PUBLIC NOTICE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING
FOR JULY 13, 2020 6:30 P.M.

On July 13, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County Business Meeting will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM.

Community members who wish to submit public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2020.
The following information must be provided in the contact form when submitting comments:

1. Emails must be marked "Comment for July 13, 2020 Board Business Meeting"
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on July 13, 2020 will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting.
• Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting but will be forwarded to Board members and the Superintendent.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• Comments must be of such length that they can be read in 3 minutes or less.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

This information will be sent to all current Kindergarten through grade 8 (entering grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year) families on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

This summer, HCPS is introducing, Stars of Summer, a virtual, camp-like summer school experience for all kindergarten through incoming grade nine (for the 2020-21 school year) HCPS students. Stars of Summer participants will have unique opportunities to explore and engage in experiences catered to their age group from July 20 through August 14, Monday through Thursday. Teacher-led experiences for students in kindergarten through first grade will focus on literacy and numeracy-centered experiences while students in second through ninth grade will see experiences in all content areas ranging from topics like acting, cooking, science, social justice, writing, and more!

Class sizes will be capped at fifteen students so be sure to tune in July 1 for the program information release and save the dates, July 20 through August 14, Monday through Thursday to participate in Stars of Summer!

Information will be released on hcps.org as well as on HCPS social media channels on July 1. If you have an email address in our mass communication system, we will also email the program information directly to you on July 1. Once the information is released, parents and guardians can find registration information at hcps.org.

The following information will be shared with parents/guardians of middle and high school students via Connect5, our mass communication system, on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

As shared in April, all parents and guardians have access to an electronic report card for the fourth quarter and moving forward. The Home Access Center, or HAC, is an online portal that allows parents and guardians to log in and view information pertaining to their child’s attendance, classes, grades, and registration information. Please note that HAC allows one account to be established per child.

If you have not established a HAC account yet, you will need to create an account. Directions to set up an account are posted on the COVID-19 webpage on hcps.org. A HAC account will need to be established in order to access your child’s report card. Grades are to be posted on HAC by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Parents who have technical difficulties establishing a HAC account should contact HomeAccessCenter@hcps.org for assistance. Parents with students in middle and high school should contact their administrator or school counselor with non-technical questions.

PUBLIC NOTICE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING
FOR JUNE 22, 2020 6:30 P.M.

On June 22, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County Business Meeting will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM.

Community members who wish to submit public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 22, 2020.
The following information must be provided in the contact form when submitting comments:

1. Emails must be marked "Comment for June 22, 2020 Board Business Meeting"
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on June 22, 2020 will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting.
• Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting but will be forwarded to Board members and the Superintendent.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• Comments must be of such length that they can be read in 3 minutes or less.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

An Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

DIGITAL COMMENCEMENT CELEBRATIONS

Official End of Year Calendar Information

Dr. Bulson has shared in his messages that we were anticipating June 16, 2020 as the last student day for students in kindergarten through grade 11. We are excited to announce that we have received approval from MSDE of the waiver HCPS requested in order to make this calendar official!

So let's make it OFFICIAL! The last day for students:

June 12, 2020- Last day for prekindergarten students
June 16, 2020- Last day for students in kindergarten through grade 11

An Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

PUBLIC NOTICE TO PARTICIPATE IN BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING – June 8, 2020 at 6:30 P.M.

On June 8, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County Business Meeting will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM.

Community members who wish to submit a public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 8, 2020.
The following information must be provided on the contact form:

1. Emails must be marked "Comment for June 8. 2020 Board Meeting"
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

Important:

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on June 8, 2020 will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting.
• Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer(s) will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• Comments must be of such length that they can be read in 3 minutes or less.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

An Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

School Pick-Up and Drop-Off

In his last message, Dr. Bulson shared that staff were working on a plan to return students personal items and collect HCPS items from students.Here are the windows for pick-up/drop off of personal/HCPS items at each grade level. If you haven't already, you will receive additional information and details from your school including your scheduled date/time for pick-up/drop-off!

