[{"_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",6614897,"mediaKeyId","3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2","parentId",3065608,"title","HCPS shows midyear gains on DIBELS and I-Ready diagnostics; district flags math as priority","audioSeconds",874,"startMs",7623000,"endMs",8497000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2&start=7623&end=8497","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2/thumbnail_7623000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6614897/Maryland/HCPS-shows-midyear-gains-on-DIBELS-and-I-Ready-diagnostics-district-flags-math-as-priority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614897-04ea7fde1690cbe07f81b4bb5a5466aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172322&Signature=XNw4UTF5g~h~FYIbC2hZJgFSuVbpsKWiH1vdUt3AeO8-InbV40jGzxS8GuYWsyOkMeTD7Uf5z4qXRmHMh5IaL7g4qsNsiyQbD3mRcVISqVzZgzMDZ-66~vhUWv-RminIm8zu9G2jaGWhCBBszuBHnrcJmy1SI1OUQ7fd0lhVaehBf5Cs6yEYDVvm0UtfzgyIWCB1oYshKWwUMftY0yOZgTmp20d9SoAlZfw-sBeoWKAXoFh22aX8VMoR37WqIsfbuJvo2Z3C3C9IMlawLLOvns4D4XkV73h~To8PvcCFPlzMCQCrOXeWjp4xyLHK~V80xCOjlbyBeL58anR1W~79Rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harford County Public Schools","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Harford County Public Schools staff presented midyear results on the district's local assessments, reporting gains on the DIBELS literacy screener and on I-Ready diagnostic measures while warning staff and the board that math achievement remains a central area for improvement.

Assistant Superintendent Heather Kushner, Director Philip Snyder (accountability) and Director of Special Education Kyle Sastelli presented the DIBELS early literacy screener (kindergarten through grade 3) and I-Ready diagnostic results for grades 1\t. District staff described changes to reporting for this school year: HCPS now includes students with individualized education program (IEP) reading goals in its DIBELS reporting so the midyear datasets form a new baseline compared to prior published reports.

Key findings
- DIBELS (early grades): The district reported increased proportions of students at or above benchmark from fall to midyear in K'; staff emphasized that this year's dataset includes students with reading goals in IEPs, a reporting change from prior years.
- I-Ready (reading and math diagnostics): Comparing fall to winter administrations, the district reported gains by grade level in both reading and mathematics; third grade showed one of the largest observed gains in both subjects. District staff cautioned that I-Ready is longer and more diagnostic than some prior tools but provides richer, standards-aligned data for teachers and families.

Why it matters: Staff said I-Ready provides standard-level diagnostic detail and family-facing reports (the I-Ready Family Center opened March 12) that can support targeted instruction and summer reading placement. The district plans a linking study this summer to map correlations between I-Ready results and MCAP (Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program) outcomes to better forecast state-assessment performance from local diagnostics.

Math: a continuing challenge
Staff described math as a district priority with more modest gains in middle school grades and identification of multiple causes and responses. District math supervisors are piloting \"ambassador\" approaches to support curriculum implementation and teacher coaching. Board members and staff discussed state-level changes and the district's need for clarity from the Maryland State Department of Education about any new curricular or assessment frameworks before fully committing district resources to a particular math adoption.

Testing cadence and instructional time
I-Ready diagnostic modules are computer-adaptive and, depending on grade level and student responses, can require multiple short sessions; staff estimated roughly 70\u000190 minutes per subject administration (broken into smaller sessions for younger students). Team members said the time yield is valuable because teachers receive item-level and standard-aligned reports they can immediately use for targeted instruction.

Board questions and staff follow-up
Board members requested additional disaggregated views of the DIBELS results for the current year with IEP students excluded so the board can compare apples-to-apples with prior years while the district develops the new longitudinal baseline. Staff agreed to provide additional analyses and to run a linking study over the summer once spring administrations are complete.

Speakers quoted in this article
- Heather Kushner, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction (presentation lead)
- Philip Snyder, Supervisor of Accountability
- Kyle Sastelli (transcript label: miss Kyle Sastelli), Director of Special Education

Provenance
- Topic introduction (assessment presentation start): transcript segment starting at 7623.86 (presentation introduction) (topicintro).
- Topic finish: transcript segment starting at 8493.056 (Q&A opening and transition to superintendent's report) (topicfinish).

