.

TENTATIVE MINUTES

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND

Tuesday, May 16, 2000

The Board of Education of Baltimore County, Maryland, met in open session at 4:38 p.m. at Greenwood. Vice President Phyllis E. Ettinger and the following Board members were present: Mr. H. J. Jack Barnhart, Mr. John A. Hayden, III, Dr. Warren C. Hayman, Mr. Michael P. Kennedy, Mr. John A. Olszewski, Jr., Ms. Carolyn Ross-Holmes, Mr. James R. Sasiadek, and Mr. Sanford V. Teplitzky. In addition, staff members were present.

Mr. Barnhart immediately moved that the Board go into closed session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to the Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government Article, §10-508(a)(1). The motion was seconded by Ms. Ross-Holmes and approved by the Board

CLOSED SESSION MINUTES

The area superintendents reviewed the appointments and transfers on tonight's agenda.

Mr. Arnold and Dr. Marchione entered the room at 4:42 p.m.; Mr. Walker entered the room at 4:45 p.m.

Mr. Sasiadek and Dr. Marchione described the selection process for a Board-appointed position. A recommendation was presented to the Board and will be placed on tonight's agenda.

At 5:58 p.m., Mr. Walker moved to end the closed session for a brief dinner recess. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sasiadek and approved by the Board.

Board members hosted members of the Baltimore County Alliance for Black School Educators for dinner.

OPEN SESSION MINUTES

The Board of Education of Baltimore County, Maryland, reconvened in open session at 7:55 p.m. at Greenwood. President Donald L. Arnold and the following Board members were present: Mr. H. J. Jack Barnhart, Ms. Phyllis E. Ettinger, Mr. John A. Hayden, III, Dr. Warren C. Hayman, Ms. Jean M. H. Jung, Mr. Michael P. Kennedy, Mr. John A. Olszewski, Jr., Mr. James R. Sasiadek, Mr. Sanford V. Teplitzky, and Mr. James E. Walker. In addition, Dr. Anthony G. Marchione, Superintendent of Schools; staff members; members of various civic, employee, and community organizations were present as was the press.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The open session commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, which was led by Miss Luzita Molock, a Randallstown Elementary School student, and a period of silent meditation for those who have served education in the Baltimore County Public Schools.

MINUTES

Hearing no additions or corrections to the open and closed session minutes of May 2, 2000, Mr. Arnold declared the minutes approved as presented.

Mr. Arnold informed the audience of the various sessions Board members participated in earlier this afternoon.

PERSONNEL MATTERS

On motion of Mr. Teplitzky, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, the Board approved the personnel matters as presented on Exhibits D, E, F, and G. (Copies of the exhibits are attached to the formal minutes.)

REPORTS

The Board received the following reports:

A. Report on the Proposed School Calendar, 2001-02 - Ms. Norman described the process used in developing the calendar and recognized members of the Calendar Committee. She also highlighted the major points of the proposed calendar.

Mr. Teplitzky voiced his opposition to the after Labor Day start, particularly since the school year is scheduled to end on June 21. A late closing date could be a real problem for students in schools with no air conditioning. The Board will consider this item at the June 13th meeting.

B. Assessment Plan Update - Dr. Thomas described the proposal which would align primary reading and mathematics assessments with one set of tests and extend the mathematics portion of the assessments to grade 1. Primary reading norm-referenced assessments would be standardized further by using CTBS in grades 1 and 2 instead of the Gates-MacGinitie test in grade 1 and CTBS in grade 2. The second recommendation calls for the replacement of the math checklist in grade 1 with the math portion of CTBS. All testing would be for students who did not take the test in the spring.

Dr. Thomas continued by explaining the second recommendation--Moving initial administrations of the Maryland Functional Tests to earlier grades. The first administration of the reading and mathematics tests would be moved to grade 6 and the writing Test to grade 7. The proposal also recommends the elimination of the end-of-the-year grade 6 administration of CTBS/5

Board members will be asked to take action on these proposals at the June 13th meeting

C. Baltimore County Public Schools' Intervention Plan--As a continuation of the previous report, Dr. Thomas reported that Baltimore County's intervention plan is in the beginning stages and is built on the state initiative. It will link assessment results with specific interventions. These interventions can range from in-class regrouping and extra help to required end-of-year programs. There are two parts in the proposal--End-of-year countywide assessment for identified grades which builds on the norm-referenced testing already in place and countywide quarterly assessments (milestone assessments) for all elementary and middle school years

Mr. Hayden and Ms. Ettinger asked Dr. Thomas and staff to keep the Board up-to-date with respect to fiscal implications of this plan.

