HCPS 411 Update

Harford County Board of Education members and school leaders embarked on their first Grati-Tour of the school year on October 17, 2023. The tour is one way Harford County Public Schools personally shows gratitude to teachers and staff. This tour focused on the magnet programs offered at three of our schools: Edgewood High School, North Harford High School, and Harford Technical High School. Staff at each school were provided a treat from Chick-fil-A of Harford County, the Grati-Tour's sponsor. Check out the video below of the Grati-Tour featuring footage from each stop!

The HCPS Bowtie Breakfast program celebrates Central Office employees who consistently serve others in a BIG way (Bold, Invested, Genuine). Honorees are nominated by colleagues to attend Superintendent Bulson’s virtual event held each month. Congratulations to the October 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.

Congratulations to all of the October honorees highlighted below for serving BIG this month! And a special thank you to this month's Limelight sponsor, Strategic Alliances Group, Inc. The lucky grand prize winner was Roxanne Ryan of Fallston High School, and she won a $150 gift card to Salt Works Spa in Bel Air!

This month, HCPS Human Resources is featuring the Staff and Labor Relations Team.

Staff and Labor Relations would like to take this opportunity to feature Lesley Sampson, their HR Case Manager Specialist. Lesley works closely with Talent Management and Benefits to support HCPS employees. As discussed last month, Talent Management works hard to fill hundreds of vacancies, some of which require a pre-employment physical based on the essential functions of their position. The Case Manager works with our contracted pre-employment providers as part of the hiring process.

The HR Case Manager also works with employees who are returning from FMLA, or those employees who may need a short-term accommodation based on medical restrictions. In these instances, the HR Case Manager works with the employee and their supervisor to determine ability to accommodate restrictions, and, if approved, works with the employee until their provider clears them to return to full duty without restrictions.

Ms. Sampson is also available to any employee who is seeking additional support, be it community resources or assistance in connecting with our EAP program.

Lesley Sampson, HR Case Manager Specialist, can be reached at 410-588-5247 or Lesley.Sampson@hcps.org.

Any questions related to Staff and Labor Relations may be directed via email to Mae.Alfree@hcps.org or by calling 410-588-5226.

The chart below provides a listing of just some of the services provided by Staff and Labor Relations.

HCPS Human Resources consists of five teams prepared to assist you with various employment-related needs, as described in the Human Resources Contact List. Please don’t hesitate to contact them with your questions. They will be happy to assist you or connect you with someone best able to provide assistance. A complete list of HR Team members can be found at HR Published Phone Lines.

There have been significant legislative changes at the state level around the use of cannabis in recent years. This year, the Maryland General Assembly enacted legislation that will allow individuals 21 and older to purchase cannabis products legally from a licensed dispensary, beginning on July 1, 2023. 2023 Md. Laws, ch. 254. However, it is important to keep in mind that, despite these changes, cannabis continues to be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, and its use remains illegal under federal law.

The policies and regulations set forth by the Federal Drug-Free Workplace Act apply directly to the use of cannabis in schools, including child care facilities located in schools, even if such use might be permitted under State law. All employees, contractors, volunteers, and visitors are required to comply with this law and may not distribute, possess, use, or be under the influence of cannabis while in schools or during working hours, including but not limited to while transporting students or attending school-sponsored activities.

If you have any questions, please contact the Staff and Labor Relations Department at 410-588-5311.

Applications are now being accepted for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program District Project Director position. The position will provide 16 hours per week of support to the program, which runs at the following schools: Aberdeen Middle, Edgewood Elementary, Edgewood Middle, Magnolia Elementary, Magnolia Middle, and Old Post Road Elementary. Work locations will vary from Central Office to school sites. The program will run from November 2023 through May 2024. Hours worked for this position must be done at the conclusion of the contractual duty day.

To access an employment application and learn more about the position, please visit the “Employment Opportunities” section of the HCPS website at www.hcps.org, or click here. Search under “Certificated Positions.” Questions can be directed Becky Pensero, Coordinator of Supplemental Instruction, at Rebecca.Pensero@hcps.org.

Instructional educational support professionals (paraeducators, inclusion helpers, techs, etc.) will be provided a variety of choice professional learning activities on Friday, November 3. These session offerings will be sent to you by email through your school office. Please look for this information in your inbox this week. The email will include a link to register for the sessions that you will be attending.

