Notes from the Feb. 12 Meeting of the Wicomico County Board of Education
The Wicomico County Board of Education at its monthly meeting Thursday, Feb. 12, approved on first reading a revision to the school system’s Code of Conduct and announced progress on the selection of a site for the relocation of Bennett Middle School.
The Code of Conduct lays out in detail the rights and responsibilities of everyone from students to the superintendent with regard to conduct. It also explains the appeals process for disciplinary decisions, and lists disciplinary offenses and penalties. A draft of the Wicomico County Public School System Code of Conduct is posted on the Board’s web site at www.wcboe.org for review, and public input may be made by e-mail to comments@wcboe.org, or by mail to Board of Education of Wicomico County, PO Box 1538, Salisbury MD 21802.
Second reading and a final vote are planned for the March 10 Board meeting. If the revised Code of Conduct is approved, it would be implemented for the 2009-2010 school year, with public meetings over the summer to acquaint everyone in the community with the new Code of Conduct.
In other news, Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen announced that the Board of Education has signed six-month purchase options on two properties for the relocation of Bennett Middle School. Both properties are located within the Bennett Middle attendance area (in the city of Fruitland and the Snow Hill Road area) and cover approximately 34 acres each.
The school system is currently conducting due diligence on the primary property in cooperation with the state clearinghouse for the evaluation of school property sites. Wicomico County has already provided funds through its capital bond for the acquisition of the final selected property.
During the Feb. 12 meeting the Board of Education also:
Moment of Silence
Observed a moment of silence in memory of Anitra Pirkle, a Wicomico High School graduate, and Tyrone Hitchens, custodian at Pittsville Elementary and Middle, both of whom died in January.
Superintendent’s Report
Heard from Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen that:
• Information for the fiscal 2010 budget continues to trickle in from the state and national level, and that everyone should “stay tuned” for an interesting and challenging budget process. The Wicomico school system is letting elected officials know that it has a number of “shovel-ready” projects that could be done if funds become available. Discussions about insurance for employees and post-employment benefits for retirees are ongoing.
• In capital plans, Wicomico is waiting to hear the result of its appeal to the Board of Public Works for full fiscal 2010 funding for the James M. Bennett High replacement project, funding for the HVAC project at Northwestern Elementary, and planning approval for the relocated Bennett Middle School.
• Meetings are ongoing with Wor-Wic Community College and the Maryland State Department of Education for a transition in the Adult Basic Education program planned for July 1, 2010. Other teams are meeting on the grade point average requirement for participation in extracurricular activities, and on educational leadership internships with Salisbury University.
• Plans are under way for a massive MSDE survey of teachers on school climate. Wicomico will encourage its teachers to participate, and is looking at doing its own surveys of teachers, staff, students and families to compile data for decision-making.
• Wicomico is eagerly awaiting results from the January High School Assessment (HSA) retest. Most students have met the state’s HSA requirement for graduation, and schools will continue to work closely with those students who have not yet met the requirement.
• The next Superintendent’s Open Door session will take place from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, at the Superintendent’s Office in the Board of Education, Mt. Hermon Road and Long Avenue, Salisbury. Anyone who would like to have a one-on-one conversation with the superintendent is invited to come at that time. For information call 410-677-4495.
• There is now a Superintendent’s Video Message on the Board’s web site at http://www.wcboe.org/BOE/Parents/?view=BOE/Superintendent
Reports
Heard the monthly student reports from the four high schools, approved the monthly personnel report for certificated employees, received for information the monthly report for classified employees, and received the monthly update on grant applications. Since July 1, Wicomico and its schools and programs have applied for 53 grants totaling $955,893, with $785,583 granted.
Awards and Scholarships
Approved the Beacon of Light Humanitarian/Community Service Award, from the Beacon of Light Seventh Day Adventist Church, for a graduating senior with a documented community service record of 110 or more hours. A $1,000 check will be made payable to the student’s college for expenses. The Board also approved the Roger Welch Memorial Scholarship, a $250 annual award in memory of the late carpentry instructor. The honoree will be a graduating senior enrolled in the Parkside CTE carpentry program, and the $250 scholarship may be used for educational and/or vocational expenses. Both awards will be listed in the Scholarship Booklet that is available in school guidance offices and on the Board’s web site at http://www.wcboe.org/resources/pdf/ScholarshipBooklet.pdf
Textbook Supplement and Curriculum
Approved on first and final reading a supplement to the National Center for Construction Education & research textbooks used for many 11th grade students at the Parkside Career & Technology Education. The supplement is called “Your Role in the Green Environment.” The Board also approved a FLEX (Foreign Language Exploratory) curriculum revision for middle schools.
Bus Contracts
Awarded a spare bus contract to Bernard James, assigned the contract for Bus 64 to F.L.C. Massey (Freddy Massey), and transferred the contract for Bus 4 from Phyllis A. Esham to Esham Bus Service Inc. The Board also approved a bus replacement schedule for 18 buses for fiscal 2010.
