An opportunity for a position for a Purchasing Agent II in Baltimore County Public Schools.

Legislation introduced in the General Assembly is a legislator’s response to the needs or desires of his or her constituency. Over the next 90 days the Maryland General Assembly will be reviewing and debating new and pre-filed bills affecting Maryland's business of education, ASBO MD & DC will be following these bills and sharing information with our members. Look for emails from ASBO MD & DC providing information and updates on these proposals.

Here are some highlights of events of the Maryland General Assembly opening day, January 8, 2014...

To date, out of the approximately 2,600 measures that the General Assembly expects to consider before sine die on April 7, there are currently 130 Senate bills and 106 House Bills pre-filed and will be officially assigned to standing committees on opening day after introduction. The following represent some of the measures that may affect the business of Maryland education.

November 13, 2013 - The Board of Directors of ASBO MD-DC met at the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE) Office, Annapolis, MD.

The Board of Directors met at the Maryland Association of Boards of Education in Annapolis Maryland on September 4, 2013...attached are the minutes from that meeting.

Subsequent to the review of Baltimore County Public School’s application and supporting documentation, the National Institute for Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) has awarded Baltimore County Public Schools the Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award–OA4. Baltimore County met the requirements and was awarded re-certification and accreditation by the NIGP through December 20, 2016. The Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award recognizes those agencies that lead the public procurement profession through the implementation of best practices. The program is founded on a self-evaluation process using the Agency Accreditation Criteria Form. Agencies meeting the minimum requirements are OA4 are accredited for three years. BCPS is one of a handful of schools that are accredited, through the NIGP such as Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County GA Public Schools, Colorado Springs Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, Douglas County CO Public Schools, Edmonton AB, Public Schools, Mohave AZ Educational Services Cooperative, Norfolk VA Public Schools, Pittsburgh Board of Public Education, Prince William VA County Public Schools, Richmond VA Public Schools, Seattle Public Schools, and Virginia Beach City Public Schools. A formal letter of award was sent to Superintendent, Dr. Dallas Dance. A certificate of re-accreditation and a OA4 trophy will be sent to the agency as well! NIGP and NIGP staff, congratulates and thanked the entire staff and organization for this accomplishment and their commitment to professional procurement practice. Truly, well done! For more information and applications

December 6, 2013 - A surprise announcement as six Maryland Public schools from Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Garrett, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties will be named as recipients of Maryland’s 2014 Blue Ribbon School Award. The schools are: • Frost Elementary School, Allegany County • Linthicum Elementary School, Anne Arundel County • Western School of Technology & Environmental Science, Baltimore County • Northern Garrett High School, Garrett County • Cashell Elementary School, Montgomery County • Robert Goddard French Immersion Elementary/Middle School, Prince George’s County The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a state and national program that recognizes and honors schools that exhibit high performance and/or significant improvement in reading and mathematics achievement as measured by Maryland’s assessments. Schools must meet rigorous standards developed by the Maryland State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education. These schools are all high achievers in reading and mathematics, and many serve a significant number of economically disadvantaged students. Other achievement indicators include school leadership, professional development, instructional approaches, and parent and community involvement. Maryland can select up to six schools for recognition, based on its school-age population. The Maryland Blue Ribbon Schools go on to compete for National Blue Ribbon Awards, which will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education next September.

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) made the 2013 Security 500 list, ranking eleventh nationwide in the education (K-12) category. This is the second time in three years that FCPS has made the top 500 list. Security Magazine ranks the 500 top security organizations by industry to showcase the profession’s leaders and their organizations. According to the magazine, organizations that made the list are proven as both accomplished security executives and exceptional business leaders. School systems were measured and evaluated on metrics among peer organizations. FCPS was one of 17 school districts selected this year. Others included Montgomery County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Los Angeles Schools, the San Diego Unified School District and more. FCPS security coordinator Clifton Cornwell III was among more than 50 school employees completing the nationwide Security 500 survey to see how the local school system stacks up to other American school systems. Surveys for each of the 500’s sectors – from agriculture to utilities – ask unique questions intended to provide meaningful and useful feedback to survey participants. Many sectors have a ‘coach’ who crafts the key data points necessary to achieve meaningful results. This was the case with the education (K-12) category. "I am proud that FCPS made the list again," Mr. Cornwell says. "We work hard to train staff across more than 60 schools and offices to maintain security for more than 40,000 students and 5,600 employees. A key part of our success is maintaining effective partnerships with local law enforcement and government agencies. Another major factor is emergency preparedness, keeping abreast of ever-changing security-related technology and engaging in peer review processes." FCPS also ensures that families know what to expect in emergency situations, sharing important procedures in the annual Calendar Handbook, which goes to every student’s family and every employee. The school system’s FindOutFirst email, text messaging and social media services as well as FCPS Television and website at www.fcps.org also help keep the community informed. Mr. Cornwell characterized the school system’s rank as evidence that the district conducts its security-related activities "within a fiscally responsible budget, ensuring a high return on taxpayer investment."

