BoardNotes Sept. 2025

Caroline County Board of Education meetings are livestreamed and may also be viewed after the meeting has concluded. For information about the Board of Education, including agendas and meeting schedules, please visit the Leadership page of our website.

At the start of each meeting, the board of education president reads the Mission Statement, "In partnership with families and community, we prepare all students to achieve college, career, and life readiness through a challenging and progressive educational experience."

Mr. Charles Dean III requested that future board meetings not be scheduled on the evening of an election day. Regarding the recent new teacher bus tour, he suggested collaborating with local historical organizations, as well as offering his own support. He reminded the Board that the nation’s 250th anniversary is approaching next year and noted that this milestone presented many opportunities. He mentioned a state grant available for a Citizens Academy, and offered his assistance in pursuing the grant and in providing additional historical resources.

The Board welcomed Kadeen Belle from North Caroline High School and Jeffrey Lin from Colonel Richardson High School who reported on events from their schools and the feeder schools in their respective parts of the county.

Student Representative Report

The Board approved personnel items as presented by Dr. Robert Willoughby, Director of Administrative Services. They also approved the minutes from the most recent board of education meetings.

The Board approved an overnight field trip request from the Future Farmers of America members to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana from October 24 – November 1, 2025. The seven students attending the convention will learn about colleges and careers within the agriculture industry.

The Board approved the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) as presented by Director of Operations Bill Mengel. The CIP lays out the financing, location, and timing for capital improvement projects over several years, and is required by the Interagency Commission for School Construction (IAC) to be updated and approved annually by all Boards of Education.

Following the Board of Education’s approval, the CIP is then submitted to the Caroline County Commissioners for its acceptance and support. A summary of all future years’ projects is included on Form 102.4, and can be found on page 2 of the CIP document.

CCPS FY27 CIP APG-Forms

Director of College and Career Readiness Lindsey McCormick and Supervisor of Community Schools and Equity Nicole Fisher gave a report on the many programs provided to students throughout the summer.

• The Elementary Summer Program, conducted in collaboration with Caroline County Recreation and Parks, served 602 students. The program included Environmental Education with Shore Rivers that featured daily science lessons along with kayaking and fishing trips.
• The Middle School Summer Career Enrichment Program, in partnership with People for Change Coalition and the Mid-Shore Regional Council, served 75 Caroline students and featured a variety of activities including robotics, chess, and presentation and video design.
• The High School Credit Recovery Program served 139 high school students who completed 233 courses.
• The Middle School Mini SEL Camp, funded through the Project AWARE grant and conducted in collaboration with Caroline Behavioral Health and Choptank Community Health, served 17 middle schools students.
• NCHS hosted the first STEM Camp Week in Caroline County that welcomed Ridgely Elementary students for STEM-related activities.

Director of Operations Bill Mengel provided an overview of the extensive work conducted over the summer by Health Services, Transportation, and Food Services.

CCPS Summer Programs 2025

Director of Operations Bill Mengel presented a report on the projects completed by the operations staff throughout the summer.

Capital Projects Report

Director of Administrative Services Rob Willoughby provided the Board with a summary of hiring and recruiting for the 2025-2026 school year. He reviewed the number of certified staff hired, and various aspects of their demographics. Dr. Willoughby also shared that it was an extraordinary year in terms of being fully staffed before opening day, and he credited Dr. Simmons leadership in "steering us to a different spot than in previous years - it's the climate, the family, the contract, all those things."

Staffing Report

Dr. Simmons shared an enthusiastic report on the first day of school, describing it as a strong and successful opening. Over 5,000 students were welcomed back, with an additional 300+ PreK students scheduled to begin next week.

He reported that attendance numbers are on par with what is typically seen at this time of year. Student Services currently has a list of students enrolled but not in attendance, which is often attributed to “yellow bus syndrome”—families seeing school buses and realizing the school year has started.

Dr. Simmons shared how enjoyable it was to watch students arrive—starting with the Colonels and then Denton Elementary—and enjoyed the opportunity to provide a ride to CCTC students who missed their bus from CRHS.

During his visits to multiple school buildings, he noted an “incredible vibe” among staff and students, aligning with Dr. Willougby's earlier comments about a healthy, positive energy being felt across the district.

Dr. Simmons said that transportation operations ran smoothly with only a few minor hiccups, evidence of excellent communication prior to opening day. While this was a reference to a glitch in the new system that generated multiple repeat emails, he also credited the system in general with being a more efficient method of communication. He also gave a shout-out to the maintenance team for stepping in to assist where needed in the buildings, and the GES cafeteria team who were in full swing when he visited during lunchtime.

Dr. Simmons concluded by expressing appreciation to everyone involved in making the start of the school year such a smooth and exciting success.

Report Link

• Ms. Johnson visited Lockerman Middle in the morning and took pictures, and noted that it's not an easy task to photograph middle schoolers. At Ridgely Elementary, she enjoyed watching the parents taking photos of their smiling children.
• Mr. Jones expressed his appreciation to Greensboro Elementary principal Ms. Kerr for inviting him to visit classrooms with her. He noted that the new shed that Mr. Mengel reported on was of interest to students who were curious about its contents. He also shared that Sheriff Baker was at NCHS and expressed appreciation for the school's new space for the School Resource Officer.
• Mr. Plutschak thanked everyone for the hard work in getting ready for opening day, and also praised the Caroline Family Kickoff that included all staff for the first time.
• Ms. Bartz started her day at Lockerman Middle School, saying "the vibe was amazing" and they did a great job as always. The rest of her day was spent in her role with Choptank Health Services, welcoming back School Based Health Center staff for the new year. Ms. Bartz also mentioned the Caroline Family Kickoff, saying that many support staff let her know they were excited to be there and participating with their school family. She said that while she had always enjoyed this yearly event, this year felt different and more special.
• Ms. Wayman reported the Board had a successful retreat in August. For opening day, she visited three schools, and the buildings looked wonderful. She also expressed appreciation on behalf of the Lockerman Association for allowing them space to hold their reunion.

Dr. Simmons reviewed Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) data for the 2022 through 2025 school years. He highlighted areas of particular growth such as district-wide math which showed CCPS students had the 2nd highest rate of growth in the state, and English Language Arts had the 6th highest rate of growth in the state over the last four years. In particular, middle school ELA data showed dramatic improvement. Dr. Simmons pointed out that while Caroline is 23rd out of 24 districts in wealth per student, our students consistently rank at mid-tier or higher in assessment scores, showing that we are making great progress in eliminating the effects of poverty.

Assistant Superintendent Tara Downes, and Supervisors Missy Butler, Renee Hesson, and Nicole Vondenbosch reviewed a grade by grade data presentation that compared CCPS results with other districts on the Eastern Shore. They explained the strategies that resulted in the trends moving in the right direction, and reviewed areas in need of more attention.

Board President Michele Wayman commended staff for the work they are doing and the subsequent results, and "making sure students are getting the best they can get."

Email: communications@ccpsstaff.org

Website: carolineschools.org
Location: Caroline County, Maryland
District Office: 410.479.1460

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