[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6577869,"mediaKeyId","3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a","parentId",3091522,"title","Baltimore City presents three new charter/operator applications; board to hear applicant presentations May 15 and vote June 10","audioSeconds",483,"startMs",2212000,"endMs",2695000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a&start=2212&end=2695","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a/thumbnail_2212000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577869/Maryland/Baltimore-City-presents-three-new-charteroperator-applications-board-to-hear-applicant-presentations-May-15-and-vote-June-10","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577869-d57d2575e9f97e4bc19b9fae4c98a07b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107016&Signature=Qin2PW17fymxbrUXTrjRENhKJuQDFcrwdLwDZqp61wZLgW-GvEwJiWrKfsMyjd9QSlMOAU0FI4HV2Dupy0XAsKrUlCQ4TPMoagMLFJQIYV5u6rbTm4fS4NzJKtmfyV-Ve85K3F237cPUp21q2vh-Zuugg1avrz8nzVNeTXvijNnUP5-24~6tLa3MHuYyPQj6PW0PlLTu3cjsXl90KrifHIAyauGvuQTNcxGFlswnijj35OdtLRaKKekn9OJFh0EUlCllMffHjNblFz2Kov1dyvSXVFtb6Jr~B34uW8d1i~o6V2Q7y5tSwqJiMdAwctLkZh-rbshI1zjAmXvNBKcvBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Baltimore City Public Schools","date","2025-04-23T01:36:08.897Z","article","The Office of New Initiatives presented an informational update on three charter or operator‑led school applications during the April 22 Board meeting, laying out the application timeline and the review process the district will follow before a June 10 Board vote.

Angela Alvarez, senior executive director for the Office of New Initiatives, and Kendra Banks, the office manager, said applications were due March 6 and are being technically reviewed. Applicants will receive preliminary strengths-and-weaknesses reports the week of May 5, may present at a public Board work session on May 15, and may submit supplemental materials by May 21; the Board is scheduled to vote on June 10. Alvarez noted that the district and the charter advisory board will review applications and that the CEO will make a recommendation to the Board; an initial contract term for an approved new school would be five years.

The three applicants described were:

- Charm City Garden Montessori School (Charm City Garden Montessori, CCGMS): proposing a nature‑based Montessori high school for grades 9–12 in West Baltimore with an anticipated enrollment of about 225 students; programming centers on environmental education, problem‑based learning and Montessori principles.

- Dream Academy (proposed by Arts for Learning Maryland): a conversion application for Thomas Jefferson Elementary/Middle (No. 232) in the Huntington Ridge neighborhood, proposing an arts‑integrated PreK–8 school; the applicant is also requesting a school name change and proposes naming the library for Portia LaVaughn Stokes Williams.

- Juvenile Aftercare Incorporated (school name to be determined): applying as a contract school in East Baltimore to serve grades 8–12 with programming focused on continuing education, vocational training, job readiness and re‑entry supports for young people transitioning from the juvenile justice system; the applicant indicated an eventual goal of adding boarding with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approval but does not propose boarding in year one.

Alvarez said applicants may include evidence of community support (letters, petitions) and financial information (proposed budgets and letters of commitment); the district and its advisory board evaluate academics, operations and finances and interview founding teams to assess capacity. Alvarez emphasized that applicants are advised to engage in technical assistance at least a year before applying and that all applicants that submit by the deadline proceed through the review unless they withdraw.

No Board vote was taken; the presentation was informational and scheduled follow‑up steps invite public testimony at the May 15 work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Board Meeting 04/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Office of New Initiatives presented three charter or operator‑led applications for the 2026 school year on April 22 and outlined a review timeline that includes a May 15 public work session and a scheduled Board vote on June 10.","taxTitle","Baltimore City Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",70831,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577864,"Board hears first reader on behavioral‑interventions policy updates; changes align with COMAR and add in‑school suspension appeal process",89,7207000,7296000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a&start=7207&end=7296","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a/thumbnail_7207000.jpg","/articles/6577864/Maryland/Board-hears-first-reader-on-behavioralinterventions-policy-updates-changes-align-with-COMAR-and-add-inschool-suspension-appeal-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577864-02a9c8d9f54d1a800d7de4ac3a9f579f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107016&Signature=URYcRyoiKpJ5RZZoc94lVzcYCLMrKcwAOnkPLxPj67MfqJVV~e0MPCgmxpUclDGlk3FN~kw60~gEBHid8nATxkQ5IKEqYdwxm2Q2wRrqRPQx7CUJT8YNKq6d5WKeMi3xPTX9LaqC7B0LLdy6XSY35WhAaCoS0uwUYQ-63Irk-G-Md9VCegAl7ocaJLWa8smW1Rx4BLwFSUrl7gxpkH-hlBwQ43UZqNMwg5XrITzMBZUIqrfqy6GN7DLNidN84lVG2WnFTKgTDAPEyr7dDvFYNC1Qrf0SMpCyi5bAMLbZQRRY24wAYf4U5fw3H12zQxq8rwYb1~fIw1EgTjVkmCqHvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented proposed revisions to Board Policy JKA (Behavioral Interventions and Student Discipline) at first reader on April 22. The changes are intended to align local policy with recent amendments to COMAR, clarify the appeals process for in‑school suspensions, and set clearer rules and reporting timelines for restraints and exclusion.

