Board of Education of St. Mary’s County

Meeting of:  Regular Session                                         Held:   October 10, 2007

Board of Education Meeting Room

The regular meeting of the Board of Education of St. Mary’s County was held on Wednesday, October 10, 2007, in the Board of Education Meeting Room, 23160 Moakley Street , Leonardtown.  The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.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

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 9:53 a.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. 

Approval of Agenda

Ms. Allen made a motion to approve the agenda as presented with an amendment to remove one personnel item from the consent agenda and move under action.  Mr. Mattingly seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.

Superintendent Report

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

• National School Lunch Week is October 15-19, 2007.  The Food Service Department will be recognized in April during Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week.
• Congratulated the September 2007 Work Hard and Be Nice award recipients whose names are now on display in the Board Meeting Room
• Harvest for Hungry “Rhythm” event was a huge success – over $26,500 was raised and will be used to purchase more than 200,000 pounds of food
• Congratulations to the following elementary students as winners of the “What Fire Prevention Means to Me” essay contest held during the 50^th Anniversary Open House at Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department on Sunday, October 7^th:

.1^st Place – Danielle Sullivan, 4^th grade student at Oakville Elementary

  School, in Mrs. Nanoff’s class

.2^nd Place – Taylor Kovacic, 5^th grade student at Hollywood Elementary

  School, in Mrs. Robinson’s class

       Both students will receive a certificate of appreciation, a gift certificate from Target,

       and a US Savings Bond

• Official Student Enrollment as of September 30, 2007 – 16,922
• Dropout Rate article
• Flu Vaccines for elementary students to be given free of charge
• Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Board Development Programs – 2007-2008 where Board members Salvatore Raspa, and were featured on the cover
• Visit to the Bowles Corn Maze and Pumpkin Farm with the Margaret Brent Middle School Team under the leadership of Ms. Tanya Holmes, 6^th grade teacher

Recognitions

• Mr. Clements, chief operating officer, announced that National School Bus Safety Week is October 22-26, 2007, and Wednesday, October 24, 2007, is designated as School Bus Driver/Attendant Appreciation Day.  Dr. Martirano presented a resolution to representative bus drivers.
• Ms. Kathleen Lyon , executive director of student services, introduced the five schools that were recognized as Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Exemplar and Banner schools for the 2006-2007 school year as follows:

Park Hall Elementary and Lexington Park Elementary Schools were named Banner Schools; Greenview Knolls Elementary School , Town Creek Elementary School , and Spring Ridge Middle School were named Exemplar Schools.  Dr. Martirano thanked everyone for their hard work and dedication to our students.

Consent Agenda

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

.Regular and Executive Session Minutes of September 26, 2007

.Personnel Issue as discussed in executive session

.Project Nexus Grant

.Reading Intervention Grant

Mr. Mattingly seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

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

• Personnel Issue – Ms. Allen made a motion to approve one new hire instead of two as originally listed due to an employee resignation for family medical reasons.  Ms. Washington seconded the motion.  Motion carried unanimously.
• Mr. Dan Carney, chief financial officer, presented Policy “BA through BBBHA” (School Board Governance and Operations) for 2^nd reading and approval.  Ms. Allen made a motion to accept the changes made to Policy “BA through BBBHA” as well as the amendments, and authorize publication of these revised policies and once approved, they will be posted in final form on the school system’s website.  Ms. Washington seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

The following information items were presented to the BOE :

• Mr. Carney presented Clarification and Further Review of Policy “BC through BEDK” (School Board Governance and Operations).   A public hearing will be held at the next Board meeting for input on the policies presented.
• Mr. Carney presented Policy “BF through BKA” (School Board Governance and Operations) for 1^st Reading .  A public hearing will be held at the next Board meeting for the policies presented.
• Mr. Carney presented the FY 2008 September Financial Report.

Reports

.Ms. Washington attended the following events:  Tri-County Community Education Summit sponsored  by MSTA, EASMC, and CEASMC at the SMECO Building in Hughesville, Mechanicsville Elementary School’s 5K Walk/Run, Rhythm Fundraiser for Harvest for Hungry at Leonardtown High School, Maryland School Assessment (MSA) Celebration for Lexington Park Elementary School, Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Annual Fall Conference, Maryland State Department of Education Teacher of the Year Gala/Dinner, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Annual Banquet “Raising Successful African American Males in the 21^st Century.

.Dr. Raspa attended the following events:  Rhythm Fundraiser for Harvest for Hungry,

MABE Annual Conference, and the NAACP Annual Banquet.

.Mr. Mattingly attended the following events:  Mechanicsville Elementary School ’s 5K

Walk/Run, Rhythm Fundraiser for Harvest for Hungry, MABE Annual Fall Conference,

and the Maryland State Teacher of the Year Gala/Dinner.

.Ms. Allen attended the following events:  Mechanicsville Elementary School ’s 5K Walk/Run, Rhythm Fundraiser for Harvest for Hungry, MABE Annual Fall Conference, Maryland State Teacher of the Year Gala/Dinner, and the NAACP Annual Banquet.

Future Board Meetings

The following future meetings will be held:

            .Board of County Commissioners/Board of Education Work Session, Tuesday,

             October 16, 2007, 12:00-4:00 p.m., Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship,

             Piney Point

            .Regular Board Meeting, Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 6:00 p.m., Board

             Meeting Room, Leonardtown

Adjournment

Dr. Raspa adjourned the regular meeting at 1:08 p.m.

Dr. Salvatore L. Raspa                                

Chairman

Dr. Michael J. Martirano

Secretary-Treasurer