The following letter was received from Tea Party organizer and House of Delegates candidate Patrick McGrady:
Editor,
Since July 2005, the Harford County government has levied an Impact Tax on every new home construction permit. The idea of the Impact Tax seems noble enough- the money raised from the tax goes into the Harford County Public Schools Capital Budget account so that it must be used only for new school development, property acquisition, or school renovation. These homebuyers are being unfairly double-taxed, this tax is keeping productive construction projects on hold, and this is keeping hard-working Harford County workers out of work on and State Unemployment rolls.
Here in Harford County, we pay property taxes at the County and municipal level. On a home that is assessed at $250,000, the annual County portion of taxes amount to $2,705. This tax amount is the property owner’s share of the County Government, including school construction. ...Continue Reading
The White House issued an advisory Wednesday that President Barack Obama will be speaking live to the nation’s school children at noon on Tuesday, September 8th in an address that can be streamed directly into the schools. The President’s speech about the importance of education was reportedly planned for weeks, but in recent days a national backlash has erupted that includes a call to boycott the schools that decide to air the speech by keeping students home on the day of the broadcast.
Locally, opponents are urging parents to keep their children home or otherwise ensure that they will not be required to see the speech or participate in the accompanying classroom activities created by the U. S. Department of Education.
Following extensive screening of seventeen applicants with diverse backgrounds by the search consultants, the Board of Education interviewed seven highly qualified candidates. The Board selected candidates for interviews based upon state requirements and the criteria that had been established by the Board with input from stakeholders. The Board completed initial interviews May 13 and invited four finalists to visit the County, meet with stakeholders, and interview with the Board on May 20, 21, 27, and 28. Media will be provided with the opportunity to meet each of the finalists at the Roberty Building at 9:40 AM each day.
May 20 Dr. Carl Roberts
May 21 Dr. Franklin Till, Jr.
May 27 Dr. Raymond Bryant
May 28 Dr. Robert Tomback
Dr. Carl Roberts
Dr. Carl Roberts received his Doctorate in Education Administration and Supervision from Wilmington College. Dr. Roberts has been Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents’ Association ...Continue Reading
Approximately 2,699 Harford County Public School students are listed as CANDIDATES for graduation.
A breakdown by schools is as follows: Aberdeen High School – 326; Alternative Education – 19; Bel Air High School – 379; C. Milton Wright High School – 398; Edgewood High School – 210; Fallston High School – 402; Harford Technical High School – 240; Havre de Grace High School – 160; John Archer School – 10; Joppatowne High School – 231; and North Harford High School – 324.
Harford County Public Schools has announced a revised graduation schedule for the Class of 2009. Graduation ceremonies will be held at Aberdeen High School for Aberdeen, Bel Air, Fallston, Edgewood, C. Milton Wright and North Harford High Schools. Havre de Grace HS, Joppatowne HS, Harford Technical HS, John Archer and the Alternative Education Program are expected to hold graduation ceremonies in their respective school buildings.
The following people have been as the ten Harford County Public School Teacher of the Year finalists for 2009:
Carolyn J. Bendyna – Edgewood High School – Mathematics
Jennifer A. Chandler – North Harford High School – English/Journalism
Linda E. Chermock – Patterson Mill High School – Mathematics
Richard Jones – Fallston High School – German
Amanda S. Koss – Harford Glen – Environmental Education Center Outdoor Education
Monica C. Miles – Fallston Middle School – Art
Francine A. Plotycia – Abingdon Elementary School – Mathematics
Kimberly A. Schmidt – Havre de Grace High School – Social Studies
Andrew K. Smith – Joppatowne Elementary Enrichment – Gifted and Talented
Angela L. Taddia -Havre de Grace Middle School – Health
Additional information on each of the finalists including biographies and photographs are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, April 1, 2009.
Finalist interviews will be conducted Monday, March 30th and Tuesday,
March 31st.
Per this form-letter email to County Councilman Dion Guthrie, feel free to click the link and tell Gov. O’Malley what can be done to improve our schools:
From: Governor Martin O’Malley
To: guthrie, dion
Sent: Thu Feb 19 15:09:11 2009
Subject: How can we improve our schools?
Dear Dion,
I’ve been getting a lot of great suggestions from Marylanders lately when
I’ve asked for your ideas on how we can tackle the challenges our state is
facing, so I hope you’ll indulge me if I ask for your help once again.
This time, I want to hear your thoughts on our public schools.
Earlier this week, I announced the launch of our first-ever statewide survey
of Maryland educators, TELL Maryland. We’ve asked for educators’ honest
opinions on how we can help kids learn, improve conditions in schools, and
make teachers’ lives easier.
The road map for progress that we build from this data won’t be complete
without your take. Everyone’s connected to our public schools ...Continue Reading
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.
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.
The decision on selecting the school location for the placement of the Biomedical Services Magnet Program is on the BOE agenda for June 23, 2008.
In April, 2006, after the redistricting of secondary schools, enrollment projections for the new secondary school attendance areas were presented. When the grandfathering of redistricted students was complete, BAHS was expected to have 1578 students in 2010. The current Sept. 30, 2007 enrollment projections anticipate 1276 BAHS students in 2010. In less than 18 months, HCPS’s enrollment projection for BAHS shrunk by 302 students, or 19%. Where did the students go?
In May, 2006, the Ed Specs for the new BAHS building included space for the Medical Arts Magnet on the third floor. The issue was brought to the Board for a vote as a highly unusual “non-agenda” item, but was stymied because of the ...Continue Reading
