HCPS Board Meeting Highlights

Monday, February 23, 2004

At the business meeting held on Monday, February 23, 2004 at the Bel Air Middle School the following actions and discussions took place.

Recognitions

The Board of Education officially inducted two new members into the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame - June W. Atkin, 33 year English teacher at North Harford High School; and Leslie G. Lawson, 33 year teacher/administrator, the last 22 as a life science teacher at North Harford Middle School.

General Public Comments

Five citizens presented comments to the Board about the HCPS special education program.

Action Items

Consent Agenda - The Board unanimously approved items on the Consent Agenda including the Monthly Report on Personnel for January; Minutes of the January 6 and January 12, 2004 Board Work Sessions; Proposed Resolutions on National Music in our Schools and Youth Art Month and Maryland Women's History Month and International Women's Day; Approval of Disposition of Property, Edgewood Elementary School Site.

Approval of Award of Contract for Buses - The Board voted unanimously to award a contract to J. Price International for the purchase of nine special needs school buses and two transit buses.

Legislative Update/Action - The Board voted unanimously to take positions on a number of bills pending before the General Assembly in Annapolis (see HCPS web site for complete updated list).

Transporting Proposal for Magnet School and Programs - The Board voted unanimously to support Option 2, a series of consolidated stops for all present and future countywide magnet programs (see HCPS web site for description of Option 2).

Appointment of 2005-06 Calendar Committee Members - The Board voted unanimously to appoint 19 members to the 2005-06 Calendar Committee which will propose a schedule for the 2005-06 school year to be presented to the Board on April 12, 2004 meeting with action expected at the May 10, 2004 meeting.

Approval of Official Intent Resolution - The Board of Education voted unanimously to adopt the Official Intent Resolution which assures the Internal Revenue Service that any payments made by the Board of Education in advance of the lease/purchase financing for the Central Office Administration building would be reimbursed from financing.

FY2004 Capital Budget Transfer Request - The Board voted unanimously to approve a proposed transfer by the Harford County Executive and County Council of $30,562.40 from five completed projects to help fund expenses involved with the construction of the Aberdeen Science/Math Academy.

Discussion

Parameters for the 2005-06 Calendar Committee - The Board provided a series of parameters to guide the deliberations of the 2005-06 Calendar Committee.

Presentations

Alcohol Detection Device Policy/Handheld Metal Detector Policy - The Board received a presentation on the proposed use alcohol detection devices and the use of handheld metal detectors by school/law enforcement officials. The proposal will be reviewed by the Policy Review Committee which will present a proposed policy on those devices to the Board.

Quarterly Financial Report/Period Ending December 31, 2003 - The Board received a report on the status of the school system operating food service and capital outlay budgets through December 31, 2003.

Superintendent's Report

The Board received information on the activities of the Elementary Scheduling Committee and directed that five teachers be added to the committee which will complete its work and make a final report to the Board. The Board also received a report on the progress of the Science and Mathematics Academy at Aberdeen High School, including information that 50 students will be selected as members of the inaugural ninth grade class due to begin at the outset of the 2004-05 school year. The Board also was told that faculty members have begun to be identified for the Academy and that the curriculum for the ninth grade classes will be completed prior to the beginning of classes.

Meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.

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This document contains a summary of issues that came before the Board of Education of Harford County and actions taken by the Board at the public business meeting at the meeting date referenced on the document. These are not official Board-approved minutes. Board minutes are not posted on the HCPS web site because of the time lapse that occurs between the meeting, their preparation, and ultimate approval by the Board.
For copies of approved Board minutes, please e-mail Lynn.Hutchinson@hcps.org