Archive for the ‘Schools’ Category

Sick Midshipmen Quarantined at Naval Academy

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

An outbreak of suspected H1N1 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis has led officials to quarantine infected students in an isolated area of the Bancroft Hall dorm. The first case of H1N1 was confirmed on Sept. 10, and since then, seven total cases have been confirmed, according to a statement from Deborah Goode, director of media relations at the Academy.

Since the outbreak began, the number of students with influenza-like illness quarantined in Bancroft Hall has been as high as 75, but now is decreasing, and as of Tuesday, 30 students remained isolated, Goode said.

In addition to educating midshipmen on flu prevention and good hygiene, Academy officials are asking midshipmen every morning if they’re experiencing flu-like symptoms, hand sanitizer is being made available at locations throughout the campus and common areas such as bathrooms and locker rooms are being cleaned more frequently in an effort to contain the spread of the virus, the statement said.

Midshipmen in isolation are receiving “continuous monitoring by staff and medical personnel,” as well as meals, fluids, and laundry and bed linen services, the statement said.

In a letter addressed to family and friends of midshipmen, Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Matthew Klunder said the Academy is also in the process of providing e-mail access and DVD players to isolated midshipmen.

“I am most proud of them as they deal with this unfortunate situation, but we are all pitching in to make their stay as comfortable and pain free as possible,” the letter reads.

All midshipmen have now been vaccinated for seasonal influenza, and when the H1N1 vaccine is ready, the Academy will implement a plan to vaccinate midshipmen and military staff, the statement said.

- By Capital News Service’s Megan E. Gustafson.

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Posted in Education, Et Cetera, H1N1, Health & Science, Schools | No Comments »

Slots Developer Sees Happy Returns

Thursday, February 19th, 2009


ANNAPOLIS – The developer who wants to put slots at Arundel Mills Mall has a rosier outlook than most when it comes to the state’s revenue generating prospects from the controversial machines.

“The revenue that the state hoped to receive is going to be exceeded,” said David Cordish on WYPR’s “Midday with Dan Rodricks” radio show Thursday.

His company, Cordish Cos., intends to build a massive entertainment and gambling facility next to the shopping mall off of Route 100 in Anne Arundel County.

The state received only four complete bids for fewer than half of the 15,000 machines allowed under a referendum Maryland voters passed in November. Even if all 6,550 machines are approved, the state stands to lose about half of the $600 million it promised slots would generate for education.

It might take an extra year for the state to reach its revenue estimates, but it will happen, Cordish said.

Cordish expects other developers, all of whom have submitted bids for fewer than the maximum number allowed for each site, to increase their requests over time.

Cordish has already requested the maximum number of slots for the Anne Arundel County license, 4,750. A state commission isn’t expected to decide on any of the proposals for several months.

One way Cordish doesn’t want to increase slots earnings — putting machines 15 minutes away from Arundel Mills, at BWI-Marshall Airport.

“It would clearly be inappropriate at the airport,” Cordish said. “It would not be a good idea.”

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-Calvert, said Tuesday that putting slot machines at Maryland’s biggest airport would be a great way to capture out-of-state money and wouldn’t interfere with the Arundel Mills proposal. Delegate Eric Bromwell, D-Baltimore County, has introduced a bill to put slots at the airport, but it’s not expected to pass the House.

Cordish also said his gambling facility will benefit the surrounding neighborhood by increasing the level of security and adding additional free parking spaces which could be used by mall shoppers.

And despite the state throwing out a bid to put slots at Laurel Park race track for failing to include the licensing fee, Cordish believes his facility will help Maryland’s racing industry more than the Laurel Park bid could have.

“We will do more for racing by having it at Arundel Mills than if we are actually connected to a race track,” he said. “We will maximize revenues for the state.”

Of the slots proceeds, 9.5 percent is designated for horse racing interests.

By Capital News Service’s Dylan Waugh.

Posted in 2008 elections, Business, Education, Schools, State politics | No Comments »

O’Malley Holds Town Hall on Education

Thursday, February 12th, 2009


ANNAPOLIS – They came to Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School Wednesday to ask him the tough questions, but before they could confront the guest of honor, they had to file past career fair-style booths, listen to live jazz and do him a favor.

