The Board of Education has requested community comment regarding three Board of Education policies that were tentatively approved on October 26, 2009. They are:

• Policy JHF, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation, which demonstrates the school system’s commitment to addressing this issue. The policy is based on a model policy drafted by the Maryland State Department of Education and complies with requirements of state law.

• Policy GFC, Reassignment of Personnel after 25 Years of Service or Age 50, which would be renamed to Reassignment of Employees within Two Years of Normal Retirement Eligibility. The policy would revise criteria for maintaining salary and retirement benefit levels for certain employees who are transferred or assigned to positions with a lower salary classification.

• Policy ECK, Use of Smith Center for Non-MCPS Groups, which has been revised to reflect that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) reserves the right to schedule use of the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Center by nonprofit groups to ensure appropriate use of this unique facility and to maximize flexibility in scheduling its use by MCPS students and staff.

Copies of the draft policy are available through the Public Information Office by calling 301-279-3853 or on the MCPS website at the link below. Individuals who wish to provide comments on any or all of these three policies should respond in writing by Monday, January 18, 2010. All responses should be sent to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 122, Rockville, Maryland 20850. The responses will be shared with the members of the Board of Education.

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