In a recent meeting of the Board of Education, Chief Operations Officer Susan Johnson presented the appointments for the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) for the 2024-2025 school year. The board approved the list of citizens and students nominated for the committee, although there remains a need for additional members from Calvert and Patuxent High Schools, with three and two spots still open, respectively. Efforts to fill these vacancies have been communicated to school principals and the broader community.

Board members also took the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of summer school graduates and remind seniors about the opening of the common application for college admissions. Miss Vinikowski encouraged community engagement by promoting the Calvert Library's \"Longest Table\" event, aimed at fostering community dialogue.

A significant topic of discussion was the newly implemented no cell phone policy in classrooms, which aims to enhance the learning environment. Board members expressed their commitment to ensuring that the policy is communicated effectively to students, parents, and staff, emphasizing the importance of consistent enforcement across schools. Miss Gurnas highlighted the need for thorough communication strategies, including staff meetings and social media outreach, to ensure everyone understands the policy's specifics and consequences for violations.

The board also acknowledged the importance of student input in shaping school policies, with Miss Belinsky praising the student advisory groups for their contributions. She noted the potential benefits of a pouch system for cell phone storage as a pilot solution to ease enforcement burdens on teachers.

In closing, Vice President Cloget expressed gratitude to the staff and community members for their ongoing support and participation in board meetings. She also announced an upcoming mental wellness and suicide awareness walk scheduled for September 14 at the Marine Museum in Solomon's, emphasizing the board's commitment to mental health initiatives.