Thursday, February 15, 2024

Previous editions of the BCPS Staff Bulletin are archived and available for viewing on the BCPS website.

Dr. Rogers provides comprehensive update and addresses staff and community concerns on proposed FY2025 Operating Budget

On February 13, Superintendent Dr. Rogers provided a comprehensive presentation to the Board and Team BCPS on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The presentation focused on student need, master scheduling, staffing, and class sizes. Please watch this important presentation to hear Dr. Rogers address inaccurate information regarding the budget and answer critical questions on several budget-related topics.

FEATURED VIDEO:

Sandalwood Elementary community comes together for hair drive

Sandalwood Elementary School recently hosted its second hair drive of the school year, an initiative that aims to boost students' confidence and attendance!

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE...

• School counseling award nominations open now through March 11

The Baltimore County Association for Counseling and Development invites BCPS employees, parents, and students to nominate school counselors and school counseling advocates for recognition through the association’s annual awards program. All nominations are due by Monday, March 11.

Nominations can be made in the following categories:

• Rookie School Counselor of the Year (less than five years experience)

• School Counselor of the Year (at least five years experience)

• School Counseling Advocate of the Year

• Multilingual Family Engagement - Mobile ESOL Welcome Center

The Office of ESOL is excited to announce that the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center will be available by request for family engagement events. The Mobile ESOL Welcome Center can be used to host small parent events inside the bus (up to 10 people) or larger parent events outside the bus under the awning.

Please complete the online form if you would like to request the Mobile ESOL Welcome Center. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Applications open for Little Free Library Read in Color grants

Schools can apply until Friday, March 15, to be one of 10 new Little Free Library Read in Color grant recipients from The Education Foundation of BCPS, Inc. Selected recipients will be responsible for planting their Little Free Libraries and celebrating Read in Color by holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on or before June 14, and promoting receipt of the grant on their social media platforms. The Read in Color initiative aims to make more accessible books that celebrate diversity in all forms. Each grant recipient will receive one Little Free Library, a box of 25 diverse books, and an official Little Free Library charter number plaque. The charter number officially registers the library on the Little Free Library world map and enables others to find and visit the library. The Education Foundation will provide unlimited books to keep their Little Free Libraries stocked.

• BCPS summer programs 2024 update

Realizing that summer programs, in the last couple of years, have largely been funded by federal grants that have since expired, the plans for summer programs 2024 are research-based, represent a smaller scope, and are aligned with the superintendent’s priorities. All summer programs will take place from Monday, July 8, through Friday, August 2. All programs will be offered for four hours per day and five days per week. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Education Support Professional of the Year nominations

Education support professionals provide invaluable skills and contributions that support BCPS students and staff. The Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County Paraeducator and/or Office Professional of the Year Awards recognize the contributions made by education support professionals to their schools, communities, and their profession.

The job titles eligible for this recognition include, but are not limited to, health assistant, interpreter, office professional, paraeducator, or computer technician.

The nomination deadline is Friday, March 8. Please visit the ESPBC website for specific information.

• Direct deposit pay stubs

As of March 15, direct deposit pay stubs will no longer be printed and mailed to employees. BCPS strives to create efficiencies through budgetary savings in postal fees, paper, and printing costs; and to protect employee salary and withholding information. Pay stubs are available through the Employee Self Service application through the Microsoft 365 portal. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

• Join BCPS in celebrating "Mix it Up" Day 2024 on February 22

The Maryland Center for School Safety's Student Advocates for School Safety are asking all Maryland schools to join in efforts to expand healthy school culture through student connections. Participate in “Mix It Up” Day 2024 on Thursday, February 22, by hosting activities during the school day that promote students making new connections. For additional information and resources, refer to this flyer and learn more online. Questions? Contact Dr. Kimberly Ferguson or Tammi Coit,.

Reminder: 2024 BCPS Climate Survey open now through March 8

The annual BCPS Climate Survey has officially launched, and, this year, the survey has been revised. The new 2024 BCPS Climate Survey has fewer questions and questions are focused on school climate and engagement. The survey is open to students in Grades 3–12, parents/caregivers, community members, and all staff.

Questions? Contact Dr. Christine Koth.

