BOARD OF EDUCATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY

 

NOTICE TO READERS - Following Robert's Rules of Order, the official minutes of the Board of Education reflect the actions of the Board.  For details regarding a particular meeting, the Board encourages individuals to obtain video or audio tapes which are readily available from the Frederick County Public School System's Instructional Materials Center located at 7630 Hayward Road, Frederick, Maryland.  All regular Board of Education meetings are broadcast on Cable, Channel 18.

REGULAR MINUTES

 

January 23, 2002

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

The Board of Education met in the Administrative Conference Room at 2:38 p.m.  In attendance were Ronald W. Peppe, II, President; Daryl A. Boffman, Vice President (entered the meeting at 2:46 p.m.); Deborah A. Aughenbaugh; Stephen Crawford; Anne B. Hooper; Linda S. Naylor; and Jean A. Smith.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Secretary-Treasurer;

Judith A. Ricketts, Administrative Director; R. Daniel Cunningham, Associate Superintendent; Hank Bohlander, Instructional Director of High Schools; Bruce Brown, Instructional Director of Middle Schools; and Linda Burgee and Stephen Martin, Instructional Directors of Elementary Schools.

 

            In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii), and (a)(9), Mrs. Smith moved to go into Closed Session at 2:30 p.m. to discuss issues relating to personnel and negotiations.  The motion was seconded by Mrs. Aughenbaugh and unanimously approved.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

            The agenda was approved as presented.

 

MINUTES

 

            The minutes of the January 9, 2002, Closed Session were unanimously approved.

 

PERSONNEL

 

            No formal action was taken.

 

            A panel was appointed to hear an appeal.

 

(Dr. Crawford left the meeting at 3:38 p.m. and reentered at 3:43 p.m.  Mr. Boffman left the meeting at 3:38 p.m. and reentered at 3:39 p.m.)

 

The meeting was recessed at 4:40 p.m. and was reconvened at 4:50 p.m.

 

 

NEGOTIATIONS

 

            All Board of Education members were present.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale; Judith A. Ricketts; Jamie Cannon, Executive Director of Legal Services; and Harold Keller, Jr., Executive Director of Fiscal Services, who entered the room at 4:58 p.m.  Dr. Crawford and

Ms. Ricketts entered the room at 4:51 p.m.

 

            The Board supported staff’s recommendations.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 5:46 p.m.

 

PLANNING SESSION

 

            The Board of Education met at 5:46 p.m. in the Administrative Conference Room.  All Board of Education members were in attendance.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale;

Judith A. Ricketts; Patrick Kelly, Executive Director of Technology Services; and Mary Trapane, Supervisor of Administrative Systems.

 

NAMING OF FREDERICK CITY AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

            Mrs. Smith recommended that the new Frederick City Area Middle School be named Crestwood Middle School.  The Board supported this recommendation, and Mrs. Smith noted that this item would be pulled from the consent agenda for action.

 

FCPS EMAIL SYSTEM

 

            Mr. Kelly and Ms. Trapane shared some of the issues regarding the new email system.  Mr. Peppe expressed concern regarding Board members being cut off from the FCPS email without notification, and being under the impression that the auto-forwarding of email would continue even though it was through a new system.  Mr. Kelly indicated that there was a miscommunication; however, auto-forwarding of email would be configured by administration.

 

READING MATERIALS

 

            Mr. Peppe noted that he is providing the Board with information that parents asked be distributed on a reading program.

 

BOE EVALUATION

 

            Mrs. Hooper stated that the governance issues need to be addressed and suggested that the Board self-evaluation be done in early spring.  Mr. Peppe noted that he would be forwarding a draft of the Board Handbook within the next several weeks.

 

            He reminded the Board that if there are topics that Board members would like addressed, that there needs to be three members in favor of the topic in order to place it on the agenda.

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

            The Board of Education met at 6:08 p.m. in the Board Room.  In attendance were

Ronald W. Peppe, II, President; Daryl A. Boffman, Vice President; Deborah A. Aughenbaugh; Stephen Crawford; Anne B. Hooper; Linda S. Naylor; and Jean A. Smith.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale who entered the meeting at 6:10 p.m.; Judith A. Ricketts; and Ryan C. Tuck, Student Representative to the Board.   John L. Thompson, Jr., County Commissioner Liaison to the Board of Education, was absent.

 

            Mr. Peppe opened the meeting, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

            Mrs. Smith amended the agenda to pull the Naming of the Frederick City Middle School off the consent agenda and separately acted upon.  The agenda was approved as amended.

