The Board of Education of Charles County met March 8, 2022, for its regular meeting. A meeting agenda is posted on Board Docs here. Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page here.

The following are important meeting updates.

Superintendent update

Superintendent of Schools Maria Navarro, Ed.D., updated the Board about community engagement plans underway around the CCPS Strategic Plan. Navarro also shared with the Board updates about the fiscal year 2023 proposed operating budget information posted to the school system website and highlighted recent student and staff accomplishments, such as the county Spelling Bee winner and Charles County Teacher of the Year. Read the complete report posted here.

Special education program

Dr. Tia McKinnon, director of special education, shared an update with the Board about special education due process. In her presentation, Dr. McKinnon outlined discipline processes in place for students with disabilities, steps involved with the development of an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for students, and the functional behavior assessment and behavior implementation plan processes. Dr. McKinnon also talked about supports in place at schools to support students, staff, and families with special education needs. View the presentation here.

Academic assessments

Steve Roberts, director of accountability, updated the Board on fall and winter student assessment progress in areas such as reading and math. Roberts’ presentation included data from Fall 2021 Maryland Comprehensive Assessments, i-Ready and the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment. Roberts was joined by Karen Peters, coordinator of testing, and shared with the Board that based on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, also known as the KRA, given at the start of this school year, 73 percent of students showed as either demonstrating or approaching school readiness.

Students in Grades 1-8 recently took the second round of reading and math i-Ready assessments and are showing progress at all grade levels in both subjects. During the presentation, Executive Director of Schools Marvin Jones, Ed.D., was joined by CCPS instructional staff to discuss how school administrators and teachers are using the recent assessment data to target student needs at the school level. View the presentation and assessment data here.

Project status update

Assistant Superintendent of Supporting Services Michael Heim and Steve Andritz, director of planning and construction, provided the Board with an update on construction and renovation projects in place. Heim also shared an update about the Bus Patrol program and said as a result of the program, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for the month of February reviewed 1,267 possible violations with 989 citations issued. Cost of a citation is a $250 fine. Click here to review a project status report. Information about the Bus Patrol program is posted here on the CCPS website.

Legislative update

Staff Attorney Eric Schwartz provided the Board with a legislative update. He shared with the Board that the legislative session has passed its halfway mark and that specific education-related bills are gaining support in the General Assembly. Review the update here.

Board Policy updates

Schwartz reviewed Board policy updates in the 2000 and 7000 series, and Policies 5116.5, 5117 and 9123. The 2000 series includes policies regarding administration; the 7000 series covers new school construction policies; Policy 5116.5 is new and covers pregnant and parenting students; Policy 5117 covers bullying, harassment and intimidation processes; and Policy 9123 covers the role and responsibilities of the Student Board Member. The Board will take action on the policy changes at its April 12 meeting. Click here to review the suggested policy changes.

New business

Board members brought up concerns from staff about leave use and COVID-19. Board Member David Hancock asked if staff could provide supports to employees who used all of their leave due to COVID-19. Chairperson Lukas led a discussion among the Board about the topic and asked Dr. Navarro to provide an update to the Board about staff leave.

Public forum discussion

The Board discussed its public forum format and if it should continue to offer a hybrid mix of virtual with in-person speaking opportunities. The Board discussed the registration timeframe and a motion was made for in-person speaker registration to end at the start of the scheduled public forum, with the deadline for virtual speakers remaining at 4 p.m. the prior business day before a meeting. The Board unanimously approved the motion. Virtual public forum speakers must register by 4 p.m. on the last business day before a Board meeting, and in-person speakers can register by 6 p.m. on the day of a typical Board meeting.

Recognition

The Board presented three resolutions to staff for the month of April. The Board and CCPS recognize April as Month of the Young Child. Also celebrated by the Board and CCPS in April is National Library Week and National Student Leadership Week.

The Board also recognized exemplary staff and students from Berry, Eva Turner and Dr. Thomas L. Higdon elementary schools, Piccowaxen Middle School and La Plata High School.

Read about the recognized students.

Read about the recognized staff.

Action items

The Board approved prior meeting minutes, personnel items and changes to Policy 6330 – calendar.

 About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).