Another in an occasional series of opinion and observations following a meeting of the Harford County Board of Education:
Unusual goings on at the June 24th Harford County School Board meeting included a curious comment, pointed questions, good news for some laid off teachers, and heartfelt remarks by the normally stoic Superintendent Robert M. Tomback.
The meeting took an odd turn early on when Board Member Tom Fitzpatrick was praising the Board’s student representative for the 2012-13 school year, Panashe Mutombo, who was not in attendance Monday night.
Referencing the bright future he believed to be in store for Mr. Mutombo, Fitzpatrick made a curious comment: “You never can tell where a gentleman of African American persuasion with a strange sounding name may end up.”
Fitzpatrick explained after the meeting that he is a supporter of President Barack Obama, who has called himself a “skinny kid with a funny name”.
Next up was a sharp exchange among Board members thrown into confusion over what turned out to be a housekeeping amendment to Board policy that was related to, but did not change, plans to implement Pay to Play.
As a reminder, Pay to Play and other extra-curricular activity fees were recently implemented by the Board in order to balance the fiscal year 2014 budget, and save teaching positions that would otherwise have been cut.
Board Member Bob Frisch, who supports the fees, said that questions had been raised about the Board’s authority to implement the fees. Frisch said that the Board’s attorney had advised that while the Board acted within the bounds of its existing policy on collecting funds from students, a policy amendment was nonetheless recommended to clear up any ambiguity.
Board Member Alysson Krchnavy, who opposes the fees, agreed that a policy change was in order, but offered a different interpretation of the attorney’s advice. The Board was “between a rock and a hard place”, she said, having approved Pay to Play in violation of existing policy and therefore the correction was necessary.
Board Member Jim Thornton said he respectfully disagreed, but showed some pique at the suggestion that the Board had acted irresponsibly. “That is not what the general counsel expressed to us earlier this afternoon… for Ms. Krchnavy to say that in some way we were irresponsible as a Board to just simply ignore the general counsel’s opinion is not accurate. That is not factual.”
Whether or not it was required by the advice of counsel, after some discussion about process, the Board agreed to consider Frisch’s amendment for action at a future meeting.
While the necessity of a policy amendment may be inside baseball, the Board’s next move was of interest to the public in more ways than one.
It may not be widely understood, but the county budget process allows the county executive and the county council to fund capital projects that did not originate in a request from the Board. When these funds are offered, the Board’s only options are to accept the cash or return it to the county.
Such was the case this year with three projects: $1.6 million for upgrades to the Aberdeen High School stadium and weight room; $250,000 for electrical upgrades to support technology at Homestead Wakefield Elementary School, and $250,000 for weight room repairs at Joppatowne High.
Frisch, who represents Edgewood/Joppa, singled out two of the three projects, saying he could think of better ways to spend $1.6 million than on the athletic upgrades for Aberdeen High, and questioning why Homestead Wakefield should get money for technology when the system wide technology needs were so great. Frisch went on at some length, calling attention to these two projects and asking pointed questions to staff about their involvement – as if staff did something wrong in cooperating with inquiries from a funding authority.
Letting the public know that the Board didn’t request this money and that he had other priorities was fair enough; but what about the county money going to Joppatowne High, in the district that elected Frisch? Frisch barely mentioned it.
Several of his fellow Board members tried to cool Frisch down, agreeing with his call for better communication, but pointing out that raising tensions over something the county has the right to do wasn’t likely to improve school funding overall.
Board Vice President Nancy Reynolds summed it up thusly: “This is one-time money that came in at the very last minute. It’s not necessarily my priority but it’s for the children of the county, and that is my concern.”
In the end, Frisch voted along with the majority to approve the fiscal year 2014 capital budget, which included accepting county money for the unsolicited projects.
As the meeting drew to a close, there was finally some good news to report: 32 of the 46 teachers who were laid off due to budget cuts had been recalled into open vacancies, and six more elementary teachers were likely to be called back by the end of the week, according to Jean Mantegna, head of human resources.
