Garrett school board rethinking building transfer

Debt remains for construction at former Dennett Road facility

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — A decision whether to rescind a portion of a vote taken April 24 to transfer Dennett Road School to Garrett County government is on the Board of Education’s Tuesday meeting agenda. The transfer is being reconsidered because of a $140,214 construction debt that has eight years remaining, said Janet Wilson, superintendent of Garrett County schools.

“The board is looking at holding on to the building in light of debt. We are looking at ways in which the building could be used to enhance educational opportunities for all students,” said Wilson.

The business portion of the meeting, in the board’s central office, will be held at 6 p.m. Public comment is accepted at both 4 and 7 p.m.

After the board filed the necessary paperwork to transfer the school with the Maryland Public School Construction program and upon receipt of that paperwork, Robert Crocetti, director of finance, informed the board of the debt, according to Wilson.

“Crocetti notified us that there were two construction projects with remaining debt relative to the facility. The debt represented a 15-year Maryland state bond maturing in FY 2019,” said Wilson.

The debt was for two capital improvement projects — one in 2000 for wiring, with about $16,000 in debt remaining, and one in 2001 for a boiler, with about $106,804 in debt remaining. Interest applies in both projects.

“It was a good catch by Dr. Wilson not to transfer the building to the county,” said County Administrator Monty Pagenhardt.

The former Dennett Road school building could potentially be used for a maintenance building, for a shared (board and county) information technology department, a satellite food service or as a Head Start for Garrett Community Action, Pagenhardt said.

“The county didn’t have plans for the building but it was always in the back of our minds to use it as a maintenance facility,” said Pagenhardt.

The potential uses for the building will be presented during Tuesday’s meeting, Wilson said.

“The school will remain closed to student attendance,” she said.

Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools closed May 30, following the board’s April vote to do so in a cost-cutting measure. The county voted Tuesday to allow Garrett County Community Action Committee to continue to use the former Kitzmiller school for Head Start.

“The library is still currently utilizing the school (Kitzmiller) building. I know there is a request out by a group to use the building for an after-school program,” said commission chairman Jim Raley. “We have no certainty as to when the building is going to be transferred to us. We do have money in the budget to sustain the school for this particular school year because we anticipated that it would be turned over to us in a period of time.”

Also during Tuesday’s board meeting, Rodney Reckart, who was appointed to Rodney Durst’s District 3 seat on the board, will be administered the oath of office. Durst recently resigned his post.

Other agenda items include the awarding of school bus contracts; application for a public charter school; a food and nutrition services bid; an update on Yough Glades elementary school; a State Highway Administration archeological investigation and the Bethel School deed.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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Commissioners To Gauge Interest Of Those Seeking Vacated BOE Spot

Jul. 19, 2012

With elected Garrett County Board of Education member Rodney Durst effectively vacating his position on July 31, the Garrett County Board of County Commissioners is currently tasked with filling his spot.

Consistent with Maryland state code, the commissioners have the legal authority to appoint a replacement to serve out the remainder of Durst's term of office on the BOE.

To that end, the board of commissioners has begun to solicit letters of interest and personal credentials from persons who may be interested in appointment to this position.

Those interested must reside in District 3, which encompasses Oakland and the surrounding southeastern portion of the county. For more detailed district information one may visit http://garrettcounty.org, and click on the "Board of Elections" link.

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The commissioners ask that interested persons submit their information to Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator at the office of Board of County Commissioners, by the end of the business day on July 31.

The Board of County Commissioners plans to review the individual credentials received and make an official appointment during its public meeting on Aug. 7.

Those seeking further information may contact Monty Pagenhardt at 301-334-8970.

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Garrett County school board member resigns

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — Garrett County commissioners are reviewing a list of potential candidates following the resignation of Board of Education vice president Rodney Durst. The reason behind the resignation was unclear Tuesday night.