Sections:{\"lede\":\"HCPS reported midyear improvements on the DIBELS literacy screener and on I-Ready diagnostics but said math remains a priority and that added reporting of students with IEP reading goals establishes a new baseline for comparison.\",\"nut_graf\":\"District staff said I-Ready provides richer item-level data and family-facing reports; the district will run a linking study this summer to correlate local diagnostic scores with MCAP results and will provide additional DIBELS reports excluding IEP students at the board's request.\",\"ending\":\"Staff asked schools and families to use family reports and promised further analysis this summer to refine instructional guidance and state-assessment projections.\"}","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meeting - Mar 24, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","HCPS reported midyear improvements on the DIBELS literacy screener and on I-Ready diagnostics but said math remains a priority and that added reporting of students with IEP reading goals establishes a new baseline for comparison.","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},6614907,"Board ratifies multiple labor agreements, approves custodial contract and administrative hires",1645,3443000,5088000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2&start=3443&end=5088","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2/thumbnail_3443000.jpg","/articles/6614907/Maryland/Board-ratifies-multiple-labor-agreements-approves-custodial-contract-and-administrative-hires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614907-5d6feaff35b26f925bd6575c6e0666c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172322&Signature=mtDUck~0q6lVjat6sM3sCDJxnGXfI9MOwumCpyTNSTl8potIPZKiiiBOSeZgCBVb2Y8zQ8smnb-6pwzePPHi4eUjBoGgJSrb12ykOhV7GlzIgR0~dqk1C3fiSTEt8NNv5XJvUlRv3rihzj8Lz1uVSnLLj-PlEiSTOAqzWRUExFbRW-fG6F~6VuU~UGWIP~izTBWmJSPzHnp9RpyoSSp~BE1p7Uf3HLj6dg3t7YIR1njE88OEMzNd2bLvRssPKFX-uCOye-DoR45vsFbRl8hOz9a70fx1ml-dR-45WSaSeecH-kEQog2Ip3eqEFvnzB82PNwAWDUH2c2QeUZoy8H43g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education of Harford County approved several contract and personnel items during its March 24 business meeting, including ratification of tentative agreements with bargaining units, a contract award for custodial services, and the appointment of candidates to principal and assistant-principal pools.

The actions came during the board's consent agenda and separate votes. The board voted to ratify multiple tentative agreements covering recognized bargaining units and later approved a contract award for custodial services after a failed motion to postpone the custodial award until May. The board also voted to approve three administrative and supervisory appointment pools (elementary and secondary principal pools, assistant principal pools and a pupil personnel worker pool).

Why it matters: The ratified agreements set multi-year pay and step provisions that affect supervisor and administrative pay ranges, and the custodial contract will change how substitute/short-term custodial needs are filled systemwide. The administrative pools give the superintendent a roster of board-approved candidates for immediate hiring decisions.

Key outcomes
- Ratification of tentative agreements (consisting of multiple bargaining units): approved by roll call (8 yes, 2 no). Board members voting yes included Carol Bruce, Miss Kocher, Dr. Mueller, Miss Pizzoke, Miss Perry, Mr. Sewell, Miss Strauss and the board president; Miss Alvarez and Vice President Hahn voted no. The item was presented as Consent Item 1 and was pulled for separate roll-call consideration.

- Custodial services contract (Consent Item 2): after a motion to postpone the vote to May failed on roll call (motion to defer: 1 yes, 10 no), the board subsequently approved the custodial services contract by voice vote. The contract authorizes an outside vendor to provide substitute and supplemental custodial staffing across HCPS; staff said the vendor will need time to ramp up to meet summer cleaning and staffing needs.

- Consent block (Items 3'8): approved (routine contract awards including custodial supplies and grounds equipment, facility utilization assessment, Prospect Mill Elementary roof replacement, and prior meeting minutes) via block vote.

- Administrative and supervisory appointment pools: approved by voice vote. The board approved candidates for elementary and secondary principal pools, assistant principal pools and the pupil personnel worker pool to give the superintendent a 3-year set of board-approved candidates for filling vacancies.

What the board and staff said
Board member Miss Alvarez requested a separate roll call on the ratification because she objected to provisions she said raise the bottom salary for the administrators/supervisors bargaining unit to about $121,000 and include a \"me-too\" clause tying supervisory COLAs to teacher pay. \"This bargaining unit has a bottom floor of a 21,000. That means that anybody who starts or moves into this bargaining unit would have a minimum starting salary of a hundred and $21,000,\" Alvarez said during limited discussion. She asked that the board consider the budgetary implications and pushed for a roll call vote on that item.

