New honors and faces at meeting

Friday, June 19, 2009

The meeting also resulted in the promotion of several employees.

Zachary Seawell will be the new principal of Plum Point Middle School in Huntingtown, an honor he thanked his wife "in advance" for supporting him in.

"That's a very good understanding your family has about your job," laughed Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith.

Other appointments included Rantessa Anderson as vice principal of Mount Harmony Elementary School in Owings, Jackie Johnson as Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics for the central office in Prince Frederick, Linda Flanagan as Supervisor of English/Language Arts for the central office and Sabrina Bergen as vice principal of Huntingtown High School.

Anderson said that her promotion particularly special meaning to her, as she explained, "I was a kindergartner at Mount Harmony Elementary and here I am as vice principal. It's a wonderful story."

The meeting also marked as a first for new Student Member of the Board of Education Justin Astafanous, who board member Bill Chambers said was "Our first representative from Calvert High School in over a decade."

As for Astafanous, a rising junior and St. Leonard resident, he said his first meeting was "very exciting.

"It really gave me the insight of what it takes to be a board member and the responsibilities that go along with it," he said.

Budget negotiations remain at impasse

As previously reported 2010 fiscal year budget negotiations between the Calvert County Board of Education's negotiation team and the Calvert Education Association and the Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff reached an impasse last month.

This occurred when Smith added 90 previously cut positions back to the budget by budgeting for teachers and education support staff personnel to have a .5 percent salary adjustment, plus step increase based on longevity instead of the contracted 4.5 percent.

Because of this impasse, declared by State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick, a third party neutral mediator will be chosen to work with both unions and the school system's negotiating team. This individual will then provide a report for the board of education.

Following Thursday's meeting Calvert Education Association President Debbie Russ said that both sides have yet to select a third party arbiter and "are still waiting to confirm at this point."

Russ also spoke at the open forum portion of the meeting and said, "Even in these tough economic times, our teachers are working hard to provide a quality education for our students."

lbuck@somdnews.com