HCPS 411 Update

Please take a moment to watch Dr. Bulson's latest video message on the FY24 budget.

Congratulations to all our 2023 graduates and their families! We are so proud!! All graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed and may be viewed here.

According to Board policy, on December 19, 2022, the Board of Education of Harford County (BOE) approved the 2023-2024 school year calendar. At the time the BOE voted on the calendar, the calendar reflected a school and office closure on April 23, 2024, to allow schools to be utilized as polling locations for the primary election. During the most recent legislative session, the election date was moved to May 14, 2024.

As a result of that legislative change, on Monday, May 22, 2023, the BOE voted to update the 2023-2024 school calendar to reflect schools and offices will be open April 23, 2024, and school and offices will be closed May 14, 2024, to allow schools to function as polling locations for the election.

Calendar information can be found here.

The Maryland High School Graduation Task Force was first convened in January 2018 at the request of the State Board and the State Superintendent of Schools. The Task Force was charged with making recommendations to the State Board and the State Superintendent on the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Chapter 13A.03.02 Graduation Requirements for Public High Schools in Maryland. Specifically, the Task Force was asked to focus on three areas: credit and program requirements (number of credits, subject areas, and other requirements), assessments, and options for awarding high school diplomas. All decisions were informed by current research, data, and experts in the field. The recommended amendments to credits, beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2021-2022, included an increase in the number of credits required for graduation from 21 to 22, an increase in the number of credits in mathematics from 3 to 4, and an increase in the number of credits in health from one-half credit to one full credit.

Within HCPS, we initiated conversations around the same time with our stakeholders regarding the local school system requirements, which is guided by the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) Chapter 13A.03.02.09(B)(2). Since 2005-06, Harford County Public Schools has required students to earn 26 credits to graduate with a high school diploma. This initiative, which fell under the local Comprehensive Secondary School Reform (CSSRP), required students to earn the credits identified by MSDE for a diploma plus an additional ½ credit in Physical Education, 4 credits indicating a pathway if a student was not enrolled in a Career and Technical Education Program (CTE), and up to 26 elective credits.

Students achieving graduate outcomes have continued to demonstrate growth since work began locally in 2018 combined with the launch of the HCPS North Star Initiative. The implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, the development of the Harford Youth Workforce Investment Program, and the beginning of Harford County’s Apprenticeship Maryland Program continue to enhance student opportunities for college and career preparation prior to high school graduation.

HCPS solicited feedback from stakeholders since beginning this work four years ago. High School Principals, High School Counselors, Blueprint North Star Sub Committee, Harford Business Education Roundtable, HCPS Executive Leadership and Senior Staff, and Parent Advisory Members reviewed proposals and recommendations for changes to the local graduation requirements. The proposal of changing graduation requirements was brought to the HCPS Board of Education in November of 2022 and was placed on HCPS.org for public comment. Feedback received demonstrated support for eliminating the local graduation pathway requirement, as this helps to reduce barriers for students, and increase opportunities for early college, apprenticeships, non-credit dual enrollment programs, and workforce development for all interested students.

As reflected in the new High School Graduation Requirements Procedure, beginning in the fall of 2023, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will no longer have the local pathway requirement for graduation. In addition to the Maryland Graduation Requirements, Harford County students will still be required to earn 26 total credits, and an additional ½ credit of Physical Education. Students in the 12th grade during the 2023-2024 school year will be able to complete their current program of study without interruption.

Tune in to the next and last Monthly Minute of the 2022-23 school year on Tuesday, June 13. The link to join the live event will be sent out via email that day.

To view a complete archive of all past Monthly Minute videos, visit the Monthly Minute page on our website by clicking here.

The results of the focus group series on measuring reading have been released on hcps.org through the Office of Strategic Initiatives. The focus group series asked the question, “How do we effectively measure reading?” The report includes collected data from the process, recommendations by participants, and action items. The full report can be viewed HERE. Thank you to all who participated (named acknowledgements are on page 16), and to the various leaders involved in the action items and next steps.

In accordance with IRS regulations governing 403(b) deferred compensation plans, Harford County Public Schools must annually provide a notice to all eligible employees regarding the opportunity to make elective deferrals or change existing deferrals into the plan. This notice will be sent to all staff via email or regular mail on June 1st. Employees may access the plan’s Universal Availability Notice, as well as information on how to get started contributing to the Roth and/or tax-deferred investment program, at http://www.hcps.org/departments/humanresources/benefits/retirement.aspx.

