Harford County Public Schools

The June 3 press release issued by County Executive Bob Cassilly raises a number of questions regarding Harford County Public Schools, budget development, organizational decisions, and operational practices. As with all personnel matters, HCPS follows established processes to review concerns, investigate allegations, and take appropriate action when warranted.

Let me be clear: The Board of Education takes any allegation involving ethics, financial stewardship, accountability, or operational practices seriously, including concerns raised by a former Supervisor of Accountability who is no longer employed by Harford County Public Schools. We have a responsibility to taxpayers, students, parents, and employees to ensure concerns are reviewed thoroughly and fairly. If wrongdoing is identified, it is addressed appropriately. We do not ignore legitimate concerns, nor do we prejudge matters before the facts are fully reviewed.

What is concerning, however, is the County Executive's continued effort to use isolated allegations to attack Harford County Public Schools while simultaneously threatening to flat-fund our school system for the next four years. This is not a constructive discussion about public education. It is a political attack. It is a distraction. It is misleading. Constructive discussion would focus on solutions to the significant funding shortfall facing our schools. We must keep focus on the very challenges that will determine our ability to serve students in the years ahead.

Before submitting our budget request, this Board did its due diligence. We carefully reviewed expenditures and developed a responsible budget that balances the needs of students, employees, and taxpayers. We are grateful to the County Council for recognizing the importance of public education and providing an additional $2.3 million in funding. Unfortunately, HCPS still faces an estimated $12.5 million shortfall.

The people of Harford County deserve to understand what that means. Teacher salaries and employee compensation should not be on the chopping block. Our educators, support staff, bus drivers, custodians, and school employees have earned those commitments through their service to our students.

If adequate funding is not provided, the Board may be forced to consider difficult reductions affecting programs that families value and students depend upon, including high school athletics, Harford Glen, swimming pools, extracurricular activities, and other educational opportunities beyond the classroom.

The consequences of inadequate school funding will not be felt in political offices. They will be felt by students, parents, teachers, and families throughout Harford County. Our focus remains on where it belongs: protecting educational opportunities for children, honoring commitments to our employees, and ensuring every student has the resources needed to succeed. As always, I remain hopeful that county leaders will work together through direct conversation and collaboration to address our shared challenges and best serve our students and community.

BOARD OF EDUCATION OF HARFORD COUNTY NOTICE OF BOARD OPEN/CLOSED SESSION

TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026

OPEN SESSION: 4:00 PM – 4:05 PM
This open session will be conducted in a hybrid fashion. The open session will be streamed live and archived for later viewing on the HCPS Website.

*The only item the Board will consider during this open session is consideration of meeting in a closed session.

A logo of a plant

AI-generated content may be incorrect.

CLOSED SESSION: 4:05 PM – ADJOURNMENT

*The next regular Board meeting is set for Monday, June 22, 2026.

The Harford County Board of Education is a nonpartisan body entrusted with a singular mission: serving every student in every community throughout Harford County.

Each member of the Board takes an oath to put students first. That responsibility requires us to make decisions based on what we believe is best for students, families, staff, and the long-term success of our school system, regardless of political pressure.

Recent events surrounding both the superintendent search and budget process have been disappointing. Throughout the superintendent search, the Board followed a thoughtful process that included a unanimous vote for a trusted state search organization, a Board vote on candidate qualifications, multiple public meetings with public comments, community surveys, stakeholder engagement opportunities, candidate interviews. More than 1,200 community members, students, and employees participated in surveys and feedback opportunities before the Board selected Dr. Dyann Mack as superintendent.

The search process produced multiple qualified candidates, and the Board ultimately selected a leader with three decades of experience in Harford County Public Schools and extensive expertise in instruction, operations, student services, budgeting, and system leadership. I am proud to support a leader who has been working to steady a system in turmoil, and who leads with integrity and intentionality.

Throughout the process, I experienced pressure and communications that I believe crossed appropriate boundaries between county government leadership and an independent Board of Education. Efforts to intimidate Board members undermine the independence necessary for effective school governance and the public's trust in that process.

