[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6328064,"mediaKeyId","2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555","parentId",2321729,"title","Harford County Public Schools proposes $16.7 million operating increase for FY26 as public warns of staffing, safety and program cuts","audioSeconds",145,"startMs",145000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555&start=145&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555/thumbnail_145000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6328064/Maryland/Harford-County-Public-Schools-proposes-167-million-operating-increase-for-FY26-as-public-warns-of-staffing-safety-and-program-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328064-8075314010d33c90e151125ecc4cc1ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162280&Signature=gsCWatKQ91YkH4R11hm~jvBDcxnaUuSJty4eNFYkT3J~VVPTlDdTFAYHsG1~d9QNweP00inuCWE8mdpfXvTo9L8Cno-ecQTfiLDL8ao8Fizvl82rFzQv73d9NqMjNmOd6KoEiP05n~AL-L~o5crNmVCN4dQhzKJHbl4HcKNimY5pRRgO2bh8nfIqqtZtTVggeToy5qK~qrI2wWNEuerYafTtVnEanoxUjiT7Q-Ncgn8X5nghGT1Z4xRmVE-hhj-ji11Pf40TBEL0bAimCSetZzKEMFfYxyLuZXBDpkxJ2b41mg9Vjbx2z6uVzlNXbAl6GPHlsc73vEyn6S-U81~hMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harford County Public Schools","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","Assistant Superintendent Deborah Judd of Harford County Public Schools outlined the superintendent's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public input session on Feb. 5, 2025, presenting an operating-budget increase of $16,700,000 and a requested county appropriation increase of $26,200,000, an 8.2% rise from FY25. The proposal requests $10,700,000 from the state (about 3.6% higher than FY25), anticipates using $20,200,000 of fund balance and carries a total capital request that the presentation put at roughly $144,800,000 when state-eligible and local-only projects are combined.

The budget overview matters because school officials and dozens of public speakers said the system faces a substantial shortfall that could force staff reductions and program cuts. Judd described major line-item changes: a wage package of about $13,000,000; a proposed reduction of 67 systemwide positions estimated to save $15,400,000; an estimated $3,000,000 increase for electricity; an $1,000,000 proposed contribution to other post‑employment benefits (OPEB); recurring costs of roughly $400,000 related to newly purchased detection systems; about $700,000 requested to add 10 school safety liaisons (SSLs) the board had previously authorized; AP-test cost increases of $477,000; and nine positions tied to pre‑K expansion at about $613,000. The presentation said the state share could be reduced further because of proposed changes in state revenue, and staff noted possible state reductions in the $4,000,000–$10,000,000 range.

Public commenters pressed the board to protect classroom staffing, raise pay for low‑paid workers and maintain programs. David Bauer warned of “disastrous cuts,” saying the board should “warn the whole county about the risks of disastrous cuts and fees.” Several speakers connected the budget shortfall to potential safety and instructional impacts: one asked whether the current number of school resource officers was sufficient for 55 schools and more than 38,000 students; others urged protection of early‑childhood and special‑education staffing.

Speakers representing employees and student groups asked the board to prioritize compensation and programs. Tanisha Gannon, who identified herself as a Harford County School employee and president of Ask Me Local 2471, urged the board to consider employees’ well‑being in decisions about cuts. Student leaders and representatives from the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils described their work and asked the board to continue funding student‑leadership programs and transportation for student representatives.

Administrators and staff noted program‑level pressures. A special‑education official said early intervention requires trained staff and warned that behavioral challenges have grown, citing physical aggression and eloping as examples that can disrupt learning. Multiple speakers said instruction supports such as DreamBox and i‑Ready help fill gaps when classroom resources are limited and should be preserved.

