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Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, at 2 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

School Board Offers Coffee and Conversation to Community

The Board of Education of Howard County regularly holds “Coffee & Conversation” sessions at schools throughout the county. These meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and chat informally with Board members. The meetings are held in various regions of the county but interested persons from throughout the county are invited to attend any or all of the meetings. The next “Coffee & Conversation” session with the Board of Education will be held:

Saturday, October 14
9:30 - 11 a.m.
Media Center at Mount View Middle School
12101 Woodford Drive in Marriottsville

Clarksville Middle Named 2006 National Blue Ribbon School

Clarksville Middle School is one of six Maryland schools selected as 2006 No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes schools that make significant progress in closing the achievement gap or whose students achieve at very high levels. This year, 250 schools across the country are being recognized with the honor.

"Clarksville Middle School has consistently been one of Howard County's top performing schools," says Howard County Superintendent Sydney Cousin. "Congratulations to the students, staff, administration and parents for working together to make Clarksville such a wonderful school. This national recognition is well deserved."

The six Maryland schools were selected on the basis of national criteria. Four are in the top 5 percent of all schools in the state at their specific level (elementary or middle) as measured by Maryland assessments. Two are economically disadvantaged schools that demonstrated dramatic improvement on the state assessments over at least the past three years.

Clarksville Elementary School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2005.

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting, Public Hearing on Policy 11400, Parent/Community Involvement, and Work Session on FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006, in Room B-37 in the Applications and Research Laboratory Building, 10920 Route 108, in Ellicott City.

Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a “Public Forum,” when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

During the evening session, the Board will hold a public hearing on revisions to Policy 11400, Parent/Community Involvement. Individuals who wish to testify at the hearing are asked to limit their presentation to three minutes and to provide 15 written copies of their testimony at the time of the hearing. The Board will also hold a work session on, and approve the FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Program.

To sign up to testify at the hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Board of Education Audit Committee to Hold Quarterly Meeting

The Audit Committee of the Board of Education will hold its quarterly meeting at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006. The meeting will take place in Room B37 at the Applications and Research Laboratory, 10920 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Two Attendance Area Adjustment Meetings Scheduled

Presentation of suggested attendance area adjustments for elementary and middle schools for the 2007/2008 school year, will take place at two attendance area meetings. The content will be the same for both meetings.

The first meeting will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2006, at Centennial High School, 4300 Centennial Lane in Ellicott City. The second meeting will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road in Columbia. Both meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session

The Howard County Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

Visit by Chinese Educators Part of Two-Year Exchange Program

On Monday, September 18, at the Howard County Department of Education, Superintendent Sydney Cousin will welcome six education officials visiting from Beijing, China, as part of a partnership between the Howard County Public School System and the Education Bureau of Dong Cheng District. The delegation will visit with Dr. Cousin at 10 a.m. and then proceed to Worthington Elementary School, 4570 Roundhill Road in Ellicott City, and Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed by Dr. Cousin during a visit to China in April 2005 established a sister school relationship between Long Reach High School and Beijing #22 Secondary School. Long Reach High Principal Edmund Evans and Assistant Principal Rose Friss formalized the details of that relationship with #22 School Principal Gang Ma when they visited Beijing from June 17 through July 5, 2006.

The project was initiated by the Education Bureau of Dong Cheng District, which funded Dr. Cousin’s visit to China in 2005. The program is designed to promote understanding and cultural exchange between the two schools and school systems.

Next month, plans are for two teachers from #22 Secondary School to visit Long Reach High for two weeks for English language training. In return, two English teachers from Long Reach will travel to Beijing to teach English there for three weeks. Five students from Beijing #22 Secondary School are scheduled to visit and study at Long Reach High School in October as well.

Other exchange opportunities are planned during 2007, when the Chinese school hopes to send its orchestra and basketball team to visit Long Reach. Both schools are encouraging teachers and students to communicate online.

Members of the Dong Cheng delegation visiting on Monday include:

• Mr. Liu, Shunli Deputy Director of the Education Bureau of Dong Cheng District
• Ms. Li, Jiexin Section Chief of the Education Bureau of Dong Cheng District
• Mr. Meng, Dajun Director of Education Research Center, Dong Cheng District
• Mr. Dai, Luchen Principal of the Number 24 High School, Beijing
• Mr. Li, Yang Teacher of Number 22 High School, Beijing
• Ms. Ge, Haining Deputy Director of Education Research Center, Dong Cheng District

Board of Education to Hold Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Work Session on FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a regularly scheduled meeting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006, in Room B-37 in the Applications and Research Laboratory Building, 10920 Route 108, in Ellicott City.

Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30 p.m., will begin with a “Public Forum,” when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

During the evening session, the Board will hold a public hearing and a public work session on the FY 2008 Capital Budget and FY 2009 - 2013 Capital Improvement Program. Individuals who wish to testify at the hearing are asked to limit their presentation to three minutes and to provide 15 written copies of their testimony at the time of the hearing.

To sign up to testify at the hearing or to speak at Public Forum, contact the Executive Assistant to the Board at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

Gorman Crossing Elementary School Helps Students Get Fit While Earning Funds

The students and staff at Gorman Crossing Elementary School are putting their money where their FEET are this year. The Howard County school is hosting a 5K Run/Walk to promote the new countywide wellness policy and to raise money for their school. The run starts at 8:30 a.m. on September 9 at 9999 Winter Sun Road in Laurel.

“The 5K is a great opportunity for the kids and the community to come together to help their school. But we never miss the opportunity for a lesson,” says Principal Cheryl Logan. Logan says the school was looking for a way to help promote the new county wide wellness mandate.

The new policy, a mandate from Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick, Ph.D., aims to combat childhood obesity and promote better health with strict guidelines for student nutrition and physical activity.

Cheryl Logan says under the new policy her school was challenged with finding ways to incorporate physical activity into each school day, aside from regular P.E. classes. “The 5K is a good way to promote a life sport. Running and walking is something that our students can do at any age to make themselves healthier.”

The school is asking area businesses to buy sponsorships to the race, and encouraging students and their families to participate in the run. The cost is $15 to run or walk. All proceeds from the race will go directly to the school.

Board of Education Meeting with PTA Presidents and Citizens Advisory Committee Rescheduled

The previously announced Sept. 14, 2006, Board of Education meeting with PTA Presidents and members of the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to the Board, has been rescheduled. The meeting will take place on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. in the Susquehanna Room at the Faulkner Ridge Center, 10598 Marble Faun Court in Columbia.

The meeting is an opportunity for members of the PTA and the CAC to discuss issues and concerns with Board members in an informal setting.