Board Meeting, October 28, 2021

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRXR9WPbfzI&list=PL4585E4C6234DE895&index=1

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRXR9WPbfzI&list=PL4585E4C6234DE895&index=1

 

Note the meeting starts ½ hour late.

Roll is taken and everyone is present.

Burroughs moves the agenda with an amendment. He would like to move item 7.5 to second reader because it already passed first reader on 6/24. Queen seconds.

The lawyer makes another motion to confirm actions taken in executive session on 10/21.

The agenda passes with the amendments.

 

The board unanimously approves the BOE meeting minutes from 10/14/2021.

 

Next, Chair Miller presents her report, which includes a moment of silence for PGCPS staff, students, and families who have lost family members. She congratulates Dr. Goldson for having recently won an award from the National Center for Children and Families for exceptional superintendent leadership and 30 years of service to PGCPS.

CEO Goldson is not in attendance at the meeting, so her advisor, Howard Burnett, presents the report of the CEO. The report mentions the comprehensive boundary initiative that is ongoing with five upcoming virtual sessions, a reminder that students need to have all vaccinations by November 12, and that high school specialty applications are now open.

 

Burroughs, as chair of the Policy & Governance Committee, presents the members: Raheelah Ahmed, Judy Mickens-Murray, Alvaro Ceron-Ruiz, and Sonya Williams and states they will be working on a number of policies this year. He thanks the administration, staff, and board policy director, Brandon Cooper, for their assistance.

 

Public Comment is next.

Michelle Clark speaks about educator workload issues.

Egypt Middleton lays out several problems with transportation including that there is no meaningful way to provide feedback, lack of communication, and issues with the Stop Finder app.

Sherry Flynn speaks about educator workload issues and the need to incentivize substitutes so teachers are not having to cover absent teachers.

Stephanie Bonilla discusses mishandling of a positive COVID case in which her family did not get notification of their asymptomatic child’s positive test during the random pool testing until 6 days later.

 

Item 4.1 is the FY2023 Operation Budget board priority recommendations, which is presented by Board Member Queen. The top 6 collective priorities include:

                                Funding for Focus Work Group Goals

                                Expand/Improve Curriculum & Instruction (to include increased personnel)

                                Professional Development/Continuing Education

                                Student Mental Health Supports/Resources

                                Smaller Class Size

                                After School Clubs, Activities, Mentoring Programs

 

Consent agenda items pass. These include proclamations commemorating National School Psychology Week, Maryland Emancipation Day, American Education Week, and Observance of National Native American History Month.

Budget consent agenda, aside from Item 6.6 which is for the William Schmidt Outdoor Education Center award of Construction Management Services, is passed. This includes expenditure requirements for October and November 2021, buried fuel tank removal, and payment and acceptance of three projects at schools. Item 6.6 was removed from the agenda.

 

The first reader for policies 0014 (School Uniforms), 1100 (Community Schools), 0118 (Basic Commitments), and 0125 (Nondiscriminaton) passes.

 

Item 7.5, draft policy 5122 for Interscholastic and Extracurricular Activities Academic Requirements, that was moved to second reader is discussed. Burroughs explains that the CEO had concerns about the policy as initially proposed back in July and it was remanded back to the Policy Committee so that he could work with Goldson and PGCPS administration. He goes on to highlight that his intent with this policy is to keep kids in school and engaged with sports and extra curriculars even when their GPA falls below 2.0 because that may be the only thing keeping them in school. His intent was not to lower standards, and he views this as part of the work of dismantling the school to prison pipeline. Accordingly, this policy now institutes a 20-day probationary period when a student’s GPA drops below 2.0. During that time, the student has to enroll in an academic enrichment program. They can still practice with their team if they are an athlete but cannot play in games.

Mickens-Murray seconds.

During discussion, Williams notes she believes the intent of this policy can be achieved through revising administrative policies, which would then direct staff and result in more consistency.

Valentine appreciates Burroughs’ work on this, particularly the process he went through to achieve a compromise policy.

Ahmed voices her support for this policy because it makes a strong statement that PGCPS is educating holistically.

Queen is also supportive and asks her colleagues to put themselves in other people’s shoes.

The board members all vote yes except for Thomas, who abstains, and Williams, who votes no.

 

The board realizes they need to vote on Item 4.1 to move it to the CEO, and they take a vote. It passes unanimously.

 

The board then votes to confirm actions taken in an executive session that was held on October 21 for the purposes of hearing appeals. Ahmed, Boozer-Strother, and Harris abstain. All other board members vote yes.

The board then approves actions taken in executive session up to this point. They then go back into executive session, so public meeting adjourns.