Middlebrooks Wises Up...Sort of

A curious thing happened on the way to the Council, it appears Ed Middlebrooks finally got a clue. During the discussions, late last year, about a dedicated fund for stormwater repairs, certain "anti-tax" Republicans like Ed Middlebrooks asked, "why not a dedicated fund for schools, or other infrastructure?" The question seems to have sparked a rare good idea from the Councilman.

Early last week, he sponsored a resolution, which passed the Council, asking the County Legislative Delegation to give the County the capacity to raise the transfer tax on the sale of homes to collect additional funds for school maintenance and other infrastructure backlogs.

It turns out, however, that the County Executive and most of the County Delegation oppose the increase and are unlikely to push the State enabling legislation.

The Executive's chief objection is that it would be better to achieve these ends by raising the impact fees. The problem is, impact fees can't be used for routine maintenance, but must instead be used to pay for expansion of existing facilities.

The proper solution involves compromise on each side, the Council owes it to the citizens of the County to hike the impact fees to 100% of cost, regardless of the whinery of the development community, and the Executive needs to recognize that the $1.5 billion backlog of school maintenance can't be dealt with through impact fees, and needs a steady funding stream of its own.

The most beautiful aspect of the proposals is that increases in both are unlikely to have much impact on the pocketbooks of existing residents and put the County on a much more sound fiscal footing for decades to come.

Perspective on Chesapeake Science Point

Last week's post on Chesapeake Science Point (CSP), a County charter school, drew this thoughtful response from a reader close to the issue:

It has indeed been a tough month at the Chesapeake Science School. The administration and teachers are spread too thin while they deal with students whose behavior more closely resembles characters from the Lord of the Flies than what you would expect from students who attain high test scores. The school has lost their principal and one of the most important teachers they had. Anne Arundel County certainly has put this school under a larger microscope than that used on any other school but I do not believe it is a fair portrayal to cast AACPS as the wicked step-mother and CSP as the Cinderella.

The reason that these students score so highly is not out of any particular innate intelligence but is a result of the extreme dedication and willingness to work far beyond reasonable expectations of some of the teachers and administration. Free tutoring has been offered on weekends, after school, into the evenings, and even during overnight "sleep overs" held in the school. Teachers are encouraged to give more than they can possibly ever get back - and many of the folks working at CSP have done so willingly. Not all teachers have been willing to work to this point, preferring to do their job well and leave it at that.

Another problem that has contributed to some teacher burnout as well as to the current increase in unacceptable student behavior has been the lack of a serious disciplinary policy at the administrative level. Thus, the irony of Mr. Kandil being removed for "punishing" a student with push ups. This lack of a serious disciplinary program can also be viewed as a plus as it has allowed many students to stay in school after committing acts that would surely have spelled expulsion at most other schools.

Many of the students are generally disrespectful to the same teachers who work so hard for them. While it is wonderful to see that parents showed up to support the school - and the teachers love each and every one of them, missing were the large number of parents who believe that every failure and behavioral issue is the fault of the teachers and the school. If you are a parent and do not want to instill morals, manners and work habits into your student - CSP is the best chance your child has, because of teacher dedication. Of course, the concerned parents are giving their children the best of both worlds.

Now, teachers are working longer, and recently, harder hours than they are at other county schools. CSP has known for years now that they needed to hire a certified special education teacher yet they stopped looking this year after hiring a provisional teacher who had literally no training in special ed but did have a bachelor's degree in psychology. Is this an issue that can be compromised on? No - it is a federally mandated situation that AACPS is ultimately responsible for. Has the lack of a well-trained special education teacher put more stress on the teachers in the classroom who have had to modify lesson plans on their own while trying their best to meet the needs of the special education population? Yes, of course. The teachers were all told that everything was under control regarding their responsibility to convince the auditors that they are a school that can run just fine by themselves, thank you. To find out that something as obvious as the need for a certified, knowledgeable special education teacher was not being actively pursued is negatively impacting members of the faculty who feel misled. As to the question of facilities one must be aware that some of the classrooms at CSP are far too small to accomodate the 22 students that are crammed into them already. The school is currently physically pushed as far as it can possibly go. The desire to add a grade each year means that the need for a new facility has been on the board for quite a while. This is not a new issue.

