[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6091693,"mediaKeyId","2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980","parentId",2859477,"title","Board approves contract bundle and personnel items; motions pass unanimously","audioSeconds",50,"startMs",4680000,"endMs",4730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980&start=4680&end=4730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980/thumbnail_4680000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6091693/Maryland/Board-approves-contract-bundle-and-personnel-items-motions-pass-unanimously","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091693-e3095236ca59eeb233476080a3e5956d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110827&Signature=NTuiqNgoQUTJh-hUFxadHd-g9ZKYjZk7EZD4gTK~zRpZ6abkX-v4KYGH7lizO~5hwlFwiK1j2j4s24kLuaL4Mle-lhDeWmuOb8WxtOqrVfDCEJPI4irZVkG-BSPa-2hQySVWYfpmadLFhMr5u63P2LQhPZKi-4djnzMf6JWvpaaswzbokDr5pSaJziF9IiLEOfIgdxVCMJpaTLulQKeGT0kNhKKAjsA~bFvKeZmj5neaO4vQ87mjur4i3nnMmFNsCcN4hQ0eTvsXPbWzRSL06ZA4~VVgZKbsAnsekWRdDukLOp9JW51Gj-U0G8D9hB-rX9dWl3uP2ZZCkxZg-laDgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-03T08:12:58.037Z","article","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved several consent and personnel items by unanimous vote at its April 2 meeting.

The board voted 7–0 to bundle and approve agenda items 6.01 through 6.13, described on the meeting agenda as contract awards. President Silkworth called for consensus and the motion passed with recorded ayes from Miss Schallheim, Miss McFarland, Miss Hamdawi, Miss Dent, Miss McDermott, Miss Pulliam and President Silkworth.

The board also approved administrative personnel appointments (agenda item 7.01) and additional personnel actions (agenda item 7.02); each motion carried 7–0. The superintendent moved approval and board members recorded unanimous votes for both items.

No further discussion or roll-call detail about individual contract awards was recorded in the public discussion; the superintendent told the board the recommended contracts and personnel were listed on the meeting agenda and attachments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Public Session 4-2-2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 2 meeting the Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved bundled contract awards (items 6.01–6.13), personnel appointments, and personnel actions by unanimous vote.","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},6091698,"District begins long-range facilities study, launches public web tool April 4 and schedules May 19 workshop",304,4999000,5303000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980&start=4999&end=5303","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980/thumbnail_4999000.jpg","/articles/6091698/Maryland/District-begins-long-range-facilities-study-launches-public-web-tool-April-4-and-schedules-May-19-workshop","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091698-435b1516842bde15d369d27dd2b6bc13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110827&Signature=PXemk8wQL9JGAeYa-KL0BK8ZpD3Yj8gG89hKfsog58qRobnoB-VbD2~EmIr09MGRxuC6eZCzNPMlwR7RQ74YaVpb5EKA8fZqHxO-yQLcwqjX49qN9si~z-hh7iXLrvZ3hdofFBR4KIHrQgWB6IsD2Eq0n0K3mXYG0ujmfhaq~0a9trFDyGLI1DQ8h4xBS09mcOkCUXLG4mdSD6y5eX16nZ2bf4mvZuNkgdcUGy33O96ktOo~FVYSdqRRI5cLMzVhDZkVmx9bSIBGwW-fpgenLZJF1mQIidndFerSqRHFJ4FBxOTJ8Iy202mzv9GR6qR1-c~FWIKpFuiT~Hq6~tHCVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Arundel County Public Schools officials told the board April 2 that a long-range facilities study is underway and that a public engagement web tool will go live April 4 to collect resident priorities for capital needs.

Chief Operating Officer Bill Heiser and Director of Facilities Kyle Roof outlined the 2025 study’s goals: identify facility needs, recommend priorities, and produce an objective, data-driven decision-making tool for the next 10 years. Heiser said the study will consider five primary areas—capacity, facility condition, energy efficiency, educational adequacy and age of buildings—and will produce a draft master plan in June and a final report in August, with a board presentation in September.

Heiser said building surveys and data collection began in 2024 and staff sought input from school representatives this spring. The public web tool will mirror the district’s redistricting engagement platform and will allow users to prioritize the five focus areas, view maps and submit long-form comments about specific schools or infrastructure needs. The district will also hold follow-up meetings with elected officials and stakeholders.

When asked about long-standing capacity concerns in South County and how the facilities timeline aligns with the redistricting process, Heiser said the timetable is “interesting” and explained that the district will provide updates reflective of redistricting following the superintendent’s final recommendation in November. Heiser told board members a May 19 workshop will provide deeper information and that the process aims to be transparent and data driven.

