Anne Arundel County Public Schools
PARENT INVOLVEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2014
Present: Pam Bukowski, Josef Fernandez, Stephanie Pippen (for Kim Offut), Orhan Omer,
Russell Leone, Mitchelle Stephenson, Carol Streeter, Laura Gardner, Flo Kennedy-Stack, Anne
Weaver
Welcome
Carol Streeter welcomed the group and called the meeting to order. Anne sent regards from
the several members who were not able to attend because of their own or family members’
illness.
Member Reports
PIAC members reported on parent/family involvement activities and initiatives in their
schools. A few of these included:
- Stephanie Pippen announced that Mary Tillar will speak at the next SECAC meeting
on Jan 18th about VISAL, an interactive visual learning program now being used in
special education programs county-wide. Their following meeting on March 4th will
feature Lost at School author, Dr. Ross Green of Harvard. Stephanie also reminded
the group that nominations for the STAR Award for an outstanding special educator,
or other staff person interacting with students with disabilities, will be accepted
through February and awarded on March 27th at Severna Park Middle School.
- Carol Streeter reported that, as a PIAC member, she makes it a point to provide
community members with correct Common Core Standards and curriculum
information or refers people to authoritative materials. Many of these interactions
occur on FaceBook, where Carol responds with private messages. Anne reminded the
group that Andrea Kane’s power point, which was sent to the membership with the
November meeting minutes, provides basic Common Core information.
- Russell Leone, of TAAAC, said that the demands of implementing Common Core are
requiring more individual and team planning time. He said that teachers appreciate
the community concern about Common Core that is being expressed on their behalf.
- Pam said that school newsletters in the Annapolis cluster are providing helpful
information to parents about the Common Core standards, especially math. She
reminded the group that the National PTA website provides a Common Core webinar
series. http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content.cfm?ItemNumber=3894
- Pam also shared a wonderful idea for school-wide book clubs that currently
underway at Bates Middle School, in which parents, students and teachers enjoy
reading and discussing books together. Flexible times for these book clubs
accommodate families’ busy schedules.
- Mitchelle Stephenson reported that Central Middle PTA will host the AA County
Department of Health’s Strengthening Families Program. The 14-week program
provides training in parenting, children’s social and life skills, and family relationship
skills. As host of the AACPS cable TVspot, Parents’ Corner for the past 18 months,
Mitchelle welcomes suggestions for topics that are of interest to parents.
1
-
-
-
Anne provided information about the up-coming Parent Workshops to Go training on
February 4th at Abundant Life Church in Glen Burnie, where school representatives
will learn about three new PowerPoint presentations now available for family
information nights. They address the topics of anxiety in children, Common Core
standards, and diversity matters.
The spring Family Involvement Conference on Saturday, March 8th will be at Old
Mill High School from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. It is being presented in collaboration with
the Early Childhood Coalition and the Military Family School Support Initiative. As a
result, some of the 12 to 15 breakout sessions will focus on early childhood and issues
pertinent to military families. The key note speaker, Shauna King, will speak on
gender differences in brain development.
Laura Gardner writes and distributes an email newsletter, International Parent
Involvement Update, that is full of information for our growing immigrant
community. Write to Laura if you want to receive the newsletter:
lmgardner@aacps.org.
Alex Szachnowicz, AACPS Chief Operating Officer, “Superintendent’s Proposed Budget”
Alex provided an overview of Mrs. Perkins’ proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, as
well as a timeline for the budget process. The second public hearing will be held tonight at
the Parham Building at 7 pm, but you can also provide your input via phone calls, email and
letters to Board of Education members. Alex reminded the group that Anne Arundel County
sets aside 50% of its budget for education. He also pointed out that the county has slipped in
in its per pupil expenditures as compared to the other Maryland jurisdictions, from 9th place
in 2002 to 12th place in 2011.
It is also crucial for us to voice support for the budget to the County Executive during March
and April via letters and phone calls to his office, and to the County Council during May at
the two budget hearings, or via email, phone or letter. It is worth noting that the County
Executive sets the total dollar amount for the county budget, while the County Council is
only able to move money among agencies and cannot increase the total.
Alex’s power point is provided the membership with these minutes. More information on the
proposed budget and the timeline for implementation can be found on the AACPS website,
www.aacps.org. Scroll down the page and, on the right side in green, click on
“Capital/Operating Budgets.”
The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 a.m.
Upcoming meetings: 9:30 – 11:30 am
 February 27 – Board Room
 April 3 – Board Room
 May 29 – Center III
2