The Board of Education met on Monday (May 23) and, among other items, appointed four administrators, voted to begin anew with health education revisions, approved a policy on long-range educational and facilities planning, and considered again the name of Downcounty Middle School #9/Wheaton Cluster Middle School #2. The Board also recognized the Champions for Children awardees, teachers who earned National Board certification, the George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy scholarship award recipients, and the Margaret Cutler Interages Award winner.

Health Education Program Revisions

The Board voted to withdraw the suspended curricular revisions concerning sexual variations in the health education program for Grades 8 and 10 and asked that new revisions be developed by the superintendent for review by the Board during the upcoming school year. The Board also ended the terms of the current members of the Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development and resolved to reconstitute the committee for the next school year.

Final Approval of Policy FAA

The Board gave final approval to Policy FAA, Long-Range Educational Facilities Planning, revised to remove regulatory language to a supporting implementing regulation and respond to changes in state requirements and school system processes.

Naming of Downcounty Middle School #9/Wheaton Cluster Middle School #2

Voting 4-4, the Board failed to amend its previous action of April 12, 2005, so as to name the Downcounty Middle School #9/Wheaton Cluster Middle School #2 as “Belt Middle School with the A. Mario Loiederman Academy for the Performing Arts.” The previously designated name, “A. Mario Loiederman Middle School,” will remain.

Appointments

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

§ C. Michael Kline, currently principal, Ronald McNair Elementary School, as director, Elementary Leadership Development, Office of Organizational Development

§ Shawn Joseph, currently assistant principal, Redland Middle School, as principal, Roberto W. Clemente Middle School

§ Carole W. Sample, currently principal intern, Cedar Grove Elementary School, as principal, Jones Lane Elementary School

§ Linda B. Sheppard, currently director of Elementary Education, Coatesville Area School District, Coatesville, Penn., as principal, Candlewood Elementary School

The George B. Thomas Sr. Learning Academy Scholarship Award Recipients

The Board congratulated recipients of this year's High Achievement Scholarship Program awards of The George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, made possible by a grant from the Verizon Foundation. This year for the first time, the academy awarded seven $1,000 scholarships to MCPS students who have served as volunteer tutors with the academy.

Margaret Cutler Interages Award

The Board recognized this year's Margaret Cutler Award winner, Debra K. Sekular, a second grade teacher at Darnestown Elementary School who was instrumental in expansion of Project SHARE (Students Help and Reach Elders). The award is given in honor of the first president of Interages.

Champions for Children

The Board recognized staff and community partners who were honored at the Champions for Children Awards, presented annually by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education. Recognized were the Dr. Edward Shirley Award for Excellence in Educational Administration and Supervision recipient Daniel Shea, principal of Quince Orchard High School; Teacher of the Year Kimberly Oliver, kindergarten teacher at Broad Acres Elementary School; Supporting Services Employee of the Year Mary Lynne Krebs, English composition assistant at James Hubert Blake High School; Volunteer of the Year Cindy Kerr, president of the Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Associations; and Business Champion for Children Lockheed Martin.

Recognition of Teachers Who Earned NBPTS Certification

The Board recognized the 55 teachers who completed the certification process of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). The national awards program recognizes outstanding teacher competency. The Board expressed appreciation for the leadership skills and abilities of national board-certified teachers, which benefit staff, students, and communities.