Staff reviewed the above referenced bid and recommends approval by the Board of Education as part of its consent agenda.

Staff reviewed the above referenced RFP and recommends approval by the Board of Education as part of its consent agenda.

Staff reviewed the above referenced bid and recommends approval by the Board of Education as part of its consent agenda.

School Construction Budget Amendment 15-04 transfers the remaining balance from the Thurmont Middle School Windows and Doors project and a portion of the anticipated surplus from the Glade Elementary School Chiller project to the Catoctin High School Switchgear and Transformer Replacement project.

At the time of the original budget amendment creating the Catoctin High School Switchgear and Transformer Replacement project, FCPS did not have a complete estimate for the project.  The original funding allowed for the installation of the switchgear portion of the project, which was completed during the summer of 2014.

The additional funds for the Catoctin High School project are required to complete the relocation and installation of the transformer.  FCPS is relocating the transformer away from the school due to safety concerns, providing the service cables and installing the secondary transformer to provide power to the school.  FCPS will also correct the electrical service provided for the fire pump, making it code compliant.  The town of Thurmont is responsible for the purchase and installation of the primary transformer. The work is scheduled to be completed during the 2014-2015 winter break.

This 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 will be available to answer questions about these projects at the meeting.

PRESENTER:         Heather Clabaugh, Accountant, Fiscal Services Division

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) a $666,334 grant to support the purchase of technology and its integration into the curriculum in high school mathematics classes.

Grant funds would be used to purchase 1,500 Chromebooks to be deployed in FCPS high schools, as well as carts to store and charge the devices.  Grant funds would also be used to purchase student licenses for TenMarks, a web-based adaptive mathematics program.  TenMarks would be used to complement teacher instruction and provide practice, assessment and intervention.  TenMarks licenses would be purchased for all students enrolled in year-long Algebra I, pre-Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2 during the 2014-2015 school year.

Grant funds would also be used to support professional learning for the teachers of these high school mathematics courses.  Teachers would participate in a one-hour TenMarks webinar and engage in extension activities.  This would be followed by a half-day professional learning session that further explores the use of TenMarks in the classroom to reinforce instruction.

Acceptance of this $666,334 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. 

Goal 1 –   Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

PRESENTERS:    Peter Cincotta, Curriculum Specialist, Secondary Mathematics

        Jamie Aliveto, Supervisor, Student Achievement

                     Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) a $59,133 continuation grant to fund Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professional learning, curriculum development and instructional materials. This grant is Year Seven in funding from MSDE’s STEM Education Initiative.  FCPS has received a total of $772,203 from MSDE to support local STEM initiatives and activities since the inception of the grant initiative.

At the middle school level, grant funds would be used to purchase six littleBits kits for each middle school.  The kits would be used in the eighth grade Technology Education class, Problem Solving.  littleBits are small circuit boards with specific functions (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, motor) engineered to snap together using magnets.  Small circuit boards can then be snapped together to create larger circuits.  littleBits would be used in the Problem Solving class to combine the scientific concepts of electricity with the engineering design process.   

At the high school level, grant funds would be used to purchase a set of five Vernier LabQuest 2 interfaces for use in high school science classes.  The LabQuest 2 is a stand-alone interface that allows students to collect, analyze and share data using wireless technology.

Lastly, grant funds would be used to support Project Based Learning Boot Camps.  Two-day boot camps would be held for elementary, middle and high school teachers to explore the essential elements of project based learning.  Teachers would apply indicators from a variety of standards (e.g., Next Generation Science Standards, Maryland Technology Literacy Standards) and develop project based units that they would then implement in their classrooms.  The units developed during the boot camps would be shared with all FCPS teachers. 

Acceptance of this $59,133 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. 

Goal 1 – Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

PRESENTERS:  Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator

The attached memorandum explains the circumstances surrounding an emergency change order issued at staff level that exceeded $25,000 in value for a project at the Career & Technology Center. This notification is provided in accordance with Regulation 200-06.

PRESENTER: Ray Barnes, Executive Director, Facilities Services Division

The Board will consider an additional request submitted by Impact Frederick, for a reduction in facilities use fees.

In June 2014, Impact Frederick used classrooms and other areas and facilities at Linganore High School.  This program was previously approved by the Board of Education in 2012 for the same activity.  For both years, waivers for Board policies, regulations and fees were requested by the applicant and approved.  The Board modified its 2012 decision for 2014 by requiring Impact Frederick to pay energy and labor costs in addition to a reduced building use fee.