Human resources and operations staff told the board the custodial contract is time-sensitive because the chosen vendor is new to the county and would need lead time to hire and prepare for summer cleaning. Chief operations staff noted persistent difficulty filling custodial vacancies locally: \"We've traditionally had 30 to 40 vacancies for custodians,\" a staff member said, and hiring capacity in central office would be strained if the board delayed the contract and tried to convert contractor roles into HCPS hires immediately.

Board procedure and next steps
Board members approved items 3'8 as a block, completed the separate ratification roll call for item 1, defeated a motion to defer the custodial contract to May, and then approved the custodial services contract. The administrative appointment pools are in effect for three years to allow the superintendent to fill positions from a board-approved candidate pool.

Votes at a glance (formal recorded outcomes)
- Consent agenda (items 3'8): approved (voice/block vote). No detailed roll-call recorded in minutes for the block.
- Consent item 1: Ratification of tentative agreements (multiple bargaining units)
- Motion: approve ratification of tentative agreements
- Outcome: approved (roll call)
- Tally: Yes 8, No 2, Abstain 0
- Notes: Miss Alvarez requested separate roll-call vote because of concern over the administrative/supervisory unit minimum salary and the \"me-too\" clause tying increases to teacher pay.
- Consent item 2: Contract award for custodial services
- Motion 1 (to defer to May): failed (roll call: Yes 1, No 10)
- Motion 2 (to approve contract award): approved (voice vote)
- Notes: Staff said delay would affect summer cleaning and the vendor's ramp-up time; operations reported longstanding custodian vacancies and need for supplemental services.
- Administrative & supervisory appointment pools
- Motion: approve recommended candidate pools (elementary and secondary principals, assistant principals and pupil personnel workers)
- Outcome: approved (voice vote)

Provenance (transcript evidence)
- Ratification discussion start: transcript segment starting at 4102.675 (Miss Alvarez raising the salary/\"21,000\" issue) (topicintro).
- Ratification vote: transcript segment starting at 4474.5 (roll call for item 1) (topicfinish).
- Custodial contract deferral motion and vote: discussion and roll call starting at 4543.185 (item 2 discussion) and roll call at 5060.32 (deferral roll call), final approval around 5095.605'5108.97 (topicfinish).

Speakers (attributed quotes in this article are limited to the following speakers from the meeting):
- Miss Alvarez, Board member (first referenced 03:29:xx)
- Carol Bruce, Board member (first referenced 121.88)
- \"Missus Coker\" (transcript label), Board member
- Dr. Mueller (transcript label), Board member
- Miss Pizzoke (transcript label), Board member
- Miss Perry (transcript label), Board member
- Mr. Sewell (transcript label), Board member
- Miss Strauss (transcript label), Board member
- Vice President Hahn (transcript label), Board vice president
- President Boynton / President Pointon (transcript shows both forms), Board president
- Ben Richardson, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources (presented personnel pools)

Authorities referenced
- No formal statute citations required for board contract votes in the meeting text. (Board and staff referenced bargaining/collective agreements and local procurement processes.)

Searchable tags: [contracts, labor, custodial, personnel, ratification, Harford County Public Schools, budget]

Sections:{\"lede\":\"The Board of Education of Harford County approved a package of contracts and personnel pools on March 24, including ratification of tentative bargaining agreements, a contract award for custodial services and board approval of administrative candidate pools.\",\"nut_graf\":\"Board members split over timing of the custodial services award but ultimately approved the contract, while a separate roll-call approval ratified multi-year agreements that members said will affect minimum pay levels for the administrative/supervisory bargaining unit.\",\"ending\":\"Staff said the custodial vendor will need lead time to staff for summer cleaning, and the superintendent will use the newly approved principal and assistant-principal pools to fill vacancies from a board-approved roster.\"}","The Board of Education of Harford County approved a package of contracts and personnel pools on March 24, including ratification of tentative bargaining agreements, a contract award for custodial services and board approval of administrative candidate pools.",{"_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},6614902,"Mentoring groups propose in-school 'Boys to Men' and related programs; board pledges support for 2025-26 launch",2141,5143000,7284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2&start=5143&end=7284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3065608-2ab4fe397124c392f0645f7b2255dba2/thumbnail_5143000.jpg","/articles/6614902/Maryland/Mentoring-groups-propose-in-school-Boys-to-Men-and-related-programs-board-pledges-support-for-2025-26-launch","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6614902-291ffaa9d34faf991cac9a5e6ac6ef52/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172322&Signature=ZKE6OMgTiB-ynBbuwUe5t2AxIcRCvjkng38sUc0OxfDBZRuVNDVQxUYpHLzeofBIODJf5gXuiEPMEm~Px~TcZUYq0tpDR5uz0DOu11RgUK7NNlEP5iukNiCjcbfAMSeKZ4NgfZCnoVfARgtN8mnKmjR8Sna3YWfY3K6dw8rXVuFOzlet-0DzhYKJryHnmTC9VgE74jjzRCtuUvo1J1cnGZ2sp0VjdBShbm9sxd4sma39mBe6wE9mQwmRhtD5Gj6Tpf~IrI0CnwGM7Oky-Q9PYT-SBM7eB72PzXzzb1wlwPe08KgaFUadjMkOLATHrkDUEYP33Etp4CW5vCG1cWJuAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three mentoring organizations presented a plan to place trained adult volunteers in Harford County Public Schools during the school day to provide mentoring, character education, tutoring and college/career exposure.