The board did not take a formal vote at the input session. President Poiten (the board’s presiding officer) said the board expects to act on the superintendent's proposed budget at its board business meeting on Feb. 10, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Public Input Session - Feb 05, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","Assistant Superintendent Deborah Judd of Harford County Public Schools outlined the superintendent's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget at a public input session on Feb. 5, 2025, presenting an operating-budget increase of $16,700,000 and a requested county appropriation increase of $26,200,000, an 8.2% rise from FY25.","taxTitle","Harford County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",17368,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328050,"Special‑education coordinator urges board to preserve early‑intervention staffing amid FY26 shortfall",181,1643000,1824000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555&start=1643&end=1824","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555/thumbnail_1643000.jpg","/articles/6328050/Maryland/Specialeducation-coordinator-urges-board-to-preserve-earlyintervention-staffing-amid-FY26-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328050-17169780669a13c36a29099c02c2f045/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162280&Signature=BYTU53y2~4yGy0XdY3Cgg-x2RchdYgXWZ9r~00RTileKP7WAPNwfXZM-h9QH0TpalOwNtra2u4RNlzlJ9Z~OXDzyWxlunUoe-wmHD29shp2u1vZL1fhmm39e8WaFU0pX09AVP-phOEpVxjfzO5xn045Aw5BO~LElT8suYFiZa8YpD7V6vKVpkbUzqHa7DaJbZUHNTSmzxc1tIteW2vVtTCd3tQZKlKEogBRFKckiDkRh63b0-oIjac33fCl1ZXp4CQB0qHVDpU9X9FPD375VaxI622G~j~lPfgKve6YfjnMSz73jXP0gnWfOG~GXLTuqaWtjFvdWQ9JXGVgDkEkKAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Melissa Romano, coordinator of special education birth to 5, told the Harford County Board of Education on Feb. 5 that early intervention and sufficient staffing are essential to meet complex student needs and that the superintendent's proposed budget should be approved and supplemented with county support.

Romano said she represents about 6,151 students with disabilities (birth through 21) and roughly 1,200 pre‑kindergarten children. “As you may know, 90% of a child's brain develops within the first 5 years of life,” she said, urging investment in early intervention. Romano described an increase in significant behavioral challenges among young children — including physical aggression and eloping — that require trained staff to maintain safety and learning conditions in preschool and special‑education classrooms.

She warned that without adequate staffing, classrooms risk becoming unsafe or unable to deliver individualized instruction, which in turn raises turnover and burnout among educators. Romano asked the board to approve the proposed FY26 budget and advocate with the county executive for additional funding to support the special‑education and early‑intervention workforce.","Melissa Romano, coordinator for special education birth–5, told the Feb. 5 public input session the district serves more than 6,000 students with disabilities and urged approval of the proposed budget and advocacy for additional county funding to meet rising behavioral and clinical needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328054,"Former board member urges continued support for Harford Glen environmental education program",160,660000,820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555&start=660&end=820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555/thumbnail_660000.jpg","/articles/6328054/Maryland/Former-board-member-urges-continued-support-for-Harford-Glen-environmental-education-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328054-3ac2db0a219b38bde00c0b21d99c171e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162280&Signature=LAQAkVPhwB~8XJgZsahmKArmRsdioKl3zz0fJylXREnS0bpsPf2d2ASoHJmUBarZIXeThZgFvyrxIdMnvntUXS6CYGVIwHr4T~h9CjyzFwcRf8UOUEHei8KS04moNGhUqTlqW2Cw52JhuP8wFLQBv2V-tgpYTmivfa8VsDZw5Yal~un7FEb9Uy1xgB~OIYF-I72UwJV4WE4epiPJDnPwTgFOXaPnn2lfPaSbdgd~gXre6fLOTA4G8v~dY~Ap4EXNF9zsX~tDka1UHSUwzHUUdvT0-POu9lY3GPYqtD4Ui7ZN4tp0gezpY~zH3rLBr4aztr4FqXYpASGbBxTdOJTHpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A former board member with 11 years of service asked the Harford County Board of Education on Feb. 5 to continue resourcing Harford Glen, the district's residential environmental‑education site.

