Notes From 8-11-09 WBOE Meeting

The Wicomico County Board of Education at its monthly meeting on Aug. 11:

Heard from Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Fredericksen that:

- Schools are getting ready, curriculum work is ongoing, meetings are being held on how best to serve some of Wicomico's most challenging students, building improvements are taking place throughout the school system, particularly at the new James M. Bennett High, and staff training is taking place as the new school year approaches. The latest news is posted at www.wcboe.org.
- Word is anticipated soon from the Maryland Attorney General's Office on the school system's maintenance of effort agreement with Wicomico County.
- The Board is waiting for the governor to announce two appointees to the Board of Education. Sue Hitch, whose term ended June 30, is continuing to serve until her replacement is named. Brian Kilgore resigned on June 1 and the replacement will fulfill the remaining four years of the term.
- Regulations for using federal stimulus funds arrived that day and are being reviewed.
- Final quotes ranging from $7,000-$32,000 have been received for conducting a school climate survey whose results would be compared with the results of other surveys. The survey committee will look at the proposals for different types of surveys.
- He will be sitting down with a group of students Aug. 12 at Salisbury Middle School for a videotaped group interview that will air later on PAC 14.

Reports

Received for information the monthly classified personnel matters report, updated reports on competitive grant applications for 2008-09 and 2009-10, and the July 14 project listing report from Facility Services. Board members praised the comprehensive project listing report. A summer projects update will be available soon. The Board also approved the monthly personnel report for certificated employees and August budget transfers, some of which will require County Council approval.

Promotions and Appointments

Approved the appointment of Jackie Deal and the promotion of Cynthia Waters to serve as pupil personnel workers, and the ratification of the superintendent's appointment of Stacy Messick as coordinator of employee relations.

Pre-Qualification

Approved the pre-qualification of a number of professional architectural and engineering firms for miscellaneous small scale projects (fees under $100,000).

Tuition

Approved the tuition rate schedule for 2009-10 for non-resident students, both in-state and out-of-state, and for non-resident CTE students.

Bid Awards

Awarded the bid for miscellaneous masonry to Cain Masonry Inc. as the primary vendor and Hayward Masonry as the secondary vendor as the low responsive and responsible bidders. In 2008-09, approximately $25,000 was spent on miscellaneous masonry projects.

Voted to utilize the National IPA DuPage County Contract #P08-02 with Canon Business Solutions to lease three color copiers to replace similar existing color copiers.

Voted to utilize the Eastern Shore of Maryland's Educational Consortium Food Service Committee contract with Schmidt Baking Company Bread Products for Food Services bread products. The annual contract value for the school system is $139,100.

Awarded the contract for ice cream products to Jack & Jill Ice Cream, through a unit price contract with the Eastern Shore of Maryland's Educational Consortium Food Service Committee. The annual contract value is $62,000 for Wicomico Food Services.

Voted to purchase food services equipment from several different vendors as the low responsive and responsible bidders in order to replace some Food Services equipment with available American Recovery & Reinvestment Act ($97,000) and Food Services funds.

Awarded the Bid for General Materials of Instruction -- Unit Price and Catalog Contract to School Specialty as the low responsive and responsible bidder, at an annual contract value of $315,000.

Food Services Budget

Approved the Food Services budget for the 2009-10 school year. The balanced budget of $6,830,498 includes a $750,000 transfer from the school system's general fund (subsidizing food services is a common practice for school systems) and does not include any meal price increases for students. In addition to the traditional lunch and breakfast programs, Food Services provides an after-school snack program for some locations, the Maryland Meals for Achievement breakfast program in several schools, a summer food service program at 17 sites, and enterprise catering.

Planned Transitioning of Adult Basic Education

Voted to begin planning the transitioning of the school system's Adult Basic Education program to a successor agency effective June 30, 2010, when the current state grant expires. Offered for many years with grant support from the Maryland State Department of Education, Adult Basic Education is now shifting to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation as a program that is closely aligned with job training. Wicomico will inform the secretary of Labor, Licensing & Regulation of its intention not to continue the program so the state can prepare a request for proposal to determine a successor sponsoring agency. The school system will help ensure an orderly transition because the program is a valuable one, but it will be delivered better by an organization with a closer focus on jobs, Dr. Fredericksen said. In many communities across the country, adult basic education is now delivered at a community college. The school system will focus on its K-12 program.

Bus Contracts

Awarded bus contracts to Eric Morris (bus 20, serving Pemberton and West Salisbury elementary schools) and Bruce Lewis (bus 502, serving Willards Elementary, Pittsville Elementary and Middle, and Beaver Run Elementary).

Board Member Reports

Heard from Board President Mark Thompson that he has been visiting schools this summer and that schools are eager to have Board members visit -- though not for full tours on the first couple of days of the school year.

Heard from President Thompson that the Wicomico County Board of Education will be recognized Aug. 20 with a certificate of appreciation as an employer who supports employees in the Guard and Reserves.

Learned from board members Robin Holloway and Sue Hitch that there is area-wide difficulty in scheduling well visits to doctors because of a shortage of doctors due to the area's growing population as well as the recent, tragic death of Dr. Jose Alvarado, father of former student representative to the Board David Alvarado. Mrs. Holloway said the shortage of available well visits may be an issue if students aren't able to get their physicals for participating in sports.

Heard from Dr. Margo Handy, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and Support Services, that the school system is working closely with the Health Department to ensure it has the latest information on H1N1 for schools, custodial staff and school nurses. The school system will share consistent, current information on protective measures with school families.