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

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

Ekey: “Unacceptable Level Of Failure” In Harford County Public Schools Warrants Scrutiny

Dear Mr. Smilko: 

      The Aegis reported recently that you made the statement that “the dropout rate is decreasing”.  In fact, the dropout rate for the Harford County Public Schools for 2007 is the second highest dropout rate out of the past five years.  The rates in 2003, 2004, and 2005 were all lower than the rate for 2007.  The trend for the dropout rate over the past 8 years does not indicate a consistent, year to year decline. 

      Please consider the graduation rate as a more appropriate measure of school system success.  The graduation rate for 2007 is the third highest in the past decade and started showing sustained improvement in 2003.    Continue reading Ekey: “Unacceptable Level Of Failure” In Harford County Public Schools Warrants Scrutiny

“Take Your Child To Work Day” gets a no go from Superintendent Haas

“Take Your child To Work Day”… seems like an easy concept. I can remember as a child I looked forward to the fact that my mom, a speech pathologist in the school system, would take my sisters and I to work on that special day.

The whole day was so cool right down to eating lunch in the classroom and using the faculty restroom. Wow, we were easily pleased. We saw all that the ‘big bad’ world had to offer and that our mother was something other then ‘mommy.’ She was someone that taught and was important to others as well. I can remember marveling at the teachers and then returning home to play school.

Now, that very same “Take Your child To Work Day” is considered an UNLAWFUL ABSENCE. I have a real problem with that.

Our eldest daughter has been asking about this day for years and now that she’s old enough to understand the concept and follow directions safely, she will not be able to attend work with her father on Thursday, April 24th. Continue reading “Take Your Child To Work Day” gets a no go from Superintendent Haas