Of the eight remaining laid off teachers, she said that three were in elementary school, four were in business, and one was in the trades at Harford Technical HS. Depending on their certifications and the number of additional retirements or other vacancies that may occur, Mantegna said after the meeting that more of the eight could also be recalled.
Last but not least, Superintendent Tomback bade farewell to Harford County Public Schools as his term comes to an end on July 1. Humorously referencing advice from Franklin Roosevelt, he promised to “be sincere, be brief, and be seated.” Tomback then thanked for the Board for their farewells delivered earlier in the meeting, and gave a heartfelt good-bye to “wonderful boys and girls, terrifically dedicated and talented staff, and a community that cares.”
He ended by citing the new HCPS motto, which was created by a student at C. Milton Wright High School and was newly attached to the boardroom dais Monday night: “Inspire, Prepare, Achieve.”
Was there any mention or discussion about a proposed landscaping ornament in the shape of the new HCPS logo that might or might not be erected in downtown Bel Air?
This is supposed to be a PUBLIC school. Students should not have to pay to participate in any school activity. I fell sorry for any who can not afford to play a sport or join the band, etc. This should not stand.
It is unfortunate that Harford County Government and County Executive Craig are not providing sufficient funds to run the school system without extra-curricular fees. Taxpayers and parents should be appalled that their schools are being forced into austerity measures.
That’s right, blame the CE, when it’s actually your so-called friends in Annapolis who won’t give up the money Harford County needs to fund your pie-in-the-sky budget. And why not? Because Mr. Craig is of the politically incorrect party. Because Harford Countians have shown the temerity to think outside the Democrat box and elect good-government Republicans to office (Havre de Grace and Edgewood excepted), the demagogues by the Bay penalize us by cutting off our funding. I’m surprised you’re whining, Mr. Burbey. After all, your friends in Annapolis gave you what you wanted: leeching union dues from non-union teachers. Haven’t you done enough damage?
I’m not seeing similar teacher cuts and pay to play programs in the surrounding counties. Are you saying that it’s only Harford county being treated bad by the mean state government? The funding choices eventually lay with the county. Do we cut here or here to balance the budget. Unfortunately it seems that Harford county has chosen to use Education and their local government employees as an easy place to balance the budget. Also I have to say I find it funny when an obviously rightward leaning person is crying foul over a reduction of funds from the state government to the local government. I wonder how much a Republican governor would have cut state funding to the counties under the usual standard of smaller government.
The state cut funding to Harford’s schools by $3 million for this coming year. This was the largest cut by the state of any county in Maryland.
Coincidentally, $3 million is the cost Burbey says would have paid for step increases. Yet for some reason he is trying to rally the troops against the county instead of the state.
The county increased funding for this coming year by $1.5 million.
It is true that state funding was reduced. State funding is done by an equation which factors in wealth. Harford County’s overall wealth has increased dramatically over the past ten years. Thus, its funding has been reduced. Even after the reduction, the State of Maryland still pays more for the education of Harford Counties children than Harford County.
FY13 State of MD funding to HCPS = 49.2%
Fy13 Harford County Government funding to HCPS = 46.4%
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http://dls.state.md.us/data/polanasubare/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm_annrep/Overview-of-Local-Maryland-Governments-WEB-COPY.pdf
It is unfortunate that Ryan Burbey continues to post drivel such as this.
Ryan, the County Executive (or more accurately the taxpayers) have increased county funding to the Board of Ed by 26% since he took office, despite the fact that student enrollment has fallen by 2,500 students. On a per pupil basis, funding has increased by 35%. It has never decreased from one year to the next.
I wonder how much more you think he should have given and how you would explain to the taxpayers why their taxes should increase to throw even more money at a school system that has demonstrated poor management decisions.
It is not necessary to raise taxes to fund education. County Government just must make funding education a priority rather than pet projects and maintain a 90 million dollar unallocated fund balance.
During County Executive’s term, 6 new schools were opened, which he boasts. Each one of those schools required an increase in staffing and expenditures despite slight declines in enrollment.
