Garrett County Public Schools

𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The Garrett County Board of Education is seeking applications from county residents interested in serving on the Garrett County Board of Education Ethics Panel. This panel functions in an advisory capacity to the Board of Education.

In June, the Board will appoint five members to the all-volunteer, five-member panel. The panel is responsible for interpreting ethics regulations and issuing advisory opinions to Board members and employees subject to those regulations. Initial appointments will be staggered for terms ranging from one to five years, beginning July 1, 2026.

As noted in Board Policy, BC, Ethics (https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/garrett/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=9REQKM546781), panel members may not be current members of the Board of Education, school officials, employees, individuals employed by entities subject to the authority of the Board, or the spouses of such individuals. The panel meets annually to review financial disclosure statements and convenes as needed to consider complaints and requests for advisory opinions.

Interested individuals should submit an application form (https://forms.gle/Piqxuu6C3x5fLBqA7), a letter of interest, and any supporting documentation no later than Friday, May 1, 2026, to Garrett County Public Schools, Attn: Karen Brewer, 770 Dennett Road, Oakland, MD 21550, or via email at karen.brewer@garrettcountyschools.org. For further information, please call 301-334-8901.

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

During the March Board meeting, new curricula for Elementary English Language Arts (ELA) and Grades 6-8 Science were approved. This approval follows a public review period held from February 11 to March 4, 2026, which provided stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate materials and submit feedback. The new instructional programs are set for district-wide implementation at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐆𝐂𝐏𝐒 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝

During the March 10, 2026, Board meeting, Mrs. Dawna Ashby was announced as the next Chief Academic Officer (CAO), effective July 1, 2026. This critical role will oversee curriculum, instruction, and academic strategy to drive student success across all Garrett County Public Schools (GCPS).

The selection follows a comprehensive search to fill the vacancy created by Dr. Nicole Miller, who will transition from her current role as CAO to serve as the next Superintendent of Schools on July 1, 2026. Currently, Mrs. Ashby serves as the GCPS Director of Early Childhood and Elementary Education.

As Chief Academic Officer, Mrs. Ashby will be responsible for:
• Providing leadership and oversight of all district instructional programs to maximize student learning, growth, and academic outcomes.
• Establishing a clear, systemwide instructional vision aligned with the GCPS Strategic Plan.
• Leading the implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, including progress monitoring and cross-departmental coordination.
• Monitoring student achievement data and leading targeted improvement efforts across all schools.

"We are thrilled for Mrs. Ashby to serve as our next Chief Academic Officer," said incoming Superintendent Dr. Nicole Miller. “Her experience, leadership, and commitment to instructional excellence reflect our shared commitment to providing rigorous and meaningful learning experiences for every student in Garrett County.”

March 10, 2026, Board of Education Meetings

The Garrett County Board of Education will hold a Special Budget Work Session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, before the regularly scheduled March Board Meeting. The purpose of the Budget Work Session is to discuss the proposed FY2027 operating budget. The Board will meet in the Community Room at Dennett Road Educational Complex.

The Budget Work Session will begin at 3:00 p.m. Public comment will be held after the budget presentation at approximately 3:45 p.m. Please note that this time is approximate, and public comment may be adjusted based on the timing of the presentation.

The regular March Board Meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m., after which time the Board will go into executive session in the Maintenance Conference Room until 5:30 p.m. to discuss personnel matters and a negotiations topic. The Board of Education will reconvene for the public session from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Time is set aside during this public session for the hearing of constituents at approximately 6:45 p.m. Please note that this time is approximate, and public comment may be adjusted based on the timing of the presentations.

Topics excluded from Public Comment include:
• Individual personnel issues
• Comments identifying individual students or staff members
• Matters that are on appeal or may be appealed or have been appealed
• Topics for which the Board schedules formal public hearings
• Advertising or solicitation for products and/or services
Both the Special Budget Work Session and the regular March Board Meeting are open to the public and will be live-streamed for public review.

The agenda for the Special Budget Work Session is: https://tinyurl.com/46nzvujd, and the link for the Monthly Board Meeting is: https://tinyurl.com/ynp5n5r6. The agendas are not considered final until the Board takes action to accept them at the start of each meeting. The meetings will be live-streamed via https://youtube.com/live/56mGYf0OIIE?feature=share.

