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Board Approves $9 Million MS Magnet Grant Proposal

March 10, 2004

The Board of Education met on Tuesday [March 9] and, among other items, approved tentative contractagreements with two employee associations. The Board also approved the submission of a grant proposal formiddle school magnet programs. Also approved were twelve pilot courses to support signature and academyprograms and a plan for an updated technology system for financial information. In addition, the Boardapproved fees for summer school, adult education, GED, and evening high school. The Board also discussedimprovements in the ESOL/Bilingual program, requested a boundary study for three middle schools, anddiscussed a presentation by the president of Montgomery College on access to higher education. The Boardalso approved positions on legislative items pending before the Maryland General Assembly.

Tentative Contract Agreements

The Board approved a $20.7 million amendment to the Fiscal Year 2005 operating budget request that wouldfund tentative contract agreements featuring a 2-percent increase in salaries next year for teachers andsupporting services staff. The Board also set aside funds for an increase next year in salaries foradministrative and supervisory personnel, pending the completion of their ongoing employee associationnegotiations.

Magnet School Grant Proposal

The Board authorized the submission of a federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant application for$9 million for development and implementation of whole-school magnet programs at Argyle, Belt, andParkland middle schools.

Non-Core Courses for Signature and Academy Programs

The Board approved twelve pilot courses that would support and extend local school signature and academyprograms. Development of the courses follows established procedures under Regulation IFA-RA, Curriculum.

Financial Information System

The Board supported a joint procurement with the County government to define the needs and requirementsfor replacing the outdated MCPS Financial Information System (FIS) with a user-friendly Enterprise ResourcePlanning (ERP) system. The Board approved placing the replacement project in the multiyear budget planand, depending on the availability of funds and the fiscal outlook for Fiscal Year 2006, committed to fundingthe ERP.

Fees for Summer School, Adult Education, GED, and Evening High School

The Board approved a Fiscal Year 2005 fee schedule for summer school, adult education, GED, and eveninghigh school. The summer school portion of the enterprise fund was terminated and its funding moved to thetax-supported operating budget with local funding to pay the difference between the full fee and the reducedfee for qualifying families. Summer school full fee for revenue-based programs will be increased by $10($260 to $270 for elementary courses and from $225 and $235 to $235 and $245 for high school core andnon-core courses, respectively). The summer school reduced fee for revenue-based programs will beincreased by $5 (from $50 and $85 to $55 and $90, depending on income level). Summer school non-enterprise programs will add middle school courses and high school Essentials of Algebra and charge a $60fee. The remaining summer school, adult education, GED, and evening high school fee structures will bemaintained at the Fiscal Year 2004 level.

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Update on ESOL Programs

The Board discussed restructuring and improvements to the English for Speakers of Other Languages(ESOL)/Bilingual programs to provide high-quality instructional programs for the growing and increasinglydiverse ESOL student population. Improvements center on a rigorous instructional program, professionaldevelopment, assessment and monitoring of achievement, and collaboration and continuous improvement.

Presentation by Montgomery College President

Dr. Charlene Nunley, president of Montgomery College, made a presentation to the Board, stating thataccess to higher education is at risk for all students since demand is greater than space available.

Boundary Study

The Board requested that a recommendation for a boundary study be made by November to address theunderutilization of Farquhar Middle School and that the scope of the study include White Oak and FrancisScott Key middle schools.

Items of Legislation

The Board voted its positions on items of legislation regarding education issues that are pending before the

Maryland General Assembly.