BOARD OF EDUCATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY
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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
videotapes 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
June 25, 2003
PLANNING SESSION
The Board of Education of Frederick County met in the Administrative Conference Room at 1:05 p.m. In attendance were President Ronald W. Peppe, II, Vice President
Jean A. Smith, Bonnie M. Borsa, Donna J. Crook, Linda S. Naylor, and Michael E. Schaden. Daryl A. Boffman was absent. Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Superintendent/Secretary-Treasurer; Judith A. Ricketts, Administrative Director; and Jamie Cannon, Executive Director of Legal Services.
The Board reviewed and recommended changes to Board of Education Policy, Sections 102, 104, and 105-105.6. Mr. Peppe distributed a policy cross reference, a draft policy on the Master Plan, and additions to policy 100. He also recommended that 115, 116, 117 be deleted, and 119 be moved to the 300 series. These policies will be presented for further review and consideration at the next meeting.
The meeting was recessed at 3:35 p.m. and was reconvened at 3:45 p.m.
Members of the Superintendent’s Cabinet joined the Board for discussion.
Steve Hess discussed the key dates for approval, the state requirements for the school system’s master plan, and reviewed the components of the final Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Master Plan noting existing FCPS documents intended as appendices. Mr. Hess stated that the more than 200 responses to the draft plan have been received to date. Paula Lawton presented the Action Plan for Goal III. She, Michele Krantz and R. Daniel Cunningham, Associate Superintendents, responded to Board members’ questions. Information was distributed on what the No Child Left Behind act means to teachers.
Elaine Klein, Executive Director of Community Services, presented the key actions for Goal IV. Marita Loose discussed use of technology for improving communication between the schools and community. Ray Barnes, Executive Director of Facilities Services, presented the Key Actions of Goal V.
Dr. Dale stated that staff has made revisions to the key actions for Goals I and II based on the feedback provided. The final document will be presented for action at the July meeting.
Mr. Peppe noted that feedback on the review process has been provided to the Maryland State Department of Education. Dr. Dale said that the state will be soliciting individuals to go through a training process for review of the master plans. He indicated that it would be a professional growth and training opportunity for individual board members who are interested.
The meeting was recessed at 5:00 p.m. and was reconvened at 5:10 p.m.
Harold Keller, Jr., Executive Director of Fiscal Services, noted complications with the bid schedule and recommended that a special meeting of the Board be held on July 30, 2003, to keep the bids on schedule. The date was set for July 30, 2003, at 10:00 a.m.
Mrs. Naylor distributed copies of the Interagency Internal Audit Authority (IIAA) minutes of the May 21, 2003, meeting where she requested that the items involving the warehouse and bus contractors’ payments be moved up on the schedule to FY ’04. She said that she wanted to make certain that Board members have no problem with this request. There were no objections.
Mrs. Naylor also commented that even though she is on the IIAA, she was surprised that Donna Collins showed up at the Joint Meeting. She stated that it is her understanding that Commissioner Jan Gardner invited her to the meeting.
Mrs. Naylor noted that she and Dr. Borsa met with Lisa Shereika, a community
member, regarding her concerns with the Yellow Pages and that Mrs. Shereika felt two of the organizations listed under Sexual Identity could influence youth in a particular manner.
Mrs. Shereika suggested for balance that the Board might want to include the contact numbers for the following organizations: National Association of Research and Therapy for Homosexuals (NARTH), Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX), and Exodus. Dr. Dale noted that the Yellow Pages is a publication of the Interagency Committee on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting and is made available to students through the high school guidance offices.
Following discussion, it was determined that the Superintendent would contact the staff liaisons to the Family Life Advisory Committee for clarification and report to the Board. Additionally, the Board requested information as to how and which organizations are included in the document. It was noted that Mrs. Crook would take the information to the Family Life Advisory Committee in the fall.
The list of planning and regular session topics was reviewed and updated.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned 5:56 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Education met in the Board Room at 6:05 p.m. All Board of Education members were in attendance except Daryl A. Boffman. Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Nuala McCarthy, Recording Secretary, and Michael L. Cady, County Commissioner Liaison to the Board. Anil K. Nathan, Student Representative to the Board was absent.
Mr. Peppe called the meeting to order, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The agenda was unanimously approved.
Mr. Lyons, father of two FCPS students, commented on the cancellation of the orchestra program at Frederick High School. He stated that he feels that Frederick County Public Schools is slowly killing off orchestra at the high school level, and he asked if there had been a policy determination made by the school system not to offer orchestra.
Commissioner Cady noted that on Thursday, June 26, 2003, the Board of County Commissioners would take action on the FY 2004 Operating Budget. He stated that he is looking forward to the joint retreat and hopes it will mark a new beginning in partnership. He also noted that he hopes to conclude the retreat with an agreement to have smaller groups take specific issues to present to the larger group.
The Regular Minutes of June 11, 2003, were unanimously approved.
The Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda. Ms. Smith commented on the naming of schools noting that when possible schools are named for their locations.
