Board Notes April 3, 2007

Caroline County Board of Education

The Board of Education approved the

negotiated agreement with amendments

with the Caroline County Teachers

Association for 2007 – 2008. The

negotiations process began in December.

The discussions were productive and

concluded on March 15, 2007. The

agreement becomes effective July 1, 2007.

Board approves contract with teachers

In other action, the board approved:

• Revisions to Policy I.II.10 Fund-

Raising.

• Contract to I.G. Burton & Co. for

purchase of up to six new school

buses (amount not to exceed

$449,232.00).

Caroline County

Board of Education:

C. Tolbert Rowe, President

Robert A. Ober, Vice President

Sandra L. Barry,

Member

H. Victoria

Goldsborough, Member

James A. Newcomb, Jr.,

Member

Dr. Edward W. Shirley,

Superintendent

Board Notes is a

monthly web-based

newsletter

highlighting items

from the Caroline

County Board of

Education’s regular

board meetings.

Each of the county’s five elementary schools earned state validation for

their pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Pictured in front from

left to right: C. Tolbert Rowe, board president, Federalsburg Elementary

principal Helen Schmidt, Greensboro Elementary principal Keri Hutchins,

Ann Willey (Federalsburg kindergarten teacher), Mary Webb

(Federalsburg kindergarten teacher), Susan Angell (Denton kindergarten

teacher), Debbie Bedford-West (Greensboro pre-kindergarten teacher),

Wanda Foltz (Greensboro kindergarten teacher), and Evie Hathaway

(Greensboro kindergarten teacher). Second row: Joyce Schriver, Preston

Elementary principal, Emily Edwards (Preston kindergarten teacher),

Linda Silsley (Denton pre-kindergarten teacher), Robin Daubach, Denton

Elementary principal, Shirley Wright (Greensboro pre-kindergarten

teacher) and Dr. Edward Shirley, superintendent. Not pictured: Carol

Berkey, Cathryn Cook, Alice McGarrity and Barbara Short (Denton);

Debra Jones, Erin Maus, Kimberly Marion and Jennifer Shoemaker

(Federalsburg); Bonnie Lease, Virginia Parks, Jana Pulliam and Jessica

Wilhelm (Greensboro), Jessica Whelan, Jill Phelps and Candy Craft

(Preston); Melissa McFayden, Laura Glessner, Diane Harris and Lindsey

McCormick (Ridgely). Other board recognitions found on page 4.

The Pledge of

Allegiance was led by the following students from Denton Elementary School: Courtney Barrett , Jordan Simpers, Rowan Silsley, Ty’Keria Murray, Tinishia Humin, Seirra Perdue, Shaniya Frieson, and Xavier Frieson.

Board Notes Page 2 of 4

• Contract to Long Fence for

replacement of fencing at North

Caroline High School.

• Curriculum for Intermediate

Algebra (this course bridges the

gap between the Maryland Core

Learning Goals for Algebra and

Data Analysis and the Maryland

Bridge Goals for Algebra II.

• Curriculum for Algebra II (this

curriculum was revised in order to

meet the Maryland Bridge Goals,

which were designed to fulfill

Mr. Roger Eareckson, coordinator of high

school programs, reported on the milestones

in reform to the Career Majors Program. The

school system has developed “Classrooms to

Careers” that requires students to choose a

career major from over 35 different options.

Designed to make the high school experience

more relevant and focused, some majors are

state approved Career and Technology

education programs while others are locally

developed career matrixes that combine a

variety of rigorous courses, designed to give

students exposure to skills and knowledge

they will need in a designated career. In

addition, each student must take a 1 credit

“targeted” elective to complete his or her

career major. This credit could be a

work/intern experience or a specific

academic course to complete the student’s

chosen career path.

