Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVI-66-2018, April 17, 2018 Page 1 of 12 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CHARLES COUNTY La Plata, Maryland 20646 Meeting No. XVI-66-2018 April 17, 2018 The Board of Education of Charles County held a regular meeting on April 17, 2018, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata, Maryland. The meeting convened executive session at 12:03 p.m. recessed at 12:52 p.m.; convened in open session at 1 p.m.; recessed at 2:37 p.m.; reconvened in executive session at 2:40 p.m.; recessed executive session at 3 p.m.; reconvened in open session at 3:05 p.m.; recessed at 4:22 p.m.; reconvened at 4:30 p.m.; and adjourned at 6:58 p.m. 1. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Barbara S. Palko, Chairman; Jennifer Abell, Vice Chairman; Mark Crawford; Victoria T. Kelly; Michael Lukas; Margaret T. Marshall; and Virginia R. McGraw; and Katie Willett, alternate student Board member. BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT Drew Carter, student Board member STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D., superintendent of schools Amy Hollstein, deputy superintendent of schools Michael Heim, assistant superintendent of supporting services Randy Sotomayor, assistant superintendent of fiscal services Linda Gill, executive director of schools Marvin Jones, executive director of schools Eric Schwartz, staff attorney Katie O’Malley-Simpson, director, communications Kessandra Stubblefield, executive assistant to the elected Board OTHERS PRESENT Jordyn Best, student liaison, North Point High School Elizabeth Braziel, student liaison, Thomas Stone High School Joyah Magee, student liaison, Maurice J. McDonough High School Robert Jonathan Moss, student liaison, St. Charles High School Thomas Rahill, student liaison, Maurice J. Westlake High School Shaun Burroughs, student liaison, La Plata High School Jamie Anfenson-Comeau, Maryland Independent Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVI-66-2018, April 17, 2018 Page 2 of 12 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION Chairman Palko called the meeting to order at 12:03 p.m. Mrs. Abell made the motion, seconded by Mrs. Marshall, to go into executive session as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Section 3-305 and 3-103 of the General Provisions Article to discuss: personnel matters, specifically the Superintendent’s recommendations on certificated positions; negotiations, specifically information concerning setting parameters for negotiations with the Education Association of Charles County (EACC) and the American Federation for State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); contract negotiations, specifically matters related to the negotiation of the school bus contract and a contract for health services; litigation update concerning lawsuits filed against the Board; and, an administrative function matter concerning a partnership with an outside agency The vote to go into executive session was unanimous. Present were: Chairman Palko, Vice Chairman Abell, Board members: Mark Crawford; Victoria T. Kelly; Mike Lukas; Margaret T. Marshall; and Virginia R. McGraw. Also, present: Kimberly A. Hill, Ed.D., superintendent of schools; Amy Hollstein, deputy superintendent of schools; Randy Sotomayor, assistant superintendent of fiscal services; Michael Heim, assistant superintendent of supporting services; Nikial Majors, executive director The executive session adjourned at 12:52 p.m. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL JROTC UNIT Chairman Palko opened the meeting at 1 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. BOARD/COMMISSIONERS’ RECOGNITION OF STUDENT STATE WINNERS Board members, Superintendent Kimberly Hill and Charles County Commissioners assistant Julie Bryson recognized Board recognition of Kayla Bowman, senior, and Hunter Burch, sophomore, Henry E. Lackey High School, for helping to save a woman from a burning car. Following, student state winners were recognized in the following areas: 2017-2018 winter sports athletic state champions; La Plata High School 2A wrestling, Show Place Arena Individual State Champion 2018 Maryland All State Fine Arts Performances: Baltimore, MD Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVI-66-2018, April 17, 2018 Page 3 of 12 5. SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE TO THE BOARD Superintendent Hill greeted the Board and shared highlights including Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) continuing efforts to assess safety issues at all schools; a meeting with staff at Piccowaxen Middle School and Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School to inform them that CCPS is providing them with a security officer to work with both schools; Congressman Steny Hoyer’s recent visit to St. Charles High School to discuss school safety with