Business Meeting: 1/20/26

See presentation.

1. (RFP 2026-33) – Design/Build – Elevator Modernization at North Hagerstown High School
2. (Bid 2026-02) – HVAC Replacement at Boonsboro High School
3. (Bid 2026-38) – Chiller Replacement at Smithsburg Elementary School
4. (Bid 2026-39) – Chiller Replacement at Lincolnshire Elementary School
5. (Bid 2026-40) – Electrical Distribution Replacement at Marshall Street School
6. (Sole Source) – Service and Maintenance for Printing Equipment
7. (Sole Source) – Information Technology Infrastructure Support Services

See presentation.

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+Darrell Evans, President of the Board, recommended a slate of committee member assignments for consideration and approval by the Board Members with committee assignments remaining the same.

See presentation.

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+The Board of Education formally approved the changes to the Operating Norms as discussed at the work session dated January 6, 2026
Murray voted against.

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+ Dr. Gary Willow, Deputy Superintendent, requested Board approval of the 2026-2027 Middle and High Schools Program of Studies. The Middle and High School Program of Studies is a comprehensive catalog of courses available across WCPS middle and high schools.

See presentation for middle school.

See presentation for high school.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Dr. Gary Willow, Deputy Superintendent, requested Board approval to accept the donation of instructional materials from ERJ Transportation Services, LLC. ERJ Transportation Services is donating three diesel tractors to Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School to expand instructional opportunities for diesel program students. By providing access to multiple modern heavy diesel trucks, students will gain valuable hands-on experience in state-of-the-art learning labs. This initiative ensures graduates are well-prepared with practical training that meets the needs of local employers.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, requested Board approval of the Deed of Easement and Maintenance Agreement for Pennsylvania Avenue between the Board of Education and the City of Hagerstown. The Deed of Easement will allow for the City of Hagerstown/Hagerstown Police Department to erect a pole on the Board of Education’s property to mount a speed camera near North Hagerstown High School on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, requested Board approval of the Deed of Easement and Maintenance Agreement for Marshall Street between the Board of Education and the City of Hagerstown. The Deed of Easement will allow for the City of Hagerstown/Hagerstown Police Department to erect a pole on the Board of Education’s property to mount a speed camera near Western Heights Middle School on Marshall
Street.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Jeffery Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, requested Board approval of the assignment of advertising rights as requested by the Smithsburg High School Athletic Booster Club. On September 17, 2024, the Board of Education approved an MOU for advertising rights with the
Smithsburg High School Athletic Booster Club to identify entities and persons willing to donate funds towards programs supporting educational or athletic programs at Smithsburg High School in exchange for being granted advertising rights on the school campus. A vendor has been identified for advertising rights located inside the stadium fence and gymnasium

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Jeffery Proulx, Chief Operating Officer, requested Board approval of the proposed academic year calendar for 2027-2028. The calendar is testing a "2 hour delayed arrival day" instead of a two hour early dismissal day.

McCusker voted against.

See a draft of the 27/28 calendar.

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+ Darrell Evans, President of the Board, Terri Baker, Executive Director of Human Resources, and Dr. Rachel Kane-Kirkpatrick, WCASA President, requested Board approval of the Negotiated Agreement between the Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) and the Washington County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (WCASA) dated July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Dr. Heath Wilcox, Executive Director for Secondary Education, requested Board approval of  a donation of $10,028.00 from SAT Fundraising/Leading Edge Fundraising to support the North Hagerstown High School Boys Basketball Teams.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Dr. Heath Wilcox, Executive Director for Secondary Education, requested Board approval to accept a donation of $10,000 from the Nora Roberts Foundation to Western Heights Middle School.  These funds are to support and further enhance the Magnet Arts program at Western Heights Middle School.

Motion passed by all members.

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+ Dr. Heath Wilcox, Executive Director for Secondary Education, will request Board approval to accept a donation of $100,000 from the Nora Roberts Foundation to Smithsburg High School.  These funds will be used for the auditorium renovation at Smithsburg High School.

Motion passed by all members.

+Dr. Gary Willow, Deputy Superintendent, will request Board approval of the staff changes dated January 20, 2026. Dr. Sovine announced that Kayla Spade will be promoted to the principal role at Jonathan Hager Elementary.

Motion passed by all members.

View non-certificated and certificated changes.

• Curriculum & Instruction Committee:
  Zentmeyer: reported on the recent meeting at CSMS, including social studies materials that teachers had piloted.
• Facilities Committee:
  Guessford: noted that they had not met.
• Finance Committee:
  Burkett: reported that they have a meeting scheduled for next week on Wed. at 8:30
• Human Resources:
  Murray: reported on the recent meeting and what the members learned about the Frontline system.
• Policy Committee:
  Evans: shared that the committee has not met as the position of Chief Legal Counsel is still not filled.

1. Superintendent's Draft FY2027 Budget – Work Session — February 3, 2026
2. 2025 Kindergarten Readiness Assessment Results (KRA) – Work Session — February 3, 2026
3. Virtual Snow Day Plan – Work Session — February 3, 2026
4. Student Withdrawal and Transfer Process – Work Session — February 3, 2026

• See video for public comment

• Burkett responded to Stenerson noting that he is planning to visit 7 schools in the next few days, and he has contacted all the principals to give them 2 days notice. He also noted that he does not expect principals to drop everything in order to take him around. He also shared that he agreed with the comments related to ESP wages.
• Murray clarified that the Board of Education is not in charge of running the schools. The Board is governance - not the day to day decisions related to operations in schools. They hire the superintendent to do that.
• Evans also thanked O'Reilly for sharing comments about ESP wages.
• Nora reported that the student council group will meet Friday in the Board room. She invited the Board members to drop in.
• Murray shared on her recent school visits at Pleasant Valley and Pangborn. She also went on the Prize Patrol with the Washington County Education Foundation. She also is thankful that WHS students will be returning.
• McCusker echoed her thanks for all the work that has enabled the students and staff to return to WHS.
• Burkett shared that the public will likely never appreciate all the work the CES staff did to support the WHS project.
• Evans also thanked all for the work to return to WHS.

+ Dr. Sovine shared the date of the ESP of the Year Award Banquet at the Maryland Theater on 2/18/2026. Finalists have been announced. He also thanked the Board members for their service during National School Board Month. Dr. Sovine also recognized the day as International Day of Acceptance, accepting and including all students with disabilities in our schools. Dr. Sovine reminded parents that report cards are coming out next week. He also reported on the final testing results of the air quality sampling that enabled the WHS staff to move back into the building this week. Students are scheduled to return on January 26.