Harford County schools present preliminary FY25 finances and open 2026 calendar for public comment

Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Deborah Judd presented preliminary, unaudited results for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and the board reviewed a proposed 2026‑27 school calendar that will be posted for 60 days of public comment.

Judd said preliminary revenues were at 100.3% of budget with $1.8 million in excess revenue and that the district used $30 million in fund balance during FY25 to cover recurring costs. After spending below budget in several areas and accounting for transfers into special education, the district closed the year with an approximately $8 million surplus and about $22.5 million in unassigned fund balance available for future consideration. Judd noted that the audit is still in progress and figures are unaudited.

During questions, board members asked about expenditure trends (for example, community-services and instructional-cost fluctuations tied to reopening after COVID) and miscellaneous revenue items such as procurement-card rebates and rate‑stabilization receipts. Judd said she would provide additional breakdowns on request.

Communications manager Jillian Later outlined the draft 2026‑27 calendar: a new color code for teacher planning days, a first‑Tuesday‑in‑September start date, added teacher-planning and professional-development days before the year starts, adjusted elementary parent‑teacher conference days and early dismissals before quarters and holidays. The calendar committee will gather public comment for 60 days and return to the board for a final vote on Dec. 15.

Board members discussed Veterans Day as a possible full day off, the trade-offs of starting before Labor Day for AP test preparation, and other calendar detail items to be refined during the public-comment period.