School Board approves $2.5 billion operating budget for next school year -- This Week in BCPS

Monday, March 4, 2024

Board of Education approves $2.5 billion operating budget for next school year

The Board of Education voted on February 27 to approve a $2.58 billion Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget for BCPS. The proposed budget request, which includes a modest increase of $42.3 million over the FY 2024 general fund budget, will allow BCPS to fast forward student achievement.

The proposed budget request includes targeted resources to implement strategic initiatives that will facilitate improvements in the school system's English language arts, mathematics, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and special education programs. This includes:

Reduced class sizes in Grades 3-5.
Expansion of full-day PreKindergarten programs.
Compensation enhancements for staff.
Special education Individualized Education Program (IEP) chairpersons in elementary schools.
Elementary math lead teachers pilot.
Additional special education, ESOL, staff development, and special area teachers.
New English Language Learner (ELL) and secondary English language arts curriculum.
Expansion of community schools.
Virtual academy teachers.
Student safety assistants and additional athletic trainers.

The Board’s operating budget request reflects input from an array of stakeholders, including staff, parents, students, and community members.

The Board’s budget request will now go to the Baltimore County Executive for review and consideration for his April budget proposal, followed by the County Council’s vote to adopt the budget in May.

County Executive to host Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Town Hall Meetings

Interested Team BCPS stakeholders are invited to the County Executive's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Town Hall Meetings. Those who cannot attend the meetings can watch them livestreamed on Baltimore County Government's YouTube page and can submit ideas and thoughts via townhall@baltimorecountymd.gov.

Wednesday, March 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Perry Hall High School, 4601 Ebenezer Rd., Baltimore 21236

Wednesday, March 13, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Dundalk Elementary School, 2717 Playfield St., Dundalk 21222

Wednesday, March 27, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

CCBC Catonsville, Center for the Arts Building, 800 S. Rolling Rd., Catonsville 21228

Red House Run Elementary celebrates its new school building at a ribbon-cutting ceremony

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined members of the Board of Education of Baltimore County, the Baltimore County Council, and the Baltimore County delegation in officially cutting the ribbon on the new Red House Run Elementary School. The $66.2 million project replaces the old school building and is almost twice the size of the former building. Photos from the event are on Flickr.

Committed to keeping student-athletes safe and healthy: BCPS celebrates National Athletic Training Month

In recognition of National Athletic Training Month, BCPS salutes its many athletic trainers who serve as frontline workers helping to keep student-athletes safe and healthy and helping them improve their athletic performance.

A new blog post introduces four of them, all BCPS graduates:

Brandie Bryant, an Eastern Technical High School graduate, working at Sparrows Point High School;
Camden Cook, an Eastern Tech graduate, working at Hereford High School;
Kaitlyn Jackson, a Kenwood High School graduate, working at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology; and
Ananda Price, a Carver Center graduate, working at Randallstown High School.

They share thoughts about their profession as well as advice for students considering working in this field.

Athletic Trainers Camden Cook, Ananda Price, Kaitlyn Jackson, and Brandie Bryant

Meet some of our school social workers;

BCPS celebrates National School Social Work Week

To celebrate National School Social Work Week, March 3-9, 2024, BCPS presents brief profiles of five of its many talented and dedicated school social workers.

ShaNay Dulic, LCSW-C

Sparrows Point Middle School

Sergio Haberman, LCSW-C

Parkville High School

Mary Roberts, LCSW-C

Chesapeake High School

Kristan Scott, LCSW-C

Windsor Mill Middle School

Valerie Youngblood, LCSW-C

Fullerton and Norwood elementary schools

Join us for BCPS Curriculum Nights

Discover more about what students are learning

Team BCPS students, parents, caregivers, and stakeholders are invited to participate in the 2024 BCPS Curriculum Nights. These events are opportunities for families to learn about BCPS curriculum and current system efforts to make improvements in English language arts, mathematics, early childhood education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and special education. BCPS staff will also discuss what families can expect to see their children learning in the academic priority areas and will provide tips and resources on how to support students at home. Attendees will have an opportunity to view curricular and instructional materials and ask questions. The March 12 session will be livestreamed on the BCPS-TV YouTube channel.

