The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) met on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. During the meeting, the Board approved the agreements for Fiscal Year 2019 with the employee unions; received an update on the Choice Study and other special academic programs; and made several administrative appointments.

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

Fiscal Year 2019 Employee Association Agreements

The Board of Education (Board) voted to approve new two-year contracts with its three employee associations—the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500, and the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP). The contracts go into effect beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and provide employees with salary increases. The agreements reflect the district’s commitment to ensuring Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) can hire and retain a talented and highly qualified workforce.

Key highlights of the agreements include:

Agreement between MCAAP/MCBOA and MCPS for the School Years 2018-2020:

Effective July 1, 2018

1. Salary scales will be increased by 2.0 percent.

2. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

Effective July 1, 2019

1. Salary scales will be increased by 1.0 percent.

2. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

Agreement between MCEA and MCPS for School Years 2018-2020:

Effective July 1, 2018

1. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

2. Members of the bargaining unit who were members of the bargaining unit during FY 2011 and missed a scheduled step increase during FY 2012, and who continue to serve in a position comparable to the position held in FY 2012, will receive salary scale credit for the missed step, effective January 5, 2019.

Effective July 1, 2019

1. Salary scales will be increased by 1.0 percent.

2. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

Agreement between SEIU Local 500 and MCPS for School Years 2018-2020:

Effective July 1, 2018

1. Members of the bargaining unit who were members of the bargaining unit during FY 2011 and missed a scheduled step increase during FY 2012 and whose primary position continues to be at the same grade as, or lower than, the position held in FY 2012 will receive salary scale credit for the missed year if the missed step impacted the current rate of pay.

2. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

Effective July 1, 2019

1. Salary scales will be increased by 1.0 percent.

2. All eligible employees will receive scheduled step increases.

Choice Study Update

The Board received an update from MCPS staff and held a discussion on the work MCPS has been engaged in to address the Metis Associates Study of Choice and Special Academic Programs recommendations. MCPS has engaged in systemically reforming how students may access enriched and accelerated instruction. This effort significantly has increased the number of students accessing enriched, accelerated instruction at the elementary level.

This year, the effort has included work at the middle school level, to identify and nurture highly able learners. The selection process field test for the Takoma Park Middle School Mathematics, Science, and Computer Science Magnet and the Eastern Middle School Humanities and Communication Magnet is the first component of this effort at the middle school level. The field test included an examination of the educational records of every Grade 5 student in the catchment area for the two magnet programs. This global review of Grade 5 students offered valuable information for programming at the middle school level well beyond magnet program placement. As with the elementary school expansion, the intent of the new middle school process is to build the infrastructure to meet the needs of highly able students in multiple locations and mitigate the perception that middle school students only receive enriched and accelerated instruction through a magnet program. Given there are a number of highly able cohorts remaining in their local middle schools, staff at all schools in the catchment area will receive support and training on enriched and accelerated programming.

Building upon the magnet curriculum, staff are developing two enriched and accelerated courses for highly able cohorts at local middle schools in the catchment area for implementation in the 2018–2019 school year.

Read the memorandum to the Board

Administrative Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

Ruschelle Reuben, currently Executive Director, Office of School Support and Improvement, as Director, Restorative Justice, School Counseling and Student Leadership Services, Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement

Melissa A. Brunson, currently Principal, Cloverly Elementary School, as Supervisor, Department of Special Education Services, Office of Special Education

Eric P. Kuhn, currently Supervisor of Special Education Services, Department of Special Education Services, Office of Special Education, as Supervisor, Department of Special Education Services, Office of Special Education

Claudette R. Smith, currently Assistant Principal, Northwood High School, as Supervisor, Department of Special Education Services, Office of Special Education                   

Cary D. Dimmick, currently Principal, Sligo Middle School, as Principal, Gaithersburg High School

Michael W. Burd, currently Principal Intern, Capt. James E. Daly Elementary School, as Principal, East Silver Spring Elementary School

Ann Hefflin, currently Assistant Principal, Flower Hill Elementary School, as Principal, Glenallan Elementary School

Cassandra Heifetz, currently Principal Intern, Glen Haven Elementary School, as Principal, Glen Haven Elementary School

Recognitions

The Board approved the following resolutions:

• A resolution recognizing May 2018 as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month;

• A resolution recognizing May 2018 as Jewish American Heritage Month;

• A resolution recognizing May 13 – 19, 2018 as National Prevention Week and May 2018 as Mental Health Month

Facilities and School Construction

The Board awarded a contract for the installation of Artificial Turf Field at Walt Whitman High School.

Future Meetings

The Board of Education will hold its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. 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; Mrs. Shebra Evans, vice president. Members: Ms. Jeanette E. Dixon, Dr. Judith Docca, 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: 240-740-3030.