PRESENTATION OF 1 BID CALENDAR ITEM

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County of upcoming bid solicitations for Frederick County Public Schools.

RFP 24A2, Twin Ridge Elementary School Limited Renovation Program - Design Build:

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  The intent of this solicitation is to establish a contract for Design-Build services for a limited renovation of Twin Ridge Elementary School. 

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Kim Miskell, CSBO, Assistant Purchasing Manager

Adnan Mamoon, Director of Capital Programs, Division of Operations

SUBMITTED BY: 

Bill Meekins CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager

Heather Clabaugh, Associate Superintendent, Fiscal Services

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  Staff has reviewed the attached contract and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.   

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  The recommendation is to establish a contract and qualify a minimum of two licensed commercial contractors to perform emergency remediation and restoration services for water, mold, fire, and disaster damage.

Staff recommends that RFP 24MISC5, Qualification of Emergency Remediation and Restoration Contractors, be awarded to BARCO Enterprises, Inc. of White Marsh, MD; Barkay, Inc. dba: Paul Davis Restoration of Suburban Maryland and DC of Gaithersburg, MD; SI Restoration of Baltimore, MD.

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

David Guzman, Purchasing Agent

Laura Olsen, Manager, Environmental Compliance & Occupational Safety

SUBMITTED BY: 

Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPPO, NIGP-CPP, CSBO, CPCP, Purchasing Manager

Heather Clabaugh, Associate Superintendent, Fiscal Services

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 3 of a three-year 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Grant from MSDE to support summer programs at four Title I elementary schools. In FCPS, the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers operates as Fun Academics in the Summer Time (FAST). Year 3 grant funding for the FAST program is $400,000.

21^st Century Community Learning Centers have been serving FCPS students and families since 2003. Originally implemented as after school programs at our Title I elementary schools, the program focus shifted to summer learning and enrichment in 2015. During the past nine summers, over 2,600 students have been served.

If accepted by the Board of Education, Year 3 grant funds 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 the program is in session.

If accepted by the Board of Education, FAST grant monies would be used to:

• Fund FCPS teachers to serve as the “School-Based Leader” (referred to in the budget as “Program Principals”) to provide site-based management of the program.
• Fund an FCPS teacher to serve as the “Enrichment Coordinator” to collaborate with our community-based partner, Enhance Arts, in developing and implementing engaging enrichment activities.
• Support FCPS counselors to lead social-emotional learning efforts.
• Cover the costs of FCPS teachers to provide instruction in language arts and math.
• Support the work of community liaisons in their efforts to promote family engagement and student attendance in the FAST program.
• Provide professional learning to FAST staff on the language arts and math interventions used during the summer program.
• Cover transportation costs to and from the program provided by the FCPS Department of Transportation Services.
• Hire an external evaluator, as required by MSDE.
• Provide funding for field trips to ensure a broad and engaging enrichment experience for students.
• Support the work of Enhance Arts, our community-based partner.
• Purchase instructional and enrichment materials for use during the summer program.
• Cover the cost of conference attendance for FAST staff, as required by MSDE.

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.

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):

Doreen Bass, Grants Management Specialist

Kimberly Seiss, Supervisor of Accountability, Improvement & Innovative Programs

SUBMITTED BY: 

Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Chief of Schools & Accountability           

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education acceptance of the FAST2 Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a three-year 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Grant from MSDE to support summer programs at our Title I middle schools. In FCPS, the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers operates as Fun Academics in the Summer Time (FAST). Year 1 grant funding for the FAST2 program ($400,000) will support the summer 2024 program at Monocacy Middle School and West Frederick Middle School.

21^st Century Community Learning Centers have been serving FCPS students and families since 2003. Originally implemented as after school programs at our Title I elementary schools, the program focus shifted to summer learning and enrichment in 2015. During the past nine summers, over 2,600 students have been served.

If accepted by the Board of Education, Year 1 grant funds would be used to operate a five-week (19-day) summer program for rising sixth through eighth grade students at the two middle schools. Sixty students would be served at each school, with a total of 120 students served across the two sites. FAST2 would provide four and a half hours of academic, enrichment and social-emotional programming each day that the program is in session.