The Investment Committee is seeking two new members, an AFSCME representative and one Member at Large. The committee meets virtually from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. two times per year, with additional meetings as needed. Any HCPS employee is eligible to serve on the committee as long as they are active participants in either one or both of the 403b or 457b plans.

The Committee has the authority, duty and responsibility to:

1.) Select the funding vehicles available under the Plans.

2.) Monitor and evaluate the performance of the funding vehicles and the Plans’ investment line-up.

3.) Remove and replace funding vehicles available under the Plan.

4.) Retain an advisor to assist the Committee in the exercise of its authority, duty and responsibilities.

Please contact Deborah Judd, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, if you are interested in serving on this committee or have questions regarding this information: Deborah.Judd@hcps.org or 410-588-5321.

What do I need to do now that Open Enrollment is over?

• Changes elected during Open Enrollment will take effect on July 1, 2023.
• If you added new dependents to your coverage, you must submit the Dependent Verification Form and required documentation to the Benefits Office by June 15, 2023. To view the acceptable documents for dependent verification, please click here.
• Effective immediately, changes to your coverage options can only be made within 30 days of a qualifying life event. For more information, please review the 2023-2024 Employee Benefits Reference Guide available on the HCPS website and SharePoint.
• Keep an eye on your mail for new ID cards. All ID cards will be mailed in a blank, unidentified envelope for member security and privacy.

REMINDER BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023! HCPS will be transitioning dental insurance carriers from Delta Dental to CareFirst. Unless you elected to change your plan, those enrolled in the Delta Dental PPO Comprehensive plan will transition to the CareFirst Dental PPO Comprehensive plan. Likewise, members currently enrolled in the Delta Dental Premier Standard plan will transition to the CareFirst PPO Standard plan if an active change election was not submitted during the open enrollment period. Please contact your dentist's office to verify if your provider participates with the new dental plan.

NEW ID CARDS: Every employee enrolled in a dental plan will receive new ID cards. All ID cards will be mailed in a blank, unidentified envelope for member security and privacy. Employees who elected the CareFirst BlueVision Plus plan during open enrollment will receive a second envelope containing separate ID cards. Employees who elected to change their medical plan option during open enrollment will receive a third envelope containing separate ID cards. This means you may have up to three (3) separate ID cards based on your medical, dental, and vision elections. All ID cards will arrive by mail at your home by the end of June.

• Dental cards will contain the group number 2SM7
• Vision cards will contain the group number 2SM8

If you have any questions, contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org.

American College of Education (ACE)

American College of Education is excited to inform us of all the benefits we have access to as an ACE partner. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that our employees can get a 3% tuition reduction when they enroll in one of our flexible and affordable fully online programs. Please see flyer. ACE is running an end of the school year gift card raffle. See flyer for rules and how to enter.

McDaniel College – Virtual Open House

Learn more about McDaniel's Graduate and Professional Programs for Educators. Please see flyer for upcoming open houses on Wednesday, June 14, or August 9, at 5:00 p.m. and use the 'register here' button in the flyer to RSVP.

IIRP Restorative Practices for Educators - (Tier 1 & 2 Supports ) - International Institute for Restorative Practices

Course Description: Building and strengthening relationships and community is a critical component of school culture. Restorative practices is an essential process for creating a positive learning environment, building social capital, and resolving relational issues.

During your training session, you will learn the fundamental theory and practices for engaging with students, staff, and parents in your school setting. Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback and asking questions that foster accountability, as well as utilizing effective methods to resolve common conflicts. You will learn to apply the restorative practices continuum, understanding which restorative processes are best for achieving certain goals or responding to particular situations. We will focus specifically on facilitating circles, an essential process for creating a positive learning environment and school culture. Circles can be used both proactively and responsively to build social capital, sustain relationships, address social problems, and respond when harm occurs. Participants will spend time planning circles to use in their schools.

Hector Registration Links:

In-Person: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1813

Virtual: https://www.hcps.org/registration/workshops/workshops.aspx?filter=1814

Questions?
Please email: faith.buxton@hcps.org

HCPS Parent Academy, in partnership with Chick-fil-A of Harford County, is proud to announce that Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School is the May winner for the school system’s Family Friendly School Award program!!

This month, 10 schools were nominated and 1,594 unique votes were cast by the community among the nominated schools, naming Hall's Cross Roads Elementary the winner with 509 votes!! Not only does the school earn the coveted title of Family Friendly School for the month of May, but the entire school staff will be treated to a luncheon by the program partner, Chick-fil-A of Harford County.