Online Registration for Students New to HCPS for the 2020-2021 School Year

Online registration is available for students entering HCPS for the 2020-2021 school year from Kindergarten through grade 12. Visit "Register Your Student" on hcps.org for more information. Information about early entrance, or advanced placement, transfers, and more, is available on this document on the "Register Your Student" page on our website.

An Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

HCPS Class of 2020: Road to Graduation

View Superintendent Bulson's message to graduating seniors here. Included in his message is a schedule of events including in-person, individual commencement experiences.

Elementary Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conferences for Fourth Quarter

The following message is being sent to Parents/Guardians of students in PreKindergarten through Grade 5 Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. via our mass communication system.

As you are aware, elementary schools will be utilizing a parent-teacher conference format for the fourth quarter. This structure will provide an opportunity for parents and teachers to have a conversation regarding the work your child completed during at-home learning. Conferences will be approximately 15 minutes in length and will be held during a 2-week conference window from June 2-15, 2020.

Please expect communication from your child's school or teacher to share their process to identify the best date and time for conducting your child’s conference.

PUBLIC NOTICE TO PARTICIPATE IN BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING – MAY 18, 2020

On May 18, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County Business Meeting will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM. Community members who wish to submit a public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2020.

1. Please include "Comment for May 18, 2020 Board Meeting" at the top of your contact form message
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on May 18, 2020 will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting. Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer(s) will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

An Important Message from the Office of Special Education

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we near the end of the eighth week of school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Special Education hopes that you and your family continue to be safe and healthy. In our last communication on April 13, we announced that case managers would be reaching out to garner input from families for individualized distance learning plans. A recent review of completed plans reveals that over 90% of our families have communicated with their special education case manager to craft an individualized plan and to support the delivery of special education during the school closure. We want to thank all of you for your flexibility and support through this process.

Since our last communication there have been several updates regarding the education of students during the pandemic. A recent communication from MSDE entitled, “A Parents Guide: Navigating Special Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic" can be viewed here. The guide summarizes the realities of education during the closure, includes answers to frequently asked questions, and of particular importance, offers a list of the local resources and services, with email addresses and phone numbers, to support families.

Finally, we are nearing the deadline (May 18) for completion of MSDE’s Parent Survey. If you have not done so, please give us your input regarding Special Education in Harford County Public Schools by completing this online survey. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed at www.mdparentsurvey.com.

We appreciate the on-going support of all of our families and community members who continue to partner with us to deliver special education to our students.

Stay safe,
Michael Thatcher
Director of Special Education

Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

• At Governor Hogan's Press Conference, State Superintendent Salmon announced schools will remain closed through the end of the school year.
• Anticipated Last Day of School for HCPS Students is June 16, 2020 for students in grades K-11, pending final approval from MSDE. May 22 is the last day for students in grade 12.
• Instruction will continue through June 16, 2020; the Continuity of Learning Plan remains posted on the COVID-19 webpage.
• We're continuing discussions to determine a way that adheres to safety and health guidelines for students and staff to retrieve personal belongings from our schools.
• End of Year Celebrations continue to be discussed; more information will be provided soon!
• Be sure to stay connected to your Teachers with questions about instruction.
• Thank you to our Food and Nutrition workers as they continue to serve families in our communities.

A Special Message for the Senior Class of 2020

Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

The Digital Learning survey can be accessed here. The 2020 Census can be accessed here.

An Important Message from Dr. Bulson

Good Afternoon,

In my video message last week, I shared that Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) has developed a survey to gather more information related to digital learning as we continue to work with our Board of Education and other members of our leadership team to determine the best way to increase our digital learning capacity and initiatives going into the next school year.

To better understand how we can serve our school community in this way, we are asking all students, parents/guardians, staff members, and community members to participate in a short online survey about digital learning during the school closure as a result of COVID-19. For our student population, the survey is open to those in grades 3-12. We encourage their participation and understand that some students - especially those in the younger grades - may want or need to take the survey with the assistance of a parent/guardian.

All information provided in survey responses will remain confidential by HCPS and will only be reported collectively.

We hope you will take this survey to provide us with valuable data that will help inform future decisions on digital learning; however, participation in the survey is voluntary and not mandatory.

To take the 3-5 minute survey now, click here. The survey link is also accessible from our website, hcps.org. I thank you, in advance, for your time and valuable feedback.

