The Harford County Board of Education unanimously voted Monday to return nearly $3 million of its fiscal year 2011 general fund to the county—less than half of what County Executive David Craig requested. Craig had asked departments across Harford to return 3 percent of their funds, but the assistant superintendent of business services, James Jewell, said returning the full $6.24 million of the $214 million budget would subject the Board of Education to state penalties for not maintaining a “legally-mandated maintenance of effort.” The fine could exceed $7 million, he said. The $3 million …

Mark Wolkow's tenure as Board of Education president will end June 30, when his term is finished, he announced at Monday's board meeting. "It is with mixed emotions that I announce this as I enjoyed tremendously the nine years I’ve spent on the board," he said during board member comments. "I have accepted the position of Director of Education Outreach with my employer, the National Security Agency." Wolkow simultaneously serves as a division chief in finance for the Department of Defense. He has been the board president since 2002 and was reappointed in 2007. "Due to the travel schedule [and…

UPDATE (10:52 p.m.)—In the latest twist to what has been a gut-wrenching process for many Harford County parents, the Board of Education unanimously voted Monday night to move the "final decision" on elementary school redistricting to March 14. The board also approved 11 amendments to the plan, including grandfathering next year's fifth-graders into their existing school. The board had to waive the 180-day minimum before the opening of the school year for a final vote in order to prolong a final decision. In the first amendment of the night, the board voted 6–1 to allow grandfathering of …

More than 30 parents—along with a fifth grader—spoke at the final redistricting hearing Monday night, appealing to the board to alter districts, reverse decisions and adopt a liberal boundary exception policy.  The hearing was the last before the board is scheduled to vote on the plan in a business meeting Feb. 28, when public comment will also be accepted. And though board members stressed that they will continue to take proposals and feedback until that date, some parents remained unconvinced.  "[The Superintendent's Technical Advisory Committee] presented a proposal titled 'final revision…

The school board passed one of two bills at Monday's meeting and voted on four additional make-up days should inclement weather cause more closures. Havre de Grace High School, meanwhile, will get upgrades to some of its outdoor athletic facilities. Legislative Update Facilitator of Governmental Relations Kathryn M. Carmello presented a legislative update that included two bills. The board voted against a bill that would have required the school system to provide public records in a searchable and electronic format. Carmello suggested that the board oppose because electronic format could …

Monday night's Board of Education meeting will start early, at 5 p.m., to make time for the final redistricting hearing at 7:30 p.m. in the A. A. Roberty Building.  The regular business meeting has six items on the consent agenda, including affirmation of monthly contract awards, the monthly report on personnel, minutes of previous meetings and decisions on appeal case results, a contract award for school buses and upgraded lights for outdoor tennis and basketball courts at Havre de Grace High School.  The board will also be presented with a legislative update and a revised policy.   After …

For parents unhappy with the latest revisions to the elementary redistricting draft, there are alternatives. This is the message that St. John the Evangelist School principal Jean Delcher is sending out in letters to Harford County parents affected by the redistricting. “They do have a choice,” she told Patch. “We’re here and a lot of people don’t even know we’re here.” “We’re not saying anything bad against public schools,” she added. St. John’s is a kindergarten through eighth grade school located near the Baltimore and Harford County line in Hydes and is part of the Archdiocese of …

The Superintendent's Technical Advisory Committee revealed what has been dubbed as the "Final Proposed Elementary Redistricting Map" boundaries at a board work session Monday night.  "It is tonight that the proposal officially becomes yours," Superintendent Robert Tomback said to the board. "You are scheduled to conduct a final public hearing on February 14, 2011 and to adopt the plan at the February 28, 2011 business meeting." Chief of Administration Joseph Licata presented STAC's final recommendations to the board, including updates to the revision released on Jan. 28, as well as costs …

Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Board members voted Monday night to approve the fiscal year 2012 unrestricted operating budget for the school system with two amendments, bringing the unrestricted budget to $447,775,798. The board held two work sessions to discuss the budget on Jan. 10 and Jan. 15. Notable aspects of the recommended budget are an increase in salaries for all Harford County Public School employees and the projected costs to open Red Pump Elementary School. Amendments to Fiscal Year 2011 Budget The board also approved amendments to the current expense fund and a capital budget amendment…

