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HB1450 final report, HoCo task force to study HCPSS capital revenue options

HB1450 final report, HoCo task force to study HCPSS capital revenue options

Here is the final report. I really appreciate so many people have been working on this issue for such a long time since I proposed this legislative task force in 2024. The billion dollar deferred maintenance issue in HCPSS is a challenging issue and we need continue to find a way to fix it. There may be some hard questions to ask and we should not shy away from it.

One figure is missing: the ratio of county funding into HCPSS divided by total county revenue every year. Here is the unofficial data and analysis by Anthony Debella showing a downwards trend: Analysis of Howard County Maryland Expenditure on Public Schools, FY2009 – FY2025 | Dr. Chao Wu

8.2025- HB 1450 APPROVED REPORT REPORTDownload

Speech for the HCPSS revenue task force on 2024/8/8

Speech for the Howard County Task Force to Study Revenue Options for School Capital Needs Ho. Co. 18-24

Thank you, Madam Chair. 

Good evening.  Thank you very much to every committee member. I want to thank our County Executive Ball for putting up this committee quickly.

I truly appreciate our delegation’s support to pass this important legislation. When I proposed the idea, all delegation members were so supportive, especially Senator Hester, who sat next to me, revised the bill language line by line. 

For the first time in many years, we are working together now, from the superintendent, the school board, county council, county executive, the state delegation and community members, to address two important issues:

  1. How to find the 500 million dollars for the deferred maintenance for HCPSS
  2. How to find revenue to build and renovate schools with bigger, brighter classrooms with windows. We should also give our staff members a nice, welcoming work environment. 

I am very concerned about the long term fiscal situation of the county. Education has been the source why many people come to Howard County. It is also driving up the county revenue. We should do everything to keep its best quality. 

The committee has a very challenging task in front of you. However, I believe you will be able to find some solutions, for example, 

  1. Reshuffling our spending priorities, maintaining or even ramping up support for HCPSS from the county.
  2. Debating on “what we want” and “what we need”.
    1. Many “good-to-have” multi-million dollar county projects, which have a significant fiscal impact, should stay in the second place. 
  3. Creating a multiple-year solution with dedicated, additional funding.

      Thank you again for working hard on this important issue. 

2023 HCPSS Transportation Audit

The former Superintendent requested the audit following problems with implementation of the model at the beginning of the school year in August 2023. The audit included a review of HCPSS’s compliance with Maryland education procurement law, Board procurement policies, and the Office of Purchasing’s
Procurement Manual in procuring the model; alignment between the request for proposal and
subsequent contracts for the model; and the use of best practices in contract management for the
model.

Audit_-HCPSS-Transportation-2023-Service-ModelDownload

Analysis of Howard County Maryland Expenditure on Public Schools, FY2009 – FY2025

Analysis of Howard County Maryland Expenditure on Public Schools, FY2009 – FY2025

by Anthony Debella

The factor discussed here is: HCPSS funding from the county divided by county total operating budget. I did not cross-check the data. However, I had similar conclusion when I was on the school board.

From the analysis, we can see that the share(percentage) of county funding used for HCPSS is decreasing over years, from high of 61% to 54% now. Now, 1% means 15 million dollars.

If the county could restore 61% operating budget to HCPSS, that is 15*7=105 million extra money for HCPSS.

FY25BudgetWhitePaperForPostingDownload

FY 2025 HCPSS Operating Budget Fiscal Outlook

FY 2025 HCPSS Operating Budget Fiscal Outlook

If you wish to watch a video of the presentation, you may do so at the following link: https://hcpsstv.v3.swagit.com/videos/277620. The outlook presentation begins at the 1:31 timestamp and if you are using the video index feature of site, this presentation is the first item on the Administrative Agenda.

The following summary page is really informative.

FY25-Budget-Outlook-BOE-Presentation-10-26-2023-Version-w-NotesDownload

PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2024 SESSION

PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2024 SESSION

  1. Blueprint – Adequate Funding
  2. Blueprint – Phased Implementation
  3. Recruitment & Retention
  4. Transportation – Adequate Funding
  5. Lagging Per Pupil Indicators
  6. Capital Funding – Local Match
  7. Mitigating Development Impact
  8. Universal Student Meals
  9. Menstrual Hygiene Product Funding
  10. School Calendar Flexibility
  11. Board of Education Elections Study
  12. Board of Education Salaries
2024-Legislative-Priorities-for-Delegation-Mtg-FINALDownload

Later High School Start Time for HCPSS

HCPSS High school will start at 8:00 a.m. for 2023-2024 academic year. I am very glad to see this progress.

