[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6678864,"mediaKeyId","3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f","parentId",3065605,"title","Board creates sustainability ad hoc committee; initial focus on energy conservation, behavior changes and solar options","audioSeconds",920,"startMs",6912000,"endMs",7832000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f&start=6912&end=7832","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f/thumbnail_6912000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6678864/Maryland/Board-creates-sustainability-ad-hoc-committee-initial-focus-on-energy-conservation-behavior-changes-and-solar-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678864-d57474dfd4f82bb839f15ad25957e18f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189685&Signature=Kpxz9k-pkc-z9ued16wMemOKnd7WACeNV~3OtrlEPztg4ttxMUpUWSoBoP3Z-P4a17a75wBOBETaFV2uVSzQzC49hP96z4EhRy4SCA2jaXRJTD4konOEB8IWX2CLo2TRm9T5CnKa8-o1eqp6DMWztU~gu~5JoYsLb6tZIgglnKq1fY-ZHEUZPDc65cC5j95DovYzXHEbPkv-9~ARI4cXXNYt11fF7A0Ak5O2kkw5PZCUqIc0Q6yHt0QHmiO4Q7QM7EIs2jepIBChbSSaaZkg7gc~ec2-ydl5M-sxfGV1PJAq8tvFs~f2ENh5-koScOWVoNiQ6n3kA4DzykcVjT9blA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harford County Public Schools","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","The board heard an initial update on a new ad hoc sustainability committee and its early work to identify energy- and resource-saving opportunities across Harford County Public Schools facilities.

Board member Wade Sewell (committee chair) summarized the first meeting and a proposed mission statement: to provide “informed, actionable recommendations and timely updates” that pursue energy and resource conservation, cost containment and environmental stewardship while preserving educational operations. Committee members so far include board members, the assistant superintendent for operations, principals, and supervisors from technology, facilities, procurement and grants; Sewell said the group intends to include representatives from Harford County government and Parks and Recreation as the work develops.

Sewell said the committee’s near-term priority is cost containment through reducing energy consumption and that many opportunities are behavioral and operational: automatic controls, HVAC balancing, classroom practices such as leaving windows and doors closed when systems operate, and ensuring computers and lights are off when facilities are unoccupied. The committee discussed building automation variability across the inventory and how third-party tenants (for example, Parks and Recreation) generate added utility hours and costs while using school facilities. Sewell proposed exploring contests, school-based point people, student engagement opportunities, and other low-cost behavior-change strategies.

Kathy Mendez (assistant superintendent for operations) said the district previously had a resource-conservation manager position that was cut in 2019 and that current staff are managing energy work as part of broader responsibilities. She said facilities pay utility bills centrally, and the district will work to increase school-level awareness of energy consumption. Mendez confirmed some solar arrays already exist on district buildings under power-purchase agreements; the district does not own all installed systems and must analyze their operations, maintenance and crediting arrangements. Sewell and Mendez also discussed longer-term options such as integrating renewable energy and sustainable design into new construction and leveraging bond-funded projects to pay for systems that reduce operating costs over time.

The committee’s next meeting was scheduled in two weeks; initial workstreams include an audit of simple low-cost operational changes (sensors, scheduling, vacancy controls), review of current solar arrays and power-purchase agreements, outreach to tenant groups about cost-sharing, and a communications plan to raise awareness among building staff and students.

