Latest news with #BaltimoreCountyPublicSchools
Business Journals
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Frederick Ward Associates BizSpotlight
Frederick Ward Associates, Inc. (FWA) has been a cornerstone of Maryland's A/E community since 1955. Headquartered in Bel Air, FWA has evolved from a small surveying office into a multidisciplinary design firm serving clients across the Mid-Atlantic. The firm is recognized for its innovative solutions and unwavering client focus. A Legacy of Excellence For nearly 70 years, FWA has provided comprehensive services in architecture, civil engineering, planning, and surveying. The firm's integrated teams collaborate to deliver projects that are functional, sustainable, and visually compelling. Each department is staffed with at least three licensed professionals, ensuring deep expertise and robust project capacity. Regular lunch-and-learn sessions foster cross-disciplinary understanding, resulting in stronger, more cohesive designs. This collaborative culture allows FWA to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of every client. Leadership and Vision In 2025, FWA entered a new chapter of leadership. After more than three decades with the company, including ten years as president, Tory Pierce, PE, transitioned to a Senior Advisor role. John V. Mettee IV, Prof. LS, now serves as president, bringing over 25 years of experience and a deep commitment to FWA's mission. Alongside John, Thomas Miner, PE, CCM, continues to guide the firm's engineering and strategic initiatives as Senior Vice President and Director of Engineering. Signature Projects FWA's diverse portfolio showcases its technical expertise and community impact. Notable projects include: • Ma & Pa Trail: FWA contributed to the design and planning of this recreational trail, enhancing local connectivity. The trail features paved and gravel surfaces, bridges, overlooks, and connections to parks and amenities. FWA's work ensures the trail is accessible, safe, and environmentally sensitive. • Legend at Beards Hill: FWA provided comprehensive services—including architecture, engineering, planning, landscape architecture, and surveying—for a new 237-unit apartment complex in Aberdeen. The project spans three buildings and a community center totaling over 313,000 square feet, highlighted by a resort-style pool area. Innovative features include immersive 3D renderings, a detailed hardscape plan, grilling stations, a poolside lounge, and thoughtfully designed locker rooms, fitness spaces, and clubroom, making this a standout in modern residential development. • Baltimore County Public Schools (BPCS) and Baltimore City Public School System (BCPSS): Through open-end contracts with both systems, FWA has delivered architectural and engineering design, cost estimating, project management, construction administration, and inspection services for numerous school facilities. Projects have included roof replacement designs, systemic upgrades, comprehensive renovations, window and door replacements, bathroom modernizations, and egress planning. This work has given FWA a deep understanding of the unique needs and standards of Maryland's public schools. Comprehensive Services FWA offers a full spectrum of services, including site planning, zoning analysis, environmental consulting, and infrastructure design. With a multidisciplinary approach, clients benefit from a single, trusted source for complex projects, ensuring clear communication and efficient project delivery. Commitment to Community FWA's dedication extends beyond project completion. The firm's projects prioritize sustainability, accessibility, and long-term value, reflecting a deep commitment to enriching the communities it serves. Looking Ahead As FWA approaches its 70th anniversary, the firm remains guided by its core values: listening to clients, designing with purpose, and enhancing the communities it serves. With new leadership and a legacy of excellence, FWA is well-positioned to continue shaping Maryland's built environment for decades to come.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Baltimore County school speech pathologists say they are overworked, failing to meet student needs
Last spring's school assignment was a sea change for Gail Vanderbeek, a veteran Baltimore County Public Schools speech-language pathologist. Instead of being responsible for one school's speech difficulties and communication skills, she would now have an additional school to serve. That meant more paperwork, meetings, and — critically — additional students, some of whom require one-on-one instruction. Vanderbeek worries that, as a result, some of these children are falling through the cracks. Speech-language pathologists work with students who have a range of communication issues, which can include speech, voice, language and cognition impairments. These students require individualized instruction to meet their academic needs. And, as Baltimore County Public Schools' SLPs feel the squeeze of greater demands, the district risks losing providers and students to the private sector. 'This has been the most challenging year in my 33-year career,' Vanderbeek, a speech-language pathologist at both Gunpowder and Victory Villa elementary schools, told school board members last month. 'The workload that we have been given is not manageable. And the conditions we are working under will not keep or attract skilled speech pathologists to serve our students.' An American Speech-Language-Hearing Association national survey of SLPs working in schools found that the median caseload was 50 students a month, but but that SLPs generally believed 40 to be manageable. A separate January survey conducted by the SLP Educators Council and the Teachers Association of Baltimore County found that more than 60% of the surveyed county SLPs have caseloads between 61 to 100 students. Maryland's average caseload is 49, according to ASHA. Nearly 70% said they are unsatisfied with staffing allocations at their schools. Roughly half said said they had completed some of the key compliance requirements they're responsible for in only zero to 20% of their cases. Workload, distinct from caseload, refers to everything speech-language pathologists do for students, including planning and ensuring compliance with students' individualized education plans (IEPs). Caseload refers to the number of students receiving services from one provider. The IEPs are legally binding documents for how to meet the needs and educational goals of a child with a disability. 