The presenters' Pastor Al Reeves (Boys to Men Mentoring Program), William Howard (Willpower mentoring) and Reverend Dr. Marlon Tillman (Civics and Chess) described in-school mentorship, summer work experiences and a sustainability model that recycles program graduates into volunteer mentor roles. Pastor Reeves said Boys to Men has operated in the county for years and emphasized a mix of academic supports and work-based learning: \"We're gonna get these young men jobs even during the school year through Susquehanna Workforce Network,\" he said.

Why it matters: Presenters told the board the programs are designed to reduce discipline incidents, increase attendance and provide regular one-on-one mentoring during the school day'0 a model the groups said is currently limited by fingerprinting clearance and volunteer onboarding capacity. Board members voiced support and asked staff and the presenters to develop operational details in the coming weeks for a launch at the start of the next school year.

Program details and capacity
- Current footprint: presenters named Edgewood, Magnolia and JoppaTown among schools where mentoring is operating in some form; Willpower said it serves Magnolia Elementary, Halls Crossroads Elementary and Edgewood Middle.
- Volunteer pool: presenters said they have about 175 potential volunteers prepared to serve in-school and after school; programs emphasized daytime mentoring to be proactive rather than reactive.
- Activities: morning arrival character lessons, one-on-one check-ins, tutoring for students who have fallen behind, civics instruction, chess for strategic thinking, summer work programs with Susquehanna Workforce Network for employability and payment to students.
- Barriers cited: fingerprinting/onboarding delays and coordination with school schedules and staffing.

Board response and next steps
Board members expressed unanimous or near-unanimous support for the concept, asking staff and presenters to build a detailed launch plan. A board member offered to recruit student volunteers (service-hour credit) and several board members volunteered to help with outreach. The board asked staff to work through details including volunteer clearance and how the programs would be integrated into school-day schedules. One board member recommended a full launch at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Speakers (sources for direct quotes used in this article)
- Pastor Al Reeves, Director, Boys to Men Mentoring Program (presenter)
- William Howard, Director, Willpower (presenter)
- Reverend Dr. Marlon Tillman, Civics and Chess (presenter)
- Board president (President Boynton/Pointon) and multiple board members who commented in support

Proper names noted
Harford County Public Schools; Boys to Men Mentoring Program; Willpower; Civics and Chess; Susquehanna Workforce Network; Edgewood Elementary; Magnolia Elementary; JoppaTown High School.

Provenance
- Presentation start: transcript segment at 5143.44 (introduction of presenters) (topicintro).
- Board endorsement and closing: transcript segment at 7276.86'7284.88 (board direction to work on details and target a fall launch) (topicfinish).

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The superintendent told the board the district expects to reduce about 150 teaching positions next year and said early notifications to some staff are preliminary. He repeatedly characterized the expected reductions as manageable through attrition (retirements and resignations) rather than immediate mass layoffs: \"At this time, based on current projections, we expect we fully expect that these reductions can be managed through attrition,\" the superintendent said. The superintendent also described an 8% county funding increase that the district hopes the county will fully fund as part of a multiyear alignment plan.

Board discussion of voluntary stipend return and travel cuts
Several board members suggested targeted cost-saving ideas. Dr. Mueller proposed the board consider forgoing its monthly stipend ($300 per month per board member) for one year and asked the superintendent to place that item on the next meeting agenda; Dr. Mueller said the total board stipend for a year is not large but could be used toward classroom aides. Vice President Hahn and others recommended also reviewing travel and conference spending for central-office and leadership staff as a potentially larger savings area.

