JOINT MEETING OF THE CAROLINE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Date: August 29, 2011 Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: Fretterd Community Center, Fourth Street, Denton, Maryland

Attending: Jefferson L. Ghrist, Commission President; Larry L. Porter, Commission Vice President

Wilbur Levengood, Jr., Member; Ken Decker, County Administrator; Sara Visintainer, Executive Assistant to the Commissioners; Sandra Barry, President, Board of Education; Victoria Goldsborough, Vice President; Felix “Fil” Morrison, Board member; George Abner, Board member; Dr. Khalid Mumin, Superintendent; Milton Nagel, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services; and Tina Brown, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.

The meeting convened at 6:00 p.m. with dinner and informal conversation. The business portion of the meeting of the Caroline County Commissioners and the Board of Education began at 6:35 p.m.

The Commissioners welcomed Dr. Mumin to his first joint meeting, and he stated that he is looking forward to continuing the cooperative relationship established by Dr. Shirley. Mr. Nagel gave an update on the Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Improvement Program, including the revised project timeline. He stated that the State contributes maximum funding once a building has reached forty years of age, and the next school to do so is Preston Elementary School. Mr. Nagel stated that State funds are expended first during school renovations, making the bulk of the County’s share fall into the FY2014 timeframe. He stated that the County has to provide 100% of the planning for the project, which is estimated using a State formula to total $1,475,000; half of which would be needed in FY2013, and which the Board of Education proposes to fund using their fund balance.

Mr. Porter stated that given the County’s limited fiscal resources, he considered renovating the Preston school a higher priority than contributing funds to Chesapeake College’s Center for Allied Health and Athletics Building renovation. Mr. Levengood agreed, and stated that school facilities not only provide the education space for the County’s youth, they also act as emergency shelters for the community as a whole when disaster strikes, such as the recent earthquake and hurricane. President Ghrist directed staff to schedule a capital planning workshop in the next few weeks, to gain a realistic perspective of its future fiscal capabilities. Mr. Nagel extended an invitation to the Commissioners to attend the Additional Rededication Ceremony at Colonel Richardson High School on September 15, 2011. President Grist requested staff schedule a tour of both Colonel Richardson High School and Preston Elementary School.

Mr. Nagel updated the Commissioners on the site selection process for the new elementary/middle school, which has a targeted occupancy date of August 2017. He stated that the Board of Education has been working over the past several months to obtain a parcel of State owned land located just inside Route 404 between Market Street and Camp Road in Denton. The acquisition has moved slowly thus far as the State followed procedures to officially declare the property as surplus. He stated that capacity deficits for Greensboro, Ridgely, and Denton Elementary Schools do not substantiate this occupancy date; however, all three schools are scheduled for renovation within the next ten years. As all three schools have outdated open classroom floor plans, their renovated floor plans will result in less student capacities.

The Board expressed appreciation to the County for moving quickly to clear roads after the recent storm, which allowed them to only close schools for a single day. Ms. Barry stated that the position of the Board of Education on the districting for school board elections would be neutral, and that the members hoped the focus would remain on student achievement and support for the full system, rather than geographic or political interests taking precedence.

The Board of Education thanked County staff for their hospitality, and agreed to host the next joint meeting, to be scheduled in the next few months. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.

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Amy L. Kreiner, Minutes Recorder

Caroline County Office of the Commissioners