My responsibility is to exercise independent judgment and vote in what I believe is the best interest of Harford County Public Schools. That obligation exists regardless of political pressure or potential personal consequences. Even with personal consequences and retribution within my own political party, I know I fulfilled my duties as a Board member and Board president. I respect the right of political organizations to make their own decisions. However, my responsibility as Board President is not to a specific elected official. My responsibility is to the students, families, educators, and taxpayers of Harford County, and I will continue to put those interests first.

I am proud to be a conservative leader in public education. My values include strong parental involvement, transparency, accountability, fiscal responsibility, respect for local communities, safe schools, and a balanced curriculum that prepares students for success in life. Those principles have guided my service on the Board and will continue to do so.

Those same values also require me to oppose efforts to inject partisan politics into decisions that should be centered on students. This brings us to the FY27 budget.

I am grateful to members of the County Council who have worked to identify additional funding that will help preserve teaching positions and support students. Their efforts recognize the reality that the funding increase frequently cited by county officials does not fully reflect the gap between the County Executive's proposal and the Board's budget request. The Board's proposed budget was built to maintain class sizes, protect student programs, support employees, and invest in the future of our community through early learning and workforce preparation.

Harford County deserves thoughtful conversations about educational priorities, fiscal realities, and community expectations. They do not deserve political threats on future funding or attempts to divide our community.

I remain committed to working with the County Executive, County Council, community members, parents, employees, and stakeholders of all political viewpoints. I welcome respectful conversations about how we can continue improving Harford County Public Schools while reflecting the values and priorities of our community.

At the end of the day, our responsibility is to students and that will guide all Board of Education decisions, budgets, and priority setting.

I want to thank the Harford County Council for its continued efforts to identify additional resources to support Harford County Public Schools and preserve our ability to retain excellent educators and educational programs.

If the Council proposes to appropriate additional funding, it would help offset some of the reductions HCPS faces under the County Executive's proposed budget and would preserve teaching positions. While these additional resources may not fully restore the Board of Education's proposed budget, they do represent support for students and staff.

In a recent press release, the County Executive states he provided a 9.2% increase for the school system. This is not accurate and includes funds that do not go directly to HCPS and instead go directly to the State. The actual 6.6% increase to the HCPS operating budget remains substantially below the Board of Education's requested budget, which was designed to preserve class sizes, protect student programs, support staff, and make targeted investments in early learning that improve long-term student outcomes. The Board's budget also reflected the increasing costs of special education services, transportation, safety, and State requirements under the Blueprint for Maryland's Future.

County Executive Bob Cassilly shared with me that if the County Council funded HCPS above his proposed budget, the school system would face flat funding in future years under his leadership.  I have offered time to discuss the operating budget with Mr. Cassilly, but if his position on flat funding is ultimately carried out, it raises troubling questions about whether local education funding decisions are being driven by student needs, local fiscal capacity, community expectations, and the actual cost of operating a modern public school system, or whether they are being influenced by political posturing.

Harford County Public Schools is one of the county's most important economic engines. Our graduates fuel the local workforce, earn industry-recognized credentials, participate in apprenticeships at one of the highest rates in Maryland, and choose careers in military and public service. Investment in public education is an investment in the future economic strength and quality of life in Harford County. Our students, families, and staff deserve a funding process that is focused on educational outcomes and designed in collaboration rather than politics or a predetermined funding amount.

I recognize the limitations of the County Council's authority within the county budget process and appreciate the efforts of Council members who have sought solutions within those constraints.

Moving forward, HCPS faces difficult decisions in the weeks ahead. However, any additional funds will make a meaningful difference for students and schools throughout our county. My focus remains on providing students with outstanding educational opportunities, supporting our dedicated staff, and ensuring taxpayers receive maximum value from every dollar invested in public education.

The Harford County Board of Education has appointed Dyann R. Mack, Ed.D., as the next superintendent of Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). The Board voted during an open session on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, to confirm Dr. Mack’s appointment following a comprehensive search process.
The search, led by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), included stakeholder engagement, such as community forums and meetings with staff, families, and local leaders. This collaborative process ensured valuable input from across the Harford County community.
Dr. Mack has served as interim superintendent since January 2026, providing steady leadership for the school system. With decades of experience in public education, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to student achievement, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership.
“Dr. Mack has proven herself to be a thoughtful, experienced, and student-centered leader,” said Board President Lauren Paige. “Throughout this process, it became clear that her vision, leadership, and deep understanding of our school system make her the right choice to lead Harford County Public Schools forward. We are confident in her ability to build on our strengths and guide HCPS into the future.”
Dr. Mack’s career in education spans a wide range of leadership roles, where she has consistently focused on improving outcomes for all students, supporting educators, and fostering strong partnerships with families and the community.
Dr. Mack will officially assume the role of superintendent following the Board’s appointment, continuing her leadership of the school system with a focus on excellence, equity, and opportunity for all students.
The Board’s selection is contingent upon the successful negotiation and finalization of a mutually agreed-upon employment contract and approval from the Maryland State Department of Education.

