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National Prayer Garden- Proposed for Welcome
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Step increases
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Ready, Willing and Abell

Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 5/8/12The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, May 8 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.Executive session – 12 p.m. Call to order – 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, North Point High School's JROTC unitRecognition of student liaisonsSuperintendent's update - See reportCorrespondence/Board Member updates Bowie - NSBA Conference highlightsPedersen - NSBA Conference highlightsCook - NSBA highlightsLukas - DI Competition - congratulationsWise - Every 15 Minutes program - supportEducation Association of Charles County update - see reportStudent Board Member update - see reportCIP update - see reportWade - asked Wineland if he is comfortable with the progress of the new high school.Wineland - will come back with an answer next month; opening is not in jeopardy at this pointEducational facilities master plan -see reportTitle I homeless and dental care projects, partnerships - see reportUnfinished business Wise - RFP's for consulting firms research presentation; thinks we should go with MABE.Abell - reason MABE is so much cheaper? due to membership dues and they are a non-profitLukas - can we ask a broad range of companies a list of questionsWade - What are the steps we HAVE to doCook - What does piggyback mean?Balides - ride behind the current RFP; valid way to get things doneHettel - it needs to be a consultant for the board and should be kept out of central office and should be kept confidential. Recommends a consultantPedersen - concerns on cost in the long run; person who will lead our school system for a very long time. Sometimes you have to spend the money to get the cream of the crop.Cook - Applicants pool change with which consultant is used?Lukas - timeline to have consultant confirmedMotion to hire MABE as consultants for the Superintendent search by Abell; Second by CookYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseAbell - K9 dogs in schoolsRichmond - waiting on a response from CoffeyNew businessWise - 3 members to work with staff on redistricting policy; Abell, Lukas, PedersenFuture agenda items - noneRecognition – 4:15 p.m. Ruth Ann Hall awardsStudents - Aashka Pate, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, T.C. Martin Elementary School; Lauren O'Neil, 5th grade, Academic Achievement, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School; Tolani Olaosebikan, 5th grade, Personal Responsibility, Mary B. Neal Elementary School; Emily Rawson, 8th grade, Academic Achievement, Mattawoman Middle School; Shannon Gravette, 12th grade, Career Readiness, North Point High School; Brandon Paulin, 10th grade, Henry E. Lackey High School, winner in the 2012 National Voice of Democracy’s Audio-Essay CompetitionEmployees - Kathryn Stapleson, gifted education resource teacher, Martin; Melissa Walter, instructional specialist, Mitchell; Laurie Silk, secretary, Neal; Andrea Hoover, social studies teacher, Mattawoman; Linda McLaughlin, world language teacher, North PointPublic Forum – 6 p.m.Derrick Terry - Superintendent search; must have a vested interest in students and county and not someone who is an exborent spender, lavish lifestyle, or furthering their own career. Keep public involved. No consulting firms, use online survey with the public...should be an educator, home grown. Get rid of perks. Promote from within.Lourdes Saigon - relocating. stop allocating seats we don't have available. concerned about high school rezoning and you are going to have the public involved. Roseman Dai - students moving from Davis to Henson. concerned that Henson will be at state rated capacity next year and new developments are being built in that vicinity. Whats going to happen next year? Been attending meetings to commissoners and planning commission. Please talk to us and use us to communicate and communicate with the other boards as well.Action items MinutesMotion to accept the Minutes by Abell; Second by PedersenYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WisePersonnelMotion to accept Personnel by Pedersen; Second by LukasYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, Wise2013-2014 calendarMotion to accept 2013-2014 Calendar by Pedersen; Second by WadeYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseBudget amendment FY 2012Motion to accept Budget Amendment FY 2012 by Lukas; Second by WadeYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseBoard GoalsMotion to accept Board Goals FY 2012 by Pedersen; Second by WadeYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseAdjournment
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, May 8, 2012The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, May 8, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:15 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. The meeting is also streamed live on the Charles County Public Schools website. Visit http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/ to watch the meeting. Executive session – 12 p.m. Call to order – 1 p.m.Pledge of Allegiance, North Point High School's JROTC unitRecognition of student liaisonsSuperintendent's update Correspondence/Board Member updates Education Association of Charles County updateStudent Board Member updateCIP updateEducational facilities master planTitle I homeless and dental care projects, partnershipsUnfinished business New businessFuture agenda itemsRecognition – 4:15 p.m. Ruth Ann Hall awardsStudentsEmployeesPublic Forum – 6 p.m.Action items MinutesPersonnel2013-2014 calendarBudget amendment FY 2012Adjournment
