BOARD OF EDUCATION OF FREDERICK COUNTY

MINUTES

TOWN MEETING

February 6, 2003

The Board of Education of Frederick County met at 7:00 p.m. in the Staff Development Room at 7630 Hayward Road for its Town Meeting on the FY ’04 Operating Budget. In attendance were President Ronald W. Peppe, II, Daryl A. Boffman, Bonnie M. Borsa, Michael E. Schaden, and Linda S. Naylor. Vice President Jean A. Smith was absent. Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Secretary-Treasurer; Judith A. Ricketts, Administrative Director; and Michael L. Cady, County Commissioner Liaison to the Board of Education.

Mr. Peppe opened the meeting, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mr. Peppe noted that no decisions regarding the FY ’04 Operating Budget have been made and that the Board will consider all options presented this evening. He reviewed the procedures for this evening’s meeting.

Dr. Dale presented an overview of the Five-Year Master Plan. The meeting was then opened for public comment.

NAME	AREAS OF SUPPORT
John Ashbury	High school reading specialists; textbooks.
Sally Smith	Change in ratio for guidance counselors.
Nancy Dietz	Competitive salaries; increased time for priority tasks of lesson planning and student evaluations; increased flexibility in prioritizing non-instructional time to meet student needs; resolve goal of salaries in the top third.
Nancy Fitzgerald	Six additional special education teachers; benefits package for special education assistants.
Kathryn Landis-Bogush	Improved guidance counselor ratio.
Eric Percy	All items previously mentioned; textbooks; recruiting and retaining teachers through competitive pay and benefits; reduced class size; more counselors; continued training as part of the benefits package.
Amy Boehman	Recruit and retain quality teachers; competitive salaries; increased time for planning; provide flexibility in prioritizing non-instructional time. The 11-month initiative is not a substitute for a payraise.
Michele Hudson	New staffing formula for guidance counselors.
Joyce Lenzo	Competitive salary; benefits; planning time.
Mike Allred	Competitive salaries; planning time.
Shirley McDonald	Planning time.
Nancy Gordon	Reading specialists; adequate salary increases; address retention; provide for those who fill resource positions in the schools.
Jon Evans	Competitive salaries.
Gail Colby	Children first; summer academies; after-school program; programs for needy students.
Darren Hornbeck	Experienced teachers in the classroom; recruit the best.
Melissa Dirks	Competitive salaries to maintain teachers in Frederick County.
Melanie Hoffman	All areas of the budget; up to four more school psychologists.
Tom Kloc	More funding for the school system; encouraged Commissioner Cady on behalf of the County Commissioners to study the data.
Holly Haupt	Security officer in the schools; all areas of the budget.
Julie Bennett	All areas previously mentioned; improved staffing formula for guidance counselors; pay raises for teachers.
Jamie Summers	Supported pay raises for all staff; programs for needy students.

Commissioner Cady stated that he holds to his campaign pledge that not one penny from the Thornton Commission would be spent for anything but education. He appreciated the comments made this evening and pledged to do everything in his capacity to help provide the education that those in the room expect.

Mr. Eric Percy spoke regarding the need for Frederick County to move forward. He stated that Commissioner Cady had fine words, but the other 80 percent of the Commissioners needed to be convinced.

A parent of a Ballenger Creek Middle School student noted that funds need to be allocated for supplies and textbooks.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Jack D. Dale

Secretary-Treasurer

Ronald W. Peppe, II

President

Judith A. Ricketts

Administrative Director