Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The recommended operating budget is 3 percent more than last year's recommendation and includes $16 million for employee pay raises.
At more than $1 billion, Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's proposed operating budget is the largest in the history of Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and includes money for employee pay raises. Maxwell is seeking a 3 percent increase in the operating budget for fiscal year 2014, bringing the overall total to more than $1 billion. In addition to the operating budget, Maxwell’s recommended capital budget outlines $239 million to cover school construction and development needs. This is the first time the school system’s recommended operating budget has ever eclipsed the $1 billion mark. The high number is directly related to growing enrollment numbers throughout the county and the needs associated with that increase, said AACPS Chief …
Monday, December 3, 2012
School officials said they may use a lottery system to help determine which students are offered seats in the county's magnet programs.
Student applications for participation in magnet programs during the 2013-14 school year went up 24 percent from last year, according to an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) press release. Approximately 2,100 students applied for a seat in at least one of the county's magnet programs. Some students applied to more than one program, so the total number of submissions exceeded 2,700—a 28 percent bump from last year’s total application numbers, according to AACPS. Students are evaluated based on their grades, test scores and either an interview or audition depending on the program. However, the high number of applications will likely result in AACPS using a lottery system in its selection process as the number of qualified …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Anyone hoping to ask questions or voice concerns can do just that on Saturday. Just be ready to brave the weekend shopping crowds.
Two Anne Arundel County Board of Education members are inviting parents to meet with them and discuss issues facing the school system at a unique location this Saturday—inside the food court at Arundel Mills mall in Hanover. According to a press release from Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., Board President Andrew Pruski and student member of the board Nick Lefavor will be at a table in the food court at Arundel Mills mall, available to answer questions and discuss various issues. “There will be a table with a Board of Education banner,” AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier said. “It’s a really informal, open dialogue type thing just for conversations. You don’t have to sign up for a 5-minute block or …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Report cards will still be go out on Nov. 16, as previously scheduled.
In the wake of the post-tropical storm known as Sandy, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) announced the first quarter marking period will be extended to Nov. 7, two class days later than the previously scheduled Nov. 2 deadline. Because Sandy's effects cancelled classes for two days, delayed openings on Wednesday and left 17 schools without electricity, teachers will have an additional three days to complete testing and assessments to end the marking period. "Obviously our decision to close schools on Monday and Tuesday has impacted the plans of many teachers heading into the end of the first marking period, which had been scheduled for Friday," said Superintendent Kevin Maxwell in a letter sent home to parents. "In order to …
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Parents are urged to use caution when getting their children to bus stops on Wednesday.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) will open two hours late Wednesday for students and staff in the wake of the storm impact of Sandy, according to a press release. However, there are some schools that will be closed because they don't have power. With the late start, all morning half-day kindergarten and ECI classes are cancelled. However, students in full-day kindergarten will have class, but should report two hours late. The end of the marking period was scheduled for Friday, but that deadline could change if officials so desire. The decision will be made later in the day Wednesday, according to the press release. AACPS officials urge local parents to be careful and exercise good judgment when getting their children to bus stops…
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Teacher association officials said they were "satisfied" by the school board's decision, but said there is still much to do.
The Board of Education approved a 1.25 percent mid-year pay increase for all teachers in Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) on Wednesday night. The mid-year increase comes as part of an amendment to a tentative agreement between the Board of Education and the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County (TAAAC) for fiscal year 2013, which started on July 1. Educators won’t begin receiving the increase until halfway through the year, so educators will only technically see a 0.62 percent increase during the current school year, AACPS spokesman Bob Mosier said. All AACPS employees in "unit one"—a category that includes teachers and guidance counselors—will receive the 1.25 percent raise. "Those employees will also have a two-day …
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Board of Education will hear testimony from local parents regarding the superintendent's proposed capital budget Wednesday night.
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is slated to adopt Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s proposed capital budget for fiscal year 2014 Wednesday night, but not before parents have a chance to share their opinions at a public hearing in Annapolis. The board will begin its general meeting at 7 p.m., but beginning at about 8 p.m., parents will be given three minutes each to testify before school officials about the capital budget or other budgetary concerns. Those wishing to address school officials can begin signing up in the Annapolis board room at 6 p.m., according to an Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) release. Following the public hearing, the board is set to adopt the superintendent’s capital budget for fiscal year 2014 as …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
AACPS officials canceled all after-school events due to Tuesday night's weather forecast.
Tuesday's severe weather forecast caused Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) officials to cancel all after-school activities, including Chesapeake Bay Middle's back-to-school night. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a coastal flooding advisory Tuesday morning due to anticipated rain and wind gusts that could reach 40 mph. The closing affects all after-school sports events, band practices, rehearsals and the like. Parents with children in after-school day care should check with corresponding agencies to learn of any closings, AACPS said. Five back-to-school nights were scheduled for Tuesday night:
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
School superintendent Kevin Maxwell recommends requesting nearly $48 million from the state to fund county building and design projects.
The Anne Arundel County Board of Education discussed Superintendent Kevin Maxwell’s recommended capital budget for fiscal year 2014 Tuesday night, specifically examining projects where state funding is being sought. Of the superintendent’s nearly $240 million proposed capital budget, Maxwell is asking the state to cover almost $48 million worth of upgrades and renovations at Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS). That leaves about $194 million to be funded by the county itself. AACPS Chief Operating Officer Alex Szachnowicz and AACPS Director of Facilities Lisa Seaman-Crawford broke down the proposed capital budget piece by piece, inspecting each project’s history, status and potential progression. Szachnowicz explained that the state…
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Auditors report that African-American students make up 22 percent of total enrollment, but receive nearly 45 percent of all referrals issued by educators.
A recent audit has revealed that Anne Arundel County schools continue to have a disparity in the percentage of disciplinary referrals issued to African-American students. School officials who conducted an audit of disciplinary referrals—specifically towards African-American students—presented their findings to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Wednesday. Leading the audit team was Arlen Liverman, AACPS deputy superintendent of schools, and Carlesa Finney, AACPS director of equity assurance and human relations. From December 2011 to May 2012, the team conducted an “audit of student records and a review of the electronic data of discipline referrals for disrespect, insubordination, disruption and inappropriate language,” …
Amy Leahy
11:00 am on Monday, January 14, 2013
Seriously? County employees took pay cuts. No wonder there's constant bickering between the county government and the BOE. more ›