PRESENTATION OF 4 BID CALENDAR ITEMS
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County of upcoming bid solicitations for Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).
Bid 23C2, Walk-in Freezer at Thomas Johnson Middle School:
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The intent of this solicitation is for the purchase and installation of a new walk-in freezer with two cooler boxes at Thomas Johnson Middle School.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
David Guzman, Purchasing Agent
Tony Ray, Project Manager III, Capital Programs
Bid 23C3, Modular Classrooms:
Background/Summary: The intent of this solicitation is to purchase 12 modular classrooms, which will include a bathroom section as follows: two portable units for Oakdale Elementary School, four portable units for Ballenger Creek Middle School, and six portable units with bathrooms at Whittier Elementary School. This project will include delivery, installation, plumbing, and electrical work for each unit.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
David Guzman, Purchasing Agent
Tony Ray, Project Manager III, Capital Programs
RFP 23MISC7, FCPS Central Office Board and TV Control Rooms Upgrade:
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The intent of this solicitation is to upgrade the audio and video systems equipment that serves the main meeting room for the Board of Education and the main control room for FCPS Television.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
David Guzman, Purchasing Agent
Jeremy Eccard, Lead Video Production Specialist, Public Affairs
Bid 23MISC8, School and Office Furniture:
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The intent of this solicitation is to establish an open requirement contract for the purchase of furniture and equipment to accommodate replacement needs, new student growth and new/renovation school projects.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Kim Miskell, CSBO, Assistant Purchasing Manager
Dan Lippy, Ed.D., Director, School Management & Charter Schools, SASA
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County that Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is riding the above contract from Sourcewell.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This contract will be utilized by FCPS for the purchase of tools, maintenance, repair and other operational supplies. The majority of the purchases will be made by the Facilities Department.
The contract was awarded to Grainger of Lake Forest, IL.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
David Guzman, Purchasing Agent
Randall Connatser, Building Maintenance Manager, Maintenance
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County that Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is riding the above contract from Omnia Partners.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This contract will be utilized by multiple functional groups within FCPS for the purchase of tools, maintenance, repair and other operational supplies.
The contract was awarded to Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. of Columbus, Ohio.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
David Guzman, Purchasing Agent
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County that Frederick County Public Schools is riding the above contract from Frederick County Government.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This contract will be utilized by the Maintenance Department for the repair of electric motors and pumps.
The contract was awarded to Apparatus Repair and Engineering, Inc. of Hagerstown, MD.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Roy McHaffa, Purchasing Agent
Randall Connatser, Building Maintenance Manager, Maintenance
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff has reviewed the attached contract and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This recommendation is to establish contracts with licensed consultants for architectural, structural design and engineering services associated with roofing projects.
Staff recommends RFP 23A1, Roofing Design and Consulting Services be awarded to Bushey Feight Morin Architects Inc. of Hagerstown, MD; Colimore Architects of Baltimore, MD; and Restoration Engineering, Inc. of Fairfax, VA.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Kim Miskell, CSBO, Assistant Purchasing Manager
Brian Staiger, Senior Project Manager, Capital Programs Department
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff has reviewed the attached contract and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This recommendation is to establish a contract with qualified licensed consultants for HVAC system commissioning and consulting services on an as-needed basis for construction, renovation and maintenance projects.
Staff recommends that RFP 23MISC3, HVAC Commissioning and Consulting Services be awarded to James Posey Associates, Inc. of Baltimore, MD; MSTB Cx Group/Spectrum dba: Spectrum Energy of Richmond, VA; Procon Consulting LLC dba: Procon of Arlington, VA; and RMF Engineering, Inc., PC of Baltimore, MD.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Kim Miskell, CSBO, Assistant Purchasing Manager
Bradley Ahalt, Senior Project Manager, Capital Programs Department
SUBMITTED BY:
Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from Share Our Strength to support Food and Nutrition Services.
Share Our Strength is an international relief agency founded in 1984, with a mission to end hunger and poverty in the U.S. and abroad. It does this through a variety of programs, including the “No Kid Hungry” grant program, a national campaign committed to ending childhood hunger in the United States.
Grant funds will be used to purchase 25 shelf carts with casters. The carts will be used to deliver breakfast to classrooms. The carts will be placed primarily in elementary schools.
Acceptance of this $15,000 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources.
PROCESS STATEMENT: According to FCPS Regulation 500-21, all grant awards below $50,000 must be reported as information items on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
SUBMITTED BY:
Robert Kelly, Director, Food & Nutrition Services
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $47,351 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support professional learning in the Science of Reading for adults working with three- and four-year old children.
Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling for Early Childhood Educators (LETRS EC) will be offered to pre-kindergarten teachers, classroom assistants, specialists, Head Start staff and childcare providers working in settings outside of FCPS. LETRS EC, developed and offered by Lexia Learning, provides educators with deep knowledge of literacy instruction for the youngest learners. The LETRS EC course equips educators with strategies and routines to develop oral language, print knowledge, alphabet learning and writing skills in early learners. In addition, educators gain an understanding of age-appropriate assessments and how to use data to plan and implement instruction for the youngest learners.
