In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), the Board will meet in Closed Session at _____ p.m. in room 5A to discuss the appointment of members to the Family Life Advisory Committee.
PRESENTATION OF 1 BID CALENDAR ITEM
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Staff would like to inform the Board of Education of Frederick County of an upcoming bid solicitation.
Bid 16T3, School Bus Program Vehicle Tires - Bridgestone
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The intent of this solicitation is to establish a contract for the purchase of tires for all vehicles utilized by Frederick County Public Schools. The major tire manufacturer, Bridgestone, offers a school bus program that has specially designated pricing that is available specifically for schools, and a discount purchasing program that is broken down by state. These programs allow for the purchase of tires for both buses and standard vehicles.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPCP, Buyer Specialist
Mark Maggitti, Fleet Maintenance 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 bid and recommends approval by the Board of Education of Frederick County.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: This recommendation is to establish a contract for the purchase of a delivery box truck for the Warehouse to replace an aging vehicle.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPCP, Buyer Specialist
Mark Maggitti, Fleet Maintenance 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 motor oils, lubricants, greases and other related items for the Bus Garage/Transportation Department of Frederick County Public Schools.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Bill Meekins, CPPB, CPCP, Buyer Specialist
Mark Maggitti, Fleet Maintenance Manager
SUBMITTED BY:
Stephen P. Starmer, C.P.M., Purchasing Manager
Leslie R. Pellegrino, Chief Financial Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To provide the Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Bridge to Excellence Master Plan annual update to Board members.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: Initiated in 2003, Maryland school districts are required to develop comprehensive “Master Plans” that incorporate federal, state and local funds, goals, and measurable performance standards into a comprehensive document. The original FCPS Bridge to Excellence Master Plan was developed during the 2002 school year. Annual updates have been presented to the Board since that time.
PROCESS STATEMENT: On October 14, 2015, System Accountability staff presented Progress Report #27, Volume I, Frederick County Public Schools Five-Year Comprehensive Plan to the Board of Education. The board requested more time to review the document and provide feedback prior to the final submission due to MSDE on November 18, 2015. No additional feedback was received from the BOE; however, MSDE provided commendations and a few minor recommendations to the document. Those minor revisions will be discussed.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Jamie Aliveto, Director, System Accountability & School Improvement
Natalie Gay, Coordinator Data Analysis
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To obtain approval of the concept for entering into a twenty (20) year solar power purchase agreement at Kemptown Elementary School (KES).
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The concept is to install ground-mounted solar arrays on an undeveloped fourteen acres at KES. A contractor will install, operate and maintain the solar field. FCPS will purchase the resulting energy for a 20-year period, at a fixed rate that is approximately $0.02 (per kilowatt-hour) below our current rate. The field will provide sufficient electricity for Kemptown Elementary School and other FCPS Potomac Edison accounts. There will be no direct impact on the educational program at KES. It will benefit this school by reducing or eliminating the impact of brownouts or power outages in this part of the county.
The agreement is similar to the agreement currently in place for the solar panels on the roof at Oakdale High School. Many public agencies in Maryland successfully employ this concept, and we intend to use a “ride-along” provision in an existing contract to establish our agreement. Federal tax credits, which are prompting the establishment of these agreements, will expire at the end of 2016. Staff estimates that the savings associated with these panels will be approximately $100,841 annually and $2.01 million cumulatively over the 20-year timeframe of the agreement. Attached are the proposal (backup 1) and staff presentation (backup 2) with further details about the contractor Solar City Inc. and the project.
PROCESS STATEMENT: The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) is asked to review the attached proposal for discussion at its November 18 meeting. Subject to the BOE’s support of the concept, staff will prepare a procurement document that will be brought to the BOE for approval at a later date. Following BOE approval, plan review by the public and the County Planning Commission will be scheduled prior to permission moving forward. Subject to all approvals, the panels are scheduled to be installed in the fall of 2016.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): Charlie Dalphon, Coordinator, Energy and Utilities
Robert Wilkinson, Director of Maintenance and Operations
SUBMITTED BY: Ray Barnes, Chief Operating Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To review the upcoming Quarterly Agenda.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: At the January 14, 2015 meeting the Board voted to adopt the new quarterly agenda process and instituted a new process for submitting requests for future agenda items.