'Our students are missing legally mandated therapy and consultative services, while we are also asked to assess, case manage, attend IEP teams and document our services appropriately,' Vanderbeek told the board. About a quarter of the providers surveyed by ASHA believed that the single biggest barrier to having a manageable caseload was a shortage of local speech-language pathologists. 'I don't think it's necessarily a shortage of SLPs, period. I think it's … the school districts … at least in Maryland, making [working in schools] unappealing,' said Kathryn Chib, owner of special education advocacy company Beacon Education Solutions. Some of her Baltimore County Public Schools clients are now receiving only partial speech-language pathology services, not fully complying with their IEPs, she said. 'These people that do this service are wonderful, and they do their best to let parents know that it's too much for them,' Chib said. 'And they're being forced to go to more than one or two schools, and so they can't do their best for the child.' About five of Chib's 10 to 15 Baltimore County Public Schools clients are reporting issues with their speech-language pathology services, such as a very young, nonverbal child being given virtual-only services, which Chib called 'inappropriate.' Parents have told her that IEPs are not being fully met, with students receiving services only partially fulfilling the plans' requirements, such as not getting the correct number or frequency of sessions. A BCPS speech-language pathologist reached out through one of Chib's clients at the beginning of the year to ask her if she could advocate district-wide for them because of the caseload problem, she said. 'SLPs are leaving the school-based practices because their caseloads are so big, and they have a lot of success opening private practices,' Chib said. For many speech-language pathologists, private practice offers smaller caseloads without the time and stress expended to complete required IEP documentation and meetings. Samara Shalom, owner of Pikesville private speech-language pathology practice Speech Leap and a speech-language pathologist for more than 10 years, said she has many clients who receive services from Baltimore County Public Schools but still seek help from private practitioners. 'It's the IEPs. More than anything else, the write-up process and then also the burden of the caseload,' Shalom said of what mainly drives providers into the private sector. The average caseload for a full-time speech-language pathologist in her practice was about 28, she said. In private practice, speech-language pathologists can address students' needs more holistically, including those needs not provided for in students' IEPs because they don't affect them in school, she said. Some parents also seek out private services for their children because they no longer want to deal with the constraints of the school system, according to Shalom. 'Parents are also just sometimes tired of fighting the IEP battle because it's a lot,' Shalom said. 'It's not coming from the therapist, it's coming from outside. But the parents [are] still very challenged trying to advocate for their kid getting the services they need.' Superintendent Myriam Rogers said last month at a news conference that the district is continuing to hire speech-language pathologists, with no cuts planned for them in the current or upcoming fiscal year. To respond to their concerns earlier this school year, Rogers said the district assembled a group of speech-language pathologists, their union representatives and special education leadership from the school system. The group, which has met almost monthly, helped decide whether a student gets a virtual or in-person speech-language pathologist, according to the superintendent. 'As a result of this collaborative work, the SLP workload plan for FY26 has a differentiated model for schools with regional programs and schools that do not. This results in increased allocation to buildings which in turn reduces the workload for the assigned providers,' district spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala said in an email Friday. Students getting virtual services also have a live facilitator with them, Rogers said. 'When we look at compliance due to assessments, we don't see where … assessments from speech and language pathologists are causing us to be unable to move forward with implementing individualized education plans for our students,' Rogers said. 'All of what I'm sharing with you does in no way [negate] the fact that speech and language pathologists are feeling that there is a whole lot of work to do. We certainly recognize that, which is why we stood up this group to collaborate.' Speech-language pathologists could have follow-up meetings after receiving their assignments for next year to address any concerns, Rogers said. Only about 40 out of over 200 took those meetings, she said. 'BCPS has 122.7 positions for school based SLP services. We continue to supplement BCPS providers with contractual providers as needed and employ both full time and part providers,' Onijala said. 'School-based allocations are calculated based on direct and indirect service needs of students, we also include the need for planning time, assessment, IEP team, and lunch.' Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@ 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.
