[{"_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",[32,76,88,99,111],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6641901,"mediaKeyId","3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04","parentId",3457747,"title","Board hears public concerns as it reviews draft policies on fund balance, neutrality, professional boundaries and flags","audioSeconds",1309,"startMs",6089000,"endMs",7398000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04&start=6089&end=7398","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04/thumbnail_6089000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641901/Maryland/Board-hears-public-concerns-as-it-reviews-draft-policies-on-fund-balance-neutrality-professional-boundaries-and-flags","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641901-4d1e7aaf047b97efea75f2f2a2277159/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523093&Signature=M~-RzI8zl0yMB1oTMi7tggK8-wX9vzC4y6vYCMo27N1wrq9zTPaHIt2s2mLZx86V97FEUyj0VarlDyrqif4YHj7l6GGKvm-lGLqHSHfY8Y-xrrT4IQ8PIRfyY2TAjQW31i-9cCw9U7sv1~2dQ-6AByeDkmaPU6TSGz2Ah~rAkvi5BlkFbzvglxCeIkRe~wM3ox71i3OhrsXgRONZh7x5QMWdQ8TgAOUyNS0Z5vLVa92sEjaNKPnsO9knwOeh1HY845TRKzij5-~oDwXcKod3rImxsfOlFVew4jjuecLt71MYAkdLA676YVPwA1K1HavfLjtlxIkj~Ma6Sqq2Rz0uWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Calvert County Public Schools","date","2025-05-22T00:00:00Z","article","Board members reviewed several draft policies and heard widespread public comment Tuesday night on related issues, including safe-space stickers, classroom displays and staff-student boundaries.

Fund-balance policy

Scott Johnson, the district's chief financial officer, introduced a proposed fund-balance policy based on Governmental Accounting Standards Board guidance (GASB 54) and the Government Finance Officers Association recommendation. The draft sets an unassigned fund-balance minimum equal to two months of operating expenditures and asks the superintendent to develop a replenishment plan if the unit falls below the minimum. Board members and the CFO discussed whether two months is achievable and asked staff to clarify how the county and district coordinate cash management; the board requested staff refine language about permissible uses, replenishment timing and interactions with county cash-flow arrangements.

Political neutrality and flags

The board also discussed a draft political-neutrality policy (relating to staff political activity) and a separate proposal that would standardize which flags and banners the district will display on school property. Board counsel recommended separating neutrality language from the campaign-activity policy and said the flag policy should be limited to district-owned, curricular display spaces (classrooms, gymnasiums and other school-owned areas) and should allow temporary instructional displays. Several board members suggested rewording to avoid implying restrictions on students' speech or on club materials allowed under the federal Equal Access Act.

Professional boundaries

A new draft professional-boundaries policy drew strong public comment and questions from board members. The proposal lists acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for employees and volunteers and would require staff to report suspected violations. Board members and public commenters asked staff to refine wording so ordinary social interactions between staff and students (for example, a teacher attending a student's backyard birthday party with parental knowledge, or routine coaching activities) are not inadvertently prohibited. Counsel noted the policy is intended to protect students and staff, not to criminalize ordinary community interactions, and suggested adding mandated-reporter language and clearer examples and exceptions.

Public comment

More than a dozen members of the public spoke during the meeting's public-comment period. Comments concentrated on removal of safe-space stickers, the potential chilling effect of boundary rules on classroom relationships, and the proposed flags policy. Speakers included current and former teachers, parents, students, and representatives from neighboring-county advocacy groups. Several speakers urged the board to retain safe-space signage and other visual cues that signal inclusion and to prioritize special-education staffing and support needs.

