Board of Education Approves Guiding Tenets; Discusses Long-range Planning, School Support (Corrected)

April 24, 2013

NOTE: This press release is being resent with a corrected list of administrative appointments.

The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Among other items, the Board approved its strategic plan guiding tenets, received an update on the reorientation of the Office of School Support and Improvement, tentatively approved changes to Policy BLC and had a discussion on the facilities planning process. The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.

Strategic Plan Guiding Tenets

The Board of Education approved revisions to the district’s strategic plan guiding tenets. The guiding tenets include the Board’s core values, core purpose, vision, and mission statement. Over the past year, the Board and the Superintendent of Schools have been engaging in a process to revise the strategic plan, Our Call to Action: Pursuit of Excellence, which has guided school improvement efforts for more than a decade. Currently, network teams of staff and community representatives are developing a draft of the strategic plan, which will be shared for public comment before being approved.

View the Revised Strategic Plan Guiding Tenets

Reorientation of the Office of School Support and Improvement

The Board received an update and held a discussion on the reorientation of the Office of School Support and Improvement (OSSI). Effective July 1, 2013, OSSI will move from its current regional quad and quint clusters model into level-alike school improvement teams—with a high school team, a middle school team and an elementary school team. The reorientation will enable central office to more effectively address the specific programmatic needs of all 202 schools. These teams will be led by an associate superintendent of high schools, an associate superintendent of middle schools, and four associate superintendents of elementary schools. These teams will focus on the unique needs of schools at each level to implement Curriculum 2.0 and the Common Core State Standards, strengthen Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), develop culturally proficient leaders committed to eliminating barriers to high achievement for all students, and promote social emotional learning as well as 21st century skills.

In an effort to reenergize efforts to close the achievement gap, the new chief school improvement officer will work with the teams to provide intense support to approximately 10 to 15 schools at any one time. The schools will be selected by the examination of data and information around four areas—leadership, perceptual, implementation, and student outcomes. The following key indicators will be used:

· Third grade reading at Advanced
· Fifth grade reading and math at Advanced
· Fifth grade well-being baseline data
· Eighth grade reading and math at Advanced
· Eighth grade well-being baseline data
· Ninth grade completion of Algebra 1 and English 9 with a “B” or higher
· Ninth grade ineligibility rates
· Four-year high school graduation rate

The current Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) cluster structure will continue to exist and school assignments of students will not be affected by this change.

Read the Board Memo

Long-range Facilities Planning Process

The Board received an update and held a discussion on MCPS’ facility planning processes and the challenges of accommodating increasing enrollment. MCPS is entering its 30th year of enrollment increases that have averaged 2,000 additional students per year. In the next six years, enrollment is projected to increase by more than 10,000 students. While the impact of the enrollment increases have been felt districtwide, the increases are particularly affecting elementary schools, which have 90 percent of the district’s 395 relocatable classrooms. County revenue and related spending affordability guidelines shape the district’s six-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) request. However, despite the magnitude of CIP resources each year, there have not been sufficient funds to bring all MCPS schools within capacity or to modernize older schools at a quicker pace. MCPS is working collaboratively with agencies like the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the cities of Gaithersburg and Rockville to address the long-range enrollment growth and facility needs.

Read the Board memo

Board Policy BLC, Procedures for Review and Resolution of Special Education Disputes

The Board tentatively approved revisions to Board Policy BLC, Procedures for Review and Resolution of Special Education Disputes. The updated policy establishes and recognizes review and resolution options that permit cooperative problem solving of disputes regarding the identification, evaluation and educational placement of students with a disability or suspected of having a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The policy will now be distributed for public comment and will be considered for final approval at a future meeting.

See the changes in the policy

Administrative Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

-Eugenia S. Dawson, currently principal, Earle B. Wood Middle School, as director, Leadership Team Development.

-Debra S. Munk, currently principal, Rockville High School, as consulting principal, Department of Professional Growth Systems, Office of Human Resources and Development

-Kara B. Trenkamp, currently acting director, Department of Instructional Technology, as director, Department of Instructional Technology, Office of the Chief Technology Officer

-Edward C. Nolan, currently supervisor, Pre-K–12 Mathematics, as director, Pre-K–12 Curriculum Development and Implementation (Mathematics)

-Mildred L. Charley-Greene, currently principal, Takoma Park Middle School, as principal, Northwood High School

-Mary E. Bliss, currently acting principal, Farmland Elementary School, as principal, Farmland Elementary School

-Peter H. Bray, currently principal, Belmont Elementary School, as principal, Broad Acres Elementary School

-Rachel C. DuBois, currently acting principal, Piney Branch Elementary School, as principal, Piney Branch Elementary School

-Jennifer S. Lane, currently principal intern, Greenwood Elementary School, as principal, Westbrook Elementary School

-Brent T. Mascott, currently principal intern, Maryvale Elementary School, as principal, DuFief Elementary School

-Carole E. Rawlison, currently principal intern, Arcola Elementary School, as principal, Harmony Hills Elementary School

Other Action: The Board also took action on several items, including:

-Approved the preliminary plans for the Bethesda Elementary School addition project.

-Approved the preliminary plans for the Clarksburg High School addition project.

Resolutions: The Board unanimously approved the following:

- A resolution recognizing April 21 through April 27, 2013 as National Volunteer Week

- A resolution recognizing April 14 through April 20, 2013 as National Student Leadership Week

- A resolution recognizing the month of May 2013 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

- A resolution recognizing May 6 through May 10, 2013 as Teacher Appreciation Week

About the Board of Education

The Montgomery County Board of Education is the official educational policymaking body in the county. The Board is responsible for the direction and operation of the public school system. The Board consists of seven county residents elected by voters for a four-year term and a student elected by secondary school students for a one-year term. Board members are elected countywide but run at-large or from the Board district in which they reside.

Montgomery County Board of Education: Mr. Christopher Barclay, president; Mr. Philip Kauffman, vice president. Members: Ms. Shirley Brandman, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Michael Durso, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. John Mannes, student member. Dr. Joshua P. Starr, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.

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