[{"_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",6233272,"mediaKeyId","3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5","parentId",3423877,"title","Board adopts new telehealth and emergency rescue-medication policies; residency policy updated with review on suspension language","audioSeconds",209,"startMs",14467000,"endMs",14676000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5&start=14467&end=14676","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5/thumbnail_14467000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6233272/Maryland/Board-adopts-new-telehealth-and-emergency-rescue-medication-policies-residency-policy-updated-with-review-on-suspension-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233272-8f51cc444e323cae7f47407112b1afc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776573113&Signature=XmhVX57MUTHCPwic~eTux6UYCykHaNt-2wkL0pshiiV78EFRHhvPmMPVe-L9eG2YyCOKw34cg83-2lwi8~BNkxNflHvt1tq1IDkqezKtwRyHA7FuYM4eDt~BqPVtBKXDlnM3P4TkUTYXx3TU1K76j6w70aNvaoc7EBzqEU2iGc5Gt6PGObq3DwuBy64ljr52-oWw1OEpV0jJrV4HxYanjpdT98Csie9pgGvId8R81qJreMg-ZVLFeIqej-Qas3wHrRgrqSFTTw8Et-vuUp-xlQpRqHj1YbvKSZcGGsGOmzqrKipebyFjKVf8Fcwn4cigHPsF0aAd9zucLHnqSEklFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Worcester County Public Schools","date","2025-05-21T12:27:27.727Z","article","The Worcester County Board of Education voted Tuesday to revise several policies: an updated Emergency Rescue Medications and First Aid policy, a new Telehealth Appointments during the school day policy, and an updated Eligibility and Attendance (residency) policy.

Lauren Williams, coordinator of School Health Services, told the board the emergency-medications policy was revised to reflect legislation enacted last year that requires schools to provide access to bronchodilators for asthmatic emergencies and to include state-required responses for seizures and respiratory distress. The update clarifies training frequency for staff and requires that emergency rescue medications be available for off‑site activities such as field trips.

Williams also presented a new telehealth policy created to implement a state law requiring school space be made available for telehealth services in some circumstances. The policy permits principals or designees to provide a private, Internet-capable room with seating and electricity; families must schedule and pay for services, provide an Internet‑capable device, and a parent or guardian must be present for appointments unless the student is 18. The board approved the new telehealth policy on a motion by board member William Buchanan, seconded by Michael Gordy.

Nicole Selby presented a revised Eligibility and Attendance policy that tightened the definition of a bona fide Worcester County residence and reaffirmed that the family bears the burden of providing residency documentation. The updated language references COMAR rules on suspension and expulsion; during the discussion Board member Dr. John Andes asked whether the policy should say a suspended student “shall” not be enrolled (a firmer requirement) rather than “may” not be enrolled, as currently written. The board approved the residency policy as presented with a direction to staff to check the exact COMAR language and return if a change from “may” to “shall” is required.

Board votes: the Emergency Rescue Medications and First Aid revision was approved (motion by Donald Smack, second by Ms. McComas). The telehealth policy was approved (motion by William Buchanan, second by Michael Gordy). The residency policy was approved with the agreed review of suspension language (motion to adopt as presented by Dr. Andes; second by Ms. Adams).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Worcester County Board of Education Meeting - May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Worcester County Board of Education voted Tuesday to adopt updates to emergency-medication guidance, approve a new telehealth-appointments policy for use of school space, and revise the district’s residency/eligibility policy.","taxTitle","Worcester County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",49833,"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},6233276,"Board approves Buckingham Elementary schematic design; $71 million project to proceed to county and state review",1625,14811000,16436000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5&start=14811&end=16436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5/thumbnail_14811000.jpg","/articles/6233276/Maryland/Board-approves-Buckingham-Elementary-schematic-design-71-million-project-to-proceed-to-county-and-state-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233276-de909eb50303055ceb69aedfdc053514/orig.mp4?Expires=1776573113&Signature=YyqykEJOZjdHCvlnAEdSpsRpB3~j6BnntF-3wFR0gmQyc-WVIhhFR2QBss~nL~LpyqrSDRYvCh9sm7M~OlVIhaBkbLt4mfnhVqC-TvmMT220T3NXfHcYtd5q0e9z-QnUB8MsCGFzPmv2IbaGAyHileu~pwofVaYWizEHOmgwGKJbonWGX0lLLR1k6zPcVVH0sjZTNdjLqVWhwnRHNEpd4kDhyunOYuxF-eqY3eoDvKzhfhCSEwdmgNkzSHopsV1L60oGV-1p1I-u9ePfcuSLy9M3ZJ2uAMRZ1yGsP~lz2OXTnURIEfkl8IyvkOXixihj0hJBoLcBeDKj2vJEKgCcgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worcester County Board of Education on Tuesday approved schematic design documents for the replacement of Buckingham Elementary School and authorized staff to present the design to the county commissioners and submit documents to the Interagency Commission on School Construction (IAC).