Lori Hines, director of student conduct and attendance, said the revisions add a required appeals process for in‑school suspensions: parents or guardians may appeal an in‑school suspension to the chief of schools within 10 days; the principal’s supervisor (the ILED) must respond in writing within five days; if still unresolved the family may follow Board policy BLA to appeal to the Board. Hines said the district also added clearer steps for how staff must respond when notified about a reportable offense, including safety‑risk meetings and placement decisions.

Special education staff described updates to restraints and exclusion. Nishandra Worthy Lide (Office of Special Education) said seclusion remains prohibited; \"exclusion\" — short removals from class — may be used for brief periods (not to exceed 30 minutes) with an expectation that staff provide coached strategies to allow a prompt return to class. The district has expanded reporting procedures: parents must be notified within 24 hours after a physical restraint; schools must report restraint incidents through a new electronic system; and the Office of Special Education must be notified when a student reaches a tenth incident and the district has a four‑business‑day timeline to submit information to MSDE about excessive restraint incidents. The district will provide recommendations within 10 business days after that notice, staff said.

The presentation also described new school requirements: each school must maintain a behavior‑response team of two to four staff, including at least one licensed administrator, and those teams receive annual crisis‑intervention training. Staff said the district is piloting an additional School Effectiveness Review (SER) domain to better evaluate supports for students with disabilities; results of the pilot will be blind to the current renewal cycle and will be discussed afterward.

Theresa Jones (Chief Accountability Officer) reviewed the renewal process that runs in parallel to this policy work and said the district is not proposing further substantive methodology changes for the upcoming renewal cycle; the district will continue stakeholder debriefing and expects to return with second reader of the policy in June.

Staff said they have conducted multiple stakeholder sessions, including with teachers, parent groups, Disability Rights Maryland and the Public Justice Center, and that comments continue to be received and addressed. The Board did not vote on the policy at first reader; staff will return for a second reader after continued feedback.","District staff presented proposed updates to Board Policy JKA on April 22 to align with COMAR changes, clarify in‑school suspension appeals, update restraint and exclusion reporting, and require school behavior‑response teams.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577875,"Baltimore City Schools discloses February data breach affecting staff and a small share of students",256,1535000,1791000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a&start=1535&end=1791","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a/thumbnail_1535000.jpg","/articles/6577875/Maryland/Baltimore-City-Schools-discloses-February-data-breach-affecting-staff-and-a-small-share-of-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577875-718f094f708a4f01af444971097f6092/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107016&Signature=OvuQ9f1tGyek2m-XTTbQTBZ3tt5Zn~C4DJhqvGd2BO1MIQmFCsbEmJ3qp4RPfkGMir6YlWDckXDhG1njkCft7OVsPd1P7XqCRldcNwotVk~dXZwbEJyHjH~MgsoVhd~ocLwzsOBMHN1ow7wRkJe7yWeF9R6IM5wWeFOEeaODyJpSp3YpmsY9pIC-iQ4jFP7nZbc61V5MZCtO4BotBOKyAZhMWW29pYyopJtHPF4TQbHgkeVPerNylcqzAA2QjED5uOyF33mrkah0CNbEO2efL0GBY5fSjhINBQhQaPXL~XfQvCIlCU3-nYzQ4uZdsZ~vE-K~U9dlz5sAOjb-vGHsoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises told the Board of School Commissioners on April 22 that the district suffered a computer network breach in February that may have compromised documents belonging to some current, former and prospective employees, volunteers and contractors, and files tied to fewer than 1.5% of students — about 1,000 of roughly 75,000 enrolled.

