BOE reappoints superintendent to second term

Receives three more suggestions for new elementary school name

The Charles County Board of Education voted Monday night to give Superintendent Kimberly Hill a second term and to receive three more place name suggestions from the school naming committee.

Hill, a product of Charles County Public Schools herself, was principal of North Point High School when she was first appointed superintendent in 2013.

Hill’s tenure has seen a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields, with a partnership with Code.org, creation of a “Bring Your Own Device” program and a “techbook” pilot, in partnership with Discovery Education.

The board voted unanimously to reappoint Hill.

“I appreciate the board’s support and look forward to four more years of working to move this school system forward,” Hill said following the vote.

The school board also received three new name suggestions from its school naming committee, which is tasked with providing recommendations for the name of a new elementary school to be constructed on Billingsley Road.

Construction on “Elementary #22” is expected to begin this month, and the school is expected to open at the start of the 2018-19 school year.

In December, the committee recommended three names based on individuals of importance to education in Charles County: teacher Margaret Jamieson Thornton, former Deputy Superintendent Ronald G. Cunningham and former board member Charles E. Carrington. The school board has been lobbied by supporters of each name.

At its Feb. 14 meeting, Board Chairman Michael Lukas requested the committee return with the recommendations for three additional recommendations that were not names of individuals, although he said the three prior names are still under consideration.

On Monday, the committee put forward three recommendations: Billingsley Elementary, Havenworth Elementary and Rolling Hills Elementary.

“It is very difficult for me to narrow down the choices, because all are very worthy,” Lukas said.

Colleen Longhi, committee chairwoman, said as far as the committee was able to determine, Billingsley Road was not named after a person associated with Charles County.

Lukas said he would like the board to vote on a name for the new school at its March 14 meeting.