Mr. Plutschak remarked on a successful athletic season for student athletes and applauded their efforts as a positive reflection of Caroline schools.

Mr. Jones talked about the approaching ending of the school year and applauded all the hard work of staff to get students through another successful year.

Ms. Wayman highlighted her attendance at the Teacher of the Year event. 

Mr. Barton highlighted the role of a Board member and the current board member vacancy. He explained we are currently accepting applications for district one.

Chief Financial Officer Erin Thornton presented the Finance Report as of April 30, 2024.

Report

The Board approved personnel items as presented by Supervisor of Human Resources Dr. Willoughby. They also approved the minutes from the December board of education meetings.

Parent Crystal Hagan commented on the current dress code policy and expressed frustration with feeling that more female students are being impacted by it than are male students. 

Resident John Allen III expressed his appreciation and complimented the Board on all the good work they are doing. He specifically thanked the Lockerman Middle School Choir for their outstanding performance at the National Day of Prayer on the Courthouse green.

Resident Frank Prettyman requested the Board consider allowing him to build an observatory at the back of the Colonel Richardson High School auditorium.

Resident Jim Baker from the American Legion is requested a school band for the Board Memorial Day parade in the Town of Denton.

The Board approved Algebra by Lynn Marecek, Santa Ana College, published by Openstax, copyright 2019 Rice University.

Background: Advanced Algebra is currently offered at both high schools as an option for one of the four required math credits to graduate. The Advanced Algebra course is designed to reinforce the skills and concepts necessary for students to be successful in Geometry and Algebra II. Students in Advanced Algebra expand on their Algebra I work to interpret and write expressions.

MSDE has discontinued the Algebra I Bridge Project for Academic Validation, leaving Advanced Algebra without a primary curriculum resource. CCPS math teachers have collaborated over the last few years to create content that supports this course, but have lacked a primary tier-one resource for the course. The proposed OpenStax online text is aligned to Common Core State Standards, includes all the content needed in the Advanced Algebra course, and provides a host of other features that promote student achievement.

The district instructional staff, school administrators, CCPS math teachers, Math Specialists, students, and parents were involved in the selection process of the OpenStax Online Textbook for Advanced Algebra. The online text is an open resource, free, and includes supporting supplementary resources such as video tutorials that students can access from home. 

Presentation

Staff Member: Nikki VonDenBosch
Fiscal Impact: $0 | Dollar: $0 
Budgeted: n/a

The Board approved new textbooks Reporteros and Francophone by Klett Publishing.

Background: World Language teachers and the supervisor went through demonstrations from many World Language Book vendors. After careful review, World Language teachers decided on the book Reporteros in Spanish and Francophones in French by Klett Publishers.  Parents and students were given an opportunity to review the book and resources in order to provide feedback.  Students and parents both agreed that the book is up to date and will provide multiple communication varieties in order to teach the ACTFL standards, and feel the books will prepare students for the high level Spanish and French needed to be successful in today's ever changing world.

Presentation

Staff Member: Jon Marketto, Supervisor of Instruction
Fiscal Impact: $112,268.20 (10 yr Contract)
Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: End of Year Money

The Board approved the purchase of 275 Apple laptops for CCPS staff for $336,241.50.

Background: The purchase is in response to a six-year replacement cycle for laptops issued to staff. Before 1:1, the traditional lifespan for staff devices was four years. These laptops will replace staff currently issued 2017 MacBook laptops, which are nearing the end of their useful life. This award provides for 275 Apple laptops for CCPS staff. This purchase is considered a single-source procurement as Apple does not allow for their laptops to be purchase elsewhere. As a result, there is no bid procedure.

Staff Member: Bill Mengel/Jason Wielgosz
Fiscal Impact: Yes | Dollar: $336,241.50
Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Funded by CCPS Local funds

The Board approved the purchase of 520 Apple laptops for CCPS students for $623,417.60.

Background: These laptops will replace current 2017 student MacBook laptops, nearing the end of life. Students in grades 9th—12th are the only student groups issued MacBook Air laptops. Issuing students MacBook laptops in higher grades better prepares them for real-world computing needs such as college or in the workforce. This award provides for 520 Apple laptops for CCPS students. This purchase is considered a single-source procurement as Apple does not allow for their laptops to be purchase elsewhere. As a result, there is no bid procedure.

Staff Member: Bill Mengel/Jason Wielgosz
Fiscal Impact: $0 to CCPS | Dollar: $623,417.60
Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Funded by ARP/ESSR

The Board approved the recommended purchase of the Thomas Saf-T Liner C2, 72-passenger school bus for $129,070.00 over the lower quoted Blue Bird school bus of $125,975.00. 

Background: School buses have a life span of 15 years until they age out of service.  Bus #111 aged out in March 2024 and was taken off the road. The purchase of this new school bus would replace Bus #111.  As outlined in the Purchasing Letter of Justification, the Thomas brand school bus is $3,095.00 higher than the Blue Bird (or $206.00 per year over the 15-year life span).  The cost-savings value lays within the number of repairs of a Blue Bird verse a Thomas.  Blue Bird buses are in need of repair nearly three time more frequent than Thomas buses.  Blue Birds must be taken out of state for repairs and driven by the transportation staff from the bus yard, to the repair shop and back to our bus yard.  Thomas buses are repaired in Caroline County.  Plus, the repair team picks up the bus and delivers back to us, free of charge.  The average school bus repair costs are nearly $700.00.  The Thomas brand is higher quality school bus that will more than make up of the $3,095.00 difference from the initial cost over its 15-year life span.

Bid Document

Staff Member: Carmen Milligan
Fiscal Impact: $3,095.00 over lowest bid
Dollar: $129,070.00
Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Local

The Board approved the purchase of two retrofit busses for Food Service for a total of $183,000.

