MCPS

The Board of Education business meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23, will cover key items of public interest, including discussions and Board decisions on The Recommended FY 2024 Operating Budget (Agenda Item 5.1).

The Board will take tentative action on the superintendent’s recommended $3.15 billion Operating Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The Board amended the superintendent’s recommended budget, which includes additional staffing for support, monitoring and oversight of math and literacy programs, and investments that will strengthen recruitment and retention of quality and diverse staff and other supports to enhance two-way communication with families. The request includes a $245 million increase from FY 2023.

The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence, the NAACP Parents’ Council and Identity, Inc. are hosting a virtual conversation with MCPS Superintendent Monifa McKnight on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The event will take place via Zoom from 6:30–8 p.m.

The event will provide an opportunity for families to ask questions on topics, including how well students are doing in school; the anti-racist audit and equity, and student well-being. RSVP and ask a question here. Spanish interpretation will be available. Feb. 22 Virtual Conversation with Dr. McKnight.

The Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) is looking for car donations. Donations will help more high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and restore used cars. The ATF is a nonprofit that fosters automotive education by offering students hands-on instruction in maintenance, repair, sales and marketing. The students run a mini-dealership where people can purchase the refurbished cars.

The ATF accepts donations year-round by appointment at Damascus, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley high schools, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology and at the Shady Grove Bus Depot. Donations are tax deductible. Call 240-740-2047 to donate. MCPS students engage in a hands-on curriculum to refurbish used cars. As part of the automotive program, students sell the cars at three sales throughout the school year. The last car sale of the year will be held from 9–11 a.m. on Saturday, May 6, at Thomas Edison High School of Technology in Silver Spring. More information

The Montgomery County branch of the NAACP is awarding $1,000 scholarships to MCPS graduating seniors. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 24. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above, participate in extracurricular activities and participate in faith-based, religious-based or volunteer activities.

Completed applications should be sent to Rebecca Gibson, Board of Education office, Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 123, Rockville, MD, 20850. If you have questions, send an email here. The scholarships will be presented during the annual Freedom Fund Dinner on May 21. NCAAP Scholarship Application, 2023

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking nominations from the public for its 26th Annual Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. The awards are sponsored by the Board to recognize and show appreciation to individuals, groups and organizations that have made exemplary contributions to public education in Montgomery County. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories:

“Individual Pioneer” award nominees are individuals who, although they may not be currently active, have made extraordinary contributions in the past. The nominee’s contributions must have had a profound effect on the school system over a sustained period of time. Nominations in other categories must be of individuals (including MCPS students), groups or organizations that have, within the past three years, provided service, support and commitment to public education as demonstrated by:

On Policy ABC, the Board is seeking comments on proposed amendments to update processes for parent/guardian engagement in decisions affecting their students and their students’ schools. The policy has been available for comment since Feb. 9, 2023. The public comment period will extend through Thursday, April 20. The draft amendments propose—

Revisions to align with updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships and findings from the MCPS Anti-Racist Audit final report.

Sami Saeed, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, and Yoseph Zerihun, a junior at Springbrook High School, are the finalists for the 46th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Elections will be held on April 19. From a pool of 12 students, Mr. Saeed and Mr. Zerihun were chosen by more than 400 voting middle and high school delegates attending the SMOB Nominating Convention at Watkins Mill High School.

Mr. Sami Saeed is a junior at Richard Montgomery High School. He currently serves as the president of the Richard Montgomery Student Government Association (SGA), and is a member of the SMOB Advisory Council and the Montgomery County Commission on Youth and Children. He is an avid writer and has written for The Tide, Richard Montgomery’s student newspaper, and The MoCo Student newspaper.