Grant funds will be used to provide a $200 stipend to 80 FCPS staff ($21,544, including stipend and fixed costs) and 40 child care providers and/or Head Start staff who take the LETRS EC course ($8,000). The FCPS Early Childhood Teacher Specialist will facilitate the training; grant funds will be used to compensate her for work outside the contracted work day/school year. Grant funds will also be used to purchase course manuals for participants and subscriptions for the on-line portion of the course ($16,879). Lastly, FCPS will recover $928 in indirect costs to support the cost of doing business associated with the grant (e.g., Payroll, Purchasing and Accounts Payable functions).
Acceptance of this $47,351 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources.
PROCESS STATEMENT: According to FCPS Regulation 500-21, all grant awards below $50,000 must be reported as information items on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
SUBMITTED BY:
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director, Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $4,657 grant from the NEA Foundation to support professional learning at Tuscarora Elementary School.
Grant funds will be used to purchase books for two book studies. The winter book study will focus on “The Student Experience,” where staff will read four middle school level books that focus on understanding the immigration experience from the student perspective. The spring book study will focus on cultural proficiency, with staff reading the book, “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond. After both studies, staff will meet for a series of facilitated discussions on the books and their applications at Tuscarora Elementary School
Acceptance of this $4,657 in grants does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources.
PROCESS STATEMENT: According to FCPS Regulation 500-21, all grant awards below $50,000 must be reported as information items on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
SUBMITTED BY:
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Executive Director, System Accountability & School Administration
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: n/a
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $24,725 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to support the purchase of menstrual hygiene products for students.
In May 2021, House Bill 205 was enacted, which requires that each local education agency provide, at no charge to students, menstrual hygiene products via dispensers in the women’s restrooms in middle and high schools. Per the law, all public middle and high schools were required to install dispensers in at least two women’s restrooms on or before October 1, 2022. All public elementary schools were required to install a menstrual hygiene product dispenser in at least one restroom on or before October 1, 2022.
Grant funds will be used to partially cover the cost of the 336 dispensers that have been installed in FCPS elementary, middle and high school buildings.
Acceptance of this $24,725 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources.
PROCESS STATEMENT: According to FCPS Regulation 500-21, all grant awards below $50,000 must be reported as information items on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): n/a
SUBMITTED BY:
Paul A. Lebo, DSL, Chief Operating Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education acceptance of the FAST Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded Year 2 of a three-year, 21st Century Community Grant from MSDE to support summer programs at four schools. In FCPS, the 21st Century Community Learning Center operates as Fun Academics in the Summer Time (FAST).
21st Century Community Learning Centers have been serving FCPS students and families since 2003. Originally implemented as after school programs at three Title I elementary schools, the program focus shifted to summer learning and enrichment in 2015. Over the past eight summers, over 2,500 students have been served.
If accepted by the Board of Education, Year 2 grant funds of $400,000 would be used to operate a five-week (19-day) summer program for rising first through fifth grade students at Butterfly Ridge, Hillcrest, Lincoln and Waverley Elementary Schools. Fifty students would be served at each school, with a total of 200 students served across the four schools. FAST would provide four and a half hours of academic, enrichment and social-emotional programming each day that it is in session.
If accepted by the Board of Education, FAST grant monies would be used to:
During the summer program, breakfast and lunch would be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Meals Program. Meals would be facilitated by the FCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services. Transportation is provided to students in the program through the FCPS Department of Transportation with the costs covered by the ARP ESSER grant.
Acceptance of this grant does not require FCPS to expend additional local resources. The listed in-kind contributions detailed in the budget are an estimate of already existing local expenditures and are used to demonstrate FCPS’ commitment to FAST.
Staff recommends acceptance of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: According to FCPS Regulation 500-21, all grant awards over $50,000 must be accepted by the Board of Education.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Justine Freimanis, Teacher Specialist for School Improvement
Kimberly Seiss, Supervisor of Accountability, Improvement & Innovative Programs
SUBMITTED BY:
Jennifer Bingman, Director, System Accountability & School Improvement
Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Executive Director, System Accountability & School Administration
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
The Board of Education meeting dates for July 2023 through June 2024 are scheduled on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month with exceptions occurring in November, December, April and May. The second meeting in November will be held on the 3rd Monday due to the Thanksgiving holiday break. The December meeting will be held on the 1st Wednesday to conduct Board elections per Policy 101.2. The May meetings will be held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month due to conflicts with Board members attending high school graduations.
Per Board of Education Policy 102.1, the Board will conduct one meeting during the months of July, December and April.
Board members are asked to adopt the 2023-2024 Board meeting dates calendar.
