Menu

Washington County Public Schools board meeting, date not confirmed yet

1 h 03 min

Click any moment below to jump the video to that second. Video length 1 h 03 min.

This board doesn’t post agenda times.

What happened

What happened at this meeting

Board removes Downsville Pike Elementary naming item from agenda for work session discussion 2:06

  • The board voted 4 in favor and 2 opposed to remove an item on naming the Downsville Pike Elementary School from the agenda so it could be discussed at a work session. 2:06
  • Speakers at public comment raised pay for educational support professionals and the location of school bus stops. 17:03
  • The board unanimously approved first readings of a proposed policy on responsible use of artificial intelligence and proposed changes to a policy on establishing school attendance areas. 33:57
  • The board also unanimously approved a fiscal year 2028 budget calendar and a virtual learning plan. 43:29
Item by item (13)
  1. Opening and agenda 0:51
    • Darrell Evans said 6 board members and the student board member were present and declared a quorum. 0:51
    • A motion was made to amend the agenda to remove the item on recommendations for the name of the Downsville Pike Elementary School to be discussed at a later date. 1:56
    • Darrell Evans said the amendment would essentially table the item for a work session, with a public vote at a later date. 3:03
    • The amendment passed 4 to 2, and the amended agenda and the meeting minutes were approved unanimously with the student member concurring. 3:42
  2. Public comment 5:47
    • A speaker at public comment described local nonprofit organizations that help students and families with food, clothing, services and beds. 8:10
    • Speakers at public comment discussed educator involvement in implementing phone-free schools requirements and said some educational support professionals cannot afford their lives. 12:42
    • A speaker at public comment asked that the Transportation Department reevaluate the location of bus stops near a residence in the Spring Valley community. 25:55
  3. Board response to public comment 28:44
    • Darrell Evans said the board does not have authority over zoning and that the concern would be discussed with the board's legislative agenda in a couple of weeks. 30:40
  4. Procurement consent agenda 31:47
    • A staff member presented 4 items reviewed by the Purchasing Review Committee and recommended for approval. 31:48
    • The board approved the procurement consent agenda unanimously with the student member concurring. 32:14
  5. Artificial intelligence policy first reading 32:14
    • A staff member said a 2026 state law requires boards of education to adopt a policy on artificial intelligence and that the draft aligns with the Maryland State Department of Education model policy. 32:43
    • The student board member asked whether the environmental effects of artificial intelligence could be addressed in the guidance or the policy. 34:17
    • A staff member said a regulation following the policy would go into greater detail. 34:45
    • The first reading was approved unanimously with the student member concurring. 36:28
  6. School attendance areas policy first reading 36:28
    • A staff member said the changes would remove local rated capacity as a consideration so only state-rated capacity would be considered. 36:51
    • The staff member said the revised language would let developers submit zone realignment requests to the Board of Education and let the county weigh in. 37:32
    • The first reading was approved unanimously with the student member concurring. 39:04
  7. Athletic booster club advertising rights 39:18
    • A staff member presented a request for 2 vendors that reached agreements with the South Hagerstown High School booster club for advertising rights. 39:29
    • The board approved the advertising rights unanimously with the student member concurring. 40:32
  8. Fiscal 2028 budget calendar 40:32
    • A staff member said the calendar sets a work session to present the superintendent's FY28 draft budget on January 26th, 2027, and delays board approval of a final budget into May. 41:06
    • Darrell Evans said the January 26th meeting would replace the February work session. 43:41
    • The budget calendar was approved unanimously with the student member concurring. 43:41
  9. Virtual learning plan 43:41
    • A staff member said the plan outlines when virtual instructional days may be used and the responsibilities of staff and students. 44:38
    • The plan was approved unanimously with the student member concurring. 45:17
  10. Advisory committee appointments and personnel 45:17
    • Staff sought approval of community appointments to advisory committees and personnel actions as presented in closed session. 45:41
    • The board approved the appointments and the personnel actions unanimously. 46:00
  11. Superintendent's update 46:53
    • A district staff member said 184 school buses were inspected and that cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds and handheld gaming devices must be locked in lockers this year. 50:09
    • The staff member said families should delete and redownload a new ParentVUE StudentVUE app and that a September 8th Community Matters session would focus on the school budget. 51:41
    • Charles (Charlie) Burkett asked why foster parents do not have access to ParentVUE, and a staff member said the matter would be looked into. 53:49
  12. Future agenda and committee reports 54:53
    • Darrell Evans said the naming of Downsville Pike Elementary would be added to the September work session and voted on at a later date. 54:53
    • Charles (Charlie) Burkett said the finance committee would meet September 1st at noon. 56:16
    • Darrell Evans said the policy committee would meet September 9th at 9:00 AM. 56:44
  13. Board member comments 56:44
    • Dr. April Zentmeyer welcomed new and returning teachers, administrators and staff. 57:34
    • Darrell Evans said about 200 teachers attended the new teacher welcome, and a staff member said about 40% had prior experience. 1:00:56

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

Who spoke

Who spoke

We can’t yet tell who is speaking at this board’s meetings.

Video: posted by the district as “Board of Education Public Business Meeting | August 18, 2026 | 6:00PM”