[{"_1":2,"_115":-5,"_116":-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",[32,75,85,95,105],{"_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",6560868,"mediaKeyId","3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f","parentId",3306161,"title","Votes at a glance: Charles County Board approves minutes, personnel and FY2025 budget transfers on May 13","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",15091000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f&start=15091&end=15091","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f/thumbnail_15091000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6560868/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Charles-County-Board-approves-minutes-personnel-and-FY2025-budget-transfers-on-May-13","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560868-fb77c78684a1447c2ad719ad85346be1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191046&Signature=TxTqGrDQkjIykIACOYczIGIFKfHdoL6qjzT5gtxpznb8vXg3eXISQ92Itb0FgK~3N7XgeExe3pOBg0bTCoPIDpYxDxEZZbfuaCmXszzRJCZuZux9t5M3P6hJuQ21i6419EF9UkIk4DRdhYcH6JBwIS7Jel9QM-xX0H3ZXuxl5RZrPZiPlJJvAp6lwGdcPp3Mqu1XRGg97m4-sa~jky0dF~U64uLidl8TyrwKhxlhJbSZv2KUiPEKiL4ZZ1Yc0e2cMpK0G4DLhFBZz5jXGINjOUu3YBCmAeQ2krVe4lJGeSK3VY1JDXY6qhYRQbpnAhf~0T2eNjw7I6uuIexQTrqOEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charles County Public Schools","date","2025-05-14T20:04:59Z","article","At its May 13, 2025 meeting the Charles County Board of Education recorded and approved the following formal actions.

Votes approved (summary)
- Approval of the Regular Meeting minutes (April 2025). Outcome: approved by voice vote. Moved by: Jamila Smith. Seconded by: Brenda Thomas. Tally: unanimous as recorded.
- Approval of Board Work Session minutes (April 28, 2025). Outcome: approved by voice vote. Moved by: Jamila Smith. Seconded by: Brenda Thomas. Tally: unanimous as recorded.
- Personnel approvals (May 13, 2025). Outcome: approved by voice vote. Moved by: Brenda Thomas. Seconded by: Tamisha Thomas. Tally: unanimous as recorded.
- Intercategory budget transfer (FY2025). Outcome: approved by voice vote (move funds across categories to cover shortfalls). Moved by: Vice Chair Nicole Kramer. Seconded by: (recorded in meeting as Vice Chair Kramer motion). Tally: unanimous.
- FY2025 budget increase via fund balance ($3,000,000). Outcome: approved by voice vote. Moved by: Brenda Thomas. Seconded by: Nicole Kramer. Tally: unanimous.

Notes on process and availability of records
- The board conducted those votes during the business portion of the May 13 meeting and approved all items by voice vote as recorded on the meeting transcript. Detailed supporting documents (line‑item intercategory transfer, personnel lists and the budget transfer exhibit) were presented by the Office of Finance and are maintained in the district financial record for FY2025.

Where to find more information
- Full vote text, formal motions and the approved personnel roster are available in the official board packet and minutes; finance exhibits provide the line‑by‑line transfers.

Ending
The board did not take further formal action at the May 13 meeting beyond routine approvals and the budget transactions noted above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Education approved meeting minutes, personnel changes, a $12 million intercategory budget transfer and a $3 million fund balance increase at its May 13, 2025 meeting. All motions passed by voice vote as recorded in the meeting minutes.","taxTitle","Charles County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14205,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":42,"_43":78,"_45":78,"_46":79,"_48":80,"_50":81,"_52":82,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560874,"ATU members press Charles County board about bus contracting, say bargaining stalled and some contractors retaliate",18013000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f&start=18013&end=18013","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f/thumbnail_18013000.jpg","/articles/6560874/Maryland/ATU-members-press-Charles-County-board-about-bus-contracting-say-bargaining-stalled-and-some-contractors-retaliate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560874-efbf69c62668350b96be8611f33ef8cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191045&Signature=nw3f7YLIuai1eLpdoEG4CsD~167Bl0Qtpu6A677Hx1bfMcgPW7WRwnvfQuco-fIoRq6EIjrobnyiALQJuYenL5ZgqQrym9oyru4vCH0j38L5LZQN6-s3MMe55k10cDnbg56IXIK22bL02b841mRGaOijADeb3q~Zir5Jj7x0Sc0xaNCEAfEjfl2MNuSuJNGVP2DjUHgoCBk1EUdCA2MWfxrK1VnlA~Ue7sKPAw9oRUFA74sbKpSpEVWyG-8HrB2amcu8JYKAn1PhH8aJlzfZs0zsmHfA1GHrjpmFOUCvFTAEbMwKoGD~Q8N2qitFbLRmivooXTWPtvSp5ywRLP8oKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives from Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 told the Board of Education during the public‑comment period on May 13 that unionized school bus drivers in Charles County are facing resistance from some private contractors and that bargaining over wages and conditions has stalled.