“Rodney Durst has submitted his resignation effective now,” Monty Pagenhardt, county administrator, said during a Tuesday meeting of the Board of Commissioners. “Commissioners are taking the names of people who submitted interest back when Jim (Raley) resigned.” Raley resigned his seat as a member-at-large in 2010.

Durst’s seat will be filled by a resident from District 3. Pagenhardt and Carol Riley-Alexander, executive assistant to the commissioners, will contact potential candidates today to see if they are still interested. The term expires in December 2014.

“There have also been other people that have submitted their names and we will take those into consideration also,” said Pagenhardt. Anybody else who is interested should submit a letter of interest to the commissioners for that vacancy.”

The Board of Education made a decision in April to close Kitzmiller and Dennett Road elementary schools. During an April meeting, Durst indicated his opposition to closing the schools.

“… I’m afraid if we close the schools, even if they come through with twice the money, they won’t open back up,” he said. “I will not be able to vote to close schools tonight.”

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners voted to hold a public hearing on their right to opt out of a law that requires sprinkler systems for townhouses and one- and two-family dwellings.

“Local governments can opt out until the next cycle of building codes come into play, which is in 2015,” said John Nelson, director of the Department of Planning and Land Development.

Nelson said the Department of Permits and Inspections Divisions was notified by the Maryland Codes of Administration of the modification to the residential sprinkler law. The public hearing will be held during the Aug. 21 commission meeting.

When the law had been discussed at a June commission meeting the department of planning was under the impression that all jurisdictions would have to adopt the law by Oct 1, according to Nelson.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

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Garrett’s board of education sets meeting to talk spending

Superintendent to offer scenarios on how to hold on to employees

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

— OAKLAND — The Maryland General Assembly’s passing of the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2012 means $1 million-plus for education in Garrett County.

The legislations’ enactment also means the school board needs to meet to decide on the best use of the money, said Charlotte Sebold, the board’s president.

A special meeting of the Garrett County Board of Education is being held Wednesday to discuss possible spending scenarios.

Scenarios that will likely be discussed include retaining more personnel and revisiting the decision to close Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools, according to Sebold.

“The superintendent will provide scenarios on what the board can do with monies to best serve students of Garrett County and to preserve jobs,” said Sebold. “We are looking at keeping as many employees as possible.”

There are no laws that prevent the board from revisiting the decision made at the April 24 meeting to close the two schools, Sebold said.

The commissioners provided the board with $500,000 for fiscal year 2013 and suggested that the money be used to reduce the number of instructional employee cuts from 40 to 28. In total, the county has appropriated $25.3 million to the board for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The General Assembly passed an income tax hike on Wednesday that targets six-figure earners and will avoid about $500 million in budget cuts. 

Gov. Martin O’Malley emphasized that the special session was needed to protect education, to keep college tuition affordable and preserve public safety.

Leo Martin, mayor of Mountain Lake Park, presented a petition with more than 2,400 signatures to the school board Monday, said resident Elizabeth Hebden.

The petition contained signatures of more than 10 percent of all registered voters in Garrett County, Hebden said.

The petition asked board members for another vote on the April 24 school-closing decision, pending the passage of the revenue bill by state legislators and the receipt of additional funding for Garrett County schools.

The petition was accepted by Sebold but there was no discussion on it, according to Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools.

“It was premature for the board to adopt the school closure policy in light of the Maryland General Assembly special session that opened earlier today (Monday),” said resident James “Smokey” Stanton. “The special session was called in order to adopt a state budget with revised expenditures and revenues, and it is likely that state funds for Garrett County will increase as the result of the special session.”

Stanton said the board didn’t have a contingency plan to maintain Dennett Road and Kitzmiller elementary schools if the legislature approves additional funds for Garrett County schools.

“Small schools are exceptionally important to the economic health of our small towns and small communities, and it does not seem that this essential factor has been adequately taken into account with the proposed closures for this year and the proposals for future years,” said Stanton.

