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Board ratifies labor agreements, adopts health and transportation policy changes and approves 2026–27 calendar
Summary
The Board of Education ratified multiple collective bargaining agreements, adopted updates to health and transportation policies and approved the 2026–27 school year calendar (as amended). Several policies and labor contracts passed unanimously; the student transportation policy was approved 7–1.
The Howard County Board of Education approved a package of labor agreements, policy updates and the 2026–27 school calendar during its June 12 meeting.
Labor contract ratifications
The board voted to ratify negotiated agreements covering multiple employee groups:
- Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (MASA certificated supervisors): approved (motion carried unanimously 7–0). - MASA non‑certificated supervisory agreement: approved 7–0. - Howard County Education Association (HCEA) certificated agreement (multi‑year tentative agreement covering FY2026–FY2028): ratified 7–0. - HCEA educational support professionals (ESP): ratified 7–0.
Board members noted the agreements were negotiated in good faith and ratified by membership before board approval.
Policy and administrative actions
- Policy 5‑100, Health Services: Board approved minor updates to align policy language with legal and regulatory mandates; the board adopted the policy “effective immediately” by an 8–0 vote.
- Policy 5‑200, Student Transportation: The board approved the recommended changes to student transportation policy (staff requested an effective date of July 1, 2025). The motion passed 7–1 (Miss Mosley was recorded as voting no).
Calendar adoption
After discussion and a narrow amendment to preserve an earlier end date structure, the board approved the 2026–27 school year calendar as presented by staff with the amendment that the last day of school would be June 8, 2027 and June 9–11 would be held as inclement weather days; the final calendar passed after amendment (final tally recorded 7–0 with one abstention on final approval).
Why it matters: Ratified labor agreements set compensation and working conditions for multiple staff groups for the coming years; transportation and health policy updates affect daily operations; calendar changes alter instructional timing for students and families.
Speakers and notes
- J. Stephen Coles, Board legal counsel, advised the board about legal constraints on closing school days specifically for religious holidays (guidance discussed during a separate calendar conversation earlier in the meeting). - Brian Bassett (calendar committee chair) and school calendar committee members presented the proposed 2026–27 calendar and described committee input.
Next steps
Staff will implement the contract terms and post updated policy language on the district website. Calendar materials will be shared with families and schools; transportation policy changes take effect July 1, 2025 per staff guidance.
Ending
The agenda items removed uncertainty about multi‑year labor contracts and established policy and calendar parameters for next school year.
