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 audiotapes 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

 

February 26, 2003

 

REGULAR MEETING

 

          Due to the snowstorm, the regular meeting of the Board of Education of Frederick County was rescheduled and held in the Board Room at 11:45 a.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 listened by conference call but did not vote.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Superintendent/Secretary-Treasurer; Judith A. Ricketts, Administrative Director; Michael L. Cady, County Commissioner Liaison to the Board of Education; and Anil K. Nathan, Student Representative to the Board of Education, who entered the meeting at 12:10 p.m.

 

            The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

 

Mr. Peppe welcomed Donna J. Crook, newly appointed member of the Board. 

Mrs. Crook thanked those citizens who voted for her, the parents who are involved with their children and the schools, and her family.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

            The agenda was approved as revised. 

 

MINUTES

 

            The minutes of the February 6, 2003, Town Meeting will be amended and brought to the March 12, 2003, meeting for action.

 

            The Regular Minutes of February 12, 2003, were unanimously approved.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

            The Board unanimously approved the Consent Agenda:

 

            Staffing Changes

            Recommended Textbooks

 

 

STAFFING CHANGES

 

Resignation

 

Fulk, Amy, Emmitsburg Elementary – effective July 1, 2003

 

New Teacher Contracts

 

Boteler, Rebecca, Urbana High – effective February 10, 2003

Carlisle, Laura, Walkersville High – effective January 15, 2003

Mobley, Jayson, Catoctin High – effective January 21, 2003

Shern, Kimberly, Walkersville High – effective January 21, 2003

Verheyen, Amberleigh, Urbana High – effective January 23, 2003

 

RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOKS

 

Basal

 

Career and Technology Education and Business Partnerships

           

Everard, Kenneth E. and James L. Burrow.  Business Principles and

   Management.  South-Western Thompson Learning, 2001.

            Ward, Janet D.  Principles of Food Science.  Goodheart-Willcox Company, 2002

           

Social Studies, 6-12

 

            Bowers, Bert and Jim Lobdell.  History Alice!  The United States.  Teachers’

    Curriculum Institute, 2002.

            Kagan, Donald, et al.  The Western Heritage Since 1300, Seventh Edition. 

   Prentice Hall, 2001.

 

Supplementary

 

English and Language Arts, 6-12

 

            Johnson, Spencer.  Who Moved My Cheese?  G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.

               Who Moved My Cheese?  for Teens.  G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2002.

            Power Up – Building Reading Strength (32 titles).  Steck-Vaughn, 2003.

                  Anderson, Kirsten.  From Zeus to Aliens.

                  ¾.  Teaming Up.

                  ¾.  The World’s Greatest Showman.

                  Bulion, Leslie.  Missing Pieces.

                  Carroll, Stewart.  Follow That Car!

                  Corujo, Ramon.  A Life in Their Hands.

                  Dion, Mike.  Carnival Cash.

                  Fertig, Dennis. Something Rotten at Village Market.

                  ¾.  A Sudden Storm.

                  Huppert, Holly.  No Pay? No Way!

                  LaPlante, Claire. A Teen’s Guide to Working.

                  ¾.  To Reach the Top.

                  Lawson, Barbara Spilman.  Seeing Eye to Eye.

                  Leonhardt, Alice. Trash with Dash.

                  Massie, Elizabeth.  The Fight for Right.

                  ¾.  Swamp Stomp.

                  ¾.  Why Me?

                  Riley, Gail Blasser. And Justice for All.

                  Riley, Gail Blasser with Margo Sorenson. The WILL to Survive.

                  Salas, Laura Purdie. The Thrill of the Ride.

                  Stewart, Jeanie. Shifting Ground.

                  ¾.  Ten-Book Summer.

                  Strahinish, Helen. Saving the Zog.

                  ¾.  Tales from Gull Island.

                  Tough Choices (by Ms. T.’s Students).

                  Weil, Ann. Bug Business.

                  ¾.  Bug Z.

                  ¾.  The Moon and Beyond.

                  ¾.  Skateboard City.

                  ¾.  Space Play.

                  Wroble, Lisa. Danger on Ice.

                  Zollman, Pam. The Secret on the Wall.

           

Social Studies, 6-12

 

            Frank, Mitch.  Understanding September 11th:  Answering Questions About the

               Attacks on America.  Viking, 2002.

 

COMMENTS

 

            Dr. Dale reviewed the process used to make snow-closing decisions and commented

on staff’s decision today to hold school due to the weather forecast for snow to begin around

11 a.m. with the temperature predicted at 34 degrees.  Mr. Peppe noted that every county in the state was open on time today.

 

            Commissioner Cady shared the process by which Donna Crook was appointed to the Board of Education replacing Stephen Crawford.  He congratulated Mrs. Crook on her new position. 

 

            Commissioner Cady also spoke regarding the county staff-recommended budget for the Capital Improvement Program and said that he believes the Frederick News-Post overstated what was in the Capital Improvement Program and that the Board of County Commissioners has not taken any action.

