PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff has reviewed the attached proposal and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This recommendation is to establish a contract for disposable serviceware products to be utilized by the Food and Nutrition Services.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Scott Bachtell, Buyer Specialist
Robert Kelly, Food and Nutrition Services Senior Manager
SUBMITTED BY:
Stephen P. Starmer, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff has reviewed the attached contract renewal and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This recommendation is for the renewal of the contract for bulk purchase of diesel and unleaded fuel and for the administration of a fleet management credit card program for Frederick County Public Schools.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Billie Laughland, Buyer Specialist
Fred Punturiero, Director of Transportation
SUBMITTED BY:
Stephen P. Starmer, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff seeks approval of Current Expense Amendment 1-16 to reflect actual line-item budgets developed by the charter schools from previous estimates.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The Fiscal Year 2016 Approved Budget included estimated category totals for the three charter schools. The actual line-item budgets developed by the charter schools were created after they received their official per-pupil allocations. This amendment adjusts the Maryland State Department of Education categories to align with the actual budgets of the charter schools and recognizes a portion of the charter schools’ prior-year fund balances.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Robert Reilly, Director, Budget & Finance
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
SUBMITTED BY:
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff seeks approval of Current Expense Amendment 2-16.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This budget amendment is needed to align expenses for three Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) grants received after the Fiscal Year 2016 operating budget was approved. $15,228 was awarded through the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act for Frederick County to host a regional Maryland State Department of Education training (culinary boot camp). $10,136 was the FNS portion of a Maryland Association of Boards of Education grant for safety-related equipment, and $32,000 was recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for equipment to improve school food services.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Robert Reilly, Director, Budget & Finance
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
SUBMITTED BY:
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education approval of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to support students at West Frederick Middle School and Frederick High School.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools has been awarded a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to operate the second year of its program, Fun Academics in the Summer Time PLUS (FAST+), at West Frederick Middle (WFMS) and Frederick High Schools (FHS).
Grant funds would be used to operate a 23-week after school program at WFMS and a five-week summer program at both WFMS and FHS. If approved by the Board of Education, the after school program would be launched on Monday, November 9, 2015 and serve a total of 75 students in grades 6 – 8. The summer 2016 program would serve 75 WFMS entering grades 6 – 8, as well as 25 rising 9th grade students who will be attending FHS in the fall.
The amount awarded by MSDE for Year 2 (September 1, 2015 – August 30, 2016) is $350,645. If approved by the Board of Education, grant funds would be used to:
Community-based partners would provide comprehensive enrichment activities to students. Partners include the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County (site supervision, staffing), FC Frederick (soccer), Maryland Science Olympiad (hands-on science, technology, and engineering), Teamlink (youth development), YMCA of Frederick County (sports, fitness, drama, dance), and Young Rembrandts (art). Grant funds would be used to support the work of these partners, as well as provide a school nurse through our partnership with the Frederick County Health Department.
During the after school program, a hot meal would be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) After School Meals Program. During the summer, breakfast and lunch would be provided by USDA’s Summer Meals Program. Meals would be facilitated by the FCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services.
Acceptance of this grant does not obligate 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 approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Dr. Keith Harris, Director of Schools
Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator
Charlene Gomes, FAST Program Administrator
SUBMITTED BY:
Tracey Lucas, Executive Director of School Administration & Leadership
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education approval of a $32,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to purchase food service equipment for Monocacy Elementary School.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The purpose of the Equipment Assistance Grant is to provide funding for equipment purchases for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to improve the quality, nutrition and safety of school meals; emphasize fruits and vegetables in school meals; and expand program access. Funds for this grant are made available to MSDE through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Monocacy Elementary School participates in both the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, with 53.21% of its students eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals. Grant funds would be used to purchase two hot serving counters ($16,592) and two frost-top serving counters ($15,408). This new equipment would replace original equipment installed at the time of the school’s construction in 1990.
The new equipment would allow the FCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services to serve more local fresh fruits and vegetables due to increased serving space. The new serving lines would allow for more accurate temperature control, which would help ensure food safety. In addition, the new equipment would be more energy efficient than the current 25-year old equipment, thus conserving energy and reducing energy costs school.
