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Superintendent announces Windy Hill waiver approval, student achievements and plans for leadership academy
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Townsville reported state approval of a school‑closure waiver for Windy Hill campus due to a water main break, highlighted student competition wins and district events, and previewed a superintendent‑led student Leadership Academy.
Superintendent Dr. Townsville told the board March 13 that Calvert County Public Schools submitted a waiver to the Maryland State Department of Education after Windy Hill Elementary and Windy Hill Middle School closed for an additional day because of a water main break. He said the state superintendent recently approved the district’s waiver, which — if included on the March 25 state board agenda and confirmed — would mean Windy Hill students would not need to make up the missed day and, if approved, the district’s last student day could move to June 13 (from June 16) with the last teacher day adjusted accordingly.
Dr. Townsville also highlighted student success and upcoming events: the Calvert Cruisers won the 1080 STEM Challenge grand champion award in Chicago and earned invitations to nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway; Northern High School’s marching band placed first in the 2024 US Bands Maryland State competition and placed fourth at a regional national competition; and the district hosted its 30th annual history fair. He congratulated teachers recognized by the Maryland Association for Career and Technical Education and listed district events such as a math learning festival on March 19 and Mount Harmony Elementary’s National Mall Night on March 14.
He described a new district mobile app design and said he’s launching a “Reading Across Calvert” book tour. He also previewed plans for a superintendent‑led Leadership Academy for students in April or May, noting logistics are under development.
On safety and climate, Dr. Townsville said the district has recorded about 1,000 fewer incidents compared with the same time last year and attributed improvement, in part, to new board policies on cell phones, electronic devices and dress code. He said that trend, he believes, supports better curriculum and instruction outcomes, but he did not provide an itemized incident breakdown.
Why it matters: the waiver affects the school calendar for Windy Hill families; the superintendent’s account of incident data and the planned Leadership Academy indicate district priorities on safety, student supports and leadership development.
No formal board action was taken on the superintendent’s general remarks. The board received notice of the waiver submission and the superintendent’s summary of events and initiatives.