At the December 7, 2022 Board of Education meeting, several Board members had reservations about some of the dates, and asked that the motion to approve the dates be tabled until the January 11, 2023 meeting.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
To provide the Board of Education an update on the status of the use of virtual instruction days for inclement weather, per MSDE guidance and to respond to the Board’s feedback provided in the last presentation on October 26, 2022.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) afforded local school systems the opportunity to repurpose certain days as virtual school days in the 2022-23 school year. One of those opportunities included inclement weather days. School systems have the opportunity to use up to eight days with no more than three of those days used as asynchronous days (the others being synchronous). FCPS submitted a plan to MSDE for approval to use three asynchronous virtual instruction days for inclement weather. The plan was approved. This tool is now available for FCPS staff to utilize for inclement weather.
PROCESS STATEMENT:
FCPS garnered feedback from Teacher and Principal Advisory Councils pertaining to a possible plan. Using this feedback, a plan was drafted and shared with families for feedback. Approximately two-thirds of the families who responded appreciated the possibility of using virtual instruction on inclement weather days. The plan was shared with the Board of Education in October 2022. The Board expressed the desire to have staff submit the plan to the state for consideration, while creating clearer communications around the plan for the community and establishing a Standard Operating Procedure for its use.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Executive Director, System Accountability and School Administration
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director, Curriculum, Instruction, Innovation
Paul Lebo, DSL, Chief Operating Officer
SUBMITTED BY:
Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Executive Director, System Accountability and School Administration
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Mr. Phillips will provide an update on the COVID-19 Response.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Larry Phillips, Acting Assistant to the Superintendent for Special Projects
SUBMITTED BY:
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), (2) and (7) the Board will meet in Closed Session at 4:00 pm in the Board Room to approve the recommendation of members to the Gifts for Education Committee, to consider matters related to two appeals, to consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice as it relates to the Open Meetings Act, to receive advice of counsel for potential litigation involving a current contract matter, and to receive advice of counsel concerning a pending legal matter.
In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), (2) and (7) the Board met in Closed Session at 4:00 pm in the Board Room to approve the recommendation of members to the Gifts for Education Committee, to consider matters related to two appeals, to consult with Counsel to obtain legal advice as it relates to the Open Meetings Act, to receive advice of counsel for potential litigation involving a current contract matter, and to receive advice of counsel concerning a pending legal matter.
In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-104, the Board met in Administrative Function at 4:30 p.m. today in the Board Room to receive an update on operational excellence initiatives and to receive an update regarding a charter school.
The Board welcomes and encourages public comment. With the exception of confidential and personnel related matters, and issues pending in appeals to a local or State Board, individuals may speak about matters relating to the school system. If individuals have specific concerns relating to the actions of staff members, such concerns may be communicated to the superintendent who will address the concern with the appropriate staff or if the concern is about the superintendent an individual may share that concern with the Board through written or private verbal communication. Public comment is not intended to be a question and answer platform with the Board. Generally, the Board will not respond to comments made.
If you are speaking as an individual you have up to 3 minutes and will be asked to complete your thoughts when the buzzer sounds. On behalf of an organization you have up to 5 minutes.
The Board discussed the draft Legislative Principles for the 2023 session at the November 21, 2022 and the December 7, 2022 Board meetings. The principles were also discussed at the January 3, 2023 BOE/Frederick Delegation Joint Meeting.
Today, these principles will be finalized via the consent agenda.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To review the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024) Superintendent’s Recommended Operating Budget (SRB) with the Board of Education (BOE).
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The Superintendent released the FY2024 recommended operating budget on Monday, January 9, 2023. The budget aligns with the Superintendent’s goals, and totals $933.0 million. The SRB is 13.4% more than the FY2023 approved operating budget. The SRB is $79.5 million above the Frederick County Government’s maintenance of effort requirement.
The BOE is scheduled to hold budget discussions with individual divisions and departments for FCPS during the budget work session on Wednesday, January 18 from 9:00A to 3:00P. The BOE is scheduled to approve a proposed budget at the January 25, 2023 BOE meeting to take to the February public hearing.
The BOE operating budget public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, February 1 at 7:00P in the Frederick High School auditorium.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Heather Jo Clabaugh, Director of Budget
SUBMITTED BY:
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
The Calendar Committee seeks parameters from the Board in order to develop the 2024-25 academic school year draft calendar.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
The Board of Education has charged the Calendar Committee with developing a 2024-25 school year academic calendar. The Calendar Committee is comprised of representative stakeholders from the FCPS Community.
PROCESS STATEMENT:
The FCPS Calendar Committee is a diverse committee representing a variety of stakeholder groups. The Board of Education sent out a FindOutFirst in July of 2022 advertising for parent and community representatives to serve on the committee. Applications were received and parent and community representatives were selected. The membership of the committee is a diverse cross-section of both community and FCPS stakeholders. In addition to the parent and community members selected to serve on the committee, community members always have the opportunity to offer feedback via the FCPS website and at Board of Education meetings.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation, Committee Co-chair
Eric Louérs-Phillips, DOL, Executive Director of Public Affairs, Committee Co-chair
SUBMITTED BY:
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
An update on Special Education will be provided to the Board.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
SUBMITTED BY:
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent