Harford County school board approves calendar-policy change and hears FY27 capital plan
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Summary
The board voted to reduce embedded inclement-weather days from six to three (a roll-call vote announced as 8–1) and approved consent agenda items including surplus property; staff presented the FY27 state-eligible capital improvement request and asked for local commitment letters ahead of the Oct. 3 state submission.
The Harford County Board of Education on Sept. 8 approved a revision to its school calendar policy that reduces the number of embedded inclement-weather days from six to three, a change the district says will make it eligible to apply for state waivers and could be a precursor to future options such as limited virtual instruction.
Board members who supported the change said three built-in days are the state minimum to qualify for a waiver when more make-up days are required. ‘‘Three is the minimum required for us to be able to seek a waiver,’’ a policy presenter said. Opponents cautioned that the change could complicate planning if the state denies a waiver; presenters replied that a denial would require meeting the 180-school-day statutory requirement.
The roll-call vote was read aloud and the chair announced the motion passed (the transcript shows the tally called as "8 to 1" during roll call; a later line in the transcript references "9 to 1," which is recorded as a transcript discrepancy in the meeting record). The single recorded “no” vote during roll call was by a board member who raised concerns about lowering the threshold for changing the calendar.
On the consent agenda, the board approved two items (surplus parcels related to Edgewood Elementary skate park and Northville Elementary surplus property) and later approved a transfer between state budget categories after staff explained an urgent need to reallocate funds to complete the fiscal-year audit. Finance staff said an unexpected electricity bill increased one category’s needs by about $675,000 and that county-council approval was needed to finalize the transfer.
Staff presented the FY27 state-eligible Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Missy Valentino, facilities planner, and Kathy Bendis, assistant superintendent for operations, said Harford County’s projected state target allocation is about $10.9 million with an additional roughly $2.7 million from enrollment-growth/relocatable-classroom (EGRC) funds, for a total near $13 million. They noted two state funding streams (Healthy Schools and Aging Schools) had sunset and that state participation this year is estimated at 59% with a 41% local match requirement. The presentation flagged priority projects including roof work and the Hartford Academy/new elementary school project; staff requested a local commitment letter from the county executive ahead of the Oct. 3 state submission.
There were no votes on the CIP presentation; staff agreed to provide a list of schools with relocatables and to remain available for follow-up questions before the board acts on the consent agenda and local funding in upcoming meetings.
