Board of Education Discusses Enrollment; Approves Master Plan

October 11, 2012

The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Tuesday, October 9, 2012, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. Among other items, the Board received an update on enrollment and the Capital Improvements Program, gave final approval to the district’s Comprehensive Master Plan, approved revisions to the Board’s ethics policy, and discussed ongoing efforts to improve professional development across Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.

Enrollment and Capital Improvement Program

Enrollment in MCPS is around 149,000 students, a one-year increase of 2,500 students and an increase of more than 11,000 students since 2007. Nearly all of the enrollment increase since 2007 has occurred at elementary schools, where enrollment has grown by 10,000 students since 2007. Numerous capital projects in the approved Fiscal Year (FY) 2013–2018 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) add substantial amounts of elementary school capacity by 2017, but more will be needed. In addition, in many parts of the county, significant increases in middle and high school enrollments are beginning to occur, and more capacity at several secondary schools will be needed. Read the Board Memo

Comprehensive Master Plan

The Board of Education gave final approval to the district’s Comprehensive Master Plan. Under the state of Maryland’s Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act of 2002, each school district must submit a Comprehensive Master Plan that links school finance to decisions about school improvement. Bridge to Excellence requires the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to set academic content and student achievement standards and to ensure that schools and students have sufficient resources to meet those standards. By design, the legislation requires school systems to integrate state, federal, and local funding and initiatives into the Master Plan. Because the state of Maryland received a federal waiver from the No Child Left Behind Act, it will impact the form and scope of the master plans submitted by districts. View the Comprehensive Master Plan (please note: very large file)

Policy BBB—Ethics

The Board approved revisions to Policy BBB—Ethics. In February, the Board of Education began the process of revising this policy to conform to changes in state law. There are several changes to the law, including the establishment of a $20 limit for unsolicited gifts for school employees (including teachers); a more detailed financial disclosure for Board of Education members; and expanding the number of employees who must fill out disclosure forms.
Read the Board of Education memo and see changes to the policy

Policy DJA – MCPS Procurement Practices

The Board took tentative Action on Policy DJA—MCPS Procurement Practices. This policy recognizes the procurement procedures published in the MCPS Procurement Manual and Maryland law, establishes limits for advertising bids and obtaining bid approval by the Montgomery County Board of Education, and puts in place a process for the Board Fiscal Management Committee to review the Procurement Manual. The policy will be sent out for public comment.

Update on Professional Development

The Board received an update and engaged in a conversation on the district’s strategic initiative to improve and better align professional development efforts for teachers and all MCPS staff. The conversation focused on the work of the newly created Office of Professional Development and School Support and how improvements to adult learning can lead to significant improvements to student learning. Professional Learning Communities (PLC) have been identified as a starting point for improving professional development. PLCs are an ongoing process in which educators and staff work collaboratively on a regular basis to focus on challenges and achieve better results for the students they serve. A Professional Learning Framework is in the process of development. Read the Board memo.

Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

- Thomas P. Klausing, budget officer, United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as director, Department of Management, Budget, and Planning
- Kecia Addison-Scott, evaluation specialist, Program Evaluation Unit, as supervisor, Applied Research Unit, Office of Shared Accountability

Resolutions

The Board approved the following:

- A resolution declaring November 2012 as American Indian Heritage Day and November 23, 2012 as American Heritage Day in MCPS
- A resolution declaring October 22, 2012 through November 21, 2012 as the period for participation in the Montgomery County Public Schools Employees Charity Campaign
- A resolution declaring October 22-26, 2012 as National School Bus Safety Week

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

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