CONTRACT AWARDS

Mr. Teplitzky pulled items 2 and 5 for further discussion; Mr. Olszewski pulled items 6 and 9. On motion of Mr. Barnhart, seconded by Mr. Walker, the Board approved items 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 10-24

1. Classroom Paper

3. Contracted Services: Industrial Hygiene

4. Cosmetology Lab Furniture (Sollers Point/Southeast Technical High School)

7. Food Service: Dairy Products

8. Food Service: Food Products

10. Food Service: Record Safes

11. Food Service: Refrigeration Equipment Maintenance

12. Food Service: Uniform Shirts

13. Football Supplies and Equipment

14. Gasoline, Fuel Oil, and Diesel Oil

15. Graphic Communication Equipment (Overlea High School)

16. Housekeeping Equipment

17. Interscholastic Athletics Supplies and Equipment

18. Medications and First Aid Supplies

19. Recycling: PCB Ballasts (Extension)

20. School Classroom/Office Supplies

21. Sod

22. Technical/Career Programs Supplies and Equipment

23. Video Equipment

24. Walk-In Cooler/Freezer (Western School of Technology)

Items 2 and 5

On motion of Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Hayden, the Board approved contract awards for item 2--Contracted Services: Asbestos Abatement--and item 5--Financing: School Buses, Cars, Trucks. Mr. Teplitzky abstained from discussion and voting on these items.

Items 6 and 9

Mr. Olszewski questioned the variation in prices between two of the vendors in item 6 and, in item 9, Mr. Olszewski inquired about the rationale for dividing the awards by areas. On motion of Mr. Olszewski, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, the Board approved item 6--Food Service: Beverages--and item 9--Food Service: Mechanical Equipment Maintenance.

BUILDING COMMITTEE

The Building Committee, represented by Mr. Barnhart, recommended approval of items 1-15, 17-27, and 29-32. Items 16 and 28 were withdrawn.

1. Emergency Lighting Replacement - Catonsville Elementary School

2. Stage Lighting Dimmer Rack Replacement - Chesapeake High School

3. Systemic Renovations - Dumbarton Middle School

4. Reroofing Project - Featherbed Lane Elementary School

5. Reroofing Project - Glyndon Elementary School

6. Reroofing Project - Hampton Elementary School

7. Rescind Award of Contract - Parking Lot Expansion - Perry Hall Middle School

8. Parking Lot Expansion - Perry Hall Middle School

9. Toilet Room Renovations - Randallstown Elementary School

10. Reroofing Project - Relay Elementary School

11. Auto Body Shop Modifications - Sollers Point/Southeastern Technical High School

12. Purchase and Installation of Playground Equipment - White Oak School

13. Request to Negotiate Architectural/Engineering Services - Food Services Warehouse

14. Request to Negotiate Professional Services - Various Schools

15. Consultant Design Services - Baltimore Highlands, Grange, and Timonium Elementary Schools

17. Consultant Design Services - Berkshire and Villa Cresta Elementary Schools

18. Consultant Design Services - Carroll Manor, Fifth District, and Prettyboy Elementary Schools

19. Consultant Design Services - Chapel Hill, Norwood, and Perry Hall Elementary Schools

20. Consultant Design Services - Chase, Dundalk, and Victory Villa Elementary Schools

21. Consultant Design Services - Edmondson Heights, Hawthorne, and Riverview Elementary Schools

22. Consultant Design Services - Elmwood Elementary School, Campfield Early Childhood Development Center, and Bear Creek Elementary School

23. Construction Administration Services - Featherbed Lane Elementary School

24. Consultant Design Services - Glenmar and Woodmoor Elementary Schools

25. Construction Administration Services - Glyndon Elementary School

26. Construction Administration Services - Hampton Elementary School

27. Consultant Design Services - Hampton, Johnnycake, and Middleborough Elementary Schools

29. Consultant Design Services - Owings Mills Elementary School

30. Construction Administration Services - Relay Elementary School

31. Change Order - Mechanical/Electrical Systemic Renovations - Catonsville High School

32. Change Order Allocation Increase - Stoneleigh Elementary School

BUDGET SUPPLEMENT

On motion of Ms. Ettinger, seconded by Mr. Barnhart, the Board approved a budget supplement in the amount of $1,285,081.

