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March 30, 2023

The Chestertown Spy

An Educational News Source for Chestertown Maryland

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News News Notes

Celebrating Jeanne Geibel, Director of Branch Services: 45 Years of Service with KCPL

March 29, 2023 by Kent County Public Library Leave a Comment

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Kent County Public Library is preparing to mark a momentous transition. After 45 years of dedicated service to KCPL, Jeanne Geibel, Director of Branch Services, will be retiring in April 2023.

Jeanne started her career at Kent County Public Library on October 16, 1977. At that time, she went to work at 335 High Street, Chestertown, the small storefront that housed the library while the new building was being constructed. Six months later, she played a part in the community Book Walk that took place to move the library up the street and into its current Chestertown location.

At the start of her career, in 1977 Jeanne’s main jobs were focused on cataloging and inter-library loan services, although, given the very small staff size at the time, everyone filled multiple roles. Jeanne’s regular roles included checking and repairing audio visual materials, supervised the volunteers who ran the Rock Hall Branch, and answered reference questions. When needed, she also enthusiastically assisted with children’s programming, dressing up as an elf, a witch, the Easter bunny, the Cat in the Hat, and Mrs. Claus! When the North County Branch opened in 2006, Jeanne became the Branch Manager for both the Rock Hall and North County Branches, splitting her days between the two locations. As part of this transition, she also became a regular presenter of story time at both locations, creating strong connections with the youngest library users, along with their families and caregivers.

Throughout the decades, Jeanne worked for 7 different library directors and alongside dozens of coworkers. Her good humor, willingness to do what needs to be done, and kindness toward others will remain an enduring part of her KCPL legacy. In all her roles over the years, the library patrons have always been the heart of library work for Jeanne. In reflecting on her coming retirement, she says, “I’ve developed close relationships with many of my patrons and I’m going to miss them a lot.” She hastens to add, “I’ll still be visible in the library as a patron checking out my favorite author or enjoying a program.”

During the week leading up to Jeanne’s retirement, KCPL is pulling out all the stops and celebrating with three events (one at each KCPL location) to give the community opportunities to gather and celebrate her 45 years of service! Reminiscences, appreciations, and well wishes are welcome.

Monday, April 10  |  4-6pm  |  Chestertown

Drop in for snacks, sign the community card, and wish Jeanne well in her retirement.

Wednesday, April 12  |  4-6pm  |  Rock Hall

Drop in for snacks, sign the community card, and wish Jeanne well in her retirement.

Thursday, April 13  |  4-6pm  |  North County

Join us for a ceremony of celebration and recognition on Jeanne’s last day at KCPL!

Order of Events on April 13:

4-4:30 greetings & signing community card

4:30-5 ceremony of celebration & recognition

5-6pm reception & light hors d’oeuvres

For more information, visit kentcountylibrary.org or call 410-778-3636.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, Kent County Public Library, local news

Vietnam War Veterans Day

March 28, 2023 by Spy Desk 2 Comments

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The second annual National Vietnam War Veterans Day observance in Kent County is set for Wednesday night, March 29 in the downtown Memorial Park of Chestertown.

It will begin at 6 p.m. and is expected to last about an hour.

The public is invited.

Guest speakers will include veterans Emerson Cotton, Avon Jones, John Moore and Mark Treanor; Bonnie Hill, regent of Old Kent Chapter DAR; and Paul Showalter, commander of Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post 36.

Posting of the colors will be done by the Marine Barracks Washington, the oldest active post in the Marine Corps and the home of the color guard and Marine band that is called the President’s Own.

The tentative schedule includes an opening prayer by the Rev. Denise Jones of Mt. Olive AME Church, Butlertown, and recognition of the participating organizations and Vietnam War commemoration partners.

Following remarks from the guest speakers, there will be a special pinning ceremony to honor the Gold Star families of the five area servicemen who were killed in action; the spouses of Vietnam War-era veterans who have since died; and all who served during the Vietnam War era.

The pin features the message, “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.”

Anyone who received a lapel pin last year should wear it to this year’s ceremony.

Also, all attendees are encouraged to bring a Vietnam-era veteran with them.

Nationally, this is the sixth edition of the solemn event, which honors all veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during what is considered the Vietnam War era, Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975 — regardless of location.

A statement on the vietnamwar50th.com website states: “We make no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve and none could self-determine where they would serve.”

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, signed into law by then-President Donald Trump, designates March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day to thank and honor veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices.

The local observance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day is being spearheaded by Frank M. Jarman American Legion Post 36 of Chestertown and Sumner Hall.

The planning committee consists of Showalter; Peter Sweetser; Larry Wilson, president of the Sumner Hall board of directors; and Phyllis Brown.

Washington College’s Kappa Sigma fraternity is a new partner. Fraternity members will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, set up a Missing Man Table and assist with the pinning ceremony.

https://vimeo.com/802772244/

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, local news

CBMM to Host Boat Buying 101 on April 19

March 28, 2023 by Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Leave a Comment

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Just in time for a new season on the water, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is aiming to help prospective boaters navigate the buying process.