Architects from Becker Morgan Group presented a two-story design that places the new 90,837 gross-square-foot building near the existing school footprint, separates car drop-off from bus traffic, and creates an amphitheater-like terraced lawn on the Main Street side. The plan includes pre-K classrooms, a media center designed as a visual “beacon,” centrally located art and STEAM spaces, and a fenced pre-K play area.

The schematic estimate lists a May 2027 construction start and a projected opening in fall 2029. The construction budget shown in schematic design totaled about $62.35 million (including a 3% contingency and escalation to a May 2027 start). When site work, demolition, furniture, technology, consultants and other project costs are included, the total project cost in the presentation was $71,000,000. The team said the state share is estimated at $25,000,000 and the county share about $46,000,000 under the current Memorandum of Understanding among the county, the board and the state.

Board member Donald Smack moved approval of the schematic documents; Dr. John Andes seconded and the motion carried with the board’s unanimous vote recorded in open session.

The board directed staff to present the approved schematic to the Worcester County Commissioners and to submit the packet to the IAC for state review. The architects said the next steps are design development through September 2025, construction documents and a fall 2026 bid period, construction from May 2027 through August 2029 and a planned fall 2029 opening for the Berlin community.

Designers noted site constraints—community preference to retain the school location and limited site area—but said the plan increases on-site drop-off stacking and separates bus circulation to improve safety and traffic flow. Materials under consideration include masonry and cementitious panels for long life and low maintenance; engineering teams will continue to evaluate mechanical systems, including a life-cycle cost analysis of alternatives such as geothermal.

The board approved the schematic documents and instructed staff to proceed to county and state review.","The Worcester County Board of Education approved schematic design documents for the Buckingham Elementary replacement project, a roughly $71 million total project, and authorized submitting the designs to county commissioners and the Interagency Commission on School Construction.",{"_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},6233281,"Pocomoke Middle pilots 'Warrior Learning Report' to tailor instruction for students with disabilities",922,11397000,12319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5&start=11397&end=12319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5/thumbnail_11397000.jpg","/articles/6233281/Maryland/Pocomoke-Middle-pilots-Warrior-Learning-Report-to-tailor-instruction-for-students-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233281-02c32c6b799b7db75c7d91c14bb16ae3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776573113&Signature=hRVb6HdqfEcXGRLUdYsrgOOUJX8ureaMkxSeHKBZ6wn9rkVHW7K9qxLuhNhERl71m5J7OZMgBw-Z3oF21NX3sIEs5eXxdNjjsz-3v3RYj4pfFmRZCLeqFxf-YXUdFcrCg~~nwGPIzoCQVDqXeWtrlgV7sp9D5Ga-XwmFUDsLK0G1hnMaBW1~30hBpuOyaCRmadZDETnMS~LHpNfOdRbfQEljl8rVXbB7b8ffa3N-I2ySUbcthntjse2dvjTJKuQaTHyZ2lE3G0ckZBpffoXJCTkKYHFG09A8QdAP~bHFGuAvj0KpWNYBDFaAltbUyFHN~gbRgWx8JRi-dL8cUBzNBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pocomoke Middle School teachers on Tuesday introduced the Board of Education to the “Warrior Learning Report,” a one-page student profile designed to help general-education and special-education teachers translate cognitive testing and Individualized Education Program (IEP) information into classroom practice.