The special board of education meeting will be held Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Southern Middle School cafeteria.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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BOE Hears School Closure Committees

Mar. 15, 2012

The Garrett County Board of Education heard three advisory committee reports on Tuesday concerning the proposed closure of three county elementary schools – Dennett Road, Friendsville, and Kitzmiller. All three committees made appeals to the board to keep the schools open and operating.

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The advisory committee representatives made their respective cases in the cafeteria of Southern Middle School, a venue selected by the board to accommodate the larger than usual crowd expected.

The groups cited the stress that would be placed on children by longer commute times, the loss of educational programs, and the damage that would be done to the surrounding communities as reasons to not close the schools.

It was also generally believed by the advisory committees that eliminating the three schools would cause crowding at other facilities and also adversely affect Garrett County's ability to attract new industries and businesses.

"Class size is important," stated Leo Martin, Mtn. Lake Park mayor, during the public comment forum.

"If we close these schools what do we do with the buildings? You simply create another burden for the tax payer. Like it or not, Garrett County will develop – what do we do then without adequate space for students?"

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MACo Supporting Local Lawmakers' BOE Funding Bills

Feb. 16, 2012

Garrett County commissioner Gregan Crawford announced yesterday that the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) has voted to support House Bill 660/Senate Bill 586 – Education – State Aid – Grant to Limit Decreases in Funding. Crawford is a member MACo's board of directors and Legislative Committee.

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The proposed legislation, which was introduced by Sen. George Edwards and cross-filed in the House of Delegates by Delegates Wendell Beitzel, Kevin Kelly, and LeRoy Myers, was drafted for the purpose of requiring the state to provide a certain grant to a county board of education for fiscal years 2013 through 2015 if certain funding provided to a county board decreases by not more than 5 percent.

Approval of this legislation by the Maryland General Assembly would equate to additional funding for the Garrett County Public School System, estimated to be $1 million. The Garrett County Board of Education is estimating a loss of state revenue for FY 2013 of $2.7 million. Favorable review of this legislation by the General Assembly and the governor would reduce the predicted deficit, according to county administrator Monty Pagenhardt.


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Commissioners Issue Statement On Board Of Education Funding Issue

Feb. 9, 2012

The Garrett County commissioners issued a statement during their public session on Tuesday concerning the local Board of Education's fiscal year 2013 funding woes. About 50 local residents turned out to hear the announcement.

Commission board chair Jim Raley prefaced the statement reading by noting that he and the other two commissioners have attended all the BOE public hearings regarding the possible closures of Dennett Road, Friendsville, and Kitzmiller elementary schools.

"It is important to understand that while the state of Maryland has cut funding to education in Garrett County due to the wealth factor formula and the declining student population, the county has increased funding in excess of requirements known as the maintenance of effort by $860,000," Commissioner Gregan Crawford read from the statement. "In fiscal year 2012, the Board of Education funding level was reduced by the state by $1.5 million, while Garrett County increased funding by $1.7 million, which is equivalent to all new tax revenue due the county."

The commissioners noted that they recognize the serious financial situation that the BOE faces and that closing schools requires complex decisions that will have long-term implications on communities.

"The commissioners also recognize and emphasize that the issue and actions regarding school budgets, closure of schools, and the overall decisions about our school system rest in the elected members of the Board of Education," Crawford read. "Any action on the part of the board of commissioners as the funding sources is not intended to usurp their difficult decisions."

The statement notes that Garrett County government has also experienced a financial shortfall and that there are numerous challenges to securing funding for public services for residents, property owners, and visitors.

"Initial estimates reveal that the county real estate values have declined for FY 2012 and likely will result in a loss of $1.4 million in revenues to the county," Crawford read. "Therefore, we are willing and open to increase county government's financial appropriation to the Garrett County public school system, but are unable to provide a solid figure at this time, due to several variables."

In the mean time, he indicated, the commissioners will do the following:

• Encourage the BOE to review retirement incentives in order to encourage retirements that will allow for the reduction of staff numbers without eliminating the jobs of new employees.

