Board appoints Donna Ashby as chief academic officer; policy updates, ethics panel announced

During the March 10 meeting the Garrett County Board of Education announced the appointment of Donna Ashby as Chief Academic Officer and heard policy updates she presented.

As part of the consent agenda, a board speaker (S3) announced "the appointment of missus Donna Ashby as the chief academic officer for Garrett County Publics." Board members congratulated Ashby during public session. Ashby (S8) then presented updated policy and procedure documents for the Fine Arts Advisory Committee and a consolidated enrollment policy (JEB), explaining the changes: a purpose statement and clearer scope and responsibilities were added to both policy and procedure, JEBA (pre-kindergarten) content was consolidated into JEB to streamline enrollment guidance, and pre-K eligibility language was clarified to help parents and guardians understand qualification requirements.

Ashby summarized pilot and teacher feedback on the elementary ELA materials (Magnetic Literacy), reporting that the final cost for the materials came in under budget at $452,000. She also presented the proposed JEB enrollment updates that would appear on the consent agenda at the next regular meeting.

Separately, a committee-level speaker (S3) announced plans to seek applicants for an advisory ethics panel to review financial disclosures and provide advisory opinions; the board plans to appoint panel members in June. The same speaker encouraged community members to attend superintendent coffees scheduled for April 7 (Northern Middle School) and April 10 (Dennard/Dennett Road), and reiterated calendar reminders (staff development day March 25 and Good Friday closure April 3).

The meeting proceeded to executive session on personnel and collective bargaining topics after the public session actions were concluded.