Part or all of the meeting may be closed pursuant to the General Provision §3-305 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐒 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦

Northern Garrett High School (NGHS) is proud to recognize two outstanding seniors for their exceptional academic achievements in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Mr. Timothy Brands has been named a Finalist, placing him among an elite group of students nationwide. Finalists are selected based on their high PSAT/NMSQT scores, academic record, leadership qualities, extracurricular involvement, and a detailed scholarship application. This distinction represents one of the highest academic honors a high school student can achieve. The selection of 6,870 Merit Scholarship winners from a group of more than 15,000 Finalists is now in progress. In March, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation will begin notifying scholarship winners by email, and in April, major news media announcements will be made.

Mr. Hayden Gring has been named a Commended Student, a recognition awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic promise and who rank among the top scorers nationally on the qualifying exam. Although they do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students are placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the competition and are recognized for their outstanding potential for academic success.

The National Merit Scholarship Program, conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, honors students across the United States who demonstrate extraordinary academic ability. Each year, approximately 1.5 million students enter the competition, with only a small percentage receiving recognition.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐅𝐅𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲

This Friday, March 6, 2026, the North Garrett and Oakland FFA chapters are rolling out the blue carpet for eleven (11) chapters from across Region 1. Members will compete at the Career Technology Training Center (CTTC) in Accident, competing for top honors in four categories:

- Ag Mechanics 🛠️
- Creed Speaking 📜
- Public Speaking 🎤
- Employment Skills 💼

Our Chapters are excited to welcome a very special guest, Mr. T. Wayne Williams, National FFA Southern Region Vice President. Best of luck to all competitors!

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲

On Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day, we recognize the dedication, skill, and pride our maintenance team brings to work every single day. They maintain our buildings, tackling unexpected challenges with care and efficiency. Their efforts often happen behind the scenes, but their impact is seen everywhere!

Thank you for creating environments where our students and staff can learn, grow, and succeed. We appreciate all that you do today and every day! 🛠️✨

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟑/𝟑/𝟐𝟔

All Garrett County Public Schools' afternoon and evening activities are permitted to take place today, Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

March 10, 2026, Board of Education Meetings

The Garrett County Board of Education will hold a Special Budget Work Session on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, before the regularly scheduled March Board Meeting. The purpose of the Budget Work Session is to discuss the proposed FY2027 operating budget. The Board will meet in the Community Room at Dennett Road Educational Complex.

The Budget Work Session will begin at 3:00 p.m. Public comment will be held after the budget presentation at approximately 3:45 p.m. Please note that this time is approximate, and public comment may be adjusted based on the timing of the presentation.

The regular March Board Meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m., after which time the Board will go into executive session in the Maintenance Conference Room until 5:30 p.m. to discuss personnel matters and a negotiations topic. The Board of Education will reconvene for the public session from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room. Time is set aside during this public session for the hearing of constituents at approximately 6:45 p.m. Please note that this time is approximate, and public comment may be adjusted based on the timing of the presentations.

Topics excluded from Public Comment include:
• Individual personnel issues
• Comments identifying individual students or staff members
• Matters that are on appeal or may be appealed or have been appealed
• Topics for which the Board schedules formal public hearings
• Advertising or solicitation for products and/or services
Both the Special Budget Work Session and the regular March Board Meeting are open to the public and will be live-streamed for public review.

The agenda for the Special Budget Work Session is: https://tinyurl.com/46nzvujd, and the link for the Monthly Board Meeting is: https://tinyurl.com/ynp5n5r6. The agendas are not considered final until the Board takes action to accept them at the start of each meeting.

Part or all of the meeting may be closed pursuant to the General Provision §3-305 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝟑/𝟑/𝟐𝟔

Garrett County Public Schools will now conduct a two-hour delay Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning. Virtual instruction will begin around 10:00 a.m.

Inclement Weather Status Update 3/3/26 7:50 a.m.: Garrett County Public Schools will now conduct a two-hour delay Virtual Learning Day (with live instruction) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Schools will be closed for in-person learning.

𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝟑/𝟑/𝟐𝟔

Garrett County Public Schools will open three (3) hours late on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.