The Board of Education of Charles County met Aug. 13, 2024, for its regular meeting. A meeting agenda is posted on Board Docs here. Board meetings are streamed live at www.ccboe.com and archived on the Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) YouTube page here.
The following are updates from the meeting.
Superintendent’s update
Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., superintendent of schools, shared an update covering many topics including the start of the 2024-2025 school year which kicks off Monday, Aug. 26, for most CCPS students. She congratulated the 60 high school students who received their high school diplomas through summer school and thanked CCPS staff who worked throughout the summer to feed children via the Lunch on Us and Meals on the Move programs, and cared for buildings and grounds as members of building services and operations teams. Hear Navarro’s full report.
Grading policy
A Grading Steering Committee reviewed and recommended changes to the current grading policy as outlined in Board Policy 5132.2. Kevin Lowndes, CCPS chief of teaching and learning, took Board members through a presentation highlighting the current grading policy and the committee’s suggested changes. The suggested changes include adding guidance for elementary grading to the policy, weighting grades for specific high school courses, changing the percentage represented by a letter grade and allowing for a 50 percent minimum for a failing grade. The 50 percent minimum coupled with a defined good faith effort expressed by a student could lead to them earning a passing grade. The grading policy will return to the Board’s agenda next month as a report item and again in October as an action item. Hear Lowndes speak more about the suggested changes.
College and career readiness
Lowndes and Steve Roberts, CCPS director of accountability, discussed college and career readiness. A high school diploma is not the lone goal of a graduate any longer. A high school graduate must be college or career ready and CCPS is striving to ensure high school students take advantage of the early college, dual enrollment, advanced placement (AP) or career and technical education (CTE) programs. Through completion of any one of these programs, a graduate may earn college credits, an associate’s degree or industry certification that will aid them in the workforce or the next step in their academic endeavors. Learn more from the meeting on YouTube.
USMSM presentation
Eileen Abel, Ph.D., executive director of the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, attended the meeting to give the Board an overview of USMSM, a regional higher education center. The center appeals to students who don’t have the option of commuting, taking classes online and/or living on a college campus. Located in California in St. Mary’s County, the center offers bachelor completion programs in high need, high demand fields, and with an articulation agreement with the College of Southern Maryland, students can begin their college journey at CSM and finish it at USMSM for a lower cost than a traditional four-year college. Listen to Abel’s presentation on YouTube.
Capital Improvements Program update
Mike Heim, chief of operations and supporting services, and Steve Andritz, CCPS director of planning and construction, went over the FY2026 Capital Improvements Program (CIP). Among the considerations that went into development of the plan were reducing overcrowding in schools, modernizing older schools and using all funding sources available to pair projects at schools to make a larger positive impact to the school and surrounding community. Hear more of the CIP presentation.
Smallwood renaming update
The Board continues to gather feedback from the community as to whether it should proceed to rename General Smallwood Middle School. At its June meeting, the Board approved to schedule agenda items at its August, September and October meetings. Superintendent Navarro shared correspondence that was emailed to boardmail@ccboe.com and noted that the Board will continue to receive mail at that address. Watch this portion of the meeting on YouTube.
New resolution introduced, recurring resolution
Board member Dottery Butler-Washington introduced a resolution to recognize Grandparents Day on Sept. 8. The Board accepted the resolution and will present it at its Sept. 10 meeting. The Board accepted recurring resolutions that are honored throughout the year. The following resolutions will be honored by the Board throughout the 2024-2025 school year — Hispanic Heritage Month, American Education Week, American Freedom Week, Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, National Special Education Day, Black History Month, Career and Technology Education Month, Gifted and Talented Education Month, National School Counseling Week, Fine and Performing Arts Month, Read Across Charles County Day, Women's History Month, World Down Syndrome Day, Administrative Professionals Week, Autism Acceptance Month, Child Nutrition Employee Appreciation Week, Month of the Military Child, Month of the Young Child, National Arab American Heritage Month, National Library Week, National Student Leadership Week, National Volunteer Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, National Physical Education and Sport Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, Inclusion and Diversity Month and National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. Hear the portion of the meeting focusing on resolutions.
Public forum
Three speakers signed up to participate in public forum. Patrice Kelly, secretary of the Charles County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee (SECAC) spoke in person encouraging Board members and the public to continue to engage and partner with the organization to advocate and support students in special education programs. Wesley Hagood and Jon Wolz, president of the General William Smallwood Chapter of the Maryland Society, Sons of the American Revolution, spoke virtually. Both spoke in favor of retaining the name of General Smallwood Middle School. Watch public forum on YouTube.
Board recap
In a hurry? Watch Nicole M. Kreamer, vice chairperson of the Board of Education, break down the Aug. 13 Board meeting in less than 3 minutes.
About CCPS
Charles County Public Schools provides 27,765 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 38 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, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Mike Blanchard, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).