- Frederick County Public Schools congratulates Hope Miller to the ranks of Certified Purchasing Card Professionals (CPCP). Hope passed the CPCP exam in October 2013. She is our Assistant Procurement Card Administrator and is considered, in her position at FCPS, as achieving a high level of knowledge in this filed. - Willis (Bill) Meekins will be attending the National Association of Procurement Card Professional (NAPCP) annual conference in April 2014. NAPCP has asked him to participate in a government panel discussion on the advancement of credit card purchases in school districts and government entities because of his vast knowledge in the field. In addition, he will also be a conference presenter on the subject of Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). - Roger Fritz was promoted to Director of Construction Management for Frederick County Public Schools in July 2013. Roger has been employed with the FCPS Construction Management Department since 1990, involved in both new construction and systemic renovation projects. Prior to employment with FCPS, Roger worked for 19 years in the maintenance and construction industry in the private sector. Roger has been a member of ASBO MD/DC since the mid 1990’s.

Chris Carter has retired as Director of Transportation for Anne Arundel County Schools is continuing his transportation career in West Virginia. Marci Nourse, Central Facilities Manager, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, retired effective December 31, 2013 Carroll County, is retiring December 31st. Dave Reeve, Supervisor of Transportation, Wicomico County Public Schools, retired effective December 31st. Paul Cramer Purchasing Agent II is retiring after 21 years of service in Baltimore County Albert Annan, Director of Procurement at the Maryland State Department of Education has retired after 34 years at MSDE. Robert Crawford, Director of Business Services at MSDE, retired, effective December 31st.

Congratulations to Desmond Hughes who replaces David Reeve as Supervisor of Transportation in Wicomico County Public Schools effective January 1st 2013! Mr. Jeffrey Grafton has been appointed Human Resources Administrator of Dorchester County Public Schools. Mr. Grafton was most recently the Human Resources Supervisor of Kent County (MD). Congratulations Jeffrey! Angella Councell, Supervisor of Finance, Kent County Public Schools, is graduating on January 26th from Wilmington University with a MBA. Congratulations, Angie! Margaret Ellen Kalmanowicz, Queen Anne's County Public Schools, has taken over as ASBP MD&DC's Chair of the Paul Jacobus Scholarship Committee. Margaret replaces her husband Thad who has retired from the same school system.

In the fall of 2012, Mandi Mader , a parent of a Montgomery County Public Schools student, formed the Montgomery County Chapter of Schools Start Later, Inc. and began forwarding petition signatures to Superintendent Joshua Starr. In December, Dr. Starr formed a work group charged with examining the possibility of changing bell times. The work group was to look at previous reports and past efforts within the county and current sleep science research and trends, conduct an analysis of school start times to develop options for consideration, and report on its findings.

By W. Wesley Watts Jr. Many educators are familiar with the term "blended learning", a term used to describe a teaching practice in which a student receives classroom instruction part of the time and online instruction the remainder of the time. The online instruction component allows a student to control the time, pace, and place of learning.

"Thanks Mark." This is how I recently ended a conversation with Mark Miller, the Procurement Manager for Wicomico County Schools. I called Mark to ask him a procurement process question and to get some input to a challenging problem from one of my colleagues. I was able to conduct that conversation because of a relationship I fostered as a result of my involvement with ASBO MD-DC. When you’re a member of ASBO you receive periodic newsletters and communications. You have access to workshops and professional development opportunities as well as two annual conferences. What you also get as an ASBO member are contacts. You get colleagues who you can call on for input and advice. You get friends that you can discuss content area challenges with, call for contributing thoughts on Best Practice’s, or to have accompany you at PD events and conferences. Actively participating in ASBO affords you the opportunity to network and develop relationships that will assist you in your daily work responsibilities. So get involved and consider attending the events offered and begin your networking. Maybe the next person I’ll be thanking will be you! Jeffrey LaPorta Supervisor of Purchasing Harford County Public Schools

We rely on suppliers for a wide range of products and services that allow us to succeed, yet we know surprisingly little about these relationships or how to fully harness them. Some believe these relationships are all about cutting costs. Others think they are the sum of every category management initiative ever tried. We have a different view.