Acceptance of this grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. Staff recommends approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Robert Kelly, Senior Manager, Food and Nutrition Services
Jo Ann Morris, Food Services Specialist
SUBMITTED BY:
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: The purpose of this presentation is to provide the Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) with information concerning some modifications to the FCPS state school construction funding request. These changes are an outcome of the initial review by the Public School Construction Program (PSCP) staff of our requests for fiscal year (FY) 2017.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Each year, the BOE approves a six-year program of school construction projects for consideration by the State and County. The first year of the program is now under review by PSCP staff, who have provided initial comments to FCPS. For differing reasons, three of the systemic renovation projects submitted last month will be substituted with other projects from our program. The projects that will be delayed or withdrawn include the following: (1) Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School boiler replacement; (2) Governor Thomas Johnson High School roof; and (3) Middletown Middle School pipe repair. The reasons for their delay or withdrawal are found on the attachment (see backup 1). The following three projects will be substituted: (1) Hillcrest Elementary School roof; (2) Walkersville B (Staff Development Center) boiler replacement; and (3) Carroll Manor Elementary School chiller. These projects were approved by the BOE in the FY 2017-22 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). County officials will be notified about the changes listed above. Funding decisions will be made in a series of steps between November 2015 and May 2016.
PROCESS STATEMENT: The FY 2017-22 CIP was previously approved by the BOE at their September 23, 2015 meeting. The six-year CIP is an integral part of the Educational Facilities Master Plan. All of the projects that are the subject of these modifications were included in the FY17-FY19 funding request.
PRESENTER & TITLE: Elizabeth Pasierb, Supervisor of Facilities Planning
SUBMITTED BY: Ray Barnes, Chief Operating Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To provide Board members with an update of The District Management Council’s (DMC) study of special education services to Frederick County Public School (FCPS) students.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: DMC is working with FCPS on a three-year project to improve the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and equity of special education services to FCPS students. With this information, the district will be able to administer thoughtful and informed decisions to improve the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and equity of special education services provided to our students.
PROCESS STATEMENT: Beginning in early May, 2015, and as an initial step in this study, DMC representatives conducted focus groups with a cross-section of central office and school-based staff to gather thoughts, concerns and ideas related to the FCPS special education program and services provided to students with disabilities; focus group participants also shared their day-to-day activities and responsibilities as they relate to special education. In addition, scheduled visits were made to specific schools enabling DMC representatives to observe classrooms supporting students with disabilities while demonstrating specialized programs as well as co-teaching lessons. Numerous meetings and telephone conferences with appropriate staff have been ongoing as well. On September 2, 2015, a retreat with central office and school staff was held; at that time, DMC representatives shared their findings. On September 16, 2015, a work session was held to discuss the executive summary.
Later in the process, DMC will help codify practices what will best serve our students, as well as help with the development of staffing guidelines to assist with the budget.
(Please Note - The 11 04 15 SECAC DMC 10 26 15A attachment was posted for informational purposes only.)
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Theresa R. Alban, Ph.D., Superintendent
Mike Markoe, Ed.D. Deputy Superintendent
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Markoe, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent
Musical selection "Thunderer" by John Philip Sousa, as performed by the Crestwood Middle School Cavalier 7th & 8th Grade Band under the direction of Kristina Ambrose.
The Board welcomes and encourages public comment. With the exception of confidential and personnel related matters, 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.
If you are speaking as an individual you have up to 3 minutes and I ask that when the buzzer goes off that you complete your thoughts. On behalf of an organization you have up to 5 minutes.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Recognition of American Education Week and Adoption of Proclamation
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
During the week of November 16-20, 2015, school systems across the nation will celebrate the 94th annual American Education Week. This year’s theme is “Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility.” This theme supports the Frederick County Public Schools Strategic Plan to nurture relationships with families and the entire community, sharing responsibility for student success and demonstrating pride in all aspects of our school system.
It is requested that the Board of Education of Frederick County recognize American Education Week in Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) by adopting the proclamation and inviting the citizens of Frederick to visit schools and support public education.
Michael Doerrer will Representatives from the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA), Frederick County Administrative and Supervisory Association (FCASA), and Parent-Teacher Association Council of Frederick County (PTA) will provide brief comments about the important work done in Frederick County by their members and read the proclamation.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
1. Melissa Dirks, FCTA president
2. FASSE representative
3. Jethro Reid, FCASA president
4. Tracy Tatum, PTA president
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Recognizing School Psychology Awareness Week
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Both Houses of Congress and the Governor of Maryland have proclaimed November 9-13, 2015 as School Psychology Awareness Week. In 2010, the U.S. Congress acknowledged in the Federal Register that “School Psychologists are highly trained individuals that work directly with students, teachers, and families to form collaborations that meet the educational needs of our children.” Representative Dave Loebsack introduced this resolution to the House by announcing “School Psychologists can play an important role in increasing a student’s engagement in school. Research points to higher standardized test scores and better grades as well as decreased absences and discipline referrals. School Psychologists are a vital resource in helping us narrow the achievement gap and decrease disproportionate representation of students from diverse backgrounds in Special Education.”
In his proclamation, the Governor acknowledges that school psychologists are instrumental in ensuring student success and making Maryland schools the finest in the nation.