In both 2004 and 2005 HCPS was the lowest funded school system in the state of MD on a per pupil basis. HCPS still ranks near the bottom of the state for per pupil funding. The rankings are not yet in for FY14 but in FY13 HCPS ranked 19th. With Harford County government contributing less to public education than the state of MD.
The problem with examining the enrollment is that you are presuming a 1:1 correlation of cost to enrollment. Public school cost is a more complicated calculation. It is also dependent on programing and number of schools, as well as, other complexity factors. Unless you are suggesting communities with declining enrollment are going to give up their community based schools in favor of consolidated schools, the decline in enrollment is insignificant as it pertains to cost analysis.
The foundation of our communities is our schools. Each community should have its own schools. Consolidation is inherently harmful and robs communities of their identity and local educational focus. Our county government should fund our schools at a level which allows for success, development and community based schools.
As to poor decisions by HCPS, I would be curious to know the specifics to which you are referring.
Ryan, stop spreading more misinformation and half-truths. You know full well that most of those schools were replacements of existing schools with existing staff and existing student bodies.
Secondly, you cite funding rankings that include both state and county funding. You are well aware that Harford County does not receive certain state funding such as GCEI. Harford County contributes more the the local school system as a percentage of total school system revenue than most other counties in Maryland.
Regarding declining enrollment, I am merely asking the question as to whether staffing levels at HCPS need to have risen to the level they have when enrollment is declining. You are free to make the case that staffing has risen at an acceptable pace. However, one must also consider the fact that the funds expended on these new positions, many of which are not classroom-based at all, could have been allocated to pay enhancements for existing employees.
Loved the solution Mr. Burbey posited to the County Council on June 4th – his idea was to push more development in the declining areas. Pack ’em and stack ’em, right?
Sarah,
Every single item I cited is 100% factual. You can find the funding percentages and rankings here. http://dls.state.md.us/data/polanasubare/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm_annrep/Overview-of-Local-Maryland-Governments-WEB-COPY.pdf
Harford County does not contribute a greater percentage than most counties. Every replacement school was expanded to include additional programing. Science and Math Academy, IB, Natural Science, Heath/Bio-Med, etc. The elementary buildings war not replacements. All of these required additional staff. While some of the non-classroom based positions may require further consideration, there certainly are not a excessive amount of non-classroom positions which are expendable without an impact on the programing or without other employees taking on additional responsibilities. Neither I nor presumably you nor County Executive Craig, nor any member of the Council are in a position to adequately assess staffing needs. We need HCPS to accurately do that. I can only judge from my frame of reference. Teachers have moderate to large classes in most cases, except where class sizes have been deliberately lowered to facilitate optimal learning. I have never been to central office and seen folks just lolly-gagging around. I believe the same can be said for most if not all school-based administrators. All HCPS work hard. Should HCPS seek efficiencies, yes. However, they must do it in a responsible manner. Unfortunately, if funding does not increase, HCPS will no longer have that option. Teacher salary steps amount to about $3 million in an over $400 million budget. Traditionally, steps are funded through breakage(the difference between retiree salaries and new teachers), but HCPS has been forced to use those funds to continue operations. If funding does not increase there will be more dramatic cuts.
I pride myself on citing only accurate information. I have not interest in half-truths or mis-imformation. Check the numbers.
were not war, sorry.
The first thing you said was not factual. The county does not have even close to a $90 million unallocated fund balance. But regardless, you don’t spend one-time money on expenses that recur each year unless you have the income (revenue) to meet that committment in the future or unless you expect that fund to increase in size (which is not the case either). The county’s budget this year spends more than is has coming in as revenue, and they are dipping into fund balance to make up the difference. As it is, the county’s allocation to the Board of Education increased $1.5 million for next year. Dipping even more into fund balance to pay for an even higher increase is a dangerous game to play, since at some point there will not be any more money to dip into.
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Treasury/Download/992-1066.pdf
Pg.1
At what point do rolling over-estimates of cost and under-estimates of revenues become not one time money?
