Notice of Public Participation BOE Business Meeting September 23, 2024
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2024
BUSINESS MEETING: 6:00 PM – ADJOURNMENT
This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid fashion and public attendance will be permitted as explained below:
DOORS WILL OPEN AT 5:55 PM AND THE MEETING WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 PM
The Board of Education of Harford County will hold a hybrid Business Meeting on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 6:00 PM in the Board Room of the A.A. Roberty Building with Board Members, staff, and presenters in attendance both virtually and in-person. Seats will be available on a first come-first served basis. The meeting will be streamed live and archived for later viewing on the HCPS Website.
Public Comment Participation Call-In and In-Person Process
Individuals or groups recognized by Harford County Public Schools (i.e. – PTAs, unions, and other school system stakeholders) wishing to speak on an agenda item or to comment on an education-related matter not on the agenda may request to do so by sending an email to publiccomment@hcps.org or calling 410-588-5347.
Call-In Registrations must be received by 12:00 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024. All fields on the registration form must be completed.
- First and Last name / if speaker is a Group Representative, then please state the name of the Group
- Local Address
- Email Address
- Phone Number
- Agenda item or subject your Public Comment pertains to
- Will you provide in-person or virtual Public Comment
- Registration forms are limited to one (1) per person
*Failure to provide complete information as required above will void the request to provide Public Comment.
- Registered virtual speakers will receive an email from HCPS with a Call-in Phone # and a Conference ID #.
- Registered speakers are required to call-in and enter the conference ID# at 6:00 PM on Monday, September 23, 2024.
- Important: If you are unable to take your phone off mute, you may need to dial *6.
- If you are admitted from the virtual lobby to the meeting, you will be greeted by an HCPS staff member when it is time to begin your public comment. Expected hold time in the virtual lobby may vary based on number of registered speakers. The maximum wait time in the lobby is 30 minutes; should you be disconnected please call back.
- "Request to Appear Before the Board" cards will be available for in-person attendees prior to the Board Meeting for sign-up and must be submitted prior to the opening of the meeting.
The Board has authorized public comment in accord with its policy Public Participation at Board Open Meetings or Public Hearings and as summarized below:
- Each speaker shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes for individuals and five (5) minutes for individuals representing groups. Speakers must state his or her name, and, if representing a group, must identify the group he or she represents. If a speaker identifies themselves as a representative of a group, then only one (1) representative from the group may provide comment for the identified group.
- The Board presiding officer may reduce the amount of time allocated to each speaker if allocating 3 minutes to each speaker will impede the Board’s ability to complete scheduled business.
- Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals, specific student disciplinary matters or which constitute commercial solicitations are not permitted.
- Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools, personnel, any person, or group are not permitted. Speakers who engage in these comments will be reminded of the rules and the Board reserves the right to remove the speaker. In addition, public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to address the Board of Education. Please direct your comments to the Board and not to other members of the public in the audience.
- All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
Speakers are reminded that public comments are considered public information and,
as such, are subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.
9/18/2024 1:15 PM
Bag Requirements for HCPS Sporting Events
The following message will be sent Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. to all contacts via phone, email, text, and app push notification:
Thank you to our spectators for not bringing bags to athletic events this past weekend. This gave staff time to prepare for long-term solutions to bags in athletic events.
To enhance safety and security, moving forward, all fans attending any HCPS spectator event on high school and middle school campuses must adhere to specific bag requirements. All bags and purses that do not meet the requirements will not be permitted into stadiums and gymnasiums. Individuals will be denied entry for non-compliance.
Please see attached for details. This information is also posted on the Athletics page on hcps.org and on social media pages.
9/17/2024 5:30 PM
Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights
The following message will be sent to all families with 8th grade students via email, phone call and text message at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, 2024:
Harford County Public Schools invites you to attend one of our Magnet and Technical Programs Information Nights. These meetings are scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 throughout September and October. Each presentation is identical, you do not need to attend multiple events.
The dates and locations of the information nights are:
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Aberdeen High School
- Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at Harford Technical High School
- Monday, September 30, 2024, at Joppatowne High School
- Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at Havre de Grace High School
- Monday, October 7, 2024, at North Harford High School
- Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Edgewood High School
The programs being discussed include:
- Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School
- Harford Technical High School
- Information Technology Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School
- Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School
- Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School
- Natural Resources and Agricultural Science Magnet Program (NRAS), North Harford High School
- Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School
- Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), Edgewood High and North Harford High Schools
For more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs, click here.