The BOE approved the hiring of four new school psychologists for the 2014-15 school year. As a result, significantly more direct mental health services related to academic functioning were offered to students, staff and families (see attached).
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Ann C. Hammond, Supervisor of Psychological Services and School Therapists
Katherine Mangus, School Psychologist
Donna Clabaugh, Principal, Crestwood Middle School
SUBMITTED BY:
Ann C. Hammond, Supervisor of Psychological Services and School Therapists
Dan Martz, Director of Special Education & Psychological Services
Board approval of staffing changes as reflected in attached report.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board approval of a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant to support students at West Frederick Middle School and Frederick High School.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Frederick County Public Schools has been awarded a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education to operate the second year of its program, Fun Academics in the Summer Time PLUS (FAST+), at West Frederick Middle (WFMS) and Frederick High Schools (FHS).
Grant funds would be used to operate a 23-week after school program at WFMS and a five-week summer program at both WFMS and FHS. If approved by the Board of Education, the after school program would be launched on Monday, November 9, 2015 and serve a total of 75 students in grades 6 – 8. The summer 2016 program would serve 75 WFMS entering grades 6 – 8, as well as 25 rising 9th grade students who will be attending FHS in the fall.
The amount awarded by MSDE for Year 2 (September 1, 2015 – August 30, 2016) is $350,645. If approved by the Board of Education, grant funds would be used to:
Community-based partners would provide comprehensive enrichment activities to students. Partners include the Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County (site supervision, staffing), FC Frederick (soccer), Maryland Science Olympiad (hands-on science, technology, and engineering), Teamlink (youth development), YMCA of Frederick County (sports, fitness, drama, dance), and Young Rembrandts (art). Grant funds would be used to support the work of these partners, as well as provide a school nurse through our partnership with the Frederick County Health Department.
During the after school program, a hot meal would be provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) After School Meals Program. During the summer, breakfast and lunch would be provided by USDA’s Summer Meals Program. Meals would be facilitated by the FCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services.
Acceptance of this grant does not obligate 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 approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Dr. Keith Harris, Director of Schools
Doreen Bass, Grants Coordinator
Charlene Gomes, FAST Program Administrator
SUBMITTED BY:
Tracey Lucas, Executive Director of School Administration & Leadership
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To seek Board of Education approval of a $32,000 grant from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to purchase food service equipment for Monocacy Elementary School.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The purpose of the Equipment Assistance Grant is to provide funding for equipment purchases for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to improve the quality, nutrition and safety of school meals; emphasize fruits and vegetables in school meals; and expand program access. Funds for this grant are made available to MSDE through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Monocacy Elementary School participates in both the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program, with 53.21% of its students eligible for free and/or reduced-price meals. Grant funds would be used to purchase two hot serving counters ($16,592) and two frost-top serving counters ($15,408). This new equipment would replace original equipment installed at the time of the school’s construction in 1990.
The new equipment would allow the FCPS Department of Food and Nutrition Services to serve more local fresh fruits and vegetables due to increased serving space. The new serving lines would allow for more accurate temperature control, which would help ensure food safety. In addition, the new equipment would be more energy efficient than the current 25-year old equipment, thus conserving energy and reducing energy costs school.
Acceptance of this grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. Staff recommends approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Robert Kelly, Senior Manager, Food and Nutrition Services
Jo Ann Morris, Food Services Specialist
SUBMITTED BY:
Leslie Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: The Calendar Committee seeks approval from the Board for the 2016-2017 academic school year calendar.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The Board of Education has charged the Calendar Committee with developing a 2016-2017 school year academic calendar. The Calendar Committee is comprised of FCPS staff, parents, a student member, PTSA, FASSE, FCASA, and FCTA representatives.
PROCESS STATEMENT: The FCPS Calendar Committee is a diverse committee representative of a variety of stakeholder groups. The Board of Education sent out a Find Out First in June, 2015 advertising for parent and community representatives to serve on the committee. Many applications were received and parent and community representatives were selected by committee members. 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. The committee has received email feedback on the calendar throughout the fall and those emails were shared with committee members during meetings.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Tracey Lucas, Executive Director of School Administration and Leadership, Committee Co-chair
Julie Marker, Parent Representative, Committee Co-chair
SUBMITTED BY:
Tracey Lucas
Executive Director of School Administration and Leadership
The 2016 Legislative Principles draft is attached. Board members are in the process of submitting suggestions/comments to Joy Schaefer.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: N/A
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded an $8,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Frederick County to support the Frederick County Judy Center. The Frederick County Judy Center operates at Hillcrest, Lincoln and Waverley Elementary Schools and works to ensure that all children in its programs enter school ready to learn.
