The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) met on Monday, July 30, 2018, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.  During the meeting, the Board received a review of the implementation of the 2017–2018 Strategic Plan and took action to allow Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to seek a waiver to Governor Larry Hogan’s Executive Order to implement an innovative school calendar at Roscoe R. Nix and Arcola elementary schools for the 2019–2020 school year. 

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

Innovative School Programming and Calendar

A proposed innovative school year calendar has been under consideration for implementation at two Title I schools, Arcola and Roscoe R. Nix elementary schools. Based on research shared with the Board in a memorandum dated December 13, 2017, the traditional 180-day school calendar may not meet the needs of all students. Research compelled MCPS leaders to consider innovative methods to best serve our most impacted communities to reduce gaps in performance. The proposed innovative school year calendar for the two aforementioned schools would begin Monday, July 8, 2019, and conclude before June 15, 2020. 

The Board voted unanimously, among those present, to allow MCPS to seek a waiver from the Governor’s Executive Order that mandates school begin after the Labor Day holiday.   

Read the memorandum to the Board.

A Year in Review: Montgomery County Public Schools Strategic Plan: Fiscal Year 2018

The Board received a year in review of the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Strategic Plan: Fiscal Year 2018 approved by the Board of Education on October 10, 2017, Resolution 438-17. After the adoption of the plan, MCPS staff and teachers spent the 2017?2018 school year implementing many of the programs adopted as part of the approved plan.

Items highlighted in the presentation included Evidence of Learning; Enriched Studies Program Participation; Dual Language Programs; the Home School Model for Special Education Services; Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL); Digital Citizenship and the Extended-Year Program for elementary school students. For middle school students, the discussion focused on access to rigorous mathematics instruction; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education; college and career planning; and restorative justice and practices. For high school students, the focus was on STEM education; Equal Opportunity Schools; SAT/ACT/Career Placement Assessments; and the Superintendent’s Leadership Academy. The discussion for Central Services and Support Staff focused on attracting and recruiting employees, and an upgrade to business systems.

Read the memorandum to the Board.

Recognitions

The Board recognized the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Award Recipients.

Facilities and School Construction

The Board of Education approved the award of several contracts, including:

• A contract for the Luxmanor Elementary School revitalization/expansion project
• A contract for the Potomac Elementary School revitalization/expansion project
• A contract for the Tilden Middle School and Rock Terrace School revitalization/expansion project
• A contract for Tilden Middle School and Rock Terrace School/Maryvale Elementary School and Carl Sandburg Learning Center Revitalization/Expansion Projects

Future Meetings

The Board of Education will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, August 30, 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 Ms. Ananya Tadikonda, student member. Dr. Jack R. Smith, superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 240-740-3030.