The confirmation followed an investigation the district said it carried out with law enforcement and external cybersecurity consultants. \"We immediately notified law enforcement, conducted an initial investigation, and secured our operational systems,\" Santelises said during her remarks.

The district said it is notifying impacted individuals by U.S. Mail starting today, will post general information on its website and social channels, and will notify staff. Those who receive notices will be offered complimentary credit monitoring and identity-theft mitigation services; the district is also establishing a call center to help affected people enroll in those services.

Santelises described operational steps already taken: resetting all user passwords and installing endpoint detection and response software. The district said a forensic audit is under way and that it will continue to assess procedures \"for ways to defend against evolving cybersecurity threats.\" \"Since then, we have been investigating with the help of external cybersecurity experts to determine who was impacted and what data was compromised,\" she said.

District officials emphasized they are still determining precisely which data elements were accessed and urged recipients of notification letters to keep them because they will include specifics and next steps. The district said the breach affected \"files that were related to less than 1.5% of all of our students,\" and repeated that figure in board comments.

Asked about immediate protections, Santelises said the district had begun providing credit monitoring and dark‑web monitoring to impacted people, and that the district would continue to coordinate with law enforcement and outside experts.

The board did not take formal action; the announcement was presented as part of the CEO comments portion of the meeting. Santelises closed the item by acknowledging the disruption and underscoring that the district will continue to notify and support impacted individuals.

For now, officials say notifications are being mailed and a call center is being stood up to answer individual questions; the district executed password resets and installed additional endpoint detection software while the forensic review continues.","CEO Sonja Santelises told the Board that hackers broke into district systems in February, compromising documents for some employees, contractors and volunteers and files for fewer than 1.5% of students (about 1,000). The district says it has notified law enforcement, tightened security and begun mailing notices with credit-monitoring offers.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577856,"Board approves consent agenda including PEP personnel items; City Schools names 10 Teacher of the Year semifinalists",101,1183000,1284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a&start=1183&end=1284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a/thumbnail_1183000.jpg","/articles/6577856/Maryland/Board-approves-consent-agenda-including-PEP-personnel-items-City-Schools-names-10-Teacher-of-the-Year-semifinalists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577856-cb95e669b191b6bebbeedd73b754c163/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107016&Signature=Ycx8ntzuYevOu7ivesOS4TQU~VN7uAWvGBuS6J1iQNDagIZFTPhNa4nf9enYJywdicD~YKQ5QZy9bu~VTYp0jiVnOH04hvE-MdRpRFK7it7YsvKLcB5OYiZ8v4VKDCQj273BqWnsM2FEOQQrJqgrrmN2y5VGe4NEjq9GM6uBnRMvmUbAkbgXYx3hZTEUPRr~kBYPFSN8r6GE7YAe7poCxb6bkzOBPRhHy8eXoFb-nAtonS6qdogWazHIcJzFN09r83siXNa4rEBgmJC6TSKT7S2dKh0wv9x3ZaKjEPlSugexOY3USZ7r9SHselyraAqnWXBO2-6tPwfaNRmE6kb8Xg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board approved the remaining items on the consent agenda at the April 22 meeting and the personnel recommendations contained in the PEP agenda were included in that action.

Commissioner Esposito moved to approve the consent agenda and Commissioner Brooks seconded the motion; the meeting record shows the motion carried with the Board chair and a majority of commissioners signaling \"yes\" (tally recorded by staff). The minutes and consent documentation will show the full list of approved items.

During the PEP readout, Chief Emily Nielsen announced recommended appointments including Rochelle Boykin (currently staff specialist, communications) to be appointed special assistant for communications and community engagement, effective May 5, 2025. The PEP list also included multiple principal‑resident appointments effective July 1, 2025, among them Cole Bishop (Forest Park High School principal resident), Alana Burton (Cross Country Elementary), Shanika Peterkin (Northwood Elementary), Shakia Shepherd (Moravia Park Elementary Middle) and others; the staff list and the official minutes contain the full set of personnel names and effective dates.

Dr. Sonja Santelises recognized 10 semifinalists for Baltimore City Public Schools' Teacher of the Year from more than 400 nominations. The semifinalists include teachers from pre‑K through high school and represent a range of school programs across the district; the Board noted that one district Teacher of the Year will be selected to proceed to the Maryland Teacher of the Year competition.

