HCPS 411 Update

We invite you to participate in one of our upcoming Superintendent's Community Budget Sessions this November. These sessions provide an opportunity for you to learn more about the budget constraints HCPS is facing and to share your input on the difficult decisions ahead.

Event Details:

• November 14, 2024
  5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  North Harford High School Cafeteria

• November 20, 2024
  5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  Aberdeen High School Cafeteria

Click here to RSVP. You may select your preferred session date on the linked form.

If you have not done so already, please complete the 2026 Budget Survey. Your feedback will provide valuable insights for our budget planning and decision-making process.

In an effort to assist HCPS with forecasting budget savings and project staffing needs for FY 2025-2026, an Early Notification of Separation Incentive is currently offered to employees. A memorandum of understanding has been executed with each collective bargaining unit and includes the following information:

• Incentive. HCPS is offering a one-time payment of $500 for employees who provide notification on or before Friday, January 31, 2025, of their intent to separate from employment with an effective date of separation of Friday, February 28, 2025, through and inclusive of Monday, June 30, 2025. Written notification of intent to separate must be received in the Human Resources Office no later than 4:30pm on Friday, January 31, 2025. An email including the signed letter of intent to separate is also acceptable. Send email to Ms. Donna Dean, Administrative Support Coordinator at Donna.Dean2@hcps.org.

• Eligibility.
1. Separations pertaining to this incentive are limited to separations resulting from retirement or resignation.
2. The early notification incentive does not apply to probationary employees.
3. An employee must be in good standing on the date of their submission of intent to separate from employment through the date of their separation. Good standing means that the employee has no disciplinary investigation/action pending against the employee.
4. If the employee’s separation from employment will result in a breach of their teacher contract, they are not eligible for the early notification incentive.
5. Any staff member who, prior to the execution of this MOU, provided written notification to the Human Resources department of their intent to separate effective Friday, February 28, 2025, through and inclusive of Monday, June 30, 2025, will be eligible for the early notification incentive.

• Payment. The payment for early notification provided pursuant to this MOU shall be issued on Friday, July 18, 2025, or with final reconciliation check, if earlier. HCPS reserves the right to deduct from the $500 incentive payment any amount owed by the employee to HCPS, at time of separation.

The full memorandum of understanding regarding this incentive can be found on the Human Resources SharePoint page or by clicking here. Questions regarding this information should be directed to C. Mae Alfree, Ed.D., Director of Staff and Labor Relations, at Mae.Alfree@hcps.org or x5226.

Join us on November 21, 2024, at Patterson Mill High School for the next opportunity to collaborate and build your teaching toolbox during SHINE U!

Secondary Teachers: 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Elementary Teachers 5:00-7:00 p.m.

SHINE U is driven by the data collected in our sessions and planned to meet the needs of participants! Attend SHINE U to build your toolbox based on your needs!

On November 21st SHINE U will highlight:

• Strategies for Enhancing your Canvas Toolbox
  - Differentiated by elementary and secondary
• The Power of a Collaborative Community
  - Guest Speaker: Sherron Foster-Moore, Diversity, Retention and Recruitment Specialist

SHINE U Future Dates

February 20, 2025

March 20, 2025

April 24, 2025

Veteran’s Day

World War I, known as “The Great War,” officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. However, fighting had ceased months earlier with an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany on November 11, 1918, marking the symbolic end of "the war to end all wars." Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 to honor American veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good, preserving the historical significance of the date. For more information on Veteran’s Day visit the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

Native American Heritage

National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It is a time to celebrate the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities and ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

How Are YOU celebrating?

Click HERE to share how you’re celebrating Veteran’s Day and Native American Heritage in your school, classroom, office, or department.

National School Psychology Week is November 11-15, 2024. It is an annual opportunity to recognize how school psychologists partner with teachers, families, school administrators, and other school staff to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and community. School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. This year’s theme, “Spark Discovery,” is meant to highlight the profound impact that positive, supportive relationships have in fostering growth and transformation by kindling students’ curiosity, inspiring learning, and sparking students’ discovery of new ideas, strengths, and connections that will help them thrive in school, at home, and in life.

Please join our HCPS school psychologists in taking this week to embark on a journey of discovery!

Please verify the address shown on your 10/25/24 pay stub is your current address. If the address is incorrect, log into Employee Self Service (ESS) and update your address (click on Life Events and then Move). Note: To access ESS you must be logged onto an HCPS computer/HCPS network. The format for username is your network username followed by “@hcps.org”, for example, johnsmith@hcps.org. See the DSS and ESS Instructions for all you can do in DSS/ESS.

