Who’s Pulling the Strings? Councilman Slutzky Asks Gov. O’Malley to Release Info on School Board Appointments
Gov. Martin O’Malley was misinformed. How else to explain the letter from his education adviser explaining it was O’Malley’s job to pick the candidates “he believed were the most highly qualified” for the Harford County Board of Education?
If the Governor thought his selections were the most eager, or had rallied the right political support; fair enough. But the most qualified?
Continue reading Who’s Pulling the Strings? Councilman Slutzky Asks Gov. O’Malley to Release Info on School Board Appointments
Gov. O’Malley Disregards Nominating Committee and Taps Leonard Wheeler & Alysson Krchnavy for Board of Education
The Governor has chosen Alysson Krchnavy and Dr. Leonard Wheeler to fill the two open seats on the Board of Education, circumventing the recommendations of the Harford County Board of Education Nominating Committee.
The Committee, made up of representatives from the Office of County Executive David Craig, the Harford County State Senators, the Harford County House of Delegates and the Harford County Council who had recommended retired principal Nancy Reynolds and Dr. Mohammad Reza Shahab to fill those seats.
Continue reading Gov. O’Malley Disregards Nominating Committee and Taps Leonard Wheeler & Alysson Krchnavy for Board of Education
Kiss a CPA Today: State Audit Finds Serious Concerns In Operation of Harford’s Schools
Don’t you wish there was someone was out there making sure the folks who use taxpayer dollars to operate our public schools are safeguarding our money and using it in the most efficient way possible?
A team of Certified Public Accountants in the Maryland General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Audits have done just that by issuing their first audit of Harford County Public Schools in May of this year.
Continue reading Kiss a CPA Today: State Audit Finds Serious Concerns In Operation of Harford’s Schools
Former Principal Nancy Reynolds and Dr. Mohammad Reza Shahab Recommended for Harford County Board of Education
The Harford County Board of Education Nominating Committee conducted interviews with the five candidates last night and voted 7-0 to recommend former Bel Air Middle School Principal Nancy Reynolds and voted 4-3 to recommend Dr. Mohammad Reza Shahab for the two open seats on the board.
Now that the public has the background on at least five candidates for the Harford County Board of Education, it’s too bad we couldn’t have voted to put some of these highly qualified individuals in place. But that decision remains with the Governor. Or more accurately, with whichever local politician has the Governor’s ear. Still, the public has an interest in what happens next.
Continue reading Former Principal Nancy Reynolds and Dr. Mohammad Reza Shahab Recommended for Harford County Board of Education
Board Of Education Shakeup As Williams Resigns/Hess Becomes President/Merrell Vice President
Salina Williams, vice president of the Harford County Board of Education and a member of the board since 2003, abruptly announced her resignation Monday night during a session in which a pair of fellow board members ascended to new positions.
Along with Williams’ departure, there was a shakeup in the makeup of the Board of Education as Pat Hess became president and Lee Merrell became vice president.
Continue reading Board Of Education Shakeup As Williams Resigns/Hess Becomes President/Merrell Vice President
Bound or Gagged? - Superintendent Haas Tries Gag-Order To Silence Former Harford County Public Schools Administrator
School is out for the summer but that’s not all teachers have to smile about, thanks to a victory in a precedent-setting case involving Harford County Public Schools, freedom of speech and Chris Battaglia.
Battaglia is known as the former assistant principal who ran afoul of Superintendent Jacqueline C. Haas after he let it slip he was being transferred from C. Milton Wright High School and his supporters turned out at a Board of Education meeting to protest the move. Not only was Battaglia admired by parents and students, prior to the public outcry he was also highly regarded by his employer.
Continue reading Bound or Gagged? - Superintendent Haas Tries Gag-Order To Silence Former Harford County Public Schools Administrator
An Unofficial Stance On the Board Of Education Nominating Committee As Presented By Tom Fidler
It’s ironic, the way Harford County Board of Education President Tom Fidler chose to issue a lecture about the limits on the official authority of the County Council-created Board of Education Nominating Committee on unofficial stationery.