The Judy Center provides weekly playgroups for children age birth through four and their parents. During the playgroups, Judy Center staff offer developmentally appropriate activities in the areas of social foundational skill development, music, movement, language and literacy, mathematical thinking and scientific skills. Staff models learning activities for parents and shares information about how they can help their child at home.
Community Foundation grant funds will be used to purchase quality educational materials focused on scientific thinking, mathematical thinking, and language and literacy development. These materials will be shared with families for their use at home. Playgroups will be structured around resources that will be disseminated to families.
Acceptance of this $8,000 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. Staff recommends approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director, Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: N/A
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $5,000 grant from Clinical Research Management, Inc. to support Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) career awareness at Centerville Elementary School.
Thirty female students will meet twice a month after school with two Centerville teachers. Female guest speakers from STEM-related fields will meet with the students to share STEM career opportunities. Guests include professionals from National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Farmers Cooperative and Kingsbrook Animal Hospital. The students will engage in design and engineering tasks related to the guest speaker’s career field. The culminating activity is a field trip to the Expo USA Science and Engineering Festival at the Washington Convention Center in April 2016.
Grant funds will be used to provide workshop pay for the two teachers planning and running the after school sessions ($1,147), substitute teachers for the field trip ($216), materials of instruction for the engineering tasks ($827), five iPads for students to use in their engineering tasks ($2,495), bus transportation to Washington D.C. ($240), and snacks for the meetings ($75).
Acceptance of this $5,000 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. Staff recommends approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director, Curriculum Instruction and Innovation
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: N/A
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $10,000 grant from Dominion Power Foundation to support schoolyard habitat projects at Myersville Elementary School.
Myersville Elementary has created an outdoor classroom by planting a butterfly garden and installing several bluebird boxes around the perimeter of its campus. The school will now take advantage of the outdoor classroom environment and integrate it into the curriculum.
Two bluebird web cameras will be installed so students can observe, record and collect data about the birds in their natural habitats. Students will use devices to gather information and record data.
In the butterfly garden, students will identify and label flowers and plants using the Plant Snapp application (app). Students will conduct research on native flowers that attract butterflies and then plant them. Students will use the Monarch Butterfly Journey North website to report sightings of Monarch butterflies, eggs and larva in the garden.
Grant funds will be used to purchase devices and bird cameras ($8,000) and purchase garden materials ($2,000).
Acceptance of this $10,000 grant does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources. Staff recommends approval of this grant.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Tracey Lucas, Director, School Administration and Leadership
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: N/A
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $740 grant from FirstEnergy, the parent company of Potomac Edison, to support Emmitsburg Elementary School.
FirstEnergy’s Classroom Grants Program support projects in the communities served by the corporation. The program focuses on classroom applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Emmitsburg Elementary will use its FirstEnergy grant to purchase Bee-Bots, robots that are designed to help young students experience computer programming or coding.
By using directional keys, students enter commands to send the Bee-Bot forward, back, left and right. The Bee-Bot blinks and beeps at the conclusion of each command to allow students to follow the Bee-Bot through the program they have entered. Use of the Bee-Bot can be tied to the curriculum. For example, students in second grade learn the life cycle of a milkweed bug, frog and butterfly. Pictures of the stages of each organism can be placed around the classroom. Students could then program the Bee-Bot to move throughout the classroom following the path of the stages.
Grant funds will allow the purchase of six Bee-Bots ($600) and several mats calibrated to Bee-Bot to help students learn, develop and practice particular skills ($140).
This $740 grant award does not obligate FCPS to expend additional local resources.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A
SUBMITTED BY:
Tracey Lucas, Executive Director, School Administration and Leadership
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The Career & Technology Center’s FFA Alumni Association and Frederick Community College recently received a $24,886.67 grant from the Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund to support Agricultural Entrepreneurship. The grant will allow CTC to offer two FCC Dual Enrollment courses, this spring, to high school students interested in pursuing Agri-Business careers.
Students will be enrolled in an existing FCC course (BU 109 - Entrepreneurship & Small Business Enterprise) and a new Agricultural Business course being developed jointly by CTC and FCC for the spring semester.
Participation in the program will enhance each student’s Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE). Grant funded projects for students include an apiary (honeybees), cut-flower production, and a small plot agriculture vegetable operation, all operating under a community-supported agriculture system (CSA).
Local business leaders have committed to providing field trip opportunities to agricultural businesses within the community. Additionally, FFA Alumni members will mentor students and provide help with hive and grounds maintenance during project transitions.
Courses will be offered during the afternoon of second semester. Interested students should contact the FCPS Career and Technology Center.
FCPS did not receive this grant, nor will any funds from the grant come to FCPS.
PROCESS STATEMENT: N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A
SUBMITTED BY: Tracey Lucas, Executive Director of School Administration and Leadership