The Havre de Grace City Council is reviving the idea of establishing a magnet program at Havre de Grace High School, and is expected to introduce a resolution Monday night requesting upgrades be made to the school and its facilities in order to accomodate such a program.
A previous proposal sought to locate Harford County Public School’s Arts and Entertainment Magnet program at Havre de Grace High School. The resolution to be introduced Monday reads:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 34 SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MAGNET SCHOOL AT HAVRE DE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL AND REQUESTING FACILITY UPGRADES BE MADE.
Also during Monday’s meeting, Captain Bill Reeder, Lieutenant Steve Andrews, Lieutenant Gail Reeder, Firefighter Tom Phelan and Firefighter Rick Sova will be commended for the life saving efforts they provided in December; VFW Awards for Fire Fighter of the Year Ed Grainger and Emergency Medical Technician of the Year Brian Minutoli will be awarded; and a presentation wil be made to Eagle Scout Ian Jones.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
The full agenda is listed below:
COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
March 7, 2011
7:00 pm1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Opening Prayer by: Pastor Corey Sharpe of Hopewell and Wesleyan Chapel Church
5. Approval of the Minutes: February 22, 2011
6. Recognitions /Presentations/Proclamations:
A. Carbon Monoxide Presentation (Ms. Carol Mathis)B. Recognitions: (Presented by Mayor Dougherty)
Student of the Month
1. Havre de Grace Middle SchoolC. Eagle Scout Presentation (Presented by Mayor Dougherty and Councilmember Craig)
1. Eagle Scout Ian JonesFire Fighter of the Month (Presented by Mayor Dougherty and Councilmember Miller)
1. Firefighter Tom Phelan (Dwelling Fire, December 2010)
2. Captain Bill Reeder, Lieutenant Steve Andrews, Lieutenant Gail Reeder, Firefighter Tom Phelan and Firefighter Rick Sova (Life Saving Efforts, December 2010)
3. Firefighter Ed Grainger, Captain Ron Cardwell, Firefighters Earl Daugherty, Neil Campbell, Mike Forgey, Chris Buchanan, Donald Wooten, Tom Phelan and Melvin Wolinski (Duck Drop Committee, January 2011)D. VFW Awards (Presented by VFW Post 8126 Commander, Steve Koester and VFW 8126 President of the Men’s Auxiliary Mark Deal)
1. Fire Fighter of the Year: Mr. Ed Grainger
2. Emergency Medical Technician of the Year: Mr. Brian MinutoliE. AED Presentation (Presented by Ms. Kathy Harper and Brenda Desjardin and Chief Hurst)
1. Tidewater Players GroupF. Carbon Monoxide Recognitions (Presented by Mayor Dougherty and Chief Hurst)
1. Wal-Mart
2. Residents of Bulle Rock
3. Ms. Diane SmithProclamations: None
7. Appointments: None
8. Oath of Office: None
9. Comments from Citizens on Agenda Items:
10. Resolutions:
A Resolution concerning promoting the establishment of a magnet school (Councilmember Craig)A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO CITY CHARTER SECTION 34 SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MAGNET SCHOOL AT HAVRE DE GRACE HIGH SCHOOL AND REQUESTING FACILITY UPGRADES BE MADE.
11. Ordinances: None
12. Unfinished Business/Old Business: None
13. New Business: None
14. Director’s Report:
A. Ms. Carol Mathis – Director of Administration
B. Mr. Neal Mills- Director of Planning
C. Mr. George DeHority- Director of Finance
D. Mr. Larry Parks- Director of Department of Public Works
E. Chief Teresa Walter- Police Department15. Business from Mayor Dougherty:
16. Business from Council:
A. Councilmember Shank:
B. Councilmember Correri
C. Councilmember Miller:
D. Councilmember Cullum:
E. Councilmember Craig:17. Business from Council President Martin:
18. Comments from Citizens:
19. Adjournment:
There is no money in the Harford Co. govt. or BoE budgets for any improvements at HdG HS at this time. A more pressing need is for another vocational school somewhere along Rt.40.
I agree there isn’t any $$, but HdGHS is in dire need of repair. When driving by HdGHS, my son asked if that was the jail! Also in agreement about needing more vocational opportunities. They’d probably never go back to this, but students used to take their core classes at their home school and then for the other part of the day, they’d go to Vo-Tech to take their trade classes. Seems like they could accommodate a lot more students that way. I believe that Cecil County still runs their Vo-Tech program like this. Again, it probably would never work to go back this way, but it’s a shame that we graduate so many students who do not plan to go to college and are ill prepared for making an above minimum wage.
You are absolutely correct about the way the Vo-Tech program used to be run and there is no legitimate reason that it cannot be run that way today.
When Edgewood was rebuilt, many in the community wanted vocational programs in that school and the school board/system didn’t want it. That school has many empty seats in it. Additionally the old high school building at Aberdeen is completely underutilized. What about something there? 9th graders at Harford Tech almost all take “core” classes. What about making it a 2 or 1 year school. it would save money and make many more seats available for vocational training.
I am in complete agreement. Not all students go on to college even if they have the academic skills. The school system needs to provide other opportunities besides the college trac.