At the public forum, union organizers described a two‑year organizing campaign and said they have won union representation elections at nine contracted operators serving the county. \"Since April and May of 2022, when we won union elections at 9 school bus contractors in Charles County, our members have fought hard to win fair contracts and fix the broken school bus contracting system,\" Ania Banks, an ATU organizer, said. Banks said only three of the contractors have agreed to bargain with the union and that other companies have either avoided bargaining or faced National Labor Relations Board complaints.

Union claims and district role
Union speakers said contractor pay rates rose elsewhere in Maryland and vendor hourly rates for related services increased, drawing employees away. The union urged the board to use its leverage over contractors and to require contractor conduct that treats employees fairly. \"Contractors can afford to retire at a decent age while our members have worked for the aforementioned contractors for decades and have no real retirement security,\" Banks said.

What board members asked
Board members did not respond with formal policy actions at the meeting; the public‑forum comments were heard as stakeholder testimony. Several board members said the concerns raised — retaliation allegations and protracted bargaining — merited follow‑up from district staff and legal counsel to review the county’s contracting language and potential remedies.

District context
The speakers said a handful of local contractors have been slow to engage with bargaining representatives and that some operators closed rather than accept a recognized bargaining unit. Organizers argued the county’s contracting process can create a “wild west” environment if it does not require transparent labor practices. They urged the board to take stronger steps ensuring contractors treat drivers fairly and to consider contract terms that include standards for employee relations.

Ending
The district did not announce a formal action at the May 13 meeting; district staff said they will follow up with stakeholders and review options for ensuring contractor compliance with county expectations.","Two representatives of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 addressed the board during public forum, saying unionized school bus drivers face employer retaliation and that several contractors have refused to bargain; they urged the county to require better contractor practices.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":42,"_43":88,"_45":88,"_46":89,"_48":90,"_50":91,"_52":92,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560878,"Charles County schools shift $12M inside FY2025 budget and add $3M from fund balance as special‑ed and operations costs rise",8638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f&start=8638&end=8638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f/thumbnail_8638000.jpg","/articles/6560878/Maryland/Charles-County-schools-shift-12M-inside-FY2025-budget-and-add-3M-from-fund-balance-as-specialed-and-operations-costs-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560878-e711dcc84784d4ca54f7e7cc2b659088/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191045&Signature=JSWjCpb6RpC99VDb5ELweZRoI9Kd-493cDVoeQsuhdRjysZITx-ZKjzLCrFYg-URp79u~zpaL4F17Y25mMQs2opsCzT6Dgni4qtF8OjNlM1dPEu1T0GtU-FjqRHs2CVYeT2-PZtSL9PrJo1SEdv2NrM5vuQlw5oMw3U~AW5WDAM3Pbl-~zryzrLwuGolxmrRL1uVu8sBjI0nOFYhJJqkm2-1yOql8uQB34wVNRc2O23~6Eli0LPdsTsydRltITkGjBmh8wgrUxtnsXj3LvKLve-pCobqwPqin00~ticRibUCWmnNjJAfwLdAIGu8RxRxaBXnQwYYI3dDSoATtEgz6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education approved a series of budget moves on May 13 that together reallocate more than $12 million between categories in the current fiscal 2025 Charles County Public Schools budget and increase the overall 2025 budget by $3 million from fund balance.

