The August 12th meeting agenda for the Harford County Board of Education includes an extraordinary presentation on the budget, a notable omission, approval of administrative appointments and departures, and further review of the proposed capital improvement program for next year.
First on the agenda, the School Board plans an extraordinary “Budget Presentation,” unusual for its timing apart from the regular budget cycle. No additional details were published. However, the Board has been criticized of late for implementing pay-to-play and student activity fees and making cuts to bus transportation service in the upcoming school year. The Board made both moves to help balance its operating budget with available funding for the fiscal year 2014, saving a total of approximately $1.5 million in an overall operating budget of $424.7 million.
Also early on the agenda is a presentation by Ryan Burbey, president of the Harford County Education Association. No additional details were published for this item.
Notable for its omission from the agenda is a planned resolution by Board Vice-President Rick Grambo. Grambo’s proposal withdraws the school system from the Common Core State Standards initiative and related testing, and rejects the associated implementation funding from federal and state authorities. A copy of the planned resolution can be found here. Under certain conditions, items not included in the published agenda may be raised during the meeting.
On the consent agenda, Board members will accept a report on personnel who have left the school system as of July 31. Notable separations not due to retirement include Director of Community Engagement Jonathan Brown and former John Archer School Principal Deborea Montgomery.
Montgomery was transferred to a central office position in 2012, shortly after a school system investigation into allegations that she dragged a special education student along the floor and onto concrete outside the school. The incident was among other abuse claims made by parents at the school, which serves students with special needs.
Later on the meeting agenda, Superintendent Barbara Canavan will recommend Board approval of administrative and supervisory appointments and promotions as presented by Jean Mantegna, assistant superintendent for human resources.
Also on the consent agenda, Board members will appoint Mr. Donald Beynon, Jr. to a vacant position on the Audit Committee. The committee provides financial oversight for the Board of Education and is composed of two Board members and three volunteer citizens. Beynon is a retired supervisor of assessments in Harford County for the Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation, and a former chairman of the Harford County Liquor Control Board.
Finally on the consent agenda, Board members will approve a request by the Harford County Department of Parks and Recreation to expand and bring into ADA compliance the public restroom facilities at the Jarrettsville Recreation Complex located at Jarrettsville Elementary School. The $300,000 improvement project will be conducted and paid for by the county department, which will continue to maintain the restrooms.
Other action items include Board votes on four policies previously recommended for deletion in an ongoing review of the Board Policy Manual. The following three policies were recommended for removal because they are administrative and operational in nature, and therefore fall under the purview of the superintendent: Absence of Principal, Emergency Procedures for the Public Schools of Harford County, and Management of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders. The policy on Student Control and Classroom Management was recommended for deletion because the policy requirements are inherent in the job of the principal.
Board members will get another in a series of presentations on the Fiscal Year 2015 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The proposed $76 million budget request for next year, which was last revised on July 16, is subject to further amendment throughout the capital budget cycle. Board members are slated in September to approve the initial budget request, subject to final approval by state and county funding authorities.
The meeting will conclude with a report by Superintendent Canavan.
The August 12 meeting of the Harford County Board of Education is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the A.A. Roberty Building in Bel Air, with a public comment period scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Below is the published meeting agenda. Please note that the published agenda is subject to change.
Agenda
Monday, August 12, 2013
Board Open Session – 5:55 PM – Board Room
Board Closed Session – 6:00 PM – Board Executive Conference Room
Board Business Meeting – 6:30 PM – Board Room
*Times are approximate6:30 PM
Call to Order – Mrs. Nancy Reynolds, President
Quorum Roll Call
Adoption of Agenda
Pledge of Allegiance6:35 PM
Budget Presentation, Mr. Joe Licata and Mr. Jim Jewell6:40 PM Public Comment
6:55 PM Board Committee Reports and Comments
7:10 PM Presentation by Harford County Education Association (HCEA), Mr. Ryan Burbey, President (Goal 3)
Old Business
Action Item(s):
7:30 PM A. Consent Agenda:1) Affirmation of Monthly Contracts (Goal 4)
2) Monthly Personnel Report (Goal 3)
3) Minutes of Previous Board Business Meeting: July 29 2013 (Goals 1 – 4)
4) Decision on Audit Committee Candidate (Goal 2)
7:35 PM B. Decision on HCPS Board Policies, Patrick P. Spicer, Esq.(Goal 4)
– Absence of Principal
– Emergency Procedures of Public Schools
– Management of Do Not Resuscitate Orders
– Student Control and Classroom ManagementPresentation & Discussion(s):
7:40 PM C. Presentation of FY 2015 Capital Improvement Program (Goal 4)
New Business
Action Item(s):8:00 PM D. Decision on Administrative and Supervisory Appointments and Promotions, Mrs. Jean A. Mantegna (Goal 3)
Presentation(s):8:05 PM E. Superintendent’s Report
Closing8:15 PM Future Meetings Review
Adjournment
No Ryan Burbey will be delivering an emotional diatribe full of false facts and the preaching of all things Marxism. Can we come and boo him?
I was hoping he would be coming to announce that he spoke to the Governor (that would be the same Governor that HCEA and MSTA ardently supports) and that since the State has had huge increases in gambling revenues this past year then Mr. O’Malley would be sending a check to HCPS. After all, the purpose of the legislation was to support education. Ryan, what did they do with the money? There are many millions involved, not just $10,000 stolen from some local high school.
What about Bel Air wal mart?