[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6376479,"mediaKeyId","2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004","parentId",2140157,"title","Anne Arundel PTA urges board to expand FY2026 budgets for educator pay, reiterates 'All Means All' commitment","audioSeconds",259,"startMs",1478000,"endMs",1737000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004&start=1478&end=1737","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004/thumbnail_1478000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6376479/Maryland/Anne-Arundel-PTA-urges-board-to-expand-FY2026-budgets-for-educator-pay-reiterates-All-Means-All-commitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376479-4d4cf518de4c5099cd72d1b4633f2e82/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617737&Signature=UIPI3oiG~S~ZQlaBdx~snmoqdTl9ZeNlWQHfPiUODbB~ikfJl8SDPPdD2KwQL9ardL4x2IcjFKBWO-Ctxy5Im1eBV7GGIdVJmM1Hm0Sd54V6~TPMFTC8LB3IcMDL-HGWX38xUsu8~8AEaJGfNI60cWjKK7uHLmb84wkuDMXikV84hsdiV2L8tQU9WezanDmUFtZ8YmLx-pNMpCSmHEHa2yhEtKIPzKs7zYdOVQ7ggpP3mQjigbmtMhKzCKGN~Lt3NtQ-kzOzOVk8yJx3Zzi87lR9kF5WI9LnlkNZxX-psh2pfsh-HPeCCgpOx8CvtWsje9ktIWq5WSOeIt3EMDAy4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-01-21T18:58:42Z","article","Michael Vasquez, president of the Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs, told the board that AACC PTA supports expanding the FY2026 operating and capital budgets before the package goes to the county executive to “show that all AACPS educators and staff deserve an income commensurate with their experience.” Vasquez said the recommendation emerged from PTA discussions with teachers, students and parents.

Vasquez gave event updates — the council judged more than 50 entries for the Reflections competition (winners to be announced Feb. 3 and an exhibit at the Board of Education; awards ceremony March 19) — and encouraged schools to contact the council for PTA support. He said the council plans to host a virtual meeting Feb. 10 and urged schools to form or revitalize PTAs and election committees.

On policy and equity, Vasquez read and aligned the AACC PTA with Free State PTA’s statement opposing “any executive order or action that results in the separation of children from their families,” and urged the board and community to ensure that students and families “are safe and welcome here at AACPS.” He also referenced the district’s “All Means All” equity initiative that is part of AACPS’s strategic plan.

Why it matters: The PTA’s request to expand proposed operating and capital budgets is a public advocacy request that asks the board to allocate additional local funding for educator pay before the board transmits its budget to the county executive. The PTA’s equity statements frame its broader advocacy priorities and expectations for district policy.

What the board did or said: The PTA report was received; no board vote was recorded on the request during the meeting excerpt.

Ending: Vasquez closed by urging community support for students and families and by offering PTA assistance to schools that want to form or strengthen their local PTAs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Public Session 1-22-2026","oneSentenceSummary","The Anne Arundel County Council of PTAs asked the board to expand the FY2026 operating and capital budgets before submission to the county executive to support educator pay and highlighted the PTA's equity work and advocacy against separation of children from families.","taxTitle","Anne Arundel County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14430,"location","Maryland","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6376484,"Board bundles three contracts, adopts employee‑travel policy and backs SMOB scholarship bills; votes recorded",363,2599000,2962000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004&start=2599&end=2962","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004/thumbnail_2599000.jpg","/articles/6376484/Maryland/Board-bundles-three-contracts-adopts-employeetravel-policy-and-backs-SMOB-scholarship-bills-votes-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376484-a9f34e53eefb18042babb63dd73a8faf/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617737&Signature=WqfsujaXbnCSbPiUdRJ01jvureJthFrvX2ihGApBcf6LTTOz1b4aSxZshxAtV~iFloaxwWenLvNr9b7oKgaB8Ggkn6QIIXKNExfXfyEfcuT7jys6UnSNNFbhqsKpmPdG9mucu5FD44tdNjo6LIBhqsRPBi~~x3FlprBeRegzPhQctBsjKeKHGRn218daTJSRxB4DZdSgLP6OXgNqmfL6VZcKvCOEJ-sVQsxU7QMuLMDBi4Nu~hM8tzCdjDQnS4xq8fLma5knkbQOhs1Fg-UeXDo0OuL6OC4HqE9CjFixE1E5EeVQdHIJBXxtcnV-cYciQ4mymn0DnPh6RrqgCimimA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education authorized award of contracts listed on consent items 5.01 through 5.03, adopted policy GAE (employee travel) on third reading, and voted to support House Bill 402 and Senate Bill 307, which would increase the scholarship for the student member of the board.

Contracts and consent items: The board approved a motion to bundle and approve consent items 5.01, 5.02 and 5.03. The superintendent recommended that the board “authorize the award of contracts on the consent item numbered 5 dot 01 through 5 dot 3.” The motion to bundle and approve passed by consensus; a roll call later recorded an 8–0 tally for the consent bundle. The transcript does not specify vendors, contract amounts, or contract scopes for items 5.01–5.03.

Adoption of policy GAE (employee travel): Grace Wilson, senior legislative and policy specialist, presented policy GAE on third reading and said the revisions were “minor and include updating the responsible office titles and updating the policy to reflect current drafting style.” A motion to adopt the policy as written passed; the board recorded an 8–0 vote in favor. The superintendent had recommended approval of the policy subject to final corrections for style and format.

Legislative position: The board voted to support House Bill 402 and Senate Bill 307, bills described in the packet as increasing the scholarship for the student member on the Board of Education. The motion to support those bills passed on a roll call vote of 8–0. Board member remarks showed gratitude to the sponsoring legislators for proposing the measure.