 

CLOSED SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

 

            Mr. Peppe announced the time, place, and topics of the Closed Session and cited the law for closing the meeting.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL GOOD AND WELFARE

 

Comments by Julie Tebbutt/Julie Hayn

 

            Ms. Tebbutt and Ms. Hayn spoke on behalf of the Monocacy Montessori Communities, Inc.  Ms. Tebbutt expressed concern regarding how the proposed charter school is being presented to the community as a funding issue and included on the voice poll.  Ms. Hayn expressed concern regarding the charter school issue as presented at a recent Superintendent’s roundtable. They asked the Board to publicly clarify the budget issues and to disregard any negative poll response on charter schools as complete and accurate information has not been made available to the public.

 

Comments by John O’Neill

 

            Referencing his previous comments on discrimination against African-Americans and males, Mr. O’Neill presented the Board with proposals to assist in reaching equity.

 

Comments by Jean Ann Firestone

 

            Ms. Firestone, member of the Central Frederick County Citizens’ Advisory Committee representing West Frederick Middle School, spoke in support of the committee’s recommendations and urged the Board to adopt the recommendation without modification.

 

Comments by Elizabeth Clagett

 

            Ms. Clagett spoke in support of the redistricting plan which provides balanced demographics.

 

Comments by Cindy Hindman

 

            Ms. Hindman, member of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee representing Parkway Elementary School, urged the Board to accept the report for schools being built in the Ballenger Creek area.

 

Comments by Masood Ichan

 

            Ms. Ichan spoke in support of the redistricting recommendations and the balancing of demographics.

 

Comments by Nancy Dietz

 

            Ms. Dietz spoke of recruiting and retaining qualified employees, competitive salaries for all employees, and the reaffirmation of the Board’s commitment to remain in the upper third across the state.  She stated that another critical issue is recruiting and retaining for job satisfaction, and she is looking forward to seeing the details of the budget.

 

Superintendent’s Responses

 

            Dr. Dale responded to concerns expressed during public comments regarding proposed funding for a charter school.  He noted that there is a line item in the budget as a placeholder as there is a need to account for students who would attend a charter school.

 

            Dr. Dale briefly presented his recommendations to the Board regarding the central county school attendance areas.  He noted that the public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday,

February 13, 2002.

 

Comments by Evelyn Holmes

 

            Ms. Holmes stated that the entire community does not support the recommendations of the Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and that she strongly supports the balancing of demographics.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

            The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the January 9, 2002, Regular Meeting as amended by Mrs. Hooper.

 

            Page 1, FY 03 Operating Budget, Paragraph 2, Sentence 2, to read as follows:

 

            Additionally, she reviewed her suggestions for a draft profile of budget-related items for Frederick County Public Schools. 

 

CONESENT AGENDA

 

            The Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:

 

            Staffing Changes

           

Facilities and Finance Committee

               Bids

                  Vehicle Parts and Supplies – Renewal

                  Architectural/Engineering Consultant Services – Extension #3

                  Unit Prices for Metal Storage Shelving

                  Construction of Tuscarora High School – Partial #4

               Current Expense Amendments #10-02 and #11-02

               School Construction Amendment #02-08

 

STAFFING CHANGES

           

Administrative Appointments

 

            Solberg, Gregory, CASI Secondary – effective January 24, 2002

            Winaker, Michael, Technology Services – effective January 24, 2002

 

Retirements – Effective July 1, 2002

 

            Crone, Kathy, Brunswick Elementary

            Felton, Eileen, Brunswick Elementary

            Griger, Paul, Brunswick Elementary

            Wallace, Linda, Urbana Elementary

 

Resignation – Violation of Contract

 

            Luparello, Joseph, Walkersville High – effective January 2, 2002

           

New Teacher Contracts

 

            Clark, Jennifer, Heather Ridge School – effective January 22, 2002

            Gallagher, Thomas, New Market Middle – effective January 2, 2002

            Kramer, Mariah, West Frederick Middle – effective January 14, 2002

            Lally, Karen, Thurmont Middle – effective January 1, 2002

            Officer, Janet, Twin Ridge Elementary – effective January 1, 2002

            Schullenbarger, Christopher, Brunswick High – effective January 22, 2002

 

FACILITIES AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

BIDS

 

Vehicle Parts and Supplies – Renewal - #01-T-02

 

            Renewed for a one-year period with an estimated annual purchase of $341,993.87.

 

Architectural/Engineering Consultant Services - #99-A-3 (Extension #3)

 

            Renewed to the firms indicated on the summary of award.

 

Unit Prices for Metal Storage Shelving - #02-MISC-9

 

            Awarded to Greenwald Industrial Products Co., Inc. at the prices listed in the bid tabulation with an unspecified total.  Additional shelving types and sizes will be purchased from this company at a 10 percent discount from the manufacturer’s list prices and $28 per person/per hour to install.