MABE Report

Mrs. Goldsborough reported on the Maryland

Association of Boards of Education

Legislative Committee meeting. She said

local school board members are being urged

to speak to the local legislators regarding the

importance of the Thornton Bill. A one-page

summary will be needed to show where the

Thornton money has been/is being used from

Career Majors Report Given

requirements form the Board of

Regents to prepare students for

college level mathematics courses.

each system. A High School Task Force is

being formed by the state legislature and

absenteeism is being linked with eligibility

for drivers learners permits. Mrs. Barry said

Dr. Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent,

would be attending the next Maryland

Association of Boards of Education board of

directors meeting.

Capital Improvement

Program

Mr. Milton Nagel, chief operating officer,

updated the board on the Capital

Improvement Program. He highlighted the

stadium light installation, practice field

renovation, and the window wall at Colonel

Richardson Middle School, which is included

in Phase IV of that project.

Last Day of School

Dr. James Orr, assistant superintendent for

instruction, said three of four inclement

weather days have been used this year,

therefore, the following will be the last days:

for students, Monday, June 11, 2007 (half

day) and for teachers, Tuesday, June 12,

2007 (full work day).

Board

Action

Sounding Board Mrs. Barbara Holmes, Caroline County Education Support Personnel Association (CCESPA), thanked the Board and staff for allowing the first CCESPA sponsored Professional Development Day held on March 27. All who participated considered the event successful. Ms. Julie Kennedy, Denton Elementary Teacher, spoke to the Board regarding her non-renewal status for the upcoming school year. Mrs. Jessica Staley, Denton Elementary parent, and her daughter, Ellen, both spoke to the Board in support of Ms. Kennedy. Ms. Heather Hutson, childcare provider, spoke to the Board regarding a bus stop at her day care center in the town limits of Federalsburg. Mr. Rowe advised Ms. Hutson that the Superintendent would be responding to her request.

Page 3 of 4 Board Notes

Dr. Shirley commended the teachers, staff

and students on the successful administration

of the Maryland State Assessments (MSA)

testing. He said according to a recent

newspaper article Caroline is the fastest

growing county in Maryland. He commented

in a few months we need to welcome

approximately 40 new teachers who will be

coming to our community.

Student Representatives

Reports

Meghan Coulbourne, Colonel Richardson

High School student representative, said

seniors are beginning to receive college

acceptance letters and scholarship awards.

CRHS had six students place within the top

nine in their respective areas at the State

Future Business Leaders of America

competition. April 3 is the last day for the

Lifelong Learning Center’s afterschool

program. The CRHS band recently arrived

back from Myrtle Beach, SC, with three

trophies and five plaques. The band won first

overall with an excellent rating in concert

and a superior rating in marching band. The

National Honor Society members attended a

leadership conference at Notre Dame. The

National Honor Society members are

offering a tutoring service to students. More

than 40 students attended the Advanced

Placement conference at Chesapeake

College. Colonel will host an AP Conference

for English Literature and Language with

students from North Dorchester High School.

The Colonel Lifelong Learning Center

received a grant to promote an anti-

tobacco/anti-smoking campaign. They

created a video, promoted healthy options

and alternatives to smoking and attended

sessions by the health department. Students

Jeremy Valez and Chris Johnson created a t-

shirt to promote the campaign. Federalsburg

Elementary School - The FES Afterschool

Program held its end-of-year celebration on

March 6 with 65 parents and students in

attendance. Parents were invited to visit their

child’s teacher before joining their children

Superintendent’s Report

in the gym for a motivational speech from

Mr. Anthony Dew. The Culinary Enrichment

Project for fifth graders was one of the

highlights of the afterschool program. The

FES spring concert will be April 25 at 7 p.m.

Preston Elementary School - The school is

very busy getting ready for the Springfest to

be held on May 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All

are invited for a day of fun, food, silent

auction, performances and games. Colonel

Richardson Middle School - The MSA

testing went very well. The students took the

test seriously and did their best. A special

thank you to Ms. Nadine Jones, retired

teacher, for providing additional assistance in

the area of mathematics. Spencer Wright, 8th

grade student, was selected as the winner of

the Laws of Life Essay contest. Eighth grade

students will be enjoying a field trip to Fort

McHenry and the Maryland Science Center.