Why it matters: The superintendent framed the staffing reductions as part of a multi-year plan to align school funding requests with county revenue growth; the board discussed symbolic and concrete savings measures while staff reiterated the goal that \"everyone who has a job this year should have a job next year.\" The board scheduled additional listening sessions (including a student listening session) and staff follow-up on budget details.

Quantities and clarifications mentioned in the meeting
- Estimated positions to be eliminated next year: about 150 (superintendent described as \"approximately 150\").
- Board monthly stipend: $300 per month per board member; board-wide annual stipends cited as roughly $32,400 collectively.
- County funding ask described by the superintendent as an 8% increase from current year levels; county revenues are growing at roughly 5% (superintendent's characterization).

Provenance
- Superintendent budget remarks: transcript segment starting at 3716.7952 where the superintendent described staffing reductions and funding expectations (topicintro).
- Board discussion and motion to consider stipend relinquishment: transcript segments around 3047.4849 and 3151.84 and 3594.0 where board members proposed stipend return and travel-review agenda items (topicfinish).

Speakers quoted in this article
- Superintendent (transcript label: Doctor Bolsom / Superintendent Bolsom)
- Dr. Mueller (board member)
- Vice President Hahn (board member)

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A series of speakers opposed DEI initiatives and said districts should focus on basic academic skills such as reading, writing and math. Gary Johnson cited federal law and the Supreme Court's Students for Fair Admissions decision while warning that race-based decisions are unlawful; his remarks included references to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution. Other speakers used religious language to argue for the inclusion of Christian teachings and criticized gender-identity instruction and curricular materials.

Library materials and screening
One speaker reviewed pages from a library title in detail and urged the board to review library materials. Board staff later noted the district maintains a public book review procedure and a review committee has met; the board's website provides directions for citizens to submit concerns and the district said it has a formal review process in place.

Support for school staff and custodians
Several speakers, including Tanisha Gannon (AFSCME Local 2471) and Gina Graff (a school safety liaison at Foulston High School), urged the board to reconsider contracting custodial services and to invest in existing employees. They said subcontracting has produced accountability and morale issues and that contractors may not be required to comply with the same internal practices as HCPS employees. \"Why not keep that money within instead of giving it away to contract companies that has been shown not to work?\" said Tanisha Gannon.

Other public comments
- A parent and a principal from Japatown (Melissa Williams, principal) urged continued focus on psychological safety and on ensuring each student has a trusted adult in school.
- Several speakers connected curriculum debates to larger state and federal policy changes; one speaker invoked the idea that federal dollars may be at risk if districts change programs.

Board response
Board members reminded the public that the district operates a formal book-review procedure and provided the hcps.org link and \"Open Gate\" resource for submitting concerns. The board did not take formal action on library materials or curriculum items during the meeting; it reiterated that many public-comment issues require follow-up and staff will respond through appropriate channels.

Speakers cited (examples from the transcript)
- William Martino (public commenter)
- David Bauer (public commenter)
- Gary Johnson (public commenter)
- Tanisha Gannon (AFSCME Local 2471 president)
- Susie Scott (Moms for Liberty, Harford County)
- Christina Anosha (public commenter citing scriptural passages)
- Melissa Williams (Japatown High School principal, public comment)
- Gina Graff (SSL, Foulston High School)

Provenance
- Public comment period start (topicintro): transcript segment starting at 417.315 where public comment began to be called (topicintro).
- Public comment period end and board acknowledgement (topicfinish): transcript segment starting at 2592.715 (closing of public comments) (topicfinish).

Sections:{\"lede\":\"Dozens of public commenters at the March 24 Harford County Board of Education meeting urged changes to curriculum and policy, with many criticizing DEI initiatives, asking for faith-based moral instruction, raising objections to library titles and pressing the board on custodial contracting.\",\"nut_graf\":\"Speakers included parents, teachers, union representatives and organized groups; board staff reiterated the district's public book-review process and said staff will follow up on policy and procurement questions.\",\"ending\":\"Board members encouraged public use of the district book-review procedures and asked the public to submit specific questions so staff can provide factual follow-up outside of the meeting forum.\"}","During public comment dozens of residents took the podium to criticize diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, call for faith-based instruction, raise objections to library materials and urge focus on math and literacy. Several speakers also spoke in support of custodians and school staff.","actionData","errors"]

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