The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Monday, February 22, 2016, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The Board took final action on Policy ACH, Workplace Bullying; heard a presentation from MCPS staff on the Annual Report to the Community; and held a discussion on organizational effectiveness in MCPS.  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. 

Policy ACH, Workplace Bullying

The Board voted to adopt a new policy that establishes a framework for preventing, intervening and correcting workplace bullying—with processes to prevent, identify, report, investigate, and resolve instances of bullying with corrective actions, as needed. On October 26, 2015, the Board tentatively approved the new policy and sent it out for public comment. The new policy affirms the Board’s commitment to an organizational culture of respect in MCPS.

Read the Policy

Annual Report to the Community for the 2014–2015 School Year

The Board of Education received a presentation from MCPS staff and held a discussion on the district’s interactive online Annual Report to the Community for the 2014–2015 school year. The Annual Report to the Community summarizes the last school year and the factors driving change in the district. The report discusses the strategies MCPS is using to prepare students for the 21st century and addresses longstanding achievement gaps. It also outlines the operational and student performance data that is used to monitor the district’s progress. The report features photos, charts, video, and audio segments that help portray how MCPS is fulfilling its vision and mission.

See the Annual Report

Organizational Effectiveness

The Board received an update and held a discussion on organizational effectiveness in MCPS. Organization effectiveness is the foundation of the district’s Strategic Planning Framework, Building Our Future Together: Students, Staff, and Community. It represents how MCPS central services works collaboratively and strategically to support schools and students. The Board heard a presentation from MCPS staff that highlighted two specific areas as examples of the district’s organizational effectiveness—Building Services and Copy-Plus/TeamWorks—where strategic planning, ongoing knowledge management, collaboration, and process improvements have led to improved performance and greater organizational effectiveness.

Read the Memorandum to the Board

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 number of bills, one of which would establish specified funding for prekindergarten students. The Board also voted to support a bill that limits testing for prekindergarten and kindergarten students,

Read the recommended Board positions from the February 22 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.

Facilities and School Construction

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

• Awarded contracts for the Thomas Edison High School of Technology Revitalization/Expansion Project

Recognitions

The Board approved the following resolutions:

• A resolution declaring the month of March 2016 as Women’s History Month 

Future Meetings

The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, March 8. 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.