Making the Grade
Interim PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson Readies County for School Changes At State of Education Luncheon
Story And Photos By Raoul Dennis
Less than a week ahead of one of the most profound education budget reform efforts to reach Annapolis lawmakers in recent memory, Interim Prince George’s County Public Schools CEO Dr. Monica Goldson addressed county leaders at a State of Education luncheon March 6.
The “March for Our Schools” effort March 12 to demand more school funding and higher wages brought thousands of educators, parents, and administrators to Annapolis to pressure lawmakers to move forward with new legislation.
GPGBR President and CEO M.H. Jim Estepp.
But at the State of Education, a more direct format ensued as some 170 county and business leaders, educators, school administrators and community stakeholders attended the high profile event in anticipation of learning the status and direction of the state’s second largest school system since Dr. Kevin Maxwell stepped down as CEO in May 2018.
The event was hosted by The Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable at Colony South Hotel & Conference Center.
The Roundtable, a non-profit, nonpartisan business alliance of chief executives, formed to improve political, economic and community environments in Prince George’s was founded by President and CEO M.H. Jim Estepp. It has routinely hosted the State of Education and State of The County addresses over the last 10 years.
Goldson, whose life and career has always been centered in Prince George’s, has also raised her own children within the public schools system.
“I want our focus to always come back to the school house,” the CEO said in the biographical video that aired moments before Goldson’s address. “Because that’s why we’re here. That’s why every last one of us has a job.”
Indeed, Goldson’s student-centered philosophy was key to her approach to governing the system on her first day in position and through the first 100 days of her watch (See “Teachable Moments,” Prince George’s Suite Magazine Fall 2018/Winter 2019, available now, click here).
“It was hard but necessary [to re-purpose $1 million from school executive level budgets to the classrooms] but it had to be done. Our kids must come first,” Goldson said of one her first decisions since taking office.
An Overview Of Dr. Goldson’s Remarks:
*Continue to direct the focus of budget and resource efforts toward the classroom, attracting and retaining highly talented teachers, counselors and education administrators.
*Increase funding for school building replacement, upgrade and renovation.
*Increase training in implicit race bias for teachers of the county schools whose students are 91% people of color.
*Continue efforts to expand dual enrollment programs with Prince George’s Community College and Bowie State University (Currently there are some 1,000 students involved with dual enrollment).
*Expand and reinforce the new Code of Conduct guidelines for PGCPS teachers and staff.
*Firmly establish the graduation audit to affirm actual graduation rates.
*Establish 20,000 Meal Challenge to assure that students who need meals will receive them – even during off-peak school hours.
*Reinforce school security measures, increase implementation of surprise, random school access checks
*Advocacy in passing new law to increase funding to county schools.
*Adopt-A-School program for businesses that will connect students’ classroom study with real-world work experiences.
*Seek and establish in kind support of students in classroom with tutoring services.
*Expand PGCPS’ partnership with Venture Philanthropy Partners (VPP) “to ensure that high school students have the skills, tools and resources they need to be career- and college-ready by strengthening the local nonprofits who serve them.”
