[{"_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":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6590392,"mediaKeyId","5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1","parentId",5565106,"title","Votes at a glance: Board approves minutes, personnel, vision and governance metrics; earlier motion to support juvenile justice bill fails","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",14000000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1&start=14000&end=14000","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1/thumbnail_14000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6590392/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-approves-minutes-personnel-vision-and-governance-metrics-earlier-motion-to-support-juvenile-justice-bill-fails","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590392-64a0a8f510c4bb7448836fd965c1f523/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450635&Signature=FLigVpAyfWgYbDNuG60wVpGOTr5ANsZAfS3aI8cgjgCdoZtfX8htbs6Duq-bcpv2LfLFZhwXifdJAGVpUxa8--2C5hTnc9FUt0J2PTQkoURjtVfwvdeJkXb20dD6GP4GD1mDLsb0RAjvPfrntWHIok~0JOsBXuevkfKCIBZSrMJ8YPyDzKItBo8~1IGYZMmzgt-4MI1QQIk7obXyoxxNey4A2fIwjWOBUEDqgBbPmVrHrPFZg1vGTcagP0L8f1s1pvXDl9OsxWJav4ywoAOSDEiZec~7f5Nl~u2QNKQ~2VDxhD2E-JfVDH8B02p6SEKgmmjHNvUYMgXYvMlsNc15Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charles County Public Schools","date","2025-08-12T23:12:49Z","article","The Board of Education of Charles County recorded several routine and substantive votes at its Aug. 12 meeting. Most items carried unanimously; one proposed delegation request on juvenile court mediation failed to reach the statutory threshold for a board legislative position.

Summary of actions recorded at the meeting
- Approve meeting minutes (June 10 regular meeting): motion passed, unanimous.
- Approve retreat minutes (June 23): motion passed, unanimous.
- Approve June 23 work session minutes: motion passed, unanimous.
- Personnel actions (routine hires, promotions and appointments reflected in the personnel report): motion passed, unanimous.
- Appointment introduction: Dr. Linda J. Iverson was introduced as the district’s newly hired executive leader (personnel appointment processed through human resources and included in the personnel report). No board roll call required for that introduction; personnel follow standard HR procedures.
- Resolution — National Girls and Women in Sports Day: board approved the resolution subject to minor grammatical corrections, unanimous.
- Recurring resolutions (monthly/yearly observances list): approved, unanimous.
- Board metrics and revised governance goals: board adopted the metrics and targets developed at the June retreat, unanimous.
- Revised vision statement: board adopted the proposed revised vision statement, unanimous.

Failed motion earlier in the meeting
- Support for Senate Bill 75 (juvenile court parental mediation requirement): the board discussed and voted informally on whether to ask county commissioners to request the delegation introduce or sponsor a bill. The vote that evening produced a majority in favor but did not meet the procedural requirement of six votes (the school code requires a supermajority for this type of legislative board position), so the board did not take the formal legislative position.

Notes on procedure and outcomes
- Where a specific roll‑call tally was not read into the record, the clerk recorded unanimous passage of the routine agenda items. Where items required further staff follow‑up (for example, to post corrected resolutions or to publish board metrics online), the board directed staff to take those steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - August 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 12 meeting the board approved meeting minutes, personnel actions, a resolutions packet and adopted a revised vision and board metrics. An earlier attempt to back Senate Bill 75 — a juvenile‑justice mediation bill — did not pass when it failed to reach the six‑vote threshold required for the board to take legislative position.","taxTitle","Charles County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14205,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590397,"Superintendent Navarro opens school year with updates on Waldorf fire, staffing and buses",83,116000,199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1&start=116&end=199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6590397/Maryland/Superintendent-Navarro-opens-school-year-with-updates-on-Waldorf-fire-staffing-and-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590397-f077c2b86db9868a183d336b4e5c1497/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450635&Signature=Stqutsme9BFhvs2AFTCH0gUrKaEXdR-q6gPRICHNfx4Si-QYTjz4pJt4Lt8P7zpu6kN39shOQZNlUPdJ97-22l0bPyslFKINjc6gWMbyRbZxCcCWSwFcItBmgUQEiKjNx6g1dyfm~lRiEKOnBGLSHbk0zyvBiDzwCwcsxuzV3kfC0KmrtBW56gUFR6t4cWE38ZW5xFPQe~nywKH7tOIT9odaFWdH68NAMxG~vAsMS39X1Cz4TgY4WGG2lw30yYuG6B2z4S-WtwdSWTWDNqzv5bQp4BZcDX~7aSUYSm9EFmWxQBTm~QEU8IN7Run6Iq69izOxsQTkYrP2~sgPL9UQ1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Navarro opened the Aug. 12 board meeting with a statement about a recent house fire in the Constitution Hills area of Waldorf and provided a broad back‑to‑school update for the 2025–26 year.

