Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVII-14-2019, October 8, 2019 Page 1 of 9 BOARD OF EDUCATION OF CHARLES COUNTY La Plata, Maryland 20646 Meeting No. XVII-14-2019 October 8, 2019 The Board of Education of Charles County held a regular meeting on October 8, 2019, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, 5980 Radio Station Road, La Plata, Maryland. The meeting convened executive session at 12:02 p.m. recessed at 12:48 p.m.; convened in open session at 1:01 p.m.; recessed at 2:28 p.m.; reconvened 2:43 p.m.; recessed at 3:55 p.m.; reconvened in open session at 4:30 p.m.; recessed at 5:40 p.m.; reconvened at 6 p.m. and adjourned at 6:09 p.m. 1. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT Virginia McGraw, Chairman; Latina Wilson, Vice Chairman; Jennifer Abell; Tajala Battle- Lockhart; Elizabeth Brown; David Hancock, Jr.; and Michael Lukas; and Faizaan Siddique, alternate student Board member, Westlake High School BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT DeJuan Woods, Jr., student Board member (arrived at 6 p.m.) 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 Faizaan Siddique, alternate student Board member, Westlake High School Jake Burgess, student liaison, Maurice J. McDonough High School Ian Herd, student liaison, La Plata High School Jordan Johnson, student liaison, North Point High School Krisha Marie Melchor, student liaison, St. Charles High School Chelsea Perez, student liaison, Maurice J. McDonough High School Christina Walker, student liaison, Henry E. Lackey High School Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVII-14-2019, October 8, 2019 Page 2 of 9 2. EXECUTIVE SESSION Chairman McGraw opened the meeting at 12:02 p.m. Ms. Wilson moved, seconded by Mrs. Brown, that the Board meet in Executive Session as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Sections 3-305 and 3-103 of the General Provisions Article to discuss: (a) personnel matters, specifically concerning the Superintendent’s recommendations on certificated positions; (b) negotiations, specifically information concerning setting parameters for negotiations with AFSCME; (c) contract negotiations, specifically matters related to the school bus contract; (d) litigation update concerning lawsuits filed against the Board and a complaint filed against the Board with the state; (e) administrative function matters concerning drafting a letter to the editor. The vote to go into executive session was unanimous. Present: Chairman Virginia McGraw, Vice Chairman Latina Wilson, Jennifer Abell; Tajala Battle-Lockhart, Elizabeth Brown and Mike Lukas Absent: David Hancock Staff Members Present: Superintendent Kimberly Hill; Deputy Superintendent Amy Hollstein; Assistant Superintendent of Fiscal Services Randy Sotomayor; Assistant Superintendent of Supporting Services Michael Heim; Executive Director of Human Resources Nikki Majors; Director of Communications Katie O’Malley-Simpson; Staff Attorney Eric Schwartz The executive session adjourned at 12:48 p.m. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – ST. CHARLES HIGH SCHOOL’S JROTC UNIT Chairman McGraw opened the meeting at 1:01 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Board went out of its regular agenda order. 4. FY2019 INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL AUDIT: CLIFTONLARSENALLEN Randy Sotomayor, assistant superintendent of fiscal services, William Early, Jr., with CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, and Deborah Hale, accounting manager, presented the Board with the 2018-19 school year auditor’s report. Mr. Early said Charles County Public Schools has had a clean audit for seven years straight. It is the opinion of CliftonLarsenAllen that the financial statements referred to present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVII-14-2019, October 8, 2019 Page 3 of 9 remaining fund information of the Board as of June 30, 2019, and the respective changes in financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A brief question-and-answer session ensued. The Board resumed its regular agenda order. 5. SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE TO THE BOARD Superintendent Kimberly Hill greeted the Board shared an update highlighting the name change of the former minority achievement department to the office of diversity and equity. The change mirrors the Maryland State Department of Education’s mandate that all school systems develop and implement an equity policy and plan. Other highlights included the creation of an equity task force; a visit by state superintendent Karen Salmon, Ph.D. to Charles County Public Schools; the rededication of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School and other upcoming events including the Career and Technology Education (CTE) program tour at Robert D. Stethem Education Center on Oct. 16; CTE showcases for middle school students on Oct. 23; the fall chess tournament on Oct. 26; and the Board’s community town hall on Oct. 28. 6. CORRESPONDENCE/BOARD MEMBERS’ UPDATES Mrs. Battle-Lockhart shared highlights of events she attended including a principals’ meeting; Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) meeting; the Charles County fair; a meeting with Superintendent Hill and Amy Hollstein, deputy superintendent to discuss community partnerships with CCPS; a visit to Matthew Henson Middle School; Equity Taskforce training; New Teachers’ reception; Commissioners’ meeting to restore funding to the Fresh Start Academy; and the Education Association of Charles County’s (EACC) Blueprint event. Mrs. Abell shared some of the events she attended including the New Teacher reception; Rocktoberfest; EACC’s Kirwan Blueprint event. Mrs. Brown shared highlights on events she attended including a Special Education Citizens Advisory Council (SECAC) event in September; Mudd open house; a Commissioners’ legislative meeting; New Teachers’ reception; a presentation on Blueprint for America; the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) conference; and an EACC forum. Mr. Lukas shared highlights of some of the events he attended including the EACC’s Blueprint event; the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CCPS and the Naval Warfare Center in Indian Head, MD; the MABE conference; New Teachers’ reception; Roctoberfest and the college fair at North Point High School. Vice Chairman Wilson shared highlights of some of the events she attended including the Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVII-14-2019, October 8, 2019 Page 4 of 9 New Teachers’ reception; AVID classes at Westlake High School; SECAC meetings; Roctoberfest; a presentation on Blueprint for America; and the MABE conference. She congratulated Chairman McGraw for being chosen to server as treasurer of MABE. Mr. Hancock shared highlights of events he attended including J.C. Parks Elementary School’s Farm-to-School lunch week; Rocktoberfest; the MABE conference and the fair. Mrs. McGraw shared events she attended including the EACC’s Kirwan Commission Blueprint event; a scholarship committee meeting; a state Board meeting; and an event at Milton M. Somers Middle School. She urged the community to recognize National School Bus Safety Week. 7. EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF CHARLES COUNTY (EACC) UPDATE Linda McLaughlin, president, greeted the Board and shared highlights on the addition of 22 certified building representatives and what their roles and responsibilities will be; the annual Maryland State Education Association Representative Assembly and Convention on Oct. 18 and 19 in Ocean City, MD; and the success of the Charles County Blueprint Community Forum. 8. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEEES (AFSCME) UPDATE Sarah Burch, AFSCME president, updated the Board on the positive progression of salary meetings; the success of the Local 2981 October meeting; and the success of some students who took advantage of AFSCME’s free college for its members. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 4:30 p.m. at North Point High School 9. STUDENT BOARD MEMBER’S UPDATE Alternate student Board member Faizaan Siddique shared highlights from student Board member DeJuan Woods, Jr. Included were his participation in honors chorus; highlights from Mr. Woods’ Student Member of the Board advisory council and his plans to visit all seven high schools. 10. Food Nutrition Services: summer meals; free breakfasts Randy Sotomayor, assistant superintendent of fiscal services, Crystal Richardson and William Kreuter, food services supervisors, presented a PowerPoint on summer meals, and free breakfast month. Highlights included an overview of food and nutrition; summer program results; free breakfast; farm to school week and other developments within Food Nutrition Services. A brief question-and-answer ensued. Chairman McGraw thanked staff for the update. Board of Education of Charles County Meeting No. XVII-14-2019, October 8, 2019 Page 5 of 9 11. RECESS Chairman McGraw recessed the meeting at 2:28 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 2:43 p.m. 12. TEACHER STAFFING UPDATE Amy Hollstein, deputy superintendent of schools, Nikial Majors, executive director of