[{"_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",6202247,"mediaKeyId","3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef","parentId",3787614,"title","Board ratifies labor agreements; teacher contracts set for modest FY26 increase and school calendar gains PD days","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",7827000,"endMs",7993000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef&start=7827&end=7993","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef/thumbnail_7827000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6202247/Maryland/Board-ratifies-labor-agreements-teacher-contracts-set-for-modest-FY26-increase-and-school-calendar-gains-PD-days","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202247-32a90c46ad2c2b6519632c5ebe3a504f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770678683&Signature=W~Rh-Td29Ni-4rz2FORWSBpzCu4vYDAwoIZ0CFNaaQ75i7xn1VPJ3E13qgw8fC7ny2o4ckrKkSigmfVhPV25c3i7DFCXGH2f0MODWFU9-8aroEvz4dtpoJDJ13UIGta-BcADO~x65V7ZgAXOl6UboalmmpuQP~m0ZZCovJbr~V4Y2nnKh0t0iUG5lBPiSSzIEKJUEdkKUZtXf36bo3yi5d~ZaVXSTPcAq-rEmcxzB3GsFLtyQTHekzbPAqelrlAkLs1x30S3f37B2AxicqCezpU~Hp0TJ3aHR2ufxmY~6pFK8KEKnrpTL7hQwfWS0BGNjuw1~expWDzc3N88efx5BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-13T00:47:04.913Z","article","The Carroll County Board of Education ratified multiple labor agreements on Wednesday, approved appointments and personnel actions, and adopted a revised 2025–26 school calendar that includes additional early-dismissal days for professional learning.

Agreements: The board ratified the tentative agreements with the Carroll County Education Association (CCEA) and with the administrators’ unit (APSASCO). Superintendent Dr. McCabe told the board that ratified agreements for teachers and administrative staff amount to a 1% salary increase in FY26. The superintendent noted the district was able earlier to honor a previously negotiated third-year increase for some employee groups after supplemental county funding but said funding for the new agreements is constrained: \"Overall, it is not ideal to only be able to offer such a small increase,\" McCabe said, and staff thanked employee groups for ratifying under those conditions.

Why it matters: Salaries shape recruitment and retention; the superintendent and board members said they hope to rebuild momentum on multi‑year salary plans in coming budget cycles. Board member Dr. Dorsey and others urged continuing efforts to avoid cycles of alternating strong and weak pay years.

School calendar: As part of the agreements’ implementation, the board approved a revised 2025–26 school calendar that adds eight early‑dismissal days to provide teacher planning and system professional learning time. The board said the days aim to give educators more structured time for professional development and collaboration.

Other personnel actions: The board approved routine personnel transactions, including several assistant principal appointments and new hires listed in the monthly report.

Next steps: District leadership said it will continue working with the county to seek resources needed to support pay and staffing goals. Staff will publish the revised calendar to families and incorporate the new early‑dismissal days into school schedules.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCPS Board of Education Meeting June 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board ratified negotiated agreements with employee groups and adopted a revised 2025–26 calendar that adds eight early‑dismissal days for professional learning; the ratified teacher and administrator agreement provides a 1% salary increase for FY26, district staff said.","taxTitle","Carroll County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14200,"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},6202253,"Board hears pillar‑4 security update: tabletop drills completed; FCI used to guide capital priorities",368,2498000,2866000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef&start=2498&end=2866","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef/thumbnail_2498000.jpg","/articles/6202253/Maryland/Board-hears-pillar4-security-update-tabletop-drills-completed-FCI-used-to-guide-capital-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202253-9751b21d0cd9d1aae131c4730326fe11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770678683&Signature=kg3h4~oMxgsjfHBa2e9mvAaWkP48O0oxlN50VPOKeVIvNSRm9pj0wawo-VqsQfzhUJstZLz4vNa2titMdkOmij1LT5zDHH3tKrJIt3BQLF0xtLfPBswe2E~edUNM1UxKKBBoRH0hxEQT6hYnmMK0w7NLyeSdA-G~Ts3c1gmJZ0BZgIhiDM9FeeDoj2rcLLeNi478sNT~UXZtUBft65JEgdFSqtLoSAO45YgQqehh4l~zZArKxVaeOzafkb-5tOdkLluweHu89-DpdTbBwG8QsopjMn6TpmB~NZRXOuae--ziuNXlQgDO5m8l7zstJJYIoDvjN-aAOhylYRKucd6oag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County Public Schools staff told the board that all schools completed at least one tabletop security exercise this school year and described how the district uses drills and a Facilities Condition Index to inform safety and capital planning.

