Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

Meeting of:  Regular Session                                         Held:   May 24, 2007

                                                                                                Board of Education Meeting Room

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

May 24, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown.  The meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by Dr. Salvatore Raspa, chairman.  Board members present for the meeting were:

            .Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa, Chairman

            .Mr. Bill Mattingly, Vice Chairman

.Ms. Cathy Allen

.Ms. Mary Washington

.Ms. Brittany Thurston, Student Member (arrived at 6:06 p.m.)

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.

Work Session

A work session on the FY 2008 Budget was held from 4:00 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.

Reopen Regular Session

Dr. Raspa reconvened the regular meeting at 6:01 p.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Approval of Agenda

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

Superintendent Report

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

·        Leonardtown High School was recognized at the State House in Annapolis, Maryland as the number one high school in the Harvest for Hungry Food Drive collecting 183,000 pounds of food in one month this past fall.

·        Mr. Danny Reed, a special education teacher at Chopticon High School, has been selected as our 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year.

·        Accreditation status for Chopticon High School.

·        Congratulations to the following high school students who received the Student Service Star Awards from the Maryland State Department of Education for their outstanding volunteer records, well above the graduation requirement:

.Emily Grushold from Margaret Brent Middle School

.David DeLozier from Chopticon High School

• Volunteer Recognition Ceremony on May 16^th where volunteers from each school were recognized and received a certificate of appreciation. 
• High School Assessments this week.
• Advanced Placement – Out of 27,000 high schools in the United States:

.Leonardtown High School ranked 327

.Great Mills High School ranked 578

.Chopticon High School ranked 923

• High School graduation schedule for next week is:

.Chopticon on Wednesday, May 30^th

.Leonardtown on Thursday, May 31^st at St. Mary’s College

.Great Mills on Friday, June 1^st at St. Mary’s College

• Last of school for students is Friday, June 8^th.  Last day for teachers is Monday, June 11^th.

Recognitions

• Ms. Marian Steinbach, supervisor of instruction for mathematics/assistant principal, presented the Elementary Math Recognition with Dr. Martirano presenting the certificates of recognition to the students.
• Ms. Claudia Wortman, supervisor of instruction for science, presented the Science Fair Winners with Dr. Martirano presenting certificates of recognition to the students.
• Ms. Steinbach and Ms. Wortman presented the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) Outstanding Math and Science Teacher Awards with Dr. Martirano presenting certificates of recognition to the teachers.
• Dr. Andrew Roper, supervisor of instruction for physical education/health/athletics, presented the Physical Education Demonstration Schools with Dr. Martirano presenting certificates of recognition to the schools.

Consent Agenda

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

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of May 9, 2007

.A&S Appointments

.Student Appeal Issues

.2007-2008 Board of Education Meeting Schedule

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. Kim Howe, supervisor of capital planning presented Construction Documents for Elementary School 0606 for approval.  Mr. Mattingly made a motion that the Board of Education approve the construction documents as submitted by staff to be forwarded to State construction program for review and approval for bidding.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
• Ms. Muriel Martin, supervisor of special education, presented the Special Education Staffing Plan for approval.  Ms. Allen made a motion that the Board approve the FY 2008 Special Education Staffing Plan.  Ms. Washington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
• Mr. Clements and Ms. Lisa Brubacher, supervisor of food/nutrition, presented School Lunch Prices for approval.  Ms. Allen made a motion that the Board approve the increased cost of the prices of paid lunches to $1.90 per lunch for elementary school students and $2.05 per lunch for secondary school students.  Mr. Mattingly seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

The following information item was presented to the BOE:

• Ms. Linda Dudderar, chief academic officer, presented an update on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program.
• Mr. Dan Carney, chief financial officer, presented “A” Section Policies for first reading.

The following information item was presented to the BOE (continued):

• Ms. Howe presented Policy “FF” (Naming Facilities) for first reading.
• Ms. Howe presented Policy “JEAA” (School Boundary Advisory Committee) for first reading.
• Ms. Kathleen Lyon, executive director of student services, presented Sections of “J” Policies for first reading.

Reports

.Ms. Allen noted her attendance at the following events:  Authentic Site Visit at Town Creek Elementary School, 7^th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Ceremony, SMCPS Volunteer Appreciation Ceremony, Esperanza Middle School National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 1^st Annual Forrest Career and Technology Center Fire/EMS Student Award Ceremony, Forrest Career and Technology Center Senior Awards, Surprise Visit at Chopticon High School for the Teacher of the Year, Mr. Danny Reed, and a Tour of Hickory Hills East.

.Mr. Mattingly noted his attendance at the following events: 7^th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Ceremony, Tour of Hickory Hills East, and the Forrest Career and Technology Center Senior Awards Ceremony commenting that the event was very enjoyable.

.Dr. Raspa noted his attendance at the following events:  7^th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Day Ceremony, SMCPS Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, Tour of Hickory Hills East, and the 4^th Annual Forrest Center Program Exhibition, noting that this event gives junior year students the opportunity to reflect on a project that they completed during their junior year and explain what their interests are for the senior year.

.Ms. Washington noted her attendance at the following events: Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, Leonardtown High School Choral Banquet at Fitzie’s Marina, SMCPS Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, Esperanza Middle School National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 9^th Annual Educator Appreciation, 1^st Annual Forrest Career and Technology Center Fire/EMS Student Award Ceremony, Chopticon High School Future Business Leaders of America Awards Banquet, Forrest Career and Technology Center Senior Awards, Surprise Visit at Chopticon High School for the Teacher of the Year, Mr. Danny Reed, Tour of Hickory Hills East.

.Ms. Thurston noted that Leonardtown High School collected 183,000 pounds of food for the Harvest for Hungry Food Drive.

Future Board Meetings

The following future meetings will be held:

            .Employee Retirement Ceremony, Tuesday, June 5, 2007, 4:30 p.m., Dr. James A. Forrest

              Career and Technology Center, Leonardtown

.Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, June 13, 2007, 9:00 a.m., Board Meeting Room,

  Leonardtown

Adjournment

Dr. Raspa adjourned the regular meeting at 8:39 p.m.

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa                                        

Chairman

Dr. Michael J. Martirano
 Secretary-Treasurer