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
October 23, 2002
PLANNING SESSION
The Board of Education of Frederick County met in the Administrative Conference Room at 2:25 p.m. In attendance were President Ronald W. Peppe, II, Vice President Daryl A. Boffman, Deborah A. Aughenbaugh, Anne B. Hooper, Stephen Crawford, Linda S. Naylor, and Jean A. Smith. Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Superintendent/Secretary-Treasurer; Judith A. Ricketts, Administrative Director; and Anil K. Nathan, Student Representative to the Board, entered the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
Harold Keller, Jr., Executive Director of Fiscal Services; John Sherwin, Comptroller; and Randy Snyder, Auditor, Wooden and Benson, were present
Mr. Keller provided the history of the financial system since the institution of the PeopleSoft software. Mr. Sherwin explained Governmental Accounting Standards GASB 34
and its impact on the system’s financial report, noting that the new standards added notes on long-term assets and liabilities. He presented an overview of the Annual Financial Report. Discussion was held regarding the Food Service account and whether to establish a pricing structure that amortizes the cost of depreciation.
The Board recognized that Food Service would include the cost of depreciation as an expense; each year the Board would determine the extent that pricing for school lunches includes the cost of depreciation.
Dr. Dale highlighted areas of the Annual Financial Report. He pointed out that approximately 80 percent of the midlevel administrative positions listed in the 02 function is for positions in the schools.
Mr. Sherwin discussed the change in reporting requirements and explained the calculations for unfunded vacation and terminal payments. Following discussion, Dr. Dale noted that a presentation would be made at the Special Meeting of the Board on November 20, 2002. The Board agreed to offer an opportunity to review the document for the new members of the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners at a Joint Meeting.
The meeting was recessed at 3:25 p.m. and was reconvened at 3:35 p.m.
Staff members present were R. Daniel Cunningham, Associate Superintendent; Michele Krantz, Associate Superintendent; Hank Bohlander, Director of High Schools; Bruce Brown, Director of Middle Schools; Steve Martin, Director of Elementary Schools; Harold Keller, Jr.; Ron Johnston, Supervisor of Pupil Personnel; Richard Wandres, Transportation Manager; Marita Loose, Communications Specialist; and Ray Barnes, Executive Director of Facilities Services, who entered the meeting at 3:54 p.m.
Mr. Peppe pointed out the two communications received from community members.
Dr.
Crawford provided rationale for school choice with similar socio-economic balance
in every school. Dr. Dale stated that
there is an extremely strong correlation between poverty and performance, and
he discussed how schools have changed in the past two decades with effective
leaders in the schools.
Dr.
Crawford defined preferred choice whereby students stay in their home school if
parents do not get their first choice.
He did not feel this to be ideal, but a steppingstone.
Board
members and staff discussed the pros and cons of school choice, stressing costs
of transportation, additional programs that might be necessitated by transfers;
noting the impact on students, administration, and school staff; and indicating
that there is insufficient data to show where there is improvement in student
achievement. Mrs. Hooper stated that we
all have the same goal to make every child successful, and she discussed some
of the changes presently occurring in the schools.
Dr.
Dale stated that many of these same issues would come to the Board when
addressing the policy in the context of redistricting.
Nancy
Dietz, Frederick County Teachers Association President, expressed concern over
the logistics and disruption to the system, and said she is not convinced
school choice is the answer.
Dr.
Crawford stressed that parents need real choice and less inequality, and he
felt that a pilot should be considered.
Following
further discussion, Mr. Peppe stated that he does not feel there is a lot of
support for further study on school choice, but that the Board will be
reviewing and revising the redistricting policy which may resolve some of the
issues discussed today.
OTHER ISSUES
The Board agreed to a date for holding the Town
Meeting on the Operating Budget.
The Board’s photo will be scheduled to be taken
prior to the new Board being sworn in.
Mr. Keller noted that the School Construction
amendment for the Hayward Road parking lot was not approved by the Board of
County Commissioners as they felt the Board might wish to use these funds for
portables. Following discussion, the
Board expressed its full support for this amendment. A majority of the members will be present at the Board of County
Commissioners’ work session to show their support.
Mrs.
Hooper stated that she would provide her rough draft on school system
indicators to the Board by email.
Mr.
Boffman stated that he heard that some seniors didn’t know about the
elimination of the D grade. Background
information on the D grade was provided.
Mrs. Smith stated that some parents have felt that the D should remain;
but to get a D, it should be at a minimum of 70 percent.
Mr.
Peppe noted that he visited Thurmont Middle and was impressed with the
renovation.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:53 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
The Board of Education of Frederick County met in the Board
Room at 6:00 p.m. All Board of
Education members were present. Also in
attendance were Jack D. Dale; Judith A. Ricketts; and Anil K. Nathan. John L. Thompson, Jr., County Commissioner
Representative to the Board, was absent.
Mr. Peppe opened the meeting, and the Pledge of
Allegiance was recited.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The Board approved the agenda as amended by Mrs.
Smith deferring the item on Charter School Policy Revisions.
PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR GENERAL GOOD AND WELFARE
Comments by John Evans
Mr.
Evans, Frederick County Public School teacher, stated that he is a “front line
soldier in the system.” The soldiers
are constantly struggling to convince students of the importance of education. He invited the Board to visit the schools
and talk to faculty or teachers one-on-one.
Comments by Nancy Dietz
Ms.
Dietz, President of the Frederick County Teachers Association, commended school
staffs on their response to the threats of violence and said she appreciated
the cooperation and communication received from the school system. She noted the FCTA members’ priorities and
said it was time to take a careful look at all they do. Ms. Dietz stated that she was looking
forward to working with the Board to provide the best possible education for
our county’s children.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the October 9, 2002, Regular Meeting
were unanimously approved.