Ryan, you know full well that those are numbers from two fiscal years ago, although it does prove my point about the fund balance decreasing.
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Budget/Download/2153.pdf Page 31
When the amount of money in the fund itself decreases over time, that’s pretty much one-time money in my book. Once you’ve spent it, it’s not coming back at a level high enough to pay that same bill the following year.
If you have $1,000 in your savings account, and each month that amount goes down a little because you spend more than you earn, you don’t go financing even more things that would dry it up quicker. The state tried that a few years ago and it didn’t really work, did it?
Sarah,
The numbers are from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. It also shows a net year-end increase in fund balances. Again, http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/Treasury/Download/992-1066.pdf
pg.1.
The Craig administration has routinely under-estimated revenues and over-estimated expenditures in their budgets. Check you will see. In another couple of days, another fiscal report should be available.
Please review the budget presentation HCEA commissioned last year.
http://www.harfordcea.org/uploadedFiles/Affiliate_Content/HarCEA/News/Board%20Presentation%205-21-12.pdf
Ryan, even though I attended the original presentation, I reviewed it as you requested. So HCEA hired someone who makes a living going around telling local governments that they should spend more on education to tell Harford County to spend more on education. There’s nothing profound or earth-shattering in his report.
Harford County over-estimates expenditures and under-estimates revenue. That sounds like responsible budgeting to me. Would you rather it be the other way around? Do you want the county to spend every last dime it has in the kitty on recurring costs and roll the dice that it won’t have unforeseen or emergency one-time expenses? I suppose we’ll just have to agree to disagree, but I for one appreciate the responsible budgeting that the county has done in the last few years.
Sarah,
I don’t think it is responsible budgeting to starve out your teachers and school system when you are sitting on an enormous fund balance. If rainy day funds are not for times like this, what are they for? I appreciate the dialogue but if things don’t change soon, HCPS will be facing even more cuts which will have lasting impacts.
I love seeing an Obama supporter preach about responsible budgeting.
Starving? Please, toss a one percent raise out there and everything goes away until early spring next year, and the school funding would be fine, just like last year. The “horrible” funding becomes not so bad, as long as teachers are making just a little more.
Who are you going to blame when the state continues to cut its share, year after year because of the awful financial situation Maryland is in? When will you come out and publicly blast O’Malley and his successor as you have Mr. Craig? Very inconsistent.
B,
School funding is not fine, has not been fine and this problem will not go away anytime soon. This is not just about teachers’ salaries. Our schools are quickly falling out of pace with the rest of the state. Our students have fewer opportunities, less access to technology and aging curricular resources.
State aid for schools, as I have said before, is dependent on a funding formula which accounts for wealth. Harford County ranks 11th in per pupil wealth with a net increase from last year of .9 %. That is why funding was cut at a state level. The state still pays more towards the education of children in Harford County than Harford County Government.
FY13 State of MD funding to HCPS = 49.2%
Fy13 Harford County Government funding to HCPS = 46.4%
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http://dls.state.md.us/data/polanasubare/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm_annrep/Overview-of-Local-Maryland-Governments-WEB-COPY.pdf
MD is not in an awful financial situation. If Governor O’Malley was capriciously withholding funds from schools while maintaining an enormous fund balance, I would blast him relentlessly.
Despite how many would like to paint HCEA, we are a non-partisan educational advocacy group. We are actively seeking candidates from any party who supports public education. We advocate for our students, our schools and our teachers.
@Ryan
School funding is fine.
The educational system is broken. It’s so disorganized and undisciplined that it can’t help but waste money.
You’re right raising taxes is no the solution, and spending more money will not help fix it.
B. In all the time I have watched you on this blog I have only concluded that you are a loud mouth blowhard that begs for other people to be responsible. And does nothing himself to improve on the condition around you. It does not matter if you are conservative or liberal. You are just a troll.
