HCPS 411 Update

Operating Budget Versus the Capital Budget

The capital budget is different from the operating budget in that the operating budget pays for the day-to-day activities of HCPS (salaries, heating, electric, etc.) and the capital budget funds physical items (buildings, network security, athletic surfaces, vehicles, etc.). Amazingly, we’ve kept our buildings, systems, and instructional programs operating without ever receiving anywhere close to our local capital budget request.

This year, HCPS requested nearly $38 million in capital funding, and County Executive Cassilly decided to only provide $7.2 million. The money we asked for would pay for things such as: resurfacing the unusable Aberdeen High School track that has holes in it, making it a danger to students; network repairs and maintenance; replacing the decaying Harford Glen pier that is unsafe for students to use; vehicle replacement; HVAC repairs at multiple schools; and site improvements and upgrades at multiple schools. Without this critical funding, HCPS facilities will continue to decay and adversely affect the learning environment.

HCPS facilities make up more than 70% of all county assets. Assets that will become unusable and more expensive to repair the longer we defer capital spending.

Funding for Technology

Technology is more than just administrative and classroom computers. Our technology capital budget covers our system network, computers used for testing, safety and security systems at our schools, and so much more.

Technology is a critical part of today’s education. As systems age and near end of life, they open our students to the dangers of the digital world. An aging network could risk private student data that sits behind firewalls, it places schools at risk by running security systems on an aging network, and it threatens test scores if students must fight outdated and potentially unstable technology while testing.

Additional Budget Resources on HCPS.ORG

To learn more about the FY24 Budget, please visit the HCPS budget page for information, including graphs, videos, and the Board of Education’s budget proposal.

Open Enrollment for the 2023 – 2024 plan year began on Monday, May 1, and will end at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023. During this period, eligible employees can enroll in benefits or change their current benefits selections. All requested changes will become effective on July 1, 2023. All enrollments can be completed online at https://hcps.benelogic.com. The 2023 - 2024 Benefit Reference Guide is now available for review on the HCPS website and SharePoint for you to review.

The next live virtual open enrollment meeting will be on Wednesday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m.; save the following link to your calendar: Click here to join the meeting.

NEW THIS YEAR, BEGINNING JULY 1, 2023! HCPS will begin offering employees a voluntary stand-alone vision plan providing vision benefits, separate and in addition to coverage already included in the BlueChoice HMO and Triple Option medical plans. In addition, HCPS will be transitioning dental insurance carriers from Delta Dental to CareFirst. Members 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 is not submitted during the open enrollment period. To view the benefit plan highlight sheets, please click on the corresponding links below:

• CareFirst Dental PPO – Comprehensive Plan Highlight Summary
• CareFirst Dental PPO – Standard Plan Highlight Summary
• CareFirst BlueVision Plus Plan Highlight Summary

2023-2024 INSURANCE PREMIUMS: The 2023-2024 benefit plan year’s new premiums can be found here: FY24 Insurance Rates_Active Employees.pdf.

If you wish to enroll in or change your benefit elections, a flexible spending account, or the new vision benefit offered to eligible employees, you must complete an active enrollment before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023. If you elect not to change your current enrollments, you do not have to take action; your current elections will automatically continue into the new plan year, with your dental benefits transitioning to the CareFirst PPO Network beginning on July 1, 2023. The only exception to this is if you are enrolling in a flexible spending account; that must be updated each year. If you have any questions, contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org.

The open enrollment period for the Harford County Education Association (HCEA) Certificated Instructional Support Personnel Sick Leave Bank (SLB) will be from May 1-31. Certificated employees represented by the HCEA who wish to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank or those who wish to cancel their membership in the Sick Leave Bank may access the linked Enrollment/Cancellation form. Please see the form for specific details and timelines regarding the application/cancellation process. Note: Current members will be AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED.

The open enrollment period for the Harford County Education Association (HCEA) Education Support Personnel Sick Leave Bank (SLB) will be from May 1-31. Non-certificated employees represented by the HCEA who wish to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank or those who wish to cancel their membership in the Sick Leave Bank may access the linked Enrollment/Cancellation form. Please see the form for specific details and timelines regarding the application/cancellation process. Note: Current members will be AUTOMATICALLY RENEWED.

Questions regarding the SLB should be directed to HCEA at 410-838-0800 or HarfordSLB@mseanea.org.

Consider being a mentor teacher for a college/university student intern. We are creating a pool of qualified mentors and encourage you to share your passion and expertise as you help grow future educators. Those accepted into the Mentor Pool may be offered mentoring opportunities as they become available. Click here to learn more about options, qualifications, and/or to apply. Deadline to apply for fall opportunities is Monday, May 22.

