HCPS Board Meeting Highlights

Monday, July 12, 2004

At the business meeting held on July 12, 2004 at Bel Air Middle School the following actions and discussions took place.

Robert B. Thomas, Jr. presented an acceptance address and outlined his goals for the upcoming year as President of the Board of Education.

Board member Mark M. Wolkow nominated and Thomas L. Fidler, Jr. seconded that R. Robin Rich be elected as Board Vice-President for the 2004-05 school year. The Board voted unanimously to approve the motion.

Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas provided the oath of office for 2004-05 Student Representative to the Board Kathryn L. Smith. Miss Smith said she will work diligently with Board members and is looking forward to a productive year.

Mr. Thomas requested a moment of silence in memory of Patrick Adle the Fallston High School graduate who was killed in action.

Robert S. Magee moved and Mr. Fidler seconded that the agenda be amended eliminating Item C - Approval of Appointments and Promotions. The motion was unanimously approved. Ms. Rich moved and Mr. Wolkow seconded that the amended agenda be approved and the Board voted unanimously to endorse the motion.

General Public Comments

Keith Goodell, recently elected President of the Harford County Education Association (HCEA), commented that during his tenure he would address increased workload and salaries of teachers, address the need for a collaborative approach to education and asked for reaffirmation of the commitment to teachers. He is hoping for a productive relationship between HCEA and the Board of Education.

Old Business

Action Items

Mr. Wolkow moved and Ms. Rich seconded items on the Consent Agenda including Affirmation of Monthly Contract Awards, Monthly Report on Personnel, and Approval of the Special Education Staffing Report be approved. The Board voted unanimously to endorse the motion.

New Business

New Business from Board Members

Mr. Magee moved that the staff provide an action plan detailing efforts to be made to lift the two middle schools recently identified as not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the 2004 administration of the Maryland School Assessments (MSA). Mr. Magee directed that the Board be provided a briefing on those efforts at its August 9 meeting. Ms. Rich seconded the motion and the Board voted unanimously to endorse the motion.

Presentations

Nancy Spence, Coordinator of Partnerships for Student Achievement, presented the Board with a proposed policy on Solicitations and Acceptance of Funds and Other Resources. The policy outlines circumstances under which resources - monetary and non-monetary - could be accepted by schools and the school system. Suggestions were made to modify the proposed policy including the role of principal and changing the responsible officer from the Chief Administrative Officer to the Superintendent or his/her designee. Board Counsel Patrick Spicer will work with Ms. Spence in modifying the policy.

Mr. Spicer presented the Board with an update on Board policy review and development. Vice-President Rich reiterated her proposal that the current Board Policy Review Committee be eliminated and replaced by the combined effort of the Superintendent and his/her staff who would be responsible for policy development and review. The proposal is due to be renewed at the August 9 Board meeting.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Gerald Scarborough provided the Board with an update on the 2004-05 school system Master Plan. The document will be sent to the Maryland State Department of Education on August 16. The Board was due to receive a draft of the Master Plan for review in late July.

Discussion

Supervisor of Planning and Construction Kathy Sanner presented the Board with materials supporting the capital improvements program for FY2006 through FY 2011. The packet included the approved FY05 capital budget and the capital improvement program from the county government as well as a summary of the FY06 request. Mrs. Sanner said the budget figures for the Patterson Mill School would be revised in August based on the new state formula. Mrs. Sanner told the Board that the current 65/35 percent split, county and state respectively, for capital projects will be changed to 58/42 respectively.

Board Comments

Vice President Rich and Board members Wolkow and Pleasant-Grice along with Board President Thomas made comments. Ms. Rich said she is looking forward to working with Mr. Thomas and the Board this year. Mr. Wolkow also stated that he is looking forward to working with Mr. Thomas this year. Ms. Pleasant-Grice commented that we need to consult with Harford County on receiving more money for the school system. Mr. Thomas commented on a recent published editorial in the local newspaper concerning the school system capital improvement program. He asserted that the Board has identified capital improvement needs for more than a decade, but the Board has no funding authority and funding authorities need to find another way of doing business and providing appropriate support for school capital projects.

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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