Agency:	MSDE	Writer:	John Rosson	
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Project:	Board News 0207	Director:		
Title:		Art Director:		
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VIDEO 		AUDIO	
			
SLATE - NEWS FROM THE BOARD		(music full)
	
SLATE - FEBRUARY 28, 2007		(music full)
	
SLATE - HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENTSSOT NANCY GRASMICK T3 2814 (HOLD OVER DATE SLATE AS WELL) 		(sot nancy grasmick)
'We are not recommending abandoning this 2009 timeline.'	
SOT NANCY GRASMICKCG - NANCY S. GRASMICK         MD SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT		(sot nancy grasmick)
'But as we look at all the components of this requirement, we are saying there will be adjustments based on a reasonable interpretation of all the data.'	
FILE STUDENTS		(narrator track)
the graduating class of 2009, (today's sophomores) must pass the  high school assessments to graduate.	
GRAPHIC PULL FROM INFINITY             2005-2006 RESULTS:- ALGEBRA/D.A. - 71.5 % PASS- BIOLOGY          - 79.4% PASS- GOVERNMENT - 77.8% PASS- ENGLISH 2       - NO DATA YET              CLASS OF 2009		already, that class is well on its way.	
		as freshmen last year, nearly 72-percent - passed Algebra/data analysis.	
		almost 80-percent passed biology --	
		78-percent - government.	
		no data is yet available on the new english two test.	
CUT OF NANCY 		but, state schools superintendent dr. nancy grasmick is asking the board for  time beyond two-thousand-nine for SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTs, english language learners, and those with special learning plans.	
SOT NANCY GRASMICK T3 2618		(SOT NANCY GRASMICK)
'...  think about a slower phase-in opportunity for these students...'	
FILE SHOTS STUDENTS TAKING TESTS		(narrator track)
DR. GRASMICK underlined alternatives available to those who fear difficulty:	
PUSH 50% FREEZE & REVEAL(VIDEO HERE)        - COMP HSA                             - ALT-HSA                               - MOD-HSA                             - 3 OPPORTUNITIES                             - ONLINE COURSES                             - IN-SCHOOL HELP		- a comparable hsa now being piloted in two counties --	
		 and alternative and modified hsa for students with learning impairments.	
		- students also have three chances each year to take  and pass the tests.	
		- and online & in-school help is available.	
BOARD CUTS		HISTORICALLY, the board began a push for graduation tests in the early nineties.	
		the first FIELD TESTING ... 	
SOT GARY HEATH		(sot gary heath)
'1999-2000...'	
SCORES ON CHARTS		(narrator track)
as gary heath explains ... began the process.	
		the scores were tracked starting two years later.	
SOT GARY HEATH T3 3226		(sot gary heath)
'invariably, the year that it counts and typically every year thereafter, you see a jump in student performance...'	
SOT RON PEIFFERCG - RON PEIFFER         MSDE DEP. SUP'T., ACADEMIC POLICY		(SOT RON PEIFFER)
'We're finding that more states around the country are actually moving toward end of course exams...'	
CUT SHOT BOARD		(narrator track)
22 states right now... 26 by 20-12.	
SOT RON PEIFFER		(sot ron peiffer)
'we are probably at the forefront in that area.'	
BOARD CUTS		(narrator track)
in the discussion that followed, BOARD  members expressed sTRONG Support for the hsa'S in the effort to strengthen the meaning of a maryland diploma.	
SOT MARIA TORRES-QUERAL T3 4310CG - MARIA TORRES-QUERAL         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot maria torres-queral)
'I was working here at the Department at the time when the functional tests began, and we got the same issues of -- people were scared to death about 'what's gonna happen?'...	
SOT KARAABELLE PIZZIGATICG - KARABELLE PIZZIGATI         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot karabelle pizzigati)
'the students know how valuable we think this is, and the fact that we know they can do it...'	
SOT KARABELLE PIZZIGATI		(sot karabelle pizzigati)
'... and I look forward to being able to engage and move the bar up!'	
SOT CAL DISNEYCG - CAL DISNEY         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot cal disney)
'I don't believe that this test is a test of self esteem. I believe it's a test as to whether students are gonna survive.'	
SOT DUNBAR BROOKSCG - DUNBAR BROOKS         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot dunbar brooks)
'...given that I'm a proud African American who was well educated in Baltimore City Public Schools, why would I expect anything less of my children? Why would I think that they couldn't achieve? And to think that they couldn't achieve makes me guilty of the same thing that brought about slavery in this country.' 	
SOT TANYA MILES (COVER W/CUT OF JOANN)		(sot tanya miles)
'... because I have a tenth grader, eighth grader, sixth grader ... 	
SOT TANYA MILESCG - TANYA MILES         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot tanya miles)
'... and to them, it's just a test. Because they say 'well if I'm in class, I'm doing my work, I'm doing my quizzes, I'm doing my tests, I'm doing my projects, then this too is just another test. And I'm glad that most kids have that mindset.'	
SOT TANYA MILES		(sot tanya miles)
'it's the adults that put the fear factor in. And shame on those adults.'	
SOT BRIAN FRAZEECG - BRIAN FRAZEE         STUDENT MEMBER, MD BOARD OF         EDUCATION		(sot brian frazee)
'It would be doing a disservice to me, and you know my colleagues around the state if this were not made a requirement in 2009.'	
NSG		(narrator track)
dr. grasmick has suggested and the board agreed to make the hsa'S a monthly agenda item.	
DIP TO BLACK AND BACK		(fade audio)
	