If accepted by the Board of Education, FAST2 grant monies would be used to:

• Fund FCPS teachers to serve as the “School-Based Leader” (referred to in the budget as “Program Principals”) to provide site-based management of the program.
• Fund FCPS teachers to serve as “Enrichment Coordinators” to collaborate with our community-based partners (Learning Undefeated and Teamlink) in developing and implementing engaging enrichment activities.
• Support FCPS counselors to lead social-emotional learning efforts.
• Cover the costs of FCPS teachers to provide instruction in language arts and math.
• Support the work of community liaisons in their efforts to promote family engagement and student attendance in the FAST2 program.
• Cover the costs of instructional assistants to provide classroom support during the program.
• Support the work of career coaches who will provide career awareness and exploration activities during the program.
• Cover the costs of FCPS interpreters to ensure that families can communicate effectively with program staff.
• Provide professional learning to FAST2 staff on the language arts and math interventions used during the summer program.
• Cover transportation costs to and from the program provided by the FCPS Department of Transportation Services.
• Hire an external evaluator, as required by MSDE.
• Provide funding for field trips to ensure a broad and engaging enrichment experience for students.
• Support the work of our community-based partners, Learning Undefeated and Teamlink, who will provide youth development and STEM-based enrichment opportunities to students during the summer program.
• Cover the costs of nurses to be on site at both schools during the summer program.
• Purchase instructional and enrichment materials for use during the summer program.
• Cover the cost of conference attendance for FAST2 staff, as required by MSDE.

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.

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 FAST2.

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):

Doreen Bass, Grants Management Specialist

Kimberly Seiss, Supervisor of Accountability, Improvement & Innovative Programs

SUBMITTED BY: 

Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

Jamie Aliveto, Ed.D., Chief of Schools & Accountability     

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education acceptance of a McKinney-Vento Grant from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools has been awarded a $123,000 grant from MSDE to support students experiencing homelessness. This is Year 1 of a three-year grant.

Multiple studies conclude that youth experiencing homelessness who do not earn a high school diploma and are 4.5 times more likely to be homeless as adults (National Center for Homeless Education, 2019). To that end, grant funds will be used to support the New Horizons Summer Academy (NHSA), in partnership with Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP), to increase the graduation rate of students experiencing homelessness.

NHSA is a summer program taught by trauma-informed staff who are also trained on the rights and services to children and youth experiencing homelessness under the federal McKinney-Vento Act. The program provides unaccompanied homeless youth and accompanied homeless youth with the opportunity to earn one credit towards graduation, engage in financial education and workforce services programming, and receive a stipend that is provided by SHIP. The five-week (19 days) program will run in summer 2024.

If approved by the Board of Education, grant funds would be used to support staff working in the program, including two program coordinators, six teachers, six instructional assistants, a Multilingual Education Program (MEP) community liaison, and two MEP teachers. Professional learning would be provided to all NHSA staff on adverse childhood experiences, suicide prevention, restorative practices, McKinney-Vento requirements, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), emergency preparedness, and Evacutrak (evacuation of students in wheelchairs).

Grant funds would also be used to transport students to the program by the FCPS Department of Transportation Services, as well as to purchase instructional materials to be used during the program. Lastly, grant funds would be used to support the mileage costs of the MEP community liaison working in the program, and for two FCPS staff to attend the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY) annual conference.

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.

The Title I grant awarded annually to FCPS requires that funds be used to support students experiencing homelessness. The FY24 Title I grant has allocated $53,994 to support the summer 2024 NHSA program. Between Title I and McKinney-Vento funds, the total cost to operate the summer 2024 NHSA program would be $176,994.

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):

Dana Falls, Director, Student Services

Keri-Ann Henson, Coordinator of Student Supports

SUBMITTED BY: 

Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

Jennifer Bingman, Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services           

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff seeks approval from the Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) for the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the Green Valley Elementary School and Valley Elementary School Replacement Projects (see backup 1) and Budget Amendment #24-07.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  The replacement Green Valley Elementary School (GVES) will be located at 4551 Landsdale Parkway, Monrovia, MD, and the replacement Valley Elementary School (VES) will be located on the existing property. Both schools will serve students in pre-kindergarten through 5^th grade. The replacement designs are based on the current FCPS prototype design that was initially developed for Blue Heron Elementary School and updated for Brunswick Elementary School.

