Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

Meeting of:  Regular Session                                         Held:   January 31, 2007

                                                                                                Board of Education Meeting Room

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County was held on Wednesday,

January 31, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown.  The meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by Mr. Bill Mattingly, vice chairman.  Board members present for the meeting were:

            .Mr. Bill Mattingly, Vice Chairman (left meeting at 4:10 p.m.)

            .Mr. Gary Kessler

            .Ms. Cathy Allen

.Ms. Mary Washington

.Ms. Brittany Thurston (arrived at 6:16 p.m.)

Motion to Enter Into Executive Session

Ms. Allen made a motion that the Board enter into executive session to discuss personnel and property acquisition issues (Article 24, Section 4-210(a)1,11).  Ms. Washington seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Work Session

A work session on the proposed FY 2008 budget, middle school task force, new student information system upgrade and the food service budget was held from 3:12-5:32 p.m.

Reopen Regular Session

Dr. Michael J. Martirano, secretary-treasurer, reconvened the regular meeting at 6:02 p.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda

Mr. Kessler made a motion to approve the agenda as presented.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Superintendent Report

Dr. Michael J. Martirano, superintendent of schools, reported on the following:

• Congratulated Virginia Piotrowski, 7^th grade teacher at Leonardtown Middle School (LMS), on receiving the “First-Timer’s” Scholarship to attend the Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Educator’s Conference (MAEOE) in Ocean City on February 2-4. 
• Noted that the St. Mary’s County Science and Engineering Fair will be held on February 3^rd, from 1-3 p.m. at Great Mills High School in the cafeteria.  The awards ceremony will begin at 3 p.m.  Rear Admiral Steve Eastburg, commander, Naval Air Warfare Center, will be the guest speaker.
• Congratulated the following teachers who received monetary awards for their school from the Washington Post Company Educational Foundation “Grants in Education”:

.Claudia Buchanan and Christen Ganley – Mechanicsville Elementary School (MES)

   “After School American Girl Reading and Doll Club” project - $500

.Kimberley McEligot – Town Creek Elementary School (TCES)

  “Kids That Care” project - $451

• Congratulated Jessica Lyons, 6^th grade student and gifted violinist at LMS, who is the 1^st place winner in the Chamber Orchestra of Southern Maryland In Concert (COSMIC Symphony).  Jessica received a $100 savings bond and will play her winning concerto with the COSMIC Symphony at the Family Concert performances on February 24^th at 7:30 p.m. at Huntingtown High School and on February 25^th at 3:00 p.m. at Chopticon High School.

• Unveiled the Work Hard and Be Nice recognition program.
• Welcomed Zhijun Peng, Chinese guest teacher, noting that Ms. Peng will be here in St. Mary’s County for 18 months as part of the Chinese Guest Teacher Program.
• Commented that the St. Mary's County Public Schools After School Program is featured in the Eutopia magazine.

Recognitions

• Ms. Kathleen Lyon, executive director of student services, noted that National School Counseling Week is a special week to honor school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs.  Ms. Lyons’ commented that Character Education is a part of the comprehensive school counseling program.  Ms. Lyon and Dr. Martirano recognized Lettie Marshall Dent Elementary School (LMDES) for their exemplary Character Education Program and presented Ms. Barbara Eddy, principal, with a certificate of recognition.
• Ms. Kathleen Lyon noted that on December 16, 2006, children from various St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) participated in the Shop with a Cop Program organized by the Optimist International and the Fraternal Order of Police with additional sponsorship from  ADF Bingo, the Mechanicsville Moose Lodge and Wal-Mart.  Ms. Lyon and Dr. Martirano recognized representatives of these organizations and presented the Shop with a Cop Committee with a certificate of recognition.
• Dr. Edward Weiland, director of human resources, recognized employees who will reach their 25^th, 30^th, 35^th, and 40^th milestone for years of continuous service with SMCPS during the 2006-2007 school year.  Dr. Weiland and Dr. Martirano presented those employees in attendance with certificates of recognition and pin’s designating years of service.
• Ms. Linda Dudderar, chief academic officer, noted that the School Performance Recognition Program recognizes elementary, middle, and high schools for achievement and subgroup improvement based on the Maryland School Assessment.  Ms. Dudderar commented that nine elementary schools in St. Mary’s County were recognized, noting that George Washington Carver Elementary (GWCES), and Ridge Elementary (RES), received a Title I monetary award of $2,745.82 each.  Ms. Dudderar and Dr. Martirano presented the following schools with certificates of recognition from the Maryland State Board of Education: GWCES, Greenview Knolls Elementary (GKES), Hollywood Elementary (HES), Leonardtown Elementary (LES), MES, Oakville Elementary (OES), Piney Point Elementary (PPES), RES, and TCES.