Next steps

Board counsel and staff said they would revise the drafts to clarify scope and exceptions and return with amended language. The board did not take action on the draft policies; several items will be revised and reposted for the public-review process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Calvert County Public Schools - Board of Education - May 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Board members discussed draft policies on fund balance, political neutrality, professional boundaries and a classroom-flag policy; public commenters urged protection of safe-space signage and voiced concern about perceived chilling effects on staff and students. Staff and counsel will revise drafts and return with clarifications.","taxTitle","Calvert County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",17515,"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},6641906,"Special education director seeks staffing increases for 2025-26; board to post staffing plan for 30-day comment",277,4461000,4738000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04&start=4461&end=4738","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04/thumbnail_4461000.jpg","/articles/6641906/Maryland/Special-education-director-seeks-staffing-increases-for-2025-26-board-to-post-staffing-plan-for-30-day-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641906-e15cd86e99550b17eb5dfab2b3c914db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523093&Signature=Oi47Yg40sxlCdQT~1XgmuQzf9M~eqFsu0pFqPohTQm35Q3S7FL5unuIvH8GR3yrWh7MbZGU6GciZVOVgPMZ2liSoJ-aGEerBRCLUYaq3PnhbpOgmaZAohdAPnfYXKvjYxhdBPxDHAxLgUuWlqA8nEXl8uHoKz1x1gpvmChC2u7Ghf4lK2-U4DT0I7dMipOVCzbk-WfZCewx~pq8PZEuVkjK57v2h4lmEQOOXwOzy3rDuvE4QYM--1cKlhyP0BGQTrcZx~MGGfz~g63rHMsuPVglyhpYiwPGAjrsz4W7FeQnn9Y8TdJvOBYA0QiPYPQvL7tSy1BdgDFzLhVTaLMmDVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Kendi Anderson, director of Special Education, presented the department's staffing plan for the 2025-26 school year and recommended personnel increases intended to put qualified staff in front of students across the district.

Anderson said the plan reflects recent growth in special-education services and lists a multi-year expansion of positions totaling 37.75 net new staff over three years when previously funded grant and Medicaid positions are included. She specifically identified an increase of 12 behavioral technician positions in the proposed plan and said other needs include additional speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and supervisory oversight; Anderson argued for an additional supervisory position in FY27 to ensure proper oversight as staffing grows.

The presentation included past improvement metrics the department highlighted: the percentage of students served in least-restrictive environments (students in general education 80% or more of the day) increased from 56.7% in 2012-13 to an unofficial recent figure of about 81% (MSDE reported official figures for 2022-23 at 83.1% in prior reporting), and graduation rates for students with IEPs were cited above the state target (Calvert: 81.82% vs. state target ~70.75 for the 2022-23 reporting year, per Anderson's slide).

Anderson also provided a snapshot of current vacancies: she said that, as of a May 13 data pull, the department had 14 special-education teacher vacancies and 10 special-education assistant vacancies; she cautioned that staffing projections depend on grant and Medicaid revenue and recommended moving some positions from grant-funded status to local funding in FY27 to sustain services.

Board members asked about caseloads, recruiting and retention efforts, training for de-escalation, Medicaid billing and whether contracted or in-house repair capacity could relieve operational pressure. Anderson said CCPS is pursuing multiple recruitment strategies, tracking pipeline cohorts from universities, and expanding Medicaid-billable services. The board did not vote on the staffing plan; Anderson said the plan would be posted for the required 30-day public-comment period and returned with any changes.","Director of Special Education Dr. Kendi Anderson presented a 2025-26 staffing plan that would add positions (including 12 behavioral technicians) and said the plan depends on grant and Medicaid revenue; the draft will be posted for 30 days for public comment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_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":74,"_75":74},6641910,"Board reviews updated Students' Rights, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct, adds AI and student-records guidance",0,4478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04&start=4478&end=4478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04/thumbnail_4478000.jpg","/articles/6641910/Maryland/Board-reviews-updated-Students-Rights-Responsibilities-and-Code-of-Conduct-adds-AI-and-student-records-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641910-ebb04122bb5cd6089ae7f19fb59ca81e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523093&Signature=JV-eqzL9PMNvrRwf8ZpftHW8yKcA6j-Uo3m4fr01jRqknyPOPmVtpMecmCZQccSgq18nbg5S9G3g8XReLsV13M60q7CJgL9IcKEzYeDT1GdpwLyoe9Exw-x1gYLV9U4TO9-ujfw1f~oIl4DDUcPkU29tt9wsKNNIb6H~gilkzAF0MW3jo4CnCfTv8AsbCSNfqpOwLWDnY2rG2TByHVesa2PZlbtrmKtXqeHGn~jbj6VeojvaTPJjq78jQrb-MoU3WP95qRqzi0Vg5eBpMMY6WO8nxficRGy7s7SQ4E5IYbziqKqNN9vewpLhSn7xE7DApsKkX2tt5mV5azNGexNWfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cecilia Lewis, CCPS director of Student Services, presented a proposed update to the district's Students' Rights, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct and asked the board to post the red-lined draft for the 30-day comment period required by state regulation.

