From the Desk of the President of the Harrington Park Board of Education.
Hello, HP!
Here are some quick headlines from the last BOE meeting.
- Beginning on April 4th we will be transitioning to a regular lunch program (Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers for making this possible)
- The 2022-2023 school calendar is approved and posted at www.hpsd.org
- The 2022-2023 preliminary budget has been approved
- The HPPD is working with the District to address the issues with Kiss and Go. Please remember the safety and security of our children are critical to the BOE and we ask that everyone please follow the rules.
It was great to see those that came to the meeting on Thursday.
Many thanks to the HP 5K Committee for a generous donation that enabled the District to fix the clock tower. Now, we can look up and get an accurate time!
Softball and baseball grounds are being cleaned and updated in preparation for many outdoor activities planned. Accordingly, the AED is back in its case near the rear door of the building.
I am very excited to announce that the staff and volunteers are preparing for regular lunch starting April 4th! It will be great to see the students socialize and enjoy each other’s company during lunchtime again. For some younger students, this will be a brand new experience!
The school calendar for the 2022-2023 academic year has been approved and posted on HPSD.org (https://www.hpsd.org/Downloads/2022-2023%20HPSD_Final%20School%20Calendar.pdf). The first day of school for students will be September 6, 2022, and the last day will be June 16, 2023. We have designated Martin Luther King Jr Day as a Day of Service and will have pertinent assignments for that day. Also, the winter and spring breaks are in sync with the NVRHS calendar.
The 2022-2023 preliminary budget was reviewed. I will continue to work with the administration to ensure we continue to get more efficient in the use of limited funds while providing means for an outstanding educational environment for students. The goal is to minimize the tax burden even though the total cost of operation increases due to inflation and teacher salary schedule.
Two Student Council members joined the meeting and provided an update. They are certainly a great group of students that are innovative and highly energetic! Congratulations to Lily Mitchell for being the Spartan Spotlight recipient in March. I’m also excited to hear about a “mini field day” being planned for K-5 graders to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association.
During the public comments, safety concerns around the Kiss and Go area during drop-off and pick-up were raised again. Although the situation has improved since Dr. Fried and HP Police Chief Murphy sent a letter to the community, dangerous and unlawful moving violations are still occurring. The District will continue to work with HP Police Department to more strictly enforce the rules and traffic laws. Unfortunately, HP Police may issue citations going forward.
The Board and the administration value everyone’s opinion and concerns. We will continue to improve our school for the students while being fiscally responsible.
Thank you,
Stephen Hahm