Tuesday, March 12, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Woodlawn High School

1801 Woodlawn Dr., Woodlawn 21207

Tuesday, April 30, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Dulaney High School

255 E. Padonia Rd., Timonium 21093

Participate in upcoming Community Conversations with Superintendent Rogers

BCPS Superintendent Dr. Myriam Rogers invites the Team BCPS community to discuss a variety of important school system-related topics at upcoming Community Conversations. During the events, Dr. Rogers will share information about key priorities for BCPS, hear from Team BCPS community members, and answer questions. The April 3 session will be livestreamed on the BCPS-TV YouTube channel.

Thursday, March 14, from 6-7 p.m.

Owings Mills High School

124 S. Tollgate Rd., Owings Mills 21117

Wednesday, April 3, from 6-7 p.m.

Eastern Technical High School

1100 Mace Ave., Essex 21221

Wednesday, April 10, from 6-7 p.m.

Loch Raven Technical Academy

8101 Lasalle Rd., Towson 21286

Interpreting services available for Curriculum Nights and Community Conversations

Spanish interpretation will be provided at all sessions. Interpreting services for other languages are also available upon request at no cost to participants. Please contact 443-809-1250 as early as possible to request.

Black History Month roundup

Throughout February, Black History Month, BCPS and its schools, centers, and programs offered a wide array of activities and programs focused on African American history and culture. Here is a small sampling:

BCPS Black Excellence Program holds community celebration

The BCPS Black Excellence program supports students as they learn about the people, places, and events within the Black experience. Students assess their knowledge through a book study, a school-based competition, and/or development of a presentation. During the systemwide celebration, held on February 24 at Perry Hall High School, students displayed presentations they developed in response to the research prompt or the books they read. Community members, families, and other students viewed displays and asked students about their presentations. More photos can be found on Flickr.

BCPS announces winners of 2024 Black History Month Writing Contest

The winners of the 2024 BCPS Black History Month Writing Contest are:

Kindergarten – Grade 2: Temiloluwa Esther Adebayo, Winand Elementary School
Grades 3-5: Lily Rosenfeld, Riderwood Elementary School
Grades 6-8: Kyla Griffin, Virtual Learning Program – Middle School
Grades 9-12: Kaja Swan, Woodlawn High School

Their winning entries can be read on the BCPS blog.

This year, the contest, coordinated by the BCPS Offices of English Language Arts and Social Studies, challenged students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 to write about an African American public figure in the arts. More than 115 students from 47 schools participated.

Hebbville Elementary School hosts annual Black History Month celebration

Woodlawn High School students competed in 2nd Annual Black History Month Jeopardy

In Woodlawn High School's 2nd Annual Black History Month Jeopardy, competing teams were comprised of students, Baltimore County police officers, and leaders from local Enterprise (car rental and sales) locations. Black History Month Jeopardy was organized by Officer Kawahn Young, through his nonprofit Save Our Young Baltimore and his work with the Baltimore County Police Department Youth and Community Services Office.

Pikesville High School welcomes a visit from The Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro League Baseball

Deer Park Elementary School students impersonate prominent Black leaders of the past and present

Wellwood International welcomes dance company to explore 50 years of hip hop

The deadline is here!

Last chance to submit haiku.

Have you written yours?

BCPS students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, are encouraged to enter the 2024 Team BCPS Haiku Contest. Students are asked to write works inspired by a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces.

Three winners will be selected (one each at the elementary, middle, and high school levels) and awarded prizes. This year's contest will accept entries until 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 4. Entries must be submitted using an online form. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, April 17, International Haiku Poetry Day.

Winners (from Grades 4 through 12) will receive a scholarship to participate in this summer’s asynchronous writing camp (June 24 – August 23), sponsored by the Maryland Writing Project at Towson University. Other prizes will include a gift from The Charmery and a framed print of the winning haiku and the artwork that inspired it.

While registration is full for the BCPS summer art and musical theatre camps, space is still available in the music and dance camps. These summer enrichment programs are open to students entering Grades 5-12 in the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 17. Early registration is encouraged. Bus transportation is available. Fee waivers are available for students who do not have permanent or adequate housing.

Summer Dance Intensive

Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 12, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Pikesville High School

Cost: $130 per student

Summer Dance Intensive registration form

Summer Music Camp Session I -- orchestra and songwriting

Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 12, from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Pikesville High School

Cost: $130 per student

Summer Music Camp registration form

Summer Music Camp Session II -- band and ukulele

Monday, July 15, through Friday, July 19, from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dumbarton Middle School

Cost: $130 per student

Summer Music Camp registration form

Have you taken the 2024 BCPS Climate Survey?

