[{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6668257,"mediaKeyId","2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f","parentId",2232608,"title","Board discussion spotlights central-office capital rules, p-card spending and calls for budget transparency","audioSeconds",4636,"startMs",6194000,"endMs",10830000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f&start=6194&end=10830","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f/thumbnail_6194000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668257/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Board-discussion-spotlights-central-office-capital-rules-p-card-spending-and-calls-for-budget-transparency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668257-05b7de61fc5216bc892ce28106437282/orig.mp4?Expires=1776230280&Signature=He5K3u6ggquaR59vVlvz9bB8VlZdKzbY67EYcIjJlNY8mmaehJY50qbGVa4jxtyGjh~oRGJldPuM3K7HQJ7Gwczvdzb-adLTC7We6mHnWzWQwBleitdieGAHpfpBZ~z8ujmWaVpmWb47RI7OhNnJa023-2jkhSVb1u7FUhyO8cTrQIjeFVE7XH4TP0khNPa616UHeOVFg5Tr5E8oCspIQGH3utWj45eW9942OA6xHj6yXC2rrE1JoI14eov226uO-0yQyDZFGZC0szUEaUE2tl7zMzPeQmhhOM1nNEM9JJdXEnD0zn0~b4LK4alNbfYAuSnI5wtuZsCOPAdjq27nYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Queen Anne's County","date","2025-02-06T02:05:55.72Z","article","Citizens and board members pressed district staff on budgeting practices, capital funding restrictions and p-card spending at the Feb. 5 Queen Anne’s County Board of Education meeting.

During public comment, resident Elizabeth D’Onofrio (identified in the transcript as Miss D’Onofrio) criticized planned central office furniture spending labelled in the meeting at roughly $746,000 and urged the board to prioritize classroom and teacher needs. A staff member replied that the furniture allocation is capital money tied to the central-office construction project and “if we don’t use it for what it’s intended, it goes back to where it came from,” meaning the funds are restricted and cannot be reallocated to school operating budgets.

Board members then delved into accounts payable and p-card use. Staff reported there are 62 active p-cards districtwide. Finance staff recounted a November month in which p-card charges totaled about $109,519.96; the board was told a significant portion of that figure resulted from a single account that had multiple fraudulent charges and subsequently required adjustments. Board members noted that roughly $3,057.80 in p-card charges in one recent month were for food and refreshments; speakers discussed how some purchases are coded to parent-organization accounts or school block grants rather than coming from central operating funds.

Questions from board members included whether telecom accounts (Breezeline/Atlantic Broadband) could be consolidated under a single district billing account instead of multiple school accounts, and whether an electronic procurement/workflow system could reduce paper-based processing and late payments. District staff said vendor billing practices and prior payment-processing problems motivated temporary p-card use for recurring telecom bills, and that finance staffing and turnover have delayed some improvements. Staff said they are recruiting additional finance staff and will pursue long-term improvements, including researching procurement software and electronic workflows.

Board members requested several follow-up items: an org chart showing current funded positions (without individual names) to help analyze personnel implications of budget scenarios; a list of transactions in the $25,000–$50,000 range to help evaluate a proposed change to procurement thresholds; and an itemized summary of p-card activity for staff review. The board also discussed forthcoming budget work sessions and the need for coordinated advocacy in Annapolis over state funding shortfalls.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","QACPS Board of Education Meeting | 02/05/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Citizens and board members raised questions about central-office furniture spending, p-card charges and finance processes at the Feb. 5 meeting; staff said the furniture funds are restricted capital CIP dollars and cannot be moved to operating budgets.","taxTitle","Queen Anne's County, Maryland","taxId",59354,"location","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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668262,"Board approves stadium lights, central office furniture, stormwater repairs and 2025-26 calendar",54,8103000,8157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f&start=8103&end=8157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f/thumbnail_8103000.jpg","/articles/6668262/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Board-approves-stadium-lights-central-office-furniture-stormwater-repairs-and-2025-26-calendar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668262-cd7986fbfdf9002f97f6cffa624c52d4/orig.mp4?Expires=1776230280&Signature=m-vAUW0vnvcofWIqPgVDjHWGgtnfYFfd3m-bl89OxobcQ6XaIAcxvwW9MYTHWumF7Km3XFMH2AMyO2bKvzKfQ4YiTs3ZRe-L5489iPTHzdyho-t9U3~igr-JtqHqX4s8vJnYk1En-G2P8XOo5Mad8VBCTTZe4DjhsvfsOWhrty0emgaIeB~XKceiF48xOLaaWf8MVVRdAMYV-5M5XNDorZsVY0Ti27MrKZ1t1XQCxfdE4irbwHCmk8SkcJnEkMnm1Aaoa-1hS1TyuFE1WpGWMeokqnVzuIqO6FKUfTcwBXoPQsMrfb9hb1l~DU7uP1boh-x-BCJXFJVatJq3oThzhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Queen Anne’s County Board of Education approved several spending items and administrative actions at its Feb. 5 meeting.

The board voted unanimously to approve a purchase order to Musco Sports Lighting LLC and a separate purchase order to Eastern Sales and Engineering Company for replacement stadium lighting at Kent Island High School. The fiscal impact is $3,007,122, and the board identified FY 2026 local capital improvement program (CIP) funds as the source.