CBMM Charity Boat Donations & Sales Program Director Wes Williams will lead “Boat Buying 101” on April 19 from 5:30-7:30pm in Van Lennep Auditorium, sharing the ins and outs of what to expect when purchasing a new-to-you vessel. The cost is $25, with a 20% discount for CBMM members, and registration is open now at bit.ly/BoatBuying101.

Williams is well-equipped to teach this crash course with a lengthy history of buying and selling boats. He has been a boat owner since he was 12 years old, and he spent a decade as owner/operator of a marina in Texas before arriving at CBMM in February 2021.

CBMM Charity Boat Donations & Sales Program Director Wes Williams will share the ins and outs of what to expect when purchasing a boat during “Boat Buying 101” on April 19. Photo by George Sass.

With this presentation, Williams aims to offer insight that can be useful to both first-time buyers and those seeking to upgrade or add to their fleet. Participants are encouraged to bring their questions about the process.

Through its Charity Boat Donations & Sales Program, CBMM accepts and sells boats year-round. Donations are tax-deductible and hassle-free, and sales directly support CBMM’s mission to explore and preserve the history, environment, and culture of the entire Chesapeake Bay region, and make this resource accessible to all.

Browse the current inventory at cbmm.org/boatdonationprogram or reach out via email (boatdonation@cbmm.org) or phone (410-745-4992) to get more information about the program.

CBMM is also now accepting vehicle donations. Find more information about the Vehicle Donation Program at cbmm.org/vehicledonationprogram.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, local news

Featured April Events at Kent County Public Library

March 28, 2023 by Kent County Public Library Leave a Comment

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April delivers a bouquet of programs at Kent County Public Library! All events are free and open to the public.

MOVIE MATINEES

Join us for a free afternoon at the movies! In April, KCPL’s Chestertown Branch is hosting four movie matinees – two for adults, one for teens, and one for families. Our public performance license limits how and where we can publicize which movies are being shown, but you can find out more details by visiting kentcountylibrary.org or calling 410.778.3636.

Monday, April 3  |  2pm  |  Adults

Thursday, April 6  |  12pm  |  Families

Thursday, April 6  |  3pm  |  Teens

Monday, April 17  |  2pm  |  Adults

EVENTS FOR ADULTS

Happiness Hour: Creative Time for Grown-Ups

Happiness Hour is a time for grown-ups to explore their powers of creativity.  Join us to try your hand at something new and leave a little happier than you arrived! All supplies are provided. Space is limited. Please register.

Origami Flowers

Saturday, April 1  |  1pm  |  Chestertown

Learn how to fold several different styles of origami flowers and create a gorgeous bouquet to take home.

Let’s Get Spicy!

Wednesday, April 19  |  6pm  |  Chestertown

Craft your own garam masala blend, as well as a surprise bonus blend, under the guidance of Mariam Satchell, owner of The Spicerie, at this evening full of delicious aromas inspired by the spice blends of the Indo-Pak subcontinent and the Middle East. In addition to the spice blends you create, take home a sweet treat as a souvenir from our culinary travels. Questions welcome and encouraged. Let’s get spicy!

Celebrating 45 Years of Service: Happy Retirement, Jeanne Geibel!

After 45 years of dedicated service to KCPL, Jeanne Geibel, Director of Branch Services, is retiring in April 2023. KCPL is pulling out all the stops with three events (one at each KCPL location) where the community can gather, reminisce, and offer retirement well wishes.

Monday, April 10  |  4-6pm  |  Chestertown

Wednesday, April 12  |  4-6pm  |  Rock Hall

Drop in for snacks, sign the community card, and wish Jeanne well in her retirement.

Thursday, April 13  |  4-6pm  |  North County

Join us for a ceremony of celebration and recognition on Jeanne’s last day at KCPL!

Organizing Your Health

Join the Mobile Wellness Team from University of Maryland Shore Regional Health for tips and tricks for staying organized when you’re managing your own health or the health of a loved one.

Thursday, April 20  |  1pm  |  Chestertown
Learn about health journaling, communicating with health providers, medication management, using healthcare technology, and more to make the process as easy as possible. Questions are welcome! Space is limited. Please register.

EVENTS FOR FAMILIES, KIDS, AND TEENS

Spend Spring Break at the Library

If you’re enjoying a staycation while Kent County Public Schools are on spring break, visit KCPL for a bunch of fun-filled family, kid, and teen events.

Craft Time: Perler Bead Creations

Wednesday, April 5  |  2:30pm  |  Rock Hall  |  Ages 5+

Space is limited. Please Register.

Make & Take Collage Picture Frames
Wednesday, April 5  |  3:30pm  |  Chestertown  |  Ages 5+

Space is limited. Please Register.