Is Anne Arundel County Public School system one rife with many rude and inefficient staff members? Yes, Are they out of bounds in giving this school one month to get their ducks in a row on issues that have long been clear to both parties? No way.

When you consider that the school is now being run by administrators and teachers who have no idea if they have a job next year, that student behavior has taken a clear and dramatic downturn which must be dealt with by these teachers, that some parents who have anxiety are taking it out on their favorite targets - the teachers - and that these are all unnecessary results of poor planning on the parts of the CSP board and principal one can begin to understand why the county is actually doing the right thing here.

CSP has great potential. It also has many serious problems that must be addressed to help this school reach that potential. That AACPS has already poured more than a fair share of money, time, and energy into helping this school get it together is being ignored when everyone cries foul. This story goes far beneath what looks to be a pretty surface, and I have not seen anyone with a shovel yet. It is time for those of us with an alternative seat at this circus to speak our truths.

Charter School Crackdown

What in the heck is going on with the Chesapeake Science Point charter school? It's been an extremely tough month for the charter school, a rare breed in Anne Arundel County. First, the principal, Fatih Kandil, was re-assigned by the school system. Then, a popular physics teacher, Ali Tuna, was re-assigned.

Now, the "school needs to hire a certified special education teacher, get a lease and site plan for a building for next year, and submit a three-year budget that will project their financial needs" in the next month or face closure.

This, despite the fact that the County school system currently has vacancies for 8 certified special education teachers.

These deficiencies are all topics that merit some concern, but that needs to be considered carefully, given the fact that the institution is only 2 1/2 years old. More important questions, to my mind, are what is the engagement of the student body, and how are the students doing?

On the first count, 150 students and parents wielding a 1,000 signature petition turned up at the recent school board meeting to support keeping the school open. Given that parental involvement is one of the best indicators of student achievement, this is a very encouraging sign. Granted, parents who put their children in a charter school are a self-selected group, but still, this level of engagement is impressive.

But how are the test scores? In 2006, Chesapeake Science Point students scored higher than the students of 15 other middle schools in the County on the Maryland School Assessment. Their 2006-2007 reading scores put them at better than all but five County middle schools [pdf] (there are 23 total). The math scores aren't as impressive, but put the school right in the middle of the pack [pdf].

The Superintendent insists he isn't out to shut down the charter school, but this is one experiment that I hope he will keep alive, as long as the parents are involved and the students are excelling.

Maryland Schools Ranked Among Highest

A report just released by Education Week ranks Maryland's public schools among the top in the nation. The report, Quality Counts, ranks Maryland third best in the nation, behind only New York and Massachusetts. Each of the States and DC were ranked according to 17 indicators in six broad categories. Among Maryland's strengths, early childhood education, adult outcomes, spending, and standards. Areas for improvement include college readiness, and accountability for quality, and building and supporting capacity in the teaching profession.

Congratulations to the teachers and students in Maryland Schools, and something for each of us to think about next time we wonder where our tax dollars are going.

Developers Seek to Erode School Protections

According to today's Capital, the County Council is seeking to "address" crowded schools. Of course, for the development community pushing the bill, "address" means "remove the school capacity related obstructions to new home construction by any means necessary." Council members Dillon, Vitale, and Benoit are developing a new methodology for determining school capacity, which is more responsive to demographic changes, and that is a good thing.

However, simultaneously, the eerily named Alliance for Fair Land Use, has been lobbying, persistently, to drop the adequacy of public facilities requirements for "small property owners." John Pantelides, paid lobbyist for the development community, and head of the Alliance has been trotting out every Tom, Dick, and Harry, who has had to wait to develop a parcel for his long lost son/daughter because of overcrowded schools, at Council meetings for the past several months.

It truly is a shame when people are asked to abide the law, isn't it? Especially when it's a law that is intended to protect school children from an overcrowded learning environment. Instead, Mr. Pantelides and his funders would like the Council to exempt developments of 5 or fewer homes from the school capacity test. I ask you, to the kids of current taxpayers sitting in already crowded schools, what difference does it make whether additional kids are coming from 5 house subdivisions or 20 house ones?

