UPDATE: In response to this story, Upper Chesapeake Health President/CEO Lyle E. Sheldon sent a letter to The Dagger’s Cindy Mumby indicating “The Analysis We have Done to Date Assures Us that This is Not a Quality of Care Issue”. Sepsis infection rates reported at Upper Chesapeake Health hospitals in Harford County were among the […]
Harford Schools Scratch Pad: Tomback’s Heartfelt Farewell; Board Fights Over Pay-to-Play; and “a Gentleman of African American Persuasion with a Strange Sounding Name”
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. […]
Harford Executive and Gubernatorial Candidate Craig: Adopting Common Core State Standards Was a “Great Mistake”
In a recent interview focused on education, gubernatorial candidate and Harford County Executive David Craig said that Maryland’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards wasn’t simply a mistake, it was a “great mistake”; ditto for statewide tests and education funding required under the state’s maintenance of effort law (“ridiculous”, both). And don’t get the […]
Harford County Board of Education Agenda June 24: Superintendent Tomback’s Final Meeting; Changes to School Cell Phone Policy; Final Approval of Capital Budget
The Harford County Board of Education’s meeting agenda for June 24 includes proposed changes to the policy on cell phones and other portable communication devices, final approval of the capital budget for next year, and a presentation on new capital projects proposed for the fiscal year 2015. The busy agenda for the June 24 meeting, […]
Harford Students Will Pay to Play in 2013-14; Board of Ed Sets Sport and Activity Fees to Raise Revenue and Save Teachers
Student participation in extra-curricular activities will soon carry a new price tag in the form of pay-to-play and student activity fees instituted Monday by the Harford County Board of Education. The $50 pay-to-play fee for each sport and $25 fee per student activity will be charged to students beginning in the 2013-14 school year. The […]
Harford County Board of Education Agenda June 10: Budget Cuts and Teacher Protests Expected
Budget cuts and teacher protests are likely to dominate the next meeting of the Harford County Board of Education. The budget decisions affecting next school year are on the Board’s June 10th meeting agenda, which, in turn, prompted the teacher’s union to plan the protests. The Monday meeting agenda also includes recognition of champion student […]
Teacher Preparedness for Common Core in Harford County Public Schools Among the Lowest Reported in State Teachers’ Union Survey
Despite millions in public funding and years of planning to implement the new Common Core State Standards, nearly two-thirds of teachers surveyed by the Maryland teachers’ union said last month that they were not ready to teach the Common Core curriculum that will be in effect statewide during the 2013-14 school year, prompting the union […]
Harford County Board of Education Agenda May 28: Promotions and Appointments; Recognition for Student Representative; Fence for Harford Tech
A rare Tuesday meeting of the Harford County Board of Education will feature approval of promotions and appointments for next year, and a proclamation thanking the Board’s student representative for his year of service. Action items include approval of a community-sponsored fence for the stadium at Harford Technical High School. Due to the Memorial Day […]
