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Superintendent Tomback was more communicative than in past meetings with elected officials, a welcome change. Slutzky said that HCPS may be unfairly charged with being top heavy, so it might be helpful for the public to know “What do they actually do?” The budget document lists a total of 84 administrators, supervisors and assistant supervisors. Slutzky also asked that future budget reports provide details on the duties of senior staff. Slutzky wanted to know if the graduation rate had improved as a result of CSSRP and “if not, why not?” Slutzky also noted the school system’s overall 87% graduation rate and asked for an evaluation of high school reform (a.k.a. Slutzky questioned the efficiency of the program in its current location, given the relatively small number of students being served (less than 100 as of last September, although the number fluctuates during the school year) He also requested an evaluation of the Alternative Education program at the old Aberdeen High School (now called the Center for Educational Opportunity – CEO).

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Like the relief of having missed a bullet – never mind that the firing squad may be reloading.Ĭouncilman Slutzky asked a series of detailed budget questions and sought clarification on a number of line items. Maybe it’s because crisis was averted for now. Still, the tone of the work session was remarkably jovial, given the long term economic outlook.

Markowski from HCPS retorted that it was the state legislature that recently voted to increase teachers’ pension benefits.

Slutkzy said Franchot reasoned that local officials hire staff and negotiate salaries which then affect pension costs. So Franchot joins the crowd in Annapolis who are plotting to save the state from drowning in red ink by tossing an anchor to the counties. Slutzky said that Franchot voiced some support for pushing the cost of teacher pensions onto the counties. In other bad news, Councilman Dick Slutzky reported on a recent conversation with Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot. Why should we care? If there’s an error, Harford may lose some of the state funding we’re banking on. Markowski said that could mean cuts to staff and to the arts and athletics after next year.Īsked about state funding, HCPS budget officials noted that something doesn’t add up with the levels that have been set for Prince George’s County Public Schools PG’s allotment from the state seems low. Without an uptick in revenues in FY12 and beyond, Harford Schools’ CFO John Markowski told council members that the instructional program will be impacted. 8 million budget hole, according to earlier comments from budget officials. The FY11 operating budget uses the last of federal bailout money, wipes out the schools’ fund balance, and applies one-time cost savings, which together plugged what would have otherwise been a $12. The school system will squeak by without layoffs or cuts to the instructional program next year, but only because the operating budget will be held together by the temporary glue of one-time money. Tomback said the changes will streamline the system, create positions, and result in savings of $120,000. Tomback said that the reorganization involves both the office of curriculum and instruction, currently headed by Roger Plunkett, and school operations, currently under the direction of Chief of Administration Joe Licata. At the budget work session, Tomback volunteered that management changes were on the way, with a plan to be presented at the school board meeting (tonight) April 26. Word is that Superintendent Robert Tomback, who hails from Baltimore County Public Schools and has been on the Harford job for less than a year, will bring in some of his own people and reorganize the central office. HCPS has been buzzing lately about a pending management shake-up. But a surprising amount of news came out of Harford County Public Schools’ presentation to the members of the County Council on April 23 and not all the news was about the budget. A Harford County Council budget work session scheduled late on a Friday afternoon might sound like a real yawner.

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