BOE 6/8/05

BOE 6/8/05

Leonardtown Middle school brought their jazz band and projects from 6th grade science projects.  Three of their winners went to regional science fairs and won awards.

The BOE will resume an executive session after the meeting.

Students are studying algebra at Mechanicsville Elementary School.  Mrs. Buchanan is the teacher doing this work. She and Nancy Lewis were the outstanding SMECO Math and science teachers, along with Peggy Burton of Oakville Elementary School, Margaret Johnson, Melissa Dell,

The Washington Post Distinguished Educational Leadership Award went to Kelly Hall..

The Hope Swann Educators Hall of Fame Award went to Melissa Dell.

Teacher of the year was Julia Wolf.

Student Service-learning Recognition went to Stephanie Roark, a student who received the sl star award, and Kay Cross the student service learning fellow award.

Kim Howe presented the educational Master Plan for 2006.  

Demographic data and trend analysis.  P 52 lists the student yield number used by SMCPS.  School facility infrastructure is next.  Ranges of acreages are listed.  P84 has capital planning goals which tie to the Educational Master Plan.  

Page 103 contains a list of projects 1992 - present.  

The appendix has 32 charts and graphs, including bp’s and occ permits.  In the 8th district more bp’s than occ p’s are pulled.  She believes that’s the result of slower building.  We go for years with growth spurts, then level off.  

P137 contains capacity.  

The is an appendix on GPS analysis.  1031 bp’s last year.  Shows where.  

Major subdivisons siblings under the age of 4.

Legislative districts are on a chart.

School data sheets.  

There is a floor plan for each school and they are on CAD drawings. To be short 1,195 students by 2015.  

The Division of supporting services will be on the web in July and it will contain the entire master plan.  

Expect to have full data on the capital plans for the County.  Kessler asked if it were wise to put our school floor plans out there.  Clements said that is an ongoing question.  Clements said it hasn’t gone live and they are still having discussion.                    

Raspa said he shares Mr. Kessler’s concern.  

Bill Mattingly expressed his concerns about floor plans and thanked Mary Hayden.  

Allen cited the master plan as a group resource.  She expressed her concern about floor plans.  

The Board approved the Master Plan with a vote of 5 - 0.  

Ed Specs for Leonardtown were next.  Clements said there may have been more input into this paln than would normally go into a 6 month process.  The schematics will be the result of a charette.  Kell Hall said she is thrilled.  Kessler asked about IT.  Everyone classroom is wired, based on State guidelines.  The system is there for overhear projections. Space will consist of a science and technology center which woulb be available for community uses.  Dr. Fulton noted that the school is 51 years old and in need of a makeover.

Mrs. Allen said a community member whose son graduated this year told her that plans to renovate leonardtown have been under consideration since her son was a kindergarten.  

The Board approved the Ed Spec document for forwarding to the IAC.  

The A & E contract for leonardtown Elementary School was next.  Clements said they do a screening when they are not building.  Then work on smaller projects.  Often architects come in and think they know everything because they have worked with dome other County.  He thinks they need to know us.  

Bryan said the A & E contract is before the Board.  The architect under consideration has done several small projects for the school system as well as for the hospital.  

The vote was unanimous.  Wheeler, Goodman, Masick

Miniority Business Enterprise procedures were next.  The State requires public entities to have minority participation, 10% women owned, 7% AA, and the remainder any minority. Now conractors must submit their minority %age with the bid.  This change would put SMC in compliance with the law.  Clements said they just visited with the minority business alliance.  

Next item was the 2006 budget approval.  

Carney noted that there has been a GM HS task force and the sheriff cannot fund a criminal justice instructor for the Tech Center.  There has been a $1.9 million increase in revenue.  The $600,000 He has included $700,000 from the FY ‘05 fund balance.  All changes have been discussed with Mrs. Kramer and she agreed.  

State is phasing out EEEP.  Conservative with Federal Aid.  Over $2,000,000 last three years.  

They make an adjustment for retirement in the next year.  However this year they have added a new salary.  They built the budget for 30 retirees, but 50 are retiring.  Retiree health insurance has more than doubled.  There are new FTE’s who are not covered by the State pick up.  

Kessler said he was glad they got additional funds to do some things for Great Mills.  He is still concerned about health care.  Where we can get something done.  It’s getting out of control if we don’t do something about it.  About 31% of all new $$ for ‘06 went to health care.  

Carney said the county has approved a contract for the new HR director and he will sit with her.  

Mary noted that the publi says they want accountability for the funds for Great Mills.  Health Care is still an issue.  

General Motors said that health care is over $5 billion. $1,500 is attributable to health care at GM.  They are faced with removing workers.  

Mattingly said they will have to do something about health care.  Fulton said the joint resolution is flexible and the good relationship helps.  But health care must be examined.  

Kathy Allen thanked the county commissioners, but more she thanked Dr. Fulton for her contribution.  This will impact the workload of teachers and the way students learn.  

Large old companies are dropping retirees.  

If we do not control those costs, the impact on this budget is almost frightening to comprehend.  How do we impact this so that we are not torn under by our budget.  When combining this with the County, you have proven to be a very able negotiator.  

The Board approved the budget unanimously.

The calendar was revised.  MSA testing will begin almost three weeks later.  March 15 professional day was moved to February 8.   

The calendar change was approved unanimously.

A number of wage categories are at 98%.

Clements noted that the County is growing and we are all on the road at the same time.  It’s especially true in Lexington Park.  One way to take care of the problem is to buy more buses.  They have tried to change the smallest number of routes.  These changes flow more evenly with the traffic pattern.  It reduces the number of buses on the road simultaneously.  Middle schools have always been at 7:30, and the proposal is for 7:20.  In most jurisdictions the late schools are either high, middle, or both.  Most jurisdiction are going to earlier middle schools.  That made their changes at the middle school level because of traffic concerns.  Hollywood will be a half an hour earlier.  All half day K classes will be at Town creek?  Kessler noted that Leonardtown is a zoo.  Raspa said he assumes that the principals are satisfied with the time table.   He said there may be parent concerns.  If the principals are satisfied he is.  Mary thanked them.  She assumes the principals did talk to the SIT’s and PTA’s.  When you put 180 buses on the road it makes a major difference.  She thanks them.  Mattingly noted that Esperanza starts at 7:20 now.  Safety has to be our #1 priority.  Fulton said she sees many benefits. The crucible program at Town Creek.  

Allen said she is worried that middle school kids are getting up a lot earlier.  That’s significant to her.  She said there are a number of parents who drop children.  Either they will drop the HS earlier or the MS child later.  The Board worked to get those times later, so older students could sleep in.  Parents have told her.  She has heard about Esperanza stories.  Allen noted that this is not a decision over which we have authority.  Clements said the process has been that way, but of course, “You have the say.”  There have been complaints about the lateness of hs so if we push the hs later to care for having all the buses there at once we push the hs students later.  Allen said she doesn’t know if there is a good answer.  K said his wife still isn’t speaking to him.  It’s the safety of the kids, said Reed Walker.  

Allen said the recognize the impact school transportation has on the community.  There was students getting on the bus in the dark, said Mary.  It’s a balancing act.  We can’t afford 15 new buses.  

Raspa suggested this should be published and put out and parents ought to read it as proposed school times and we ought to give the population the opportunity the reasons.  Clements said we can do that.  We probably will not be able to address all the concerns and will still have something like this, said Clements.  We still have to come out at a time with the routes.  

Allen said it’s not like there is another option.  Cl said we could kick everybody later.  Raspa said as people read the rationale, they understand why.