Washington County Public Schools meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Board to pick name for new Downsville Pike Elementary School, review AI policy

The Washington County Board of Education will vote on a name for the new Downsville Pike Elementary School and take a first reading of a policy on artificial intelligence when it meets Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Board Auditorium, 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown. The meeting is the board's most consequential public session this week, with several action items on the agenda.

School name

The board will choose from four options for the new elementary school: Downsville Pike, Crossroads, Limestone Springs, or Grafton Downs. The vote will be taken during the business meeting.

Policy on AI and attendance areas

The board will take a first reading of Policy ACB on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence. A first reading is a preliminary step; the board does not adopt a policy until a later vote.

The board will also take a first reading of changes to Policy JCA on school attendance areas. No details of the proposed changes are listed in the agenda.

Right-of-way agreement

The board will consider a right-of-way agreement with Potomac Edison for the Milestone Communications Tower on the Smithsburg Campus. The agreement would grant the utility a right-of-way, but the agenda does not specify any financial terms.

Budget calendar

The board will approve the FY2028 General Fund Operating Budget Calendar. The calendar sets the timeline for developing the district's operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027.

Other business

The meeting also includes public comment, consent agenda approvals, and reports. The board held a closed session at 3 p.m. the same day to approve its agenda; no other items were listed in the public notice.

Prior meetings

On Aug. 11, the Policy Review and Development Committee met at 10 a.m. at the Center for Education Services. The agenda listed only a call to order, approval of the agenda, and information/discussion items. Minutes have not been published.

Coming up

The Finance Committee will meet Sept. 1 at noon. The only listed item is approval of the agenda for the May 12, 2026 meeting. No substantive items, such as contracts or budget discussions, are included in the agenda.

All meetings are open to the public unless noted. Agendas and minutes are available on the district's website.

School board reviews virtual learning, college readiness; no formal decisions this week

Washington County Public Schools held no formal votes or decisions in the past week, but the Board of Education reviewed two education topics during an Aug. 4 work session. The board discussed the Virtual Education Plan and 2025-2026 College and Career Readiness indicators, receiving presentations from district staff. No action was taken.

Work session on virtual learning and college readiness

The Board of Education met Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. in the Board Auditorium, 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, for a work session. Superintendent Gary Willow and Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Proulx presented an update on the Virtual Education Plan. Superintendent Willow and academic chiefs also presented the 2025-2026 College and Career Readiness update. The board approved the agenda for the session but took no formal action on the topics discussed. The session was informational, intended to inform future decisions.

Committee meetings

Three other meetings occurred in the past two weeks, all with no substantive public business.

• The Facilities Committee met July 28 at 1 p.m. The agenda contained only a call to order and approval of the agenda, with no items listed for discussion or decision.
• The Finance Committee met July 30 at 8:30 a.m. No substantive agenda was released, and no decisions or discussions have been published.
• The Board of Education held a closed session Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. The provided agenda listed only procedural items for the meeting opening.

Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings.

Coming up

The Policy Review and Development Committee will meet Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Center for Education Services. The agenda is forthcoming, with items listed as call to order, approval of the agenda, and information and discussion items. The meeting is open to the public unless otherwise noted.

Washington County school board eyed school renaming, design approval, and donations at July 21 meeting; minutes not yet public

The Washington County Board of Education's July 21 business meeting carried the most substantive agenda of the past two weeks, with items scheduled including a proposed school renaming, design documents for an elementary school addition, policy second readings, and two donations. However, minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes cannot be confirmed from the available record.

July 21 Business Meeting — Items Scheduled for Consideration

The board was set to vote on several items, according to the published agenda:

• **Proposed renaming** of Salem Avenue Elementary School to Thomas J. Garner Elementary School.
• **Approval of schematic design documents** for an addition to Jonathan Hager Elementary School.
• **Second reading of proposed changes** to Board of Education Ethics Regulations (BBFE-R).
• **Second reading of proposed changes** to the Epinephrine and Bronchodilator availability policy (JHCF).
• **Donations**: $15,154.43 to Boonsboro High School and a $10,000 wrestling mat to Clear Spring High School.

Because minutes are not yet available, this roundup cannot report whether each item was approved, tabled, or amended. Readers should check the official Washington County Public Schools website for posted minutes to confirm what was decided.

July 21 Committee and Closed Sessions

The Policy Review and Development Committee met at 2:45 p.m. on July 21 at the Center for Education Services, Board Conference Room. The only listed item was a call to order and approval of the agenda, with no substantive policy reviews scheduled.

A closed session was also held at 3:00 p.m. the same day. The provided agenda was procedural, listing only approval of the meeting agenda.

July 28 and July 30 Committee Meetings

The Facilities Committee met July 28 at 1:00 p.m. The agenda contained only a call to order and approval of the agenda, with no substantive items listed.

The Finance Committee met July 30 at 8:30 a.m. The agenda was listed as forthcoming, and no decisions or discussions were published.

Coming Up

• **August 4, 1:00 p.m. — Work Session**: The board will receive presentations on the Virtual Education Plan from Superintendent Gary Willow and COO Jeffrey Proulx, and a 2025-2026 College and Career Readiness update from Superintendent Willow and academic chiefs. No formal action is scheduled. Location: Board Auditorium, 10435 Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, MD.
• **August 4, 2:00 p.m. — Closed Session**: Procedural agenda only.
• **August 11, 10:00 a.m. — Policy Review and Development Committee**: Meets at the Center for Education Services. Agenda is forthcoming.

All recent meeting summaries are based on published agendas only. Minutes have not been posted for the July 21, 28, or 30 meetings as of this report.