The March 26 meeting agenda for the Harford County Board of Education includes a series of recognitions and contract approvals, approval of a new principal appointed to the alternative education school, and an update on the 2012 Maryland General Assembly.
Kicking off a series of recognitions, Dr. Gerald Scarborough will be inducted into the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame. Before his retirement from HCPS in 2008, Dr. Scarborough served as the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. He is currently an adjunct professor at Towson University.
Andrew Cassilly, resource conservation manager for HCPS, will be recognized as the winner of the 2011 “Innovator of the Year” award from the Maryland Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Winners of state and regional titles for the winter athletic season will be recognized, including the state champion cheerleading squad from Harford Technical High School; the Aberdeen High School Girls Basketball team; state wrestling title winner Zach Cullison of Fallston High School, and several regional wrestling champions.
Among the items to be approved on the consent agenda is the monthly report on personnel, which includes the appointment of Michael J. Thatcher as principal of the Alternative Education School at the Center for Educational Opportunity, located in Aberdeen. Thatcher was appointed to the secondary principal pool in February.
Also on the consent agenda are two HCPS School/Organization Sponsored Projects; such projects are funded through the efforts of local school communities. Patterson Mill Middle/High School is seeking approval to procure and install a $24,635 electronic, baseball scoreboard. Southampton Middle School is seeking approval of a project to restore a school courtyard that will be used as an outdoor classroom and will be maintained by the school community. The estimated cost of the courtyard project is $11, 975.
Superintendent Robert Tomback will recommend approval of a contract with Johnson Controls Inc. for a “Performance Contract Investment Grade Audit” at 27 schools. The audit is to identify options for energy cost savings.
Superintendent Tomback will also recommend the award of a $152,894 contract to Hickory International, Inc. of Bel Air to purchase one “2013 International, single axle Hook Lift Truck with Snow Plow, Salt Spreader, Flat Bed Body and two 25 yard containers.”
School board members will appoint designated community and school representatives to the 2013-14 Calendar Committee.
Board acceptance of a one-time payment of $1,580,528 from Harford County Government is also planned. The payment is to cover the cost of employee bonuses paid by HCPS in December.
Superintendent Tomback will recommend that HCPS act as the lead agency on a national contract with Cintas Corporation of Mason, OH. The contract is for “Facility Solutions” such as uniforms, mops, mats, towels, and cleaning products. According to published documents supporting the superintendent’s recommendation, being the lead agency on such a contract will carry a fiscal benefit. Public agencies nationwide will be allowed to use, or “piggy back”, onto the HCPS contract, just as HCPS piggy backs onto other national contracts headed by other lead agencies.
In new business, school board members will make a decision on “refinancing the A. A. Roberty Building Certificates of Deposit and the Harford County Phase I and Phase II Energy Leases.” No additional information was published by HCPS for this agenda item.
A legislative update on the 2012 Maryland General Assembly is on the agenda and is likely to include the latest word on the state budget. In addition, the published legislative report includes the passage of a state Senate bill affecting the required levels of local education funding known as “Maintenance of Effort” (MOE). The Senate bill allows county governments to override voter-approved tax caps to raise property and income taxes if the money is used to fund an approved, local education budget. If a county fails to meet the MOE requirement and also fails to obtain a state waiver, the proposed legislation would empower the state to withhold local income tax revenue from the county government and distribute the required education funding directly to the local school board. A House version of the MOE bill was amended to conform to the Senate version and received favorable House committee reports on March 16.
A bill granting limited voting rights to the student member of the Harford County Board of Education was passed unanimously by the state Senate, according to the published legislative update. A House hearing was held on March 15.
As always, the school board meeting will conclude with a report by Superintendent Tomback.
Below is the published March 26 meeting agenda for the Harford County Board of Education. The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air. A public comment period is planned for 6:55 p.m. Please note that published agendas are subject to change.
AGENDA
March 26, 2012Board Open Session – 5:25 P.M. – Board Room
Board Closed Session – 5:30 P.M. – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 P.M. – Board Room6:30 P.M. Call to Order – Dr. Leonard D. Wheeler, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance*6:35 P.M. Recognition
HCPS Educator Hall of Fame – Dr. Gerald Scarborough
2011 Maryland Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council “Innovator of the Year” – Andrew Cassilly
Winter 2012 MHSCCA State Cheerleading Winner – Harford Technical High School Cheerleading Squad
Winter 2011-12 HCPS MPSSA Region/State Winners*6:55 P.M. Public Comment
*7:05 P.M. Introductions
*7:10 P.M. Board Committee Reports and Comments
Old Business
Action Item(s):*7:25 P.M. A. Consent Agenda:
1) Minutes of Previous Meetings: (Goal 1-4) March 12, 2012
2) Monthly Report on Personnel, Tenure Recommendation (Goal 3)
3) Decision on School/Organization Sponsored Project: Patterson Mill Middle/High School Purchase and Install Scoreboard (Goal 4)
4) Decision on School/Organization Sponsored Project: Southampton Middle School Green School Courtyard Project (Goal 4)Old Business
Consent Agenda: Continued from Page 1
5) Decision on Performance Contracting (Goal 4)
6) Decision on Contract Award for Fleet Vehicle – Hickory International, Inc. (Goal 4)
7) Appointment of 2013-14 Calendar Committee Members Board Report, 2013-2014 Calendar Committee Members (Goal 3)
8 ) Approval of the One Time Payment from Harford County Government (Goal 3)
9) Decision on Award of Facilities Solutions Contract (Goal 3)
10) Resolutions: (Goal 3)
The Week of the Young Child
New Business
Action Item(s):*7:30 P.M. B. Decision on Refinancing the A.A. Roberty Building Certificates of Deposit and the Harford County Phase I and Phase II Energy Leases (Goal 3)
*7:50 P.M. C. Legislative Update and Possible Action, Mrs. Kathryn M. Carmello (Goal 3)
Presentations(s):*8:10 P.M. D. Superintendent’s Report
Closing
Future Meetings Review
Adjournment
A 153,000 truck????? What a huge waste of tax payer money! And teachers can’t get a step or raise… Pathetic
Please tell me how that truck improves instruction
Without proper working equipment, parking lots and entrances cannot be cleared of snow at a reasonable rate, creating delayed starts and extra snow days which you would probably complain about as well.
So yes, the new truck can improve instruction 🙂
Bullshit the schools are owned by the county which has plenty of equipment…
Great investment right after a winter with no snow! 1 school snow plow will do a lot in a county this huge…
Perfect time for the investment actually. Would you rather have them scrambling during snow season and paying top dollar for in-demand equipment?
And yes the county “owns” the schools, but the district takes responsibility for its property with its own Facilities and Transportation Departments.
If they truly need one they certainly do not need top of the line International Brand… I guess you think frozen salaries are fine as well?
They selected the lowest bid. It’s paid for with money from the capital budget, which has no impact on my frozen salary. If this machine means I don’t have to fall on frozen sidewalks, then by all means purchase it.
Amazing how the supposedly aggrieved teacher is the voice of reason in this discussion. Granted, frozen salary is an unappetizing dish; yet that does not seem to have altered Abingdonteacher’s ability to think clearly. Kudos.
Does that truck come with TruckNuts?