Heiser said the study is intended to inform capital improvement priorities and land-acquisition discussions with county partners; the district will solicit community input through June 1 via the web tool and additional meetings through the summer.","AACPS staff presented a high-level update on the 2025 Long-Range Facilities Plan, announced an April 4 public web tool for feedback and scheduled an in-depth board workshop for May 19. The study will produce a draft master plan in June and a final report in August with board presentation in September.",{"_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},6091703,"Wellness Council highlights Belle Grove Elementary programs, Vision to Learn screenings and district scorecard gains",560,3801000,4361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980&start=3801&end=4361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980/thumbnail_3801000.jpg","/articles/6091703/Maryland/Wellness-Council-highlights-Belle-Grove-Elementary-programs-Vision-to-Learn-screenings-and-district-scorecard-gains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091703-3e9fdd8e3e9e556840c0ecc6d6a48f1e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110827&Signature=nQmYJEAENEsABeJc2CJtMscSVlszWPRPpnDtClauHmUdD3j0lftlAX-cKP8CuKCVn9zpmCW8ZIPvKq65YZp~sr~vk7GG33szzrn4SEnSdZXeLVzvx9NuTxsSCiSMD8cuAvT6TKTHF2HysQ5LamJRALtbFYGSEXHvV11SWgy4kWWx~711koOUgxFe4RDhtR2vgj25arduSvwEK4V-KfYV4HJ6lD8KYEDq-~vK0I~hO3HWsRXzyK~uqayOZd8x2SK4SwDihYB6sexV7lUOeo5i~CYTEMu8nf6~5hkxOvaW8GbBjfyrgDkDUoPbwcgpRQVlrUtC0hBHvO4LKvydgsQAFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ Wellness Council presented its annual update April 2, showcasing district wellness data and a school case study at Belle Grove Elementary that the council said has driven measurable gains in attendance and state report card performance.

Christiana Walsh, coordinator of health, physical education and dance and co-chair of the wellness council, said the district created a wellness scorecard aligned to the federal triennial assessment and the coordinated school health model. Walsh said staff asked every school how often students receive physical-activity breaks outside of physical education and reported, “students engage in physical activity breaks daily in 94.5% of our schools.”

Belle Grove staff described local wellness initiatives, partnerships and student results. Carrie Allen, principal at Belle Grove Elementary, and Shelly Davenport, the school’s community school manager, said a Vision to Learn visit provided eyeglasses to 42 students. Staff noted one student who, after receiving glasses, “was now on the honor roll now that I had glasses,” a detail recounted in the presentation as an example of academic impact.

Belle Grove also reported school-level outcomes since becoming a wellness school of distinction: a 10% increase in the school’s overall Maryland state report card score and a reported 28% growth in English language arts for the school. Presenters linked wellness activities (outdoor classrooms, sensory gardens, monthly pop-up community events and employee wellness supports) to improved attendance and staff retention, and student Eli Alcantara described school features such as the Beautiful Oops wall and expanded extracurricular activities.

Board members praised the district’s partnerships and said Vision to Learn and other community collaborations are important for student access to services. The council said the wellness work supports the district strategic plan priorities, including investment in staff and whole-child supports.

District staff said the wellness scorecard expands state assessment questions to cover ten coordinated school health components and will be used to identify opportunities and highlight successes across schools.","The AACPS Wellness Council presented its annual update, highlighting a wellness scorecard, school-level practices at Belle Grove Elementary (including Vision to Learn screenings that provided 42 students with glasses), and districtwide data showing frequent physical-activity breaks in classrooms.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091708,"AACPS to redirect prekindergarten resources to serve 4-year-olds next school year",107,3651000,3758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980&start=3651&end=3758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980/thumbnail_3651000.jpg","/articles/6091708/Maryland/AACPS-to-redirect-prekindergarten-resources-to-serve-4-year-olds-next-school-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091708-d61a50aa5d4d5ab604a2e1bda8d408c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110827&Signature=SA7gw2u1z7Yx3BVWCPKcMe~u03OJgSs1~RjKoGakMD7XpTAfaneqqKyLMVgjsTlhl6Jyac2zt2IaEf~IRrNA5Hna9GQ3Mv56xM1EjAZlv6XXAnwau8Cz51O2x~6qujbmj2newWOYOnX5cd6sCrjlP2~viInFkUa-2glIP86RbKCv6W6wRKEDnwpgQVu-VVpGjPCMGPTsHrLq4vnAh48wDBRITFa6k2RNASk3oUf9v6Z0eHfHOEEwP9XTL7Oeqjr9cXUjXEPlL5MuIAoYRtvepg3XdQfm4Di0SvLxnHvoyURLCW6NC4m9wZgQTqiJZw~aFZyitUS2QlDN03CMBKHf9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anne Arundel County Public Schools will redirect prekindergarten resources next fall to prioritize 4-year-old students, district officials announced during the April 2 board meeting.