Movie Matinees

Thursday, April 6  |  12pm  |  Chestertown  |  Families

Thursday, April 6  |  3pm  |  Chestertown  |  Teens

Snack Around the World Club

Friday, April 7  |  3:30pm  |  Chestertown  |  Ages 5+

Space is limited. Please Register.

Pizza & Make a Thing: Floral Watercolor

Friday, April 7  |  4pm  |  North County  |  Teens

Saturday, April 8  |  1pm  |  Chestertown  |  Teens

Space is limited. Please Register.

Musical Fruits

Tuesday, April 11  |  10:30am  |  Musical Fruits  |  Ages 5+

Space is limited. Please Register.

LEGO Time

Wednesday, April 12  |  2pm  |  Chestertown  |  Ages 5+

For full details about these and other upcoming programs or to register, visit kentcountylibrary.org or call 410-778-3636.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, Kent County Public Library, local news

New Blueprint Reports on Maryland’s Struggle to Hire Educators

March 27, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

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Maryland’s local school systems submitted their plans to implement a decade-long education reform plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, earlier this month. And now they must start the work of putting the plans into action — or risk state funding being withheld.

The Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board, which is tasked with oversight of the sweeping multi-billion-dollar reforms, will determine in the next several weeks whether each school system’s initial report met minimum requirements.

Rachel Hise, executive director of the implementation board, said during a virtual meeting earlier this month that one of the most basic reviews will be whether each public school system in the state sufficiently answered more than 150 questions meant to guide implementation of reforms.

If the accountability board finds a local plan insufficient, it has the power to withhold 25% of Blueprint funding until minimum guidelines are met.

The initial implementation reports will guide local Blueprint goals through the 2023-24 school year based on four priorities: improve early childhood education, hire and retain high-quality and diverse teachers, make sure students are prepared for college and technical careers and offer more resources for students in need.

Currently, every school district plan notes that help is needed to recruit, hire and retain teachers in all levels of special education, that there’s a lack of certified or qualified teacher applicants and a limited number of college graduates entering the teaching profession.

The General Assembly is considering a bill, the Maryland Educator Shortage Act, which could help. The bill, which passed the House of Delegates earlier this month, would increase financial assistance programs for teachers and mental health professionals in schools and encourage diversification of the state’s public school workforce.

If also approved by the Senate and then signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore (D), who introduced the measure, the bill would go into effect July 1.

Del Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland’s education committee, wants to let teachers know with passage of the teacher’s shortage act that “help is on the way.”

Smith, who also chairs the Education & Economic Development Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee, urges leaders at all 24 school districts to reach out to the state’s four historically Black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions to find future teachers.

“We have colleges that cover a breadth of expertise, a breadth of geography and a breadth of different experiences,” she said Wednesday. “I would call on every local education agency to ensure they’re reaching out to all of these institutions.”

What school districts say they’re facing

One of the many questions school districts addressed in the first implementation report focuses on “hiring trends and needs.”

It asked: In what grade levels and subject areas has the school system struggled to recruit prospective teachers?

Here’s part of the documented responses from each county and Baltimore City:

Allegany – “FSU (Frostburg State University) is experiencing a decrease in enrollment of local students (Allegany County or surrounding areas). This trend has created a body of interns that attend FSU and intern in our buildings and then elect to return to the area from which they hail. This leaves us with fewer applicants to fill openings. For example, in 2022, we had six secondary math vacancies and only six candidates. This candidate pool, and others, is much smaller than what ACPS have experienced in the past, limiting our system’s opportunity to select a candidate that matches the needs of the position and the school.”

Anne Arundel – “From an analysis of our recent data, we are having challenges filling intermediate elementary grade positions, specifically 4th and 5th. When given an option, teachers prefer younger grade levels and if they are not able to teach in these levels, they often will go to a surrounding district where are primary grade vacancies. AACPS has needs spanning all content areas, including over 50 in special and elementary education.”

Baltimore City – “Historically, our greatest needs have been recruiting the requisite number of teachers in the harder-to-fill content areas of Career and Technical Education (CTE), English as a Second Language (ESOL), math, science, special education and world languages. This is in part because of the relatively low numbers of students in colleges of education that are electing to become certified in these harder-to-fill content areas. Although our college and university partners are working to increase the number of students in high-needs content areas, currently the majority of City Schools’ student interns are becoming certified in elementary, English, and social studies. Furthermore, CTE teachers often have significant industry experience, and depending on the vocation, the salaries that they can earn in their industries exceed what they will earn as CTE teachers. These content areas will continue to be a recruitment challenge in hiring for [next school year].”

Baltimore County – “Baltimore County Public Schools has historically had challenges with recruiting and hiring teachers in the critical need areas to include special education, mathematics, science, technology education, world languages (Spanish), and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Recently, Baltimore County Public Schools has added elementary education, early childhood, English, and social studies to the critical need areas. Hiring at all levels has been a challenge; however, the challenges are more prevalent at the middle school level. Each year, BCPS has hired more conditionally certified teachers in these critical shortage areas. In addition, there has been a national decline in the number of teacher candidates enrolled and graduating from teacher education programs.”