The annual BCPS Climate Survey has been revised with fewer questions and a focus on school climate and engagement. Students in Grades 3–12, parents/caregivers, community members, and all staff are asked to complete the online survey, which is accessible from the BCPS home page. The survey takes three minutes or less to complete, is anonymous, and is available in multiple languages. The survey window will close on Friday, March 8.

Black History Month spotlight on BCPS graduates concludes

Each school day throughout Black History Month, BCPS honored graduates from BCPS high schools on social media. The final graduates highlighted are:

Margo Burr

New Town High School graduate

Co-owner, Groove Kidz dance studio; TV fashion & lifestyle expert

Noah Cutwright

Lansdowne High School graduate

Award-winning cartoonist and director

Amyah Davis

Kenwood High School graduate

Biochemistry student, University of Maryland

Dr. Donnette Deigh

Chesapeake High School graduate

Assistant professor, Alliant International University;

Social science research analyst, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Sephora Dikabou

Pikesville High School graduate

Senior child advocacy specialist, CASA of Travis County (Texas)

Iris Miller-Powell

Sparrows Point High School graduate

Playwright and author of several books, including "Steel Town Girl"

Chiamaka Nnah, MSN, PMHNP-BC, RN

Western School of Technology graduate

Founder & psychiatric nurse practitioner, Serenity Mental Health Center, LLC

Jamal Oakman

Towson High School graduate

Master of Public Policy candidate, University of Maryland Fellows Program

Cohosted by BCPS and the Community College of Baltimore County, this special event connects BCPS students with a wide range of colleges and universities from across the country. Questions? Email collegefair@ccbcmd.edu. Please register in advance for this free event. Transportation will be available for students interested in attending. Students should contact their school counselors for more information.

Tuesday, March 12, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Catonsville

800 S. Rolling Rd.

Wellness Center – Parking lot 5

Catonsville 21228

Wednesday, March 13, from 6-8 p.m.

CCBC Essex

7201 Rossville Blvd.

Wellness Center – Parking lot 3

Essex 21237

for parents

from BCPS Parent University

Applying for financial aid for college? New podcast offers useful tips

In the newest "In the Know" podcast episode, Mark Gay, director of the Office of Financial Aid at the Community College of Baltimore County, shares updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, and offers tips to successfully navigate the financial aid process.

Looking for more ideas and information? Please sign up for the Parent University newsletter! It is designed specifically for parents and caregivers and offers ideas, information, resources, and opportunities.

for your viewing pleasure

"Feather" by Noah Warner, Grade 2, Hillcrest Elementary School. Work featured in The 2023 Winter Art Exhibition at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.

To see more artwork by BCPS students, teachers, and other members of the BCPS community, please visit the Office of Visual Arts gallery webpage.

mission moment

from The Education Foundation of BCPS

Student volunteers from Battle Monument and Maiden Choice schools help keep Exchangeree shelves stocked

Three years ago, Maiden Choice School created a new vocational and life skills program specifically designed for students with severe and profound disabilities. The Education Foundation's Exchangeree center in Windsor Mill provided an internship site where the students could strengthen work skills, and the foundation could receive support in all the behind-the-scenes work of its educator resource center.

Now, in addition to the program in Windsor Mill, students from Battle Monument School and St. Elizabeth School intern at the Exchangeree in Rosedale/Golden Ring.

A new Mission Moment blog post further describes the program and features testimonials from school staff, foundation leaders, and foundation volunteer coordinators.

A word from Dr. Rogers

March 4, 2024

Dear Reader:

When I accepted the position of BCPS superintendent, I stressed that the work of educating our more than 110,000 students is work that must be embraced by the entire community.

From designing budgets to implementing curricular programs, we regularly seek the input of staff, students, parents/caregivers, and community partners. We want to hear your voices, and we value your perspectives.

Next week, we are happy to host two opportunities for dialogue. Please join us.

On Tuesday, March 12, from 6-7:30 p.m., we invite you to Woodlawn High School for our first Curriculum Night. Join us to learn more about what we are teaching, to view instructional materials, and to explore our plans to improve learning, especially in English language arts, mathematics, early childhood education, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and special education.

Then, on Thursday, March 14, from 6-7 p.m., at Owings Mills High School, we will host our first Community Conversation of the year. This is an opportunity for me to share with you the latest on our priorities and initiatives and for me to hear from you on a wide range of topics.

I hope that you can join us for one or both of these events -- and at upcoming Curriculum Nights and Community Conversations. I look forward to seeing you.

Regards,

Myriam Rogers, Ed.D.

Superintendent