Chief Academic Officer Christina Catalano said a joint policy adopted in January by the Maryland State Board of Education and the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board requires the mixed-delivery pre-K system to focus public-school seats on 4-year-olds while private providers concentrate on 3-year-olds. “I want to be clear that we are not cutting any pre k resources,” Catalano said. “We are redirecting our pre k resources from our pre k 3 classrooms into our pre k 4 classrooms.”

Catalano said the shift is intended to better serve pre-K 4 students who are Tier 1 — students from families experiencing a high level of poverty — as well as children who are homeless, multilingual learners and students with disabilities. The district said the change will allow more pre-K 4 students to be served in facilities closer to their homes. Pre-K registration will begin May 6.

Board members were informed the change responds to new state guidance; staff clarified the move is a redirection of existing resources rather than a reduction. The superintendent’s office will provide families with registration details and school assignments in coming weeks.","Superintendent's office announced that, starting next fall, Anne Arundel County Public Schools will refocus prekindergarten services to prioritize 4-year-old students in Tier 1 (high-poverty) categories, following a joint Maryland State Board of Education and Blueprint Accountability board policy change.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6091713,"Board waives timeline and unanimously adopts revised grading policy for valedictorian and salutatorian selection",2841,3480000,6321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980&start=3480&end=6321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2859477-1f5a927203bf6172229c6575243d4980/thumbnail_3480000.jpg","/articles/6091713/Maryland/Board-waives-timeline-and-unanimously-adopts-revised-grading-policy-for-valedictorian-and-salutatorian-selection","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6091713-302341840570cb71548311b559c08038/orig.mp4?Expires=1771110827&Signature=nScnAa7njw~oDXVbr8MZyEZNgwcTa5yWH9i5DgcFa5bFEWLN21i7JYcKKozmyYszlj4f5ToCrGIVaCI2JuUNBHlAzpdjGbSiZLp-9JrdQ1VeCWfhBRKH4LvhzKmnVEvNJZw4Yrt3n6HPRS20rvk-W1~r2RYQf1OOU4yNwP-0L2rT89KScg5i316L5QyyBYkMNDBtN6V1fos11u3rUyly-opMy7nGoLRWp-W5e3-qJS1eYJY23OhUWkFERFYS7fte~fk2hJjKdtZz2-0yHOz8Ag7IuiTy2NqPb76D1Zd5FjCPwQzZepViQRfsZWI5672d5xUEaeTH8lJSyXmfSygc7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted unanimously April 2 to waive the normal adoption timeline and adopt a revised Policy II (Grading) that removes the word “character” from the valedictorian and salutatorian application and clarifies a districtwide, uniform selection procedure.

Board members said the change was time-sensitive so high schools could implement the updated process this school year. Grace Wilson, senior specialist for legislation and policy, said there was no public comment during the 30-day public comment period and reminded members that staff requested the review to allow immediate implementation of the revised selection process.

Associate Superintendent Dr. George Roberts told the board the procedure will be the same across high schools: students will complete an application or questionnaire, principals will convene a review panel of staff members, and panels will evaluate applications consistently. “It consists of a survey of questionnaire for students,” Dr. Roberts said. He added that principals will share expectations with students and oversee submission and review of applications.

Board Member Miss Stanton moved to waive the timeline required for adoption; the waiver passed 7–0. The board then adopted Policy II on third reading, also by a 7–0 vote. Voting members recorded as voting yes were Miss Schallheim, Miss McFarland, Miss Hamdawi, Miss Dent, Miss McDermott, Miss Pulliam and President Silkworth.

The board and staff said they consulted other counties and higher-education partners during the revision. Staff told the board they reached out to local universities and the University System of Maryland, which staff said indicated the revised selection process would not hinder college admissions reviews.

Board members and staff said the policy change aims to make selection less subjective and to support equitable access to scholarships and recognition for underserved students. The board’s action was limited to the text before them; staff will complete style and formatting before the policy is published.","The Anne Arundel County Board of Education voted unanimously to waive the usual adoption timeline and adopt revisions to Policy II (Grading), removing the word “character” from the valedictorian/salutatorian application and standardizing selection procedures across high schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves contract bundle and personnel items; motions pass unanimously

District begins long-range facilities study, launches public web tool April 4 and schedules May 19 workshop

Wellness Council highlights Belle Grove Elementary programs, Vision to Learn screenings and district scorecard gains

AACPS to redirect prekindergarten resources to serve 4-year-olds next school year

Board waives timeline and unanimously adopts revised grading policy for valedictorian and salutatorian selection