Calvert – “Hiring data from previous years has demonstrated that Calvert County Public Schools has had a difficult time hiring teachers in certain subject areas. These areas include the secondary education areas of math and science, as well as all grade levels in special education, as evidenced by vacancy data and timeline data for hiring in these areas. An additional challenge for Calvert County is the geographic location and limited housing options for single employees. Although less than an hour from Washington, D.C., and Annapolis, Calvert County is predominantly rural, with few options for rental housing and entertainment for recent college graduates. The county is considered a great place to raise a family but has less appeal for young professionals.”

Caroline – “Recruitment challenges stem from a number of challenges, including supply of teacher candidates, competition from other areas, as well as certification requirements. CCPS competes with mostly the other nine Eastern Shore counties for candidates, and the number of local teacher candidates is continuing to decrease while our demand increases. While currently CCPS ranks 3rd on the shore in terms of starting salary, we have traditionally been lower in that comparison which is a disadvantage to recruitment efforts. Furthermore, when certified teaching candidates cannot be found, conditional candidates must be hired in order to fill the positions and staff our schools.”

Carroll – “The supply of teachers continues to be a significant concern for CCPS, as data show that the number of individuals selecting teaching as a profession continues to decline. In addition, Maryland institutions of higher education continue to produce relatively few graduates in relation to the state’s need. Vacancies in critical shortage content areas combined with a shortage of local candidates and in-state programs that lead to teacher certification in those areas results in an emphasis on out-of-state recruiting efforts to help fill those vacancies in CCPS. The national teacher shortage continues to make it difficult to recruit highly qualified applicants in critical shortage content areas. An analysis of the CCPS candidate pool revealed that nearly 75% of the applicants were seeking positions in non-critical shortage content areas.”

Cecil – “Decreased enrollment in education programs has resulted in fewer candidates for vacancies. As the Cecil County Public Schools workforce ages out, CCPS will continue to face the challenge of hiring certified candidates. This has increased the number of conditional candidates being hired, specifically in the areas below.

  • “Special Education, all grade levels: Each year CCPS hires dual certified candidates to fill vacancies. As general education [content] positions open within the system, teachers will transfer to those positions creating a cycle of unfilled special education positions each year. Increasing caseloads and workloads contribute to people leaving special education more quickly.
  • 6-12 Math: CCPS continues to struggle with attracting graduates with mathematics degrees into the field of education as there are other career opportunities available with higher salaries and fringe benefits. CCPS continues to seek career changers and support their certification work.”

Charles – “Diverse representation in education throughout the State of Maryland and across the nation remains a challenge. Still, CCPS progressed in increasing representation, surpassing the state. For example, CCPS has increased the overall number of diverse professional staff by 8.5% over the past five years, outpacing the state by 5.71%. Fortunately, the proximity of the Washington, D.C. metro area and recruitment outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) allow access to diverse staff candidates despite the shrinkage in the teacher pipeline across the US. The CCPS Board of Education will continue to charge the Office of Human Resources through the Superintendent with strategic diversity hiring practices. The school system will also continue to evaluate Title II data to target universities and job fairs for recruitment of diverse candidates.”

Dorchester – “Dorchester County Public Schools (DCPS) has an extremely high turnover rate. DCPS had an attrition rate of 18% for the (2021-22) school year. Historically, DCPS has not been able to fill most certified teaching vacancies. DCPS has drafted a Recruiting Plan for the current school year. The plan specifies recruitment fairs targeting critical needs areas. A heightened focus will be on HBCUs to recruit a more diverse population that more closely matches our student demographics. Reassessing our recruitment teams is also a process that we are revisiting. DCPS also looks to recruit Special Education teacher candidates from colleges and universities with solid reputations for producing quality Special Education teachers, such as Bloomsburg University [in Pennsylvania] and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.”

Frederick – “Of the teachers employed during the 2021-2022 reporting period [approximately] 170, or 39%, were hired to teach in critical shortage areas. These critical shortage areas, as defined by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), now include all content areas. Previously, the critical shortage areas included special education, science, mathematics, STEM, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and English learners (EL). Our special education and EL positions throughout all grade levels presented an area of struggle in recruiting qualified candidates for these positions. Science, mathematics, STEM, and CTE positions are more relevant in our secondary areas and present a struggle in securing candidates to fill these vacant positions.”

Garrett – “Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS) has traditionally had a strong pool of teacher candidates in all certificate areas to consider for open positions. Over the last several years, we have had fewer applicants for all positions, which has created a challenge to ensure we have the most highly qualified educators to fill classroom positions. As a result, we are hiring more conditional teachers and spending much more time, money, and effort to recruit available certified teachers. In addition, to compete with other local education agencies, we also have to hire much earlier than in the past. Another strategy that GCPS has implemented due to this shortage has been the creation of several Grow Your Own initiatives to try to build a pipeline of educators within our school system. Another challenge in recruiting teachers to GCPS is the lack of affordable housing and the availability of jobs for a spouse in another professional position.”