Note Exceptions:

• Professional Development School (PDS) classroom teachers do not need to apply. PDS staff are identified and matched with interns through a separate PDS partnership process. Unified Arts/PE/Health may apply for the pool.
• Student Support & Related Service Providers (i.e., counselors, psychologists, SLP/OT/PT, etc) will continue to express interest through their content supervisor.

Questions? Please email HCPSProfessionalLearning@hcps.org.

HCPS Summer and Fall 2023 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course Offerings

The Summer and Fall 2023 CPD Course Catalog is now available. Registration for these MSDE credit courses is available on HECTOR. Register early for the best course selection.

Summer Offerings

• Authentic Learning in Science
• Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
• SIOP Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol for English Language Learners

Fall Offerings

• Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries
• Classical Astronomy
• Education that is Multicultural in the Classroom of the 21st Century
• Laboratory Safety Workshop for Career and Technology Education Teachers
• Process and Acquisition of Literacy
• SEED Special Educators Excelling Daily
• Spanish for Communication I

HECTOR Directions

Need assistance HECTOR?

• Registering for courses
• Checking Registration and History
• Changing or Canceling Registration

Please see the Instructions for HECTOR.

Questions? Email HCPSProfessionalLearning@hcps.org.

Towson University (TU)/Towson Learning Network (TLN) Courses for Conditionally Certified Teachers / Summer 2023 / 100% Online

See flyer listing three single courses being offered to multi-county school systems for the summer 2023 semester for conditionally certified teachers. All courses are 100% online. The following courses are offered with reduced tuition and waived application fee. This opportunity with TU is not eligible for direct billing; however, staff would be entitled to applicable tuition reimbursement benefits.

• ECED 618 – Thinking Through the Processes and Acquisition of Literacy
• Class runs 5/30 – 7/20
  
  

• ECED 623 – Strategies for Teaching Reading and Writing: Balanced Literacy Approaches in ECED Classroom
• Class runs 5/30 – 7/20
  
  

• SPED 637 – Inclusion for the Classroom Teacher
• Class runs 7/6/23 – 8/1/2023
  
  

The TLN department has created a specific TLN webpage where information for conditionally certified teachers can be found: https://www.towson.edu/tln/conditionally-certified-teachers.html

The Academic Tutoring Program will run July 9 to August 5, 2023. Tutors will provide students with instructional support and remediation.

Tutors are needed in the areas of:

• Elementary School: Reading and Mathematics for students in a virtual, one-on-one setting.
• Middle School: Reading and Mathematics in a virtual, small group setting with two or three students.
• High School: English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies in a virtual, small group setting with two or three students for graduation required courses.

Teachers and paraeducators in any content area may serve as tutors and will be able to identify their desired content(s) and grade level(s). Tutors will also be able to determine the number of tutoring sessions that they would like to conduct each week, with a maximum of 10 hours of tutoring per week. Tutors will be compensated at their true hourly rate when working with students and the negotiated rate for planning. Caseload assignments will be determined by student availability, certification, and need.

Tutors are REQUIRED to attend ONE informational session and will know their employment status by June 16, 2023. Required Informational Sessions will be offered on May 18, May 23, May 24, and May 25. Additional make-up sessions will not be available.

If you are interested in serving as a tutor, please complete this survey form to select which Required Informational Session you plan to attend:

HCPS Summer Academic Tutoring Informational Sessions

Filling out this form does not guarantee you employment this summer. For any questions, please contact Academic.Tutoring@hcps.org.

On May 24, 2023, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development (ILPD) at Towson will be hosting its first Awards Ceremony and Alumni Celebration. Nine cohorts are graduating this spring. If you have graduated from the Towson University ILPD Leadership program since 2017, you are invited to attend. Click here for more information.

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

• Chief Custodian – Ring Factory Elementary School
• Grounds and Equipment Maintenance I – Facilities Department
• Pluming and Heating I – Facilities Department
• General Food and Nutrition Service Worker – Aberdeen Middle School
• Teacher Specialist – Special Education - CSP - Itinerant (housed at NHMS)

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!

HCPS students recently took part in a Voices of Equity Student Diversity and Wellness Summit. Please take a moment to watch this video.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and in this Real Talk segment, Mary Beth Stapleton talks with HCPS and community mental health experts to learn how parents can support their children’s mental health and get help if needed and about a wonderful, free family wellness event happening on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium (873 Long Drive, Aberdeen, MD 21001). For more information, please visit www.harfordmentalhealth.org.

We invite you to join us at the second annual Your Mind Matters: A Family Wellness Night event hosted by the Office of Mental Health, The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center, Harford County Public Schools, and the Harford County Health Department on Friday, May 19, 2023! This FREE event will be held at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Family-friendly activities include a petting zoo, crafts, axe throwing, pony rides, a bounce house, rock climbing wall, photo booth, family resource vendors, refreshments, and more! Click here to learn more about this exciting event, including information about free transportation to and from the stadium.

Click here to register to attend. We hope to see you there!