Bid
Awarded the contract for student agendas for 2009-2010 to Premier Agendas Inc. as the low responsive and responsible bidder. The contract value to provide agendas for all Wicomico students is valued at approximately $60,000.
Budget Transfers
Approved budget transfers for the month of February, including $30,676 in transfers between category (over $1,000, requiring county approval), $3,581 in transfers between category of less than $1,000, and $35,545 in transfers within category requiring only Board approval.
Board Member Report
Heard from Board member Brian Kilgore that his son is spearheading a campaign at North Salisbury Elementary called Thank America’s Soldiers, and that contributions to that effort are welcome from anyone who wants to give. Items will be collected through March 1 and will then be mailed to soldiers in Afghanistan. Call North Salisbury at 410-677-5807 for information.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
11 comments:
Thank you, BoE and Joe. It is really nice to have access to the minutes on line. I will be calling N. Salisbury and donating to the care packages for Soldiers. Without this post I probably wouldn't have known about that.
dont go looking on the BOE website for the Proposed Code of COnduct. It is not up there yet.
Yes, but will the Code of Conduct be enforced? They always have that it is ultimately up to the administrator at the school to make the final decision. So, if a student brings a weapon to school, the Code may say five days suspension, but the administrator may only give one day, or in school suspension. The Code of Conduct needs to be uniformly enforced, as the behavior at the schools is getting out of hand.
Sometimes the administrator does exactly what is called for in terms of consequences for bad behavior, but the parent complains to the Board of Ed. and the punishment is reduced. Especially at the elementary level, the director frequently over rules the decisions of principals if a parent is unhappy. She does not care if the principal's decision was correct and according to Bd. policy, she always takes the easy way out when a parent complains about anything including discipline.
Look at the Board of Ed. personnel who oversee discipline and behavior in the schools. They are Mr. Walker, Mr. Brewer, Mrs. Finger, Mrs. Adkins, Dr. Hickman and others. Is there one who has been a principal of a school? No. Some of them have never even taught a day in Wicomico County schools. Yet they are telling principals how to manage a student body. It is very easy to tell an administrator to find a way to put up with dozens of kids who are out of control when you've never had to run a school with hundreds of students. The BOE is overstaffed with new positions being created every year. Most of those people are just clueless. Why are they dictating how to do a job they've never done and couldn't do.
Teachers at JMB are tired of writing referalls and very little dicipline is done. Students are not held accountable for their actions at this school-----One DOS is seldom at school and when she is, she does absolutely nothing. When she was approached about students still in the hallways way after school was over, she stated "it wasn't her problem, she was off."
I have even heard principals say that after a certain number of suspensions, that they are no longer allowed to suspend anymore African American males. It seems the BOE is afraid of looking like they only suspend one race. This occurs in other counties as well as Wicomico at the elementary level.
African Americans form a subgroup for data reporting. No matter how they behave, no one wants them suspended because the figures look bad. Guess what? If they deserve to be suspended, they should be. No wonder there are problems in the community when they get away with everything in the schools. Other subgroups are kids on free and reduced meal plans, kids who don't speak English and kids who are in special education. So when the Md. State Dept. recognizes a school for improvement in a subgroup, it's one of these four.
Somehow people find excuses for kids who will not follow basic rules like don't yell at the teachers, don't steal, don't punch people in the face, don't use or sell drugs, don't bring weapons, do some actual work, etc. It is never the fault of the kid. There is always a reason why even the most basic self-control should not be required of many of these students. Teachers are told to put up with kids who won't even be quiet during class. Now the kids who don't want an education remain in the classroom and make sure the kids who do want an education can never have one. The teacher can teach only when the hoodlums decide to permit it. The Board's philosophy is that everyone in the school should be at the mercy of those who have no idea what a school is for.
The new superintendent seems to understand that many at the central office are in positions that should be eliminated. He recognizes how congested the Board is with new jobs being created at the drop of a hat. Let's give him a chance to eliminate some like one of the math "supervisors" and one of the reading "supervisors" and the one who does the Teacher of the Year as her only big assignment. Maybe he'll have an elementary and a secondary director who actually do something with instruction and get rid of the director of instruction. Half of the ones with repetitive titles in maintenance and facilities need to go. Some of the jobs at the Board are needless and some are in no way full-time.
AMEN to those who have posted about discipline problems. The question should be, "What can we do to make our schools safe for all?" instead of "What excuse can we find so this dangerous kid can remain in the classroom?" When it is a choice between protecting innocent kids and teachers or supporting the felons, the felons win every time. It is ludicrous that the Board's stated priority is to have safe schools. The schools are safe for any student who refuses to obey the rules but is in a No Child Left Behind subgroup. Those kids are safe from work, safe from rules, safe from punishment, safe from accountability.
Post a Comment