Harford – “We are directly impacted by the lack of educators coming from Maryland Institutes of Higher Education (MIE). As an example, only 157 teachers hired came to HCPS from a Maryland IHE out of the 281 teachers hired during the 2021-2022 MSDE reporting year. When we do not have enough certified educators to fulfil our needs, we are having to use creative measures to fill our classroom vacancies. Those include misassigning teachers outside of their field, hiring conditional teachers, and spending much more time, money, and effort to recruit certified teachers that are available. In order to compete with other local education agencies, we are also having to hire much earlier than in the past. We are hiring students while they are early in their internship year, which does not allow us to fully evaluate their skillset and fit for our students.”

Howard – “At this time, Maryland does not have a comprehensive statewide package to attract out-of-state educators to move to the state. HCPSS is competing with other states that offer educators benefits such as free tuition if they teach in the state for a certain number of years. For individuals who are hired on a conditional certificate, many are finding it challenging to pass the various praxis tests and find it challenging to work full time and gain the credits needed to be certified. To quantify this problem for HCPSS, during the 2022 reporting period, 144 conditionally certified teachers were hired. That number was 81 in 2021 and averaged 42 from 2018-2020. By the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, approximately one-third of the teachers hired with a conditional certificate during the previous four years had separated from employment with HCPSS.”

Kent – “Over the past seven years, teacher turnover has been the highest at the Secondary Level (grades 7-12). More specifically, the areas of special education, math, and science have been the hardest areas to retain high quality and diverse teachers. There are challenges associated with hiring and retaining high quality special education teachers. Special education teachers report challenges such as the amount of paperwork that is involved on a daily basis, taking away from effective co-planning time and leading to a lot of work being taken home, which contributes to teacher burnout. Over the past five years, KCPS has had multiple secondary special education vacancies each year.”

Montgomery – “The challenges associated with recruiting teachers in these areas are decreased enrollment in schools of education; increase in teachers retirements or separation to pursue other opportunities; increase in demand for teachers, nationally; and an increase in compensation and incentives, nationally. These factors have created a teacher shortage and a teacher’s market where teachers across all areas of certifications have many opportunities to pursue a career in education closer to their desired area.”

Prince George’s – The challenges for hiring teachers…are declining enrollment in Early Childhood and Elementary Teacher Education programs, both locally and nationally; capabilities of interested candidates to successfully complete MSDE certification requirements and/or pay for additional required courses needed to earn certification; the requirements of the state to hold dual certification (Special Education & Early Childhood) for teachers in the Early Childhood Centers; lack of teacher candidates due to decline in individuals enrolling in teacher preparation programs in higher education and in alternative preparation programs; recruiting and retaining enough eligible candidates with certification and experience in ESOL and Special Education; recruiting and retaining diverse teachers, particularly Hispanic/Latino, and male teacher candidates; cost of living in Maryland compared to surrounding localities such as Virginia and the District of Columbia.”

Queen Anne’s – “Historically, Secondary Science, Math, and World Languages have been the most critical areas and the hardest to find with fewer students entering these fields of study. With the current teacher shortage, we are now finding Special Education, Elementary, and Secondary positions in all levels are increasingly harder to recruit. The challenges associated with hiring in these areas stems from the decreased enrollment in teacher preparation programs at colleges and universities nationwide.”

St. Mary’s – “There are many factors that impact our ability to recruit prospective teachers. One of the major factors is our location. St. Mary’s County is rural and lacks any major attractions that would encourage recent graduates to begin their careers here. The median household income in 2021 was $102,859 (see census link), which is well above the starting salary of a teacher, making it difficult for single, recent graduates. Because of this high income, apartments and rentals are scarce and expensive. The average apartment price is $1,000 – $1,200, which is almost half of a new teachers monthly bring-home pay. Pax River Naval Air Station (NAVAIR) is our largest competitor. Often, teachers are attracted to government jobs and higher salaries that the government and its contractors can offer.”

Somerset – “The School System has struggled to hire and retain Art, World Language, Special Education, Secondary Math and Secondary English teachers. Challenges are lack of candidates specializing in these certification areas as well as the lack of area colleges graduating teacher candidates with these credentials.”

Talbot – “Until recently, TCPS has had success in ensuring that certified teachers each of our classrooms regardless of grade-level or content area. Historically the greatest challenge in securing qualified teachers has been in special education and secondary mathematics. The high demand for teachers in these two areas has impacted the number of qualified candidates available and lower salaries on the Eastern Shore has made it difficult to compete for candidates with higher paying districts. TCPS has engaged contractual special education positions when needed to secure adequate staffing or has maintained unfilled positions that would otherwise have allowed us to improve services. In secondary math, schedules have been combined to accommodate vacant math positions. TCPS has seen its greatest shortage of teachers in the 2022-2023 school year. Eight positions remain unfilled [with] two in special education, one ESOL, two high school math, two high school English, and one elementary position.”