The Board of Education voted 6–1 to approve the superintendent's fiscal year 2012 budget with three amendments Monday night. Rick Grambo was the only member to vote against it.  “Over 9,000 of [Harford County's resident's are] unemployed and Harford County citizens already suffer the fourth highest tax rate in the state, so given those things I think the timing of the request is off,” said Grambo, in reference to proposed increases. The first amendment was unanimously approved and reduced the unrestricted expenditures by $976,911 due to the transfer of funding for 17 elementary school …

Wednesday night's redistricting hearing at Fallston High School did not have nearly as many people signed up to speak as the first hearing, something several parents attributed to the simultaneous meetings scheduled.  “I’m also shocked that there are not many more people here,” Samya Murray said. “I don’t know what the word is, or phrase, but the only one that comes to mind is this divide and conquer type thing is going on here.” Another redistricting hearing was held at the same time at Bel Air High School. Superintendent Robert Tomback and Chief of Administration Joseph Licata were present …

The board of education is holding a special board meeting Tuesday night to vote on the fiscal year 2012 operating budget.  This vote follows two work sessions where members heard public concerns and discussed the budget. The sessions were held on Jan. 10 and Jan. 15.  Amendments to the budget may also be submitted at the meeting.  There will also be an opportunity for public comment and a decision on appointments/promotions.  The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the A. A. Roberty Building. 

The board of education held the final budget work session Saturday morning to finish public discussion of the superintendent’s recommended fiscal year 2012 budget.  A significant component in this budget is a proposed salary increase for all Harford County Public Schools employees. This increase is necessary for the school system to remain competitive and provide a good education for students, according to Randy Cerveny, president of the Harford County Education Association.  “In today’s world, more than ever, our school systems should be a leader in attracting and retaining the best so that …

The Superintendent's Technical Advisory Committee has given parents a voice.  After months of e-mails and alternate proposals, multiple community suggestions have been incorporated into an updated elementary redistricting draft.  Better yet? Parents still have a few more weeks to submit proposals.  “I am delighted to see that community input is being reviewed and accepted,” said Sandra Monaco-Burton, Harford County Parent-Teacher Association president. “Parents should continue to send in their proposals and just be reminded that this is a draft so it is an ever-changing document.” Chris …

UPDATE (2:53 p.m.)—A revised elementary redistricting proposal has been posted on the Harford County Public School website that includes updated enrollment numbers from Sept. 30, 2010 and community suggestions. "This is still a proposal," Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld told Patch. "The Superintendent's Technical Advisory Committee still has work to do, but this is the first revision." The modifications in this draft include keeping the majority of the Glenwood community at Ring Factory Elementary School and the Stone Ridge community at Fountain Green Elementary School. Members from …

In 2007, a communications audit was conducted for Harford County Public Schools that recommended a branding and marketing plan for the school system. Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld says the school system is in the early stages of implementing such a plan. “We’ve never had anything like that,” Kranefeld told Patch. “We don’t have an identity. Harford County Public Schools does not have a consistent image.” The National School Public Relations Association conducted the audit and suggested 13 improvements, which can be found here. The audit took a school year to complete and then the …

A brief board of education meeting began Monday night after a lengthy budget work session. Board members, excluding Donald Osman who was absent due to sickness, voted to remove the decision on appointments/promotions from the agenda.  The meeting started with a moment of silence in honor of those wounded and killed in a recent shooting in Arizona.  The final redistricting hearing was also announced at the meeting and will be on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m., following the regular board meeting at 5 p.m. in the A. A. Roberty meeting. Public comment will be accepted at that meeting.  Easy Approvals …

The board of education held the first of two budget work sessions Monday night to discuss the proposed fiscal year 2012 budget. “The goals of the proposed budget are to preserve the integrity of the instructional program, maintain a competitive salary and open the new Red Pump Elementary School,” Superintendent Robert Tomback said. For two years in a row there have been no wage increases for Harford County Public Schools employees, according to Tomback, and this led to the request for higher salaries in the proposed budget. However, the lack of increases in years past was not enough to …