• Encourage the BOE to collaborate with the county to identify areas where overlapping services and practices may be consolidated and/or reduced in order to mitigate costs related to maintenance of effort.

• Encourage the BOE to continue to engage the public, central office staff, instructional staff, and administrative personnel for input in ways to enhance and maximize operations, as well as consider all options and proposals that can generate savings.

• Provide and direct additional funding, within affordability parameters, thus allowing the BOE the opportunity to look at a long-range vision of school needs based on projected enrollments and community interests as contained in the reports to be presented by the school communities.

• Support legislation (SB 586/HB 660) proposed by Sen. George Edwards and Del. Wendell Beitzel to cap the loss of state funding to any school district to a 5.5 percent limit.

Raley asked for the public's help in getting SB 586/HB 660 passed in the Maryland General Assembly.

"We need to inundate the legislative folks with calls, comments, e-mails on that bill," Raley said. "We need to give that bill some momentum."

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BOE Postpones School Closure Advisory Meeting

Feb. 2, 2012

The Garrett County Board of Education has announced that it will postpone its special meeting for the presentation of the Dennett Road Elementary, Friendsville Elementary, and Kitzmiller Elementary advisory committee reports.

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The special meeting for these advisory committee reports to the Board of Education will be rescheduled for a date to be announced after the board's regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14.


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Myers’ bill revives a BOE battle

Kristin Harty Barkley Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Little Orleans parents lost several battles last year in the fight to keep their children in Washington County schools — first to the Allegany County Board of Education, then to a circuit court judge, then to the Maryland State Board of Education, which rejected an appeal.

But the war isn’t over yet. The latest skirmish is taking place before the General Assembly in Annapolis.

On Monday, Delegate LeRoy Myers Jr. introduced a bill that would allow children in Maryland to attend public school in an adjoining county if they live more than 30 miles away from the closest school in their home county, with the home county providing funding.

House Bill 335 drew immediate criticism from local school officials, who voted to end the decade-old Washington County School Choice program last summer because of budget concerns.

In an email on Tuesday, Superintendent David Cox asked other members of the Western Maryland Delegation — Sen. George Edwards and delegates Kevin Kelly and Wendell Beitzel — to oppose the bill, saying it would be “further financially devastating.”

Both Allegany and Garrett county school systems have lost a significant amount of state funding because of declining enrollment and other factors. Last year, state funding for Allegany was cut by around $5.3 million, and the governor’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 includes $4.3 million in cuts.

For the last decade — ever since consolidation closed Flintstone School — about 40 Little Orleans children have attended middle and high school in Hancock, which is geographically closer than Cumberland. But last spring, the board voted to phase out the program, while allowing about 20 high school students to finish their education in Hancock. Another 20 middle school students were not included in the grandfather clause, prompting a group of about three dozen families to file a lawsuit against the Allegany BOE.

In August, Allegany County Circuit Court Judge Tom Leasure denied a temporary injunction to allow middle school students to continue attending Hancock, saying that long bus rides to school did not “constitute irreparable injury.”

During months of turmoil over the issue, Myers announced that he intended to file legislation to address the problem, allowing students to attend school in an adjoining county if it is closer.

Myers filed the bill as a statewide bill — not an Allegany County bill — so it doesn’t need the support of a majority of the Western Maryland Delegation. The bill has been assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee.

Kelly said he doesn’t believe the bill will gain much momentum, adding that he expects opposition from the Maryland State Board of Education, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, and the Maryland Superintendent’s Association.

Edwards and Beitzel couldn’t be reached Tuesday for comment.
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“I haven’t spoken to LeRoy about it at all, nor did I expect to,” Kelly said. “If the bill would come out of committee, which would be somewhat surprising, I would not support the legislation.”

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com

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City Council, BOE candidates locked in

Councilman Hendershot stepping down from post after completing 18th year

Kristin Harty Barkley Cumberland Times-News

CUMBERLAND — Close to a dozen candidates have registered to compete for two open seats on Cumberland City Council, but neither incumbent is running.