NAT FULL NANCY GRASMICK		(nat full nancy grasmick)
'We are simply delighted to have ... (tuck audio) Norman Augustine...'	
SHOT OF NORM AUGUSTINETHEN STILL PICS OF HIM W/PLANE		(narrator track)
minutes earlier, norm augustine, former ceo of lockheed martin, the giant aerospace engineering firm, provided dramatic testimony.	
SOT NORM AUGUSTINE T2 5445-55CG - NORM AUGUSTINE         FORMER CHAIRMAN, LOCKHEED MARTIN		(sot norm augustine)
'As a former employer, it became very evident to me, the importance of quality educational systems, not only K-12 but higher education as well.	
SOT NORM AUGUSTINE T2 5520		(SOT NORM AUGUSTINE)
'We have a lot to be proud of, but we also as you know better than I, we have a lot to do yet we got a lotta work ahead of us if we want to compete on a global scale.'	
PICTURE TAKING		(narrator track)
augustine received A 'friend of maryland education' award from citigroup and msde for his work over the years.	
		outside the meeting, he says he strongly supports rigorous end-of-course testing for high school students.)	
SOT NORM AUGUSTINE		(sot norm augustine)
'Clearly it's going to take a lot of courage to stick with having standards, and standards that mean something. But the only way we're going to improve is to have standards, the rest of the world has standards' ... 'and they're got to be enforced.	
FADE TO BLACK		(fade audio)

FADE UP NAT FULL KIDS		(nat full)
'kids arrive'	
SHOTS GEORGE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARYCG - 800-BLK. SCOTT ST.         GEORGE WASHINGTON ES,  BALTIMORE, MD 		(NARRATOR TRACK)
GEORGE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY WON NATIONAL RECOGNITION THIS YEAR ---	
SHOTS OF GRACELAND PARKCG - 6300-BLK. O'DONNELL ST.         GRACELAND PARK AT O'DONNELL HTS., BALTIMORE, MD		AS DID GRACELAND PARK AT O'DONNELL HEIGHTS.	
		BOTH ARE TITLE ONE SCHOOLS with excellent principals, WHICH EXCEL  ACADEMICALLY EVEN THOUGH MOST OF THE STUDENTS ARE FROM LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.	
SOT SUSAN BURGESSCG - SUSAN BURGESS         PRINCIPAL, GEORGE WASHINGTON ES		(sot susan burgess)
'We're a small but mighty school. We work really, really hard, uh, the teachers are wonderful...'	
SOT SUSAN BURGESS		(SOT susan burgess)
'We say, come in our doors, and we'll teach you.'	
SOT R. WAYNE LAWCG - R. WAYNE LAW        PRINCIPAL, GRACELAND PARK AT        O'DONNELL HTS.		(sot r. Wayne law)
' ... the common denominator in our school is poverty. Last year our poverty rate was 96%, and this year it's 92-something.'	
SOT DAVID TUFAROCG - DAVID TUFARO         MD BOARD OF EDUCATION		(sot david tufaro)
'iThis should be front-page news, uhm, there's too much negativism out there...'	
AWARDS & BANNER		(narrator track)
the award recognizes exceptional student performance two years running, and closing achievement gaps between student groups.	
FADE TO BLACK		(fade to black)