  • Schools in Tier 1 will begin at 8:00 a.m. and dismiss at 2:45 p.m. These include all 13 high schools, several middle schools, Cedar Lane School and Homewood Center. 
  • Schools in Tier 2 will begin at 8:40 a.m. These include a combination of middle and elementary schools with middle schools dismissing at 3:25 p.m. and elementary schools dismissing at 3:10 p.m. 
  • Schools in Tier 3 will begin at 9:15 a.m. and dismiss at 3:45 p.m. These include the remainder of elementary schools.

HS 13 has an official name Guilford Park High School

Finally, HS 13 has an official name: Guilford Park High School. During the last four years on the school board, we had many discussions about the school, from construction to redistricting. The board even had a tour in the middle of last year.

I am very glad to see the opening of Guilford Park High School this fall, and appreciate the support from many stakeholders. Sometimes, we don’t see from the same perspective and disagree. But eventually we do see a new high school for our high students.

I believe this school will provide excellent education for our students and it will create a new and dynamic school community here.

2023 National AI Scholarship for Howard County Public Schools Students!

2023 National AI Scholarship for Howard County Public Schools Students!

The 2023 National AI Scholarship is alive! Encourage your students to apply!

Hi Chao,   We are excited to announce our 2023 National AI Scholarship Application is now LIVE! Share this email with your students and encourage them to apply! This is quite a time-sensitive opportunity as the deadline for the scholarship is 11/29/2022 (in 10 days)!   With instructors from Stanford, MIT, and Carnegie Mellon University, Howard County Public Schools students can jump into the world of AI, gain real hands-on experience, develop creative projects and boost their competitiveness on their college applications and on the job market! I chatted with 20 school districts last few weeks, and this scholarship opportunity is the number one request from the educators and administrators!   I myself am from a low-income family, and I know how much this can help. So far AI Camp has given away almost $1 million in scholarships to students. Please let your students and faculty know about this. They will thank you.   Click here to access the application form! Oh also, here is a flyer for you to share with your students. Please let me know if you have any questions. Happy to answer them.   Best,   Michael   Michael Ke Zhang (Linkedin Profile) Co-founder and Chief Instructor at AI Camp AI Camp – learn AI with zero coding experience Read about our latest blog posts about AI on Medium Watch our Intro to AI at Youtube. (626)688-7921   AI Camp, 2627 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA, 650-436-4477 Unsubscribe Manage preferences

2022 HCPSS redistricting work session 7(final) recap

The board reached a consensus on the board approved preliminary plan. The plan will be voted in our next board meeting.

Exemptions Approved

  • Exempting rising 12th, 11th graders from previous board motion.
  • Exempting rising 10th graders, except for those who are going to HS13.
  • Exempting students with IEP or 504 plans.
  • Exempting students with parents on active military duty
  • Based on exempting10th,11th,12th graders, trailing siblings who share at least one year in the same high are covered already.

HCPSS BOE meeting 11-3-2022 recap

HCPSS BOE meeting 11-3-2022 recap

Student Representative: Reservoir High School

SMOB Report

Superintendent Report:

  • school office visit,
  • print service,
  • dual enrollment update,
    • JumpStart program will be free of tuition to HCPSS students.
    • Over 1100 students are enrolled in HCC and 2297 are enrolled in HCPSS-based courses eligible for college credits.
  • Asynchronous Inclement Weather Days.
    • Up to three inclement weather days as asynchronous instruction days.
  • Health and Safety Message

HCEA report

  • ESP Bill of Rights

Administrative Agenda

  • Proclamation: National Native American Heritage Month 
  • Extended School Year Programs – Summer 2022
  • Student Cell Phone Usage
  • Development of FY 2024 Budget Line Items for Board of Education Office
11-03-2022-Student-Cell-Phone-Usage-PowerPointDownload

Public Hearing

  • Policy 10020 Use of School Facilities

Policy

  • Policy 2000 School Board Governance 
  • Policy 7090 Transfer of Teachers, Approved.
  • Policy 4090 Debt Management. Approved.

ESSA Consolidated Strategic Plan/Blueprint Implementation Plan

11-02-2022-ESSA-Consolidated-Strategic-Plan-Blueprint-Implementation-Plan-Power-PointDownload