The Board of Education met on Tuesday (December 12) and, among other items, elected a president and vice president and approved the school calendar for 2007-2008. Also approved were Board committee appointments and the observance of National Inclusive Schools Week. Preliminary plans for additions to Travilah and Washington Grove elementary schools and Thomas W. Pyle Middle School were approved. In addition, the Board reviewed the Annual Resource Conservation Plan for FY 2008. A proposed item of state legislation restricting the vote of the student member of the Board was not supported.

Election of Officers

Board of Education members elected Nancy Navarro as president of the Board of Education and Shirley Brandman as vice president of the Board. (See details in separate news release.)

School Calendar for 2007-2008

The Board approved the school calendar for 2007-2008 with 184 instructional days for students and 193 duty days for teachers plus 16 hours of flexible professional time. A contingency calendar also was approved in the event that the school year is disrupted by emergencies and schools are closed. The first day of school for students will be Monday, August 27, 2007, before Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 3, 2007, beginning the school year with a full week of instruction. The last day for students is scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2008.

Board Committees

The following appointments to Board committees were approved:

-Audit Committee—Christopher Barclay, chair; Patricia O’Neill (continuing member Steve Abrams)

-Strategic Planning Committee—Judy Docca, chair; Christopher Barclay (continuing member Nancy Navarro)

-Policy Committee—Sharon Cox, chair; Patricia O’Neill (continuing members Steve Abrams, Sarah Horvitz)

-Communications and Public Engagement Committee—Nancy Navarro, chair; Judy Docca (continuing member Patricia O’Neill)

-Ad Hoc Committee on Special Education—Shirley Brandman, chair (continuing members Steve Abrams, Sharon Cox)

National Inclusive Schools Week

The Urban Special Education Leadership Collaborative and Education Development Center, Inc., designated the week of December 4 through 8 as National Inclusive Schools Week. The Board of Education joined in this recognition, encouraging efforts to make schools and classrooms high performing and inclusive for all students. MCPS is committed to serving no less than 80 percent of students with disabilities in the general education environment.

Presentation of Preliminary Plans

The Board approved preliminary plans for additions to Travilah and Washington Grove elementary schools and Thomas W. Pyle Middle School.

Department of Facilities Management Annual Resource Conservation Plan for FY 2008

The Board reviewed the Annual Resource Conservation Plan for FY 2008, which provides information on the school system’s energy consumption and a description of the energy conservation program. Key elements of conservation include the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pilot at Great Seneca Creek Elementary School, expansion of the School Eco-Response Team (SERT) energy conservation program, the Green Schools program to improve schools’ energy and environmental performance, and the Collaboration Project to reduce utility costs that includes principals, representatives from the three bargaining units, and the Department of Facilities Management staff.

Item of Legislation

The Board voted not to support proposed state legislation that would prohibit the student member of the Montgomery County Board of Education from voting on any personnel matters. At present, the student member may vote on all personnel appointments, but not on negative personnel matters.

Board of Education: Mrs. Nancy Navarro, president. Ms. Shirley Brandman, vice president. Members: Mr. Steve Abrams, Mr. Christopher Barclay, Ms. Sharon Cox, Dr. Judy Docca, Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill, and Ms. Sarah Horvitz, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.