Lewis told the board the revision aligns with Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) guidance and COMAR requirements (she cited COMAR 13A.08.01.10 and 13A.08.11) and emphasized the document's role in ensuring due process, reduced reliance on zero-tolerance discipline and restoration-based approaches. The draft clarifies timelines and procedures for suspensions and expulsions, including detailed requirements for students with disabilities and the manifestation-review process tied to IEP teams.

New or notable changes in the draft reported to the board include:

- Artificial intelligence: a new section establishes acceptable educational AI use, academic-integrity expectations and prohibitions on unauthorized or harmful AI-generated content (the draft expands the definition of academic dishonesty to include unauthorized use of AI-generated materials and includes AI-assisted harassment in bullying definitions).

- Student records/FERPA: the code clarifies the definition of \"school official\" consistent with federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidance and explains when school officials may access student records.

- Technology and referrals: a new section frames acceptable computer-system use, that staff must protect personal information and avoid plagiarism or AI misuse, and signals districtwide rollout of an electronic referral system. Board members asked for clarification about a \"not escalate\" button in the referral system; Lewis said the button does not delete referrals and that the district will provide additional guidance on how the button and referral data will be tracked and reported.

Lewis also reviewed discipline-related provisions tied to MSDE and federal special-education rules, including the three specific conditions that permit a student with a disability to be removed more than ten school days in a school year (non-manifestation determination; superintendent-determined imminent threat of serious harm; exhaustion of interventions and chronic extreme disruption) and the statutory limits on suspending or expelling pre-K through second-grade students.

Board members asked several technical questions about the electronic referral data, FERPA definitions and student-support options such as health-department vaping interventions; Lewis and staff said they would circulate clarifying guidance and a teacher/administrator guide for the electronic-referral system early next week. The board did not vote on the code; the draft will be posted for the 30-day public review required by COMAR.","CCPS presented a revised Code of Conduct that integrates COMAR requirements, clarifies discipline procedures for students with disabilities, adds guidance on artificial intelligence use and updates FERPA-related language. The board accepted the draft for the required 30-day review period.",{"_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":74,"_75":74},6641916,"Board approves laptops, routing software and bus cameras in unanimous votes; purchases total several million dollars",568,3113000,3681000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04&start=3113&end=3681","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04/thumbnail_3113000.jpg","/articles/6641916/Maryland/Board-approves-laptops-routing-software-and-bus-cameras-in-unanimous-votes-purchases-total-several-million-dollars","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641916-1c4a3ae4362d0cef312b4cfc9d042bb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523093&Signature=GSVjZkE32F-TX5u1ZVMhvpsoOMrGD4wu9BW7Czdvk4YarX09Kzd6q3DjKbQeD9eJbk1XKd1Nz2Icwyz9iSQyqSzY2y9LeC6xGUe8JHM~vj2ZeUAXPEExAJVjzVE8cuOg3lYQxOnuq6lRy6rDjw1uuiChGBGash-Xg-0xcDgCTGgHX8lgwZvivPlesJV3HEZL1fH5RRjgoBfFIRYsKOqSPl9~82rXlm1fJI6ixw4~FZUE3EC4EuDFbgT2PPMDIdNOQH5sn3lcb6B9zqX31sh35vBR1fucO5qgDJAYtRgdV0NVYLwSRhtshiYHQVDOcbFrkM1RnEGpspKZsY5QcCUYLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Calvert County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to approve four procurement recommendations from district staff: laptop purchases to support career-and-technical instruction and one-to-one student devices, a new bus-routing and financial software package, and replacement school-bus cameras.

