HCPSS MPIA Request #2022-088

Requestor
Jeff Minderlein
Date Received
Status
Complete
Response Notes

Responsive to this request, as well as a subsequent request under MPIA 2022-091, Md. State Gov’t Article, Section 9-1704, as cited in your original request refers to bonds for State offers and employees as set by the Maryland State Employees Surety Bond Committee – it is our understanding this does not apply to local boards of education and our employees. The Superintendent and our employees handling funds of the school system are, however, required to be bonded pursuant to the Maryland Education Article, Section 6-109. Thus, responsive to these requests, HCPSS is covered for Property and Casualty Insurance under Maryland Association Board of Education Group Insurance Pool - there is no policy number, but rather referenced by county. For reference, attached below is a copy of correspondence on behalf of the Pool evidencing the bonding for the current year. Please note, the bonding that the Board maintains on the Superintendent and employees who handle funds of the Board covers direct loss of, or direct loss from damage to money, securities and other property of the Board directly caused by the failure of an employee to faithfully perform the employee’s duties as prescribed by law.  In other words, the bond provides first party coverage to the Board only.

Responsive to your request for signed copies of the Oath of Office taken by Ms. Vicky Cutroneo on December 3, 2018: http://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=B6KRZW6CD650 and Ms. Antonia Watts on December 7, 2020: http://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=BVGRN36E7977 the Board of Education Office does not maintain copies. The Oath is administered by the Clerk of the Court in Howard County: https://www.courts.state.md.us/clerks/howard/recordsrequests.

As an employee of the Board of Education, Dr. Michael J. Martirano, does not take an oath similar to an elected official. For reference, his current appointment/contract was confirmed the during the May 9, 2018, Board of Education meeting: http://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AY8QE768DC87

Lastly, please find attached below a scanned copy of the original signature page from the ARP ESSER II grant documents presented to the Board on November 2, 2021.

Responsive Documents

*Some request language is summarized to include the requester's specific document requests and legally protected information (such as personally identifiable information of a student) or personal, defamatory and malicious content removed at the discretion of the school system.

**Responses containing legally protected information available only to the person of interest are omitted from the above report.

***Howard County Public Schools reserves the right to remove erroneous or outdated documents from this site.