SLATE - FEBRUARY 27, 2007		(music full)
	
SLATE - RESTRUCTURING PLANSSOT ANN CHAFINCG - ANN CHAFIN         ASS'T. SUP'T., DIV. OF STUDENT & SCHOOL SUPPORT		(sot ann chafin)
'we go beyond compliant, we are looking for excellence. And I think, I hopethat you see that throughout our reviews of the plans.'	
BOARD CUTS -- THEN SHOTS OF THE SCHOOL		(narrator track)
the board listened, then approved restructuring plans for two struggling schools --	
		 lincoln elementary in frederick county--	
SPLITSCREEN & FLY IN SHOTS OF ARROWHEAD ELEM		and arrowhead elementary in prince george's county.	
SLIDE LINCOLN & GRAPHICS          LINCOLN ELEMENTARYPIC OF SCHOOL      - CO-PRINCIPAL      HERE             - NEW STAFF                           - HIGHLY QUALIFIED        FREDERICK COUNTY		at lincoln, frederick county will designate  a co-principal with equal decision-making power.	
		it will appoint a new administrative staff charged with further staffing the school with highly-qualified teachers.	
SOT STEVE MARTINCG - STEVE MARTIN         ASS'T. SUP'T., FREDERICK COUNTY		(sot steve martin)
'we've begun to develop what the partnership will look like...'	
SOT STEVE MARTIN		(sot steve martin)
'the two co-principals, and go over any adjustment that needs to be made at the school.'	
HANK OR DICK 		but the prospect of a 2nd principal with equal powers concerned some members of the board from the business world.)	
SOT ANSWER (COVERED W/HANK)		(sot answer)
'We know that we do have some work to do to clearly delineate roles and responsibilities...'	
SOT ANSWER (COVER TOP)		(sot answer)
'... there are concerns that we've shared as we've gone down this path.'	
			
CUBE WIPE TO ARROWHEAD& PUSH TO SPLIT SCREEN GRAPHIC           ARROWHEAD ELEMENTARYPIC OF SCHOOL  - ALL HIGHLY QUALIFIED      HERE         - QUARTERLY BENCHMARKS                       - CORE SUBJECT FOCUS       PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY		at arrowhead, the prince george's system intends to replace all staff deemed not 'highly qualified.'	
		it will establish quarterly benchmarks to help boost special education marks.	
		and it plans additional specialists and professional development help in core subject areas.	
SOT JOHN DEASYCG - JOHN DEASY        SUP'T., PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY        PUBLIC SCHOOLS		(sot john deasy)
'Faithful implementation ... will ensure that stakeholders are part of the decision-making process, and that the conversations are focused on student achievement...'	
HOLDING DEASY AND BOARD CUTS		(narrator track)
generally members praised progress in prince george's however, and relieved it of the task of presenting in person its annual report to the board next year.	
FADE TO BLACK		(fade to black)

SLATE - BOARD BRIEFS		(music full)
	
SLATE - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT		(music full)
	