We want to also recognize this month's runner-up schools:

• Forest Lakes Elementary School
  
• Abingdon Elementary School
• Youth's Benefit Elementary School

Keep up the great work!

This was the last Family Friendly School of the 2022-23 school year.

HCPS is deeply grateful for its generous Chick-fil-A partners at the Aberdeen, Bel Air, Constant Friendship, and Forest Hill locations for their tremendous support of this program.

Congratulations to all of the May honorees highlighted below! And a special thank you to this month's Limelight sponsor, Harford Bank. Five winners selected by random draw won a duffle bag, and one lucky grand prize winner won a $250 gift card!

Bel Air High School (BAHS) has received Maryland Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education’s Green School Bronze level sustainability, the only school in Harford County and one of only five high schools with this honor in the state of Maryland. To achieve this level, the school must have Green School status for at least four or more application cycles. BAHS has been a green school since 1999, and through the hard work and dedication to environmental sustainability of the students and staff, they have continued their path towards green excellence. Congratulations, BAHS!!

Ring Factory Elementary School (RFES) is pleased to announce that a fifth-grade team of students won first place in the northern regional level for elementary schools while participating in the spring Stock Market Game. The Maryland Council on Economic Education (MCEE) organizes this competition. The Stock Market Game is a hands-on learning tool to help students build a fundamental understanding of investing while providing them with real world skills in math. This team earned $11,480.00 in 10 weeks while competing against a total of 710 teams in this region. The winning team included Piper Cesenaro, Jackson Chase, Madilyn Osgood, and Landon Sinnott. Proud to announce the regional winners are Mrs. Meridith Dunlap, Principal; Mrs. Jacqueline Fisher, Assistant Principal; Ms. Shealyn Abbott, 5th Grade Teacher; and Mrs. Kathleen Thompson, Gifted and Talented Teacher. A big shout out to APGFCU for sponsoring all the RFES teams.

Last Friday, HCPS middle and high school students visited Aberdeen Proving Ground for their Demo Day Event. While there, students learned about different aspects of life in the Army and that it's more than just the infantry. Students heard from musicians, cooks, demolition experts, veterinarians, and more. They were also treated to a live fire demonstration! Thank you to APG for hosting this fantastic field trip for our students! To see more event photos, please click here.

Throughout the second semester of the 22-23 school year, fifth grade students from Norrisville Elementary School had the opportunity to visit with students who participate in the Life Skills Program at North Harford High School. Through this, they were able to build a connection between feeder schools by reading, socializing, and learning with one another…and the animals! This initiative helped empower leadership and acceptance, supported the North Star indicators for being healthy, well-rounded, literate members of Harford County Public Schools and built a bridge between elementary and secondary schools. Ms. Kolbi Stahl, Mrs. Jen Sexton, Mrs. Jess Keller, Mrs. Amanda Kriete and Mrs. Susan Birchfield, as well as support staff from both schools, planned the activities and facilitated this incredible learning experience. As we continue into the 23-24 school year, they hope to maintain this connection with all grade levels at Norrisville Elementary and the students in the Life Skills Program at North Harford High School!

Thank you to all the HCPS departments and offices that participated in the Your Mind Matters event at Ripken Stadium this past Friday. It was a wonderful time connecting with our community and supporting families with mental health and wellness resources and activities. Thank you to our co-sponsors who partnered with HCPS to make this such a special night: the Office on Mental Health, the Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, and the Harford County Health Department. Take a look at the fun had by all who attended!

In the video below, the 2023 Teacher of the Year finalists, known as the Summit Squad, personally thank this year's Celebration of Excellence in Education event sponsors. We are so thankful for our generous community partners and love how the Summit Squad demonstrates our culture of gratitude at HCPS.

Many of our positions are filled by word of mouth by our employees. Help us share our employment needs!

• Satellite Kitchen Assistant – George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
• Administrative Support Specialist – Emmorton Elementary School
• Custodian1-Shift 1– Southampton Middle School

Follow us on social media @hcpsrecruiter and share our employment posts. To find a full list of our available positions, visit hcps.org and click on the sun!

Keep track of your financial and digital life with MetLife.

Placing your financial and digital life together for a resource for your loved ones in the event of your passing or unexpected illness or injury seems like such a big job, and it is difficult to know where to start. The best way to start is to break it into smaller parts and take it one step at a time.

MetLife has provided access to an excellent resource for all employees, regardless of whether you carry life insurance benefits through Harford County Public Schools. This resource can help you gather all of your information to provide to your beneficiar(ies) so they know how and where to get started manging your financials if you are no longer able to. To access this tool, follow this link: Personal-Financial-Profile-2021-Digital-Home-print-exp0823.docx (live.com)

Focus on your Mental Health this month and beyond.