Please continue to stay healthy and take care of one another.

Sincerely,
Sean Bulson, Ed. D.
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools

PUBLIC NOTICE TO PARTICIPATE IN BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING – MAY 4, 2020

On May 4, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Board of Education of Harford County Business Meeting will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM. Community members who wish to submit a public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020.
The following information must be provided on the contact form:

1. Please include "Comment for May 4. 2020 Board Meeting" at the top of your contact form message
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

Important:

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on May 4, 2020 will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting. Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer(s) will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

PreKindergarten and Kindergarten Registration POSTPONED

The prekindergarten, early entrance, and advanced placement applications, as well as kindergarten registration and waivers were scheduled to begin the first Friday in May. However, due to the current health crisis in Maryland, these procedures will need to be rescheduled. HCPS is looking into alternative viable dates and methods for the application, waiver, and registration process for the 2020-2021 school year.

Please continue to check the HCPS website for further instructions regarding this matter. We appreciate your patience and understanding during the coronavirus pandemic.

Home Access Center (HAC) Information

All parents and guardians with students in Kindergarten through twelfth grade, will have access to an electronic report card for the third quarter and moving forward. The Home Access Center, or HAC, is an online portal that allows parents and guardians to log in and view information pertaining to their child’s attendance, classes, grades, and registration information.

If you have not established a HAC account yet, you will need to create an account. Directions to set up an account are posted on the COVID-19 webpage on hcps.org. You can also click here to access the directions. A HAC account will need to be established in order to access your child's report card. Grades are to be posted on HAC by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020. Parents who are unable to establish a HAC account should contact HomeAccessCenter@hcps.org for assistance.

Pre-K report cards will be sent by email. If there are any additional questions or concerns please contact your child's teacher.

Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

PUBLIC NOTICE TO PARTICIPATE IN APRIL 20, 2020 BOARD OF EDUCATION BUSINESS MEETING

On April 20, 2020 at 6:30PM, the Business Meeting of the Board of Education of Harford County will be hosted virtually. The Audio Live Stream will be available on HCPS.ORG/BOE/LIVESTREAM.

Community members who wish to submit a public comment may do so by submitting comments in writing at Contact Board of Education no later than 12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 20, 2020.

The following information must be provided in the contact form when submitting comments:

1. Emails must be marked, "Comment for April 20, 2020 Board Meeting"
2. First and last name
3. Email and phone number
4. Address

• Comments received by 12:00 p.m. on April 20, 2020, will be read into the record during the public comment segment of the Business meeting.
• Comments received after the 12:00 p.m. deadline will not be read into the record during the Business meeting.
• The Board expects that all comments will be submitted with the decorum and respect appropriate to the conduct of public business.
• Topics such as personnel matters, pending appeals and specific student disciplinary matters will not be read into the record.
• Disparaging comments, personal attacks, and inflammatory remarks about specific schools or personnel will not be read into the record.
• The Presiding Officer will not read a comment that does not conform to the rules of the Board regarding public comment.
• All public comments submitted will be part of the records maintained by the Board office.
• Please be reminded that written comments submitted are considered public information and, as such, is subject to the Maryland Public Information Act.

An Important Message about Fourth Quarter Grading for Middle and High School

Don't forget to visit our COVID-19 webpage for the HCPS FAQ that is regularly updated with important information for students and families.

The most recent addition to the FAQ? A document from the office of secondary education to help students and parents/guardians understand how fourth quarter grades will be calculated.

An Important Message from the Office of Special Education

This message will sent via the mass communication system on Monday, April 13, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

Dear Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Families,

On March 16, 2020, HCPS closed schools, at the direction of Governor Hogan, in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. At the onset of the closure, HCPS curriculum and instruction staff prepared learning packets to maintain the continuity of learning while, at the same time, encouraging families to focus on health and safety.

The Office of Special Education has been diligently reviewing guidance from the United States Department of Education (USDOE) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to continue to move forward with special education services during this closure. We will be utilizing a Distance Learning Plan (DLP) to allow students to continue to receive special education.