Why it matters: The contract approvals move procurement actions forward; adoption of GAE updates the district’s employee‑travel policy; and the board’s formal support for HB402/SB307 signals its legislative priorities on student leadership compensation. Specific contract details and GAE’s final regulation edits were not included in the meeting record excerpt.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent bundle (items 5.01–5.03): outcome approved, motion passed by consensus; recorded roll call later 8–0. Details: vendors/amounts not specified in transcript.
- Policy GAE (employee travel), third reading: outcome approved, motion passed; recorded vote 8–0; staff noted only formatting/style updates and updated responsible office titles.
- House Bill 402 / Senate Bill 307 (increase SMOB scholarship): outcome approved (board to support), motion by board member recorded as moved and seconded; recorded vote 8–0.

Recorded vote roster (as read during roll calls in the transcript): Miss Schallheim — Aye; Miss McFarland — Aye; Miss Hamdawi — Aye; Miss Dent — Aye; Dr. Tobin — Aye; Miss McDermott — Aye; Miss Pulliam — Aye; Mr. Silkworth — Aye. The transcript shows an 8–0 majority on recorded votes.","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved bundled contract awards (consent items 5.01–5.03), adopted policy GAE (employee travel) on third reading, and voted to support House Bill 402 and Senate Bill 307 related to the student member scholarship; all actions passed unanimously in recorded roll calls or by consensus.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6376489,"Parents and advocates tell Anne Arundel school board overcrowded classes and special‑education removals are harming students",173,1028000,1201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004&start=1028&end=1201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2140157-17e5414c9db20572dfbaa686d5039004/thumbnail_1028000.jpg","/articles/6376489/Maryland/Parents-and-advocates-tell-Anne-Arundel-school-board-overcrowded-classes-and-specialeducation-removals-are-harming-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6376489-6cf3c8373f142e5eb9c75c783ee7b5f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1773617737&Signature=AMUIEhsYM8UAFNuPDvjDgjTrCfMEXWCW80xBgDNuyw0z4QUzLdBbaVU~xJiOay9fkODj7~IJWkZMgc7hpfQxxJtfzoVEEDz3s1F~LqWCLdZuNSZ4~ESqx2xzNaSEWxBS97TAgkW7BuQPpS1PynCkvTVbpT7zFoES9~QsHIAzzQVBkrVaAjPDqeZviZYJRp~vMJxmq5H6n~Qz1BKrEgZbncbkJGWrye~ibboEPucj0s0UEH7Ilm5d5s~FRHe~JJZOWC-QyLUXgIh9DU9OaPj2FjMKfzwzv-TYTG9iDwPqTvvJW0iZB5r1H82gL6Tgx~oknc25O4aCi3msHtGWSC36eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashley Bernrice, a parent of a fourth grader at Jones Elementary, told the Anne Arundel County Board of Education that rising class sizes are harming instruction and student learning. “Our 4th grade classrooms are overcrowded with our class sizes that increased from last year at 26 students to now at 31 students,” Bernrice said, adding that teachers have been forced to modify assignments and “can't get through all the material because of the larger class sizes and student needs.”

The parent said more than 20 families from Jones Elementary have contacted their board district member, Michelle Hamm, the regional superintendent, and the superintendent but “had not received a meaningful response.” Bernrice praised Jones teachers as “dedicated” but said board action is needed to “prioritize additional resources to the 4th grade classrooms at Jones Elementary, or to try to reduce the class sizes to ensure each student receives the attention that they deserve.”

Later in the public comment period, Cheryl Johnston, a mother of two students at Severna Park High School, urged the board to revisit how special‑education placements are determined. “The removal is being recommended by county officials who have limited interaction with the students, made with limited IEP data, made with 0 to minimal conversation with parents, and taking the student outside of the general education environment for over 80% of the school hours,” Johnston said.

Johnston said placement conversations focus on removing students from general education rather than on instructional supports, and that such decisions often start in early elementary grades and repeat throughout a student’s school career. “Assumption of competence should prevail,” she said, and described a student labeled with a severe intellectual disability who nonetheless authored a published work but was not being accommodated in general education.

Why it matters: Large class sizes can change how teachers plan lessons and deliver individualized help; advocates say changes to placement practices affect access to the general education curriculum and parental rights. Both speakers asked the board to intervene—Bernrice for smaller fourth‑grade classes at Jones Elementary and Johnston for policies and practices that preserve least restrictive environments for students with disabilities.

What the board said or did: The board did not take a formal vote or direct staff in the public comment segment captured in the transcript. Staff and board members were told public comments may be referred to the superintendent for follow‑up.

Context and next steps: Bernrice said more than 20 parents have contacted Michelle Hamm and central office leaders; Johnston asked for a broader discussion of inclusion and of how IEP decisions are made and communicated. Neither speaker requested a specific policy change on the record; both requested that the board prioritize follow‑up and accountability through the superintendent’s office.

Ending: The board heard these comments in the public comment portion of its meeting; the speakers said they expect district staff to follow up through the superintendent’s office or the district’s usual referral channels.","Two speakers at the Board of Education meeting urged action on rising fourth‑grade class sizes at Jones Elementary and on special‑education placement practices that they say remove students from general education without adequate parental input.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Anne Arundel PTA urges board to expand FY2026 budgets for educator pay, reiterates 'All Means All' commitment

Board bundles three contracts, adopts employee‑travel policy and backs SMOB scholarship bills; votes recorded

Parents and advocates tell Anne Arundel school board overcrowded classes and special‑education removals are harming students