CCPS Press Release: Health department, school system investigating tuberculosis casePosted on May 4, 2012 at 3:19 PM The Charles County Department of Health has confirmed that a North Point High School student has been diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) disease. The school system is working with the health department to ensure there is no further risk in the school. Tuberculosis is a bacterial illness that responds well to proper medical treatment. It is spread through the air, usually by coughing or sneezing. Generally, a person must have prolonged exposure to the person with TB in order to breathe in a sufficient number of TB germs to cause a TB infection. The disease cannot be transmitted by touching someone or by sharing eating utensils. The health department is working with the school and school system to identify those who should receive TB testing. Classmates, teachers and staff members at North Point who may have had prolonged exposure to the student diagnosed with TB will receive an exposure letter and a TB testing consent form by e-mail and regular mail early next week. The health department will provide free TB tests at North Point to those people identified. North Point parents/guardians who do not receive an exposure letter or e-mail do not need to have their children tested at this time. Today, North Point is sending home an information letter to all parents as well as a TB fact sheet. Questions can be directed to your family physician or the Charles County Department of Health's Communicable Disease Control Program at 301-609-6900, ext. 6025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Additional information about tuberculosis is available on the Department of Health website www.charlescountyhealth.org. A fact sheet is also available on the school system website at www.ccboe.com.Charles County Public Schools provides 26,700 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 35 caring community schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Patricia Vaira, Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator (students), or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646; (301) 932-6610/870-3814. For special accommodations call (301) 934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
Notes from Board of Education Work Session, 4/30/12The Board of Education Work Session on Monday, April 30 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.Call to order – 6 p.m. Pledge of AllegiancePublic Forum - none Work Session Charles County Public Schools Common Core Transition PlanAbell - Post presentation on BoardDocs; additional presentations to parents & community; Literacy Extension Packets = cost to students? workbooks?Estep & staff - yes, yes, and not workbooks -- additional reading books, more indepth, no cost to parentsWise - Textbooks are being written? Costs associated with buying all new texts; curriculum is too rigorous, doesn't think it's going to workLukas - Maryland curriculum was based on achieving the HSA; how will we evaluate where we are with meeting Core Curriculum Standards?; percentage of students in Meeting the Middle?Estep & staff- MD Curriculum was supposed to be the bare minimum. Data Analysis and future test similar to HSA. About 10% of students in Meeting the Middle.Bowie - ELL and special needs...how will they meet this rigorous curriculum?; How can library assist, like in story times?Estep & staff - Current support services will still be provided and as we move forward, additional needs will be addressed and services put in place. Would be grateful for partnering with library.Cook - Happy with the writing portion. Worried about the students that start school in KindergartenEstep & staff - Ongoing planning in place to tackle this concern.Pedersen - Concern with transition and bringing the community along with us. Freshmen year students having two periods of Math is not being taken well, no electivesEstep & staff - Doesn't affect everyone but there is nothing we can do if we want to get in that good solid base.Superintendent SearchAbell - Recommends using a consultant. Wise - Spoke with Caroline County yesterday; they did not use MABE, used a private consultant & while they were happy with their Superintendent, they were unhappy with some things that transpired. Thinks we should use MABE, initial cost of $24,000.Abell - Doesn't think we should automatically go with MABE. I believe they are a good option, but with any major purchase, quotes should be received. Other consultants should be interviewed before a decision is made.Pedersen - Agrees; attended a seminar at the conference. Wants an organization that knows the community and puts them first.Lukas - Cook & I were at the same seminar; if we go for an outside source, we should make a list of criteria for the firm instead of just doing a blanket interview.Bowie - MABE's website; sample brochures and