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Board opts for limited low‑performing school designations; adopts Option A tied to past obligations
Summary
Following a presentation on Maryland Blueprint requirements, the board chose Option A — funding state‑mandated designations and maintaining payments to staff previously designated (archived incumbents) — citing budget constraints and limited impact data.
The Board of Education heard a presentation from Dan Roseweig on Jan. 29 about the district’s options for designating low‑performing schools under Maryland’s Blueprint for Education. State‑defined schools (1‑ and 2‑star as per the Maryland Report Card) must be designated; local flexibility allows boards to add other low‑ranked schools. The presentation outlined three options:
• Option A — fund required schools (state‑defined) and honor payments to staff in archived schools that had previously received incentives (no new local‑flexibility additions); estimated additional cost: $505,075 with specified salary/FICA increments for qualifying teachers.
• Option B — fund all categories (state‑defined, archived and local flexibility) at an anticipated cost of $667,646 in FY27.
• Option C — hybrid approach selecting mandated schools plus one or more local‑flexibility schools.
Board members discussed recruitment impacts, the absence of a conclusive impact study tying National Board Certification to improved student outcomes in every context and budget limitations. Staff told the board they will provide a detailed breakdown of the NBCT pipeline (estimated ~180 newly certified this cycle and approximately 420 total certified teachers) and the renewal bonus structure (first renewal ~$4,000; second renewal ~$3,000). After deliberation the board voted to adopt Option A, a motion that passed on a roll call vote (7‑0). Staff clarified that option A obligates the district to continue paying archived incumbents who remain in qualifying schools, but does not add new schools outside the permitted lists without state guidance.
