Parent Connection Archive

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PARTICIPATION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024

OPEN SESSION: 5:30 PM – 5:35 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: 5:35 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 , November 4, 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, November 4, 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, November 4, 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.

The Board will receive in-person public comment first and virtual public comment second. 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, 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.

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:

Charger - $36

Chromebook/laptop - $300

Dell Precision laptop - $1,400

Apple iPad - $399

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.

The following message will be sent to all contacts via phone, email, text, and app push notification Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.:

Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is facing a budget shortfall of approximately $60 million, after two years of nearly unchanged funding from the county. This means HCPS is lacking more than $1,500 in funding for each student. County Executive Bob Cassilly released a video on his Facebook page noting his intention to maintain his flat funding approach for the coming fiscal year. Given this financial challenge and our unwavering commitment to serve all students, we invite you to participate in the 2026 HCPS Budget Survey. Your responses will help us navigate the difficult decisions ahead.

You are invited to watch the HCPS State of the District here.

The Budget Survey presents scenarios of potential trade-offs HCPS may need to consider in reducing expenses and services. Please review the questions and select the option you would prefer HCPS to pursue. If you are unsure, please choose the best scenario between the two presented or opt to skip to the next question. Your feedback will provide valuable insights for our budget planning and decision-making process.

The survey will remain open until December 2, 2024, at 11:45 p.m. The data gathered will be shared with work groups, committees, and the Board of Education of Harford County to help shape the budget for the upcoming school year.

As requested by our community, all participants will need to provide authentication—such as Student IDs, staff and student email addresses—before completing the survey. These details will help ensure the validity and accuracy of the results by preventing duplicate submissions. Please note, Student IDs and email addresses are solely used for validation purposes, responses will remain confidential.

To participate in the survey, click here.

The following message will be sent to all contacts on Thursday, October 10, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. via email:

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is hosting a Community Safety Meeting at Patterson Mill Middle/High School.

This meeting is an opportunity for parents, guardians, HCPS staff, and members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office to come together in small groups to discuss school safety and develop potential ideas and solutions to maintain and improve school safety.

To most efficiently discuss ideas during the event, attendance is limited to 100 individuals and pre-registration is required. To register, click here.

Individuals who are interested in sharing ideas, but sign up after the event has reached capacity, will be able to provide feedback, ideas and pose questions at the same link.

The following message was sent to all parents/guardians of students in Grade 8 via email and text message on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.
The application window for Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs opens Monday, October 14, 2024. If your 8^th grader has interest in any HCPS magnet program, they must apply for the program before the application window closes on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
The programs your student can apply for 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

Students can apply for a magnet program through the Harford County Public Schools Student Planner.
The HCPS Student Education Planning Guide and HCPS website have additional information on the magnet programs offered in Harford County Public Schools.

The following message was sent to parents of all high school students on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. via phone call, email, and text

The registration window for Advanced Placement (AP) exams is now open and will close on Thursday, November 7, 2024.

Students will receive detailed instructions from their school’s AP coordinator on how to register for exams on CollegeBoard.com and how to make payments through Total Registration.

Pease note the following information regarding exam costs:

11th and 12th-grade students, as well as those who qualify for free or reduced-price meals (FARMS), can take the exams at no cost.

For students in 9th or 10th grade who do not qualify for FARMS, the cost per exam is $104.

For any questions about AP testing or the registration process, please contact your school’s AP coordinator.

The following message is being sent to all parents/guardians of 11^th and 12^th grade students on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, via email and text message.

You are invited to attend a Financial Aid Information Nights for 11th and 12th-grade students and their families. Sessions will provide comprehensive guidance on the financial aid process for the 2025-2026 academic year. You’ll learn how to complete the FAFSA, explore various types of financial aid, and get details on important deadlines. You'll also hear about updates from last year and receive tips on how to maintain your financial aid.

These sessions are open to all families, whether you plan to attend Harford Community College or any other college or university.

The upcoming FAFSA nights will take place on the following dates and locations:
October 15, 2024, at Patterson Mill High School
October 16, 2024, at Havre de Grace High School
November 6, 2024, at C. Milton Wright High School
November 12, 2024, at Joppatowne High School
November 13, 2024, at The John Carroll School
November 18, 2024, at North Harford High School

Each session will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

We encourage you to take advantage of these events. For more details or to RSVP, please contact your school counselor or visit Harford Community College’s website.

The following message was sent to all parents of students in grades 3-12 on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. via email, phone call and text message.

This is important information for families with students in grades 3-12.

For over 20 years, Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) has administered Wellness Needs Assessments. The assessment results determine how HCPS staff can provide more direct and specific support to our students. We hope you will encourage your child to share their true thoughts and feelings as we look to provide as supportive and nurturing a school environment as possible for all students.

Students do not have to participate in the Wellness Needs Assessment and can let their teacher know at the time of the assessment if they do not want to participate. You may also send an email to your student’s school counselor to make them aware if you do not want your child to participate in the Wellness Needs Assessment. A copy of the Wellness Needs Assessment can be viewed here.

The window of administration of the assessment is October 14 through November 15, 2024. If you do not wish your child to participate, please tell your child’s school counselor by October 13, 2024, or have them inform their teacher at the time of the assessment.

Please note, the following will be emailed to all contacts, and shared on our Facebook page at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 24, 2024:

At the Monday, September 23, 2024, Board Business Meeting, the 2025-2026 HCPS DRAFT Calendar options were presented to the Board of Education. Now, you are encouraged to complete the appropriate survey below to give your feedback. You will be asked to review the calendar presentation here, then select the calendar option you feel best supports your student(s) academically. If you have additional comments, there is an opportunity to share them at the end of the survey. The survey will be available through Friday, November 22, 2024.

Parents and Guardians: You will be asked to utilize your student ID to complete the survey here.
HCPS Staff and Students: You will be asked to complete the survey here via an HCPS device or after logging into your HCPS account.

LINK TO CALENDAR OPTIONS.

Please note: Survey results will be part of the information used when the Board meets in December and votes on a final calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

The following message will be sent Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. to all 8^th grade parents via phone, email, and text message:
Harford County Public Schools invites you to attend Magnet and Technical Programs Open Houses. These programs are designed for you and your student to learn more about programs they may be interested in. Each open house is specific to that program and allows you and your student to tour the program and hear from staff and current students.

Dates and locations:
- October 16, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) – Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC), Joppatowne High School
- October 16, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH), Joppatowne High School
- October 23, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Teacher Academy of Maryland (TAM), at the TUNE Center at Harford Community College
- October 24, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Science and Mathematics Academy (SMA), Aberdeen High School
- October 28, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Information Technology – Oracle Academy, Havre de Grace High School
- October 30, 2024 (6:30-8:30 p.m.) - Global Studies Program/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, Edgewood High School
- November 2, 2024 (8:00 – 10:00 a.m.) - Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences (NRAS), North Harford High School
- November 7, 2024 (6:30 – 8:30 p.m.) - Trade and Industrial Programs, Harford Technical High School

The window to apply for a Magnet or Technical Program is October 14, 2024, until December 5, 2024.

For more information on the Harford County Public Schools Magnet and Technical Programs, click here.

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.

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.

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:

Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to 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.

Students may use their Portable Communication Device before and after school and on the bus.

In Middle School:

Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School;

The device must remain stored in their locker and deactivated during the entire school day.

Students may use their device before and after school and on the bus.

In High School:

Students may bring Portable Communication Devices to School;

The device must not be visible and must remain deactivated during instructional time.

Students may use their device before and after school, on the bus, and during lunch.

*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.

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.

Parent Connection Newsletter Archive