Anne Arundel County Public Schools board meeting, May 20, 2026
1 h 24 min · 4 public speakers
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What happened
What happened at this meeting
Board approves grading policy allowing class rank on request on 7-1 vote 1:21:36
- Several speakers at public comment asked the district to remove curriculum materials tied to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and another speaker raised a leaking roof at Brooklyn Park Elementary School. 17:37
- One board member said they were a no vote in the past on class rank that it would be the same again, while another board member, said the policy should ultimately pass and asked for follow-up data in about a year. 1:01:54
- The board adopted Policy II, Grading, on a 7-1 vote after board members discussed a change permitting class rank to be calculated upon request after a student's sophomore year. 1:21:36
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Item by item (11)
- Opening, minutes and agenda 10:34
- Military Service Award recognition 11:53
- Dawn Pulliam said the Military Service Award was established in 2021 to honor a former board member and is given each May to students who enlist to serve in the military after graduation. 12:07
- Dawn Pulliam said the award helps with initial enlistment expenses, and the board recognized 2 recipients from Northeast High School. 12:40
- Gloria Dent wished the recipients luck in their military careers. 15:35
- Public comment 15:35
- Gloria Dent said 4 speakers had signed up, and several speakers asked the district to remove curriculum tied to the Southern Poverty Law Center, with one also asking for a public audit of curriculum materials. 15:35
- A speaker said a roof at Brooklyn Park Elementary School has leaked for several years and that no permanent solution has been put in place. 19:52
- A speaker at public comment said curriculum from the Southern Poverty Law Center is incorporated into Unity Day lessons and a course required for graduation. 24:59
- Student organization reports 26:56
- A student presenter for CRASC said 5 students from the district were appointed to the MASC executive team and noted that Friday, May 22nd is the seniors' last day. 27:21
- A student presenter for the Student Equity Advisory Team said ambassadors presented to over 50 new teachers on April 11th and hosted the Youth Empowerment Symposium at Severn Run High School on April 25th. 29:25
- The presenter said the team will present at a summer conference in July and work with Food and Nutrition Services in August. 35:17
- Special education advisory committee report 36:14
- The chair of the Anne Arundel County Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee said the committee hosted meetings on topics such as transition services and community supports. 36:29
- The chair said continued investment in special education staffing, recruitment, retention, training and resources is critical. 36:29
- Teachers association survey results 39:42
- A presenter shared results of the union's annual job satisfaction survey and said district-wide results were broadly positive. 39:59
- The presenter proposed a joint survey on educators' professional development concerns and reviving the planning time and workload committee. 42:39
- The presenter said respondents indicated professional development needs improvement, training for challenging student behaviors is insufficient and planning time is not enough. 42:40
- President's report 44:37
- Gloria Dent said the superintendent, staff and they presented before the County Council budget hearing and stressed the need for a stronger partnership with the county. 45:22
- Gloria Dent reported attending the MSDE Board Leadership Training Academy with Dawn Pulliam and described an HBCU scholarship event at North County. 45:22
- Superintendent's report 48:58
- The superintendent thanked families, students and staff for their patience during the recent Canvas data breach. 48:58
- The superintendent said the district was named one of the 2026 Best Communities for Music Education for the 6th straight year and said the district should eventually discuss a standalone school for visual and performing arts. 49:45
- One board member said they were grateful for future conversations about expanding arts opportunities. 57:35
- Contract awards 58:31
- Administrative personnel appointments 59:22
- Grading policy third reading 59:58
- The director of legislation and policy said staff recommended updating Policy II to permit calculating a student's class rank upon request after the sophomore year, and that class rank may not be used for Latin honors or to designate a valedictorian or salutatorian. 1:00:17
- One board member, said the policy should ultimately pass and requested follow-up in about a year on the requests received, while another board member cited an email saying the University of Tampa requires class rank. 1:01:54
- One board member said they would vote no, noting more than 50% of school systems do not calculate class rank, and the superintendent said allowing access to the information is the right thing to do. 1:11:10
- The motion passed 7-1. 1:21:37
Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.
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Video: posted by the district as “BOE 5-20-2026 Public Session”