[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6020452,"mediaKeyId","5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4","parentId",5767436,"title","Superintendent says stadium lights removed at Westminster and Liberty after structural inspections; district aims to restore lighting by Sept. 25","audioSeconds",501,"startMs",6722000,"endMs",7223000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4&start=6722&end=7223","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4/thumbnail_6722000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6020452/Maryland/Superintendent-says-stadium-lights-removed-at-Westminster-and-Liberty-after-structural-inspections-district-aims-to-restore-lighting-by-Sept-25","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020452-7931cef62a717bc8f3563bd88fbf16d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770412143&Signature=nZ6OHWl7Fk6Cy~vq~3lXKgggy2P2KaxqEcvaYF~qiHGXrwJ3a6emc4otdctL1IKJ-TgvjwqkT1K3jh3G8e0eaS7PK--ehQD6eWWPlbIcNvpuEnBrSXb1WfXo3AmKLax5qRnanIshupqPS5lL~bQN3-taBFJGsucbzrZK1xE1QhMbEa6Gn9ehlMvhx6ZtPh7RoXpNIZEXUx8towGKrr~V-qyQSaOSyGqia0JVAJ8pxT217PSDbzi90Cuj0fa0UcAM3WH3tbdjpIruPLF82DmJOGzg-v6AJO2J5p~EHYWWUtQ~OoNuUGAZrWSJUcbd~PfcAFvUzBmpqk8gxa-OLBTa1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CCPS Media","date","2025-09-11T02:16:39Z","article","Superintendent McCabe told the Board of Education on Sept. 10 that specialized structural inspections of high-school stadium lighting supports at Westminster and Liberty High Schools found conditions that required the immediate removal of the light poles, and staff moved quickly to remove the structures and find replacements.

\"I directed to move forward with removing the existing lighting supports so that the 2 stadia could be reopened for use,\" Dr. McCabe said, describing the emergency procurement of a structural inspection firm and the subsequent decision to remove the supports rather than attempt short-term reinforcement.

District staff explained the timeline and logistics. The district contracts annual maintenance for stadium structures but engaged a specialized engineering inspection firm this summer when routine work identified potential concerns. The firm'which the district said has engineers with certifications not available in-house'recommended removal as no immediate, short'term reinforcement was viable. The district removed the structures on a weekend to limit disruption to the fall athletics schedule and began pursuing permanent replacements.

Officials said they attempted to secure full-size temporary stadium lighting on short notice but could not meet scheduling needs; smaller contractor rental lights were tested but proved insufficient. The district identified a contractor with available inventory for key parts and is moving to install permanent replacements with a target of finishing work by the week of Sept. 22 and preserving games scheduled as early as the week of Sept. 25, subject to weather and supply contingencies.

Why it matters: the removals required short'term schedule adjustments for teams and community athletic events and triggered an emergency procurement process because of the safety urgency. The superintendent said administrators at both schools will keep their communities informed on scheduling changes.

Board members thanked staff for prioritizing safety. There was no formal vote specific to the lighting repairs at the Sept. 10 meeting; board members later approved a set of routine procurement items on the consent calendar, and McCabe indicated staff used emergency procurement authority to hire the structural inspection firm and to expedite replacement planning.