The 2014 program did not have the participation, and therefore space requirements, as originally proposed and the organization is requesting a reevaluation of the reduced fee approved for this program by the Board of Education on March 13, 2013.

In accordance with Maryland's Open Meetings Act, Sections 10-508(a)(1) and (7), the Board of Education will meet in Closed Session at 3:20 p.m. in the Board Room to discuss the process relating to FCTA negotiations and to consult with counsel.  

The negotiating teams for the Board of Education and the Frederick Association of School Support Employees (FASSE) have reached tentative agreement for the 2014-15 school year. FASSE has conducted a ratification vote of its members and the tentative agreement is now being presented for the Board’s ratification. A summary of changes include:

• Salary - As of July 1, 2014, all pay scales shall be increased by 1.1% and the sum of $105 to offset health insurance increase

• 3-Year Agreement
  • Openers on salary
  • Openers on Benefits
  • Two article openers

• Holidays - The Board may designate alternate days for holidays in the event that extreme weather compels the Board to modify the student calendar. In this event the Board will designate a different day as a holiday in which employees will be compensated per the holiday portion of this agreement. This will be limited to weather-related calendar changes only.

• Selling of Annual Leave - Employees with at least ten (10) years of service with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) may cash in up to three (3) days of annual leave per year at the per diem rate of pay to be distributed on the May 30 paycheck contingent upon funding availability determined by end of year salary turnover savings. Employees will be notified of this option and the process for requesting the cash out on or before May 1. This cash out option is for fiscal year 2015 only.  

• Use of Personal Leave - The employee’s supervisor has the ability to grant personal business leave for extenuating circumstances prior to holidays, parent conferences, beginning or end of the school year.

• Higher Classification - An employee assigned to a higher classification for seven (7) consecutive days or more will be paid at the higher rate retroactive to the first day in the assignment.

• If an employee needs to increase their certifications for an existing job title, FCPS will work with the employee through the tuition reimbursement process in order to meet the new certification.

• An employee may request a new badge every 36 months at no cost.

• Clothing allowance for reimbursement for safety shoes at $60 per year or $120 every two years

• Allowance for safety glasses reimbursement at $60 per year or $120 every two years for those positions that require safety glasses

• Development of a Support Employee Evaluation Workgroup

Transportation:

• Created a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for determining seniority for assignment of bus routes and assigning new buses
• Created an SOP for posting of summer work available
• Increase in stipend to $475 for SY 14-15, $525 for SY 15-16, and $575 for SY 16-17 provided funding is available
• Increase plug in reimbursement to $50
• Created an SOP for assignment of field trip runs
• Allow a FASSE representative to sit on the accident review committee
• Provide drivers with a list of approved commercial bus washing sites at no cost to the employee
• Allow 10-month transportation employees to participate in Support Employee In-service day and be paid their hourly rate
• Created an SOP to work with employees through the tuition reimbursement language to assist them in getting any new or required certifications

Custodians:

• Provide insulated gloves for snow removal
• Provide Smock/Apron for work for identification purposes. This item would be worn over clothes and will remain at the school
• Overtime when working for an outside organization using the facilities on weekend’s regardless if any leave is taken during the week
• Hours worked for an outside organization group on a weekend, designated holidays will count toward the employee’s 40 hours
• When a custodian is applying for Lead or Assistant Lead positions, all active, paid, professional experience will be incorporated.
• Created an SOP for training Leads on ordering supplies online
• In the event of unique and extenuating circumstances, the process for posting a vacancy may be modified upon mutual agreement of the FCPS Human Resources staff and FASSE.

Secretaries:

• Added the position of 11-month secretary to sections 3.15 and 6.2(a) for consistency.

Instructional Assistants:

• Job sharing program with language similar to the teacher job share language
• Newly hired SEIAs to be trained prior to participating in a student’s IEP.
• Instructional Assistants and SEIAs may participate in teacher staff development trainings when feasible.

Food Services:

• Increase clothing allowance to $100 for those who work four (4) hours or more and $80 for those who work less than four (4) hours
• Food Services Assistant Managers, Site Assistants and benefited hourly workers; daily work hours will be adjusted based on participation. Permanent employees will be mailed notice of new assignment. Benefited employees, who fall below benefit status, will be transferred to another benefited position within Food Services.

Sign Language Interpreters:

• All after school assignments shall be paid a two (2) hour minimum.
• All interpreter assignments that require evening or weekend work shall be made available to all interpreters. If no interpreter volunteers, then interpreters will be selected based on seniority and the needs of FCPS to ensure the interpreter has the skills necessary for the assignment.