If you have any Payroll questions, please contact your Payroll Coordinator. Click here to find the Payroll Coordinator for your location.

Not sure who to contact? Send your question to the general email at Payroll@hcps.org.

Maryland’s EITC is a credit for certain taxpayers who have earned income. Most taxpayers who are eligible and file for a Federal EITC can receive the Maryland state and local EITC. The allowable Maryland credit is up to one-half of the Federal credit.

To be eligible for the Federal and Maryland EITC, Earned Income (EI) and Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) must be less than:

• $59,899 ($66,819 married filing jointly) with three or more qualifying children
• $55,768 ($62,688 married filing jointly) with two qualifying children
• $49,084 ($56,004 married filing jointly) with one qualifying child
• $18,591 ($25,511 married filing jointly) with no qualifying children

If your income is less than the amounts shown above, visit the Internal Revenue Service website at www.irs.gov, visit Maryland’s website at www.marylandtaxes.gov or contact your tax advisor to learn if you meet the other requirements.

During this season of giving, Harford County Public Schools will once again partner with United Way of Central Maryland to kick off our annual fundraising campaign to help create a region where families are financially stable, individuals achieve good health, and students succeed in school.

This year’s campaign kicks off November 7th and runs through November 22nd. The first payroll deduction will be taken from December 6, 2024, pay, and the last deduction will be taken June 20, 2025 (14 pays). Don’t want to deduct from your pay? You can also make a one-time donation.

To make your gift to the 2024 HCPS United Way Campaign, see the steps below.

HCPS Employee Electronic Pledging Instructions Login:

• Access your campaign donor site with the following address: https://epledge.uwcm.org/epledge/Begin.jsp
• Type your Username, which is your work email address
• Type your Password, which is 5 digit employee ID

New donors (not employed with HCPS during the 2023 campaign) can use the pledge form 2024_DonationForm2pg_FINALSept11_GTN-1.pdf and email to Jennifer.Crosson@UWCM.org.

We believe strongly in our commitment to the community, and we hope you will join us in supporting United Way. United, we can do more in the community, help more families, and create more long-term change. Donations of all sizes do make a difference.

On behalf of Harford County Public Schools, United Way of Central Maryland, and those who benefit from your generosity, thank you!

MSDE is proud to announce opportunities for Maryland educators to enroll in courses focused on the Science of Reading. Five courses are now being offered with open enrollment. Click the link below to access course fliers and registration information.

• MSDE Science of Reading Course Fliers

All five of these courses are open to whomever would like to register. The links to register are embedded in the fliers.

Battelle for Kids (BFK) is a national, not-for-profit organization helping to empower educators so that every student has hope, resilience, and the knowledge and skills to be future-ready. BFK has helped hundreds of school districts and state agencies design, launch, and bring their shared community visions—the Portrait of a Graduate—to life, impacting the learning experiences of millions of students nationwide.

We are excited to announce that employees can enroll in Battelle Workshops and Trainings:

• Building Hope and Resilience for the Future Series
• Trauma-Responsive Practices for Educators Workshop
• Youth Mental Health First Aid

Click here for more information. Secure your spot today by using the Form(s) in the document!

The Spring 2025 CPD course catalog is now available. Registration for these MSDE credit courses will available in HECTOR starting November 7th. Register early for the best course selection.

HECTOR Directions

Need assistance HECTOR?

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

Please see the Instructions for HECTOR.

HCPS is committed to maintaining a safe learning environment for every student, teacher, and staff member. As part of our continuing efforts to enhance school safety and security, we invite you to participate in the HCPS School Safety and Security Feedback Survey. Your insights are essential in helping us evaluate current safety practices and identify potential areas for improvement.

This survey is open to all HCPS staff, students, and parents/guardians, and it has been designed to gather feedback that will guide our future safety enhancements. As requested by our community, all participants will need to provide authentication—such as valid and current Student IDs, staff and student email addresses—before completing the survey. These details will help ensure the validity and accuracy of the results by preventing duplicate submissions. Please note, Student IDs and email addresses are solely used for validation purposes, responses will remain confidential.

We appreciate the time and thought you put into your responses, as your feedback will directly influence the steps we take to further secure our schools.

To participate in the survey, please click here.

