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Board Bids Farewell to Superintendent Jerry Weast, Considers Charter School Applications

June 28, 2011

The Montgomery County Board of Education met on Monday, June 27, and, among other agenda items, bid farewell to outgoing Superintendent Jerry D. Weast and considered two applications for charter schools. The Board also took action on tuition rates for nonresident students, set prices for school breakfast and lunch, approved administrative appointments, made appointments to two advisory committees, awarded facilities contracts, and recognized Vietnamese scholars.

Farewell to Dr. Weast
The Board of Education bid farewell to Dr. Jerry D. Weast, outgoing superintendent of schools, who is retiring on June 30 after serving as superintendent for 12 years. The farewell presentation was highlighted by expressions of appreciation from each Board member  and a slideshow featuring outstanding moments in Dr. Weast’s tenure with the school system.

Consideration of Charter School Applications
The Board discussed the superintendent’s recommendation to approve the application for Community Montessori Public Charter School, a proposed Pre-K–3 Montessori school with wraparound services; and to deny the application of Seneca Creek Public Charter School, a proposed K–8 school with an emphasis on using the environment as an integrating context for learning. If approved by the Board, the Community Montessori Public Charter School would be the first charter school in Montgomery County. Superintendent Jerry D. Weast’s recommendation was made after an extensive process containing four levels of review and input from numerous content experts, including final recommendations by the review panel of internal and external stakeholders on June 2 and concurrence by Deputy Superintendent of Schools Frieda Lacey. The Board is scheduled to take action on the proposals at their meeting on July 7, 2011.

Tuition for Nonresident Students
The Board set the tuition rates for nonresident students for FY 2012 at the same level as FY 2011: $13,594 for elementary (including kindergarten) and $13,584 for secondary students. Tuition rates for special education students in FY 2012 will reflect the cost requirements of implementing the Individualized Education Program—a change from the current practice of charging a single standard rate for special education students.

Recommended Fiscal Year 2012 Fees for the Food and Nutrition Services Program
The Board voted to maintain the current FY 2011 prices for school meals for FY 2012. Lunch prices will remain at $2.50 for elementary students, $2.75 for secondary students, and 40 cents for all reduced-price eligible students. Breakfast for elementary and secondary students will be $1.30; students who are eligible for reduced-price meals will receive breakfast at no cost. The Division of Food and Nutrition Services will continue to focus on outreach to students and parents as part of an ongoing marketing plan to increase average daily student participation for breakfast and lunch.

Human Resources Appointments
The Board approved the appointments of the following administrators:

· Denise M. DeFiore, currently staff development specialist, Department of Instructional Leadership Support, as director, Staff Development Teacher Project Team

· Loretta M. Favret, currently principal, S. Christa McAuliffe Elementary School, as director, Administrative and Supervisory Professional Growth System—Elementary

· Krishnanda A. Tallur, currently senior specialist, Position and Salary administration, as director, Functional Administration, Department of Financial Services

· Amy S. Cropp, currently coordinator, Preschool Education Program, as supervisor, Child Find/Early Childhood Disabilities Unit

· Mildred L. Charley-Greene, currently assistant principal, Albert Einstein High School, as principal, Takoma Park Middle School

· Irina LaGrange, currently assistant principal, A. Mario Loiederman Middle School, as principal, Tilden Middle School

· Ruschelle Reuben, currently principal intern, Paint Branch High School, as principal, Benjamin Banneker Middle School

· Carla Glawe, currently principal intern, Stonegate Elementary School, as principal, Olney Elementary School

· Katherine W. Lertora, currently instructional specialist, School-Based Special Education Services, as coordinator, Stephen Knolls School


Appointments to Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development
The Board appointed 15 members to serve on the Citizens Advisory Committee on Family Life and Human Development. The committee serves in an advisory capacity only to MCPS professional educators in the course of developing, implementing, and evaluating the Family Life and Human Development Program. Appointments are two years for adult members and one year for the two student members. The terms of all current members of the committee end on June 30. The new members are:

Kaushal Chauhan, James Corbett, Glenwood Elam, Marialuz Johnson, Deborah Livornese, Sara Meytin, Donna Rismiller, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Tomas Silvani, Mamie Stewart Albertie, Elizabeth Stiefvater, Candace Webb, Washiq Ahmed (student), Janson Ledesma (student), and Stephanie Evers. Deborah Livornese was designated committee chairperson.

Appointment of Members to the Montgomery County Collaboration Board for Career and Technology Education
The Board approved the appointment of members of the Montgomery County Collaboration Board for Career and Technology Education. The members are representatives of business/governmental agencies who are nominees of the 11 Career Cluster Advisory Board, jointly appointed by Montgomery College and MCPS; one student member nominated by the president of Montgomery College; and two student members nominated by the superintendent of schools. They will serve a one-year term, beginning July 1. New members are:

Art, Humanities, Media, and Communications        Joseph Malouf
Biosciences, Health Science, and Medicine        Lisa McDonald
Business Management and Finance        Miara A. Rasamoelina
Construction and Development        Tom Clendenin
Education, Training, and Child Studies   Mary Kay Shartle-Galotto
Engineering, Scientific Research,          Nafiz Karabudack and
and  Manufacturing Technologies                     Sanj Malushte
Environmental, Agricultural, and Natural Resources  Marie Rojas
Human and Consumer Services, Hospitality,        Andy Chaves
and Tourism                                           

Information Technologies     TBD
Law, Government, Public Safety, and Administration Wanda Martinez
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics   Harold Redden
MCPS student members     Dina Broydo, Nancy Cao
MC student member      Adam Shirazi

Following the resignation of current president Thomas DeGonia at the end of his term, the Collaboration Board will identify a proposed successor to be approved by the Board of Education in the fall.

Award of Contracts
The Board awarded contracts related to the following facilities:

· Beverly Farms Elementary School modernization
· Cold Spring Elementary School gymnasium addition
· Darnestown Elementary School septic system replacement and site work
· Highland Elementary School school-based health center

Recognition of Vietnamese Scholars
The Board congratulated the two recipients of the 2011 Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association academic awards and scholarships:

· Mary Mai-Lan Nguyen from Montgomery Blair High School
· Cindy Pham from Gaithersburg High School

Each received a $1,000 scholarship for academic excellence, leadership skills, and community service at the organization’s Twenty-third Annual Academic Awards Ceremony on June 5.


About the Board of Education
 Montgomery County Board of Education: Mr. Christopher Barclay, president; Ms. Shirley Brandman, vice president. Members: Ms. Laura Berthiaume, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Michael Durso, Mr. Phil Kauffman, Ms. Patricia O’Neill, and Mr. Alan Xie, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617. 
 
The Montgomery County Board of Education is the official educational policymaking body in the county. The Board is responsible for the direction and operation of the public school system. The Board consists of seven county residents elected by voters for a four-year term and a student elected by secondary school students for a one-year term. Board members are elected countywide but run at-large or from the Board district in which they reside. 

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