Longtime Councilman Butch Hendershot withdrew his candidacy at the last minute on Wednesday, saying he is “just very tired” and feels it’s time to step down.

The deadline to register as a candidate for the April 3 primary election was 9 p.m. Wednesday.

“My family met with me last evening — it was an impromptu meeting — and we decided, to a person, that we weren’t willing to go through the rigors of another campaign,” said Hendershot, who is completing his 18th year in office.

Last February, he suffered a heart attack and has experienced other health problems.

“Especially since the heart attack, I’ve been increasingly fatigued,” said Hendershot, who originally filed for re-election on Jan. 5. “I probably prematurely filed. I wish I would have waited now.”

Nine other candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the two open council seats, meaning that voters will head to the polls on April 3 to narrow the field to six candidates.

Incumbent Mary Beth Pirolozzi announced earlier this month that she would not seek re-election.

While plenty of candidates are stepping up to fill the two available council seats, there’s a dearth of interest in the same number of spots on the Allegany County Board of Education.

Just two candidates had registered to run for the BOE positions by 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Allegany County Board of Elections.

That means that incumbent Ed Root will run unopposed in the November general election, as will BOE newcomer Nicolas Hadley, a former mayor of Lonaconing. Incumbent Jeff Metz, the most senior BOE member with two terms under his belt, will not run for re-election.

In Garrett County, two BOE members — incumbents Charlotte Sebold, a board member since 1993, and Cynthia Downton, who was appointed a year ago — filed for candidacy, as well as Darlena M. Grady, of Oakland, and Gary L. Barlow, of Grantsville.

Hendershot said he believes voters have a “good slate of candidates” to choose from.

“And I think there’s good leadership in place at the city,” Hendershot said.

“I’m real happy with the state of affairs right now, so that makes it a little easier to step away.”

Candidates for City Council include (in order of filing):

• Steven Phillips, a case management specialist at the Department of Juvenile Services.

• Albert Keener, who works for Alliance Publishing on Virginia Avenue.

• Nicole Wagoner, director of sales at Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.

• Dominic (Nick) DeArcangelis, co-owner at Annie’s Fine Furniture, on North Centre Street.

• David Caporale, vice president of Caporale’s Italian Bakery, on Mechanic Street.

• Sylvester Young, of Oldtown Road, whose Linked In page says he is employed by Friends Aware.

• Carey Walker, who retired from Allegany County Public Schools after 39 years.

• Thomas Taccino, who is self-employed in the auto sales and repair business.

• John Cline, retired chief deputy fire chief for the Cumberland Fire Department.

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com

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BOE To Meet Next Tuesday

Jan. 5, 2012

The Garrett County Board of Education will hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 10, beginning at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Board of Education's central office in downtown Oakland.

Following public comment at 4 p.m., the board will meet in a closed session until 5:30 p.m. Election of new officers will take place following the 4 p.m. public comment.

At 5:30 p.m., the board will move to the public agenda items of reconfiguration of fifth grade students into middle schools and the financial resolution for the energy audit performance contract.

Time will be set aside at 7 p.m. for public comment and participation on any topic. The public is invited to attend.

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Garrett County residents will help hire new head of schools

Finding replacement for Teets will begin, end with public input

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News

OAKLAND — The Maryland Association of Boards of Education is seeking public input on the hiring of a new Garrett County schools superintendent. After public input is sought, the position will be open for applications no later than Jan. 1, according to Tom Carr, president of the Garrett County Board of Education.

Once public input is gathered, MABE will forward the comments to the Board of Education, which will use the comments to put together a job description.

“The interviewing process is going to begin with and end with public input,” said Carr.

MABE will host a public input session Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Southern High School cafetorium and BOE members will not attend this meeting. Those wishing to attend the input session are asked to consider two to three things that make Garrett County a special place to work, live and learn; four to five qualities/characteristics that would be favorable for a new superintendent; and challenges that a new superintendent will face in upcoming years.

