One-hour lunch OK'd at all high schools

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

This program already exists at Calvert and Patuxent high schools.

"We have had good reaction," said Executive Director of School Operations Deborah Pulley, citing several poll results displaying that the majority of students and faculty at both Huntingtown and Northern are moderately if not completely supportive of the program.

She said faculty members at both of these schools are interested in the program after "considering opportunities that have been met with success at the other two schools."

Pulley also presented favorable results from polls conducted at both Huntingtown and Northern.

"Those are pretty good percentages to have your staff on board if you want to move a program," said Pulley of the more than 50 percent of faculty members at Huntingtown and Northern high schools who polled as either being "completely on board" or "leaning for" the program to be implemented at their school.

The one concern about the one-hour lunch program, however, is the fact that both lunch and a-la-carte sales have dropped considerably at both Calvert and Patuxent high schools during the past school year. This change, however, according to Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith, is countywide and likely due to the economy.

Smith cited daily lunch sales as being down by 7.3 percent at Huntingtown High School and down by 9.3 percent at Northern High School.

Board member Bill Chambers said he thinks the program has been beneficial at both Calvert and Patuxent high schools in encouraging students to attend clubs and study sessions instead of killing time in the cafeteria.

"What's happening now is they're managing their time better," Chambers said.

Smith echoed this perspective, saying that without the extra time to study or attend club meetings, students are likely to "eat out of boredom," which is evidenced by the 33.7 and 12.8 percent drops in a-la-carte sales in Calvert and Patuxent high schools respectively.

Other reported problems regarding the one-hour lunch period included increased noise levels, students not voluntarily showing up for miscellaneous school activities and seniors leaving campus early. Pulley, however, stated that these issues are being addressed.

Additionally, Patuxent High School Principal Nancy Highsmith, whose school has been in the pilot stage of the program since October 2008, provided a written statement saying, "we have found it to be very successful … the overall climate of the building is one of mutual respect and students feel they have a say in the decision making process."

Budget update

Smith also used the meeting to present a short update on the 2010 fiscal year budget.

"As of today I've received no further Maryland State Department of Education allocations since the one that came in December," he said, adding that, "until the general assembly is through, anything is possible."

One positive piece of news Smith was able to offer is that the Geographic Cost of Education Index or GCEI fund, which provides more aid to counties where the cost of education is higher, is still in tact for Calvert County.

Calvert County public schools spokesperson Gail Bennett additionally was able to provide an update on the 2009 Legislative Session and indicated that several Maryland counties have expressed interest in receiving a waiver of the state's Maintenance of Effort requirements, under which the county cannot, on its own authority, decrease per-student funding of the system.

Bennett said that even though as of Thursday no county had requested such waiver, she anticipated that it is possible.

"I'm not sure it would be highly unlikely at all," Bennett said.

In other news, the Calvert County Board of Education:

- Received a report of student fees from Vack Fringer, chairperson of the Citizen Advisory Committee;

- Received a transportation report from Acting Director of Transportation Ed Cassidy;

- Reviewed a preliminary copy of the 2009-2010 Code of Student Conduct as presented by Director of Student Services and Guidance Kim Roof.