As a part of the base bid, both schools include specialized program spaces per the educational specifications. These spaces are integrated and centrally located within the classroom wings. GVES was designed for a State Rated Capacity (SRC) of 725 students and will be a multi-story facility comprised of approximately 96,000 total gross square feet (GSF). VES is designed for a SRC of 745 students and will be a multi-story facility comprised of approximately 100,000 total gross square feet (GSF). The total gross square footage of VES includes the three add alternates:

• Parks and Recreation Gymnasium and the associated spaces (approximately 4,000 gross square feet).
• Computer data center and any associated spaces (approximately 1,000 gross square feet).
• Bus parking lot on site 

The preliminary construction schedule has been developed for a 27-month construction duration as follows:

• Construction Stage 1 beginning on April 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025
• Construction Stage 2 beginning on July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026

The substantial completion date for construction Stage 1 is June 30, 2025, with the new schools anticipated being open and occupied in August 2025. The substantial completion date for construction Stage 2 is June 30, 2026.

In order to award the GMP, staff recommends a budget transfer to support the increased costs as a result of unprecedented inflation. Budget Amendment #24-07 (see back-up 2) proposes to transfer funds from the Sugarloaf Elementary, Urbana Elementary, Rock Creek School, and Blue Heron Elementary projects into the GVES and VES replacement projects. The GMP for both bids exceeded the current total budget for the projects. An increase in the FY 2025 capital budget for both projects was requested, but this budget transfer allows contract award to proceed immediately, and no longer requires additional funding in the FY 2025 capital budget. The budget transfer is consistent with terms and conditions for capital budget transfers included in the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the County Commissioners and Board of Education dated May 30, 2013.

Staff requests approval of the GMP and the school construction amendment #24-07 for the GVES/VES replacement projects.

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Adnan Mamoon, Director, Capital Programs

SUBMITTED BY:

Paul A. Lebo, DSL, Chief Operating Officer

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Board discussion and action on Policy 405 Graduation.

PROCESS STATEMENT:
Policy 405 is presented today for the Board of Education’s information, discussion and action (summary_backup1, analysis_backup2, clean_backup3, and redlined_backup4).

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

SUBMITTED BY:
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Board discussion and action on Policy 301 Employee Expectations (formerly Contracts).

PROCESS STATEMENT:
Policy 301 is presented today for the Board of Education’s information, discussion and action (summary_backup1, analysis_backup2, clean_backup3, and redlined_backup4).

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

SUBMITTED BY:
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Board discussion and action on Policy 304 Certification.

PROCESS STATEMENT:
Policy 304 is presented today for the Board of Education’s information, discussion and action (summary_backup1, analysis_backup2, clean_backup3, and redlined_backup4).

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

SUBMITTED BY:
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Board discussion and action on Policy 314 Political Activity.

PROCESS STATEMENT:
Policy 314 is presented today for the Board of Education’s information, discussion and action (summary_backup1, analysis_backup2, clean_backup3, and redlined_backup4).

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

SUBMITTED BY:
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
The Board will consider moving the presentation from Change the Conversation, a non-profit organization that provides supplemental instruction and training within the Family Life & Human Sexuality Curriculum, to the Family Life Advisory Committee for partnership consideration.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

SUBMITTED BY: 

Dean Rose, Board Member

Karen Yoho, Board Member

Rae Gallagher, Board Member

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  

To provide a Special Education update with a focus on:

• DOJ Compensatory Services Parent Contact Status
• Mid-year physical restraints data review
• Special Education audit plan progress and crosswalks

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Jennifer Bingman, Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services

SUBMITTED BY: 

Jennifer Bingman, Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services

Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), (2), (9) the Board will meet in Closed Session at 4:00 pm in the Board Room to consider matters related to two appeals, to discuss a personnel matter, and to receive an update on negotiations with the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA), the Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE) and the Frederick County Administrative & Supervisory Association (FCASA).

In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), (2) and (9) the Board met in Closed Session at 4:00 pm in the Board Room to consider matters related to two appeals, to discuss a personnel matter, and to receive an update on negotiations with the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA) and the Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE) and the Frederick County Administrative & Supervisory Association (FCASA).

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  Recognize and proclaim National School Counseling Week, February 5-9, 2024 in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS).

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  National School Counseling Week 2024, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated nationwide February 5-9, 2024. The theme for the week is School Counseling: Standards-Based, Student-Focused.  This week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. School counselors are actively engaged in: helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; working in partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; focusing on positive ways to enhance students’ academic, career and social/emotional development; and working with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential.

