Former teacher and administrator Patricia Skebeck became Harford County’s Hall of Fame’s 172nd member at Monday’s Harford Board of Education meeting.
After receiving numerous awards from the Harford County school system and Harford County Council, she joked with the audience, "Who was that person they were talking about? I’ve forgotten some of that stuff."
Skebeck, who was the interim superintendent following the premature death of Superintendent Jacqueline Haas, retired in 2009 serving Harford County Public Schools for 30 years.
With her family in attendance, Skebeck took the time to thank the Retired School Personell Association as well as Superintendent Robert Tomback, the board of education and her family for their continued support during the past 30 years.
"They really are mainly responsible for the success I had; the nights they didn’t get dinner or when someone else had to pick them from school and sports and all of those things,” Skebeck said of her family.
Skeback was not the only one recognized Monday. Beverly Hagner, food service manager at Magnolia Middle School, was given the School Nutrition Association’s 2012 Louise Sublette Award of Excellence, a state award that recognizes nutrition managers.
As a state winner, she received a plaque and was honored this past weekend at the Maryland SNA annual convention in Ocean City, Maryland.
OLD BUSINESS
On Monday’s agenda, a contract award for upgrading the NCS Pearson SuccessMaker 5 Mathematics Software was approved. SuccessMaker Math is currently used in nine county elementary schools, six middle schools and the Center for Educational Opportunity.
Title I and Special Education Grants will fund the $292,843 contract award.
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Board members also approved the affirmation of monthly contracts for various county elementary schools that was signed earlier this month by Superintendent Robert Tomback.
These contracts consisted of the chiller replacements at Havre de Grace Elementary and Church Creek Elementary, a HVAC replacement at Jarrettsville Elementary School and a HVAC renovation for North Harford Elementary.
The contract also included renovations at Jarrettsville Elementary such as the disposal of outdated electronics, relocation of water pipes and the construction of additional sidewalks and landings.
NEW BUSINESS
The annual report from the school board’s Citizen Advisory Committees was also presented Monday evening.
Committee members from the Career and Technology, Family Life education, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, and Safety and Security shared their reports on how to improve the individual programs throughout county schools.
The Citizen Advisory Council serves as an adviser for the Career and Technology Education Programs, which prepare students for further education and careers beyond high school.
Superintendent Robert Tomback recognized C. Milton sophomore Bradley Martin who received a FY2013 Maryland Traditions Apprenticeship Award from the Maryland State Arts Council.
Tomback also announced that the Work Based Learning Program at Harford Technical High School received a $10,000 grant from W. W. Grainger. The donation will be used for safety clothing and equipment for senior students enrolled in the program.