Washington – “WCPS predicts we will continue to have vacancy needs, particularly in grade and subject areas in which industries requiring comparable skills (for example: math, science, foreign language, speech language pathologists) are more appealing due to benefits, compensation, and work environment and expectations.”

Two of the four challenges in the county schools include: “An increase in the number of students diagnosed with disabilities that qualify for special education. WCPS is seeing increases in autism diagnoses, impacts of the opioid crisis, and extreme behaviors due to environmental factors. Qualified staff, as well as college students, are reluctant to pursue careers in special education due to the increased needs, risks (injury), and increased litigious nature of special education,” and “6% of current WCPS teachers are eligible for retirement within the next three years.”

Wicomico – “The school system has struggled to recruit and hire secondary math, science, early childhood, and special education teachers. The challenges for hiring teachers in these areas are higher teacher turnover, extra course requirements for certification, and competitive salaries for other careers, particularly in math and science. Middle school positions are exceptionally difficult to fill. In the past two years, staff who left our district stated the top reasons for leaving were: #1 Family/personal reasons (41%), #2 Retirement (27%), and #3 Work/life balance (26%). While the role of a teacher has always been challenging, students are now further behind following the COVID pandemic, making the perception of the difficulties of teaching more pronounced. Combining this with the negative portrayal of the teaching profession through media sources, we are finding fewer candidates at hiring fairs as well as those graduating with degrees in education.”

Worcester – “When analyzing recent data and projecting future openings, it appears that Early Childhood and Elementary teachers will be the greatest need of the school district. Special Education teachers at all levels will also be a targeted area of recruitment. WCPS has drafted a Recruiting Plan for the current school year. The plan specifies recruitment fairs targeting critical needs areas. WCPS has been successful over the past four years with its own Teacher Recruitment Fair recruiting and hiring both novice and veteran teachers from around the Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia regions. This recruitment fair is intentionally scheduled for the second Saturday each March to get an early start over other school districts in our region.”

What’s next

The Blueprint documents turned in this month represent the first of three required implementation reports. The state Department of Education will review each plan and offer recommendations to the Blueprint board, which could make formal approvals on school system plans in May and June.

School officials must submit a second set of Blueprint plans due in March 2024 to highlight the four priorities through the 2026-27 school year.

A third and final submission would be due in 2027 to cover the school years between 2027-28 and 2031-32. State legislation requires that the Blueprint board, which will remain operative until fiscal year 2032, to approve any changes to the overall plan every year by Aug. 1.’

By William J. Ford

Filed Under: Ed Portal Lead, News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

Presentation Hosted by League of Women Voters of Kent County

March 26, 2023 by League of Women Voters Leave a Comment

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The League of Women Voters of Kent County will sponsor a presentation, Kent County Public Schools and the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, by Mr.Tom Porter, Assistant Coordinator of Accountability and Implementation for Kent County Public Schools. Mr. Porter will discuss the Blueprint, what it is, the challenges it presents to our schools and what KCPS is doing to meet those challenges.

The program will be held on April 19, 2023, 7:00 p.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Church at 101 Cross Street, Chestertown. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by emailing kentcountylwv@gmail.com.Please include Annual Meeting Reservation in the subject line of your email.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization dedicated to promoting informed and active citizen participation in government; it does not support or oppose any political parties or candidates for office.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, league of women voters, local news

United Way of Kent County To Host Bocce Tournament

March 25, 2023 by United Way of Kent County Leave a Comment

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United Way of Kent County (UWKC) will hold a fund-raising bocce tournament on Saturday, April 1, from 12 to 5 at Wilmer Park in Chestertown. The rain date is April 2.  Registration and donation information is posted on the UWKC website. All ages are welcome. No prior experience with the game is required.

Teams will compete for prizes, while taking advantage of the opportunity to practice for the upcoming league season. The charge is $25 per team member, with a maximum of 24 teams and at least 4 players per team, but teams can have as many team members as they like!

There will be two overall prizes; 1 for the Game and 1 for the Community!  The Team with the greatest UWKC donation AFTER round 1 will receive a BYE in round 2! The Community prize will go to the team that raises the most money for Health, Education and Financial stability for all Kent County residents. Winners will be able to enjoy a trip on the River Packet together! Players are encouraged to obtain sponsorships.

‘Morning, Noon, & Night’ Food truck will be at the event 12-5pm selling food. Beer and Water will be available and you can BYOB!