 

FY ’04 BUDGET REQUEST

 

            Dr. Dale provided background information on the budget process.  He noted that the document before the Board is the same as that presented on February 6, 2003, and asked if Board members would like to amend the budget.  Dr. Dale provided a summary of the budget and noted the process to occur following the presentation to the Board of County Commissioners.

 

            Mrs. Naylor stated that the public comments personally received were not in support of the 11-month initiatives and that she could not support a budget that includes $10 million over a five-year period. 

 

            Mrs. Smith noted that the amount of $400,000 is for one year and that it will benefit those teachers who are already working during the summer by having their salary count toward retirement.

 

            Mrs. Smith moved to adopt the FY ’04 Operating Budget as presented (below).  For purposes of discussion, Dr. Schaden seconded the motion.

 

            Staff responded to questions by Board members, Mr. Nathan, and Commissioner Cady.

 

            Following considerable discussion, the motion carried with Mrs. Smith, Dr. Schaden,

Dr. Borsa, and the Chair voting in favor of the motion.  Mrs. Naylor opposed, and Mrs. Crook abstained stating that although she supports many of the items, she has serious concerns with certain parts of the budget and would like time to better educate herself.

 

                                         UNRESTRICTED       RESTRICTED            PROPOSED

                                            OPERATING            OPERATING          OPERATING

APPROPRIATIONS              BUDGET                  BUDGET                  BUDGET      

 

01 Administration                $   6,549,812         $      577,246                $  7,127,058

02 Mid-Level Mgmt.               22,531,799              1,149,612                  23,681,411

03 Instructional Salaries       134,719,004              7,364,753                142,083,757

04 Instructional Supplies           8,246,001              1,467,777                    9,713,778

05 Instruction – Other                1,780,508              3,082,169                    4,862,677

06 Special Education              20,932,252              5,188,994                  26,121,246

07 Pupil Personnel                    1,608,410                 396,277                    2,004,687

08 Health Services                    3,368,207                            0                    3,368,207

09 Transportation                    13,883,987                 696,076                  14,580,063

10 Operations                          21,652,362                   26,364                  21,678,726

11 Maintenance                         8,104,019                            0                    8,104,019

12 Fixed Charges                    68,506,387              2,435,920                  70,942,307

13 Food Service                                      0                            0                                  0

14 Community Service                 650,500                            0                       650,500

15 Capital Outlay                      1,550,149                            0                    1,550,149

 

Total Appropriations        $314,083,397          $22,385,188              $336,468,585

 

 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

 

            Dr. Dale noted that the county staff issued its recommendation regarding the Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Program.  He recommended that the Board revalidate its request from last fall and stated that Frederick County Public Schools’ staff does not believe that any changes have occurred since that time that would warrant a change from the original request.

 

            Mrs. Smith moved to appeal to the Frederick County Planning Commission in support

of the Board-approved FY ’04-09 Capital Improvement Program.  The motion was seconded by

Dr. Borsa and carried with five favorable votes; Mrs. Crook abstained.

 

RECESS

 

            The meeting was recessed at 1:21 p.m. and was reconvened at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Room.  All Board of Education members except Daryl A. Boffman were present.  Also in attendance were Jack D. Dale, Judith A. Ricketts, and Anil K. Nathan.

 

MAKE-UP SNOW DAYS FOR 2002-03 SCHOOL CALENDAR

 

            Dr. Dale noted that at the last Board meeting, the Board agreed to designate March 31 as a school day.  He reviewed various options for making up snow days.

 

            Following discussion and based on what was felt to be the most valuable instructional time for students, the Board unanimously approved to make up snow days as follows:

 

           

            Add May 27 and April 16.

 

Request two waivered days from the Maryland State Department of Education, making the current last day of school for students June 17. 

 

If additional snow days are incurred, the next make-up day would be April 17, followed by the end of year calendar for students moving from Tuesday, June 17, to Wednesday, June 18, to Thursday, June 19, and then to Friday, June 20. 

 

            The Board consensually agreed to request a waiver of any additional days if needed.

 

RESTROOM FACILITIES

 

            Ray Barnes, Executive Director of Facilities Services, presented an overview of the construction of restroom facilities for the stadium at Tuscarora High School.  He noted that the Frederick County Plumbing Board originally indicated that 40 fixtures were required for this facility.  That number was appealed, and the requirement was changed to 30 fixtures.  He noted that the architect’s plans and staff’s recommendations originally called for 14 bathroom fixtures and that the additional units will significantly add to the cost of the stadium restroom building.  Mr. Barnes also noted that the school system would not be allowed to erect the grandstand until a permit is received for the restroom facility.  Discussion was held regarding the various options available.

 

            The Board consensually agreed to initially bring portable toilets to the site and to simultaneously seek an amendment to the plumbing code.

 

            Mr. Peppe suggested that this matter be brought to the Commissioner’s at a joint meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

            The meeting was adjourned at 4:06 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                Jack D. Dale

                                                                                                Secretary-Treasurer

 

Ronald W. Peppe, II

President

 

Judith A. Ricketts

Administrative Director