Thank you to Chief Hurst for writing this letter. Now the High School parents need to write also. The reason for the refusal to the carbon monoxide detectors is bureaucratic and illogical. Safety of our students, teaching staff and workers should be of the highest priority. Can someone post the email addresses and names?

Hopefully a wake up for Board Of Ed and Harford County Council members.

It is our time and our turn, please keep the letter writing going and your voice does count, parents, business owners, residents, stake holders anyone concerned with our future and that of our precious kids!! Thank you Chief Hurst!!

We did an article recently on letter-writing in advance of this decision. You can read it here: http://havredegrace.patch.com/articles/it-s-our-turn-leaders-write-school-elected-officials

Thanks for reading, all.

Sean

Well said Scott and I agree totally and have no children in this school or that will be going to this school. I still can not believe they thought it would be unfair to other schools.

<“it wouldn’t be fair to other schools that didn’t have the carbon monoxide detectors and the fact there haven’t been any carbon monoxide poisonings as of yet.” >

Whoever said this at the Harford Cty BOE should be fired or removed. I guess we have to have a carbin monoxide poisoning before something gets done. Leaves the County open to a huge lawsuit if something ever happens. Wow, unfair to the other schools? Well maybe their Fire Departments should install them too?

I think it's time we as parents start bombarding the HCBOE, today. No putting it off this is absolutely RIDOCULOUS!!!

I just emailed every one of them the following. Thank you Chief Hurst.

Mr. Leonard,

I just read the letter written by Chief Hurst regarding the installation of carbon monoxide detectors at Havre de Grace High School.

(" it wouldn't be fair to other schools that did not have the carbon monoxide detectors and the fact there haven't been any carbon monoxide poisonings as of yet")

Was this really your response???

Anyone having any authority as to the welfare of our children that could possibly say something as ridiculous as this should be fired immediately.

I attended this school grades 9 through 12 thirty years ago and the school was dated at that time. I understand that the budget doesn't allow for new schools in every district. However, I can not understand how those schools that are older and have less adequate infrastructure are not allowed to be improved for safety purposes. Your reasoning quoted above is disgraceful and irresponsible.

I currently have children in the Havre de Grace school system. Do you?? Do ANY of you that are in control of these decisions??

I demand a public apology and or the immediate dismissal of the person who said this. In addition, I want the school board to approve the installation of the "FREE" carbon monoxide detectors in the areas designated as potential threats in our schools.

Sincerely,

Brian J Myers Sr.

Our children should ALWAYS be our priority. Why is this happening? Shame on you! !! Please do something, our children are valuable, just as yours!

For those writing letters or reaching out to the Board of Education, please keep in mind that Dr. Wheeler passed away last week.

http://aberdeen.patch.com/articles/hcps-school-board-president-dr-leonard-wheeler-dies

-Sean

Do not write your letters to Dr. Wheeler. He passed away last week.

Please remember that Dr.Wheeler has since deceased...I am sure that someone has been appointed to his position mayb the name of that person should be posted so the letters can b directed to the correct individual....Just a thought

Updated list of names and emails to send letters:
•Rick Grambo III, Vice President
Rick.Grambo@hcps.org
•Alysson Krchnavy, appointed member at large
Alysson.Krchnavy@hcps.org
•Nancy Reynolds, appointed member at large
Nancy.Reynolds@hcps.org
•Joseph Hau, appointed member at large
Joseph.Hau@hcps.org
•James Thorton, appointed member at large
James.Thornton@hcps.org
•Tom Fitzpatrick, appointed member at large
Thomas.Fitzpatrick@hcps.org
•Robert Frisch, elected member District A
Robert.Frisch@hcps.org
•Cassandra Beverley, elected member District B
Cassandra.Beverley@hcps.org
•Dr. Robert Tomback, Superintendent of Schools
Robert.Tomback@hcps.org

Thank You Susan These letters are VERY IMPORTANT and should be addressed to the correct individual so there are no..":I NEVER RECEIVED IT" excuses:)

Nice work Scott!
Would love to see the ambulance corp. folks add their issues too!

Thank-you for this information....excellent article and extremely important for the safety of the students, the teachers/faculty and the many citizens who live near by! This is inexcusable!!!!

This is appalling. Words fail me. I'd be disgusted to hear of this response to this situation involving ANY school ANYwhere. The fact that I live in this community and have children in this school makes it even scarier. Am I to understand correctly that the school is now in violation of HDG legislation concerning CO detectors? If so, who is covering that situation? Really, how much more evidence do we need that this school needs help? Please, let's not wait until there's a fatality before we act!

The CO Legislation that was enacted in Havre de Grace only applies to residential buildings. Schools and other places of Public Assembly are under the jurisdiction of the Maryland State Fire Marshall.

