The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) conducted a hybrid (virtual and in-person) business meeting on Thursday, June 10, 2021.  During the meeting, the Board received an update on Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) recovery plan; adopted a final Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget; made several administrative appointments; and presented several New Business resolutions.  The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website.

Watch the recording of the June 10, 2021, meeting.

Recovery of Education
The Board received an update and held a discussion on MCPS’ recovery of education plan. All MCPS schools will be open at 100 percent capacity for five-day-a-week learning for all students this fall. Schools will return to their pre-COVID schedules, including bell times, bus schedules, number and length of class periods per day, lunch and recess. MCPS will address learning disruption and develop support plans to ensure all students are performing on level. The district has developed multiyear plans to ensure all students can access and receive support for any missed content (e.g., math recovery). Guidance, support, and professional learning will allow teachers to build a solid foundation focused on missed or condensed instruction.  As teachers are planning lessons throughout the summer and fall, they will focus on addressing core standards and student needs.

View the PowerPoint Presentation.
Read the Community Update.

Final Adoption of Fiscal Year 2022 Operating Budget

The Board of Education adopted a final $2.78 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. This is an increase of $24.3 million (0.9 percent) from the current FY 2021 budget. The budget will allow Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to provide a continuation of key services and reflects the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on operating costs. The budget focuses on four priority areas for the school system:

• Maintaining critical staffing levels for students returning to MCPS
• Providing additional supports to combat learning loss and assist struggling learners
• Providing mental health and social-emotional supports for students and staff
• Making needed investments in technology to support continued virtual learning and innovation

The operating budget continues the system’s focus on students, classrooms, and schools, and it is centered on MCPS’ core purpose of preparing all students to thrive in their futures.

Read the memorandum.

Read the press release.

Facilities and Construction
The Board approved the preliminary plans report for the William Tyler Page Elementary School addition project, developed by Delmar Architects, P.A.

Appointments

The Board of Education approved the following administrative appointments:

James N. D’Andrea, currently principal, Northwest High School, as chief of staff, Office of the Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Marjorie D. Lope Moutsatsos, currently coordinator, Administrative and Supervisory Staffing, Office of Human Resources and Development, as assistant chief, Professional Learning and Development, Office of Human Resources and Development

Damon A. Monteleone, currently principal, Richard Montgomery High School, as assistant chief, Teaching, Learning, and Schools, Office of Teaching, Learning, and Schools

Dr. William L. Blake, currently director of social emotional learning,

District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington, D.C., as director, Student Engagement, Behavioral Health, and Academics, Office of Student and Family Support and Engagement

Steven N. Blivess, currently labor relations manager, Office of Labor Relations, Montgomery County Government, Rockville, Maryland, as lead negotiator, Office of Districtwide Services and Supports

Barbara W. Harral, currently acting director, Division of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS), Department of Materials Management (DMM), as director, DFNS, DMM

Tamara K. Hewlett, currently coordinator, Two-Way Immersion, Department of English for Speakers of Other Languages, as supervisor, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Pre-K?12, Department of Pre-K–12 Curriculum, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs (OCIP)

Melaika A. Brown, currently learning and achievement specialist, Office of Teaching, Learning and Schools, as supervisor, Pre-K?5 English Language Arts, OCIP

Joshua H. Munsey, currently principal, John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents, as principal, Wheaton High School

Paula G. Summers, currently principal intern, Clopper Mill Elementary School, as principal, Gaithersburg Elementary School

Recognitions

• The Board approved a resolution recognizing higher education partnerships.
• The Board approved a resolution recognizing the 2021 School Counselor of the Year Award winners.
• The Board approved a resolution recognizing the recipients of the English Language Development Awards for Leader, Educator, and Community Member of the Year.
• The Board approved a resolution recognizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month.

New Business

The Board of Education presented several New Business Items for consideration. The New Business Items were tabled for consideration by the full Board at the June 29 Board meeting.  The New Business Items presented pertained to:

• The Board presented  a resolution requesting the superintendent of schools to provide progress reports regarding MCPS’ efforts toward improving building accessibility, at least twice per year during the fall and spring Capital Improvements Program presentations. The first progress report will be presented by October 2021 and will include an overview of federal and state facility accessibility requirements and the facilities self-assessment process.
• The Board presented a resolution directing the superintendent of schools to review procedure delineated in MCPS Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public, to ensure that there are appropriate safe guards for impartial review and evaluation of Complaints from the Public.
• The Board presented a resolution extending the deadline for the superintendent of schools to provide an update on the recommendations for revisions to the renaming process and the community’s interest in renaming several MCPS schools to spring 2022.
• The Board presented a resolution regarding the application of MCPS Regulation IKC-RA, Grade Point Averages (GPA) and Weighted Grade Point Averages (WGPA), and requesting the superintendent of schools explore the possibility of giving all MCPS high school students, regardless of the year they entered middle school, the opportunity to recalculate their high school grade point average without the grades earned in high school courses taken in middle school. The Board asked that the superintendent report to the Board no later than December 2021 regarding the feasibility, issues, and possible timeline associated with implementing this potential change.

Future Meetings

The Board of Education is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.  The Board will meet in a hybrid format (in-person and virtually).  The agenda is subject to change. 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: Ms. Brenda Wolff, president; Ms. Karla Silvestre, vice president.  Members: Dr. Judith Docca, Mrs. Shebra L. Evans, Ms. Lynne Harris, Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski, and Mr. Nicholas (Nick) Asante, student member. Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, acting superintendent of schools and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 240-740-3030.