More Planning Needed Before In-Person School: HCPS Superintendent

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — After Gov. Larry Hogan held a news conference with the state schools superintendent and deputy heath secretary spurring public schools to reopen for in-person learning, the leader of Harford County Public Schools said the district is moving forward with plans to open virtually for the start of the school year.

School leaders and health officials in Harford County are creating plans for the gradual return of groups of students to in-person instruction "if conditions permit" in the fall, Superintendent Sean Bulson said.

"We agree that there is no substitute for in-person learning," Bulson said in a statement Thursday night. "While we want to do this expeditiously, every phase of students returning requires intensive and thoughtful planning that ensures the safety of all of our student populations. Until then, we will begin the school year with virtual instruction as planned."

Bulson's statement came after Harford County Public Schools reported hearing from parents, staff and guardians who heard the governor's press conference and were unsure how that would translate into plans for the school year.

Learning Support Centers in school buildings will open Sept. 8 to provide in-person support for more than 5 percent of the student population countywide, Bulson said.

Despite the addition of the learning centers, Hogan included Harford County among eight counties in the state that did not plan for students to return to classrooms at all.

"This is simply not acceptable," Hogan said. "It is not the right thing for our Maryland children."

Harford County Public Schools will begin for the fall semester Tuesday, Sept. 8.

See Also:

• Maryland Schools May Begin Safely Reopening: Governor Hogan
• HCPS Virtual Learning Plan Approved By Harford County Board Of Ed

Here is the full statement from Bulson, issued Thursday, Aug. 27:

An Important Message from Superintendent Bulson to the HCPS Community:

At a press conference on August 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., the Governor of Maryland, the Honorable Larry Hogan, and the State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Karen Salmon, shared their desire for all Maryland schools to open for in-person instruction this coming school year. We have started to hear from concerned parents, guardians, and staff who want to know how this will impact our plans for the beginning of the school year.

On September 8, Learning Support Centers in our school buildings will open, welcoming more than 5% of our student population across the county. We have safety protocols in place to closely monitor the Learning Support Centers to ensure bringing students and staff into our school buildings does not contribute to increased transmission of the Coronavirus.

We are working with the Harford County Health Department and the Board of Education to develop plans for safely and gradually returning additional groups of students to in-person instruction, if conditions permit, this Fall. We agree that there is no substitute for in-person learning. While we want to do this expeditiously, every phase of students returning requires intensive and thoughtful planning that ensures the safety of all of our student populations. Until then, we will begin the school year with virtual instruction as planned.

Sincerely,
Sean Bulson, Ed.D
Superintendent
Harford County Public Schools