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PGCPS briefing: four policies open for comment; district submitted testimony on three education bills
Summary
Superintendent designee Robin Welsh summarized four district policies posted for public comment and described recent Legislative testimony by Superintendent House supporting a temporary immunization admission extension and opposing a bill that would dictate use of Medicaid reimbursement funds for schools.
Robin Welsh, a superintendent designee for Prince George's County Public Schools, told the Parent and Community Advisory Council on March 5 that four policies were posted for public comment following the board's Feb. 27 meeting: policy 3-100 (Investments), policy 3-160 (Transfer of funds), policy 4113 (Community involvement in the principal selection process) and policy 5111 (Legal age of admission). The public comment period, she said, runs for two weeks after posting.
Welsh said two policies were rescinded as non-policy practice or redundant: a yearbook/photograph policy (procedural practice) and Policy 9366 (order of business/parliamentary procedures), which should have been rescinded earlier when the board adopted formal rules of procedure.
On state legislation, Welsh reported that Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell (referred to in the meeting as "Mr. House") submitted written testimony supporting Senate Bill 821, which would extend the temporary admission period for students lacking immunization records to 60 days so they can enroll while obtaining immunizations. Welsh said the superintendent also submitted written testimony opposing Senate Bill 506, which would have mandated specific uses for Medicaid reimbursement funds that local school systems now use to provide special‑education related services; Welsh told the council the district had concerns that the proposal could interfere with how local systems use federally governed Medicaid funds.
Welsh also said the superintendent testified in person on House Bill 504 (Excellence in Maryland Public Schools Act), a major education funding bill. Welsh told the council that earlier amendments raised concerns by delaying collaborative planning funding and freezing a planned increase to community‑school grants, though she said more recent amendments restored some blueprint funding and reduced proposed transfers to the Maryland State Department of Education.
Welsh encouraged PCAC members to submit public comments at the board site and noted that the Policy and Governance Committee would consider several policies at its March 11 meeting, where public comment will also be accepted.
The district did not report final legislative outcomes during the March 5 meeting; Welsh described testimony and amendments in process.
