PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS >  BROWSE

Board Discusses Enrollment; Approves Master Plan, World Language Framework

October 11, 2011
The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Among other items, the Board discussed school enrollment trends and facilities needs; gave final approval to a new World Languages Curriculum Framework and approved the 2011-2012 Comprehensive Master Plan.

Update on Enrollment and Capital Improvements Program

The Board of Education heard a report and discussed the FY 2012 enrollment in Montgomery County Public Schools and future enrollment and demographic trends for the county and the school district. MCPS enrollment this school year is about 146,600 students, an increase of approximately 2,500 students from 2010-2011. Since 2007, total enrollment has increased in MCPS by more than 8,600 students. Much of this growth has occurred in earlier grades, leading to capacity shortages in many elementary schools. However, growth is occurring—and will continue—in secondary schools as well. An ambitious effort is needed to address a wide range of current and projected capacity shortages. The upcoming Fiscal Year 2013–2018 Capital Improvements Program will contain Superintendent Joshua Starr’s recommendations for the coming six years and will be released on October 28, 2011. Read the Board Memo

Presentation of Facilities Assessment with Criteria and Testing Report (School Modernizations)

The Board heard a report from the Facilities Assessment with Criteria and Testing (FACT) Committee, which is comprised of stakeholders from inside and outside Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The FACT assessment is the methodology used to rank schools for modernization. The Board will take further action on the FACT report at a later meeting. Read the Board Memo

Final Action on World Languages Curriculum Framework

The Board gave final approval to a new World Languages Curriculum Framework, which outlines learning expectations for students participating in courses that provide direct instruction in a world language. A draft of the framework was tentatively approved by the Board in July and made available for feedback from the public. Feedback was received from nearly 100 people. Read the Board Memo and See the Framework

Final Approval of the Comprehensive Master Plan

The Board discussed and gave final approval to the 2011-2012 Montgomery County Public Schools Comprehensive Master Plan, which is required by state law. The master plan is based on information in the MCPS Strategic Plan, Our Call to Action, and the annual report on the strategic plan. The comprehensive plan describes the goals, objectives, and strategies that the district is using to improve student achievement and meet Maryland’s performance goals. State law also requires school systems to integrate state, federal, and local funding into their master plans. The annual review of the Comprehensive Master Plan requires all 24 Maryland school systems to update the Maryland State Department of Education on compliance with provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law and the effectiveness of federal grant programs. Read the Board Memo and the Comprehensive Plan (ALERT: Very large file)

Policies: The Board took the following action on policies:

-  Took final action on Policy ACG, Access to Services, Programs, and Activities by Individuals with Disabilities and Rescission of Policy GBH, Employment of Individuals with Disabilities.
-  Took tentative action on Policy KGC, Child Care, which will be sent out for public comment.
-  Took tentative action on Policy ECM, Joint Occupancy of Montgomery County Public Schools Facilities, which will be sent out for public comment

Other action: The Board also took action on the following items:
 
-  Allocated unanticipated grant revenue to ongoing projects. Read the memo
-  Awarded a contract for the completion of the Weller Road Elementary School modernization project. Board item


Resolutions: The Board unanimously approved the following:

-  A resolution declaring November as American Indian Heritage Month and the day after Thanksgiving as American Indian Heritage Day. Read the Resolution
-  A resolution encouraging MCPS employees to donate during the 2012 MCPS Charity Campaign, “MCPS Cares” October 24, 2011 through November 23, 2011. Read the Resolution
-  A resolution declaring October 17-21 as National School Bus Safety Week in Montgomery County Public Schools. Read the Resolution

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. Christopher S. Barclay, president; Ms. Shirley Brandman, vice president. Members: Ms. Laura Berthiaume, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Michael Durso, Mr. Phil Kauffman, Ms. Patricia O’Neill, and Mr. Alan Xie, student member. Dr. Joshua P. Starr, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.

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