Washington County board approves multiple policy readings, procurements and gifts; public urges retention of equity supervisor

The Washington County Public Schools Board of Education on March 18 approved the second reading of policy ACF (animals in schools), approved first readings of several other policies and administrative regulations, accepted gifts to career and extracurricular programs, and approved a slate of procurement awards and renewals. At a public hearing on the draft FY2026 general fund operating budget, dozens of residents and staff urged the board to retain the district’s supervisor of equity and excellence and raised concerns about proposed changes to the board’s public‑comment policy.

The board voted to adopt the second reading of proposed policy ACF (Animals in Schools) and approved first readings of policy JHCG (student telehealth), proposed changes to policy KD (opportunity for public comment), a combined revision of DGA/DGB with rescission of DGF (signing authority), and administrative regulation DFAA‑R (guidelines for classification and use of fund balance reserves). Most of those items passed unanimously on motions and seconds recorded on the meeting record; one first‑reading approval (administrative regulation DFAA‑R) carried a 6–1 vote with one board member recorded in opposition.

The board also approved two gifts: a 2016 Peterbilt sleeper tractor donated by the Peterbilt store in Hagerstown for hands‑on instruction in the district’s diesel program at Boyd J. Michael Technical School, and a $25,000 donation from the Nora Roberts Foundation to Boonesborough High School’s We the People program to help cover costs of the school’s trip to national finals. Both gifts were approved unanimously.

During the consent agenda the board approved 14 procurement awards, renewals and unit‑price contracts reviewed by the purchasing review committee. Staff described the unit‑price process as a two‑stage evaluation in which vendors submit a technical proposal that is scored, then shortlisted vendors’ pricing is opened and scored. For device repair unit‑price contracts the evaluation combined technical and price scores; the vendor K12 Tech received the lowest cost score and the maximum cost points. Specific procurement amounts noted on the record include a $93,380 renewal for vulnerability management software, $242,425.70 for security information and event management (SIEM), masonry repairs at Northern Middle School for $56,600, and two high‑school math resource renewals totaling $80,379 (two‑year) and $264,781.80 (two‑year), among other items. Board members and staff emphasized that unit‑price contracts allow the district to call vendors as needed and that the district can still bid a single large project separately if desired.

Separately the board approved a memorandum of understanding to allow advertising and sponsorship rights for the Williamsport Wildcat Athletic Booster Club, and approved the charge to the facilities and enrollment advisory committee (PHEAC) to establish attendance zones for the new Downsville Pike Elementary School. Staff said the committee will begin work this spring, provide interim reports publicly, review September enrollment and updated projections, and seek board approval of any redistricting plan in spring 2026 in time for an August 2027 school opening.

The board approved personnel actions presented in closed session and received a report from the budget advocacy and review committee and a legal briefing on pending state legislation in Annapolis. The legal briefing summarized status of the state budget and several education bills under consideration, including proposals related to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and school discipline and notification provisions; staff noted some bills remain under consideration in the Senate committees.

Public comment at the hearing on the FY2026 draft operating budget focused heavily on staffing and budget priorities. Several speakers urged the board not to eliminate the district’s supervisor of equity and excellence position and to restore or increase proposed funding for staff and student supports. Resident Beth Moore, speaking about exclusion she experienced as a child, said, “That girl was me,” and urged the board to consider the needs of students who feel marginalized. Washington County Teachers Association President Carol Mallon told the board she supports tightening rules on decorum during public comment and said, “This hateful speech is hurtful and should not be allowed to be repeated without challenge.” Community member Dave Williams said proposed changes to policy KD — which would require sign‑up to speak no later than 4 p.m. on the Monday before a Tuesday business meeting — “almost seem designed to stifle public comment,” and he urged the board to restore evening meeting times so more families and staff can attend.

Board members and staff responded to public comment and described next steps. The board’s student member and several board members thanked speakers for attending and said they would consider public input as the budget and policies move forward. Staff reiterated that public hearings on the budget allot three minutes to individual speakers and five minutes for organizational presenters, per policy KD’s public‑hearing section. The board’s calendar and next steps include continued committee work on the FY26 budget and PHEAC’s schedule for enrollment projections and community engagement leading up to spring 2026 board action.

Votes at a glance

- Policy ACF (Animals in Schools): second reading approved, unanimous. - Policy JHCG (Telehealth Policy for Students): first reading approved, unanimous. - Policy KD (Opportunity for public comment): first reading approved, unanimous (policy committee recommended changes to require sign‑up by 4 p.m. Monday before business meetings and to add conduct/time‑limit language). - Policy DGA/DGB update and rescission of DGF (Signing authority): first reading approved, unanimous. - Administrative regulation DFAA‑R (Fund balance reserves): first reading approved, vote 6–1 (one opposed). - Gifts: 02/2016 Peterbilt sleeper tractor to Boyd J. Michael Technical School (approved unanimous); $25,000 from Nora Roberts Foundation to Boonesborough High School We the People program (approved unanimous). - Procurements/awards/renewals: 14 items approved on consent (approved unanimous); selected notable amounts listed above. - MOU for advertising rights: Williamsport Wildcat Athletic Booster Club (approved unanimous). - Charge to facilities and enrollment advisory committee (PHEAC) to set attendance zone for Downsville Pike Elementary School (approved unanimous). - Personnel actions dated 03/18/2025 (approved unanimous).

What board members emphasized

Board members and staff repeatedly framed the procurement approvals as routine items vetted by the purchasing review committee and said staff are available to answer follow‑up questions. Several board members acknowledged the volume of public input on the budget and on the proposal to change public‑comment procedures, and they said they would review the proposed KD language and the budget requests before final action.

What to expect next

PHEAC will begin work this spring on attendance‑zone proposals, with interim public reports and a goal of board action in spring 2026 for a school opening in August 2027. The board will continue consideration of the FY2026 budget in coming weeks; the county budget and state budget processes will affect final funding levels.

(Reporting note: all motions, seconds and vote outcomes reported here are taken from the board’s public meeting record of March 18, 2025. Where the meeting transcript did not identify a motion maker or seconder by name in the public record extract, the article records the outcome and vote tally as given.)