FREEDOM AREA CITIZENS’ COUNCIL

Carroll County Public School Update

By Sue Holt, President, Carroll County Board of Education

The Carroll County Public Schools' (CCPS) 2003-04 school year continues to move forward in a positive direction. Instructional staff kicked off the year with the first annual Links to Learning professional develop-ment opportunity that offered instructionally relevant seminars for teachers and support staff. Vendors were on hand to offer valuable educational information and growth opportunities.

The school system continues to grow with an enrollment rising well over 28,000 students served by 40 schools. The Gateway School (serving grades 6-12) started the school year off in its new home. The opening of the school building, located on Kate Wagner Road in Westminster, provides a much-improved educational environment and opportunity for students.

On the storm front, our buildings experienced minimal damage resulting from Isabel. Schools were closed two days due to the storm and the road flooding which followed. For those who count snow days, the State Board of Education has already approved a statewide waiver for one day, leaving us with one snow day used.

The Maryland School Assess-ment results were released and CCPS again demonstrated improvement. We are proud to report that given many measures, CCPS ranks within the top three and four school systems in Maryland. Not only do these results demonstrate that our students are moving ahead, it also certifies the quality of CCPS' instructional personnel and curriculum. Research confirms that the quality of the teacher is the primary factor that impacts student achievement. Parental involvement and community support also provide an increasingly positive impact for our students. A detailed report of CCPS' performance can be found on the web at mdreportcard.org

New initiatives mandated by state and federal legislation continue to impact our school system both economically and instructionally. While some are welcomed, others strip local control of public schools. The Board requests that community members communicate with state and federal officials asking them to realize the impact of such mandates and the importance for state and federal funding for public education become a priority.

The Board of Education for Carroll County has been very open in its concern for the impact of mandating Full Day Kindergarten for all students. CCPS currently offers full day opportunities for students in need and at risk. Based on past and current data, the majority of our student's needs are met within the current half-day program. Currently a plan is being developed to require all incoming kindergarten students be assessed and a cut-score be developed to determine the needs of the student in relation to the length of the school day. Research shows the benefit of full-day Kindergarten programs for students at risk but research shows no long-term benefit for those not at risk.

Locally, Century High School is now fully operational and serving grades 9 thru 12. Century High School will graduate its first graduating class in June. Freedom Elementary School has been slated for renovation in the next five years. Sykesville Middle will be fully air conditioned in September 2004. The Board and CCPS staff continue monitoring middle school projections in effort to determine if/when/where a new middle school will be constructed to relieve Oklahoma Road and Sykesville Middle Schools. Although many of our schools are at capacity, fortunately none are experiencing the level of over crowding experienced in the past. Academically, we find that the schools in the Freedom Area do well. School Improvement Teams continue to evaluate achievement data in effort to improve their programs and challenge their students.

School Principals realize their school's success also relies on continued parental and Sykesville Middle Schools. Although many of our schools are at capacity, fortunately none are experiencing the level of over crowding experienced in the past. Academically, we find that the schools in the Freedom Area do well. School Improvement Teams continue to evaluate achievement data in effort to improve their programs and challenge their students.

community support. Many are partnering with local businesses and civic groups. These relationships are truly a win/win situation for all. Hopefully a new generation of community

The above is excerpted from a letter FACC delivered to the County Commissioners on August 5th at the public hearing about billboards.

August Meeting

Carroll County Sheriff Kenneth Tregoning and Major Michael Fischer of the Maryland State Police will answer your questions an address your concerns about law enforcement in Carroll County at FACC's August meeting. The meeting will be August 19th at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Carrolltown Center. The FACC Board meeting immediately preceding is open to the public.

Road Work

Plan your travels. The following road construction will be taking place this month in the Freedom area. Storm Drain Work will begin in the Irongate Subdivision, on all streets. Reconstruction of Ridge Road, MD 26 to Gemini Drive will continue. This construction is scheduled to be complete before the first day of school. The Maryland Department of Transporta-tion's State Highway Admin-istration (SHA) recently began a safety and intersection improvement project along MD 27 (Ridge Road) in Carroll County.

The SHA will close a portion of Sam's Creek Road west of MD 27 due to reduced sight distance along Sam's Creek Road caused by temporary traffic barrier along north-bound MD 27. The closed portion of Sam's Creek Road west of MD 27 will reopen to traffic in early September, weather permitting.

The Freedom Informer

Published monthly by the Freedom Area Citizens' Council
P.O. Box 142
Sykesville, MD 21784

EDITOR:
Nicole Musgrave-Burdette

PRODUCTION:
Mike Naused
Deborah Dugan

E-MAIL:
editor@freedomareacitizens.org