The board also approved the purchase of central office furniture through the Eckeloss Group cooperative purchasing agreement with WB Mason Interiors of Columbia, Maryland, for $698,069.16 plus a 7% contingency the board described to accommodate final room adjustments, yielding a total request of $746,934.00. The board and staff stated that those funds are FY 2025 local CIP funds and that capital funds for the new central office cannot be transferred into the operations budget.

Earlier in the meeting the facilities supervisor requested additional funding to complete phase 2 repairs to Kent Island High School’s underground stormwater-management lines. The board approved a purchase order to Martin’s Excavation and Hauling of Centerville, Maryland, for an additional $204,160.00 with FY 2025 local CIP funds as the source.

Other formal actions approved by motion and voice vote included acceptance of the HR report discussed in closed session and approval of the 2025–26 school year calendar (calendar B). The board also approved a clean-copy revision of the board handbook, subject to editorial formatting changes.

Votes were taken by voice; board minutes record unanimous “Aye” votes on the motions noted above. No roll-call tallies were read aloud in the meeting transcript.

","At its Feb. 5 meeting the Queen Anne's County Board of Education approved purchase orders for stadium lighting and central office furniture, authorized additional stormwater repairs at Kent Island High School, accepted an HR report from closed session, adopted the 2025-26 school calendar (option B) and approved a revised board handbook.",{"_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":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668268,"Two search firms outline full-service and customizable superintendent search options",1979,1617000,3596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f&start=1617&end=3596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2232608-b3a8be5ab21e8cd33b7d757454998f9f/thumbnail_1617000.jpg","/articles/6668268/Queen-Annes-County/Maryland/Two-search-firms-outline-full-service-and-customizable-superintendent-search-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668268-d042cad5f142399a1e625b88b39a3518/orig.mp4?Expires=1776230280&Signature=fDon3GbAcqHnANBhRSJaVZo6r0QslgQ7utIVl-FgDE3q4oevrgshUdz4NAn9JL4cwJQoYsKIqvRjwC9NeYyUy2cLMlbx73uBD3jZkLEYDCdm44X9jH3Bs3De6lm24Mm06m5K69Hq1wV-6mnTOz-w2nJlP7b9lyfAF48yyCMnns0iNd0s3NS3XCZsOIOn-cbrL0qy-nhJfeJWASCxQF4r3~6JhQbTsz3Ia~1vJhHy79mZwwEbu1FKVfGif87v2ZxeR3esVlP2RO7jNcpz2aJGqDeZNpltijk~YcVoDWSsie0HnZKpcVJWPqhBpZRgBWBXDE-3ZNhNNMtPmjgvRnQdQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from two search consultants described full-service and customizable approaches to conducting a superintendent search for Queen Anne’s County Public Schools at the board’s Feb. 5 meeting.

Milton Nagel, executive director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), told the Board of Education that a search should be thorough, legally defensible and confidential, and that a signed superintendent agreement is required by July 1 under state procedures. He said a consultant’s role includes planning a timeline, developing a stakeholder engagement process, crafting recruitment materials, screening applicants and ensuring candidates meet Maryland certification requirements through MSDE and COMAR rules. “Confidentiality is key,” Nagel said, and he emphasized the need for a designated board spokesperson to answer public inquiries during the process.

MABE said it can tailor services and will charge a fixed fee for an agreed scope; Nagel did not present a firm proposal or fixed total at the meeting but said the firm provides a full timeline and performs in-depth candidate vetting and reference checks.

A second firm, Hazard, Young, Attea (HYA), represented by Monica Brown and Daryl Williams, described a national recruitment network and a four-phase process — engagement, recruitment, selection and transition — that the firm said it customizes to the board’s preferences. Brown said HYA conducts individual interviews with board members and stakeholder focus groups, produces a leadership profile that drives recruitment, and offers background-screening services for finalists through a subcontracted firm. HYA representatives said they routinely recruit passive candidates and that in more than 60% of searches the successful candidate is someone the firm proactively recruited.

During Q&A, board members asked whether firms actively recruit candidates or only post vacancies. MABE said search consultants will both post vacancies and do outreach but do not maintain a single database of active job-seekers. Nagel said MABE’s fee is fixed regardless of the number of applicants but did not give a dollar figure at the meeting. HYA described advertising-package options and a full-service package that it estimated at roughly $32,500 when including ads, stakeholder survey work and recommended add-ons; HYA also described optional background-check services and a price-match guarantee for comparable services.

Both presenters stressed stakeholder input, confidentiality for employed candidates, and careful verification of certification eligibility through MSDE. Board members asked for cost proposals and specifics about services; both firms said they would submit formal proposals and fee schedules for the board to review.

The presentations preceded a wider discussion later in the meeting on next steps and budget considerations for the district’s work plan.

","Representatives from the Maryland Association of Boards of Education and Hazard, Young, Attea presented different superintendent-search approaches to the Queen Anne's County Board of Education on Feb. 5, emphasizing confidentiality, stakeholder input and state certification checks. Board members asked about cost, scope and whether firms actively ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board discussion spotlights central-office capital rules, p-card spending and calls for budget transparency

Board approves stadium lights, central office furniture, stormwater repairs and 2025-26 calendar

Two search firms outline full-service and customizable superintendent search options