Ending note: district officials said they will continue regular updates with affected schools and will report back to the board as installation proceeds and dates are confirmed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCPS Board of Education Meeting 9102025","oneSentenceSummary","Following specialized structural inspections, Carroll County Public Schools removed lighting supports at Westminster and Liberty high school stadiums for safety; the superintendent described emergency procurement steps, temporary measures and an expedited replacement timeline.","taxTitle","Carroll County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",14200,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6020457,"Carroll schools expand teacher induction under Blueprint partnership with Towson University",576,2163000,2739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4&start=2163&end=2739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4/thumbnail_2163000.jpg","/articles/6020457/Maryland/Carroll-schools-expand-teacher-induction-under-Blueprint-partnership-with-Towson-University","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020457-d90e5ee70a8815a750cb36d22122fe22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770412143&Signature=oKEd4IoqG5AlG-gr3AbelUbHW22eP4~3vvTrZp3sAIxWxVLutB3-Fdhy8rLo3fBF43cLkH6nyt1kCWy598mA8v1npm3TQV4GYlea2FTG7lmbIkadU45y84GdtfzDc6sgrVVwKutFPgva97wWW10itj~cuXgmgMobz9ZKOAvRxB9O~TMyF7XwVadX4mCgeUQE0I2u8KJJz6yP7lEDqCIyckjjA-Y5yROKn4b0dR34iJmCcQ-o36SSH2PssmuGZPWaN1y3KO-qTsTU7wF9PyfHZjIDxY2JbZlylOvmjX5t-OFiH696iMDC3Mvec9z1sylAjx~~K9Uir1dhmvAs3Kbx9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County Public Schools briefed the Board of Education on Sept. 10 about a new induction and coaching partnership intended to implement Pillar 2 of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future focused on teacher preparation and early-career support.

\"Teaching is a unique career in many many ways,\" said Ernesto Diaz, director of human resources, explaining why district leaders prioritized a structured, multi-year induction program that pairs new teachers with experienced mentors. The district described the partnership with Towson University's Nancy Grasmick Center and the use of a coaching cycle that emphasizes foundation-building in year one, refinement in year two and movement toward mastery in year three.

Why it matters: Pillar 2 of the state Blueprint emphasizes raising the professional status of teaching, strengthening induction and aligning teacher preparation with classroom needs. District staff said the Towson collaboration will provide county-wide coaching capacity beyond what school leaders can deliver alone.

District staff said the program will personalize mentoring and coaching for teachers with fewer than five years' experience, clarify that coaches are not evaluators, and align coaching work to explicit performance goals and classroom strategies. The model is intended to reduce isolation for new teachers and improve retention and classroom practice.

Board members asked how the partnership will affect principals and supervisors. Diaz and other staff said the initiative is intended to reduce day-to-day supervisory load by providing dedicated coaching resources; administrators will remain responsible for formal observation and evaluation.

What did not change: the presentation was informational and no contractual or budget vote was taken at the Sept. 10 meeting. Staff said they will report on implementation progress in monthly updates to the board and through school improvement processes.

Ending note: district leaders framed the Towson partnership as part of a multiyear investment in teacher development tied to state Blueprint goals, with the immediate focus on a structured induction, coaching cycles and professional learning for new and early-career teachers.","Human resources presented the district'level rollout of Blueprint pillar 2 work: a Towson University partnership to provide personalized mentoring, coaching cycles and multi-year induction for early-career teachers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6020462,"Carroll County posts statewide gains on 2024–25 MCAP; gaps remain for multilingual learners and students with disabilities",3261,2604000,5865000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4&start=2604&end=5865","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5767436-c527b095eb5563bb19270778d97dd3f4/thumbnail_2604000.jpg","/articles/6020462/Maryland/Carroll-County-posts-statewide-gains-on-202425-MCAP-gaps-remain-for-multilingual-learners-and-students-with-disabilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6020462-2a92b265b0e83f29e85af6ab50c0dd6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770412143&Signature=OocdX3670b-gpoJVVfFWoKhNzKqVECyPa5CFw8of761wx8mXwbrVferk7eF6pFjRRApMCVsWRRY7nITPKWW1RY59YoPB51G9cymlAbYyLXsXXfiAK7LkCBl05xNykaNBi5FJh13EhcAn588C9yjqrGKH5tkqtEKNEz-4UvJSZLrFVVlhLCFN4nWDtt4vFuQdpssOtVV7KWSR0-lWMv1cGisfv5xjFzSjG7UeKLTDVbCv2GOgKl8~M4vXWDk62KPyTy8LjQ01Wfg4ckRmKyg7LEfvqrcbny10ycsxqoANzeUxq6pSBR19l~VDmDBN6QZHhbUJtHECaaNIu3~7t4n5Bw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Carroll County Public Schools reported net gains across reading, math and science on the state'administered MCAP tests for the 2024–25 school year, but presenters told the Board of Education on Sept. 10 that specific student groups'notably multilingual learners and some students with disabilities'remain behind county averages.

