Superintendent

When Dr. Robert Tomback became superintendent of Harford County Public Schools in 2009, he was not only an unknown from Baltimore County, but also it was unknown how he might perform. The direction of the school system's leadership structure was another great unknown. The county was making the transition from a board of education wholly appointed by the governor to a board with a majority of its members elected by the people of Harford County. The Tomback era in the school system also came about amid a time of tumult resulting from the unexpected death of the previous superintendent, Jacqueline Haas, who succumbed at 59 to an asthma attack in late 2008 during the Christmas break.

Editor: I cannot tell you the relief that I feel that Dr. Tomback has decided to leave the Harford County School System at the end of this school year. This has been a reign of terror and discontent and I am very hopeful that the current Board of Education can do Harford County proud and locate a new Superintendent that is committed to Harford County Public Schools and its success. I  can only hope that Dr. Tomback takes some of his Baltimore County cronies with him. These people and a few others have tried to destroy the spirit of the Harford County School System, but Harford County will prevail!

Baltimore County school Superintendent Dallas Dance has recommended closing Eastwood Center Elementary Magnet Program after this school year, drawing outrage from parents in Dundalk. School system officials presented the recommendation Tuesday evening to members of the Board of Education at a meeting packed with Eastwood parents. A board vote on the closure is scheduled for March 5. "Common sense would dictate at least another school year to prepare," parent Michael DiMarzio told the board.

When first-year Superintendent Renee Foose presented her first operating budget for Howard County public schools, she lauded the proposal as being just a $7 million increase over last year's budget and said it meets the primary objective of protecting the classroom with no furloughs or decreases to staff. The $721.1 million plan also addresses such concerns as a new elementary school, accommodating 550 new students throughout the system and implementing several program enhancements.

Former State Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick will soon be back on the national stage, where she will host a handful of high-profile figures to discuss the future of public education. The longtime state education leader--who retired in 2011--will be launching a speaker series at Towson University on Thursday, Jan. 17 when she will interview renowned surgeon and neurologist Benjamin Carson and prominent research scientist Dr. Martha Denckla, the university announced in a release. The event, which starts at at 4 p.m. in Towson's West Village Commons, is free and open to the public.  The discussion with Carson and Denckla will focus on "How Students Learn: An Inside Look at Neuroscience," the university said, and will kick-off a six-part speaker series called Preparing for Public Education in the 21st Century: Signature Forums , a forum the university said is designed to provide a "unique opportunity for education stakeholders to interact with national experts.

Dallas Dance has been superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools for less than half an academic year, but he is proving himself a quick study. The $1.3 billion budget he has proposed for the next fiscal year strikes the kind of balance that county leaders generally love best: progress with penny-pinching. The usual penurious critics may latch onto the fact that he is seeking a substantial budget increase - $41.9 million, or 3.3 percent - at a time of continued economic challenges for the county (including the closing of the Sparrows Point steel mill)

Last night, I presented a $1.3 billion operating budget proposal for Baltimore County Public Schools for fiscal 2014. Due to financial limitations, the proposed budget does not meet all of our needs, but it provides a good foundation related to our three budget priorities: managing continued growth in student enrollment; raising the bar and closing gaps in student academic achievement; and investing in our future by strengthening our infrastructure....

Baltimore County classrooms would have about 100 more teachers next school year under a budget proposal unveiled Tuesday by Superintendent Dallas Dance. In his first spending plan since taking the post, Dance presented a $1.3 billion operating budget to the county school board, saying a top priority will be managing growth in the school system of 107,000 students. Dance, who became superintendent this summer, is advocating spending about $4.7 million on additional teachers because of projected increases in student enrollment.

Carroll County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Guthrie will be the featured speaker at a Family Forum hosted by the CCPS Parent Guides group on Monday, Jan. 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at the Board of Education offices, 125 N. Court St., Westminster. The topic will be "The Future of Carroll County Public Schools. " Light refreshments will be served, and child care and activities for children will be provided. Those attending are asked to RSVP before Jan. 3 by calling Pat Levroney at 410-386-1680, or email ptlevro@carrollk12.org .        

Anne Arundel County schools Superintendent Kevin Maxwell has proposed a $1.01 billion operating budget for fiscal year 2014 that includes $16.6 million for employee raises and $4.5 million for increases in health care costs. It marks the first time that the state's fifth-largest school system has crafted a budget request that crosses the billion-dollar threshold. Maryland's four largest school systems (Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City)