What the board approved
- A motion passed to transfer roughly $12,000,000 between budget categories to cover shortfalls in special education, operations, staffing and fixed charges. The formal intercategory transfer moves funds from some instructional and capital categories into special education, operations of plant, fixed charges (including health insurance) and food services.
- The board approved using $3,000,000 from fund balance to increase the FY2025 budget. The CFO described this as part of a larger pattern: $8 million of fund balance had already been used in-year and the new request brings funds moved from reserves toward $10 million for the current cycle.

Why the increases were needed
CFO Karen Acton and Budget Manager Sherry Fisher Davis told the board that the primary drivers were higher costs for contracted special education services and nonpublic placements, where both hourly rates for related‑service contractors rose and nonpublic schools increased pay to recruit staff. Acton said contractors cited rising hourly rates for SLPs and other vendors and that some nonpublic schools raised their tuition costs after statewide salary changes.

Other cost pressures cited
- Operation of plant: additional overtime for custodial and safety staff and other plant costs prompted a $3.5 million increase.
- Fixed charges: health insurance costs rose and the district approved an increase of about $1.1 million under fixed charges.
- Food service: $750,000 was moved to offset student meal account and food‑service needs.

Board discussion and context
Board members asked for details on whether these were structural or one‑time costs and sought assurances the district would use stricter procurement and approval controls going forward. Acton said the district planned to tighten approvals for contracted services and review vendor reliability to limit expensive contract selections. Superintendents and staff said some increases are recurring (for example higher nonpublic tuition commitments) while others (overtime spikes) can be managed operationally.

Fund balance and sustainability concerns
Several board members noted the long‑term implications: fund balance usage is meant for one‑time needs; repeated draws reduce fiscal flexibility. Acton reported the district began the process with roughly $38 million in fund balance and that this action reduces that reserve by approximately $8–10 million this cycle — a level board members warned is not sustainable without longer‑term revenue or expense reductions.

Next steps and transparency
Acton and staff said they will bring more detailed line‑by‑line recommendations, tighter vendor approvals and options for next year’s budget to the board during the upcoming budget cycle. The board approved the intercategory transfer and the $3 million fund balance increase by unanimous voice votes on May 13.

Ending
The district stressed that the increases are aimed at covering legally required services and emerging costs while staff work to control future expenditures; board members asked for repeat updates and tighter approval processes to limit in‑year draws on fund balance.","At the May 13 meeting the district asked the board to approve a $12 million intercategory transfer and a $3 million increase to the FY2025 budget from fund balance to cover higher than expected expenses — notably special education contracted services and nonpublic placements, custodial overtime and health insurance increases.",{"_33":96,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":97,"_41":42,"_43":98,"_45":98,"_46":99,"_48":100,"_50":101,"_52":102,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":103,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":104,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560883,"Charles County community schools expand to 14 sites; first school‑based health center set to open this fall",2520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f&start=2520&end=2520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f/thumbnail_2520000.jpg","/articles/6560883/Maryland/Charles-County-community-schools-expand-to-14-sites-first-schoolbased-health-center-set-to-open-this-fall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560883-ae1a64b772960b5817d14354d6485f8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191045&Signature=C4aGEMMtENmviirkB4f3aAjS8SXhOSCGFz9-dYGgJMi9TaR9mHXSxTNvrR7Sr37MagKGRAtva1Y7TLAxYm9LziC2QSlwkSrLvK7I3pwwMGSrO-nieXUhdblbd8hxT2au2AQdLP5eL7WxItJthzvO9SgF9h3Qd-9XAdQNM0~LrPtsouIljaT9-eJuJDewi8SxAGp7OUpqiO~yIRW8G4M3c9kY4u7-STa3zKbsEmedQ8LtrxOuzDmXcRwJqBbqNDJVVXgtQ9iwKBbZMdkZm0QrGnHhnwp3QCz6YIaJXNqCvp6OMhKalMZMXMttlAdmpnPkTuMZ3G39YZ9W1F62sNdmWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charles County Public Schools described rapid growth of its community schools initiative at the May 13 Board of Education meeting, telling the board the program will expand to 14 schools next year and will open the county’s first school‑based health center at Indian Head Elementary in the fall.