District staff delivered the update after the Maryland State Department of Education released statewide MCAP results. \"We are above the state average across all ELA assessments,\" said Dr. Kendra Hart, supervisor for testing and school performance, describing county ELA proficiency and gains compared with 2023–24.

The data showed countywide highlights and areas of concern. Carroll County ranked second statewide for combined ELA proficiency at 66.5 percent (an increase from the prior year) and third statewide in combined mathematics at 40.5 percent (up nearly 3 percentage points). Science combined proficiency rose to 39.8 percent, a more than 6-point gain from 2023–24, with grade 8 science up about 10 points.

Why it matters: the MCAP is Maryland's publicly reported assessment used for school and district monitoring; the results inform school improvement plans and state funding conversations. Board and staff said the county will use the disaggregated results to target classroom supports and professional learning.

Most of Carroll's grade-level and subgroup proficiency rates remained above the state average, presenters said, but the increases were not uniform. Countywide ELA proficiency increased by 1 to 5 percentage points at several grade levels, with the largest ELA gain in Grade 10 (about 7 points). In math, grades 3–8 showed moderate gains (1–5 points) with the largest increase in Grade 7 (5 points); Algebra I proficiency decreased slightly (about 1 point).

Presenters emphasized subgroup detail. Students who identify as Black/African American and White showed countywide ELA gains of roughly 4–5 points; however, some racial/ethnic groups and multilingual learners showed small declines in particular grades. For students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, multiple grades improved, with notable gains in several elementary grades. County staff said proficiency among students with disabilities improved in some grades (including a 6-point gain in ELA Grade 10) but remained low enough in other grades that results are suppressed to avoid identifying individual students.

District staff described concrete next steps. School leaders have already received disaggregated, standard-level reports and are expected to use them in school improvement plans and professional learning. \"We must use data discussions, planning, professional learning, and program evaluation,\" Dr. Hart said, noting that schools are examining achievement by standard to design targeted instruction and interventions.

Supervisors across elementary and secondary programs described tactical responses: revising common writing assessments and scoring rubrics to match MCAP expectations, piloting writing tools (NoRedInk) at selected schools to build writing fluency, aligning elementary math units and benchmarks with Illustrative Mathematics, expanding formative checks and exit tickets in secondary math, and revising science common assessments to emphasize constructed-response writing prompts.

Board members asked for explanations about the science gains and subgroup changes. Elementary and secondary science supervisors credited improved local assessments, repeatedly revised common units, and a concentrated focus on scientific writing and constructed-response practice for the improvement in science scores. County assessment staff said the reporting system's increased question-level detail this year made those analyses possible.

What did not change: there was no vote or policy adoption tied to the presentation. Staff said the information will inform school-level plans and central-office professional learning investments. Officials flagged multilingual learners and some students with disabilities as priorities for focused interventions and said additional targeted supports will be phased into schools this year.

Ending note: district leaders framed the results as progress with more work ahead. \"Proficiency numbers presented represent students, and the numbers not presented represent students,\" Dr. Hart told the board, urging continued attention to students still not achieving proficiency.","Officials presented 2024–25 MCAP results showing Carroll County Public Schools ranked near the top statewide in ELA, math and science with notable gains, while multilingual learners and some disability groups trailed; district leaders outlined targeted next steps for schools.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent says stadium lights removed at Westminster and Liberty after structural inspections; district aims to restore lighting by Sept. 25

Carroll schools expand teacher induction under Blueprint partnership with Towson University

Carroll County posts statewide gains on 2024–25 MCAP; gaps remain for multilingual learners and students with disabilities