Dear MSD Community,

I wish to share with each of you several highlights at MSD.

**  In order to address the State of Maryland’s serious decline in state revenues, Governor Martin O’Malley issued an executive order on December 16, 2008 outlining a state-wide salary reduction and furlough plan. 

MSD employees, according to their salary levels, will lose two to five days of pay.  As always, a carefully managed furlough plan is preferable to staff layoffs.  MSD school calendar and classroom instruction will not be impacted by this plan.

**  MSD’s Pilot Day Program for High School Deaf Students with Emotional Disturbance will begin at the Frederick Campus on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.  The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will provide funding for this program following the funding mechanism established for MSD’s Enhanced Services.

I am happy to announce that Dr. Patricia Hodgdon (Director), Ms. Kathleen Setzer (Lead Teacher), Julie Hemstreet (Behavior Specialist), and Christina Vorreyer-Davis (Teacher Aide) will lead this program in its inaugural semester.   A clinical psychologist will also join us soon.

Initially, there will be three MSD students enrolled in this pilot program.   Two more students recommended by the Local School Systems will join us shortly.   For this spring semester, we will have a total of five students.

This program is a culmination of several years of discussion between MSD and MSDE.  It is our hope that this pilot program will fulfill a long-standing need to serve Deaf students with emotional disturbance in this State of Maryland.

** The “keys” to the new Elementary School Complex at the Frederick Campus will be turned over to MSD tomorrow.  Unfortunately, the procurement of new classroom furniture and equipment has been significantly delayed thus pushing our opening date to later date.   When we learn more about the arrival of new furniture and equipment, I will communicate with you in a future community letter.

The new gymnasium at the complex will be open tomorrow in time for the Clerc Classic IX Basketball Tournament and Cheerleading Competition (http://student.msd.edu/clerc/) and will serve as the second home court for our elementary and middle schools girls and boys basketball teams.

** I wish to announce that Ms. Sue Oliver, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, will be MSD’s Title IX Coordinator.  This landmark federal law requires equal opportunities for both females and males in educational programs including athletics in K-12 schools and colleges and universities.  Individuals who wish to express concerns or report alleged inequities or sex discrimination at MSD should contact Ms. Oliver at oliversu@msd.edu.

As always, you are welcome to contact me at 301.360.2005 or at james.tucker@msd.edu if you have questions or comments about this letter.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

James E. Tucker
Superintendent