“Turn to your neighbor and tell them we have the best public school system in America,” Gov. Martin O’Malley said, before taking questions from the audience. “Turn to your other neighbor and tell them we have the best public school system in the United States of America.”

That was nearly an hour into the show.

Hundreds of people filed into the school auditorium for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff of O’Malley’s Town Hall on Education and the Economy in Upper Marlboro, the second stop on his tour that will travel across the state.

As the audience strolled in sporting suits and designer bags, the Henry A. Wise Jazz ensemble, seated in front of a large projection screen decorated with the state seal and the name of the event, played popular tunes on stage.

Kim Seidel, principal of Greenbelt Elementary School, bypassed the sign-up sheet near the entrance where people registered to ask the governor a question because she was there to listen to what the governor had to say.

But in the nearly 45 minutes before he took the floor, she was there for the jazz.

“I think it’s great,” Seidel said of the ensemble. “It’s an opportunity for the kids to have a large audience to perform for.”

The entertainment didn’t stop there.

After the color guard led a processional down the aisle and a student saxophonist played the “Star Spangled Banner” and the Teacher of the Year was introduced and the student crew who was responsible for the lighting and sound were thanked, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown took the floor.

It was 7:04p.m.

He introduced the “O’Malley-Brown team” — heads of state departments from education to transportation to health and mental hygiene. They were seated at a long, banquet-style table in front of the jazz ensemble.

Brown then thanked the crowd for the academic gains made by the students of Prince George’s County schools, and he thanked the administration for its efforts to improve public safety.

“But I don’t want to steal the show. I want you to help me bring to the podium my friend, our governor, Martin O’Malley,” he said, as the crowd applauded.

“I have been in Washington, D.C., all day and I can’t tell you how good it feels to come to gorgeous Prince George’s County,” O’Malley said, also to a round of applause.

Before taking questions, O’Malley rallied the audience with a call for action.

“In the course of this week, I want you to tell five people — at work, at home , at church, at the barbershop or beauty parlor — tell five people that Education Week Magazine named Maryland as having the best public school system in the United States of America,” he said, again to a round of applause.

O’Malley took the first question at 7:28p.m.


-By Capital News Service’s Erika Woodward

Posted in Education, Schools, State politics | No Comments »

Prince George’s Schools Superintendent Resigns

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

The Prince George’s County Board of Education accepted the resignation of Superintendent John E. Deasy Tuesday.

Deasy, who was hired in 2006, will become deputy director of the education division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Deputy Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. was chosen by the board to serve as interim superintendent beginning Feb. 1, after Deasy leaves. The board has not yet settled on an approach to finding a replacement for Deasy but has begun that process, said John White, Prince George’s County Public Schools spokesman.

“We will certainly want to hire someone who is familiar with the culture of this particular environment, and that doesn’t mean they have to come from Prince George’s County, but they certainly need to be aware of the demographics of Prince George’s County,” said Judith James, executive director of the Board of Education.

Deasy’s doctoral degree from the University of Louisville was under scrutiny this month due to the small number of credits that he completed at that institution. Although the university’s doctoral students usually complete 18 credit hours in full-time residency, Deasy completed only nine credit hours there.

Capital News Service also reported last week that Deasy’s resume included two anomalies. He listed a faculty position at Loyola Marymount University, Calif., but that institution’s human resources department could not find any records to show he held that position. There also were questions about the date on which Deasy received a master’s degree from Providence College.

“We’re not, and have not, allowed any of that to affect our decision making,” said James, referring to the investigation. “Dr. Deasy has been very successful in his efforts here, and it has proven itself in how well our students are achieving.”

–By Capital News Service’s Megan A. Conlan

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Posted in Education, Schools | No Comments »

School Transportation Costs Rise

Tuesday, September 30th, 2008

As we all know, it’s getting more and more expensive to get from A to B. And the same holds true for our local school buses.

According to report recently released by the environmental group 1000 Friends of Maryland, buses are driving longer distances and paying more for gas and the state’s school systems are really starting to feel the pinch.

Districts are coming up with different ways to cope with the rising transportation expense, but maybe you can help, too.

What suggestions do you have to help local schools keep costs down?

–From Maryland Newsline’s Jasmine Jernberg

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Posted in Schools | No Comments »