The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) conducted a hybrid (virtual and in-person) business meeting on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.  During the meeting, the Board received an update on Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) recovery plan; took action on several Board policies; heard a presentation and discussed applications from two charter schools; made several administrative appointments; approved appointments to the Ethics Panel; and took action on several previous new business items.  The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.

Watch the recording of the June 29, 2021, meeting.

Recovery of Education
The Board received an update and held a discussion on MCPS’ recovery of education plan. The 2021–2022 school year will begin on August 30, with all schools returning to in-person instruction at 100 percent capacity five days a week. Mask guidance from the 2020–2021 school year will continue through the summer. Students and staff participating in summer programs are required to wear face coverings in school buildings; outdoors, mask wearing is not required, but is highly recommended and up to the individual. Tentative mask guidance for the 2021–2022 school year will be provided in August. Watch this video to learn more about the fall 2021 vision for schools.

View the PowerPoint Presentation.
Read the Community Update.

Board Policies

Final Action, Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency

The Board held a discussion and voted to adopt compliance-related amendments to Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency, that will bring it into alignment with COMAR section 13A.01.06, Educational Equity; federal language regarding English learners; and the October 27, 2020, Resolution for Banning Symbols of Hatred and Intimidation, as amended.

On January 28, 2021, the Board tentatively adopted amendments to Board Policy ACA (Resolution No. 46-21). The tentatively adopted policy was distributed for public comments from January 28, 2021, through April 18, 2021.

The Board will provide additional time for the community’s engagement in the antiracist audit to inform further policy amendments regarding the impact of racism on access, opportunities, and equitable outcomes for students.

Read the amended policy.

View the PowerPoint presentation.

Final Action, Policy ACF, Sexual Harassment

The Board held a discussion and voted to adopt Policy ACF, Sexual Harassment, as amended. On April 20, 2021, the Board tentatively adopted amendments to Board Policy ACF (Resolution No. 186-21). The tentatively adopted policy was distributed for public comments from April 20, 2021, through May 18, 2021. The Board’s Policy Management Committee (PMC) reviewed Policy ACF in response to the September 22, 2020, resolution, Temporary Suspension of Board Policy ACF (Resolution No. 442-20), directing the PMC members to develop amendments in alignment with the requirements of the new federal Title IX regulations, promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education on May 6, 2020. The Board has articulated a longstanding commitment that MCPS students, employees, and third parties shall learn and work in an environment free of sexual harassment.

Read the adopted policy.

Final Action, Policy ACI, Sexual Harassment of Employees

The Board took final action on Policy ACI, Sexual Harassment of Employees. On April 20, 2021, the Board tentatively adopted new draft Board Policy ACI (Resolution No. 187-21). The tentatively adopted policy was distributed for public comments from April 20, 2021, through May 18, 2021. The Board has articulated a longstanding commitment that MCPS students, employees, and third parties shall learn and work in an environment free of sexual harassment.

Read the adopted policy.

Charter Schools

The Board received presentations and held discussion on two charter school applications:

• The Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Boys Inc. and The Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Girls Inc.
• M.E.C.C.A. Charter School

For the MECCA Charter School application, the review panel suggests that the Board consider a conditional approval that permits the applicant the opportunity to demonstrate to the Board community interest in the school and confirm resources for additional funding. Further, that the Board consider a timeline not to exceed three months for the applicants to satisfy these two conditions of approval. Finally, applicants will undergo a criminal background check, administered through the MCPS Office of Human Resources and Development, prior to the Board taking Final Action on the application. For the Washington-McLaughlin Charter School for Boys and Charter School for Girls (WMCS), after careful consideration of the proposal using MCPS criteria, the panel members do not recommend that the Board grant WMCS a charter to open a school in MCPS.

The Board will take final action on the applications at its July 27, 2021, business meeting.

Facilities and Construction
The Board accepted the Luxmanor Elementary School Revitalization/Expansion Project.

Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

Robert Reilly, currently director, Financial Services, Office of Finance (OOF), as associate superintendent of finance, OOF

Dr. Kisha N. Logan, currently principal, Montgomery Village Middle School, as director, Department of Pre-K?12 Curriculum and Districtwide Programs, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs (OCIP), Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools (OTLS)

Christophe Turk, currently principal, James McHenry Elementary/Middle School, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, Maryland, as director of learning, achievement, and administration, OTLS

Travis J. Wiebe, currently principal, Wyngate Elementary School, as director, Department of Certification and Staffing, Office of Human Resources and Development

Maria L. Tarasuk, currently supervisor, Pre-K-12 Social Studies, Department of Pre-K-12 Curriculum, OCIP, OTLS, as director, OCIP, OTLS

Christopher Beers-Arthur, currently learning and achievement specialist, OTLS, as assistant director, Office of Shared Accountability (OSA), OTLS

Dr. James E. Jang, currently chief research and analytics officer, Living Classrooms Foundation, Baltimore, Maryland, as supervisor, Applied Research and Evaluation, OSA, OTLS

Anne Marie Tagliaferri, currently extensions program coordinator, Department of Special Education Services (DSES), Office of Special Education (OSE), as supervisor, Alternate Learning Outcomes, DSES, OSE

Ilana S. Carr, currently principal intern, Strathmore Elementary School, as principal, Seven Locks Elementary School

Natalie M. Hambrecht, currently principal intern, Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, as principal, Cold Spring Elementary School

Recognitions

• The Board approved a resolution recognizing distinguished Hispanic scholars.
• The Board approved a resolution recognizing the recipients of the George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc. High Achievement Scholarship
• The Board approved a resolution recognizing the recipients of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. scholarship

Appointments to the Ethics Panel

The Board of Education approved a resolution appointing David Curren, Daniel Fisher, and Carrie Mitchell to three-year terms on the Ethics Panel effective July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2024. 

Read the adopted resolution. 

Previous New Business Items

The Board of Education approved new business items resolutions from the June 10, 2021, business meeting that were lying on the table pending further action by the full Board.  The resolutions approved were as follows:

• The Board approved a resolution requesting the superintendent of schools to provide progress reports regarding MCPS’ efforts toward improving building accessibility, at least twice per year during the fall and spring Capital Improvements Program presentations. The first progress report will be presented by October 2021 and will include an overview of federal and state facility accessibility requirements and the facilities self-assessment process.
• The Board approved a resolution directing the superintendent of schools to review procedure delineated in MCPS Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public, to ensure that there are appropriate safe guards for impartial review and evaluation of Complaints from the Public.
• The Board approved a resolution extending the deadline for the superintendent of schools to provide an update on the recommendations for revisions to the renaming process and the community’s interest in renaming several MCPS schools to spring 2022.
• The Board approved a resolution regarding the application of MCPS Regulation IKC-RA, Grade Point Averages (GPA) and Weighted Grade Point Averages (WGPA), and requesting the superintendent of schools explore the possibility of giving all MCPS high school students, regardless of the year they entered middle school, the opportunity to recalculate their high school grade point average without the grades earned in high school courses taken in middle school. The Board asked that the superintendent report to the Board no later than December 2021 regarding the feasibility, issues, and possible timeline associated with implementing this potential change.

Future Meetings

The Board of Education is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on Thursday, July 15, 2021.  The Board will meet in a hybrid format (in-person and virtually).  The agenda is subject to change. Please check the Board of Education website and meeting calendar for further information. 

About the Board of Education
The Board 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: Ms. Brenda Wolff, president; Ms. Karla Silvestre, vice president.  Members: Dr. Judith Docca, Mrs. Shebra L. Evans, Ms. Lynne Harris, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Nicholas (Nick) Asante, student member. Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, acting superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 240-740-3030.