According to guidance issued by MSDE on April 2, 2020:

"...it is not necessary for the local school system to convene an IEP meeting IF you and your school staff can agree on the services your child will receive during this time that schools are closed."

Understanding that some of the guidance may change as the pandemic progresses, HCPS Office of Special Education has begun operating on the following timeline in order to support students and families:

March 30 – April 9 Special Education staff prepare progress notes for third quarter. Reporting of progress to be sent via e-mail on or before April 24.

April 14 – April 24 Case managers continue to complete student/family check-ins and begin to draft the Distance Learning Plan (DLP) with individual families.

We look forward to working with you to deliver special education to students throughout the pandemic. We will face difficult challenges during the closure, but we know that you will partner with us in finding the best solutions possible given the current circumstances. Our number one priority remains the health and safety of every individual student and family. Please continue to take advantage of all school and county resources.

Sincerely,
Michael J. Thatcher
Director of Special Education

Important Message from Superintendent Bulson

Holiday Closure and Additional Meal Resources

As a reminder, Harford County Public Schools will be closed Friday, April 10, 2020 and Monday, April 13, 2020 with a three hour early closure on Thursday, April 9, 2020.

In response to the scheduled closure, this Thursday, April 9, 2020, an additional meal bag will be available for each child at every meal site during regular distribution hours. The additional meal bag, which includes items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is intended to provide food support to our families who may need additional resources during this difficult time.

For additional meal site information, visit www.hcpsmenus.com.

A Message from Superintendent Bulson

Good evening,

This week, teachers and other instructional staff returned to work in this new and evolving environment of school closures and stay-at-home orders. Our goal was for our schools to reestablish contact with students. I want to thank our employees for their persistence in reaching out to families and beginning the process of helping our students continue their learning at home. Our continuity of learning plan cannot replace face-to-face instruction, but we are committed to improving our ability to support student learning every week we are closed.

I also want to thank our dedicated Food and Nutrition staff who are now distributing meals at 21 different sites across the county. Today we served over 10,000 meals to 3,500 students, and demand for meals continues to increase daily.

Please continue to monitor the HCPS Coronavirus web page for updates and the latest system news about the ongoing pandemic. This week we updated our Frequently Asked Questions to provide guidance related to third quarter grades and continuity of learning. The site also contains the latest information on food distribution, event and activity cancellations, as well as links to important local, state, and national resources.

I know this is a difficult time for everyone and I want to thank you for your patience and understanding. I am confident we will get through this together!

Thank you and have a wonderful weekend,

Sean Bulson, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools

Teacher Outreach

Monday, March 30, 2020, your student's teacher will reach out to you. Teachers are working from home, so you may get a call from a blocked or private number. We will encourage teachers to leave a message indicating a time they will call back if you do not pick up. Please be on the lookout for these calls.

Our goal for this week, as teachers and other instructional staff return to work, is to re-establish contact with students and identify the best ways to be in touch during the closure.

A Message from Superintendent Bulson

Yesterday, in conjunction with Governor Hogan’s press conference, State Superintendent of schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, closed all Maryland public schools through April 24, 2020.

In preparation for an extended closure, we have developed Recommended Learning Experiences for families to use with their children over the next two weeks. Those resources are now available on our website, hcps.org for families to access electronically. To access the documents, open the COVID-19 page on our website and click the Out-of-School Curriculum Materials tab. You will then need to enter your child’s student ID number so we may confirm which families have accessed the online resources.

To maintain social distancing practices, it is best if families access the materials electronically. However, beginning today, March 26, and tomorrow, March 27, families who cannot access them in that manner may obtain printed copies of the Recommended Learning Experiences by visiting one of the 19 meal sites throughout the county, as well as John Archer, Fallston High, Norrisville Elementary, and North Bend Elementary schools. Materials will be available from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

On a related note, we are adding two new meal sites today and two additional sites on Monday, so please visit hcpsmenus.com to see the list of sites to be used for food and materials distribution and for news about new sites we may add in the future.

Over the next two weeks our teachers and staff will be re-establishing contact with all students and they will begin providing support and guidance to help with the Learning Experiences materials.