NOTE: November 3 is a work day for inclusion helpers.

Questions? Reach out to HCPSProfessionallearning@hcps.org

Towson University - Teacher as Leader in Autism (TALA) MED Program

See this flyer for Towson University’s Special Education – Teacher as Leader in Autism (TALA) MED Program. The next webinar will be held Monday, November 6, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.

All certification requests must be processed through The Educator Application and Certification Hub (TEACH) For those who have a Maryland teaching certificate that is expiring DECEMBER 31, 2023, if you have not done so already, please log onto TEACH and request a renewal of your certificate. In order to renew certificates in a timely manner, please have your request completed by November 1, 2023.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to CJ Harbach, Certification Administrative Support Technician, or Aretha Young, Certification Coordinator at Certification@hcps.org or 410-588-5258.

Harford County Public Schools has begun work to develop the Superintendent’s Proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Throughout budget development, it is important for our community’s voice to be heard.

HCPS is seeking your feedback to rank school system priorities in the FY25 budget. This brief survey should take 3-5 minutes to complete.

HCPS will use this feedback to help guide the development of a budget that best meets the needs of our students, staff, and the greater community. The survey will close Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:45 p.m.

To complete the survey, valid email addresses will need to be provided by staff, students, and community members. Parents and guardians will need to provide their child(ren)’s student ID to complete the survey. Providing a form of identification allows us to ensure the authenticity of the survey and prevent individuals from providing duplicate responses. This is a result of community feedback following previous surveys that were set to provide anonymity but could be skewed by duplicate responses. In this survey, responses will be verified with the email address or student ID, and results will be provided without identifying information to keep your responses confidential.

Click here to fill out the survey.

Board President Aaron Poynton and Board Vice President Melissa Hahn are hosting a Listening Session on Wednesday, November 1, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Fallston High School in the auditorium. District B Board Member Wade Sewell will also join them. The community is invited to come out for a casual conversation about education topics. Don't miss this opportunity to get to know the Board officers a little better, to ask questions about your child(ren)'s education, and to engage for the future of Harford County Public Schools.

As of October 25, 2023, 5,058 students completed HCPS' student created bullying, harassment, and intimidation (BHI) prevention modules. Shout out to the following schools that are leading in the schoolwide module initiative: Aberdeen High, Harford Technical High, Bel Air Middle, Havre de Grace Middle, Magnolia Middle, North Harford Middle, Southampton Middle, Church Creek Elementary, Churchville Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, George D. Lisby at Hillsdale Elementary, Magnolia Elementary, Prospect Mill Elementary, and Riverside Elementary.

If your school has done a specific lesson, activity, or event for bullying prevention and awareness month, please email officeofequity@hcps.org We would love to showcase and share how your school is promoting kindness, acceptance, and inclusion with our Harford County Community.

The 2023 HCPS Marching Band Showcase was a spectacular event of talent and unity as the marching bands from all the Harford County Public Schools high schools came together at Bel Air High School!

Despite the chilly, windy conditions, these young musicians put on an amazing performance, supporting and cheering each other on!

Huge thanks to Harford TV for live-streaming this incredible event on their Facebook page, allowing everyone to enjoy all the amazing performances!

Harford County Public Schools announces a pre-retirement webinar for HCPS employees and their spouses through the Maryland State Retirement Agency and the Community College of Baltimore County. This webinar provides vital retirement information to all members and is recommended for those within eight (8) years of retirement, whether normal service or early retirement. Discussion topics include:

• HCPS Retiree Benefits
• State Retirement Pension Benefits
• Legal Consideration
• Social Security Benefits
• Financial Planning

This year's pre-retirement session will be held virtually on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required and will close at the end of business on Thursday, November 2, 2023. To register:

1. Click on the following link to go to the registration website for the November 4, 2023 Pre-Retirement Webinar: Pre-Retirement Planning Webinar Registration.

2. Click the “Select” button next to the class Pre-Retirement Planning Webinar and you will advance to the next screen.

3. Click "Register for Selected Courses."

4. You will be redirected to the login page. If you have previously attended a Pre-Retirement Seminar or other class at CCBC, log in using your current username and password. Not sure what your username and password are? No problem, give us a call at 443.840.5059 and let our call center register you for course number/CRN 73300 If this is your first Pre-Retirement Seminar, click the "New Account" button on the right-hand side of the screen.

