Kent County Public Schools is asking everyone to support its efforts to seek more money from the state to build a new Kent County Middle School.

There is a bill being heard in the Maryland General Assembly that would do this. Senate Bill 843 would direct more state funding toward the replacement of Kent County Middle School.

A hearing on SB0843 is scheduled for Tuesday, March 4 in the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee.

There are three ways you can show your support leading up to the hearing for SB0843.

1. You can sign onto a form letter Kent County Public Schools will be submitting to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee at the close of business Friday, Feb. 28. KCPS asks for your name, town and email address. Go to https://tinyurl.com/p44swp65 to sign the letter. If you previously signed the letter sent for the House of Delegates version of the bill, you do not need to sign this letter for the Senate bill.
2. You can submit your own letter or a copy of the KCPS form letter between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 by creating an account through My MGA on the General Assembly website. Go to https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/ and click the “My MGA” icon at the top right. If you submit your own copy of the KCPS form letter, just add your information at the bottom of the letter, save it as a PDF and send it! Download the KCPS letter at https://tinyurl.com/373v8tuj.
3. Sign up to provide in-person testimony through the My MGA portal. The signup window is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. The hearing is schedule for 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Kent County Public Schools thanks everyone for being a part of this community effort.

Bill Receski receives the Golden Anchor award Monday, Feb. 10 from the Kent County Board of Education. From left are, Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion, student Board member Alden Swanson, Board members Frank Rhodes and Aretha Dorsey, Receski, Board President Trish McGee, Receski’s wife and fellow educator Lori Receski, Board Vice President John Queen, Principal Gillian Spero, Board member Laura McKenzie and Superintendent Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas.

Bill Receski of Rock Hall Elementary School was honored with this month’s Golden Anchor Award for his hard work and dedication.

Receski received his award from the Kent County Board of Education Monday night, Feb. 10.

The Golden Anchor Award is presented each month to staff members or groups of employees who exemplify the mission and core values of Kent County Public Schools.

“Kent County Public Schools is an anchor organization that creates an environment of academic excellence through a collaborative, equitable and rigorous learning community,” the mission statement reads.

Nominations may be submitted by Kent County Public Schools staff members, parents and students.

Receski is the teacher specialist at Rock Hall Elementary School. He has been a part of Kent County Public Schools for more than three decades.

Kent County Public Schools Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion announced the honor for Receski at the board meeting.

“In the words of some of his colleagues, Bill is always there whenever needed,” Hushion said. “All the students know his name. He is very pleasant, caring and kind to all students.”

Rock Hall Elementary School Principal Gillian Spero recounted a story of a phone received last fall from someone at the Pentagon wishing to speak with Receski.

Spero said it was a former student of Receski’s. She said the caller, who has become “pretty high ranking,” wanted Receski to know that he would not be where he is today were it not for him.

Spero said so many others have similar stories about the impact Receski has made on the lives of students.

“On behalf of our students and families and staff, we recognize and thank you for your reliability and tireless dedication,” Spero told Receski.

Kent County Public Schools staff, families and community members are invited to fill out an online survey and provide their input on the four draft 2025-26 calendars.

The survey can be found at https://tinyurl.com/d4z82jwb.

There are four calendars under review by the Kent County Board of Education. The drafts and the survey results are expected to be presented at the Board’s next monthly meeting, Monday, March 10.

The school system’s Calendar Committee, led by Director of Human Resources Dan Hushion, opened an initial survey in November and accepted responses through early February.

Using the results of that survey on calendar building blocks like start date, length of breaks throughout the year and the last day of school, four different calendars were drafted.

This survey seeks the community’s input on which of the four drafts is the preferred option. The Kent County Board of Education has the final vote on the school calendar.

On option 1, the first week of school starts Aug. 25. Winter break runs from Monday, Dec. 22 through Sunday, Jan. 4. Spring break would be just over a week from Friday, April 3 through Sunday, April 12. The last day of school is set at Friday, June 12.

Calendar option 2 has the same start date and winter break. Spring break would see schools and offices closed Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6 in favor of the last day of school moving up to Friday, June 5.

