In Focus
- The Board of Education approved tuition rates for non-resident students who attend Charles County Public Schools. Tuition rates for out-of state students increases 4.7 percent to $11,050 and for out-of-county students from Maryland it increases 6.1 percent to $6,805. Rates vary for special education students depending on the level of support services needed. Last school year, revenues collected for non-resident tuition were $300,000 and rates are revised annually to ensure that costs for these students are recovered through tuition charges.
- The Board of Education approved a new textbook for use in the Teaching as a Profession Foundations of Curriculum and Instruction course. The book, "Learning to Teach" by Richard I. Arends and published by McGraw Hill, will be used at all high schools. The cost of the 180 textbooks is $17,213. The Teacher Academy of Maryland program was developed in coordination with the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges.
- The Board of Education will meet on Monday, June 23, 6 p.m., at Maurice J. McDonough High School. Agenda items include approving alignments to the fiscal year 2009 budget and the schematics for full-day kindergarten additions and renovations at Dr. Gustavus Brown, Indian Head, Arthur Middleton and Eva Turner elementary schools. There will also be a closed executive session to discuss personnel.
- C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School raised more than $6,000 for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event. Throughout the 2007-08 school year, Barnhart students and staff collected money through Save a Dime and Save a Life fundraisers, student council candy sales and a bicycle raffle. Last month, students and staff also voted for three staff members to receive a "pie in the face" in which collection jars for donations were displayed in the school office for donations. The school community raised $700 and Principal Tim Rosin, third-grade teacher Susan Opalach and Kathy Brooke, a first-grade instructional assistant, received pies in the face at the school on Tuesday, June 3, at a school ceremony.
- Victoria Mayle, a purchasing analyst for Charles County Public Schools, recently received the Certified Professional Public Buyer (CPPB) by the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council (UPPCC). The designation is an honor for individuals in the public purchasing profession and an asset to their specific division of governmental administration. CPPB candidates are required to meet certain criteria established by the UPPCC. It includes training in purchase-related subjects and public purchasing experience, and candidates must take a written examination.
- Leigh Ann Anderson, a science teacher at C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, and Marissa Cross, a science teacher at Dr. Thomas L. Higdon Elementary School, presented at the National Science Teachers Associations (NSTA) national convention held March 27-30 in Boston. Their session was titled "Elementary Science Teachers - Not a Luxury...A Necessity!" and focused on the importance of science teachers in elementary schools to ensure accurate knowledge of science for students. Their presentation also focused on the importance of hands-on inquiry lessons and the shaping of science skills in young children.
The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Keith Grier, Title IX Coordinator, or Patricia Vaira, Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Keith Hettel, Section 504 Coordinator (employees/adults), at Charles County Public Schools, central office building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, Maryland 20646. 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.
