Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

 

Meeting of:  Regular Session                                      Held:   September 26, 2007

Board of Education Meeting Room

 

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County was held on Wednesday, September 26, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street, Leonardtown.  The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa, chairman.  Present for the meeting were:

            .Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa, Chairman

            .Mr. Bill Mattingly, Vice Chairman

.Ms. Cathy Allen, Member

.Ms. Mary Washington, Member

.Mr. Praveen Ramaswamy, Student Member

 

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 6:00 p.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

 

Approval of Agenda

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

 

Superintendent Report

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

  • Rhythm – Harvest for Hungry event on Saturday, September 29th at Leonardtown High School (LHS) – Event is sold out but donations are still being accepted.
  • Nathan Swick, Spring Ridge Middle School (SRMS) science teacher, recently participated in the Weightless Flights of Discovery Program offered by Northrop Grumman Foundation and the Zero Gravity Corporation.
  • Last Friday we held our system-wide Professional Development Day in which all educators take time to focus on their learning.  This day was designed to be centered on the classroom.  Sessions were differentiated by employee groups, grade level, and content.

 

Public Comment

Name                                                   Subject

.Robert McDaniel                               Staffing concerns

.James Tomasic                                   Staffing concerns

.Dawn Gatton                                     Staffing concerns

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Public Comment (continued)

Name                                                   Subject

.Dana Cullison                                                Staffing concerns/Appreciation of staff

.Lori Werrell                                        Appreciation of staff

 

Consent Agenda

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

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of September 12, 2007

.Administrative and Supervisory Appointments/New Employment

.Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Special Education Membership for 2007-2008

.Exiting School Special Education Dropout Initiative Grant

.Physical Therapist FTE Increase

.21st Century Grant

Ms. Washington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

 

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

  • Mr. Dan Carney, chief financial officer, presented the FY 2007 Audit.  Mr. Mattingly made a motion that the Board of Education (BOE) accept the audit report as presented.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.
  • Mr. Brad Clements, chief operating officer, and Ms. Kimberly Howe, supervisor of capital planning, presented the Contract Award of Evergreen Elementary School.  Mr. Mattingly made a motion that the BOE approve the rejection of the bids submitted by Facchina Construction Company, Inc. and Meridan Construction Company, Inc. based on incomplete bid submissions and that the BOE approve a contract award for the base bid and alternates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15 to Scheibel Construction in the amount of $20,014,000.00.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.
  • Mr. Steven Whidden, director of maintenance, and Mr. Clements presented the Comprehensive Maintenance Program.  Ms. Washington made a motion that the BOE approve the Comprehensive Maintenance Program as presented by staff.  Ms. Allen seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

The following information item was presented to the BOE:

  • Mr. Carney presented Sections of “B” Policies (School Board Governance and Operations) 1st Reading.  Due to time, a portion (policies BF-BKA) of Mr. Carney’s presentation will be moved and reviewed at the next Board meeting.   

 

Reports

.Dr. Raspa attended the following events: State of the County Luncheon

.Mr. Mattingly attended the following events: State of the County Luncheon and St. Mary’s County Fair.

 

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Reports (continued)

.Ms. Allen attended the following events:  Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) for Teacher of the Year interviews of finalists, Maryland Association of Boards

of Education (MABE) Fall Conference Planning meeting, Chopticon High School (CHS) High School Assessment (HSA) Cake Celebration, HSA Forum at North Point High

School, LHS HSA Cake Celebration, State of the County Luncheon, Visited Mechanicsville Elementary School (MES) to attend author Valerie Tripp’s Writers Workshop, and the Varsity Football Game between LHS & CHS.

.Ms. Washington attended the following events: Speech Contest at Margaret Brent Middle School (MBMS), Open House at Walden Sierra in Charlotte Hall, Chesapeake Public Charter School (CPCS) Event at St. Mary’s City, Democratic Club Meeting at Lenny’s Restaurant with Dr. Martirano as a guest speaker, Southern Maryland College Fair at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department, HSA Cake Celebration at LHS, Johnson Control Meeting on Processes held in the BOE meeting room on Moakley Street, State of the County Luncheon, Freedom Fest for Jena Six, St. Mary’s County Fair Parade, and Visited MES to attend author Valerie Tripp’s Writers Workshop.

 

Future Board Meetings

The following future meeting will be held:

            .Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, October 10, 2007, 9:30 a.m., Board

             Meeting Room, Leonardtown

                                                                                                      

Adjournment

Dr. Raspa adjourned the regular meeting at 9:30 p.m.

 

 

 

________________________________                ________________________________

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa                                            Dr. Michael J. Martirano

Chairman                                                                 Secretary-Treasurer