Notice of Public Participation BOE Business Meeting January 27, 2025
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION
MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2025
OPEN SESSION: 5:00 PM – 5:05 PM
This meeting will be conducted virtually with no public attendance due to the brief nature of this meeting
and the logistical issues regarding allowing public attendance in advance of the 6:00 PM meeting.
*The only item the Board will consider during this open meeting is consideration of meeting in a closed session.
CLOSED SESSION: 5:05 PM – 5:55 PM
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, January 27, 2025, 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, January 27, 2025. 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, January 27, 2025.
- 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.
1/22/2025 2:40 PM
HCPS 2025-2026 Color-Coded Calendar Available Online
The 2025-2026 Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Color-Coded Calendar is available online.
You can view all available calendar information here.
1/10/2025 2:19 PM
CTE Family Informational Night
The following communication was sent to all parents and guardians of students in grades 4-7 on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call, text message, and app push alert.
On Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) Career and Technology Education (CTE) Office will host an informational event for students and families about the programs of study within comprehensive high schools, as well as HCPS Signature and Magnet programs. The event, designed for students in grades 4-7, will be at Patterson Mill Middle/High School. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will run from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Students and families will circulate this fair-style event to speak with representatives from each of the ten MSDE-recognized Career Clusters including Maryland Youth Apprenticeship and Harford Youth Workforce Investment. Current students and teachers will be available to engage students in demonstrations, showcasing how CTE innovatively prepares students for opportunities beyond high school.
The following Maryland State Department of Education recognized programs of study will be represented: Arts, Media and Communications; Business Management, Finance and Entrepreneurship; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and Agricultural Science; and Science, Engineering and Technology.
For more information about the event, and the programs offered within Harford County Public Schools, visit the CTE webpage on hcps.org.
1/9/2025 5:00 PM
No Virtual Instruction on Inclement Weather Days
The following message was sent to all contacts on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, text message, and app push alert:
For the 2024-2025 school year, there will be no virtual instruction on inclement weather days.
There are six inclement weather days built into the 2024-2025 school calendar. Per the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), those in-person makeup days would need to be used BEFORE we could utilize virtual instruction. Rather than extend the school year beyond the six built in inclement weather days, HCPS will request a waiver of the 180-day requirement from the state, if needed.
12/5/2024 5:00 PM
Device Protection Plan
The following communication went out to identified families who do not have a Device Protection Plan on Monday, October 28, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, and text message
All Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) students are assigned an iPad, Chromebook, or Dell laptop to use for the 2024-2025 school year. Your student’s device came with a copy of the Student Device Agreement and Protection Plan. As noted in this agreement, in accordance with Board of Education of Harford County policy, “Use of Equipment/Materials by Students,” the parent or guardian will be responsible for all damage or loss to an HCPS owned device, whether in or out of school.
- HCPS is offering the option to purchase a device protection plan. Please log into your School Cash Online account for each student to find this item available for purchase. *If you have already purchased the protection plan, you may DISREGARD this message. The item will no longer be available for purchase in your account.*
This option is available to purchase at a discount for $20 through October 31, 2024, or for $50.00 if purchased November 1, 2024, through January 31, 2025.
*Cost without the device protection plan: Repair - $150 An invoice will be sent to the email on file from StudentDevices@hcps.org.
If you apply and are approved for free and reduced meals, you will automatically receive the device protection plan. The application can be found here.
The fee for the protection plan is per student for the entire school year and is non-refundable. This plan will cover the cost of two incidents of accidental damage to the device, if submitted for repair with the service tag visible. The plan will not cover any intentional damage.
Replacement costs for a device beyond repair, lost, or stolen are:
- Dell Precision laptop - $1,400
Please note: Lost or stolen items ARE NOT covered by the device protection plan.
We encourage you to review and consider the optional device protection plan by the due dates.
Click here to view a short video about OPTIONAL PURCHASES FOR FAMILIES.
Any questions can be directed to studentdevices@hcps.org.
10/28/2024 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
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
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