Procurement actions and outcomes

- CTA laptops: The board approved purchase of 26 high-end laptops and accessories to support industry-recognized credentials at the Calvert Career and Technology Academy (CTA). Funding will come from a Perkins reserve grant. Staff recommended awarding the contract to CDW-G; the memo listed approximately $73,204 for the laptops. A motion to approve passed by voice vote (Aye) and was recorded as 4-0 in favor; no mover/second was identified in the public record.

- Sixth- and ninth-grade student laptops: The board approved a districtwide purchase of student devices for sixth and ninth grades, including break-fix and warranty services. Funding was identified from the Future Ready budget. Staff recommended awarding the contract to CDW-G for $2,278,516. Board members discussed warranty arrangements and life-cycle expectations for the devices before approving the purchase by a 4-0 voice vote.

- Bus routing and financial software: The board approved a three-year implementation and subscription for new bus-routing and financial software, recommended from a competitively solicited cooperative contract. Staff identified Bus Planner USA as the recommended vendor and described a $29,000 implementation fee plus a first-year subscription in the neighborhood of $49,000 in discussion; staff said implementation could be completed by June and that Charles and St. Mary's counties were also migrating to the product. The motion passed 4-0.

- School-bus cameras: The district sought approval to replace aging bus cameras with 210 Zeus Titan 6 systems to modernize in-vehicle recording and provide longer retention and limited live-view capability. Staff recommended purchase from 24seven Security Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga., for $1,040,550; funding was identified from the transportation budget. Board members asked about retention periods, spare drives and contractor coordination. The motion passed by a 4-0 voice vote.

Votes were recorded as voice votes during the meeting and entered into the public minutes as approved by a 4-0 tally each. The procurement items were presented under CCPS procurement policy references and the vendors and contract vehicles were cited in staff memos.

Why this matters: the approved purchases cover instructional hardware, student-device refresh cycles, transportation operations and vehicle safety systems. Board members and staff discussed the tradeoffs between life-cycle costs, warranty coverage and the district's FY25/FY26 budget timing; staff committed to follow up on budget coding and timing for fiscal-year treatment of the purchases.

No member offered a recorded roll-call with individual names for each vote in the meeting transcript; minutes show all four voting members present approved each motion.","The Calvert County Board of Education approved multiple procurement items including CTA laptops, district 6th/9th grade devices, a bus-routing and payment software subscription, and new bus camera systems; all motions passed by recorded voice votes of 4-0.",{"_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":74,"_75":74},6641920,"Calvert County Public Schools outlines progress, gaps in Blueprint for Maryland's Future implementation",902,573000,1475000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04&start=573&end=1475","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3457747-bbfaf753c92705a790820af62e34aa04/thumbnail_573000.jpg","/articles/6641920/Maryland/Calvert-County-Public-Schools-outlines-progress-gaps-in-Blueprint-for-Marylands-Future-implementation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641920-2d4efca4cfaa71768c8feaf12b299679/orig.mp4?Expires=1770523093&Signature=hGlck5IQtLHXzlqdREv3lbI8AFYu2dcuuEr0IZK2bpTRuqbl42cLJxDLEJc5B0fze9G93uoNZGhry5rP60sf0GYNOv2GtJoB0fim1eR3G2h7ypW8llZnuTjDJ-4Swlzs838EutnohhUsvPnebZ0txj2GdH-h64HeqA2wg2jBtZpLO3ceyVr7BE8OMvQq65NYW5whyjIJLuaZcg6asXGJh68lhlhstjLXJtkit8OH9eRXnesyE5h0fSyWhd4ekkn-2vqruDa7OcygKXh0LTWGNM~z4kDOfX5CsisMiOgRd-~uI~ksSvKP9Z4kJaI1bwkvK7-AKReHTSCrN1teDkI3uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Calvert County Public Schools officials told the Board of Education on Tuesday that the district is on track with several major elements of the state's Blueprint for Maryland's Future but still faces space, staffing and funding challenges.