Revised School Board Bill Winds Through Legislature

A bill that would reform the way that School Board members are selected has passed the House and Senate and now needs to be reconciled by the two chambers. The bill stops short of an elected school board, but would require the governor to select from a nominating commission's list of finalists, rather than allow him to ignore their recommendations, as he currently can.

Bill information:

HB 1114
SB 324

Suspicious Scholarships

On Monday, the Capital ran a piece describing one of the less well known practices conducted by some Delegates and Senators. Each year, each Senator is provide with approximately $138,000 and each Delegate receives about $35,000 to dole out as "legislative scholarships." The total amount allocated to the programs for FY08 is $11.4 million.

Why Senators or Delegates are uniquely qualified to determine who is eligible for need-based aid is an important question (particularly given that the State already has institutions set up for precisely this purpose). More important, to my mind, is the question raised by Common Cause: Aren't financial gifts, given with no oversight, extremely susceptible to abuse?

Several proposals are on the table, and both Republicans and Democrats are scrambling to retain vestiges of the program (although other Republicans and Democrats are very uneasy with the program). My suggestion is, abolish the programs and divert the funds to the Maryland Higher Education Commission to distribute as scholarships. Certainly, there's no way Senator Jennie Forehand's (D - Montgomery) bill to "lift the $2,000 cap on awards and allow senators to pay the annual undergraduate tuition and fees for a full-time student at the University of Maryland College Park" should be allowed to pass.

I encourage you to check out the list below and look for familiar names. There are a number that raise red flags for me, including children living in exclusive, gated communities and the children of lobbyists making six figures (or more).

Scholarship recipients from Districts 21, 30, 31, and 32

Local Delegates and Senators who opt out:

Senator John Astle (D) (Did not opt out until '08).

Del. Virginia Clagett (D)

Maryland Gets First "Green" School

Great Seneca Creek Elementary School, in Germantown (Montgomery County), is the first school in Maryland built to meet the US Green Building Council's LEED standards. In fact, in November, the Montgomery County Council passed legislation that would require all new public buildings be built to green standards. Given rising energy costs and increasing concerns about carbon dioxide emissions, it seems entirely appropriate for Anne Arundel County to adopt similar standards.

Democrats in the legislature are trying to earmark 1% of the $400 million spent annually by the State on school construction for grants to "green" projects. Apparently though, some at the State level, like House Minority leader, Del. Anthony O'Donnell don't get the fact that spending an extra 2% at the time of construction will save that value to taxpayers many times over during the lifespan of these buildings.

With a $1.5 billion backlog in school maintenance locally, there are enormous opportunities to save county residents millions of dollars by stipulating that new construction projects utilize the most energy efficient technologies available.

Among the schools "green" features:

A geothermal heat pump.

Extensive passive solar features.

Dual flush, water conserving toilets. Waterless urinals

Wheat board, rather than wood, book shelves.

Fluorescent lighting.

A light reflecting roof.

Should We Elect a School Board?

Since John Leopold's election as County Executive there has been quite a bit of discussion about moving from an appointed school board to an elected school board, a move he supported as a Delegate. The retirement of Phil Jimeno in the Senate opens the door to an elected board, as he was one of the most vociferous opponents of the idea (Mr. Jimeno's replacement, Bryan Simonaire, supports an elected Board). Among the other members of the County delegation, Senators John Astle (D) and Janet Greenip (R) support an elected Board, while Ed DeGrange (D) opposes one, and Jim Rosapepe (D) is open to the possibility. The House delegation is much more uniformly supportive of the change.

So, how should the County proceed? My initial instinct is that greater democratic involvement should always be the goal in these sorts of situations. However, there is also concern that politicization of the School Board, which some may see as an electoral stepping stone to higher office, would serve students poorly. Of course, that isn't to say the current archane process, where the Governor appoints Board members from a pool nominated by community organizations isn't political.

