Passage last week of the county budget for fiscal year 2015 without added funding for salary increases in Harford County Public Schools triggered a contingency provision in the teachers’ contract providing two paid days off next school year. The contract for 2014-15 also allows the school board to provide additional unnamed benefits, subject to voluntary […]
Harford County Public Schools Students Disadvantaged by Limited GPA Weighting Policy
In the competition for college admittance, students in Harford County public high schools are hamstrung by the school board’s policy on weighted grade point averages, according to Harford school officials who are recommending that the board revise its policy. The proposal announced at a meeting Tuesday would increase the extra numerical value, or weight, currently […]
Harford County Council Budget Amendments Score Hits and Misses for Individual Schools
The Harford County Council on Tuesday approved a series of budget amendments for the fiscal year 2015, scoring hits and misses for individual Harford County public schools. Final passage of the county budget is planned for May 27th. The amendments affecting schools involved capital projects, arising in some cases because of advocacy by school PTAs, […]
Commentary: How Well Were Students Served When Each State Developed Its Own Standards and Tests?
The Common Core State Standards, adopted by most U.S. states, are supposed to ensure that the nation’s high school graduates are college and career ready, and able to compete in an increasingly global economy. Opponents contend that the standards are an unnecessary intrusion on local control of public schools. The dispute begs the question: How […]
Harford County Board of Education May 12: Energy Efficiency Program Update; Approval of Contract Awards and Budget Transfers
The Harford County Board of Education plans a May 12th business meeting to include an energy efficiency program update , approval of several contract awards and budget transfers, and a financial report projecting a $1.4 million unassigned fund balance for the 2014 fiscal year end. First on the agenda, the Board will recognize participants in […]
Harford County Public Schools Seeks Parent Input with Online Satisfaction Survey
Parents: Are you satisfied with the quality of your child’s education this year? Is school discipline fairly enforced? Is your school safe? Harford County Public Schools wants to know. Since early April, HCPS has been soliciting opinions from parents and guardians via its annual online survey that will be open this year through Monday, May […]
Baltimore County Job Fair Aimed at Luring Harford County Teachers Gets Shut Down
This is the story of what happened when the Harford County teachers’ union told the school board about its plans to help teachers leave Harford County Public Schools. Speaking on behalf of the Harford County Education Association (HCEA), the union representing teachers, HCEA board of directors member George Curry took to the microphone at an […]
Harford County Board of Education District A: Mullis and Robinson Meet in November; Election Rules and Reminders
Only two candidates are running for the Harford County Board of Education in District A (Edgewood, Abingdon, Joppatowne, Magnolia), so the two will skip the June primary election and appear on the ballot in November, according to Harford County Election Director Kevin Keene. Nonetheless, both candidates accepted The Dagger’s invitation to answer the same three […]