5. Fill out your information (anything in red is required information) and choose Submit.

6. After you have registered for the seminar, choose "Finalize Selection" and print your confirmation.

7. You will receive an email confirmation of your registration within three business days.

8. You will receive instructions on how to join the webinar two days prior to the event.

If you are unable to register online or by phone, please contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcps.org to request a paper enrollment form.

Registration Opens on Monday, October 30!

The HCPS Wellness Committee, in partnership with CareFirst, is excited to announce Nourish, a new well-being challenge that helps turn healthy eating intentions into lifelong habits. Wrapped in a captivating garden theme, Nourish lets you choose the activities most meaningful and motivating to you. Grow virtual veggies, fruits, and grains from around the world by recording health activities. Then try delicious recipes with ingredients from your garden — seven (7) new recipes each week! Those who log a minimum number of participation days throughout the program will be entered into a prize raffle.

Learn how you can increase energy, lift mood, and sharpen focus by eating more nutrient-rich food and less nutrient-deficient food in Nourish. Click here to learn more about Nourish: Healthy Eating Challenge.

Registration will begin on Monday, October 30, and the program will begin on Monday, November 13, 2023! To register, click the following link: https://hcps.thenourishgarden.com/.

Pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are largely preventable. About nine in ten cases in the U.S. can be avoided by making lifestyle changes. These same changes can also lower the chances of developing heart disease and some cancers. The key to prevention can be boiled down to five words: Stay lean and stay active.

The Wellness Committee, in partnership with CareFirst, is offering employees the opportunity to participate in a 4-week webinar series. Employees will learn how to implement lifestyle behavior changes to improve overall health and wellness and decrease the risk of Type 2 diabetes onset. Sessions are scheduled throughout November on the dates below, 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.:

• 11/7: Building a Plate for Blood Sugar Management
• 11/14: Nutrition Basic for Pre-Diabetes
• 11/21: Physical Activity and Pre-Diabetes
• 11/28: Sleep, Stress, and Their Impact on Blood Sugar Management

To register, click the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZclf-CrrTMpEtbc1aG-BgxgmsNwrJC7V0Cn#/. This registration link will register you for all four classes.

Those who register and attend three out of the four classes will be entered into a raffle for a Spout Garden.

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.

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

Webinars:

• November 2 (CRN 73299)
  
• November 29 (CRN 73303)
• December 19 (CRN 73288)

Seminar:

• December 7 – Harford Community College (CRN 73279)

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

Please Note: These sessions are not affiliated with HCPS and will not include HCPS-specific information, such as retiree healthcare.

Presented by Acentra Health (Formally KEPRO) Employee Assistance Program

Although it feels like the primitive brain is trying to take over, by practicing a more intentional response to situations, you can take control of how you act under pressure. This session will provide tips for participants on how to notice your thoughts and how you choose to react to them. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand now

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 any time, 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 Acentra Health 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, toll-free at (866) 795-5701 to visit their website online at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Harford County Public Schools students, staff, and families looking for help with mental health or substance use can call Care Solace at 888-515-0595 for 24/7/365 free, personalized, and confidential help finding a therapist, or you can search on your own at www.caresolace.com/harford.

"I want to give a huge shout out to the following ladies who have helped make my job/life easier by being patient, kind, understanding, and resourceful in their help: Lauren Guggenheimer, Candy White, Anne Greene, Tiffany Sawyer, Patty Billings, Heather CanepaBowlin, and Rochelle Grubb! You ladies are some of the BEST in HCPS, thank you for everything you do!"

-​Melissa Abels, Building Engineer, North Harford Middle School

*To submit a Shout Out for inclusion in an upcoming issue of HCPS 411 Update, please email it to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

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

• Tiffany Perry, Mathematics, Central Office
• Norman Mackenzie, Custodian I - Shift 2, North Harford Middle School
• Katrina Eberwein, School Nurse, Magnolia Middle School
• Lori Adamo, Paraeducator, George Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale
• Jessica Mittelstadt, Paraeducator, Magnolia Elementary School
• Arence Williams, In-School Suspension Technician, Edgewood High School

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

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