Harford County Board of Education Agenda March 28: Hall of Fame; Vehicle/Furniture Purchases; Legislative Update; Promotions and Appointments

With redistricting all wrapped up, the next meeting agenda for the Harford County Board of Education focuses on recognitions, contract awards, a giveback of budgeted funds and a legislative update, including a bill to allow video cameras on school buses.

Kicking off the March 28 school board meeting will be an induction into the HCPS Hall of Fame for retired Spanish teacher Janet Inners; recognitions for the 2011 all-state student musicians and for Patterson Mill High School’s Glory Mgboji, winner of the WBFF FOX45 Champions of Courage Essay Contest.

Contract approvals are on the table for the purchase of a total of four replacement vehicles: three new 2500 Sprinter Vans (total cost: $130,785 after trade-in) and one new Forestry Truck ($135,892 after trade-in.) Also awaiting approval is a purchase-and-installation contract for $610,316.36 for furniture at Red Pump Elementary School.

A sponsored project to provide stormwater management at Hickory and Forest Hill Elementary Schools is also up for a vote. Students at both schools were involved in the planning stages of the projects, which will use bioretention and rain garden facilities to treat the water flowing off of impervious surfaces. With the Harford County Department of Public Works as the sponsor, the projects will include grass buffer strips, sand beds and plants, among other natural elements.

Superintendent Robert Tomback will announce recommended promotions and appointments, the details of which typically remain hush-hush until the meeting.

Reacting to lower than expected revenues, County Executive David Craig has requested a 3% giveback of county funding from the current operating budgets of county departments and outside agencies – including the school system. The school board will vote on their share of the giveback, which is proposed by the superintendent to be limited to $2.9 million, to avoid running afoul of state maintenance of effort requirements. The return of the full 3% would equal $6.2 million and would risk a loss of state aid, according to the superintendent’s published recommendation.

Finally, with two weeks left to go in the 2011 Maryland General Assembly, the school board will get a legislative update that includes no less than 40 of the hundreds of bills affecting education in the legislative pipeline. Big issues yet to be decided by state lawmakers include next year’s state funding levels for public schools, and the potential offloading of state pension costs onto local school systems.

Also in the mix is a bill designed to catch drivers who illegally pass a school bus that is picking up or discharging students. The proposed legislation authorizes local school systems to position cameras outside of school buses and gives law enforcement access to the video. Drivers may be sent a civil citation with penalties of up to $100 in the House version, $500 in the Senate proposal. The bill is summarized below in an excerpt from the published legislative update, which indicates that the Harford County Board of Education has no position on the bill.

Vehicle Laws – Overtaking and Passing School Vehicles – School Bus Monitoring Cameras

Sponsored By: Delegates Conway, Cane, and McDermott; Delegate Hucker and Senators Brinkley, Madaleno, Middleton, Rosapepe, and Young

This bill(s) authorize a local board of education, in consultation with a law enforcement agency, to place school bus monitoring cameras on local school buses. Local law enforcement agencies may issue warnings or citations to vehicle owners or drivers for failing to stop for a school vehicle that has stopped with its alternately flashing red lights operating in accordance with the Maryland Vehicle Law. The maximum fine for a citation is $500 for SB [679]. The maximum fine for a citation is $100 for HB 462 and HB 1106. [Note: HB 1106 got an unfavorable report from the House Environmental Matters Committee and has been withdrawn; HB 462 and SB 679 were awaiting mark-up in their respective committees as of March 20, according to the published legislative update]

http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/hb/hb0462f.pdf http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/hb/hb1106f.pdf http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/sb/sb0679f.pdf

Below is the March 28, 2011 meeting agenda for the Harford County Board of Education.
Published agendas are subject to change.

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2011
HCPS A. A. ROBERTY BUILDING
102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014
Board Open Session – 5:45 P.M – Board Room
Board Closed Session –5:45 P.M. – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 P.M. – Board Room

6:30 P.M. Call to Order – Mark M. Wolkow, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance

*6:40 P.M Recognition
– HCPS Hall of Fame: Janet Inners
– Champions of Courage Essay Contest Winner: Glory Mgboji
– 2011 All-State Student Musicians

*7:10 P.M. General Public Comment
*7:30 P.M. Board Committee Reports and Comments

Old Business
Action Item(s):
*7:45 P.M. A. Consent Agenda:
1.) Minutes of Previous Meetings: (Goal 3)
• February 28, 2011 Board Business Meeting
2.) Decision on Contract Award for Fleet Vehicles I, Decision on Contract Award for Fleet Vehicles II (Goal 3)
3.) Decision on School/Organization Sponsored Project –
Hickory Elementary School and Forest Hill Elementary School –Bioretention and Rain Garden Facilities (Goal 3)
4.) Decision on Furniture Acquisition for Red Pump Elementary (Goal 3)
5.) Proposed Resolutions on: (Goal 3)
• The Week of the Young Child

New Business
Action Item(s):

*7:50 P.M. B. Decision on Promotions and Appointments
Dr. Robert M. Tomback (Goal 4)

*8:00 P.M. C. Decision on County Executive’s Request for Return of Funds, Mr. James M. Jewell
(Goal 3)

*8:20P.M. D. Legislative Update, Mrs. Kathryn M. Carmello (Goal 3)

Presentation(s):
*

*8:40 P.M. E. Superintendent’s Report

Closing
Future Meetings Review
Adjournment

*Times are approximate