Quote: "In addition, there have been no natural gas leaks at Youths Benefit Elementary School."

There is NO natural gas service in any of the three buildings. Additionally, I am aware of a couple serious infrastructure calls there, including failure of a major part of the electrical system in the Intermediate building (the newest building of them all.)

Remember everyone, statistics can be spun into whatever the person offering them up wants them to look like. be sure you have all the facts before you're wiping egg off your face....like the Chief is now.....

This is the response I received from Mr. Fitzpatrick. Apparently, according to Mr Fitzpatrick, Chief Hurst is lying in regards to the statement made.
Also, I am being accused of "attacking" Mr. Fitzpatrick for being outraged after reading and responding to the comment that Chief Hurst quoted him on.
So what is the truth here??

Brian,

I'm the guy you come to with these concerns. Not the guy you attack when someone in Staff says something that doesn't sit with you!

I will raise the issue with them. Our job on the Board is to raise these issues.

But to your point:

(" it wouldn't be fair to other schools that did not have the carbon monoxide detectors and the fact there haven't been any carbon monoxide poisonings as of yet")

I did not say this, and it does not reflect my thinking at all.

Thanks

Tom Fitzpatrick
Harford County BoE

Well the bottom line here is the safety of the students and the building in which they dwell 8 hours a day for their education.SHCO may have responded to the high school as reported..fact....There are NO CO DETECTORS at this present time....fact..This situation does make parents,teachers,students,and the community uncomfortable,unhappy,unsafe....fact...SOOOO we as a colaborative body need to solve this issue however that may get done and NOT focus on the negative aspects there are enough of them already... HavreDeGrace High School holds within its walls proud,hardworking,athletic,and young adults thriving for an educaion to become well rounded,educated individuals with the desire to succeed and I feel that the BOE and HCPS should do what they are appointed/paid to do EDUCATE and make that happen in a safe,well constucted atmospere by people who CARE about the students and their successJust my opinion.

I was not aware that Mr. Fitspatrick was not a member at the time. However, I don't believe my email was an attack as much as being angry and concerned about the carefree, irresponsible attitude taken with the safety of the children that attend Havre de Grace schools. Hollee stated best. Bottom line is the safety of the students. I still feel that whomever it may have been that made such a statement, does not belong on the BOE making decisions regarding the welfare of our kids.

Brian, Mr. Fitzpatrick was not the one who made those comments. That quote was from Cornell Brown from the Board of Education. This story was ran in the Patch in August of 2011, 13 months ago. Feel free to contact me with any questions at 443-807-1022. Thanks. Chief Hurst

SEE how easy that was..:) Now we can move on and make good sound decisions in the best interest of the students...The BOE needs to hear our concerns and FACTUAL sitiations in regards to getting a new school.I believe Mr.Fitzpatricks appointment was a step in the right direction.I have read alot of his statements on county and community situations. In my opinion he is willing and ready to not only listen but assist the parents,students,community in heading in the right direction for a better school environment at HHS.I wish i could attend the BOE meetings but i work second shift so I do what I can to help in any way I can..even if it is stating my opinion her on the patch and giving some of my concerns here...My hope is for a NEW SCHOOL and I believe we as a community and solid foundation can make the push we need to make this happen:)

Glad to hear that BOE responded to an email and that they are raising the issue. I did not receive any acknowledgement /response to my email. Hopefully the lack of acknowledgement means they were overloaded with emails, rather than lack of respect for my concern. Below was my email...
********************************
Sirs, Madams,

We are sending this email out of concern for the safety of the children and staff at Havre de Grace High School. It has been brought to our attention that a donation of Carbon Dioxide detectors from the Susquehanna Hose Company was denied. We are told that the reason cited by the Harford County Board of Education was “it wouldn’t be fair to other schools that didn’t have the carbon monoxide detectors and the fact there haven’t been any carbon monoxide poisonings as of yet.”

We feel that the denial and supporting rationale is abhorrent. Carbon Dioxide detectors are a low cost investment that has been proven to prevent death from this odorless gas. Waiting for a poisoning to occur, or to say it is unfair to have them when other schools do not, is twisted logic. Rather, the board should be ensuring all schools have the detectors and welcome a donation for the Havre de Grace High School. Given the age and history of gas leaks in this building, the denial of the detectors is especially worrisome.

We implore you to relook at this decision. One death from carbon monoxide poisoning, is one death too many.

I think there was some confusion regarding the time frame. As Chief Hurst noted, the issue regarding the carbon monoxide detector rejection was more than a year ago. Articles of interest:

http://havredegrace.patch.com/articles/harford-county-school-system-passes-on-shcos-offer-for-free-carbon-monoxide

http://havredegrace.patch.com/articles/harford-county-schools-give-extra-no-to-hose-company

Thanks,
Sean