Talbot County Public Schools

February 7-11: School Counselor Appreciation Week and Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

February 17: Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Awareness Day

February 21: President's Day - Make-Up Snow Day- Schools are OPEN

February 22: Vaccine Incentive Cards Expire

February 24: WEBINAR: What Parents Need to Know about MD Coalition of Families Services (more information below)

March 16: Board of Education Meeting

Dr. Griffith and the Talbot County Public Schools Senior Leadership Team presented a revised proposed budget to the Board of Education at their February meeting.

The original FY23 Budget of $64,260,434 presented in December, reflected a total increase of $3.8 million from the FY22 budget. This increase addressed staff salary increases and fixed charges, reinstatement of field trips, four new bus leases, special education nursing services and transportation increases, 5.5 new positions, and technology upgrades.

At their January meeting, the board approved an amended total budget request of $64,704,706, having added $444,272 to their original draft budget to support needs for Gifted and Talented, afterschool programming, mental health resources and the Blueprint Implementation Coordinator. They also approved adding $1.8 million for athletic turf fields to the capital budget request.

The Maryland State Department of Education subsequently notified TCPS Administration of three possible funding scenarios, the most likely being an increase of $6.7 million in “local share” funding from Talbot County and an increase of $858,000 from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to address the directives in the mandated “Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.” Key elements of this are the requirements that teacher salaries be increased by 10% between FY19 and FY24 and starting teacher salaries be increased to $60,000 by FY27. One day prior to the February 9 board meeting, TCPS administration was notified that their actual local share would be reduced by $4.8 million from the previously estimated funding. This reduction brought the total projected FY23 revenue down to $63,924,658, which was $780,048 less than the January 2022 proposed budget.

TCPS Administration reviewed the entire FY23 budget yet again to find additional adjustments, which included moving expenses to grant funding, salary savings due to retirements, and prepayment of fixed charges. Dr. Griffith then presented additional budgetary recommendations to meet the expectations of the Blueprint requirements as well as to address the needs resulting from discontinued grants.

Following deliberation, the Board of Education approved a final budget request in the amount of $66,340,267. “Putting students and teachers first is the top priority for the Talbot County Board of Education,” said Ms. Susan Delean-Botkin, Board President. “The Board worked diligently with Superintendent Griffith, Mrs. Sarah Jones, and TCPS Senior Leadership to craft the FY 23 budget for our school district.”

“TCPS is poised to take advantage of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Maryland HB1300) by investing in our teachers, our support staff, and our educational programs. This budget will pave the way for the successful future of Talbot County,” Ms. Delean-Botkin added. “We are very pleased with the success of some of the new CTE programs we have invested in such as the NJROTC and CNA programs, and look forward to creating more opportunities for TCPS students.”

The board-approved budget request will be presented to the Talbot County Council on March 1, 2022 at 4:00 p.m.

During the month of February, we celebrate the achievements of black Americans. We will highlight some of the fantastic projects taking place across our county.

Easton Middle School is collaborating with the Avalon Foundation, with support from Talbot Arts on a special project with the acappella musical group “Ball In The House” for Black History Month. The project will highlight the many ways black musicians have impacted music throughout history, and how racism has affected musical styles and artists.

Career and technical education, or CTE, is education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

TCPS CTE Programs include: Agriculture, Automotive Tech, Biomedical Science, Carpentry, Certified Nursing Assistant, Computer Science, Culinary Arts & Cosmetology, Firefighter and Emergency Medical Responder, Interactive Media Production, Marketing, Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC), Teacher Academy of Maryland.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) instructor Chad Windsor presented the CNA program to the Board of Education at the February 9th meeting. We are thrilled with the program's first-year success and student engagement and interest!

St. Michaels Middle High School (SMMHS) students Caroline Trice and Nick Grassini Fall Solo and Ensemble by submitting video recordings. Caroline and Nick both received “superior” scores. (left to right: Caroline Trice, Nick Grassini, Mrs. Amy Effler, Choral Director)

St. Michaels Middle High School (SMMHS) students Caroline Trice and Nick Grassini recently participated in the Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) Fall Solo and Ensemble Festival by submitting video recordings. Caroline and Nick both received “superior” scores (the highest score possible) for their submissions.

