Harford County Public Schools is on target to stay within its budget, primarily because of declining health care costs and a lack of inclement weather.
Jim Jewell, assistant superintendent of business services, told the Harford County Board of Education during Monday's meeting that the school system should stay well within its budget for this fiscal year.
In his quarterly financial report, Jewell noted the costs of health care "continue to improve."
According to the report: "HCPS has expended just over 47 percent of the budget in the first half of the year, which is consistent with past year's spending levels."
With the school system being self-insured, school system Communications Manager Teri Kranefeld explained Tuesday, employees pay the same premium every month to CareFirst.
If the money put toward the premium isn't used because of less frequent doctor visits, for example, the school's loss ratio is lowered.
With less money being used than what was put in, Kranefeld continued, the school system gets a refund at the end of the year, which was the case for the end of 2011.
"Premiums are set by CareFirst based on levels we [HCPS] have had in previous years," she said.
Board president Leonard Wheeler asked Jewell if a lack of snow this winter has had a positive impact on the school's budget.
Jewell said there has been little overtime accumulated by employees at school facilities, and the school system is doing well on fuel costs.
With rising gasoline prices across the county, however, there is a "weekly fuel reset" on contracts, Jewell added, which adjust accordingly to the cost of gas that week.
"Even with that," he said, "we should be good for the year."
Legislative update
Kathy Carmello, the school system's legislative liaison, asked the board to give its official position on two bills, including one that would allow unpaid leave for employees to attend parent-teacher meetings.
HB 567 would add language to the state's education article that would give private, state and local sector employees the ability to request unpaid leave to attend a parent-teacher conference.
These meetings, Carmello said, can last up to four hours and unpaid leave is not typically granted for only a few hours.
Carmello recommended support for the bill, as it would provide "greater flexibility for a parent who needs to take time off work to attend an important meeting regarding his/her student(s)," according to the legislative update provided on the school system's website, hcps.org.
Carmello recommended the board take not support HB 344.
The bill states a government agency or contractor can't allow the performance of a contract or provide for a grant if "unauthorized aliens are to be utilized in any manner in the performance of the contract or grant," the update read.
The bill also bars contractors, subcontractors and grantees from being paid until they confirm no undocumented workers were hired or contracted through an e-verify program.
Del. Pat McDonough, who introduced the bill, asked the board to support it.
"HCPS has language in its solicitation documents that require that a contractor comply with all applicable federal laws and regulations relating to the employment of aliens including the screening of employees," Carmello gave as her reason for the recommendation. "It is irrational for a state to ask agencies to hold up payment to contractors unless they affirm that the contractors …are doing so."
Wheeler asked the board members for a consensus to not vote on either bill, but simply have Carmello bring their comments back to the general assembly.
Ethics policy
The board will need to review school system's revised ethics policy, which includes changes to its conflict of interest standards and financial disclosure requirements, a more substantial section of definitions and a reduction in value of unsolicited gifts.
Patrick Spicer, the school system's lawyer, explained that the State Ethics Commission has already approved the revised policy, but the board is able to review it and make changes as its members see fit. The SEC, however, will still need to make a final approval if any more changes are made.
The biggest change to the policy deals with the financial disclosure form members of the board of education and other eligible school system employees must complete.
"Conflict of interest standards and financial disclosure requirements for members of the school board are now required to be at least 'equivalent' to the provisions applicable to state officials and employees," the ethics policy report states.
Previously, these standards and statements had to be "similar," not equal to, those required for state officials and employees. Because of this, board members must complete a full financial disclosure statement rather than one that discloses "only those holdings that may potentially involve a conflict of interest and certain gifts," the report continued.
The value of unsolicited gifts employees can accept was also reduced to $20 from $50.
Spicer added that the ethics policy is available for public comment at hcps.org.