PROCESS STATEMENT: To provide quarterly agendas that will be posted on Board Docs at each Board meeting. This process will enable the public and staff to plan for upcoming Board meetings. The quarterly agenda is a dynamic document that will be revised as needed to accommodate time sensitive business items and items requested using the form adopted for the Board.
The January - March 2016 Quarterly Agenda is attached for review and discussion. It will be submitted for Action Consent at the next board meeting.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Mr. Young, Board President
SUBMITTED BY: Mr. Young, Board President
Most meetings on the attached draft calendar for July 2016 through June 2017 are scheduled on the second and fourth Wednesday. The September, October and November meetings are on the first and third Wednesday due to Maryland Association of Boards of Education Conference, Schools closed for Yom Kippur and Thanksgiving, respectively.
Only one meeting is scheduled during the months of July, December, and April.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
SECOND READING
Policy 440 Charter Schools is presented for information and discussion by the Board of Education.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
On October 28, 2015, the Board reviewed recommended changes to Policy 440 as a first reading.
Changes recommended from that discussion have been provided in the attached document as noted in blue font. (backup1) The remaining changes in red font beginning on page 5 are scheduled for review/discussion for the second reading.
Senate Bill 595 known as the Public Charter School Improvement Act of 2015 is attached. (backup2)
PROCESS STATEMENT:
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Jamie R. Cannon, Esquire - Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel
Keith Harris – Instructional Director - Charter Schools
SUBMITTED BY:
Jamie R. Cannon, Esquire – Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel
Pledge of Allegiance video, followed by a music video, "If You're Happy and You Know It" featuring the Middletown Primary School Challenges Classes under the direction of Mrs. Jacqueline Grimm.
In accordance with Maryland’s Open Meetings Act, General Provisions Article § 3-305(b),(1), the Board meet in Closed Session at 2:00 pm. in room 5A to discuss the appointment of one member to the Family Life Advisory Committee.
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/Overview of Veterans Day Activities (November 11)
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) is proud to highlight activities that took place on November 11 in recognition of Veterans Day. Michael Doerrer will introduce a video highlighting some of the activities that took place in schools across the county.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Michael Doerrer, Director, Communications, Community Engagement & Marketing
SUBMITTED BY:
Michael Doerrer, Director, Communications, Community Engagement & Marketing
Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
The Legislative Principles document has been updated based on discussion at the November 4, 2015 Board of Education meeting.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: Request approval of the proposed Rock Creek School (RCS) Educational Specifications. This is Phase 1 of a two-phase study for the RCS.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: The RCS, located at 191 Waverley Drive in Frederick City, opened in 1972 as a special education day school. Today, the school provides special education programs for FCPS students with complex medical conditions and severe intellectual, physical, emotional, hearing, vision and learning disabilities from ages 3 through 21. The RCS offers a life-skills curriculum with emphasis on functional academic skills, social skills, training, community-based instruction, personal management and communication skills. Related services include adapted art, music and physical education, swimming, physical and occupational therapy and speech and language therapy.
The RCS is located on a 20-acre campus with Waverley Elementary School. It is a 55,214 square foot, single-story building. While there have been occasional systemic improvements to the building, no significant renovations or additions have been made in the past 43 years.
This study of the RCS is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 examines the many educational needs of RCS students. The outcome is proposed educational specification which outlines the program and space needs for the updated RCS. Phase 2 will include a feasibility study that will evaluate the physical condition of the facility and analyze its ability to provide the educational program developed during Phase 1.
For Phase 1 of the study, the team’s work has resulted in an educational specification that:
A short video illustrating the condition of the school and an overview of the project can be found on the project web page at http://www.fcps.org/facilities/Rock-Creek-School.cfm
PROCESS STATEMENT: The modernization of the Rock Creek School was included as a future project in the September 2014 BOE Approved Educational Facilities Master Plan. Funding for the current project was approved in two separate budget transfers in May 2014 and January 2015. Architectural services were approved by the BOE in March 2015.
Phase 1 of the project began in April 2015. The educational specification team, with the assistance of consultants Grimm and Parker Architects, met bi-weekly over the past six months to discuss the mission of RCS, the goals of the Rock Creek School educational program and the spaces needed to meet those program goals. The outcome of this effort is the proposed Rock Creek School Educational Specifications (see attached backup 1).
