The first school board elections in Harford County have prompted Harford County Public Schools to issue new guidelines restricting political campaigning on school property and at school-sponsored events. HCPS is not the only school system to regulate campaign activity, but can such limits on political expression be enforced? The HCPS guidelines were issued to school […]
No Bonus for Harford Schools Superintendent Tomback
In the same year that Harford County Public School employees flooded school board meetings to protest potential salary cuts and actual increases in their healthcare costs, Harford Schools Superintendent Robert M. Tomback will not receive a performance bonus for his first year on the job. Dr. Tomback’s four-year employment contract with the Harford County Board […]
Edgewood/Joppa School Board Candidates Debate Issues at Harford PTA Forum
School uniforms, vocational training, fluff courses, and flat screen TVs were among the wide range of topics covered by the candidates running for the Harford County Board of Education in District A (Edgewood/Joppa), at an August 17 forum hosted by the Harford County Council of PTA. Charter schools and a policy on extra-curricular activities also […]
Pastor McDonald Drops Out of Board of Education Race; Endorses Robinson
The first candidate to file for the first Board of Education elections in Harford County is dropping out of the race in District A (Edgewood/Joppa). Pastor Antonio (Tony) McDonald of Fountain of Life Fellowship Church in Edgewood told The Dagger that he is abandoning the effort because of other commitments and because of problems getting […]
Harford Schools Scratch Pad: Board Member Smilko Says Goodbye, New Administrator Lawrence Says Hello
An occasional series of informal reports and observations from meetings of the Harford County Board of Education. The last school board meeting of the summer of 2010 was about as quiet as you would expect for a Monday evening in August (August 9th to be exact). But there were some notable moments nonetheless: hopeful signs […]
Management Changes Continue at Harford County Public Schools
Management changes continue for Harford County Public Schools, as one newcomer arrives to fill a newly created position and several members of senior staff are on their way out, leaving openings to be filled within the next few months. Dr. Jonathan Brown was appointed on July 12, 2010 to the new position of director of […]
Tomback Year One: Sizing Up The Harford School Superintendent’s First Year On The Job
July 1, 2010 will mark the end of Dr. Robert M. Tomback’s first year on the job as the superintendent of Harford County Public Schools. How’s he doing so far? To be fair, Dr. Tomback faced harsh economic realities over the past year and any assessment of his performance should take that into account. At […]
Harford’s Blended School Board – A Guide
The Harford County Board of Education serves nearly 40,000 of the county’s youngest citizens, managing of one of the largest public school systems in the nation. Board members hire the superintendent, set local education policy and establish local curriculum, among other duties. In dollar terms, each year the Harford School Board oversees nearly half a […]