WICOMICO EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR PRESENTATION
Mr. Peppe noted that a few Board members, who attended
this presentation at a statewide convention, were extremely pleased that the
teachers were excited over the program.
Marita
Barnes and Jill Ellison, third grade teachers at Delmar Elementary School,
Delmar, Maryland, presented the year-round program as implemented at Delmar
Elementary School over the past five years.
It was noted that this is a school within a school with a
modified school year of
45 days in school, 15 days off, and a summer schedule of 5 to 6 weeks. Year-round trends; mostly positive test
score data; and teacher, student, and parent attitudes were shared. Ms. Barnes and Ms. Ellison responded to
Board members’ questions regarding scheduling, continuing education credits for
teachers, school-within-a-school concept, additional costs, and staff training.
MARYLAND TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Elaine Klein, Executive Director of Community
Services, recognized Darren Hornbeck, social studies teacher, Linganore High
School, and Frederick County’s first Maryland State Teacher of the Year. A video of the award celebration was
presented.
Ms. Klein spoke regarding the process for the Teacher of
the Year Award. Mr. Hornbeck shared a
presentation on education funding that was part of the award application.
Hal Mosser, Linganore High School principal, commended
Mr. Hornbeck on this award, presented him with a memento from the staff at
Linganore High School, and wished him well in the national competition.
Pat
Forrester, President of the Maryland State Teachers Association, congratulated
Mr. Hornbeck on behalf of
the 57,000 members of the Maryland State Teachers Association and thanked him
for his added voice to campaign for the funding that our students richly
deserve. She commended him for his
commitment to find and recruit more quality teachers in the state. Ms. Dietz stated that Mr. Hornbeck is an
example of the excellence in our county.
She congratulated him and presented him with a plaque on behalf of the
members of the Frederick County Teachers Association. Representing the PTA Council of Frederick County, Susan Butt,
President, thanked Mr. Hornbeck for what he does for our children every day.
Dr. Dale commended Mr. Hornbeck on his presentation. He said that he has found very few people
who have his knowledge of the Thornton Commission combined with a passion for
public education. He noted that Mr.
Hornbeck had the opportunity to make a presentation to the political candidates
in Frederick County a couple of weeks ago.
On behalf of the school system, Dr. Dale presented Mr. Hornbeck with an
honorary membership in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development (ASCD) and a trip to San Francisco to the annual ASCD conference.
Mrs. Smith said she was in awe of Mr. Hornbeck’s speaking
abilities, and she knows how his students react to him and how he excites
them. On behalf of the Board of
Education,
Mrs. Smith presented Mr.
Hornbeck with a recognition plaque honoring him as Frederick County’s First
Maryland State Teacher of the Year. She
wished him well in the national competition.
Mr. Hornbeck thanked all for this honor. He stated that he hopes any teacher viewing
this meeting feels this is a shared recognition.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Board unanimously approved the consent agenda:
Staffing
Changes
Recommended
Textbooks
Curriculum
and Instruction Committee
PBIS Grant
Transition Skills Program
Continuation of Governor’s Gifted
and Talented Program Development Grant
Facilities
and Finance Committee – Bids
Bulk Vehicles Fluids – Renewal
Signage Package for Tuscarora High
School
Stage Curtains, Rigging and Darkroom
Equipment for
Gov. Thomas Johnson High School
STAFFING CHANGES
Administrative
Appointment
Gayle Brown, Rock Creek School,
Assistant Principal – effective November 1, 2002
Retirements
Angela D’Ambrosia, Catoctin/Urbana
High – effective October 1, 2002
Carol O’Brien, Ballenger Creek
Elementary – effective December 1, 2002
Resignation
– Violation of Contract
Jane Schlotterbeck, Twin Ridge
Elementary – effective October 19, 2002
Resignation
Lisa Pinckney-Dumm, Frederick High –
effective October 3, 2002
New
Teacher Contracts
Tara Hinebaugh, Glade Elementary –
effective October 3, 2002
Christopher Shullenbarger –
effective August 21, 2002
Denelle Thompson, Frederick High –
effective October 1, 2002
RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS
Supplementary
English and Language
Arts, 6-12
Literature & Thought (1 title). Perfection Learning, 2000.
Richter, Hans
Peter, et al. Voices of the
Holocaust.
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
PBIS Grant
Approved the Maryland State Department of Education
special education grant in the amount of $58,824 for the Positive Behavior
Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Project to be implemented at four elementary
schools and one middle school.
Transition Skills
Program Grant
Approved the Maryland State Department of Education
special education grant in the amount of $60,000 for the expansion of the
Transition Skills Program.
Continuation of
Governor’s Gifted and Talented Program Development Grant
Approved the Governor’s Gifted and Talented Program Development Grant
awarded by the Maryland State Department of Education based on system
enrollment. The anticipated award for
FY ’03 is $69,600.
BIDS
Bulk Vehicle Fluids -
Renewal - #01-T-3
Awarded at the prices listed on the bid summary sheet at
an estimated annual total of $28,878.10.
Signage Package for
Tuscarora High School - #03-C-8
Awarded to Signs and Wonders, Inc. in the amount of
$68,898 (Base Bid).
Stage Curtains,
Rigging and Darkroom Equipment for Gov. Thomas Johnson High School –
Partial - #03-C-13
Awarded as follows:
Stage Curtains – Baron Stage Curtain and Equipment
Company - $30,984
Stage Rigging – Postponed
Darkroom Equipment – Hirtech at $54,687
COMMENTS
Mr. Peppe noted that the agenda was revised to defer
the item on the Charter School Policy Revision.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Jack
D. Dale
Secretary-Treasurer
Ronald W. Peppe, II
President
Judith A. Ricketts
Administrative Director