Mr. Burbey,
You should not be arguing and performing what I would call “rabble rousing” on behalf of teachers on the forums of the Dagger Press. This is not the venue for arguments and heated discussions when you represent so many teachers. By arguing with the forum bandits of the dagger press pages we are only making more critics. Let’s have some class and refrain from these kind of arguments in this one sided hostile place. I would send you a private message, but I think you will ignore it. I will post this publicly because I believe fellow teachers will agree.
HCEA Member,
Please contact me. I do not ignore messages from any HCEA members.
FY13 State of MD funding to HCPS = 49.2%
Fy13 Harford County Government funding to HCPS = 46.4%
Pg.93
http://dls.state.md.us/data/polanasubare/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm/polanasubare_intmatnpubadm_annrep/Overview-of-Local-Maryland-Governments-WEB-COPY.pdf
All things considered, this is a first class post
Public school funding under the Craig Administration is up 35%. Send me your mailing address and I’ll send you a quarter so you can purchase a clue.
Harford County revenue has increased dramatically during the Craig admin. Funding for public schools as a percentage of revenue has decided.
Declined not decided.
If the funding increased, Why are the teachers being cut?
Funding has not kept pace with costs. HCPS has expanded programing, opened six new schools and expanded technology access. Fixed charges like fuel, heat, electricity have also risen. This years funding was a net deficit over last year.
And why should my tax dollars pay for your kid’s football equipment, or bus fuel, etc?
Because it’s a public entity much like roads and bridges and the police and fire department
here here comrade Burbey. Again you are commended for relentlessly re educating the people about the 5 pillars. Once we fully reeducate the youth, we will be free to see a glorious revolution.
I may not agree with everything Ryan Burbey says or does but at least he has the courage and moral fortitude to post under his real name instead of hiding behind aliases. People invoke the names of the founders often, but they signed their real names to things; they did not hide behind dead 19th century writers or characters from obscure movies from 1956.
What difference would a ‘real name’ make in an internet discussion board
These types of commenting forums matter as much as eating at McDonald’s, and is mainly a feeding ground for trolls. Even if one was to post their ‘real name,’ again, what difference does it make? I don’t know about you, but these ‘forums’ are entertainment to me as watching TV by reading some of the witty and hilarious comments.
This is the internet on a commenting section of a online news website, not a town hall meeting.
It does a lot to show that you have the guts to place your name next to your statement, regardless of how outrageous it may be. Perhaps you could take a cue from the Westboro Baptist Church and stand by your remarks with a sandwich board and as much hate as you can muster.
Uhh, there is no “showing guts” on the internet. Pretty hilarious and ironic you are posting under the name “Because,” aint it?
Further more, when you’re in your sammich line at the store and you get into a friendly debate with a stranger, before the end of your “debate” on whatever the topic may be you make sure that stranger has your full first name, amirite? Of course I am, this is the internet and as long as the reply button is there nobody can be one upped.
LOL!!! I look forward to more replies.
When you have someone in this column stalk you like I had, you will no longer use your full name either. This county is populated by some very opinionated hateful people with little better to do with their Christian Conservative ideals.
“This county…” You know someone multiple continents away can hit the “reply” button too, right?
It makes me laugh, the easiest way to solve a problem on the internet is don’t go to the website that bothers you the most, or use another fake name. LOL!!!!!
Or respond as best you can to the idiot you are fencing with over the same medium.
And how do you know anyone posting under any two-name combination is actually using their real name?
People post anonymously on here because they don’t want some sue happy woman from Aberdeen trying to institute a libel suit. The Dagger already had this issue before…….
I’m sorry, the woman was from HDG. Please forgive my mistake.
Very interesting how quickly you changed where the woman was from…one minute after the initial comment.
You are all a bunch of morons that go back n forth with he said/she said nonsense. Bottom line is teachers have been getting screwed for the past 5 years and now that students have to pay to play, everyone is all upset. Many teachers I know are getting out of here and moving out of Harford County or finding other teaching jobs elsewhere. Good luck for those who stay!
