allow Paint Branch High School students to remain at the existing facility during the school’s modernization and provide increased opportunities for future community recreation.

Human Resources Appointments

Administrative Appointments

The Board approved the appointment of five MCPS administrators:

• Bronda L. Mills, currently director of school performance in the Office of School Performance, as community superintendent, Office of School Performance
• Shawn Joseph, currently principal of Roberto W. Clemente Middle School, as director of school performance, Office of School Performance
• Sundra E. Mann, currently assistant principal, Ridgeview Middle School, as magnet coordinator, Argyle Middle School

MSAs – Implications of MSDE’s Differentiated Accountability Pilot

The Board discussed the Differentiated Accountability Pilot, which is planned for full implementation by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in the 2009–2010 school year. The pilot is an alternative way to identify schools for improvement when they do not achieve Adequate Yearly Progress on state assessments.

The U.S. Department of Education invited state education departments to pilot alternative school improvement models and approved the three-year pilot proposed by MSDE in July 2008.

Under the pilot, there is now a distinction made based on the number of years a school has been in School Improvement (Developing Stage versus a more severe Priority Stage), as well as the group or number of subgroups that did not meet the annual targets in a given year (Focused Needs versus Comprehensive Needs).

All schools identified for improvement on either pathway must submit a comprehensive School Improvement Plan that meets MSDE requirements within 90 days of identification. No MCPS school is in the Priority Stage.

Several years ago, MCPS began implementing a system of technical assistance and supports for schools on Alert or In Improvement that exceeds the Differentiated Accountability Pilot requirements. Enhanced School Improvement Teams and Achievement Steering Committees provide direct assistance to schools in the Improvement phase.

A recent report shows that students continue to show steady progress on Maryland School Assessments.

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