Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

Meeting of: Regular Session Held: August 29, 2007

Board of Education Meeting Room

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County was held on Wednesday, August 29, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street , Leonardtown. The meeting was called to order at 2:20 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 (Arrived at 4:45 p.m.)

.Ms. Cathy Allen

.Mr. Gary Kessler

.Ms. Mary Washington

.Mr. Praveen Ramaswamy, Student Member (Arrived at 6:00 p.m.)

Work Session

A presentation from Emerald Data Solutions was held to discuss Board Docs, a computer program developed for school boards, local governments, private and public boards to help alleviate the vast task of assembling, printing, distributing and revising agenda items and policies.

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). Mr. Kessler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

Education Partnership Agreement Official Signing between St. Mary’s County Public Schools and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division was held from 4:07 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Reopen Regular Session

Dr. Raspa reconvened the regular meeting at 6:08 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:

1^st Day of School on Wednesday, August 22^nd.
New Teacher Orientation and Crab Feast.
Staff Pep Rally: Shining the Light on Our People.
Work Hard and Be Nice Awards: Encouraged everyone to nominate an individual for this award.
Congratulated Nathan Swick, science teacher at Spring Ridge Middle School , on being selected to participate in the Northrop Grumman Foundation Weightless Flights of Discovery Program.
HSA results.

Consent Agenda

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

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of August 8, 2007

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of August 20, 2007

.Personnel Issues as discussed in executive session including:

.Administrative and Supervisory Appointments

.New Employment

.Chesapeake Bay Trust Mini-Grant

.Exempt Financing Contract

.School Bus Contracts

Mr. Mattingly 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 the Naming of New Elementary School 0606. Ms. Washington made a motion to accept the recommendation of the school naming committee to name the new elementary school Evergreen Elementary School . Mr. Kessler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Dan Carney, chief financial officer, presented the FY 2007 Categorical Fund Request. Mr. Mattingly made a motion to accept the recommendations as presented. Ms. Allen seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Dan Carney presented the FY 2008 Categorical Fund Request. Ms. Allen made a motion to accept the recommendations as presented. Mr. Kessler seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

The following information items were presented to the BOE:

Mr. Scott Smith , director of secondary instruction, administration, and school improvement, and Ms. Kelly Hall, director of elementary instruction, administration, and school improvement, presented the First Day of School Report. Dr. Martirano read an email from Debra Bowling at BBES concerning Banneker Alumni.
Mr. Clements and Ms. Howe presented the FY 2009 State Capital Improvements Program.

Reports

.Mr. Praveen Ramaswamy noted that with the start of school last week the seniors are enjoying their senior year and everyone seems to be happy to be back to school.

.Ms. Allen noted her attendance at the following events: Meeting at the Board of County Commissioners to discuss the Elms Advisory Report, Science, Technology, Engineering,

and Mathematics (STEM) Aloha Celebration at Great Mills High School , Maryland State Teacher of the Year Judging, Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Board of Directors Meeting, Reception for Principals, First Day of School Visits to Leonardtown Middle School , Leonardtown High School , Ridge Elementary School , Chesapeake Public Charter School (CPCS), and the Dr. James A. Forrest Career & Technology Center. Ms. Allen thanked and congratulated the superintendent and staff on a job well done with the opening of schools.

.Mr. Mattingly noted his attendance at the following events: Fire and Rescue Appreciation Day, New Teacher Orientation, New Teacher Crab Feast, Staff Pep Rally, First Day of School Visits, Bull Roast for Delegate John Wood, and the High School Assessment (HSA) Press Conference. Mr. Mattingly commented he was honored to give the welcome back speech to the new teachers and had a lot of fun. He ended his report announcing the birth of his first grandchild, a healthy boy, born today and how proud he is to be a grandfather.

.Ms. Washington noted her attendance at the following events: Fire and Rescue Appreciation Day, St. Mary’s County Library Retirement Celebration for Janice Hummel, New Teacher Orientation, New Teacher Crab Feast, Staff Pep Rally, First Day of School Visits: Esperanza Middle School, White Oak Secondary Center, and Green Holly Elementary School, Special BOE meeting, Open Houses: Chesapeake Public Charter School, White Marsh Elementary School, Spring Ridge Middle School, Oakville Elementary School, Mechanicsville Elementary School, Greenview Knolls Elementary School, Bull Roast for Delegate Johnny Wood, the High School Assessment Press Conference. Ms. Washington thanked everyone in the community who donated school supplies and back packs so that all students are able to go to school with the supplies they need. She further noted that we are so lucky to live in a community where everyone is so generous and gives so freely.

.Mr. Kessler noted his attendance at the following events: New Teacher Crab Feast, Staff Pep Rally, First Day of School Visits and the CPCS Open House. Mr. Kessler thanked the staff of CPCS who worked very hard and sent kudos to all for making the opening of the school happen. He commented that the parents and students were very excited.

.Dr. Raspa noted his attendance at the First Day of School Visits to Spring Ridge Middle School , Lexington Park Elementary School , and Great Mills High School and what a spectacular event it was. He noted that the students were polite, the teachers full of enthusiasm and the principals were ready to go. He thanked and congratulated Dr. Martirano and staff for all that has been done for the community and school system. He thanked Ms. Linda Dudderar, Mr. Scott Smith, and Ms. Kelly Hall for making the first day of school very nice and the way it should be. He further commented we have a great

group of principals and the teachers are the best you can find anyplace and what a great year this was going to be.

.Dr. Martirano noted his thanks for all day kindergarten, STEM, Charter School, eSchool, Performance Matters, security vestibules, expansion of freshman sports,

technology enhancements, 94% highly qualified teachers, and outstanding schools, noting that our students win everyday because of these things. He further commented we have

gone from good to great and are such a wonderful school system and off to a great start. He noted we take our issues seriously and are brutally honest and how glad he is to have such a supportive Board.

Future Board Meetings

.Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, September 12, 2007, 9:30 a.m., Board

Meeting Room, Leonardtown

Adjournment

Dr. Raspa adjourned the regular meeting at 7:46 p.m.

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa

Chairman

Dr. Michael J. Martirano
Secretary-Treasurer