The completed negotiated agreement for the 2014-15 school year with language changes indicated in red is attached as backup.

Staff recommends that the Board ratify the negotiated agreement with FASSE.

Drug resources on FCPS website:  http://www.fcps.org/page/138

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

Staff reviewed the above referenced bid and recommends approval by the Board of Education as part of its consent agenda.

School Construction Budget Amendment 15-04 transfers the remaining balance from the Thurmont Middle School Windows and Doors project and a portion of the anticipated surplus from the Glade Elementary School Chiller project to the Catoctin High School Switchgear and Transformer Replacement project.

At the time of the original budget amendment creating the Catoctin High School Switchgear and Transformer Replacement project, FCPS did not have a complete estimate for the project.  The original funding allowed for the installation of the switchgear portion of the project, which was completed during the summer of 2014.

The additional funds for the Catoctin High School project are required to complete the relocation and installation of the transformer.  FCPS is relocating the transformer away from the school due to safety concerns, providing the service cables and installing the secondary transformer to provide power to the school.  FCPS will also correct the electrical service provided for the fire pump, making it code compliant.  The town of Thurmont is responsible for the purchase and installation of the primary transformer. The work is scheduled to be completed during the 2014-2015 winter break.

This 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.

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

PRESENTER:         Heather Clabaugh, Accountant, Fiscal Services Division

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) a $666,334 grant to support the purchase of technology and its integration into the curriculum in high school mathematics classes.

Grant funds would be used to purchase 1,500 Chromebooks to be deployed in FCPS high schools, as well as carts to store and charge the devices.  Grant funds would also be used to purchase student licenses for TenMarks, a web-based adaptive mathematics program.  TenMarks would be used to complement teacher instruction and provide practice, assessment and intervention.  TenMarks licenses would be purchased for all students enrolled in year-long Algebra I, pre-Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2 during the 2014-2015 school year.

Grant funds would also be used to support professional learning for the teachers of these high school mathematics courses.  Teachers would participate in a one-hour TenMarks webinar and engage in extension activities.  This would be followed by a half-day professional learning session that further explores the use of TenMarks in the classroom to reinforce instruction.

Acceptance of this $666,334 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. 

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

Goal 1 –   Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

PRESENTERS:    Peter Cincotta, Curriculum Specialist, Secondary Mathematics

               Jamie Aliveto, Supervisor, Student Achievement

                           Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) a $59,133 continuation grant to fund Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professional learning, curriculum development and instructional materials. This grant is Year Seven in funding from MSDE’s STEM Education Initiative.  FCPS has received a total of $772,203 from MSDE to support local STEM initiatives and activities since the inception of the grant initiative.

At the middle school level, grant funds would be used to purchase six littleBits kits for each middle school.  The kits would be used in the eighth grade Technology Education class, Problem Solving.  littleBits are small circuit boards with specific functions (light, sound, sensors, buttons, thresholds, pulse, motor) engineered to snap together using magnets.  Small circuit boards can then be snapped together to create larger circuits.  littleBits would be used in the Problem Solving class to combine the scientific concepts of electricity with the engineering design process.   

At the high school level, grant funds would be used to purchase a set of five Vernier LabQuest 2 interfaces for use in high school science classes.  The LabQuest 2 is a stand-alone interface that allows students to collect, analyze and share data using wireless technology.

Lastly, grant funds would be used to support Project Based Learning Boot Camps.  Two-day boot camps would be held for elementary, middle and high school teachers to explore the essential elements of project based learning.  Teachers would apply indicators from a variety of standards (e.g., Next Generation Science Standards, Maryland Technology Literacy Standards) and develop project based units that they would then implement in their classrooms.  The units developed during the boot camps would be shared with all FCPS teachers. 

Acceptance of this $59,133 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. 

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

Goal 1 – Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

PRESENTERS:  Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator

During today’s work session, the Board reconsidered its March 13, 2013, decision to reduce the building use fee for Impact Frederick.  The reduced fee will now include energy costs plus labor as calculated by FCPS facilities staff.

The attached memorandum explains the circumstances surrounding an emergency change order issued at staff level that exceeded $25,000 in value for a project at the Career & Technology Center. This notification is provided in accordance with Regulation 200-06.

This item was discussed in today's Work Session.

PRESENTER: Ray Barnes, Executive Director, Facilities Services Division

In accordance with Maryland Bylaw 13A.04.18.01, curricular changes and instructional materials intended for use in Family Life and HIV and AIDS Prevention Education must be reviewed by the Board-appointed Family Life Advisory Committee (FLAC) prior to consideration by the Board of Education.  Following their review, recommended materials are presented to the Board for approval and subsequent use in schools.  The following materials were unanimously endorsed by the FLAC membership.

