Work Session Date: May 6, 2025
Board Members Present: Beachley, Burkett, Evans, McCusker, Murray, Zentmeyer, Wang (student rep)
Board Members Absent: none
Video to full work session HERE
| Agenda Item / Topic #1 |
|---|
| DISCUSSION: School Highlight: Boonsboro High School — Dr. Michael Kuhaneck, Principal, Boonsboro High School, shared an overview of how the team at Boonsboro works to promote a positive school climate that fosters student engagement and academic and personal growth. |
| Presenter(s) |
| Dr. Michael Kuhaneck, Principal, Boonsboro High School |
| Summary |
Topics Covered in slideshow:
Click here to go directly to the slideshow. |
| General Board Member Comments /Questions |
|
Evans: Congratulations on the success of the lacrosse teams. The percentage of students who are not in in good standing, what is the reason? Is it chronic absenteeism? He is interested in more data about that. Kuhaneck: Yes. More data can be provided. Wang: Do the clubs only meet during the FLEX time, or also before and after school? Kuhaneck: It varies and depends on the club and the specific activities that are in process. Zentmeyer: What big challenge is there for you at BHS? Kuhaneck: Chronic absenteeism. And, substance abuse - exposure that students have is pretty scary. What kids can access by mail order and the toxicity of it has changed dramatically. THC levels are up. Evans: Do those 2 coincide? Kuhaneck: Yes. Zentmeyer: What's the next big idea? Kuhaneck: Leadership cadres to work on the issues - opportunities for students to be leaders. Zentmeyer: Closed with praise for Kuhaneck's leadership and his military background that she credits with establishing the positive culture of the school. |
| Agenda Item / Topic #2 |
|---|
| Student Discipline Update |
| Presenter(s) |
| Dr. Jennifer Webster, Associate Superintendent for Administration and Leadership; Jeremy Jakoby, Director of Student Services, School Counseling, and School Health; and Representatives from Bester Elementary, Paramount Elementary, Ruth Ann Monroe Primary, and Springfield Middle Schools |
| Summary |
| Staff provided an overview of the most recent district discipline data, the district's approach over the last three years to improve school safety and school climate, the impact of this work, and plans to continue to improve.
Topics covered in slideshow: + CODE OF MARYLAND REGULATION 13A.08.01.11 – Disciplinary Action regarding suspensions/expulsions + District approach for our birth-kindergarten: + District approach for elementary: + District approach for secondary: + Student Misconduct Referral Counts Click here to go directly to the slideshow |
| General Board Member Comments /Questions |
| McCusker: Are we doing in school suspension for K-2
Sisler: Vary by school- schools are creative about it within their schedule. McCusker: We can make that happen, correct? Is there a reason we are not doing that on a wide scale- like, this student is bad so instead of 5 days at home, and they are in school suspension, per the law. We can do that, I am wondering why we are not. Sisler: Comes down to the discretion of the administrator. Administration uses progressive discipline: Orth: Spoke about In School Intervention at Bester McCusker: So this is more reactive, we don't have anything kind of set up so that... We are not doing enough, right here in the law we are allowed to remove K-2 out of the classroom to a different spot. At what point do we start caring about the children being abused under our watch. Webster: We have to think about the staffing in schools- Would we want to staff elementary schools with in school suspension paras. McCusker: When it comes to the school that was doing the cell phone referrals, are they finding they are getting a handle on things because they are giving more referrals? Sisler: That was my understanding McCusker: So to me it doesn't sound like referrals are bad, referrals are getting our students back on track and knowing what's acceptable and what isn't. Sisler: I would agree with that.
|
| Agenda Item / Topic #3 |
| Amendments to the Approved FY2026 General Fund Operating Budget |
| Presenter(s) |
| Dr. David T. Sovine, Superintendent of Schools; Jeffrey Proulx, Chief Operating Officer; Eric Sisler, Executive Director of Finance; and Kameron Shives, Budget and Financial Reporting Analyst |
| Summary |
Staff will review amendments to the approved FY2026 General Fund Operating Budget. On April 15, 2025, the Board adopted its FY2026 Draft General Fund Operating Budget with the edits from the April 8, 2025, work session as its Approved FY2026 General Fund Operating Budget. Since the approval of the budget, the Board of County Commissioners have revised their FY2026 Capital Improvement Budget and removed $2.4M in funding for the purchase of new school buses. Staff will seek the Board’s input to rebalance the budget after this loss in revenue from the County.
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| General Board Member Comments /Questions |
| Consensus reached. |