Option 3 pushes back the start of school to Tuesday, Sept. 2. Winter break is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 4. Spring break would be Thursday, April 2 through Monday, April 6 and the last day of school would fall on Friday, June 12.

A fourth option starts school on Tuesday, Sept. 2, includes the Dec. 22-to-Jan. 4 winter break, the longer April 3-to-April 12 spring break with the last day of school on Thursday, June 18.

All four calendars have a fall break for students starting with parent conferences on Wednesday, Oct. 15, a full-day of staff professional development on Thursday, Oct. 16 and school and offices closed for the Maryland State Education Association conference on Friday, Oct. 17.

Thanksgiving break on all four options begins Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Additional holiday breaks in January and February are Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day.

The four draft calendars include a spring parent-teacher conference day Wednesday, March 18.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 is a day off on the four draft 2025-26 calendars.

All four calendar options include two inclement weather days.

Learn more at www.kent.k12.md.us.

Clerk of the Circuit Court for Kent County Sherise Kennard, foreground, administers the oath of office for new Board of Education member Laura McKenzie Monday evening, Dec. 9.

When the new year begins, the Kent County Board of Education will officially seat its two recently elected members.

Laura McKenzie and John Queen took the oath of office Monday evening, Dec. 9 in advance of the official start of their first term on the board.

The pair were elected to the Board of Education in November to four-year terms.

McKenzie and Queen arrived at the Kent County Public Schools Administrative Building in Rock Hall Dec. 9 with Clerk of the Circuit Court for Kent County Sherise Kennard.

They individually took the oath of office with family members and friends present in the Board of Education meeting room.

Newly-elected Board of Education member John Queen recites the oath of office with Clerk of the Circuit Court for Kent County Sherise Kennard Monday evening, Dec. 9.

Superintendent Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas and the current slate of board members were on hand for the ceremony as well.

McKenzie, a mother of four, is a case manager at the Benedictine School in Ridgely and a licensed mental health therapist practicing at Discovering Serenity Counseling in Chestertown.

For McKenzie, the swearing-in ceremony was a very emotional experience.

“I felt overwhelmed by the privilege of taking a solemn oath to serve our schools in faithfulness and to the best of my ability,” McKenzie said. “I very much appreciated the congratulations and welcome I received from our superintendent, current board members and central office staff.”

A father of two, Queen is a youth and community organizer and founder of the Bayside HOYAS (Helping Our Youth Achieve Success) program.

“For over a decade I’ve been on the front line, serving Kent County youth and their families while providing solution-based initiatives,” Queen said. “I’m excited to bring my skill set and community experience to the Board of Education and help provide Kent County Public Schools with leadership, accountability and a vision for the future.”

Learn more about the Kent County Board of Education at https://www.kent.k12.md.us/SchoolBoard.aspx.

The annual Seasonal Sensations holiday dinner and concert at Kent County High School will be held this year at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. The dinner will be prepared and served by culinary students and musical performances will feature holiday selections from the high school’s band.

Kent County High School’s culinary arts and music students are getting ready for the annual Seasonal Sensations dinner and concert.

This year’s program starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the high school’s cafeteria, with appetizers, followed by dinner and musical performances.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $20 for children 12 and younger. They can be picked up at the door the evening of the event.

Culinary arts teacher John Keller and his students will again prepare the customary holiday dinner.

Musical performances will feature seasonal selections from the Kent County High School Concert Band, Jazz Band and Show Choir, all under the leadership of director Jodi Bortz.

The evening will also include a silent auction fundraiser.

To reserve tickets, email Malorie Martinez at [email protected].

Kent County High School is located at 25301 Lambs Meadow Road, Worton.

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The seventh annual Sensory Holiday Celebration is being held from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The holiday party will in the media center at Kent County Middle School for students and their siblings who receive special education or related services or have a 504.

Santa will be joining the holiday fun for photos. There will be games, crafts and food.

RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/msbkt33f. Registration closes Friday, Dec. 13.

The Sensory Holiday Celebration is presented by Kent County Public Schools’ Infants and Toddlers program, the Family Support Resource Center, the Kent County Judy Centers and the Office of Special Education.

Kent County Middle School is located at 402 E. Campus Ave., Chestertown.