Washington County Board of Education Welcomes New Leadership and Reviews Enrollment Trends

The Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) has elected new leadership and reviewed key district metrics, including student enrollment and free and reduced-price meal eligibility, according to a recent public business meeting brief from Washington County Public Schools (WCPS). Darrell Evans has been selected as the new Board President, succeeding Dr. April Zentmeyer, who will now serve as Vice President.

The election of officers took place during the board’s public business meeting, with Superintendent Dr. David Sovine overseeing the process as mandated by board policy. Evans, who joined the board in 2020 and was elected to a full term in 2022, expressed his commitment to collaborative work with his colleagues. Dr. Zentmeyer is currently in the second year of her second four-year term.

In an update on student enrollment, WCPS staff reported that overall student numbers remain stable, with only minor fluctuations across different grade levels. Elementary school enrollment saw a positive increase of 43 students compared to the previous year, a trend noted as particularly encouraging given that many school districts across Maryland are experiencing declining student populations. Middle school enrollment was down by 18 students, which was in close alignment with projections. High school enrollment experienced a decrease of 144 students, a figure slightly higher than anticipated but still consistent with broader long-term enrollment trends. Overall, the district’s enrollment has decreased by approximately 0.5%, a figure staff described as essentially “flat” and favorable when contrasted with the enrollment declines observed in other counties.

The board also addressed changes in the reported numbers of students eligible for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARM). The percentage of eligible students has dropped by 7% this year. However, WCPS staff emphasized that this decline does not reflect a reduction in community need but rather a change in the state’s reporting requirements. Some schools participate in a federal program that provides free meals to all students, irrespective of their eligibility status. Due to adjustments in how the state calculates poverty levels for funding purposes, school districts throughout Maryland are now seeing what are described as artificially lower eligibility numbers. WCPS, along with other districts, is actively working with state officials to prevent negative impacts on school funding resulting from this reporting shift. While the district anticipates no immediate changes to its Title I funding, as federal calculations for eligibility utilize different data, there is a potential for future impacts on state Compensatory Education funding unless the state modifies its reporting process or implements a hold-harmless provision for districts. Funding for the Concentration of Poverty program is expected to remain steady based on current trends.

In other actions taken during the meeting, the Board of Education renewed a contract for elementary math curriculum resources with Illustrative Mathematics (IM). This renewal includes digital resources for students in kindergarten through 5th grade at a cost of $15 per student, and print resources for students in 1st through 5th grades at $25 per student. The total cost for this two-year renewal is $736,050. Additionally, the board approved the purchase of updated training materials for Nonviolent Crisis Intervention through the Crisis Prevention Institute. This training is designed to equip staff with strategies to enhance the safety of students and adults during student crises, and it is a requirement under state law for school personnel who restrain students in emergency situations to be trained in an evidence-based practice model.

The meeting also included a recognition of athletes who achieved Fall State Championship titles, including the Clear Spring Volleyball team and the Smithsburg Boys Cross Country team. The board also acknowledged Angie Villalta, a 2nd-grade student at Hickory Elementary, who served as the Student Pledge Leader.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Washington County Public Schools.

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