The Board looks forward to hearing comments from a maximum of five (5) citizens on educational issues during the regular meetings. Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes. Topics excluded from Public Forum are individual personnel matters, complaints identifying individual students, pending appeals, topics for which the Board schedules public hearings, and advertising or solicitation for products and/or services. Citizen participation is not intended to be a question and answer session. However, each speaker will receive a written response. All persons are expected to exhibit civil behavior in accordance with Policy 1000 Civility.
| Name | Topic | Written Comments |
| Jason Bashura | Security needs at Mt. Hebron HS | Yes |
| Linda Leslie | Open discussion of mental health topics | Yes |
The below PowerPoint was presented during the meeting.
OVERVIEW:
The Board of Education of Howard County wishes to express appreciation to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity as a partner in education and a positive influence on the youth of Howard County.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION:
Approve this resolution to be presented to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at the 48th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
OVERVIEW:
Each year Board members are assigned to serve on specific committees of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), the Legal Services Association, county government, and the Board of Education Committees. In addition, a Board member serves as liaison to the Community Advisory Council (CAC), PTA Council of Howard County (PTACHC), the Special Education Community Advisory Committee (SECAC), and other community groups.
The attached document reflects the current assignments.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION:
Recommend the Board approve the 2022-2023 Board of Education committee assignments.
OVERVIEW:
Howard County Public Schools are divided into school clusters, which are assigned to individual Board members to facilitate school visitations, attendance at special events, and points of contact for each school community. In recognition of the many responsibilities and demands on the Chair’s time, the Board Chair will not be assigned a school cluster. Attached are the updated 2022-2023 cluster assignments for the
Board’s consideration.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION:
Recommend the Board approve the 2022-2023 cluster assignments.
The audio/video recording is the official meeting minutes and is located on HCPSS-TV.
OVERVIEW:
Quarterly agendas are created to plan staff reports and topics that the Board plans to consider. During each preceding quarter, the Board sets the agenda topics in public for each meeting in the following quarter. During the Quarterly Agenda report, Board members have the opportunity to request additional reports for scheduling. The quarterly agenda is a working document and is subject to change. The approved quarterly
agenda is maintained on BoardDocs and updated regularly.
The 2023 January through March Quarterly Agenda was reviewed by the Chiefs for input.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION:
Recommend approval of the 2023 January through March Quarterly Agenda with acknowledgement that the agenda is a working document and subject to change.
OVERVIEW:
An implementation plan for school start time changes to commence with the 2023/2024 school year was approved on February 10, 2022. Included in that plan was a scheduled series of status updates. The informational briefing attached is the last in a sequence of information and action-based reports to the Board of Education. This briefing includes:
1.A summation of the results and a cross reference, where required, to information previously provided to the Board for each workstream in the plan; and
2.A brief description of the additional activities that will be undertaken leading to a final go/no-go decision by the Board of Education. This decision is required of the Board not later than February 23,2023, for staff to have sufficient time to implement the final elements of the plan.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: Action and information items related to the implementation will be presented to the Board in accordance with plan tasking. The Board is expected to make final decision on implementation February 2023.
The below PowerPoint was presented during the meeting.
OVERVIEW:
In collaboration with MSDE, the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) has released the final Blueprint Implementation Plan template. The initial plan draft covers the first 2 years of implementation. In the PowerPoint, staff will provide an overview of how the draft will be composed, the plan for stakeholder input, and the timeline for submitting by March of 2023. A second part of the plan will be due by March of 2024.
Attached is the Local Blueprint Implementation Plan template and a guidance document. The AIB Comprehensive Plan is being edited by AIB staff and will be available in December at: https://aib.maryland.gov/Pages/Blueprint-plans.aspx
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: It is recommended that the Board review Blueprint Implementation Plan requirements and direct any questions to the HCPSS Blueprint Coordinator.
The below PowerPoint was presented during the meeting.
The Board looks forward to hearing comments from a maximum of five (5) citizens on educational issues during the regular meetings. Each speaker is limited to three (3) minutes. Topics excluded from Public Forum are individual personnel matters, complaints identifying individual students, pending appeals, topics for which the Board schedules public hearings, and advertising or solicitation for products and/or services. Citizen participation is not intended to be a question and answer session. However, each speaker will receive a written response. All persons are expected to exhibit civil behavior in accordance with Policy 1000 Civility.
| Name | Topic | Written Comments |
| Erin Parker | Universal Screening for reading | No |
| Alex Murphy | DIBELS screening | Yes |
Public Hearing Naming of High School #13 (view).
The following community members testified during the Public Hearing, and oral testimony can be viewed below:
| Name | Individual or Group | Oral Testimony Submitted | |
| 1. | Talia Roogow | Individual | No |
| 2. | Joan Carter-Smith | Individual | Yes |
| 3. | Becki Vivrette | Individual | No |
| 4. | |||
| 5. |
Read testimony that was presented here.
Read testimony that was submitted to the Board via email/regular mail here.
OVERVIEW:
The following are the highlights for the Food and Nutrition Service Program for the month of October in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2022:
Attachments 1 and 2 provide details of Income and Expenditure, ADP, Meals, and Meal Equivalents served for the period.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: As school meals reverted to pre-pandemic procedures, families who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the pre-pandemic guidelines are required to pay for meals during the 2022-23 school year. Food prices have increased significantly in FY23. In addition, USDA food order shortages and fluctuating product quality persisted for the past 2 months and will be closely monitored.
OVERVIEW:
Instructional materials recommended for the first time will be on display in the lobby at the Board of Education, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042, the Howard County Library Central Branch, 10375 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD, the Howard County Library Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD, and the Howard County Library Savage Branch, 9525 Durness Lane, Laurel, MD 20723.
The materials will be displayed December 17, 2022, through January 12, 2023. The Board of Education lobby is open daily Monday through Friday 8:00a.m. - 4:30p.m., excluding December 26, 27 and 30, 2022 and January 2, 2023. The Howard County Library displays are available during normal library hours.
All citizens may review displayed materials. Appropriate hardcopy forms or electronic links will be available to use for expressions of approval or requests for reevaluation of any of the proposed instructional materials.
The proposed additions and deletions are listed in this report.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION:
December 17, 2022, through January 12, 2023. – Materials on display February – March 2023 – TBD – Action on proposed instructional materials.
OVERVIEW:
The 2002 Maryland Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act requires local school systems to develop a comprehensive master plan which includes the goals, objectives, and major initiatives and strategies to promote academic excellence among all students, including all student groups, and specialized populations to eliminate performance gaps that persist based on students’ race, ethnicity, socio-economic circumstances, disability, and native language.
With the 2015 adoption of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Maryland has adapted the Bridge to Excellence into a Local ESSA Consolidated Strategic Plan. These new plans utilize state accountability data to develop goals, objectives, and strategies/evidence-based interventions that promote academic excellence among all students. For the 2022 Local ESSA Consolidated Strategic Plan, MSDE has produced a simplified template to reduce duplication with other grant and Blueprint reporting. The Local ESSA Consolidated Strategic Plan typically includes appendices of grant applications for Title I, Title II, Title III, and Title IV funds awarded from the state. 2022 grant applications are being processed separately by MSDE and will come through the consent agenda.
The attached Local ESSA Consolidated Plan is due to MSDE on 12/15 and does not require Board approval.
RECOMMENDATION/FUTURE DIRECTION: HCPSS will submit the Local ESSA Consolidated Plan to MSDE on 12/15/2022 and wait for feedback on any required changes.