Tragic local fire
Navarro recognized the community impact of the weekend fire and asked for a moment of silence. She said district staff were coordinating with lead investigative agencies and offering additional counseling and school supports to affected families and staff. Navarro said the identities of those who died had not been publicly released and urged privacy for the family while support continues.

Back‑to‑school details
Navarro reported the district is preparing to start the new school year on Monday, Aug. 25. She said more than 2,100 teachers returned to schools for pre‑service and orientation and the district expects more than 28,000 students this fall. She thanked nutrition services and maintenance staff for summer meal programs and facility updates.

Logistics and family reminders
- Transport and tracking: The district will continue to use the Where’s the Bus app for real‑time bus tracking; bus information and student schedules were to be loaded to ParentVUE and School Locator before students return.
- Health: Navarro reminded families that required school vaccines must be up‑to‑date and that the Charles County Health Department would hold free clinics; she also urged families to complete the free‑and‑reduced meals application so potential eligibility can be determined.

Support and staffing
Navarro said the district held an orientation for more than 2,100 teachers and welcomed the new hires; she noted continued hiring successes while thanking HR, facilities and food services staff for summer operations.

Board members and staff thanked Navarro and asked for continued public messaging on bus routes and ParentVUE schedules as the start date approaches.","Superintendent Navarro acknowledged a recent tragic house fire in Waldorf that affected students, outlined counseling supports and detailed back‑to‑school logistics including teacher count, student enrollment projection, bus app and immunization clinics.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590401,"Board of Education adopts revised vision, sets five governance goals after June retreat",1705,3513000,5218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1&start=3513&end=5218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1/thumbnail_3513000.jpg","/articles/6590401/Maryland/Board-of-Education-adopts-revised-vision-sets-five-governance-goals-after-June-retreat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590401-0892b1233aa36854df63cc30392374e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450635&Signature=fzU0J~itrjXSY4qfCv7S-UTJpLbOMrhf4ht2NGpyoDLlhPTYM-ZV6Mr0YFacovkJwYRaARzcKqVOuDS0qT4ItfYrR2WHkkqy1hIN3xDAd3MY5VfWsl6HtPqVwGIvPkcfUXf0FWXup0KUEub7ucsRPJksY-ePE7Ho203i0co-mBA0ahPQiRECl5KKZgvzkI8qXOQ0YsJ3h3pzE8ptcO0yg~CcL2PYrbkkVBFwoROd~kaw4KNWhww41QDo8V4SDaMG5a~~RI6FFpc7-nrwvw1EicWPIgEeU7AUeCYePVmZVJRArwN8d~vq95mYov3iqENCZXHVut47P0pInXd19vYmWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education of Charles County adopted a revised district vision and a five‑point governance agenda at the Aug. 12 meeting, following work at a June retreat that included a board self‑assessment exercise.

Revised vision
The board approved a revised vision statement that board leaders described as tighter and more student‑centered: “To foster an inclusive, safe, equitable, and rigorous global learning environment where every student and staff member is empowered to thrive.” Staff will publish the revised language across district materials if the board’s action stands.

Board goals adopted
During the June 23 retreat the board identified five priorities for the 2025–26 year; the board voted to formalize those goals Thursday:
1) Improve board governance — increase the percentage of governance metrics the board rates “fully achieved” from an average of roughly 35% toward 75%.
2) Evaluate policy impact on student outcomes — require staff to present at least one policy each year with an implementation analysis showing student‑level effects.
3) Ensure coherence — align superintendent performance indicators, the district strategic plan and board goals so metrics and focus are consistent.
4) Strengthen fiscal oversight — maintain transparent financial reporting and use subcommittees to improve public access to audits and budget documents.
5) Prioritize student learning data during board meetings — aim for an average of at least 50% of report‑section time to focus on student outcomes across the year.

Why it matters
Board members framed the work as an attempt to make governance more transparent and focused on measurable impact for students. Dr. Navarro told the board staff will publish the related performance indicators and report at least twice this year on progress toward the board’s five goals.

Background and next steps
Board members spent a full retreat on June 23 using a modified self‑evaluation tool recommended by the National School Boards Association to find areas for improvement. The board held the goals up as a “true north” for the year and asked staff to make public how the new vision and board metrics cohere with the district strategic plan.