Consent Agenda

Ms. Allen made a motion that the following consent agenda items be approved:

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of January 10, 2007

.New Employment

            .Property Acquisition

            .Grants: Enhancing Student Success in High School Assessments, and Maryland School

               Performance Recognition Program

Ms. Washington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

The following action items were presented to the Board of Education (BOE):

• Mr. Brad Clements, chief operating officer, and Ms. Stacy Maffei, planning manager for Chesapeake Public Charter School (CPCS), presented the CPCS – Design and Development and Construction Documents.  Mr. Clements noted he could not recommend approval of these drawings due to unanswered questions and recommended that the BOE table discussion with no action being taken at this meeting.  Ms. Allen made a motion that the BOE table the design development and construction drawings discussion until further deliberative information is provided.  Mr. Kessler seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.
• Mr. Clements and Ms. Maffei, presented the CPCS Alliance, Ltd. – Lease Agreement  Charter-Amendment to Charter.  After discussion from the BOE, Mr. Clements recommended that the BOE approve the lease as to form and that exhibits A&B were not in compliance nor would be agreed to at this point.  Mr. Kessler made a motion that the BOE of St. Mary’s County approve the lease agreement as to form between the Chesapeake Charter School Alliance, Ltd. and Big Blue Investments, LLC for submission to the State Superintendent of Schools for approval with the exception of exhibits A&B of the lease which are neither approved or disapproved at this time.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Reports

.Ms. Thurston noted that she met with other student members at the Maryland Coalition of Student Members meeting and discussed a variety of things that are occurring around the state.  Ms. Thurston noted it was nice to talk with other Boards of Education.

.Ms. Allen noted her attendance at the following events:  Board of Appeals meeting, SMCPS Redistricting Forum, Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Legislative meetings, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Hearing, SMCPS Public Budget Forum, National School Board Association (NSBA) Leadership Conference, State Board of Education meeting, and an eSchools Plus presentation at Bethune Information Technology Center.

.Ms. Washington noted her attendance at the following events:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Breakfast at St. Mary’s College, SMCPS Redistricting Forum, BOCC CIP Hearing, SMCPS Public Budget Forum, Park Hall Elementary School (PHES) Martin Luther King Jr. “Rap” Program by Ms. Julia Wolfe’s class, St. Mary’s County Library presentation of their needs assessment for 2015, and an eSchools Plus presentation at Bethune Information Technology Center.

.Mr. Mattingly submitted the following report:  Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Breakfast at St. Mary’s College, SMCPS Redistricting Forum, BOCC CIP Hearing, SMCPS Public Budget Forum, Annapolis Public Works Appeal for Capital Projects, and the NSBA Pledge to America’s School Children Conference on Capitol Hill.

Future Board Meetings

The following future meetings will be held:

            .Multi-Agency Breakfast Meeting, Tuesday, February 13, 2007, 7:45 a.m., Leonardtown

              Library Meeting Room, Leonardtown

.Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 9:00 a.m., Board Meeting Room,

              Leonardtown

Adjournment

Dr. Martirano adjourned the regular meeting at 8:14 p.m. 

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa                                        

Chairman

Dr. Michael J. Martirano
Secretary-Treasurer