Throughout this crisis, we ask you to continue following the directions and guidance from the Governor to practice social distancing and refrain from any unnecessary travel. Over the last two weeks we have all encountered significant changes in our personal and professional lives, and we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding moving forward through these unprecedented times. The health and safety of our students and community members is our first priority, so thank you for everything you have been doing toward that end.

Thank you,
Sean Bulson, Ed.D
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools

A Message from Superintendent Bulson

As schools across the country confront the effects of COVID-19, I want to thank you, the parents and guardians, our students, and our staff, for your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we face this challenge together.

At this time, we have no formal announcement from State authorities about how much longer we should expect to remain closed. HCPS is not equipped to deliver comprehensive online instruction to our students. However, we continue to seek additional information about access to technology for the households of our students and staff members. I want to thank you for the more than 20,000 responses we received to our digital survey for families and the over 2,500 responses we received from staff as we look to the future of how instruction may be delivered in our school system. The preliminary information we have learned from the responses is helping us better understand the steps we will need to take in the event we stay closed beyond March 27. Please submit your responses by 12:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, March 20, when the survey will officially close.

I also understand that future school-related dates and events are at the forefront of your minds. I have received questions on everything from grades, to testing, to graduation credits and other end-of-year events. As soon as we have greater clarity about when we will return to school, I will ensure we communicate clear decisions about those events as quickly as possible.

I want to thank our food and nutrition department who has been preparing and distributing breakfast, lunch, and dinner “to go” at sites throughout the county. If you are not able to access a meal site or need additional assistance, I encourage you to call 2-1-1 or reach out to the Harford Community Action Agency.

Please follow local health department and county government social media pages as well as the site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest guidance. We will continue to provide new information about Harford County Public Schools via our website, social media channels, and of course, through this channel.

I look forward to speaking with you again next week and I hope you have a wonderful evening.

Thank you,
Sean Bulson, Ed.D
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools

Food Services Information

Information about food services for students is posted on www.hcpsmenus.com and will continue to be updated as it becomes available.

Effective tomorrow, March 18, 2020, two new locations have been added: Bel Air Elementary and Dublin Elementary Schools. Please check www.hcpsmenus.com for additional sites, operating hours, and menu

A Survey from HCPS in Response to COVID-19

Harford County Public Schools staff are continuing to work diligently to ensure plans are in place for any additional actions that may need to be taken in response to COVID-19. Please click here to complete the survey to determine the level of access to our online resources that may be utilized, should it be necessary to provide additional instructional resources for students to access from home beyond this initial 2-week closure.

Harford County Public Schools Operations Update

Most HCPS 12-month employees will be expected to work from home beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Critical staff will be in buildings to ensure things like cleaning, food preparation, and payroll continue, but please note that our buildings and property will not be open to the public beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, 2020; this includes all tracks, fields, and playgrounds. All afterschool/evening and weekend activities remain canceled. This means all sports practices and competitions are canceled until schools reopen. Teams should not gather or practice on or off school grounds.

If you did not contact your child’s school nurse last week to pick up medications from the nurses suite, please utilize the COVID-19 hotline or email address, available on the HCPS website, to make pick-up arrangements.

Meal delivery sites where breakfast and dinner will be delivered with lunches, are listed on www.hcpsmenus.com.

We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Harford County Public Schools Closure Information for Parents/Guardians and Staff

All afterschool/evening, and weekend activities are canceled today, Friday, March 13, 2020. Today, daycares in HCPS buildings will remain open for one hour beyond the end of the school day.

As shared yesterday, all Maryland public school systems will be closed from March 16-27. We are awaiting guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education as to whether these days will be made up or waived by the state.

The instructional packet coming home today is also available on our website by clicking here, in addition to being shared via the Home Access Center, or HAC.

Food and Nutrition information, including menus and distribution locations, will be on www.hcpsmenus.com as soon as it is available. If you have not done so already, please call your school if you need to make arrangements to pick up your child’s medication.

Harford County Public Schools has created a webpage with additional resources; you can access it by clicking on the COVID-19 button at the top of our website or by clicking here. The attached is an overview of how to access this and additional resources.

