Business Meeting Date: July 15, 2025
Board Members Present: Beachley, Evans, Guessford, Murray, Zentmeyer
Student Representative: Nora Murphy
Board Members Absent: McCusker, Burkett
Video link to full meeting here.

** Dr. Zentmeyer made an announcement prior to the start of the meeting. The time of the board meetings are going back to 6:00pm.

Old Business
+ Darrell Evans, Board Member and Policy Committee Chair, and Ilissa Ramm, Chief Legal Counsel and Policy Committee Staff Liaison, requested Board approval of the second reading of proposed changes to Policy KD, entitled "Opportunities for Public Comment at Board Business Meetings, Town Meetings, and Public Hearings and the Procedures Governing Such Proceedings.
** Public comment was reduced from 5 minutes to 4 minutes, and limited to 15 speakers, as well as other changes. Victoria Beachly voted against.

+ Darrell Evans, Board Member and Policy Committee Chair, and Ilissa Ramm, Chief Legal Counsel and Policy Committee Staff Liaison, requested Board approval of the second reading of proposed changes to Policy IMDA, entitled "Silent Meditation."

+ Darrell Evans, Board Member and Policy Committee Chair, and Ilissa Ramm, Chief Legal Counsel and Policy Committee Staff Liaison, requested Board approval of the second reading of proposed changes to Policy IKE, "Promotion, Acceleration, and Retention of Students."

+Darrell Evans, Board Member and Policy Committee Chair, and Ilissa Ramm, Chief Legal Counsel and Policy Committee Staff Liaison, requested Board approval of the second reading of proposed changes to:

  • Administrative Regulation BEE-R(1), entitled "Rules of Procedures in Appeals and Hearings - Section 7-305(C)(4)," and Exhibit BEE-E(1), entitled "Appeal Information Form."
  • Administrative Regulation BEE-R(2), entitled "Rules of Procedure for Hearing - Section 6-202(A)(2)," and Exhibit BEE-E(2), entitled "Hearing Information Form."
  • Administrative Regulation BEE-R(3), entitled "Rules and Procedure in Appeals and Hearing - Section 4-205(C)(3)," and Exhibit BEE-E(3), entitled "Appeal Information Form."
New Business
+ CONSENT AGENDA: Scott Bachtell, Supervisor of Purchasing, requested Board of Education approval of the awards, renewals, and procurements as presented in the consent agenda.+Procurement Items
1. (Maryland Education Enterprise Consortium (MEEC) Contract 12477) – Microsoft Licenses
Subscription - Renewal
2. (RFP 2025-20) – Extended Learning Programs Pangborn Elementary School - Renewal
3. (Buyboard Contract #760-25) – Library Management System Software – Renewal
4. (RFP 2023-02) – Legal Services - Renewal
5. (Materials of Instruction) – Virtual Welding Training Simulators
6. (Bid 2026-12) – Unit Price Contract for Fencing
7. (Bid 2025-60) – Kitchen Serving Line Equipment Williamsport High
8. (RFQ 2026-06) – Professional Design Services Walk-In Freezer Additions at Various Schools
9. (RFQ 2026-07) – Professional Design Services Kitchen Upgrades at Various Schools
10. (RFQ 2026-08) – Professional Design Services Small Projects at Various Schools
Personnel Actions
+ Dr. Jennifer Webster, Associate Superintendent for Administration and Leadership, requested Board approval of the staff changes dated July 15, 2025.

- Evans voted in opposition of the approval.

View non-certificated and certificated changes.
Reports to the Board
  • Curriculum & Instruction Committee:
    Zentmeyer: Will meet August 6th at CES at 10.00 am.
  • Facilities Committee:
    Guessford: Still on hold, looking at possibly August
  • Finance Committee:
    No report, Charles Burkett, Committee Chair was absent
  • Human Resources:
    Murray: WIll meet on September 9th at CES at 9:00 am
  • Policy Committee:
    Evans: None scheduled at this time
Miscellaneous Business
+
Notable Public Comment Questions/Concerns
  • Roger Stenerson, communication Director of Rising to Learn spoke on behalf of the organization. There was no other Public Comment.
  • Beachley pointed out that there was another member of the audience who wanted to speak following Mr. Stenerson, but Dr. Zentmeyer had not noticed or recognized her. Beachley asked if Policy KD that had just been approved earlier in the meeting goes into effect at the next meeting, allowing the woman to speak under the rules of the policy that was in effect when the meeting began. Zentmeyer did not allow the lady to provide her comments.
    Note: (Rising to Learn opposed changing this in the policy for this exact reason.)
Board Member Comments
- Evans: There are times the majority of the board does not agree with the recommendation of the staff, and feels that saying it is a trend is incorrect.- Guessford then asked Mr. Stenerson a series of questions, expecting an immediate response to those questions. The questions included - who the board members were on Rising to Learn. Mr. Stenerson replied that he could get that information to him, Mr. Guessford pressed him by saying that he could just say it at that moment. Mr. Guessford asked if some of the Rising To Learn board members were previous board members. Mr. Stenerson replied in the affirmative.
Guessford then asked Mr. Stenerson if he realized they were voted off for a reason. He went on to say that “Those folks that re-organized this, I understand, were previous board members.” (meaning Rising To Learn). This is inaccurate. Guessford repeated that these members were voted out and engaged in further back and forth dialog with Mr. Stenerson.
Note: Policy KD, the policy they voted on in today's meeting, states that "A member who chooses to address a speaker's comments will refrain from initiating a dialogue."
Superintendent Report
+Dr. Jennifer Webster, Associate Superintendent for Administration and Leadership, and Dr. Jana Palmer, Executive Director of Elementary Education, provided an update on enrollment and reopening of the elementary virtual program, ABLE.
As of July 8th, there are 41 students enrolling with 1 full time teacher for each grade.​- 1st grade - 7 students​
- 2nd grade - 8 students​
- 3rd grade - 11 students​
- 4th grade - 5 students​
- 5th grade - 10 students

* Guessford inquired about the means being used to advertise the program and if "billboards"advertising ABLE had been considered. Palmer stated billboards were expensive and more interactions are realized from digital type ads. Mr. Guessford and Dr. Zentmeyer suggested that
the program be advertised on signs at schools and the Center for Education Services property.
* Evans asked out of the 41 students, how many are returning and how many are from other placement.
* Guessford asked how many were homeschooled. Dr. Webster replied 800-900.

+ Dr. Sovine shared that there is a delay in disbursement of federal funding pertaining to ESSA schools.
+ Dr. Sovine announced the launch of the WCPS Fit Check campaign designed to help students and families understand the dress code. He noted that the dress code regulations had been recently updated.
Adjournment