Ending: The board asked for quarterly briefings from the committee and requested documentation of quick wins the district can implement immediately. The committee will quantify baseline usage and tenant impacts and propose short-term steps to reduce consumption.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - Feb 24, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","The board established an ad hoc sustainability committee to identify short-term operations changes and long-term renewable energy strategies after initial briefing showed electricity costs are rising and that behavioral and control fixes could yield near-term savings.","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},6678876,"Harford County schools project deficit in operating categories as fund balance shrinks after one-time settlement refund",201,205000,406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f&start=205&end=406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f/thumbnail_205000.jpg","/articles/6678876/Maryland/Harford-County-schools-project-deficit-in-operating-categories-as-fund-balance-shrinks-after-one-time-settlement-refund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678876-a04e0f3b15080392ab31f3ab85ade82d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189685&Signature=MuYkL-o8TzTODmRaItiA75rJljaj50gv6i6wEUtxksL2uO3MlusFj-4fGUUGynzYgQyMtwsx9NgEZVpkTpUnwRa7Xf55xjUJKM2Xn3A-~I-iJZCQ23mH8jpqsA~hFtYYbBbn2ej5qOmjz1Gs7i0bKNXTYTPiB6LPx3ClELjFEVyAmTsdm7wXTg4n6exoxSDwU5W5Y0sc9dkUuARPZb3R1iZQJuHxAp8frRfbP1j~LGN2I-rApxZjjYBVnPgB01Vf6a3HFfo22cxccw9Z5WsUysxCFiBg3It2ibRc25xAZYmciL32mDytkWO5bULLffD6sF-jLbSeciXuN0CJjuXxUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harford County Public Schools officials told the Board of Education at its Feb. working session that the district projects operating expenditures will exceed the adopted budget for fiscal year 2025, largely because of special education costs and a recent large textbook purchase.

Deborah Judd, assistant superintendent for business services, presented the quarterly financial report for the period ending Dec. 31, 2024, and said the projection “does not include the impact of the snow that we've had since January 1” and “so it will, unfortunately, negatively affect us a little bit.”

Judd said the district currently anticipates about $4.9 million in additional revenue compared with the adopted budget — “mainly due to interest revenue and also for $3,000,000 that the county government sent from our rate stabilization fund related to our settlement with CareFirst.” At the same time, she said, expenditures are “projected to be over what we budgeted by $1,900,000,” driven primarily by special-education costs, particularly nonpublic placements, and by a recent textbook purchase.

That combination leaves the district with an estimated unassigned fund balance of roughly $29 million before accounting for a $10 million appropriation the board approved at its previous meeting; after that appropriation, Judd said, unassigned fund balance would fall to about $19 million. She noted that the district ended fiscal 2024 with roughly $26 million in fund balance.

Board members asked how Harford’s fund balance compares with standards. A board member asked, “What is a correct fund balance?” Judd answered that guidance varies, noting Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) guidance recommending roughly two months of operating revenues (about 16.7%); she said Harford’s unassigned fund balance is currently about 4½ percent of its operating budget and that most Maryland school systems are well below the GFOA recommendation.

Board members and Judd discussed the recurring challenge of textbooks. Judd said the district historically budgets textbooks in capital rather than operating, and “we have not received capital funding in several years for that, so that's a challenge that we're going to have to address in the next several years.” She added the district cannot legally overspend any state-required accounting category and that the board may need to appropriate additional revenue or make inter-category transfers in May to cover the projected shortfall.

On special education, a board member observed that enrollment of students needing special education services has risen. Judd said higher counts and more placements — especially nonpublic placements — are major cost drivers and that if the state shifts more special-education costs to local school systems, the local budgetary pressure would increase. She said the district would need to propose increased special-education line items in future budgets when trends continue upward.

Judd also described other elements of the revenue picture, including federal funds that shielded some operating spending in prior years and a one-time rate-stabilization refund that boosted revenues. The board scheduled a return presentation in May to seek appropriation authority if necessary.

Board members asked for more detail on line items that have low year-to-date spending percentages (for example, “other instructional costs”) and whether those underspent lines could create a larger second-half-year liability. Judd explained that some categories are front-loaded (software, device leases, textbook-related contracts) while others — like instructional salaries — are paid more heavily during the school year and therefore appear behind at the quarter end. She said the office will provide additional breakdowns if requested.

Ending: The board closed the budget discussion after asking staff to return in May if the district needs to appropriate additional revenue; staff committed to provide more granular item-level detail and to quantify the expected impact of recent snow-related costs when those payroll numbers were complete.