8/27/2024 5:00 PM
Harford Glen Open Houses
The following communication will be sent to parents of all 5th grade students on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, and text message.
Your student will take part in an amazing opportunity at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center. The Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program is an overnight program and part of your student’s Environmental Stewardship unit. The hands-on learning opportunities at Harford Glen cannot be replicated in the classroom.
Staff at Harford Glen will host eight Open Houses for you to bring your student, learn about the program and visit the facility.
Each Open House is approximately 30 minutes and self-guided, allowing you to explore the grounds and facilities on your own. Harford Glen staff will be on hand to answer any questions.
Open House dates:
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
If Harford County Public Schools closes schools on any of the above dates, the Open House that day will be canceled.
For more information about the Harford Glen programs, click here.
8/20/2024 5:00 PM
Portable Communication Device Policy
The following message will be sent to all contacts via email, phone call, text message, and app push alert at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024:
In March, the Board of Education of Harford County, updated the “Portable Communication Device” Board policy. The policy is also in the Parent/Student Handbook that you receive and acknowledge at the beginning of each school year. A FAQ has also been created to help parents and guardians understand the updated policy. Tune in to the latest Real Talk on the policy changes with Mary Beth Stapleton, Manager of Family and Community Partnerships, and Mike O’Brien, Executive Director of Secondary School Instruction and Performance.
Please note, the policy applies to Portable Communication Devices, Personal Listening Devices, and Wearable Communication Devices. Definitions for each are included in the full policy.
In Elementary School:
-
The device must remain in the student’s backpack and deactivated, unless authorized to do so due to their IEP, 504 Plan, or Nursing Plan.
In Middle School:
In High School:
*Students in both middle and high school may wear a portable communication device, or smartwatch, but it must be deactivated. In elementary school, wearable devices are only to be worn before and after school, unless specified in an IEP, 504 plan, or Nursing plan.
This policy was updated by the Board and reflects the concept, “Smart Students, not Smart Devices!” Following the Board’s decision, HCPS staff identified and reviewed resources that note, “it has been proven that students who are on PCD’s, PLD’s, or WCD’s when it is not part of the instructional lesson are not fully engaged in learning,” a concept from Jonathan Haidt’s book, titled, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.”
Harford County Public Schools is asking for parent and guardian support as we navigate the changes in the policy. Please ensure your student is prepared and aware of the changes.
Those interested in reviewing HCPS presentations, public comments, and Board discussions on the policy changes, may do so in the Board meeting archives on hcps.org. Meetings were held on January 22, 2024, and March 18, 2024.
8/20/2024 5:00 PM
Dr. Bulson Named 2024 Influential Marylanders by The Daily Record
The Daily Record has named Dr. Sean Bulson, Superintendent of Harford County Public Schools to its 2024 listing of Influential Marylanders!
Dr. Bulson is joined by fifty-six Influential Marylanders who were selected by the editors of The Daily Record for their significant contributions to their respective fields and for their leadership in Maryland in the following areas: civic leadership, communications, education, finance, freestyle, general business, health care, law, philanthropy, real estate and technology.
The education category includes:
Dr. Sean W. Bulson, Harford County Public Schools
Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg, Towson University
***Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, Community College of Baltimore County
Dr. Darryll Pines, University of Maryland, College Park
Dr. Carey M. Wright, Maryland Department of Education
***Circle of Influence Honoree
The Daily Record launched Influential Marylanders in 2007 to recognize those who have made significant impacts in their field and continue to be leaders in Maryland.
“The 2024 Influential Marylanders are accomplished leaders who demonstrate vision and innovation. What they focus their attention on really matters; what they say is important; and what they do makes a difference for many of us in Maryland and beyond,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “Influential Marylanders are mentors to other leaders, and they challenge us to realize and attain our own hopes and dreams. We are honored to recognize their many accomplishments.”
Influential Marylanders will be honored at a celebration Sept. 18 starting at 4:30 p.m. at The Grand Lodge, 304 International Circle in Cockeysville.
Winners will be profiled in a special magazine that will be inserted into the Sept. 19 issue of The Daily Record and will be available online at TheDailyRecord.com.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bulson on this honor!
7/16/2024 2:40 PM
A Message from Board President Poynton regarding 2024-2025 HCPS Budget
The following message will be sent from Board President Poynton via email and app push notification to all contacts at 12:30 p.m. Friday, June 14, 2024:
Please take a moment to listen to this brief update on the 2024-2025 HCPS Operating and Capital budgets. I’ve included the text below for your reference.
