Board of Education Discusses and Adopts the 2018–2019 School Year Calendar; Conducts a Facilities and Boundaries Work Session; Approves Pilot Courses; and Approves Preliminary Plans for Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Addition Project

The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) met on Tuesday, November 14, 2017, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. During the meeting, the Board discussed and adopted the 2018–2019 School Year Calendar; conducted a work session regarding the superintendent’s recommended Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Capital Budget and FY 2019–2024 Capital Improvements Program (CIP); approved pilot courses; and approved preliminary plans for the Thomas W. Pyle Middle School addition project.

The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.
 

Discussion and Adoption of the 2018–2019 School Year Calendar

In accordance with Policy IDA, School Year Calendar, the Board and its Policy Management Committee, in conjunction with the superintendent and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff members, observed a formal review process of the 2018–2019 School Year Calendar, which included the following meetings:

• On July 12, 2017, the Policy Management Committee began its review of the 2018?2019 School Year Calendar with an overview of the calendar parameters and scheduling elements.
• On September 19, 2017, the Policy Management Committee continued its review and discussed possible calendar scenarios, as well as the calendar development and feedback processes.
• On October 10, 2017, the Board of Education received an overview of the calendar parameters and elements, as well as the processes to solicit and receive stakeholder input.
• On October 24, 2017, the Policy Management Committee received a summary of feedback received on the calendar, reviewed the superintendent of schools’ proposed calendar, and proposed three additional calendars for the Board’s consideration.

In addition to these formal reviews, an extensive outreach was conducted through focus group discussions and via the MCPS website.  At the November 14, 2017, Board meeting, the superintendent discussed his recommended calendar.  After the presentation and the Board’s discussion, the Board voted to adopt the 2018–2019 School Year Calendar, which includes:

• 182 student instructional days
• 2 days closed on April 17 and April 18 for spring break (a total of 6 days, April 17–22)
• 2 days closed for planning and professional days on January 28 and June 5, which coincides with Eid al-Fitr
• 2 days closed (operational closures) on September 10 and 19, which coincide with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
• Early release days scheduled throughout the year for grades K-12.

Read the memorandum to the Board.

View the final 2018-2019 School Year Calendar.

The Board of Education Facilities and Boundaries Work Session

Richard Montgomery Elementary School #5 Boundary Study

As an introduction to the Board’s discussion of the superintendent’s recommendation for the Richard Montgomery Elementary School #5 (RMES #5) boundary study, the superintendent presented a summary of the unusual circumstances that exist in the assignment process for RMES #5.  As a result, the superintendent’s initial recommendation was withdrawn as moot, and he recommended three options for the Board’s consideration. 

As a result of the discussion, the Board took the following actions:

• Approved the superintendent’s recommended resolution that the Board determine that unusual circumstances exist in the boundary assignment process for RMES #5 and authorize the superintendent to develop and implement a different process consistent with policies on community engagement and in a timely manner; and
• Voted to move forward for consideration the three alternatives offered by the Board at its November 2, 2017, work session, as well as the superintendent’s three recommendations presented at the November 14, 2017, work session. In all, there are five unique options for the Board to consider.  

See the five updated and re-numbered options by the Board

Read the memorandum to the Board, including the superintendent’s recommendations.

Read the superintendent’s October 23, 2017, recommendation for RMES #5 boundaries.

Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Budget and the Fiscal Year 2019–2024 Capital Improvements Program

Board members continued their work session with a discussion concerning the FY 2019 Capital Budget and the FY 2019–2014 Capital Improvements Program.  There was no additional action taken, nor were any other alternatives presented during this portion of the work session.

Read the superintendent’s recommended FY 2019 Capital Budget and the FY 2019–2024 Capital Improvements Programs.

An additional public hearing will be held on November 16, 2017, regarding the five alternatives for RMES #5 prior to the Board’s decision on November 27, 2017.  Community members were encouraged by the Board, superintendent, and staff members to provide feedback about these alternatives and other components of the CIP through testimony at the November 16, 2017, hearing, and by e-mailing Board members at boe@mcpsmd.org. 

You may find more information about providing testimony at a public hearing on the Board’s webpage.

Approval of Pilot Courses

The Board approved the superintendent’s request to develop pilot courses and to designate as active the courses that have completed the pilot process successfully.  Pilot courses are submitted to the Board as required by Board Policy IFA, Curriculum, approved February 13, 2001, and its accompanying MCPS Regulation, IFA-RA, Curriculum. The policy requires that initial information regarding proposed curriculum development or significant revisions be presented to the Board for approval.

Read the memorandum to the Board.

Approval of Preliminary Plans for Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Addition Project

The Board approved the preliminary plans for the Thomas W. Pyle Middle School Addition Project. 

Read the memorandum to the Board.

Recognitions

The Board approved the following resolutions:

• A resolution honoring veterans, with a special presentation by the Gaithersburg High School Color Guard; and
• A resolution recognizing December 4–8, 2017, as National Inclusive Schools Week.

Future Meetings

The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. Please check the Board of Education website and meeting calendar for further information. 

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. Michael Durso, president; Dr. Judith Docca, vice president. Members: Ms. Jeanette E. Dixon, Mrs. Shebra L. Evans, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Matthew Post, student member. Dr. Jack R. Smith, superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.

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