 

Construction of Tuscarora High School - #01-C-28

 

            Awarded the following packages for the Base Bid and Alternates 1, 2a, 2b, 2c, 4a, 6, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 22, and 23a to:  #14 Roofing – Interstate Corporation for a total cost of $893,000.  Rejected all bids received and re-bid of bid package #27 Signs.

 

CURRENT EXPENSE AMENDMENTS #10-02 AND #11-02

 

#10-02

 

            Recognizes new funds in the amount of $30,187 with a major transfer of $103,467 state funds and $6,220 federal funds.

 

#11-02

 

            Recognizes audited surplus funds from FY ’01 in the amount of $2,178,339.

 

SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AMENDMENT #02-08

 

            Urbana High Sound Abatement – Transfer of county appropriation from Board of Education operating budget to the capital budget to cover the Urbana High Sound Abatement Project.

 

NAMING OF FREDERICK CITY AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL

 

            Mrs. Smith moved approval of Crestwood Middle School as the name for the new Frederick City area middle school.  Mrs. Aughenbaugh seconded the motion.

 

            Following discussion, the motion was unanimously approved.

 

            Mrs. Smith thanked the naming committee.  Dr. John George, chair, introduced Beth Webb, parent volunteer, Ballenger Creek Elementary School, and member on the naming committee, who spoke regarding the selection.

 

NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK RESOLUTION

 

            Sharon Boettinger, Supervisor of Counseling and School Support, presented the National School Counseling Week Resolution:

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors are employed in public and private schools to help students celebrate past accomplishments and envision a bright future; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors accompany parents as they encounter challenges, and focus on positive ways to enhance the social, personal, educational, and career development of their children; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic, and optimistic aspirations for themselves; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors seek to collaborate and utilize community and business resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century; and

 

WHEREAS,       School counselors have chosen “One Vision, One Voice” as their theme for the 2001-2002 school year,

 

THEREFORE,   We, the members of the Board of Education do hereby proclaim the week             of February 4-8, 2002 as School Counseling Week in Frederick County.

 

            Upon motion by Mrs. Smith, seconded by Mrs. Aughenbaugh, the Board unanimously adopted the resolution.

 

            Judy Kuhn, President of the Frederick County Association for Counseling and Development, spoke of the role of the guidance counselor and thanked the Board for its support.

 

            Ms. Boettinger recognized Ed Eaves, Walkersville Middle School guidance counselor and selected the 2001 Maryland Middle School Counselor of the Year.  Mr. Boffman presented Mr. Eaves with a Board of Education Recognition Pin. 

 

            Mr. Eaves thanked current and former administrative staff for their assistance and the Board for this recognition. 

 

ETHICS PANEL APPOINTMENTS

 

         Mr. Peppe recommended that Dr. Arthur Anderson and Mr. Stephen Carter be reappointed to the Ethics Panel.

 

         Mr. Peppe noted that an application was received from Mr. Eric Fairbanks to fill the vacancy on the panel, and he provided background information on Mr. Fairbanks. 

 

 

 

            The Board unanimously approved the reappointments of Dr. Anderson through February 2005 and Mr. Carter through April 2005, and the appointment of Mr. Fairbanks through February 2005.

PROGRESS REPORT #13

 

            Dr. Dale provided an overview of Progress Report #13, Goals 5 through 9.  A report on the progress of Goals 1 through 4 will be presented in February following the release of state assessment data.  Dr. Dale responded to Board members’ questions. 

 

            In response to a Board member’s request concerning a recent article on administrative salaries in the Frederick News-Post,  Dr. Dale noted that the school system’s administration is very lean, a little over 2 percent of all employees.  Board members commented on attempting to pay market rate and be competitive, the small number of qualified applicants for positions, and retention.  Mrs. Aughenbaugh commented that our Board is ahead of many others throughout the state in setting its mission, vision, and goals.

 

COMMENTS

 

            Mr. Peppe announced the dates for the Public Hearing on Redistricting, the Town Meeting on the Operating Budget, and the extension of the voice poll on the operating budget.  He also noted that there is still one student member vacancy on the Family Life Advisory Committee.

 

            Mr. Peppe also commented on the additional costs included in the proposed budget for charter school students and the school system’s Vision Statement encouraging individuals to come to our schools.  He noted the phone call received in support of in-school suspensions. 

Mr. Peppe also noted that information on a reading program has been distributed to the Board; whether or not this program is discussed will depend on the priorities and interest among Board members.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 8:01 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                            Jack D. Dale

                                                                                                            Secretary-Treasurer

 

Ronald W. Peppe, II

President

 

Judith A. Ricketts

Administrative Director