CBS News
10-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Baltimore County elementary school student heading to Scripps National Spelling Bee
Baltimore County Public Schools announced Thursday that Amelia "Bindi" Ray, a fifth grader at Riderwood Elementary School, is heading to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The national competition will be held from May 27 through May 29 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. "The words I'm studying are very challenging, but I am very excited for this great opportunity," Ray said. According to BCPS, Ray's journey to the Scripps Bee began with her participation in the spelling bee club, which was funded by the Riderwood Elementary School PTA. A teacher, Jennifer Buchman, hosted the club meetings during fifth-grade lunch periods. BCPS said Ray was one of two competitors from Riderwood at the Maryland Regional Bee. The regional competition, presented by the Maryland Sports Commission, involves a 40-minute timed computerized spelling and vocabulary test, taken virtually. Ray won first place and achieved a near-perfect score of 34 out of 35 points. Buchman describes as Ray an outstanding student who loves reading and science, and has a "passion for learning". "She is curious about the natural world, how things work, and demonstrates this curiosity by always letting her interests lead her into excellence in all we do in school and outside of school," Buchman said. According to the Scripps National Spelling Bee website, there are nine other competitors from Maryland. The other competitors are:
CBS News
03-03-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland schools would tighten hiring checks under proposed bill
Maryland lawmakers want to tighten hiring checks at local schools with a newly proposed bill. HB1025 aims to enhance transparency in the hiring process at Maryland schools. Under the bill, Maryland school systems would be required to become associate members of the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification. Schools would also be required to use the NASDTEC Educator Identification Clearinghouse to screen educators. According to NASDTEC, the Clearinghouse "maintains a database of all disciplinary actions reported by NASDTEC members and disseminates this information to all participating NASDTEC jurisdictions. The proposed measure comes after Pikesville High School's former athletic director secured his position after making false claims on multiple resumes submitted to Baltimore County Public Schools. Arrest of former athletic director sparks vetting concerns Dazhon Darien, 32, was arrested and charged for allegedly using AI to impersonate former Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert in a recording containing racist and antisemitic comments. Darien allegedly created the recording to retaliate against Eiswert, who was investigating the potential mishandling of school funds by Darien. The fabricated audio, which disparaged Black students and the Jewish community, circulated widely online, causing Eiswert's temporary removal, hate messages, and school disruptions. An FBI forensic analyst and a University of California, Berkley expert, confirmed the recording was AI-generated and manipulated. Darien, who was found with a firearm at the airport attempting to board a flight to Houston when apprehended, faces charges including theft, stalking, disruption of school operations, and retaliation against a witness. The situation caused significant distress within the school community. During a court hearing related to the AI impersonation case, Darien was arrested on federal charges of child pornography and exploitation. According to an indictment, federal authorities allegedly found child sex abuse material on Darien's devices, and evidence of him paying a minor for videos. The case spurred broader concerns regarding the vetting process for school staff, with Baltimore County Council Chairman Izzy Patoka calling for increased vetting of school staff. A Baltimore Banner investigation revealed that Darien lied on his resume to secure his job at Baltimore County Public Schools, making at least 29 false claims on four job applications using two different names. Two resumes Darien submitted for jobs at Baltimore County schools included at least 16 claims The Banner found to be false. "While Baltimore County Public Schools has its responsibilities to educate children, the families, they live in our districts," Patoka said. Any staff members near students "need to be vetted carefully" so this doesn't happen again, he said. Former principal files lawsuit Eiswert filed a lawsuit against Baltimore County Public Schools for removing him from his position even though the AI-generated recording was shown to be false. The lawsuit, filed in early January, claims that Darien collaborated with other school system employees to frame Eiswert. He has since accepted a new post as principal of Sparrows Point Middle School.
CBS News
06-02-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of using AI to impersonate Maryland principal indicted on child pornography, exploitation charges
BALTIMORE -- A man accused of using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate a former principal was indicted on federal child pornography and exploitation charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Thursday. Prosecutors said Dazhon Darien, 32, coerced a minor male to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce and transmit abuse material. He is also accused of enticing two additional minor males into prohibited sexual conduct. According to court documents, Darien used CashApp to pay a minor to send videos of himself between December 2023 and March 2024. A search of Darien's phones and online accounts revealed child sex abuse material, according to court documents. He allegedly stored child sexual abuse material in internet accounts and on a digital device, according to prosecutors. He is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of coercion and enticement of a child, one count of receipt of child sexual abuse material, and four counts of possession of child sexual abuse material. Darien was arrested during an unrelated court hearing on Jan. 27. Alleged principal impersonation In Maryland, Darien is accused of creating an AI-generated recording that impersonated former principal Eric Eiswert making derogatory statements about Black students and the Jewish community. The recording, which spread widely on social media, was analyzed by FBI-contracted experts who found evidence of artificial intelligence generation combined with human-edited background noise. Police say Darien, who was Pikesville High School's former athletic director, created the fraudulent recording in retaliation after Eiswert initiated an investigation into the potential mishandling of school funds. The trial, originally scheduled for January 28, has been postponed, according to The Baltimore Banner. Darien is charged with disturbing school operations, retaliating against a witness, and stalking. Framed principal files lawsuit Eiswert filed a lawsuit against Baltimore County Public Schools for removing him from his position over the AI-generated recording, despite it being proven to be fabricated. The lawsuit, filed in early January, alleges that Darien conspired with other school system employees to frame Eiswert. Eiswert has since taken a new position as principal of Sparrows Point Middle School in June 2024. An investigation by the Baltimore Banner revealed that Darien had used false resumes to obtain positions within Baltimore County Public Schools. A school system official told the Banner that standard hiring protocols, including background checks, fingerprinting, transcript reviews, and reference checks, were followed during Darien's hiring process.