Donations may be made at any time via the website unitedwayofkentcounty.org or by mail to United Way of Kent County, P.O. Box 594, Chestertown, MD 21620.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Chestertown Spy, local news

Women & Girls Fund to Distribute $57,221 at Grant Awards Luncheon on April 24

March 25, 2023 by Women & Girls Fund Leave a Comment

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Jo Ann Asparagus Murray, Esq., retired Family Law Magistrate of the Circuit Court for Caroline County

Representatives from seventeen Mid-Shore non-profits will be accepting checks totaling $57,221 at the Women & Girls Fund’s Grants & Awards Luncheon on April 24.  That will bring the Fund’s overall grant total to $839,523, awarded to 110 organizations whose programs benefit women and girls in one or more of the five Mid-Shore counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot.

The grants will be presented to 5 new organizations and 12 non-profits that have been awarded Women & Girls Fund grants in the past.  New this year are: Benedictine School for Exceptional Children; Foundation of H.O.P.E.; One Mission; Open Doors Partners in Education; and Radcliffe Creek School.

In addition to bestowing the grant checks at the luncheon, the Fund will present its two annual awards to the 2023 recipients as well as those who missed their moment in the spotlight during the three years the luncheon was not held due to the pandemic.

The Women & Girls Fund Award for 2023 will be presented to Jo Ann Asparagus Murray, Esq., of McDaniel. Jo Ann has lived a life of service,and has continually found new ways to benefit our community. With a combination of her legal and social work degrees she has succeeded in revamping the way families are treated in the court system. She was the first Domestic Relations Master in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties, and the Family Law Magistrate in Caroline County.  A lifelong volunteer, she has supported and has served on boards for many organizations including the NAACP, Talbot County Board of Education, Habitat for Humanity, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, and Kappa Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.  Her dedication to protecting the rights of women and girls, and her leadership, integrity, and compassion are the hallmarks of this annual award.

Deborah Vornbrock Hudson, Executive Director, Martin’s House & Barn

The 2023 recipient of the Sheryl V. Kerr Award is Deborah Hudson Vornbrock, of Stevensville, executive director of Martin’s House & Barn.  Her community development career has focused on raising funds to provide care for the elderly and infirm, support the health of women and families, and, in her current position at Martin’s House & Barn (formerly St. Martin’s Ministries), she has strategically addressed increasing access to services and program delivery around trauma informed care.  Deborah epitomizes the Sheryl V. Kerr Award in every respect having excelled in her field with vision, integrity, and respect for others, coupled with her devotion, which has empowered countless at-risk individuals.

The Women & Girls Fund Award recipients in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were Carlene Wilson, Julie Lowe, and Chrissy Aull, respectively.

The Sheryl V. Kerr Award recipients in 2020, 2021, and 2022 were Peggy and John Ford, Leslie Bishop, and Beth Brewster, respectively.

“All of our award recipients are tireless advocates for Mid-Shore women and girls. Their lifelong dedication and fruitful effort deserve to be commended. Our grant recipients address a wide variety of critical needs facing women and girls in our community.  We are proud to be able to support their good and necessary work,” said Karen M. Kaludis, president of the Women & Girls Fund Board of Directors.

The Grants & Awards Luncheon will be held on Monday, April 24, 11:30am, at The Tidewater Inn Gold Room in Easton.  Ticket price is $60 and the event is open to the public.  Registration deadline is April 12.  To make a reservation or for more information, call 410-770-8347, email info@womenandgirlsfund.org or visit www.womenandgirlsfund.org.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: local news

Haven Ministries’ Hope Warehouse Sponsors Art Auction

March 24, 2023 by Amy Blades Steward Leave a Comment

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Haven Ministries’ Hope Warehouse is having an Art Auction benefiting Haven Ministries on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Cascia Vineyard at 1200 Thompson Creek Road in Stevensville starting at 6 p.m.  Hope Warehouse offers used appliances, furniture, artwork, and building supplies for purchase in Queenstown. The sale of items at a reduced cost to the public support Haven Ministries’ other ministries in the community, including its homeless shelter, food pantry, street outreach, and resource center. The Art Auction, which will feature live and silent auctions featuring art donated by the community and local artists, will also offer lite fare and libations for guests.

Hope Warehouse often receives donations of all types of quality artwork and crafted pieces to sell to the public.  Occasionally, they receive original pieces of artwork which are more valuable.

According to Joni Melotti, Hope Warehouse Manager, and Lorraine Sincavage, Lead Volunteer, who are organizing the event, “It occurred to us that an art auction might be a great way to offer a fun experience while raising money to support Haven Ministries’ many outreach programs that help citizens in our community.  It also brings more attention to the presence of Hope Warehouse and Our Daily Thread and the quality donations we receive through both.”

Pictured left to right are Barbara Regalia, Lorraine Sincavage, Lead volunteer, and Joni Melotti, Warehouse Manager, holding a sampling of the artwork to be featured at Haven Ministries’ Hope Warehouse Art Auction on April 28.