FCPS employs 188 school counselors:  58 high school, 48 middle school and 82 elementary school. FCPS school counselors are assigned to all comprehensive schools, Heather Ridge School, the Career and Technology Center, the Success Program and the Multi-Lingual Education Program. These counselors are committed to working with all stakeholders to remove barriers, increase student achievement and provide much-needed resources for students, parents, teachers and administrators.

PROCESS STATEMENT:  Board leadership will read the proclamation.

SUBMITTED BY:

Janet Shipman, Supervisor, Student Services

Jennifer Bingman, Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services

Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: 
The Board of Education will recognize and proclaim January 2024 as Maryland School Board Recognition Month in Frederick County Public Schools.  

PROCESS STATEMENT:  
Early this month, Maryland Governor Wes Moore released a proclamation naming January 2024 "Maryland School Board Recognition Month".  In his proclamation recognizing local School Boards' "work to ensure a rigorous and world-class educational experience for every Maryland student", the Governor specified how greatly Maryland students benefit from School Boards "providing access to essential academic, social, emotional, and economic supports".  

SUBMITTED BY:

Karen Yoho, Board President

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  Presentation of the FCPS Annual Educational Partnerships Report

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  Frederick County Public Schools has produced its 8^th annual comprehensive Educational Partnerships Annual Report for 2022-2023. This report outlines its partnership program and acknowledges the many business and community partners who show their commitment to public education by supporting FCPS students and staff. Tiana Haile will showcase the FCPS Educational Partnerships annual report for 2022-2023. Guests will convey their perspective of what partnerships mean to our students, families, schools, and partners.

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Tiana Haile, Manager of Engagement and Partnerships, FCPS

Julie Ivins, Principal of Waverley Elementary, FCPS

Courtney H. Cline M.S. MHA, Workforce Development Specialist, Frederick Health

Chris Bumbaugh, Vice-President of Human Resources, Frederick Health

SUBMITTED BY: Dr. Eric Louérs-Phillips, Associate Superintendent of Public Affairs

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
Board discussion and action on Policy 114 Policy Development.

PROCESS STATEMENT:
Policy 114 is presented today for the Board of Education’s action and consent (summary_backup1, analysis_backup2, clean_backup3, and redlined_backup4).

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

SUBMITTED BY:
Steven N. Blivess, Esq., Chief Legal Counsel

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  
The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) will discuss school day start and end times. Staff will also present information about the fiscal impacts of changing current school start times.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: 
The BOE has discussed modifications to school start times on a number of occasions, and Board Member, Dean Rose, requested a subsequent discussion. This presentation will provide an overview of the history of the previous discussions with the BOE, and a discussion about two potential alternatives to the current school start times.

To analyze the request, staff modified transportation routes throughout the county to evaluate the impact of the proposed start times. The estimated cost to modify bell times under both options is significant and will require additional resources in future years to implement.

PROCESS STATEMENT:  N/A

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Mr. Dean Rose, Board Member

Dr. Paul Lebo, Chief Operating Officer

Mr. Fred Punturiero, Director, Transportation

SUBMITTED BY: 

Paul A. Lebo, DSL, Chief Operating Officer

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  Staff seeks the Board of Education’s (Board) approval of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) proposed operating budget to present at the January 31, 2024 public hearing.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  The Superintendent released the FY2025 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget (SRB) on Monday, January 8, 2024.  The Board was briefed on the SRB at the January 10, 2024 regular Board meeting.  The Board held a special work session with FCPS staff on January 17, 2024 to review individual department budgets.  At the January 24, 2024 meeting, the Board will receive an update on the budget and approve the budget to be presented at the public hearing.

The Board’s public hearing on the FY2025 operating budget is scheduled for Wednesday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m. in the Urbana High School auditorium.  The meeting will be recorded and broadcast at a later date.

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Heather Jo Clabaugh, Associate Superintendent of Fiscal Services

SUBMITTED BY: 

Heather Jo Clabaugh, Associate Superintendent of Fiscal Services

Items that appear in this agenda item are for informational purposes only.  The Agenda Item Request form is completed by a Board member when they would like for an item to appear on a future agenda.  Once the requesting Board member obtains two (2) other Board member signatures, the item is placed on a future agenda.  The Agenda Item Requests will be placed in the Informational Items section of the agenda to allow the public to see items that are being requested by Board members.