County Public Schools

All Howard County public schools and offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 9, in observance of Rosh Hashana. They will reopen Tuesday.

Of the 11 Baltimore County public high schools rated among the nation's 2,000 top schools, according to the third annual Newsweek/Daily Beast survey of "America's Best High Schools," Hereford High School ranks No. 1 in the county. The list, published online May 6 by Newsweek and its corporate owner, The Daily Beast, ranks schools based on six weighted criteria. "For the third time this spring, BCPS high schools have shown they are among the nation's top tier," said schools superintendent Dallas Dance.

The Department of Special Education for Carroll County public schools has canceled its Individual Education Program workshop scheduled for 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Carroll Springs School. The workshop will be rescheduled for the 2002-2003 school year. Information: 410-751-3020.

It's the old "fair share" argument, but this time it holds even less water than usual. The Maryland State Education Association, the union that bargains on behalf of K-12 teachers throughout Maryland, wants to force all teachers — members or not — to pay union dues. The union claims educators owe their "fair share" because it must represent non-union members in collective bargaining and grievances. At the moment, 10 of Maryland's 24 school districts already require non-union teachers to pay union dues.

It's the old "fair share" argument, but this time it holds even less water than usual. The Maryland State Education Association, the union that bargains on behalf of K-12 teachers throughout Maryland, wants to force all teachers — members or not — to pay union dues. The union claims educators owe their "fair share" because it must represent non-union members in collective bargaining and grievances. At the moment, 10 of Maryland's 24 school districts already require non-union teachers to pay union dues.

Howard County public schools will continue operating under a modified lockdown through tomorrow, which means all exterior doors will be locked and all outdoor activities canceled or kept indoors. Field trips, work study programs and mentorships are called off. "[The Howard County police] are on high-alert," said school spokeswoman Patti Caplan. "It's a real eye-opener. They're concerned, and we're following their lead." Schools Superintendent John R. O'Rourke will decide day-to-day whether after-school activities and evening meetings will go on as scheduled.

The Baltimore County Board of Education will meet at 7:30 p.m. today, weather permitting, to vote on next year's operating budget. The meeting had been scheduled for last night but was postponed after county public schools were closed yesterday because of icy conditions. The board is scheduled to vote on county schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston's proposed $1.18 billion spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.

Several county offices and businesses will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 22, in observance of Thanksgiving.All county government offices and courts will be closed on Thursday and Friday.The libraries, post office branches and landfill will be closed on Thursday but will reopen on Friday.There will be no refuse collection routes on Thursday, but regular routes will resume on Friday.Howard County Public Schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday.

Carroll County Public Schools will begin implementing an extended school day tomorrow.All schools will begin classes 20 minutes before and end 30 minutes after the regular school starting and ending times.Morning kindergarten will be extended by 35 minutes, and afternoon kindergarten by 15 minutes.The extended school days will continue through May 19. This will allow the school system to make up six days lost to inclement weather.

School board to meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday The Carroll County Board of Education will hold a business meeting, starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday, in Room 007 of the board offices in Westminster. The regular meeting agenda will be posted on the school system's Web site, www.carr.org/ ccps. The meeting will be broadcast live on CETV, Adelphia Cable Channel 21, and repeated at 8 p.m. Thursday and June 29 and July 3; and 9 a.m. Saturday. The board offices are at 125 N. Court St. Information: 410-751- 3020.

It's easy to get lost in the back and forth about education policy decisions in Harford County, or anywhere else for that matter, and focus on problems like portable classrooms, security issues, teacher retirement plan funding and the like. A danger when this happens is the focus is lost on what's right with our public school system, and there's plenty that's right. Maryland has one of the highest-ranked public school systems in the country, and Harford County's public schools have been among the top tier in the state.

Anne Arundel County Public School officials said on Thursday the county Department of Health has not recommended additional cleaning steps to be taken amid the Tuesday death of a Glen Burnie High School junior, who had become ill the day before with symptoms associated with bacterial meningitis. School officials on Wednesday said that a letter was sent home to students' parents outlining the girl's death and providing information about bacterial meningitis. "The county Department of Health has not recommended any additional cleaning procedures for us outside of our normal daily cleaning procedures," said Anne Arundel schools spokesman Bob Mosier.

WESTMINSTER — With a trio of figures holding the world and a theme of "Building the Future," a new logo for Carroll County Public Schools was unveiled this week at the Aug. 8 Board of Education meeting. The logo is a variation of a design developed by Beth Sheedy, a 2012 graduate of Francis Scott Key High School. Sheedy had developed a logo based on a system-wide project to come up with new look to represent the new theme, "Carroll County Public Schools - Building the Future. " The process stems from a December 2011 initiative that created a new mission statement for the school system with the "Building the Future" theme.

Arthur Everett Petersen Sr., a pioneering African-American educator whose career with Baltimore County public schools spanned four decades and the era of segregated schools, died July 6 of a heart attack at his West Baltimore home. He was 94. "Arthur started in the segregated school system and was one of the real leaders in moving it toward integration. He was extremely helpful in that process," said Robert Y. Dubel, who headed Baltimore County's public schools for 16 years until retiring in 1992.

Baltimore County Public Schools has announced that due to the effects of Friday's storms, 42 of public schools are without power as of Sunday evening and will be closed on Monday, July 2. Summer school does not begin in Baltimore County schools until Monday, July 9, but many have regular administrative offices, and some host programs during the summer months. School officials said that following the storm, 52 county school sites initially had lost power, and many schools, administrative offices, grounds and parking and walking areas were affected by fallen trees and other debris.

Steven Robert Hardy, a Harford County public school educator whose career spanned more than four decades, died June 13 of cancer at his Bel Air home. He was 64. The son of a real estate salesman and a homemaker, Mr. Hardy was born and raised in Havre de Grace. After graduating from Havre de Grace High School in 1965, he earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1969 from what is now Towson University. He completed his graduate studies in education administration at Morgan State University and had earned a master's degree from Loyola University Maryland.

Due to inclement weather that forced the closing of Baltimore County public schools, all sports events scheduled for yesterday -- with the exception of the 3:30 p.m. Dulaney at Dundalk boys basketball game -- were postponed until today at their same times and locations.Ron Belinko, coordinator of physical education and athletics, said the Dulaney/Dundalk game likely will be rescheduled for Monday, because Dundalk is the site of the county wrestling tournament beginning today.The Harford County swimming and diving championships have been moved to Thursday at 6 p.m. at Magnolia Middle School.

Ron Belinko spent a lot of time at high school games over the last 21 years, despite the heavy load of office work and meetings that came with being coordinator of athletics for the Baltimore County Public Schools. He never could let go of the student-athletes who remained the focus of everything he did over a 46-year career as a teacher, coach, athletic director and central office administrator with the county. Belinko, who will retire Friday, found no better measure of how well he did his job than seeing it all come together on the field.

Howard "Bud" Ritter Jr., a retired Towson High School principal who had a second career as an antique toy and train dealer, died of dementia Monday at the Presbyterian Home of Maryland. The longtime Towson resident was 83. Born in Baltimore and raised in Rodgers Forge and in Stoneleigh, he was a 1946 graduate of Towson High School, where he played basketball and tennis. As a young man, he worked at the Bethlehem Steel Co. and as a Senator Theatre usher. Mr. Ritter enrolled at Towson State Teachers College.