HCPS Board Meeting Highlights
Monday, March 22, 2004
At the business meeting held on Monday, March 22, 2004 at the Bel Air Middle School the following actions and discussions took place.
Recognition
The Board of Education of Harford County added two members to the Harford County Public Schools Educator Hall of Fame. Added were Dr. A. A. Roberty, former Superintendent of the Harford County Public Schools; Ms. Sueann J. West, retired guidance counselor in the Harford County Public Schools. In addition, the Board recognized Fallston Middle School eighth grader Leah T. Grothe for her State of Maryland International Reading Council writing contest first place in the middle school division. The Board also recognized state champion student athletes and teams. Recognized were Barsheid Bowman, C. Milton Wright junior who won the MPSSAA State 4A/3A 800 meter championship in indoor track; Joppatowne High School junior Jeremy Navarre, State Class 2A/1A wrestling champion at 275 lbs; an Harford Technical High School senior Mike Taylor who won the State Class 2A/1A wrestling championship at 130 lbs. Also, the Board recognized the C. Milton Wright High School winter varsity cheerleading team which won the MPSSAA Region Championship in that sport (there is no state championship competition in cheerleading). The Board also recognized region student athlete and team champions.
General Public Comments
McKenzie Bowen Hull, eighth grader at Fallston Middle School, representing the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils urged the Board to add middle schools to its cell phone use policy.
Action Items
Consent Agenda - The Board voted unanimously to approve items on the Consent Agenda including the Monthly Report on Personnel; Affirmation of Student Appeal Hearing Decisions; Minutes of the February 10 and February 23 Board business meetings; Proposed Resolution on the Week of the Young Child; Contract for Auditing Services; and Contract for Air Conditioning Services.
The Board approved positions on three bills pending before the General Assembly in Annapolis. The Board voted unanimously to oppose HB655 - Education Public Schools Promotion of Students; HB766 - Education Public Schools Age Appropriate Curriculum and Instruction; HB1288 - Education Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Program.
The Board voted unanimously (student representative Michael Morey cast a dissenting preferential vote) to approve the proposed policy on Alcohol Detection Device and Handheld Metal Detectors. The Superintendent Jacqueline Haas said that signs would be erected at schools providing information to students and the public concerning the new policies.
The Board voted unanimously to approve a bid award of $297,175 to Cole Roofing Company to replace the roof at Roye-Williams Elementary School.
The Board voted unanimously to seek transfer of $100,000 from the current expense fund balance to the Aberdeen Science and Math Academy project to complete the necessary $435,193.45 to supplement funding received from federal grants, state and local funding for the interior fit-out of the third floor addition to Aberdeen High School.
The Board voted unanimously to approve the award of contracts for general trades, site work and steel packages using non-prevailing base bid proposals and alternates totaling $12,637,800 for the North Harford High School modernization project.
Presentations
The Board received a presentation of its Ad Hoc 2005-06 Calendar Committee concerning the schedule for the 2005-06 school year. Rhonda Shaak addressed the Board requesting that they provide a full day school closing on December 23, 2005. The proposal calls for schools to open on August 29, 2005 and reach its 180th day on June 9, 2006. A feature of the calendar is a four day spring break rather than the three day spring break which has been traditional in recent years. The proposed calendar is to be voted upon by the Board at its April 26, 2004 meeting and can be reviewed on the Harford County Public School web site under "seeking public comment."
The Board received a presentation on proposed changes to the Family Life curriculum in the middle schools. That proposal can be viewed on the Harford County Public School web site under "seeking public comment" and will be voted upon at the April 26, 2004 meeting.
The Board received a presentation of a proposed change to the student dress code policy. The proposal can be viewed on the Harford County Public School web site under "seeking public comment" and will be voted upon at the April 26, 2004 meeting.
Superintendent's Report
Superintendent Haas presented the Board with updates on the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance discussion; the conclusion of the Maryland School Assessment Testing for 2004; and the current proposal from the Maryland State Department of Education on the High School Assessment/Diploma linkage.
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