Parents press board on bus safety; another speaker backs proposed classical charter school

Three members of the public addressed the board during the public comment period on April 15. Jenna Melvin, a parent of a kindergartner at Gilpin Manor Elementary, urged the board to revisit transportation and emergency‑notification procedures after an incident on a school bus on Feb. 27.

Melvin said communication with parents was slow and incomplete and asked the district to identify ways to inform families "without violating HIPAA." "I still feel confident that I should have been allowed to be informed on what happened to my child during school," she said, and asked the board to review policies and communication channels so parents are notified promptly in emergency situations.

Shelly Alarcon, a parent and local business owner, read a letter in support of a charter school application due next month that would offer a classical-education model. "A classical education emphasizes mastery of language, reading comprehension, mathematics, and reasoning skills at a very early age," she said, adding that the model also promotes character and civic formation and could help workforce development in Cecil County.

A third speaker, Mr. Grama, offered miscellaneous remarks not directly related to the board’s agenda. President Heath thanked the speakers and invited them to follow up after the meeting.