So what does the research say? An analysis of appointed vs. elected school boards in New York State found, "with several exceptions, the school district under the appointed board seemed to be the mirror image of the district under the elected board." A 2003 study of mayoral takeoever of elected school boards in urban areas found that "mayoral takeover (and an appointed school board) was associated with greater levels of per pupil expenditure [pdf]." In an analysis of 100 school districts nationwide, researchers Kenneth Wong and Francis Shen found that over a 5-year period, "districts with appointed boards produced fewer management problems, labor disputes, and financial improprieties; they bring "a broader set of expertise" among managers that allowed them to better access state and federal grants; and they showed more academic progress as measured by test scores."

So, of the research available seems to lean in favor of an appointed, rather than elected school board. However, there is clearly more analysis to be done. My concern, at this point, is that whether elected or appointed, changing the structure of the Board is going to have less impact on the educational outcomes of students than it will on the appearance of taking some sort of important action. If the Anne Arundel County School system has serious problems, I think they can be more readily addressed by improving teacher compensation and keeping up with infrastructure maintenance than changing the structure of the school board. But, of course, those things cost money.

Additional Research:

Interest Groups and the Shift from Appointed to Elected School Boards. (1996). [pdf]

Tyler Heights Turnaround

Thursday's Post had a story on the remarkable academic improvements that have been achieved at Tyler Heights Elementary School in Annapolis over the past seven years. Principal Ernestine McKnight has been credited for much of the success.

Despite the fact that the school has a large limited-English population (40%), amd a study body, three quarters of whom qualify for federal meal subsidies, the school has more than doubled its proficiency rate on the Maryland School Assessment tests, from 37 to 86 percent, since 2003.

Surely, there are many important lessons to learn by studying this example more closely. Kudos to Principal McKnight, and the teachers, staff, and students of Tyler Heights Elementary.

Need An Education About the School Board?

Confused about how the School Board selection process works in Anne Arundel County? I assure you, you are not alone. For the past several years, there has been considerable discussion about putting the school board up for popular election. Those efforts have consistently failed, and there is considerable speculation as to whether they would improve or worsen matters. However, keep in mind that we currently have a backlog of something like $1.5 billion in needed school improvements.

Regardless, here's a profile of the current state of the school board selection process, one we won't get to vote on in three weeks.

A Step-by-step account:

Candidates are nominated by an "eligible organization." (for this purpose, an "eligible organization" is "a PT(S)As, PT(S)Os, civic, religious, service group or trade council. The organization must have been in existence for at least a year prior to the convention, have bylaws, at least ten members, and have primarily an adult membership.")

The interview process begins with a nominating convention comprised of "delegates" (for this purpose, a "delegate" is a representative of an "eligible organization." Each "eligible organization" can send up to four "delegates.")

"At a series of public hearings in April, delegates to the nominating convention listen to the candidates and have an opportunity to ask questions."

"A convention held in May gives delegates an opportunity to vote for the candidate they feel will best serve on the school board."

"Convention bylaws indicate that the top two names for each open seat are sent to the governor."

"The governor makes the appointment. [Governors of Maryland have usually chosen to appoint someone who has been screened and nominated by this process, though it is not a requirement by law.]"

History of this Byzantine process: "Before charter government -- before the county had a county executive -- senators from the Anne Arundel County delegation would identify candidates for the school board. The community wanted to be more involved in the appointment process. Through the support of the County Council of PTAs, a nominating convention was born in 1979. Organizations with an interest in education sent delegates to public hearings to hear and question candidates. At the May convention, delegates would vote for a candidate. A list of the top vote getters was drawn up and sent to the governor for consideration."

The Tale of Annapolis Middle School

Recently, the Post did a piece on Annapolis Middle School, an institution so underutilized that it's currently at about 1/3 capacity. The article talks about possibly bringing a college-preparatory program offered by International Baccalaureate to the school in an effort to attract the children of affluent Annapolitans, who can now most often be found at St. Mary's, Key, Severn, Spalding, Annapolis Area Christian, or some other private college-prep school.

There's another opportunity to Cheer students at Annapolis Middle on March 15th. Join Head Cheerleader Jennifer Reed and other supportive Annapolitans in cheering on students as they head into the first of 4 days of Maryland State Assessment testing. The event begins at 7:30am, and will last until 8:05. For more information, contact Jennifer at 410-279-6688.

