Board of Education Meeting: July 18, 2006

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Full Agenda (67K PDF)

Approval of the Agenda

The Board also voted to approve amendments to its contract with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) for the 2006-2007 school year that reinforce and stress the importance of collaboration at all levels, address some issues related to the importance of time as a resource for teachers and call for the school system and MCEA to consider the time impact on teachers of decisions and initiatives. The amendments recognize the time demands on teachers as they do their jobs and as they work to implement MCPS reforms to improve student achievement. Collaborative efforts and decisions are recognized and reinforced.

The Board honored Superintendent Jerry D. Weast on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as a school superintendent and commended him for a “job expertly done in Montgomery County” and strongly endorsed his vision of continuing excellence in teaching and learning.

Public Comments

Board / Superintendent Comments

Final Action on Policy ABA, Community Involvement

The Board unanimously approved Policy ABA, Community Involvement. The revised policy articulates that schools, parents, community organizations, and others are stakeholders in ensuring a quality education for all students. The policy establishes that the community, schools, and parents must work as knowledgeable partners to successfully educate all students. The revised policy expresses a desire that there be greater, and more diverse, input from the community on education matters.

Final Action on Policy IOB, Education of Students with Disabilities

The Board unanimously adopted Policy IOB, Education of Students with Disabilities, which reflects the changes in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Policy IOB affirms the Board’s commitment to the principles in federal and state law regarding the provision of a free and appropriate public education, the protection of the rights of all eligible students with disabilities, and the principle that every child can learn and succeed. The policy was predicated upon the deliberations of a work group comprised of community members and MCPS staff.

Human Resources Appointments

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

• Carole A. Working, currently assistant principal, John F. Kennedy High School, as principal, Quince Orchard High School
• Marc J. Cohen, currently acting director, Department of Alternative Programs, as principal, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School
• Renay C. Johnson, currently assistant principal, Paint Branch High School, as principal, Takoma Park Middle School
• Edgar E. Malker, currently assistant principal, Walter Johnson High School, as principal, Montgomery Village Middle School
• Susan B. Barranger, currently principal, Highland View Elementary School, as principal, Washington Grove Elementary School
• Gary B. Bartee, currently principal, Friendship Southeast Elementary Academy, Washington, DC, as principal, North Chevy Chase Elementary School
• Kimberly L. Kimber, currently principal intern, Bells Mill Elementary School, as principal, Maryvale Elementary School
• Jennifer J. Ostrowski, currently principal, Sugarland Elementary School, Loudon County Public Schools, as principal, Rolling Terrace Elementary School
• Lisa O. Thomas, currently acting principal, Burnt Mills Elementary School, as principal, Burnt Mills Elementary School
• Maria V. Medina, currently ESOL parent specialist/instructional specialist, ESOL Parents Center, Department of Instructional Programs, as coordinator, Division of ESOL/Bilingual Programs
• Helen A. Nixon, currently staff development teacher, Roberto Clemente Middle School, as coordinator, Upcounty Center Programs for the Highly Gifted, Roberto Clemente Middle School
• Mary M. Rapp, currently assistant principal, Piney Branch Elementary School, as coordinator, Division of Academic Support, Federal and State Programs
• Huafang Zhao, currently instructional specialist, Department of Shared Accountability, as coordinator, Assessment Research, Applied Research Unit, Department of Shared Accountability

Consent Items

New High School Site Selected : The Board accepted staff recommendations to select a 33-acre parcel on the Crown Farm site in the Gaithersburg area as the future site for the county’s 26th high school. The approved FY 2007-2012 Capital Improvements Program includes an assessment of the need for a new central area high school to provide relief for Gaithersburg, Northwest, Quince Orchard, and Thomas S. Wootton high schools. No funding for construction of a high school is included in the five-year capital plan.

Resources to Fund Automated External Defibrillator Program: During the 2006 legislative session, the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates passed a bill requiring local boards of education to develop an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program for all high schools. Each high school must have an AED and have a staff member trained in using the device. The General Assembly did not include any funding to pay for the program.

The Board approved a request for a $400,000 supplemental appropriation from Montgomery County to pay for the program.

Update on Green Schools

The Board received an update on the Green Schools program, an effort to improve the energy efficiency and operations of schools. Members of the Energy Resource Team work with individual schools to create plans to help schools manage and reduce their energy consumption.

The MCPS Energy Resource Team was recognized nationally in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of the six best energy conservation programs in the nation, and in 2006, the Maryland Energy Administration was recognized as the best program in the state. More information is available at www.greenschoolsfocus.org.

Strategic Plan – Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence

The Board discussed and approved the fourth edition of the MCPS Strategic Plan – Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence. The plan has been strengthened and revised to guide the work of schools and offices for the next five years, helping to achieve visionary goals through a detailed system of strategies, initiatives, and implementation schedules.

The revisions reflect ongoing stakeholder involvement and feedback during Fiscal Year 2006. There are two major revisions included in this updated plan – student achievement targets for the school system and every school and a new, fifth goal representing business operations.

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