The survey will remain open until Sunday, November 17, 2024, at 11:45 p.m.

At the Monday, September 23, 2024, Board Business Meeting, the 2025-2026 HCPS Draft Calendar options were presented to the Board of Education. You are encouraged to complete the survey below to give your feedback. If you have additional comments, there is an opportunity to share them at the end of the survey. The survey will be available through Friday, November 22, 2024.

HCPS staff are asked to complete the survey here via an HCPS device or after logging into your HCPS account.

The Board of Education of Harford County holds Engage for Education listening sessions throughout the school year. These listening sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts on the future of education in Harford County with members of the Board of Education.

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at North Harford High School. No pre-registration is required to attend or speak.

For more information, or to provide feedback directly to the Board if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, please visit the Engage for Education page on hcps.org.

Join us at Patterson Mill High School on Tuesday, December 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is an opportunity to participate in a HCPS Staff Only session with Board President Poynton

Vice President Hahn.

Did you know the Board of Education of Harford County asks for public feedback when new policies or revisions to existing policies are presented and discussed at Board business meetings? Provide your feedback to the Board on a specific policy by the deadline listed on the webpage: https://hcps.org/boe/hottopics/default.aspx.

Attention High School Principals: The Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) has announced that nominations for the 2025-2026 State Student Member on the Board of Education (SMOB) are now open. This important public official position requires a nomination by the student’s school principal. The student must be regularly enrolled in a public high school, in good standing, and a junior or senior as of July 1, 2025 (meaning they are current sophomores or juniors). The school does not have to be a member of MASC. The school nomination is due by 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 18, 2024.

Education Article §2-202 of the Maryland General Assembly Statute authorizes the appointment by the Governor of a student member of the Maryland State Board of Education. The responsibilities of this position are extensive; therefore, MASC highly encourages students to read, research, and talk to the current and former state SMOBs before applying.

Each public high school may nominate one student. There are no exceptions to the 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 18th deadline as this is the appointment of a public official. The packet can also be accessed HERE.

In addition, this year the MASC is again hosting a virtual SMOB Informational Webinar from 7:00-8:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 10, 2024. This webinar is being facilitated by Abhiram Gaddam (current state SMOB), Abisola Ayoola (immediate past SMOB), Shradha Bista (MASC president), and special guest Dr. Joshua Michael (state SMOB 2005-2006 and current President of the State Board of Education).

MASC highly recommends interested students attend this webinar so they fully understand the scope and time commitments of this position. If unable to attend, students may reach out to Ms. Karen Crawford for a link to the recording. Interested students register themselves for the webinar from the SMOB application information page.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Karen Crawford, Acting Executive Director of Student Councils, at Karen.Crawford@mdstudentcouncils.org.

The Office of Student Services is accepting nominations for the STUDENT SERVICES STANDOUT AWARD (S.T.A.R. AWARD). This award is presented once per semester (biannually) to a nominated member of the Student Services staff.

The nominee must currently be an employee budgeted under Student Services who is based in a school or Central Office. This would include staff under the offices of School Counseling Services, School Health Services, Psychological Services, Social Workers, or Pupil Personnel Services. Any person, regardless of position or relationship to the nominee, including students, may make the nomination.

The nomination form and supporting narrative must be submitted by December 1, 2024. Please see the links below to access the nomination form and the rubric used by the judges and consider nominating someone today!

Link to Student Services S.T.A.R. Award

Questions regarding this information should be directed to Lawanda Brown, in School Counseling, at Lawanda.Brown@hcps.org or 410-588-5251.

Nominations for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are open. Harford County Public Schools has amazing mathematics and science educators! Let’s nominate those educators and recognize their achievements using the PAEMST Nomination link. Nominate early so nominees have sufficient time to complete the application prior to the deadline on February 6, 2025. When nominating an educator, please notify the educator of the nomination so they know what to expect and can prepare to apply. Check out this link to see previous Maryland Awardees! This year, the application cycle will be for Grades 7-12 educators.

Please see the flier below for more information about the annual Harford County Veterans Family Resource Fair in Bel Air.

November is Diabetes Cancer Awareness Month

Diabetes affects over 37 million Americans, with an additional 96 million at risk due to prediabetes. This November, we observe National Diabetes Month to raise awareness about reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and supporting those affected by the chronic condition. Diabetes prevention isn’t just about diet or exercise; it’s about making small, lasting changes that improve overall health. Prediabetes rates are higher than ever; now is the time to take action. Click here to learn more.

