November 28, 2023, Staff and Community Update: Highlights from the Superintendent’s Press Conference
November 28, 2023, Staff and Community Update: Highlights from the Superintendent’s Press Conference
WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Dr. Myriam Rogers (Yarbrough) held a media availability today, November 28, to share updates on the 2023-2024 school year. Dr. Rogers provided updates on prekindergarten expansion, two new capital projects that will be completed in January, the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget process, and a new mental health support line that will be piloted for students in select middle schools. Dr. Rogers also answered questions from the media.
Prekindergarten Expansion
- The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future overarching goal is to improve the quality and equity of Maryland’s education system so that every student, “regardless of where they live, family income, race, ethnicity, gender, language spoken at home, special needs, and any other unique characteristic,” receives a “world-class education” that prepares them for long-term success.Earlier this year, all Maryland school systems were required to submit an implementation plan to the state that outlines how we will meet the Blueprint goals in a timely, efficient, and effective way moving into the future. The Blueprint sets early childhood opportunities as its first pillar, recognizing that a child’s early years are the most critical for brain development and set the foundation for lifelong learning and achievement. Record investments in high-quality early childhood education will mean a more level playing field and more equitable opportunities for children to succeed.
- Under the Blueprint, all three-and four-year old children from families earning incomes at or below 300% Federal Poverty Level will have access to high-quality full-day PreK at no cost. BCPS’ work to plan and implement several strategies to increase participation of Tier 1 three- and four-year-olds in full-day prekindergarten began in earnest in 2021, and we are pleased to share that beginning in January 2024, BCPS will leverage available Blueprint and system funds to begin its expansion and will open two, full-day prekindergarten classes at Dogwood Elementary School. Dogwood currently has 2, half-day programs, and we are excited to expand access and provide a strong instructional program with rigorous learning opportunities for our youngest learners. In addition to Dogwood’s expanded program, BCPS is working closely with our county government and private partners to finalize the expansion of other full-day programs that we hope to launch by January 2024 or by the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
- We want to thank the many staff members who have been working behind the scenes to ensure we are prepared for this expansion and will be ready to start the new year with a newly expanded program at Dogwood Elementary School.
- We look forward to providing the Team BCPS community with updates on our progress to eliminate access and opportunity gaps in early childhood education and meet the outlined Blueprint targets.
Capital Projects
- In addition to the launch of the full-day prekindergarten program at Dogwood Elementary, BCPS has two exciting elementary capital projects slated to open January 2024, barring any unforeseen circumstances—Red House Run Elementary School with a State Rated Capacity of 775 and a size of 107,774 square feet and Summit Park Elementary School with a State Rated Capacity of 735 and a size of 100,441 square feet.
- These buildings will include state of the art 21st century learning spaces for our students and staff and both schools are designed to the LEED silver level for environmental design.
- We are very grateful to the architects, builders, contractors and others who worked tirelessly to provide us with two incredible buildings for the Red House Run and Summit Park communities. These projects also would not have been possible without funding from our state and county partners. We are excited to engage students in learning in these state-of-the art facilities with new technology and innovative space design.
- We will share details on plans for ribbon cutting ceremonies for both schools in the upcoming weeks.
Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget Process
- Over the past several weeks, we have engaged the Team BCPS community in conversations about the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. We held five forums across the county, and heard directly from students, staff, parents, elected officials and other stakeholders who shared their feedback, suggestions and priorities for the FY 25 operating budget.
- It was clear that there are many items that are of great importance to our community, however, there were some clear themes that rose to the top:
- Safety and Security
- Teacher recruitment, retention and salaries
- Additional programs and opportunities for students, and
- Infrastructure and operations.
- We want to thank the community for participating in these important conversations. Their input will help the superintendent shape the operating budget request that she will submit to the Board of Education in January.
- Please save the date and prepare to tune in to the superintendent’s live budget presentation tentatively scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2024. More details to follow.
CIGNA Student Support Line
- We are pleased to share information about a new mental health service support line that will be piloted for middle school students at select BCPS middle schools.
- The CIGNA Student Support Line is a resource for students, families and staff that provides support when individuals need help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. CIGNA will offer the services to students, staff and families at Franklin, General John Stricker, Northwest Academy of Health Sciences, Perry Hall, and Stemmers Run middle schools.
- BCPS is utilizing this support line as an additional resource with the goal to support and improve mental health at home, school, and work.
- The support line is staffed by skilled Cigna advocates and the staff are trained for crisis management. Cigna staff will provide an immediate assessment for crisis intervention and non-crisis calls are triaged for counseling or local resources and support to help students.
- Support will be available in English and Spanish at no cost to our students, staff and families. We are grateful for this partnership with CIGNA. Staff, students, and families at the identified schools will receive additional information on how to access this service soon.