Courtney Coleman, North Caroline High

School student representative, said the

Palette & Brush club along with three art

classes visited the National Gallery of Art in

Washington D.C. The Student Government

Association (SGA) sponsored the annual

Green Dance on St. Patrick’s Day. The

school had three students who placed in their

areas of competition at the National Future

Business Leaders of America convention. In

recognition of Black History month, a

program of dance, stage movements, prose

and poetry was presented. The spring sports

teams are off to a good start. The SGA along

with the Students Helping Other People

(SHOP) just completed the Pennies for

Patients campaign in which the groups raised

$1,300 to be forwarded to the Leukemia &

Lymphoma Society of Maryland. This

amount will be combined with the $6,000

from Kent Island High School and $2,300

from Centreville Middle School and will

bring the total donation for the Northern

Eastern Shore Association of Student

Councils to $9,600, putting the region in

second place statewide. The Drama

department is gearing up for the spring

musical Guys and Dolls to be presented April

13, 14, 20 & 21st.

Mrs. Tina Brown, director of secondary

schools, recognized the following winners of

the “Laws of Life” essay contest:

Spencer Wright, Colonel Richardson Middle

School

Kendall Sterling, Colonel Richardson High

School

Erin Cook, Caroline Career & Technology

Center

Michael Lemon, North Caroline High School

The following members of the North

Caroline High School girl’s indoor track

team were recognized for winning the

regional championship:

Ninth Grade: Alex Gower, Erika Harden,

Miranda Muehlbauer, Andrea Ward, Kayla

Weber, Kelsey Whiteley.

Tenth Grade: Cindy Asche, Rayelle Asche,

Ryan Durden, Rebecca Fenzel, Misha

Holmes, Whitney Kellermeyer, Jane

MacDonald, Rebecca Ponsini, Carley Porter,

Shelbi Robinson, Sarah Schorr, Sierra

Turner, Amber Wallace, Ashley Williams.

Eleventh Grade: Lindsay Alder, Lindsay

Bell, Nia Groce, Liz Ober, Debra Ostrander,

Ashley Taylor, Teresa Towey, Breanna

VanMeter, Ashley Waltrup, Sarah Wieber.

Twelfth Grade: Audrianna Marshall, Tracey

Pierce, Heather Rowe, Kelsey Rowe, Wendy

Simpson.

Recognitions

Board Notes

CAROLINE COUNTY BOARD OF

EDUCATION

PHONE: 410.479.1460

FAX: 410.479.0108

WEB:

HTTP://CL.K12.MD.US

M i ss i o n : In par tn er sh i p w i th f ami l y an d

c o mmun i ty , Caro l i n e Co un ty Pu b l i c Scho o l s

w i l l mo t i v a t e an d c ha l l en ge s t ud en t s t o

a t ta i n edu ca t i o n a l ex c e l l en c e .

Mr. John Perry, supervisor of human

resources, announced and recognized the

following for receiving the Excellence in

Minority Achievement Award: Mrs. Patricia

Benton, Greensboro Elementary School, Mr.

Anthony Howe, Community Member and

Ms. Teriakie Joseph, Colonel Richardson

High School student. These awards are

intended to honor those who have made

outstanding contributions to promote a better

understanding of diverse groups, and

advanced achievement among minority,

economically disadvantaged and disabled

students.

Upcoming Meetings

The Board of Education will meet to discuss

going into to Executive Session on Monday,

April 23, 2007 at 7 p.m. for the purpose of

discussion on contractual matters, pursuant to

the Annotated Code of Maryland {Section

10-508 (a) (14)}.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007, 7 p.m.

Regular Board of Education Meeting

Central Office, Denton