The members of the Harford County Board of Education will say good-bye to three of their own and work through a busy agenda at the next school board meeting planned for Monday, June 27.
After nearly ten years on the school board, Mark Wolkow announced in March that he planned to depart the board as of June 30 rather than serve out the remainder of his appointed term – a term that was originally set to expire in 2012 but was extended to 2015 in the transition to a partially elected school board. Wolkow, who currently serves as board president, said earlier that he was leaving the board to take a position as director of education outreach with the National Security Administration.
Finishing out his first term, Board Member Don Osman has also announced plans to leave the board as of June 30. Osman, a retired Havre de Grace High School teacher, did not seek a second board term. Gov. Martin O’Malley has yet to make the necessary appointments to fill the vacancies left by Wolkow and Osman.
Board Member Tom Evans will also leave the board effective June 30. He will be replaced by attorney Cassandra Beverley, who was elected in November to represent Fallston/Abingdon.
Adjustments to the 2011-12 school calendar are up for board approval. The adjustments include closing schools and offices on April 3 to accommodate a change in the 2012 primary election date, when schools will be used as polling places. A professional development day that had been planned for April 3 is expected to be moved to the end of the school year.
More promotions and appointments are on the agenda for board approval, along with approvals of the 2011 Educational Facilities Master Plan; next year’s table of rates for school bus contractors and approval of a recommended plan for future high school graduation ceremonies.
In what is likely to be his final presentation to the school board, Dave Volrath, the soon-to-retire head of high school performance, will present a plan utilizing newly built high school facilities to host large-scale graduation ceremonies. C. Milton Wright and Fallston are recommended to hold future graduations at Bel Air High School; Patterson Mill students are recommended to graduate at Edgewood High School, and North Harford students are recommended to graduate at Aberdeen High. Home-site graduations are recommended for students attending the remaining schools: Aberdeen, Bel Air, Edgewood, Joppatowne, Havre de Grace, Harford Tech, John Archer and the Alternative Education Program.
Presentations include a first look at the 2013 capital budget request, which includes $1 million for a “county-wide comprehensive facilities & educational facility assessment” and $2.5 million in stadium improvements at C. Milton Wright High School.
A scheduled update on the Strategic Communications Plan includes a possible HCPS Facebook page to be launched in the fall. Also included are plans to develop a new school system logo and slogan as part of a re-branding and marketing campaign being developed by the communications office, which is seeking community partners to offset costs.
As always, the meeting will end with a report from Superintendent Robert M. Tomback.
Below is the published June 27 meeting agenda. Published agendas are subject to change.
This article has been corrected to note the departure of Board Member Tom Evans, whose term will end on June 30.
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011
HCPS A. A. ROBERTY BUILDING
102 S. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014
Board Business Meeting – 7:00 P.M. – Board Room7:00 P.M. Call to Order – Mark M. Wolkow, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance*7:05 P.M. Recognition
• 2010-11 Nurse of the Year – Sara Cushen
• Best Communities for Music Education*7:15 P.M. 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)
• June 13, 2011
2) Decision on 2011-12 Calendar Adjustment, Calendar Grid Revised
3) Decision on Xerox 4112 LeaseOld Business
Action Items(s):*7:50 P.M. B Decision on the 2011 Educational Facilities Master Plan, Presentation,
Facilities Planning & Master Plan 2011 Timeline, Mr. Cornell S. Brown
(Goal 3)New Business
Action Item(s):*8:00 P.M. C. Decision on Promotions and Appointments, Dr. Robert Tomback (Goal 3)
*8:10 P.M. D. Decision on Recommendations for Future Graduations, ¬Mr. David Volrath (Goal 3)
*8:20 P.M. E. Decision on Contractor Table of Rates, Table of Rates July 2011-June 2012,
2011-2012 Contractor Auxiliary Costs-Formula Per Bus, Mr. Charlie Taibi (Goal 3)Presentations(s):
*8:30 P.M. F. FY2013 Capital Improvement Program Presentation, Preview of Proposed
CIP Request, FY2013 CIP Budget Request, Mr. Cornell S. Brown (Goal 3)*8:45 P.M. G. Strategic Communications Plan Update, Ms. Teri Kranefeld (Goal 3)
*9:00 P.M. H. Superintendent’s Report
Well, with the Monday agenda stating, “…decision on promotions and appointments…” perhaps there is still hope that John Archer and other troubled schools will be appointed new principals for the 2011-2012 school year. We can only hope!
Tune in to WAMD 970 AM at 5:05 pm today for a discussion about tonight’s school board meeting.