In addition to the bi-weekly meetings, the educational specification team engaged the Rock Creek parents, staff and administration through several meetings held at the school and updates posted on the project web page as well as the school newsletter. The draft educational specifications were vetted by the FCPS curriculum staff and cabinet. Each team meeting was televised live on channel 18 and streamed live on the FCPS web page. Archived recordings of the meetings were also available to watch on the project web page. Comments and questions were welcomed by the team and could be submitted by email to RockCreekStudy@fcps.org.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Beth Pasierb, Supervisor of Facilities Planning
Melissa Wilfong, Grimm & Parker
Janice Szymanski, Grimm & Parker
Dan Martz, Director of Special Education & Psychological Services
Linda Chambers, Supervisor of Compliance preK-12, Special Education & Psychological Services
Heather Clabaugh, Construction Accountant
Jenifer Waters, Health Service Specialist
Meghan Mackay-Little, Assistant Principal, Rock Creek School
Rachel Ablondi, Parent of Rock Creek Student
SUBMITTED BY: Ray Barnes, Chief Operating Officer
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
This is an opportunity for the Board of Education to provide feedback on the Report on Local, State and Federally Mandated Assessments in Maryland.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Earlier this fall, Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) staff submitted information about the local assessment program to MSDE. Information from all local districts was reviewed and compiled into this report. Pursuant to the Commission’s assessment timeline, local boards of education are to review and consider the MSDE survey, and then provide commendations and recommendations. The state board of education will also review the report by December 15, 2015.
Commission’s Review will center around six basic questions:
· How much time is spent testing in each grade?
· Are some tests duplicative or unnecessary?
· Is the State interested in requiring some assessments and attempting in developing a statewide approach for administering them?
· Do schedules for administering assessments allot enough time between test administration and receipt of results to meaningfully inform instruction?
· Do testing windows have negative ancillary effects on instruction, materials and equipment use, and school calendars?
· What are the implications for the State if changes were made to ESEA to allow more flexibility in administering assessments?
PROCESS STATEMENT:
N/A
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Jamie Aliveto, Director of System Accountability and School Improvement
Kevin Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation
SUBMITTED BY:
Kevin S. Cuppett, Ed.D., Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:
The Carroll Creek Montessori Public Charter School (CCMPCS) is in its fourth year of operation and its current charter contract ends on June 30, 2016 (backup1). In accordance with Maryland Charter School law and Board of Education Policy 440, a charter school may be renewed provided that a program review demonstrates that the school has successfully fulfilled the terms of its contract. Also, as stated in Section C of the current charter agreement, “For CCM to remain in operation, MMCI must demonstrate they are able to meet the needs of their students and remain accountable under the terms of the charter and conditions established under Board policy and regulation.”
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
In accordance with Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Regulation 400-90, Monocacy Montessori Communities, Inc. (MMCI) has requested renewal of the charter and has submitted a renewal application (backup2). In conducting the renewal program review, FCPS staff focused its analysis on the school’s performance in three categories:
1. Educational Performance
2. Financial Performance
3. Organizational Performance
Specific indicators (the types and level of information and data collected) and standards (the benchmark by which such indicators were measured) were analyzed and evaluated within these three categories along with the expectations outlined in the original charter school application and agreement (backup3 and backup4). It is a school’s performance within these indicators, along with supporting documentation, that informed the Superintendent’s recommendation.
After an evaluation of the indicators and standards in the above categories, the Superintendent, Dr. Theresa Alban, is recommending nonrenewal of the CCMPCS charter.
The following is a summary of the primary concerns and reasons for the Superintendent’s recommendation:
1. The mission of CCMPCS was to implement a Montessori-based curriculum and offer students Spanish enrichment or partial immersion instruction. CCMPCS did not meet the stated mission as it has not fully implemented a Spanish immersion program and CCMPCS is still working towards proficiency in the Montessori program.
2. CCMPCS has experienced 100% turnover of teaching staff during the four years of operation and CCMPCS has not met its goal of having teachers certified in Montessori or Spanish. CCMPCS has also had three different principals within the first four years of operation.
3. CCMPCS has not established a clear focus on the intent of its educational program for the next four years.
As an alternative to the nonrenewal of the charter, the Board may wish to consider placing CCMPCS on probation for one year and allowing an amendment to the charter which provides for a clearly articulated Spanish enrichment program versus a Spanish immersion program. The term will provide time to evaluate if staffing can become more stabilized and credentialed as envisioned and to determine if it will impact the overall success of the students and the educational program.
The following areas may be considered in support of a probationary renewal:
1. This is the second year that the current principal has been in place. The current principal is a Montessori Certified Administrator and serves on the National Board of the American Montessori Society (AMS).