Security exercises: Mr. Curtis Pierce and Mr. Brian Elliott, who staff the school security office, said the district encouraged schools to run tabletop or functional exercises and that the Maryland Center for School Safety recently coordinated statewide exercises. Examples Pierce described included a trespass scenario, an off-site reunification drill using different campus sites, and an after‑school event with multiple injuries requiring EMS and law enforcement. \"One of the examples was a trespass. Someone got into the building, they weren't supposed to be in the building. What's our protocol? How would we handle it?\" Pierce said. He said exercises include a reflection phase to identify gaps and best practices.

Facilities Condition Index: District staff presented the FCI metric used in the Facilities Master Plan. The index combines a building’s physical condition and how well its design supports educational programs. Staff noted that recent modernizations — for example, previous investments in an East Middle School and a Career and Tech building — improved the index, while long gaps between modernizations tend to raise it. The superintendent emphasized that the FCI is a planning and benchmarking tool used to prioritize projects in the capital-improvement program.

Why it matters: Security exercises prepare school teams for likely and uncommon scenarios and produce after-action observations used to refine training and resources. The FCI guides decision-making about which buildings should be recommended for modernization in the capital plan.

Next steps: Staff said schools are encouraged to complete additional exercises and the Security Advisory Council maintains a list of exercise options. Facilities staff will continue to use the FCI as a benchmark for CIP recommendations.

","District staff reported that all schools completed at least one tabletop security exercise this year, described example scenarios used in drills, and explained how the Facilities Condition Index (FCI) tracks building condition and helps prioritize capital projects.",{"_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},6202257,"Blueprint update: career counseling extended by state, new community‑school eligibility, Towson mentor program launched",516,3725000,4241000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef&start=3725&end=4241","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef/thumbnail_3725000.jpg","/articles/6202257/Maryland/Blueprint-update-career-counseling-extended-by-state-new-communityschool-eligibility-Towson-mentor-program-launched","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202257-4e28158f4309bfd13d92e2e14bbfeed2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770678683&Signature=nvq36VpVoJEsQIOlQt8qcEkg9pXY5-qCsS3MqACBpqoG6GOFCBizzJn9PeSmZ5dMmcCG16PR08~rzdsFkvaQLuk0~ULdGwCzYtndWEIwEmHf-EixhTBmPRosuYhbQVuB4vzJB3Y~jOXhU3JB~EQr6q38svLzOdUFMNKNWNm2KsbAwG7EEGCH0PstFn0I7mtShGZsPfXHGVB9gajbZcwZH83hTaoJox9gQ6G4DTdOE16M4OAsjWfp9gIcBC~-XkivXT1pCuT5u9vqUur~7SF3YRCjJgf-w5Xu7mikfYnmLa2pJlec8lJec06Y~lMf00IlC7Zgkb3hoIcBlsvoSRfK9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County Public Schools staff reported progress on several parts of the state-mandated Blueprint initiative, including a state decision to extend a middle-school career-counseling partnership, new community‑school eligibility for one elementary school, and a near-term mentoring pilot supported by Towson University.

Career counseling: Mr. O'Neil told the board that House Bill 504 will extend the local partnership between school systems and local workforce-development boards through fiscal 2028. The partnership funds middle-school career coaches and workforce-development navigators who provide students with early exposure to career pathways, workplace simulations and industry connections. \"The ultimate goal is to sort of start in sixth grade so that students have an opportunity to think about career planning earlier,\" O'Neil said.

Community schools: The district said Taneytown Elementary remains a state-designated community-school site and that Robert Moton Elementary entered the first year of eligibility for the personnel planning grant under the state program. District staff explained that the designation can trigger a two-tier state grant process: a personnel grant to hire a community‑school coordinator and conduct a needs assessment, and, in later years, a per‑pupil implementation grant tied to the needs identified in that assessment.

Staff also told the board that certain nontraditional county programs — notably Gateway and Crossroads, which serve students countywide — pose administrative complexity when they become eligible. \"Gateway and Crossroads are… regionalized or centralized programs that serve students throughout Carroll County,\" Mr. O'Neil said, noting the student population at such sites can change rapidly and that eligibility and grant timelines therefore require careful handling.

