Washington County Public Schools

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), in partnership with the Education Foundation of WCPS, has named Norma Kelley the 2024 Educational Support Personnel of the Year. Kelley is a bus driver who currently serves students from Rockland Woods Elementary School, Eastern Elementary School, South Hagerstown High School, and Ruth Ann Monroe Primary School. She's been making a difference for WCPS students for 11 years.

The Washington County Board of Education (WCBOE) will be hosting a public hearing on its Draft FY 2025 Budget on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Center for Education Services located 10435 Downsville Pike in Hagerstown. The hearing will provide community members with the opportunity to provide feedback and input on the draft budget.

The WCBOE's draft budget was initially developed by Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Sovine to address the FY 2025 budget priorities adopted by the Board on September 19, 2023. The priorities are:

On February 20, 2024, the Washington County Board of Education (“Board”) approved the first reading of proposed changes to:

• Policy EFGH – “Surveillance Cameras”
• Policy BCBB – “Officers of the Board of Education”
• Policy FEB – “Professional Architectural and Engineering Services”

The Board of Education also approved the first reading to rescind Policy BDDK, “Reporting Board of Education Meeting Business,” on February 20, 2024.

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) Superintendent Dr. David Sovine presented a revised FY25 recommended budget to the Board of Education during a public work session on February 5, 2024, and to the Board of County Commissioners on February 6, 2024. Sovine had to revise the draft budget after learning WCPS is expected to receive approximately $3 million less from the State in the coming year than was anticipated before Governor Wes Moore released his budget three weeks ago.

Washington County Public Schools is seeking feedback from the community regarding StudySync by McGraw Hill. The High School ELA Teacher Selection Committee has recommended purchasing StudySync to be the primary resource for English Language Arts (ELA) instruction for students in grades nine through 12.  An information night on StudySync is being held from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Washington County Public Schools is seeking feedback from the community regarding Amplify ELA (6-8). The Middle School ELA Teacher Selection Committee has recommended purchasing Amplify ELA (6-8) to be the primary resource for English Language Arts (ELA) instruction for students in grades six through eight.  An information night on Amplify ELA (6-8) is being held from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

To our WCPS learning community:

I need to inform you about a concerning incident that happened in one of our schools today. I am sharing this with our greater school community in the interest of providing accurate information and with the hope of preventing a similar incident in the future. 

Washington County Public Schools (WCPS) Superintendent Dr. David Sovine presented his FY25 Draft Budget to the Board of Education during a public work session on January 16, 2024. He stated the strictly needs-based proposal was developed following a line-by-line review of the current budget, which was undertaken to help ensure that each dollar spent is having the greatest impact on students. 

Williamsport High School Spanish Teacher Dr. Aitza Haddad Núñez is poised to make an impact across Maryland after being appointed to two important positions by Governor Wes Moore. Dr. Haddad, who is in her first year teaching in Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), was recently appointed to serve on the Washington County Trial Court Judicial Nominating Commission. Last month, she was appointed to serve as a member of the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic Affairs.