","Harford County Public Schools officials forecast an operating shortfall driven by rising special-education costs and an unbudgeted textbook purchase, and plan to use one-time revenue from a county rate-stabilization refund to avoid overspending state budget categories.",{"_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},6678862,"Board opens study of swapping elementary and high-school start times; forms task force for stakeholder review",984,8946000,9930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f&start=8946&end=9930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f/thumbnail_8946000.jpg","/articles/6678862/Maryland/Board-opens-study-of-swapping-elementary-and-high-school-start-times-forms-task-force-for-stakeholder-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678862-1c4a390755942192bd9f9ee1063d27ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189686&Signature=kCmfqnxUApibrh7uDngZt5NOVRS5E3MKpPpdKXZ8QVJHJje1asWnkWSP8J9KYRDujvnM0R7yVdOX58DapklBrobJqUHATkv7~TUA5JS0XE2AzT6Ob44vYVOXlBEFEvGblXDbJymEHGYXICVZuLrHCu0AHmvD1JhWh6ovGRKXoOh1fXd~Qz3kDIqGGangt2DFlS~5YYiDfFDqlMIb0m22rONoKtPmCZx4DQxfsflQbQ2Bi9S2YAvBS2eWlXVzPslA1mAIioU15ZsMb8n6hbUHEwBwEnNslA13RQvrW7WKVaYHJGkefPvgz3EkD3BYCuFKWIZNpIpQQ~HQLh-RUEy~SQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members discussed an exploratory proposal to swap elementary and high-school start times — shifting high schools later and elementary schools earlier — after trustees and staff reviewed research suggesting later start times can improve adolescent health, attendance and academic performance.

The superintendent and board members said examples exist in other jurisdictions such as Wake County (NC) and Anne Arundel County (MD) and noted benefits cited in the research: improved attendance, better student alertness and potential academic gains. Several board members emphasized the need for broad stakeholder engagement before any change: teachers, parents, student representatives, athletics and community partners would all be affected. A student member told the board a later high-school start would likely improve sleep and daytime functioning for many students.

Operations staff cautioned that transportation logistics — number of bus tiers, special-education routes, regional programs and afterschool activities — could require schedule redesign and might have fiscal consequences. Kathy Mendez (assistant superintendent for operations) told the board she could not say the change would be budget neutral and recommended a careful analysis to determine routing, potential additional buses, impacts on regional programs and services for students experiencing homelessness.

Board members asked staff to convene a cross-functional team (a “tiger team”) to analyze feasibility, timeline and cost; members stressed the need for a communications plan and community surveys to gauge public support. Several trustees suggested a phased timeline with at least six-to-nine months of lead time to allow families and community partners to adapt if the board elects to proceed.

Ending: The board agreed to form a task force to explore the proposal, perform routing and fiscal analysis, and conduct stakeholder outreach; staff will return with findings and recommended next steps for the board’s consideration.

","Board members discussed a proposal to swap elementary and high-school start times (later high-school start) to align with adolescent sleep research; staff cautioned that transportation, CTE, athletics and tenant schedules require detailed analysis and recommended surveys and a cross-functional task force before any decision.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6678868,"Board briefed on proposed secondary ELA adoption; district recommends six-year contract with Savvas 'My Perspectives'",1867,4526000,6393000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f&start=4526&end=6393","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f/thumbnail_4526000.jpg","/articles/6678868/Maryland/Board-briefed-on-proposed-secondary-ELA-adoption-district-recommends-six-year-contract-with-Savvas-My-Perspectives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678868-207413acc75fc67e2bd4f50fcfa13995/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189686&Signature=lidJje3t6fbAiFuHTKfWb~~m-UZXOD0xBqAIZU7Jaxgp50MGX9WBf5OTzsspU5PobQqZUgqxrqDUl~hWH7up0r0PlSCj6Q4XLujiEZIP-Op5sDFpXdBn3G-HcClbFw0UgH06IEDOeL6o9ZozN7lGQvZ210RNyBDh9FQgmm6xeDZoEWwZiMORxh2UntAIuSLnPPCfJBpsZjo9ZCs04Arziin-KtUoqKsjXmE69u726Nv31LRfZ38zqwJ6StCtZvS5TrBZ241qKDCeD~fght03ejpLtTXQeRDwy7sRqNwtEDVZ6QBpYVxQBkj6IN4pSIin1RYNnywU9u-uLtqA6a~uUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harford County Public Schools curriculum leaders recommended the board approve Savvas My Perspectives as the district’s new secondary English language arts program for grades 6–10 and sought the board’s approval to bring a contract to the March agenda.

