About the Board of Education

Board of Education Meeting Information

Regular meetings of the Board of Education are normally held on the second and fourth Monday of each month (except July and August) at 6:00 p.m. Special meetings may also be held throughout the year. All meetings are announced in advance in the newspapers or the HCPS web site and in other print/electronic media including the Harford Cable Network. Meetings are open to the public unless otherwise announced.

If you wish to appear before the board, please complete a public comment form located at the entrance of the Board room. Comment cards must be completed and placed in the comment box prior to the start of the Board meeting. Cards will be collected and called in the order received. Those who wish to speak after the Board meeting has started, may submit their comments in writing to the Board President at 102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014. Please note the following time restrictions for public comments. Three minutes - Individual. Five minutes - Group Representation.

To request disability-related reasonable accommodations, please call 410-838-7300 voice, 7-1-1 TTY or e-mail Jillian.Lader@hcps.org at least three days prior to the meeting/event.

•  Board Meeting Schedule
•  Board Meetings Video Archive
•  In the Know

Request to Participate in Public Comment

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Instructions for Public Comment

The Board Seeks Public Input on Policies

Throughout the year, the Board will seek views and comments from the public on a number of issues.
 
View all Proposed Board Policies for Public Comment

Board of Education Master Plan

• 
  No Child Left Behind
• Race to the Top
• View the HCPS Master Plan

Citizen Advisory Committees

Audit Committee

Charge

Office of Internal Audit

The Office of Internal Audit is responsible for assisting the Board of Education of Harford County and Harford County Public Schools by providing objective reviews of operations to confirm efficient and effective use of resources, improve internal controls, and strengthen Harford County Public Schools operations. The main objective is to add transparency and accountability of HCPS, its leaders and employees. The Board of Education of Harford County has established the Office of Internal Audit through the Office of Internal Audit's Board Policy  . Additionally, the Board approved the Office of Internal Audit Charter to define the internal audit activity's purpose, authority, and responsibility.

In July 2019, the Chief Auditor requested its first ever peer review and received the highest rating possible. The review included scrutiny of our internal quality control system to ensure that it is adequately designed and operating effectively. This provides reasonable assurance of compliance with Government Auditing Standards and the organization's established policies and procedures.

Peer Review Report

2022 ALGA Peer Review
2019 ALGA Peer Review

Annual Audit Plan

Each year, the Office of Internal Audit submits its risk based annual audit plan to the Board of Education of Harford County for its approval. The Audit Plan communicates the internal audit activity's plans for the year. All significant changes will be communicated to the Board of Education and senior management.

FY2026 Audit Plan  

FY2025 Annual Update  

FY2025 Audit Plan  

FY2024 Annual Update  

FY2024 Audit Plan  

FY2023 Annual Update  

FY2023 Audit Plan  

FY2022 Annual Update  

FY2022 Audit Plan  

FY2021 Annual Update  

FY2021 Audit Plan  

FY2020 Annual Update  

FY2020 Audit Plan  

FY2019 Annual Update  

FY2019 Audit Plan  

FY2018 Annual Update  

FY2018 Audit Plan  

FY2017 Annual Update  

FY2017 Audit Plan  

Audit Committee

Organizationally the Office of Internal Audit reports to the Board of Education of Harford County. The Audit Committee is a group of citizens and Board Members who provide additional guidance to the Office of Internal Audit. The Audit Committee serves to promote, maintain, and enhance the independence and objectivity of the internal audit function by ensuring broad audit coverage, adequate consideration of audit reports, and appropriate action on recommendations.

Staff

Chief Auditor
Laura J. Tucholski, CPA, CIA, CFE, CRMA
410-588-5297
Email: laura.tucholski@hcps.org

Internal Auditor
Helen Grant
410-809-6078
Email: helen.grant@hcps.org

FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE

The Board of Education of Harford County encourages any concerned individual to report financial fraud, waste, abuse; violations of Board of Education Policy and HCPS procedures; or any instance where the health or safety of an employee or student has been jeopardized.

Financial fraud consists of ways by which HCPS employees or vendors use their employment status or vendor relationship to take funds for themselves or others at the expense of HCPS. Financial waste or abuse of financial resources includes ways that HCPS employees or vendors improperly, carelessly, or excessively spend, consume, mismanage, or misuse HCPS resources. Waste also includes spending unnecessarily as a result of inefficient or ineffective practices. Board of Education Policy and HCPS procedures are available on hcps.org.

Please note all reports come directly to the Chief Auditor and are kept confidential. Callers are encouraged to provide as much detail as possible and have the option to provide contact information or remain anonymous.

Call: Fraud Hotline 410-809-6056

OR

Fraud, Waste or Abuse Reporting Form  

Please email the completed form to the Chief Auditor, Laura.Tucholski@hcps.org

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL FRAUD REPORTING HOTLINE

The OIG Hotline is available for anyone who knows of or suspects fraud, waste, abuse, mismanagement, or violations of laws and regulations involving U.S. Department of Education funds or programs. This includes allegations of suspected wrongdoing by Department employees, contractors, grantees, schools and school officials, persons in positions of trust involving Department funds or programs, collection agencies, recipients of student financial assistance, or lending institutions. OIG hotline: https://oig.ed.gov/oig-hotline