Background: The USDA recently revised their summer meal feeding regulations for all children. A change of the USDA's non-congregate meal policy allows more children the opportunity to receive free summer meals in rural America. Last summer, the Food Services Department doubled their meal distribution, and this project will further enhance efficiency in providing these meals. 

Bid Document

Staff Member: Beth Brewster 
Fiscal Impact: None 
Dollar: $183,000 
Budgeted: Yes 
Budget Source: 1. No Kid Hungry, Rural MD Council and 2.Food Service Department cash reserve 

The Board approved the recommended purchase of the used Thomas Saf-T Liner C2, 66-passenger school bus as bus #122 replacement.

Background: On October 2023, Bus #112 was involved in an accident totaling its value.  MABE became immediately involved with our claim loss and sent CCPS a reimbursement check.  The Transportation department was able to locate a very well-maintained, used school bus for $58,916.00 to replace bus #112.  The bus for purchase is a Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 66-passenger bus, 2019 model year with only 85,000 miles.  The bus was brought to our bus yard for visual and basic maintenance inspections.  All service records were presented to the Transportation Department for review.  Previously, it served a retired school bus driver from Hartford County Public Schools.  This six-year-old school bus has nine full years of service remaining and has an average of just over 9,800 miles annually – low miles for a school bus.

This bus would be 100% purchased from the insurance reimbursement. 

Bid Document 

Staff Member:  Carmen Milligan
Fiscal Impact:  None
Dollar:  $58,916
Budgeted:   No
Budget Source:  MABE Insurance Reimbursement

The Board approved these policies to be retired and removed from the CCPS Policy Manual:

• Summer School Programs

• Student Participation in Political Campaigns

• Early Admission to Pre-Kindergarten

Background: Upon review, the three policies are no longer relevant to the operations of the school system and recommended for retirement:  

1. 11.20.30 - Summer School Programs: Discusses the payment of teachers (a negotiated item) and the payment of fees by students (no longer a practice of CCPS). Also discusses the number of hours needed for make-up credit and original credit, which is mandated by COMAR.

2. 111.34.60 - Student Participation in Political Campaigns: Allows the principal to grant interested students up to 3 days of excused absences to participate in political campaigns. This policy was created before the advent of early voting and no longer is in compliance with student attendance standards.

3. 111.32.60 - Early Admission to Pre-Kindergarten: Allows a 3-year-old to be admitted to Pre-K, and is now redundant with the creation of the Pre-K (3) Program.

Policy II.20.30 Summer School Programs.pdf

Policy III.34.60 Student Participation in Political Campaigns.pdf

Policy III.32.60 Early Admission to Prek.pdf

The following policy revisions were introduced for First Reading and potential approval:
Vl.60.30 - Student Transportation
Vl.60.40- Drug & Alcohol Testing for Bus & Alternative Vehicle Drivers

Background: These policies have been revised and reformatted. The revisions are deemed minor and were made to keep our policies current with state and federal law and regulations. No discretionary language was changed in either of these policy revisions.  

Policy VI.60.30 Student Transportation.pdf

Policy VI.60.40 Drug and Alcohol Testing .pdf (117 KB)

The Board approved two policies to be continued without changes or revisions, except in formatting and in the date reviewed:

Pregnant and Parenting Students

County-Owned Motor Vehicles

Background: The two policies above have been reviewed and should be continued without changes or revisions, except in formatting and in the date reviewed. 

County Owned Motor Vehicles.pdf

Policy III 34.30 Pregnant and Parenting Students.pdf

The Board approved the Prolonged State of Emergency Virtual Education Plan to be used during a extended school closures.

Background: In response to prolonged interruptions in in-person instruction, Caroline County Public Schools has crafted a Prolonged State of Emergency Plan in accordance with Senate Bill 610. This comprehensive plan includes various components essential for ensuring the continuity of education and support services during extended school closures. It includes strategies to maintain adequate staffing levels and deploy resources effectively, implement a structured framework for delivering high-quality remote instruction, conduct ongoing student assessments and provide targeted learning support, and address the social and emotional well-being of students.

In addition this plan includes strategies to establish clear communication channels with the community, ensure access to necessary technology resources, continue essential nutritional and health services, and develop a phased approach for the safe return to in-person instruction when feasible. This document serves as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of managing education during prolonged state emergencies, prioritizing student learning, well-being, and community resilience.

Prolonged State of Emergency Virtual Plan (FINAL) .pdf

The Board approved the administrative appointment of Ms. Erica McDonald to Supervisor of Special Education effective July 1, 2024. (News Release)

Through the policy review process, the following policies have undergone revisions beyond simple updates or cosmetic changes. Due to the magnitude of the revisions, these policies must go through two readings by the Board of Education to be approved as revised.

After the First Reading, community input will also be solicited. 

Policy VI.60.20 Inclement Weather Closing Policy and Rgulation.pdf

Policy III.32.70 PreK Enrollment Policy and Regulation.pdf

Supervisor of Special Education Erica McDonald provided an update on the Special Education Staffing Plan and application for Federal Funding.

Ms. McDonald reviewed the plan, and began by summarizing highlights from the past year including their annual recognition event and the increase in community outreach and parent engagement. She expressed the most exciting accomplishment this year has been an increase in professional development for staff. The team has worked hard to ensure professional development content is a valuable use of their time. 

Ms. McDonald went on to explain that areas of growth for next year will be to continue increasing professional learning, increasing graduation rates and decreasing dropout rates, working with support staff to ensure they have tools and resources they need, and evaluating staffing levels and caseloads. She finished the presentation explaining that all positions will remain and no new positions will be added for the 24/25 school year. 

Staffing Plan Presentation 5-21-24