Chestertown, Maryland

It's worth a trip to the Kent County Commissioners office to see the beautiful orchid plant on the desk of Kathy Wirtz!

Did you know there is 100% funding available to replace failing septic systems in the critical areas of Kent County? So says Kent County Health Department representative John Beskid! Kent County has some 1800 systems in the critical areas and one half of these systems belong to people who use these as second homes. As of April 2010 Kent County has paid for the installation of 76 new units.

From the Minutes of the March 10, 2010 Kent County Commissioners Meeting:
Education Facts – Statistics for County Enrollments under 10,000 Students- Dr. Michael Harvey, Chairman, Board of Education, made a power point presentation regarding the Nimble 9, which is his descriptive term for the nine counties in the state with enrollments of less than 10,000 students (Allegany, Garrett, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Talbot, Dorchester, Somerset, and Worcester). Of the Nimble 9, Kent County has the smallest enrollment with only 2,200 students. Dr. Harvey presented data as released in the 2009 MD Report Card and the latest edition of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) The Fact Book. Dr. Harvey compared Maryland State Assessment (MSA) scores for Kent County, with those of other counties in the Nimble 9, for 5-8th grades, in the subjects of math, reading and science. Dr. Harvey informed that based on MSA scores for 2003-2009, it appears that Kent County is on an upward trend; however, he feels that the Kent County School system has many opportunities for improvement. Dr. Harvey addressed the Middle School Gap, and informed that Kent County has the highest drop off rate in the Nimble 9 from Middle School to High School at 15.1%. He informed that there has been a 3% overall decline in Maryland school enrollment, and a 13.5% decline in Kent County enrollment. He opined this could be attributable to fewer families moving into Kent County with young children, and parents choosing alternate education options for their children. Dr. Harvey informed that Kent County’s three middle schools have the smallest student populations in the Nimble 9 (Rock Hall, Chestertown, and Galena). He stated that if the Middle Schools are consolidated as proposed, the Kent County middle population would be approximately 472 students, which is close to the average middle school size. Dr. Harvey reviewed the High School Assessment Scores for Kent County and encouraged the students to bring the scores up to first place across the board.

In response to a question raised by a student in attendance, Dr. Wheeler stated that class sizes at Rock Hall Middle School are now 13-14 students or less. The school system is no longer able to afford to staff the very small class sizes. She added that if nothing is done to address this situation, the educational opportunities for the students will be compromised. She stated that the school system would like to provide Kent County students with an education that will allow them to compete globally in the job market.

Information Technology (IT)- Scott Boone, Director, appeared and informed the students of the substantial wireless network that has been developed in Kent County and which will allow greater opportunities for the students. Commissioner Crow commended Jim Corns, IT Director, Kent County Public Schools, for working with Mr. Boone to develop the network for the school system and the county. Mr. Boone noted that the network runs from the High School to the Community Center, then to the R. Clayton Mitchell County Office Building.