The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The Board approved a Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Budget for MCPS; began the process for the naming of a new middle school in Clarksburg/Damascus; and took final action on Policy FEC, Mandatory Submission of Plans for Major Capital Projects. The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website. You also can watch the video of the meeting by clicking here.

Fiscal Year 2017 Operating Budget

The Board of Education approved a $2.5 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. The request includes a $180.2 million increase from Fiscal Year 2016, which will allow the district to make targeted investments to close the achievement gap; improve students’ literacy and math skills; reduce class sizes; foster stronger partnerships with the community and families to support students; and accelerate efforts to improve and diversify the workforce. The enhancements include both new and realigned resources for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. The Board’s budget request represents an increase of $45.7 million over the interim superintendent’s recommended budget. The additional resources requested by the Board are broken down in three tiers that are intended to provide guidance for the Board during final budget deliberations in June. In addition, the Board approved an amendment that will have the Internal Audit Unit report to the Board.  The Board’s budget request will be submitted to the Montgomery County Executive and the County Council. The County Executive is expected to release his FY 2017 Operating Budget recommendation by March 15. The Montgomery County Council will hold public hearings on the county budget in April before passing a final budget in May.

Read the Board Memorandum
Read the Proposed Budget Amendment
Read the Press Release

Policy FEC, Mandatory Submission of Plans for Major Capital Projects

The Board took final action and approved changes to Policy FEC, Mandatory Submission of Plans for Major Capital Projects. Policy FEC provides for the submission of construction plans to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and/or the Montgomery County Planning Board as required by Maryland law. On April 14, 2015, the Board tentatively approved changes to Policy FEC and sent the policy out for public comments. The policy has been renamed Policy FEC, Mandatory Referral Review Requirements for Major Capital Projects. The updated policy clarifies that community input will be sought in accordance with Policy ABA, Community Involvement, in the development of preliminary plans for major capital projects. It also highlights the timeline for response from the Commission to submitted projects.

See the Revised Policy

Naming of Clarksburg/Damascus Middle School

The Board of Education began the process for naming a new middle school in Clarksburg/Damascus by submitting four names for consideration. The new middle school will open in August 2016. The principal of the new school will lead the school naming process, which will involve a group of community members. The naming committee may consider the Board’s suggestions and also consider other names. Pursuant to Policy FFA, Naming of School Facilities, the final responsibility for naming a school rests with the Board of Education. The four names the Board submitted for consideration are Dr. Alan Cheung, Mr. James H. Daugherty, Dr. Michael Doran, and Dr. Paul Vance.

Read the Regulation on Naming School Facilities

Fiscal Year 2017 Summer School Fees

The Board approved summer school fees for the coming summer, keeping the fees at the same level for FY 2016. The Summer School Revenue-based Program fees remain at $335 for elementary courses and $300 for high school core courses, including online courses. Reduced fees will remain at $85 or $120, depending on family income.

MCPS will provide summer school programs for intervention, enrichment and acceleration of academic instruction for MCPS students through two elementary regional centers, four high school regional centers, and local school programs.

Read the Board Memorandum

Positions on Education Legislation

The Board discussed several pieces of legislation that are currently being considered by the Maryland General Assembly. The Board voted to support a bill that would exempt school buses used to transport public school students from any toll, fee, or other charge for the use of the Intercounty Connector. The Board also voted to support a bill that would allow for the establishment of a Robotics Grant Program to support and expand the existing robotics programs in eligible Maryland public schools. The Board opposed other pieces of legislation.

Read the recommended Board positions from the February 9 meeting.  (NOTE: Actual Board votes on these pieces of legislation may differ from staff recommendations.)  Now available on the Board’s website is a more comprehensive list of bills, the Board’s position and testimonies.

Appointment
The Board approved the following administrative appointment:

Nancy Austin, currently acting supervisor, Management Budget Operations, Department of Management, Budget, and Planning, as supervisor, Management Budget Operations, Department of Management, Budget, and Planning

Facilities and School Construction

The Board approved the following items related to school construction projects and facilities:

• Awarded contracts for the Wheaton Woods Elementary School Revitalization/Expansion Project

Recognitions

The Board approved the following resolutions:

• A resolution declaring the month of February 2016 to be observed as Career and Technology Education Month in MCPS 

Future Meetings

The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Monday, February 22. Please check the Board of Education meeting calendar for further information. 

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. Michael Durso, president; Dr. Judith Docca, vice president. Members: Mr. Christopher Barclay, Mr. Philip Kauffman, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Eric Guerci, student member. Mr. Larry A. Bowers, interim superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.