School leaders said the report collects cognitive and educational scores, a snapshot of a student’s IEP accommodations, historical assessment data, teacher classroom notes and a recommended set of specially designed instructional strategies tied to common cognitive profiles. The report is accompanied by district-level professional learning so teachers understand scores such as “fluid reasoning” and practical classroom strategies.

The report’s creators, seventh-grade math teacher Corey McCluskey and special-education teacher Ashley Mertz, said they developed the document over the summer to give non‑specialist teachers a concise, usable summary that highlights a student’s strengths and specific accommodations. McCluskey described a student with stronger visual-spatial skills and weaker working memory: instead of extended verbal directions the teacher had the student draw a probability scenario and then answer one question at a time, enabling independent work and visible gains in engagement.

School staff said they introduced the reports to grade-level teams at the start of the year, included specialists and school psychologists in training sessions, and use the reports during co-planning, after‑school PLCs and school improvement meetings. Staff plan a teacher survey next week to gather feedback and will reconvene special-education teachers in the summer to update the reports for the next school year.

Teachers and board members who asked questions praised the focus on translating test scores into classroom practice. Board member John Andes called the program “excellent” and said having that information in advance would have improved his work as a high‑school teacher.

No formal board action was requested or taken; the presentation was informational.","Pocomoke Middle School staff presented a new individualized profile-based tool, the Warrior Learning Report, that summarizes cognitive, educational and classroom data to guide specially designed instruction (SDI) and classroom supports for students with disabilities.",{"_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},6233263,"Worcester Technical students win state honors; 30 to compete at SkillsUSA national competition",811,10347000,11158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5&start=10347&end=11158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5/thumbnail_10347000.jpg","/articles/6233263/Maryland/Worcester-Technical-students-win-state-honors-30-to-compete-at-SkillsUSA-national-competition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233263-dbe654b28359d0a995cca0e81718d6aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1776573113&Signature=X~9tytL3qxMMdGpXNanOCEy15Mabj7-MNjbJzgNo~Mus9DUzNqqiu9Bfha71GVjgewpWefMjU0FffltUSa~HqX3hzGvGf8YCuksydVjZSLWPnI-OE81eicJGvNxw-UkfnHC9yY4g6uO2VnCYdaK8QjVuvk4N7-SqezDC6vMXPy9lw6~MLUZboDQy3-XqwPy3XsnXRlHt2bgBa5AwDpjngfgwUrophG-GYYVgZk55cWy5e15TzX1dWO-0vWicdU-GuxTp36gw7T9zGguoFYfqPLOn~8qz1XRN7EY9QcbuDQT-BWYY0y9PnPY0UAbZtLYGBurAj5~hn5IPNfvVyrUgXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Worcester Technical High School staff told the Board of Education on Tuesday that students had one of the school’s most successful SkillsUSA seasons, with dozens of state-level medals and a substantial national delegation.

Principal Tony Bevilacqua and advisor Rick Stevens reported that 74 Worcester Tech students competed in 38 SkillsUSA contests in Maryland; 42 students placed in the top three in state competitions, roughly 57% of the students the school entered, and nearly 90% placed in the top 10. The school won the Maryland SkillsUSA Chapter of Excellence Gold Award for the ninth consecutive year and a 2025 SkillsUSA National Chapter of Excellence Silver Award.

Bevilacqua said the school had more gold medalists this year than all other Eastern Shore districts combined. Stevens listed numerous individual placings across categories including robotics, technical skills, OSHA, web design, commercial drones and opening/closing ceremonies competitions. Stevens said 30 Worcester Tech students will go to the national SkillsUSA conference in Atlanta at the end of June, making Worcester Tech the second-largest school delegation from the region.

