Charles County Public Schools wins MAGNA Award for mental health support at NSBA Conference

During a recent board meeting, Charles County Public Schools celebrated a significant achievement, receiving a prestigious MAGNA Award from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) for its innovative expansion of mental health supports for students. This recognition highlights the school system's commitment to addressing mental health challenges creatively and effectively, marking the first MAGNA Award for the current board and administration.

The award acknowledges not only the leadership of the board but also the dedicated efforts of staff members, including school counselors, psychologists, and behavioral health coordinators, who work tirelessly to support student wellness. The school system plans to share a video and photos from the award ceremony on social media to celebrate this accomplishment with the community.

In addition to the award announcement, the meeting included discussions about the ongoing strategic planning process. The superintendent expressed gratitude to the over 3,500 community members who participated in a recent survey, emphasizing the importance of their feedback in shaping the 2025-2029 strategic plan. Meetings with staff and board members are scheduled to review this feedback in detail.

The board also addressed updates regarding federal mandates impacting school systems, particularly concerning the use of COVID relief funding, known as ESSER funding. Fortunately, Charles County Public Schools has already utilized most of its ESSER funds, with only a small amount remaining for professional development related to the Science of Reading training, which has been temporarily paused. The school system will continue to monitor guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education and keep stakeholders informed of any changes.

Lastly, the election for the next student member of the Board of Education is currently underway, with students in grades 6 through 12 encouraged to participate in the voting process. This initiative empowers students to have a voice in selecting their representative on the board, reinforcing the importance of student engagement in school governance.