“The board is relying on the community to embrace the effort and join us in searching for the best candidate possible,” said Carr.

MABE will receive applications until the end of February/March and a new superintendent will be hired by April to replace interim superintendent Sue Waggoner. She was named to the position in April, following the announcement of Wendell Teets’ retirement.

Selected representatives of stakeholders such as teachers, administrators, support staff, bus drivers, the business community, parents associations and service groups will be invited to interview the top three to four final candidates, which will require a three- or four-day commitment, explained Carr.

Although the position will be advertised nationally, Carr is hoping to find someone local to fill the position.

“I think we have enough talent in these mountains to hire someone locally. However, if we have someone great from the Eastern Shore, that would be fine, too,” said Carr.

Anyone who is unable to attend the public forum may submit written comments to Kitty Blumsack at kblumsack@mabe.org by Nov. 1.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

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BOE Considers Comcast's Web Access Program

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Oct. 13, 2011


The Garrett County Board of Education recently met (Tuesday, Oct. 11) with a representative of Comcast to discuss that company's Internet Essentials program.

The initiative seeks to provide students of households without web access with an Internet connection.

Through the program, Comcast is offering an Internet connection for $9.95 per month with free equipment and no installation fees. Comcast will also offer free Internet training for students and their families. The system is stand-alone and there is no need to purchase cable, telephone, or any other services offered by Comcast.

Students who qualify for free lunch also qualify for the Internet Essentials program. However, eligible households must be within the Comcast "footprint," or locations where the company has installed its cable systems. Those who utilize the program may not have been Comcast customers within 90 days of installation.

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Garrett school board meets today

OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education will take action on its capital improvement plan today at 6:45 p.m. Public comment will be accepted at 4 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

Other agenda topics include recommendation of a contractor for the detailed energy audit, a discussion of the master plan, and presentations on Dancing Classrooms and the Lions Club vision screening.

The board will meet in its Central Office, 40 S. Second St.

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BOE Announces Personnel Changes At Board Meeting

Jul. 14, 2011

At the Garrett County Board of Education meeting, held Tuesday in downtown Oakland, Susan Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools, announced the following personnel recommendations for the upcoming school year. They were approved unanimously by the members of the board.

New appointments: Timothy DeWitt, custodian III, Dennett Road Elementary, effective July 5; Wayne Resh, custodian III, Northern Middle, effective July 5; Lori Schmidt, secretary/media assistant, Friendsville Elementary, effective August 15; Tracy Rase, teacher, Route 40 Elementary, effective August 18; Melissa Davis, teacher, Broad Ford Elementary, effective August 18; Jencene Tice, teacher, Route 40 Elementary, effective August 18; and Jason Shank, principal, Southern Middle School, effective July 13.

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Budget cuts shutter summer camping program at Garrett outdoor school

The Cumberland Times-News Sun Jul 10, 2011, 10:57 PM EDT

ACCIDENT — Camp is a lot quieter than usual this year at Hickory Environmental Education Center — especially at night.

For the last several years, the giggles, screeches and snores of at least 50 youth have filled the overnight air at the center, which is the Garrett County Board of Education’s outdoor school.

This year, just about all you can hear is crickets chirping.

Residential camping, which usually takes place over five weeks during the summer, was canceled this year because of budget cuts, said Bruce Taliaferro, the center’s director.

Instead, organizers offered a one-week day camp, which ended on Friday. Forty-two students attended.

Last year, about 250 students camped overnight at the center, located on 77 acres near Northern Middle School, Taliaferro said.

“The budget was gone,” he said, adding that a second week of day camp for another group of students was planned, but was canceled because of short notice and a lack of participation.

“This isn’t our normal summer camp. We’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with it.”

The center, which opened in 1965, offers programs year-round to Garrett County students, who are bused in daily for programs in the nature center and planetarium. The summer residential program, which is free to campers, has been built up over the years to include students in grades four through seven, Taliaferro said.

