The Board of Education met yesterday [Tuesday, December 11] and, among other items, elected Board officers, and approved an update on the System of Shared Accountability for Schools and a school calendar for 2002-03. The Board also discussed an update on the Office of Global Access Technology and took positions on items of legislation submitted to the Montgomery County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly.

Election of Board Officers

The Board elected Reginald M. Felton president and Patricia M. O’Neill vice president of the Board of Education for one-year terms.

System of Shared Accountability

The Board approved the annual targets for high school improvement and the quality component of the System of Shared Accountability for schools. The annual improvement target for high schools is for a school to improve its total distance from the standards by three percentage points. The standards are percentages of previously approved categories ranging from “college rigorous” to “minimally prepared” and represent the extent to which high schools prepare their students for college and career. The quality component will monitor the quality of the school environment with four kinds of indicators: instruction, leadership, relationships, and physical resources. These quality indicators will be measured from the perspectives of students, parents and staff, including surveys of the school environment.

2002-2003 School Calendar

The Board approved the school calendar for 2002-03, including a contingency plan for use if the school year is disrupted by weather or other emergencies. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, August 27, 2002, before Labor Day, and the last day of school will be Wednesday, June 18, 2003.

Items of Legislation

The Board voted positions on bills that have been submitted as local legislation to the Montgomery County Delegation regarding Board of Education compensation, voting rights of the student member, and redistricting of Board districts.

Office of Global Access Technology

The Board discussed an update on the Office of Global Access Technology that includes the office’s activities and plans that support Shared Accountability and cross-functional teamwork with other offices and strengthened communication. Topics include administrative realignments, the technology modernization program, the Instructional Management System, the data warehouse, and information technology security.

Board of Education: Mr. Reginald M. Felton, president; Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill, vice president. Members: Mr. Steve Abrams, Mr. Kermit V. Burnett, Ms. Sharon W. Cox, Mrs. Nancy J. King, Mr. Walter N. Lange, and Mr. Dustin Jeter, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.