Board Notebook: Redistricting Revisions, Recognitions

Monday night's Board of Education meeting was a lengthy one that included board input on the elementary redistricting proposal, a financial report and student and teacher recognitions. 

Elementary Redistricting Revisions

The first decision board members made in regard to the elementary redistricting plan was to push the final vote to the March 14 business meeting, but later, board members . 

Easy Approvals

The board approved minutes from previous meetings, as well as a number of resolutions, including ones on National Music in Our Schools and Youth Art Month, Maryland Women’s History Month/International Women’s Day and a contract award for Red Pump Elementary School library materials.

The board also ratified the HCESC Negotiated Agreement for the 2011-12 school year and the negotiated agreement with the Harford County Education Association.

Appointments/Recommendations

The board approved the appointment of Thomas Hammen to a new five-year term with the Board Ethics Panel from March 1, 2011 to February 2016.

The 2012-13 Calendar Committee Members were also appointed and approved at the meeting.

Presentations

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services James Jewell presented the quarterly financial report for Dec. 31, 2010 at the meeting and Kathryn Carmello presented a legislative update.

A board vote was not required for any of the legislation in the update.

Recognitions

Dwight Enterline, a former Helping Teacher in Music for Aberdeen High School, was inducted into the HCPS Hall of Fame as the 158th member. Enterline retired in 2003 after 38 years with Harford County Public Schools.

As a Helping Teacher in Music, and former choral director, Enterline worked with first- and second-year music teachers and also helped plan several music festivals.

"We're very fortunate in Harford County to have such a fine educational system here," Enterline said. "I know that there are many excellent teachers in Harford County and I've been privileged to work with several of them in the time that I've been here."

Eight Harford County teachers were recognized as National Board Certified Teachers during the 2009-10 school year.

This includes Alyson Cammann, Fallston High School; Angela Dencler, Prospect Mill Elementary School; Janice Kehl, Patterson Mill Middle School; Carrie Rosales, North Harford High School; Rebecca Rozmiarek, Bel Air Middle School; Victoria Salisbury, Dublin Elementary School; Annmarie Steltzer, Roye-Williams Elementary School and Andrea Yeager of Abingdon Elementary School.

"What you have done is really to serve by example, to show by example, what we strive our students to do everyday," Superintendent Robert Tomback said. "To aim high and to achieve, to persevere, to work hard, but never lose sight of the goal."

The board also recognized two students as winners of the Black College Expo Essay Contest for the Washington D.C./Maryland region. Stacy Drakeford and Kirsten Newman are both seniors at Aberdeen High School and wrote essays responding to the prompt, “Why is a College Education Important to Me?”

Drakeford earned a second place overall for the region and will receive a tuition scholarship, while Newman was a regional finalist and will receive money for books.

"I'm glad that you took the step to enter the event and to do so well and be recognized for it," Board President Mark Wolkow said. "No matter what you're going to go into, if you can't write and you can't communicate, it's tough to be successful."

The board also congratulated two schools for awards received. Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary School received the Maryland Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School Award and Joppatowne Elementary School received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification. 

Tomback was also recognized by the Maryland State Advisory Council on Gifted and Talented Education as an outstanding educator school system superintendent. 

Next Meeting

The next business meeting is scheduled for March 14 at 7 p.m. in the .