The Board of Education of Charles County met Aug. 8, 2023, for its regular meeting. A meeting agenda is posted on Board Docs here. Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page here.
The following are important meeting updates.
Superintendent update
Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., shared preparations of the opening of schools for students on Aug. 28. She congratulated students who earned their high school diplomas through completion of courses through summer school. She also highlighted the Summer Boost and summer meals programs. Navarro spoke of the introduction of the “Where’s the Bus?” app and the opening of two facilities — the Early Learning Center, La Plata, and Phoenix International School of the Arts (PISOTA). Read the full report here. View the report at the 43-second mark of the recorded meeting.
State of Schools
Kevin Lowndes, chief of teaching and learning, and Marvin Jones, Ed.D., chief of schools, shared a PowerPoint presentation on the state of the school system. The presentation included the path forward, student learning and achievement; reading and math goals, and `other system objectives. To view the presentation, click here. View the presentation starting at the 7-minute and 4-second mark of the recorded meeting.
Budget presentation
A PowerPoint outlining the Board of Education’s allocated FY2024 budget to be used by the Board was presented by Karen Acton, chief financial officer, and Eric Schwartz, staff attorney. The presentation included advertising services, contracted services, professional development and conferences. Schwartz asked for the Board to establish an agreed upon understanding of what “related to official duties” means in the Board’s policies as it relates to attending conferences. The full presentation can be viewed here. Watch the presentation at the 1-hour and 56-minute mark of the recorded meeting.
Policy 5157.7 (Search of students)
Schwartz updated the Board on Policy 5157.7: Elementary and Secondary: Welfare: Discipline: Search of Students. The policy will be a report during the Sept. 13, 2023, meeting with it being an action item at the Oct. 10, 2023, meeting. The PowerPoint can be viewed here. View the update at the 2-hour and 17-minute mark on the recorded meeting.
Blueprint update
Chris Miller, coordinator for district innovation, shared an update on the status of the school system’s implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Read the report here. Watch the update at the 2-hour and 20-minute mark on the recorded meeting.
Recurring resolutions
The Board heard about recurring resolutions that are honored throughout the year. The following resolutions will come before the Board at its September meeting — National Hispanic Heritage Month, American Education Week, American Freedom Week, Black History Month, Career and Technology Education Month, Gifted and Talented Education Month, National School Counseling Week, Read Across America, Women’s History Month, Fine and Performing Arts Month, Month of the Young Child, National Student Leadership Week, National Library Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, Administrative Professionals Week, Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week, National Physical Education and Sport Week, Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, The Washington Post’s Principal of the Year program, The Washington Post’s Maryland Teacher of the Year program, employee retirement, Inclusion and Diversity Month, outstanding volunteer of the year “Be the Difference” Award.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).