The Board of Education met on Monday (May 21) and, among other items, amended the school calendar for 2007-2008 to reflect a change in the primary election date, discussed middle school assignment for the Hampshire Greens community, and approved ten administrative appointments. The Board also took final action on the early childhood and elementary education policy, approved sending a request to the County Council for funding a traffic signal at Northwood High School, and discussed the implementation of High School Plus, an alternative to Evening High School. A resolution honored the principals of high schools recognized among the top in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Recognitions also included the winner of the Margaret Cutler Interages Award, Champions for Children honorees, recipients of the Asian American Education Association scholarships, and George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., scholarship recipients.

Final Action on Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Educatio

The Board approved revised Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. The revisions affirm the Board’s commitment to producing a challenging and comprehensive educational program for students in early childhood and elementary programs that will prepare them for middle and high school. The policy emphasizes the importance of intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth and development of students in their early learning years, as well as the need for productive partnerships with parents, families, and community.

Amend the School Calendar for the 2007-2008 School Year

The Board of Education’s 2007-2008 school calendar was amended to reflect the change of the presidential primary date from March 4, 2008, to February 12, 2008, by the state legislature. Schools are closed on primary election days.

Recommendation on Hampshire Greens Middle School Boundary Review

The Board discussed options presented in the Hampshire Greens Middle School Boundary Review, including the superintendent’s recommendation (Option 1), which would retain students living in the Hampshire Greens community at Francis Scott Key Middle School, and two alternatives proposed by the Board that would assign students to either Briggs Chaney or White Oak middle school. A public hearing will be held on June 11, and final Board action is scheduled for June 25.

Northwood High School Traffic Light

After working with the community and local and state transportation officials, the Board approved sending a request to the County Council to amend its Capital Improvements Program to install a traffic light on University Boulevard that has been approved by the Maryland State Highway Administration to improve access to the Northwood High School site. Pending approval from the County Council, the site improvements will take approximately 10-12 months to prepare construction documents, obtain permits, and procure proposals for the work.

Appointments

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

Jo Ann (Jody) Leleck, currently associate superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs, as chief academic officer, Office of the Deputy Superintendent of Schools

Stephen L. Bedford, currently assistant chief school performance officer, Office of School Performance, as chief school performance officer, Office of School Performance

Sherry L. Liebes, currently director of school performance, Office of School Performance, as community superintendent, Office of School Performance

Jeannie H. Franklin, currently acting supervisor, Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services, as director, Division of Consortia Choice and Application Program Services, Department of Enriched and Innovative Programs

Felicia E. Lanham Tarason, currently principal, Wheaton Woods Elementary School, as director, Division of Title I Programs

C. Michael Kline, currently director, Elementary Leadership Development, Office of Organizational Development, as director, School Improvement Initiatives and Professional Learning Communities Institute, Office of Organizational Development

Cynthia Eldridge, currently assistant principal, Montgomery Village Middle School, as supervisor, Middle School Initiatives, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs

Monique T. Felder, currently adjunct professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, as program supervisor, Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs

R. Kevin Payne, Jr., currently principal intern, Cashell Elementary School, as principal, Fallsmead Elementary School

Christopher A. Wynne, currently principal, Greenwood Elementary School, as principal, Dr. Sally K. Ride Elementary School

High School Plus

The Board discussed the implementation of High School Plus, currently being field tested in four high schools. High School Plus is designed to replace the traditional Evening High School with programs for students in their home schools. Students have opportunities to repeat courses they have failed or recover lost credit within the school day. Students also will be able to participate in an Extended Day Program that offers full semester course replacement classes that meet after school. The Board will continue its review of the pilot program.

Recognition of Montgomery County Public High Schools by Newsweek Magazine

The Board recognized the principals of the 23 high schools (all eligible MCPS high schools) ranked among the top 3 percent in the nation by Newsweek magazine based on participation in rigorous coursework (the number of AP or IB tests taken by all students at a school divided by the number of graduating seniors). Special recognition was given to five high schools listed among the top 100 schools by Newsweek. The high schools and their rankings are:

#25 Richard Montgomery
#44 Bethesda-Chevy Chase
#61 Thomas S. Wootton
#70 Walt Whitman
#97 Winston Churchill

Margaret Cutler Interages Award

The Board recognized Barbara Newland, former executive director of Interages and winner of the Margaret Cutler Award.

Champions for Children

The Board recognized the following honorees of Champions for Children, sponsored by the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education:

Carole Goodman, principal, James Hubert Blade High School
Raul Ortiz, teacher, Damascus High School
Herenia Lopez, paraeducator, Eastern Middle School
Judy Brookes, and Joan Wolf-Chiaverini, volunteers, Thomas W. Pyle Middle School After School Activities Program
Suburban Hospital, business partner, Community Health and Wellness

Recognition of the Asian American Education Association Scholarship Recipients

The Board recognized four students who received $1,000 scholarships from the Asian American Education Association. The students and their high schools are:

Heather Ahn, Albert Einstein
Rachel An, Walt Whitman
Shyueh-Rwong Clare Cheng, Thomas S. Wootton
Sarah Kim, James Hubert Blake

George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., High Achievement Scholarship Recipients

The Board recognized 14 students who received $1,000 George B. Thomas, Sr. Learning Academy, Inc., scholarships, sponsored by Verizon Maryland. The students and their high schools are:

Heena Joshi, Paint Branch
Prasad Krishnakurup, Paint Branch
Mona Bhatt, Paint Branch
Jordan Christopher Turner, Montgomery Blair
Ashley Mondestin, John F. Kennedy
Reginald Galloway, John F. Kennedy
Heather Rodney, John F. Kennedy
Alexandria Monroe, John F. Kennedy
Paige Lawal, John F. Kennedy
Era Teshale, John F. Kennedy
Tracy Franco, Col. Zadok Magruder
Lauren Boss, Sherwood
GianKarlo Vera, Gaithersburg
Richard Mancco, Wheaton