CUBE WIPE COLLEEN HOLDING UP BOOK		(narrator track)
in board briefs, the professional development advisory council displayed a revised professional development planning guide.	
SOT COLLEEN SEREMETCG - COLLEEN SEREMET         ASS'T. SUP'T., DIV. OF INSTRUCTION		(sot colleen seremet)
'We're taking a very large broad perspective on on all of the kinds of opportunities and options that teachers have.'	
SINGLE SHOT OF THE BOOK		(narrator track)
it includes helpful tips and talking points.	
CUBE WIPE SOT BAYKAN (COVER W/BOARD SMILING SHOT) 		(sot mary baykan)
'uh one...	
SOT BAYKANCG -  MARY BAYKAN          LIBRARIAN OF THE YEAR		(sot mary baykan)
'we're about to graduate from college, which I understand is a major pay raise.' (laughter)	
SMILING CUTS BOARD MEMBERS&NSG LIFTING MAGAZINE?		(narrator track)
and, mary baykan of washington county free library celebrates her newfound status as the library journal's 2007 'librarian of the year.'	
FADE TO BLACK		(fade audio)

SLATE - WALTER SONDHEIM (PIC)                      1908-2007		(sot ed root)
'the passing of a former Maryland State Board member, Mr. Walter Sondheim...'	
NAT FULL FILETAPE WALTER		(nat full filetape walter)
'my wife always said to me I must've been a, had a happy youth because I don't remember any of it....'	
HOLDING SHOTS OF WALTER FROM THE FILE PIECE - YOUNG BOY		(narrator track)
but the board remembered well walter sondheim.	
SOT WALTER SONDHEIM		(sot walter sondheim)
'My parents both cared a great deal about my sister and me being well educated because neither of them had been to college, I think my sister and I both went to college for them as well as for myself...	
YOUNG EXEC PIC		in his lifetime, the 98-year old sondheim saw many things --	
PIC OF WALTER & FAMILY KISS		lived fully --	
NAT FULL MUSIC (UP & UNDER)		(nat full)
'music'	
HIM AND HIS CAR		remembered fondly.	
SOT WALTER SONDHEIM		(sot walter sondheim)
'I got my first car about 1930. I think it was in 1930. And it was a wonderful Chevrolet convertible. Very flashy car. My wife used to say she'd marry me because of my automobile.' (laughs) 	
NAT FULL WALTER SONDHEIM		(NAT FULL WALTER SONDHEIM)
'MUSIC'	
		'I got married in 1934. We were married 58 years. We never had a fight. My children once said, 'you two must be too lazy to never have had a fight, but that's not fair. every now and then something comes up and I say something I think 'My God what Janet would've thought of my saying that... (laughs) 'she was a wonderful woman...'	
PIC OF HIM IN CITY SCHOOLS 		(narrator track)
among his many achievements --	
		he presided over the desegregration of baltimore schools --	
SOT FULL WALTER		(sot full walter)
'Deserve a little less credit for it than we got, we got a lotta credit for it, and we got a lot of abuse for it too... ' (laughs)	
 DOWNTOWN SHOTS		(narrator track)
the planning and renewal of charles street and the inner harbor --	
SOT FULL WALTER		(sot walter sondheim)
'we worked at it, that's the job we had. So you get credit for something you do that maybe other people could have done just as well or better.'	
ANNAPOLIS FILE TAPE		(narrator track)
and a re-emphasis on education as leader of what became known as the 'sondheim commission.	
SOT WALTER		(sot walter sondheim)
'Some days I think it got more credit than it deserved, and some days I think I think the credit is probably deserved...'	
AS BOARD CHAIRMAN		(narrator track)
Then, in his mid-nineties, he led the state board of education.  	
SOT WALTER		(SOT WALTER SONDHEIM)
'... you know you get persuaded by people to do things...'	
SOT ED ROOT		(sot ed root)
'what a loss to the state of Maryland.	
PIC        WALTER SONDHEIM                      1908-2007		(narrator track)
walter sondheim died of pneumonia on valentine's day ... at the age of 98.	
FADE TO BLACK		fade to black - no credits