2. This year, CCMPCS is beginning the process to become a Montessori Accredited School. In moving towards having staff Montessori trained and certified, CCMPCS will host a regional training conducted by the AMS for two weeks this coming summer.
3. CCMPCS has continued parent and community support, as demonstrated by a wait list of students interested in enrollment.
Tonight’s presentation is for discussion and information for the Board in preparation for the Board’s action on the recommendation at the December 16, 2015 meeting.
Dr. Alban and Dr. Harris are available to respond to questions from the Board regarding this recommendation.
Also available to respond to questions on behalf of the charter school are the following individuals:
• Melissa Najera, MMCI President
• Amy Duvall, CCMPCS Governing Council Chairperson
• Marilyn Horan, CCMPCS Principal
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Dr. Theresa Alban – Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Keith Harris – Instructional Director - Charter Schools
SUBMITTED BY:
Dr. Theresa Alban – Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Keith Harris – Instructional Director - Charter Schools
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: To share the results of the 2015 Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) for Algebra I, Algebra II and English 10.
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: In the 2014-15 school year, FCPS students in grades 3-8 in reading and math, Algebra I, English 10, and Algebra II took the state’s PARCC test. This was the first time the test was administered to meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Standard setting was conducted across the consortium in the summer of 2015 and scores have been reported by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Local system data were shared on the state’s public website on November 5, 2015. High School students who took the test last year did not have to pass it in order to meet their assessment graduation requirement. MSDE has not yet determined proficiency on this test for accountability reporting or assessment graduation requirements. The data include first time test takers and include only those students who took both the Performance Based Assessment (PBA) and End of Year (EOY) assessment.
PROCESS STATEMENT: MSDE’s PARCC data was shared at their board meeting on October 27, 2015. Each school system’s local data were then shared with the accountability office. The Board of Education, school-based leaders, and central leadership have all received Algebra I, English 10 and Algebra II PARCC data.
PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):
Jamie Aliveto, Director, System Accountability & School Improvement
Deborah Gilmartin, Coordinator Testing and Accountability
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
Study of Adequacy of Funding for Education in the State Of Maryland
The Maryland General Assembly enacted Chapter 288, Acts of 2002 – the Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act, which established new primary State education aid formulas based on adequacy cost studies using the professional judgment and successful schools method and other education finance analyses that were conducted in 2000 and 2001 under the purview of the Commission on Education Finance, Equity and Excellence. State funding to implement the Bridge to Excellence Act was phased-in over six years, reaching full implementation in fiscal 2008. Chapter 288 required a follow up study of the adequacy of education funding in the State to be undertaken approximately 10 years after its enactment. The study must include, at a minimum, adequacy cost studies that identify a base funding level for students without special needs and per pupil weights for students with special needs to be applied to the base funding level, and an analysis of the effects of concentrations of poverty on adequacy targets. The adequacy cost study will be based on the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (MCCRS) adopted by the State Board of Education and include two years of results from new State assessments aligned with the standards, which are scheduled to be administered beginning in the 2014-2015 school year.
There are several additional components mandated to be included in the study. These components include evaluations of: the impact of school size, the Supplemental Grants program, the use of Free and Reduced Price Meal eligibility as the proxy for identifying economic disadvantage, the federal Community Eligibility Program in Maryland, prekindergarten services and funding, the current wealth calculation, and the impact of increasing and decreasing enrollments on local school systems. The study must also include an update of the Maryland Geographic Cost of Education Index.
These documents are posted for the Board's information and as sources for future discussion.
PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION: N/A
BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:
Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) has been awarded a $618 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to support “Trout in the Classroom,” an environmental education project at Middletown High School.
“Trout in the Classroom” is a water quality environmental education project. Students in biology classes and the Learning for Life program at Middletown High School will raise trout from eggs to fingerlings, monitor the water quality in the tank while trout are being raised, and release the trout during a field trip to a local stream. This project provides an opportunity for students to learn about the importance of water as a resource and understand the ecosystem connectivity. Students will be engaged in the processes of observation, evaluation, record keeping, measuring, formulating questions, answering questions, writing, illustrating, hypothesizing and drawing conclusions.
Grant funds will be used to purchase supplies for the aquarium ($110) and cover field trip costs ($418 for bus transportation and $90 for a substitute teacher).
This $618 grant award will 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
Michael Markoe, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent