Next they recognized the southern Maryland Electric Cooperative for their partnewship. Dr. Fulton noted that SMECO has been a real partnership for the school system. SMECO has supported a vriety of programs within the school system and Dr. Fulton was grateful. Clements noted that there hasn’t been a school closing for power outage this year. SMECO donated a bucket truck for the school system’s use. Gary Kessler gave a thank you which was cute.

Public comment was next, and there was only one speaker. Ms. Allen read the Board’s policy with respect to public comment. Mr. O’Neal thanked the Board of Education for its support of the 2.5% increase. It would cost $275,000 to bring the retired employees to the level where county retirees are funded. There are many detractors for having the per pupil expenditures increased.

Next came the Chesapeake Public Charter School proposal was next. Dr. Fulton said they have enjoyed working with the CCPS group. She recited the history of the application. “The desire is for this group to have a successful start.” Said Fulton IHBH policy, render a decision. This is within the 120 day time line. You may approve, disapprove, or offer a condition of approval. Rickie Raley said he represents 16,000 students who want education to be equitable for all. His concerns: can we afford this? What would we have to cut? These students wouldn’t even be in our system. This could function as a public school voucher. Federal DOE study finds charter schools underperforming regular students. He’s not crazy about a lottery. He doesn’t like the automatic admission of siblings. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. He doesn’t see a terrible problem. Why not use the money for textbook funding, etc.

Raspa said he is concerned that not site had been identified at this point. You have to have a place to hold school. He asked Dudderar about curriculum. Dudderar said she doesn’t have specificity. There is a design phase that should give specificity. The over arching picture gives an idea of what to expect. She hasn’t been able to visit the school in Washington that uses this program. We want to know how and that’s what the design phase should and must show us.He noted that without a site there cannot be a financial plan. Carney agreed. Said he cannot comment on the viability of the plan. In ‘08 they will be doubling the size of the school and we will be opening a new school and need money to open the new school. Cost per pupuil goes down in year two and that is not maintenance of effort unless they get a waiver. He has to look at this as an entirely new school and can’t see that it would support support staff and everyone would be a brand new employee. We would be looking at a financial squeeze, said Raspa. He want insurance about the diverse student population. There is not plan for how.

Mary Washington said charter schools is the law. In the beginning she was very excited about the school. She looked at it from a number of perspectives. It requires employees as if it were a full size school and that would be quite expensive. The Board has state and federal mandates for students to pass the tests. We have an 11 month school year that we have to pay for. We have mandated all day K. We have to fund the negotiated agreement. We are looking for a new superintendent and will have to pay that person. When Mr. Carney shows us the pie, it looks like a big pie, about after we pay the turning on the lights cost, there’s not much left. Mr. O’neal is trying to get more money for retirees. We have fuel costs for over 150 buses. There are possible structural problems with our schools. How can we open another school when we have unmet needs in our school? We have 76 mobile units. Our classrooms are at or exceed capacity. Without bring on a new school, we nave needs. Our school system is a school system in need of improvement. We have to watch that. She has not heard support from members outside the community. She has not heard any out cry.

Allen: This is very difficult for us and I’m sure it’s difficult for you as well. If any group of people can pull it off, we feel that you likely can. The idea that you don’t have a facility is a major stumbling block. A conditional grant would come with a shelf life. It would expire after a time and perhaps before you could get up and running. Allen believes the students who would access this school would be bright and engaged learners who would be in small classes. Something they would love to do for every student. But she doesn’t see it. To set up a school with 17 students in a classsroom is not fiar to students who have 20 students. She believes they have reources to make it happen. We have had great discussions about this in pairs, that’s how e have to do this. She never heard from the people at the table that they were ready to approved this proposal. She thought perhaps a conditional approval, but as the list grew and grew of conditions. What may we have missed on our list. They appreciate the professional ism that has been shown. She thanked the staff for their work. She says they worked to make that happen.

Mary Washington moved to deny the proposal. Raspa said he was excited at the prospect, but he feels that the committee is not really ready to open the school. There is no facility at this time. How can we approve a school without a place to have school. He supports the motion. The vote was 4 - 0. Rickie Raley asked to have his strong support for this motion

What is perplexing is why they don’t see it as a solution for shcool capacity. Kathleen Glazer and Kate Sullivan said it doesn’t meet the requirements of the law. She “didn’t hear any reasons that would hold up to scrutiny of the state school board.

Brad Clements presented a change to the Capital construction program, a full renovation to Leonardtown Elementary school. Brad said the Town of Leonardtown is working closely with the staff. They are very close. If we get a school site with no strings attached. We would save about $2,000,000 if the site is donated and that money could go town of Leonardtown’s full renovation as required by the state. It will cost $2.6 million more. There is a $20/ sq ft increase and 123 new seats. We have to upgrade the HVAC. It would bring the infrastructure to standards. This includes total equipment. The state still concurs with this approach. Staff has worked very well with Clements. It has been the board, the superintendent. Maybe we need to share thoughts. Kessler asked and was told cap is 418 to go to 541.

Capacity needs, asked C. We all agree we have capacity needs. Raspa said it’s time to do something. Maybe this is the time. Mary W. talked about it’s bringing equity to the school. Kelly Hall was asked to talk about what might be offered that isn’t being offered now. She said there would be space for alternate programming. There are some spaces that are not suitable to put children in. We have folks working in hallways or closets. Even her office is used for instruction.

Allen noted that this is school with a big setback from the front door. Doors are locked to bring people into the office. There is a security issue. For $250,000, we cannot relocate the office. Leonardtown needs improvement (State says) in parking facilities. That would be incorporated. This gives hope to some other older schools like Mechanicsville and Ridge. Clements said they looked st the schools where they cold gain the most capacity. L wasn’t such a school, but it still needs renovation.

At the March 1 BOCC meeting to convey a message. Much of the work they do is toreduce the County’s funding for other projects to see if that funding can be reduced. The high school is in the 6th year with funding. There is a middle school to follow the high school. They brought forward an addition to Esperanza. Now they will realign some projects, by redoing the Ltown and Esperanza additions and remove $2,000,000. They will bring them forward to ‘06 with $250,000 for bar joists at Leonardtown and a reduction in ‘08. There would be a $5.4 m Brent will be same. Carver likewise. 1 elementary gets site acquisition of $4.678 split between ‘06 and ‘07. ‘07 1.126 site acquisition for 4th elementary school. Middle school renovations removed. Ltown HVAC to accelerate to 2009. Reduced by 2.1 million

The Board of Education took a break for 10 minutes. They had received some information at the last minute, said Allen and she wanted to be sure of what she was hearing. Clements said, “you get the wind that they need to do certain things.”

Carney was next with the financial report. There are some concerns, but they are all one time expenses. He will be bringing a request for categorical change. Many items will be offset. When the base implements off base housing, there will be changes. There were no quesitons.

The diversity forum is now March 22 at 6:00 PM, and there will be follow up forums in the community. Our school system was accidentally overlooked, said Fulton, in invitations to a meeting about graffitti. We have a very positive relationship with his group and we want to build on that. Next meeting Breakfast tomorrow at Leonardtown. April 13 next meeting.