BUDGET APPROPRIATION TRANSFER

On motion of Mr. Barnhart, seconded by Ms. Ross-Holmes, the Board approved a budget appropriation transfer in the amount of $2,306,143.

Mr. Arnold announced that earlier this afternoon Dr. Marchione made his last presentation to the County Council on the operating budget. The meeting went well, and Mr. Arnold stated that at this time it is unknown how much of the school system's budget the Council will approve.

INFORMATION

The Board received the following as information:

Minutes of the Central Area Educational Advisory Council meeting, March 15, 2000.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mr. Arnold made the following announcements:

-- On Wednesday, May 17, 2000, the Central Area Educational Advisory Council will meet at Carroll Manor Elementary School at 7:30 p.m.

-- Schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2000, in observance of Memorial Day.

-- On Tuesday, June 6, 2000, the Northwest Area Educational Advisory Council will meet at the Northwest Resource Center at 7:30 p.m.

-- The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education of Baltimore County will be held on Tuesday, June 13, 2000, at Greenwood. The meeting will begin with an open session at 5:00 p.m. After the Board adjourns to meet in closed session, followed by a brief dinner recess, the open meeting will reconvene at 7:30 p.m. The public is welcome at all open sessions.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Jay Silverman, representing the Citizens' Advisory Committee for Special Education, introduced the group's officers for 2000-01.

Ms. Teresa LaMaster, representing the Citizens' Advisory Committee for Special Education, expressed her disappointment that the assessment report did not include how special education students will be impacted.

Mr. Randy Javins, representing the Central Area Educational Advisory Council, informed Board members of the May 17 meeting of the Council which will feature a student presentation. Finally, Mr. Javins recognized Fran Boyd's service on the Central Area Council.

Ms. Linda Olszewski, representing the PTA Council of Baltimore County, reflected on the accomplishments of the PTA Council during her term as president. She also asked the Board to consider showing Board meetings in their entirety on Channel 73 rather than showing an edited version.

Ms. Meghan Kotula, President of the Baltimore County Student Councils for 2000-01, informed the Board of events planned for the summer and the start of the school year.

Mr. Mark Beytin, President of the Teachers' Association of Baltimore County, thanked Dr. Thomas, Dr. Mazza, and Ms. Norman for listening to the concerns of TABCO concerning assessment and the school calendar. He also thanked the Board and staff for seeking teacher input on various issues.

Mr. Ellis Barksdale, a Randallstown Elementary School parent, stated that as a result of the recent MSPAP boycott, productive discussions have taken place with Dr. Grasmick and Dr. Marchione. He read excerpts of a 1998 letter from County Executive Ruppersberger to the Randallstown parents. Mr. Barksdale stated the proposed renovation does not meet the needs of Randallstown's children. He asked the Board to find the funds for a new building.

Ms. Donya Douglas, President of the Randallstown Elementary School PTA, noting a surplus of funds at the state level, asked the Board to reallocate funds for a new Randallstown Elementary School.

Ms. Laurie Sneed, a Pine Grove Elementary School parent, thanked Dr. Mohler for his response to her comments from the previous meeting. She also thanked the Board for listening to the concerns expressed by Pine Grove parents. Ms. Sneed made clear parents are asking for money to enclose the open space area in 2001-02 when renovations are planned.

Ms. Susan Chaudron, a Pine Grove Elementary School parent, asked the Board to indicate its position on the open space issue.

Ms. Donna Felling, a Pine Grove Elementary School parent, shared a story about one of the disadvantages of educating children in an open space area. She stated the parents are committed to working on this issue.

Mr. Arnold noted that Board members had attended a number of functions last week where staff and students were recognized for their accomplishments.

At 10:03 p.m., Mr. Walker moved to adjourn the open session. The motion was seconded by Mr. Barnhart and approved by the Board.

Respectfully submitted,

______________________

Anthony G. Marchione

Secretary-Treasurer

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