On April 27, 2026, the Board of Education of Harford County approved updates to the 2026–2027 school calendar to better plan for inclement weather days.

Three days during the school year—March 1, June 1, and April 12, 2027—have been set aside as potential inclement weather makeup days (in that order). These replace the previous plan of adding makeup days to the end of the school year. *If no weather-related school closures occur before these dates, schools and offices will be closed on those days.

This change follows a resolution from the Maryland State Board of Education, which requires school systems to build inclement weather makeup days into the school year rather than placing them at the end. The state also allows up to three additional inclement weather days to be handled through virtual instruction, for a total of six possible makeup days (three in-person and three virtual).

Making these changes allows HCPS to remain eligible to request a calendar waiver from the state, if needed, and ensures the school system is able to consider virtual instruction as an option for inclement weather. As soon as details regarding potential use of virtual instruction for inclement weather become available, the details will be shared with the HCPS community.

As a result of this update, the last day of school for students in kindergarten through grade 11 will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 17, 2027.

The full, updated 2026–2027 school calendar is available here. En Español.

The following message will be shared in the Wednesday Wire on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, with all families:

On April 27, 2026, the Board of Education of Harford County approved updates to the 2026–2027 school calendar to better plan for inclement weather days.

Three days during the school year—March 1, June 1, and April 12, 2027—have been set aside as potential inclement weather makeup days (in that order). These replace the previous plan of adding makeup days to the end of the school year. *If no weather-related school closures occur before these dates, schools and offices will be closed on those days.

This change follows a resolution from the Maryland State Board of Education, which requires school systems to build inclement weather makeup days into the school year rather than placing them at the end. The state also allows up to three additional inclement weather days to be handled through virtual instruction, for a total of six possible makeup days (three in-person and three virtual).

Making these changes allows HCPS to remain eligible to request a calendar waiver from the state, if needed, and ensures the school system is able to consider virtual instruction as an option for inclement weather. As soon as details regarding potential use of virtual instruction for inclement weather become available, the details will be shared with the HCPS community.

As a result of this update, the last day of school for students in kindergarten through grade 11 will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 17, 2027.

The full, updated 2026–2027 school calendar is available here. En Español.

Please mark your calendars for these important dates:

April 17, 2026: FULL DAY of School for students and staff (the early dismissal was cancelled as part of the waiver request approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, or MSDE)
May 22, 2026: FULL DAY of School for students and staff (the early dismissal was cancelled as part of the waiver request approved by MSDE)
June 12, 2026: FULL DAY of School for students and staff (June 12 is no longer the last day of school, so it will be a full day of school)
June 16, 2026: Last Day for Prekindergarten Students
June 18, 2026: Last Day for Students K-11 (as it is the last day of school, it will be a 3-hour early dismissal)

We encourage families to plan ahead and ensure students finish the year strong. For a full calendar and updates, please visit hcps.org.

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has approved the Superintendent’s request for a three-day waiver to the state’s 180-day instructional requirement for this school year.

As part of the waiver request, April 17, 2026, and May 22, 2026, will shift from early dismissal days to full instructional days. In recognition of the impact of this change on educators and staff, HCPS will waive the final teacher workday to honor staff time.

