Board of Education Update:
December 6, 2024
The Board of Education wraps up a busy week with a packed agenda for the December 5 business meeting. The first order of business was the election of a new President and Vice President. The Board made decisions on several business items, received an update on the Superintendent’s Entry Plan, and previewed the Superintendent’s Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Operating Budget.
This is the Board’s final business meeting of 2024. As we approach the winter break and holiday season, the Board wishes you a happy and healthy holiday season.
Julie Yang Takes the Helm as Board President, Grace Rivera-Oven Assumes VP Role
Julie Yang, District 3, presided over the December 5 business meeting as president, marking the formal transition of officers. Grace Rivera-Oven, District 1, assumes the role of vice-president.
“Serving as President of the Board of Education is a great honor,” Ms. Yang stated. “The Board understands the bread-and-butter concerns of education are the ones that truly matter to our families. We will always focus on the everyday experience in our schools of our students, staff, and families.”
The Board also approved new committee membership. As of December 5, the Board’s committees are:
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Fiscal Management, chaired by Karla Silvestre and including Natalie Zimmerman, Laura Stewart, and Praneel Suvarna.
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Policy Management, chaired by Julie Yang and including Karla Silvestre, Brenda Wolff, and Praneel Suvarna.
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Special Populations, chaired by Grace Rivera-Oven and including Rita Montoya and Laura Stewart.
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Strategic Planning, chaired by Brenda Wolff and including Natalie Zimmerman and Rita Montoya.
The Board sees an opportunity to strengthen community connections by creating a standing advisory committee focused on communications and engagement. Each year, the committee will address one key topic aimed at improving communication and engagement. This replaces the Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Committee established in 2019. The new advisory committee will include community members, allowing them to play an active role in the process. The vice president will serve as the Board's representative on the committee. The first topic the new advisory committee will address is the upcoming boundary studies. More details about the committee's work will be shared soon.
Board and Administration Focus on Long-Term Planning Amid Budget Constraints
The Board and administration face tough budget decisions this year due to limited funds and challenges at all levels of government. Despite this, we are committed to focusing on the key priorities that will improve student outcomes. Both the Board and Dr. Taylor agree that long-term planning is necessary to meet the district’s goals.
We can expect the FY2026 budget to include:
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Shift of services and resources to schools
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Reduced bureaucratic layers and silos
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Investment in fiscal and physical infrastructure
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Foundation for future progress
Dr. Taylor will present the Recommended FY 2026 Operating Budget on December 18 at 6:00 p.m.
The Board invites the public to participate in the process, which includes:
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January 14, 10:00 a.m. - Operating Budget Work Session
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January 16, 6:00 p.m. - Operating Budget Public Hearing
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January 23, 10:00 a.m. - Operating Budget Work Session
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January 27, 6:00 p.m. - Operating Budget Public Hearing
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January 30, 10:00 a.m. - Operating Budget Work Session (if needed)
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February 4, noon - Business Meeting with Tentative Adoption of the Operating Budget
Learn all the details about the budget by watching the presentation.
Board Approves 2025-2026 School Year Calendars with Key Dates and New Transition Day
The Board approved the 2025-2026 traditional and innovative school year calendars. The traditional calendar includes:
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181 instructional days
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Student Transition Day - Monday, August 25, 2025
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First Instructional Day for All Students- Tuesday, August 26, 2025
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Winter Break (students) - December 24, 2025 - January 4, 2026
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Spring Break (students) - March 28, 2026 - April 6, 2026
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Last Day of School - June 17, 2026
The Student Transition Day is new for the 2025-2026 school year. The goal is for students in grades K, 6, and 9, as well as grade 3 students at 3-5 elementary schools and those new to the school or MCPS to feel welcome and connected in their new school environment.
The calendar development process is designed to support the Board's goals of improving MCPS and ensuring a safe, welcoming environment for everyone in our schools. Community input played a key role in creating the calendar by helping staff understand the needs and preferences of the community.
To learn more about the school year calendar, including all the important dates to plan for, watch the presentation.
Other Items of Note
Dr. Taylor shared a report on the first six months of his E3 Entry Plan - Engagement, Evaluation, and Empowerment. Dr. Taylor expressed that “in order to move MCPS forward, we need to focus on the fundamentals.” Watch Dr. Taylor’s presentation to learn what those fundamentals are.
The Board approved the following:
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MCPS’ recommended vendor, FLO Analytics, to perform the upcoming boundary studies for the Crown and Woodward high school projects (presentation).
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The Board’s tentative action on Board Policy GCB, Investigation of Allegations of Employee Misconduct, opens the public comment period on the policy (presentation).
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An amendment to the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals/Montgomery County Business and Operations Administrators Agreement for the School Years 2023-2025 contract (presentation).
Upcoming Meetings
Visit our webpage to view agendas, meeting materials, and watch live or recordings.
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December 10 - Strategic Planning Committee Meeting
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January 9 - Business Meeting
Opportunities for Engagement
The public is encouraged to engage with the Board. Learn about the ways to participate on our website.
Stay Connected
Email us at boe@mcpsmd.org
Email us: boe@mcpsmd.org