The update was delivered by a CCPS implementation lead who presented accomplishments and next steps across the blueprint's five pillars: early childhood, teacher career ladders, college-and-career readiness, student supports and governance and accountability.

The presentation said the district now has at least one full-day Pre-K classroom for 4-year-olds in every elementary school and reported an increase in full-day Pre-K enrollment from 227 students (September, prior year) to 253 students this year. CCPS also said it is applying for a Pre-K expansion grant that would add about 80 seats if awarded. The presenter described work on an MSDE-approved Pre-K curriculum, accreditation activity (four schools rated Maryland ExCELS 4 of 5 and scheduled for re-evaluation) and efforts to vet paraprofessionals for a one-time Child Development Associate (CDA) exemption offered by MSDE.

\"We are continuing the training of our early childhood educators and developing a formal tracking system for Pre-K credentialing,\" the presenter said.

Under pillar two, CCPS said it has negotiated a career ladder and is emphasizing National Board Certification (NBC) as a driver of professional learning; the update listed 56 educators already NBC-certified and 61 actively pursuing the credential. The district also told the board it received roughly $40,000 in state grant funding for rollout of the required professional learning series, though staff cautioned the final award amount may differ from the initial notice.

For college-and-career readiness (pillar three), the district said it has formalized career-and-college readiness (CCR) pathways including Advanced Placement, dual enrollment and early college and that early-college participation rose in January year-to-year. CCPS said that a planned two-year early-college option would substantially increase enrollment (presenter cited a projected 319% increase in students accessing early college when the two-year option is added).

On pupil supports (pillar four), CCPS reported training for special educators and some general educators in specially designed instruction; rollout of restorative practices, Trauma-Informed approaches and the LSCI framework; and plans to place a restorative-practices facilitator in every school next year. The district also said it has established a community-schools implementation team and is assessing two schools that may qualify for community-school status this summer; that identification would bring planning-year personnel grants followed by per-pupil funds.

Under governance and accountability (pillar five), staff said the district's implementation plan was approved by the state Authority for the Implementation Board (AIB) in November, that expert-review teams have visited Huntington High School and Park Elementary, and that CCPS is working with its strategic partners to define minimum school-funding requirements and progress-monitoring criteria for AIB reporting.

Board members pressed presenters on a range of implementation questions. One board member sought clarification on the presenter's 450% Pre-K increase figure; staff acknowledged the percentage referenced different baseline measures and provided the September enrollment counts above when asked. Another board member asked which funding sources pay for blueprint elements; Chief Financial Officer Scott Johnson said he and staff would follow up with a breakdown. Staff acknowledged some work depends on state or grant funding and cannot be sustained with current local resources alone.

Why this matters: the Blueprint for Maryland's Future is a multi-year, statewide education reform law that prescribes new programs, staff credentials and funding streams; CCPS's presentation outlined how the district plans to meet the law's timelines while signaling key constraints on space, staff capacity and recurring funding.

The superintendent and staff will return with additional implementation detail, and the board took no formal action on the report itself. The presentation included numerous follow-up items that staff said they would provide to the board, including final counts, grant details and credential-tracking timelines.","CCPS staff briefed the Board of Education on progress under the state Blueprint for Maryland's Future, reporting expansions in full-day Pre-K, career-ladder work for teachers, early college growth and new community-school planning while noting funding and space constraints.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board hears public concerns as it reviews draft policies on fund balance, neutrality, professional boundaries and flags

Special education director seeks staffing increases for 2025-26; board to post staffing plan for 30-day comment

Board reviews updated Students' Rights, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct, adds AI and student-records guidance

Board approves laptops, routing software and bus cameras in unanimous votes; purchases total several million dollars

Calvert County Public Schools outlines progress, gaps in Blueprint for Maryland's Future implementation