For such a ponderous pronouncement, supposedly agreed upon by the entirety of the Board of Education, you would think Fidler would have used the actual Board of Education seal and letterhead. You know, just to drive home how official the position is. Instead, it looks like he whipped up a cut and paste job at home on Microsoft Word before dashing it off to the Harford County Council. Continue reading An Unofficial Stance On the Board Of Education Nominating Committee As Presented By Tom Fidler
Want To Be On the Board Of Education? Get Your Resumes Ready
Candidates interested in being recommended to the governor by the newly formed Harford County Board of Education Recommendation Committee have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24 to deliver a letter of interest and a resume addressed to County Councilman Richard C. Slutzky, chairman of the committee at 212 South Bond Street in Bel Air. Submissions must be made in hard copy only.
Applicants must be at least 21 years old, may not be current employees of Harford County Public Schools and must have lived in the county for at least two years. Interviews will be held on Monday, July 7th beginning at 6:30 p.m. Opening statements of up to five minutes will be allowed, followed by questions from committee members. The public will be able to attend the interview session, although the vote will be held in a closed session, immediately following the interviews.
Continue reading Want To Be On the Board Of Education? Get Your Resumes Ready
Harford County’s Temporary Board of Education Nominating Committee Meets To Establish Rules
Anyone interested in seeing Harford County’s Temporary Board of Education Nominating Committee in action will get their chance tomorrow, Thursday, June 12, from 8 – 9 a.m. in the Harford County Council Chambers when the group meets for the first time to establish rules and procedures. The Dagger has learned the seat reserved for the Harford County Delegation will be shared by Delegates Susan McComas, Wayne Norman and Donna Stifler.
State Senators Barry Glassman and Nancy Jacobs will share the seat allocated to Harford County’s senators. The two positions representing the county executive’s office will be filled by Frank D. Boston Jr., Manager of the Harford County Office of Human Relations, and H. Roxanne Lynch, Director of the Office of Government and Community Relations.
Here’s the full press release:
June 11, 2008 at 6:43 pmMEDIA ALERT
On behalf of the Harford County Council
Date: June 3, 2008 Contact: Diane Burch
Bel Air, Maryland Phone No: 410-638-3343
EVENT
Temporary Board of Education Nominating Committee Meeting
DATE/TIME
LOCATION
Thursday, June 12, 2008 from 8:00 to 9:00 A.M.
Harford County Council Chambers 212 S. Main Street Bel Air, Maryland 21014
ACTIVITY
This will be the initial meeting of the Temporary Nominating Committee established by Harford County Council Resolution No. 24-08 for the purpose of establishing a temporary process that allows candidates interested in a Position on the Harford County Board of Education to submit their names to a committee of local officials who shall review the applicants and submitRecommendations to the Governor
PARTICIPANTS
The Honorable Richard Slutzky, Councilmember District E, the Honorable Dion Guthrie, Councilmember District A, the Honorable James McMahan, Councilmember District C. Other appointed members of the Temporary Nominating Committee
Thanks To Concerned Parents and A Phone Call, Fixes and Changes Are On The Way At Patterson Mill Middle/High
As of a couple weekends ago, the damaged Verizon utility box alongside the parking lot at Patterson Mill Middle/High School still had not been fixed after more than 6 months, despite many requests from the community. Exposed wires protruded from the split-open casing which jutted from the ground in an area frequented by the public and children of all ages. In response to recent inquiries, school staff reported that they were still waiting for the contractor and/or Verizon to address the problem.
Last Monday, The Dagger called the toll free number for Verizon’s repair service out of frustration and concern that this safety hazard would go another 6 months and possibly cause harm that should have been prevented. Verizon issued a call for service for the following day and in less than 24 hours, the entire box was removed.
Continue reading Thanks To Concerned Parents and A Phone Call, Fixes and Changes Are On The Way At Patterson Mill Middle/High
