Central Office

School officials said Tuesday they might consider building a new central office to replace the outdated facility at 820 Commonwealth Ave. The building that houses the Washington County Board of Education has gradually been expanded over the years since 1938, when the first section was completed. Water seeps into the transportation office on the basement level of the building during heavy rains and some offices are in portable classrooms that were not suitable for schools, said Schools Superintendent Herman G. Bartlett Jr. Bartlett said school officials considered renovating the sprawling, one-story facility, but determined that would be "throwing good money after bad. ""Generally, it's agreed that this is a tough facility to work in," said Bartlett.

tarar@herald-mail.com Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan said Saturday she plans to eliminate and consolidate positions, terminate some employees and drop the professional development department from the Board of Education's central office on Commonwealth Avenue. Morgan said she's targeting the central office in an effort to make up a shortfall of more than $4 million for the next fiscal year. She will ask the School Board at a meeting Tuesday to approve the moves.

HAGERSTOWN - Renovations to the Washington County Public Schools central office lobby have made the area more secure and more inviting, schools spokesman Will Kauffman said. The $75,000 project began in October and was completed last week. Some work remains, like the installation of a flat-screen wall-mounted television, additional lighting and the display of the school system's logo, Director of Maintenance and Operations Michael Peplinski said. He also expects student artwork to be displayed in the lobby of the central office at 820 Commonwealth Ave. in Hagerstown.

Washington County Board of Education proposed budget Monday, March 22 7 p.m. Central Office auditorium.

Here are some of the things happening this week in Washington County Public Schools: Monday, March 25 2013-14 kindergarten registration - Applications available at all elementary schools Bester Elementary - Grade-one egg hunt, 1:45 to 2:15 p.m.; kindergarten egg hunt, 1:50 p.m. Boonsboro Middle - Staff/student basketball fundraiser game (benefits Cumberland Valley-Breast Cancer Awareness), 6 p.m. at Boonsboro High School Clear Spring Middle - Family Life for eighth-graders Pleasant Valley Elementary - Good citizens luncheon; spring pictures Tuesday, March 26 Clear Spring Middle - Family Life for eighth-graders; perfect attendance drawing Pleasant Valley Elementary - Chess Club, 2:15 p.m. Springfield Middle - STARS breakfast, 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 27 Bester Elementary - Citizen of the month celebration, 2:45 p.m. Clear Spring High - Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting, 7:45 a.m. Clear Spring Middle - Family Life for eighth-graders E. Russell Hicks Middle - Art Club, 2:30 p.m. Fountaindale Elementary - PBIS board game day Funkstown Elementary - Grandparents day, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Pleasant Valley Elementary - 24 Club for fifth-graers, 2:15 p.m. Springfield Middle - MSA reward activity Thursday, March 28 Spring break - Schools closed/central office open Friday, March 29 Spring break - Schools and central office closed

HAGERSTOWN -- Renovations to the Washington County Public Schools central office lobby have made the area more secure and more inviting, schools spokesman Will Kauffman said. The $75,000 project began in October and was completed last week. Some work remains, like the installation of a flat-screen wall-mounted television, additional lighting and the display of the school system's logo, Director of Maintenance and Operations Michael Peplinski said. He also expects student artwork to be displayed in the lobby of the central office at 820 Commonwealth Ave. in Hagerstown.

The Washington County Board of Education will hold a work session on Superintendent of Schools Herman G. Bartlett Jr.'s proposed budget today. School Board members and staff will discuss the budget from 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the board's conference room at the Central Office on Commonwealth Avenue in Hagerstown.

Instead of a $69,000 renovation, the Washington County Board of Education's meeting room will get new carpet. The School Board voted this week to replace the carpet in the 38-year-old central office auditorium. Standard Acoustical of Hagerstown, which bid the low price of $18,300, was awarded the contract. In October, Director of Facilities Management Dennis McGee had recommended a total makeover for the room, including drywall and ceiling tiles. McGee recommended enlarging the elevated podium for the School Board, which expanded from five to seven members this month.

Here are some of the things happening this week in Washington County Public Schools: Monday, April 2  Bester Elementary - Kindergarten egg hunt, 10:15 to 11:30 a.m. Clear Spring High - Athletic Boosters meeting, 7 p.m. E. Russell Hicks Middle - Band Boosters meeting in band room, 7 p.m. Eastern Elementary - Lois Manfull nutrition class for third-graders, 12:30 p.m. ...

There are no pay raises in the next fiscal year budget for Berkeley County Schools employees, but the $158 million spending plan for the general fund approved last week does include increases in benefits. The school district will shoulder a greater share of health insurance premiums and also made adjustments to improve dental and vision plans, according to Superintendent Manny P. Arvon. The sick-leave bonus was increased from $1,250 to $1,500. The bonus is based on the number of sick days a teacher uses during the school year.