“Additionally, we hope that we will gain more visibility as a charity to which members of our community can donate while also shining a light on our dedicated sponsors.  The donations of artwork from local artists for the auction also showcase the local talent we have in the area which helps the artists as well.   We are so appreciative of the generosity of our community and hope this event will expand our revenue and bring more visibility to the work of Haven Ministries in our community.”

Sponsors of the event to date include Cascia Vineyard, Kent Island Federation of Arts, and Queen Anne County Art Development. The following are sponsors who provide continued support of Haven Ministries: PNC Bank, Miltec Construction Services and Supplies, Inc., The Narrows, Judy Center Early Learning Hub, Marriage Miracles, Waterman Realty Company, Homeland Tile and Escrow, The Shore Update, Social Point Media and Marketing, What’s Up Media, Increte, and the Jacob Sloan Foundation.

Tickets for the Art Auction cost $30 in advance and include a glass of wine at the event. For further information or to buy tickets, visit haven-ministries.org or call 410-827-7194.

Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries.  Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center, and Food Pantry in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Store in Chester, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Food Pantry Truck in Sudlersville.

Filed Under: News Notes Tagged With: Haven Ministries, local news

Eastern Shore Plans to Hike Hotel Tax Rates Stall in the Senate

March 23, 2023 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

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A bill that would allow counties on the Eastern Shore to hike their hotel tax rates by 1% faces an uncertain future after a debate in the Maryland Senate on Wednesday.

The bill would have amounted to a nearly $5 million tax on Maryland residents who vacation in Ocean City, Montgomery County Sen. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Montgomery) said, as he questioned the policy on the Senate floor.

“This is a $5 million tax hit on every one of your constituents who saved all year long to take the opportunity to join with their families and have a little vacation time in Ocean City, Maryland,” Kramer told senators, before launching into other arguments against the bill, including talking points typically employed by Republican lawmakers. “…I am concerned that Ocean City borders other jurisdictions. Those very tax dollars could easily leave Ocean City, Maryland, if we keep increasing taxes on our taxpayers … and they will simply go across state lines to the Delaware beaches, to the New Jersey beaches.”

The bill is sponsored by the “Eastern Shore senators” because it would enable the four code-rule counties on the shore — Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Worcester — to hike their top hotel tax rate from 5% to 6%. But functionally the lead sponsor of the bill is Sen. Mary Beth Carozza (R), who represents Ocean City.

That resort town’s mayor and council asked the other shore counties for support in clearing the way for the enabling legislation to pass. Ocean City officials are expected to lobby Worcester County to increase the rate, but there are no plans for an increase in the other counties, senators said.

Hotel rental taxes are imposed in all counties in Maryland, ranging from 4% in Talbot County to 9.5% in Baltimore City and County. A few municipalities are also authorized to impose a hotel rental tax or to collect the county tax within their jurisdiction, including Ocean City.

Increasing the maximum hotel tax rate on the shore to 6% would raise an additional $444,900 in the four counties, but have a substantial financial impact in Ocean City: boosting hotel tax revenues by $4.4 million to $22 million annually.

Carozza, supporting the bill before the Budget & Taxation Committee, said the tax is an important dedicated source of funding for tourism and tourism-related activities and that each dollar invested in tourism marketing generates $31 in visitor spending.

Among the potential uses for the increased revenue is a new indoor sports facility, Ocean City leaders have said.

The bill passed out of the committee 11-1.

But the measure drew ire on the Senate floor, where some Democrats didn’t want to carry the weight of a tax-enabling bill sought by a Republican lawmaker.

As it became clear that the bill was in trouble, Senate Minority Leader Stephen S. Hershey Jr. (R-Upper Shore) moved to recommit the bill to committee. The move kept the bill from going down on the chamber floor and keeps it alive, along with a House bill that passed out of the House of Delegates chamber.

Kramer, in an interview, said he decided to raise the issue because he did not believe Republicans would support the proposed tax increase on the floor.

“They expected us to be patsies,” he said. “They were all going to put up red votes. When they realized the Dems weren’t going to pass it, they decided to recommit the bill.”

Carozza expressed disappointment with the result, noting that after a House bill by Del. Wayne Hartman (R-Lower Shore) failed to advance last year, Eastern Shore lawmakers and local officials worked hard to get the other code counties to commit to supporting the bill.

“Clearly local courtesy wasn’t extended in the Senate,” she said.

Asked whether her fellow Republicans would have voted against the measure on the Senate floor, Carozza conceded, “I don’t know.”

The same debate, albeit shorter, took place in the House of Delegates last week, when Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery) questioned the bill’s intent.

“I do like visiting Ocean City. I’m happy to throw in, I guess, a couple bucks on my hotel stay to help them finance this $150 million sports stadium. And so this Montgomery County Democrat endorses this bill and is going to vote for the GOP tax increase.”

The bill passed the House by a vote of 109-23, with a combination of Republicans and Democrats in opposition.

By Danielle E. Gaines and Josh Kurtz

Filed Under: News Homepage, News Portal Highlights

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