Purchasing is a function that each company defines differently. First, the company has to decide whether the department is expected to be clerical or strategic. Then they have to define where in the range from the culture of short-term ruthless cost cutting to that of building a network of strategic alliances that target savings through stability. Once those are defined, there are certain characteristics that determine the extent to which an individual will excel in Purchasing.

ASBO International hereby grants permission for use of these articles for ASBO MD-DC members as requested. Any additional re-purposing or reprinting of this article is restricted without prior written consent. "This article originally appeared in the September, October, November and December 2013 issues of School Business Affairs magazine and is reprinted with permission of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). The text herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of ASBO International, and use of this imprint does not imply any endorsement or recognition by ASBO International and its officers or affiliates." This disclaimer applies to articles supplied from School Business Affairs Magazine, for more info go the ASBO International website at www.asbointl.org.

This article by By Brian O. Brent, Ph.D., and Karen J. DeAngelis, Ph.D in the October 2013 issue of School Business Affairs, explores and examines the question, " How much do schools spend on security...and for what?"

With the deadlines for implementation of new pension reporting standards approaching, its time to get up to speed. School Business Affairs writers, Kevin W. Smith, CPA, and Christine A. Torres, CPA, provide insight into this important subject and tell you how.

Don't write off former teachers who may leave the system, many would be willing to come back... In this article in December 2013 issue of School Business Affairs, Karen DeAngelis, ph.D, writes, "Considerable attention has been paid over the past two decades to the issue of teacher attrition and the efforts schools and districts can make to try to improve teacher retention. Less attention, though, has been given to the finding that many who leave teaching before retirement age do so for reasons other than dissatisfaction with the profession."

Is your district in compliance with recently issued final rules regarding wellness programs? See what Lawrence Singer and Karen Johnson say about this question in their article in the December issue of School Business Affairs.

The fairness of teacher evaluation models continues to come under fire. By David A. Dolph, ph.D. Teacher evaluations are undergoing significant changes in response to demands for school reform and higher accountability. States are now including value-added data in teacher evaluations, experimenting with merit pay based on evaluations, or both. Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Texas are but a few states that have altered the way teachers are evaluated or that are incorporating value-added data.

By Andrew Cassilly Resource Conservation Manager Harford County Public Schools Facilities Management Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) has been on a quest to promote comingled recycling in its schools and facilities. Also known as single stream recycling, this process has made recycling easier and more convenient than ever. To upgrade the teacher-dependent efforts taking place, HCPS elected to invest $40,000 in new color-coded collection bins for their schools and facilities, in hopes of promoting recycling by making it a daily routine for its students, teachers and faculty. Because of this investment, HCPS was able to lower trash collection fees by $75,000 in the first year. But HCPS was not prepared to stop there. At the insistence of several students and teachers, the school system has continued to expand their efforts through the introduction of a comprehensive electronics recycling program, a ball fields recycling program in partnership with Harford County Parks and Recreation, and an ambitious organics recycling program, currently being piloted in twelve schools of its schools. Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) has been on a quest to promote co-mingled recycling in its schools and facilities. Also known as single stream recycling, this process has made recycling easier and more convenient than ever. To upgrade the teacher-dependent efforts taking place, HCPS elected to invest $40,000 in new color-coded collection bins for their schools and facilities, in hopes of promoting recycling by making it a daily routine for its students, teachers and faculty. Because of this investment, HCPS was able to lower trash collection fees by $75,000 in the first year. But HCPS was not prepared to stop there. At the insistence of several students and teachers, the school system has continued to expand their efforts through the introduction of a comprehensive electronics recycling program, a ball fields recycling program in partnership with Harford County Parks and Recreation, and an ambitious organics recycling program, currently being piloted in twelve schools of its schools.