Click the image below to view the May Playlist: Take Time for Your Mind and Mental Health.

Coming to You Live in May!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, raising awareness about the importance of mental health and well-being. Check out the BurnAlong live event this month:

• May 17 at 12:00 p.m. – Managing Stress
  
• May 25 at 12:00 p.m. – Brain Health

Want to Learn More Tips to Take Control of Your Mental Health? Take steps this month to improve your brain and mental health by completing a mental health-focused program before May 31. Schedule and complete at least one mental health-focused program on the BurnAlong platform (maternal mental health, meditation, mindfulness, etc.) and celebrate your commitment to mental wellness at the Winner’s Circle live event!

Have You Taken Your BurnAlong Mental Health Break Today?

All you need is a few minutes. BurnAlong has created a playlist of 15 classes; all focused on mental health. Take time for your mind and click the links below to view the classes on the playlist. Scan the QR Code to view the classes on the playlist. Recommended classes on the playlist include:

• Getting Grounded under 30 seconds
• Self Acceptance Meditation
• Body Scan Medication

Looking for More Class Recommendations? Click on the calendar to access suggested classes throughout May.

Did you know BurnAlong is free for you and your friends? You have access to four (4) free family subaccounts, so you can start sharing today! It takes just a minute to send one, and they'll get free, unlimited access to BurnAlong all year long. Help someone start their 2023 off on the right foot. Click here to invite a subaccount.

Take BurnAlong with You! Join thousands of others on their health and wellness journey by downloading the Mobile App. Available in iOS and Android, take BurnAlong with you by downloading the app today!

What is BurnAlong? As a reminder, BurnAlong is our health and wellness partner who provides you and your family with more than 23,000 live and on-demand online classes from 5,000+ credentialed instructors at no cost to you.

To activate your complimentary account, get started by visiting https://fit.burnalong.com/hcps. If you have any trouble accessing your account, contact customercare@burnalong.com. Find out more about BurnAlong in this brief video.

Have you heard about Noom? Noom is an app that takes a psychology-based approach to help individuals lose weight and keep it off. And now, we're pleased to have this available to all employees at no cost through the CareFirst Wellbeing Wellness program - even those employees who do not carry the CareFirst medical insurance through HCPS. Spouses and dependent children over 18 on the HCPS CareFirst medical plan can also access this new benefit at no cost. To learn more about Noom and how to create your free account, click here.

Already have a Noom account? Follow the direction in the link above to create your CareFirst-sponsored Noom account using the same email address as your individual/consumer account. Noom's registration flow will be able to identify you, prompting additional screens to confirm you wish to transfer from your consumer account to a CareFirst-sponsored account. If you agree, your account will transition to the free CareFirst-sponsored benefit.

Tuition reimbursement requests, including the Partial Reimbursement Request form corresponding to your union and an itemized receipt showing payment method(s) and amount(s), and an official transcript, sent separately and electronically from your university, must be submitted to transcripts@hcps.org within 90 days of the course completion date. Please visit the Tuition Reimbursement SharePoint Page for additional tuition reimbursement information, including reimbursement request forms, sample receipts, eligibility, and more details about the reimbursement submission process.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SPRING 2023 SEMESTER REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS: Spring 2023 semester reimbursement requests received on and after May 1, 2023, will be reimbursed after July 15, 2023, leading up to and including the 2023-24 school year's first and second pay dates. Employees will receive an email confirming the reimbursement date of their request once it is processed over the summer. This processing timeline will apply to all staff, including those not scheduled to work during the summer break. Employees taking coursework through a direct bill partner will have their coursework billed directly to HCPS. Therefore, no paperwork is needed from the employee for the reimbursement as the partner University/College will provide the required official transcript/grade report.

Courses completed before July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023 fiscal year, while courses completed on or after July 1, 2023, will count towards the July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 fiscal year. Questions concerning reimbursement should be directed to the benefits office at benefits@hcps.org. Questions concerning certification should be directed to certification@hcps.org.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience a mental illness each year? Now more than ever, we recognize the role that mental health plays in our overall health and well-being and the value of raising awareness and helping those in need receive treatment. This month's wellness newsletter features practices to help enhance your mental health and support methods and member resources. To learn more, click here.

