Referring to the fictional TV psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, Harford Schools Superintendent Robert Tomback said, “I’m listening…,” as he kicked off a set of public input sessions soliciting operating budget priorities for next year. The superintendent’s invitation drew calls for “technological parity,” safety upgrades, increased funding for teacher salaries and instructional materials, and revisions to a planned upgrade for the special education school.
The first of two public input sessions was held on November 29th at Patterson Mill Middle/High School in Bel Air, drawing a crowd of about 50 adults, many with children in tow. Drawing about 25 people, the second budget hearing was held on December 6th at the Center for Educational Opportunity in Aberdeen.
Homestead/Wakefield Calls for “Technological Parity”
Clad in red, parents from Homestead/Wakefield Elementary in Bel Air dominated the public turnout at both sessions calling for parity among schools in the distribution of computers and other forms of technology.
PTA President Mary Harris described the gap between Homestead/Wakefield and newer elementary schools as a “staggering discrepancy” that created “second class citizens of students.” Harris pointed to a HCPS budget guide showing the average number of students per computer countywide is 2.9 to one for elementary and middle school. The average at Homestead Wakefield is 6.3 to one, Harris said, making it difficult for students get computer time.
Harris said that the school’s PTA raised approximately $50,000, including pennies and nickels brought in by one student, for technology such as whiteboards and printers. Still, she said that fundraising couldn’t keep up with what other schools have and what is needed for students who will join a technology-driven workforce.
Harris asked for an immediate increase in computers at Homestead/Wakefield, with money to come from this year’s technology budget and fund balance. Along with other speakers from the school, Harris said that the technology gap should be considered before millions are spent to build new schools. Harris provided the following quote from her prepared remarks:
“Approximately $115 million is now going to be requested to build a new elementary school and a new high school. We ask that you consider, that before a brick be laid for these newer buildings (that will have even greater advanced technology and that will push our children even further behind), that sincere efforts be made by the Harford County Public School system to achieve technological parity and bridge the widening gap that puts an unfair load on the backs of our students and teachers.”
Harris also requested a report from HCPS on the number of computers at each of the county’s 33 elementary schools.
At the public input session on December 6th, Harris was back after having toured Harford County’s two newest elementary schools – Red Pump in Bel Air and Deerfield in Edgewood. Harris said that the disparity in technology between old and new schools was “obscene.” Citing plans announced by County Executive David Craig to get rid of old, multi-building schools such as HWES, Harris said that the school, which had been at the top of the priority list for an upgrade was now fifth in line at best, creating what she called a “double jeopardy” of old facilities and lack of technology.
While many students have computer access at home, HWES parent Theresa Bickler added that many others do not. “The public schools are supposed to be the one great equalizer,” she said, adding that technology should be distributed countywide to bring the most benefit to the greatest number of students.
Requests from Teachers
Funding for media and library materials was cut from $22 per student to $8, said Sarah Scholl, media specialist at Havre de Grace Middle School. She asked for funding to be restored next year for needs such as digital and audio equipment, as well as non-fiction books, which she said are emphasized in the new Common Core standards. Scholl also returned to the second input session on December 6th, saying that additional titles are needed to bring media centers up to date and some books on hand need to be replaced. “I can only tape and re-tape a book so many times before it won’t stay together,” she said.
Amarilyz Pimentel, a vice-president with the teachers’ union, Hall’s Crossroads Elementary School teacher and HCPS parent, called for an overall budget increase. Pimentel said that cuts in resources and teacher positions were reducing opportunities for kids. Her salary as a teacher, she said, was essentially being “redirected” to supply needed materials. Teachers’ workloads were also increasing “exponentially”, she said, listing a number of programs that require teachers to input student performance data, which she said took time to complete outside of the duty day. Pimentel asked Tomback to request a funding increase and concluded, “Our children deserve the best schools in Maryland, not just the best bargain.”
