Board approves long consent agenda, ratifies bargaining-unit agreements and health-care adjustments

The Harford County Board of Education approved a lengthy consent agenda on April 27 that included ratification of tentative agreements with the district’s bargaining units and multiple contract awards for services ranging from computers and learning-management systems to nutrition and facilities work.

Vice President Sewell read the consent items, which included tentative agreements with the Harbor County Education Association certificated unit, education support professionals, the Association of Hartford County Administrative, Technical and Supervisory Professionals, AFSCME, and the Association of Public School Administrators and Supervisors of Harford County. The board voted to approve the consent agenda without amendment.

Later in the meeting the board took up an item omitted from the consent agenda: ratification of negotiated health-care plan adjustments with five bargaining units. Chief Negotiator Richardson explained the negotiations aimed to create savings while minimizing impacts to employees and to maintain a competitive benefits package. The board moved and approved that ratification to preserve timelines required for open enrollment.

Other consent items approved included contract awards for network hardware and peripherals, learning-management system annual renewals, wireless data and voice services, fresh produce, medical supply solutions, on-call snow removal, playground site amenities, and a roof replacement and rooftop energy recovery unit replacement at North Harford High School.

The motions passed by voice and roll-call where required; specific vote tallies for routine consent votes were recorded in the meeting record.