students, staff and parents; an update to come later in the meeting on CCPS efforts to eventually place cameras on all buses; the last day for students is June 15 and June 18 is the last day for teachers; an update later in the meeting on the 2019-2020 calendar; Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) begins on April 30; graduation 2018 plans well underway; and her recent elementary teachers advisory committee meeting. Plans are also underway to meet with high and middle school teachers. Superintendent Hill congratulated Dr. Higdon’s Principal Kathy Morgan, who is the CCPS 2018 Principal of the Year, and Cynthia Pryor, first-grade teacher at William A. Diggs Elementary School, who was named as the Washington Post’s 2018 Teacher of the Year finalist for Charles County. 6. CORRESPONDENCE/BOARD MEMBERS’ UPDATES Mrs. McGraw commended students who participated in the recently held roundtable discussion on school safety with Congressman Steny Hoyer and for their “thoughtful solutions” and honest responses. She also thanked parents for taking the time to attend. Additionally, she recognized the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee and the Parent Center for their work in recently presenting the Special Education Conference and Resource fair. Mrs. Kelly shared highlights of events she attended including Read Across Charles County; the HITS Expo; the roundtable discussion on school safety with Congressman Steny Hoyer; MESA competition; Destination Imagination competition. She stated that her notes from the 2018 National School Board Association Conference (NSBA) conference in San Antonio, TX are posted on BoardDocs. Other highlights were on a presentation she and others made to Benjamin Stoddert Elementary School students on the history of Charles County. Mr. Lukas share highlights on his recent trip to the NSBA conference; the Project Lead the Way launch at Higdon; the recent “Hidden Figures” presentation at North Point High School; the All County jazz concert at Westlake High School; and he wished the best to students participating in spring sports. Mrs. Abell shared highlights of her attendance at and participation in a demonstration at the HITS Expo and she stated that her notes from the 2018 National School Board Association Conference (NSBA) conference in San Antonio, TX are posted on BoardDocs. Mrs. Palko thanked Mrs. Kelly, Mrs. Abell and Mr. Lukas for attending the 2018 NSBA conference. She shared highlights of her advocating for Career and Technology Education Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVI-66-2018, April 17, 2018 Page 4 of 12 (CTE) programs at Robert D. Stethem Educational Center and at the high schools. She asked for a presentation on CTE, specifically including the historical significance of the name changing from Vo-tech to CTE; Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) accountability as Thinking Skills Assessments (TSA); enrollment versus completers; and how MSDE audits our program and shares the results. In addition, Mrs. Palko shared highlights of events she attended including Portfolio Interviews at St. Charles High School; “Hidden Figures” presentation at North Point; roundtable discussion on school safety with Congressman Steny Hoyer; and her participation in an effective communication event with students at William A. Diggs Elementary School on body image. 7. EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF CHARLES COUNTY (EACC) UPDATE Linda McLaughlin, EACC president, greeted the Board and read a prepared statement highlighting the EACC’s recent “March to Fix the Fund” in Annapolis; a recent Early Careers Educators monthly meeting at William B. Wade Elementary School; a recent retirement workshop for its members; the April 9 ending of the 438th legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly and she listed some of the bills that passed in favor of education; and EACC members’ recent attendance at the Maryland State Education Association’s spring event in Ellicott City, MD. 8. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) UPDATE John Groat, AFSCME president, read a prepared statement highlighting several events he compared to the number 410 – the area code of Annapolis, Maryland. He began by highlighting some of the events that took place in Annapolis during the legislative session. He said Governor Larry Hogan “believes it was one of the most successful session in four years.” Other topics highlighted were legislation to stem violence in schools; banning of bump stocks; legislation that passed removing the Governor, treasurer, and comptroller from deciding when/how schools should be built; casino funds for schools; physically securing school facilities; school security; April 10 (4-10) is “Equal Pay Day”; and National Library Workers Day. He reminded everyone that Local 2981 elections are drawing near. Chairman Palko said the Board