CCPS Appeals to Board of Public Works for Funding

  The new high school, kindergarten additions and renovations and a new boiler at John Hanson Middle School topped the list of requests Charles County Public Schools asked the state Board of Public Works to reconsider during a public hearing in Annapolis on Jan. 30.

  Board Chairman Donald Wade particularly asked the committee to approve planning for the new high school, which was set to open in 2011 on Piney Church Road in Waldorf.  The school is budgeted to cost $98 million, of which the state’s portion was $39 million. 

  “The high school would reduce severe overcrowding in our schools, and, if we opened the school tomorrow, it would already be filled,” Wade told the committee.

  Wade touted the school’s proposed innovations.  Preliminary plans called for high efficiency, Energy Star equipment, centralized outside air ventilation units with heat recovery, a geothermal heat pump system, rain water harvesting for irrigation use and a total of 26 other energy efficient design considerations.  A digital classroom would contain a multi-use dome theater for all students in the county to enhance science, technology and other programs.  CCPS says the digital classroom’s $3 million price tag will be paid through grants or internal funding.

  Other appeal requests include the balance of construction funding, nearly $12 million, which the State had previously promised for Mary Burgess Neal Elementary School.  Neal is currently under construction and set to open in August. 

  Wade also requested $1.66 million toward replacement of the 35-year-old boiler and cooling rooftop units at John Hanson Middle School because replacement parts are no longer available for the obsolete system. 

  The school system is additionally requesting funding for the additions and renovations necessary to accommodate the state-mandated full-day kindergarten program at the four CCPS elementary schools who still need the space.  Older students at Dr. Gustavus Brown, Eva Turner, Indian Head and Arthur Middleton elementary schools were moved to relocatable trailers to make way for additional kindergarten classrooms.

  Planning approval for the high school does not involve state funding this year; however, it requires the State’s commitment for future construction funding.  The funding appealed for Neal, Hanson and the full-day kindergarten additions totals $19.5 million.  A decision on the appeals is expected in May.

  The Board of Public Works is a review committee composed of Governor Martin O’Malley, Comptroller Peter Franchot and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.  The committee reviews significant state expenditures and approves capital projects, procurement contracts and the acquisition, use and transfer of state assets.

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Board of Education Moves to Daytime

  At its Jan. 28 work session, the Board of Education voted to change its monthly meeting start time from 6:30 p.m. to 1 p.m., beginning with its March meeting.

  On March 11, the public portion of the Board’s regular monthly meetings will begin at 1 p.m. with information items and reports.  The executive session, which is closed to the public, will begin at noon.  Student and staff recognition remains at 4:30 p.m. as well as Public Forum at 6:30 p.m. 

  Action Items, issues requiring a Board vote, will be held after Public Forum contrary to Chairman Donald Wade’s suggestion that those items occur earlier in the meeting.    

  Public Forum is a time during the meeting where community members may address any education-related items.  Holding Action Items after Public Forum, means that members of the public continue to have the ability to express opinions on school business before the Board votes.  

  Early last spring, the Board set its monthly meeting to begin 4:30 p.m. in order to encourage more public participation.  They hoped evening hours would fit attract more working parents.  However, because the year’s attendance records show no increase in participation for either the meeting or Public Forum, and because an afternoon time is easier on involved CCPS staff, the Board returned the start time to early afternoon.

  The Board usually meets the second Tuesday of most months.  Dates for the remaining Board meetings this school year are: Feb. 19 (begins at 4:30 p.m.); March 11 (begins at the new time of 1 p.m.); April 8; May 13 and June 10.  

  Work sessions occur the fourth Monday of the month as needed, beginning at 6 p.m. with Public Forum.  Meetings are held at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata, unless otherwise noted.

  Agendas for all meetings are posted on the school system website at www.ccboe.com under the latest news section and through the BoardDocs link in the Board of Education menu.  Board of Education meetings also broadcast live on Comcast channel 96.

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Click through the slide show below to see the latest CCPS honors and accomplishments for both students and staff.  Photos courtesy of CCPS.

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