applications for Superintendent searched; MABE also mentioned EdWeek for advertising.Cook - NSBA session recommended using your state agency (MABE) because they are so connected to everyone else in the state as well as across the nation.Pedersen - Firm should be very aware of Maryland State Law regarding searches.Bowie - referenced Maryland State Superintendent SurveyWise - While we want to be transparent, not all applicants will be revealed to the public.Balides - May have to go through a procurement process for over $25,000. We would need to get quotes even if we went with MABE.Bowie - Madison Partners; maybe Texas?Wise - BWP & Associates; out of Illinois?Lukas - can we talk to firms prior to possibly doing an RFPPedersen - Private firms might try to fit one of their Superintendent clients into our position and it might not be a good fit. Abell - would feel secure letting the Chair and Vice Chair come up with two other price quotesWise - Cook and she will research firms and prices and bring it back to us at the next board meeting.Abell - Cost, Locality, ExperiencePedersen - how they developed their process; how do they get to know usCook - Timeline & ConfidentialityGoalsSee reportAbell - add ACT under Goal #1Bowie - doesn't see anything that would conflict with Race to the Top Initiatives, made to complementPedersen - should see increase in scores just with implementation of Race to the TopPedersen - should be open to virtual schoolsAdjournment
Mercury Exposure Investigation Completed at Two SchoolsHazardous materials (HAZMAT) teams and the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department declared the Robert D. Stethem Educational Center and Maurice J. McDonough High School clear of hazardous materials this afternoon after a group of students were exposed to a small amount of mercury.This morning, students in the Explorers Program in a heating and air conditioning (HVAC) class at Stethem were possibly exposed to mercury that spilled on the floor of their classroom. Students in the classroom directly involved in the incident were initially returned to their zoned high schools, including McDonough. Shortly after returning to McDonough, two students reported to the school nurse that they were feeling ill and that they had possibly been exposed to mercury. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was immediately called to the school. As a precautionary measure, McDonough was put on shelter-in-place, meaning all students and staff were asked to remain in their current locations in the building, while the fire department, the Maryland Department of the Environment and HAZMAT teams from the Charles County Department of Emergency Services and the Naval District of Washington investigated and checked all students, buses and areas in the two schools that could have been contaminated. The classroom at Stethem was secured, and the HAZMAT teams tested the areas outside the classroom, including walkways. It was confirmed that the substance was mercury and a small amount, less than 20 grams, had been exposed in the classroom. The HVAC room remains secure and additional cleaning will occur. All other Charles County high schools with students who were in the Stethem classroom were isolated from other students and checked for possible exposure. No traces of Mercury were found on any of the students. The HAZMAT teams checked and cleared Stethem and McDonough, as well as all buses and cars used to transport students from Stethem to their home high schools.The shelter-in-place was lifted at McDonough around 2:45 p.m., and students were dismissed from school about a half and hour later than normal. During the shelter-in-place, McDonough parents were notified of the incident by telephone message and e-mail alerts with up-to-date information. Charles County Public Schools investigated
REMINDER: Board of Education Work Session, 4/29/12The Board of Education of Charles County is holding a work session at 6 p.m., Monday, April 30, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The meeting will be aired live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS Channel 12, and streamed on the school system website at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/. The agenda is as follows: Call to order – 6 p.m. Pledge of AllegiancePublic Forum Work Session Charles County Public Schools Common Core Transition PlanSuperintendent SearchAdjournment

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China’s scramble for water; one section of huge project halted

Washington Post, by Steven Mufson

A decade ago, China’s leaders gave the go-ahead to a colossal plan to bring more than 8 trillion gallons of water a year from the rivers of central China to the country’s arid north. The project would have erected towering dams, built hundreds of miles of pipelines and tunnels, and created vast reservoirs with a price tag three times that of the giant Three Gorges Dam.

But the plan’s biggest section, which was supposed to break ground this year, has run aground after a group of academics and experts voiced alarm about costs, environmental damage and earthquake dangers. Though a rare victory for ordinary citizens, the halting of that part of the project leaves behind water shortages that could cause the entire Chinese economy to founder.

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