November CareFirst Wellbeing Challenge: Mindful Eating

As the holidays approach, consider practicing mindful eating to help keep your diet and nutrition on track. Remember to make healthy ingredient swaps and try not to overindulge – you’ll be extra grateful after paying attention to how your food makes you feel. Join the Mindful Eating Challenge running November 4 – 10 to challenge yourself. Click here to learn more.

One-on-One Personal Health Coaching: Easy as 1, 2, 3

You can participate in personal health coaching as part of your CareFirst Wellbeing program. Your health coach will work with you and provide the support, guidance, and encouragement you need to see actual results. Your coaching program is personalized, approachable, and delivered through one-on-one calls and an easy-to-use portal where you can find additional resources, schedule calls with your coach, and more. Click here to learn more about the Personal Health Coach Program available through your CareFirst coverage.

Click the flier to learn more!

Foster positivity and uncover the transformative power of gratitude, enhancing your mental well-being.

Join BurnAlong for a month dedicated to staying grounded in gratitude. During November, enjoy events designed to foster thankfulness and balance. Embrace the season with intention and joy! To help get started, BurnAlong is hosting the following live event:

• November 13 at 12:00 p.m.: Holiday Harmony

November Intention Setting- Gratitude and Giving Back:

What can you do to center your attention on gratitude this month? Reflect on what you are thankful for and give back to your community through acts of kindness. Challenge yourself to set your intentions for November.

Looking for More Class Recommendations?

Click on the calendar below to access suggested classes for November:

Have you registered for your Burnalong account yet?

Visit the Staff Wellness page on the HCPS website by clicking the calendar below to learn about other exciting events and opportunities available to all employees.

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 Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

One of the most significant transformations we encounter is our parents' aging. The transitions that come with this can be challenging, but they offer opportunities that deepen our relationships. In this session, discover strategies to help manage the pressure of fulfilling these roles. Click here to learn more.

Date: Available on demand now.

Broadcast Length: 60 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. You can also search for them by title.

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

Employees and their family members can call Acentra Health toll-free at (866) 795-5701 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website at www.EAPhelplink.com.

Presented by Acentra Health Employee Assistance Program

Did you know that laughing actually creates changes in the body that act as stress busters? Laughter is a universal language that transcends boundaries and connects people on a profound level. To learn more about the power of humor in life, click here.

Date: Available on demand beginning November 19, 2024

Broadcast Length: 60 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. You can also search for them by title.

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

Employees and their family members can call Acentra Health toll-free at (866) 795-5701 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or visit their website at www.EAPhelplink.com.

We are pleased to share that a new and improved version of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) overview video is now available on the Benefits SharePoint page. This video provides valuable insights into the services offered through the EAP, which can support everyone’s well-being. We encourage you to take a few moments to watch this video to enhance your understanding of this important resource. Click here to view the EAP overview presentation.

Acentra Health, the provider of our EAP program, is available 24/7/365 to all employees and members of their family and household. Call Acentra Health toll-free at (866) 795-5701 or visit their website at www.EAPhelplink.com. The company code is HCPS.

Questions regarding this information should be directed to benefits@hcps.org.

While you can’t predict life’s outcomes, you can help prepare for them.

Losing a loved one can be one of life’s most challenging moments. What could you do more to help your family get through a loss a little easier? Funeral discounts and planning services are available to those enrolled in the MetLife Supplemental Life Insurance program at no additional cost. Through MetLife and Dignity Memorial, members and their families can access counselors and discounts on funeral services through North America's largest network of funeral homes and cemetery providers. Benefits include:

• Discounts of up to 10% off funeral, cremation and cemetery services.
• Expert assistance, available 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to help you and your family make confident decisions.
• Planning services online, over the phone, or on paper to help make final wishes easier to manage.
• Bereavement travel services to assist with time-sensitive travel arrangements to be with loved ones.

Don’t wait. Prepare your family for life’s unexpected outcomes with Dignity Memorial. Visit www.finalwishesplanning.com, or call 1-866-853-0954. Click here to learn more.

"Shout out to Mr. Vince Evans and Ms. Brianna Quinn for helping our students in the Teacher Academy of Maryland, Early College Program, with the assistive technology they needed in order to make some of their college work more accessible. Your help has been invaluable!"

--Alissa Thomas, Teacher Academy of Maryland Program Coordinator

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, Innovation Specialist

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org