State funding shortfalls hit school systems hard across Maryland this year, but especially in Garrett and Allegany counties, where student enrollment is declining. The Garrett County BOE, facing an estimated $3.1 million funding shortfall in April, voted to close Bloomington Elementary School to save around $426,000 a year. Kitzmiller Elementary, which was also on the chopping block, was spared for the time being, thanks to a $700,000 appropriation from county government.

Taliaferro hopes the school board can find funds to continue the residential camping program next year. Hickory Center programs offered during the school year aren’t being affected by budget cuts, he said.

“It’s the summer we lost out on,” Taliaferro said. “I’m concerned about next year. I’d still like to get the full camp next year.”

Students who attended last week’s day camp arrived at Hickory around 8:30 a.m. and went home around 5 p.m., their days filled with swimming, hiking, nature crafts, archery and drama performances.

“We made kites out of Wal-Mart bags,” said Josh Smith, a Northern Middle School seventh-grader, who was attending Hickory’s summer program for the third year.

The day camp was fun, said Josh and his friend, Justin Hershberger, but not as fun as camping overnight.

“You get to stay up late, have pillow fights, just — everything,” Justin said. “When you stay overnight you don’t have to go home. We have a lot less time because we have to go home and then come back ... and then we don’t have as many activities.”

Camp counselor Amy Lander coordinated an archery contest Friday morning, keeping score as Josh and Justin and a dozen other children competed. She’s worked with the Hickory residential program the last five years.

“It’s just a completely different feel,” Lander said of this year’s day camp. “It’s harder because we don’t get to interact with the kids as much, so we don’t get to know them as well. There’s not as much team bonding.”

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com.

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BOE Minimizes Cuts And Reductions In FY 2012 Budget

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Jun. 23, 2011

Overall there will be few instructional programs significantly impacted within the Board of Education's fiscal year 2012 budget.

The school system did have additional grant reductions within Title I and Perkins II-C Career and Technology Grants, which will be reduced by approximately $29,000.

Hickory Environmental Education Center summer program will be reduced from a five-week residential program to a potential two-week day camp. BOE representatives have stated that this initiative is in process.

Funds for Academic Intervention will also be reduced. While funding is still available at all instructional levels, there will be reductions primarily at the middle and high school levels. Transportation for Academic Intervention will be included in the budget.

The Alternative program bus that transported students from the northern end of the county to Southern High School has been eliminated. The Alternative program will be retained, however, and will now be provided by each school individually, utilizing current staff.

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New Students Must Register With BOE

Jun. 2, 2011

In a recent press release, the Garrett County Board of Education stated that parents/guardians should register their children who will be entering school for the first time.

If a parent/guardian did not register the kindergartner or first-grade student during the recent pre-registration program, one may do so by contacting the principal of the local school to arrange an appointment. This should be done as soon as possible.

Parents must take their child's birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of residency with them for the registration process. Students can not be enrolled without first providing this documentation.

Acceptable proofs of residency documents are: deed or mortgage agreement, current property tax bill, current lease or rental agreement, current utility bill with the parent/guardian's name and address, or a notarized Statement of Residency Verification form (available from county schools or the Pupil Services Office of the BOE). A child's Social Security number is also requested for state reporting requirements.

Any child who will be 5 years of age on or before Sept. 1 must be enrolled in kindergarten or apply for a one-year maturity wavier. Any family who plans to use home instruction (home-schooling) instead of enrolling a student in school must submit forms at least 15 days prior to the first day of the school year.

Information may be obtained through the Pupil Services Office located at the BOE building or by calling 301-334-8939 or 301-359-9209.

Read more here.

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BOE Weathers "Perfect Storm"; No Layoffs Scheduled For 2012

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May. 19, 2011

At a special meeting of the Garrett County Board of Education held on Tuesday, Dr. Wendell Teets, superintendent of schools, announced that no school personnel would be laid off in 2012.