Staffing Changes
Textbooks
Facilities and Finance Committee
Bids
Walk-In
Refrigerator/Freezer Replacement(s) – Brunswick Middle School
Entrance Canopy –
Thurmont Middle School
Door Hardware for
Maintenance/Operations
Dish Machine Detergent
System
Architectural/Engineering Consultant Services
Construction of Tuscarora Elementary School – Partial Recommendation
Construction of
Tuscarora Elementary School - Partial
Staffing Changes
Horner, Kathleen, Assistant Principal, New Market Middle
Jeffrey, Lee, Assistant Principal, Catoctin High
Peters, Dale, Assistant Principal, Urbana High
Smith, Mark, Assistant Principal, Middletown High
Stone, Christine, Assistant Principal, Linganore High
Bonitati, Lynn
Truitt, Anne
Wilhelm, Sarah
Ahalt, Randy, Ballenger Creek Elementary
Ditsky, Christopher, Whittier Elementary
Hayes, Douglas, Oakdale Middle
Holman, Maggie, Orchard Grove Elementary
Huffer, Anne, Gov. Thomas Johnson High
Iacoviello, Anna, North Frederick Elementary
Jaramillo, Jayme, Urbana High
Kirkpatrick, Alan, Gov. Thomas Johnson High
Matz, Gretchen, Carroll Manor Elementary
O’Donnell, Mary Ann, Vision Itinerant Dept.
Smeller, George, Frederick High
Wildzunas,
Laura, Whittier Elementary
Birkholz, Linda, Orchard Grove
Elementary
Charmatz, Kim, Monocacy Valley
Montessori
Ebel, Kelley, Orchard Grove Elementary
Pridham, Mary Beth, Orchard Grove
Elementary
Ulrich, Brittani, Kemptown
Elementary
Kuhn, Cynthia
Organ, Robin
Wilson, Rebecca
Andrews, Christine, Open Contract
Dennis, Cristin, Emmitsburg Elementary
Foster-Jackson, Desiree, Monocacy Valley Montessori
Nicki, Christine, Monocacy Valley Montessori
Rabain, Patricia, Tuscarora High
Sams, Peggy; Monocacy Middle
Steiner, Corinne, Catoctin High
Walton, Sally, Open Contract
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS
The following textbooks were on public display at the Brunswick Public Library May 27, 2003, through June 2, 2003.
Basal
Campbell, Neil A., et al. Biology: Exploring Life
Prentice Hall, 2004
Johnson,
George B. & Peter H. Raven. Holt
Biology.
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 2004
Supplementary
Animals
in Their Habitats (2 titles). Heinemann
Library, 2003
Galko,
Francine. Forest Animals.
¾. Wetland Animals.
Bug Books
(1 title). Heinemann, 1998
Bailey, Jill.
Mosquito.
Lewis, J.
Patrick. EARTH & US
Continuous: Natures’s Past and Future.
Dawn Publications, 2001
Plants (1
title). Heinemann Library, 1999.
Goesecle, Ernestine. Wetland Plants
Reed Jones,
Carol. The Tree in the Ancient
Forest.
Dawn Publications, 1995.
The
Science of Living Things (1 title).
Crabtree Publishing Company, 2003.
Kalman, Bobbie & Amanda Bishop. What are Wetlands?
BIDS
Awarded
to Johnnies Restaurant and Hotel Service, Inc. of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,
at a base bid total amount of $24,369.
Awarded
to GRC General Contractor, Inc. of Zullinger, Pennsylvania, at a total amount
of $51,805.00.
Awarded to various vendors indicated
on the bid tabulation at an estimated total of $7,783.85
Dish Machine Detergent System - #03-FS-4
Awarded to Ecolab, Inc. for a
one-year period, as indicated on the summary of award in the total amount of
$27,457.50.
Awarded to the firms indicated in the bid tabulation at fixed hourly rates for services in the fields of architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental. The contract will be effective June 1, 2003, through May 31, 2005.
Awarded to the apparent low bidder, Waynesboro Construction Company, Inc. of Frederick, MD for a total cost of $166,000.00.
Awarded Base bids plus Alternates 1 through 5, 8, and 12 as indicated below (see attached list of alternates):
Package 3A Concrete – DGS Construction, Inc. $ 641,125
Package 4A Masonry – George Moehrle Masonry 2,000,000
Package 5A Steel – S.A. Halac Iron Works, Inc. 830,000
Package 6A Carpentry – Hancock & Albanese, Inc. 807,400
Package 7A Roofing – Master Roofers, Inc. 481,685
Package 9A Drywall & Acoustical – J.A. Argetakis 403,000 *
Package 9E Painting – J.A. Argetakis Contracting Co., Inc. 75,900 *
Package 10A Visual Display – Steel Products, Inc. 96,200
Package 10B Lockers – Glover Equipment Sales Group LLC 55,367
Package 10C Operable Partitions, Modern Door Equipment Sales 37,570
Package 11A Food Service Equipment 207,405
Package 11B Athletic Equipment 34,200
Package 15A Mechanical – Towson Mechanical, Inc. 3,035,539
Package 16A Electrical – Star Electric Company, Inc. 1,257,700
*$12,000 in total ($6,000 each package has been deducted for award for
multiple package discount, Alternate 12).