The HCPS Bowtie Breakfast program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently demonstrate outstanding customer service and go above and beyond in their roles. Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month. Congratulations to the May 2023 honorees! Join us in celebrating our awesome HCPS staff!

We'd also like to give a BIG thank you to our program sponsor, Freedom Federal Credit Union! We are able to provide our honorees with a special treat courtesy of their generosity.

The voting window to name the May Family Friend School Award winner is NOW OPEN! This month’s winner will be the last one for the 2022-23 school year!!

Click here to vote once before 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, to let us know which nominated school should win the coveted title of “Family Friendly School” and a staff Chick-fil-A luncheon!

We look forward to announcing the May winner later this month!

For their fifth and final stop, 5xStronger is looking to highlight and recognize one Special Education teacher! These teachers work tirelessly to decipher what each student needs to be able to learn effectively. They work with general education teachers to create healthy, happy, and inspiring learning environments to help all students reach their full learning potential. Do you know a Special Education teacher who is exceptional in professional growth, classroom management, technology, positive relationships, and/or student engagement? We would love to hear about them and share some of the wonderful things they are doing in their classrooms to promote student learning at all grade levels!

Please use this link to nominate a Special Education teacher on or before May 15, 2023. They may be the LAST stop on our teacher tour!

Join us as we continue to shine the light on how HCPS celebrates Diversity all year long. Each month, we will highlight a cultural/organizational holiday. All you have to do is take a picture or two and share the wonderful things your school or office is doing to celebrate the contributions we all make to HCPS.

This month, we are celebrating:

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage

Jewish American Heritage

Please email your celebration pictures and a brief write up regarding the event to Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity Retention & Recruitment Specialist, at Sherron.FosterMoore@hcps.org by Friday, May 26th. This month’s celebrations will be shared in the June 1st issue of the HCPS 411 Update.

When is Armed Forces Day?

Armed Forces Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in May, and it is the day Americans celebrate their military. In 2023, it falls on Saturday, May 20.

What is the difference between Armed Forces Day and Veterans Day?

Unlike Veterans Day (previously observed as Armistice Day - the end of World War I), which honors those who wore the cloth of our nation at war; and unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who died wearing the cloth of our nation at war, Armed Forces Day is the proper day to honor all of the men and women currently serving, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend our freedom.

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

Unsure with how to start going green? This session, participants will explore the steps towards greener living and how to guide your family to living more sustainable. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand beginning April 18, 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, seven days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

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.

"Tiffany Baublitz is doing an amazing job coordinating testing at Edgewood Middle School! Her patience, knowledge, and warmth greet every student and staff member she gets to interact with. Additionally, she is a great problem solver and welcomes feedback and input into those solutions. EMS is lucky to have her!

Thank you to Jeanne Mackowiak for doing an excellent job debuting the Twilight Program at Edgewood Middle School! Her attention to detail and consistency are well suited to the role!

Shout out to Kelley Fonger at Edgewood Middle who is always a top notch Special Education department chair! I want to especially shout her out for leading our department to have all of the ESY paperwork turned in to her on time!

In the inaugural year of the Middle School Athletics program, I want to thank so many people in my building who have invested their time and energy into our students – Thanks to Drew Hoagland & Monisha Thomas for their administrative support! Thanks to my coaches – Carter Paulson, Danita Lawrence, Cullen Browell, Oliver Bertalo, Aaron Mason, Nick Sordillo (x2), and Patrick Sokolowski (x2)! Thanks to Tawanda Mason & Chyanna Collier for organizing and inspiring our school’s Step Team to bring the spirit! Thanks to Dan Venable, Evan Schutz, and Tony Hockaday for the amazing pep band experience! Thank you to the eligibility committee who fairly and compassionately carried out their duties – George Kasnic, Danielle Monteleone, Aaron Mason, Marilyn Thomas, Jacqueline Samek! Thank you to Lisa Sauer who donated clutch goalie supplies! Thank you to Amanda Hensley & Laurina Wittig who purchased and customized a bench for our soccer players! And I could keep going on with all the big and small ways my co-workers showed up and supported my players and I as we went on this adventure! And of course, thanks to Deb Basler & Patricia Smith in central for bringing this opportunity to HCPS! Fingers crossed for Year 2!"

-Jacquelyn Booth, Edgewood Middle School Athletic Director and Special Educator

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

• Olivia Mosby, Paraeducator, Joppatowne Elementary School
• Stephanie Gordon, In-School Suspension Technician, Aberdeen High School
• Jasper Owens, Sr., Inclusion Helper, Hall's Cross Roads Elementary School
• Delphonzo Sellers, School Safety Liaison, Magnolia Elementary School
• Geoffrey Sudzina, Procurement Agent I, Business Services

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

To submit an HCPS Shout Out or recognize a colleague in the Spotlight on Customer Service, 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
Phone: 410-588-5213