Diane Mack, deputy superintendent for instruction, introduced a curriculum team that included Heather Kutcher (executive director for curriculum and instruction), Christine Scarry (supervisor for ELA) and Ann Marie Stetzler (assistant supervisor). Kutcher told the board the district ran a formal request-for-proposal process to ensure an open, competitive selection and that an evaluation committee of English teachers and specialists reviewed and interviewed finalists.

Kutcher said the Savvas six-year subscription was “the most cost effective” over time and translated to roughly $25 per student per year; she described benefits including coherent unit design, knowledge-building text sets, explicit vocabulary and morphology instruction and integrated supports for English learners. Christine Scarry walked the board through science-of-reading alignment, noting the program’s focus on language structures, verbal reasoning, vocabulary and background knowledge. Staff said the program performed well in EdReports evaluations and included both print and digital resources, embedded language-coach tools and “bridge texts” (summarized/chunked passages) to support struggling readers.

Program supports for teachers figure heavily in staff recommendations. Kutcher and Scarry emphasized built-in professional development, a trainer-of-trainers model, school-based department planning and an initial vendor launch followed by ongoing in-district coaching. The district’s procurement office negotiated a best-and-final offer that reduced initial shipping/handling charges and yielded the price presented to the board.

Board members asked detailed implementation questions: procurement/payment options (staff said multi-year payment options were available, and the district planned to obligate the full contract amount when it posts the purchase order), how the district would handle changing enrollment, whether replacement or lost consumables would be covered, and whether neighboring districts had adopted the program. Staff said several Maryland districts use Savvas and that the elementary-to-secondary continuity would ease student transitions. Staff also said they reviewed free or lower-cost state-provided options but found they either lacked EdReports ratings, did not meet the science-of-reading criteria, or were not continuous programs across the secondary grades.

The board was asked to place the contract on the March 10 meeting agenda for formal approval; staff offered to re-open a shared question-and-answer document for board members and to provide any additional data points requested before the vote.

Ending: Staff will bring a contract and final budget details to the March board meeting. If approved, vendor-led rollout and district professional development will begin in spring and continue through implementation year one.

","District curriculum staff recommended adopting Savvas 'My Perspectives' for grades 6–10, citing alignment with the science of reading, EdReports ratings and built-in teacher supports; procurement recommended a six-year subscription (~$2 million total) with phased professional development and in-district rollout.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6678873,"Board hears state legislative and Blueprint for Maryland’s Future update; district opposes pausing collaborative time and seeks analysis of costs",2108,913000,3021000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f&start=913&end=3021","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065605-2097f5e040053d746bfb2f011768a22f/thumbnail_913000.jpg","/articles/6678873/Maryland/Board-hears-state-legislative-and-Blueprint-for-Marylands-Future-update-district-opposes-pausing-collaborative-time-and-seeks-analysis-of-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678873-4cf5c82d87ed022167d0ecd7fc8fa95b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189686&Signature=f2VxRumqRuCZXxD-E5obG07-ymdX9NW3b5To4RpiZvYjjt4JBDdIXiueTY3ysZB5ZQEXOF~ur1i8f5Ful7piRGGjpTT-Ljsm7ICj1phbiFw3m-YcIntB5dw5RnS34gllG58oU5UnQP0WfjBfyG~dYA-NnmCErP7VQKqCJ3ZuQAD1uG0vJFSDW-F2BH-LwYw6GifvBu3yKz9Za8KTzhwQwKlA~BD8yQlZiiSREUQk9CVuGXVbxGwNDP1SPJO0lU5uo5T4kCj25SodUyK4UpVyuhPk3Us5Xizdv04uNP4xYJLU9gr7SU8O1ZH7SLihZBTAegJssHjgX7Z-REV6J44-eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members received an extended update on ongoing state legislation and changes to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future at the Feb. working session. The briefing covered bills that MABE (Maryland Association of Boards of Education) is tracking or opposing, the Accountability and Implementation Board's pause on the collaborative time requirement in the Blueprint, and district priorities for state analysis on affordability and special-education adequacy.

