HCPS Board Meeting Highlights
Monday, October 25, 2004
Questions regarding these Board Highlights may be directed to Don Morrison, Director of Public Information, 410-588-5203.
At the business meeting on October 25, 2004 at the Center for Educational Opportunity the following actions and discussions
took place.
Recognition
The October 2004 Harford County Public School Educator Hall of Fame nominees were officially inducted into the Hall
of Fame by the Board of Education. Inducted were Richard C. Slutzky, 31-year physical education teacher and coach
at Aberdeen High School; and Robert S. Magee, 30-year teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal and Board
of Education member/president. Mr. Slutzky compiled an unprecedented record of success as a wrestling coach, his teams
having won 20 county titles in 25 years and three state titles. Mr. Magee coined the phrase "Proud to be seen in Aberdeen"
while principal at the Aberdeen High School, 1991-1996.
Virginia M. (Ginny) Hinckley, Havre de Grace Elementary School Math Specialist, was recognized for having been named
a Maryland Math Teacher of the Year for 2004 by the Maryland Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Comments by the Board President
Robert B. Thomas, Jr. expressed his appreciation to Board Vice-President R. Robin Rich and to the Superintendent and
her staff for their efforts during the time of his surgery for cancer and recovery period recently. He said he looks
at life differently since his diagnosis on July 2 and surgery on October 8. He said the school system had shown its
"love and support" during that trying time. He also expressed his appreciation to Harford County Education Association
and Harford County of PTA's, as well as to his family, in particular his son Kevin, for their support.
Mr. Thomas said he would be leaving the meeting as he continues his recovery. Ms. Rich presided for the remainder of
the meeting.
General Public Comments
Keith Goodell, President of the Harford County Education Association, expressed his concern over issues involving workload
for teachers. He said that non-instructional tasks are taking away time in the classroom and that he fears if the
workload situation is not addressed the school system could lose many of its good teachers.
Brian Rheinhardt, ninth grade English teacher at C. Milton Wright High School, said that his increasing workload makes
it more difficult to give individual attention to his students. He mentioned that a change in the schedule at C. Milton
Wright has resulted in an increased workload for him and other teachers.
Pat Anderson, Churchville Elementary School teacher, described the duties of an elementary teacher recommending that
the Board find ways to alleviate the workload for teachers.
Gerald Martin, 27-year teacher of Foundations of Technology at C. Milton Wright High School said that the change in
his schedule has resulted in a 20% increased workload. He said that the HCPS budget had been "balanced for years"
on the poor salary of teachers.
Carol Rook voiced her concerns about the condition of Joppatowne Elementary School, requesting that the Board revise
its current schedule calling for the renovation of Joppatowne Elementary in 2007. She noted the lack of air conditioning
and poor quality of the parking lot among other deficiencies in the building, adding that the school had been told
in 2000 that it would be renovated in 2004. That schedule has been revised to 2007 for renovation.
Rhonda Shaak, 11-year music teacher at Fallston Middle School, said she teaches 268 students at all three middle school
levels and feels like a "juggler" who hopes that none of the items she is juggling fall.
Old Business
Action Items
Acting on the motion of Board Member Mark M. Wolkow and the second of Thomas L. Fidler, Jr. the Board voted unanimously
to approve items on the Consent Agenda including the Monthly Report on Personnel; the New Bus Order for 2005-06; Food
Service Bread Contract; Prepackaged Snack Cake Contract; Proposed Resolutions on American Education Week, National
Educational Support Personnel Day, National Family Week, and Impact Area Aid Assistance; and Minutes of the September
20, 2004 Board Work Session.
Acting on the motion of Mr. Wolkow and the second of Board Member Salina Pleasant-Grice the Board voted unanimously
to adopt the Harford County Public School Legislative Platform presented by Chief of Administration Jay F. May. Mr.
May explained the platform contains items that may come before the Maryland General Assembly and represents long-standing
positions the Board has held on these items.