Requests from PTAs
Kim Holcomb, president of the John Archer School PTA, asked for a re-evaluation of plans to move the school, which is currently located near Harford Technical High School, to the campus of Bel Air Middle. John Archer is the only HCPS school that exclusively serves students with special needs.
The school system had planned to attach a new building for John Archer to Bel Air Middle, allowing for interaction between the student populations. While a modern facility is needed, Holcomb said, a scope study started in 2006 should be updated and alternate locations for the school should be considered. Hospital access should remain a consideration in revised plans, Holcomb said.
Joppatowne High School suffers from power outages and needs a backup generator, said Brenda Flenner, president of the school’s PTSA. Flenner also requested a fire alarm system that identifies the location of the pulled alarm. With the current system, Flenner said, staff stay behind when the building is evacuated to identify the location, wasting valuable time in an emergency. Joppatowne High needs a planned modernization, Flenner said, but she asked that the safety issues be addressed “sooner rather than later.”
Speaking on behalf of the Youth’s Benefit Elementary School PTA executive board, Beth Poggioli presented six elements identified by the group to encourage equity and parity within HCPS. The list included competitive professional salaries; staffing to maintain HCPS standards for class size; funding for proper school maintenance, particularly for older, multi-building schools, and technology upgrades to meet state targets. For the impending Common Core curriculum, the list included adequate training for staff and funding for materials of instruction.
Anyone who missed the public sessions can send input via email to budget@hcps.org, but don’t delay. On December 17th, Superintendent Tomback plans to unveil his recommended operating budget for the fiscal year 2014.
School board members, many of whom were in attendance at the superintendent’s two public input sessions, will have public input sessions of their own in January. Once it is approved by the school board, the operating budget will be submitted as a funding request to County Executive Craig in early February. For more information about the budget process for Harford County Public Schools, click on “A Community Guide to the Operating Budget” found here: http://www.hcps.org/budget/
How well the superintendent has listened may well be observed when he submits his upcoming budget recommendations to the school board.
If he was really listening he would get rid of Everyday Math and fire Sarah Morris.
I love everyday math. My kids are doing great with it.
Lol on the picture of Tomback. I think he is actually wearing are Bose noise canceling headphones so he can tune all of us out and do what he wants. He doesn’t listen to anyone…especially the teachers.
Colleagues,
With all due respect, what were you thinking last night? Who really believes that stranding the music teachers with a couple of hundred kids to organize, move through a building, monitor in-between performances, tune instruments, etc. is a good idea?
With the exception of the one staff member who jumped up from the audience to pitch in, we were registered in at nearly 100% lack of participation. That is right not one single person actually showed up. The staff member came as an audience member and we are eternally grateful and this is not on her.
The apathy in this building is appalling. Last night because of the safety issues it probably bordered criminal. For the first time in my life I can use this phrase literally. “Thanks for nothing.”
As a school team you didn’t even take the time to work out shared coverage for this event. I don’t ask you to attend all events. I ask that each team provide coverage for each event. When you share the load, you each end up with a couple of night activities. We have very few night events in this school. Please do not give me any lame excuses today. I simply am ashamed of the way you treated our children through lack of response.
If I were the music teachers, the next time you ask for a favor, I would walk away and ignore you just like you did to them last night.
By the way, despite all this our teachers and our students were amazing. That is the “God’s honest truth.” If I had to judge by last night, I would have to assume that you simply don’t care. I cannot believe that is true. This will be remedied.
Celeste Klima
Principal
Deerfield Elementary School
……………………………………
2307 Willoughby Beach Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
410.612.1535
http://www.HCPS.org
This is a typical email sent to the entire staff by the Principal. We’ll see if the new Dr. Tom really cares about the treatment of our teachers. If you would like to hear the whole story behind this email, I will be glad to share.
Please explain.
So share already.
While I may not agree with some of the things stated in that email, I find it appalling that you would post an internal school email on a public forum, looking for some sort of retribution. If you have an issue with your principal, speak with your principal. If that isn’t an option, then move further up the chain. Don’t cowardly post an internal school district communication.
You only add to all the negative perceptions of HCPS teachers that some of us are tired of living with,
I would guess that Deerfield teachers are expected to motivate their students through building positive relationships, hard work, and inspiration — without excuses. Why should the principal do any less for her teachers? One of my first assistant principals told me, “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.”
Wow… this is unbelievable that an administrator of a school could get away with talking like this to the staff! It sounds like bullying and harassment to me. Her email is filled with anger…. “Thanks for nothing”…”Probably bordered criminal”… “Do not give me any lame excuses”…. “I am ashamed”…. and this ineffective hostile leader ended the email with the best of all “This will be remedied”. Talk about retaliation and a controlling power hungry adminstrator. Please HCPS, do something about this. It happens more than you know. I don’t blame a staff member for posting this, the general public has no idea what goes on “behind closed doors” and the ineffective leadership of some HCPS leaders. I would not want to teach at this school with a principal like Celeste Klima! I can guarantee you that there will be lots of transfer requests to get out of there!
With regard to the principal at Deerfield, she must have been embarassed, frustrated and scared for the safety of the students during the event. Unfortuantely, sending that email to her staff will not remedy anything. It is sad that there is that much apathy in her building. However,her concerns would have been better addressed during the weekly faculty meeting, in person. Never put anything in writing that you don’t want others to know you said. It’s hard to deny something in print. On the other hand, if the staff member providing the email wanted to make a point, they could have done so with out including the principals name and location. If they are trying to get attention for their “typical” treatment they should have forwarded it ( and any previous) to the director of elementary education. Of course, maybe they have, and it has gone unnoticed. Seems pretty obvious that Deerfield is an unpleasant place to work and it probably impacts every student in the building. Perhaps it is time for the HCPS shuffle.
Lets break down this email a little. First, is it not the Principal that is in charge of the safety and security of the school? Why yes it is. Why did the Principal not better prepare for this event? Why was there no sign up sheet for volunteers? That’s right, volunteers. Teachers are not paid for after school activities. If the Where was the Principals administrative staff to help with this event? Klima states that safety issues bordered “Criminal”. Well, does this educated lady know the defination of vicarious liability? Apparently not, because if she did, she would know that she is the one that would be held criminally and civily responsible.Lets put this into perspective for a minute. If an Army is going into battle and the General has a date, time and location for the battle but he does not organize, ask for or command support and nobody shows up, who’s fault is that? The facts are, the music teachers were asked if they needed assistance. They did not need any. Nothing was ever put out by Klima asking for volunteers. Klima panicked and is now lashing out at the staff. What really needs to be looked at here is ineffective leadership and planning on Klimas part. She is a classic example of blamming others for her own shortcomings. Looks like the makings of a hostile work environment claim.
I for one have no faith in Dr. Tomback. He has showed over and over the lack of respect he has for his employees. Why all of the sudden does he care? What has changed?? Is it the fact that his contract is up in March? Could that be the reason he’s all ears now? Because before he showed nothing. He stands up and gives a speech about nothing. And then expects us to clap? I really hope for all of our sakes that he wants to do better by his employees. But you know the old saying: “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That doesn’t mean put on a dog and pony show then turn around and throw us all back under the bus. We’ll see…
I think people are desperate. You can’t go above your principal to the assistant superintendent. There is a very clear chain of command and you are not allowed to go above anyone’s head. This protocol has been clearly established by Dr. Tomback. If the teachers’ principal is not willing to listen they are SOL unfortunately. This is why central leadership is clueless (by choice?0 as to what is really going on at the ground level. Not only don’t they hear directly from teachers, they rarely visit schools and spend time seeing what is really going on in each building.
Why is it that no one can actually speak to the great and powerful Dr. Tomback? Do not tell me this school system is so large that he needs buffers and principals can’t talk to him directly. Just because they did it that way in Baltimore County (much larger and different) shows that he is incapable of providing the management and leadership style that is needed here. Most effective leaders want to talk to the people in the trenches or delivering the services and see and hear for themselves – not through a filter of someone who is working for them. What you have when you have no leadership is akin to The Lord of the Flies. If the Board of Education doesn’t get rid of him, they really will appear to be a worthless group since their most important job is hiring and overseeing the Superintendent. Last time out they hired an outside group to do it and didn’t even bother to vet the final candidates. Maybe the lone Board member who was involved can defend that decision to everyone.
And that member is Alysson Krchnavy.
Tombeck is to the public schools what Bane is to the sheriffs department. Enough said.
Klima is an example of a horrible principal. HCPS has a way of moving “bad apples” up the chain of command. Principals can hold your evaluation over your head so many teachers are often afraid to say anything to the union or anyone else. There is a power trip involved for many administrators. Klima’s email is unprofessional, but it is not uncommon in the school system. Teachers are scared and fearful of what can happen if they do speak up.
WOW! This principal must go. She is very unprofessional. Did she have a sign up sheet for volunteers of parents, ADMINISTRATION, and teachers? Where was she? Principal Kilma needs to fired ASAP!!!!! She is definitely threatening her staff and I hope she is held accountable by LAW. She also needs to get out of the teaching field. I appaulde the person who posted this, because we as parents of public school children hear from teachers on how central admin and principals treat them but their hands are tied if they need a job and love to teach. Not all principals are like her but BOOT HER OUT PERMANENTLY!!! Tombeck and the Assistant of Elementary Ed better act, and act now.
In terms of booting out principals, this ranks down on the list behind the experiences of a friend of mine whose 4th grader is being bullied and the principal is ignoring both the parent and stated HCPS zero-tolerance anti-bullying policies and not doing something about it.
At every school I’ve ever been at, each teacher was expected to chaperone a certain amount of after school events (dances, concerts, sports games, etc). In almost every case those assignments were known before the school year started. At the very least, this shows that the principal lacked the foresight (or at a minimum the administrative oversight) to get this taken care of in advance. It also shows that the principal then went on a power trip to vent after her mistake, which unfortunately is also common amongst administrators of schools not only in this system but many others across the country.
As a teacher in HCPS, I have volunteered to help out at numerous activities. We have a very supportive principal and if she asked the faculty for help, most of us would help. First, the principal needs to ask and second the principal needs to have the respect of the staff. Sounds like this principal is batting 0-2.
If Joppatowne is suffering from frequent power outages, the solution is not to buy a back up generator, the solution is to get BGE to fix the infrastructure problems that contributes to this. A backup generator costs money and then there are maintenance and fuel to support it. Since HCPS does such a lousy job of maintaining it’s own infrastructure, I think the last thing you should ask them to do is support a backup generator.
I don’t think there is anything in the HCEA-HCPS negotiated contract that requires teaching staff to work/facilitate/attend off-duty, after-school assemblies. I could be wrong.
This is part of an email I received from Aberdeen High School’s principal, Mike O’Brien, after asking him to be specific in reference to how a victim of a harassment incident is documented and cared for….
From this point moving forward, I will be the sole point of contact to communicate with you regarding school policies and procedures, acadmics (non-IEP), and discipline for your son. I will be the intermediary between yourself and any staff member that is not associated with Seth’s IEP. You may continue to communicate with Seth’s case manager. Any non-IEP correspondences directed to anyone but myself will go unanswered. If you wish to meet with any teacher or administrator (not including IEP meetings), please contact me to set up a conference for you.
Mr. O’Brien
Michael L. O’Brien
Principal
Aberdeen High School
410-273-5500
Not knowing the story behind this email, it would seem that you pissed off the administration and teachers at ABHS. If you feel you or you son are being treated unfairly, take it to the central office. It appears your son has an IEP, so get the director of special education services involved also.
The principal involved in this situation has a well-known and well-deserved reputation as a micromanager. He had a tough job to do, going in to that school and trying to change the culture of the school for both students and staff. Unfortunately, he has alienated teachers, students, and parents alike with his petty, vindictive, and boorish nature. It is sad, really, because he had the opportunity to be really good but just couldn’t get out of his own way.
Joppatowne Power issues with BGE have existed for years……BGE is not going to fix it!
SMH,
Thank you for your advice to go up the chain of command, however I have been through the entire chain of command with our issues, and it continues to fall on deaf ears, so I hope Mr.Tomback is listening now…
The story behind the email is that Mr.O’Brien abuses his power frequently with students, teachers, and parents to accomplish his own agenda of self interest. I have an excellent relationship with all my child’s teachers, especially his special educator. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better team of educators, however they fear the wrath of Mr.O’Brien.
This is a struggle I have been experiencing since last May, and only went public with it recently, out of desperation for a resolution. Mr.Tomback is in receipt of numerous emails from me, and his only response was acknowledge my emails in a letter, not answer any of the proposed questions in my emails, and attempt to “railroad” my child’s due process.
Mr.O’Brien, and his superiors bully teachers, parents, and students on a regular basis. It needs to be recognized, and stopped!
SMH,
I apologize, I am new to all this kind of correspondence, and I believe I put my comment in the wrong place the first time…
Amy Lindecamp says:
December 16, 2012 at 10:47 am
SMH,
Thank you for your advice to go up the chain of command, however I have been through the entire chain of command with our issues, and it continues to fall on deaf ears, so I hope Mr.Tomback is listening now…
The story behind the email is that Mr.O’Brien abuses his power frequently with students, teachers, and parents to accomplish his own agenda of self interest. I have an excellent relationship with all my child’s teachers, especially his special educator. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better team of educators, however they fear the wrath of Mr.O’Brien.
This is a struggle I have been experiencing since last May, and only went public with it recently, out of desperation for a resolution. Mr.Tomback is in receipt of numerous emails from me, and his only response was acknowledge my emails in a letter, not answer any of the proposed questions in my emails, and attempt to “railroad” my child’s due process.
Mr.O’Brien, and his superiors bully teachers, parents, and students on a regular basis. It needs to be recognized, and stopped!
Reply
Just thought I would bring to light some of my new concerns with the Principal and Assistant Principal at Deerfield.
Recently, Mrs. Klima hired 7 IA’s and IF’s to assist the staff. However, the new employees are not held accountable by either Klima or the Assistant Principal. (the new employees do have one thing in common, but will leave that alone)They are not held to the same strict dress codes as the teachers and other staff, as they wear jeans, inappropriate T-shits and other unprofessional dress. They are allowed to use their cell phones while they roam the halls, report late for work and leave early with no consequence, allowed to leave the school during their lunch, this is usually only reserved for Klima herselfm have no additional assignments, such as cafeteria duty, crosswalk duty, bus duty. These jobs are left to the classroom teachers. For instance, how safe can it be for 2 teachers to monitor several hundred kids during lunch? Klima informs the teachers that they are responsible if anything happens. Klimas policy for teachers is that you can not use a personal day in conjunction with a weekend, however, the new IA’s are permitted to do so. Several teachers have complained about the new IA’s, Klima and the Asst. Principal have stated that their way of dealing with the complaints is to tell the person who has complained about them. Yep, that’s it, nothing further. The teachers that did make the complaints were then “Observed” by Klima and given “Cause for Concern” evaluations. The Teachers Union has come to address the teachers concerns, however very few will speak up due to the fear of being targeted by Klima. I know this just sounds like whining, but this Principal is out of control.
What you need to be concerned about is ineffective representation by HCEA. Where is Burbey? I’m not much on unions but this is exactly the type of issue where they ought to have some involvement.
What is wrong with HCPS? Well a great symptom is that the Principal can hire 7 non-instructional staff while HCPS ignores the need for paying good teachers well. The other symptom is that the Principal has the authority to act like a dictator with no consequences. I avoid classifying any of them with the term “professional” because obviously they are just a bunch of thugs.