Laura Lindsay

Project Graduation is a district-wide program by Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) designed to monitor student progress, provide timely support, and ensure on-time graduation. This initiative encompasses all five pillars of the AACPS strategic plan, with a particular focus on achieving academic excellence and preparing students for future readiness. Key areas of focus include credit attainment, attendance, and engagement in extracurricular activities across various student cohorts. The program emphasizes differentiated support, tier-one instructional strategies, and credit recovery options, involving collaborative efforts from school leadership, counselors, teachers, and actively engaging families to foster student belonging, growth, and success.

The Board discussed a supplemental operating budget request for fiscal year 2022 to address the ongoing school bus transportation crisis. The proposal includes a $5.00 hourly pay increase for drivers, as well as retention and signing bonuses to address high vacancy rates and market-driven labor shortages. During the meeting, stakeholders provided public testimony regarding the urgency of the situation, the structure of the proposed pay increases, and the necessity of broader systemic improvements such as better utilization of transportation planning reports, potential consolidation of routes, and the creation of safe walk-to-school initiatives.

The board meeting included a moment of silence in honor of former lead counsel Tyson Bennett. Recognitions were presented for the Month of the Military Child, the Educator of the Month, the Employee of the Month, and the Volunteers of the Month for their contributions to the school system. Additionally, the student representative provided a report regarding the activities of the County Regional Association of Student Councils.

The board discussed the reopening plan for schools under a hybrid model, including the timeline for the return of students and staff. Mitigation strategies to ensure a safe environment were reviewed, such as masking, social distancing, facility ventilation, and cleaning protocols. Additionally, the presentation covered vaccination planning for staff, tracking of local COVID-19 case rates, and an overview of classroom setups and instructional engagement for in-person and virtual learners.

The Board of Education meeting featured a recognition ceremony for organizations that partnered with the school system to provide creativity gift sets to students in prekindergarten through first grade. Representatives from the US Marines Toys for Tots program and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport were thanked for their efforts in organizing and delivering these donations to schools within the county, as well as for their ongoing support and partnership in the education of local students.