Dr. Carol Mueller (board member, MABE representative) guided members through the Maryland Association of Boards of Education’s online advocacy center summary of 2025 bills and MABE positions. She said MABE generally opposes legislation “that’s going to take away local control,” and cited examples including bills concerning school start times and cell-phone policy where MABE recommends local boards keep decision authority. She also reviewed specific bills on the agenda list as of Feb. 17, 2025, including measures addressing public school construction inflation-adjustment funding and proposed high-school graduation requirements that would tie completion to FAFSA submission.

District leaders described additional Blueprint-related concerns. Dr. Phil Bolsom (Superintendent; transcript uses “Doctor. Balson/Bolsom” in places) and Katie Ridgeway, chief of staff, summarized how the state’s pause of the collaborative time element — a portion of the Blueprint’s career ladder intended to reallocate teacher time over an eight-year phase-in — could reduce next year’s foundation calculation by roughly $163 per pupil. Ridgeway said that if the $163-per-pupil component were removed from the foundation, it would represent about a $5 million reduction in state revenue for the district and the equivalent of about 50 teaching positions.

Bolsom testified in Annapolis with other superintendents about concerns in the governor’s budget proposal and the potential effects of changes to the foundation formula on school staffing and services. District staff said they are asking the state for three specific analyses: an evaluation of the impact of National Board Certification (NBC) stipend program and its renewals, an adequacy study of special-education funding, and an analysis of the foundation formula used to allocate state funds.

Board members and staff also discussed NBC stipends. The district noted that NBC-related incentives can accumulate over multiple renewals; testimony cited renewal payments that add several thousand dollars and that in aggregate the lifetime stipend impact can be large. District leaders asked for evaluation to determine whether NBC stipend structure achieves anticipated retention and achievement goals and whether renewal amounts should be adjusted.

Community schools funding was another topic. Ridgeway explained the governor’s proposed legislation would pause some community-schools funding for two years after next year, while also permitting use of funds for leadership coordination. Board members heard that the pause had prompted testimony from students and community advocates in Annapolis opposing such a reduction.

The board was also briefed on student advocacy activities: a delegation of students participated in an American Youth Association advocacy day in Annapolis and raised issues such as anti-bias training, blueprint funding, cell-phone policies, legacy admissions and teacher shortages.

Ending: District staff said they will continue to monitor legislation, supply the board with written summaries and recommended actions, and press the state for the requested analyses on NBC, special-education adequacy, and the foundation formula. Board members were urged to contact state legislators about bills that affect local control and student supports.

","Harford County Board members received a legislative update from MABE-aligned representatives and district staff on state bills and Blueprint changes, including concern about pausing collaborative time, requested studies of special-education adequacy and National Board Certification stipend impacts, and tracking of community schools funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board creates sustainability ad hoc committee; initial focus on energy conservation, behavior changes and solar options

Harford County schools project deficit in operating categories as fund balance shrinks after one-time settlement refund

Board opens study of swapping elementary and high-school start times; forms task force for stakeholder review

Board briefed on proposed secondary ELA adoption; district recommends six-year contract with Savvas 'My Perspectives'

Board hears state legislative and Blueprint for Maryland’s Future update; district opposes pausing collaborative time and seeks analysis of costs