As superintendent of Harford County Public Schools, Jackie Haas oversees one of the fastest-growing school systems in the state.
With 50 schools, more than 2,700 teachers and a student population of 40,000, Harford County schools have seen a 33 percent increase in 15 years.
And the school system can expect more growth in the near future as the military?s Base Closure and Realignment process brings thousands of new jobs to the area.
The Examiner interviewed Haas on Thursday about some of the challenges facing the school system.
Q: What are the three biggest problems facing HCPS in the next five years and what are the potential solutions?
A: The biggest issue we face is helping kids achieve success. The kids are what we are about. Our mission is to provide an education to students, but we also need to make sure we are providing a holistic balance between education and other needs astudent may have, so they may achieve success in all areas of life.
Now that BRAC is coming that adds to the pressure. Some of the solutions I don?t control. It?s a capacity issue … but I can?t control streams of funding or traffic, and we are always looking to find the balance between our capital budget and operating budget.
Q: What impact do you foresee BRAC having?
A: For us, the biggest issue will be capacity. More schools will be needed, and as a result the attendance zones will have to be realigned. And that is not a popular subject with the citizens of Harford County.
Q: What is the HCPS system doing to combat gang activity?
A: We continue to work with our law enforcement partners, and we have quarterly meetings on the county and school levels to exchange information. The more we can get ourselves connected [with students and their needs] then the kids won?t feel the need to join [gangs].
But we also need the help of families, too.