With the approved waiver and these adjustments, if no additional inclement weather closures are needed for the remainder of the year, the last day of school for students will be an early dismissal on Thursday, June 18, 2026. TEACHERS LAST DAY will be at the end of the day, Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The last day for PreK is always 2 days prior; this year, the last day for PreK will be Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

The following press release was sent to all media partners on Thursday, March 5, 2026:

HCPS Announces Kindergarten Registration Dates
Harford County Public Schools (HCPS) is pleased to announce important dates for kindergarten registration, early entrance to kindergarten applications and advanced placement to first grade applications for the 2026-2027 school year.
Starting on March 6, 2026, families can complete the kindergarten registration online at hcps.org. Early entrance to kindergarten and advanced placement to first grade applications will also be available online or may be printed at each elementary school beginning that day. Prekindergarten applications will be available starting on May 1, 2026. More details on prekindergarten applications will be shared once they are available.
Families interested in registering for kindergarten are encouraged to visit hcps.org on March 6, 2026, where they can complete the registration process online. Early entrance to kindergarten and advanced placement to first grade applications will be available to view and print online. To apply, follow the directions on the cover sheet of the printed application. Printed copies will also be available at each elementary school beginning on March 6, 2026.
To ensure all families in the community are informed, HCPS encourages the sharing of this information. HCPS remains dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students and is excited to welcome the Class of 2039 in the coming school year.

The following message is being shared on behalf of Board of Education of Harford County President, Dr. Aaron Poynton.

HCPS Community,

As many of you are aware, it has been reported by various media outlets that our superintendent may have been involved in a reported robbery while on a work-related trip in 2024. This has understandably raised questions regarding the nature of the incident and whether any Harford County Public Schools property or student information may have been compromised.

An internal review confirms no student data was compromised. The Board has now ordered an independent investigation into the entire matter.

The attention and distraction surrounding this reported incident has created challenges for the school system at a time when our focus must remain squarely on students, staff, and the uninterrupted operation of our schools. After careful consideration and a majority vote, the Board has determined that the best course of action at this time is for our superintendent to be placed on administrative leave during the investigation.

In the meantime, Dr. Dyann Mack, our current Deputy Superintendent, will serve as Acting Superintendent to ensure continuity, stability, and effective leadership across the district.

The Board has full confidence in our leadership team and remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and the highest standards of governance. We will continue to focus on what matters most: supporting our students, empowering our educators, and serving the families and community of Harford County.

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

Dr. Aaron Poynton
President, Board of Education of Harford County

Parents and guardians: The Portable Communication Device Policy was updated in June 2025. If your school provides a student planner, it may have gone to print as early as April- before the policy was updated. This means your student planner may have an outdated version of the Portable Communication Device Policy. We apologize for any inconvenience and ask that you utilize the most up to date policy that is available here. This is the policy we will adhere to this school year.

The following message is being sent via email to all families and staff on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at 5:00 p.m.:

We want to share important updates to two Board of Education of Harford County policies—Portable Communication Devices and Student Backpack Use—approved by the Board of Education on June 9, 2025. These changes go into effect for the upcoming school year and are designed to support a safe and focused learning environment.

Portable Communication Devices

Students may bring cell phones, smartwatches, headphones, and other portable communication devices to school; however, their use is limited during the school day:

Elementary School: Devices must be deactivated and stored in student bookbags upon arrival.

Middle School: Devices must be deactivated and secured in lockers for the duration of the school day.

High School: Devices must be kept in the student’s locker and deactivated during class time.

Smartwatches and similar wearables may be worn but must remain deactivated at all grade levels.

For more details and exceptions, please review the policy in its entirety via the attached document or on our website.

Student Backpack and Bag Policy

The updated backpack and bag policy outlines expectations for storage to ensure clear pathways, student safety, and emergency preparedness:

Bookbags do not need to be clear, but they must be stored appropriately.

Elementary School: Bookbags must be placed in designated classrooms or cubby areas upon arrival.

Middle and High School: Bookbags must be stored in lockers during the school day.

Students may carry a nontransparent bag no larger than 4.5x8.5-inch with them for personal hygiene purposes.

Athletic bags and musical instrument cases at all grade levels must be taken directly to the appropriate storage areas upon arrival and not carried throughout the school day.

For more details and exceptions, please review the policy in its entirety via the attached document or on our website.

What Families Should Do

Review these updated policies with your student before the first day of school.

Make sure your child knows where and how to store their devices and bags.

Both policies will be actively enforced at the start of the school year.

Thank you for your partnership in helping maintain safe, organized, and distraction-free schools.

Sincerely,
Dr. Aaron Poynton
President, Board of Education of Harford County

News Alert for 6/2/2026

Statement by Board of Education of Harford County President Lauren Paige on Public Education, Governance, and the FY27 Budget