Board of Education Meeting: June 27, 2011

Watch Meeting by Agenda Item

• Full Agenda (PDF)

Approval of the Agenda; Recognition of Vietnamese Scholars

The Board congratulated the two recipients of the 2011 Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association academic awards and scholarships:

• Mary Mai-Lan Nguyen from Montgomery Blair High School
• Cindy Pham from Gaithersburg High School

Each received a $1,000 scholarship for academic excellence, leadership skills, and community service at the organization's Twenty-third Annual Academic Awards Ceremony on June 5.

Public Comments

Farewell to Dr. Weast

The Board of Education bid farewell to Dr. Jerry D. Weast, outgoing superintendent of schools, who is retiring on June 30 after serving as superintendent for 12 years. The farewell presentation was highlighted by expressions of appreciation from each Board member and a slideshow featuring outstanding moments in Dr. Weast's tenure with the school system.

Consent Items

Award of Contracts: The Board awarded contracts related to the following facilities:

• Beverly Farms Elementary School modernization
• Cold Spring Elementary School gymnasium addition
• Darnestown Elementary School septic system replacement and site work
• Highland Elementary School school-based health center

Tuition for Nonresident Students: The Board set the tuition rates for nonresident students for FY 2012 at the same level as FY 2011: $13,594 for elementary (including kindergarten) and $13,584 for secondary students.

Tuition rates for special education students in FY 2012 will reflect the cost requirements of implementing the Individualized Education Program—a change from the current practice of charging a single standard rate for special education students.

Recommended Fiscal Year 2012 Fees for the Food and Nutrition Services Program: The Board voted to maintain the current FY 2011 prices for school meals for FY 2012. Lunch prices will remain at $2.50 for elementary students, $2.75 for secondary students, and 40 cents for all reduced-price eligible students. Breakfast for elementary and secondary students will be $1.30; students who are eligible for reduced-price meals will receive breakfast at no cost.

The Division of Food and Nutrition Services will continue to focus on outreach to students and parents as part of an ongoing marketing plan to increase average daily student participation for breakfast and lunch.

Human Resources

The Board approved the appointments of the following administrators:

• Denise M. DeFiore, currently staff development specialist, Department of Instructional Leadership Support, as director, Staff Development Teacher Project Team
• Loretta M. Favret, currently principal, S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, as director, Administrative and Supervisory Professional Growth System—Elementary
• Krishnanda A. Tallur, currently senior specialist, Position and Salary administration, as director, Functional Administration, Department of Financial Services
• Amy S. Cropp, currently coordinator, Preschool Education Program, as supervisor, Child Find/Early Childhood Disabilities Unit
• Mildred L. Charley-Greene, currently assistant principal, Albert Einstein High School, as principal, Takoma Park Middle School
• Irina LaGrange, currently assistant principal, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, as principal, Tilden Middle School
• Ruschelle Reuben, currently principal intern, Paint Branch High School, as principal, Benjamin Banneker Middle School
• Carla Glawe, currently principal intern, Stonegate Elementary School, as principal, Olney Elementary School
• Katherine W. Lertora, currently instructional specialist, School-Based Special Education Services, as coordinator, Stephen Knolls School

Consideration of Charter School Applications

The Board discussed the superintendent's recommendation to approve the application for Community Montessori Public Charter School, a proposed Pre-K–3 Montessori school with wraparound services; and to deny the application of Seneca Creek Public Charter School, a proposed K–8 school with an emphasis on using the environment as an integrating context for learning.

If approved by the Board, the Community Montessori Public Charter School would be the first charter school in Montgomery County. Superintendent Jerry D. Weast's recommendation was made after an extensive process containing four levels of review and input from numerous content experts, including final recommendations by the review panel of internal and external stakeholders on June 2 and concurrence by Deputy Superintendent of Schools Frieda Lacey.

The Board is scheduled to take action on the proposals at their meeting on July 7, 2011.

Board of Education Items

Appointments to Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development: The Board appointed 15 members to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development. The committee serves in an advisory capacity only to MCPS professional educators in the course of developing, implementing, and evaluating the Family Life and Human Development Program. Appointments are two years for adult members and one year for the two student members. The terms of all current members of the committee end on June 30.

The new members are: Kaushal Chauhan, James Corbett, Glenwood Elam, Marialuz Johnson, Deborah Livornese, Sara Meytin, Donna Rismiller, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Tomas Silvani, Mamie Stewart Albertie, Elizabeth Stiefvater, Candace Webb, Washiq Ahmed (student), Janson Ledesma (student), and Stephanie Evers. Deborah Livornese was designated committee chairperson.

Appointment of Members to the Montgomery County Collaboration Board for Career and Technology Education The Board approved the appointment of members of the Montgomery County Collaboration Board for Career and Technology Education. The members are representatives of business/governmental agencies who are nominees of the 11 Career Cluster Advisory Board, jointly appointed by Montgomery College and MCPS; one student member nominated by the president of Montgomery College; and two student members nominated by the superintendent of schools. They will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1. New members are:

• Art, Humanities, Media, and Communications: Joseph Malouf
• Biosciences, Health Science, and Medicine: Lisa McDonald
• Business Management and Finance: Miara A. Rasamoelina
• Construction and Development: Tom Clendenin
• Education, Training, and Child Studies: Mary Kay Shartle-Galotto
• Engineering, Scientific Research, and Manufacturing Technologies: Nafiz Karabudack and Sanj Malushte
• Environmental, Agricultural, and Natural Resources: Marie Rojas
• Human and Consumer Services, Hospitality, and Tourism: Andy Chaves
• Information Technologies: TBD
• Law, Government, Public Safety, and Administration: Wanda Martinez
• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics: Harold Redden
• MCPS student members: Dina Broydo, Nancy Cao
• MC student member: Adam Shirazi

Following the resignation of current president Thomas DeGonia at the end of his term, the Collaboration Board will identify a proposed successor to be approved by the Board of Education in the fall.

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