5 Key Decisions by the School Board: Superintendent Review, Construction Updates, and More

The Montgomery school board's May 14 meeting covered a variety of important topics, including an evaluation of the superintendent, construction progress, and approval of bonuses for cafeteria workers.

The meeting, which lasted over three hours, also included an executive session and discussions on contract renewals for student programs. Here are some key highlights:

Evaluation of MPS Superintendent

Superintendent Melvin Brown received a score of 3.2 out of 5 in his annual internal evaluation. This review was conducted by a group of Montgomery Public School principals, said Vernet Nettles, a personnel evaluation specialist.

Brown scored highest in organizational management and financial management with a 3.52, while his lowest scores were in instructional management and human resources management at 2.89.

Construction at Carver, Park Crossing, and Southlawn

Glenn Slater, Vice President of Volkert Inc., provided updates on several construction projects:

• Carver High School Ninth Grade Academy: 62% complete, with a target completion date of August 1, ahead of the school start on August 10.
• Southlawn Middle School Gym Addition: 17% complete.
• Park Crossing High School Field House Addition: 52% complete.

Additionally, the new buildings for Percy Julian High School and Capitol Heights Middle School are still in the design phase.

Board Approves Bonus for Workers

The board approved a $1,500 bonus for current, permanent, full-time cafeteria workers, including cooks, managers, field supervisors, the assistant director, and the director. This bonus also extends to full-time, retired child nutrition program cooks or managers.

Arthur Watts, the district's chief school financial officer, stated this move aims to prevent the exodus of employees due to the demanding workload. The total cost of the bonuses is approximately $300,000.

Language Learning Software Contract

The board voted to renew the contract for Imagine Language & Literacy, a program that supports English learning for students who are not yet fluent. The renewal will cost around $5 million.

Despite some board members expressing concerns about not considering alternative programs and describing the current program as outdated, the vote passed with three in favor.

Carver May Add Associate Principal

Superintendent Brown proposed adding an associate principal to the Ninth Grade Academy at Carver High School to provide more autonomy and better manage the influx of students from Sidney Lanier High School, which is closing.

The board voted to table the motion pending further research on the benefits of such a position. The proposed salary for the associate principal would be between $85,000 and $90,000.

District 1 Representative Lesa Keith expressed concerns about the potential need to add similar positions across all high schools, while District 6 Representative Claudia Mitchell supported the idea, emphasizing the importance of ninth grade as a critical transition year for students.

These highlights capture the key decisions and discussions from the Montgomery school board's extensive meeting, reflecting their ongoing efforts to improve educational outcomes and support for both students and staff.