Overview:
Charles County Board of Education Meeting
LA PLATA, Md. — Education Association of Charles County (EACC) President Sean Heyl is calling for clearer policies and better implementation of alternative education programs to address student behavior issues. Speaking at the Feb. 11 virtual Board of Education meeting, Heyl emphasized that existing programs, such as Stethem and the Virtual Academy, are underutilized and in need of reform.
Reevaluating the Stethem Program
Heyl raised concerns about inconsistencies in processing students in and out of Stethem, a program designed for students facing disciplinary action. He stressed the need for a structured plan that defines what students should be working on during their time in the program and how they should transition back to their home schools.
“There should be a return-to-school meeting with staff to discuss the changes that will be implemented upon a student’s return,” Heyl said. “It’s essential that both staff and students understand that interventions have been established to prevent repeated behaviors.”
Another key issue is attendance enforcement. Heyl questioned whether students assigned to Stethem for 45 days but frequently absent should still be allowed to count those days toward their placement. He proposed that students be required to complete the full 45 days, even if it takes longer due to absences, to ensure they receive the intended interventions.
“Stethem should not be a timeout—it must serve its intended purpose of fostering genuine improvement,” Heyl stated. “If a student continues to display the same behaviors, their placement should be reassessed rather than allowing an automatic return.”
Expanding the Virtual Academy’s Role
Heyl also advocated for the Virtual Academy to be designated as a home school for students exhibiting severe or threatening behaviors. He argued that this could provide a controlled educational environment while preventing disruptive students from affecting traditional classroom settings.
“If the Virtual Academy meets the requirements for a free and public education, it could serve as a resource for our most disruptive students,” Heyl said. “CCPS must determine clear criteria for when these students can return to in-person learning.”
Ensuring Consistency in Discipline Enforcement
To promote consistency in disciplinary actions, Heyl suggested embedding the county’s discipline matrix into Synergy, the school system’s administrative platform. This would ensure administrators follow an established escalation process and apply disciplinary measures uniformly across schools.
He also raised questions about the 10-day suspension limit for special education students, asking for clarification on whether suspensions unrelated to a student’s disability should count toward the limit.
“These policies must be clearly defined and applied fairly,” Heyl noted. “If we don’t consistently follow our discipline matrix, we fail to maintain true standards of conduct.”
Next Steps
EACC is urging the Board of Education and CCPS leadership to take immediate action to improve these programs and ensure they function effectively. Heyl reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with district officials to develop clear, enforceable policies that prioritize student accountability and staff safety.
“We must make full use of the tools we already have,” Heyl concluded. “If these programs are to be effective, we need clarity, consistency, and commitment from leadership.”
See the full statement on CCPS Board Docs here.
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