Mentoring for induction: As part of the district’s career-ladder work and efforts to strengthen induction for newer teachers, O'Neil said Carroll County has partnered with Dr. Grasmick and Towson University to create a near-term mentor program. Towson has posted mentor positions that would employ mentors through the university to support early-career teachers in Carroll County. \"Towson University has just posted that mentor position for the next school year,\" O'Neil said; he encouraged retirees and experienced educators to consider applying.

Why it matters: Career counseling and community-school grants bring state resources and can change staffing and services in schools. The mentorship pilot offers a possible near-term way to increase supports for early-career teachers while the district finalizes longer-term career-ladder plans required by Blueprint.

Next steps: Staff will complete Robert Moton’s needs assessment and communicate community-school plans to families as priorities are refined. The district also plans to coordinate with Towson on mentor recruitment and to continue reporting Blueprint progress to the board.

","District staff told the board that state law extended a middle-school career-counseling partnership through FY28, Robert Moton Elementary entered eligibility for community‑school grants, and Towson University posted a mentor position to support teacher induction as part of the district’s career‑ladder work.",{"_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},6202263,"Board approves 2025–2034 education facility master plan; state funding for two additions could be affected",1666,6235000,7901000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef&start=6235&end=7901","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef/thumbnail_6235000.jpg","/articles/6202263/Maryland/Board-approves-20252034-education-facility-master-plan-state-funding-for-two-additions-could-be-affected","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202263-81ceef3b3dfcfee4c1f1a6a1846b3a58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770678683&Signature=ZuejrFzzk1H1LrFnk9iN~JMlqq9HHLttHgfKhgz1FS5gvHcMPea2LQh3xwGQhvOULamoo7sZaDZlbxc~nsGT5tOUisNhur9khWveM~3pd5CCcgsbXJHqW3SCa-6m92lpWTl9VmXT1qzctxyGEqNvsLf8omHg1OIR24fPNSfMiPimriDFEZr5d-JIF8ShEaAvjj--WkBrcOr7VeKZNQQwR3RwF-76u66in2FsMuK92fnEOdUIq2um9ZE4xLd-jWkTl5xX7iUHZl6ew5YyD7FWwQdUYkRUkLBZVTKs~MPoWFsXbvAAnjuX2fSSflsd7496PNcDeT9n-TBaLD51ZdEWBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carroll County Board of Education approved its 2025–2034 Education Facility Master Plan on Wednesday, a required annual document the district uses to prioritize capital-improvement projects and to request state support for school modernizations.

The plan update includes new enrollment projections showing less growth than earlier estimates, a change district staff said could affect whether the state awards funding for planned additions at Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle School. \"The new enrollment projections expect less enrollment growth than the previous 2 sets of projections,\" Superintendent Dr. McCabe said during the board discussion.

Why it matters: The state evaluates projected enrollment and local capacity when deciding whether to provide construction funding; lower enrollment forecasts can reduce the chance that projects will qualify for state grants. Lisa Maisano of the Carroll Education Coalition told the board that modernizing aging buildings remains a county priority and warned that delaying capital work risks reaching a crisis point. \"We need prudent planning to properly maintain and modernize our school buildings, so we don't keep falling farther behind,\" Maisano said.

The plan describes methodology changes driving the revised projections. Staff said they applied two-year average cohort-succession ratios rather than a four- or five-year average because of \"record low permits in FY24 and '25 and a significant drop in population gains from net migration\"; those choices reduced short-term growth forecasts in the master plan. The superintendent noted that staffing changes required under the state Blueprint compliance process add complexity: even if enrollment remains the same, staffing adjustments can change school capacity and class-size calculations.

The board heard a brief defense of the district's ongoing facilities work. Board President Tyra Battaglia and board members pointed to the Facilities Condition Index (FCI) and other facility-assessment tools the district uses to prioritize maintenance and capital projects. Board member Mr. Whisler urged residents to review section 6 of the EFMP to understand how staff prioritize work: \"Section 6, especially page 7 ... gives you a good idea of at least where the staff is keying their interest on what schools we should modernize and fix before others,\" he said.