This award is contingent upon approval from the State Interagency Committee for Public School Construction.
CURRENT EXPENSE
AMENDMENTS
This amendment reflects major transfers in the amount of $139,282 of budgeted general operating funds for the period May 1 through May 31, 2003. The transfers represent adjustment of original budget allocations in the schools and instructional offices.
#52-03
This amendment reflects major transfers of $125,505 of budgeted general operating funds for the period of June 1 through June 18, 2003. This represents an adjustment of the original budget allocations in the schools and instructional offices. The amendment also recognizes increased activity in Class 14, Community Services, in the amount of $175,000 during the current fiscal year.
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AMENDMENT
#03-11
Transfers $1,000,000 from the Crestwood Middle New School Project to the East County High Land Acquisition Project.
FY 2004 FOOD SERVICE FUND BUDGET
Approved the FY 2004 Food Service Fund Budget: Total Revenues $9,280,000; Total Expenses $9,710,000; Planned Reduction in Net Assets $430,000. The proposal includes an increase in the price of elementary lunches to $1.75 and secondary lunches to $2.00. Elementary breakfast was increased to $1.00 and secondary breakfast to $1.25.
FY 2004 HEALTH BENEFITS SELF-INSURANCE FUND
Approved the FY 2004 Health Benefits Self-Insurance Fund budget: Total Revenues $34,254,500; Total Expenses $34,254,500.
FY 2004 PRINTING FUND BUDGET
Approved the FY 2004 Printing Fund Budget: Total Revenues $936,000; Total Expenditures $936,000.
CENTERVILLE ELEMENTARY – CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Approved Bushey Feight Morin Architects Inc. Construction Documents for the proposed Centerville Elementary School at the intersection of MD Route 80 (Fingerboard Road) and Carriage Hill Drive, an 87,172 square foot school designed for a student capacity of 703 students. The project will include an add alternate for an enlarged Parks and Recreation gymnasium and alternate finishes, and alternates for moveable equipment, etc. The plan also incorporates provisions for all-day kindergarten classes.
NAMING OF MIDDLETOWN PRIMARY AND URBANA MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Approved the official names of the primary school in Middletown as Middletown Primary School and the middle school in Urbana as Urbana Middle School.
URBANA MIDDLE SCHOOL ARCHITECT SELECTION
Appointed SHW Group, Inc. as the architect for Urbana Middle School.
SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFFING PLAN
Approved the Special Education Staffing Plan for the 2003-2004 school year.
Jamie Cannon, Executive Director of Legal Services commended both the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA) and the Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE) for ratifying the Negotiated Agreements. She stated that the issues were not easy. Ratification did not occur last year, so last year’s issues were pulled into this year’s agreements. Ms. Cannon presented an overview of the negotiated agreements with FCTA and FASSE for the 2003-2004 school year.
Ms. Smith moved to ratify the Negotiated Agreements as presented. Dr. Schaden seconded the motion, and it was unanimously approved.
The agreement for FCTA was signed by Nancy Deitz, FCTA President; Ronald W.
Peppe, II; and Jack D. Dale. The agreement for FASSE was signed by Steve Brako, FASSE President; Ronald W. Peppe, II; and Jack D. Dale.
Ms. Dietz commented that this was a difficult but good year. She stated that we clearly cannot fund salaries at the expense of class size and vice versa and said that she signed the agreement with a great deal of trepidation for the challenges ahead.
Mr. Brako commented that FASSE was here for all support employees and that he was very happy to sign this agreement and pleased that everything could be resolved.
Mr. Peppe noted his agreement with the comments and said that the Board had to make hard choices, but tried to hold to its priorities and negotiated in good faith.
Dr. Dale commended the Superintendent’s Advisory Council for putting together the essential components of the Master Plan.
Mr. Peppe commented on his personal experience in the school system’s orchestra program from fourth grade to tenth grade when the program at Frederick High School was dropped. He stated that he wanted to clarify that the Board did not want to cut back on these programs and that it was simply a matter of the number of students signing up for the class.
Dr. Dale stated that having only six students interested in a class makes it difficult to justify.
He further noted that with three high schools in the same general vicinity not currently offering orchestra, perhaps there could be a joint effort to explore how best to offer this program. He also suggested that interested students should recruit other students for the program. Ms. Naylor requested that Mr. Lyons be contacted after a review of the three schools is made. Dr. Borsa commented that it is not easy to reestablish continuity after a program such as orchestra has lapsed for a year.
Mr. Peppe reviewed the issues discussed during Planning Session. He encouraged board members to think about agenda items for the joint retreat with the Board of County Commissioners.
The meeting was adjourned 6:30 p.m.
Jack D. Dale
Secretary-Treasurer
Ronald W. Peppe, II
President
Judith A. Ricketts
Administrative Director