The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Monday, June 27, 2016, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. The Board received an update and held a discussion on district milestones; set nonresident tuition rates for Fiscal Year 2017; and made several administrative appointments. 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. 

District Milestones

The Board of Education received an update from MCPS staff and held a discussion on the district’s literacy and mathematics milestones. For the past year, interim superintendent Larry A. Bowers has focused on literacy and mathematics to improve the academic performance of the district’s students. A comprehensive literacy plan designed to prepare MCPS students for postsecondary education and careers was developed in December 2015. In March 2016, a mathematics plan was shared which highlighted the review, revision, and modification of curriculum, instruction and assessments to deepen content understanding to better align with more rigorous standards. The literacy and mathematics plans are a response to the five strategic priorities with emphasis on ensuring the instructional practices implemented meet the needs of students as well as challenge them to excel.

In order to prepare students for college and career readiness and to support the alignment of the school system’s continued efforts to increase student success, accountability targets were developed for Grades K–12. These targets address performance measures beyond those associated with the milestones. Performance targets at earlier grades serve as leading indicators for the milestones, and MCPS is monitoring performance across all grade levels to obtain a comprehensive understanding of student outcomes. The data related to the district milestones and the extent to which the district has met established districtwide performance targets illustrate that there is still more work to do to decrease the academic achievement gaps between student groups and fulfill the promise of an equitable school system where performance is not predictable by race.

Read the Board Memorandum

Tuition for Nonresident Students

The Board approved tuition rates for nonresident students for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. Rate calculation is based on the approved operating budget, cost of debt services, and current revenue funding for the capital budget. The rates for FY 2017 are as follows: $15,179 for elementary school (including kindergarten), an increase of $921 from FY 2016; and $15,225 for secondary students, which is an increase of $926.

Read the Board Memorandum

Appointments

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

Essie McGuire, currently senior legislative analyst, Montgomery County Council, as executive director, Office of the Chief Operating Officer

Monifa B. McKnight, currently principal, Ridgeview Middle School, as director, Secondary Leadership Development

Damien B. Ingram, currently principal, Meadowood Education Center, Baltimore County Public Schools, as principal, Alternative Education Programs at the Blair G. Ewing Center

John W. Taylor, currently principal intern, Neelsville Middle School, as principal, Cabin John Middle School

Debra A. Berner, currently director, Department of Student Services, as principal, Lakewood Elementary School

Arienne M. Clark-Harrison, currently assistant principal, Montgomery Knolls Elementary School, as principal, Montgomery Knolls Elementary School

Rock A. Palmisano, currently principal, Carderock Springs Elementary School, as principal, Watkins Mill Elementary School

Facilities and School Construction

The Board approved several items related to school construction projects and facilities, including an architectural appointment for the potential future Downcounty consortium elementary school feasibility study project.

• Architectural Appointment for the Potential Future Downcounty Consortium Elementary School Feasibility Study Project
• View all approved contracts during the meeting

Recognitions
The Board approved the following resolutions:

• A resolution in appreciation of Interim Superintendent Bowers’ service to MCPS
• A resolution recognizing the Vietnamese scholars 

Future Meetings
The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, July 12, 2016. 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.