Students press curriculum concerns as superintendent highlights audit results and Special Olympics fundraising
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Summary
Student speakers urged curriculum review of Global Community Citizenship while Superintendent Dr. Bedell reported a state audit finding no fiscal or programmatic issues with the district's management of more than $200 million in COVID ESSER grants and highlighted Special Olympics fundraising and schedule contingencies.
Several student speakers used the public-comment period to press the Board of Education on curriculum and student leadership, and Superintendent Dr. Bedell used his report to highlight district achievements and audit results.
Gabriela Blair, a sophomore at Mead High School, told the board she was excited for the Global Community Citizenship course after reading its syllabus but said her classroom experience "did not match these expectations" and that "much of the content felt repetitive." She urged the board to involve students in curriculum development or reconsider the course's status as a graduation requirement if meaningful revision cannot be achieved.
Roland Sonya, a Glen Burnie High senior and Student Equity Advisory Team representative, summarized SEAT's work convening focus groups on school safety, student engagement and belonging, and announced a spring 2026 youth empowerment symposium. Jason Semenoff Jr., CRASC secretary, outlined SMOB nomination timelines, CRASC events and the district's Polar Bear Plunge fundraising for Special Olympics Maryland.
In his superintendent's report, Dr. Bedell announced that a Maryland State Department of Education audit of the district found that the district followed federal requirements around financial management and programmatic implementation for a sample of COVID-related ESSER grant transactions covering a five-year period. "The audit firm found that we followed all federal requirements around financial management and programmatic implementation," Dr. Bedell said, noting the work involved offices across the district and more than $200,000,000 in grants.
Dr. Bedell also highlighted the district's strong support for Special Olympics Maryland: AACPS has raised over $230,000 so far and counts more than 3,000 participants districtwide; organizers hope to raise $1,000,000 from the school's event alone. He reminded the board and community of possible calendar adjustments if inclement weather occurs around the semester break and noted vacancies and other personnel work the district continues to address.
The board did not take action on these reports during the meeting but acknowledged student voices and staff said GCC will undergo a curriculum update before the next school year.