\"Our community school coordinators are the unsung heroes of our school system,\" said Bethany Goodwin, community school coordinator, noting coordinators run resource centers, food pantries, extended‑learning programs and mental‑health partnerships. She told the board coordinators logged more than 12,700 interventions in district systems during the year.

Why it matters: Community schools bundle on‑site social, health and academic supports in high‑need schools to reduce out‑of‑school barriers to learning. Board members and staff framed the school‑based center as a potential attendance and preventive‑care tool for a portion of the county lacking nearby access to primary care.

Program details and outcomes
- Staffing and funds: Under Maryland’s concentration‑of‑poverty grant rules, community schools must hire a full‑time community school coordinator and a full‑time health practitioner (typically a nurse). Goodwin said any remainder may fund wraparound services and that schools may be eligible for additional per‑pupil allocations in a program’s second year.
- Primary needs identified: Needs assessments across community schools showed four priorities: access to food, mental‑health services, extended learning with transportation, and health/wellness services (immunizations, dental, vision and hearing screenings). Goodwin and colleagues described specific responses, including weekly resource centers, student laundry and market services, food distributions and extended‑learning clubs.
- School‑based health center: District staff said they will open a school‑based health center this fall at Indian Head Elementary to offer primary care, preventive and mental‑health services and oral health screenings. \"One of our greatest needs is that there is not access to health care on the western side of the county at all,\" Goodwin said. The center is expected to include mental‑health services and be available to families in the area.
- Data and services: Coordinators reported more than 12,700 logged interventions (food support, SST/504 assistance, attendance work and counseling referrals). Goodwin said community school coordinators also coordinate with Title I liaisons and local partners to sustain programs.

Board reaction and next steps
Board members praised the expansion and asked that lessons learned be shared with non‑community schools and Title I staff so practices can scale: \"There's something special happening in our community schools. How do we share those learnings with our PPWs?\" one member asked. Goodwin said coordinators are sharing through state and regional peer visits and that neighboring counties have already begun studying the program.

The board also discussed sustainability: Goodwin said Maryland has continued concentration‑of‑poverty funding and that state staff have visited Charles County sites. She said coordinators work to build community partnerships so programs can continue if grant funding declines.

Ending
District staff said they will provide more detailed school‑level needs assessments and budgets to the board as sites open and the fall school‑based health center begins operations.","District presenters described growth in the community schools program, wraparound services and the county's first school‑based health center at Indian Head Elementary, aiming to reduce barriers to attendance and provide on‑site care and mental health services.",{"_33":106,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":107,"_41":42,"_43":108,"_45":108,"_46":109,"_48":110,"_50":111,"_52":112,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":113,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":114,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6560888,"Charles County schools unveil near-final special education strategic plan, stressing behavior supports and talent retention",715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f&start=715&end=715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3306161-c51e59fb8b1073b742ba0c2962f8086f/thumbnail_715000.jpg","/articles/6560888/Maryland/Charles-County-schools-unveil-near-final-special-education-strategic-plan-stressing-behavior-supports-and-talent-retention","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560888-4a786cdd3dcdce3b59f97009ccf5cf15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191045&Signature=i6JrUN6s1mTTsq8e~5xX6EB2p14wsXvM19nVkvJXZ4XuSkEVeMSsYsnbv14iDdih3Amzd~jL49bPJ5hlHLMZaok3tKxx2-GrHN--tgCBM0ivvNGMVtGcYXu5tvlGxURnAgdzIQ~3WRvi44JaBbgNalkbgjS4VeAgav41Lg8o1UPgzg1FjzM5OwdY7SP~26fUH05vjGkk4MlwuNq46o3rkKmpGhz5BF2E0PAk4AHreA34sjAHMt35n5ZA1MJOjYcMoaRvoI9yGi~HhYWLJmiUy6XAFNCy~u3yKDEAS4BRso6uzydl5GD6kxg6fWoU7cJLw~DPE2Y3ItYEogflGJHziA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charles County Public Schools presented a near-final strategic plan for special education to the Board of Education on May 13, outlining program changes, new staffing and training priorities and steps to address suspension disproportionality and case manager workload.