One of the Board’s primary responsibilities is to create and pass a budget that meets the needs of our school system and is financially responsible. I am delighted to announce that the Board of Education unanimously passed the 2024-2025 operating and capital budgets.
This year, the Board faced unique challenges such as inflationary pressures on operations and capital projects, the loss of over $10 million in federal grants, and changing demographics that require additional funding to support our English language learners and special education. Additionally, we must meet the requirements set forth in the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. All of this had to occur while managing a modest increase in funding due to our economic conditions in Harford County.
Despite these challenges, the Board of Education has successfully crafted and passed a budget that meets the needs of our school system with the Board's 2025 priorities in mind. Our priorities are:
- Academic achievement with a focus on math, reading, and language arts;
- Improve school environment with an emphasis on attendance and safety;
- Increasing community and parental and guardian trust through partnerships and transparency.
As a result, the total unrestricted operating budget for the upcoming school year is $653.3 million, and the total capital budget is $58.1 million.
Our operating budget was carefully crafted to streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies by $10.6 million. In doing so, we have ensured that any structural or operational reductions do not impact the number of educators or average class size. To close the gap between our funding needs and the available funding, we voted to assign $30.2 million from our fund balance and use the additional $6.5 million provided by local government to reconcile our 2024-2025 operating budget. It’s important to note that this leaves the school system with a fund balance of approximately $25 million. This balance is necessary to handle any unexpected emergencies or one-time needs in the future.
Most importantly, through negotiations with bargaining units, this budget not only retains educator positions but also provides HCPS staff with a cost-of-living increase and a step increase to reward their hard work and dedication. Moreover, we did not have to make any cuts to our beloved programs such as sports, music and art, safety and security, magnet schools, languages, or extracurricular activities. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the Board of Education, the administration, and staff at HCPS, and to all of our stakeholders at local and state government for their hard work and collaboration throughout this budget cycle. With this budget in place, we are well-positioned to enter the school year with the resources needed to ensure we continue to deliver top-quality education to our beloved students, who represent our future.
I wish everyone a happy and restful summer and look forward to seeing you in September.
Please visit the HCPS Budget page on our website for details on the budget process.
6/14/2024 11:42 AM
Harford Glen Environmental Education Center Open House
The following message will be sent to families of rising 5th grade students on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. via email.
During the 2024-2025 school year, your student will have the opportunity to experience the Fifth Grade Residential Outdoor Education Program at Harford Glen Environmental Education Center.
Please save the date to visit and explore Harford Glen prior to your student’s experience. The Open Houses allow you to learn about the program and the property prior to your student participating in the program.
Open House dates:
- Tuesday, September 10, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, September 27, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m.
- Friday, November 1, 2024, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
- Monday, December 21, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 21, 2025, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
6/10/2024 12:00 PM
HCPS BOE Portable Communication Devices Policy Effective 2024-2025SY
The following communication will be sent to ALL contacts, staff and families, at 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, via phone, email, text, HCPS app, and social media:
On Monday, March 18, 2024, the Board of Education of Harford County voted to approve changes to a policy that refers to the use of portable communication devices, including cell phones and wearable electronic devices, like smart watches. You can view the entire Board Business meeting or skip to item G, to view the specific conversation around the policy, here.
The updated policy can be viewed here. You can also navigate to the policy page (with ALL Board policies) by clicking on the Board of Education drop down in the hcps.org menu.
Updates to the Portable Communication Devices Policy will take time to implement across 54 different schools and with more than 5,000 employees and close to 39,000 students. Consequently, the changes to the policy are anticipated to go into effect at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. As details, including enforcement of the policy around electronic devices, are developed, they will be shared with staff, parents and guardians, and students. Please stay tuned!
3/22/2024 5:00 PM
Board of Education Approves 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
The following communication is being sent to all contacts in our Mass Notification System via email, phone call, text message and app push alert on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.:
The Board voted to approve the 2024-2025 Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) school year calendar at the December 18, 2023, Board of Education of Harford County business meeting.
The calendar can be viewed on the calendar page of hcps.org. As approved by the Board of Education, the first day of school for students will be September 3, 2024. The last day of school, if all 6 inclement weather days are utilized, will be Monday, June 23, 2025. If no inclement weather days are needed, the last day of school for the 2024-2025 HCPS school year will be Thursday, June 12, 2025.
The calendar presentation and Board discussion from last night can be seen here, in the Board of Education meeting archive.
12/19/2023 6:00 PM
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