School Board Election Speculation

For yet another year, it appears that efforts to get an elected school board are going to die in the State House [scroll down], and there's a difference of opinion on the topic among those local County Executive candidates running for office in November.

Later Start Times Delayed Indefinitely

A 4-4 vote by the County School Board defeated the proposal to delay start times at county high schools. Student Board member, Pallas Snider, has vowed, however, to keep up the fight, hoping to get the $3-4 million required for the change inserted into the School Board's budget.

More Research on School and Sleep

Today's Post reports additional research of the value of starting school later so students can get more sleep.

Anne Arundel School Superlatives

Tuesday's Post provided an in-depth profile of the student member of the Anne Arundel County School Board, Pallas Snider. Turns out that Anne Arundel County Schools hold two distinctions, one pretty progressive, the other a bit more dubious. According to the article, "Anne Arundel is the only county in the nation with a school board that extends full voting rights to a student." Our high schools also begin at 7:17 am, the earliest starting times of any county in the state.

Ms. Snider, an 18-year old senior from Severna Park High School, who sits on a Board that her Father, Jim Snider, was prevented from serving on by Parris Glendening, has taken up a number of priorities. She would like to see the 12 county high schools open their doors about 45 minutes later, at 8 am, and have the county replace valedictorian and salutatorian titles with a more general cum laude category.

In spite of the some of the other problems that have plagued the School Board and the Superintendent over the past several years, it's nice to see that the board gives some voice to the individuals who will be most impacted by its decisions.

To check out a on-line discussion of school start times that Ms. Snider initiated, click here.

Supporting Our Students

I was recently passed along a note from a reader, Jennifer Reed, who is organizing what promises to be a very special event. Ms. Reed, who doesn't have school-aged children of her own, is organizing an "Annapolis Cheers" event to welcome the 500+ students at Annapolis Middle School back for the new year. Why is she doing this? To show the kids that adults in the community support them, want them to succeed, and care about the hard work they do in school.

I really like the idea, and I like the fact that people in the community are thinking creatively about ways that we can encourage our school kids to perform better, rather than just lamenting or fearing them.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 3 from 7:40am-8:05am at Annapolis Middle (off of Forest Drive). Attendees are asked to park at the Clock Tower Plaza, across the street and cross at the light. Organizers hope to have at least 100 adults not connected with the school attend (though parents of students are encouraged as well).

For more information, email Ms. Reed at AnnapolisCheers@comcast.net or call 410-279-6688. If you'd like to organize something similar in your community, drop me a line.

A Few More Hits of the Snooze

On Wednesday evening, School Board President Konrad Wayson declared that high school start times will probably be 30 minutes later next year. Currently, County High Schools start at 7:17am. According to the Board, this change would be the least costly of several options they are considering. A "radical" shift to 8am would apparently cost the County up to $4.6 million a year in extra transportation costs.

Research shows that later start times for high schoolers can result in students feeling less depressed, missing less school, and earning higher grades than students who have to get up earlier. Ideally, these students should be getting up around 9am, rather than an hour or two earlier.

Given the research, this certainly seems like a step in the right direction, though the Board should leave the option of pushing the starting time back further, later on, if a workable plan can be devised.

First Longitudinal Study of Later High School Start Times. Wahlstrom, K. (2002) [pdf]

Superintendent Search Forums

Last night's Superintendent Search Forums were apparently pathetically attended. Six attendees showed up at Glen Burnie and 20 showed up at Annapolis. Let's try for a better turnout tonight. Forums will be held at Arundel High School and Southern High School, beginning at 7:15pm. Whether you're a parent or not, go and give your input about what you would like to see in the next Superintendent.

Barely Passing English

Say what you will about the No Child Left Behind Act, any way you look at it, the fact that only 61 percent of Anne Arundel County 10th graders passed the new Maryland high school English test is distressing. Five of the twelve County high schools are on a watch list and labeled as needing improvement.

Here's how other location jurisdictions compared:

Howard County - 77%
Montgomery County - 70%
Calvert County - 69%
Frederick County - 67%
St. Mary's County - 60%