The speaker summarized Harford Glen’s history: the property was transferred to the school system in 1948 with a stated condition that it be used for environmental education, was developed as a curriculum‑based program in the 1980s, and expanded to a residential facility with housing capacity of about 120 in 1997. The speaker said the site now serves nearly 3,000 fifth‑grade students annually and provides programs for students with special needs as well as high‑school biology and ecology classes.

“Please continue to demonstrate the board's ownership by sustaining resources,” the speaker said, urging the board to preserve Harford Glen’s role as an environmental classroom rather than repurposing it as a park or recreational facility.

Speakers and the budget presentation addressed capital and operating pressures; this testimony asked that Harford Glen be protected in forthcoming budget decisions.","A longtime local board member told the Feb. 5 budget input session that Harford Glen is an education asset established with conditions on its transfer and asked the board to sustain resources for the residential fifth‑grade program.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6328059,"School safety liaisons say new duties and pay lag as district budgets for metal detectors and SSLs",0,1008000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555&start=1008&end=1008","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2321729-3798d1344d740bc004ca079933d06555/thumbnail_1008000.jpg","/articles/6328059/Maryland/School-safety-liaisons-say-new-duties-and-pay-lag-as-district-budgets-for-metal-detectors-and-SSLs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6328059-83054b567c688209f158cfbe26d88d2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162280&Signature=ij1l1xaHqF-dyuSPIOkSzfpCdPzZW54yFMVmc6vttbbBOnV1b9qRp~jalr5zHp1MQ~3kogiyJYG4pmFxf5rhpi2zW7lpsK7-ll22bAmmxlYqZLj2uHZVb3AusR8EBMEuaTQAEaKJgtoWG8xZjZ7lY3Ccdt0qPDgvPhoxNHkvJwXmxNKYwD9BIOwZvMTZgjJkofXVvuiKDu6F4oxjAi-qh-6zg77qi4ITeq1~BQ4fbzfVxOS1klmHtJOhTVpnVqj~uNe3324Zp4m16m1~6wxvw~FKpuL9qJDSXiLRpDdU3Ma3VqlIEirMG5mxewtD1LwLHRnwtptSUH-IEve-Jh8lKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Feb. 5 public input session on the FY26 superintendent's proposed budget, a school safety liaison described increased duties for School Safety Liaisons (SSLs), said the district has not matched that added work with corresponding pay and urged the board to advocate for higher compensation.

Tina Graff, who identified herself as a school safety liaison at Boston High School, said the county executive identified roughly $1,100,000 to enhance school security this year but that SSLs had not been fully included in the allocation decisions. Graff said SSLs are “the front line” and described new responsibilities that include running metal‑detector searches and other duties she characterized as outside the traditional scope of her post. “I did not sign up to be a TSA agent,” Graff said, adding that SSLs have since been required to complete the same mandatory state training as school resource officers despite differing roles.

The budget presentation included a recurring cost estimate of almost $400,000 for detection systems. Graff also said SSLs have seen only small recent pay increases (she cited an extra $19 in her last paycheck) and asked that the board advocate for a salary increase that reflects the new responsibilities and risks SSLs now bear.

Board members did not vote at the input session. The superintendent's proposed budget lists staffing and equipment costs related to school safety that the board will consider at its Feb. 10 business meeting.","A school safety liaison told the Feb. 5 input session that Harford County's school safety liaisons were assigned new search duties and have not received commensurate compensation, while the county executive identified $1.1 million for school security upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harford County Public Schools proposes $16.7 million operating increase for FY26 as public warns of staffing, safety and program cuts

Special‑education coordinator urges board to preserve early‑intervention staffing amid FY26 shortfall

Former board member urges continued support for Harford Glen environmental education program

School safety liaisons say new duties and pay lag as district budgets for metal detectors and SSLs