Board of Education Discusses Wheaton/Edison Modernization, Legislation

March 1, 2011

The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Monday, February 28, 2011 and discussed, among other items, the superintendent’s recommendation for a modernization project at Wheaton High School and Thomas Edison High School of Technology; took action on several facilities issues; and discussed pending legislation.

Resolutions
- The Board recognized 71 MCPS educators who received certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. MCPS has a total of 584 teachers who have attained National Board certification and ranks 12th nationally in terms of the number of Board-certified teachers. Read the resolution.
- The Board of Education passed a resolution recognizing March as Women’s History Month in Montgomery County Public Schools. Read the resolution.

Facilities Action
- The Board of Education approved feasibility studies for modernization projects at three schools:

o Brown Station Elementary School
o Seneca Valley High School
o  Wheaton Woods Elementary School

- The Board approved a conservation agreement with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission at the site of a new elementary school to be built in the McKenney Hills neighborhood. See the Board item.

Work session on modernization project for Wheaton High School and Thomas Edison High School of Technology
   The Board discussed the superintendent’s recommendation for a planned modernization project of Wheaton and Edison high schools, which currently share a single building (read the superintendent’s recommendation). The Board approved two alternatives to the superintendent’s recommendation that will be considered:
- Alternative 1: That Edison and Wheaton be constructed as separate buildings on the site of the current shared facility, with separate identifiable structures using education specifications that are appropriate to the separate and independent missions of the two schools.
- Alternative 2: That a single facility be constructed so as to have a portion meet the educational specifications for Wheaton and a portion meet the educational specifications for Edison, with shared facilities as appropriate, but that the two schools have separate and identifiable spaces and entrances.
   A public hearing on the superintendent’s recommendation and the Board alternatives will be held on March 15, at 7 p.m., in the auditorium of the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. For more information on the hearing, click here. The Board is expected to take action on a recommendation on March 28.

Discussion of proposed legislation
   The Board discussed several pieces of legislation currently being considered by the Maryland state legislature, covering a wide array of school programs and operations, including facilities, fiscal matters, curriculum and more (view the Board item).

About the Board of Education
   Montgomery County Board of Education: Mr. Christopher Barclay, president; Ms. Shirley Brandman, vice president. Members: Ms. Laura Berthiaume, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Michael Durso, Mr. Phil Kauffman, Ms. Patricia O’Neill, and Mr. Alan Xie, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.
   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.

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