Action and next steps: The board voted to adopt the EFMP and staff will submit it as required to the state agency. Board members emphasized that the plan is a multi-year prioritization tool and that actual work depends on funding from the county and the state. Dr. McCabe said the district will continue coordinating with the state authority and the county as the capital request is prepared for the October CIP submittal.

Community reaction and context: During public participation, the Carroll Education Coalition and other speakers urged the board and county to accelerate modernization schedules and to identify local revenue if state funding is not available. The coalition cited a county planning staff estimate that, with a notional school life of 80 years, the county would need to address roughly one school every other year to maintain the inventory.

The plan was adopted unanimously. The board will return to the EFMP if further changes are needed once the state review or county budget decisions are complete.

","The Carroll County Board of Education approved its 2025–2034 Education Facility Master Plan after board discussion about new enrollment projections that may reduce the chance of state funding for planned additions at Freedom Elementary and Sykesville Middle School. Community advocates urged continued emphasis on modernization and maintenance.",{"_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},6202243,"Board approves instructional materials list after debate over Octavia Butler’s \"Bloodchild\"",127,8030000,8157000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef&start=8030&end=8157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3787614-c9634fe6fd98be8c14af1778691e6fef/thumbnail_8030000.jpg","/articles/6202243/Maryland/Board-approves-instructional-materials-list-after-debate-over-Octavia-Butlers-Bloodchild","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6202243-77f927ee19b818db223f4f11c518b76f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770678683&Signature=aVKdd-4c20dGYzLLEuVY9Um7SLSAHlqAYQzDgB4S~qWvbGpbUz9RHMWvbPWnkzGwLoY2zejTK2WIVT2CzHHROfJbo~yAMBtu9v-0uePNf~Ot2gswQeDcux50R6dHy~JUKHwE4-eoxHmy6Dyk4iOyJDc2D5DhecsnbE-XnjGWkxAzgqHzWgfAIR9~oRkzRyd6j0nmm614djm9d7vN-5xYmTOy1dZC9Vcu-6IJZPElGwgAu3IrbiU1OUqPwgfZrHlf-caL61wtpRHDJPOoFi3LlZhMtAwoUJlROQEdDWLyCFMAPDWb1FGyxLtg56cZpc5Om4IvokrBTxQYq7WPXL6Vow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Carroll County Board of Education approved a slate of instructional materials and textbooks on Wednesday after curriculum review and public availability earlier this spring. Board members discussed one title in particular — Octavia Butler’s Bloodchild and Other Stories — which prompted discussion about mature themes and classroom use.

Materials review process: Dr. McCabe said the materials had gone through the curriculum council and a month-long public review period in May. The curriculum council and staff recommended the materials for board approval following the established review process.

Debate on Bloodchild: Board member Mr. Wessler raised concerns about Bloodchild, describing it as \"really strange\" and noting its subject matter and imagery, and said the publisher suggested parental permission. Curriculum staff and a board member who reviewed the text said Bloodchild is a short-story collection with literary value and that teachers would typically use selected stories or excerpts aligned to learning goals rather than assigning the whole collection. Board member Dr. Malveaux said the author's notes provide classroom context and the book is intended for 10th-grade literature study.

Outcome: The board voted to approve the instructional materials list. A subset of items marked by the curriculum council with triple asterisks was not recommended for adoption at this time. Dr. McCabe and staff said they plan to restore some prior council practices — such as brief presentations from teachers about core texts at curriculum council meetings — for future adoption cycles to help board members assess controversial or challenging titles.

Why it matters: Textbook and instructional‑material choices affect classroom instruction, parental expectations and supplemental-supply needs. Board members asked staff to reinstate a practice of short presenter summaries for core texts to aid review and community understanding.

","The board approved a package of textbooks and instructional materials after discussion about titles recommended for high‑school classes; board members debated the inclusion of Octavia Butler’s Bloodchild for 10th grade and a handful of titles were not recommended.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board ratifies labor agreements; teacher contracts set for modest FY26 increase and school calendar gains PD days

Board hears pillar‑4 security update: tabletop drills completed; FCI used to guide capital priorities

Blueprint update: career counseling extended by state, new community‑school eligibility, Towson mentor program launched

Board approves 2025–2034 education facility master plan; state funding for two additions could be affected

Board approves instructional materials list after debate over Octavia Butler’s "Bloodchild"