The Board of Education of Charles County held two meetings last month, a regular meeting on Tuesday, June 13, and a work session on Monday, June 26. Agendas for both meetings are posted to BoardDocs. All Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page at https://www.youtube.com/c/ccpsmd.
The following are important updates from the Board’s June 13 meeting.
Recognition of student state winners
The Board recognized CCPS student winners who placed with state titles this year in athletics, arts programs and other awards. Watch the start of the recognition portion of the YouTube recording here. Find a list of those recognized at the meeting here.
Superintendent’s update
Superintendent Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., in her report to the Board moved the Education Association of Charles County (EACC) and American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) contract signing to a later meeting. She also spoke about high school graduations, Project Graduation events and end-of-the-year summer learning opportunities for students. She also highlighted additional teams who earned first place this year in various contests and competitions, 2023 Seal of Biliteracy recipients and CCPS schools that were recently named a Green Schools. Navarro pointed out CCPS nominees for the Maryland School Librarian of the Year Award, Carson Scholar awardees, CCPS recipient of the 2023 Fay Miller Educational Leadership Award and the free meals summer program, Lunch On Us. Watch the full update on the YouTube recording here.
District Assessment Committee update
Kevin Lowndes, chief of teaching and learning, Sean Heyl, EACC president, and Steve Roberts, director of CCPS department of accountability, shared a PowerPoint on the District Assessment Committee. The presentation included the purpose of assessments, the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) and details on common assessments and district created assessments. View the full report on BoardDocs here. Watch the start of the presentation on the YouTube recording here.
Code of Conduct/Dress Code update
Marvin Jones, Ed.D., CCPS chief of schools, presented a PowerPoint on the proposed new CCPS Code of Conduct and dress code. He introduced the various individuals who contributed to the proposed Code of Conduct and dress code. Jones presented on key factors that led to the changes and the new language found on the proposed content. Watch the full presentation on the YouTube recording here. View the full presentation on BoardDocs here.
Daily/hourly tuition and wage rates for FY 2024
Karen Acton, CCPS chief financial officer, and Sherri Fisher-Davis, budget manager for CCPS, presented to the Board a PowerPoint on the proposed CCPS daily/hourly rate increase. Acton discussed the changes to Maryland SB 555 which indicates an increase of minimum wage from $13.50 per hour to $15 to per hour and the related increase of the FY 2024 budget due to the updated Maryland hourly rates. Fisher-Davis presented to the Board the proposed tuition rates for FY 2024. Watch the full presentation on the YouTube recording here.
Project status update
Michael Heim, CCPS chief of operations and supporting services, shared an oral update on projects underway throughout the school system, such as the He also recapped the groundbreaking ceremony for Elementary School 23. The school is set to open during the 2025-2026 school year with a school naming committee set to meet this fall. He mentioned that there are many projects ongoing and beginning this summer, some that will be finished up in the fall and others that will take a couple of years to complete. Watch the full presentation on the YouTube recording here. View the full report on BoardDocs here.
Blueprint update
Christina Miller, CCPS coordinator of district innovation, shared an update on the status of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future implementation. She shared that the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) recently said the revisions that CCPS submitted for the Blueprint plan have met all of the criteria and will be submitted to the accountability Implementation Board for approval. Watch the full presentation on the YouTube recording here. Read the full presentation on BoardDocs here.
Recognition
On the recognition portion of the meeting, the Board presented recognitions for the Outstanding Assistant Principal Award, The Washington Post Teacher of the Year finalist, Maryland Teacher of the Year (MTOY) finalist and the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Teacher of the Year. The Board also recognized CCPS Outstanding Support Staff. Watch the recognition portion of the meeting here.
Action items
On the action item portion of the agenda, the Board moved the action item for the SY 2024-2025 school calendar to be voted on at the June 26 work session. The Board approved the daily/hourly tuition and wage rates for FY2024. The Board also approved the Educational Facilities Master Plan and the dress code and district assessment plan.
The following are important updates from the Board’s June 26 work session.
District data report and impact of extended learning programs
Steve Roberts, CCPS director of accountability, Karen Peters, CCPS coordinator of testing, Melissa Miesowitz, CCPS director of secondary education, and Kim Hudler, CCPS elementary reading content specialist, presented to the Board a PowerPoint presentation on the district data report and extended learning program impacts. Topics in the presentation included
i-Ready testing results and tutoring programs that have been implemented throughout the system to impact student growth at each grade level. Watch the presentation on the YouTube presentation here.
Reading program presentation
Kim Hudler, CCPS elementary reading content specialist, presented to the Board a PowerPoint presentation on the reading programs used at the prekindergarten level and the kindergarten through fifth grade levels. The prekindergarten core program is called Connect for Learning and kindergarten through fifth grade program is called Into Reading. She discussed the science of reading, foundational skills through reading blocks and the many types of supplemental instruction. Watch the presentation on the YouTube recording here.
2024-2025 calendar
Linda Gill, CCPS executive director of school administration, presented an update to the Board on the SY 2024-2025 school calendar. She mentioned that an additional option was added to the proposed school calendar presentation at the June 13 Board meeting. The Board approved the motion for the calendar. Watch the update on the YouTube recording here.
Swearing-in of the new Student Member of the Board
Treasure Perkins, a rising junior at Thomas Stone High School, was sworn in by Lisa E. Yates, clerk of the circuit court for Charles County, as the new Student Member of the Board of Education of Charles County for the 2023-24 school year. Perkins’ term was effective July 1. Student Board Members serve one-year terms. After reciting the oath of office, Perkins thanked her loved ones and shared her excitement to work with the Board this coming school year. Watch the swearing-in portion of the meeting on the YouTube meeting here.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 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 M. 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).