School Resource Officer Appreciation Day - Thursday, February 15

Please join us in thanking our School Resource Officers for their hard work and for serving as mentors and role models for students.

School counseling feedback discussions

BCPS is transforming its school counseling program to make the program even more accessible, relevant, and effective.

Parents/families and school staff are invited to participate in online Microsoft Teams discussions to offer feedback about their experiences with the current school counseling program and ideas for the future.

• Thursday, February 15, 6-7 p.m.

• Wednesday, February 21, 6-7 p.m.

• Tuesday, February 27, 6-7 p.m.

Those not available to participate in the online discussions can submit comments via an online survey.

February is CTE Month!

Did you know that February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month? Throughout BCPS, more 19,614 students are enrolled in CTE programs, the highest total in the state. Enrollment has increased from 11,621 in 2014. Overall, 54.7% of BCPS high school students are enrolled in CTE, the second highest percentage in the state.

Currently, BCPS provides more than 40 distinct CTE pathways, with each high school offering at least three programs of study. More information is available on the BCPS website.

Annual Team BCPS Haiku Contest begins Friday, February 16

The 2024 Team BCPS Haiku Contest will accept entries from 12:01 a.m. on Friday, February 16, 2024, through 4:45 p.m. on Monday, March 4, 2024. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post and in a BCPS news release.

BCPS students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, are encouraged to enter. Students will be asked to write works inspired by a piece of student artwork selected from among 10 pieces.

Registration open for BCPS fine arts summer enrichment programs

Registration is now open for the BCPS Summer Art Enrichment Camp, Summer Dance Intensive, Summer Music Camp, and Musical Theatre Intensive. All camps are open to students entering Grades 5-12 in the 2024-2025 school year, except for the visual arts summer program, which will accept students entering Grades 3-12. The deadline for applications is Friday, May 17, or until spots are filled. Enrollment priority will be given to current BCPS students and children of BCPS staff. Bus transportation is available. Fee waivers are available for students who do not have permanent or adequate housing.

During Black History Month, BCPS is continuing to celebrate the contributions African Americans have made, and are making, to American history and culture. On social media, we are celebrating BCPS graduates. Follow along with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

In the past week, we have spotlighted:

• William Brown Jr., Patapsco grad and artist/owner of The Portrait of Life

• Deli Okafor, Perry Hall grad and public engagement officer for the Comptroller of Maryland

• Isaiah Lamb, Dulaney grad and physician liaison for Maryland Vascular Specialists

• Monifa Lewis, Randallstown grad and school counseling department chair at Loch Raven Technical Academy

• Dr. Calvin Ball III, Woodlawn grad and County Executive of Howard County

Spread the word! We are seeking qualified professionals to join our team. More information about upcoming recruitment events is available in a BCPS news release.

Share your partnership highlights with us!

Schools and offices are invited to send brief highlights and photos of their partnerships with businesses and community organizations to communications@bcps.org. This information might be featured in the monthly BCPS Partnership Spotlight Newsletter.

FOR AFSCME-REPRESENTED STAFF

New UKG Ready Time and Attendance System Goes Live

Beginning February 17, AFSCME-represented staff will start tracking their time using the UKG Ready Time and Attendance system. In addition, manual timesheets will be sent to staff in the Office of Payroll. This start date is due to the requirements of the UKG Ready system to collect time from the previous two-week pay period to be in the system before the Go Live date, as employees are paid in arrears. Please be sure to swipe in and out each day using the UKG Ready Time and Attendance clock or a BCPS issued device. In addition, submit any request for time off during this pay period in the UKG Ready system.

Beginning February 24, AFSCME employees' time will be tracked, and pay calculated using the UKG Ready Time and Attendance system only. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR EDUCATORS

Upcoming Restorative Practices training and workshops

The following Restorative Practices trainings and workshops are available for registration and will take place throughout February and March: ​​​​​

Making Affective Statements More Effective in Restorative Practices (Virtual)

February 16, from 12 – 1 p.m.

February 21, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Restorative Circles 101 (Virtual)

February 22, from 9 – 10 a.m.

