The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) met on Monday, June 25, 2018, at Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville. During the meeting, the Board received an update on Technology Systems; approved technical amendments to Policy JHF, Bullying Harassment, or Intimidation; set tuition for nonresident students for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019; and made appointments to the Ethics Panel.

The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.

Update on Technology Systems

The Board of Education received an update on the progress and changes made to the district’s technology systems.  The presentation included information about the continuing expansion and technology infrastructure, including wireless connectivity, mobile devices, student systems, business systems, and cross-platform integrations.  Staff members provided a review of the work the Department of Infrastructure is doing to strengthen the reliability and security of the Montgomery County Public Schools network; the strategic work being done to improve staff and student access to flexible, mobile cloud-based technologies, in support of teaching and learning; and a summary of efforts being made to ensure that all stakeholders have access to the information and resources they need in order to support staff, student, and parent/guardian engagement.  As part of these efforts, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, in collaboration with the Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement, has been partnering with several technology service providers to increase Internet access for economically impacted students and their families.

Read the memorandum to the Board.

Technical Amendments Made to Board Policy JHF, Bullying Harassment, or Intimidation

On May 15, 2018, members of the Board’s Policy Management Committee discussed and agreed to recommend to the Board that it adopt state mandated revisions to Board Policy JHF, Bullying Harassment, or Intimidation.   The technical amendments to the policy align with Maryland Senate Bill 725, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation – School Response, which expands the reporting of bullying, harassment, or intimidation against public school students to include specific behavior that is sexual in nature.  In addition, language was added to the policy to reflect federal guidance regarding investigations and the prevention of recurring incidents or correction of discriminatory effects on the student who was bullied.

Read the Policy Committee chair’s memorandum to the Board.

Fiscal Year 2019 Tuition for Nonresident Students

The Board set tuition rates for students who are not residents of Montgomery County.  The calculation for FY 2019 is based on the following three factors:  the approved operation budget, the cost of debt service, and the current revenue funding for the capital budget.

Read the memorandum to the Board, which includes the rates for FY 2018 and the approved rates for FY 2019.

Ethics Panel Appointments

The Board appointed Elizabeth Treubert Simon, Woo S. Lee, and Daniel Fisher.  Each appointee will serve a three-year term on the Ethics Panel, effective July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2021.

Read the Board resolution.

Read additional information about the Ethics Panel on the Board’s website.

Recognitions

The Board approved a resolution in recognition of Vietnamese Scholars who received the 2018 Association of Vietnamese Americans academic awards and scholarships.

Administrative Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

AnneMarie Kestner Smith, currently Assistant Principal, William H. Farquhar Middle School, as Principal, North Bethesda Middle School

Meredith A. Casper, currently Director, Division of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs, as Principal, Dr. Charles R. Drew Elementary School

Future Meetings

The Board will hold its next regular business meeting on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. 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; Mrs. Shebra Evans, vice president. Members: Ms. Jeanette E. Dixon, Dr. Judith Docca, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Matthew Post, student member. Dr. Jack R. Smith, superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.