This news, well received by a few teachers and faculty members in attendance, was attributed in part to the savings gained from a retirement incentive offered by the school system.

In all, the incentive allowed the schools to reduce through attrition 27 faculty positions, apply those savings to the budget, and avoid terminating any employees.

"This program has saved a lot of young teachers and provided an investment in the future," Teets said of the incentive. "Without it we would have had to look at layoffs."

In a presentation on the 2012 budget, Teets dubbed the recent impact on the county's state aid a "perfect storm."

Initially faced with a budget shortfall of around $3 million, the Garrett County education system recorded the state's largest drop in enrollment and its largest per pupil wealth increase, all while the state's per pupil wealth decreased.

Read the full article here.

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Garrett BOE to maintain staffing levels thanks to appropriations, retirements

Kristin Harty Barkley
Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Tue May 17, 2011, 11:29 PM EDT

— OAKLAND — Garrett County teachers who received pink slips earlier this month can breathe a little easier.

They’re keeping their jobs — at least for the coming year.

After months of struggle, Superintendent Wendell Teets presented a proposed fiscal 2012 budget Tuesday night that maintains most existing programs, including some that were previously on the chopping block, such as afterschool and athletic programs.

And, thanks to 27 teachers who are retiring through an incentive program, the school system can maintain staffing levels in the coming year.

“That program saved a lot of young teachers and provided an investment in the future of the school system,” Teets said during a special meeting of the Garrett County Board of Education. “We would have had to look at layoffs.”

Though the school system’s budget is 2 percent less than last year, the budget presented Tuesday salvaged far more than many had expected.

Initially faced with a $3.1 million funding shortfall, the board has been considering a variety of painful cuts, including closing its two most-expensive-to-operate elementary schools — Bloomington and Kitzmiller.

After receiving additional appropriations from the county and state, the board voted in April to close Bloomington at the end of this year, saving around $426,000 in the fiscal 2012 budget.

Kitzmiller, it decided, could remain open — for now.

“It’s been a hard year,” said Teets, who is retiring this summer after 14 years as superintendent. “Tough decisions. But we’ve been able to protect our program and support our students, and we’re doing the best we can to support our personnel.”

Education funding is expected to be in short supply for the foreseeable future as Garrett County faces declining enrollment and increasing wealth, based on a state funding formula. Enrollment in Garrett County schools has declined by around 10 percent over the last decade and is expected to decline another 10 percent by 2019, data shows. Currently, there are around 4,200 students in the system.

Like many other residents, Garrett County teacher Mary Jo Johnson anticipated the worst Tuesday when the proposed budget was unveiled.

“It was dread. Total dread,” said Johnson, who arrived just in time to hear a summary of the good news that all teachers will keep their jobs.

The board, which is reviewing the proposed budget, is expected to vote on a final version at its June meeting.

“They reinstated everyone — wonderful,” said Johnson, who teaches second grade at Accident Elementary School. She said two teachers there received layoff notices earlier this month.

“They may not necessarily be back in their same positions, but they have a job. That’s a big thing.”

Also on Tuesday, the board approved the following personnel appointments:

• David Yoder, principal of Accident Elementary School;

• Dawna Ashby, principal of Broad Ford Elementary School;

• Patrick Damon, principal Kitzmiller Elementary.

• Jessica Fratz, principal Swan Meadow School.

• Tracie Miller, principal Friendsville Elementary.

• Todd Shaffer, principal, Dennett Road Elementary.

• Deneice Shultz, pupil personnel worker, Central Office.

• Richard Stevens, assistant principal, Northern Middle School.

• Mary VanSickle, family support worker, Dennett Road Elementary.

• Lynan Friend, cafeteria worker, Broad Ford Elementary.

• Robert Sines, head custodian II, Northern Garrett High School.

• Tim Sines, head sucsodian III, Northern Middle School.

Contact Kristin Harty Barkley at kbarkley@times-news.com

If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

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