12-month employees are to continue to report to work as normally scheduled, Custodians will work with their supervisor to determine their work schedule; 11-month employees should await further instruction from their supervisor; 10-month employees do not report as of March 16, 2020. If there are changes to this work schedule, employees will be contacted via our normal avenues of communication. All 10 and 12 month employees will continue to be paid according to our originally published pay schedule.

We will share additional information as it becomes available.

State Superintendent Announces all Maryland Public School Systems Closed March 16-27, 2020

As you may be aware, at a press conference held today at 4:15 p.m., State Superintendent Karen Salmon announced that all Maryland public school systems, including Harford County Public Schools, will be closed March 16 through March 27, 2020. All school sanctioned travel is canceled effective immediately. During this time of closure, buildings and school buses will be cleaned and disinfected. Tomorrow, Friday, March 13, 2020, there will be no school-sanctioned travel, which includes field trips, and there will be no afterschool/evening activities. Tomorrow, your student will bring home instructional materials to be completed during the system-wide closure. This information will be accessible on HCPS.org. This is an evolving situation and we will provide additional information as it becomes available. Staff will receive additional guidance as soon as possible. As Governor Hogan stated in his press conference, “we are all in this together,” and we appreciate your patience and understanding at this time.

An Important Message on COVID-19 or Coronavirus

In response to the rapidly changing information that we receive about COVID-19, we are canceling all out-of-state field trips and staff school or business related travel, until further notice. Second, all schools have been directed to ensure students and staff are given the opportunity to wash their hands, with soap and water, particularly before and after meals, but also as needed throughout the school day. The expectation to allow time for students to wash their hands with soap and water throughout the day may cause delays or changes to schedules and we ask for your patience and understanding at this time. In addition, we remind staff, students, and guests that we ask you to stay home from school if you have a fever of 100 degrees or higher. Remember that you should not return to work or school until you have been fever-free without the use of fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours or as directed by your healthcare provider. To encourage our community to join us in this practice, we are suspending all "perfect" attendance awards or programs at this time.

This information is also available on our website, and will be shared on our Facebook page. We will continue to update you as we receive additional advice and guidance from our healthcare partners throughout the county.

An Important Message on COVID-19 or Coronavirus

In light of the governor’s press release confirming a case of COVID-19 in Harford County, we are reaching out to reassure you that we are continuing close and frequent conversations with the Harford County Health Department and continue to receive guidance from the Maryland Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control, or CDC.

Last week, we shared a list of things that we as a community can do in an effort to prevent spreading any illnesses. That list remains on the HCPS website. We also ask you to assist us and adhere to the following:

Staff, students, parents/guardians, and guests are asked to stay home from school if they have a fever of 100 degrees or higher. Remember that you should not return to work or school until you have been fever- free without the use of fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours or as directed by your healthcare provider.

The Maryland Department of Health encourages anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to call the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, or MEMA, at 410-517-3720, and asks that Maryland residents dial 2-1-1 with all other questions. We encourage you to follow the Harford County Health Department, Maryland Department of Health and CDC on their social media platforms for the most up to date information.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in school tomorrow.

An Important Message on COVID-19 or Coronavirus

As coverage of the coronavirus outbreak in China and subsequent positive cases in the United States continues, our school system and Harford County Health Department are fielding an increasing number of questions from parents and residents. Please know that, as we do in all health-related cases, we are working closely together and receiving guidance from the Harford County Health Department, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

It is important to understand that as of the time of this message, we have no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Harford County or Maryland. This is a rapidly changing situation, and one which we are monitoring closely. If necessary, Harford County Public Schools does have a pandemic response plan. These plans are updated as needed to reflect the specific nature of the current health concern as new information about the virus becomes available.

While there is not an imminent health threat at this time, we ask parents and guardians to continue to be vigilant in your efforts to keep your students and community healthy. We have attached additional information as well as posted it on the HCPS website and Facebook page, including precautions to avoid exposure to the virus; they are the same precautions you would take to avoid the flu. Just a reminder, students should stay home from school until they have been fever free without the use of fever reducing medication for at least 24 hours.

Thank you for your attention to this public health concern. We will continue our partnerships with public health experts and will update you when new relevant information is available.

ATTACHMENT: COVID-19 Letter 2-26-2020