thursday,march 7, 2013 - County Times - Southern Maryland Online

Spotlight OnThe County TimesThursday, March 7, 2013 12Advancing Duke’s LegacyBy Alex PanosStaff WriterSuperintendent Michael Martirano hasrecommended Leonardtown’s new elementaryschool be named after Capt. WalterFrancis Duke, a town native who fought inWorld War II.During his career, Duke won manyawards including American Defense Medal,Purple Heart and Distinguished FlyingCross.He entered World War II in 1941, theday the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor,and was declared missing in action in June1944.The United States Army confirmedthey located a P-38 plane matching Capt.Duke’s last year from a recently clearedjungle in Southeast Asia.Martirano believes the name providesa great opportunity to tie in the militarycommunity while highlighting a true sonand hero of Leonardtown.Teacher FeatureEast Coast Antiques & CollectablesEstate AuctionFriday, March 15 - 6 p.m.Grocery AuctionSaturday, March 16 - 4 p.m.The school’s tagline “where childrensoar” was another selling point for thesuperintendent.“If you add all those together, it magnifiedthe intensity of the instructional program,”Martirano said. “The stars alignedfor that to occur.”Local resident Richard Hayden doesnot agree with the Superintendent’s recommendationto name the new elementaryschool in honor of Capt. Duke Elementary.He believes the name will add confusionas well and anticipates uncertainty betweenDuke Street and Duke Elementary.“We’re going to have some confusiongoing on,” he said.Hayden added school board did notconsider research submitted by the St.Mary’s Historical Society in a multi-pageletter on the history of the site.At one point in, the site was home toWoodbury Academy in 1842 – a boardingschool for women run by Sophia Leigh.Sohia’s adopted sister, Mary BladesThere are teachers in St. Mary’sCounty who just can’t seem to do enoughfor others. One such person is KathyKoch, a special education teacher at RidgeElementary School. Kathy came to us in2003 after having served in the Navy. Shehas a Bachelor’s Degree from the Universityof Miami, a Master’s Degree fromBowie State University and her Doctoratefrom Notre Dame of Maryland. Withcredentials like this Kathy could teachanywhere in the country but she choosesto give of her time and talents here in St.Kathy KochMary’s County. She also teaches undergradsat St. Mary’s College and graduate courses for Notre Dame ofMaryland. Not only does she teach our children but she is helping toprepare the next generation of teachers. Hiring and retaining highlyqualified professionals like Kathy is what makes St. Mary’s county oneof the finest places to educate your children in the United States.Kathy is also a member of the Lexington Park Volunteer RescueSquad where she is an EMT and an IV Technician. She is also a memberof the Advanced Life Support Team. She shares her passion forhelping others with her husband and the two of them actually spentNew Year’s Eve on duty at the rescue squad.Kathy’s hometown is Cincinnati, Ohio. She is married and hasthree children ages 17, 20 and 22.Antique & CollectibleChesapeake Auction HouseSt. Leonard, MD 20685 • 410-586-1161 • chesapeakeauctionhouse.comSchool Board Approves BudgetBy Alex PanosStaff Writerbegan St. Mary’s Female Seminary.According to Hayden, the new schoolshould be named after the original school inLeonardtown –Woodbury Elementary.“They [the school board] overlooked alot of history here,” Hayden said.Martirano said the community ran theentire process. Nominations were made andthen voted on to narrow down the selectionsto three before being submitted to theschool board.While he monitors the process, he iscompletely objective and does not participate.Each name has specific requirementsrelating to the site’s unique elements, locationsor historical figures.“Capt. Duke was most advanced by thecommunity,” Martirano said.Along with Duke, McIntosh Elementaryand Heritage Elementary are still underconsideration; McIntosh due to the environmentalaspects of the site and Heritagebecause it represents community values andtraditions for students.The school board is requesting a $6 millionincrease in county funding, $80 million to $86million, in fiscal year 2014.The majority of the increase in funding isneeded for hiring additional staff and fairly compensatingemployees based on recent agreementsmade with the teacher’s union, according to SuperintendentMichael Martirano.The system needs new teaching staff, explainedMartirano, to keep up with the increasingnumber of students in the school system.Additional teaching positions will take priority,and Martirano hopes to add more security assistantsat the elementary school level – the middleand high schools already have police officers onduty.The superintendent says about $3.5 to $3.9million is needed for staff pay raises.The school board and teacher’s union recentlycame to an agreement, ensuring step payincreases for all qualifying employees, or an $800bonus in December for all others.Superintendent Michael Martiranofabric store...for home decorFriday, March 22 - 6 p.m. $9 95The public will have an opportunityto express their opinions at the next schoolboard meeting on March 13, and then theboard will make a final decision on April 10.alexpanos@countytimes.netFairly compensating current employees is vital,he said, because otherwise the teachers mayleave the county for better paying jobs.He believes the increase in funding is essentialfor continuing to lure the most highly qualifiedteachers to St. Mary’s County.Without proper compensation, the systemwill start to “erode,” ultimately harming the educationof students in St. Mary’s, Martirano said.He continued, while sequestration is just nowhitting many people, the school board has beenaddressing the situation.Over the last four years they have been cuttingjobs and freezing salaries despite a growingschool system.Approximately 83 percent of the school budgetgoes to personnel.With the school board’s approval, the budgetwill now be sent to the county commissioners forreview.A public forum will take place on April 30 todiscuss St. Mary’s entire budget.alexpanos@countytimes.nettheJUSTRECEIVEDyard25 +Bolts ofDraperyFabric withEmbroidery301-290-1074 • Inside Broad Creek Kitchens27215 Three Notch Rd • Mechanicsville, MD