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass, and take Comrade Burbey with you
I love how Pay to Play is big issue, not increased class size, teacher cuts and lack of teacher pay, which will impact your kids.
I hope increase Pay to Play fees so parents will actually get more pissed!!!
Take away football and parents give a crap, too funny!!
HCPS teacher: Sad isn’t it? It took sports to get parents uptight, not larger class sizes or holding on to good teachers!!
Shows you where the priorities are…..
does anyone know why Frisch was grandstanding so pointlessly at monday’s meeting? i hope this doesn’t mean that he’s going to be making a habit of disingenuous self-promotion. That would be an embarrassment for the whole board (we already have to listen to Krchnavy’s cluelessness; please don’t let’s have 2 of them sitting up there).
Frisch is trying to build a foundation for a political office. The board is his pulpit.
well, that explains the grandstanding. But you can tell a lot about the man by the way he unprofessionally talked down to the HCPS staffers at that meeting. they were just doing their jobs, and his anger was misplaced (either thru cluelessness or convenience). He needs to think through his performances better before he starts his next ill-conceived and unconstructive rant.rant.
Did you listen? Don’t shoot the messenger just because you don’t like the message.
“observer”: I’m sorry. But i just can’t get this thought out of my head when I listen to Frisch’s words: I feel like the man is a disingenuous sneak and that he would rather self-promote at the expense of collaboration with his colleagues and stakeholders.
I hope I’m wrong, and I hope he proves me to be wrong. Thanks.
I see no one has addressed the elephant in the room; that beings he comment about “African-American persuasion with a strange sounding name”. In light of recent event in the news, the school board needs to address it ASAP. It was disrespectful, insensitive and unprofessional!
I think an apology is warranted. It was highly insulting to the young man to compare him to Barack Obama.
I was there and heard the tone and delivery of the comment. Mr. Fitspatrick ( not Mr. Frisch) is guilty of being somewhat naive and delivering an awkward compliment. PERIOD.
Hopefully pay to play weeds out some of the poorer better athletes, so the rich kids can make the team
I am soooo glad pay to play is taking effect. Nobody cares about teachers as long as the schools have materials, passing scores, and sports (and other programs) so parents can brag about how great their kids are to each other. You know the type. The ones with the big SUVs and one kid that the teachers raise 10 months out of the year. Take away sports and things will get done. This country treats teachers like sh*t. (especially HCPS) Why do you think the most secure building in the system is Central Office?
This county has placed a new assistant principal at Roye-Williams Elementary School. Please tell me why this man was removed from the same position at Fountain Green Elementary, but is fit to perform the same job at RWES? Parents of RWES children, you deserve the facts about this individual. SPeak up and ask. He has been hidden in the Human Resources Department since November of the past school year.
The new AP coming to RW is also in more trouble from what I hear! I heard more charges are being brought against him!! If he were a teacher, he’d be gone. Tsk! tsk!!
What about the other elementary transfers? Have anymore been made yet to other schools?
You know what, I’m very much inclined to agree.
Once again, I will tell you all how to solve this county issue and everyone can be happy, including parents, teachers, and the community. You start with this:
1. Eliminate the bus services entirely. Unless you can prove that you live in a rural area where walking proves difficult or you have health reasons, no buses. This will save money.
2. Eliminate all sports programs entirely. Make the sports programs part of local rec councils. As much as sports are nice, if they’re not doable in the schools then let them go.
3. Eliminate teachers supplying materials from the their own wallets. If little Johnny doesn’t have a pen then he should not participate until his family can supply the adequate materials. If a civic group has donated open-use materials, that is fine.
4. Eliminate the lunch and breakfast programs. This is a no-brainer. The students should pack their own lunch. This has worked for a very, very, very long time for many former and current school students.
5. Eliminate the idea that students should go to college. In the 9th grade, students who are behavior problems should have the option of quitting or entering a low-skill trade school. Those who are disciplined and civilized, should continue pursuing a tough academic track. Those who are fairly average should be allowed to pursue a general education geared toward high-skill trades and community college.