The Board of Education met on Tuesday [December 9] and elected Board officers for 2004. Among other items, the Board approved the school calendar for 2004-2005, approved resolutions regarding high school vending machines, appointed five administrators, tentatively approved two policies, received an update on the special education classical review, and approved preliminary plans for an addition to South Lake Elementary School and a modification of Seneca Valley High School. The Board also received an update on plans for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education.

Election of Officers

The members of the Board of Education elected Sharon W. Cox as president and Reginald M. Felton as vice president of the Board. Both officers will serve for one-year terms.

School Calendar

The Board approved the calendar for the 2004-2005 school year, as well as a contingency calendar that identifies when days would be made up if the four emergency days built into the school calendar are exceeded. The school year will begin on Monday, August 30, 2004 and the last day for students will be on Thursday, June 16, 2005. (See link below.)

High School Vending Machines

The Board approved a resolution to have high school vending machines that sell food and beverages deemed to be minimally nutritious extend the time they are off from midnight through the end of the school day and further, to ask the work group examining the issues of vending machines in schools to extend their charge to review and make recommendations regarding snack foods available in vending machines.

Appointments

The Board approved the following administrative appointments:

§ Stephen L. Bedford, currently acting community superintendent, Office of School Performance, as community superintendent for the Damascus, Gaithersburg, Col. Zadok Magruder, and Watkins Mill clusters.

§ Walter G. Gibson, currently acting community superintendent, Office of School Performance, as community superintendent for the Montgomery Blair, Albert Einstein, and John F. Kennedy clusters, including the opening of Northwood High School next year.

§ Frances J. Irvin, currently acting principal of Mark Twain School, as principal, Mark Twain School.

§ Dr. Patricia A. Kelly, currently principal of Greenwood ElementarySchool, as director, Special Education Performance and Accountability,Department of Special Education.

§ Dr. Shawn O. Utsey, currently associate professor, Howard University,as coordinator of Applied Research, Office of Shared Accountability.


Policy JFA, Student Rights and Responsibilities

The Board tentatively approved revised policy JFA that sets forth the scope and parameters for student rights and responsibilities. The revised policy focuses on broader principles and places specific language into the implementing regulation. The policy also recognizes that local schools -- in collaboration with parents and staff -- shall develop and enforce their own standards that may include zero tolerance policies and procedures.

Policy BOA, Legal Services

The Board tentatively approved revised Policy BOA, Legal Services, which sets out the framework for the retention and selection for outside counsel and the management of legal services.

Update of Classical Program Review of Special Education

The Board discussed an update of the classical program review of special education. The Board approved the reconstitution of the Continuous Improvement Team (CIT) as an advisory committee on special education to the Board that will include six parent members. The CIT will be renamed the Special Education Continuous Improvement Board of Education Advisory Committee. Until such time as the Board makes appointments to the advisory committee, the current CIT will continue to operate as an advisory body to the Department of Special Education. The Board’s Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education will continue to meet and, as appropriate, make recommendations to the Board.

Preliminary Plans for South Lake Elementary School Addition

The Board approved preliminary plans for an addition to South Lake Elementary School.

Preliminary Plans for Seneca Valley High School Modification

The Board approved preliminary plans for a core-space modification to Seneca Valley High School.

Brown v. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education 50th Anniversary

The Board received an update on plans for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education, which include curricular and other school-based activities, as well as school system and countywide events.

Board of Education: Ms. Sharon W. Cox, president; Mr. Reginald M. Felton, vice president. Members: Mr. Kermit V. Burnett, Dr. Charles Haughey, Mr. Walter N. Lange, Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill, Mr. Gabe Romero, and Mr. Sagar Sanghvi, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.