Allegany County Board re-elects Crystal Bender, names David Baughn vice president and approves two policies

ALLEGANY COUNTY, Md. — The Allegany County Board of Education on Tuesday re-elected Crystal Bender as board president and named Dr. David Baughn vice president, approved two policy second readings and reviewed a related staff-conduct regulation before adjourning.

Dr. Martorano opened nominations for officers. A board member said, “I would like to, nominate Crystal for another term as president,” and Bender accepted. The board affirmed her by voice vote with no opposition and responded with applause.

Nominations for vice president followed; a member moved, “I nominate doctor David Baughn to be the vice president of our board.” Dr. Baughn accepted and was affirmed by voice vote with no opposition.

The board then took routine business. Dr. Bond moved to approve the consent agenda, and Mr. Green seconded; the consent agenda passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Under unfinished business, Mr. Llewellyn reminded the board that policy file JC (student attendance areas) was recommended for passage by the policy committee on second reading. Mr. Green moved to approve the second reading of JC; the motion passed unanimously.

Next, the board considered file GBEBB (staff conduct with students) on second reading. Mr. Green moved approval and Mrs. Widmeier seconded; the board approved the second reading by unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Llewellyn introduced regulation GBEBBR1, a companion regulation to the recently adopted staff-conduct policy. He said the regulation strengthens protections by defining grooming, adding an employee acknowledgement for staff to sign that they have read the policy, and adding a parent/guardian authorization process for certain communications between students and advisers or coaches. The regulation was presented as a review item; the board was given the option to take no action or to send the regulation back to the policy committee with instructions.

Student board member Mrs. Rio reported student engagement activities: a Jan. 8 Maryland leadership workshop at Frostburg State University with about 60 high-school participants, an upcoming MASC legislative session on Jan. 24 at Loch Raven High School, planning for a youth summit Feb. 24 at Allegheny College and hosting duties for an annual Ocean City convention. Rio also announced, “I got accepted to the American University of Paris,” and said she will begin studies in creative writing with a minor in comparative literature in 2026.

Mr. Green asked for volunteers for a FIRST Lego League robotics qualifier on Jan. 17, encouraging community members to register via firstinspires.org to serve as judges and support the event.

President Bender thanked the board for its confidence, noted the meeting’s short length and called for a motion to adjourn. Dr. Bond moved to adjourn, Mr. Green seconded, and the meeting was closed. Members noted they will meet again in February.

The board’s executive-session summary reported that on Dec. 16, 2025 the board met at 3:15 p.m. at Central Office to discuss administrative functions, personnel matters and consult with legal counsel; topics included administrative appointments, appeals, employee arbitration and a recommended termination, and the vote to go into closed session was unanimous.