Time will tell whether the new Common Core State Standards are a vital improvement in public education, or another reform that fizzled. One thing is clear: The tests won’t come cheap. At $29.50 per student, new tests aligned with the Common Core will cost over $2 million more than the Maryland state tests they will […]
Harford County Education Association Plans “Grade-In” Protest Over School Funding During Oct. 1 County Council Meeting
The union representing teachers in Harford County Public Schools plans a “grade-in” protest over school funding at a county council meeting set for Tuesday, October 1. Ryan Burbey, president of the Harford County Education Association sent an email to members last week urging teachers to grade student work while they attend the council meeting and […]
5 John Carroll School Students Report Online Contact with Apparent Sexual Predator; Bel Air Police Investigate Lewd Photo
John Carroll School Principal Madelyn Ball said Friday that students have reported receiving inappropriate contact through social media from what school officials believe is a sexual predator. Ball said the contacts occurred over the past month and as recently as this past week, involving sexually explicit messages from a sender using the names JP Smith, […]
Harford County Board of Education Agenda Sept. 23: Capital Budget; Reversing Proposed Ban On Extracurricular Team and Club Activities in Private Residences
At a business meeting set for September 23rd, the Harford County Board of Education plans decisions on a proposed $80 million capital budget request for next year, and reversing a proposed ban on extracurricular team and club activities in private residences. The School Board also plans honors for the 2013 Nurse of the Year, and […]
Harford Schools Scratch Pad: Has “No Pass, No Play” Policy Been Good for Students?
Another in an occasional series of opinion and observations about Harford County Public Schools: Public outrage and a potential class action suit over pay-to-play student activity fees enacted in Harford County Public Schools this year contrast starkly with a “no pass, no play” policy enacted years ago that disqualifies thousands of county students from sports […]
Harford County Board of Education Agenda Sept. 9: Five-Year School Facilities Maintenance Plan; Youth’s Benefit Elementary Replacement Building
The Harford County Board of Education plans a business meeting on September 9th to review proposed capital projects for next year and approve a five-year maintenance plan for school facilities. Also on the Monday meeting agenda, Board members will award a design contract for a Youth’s Benefit Elementary School replacement building, and approve the installation […]
Joppatowne Residents Attempt to Save Defunct Mariner Point Swim Club
When the pool at the heart of their community was shut down and put up for sale, Hanna Fitzpatrick, 13, her younger sister Katie Fitzpatrick, and their friend Grace Barnhart helped spark a long shot effort to save the beloved place where Joppatowne families had gathered for decades. It’s a long shot that could soon […]
Councilman Guthrie and Edgewood Leader Gear Up for Legal Action Against Harford County Schools’ Pay-to-Play Fees and Cuts to School Bus Service
Gearing up for legal action against Harford County Public Schools, County Councilman Dion Guthrie and Edgewood Community Council Chairman Jansen Robinson held a meeting Tuesday in Edgewood to gather potential testimony from parents harmed by the implementation of pay-to-play fees and cuts to school bus service in the school year just underway. Guthrie and Robinson […]