A copy of the updated vision and the board’s implementation steps will be posted on the district website and tracked over the year, staff said.","After a June retreat, the Charles County school board approved a revised district vision and five board goals for 2025–26 focused on governance, student outcomes, coherence of indicators, budget oversight and prioritizing student data in meetings.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590405,"Charles County outlines 29‑project capital improvement plan; La Plata HS renovation and kindergarten additions lead list",550,7303000,7853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1&start=7303&end=7853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1/thumbnail_7303000.jpg","/articles/6590405/Maryland/Charles-County-outlines-29project-capital-improvement-plan-La-Plata-HS-renovation-and-kindergarten-additions-lead-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590405-1b51812694fd84584beffe49f8c8e1c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450635&Signature=DrxbWedzi371HRaQare9j~USuOh~cIeF~eNvMowbQeXAPJ5hUcCzMl21cGvsTcFht4k3CfPj4RpGiHxG-YxawPAnVPMU-p6ZZIg263IreXXRcoEiXCU~jD4asumprJANzGMQhNuajJ8Whs6c9MhK5Mr~ar5pd0b-zfTw-dnnZdvfxdpDs1RcEcJX8CfNrXe3msBiZfQnWiDh8DzWYNcoSx3IRVriKaL9RZvBpoS4753IltFXJfOwbZulsK13vwdrzHk2W3hIe~-qxYLfXD0d-X5OG~ZxRRE-C5-WdYuoPxRL7QddFAjEaTEgTIvS1Me72SYTBa8tuiCGQzUQw0r8CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charles County Public Schools submitted a 10‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) to the Interagency Committee on School Construction and outlined 29 projects over five years at the Board of Education meeting on Aug. 12.

The district emphasized two projects it hopes the state will fund in the near term: a renovation and capacity addition for La Plata High School and a kindergarten (and pre‑K) addition for Thomas Higdon Elementary School. The La Plata project is in design and would both modernize the 1970s‑era campus and add seats; the district said it hopes to add “somewhere between 300 to 400 additional seats.”

Why it matters: Charles County is experiencing enrollment growth in parts of the district and continues to use relocatable classrooms for immediate capacity needs while seeking state and county construction funding for longer‑term solutions.

Key projects and status
- La Plata High School — renovation and addition, design underway; planned capacity increase ~300–400 seats.
- Thomas Higdon Elementary — kindergarten/pre‑K addition requested for construction funding; dialogue also continuing on kindergarten additions at Wade and JC Parks and remaining need at Mitchell Elementary.
- Relocatable modulars — an 8‑unit modular classroom complex was assembled at Saint Charles High School to address immediate overcrowding; water and electrical connections remain to be completed and the site requires fire protection (sprinklers) per code.
- Other prioritized infrastructure work: chillers, boilers, roofs, site infrastructure, and local modernization projects at several campuses.

Funding, schedule and state process
Heim said the CIP submission is due to the IAC on Oct. 6, 2025. State construction factors the district noted include the IAC’s published cost figures ($431 per square foot for renovation/addition, $513 per square foot for new construction with site development), and the statutory cost‑share formula: the state’s share for brick‑and‑mortar construction rose to 66% (county share 34%) for the upcoming two‑year cycle.

Heim said the state’s usual allocation process gives a 75% projected allocation in November, a 90% projection in February and final allocations in May. For fiscal planning the district expects roughly $8.9 million as a ten‑year average CIP allocation but highlighted a likely supplemental enrollment growth fund (EGRC) allocation this year that could add several million dollars to construction budgets; Heim said the district anticipates a substantially larger EGRC allocation this cycle after qualifying due to relocatable classroom counts.

Materials, bids and cost risk
Board members asked about material and labor price risk. Heim said contractors must include projected escalation in fixed bids for multi‑year projects; local maintenance work has seen some price pressure, and certain electrical and lighting components are sourced overseas and thus remain sensitive to tariff and international supply issues.

Sites and growth planning
Heim said a proposed site for the next middle school under the docket agreement is across from Regency Field on Piney Church Road in the Saint Charles area; he cautioned the siting and timing depend on enrollment trends and state approvals. The district reiterated it tracks redistricting and may need boundary adjustments to balance schools as capacity projects are planned and completed.

Next steps
The board and staff will continue review of the CIP report, prepare required educational facility master plan and comprehensive maintenance plan for state submission, and monitor IAC allocations in the months ahead. Heim said detailed project descriptions and school histories are included in the full board packet.","Chief of operations Mike Heim presented a five‑year CIP to the board, highlighting a proposed La Plata High School renovation and addition (300–400 seats), three kindergarten additions and relocatable classrooms for immediate capacity needs. State cost‑share and EGRC funds were discussed as critical to the plan.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6590409,"Charles County Public Schools releases AI guidance for staff, students and families",1930,860000,2790000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1&start=860&end=2790","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5565106-f55c2af33ef0a64108cae5e04ea9a5d1/thumbnail_860000.jpg","/articles/6590409/Maryland/Charles-County-Public-Schools-releases-AI-guidance-for-staff-students-and-families","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6590409-8be097283bc63cb21e117e7528681d5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770450635&Signature=UjeL1Voo9QxNpWVdIDnKmFrZFjzcqxX7evYU6m3p1FdFK-kbiT5MYO7H~~nWWmZb45n9mdxCXOWa0vSakLmtbSB2NtZKxjjHgl0OIk2DuV3j-nisgfZRJmXFhREmB~aVBw-5U5Hnwga7a4fyjTehKgmnKpWe70bns2JZwjBlQqhm41hr6wgkGDCeiTUeqMZCf6MxOVTwbwJoBl~zfRrOM8TeVuI2wUGlpFlw8hiV~KNg0bS400irPsFaf-yhxs44cg3ZKnnccpPhaULRTXWH1F7uUOHNPnJDmqcezxU2-jhtZvhRacopfZKKybKnOTs1Zk8oCLytvfSIllRtm6nRJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charles County Public Schools officials presented a districtwide guidance document for artificial intelligence at the school board meeting on Aug. 12, outlining permitted and prohibited uses, training plans for staff and staged classroom adoption by grade level.

