Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

Meeting of: Regular Session Held: April 25, 2007

Board of Education Meeting Room

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

April 25, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown. The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa, chairman. Board members present for the meeting were:

.Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa, Chairman

.Mr. Bill Mattingly, Vice Chairman

.Ms. Cathy Allen

.Mr. Gary Kessler

.Ms. Mary Washington

.Ms. Brittany Thurston

Motion to Enter Into Executive Session

Mr. Mattingly 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.

Reopen Regular Session

Dr. Raspa reconvened the regular meeting at 6:03 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Agenda

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

Superintendent Report

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

This month’s “Work Hard and Be Nice” award recipients are: Cheri Godfrey, Mary Hayden, Kim Howe, Tracy Lumpkins, Dawn Pipkin, and Mary Wood.
Co-taught 8^th grade science on April 19^th with Mr. Ron Fox at Esperanza Middle School.
Attended the National School Board Associations (NSBA) Conference in San Francisco, California, April 14-17, 2007.
The annual Elementary Mathematics Challenge Competition, co-sponsored by Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), for 4^th and 5^th grade students, was held at Leonardtown Middle School on Saturday, April 14, 2007. Eighteen elementary schools (14 public and 4 nonpublic) sent a team of seven 4^th graders and a team of seven 5^th graders to compete. Winners will be recognized at a future Board meeting.
St. Mary’s County Public Schools (SMCPS) was recognized on April 20^th at the Excellence for Minority Achievement Awards Ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland in three categories:

.Student Excellence Award Winner – Colvin Young from Great Mills High School

.Educator Excellence Award – Lorenzo Andrew Spicer, Jr., guidance counselor

from Oakville Elementary School

.Community Excellence Award – Superintendent’s Blue Ribbon Task Force

The 2007 Career and Technology Education (CTE) Awards of Excellence program recognized Mr. Ken Smith, supervisor of instruction for career & technology education, as this year’s winner of the Distinguished Service – Secondary Award.
The Board of County Commissioners Public Budget Hearing was held on April 24^th.
Happy Administrative Office Professionals Day to our administrative staff.

Recognitions

Ms. Marian Steinbach, supervisor of instruction for mathematics, presented the Middle School MATHCOUNTS Winners. Certificates of recognition were presented to the winners.
Mr. Brad Clements, chief operating officer, and Ms. Lisa Brubacher, supervisor of food services, recognized May 7-11, 2007 as Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week and presented a resolution recognizing the dedicated employees who work behind the scenes to support the education process.
Ms. Kelly Hall, director of elementary instruction, administration, and school improvement, and Ms. Sheila Draper, supervisor of instruction for early childhood education/elementary/ elementary science, noted that April 22-28, 2007 has been designated as The Week of the Young Child. A resolution was presented to representatives of the St. Mary’s County Leadership in Action Program.
Ms. Liz Cooper, supervisor of instruction for reading, recognized the St. Mary’s County Middle School Spelling Bee winners with certificates of recognitions.

Public Comment

Name Subject

Ms. Linda Bazemore Safety in schools, mathematics

Ms. Candy Cain Chesapeake Public Charter School

Ms. Heather Shaffer Chesapeake Public Charter School

Ms. Katie Johnson Chesapeake Public Charter School

Ms. Adrianne Mathis Chesapeake Public Charter School

Ms. Maribeth Boeke Ganzell Chesapeake Public Charter School

Consent Agenda

Mr. Mattingly made a motion that the following consent agenda items be approved as follows:

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of April 11, 2007

.Administrative and Supervisory Appointment

.Chesapeake Public Charter School Implementation Grant

.Great Mills Gym Floor

Ms. Allen seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

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

Mr. Clements presented the New Teacher Housing Incentive. Ms. Allen made a motion that the Board of Education (BOE) approve the memorandum of understanding between the BOE and Raleigh APT Management, Incorporated to provide rental and home ownership opportunities for new St. Mary’s County Public Schools teachers. Ms. Washington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Dr. Martirano and Mr. Dan Carney, chief financial officer, provided an update on the status of the Chesapeake Public Charter School. Mr. Mattingly made a motion that the Board

approve the Superintendent of Schools’ recommendation to place the Chesapeake Public Charter School on probation as outlined in the action plan presented during the Board

meeting. Ms. Allen seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Brittany Thurston requested the record show that the student board member strongly supports the motion.

The following information item was presented to the BOE:

Ms. Muriel Martin, supervisor of special education, presented the Proposed Special Education Staffing Plan for FY 2008 recommending that the Board of Education review the proposed FY 2008 Special Education Staffing Plan.

Reports

.Ms. Allen noted her attendance at the following events: National School Board Association (NSBA) Conference attending the Delegate Assembly, “What Counts” Session presentation, three General Sessions, Understanding Student Aspirations Session, Session on Health Insurance, Avoiding Legal Pitfalls in Board Meetings presentation, Daily Humor and Laughter Session, You’ve Got Email-Rules for Board Members, Sunshine Laws and Public Records Issues; 30^th Spring Concert & Celebration for the Retirement of Patty Kuzmick, Local Management Board-Early Childhood Breakfast, and the Board of County Commissioners Public Budget Hearing.

.Mr. Mattingly noted his attendance at the following events: NSBA Conference, Local Management Board-Early Childhood Breakfast, and the Board of County Commissioners Public Budget Hearing. Mr. Mattingly reminded everyone that April is the Month of the Child.

.Dr. Raspa noted his attendance at the following events: NSBA Conference, and the Local Management Board-Early Childhood Breakfast. Dr. Raspa also noted his attendance at the Lexington Park Elementary School Authentic School Visit and commented that the staff at LPES was very excited about achieving a 94% attendance level and what an accomplishment this is.

.Mr. Kessler noted his attendance at the NSBA Conference.

.Ms. Washington noted her attendance at the following events: NSBA Conference, 30^th Spring Concert & Celebration for the Retirement of Patty Kuzmick, House Minority Whip Stenny Hoyer Dinner at Lexington Park Volunteer Rescue Hall, ‘Little Women’ play at Leonardtown High School, Local Management Board-Early Childhood Breakfast, 9^th Annual St. Mary’s County Public Schools Teachers Job Fair, and the Board of County Commissioners Public Budget Hearing.

Future Board Meetings

The following future meetings will be held:

.Multi-Agency Breakfast Meeting, Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:00 a.m., Leonardtown Library

Meeting Room, Leonardtown

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

Leonardtown

Adjournment

Dr. Raspa adjourned the regular meeting at 9:44 p.m.

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa

Chairman

Dr. Michael J. Martirano
Secretary-Treasurer