“They stayed after school and recorded the videos, which they practiced for countless hours,” said Mrs. Amy Effler, SMMHS Choral Director. “Nick sang "If I Could Tell Her" from the musical Dear Evan Hanson, and Caroline sang "Breathe" from the musical In the Heights.”

The MMEA provides opportunities for students to participate in festivals that feature solo and ensemble vocal and instrumental performances. The festivals allow students to showcase their talents both alone and in groups, and encourage them to collaborate with other musicians and teachers. Historically an “in-person” event, auditions were held virtually this year due to COVID-19.

Feb 24, 2022 03:00 PM

CLICK TO REGISTER

Please join us in attending a webinar on how MD Coalition of Families can help your family with substance use concerns. Registration is required. Q&A will be at the end.

Guest speaker: Anne Marie Izzi - Family Peer Support Specialist Substance Use.
Other speaker: Madison Elliott - Substance-Use Specialist/Coordinator at TCPS

If you have any questions please contact:
Madison Elliott
madison.elliott@talbotschools.org
Substance-Use Specialist/Coordinator
Talbot County Public Schools

The CDC has released updated recommendations for Isolation and Quarantine for COVID-19. Beginning Thursday, January 6, 2022, TCPS will follow a modified process for students and staff (This document was updated 1/7/2022)

VIEW UPDATED GUIDELINES

Below is a list of COVID information that has been recently released

TESTING INFORMATION

• New COVID testing site at UM Shore Medical Pavilion, 500 Cadmus Lane Easton MD 21601. Drive Through. Open Monday-Sunday 9 AM to 3 PM. PCR tests with results in 24-48 hours.
• Free at-home covid tests via USPS. Every home is eligible for four tests and orders will ship in 7-12 days. Order them here
• The local health department gets rapid at-home covid tests delivered every other week in extremely low quantities. The public can get them from the library if/when they are available.
• Local pharmacies are getting at-home covid tests in stock. I recommend calling ahead of time to see if they are in stock before going to purchase them.
• The Health Department is still testing at their test site at 28712 Glebe Road Easton MD 21601 Monday through Friday 9 AM to 2:30 PM. Appointments are required and do fill up very fast. You can call 410-819-5632 to make an appointment.

· **When taking at-home covid tests, you can report your results here**

MASKS

· The health department has distributed KN95 masks throughout the community to be available to the public. You can pick yours up at the Health Department (100 Hanson St.), the Vaccine Center (102 Marlboro Ave.), or at the county libraries.

VACCINE

• Where: Talbot County Vaccine Center, 102 Marlboro Ave Easton MD
• When: Monday through Friday 10 AM to 6 PM

5-11-year-olds on Fridays, no appointment required

· Who: Anyone 5 years old and older

5-11-year-olds are eligible for their Pfizer vaccine which is available on Fridays, no appointment required

• Pfizer: Anyone 12 years and older
• Moderna: Anyone 18 years and older
• J&J: Anyone 18 years and older

BOOSTER

Anyone 12 years and older who is at least 5 months after their second shot

OTHER RESOURCES

· When to go to the ER – Shore Regional Health

· Choptank Community Health COVID Info

· Choptank Community Health COVID Answers – Q&A Videos

· Emergency Rental Assistance Program

• Instructional Assistant
• Substitute Teacher
• School Security Officer
• Behavior Counselor
• Special Project Assistant
• Maintenance Specialist
• Billing Clerk, Medical Assistant (Part-Time)
• Judy Center Home Visitor

• Computer Science Teacher
• Elementary Teacher
• Social Studies Teacher
• Secondary Math Teacher
• Special Education Teacher
• Music Teacher
• Speech Therapist

Bullying and cyberbullying, harassment and intimidation, hazing, and/or bias behaviors are unsafe behaviors that do not reflect respect for others as defined by Policy 10.16 on STUDENT CONDUCT – BULLYING, HARASSMENT OR INTIMIDATION . If a student is a target of one of these behaviors, you can report it using the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form (linked below).

The form is also available at all schools, in the main office and the school’s counseling office. Students can also report issues directly to a staff member. When a situation that involves any of these behaviors is reported, staff members will respond quickly and will provide a practical, private, and safe place to report.