Restorative Practices Days 1 and 2: Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively (2 Full Days- In Person)

February 29 and March 1, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Greenwood, Building E, Room 114

Restorative Practices Refresher for Educators (Asynchronous)

March 6, from 5 - 7 p.m.

Restorative Circles 101 (Virtual)

March 13, from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Stipends are available for eligible employees who attend outside of their regular work hours. Additional opportunities are available in April and May. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION AND CTE TEACHERS

Consulting Teacher employment opportunity for special education and carer and technical education teachers

Special education and career and technical education teachers who aspire to become consulting teachers in the Peer Assistance and Review Program are encouraged to apply for the Consulting Teacher Candidate Pool. Both job postings will be open from Tuesday, February 20, through Sunday, March 17, to be considered for the April interview process. More information is available in a BCPS News Hub post.

FOR EDUCATORS

MSDE to host Science of Reading virtual event for families of multilingual learners

Spread the word! On Thursday, February 22, from 5 - 6:30 p.m., MSDE will present a virtual event to help families support bilingualism and biliteracy by sharing strategies that parents can use at home to support their child's literacy and language development.

Parents/guardians must register online.

Transportation will be provided from every high school. More information is available on the BCPS website.

Upcoming Board and advisory group meetings

All are welcome to attend

Southeast Area Education Advisory Council meeting

Monday, February 26, at 7 p.m.

Chesapeake High School library, 1801 Turkey Point Rd., Baltimore 21221

Topic: “Artificial Intelligence”

Board of Education meeting

Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30 p.m.

BCPS headquarters/Greenwood – Building E, 6901 N. Charles St., Towson 21204

Information about attending and making public comments at meetings can be found on the Board’s website.

Joint meeting of the Central and Northwest area education advisory councils

Monday, March 11, at 6 p.m.

Meeting details

Topic: “New Superintendent, New Organizational Structure – Where are we now?”

TEAM BCPS SHOUTOUT

Technology Help Desk Team

Submitted by Jodi Obenstine, Director, Office of Technology Operations

"The Technology Help Desk team is an amazing group of technical support professionals who have worked very hard for the last two years to implement process improvements. Those improvements resulted in wait times that are consistently less than 2 minutes (often less than 1 minute). Even at the busiest times of the year, wait times are between 5 and 8 minutes with additional staff added quickly from other teams to keep the call wait times down. Even if the occasional mistake occurs, the Technology Help Desk keeps the mindset that each one is an opportunity to improve.

"The Technology Help Desk is very customer-focused and brings that attitude to every call. This team supports students, staff members, parents, community members and others that call 443.809.4672. They provide insight to other similar BCPS call centers regarding best practices and lessons learned.

"The Technology Help Desk team has been short two members for a few months while additional candidates are selected and onboarded yet they still continue to keep wait times down. The Technology Help Desk team will provide a friendly 'phone smile' and either resolve the reported tech issue on the spot or take a ticket to get help as quickly as possible. Kudos to this hard-working team making sure every call is important and the students, staff, and community members are well served."

Kelly McDevitt, School Secretary, Lutherville Laboratory

Submitted by Gretchen McGee, Kindergarten Teacher, Lutherville Laboratory

"Kelly McDevitt is a valuable member of the Lutherville Lab community. She is dedicated to her job and ensures that everything runs smoothly with a warm and welcoming smile. Kelly's infectious enthusiasm sets the tone for every school day; she often hosts dance parties to kickstart the day for anyone entering the school office. Kelly's kindness knows no bounds, and she always goes the extra mile to help others without complaints. Her efforts create a family-like atmosphere at Lutherville Lab, making everyone feel at home. We are fortunate to have Kelly as our school secretary."

You may submit a shoutout for a variety of reasons. For example, you may want to offer a pat on the back to a colleague for helping out, recognize a staff member or student achievement, or welcome a new employee. When your shoutout appears in The Staff Bulletin, your name and school/location will be included.

UPCOMING RECOGNITIONS

Black History Month - February

Career and Technical Education Month - February

National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day - Thursday, February 15

Presidents' Day - Monday, February 19

BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Engage. Empower. Excel.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dept. of Communications/Community Outreach

443.809.5908 | communications@bcps.org