May CareFirst WellBeing Challenge – Meditation Challange

Time to focus on your emotional well-being. With a busy lifestyle, it can be challenging to take the time to relax and practice self-care. Adding meditation to your daily routine can help relax your body and mind and improve your overall well-being. Click here to learn more about the CareFirst WellBeing challenge and how to join.

Employees who have received the primary vaccine series and at least one (1) booster can submit verification of their vaccination status through an online employee survey to be eligible for COVID Breakthrough Leave for the 2022-2023 school year. Individuals who already submitted both their primary vaccine series and booster information during the 2021-2022 school year will not need to complete this survey again. Information collected from the COVID Breakthrough Leave survey will be utilized for the 2022-2023 school year to determine COVID Breakthrough Leave eligibility. The survey can be accessed by clicking here.

The complete MOU specific to your bargaining unit can be found on the Staff Relations SharePoint page. Questions about COVID Breakthrough Leave can be directed to Staff and Labor Relations Office at (410) 588-5311.

The Maryland State Retirement and Pension System and the Community College of Baltimore County will provide State Pension members the opportunity to participate in pre-retirement webinars and seminars. These sessions provide vital retirement information to pension system members, including the Maryland State Pension, Legal Issues, Social Security Benefits, and Financial Planning. The webinars will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Webinars:

• May 24 (CRN 37264)
  
• June 28 (CRN 37262)

To register, please visit https://www.ccbcmd.edu/ceed-preretirement-county. For those participating in the online events, you will receive a separate link to join the date-specific event. For those participating in-person, you will receive an email with site-specific information.

Please Note: These sessions are not affiliated with HCPS and will not include HCPS-specific information, such as retiree healthcare. HCPS will be hosting a condensed pre-retirement seminar in February. More information about this seminar will be announced in future HCPS 411 Update newsletters.

Employees who wish to provide feedback on their experience(s) obtaining medications through CVS retail pharmacies are advised to complete the CVS/Caremark Service Reporting Tool, available on SharePoint. This report is monitored bi-weekly by a member of the Benefits Office for further assistance and tracking of member service feedback. To access this form, visit the Harford County Public Schools – SharePoint Home Page.

As always, if there is an immediate need or concern when obtaining medication, please email benefits@hcps.org so that a member of the Benefits Office can assist you more quickly.

Presented by KEPRO Employee Assistance Program

Conversation is a two-way activity, and listening is essential to ensuring effective communication. This session will offer practical tips and discuss the benefits of being a good listener. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning May 16, 2023

Broadcast Length: 50 minutes
How to Access: Go to your EAP website: www.EAPHelpLink.com. Enter your code: HCPS and look for Online Seminars in the lower left-hand corner of this homepage, or you can search for them by title.

The Employee Assistance Program is available to employees and their families anytime, any day, and is a free, confidential program to help you balance your work, family, and personal life.

Employees and their family members can call KEPRO 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

"The Kindergarten Team at William S. James Elementary School would like to thank Ellen Hagis at Transportation for working her magic and getting us the buses we needed for our field trip! Thank you so much!"

-Vikki Rayman, Kindergarten Teacher, William S. James Elementary School

"This week I was visiting Hickory Elementary School (HIES) and witnessed a team that was doing an amazing job being proactive and providing positive behavior support. Ms. Wyatt, Ms. Rofrano, Ms. McElwain and Ms. Parshley did an amazing job meeting the needs of a student they have been supporting. As a Behavior Intervention Coach, I believe that providing reinforcement, delivering behavior specific praise, and offering choices are essential components of PBIS. The team at HIES does an amazing job creating a supportive learning environment for students!"

-Greg Willison, Behavior Intervention Coach

"I would like to give a shout out to my fantastic colleagues in the Department of Physical Therapy: Amy Andrews, Maryanne Crawford, Taran Green, Carly Stock and Maureen Wasielewski. I truly appreciate their collaboration and commitment as we work to serve each school within the HCPS system. Working with this team to create student-centered outcomes, assisting students/staff to promote access and participation and evolving our practice forward is amazing. Very thankful to be a part of their team. "

-​Amy Fritzges, Physical Therapist, Department of Related Services

Please join us in welcoming the following new hires to our HCPS family:

• Brandee Shifflett, School Counselor, Havre de Grace High School
• Robert Mitchell, School Bus Attendant, Transportation Department
• David Keithley, School Bus Driver, Transportation Department
• Victoria Craig, School Bus Attendant, Transportation Department
• Jeremy Dugan, Custodian I-Shift 2, Forest Lakes Elementary School
• Sierra Abels, Custodian I-Shift 2, North Harford Elementary School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

To submit an HCPS Shout Out, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA