UPDATE from HCPS: “The Board of Education meeting that is to take place this evening at 6:30 p.m. will still be held as scheduled. However, ALL recognitions that were to occur during the meeting tonight will be postponed to a later date. More information will be forthcoming when those recognitions are rescheduled.”
On the January 28th meeting agenda, the Harford County Board of Education plans to adopt an operating budget for next year, and induct former public information director Don Morrison into the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame. The January 28th school board meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air.
For the fiscal year 2014, Superintendent Robert Tomback has recommended an unrestricted operating budget of $442,872,460, which is an increase of $15.1 million, or 3.5%, over the current fiscal year. The increase is comprised of $6.3 million for salaries, $6.6 million for employee benefits and a $2.2 million increase in the cost of doing business.
School board members may choose to amend Tomback’s proposal before adopting the budget at the January 28th meeting. The adopted budget will then be presented as a funding request to county and state authorities.
Coincidentally, Harford County Executive David Craig is holding a county budget hearing on Monday (January 28) at 6:00 p.m. at Aberdeen High School. Teachers’ union president Ryan Burbey has urged teachers and concerns citizens to attend the county budget hearing to support education funding. (Please see related story)
Also on the school board’s agenda for Monday, the founder of the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame recognition program will join its ranks as the January inductee. Donald R. Morrison will be recognized for his 23 years of service, first as an Aberdeen high school teacher and coach, and later as the school system’s public information director. Morrison also became familiar to the public as an announcer for school sports and other telecasts on Harford Cable Network. In addition to founding the HCPS Educator Hall of Fame program, Morrison initiated the HCPS Teacher of the Year recognition program.
Also on the agenda, the school board will recognize top middle and high school musicians for their achievements for the 2012-13 school year. Following competitive auditions before a panel of experts, soprano Laura Ebsworth of North Harford High School and alto Allison Stokes of Fallston High were selected as “All-Eastern” musicians. In addition, a total of 31 HCPS students were selected for this year as members of the Maryland All-State Junior Band, the Maryland All-State Senior Band, and the Maryland All-State Junior Chorus.
Responders to a recent life-threatening emergency at C. Milton Wright High School will be recognized for their calm and quick response, saving the life of a student athlete. The response included the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), which sends an electric shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm. The device was used to successfully treat a C. Milton Wright basketball player who had a medical emergency during a game earlier this month. All HCPS physical education teachers, coaches and nurses are required to be certified in CPR/AED. Also, each team is required to have an individual trained in the operation and use of an AED present at all practices and games, according to HCPS.
On the consent agenda, Board members will approve the December report on personnel who have left the school system, are on leaves of absence, or are newly employed.
Also on the consent agenda, Board members will approve requests to transfer bus contracts to specified approved operators, in accordance with established procedures.
Citizen advisory committees will receive their respective charges from the school board for this calendar year. Areas of study recommended by Superintendent Tomback for each committee are summarized below. Citizen Advisory Committee reports are presented at a public board meeting each October.
1. Career and Technology Education – Evaluate the adequacy of the Career and Technology Education programs being offered in all high schools in terms of meeting both student and workforce needs, particularly those related to internship/mentoring opportunities.
2. Family Life Education – Evaluate the Family Life and Human Development Education program in Grades K-12 in terms of compliance with the new COMAR [Code of Maryland Regulations] for Comprehensive Health Education.
3. Gifted Education – Create a flyer and/or handbook for elementary school parents of gifted and talented students (for more details, please see agenda published below.)
4. Safety and Security – Review individual school critical incident plans; review school site surveys upon completion; review the effectiveness of metal detectors.
5. Special Education – Explore the continuum of programs for students with disabilities in HCPS and make suggestions for enhancements, as appropriate.
Finally, the consent agenda includes the adoption of resolutions on Career and Technical Education Month and National School Counseling Week.
Associate Superintendent Bill Lawrence will make a presentation summarizing previously released state test results and other measures of student achievement. According to the presentation, nearly 89% of HCPS students met or exceeded the state’s minimum standards for proficiency in reading in 2012; 87% met or exceeded the state’s standard for math. The graduation rate for the Class of 2011 was 87.4%, exceeding the state average of 82.8%. SAT scores for reading and math were above the state and national averages in 2012, but continue to lag both the state and the nation in writing. Enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and AP test-taking soared in 2012, with the passing rate rising by over three percentage points to nearly 64%. For detailed data on SAT scores and AP results in HCPS, click here and here.
As usual, the meeting will conclude with a report from Superintendent Tomback.
The January 28th meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom at the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air. A public comment period is set for 6:40 p.m. The published meeting agenda appears below. Please note that published agendas are subject to change.
Agenda
Monday, January 28, 2013
Board Open Session – 5:25PM – Board Room
Board Closed Session – 5:30PM – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 PM – Board Room
*Times are approximate6:30 PM
Call to Order – Mr. Francis F. Grambo, III, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance6:35 PM Recognitions (Goal 2)
– HCPS Educators Hall of Fame – Donald R. Morrison
– 2013 All-Eastern and All-State Student Musicians
– Emergency Response Team – C. Milton Wright High School Incident6:40 PM Public Comment
6:55 PM Introductions
7:05 PM Board Committee Reports and Comments
Old Business
Action Item(s):7:20 PM A. Consent Agenda:
1) Monthly Report on Personnel (Goal 3)
2) Minutes of Previous Board Work Session and Business Meeting: January 14, 2013 (Goals 1 – 4)
3) Decision on Transfer of School Bus Contracts (Goal 4)
4) Approval of Charges for Board Sponsored Citizen Advisory Committees (Goals 1,2 & 4)
5) Resolutions (Goal 2)
– Career and Technical Education Month
– National School Counseling Week7:25 PM B.
Decision on Operating Budget FY2014
New Business
Presentation(s):7:45 PM C. Strategic Plan Update #3 – Student Achievement Data (Goals 1 – 4)
8:00 PM D. Superintendent’s Report
Closing8:10 PM Future Meetings Review
Adjournment
This story has been updated – From HCPS: “The Board of Education meeting that is to take place this evening at 6:30 p.m. will still be held as scheduled. However, ALL recognitions that were to occur during the meeting tonight will be postponed to a later date. More information will be forthcoming when those recognitions are rescheduled.”
Don Morrison has done a great deal for students and the Harford County Public Schools. If anyone deserves to be inducted into the Educator Hall of Fame, it is Don.