These personnel appointments and recognitions were presented as part of the consent agenda; the Board took no separate roll‑call vote on each PEP item during the meeting beyond the omnibus consent vote.","The Board approved the consent agenda and the personnel (PEP) appointments contained therein. Chief Emily Nielsen presented recommended staffing moves including Rochelle Boykin and multiple principal‑resident assignments. Dr. Sonja Santelises recognized 10 semifinalists for District Teacher of the Year.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6577859,"Students, teachers and PTA press Board on FY26 budget priorities, CEO search and staffing problems",549,362000,911000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a&start=362&end=911","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091522-8e063159af12d0866982d67bcfc1bd4a/thumbnail_362000.jpg","/articles/6577859/Maryland/Students-teachers-and-PTA-press-Board-on-FY26-budget-priorities-CEO-search-and-staffing-problems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577859-809b25aaebfce969c34c665f5e38765d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771107016&Signature=QdSo-6BYB5M6KxnOaMt-tnMDRXKHi23A3Hw1SBn~XuqabwX8YY2Xc5CHETTBXm07F4uigcKJv9~mkAlVDySgOowWokCHkmLSwOHBXh~QUTcKFY-hV2jUDIfN648ZCcZFPk0jjogbFm~4zjoceRBpl1lf1Qebzq8DlsqIAdpAwcp2mhzR0XhBAx9U8Cpo9Cs91rXO8mdNPTjdQGiUnLl7THPbSYkAlvKsQrZZuh4nNNAXpZDlt0bOO1DjzZ1-LMdnZPLAI9b7jkdEQEa5-V-pN8nwhww6EMIkYkDU6U~B7EyD3xVWdlkMABsIqjkucK52GxxpqK67WCeFHa-vTThj6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public comment period on April 22, student leaders, union representatives and a PTA delegate urged the Board to clarify budget priorities, expand mental‑health investments, increase transparency in the CEO search, and address operational problems in human capital functions.

Benjamin Grimaldi, an eighth grader and ad‑hoc member of the Associated Student Congress for Baltimore City (ASCBC), reported on student leadership work and election timelines: applications were completed and campaigning begins May 5, with student voting scheduled from May 19–22. Grimaldi said ASCBC reviewed the district budget and noted that 20% of the school‑support budget is allocated to transportation and that a significant amount is designated for math and reading resources. He said student delegates ranked mental‑health access as their top priority and listed school safety as their second; he also noted that 4% of the school‑support budget is allocated to school police. \"We believe that school police are one part of a comprehensive school safety plan,\" Grimaldi said, and he urged the district to explain how investments in mental health, restorative practices and other measures combine to create safe, supportive schools.

Jocelyn Providence, speaking for the Baltimore Teachers Union and identifying herself as a Baltimore City Public Schools teacher, urged the Board to be a partner in advocating for full implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Providence argued that verbal commitments from the state are insufficient if the implementation timeline is rolled back and asked the Board to support statewide tax reforms to fund the Blueprint, including closing corporate tax loopholes and taxing millionaires. Providence also criticized the district’s human capital and labor relations offices for failing to meet core functions — staffing, payroll, tuition reimbursement and licensure — and said funding cuts have reduced extracurriculars and one‑on‑one tutoring at schools. \"Budgets reflect our morals,\" Providence said, calling for collective advocacy for fair funding.

A PTA speaker who identified herself as Ms. Demery thanked the district for the FY26 proposed operating budget information but asked for more clarity on how dollars will be used at the school level. She asked whether large line items (for example, more than $750,000 for high‑quality math materials) reflect expenditure on materials for students or professional learning for teachers, requested job descriptions for the 58 school‑based wholeness specialists in the budget, and asked how mentoring programs will operate and who will be mentored.

Board members acknowledged the comments and said the district will provide additional updates; no Board action was taken during public comment. ASCBC and other student leaders were invited back for further updates at later agenda items, including the student commissioner’s report.","Public commenters at the April 22 meeting — including an ASCBC student, a Baltimore Teachers Union representative and a PTA member — highlighted district budget priorities, mental‑health and tutoring cuts, the CEO search timeline, and concerns about human capital operations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Baltimore City presents three new charter/operator applications; board to hear applicant presentations May 15 and vote June 10

Board hears first reader on behavioral‑interventions policy updates; changes align with COMAR and add in‑school suspension appeal process

Baltimore City Schools discloses February data breach affecting staff and a small share of students

Board approves consent agenda including PEP personnel items; City Schools names 10 Teacher of the Year semifinalists

Students, teachers and PTA press Board on FY26 budget priorities, CEO search and staffing problems