By consensus, the Board accepted a report on Supplemental School Improvement Support for Magnolia Elementary School,
Aberdeen Middle School and Edgewood Middle School. Presented by Executive Directors of Elementary and Secondary Education,
Patricia Skebeck and David Volrath, respectively, the report provided information on efforts to assist schools identified
as "in need of improvement" by the Maryland School Assessment (MSA). Additional reports will be made on North Harford
Middle School and Aberdeen High School. Board members said the specific recommendations requiring funding will be
addressed during the budget deliberations this fall and winter.
By unanimous actions on motions made by Board members Patrick L. Hess and Mr. Wolkow, each seconded by Mr. Fidler,
the Board acted to approve the agreement of release between Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland and the Board
of Education of Harford County in the termination for default of the North Harford High School 12A Casework Contract
with Institutional Furnishings, Inc.; and the approval of a contract with Case Systems, Inc. for 12A Casework at North
Harford High School in the amount of $698,000.
New Business
Presentations
Chief Financial Officer John Markowski and Director of Finance Jay Staab presented the auditors report for the year
ending June 30, 2004. The Board was told the audit report provided a "clean opinion" of the financial operations of
the school system during the 2003-2004 school year (FY 2004).
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Joseph Licata presented the Board with the Enrollment Report for 2004-05. The
report showed that the actual enrollment count, recorded on September 30, 2004, reflected an increase of 116 students
compared to the same date in 2003. Mr. Licata said elementary enrollment was up by 63 students, middle school enrollment
was down by 251 students and high school enrollment was up by 301 students. He also said that because of the phase-in
of the month for kindergarten enrollment (from December 31 - September 1 over a four year period) that group of students
has 1/12 less enrollment or about 250 students. Mr. Licata said the enrollments and capacities of individual schools
will be used during the balancing enrollment process to be initiated next month.
The Board received a report on memorials on school grounds for former students killed in action. The report presented
by Director of Public Information Don Morrison and Mr. May provided information on a proposal to site a memorial on
the grounds of the new school system administration center off Courtland Street in Bel Air. Mr. Morrison introduced
retired Army Maj. General Joseph H. Brooks and Retired Navy Lt. Edward T. Kreiner, Sr., who along with Retired Army
Col. Walter R. (Wally) Mueller, had met with him and Mr. May on October 7 to discuss issues surrounding such a memorial.
Mr. Morrison explained that Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas had received a petition with over 1500 signatures suggesting
that the Fallston High School football field be r enamed for a marine corporal who had been killed in action in June.
He said the Superintendent was seeking the guidance of The Harford County Veterans Commission on appropriate ways
to memorialize the ultimate sacrifice of these servicemen. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Kreiner said they believe a central
memorial would be more appropriate and practical than memorials at individual schools. Mr. Morrison said the proposal
is pending legal and site reviews of the appropriateness of locating a memorial on the Central Office grounds.
Superintendent's Report
In her report to the Board Mrs. Haas mentioned the reauthorization of Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
She said the House and Senate had passed their own version of the bill and urged those interested to send a message
to the federal government with the process. She also mentioned that in coming meetings the "Title Programs" would
be reviewed with the Board. She added that the Harford County Public Schools is getting less Title I money (funds
allocated to students who live in poverty) despite the fact the state is receiving more Title I money. Mrs. Haas told
that the Maryland State Department of Education had released the list of school systems in need of improvement. She
said that 15 school systems had met all of their targets while nine were listed as in need of improvement. Mrs. Haas
said she was delighted to report that Harford County Public Schools is among the 15 meeting all targets. She added
that Maryland was among the states not meeting all targets and that the annual measurable objectives (AMO) will be
ratcheted up in each of the next years leading up to the 2013-14 "No Child Left Behind" mandate.
Board Comments
Ms. Rich thanked the teachers for the feedback that had been supplied to the Board on the proposed changes to the eligibility
rules now before the Board for consideration.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
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