The guidance — described by system leaders as a living document rather than a board policy — prohibits placing personally identifiable information into third‑party generative AI tools, requires human review of AI‑generated work and disallows automated decisions that replace staff judgment, speakers said.

Why it matters: The guidance aims to let teachers use AI’s productivity benefits while protecting student privacy and academic integrity. District leaders said the rules are designed to reduce misuse, limit false positives from AI detectors, and preserve teachers’ authority over grading and final judgments.

Charmaine Thompson, chief of instructional technology, opened the presentation with a short primer: “AI is teaching technology how to think and respond like human,” she said, adding district work has focused on balancing the technology’s benefits and risks. Thompson said the board charged staff to research best practices and produce guidance the district could update quickly as tools change.

Laura Bennett, executive director of IT strategy, told the board the guidance draws on federal privacy laws and widely used education toolkits, and sets a strict rule on data protection: “No use of PII is supposed to be put into any sort of AI that is not controlled by us,” Bennett said. She explained the rule applies to public-facing services such as commercial chatbots unless an approved vendor holds a privacy agreement covering student data.

Major provisions
- Privacy: No student names, health data or internal documents may be entered into uncontrolled third‑party AI services. Approved instructional tools that incorporate AI and maintain district privacy agreements are treated differently.
- Human authority: AI may make suggestions but not final decisions in subjective areas such as grading; teachers must give final grades and verify feedback.
- Academic integrity: AI can be used for brainstorming, summarizing and helping with revision, but not as a substitute for submitting one’s own original work; teachers should use investigations and conversations before levying disciplinary sanctions for suspected misuse.
- Age and grade appropriateness: Elementary classrooms will emphasize foundational skills and critical evaluation of information; more direct AI instruction and supplemental tools will be introduced in upper elementary and secondary grades.

District leaders also listed practical classroom uses: differentiation for multilingual learners, creation of study aids, lesson plan supports for teachers, and administrative workflows to reduce paperwork. At the same time the presentation warned about hallucinations, bias in model outputs, and current limitations of AI detectors that can inaccurately flag high‑quality or multilingual student writing.

Implementation and training
Kevin Lowndes, chief of teaching and learning, said instructional specialists will work with teachers during preservice to translate the high‑level guidance into subject‑specific practices. “All of our instructional specialists will be talking to the teachers during preservice week about the new guidance,” Lowndes said.

Staff said the district is not issuing a policy now because tools and state guidance are still evolving; MSDE has formed a task group and a statewide bill (SB0906) did not pass this session. Instead, the district will publish the guidance, finalize grade‑level literacy benchmarks and expand training for teachers, staff, students and families.

Board and community reaction
A student board member said she sees students using AI to shortcut homework and asked how the district will encourage authentic learning. Thompson and Lowndes said the emphasis will be on classroom‑based assessments, conversations that surface student thinking, and making AI a teachable moment rather than immediately punitive.

Educator and union representatives told the board they welcome tools that reduce administrative burdens for teachers but urged care to avoid adding time to a teacher’s workday. Board members discussed whether to pursue a policy or keep the flexible guidance model; presenters recommended guidance because it can be updated quickly as technology changes.

Next steps
District staff said they will finalize the guidance, publish resources for families and run additional professional learning sessions this fall. The district intends to formally vet any AI vendors it approves for classroom use and to keep human review and data privacy as central requirements.","School officials presented a new guidance document this week that limits student data in third‑party generative AI tools, requires human review of AI outputs and sets grade‑level expectations for classroom use. The board was told guidance — not policy — will be finalized alongside teacher training and MSDE updates.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Board approves minutes, personnel, vision and governance metrics; earlier motion to support juvenile justice bill fails

Superintendent Navarro opens school year with updates on Waldorf fire, staffing and buses

Board of Education adopts revised vision, sets five governance goals after June retreat

Charles County outlines 29‑project capital improvement plan; La Plata HS renovation and kindergarten additions lead list

Charles County Public Schools releases AI guidance for staff, students and families