The presentation, led by Larry Johnson, director of special education services, summarized four strategic priorities: student learning and achievement, access and equity, safety and culture/climate, and talent development and retention. \"This plan is going well, today is gonna give you the highlights of that strategic plan,\" Johnson said as he described the document as nearly finalized and subject to further stakeholder input.

Why it matters: Johnson and other staff said the plan responds to rising behavior-related incidents, large caseloads for school psychologists, and uneven programmatic guidance across schools. The district cited National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) guidance and Maryland data showing local school psychologists serving many times the recommended caseload.

Key measures and program changes
- Instruction and MTSS: The plan calls for clearer MTSS structures, routines for progress monitoring and districtwide professional development in specially designed instruction, universal design for learning and differentiated instruction. Johnson said the district will publish programmatic handbooks for special education classrooms by August to give teachers and administrators “look‑fors” and rubrics tied to the Charlotte Danielson framework.
- SOAR rostering and grade bands: The district plans to regionalize SOAR elementary classrooms and reduce multi‑grade classrooms by rostering learners into K‑2 and 3‑5 grade bands so teachers can specialize and students can ‘loop’ with a teacher. Johnson said the transportation office has assessed bus routes and that added SOAR classrooms have reduced teacher‑student ratios in recent staffing cycles.
- Early childhood and non‑diploma endorsements: The plan proposes a continuum of services for three‑ and four‑year‑old special education students, including half‑day options for some 3‑year‑olds where full‑day proved too disruptive. The district will also pursue new transcript endorsements for non‑diploma tracks to strengthen pathways to post‑secondary inclusive options.
- Safety and elopement: In response to HB1204 and concerns raised at a recent safety town hall, the district convened a work team on elopement safety. Johnson said the team will standardize incident reporting, schoolwide safety plans, IEP behavior plans and “templates within what schools are already used to.” He said physical options — alarming, fencing and perimeter reviews — are part of the work.
- Suspension disproportionality: Johnson said state data (reported two years behind) showed a risk ratio that indicated greater likelihood of long suspensions for students with disabilities. The district is not currently identified for federal CCEIS diversion funds but has formed a suspension disproportionality committee and is preparing guidance for schools on root causes and alternatives to long suspensions.
- Talent development and case manager workload: The plan will prioritize onboarding resources (the \"Gold Book\" IEP tool for new teachers), a committee on case manager workload and additional PD. Johnson said a case manager committee had attracted 20 teachers and will propose efficiency measures; one example under consideration is limiting automatic academic assessments when reliable academic records exist.

What board members and parents asked
Board members and parent representatives asked about: student transitions (secondary to adulthood and between school levels), how parents will be trained to navigate transition planning and post‑secondary agency linkages, supports for bus drivers and other non‑teacher staff, and how the district will measure outcomes for preK 3 options. Johnson and other staff pointed repeatedly to plans for robust family engagement and to upcoming public comment sessions.

Where it goes next
Johnson said the plan still requires final stakeholder input and will be presented in final form to the board in the near future for adoption and implementation planning. \"Next steps, we are finalizing the plan,\" Johnson said. The district will publish a full draft for public input and provide updates during regular board meetings.

Ending note
Staff framed the document as an operational roadmap — not a single program change — that ties to Maryland priorities and the district’s overall strategic plan. Board members praised the outreach and urged emphasis on implementation timelines, measurable outcomes and supports that address workload and retention for special education staff.","Charles County Public Schools leaders presented a near-final strategic plan for special education at the May 13 Board of Education meeting, centering on improved instruction, clearer program handbooks, rostering changes for SOAR classrooms, new pre‑K options and steps to address suspension disproportionality and case manager workload.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Charles County Board approves minutes, personnel and FY2025 budget transfers on May 13

ATU members press Charles County board about bus contracting, say bargaining stalled and some contractors retaliate

Charles County schools shift $12M inside FY2025 budget and add $3M from fund balance as special‑ed and operations costs rise

Charles County community schools expand to 14 sites; first school‑based health center set to open this fall

Charles County schools unveil near-final special education strategic plan, stressing behavior supports and talent retention