Board of Education Meeting: May 21, 2007

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Full Agenda (51K PDF)

Approval of the Agenda

Margaret Cutler Interages Award; Champions for Children; Recognition of the Asian American Education Association Scholarship Recipients; The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. High Achievement Scholarship Recipients; Recognition of Montgomery County Public High Schools by Newsweek Magazine

Margaret Cutler Interages Award: The Board recognized Barbara Newland, former executive director of Interages and winner of the Margaret Cutler Award.

Champions for Children : The Board recognized the following honorees of Champions for Children, sponsored by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education:

• Carole Goodman, principal, James Hubert Blake High School
• Raul Ortiz, teacher, Damascus High School
• Herenia Lopez, paraeducator, Eastern Middle School
• Judy Brookes, and Joan Wolf-Chiaverini, volunteers, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School After School Activities Program
• Suburban Hospital, business partner, Community Health and Wellness

Recognition of the Asian American Education Association Scholarship Recipients: The Board recognized four students who received $1,000 scholarships from the Asian American Education Association. The students and their high schools are:

• Heather Ahn, Albert Einstein
• Rachel An, Walt Whitman
• Shyueh-Rwong Clare Cheng, Thomas S. Wootton
• Sarah Kim, James Hubert Blake

George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., High Achievement Scholarship Recipients : The Board recognized 14 students who received $1,000 George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., scholarships, sponsored by Verizon Maryland. The students and their high schools are:

• Heena Joshi, Paint Branch
• Prasad Krishnakurup, Paint Branch
Mona Bhatt, Paint Branch
• Jordan Christopher Turner, Montgomery Blair
• Ashley Mondestin, John F. Kennedy
• Reginald Galloway, John F. Kennedy
• Heather Rodney, John F. Kennedy
• Alexandria Monroe, John F. Kennedy
• Paige Lawal, John F. Kennedy
• Era Teshale, John F. Kennedy
• Tracy Franco, Col. Zadok Magruder
• Lauren Boss, Sherwood
• GianKarlo Vera, Gaithersburg
• Richard Mancco, Wheaton

Recognition of Montgomery County Public High Schools by Newsweek Magazine : The Board recognized the principals of the 23 high schools (all eligible MCPS high schools) ranked among the top 3 percent in the nation by Newsweek magazine based on participation in rigorous coursework (the number of AP or IB tests taken by all students at a school divided by the number of graduating seniors). Special recognition was given to five high schools listed among the top 100 schools by Newsweek. The high schools and their rankings are:

• #25 Richard Montgomery
• #44 Bethesda-Chevy Chase
• #61 Thomas S. Wootton
• #70 Walt Whitman
• #97 Winston Churchil
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Public Comments

Board/Superintendent Comments

Consent Items

After working with the community and local and state transportation officials, the Board approved sending a request to the County Council to amend its Capital Improvements Program to install a traffic light on University Boulevard that has been approved by the Maryland State Highway Administration to improve access to the Northwood High School site. Pending approval from the County Council, the site improvements will take approximately 10-12 months to prepare construction documents, obtain permits, and procure proposals for the work.

Human Resourcess

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

• Jo Ann (Jody) Leleck, currently associate superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs, as chief academic officer, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools
• Stephen L. Bedford, currently assistant chief school performance officer, Office of School Performance, as chief school performance officer, Office of School Performance
• Sherry L. Liebes, currently director of school performance, Office of School Performance, as community superintendent, Office of School Performance
• Jeannie H. Franklin, currently acting supervisor, Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services, as director, Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services, Department of Enriched and Innovative Programs
• Felicia E. Lanham Tarason, currently principal, Wheaton Woods Elementary School, as director, Division of Title I Programs
• C. Michael Kline, currently director, Elementary Leadership Development, Office of Organizational Development, as director, School Improvement Initiatives and Professional Learning Communities Institute, Office of Organizational Development
• Cynthia Eldridge, currently assistant principal, Montgomery Village Middle School, as supervisor, Middle School Initiatives, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs
• Monique T. Felder, currently adjunct professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as program supervisor, Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs
• R. Kevin Payne, Jr., currently principal intern, Cashell Elementary School, as principal, Fallsmead Elementary School
• Christopher A. Wynne, currently principal, Greenwood Elementary School, as principal, Dr. Sally K. Ride Elementary School

Amend the School Calendar for the 2007–2008 School Year

The Board of Education’s 2007-2008 school calendar was amended to reflect the change of the presidential primary date from March 4, 2008, to February 12, 2008, by the state legislature. Schools are closed on primary election days.

Final Action, Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education

The Board approved revised Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. The revisions affirm the Board’s commitment to producing a challenging and comprehensive educational program for students in early childhood and elementary programs that will prepare them for middle and high school. The policy emphasizes the importance of intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth and development of students in their early learning years, as well as the need for productive partnerships with parents, families, and community.

High School Plus

The Board discussed the implementation of High School Plus, currently being field tested in four high schools. High School Plus is designed to replace the traditional Evening High School with programs for students in their home schools. Students have opportunities to repeat courses they have failed or recover lost credit within the school day. Students also will be able to participate in an Extended Day Program that offers full semester course replacement classes that meet after school. The Board will continue its review of the pilot program.

Recommendation on Hampshire Greens Middle School Boundary Review

The Board discussed options presented in the Hampshire Greens Middle School Boundary Review, including the superintendent’s recommendation (Option 1), which would retain students living in the Hampshire Greens community at Francis Scott Key Middle School, and two alternatives proposed by the Board that would assign students to either Briggs Chaney or White Oak middle school. A public hearing will be held on June 11, and final Board action is scheduled for June 25.

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