The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) met on Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. During the meeting, the Board approved a Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget request for MCPS; began the process for the naming of a new Bethesda-Chevy Chase middle school; and approved summer school fees for the coming summer. The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.
 

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

The Board of Education approved a $2.52 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The request includes a $64.24 increase from Fiscal Year 2017, which will allow the district to manage significant enrollment growth and build the foundation and structure needed to ensure that all MCPS students are able to achieve at higher levels. A majority of the spending increase will be used to provide the same level of services to a growing number of students; fund ongoing salaries and benefits; and manage increasing operational costs. The request also includes $11.01 million in strategic priority accelerators focused on improving student performance while narrowing achievement gaps.

The Board’s adopted operating budget restores 35.5 Full-time Equivalent (FTE) positions for reading initiative teachers in kindergarten through second grade. The Board’s budget request will be submitted to the Montgomery County Executive and the Council. The County Executive is expected to release his FY 2018 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 Press Release

Naming of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2

The Board began the process for naming Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2. The new middle school will open in August 2017. 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 Kensington, Silver Creek, Dr. Paul Vance, and Harriet Tubman.

Read the Policy on Naming School Facilities

Fiscal Year 2018 Summer School Fees

The Board approved summer school fees for the coming summer, keeping the fees at the same level for FY 2017. 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 elementary and high school regional centers and local school programs.

Read the Board Memorandum

Positions on Education Legislation

The Board discussed legislation that will be considered by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2017 Maryland legislative session. The Board voted to support a bill that would require each county board in the state to provide instruction on affirmative consent as part of a specified curriculum in relevant grades in public schools in the county beginning in the 2017–2018 school year.

Read the Recommended Board Positions (NOTE: Actual Board votes on these legislative bills may differ from staff recommendations.)  

Appointment

The Board approved the following appointment:

Anand R. Modak, currently IT systems engineer, Department of Infrastructure and Operations, as supervisor, Telecommunications and Information Security

Recognitions
The Board approved the following resolutions:

·        A resolution declaring the month of February 2017 to be observed as Career Technology Education Month in Montgomery County Public Schools

Future Meetings

The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Monday, February 27, 2017. Please check the Board of Education website and 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: Ms. Jeanette E. Dixon, Mrs. Shebra L. Evans, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Eric Guerci, student member. Dr. Jack R. Smith, superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.