The board applauded the students, staff and advisors for their work and fundraising; advisors said students helped raise roughly $23,000 in a five-week push to fund a SkillsUSA national trip earlier in the year and met the goal in five weeks.","Worcester Technical High School reported a banner SkillsUSA year: 74 students competed in 38 contests, many placed in top state rankings and 30 students will attend national competition in Atlanta.",{"_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},6233268,"Board approves personnel exhibit including Dr. Matthew Recker as chief academic officer and safety officer; one member objects to combined role",322,13611000,13933000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5&start=13611&end=13933","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3423877-ac5c96ad3b5bc03067a76678b917faa5/thumbnail_13611000.jpg","/articles/6233268/Maryland/Board-approves-personnel-exhibit-including-Dr-Matthew-Recker-as-chief-academic-officer-and-safety-officer-one-member-objects-to-combined-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6233268-740bd12886d903434d6678152eb5815d/orig.mp4?Expires=1776573113&Signature=Cm090hjYadQnbr0-WW5PX-RjLcHQxuCC1Rg~0pBg3hH4930CZiwlbXelV~Biqu2-4dCYdP4NFZFR4XLFzVdvRudBiGxkOpy4gBOf~UB7K2UrtTlmHyzQ57VwLLS9L7ZW3xAsGHkpgSew3FOqdYRYjlCcy01BWCfx064ouOyoNTXOgL5aRZvb~hCwuTp3c6HIUn5pHwayq~7GVJkl0Gm1iYsxELYLIFPoF9NvAsf8gLNKdeQ5USZqDu8bpaCTpoT1oxEDVNiI0c3oSxu-uRXX57wVviQVquh6kPs8ZMSOWN~M4eoPbAXm0IeVkUIuA~0qkSdiuw3U5iEXqs0bLol4XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worcester County Board of Education on Tuesday approved the personnel exhibit for May, which included the appointment of Dr. Matthew Recker to an executive role as Chief Academic Officer and Safety Officer.

Superintendent Robert Taylor introduced Dr. Recker, praised his leadership record and noted Recker’s experience in multiple schools. Dr. Recker was in the meeting with family members present. Taylor described Recker as a long‑time district leader who had been assigned to several schools to address operational needs.

Board member John Schneck moved approval of the personnel exhibit; Ms. McComas seconded. The exhibit passed in open session. After the vote, board member Michael Gordy stated he voted against the personnel exhibit—not because of any individual appointment but because, he said, law enforcement had requested separating the chief-safety-officer role from the assistant-superintendent/chief-academic role and he did not believe that separation had been fully explored during the hiring process. Gordy said he could not support combining the safety role with an instructional executive role and urged the board to consider the law-enforcement feedback.

Superintendent Taylor acknowledged Gordy’s concern, welcomed Dr. Recker to the executive team and asked the board to support the appointment; the motion had carried and the personnel exhibit stands approved.

The personnel exhibit also listed multiple hires, retirements and separations across the district (teachers, secretaries, therapists, custodial and maintenance staff) presented for the board’s approval as part of the routine personnel exhibit.","The board approved a personnel exhibit that included the promotion of Matthew Recker to an executive role described as Chief Academic Officer and Safety Officer; one board member stated he would vote against the exhibit because local law enforcement previously requested the chief safety function be separate from an academic post.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts new telehealth and emergency rescue-medication policies; residency policy updated with review on suspension language

Board approves Buckingham Elementary schematic design; $71 million project to proceed to county and state review

Pocomoke Middle pilots 'Warrior Learning Report' to tailor instruction for students with disabilities

Worcester Technical students win state honors; 30 to compete at SkillsUSA national competition

Board approves personnel exhibit including Dr. Matthew Recker as chief academic officer and safety officer; one member objects to combined role