Ninth Grade

Supplemental Material

• Video, Meet the Contraceptives, published on March, 2012 by Teens P.A.C.T. from the Community Healthcare Network, 60 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010

Eighth Grade

Replacement Material

• Eighth Grade Contraception Chart

• Created by classroom teachers and revised by Brett Stark and Brian Griffith
• The chart is based on information from the Association for Reproductive Health Professionals. www.arhp.org

Fifth Grade

Replacement Material

• PowerPoint Presentation:  Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases

• First created by classroom teachers and revised by James Hitchner through collaboration with various county health agencies
• The content shared in this PowerPoint presentation is based on information from the Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov; the World Health Organization, www.who.int; and www.aids.gov.

Goal 1  Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

Presenters:  Brett Stark, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation

         Brian Griffith, Curriculum Specialist, Health & Physical Education 6-12

                     Jamie Hitchner, Curriculum Specialist, Health & Physical Education PreK-5

                     Janet Shipman, Coordinator of Counseling and Student Support

Curriculum development and program implementation are dynamic processes requiring continued refinement.  As a result, new courses and pilot programs are proposed, implemented, and evaluated on a regular basis. The intent of this yearly report is to summarize the status of any previously piloted course, propose new pilot courses, and provide information about other staff-recommended additions to the courses and programs available to students in county middle and high schools.  Action on these proposed courses is required prior to distributing the annual high school and middle school course guides used during preregistration.  

Recommended course for inclusion in the 2015-2016 Middle School Course Guide:

• Targeted Reading Support, grades 6-8

Recommended courses for inclusion in the 2015-2016 High School Course Guide:

• Targeted Reading Support – grades 9-12
• Unified Physical Activity – grades 9-12
• On Ramp to Algebra – grade 9

Following Board approval, these courses will be included in the appropriate sections of the 2015-2016 course guides.  Deciding which elective courses will actually be taught at individual schools will continue to be site-based in order to reflect student interest and accommodate school/staff schedules.

Goal 1   Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

PRESENTERS:   Dr. George M. Seaton II, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation

                          Brett Stark, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation

                          Sue Ann Nogle, Curriculum Specialist, English/Language Arts 6-12

                          Carmen Working, Coordinator of Special Education/Psychology Services

                          Brian Griffith, Curriculum Specialist, Physical Education/Health 6-12

                          Peter Cincotta, Curriculum Specialist, Mathematics 6-12

During summer curriculum writing workshops, teachers and curriculum specialists review the existing curriculum and accompanying assessment data, as well as any changes to state or national curricular frameworks and content standards, to determine the need for additions or deletions.  As a result of work completed by the end of this year’s workshops, new or substantially revised essential curricula are being proposed for a number of courses and grades.

Staff recommends that proposed curricula be approved for the following courses and programs:

• Secondary Mathematics – grade 9
• Career and Technology Education – grade 6
• Elementary Health Education – grades 3-5

Following approval, the curricula for the above courses will be posted on the school system’s website www.fcps.org for access by staff, parents and other interested parties.

Goal 1     Every student will learn in an intellectually challenging environment, prepared as a life-long learner to excel in college, further study and the workplace.

Presenters:  Dr. Kevin S. Cuppett, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation

                     Dr. George M. Seaton, II, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation

                            Brett Stark, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Innovation

                     Peter Cincotta, Curriculum Specialist, Mathematics 6-12

                     Kristine Pearl, Supervisor of Career and Technology Education

                     James Hitchner, Curriculum Specialist, Physical Education/Health PreK-5

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has awarded Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) a $1,750 grant to purchase technology for two FCPS assistant principals who are participating in the Promising Principals Academy.

The Promising Principals Academy is a year-long professional learning program designed to provide support, networking and practical training for assistant principals aspiring to become principals.  Two participants from Maryland’s 24 local education agencies were nominated by their superintendent for participation in the Academy based on their interest and leadership potential.  Michael Chavez, assistant principal at Urbana High School, and Chelsea Skoczylas, assistant principal at Monocacy Middle School, were selected for participation in the Promising Principals Academy.

Grant funds would be used to purchase an iPad Air for each Promising Principal participant.

Acceptance of this $1,750 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. 

Goal 3 –   All employees will be highly qualified for their jobs, motivated and effective at work, and valued and respected by their students and the community.